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IMMOTl  BOOK  8T0RB. 


KEEN  &  LEE, 

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STATUTES  OF  ILLINOIS. 

1856. 


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ILLINOIS  AS   IT   IS; 


ITS 


HISTORY,  GEOGRAPHY,  STATISTICS,  CONSTITUTION,  LAWS,  GOVERNMENT, 

FINANCES,  CLIMATE,  SOIL,  PLANTS,  ANIMALS,  STATE  OF  HEALTH, 

PRAIRIES,  AGRICULTURE,  CATTLE-BREEDING,  ORCHARDING, 

CULTIVATION  OF  THE  GRAPE,  TIBIBER-GROWING, 

MARKET-PRICES,  LANDS  AND  LAND-PRICES, 

GEOLOGY,  MINING,  COMMERCE, 

BANKS,  RAILROADS,  PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.,  ETC. 


FRED.   GERHAED, 


WITH 

A  PEAIEIE  AND  WOOD  MAP,  A  GEOLOGICAL  MAP,  A  POPULATION 
MAP,  AND  OTHER  ILLUSTSATIONS. 


CHICAGO,   ILL.: 
KEEN    AND     EEE. 

PHILADELPHIA: 
CHARLES   DESILVER, 

1857. 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S57,  by 

KEEN    &    LEE, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Northern 

District  of  Illinois. 

BTEKEOITPED  BY  J.  FAGAN,  riULABELPHIA. 


gBHcatj^ 


TO 

THE  BRAVE  AND  INDUSTRIOUS  CITIZENS  OF 

ILLINOIS, 

AND 

TO  ALL  THOSE  WHO  INTI^D  TO  BUILD  A  HOME  THERE, 
MAT  THE  FLOURISHING  AND  FERTILE 

PKAIR  IE-STATE 

UNFOLD,  FROM  TEAR  TO  TEAR,  MORE  AND  MORE  GLORIOUSLT; 

AND 

MAT  VIRTUE,  WEALTH,  AND  HAPPINESS, 

FOE,   EVER 

HAVE  THEIR  ABODE  WITHIN 

HER  BORDERS. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arclnive 

in  2011  witli  funding  from 

The  Institute  of  Museum  and  Library  Services  thi-ough  an  Indiana  State  Library  LSTA  Grant 


i 

http://www.archive.org/details/illinoisasitisOOgerh 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

PREFACE 7 

INTRODUCTION 10 

HISTORY 13 

COXSTITUTION 138 

GOVERNMENT  —  JDDiaART 16-t 

Finances 16G 

LAWS  —  Land  Titles 168 

Execution  of  Deeds  and  Mortgages 172 

Form  of  Acknowledgment 173 

Recordino  of  Deeds  and  Mortgages 17-1 

Wills  of  Real  Estate 175 

The  Probate  and  Recording  of  Wills 177 

Title  to  Real  Estate  by  Inheritance 179 

Levy  and  Collection  of  Land  Taxes ISO 

Land  Tax  Forfeitures  and  Redemption 184 

Limitation  of  Actions 184 

Limitation  for  the  Recovery  op  Real  Estate 185 

Exemptions 186 

Homestead  Exemption 187 

Lien  Law 188 

Chattle  Mortgages 189 

Contract 189 

Collection  of  Debts 189 

Rats  of  Interest , 191 

Landlord  and  Tenant 191 

Promissory  Notes  and  Bills  of  Exchange 103 

Apprentices 193 

Rights  op  Married  Women  and  Widows 194 

ESTRAYS  195 

Game  Law 197 

GEOGRAPHY 199 

STATISTICS 218 

CLIMATE,  SOIL,  PLANTS,  AND  ANIMALS 230 

BTATE  OF  HEALTH  AND  DISEASES 269 

THE  PRAIRIES 271 

1*  (5) 


6  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

AQKICULTURE 2S9 

Amount  of  Bushels  raised  per  Acre 290 

Profits  of  Farming 293 

Soil - 309 

Breakinq  the  Soll 310 

Fencino 311 

IHnsioN  OF  Farms,  Rotation  of  Crops,  and  Manuring 312 

Labor,  Wages,  and  Impiements 316 

Inblan  Corn 319 

Wheat 324 

Oats 328 

Barley 328 

Rye 329 

Buckwheat 320 

Hops 330 

Potatoes 330 

Sweet  Potatoes 332 

Flax 333 

Broom  Corn 336 

Chocolate  Corn 337 

Chinese  Yam 338 

Grasses 339 

FRUIT  CULTORE— Apple „ 341 

Peach 342 

Pear 343 

Quince 344 

Plum 344 

Prune 344 

Cherry 345 

Berries 345 

GRAPE  CULTURE _ 348 

GROWING  OF  TIMBER 352 

THE  MACLURA  HEDGE 355 

MAPLE  SUGAR 363 

CATTLE  BREEDING 366 

MARKET  PRICES « 3T2 

GEOLOGY  AND  MINING 376 

COMMERCE  AND  MANUFACTURES  OF  CHICAGO 388 

LANDS  AND  THEIR  PRICES 401 

THE  LANDS  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD 406 

BANKS 419 

RAILROADS 427 

PUBLIC  INSTITUTIONS  , 436 

NEWSPAPERS 439 

WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES 444 

HINTS  TO  IMMIGRANTS 446 


PREFACE 


In  presenting  this  book  to  the  Public,  it  seems  proper  to  me,  to  make  a 
brief,  but  candid  and  respectful,  mention  of  the  motives  -which  have  induced 
me  to  write  it,  as  ■well  as  the  means  I  adopted  to  collect  and  secure,  in  a 
reliable  form,  the  large  amount  of  material  and  truthful  information  that  -will 
be  found  to  make  up  its  contents. 

Having  for  a  long  while  past  endeavored,  in  seeking  to  aid  and  direct 
the  great  mass  of  the  emigration  from  Europe,  to  find  and  to  point  out 
•what  seemed  the  best  way  to  the  advancement  of  their  welfare,  my  attention 
was  early  given  to  the  remarkable  developments  which  have  been,  and  are 
still,  made  in  the  Western  States.  While  thus  employed,  I  made  myself  fully 
acquainted  with  the  prevalent  literatui-e  of  the  West,  and  became  a  close 
observer  of  "  the  progress  of  events"  in  the  new  States.  Through  this  employ- 
ment, and  by  such  observations,  my  judgment,  I  trust,  has  been  rightly  ma- 
tured, so  that  I  may  freely  utter  my  own  convictions,  as  entitled  to  some 
weight,  that  Elinois  is,  if  really  not  the  most  attractive,  at  least  one  of  those 
States  which  offer  the  amplest  guarantees  for  the  rapid  thriving  and  ultimate 
success  and  welfare  of  those  who  may  seek  to  establish  for  themselves  a 
•'  Home  in  the  West." 

After  having  thus  sedulously  made  myself  acquainted  with  the  character 
of  the  West  in  general,  and  especially  still  more  carefully  studied  everything 
relating  to  Hlinois,  I  resolved  upon  the  preparation  of  this  work ;  and,  for 
the  purpose  of  facilitating  my  labors,  I  made  a  personal  visit  through  the 
State,  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1855,  and  examined  things  with  my  own  eyes. 
It  has  not,  however,  been  my  object  to  write  a  merely  pleasing  and  saleable 
book,  without  the  strictest  regard  to  the  authenticity  and  truthfulness  of  its 
statements.  AVell  knowing  the  aptitude  of  even  the  most  honest  observer  and 
candid  writer,  while  travelling  through  a  State  in  order  to  gain  a  more  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  it,  to  be  filled  with  false  first-impressions,  misapprehen- 
sions, and  monotonous  judgments,  I  have  not,  therefore,  solely  relied  upon  mj 
own  personal  observations  and  experience ;    but  sought,  in  all  that  I  have 

(7) 


8  PREFACE. 

written,  to  base  it  substantially  upon  the  testimony  of  many  other  persi>ng 
such  as  fai-mers,  merchants,  physicians,  clergymen,  &c.,  who  have  been  Ion"- 
residents  of  the  State,  and  whose  personal  experience  is  of  much  weight 
In  the  course  of  my  journey  through  the  State,  I  accordingly  made  it  one  of 
my  principal  aims  to  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  such  persons,  and  to  pro- 
cure their  impartial  statements  and  opinions  as  to  the  existing  state  of  things 
in  Illinois.  Among  numerous  others,  who  have  very  much  favored  me  in  this 
respect,  I  feel  myself  under  particular  obligations  to  Governor  J.  A.  Matte- 
son,  Lieutenant-Governor  G.  Kceenek,  and  f'RANCis  A.  Hoffmann,  Esq,  In 
making  my  further  acknowledgments,  it  is  but  an  act  of  justice  to  mention 
the  following-named  gentlemen,  through  whose  kind  letters  and  valuable 
written  communications  I  have  been  enabled  to  make  up  a  great  part  of  the 
matter  of  this  book,  viz. :  — 

F.  .T.  Arenz,  Esq.,  Arenzville,  Cass  co.  Wm.  Eddy,  Esq.,  Hennepin,  Putnam  oo. 
I.  A.  Arenz,  Esq.,  Beardstown,  Cass  co.  W.  D.  Edwards,  Esq.,  Ijacou,  Mai-shall  co. 

S.  A.  Armstrong,  Esq.,  Morris,  Grundy  co.         John  McElvain,  Esq.,  McLeansboro,  Hamilton 

I.  Atkinson,  Esq.,  Pekin.  co. 

Edgar  Babcock,  Esq.,  Metamora,  Woodford  co.   N.  D.  Elwood,  Esq.,  Joliet. 

R.  G.  Bailey,  Esq.,  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll  co.  Theo.  Engelmann,  Esq.,  Belleville. 

Wm.  M.  Be.an,  Esq.,  Metropolis,  Massac  co.         Steph.  Feussner,  Esq.,  St.  Clair  co. 

Edw.  Bebb,  Esq.,  Fonntaindale,  Winnebago  co.  Edw.  Forcht,  Esq.,  Concord. 

L.  M.  Beels,  Esq.,  Belvidere,  Boone  co.  Henry  Funk,  Esq.,  Stent's  Grove,  McLean  co. 

A.  Berlin,  Esq.,  Granville,  Putnam  co.  H.  W.  Good,  Esq.,  Vandnlia,  Fayette  co. 

Jas.  Biddlecom,  Esq.,  Waukegan,  Lake  co.  R.  S.  Graham,  Esq.,  Carmi,  White  co. 

Chs.  Biel,  Esq.,  Sbmonauk,  De  Kalb  co.  John  McGraw,  Esq.,  Clinton,  De  Witt  co. 

Dr.  Fred.  Bock,  Waterloo,  Monroe  co.  J.  G.  Hall,  Esq.,  Shawneetown,  Gallatin  co. 

D.  Bonar,  Esq.,  Cambridge,  Henry  co.  Edson  Harkness,  Esq.,  Southport,  Peoria  co. 

A.  K.  Bosworth,  Esq.,  Greenup,  Cumberland  co.  AVm.  H.  Haskell,  Esq.,  Canton,  Fulton  co.     ^ 

G.  W.  Bowyer,  Esq.,  Pontiac,  Livingston  co.       Jul.  Heinrioh,  Esq.,  Peru. 
Kev.  C.  A.  Brauer,  Addison,  Du  Page  oo,  John  Hertel,  Esq.,  Rock  Island. 
Fred.  Breudel,  M.  D.,  Peoria,                                 ft.  F,  Hilgard,  jr.,  Esq.,  Belleville. 

A,  B.  Briscoe,  Esq.,  Marshall,  Clark  co.  John  Hiuton,  Esq.,  Taylorville,  Christian  co. 

James  N,  Brown,  Esq.,  late  President  of  the  C,  Jlofmann,  M.D.,  Pekin, 

State  Agricultural  Society    Island  Grove,  F.  A.  Hoffmann,  M.D.,  Beardstown, 

Sangamon  co,  Mich.  Hogle,  Esq.,  Middleport,  Iroquois  co. 

F.  Bumann,  Esq.,  Bunkerhill,  Macoupin  co.  Rev.  F,  W.  HoUs,  Ceutreville,  St,  Clair  co. 

Geo.  Bunsen,  Esq.,  Belleville,  Rev.  Iloppe,  Belleville. 

Ph.  Burk,  Esq.,  Hardin,  Calhoun  co,  Jos,  C.  Howell,  Esq.,  Carlinville,  Macoupin  co. 

Z.  Cadley,  Esq.,  Knoxville,  Knox  co.  James  S.  Johnston,  Esq.,  Mt.  Carmel.  Wabash 

Thos.  H.  Campbell,  Esq.,  Auditor  of  the  State,  co. 

Springfield.  I.  S.  Irwin,  Esq..  Mt.  Sterling.  Brown  co. 

J,  J.  Cole,  Esq.,  Oswego,  Kendall  co,  M,  Kleiuhenz,  Esq.,  Henry,  Marshall  co. 

A.  Collins,  Esq..  Hadley,  Will  co,  E.  M.  Lamb,  Esq.,  Woodstock,  McIIenry  co. 

Dan.  Converse,  Esq.,  Waterloo,  Monroe  co.  .7.  A.  M,  Laurie,  Esq.,  Urbana,  Champaign  co. 

T.  R.  Courtney,  Esq.,  Ottawa,  La  Salle  co.  Wm,  Leighton,  Esq.,  Winchester,  Scott  co, 

F.  E.  Cummings,  Esq.,  Lincoln,  Logan  co.  L.  B,  Leiscnbee,  Esq.,  Thebes,  Alexander  co. 

C.  Dairly,  Esq.,  Caledonia,  Pulaski  co.  Geo.  W.  Lowder,  Esq.,  .Terseyville,  .ler.sey  co. 

F,  S.  Day,  Esq.,  Peru.  Jas.  G.  Madden,  Esq.,  Monmouth,  Warren  CO. 

Rosw,  Dow,  Esq.,  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  co.  Jas,  S.  Martin,  Esq.,  Salem,  Marion  oo. 

M,  M.  Dudley  Esq.,  Naperville,  Du  Page  co,  N,  W,  Matheny,  Esq,  Springfield. 


PREFACE.  y 

'W.  L.  Mayr,  Epq.,  Albion,  Edwartls  co.  Kev.  A.  Selle,  Crete,  Will  oo. 

Henry  Menke,  Esq^.,  Beardstown.  A.  Shaw,  Esq.,  Lawrenceville,  Lawrence  co. 

etas.  Molitor,  Esq.,  Springbay,  Woodford  oo.  J.  X).  Short,  Esq.,  Danville,  Vermillion  co. 

Heary  T.  Mudd,  Esq.,  Pittsfield,  Pike  co.  James  G.  Soulard,  Esq.,  Maple  Lawn,  Jo  Da- 

Chrs.  W.  Murtfeldt,  Esq.,  Oregon,  Ogle  co.  viess  co. 

Mesirs.  Casp.  &  Hy.  Oertley,  Princeville,  Peo-  Thos.  McSoy,  Esq.,  Ewington,  Effingham  co 

fia  CO.  Fvev.  S.  Spies,  Mascoutah,  St.  Clair  co. 

W.  TT.  Oglesby,  Esq.,  Decatur,  Macon  co.  Dan.  Stahl,  M.  D.,  Quincy. 

J.  N.  Onstot,  Esq.,  Havana,  Macon  co.  I.  Trautham,  Esq.,  Maconib,  MoDouougli  oo. 

James F.  Oulton,  Esq.,  Monticello,  Pratt  co.  John  Trousdale,  Esq.,  Fairfield,  Wayne  co. 

S.  G.  Pjddock,  Esq.,  Princeton,  Bureau  co.  J.  B.  Turner,  Esq.,  Elizabethtown,  Ilardin  co. 

J.  N.  Pcarce,  E.?q.,  Vienna,  Johnson  co.  Isaac  Underliill,  Esq.,  Peoria. 

James  M  Perry,  Esq.,  Kankakee.  Pet.  TJnzicker,  Esq.,  Groveland,  Tazewell  co. 

John  W.Pyatt,  Esq.,  Pinkueyville,  Perry  co.  A.  Vetterhoeffer,  Esq..  AYashington,  Tazewell  co. 

John  P>aLney,  Esq.,  Keithsburgh,  Mercer  co.  P.  II.  Walker,  Esq.,  Rushville,  Schuyler  co. 

S.  W.  Raymond,  Esq.,  Ottawa.  R.  A.  Warfield,  Esq-.,  Raleigh,  Saline  co. 

Jos.  Reiuhard,  E.sq.,  Granville,  Putnam  po.  Dr.  Welsch,  Mascoutah. 

C.  Pteuske,  Isq.,  Petersburg,  Menard  co.  Alb.  Weinberger,  Esq.,   AVhitefield  township, 
Const.  Rillie^,  Esq.,  Highland,  Madison  co.  Mai-shall  co. 

B.  Roberts,  &q.,  Shelby ville,  Shelby  co.  F.  Wenzel,  31.  D.,  Belleville. 

Wm.  Ross,  Es,!.,  Pittsfield,  Pike  co.  John  H.  White,  Esq.,  Marion,  Williamson  co. 

Benj.  Sammons,  Esq.,  Hillsboro,  Montgomery  Jas.  Wightman,  Esq.,  Carlyle,  Clinton  co. 

CO.  J.  Winn,  Esq.   Toulon,  Stark  co. 

T.  Sears,  Esq.,  Oregon,  Ogle  co.  Dr.  J.  G.  Zeller,  Springbay,  Woodford  co. 

I  am,  also,  under  particular  obligations  to  Dr.  Fred.  Brendel,  of  Peoria, 
for  the  drawings  and  delineations,  Tvliich  he  had  the  kindness  to  furnish  me, 
and  which  will  be  found  appended  to  this  book.  They  consist  of  three  maps, 
viz. :  — 

1.  A  Prairie  and  Wood  Map. 

2.  A  Geological  Map. 

3.  A  Population  Map. 

These  maps,  I  am  confident,  the  reader  will  find  to  form  a  very  excellent  and 
valuable  supplement  to  the  work. 

The  literary  resources  of  which  I  made  use,  are  — 

Brown's  History  of  Illinois. 

Ford's  nistoTy  of  Jllifiois. 

Reynold's  My  own  Times. 

Reynold's  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois. 

Reynold's  Sketches. 

Peck's  Gazetteer  of  Illinois. 

Illinois  in  1837. 

Curtiss'  ^Yestern  Portraiture. 

Hall,  The  West. 

Dvovfn's  Records  of  Peoria. 

Campbell's  Glance  at  Illinois. 

Transactions  of  the  Illinois  Slate  AgriciiUiiral  Society. 

Reviled  Statutes  of  Illinois. 

F.  A.  Hoffmann's  Commercial  Reports,  &c.  &C. 


10  PREFACE. 

—  together  vrith  many  newspapers,  printed  in  the  State,  -which  the  publishers 
had  the  kindness  to  send  regularly  to  me.* 

It  was  a  part  of  my  original  intention  to  append  to  this  -work  a  compbte 
Gazetteer  of  the  whole  State;  but,  for  the  want  of  room,  1  am  compeLed, 
very  much  to  my  regret,  to  desist  from  doing  so.  The  very  valuable  material 
which  I  had  collected  for  this  purpose,  and  which  I  have  now  in  my  posses- 
sion, I  will,  however,  reserve,  and  prepare  for  the  publication  of  a  Gazftteer 
at  some  future  period. 

May  this  book  meet  a  kind  approbation,  and  benevolent  criticisa,  and 
prove  as  welcome  and  useful  to  the  citizens  of  Illinois  as  to  new  settlers. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Ne-w  Tors,  December  the  25th,  1856. 

*  It  being  my  intention  to  follow  up,  in  future  editions  of  this  work,  the  progrffisive  history 
and  development  of  Illinois,  and  as  I  consider  its  newspapers  as  furnishing  the  bist  resources 
for  this  purpose,  the  publishers  of  newspapers  in  Illinois  will  greatly  oblige  me  ly  sending  me 
their  pnpers  regularly.  If  directed,  "Gerhard's  German  Reporter,  New  York,"  they  will  cer- 
tainly come  to  my  hands. 


m  THE  PLACE  OF  AN 


INTRODUCTION 


"  The  brilliant  destiny  of  Illinois  is  now  fairly  beginning  to  unfold, 
and  to  be  read  in  the  speed  with  wbich  she  is  bounding  forward  upon 
the  highwaj'^  to  prosperity  and  greatness.  Earth  holds  not,  upon  all 
its  broad  surface,  a  more  fertile  and  favored  land  than  this,  our  own 
beautiful  Prairie  State.  What  a  mighty  aggregation  of  natural 
advantages  do  we  behold  within  her  borders !  In  the  very  centre 
of  the  great  Mississippi  Valley,  and  in  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy, 
she  is  embraced  by  magnificent  lakes  and  rivers.  With  a  soil  of 
unsurpassed  richness,  resting  upon  a  bed  of  coal  sufficient  to  "keep 
the  hearthstone  of  the  world  bright  for  a  thousand  centuries";  with 
a  climate  genial  and  healthful ;  with  a  level  contour  of  surface, 
inviting  the  construction  of  great  works  of  internal  improvement; 
abounding  in  mineral  resources ;  destined  to  be  the  crossing  for  the 
grand  lines  of  oceanic  intercommunication,  connecting  the  extreme 
sections  of  the  Union — those  lines  which  must  become  the  highways 
of  nations,  over  which  will  pass  the  products  of  every  clime,  and  a 
great  moving  human  tide,  in  one  unceasing  flow ;  —  blessed  with  all 
these  advantages,  nothing  is  wanting  further  to  constitute  the  elements 
of  physical  greatness.  We  have  an  ample  guarantee,  in  the  character 
of  her  population,  that  her  unbounded  natural  resources  will  receive 

(11) 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

a  speedy  development.  The  heavy  debt,  from  the  contemplation  ot 
which  so  many  shrank  back  appalled,  now  presses  no  more  heavily 
upon  her  energies,  than  the  curtain  of  morning  mist  that  rests  upon 
the  bosom  of  her  prairies.  Her  whole  population  are  excited  to 
unwonted  activity  by  the  brilliancy  of  the  future ;  and,  from  every 
quarter,  emigrants  throng  to  her  fertile  plains.  Inhabited  by  an 
honorable  people,  who  kept  her  escutcheon  free  from  the  deep  stain 
of  repudiation,  in  the  terrible  ordeal  of  temptation  through  which  she 
passed  —  inhabited  by  a  generous  people,  who,  although  weighed 
down  with  onerous  burdens,  cheerfully  submitted  to  additional 
taxation,  to  provide  asylums  for  the  stricken  and  unfortunate  — 
inhabited  by  a  brave  people,  whose  valor  upon  the  field  has 
illuminated  some  of  the  brightest  pages  of  the  Eepublic's  history, 
and  heard  of  wherever  the  "  birds  of  fame  have  flown." 

[From  an  Oration,  delivered  by  Robert  Bell,  Esq., 
at  Fairfield,  Illinois.) 


ILLINOIS  AS  IT  IS. 

HISTORY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  State  of  Illinois  was,  originally,  a  part  of  Florida,  and  be- 
longed to  Spain,  and  was  so  laid  down  upon  the  old  Spanish  map  of 
North  America.  The  Spaniards,  led  on  by  the  during  Fernando  de 
Soto,  were  the  first  Europeans  who  had  discovered  the  Mississippi ; 
they  had  erected  the  standard  of  Spain  on  its  shores  in  the  year  1541, 
and,  according  to  the  views  at  that  time  prevailing,  had  thus  esta- 
blished the  title  of  their  country  to  the  whole  of  that  vast  region 
watered  by  its  tributary  streams,  so  that  thenceforth  the  State  of 
Illinois  became  a  Spanish  colony,  and  its  native  inhabitants  vassals 
of  the  Spanish  crown.  But,  although  the  Spaniards  claimed  the 
State  by  right  of  possession,  its  settlement  was  never  entered  upon 
by  tbem,  but  was  first  carried  into  effect  by  the  French. 

At  the  very  time  that  the  Spaniards  under  Fernando  de  Soto  were 
exploring  Florida  and  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  several  attempts 
were  made  on  the  part  of  the  French  by  two  enterprising  adventurers, 
Cartier  and  Hoberval,  to  plant  settlements  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Lawrence;  but  these  enterprises  proving  abortive,  nothing  eifectual 
was  done  by  the  French  to  colonize  North  America,  until  the  year 
1603,  when  certain  merchants  at  Rouen  having  formed  themselves 
into  a  company  for  this  purpose,  Champlain,  a  man  of  untiring  energy 
and  great  intrepidity,  who  had  been  charged  with  the  direction  of 
their  enterprise,  succeeded  in  establishing  the  first  permanent  French 
settlement  upon  the  North  American  Continent.  As  early  as  1608, 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  Quebec,  and,  in  the  following  year,  explored 
tbe  region  occupied  by  the  Indian  Nations  of  Northern  New  York. 
2  (13) 


14  HISTORY. 

By  a  charter  from  Louis  XIIT,  granted  to  him  in  the  year  1G27,  he 
obtained  a  patent  of  Xew  France,  embracing  the  whole  basin  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  Canada,  and  entered  upon  its  government  in  the 
year  1632.  Perceiving  that  the  climate  of  New  France  would  offer 
but  little  encouragement  to  immigration,  he  thought,  that  the  settle- 
ment of  the  new  country  could  not  be  more  effectually  promoted  than 
by  establishing  missions,  to  call  upon  religion  to  aid  him  in  the  exe- 
cution of  his  designs,  and  to  enter  into  a  close  alliance  with  the  native 
Indians.  No  sooner,  indeed,  had  the  French  establit^hed  their  au- 
thority in  Canada,  than  numbers  of  Jesuit  missionaries  resorted 
thither,  and  commenced  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  untutored  sa- 
vages, and  forming  alliances,  in  the  name  of  their  king,  with  the 
numerous  savage  tribes  that  inhabited  the  "  Far  West."  In  August, 
1665,  Father  Claude  Allouez  set  out  to  travel  among  the  Indians, 
visited  the  Chippeways,  entered  their  councils,  displaying  before  the 
wondering  savages  pictures  of  hell  and  of  the  last  judgment,  and 
lighted  the  Catholic  torch  at  the  council  fires  of  more  than  twenty 
nations,  whom  he  claimed  for  his  country  and  his  king.  In  his 
endeavors  to  extend  the  influence  of  France  he  was  assisted  by 
various  missionaries  employed  for  that  purpose;  among  others  by 
James  Marquette,  who  labored  incessantly  for  the  cause  of  his  Re- 
deemer and  his  country,  travelling  far  and  wide,  exposed  to  the  incle- 
mencies of  the  season,  often  subsisting  on  no  other  food  than  the 
unwholesome  moss  which  he  gathered  from  the  rocks,  and  sleepino- 
beneath  the  skies  on  the  open  ground,  without  the  comfort  of  a  fire. 
Whilst  he  was  preparing  to  leave  St.  Mary's,  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Superior,  where  he  then  was,  in  order  to  explore  the  31ississippi, 
Louis  XIV.  and  his  minister  Colbert  having  formed  a  plan  for  the 
extension  of  the  dominion  of  France  in  North  America,  Nicholas 
Perot  appeared  at  St.  Mary's  as  their  agent,  and  convoked  a  universal 
congress  of  the  Indian  nations  at  that  place.  The  remotest  Indian 
nations,  from  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Red  River 
being  assembled  in  council,  in  the  presence  of  brilliantly-clad  officers 
from  the  veteran  French  armies,  it  was  announced  to  the  amazed 
savages  b}'  Allouez,  who  acted  as  interpreter,  that  they  had  been 
placed  under  the  protection  of  Louis  XIY.,  king  of  France;  and 
thereupon  "a  cross  of  cedar  was  raised,  arffl  the  whole  company,  bowing 


HISTORY.  15 

before  this  emblem  of  Christianity,  chanted  to  its  glory  a  hymn  of  the 
seventh  century ;"  after  which  a  cedar  column,  with  the  arms  of  the 
Bourbons  engraved  on  it,  being  planted  by  the  side  of  the  cross,  the 
faith  and  the  rule  of  France  were  supposed  to  be  permanently  estab- 
lished upon  the  Continent. 

In  1673  James  Marquette,  with  five  Frenchmen  as  companions  and 
two  Indians  for  guides,  reached  the  great  "  father  of  waters,"  on 
which  they  embarked  "with  a  joy  that  could  not  be  expressed,"  and 
hoisting  the  sails  of  their  bark  canoes,  floated  down  the  majestic  river, 
"over  broad  clear  sandbars,"  and  glided  past  islets  swelling  from  its 
bosom  with  tufts  of  massive  thickness,  between  the  "broad  plains  of 
Illinois  and  Iowa,  all  garlanded  with  majestic  forests  and  chequered 
with  illimitable  prairies  and  island  groves."  After  descending  the 
Mississippi  for  about  sixty  leagues,  they  discovered  au  Indian  trail, 
and  unhesitatingly  left  their  canoes  to  follow  it.  After  walking  for 
some  six  miles,  they  came  to  an  Indian  village,  whence  four  men  im- 
mediately advanced  to  meet  them,  offering  the  pipe  of  peace,  their 
calumets  "  brilliant  with  many  colored  plumes,"  and  speaking  to  them 
in  language  which  Marquette  understood  :  "  We  are  Illinois ;"  that 
is,  "we  are  men."  "How  beautiful  is  the  sun,  0  Frenchman,  when 
thou  comest  to  us  !  our  whole  village  awaits  thee,  thou  shalt  enter  in 
peace  all  our  dwellings."  After  staying  with  that  hospitable  people 
for  a  while,  James  Marquette  and  his  companions  further  descended 
the  Mississippi  River  until  they  were  satisfied  of  its  flowing  into  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  when  they  returned,  and  having  reached  the  39th 
degree  of  North  Latitude,  entered  the  Illinois  Hiver  and  followed  it 
to  its  source.  The  tribe  of  Illinois  Indians,  which  occupied  its  banks, 
invited  Marquette  to  remain  and  reside  among  them.  But  expressing 
a  desire  to  continue  his  travels,  be  was  conducted  by  one  of  the  chiefs 
and  several  warriors  to  Chicago,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  place  be  re- 
mained to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  Miamis,  whilst  his  companions 
returned  to  Quebec  to  announce  their  discoveries.  Two  years  after- 
wards Marquette  entered  the  little  river  in  the  State  of  Michigan, 
called  by  his  name,  and  erecting  on  its  bank  a  rude  altar,  said  mass 
after  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  Church ;  and  being  left  alone  at  his 
own  request,  "  he  kneeled  down  by  its  side,  and  offering  to  the 
Mightiest  solemn  thanks  and  supplications,  fell  asleep  to  wake  no 


16  HISTORY. 

more.     The  light  breeze  from  the  lake  sighed  his  requiem,  and  the 
Algonquin  nation  became  his  mouruers." 

The  fame  of  Marquette  .induced  others  to  follow  in  his  wake;  and 
araoDg  these  was  Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle.  In  1667,  when  the 
attention  of  Europe  was  directed  to  New  France,  he  resorted  thither, 
and  first  established  himself  as  a  fur-trader  at  La  Chine,  being  in 
habits  of  daily  intercourse  with  the  warriors  of  the  Iroquois,  the  Five 
Nations  of  Northern  New  York.  Hearing  from  them  the  most  glow- 
ing accounts  of  the  Far  West,  he  resolved  to  annex  the  same  to 
France,  and  to  establish  a  close  connection  between  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  and  New  France  by  a  line  of  military  posts,  and  for  that 
purpose  repaired  to  France,  where  he  sought  and  obtained  an  interview 
with  Colbert,  then  the  prime  minister  of  Louis  XIV.  Colbert  lis- 
tened with  delight  to  the  gigantic  schemes  of  La  Salle,  and  a  paper 
having  been  obtained  from  the  king  commissioning  La  Salle  to  ex- 
plore the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  he  arrived  with  a  number  of  me- 
chanics, and  military  stores  and  merchandise  for  the  Indian  trade,  at 
Fort  Frontenac,  in  the  year  1678.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  a  boat 
of  ten  tons,  the  first  that  ever  entered  the  Niagara  River,  conveyed 
part  of  his  company  to  the  Niagara  Cataract,  lie  immediately  estab- 
lished a  trading-house  in  its  vicinity,  and  laid  the  keel  of  a  vessel  of 
sixty  tons,  called  the  Grifiin,  which  in  the  summer  of  1679  was 
launched  on  the  Upper  Niagara,  being  the  first  vessel  that  ever  rode 
on  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie.  The  roar  of  its  artillery  reverberated 
from  shore  to  shore,  arousing  the  savages  in  their  forests  and  making 
them  come  forward  in  their  swift  canoes  and  look  with  astonished 
curiosity  upon  it.  He  sailed  across  the  lake  and  cast  anchor  on  the 
27th  of  August  in  Green  Bay,  where  he  exchanged  his  goods  at  an 
immense  profit  for  a  rich  cargo  of  furs,  which  he  shipped  in  the 
Grifiin  to  Niagara  River  to  be  disposed  of,  in  order  that  he  might 
make  a  remittance  to  his  creditors.  He  next  entered  the  river  St. 
Joseph,  on  the  banks  of  which  he  erected  a  small  fort,  known  as  the 
fort  of  the  Miamies;  and  after  waiting  for  a  loiig  time  to  hear  tidings 
of  the  Griffin,  being  weary  of  delay,  he  resolved  to  explore  the  interior 
of  Illinois.  He  left  ten  men  as  the  garrison  of  his  little  fortress,  and 
descended  the  Illinois  as  far  as  Lake  Peoria,  where  he  met  large  par- 
ties of  Illinois  Indians,  who,  desirtms  of  obtaining  axes  and  firearms, 


HISTORY.  17 

oflFered  him  tte  calumet  and  assented  to  an  alliance.  They  received 
him  and  his  companions  with  great  joy,  and  when  they  learned,  that 
colonies  were  to  be  established  in  their  neighborhood,  the  happiness 
of  these  simple-minded  savages  was  complete.  They  offered  to  con- 
duct him  to  the  Mississippi.  But  after  building  a  fort  a  little  above 
where  Peoria  now  stands,  which  fort  he  named  Creve  Coeur,  La  Salle, 
destitute  of  almost  every  means  required  to  prosecute  his  voyage,  and 
ruined  in  fortune  by  the  loss  of  the  Griffin,  set  out  on  foot  for  Canada 
to  procure  aid,  taking  but  three  men  to  accompany  him  and  leaving 
the  rest  to  guard  the-  fort,  the  command  of  which  he  entrusted  to 
Tonti,  with  directions  to  fortify  Rock  Fort,  a  cliff  on  the  Illinois  River, 
rising  to  a  great  height  above  its  banks.  During  the  absence  of  La 
Salle,  a  large  body  of  warriors  of  the  Iroquois  or  the  five  Indian  Na- 
tions of  Northern  New  York,  excited  to  hostilities  by  the  enemies  of 
La  Salle,  forced  Tonti  to  abandon  the  construction  of  the  fort  and  to 
seek  refuge  in  the  country  of  the  Miamies.  When  La  Salle  after- 
wards returned,  with  a  supply  of  men  and  stores,  he  found  the  fort 
entirely  deserted,  and  thereupon  visited  Green  Bay,  recommenced 
trade  and  established  friendly  intercourse  with  the  natives,  found 
Tonti  and  his  companions,  left  Chicago  on  the  4th  of  January,  ]682, 
and  having  built  a  spacious  barge  on  the  Illinois  River,  descended 
the  Mississippi  to  the  sea.  La  Salle  saw  at  once  the  unparalleled 
resources  of  this  vast  valley,  and  his  exultation  knew  no  bounds,  when 
he  planted  the  arms  of  France  on  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
Claiming  the  country  for  France,  in  honor  of  Louis  XIV.,  under 
whose  patronage  its  discovery  was  achieved,  he  called  it  Louisiana. 
Having  descended  the  Mississippi  to  the  sea  and  informed  himself 
about  everything  he  wanted,  he  returned.  On  ascending  the  river  a 
part  of  the  company  left  behind  settled  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cabokia, 
and  their  vicinity,  being  afterwards  joined  by  other  emigrants  from 
Canada.  La  Salle  himself  returned  to  France  by  way  of  Canada,  and 
having  given  a  most  glowing  description  of  his  discoveries  to  the 
king,  was  entrusted  with  the  command  of  another  expedition,  fitted 
out  by  the  king  himself  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  the  settlement 
of  Louisiana;  but  having  inadvertently  passed  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, was  obliged  by  his  companions,  who  were  unwilling  to  return, 
to  land  in  Texas,  where  he  founded  the  first  settlement,  and  after 
2*  B 


18  HISTORY. 

suWering  innumerable  privations  with  his  party,  every  one  of  his  ships 
being  wrecked,  and  his  colony  diminished  from  250  to  50  persons,  he 
resolved  to  leave  20  men  at  the  fort,  and  to  go  with  the  residue  to 
Canada  in  search  of  supplies.  Whilst  on  his  way  thither,  he  was 
treacherously  murdered  on  the  ITth  of  March,  1687,  by  two  of  his 
own  men,  who,  stung  to  madness  by  disappointment  in  their  expecta- 
tions of  boundless  wealth,  resorted  to  assassination  as  the  means,  by 
which  to  avenge  themselves  upon  the  person  of  their  generous  com- 
mander. Thus  perished  miserably  La  Salle,  no  doubt  the  founder  of 
the  French  dominion  in  the  Mississippi  valley,  who  by  his  courage, 
his  vast  comprehension,  his  restless  energy,  and  untiring  efforts  to 
promote  the  interests  of  his  country,  has  secured  to  his  name  an  im- 
mortality of  renown. 

Two  yeare  after  his  death  war  was  declared  between  France  and 
England;  but  though  the  French  and  English  colonists  devastated 
and  plundered  each  other's  frontiers,  the  military  occupation  of  Illi- 
nois was  continued  without  interruption.  Public  documents  of  the 
year  1606  mention  a  fort  named  St.  Louis,  and  the  wish  of  Louis 
XIV.  to  preserve  it  in  good  condition.  The  actual  settlement  of 
Illinois,  however,  advanced  but  slowly.  G-ravier  succeeded  Allouez 
at  the  Jesuit  mission  of  Kaskaskia,  "  the  village  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception."  Sebastian  Rasles  joined  him  in  the  year  1693  as  fellow- 
laborer.  He  investigated  the  principles  of  the  Illinois  language  and 
established  its  principal  rules,  and  preached  the  gospel,  though  sur- 
rounded by  perils  and  opposed  by  Indian  sorcerers.  After  the  recall 
of  Gravier  and  the  decease  of  several  of  the  missionaries,  Gabriel 
Marest  joined  the  mission,  and  for  some  time  administered  its  affairs. 
"  Our  life,"  said  Marest,  "  is  passed  in  wading  through  marshes,  where 
we  plunge  sometimes  to  the  girdle,  over  boundless  prairies,  and  in 
rambling  through  thick  woods  and  forests,  in  climbing  over  hills,  in 
paddling  the  canoe  across  lakes  and  rivers  to  catch  a  poor  savage,  who 
flies  from  us,  and  whom  we  can  neither  tame  by  teachings  nor 
caresses." 

At  the  request  of  the  Peorias,  Marest  established  a  mission  among 
them.  He  was  aided  by  Marmet,  whose  fervid  eloquence,  according 
to  the  testimony  of  Marest  himself,  made  him  the  soul  of  the  mission. 
His  pupils  at  early  dawn  attended  church  neatly  dressed  in  large  deer 


HISTORY.  19 

skins,  or  in  robes  made  of  several.  After  receiving  lessons  ttey 
chanted  canticles.  Mass  was  tlicn  said  in  presence  of  the  French  and 
the  converts,  the  women  on  one  side  and  the  men  on  the  other.  After 
prayer  the  missionaries  visited  the  sick  and  administered  medicine. 
In  the  afternoon  they  instructed  in  the  catechism  both  young  and  old, 
every  one  of  whom  had  to  answer  their  questions.  In  the  evening  all 
assembled  at  church  for  instruction,  to  offer  prayers  to  the  Most  High, 
and  to  chant  the  hymns  of  the  Church.  On  Sundays  and  festivals, 
as  also  after  vespers,  the  people  were  edified  with  an  eloquent  sermon. 
After  sunset,  parties  would  meet  in  each  other's  cabins  to  spend  the 
night  in  reciting  the  chaplet  in  alternate  choirs,  and  in  singing  psalms, 
which  were  frequently  homilies,  with  the  words  set  to  familiar  tunes. 
Saturday  and  Sunday  were  the  days  appointed  for  confession  and  com- 
munion, every  convert  confessing  once  in  a  fortnight.  Many  of  the 
Indians  were  converted,  and  their  daughters  married  to  the  French 
emigrants,  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

In  1699  Lemoine  de  Ibberville  was  appointed  Governor  of  Lou- 
isiana, and  arriving  with  a  French  colony  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, built  a  fort  twelve  miles  west  of  Pensacola  River.  From 
that  time  the  Territory  of  Illinois  was  included  in  and  became  part 
of  Louisiana.  A  line  of  fortified  posts  now  existed  between  the  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Jealous  of  the  growth  of 
French  power  in  America,  the  English  planned  an  expedition  for  the 
reduction  of  Canada,  and  fitted  out  a  fleet  of  fifteen  ships  of  war  and 
forty  transports,  with  seven  veteran  regiments  from  Marlborough's 
army  on  board,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Hoveden  Walker.  The 
news  of  the  intended  expedition  soon  reached  Quebec,  the  fortifications 
of  which  were  immediately  strengthened,  and  the  Indian  nations  of 
the  Far  West,  including  the  Illinois,  summoned  for  its  defence- 
Whilst  the  Indian  warriors  were  assembling  at  Quebec  and  Montreal, 
the  fleet,  which,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1711,  had  arrived  in  Boston, 
took  in  supplies  of  stores,  and  the  colonial  forces  which  were  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  expedition,  and  sailed  for  the  St.  Lawrence.  As  it 
ascended  the  river,  the  fleet  became  eisveloped  in  a  dense  fog  ,  the 
Admiral  proceeding  too  incautiously,  eight  of  the  vessels  sufiered  ship- 
wreck, and  nearly  a  thousand  men  were  drowned.     At  a  coucjil  of 


20  HISTORY. 

war  it  was  resolved  to  return ;  and  thus  this  expedition,  undertaken 
at  great  expense,  ended  in  ignominious  failure. 

Peace  being  at  length  concluded  between  France  and  England,  Lou- 
isiana and  Canada  were  confirmed  to  the  former.  Obliged  by  the 
sanguinary  and  expensive  wars  in  which  he  was  involved,  to  withhold 
from  Louisiana  the  usual  supplies  of  money  and  men,  and  notwith- 
standing determined  to  prevent  his  enemies  from  taking  possession  of 
the  same,  the  King  of  France,  on  the  14th  of  September,  1712, 
granted  Louisiana,  including  also  the  State  of  Illinois  and  its  territory 
of  Wisconsin,  to  Anthony  Crozat,  whose  character  and  abilities  were 
sure  pledges,  that  he  would  make  the  colony  prosper  under  his  direc- 
tion, and  put  an  end  to  the  dissensions  between  the  provincial  autho- 
rities. Admitted  into  partnership  with  Crozat,  De  La  Motte  Catilla 
was  appointed  Governor  of  Louisiana  under  the  royal  grant,  and  en- 
tered accordingly  upon  its  government.  Agriculture  being  neglected 
by  the  settlers,  large  sums  were  expended  for  provisions  by  Crozat, 
who,  at  the  end  of  five  years,  finding  his  disbursements  to  exceed  his 
receipts  by  about  125,000  livres,  and  being  unwilling  to  incur  further 
loss,  surrendered  his  grant  to  the  Crown,  two  years  after  the  death  of 
Louis  XIV.  A  trading  company,  known  as  the  Western  Company, 
divided  into  200,000  shares  of  500  livres  each,  was  formed,  and  the 
grant  surrendered  by  Crozat  conferred  upon  it.  The  capital  of  the 
Company  was  composed  of  State  Securities,  then  selling  at  a  discount 
of  78  per  cent.  John  Law,  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  a  gambler  and 
banker  by  trade,  a  daring  speculator  throughout,  and  at  that  time  a 
favorite  of  the  French  Regent,  because,  by  establishing  a  bank  which 
flooded  the  country  with  paper  money  to  the  amount  of  1,000,000,000 
livres,  and  enabled  its  unscrupulous  founder  to  pay  the  interest  on  the 
public  debt  with  its  worthless  issues,  he  had  for  a  moment  succeeded 
in  arresting  the  national  bankruptcy,  paid  also  the  whole  of  the  in- 
terest due' on  this  part  of  the  public  debt;  in  consequence  whereof  a 
sudden  rise  in  its  value  took  place  to  par,  and  John  Law  was  entrusted 
hy  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  who  governed  the  State  in  the  name  of  Louis 
XV  ,  then  a  minor,  with  the  direction  of  the  affairs  of  the  said  West- 
•?rn,  now  called  the  Company  of  the  Indies,  the  number  of  whose 
shares  were  immediately  increased  by  him  to  a  very  large  amount. 
Carrying  on  his  system  of  colonization  and  trading  with  the  utmost 


HISTORY.  21 

prodigality,  John  Law  in  1720,  when  at  the  height  of  his  fortune, 
built  at  a  cost  of  several  millions  of  livres,  Fort  Chartres,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Kaskaskia,  and  near  the  centre  of  the  French  settlements 
in  Illinois.  At  length,  however,  his  downfall,  which  cool  reflecting 
men  from  the  beginning  had  seen  to  be  inevitable,  took  place.  No 
sooner  had  more  notes  been  issued,  than  the  natural  state  of  the  busi- 
ness of  the  country  could  call  for,  and  the  specie  been  driven  out  of 
circulation  by  a  superabundance  of  paper  money,  for  the  redemption 
of  which  nothing  whatever  of  value  had  been  pledged,  than  the  bank 
exploded  with  a  great  crash.  John  Law,  but  a  short  time  before  the 
most  influential  person  in  the  State,  escaped  with  difl&culty  being  torn 
to  pieces  by  the  excited  populace,  and  died  at  Venice  in  the  most 
wretched  poverty  in  1729. 

The  failure  of  the  master  spirit,  who  through  his  bank  had  so  libe- 
rally supplied  the  India  Company  with  the  funds  required  to  carry  on 
their  business,  resulted  of  course  in  the  dissolution  of  the  said  com- 
pany. Louisiana  being  rctroceded  to  the  Crown  in  the  year  1730,  its 
interests  were  again  the  care  of  government;  Louis  XV.  and  his 
minister,  Cardinal  Fleury,  being  very  anxious  to  promote  its  pros- 
perity. Louisiana  at  that  time  included  the  entire  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  its  tributary  streams;  all  the  countries  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains,  with  the  head-springs  of  the  Alleghany,  the 
Monongahela,  the  Kanawha,  the  Tennessee,  the  Cumberland,  and  the 
Ohio,  were  claimed  by  Frenchmen  as  forming  part  of  it.  The  French 
incessantly  labored  to  extend  their  power  and  authority  through  the 
valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  built  forts  intended  to  control  the  Indians. 
Having  induced  the  Shawnee  nation  to  place  themselvgs  under  the 
protection  of  Louis  XV.,  they  erected  a  fort  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Ohio,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Shawnees.  Dis- 
pleased with  the  threatening  aspect  of  this  stronghold,  the  savages 
devised  the  following  ingenious  stratagem  for  its  capture.  A  number 
of  Indians,  each  of  whom  was  covered  with  a  bear  skin  and  walked 
on  all  fours,  appeared  at  daybreak  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
Supposing  them  to  be  bears,  the  greater  part  of  the  garrison  crossed 
the  river  and  went  in  pursuit  of  them,  whilst  the  remainder  went  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  to  witness  the  sport.  Meanwhile  the  Indian 
warriors  rushed  forth  from  their  hiding  places  in  the  woods  near  by, 


22  HISTORY. 

entered  it  without  opposition,  and  having  thus  possessed  themselves 
of  the  fort,  surprised  and  massacred  the  French  on  their  return. 

The  French  afterwards  built  another  fort  near  that  fatal  spot, 
which,  in  commemoration  of  this  disaster,  they  called  Fort  Massacre. 
It  was  occupied  by  the  French  until  about  1750,  when  it  was  aban- 
doned, and  is  now,  like  most  of  the  ancient  forts  in  America,  but  a 
heap  of  ruins. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1756,  another  war  broke  out  between  France 
and  England,  of  which  war,  since  it  resulted  in  the  cession  of  Canada 
and  the  countries  east  of  the  Mississippi,  Illinois  included,  to  the 
English  Crown,  we  shall  state  the  general  facts. 

A  British  tpding  company  having,  previous  to  the  declaration  of 
war,  encroached  upon  French  territory,  the  French  took  the  alarm,  built 
the  Fort  Du  Quesne  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Pittsburgh,  and 
dispersed  a  party  of  British  workmen  engaged  in  building  a  fort  on  the 
Ohio.  Having  received  information  of  these  open  acts  of  hostility,  the 
Legislature  of  Virginia  despatched,  in  the  year  1754,  a  military  force 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Washington,  afterwards  the  illustrious 
President  of  the  United  States,  to  the  scene  of  action.  A  party  was 
sent  from  Fort  Du  Quesne  to  surprise  him,  but  was  itself  surprised  by 
Col.  Washington,  and  every  man  taken  prisoner.  After  this  action 
Col.  Washington  was  assailed  in  a  fort  previously  erected  by  him, 
by  a  much  superior  force  of  French  and  Indians,  and,  after  a  gallant 
resistance,  obliged  to  surrender  the  fort  and  to  retreat  to  Virginia. 

In  the  summer  of  the  following  year  Gen.  Braddock,  at  the  head 
of  2500  British  veterans,  and  a  body  of  Virginia  militia,  marched 
against  Fort  Du  Quesne.  Whilst  proceeding  through  the  woods  in 
careless  security,  the  tronps  were  suddenly  saluted  with  a  tremendous 
fire  of  musketry  from  all  sides,  by  an  invisible  foe.  The  panic  at  once 
became  general.  The  American  militia  fought  and  died  like  soldiers, 
but  the  British  veterans  fled  in  the  utmost  confusion,  notwithstanding 
the  efforts  of  their  officers,  and  especially  of  Col.  Washington,  who, 
during  the  whole  action,  displayed  the  most  heroic  bravery  and  admi- 
rable presence  of  mind,  and  was  the  only  mounted  officer  who  es- 
caped unhurt ;  though  four  balls  pierced  his  coat,  and  two  horses 
were  shot  under  him,  he  remained  unwoundod,  his  life  being  evidently 
preserved  by.  Providence,  which  destined  him  to  play,  at  a  later  period, 


HISTORY.  23 

SO  noble  and  prominent  a  part  in  the  history  of  the  country  which 
hails  him  as  her  founder.  Such  was  the  terror  which  struck  the  army, 
that  they  left  all  the  artillery,  ammunition  and  baggage  to  the  enemy, 
and  never  stopped  in  their  flight  until  they  reached  Fort  Cumberland. 
In  this  action  the  British  loss  amounted  to  700  killed^  while  the 
French  force  opposed  to  them  was  but  400,  all  told.  Two  subsequent 
expeditions  undertaken  against  the  French  proving  equally  abortive, 
the  campaign  of  1755  ended  in  the  disgrace  of  the  British  arms. 

In  the  year  1756  war  was  again  declared  between  France  and  Great 
Britain.  Whilst  the  British  army  was  lying  idle  at  Albany,  the 
French,  under  the  command  of  the  vigilant  and  brave  Marquis  De 
Montcalm,  captured  Fort  Oswego  and  conducted  the  whole  garrison, 
1400  men,  as  prisoners  of  war  to  Canada. 

Lord  Loudon  opened  the  campaign  of  1757  by  proceeding  with 
12,000  men  to  attack  Louisburg,  but  finding  the  fortress  in  a  formi- 
dable state  of  defence,  concluded  it  to  be  the  better  part  of  valor  to 
postpone  the  attack  to  some  more  convenient  opportunity.  His  de- 
parture leaving  the  State  of  New  York  exposed  to  an  attack,  the  vigi- 
lant Montcalm  invaded  th6  State,  laid  siege  to  Fort  William  Henry, 
and  compelled  its  garrison,  numbering  3000  men,  to  surrender  at 
discretion.  "Thus/'  as  the  English  historian  Smollet  very  justly 
observes,  "ended  the  third  campaign,  where,  with  an  evident  superi- 
ority of  numbers  and  resources,  we  abandoned  our  allies,  exposed  our 
people,  and  relinquished  a  large  tract  of  country,  to  the  shame  and 
disgrace  of  the  British  name." 

The  English  opened  the  campaign  of  1758  with  the  prodigious 
force  of  50,000  men,  one  half  of  whom  were  regular  troops,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Abercrombie.  Their  fleets  cruised  at  the  same  time 
along  the  American  coast,  and  prevented  any  reinforcements  whatso- 
ever from  reaching  the  hands  of  the  French  in  America.  Gen.  Aber- 
crombie, at  the  head  of  17,000  troops,  attacked  Ticonderoga,  but  was 
repulsed.  The  expedition  against  Fort  Du  Quesne  was  more  success- 
ful. All  reinforcements,  either  from  France  or  from  Canada,  having 
been  intercepted,  the  garrison,  entirely  destitute  of  provisions  as  well 
as  materials  of  war,  found  themselves  obliged  to  abandon  the  fort 
without  a  struggle,  at  the  approach  of  Col.  Washington  :  and  after 
getting  it  on  fire,  proceeded  in  boats  down  the  river.     The  fortg  of 


24  HISTORY. 

Niagara,  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  attacked  by  superior  numbers, 
were  also  abandoned  by  the  French.  About  this  time  another  pow- 
erful army,  under  the  command  of  the  young  and  gallant  Wolfe, 
arrived  from  England  in  America,  to  aid  Gen.  Abercrombie  in  the 
reduction  of  Canada.  The  cause  of  the  French  had  now  become 
hopeless ;  their  numbers  were  too  small,  and  their  communication  with 
France  being  cut  off,  all  their  valor  and  bravery  could  afford  them  no 
chance  of  success  in  a  struggle  against  such  fearful  odds,  but  would 
only  contribute  to  their  destruction.  Louisburg  was  taken,  and 
although  the  victorious  career  of  Gen.  Wolfe  was  momentarily  checked 
by  his  defeat  at  the  Falls  of  Montmorency,  where,  in  an  attack  upon 
the  French,  he  lost  500  men,  the  subsequent  battle  fought  by  him 
upon  the  plains  of  Abraham,  on  the  loth  day  of  September,  1759, 
against  the  French  and  Indian  forces  under  the  command  of  the  Mar- 
quis De  Montcalm,  in  which  both  the  contending  Generals  were  killed, 
the  one  in  the  moment  of  his  victory,  the  other  in  the  moment  of  his 
defeat,  broke  forever  the  French  power  in  North  America.  Quebec 
surrendered,  and  with  Quebec  all  Canada. 

When  the  news  of  this  eventful  battle  reached  England,  so  much 
were  the  people  of  that  country  astonished  at  their  own  success,  that 
a  day  of  most  solemn  thanksgiving  was  appointed  by  royal  proclama- 
tion throughout  the  British  empire,  and  the  General,  whose  defeat  at 
Montmorency  had  made  all  Great  Britain  grumble,  and  who  on  the 
fields  of  Abraham  had  only  done  his  duty,  was  now  extolled  to  the 
skies  as  the  greatest  hero  the  world  had  ever  seen,  &c.  &c. 

In  the  conquest  of  the  country  the  English  had  not  conquered  the 
hearts  of  the  native  Indians.  Pontiae,  the  great  Indian  chief,  appre- 
hended danger  from  the  English,  from  whose  arrogant  and  insolent 
behaviour  he  had  reason  to  infer,  that  they  were  much  inclined  to 
expel  him  and  his  people  from  the  country  of  their  fathers  altogether. 
"  When  the  French  came  hither,''  said  a  Chippeway  chief,  "  they 
came  and  kissed  us :  they  called  us  children,  and  we  found  them 
fathers  :  we  lived  like  children  in  the  same  lodge."  The  French,  in 
fact,  had  lived  with  the  Indians,  had  assisted  in  their  councils,  smoked 
the  calumet  with  them,  had  made  them  presents,  and  evinced  much 
anxiety  on  their  behalf.  "  On  the  other  hand,"  said  Pontiae,  "  the 
English  neglected  all  those  circumstances,  which  made  the  neighbor' 


HISTORY.  25 

hood  of  the  Frencli  agreeable,  and  which  might  have  made  their  own 
at  least  tolerable.  The  conduct  of  the  French  never  gave  rise  to  sus- 
picion, the  conduct  of  the  English  never  gave  rest  to  it." 

Pontiac,  who  clearly  discerned  that  the  British  usurpations  would  ter- 
minate in  the  total  extinction  of  his  race,  began  to  excite  the  Indians 
with  the  story  of  their  wrongs,  and  to  dream  dreams,  in  which  he  pre- 
tended to  have  interviews  with  the  G-reat  Spirit,  during  one  of  which 
the  Great  Spirit  had  asked  him  :  "  Why  do  you  suffer  these  dogs  in 
red  clothing  to  enter  your  country  and  take  the  land  I  give  you? 
Drive  them  from  it,  and  when  you  are  in  distress  I  will  help  you." 
Having  thus  roused  the  savage  multitude  to  bloody  vengeance,  he 
concerted  a  plan  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  savage  tribes  along 
the  English  frontier  for  more  than  a  thousand  miles,  and  having  com- 
pleted his  arrangements,  made  in  the  month  of  May,  1763,  a  simul- 
taneous attack  upon  each  of  the  twelve  British  forts  between  G-reen 
Bay  and  Pittsburgh.  Nine  of  them  were  immediately  captured,  with- 
out the  slightest  previous  suspicion  on  the  part  of  the  British  that  the 
Indians  had  any  hostile  intentions.  Ingenious  artifices  were  used  by 
the  savages  to  effect  the  capture  of  the  forts.  Thus  the  Ottowas, 
before  committing  their  assault  upon  Fort  Mackinaw,  arranged  a  great 
game  of  ball,  to  which  the  British  officers  were  invited.  While  en- 
gaged in  play,  the  Indians  managed  to  throw  the  ball  once  or  twice 
over  the  pickets,  and  were  suffered  to  procure  it  from  within  the  for- 
tress. Suddenly  the  ball  was  again  thrown  into  the  fort,  and  all  the 
Indians  rushed  after  it.  The  troops  were  butchered  and  scalped,  and 
the  fort  destroyed. 

Peace  was  at  length  concluded  between  France  and  England,  and  a 
treaty  to  that  effect  signed  at  Paris  on  the  10th  of  February,  1763; 
in  virtue  of  which  France  ceded  to  England  Nova  Scotia,  the  whole 
of  Canada  and  its  dependencies,  and  all  that  portion  of  Louisiana  east 
of  the  Mississippi,  together  with  the  French  posts  and  settlements  on 
the  Ohio.  The  State  of  Illinois  was  included  in  the  above  cession, 
and  therefore,  after  the  10th  of  February,  1763,  became  part  of  the 
British  empire.  News  having  been  received  in  America  of  peace 
being  restored,  Pontiac  soon  relaxed  in  his  efforts,  the  tomahawk  was 
buried,  and  the  war-whoop  no  longer  resounded  through  the  thickets 
of  the  forests.  Unable  to  bear  the  sight  of  the  red-coats,  Pontiac 
3 


26       '  HISTORY. 

left  the  country  and  repaired  to  Illinois,  where  he  was  assassinated  by 
a  Peoria  Indian.  His  nation,  the  Ottowas,  and  the  Pottawatomies 
and  Chippeways,  determined  to  avenge  the  death  of  their  revered 
leader,  commenced  a  war  upon  the  Peorias  and  their  confederates,  the 
Kaskaskias  and  Cahokias,  in  which  these  tribes  were  nearly  exter- 
minated. 

At  the  time  this  State  was  ceded  to  England,  the  French  portion 
of  the  population  amounted  to  about  3000  souls.  They  resided  along 
the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers,  and  their  largest  towns  were  Kas- 
kaskia  and  Cahokia,  of  which  the  former  contained  about  100,  and 
the  latter  about  50  families.  Other  small  villages  were  in  their 
vicinity,  and  one  at  Peoria,  on  the  Illinois  Riyer.  Prairie  Du  Rocher 
contained  14  families,  and  Prairie  Du  Pont,  a  short  distance  from 
Cahokia,  about  as  many.  Another  considerable  settlement  was  in  and 
about  Fort  Chartres ;  but  the  whole  did  not  exceed  3000  individuals. 
The  French  settlements  were  laid  out  by  common  consent  on  the  same 
plan  or  system.  The  blocks  were  about  three  hundred  feet  square, 
and  each  blpck  contained  four  lots.  The  streets  were  rather  narrow, 
but  always  at  right  angles.  Lots  in  the  old  times  were  enclosed  by  cedar 
posts  or  pickets,  planted  about  two  feet  in  the  ground  and  extending  five 
feet  above.  These  pickets  were  placed  touching  each  other,  the  whole 
forming  a  light  and  safe  paling  around  each  proprietor's  lot.  The 
upper  ends  of  the  pickets  were  sharpened,  so  that  it  was  rather  diffi- 
cult to  get  over  the  fence.  A  neat  gate  was  generally  made  in  the 
fence,  opposite  to  the  door  of  the  house,  and  the  whole  concern  was 
kept  clean  and  neat. 

Each  village  had  a  tract  of  land  for  common  fields,  containing  seve- 
ral thousand  acres,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  common  fence,  each 
family  possessing  a  separate  and  well-defined  portion  of  the  land  ex- 
clusively for  itself.  Besides  this,  a  common,  which  contained  fre- 
quently several  thousand  acres,  and  in  which  each  villager  had  a  joint, 
instead  of  a  separate  interest,  was  appended  to  every  village  for  wood 
and  pasturage.  Each  proprietor  of  land  was  bound  to  make  and 
keep  in  repair  the  fences  on  his  land. 

The  French  in  those  days  mostly  sowed  spring  wheat.  Sometimes 
wheat  was  sowed  late  in  the  fall.  Indian  corn  was  not  so  much  culti- 
vated as  wheat,  or  used  as  much  by  the  inhabitants.     A  species  of 


•HISTORY.  27 

Indian  or  hominy  corn  was  raised  for  the  voyagers,  which  was  an 
article  of  commerce.  The  French  did  not  use  Indian  corn  meal  for 
bread  to  any  great  extent,  but  raised  it  for  stock  and  to  fatten  hogs. 

Their  farming  implements  were  neither  well  made  nor  of  the  pro- 
per kind.  Their  ploughs  had  not  much  iron  about  them.  A  small 
piece  of  iron  was  on  the  front  part,  covering  the  wood.  They  had  no 
coulter,  and  had  a  large  wooden  mould-board.  The  handles  were 
short  and  almost  perpendicular,  the  beam  was  nearly  straight,  resting 
on  an  axle  supported  by  two  small  wheels,  the  wheels  low,  and  the 
beam  so  fixed  on  the  axle  with  a  chain  or  rope  of  raw  hide,  that  the 
plough  could  be  placed  deep  or  shallow  in  the  ground.  Horses  were 
seldom  used  for  ploughing,  oxen  being  preferred.  The  carts  of  the 
French,  like  the  ploughs,  were  constructed  without  iron.  When  the 
Am-ericans  under  Gen.  Clarke  camo  to  the  country,  they  called  these 
carts  "  barefooted  carts,"  because  they  had  no  iron  on  the  wheels. 

The  French  houses  were  generally  one  story  high,  and  made  of  wood. 
A  few  of  them  were  of  stone.  There  was  not  a  single  brick  house  in 
the  country  for  one  hundred  or  more  years  from  its  first  settlement. 
These  houses  were  formed  of  large  posts  or  timbers,  the  posts  being 
three  or  four  feet  apart  in  many  of  them.  In  others  the  posts  were 
closer  together,  and  the  intervals  filled  up  with  a  mortar  made  of  com- 
mon clay  and  cut  straw.  The  mortar  filled  up  the  cracks,  so  that  the 
wall  was  even  and  regular.  The  whole  wall,  outside  and  inside, 
was  usually  whitewashed  with  fine  lime,  so  that  these  houses  pre- 
sented a  clean,  neat  appearance.  The  other  class  of  houses  having 
the  posts  further  apart,  the  spaces  were  filled  up  with  puncheons. 
The  posts  were  grooved  for  the  puncheons  to  fit  in.  These  houses 
were  used  for  stables,  barns,  &c.  &c.  The  covering  of  the  houses, 
stables,  &c.,  was  generally  of  straw,  or  long  grass  cut  in  the  prairie. 
All  the  houses  had  porticoes  around  them,  the  posts  of  which  were 
generally  of  cedar  or  mulberry.  A  garden  was  assigned  to  each  house. 
The  doors  were  plain  batton  work,  of  walnut  usually.  The  windows 
were  generally  glazed,  and  the  sash  opened  and  shut  on  hinges.  Close 
by  the  houses  were  neat  clean  wells,  nicely  walled  with  stone,  having 
a  windlass  fixed  in  them,  so  that  water  was  convenient  and  clean. 

Hats  in  those  times  were  very  little  used.  The  capot,  made  of 
white  blanket,  was  the  universal  dress  for  the  laboring  class  of  people* 


28  HISTORY.  ^ 

The  capot  was  a  kind  of  cap,  attached  at  the  cape,  and  raised  in  cold 
weather  over  the  head.  Coarse  blue  stuff  was  used  by  the  working- 
men  for  pantaloons  in  summer,  and  buckskin  or  cloth  in  the  winter. 
Moccasins  made  from  the  skins  of  cattle  were  used  instead  of  boots. 
The  females  generally  wore  the  deer  skin  moccasins.  Both  sexes 
kept  always  on  hand  something  tasty  and  neat  for  the  church  and 
ball-room. 

The  French  in  those  days  turned  their  attention  to  the  Indian  trade 
and  to  hunting,  in  a  great  measure,  for  support.  Game  was  then 
plenty;  buffalo,  and  other  wild  animals,  were  found  in  the  prairies 
between  Kaskaskia  and  Vincennes,  sufficient  to  supply  the  inhabitants 
with  animal  food.  The  Indians  called  the  Kaskaskia,  Raccoon  River, 
from  the  number  of  those  animals  living  about  it.  A  great  many  of 
the  inhabitants  were  expert  voyagers  and  hunters,  and  a  hardy  and 
energetic  race  of  men,  who  could  not  be  terrified  by  hardships  or 
perils,  and  who  often  performed  their  laborious  service  without  any- 
thing to  eat,  for  days  together.  The  women  spun,  wove,  and  made 
the  garments,  and  carefully  attended  to  their  household  affairs.  Both 
sexes  spent  their  leisure  time  in  lively  conversation,  in  dancing,  or 
other  amusements,  according  to  the  customs  of  their  nation;  which,  as 
true  Frenchmen,  even  at  so  great  a  distance  from  their  native  country, 
they  had  not  been  able  to  renounce. 

The  State  of  Illinois,  although  ceded  in  1768,  continued  in  the 
possession  of  France  until  1765,  when  Captain  Stirling,  sent  by  Gen. 
Gage,  then  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  America,  to 
take  possession  of  the  territory,  arrived,  and  assumed  its  government 
in  the  name  of  His  Britannic  Majesty.  He  established  his  head- 
quarters at  Fort  Chartres,  and  issued  a  royal  proclamation,  granting 
to  the  Roman  Catholic  subjects  of  His  Majesty  the  free  and  undis- 
turbed exercise  of  their  religion,  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  as  it  had  already  been  granted  to  the  Canadians. 

Captain  Stirling  was  succeeded  by  Major  Farmer,  and  the  latter 
superseded  by  Col.  Reed,  in  1766.  Col.  Reed  remained  also  but  a 
short  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wilkins,  who 
arrived  at  Kaskaskia,  on  the  5th  of  September,  1768.  Ever  since 
the  occupation  of  the  territory  by  the  British,  the  administration  of 
justice  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  military  commandant,  which 


HISTORY.  29 

caused  no  little  annoyance  to  the  public,  and  occasioned  frequent 
complaints.  A  Civil  Court,  consisting  of  seven,  judges,  was  after- 
wards established,  but  trial  by  jury  being  refused,  it  did  not  become 
popular.  Many  of  the  French  inhabitants,  finding  the  British  rule 
insupportable,  emigrated  to  Louisiana. 

The  war  of  1756  had  increased  the  public  debt  of  Great  Britain  to 
an  alarming  magnitude,  and  various  expedients  were  proposed  for  the 
payment  of  its  interest  and  the  liquidation  of  its  principal.  To  raise 
part  of  the  money  necessary  for  this  purpose,  the  British  Parliament 
claimed  the  right  and  power  of  taxing  the  American  Colonies,  although 
they  were  entirely  without  representation  in  the  Parliament,  and 
Great  Britain  had  not  even  the  slightest  claim  upon  their  gratitude, 
since  nothing  whatever  had  been  demanded  by  the  proud  and  inde- 
pendent American  Colonists,  or  granted  and  provided  by  the  nig- 
gardly hand  of  the  British  Government,  to  promote  the  settlement  and 
welfare  of  the  Colonies.  The  American  people,  too  intelligent  not  to 
understand  their  rights,  denied,  repeatedly,  the  existence  of  any  legal 
power  on  the  part  of  Parliament  to  tax  the  Colonies ;  but  Parliament 
not  only  established  it  as  a  fundamental  principle,  "that  Great  Britain 
had  a  right  to  tax  America,"  authorizing  the  imposition  of  duties 
upon  tea,  glass,  paper,  &c.,  but  also  passed  a  bill  for  quartering  troops 
upon  the  Colonists,  another  for  depriving  them  of  trial  by  jury,  and 
another  for  transporting  persons'  charged  with  offences,  beyond  the 
high  seas,  for  trial,  and  various  others  of  a  similar  despotic  nature. 
Such  acts  of  tyranny  and  oppression  would  not  be  endured  by  a 
generous  people,  and  met,  therefore,  with  the  most  decided  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  American  people,  which  led  to  the  outbreak  of 
hostilities  in  1775,  inaugurating  the  glorious  American  Revolution, 
and  causing  the  last  ligaments  that  bound  the  descendants  of  England 
to  the  land  of  their  fathers,  to  be  severed  for  ever. 

About  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  War, 
or  rather,  before,  the  American  Colonists  had  extended  their  settle- 
ments west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  occupied  Kentucky.  Of  the 
first  settlers,  who  repaired  thither  to  seek  a  new  home,  the  most  con- 
spicuous were  Daniel  Boone,  who  arrived  there  in  1769,  and  George 
Rogers  Clarke,  who  came  thither  from  Virginia,  in  1775.  The  popu- 
lation of  Illinois  was  then  about  the  same  as  at  the  time  of  its  cession 
3* 


30  HISTORY, 

to  England,  a  majority  of  it  consisting  of  French  and  Catholics. 
Kaskaskia,  Cahokia,  Saint  Vincennes,  in  Indiana,  Detroit  and  Macki- 
naw, were  garrisoned  by  English  troops. 

Preparing  themselves  for  the  approaching  struggle,  in  which  they 
were  to  be  so  ignominiously  defeated,  the,  British,  by  promises  and 
gifts,  had  pacified  the  savages,  and  made  them  their  allies,  by  repre- 
senting to  them  the  Americans  as  bent  upon  their  extermination, 
supplied  them  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  paid  them  liberally 
in  advance  for  the  scalps  they  were  to  bring  in.  Immediately  upon 
the  commencement  of  hostilities,  the  savages  attacked  the  frontier 
settlements  and  burnt  them  to  the  ground,  causing  the  forests  to  re- 
sound with  the  heart-rending  shrieks  of  helpless  women  and  children, 
who  fell  beneath  the  murderous  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  of  an 
enemy  that  knew  no  quarter. 

Clarke,  tracing  the  incitement  of  the  Indian  ravages  to  the  British 
settlements  at  Kaskaskia,  Detroit,  and  Vincennes,  his  heart  dilating 
with  joy  at  the  idea  of  annexing  to  his  country  a  territory,  the 
splendid  resources  of  which  he  had  found,  on  examination,  to  be  un- 
rivalled any  where,  conceived  the  plan  of  carrying  the  war  into  Illi- 
nois. He  hastened  to  Williamsburgh,  then  the  capital  of  Virginia, 
sought  and  obtained  an  interview  with  the  Governor,  was  promised  a 
bounty. of  300  acres  for  every  person  who  should  enlist,  furnished  with 
£1200  by  the  Governor,  and  authorized  to  raise  seven  companies  of 
militia;  and^  in  order  that  the  enterprise  might  be  kept  secret,  was 
publicly  instructed  to  proceed  to  Kentucky  for  its  defence ;  being  thus 
"clothed  with  all  the  authority  he  could  wish,"  he  set  oif  on  the  4th 
of  February,  1778,  to  make  haughty  Britain  feel  the  power  of  the 
American  arms.  After  reviewing  his  little  band  of  four  companies, 
equipped  in  the  simplest  manner,  he  commenced  his  march  across  the 
country,  passed  over  the  Ohio  some  distance  above  Fort  Massacre, 
and  continued  to  advance  by  the  nearest  route  against  the  ancient 
French  village  of  Kaskaskia.  Whilst  on  his  march,  he  fell  in  with  a 
party  of  hunters,  who  communicated  to  him,  that  the  town  had  no 
regular  garrison ;  that  the  inhabitants,  who  entertained  most  horrid 
apprehensions  of  the  Virginians,  had  not  even  the  slightest  suspicion 
of  an  attack  being  contemplated;  so  that,  if  they  could  reach  the  town 
without  being  discovered,  they  could  not  ftil  to  render  themselves 


HISTORY.  31 

masters  of  ifc  Resolved  to  profit  by  this  intelligence,  Clarke,  after 
an  arduous  march  of  several  clays,  when  his  provisions  were  now  quite 
exhausted,  arrived  with  his  party  near  Kaskaskia.  They  entered  a 
farm-house  about  a  mile's  distance  from  the  village,  where  they 
learned,  that  though  the  militia  had  been  called  out  the  day  before,  they 
had  been  since  dismissed,  as  no  cause  of  alarm  existed,  and  everything 
was  apparently  tranquil  and  quiet.  Clarke  immediately  divided  his 
detachment  into  several  small  parties,  assigning  to  each  a  place  of 
attack,  and  causing  notice  to  be  given  to  the  inhabitants  that  whoso- 
ever of  them  should  dare  to  appear  in  the  streets,  would  be  instantly 
shot  down.  Everything  turned  out  as  well  as  could  be  wished  ;  both 
the  town  and  the  fort  were  taken,  and  the  British  Governor,  together 
with  his  British  troops,  were  made  prisoners  of  war.  Resolving  to 
make  good  use  of  the  dread,  in  which  the  Virginians  were  regarded, 
Col.  Clarke  at  once  posted  guards  at  every  avenue  of  the  town,  so  as 
to  prevent  all  transmission  of  intelligence  from  without,  disarmed  the 
inhabitants  in  the  short  space  of  two  hours,  and  ordered  his  troops  to 
patrol  the  town  in  every  direction  during  the  night,  making  the  most 
horrible  uproar,  and  whooping  after  the  most  approved  Indian  fashion. 
On  the  next  day  the  troops  were  withdrawn  and  placed  in  different 
positions  about  the  town,  and  the  inhabitants  were  strictly  forbidden 
to  have  any  intercourse,  either  between  themselves,  or  with  the  sol- 
diers. Several  Kaskaskians,  who  had  congregated  and  conversed 
with  each  other,  were  arrested  and  put  in  irons,  without  being  allowed 
to  utter  a  single  word  in  their  defence.  The  whole  town  was  at  once 
overspread  with  terror,  and  neither  mercy  nor  compassion  any  longer 
expected.  At  last,  the  priest,  and  several  of  the  most  influential 
citizens  of  the  village,  were  granted  an  audience  by  Col.  Clarke. 
Addressing  Col.  Clarke  in  a  low  and  submissive  voice,  the  priest,  in 
the  name  of  the  inhabitants,  begged  permission  for  them  all  "  to  as- 
semble once  more  in  the  church  to  take  final  leave  of  each  other,  as 
they  expected  to  be  separated  never  to  meet  again  on  earth."  This 
being  granted,  the  priest,  feeling  his  drooping  spirits  revive,  made  an 
attempt  at  some  further  conversation,  but  was  rudely  interrupted  by 
Col.  Clarke,  who  told  him  that  he  had  no  time  to  listen  any  further 
to  him.  The  whole  town  then  went  to  church,  remaining  there  for  a 
long  time,  after  which  the  same  deputation  waited  again  upon  Col. 


32  HISTORY. 

Clarke  to  express  their  thanks  for  the  indulgence  they  had  received ; 
also  to  solicit  him  not  to  separate  their  families,  and  to  allow  them 
some  clothes  and  provisions  for  their  further  support ;  and  also  to  as- 
sure him  that  they  would  have  long  ago  declared  themselves  in  favor 
of  the  Americans,  had  they  dared  so  to  do  in  the  presence  of  their 
British  rulers.  Regarding  it  as  useless  to  terrify  the  people  any  more, 
Clarke,  throwing  aside  all  disguise,  told  the  people,  who  stood  in  utter 
amazement,  not  knowing  whether  to  trust  their  ears,  that  he  had 
none,  save  the  most  friendly  intentions  towards  them,  that  the  king 
of  France,  having  united  his  arms  with  those  of  America,  he,  Clarke, 
expected  the  war  shortly  to  cease,  and  that  he  was  glad  to  be  con- 
vinced of  their  being  friendly  to  the  American  cause,  notwithstanding 
the  prejudices  excited  against  the  latter  by  British  officers  "  And  now," 
continued  he,  "  to  prove  my  sincerity,  you  will  please  inform  your 
fellow-citizens  that  they  are  at  liberty  to  go  wherever  they  please,  and 
that  their  friends  in  confinement  shall  immediately  be  released."  The 
joy  of  the  village  seniors  on  hearing,  and  of  the  inhabitants,  at  the 
communication  of  the  speech  of  Col.  Clarke,  was  immense,  so  as  to 
baffle  all  attempts  at  description.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  church 
was  instantly  filled,  and  devout  thanks  were  offered  to  the  Most  High 
for  the  miraculous  manner,  in  which  he  had  subdued  the  minds  of 
their  savage  conquerors.  Nor  did  the  gratitude  of  the  people  to  Col. 
Clarke  display  itself  in  mere  words ;  for,  when  Col.  Clarke  resolved 
to  capture,  if  possible,  in  the  same  way,  Cahokia,  which  yet  remained 
in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  several  Kaskaskians  offered  to  aid  him  in 
the  enterprise,  assuring  him  that  the  Cahokians  were  their  relations 
and  friends,  and  would,  at  their  request,  be  ready  to  join  his  cause. 
Accepting  their  services.  Col.  Clarke  despatched  them  in  company 
with  a  party  of  his  own  troops,  to  Cahokia,  which  they  reached  be- 
fore the  surrender  of  Kaskaskia  was  even  known  there.     The  srar- 

o 

rison  of  the  British  Fort  at  Cahokia  was  at  once  compelled  to  sur- 
render at  discretion ;  the  Indian  force  near  Cahokia  was  dispersed, 
and  the  inhabitants,  easily  persuaded  by  their  Kaskaskian  friends,  a 
few  days  afterwards  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  American  Re- 
public. Thus,  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  territory  larger  than  the  whole 
of  Great  Britain,  was  annexed  to  the  Republic  by  the  energy  of  a 
single  man,  at  the  head  of  but  four  companies  of  militia,  who,  for 


HISTORY.  8S 

this  purpose,  had  inarched  and  transported  their  provisions  and  ana- 
munition  for  one  thousand  three  hundred  miles,  by  land  and  water, 
through  a  wild  and  inhospitable  region,  inhabited  by  the  allies  and 
mercenaries  of  England. 

Having  with  a  handful  of  trusty  followers  penetrated  into  the  heart 
ef  a  hostile  country.  Col.  Clarke,  considering  his  situation  rather  deli- 
cate, since  he  had  no  prospect  of  being  speedily  relieved  or  reinforced 
in  case  of  need,  and  being  aware  that  the  position  he  now  occupied 
would  be  unsafe  as  long  as  Fort  Vincennes,  which  impeded  his  com- 
munication with  Virginia,  was  in  the  hands  of  the  British,  determined 
to  reduce  this  fort.  As  a  preliminary  step,  wishing  to  conciliate  to 
himself  the  favors  of  the  lUinoisians,  he  organized  courts,  held  by 
French  judges  elected  by  the  people,  with  a  right  of  appeal  to  himself — 
which  courts  became  very  popular  and  aided  essentially  in  increasing 
his  influence ;  and  further,  besides  instructing  his  soldiers  to  speak  of 
the  troops  at  Kaskaskia  as  a  detachment  only  from  the  main  body, 
stationed  somewhere  at  the  Ohio,  he  caused  the  rumor  to  be  circulated, 
that  reinforcements  were  hourly  expected  to  arrive.  The  warm 
attachment  of  the  Kaskaskians  to  him  rendered  these  measures  of 
precaution  superfluous,  for  when  Col.  Clarke  prepared  in  earnest  for 
an  expedition  against  Fort  Vincennes,  Mr.  Gibault,  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic priest  at  Kaskaskia,  off"ered,  if  it  met  with  his  approbation,  to 
take  the  whole  business  on  himself,  assuring  him  "  that  he  had  no 
doubt  of  being  able  to  bring  that  place  over  to  the  American  interest 
without  the  trouble  of  sending  a  military  force  against  it."  The  offer 
being  accepted,  the  priest  set  off  for  Vincennes.  On  his  arrival  he 
explained  the  object  of  his  mission  to  the  inhabitants,  who,  two  days 
afterwards,  threw  off  their  allegiance  to  the  British  king,  and  in  a 
solemn  assembly  at  their  church,  proclaimed  their  political  union  with 
the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  The  American  flag  being  hoisted, 
and  a  Provisory  Commandant  elected,  the  priest  returned  to  Kas- 
kaskia with  the  agreeable  intelligence,  that  Vincennes  had  gone  over 
to  the  Americans.  On  hearing  this,  Col.  Clarke  appointed  Leonard 
Helm  commandant  at  Vincennes,  and  agent  for  Indian  affairs  in  the 
department  of  the  Wabash.  He  also  sent  a  detailed  report  of  his 
campaign  to  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  urging  the  same  to  appoint  a 
civil  commandant  to  take  charge  of  the  political  affairs  of  the  region 

G 


34  HISTORY. 

which  had  now  submitted  to  his  arms :  whereupon  in  October,  1778, 
the  said  Legislature  passed  an  act  to  establish  "  as  the  county  of  Illi- 
nois," all  that  part  of  Virginia  west  of  Ohio,  surpassing  in  its  dimen- 
sions the  whole  of  Great  Britain,  and  appointed  Col.  John  Todd  Civil 
Commandant  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  said  county. 

Having  established  a  garrison  at  Kaskaskia  and  another  at  Cahokia, 
as  also  a  military  post  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  on  the  site  of  Louis- 
ville, the  present  great  commercial  emporium  of  Kentucky,  Col. 
Clarke  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  bring  about  a  good  under- 
standing between  the  Indians  and  Americans,  and  being  perfectly  well 
acquainted  with  the  Indian  character,  with  the  most  consummate  skill 
(indicating  also  a  deep  knowledge  of  human  nature)  induced  thera  to 
abandon  the  British  cause,  and  to  conclude  treaties  of  peace  and  of 
alliance  with  him. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  much  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  Col.  Clarke, 
intelligence  was  received  at  Kaskaskia,  that  Gov.  Hamilton,  of  Detroit, 
had  subjected  Fort  Vincennes  once  more  to  British  sway,  and  that, 
but  for  the  lateness  of  the  season,  he  would  have  marched  against 
Kaskaskia;  that  he  contemplated,  however,  at  any  rate,  opening 
early  in  the  spring  a  grand  campaign  against  Kaskaskia. 

At  the  time  Gov.  Hamilton  had  arrived  with  a  considerable  force 
before  Vincennes,  Capt.  Helm  and  one  soldier,  by  the  name  of  Henry, 
constituted  the  whole  of  its  garrison.  No  sooner  had  Gov.  Hamilton 
approached  within  speaking  distance  of  the  fort,  than  Capt.  Helm, 
standing  with  a  lighted  match  by  the  side  of  a  well-charged  cannon, 
then  placed  in  the  open  gateway,  halloed  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
"  Halt !"  Gov.  Hamilton  immediately  halted,  and  on  seeing  the 
cannon  in  the  gateway,  peremptorily  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
place.  Uttering  a  frightful  oath,  Capt.  Helm  exclaimed,  ''  No  man 
enters  here  until  I  know  the  terms."  Hamilton  at  once  replied,  "  You 
shall  have  the  honors  of  war,"  whereupon  Helm  surrendered  the  fort, 
and  the  whole  garrison,  to  the  unspeakable  mortification  of  the  war- 
like British,  consisting  of  one  officer  and  one  private,  marched  out 
with  the  honors  of  war. 

On  hearing  this,  and  on  being  further  informed,  that  Gov.  Ham- 
ilton had  then  only  eighty  men  at  Vincennes,  and  was  impatiently 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  about  700  Indian  auxiliaries.  Col.  Clarke,  who 


HISTORY.  85 

on  this  occasion  remarks  in  his  journal,  "I  knew,  that  if  I  did  not 
take  him,  he  would  take  me,"  at  once  resolved  to  carry  the  war  into 
Africa.  Having  fitted  out  a  large  Mississippi  boat  as  a  galley,  he  put 
six  pieces  and  forty-sis  men,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  John 
Rogers,  on  board  of  it,  and  ordered  the  men  to  ascend  the  Ohio  and 
enter  the  Wabash  as  far  as  the  White  River,  where  they  were  to 
await  further  instructions.  He  then  raised,  with  the  utmost  dispatch, 
two  companies  of  militia  in  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  which,  his  own 
force  included,  amounted  to  about  170  men,  and  before  eight  days  had 
elapsed,  was  on  his  way  to  Vincennes.  After  a  most  toilsome  march 
through  woods,  and  over  marshy,  swampy  prairies,  he  and  his  men 
came  in  sight  of  Fort  Vincennes,  and  advanced  within  fifty  yards  of 
it.  Col.  Clarke,  notwithstanding  his  galley,  laden  with  ammunition 
and  military  stores,  had  not  yet  arrived,  ordered  his  men  to  open  a  fire 
of  musketry  upon  the  British  soldiers  at  their  guns,  which  was  done 
with  such  effect,  that  Gov.  Hamilton  found  it  impossible  to  keep  them 
at  their  cannon,  which,  moreover,  from  their  elevated  position,  had 
done  no  damage  to  the  Americans.  The  rest  of  the  tale  is  soon  told. 
Grov.  Hamilton,  who  knew  what  kind  of  an  enemy  he  had  to  fight, 
finding  all  further  resistance  useless,  surrendered  the  fort  on  the  24th 
of  February,  and  the  whole  garrison,  consisting  of  79  men,  and  thir- 
teen pieces  of  cannon,  and  half  a  million  of  dollars'  worth  of  military 
goods  and  stores,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors,  who  for  the  second 
time,  on  the  ramparts  of  the  fort,  destined  to  remain  American,  un- 
furled the  star-spangled  banner,  the  ensign  of  freedom,  to  the  breeze. 
Col.  Clarke  appointed  Capt.  Helm  once  more  commandant  of  the  fort, 
and  embarking  on  his  galley,  which  had  now  come  up,  returned  to 
Kaskaskia. 

Such  was  the  renown  Col.  Clarke  had  acquired  by  this  successful 
expedition,  and  the  rapid  conquest  of  the  territories  between  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Ohio,  that  Buckongahelas,  the  head  warrior  of  the  Dela- 
wares,  on  a  day  in  which  he  happened  to  meet  Col.  Clarke  in  council, 
"  thanked  the  Great  Spirit  for  having  brought  together  two  such  great 
warriors  as  Buckongahelas  and  Col.  Clarke  \" 

The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  with  his  whole  army  on  the  19th  of 
October,  1781,  to  the  Americans,  spreading  terror  and  consternation 
throughout  Great  Britain,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  between  Eng- 


36  HISTORY. 

land  and  the  United  Colonies,  in  virtue  of  wliich  the  independence 
of  the  latter  was  fully  recognised,  and  all  the  land  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  south  of  Lakes  Ontario,  Erie,  Huron,  Superior,  and  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods,  including  therefore  Illinois,  was  ceded  to  the 
Americans.  That  portion  of  the  western  lands  which  constituted 
what  was  then  called  the  "Northwestern  Territory,"  including  the 
present  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin, 
was  claimed  wholly  by  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  in  part  by  New 
York,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut ;  but  in  consideration  of  the 
all-important  object,  to  secure  harmony  among  the  States  of  the  Con- 
federacy, which  were  theii  without  any  special  bond  of  union,  the  peo- 
ple of  the  States,  which  claimed  to  have  a  title  to  the  said  "North- 
western Territory,"  moved  by  a  noble  spirit  of  patriotism,  Tjeded  all 
their  right  and  title  to  the  Federal  Government.  Soon  after  these 
cessions  had  been  made.  Congress,  in  the  summer  of  1737,  passed  an 
ordinance  "  for  the  government  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
north-west  of  the  River  Ohio."  A  governor  was  appointed  by  Con- 
gress for  three  years,  and  a  secretary  for  four.  A  Court,  consisting 
of  three  judges,  was  organized,  and  the  governor  and  judges  autho- 
rized to  adopt  and  publish  such  laws  of  the  original  States  as  were 
necessary  and  best  suited  to  the  circumstances  of  the  territory.  As 
soon  as  there  should  be  5000  free  male  inhabitants  of  full  age  in  any 
district,  they  were  authorized  to  elect  representatives  for  two  years  to 
a  General  Assembly.  The  Governor,  Legislative  Council,  consisting 
of  five  members  appointed  by  Congress,  and  a  House  of  Representa- 
tives, could  make  any  laws,  provided  they  were  not  contrary  to  the 
ordinance  of  Congress.  The  Legislature  were  also  authorized  to  elect 
by  joint  ballot  a  delegate  to  Congress. 

Arthur  St.  Clair,  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  who  had 
served  with  some  distinction,  was  appointed  the  first  Governor  and 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  Territory. 

The  white  population  of  the  Territory  was  but  small :  that  of  Illi- 
nois  had  remained  stationary.  Struck  with  the  fertility  of  the  soil  of 
Illinois,  several  of  the  soldiers  of  Col.  Clarke  settled  in  that  country. 
They  were  the  earliest  American  settlers  in  Illinois.  They  lived 
mostly  in  stations,  or  block-house  forts,  which  they  had  been  com- 
pelled to  erect  for  their  protection,  since  the  Indians  committed  great 


HISTORY.  87 

depredations  on  the  habitations  of  the  new  settlers.  The  general  con- 
struction of  these  block-house  forts  was  about  this  :  The  lowest  order 
of  these  forts  was  a  single  house,  strongly  built,  a  story  and  a  half  or 
two  stories  high.  The  lower  story  was  provided  with  port-holes  to 
shoot  through,  and  also  with  substantial  puncheon  doors,  three  or  four 
inches  thick,  with  strong  bars,  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  entering. 
The  second  story  projected  ever  the  first  three  or  four  feet,  and  had 
holes  in  the  floor,  outside  the  lower  story,  to  shoot  down  at  the  Indians 
attempting  to  enter. 

Another  higher  grade  of  pioneer  fortifications  was  made  thus  :  Four 
large,  strong  block-houses,  fashioned  as  above,  were  erected  at  the  four 
corners  of  a  square  lot  of  ground,  as  lai'ge  as  the  necessities  of  the 
people  required.  The  intervals  between  these  block-houses  were 
filled  up  with  large  timbers,  placed  deep  in  the  ground,  and  extending 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  surface.  Within  these  stockades  were 
cabins  built  for  the  families  to  reside  in.  A  well  of  water,  or  a  spring, 
was  generally  found  to  be  necessary  in  these  forts.  In  perilous  times 
the  horses  were  admitted  into  the  forts  for  safe  keeping.  Generally 
there  were  two  strong  gates  to  these  garrisons,  with  bars  in  proportion, 
to  secure  the  doors  against  the  savages.  Port-holes  were  cut  in  the 
stockade  at  about  seven  feet  high,  and  platforms  raised  to  stand  on 
when  shooting. 

The  timber  in  the  vicinity  of  these  forts  was  carefully  cleared  ofi", 
80  as  to  afford  no  hiding-places  to  the  Indians.  In  the  mornings  it 
was  often  dangerous  to  open  the  gates  and  walk  out.  The  Indians 
frequently  attacked  the  milking  parties  and  others  first  going  out  of 
the  fort.     Sentinels  were  kept  up  all  night  in  dangerous  times. 

Emigrants  from  the  remotest  parts  of  the  Union  and  of  Europe 
would  come  together  in  these  forts.  Many  were  the  quarrels,  which 
such  a  mixed  state  of  society  would  naturally  lead  to.  The  property 
of  one  man  was  often  so  contiguous  to  that  of  another  as  to  excite 
strong  temptations  in  the  mind  of  the  latter  to  annex  it  to  his  own ; 
nor  does  it  appear,  that  the  women  were  an  exception  to  this  rule. 
Whenever  a  violation  of  the  sixth  commandment  took  place,  in  which 
case,  owing  to  the  extremely  limited  space,  detection  was  sure  to  fol- 
low, the  grave  old  ladies  would  put  on  their  spectacles  and  hypocriti- 
4 


38  HISTORY. 

cally  exclaim  :  "  Oh  the  sins  of  the  world !    It  is  no  wonder  we  havt. 
an  Indian  war  upon  us  !" 

The  customs  of  these  early  American  settlers  were  much  on  the 
French  model,  extremely  gay,  polite,  and  merry. 

In  personal  appearance  these  pioneers  were  rough  and  unrefined, 
yet  were  they  kind,  social,  and  generous.  They  were  brave,  energetic, 
and  hospitable,  and  ready  to  share  with  their  neighbors  or  newly- 
arrived  strangers  their  last  loaf. 

Their  habits  and  manners  were  plain,  simple,  and  unostentatious. 
Their  dwellings  were  log  cabins  of  the  simplest  structure,  their  furni- 
ture, utensils  and  dress  were  also  as  simple  and  economical  as  possible. 

For  clothing,  dressed  deer-skins  were  extensively  used,  for  hunting- 
shirts,  pants,  leggins  and  moccasins;  the  red  skin  of  the  prairie  wolf 
or  fox  was  converted  into  the  hat  or  cap.  Dressed  skins  of  the  buffalo, 
beer  and  elk  furnished  the  covering  of  their  beds.  Wooden  vessels 
were  used  instead  of  bowls.     A  gourd  formed  the  drinking-cup. 

Every  man  carried  his  knife  in  his  girdle,  while  the  whole  family 
had  often  to  use  the  solitary  remaining  one.  If  a  family  chanced  to 
have  a  few  pewter  dishes,  knives  and  forks,  it  was  in  advance  of  the 
neighbors. 

The  American  settlers  were  hunters  and  stock-growers,  raising,  be 
sides  a  small  amount  of  wheat,  chiefly  corn,  which  was  beaten  for  bread 
in  the  mortar,  and  ground  on  a  grater,  or  in  a  hand  mill. 

Many  of  these  settlers  observed  the  Sabbath  with  an  austerity  that 
would  have  become  a  Puritan. 

To  the  French,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Sabbath  always  had  been 
and  still  was  a  day  of  hilarity  and  pleasure.  They  would  strictly 
attend  mass  in  the  morning  and  practise  their  devotions  in  the  church ; 
and  in  the  afternoon  would  assemble  in  parties  at  private  houses  for 
gay  social  intercourse,  when  cards,  dances,  and  various  sports,  made 
the  time  pass.  Intemperance,  either  in  eating  or  drinking,  was  never 
witnessed  among  them. 

i 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Indians  had  not  been  included  in  tlie  treaty  of  peace  signed 
between  Great  Britain  and  America.  Several  tribes,  therefore,  wrought 
upon  by  British  gold,  continued  their  hostilities  as  before,  and  between 
1783  and  1790  nearly  2000  men,  women  and  children  in  Kentucky 
alone  had  been  killed  or  carried  away  into  captivity.  All  peaceable 
remonstrances  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  government  having 
been  in  vain,  it  became  incumbent  upon  the  latter  to  pacify  the  In- 
dians by  force  of  arms.  Gen.  Harmar  was  accordingly  despatched 
with  a  body  of  militia,  amounting  to  1433  men,  into  the  country  of 
the  Miamies,  but  imprudently  dividing  his  forces,  he  was  attacked 
and  defeated  in  detail  by  Little  Turtle,  the  renowned  warrior-chief  of 
the  Miamies,  and  obliged  to  return  with  a  loss  of  200  men. 

In  the  subsequent  year,  1791,  a  new  force  of  2000  soldiers  and  a 
large  body  of  militia  were  raised,  and  the  previous  Governor,  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  though  from  physical  debility  altogether  disqualified  for 
service,  appointed  commander  of  it.  Gen.  St.  Clair  commenced  his 
march,  and  having  reached  with  part  of  his  troops  a  tributary  stream 
of  the  Wabash,  encamped,  intending  to  entrench  himself  and  to  await 
the  arrival  of  the  remainder  of  his  troops.  Penetrating  his  design. 
Little  Turtle,  at  the  head  of  about  1500  warriors,  assailed  the  camp 
about  midnight.  The  militia  gave  way,  and  the  Indians  rushed  after 
them,  spreading  terror  everywhere.  The  greatest  confusion  at  once 
ensued  throughout  the  whole  camp.  Gen.  St.  Clair  being  unable  to 
walk,  was  borne  upon  a  litter  into  the  hottest  of  the  engagement,  and 
exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  restore  order,  but  seeing  all  his 
efforts  to  be  in  vain,  be  ordered  a  retreat,  which  immediately  degen- 
erated into  a  precipitate  flight.  Such  was  the  panic,  which  had  seized 
the  army,  that  they  abandoned  their  entire  artillery  train  and  baggage 
to  the  Indians,  threw  away  their  arms,  and  could  not  be  brought  to  a 
stand  before  they  reaohed  Fort  Jefferson.     The  Americans  lost  nearly 

(39) 


40  HISTORY. 

one  half  of  their  whole  force  engaged,  or  about  600  men,  the  Indians 
only  58. 

This  disastrous  defeat  rendered  it  necessary,  that  the  American 
Government  should  prosecute  the  war  with  the  utmost  vigor,  in  order 
to  retrieve  the  credit  of  its  arms.  Negotiations  were  at  first  attempted, 
but  failed,  the  savages  being  too  much  elated  with  their  victory  to 
think  of  peace.  A  new  and  still  larger  force  was  therefore  raised, 
and  its  command  entrusted  to  Gen.  Wayne,  famed  for  the  gallant 
manner,  in  which  he  stormed  Stony  Point  during  the  Revolutionary 
war,  "where,  after  wading  through  a  deep  morass  and  surmounting  a 
double  row  of  abattis,  and  forcing  his  way  up  to  the  strong  works  on 
the  summit  of  the  hill  amid  a  shower  of  shells  and  shot  of  every  kind, 
being  struck  on  the  head  by  a  musket-ball,  he  fell,  and  immediately 
rising  on  one  knee,  he  exclaimed :  '  March  on  and  carry  me  into  the 
fort  J  if  the  wound  be  mortal,  I  will  die  at  the  head  of  the  column  I'  " 
With  such  a  leader  the  event  of  the  expedition  could  hardly  be  doubt- 
ful. His  offers  of  peace  being  rejected.  Gen.  Wayne  advanced  on  the 
15th  of  August,  1794,  to  Roche  Debout,  where  he  erected  a  small 
fort,  which  he  called  Fort  Deposit.  Five  days  afterwards  he  marched 
against  the  enemy  and  discovered  them,  about  2000  strong,  in  a  posi- 
tion difficult  of  attack,  their  front  protected  by  trees  overthrown  by  a 
tornado,  their  right  flank  covered  by  thickets,  and  their  left  resting  on 
the  river  Miami.  As  he  was  forming  his  army  in  order  of  battle,  a 
brisk  fire  was  opened  upon  his  advance-guard  from  a  thicket  of  under- 
wood. He  immediately  ordered  the  "  front  line  of  legionary  infantry 
to  rouse  the  Indians  out  of  their  thickets  with  the  bayonet,  and  when 
up  to  deliver  a  tremendous  fire  on  their  backs,  followed  by  a  brisk 
charge,  so  as  not  to  give  them  time  to  load  again."  So  furious  was 
the  onset  of  the  troops,  and  so  irresistible  their  bayonet  charge,  that 
the  Indians  were  completely  routed  before  any  of  the  other  corps 
could  have  come  up.  The  American  loss  was  107,  while  that  of  the 
Indians  was  far  greater.  Gen.  Wayne  was  not  remiss  in  following  up 
this  victory,  laying  waste  whole  villages  and  cornfields,  for  a  distance 
of  fifty  miles  around.  The  destruction  of  their  cabins  and  cornfields 
at  last  broke  down  the  savage  obstinacy  of  the  Indians,  and  they  sued 
for  peace,  which  was  promptly  granted,  and  mutually  concluded  on 
the  7th  of  August,  1795.     With  the  termination  of  this  bloody  war 


HISTORY.  41 

the  lives  and  property  of  the  settlers  were  secured  to  them,  and  a  new* 
impulse  was  given  to  immigration,  which  began  to  pour  slowly  in. 

In  1803,  a  new  territory,  known  as  the  territory  of  Indiana,  which 
embraced  the  whole  of  the  North-western  Territory,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  present  State  of  Ohio,  was  formed,  and  William  H.  Har- 
rison, since  President  of  the  United  States,  appointed  its  first  Governor. 
Illinois  remained  a  part  of  the  new  territory  until  1809,  when  it  was 
erected  into  an  independent  territory,  and  Ninian  Edwards  appointed 
its  first  Governor. 

Peace  had-  been  made,  and  the  white  man  had  permanently  es- 
tablished himself  in  the  region,  once  a  favorite  hunting-ground 
of  the  Indian.  No  effort  of  the  latter  to  recover  the  heritage  of 
his  fathers  could  have  prevailed  against  the  superior  will  and  dis- 
cipline of  the  former.  Despair  filled  the  minds  even  of  the  boldest 
of  the  Indian  race,  and  the  indefatigable  and  enterprising  Little  Turtle 
himself,  who  had  beaten  the  foreig-Q  intruder  in  many  a  bloody  en- 
gagement, becoming  satisfied  of  the  impossibility  of  making  the  Ohio 
the  boundary-line  between  the  red  and  white  man,  relaxed  in  his 
efforts,  and  at  last  acquiesced  in  the  rule  of  the  white  man.  But 
when  he  ceased  to  battle  for  the  rights  of  his  people,  a  hero  arose 
among  the  Indians,  no  doubt  the  most  gifted  and  exalted  of  his  race, 
who,  collecting  the  nearly  exhausted  strength  of  his  people  for  a  last 
and  desperate  struggle,  placed  himself  at  their  head,  and  fought  fore- 
most in  their  ranks,  until  his  untimely  death  on  the  field  of  battle 
forever  sealed  the  doom  of  his  unhappy  race. 

The  name  of  this  extraordinary  man,  with  whom  we  will  next  oc- 
cupy ourselves,  is  Tecumseh.  He  was  a  patriot,  and  the  love  of  his 
country  rendered  him  an  irreconcilable  enemy  of  the  white  man,  upon 
whom,  he  was  heard  to  declare,  he  could  never  look  without  feeling 
the  flesh  crawl  upon  his  bones.  His  penetrating  mind  foresaw  the 
toial  extinction  of  his  race,  the  cause  of  which  he  traced,  with  uner- 
ring certainty,  to  the  white  immigration.  He  studied  the  subject  as 
a,  statesman,  and  having  satisfied  himself  that  justice  was  on  the  side 
of  his  countrymen,  with  his  heart  oppressed  by  grief  and  inflamed 
with  implacable  vengeance,  he  tasked  his  mighty  brain  to  find  means 
to  avert  from  his  people  the  tide  which  threatened  to  engulf  them. 

Upon  the  great  work  contemplated  by  him,  Tecumseh  entered  iu 
4* 


42  HISTORY, 

the  year  1805  or  1806,  when  he  had  attained  his  38tli  year.  As  a 
preliminary  step,  he  sought  to  improve  the  morals  of  his  people, 
whom  the  intercourse  with  the  whites  had  only  debased,  and  with 
this  view  caused  their  original  manners  and  customs  to  be  re-estab- 
lished, and  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  and  the  intercourse  with  the 
whites  to  be  strictly  forbidden.  Being  aware  of  the  superstitious 
character  of  his  race,  he  communicated  his  plan  to  his  brother,  the 
prophet,  who  immediately  entered  into  his  designs.  At  first,  he  began 
by  dreaming  dreams  and  seeing  visions ;  afterwards  he  became  an  in- 
spired prophet,  commissioned  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  decide  over  life 
and  death,  and  to  restore  to  the  Indians  their  lands  and  original  happy 
condition.  The  fame  of  the  prophet  soon  penetrated  to  the  frozen 
shores  of  the  Lakes,  and  far  away  beyond  the  Mississippi,  and  pil- 
grims from  the  remotest  tribes  hastened  to  see  him.  Tecumseh  him- 
self, seemed  to  believe,  and  mingling  with  the  pilgrims,  won  their 
hearts  by  his  address,  and  through  them  diffused  a  knowledge  of  his 
plan  among  the  most  distant  Indian  nations.  He  himself  travelled 
far  and  wide,  and  by  his  brilliant  eloquence,  soon  persuaded  his  coun- 
trymen to  join  his  cause.  It  is  related,  that  whilst  among  the  Creeks 
in  Alabama,  he  visited  a  chief  called  the  Big  Warrior,  explained  to 
him  the  object  of  his  call,  and  perceiving  that  the  Big  Warrior 
wanted  to  keep  aloof  from  fighting,  told  him  that  he  knew  the  reason 
of  his  so  declining  to  fight  was  his  disbelief  in  the  Great  Spirit's 
having  sent  him,  but  that  he  would  conclusively  prove  his  divine  mis- 
sion, by  shaking  down  to  the  ground  every  house  in  his  village  by 
stamping  with  his  foot  on  the  earth,  the  moment  he  should  have  ar- 
rived at  Detroit.  He  thereupon  left  him.  The  Big  Warrior  and  his 
people  anxiously  watched  the  arrival  of  the  day,  on  which  they  sup- 
posed, Tecumseh  would  reach  Detroit.  The  anxiously  looked-for  day 
came,  and  with  it  a  mighty  earthquake,  which  levelled  with  the 
ground  every  house  in  Tuckhabatchee,  the  village  of  the  chief.  It 
was  afterwards  ascertained,  that  this  earthquake  had  happened  on  the 
very  day,  on  which  Tecumseh  arrived  at  Detroit,  as  he  threatened  it 
would.  It  was  the  famous  earthquake  of  New  Madrid,  on  the 
Mississippi. 

In  the  meantime,  whilst  laboring  day  and  night  in  his  great  work, 
he  had  three  different  interviews  with  Gen.  Harrison,  during  which 
be  proposed  to  become  even  an  ally  of  the  Americans,  provided  they 


HISTORY".  43 

would  deliver  up  tlie  lands  lately  purchased,  and  never  make  another 
treaty  without  the  consent  of  all  the  tribes.  Gen.  Harrison  promised 
to  refer  the  matter  to  the  President,  although,  said  he,  he  will  not  be 
very  likely  to  listen  to  the  proposition  made ;  whereupon  Tecumseh 
declared,  that  the  Great  Spirit  would  determine  the  matter,  and  he 
and  Harrison  would  be  obliged  to  fight  it  out.  The  Governor  then 
proposed  to  him,  that,  in  the  event  of  a  war,  he  should  do  his  best  to 
put  an  end  to  the  cruel  mode  of  warfare  as  carried  on  by  his  country- 
men, to  which  Tecumseh  at  once  assented,  being  pernaps,  the  only 
Indian,  who  scrupulously  kept  his  word  in  this  respect. 

On  the  27th  of  July,  1811,  he  again  visited  Gen.  Harrison,  at  the 
head  of  about  400  warriors,  probably  with  a  view  of  impressing  the 
whites  with  an  idea  of  his  strength.  Several  murders  had  previously 
been  committed  in  Illinois  by  the  Indians,  and  Gen.  Harrison,  notified 
of  these  occurrences,  was  rather  in  a  bad  humor,  when  he  met  Te- 
cumseh at  their  fourth  conference.  Tecumseh,  whose  manner  and 
behaviour  were  always  very  respectful,  and  on  this  occasion  most  re- 
markably polite  and  dignified,  openly  declared  to  Gen.  Harrison, 
''•  that,  after  much  trouble,  he  had  united  all  the  western  tribes  under 
his  lead  and  placed  them  under  his  direction;  that,  in  so  doing,  he 
had  merely  imitated  the  example  set  by  the  United  States  themselves, 
and  claimed  to  have  the  same  right  to  do  this;  that  the  murders 
spoken  of  ought  to  be  forgiven,  since  the  Indians  had  suffered  similar 
injuries  at  the  hands  of  the  whites;  and  lastly,  that  the  Indians  were 
going  to  reoccupy,  in  autumn,  their  ancient  hunting-ground,  at  Tippe- 
canoe, which  the  Americans  were  then  about  surveying."  The 
Governor  replied,  "  that  the  President  would  put  his  warriors  in  pet- 
ticoats sooner  than  give  up  the  country  he  had  fairly  acquired,  or  to 
suffer  his  people  to  be  murdered  with  impunity." 

Whereupon,  Tecumseh  left  him,  and  shortly  afterwards  resumed 
his  travels  among  his  countrymen. 

In  the  meantime,  his  brother,  the  prophet,  collected  around  him- 
self in  Tippecanoe,  the  restless  and  daring  spirits  of  every  tribe, 
haranguing  them  daily,  and  protecting  them,  by  a  hundred  charms, 
from  the  weapons  of  the  white  man,  encouraging,  rather  than  con- 
trolling, their  lawless  desires.  Several  murders  were  committed,  and 
one  of  Gov.  Harrison's  own  soldiers  fired  upon  by  the  Indians.     The 


44  HISTORY. 

Indians  apparently  intending  hostilities,  GTov.  Harrison,  with  a  force 
of  nearly  1,000  men,  proceeded  to  their  village  to  restore  peace,  if 
necessary,  by  force  of  arms.  He  found  their  town,  Tippecanoe,  for- 
tified with  great  care,  and  on  the  6th  of  September,  1811,  encamped 
at  the  distance  of  a  mile  from  it.  The  prophet  had  taught  his  fol- 
lowers to  believe,  that  the  village  was  wholly  impregnable,  and  that 
in  the  coming  contest  the  Great  Spirit  would  strike  the  eyes  of  the 
Americans  with  blindness,  and  would  make  their  bullets  fall  harmless 
at  the  Indian*?  feet.  Encouraged  by  these  assurances  of  their  holy 
prophet,  the  savages,  early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  September, 
sallied  forth  from  their  town,  and  attacked  the  camp  of  Gov.  Harrison, 
with  an  apparent  determination  to  conquer  or  to  die. 

They  encountered  a  desperate  resistance,  but  believing  themselves 
fated  to  conquer,  continued  the  battle  until  daylight,  when  they  were 
in  their  turn  charged  by  the  troops  with  the  bayonet,  and  after  a 
bloody  conflict,  driven  into  a  swamp.  The  Indians  lost  38  killed,  be- 
sides a  great  many  wounded;  the  Americans  60  killed  and  120 
wounded.  The  town  of  the  prophet  was  burnt,  the  corn  in  its  vicinity 
destroyed,  and  the  savages  compelled  to  sue  for  peace.  The  exaspe- 
rated Indians  abused  and  nearly  killed  the  prophet,  whose  claims  to 
magic  power  were  forever  destroyed. 

When  Tecumseh  returned  and  heard  of  this  disastrous  battle,  which 
had  been  fought  against  his  most  positive  orders,  and  saw  his  people 
dispersed,  overpowered  by  indignation,  and  losing  for  a  moment  hie 
wonted  self-control,  he  reproached  his  brother  in  the  most  bitter  terms, 
seized  him  by  the  hair,  and  came  very  near  taking  his  life.  His 
anger  and  disappointment  we  may  readily  understand,  since,  by 
striking  the  western  Indians  with  terror,  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe 
resulted  in  postponing,  if  not  wholly  frustrating,  the  execution  of  the 
vast  undertaking  —  to  which  he  had  devoted  the  best  years  of  his 
noble  manhood  —  of  uniting  all  the  Indian  nations  in  a  powerful  con- 
federacy, which  he  was  to  direct  and  govern.  After  an  interview  with 
the  Indian  agent,  during  which  he  blamed  Gen.  Harrison  for  having 
made  war  upon  his  people  during  his  absence,  he  departed  to  Canada 
to  fight  under  the  banners  of  the  British,  —  not  because  he  either 
loved  or  respected  them,  for  this  was  impossible  to  him,  who  hated 
every  white  man  without  distinction,  and  only  too  well  understood  the 


HISTORY.  45 

policy  pursued  by  Great  Britain  towards  hia  people,  —  but  because, 
after  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  he  could  expect  no  success  in  his  un- 
dertaking against  the  Americans,  unless  by  making  the  British  inter- 
ested in  them. 

The  opportunity,  which  Tecumseh  had  so  anxiously  awaited,  of 
avenging  the  injuries  of  his  people  upon  the  Americans,  at  last  pre- 
sented itself.  Ever  since  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war,  the  most 
illiberal  policy  was  pursued  towards  the  United  States  by  Great 
Britain;  desirous  of  repressing  the  growth  of  the  republic,  which 
already  at  that  time  threatened  to  become  her  great  commercial  rival, 
she  violated  every  commercial  and  maritime  right  of  the  nation,  and 
filled  the  measure  of  her  arrogance  by  searching  the  American  vessels 
on  the  high  seas,  impressing  such  as  were  unable  to  prove  on  the  spot, 
that  they  were  Americans,  into  her  public  service.  Ignominious  out- 
rages and  atrocious  injuries  were  thus  inflicted  by  Great  Britain  upon 
the  American  people,  until  the  latter,  unless  indeed  willing  to  be  con- 
sidered as  her  subjects,  if  not  her  slaves,  found  themselves  compelled 
to  declare  war  against  her.  A  force  of  several  regiments  of  regulars 
and  militia  was  immediately  raised,  and  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Gen. 
Hull,  who,  on  the  12th  of  July,  1812,  crossed  the  Canadian  frontier, 
and  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  inhabitants,  exhorting  them  to  join 
his  standard;  but  either  from  want  of  courage  or  lack  of  judgment, 
after  "an  inglorious  occupation  of  less  than  a  month,"  withdrew  his 
forces  from  the  Canadian  territory. 

Sir  Isaac  Brock  was  then  Governor  of  Upper  Canada,  and  com- 
mander of  the  British  forces,  which  were  then  but  small.  They  were 
afterwards  considerably  increased.  Apprised  at  an  early  day  of  the 
declaration  of  war  by  Congress,  he  transmitted  the  intelligence  at  once 
to  his  outposts,  and  "  ere  the  tardy  and  blundering  movements  of  the 
American  secretary  had  begun,  his  legions  were  in  the  field.''  Having 
collected  a  force  of  300  English  troops  and  600  Indians,  he  arrived 
at  Fort  Mackinaw  before  the  declaration  of  war  was  even  known  there, 
and  compelled  its  small  garrison  of  58  men  to  surrender. 

About  that  time  Capt.  Brush,  at  the  head  of  a  company  of  volun- 
teers, reached  the  river  Raisin  with  supplies  for  the  army  of  Gen. 
Hull.  As  he  did  not  dare  to  proceed  any  further,  the  country  around 
being  infested  with  savages,  Major  Van  Horn  with  150  men  was  sent 


46  HISTORY. 

to  escort  him  to  head-quarters.  He  was  attacked  near  BrownStovrn, 
by  a  large  body  of  British  regulars  and  Indians,  and  defeated,  with  a 
loss  of  19  killed;  whereupon  Lieut.  Col.  Miller,  with  300  regulars 
and  200  militia,  was  despatched  to  the  relief  of  Capt.  Brush.  Though 
Col.  Miller  advanced  with  great  caution,  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade, 
being  unexpectedly  attacked  by  a  party  of  British  regulars,  and  In- 
dians, commanded  by  Tecuraseh  in  person.  The  battle  raged  with 
great  fury ;  a  bayonet  charge,  however,  executed  with  great  spirit  by 
the  Americans,  drove  back  the  British,  whilst  the  Indians  under 
Tecumseh  maintained  their  ground,  fighting  with  the  most  desperate 
valor.  Unwilling,  that  their  Indian  allies  should  excel  them  in  bra- 
very, the  British  returned  to  the  charge,  continuing  the  combat  for 
two  hours,  after  which  they  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  The  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  amounted  to  about  100  men  on  either  side.  Lieut.  Col. 
Miller,  while  in  Brownstown,  making  preparations  to  pursue  his  march, 
received  orders  to  return  immediately  to  head-quarters.  Gen.  Hull, 
in  order  to  secure  himself  a  regular  supply  of  provisions,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  keep  open  his  communication  with  the  Ohio,  had  fixed 
his  carop  at  Detroit.  The  vigilant  Sir  Isaac  Brock,  perceiving  the 
isolated  and  perilous  position  of  Gen.  Hull,  appeared  on  the  15th  of 
August,  1812,  before  Detroit,  with  about  1000  men,  both  regulars 
and  Indians,  and  summoned  Gen.  Hull  to  surrender.  To  the  aston- 
ishment and  indignation  of  the  whole  garrison,  who,  equal  as  they 
were  in  numerical  force  to  the  British,  confidently  expected  to  repel 
the  latter  with  great  slaughter,  in  case  they  should  dare  an  attack, 
Gen.  Hull,  whom  no  doubt  old  age  had  rendered  imbecile,  ordered 
his  troops  to  stack  their  arms,  and  surrendered,  not  only  his  own  pre- 
cious person,  but  also  the  place,  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  all  of 
the  northwestern  army  under  his  command,  to  the  British  under  Sir 
Isaac  Brock,  on  the  16th  of  August,  1812.  A  provisional  govern- 
ment having  been  established  in  Detroit  under  Col.  Proctor,  Sir  Isaac 
Brock  returned  to  Niagara,  and  in  the  second  invasion  of  Canada  by 
the  Americans,  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Queenstown. 

The  fall  of  Detroit  was  not  the  only  reverse  the  American  arms 
were  destined  to  sustain,  before  they  should  vindicate  the  cause  of  their 
country  by  splendid  victories.  Other  forts,  more  remote,  and,  owing 
in  thp  utter  incom'^ptpTicfi  r>^  <^«"    Wnll.  but  miserably  provided  for, 


HISTORY.  '  47 

had  to  be  abandoned  to  the  British,  and  at  the  very  time  of  the  fall 
of  Detroit,  Chicago  was  the  theatre  of  barbarous  cruelties  and  a  savage 
massacre,  in  which  its  garrison  was  nearly  exterminated.  Chicago 
was  then  but  a  small  fort,  which  the  United  States  government  had 
erected  in  1804,  in  order  "  to  supply  the  Indians'  wants  and  to  con- 
trol the  Indians'  policy."  Sixty  men,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Heald,  constituted  the  whole  of  its  garrison.  Gen.  Hull,  who,  as 
commander  of  the  Northwestern  army,  was  also  entrusted  with  the 
defence  of  the  forts  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  despatched  a 
friendly  Indian  to  Chicago  with  such  orders  as  could  only  emanate 
from  such  a  man,  directing  Capt.  Heald  to  evacuate  the  fort, 
and  to  distribute  all  of  the  United  States  property,  arms  and 
ammunition  included,  among  the  neighboring  Indians,  and  repair 
to  Fort  Wayne.  This  Indian  arrived  on  the  7th  of  August,  and 
urged  Capt.  Heald  to  evacuate  the  fort  without  a  moment's 
delay,  before  the  Pottawatomies,  a  numerous  and  warlike  tribe, 
through  whose  country  they  had  to  pass,  could  receive  intelligence, 
and  collect  a  force  sufficient  to  harass  him  on  his  march.  Capt. 
Heald  neglected  to  follow  this  prudent  advice,  so  that  at  the  time  he 
read  the  order  of  evacuation  to  his  troops,  the  Indians  were  already 
apprised  of  his  intentions.  Several  of  the  officers  of  Capt.  Heald, 
considering  his  project  as  little  short  of  madness,  remonstrated  against 
it,  urging  Capt.  Heald  to  remain  in  the  fort,  and  to  strengthen  it  as 
well  as  possible ;  but  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  Gen.  Hull,  Capt. 
Heald  insisted  upon  marching  out.  Although  the  Indians  of  the 
adjacent  villages  had  already  become  troublesome,  and  manifested 
symptoms  of  hostility,  so  infatuated  was  Capt.  Heald,  as  to  hold,  ou 
the  12th  of  August,  a  council  with  them,  in  which  he  requested  them 
to  escort  him  to  Fort  Wayne,  promising  large  rewards  on  their  arri- 
val thither,  in  addition  to  the  goods,  ammunition  and  provisions  they 
were  to  receive,  in  pursuance  of  the  absurd  order  of  Gen.  Hull.  On 
the  next  day  Capt.  Heald  distributed  the  goods  in  the  factory  store 
among  the  Indians,  but  being  struck  with  the  folly  of  delivering  to 
them  3.rras  and  ammunition,  which  they  might  use  against  the  Ameri- 
cans, or  liquor,  which  might  arouse  their  savage  temper,  emptied  the 
liquor  into  the  stream  flowing  near  by,  and  destroyed  of  arras  and 
ammunition  whatever  was  not  required  for  immediate  use.     Notwith- 


48  HISTORY, 

standing  all  the  precautions  which  bad  been  taken,  the  Indians  per- 
ceived what  had  been  going  on,  and  on  the  following  day,  when  again 
meeting  Capt.  Heald  in  council,  reproached  him  in  the  severest  tonus 
for  having  violated  his  promises.  After  the  council  had  adjourned, 
Black  Partridge,  one  of  their  chiefs,  repaired  to  Capt.  Heald,  and  de- 
livered to  him  a  medal,  given  him  by  the  Americans  as  a  token  of 
friendship,  assigning  as  the  reason  for  so  doing,  that  he  could  no  longer 
restrain  his  warriors,  and  would  not  wear  a  token  of  peace  when  com- 
pelled to  act  as  an  enemy.  Information  was  also  received  from  ano- 
ther Indian  chief,  that  the  Pottawatomies,  who  had  promised  to  pro- 
tect the  troops,  could  not  be  trusted. 

Notwithstanding  these  repeated  warnings,  Capt.  Heald,  at  the  head 
of  his  garrison,  marched  out  of  the  fort  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  with 
the  families  and  baggage  of  the  soldiers,  and  the  invalids,  being  followed 
in  the  rear  by  about  500  Pottawatomies,  who  were  to  escort  the  troops 
to  Fort  Wayne.  Whilst  the  soldiers  pursued  their  march,  the  Potta- 
watomies suddenly  left  the  road,  and  turning  the  flank  of  the  troops, 
poured  in  a  volley  of  musketry  upon  them.  The  treacherous  plot  of 
the  Indians  could  no  longer  be  mistaken.  The  battle  at  once  became 
general  J  the  Americans  fought  with  the  greatest  gallantry,  till  two- 
thirds  of  their  number  were  slain  ;  the  remainder,  27  in  all,  surren- 
dered, after  stipulating  for  the  safety  of  their  families  and  themselves. 
In  the  hurry  of  the  moment,  the  wounded  prisoners  were  not  thought 
of;  therefore  the  Indians,  considering  them  as  excluded  from  the 
stipulation,  tomahawked  and  butchered  them  with  the  most  savage 
ferocity,  during  the  following  night,  when  they  had  returned  with  their 
captives  to  their  camp,  near  the  fort.  A  soldier,  mortally  wounded, 
and  writhing  in  agony  on  the  ground,  was  attacked  with  a  pitchfork 
by  an  old  squaw,  and  literally  stabbed  to  death.  Another  of  the 
savages,  in  direct  violation  of  the  treaty,  assailed  a  baggage-wagon, 
and  massacred  and  scalped  in  cold  blood  the  children  who  were  within, 
twelve  in  number.  Whilst  many  other  atrocities  of  a  like  nature 
were  committed  by  the  blood-thirsty  savages,  it  is  but  just  to  observe, 
that  a  few  of  them,  amongst  whom  Black  Partridge,  the  magnanimous 
chief,  was  the  most  conspicuous,  did  the  utmost  in  their  power  to  save 
the  lives  or  soothe  the  sufferings  of  their  prisoners.  Capt.  Heald  and 
his  wife,  the  former  twice,  the  latter  seven  times  wounded,  were  nobly 


HISTORY.  49 

released  by  the  Indian,  who  had  taken  them  prisoners,  and  afterwards 
conveyed  to  Detroit.  The  soldiers,  with  their  families,  were  dispersed 
among  the  Pottawatomies,  and  eventually  ransomed;  the  fort  was 
plundered  and  burnt  to  ashes. 

These  repeated  disasters,  and  the  actual  occupation  of  Michigan^ 
Northern  Illinois  and  Mackinaw,  by  the  British,  aroused  the  nation 
to  extraordinary  efforts.  Whole  regiments  and  large  bodies  of  volun- 
teers were  raised  and  equipped  in  a  surprisingly  short  time.  Gen, 
Hopkins  and  Gen.  Edwards,  of  Illinois,  undertook  expeditions  against 
the  Indians  of  the  Illinois  and  Wabash  rivers,  many  of  whom  had 
participated  in  the  massacre  at  Chicago.  They  destroyed  several  of 
their  villages,  and  laid  waste  their  fields,  thus  punishing  them  for  the 
cruelties  they  had  perpetrated  at  Chicago. 

Appointed  by  Congress  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1812,  com- 
mander of  the  Northwestern  army,  Gen.  Harrison  undertook  to  drive 
the  British  from  the  Northwestern  Territory;  nothing  was  achieved^ 
however,  except  the  reduction  of  Fort  Defiance,  by  Gen.  Winchester;, 
the  next  in  command. 

Thus  terminated  the  land  campaign  of  1812. 

On  the  sea,  contrary  to  expectation,  the  Americans  had  been  sig- 
nally successful,  and  in  three  decisive  engagements  had  humbled  the 
flag  of  the  proud  mistress  of  the  seas. 

Early  in  the  year  1813,  the  inhabitants  of  Frenchtown  notified 
Gen.  Winchester,  that  a  large  body  of  British  and  Indians  were  ho- 
vering about  their  town,  and  requested  him  to  relieve  them.  'Yield- 
ing to  the  entreaties  of  his  volunteers.  Gen.  Winchester  moved  to  the 
town,  but  before  he  arrived  thither  with 'the  main  body  of  his  army, 
his  vanguard,  under  Cols.  Allen  and  Lewis,  had  attacked  the  British 
and  Indians,  and  after  a  severe  conflict,  expelled  them  from  the  town. 
Two  days  after  having  joined  his  troops,  on  the  22d  of  January,  he 
was  assailed  by  nearly  double  the  number  of  British  and  Indians. 
He  was  taken  prisoner,  and  his  troops,  after  a  desperate  defence,  in 
which  nearly  one  half  of  them,  about  300,  were  killed,  finding  further 
resistance  useless,  surrendered,  under  promise  of  protection  from  Col. 
Proctor,  the  commander  of  the  British  force.  The  unfortunate  troops 
paid  dearly  for  their  reliance  on  British  faith  ;  being  delivered  up  to 
the  Indians  to  be  brought  in  the  rear  of  the  army  to  Maiden,  in  Upper 
5  D 


50  HISTORY. 

Canada,  they  were,  with  scarce  an  exception,  massacred  and  toma- 
hawked by  the  blood-thirsty  savages,  without  the  interference  of  the 
British  officers,  who  witnessed  the  scene.  Their  bleeding  bodies  were 
mutilated  and  scalped,  and  left  to  putrefy  on  the  ground.  But  a  very 
small  remnant  reached  Fort  Maiden  alive. 

Gren.  Harrison  about  that  time  had  built  a  fort  at  the  Rapids, 
which,  in  honor  of  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  he  called  Fort  Meigs.  He 
returned  afterwards  to  Ohio  for  reinforcements.  Receiving  intelligence 
that  the  British  threatened  to  attack  Fort  Meigs,  he  repaired  thither, 
and  was  besieged  by  a  powerful  force  under  the  former  Col.  Proctor, 
■whom  the  British  government,  by  way  of  approving  his  barbarous, 
fiend-like  cruelty,  had  then  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General. 
Gen.  Clay,  from  Kentucky,  marched  to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Harrison 
with  1200  men.  Before  reaching  the  fort,  part  of  his  troops,  under 
Col.  Dudley,  were  attacked  and  defeated  by  Tecumseh  and  Proctor, 
with  a  loss  of  250  men ;  Col.  Dudley  himself  being  killed.  Having 
driven  the  prisoners  into  a  ruined  fort,  the  Indians  commenced  a 
frightful  slaughter  among  them,  in  presence  of  Gen.  Proctor  himself, 
and  several  of  his  officers,  who  seemed  to  delight  at  the  inhuman 
spectacle.  ^'  While  this  carnage  was  raging,"  relates  Drake,  in  his 
life  of  Tecumseh,  "a,  thundering  voice  was  heard  in  the  rear,  and  in 
the  Indian  tongue;  and  on  turning  round,  Tecumseh  was  seen  ad- 
vancing on  horseback  with  the  utmost  speed  to  where  two  Indians  had 
an  American  down,  and  were  in  the  act  of  killing  him.  He  sprang 
from  his  horse,  caught  one  by  the  throat,  the  other  by  the  breast,  and 
threw  them  to  the  ground ;  and  drawing  his  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife,  he  ran  in  between  the  Americans  and  Indians,  daring  any  one 
of  the  hundreds  that  surrounded  him  to  attempt  the  murder  of  another 
American.  They  were  all  confounded,  and  immediately  departed. 
He  then  demanded  where  Proctor  was,  and  eyeing  him  at  a  distance, 
sternly  inquired  why  he  had  not  put  a  stop  to  the  inhuman  massacre. 
'  Sir,'  said  Proctor,  '  your  Indians  cannot  be  commanded.'  '  Begone,' 
thundered  Tecumseh :  '  You  are  unfit  to  command ;  go  and  put  on 
petticoats !'  " 

On  the  9th  of  May  the  siege  of  Fort  Meigs  was  raised.  Proctor 
departed  with  all  his  forces,  but  soon  returned  with  reinforcements, 
this  time  selecting  Fort  Stephenson  as  the  theatre  of  savage  massacre. 


HISTORY.  51 

He  summoned  the  garrison  to  surrender;  but  they,  determined  to  be 
cut  to  pieces  sooner  than  to  entrust  their  persons  to  his  tender  mer- 
cies, returned  for  answer :  "  When  the  fort  shall  be  taken,  there  will 
be  none  left  to  massacre,  as  it  will  not  be  given  up  while  a  man  is 
still  alive."  He  then  made  an  assault  upon  the  fort,  and  was  repulsec* 
once,  with  a  loss  of  150  men,  by  a  force  scarcely  a  tenth  of  his  own, 
not  daring  another  assault. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  a  splendid  naval  victory  was  gained  oQ 
Lake  Erie,  by  the  gallant  Commodore  Perry,  in  which  the  whole 
British  squadron,  consisting  of  sis  vessels,  were  captured,  and  more 
prisoners  taken,  than  there  were  men  in  Perry's  whole  fleet.  By  this 
decisive  victory  the  road  to  Canada  was  effectually  opened,  and  Gen. 
Harrison,  reinforced  by  a  body  of  4000  volunteers,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Johnson,  was  enabled  to  invade  Canada  without  further 
delay.  He  advanced  against  Fort  Maiden,  but  on  his  arrival  thither, 
found  that  it  had  been  destroyed  by  Gen.  Proctor,  and  that  the  latter, 
together  with  the  gallant  Tecumseh  and  his  warriors,  had  retreated  to 
the  Moravian  towns.  After  delivering  the  Northwestern  Territory 
from  the  odious  presence  of  the  British,  and  hoisting  again  the  Ame- 
rican flag  on  the  ramparts  of  Detroit,  Gen.  Harrison  set  out  in  pursuit 
of  Gen.  Proctor,  reaching  him  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Thames. 
Determined  to  make  his  last  stand  here.  Gen.  Proctor,  on  the  7th  of 
October,  1813,  drew  up  in  battle  array  his  entire  force  of  800  of  the 
line,  and  2000  Indians;  the  greater  part  of  the  former,  with  the 
chief  part  of  the  artillery,  occupied  the  left  wing,  resting  on  the 
river  bank,  an.d  the  Indians  under  Tecumseh  the  right  wing,  between 
two  swamps.  The  position  was  skilfully  chosen;  Gen.  Proctor,  how- 
ever, who  knew,  that  the  Americans  had  a  numerous  and  well-appointed 
cavalry  force,  committed  a  grave  error  in  forming  his  troops  in  open 
order,  with  intervals  of  three  or  four  feet  between  the  files,  since  he 
might  have  foreseen,  that  his  troops,  thus  drawn  up,  would  be  unable 
to  resist  a  cavalry  charge. 

Gen.  Harrison,  who  had  a  force  of  3500  men,  inclusive  of  cavalry, 
with  him,  no.  sooner  perceived  the  tactical  error  of  the  enemy,  than 
he  ordered  two  of  his  battalions  of  mounted  men,  of  which  one  was 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Col.  Johnson,  to  the  charge.  So 
spirited  and  vigorous  was  the  charge  made  by  these  troops,  that  at 


52  HISTORY. 

their  first  onset  the  rank  and  file  of  the  British  were  scattered  like 
leaves  Before  the  blast,  and  all  the  efi'orts  of  the  British  officers  to 
form  the  broken  ranks  again,  proved  utterly  unavailing.  Seventy  of 
the  British  regulars  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  more  than  600 
taken  prisoners.  Gen.  Proctor's  escape  was  merely  due  to  the  fleet- 
ness  of  his  horse. 

A  far  more  serious  trial  awaited  the  Americans,  who  had  to  attack 
the  Indians,  commanded  by  the  brave  and  noble  Tecumseh.  For 
although  Col.  Johnson  succeeded  in  breakingf  their  lines  at  the  second 
charge,  the  Indians,  unlike  the  British,  disdaining  to  yield,  continued 
the  fight  with  desperate  valor,  and  had  nearly  forced  their  way  through 
the  American  lines,  when  they  were  repulsed  with  great  slaughter  by 
a  regiment  of  Kentucky  volunteers,  led  on  by  the  intrepid  Shelby. 
Still  the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  1200,  stimulated  to  extraordinary 
efforts  by  their  beloved  commander,  whose  voice  could  be  distinctly 
heard  in  every  part  of  the  battle,  continued  the  combat,  with  heroic 
self-devotion,  gathering  round  their  illustrious  chief,  with  an  apparent 
determination  to  conquer  or  die  by  his  side.  But  after  Proctor's 
defeat,  the  event  of  the  battle  could  no  longer  be  doubtful.  Unwil- 
ling to  survive  the  slaughter  of  his  countrymen,  the  generous  Tecum- 
seh fell,  nobly  battling  at  their  head.  About  the  same  time  Col. 
Johnson,  conspicuous  by  the  white  horse  he  rode,  was  pierced  by 
several  balls,  and  fell.  The  Indians,  whom  the  voice  and  example  of 
Tecumseh  could  no  longer  animate,  at  last  gave  way  on  every  side. 
Where  Tecumseh  had  fallen,  36  men,  both  whites  and  Indians,  were 
found  literally  cut  and  stabbed  to  pieces. 

Thus  fell  Tecumseh,  no  doubt  the  greatest  and  most  exalted  of  his 
race,  and  respected  by  all  his  enemies  as  a  great  and  magnanimous 
chief.  To  a  powerful  intellect  uniting  the  soul  of  a  hero,  he  was  in 
war  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  most  eloquent  in  council,  and  generous 
and  humane  in  every  one  of  his  acts.  He  died  the  greatest  champion 
of  his  people ;  his  death  deprived  them  of  their  last  protector,  and 
sealed  their  doom  forever. 

Long  afterwards  his  grave  was  to  be  seen  beside  a  large  fallen  oak. 
He  was  there  left  alone  in  his  glory.  The  British  government  having 
previously  appointed  him  a  brigadier-general,  afterwards  granted  a 
pension  to  his  mourning  family. 

The  victory  at  the  Thames,  the  fall  of  Tecumseh,  njid  the  inglorious 


HISTORY.  53 

defeat  of  Proctor,  terminated  the  war  in  the  Northwestern  Territory, 
which  was  once  more  united  to  the  republic,  never  again  to  be  sepa- 
rated from  it.  The  middle  and  northern  part  of  Illinois  for  some 
time  continued  to  be  afflicted  with  the  depredations  of  the  Sacs, 
Foxes,  Shawnees,  Kickapoos,  and  other  Indian  nations,  but  peace 
being  at  length  concluded  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Republic, 
on  the  24th  of  December,  1814,  the  savages,  abandoned  by  Great 
Britain,  were  soon  brought  to  terms. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1812,  Illinois,  for  the  first  time,  sent  a  dele- 
gate to  Congress.  The  right  of  suffrage  was  extended  to  all  its  inha- 
bitants, and  the  property  qualification  required  by  the  ordinance  of 
1787  in  the  voter,  was  abolished.  By  this  ordinance  the  President 
appointed  a  Governor,  who  held  his  office  for  three  years,  resided  iu 
the  district,  and  had  a  freehold  estate  of  1000  acres  of  land;  a  Sec- 
retary for  four  years,  who  resided  in  the  district,  and  had  a  freehold 
estate  of  500  acres  of  land;  and  a  Court  of  three  judges,  to  reside  in 
the  district,  and  have,  each  of  them,  a  freehold  estate  of  500  acres  of 
land.  The  governor  and  the  judges  had  power  to  adopt  and  publish 
such  laws  of  the  original  States  as  were  necessary  and  best  adapted 
to  the  circumstances  of  the  territory,  and  the  governor  was  to  have 
also  the  power  of  appointing  all  magistrates,  civil  officers,  and  all  mili- 
tary officers  under  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  of  dividing  the. 
district  into  counties  and  townships. 

This  was  the  form  of  government  under  which  Illinois  was  ruled 
from  1809-1812. 

In  1812  the  governor  was  appointed  and  commissioned  as  before, 
but  a  Legislative  Council  of  five  members,  and  a  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, elected  by  the  people,  were  now  authorized  to  make  laws 
"  for  the  government  of  the  district,  not  repugnant  to  the  principles 
and  articles  established  and  declared  in  the  ordinance  above  alluded 
to."  The  Legislative  Council  was  appointed  by  the  President  and 
Senate,  and  commissioned  by  the  former,  from  a  list  of  10  persons  to 
be  furnished  by  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  district.  A  d,ele- 
gate  to  Congress  was  also  elected  by  the  people.  In  this  manner  the 
Territory  was  governed  from  1812-1818,  Ninian  Edwards  continuing 
as  governor  during  that  time. 

The  population  of  the  Territory  in  the  year  1812  did  not  exceed 
5* 


64  HISTORY. 

12,000  souls.  After  the  termination  of  the  war  in  the  year  1814, 
people  began  to  arrive  from  the  old  States.  They  brought  money 
with  them, — quite  a  novelty  to  the  people  of  Illinois, — -for  till  then 
the  skins  of  the  deer  had  answered,  with  that  primitive  people,  the 
purpose  of  a  circulating  medium;  and  introduced  some  changes  into 
the  habits  and  customs  of  the  people.  Education  and  learning,  how- 
ever, were  still  much  neglected.  There  were  few  schools;  in  these 
few  nothing  but  reading,  writing,  and  the  four  cardinal  rules  of  arith- 
metic, were  taught.  Scientific  and  professional  men  came  from 
abroad.  Of  preachers,  it  is  true,  they  had  many  that  were  born  and 
brought  up  in  the  country,  but  their  chief  excellence  consisted  not  in 
the  profundity  of  their  learning,  which  was  wholly  made  up  by  a 
superficial  knowledge  of  the  gospel,  but  rather  in  the  power  of  their 
lungs,  the  rapidity  of  their  gesticulations,  and  the  skill,  with  which 
they  were  wont  to  spin  out  a  few  barren  ideas  into  a  sermon  of  aston- 
ishing length,  overladen  with  florid  bombast.  Their  enthusiasm  knew 
no  bounds  ;  by  reason  whereof  many  of  them  turned  fanatics.  Unlike 
our  modern  divines,  they  would,  in  times  of  scarcity,  preach  gratui- 
tously, and  be  satisfied  with  the  coarsest  food ;  often  they  would 
accost  and  warn  strangers,  whose  souls  these  poor  fanatics  imagined 
they  saw  rushing  into  the  fire  of  eternal  damnation.  Of  the  fine  arts, 
even  the  art  of  singing  was  unknown.  The  attempt  of  a  New  Eng- 
land singing  master  to  introduce  better  music  among  the  Illinoisians, 
resulted  in  a  disastrous  failure ;  for  at  the  very  first  lesson  he  gave, 
his  pupils,  in  spite  of  all  his  remonstrances,  cried  at  the  top  of  their 
voices,  producing  a  deafening  noise,  which  proving  too  much  for  hia 
feeble  constitution,  forced  him  to  desist  from  the  enterprise. 

The  occupations  of  the  people  were  still  those  of  faruiing  or  hunt- 
ing. They  raised  their  own  provisions,  and  often  supplied  their  wants 
in  a  manner  that  shows  them  not  deficient  in  originality  and  fertility 
of  genius.  To  illustrate  this,  the  example  may  be  quoted  of  a 
farmer  of  the  name  of  Lemon,  who  on  a  certain  day  turned  out  to 
plough,  and,  missing  his  horse-collar,  which  his  waggish  son  had 
hidden,  being  perplexed  for  but  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
pulled  ofi"  his  leathern  breeches,  stuffed  them,  and  straddled  them 
across  the  horse's  neck,  ploughing  lustily  all  day,  without  any  covering 
to  hide  his  natural  inferiorities  from  the  prying  eye  of  an  insolent 
criticising  curiosity. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Up  to  the  year  1818  the  population  of  the  Territory  of  Illinois  had 
increased  to  about  50,000  inhabitants.  At  the  commencement  of  thafc 
year,  the  people  of  the  Territory  unanimously  resolved  to  have  Illi- 
nois admitted  into  the  Union  as  an  independent  State,  and  ordered 
Nathaniel  Pope,  their  delegate  to  Congress,  to  take  measures  to  that 
effect.  Nathaniel  Pope  brought  the  subject  at  once  before  Congress, 
and  reported  a  bill  thereon.  About  that  time  the  danger,  already 
vaguely  apprehended  before,  of  the  dissolution  of  the  confederate 
States  of  the  Republic,  had  assumed  a  very  threatening  aspect.  Na- 
thaniel Pope  justly  observed,  that  if  Illinois,  which,  by  reason  of  the 
great  extent  of  its  territory,  its  fertile  soil,  and  the  facilities  it  offered 
for  the  support  of  a  crowded  population,  was  destined  to  become  a 
chief  instrument  either  in  the  preservation  or  in  the  dissolution  of  the 
Union,  —  was  given  a  large  boundary  on  the  Northern  Lakes,  the 
increase  of  the  commerce  on  which  was  very  confidently  expected, 
then,  united  as  Illinois  already  was  by  the  bonds  of  interest  to  the 
States  west  of  the  Mississippi,  it  would  also  become  connected  by  the 
closest  ties  of  business  and  commerce  with  the  Eastern  States,  and 
thus  be  bound  to  sustain  the  Federal  Union  forever;  whilst,  on  the 
other  hand,  if  no  such  extensive  territory  should  be  given  to  her,  the 
interests  of  the  State  would  compel  her  to  enrol  herself  among  the 
States  of  a  new  Southwestern  confederacy,  whenever  the  Union 
should  be  dissolved.  Nathaniel  Pope's  views  met  the  full  approbation 
of  Congress,  and  the  bill,  in  virtue  of  which  the  Territory  of  Illinois 
was  to  be  raised  to  the  rank  of  an  independent  State,  was  passed  as  a 
law,  in  the  month  of  April,  1818 ;  it  granted  to  Illinois  the  extension 
of  her  northern  boundary  to  the  parallel  of  42°  30'  north  latitude, 
and  the  privilege  of  applying  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the 
public  lands,  to  the  encouragement  of  learning  within  the  borders  of 
the  State. 

(55) 


56  HISTORY. 

Congress  having  passed  this  act,  a  Convention,  of  which  Elias  K. 
Kane,  a  lawyer,  was  the  leading  member,  was  convoked  during  the 
summer  of  1818  in  Illinois,  to  form  its  Constitution.  By  this  Con- 
stitution the  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor  were  required  to  have 
been  citizens  of  the  United  States  for  30  years  previous  to  their  elec- 
tion. The  qualifications  for  the  office  of  Lieutenant-Governor  were 
afterwards  in  so  far  modified,  that  any  citizen  of  the  United  States 
who  had  resided  in  the  State  for  two  years,  could  be  elected  to  that 
office.  Power  was  vested  in  the  Governor  to  nominate,  and  in  the 
Senate  to  confirm  all  officers,  except  those,  whose  appointments  had 
already  been  provided  for  by  the  Constitution,  including  also  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  Inferior  Courts,  State  Treasurer,  and 
Public  Printer.  The  Convention,  however,  in  order  to  please  a  favorite 
of  theirs,  inserted  a  schedule  in  the  Constitution,  declaring  '^  that  an 
Auditor,  Attorney-General,  and  other  officers  of  the  State,  may  be 
appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  This  schedule  was  productive 
of  innumerable  intrigues  and  quarrels  between  the  Governors  and  the 
Legislature,  which  ended  in  the  Legislature,  who  had  at  first  contented 
themselves  with  electing  an  Auditor  and  Attorney-General,  depriving 
the  Governor,  as  was  the  case  with  Gov.  Duncan,  of  the  power  of 
appointing  any  public  officers,  save  notaries  public  and  public  admin- 
istrators. 

Shadrach  Bond,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  a  man  of  plain  com- 
mon sgnse,  without  pretensions  to  a  refined  education,  who  had  already 
been  several  times  elected  to  the  Territorial  Legislature,  and  once  as 
a  delegate  of  the  Territory  to  Congress,  was  elected  the  first  Governor, 
and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  October,  1818.  At 
the  same  time,  the  Legislature  assembled  in  Kaskaskia.  In  his  first 
message  to  the  Legislature,  he  earnestly  recommends  the  construction 
of  the  canal,  which  was  to  run  through  Illinois,  and  to  connect  the 
Mississippi  with  Lake  Michigan.     He  died  in  the  year  1834. 

The  Legislature  convened  in  Kaskaskia  elected  Joseph  Philips,  a 
lawyer  by  profession,  who  had  been  a  captain  in  the  United  States 
Army,  and  afterwards  Secretary  of  State  to  the  Territory,  as  Chief 
Justice;  and  John  Reynolds,  Thomas  C.  Brown,  and  William  P. 
Foster,  a  great  rascal,  who  soon  resigned  his  office,  as  Associate  Jus- 
tices of  the  Supreme  Court.     Ninian  Edwards,  and  Jesse  B.  Thomas, 


HISTORY.  57 

who  bad  been  chosen  President  of  the  Convention,  were  elected  first 
Senators.  Daniel  P.  Cook  was  appointed  first  Attorney-General, 
Elias  K.  Kane,  Secretary  of  State,  John  Thomas,  State  Treasurer,  and 
Elijah  C.  Berry,  Auditor  of  public  accounts. 

Having  thus  organized  the  State  Government,  the  Legislature  ad- 
journed to  meet  again  in  winter,  at  which  adjourned  session  they 
elaborated  and  adopted  a  'Code  of  Statute  Law,  mostly  collected  and 
made  up  from  the  Statutes  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia.  This  first 
Code  was  altered  and  amended  several  times,  till  in  1827  a  revised 
copy  was  published.  It  contained  a  most  important  act  concerning 
negroes  and  mulattoes.  The  early  Legislatures  of  Indiana  and  Illi- 
nois had  not  been  hostile  to  the  introduction  of  slavery,  but  had 
allowed  emigrants  to  bring  their  slaves  with  them ;  these,  if  they 
voluntarily  consented  to  serve  their  master  for  a  term  of  years,  were 
then  held  to  perform  their  contract,  but  if  they  refused  to  consent, 
might  be  removed  by  their  masters  out  of  the  territories  in  sixty  days. 
Children  of  such  slaves  were  registered,  and  bound  to  serve  their  mas- 
ters, until  they  were  32  years  old.  This  first  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  enacted  laws  as  severe  and  stringent  as  could  be  found  in 
a  Slave  State,  where  the  number  of  negroes  is  equal  to,  or  greater  than 
that  of  the  whites;  though,  in  fact,  the  negroes  constituted  but  a  very 
small  portion  of  the  population  of  Illinois.  These  laws,  which  were 
passed  by  men  from  the  Slave  States,  and  were  intended  to  preserve 
the  purity  of  the  white  race,  by  discouraging  free  negroes  from  settling 
in  Illinois  (which  they  effectually  did),  have  now  become  a  dead  let- 
ter, having  never  been  carried  into  effect  within  the  memory  of  the 
present  genera-tion. 

The  Legislature  and  Government  removed  to  another  place  on  the 
Kaskaskia  River,  which  was  afterwards  called  Yandalia,  owing  to  the 
information  imparted  by  some  wag  to  the  Commissioners  who  were 
surveying  the  gi'ound  for  the  new  seat  of  government,  that  the  name 
of  Vandalia  would  not  only  sound  very  agreeably,  but  at  the  same 
time  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  Vandals,  once  a  powerful  and 
warlike,  but  now  extinct  Indian  nation ;  on  the  strength  of  which 
information  the  Commissioners,  believing  the  same  to  be  correct,  and 
not  troubling  themselves  much  about  matters  of  history,  adopted  the 


58  '  ,  HISTORY.. 

name  proposed  to  tliem,  -winch  has  ever  since  inflicted  some  slight 
stigma  upon  the  character  of  the  people  inhabiting  the  place. 

As  already  mentioned,  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  war  of  1812, 
emigrants  began  to  arrive  from  the  Eastern  States,  and  settle  in  Illi- 
nois; they  brought  money  with  them,  which  soon  superseded  the 
'skins  of  the  deer  and  of  the  raccoon  as  a  circulating  medium,  and 
brought  about  a  radical  change  in  the  material  condition  of  the  peo- 
ple, by  creating  new  desires,  and  especially  a  mad  desire  for  specu- 
lating in  lots  and  lands.  At  that  time  the  United  States  sold  land  at 
two  dollars  per  acre,  eighty  dollars  on  the  quarter  section,  to  be  paid 
cash  down  on  the  purchase,  and  the  residue  payable  in  five  years. 
Everybody  was  eager  to  buy  at  that  price,  confidently  expecting  to  be 
able  to  sell  the  lands,  with  the  houses  and  other  improvements  thereon, 
at  a  large  profit,  to  the  immigrants  who  were  sure  to  arrive.  This 
proceeding  was  proudly  styled  "developing  the  infant  resources  of  a 
new  country."  Several  banks  were  incorporated,  and  speculation  ran 
high,  being  favored  by  the  circumstance,  that  money  was  then  very 
abundant,  and  in  consequence,  every  man's  credit  very  good.  Lots 
were  purchased  on  credit,  and  towns  laid  out,  all  over  the  country ; 
if  money  could  not  be  had,  notes  were  taken  in  place  of,  and  consi- 
dered as  good  as  cash,  until,  two  years  afterwards,  in  the  year  1820, 
the  entire  population  had  become  indebted  to  a  vast  amount.  The 
immigrants,  whose  arrival  had  been  so  anxiously  looked  for,  did  not 
come,  the  lots  and  houses  could  not  be  sold,  and  the  price  of  the  lands 
purchased  of  the  United  States  remained  unpaid.  Bank  notes,  and 
paper  of  every  kind  and  description,  had  long  since  driven  the  specie 
out  of  circulation,  since  it  could  be  far  more  easily  supplied  to  any 
amount  wanted  by  notes,  and  nobody  was  willing  to  pay  in  cash,  what 
he  could  pay  for  in  paper.  Commerce  being  then  utterly  insignificant, 
nothing  was  exported ;  and  the  people,  being  left  to  settle  their  debts 
among  themselves,  began  to  sue  one  another,  though  without  any 
prospect  of  recovering  their  amounts,  since,  in  consequence  of  the 
total  absence  of  money,  even  the  richest  man  would  have  found  it  im- 
possible to  satisfy  his  creditors. 

To  put  an  end  to  these  crying  evils,  a  State  Bank,  with  several 
branches,  was  created  by  the  Legislature  of  1821 ;  which  bank,  being 
wholly  supported  by  the  credit  of  the  State,  was  to  issue  one,  two, 


HISTORY.  *  59 

three,  five,  ten  and  twenty  dollar  notes,  bearing  two  per  cent,  per 
annum,  and  payable  by  the  State  in  ten  years.  It  was  the  duty  of 
the  bank  to  advance,  upon  personal  property,  money  to  the  amount 
of  $100,  and  a  larger  amount  upon  real  estate  mortgages,  to  anybody, 
who  should  require  such  a  loan.  All  taxes  and  public  salaries  could 
be  paid  in  such  bills,  and  if  a  creditor  refused  to  take  them,  he  had 
to  wait  three  years  longer  before  he  could  collect  his  debt.  The  peo- 
ple imagined,  that  simply  because  government  had  issued  the  notes, 
they  would  remain  at  par,  and  although  this  could  evidently  not  be 
the  case,  were  yet  so  infatuated  with  their  project  as  actually  to  request 
the  United  States  Government  to  receive  them  in  payment  for  the 
public  lands.  Although  there  were  not  wanting  men  who,  like  John 
McLean,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  foresavr  the 
danger  and  evils  likely  to  arise  from  the  creation  of  such  a  bank,  by 
far  the  greater  part  of  the  people  were  in  favor  of  it;  the  new  bank 
was  therefore  started,  and  began  to  transact  business  in  the  summer 
of  1821.  The  new  issues  of  bills  by  the  bank,  of  course,  only  aggra- 
vated the  evil,  heretofore  so  grievously  felt,  of  the  absence  of  specie, 
so  that  the  people  were  soon  compelled  to  cut  their  bills  in  halves  and 
quarters,  in  order  to  make  small  change  in  the  trade.  And  further, 
most  persons  tried  to  borrow  as  much  money  from  the  bank  as  they 
could,  considering  whatever  they  got  as  clear  gain,  never  pretending 
to  pay  it  afterwards.  And  finally,  the  paper  currency  so  rapidly  de- 
preciated, that  three  dollars  in  these  bills  were  only  considered  worth 
one  dollar  in  specie,  so  that  the  State  not  only  did.  not  increase  its 
revenues,  but  lost  full  two-thirds  of  them,  and  expended  three  times 
the  amount  required  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  State  Government. 

In  the  year  1822,  the  term  of  ofiice  of  the  first  governor,  Shadrach 
Bond,  expired.  The  question,  which  then  agitated  the  whole  Union, 
whether  Missouri  was  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  Slave  State 
or  not,  had  resulted  in  starting  two  parties  in  Illinois,  one  favorable, 
the  other  hostile  to  the  introduction  of  slavery,  each  proposing  a  can- 
didate of  their  own  for  governor.  Although  the  slave  party  did  every- 
thing in  their  power  to  secure  the  election  of  their  candidate,  and 
could  boast  of  many  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  State  as  be- 
longing to  their  party,  the  people  at  large  being  decided,  as  they  ever 


bU  HISTORY. 

since   have  been,  in  favor  of  a  Free   State,  Edward   Coles,  an   anti- 
slavery  man,  was  elected. 

The  Legislature,  at  their  next  session  (1824-1825),  ordered  that 
the  Supreme  Court,  consisting  of  four  judges,  should  be  held  twice  a 
year  at  the  seat  of  government,  and  created  five  judges  to  hold  all  the 
Circuit  Courts  in  the  State,  each  of  whom  was  maintained  at  a  yearly 
salary  of  $600,  while  each  of  the  Supreme  Court  Judges  received 
$800  per  annum.  Considering  this  to  be  an  extravagant  outlay  of  the 
public  money,  the  people  were  so  clamorous  for  a  reduction  of  it,  that 
the  Legislature  of  1S26-7  annulled  and  repealed  the  act  passed  by 
their  predecessors,  discharged  the  Circuit  Judges,  and  ordered  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  hold  the  Circuit  Courts  instead  of 
them. 

The  same  Legislature  of  1824—1825  appointed,  by  another  law,  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  revise  the  laws,  and  to  present  the 
new  revision  to  the  Legislature  at  their  next  session. 

Senator  Duncan,  afterwards  governor,  presented  to  the  Legislature 
a  bill  for  the  support  of  schools  by  a  public  tax;  and  William  S. 
Hamilton  ^jresented  another  bill,  requiring  a  tax  in  proportion  to 
pi'operty,  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  and  repairing  the 
roads;  feoth  of  which  bills  passed  the  Legislature  and  became  laws. 
But  although  these  laws  conferred  an  incalculable  benefit  upon  the 
public,  by  highly  improving  both  the  condition  of  the  schools  and  the 
roads,  the  very  name  of  a  tax  was  so  odious  to  the  people,  that  rather 
than  pay  a  tax  of  even  the  smallest  possible  amount,  they  preferred 
working  as  they  formerly  did,  five  days  during  the  year  on  the  roads, 
and  would  allow  their  children  to  grow  up  without  any  instruction  at 
all.  Consequently  both  laws  were  abolished,  and  the  former  systeni 
'restored,  by  the  Legislature,  at  their  session  of  1826-1827. 

In  the  year  1826  the  office  of  Governor  became  again  vacant. 
Ninian  Edwards  and  Adolphus  Frederick  Hubbard,  were  the  principal 
candidates  for  it.  Ninian  Edwards,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  Go- 
vernor of  Illinois  Territory  for  the  nine  years  previous  to  its  admission 
into  the  Union  as  a  sovereign  State,  had  made  himself  many  enemies 
by  urging  strict  inquiries  to  be  made  into  the  corruption  of  the  State 
Bank,  so  that,  had  it  not  been  for  his  talents  and  noble  personal  ap- 
pearance, he  would  most  probably  not  have  been  elected.     In  a  con- 


HISTORY. 


61 


test  for  office  with  a  man  of  the  talents  of  Ninian  Edwards,  Adolphus 
Frederick  Hubbard,  if  judged  merely  by  his  personal  merits,  had  but 
little  chance  of  coming  off  victor,  although  he  himself  claimed  to  be 
able  to  govern  his  fellow-citizens  as  well  as  anybody  else ;  which, 
moreover,  in  his  opinion,  did  not  require  a  "  very  extraordinary  smart 
man."  Of  this  same  man,  tradition  has  preserved,  among  other  cu- 
rious sayings,  a  speech  on  a  bill  granting  a  bounty  on  wolf-scalps, 
which  we  cannot  withhold  from  the  knowledge  of  our  readers;  we 
communicate  the'same  just  as  it  has  been  preserved.  This  speech, 
which  Mr.  Hubbard  delivered  before  the  Legislature,  is  as  follows : 
"  Mr.  Speaker,  I  rise  before  the  question  is  put  on  this  bill,  to  say  a 
word  for  my  constituents.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  never  seen  a  wolf. 
I  cannot  say,  that  I  am  very  well  acquainted  with  the  nature  and 
habits  of  wolves.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  said,  that  I  had  never  seen  a 
wolf  But  now  I  remember,  that  once  on  a  time,  as  Judge  Brown 
and  I  were  riding  across  the  Bonpas  prairie,  we  looked  over  the 
prairie  about  three  miles,  and  Judge  Brown  said,  'Hubbard,  look, 
there  goes  a  wolf'  And  I  looked,  and  I  looked,  and  I  looked,  and  I 
said,  'Judge,  where?'  And  he  said,  'There;'  and  I  looked  again, 
and  this  time,  in  the  edge  of  a  hazel  thicket,  about  three  miles  across 
the  prairie,  I  think  I  saw  the  wolf's  tail.  Mr.  Speaker,  if  f  did  not 
see  a  wolf  that  time,  I  think  I  never  saw  one.  But  I  have  heard 
much,  and  read  more,  about  this  animal.  I  have  studied  his  natural 
history.  By-the-bye,  history  is  divided  into  two  parts ;  there  is  first 
the  history  of  the  fabulous,  and  secondly,  of  the  non-fabulous,  or  un- 
known ages.  Mr.  Speaker,  from  all  this  sources  of  information,  I 
learn  that  the  wolf  is  a  very  noxious  animal :  that  he  goes,  prowling 
about,  seeking  something  to  devour;  that  he  raises  up  in  the  dead  and 
secret  hours  of  the  night,  when  all  nature  reposes  in  silent  oblivion, 
and  then  commits  the  most  terrible  devastation  upon  the  rising  gene- 
ration of  hogs  and  sheep.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  have  done,  and  return  my 
thanks  to  the  house  for  their  kind  attention  to  my  remarks."  The 
primitive  naivete,  and  wonderful  ingenuity,  as  displayed  in  this  re- 
markably choice  speech,  show  better  than  anything  else  could  have 
done,  the  state  of  civilization  then  existing  in  Illinois,  especially  when 
we  bear  in  mind,  that  the  speech  was  delivered  by  no  less  a  personage 
than  the  Lieutenant-Governor  himself. 
6 


62  HISTORY. 

Governor  Edwards  commenced  nis  term  in  1826.  Remaining  still 
as  hostile  to  the  old  bank  as  ever,  in  his  messages,  he  charged  the 
officers  of  the  bank  vi^ith  corruption  and  fraud.  The  friends  and  em- 
ployees of  the  bank  immediately  took  the  alarm,  and  were  certainly 
not  remiss  in  retorting  an  equally  disgracing  charge  upon  the  Gover- 
nor, by  accusing  him  of  base  motives  in  having  instituted  an  inquiry 
into  the  management  of  the  bank.  Their  influence  was  so  great,  that 
the  accusations  of  the  Governor  were  at  once  dismissed  as  wholly  de- 
void of  proof  of 'mismanagement  on  the  part  of  the  officers  of  the 
bank. 

Judges  Lockwood  and  Smith,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the 
Legislature  to  revise  the  laws,  presented  to  them,  during  their 
session  of  1826—1827,  a  newly-revised  code  of  laws,  which  was 
adopted,  and  of  which  the  principal  laws  have  ever  since  remained  in 
full  force,  although  the  code  was  revised  several  times  subsequently. 

The  Indians,  who  had  remained  quiet  since  the  termination  of  the 
war  of  1812,  became  again  troublesome  in  the  summer  of  the  year 
1827.  The  Winnebagoes,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  other  Indian  tribes, 
had  been  at  war  for  more  than  a  hundred  years,  and  although  the 
United  States  had  tried  to  settle  the  feuds  existing  between  them, 
these  tnbes  nevertheless  remained  at  bitter  enmity  with  each  other, 
being  always  ready  to  inflict,  one  upon  the  other,  a  maximum  of 
injury.  In  the  summer  of  1827,  a  war-party  of  the  Winnebagoes 
surprised  a  party  of  24  Chippeways,  and  killed  8  of  them.  Four  of 
the  murderers  were  arrested,  and  delivered  by  the  commander  of  the 
United  States  troops  at  St.  Peter's,  to  the  Chippeways,  by  whom  they 
were  immediately  shot.  This*  was  the  first  irritation  of  the  Winne- 
bagoes. They  were  further  grieved  at  seeing  the  whites  taking  pos- 
session of  their  country;  for  many  of  them  had  penetrated  into  it  as 
far  as  the  Wisconsin  river,  in  search  of  lead  mines.  Red  Bird,  a 
chief  of  the  Winnebagoes,  in  order  to  avenge  the  execution  of  the 
four  men  of  his  own  people,  attacked  the  Chippeways,  but  was  de- 
feated, and  being  determined  to  satisfy  his  thirst  for  revenge  by  some 
means,  surprised  and  killed  several  white  men.  Upon  receiving  in- 
telligence of  these  Indian  murder.«!,  the  Illinoisians  who  were  working 
the  lead  mines  in  the  vicinity  of  Galena,  assembled  in  Galena,  formed 
a  body  of  volunteers,  and,  reinforced  by  a  company  of  regular  United 


HISTORY.  63 

States  troops,  marched  into  the  country  of  the  Winnebagoes.  To 
save  their  nation  from  the  miseries  of  war,  Red  Bird,  and  sis  others 
of  the  most  influential  men  of  his  nation,  volnntarilj  surrendered 
themselves  prisoners  of  war ;  part  of  them  were  executed,  part  of  them 
imprisoned,  and  destined,  like  Red  Bird  himself,  ingloriously  to  pine 
away  within  the  narrow  confines  of  a  jail,  whereas  formerly  even  the 
vast  forests  of  their  native  country  had  proved  too  limited  for  their 
daring  and  adventurous  disposition. 

Resenting  the  defeat  he  had  sustained  at  the  hands  of  his  enemies, 
when  pressing  an  investigation  of  the  affairs  of  the  old  State  Bank, 
Gov.  Ninian  Edwards  devised  another  scheme  to  embarrass  and  annoy 
them.  Hitherto  the  United  States  had  enjoyed  undisturbed  possession 
of  various  public  lands  within  the  State  of  Illinois.  But  now,  for  the 
first  time,  G-ov.  Edwards,  in  a  message  delivered  to  the  Legislature, 
claimed  the  whole  of  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States  lying 
within  Illinois,  as  belonging  to  the  latter;  making  good  his  claim  by 
arguing,  that  inasmuch  as  Illinois  had  been  admitted  into  the  Union 
as  an  independent  and  sovereign  State,  all  the  lands  within  her  own 
limits  must  necessarily  belong  to  her.  The  measure  was  far  from 
being  unpopular,  since  the  Legislature  unanimously  approved  of  it, 
although  the  people  did  not  eventually  enforce  it.  Gov.  Edwards 
was  mistaken,  however,  in  imagining,  that  his  enemies  would  oppose 
the  bill,  for  on  seeing  the  bill  favorably  received  by  the  Legislature, 
and  part  of  the  public,  being  fearful  to  sacrifice  their  own  popularity, 
they  prudently  abstained  from  throwing  any  obstacle  into  the  way  of 
the  bill,  and  having  learned  from  experience,  that  Gov.  Edwards  was 
too  subtle  an  enemy  for  them  to  grapple  with,  never  afterwards  re- 
sisted any  one  of  his  measures.     Gov.  Ninian  Edwards  died  in  1833. 

Of  the  public  lands  owned  by  the  United  States  Government 
within  Illinois,  Congress  had  already  granted  800,000  acres  to  the 
State,  for  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  being 
prevailed  upon  to  make  this  grant  by  Daniel  P.  Cook,  the  first  Attor- 
ney General,  and  then  Senator  to  Congress,  to  whose  active  and  un- 
ceasing exertions  in  behalf  of  the  measure,  the  credit  of  the  donation 
must  be  mainly  attributed.  Although  Daniel  P.  Cook  had  thus  ac- 
quired some  claim  upon  the  gratitude  of  his  fellow-citizens,  which 
might  have  caused  him  to  be  re-elected  Senator  in  the  year  1826, 


64  HISTORY. 

havincy  rendered  himself  unpopular,  on  the  other  hand,  by  giving,  in 
the  year  1824,  when  John  Quincy  Adams,  Gen.  Jackson,  William  H. 
Crawford,  and  Henry  Clay,  being  candidates  for  the  Presidency,  and 
none  of  them  receiving  a  majority,  it  became  the  business  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  to  elect  one  of  them,  the  vote  of  Illinois  to 
John  Quincy  Adams,  instead  of  to  Gen.  Jackson,  then  the  general 
favorite  of  the  people,  he  was  defeated,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Duncan 
elected  in  his  stead. 

At  first  Mr.  Duncan  manifested  the  greatest  sympathy  and  attach- 
ment to  Gen.  Jackson,  whose  ardent  admirer  he  was;  but  after  Gen. 
Jackson  had  annulled  the  charter  of  the  United  States  Bank,  and 
denied  the  appropriation  of  money  for  the  improvement  of  the  Wa- 
bash river,  Mr.  Duncan  began  visibly  to  grow  cold  towards  him,  and, 
at  last,  became  altogether  estranged  from  him,  ceasing  to  support  his 
administration.  Although  Duncan  was  generally  esteemed  a  man  of 
honesty  and  upright  principles,  and  could  not  be  reproved  for  ad- 
hering to  a  particular  opinion  of  his  own  in  regard  to  a  public  matter, 
he  was,  nevertheless,  severely  blamed  for  his  conduct  by  the  friends 
and  followers  of  Gen.  Jackson,  who  were  of  opinion,  that  since  they 
had  put  him  in  an  office,  by  which  he  had  grown  rich,  he  should  have 
remained  faithful  to  the  cause  of  Gen.  Jackson,  and  that  by  abandon- 
ing the  same,  he  had  acted  in  a  manner  becoming  only  a  man  of  a 
treacherous  and  ungrateful  character. 

Since  the  repeal  of  the  law  introduced  by  Mr.  Duncan,  then  a  Sen- 
ator, for  supporting  the  schools  by  a  public  tax,  the  Legislature  sold 
the  school  lands,  and  applied  the  money  arising  from  the  sales  to  the 
payment  of  the  school  expenses.  Still,  the  means  provided  by  gov- 
ernment for  education  and  instruction,  would  have  been  very  insuffi- 
cient, had  not  Congress  generously  donated  to  the  State  one  township 
of  six  miles  square,  and  the  thirty-sixth  part  of  all  the  residue  of  the 
United  States  Government  lands  within  the  State,  besides  three  per 
cent,  of  the  net  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  the  remainder.  The  Legis- 
lature ordered  at  first,  that  lands  of  the  school  section  of  each  town- 
ship should  be  leased  out,  on  payment  of  a  certain  rent,  but  the  les- 
sees and  newly-arrived  immigrants,  who  had  settled  on  these  lands  and 
were  entitled  to  vote,  wishing, to  establish  themselves  permanently,  by 
their  joint  influence  prevailed  upon  the  Legislature,  the  majority  of 


HISTORY,  65 

whom  needed  their  votes  for  the  coming  election,  to  discontinue  col- 
lecting the  taxes,  to  sell  the  lands,  to  borrow  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
and  the  three  per  cent,  school  fund  from  the  counties,  and  to  use  them 
for  the  public  service ;  paying  an  annual  interest,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  schools,  to  the  respective  counties,  on  the  moneys  so  borrowed. 
To  meet  the  wants  of  the  lessees,  the  lands  were  sold  at  low  prices, 
in  consequence  of  which  the  State  incurred  another  debt,  amounting 
to  nearly  half  a  million  of  dollars ;  and  the  schools  lost  part  of  their 
revenues,  all  which  might  have  been  easily  avoided,  if  the  State  had 
adopted  a  system  of  taxation,  in  order  to  defray  all  the  expenses  of  the 
public  instruction  and  education. 

Here  it  may  not  be  improper  to  state  the  principal  facts  regarding 
the  improvements,  which,  from  the  year  1820  to  1830,  had  been 
taking  place  in  the  manners  and  habits  of  the  Illinoisians,  their  modes 
of  thought,  and  the  character  of  their  institutions. 

Until  the  year  1820,  the  early  preachers  of  Illinois  enjoyed  undis- 
puted sway  over  the  minds  of  the  people.  In  that  year,  several  edu- 
cated and  well-instructed  ministers  arrived  from  the  Eastern  States, 
whence  they  had  been  sent  as  missionaries,  by  several  religious  socie- 
ties. Relying,  at  first,  mainly  upon  the  support  afforded  to  them,  in 
case  of  need,  by  these  societies,  they  founded  Bible  Societies  and 
Sunday  Schools,  and  started  a  number  of  religious  prints  or  tracts  in 
the  State,  patiently  waiting  until  the  people  should  gradually  become 
accnstomed  to  the  new  state  of  things.  Their  arrival  caused  no  little 
uneasiness  to  the  old  preachers.  Knowing,  that  from  the  moment 
their  new  rivals  should  have  ingratiated  themseles  into  the  favor  of 
the  people,  their  own  services  would  no  longer  be  needed,  they  affected 
to  deride  the  nice  and  fashionable  dress  of  their  young  colleagues, 
whom  they  believed  destitute  of  all  religion,  and  whom  they  repre- 
sented, not  without  some  good  show  of  reason,  to  be  utterly  unfit  to 
travel  through  the  wilderness,  sleep  in  the  open  air,  suffer  hunger  and 
thirst,  in  short,  to  suffer  the  same  privations  which  they  themselves 
had  suffered,  while  engaged  in  providing  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  the 
people.  They  openly  and  boldly  accused  the  new  ministers  of  being 
less  concerned  about  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  their  flocks,  than 
about  the  size  of  their  purses,  and  of  selling  their  bibles  and  tracts 
with  a  view  of  securing  to  themselves  a  handsome  profit  thereby.  The 
6*  E 


66  HISTORY. 

new  ministers,  paying  no  regard  to  their  declamations,  settled  them- 
selves wherever  a  moi'e  refined  style  of  preaching  had  become  accept- 
able, and  being  satisfied  with  the  salary  ofi"ered  to  them,  commenced 
building  churches  and  organizing  congregations.  Success  attended 
their  enterprises,  and  their  less  erudite  brethren  were  soon  exiled  from 
the  towns  into  districts,  where  the  people  still  believed  the  chief  merits 
of  an  orator  to  consist  in  the  power  of  his  lungs,  and  the  theatrical 
display  of  his  gesticulations.  A  large  part  of  the  people,  however, 
continued  to  be  prejudiced  against  the  new  ministers,  whom  they  for- 
bade to  establish  theological  departments  in  any  coUege  or  seminary, 
which  had  been  built  by  them,  and  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature. 

During  the  years  from  1820  to  1830,  a  great  change  took  place  in 
the  appearance  and  modes  of  dressing  of  the  people.  ■  The  coon-skin 
cap,  the  hunting-shirt,  and  leather  breeches,  the  moccasins,  and  the 
belt  around  the  waist,  to  which  the  butcher-koife  and  tomahawk  were 
appended,  had  entirely  disappeared  before  the  modern  clothing  ap- 
parel. The  women  had  exchanged  their  cotton  and  woollen  frocks, 
manufactured,  and  striped  with  blue  dye,  by  themselves,  for  modern 
dresses  of  silk  and  calico ;  they  had  laid  aside  the  cotton  handkerchiefs, 
which  formerly  covered  their  heads,  and  adopted  bonnets  instead ; 
they  would  not,  as  formerly,  walk  barefooted  to  church,  but  would 
often  be  seen  riding  on  fine  horses  to  the  house  of  worship.  They 
would  go  to  church  flattering  themselves  with  a  secret  hope,  that  they 
would  make  the  best  figure  in  the  whole  assembly,  and  outshine  their 
neighbors  by  the  brilliancy  of  their  dress.  To  be  able  to  gratify  their 
ambition  for  fine  dresses,  they  were  obliged  to  become  industrious  and 
enterprising  in  business.  The  desire  for  fine  dress  soon  also  superin- 
duced a  similar  desire  for  polite  society  and  knowledge,  so  that  the 
old  folks,  who  would  have  much  preferred  remaining  undisturbed  in 
their  sluggish  tranquillity  and  repose,  thoroughly  taken  by  surprise, 
everywhere  uttered  loud  complaints,  that  the  prodigalities,  luxuries 
and  innovations  of  the  young,  would  speedily  cause  the  ruin  of  the 
country. 

x\t  the  time,  that  such  a  rapid  improvement  was  taking  place  in 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  commerce  comparatively  made 
but  little  progress.     Of  steamboats,  which  had  been  introduced  in 


HISTORY.  67 

the  ■western  country  about  the  year  1816,  the  IllinoisiaDs  possessed 
but  two  small  ones  in  1830,  which  were  running  up  the  Illioois  river 
as  far  as  Peoria.  A  majority  of  the  merchants  of  the  country  were 
retailers  of  dry-goods  and  groceries,  who,  with  but  a  small  amount  of 
money  and  goods  in  their  hands,  sold  only  for  cash,  or  notes  payable 
on  sight  in  cash,  which  they  remitted  to  their  Eastern  creditors,  so 
that  they  would  have  soon  been  drained  of  their  last  specie,  had  not 
the  money  of  the  newly-arrived  immigrants  supplied  them  again  with 
the  sinews  of  trade.  Nothing  was  exported,  save  a  few  skins,  hides, 
furs,  with  tallow  and  beeswax.  The  merchants  of  Illinois  used  to  go 
to  St.  Louis  to  purchase  Eastern  exchange,  but  upon  the  suppression 
of  the  United  States  Bank  in  that  city,  these  facilities  of  commerce 
no  longer  existed,  and  the  traders  of  Illinois,  when  the  high  rates  of 
premium  had  rendered  it  impossible  for  them  to  remit  either  money 
or  bills  of  exchange  to  their  Eastern  creditors,  were  compelled  to  pur- 
chase the  productions  of  th-e  country,  and  to  remit  them  to  their 
creditors  in  place  of  cash.  Most  of  the  exports  were  shipped  to  New 
Orleans,  at  that  time  a  place  of  inconsiderable  importance.  Since 
there  were  no  merchants  or  express  companies  to  forward  the  goods 
to  market,  the  Illinoisian  farmer  would  build  his  own  boats,  load  them 
with  his  goods,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  a  few  men,  sail  down  the 
river  to  New  Orleans.  After  a  long  and  troublesome  voyage,  he 
would  arrive  in  New  Orleans,  only  to  fall  an  easy  victim  to  the  run- 
ners and  sharpers,  who  abounded  in  that  city,  and  to  go  home  penni- 
less. On  his  return  home  he  would  find  his  farm  neglected,  and  yet, 
notwithstanding  this  wholesome  lesson,  undertake,  perhaps,  another 
expedition  to  New  Orleans  at  the  earliest  possible  period.  Even 
after,  in  consequence  of  the  great  improvements  in  steamboat  navi- 
gation, excellent  opportunities  had  been  afforded  to  the  people,  not 
only  to  expand  their  commerce,  but  also  their  ideas  about  it,  they 
still  persevered  in  pursuing  a  narrow-minded,  selfish  commercial  policy. 
They  would,  for  instance,  raise  no  surplus  of  produce,  except  when 
prices  were  high,  and  even  then,  perhaps,  demand  a  higher  price  for 
their  produce,  than  they  could  have  sold  it  for  in  the  market.  They 
would  never  be  in  a  hurry  to  sell,  when  prices  were  below  their  ex- 
pectations, but  rather  wait,  even  for  the  space  of  a  whole  year,  until 
they  should  be  able  to  sell  at  the  prices  they  had  fixed  upon ;  or  they 


b5  HISTORY. 

K 

would  even  cease  producing  altogether,  when  prices  continued  low. 
The  necessary  consequence  of  such  a  proceeding  was,  that  by  allowing 
their  produce  to  waste  away  and  rot,  they  would  lose  more  money  than 
they  could  have  gained,  even  if  they  had  sold  it  at  the  highest  mar- 
ket price,  and  would  incur  still  another  loss  by  being  obliged  to  bor- 
row money  at  high  rates  of  interest,  in  order  to  pay  for  many  neces- 
sities of  life,  or  to  carry  on  their  enterprises,  since,  having  sold 
nothing,  they  were  often  entirely  destitute  of  money.  However  evi- 
dent the  folly  of  their  course  might  be  to  others,  they  could  not  be 
prevailed  upon  to  abandon  it,  having,  it  appears,  an  unshaken  confi- 
dence in  the  infallibility  of  their  own  judgment. 

In  regard  to  the  state  of  politics,  of  the  government,  and  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice,  the  following  appears  worthy  of  notice.  The 
majority  of  the  Illinoisians  were  new  immigrants,  who  had  come  with 
the  avowed  purpose  of  bettering  their  own  condition.  Bearing  this 
fact  in  our  mind,  we  shall  not  be  surprised  to  hear,  that  they  evinced 
an  utter  indifference  for  all  matters  connected  with  government,  con- 
fiding these  entirely  to  the  hands  of  cunning  politicians,  in  whose  rule 
they  seemed  to  acquiesce,  provided  the  latter  would  leave  them  undis- 
turbed, and  in  possession  of  the  largest  personal  freedom.  The  ori- 
ginal pioneers,  though  now  but  a  small  minority  of  the  people,  easily 
to  be  distinguished  by  their  linsey  shirts,  leather  breeches,  moccasins, 
and  the  large  butcher-knives  in  their  belts,  which  knives  were  an  in- 
dispensable part  of  their  dress,  were  apt  to  take  a  more  active  interest 
in  polities,  as  appears  from  the  predominating  influence  they  exer- 
cised upon  the  elections,  at  which,  by  a  mere  parade  of  superior  phys- 
ical force  and  reckless  spirit,  they  would  frequently  decide  the  contest 
in  favor  of  the  candidate  identified  with  their  own  party  and  interests. 
Politicians  were  very  careful  not  to  oflEend  this  class  of  men,  knowri 
as  the  Butcher-Knife  Boys;  but,  for  the  rest,  taking  advantage  of  the 
want  of  regard  paid  to  politics  by  the  people  at  large,  secured  to 
themselves  nearly  all  the  offices  and  emoluments  of  the  government ; 
created  others,  the  salaries  of  which  they  diligently  pocketed ;  passed 
laws  for  their  own  benefit,  and  whilst  hypocritically  pretending  to 
watch  over  the  welftire  of  the  people,  in  whose  name  they  governed, 
were  always  ready  to  deceive  them  in  the  most  shameful  and  barefaced 
manner.     Nor  were   honest  politicians   and   office-holders   safe   from 


HISTORY.  69 

their  intrigues,  for  they  knew  how  to  gain  the  confidence  of  such 
honorable  folks,  by  the  most  cunning  devices  and  most  artful  ma- 
noeuvres, using  them  for  their  own  purposes  without  their  being  aware 
of  it.  Thus  it  was,  that  Samuel  Crozier,  a  man  of  most  irreproach- 
able honor,  and  a  member  of  the  Senate,  whom  the  politicians  had 
used,  with  great  success,  as  an  instrument  for  the  accomplishment  of 
their  own  ends,  without  the  slightest  suspicion  on  his  part,  after  hav- 
ing been  in  the  Senate  for  two  sessions,  was  heard  to  say,  at  the  close 
of  the  second,  that  he  "  really  did  believe,  that  some  intrigue  had 
been  going  on."  Such  politicians,  as  by  their  polished  and  winning 
■  manners  had  gained  the  favors  of  credulous  people,  whom  they  after- 
wards imposed  upon,  in  a  slang  phrase,  were  said  to  have  "  greased 
and  swallowed  their  victims." 

The  elections  in  Illinois  during  that  time  were  at  first  by  ballot, 
but  as  nobody  was  willing  to  make  known,  whom  he  had  voted  for  at 
the  elections,  since,  to  vote  against  a  candidate  was  then  considered 
as  a  personal  insult,  and  as  balloting,  by  opening  a  vast  field  for  in- 
trigue, fraud,  and  corruption,  brought  the  system  of  voting  thus  into 
disgrace,  the  Legislature,  at  their  session  in  the  year  1828-9,  made  it 
unlawful  to  elect  by  ballot. 

The  judiciary  system  of  those  times  appears  to  have  been  a  very 
simple  one.  People  then  did  not  require  judges  to  be  possessed  of 
profound  learning  and  erudition,  but  would  be  satisfied  with  one  re- 
puted a  man  of  sagacity  and  good  common  sense.  The  state  of  civili- 
zation then  enjoyed  by  the  couatry,  and  the  small  amount  of  business 
then  transacted  by  the  judges,  not  having  yet  rendered  necessary  the 
erection  of  large  and  splendid  halls  of  justice,  the  judges  would  hold 
their  courts  in  log-houses,  or  in  the  bar-rooms  of  inns,  fitted  up  with 
temporary  seats  for  the  judges,  lawyers,  and  jurors.  It  is  related,  that 
on 'the  opening  of  the  first  Circuit  Court  held  by  Judge  John  Rey- 
nolds, the  sheriff  went  into  the  court-yard  and  said  to  the  people : 
"  Boys,  come  in ;  our  John  is  going  to  hold  Court."  Judges  seem 
to  have  been  considered  as  very  amiable,  harmless  men.  In  fact,  the 
judges,  whenever  they  could  do  so,  would  leave  the  decision  of  a  case 
to  the  juries,  lest  they  might  give  offence  to  any  of  the  parties  con- 
cerned, or  expose  their  incompetence.  They  would  tell  the  jury : 
"If  the  jury  believe  from  the  evidence,  that  such  a  matter  is  proved, 


70  HISTORY. 

then  the  law  is  so  and  so."  One  of  these  judges  used  to  say  to  the 
lawyers  asking  him  for  instructions  :  "  Why,  gentlemen,  the  jury  un- 
derstand the  case ;  they  want  no  instructions ;  no  doubt  they  will  do 
justice  between  the  parties."  The  same  judge  once  had  to  pronounce 
sentence  of  death  upon  a  man  by  the  name  of  Green.  He  said  to 
him :  "■  Mr.  Green,  the  jury  in  their  verdict  say  you  are  guilty  of 
murder,  and  the  law  says  you  are  to  be  hung.  Now,  I  want  you  and 
all  your  friends  down  on  Indian  Creek  to  know  that  it  is  not  I,  who 
condemns  you,  but  it  is  the  jury  and  the  law."  He  then  asked  him, 
what  time  he  would  like  to  be  hung.  The  prisoner  replied,  he  was 
ready  to  die  at  any  time  the  Court  would  appoint.  The  judge  then 
told  the  prisoner,  that  the  Court  would  give  him  four  weeks'  time  to 
prepare  himself  for  death.  The  Attorney  General  of  the  State,  who 
prosecuted  the  case,  interposed  here,  and  required  the  Court  to  state 
to  the  prisoner,  the  particular  reasons  of  the  judgment  pronounced 
npoQ  him,  and  solemnly  to  exhort  him  to  repent  and  prepare  for 
death.  To  this  the  Judge  replied :  ''  0,  Mr.  Green  understands  the 
•whole  matter  as  well  as  if  I  had  preached  to  him  a  month.  He 
knows  he's  got  to  be  hung  this  dr.y  four  weeks.  You  understand 
that,  Mr.  Green,  don't  you  ?"  "  Yes,"  said  the  prisoner,  whereupon 
he  was  taken  back  to  prison  to  await  the  day  on  which  he  was  to  be 
hung. 

Except  during  the  period  of  the  universal  bankruptcy,  the  lawsuits 
were  mostly  small  cases,  actions  for  trespass,  slander,  indictments  for 
assault  and  battery,  riots,  and  unlicensed  rum-selling;  the  latter  oc- 
curring most  frequently.  Jurors  were  disposed  to  forgive  minor 
offences,  and  would  even  discharge  a  murderer,  when  it  could  be  shown, 
that  an  altercation  and  an  ungovernable  fury  bad  driven  him  to  mur- 
der; but  would  always  convict  the  murderer,  who  had  assassinated  his 
victim  in  cold  blood,  and  in  a  cowardly,  clandestine  manner.  The 
character  of  the  Illinoisians  was  in  many  respects  violent  and  im- 
petuous, which  will  account  for  the  willingness  on  the  part  of  jurors 
to  dismiss  indictments  for  assault  and  batteries,  or  even  murder.  This 
spirit  of  the  Illinoisians  is  best  shown  in  the  following  instance.  In 
the  year  1827,  there  was  a  very  excited  election  for  State  Treasurer, 
in  which  the  former  occupant  of  the  office  was  defeated.  After  the 
election  the  Legislature  adjourned,  but  before  they  had  left  the  haU, 


HISTORY.  <1 

the  defeated  candidate  walked  in  and  gave  a  valiant  thrashing  to  four 
of  the  strongest  of  his  opponents,  who  had  voted  against  him.  Before 
him  the  members  dispersed  and  scattered  like  sheep  before  the  intru- 
ding wolf.  He  not  only  escaped  unpunished  for  this  offence,  but 
during  the  same  session  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and 
Recorder  of  a  county ;  which  will  go  far  to  show  the  respect  in  which 
physical  force  was  at  that  day  held  by  the  lUinoisians. 

"Whilst  displays  of  physical  force,  bribes,  and  intrigues  of  all  kinds, 
were  thought  by  aspiring  politicians  to  be  very  serviceable  instruments 
for  securing  their  election,  the  power  of  liquor  was  not  overlooked  by 
them.  A  candidate  would  frequently  hire  the  taverns  and  liquor-stores 
for  several  weeks  previous  to  the  election,  and  furnish  the  people  with 
liquor  at  his  own  expense.  The  people,  of  course,  quite  unwilling  to 
miss  so  precious  an  opportunity  of  gratifying  their  taste  for  liquor, 
were  sure  to  visit  these  taverns  regularly  every  Saturday. 

The  candidates  would  at  first  harangue  the  people  from  stumps  of 
trees,  whence  the  name  of  stump  speeches ;  and  after  the  addresses  of 
the  candidates  had  been  delivered,  all  present  would  freely  partake  of 
liquor,  until,  a  majority  of  them  having  become  drunk,  they  would 
march  about,  raising  loud  shouts  for  their  candidates,  and  making 
preparations  to  fight  them  into  office,  if  necessary.  Having  satisfied 
their  desire  for  free  fights  and  pugilistic  encounters,  they  would,  at  a 
late  hour  in  the  night,  mount  their  ponies  and  gallop  home. 

In  the  year  1830,  the  office  of  Governor  becoming  again  vacant, 
William  Kinney,  who  belonged  to  the  "  whole  hogs,"  a  party  devoted 
body  and  soul  to  Gen.  Jackson,  and  Judge  Reynolds,  were  the  candi- 
dates for  it;  the  former,  who  electioneered  for  himself,  with  the  Bible 
in  one  hand,  and  a  bottle  of  whiskey  in  the  other,  notwithstanding  he 
was  thus  armed  with  "  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  the  Spirit,"  was 
defeated ;  and  the  latter,  a  man  of  fine  talents,  elected. 

At  the  same  time  a  new  Legislature  was  elected,  a  majority  of  whom 
were  Jackson  men.  Upon  this  Legislature  devolved  the  odious  duty, 
the  fulfilling  of  which  had  been  so  long  prorogued  and  delayed  by 
their  predecessors,  of  making  some  provision  for  the  redemption  of 
the  old  "  State  Bank"  notes,  then  nearly  due.  Whilst  some  mem- 
bers were  fearful  to  be  branded  with  infamy  for  neglecting,  and  others 
afraid  of  losing  a  hardly-acquired  popularity,  by  fulfilling  their  duty,  a 


72  HISTORY. 

majority  of  the  Legislature,  in  both  houses,  convinced  of  the  neces- 
sity of  saving  the  honor  of  the  State,  authorized  the  famous  Wiggins 
loan  of  1100,000,  which  being  taken,  the  notes  of  the  bank  were  re- 
deemed, and  their  popularity  ruined,  at  the  same  time.  'Twas  alto- 
gether in  vain  for  them  to  apologize  for  their  conduct ;  the  people, 
paying  no  regard  to  their  representations,  ducked  every  one  of  these 
unfortunate  politicians  in  the  tempest-ridden  sea  of  popular  indigna- 
tion, and  down  they  went,  never  to  rise  again. 

About  this  time  serious  Indian  disturbances  broke  out,  occasioning 
the  celebrated  Black  Hawk  war,  which,  as  it  marks  quite  an  important 
epoch  in  the  history  of  Illinois,  will  be  described  at  length  in  the  fol- 
lowing chapter. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

In  the  year  1804,  a  treaty  was  concluded  between  the  United  States 
and  the  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations,  in  virtue  of  which  the 
Americans  acquired,  together  with  other  territory,  all  the  lands  of 
these  Indians  on  Kock  river.  One  old  chief  of  the  Sacs,  however, 
called  "Black  Hawk,"  who  had  fought  with  great  bravery  in  the  ser- 
vice of  Great  Britain  during  the  war  of  1812,  had  always  taken  ex- 
ception to  this  treaty,  and  pronouncing  it  to  be  void,  established  him- 
self, with  a  chosen  band  of  warriors,  upon  the  disputed  territory, 
ordering  the  white  settlers  to  leave  the  country  at  once.  The  settlers 
complaining.  Gov.  Reynolds  despatched  Gen.  Gaines,  with  a  company 
of  regulars  and  1500  volunteers,  to  the  scene  of  action;  taking  the 
Indians  by  surprise,  these  troops  burnt  their  villages,  and  forced  them 
to  conclude  a  treaty,  by  which  they  ceded  all  right  and  title  to  the 
lands  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  agreed  to  remain  on  the  western 
side  of  the  river.  Necessity  had  compelled  the  proud  spirit  of  Black 
Hawk  into  submission,  which  made  him  more  than  ever  determined 
to  be  avenged  upon  his  enemies  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 
Having  rallied  around  him  the  warlike  braves  of  the  Sac  and  Fox 
nations,  he  crossed  the  Mississippi  river,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  and 
directed  his  march  into  the  countries  of  the  Winnebagoes  and  Potta- 
watomies,  intending  to  make  them  his  allies.  Upon  hearing  of  the 
invasion.  Gov.  Reynolds  hastily  collected  a  body  of  1800  volunteers, 
divided  into  four  regiments,  and  a  spy  battalion,  of  which  Col.  Dewitt 
commanded  the  1st,  Col.  Fry  the  2d,  Col.  Thomas  the  3d,  Col. 
Thompson  the  4th  regiment,  and  Col.  James  D.  Henry  the  spy  bat- 
talion, while  the  command  of  the  whole  brigade  was  entrusted  to 
Brig.  Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside,  of  the  State  militia. 

The  army  marched  to  the  Mississippi,  and  having  reduced  to  ashes 
the  Indian  village  known  as  ''Prophet's  Town,"  proceeded  for  several 
miles  up  the  river  to  Dixon,  to  join  the  regular  forces  under  Gen. 
7  (7a) 


74  HISTORY. 

Atkinson,  and  to  await  the  arrival  of  provisions.  They  found  at 
Dixon  two  companies  of  volunteers,  amounting  to  275  men,  who, 
sighing  for  glory,  were  despatched  by  Gen.  Whiteside  to  reconnoitre 
the  enemy.  They  advanced,  under  the  command  of  Major  Stillman, 
to  a  river  afterwards  called  "  Stillman's  run,"  and  whilst  encamping 
there,  espied  a  party  of  mounted  Indians  at  the  distance  of  a  mile. 
Several  of  Stillman's  party  mounted  their  horses,  and  charged  the 
Indians,  killing  three  of  them  ;  but,  attacked  by  the  main  body  of 
the  Indians  under  Black  Hawk,  they  were  routed  in  their  turn,  and 
by  their  precipitate  flight  spread  such  a  panic  through  the  camp,  that 
the  whole  company  ran  off  to  Dixon  as  fast  as  their  legs  could  carry 
them.  On  their  arrival  thither,  eleven  were  missed,  who  had  been 
killed  by  the  Indians.  At  a  council  of  war,  immediately  convoked 
by  Gen.  Whiteside,  it  was  agreed  to  march  back  the  next  day  to  the 
battle-ground.  Upon  reaching  the  battle-field.  Gen.  Whiteside  could 
discover  no  Indians;  being  short  of  provisions,  he  buried  the  dead, 
put  up  a  rude  board  to  their  memory,  and  returned  to  Dixon,  where 
Gen.  Atkinson  joined  him  with  the  regular  forces.  The  whole  bri- 
gade was  now  2400  strong,  so  that  the  war  would  have  been  speedily 
brought  to  a  close,  had  not  a  majority  of  the  militia,  whose  term  of 
service  had  expired,  left  the  army,  to  attend  to  their  affairs  at  home. 

The  Indians  in  the  meantime  committing  depredations  everywhere, 
and  massacring  the  inhabitants  of  some  small  frontier  settlements, 
the  Governor  called  o.ut  several  new  regiments  of  militia,  one  of  which 
was  sent  in  advance,  to  spy  out  the  country  between  Galena  and  Rock 
river.  This  regiment,  surprised  by  a  party  of  70  Indians,  was  on  the 
point  of  being  thrown  into  disorder,  when  Gen.  Whiteside,  then  serv- 
ing as  a  private  in  the  regiment,  shouted  out  that  he  would  shoot 
the  first  man,  who  should  turn  his  back  to  the  enemy.  Order  being 
at  once  restoi'ed,  the  battle  began;  at  its  very  outset  Gen.  Whiteside 
shot  the  leader  of  the  Indians,  who  thereupon  commenced  a  hasty 
retreat. 

Up  to  the  15th  of  June,  1832,  nearly  4000  volunteers  had  been 
organized;  this  force  was  fully  sufficient,  not  only  to  prosecute  the 
war,  but,  at  the  same  time,  keep  in  check  various  Indian  tribes  who 
seemed  to  evince  much  friendship  to  the  cause  of  Black  Hawk. 

About  this  time  Black  Hawk,  with  a  band  of  150  warriors,  at- 


HISTORY.  75 

tacked  the  Apple  River  Fort,  situated  12  miles  from  Galena,  and 
defended  by  25  men.  This  fort,  a  mere  palisade  of  logs,  in  the  form 
of  a  square,  the  corners  of  which  were  flanked  by  block-houses,  was 
erected  to  afford  protection  to  the  miners  living  in  its  vicinity,  in  case 
of  an  Indian  war.  For  fifteen  consecutive  hours  the  garrison  had  to 
sustain  the  assaults  of  the  savage  enemy,  but  knowing  very  well,  that 
no  quarter  would  be  given  them,  they  fought  with  such  fury  and  despe- 
ration, that  the  Indians,  after  losing  a  great  many  of  their  best  warriors, 
were  compelled  to  retreat.  Galena  itself  had  been  threatened  with 
an  assault,  but  on  learning  the  formidable  state  of  its  defences,  the 
Indians  did  not  dare  to  attack  it. 

Another  party  of  11  Indians  murdered  two  men  near  Fort  Hamil- 
ton;  they  were  afterwards  overtaken  by  a  company  of  20  men,  under 
Gen.  Dodge,  and  every  man  of  them  killed. 

About  this  time  an  engagement  took  place  between  Capt.  Stephen- 
son, of  Galena,  and  a  party  of  Indians,  who  had  taken  up  their  posi- 
tion in  a  dense  thicket  of  the  prairie.  A  desperate  charge  was  made 
upon  the  Indians  by  the  whites,  and  a  number  of  volleys  fired  by  both 
parties,  those  of  the  whites  taking  no  effect,  whilst  those  which  the 
ambushed  Indians  delivered,  killed  several  of  the  whites,  causing 
Capt.  Stephenson,  himself  severely  wounded,  to  order  a  retreat. 

Whilst  the  Indians  were  scattering  their  war-parties  over  the  north- 
era  part  of  Illinois,  cutting  off  the  communication  between  the  iso- 
lated frontier  towns,  the  regular  soldiers  and  newly-organized  volun- 
teer regiments,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Atkinson,  assembled  on 
the  banks  of  the  Illinois,  in  the  latter  part  of  June.  Sent  in  ad- 
vance to  explore  the  country,  Major  Dement  fortified  a  camp  at 
Kellogg's  Grove,  in  the  midst  of  the  Indian  country;  having  sallied 
out  with  a  small  party  to  reconnoitre  the  movements  of  a  large  body 
of  Indians,  known  to  be  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  his  camp,  he 
suddenly  found  himself  confronted  by  some  300  Indians,  whose  en- 
deavors to  surround  him  made  it  advisable  for  him  to  retire  to  his 
camp.  This  the  Indians  attempted  to  storm,  but  after  suffering  severe 
losses  in  consequence  of  their  exposure  to  the  deadly  fire  of  the  men 
within,  retreated,  carrying  their  dead  with  them.  Upon  hearing  of 
this  engagement,  Gen.  Atkinson  sent  a  detachment  to  intercept  the 
fijing  Indians,  whilst  he  himself,  with  the  main  body  of  his  army, 


76  HISTORY. 

moved  into  the  territory  of  the  Winnebagoes,  to  meet  the  Indian 
forces  under  Black  Hawk,  then  said  to  have  occupied  a  strongly  for- 
tified position  near  the  four  lakes,  with  a  determination  to  decide  the 
fate  of  war  by  a  general  battle.  The  troops,  all  of  whom  were  totally 
unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  country  they  were  to  enter,  and 
unable  to  gather  information  with  regard  to  it,  since  it  was  not  deemed 
advisable  to  trust  to  the  statements  of  the  Winnebagoes,  known  to  be 
much  disposed  to  join  Black  Hawk,  proceeded  slowly  and  very  cau- 
tiously through  the  country :  and  having  passed  through  Turtle  vil- 
lage, marched  up  along  the  Rock  river  to  Burnt  village,  a  considerable 
town  of  the  Winnebagoes.  On  their  arrival  thither,  news  was  brought 
of  the  discovery  of  the  main  trail  of  the  Indians.  Preparations  were 
made  to  examine  and  follow  it  the  next  day.  At  an  early  hour  of 
the  morning,  two  soldiers,  who  had  gone  to  the  river,  flowing  at  the 
distance  of  150  yards  from  the  camp,  were  shot  by  two  Indians  from 
the  opposite  bank,  on  being  notified  of  which,  Gen.  Atkinson  ques- 
tioned some  of  the  Winnebagoes,  who  followed  the  camp :  being  in- 
formed by  them,  that  the  opposite  bank  was  a  large  island,  on  which 
Black  Hawk's  entire  war-party  was  fortified,  he  resolved  first  to  send  a 
detachment  on  the  main  trail,  and  afterwards  to  cross  over  to  the 
island,  where  Black  Hawk  was  reported  to  have  entrenched  himself. 
Part  of  the  volunteers  went,  accordingly,  in  search  of  the  trail,  and 
after  a  most  toilsome  and  arduous  march  over  the  so-called  "  trembling 
lands,"  which  are  large  tracts  of  turf,  about  a  foot  in  thickness,  rest- 
ing upon  water  and  beds  of  quicksand,  having  exerted  themselves  in 
vain  to  discover  the  trail,  were  obliged  to  return  to  Burnt  village. 
Neither  had  the  companies,  who  had  crossed  over  to  the  island,  and 
overrun  it  in  every  direction,  been  able  to  discover  any  vestige  of 
Indians,  save  of  t^e  two,  who  had  shot  the  two  soldiers. 

Dissatisfaction  soon  became  general  among  the  volunteers,  few  of 
■whom,  before  enlisting,  had  duly  reflected  upon  the  fatigue,  drudgery, 
and  great  hardships  of  an  Indian  war,  in  an  entirely  unknown  coun- 
try; and  many  of  them  either  succumbed  to  the  privations  imposed 
upon  them,  or  left  the  service  altogether,  while  of  the  regular  sol- 
diery not  a  single  man  had  been  lost.  Those  of  the  volunteers,  who 
remained,  had  been  so  wasteful  with  their  provisions,  that,  only  four 
days' rations  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  commissioner,  Gen.  At- 


HISTORY.     '  77 

kinson  found  it  necessary  to  disperse  the  troops  to  obtain  provisions, 
sending  G-ens.  Henrj,  Dodge,  and  Alexander,  to  Fort  Winnebago, 
between  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  rivers,  whilst  he  himself,  with  the 
'  regular  soldiers,  went  to  Lake  Kushkonong  to  erect  a  fort,  where  he 
could  await  the  return  of  the  volunteers  with  supplies. 

The  volunteer  generals  reached  Fort  W^innebago  within  three  days, 
and  spent  two  more  in  obtaining  provisions.  Having  been  informed, 
on  the  second  day,  by  the  Winnebago  chiefs,  that  Black  Hawk,  with 
his  war-party,  was  encamped  on  Rock  river,  at  the  Manitou  village, 
35  miles  north  of  Gren.  Atkinson,  they  resolved  at  once  to  advance 
upon  the  enemy ;  but  in  the  execution  of  their  design,  they  met  with 
opposition  on  the  part  of  their  officers  and  men.  The  officers  of  Gen. 
Henry  handed  to  him  a  written  protest,"  but  he,  who  never  wanted, 
presence  of  mind,  even  in  the  most  critical  situations,  ordering  the 
officers  to  be  arrested  and  escorted  to  Gen.  Atkinson,  they  at  once 
resumed  their  duty,  and  were  ever  afterwards  scrupulous  in  perform- 
ing it.  Whilst  Gen.  Alexander,  whose  men  were  on  the  point  of 
mutiny,  fell  back  to  Gen.  Atkinson,  Gen.  Henry,  who  had  the  chief 
command  of  the  residue  of  the  troops,  marched,  on  the  15th  of  July, 
with  two  Winnebago  guides,  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  reaching  Rock 
river  after  a  three  days'  journey;-  where  three  Winnebagoes  informed 
him,  that  Black  Hawk  was  encamped  further  up  the  river.  Hoping 
to  be  able  to  overtake  the  enemy,  he  despatched  two  messengers,  with 
an  Indian  guide,  to  Gen.  Atkinson,  to  notify  him  of  his  intended 
expedition.  After  travelling  for  eight  miles,  these  messengers  disco- 
vered the  fresh  trail  of  the  main  body  of  the  Indians,  and  immedi- 
ately returned.  Their  Indian  guide,  who  had  got  the  start  of  them, 
arrived  in  the  camp  a  little  before  them,  and  was  just  in  the  act  of 
communicating  the  discovery  to  his  treacherous  countrymen,  who, 
thunderstruck,  attempted  to  leave,  when  all  of  them  were  arrested  and 
marched  off  to  Gen.  Henry,  whom,  to  avoid  instant  death,  they  mi- 
nutely advised  of  Black  Hawk's  doings. 

On  the  next  morning,  July  19th,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  com- 
mence their  march,  leaving  their  impediments  and  baggage  in  the 
rear.  After  having  made  50  miles,  they  were  overtaken  by  a  terrible 
thunderstorm,  which  lasted  all  night,  rendering  it  impossible  for  the 
men  to  cook  a  warm  supper,  or  to  sleep  on  dry  ground.  Nothing 
7* 


/»  V       HISTORY. 

cooled,  however,  in  their  courage  and  zeal,  they  marched  again  50 
miles  the  next  day,  encamping  this  time  near  the  place  where  the 
Indians  had  encamped  the  night  before.  Hurrying  along  as  fast  as 
they  could,  the  infantry  keeping  up  an  equal  pace  with  the  mounted 
force,  the  troops,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  July,  crossed  a  river 
connecting  two  of  the  four  lakes,  by  which  the  Indians  had  been 
endeavoring  to  escape.  Finding,  on  their  way,  the  ground  strewn 
with  kettles  and  articles  of  baggage,  which  the  hurry  of  their  retreat 
had  obliged  the  Indians  to  throw  away,  the  troops,  inspired  with  new 
ardor,  advanced  so  rapidly,  that  at  noon  of  the  same  day  they  fell  in 
with  the  rearguard  of  the  Indians,  which  rallied  several  times,  ex- 
changing shots  with  the  vanguard  of  the  troops,  in  order  to  afford  the 
main  body  of  the  Indians  time  enough  to  escape.  The  troops,  who 
closely  pursued  them,  were  saluted  with  a  sudden  fire  of  musketry,  by 
a  body  of  Indians,  who  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  high  grass 
of  the  prairie.  A  line  of  battle  being  immediately  formed,  and  the 
centre,  which  was  led  on  by  Gen.  Henry  himself,  having  just  come  up,  a 
most  energetic  charge  was  made  upon  the  Indians,  who,  unable  to  resist, 
retreated  obliquely,  in  order  to  outflank  the  volunteers  on  the  right. 
But  the  latter,  reinforced  by  a  detachment  sent  to  their  assistance, 
charged  the  Indians  in  their  ambush,  and  expelling  them  from  their 
thickets  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  dispersed  them  along  the  Wis- 
consin river.  Night  having  set  in,  the  battle  ended,  having  cost  the 
Indians  68  of  their  bravest  men,  whilst  the  entire  loss  of  the  Illi- 
noisians  amounted  to  but  1  killed  and  8  wounded. 

On  the  day  after  the  battle,  the  army  retired  to  the  Blue  Mounds 
to  obtain  a  fresh  supply  of  provisions.  A  few  friendly  Winnebagoes 
volunteered  their  services  as  guides,  which  being  accepted,  the 
wounded  men  were  placed  on  litters,  and  the  army,  after  a  march  of  two 
days,  reached  the  Blue  Mounds,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  regu- 
lar forces,  under  Gen.^  Atkinson.  Indignant,  that  the  militia  should 
earn  the  entire  glory  of  the  war.  Gen.  Atkinson,  when,  provisions 
having  been  procured,  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians  was  resumed  by  him, 
placed  the  regular  soldiers  in  front,  and  the  division  of  Gen.  Henry 
in  the  rear.  Pursuit  being  recommenced,  the  troops  toiled  through 
dense  forests  and  deep  muddy  ground,  finding  the  road  strewn  with 
the  corpses  of  Indians,  who,  from  neglect  of  the  wounds  they  had 


HISTORY.  79 

received  in  the  Wisconsin  river  battle,  had  died  on  their  retreat.  The 
Indians  reached  the  Mississippi  some  time  before  Gen.  Atkinson's 
forces  came  up,  but  whilst  making  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
crossing,  happened  to  fall  in  with  the  armed  steamboat  *'  Warrior," 
the  commander  of  which,  Capt.  Throckmorton,  having  summoned 
them  in  vain  to  come  on  board  his  steamer,  greeted  them  with  canister 
shot,  and  a  brisk  fire  of  musketry,  causing  the  Indians  severe  losses, 
and  delaying  their  crossing,  so  that  Gen.  Atkinson  reached  them, 
before  they  were  able  to  pass  over.  Encamped  at  that  time  below  the 
Bed  Axe  river,  on  the  Mississippi,  the  Indians  despatched  20  of  their 
men  to  stop  the  advance  of  Gen.  Atkinson,  and  to  enable  them  to 
gain  time  for  crossing  the  river.  These  men  concealed  themselves  in 
the  high  grass,  opening  a  sudden  fire  upon  the  vanguard  of  the  regu- 
lar soldiers.  Believing  that  he  had  the  main  body  of  the  Indians 
before  him.  Gen,  Atkinson  made  a  vigorous  charge  with  the  regulars 
upon  the  concealed  Indians,  who,  giving  way  at  once,  were  closely 
pursued  by  him.  But  Gen.  Henry,  on  coming  up  and  discovering 
that  the  main  trail  of  the  enemy  was  running  in  a  difierent  direction 
from  the  one  in  which  Gen.  Atkinson  pursued  them,  concluded  that 
Gen.  Atkinson  ha'd  been  misled  by  the  wily  savages,  and  resolved  to 
follow  up  the  main  trail  of  the  Indians  himself.  Having  left  his 
horses  behind  him,  and  formed  an  advance-guard  of  eight  men  to  dis- 
cover the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy,  he  marched  forward  upon  their 
trail.  When  these  eight  men  had  come  within  sight  of  the  river, 
they  were  suddenly  fired  upon  by  some  50  Indians,  and  five  of  them 
killed,  the  remaining  three  maintaining  their  ground,  until  the  main 
force,  under  Gen.  Henry,  had  come  up,  when,  in  an  instant,  a  line 
of  battle  was  formed,  and  the  Indians,  charged  with  the  bayonet,  were 
obliged  to  fall  back  upon  their  main  force,  about  equal  in  numbers  to 
Gen.  Henry's  troops.  The  battle  now  became  general;  the  Indians, 
although  taken  by  surprise,  fought  with  desperate  valor,  but  were 
furiously  assailed  by  the  volunteers  with  their  bayonets,  which  pre- 
vailed in  the  bloody  struggle,  cutting  many  of  the  Indians  to  pieces, 
and  driving  the  rest  into  the  river.  Those  of  the  Indians,  who  escaped 
being  drowned,  took  refuge  on  a  small  island  in  the  river. 

On  hearing  the  frequent  discharge  of  musketry,  indicating  a  general 
engagement,  Gen.  Atkinson  abandoned  the  pursuit  of  the  twenty 


80  HISTORY, 

"^  Indians,  led  by  Black  Hawk  himself,  and  hurried  up  as  fast  as  he 
could  to  the  scene  of  action,  where  he  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in 
the  battle.  He  immediately  forded  the  river  with  his  troops,  the 
water  reaching  up  to  their  necks,  and  though  not  without  losing 
several  of  his  soldiers,  who,  during  the  passage  of  the  river,  were 
shot  by  the  Indians  from  their  ambush,  effected  a  landing  on  the 
island,  where  the  Indians  had  secreted  themselves.  After  having 
once  gained  a  foothold  upon  the  island,  the  soldiers  rushed  upon  the 
Indians,  killing  several  of  them,  taking  others  prisoners,  and  chasing 
the  rest  into  the  river,  where  they  were  either  drowned  or  shot 
before  reaching  the  opposite  shore.  Thus  ended  the  battle,  in 
which  the  Indian  loss  amounted  to  300  shot,  bayoneted,  and  drowned, 
besides  50  prisoners,  whilst  of  the  soldiers  but  17  were  killed  and  12 
wounded. 

Black  Hawk,  with  his  twenty  men,  after  G-en,  Atkinson  had  ceased 
to  pursue  him,  retreated  up  the  Wisconsin  river.  Desirous  of  securing 
for  themselves  the  friendship  of  the  whites,  whose  power  they  had 
begun  to  fear,  the  Winnebagoes  went  in  pursuit  of  Black  Hawk  and 
his  party,  and  captured  and  delivered  them  to  Gen.  Street,  the  United. 
States  Indian  agent.  Among  the  prisoners  were  also  the  son  of  Black 
Hawk,  and  the  prophet  of  the  tribe,  who  had  been  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  bringing  about  the  war. 

Gen.  Atkinson,  with  the  soldiers  and  volunteers,  went  back  to 
Dixon,  where  the  latter  were  discharged.  Black  Hawk,  his  son,  and 
the  prophet,  were  taken  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  where  a  treaty  was 
concluded,  by  which  the  Indians  ceded  to  the  United  States  their 
lands  on  the  Mississippi,  between  the  Desmoines  and  Turkey  rivers. 
They  were  afterwards  taken  to  "Washington  (D.  C.),  where  Black 
Hawk  is  said  to  have  addressed  the  President  as  follows :  "  I  am  a 
man,  and  you  are  another.  We  did  not  expect  to  conquer  the  white 
people.  I  took  up  the  hatchet  to  revenge  injuries,  which  could  no 
longer  be  borne.  Had  I  borne  them  longer,  my  people  would  have 
said,  '  Black  Hawk  is  a  squaw ;  he  is  too  old  to  be  a  chief.  He  is  no 
Sac'  This  caused  me  to  raise  the  war-whoop.  I  say  no  more  of  it. 
All  is  known  to  you.  Keokuk  once  was  here ;  you  took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  when  he  wanted  to  return,  you  sent  him  back  to  his  na-tion. 
Black   Hawk   expects,   that  like   Keokuk,   he  will    be  permitted  to 


HISTORY.  81 

return."  The  President  assured  them,  that  they  should  return,  after 
which  they  were  delivered  to  Col.  Eustiss,  commander  of  Fort  Mon- 
roe, with  whom  Black  Hawk  became  intimately  acquainted.  On 
leaving  him,  Black  Hawk  presented  him  with  a  hunting  dress  and 
some  feathers  of  the  white  eagle,  and  said:  "The  memory  of  your 
friendship  will  remain,  until  the  Great  Spirit  says,  that  it  is  time  for 
Black  Hawk  to  sing  his  death  song.  Accept  these,  my  brother-  I 
have  given  one  suit  like  them  to  the  White  Beaver. (Gen.  Atkinson). 
Accept  them  from  Black  Hawk,  and  when  he  is  far  away,  they  will 
serve  to  remind  you  of  him.  May  the  Great  Spirit  bless  you  and 
your  children.     Farewell." 

By  order  of  the  President,  these  Indian  prisoners  were  set  free  on 
the  4th  day  of  June,  1833.  They  made  the  tour  of  the  Northern 
States,  attracting  everywhere  great  attention ;  and  returned,  by  way 
of  the  Northern  lakes,  to  their  people  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Black 
Hawk  died  on  the  3d  of  October,  1840,  at  the  age  of  80  years,  and 
was  buried  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  river,  where  he  had  spent 
his  life,  and  which  had  been  so  dear  to  him. 

After  the  termination  of  the  Indian  war,  nothing  worthy  of  notice 
occurred  until  the  month  of  August,  1834,  when  Senator  Duncan  was 
elected  Governor  of  the  State.  A  new  Legislature  was  also  elected, 
which  met  at  Vandalia  in  December,  1834.  As,  in  consequence  of 
Gen.  Jackson's  veto,  the  United  States  Bank  was  then  on  the  eve  of 
being  dissolved,  the  Secretary  of  the  Federal  Government,  presuming, 
that  a  deficiency  of  currency  would  be  produced  by  its  dissolution, 
induced  the  State  Banks  to  discount  liberally,  in  order  to  avoid  such  defi- 
ciency, thus  in  a  manner  creating  an  impression  among  the  "  Jackson 
men,"  as  if  Gen.  Jackson's  administration  was  favorable  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  State  Banks,  wherever  the  same  did  not  exist.  Besides 
these  politicians,  there  were  many  others  in  Illinois,  who,  from  mo- 
tives of  personal  interest,  would  have  delighted  in  seeing  the  charter 
of  the  bank  at  Shawneetown  revived,  and  a  new  State  Bank  created, 
and  were  clamorous  for  their  re-establishment.  Many  of  the  members 
of  the  Legislature,  who  at  first  opposed  the  banks,  were,  it  is  proba- 
ble, won  over  by  bribes,  so  that,  when  the  "  State  Bank  charter"  was 
brought  before  the  House  of  Representatives,  it  was  approved  and 
passed,  and  the  banks  chartered;  the  State  Bank  with  a  capital  of  over 

E 


82  HISTORY, 

a  million,  and  the  bank  at  Shawneetown  with  a  capital  of  three  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  although  the  banks  were  certainly  superfluous, 
if  not  eveu  dangerous;  since,  at  that  time,  the  commerce  of  Illinois 
was  still  very  undeveloped,  and,  there  being  no  surplus  of  capital  in 
the  State,  the  capital  for  banking  had  to  come  from,  and  the  stock- 
holders to  reside,  abroad ;  in  consequence  whereof,  the  management 
of  the  affairs  of  the  bank  was  entrusted  to  agents,  but  too  apt  to  pro- 
vide for  their  own  interests  far  better  than  for  those  of  their  employers, 
or  of  the  people.  At  a  subsequent  session  of  the  Legislature,  the 
capital  of  the  State  Bank  was  increased  two  millions  of  dollars,  and 
the  capital  of  the  Illinois  Bank,  at  Shawneetown,  one  million  four 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  the 
State  Bank  surpassed  by  far  the  amount  fixed  by  its  charter,  owing, 
partly,  to  the  extensive  arrangements  made  to  induce  capitalists  of  the 
Eastern  States  to  invest  their  money  in  this  stock.  After  the  stock 
had  been  all  taken,  the  State  Bank  began  to  transact  business,  in 
1835,  under  the  chief  control  of  Thomas  Mather  and  Godfrey  Gilmau 
&  Co.,  merchants,  of  Alton.  The  city  of  St,  Louis  having  monopo- 
lized almost  the  entire  trade  of  Illinois,  inasmuch  as  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  surplus  produce  of  the  State  was  exported  to  St,  Louis  for  a 
market,  and  the  merchants  of  the  State  purchased  their  assortments 
and  their  bills  of  exchange  on  the  Eastern  cities  in  St.  Louis,  a  want 
was  felt  by  many  Illinoisians,  of  a  similar  emporium  of  commerce  in 
their  own  State,  to  supply  which,  and  attach,  at  the  same  time,  God- 
frey Gilman  &  Co.  entirely  to  their  own  interests,  the  bank  undertook 
to  furnish  them,  and  other  Alton  merchants,  with  large  sums,  to  carry 
on  enterprises  intended  to  divert  the  channels  of  trade  from  St.  Louis 
to  Alton.  The  Alton  merchants  commenced  operations  by  making 
extensive  purchases  of  lead-mines  and  smelting  establishments  in  the 
vicinity  of  Galena,  with  a  view  of  monopolizing  the  lead  trade  alto- 
gether. Whilst  they  succeeded  in  raising  the  price  of  lead  to  some 
sixty  per  cent,  at  Galena,  being  unable  to  regulate,  in  a  like  manner, 
its  price  in  the  Eastern  States,  to  which  their  lead  was  destined  to  be 
shipped,  the  Alton  merchants  were  at  last  compelled  to  sell  at  an  im- 
mense sacrifice,  which  proved  equally  ruinous  to  them  and  the  bank, 
although  the  fact  of  the  insolvency  of  the  latter  was  unknown  to  the 
people. 


HISTORY.  83 

At  this  session  of  the  Legislature,  the  first  step  was  taken  to  carry 
the  project  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  into  execution.     To 
aid  in  its  construction,  Congress,  in  the  year  1826,  had  donated  about 
.300,000  acres,  on  the  route  of  the  proposed  canal,  of  which  a  survey 
had  already  been  made.     Nothing  was  done,  however,  to  carry  the 
work  into  effect,  until  this  session,  when  Greorge  Forquer,  a  member 
of  the  Senate,  in  a  report  remarkable  for  its  sagacious  reasoning,  as 
well  as  the  masterly  eloquence  of  its  language,  proposed  the  negotia- 
tion of  a  loan  of  half  a  million  of  dollars,  to  begin  the  work  with. 
The  proposed  loan  was  negotiated  on  the  credit  of  the  State,  by  Gov. 
Duncan,  in  1836,  and  the  construction  of  the  canal  commenced  in  the 
same  year.     During  that  very  year,  the  mania  for  speculation  in  land 
and  town  lots,  after  having  rested  for  several  years,  broke  out  anew, 
and  spread  all  over  Illinois.     The  dazzling  example  set  by  the  people 
of  Chicago,  who,  by  fostering  and  advocating  this  spirit  of  speculation, 
had,  within  less  than  two  years,  built  up  and  converted  a  village  of  a 
few  houses  into  an  elegant,  industrious  city  of  several  thousand  inha- 
bitants, was  well  calculated  to  excite  the  surprise  and  amazement  of 
the  people,  and  to  revive  their  old  bias  for  speculation  in  real  estate. 
Nor  could  the  people  of  the  Eastern  States  be  prevailed  upon  to  stay 
at  home,  after  it  had  become  known  to  them,  in  what  a  rapid  manner 
fortunes  were  amassed  in  Chicago ;   but  looking  upon   Illinois  as  a 
modern  El  Dorado,  large  numbers  of  them  immigrated  into  the  State, 
bringing  their  money  and  property  with  them.     The  example  of  Chi- 
cago was  imitated  throughout  the  State,  lots  and  towns  being  laid  out 
in  every  direction.     And  since  the  great  majority  of  the  speculators 
had  bought  far  more,  than  they  could  hope  either  to  sell  or  to  pay  for, 
it  occurring  to  their  minds,  that  by  facilitating  immigration,  and  by 
attracting  wealth  and  industry  from  abroad,  they  would  soon  trans- 
mute the  villages  into  populous  cities,  and  be  enabled  to  sell  their  lots, 
either  at  once,  or  after  a  short  time,   they  accordingly  comm.enced 
agitating,  with  great  ardor,  the  subject  of  internal  improvements  in 
the.  State,  delivering  speeches  and  holding  public  meetings,  and  ar- 
guing their  cause  with  such  success,  that  before  the  next  winter  a 
majority  of  the  counties  had  appointed  delegates,  who  assembled  at 
the  same  time  with  the  Legislature  of  1836-1837,  in  order  to  discuss 
and  deliberate  thoroughly  upon  the  subject  of  internal  improvements. 


84  HISTORY. 

,  '7.  ■ 

and  to  take  good  care,  that  the  system  to  be  carried  into  effect  "  should 
be  commensurate  with  the  wants  of  the  people."  Pressed  on  all 
sides,  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  construction  of 
about  1300  miles  of  railroad,  commanding,  that  improvements  be  made 
in  the  navigation  of  several  rivers,  and  a  large  sum  be  paid  as  indem- 
nification to  the  counties  in  which  no  improvements  were  to  be  made. 
Eight  millions,  to  be  raised  by  a  loan,  were  voted  for  the  execution 
of  the  system.  A  further  loan  of  four  millions  was  negotiated  for 
the  completion  of  the  canal  from  Chicago  to  Peru,  and  boards  of  com- 
missioners, superintending  the  construction  of  the  works,  having  been 
established,  to  make  the  folly  complete,  the  works  were  ordered  to  be 
commenced  simultaneously  on  all  the  roads,  at  each  end.  Private 
interests,  intrigues,  and  corruption,  had  been  actively  at  work  to 
ensure  the  adoption  of  this  system.  Thus  it  was,  that  the  friends  of 
the  canal  were  made  to  give  their  consent  to  other  improvements,  in 
order  to  secure  the  support  of  their  own;  and  thus  politicians  woqid 
endeavor  to  obtain  the  consent  of  every  county  in  the  State,  by  pro- 
mises of  roads  and  improvements,  allowing  the  counties  which  were 
to  be  without  such,  the  sum  of  $200,000  as  indemnification  :  and  thus 
politicians,  who  were  anxious  to  have  the  seat  of  government  removed 
to  Springfield  from  Vandalia,  would  support  or  oppose  any  scheme  of 
improvement,  if  they  could  or  could  not  obtain  votes  in  favor  of  the 
removal  of  the  seat  of  government  to  Springfield  in  return  for  it. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  the  banks  throughout  the  United  States 
suspended  specie  payments,  the  banks  of  Illinois  not  excepted.  Now, 
since  the  charters  of  the  Illinois  banks,  which  had  been  made  the 
fiscal  agents  for  the  railroad  and  canal,  and  had  a  large  sum  of  public 
money  on  deposit,  expressly  declared,  that  the  banks,  upon  refusing 
specie  payments  for  sixty  consecutive  days,  should  be  considered  as 
dissolved,  it  being  feared,  that  such  dissolution,  whenever  it  should 
take  place,  would  necessitate  the  ruin  of  the  whole  improvement 
system,  measures  were  proposed,  and  adopted,  to  have  this  unavoid- 
able suspension  of  specie  payments  duly  legalized.  The  people  then 
firmly  believing,  that  the  internal  improvement  system,  which  wasted 
the  best  energy  of  the  State,  was  indispensable  to  her  welfare,  no 
modification  or  alteration  was  made  in  it,  but,  on  the  contrary,  loans 
were  effected,  both  in  Europe  and  America,  large  quantities  of  rail- 


^ISTORY.  85 

road  iron  were  bought  up  at  an  extravagant  price,  and  the  work,  upon 
all  the  improvements,  carried  on  with  unabated  energy. 

In  August,  1838,  another  election  came  on  for  Governor;  Cyrus 
Edwards,  the  whig  candidate,  openly  declaring  himself  in  favor  of  the 
improvement  system,  whilst  Thomas  Carlin,  who  had  been  nominated 
as  the  democratic  candidate  for  Grovernor,  by  a  State  convention, 
upon  the  principles  of  the  convention  system,  which,  introduced  by 
the  immigrants  from  the  Eastern  States,  to  consolidate  the  strength 
of  party,  was  then  rapidly  superseding  the  hitherto  customary  election 
of  independent  candidates,  who  had  announced  themselves  as  such, 
cautiously  refrained  from  expressing  his  opinion,  either  in  favor  of, 
or  against  the  improvement  system.  Thomas  Carlin  was  elected 
Governor,  and  a  new  Legislature  with  him,  which  not  only  refused  to 
abolish  the  system,  but  even  authorized  new  loans  for  additional  works, 
projected  in  a  style  of  magnificence  far  beyond  the  means  of  the  infant 
State.  Thus,  in  expectation,  that  the  value  of  the  lauds  granted  by 
the  United  States  for  the  construction  of  the  canal,  would  prove  illi- 
mitable, a  very  large  and  deep  canal,  to  be  fed  by  the  waters  of  Lake 
Michigan,  was  proposed  to  be  built,  and  portions  of  it  were  even  com- 
pleted. Thus  canal-basins,  and  other  works,  for  the  improvement  of 
navigation  on  the  Illinois  river,  the  execution  and  completion  of  which 
would  have  absorbed  no  less  than  ten  millions  of  dollars,  were  never- 
theless readily  provided  for.  Soon,  no  more  loans  could  be  obtained 
at  par,  and  the  State  bonds,  notwithstanding  the  law  rigidly  enforced 
their  paiyment  in  cash  at  par,  were  sold  on  credit,  or  at  a  large  dis- 
count, or  deposited  for  sale  with  bankers  of  Europe  and  America. 
The  firm  of  Wright  &  Co.,  of  London,  with  whom  a  large  amount  of 
them  had  been  left,  sold  about  half  a  million  of  dollars  worth,  and 
then  failed,  returning  the  residue  of  the  bonds;  at  the  division  of 
whose  estate,  the  State  being  obliged  to  share  with  others,  received 
but  a  few  shillings  on  the  pound.  In  consequence  of  these  calamities, 
which  might  have  been  easily  foreseen,  the  Legislature,  at  a  special 
session,  in  1838-1839,  found  themselves  obliged  to  discontinue  the 
"  internal  improvement  system. ''  The  work  on  the  canal,  however, 
was  not  wholly  abandoned ;  a  million  of  State  bonds  having  been  sold 
at  some  25  per  cent,  discount  in  Europe,  the  fund  commissioners  were 
enabled  to  persevere  in  it,  for  some  time  after  the  railroads  had 
8 


86  HISTORY.^ 

stopped,  but  were  at  last  obliged  to  apply  for  assistance  to  the  Legis- 
lature, in  order  to  pay  the  interest  due  in  January,  1841.  As  there 
was  but  little  time  left,  until  the  interest  was  to  be  paid,  the  exigency 
of  the  case  was  such,  that  the  Legislature  resorted  to  the  desperate 
expedient  of  making  a  new  issue  of  bonds,  to  be  hypothecated  for 
whatever  they  would  bring,  which  measure,  had  it  been  permanently 
adopted,  would  have  involved  the  State  in  utter  bankruptcy.  As 
there  were  many,  who  objected  to  paying  interest  at  all,  and  especially 
upon  bonds,  which  had  been  sold  for  less  than  their  full  value,  as  ex- 
pressed on  their  face,  whilst  others  argued,  that  if  the  bonds  had 
passed  from  the  hands  of  the  original  into  the  hands  of  bona  fide 
holders,  who  had  purchased  them  at  their  full  price,  the  State  was 
bound  to  pay  interest  to  the  latter  upon  the  amount  of  money,  which 
each  bond  on  its  face  purported  to  be  issued  for.  Mr.  Cavarly,  with 
a  view  of  making  a  decision  on  the  disputed  point  unnecessary,  intro- 
duced a  bill  empowering  the  fund  commissioner  to  mortgage  300,000 
dollars'  worth  of  internal  improvement  bonds,  making  it  incumbent 
upon  him  to  apply  the  proceeds  to  the  payment  of  all  interest  legally 
due  on  the  debt,  and  leaving  it  for  him  to  decide,  which  would  be 
more  legal,  to  pay  interest  upon  the  full  amount  of  the  value  of  the 
bonds,  as  shown  on  their  face,  or  to  pay  no  interest,  except  on  the 
money,  which  these  bonds  had  been  sold  for.  Besides  providing^,  that 
these  interest  bonds  should  be  sold  for  their  mere  market  value,  the 
Legislature  levied  an  additional  tax  of  ten  cents  on  every  hundred 
dollars'  worth  of  property  to  be  pledged  for  the  payment  of  the  inte- 
rest of  these  bonds,  by  which  devices  the  diflSculty,  which  the  com- 
missioners had  experienced  in  paying  the  interest,  was  finally  over- 
come. 

In  the  year  1840,  a  large  majority  of  the  people  were  democrats, 
those  formerly  the  so-called  Jackson  men ;  whilst  their  opponent 
political  party,  which,  before  the  year  1834,  had  flourished  under  the 
name  of  "anti-Jackson,"  and  to  which  many  office-holders,  and  espe- 
cially most  of  the  Supreme  Court  Judges,  belonged,  now  adopted  the 
name  of  "Whigs,"  attempting  to  base  the  same,  as  did  the  "  Whigs" 
of  the  Revolution,  upon  opposition  to  the  executive  power.  Two 
important  questions  were  submitted  to  the  Supreme  Court,  the  first 
of  which  was,  whether  Grovernor  Carlin  had  a  right,  as  he  claimed  to 


HISTORY.  87 

have,  of  appointing  a  new  Secretary  of  State  to  supersede  the  old  one. 
The  Supreme  Court  gave  as  their  opinion,  that  the  Grovernor  had  no 
such  right,  producing,  by  their  decision,  a  general  dissatisfaction 
throughout  the  country,  since  the  democrats,  who  constituted  a  ma- 
jority of  the  people,  very  plausibly  contended,  that  the  unpopular 
doctrine  of  life-oflBcers  had  been  sanctioned  by  it.  The  second  ques- 
tion was,  whether  an  alien  had  a  right  to  vote.  At  that  time,  tha 
alien  vote  was  about  10,000  strong,  full  nine-tenths  of  which  belonged 
to  the  democratic  party.  The  constitution  of  the  State  provided,  that 
all  free  white  inhabitants  over  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  who  had 
resided  in  the  State  for  six  months,  were  entitled  to  vote  at  general, 
as  well  as  at  special  elections.  The  whigs  pretended,  that  the  word 
"  inhabitants"  did  not  apply  to  any  but  citizens,  whilst  hitherto  aliens, 
who  had  been  in  the  State  for  six  months,  as  well  as  citizens,  had  been 
allowed  to  vote.  This  question  having  already  been  made  the  subject 
of  much  discussion  throughout  the  State,  two  whigs  undertook  to 
settle  it,  by  agreeing  on  a  fictitious  cause,  which  they  brought  before 
the  Circuit  Court,  the  judge  of  which,  being  himself  a  whig,  of  course 
decided,  that  the  aliens  had  no  right  to  vote.  When  this  decision 
became  known,  the  democrats,  well  aware,  that  its  reversion  would  b'e 
of  vital  importance  to  their  party,  since  it  would  secure  them  the  fur- 
ther support  of  nearly  10,000  votes,  forming  the  balance  of  power  in 
the  State,  carried  the  case  before  the  Supreme  Court,  continuing  it 
until  December,  1840,  after  the  Presidential  election.  The  defeat, 
which  the  democratic  party  throughout  the  United  States  had  sustained 
in  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1840,  by  the  election  of  Gen.  Har- 
rison, having  added  fresh  fuel  to  the  irritation  of  the  democrats 
against  the  whigs,  the  former,  whilst  their  case  remained  suspended, 
lost  no  time  in  introducing  a  measure,  by  which  the  Circuit  Courts, 
created  in  1835,  were  to  be  abolished,  and  five  additional  Judges  of 
the  Supreme  Court  were  created,  all  of  whom  were  required  to  hold 
Circuit  Courts  in  place  of  the  Circuit  Judges,  who  had  been  dismissed 
from  office,  which  arrangement  would  have  given  them  a  majority  of 
two  to  one  in  the  Supreme  Court.  Although  the  success  of  the  mea- 
sure was  for  a  long  time  extremely  doubtful,  it  finally  passed  in  both 
houses  of  the  Legislature.  The  result  of  this  democratic  victory  was, 
that  the  appointment  of  the  Secretary  of  State  by  the  Governor  wag 


88  HISTORY. 

confirmed,  and  the  democratic  party  continued  to  enjoy  tile  support 
of  the  alien  vote;  for  nothing  could  be  further  from  the  intention  of 
the  new  judges,  than  to  concur  in  the  opinion  of  their  whig  colleagues 
on  a  subject  like  this. 

In  July,  1841,  payment  of  the  interest  on  the  public  debt  was 
stopped.  Illinois,  for  the  second  time,  drew  upon  herself  the  censure 
of  the  world ;  people  abroad,  who  had  formerly  considered  Illinois  to 
be  a  country  affording  good  chances  to  the  industrious  settler,  no 
longer  entertained  the  design  of  emigrating  to  it,  whilst  the  people  at 
home,  could  they  have  found  purchasers  of  their  property,  would  not 
have  hesitated  to  leave  the  State,  in  order  to  escape  the  evils  of  high 
taxation. 

The  general  distress  of  the  State  was  rendered  complete  by  the 
utter  failure  of  the  State  Bank,  which  happened  in  February, 
1842 ;  the  bank  at  Shawneetown,  after  holding  out  for  four  months 
longer,  "  following  in  the  footsteps  of  its  illustrious  predecessor." 
The  banks  had  first  suspended  specie  payments  in  the  spring  of  1837. 
To  save  the  internal  improvement  system,  this  suspension  was  then 
legalized,  and  continued  to  be  made  lawful  until  1841.  This  legalized 
suspension  of  the  banks  met  with  violent  opposition  from  the  demo- 
crats, which  was  of  itself  suflficient  to  enlist  the  whigs  in  their  favor, 
and  proved  of  immense  advantage  to  them,  since  the  business  men 
and  capitalists  of  the  State  were  principally  whigs,  which  party,  at 
the  time  of  Gen.  Jackson,  in  opposition  to  his  policy,  had  claimed  an 
undue  influence  in  the  body  politic,  whilst  the  democratic  party,  in 
support  of  Gen.  Jackson's  administration,  had  been  opposed  to  the 
same.  In  the  meantime,  the  State  Bank  having  been  made  the  depo- 
sitory of  the  State  revenues,  which  the  collectors  were  required  to  pay 
into  it  as  into  the  public  treasury,  by  the  influence  it  thus  acquired 
over  the  Legislature,  the  members  of  which  had  to  look  to  the  bank 
for  their  pay,  succeeded  in  not  only  obtaining  a  further  privilege  of 
suspension,  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1841,  but  also  a 
privilege  not  previously  granted,  of  issuing  one,  two,  and  three  dollar 
notes,  which  must,  no  doubt,  have  caused  severe  disappointment  to 
the  democrats  The  very  triumph  of  the  banks,  however,  accelerated 
their  ruin,  because  the  issue  of  these  small  notes,  with  which  they 
flooded  the  country,  by  banishing  from  circulation  the  silver  dollar, 


HISTORY.  09 

which  formed  the  specie  basis  of  the  country,  rendered  it  impossible 
for  them  to  increase,  or  even,  perhaps,  to  keep  their  stock  of  specie. 
The  continual  refusal  of  the  United  States  to  take  the  money  of  the 
State  and  Shawneetown  banks  in  payment  for  the  public  lands,  except 
at  a  discount,  which  regularly  advanced  every  year,  and  the  boundless 
liberality,  with  which  the  banks  distributed  their  paper  money  and 
advanced  loans,  to  attach  the  members  of  the  Legislature  and  admin- 
istration to  their  interests,  led  to  their  inevitable  downfall  in  1842, 
which  .spread  ruin  throughout  the  country,  and  even  some  of  the 
neighboring  States  :  leaving  the  people  of  Illinois  almost  wholly  with- 
out any  other  circulating  medium,  for  the  purpose  of  trade  and  com- 
merce, than  the  "  bank  rags,"  printed  by  the  "  rag  barons,"  as  the 
presidents  of  the  banks  were  then  called. 

Before  we  go  further  in  the  exposition  of  the  civil  history  of  the 
State,  the  general  character  of  the  people,  and  the  civil  commotions 
and  disturbances,  which  had  taken  place  in  earlier  times,  and  which 
may  serve  as  a  proper  introduction  to  the  history  of  the  famous  Mor- 
mon riots,  which  broke  out  in  1840,  convulsing  the  State,  claim  our 
attention. 


8* 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  State  of  Illinois  extends. about  150  miles  from  east  to  west, 
by  400  from  north  to  south.  Such  a  disproportion  in  the  geographi- 
cal figure  of  a  State,  is  certain  to  create  a  separate  northern  and 
southern  interest,  even  if  the  people  of  such  a  State  were  of  a  common 
stock,  which,  not  being  the  case  with  the  people  of  Illinois,  will  suffi- 
ciently account  for  their  frequent  disinclination  to  agree  upon  the 
adoption  of  such  a  policy,  and  such  measures  of  government,  as  would 
have  best  suited  the  interests  of  the  State,  and  aided  in  relieving  her 
from  the  calamities,  under  which  she  was  then  sufiering.  The  settlers 
of  the  Southern  portion  of  the  State  were  chiefly  people  from  the 
Slave  States,  those  of  the  northern  section  principally  New  Yorkers 
and  New  Englanders.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring 
Slave  States,  who  were  poor,  and  did  not  relish  a  residence  in  a  slave 
country,  where  the  very  negroes  were  wont  to  stigmatize  them  as  the 
poor  white  folks,  had  removed  to  Illinois,  where  the  immigration  of 
slaveholders  was  strictly  forbidden.  The  greater  part  of  them  were 
an  honest  and  hospitable  people,  indifferent  to  wealth,  and  fond  of 
social  enjoyment. 

The  settlers  of  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  on  the  other  hand, 
were  industrious  Yankees  from  the  Eastern  States,  enterprising  farm- 
ery, manufacturers,  or  merchants,  who,  by  their  restless  energy  and 
activity,  soon  converted  the  howling  wilderness  into  a  region  covered 
with  farms,  churches,  and  villages,  so  that  their  settlements,  though 
founded  at  a  later  period  than  those  of  the  southern  part,  were  soon 
ahead  of  the  latter  in  point  of  civilization ;  and  their  success  will 
sufficiently  explain  the  envy,  or  rather,  the  hatred,  which  the  southern 
people  conceived  against  the  Yankee  settlers.  Never  having  seen  any 
Yankees,  except  a  few  wretched,  cheating,  pilfering  New  England 
pedlars,  who  perambulated  the  country  with  their  assortments  of 
wooden  clocks  or  tin-ware,  the  southerners  were  led  to  believe,  that 

(90) 


HISTORY.  91 

the  real  Yankee  was  nothing  but  a  most  ungenerous,  despicable; 
cheating  fellow,  whilst  the  Yankees,  in  their  turn,  were  not  backward 
in  their  dislike,  presuming  the  southerner  to  be  fond  of  dirt  and 
ignorance,  and  to  aspire  to  nothing  beyond  the  exalted  idea  of  passing 
his  life  in  a  miserable,  narrow  log-cabin,  with  a  squalid,  ragged  family 
around  him.  Both  parties  seemed  cordially  to  hate  each  other,  and, 
on  questions  aflPecting  the  welfare  of  the  whole  State,  found  it,  fre- 
quently, impossible  to  agree.  Thus,  for  instance,  the  southern  people 
for  a  long  time  opposed  the  construction  of  the  canal  from  Lake 
Michigan  to  the  Illinois  river,  supposing  such  a  contrivance  to  be 
admirably  calculated  for  flooding  the  whole  country  with  the  obnoxious 
Yankees. 

The  politicians  of  that  day  had  not  visibly  added  to  their  know- 
ledge of  the  mysteries  of  statesmanship,  but  they  were  men,  who 
understood  exceedingly  well  how  to  insinuate  themselves  in  the  favor 
of  the  people,  by  a  perpetual  show  of  condescending  friendship  ;  and, 
by  dint  of  continual  practice,  they  had  acquired  the  inestimable  art 
of  never  appearing  among  the  public  without  a  countenance,  which, 
by  its  cheerful  gaiety  and  congenial  mildness,  would  command  uni- 
versal attention.  These  politicians  were  especially  remarkable  for 
their  genuine  horror  of  passing  an  unpopular  measure,  which  horror 
made  many  of  them  resort  to  the  ingenious  expedient  of  invariably 
opposing  measures  that  were  introduced,  without  previous  information 
with  regard  to  the  opiuion  of  the  people ;  for  if  the  measure  should 
be  passed  and  become  popular,  no  one  would  be  likely  to  take  much 
notice  of  those  who  had  voted  against  it :  but  if  it  should  turn  out 
unpopular,  then  they  might  triumphantly  prove  by  the  journals,  that 
they  had  voted  against  it.  And  should  the  measure,  though  not 
passed,  become  yet  popular,  they  would  excuse  themselves  by  pre- 
tending to  have  been  insufficiently  informed  as  to  the  wishes  of  their 
constituents. 

This  policy  originated  with  one  John  Grammar,  who,  notwith- 
standing his  humble  pretensions  to  anything  like  a  refined  education, 
seems  to  have  been  a  fair  type  of  the  politicians  of  his  times.  In 
1816,  he  was  first  elected  to  the  Legislature,  of  which  he  managed  to 
remain  a  member  for  nearly  twenty  years.  It  is  reported  of  him,  that 
when  first  elected,  being  utterly  destitute  of  civilised  clothing,  he 


92  HISTORY. 

gathered  immediately,  in  company  with  his  sons,  a  large  quantity  of 
hazelnuts,  which  he  forwarded  to  some  Ohio  settlement,  where  they 
were  exchanged  for  some  blue  strouding,  such  as  the  Indians  use  for 
breech  cloths.  The  cloth  being  received,  the  women  of  the  neigh- 
borhood were  at  once  assembled  to  cut  and  make  it  into  garments  for 
him ;  finding  it  too  scant,  the  women  made  a  very  short  bob-tailed 
coat,  and  a  pair  of  leggins  of  it.  Not  at  all  dismayed,  Mr.  Grammar 
put  on  the  coat  and  the  leggins  over  an  old  torn  garment,  intended 
probably  for  a  pair  of  breeches,  and  thus  equipped,  started  for  Kas- 
kaskia,  then  the  seat  of  government,  patiently  awaiting  the  day  of  the 
passing  of  the  poetry  bill,  when,  having  received  part  of  his  salary, 
he  set  out  immediately  to  procure  himself  a  pair  of  fashionable 
"  unmentionables." 

By  the  year  1840,  the  whole  State  had  been  settled.  Chicago, 
Alton,  Springfield,  Quincy,  Galena,  Nauvoo,  and  Peoria,  were  incor- 
porated cities  about  the  year  1842.  The  benefits  conferred  upon  the 
State  by  the  immigration  from  the  Eastern  States,  were  not  only 
visible  in  the  improvements  made  in  the  agriculture  and  construction 
of  roads  and  bridges,  but  also  in  the  erection  of  new  churches,  schools, 
and  even  colleges,  and  in  the  greater  attention,  which  began  to  be  paid 
to  education,  generally.  Formerly,  the  literary  efforts  of  the  Illi- 
noisians  had  not  manifested  themselves  in  any  sphere  except  news- 
paper writing;  we  now  notice  the  publication,  by  P.  M.  Peck,  of  his 
Gazetteer  of  Illinois,  of  some  poetical  essays,  and  the  issue  of  a 
monthly  magazine  of  high  merit,  the  editor  of  which,  James  Hall, 
gained  considerable  reputation  as  a  scholar  and  a  writer. 

In  the  years  1816  and  1817,  the  country  was  overrun  with  bands 
of  horse-thieves  and  counterfeiters,  so  numerous  and  so  well  organized 
as  to  care  but  very  little  for  the  authority  of  the  laws.  Many  of  the 
police,  of  the  sheriffs  and  justices  of  the  peace,  were  intimately  con- 
nected with  them,  and  they  had  friends  among  many,  who  had  been 
considered  as  very  respectable  men.  So  frequent  had  thefts  become, 
especially  in  the  frontier  towns,  that  at  Galena  every  new  comer  was 
asked,  whether  he  would  steal  or  not;  and  if  he  answered  he  would 
not  steal,  was  looked  upon  as  the  model  of  an  honest  man.  Those 
of  the  rogues,  who  were  arrested,  either  procured  the  services  of  some 
false  witnesses,  or  some  of  their  friends  on  the  jury,  and  were  sure  to 


HISTORY.  93 

be  acquitted.  This  so  enraged  the  people,  that  they  organized  com- 
panies called  ''  Regulators,"  coinmanded  by  officers,  and  armed  as  if 
engaged  on  a  military  expedition.  The  Grovernor  and  Judges,  who 
despaired  of  enforcing  the  laws  in  the  ordinary  way,  gave  them  every 
possible  unofficial  encouragement.  Such  companies  would  assemble 
at  night,  march  to  the  residence  of  a  rogue,  arrest  him,  and  after 
thrashing  him'  soundly,  expel  him  from  the  State.  Although  most 
of  the  scoundrels  were  removed  in  this  way,  one  noted  band  managed 
to  maintain  themselves  in  some  counties  on  the  Ohio,  where  they 
built  a  regular  fort,  laughing  the  authority  of  the  State  to  scorn. 
But  in  1831  the  people  in  the  vicinity  attacked  and  stormed  the  fort, 
losing  one  man,  and  killing  three  of  the  rogues  in  the  assault,  and 
taking  the  rest  of  them  prisoners,  who  were,  however,  never  con- 
victed. 

In  the  year  1837,  a  bloody  riot  occurred  at  Alton,  which,  consider- 
ing the  noise  it  made  in  the  world,  cannot  be  passed  over  in  silence. 
Kev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  had  endeavored 
to  publish  an  abolition  paper  in  St.  Louis,  but  his  press  was  destroyed, 
and  he  himself  banished  from  the  city.  He  removed  to  Alton,  where 
his  press  was  thrown  into  the  river  the  day  it  was  landed.  He  then 
publicly  assured  the  people,  that  in  the  paper  he  was  going  to  start, 
he  would  carefully  abstain  from  expressing  his  opinion  about  slavery; 
for  none  existed  in  Alton,  and  it  would  appear,  he  said,  like  cowardice 
to  fly  from  a  place,  where  the  evil  existed,  to  one,  where  it  did  not 
exist,  to  oppose  it.  The  people  then  allowed  him  to  establish  his 
"Alton  Observer,"  a  paper,  which  at  first  was  solely  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  religion ;  soon,  however,  it  was  changed  into  a  most  rabid 
abolition  paper.  Not  wishing  to  see  the  public  peace  disturbed,  a 
deputation  from  the  people  called  upon  Mr.  Lovejoy  to  make  him  re- 
member his  pledge,  when,  with  most  brazen-faced  impudence,  he 
denied  having  given  any  such  pledge ;  this  so  enraged  the  people, 
that  they  threw  his  press  at  once  into  the  river.  Not  at  all  discou- 
raged, but  more  than  ever  determined  to  publish  his  paper,  if  neces- 
sary, at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  Lovejoy  ordered  another  press, 
which  arrived  from  St.  Louis  at  Alton  on  Monday  evening,  Septem- 
ber 6th.  The  friends  and  followers  of  Mr.  Lovejoy,  who  had  formed 
themselves  into  a  military  company,  were  present,  when  the  press  was 


94  HISTORY. 

landed,  and  safely  removed  it  to  a  large  stone  warehouse,  where  they 
assembled  under  arms,  threatening  to  make  those,  who  should  attempt 
its  seizure,  know  the  virtue  of  their  cartridges.  The  excitement  now 
ran  high,  and  on  Tuesday  evening,  September  7th,  a  mob  assembled 
before  the  warehouse,  demanding,  that  the  joress  be  delivered  up  to 
them.  The  abolitionists  within  replied,  that  they  were  well  provided 
with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  would  sooner  die  than  surrender  the 
press.  The  mob  hurled  stones  against  the  house,  making  preparations 
for  a  general  assault,  when  a  shot  was  fired  from  within,  killing  one 
of  the  crowd  almost  instantaneously.  Ladders  were  immediately  sent 
for,  horns  were  blown,  and  the  bells  of  the  city  rung,  armed  raea 
arriving  from  all  quarters.  A  ladder  being  placed  on  that  side  of  the 
house,  which  was  without  windows,  a  man  ascended  it  with  a  burning 
torch  in  his  hand.  Whilst  several  shots  were  exchanged  between  the 
crowd  and  the  party  within,  Mr.  Lovejoy  twice  left  the  building,  firing 
each  time  without  effect  at  the  crowd,  and  retreating  immediately. 
The  third  time,  however,  he  ventured  out  with  one  of  his  party,  he 
was  shot,  and  fell  mortally  wounded.  Whilst  the  flames  were  con- 
suming the  roof,  the  multitude  continued  to  fire  at  the  building. 
Seeing,  that  if  they  further  persisted  in  their  pretensions,  they  were 
doomed  to  destruction,  the  men  within  surrendered  the  press,  and 
were  permitted  to  make  a  hasty  retreat.  The  principal  instigators  of 
the  mob  were  afterwards  arrested,  but  never  convicted.  Thus  ended 
the  ''Alton  Tragedy,"  disgraceful  to  all  concerned,  and  causing,  at 
the  time  of  its  occurrence,  an  immense  excitement  throughout  the 
Union. 

About  the  year  1840,  many  riots  occurred  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State.  People  there  had  settled  upon  public  lands  of  the  United 
States,  and  by  establishing  farms  and  building  villages,  had  greatly  im- 
proved them.  The  settlers  had  mutually  agreed  to  protect  each  other  in 
their  claims,  but  there  were  many,  who,  with  the  view  of  dispossessing 
the  owners  and  securing  the  lands  for  themselves,  disputed  their  right, 
which  was  a  prolific  source  of  riots  and  disturbance.  The  northern 
portion  of  the  State  also,  was  again  infested  with  organized  bands  of 
murderers  and  horse-thieves,  who,  in  some  of  the  counties,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  county  of  Ogle,  were  so  numerous  as  to  overawe  justice. 
They  would,  as  formerly,  by  seating  some  from  their  own  number  on 


HISTORY.  95 

the  juries,  and  tiring  crowds  of  perjured  witnesses  for  their  defence, 
manage  to  prorogue  the  trial  of  their  cause  from  one  term  to  another, 
and  insure  to  themselves  an  acquittal.  The  people,  in  their  turn, 
formed  themselves  into  companies  of  "Regulators,"  as  before,  seized 
the  most  notorious  rogues,  whipped  several  of  them,  and  expelled  the 
rest  from  the  country.  In  one  instance,  a  father  and  his  son,  both 
hardened  murderers,  were  tried,  convicted,  and  summarily  executed 
on  the  spot;  this  act  of  stern  justice  struck  the  rogues  with  terror, 
rendering  them  averse  to  further  defiance  of  the  laws  of  the  State. 

Nothing  else  deserving  notice  happened  until  the  year  1840, 
when  the  people  generally  known  by  the  name  of  "  Mormons,"  first 
began  to  figure  conspicuously  in  the  history  of  the  State.  They 
called  themselves  "  The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints," 
and  belonged  to  a  sect  started  and  headed  by  "  Joe  Smith,"  for  whom 
they  claimed  the  gift  of  prophetic  power.  "  Joe  Smith"  was  born  at 
Sharon,  Windsor  county,  Vermont,  on  the  23d  of  December,  1805. 
His  parents  were  so  poor  as  to  be  unable  to  give  their  son  even  a  com- 
mon education.  Thus  "Joe  Smith"  grew  up  in  ignorance,  being 
compensated  for  his  want  of  knowledge  by  a  naturally  crafty  and  cun- 
ning disposition.  His  parents  removed  to  Palmyra,  New  York,  when 
he  V13.S  ten  years  of  age.  Here  he  led  an  idle,  dreaming  life,  rambled 
through  the  woods,  exerting  himself,  in  company  with  his  father,  to 
excavate  buried  treasures,  or  to  indicate,  for  a  valuable  consideration, 
the  place,  where  wells  might  be  dug  and  water  found.  During  the 
time  he  resided  in  Palmyra,  he  came  in  contact  with  one  Sidney 
Rigdon,  who  was  in  possession  of  a  religious  romance,  written  by  a 
clergyman  in  Ohio,  since  dead.  This  being  communicated  to  Joe 
Smith,  he  proposed  that  it  should  be  made  the  basis  of  a  new  reli- 
gion. They  concerted  a  story  to  this  eflfect,  that  golden  plates  had 
been  dug  up  somewhere  near  Palmyra,  with  inscriptions  in  miraculous 
characters,  which  none  but  those  inspired  by  God  could  read ;  giving 
an  account  of  the  destinies  of  the  ten  lost  tribes  of  Israel,  their  wan- 
derings through  Asia,  and  their  settlement  in  America,  where  Christ 
came  to  preach  to  them  the  doctrine  of  salvation,  and  was  crucified,  as 
he  had  been  in  Jerusalem.  The  plates  then  continued  the  history  of 
these  early  American  Christians,  until  the  time,  when  God,  provoked 
by  their  great  wickedness,  determined  to  exterminate  them,  by  cans- 


96  HISTORY, 

ing  the  Lamanites,  the  heathen  of  America,  and  the  Nephites,  the 
Christians,  to  make  war  with  each  other.  A  battle  was  fought  be- 
tween the  two  parties,  in  which  millions  were  killed  on  either  side. 
The  Nephites  were  annihilated,  with  the  exception  of  Mormon,  and 
Moroni,  and  a  few  others,  all  of  them  righteous  men,  who  were  per- 
mitted by  the  Lord  to  make  good  their  escape,  and  afterwards  directed 
by  him  to  inscribe  the  history  of  these  miraculous  events  on  plates 
of  gold,  and  bury  them  in  the  earth,  where  they  were  to  remain,  until 
they  should  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  mankind,  fourteen  centu- 
ries afterwards. 

At  the  time  he  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Sidney  E-igdon,  the 
prophet,  according  to  his  own  statements,  had  profoundly  meditated 
on  religious  matters,  and  had  especially  been  very  anxious  about  the 
salvation  of  his  soul.  He  had  seen  innumerable  sects  and  doctrines, 
all  professing  to  teach  the  knowledge  of  the  true  way  to  heaven ;  and 
this  truth  had  taken  hold  of  his  mind  with  irresistible  force,  that 
God  could  only  be  the  author  of  one  doctrine,  and  that  all  the  sects 
he  had  seen,  were  very  far  from  following  the  same.  He  searched 
and  examined  the  Scriptures,  devoutly  believing  what  he  read;  and 
he  became  aware,  that  one  ought  to  apply  to  God  himself,  who  would 
be  willing  to  diffuse  light  through  the  darkness,  by  revealing  unto  the 
true  believer  his  own  divine  will.  He  therefore  retired  from  the 
noise  and  confusion  of  the  world  to  a  solitary  place,  near  his  father's 
house,  where  he  addressed  fervent  prayers  to  the  "  3Iost  High." 
Whilst  he  was  praying,  suddenly  a  light  began  to  descend  towards 
him,  which,  by  the  time  it  had  reached  the  tops  of  the  trees,  illumi- 
nated the  whole  country  around.  It  then  descended  towards  the 
earth  till  it  enveloped  him,  when  two  brilliant  personages  stood  at 
once  before  him,  and  informed  him  that  his  sins  were  forgiven,  that 
none  of  the  Churches  existing  on  earth  followed  the  doctrine  of  God, 
but  that  he  himself,  at  some  future  time,  would  be  instructed  in  the 
full  knowledge  of  it. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  1823,  the  prophet  had  another  vision. 
Whilst  he  was  devoutly  praying  to  God,  a  light  purer  and  more  bril- 
liant than  the  light  of  day  itself,  burst  into  his  room,  apparently  con- 
suming' the  whole  house  with  fire,  and  shaking  his  body  as  by  an 
ague,  causing  him  to  be  transported  with  bliss,  and  to  sink  into  an 


HISTORY,  97 

unspeakable  rapture.  On  a  sudden,  a  glorious  personage  appeared 
before  him,  in  a  snow  white  garment  without  a  seam,  diffusing  a  light 
around  him  surpassing  in  its  splendor  even  that  of  the  first.  This 
supernatural  being  announced  himself  as  an  angel,  bringing  the  glo- 
rious tidings  unto  him,  that  his  prayers  had  been  agreeable  to  the 
Lord,  that  his  sins  were  forgiven,  that  God's  covenant  with  Israel  was 
about  to  be  fulfilled,  and  that  the  millenium  of  the  true  Gospel  and  of 
universal  bliss  and  happiness  had  arrived.  The  angel  then  told  him  the 
history  of  the  Indians,  who  were  the  descendants  of  those  ten  tribes 
of  Israel  settled  in  America,  which  had  been  almost  exterminated  on 
account  of  their  awful  wickedness;  that  the  holy  records  of  these 
events  had  been  safely  deposited  beyond  the  reach  of  the  wicked,  and 
that  he  was  the  chosen  servant  of  God  to  bring  them  to  light,  and  to 
disclose  their  miraculous  contents  unto  all  mankind. 

The  angel  then  disappeared,  but  returned  several  times  afterwards, 
instructing  him,  where  the  holy  records  were  to  be  found,  and  telling 
him  to  take  them  away  and  commence  the  work  of  God  on  earth.  The 
prophet  went  to  the  place  indicated,  and  discovered  them  on  a  hill, 
in  a  stone  box,  near  Palmyra.  They  consisted  of  gold  plates,  inscribed 
with  hieroglyphical  characters,  the  plates  being  very  thin,  and  fastened 
together  by  three  rings,  composing  altogether  a  volume  of  six  inches 
in  thickness.  He  also  found  in  the  same  box  two  stones  of  surpassing 
transparency,  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  used  by-ancient  seers  to  dis- 
cern things  past  or  future. 

As  the  admiring  prophet,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  was  about  to 
remove  these  treasures,  the  angel  appeared  again  to  him,  and  said, 
"Look  I"  and  he  saw  the  devil,  surrounded  by  an  immense  train  of 
his  associates. 

After  receiving  further  instructions  from  the  angel,  he  started  home, 
but  was  attacked  on  the  road  by  two  scoundrels,  and  barely  escaped 
with  his  life.  He  then  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  where,  with  the  aid 
of  inspiration  and  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  he  commenced  trans- 
lating the  plates,  finishing  a  part  of  the  book  of  Mormon,  which  con- 
tained the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  he  had  preached  it  in  America, 
and  was  destined  to  restore  pristine  Christianity,  and  to  convert  the 
Gentiles,  and  even  the  Jews  themselves,  to  the  faith.  The  disciples, 
who  flocked  to  the  prophet,  pretended  to  have  the  gift  of  prophecy, 
.   9  G 


98  HISTORY. 

and  that  of  tongues,  and,  as  during  the  times  of  the  early  Christian 
Church,  so  now  were  miracles  wrought,  as,  for  example,  the  cure  of 
diseases.  Many  of  the  followers  of  the  prophet  solemnly  certified 
before  the  public,  to  the  effect,  that  they  had  seen  the  plates,  and  the 
engravings  thereon,  which  were  of  a  curious  workmanship;  and  that 
these  plates  had  been  brought  before  their  eyes  by  an  angel  from  hea- 
ven, as  also  God  had  revealed  to  them,  that  they  were  translated  by 
his  own  divine  power. 

Within  a  short  time,  Joe  Smith  and  his  apostles  had  made  many 
converts,  who,  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1830,  formed  themselves  into 
a  Church,  in  Manchester,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  whence  they 
removed  to  Jackson  county,  Missouri;  here  they  built  the  town  of 
"  Independence."  They  claimed,  that  not  only  the  country,  but  the 
whole  world  belonged  to  them,  as  the  saints  of  the  Lord.  Such  arro- 
gance could  not  be  endured.  The  Missourians  ducked  some  of  these 
vain  pretenders  in  the  river,  tarred  and  feathered  several,  killed  others, 
and  forced  the  residue  to  remove  to  the  county  of  Clay,  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  Missouri.  The  prophet,  however,  established  himself 
at  Kirtland,  in  Ohio,  where,  in  1836,  a  very  large  assembly  of  the 
"  Saints"  was  held,  at  which  it  was  announced  "  that  the  work  of  God 
had  greatly  increased  in  America,  and  in  England,  Scotland,  Wales, 
and  the  islands  of  the  sea."  A  bank  was  started  by  the  prophet, 
called  ''The  Kirtland  Safety  Bank,"  of  which  he  himself  was  the 
president.  This  bank  soon  failed  for  a  large  amount;  its  failure,  the 
cause  of  which  could  be  clearly  traced  to  a  want  of  integrity  on  the 
part  of  the  prophet,  inflamed  the  people  of  the  town  and  its  vicinity 
with  such  a  degree  of  resentment  against  him,  that  the  prophet,  afraid 
to  get  himself  into  trouble,  removed,  with  his  apostles,  elders,  and  the 
saints,  to  the  remotest  north-west  corner  of  Missouri,  where  their  arro- 
gance and  presumption  speedily  made  them  many  enemies.  Their  leaders 
refused  to  acknowledge  the  authority  of  the  government  of  Missouri. 
Sidney  Rigdon,  in  a  fourth  of  July  speech,  delivered  before  the  Mor- 
mons, openly  proclaimed,  that  the  prophet  had  resolved  no  longer  to 
submit  to  the  Missourian  Government.  Rupture  having  now  become 
inevitable,  both  parties  determined  to  settle  their  diflerences  by  the 
edge  of  the  sword.  A  battle  was  fought  between  the  Mormons  and 
a  body  of  Missourians,  under  Major  Bogart,  in  which  the  former  were 


HISTORY.  99 

totally  defeated;  this,  however,  did  not  prevent  them  from  plundering 
the  towns  of  their  enemies.  At  last,  Gov.  Boggs  called  out  the 
militia,  with  strict  orders  to  expel  the  Mormons  from  the  State,  at  the 
point  of  baj'onet,  if  necessary.  The  Mormons  were  speedily  sm'- 
rounded,  and  forced  to  surrender;  all  were  dismissed,  upon  giving 
promise  to  leave  the  State,  with  the  exception  of  their  leaders,  who 
were  arrested  and  committed  to  prison,  but  managed  to  escape  beyond 
the  boundaries  of  the  State,  before  they  could  be  brought  to  trial. 

The  whole  body  of  the  Mormons  removed  to  Illinois  in  the  years 
1839  and  1840,  being  kindly  received  as  sufferers  in  the  cause  of 
their  religion,  and  permitted  to  settle  at  a  place  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county  of  Hancock,  where  they 
soon  built  a  city.  To  this  they  gave  the  name  of  Nauvoo ;  it  was 
scattered  over  some  six  square  miles,  part  of  it  being  built  upon  the 
flat  skirting  the  river  side,  but  the  greater  part  upon  the  bluffs  east 
of  the  river,  on  the  brow  of  which,  commanding  a  view  of  the  coun- 
try for  20  miles  around,  in  Illinois  and  Iowa,  towered  the  great  tem- 
ple of  the  Mormons. 

The  whig  and  democratic  parties  being  each  of  them  anxious  to 
conciliate  the  Mormons  to  their  interests,  the  latter  experienced  no 
difl&culty  in  obtaining  from  the  Legislature  charters  incorporating 
Nauvoo  under  the  government  of  a  Mayor,  four  Aldermen,  and  nine 
Councillors,  with  powers  to  pass  ordinances,  provided  the  same  were 
not  repugnant  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  or  Illinois,  and 
incorporating  also  the  militia  of  Nauvoo  into  a  military  legion,  called 
"  The  Nauvoo  Legion,"  entirely  independent  of  the  State  militia,  and 
accountable  only  to  the  Governor :  besides  incorporating  a  great 
tavern,  to  be  called  "  The  Nauvoo  House,"  in  which  the  prophet  and 
his  heirs  were  to  possess  a  suite  of  rooms  forever.  Under  these 
charters,  a  city  government,  and  the  Nauvoo  Legion,  were  promptly 
organized,  Joe  Smith  being  at  once  elected  Mayor,  and  next  to  the 
Governor  in  the  command  of  the  Legion. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1841,  the  Governor  of  Missouri  made  a 
demand  on  Gov.  Carlin,  to  deliver  up  to  him  Joe  Smith,  and  several 
other  Mormons,  as  fugitives  from  justice.  Gov.  Carliu  issued  an 
executive  warrant  to  this  effect,  which  writ,  however,  was  returned 
without  being  served.     Another  such  warrant  having  been  issued  by 


100  HISTORY. 

him,  Joe  Smith  was  arrested  and  carried  before  Judge  Douglass,  who 
discharged  him  upon  the  ground,  that  the  writ,  having  been  once 
returned  before  its  execution,  was  ''functus  officio." 

Gov.  Carlin  issued  another  writ  in  1842.  Joe  Smith  was  arrested 
again,  but  discharged  by  his  own  municipal  court  by  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus ;  the  common  council  of  Nauvoo,  of  which  he  himself  was  the 
presiding  member,  having  passed  an  ordinance  empowering  the  mu- 
nicipal court  of  Nauvoo  to  have  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  of  arrests  made 
in  the  city,  by  any  process  whatever ;  notwithstanding  the  charter 
granted  to  the  municipal  court  jurisdiction  only  in  cases  of  arrests  for 
breach  of  some  ordinance. 

Early  in  the  year  1842,  while  the  contest  for  Grovernor  was  going 
on,  Adam  W.  Snyder  having  been  chosen  as  the  democratic  candidate, 
and  Joseph  Duncan,  the  former  governor,  as  the  whig  candidate,  Joe 
Smith  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  saints,  exhorting  them  to  vote  for 
Mr.  Snyder,  and  declaring  Judge  Douglass  to  be  a  master  spirit. 
Having  hitherto  derived  considerable  support  from  the  Mormon  vote, 
the  whig  party,  at  the  appearance  of  this  proclamation,  which  clearly 
indicated,  that  they  could  no  longer  count  upon  their  former  friends, 
were  greatly  irritated  against  the  Mormons,  their  papers  abounding 
with  recitals  of  the  atrocities  and  enormities  perpetrated  at  Nauvoo. 
They  also  charged  with  awful  wickedness,  the  democrats  for  having 
admitted  such  fiends  as  the  Mormons  into  their  ranks,  although,  by 
this  time,  the  Mormons  had  rendered  themselves  extremely  odious  to 
the  great  body  of  the  people,  it  being  believed,  that  the  Mormons 
looked  upon  Illinois  as  the  land  promised  them  by  the  Lord ;  their 
Legion  being  intended  for  no  other  purpose,  it  was  said,  than  to  take 
possession  of  the  State,  whenever  it  should  become  strong  enough. 
The  excitement  throughout  the  State  in  regard  to  the  Mormons,  soon 
reached  a  pitch,  which  made  it  evident,  that  a  violent  struggle^,  and 
perhaps  bloodshed,  was  about  to  take  place. 

Adam  W.  Snyder,  the  democratic  candidate,  having  died  previous 
to  the  election,  Thomas  Ford,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  at  that  time  engaged  in  holding  a  Circuit  Court  on  Fox  river, 
was  nominated  candidate  for  Grovernor  in  his  stead.  He  was  elected 
Governor  by  a  large  majority;  at  the  time  he  assumed  the  reins  of 
government,  he  found  the  State  laboring  under  the  excitement  of  the 


HISTORY.  101 

Mormon  question.  Her  finances  were  in  a  ruinous  condition ;  the 
treasury  was  utterly  bankrupt,  not  containing  enough  money  to  pay 
postage  on  the  usual  letters;  indebted,  moreover,  for  the  customary 
expenses  of  government,  in  the  sum  of  §313,000 ;  whilst  the  annual 
revenues  provided  for  the  payment  of  the  expenses  of  government, 
amounted  to  but  one-third  of  this  sum.  The  currency  of  the  State 
was  annihilated,  in  consequence  of  which  no  taxes  could  be  paid  or 
collected;  a  debt  of  about  §14,000,000  had  been  contracted  for  car- 
rying out  the  internal  improvement  system ;  and  the  State,  by  bor- 
rowing beyond  her  means,  had  lost  her  credit.  The  people  were  in- 
debted to  the  merchants :  these  again  to  the  foreign  merchants,  or  to 
the  banks,  and  the  banks  to  everybody ;  and  none  were  able  to  pay. 
The  confusion  of  public  affairs  was,  in  general,  such  as  to  make  many 
despair  of  the  possibility  of  devising  a  system  of  policy,  which  could 
relieve  the  State  from  the  calamities,  under  which  she  was  then  suffer- 
ing. Many  of  the  whigs  were  in  favor  of  repudiating  the  entire  State 
debt,  believing  this  course  of  proceeding  to  be  acceptable  to  the  great 
body  of  the  people,  and  therefore  well  calculated  to  increase  the 
power  of  their  party,  then  smarting  under  the  effects  of  the  defeats 
they  had  repeatedly  sustained  in  elections.  The  two  leading  organs 
of  the  whig  party,  the  Sangamon  Journal  and  the  Alton  Telegraph, 
openly  contended,  that  the  debt  never  could  nor  would  bo  paid,  and 
that  everybody  ought  to  acquiesce  in  this,  as  a  matter  of  stern  neces- 
sity, which  admitted  of  no  further  discussion,  and  forbade  all  attempts 
to  charm  it  away.  The  great  majority,  however,  of  the  politicians 
of  the  two  great  parties,  observed  an  ominous  silence  on  the  subject, 
none  of  them  being  willing  to  advocate  a  measure,  which,  with  a  tax- 
hating  people,  might  have  proved  in  the  highest  degree  injurious  to 
their  interests,  by  destroying  their  hardly-acquired  popularity;  so 
that,  but  for  the  energetic  action  of  the  Governor  in  the  premises, 
who  boldly  took  the  lead,  denouncing  with  manly  firmness  all  refusals 
to  pay  the  public  debt,  Illinois  would  probably  have  been  made  a 
repudiating  State. 

The  property  owned  by  the  State  consisted  of  42,000  acres,  pur- 
chased under  the  internal  improvement  system  ;  210,000  acres,  granted 
by  the  United  States  under  the  distribution  law  of  1841  ;  230,467 
acres  of  canal  lands,  besides  8,491  town  lots  in  various  towns  on  the 
9* 


102  HISTORY. 

canal ;  the  work  done  on  the  canal  and  railroads,  with  a  large  quan- 
tity of  railroad  iron,  and  the  stock  in  the  banks.  These  were  the  only 
resources  left,  applicable  to  the  liquidation  of  the  whole  debt,  for  the 
payment  of  which  heavy  taxation  could  not  then  be  resorted  to,  since 
it  would  result  in  depopulating  the  country ;  so  that  the  debt  would 
never  be  paid. 

During  the  summer  of  1842,  Justin  Butterfield,  a  distinguished 
lawyer  of  Chicago,  had  several  conversations  on  the  subject  of  the 
canal  with  Arthur  Bronson,  a  wealthy  New  York  capitalist,  interested 
in  the  State  stocks  of  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Michael  Eyan :  both  of  whom 
were  acquainted  with,  and  possessed  the  confidence  of  capitalists  in 
Europe  and  America.  In  consequence  of  forcible  representations  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  Butterfield,  a  plan  was  devised  and  adopted  by  these 
capitalists  and  their  friends,  to  the  effect,  that  the  owners  of  canal 
bonds  should  advance  81,600,000,  the  sum  reported  by  the  chief  engi- 
neer to  be  necessary  to  complete  the  canal,  to  secure  which  new  loan, 
and  provide  also  for  the  ultimate  payment  of  the  entire  canal  debt, 
the  State  was  to  convey  the  canal  property  to  them  in  trust,  and  im- 
pose a  tax  sufficient  to  pay  a  portion  of  the  interest  on  the  whole  debt. 

The  success  of  this  plan  could  only  have  been  ensured  by  the  adop- 
tion of  the  right  course  of  policy  in  regard  to  the  banks,  by  far  the 
most  important  subject,  that  was  deliberated  upon  by  the  Legislature 
at  their  session  of  1842 ;  since  there  were  at. stake  about  13,100,000 
worth  of  State  stocks,  upon  the  value  of  which  the  completion  of  the 
canal  depended.  The  people  clamored  for  some  mode  of  liquidating 
the  bank  debts,  many  of  them  being  in  favor  of  repealing  their  char- 
ters, and  appointing  commissioners  to  take  charge  of  their  effects,  to 
pay  their  debts,  and  collect  whatever  was  due  them ;  whilst  by  far 
the  greater  part  of  the  people  declared  themselves  in  favor  of  a  com- 
promise, by  which  the  State  would  be  paid  for  its  stock,  and  the  banks 
bring  their  alfairs  to  A  close  at  once.  The  State  Bank  held  $1,750,000 
of  State  bonds,  and  $294,000  in  Auditor's  warrants,  together  with 
scrip,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  $2,100,000,  which  it  agreed  to 
disgorge  at  once.  The  Illinois  Bank,  at  Shawneetown,  was  willing  to 
deliver  at  once  $500,000,  of  which  $469,998  were  in  Auditor's  war- 
rants ;  and  to  pay  the  residue  on  a  short  credit.  Those,  who  advo- 
cated the  repeal  of  the  bank  charters,  suggesting,  that  their  effects  be 


HISTORY.  103 

placed  in  the  hands  of  commissioners  appointed  for  that  purpose,  did 
not  consider  that,  like  all  public  officers  managing  money  matters, 
these  commissioners  would  have  set  their  ingenuity  at  work  to  devise 
means,  by  which  to  obtain  for  themselves  whatever  of  the  effects  would 
have  come  in  their  hands,  so  that  neither  creditors  nor  stockholders 
would  ever  have  got  anything ;  nor  did  they  consider,  that,  though  the 
Legislature  might  repeal,  the  banks  were  at  liberty  to  contest  their 
right  so  to  do,  involving  the  case  in  endless  litigation,  the  result  of 
which  might  even  have  been  a  decision  in  their  favor;  whilst,  in  the 
meantime,  they  would  not  have  been  at  a  loss  how  to  remove  their 
assets  to  a  place  of  safety,  beyond  the  reach  of  their  creditors.  They 
also  paid  no  regard  to  the  fact,  that  a  government,  which,  yielding  to 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  hesitates  not  to  adopt  such  extreme 
and  violent  measures  as  cannot  be  justified  in  point  of  law,  is  calcu- 
lated to  excite  such  distrust  in  the  minds  of  capitalists  as  to  render 
them  unwilling  to  subscribe  to  its  stock,  or  expend  their  money  for 
the  improvements,  which  it  authorizes.  On  the  side  of  a  compromise, 
it  was  argued,  that  the  bonds  held  by  the  banks  could  not  be  suffered 
to  be  sold ;  for  the  sale  of  so  great  an  amount  of  bonds,  in  addition 
to  those  already  in  the  market,  would  not  only  still  further  depreciate 
their  value,  but,  by  impressing  people  with  a  belief  that  the  State  had 
wilfully  assisted  in  depressing  their  value,  in  order  to  purchase  its  own 
bonds  at  the  largest  possible  discount,  would  make  them  consider,  that 
a  State,  which  felt  no  repugnance  to  thus  acting  like  a  vulgar  swin- 
dler, was  certainly  very  far  from  entertaining  any' intention  to  pay  a 
single  cent  on  the  public  debt. 

These  reasons  prevailing  with  the  people,  a  majority  of  them  de- 
clared themselves  in  favor  of  a  compromise ;  accordingly,  a  bill  of 
compromise  with  the  State  Bank  was  introduced  into  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  passed  by  a  vote  of  107  to  4.  It  .was  at  once 
agreed  to  by  the  bank,  and  Mr.  Clernand,  the  chairman  of  the  finance 
committee  of  the  Lower  House,  became  its  principal  advocate.  As 
there  existed  an  old  feud  between  Mr.  Clernand  and  Lym^an  Trum- 
bull, Secretary  of  State,  the  latter  threatened,  that  he  would  take 
good  care,  that  the  bill  should  be  so  altered  in  the  Senate,  which  body 
had  yet  to  vote  on  it,  that  "  the  framers,  in  the  House,  should  not 
tnow  their  own  bantling,  when  it  came  back  to  them.''     On  hearing. 


104  HISTORY. 

this,  the  Grovernor,  being  of  opinion,  that  the  Secretary  of  State  ought 
to  be  the  confidential  adviser  and  helper  of  the  executive,  immediately 
removed  Trumbull  from  his  oflBce.  The  bill  was  then  passed  by  a 
large  majority,  and  approved  by  the  council  of  revision ;  and  a  similar 
one  was  passed  in  regard  to  the  Illinois  Bank,  at  Shawneetown ;  by 
which  two  bills  a  debt  of  $2,500,000  was  liquidated,  and  the  domestic 
treasury  at  once  relieved. 

The  Legislature,  at  this  session,  also  enacted  laws  for  the  sale  of 
State  lands  and  property,  for  the  negotiation  of  the  loan  of  $1,600,000, 
which  had  been  proposed  to  complete  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
for  the  redemption  of  interest  bonds  mortgaged  to  McAlister  and 
Stebbins,  and  for  the  reception  of  the  distributive  share  of  the  Sta-te 
in  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  the  public  lands ;  by  which  laws  the 
State  debt  was  reduced  to  $8,000,000.  This  reduction  could  not  fail 
to  have  a  highly  beneficial  influence  upon  the  condition  of  the  State. 
Auditor's  warrants,  which  had  sold  at  50  per  cent.,  at  once  rose  to  90 
per  cent. ;  State  bonds,  which  had  been  selling  at  14  cents  on  the 
dollar,  now  sold  for  40,  the  banks  paid  out  their  specie,  and  the  cur- 
rency of  the  State  was  restored  to  a  good  condition  in  less  than  three 
months. 

The  negotiation  of  the  canal  loan  having  been  already  commenced 
in  the  year  1842  by  Justin  Butterfield  and  Michael  Ryan,  the  latter 
gentleman,  who  had  been  an  engineer  on  the  canal  himself,  and  was 
in  possession  of  much  valuable  information  concerning  its  progress 
and  statistics,  was  appointed,  with  Col.  Charles  Oakley,  agent  to  bring 
this  business  to  a  conclusion.  They  proceeded  to  New  York,  and 
wrote  a  series  of  articles  for  the  New  York  newspapers,  in  which  the 
real  condition  of  the  State  was  truthfully  described.  Confidence  was 
at  once  restored  among  business  men  and  capitalists;  and  David  Lea- 
vitt,  the  distinguished  president  of  the  American  Exchange  Bank,  in 
New  York,  which  held  $250,000  of  canal  bonds,  assisted  in  calling  a 
meeting  of  the  American  bondholders,  at  which  it  was  resolved,  that 
the  American  creditors  should  subscribe  for  their  proportion  of  the 
loan.  Confident  of  success,  Messrs.  Oakley  and  Ryan  proceeded  to 
Europe,  and  had  interviews  with  Baring,  Brothers  &  Co.,  of  London, 
Hope  &  Co.,  of  Amsterdam,  and  Magniac,  Jardine  &  Co.,  all  creditors 
of  the  State,  and  among  the  wealthiest  capitalists  in  Europe.  These 
gentlemen  declared  themselves  in  favor  of  the  loan,  but  wanted  to 


HISTORY.  105 

receive  guaranties  as  to  the  value  of  the  canal  lands,  as  a  security  for 
the  money  and  the  ultimate  payment  of  the  canal  debt  ($5,000,000), 
and  to  be  assured  as  to  the  willingness  of  the  people  to  submit  to 
higher  taxation,  if  necessary.  A  provisional  arrangement  was  then 
entered  into,  during  the  summer  of  1843,  in  pursuance  of  which 
Messrs.  Abbott  Lawrence,  Thomas  W.  "Ward,  and  William  Sturges, 
of  Boston,  were  directed  to  appoint  two  competent  persons  in  America 
to  inquire  into  the  value  of  the  canal  lands :  1400,000  were  promised 
to  be  subscribed  at  once,  provided  the  Governor  would  pledge  himself 
t-o  urge  the  necessity  of  an  increased  taxation,  at  the  next  session  of 
the  Legislature;  whereupon  Messrs.  Oakley  and  Ryan  returned,  in 
November,  1843.  The  choice  of  the  Boston  committee  fell  upon 
Gov.  John  Davis,  of  Massachusetts,  and  William  H.  Swift,  an  emi- 
nent engineer  and  Captain  in  the  U.  S.  Army.  Having  examined  the 
canal  and  canal  lands,  and  satisfied  themselves  as  to  the  truth  of  the 
representations  of  Messrs.  Oakley  and  Ryan,  Gov.  Davis  and  Capt. 
Swift  issued  a  circular,  strongly  recommending  the  loan.  Senator 
Ryan,  and  afterwards  Col.  Oakley,  returned  to  London  to  complete 
the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  loan ;  but  the  foreign  bondholders 
refusing  to  meddle  any  further  with  it,  until  the  Legislature  and  the 
people  of  the  State  should  have  manifested  some  public  regard  to 
their  obligations,  and  made  some  efforts  to  pay  the  interest  on  the 
public  debt,  they  were  obliged  to  return  without  having  accomplished 
anything.  . 

In  the  fall  of  1844,  a  letter  was  addressed  through  the  ptiblic  news- 
papers to  Gov.  Thomas  Ford,  by  that  faction  of  the  people  hostile  to 
increased  taxation,  in  which  that  measure  was  bitterly  denounced. 
Although  Gov.  Ford  knew  very  well,  that  to  advocate  increased  taxa- 
tion might  render  him  utterly  odious  to  a  tax-hating  people,  he  came 
up  to  the  question  with  great  resolution  and  self-devotion  to  the  wel- 
fare of  his  country,  publishing  an  answer  to  the  above  letter  through 
the  newspapers,  which,  remarkable  as  it  was  for  its  sound  common 
sense  and  sagacious  views,  and  the  noble  spirit  of  patriotism  animating 
every  line  of  it,  not  only  entirely  refuted  the  arguments  set  up  by  the 
opposite  party,  but  also  in  due  time,  when  its  contents  had  become 
known  in  the  Eastern  States  and  London,  by  convincing  the  public 
creditors,  that  not  every  man  in  Illinois  was  of  necessity  a  hair-brained, 


106  HISTORY. 

rabid  demagogue,  produced  so  favorable  a  change  in  their  minds,  as 
to  make  them  not  only  at  once  agree  to  complete  the  arrangements 
for  the  loan,  but  also  subscribe  for  a  much  larger  amount,  than  they 
had  originally  intended.  Mr.  Leavitt,  a  gentleman  of  the  highest 
standing  and  credit  in  the  financial  world,  and  a  yery  able  financier, 
who,  by  his  successful  exertions  in  the  arrangement  of  the  loan,  to 
which  he  himself  had  very  liberally  subscribed,  had  rendered  the  most 
essential  services  to  the  State,  hurried  to  Illinois,  accompanied  by  Col. 
Oakley  and  Gov.  Davis.  They  arrived  at  Springfield  about  the  mid- 
dle of  February,  1845,  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature.  Gov. 
Davis  and  Mr.  Leavitt  submitted  the  proposition  of  the  public  cre- 
ditors, which  was  at  once  communicated  to  both  houses,  through  the 
executive.  It  passed  the  House  by  a  considerable  majority,  but  was 
defeated  in  the  Senate,  owing  to  the  spirit  of  hostility  engendered  in 
that  body  by  the  Ex-Secretary  of  State  and  his  friends,  who,  it  is 
probable,  from  motives  of  personal  resentment,  had  arrayed  themselves 
in  opposition  to  it.  But  the  friends  of  the  bill  procured  a  reconsi- 
deration of  the  vote,  and  by  dexterously  removing  and  striking  out 
of  the  canal  bill  whatever  related  to,  or  had  the  semblance  of  a  public 
tax,  having  silenced  much  of  the  opposition,  secured  the  concurrence 
of  the  Senate  in  the  bill  sd  introduced,  and  of  the  House  in  the  bill 
so  amended.  Laws  were  passed  perfecting  the  canal  arrangement; 
two  trustees  were  elected  by  the  bondholders,  and  one  by  the  Gover- 
nor :  the  board  was  organized,  the  work  on  the  canal  let  out  to  con- 
tractors, and  the  money  required  for  carrying  it  on  was  obtained. 

The  Legislature,  at  this  session  of  1845,  also  fixed  the  rate  of  in- 
terest on  money,  at  six  per  cent.;  which  measure  had  become  neces- 
sary, owing  to  the  conduct  of  a  great  part  of  the  merchants  of  the 
State,  who,  in  the  time  of  bank  suspension,  having  a  large  stock  of 
goods  on  hand,  in  consequence  of  which  competition  amongst  them,  • 
in  their  retail  business,  was  considerably  increased,  had  found  them- 
selves obliged  to  encourage  people  to  buy  on  credit,  crediting  almost 
any  one  to  the  whole  amount  of  his  property,  and  in  case  he  was 
unable  to  pay,  taking  his  notes  at  12  per  cent,  interest ;  so  that  a  ma- 
jority of  the  people  were  soon  indebted  beyond  their  means,  and  com- 
pelled to  pay  a  ruinous  rate  of  interest  to  save  themselves  from  being 
sued  for  their  debts. 


HISTORY.  107 

On  reviewing  again  its  financial  condition,  it  will  be  found,  that  the 
affairs  of  the  State  had  been  administered  with  such  distinguished 
skill  and  integrity  by  Gov.  Thomas  Ford,  that  in  December,  1846, 
when  his  term  of  ofEce  expired,  the  domestic  debt  of  the  treasury  had 
been  reduced  from  $313,000  to  $31,000,  Auditor's  warrants  were  at 
par,  the  banks  had  been  liquidated  in  a  just  and  honorable  manner, 
their  notes  had  been  banished  from  circulation,  and  been  replaced  by 
coin  currency  and  the  notes  of  solvent  banks  of  other  States,  the  peo- 
ple had  paid  their  debts,  and  eight  millions  of  the  public  debt  had 
been  paid,  redeemed,  or  otherwise  provided  for :  and  the  State  itself, 
which  but  a  short  time  before  had  been  in  a  most  ruinous  condition, 
discredited  throughout  the  world,  had  yet  been  able  to  borrow  the 
further  sum  of  $1,600,000  for  the  completion  of  the  work  on  the 
canal.  Confidence  in  the  prospects  of  the  State  was  at  once  revived, 
and  the  tide  of  emigration  once  more  directed  to  Illinois,  the  popu- 
lation of  which  in  1845,  according  to  the  census  of  that  year, 
amounted  to  662,150  souls,  and  was  rapidly  increasing. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Having,  in  the  last  chapter,  brought  down  the  civil  history  of  the 
State  to  the  end  of  the  year  1846,  we  now  prosecute  again  the  history 
of  the  State  as  connected  with  the  Mormons.  This  people  had  settled 
in  Hancock  county,  and  in  the  year  1842  had  increased  their  numbers 
to  nearly  20,000  souls.  The  warrant  of  Gov.  Carlin  for  the  arrest  of 
Joe  Smith,  their  prophet,  as  a  fugitive  from  justice  in  Missouri,  which 
had  not  been  executed,  and  was  still  impending  at  the  time  Gov. 
Ford  came  into  ofiace,  had  been  annulled  and  rendered  void  of  effect 
by  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  made  out  by  Judge  Pope,  of  the  Fed- 
eral Court,  who  belonged  to  the  whig  party;  in  consequence  of  which 
proceeding  the  prophet  had  been  discharged.  But  an  accusation 
being  vamped  up  in  Missouri  against  Joe  Smith,  for  having  attempted 
the  murder  of  the  Governor  of  Missouri,  on  the  5th  of  June,  1843, 
another  demand  was  made  by  the  Missourian  governor  for  the  arrest 
of  the  prophet,  and  a  warrant  accordingly  issued  by  Gov.  Thomas 
Ford ;  in  pursuance  of  which  Joe  Smith  was  arrested  while  absent 
from  Nauvoo,  on  a  visit  to  Rock  river.  The  Missourian  agent  started 
with  the  holy  prophet  in  his  safe  keeping,  on  his  way  ta  Missouri ; 
but  on  the  road  was  waylaid  by  a  number  of  armed  Mormons,  who 
captured  the  whole  party,  and  conducted  their  sacred  prophet  in  tri- 
umph back  to  Nauvoo,  the  Zion  of  the  modern  age.  The  prophet 
was  immediately  taken  before  the  Municipal  Court,  the  members  of 
which,  being  his  intimate  friends,  did  not  fail  to  discharge  him. 

About  that  time,  an  election  for  Congress  was  to  take  place  in  the 
Mormon  district.  The  whigs  expected,  that  the  essential  services 
they  had  rendered  to  the  Mormons,  by  procuring  the  discharge  of 
their  prophet,  would  secure  them  the  support  of  the  Mormon  vote  for 
their  own  candidate,  Cyrus  Walker,  but  they  were  outgeneraled  by 
the  democrats,  who  terrified  the  saints  with  the  prospect  of  the  militia 
being  sent  against  them,  in  case  they  voted  for  the  whig  candidate ; 

(108) 


HISTORY.  109 

which  was,  without  doubt,  the  cause  of  the  vision  of  Hiram  Smith, 
patriarch  in  the  Mormon  Church,  and  brother  of  the  prophet;  in 
which  God  had  revealed  to  him,  that  the  Mormons  must  support  Mr. 
Hoge,  the  democratic  candidate.  This  vision,  after  the  prophet  him- 
self had  attested  it  to  be  a  genuine  one,  decided  the  contest  in  favor 
of  Mr.  Hoge,  who,  having  received  3000  votes  in  Nauvoo,  was  elected 
to  Congress  by  800  majority.  Awful  was  the  consternation  of  the 
whigs  at  this  unexpected  defeat :  they  again  gave  vent  to  their  anger 
and  boiling  rage  through  the  newspapers,  which  now,  as  formerly, 
teemed  with  accounts  of  the  enormities  and  atrocities  committed  at 
Nauvoo;  charging  the  democrats,  who  could  consent  to  receive  the 
votes  of  such  miscreants,  with  horrible  wickedness,  well  worthy  of  the 
fire  of  eternal  damnation. 

No  further  demand  having  been  made  by  the  Missourians  for  deli- 
vering up  the  prophet,  the  latter,  together  with  his  saints,  continued 
in  their  usual  course  of  arrogance  and  insolence.  They  published 
ordinances  proclaiming,  that  no  person  in  Nauvoo  should  be  arrested 
on  a  foreign  writ,  without  the  approval  of  the  Mayor,  endorsed  on  the 
same ;  and  that  any  person  attempting  to  serve  any  foreign  writ  with- 
out any  such  approval,  would  be  imprisoned  for  life.  They  also  con- 
ceived the  absurd  idea  of  petitioning  Congress  to  establish  a  separate 
territorial  government  for  them  in  Nauvoo,  thus  rendering  it  morally 
certain,  that  they  contemplated  to  erect  an  "  imperium  in  imperio." 
Nay,  to  fill  the  measure  of  their  arrogance,  Joe  Smith,  in  the  spring 
of  1844,  was  announced  by  them  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency 
of  the  United  States,  and  3000  missionaries  were  despatched  in  every 
direction,  to  electioneer  for  their  prophet,  and  to  reveal  the  "fullness 
of  the  gospel"  to  the  astonished  multitude.  The  ridicule,  with  which 
these  devoted  missionaries  were  overwhelmed  by  all  sensible  men,  was 
but  the  just  reward  of  this  crowning  piece  of  Mormon  folly. 

About  this  time,  the  prophet  instituted  a  new  and  select  order  of 
the  priesthood,  who  were  to  be  his  nobility,  and  the  defenders  of  his 
throne.  He  also  instituted  an  order  called  the  Danite  Band,  who 
were  to  be  his  chosen  body-guard.  He  then  caused  himself  to  be 
anointed  priest  and  king,  claiming  to  descend,  in  direct  line,  from 
Joseph,  the  son  of  Jacob,  and  prescribing  the  form  of  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  himself  which  every  one  of  his  followers  was  to  take. 
10 


110  HISTORY. 

He  also  instituted  a  female  order,  called  ''Spiritual  Wives;"  revealing 
this  doctrine,  that  no  woman  could  be  "  sealed  up  to  eternal  life," 
except  by  selecting  a  Mormon  elder,  with  whom  she  was  to  share  at 
least  once  her  bed ;  and  that  any  man  was  allowed  to  have  one  wife, 
and  yet,  at  the  same  time,  in  a  mystical,  spiritual  way,  might  enjoy 
the  possession  of  many  others ;  the  truth  of  which  doctrines  he  de- 
monstrated, by  referring  to  the  examples  of  Abraham,  Jacob,  David, 
and  Solomon,  the  favorites  of  God;  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  illus- 
trate their  practical  working,  by  seducing  a  number  of  women,  and 
endeavoring  to  make  the  wife  of  William  Law,  one  of  his  most 
talented  disciples,  his  spiritual  mistress.  Such  corrupt  despotism 
could  not  be  endured.  William  Law,  an  eloquent  preacher,  and  five 
other  leaders  of  the  Mormons,  resolved  to  set  at  naught  the  authority 
of  the  prophet,  by  establishing  a  newspaper  in  Nauvoo,  intended  to 
enlighten  their  brethren  on  their  real  condition,  for  which  daring 
offence  they  were  immediately  tried  by  the  Common  Council,  and 
having  been  abundantly  convicted  of  innumerable  crimes  and  misde- 
meanors, were  ejected  from  the  Mormon  Church;  their  press,  by 
order  of  the  prophet,  was  scattered  to  the  four  winds.  The  expelled 
Mormons  retired  to  Carthage,  the  county  seat  of  Hancock  county, 
and  took  out  warrants  against  the  Mayor  and  members  of  the  Com- 
mon Council,  and  others,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  outrage;  these 
were,  however,  immediately  taken  before  the  Municipal  Court,  on  a 
writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and  discharged;  upon  which  the  seceding 
Mormons  despatched  a  committee  to  the  Grovemor,  requesting  him  to 
call  out  the  militia  to  assist  them  in  arresting  the  offenders  and  bring- 
ing them  to  punishment.  That  high-handed  proceeding,  on  the  part 
of  the  prophet  and  his  saints,  by  \yhich  the  liberty  of  the  press,  one 
of  the  most  sacred  rights  of  a  republican  people,  had  been  so  rudely 
assailed,  produced  an  immense  excitement  among  a  people  already  so 
much  embittered  against  the  Mormons,  on  account  of  their  practice 
of  voting  in  a  body,  so  that  none  could  aspire  to  the  honors  and  offices 
of  the  county  without  the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  Mormons, 
who  constituted  the  balance  of  power;  as  also  on  account  of  their 
apparent  determination  to  establish  a  separate  government,  independent 
of  the  State ;  and,  lastly,  on  account  of  their  numerous  robberies  and 
petty  larcenies.     The  militia  of  the  county  having  been  called  out  by 


HISTORY.  Ill 

the  constables,  to  serve  as  a  ''posse  comitatus,"  to  assist  in  the  exe- 
cution of  the  process,  the  Groveruor,  who,  on  receiving  the  complaints 
of  the  rejected  Mormons,  had  resolved  to  visit  in  person  that  section 
of  the  country,  in  order  to  inquire,  on  the  spot,  into  the  particulars  of 
the  whole  affair,  arriving  at  Carthage  on  the  21st  of  June,  1844, 
found  a  large  military  force  assembled,  which  was  hourly  increasing. 
Having  placed  the  whole  force  then  assembled  at  Carthage  under  the 
command  of  their  proper  officers,  he  called  them  together,  explaining 
to  them  what  he  could  do  and  was  willing  to  do,  and  exhorting  them  to 
keep  strict  order  and  discipline,  and  not  to  violate  the  authority  of  the 
laws  :  to  all  these  charges  they  cheerfully  assented.  Having  received 
these  assurances,  the  Governor  despatched  a  force  of  ten  men,  with 
the  constable,  to  Nauvoo,  to  make  the  necessary  arrests,  and  escort 
the  prisoners  to  head-quarters :  to  the  culprits  protection  was  to  be 
extended,  in  case  they  should  voluntarily  submit. 

In  the  meantime,  Joe  Smith,  as  Lieutenant-General  of  the  Nauvoo 
Legion,  had  declared  martial  law  in  the  city ;  the  Mormons  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Nauvoo  had  marched  to  his  assistance,  the  Legion 
had  assembled  under  arms,  and  the  city  seemed  one  great  military, 
camp,  all  avenues  to  which  were  strictly  guarded  and  watched.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  the  constable  and  guard,  the  Mayor  and  Common 
Council  at  once  agreed  to  surrender,  and  to  proceed  to  Carthage  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  next  day;  but  the  constable  and  guard,  who 
belonged  to  a  faction  of  daring,  violent  spirits,  who  had  secretly  con- 
spired to  bring  matters  with  the  Mormons  to  extremities,  made  no 
effort  to  arrest  them,  nor  would  he  stay  one  minute  beyond  the  time 
allotted  him,  but  immediately  returned  with  the  report,  that  the  ac- 
cused had  fled,  and  could  not  be  found. 

Gov.  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  soon  informed  of  this  base  conduct 
of  the  constable  and  guard,  reflecting  that  the  season  had  just  become 
suitable  for  the  harvest,  a  delay  of  two  weeks  in  the  gathering  of  which 
might  produce  a  general  famine,  and  considering,  also,  that  the  ter- 
rible freshets  at  that  time  liable  in  all  the  rivers  of  the  western  coun- 
try (one  of  which,  the  Mississippi,  had  risen  several  feet  higher  than 
was  known  before,  overflowing  the  whole  American  bottom  from  eight 
to  twenty  feet  deep,  washing  away  houses,  fences,  and  cattle,  and 
nearly  ruining  the   time-honored   village  of   Kaskaskia;    the  other 


112  ,  HISTORY. 

rivers,  in  proportion  to  the  dimensions  of  their  beds,  causing  as  much 
damage  as  the  Mississippi),  would  render  all  efforts  to  procure  provi- 
sions, in  case  an  expedition  should  be  undertaken,  totally  unavailing, 
resolved  to  postpone  the  general  calling  out  of  the  militia,  giving,  in 
the  meantime,  another  opportunity  to  the  accused  to  surrender.  He 
therefore  made  a  demand  upon  the  oflBtcers  of  the  Mormon  Legion  to 
surrender  the  arms,  with  which  the  Legion,  at  the  time  of  their 
incorporation,  had  been  furnished  by  the  State,  and  required,  that  the 
prophet-mayor  of  Nauvoo,  together  with  his  brother  Hiram,  and  other 
conspicuous  Mormon  leaders,  be  delivered  up.  The  arms,  consisting 
of  B  pieces  of  cannon  and  220  stand  of  small  arms,  were  immediately 
given  up,  and  on  the  24th  day  of  June,  the  illustrious  prophet  and 
his  brother,  together  with  those  of  his  associates,  who  had  been  sum- 
moned by  the  warrant,  entered  Carthage,  surrendering  themselves  as 
prisoners  to  the  constable,  on  an  indictment  of  riot.  Having  given  such 
pledges  as  the  justice  of  the  peace  deemed  necessary,  that  they  would 
appear  at  court  to  answer  the  charge,  they  were  all  of  them  re- 
leased, save  the  prophet  and  his  brother,  who  were  detained  on  a 
charge  of  treason.  There  being  no  witnesses  present  at  the  time,  the 
justice  of  the  peace  postponed  the  examination,  meanwhile  commit- 
ting the  illustrious  prisoners  for  safe  keeping  to  the  county  jail,  a 
massive  stone  building.  The  Governor  then  despatched  a  company 
of  militia,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Singleton,  to  Nauvoo,  to 
guard  the  town  and  take  command  of  the  Legion. 

The  force  assembled  at  Carthage  consisted  of  about  1200  men, 
some  500  more  being  stationed  at  "Warsaw.  Nearly  all  of  those,  who 
resided  in  Hancock  county  were  clamorous  for  marching  into  Nauvoo, 
pleading,  that  this  measure  was  indispensable,  to  strike  terror  into  the 
Mormons,  and  to  seize  some  apparatus  supposed  to  be  there  for  the 
manufacture  of  bogus  coin,  together  with  the  counterfeit  money  itself. 
The  Governor  yielding  to  their  entreaties,  the  27th  of  June  was  ap- 
pointed for  the  march,  and  Golden's  Point,  near  the  Mississippi,  about 
equi-distant  from  Nauvoo  and  Warsaw,  designated  as  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous. Whilst  preparations  were  making  for  the  expedition,  the 
Governor  learned,  that  a  plan  had  been  set  on  foot  by  some  of  his 
own  party,  to  fire,  under  the  cover  of  night,  upon  the  troops,  on  the 
day  of  their  arrival  in  Nauvoo,  accusing  the  Mormons  of  the  deed  : 


HISTORY.  113 

for  which  they  were  to  be  massacred  by  the  troops.  Justly  hieensed 
at  the  barbarity  of  this  plan,  which  would  have  cost  the  lives  of  thou- 
sands of  inoffensive  women  and  children,  that  a  city  like  Nauvoo,  then 
numbering  15,000  inhabitants,  must  necessarily  contain ;  and  irritated 
at  the  absurdity  of  the  idea  of  taking  the  field  against  3000  well- 
armed  men,  with  a  force  of  but  1700,  scantily  provisioned  for  two 
days.  Gov.  Ford,  at  a  council  of  officers,  convened  on  the  morning  of 
the  27th  of  June,  strongly  urged  them  to  desist  from  their  sanguinary 
designs;  but  seeing,  that  a  majority  of  the  council  were  even  more 
anxious  than  before  to  march  into  Nauvoo,  being  fearful,  lest  a  collision 
might  take  place,  he  ordered  the  troops  to  be  disbanded,  both  at  Car- 
thage and  Warsaw,  with  the  exception,  of  three  companies,  two  of 
which  were  appointed  to  guard  the  jail,  while  with  the  third  he  pro- 
posed to  march  to  Nauvoo  himself,  to  intimidate  the  Mormons,  and 
search  for  the  bogus  coin  and  the  apparatus  for  manufacturing  it, 
about  which  the  officers  were  so  much  troubled.  Having  left  Gen. 
Doming  in  command  of  Carthage,  and  entrusted  to  two  companies, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  R.  F.  Smith,  of  the  Carthage  Grays, 
the  keeping  of  the  jail,  they  promising  to  discharge  their  duty  strictly 
according  to  law.  Gov.  Ford  proceeded  to  Nauvoo,  accompanied  by 
Col.  Buckmaster  and  Capt.  Dunn's  company  of  dragoons.  Whilst  on 
his  march,  having  been  notified,  that  an  attack  upon  the  jail  was  medi- 
tated, he  ordered,  that  the  baggage-wagons  return  to  Carthage,  and 
hurried  with  the  utmost  speed  to  Nauvoo,  where  he  immediately  con- 
voked an  assembly  of  the  citizens,  to  whom  he  stated,  in  what  particular 
the  laws  had  been  violated  by  their  leaders;  also  the  excitement  and 
hatred  prevailing  everywhere  against  them,  and  the  causes  of  it,  call- 
ing on  them  to  keep  the  public  peace ;  after  which,  having  received 
a  unanimous  vote  from  the  Mormons,  that  they  would  abide  the  laws 
and  strictly  observe  their  provisions,  he  returned  on  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  with  the  utmost  despatch,  to  Carthage.  He  had  scarcely 
proceeded  two  miles,  when  he  was  met  by  a  Mormon,  who  told  him, 
that  the  Smiths  had  been  assassinated  in  jail  early  in  the  morning  of 
that  day.  Anticipating  the  worst  consequences  from  such  a  treach 
erous  act,  which  was  only  too  well  calculated  to  rouse  the  fanatical, 
revengeful  spirit  of  the  Mormons,  making  them  determined  to  wage 
a  war  of  extermination,  the  Governor,  in  order  to  prepare  for  any 
10  *  H 


114  HISTORY. 

emergency,  lost  no  time  in  getting  to  Warsaw,  where  he  found  the 
people  in  the  highest  state  of  excitement,  owing  to  some  ridiculous 
and  exaggerated  reports,  that  he  and  his  party  had  been  furiously 
assailed  by  the  Mormon  Legion,  and  unless  assistance  was  rendered  in 
two  days,  would  be  cut  up  without  mercy;  which  rumors  had  been 
circulated  by  the  anti-Mormon  party,  to  influence  the  public  to  take 
vengeance  upon  the  Mormons.  Such  was  the  agitation  of  the  public 
mind,  that  knowing  himself  to  be  distrusted  by  the  anti-Mormon 
ultraists,  both  of  the  democratic  and  whig  party,  and  finding  his  influ- 
ence and  command  to  be  at  an  end,  the  Governor  made  application  to 
the  United  States  for  500  men  of  the  regular  army,  which  being  re- 
fused, he  made  the  best  arrangements,  that  circumstances  permitted, 
for  the  pacification  and  defence  of  the  country.  He  also  studiously 
inquired  into  the  details  of  the  assassination  of  the  Smiths,  and  was 
informed,  that  the  order  to  disband  had  reached  the  Warsaw  force 
whilst  on  their  march  to  Golden  Point ;  when  some  two  hundred  of 
them,  having  disguised  themselves  by  blackening  their  faces  with 
powder  and  mud,  hastened  immediately  to  Carthage,  where,  of  the 
two  companies  of  the  Carthage  Grays  appointed  to  guard  the  jail,  but 
one  remained,  the  other  having  disbanded  and  returned  home.  Hav- 
ing entered  into  communication  with  the  remaining  company,  and 
made  an  arrangement,  that  the  guard  should  fire  at  them  with  blank 
cartridges,  when  they  stormed  the  jail,  the  conspirators  rushed  on  to 
the  assault,  jumped  over  the  fence,  were  fired  upon  by  the  guard, 
which,  according  to  agreement,  made  no  attempt  to  resist,  and  entered 
the  prison,  making  their  way  at  once  to  the  room,  where  the  prisoners, 
with  two  of  their  friends,  who  voluntarily  bore  them  company,  were 
confined.  When  the  door  was  burst  open,  shots  were  immediately 
exchanged  between  the  conspirators  and  the  company  in  the  room ; 
Hiram  Smith  was  instantly  killed,  and  the  prophet,  who,  after  shoot- 
ing down  three  of  his  assailants,  with  a  six-barrelled  pistol  given  him 
by  his  friends,  had  jumped  out  of  the  window,  stunning  himself  so 
severely  in  his  fall  as  to  be  unable  to  pursue  his  flight,  was  despatched 
by  the  conspirators  below  with  four  balls  through  his  body. 

Thus  fell  Joe  Smith,  the  holy  prophet  of  the  Mormons ;  the  most 
daring  impostor  in  modern  times,  and  by  many  of  the  Puritanic  stock 
believed  to  have  been  the  very  incarnation  of  Satan.     Totally  ignorant 


HISTORY. 


115 


of  almost  every  fact  in  science,  as  well  as  in  law,  he  made  up  in  con- 
structiveness  and  natural  cunning,  whatever  in  him  was  wanting  of 
instruction.  The  animal  nature  largely  preponderating  in  the  mat;, 
he  had  not  the  genius  to  form  any  vast  and  comprehensive  plans  for 
the  future;  but  whatever  he  did,  was  merely  intended  for  present  con- 
venience., and  gratification  of  his  beastly  lusts  and  desires.  He  was 
possessed  of  some  qualities,  which  would  have  eminently  fitted  him  for 
the  stags,  being  always  able  to  change  his  external  appearance  and 
conduct  according  to  circumstances;  at  times  afi"ecting  the  deepest 
humiliation  for  his  sins,  suffering  the  most  unspeakable  tortures,  as  if 
burning  already  in  the  terrible  fire  of  eternal  damnation,  and  calling 
for  the  prayers  of  the  brethren  in  his  behalf,  with  a  fearful,  soul- 
stirring  energy,  and  heart-rending  earnestness ;  then  again  being  ex- 
ceedingly soft  and  gentle  in  his  behavior;  then  again,  loud  and  furious 
as  "a  highway  robber,"  "swearing  like  a  pirate  and  drinking  like  a 
sailor."  He  bore  in  his  profile  a  strong  resemblance  to  that  of  a 
boar;  he  was  full  six  feet  high,  and  endowed  with  a  frame  of  uncom- 
mon vigor,  to  the  superior  strength  of  which  he  was  no  doubt  much 
indebted  for  the  influence  he  exercised  over  an  ignorant  people.  Those 
of  his  followers,  who  aided  and  supported  him  in  the  administration 
of  his  government,  were  mostly  unprincipled  and  bankrupt,  but 
talented  men,  who  claimed  to  have  a  right  to  teach  to,  or  impose 
upon  mankind  a  new  religion,  which  might  aff"ord  them  a  living, 
or  some  cheap  glory.  This  class  of  men  constituted  the  leaders, 
whilst  their  deluded  followers  were  principally  .men  of  a  weak  and 
unstable  character;  this  made  them  easily  subject  to  the  power 
of  designing  machinators ;  and  of  a  dreamy  and  wandering  dispo- 
sition, and  a  ready  belief  in  wonderful  and  supernatural  matters. 
Many  of  the  Mormons  were  notorious  rogues ;  but  the  greater  part 
of  them  were  pitiable  victims  of  a  religious  imposture,  sincere  and 
fanatical  in  their  faith. 

When  the  news  of  the  death  of  their  revered  leaders  reached  the 
Mormons  at  Nauvoo,  they  were  so  stupefied  by  it  as  to  remain  quiet, 
much  to  the  astonishment  of  every  one.  Many  of  them  at  first  re- 
fused to  believe  the  dire  intelligence ;  others  published  revelations, 
that  the  prophet,  in  imitation  of  the  Saviour,  was  to  rise  from  the 
dead;  and  many  maintained,  by  solemn  oath,  that  they  had  seen  him 


116  HISTORY. 

at  the  head  of  a  celestial  army,  coursing  the  air  on  a  magnificent 
white  steed. 

After  the  holy  prophet  had  thus  met  with  an  untimely  fate,  Sidney 
K,igdon,  wiio  had  been  a  meaiberof  the  first  presidency  of  the  Church, 
composed  of  Joe  and  Hiram  Smith  and  the  twelve  apostles,  claimed 
the  government  of  the  Church,  alleging  a  will  of  the  prophet  in  his 
favor.  Perhaps  he  might  have  succeeded  in  his  pretensions,  had  he 
not,  unfortunately,  published  a  revelation  imparted  him  from  heaven, 
directing  the  Mormons  to  abandon  the  holy  city  of  Nauvoo,  and  to 
remove  to  Pittsburgh ;  which  at  once  destroyed  his  influence  with  the 
Mormons,  who  now  confided  the  government  of  the  Church  to  the 
twelve  apostles,  with  Brigham  Young,  a  cunning  rascal,  at  their  head. 

Another  election  for  members  of  Congress  and  for  the  Legislature, 
was  to  take  place  in  August,  1844,  and  a  presidential  election  was 
pending  throughout  the  nation.  The  contest  was  carried  on  by  the 
various  parties  with  the  most  fierce  and  determined  spirit,  and  as  the 
Mormons  participated  in  this  contest,  it  being  feared,  that  they  would, 
as  usual,  cast  their  votes  as  a  unit,  thereby  compelling  every  office- 
seeker  to  court  the  favors  of  that  despised  people,  the  hatred  of  the 
people  against  the  Mormons  soon  rose  to  a  terrible  pitch  of  excitement; 
to  allay  this  the  Governor  strongly  recommended  the  Mormons  not  to 
vote.  But  a  dexterous  politician  went  to  their  city  a  few  days  before 
the  election,  and  by  artful  representations  and  liberal  promises  of  the 
support  of  the  democratic  party,  induced  the  Mormons,  who  were 
foolish  enough  to  believe  him  authorized  to  make  such  assurances,  to 
vote  the  whole  democratic  ticket.  This  vote  of  the  Mormons,  the 
whig  leaders,  and  many  democrats  desirous  of  making  political  capi- 
tal, kid  to  the  Governor's  charge;  which  made  the  anti-Mormou 
uitraists  more  than  ever  determined  to  expel  this  body. 

In  the  fall  of  1844,  the  leaders  of  the  anti-Mormons  sent  printed 
circulars  to  all  the  militia  captains  in  Hancock  and  the  neighboring 
counties  of  Missouri,  inviting  them  to  be  present  at  a  great  wolf-bunt 
in  Hancock.  Arrangements  wei'e  made  for  assembling  several  thou- 
sand men,  provisioned  for  sis  da}-?,  the  anti-Mormon  press  simulta- 
neously renewing  their  crusade  against  the  Mormons,  whom  they 
charged  with  the  most  horrible  murders,  thefts,  rapes,  and  villanies 
of  every  kind. 


HISTORY.  117 

In  this  state  of  affairs,  the  Governor  applied  to  the  chief  officers  of 
the  State  militia,  who,  uniting  their  exertions  with  his  own,  succeeded 
in  raising  a  force  of  500  volunteers,  under  command  of  Brigadier- 
General  Hardin ;  with  these  the  Governor  proceeded  to  Hancock.  He 
arrived  in  Hancock  county  on  the  25th  of  October.  The  conspirators 
dispersed  at  his  approach,  and  their  leaders  fled  to  Missouri.  During 
his  stay  in  the  county,  the  Governor  found  out,  that  his  officers  and 
men  were  so  much  infected  with  anti-Mormon  prejudices  as  to  make 
it  utterly  impossible  for  him  to  control  them.  Determined  to  make 
the  assassins  of  the  Smiths,  for  whose  protection  in  jail  he  had  pledged 
his  word,  which  had  been  so  shamefully  violated,  feel  the  utmost  rigor 
of  the  law,  the  Governor  prepared  to  cross  with  a  small  force  to  Mis- 
souri, at  Churchville,  to  seize  three  anti-Mormon  leaders,  accused  of 
that  murder;  but  had  the  mortification  to  see,  that  one  of  his  own 
officers  frustrated  his  design,  by  advising  all  against  joining  the  expe- 
dition, and  arranging  privately  the  terms  of  surrender  for  the  accused, 
whereupon  two  of  them  came  forth  and  delivered  themselves  up. 
They  were  tried  before  Judge  Young,  in  the  summer  of  1845,  but 
although  the  Governor,  being  resolved  to  make  the  offenders  pay  the 
utmost  penalty  of  'the  law,  employed  the  most  able  lawyers  in  their 
prosecution,  such  was  the  influence  of  party  faction,  that  the  accused 
were  all  acquitted.  At  the  next  term,  the  leading  Mormons  were 
tried  for  the  destruction  of  the  heretical  press,  but  the  Mormons  hav- 
ing, in  their  turn,  impanelled  a  jury  favorable  to  them,  these  accused 
were  also  acquitted.  The  result  of  these  trials  made  it  evident,  that 
no  one  could  be  convicted  of  any  crime  in  Hancock;  which  for  a  time 
rendered  it  impossible  to  administer  the  criminal  law' in  that  unhappy 
county,  unless,  indeed,  by  force  of  arms ;  so  that,  while  the  early  French 
settlers  seemed  to  have  verified  the  assertion,  that  a  virtuous  and  con- 
tented people  do  not  only  not  require  the  paternal  care  of  any  kind 
of  government,  but  are  most  happy  without  such,  the  people  in  Han- 
cock county,  on  the  other  hand,  seemed  to  establish  the  fact,  that  a 
corrupt  and  lawless  people  are  fit  objects  to  be  ruled  over  by  the  iron 
hand  of  a  despot,  whose  government  is  peremptorily  demanded  by 
their  happiness  and  welfare. 

During  the  course  of  the  summer  and  fall  of  1845,  the  hatred  be- 
tween the  Mormons  and  anti-Mormons  reached  a  higher  degree  of 


318  HISTORY. 

iLitonsit}",  than  ever  before.  The  anti-Mormons,  as  usual,  loaiied  theii 
papers  with  startling  descriptions  of  the  awful  wickedness  and  enor- 
mities of  Nauvoo,  loudly  complaining  of  the  thefts  and  robberies  of 
the  Mormons,  and  calling  upon  the  people  to  rise  and  exterminate  the 
miscreants.  About  this  time,  the  deputy  marshal  went  to  Nauvoo  to 
arrest  some  of  the  twelve  apostles,  against  whom  a  suit  had  been 
commenced  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  on  a  note  given  in 
Ohio.  He  was  threatened  and  abused  for  attempting  to  serve  a 
process  of  law,  and  in  a  public  assembly  of  the  Mormons,  after  san- 
guinary addresses  had  been  delivered  by  their  leaders,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  and  agreed,  that  no  process  should  be  served  in 
Nauvoo. 

Not  long  after  this,  in  the  fall  of  1845,  the  anti-Mormons  of  Lima 
and  Green  Plains  held  a  meeting  to  plan  a  scheme  for  the  expulsion 
of  the  Mormons.  They  agreed  between  themselves,  that  several  of 
their  own  number  should  fire  at  the  meeting-house,  taking  good  care 
not  to  hurt  any  one.  This  was  done,  the  house  was  fired  at  without 
any  one  being  hurt,  whereupon  the  anti-Mormons  immediately  broke 
up  their  meeting,  and  travelling  over  the  country  in  every  direction, 
spread  the  rumor,  that  the  Mormons  bad  commenced  the  work  of 
death  and  extermination.  Such  intelligence  was  sure  to  gather  a 
mob  in  a  county  like  Hancock,  many  of  the  inhabitants-  of  which  had 
acquired  a  reputation  for  their  desperate  character,  being  always  ready 
to  indulge  in  tbeir  love  of  free  fights,  whenever  a  suitable  occasion 
presented  itself  A  mob  of  anti-Mormons  soon  assembled  at  Lima, 
and  proceeded  to  the  settlements  of  some  very  poor  Mormons  in  their 
neighborhood,  threatening  them  with  fire  and  sword,  if  they  did  not 
leave  at  once.  The  Mormons  refusing  to  remove,  the  mob  burnt 
down  their  houses,  or  rather  hovels,  compelling  their  wretched  inmates 
to  fly,  in  a  state  of  utter  destitution,  to  Nauvoo.  Terrible  was  the 
wrath  of  the  saints  at  Nauvoo,  when  they  saw  their  brethren  arrive 
in  so  pitiful  a  condition.  The  sheriff  of  the  county,  Jacob  B.  Back- 
instos,  whom  the  Mormons  had  just  succeeded  in  electing,  immedi- 
ately proceeded  to  Nauvoo,  where  he  raised  a  posse  of  several  hundred 
Mormons,  with  which  he  scoured  the  country,  driving  everything 
before  him,  occupied  Carthage,  and  established  a  permanent  Mormon 
garrison  there.     Afraid  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  same  measure,  with 


HISTORY.  119 

which  they  had  accommodated  the  Mormons,  the  anti-Mormocs  fled 
everywhere  before  the  sheriff;  some  to  Iowa  and  Missouri,  others  to 
the  neighboring  counties  in  Illinois.  The  anti-Mormons  having  left, 
by  their  flight,  the  sheriff  and  his  Mormon  friends  undisputed  masters 
of  the  country,  the  Mormons,  whose  houses  had  been  burnt,  sallied 
forth  in  their  turn,  destroying  the  habitations  of  their  adversaries, 
laying  waste  the  country  with  fire  at  d  sword,  and  plundering  and  car- 
rying off,  whatever  admitted  of  any  transportation.  Upon  receiving 
intelligence  of  these  proceedings,  the  Governor  hastened  to  Jackson- 
ville, where,  in  a  conference  with  Gen.  Hardin,  Major  Warren,  Judge 
Douglass,  and  Attorney-General  McDougall,  it  was  agreed,  that  these 
gentlemen  should  proceed  to  Hancock  with  whatever  forces  had  been 
raised,  to  restore  order  in  that  distracted  county.  Having  raised 
about  400  volunteers.  Gen.  Hardin  lost  no  time  in  getting  to  Carthage, 
where  he  dispersed  the  Mormon  garrison  and  put  an  end  to  the  ravages 
of  the  Mormons,  recalling  the  anti-Mormons,  and  prohibiting  the  as- 
semblage of  parties  above  four  in  number,  either  of  Mormons  or  anti- 
Mormons. 

The  twelve  apostles  and  the  other  leaders  of  the  Mormons,  satisfied 
b}'  this  time,  that  it  would  not  do  for  the  Mormons  to  remain  any 
longer  in  the  State,  made  arrangements  with  their  enemies,  through 
the  intervention  of  the  Governor  and  Gen.  Hardin,  for  the  unmo- 
ksted  removal  of  their  people  in  the  spring  of  1846.  The  force  of 
Gen.  Hardin  was  diminished  to  100  men,  and  Major  W.  B.  Warren 
appointed  their  commander;  he  managed  this  force  with  such  effi- 
ciency and  skill  as  to  render  both  parties  afraid  to  set  the  laws  at 
defiance  during  the  winter. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Mormons  made  the  most  enormous  efforts  for 
removal ;  all  the  houses  in  Naavoo,  not  even  excepting  the  temple, 
having  been  converted  into  workshops,  so  that  before  spring  more 
•  than  12,000  wagons  were  in  readiness  for  removing  their  families  and 
efiects.  By  the  middle  of  May,  about  16,000  Mormons  had  crossed 
the  Mississippi  on  their  march  to  California,  -leaving  but  a  thousand 
of  their  number  behind  in  Nauvoo,  such  as,  having  no  money,  or 
property  which  they  might  convert  into  money,  were  without  the 
means  of  removing. 

During  the  same  month,  the  President  called  for  four  regiments  of 


120  HISTORY. 

volunteers  from  Illinois  for  the  Mexican  war;  this  was  no  sooner 
known  in  Illinois,  than  nine  regiments,  numbering  8370  men,  an- 
swered the  call,  though  only  four  of  them,  amounting  to  3720  men, 
could  be  taken.  These  regiments,  as  well  as  their  officers,  were  every- 
where foremost  in  the  American  ranks,  and  distinguished  themselves 
by  their  matchless  valor  in  the  bloodiest  battles  fought  throughout  the 
campaign.  Gen.  Hardin,  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  attacked  and 
routed  a  body  of  Mexican  infantry  and  lancers  five  times  the  number 
of  his  own,  deciding,  by  his  gallant  charge,  the  victory  for  the  Ame- 
ricans, which  was  won  at  the  expense  of  his  own  life  and  that  of  many 
of  his  bravest  men.  At  the  same  battle,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weath- 
erford,  with  his  men,  during  the  whole  day  stood  the  fire  of  the  Mexi- 
can artillery,  without  being  allowed  to  advance  near  enough  to  return 
it.  Warren,  Trail,  Bissel,  and  Morrison,  distinguished  themselves  by 
their  intrepid  valor  at  the  same  battle  ;  Shields,  Baker,  Harris,  and 
Coifey,  are  illustrious  names,  indissolubly  connected  with  the  glorious 
capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  not  less  famous  storming  of  Cerro 
Gordo.  In  this  latter  action,  when,  after  the  valiant  Gen.  Shields 
had  been  placed  hors  du  combat,  the  command  of  his  force,  consisting 
of  two  Illinois  and  one  New  York  regiment,  devolved  upon  Col. 
Baker,  this  officer  with  his  men  stormed  with  unheard-of  prowess  the 
last  stronghold  of  the  Mexicans,  sweeping  everything  before  them, 
and  scattering  the  Mexican  forces  to  the  four  winds.  Such,  indeed, 
was  the  intrepid  valor  and  daring  courage  exhibited  by  the  Illinoisian 
volunteers  during  the  Mexican  war,  that  their  deeds  will  live  in  the 
memory  of  their  countrymen  until  those  latest  times,  when  the  very 
name  of  America  shall  have  been  forgotten. 

After  this  slight  digression,  due  to  the  memory  of  the  Illinoisian 
heroes  in  the  Mexican  war,  we  return  again  to  the  Mormons.  Al- 
though after  June,  1846,  but  few  of  that  people  remained  behind, 
their  enemies,  fearing,  that  enough  of  them  had  been  left  to  control* 
the  elections,  commenced  again  harassing  and  annoying  them,  until 
they  had  extorted  the  promise  from  the  Mormon  leaders,  that  their 
people  should  not  vote  at  the  next  election.  When  this  election, 
however,  came  off  (August,  1846),  the  Mormons,  without  exception, 
voted  the  democratic  ticket,  which  act  terribly  enraged  the  people 
against  them.     An  outbreak  of  hostilities  being  looked  for  as  una. 


HISTORY.  121 

voidable,  whilst  both  parties  were  collecting  their  forces,  the  trustees 
of  Nauvoo,  belonging  to  the  number  of  the  new  citizens,  who  had  pur- 
chased the  houses  and  property  of  the  Mormons,  who  had  removed, 
applied  to  the  Governor  for  a  force  to  protect  them.  A  force  of 
militia  was  raised,  and  Mayor  Parker  appointed  their  commander;  but 
the  abuse  heaped  upon  this  officer  by  the  whig  party,  rendered  it  im- 
possible for  him  to  assist  them  effectually.  As  this  force  was  about  to 
march  into  the  city,  information  reached  the  Governor,  that  the  new 
citizens  of  Nauvoo  were  divided  in  two  parties,  one  of  which  was 
friendly  to  the  Mormons,  whilst  the  other,  being  hostile  to  them,  had 
been  threatened  with  death  by  them,  if  they  did  not  join  in  the  de- 
fence of  the  city.  The  Governor  lost  no  time,  but  sent  M.  Brayman, 
Esq.,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Springfield,  to  Nauvoo,  with  strict 
orders,  forbidding  the  Mormons  to  force  the  new  citizens  to  join  them 
against  their  will.  Mr.  Brayman  went  to  Nauvoo,  where  it  was 
agreed  between  him  and  the  Mormons,  that  the  latter  should  leave 
the  State  in  two  months,  their  arms  to  remain  in  custody  of  the  State 
during  the  meantime,  which  treaty  was  agreed  to  by  Gen.  Singleton, 
Col.  Chittenden,  and  others,  on  the  part  of  the  anti-Mormon  forces, 
and  Mayor  Parker  and  some  Mormon  leaders,  on  the  other  side.  But 
when  the  treaty  was  submitted  to  the  anti-Mormon  forces  for  ratifi- 
cation, it  was  rejected  by  them,  whereupon  Gen.  Singleton  and  Col. 
Chittenden  immediately  retired  from  the  command,  which  was  at  once 
assumed  by  Thomas  S.  Brockman,  an  ignorant,  rough  and  uncouth 
Campbellite  preacher,  who  was  bitterly  opposed  to  the  Mormons,  on 
account  of  their  immoral  practices ;  although  he  fully  equalled,  if  he 
did  not  eclipse  them  in  these,  having  been  defaulter  to  a  large  amount, 
while  collector  of  taxes,  and  having  committed  various  other  rogueries". 
With  a  force  of  800  men,  and  five  cannon,  belonging  to  the  State, 
he  proceeded  to  Nauvoo,  where  an  engagement  in  the  suburbs  was 
fought  between  his  troops  and  about  150  Mormons,  together  with 
some  of  the  new  citizens,  as  their  allies ;  in  which,  owing  to  the  very 
safe  distance  at  which  both  parties  kept  from  each  other,  but  one  man 
was  killed,  and  some  three  or  four  wounded  on  either  side,  although 
the  battle  raged  with  unabated  fury  the  whole  day,  9000  cannon-balls 
and  an  infinite  number  of  bullets  being  fired  on  each  side. 
11 


122  HISTORY. 

After  this  sanguinary  battle,  through  the  intervention  of  an  anti- 
Mormon  committee  from  Quincy,  the  remaining  Mormons  at  last 
agreed  to  remove  from  the  State.  In  the  midst  of  the  sickly  season 
they  were  hurried  in  the  boats  and  thrown  upon  the  Iowa  shore,  with- 
out shelter  or  provisions ;  in  consequence  whereof,  great  numbers  of 
them  miserably  perished.  The  new  citizens,  who  had  joined  the 
Mormons  in  their  defence  of  the  city,  were  many  of  them  ducked 
and  "  baptized"  in  the  river,  and  the  rest  of  them  driven,  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet,  across  the  river,  by  the  horde  of  armed  scoundrels 
under  the  command  of  the  villanous  Campbellite  preacher,  the  pro- 
fessed servant  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus. 

Some  of  the  new  citizens  returned  several  times  to  look  after  their 
property,  but  were  brutally  driven  off  each  time.  A  reaction  now 
took  place,  however,  in  the  minds  of  the  people,  in  favor  of  the  op- 
pressed ;  which  the  Governor  no  sooner  perceived,  than  he  started 
with  about  200  men,  raised  in  Springfield,  to  Hancock,  in  order  to 
reinstate  sixty  families  of  the  unfortunate  new  citizens  in  their  homes, 
which  had  beCn  unmercifully  plundered  in  the  meantime.  Having 
succeeded  in  this,  and  having  made  diligent,  but  unsuccessful  search, 
for  the  five  pieces  of  cannon  belonging  to  the  State,  he  disbanded  the 
principal  part  of  his  force,  leaving  Major  Jackson  and  Capt.  Connelly, 
with  a  force  of  50  men,  to  stay  in  the  county  until  the  15th  of  De- 
cember, 1846,  by  which  time  the  cold  of  winter  was  expected  to  put 
an  end  to  the  anti-Mormon  disturbances;  which  expectation  was 
realized. 

While  this  bloody  war  was  waged  in  Hancock  county,  between  the 
followers  of  the  prophet  and  their  adversaries,  an  equally  violent 
rebellion,  though  upon  a  smaller  scale,  broke  out  in  the  county  of 
Massac,  on  the  Ohio,  the  ancient  settlement  of  horse-thieves,  robbers, 
and  counterfeiters,  who  had  again  become  so  numerous  and  well  or- 
ganized as  to  set  the  laws  at  defiance,  by  committing  horrible  murders 
and  depredations.  The  honest  portion  of  the  people  formed  them- 
selves into  companies  of  regulators,  and  were  about  to  order  the  rogues 
from  the  country,  when  the  latter,  in  the  election  for  county  officers, 
which  came  off  in  August,  1846,  voted  all  one  way,  thereby  causing 
the  election  of  a  sheriff  and  other  officers,   who  at  once   arrayed 


HISTORY.  123 

themselves  in  open  hostility  to  the  regulators,  allowing  some  of  the 
rogues,  who  had  already  been  arrested,  to  escape  from  jail;  where- 
fore, they  were  ordered  by  the  regulators  to  leave  the  country  at 
once. 

In  this  state  of  things,  the  Grovernor  issued  an  order  to  Brigadier- 
G-eneral  John  T.  Davis,  to  examine  into  the  disturbances  and  the 
causes  thereof,  calling  out  the  militia,  if  order  could  not  be  restored 
by  peaceable  means.  Gen.  Davis  proceeded  to  Massac,  assembling 
the  parties  and  settling  their  differences,  as  he  supposed;  he  had,  , 
however,  no  sooner  left  the  county,  than  new  disturbances  broke  out, 
many  of  the  regulators  coming,  this  time,  as  far  as  from  Kentucky, 
expelling  the  sheriff,  with  other  officers,  and  some  of  the  rogues ;  and 
summarily  punishing  every  one,  whether  rogue  or  honest  man,  who 
dared  to  interfere  with  their  violent  proceedings. 

Judge  Scates,  at  the  Circuit  Court,  not  long  afterwards  held  in 
Massac  county,  strongly  urged  the  grand  jury  to  inquire  into  the  out- 
r;;geous  conduct  of  the  regulators,  whereupon  indictments  were  found 
and  warrants  issued  against  a  number  of  them,  who  were  arrested  by 
the  sheriff  and  committed  to  jail.  The  regulators  assembled  from 
Kentucky  and  the  neighboring  counties  of  Illinois,  threatening  to 
lynch  Judge  Scates,  if  he  ever  returned  to  hold  a  court,  and  liberating 
their  friends  confined  in  the  jail,  expelling  the  sheriff  and  his  friends 
from  the  country.  The  sheriff  went  to  the  Governor,  then  at  Nauvoo, 
to  apply  to  him  for  aid  and  protection.  But  the  Governor,  whose 
term  of  office  was  about  to  expire,  refused  to  meddle  with  the  affair, 
contenting  himself  with  charging  Dr.  William  J.  Gibbs  to  call  out  the 
militia  for  the  protection  of  the  sheriff  and  other  county  officers,  and 
the  honest  portion  of  the  community.  The  militia,  however,  refused 
to  turn  out,  and  the  regulators  exercising  uncontested  sway  over  the 
county,  caught  a  number  of  suspicious  characters  and  tried  them  by 
committee,  whipping  and  tarring  and  feathering  those,  who  had  been 
convicted,  and  taking  many  of  them  away  as  prisoners,  of  whom 
several  were  afterwards  reported  to  "■  have  gone  to  Arkansas :"  by 
which  was  understood,  that  they  had  been  drowned  in  the  Ohio,  and 
left  to  swim  with  the  current  of  that  river  in  the  direction  of  Ar- 
kansas.    On  the  23d  of  December,  1846,  a  convention  of  regulators 


124  HISTORY. 

from  the  counties  of  Johnson,  Massac,  and  Pope,  assembled  at  Grol- 
conda,  ordering  the  sheriff  and  the  clerk  of  the  county  court  of 
Massac,  together  with  many  other  citizens,  to  leave  the  country  within 
thirty  days.  The  sheriff  and  many  others  accordingly  left  the 
country,  remaining  absent  all  winter.  This  was  the  last  act  of  vio- 
lence on  the  part  of  the  regulators;  the  disturbances  afterwards 
gradually  passing  away,  being  destined,  like  everything  else,  to  come 
to  aa  end. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  term  of  office  of  Governor  Thomas  Ford,  under  whose  admin- 
istration, as  already  mentioned,  the  condition  of  the  State  had  been 
very  materially  ameliorated,  having  expired  in  December,  1846,  Au- 
gustus C.  French  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  Illinois ;  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  government  the  same  month,  delivering,  on  the 
8th  of  December,  1846,  an  inaugural  address  to  the  Legislature, 
wherein  he  recommends,  that  all  the  available  means  of  the  State  be 
brought  into  such  a  condition,  that  they  might  be  applied  to  the  final 
payment  of  her  public  debt.  Although  during  his  administration  the 
debt  was  not  further  reduced,  but  even  consideraoly  enlarged,  it  was 
while  he  was  Governor,  that  Illinois  entered,  with  gigantic  strides, 
upon  the  road  of  industry  and  prosperity,  recovering  entirely  from  her 
sunken  position,  rapidly  increasing  in  population,  and  so  wonderfully 
developing  her  immense  resources,  that  in  point  of  wealth,  industry, 
and  enterprise,  Illinois  now  acknowledgedly  ranks  one  of  the  first 
States  of  the  Union ;  her  debt  is  larger  than  before ;  but  when  we 
consider  her  population,  nearly  trebled,  and  her  resources,  in  so  short 
a  time  increased  a  hundred  fold,  it  no  longer  excites  the  slightest 
apprehension  in  the  mind  of  any  sensible  man  intending  to  make  Illi- 
nois his  future  home,  aware,  as  he  must  be,  that  Illinois,  having  suc- 
cessfully opposed  and  combatt'ed  the  hideous  monster  of  repudiation, 
is  just  now  reaping  the  reward  due  to  the  restless  energy,  activity,  and 
intelligence  of  her  citizens,  enjoying  the  very  highest  standing  and 
credit  throughout  the  civilized  world  :  whereas,  but  a  few  years  since, 
she  was  discredited  in  every  portion  of  the  globe. 

In  the  years  1846  and  1847,  a  movement  was  made  for  bringing 

together  a  large  mass  meeting,  to  deliberate  upon  the  interests  of  the 

Western   States;  and  this  resulted  in   the  assembling  of  the  great 

"  Harbor  and  River  Convention/'  held  at  Chicago  in  the  first  week 

11*  (125) 


126  HISTORY. 

of  July,  1847,  which  was  a  most  important  event  in  the  history  of 
Illioois,  and  had  a  very  beneficial  effect  upon  its  destiny. 

The  attention  of  the  citizens  of  Illinois  having,  for  several  years 
been  turned  to  the  necessity  of  revising  the  State  Constitution,  on 
August  31,  1847,  a  convention  held  for  that  purpose  adopted  the  pre- 
sent constitution,  which  was  ratified  by  the  people,  March  7,  1848, 
and  went  into  operation  on  the  1st  of  April  ensuing.  Under  the  new 
constitution.  Governor  Augustus  C.  French  was  re-elected  Governor 
of  Illinois  for  the  next  four  years,  commencing  with  January,  1849. 
Upon  comparing  the  old  constitution,  adopted  in  1818,  with  the  new 
one,  it  will  be  found  that  the  latter  is  much  more  complete,  having 
received  many  additions,  besides  several  alterations,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing are  the  most  important : 

In  the  first  place,  while  the  old  constitution,  as  will  fully  appear 
on  reference  to  its  third  and  fourth  articles,  made  the  appointment  of 
most  of  the  State  officers,  including  even  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  inferior  Courts,  chiefly  u.^  -  '^dent  upon  the  General  As- 
sembly, the  new  constitution  renders  the  c  *-  o  officers,  including  the 
said  Judges,  eligible  by  the  people,  those  only  excepted,  the  right  of 
whose  appointment  is  vested  in  the  Governor,  as  from  the  following 
parallel  provisions  of  the  new  constitution,  in  whose  fourth  and  fifth 
articles  they  are  contained,  will  be  circumstantially  seen,  to  wit : 

The  Governor  (in  whom,  by  virtue  of  Section  1  of  Article  IV.,  the 
executive  power  of  the  State  is  vested,  and  who,  according  to  Section 
2  and  8  of  Article  IV.  is  to  be  elected  once  in  four  years,  on  the 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  of  November,  and  to  enter  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office  on  the  second  Monday  of  January  succeeding  — 
the  first  election  of  Governor,  under  the  new  constitution,  having  been 
held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  1848), 
by  virtue  of  the  12th  Section  of  the  same  Article,  shall  nominate, 
and  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  (a  majority  of 
all  the  Senators  concurring),  appoint  all  officers,  whose  offices  are 
established  by  the  constitution,  or  which  may  be  created  by  law,  and 
whose  appointments  are  not  otherwise  provided  for;  and  no  such 
officer  shall  be  appointed  or  elected  by  the  General  Assembly. 

According  to  the  14th  Section  of  the  same  Article  (IV.),  a  Lieu 
tenant-Governor  shall  be  chosen  at  every  election  of  Governor,  in  the 


HISTORY-  127 

same  manner,  continue  in  office  for  the  same  time,  and  possess  the 
same  qualifications;  and  shall,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  be  Speaker  of 
the  Senate,  have  a  right,  when  in  committee  of  the  whole,  to  debate 
and  vote  on  all  subjects,  give  the  casting  vote  when  the  Senate  are 
equally  divided,  and  administer  the  government,  whenever  the  Gover- 
nor is  unable  to  a-ttend  to  his  duties. 

According  to  the  22d  Section  of  the  same  Article  (IV.),  there 
shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors  of  this  State,  at  the  same 
time  with  the  election  for  Governor,  a  Secretary  of  State,  whose  term 
of  office  shall  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  Governor,  who  shall  keep  a 
fair  register  of  the  official  acts  of  the  Governor,  and,  when  required, 
shall  lay  the  same,  and  all  papers,  minutes,  and  vouchers,  relative 
thereto,  before  either  branch  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  shall  per- 
form such  other  duties  as  shall  be  assigned  him  by  law ;  and  shall 
receive  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  and  no  more, 
except  fees :  Provided,  that  if  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  should 
be  vacated  by  death,  resignation,  or  otherwise,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Governor  to  appoint  another,  who  shall  bold  his  office  until  an- 
other Secretary  shall  be  elected  and  qualified. 

The  2od  Section  of  the  same  Article  (IV.)  ordains,  that  there  shall 
be  chosen,  by  the  qualified  electors  throughout  the  State,  an  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  four 
years,  and  until  his  successor  is  qualified,  and  whose  duties  shall  be 
regulated  by  law,  and  who  shall  receive  a  salary,  exclusive  of  clerk 
hire,  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum  for  his  services,  and  no  more. 

The  24th  Section  of  the  same  Article  (IV.)  provides,  that  there 
shall  be  elected,  by  the  qualified  electors  throughout  the  State,  a  State 
Treasurer,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  two  years,  and  until  his  suc- 
cessor is  qualified,  whose  duties  may  be  regulated  by  law,  and  who 
shall  receive  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  and  no 
more. 

Regarding  the  Judiciary  Department,  Sections  2  and  3  of  Article 
V.  provide,  that  the  Supreme  Court  shall  consist  of  three  judges,  two 
of  whoiji  shall  form  a  quorum,  whose  concurrence  shall  in  all  cases  be 
necessary,  and  that  the  State  shall  be  divided  into  three  grand  dis- 
tricts, as  nearly  equal  as  may  be,  and  the  qualified  electors  of  each 
division  shall  elect  one  of  the  said  judges  for  the  term  of  nine  years; 


128  HISTORY. 

another  of  the  said  judges  to  be  elected  for  six,  and  the  third  for 
three  years. 

The  7th  Section  of  the  same  Article  (V.)  provides,  that  the  State 
shall  be  divided  into  nine  judicial  districts,  in  each  of  which  one  Cir- 
cuit Judge  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors  thereof;  he  shall 
hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  six  years^  and  until  his  successor  shall 
be  commissioned  and  qualified. 

The  13th  Section  of  the  same  Article  (V.)  ordains,  that  the  first 
election  for  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  Judges  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  September,  1848. 

The  14th  Section,  that  the  second  election  for  one  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1852, 
and  every  three  years  thereafter  an  election  for  one  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court. 

The  15th  Section,  that  on  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1853,  and 
every  sixth  year  thereafter,  an  election  shall  be  held  for  Judges  of 
the  Circuit  Courts :  Provided,  that  whenever  an  additional  circuit  is 
created,  provision  may  be  made  to  hold  the  second  election  of  such 
additional  judge  at  the  regular  elections  herein  provided. 

The  17th  Section,  that  one  County  Judge  shall  be  elected  by  the 
qualified  voters  of  each  county,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  four  years, 
and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified. 

The  21st  Section  provides,  that  the  Clerks  of  the  Supreme  and  Cir- 
cuit Courts,  and  State  Attorneys,  shall  be  elected  at  the  first  special 
election  for  judges,  and  the  second  election  for  Clerks  of  the  Supreme 
Court  on  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1855,  and  every  sixth  year  there- 
after :  the  second  election  for  Clerks  of  the  Circuit  Courts,  and  State 
Attorneys,  shall  be  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday 
of  November,  1852,  and  every  fourth  year  thereafter. 

The  23d  Section  provides,  that  the  election  of  all  officers,  and  the 
filling  of  all  vacancies  that  may  occur  by  death,  resignation,  or  re- 
moval, not  otherwise  directed  or  provided  for  by  the  constitution,  shall 
be  made  in  such  a  manner  as  the  General  Assembly  shall  direct :  Pro- 
vided, that  no  such  officers  shall  be  elected  by  the  General  AsaemWy. 

The  27th  Section,  that  there  shall  be  elected,  in  each  county  in  this 
State,  in  such  districts  as  the  General  Assembly  may  direct,  by  the 
qualified  electors   thereof,   a   competent   number  of  Justices  of  the 


>r 


'v 


HISTORY.  129 

Peace,  wlio  shall  hold  their  offices  for  the  term  of  four  years,  and 
until  their  successors  shall  have  been  elected  and  qualified ;  and  they 
shall  perform  such  duties,  receive  such  compensation,  and  exercise 
such  jurisdiction  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

The  28th  Section,  that  there  shall  be  elected,  in  each  of  the  judi- 
cial circuits  of  the  State,  by  the  qualified  electors  thereof,  one  State's 
Attorney,  who  shall  hold  office  for  the  term  of  four  years,  and  until 
his  successor  shall  be  commissioned  and  qualified;  who  shall  perform 
such  duties,  and  receive  such  compensation,  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
law :  Provided,  that  the  Gleneral  Assembly  may  hereafter  provide  by 
law  for  the  election,  by  the  qualified  voters  of  each  county  in  the 
State,  of  one  County  Attorney  for  each  county,  in  lieu  of  the  State's 
Attorneys  provided  for  in  this  Section ;  the  term  of  office,  duties,  and 
compensation  of  which  County  Attorneys  shall  be  regulated  by  law. 

And  the  29th  Section  of  the  same  Article  (V.)  provides,  that  the 
qualified  electors  of  each  county  shall  elect  a  Clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  four  years,  and  until 
his  successor  shall  have  been  elected  and  qualified  :  who  shall  perform 
such  duties  and  receive  such  compensation  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
law.  The  Clerks  of  the  Supreme  Court  shall  be  elected  in  each  divi- 
sion, by  the  qualified  voters  thereof,  for  the  term  of  sis  years,  and 
until  their  successors  shall  have  been  elected  and  qualified;  whose 
duties  and  compensation  shall  be  provided  by  law. 

In  the  second  place,  the  third  Section  of  the  second  Article,  which, 
according  to  the  old  constitution,  read  thus :  "  No  person  shall  be  a 
representative,  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  who  shall  not  be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  an  inha- 
bitant of  this  State  ;"  has  been  so  far  changed  in  the  new  constitution, 
that  now  an  age  of  twenty  five  years,  and  in  addition  to  a  United 
States  citizenship,  a  residence  of  three  years  within  the  limits  of  the 
State,  are  required  of  a  person  before  he  can  be  elected  a  representative. 
The  above  ordinance,  thus  altered,  constitutes  the  third  Section  of  the 
third  Article  in  the  present  constitution. 

Thirdly,  Section  6th,  Article  2d,  which,  in  the  old  constitution,; 
was  conceived  in  the  following  terms  :  "No  person  shall  be  a  Senator, 
who  has  not  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  who  shall  not  be 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not  have  resided  one 

I 


130  HISTORY. 

year  in  the  county;"  &c.,  hOH,  in  the  new  constitution,  been  so  far 
altered,  that  at  present  an  age  of  thirty  years,  a  United  States  citizen- 
ship, a  residence  of  five  years  in  the  State,  and  of  one  year  within  the 
electing  county,  are  required  to  render  a  person  eligible  to  the  oflnce 
of  Senator.  Thus  altered,  does  the  above  law  form  the  fourth  Sec- 
tion of  the  third  Article  in  the  present  constitution. 

Fourthly,  the  fifth  Section  of  Article  2d,  which,  in  the  old  consti- 
tution, was  couched  in  the  following  language  :  "  The  number  of  rep- 
resentatives shall  not  be  less  than  twenty-seven  nor  more  than  thirty- 
six,  until  the  number  of  inhabitants  within  this  State  shall  amount 
to  100,000;  and  the  number  of  Senators  shall  never  be  less  than 
one-third,  nor  more  than  one-half  of  the  number  of  representatives ;" 
has  thus  been  amended  in  the  present  constitution,  the  sixth  Section 
of  the  third  Article  of  which  it  forms,  that  the  Senate  is  to  consist 
of  twenty-five,  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of  seventy-five 
members,  until  the  population  of  the  State  shall  amount  to  one  mil- 
lion. The  population  already  exceeding  this  number,  an  additional 
amendment  of  the  constitution  will  no  doubt  shortly  become  necessary. 

Fifthly,  the  third  Section  of  the  third  Article,  which,  in  the  old 
constitution,  is  thus  expressed  :  "  The  Governor  shall  be  at  least 
thirty  years  of  age,  and  have  been  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  thirty 
years,  and  resided  for  two  years  within  the  limits  of  this  State ;"  has 
thus  been  amended  in  the  present  constitution,  the  fourth  Section  of 
the  fourth  Article  of  which  it  forms,  that  a  candidate  for  the  ofl&ce 
of  Governor  must  have  attained  his  thirty-fifth  year,  and  been  ten 
years  a  resident  of  the  State,  and  fourteen  years  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States. 

Sixthly,  the  eighteenth  Section  of  the  second  Article  of  the  old 

constitution,  fixing,  by  law,  the  yearly  salary  of  the  Governor  at  one 

,  thousand  dollars,  has  been  made  the  fifth  Section  of  the  fourth  Article 

'of  the  present  constitution;  granting  the  Governor  an  annual  income 

of  fifteen  hundred  dollars. 

Lastly,  the  nineteenth  Section  of  the  third  Article  of  the  old  con- 
stitution, which,  determining  by  law  the  veto  power  on  the  part  of  the 
executive,  has  the  following  provisions  in  the  old  constitution  :  "  The 
Governor  for  the  time  being,  and  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
or  a  majority  of  them,  together  with  the  Governor,  shall  be  and  are 


HISTORY.  131 

hereby  constituted  a  Council,  to  revise  all  bills  about  to  be  passed  into 
laws  by  the  General  Assembly ;  and  for  that  purpose  shall  assemble 
themselves  from  time  to  time,  when  the  General  Assembly  shall  be 
convened ;  for  which  service,  nevertheless,  they  shall  not  receive  any 
salary  or  consideration,  under  any  pretence  whatever;  and  all  bills,. 
which  have  passed  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  shall, 
before  they  become  laws,  be  presented  to  the  said  Council,  for  their 
revisal  and  consideration ;  and  if,  upon  such  revisal  and  consideration, 
it  should  appear  improper  to  the  said  Council,  or  a  majority  of  them, 
that  the  bill  should  become  a  law  of  this  State,  they  shall  return  the 
same,  together  with  their  objections  ther^^to,  in  writing,  to  the  Senate 
or  House  of  Representatives  (in  whichever  the  same  shall  have  ori- 
ginated), who  shall  enter  the  objections  set  down  by  the  Council  at 
large  in  their  minutes,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  the  said  bill.  But 
if,  after  such  reconsideration,  the  Senate  or  House  of  Representatives 
shall,  notwithstanding  the  said  objections,  agree  to  pass  the  same  by  a 
majority  of  the  whole  number  of  members  elected,  it  shall,  together 
with  the  said  objections,  be  setit  to  the  other  branch  of  the  General 
Assembly,  where  it  shall  also  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  a 
majority  of  all  the  members  elected,  it  shall  become  a  law;"  is  thus 
shaped  in  the  new  constitution,  the  twenty-first  section  of  the  fourth 
Article  of  which  it  forms :  ''  Every  bill,  which  shall  have  passed  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law, 
be  presented  to  the  Governor :  if  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it,  but  if 
not,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  the  House  in  which  it 
shall  have  originated;  and  the  said  House  shall  enter  the  objections 
at  large  on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If,  after  such 
reconsideration,  a  majority  of  the  members  elected  shall  agree  to  pass 
the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other 
House,  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved 
by  a  majority  of  the  members  elected,  it  shall  become  a  law,  notwith- 
standing the  objections  of  the  Governor;  but  in  all  such  cases,  the 
votes  of  both  Houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  to  be  en- 
tered on  the  journal  of  each  House  respectively." 

Both  constitutions,  the  old  and  the  new  one,  here  require  the  Go- 
vernor to  return  any  bill  presented  to  him  within  ten  days  (Sundays, 
and  the  days  intervening  between  the  adjournment  and  the  re-assem- 


132  H  I  S  T  0  E  Y  . 

bling  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  case  the  latter  should  adjourn  pre- 
vious to  the  expiration  of  the  ten  days,  not  being  counted),  otherwise 
the  bill  so  presented  shall  become  a  law.  In  the  new  constitution,  it 
■will  be  observed,  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  are  excluded  from 
sharing  with  the  Governor  in  the  privilege  of  exercising  the  veto 
power. 

These  being  the  principal  alterations  in  the  old  constitution  of  the 
State,  we  now  turn  again  to  her  history. 

Here,  it  is  worthy  of  special  remark,  that  when  the  new  constitution 
was  formed,  in  1847,  a  clause  was  introduced  in  it  by  which,  if  ap- 
proved by  the  people,  a  special  tax  of  two  mills  upon  the  dollar  was 
levied,  and  was  to  be  applied  to  extinguish  the  principal  of  the  State 
debt.  The  people,  in  1848,  voted  upon  this  provision  separately,  and 
adopted  it  by  ten  thousand  majority.  This,  so  far  as  we  know,  is  the 
first  instance,  in  which  the  people  of  a  State  deliberately  taxed  them- 
selves, in  order  to  pay  an  old  and  burthensome  debt.  It  is  a  fine 
exhibition  of  the  integrity  of  the  citizens  of  Illinois,  and  has  contri- 
buted much  towards  establishing  the  character  and  reputation  she  now 
enjoys  in  commercial  circles,  both  in  this  country  and  in  Europe. 

The  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  which,  for  so  long  a  time,  re- 
mained in  an  unfinished  condition,  and  for  which  so  many  fruitless 
struggles  were  made,  was  at  length  completed  and  opened  for  navi- 
gation, in  the  spring  of  1848.  Connecting  Lake  Michigan,  at  Chi- 
cago, with  La  Salle,  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Illinois  river,  it 
forms  an  uninterrupted  water  communication  between  the  Lakes  and 
the  Mississippi,  being  100  miles  long,  navigable  for  boats  of  the 
largest  class,  and  in  every  respect  one  of  the  finest  canals  in  the 
Union. 

Upon  inquiring,  whether,  besides  the  canal,  other  works  of  improve  \ 
^ment  had  been  proposed  and  carried  out,  we  shall  find,  that  since  thei 
State  trusted  to  individual  enterprise,  what  she  herself,  under  the 
"  internal  improvement  system,"  had  failed  to  accomplish,  railroads 
were  projected,  the  rapid  progress  and  completion  of  so  many  of  which, 
■within  the  short  space  of  four  years,  must  excite  our  just  surprise. 
While,  previous  to  February,  1852,  there  were  but  95  miles  of  rail- 
road in  operation  throughout  the  whole  State,  within  the  following 
four  years  2315  additional  miles  of  railroad  were  completed  and  put 


HISTORY.  133 

in  operation,  intersecting  the  State  in  every  direction.  The  fact,  that 
2315  miles  of  railroad  were  completed  in  Illinois  in  four  years,  we 
leave  as  an  achievement  for  future  ages  to  emulate,  and,  if  possible, 
excel. 

The  best  part  of  the  whole  affair  is,  that  they  are  all  doing  a  fine 
business,  and  as  they  were  so  cheaply  built  over  the  beautiful  prairies 
of  the  State,  there  is  hardly  room  for  doubt,  but  that  they  will  pay 
handsome  dividends  to  their  enterprising  stockholders;  the  Galena 
Koad  has  paid  as  high  as  twenty-one  per  cent,  in  a  single  year.  Of 
these  various  railroads,  the  one  called  "  Illinois  Central  Railroad," 
being  one  of  the  most  magnificent  works  in  this  or  any  other  country, 
deserves  particular  notice.  Its  main  track  extends  from  Dunleith,  a 
new  town  on  the  Mississippi,  opposite  Dubuque,  Iowa,  directly  through 
the  heart  of  the  State,  to  Cairo,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  At  Cen- 
tralia,  112  miles  north  of  Cairo,  the  Chicago  branch  leaves  the  main 
line,  pursuing  a  direct  course,  a  little  east  of  the  centre  of  the  State, 
to  Chicago.  The  distance  from  Chicago  to  Centralia  is  251,  and 
from  Cairo  to  Dubuque  453  miles,  making  the  total  length  of  the 
road  704  miles. 

The  road  owes  its  rapid  completion  to  the  generous  grant  made,  in 
1850,  by  Congress,  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  of  2,595,000  acres  of  land 
to  aid  in  its  construction,  and  on  the  10th  of  February,  1851,  the 
Legislature  gave  a  charter  to  the  present  company,  granting  it  all  the 
land  given  by  Congress  to  the  State,  on  condition,  that  the  road 
should  be  completed  by  1857,  and  that  after  it  was  finished,  seven  per 
cent,  of  its  gross  receipts  should  be  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the 
State.  The  lands  belonging  to  the  road  are  worth,  and  will  sell  for 
far  more  than  the  road  has  cost;  part  has  already  been  sold;  the 
quality  of  the  residue,  now  in  the  market,  justifies  the  assertion,  that 
so  good  an  opportunity  for  men  in  moderate  circumstances  to  secure 
a  farm  and  a  competency,  will  not  be  likely  to  occur  again  for  many 
years. 

Of  the  advantages  bestowed  by  this  great  work  upon  the  State,  we 
need  not  speak.  It  runs  through  a  country  as  rich  in  agricultural 
and  mineral  resources  as  any  other  sublunary  region  :  it  connects  the 
Upper  Mississippi  and  the  Great  Lakes  with  the  Mississippi  at  Cairo, 
below  which  that  majestic  river  is  navigable  for  large  steamers  at  all 
12 


134  HISTORY. 

seasons  of  the  year;  giving  Chicago  a  perpetual  communication  with 
the  Southern  States.  A  single  glance  upon  the  map,  and  its  relations 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  entire  State  will  at  once  be  understood.  The 
completion  of  the  road  will  involve  an  expenditure  of  nearly  twenty 
millions  of  dollars. 

In  1850,  the  national  census  returned  the  population  at  851,470, 
an  increase  of  about  80  per  cent,  since  1840,  which,  though  less  than 
that  in  previous  decades,  owing  to  the  fact  that  emigrants  had  then 
just  begun  to  locate  in  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota,  a  large  por- 
tion of  whom,  it  is  known,  went  from  Illinois,  was  yet  a  most  rapid 
growth. 

In  1851,  the  General  Assembly,  by  an  Act  approved  February  17, 
authorized  a  geological  survey  of  the  State,  which  is  yet  in  progress, 
under  the  direction  of  J.  Gr.  Norwood,  who,  on  the  5th  of  February, 
1853,  sent  in  a  report,  showing,  how  far  he  had  succeeded  in  his 
labors,  and  establishing  the  fact,  that  large  as  the  natural  resources  of 
the  State  of  Illinois  were  already  then  estimated  to  be,  they  were  yet 
very  far  underrated.  Mr.  Norwood  is  still  engaged  on  his  work ;  no 
further  account  of  the  results  of  his  investigations  have  been  pub- 
lished as  yet. 

At  the  election  in  November  of  that  year,  the  people  ratified  the 
General  Banking  Law,  the  professed  object  of  which,  at  the  time  of 
its  adoption,  was  to  furnish  a  well-regulated  and  well-secured  paper 
currency,  thereby  driving  from  among  the  people  worthless  foreign 
paper  money,  and  equally  worthless  domestic  issues. 

Governor  Augustus  C.  French,  who,  in  conformity  with  a  plan  of 
his,  the  adoption  of  which  he  earnestly  urged  upon  the  Legislature,  to 
ascertain  the  true  extent  and  condition  of  the  State  debt,  by  re-fund- 
ing the  various  bonds  and  scrips  into  one  uniform  transferable  stock, 
reducing  thereby  the  motley  mass  of  forms,  of  which  the  debt  con- 
sisted, into  a  clear  and  tangible  shape  —  had,  by  an  Act  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  passed  February  28,  1847,  been  authorized  to  cause  to 
be  received  from  the  holders,  and  cancelled,  all  the  various  kinds  of 
State  indebtedness  (canal  alone  excepted) ;  and  to  substitute  therefor 
an  issue  of  certificates  of  stock,  or  stock-bonds  of  a  character  uniform 
and  transferable ;  those  issued  on  account  of  the  principal  debt,  to  be 
allowed  to  bear  like  interest  with  those  originally  surrendered  up,  and 


HISTORY.  135 

those  issued  for  overdue  interest,  or  interest  in  arrear,  to  be  forbidden 
to  draw  interest  for  ten  years,  or  until  after  A.  D.  1857  :  delivered, 
on  the  od  of  January,  1853,  when  his  term  of  office  was  about  to  ex- 
pire, to  the  eighteenth  Assembly,  a  message,  wherein,  after  reviewing 
the  general  condition  of  the  State,  and  pointing  out  for  correction 
some  defects  in  the  working  of  the  General  Banking  Law,  he  pro- 
ceeds to  state,  that  the  portion  of  the  public  debt  required  by  law  to 
be  re-funded  or  exchanged  for  other  and  uniform  securities,  had  been 
principally  exchanged;  that  the  small  amount  yet  outstanding  would 
soon  be  brought  forward,  which  being  done,  the  whole  subject  of  the 
State  debt  would  appear  upon  record  in  a  shape  easily  to  be  under- 
stood by  all.  In  the  same  message,  he  estimates  the  entire  State  debt 
at  ^16,724,177.41 ;  the  principal  debt,  exclusive  of  interest,  of  the 
canal,  the  affairs  of  which  were,  and,  we  presume,  still  are,  managed 
by  three  trustees,  acting  for  the  stockholders  and  the  State,  amounting 
to  five  millions,  which  would  be  fully  met  and  liquidated  from  the 
proceeds  of  the  sales  of  land  granted  by  Congress  (alt-ernate  sections, 
five  miles  from  each  side  of  the  canal),  amounting  to  230,000  acres, 
70,000  of  which  had  already  been  sold,  up  to  the  spring  of  1851. 
Governor  Augustus  C.  French  retired  from  his  office,  which  he  had 
filled  for  six  consecutive  years,  universally  esteemed  for  the  prudent 
discretion,  integrity,  and  distinguished  ability,  with  which  he  had 
administered  the  affairs  of  the  State. 

Joel  A.  Mattison  was  elected  governor  in  his  stead,  and  Gustavus 
Kcerner,  a  German  by  birth,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State, 
at  the  same  time.  Joel  A.  Mattison  assumed  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment, delivering,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1853,  his  inaugural  mes- 
sage to  the  Legislature,  wherein  he  speaks  thus :  "  Our  public 
debt,  that  for  a  time  seemed  almost  to  be  a  burden  sufficient  to 
prevent  immigration  to  our  State,  has  increased  in  amount  until  it  now 
(January,  1853)  reaches  the  large  sum,  principal  and  interest,  of 
^16, 724,177. 41;  but  while  this  amount  has  been  increasing  at  the 
rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  our  Stat^e  has  increased  at  the  rate 
of  over  ten  per  cent,  for  the  past  few  years  on  her  taxable  property, 
continually  developing  our  resources,  and  adding  largely  to  our  popu- 
lation. What  seemed  almost  a  burden  twelve  years  ago,  is  now 
looked  upon  as  requiring  no  great  effort  on  the  part  of  the  people  to 


136  HISTORY. 

fully  pay  without  any  increase  of  taxation."  He  estimates  its  probable 
amount  on  January  1,  1857,  at  $10,275,262.41,  and  thinks  it  pro- 
bable, that  it  would  be  entirely  paid  before  1865.  These  expectations 
of  the  Governor  seem  to  be  on  the  eve  of  being  realized ;  for  after 
pressing  upon  the  Legislature  the  subject  of  improvement  of  the 
navigable  rivers  and  lake  harbors  of  the  Western  States  by  the  Gene- 
ral Government,  and  wisely  recommending  the  adoption  of  a  system 
of  education,  whereby  every  child  in  the  State  might  be  furnished 
with  an  education,  that  would  fit  them  for  every  station  and  condition 
of  life,  in  a  message  placed  before  the  Legislature  on  the  1st  of  Janu- 
ary, 1855,  he  estimates  the  entire  State  debt,  inclusive  of  interest  up 
to  that  date,  at  $17,944,652.89,  whereupon  he  proceeds  to  speak  thus  : 

"  Besides  paying  enough  to  pay  the  entire  interest  upon  the  State 
debt  each  year,  for  the  past  two  years,  there  has  been  paid  and  ap- 
plied upon  the  arrearage  of  interest,  and  the  principal  of  the  debt,  the 
sum  of  $2,750,037.96,  being  the  sum  of  $1,375,018.98  each  year, 
over  and  above  the  accruing  interest,  making,  in  all,  paid  on  principal 
and  interest  during  the  past  two  years,  the  sum  of  $3,951,037.96. 
During  the  next  two  years,  I  confidently  expect,  that  the  amount  from 
all  sources  derived  from  the  available  assets  of  the  State,  and  the 
revenue  applicable  to  the  liquidation  of  the  State  debt,  will  be  in- 
creased at  least  twenty  per  cent.,  which  will  render  the  calculation 
certain,  that  the  views  entertained  two  years  ago  will  be  more  than 
realized  in  ten  years,  and  I  might  say  still  sooner,  but  prefer  to  give 
full  time.  The  past  two  years  have  realized  over  $750,037.96  more 
than  enough  to  meet  the  calculation,  that  the  debt  would  be  paid,  all 
but  $74,080.62,  in  eleven  years.  It  will  be  perceived,  that  a  large 
amount  has  been  paid  at  this  time,  more  than  enough  to  meet  the 
calculation  referred  to,  during  the  past  two  years;  and  that  the  prin- 
cipal and  the  interest  of  the  debt  is  being  absorbed  and  cancelled  each 
year,  while  the  revenue  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  swelling  the  means 
of  the  State  to  pay." 

Before  concluding,  the  fact  appears  still  worthy  of  being  noticed, 
that,  from  1853  to  the  spring  of  1855,  an  immense  excitement  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  State,  concerning  the  temperance  question : 
which  resulted  in  the  repudiation,  by  15,000  majority,  of  the  Prohi- 
bitory Liquor  Law,  previously  passed  by  the  Legislature,  on  February 
12th,  1855. 


HISTORY, 


137 


The  advancement  of  the  State  of  Illinois  for  the  last  few  years,  is 
best  shown  by  the  startling  increase  of  her  population,  returned,  by 
the  census  of  1855,  at  1,300,251  souls;  the  rapid  development  of 
her  agricultural  and  mineral  resources  —  the  State  having,  in  one  sin- 
gle year,  produced  170,000,000  bushels  of  corn,  wheat,  and  oats  —  an 
amount  which  no  other  State  in  the  Union  ever  yielded  in  a  year; 
her  gigantic  system  of  internal  improvements,  and  the  regard  paid  by 
her  to  thorough  universal  education,  as  well  as  the  untiring  energy, 
enterprise,  and  intelligence  of  her  citizens,  wan'ant  the  belief  we 
fondly  indulge,  that  ere  three  lustres  shall  have  rolled  by,  the  State 
of  Illinois,  in  point  of  population,  business  facilities,  wealth  and  intel- 
ligence, will  proudly  assume  her  well-deserved  position  as  the  Empire 
State  of  the  West. 


^ 


12* 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  STATE. 


PREAMBLE. 

We,  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois  —  grateful  to  Almiglity  God  for  the 
civil,  political,  and  religious  liberty,  which  he  hath  so  long  permitted  us 
to  enjoy,  and  looking  to  him  for  a  blessing  upon  our  endeavors  to  secure  and 
transmit  the  same  unimpaired  to  succeeding  generations — in  order  to  form  a 
more  perfect  government,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  pro- 
vide for  the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the 
blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish 
this  constitution  for  the  state  of  Illinois. 

Article  I.  —  Boundaries. 

Sec.  1.  The  boundaries  and  jurisdiction  of  the  state  shall  be  as  follows,  to 
wit :  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash  river ;  thence  up  the  same,  and 
with  the  line  of  Indiana,  to  the  north-west  corner  of  said  state ;  thence  east, 
with  the  line  of  the  same  state,  to  the  middle  of  Lake  Michigan ;  thence  north, 
along  the  middle  of  said  lake,  to  north  latitude  forty-two  degrees  and  thirty 
minutes ;  thence  west  to  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  thence  down, 
along  the  middle  of  that  river,  to  its  confluence  with  the  Ohio  river;  and 
thence  up  the  latter  river,  along  its  north-western  shore,  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning :  Provided,  that  this  state  shall  exercise  such  jurisdiction  upon  the  Ohio 
river  as  she  is  now  entitled  to,  or  such  as  may  hereafter  be  agreed  upon  by 
this  statef  and  the  state  of  Kentucky. 

Article  II. — Concerning  the  Distribution  of  the  Powers  of  Government. 

Sec.  1.  The  powers  of  the  government  cf  the  state  of  Illinois  shall  be  di- 
vided into  three  distinct  departments,  and  each  of  them  be  confided  to  a  sepa- 
rate body  of  magistracy,  to  wit :  those  which  are  legislative,  to  one ;  those 
which  are  executive,  to  another ;  and  those  which  are  judicial,  to  another. 

2.  No  person,  or  collection  of  persons,  being  one  of  these  departments,  shall 
exercise  any  power  properly  belonging  to  either  of  the  others,  except  as  here- 
inafter expressly  directed  or  permitted,  and  all  acts  in  contravention  of  thia 
section  shall  be  void. 

(138) 


CONSTITUTION.  139 

Article  III. — Of  the  Legislative  Department. 
Sec.  1.  The  legislative  authority  of  this  state  shall  be  vested  in  a  general 
assembly,  which  shall  consist  of  a  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  both  to 
be  elected  by  the  people. 

2.  The  first  election  for  senators  and  representatives  shall  be  held  on  the 
Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
forty-eight ;  and  thereafter,  elections  for  members  of  the  general  assembly 
shall  be  held  once  in  two  years,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  iu 
November,  in  each  and  every  county,  at  such  places  therein  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  law. 

3.  No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age 
of  twenty-five  years;  who  shall  not  be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
three  years  an  inhabitant  of  this  state ;  who  shall  not  have  resided  within  the 
limits  of  the  county  or  district  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen  twelve  months  next 
preceding  his  election,  if  such  county  or  district  shall  have  been  so  long 
erected,  but,  if  not,  then  within  the  limits  of  the  county  or  counties,  district 
or  districts,  out  of  which  the  same  shall  have  been  taken,  unless  he  shall  have 
been  absent  on  the  public  business  of  the  United  States  or  of  this  state ;  and 
who,  moreover,  shall  not  have  paid  a  state  or  county  tax. 

4.  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty 
years ;  who  shall  not  be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  five  years  an  inhabitant 
of  this  state,  and  one  year  in  the  county  or  district  in  which  he  shall  be  cho- 
sen immediately  preceding  his  election,  if  such  county  or  district  shall  have 
been  so  long  erected,  but,  if  not,  then  within  the  limits  of  the  county  or  coun- 
ties, district  or  districts,  out  of  which  the  same  shall  have  been  taken,  unless 
he  shall  have  been  absent  on  the  public  business  of  the  United  States  or  of  this 
state,  and  shall  not,  moreover,  have  paid  a  state  or  county  tax. 

5.  The  senators  at  their  first  session,  herein  provided  for,  shall  be  divided 
by  lot,  as  near  as  can  be,  into  two  classes.  The  seats  of  the  first  class  shall 
be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year,  and  those  of  the  second  class 
at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year ;  so  that  one  half  thereof,  as  near  as  pos- 
sible, may  be  biennially  chosen  for  ever  thereafter. 

6.  The  senate  shall  consist  of  twenty-five  members,  and  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives shall  consist  of  seventy-five  members,  until  the  population  of  the 
state  shall  amount  to  one  million  of  souls,  when  five  members  may  be  added 
to  the  house,  and  five  additional  members  for  every  five  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants  thereafter,  until  the  whole  number  of  representatives  shall  amount 
to  one  hundred ;  after  which  the  number  shall  be  neither  increased  nor  dimin- 
ished ;  to  be  apportioned  among  the  several  counties  according  to  the  number 
of  white  inhabitants.  In  all  future  apportionments,  where  more  than  one 
county  shall  be  thrown  into  a  representative  district,  all  the  representatives  to 
which  said  counties  may  be  entitled  shall  be  elected  by  the  entire  district. 

7.  No  person  elected  to  the  general  assembly  shall  receive  any  civil  appoint- 


140  CONSTITUTION, 

ment  within  this  state,  or  to  the  senate  of  the  United  Stateg,  from  the  gover- 
nor, the  governor  and  senate,  or  from  the  general  assembly,  during  the  term 
for  -which  he  shall  have  been  elected ;  and  aU  such  appointments,  and  all  votes 
given  for  any  such  member  for  any  such  office  or  appointment,  shall  be  void ; 
nor  shall  any  member  of  the  general  assembly  be  interested,  either  directly 
or  indirectly,  in  any  contract  with  the  state,  or  any  county  thereof,  authorised 
by  any  law  passed  dm-ing  the  time  for  which  he  shaU  have  been  elected,  or 
during  one  year  after  the  expiration  thereof. 

8.  In  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-five,  and  every  tenth 
year  thereafter,  an  enumeration  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  state  shall  be 
made  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  directed  by  law ;  and  in  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  fifty,  and  every  tenth  year  thereafter,  the  census  taken  by  au- 
thority of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  adopted  by  the  gene- 
ral assembly  as  the  enumeration  of  this  state ;  and  the  number  of  senators 
and  representatives  shall,  at  the  first  regular  session  holden  after  the  returns 
herein  provided  for  are  made,  be  apportioned  among  the  several  counties  or 
districts  to  be  established  by  law,  according  to  the  number  of  white  inha- 
bitants. 

9.  Senatorial  and  representative  districts  shall  be  composed  of  contiguous 
teiTitory,  bounded  by  county  lines ;  and  only  one  senator  allowed  to  each  sen- 
atorial, and  not  more  than  three  representatives  to  any  representative  district: 
Provided,  that  cities  and  towns,  containing  the  requisite  population,  may  be 
erected  into  separate  districts. 

10.  In  forming  senatorial  and  representative  districts,  counties  containing 
a  population  of  not  more  than  one-fourth  over  the  existing  ratio,  shall  form 
separate  districts,  and  the  excess  shall  be  given  to  the  nearest  county  or  coun- 
ties not  having  a  senator  or  representative,  as  the  case  may  be,  which  has  the 
largest  white  population. 

11.  The  first  session  of  the  general  assembly  shall  commence  on  the  first 
Monday  of  January,  one  thousand  eight  hundi-ed  and  forty-nine ;  and  for  ever 
after  the  general  assembly  shall  meet  on  the  first  Monday  of  January  next 
ensuing  the  election  of  the  members  thereof,  and  at  no  other  period,  unless  as 
provided  by  this  constitution. 

12.  The  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  when  assembled,  shall  each 
choose  a  speaker  and  other  ofiBcers  (the  speaker  of  the  senate  excepted).  Each 
house  shall  judge  of  the  qualifications  and  election  of  its  members,  and  sit 
upon  its  own  adjournments.  Two-thirds  of  each  house  shall  constitute  a  quo- 
rum; but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  compel  the 
attendance  of  absent  members. 

13.  Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  publish  them. 
The  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  on  any  question  shall,  at  the  desire  of  any 
two  of  them,  be  entered  on  the  jom-nals. 

14.  Any  two  members  of  either  house  shall  have  liberty  to  dissent  and 


CONSTITUTION.  141 

protest  against  any  act  or  resolution,  -wliicli  they  may  tMnk  injurious  to  tlie 
public,  or  to  any  individual,  and  have  the  reasons  of  their  dissent  entered  on 
the  journals. 

15.  Each  house  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish  its  mem- 
bers for  disorderly  behavior,  and,  vrith  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  all 
the  members  elected,  expel  a  member,  but  not  a  second  time  for  the  same 
cause ;  and  the  reason  for  such  expulsion  shall  be  entered  upon  the  journal, 
with  the  names  of  the  members  voting  on  the  question. 

16.  When  vacancies  happen  in  either  house,  the  governor,  or  the  person 
exercising  the  powers  of  governor,  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

17.  Senators  and  representatives  shall  in  all  cases,  except  treason,  felony, 
or  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  the  session  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  in  going  to  and  retm-ning  from  the  same ;  and  for  any 
speech  or  debate  in  either  house,  they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other 
place. 

18.  Each  house  may  punish  by  imprisonment,  during  its  session,  any  per- 
son, not  a  member,  who  shall  be  guilty  of  disrespect  to  the  house,  by  any  dis- 
orderly or  contemptuous  behavior  in  their  presence :  Provided,  such  imprison- 
ment shall  not,  at  any  one  time,  exceed  twenty-four  hours. 

19.  The  doors  of  each  house,  and  of  committees  of  the  whole,  shall  be  kept 
open,  except  in  such  cases  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the  house,  require  secresy. 
Neither  house  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than 
two  days,  nor  to  any  other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  houses  shall  be 
sitting. 

20.  The  style  of  the  laws  of  this  state  shall  be :  "  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people 
of  the  state  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  general  assembly." 

21.  Bills  may  originate  in  either  house,  but  may  be  altered,  amended,  or 
rejected  by  the  other ;  and  on  the  final  passage  of  all  bills,  the  vote  shall  be 
by  ayes  and  no-es,  and  shall  be  entered  on  the  journal;  and  no  bill  shall  be- 
come a  law  without  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members  elect  in 
each  house. 

22.  BUls  making  appropriations  for  the  pay  of  the  members  and  officers  of 
the  general  assembly,  and  for  the  salaries  of  the  officers  of  the  government, 
shall  not  contain  any  provision  on  any  other  subject. 

23.  Every  bill  shall  be  read  on  three  different  days  in  each  house,  unless, " 
in  case  of  urgency,  three-fourths  of  the  house,  where  such  bill  is  so  depending, 
shall  deem  it  expedient  to  dispense  with  this  rule;  and  every  bill,  having 
passed  both  houses,  shall  be  signed  by  the  speakers  of  their  respective  houses ; 
and  no  private  or  local  law  which  may  be  passed  by  the  general  assembly, 
shall  embrace  more  than  one  subject,  and  that  shall  be  expressed  in  the  title. 
And  no  pubhc  act  of  the  general  assembly  shall  take  effect  or  be  in  force,  until 
the  expii-atiou  of  sixty  days  from  the  end  of  the  session  at  which  the  same 


142  CONSTITUTION. 

may  be  passed,  unless,  in  case  of  emergency,  the  general  assembly  shall  other- 
wise direct. 

24.  The  sum  of  two  dollars  per  day,  for  the  first  forty-two  days'  attendance, 
and  one  dollar  per  day  for  each  day's  attendance  thereafter,  and  ten  cents  for 
each  necessary  mile's  travel,  going  to  and  returning  fi-om  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment, shall  be  allowed  to  the  members  of  the  general  assembly,  as  a  compen- 
sation for  their  services,  and  no  more.  The  speaker  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives shall  be  allowed  the  sum  of  one  dollar  per  day,  in  addition  to  his  per 
diem  as  a  member. 

25.  The  per  diem  and  mileage  allowed  to  each  member  of  the  general 
assembly,  shall  be  certified  by  the  speakers  of  their  respective  houses,  and 
entered  on  the  journals,  and  published  at  the  close  of  each  session. 

26.  No  money  shall  be  di'awn  from  the  treasury,  but  in  consequence  of  ap- 
propriations made  by  law;  and  an  accurate  statement  of  the  receipts  and 
expenditures  of  the  pubhc  money  shall  be  attached  to,  and  published  with,  the 
laws  at  the  rising  of  each  session  of  the  general  assembly.  And  no  person, 
who  has  been  or  may  be  a  collector  or  holder  of  public  moneys,  shall  be  eligible 
to  a  seat  in  either  house  of  the  general  assembly,  nor  be  eligible  to  any  office 
of  profit  or  trust  in  this  state,  until  such  person  shall  have  accounted  for,  and 
paid  into  the  treasury,  all  sums  for  which  he  may  be  accountable. 

27.  The  house  of  representatives  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeaching ; 
but  a  majority  of  aU  the  members  elected,  must  concur  in  an  impeachment. 
AU  impeachments  shall  be  tried  by  the  senate ;  and  when  sitting  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  senators  shall  be  upon  oath,  or  affirmation,  to  do  justice  according  to 
law  and  evidence.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concun-ence  of 
two-thirds  of  the  senators  elected. 

28.  The  governor,  and  other  civil  officers  under  this  state,  shall  be  liable  to 
impeachment  for  any  misdemeanor  in  office ;  but  judgment  in  siich  cases  shall 
not  extend  fiu'ther  than  to  removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  any 
office  of  honor,  profit,  or  trust,  under  this  state.  The  party,  whether  con- 
victed or  acquitted,  shall,  nevertheless,  be  hable  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment., 
and  punishment,  according  to  law. 

29.  No  judge  of  any  court  of  law  or  equity,  secretary  of  state,  attorney 
general,  attorney  for  the  state,  recorder,  clerk  of  any  court  of  record,  sheriflF 
or  collector,  member  of  either  house  of  Congress,  or  person  holding  any  lucra- 
tive office  Tinder  the  United  States  or  of  this  state  —  provided,  that  appoint- 
ments in  the  militia,  or  justices  of  the  peace,  shall  not  be  considered  lucrative 
offices  —  shall  have  a  seat  in  the  general  assembly;  nor  shall  any  person, 
holding  any  office  of  honor  or  profit  under  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  hold  any  office  of  honor  or  profit  under  the  authority  of  this  state. 

30.  Every  person  who  shall  be  chosen  or  appointed  to  any  office  of  trust  or 
profit  shall,  before  entering  upon  the  duties  thereof,  take  an  oath  to  support 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  of  this  state,  and  also  an  oath  of 
office. 


CONSTITUTION.  143 

81.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  full  jjower  to  exclude  from  the  privilege 
of  electing,  or  being  elected,  any  person  convicted  of  bribery,  perjury,  or 
other  infamous  crime. 

82.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  grant  divorces,  but  may 
authorize  the  courts  of  justice  to  grant  them  for  such  causes  as  may  be 
specified  by  law :  Provided,  that  such  laws  be  general  and  uniform  in  their 
operation. 

33.  The  general  assembly  shall  never  grant  or  authorize  extra  compensation 
to  any  public  officer,  agent,  servant,  or  contractor,  after  the  service  shaU  have 
been  rendered,  or  the  contract  entered  into. 

34.  The  general  assembly  shall  direct  by  law  in  what  manner  suits  may  be 
brought  against  the  state. 

35.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  authorize  lotteries  for  any 
purpose,  nor  to  revive  or  extend  the  charter  of  the  State  bank,  or  the  charter 
of  any  other  bank  heretofore  existing  in  this  state,  and  shall  pass  laws  to  pro- 
hibit the  sale  of  lottery-tickets  in  this  state. 

36.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  no  power  to  authorize,  by  private  or 
special  law,  the  sale  of  any  lands  or  other  real  estate  belonging  in  whole  or  in 
part  to  any  individual  or  individuals. 

37.  Each  general  assembly  shall  provide  for  all  the  appropriations  necessary 
for  the  ordinary  and  contingent  expenses  of  the  government  until  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  next  regular  session,  the  aggregate  amount  of  which  shall  not  be 
increased  without  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  house,  nor  exceed  the  amount 
of  revenue  authorized  by  law  to  be  raised  in  such  time :  Provided,  the  state 
may,  to  meet  casual  deficits  or  failures  in  revenues,  contract  debts,  never  to 
exceed  in  the  aggi-egate,  fifty  thousand  dollars ;  and  the  moneys  thus  borrowed 
shall  be  apphed  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  obtained,  or  to  repay  the 
debt  thus  made,  and  to  no  other  purpose ;  and  no  other  debt,  except  for  the 
purpose  of  repelling  invasion,  suppressing  insurrection,  or  defending  the  state 
in  war  (for  payment  of  which  the  faith  of  the  state  shall  be  pledged),  shall  be 
contracted,  unless  the  law  authorizing  the  same  shall,  at  a  general  election, 
have  been  submitted  to  the  people,  and  have  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
cast  for  members  of  the  general  assembly  at  such  election.  The  general 
assembly  shall  provide  for  the  publication  of  said  law  for  three  months,  at 
least,  before  the  vote  of  the  people  shall  be  taken  upon  the  same ;  and  provi- 
eion  shall  be  made,  at  the  time,  for  the  pajineut  of  the  interest  annually,  as  it 
shall  accrue,  by  a  tax  levied  for  the  purpose,  or  from  other  sources  of  revenue ; 
which  law,  providing  for  the  payment  of  such  interest  by  such  tax,  shall  be 
Irrepealable  until  such  debt  be  paid :  And  provided,  further,  that  the  law  levy- 
ing the  tax  shall  be  submitted  to  the  people  with  the  law  authorizing  the  debt 
to  be  contracted. 

38.  The  credit  of  the  state  shall  not,  in  any  manner,  be  given  to,  or  in  aid 
of,  any  individual,  association,  or  corporation. 


144  CONSTITUTION. 

39.  The  general  assembly  shall  pro-side,  by  law,  that  the  fuel  and  stationery 
fui'uished  for  the  use  of  the  state,  the  copying,  printing,  binding,  and  distri- 
buting the  laws  and  journals,  and  all  other  printing  ordered  by  the  general 
assembly,  shall  be  let,  by  contract,  to  the  lowest  responsible  bidder ;  and  that, 
no  member  of  the  general  assembly,  or  other  officer  of  the  state,  shall  be  inte- 
rested, either  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  such  contract:  Provided,  that  the 
general  assembly  may  fix  a  maximum  price. 

40.  Until  there  shall  be  a  new  apiDortionment  of  senators  and  representatives, 
the  state  shall  be  divided  into  senatorial  and  representative  districts ;  and  the 
senators  and  representatives  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  several  districts 
as  follows,  viz : — 

Senatorial  Districts. 

1.  The  counties  of  Alexander,  Union,  Pulaski,  Johnson,  IMassac,  Pope,  and 
Hardin,  shall  constitute  the  first  senatorial  district,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  one 
senator. 

2.  The  counties  of  Gallatin,  Saline,  Williamson,  Franklin,  and  White,  shall 
constitute  the  second  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

3.  The  counties  of  Jefferson,  Wayne,  Marion,  and  Hamilton,  shall  constitute 
the  third  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

4.  The  counties  of  Washington,  Perry,  Randolph,  and  Jackson,  shall  consti- 
tute the  fourth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

5.  The  counties  of  St.  Clair  and  Monroe,  shall  constitute  the  fifth  senatorial 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

6.  The  counties  of  Madison  and  Clinton,  shall  constitute  the  sixth  senatorial 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

7.  The  counties  of  Christian,  Shelby,  Montgomery,  Bond,  and  Fayette,  shall 
constitute  the  seventh  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

8.  The  counties  of  Effingham,  Jasper,  Clay,  Richland,  Lawrence,  Edwards, 
and  Wabash,  shall  constitute  the  eighth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to 
one  senator. 

9.  The  counties  of  Edgar,  Clark,  and  Crawford,  shall  constitute  the  ninth 
senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

10.  The  counties  of  Vermilion,  Champaign,  Piatt,  Moultrie,  Coles,  and  Cum- 
berland, shall  constitute  the  tenth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one 
senator. 

11.  The  counties  of  Tazewell,  McLean,  Logan,  De  Witt,  and  Macon,  shall 
constitute  the  eleventh  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

12.  The  counties  of  Sangamon,  Menard,  and  Mason,  shall  constitute  the 
twelfth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

13.  The  counties  of  Macoupin,  Jersey,  Greene,  and  Calhoun,  shall  constitute 
the  thirteenth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

14.  The  counties  of  Morgan,  Scott,  and  Cass,  shall  constitute  the  fourteenth 
senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 


CONSTITUTION.  145 

15.  The  counties  of  Adams  and  Pike  shall  constitute  the  fifteenth  senatorial 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

16.  The  counties  of  McDonough,  Schuyler,  Brown,  and  Highland,  shall  con- 
stitute the  sixteenth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

17.  The  counties  of  Hancock  and  Henderson  shall  constitute  the  seyenteenth 
senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

18.  The  counties  of  Fulton  and  Peoria  shall  constitute  the  eighteenth  sena- 
torial district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

19.  The  counties  of  Rock  Island,  Henry,  Mercer,  Warren,  Knox,  and  Stark, 
shall  constitute  the  nineteenth  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one 
senator. 

20.  The  counties  of  La  Salle,  Bureau,  Putnam,  Marshall,  Woodford,  Liv- 
ingston, and  Grundy,  shall  constitute  the  twentieth  senatorial  district,  and  be 
entitled  to  one  senator. 

21.  The  counties  of  Du  Page,  Kendall,  Will,  and  Iroquois,  shall  constitute 
the  twenty-first  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

22.  The  counties  of  Ogle,  Lee,  De  Kalb,  and  Kane,  shall  constitute  the 
twenty-second  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

23.  The  counties  of  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Carroll,  and  Whiteside,  shall 
constitute  the  twenty-third  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

24.  The  counties  of  McHenry,  Boone,  and  Winnebago,  shall  constitute  the 
twenty-foui'th  senatorial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

25.  The  counties  of  Cook  and  Lake  shall  constitute  the  twenty-fifth  sena- 
torial district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  senator. 

Representative  Districts. 

1.  The  counties  of  Union,  Alexander,  and  Pulaski,  shall  constitute  the  first 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

2.  The  counties  of  Massac,  Pope,  and  Hardin,  shall  constitute  the  second 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

3.  The  counties  of  Gallatin  and  Saline  shall  constitute  the  third  representa- 
tive district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

4.  The  counties  of  Johnson  and  Williamson  shall  constitute  the  fourth  repre- 
sentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

5.  The  counties  of  Jackson  and  Franklin  shall  constitute  the  fifth  repre- 
sentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

6.  The  counties  of  Marion,  Jefi"erson,  Wayne,  and  Hamilton,  shall  constitute 
the  sixth  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  three  representatives :  Pro- 
vided, that  no  county  in  said  district  shall  have  more  than  one  of  said  repre-, 
sentatives,  and  the  county  from  which  a  senator  shall  be  selected,  shall  not  bo 
entitled  to  a  representative  residing  in  said  county. 

7.  The  county  of  White  shall  constitute  the  seventh  representative  district, 
and  be  entitled  to  onfe  representative. 

13  K 


146  CONSTITUTION. 

8.  The  counties  of  Wabash  and  Edwards  shall  constitute  the  eighth  repre- 
eentative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

9.  The  counties  of  Lawrence  and  Richland  shall  constitute  the  ninth  repre- 
sentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

10.  The  counties  of  Crawford  and  Jasper  shall  constitute  the  tenth  repre- 
sentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

11.  The  county  of  Coles  shall  constitute  the  eleventh  representative  district, 
and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

12.  The  county  of  Clark  shall  constitute  the  twelfth  representative  district, 
and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

13.  The  counties  of  Cumberland,  Effingham,  and  Clay,  shall  constitute  tlie 
thirteenth  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

14.  The  county  of  Fayette  shall  constitute  the  fourteenth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

15.  The  counties  of  Montgomery,  Bond,  and  Clinton,  shall  constitute  the 
fifteenth  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

16.  The  counties  of  Washington  and  Perry  shall  constitute  the  sixteenth 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

17.  The  county  of  Randolph  shall  constitute  the  seventeenth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

18.  The  county  of  Monroe  shall  constitute  the  eighteenth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

19.  The  county  of  St.  Clair  shall  constitute  the  nineteenth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives- 

20.  The  county  of  Madison  shall  constitute  the  twentieth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

21.  The  county  of  Macoupin  shall  constitute  the  twenty-first  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

22.  The  counties  of  Jersey  and  Greene  shall  constitute  the  twenty-second 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

23.  The  county  of  Scott  shall  constitute  the  twenty-third  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

24.  The  county  of  Morgan  shall  constitvite  the  twenty-fourth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

25.  The  counties  of  Cass  and  Menard  shall  constitute  the  twenty-fifth  rep- 
resentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

26.  The  county  of  Sangamon  shall  constitute  the  twenty-sixth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

27.  The  counties  of  Mason  and  Logan  shall  constitute  the  twenty-seventh 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

28.  The  county  of  Tazewell  shall  constitute  the  twenty-eighth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

29.  The  counties  of  McLean  and  De  Witt  shall  constitute  the  twenty-ninth 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 


CONSTITUTION.  147 

30.  The  comity  of  Vermilion  shall  constitute  the  thirtieth  representative  dis- 
trict, and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

31.  The  county  of  Edgar  shall  constitute  the  thirty-first  representative  dis- 
trict, and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

32.  The  counties  of  Champaign,  Piatt,  Moultrie,  and  Macon,  shall  con- 
stitute the  thirty-second  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  repre- 
sentative. 

33.  The  counties  of  Shelby  and  Christian  shall  constitute  the  thirty-third 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

34.  The  counties  of  Pike  and  Calhoun  shall  constitute  the  thirty-fourth 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

35.  The  counties  of  Adams,  Highland,  and  Brown,  shall  constitute  the  thir- 
ty-fifth representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  three  representatives. 

36.  The  county  of  Schuyler  shall  constitute  the  thirty-sixth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

37.  The  county  of  Hancock  shall  constitute  the  thirty-seventh  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

38.  The  county  of  McDonough  shall  constitute  the  thirty-eighth  representa- 
tive district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

39.  The  county  of  Fulton  shall  constitute  the  thirty-ninth  representative 
district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

40.  The  county  of  Peoria  shall  constitute  the  fortieth  representative  district, 
and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

41.  The  county  of  Knox  shall  constitute  the  forty-first  representative  district, 
and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

42.  The  counties  of  Mercer,  Warren,  and  Henderson,  shall  constitute  the 
forty-second  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

43.  The  counties  of  Rock  Island,  Henry,  and  Stark,  shall  constitute  the 
forty-third  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

44.  The  counties  of  Whiteside  and  Lee  shall  constitute  the  forty-fourth 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

45.  The  counties  of  CarroU  and  Ogle  shall  constitute  the  forty-fifth  repre- 
sentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

46.  The  counties  of  Jo  Daviess  and  Stephenson  shall  constitute  the  forty- 
sixth  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

47.  The  county  of  Winnebago  shall  constitute  the  forty-seventh  representa- 
'tive  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

48.  The  counties  of  Putnam,  Marshall,  and  Woodford,  shall  constitute  the 
forty-eiglith  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

49  The  counties  of  La  Salle,  Grundy,  Livingston,  and  Bureau,  shall  con- 
stitute the  forty-ninth  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  repre- 
sentatives. 

50.  The  counties  of  Du  Page,  Kendall,  WiU,  and  Iroquois,  shall  constitute 
the  fiftieth  representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  three  representatives. 


148  CONSTITUTION. 

51.  The  counties  of  Kane  and  De  Kalb  shall  constitute  the  fifty-first  repre- 
sentative district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

52.  The  counties  of  Boone  and  McHenry  shall  constitute  the  fifty-second 
representative  district,  and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

53.  The  county  of  Lake  shall  constitute  the  fifty-third  representative  district, 
and  be  entitled  to  one  representative. 

54.  The  county  of  Cook  shall  constitute  the  fifty-fovirth  representative  dis- 
trict, and  be  entitled  to  two  representatives. 

Sec.  41.  Until  the  general  assembly  shall  otherwise  provide,  the  clerks  of 
the  county  commissioners'  courts,  in  each  of  the  aforesaid  senatorial  districts, 
and  in  such  of  the  representative  districts  as  may  be  composed  of  more  than 
one  county,  shall  meet  at  the  county  seat  of  the  oldest  county  in  said  district, 
within  thirty  days  next  after  any  election  for  senator  or  representative  therein, 
for  the  purpose  of  comparing  and  canvassing  the  votes  given  at  such  election ; 
and  the  said  clerks  shall,  in  all  other  respects,  conform  to  the  laws  on  the  sub- 
ject in  force  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  constitution. 

Article  IV. — Of  the  Executive  Department. 

Sec.  1.  The  executive  power  of  the  state  shall  be  vested  in  a  governor, 

2.  The  first  election  of  governor  shall  be  held  on  Tuesday  next  after  the 
first  Monday  in  November,  a.  d.  1848 ;  and  the  next  election  shall  be  Jield  on 
Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  of  November,  a.  d.  1852 ;  and  thereafter 
an  election  for  governor  shall  be  held  once  in  four  years,  on  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  of  November.  The  governor  shall  be  chosen  by  the 
electors  of  the  members  of  the  general  assembly,  at  the  same  places  and  in 
the  same  manner  that  they  shall,  respectively,  vote  for  members  thereof.  The 
returns  for  every  election  of  governor  shall  be  sealed  up,  and  transmitted  to 
the  seat  of  government,  by  the  returning  officers,  directed  to  the  speaker  of 
the  house  of  representatives,  who  shall  open  and  publish  them  in  the  presence 
of  a  majority  of  the  members  of  each  house  of  the  general  assembly.  The 
person  having  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  governor ;  but  if  two  or 
more  be  equal  and  highest  in  votes,  then  one  of  them  shall  be  chosen  governor 
by  joint  ballot  of  both  houses  of  the  general  assemlily.  Contested  elections 
shall  be  determined  by  both  houses  of  the  general  assembly,  in  such  manner 
as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

3.  The  first  governor  shall  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  ofiice  on  the  second 
Monday  of  January,  a.  d.  1849,  and  shall  hold  his  office  until  the  second  Mon- 
day of  January,  a.  d.  1853,  and  until  his  successor  shall  have  been  elected 
and  qualified ;  and  thereafter  the  governor  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term 
of  four  years,  and  until  his  successor  shall  have  been  elected  and  qualified ; 
but  he  shall  not  be  eligible  to  such  office  more  than  fom*  years  in  any  term  of 
eight  years,  nor  to  any  other  office  tuitil  after  the  expiration  of  the  term  for 
■which  he  was  elected. 


CONSTITUTION.  149 

4.  No  person,  except  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  eligible  to  the 
office  of  governor ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to  that  ofiSce,  who  shall  not 
have  attained  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been  ten  years  a  resident  of 
this  state,  and  fourteen  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

5.  The  governor  shall  reside  at  the  seat  of  government,  and  receive  a  salary 
of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  which  shall  not  be  increased  or  dimi- 
nished ;  and  he  shall  not,  duiing  the  time  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected, 
receive  any  emolument  from  the  United  States,  or  either  of  them. 

6.  Before  he  enters  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  he  shall  take  the  following 
oath  or  affirmation,  to  wit :  "  I  do  solemnly  swear  [or  affirm],  that  I  will  faith- 
fully execute  the  duties  appertaining  to  the  office  of  governor  of  the  state  of 
Illinois ;  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the 
constitution  of  this  state ;  and  will,  also,  support  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States." 

7.  He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  the  general  assembly  information  of  the 
state  of  the  government,  and  recommend  to  their  consideration,  such  measures 
as  he  shall  deem  expedient. 

8.  The  governor  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves,  commutations,  and 
pardons,  after  conviction,  for  all  offences,  except  treason  and  cases  of  impeach- 
ment, upon  such  conditions  and  with  such  restrictions  and  limitations  as  he 
may  think  proper,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  may  be  provided  bylaw,  rela- 
tive to  the  manner  of  applying  for  pardons.  Upon  conviction  for  treason,  he 
shall  have  power  to  suspend  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  until  the  case  shall 
be  reported  to  the  general  assembly  at  its  next  meeting,  when  the  general 
assembly  shall  pardon  the  convict,  commute  the  sentence,  direct  the  execution 
thereof,  or  grant  a  further  reprieve.  He  shall,  biennially,  commimicate  to  the 
general  assembly  each  case  of  reprieve,  commutation,  or  pardon  granted, 
stating  the  name  of  the  convict,  the  crime  for  which  he  was  convicted,  the 
sentence  and  its  date,  and  the  date  of  commutation,  pardon,  or  reprieve. 

9.  He  may  require  information  in  wi-iting  from  the  officers  in  the  executive 
department,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  theii*  respective  offices, 
and  shall  take  care,  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed. 

10.  He  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  convene  the  general  assembly  by 
proclamation,  and  shall  state,  in  said  proclamation,  the  purpose  for  which  they 
are  to  convene ;  and  the  general  assembly  shall  enter  on  no  legislative  busi- 
ness, except  that  for  which  they  were  specially  called  together. 

11.  He  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy  of  this  state,  and 
of  the  mihtia,  except  when  they  shall  be  called  into  the  serAace  of  the  United 
States. 

12.  The  governor  shall  nominate,  and,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  senate  (a  majority  of  all  the  senators  concurring),  appoint  all  officers 
whose  offices  are  estabhshed  by  this  constitution,  or  which  may  be  created  by 

13* 


150  CONSTITUTION. 

law,  and  ■whose  appoiutments  are  not  otherwise  proTided  for;  and  no  such 
ofiBcer  shall  be  appointed  or  elected  by  the  general  assembly. 

13.  In  case  of  disagreement  between  the  two  houses  with  respect  to  the 
time  of  adjom-nment,  the  governor  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  the  general 
assembly  to  such  time  as  he  thinks  proper,  pi-ovided  it  be  not  to  a  period  be- 
yond the  next  constitutional  meeting  of  the  same. 

14.  A  Ueutenant-governor  shall  be  chosen  at  every  election  of  governor,  in 
the  same  manner,  continue  in  office  for  the  same  time,  and  possess  the  same 
qualifications.  In  voting  for  governor  and  heutenant-governor,  the  electors 
shall  distinguish  whom  they  vote  for  as  governor,  and  whom  as  Ueutenant- 
governor. 

15.  The  lieutenant-governor  shall,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  be  speaker  of  the 
senate,  have  a  right,  when  in  committee  of  the  whole,  to  debate  and  vote  on 
all  subjects,  and,  whenever  the  senate  are  equally  divided,  to  give  the  casting 
vote. 

16.  Whenever  the  government  shall  be  administered  by  the  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor, or  he  shall  be  imable  to  attend  as  speaker  of  the  senate,  the  senators 
shall  elect  one  of  their  own  number  as  speaker  for  that  occasion ;  and  if, 
dm-ing  the  vacancy  of  the  office  of  governor,  the  heutenant-governor  shall  be 
impeached,  removed  from  office,  refuse  to  qualify,  or  resign,  or  die,  or  be 
absent  from  the  state,  the  speaker  of  the  senate  shall,  in  hke  manner,  admi- 
nister the  government. 

17.  The  lieutenant-governoj",  while  he  acts  as  speaker  of  the  senate,  shall 
receive  for  his  services  the  same  compensation  which  shall,  for  the  same 
period,  be  allowed  to  the  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  no 
more. 

18.  If  the  heutenant  governor  shall  be  called  upon  to  administer  the  govern- 
ment, and  shall,  while  in  such  administration,  resign,  die,  or  be  absent  from 
the  state,  duiing  the  recess  of  the  general  assembly,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
secretary  of  state,  for  the  time  being,  to  convene  the  senate  for  the  purpose 
of  choosing  a  speaker. 

19.  In  case  of  the  impeachment  of  the  governor,  his  absence  from  the  state, 
or  inabihty  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office,  the  powers,  duties,  and  emolu- 
ments of  the  office  shall  devolve  upon  the  heutenant-governor ;  and  in  case  of 
his  death,  resignation,  or  removal,  then  upon  the  speaker  of  the  senate  for  the 
time  being,  until  the  governor,  absent  or  impeached,  shah  return  or  be  ac- 
quitted ;  or  until  the  disquaUfication  or  inabihty  shall  cease ;  or  untO  a  new 
governor  shall  be  elected  and  quahfied. 

20.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  governor,  for  any  other  cause  than 
those  herein  enumerated,  or  in  case  of  the  death  of  the  governor  elect  before 
he  is  qualified,  the  powers,  duties,  and  emoluments  of  the  office  shall  devolve 
upon  the  heutenant-governor,  or  speaker  of  the  senate,  as  above  provided, 
until  a  new  governor  be  elected  and  qualified. 


CONSTITUTION.  151 

21.  Every  bill  wliicli  shall  have  passed  the  senate  and  house  of  representa- 
tives, shall,  before  it  becomes  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  governor ;  if  he  ap- 
prove, he  shall  sign  it;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it,  -with  his  objections,  to  the 
house  in  which  it  shall  have  originated ;  and  the  said  house  shall  enter  the 
objections  at  large  on  their  joui-nal,  and  proceed  to  reconsider  it.  If,  after 
such  reconsideration,  a  majority  of  the  members  elected  shall  agree  to  pass 
the  bin,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by 
which  it  shall  Ukewise  be  reconsidered ;  and  if  approved  by  a  majority  of  the 
members  elected,  it  shall  become  a  law,  notwithstanding  the  objections  of  the 
governor ;  but  in  all  such  cases,  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined 
by  yeas  and  nays,  to  be  entered  on  the  jom-nal  of  each  house  respectively.  If 
any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  governor  within  ten  days  (Sundays  ex- 
cepted) after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law,  in 
like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  general  assembly  shall,  by  their 
adjournment,  prevent  its  retui-n,  in  which  case  the  said  bill  shall  be  returned 
on  the  first  day  of  the  meeting  of  the  general  assembly,  after  the  expiration 
of  said  ten  days,  or  be  a  law. 

22.  There  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors  of  this  state,  at  the  same 
time  of  the  election  for  governor,  a  secretary  of  state,  whose  term  of  ofiice 
shall  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  governor,  who  shall  keep  a  fair  register  of  the 
official  acts  of  the  governor,  and,  when  requii-ed,  shall  lay  the  same,  and  all 
papers,  minutes,  and  vouchers,  relative  thereto,  before  either  branch  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  shall  be  assigned  him 
by  law,  and  shall  receive  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  and  no 
more,  except  fees :  Provided,  that  if  the  office  of  secretary  of  state  should  be 
vacated  by  death,  resignation,  or  otherwise,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor 
to  appoint  another,  who  shall  hold  his  office  until  another  secretary  shall  be 
elected  and  quahfied. 

23.  There  shall  be  chosen,  by  the  qualified  electors  throughout  the  state,  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  four  years, 
and  until  his  successor  is  qualified,  and  whose  duties  shall  be  regulated  by  law, 
and  who  shall  receive  a  salary,  exclusive  of  clerk  hire,  of  one  thousand  dollars 
per  annum  for  his  services,  and  no  more. 

24.  There  shall  be  elected,  by  the  quahfied  electors  throughout  the  state,  a 
state  treasurer,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  two  years,  and  until  his  successor 
is  qualified ;  whose  duties  may  be  regulated  by  law,  and  who  shall  receive  a 
salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  and  no  more. 

25.  AH  grants  and  commissions  shall  be  sealed  with  the  great  seal  of  state, 
signed  by  the  governor  or  person  administering  the  government,  and  counter- 
signed by  the  secretary  of  state. 

26.  The  governor  and  all  other  civil  officers  shall  be  liable  to  impeachment 
for  misdemeanor  in  office,  duiing  their  continuance  in  office,  and  for  two  years 
thereafter. 


152  CONSTITUTION. 

Article  V. — Of  the  Judiciary  Department. 
Sec.  1.  The  judicial  power  of  this  state  shall  be,  and  is  hereby,  vested  ia 
one  supreme  court,  in  cii'cuit  coui-ts,  in  county  courts,  and  in  justices  of  the 
peace :  Provided,  that  inferior  local  courts,  of  civil  and  criminal  juiisdiction, 
may  be  established  by  the  general  assembly  in  the  cities  of  this  state,  but  such 
courts  shall  have  a  uniform  organization  and  jui-isdiction  in  such  cities. 

2.  The  supreme  com-t  shall  consist  of  thi-ee  judges,  two  of  whom  shall  form 
a  quorum ;  and  the  coucuiTence  of  two  of  said  judges  shall,  in  all  cases,  be 
necessary  to  a  decision. 

3.  The  state  shall  be  divided  into  three  grand  divisions,  as  nearly  equal  as 
may  be,  and  the  qualified  electors  of  each  division  shall  elect  one  of  the  said 
judges  for  the  term  of  nine  years :  Provided,  that  after  the  first  election  of 
such  judges,  the  general  assembly  may  have  the  power  to  provide  by  law  for 
their  election  by  the  whole  state,  or  by  divisions,  as  they  may  deem  most 
expedient. 

4.  The  office  of  one  of  said  judges  shall  be  vacated,  after  the  first  election 
held  under  this  article,  in  three  years ;  of  one,  in  six  years ;  and  of  one,  in  nine 
years ;  to  be  decided  by  lot,  so  that  one  of  said  judges  shall  be  elected  once  in 
evei'y  three  years.  The  judge  having  the  longest  term  to  serve  shall  be  tlie 
first  chief-justice ;  after  which,  the  judge  having  the  oldest  commission  shall 
be  chief-justice. 

5.  The  supreme  court  may  have  original  jui-isdicti on  in  cases  relative  to  the 
revenue,  in  cases  of  mandamus,  habeas  corpus,  and  in  such  cases  of  impeach- 
ment as  may  be  by  law  du-ected  to  be  tried  before  it,  and  shall  have  appellate 
jui'isdiction  in  aU  other  cases. 

6.  The  supreme  com-t  shall  hold  one  term  annually  in  each  of  the  aforesaid 
grand  divisions,  at  such  time  and  place,  in  each  of  said  divisions,  as  may  be 
provided  for  by  law. 

7.  The  state  shall  be  divided  into  nine  judicial  districts ;  in  each  of  which 
one  circuit  judge  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  electors  thereof,  who  shall 
hold  his  ofiice  for  the  term  of  six  years,  and  until  his  successor  shall  be  com- 
Hiissioned  and  qualified :  Provided,  that  the  general  assembly  may  increase  the 
number  of  circuits  to  meet  the  future  exigencies  of  the  state. 

8.  There  shall  be  two  or  more  terms  of  the  circuit  court  held,  annually,  in 
each  county  of  this  state,  at  such  times  as  shall  be  i^rovided  by  law ;  and  said 
courts  shall  have  jui-isdiction  in  all  cases  at  law  and  equity,  and  in  all  cases  of 
appeals  from  all  inferior  courts. 

9.  All  vacancies  in  the  supreme  and  circuit  courts  shall  be  filled  by  election 
as  aforesaid :  Provided,  however,  that  if  the  unexpired  term  does  not  exceed 
one  3'ear,  such  vacancy  may  be  filled  by  executive  appointment. 

10.  The  judges  of  the  supreme  com-t  shall  receive  a  salary  of  twelve  hun- 
dretl  dollars  per  annum,  payable  quarterly,  and  no  more.  The  judges  of  the 
circuit  com-ts  shall  receive  a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  payable 


CONSTITUTION.  153 

quarterly,  and  no  more.  The  judges  of  the  supreme  and  circuit  courts  shall 
not  be  eligible  to  any  other  office  or  pubUc  trust,  of  profit,  in  this  state  or  the 
United  States,  during  the  term  for  which  they  are  elected,  nor  for  one  year 
thereafter.  AU  votes  for  either  of  them  for  any  elective  office  (except  that  of 
judge  of  the  supreme  or  cii'cuit  coui-t),  given  by  the  general  assembly,  or  the 
people,  shall  be  void. 

11.  No  person  shaU  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  judge  of  any  court  of  this 
state,  who  is  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not  have  resided 
in  this  state  five  years  next  preceding  his  election,  and  who  shall  not,  for  two 
years  next  preceding  his  election,  have  resided  in  the  division,  circuit,  or 
county,  in  which  he  shall  be  elected;  nor  shall  any  person  be  elected  judge 
of  the  supreme  coui't,  who  shall  be,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  under  the  age 
of  thirty-five  years ;  and  no  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  judge  of 
the  circuit  court  until  he  shall  have  attained  the  age  of  thii'ty  years. 

12.  For  any  reasonable  cause,  to  be  entered  on  the  journals  of  each  house, 
which  shall  not  be  sufficient  ground  for  impeachment,  both  justices  of  the 
supreme  court,  and  judges  of  the  circuit  court,  shall  be  removed  from  office, 
on  the  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  to  each  branch  of  the  general 
assembly:  Provided,  always,  that  no  member  of  either  house  of  the  general 
assembly  shall  be  ehgible  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  such  removal :  Pro- 
vided, also,  that  no  removal  shall  be  made  unless  the  justice  or  judge  complained 
of  shall  have  been  served  with  a  copy  of  the  complaint  against  him,  and  shaU 
have  an  opportunity  of  being  heard  in  his  defence. 

13.  The  first  election  for  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  and  judges  of  the 
circuit  courts,  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  September,  1848. 

14.  The  second  election  for  one  justice  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be  held  on 
the  first  Monday  of  June,  1852 ;  and  every  three  years  thereafter  an  election 
shaU  be  held  for  one  justice  of  the  supreme  court. 

15.  On  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1855,  and  every  sixth  year  thereafter,  an 
election  shall  be  held  for  judges  of  the  cii'cuit  courts:  Provided,  whenever  an 
additional  circuit  is  created,  such  provision  may  be  made  as  to  hold  the  second 
election  of  such  additional  judge  at  the  regular  elections  herein  provided. 

16.  There  shall  be,  in  each  county,  a  court,  to  be  called  a  county  court. 

17.  One  county  judge  shall  be  elected  by  the  qualified  voters  of  each  county, 
who  shall  hold  his  office  for  four  years,  and  imtil  his  successor  is  elected  and 
qualified. 

18.  The  jurisdiction  of  said  court  shall  extend  to  all  probate  and  such  other 
jurisdiction  as  the  general  assembly  may  confer  in  civil  cases,  and  such  crimi- 
nal cases  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law,  where  the  punishment  is  by  fine  only, 
not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars. 

19.  The  county  judge,  with  such  justices  of  the  peace  in  each  county  as  may 
be  designated  by  law,  shall  hold  terms  for  the  transaction  of  county  business, 
and  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  the  general  assembly  shall  prescribe : 


154  CONSTITUTION. 

Provided,  the  general  assembly  may  require,  that  two  justices,  to  he  chosen 
by  the  quaUfied  electors  of  each  county,  shall  sit  with  the  county  judge  in  all 
cases ;  and  there  shall  be  elected,  quadrennially,  in  each  county,  a  clerk  of  the 
county  court,  who  shall  be  ex  officio  recorder,  whose  compensation  shall  be  fees : 
Provided,  the  general  assembly  may,  by  law,  make  the  clerk  of  the  circuit  court 
ex  officio  recorder,  in  heu  of  the  county  clerk. 

20.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  for  the  compensation  of  the  county 
judge. 

21.  The  clerks  of  the  supreme  and  circuit  courts,  and  state's  attorneys,  shall 
be  elected  at  the  first  special  election  for  judges.  The  second  election  for 
ckrks  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1855, 
and  every  sixth  year  thereafter.  The  second  election  for  clerks  of  the  circuit 
courts,  and  state's  attorneys,  shall  be  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first 
Monday  of  November,  1852,  and  every  foui'th  year  thereafter. 

22.  All  judges  and  state's  attornej^s  shall  be  commissioned  by  the  governor. 

23.  The  election  of  all  ofiicers,  and  the  filling  of  aU  vacancies  that  may  hap- 
pen by  death,  resignation,  or  removal,  not  otherwise  directed  ~ov  provided  for 
by  this  constitution,  shall  be  made  in  such  manner  as  the  general  assembly 
shall  direct :  Provided,  that  no  such  officer  shall  be  elected  by  the  general 
assembly. 

24.  The  general  assembly  may  authorize  the  judgments,  decrees,  and  deci- 
sions, of  any  local,  inferior  court  of  record,  of  original  civil  or  criminal  juris- 
diction, estabhshed  in  a  city,  to  be  removed,  for  revision,  directly  into  the 
supreme  court. 

25.  County  judges,  clerks,  sheriff's,  and  other  county  officers,  for  wilful  neg- 
lect of  duty,  or  misdemeanor  in  office,  shall  be  liable  to  presentment  or  indict- 
ment by  a  grand  jury,  and  trial  by  a  petit  jury ;  and,  upon  conviction,  shall  be 
removed  from  office. 

26.  All  process,  writs,  and  other  proceedings,  shall  run  in  the  name  of  "The 
people  of  the  State  of  Illinois.''  All  prosecutions  shall  be  carried  on  "7?i  the 
name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,"  and  conclude, 
'''■Against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  same." 

27.  There  shaU  be  elected  in  each  county  in  this  state,  in  such  districts  as 
the  general  assembly  may  direct,  by  the  quahfied  electors  thereof,  a  competent 
nmnber  of  justices  of  the  peace,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  for  the  term  of  four 
years,  and  until  their  successors  shall  have  been  elected  and  quahfied,  and  who 
shall  perform  such  duties,  receive  such  compensation,  and  exercise  such  juris- 
diction, as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

28.  There  shall  be  elected,  in  each  of  the  judicial  circuits  of  this  state,  by 
the  quahfied  electors  thereof,  one  state's  attorney,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for 
the  term  of  four  years,  and  until  his  successor  shall  be  commissioned  and 
qualified ;  who  shall  perform  such  duties  and  receive  such  compensation  as 
may  be  prescribed  by  law :  Provided,  that  the  general  assembly  may  hereafter 


CONSTITUTION.  155 

provide  by  law  for  the  election,  by  the  quaUfied  voters  of  each  county  in  this 
state,  of  one  county  attorney  for  each  county,  in  lieu  of  the  state's  attorneys 
provided  for  in  this  section;  the  term  of  office,  duties,  and  compensation  of 
which  county  attorneys,  shall  be  regulated  by  law. 

29.  The  qualified  electors  of  each  county  in  this  state  shall  elect  a  clerk  of 
the  circuit  com-t,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  terra  of  four  years,  and 
until  his  successor  shall  have  been  elected  and  quahiied,  who  shall  perform 
such  duties  and  receive  such  compensation  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law.  The 
clerks  of  the  supreme  coui't  shaU  be  elected,  in  each  division,  by  the  quahfied 
electors  thereof,  for  the  tei'm  of  six  years,  and  until  their  successors  shall  have 
been  elected  and  qualified ;  whose  duties  and  compensation  shall  be  provided 
by  law. 

30.  The  first  grand  division,  for  the  election  of  judges  of  the  supreme  court, 
shall  consist  of  the  counties  of  Alexander,  Pulaski,  Massac,  Pope,  Hardin, 
Gallatin,  Sahne,  WilUamson,  Johnson,  Union,  Jackson,  Randolph,  Perry, 
Franklin,  Hamilton,  White,  Wabash,  Edwards,  Wayne,  JeS"erson,  Washington, 
Monroe,  St.  Clair,  Clinton,  Marion,  Clay,  Richland,  Lawrence,  Crawford, 
Jaspei',  Effingham,  Fayette,  Bond,  Madison,  Jersey,  and  Calhoun. 

The  second  grand  division  shall  consist  of  the  counties  of  Edgar,  Coles, 
Moultrie,  Shelby,  Montgomery,  ]\Iacoupin,  Greene,  Pike,  Adams,  Highland, 
Hancock,  McDonough,  Schuyler,  Brown,  Fulton,  Mason,  Cass,  Morgan,  Scott, 
Sangamon,  Christian,  Macon,  Piatt,  Champaign,  Vermilion,  De  Witt,  Logan, 
Menard,  Cumberland,  and  Clark. 

The  third  grand  division  shall  consist  of  the  counties  of  Henderson,  Warren, 
Knox,  Peoria,  Tazewell,  Woodford,  McLean,  Livingston,  Iroquois,  Will,  Grundy, 
Kendall,  La  Salle,  Putnam,  Marshall,  Stark,  Bureau,  Henry,  Mercer,  Rock 
Island,  Whiteside,  Lee,  Carroll,  .Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Ogle,  De 
Kalb,  Boone,  Kane,  McHenry,  Lake,  Cook,  and  Du  Page. 

31.  The  terms  of  the  supreme  court  for  the  first  division,  shall  be  held  at 
Mount  Vernon,  in  Jefferson  county ;  for  the  second  division,  at  Springfield,  in 
Sangamon  county ;  for  the  third  division,  at  Ottawa,  in  La  Salle  county ;  untU 
some  other  place,  in  either  division,  is  fixed  by  law. 

32.  Appeals  and  writs  of  error  may  be  taken  from  the  circuit  court  of  any 
county  to  the  supreme  court  held  in  the' division  which  includes  such  county, 
or,  with  the  consent  of  all  the  parties  in  the  cause,  to  the  supreme  coui't  in  the 
next  adjoining  division.  , 

38.  The  foregoing  districts  may,  after  the  taking  of  each  census  by  the  state, 
be  altered,  if  necessary,  to  equalize  the  said  districts  in  population ;  but  such 
alteration  shall  be  made  by  adding  to  such  district  such  adjacent  county  or 
counties  as  will  make  said  district  nearest  equal  in  population :  Provided,  no 
Buch  alteration  shall  affect  the  office  of  any  judge  then  in  office 


156  CONSTITUTION. 

Article  VI. — On  Elections  and  the  Right  of  Suffrage. 

Sec.  1.  In  all  elections,  every  white  male  citizen  above  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  having  resided  in  the  state  one  year  next  preceding  any  election,  shall 
be  entitled  to  vote  at  such  election ;  and  every  white  male  inhabitant  of  the 
age  aforesaid,  who  may  be  a  resident  of  the  state  at  the  time  of  the  adoption 
of  this  constitution,  shall  have  the  right  of  voting  as  aforesaid ;  but  no  such 
citizen  or  inhabitant  shall  be  entitled  to  vote,  except  in  the  district  or  county 
in  which  he  shall  actually  reside  at  the  time  of  such  election. 

2.  AU  votes  shall  be  given  by  ballot. 

3.  Electors  shall  in  all  cases,  except  treason,  felony,  or  breach  of  the  peace, 
be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  elections,  and  in  going  to 
and  returning  from  the  same. 

4.  No  elector  shall  be  obliged  to  do  militia  duty  on  the  days  of  election,  ex- 
cept in  time  of  war  or  public  danger. 

5.  No  elector  shall  be  deemed  to  have  lost  his  residence  in  this  state  by 
reason  of  his  absence  on  the  business  of  the  United  States  or  of  this  state. 

6.  No  soldier,  seaman,  or  marine,  in  the  army  or  navy  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  deemed  a  resident  of  this  state,  in  consequence  of  being  stationed  at 
any  mihtary  or  naval  place  within  the  state. 

7.  No  person  shaU  be  elected  or  appointed  to  any  office  in  this  state,  civil  or 
mihtary,  who  is  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not  have 
resided  in  this  state  one  year  next  before  the  election  or  appointment. 

8.  The  general  assembly  shall  have  full  power  to  pass  laws  excluding  from 
the  right  of  suffrage  persons  convicted  of  infamous  crimes. 

9.  The  general  elections  shall  be  held  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  the  first 
Monday  of  November,  bienjiially,  until  otherwise  pro'\'ided  by  law. 

Article  VII. — Of  Counties. 

Sec.  1.  No  new  county  shall  be  formed  or  estabUshed  by  the  general  assem- 
bly, which  wiU  reduce  the  county  or  counties,  or  either  of  them,  from  which  it 
shall  be  taken,  to  less  contents  than  four  hundred  square  miles ;  nor  shall  any 
county  be  formed  of  less  contents ;  nor  shall  any  line  thereof  pass  within  less 
than  ten  miles  of  any  county  seat  of  the  county  or  counties  proposed  to  be 
divided. 

2.  No  county  shall  be  divided,  or  have  any  part  stricken  therefrom,  without 
submitting  the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  people  of  the  county,  nor  unless  a 
majority  of  all  the  legal  voters  of  the  county  voting  on  the  question  shall  vote 
for  the  same. 

3.  All  territory  which  has  been,  or  may  be  stricken  off,  by  legislative  enact- 
ment, from  any  organized  coimty  or  counties,  for  the  pui'pose  of  forming  a 
new  county,  and  which  shall  remain  unorganized  after  the  period  provided  for 
such  organization,  shall  be  and  remain  a  part  of  the  county  or  counties  from 


CONSTITUTION.  '  157 

•which  it  was  originally  taken,  for  all  pui'poses  of  county  and  state  government, 
until  otherwise  provided  by  law. 

4.  There  shall  be  no  temtory  stricken  from  any  county  unless  a  majority 
of  the  voters  hving  in  such  territory  shall  petition  for  such  division ;  and  no 
temtory  shall  be  added  to  any  county  without  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  the 
voters  of  the  county  to  which  it  is  proposed  to  be  added. 

5.  No  county  seat  shall  be  removed  until  the  point  to  which  it  is  proposed 
to  be  removed  shall  be  fixed  by  law,  and  a  majority  of  the  voters  of  the  county 
shall  have  voted  in  favor  of  its  removal  to  such  point. 

6.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide,  by  a  general  law,  for  a  township 
organization.  Tinder  which  any  county  may  organize  whenever  a  majority  of 
the  voters  of  such  county,  at  any  general  election,  shall  so  determine ;  and 
whenever  any  county  shall  adopt  a  township  organization,  so  much  of  this 
constitution  as  provides  for  the  management  of  the  fiscal  concerns  of  the  said 
county  by  the  county  court,  may  be  dispensed  with,  and  the  affairs  of  said 
county  may  be  transacted  in  such  manner  as  the  general  assembly  may 
provide. 

7.  There  shall  be  elected  in  each  county  in  this  state,  by  the  qualified  elect- 
ors thereof,  a  sherifi^,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  two  years,  and 
until  his  successor  shall  have  been  elected  and  quahfied :  Provided,  no  person 
shall  be  eUgible  to  the  said  office  more  than  once  in  four  years. 

Article  VIII. — Militia. 

Sec.  1.  The  militia  of  the  state  of  Ilhnois  shall  consist  of  all  free  male  able- 
bodied  persons  (negroes,  mulattoes,  and  Indians  excepted),  residents  of  the 
state,  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five  years,  except  such  persons 
as  now  are  or  hereafter  may  be  exempted  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States  or 
of  this  state,  and  shall  be  armed,  equipped,  and  trained,  as  the  general  assem- 
bly may  provide  by  law. 

2.  No  person  or  persons,  conscientiously  scrupulous  of  bearing  arms,  shaU 
be  compelled  to  do  mihtia  duty  in  time  of  peace,  provided  such  person  or  per- 
sons shall  pay  an  equivalent  for  such  exemption. 

3.  Company,  battaUon,  and  regimental  officers,  stafl"  officers  excepted,  shall 
be  elected  by  the  persons  composing  their  several  companies,  battahons,  and 
regiments. 

4.  Brigadier  and  major-generals  shall  be  elected  by  the  officers  of  their 
brigades  and  divisions,  respectively.' 

5.  All  militia  officers  shall  be  commissioned  by  the  governor,  and  may  hold 
their  commissions  for  such  time  as  the  legislature  may  provide. 

6.  The  militia  shall,  in  all  cases,  except  treason,  felony,  or  breach  of  the 
peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  musters  and  elec- 
tions of  officers,  and  in  going  to  and  retm-ning  from  the  same. 

14 


158  CONSTITUTION. 

Article  IX. — Of  the  Revenue. 
Sec.  1.  The  general  assembly  may,  wlienever  they  shall  deem  it  necessary, 
cause  to  be  collected  from  all  able-bodied,  free  white  male  inhabitants  of  this 
state,  over  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  under  the  age  of  sixty  years, 
■who  are  entitled  to  the  right  of  suflfrage,  a  capitation  tax  of  not  less  than  fiftj 
cents,  nor  more  than  one  dollar  each. 

2.  The  general  assembly  shall  provide  for  levying  a  tax  by  valuation,  so  that 
every  person  and  corporation  shall  pay  a  tax  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  his 
or  her  property ;  such  value  to  be  ascertained  by  some  person  or  persons  to 
be  elected  or  appointed  in  such  manner  as  the  general  assembly  shall  direct, 
and  not  otherwise ;  but  the  general  assembly  shaU  have  power  to  tax  pedlars, 
auctioneers,  brokers,  hawkers,  merchants,  commission  merchants,  showmen, 
jugglers,  inn-keepers,  grocery-keepers,  toll  bridges  and  ferries,  and  persons 
using  and  exercising  franchises  and  privileges,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall 
from  time  to  time  direct. 

3.  The  property  of  the  state  and  counties,  both  real  and  personal,  and  such 
other  property  as  the  general  assembly  may  deem  necessary  for  school,  reU- 
gious,  and  charitable  purposes,  may  be  exempted  from  taxation. 

4.  Hereafter,  no  jDurchaser  of  any  land  or  town  lot,  at  any  sale  of  lands  or 
town  lots  for  taxes  due  either  to  this  state,  or  any  county,  or  incorporated 
town  or  city  within  the  same ;  or  at  any  sale  for  taxes  or  levies  authorized  by 
the  laws  of  this  state,  shall  be  entitled  to  a  deed  for  the  lands  or  town  lot  so 
purchased,  until  he  or  she  shall  have  complied  with  the  following  conditions, 
to  wit :  Such  purchaser  shall  serve,  or  cause  to  be  served,  a  written  notice  of 
such  piirchase,  on  eveiy  person  in  possession  of  such  land  or  town  lot,  three 
months  before  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  redemption  on  such  sale ;  in  which 
notice  he  shall  state  when  he  purchased  the  land  or  town  lot,  the  description 
of  the  land  or  lot  he  has  purchased,  and  when  the  time  of  redemption  will 
expire.  In  like  manner  he  shall  serve  on  the  person  or  persons  in  whose  name 
or  names  such  land  or  lot  is  taxed,  a  similar  written  notice,  if  such  person  or 
persons  shall  reside  in  the  county  where  such  land  or  lot  shall  be  situated ;  and 
in  the  event  that  the  person  or  persons  in  whose  name  or  names  the  land  or 
lot  is  taxed,  do  not  reside  in  the  county,  such  purchaser  shall  publish  such 
notice  in  some  newspaper  printed  in  such  county ;  and  if  no  newspaper  is 
printed  in  the  county,  then  in  the  nearest  newspaper  that  is  published  in  this 
state  to  the  county  in  which  such  lot  or  land  is  situated ;  which  notice  shall  be 
inserted  three  times,  the  last  time  not  less  than  three  months  before  the  time 
of  redemption  shall  expire.  Every  such  purchaser,  by  himself  or  agent,  shall, 
before  he  shall  be  entitled  to  a  deed,  make  an  affidavit  of  his  having  compHed 
with  the  conditions  of  this  section,  stating  particularly  the  facts  relied  on  as 
such  compliance ;  which  affidavit  shall  be  delivered  to  the  person  authorized 
by  law  to  execute  such  tax  deed,  and  which  shall  by  him  be  filed  with  the 
officer  having  custody  of  the  records  of  lands  and  lots  sold  for  taxes  and  entries 


CONSTITUTION.  159 

of  redemption,  in  the  county  where  such  land  or  lot  shall  lie,  to  be  by  such 
ofScer  entered  on  the  records  of  his  office,  and  carefully  preserved  among  the 
files  of  his  oflEice ;  and  which  record  or  affidavit  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence 
that  such  notice  has  been  given.  Any  person  swearing  falsely  in  such  affidavit 
shaU  be  deemed  guilty  of  perjury,  and  punished  accordingly.  In  case  any 
person  shall  be  compelled,  under  this  section,  to  f)ublish  a  notice  in  a  news- 
paper, then,  before  any  person,  who  may  have  a  right  to  redeem  such  land  or 
lot  from  tax  sale,  shall  be  permitted  to  redeem,  he  or  she  shall  pay  the  officer 
or  person  who  by  law  is  authorized  to  receive  such  redemption-money,  the 
printer's  fee  for  pubUshing  such  notice,  and  the  expenses  of  swearing  or 
affirming  to  the  affidavit,  and  fihng  the  same. 

5.  The  corporate  authorities  of  counties,  townships,  school  districts,  cities, 
towns,  and  villages,  may  be  vested  with  power  to  assess  and  collect  taxes  for 
corporate  purposes ;  such  taxes  to  be  uniform  in  respect  to  persons  and  pro- 
perty within  the  jimsdiction  of  the  body  imposing  the  same.  And  the  general 
assembly  shall  require  that  all  the  property  within  the  limits  of  municipal  cor- 
porations, belonging  to  individuals,  shall  be  taxed  for  the  payment  of  debts 
contracted  under  authority  of  law. 

6.  The  specification  of  the  objects  and  subjects  of  taxation  shall  not  deprive 
the  general  assembly  of  the  power  to  require  other  objects  or  subjects  to  be 
taxed  in  such  manner  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  principles  of  taxation 
fixed  in  this  constitution. 

Article  X. — Corporations. 

Sec.  1.  Corporations,  not  possessing  banking  powers  or  privileges,  may  be 
formed  under  general  laws,  but  shall  not  be  created  by  special  acts,  except  for 
municipal  pnrposes,  and  in  cases  where,  in  the  judgment  of  the  general  as- 
sembly, the  objects  of  the  corporation  cannot  be  attained  under  general  laws. 

2.  Dues  from  coi'porations,  not  possessing  banking  powers  or  privileges,  shall 
be  secured  by  such  individual  liabihties  of  the  corporators,  or  other  means,  as 
may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

3.  No  state  bank  shall  hereafter  be  created,  nor  shall  the  state  own  or  be 
hable  for  any  stock  in  any  corporation  or  joint  stock  association  for  banking 
purposes,  to  be  hereafter  created. 

4.  The  stockholders  in  every  corporation  or  joint  stock  association,  for  bank- 
ing purposes,  issuing  bank  notes,  or  any  kind  of  paper  credits  to  circulate  as 
money,  shall  be  individually  responsible,  to  the  amount  of  their  respective 
share  or  shares  of  stock  in  any  such  corporation  or  association,  for  all  its  debts 
and  habihties  of  every  kind. 

5.  No  act  of  the  general  assembly,  authorizing  corporations  or  associations 
with  banking  powers,  shall  go  into  effect,  or  in  any  manner  be  in  force,  unless 
the  same  shall  be  submitted  to  the  people  at  the  general  election  next  succeed- 
ing the  passage  of  the  same,  and  be  approved  by  a  majority  of  all  the  votea 
cast  at  ~uch  election  for  and  against  such  law. 


160  ""  CONSTITUTION. 

6.  Tlie  general  assembly  shall  encourage  internal  improvements,  by  passing 
liberal  general  laws  of  incorporation  for  that  purpose. 

Article  XI. — Commons. 

All  lands  which  have  been  granted,  as  a  "  common,"  to  the  inhabitants  of 
any  town,  hamlet,  village,  or  corporation,  by  any  person,  body  politic  or  cor- 
porate, or  by  any  government  having  power  to  make  such  grant,  shall  for  ever 
remain  common  to  the  inhabitants  of  such  town,  hamlet,  village,  or  corporation ; 
but  the  said  commons,  or  any  of  them,  or  any  part  thereof,  may  be  divided, 
leased,  or  granted,  in  such  manner  as  may  hereafter  be  provided  by  law,  on 
petition  of  a  majority  of  the  quahfied  voters  interested  in  such  commons,  or 
any  of  them. 

Aeticle  XII. — Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 

Sec.  1.  Whenever  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  elected  to  each  branch  of 
the  general  assembly  shall  think  it  necessary  to  alter  or  amend  this  constitu- 
tion, they  shall  recommend  to  the  electors  at  the  next  election  of  members  of 
the  general  assembly,  to  vote  for  or  against  a  convention ;  and  if  it  shall  appear 
that  a  majority  of  all  the  electors  of  the  state  voting  for  representatives  have 
voted  for  a  convention,  the  general  assembly  shall,  at  their  next  session,  call  a 
convention,  to  consist  of  as  many  members  as  the  house  of  representatives  at 
the  time  of  making  said, call,  to  be  chosen  in  the  same  manner,  at  the  same 
place,  and  by  the  same  electors,  in  the  same  districts  that  chose  the  members 
of  the  house  of  representatives ;  and  which  convention  shall  meet  within  three 
months  after  the  said  election,  for  the  pui'pose  of  revising,  altering,  or  amend- 
ing this  constitution. 

2.  Any  amendment  or  amendments  to  this  constitution  may  be  proposed  in 
either  branch  of  the  general  assembly ;  and  if  the  same  shall  be  agreed  to  by 
two-thirds  of  all  the  members  elect  in  each  of  the  two  houses,  such  proposed 
amendment  or  amendments  shall  be  referred  to  the  next  regular  session  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  shall  be  pubhshed  at  least  three  months  previous  to  the 
time  of  holding  the  next  election  for  members  of  the  house  of  representatives ; 
and  if,  at  the  next  regular  session  of  the  general  assembly  after  said  election, 
a  majority  of  all  the  members  elect,  in  each  branch  of  the  general  assembly, 
shaU  agree  to  said  amendment  or  amendments,  then  it  shall  be  their  duty  to 
submit  the  same  to  the  people  at  the  next  general  election,  for  their  adoption 
or  rejection,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law;  and  if  a  majority 
of  all  the  electors  voting  at  such  election  for  members  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, shall  vote  for  such  amendment  or  amendments,  the  same  shall 
become  a  part  of  the  constitution.  But  the  general  assembly  shall  not  have 
power  to  propose  an  amendment  or  amendments  to  more  than  one  article  of 
the  constitution  at  the  same  session. 


CONSTITUTION.  161 

Article  XIII. — Declaration  of  Rights. 

That  the  general,  great,  and  essential  principles  of  liberty  and  free  govern- 
ment may  be  recognised  and  unalterably  established,  we  declare  : — 

Sec.  1.  That  aU  men  are  born  equally  free  and  independent,  and  have  cer- 
tain inherent  and  indefeasible  rights ;  among  which  are  those  of  enjoying  and 
defending  Ufe  and  hberty,  and  of  acquiring,  possessing,  and  protecting  pro- 
perty and  reputation,  and  of  pursuing  their  own  happiness. 

2.  That  all  power  is  inherent  in  the  people,  and  all  free  governments  ar? 
founded  on  their  authority,  and  instituted  for  their  peace,  safety,  and  happi- 
ness. 

3.  That  aU  men  have  a  natural  and  indefeasible  right  to  worship  Almighty 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences ;  that  no  man  can  of 
right  be  compelled  to  attend,  erect,  or  support  any  place  of  woi'ship,  or  to 
maintain  any  ministry,  against  his  consent ;  that  no  human  authority  can,  in 
any  case  whatever,  control  or  interfere  with  the  rights  of  conscience ;  and  that 
no  preference  shall  ever  be  given  by  law  to  any  rehgious  establishments  or 
modes 'of  worship. 

4.  That  no  rehgious  test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any 
office  of  pubUc  trust  under  this  state. 

5.  That  all  elections  shall  be  free  and  equal. 

6.  That  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  remain  inviolate ;  and  shall  extend  to 
all  cases  at  law,  without  regard  to  the  amount  in  controversy. 

7.  That  the  people  shall  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers,  and  pos- 
sessions, from  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures :  and  that  general  warrants, 
whereby  an  officer  may  be  commanded  to  search  suspected  places  without  evi- 
dence of  the  fact  committed,  or  to  seize  any  person  or  persons  not  named, 
whose  offences  are  not  particularly  described  and  supported  by  evidence,  are 
dangerous  to  Uberty,  and  ought  not  to  be  granted. 

8.  That  no  freeman  shall  be  imprisoned,  or  disseized  of  his  freehold,  Uber- 
ties,  or  privileges,  or  outlawed  or  exiled,  or  in  any  manner  deprived  of  his  life, 
liberty,  or  property,  but  by  the  judgment  of  Ms  peers,  or  the  law  of  the  land. 

9.  That  in  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  hath  a  right  to  be  heard  by 
himself  and  counsel ;  to  demand  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation  against 
him ;  to  meet  the  witnesses  face  to  face ;  to  have  compulsory  process  to  com- 
pel the  attendance  of  witnesses  in  his  favor ;  and  in  prosecutions  by  indictment 
or  information,  a  speedy  pubhc  trial  by  an  impartial  j  ui-y  of  the  county  or  dis- 
trict wherein  the  offence  shall  have  been  committed,  which  county  or  district 
shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law ;  and  that  he  shall  not  be  com- 
pelled to  give  evidence  against  himself.  i 

10.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  criminal  offence  unless  on  the 
presentment  or  indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment, 
or  in  cases  cognizable  by  justices  of  the  peace,  or  arising  in  the  army  or  navy, 
or  in  the  mihtia  when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger :  Pro- 

14*  L 


162  CONSTITUTION. 

vided,  that  justices  of  the  peace  shall  try  no  person,  except  as  a  court  of  inquiry, 
for  any  offence  punishable  with  imprisonment  or  death,  or  fine  above  one  hun- 
dred dollars. 

11.  No  person  shall,  for  the  same  offence,  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  his 
life  or  limb ;  nor  shall  any  man's  property  be  taken  or  applied  to  public  use 
without  the  consent  of  his  representatives  in  the  general  assembly,  nor  without 
just  compensation  being  made  to  him. 

12.  Every  person  within  this  state  ought  to  find  a  certain  remedy  in  the  laws 
for  all  injui'ies  or  wrongs  which  he  may  receive  in  his  person,  property,  or 
character;  he  ought  to  obtain  right  and  justice  freely,  and  without  being 
obhged  to  purchase  it,  completely  and  without  denial,  promptly  and  without 
delay,  conformably  to  the  laws. 

13.  That  all  persons  shall  be  bailable  by  sufficient  sureties,  unless  for  capital 
offences  where  the  proof  is  evident  or  the  presumption  great ;  and  the  privi- 
lege of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be  suspended,  unless,  when  in  cases 
of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

14.  All  penalties  shall  be  proportioned  to  the  nature  of  the  offence ;  the  true 
design  of  all  punishment  being  to  reform,  not  to  exterminate  mankind. 

15.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt,  unless  upon  refusal  to  deliver  up 
his  estate  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  prescribed 
by  law,  or  in  cases  where  there  is  strong  presumption  of  fraud. 

16.  There  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude  in  this  state, 
except  as  a  punishment  for  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly 
convicted. 

1 7.  No  ex  post  facto  law,  nor  any  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts, 
shall  ever  be  made :  and  no  conviction  shall  work  corruption  of  blood  or  for- 
feiture of  estate. 

18.  That  no  person  shall  be  liable  to  be  transported  out  of  this  state  for  any 
offence  committed  within  the  same. 

19.  That  a  frequent  recurrence  to  the  fmidamental  principles  of  civil  govern- 
ment is  absolutely  necessary  to  preserve  the  blessings  of  liberty. 

20.  The  miUtary  shall  be  in  strict  subordination  to  the  civil  power. 

21.  That  the  people  have  a  right  to  assemble  together  in  a  peaceable  manner 
to  consult  for  their  common  good,  to  instruct  their  representatives,  and  to  apply 
to  the  general  assembly  for  redress  of  grievances. 

22.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house  without 
the  consent  of  the  owner ;  nor  in  time  of  war,  except  in  manner  prescribed  by 
law. 

23.  The  printing-presses  shall  be  free  to  every  person  who  undertakes  to 
examine  the  proceedings  of  the  general  assembly,  or  of  any  branch  of  govern- 
ment ;  and  no  law  shall  ever  be  made  to  restrain  the  right  thereof.  The  free 
communication  of  thoughts  and  opinions  is  one  of  the  invaluable  rights  of 
man ;  and  every  citizen  may  frfiely  speak,  write,  and  print,  on  any  subject, 
being  responsible  for  the  abuse  of  that  liberty. 


CONSTITUTION.  163 

24.  In  prosecutions  for  the  publication  of  papers  investigating  the  official 
conduct  of  officers,  or  of  men  acting  in  a  public  capacity,  or  when  the  matter 
published  is  proper  for  public  information,  the  truth  thereof  may  be  given  in 
evidence ;  and  in  aU  indictments  for  Ubels,  the  jury  shall  have  the  right  of 
determining  both  the  law  and  the  fact,  under  the  direction  of  the  court,  as  in 
other  cases. 

25.  Any  person  who  shall,  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  fight  a 
duel,  or  send  or  accept  a  challenge  for  that  purpose,  or  be  aider  or  abettor  in 
fighting  a  duel,  shall  be  deprived  of  the  right  of  holding  any  office  of  honor 
or  profit  in  this  state,  and  shall  be  punished  otherwise,  in  such  manner  as  is 
or  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

26.  That  from  and  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  every  person  who 
shall  be  elected  or  appointed  to  any  office  of  profit,  trust,  or  emolument,  civil 
or  military,  legislative,  executive,  or  judicial,  under  the  government  of  this 
state,  shall,  before  he  enters  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  in  addition  to  the 
oath  prescribed  in  this  constitution,  take  the  following  oath:  "I  do  solemnly 
swear  [or  affirm,  as  the  case  may  be]  that  I  have  not  fought  a  duel,  nor  sent 
or  accepted  a  challenge  to  fight  a  duel,  the  probable  issue  of  which  might  have 
been  the  death  of  either  party,  nor  been  a  second  to  either  party,  nor  in  any 
manner  aided  or  assisted  in  such  duel,  nor  been  knowingly  the  bearer  of  such 
challenge  or  acceptance,  since  the  adoption  of  the  constitution ;  and  that  I 
will  not  be  so  engaged  or  concerned,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  or  about  any 
such  duel,  duiing  my  continuance  in  office.     So  help  me,  God." 

Article  XIV. — Public  Debt. 

There  shall  be  annually  assessed  and  collected,  in  the  same  manner  as  other 
state  revenue  may  be  assessed  and  collected,  a  tax  of  two  mills  upon  each  dol- 
lar's worth  of  taxable  property,  in  addition  to  all  other  taxes,  to  be  applied  as 
follows,  to  wit :  The  fund  so  created  shall  be  kept  separate,  and  shall  annually, 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  be  apportioned  and  paid  over,  pro  rata,  upon  all 
such  state  indebtedness,  other  than  the  canal  and  school  indebtedness,  as  may, 
for  that  purpose,  be  presented  by  the  holders  of  the  same,  to  be  entered  as 
credits  upon,  and,  to  that  extent,  in  extinguishment  of  the  principal  of  said 
indebtedness. 


GOVERNMENT   JUDICIARY,  AND  FINANCES. 


GOVERNMENT. 

Joel  A.  Mattison  (manufacturer),  of  Will  county,  Governor,  and  ex  ofBcio 
Land  Commissioner.  Term  ends,  second  Monday  in  January,  1857.  Salary, 
$1500. 

Gustavus  Kcerner  (lawyer),  of  St.  Clair  county,  Lieutenant-Governor. 
Salary,  $3  a  day  during  session,  and  10  cents  a  mile  travel. 

Alexander  Starne  (merchant),  of  Pike  county,  Secretary  of  State.  Term 
ends,  January,  1857.     Salary,  fees  and  $800.* 

Thomas  H.  Campbell  (lawyer),  of  Springfield,  Auditor.  Term  ends,  Janu- 
ary, 1857.     Salary,  $1000.* 

John  Moore  (farmer),  of  Randolph's  Grove,  Treasurer.  Term  ends,  Janu- 
ary, 1857.     Salary,  $800.* 

Ninian  W.  Edwards,  of  Sangamon  county,  State  Superintendent  of  Common 
Schools.     Term  ends,  January,  1857.     Salary,  $1500. 

J.  G.  Norwood,  M.  D.,  of  Sangamon  county.  State  Geologist. 

Moses  K.  Anderson,  of  Sangamon  county,  Adjutant-General. 

Thomas  J.  Turner,  of  Stephenson,  Speaker  of  the  House.  Salary,  $3  a  day 
during  the  session. 

E.  T.  Bridges,  of  La  Salle,  Clerk. 

George  T.  Brown,  of  Madison,  Secretary  of  Senate. 

The  sessions  of  the  Legislature  are  biennial.  The  nineteenth  ses- 
sion commenced  in  January,  1855. 

JUDICL\RY. 

Supreme   Court. 

First  Division. — Walter  B.  Scates,  of  Jefferson  county.  Chief  Justice.  Term 
ends,  June,  1861.  Salary,  $1200.  Noah  Johnson,  of  Jefferson  county,  Clerk. 
Fees. 

Second  Division. — Onias  C.  Skinner,  of  Quincy,  Judge.  Term  ends,  June, 
1858.  Salary,  $1200.  Wm.  A.  Turney,  of  Springfield,  Clerk.  Term  ends, 
June,  1861.     Fees. 

*  Exclusive  of  clerk  hire. 

(1G4) 


JUDICIARY. 


1G5 


Third  Division. — J.  Deane  Catton,  of  Ottawa,  Judge.  Term  ends,  June, 
1864.  Salary,  $1200.  Lorenzo  Leland,  of  Ottawa,  Clerk.  Term  ends,  June, 
1861.     Fees. 

Ebenezer  Peck,  of  Chicago,  Reporter. 

This  Court  holds  one  session  in  each  division  of  the  State  each 
year.  The  terms  are  :  first  division,  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Jeiferson  county, 
on  the  second  Monday  in  November;  second  division,  at  Springfield, 
on  the  third  Monday  in  December;  third  division,  at  Ottawa,  La 
Salle  county,  on  the  first  Monday  in  February. 

Circuit  Courts.* 


CIR- 
CDIT. 

NAME  OF  JUDGE. 

RESIDENCE. 

sal'ry. 

PROS.  ATTORNEY. 

RESIDENCE. 

SALARY. 

1. 

D.  M.  Woodson, 

Greene  co. 

SIOOO 

Cyrus  Epley, 

Morgan  co. 

$500  &  fees. 

2. 

Sidney  Breese, 

St.  Clair  co. 

" 

Wm.  H'.  Snyder, 

St.  Clair  co. 

3. 

W'm.  K.  Parish, 

Franklin  co. 

a 

Jno.  A.  Logan, 

Jackson  co. 

4. 

Justin  Harlan, 

Clarke  oo. 

" 

A.  Kitchell, 

Richland  co. 

5. 

P.  H.  Walker, 

Schuyler  co. 

" 

Jno.  S.  Bailey, 

McDonough  co. 

6. 

J.  W.  Drury, 

Kock  Island  CO. 

" 

Wm.  T.  Miller, 

Carroll  co. 

7. 

Geo.  Mainene, 

Cook  CO. 

" 

Daniel  Mcllroy, 

Cook  CO. 

8. 

David  Davis, 

McLean  co. 

« 

A.  M.  Williams, 

Sangamon  co. 

9. 

M.  E.  Hollister, 

La  Salle  co. 

" 

W.  H.L.Wallace. 

La  Salle  co. 

10. 

J.I.  Thompson, 

Mercer  co. 

" 

Wm.  C.  Grudy, 

fultou  CO. 

11. 

S.  W.  Kandall, 

Will  CO. 

" 

S.  W.  Bowen, 

Will  CO. 

12. 

Edwin  Beeoher, 

Wayne  co. 

" 

J.  S.  Piobinson, 

White  CO. 

13. 

Isaac  G.  Wilson, 

Kane  co. 

" 

M.  W.  Boyce, 

Boone  co. 

14. 

B.  R.  Sheldon, 

Jo  Daviess  co. 

" 

Wm.  Brown, 

Winnebago  co. 

15. 

Jos.  Sibley, 

Hancock  co. 

« 

C.  A.  Warren, 

Adams  co. 

16. 

Onslow  Peters, 

Peoria  co. 

« 

E.  G.  Johnson, 

Peoria  co. 

17. 

Chas.  Emerson, 

Macon  co. 

" 

G.  Rust, 

Macon  co. 

Cook  County  Common  Pleas. — John  M.  Wilson,  Judge.  Term  ends,  1857. 
Salary,  $1000  and  fees.     Walter  Kimball,  Clerk. 

Recorder'' s  Court  of  the  City  of  Chicago. — Robert  S.  Wilson,  Judge.  Term 
ends,  1858.  Salary,  $2200  and  fees.  Daniel  Mcllroy,  Prosecuting  Attorney. 
Term  ends,  1856.  Salary,  $500  and  fees.  Phihp  A.  Hoyne,  Clerk.  Term 
ends,  1858,     Fees. 

These  Courts  have  concurrent  jurisdiction  in  the  county  and  city, 
respectively,  with  the  Circuit  Court  and  Common  Pleas,  in  all  civil 
cases,  and  in  all  criminal  cases,  except  murder  and  treason.  Each 
county  has  a  County  Court,  with  jurisdiction  to  the  same  amount  as 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  but  their  business  is  chiefly  probate  matters. 


*  The  term  of  office  of  the  several  judges  ends  in  June.  1S61 ;  of  the  prosecuting  attorneys, 
November,  1856. 


166  FINANCES. 

FINANCES. 

The  debt  of  the  State,  principal  and  interest,  was,  January  1,  1855 
613,994,615.  During  the  two  years  ending  November  30,  1854, 
there  has  been  paid  of  the  public  debt,  in  addition  to  81,200,000  paid 
on  account  of  accruing  interest,  the  sum  of  $2,750,038,  making  a 
total  of  $3,950,038  paid  during  this  time,  on  account  of  the  public 
debt.  If  the  present  rate  of  taxation  is  continued,  and  the  present 
method  of  reducing  the  State  debt  followed,  it  will  be  eventually  ex- 
tinguished in  1866. 

The  receipts  into  the  treasury  for  ordinary  revenue, 
for  the  two  years  ending  November  30,  1854,* 

chiefly  from  taxes,  were $408,529  77 

Add  balance  in  the  treasury,  Dec.  1,  1852,  146,372  36 

$554,902  13 

The  expenditures  for  the  same  period,  were : 

Ordinary  expenses, $255,195  31 

Special  appropriations  and  expenditures, 269,720  85 

Old  warrants  and  miscellaneous, 961  13 

525,877  29 

Balance  in  the  treasury,  Dec.  1,  1854, $29,024  84 

Amount  of  interest  fund  tax  received  for  the  same  period,  in- 
cluding balance,  was 592,972  08 

Amount  of  warrants  issued  for  payment  of  interest  cancelled, ...  528,294  66 

Amount  received  for  liquidation  of  State  debt,  including  balance,  963,708  37 

Warrants  for  pro  rata  payments  of  State  indebtedness  cancelled,  544,555  50 

The  total  assessed  value  of  property  in  the  State  in  1852,  was 
$149,294,805;  in  1853,  $225,159,633.  Rate  of  taxation  on  each 
$100:  in  1852,  60 J  cents;  in  1853,  49 J  cents.     During  the  two 

*  The  following  letter  of  the  State  Treasurer  to  the  Chicago  Tribune,  gives  the  total  amount 
paid  by  the  people  into  the  treasury  in  1855 : 

Treasueer's  Office,  Springfield,  Dec.  14,  1855. 

Editors  of  the  Tribune : — Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  send  you  the  amount  of  payments 
into  the  treasury,  from  1st  January  to  30th  November,  1855,  upon  the  assessment  of  1854, 
aJone,  as  follows : 

Revenue  purposes, $288,586  78 

state  debt  (2  mills  tax), 478,753  56 

Interest  fund, 358,757  32 

Total  receipts  for  1855, $1,126,077  56 

Very  respectfully,  &c.,  John  Moore, 

Treasurer  of  the  State  of  lUinoia. 


FINANCES.  167 

years  8280,894.06  were  received  from  the  sale  of  80,126.04  acres  of 
land  belonging  to  the  State,  and  48,598.15  acres  remained  unsold, 
December  1,  1854. 

Amount  of  funds  devoted  to  Common  Schools,  December  10, 1854 : 

Three  per  cent,  on  net  proceeds  of  public  lands  (ex- 
cept one-sixth), $463,490  93 

Surplus  revenue  from  the  United  States,  335,592  32 

—  $799,083  25 

There  are,  besides : 

The  College  Fund,  being  one-sixth  of  the  three  per 

cent,  fund,  $92,082  IC 

The  Seminary  Fund,  i.  e.  proceeds  of  sales  of  semi- 
nary lands, 59,738  72 

152,420  82 

Making,  devoted  to  purposes  of  education, $951,504  07 

The  whole  of  this  sum  has  been  borrowed  or  appropriated  by  the 
State,  and  devoted  to  pay  the  current  expenses  of  the  government. 
The  State  pays  six  per  cent,  interest  on  the  amount.  The  interest  of 
the  Common  School  Fund  for  1853,  was  $57,090.25,  which,  except 
one-fourth  of  one  per  cent.  ($2,378.76)  paid  to  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
Asylum,  was  divided  among  the  several  counties,  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  white  children  under  the  age  of  21. 

Besides  this  State  fund,  there  are  county  and  township  funds.  The 
value  of  the  county  funds  is  estimated  at  $50,000 ;  of  the  township 
funds,  $1,952,090.51  J  which  would  make  a  total  principal  of 
$2,953,594.58.  The  interest  on  the  State  fund  is  at  6  per  cent. ;  on 
county  and  township  funds,  at  10  per  cent. ;  total  net  proceeds  of 
interest,  $196,281.54. 


LAWS. 


LAND   TITLES. 

The  following  are  the  provisions  of  the  Revised  Statutes  concerning 
the  regulation  of  estates  and  land  :  — 

Livery  of  seisin  shall  in  no  case  be  necessary  for  the  conveyance  of  real 
property;  but  every  deed,  mortgage,  or  other  conveyance  in  writing,  signed 
and  sealed  by  the  party  making  the  same  (the  maker  or  makers  being  of  full 
age,  sound  mind,  discovert,  at  large,  and  not  in  duress),  shall  be  suf&cient, 
without  livery  of  seisin,  for  the  giving,  granting,  selling,  mortgaging,  leasing, 
or  otherwise  conveying  or  transfei-ring  any  lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments 
in  this  state,  so  as,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  absolutely  and  fully  to  vest  in 
every  donee,  grantee,  bargainee,  mortgagee,  lessee,  or  purchaser,  all  such 
estate  or  estates  as  shall  be  si^ecified  in  any  such  deed,  mortgage,  lease,  or 
other  conveyance.  Nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  divest 
or  defeat  the  older  or  better  estate  or  right  of  any  person  or  persons  not  a 
party  to  any  such  deed,  mortgage,  lease,  or  other  conveyance.  (R.  S.  lOii, 
Sec.  1.) 

Every  estate,  feoffment,  gift,  grant,  deed,  mortgage,  lease,  release,  or  con- 
firmation of  lands,  tenements,  rents,  services,  or  hereditaments,  made  or  had, 
or  hereafter  to  be  made  or  had,  by  any  person  or  persons,  being  of  full  age, 
sound  mind,  discovert,  at  large,  and  not  in  duress,  to  any  person  or  persons, 
and  all  recoveries,  judgments,  and  executions  had  or  made,  or  to  be  had  or 
made,  shall  be  good  and  effectual  to  him,  her,  or  them,  to  whom  it  is  or  shall 
be  made,  had,  or  given,  and  to  all  others ;  to  his,  her,  or  their  use,  against 
the  judgment-debtor,  seller,  feoffor,  donor,  grantor,  mortgagor,  lessor,  releasor, 
or  confirmer,  and  against  his,  her,  or  their  heirs  or  heir  claiming  the  same 
only  as  heir  or  heirs,  and  every  of  them,  and  against  all  others  having  or 
claiming  any  title  or  interest  in  the  same  only  to  the  use  of  the  same  judgment- 
debtor,  seller,  feoffor,  donor,  grantor,  mortgagor,  lessor,  releasor,  or  confirmer, 
or  his,  her,  or  their  said  heirs,  at  the  time  of  the  judgment,  execution,  bar- 
gain, sale,  mortgage,  covenant,  lease,  release,  gift,  or  grant  made.  (R.  S., 
page  103,  Sec.  2.) 

Where  any  person  or  persons  stand  or  be  seized,  or  at  any  time  hereafter 
shall  stand  or  be  seized,  of  and  in  any  messuages,  lands,  tenements,  rents, 
services,  reversions,  remainder,  or  other  hereditaments,  to  the  use,  confidence, 

(168) 


LAWS.  169 

or  trust  of  any  other  person  or  persons,  or  of  any  body  politic,  by  reason  of 
any  bargain,  sale,  feoffment,  fine,  recovery,  covenant,  contract,  agreement, 
vrill,  or  otherwise,  by  any  manner  of  means  wliatsoever ;  in  every  such  case, 
all  and  every  such  person  or  persons  and  bodies  politic  that  have,  or  hereafter 
shall  have,  any  such  use,  confidence,  or  trust  in  fee  simple,  for  terms  of  life, 
or  for  years,  or  otherwise,  or  any  use,  confidence,  or  trust  in  remainder  or 
reversion,  shall  from  thenceforth  stand  and  be  seized,  deemed,  and  adjudged 
in  lawful  seisin,  estate,  and  possession  of  and  in  the  same  messuages,  lauds, 
tenements,  rents,  services,  reversions,  remainders,  and  hereditaments,  with 
their  appurtenances,  to  all  intents,  constructions,  and  pm-poses  in  law,  of  and 
in  such  like  estates  as  they  had  or  shall  have  in  use,  confidence,  or  trust  of  or 
in  the  same ;  and  that  the  estate,  right,  title,  and  possession  that  was  or  shall 
be  in  such  person  or  persons  that  was  or  hereafter  shall  be  seized  of  any  lands, 
tenements,  or  hereditaments  to  the  use,  confidence,  or  trust  of  any  person  or 
persons,  or  of  any  body  politic,  be  from  henceforth  clearly  deemed  and  adjudged 
to  be  in  him,  her,  or  them  that  have  or  hereafter  shall  have  such  use,  confi- 
dence, or  trust,  after  such  quality,  manner,  form,  and  condition  as  they  had 
before  in  or  to  the  use,  confidence,  or  trust  that  was  or  shall  be  in  them. 
(R.  S.,  p.  103,  Sec.  3.) 

Any  person  claiming  right  or  title  to  lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments, 
although  he,  she,  or  they  may  be  out  of  possession,  and  notwithstanding  there 
may  be  an  adverse  possession  thereof,  may  sell,  convey  and  tranfer  his  or  her 
interest  in  and  to  the  same  in  as  full  and  complete  a  manner  as  if  he  or  she 
•were  in  the  actual  possession  of  the  lands  and  premises  intended  to  be  con- 
veyed, and  the  gi-antee  or  grantees  shall  have  the  same  right  of  action  for  the 
recovery  thereof,  and  shall  in  all  respects  derive  the  same  benefits  and  advan- 
tages therefrom,  as  if  the  grantor  or  grantors  had  been  in  the  actual  possession 
at  the  time  of  executing  the  conveyance.     (R.  S.,  p.  103,  Sec.  4.) 

No  estate  in  joint  tenancy  in  any  lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments  shall 
be  held  or  claimed  under  any  grant,  devise,  or  conveyance  whatsoever  hereto- 
fore or  hereafter  made,  other  than  to  executors  and  trustees,  unless  the  pre- 
mises therein  mentioned  shall  expressly  be  thereby  declared  to  pass,  not  in 
tenancy  in  common,  but  in  joint  tenancy;  and  every  such  estate,  other  than 
to  executors  or  trustees,  (unless  otherwise  expressly  declared,  as  aforesaid,) 
shall  be  deemed  to  be  in  tenancy  in  common.     (R.  S.,  p.  103,  Sec.  5.) 

In  cases  where  by  the  common  law  any  person  or  persons  might  hereafter 
become  seized  in  fee  tail  of  any  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments  by  virtue 
of  any  devise,  gift,  grant,  or  other  conveyance  hereafter  to  be  made,  or  by  any 
Other  means  whatsoever,  such  person  or  persons,  instead  of  being  or  becoming 
seized  thereof  in  fee  tail,  shaU  be  deemed  and  adjudged  to  be  and  become 
seized  thereof  for  his  or  her  natural  life  only,  and  the  remainder  shall  pass  in 
fee  simple  absolute  to  the  person  or  persons  to  whom  the  estate  tail  would,  on 

15 


170  LAWS. 

the  death  of  the  first  grantee,  devisee,  or  donee  in  tail,  first  pass  according  to 
the  course  of  the  common  law  by  yirtue  of  such  debase,  gift,  grant,  or  convey- 
ance.    (R.  S.,  p.  104,  Sec.  6.) 

If  any  person  shall  sell  and  convey  to  another  by  deed  or  conveyance  pur- 
porting to  convey  an  estate  in  fee  simple  absolute  in  any  tract  of  land  or  real 
estate  lying  and  being  in  this  state,  not  then  being  possessed  of  the  legal 
estate  or  interest  therein  at  the  time  of  the  sale  and  conveyance,  but  after 
such  sale  and  conveyance  the  vendor  shall  become  possessed  of  and  confirmed 
in  the  legal  estate  to  the  land  or  real  estate  so  sold  and  conveyed,  it  shall  be 
taken  and  held  to  be  in  trust  and  for  the  use  of  the  grantee  or  vendee,  and 
the  conveyance  aforesaid  shall  be  held  and  taken,  and  shall  be  as  valid  as  if  +he 
grantor  or  vendor  had  the  legal  estate  or  interest  at  the  time  of  said  sale  or 
conveyance.     (R.  S.,  p.  104,  Sec.  7.) 

Every  person  in  the  actual  possession  of  lands  or  tenements  under  claim  and 
color  of  title  made  in  good  faith,  and  who  shall  for  seven  successive  years  con- 
tinue in  such  possession,  and  shall  also  during  said  time  pay  all  taxes  legally 
assessed  on  such  lands  or  tenements,  shall  be  held  and  adjudged  to  be  the 
legal  owner  of  said  lands  or  tenements  to  the  extent  and  according  to  the  pur- 
port of  his  or  her  paper  title.  All  persons  holding  under  such  possession  by 
pui'chase,  devise,  or  descent  before  said  seven  years  shall  have  expired,  and 
■who  shall  continue  such  possession,  and  continue  to  pay  the  taxes  as  aforesaid, 
so  as  to  complete  the  possession  and  payment  of  taxes  for  the  term  aforesaid, 
shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  this  section.     (R.  S.,  p.  104,  Sec.  8.) 

Whenever  a  person  having  color  of  title,  made  in  good  faith,  to  vacant  and 
unoccupied  land,  shall  pay  all  taxes  legally  assessed  thereon  for  seven  succes- 
sive years,  he  or  she  shall  be  deemed  and  adjudged  to  be  the  legal  owner  of 
said  vacant  and  unoccupied  land,  to  the  extent  and  according  to  the  purport 
of  his  or  her  paper  title.  AH  persons  holding  under  such  tax  payer  by  pur- 
chase, devise,  or  descent  before  said  seven  years  shall  have  expired,  and  who 
shall  continue  to  pay  the  taxes  as  aforesaid,  so  as  to  complete  the  payment  of 
taxes  for  the  term  aforesaid,  shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  this  section :  ' 
Provided,  however,  if  any  person  having  a  better  paper  title  to  said  vacant 
and  unoccupied  land  shall,  during  the  said  term  of  seven  years,  pay  the  taxes 
assessed  on  said  land  for  any  one  or  more  years  of  the  said  term  of  seven 
years,  then  and  in  that  case  such  tax  payer,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  shall  not 
be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  this  section.*     (R.  S.,  p.  104,  Sec.  9.) 

*  The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  did,  not  long  ago,  decide  a  ca?e,  which  refers  to 
the  above,  and  regarding  which  the  Chicago  Democratic  Press,  dated  Feb.  16,  1856,  contains  the 
following  letter :  — 

QcxN'CY,  February  5,  1856. 

Dear  Sir:  —  I  have  just  received  the  opinion  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in 
the  case  of  Wright  vs.  Matteson. 


LAWS.  171 

The  two  preceding  sections  shall  not  extend  to  lands  or  tenements  owned  by 
the  United  States  or  this  State,  nor  to  school  and  seminary  lands,  nor  to  lands 
held  for  the  use  of  religious  societies,  nor  to  lands  held  for  any  public  purpose, 
nor  shall  they  extend  to  lands  or  tenements  when  there  shall  be  an  adverse 
title  to  such  lands  or  tenements,  and  the  holder  of  such  adverse  title  is  under 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  insane,  imprisoned,  femme  covert,  out  of  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  employment  of  the  United  States  or  of 
this  State :  provided  such  person  shall  commence  an  action  to  recover  such 
lands  or  tenements  so  possessed  as  aforesaid  within  three  years  after  the 
several  disabilities  herein  enumerated  shall  cease  to  exist,  and  shall  prosecute 
such  action  to  judgment,  or  in  case  of  vacant  and  unoccupied  land  shall  within 
the  time  last  aforesaid  pay  to  the  person  or  persons  who  have  paid  the  same 
all  the  taxes,  with  interest  thereon  at  the  rate  of  twelve  per  cent,  per  anniim, 
that  have  been  paid  on  said  vacant  and  unoccupied  land.  (R.  S.,  p.  104, 
Sec.  10.) 

All  deeds  whereby  any  estate  of  inheritance  in  fee  simple  shall  hereafter  be 
limited  to  the  grantee  and  his  heirs  or  other  legal  representatives,  the  words 
"grant,"  "bargain,"  "sell,"  shall  be  adjudged  an  express  covenant  to  the 
grantee,  his  heirs  and  other  legal  representatives,  to  wit :  that  the  grantor 
was  seized  of  an  indefeasible  estate  in  fee  simple,  free  from  encumbrances 
done  or  suffered  from  the  grantor,  except  the  rents  and  services  that  may  be 
reserved,  as  also  for  quiet  enjoyment  against  the  grantor,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
unless  limited  by  express  words  contained  in  such  deed.  And  the  grantee,  his 
heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  may  in  any  action  assign  breaches 
as  if  such  covenants  were  expressly  inserted :  Provided,  always,  that  this  law 
shall  not  extend  to  lease  at  rack  rent,  or  leases  not  exceeding  twenty-one 
years,  where  the  actual  possession  goes  with  the  lease.  (R.  S.,  p.  105, 
Sec.  10.) 

Every  deed  conveying  real  estate  which  by  any  thing  therein  contained 


It  is  decided  in  my  favor  —  that  is,  for  Wright  —  and  is  full,  satisfactory,  and  conclusive 
Under  this  decision,  all  persons  who  have  had  possession  of  land  for  seven  years,  and  have 
paid  taxes  during  that  time,  under  any  of  our  tax  titles,  from  1823  down  to  the  present  time 
inclusive,  will  be  fully  and  completely  protected. 

The  Court  say,  that  however  inadequate  the  deed  may  he  to  carry  the  true  title  to  the  pro- 
perty, and  however  incompetent  may  have  been  the  power  of  the  grantor,  yet  a  claim  asserted 
under  such  deed  is  strictly  a  claim  under  color  of  title,  and  one  which  will  draw  to  the  pos- 
session of  the  grantee  the  protection  of  the  statutes  of  limitations.  No  matter  whether  the 
Bale  was  regular  or  irregular,  or  on  the  right  or  wrong  day,  it  is  still  color  of  title,  and  so  it  is 
if  the  party  were  in  possession  of  the  land  when  he  purchased  at  the  tax  sale  and  acquired  his 
deed.    Nor  is  it  necessary  that  he  shall  connect  with  any  source  of  title. 

If  he  possesses  in  good  order  a  deed  from  one  having  no  pretence  to  title,  it  is  the  samo 
thing.    It  is  color  of  title,  and  protected  by  the  statute. 

0.  H.  BROWNING. 


172  LAWS. 

shall  appear  to  have  been  intended  only  as  a  secm-ity  in  the  nature  of  a  mort- 
gage, though  it  be  an  absolute  conveyance  in  terms,  shall  be  considered  as  a 
mortgage.     (R.  S.,  p.  105,  Sec.  12). 

Every  estate  in  lands  which  shall  be  granted,  conveyed,  or  devised  to  one, 
although  words  heretofore  necessary  to  tranfer  an  estate  of  inheritance  be  not 
added,  shall  be  deemed  a  fee  simple  estate  of  inheritance,  if  a  less  estate  be 
not  limited  by  express  words,  or  do  not  appear  to  have  been  granted,  conveyed, 
or  devised  by  construction  or  operation  of  law.     (R.  S.,  p.  105.  Sec.  13.) 

When  an  estate  hath  been  or  shall  be  by  any  conveyance  limited  in  remain- 
der to  the  son  or  daughter,  or  to  the  use  of  the  son  or  daughter,  of  any  person, 
to  be  begotten,  such  son  or  daughter,  born  after  the  decease  of  his  or  her 
father,  shall  take  the  estate  in  the  same  manner  as  if  he  or  she  had  been  born 
in  the  lifetime  of  the  father,  although  no  estate  shall  have  been  conveyed 
to  support  the  contingent  remainder  after  his  death.  (R.  S.,  p.  105,  Sec. 
14.) 

All  aliens  residing  in  this  State  may  take  by  deed,  will,  or  otherwise,  lands 
and  tenements,  and  any  interest  therein,  and  alienate,  sell,  assign,  and  trans- 
mit the  same  to  their  heirs  or  any  other  persons,  whether  such  heirs  or  other 
persons  be  citizens  of  the  United  States  or  not,  in  the  same  manner  as  natural 
born  citizens  of  the  United  States  or  of  this  State  might  do ;  and  upon  the 
decease  of  any  alien  having  title  to  or  interest  in  any  lands  or  tenements,  such 
lands  and  tenements  shall  pass  and  descend  in  the  same  manner  as  if  such 
alien  were  a  citizen  of  the  United  States ;  but  all  such  persons  shall  have  the 
same  rights  and  remedies,  and  in  all  things  be  placed  on  the  same  footing,  as 
natural  born  citizens  and  actual  residents  of  the  United  States.  (R.  S.,  p.  47, 
Sec.  1.) 

Execution  op  Deeds  and  Mortgages. 

The  execution  of  Deeds  and  Mortgages  is  regulated  by  the  following 
provisions  of  the  Eevised  Statutes : 

Conveyances  may  be  written  or  printed,  must  set  forth  the  residence  and 
the  name  of  the  parties,  the  land,  and  the  terms  of  the  grant,  must  be  legible, 
and  upon  some  material  susceptible  of  dehvery  and  record. 

They  must  be  signed  by  the  party  or  parties  thereto.  The  provisions  of  the 
Statutes,  however,  permit  the  subscribing  of  a  deed  by  an  attorney  of  the 
grantor,  if  he  should  have  been  thereimto  authorized  by  an  instrumeut  in 
writing,  executed  and  acknowledged  by  his  principals,  with  all  the  formahties 
required  in  the  execution  of  a  deed,  and  not  otherwise. 

They  should  be  attested  by  two  subscribing  witnesses,  unless  acknowledged 
previous  to  their  delivery. 

They  must  be  sealed.     A  scrawl  of  the  pen  may  be  used  as  a  seal.     It  is 


LAWS.  173 

usual  to  flourish  an  intended  circle  at  the  right  of  the  signature,  with  the 
initials  L.  S.  inserted  in  it. 

Form  op  Acknowledgment. 

State  of  Illinois,   ") 
County  of  /    ' 

Be  it  remembered,  that  on  this  first  day  of  ,  one  thousand  eight 

hundred  and  ,  before  me,  John  Hancock,  a  notary  public,  person- 

ally appeared  John  Walker  and  Mary  his  wife,  to  me  known  to  be  the  real 
persons  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the  foregoing  conveyance,  and  seyeraUy 
acknowledged  that  they  executed  the  same,  and  the  said  Mary,  on  an  exami- 
nation separate  and  apart  from  her  husband,  having  had  the  contents  thereof 
fuUy  made  known  to  her  by  me,  acknowledged  that  she  executed  the  same, 
and  rehnquished  her  dower  to  the  lands  and  tenements  therein  mentioned, 
voluntarily,  freely,  and  without  any  compulsion  of  her  said  husband. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  notarial  seal  of  office 
the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

(Seal  of  office.)  John  Hancock,  Notary  Public. 

All  persons  of  full  age,  except  femmes  covert,  idiots,  and  lunatics,  are  enti- 
tled to  convey  real  estate,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Statute.  When  any 
married  woman  shall  join  her  husband  in  the  execution  of  a  deed  or  mortgage 
of  his  real  estate,  and  acknowledge  the  same  as  mentioned  below,  she  may 
relinquish  her  right  of  dower.     (R.  S.  106,  Sec.  17.) 

Deeds  containing  th«  words  "grant,"  "bargain,"  "sell,"  are  adjudged  to 
express  a  .covenant  to  the  grantee  and  his  heirs  and  representatives,  that  the 
grantor  was  seized  of  an  indefeasible  estate  in  fee  simple,  free  from  incum- 
brances done  or  suffered  by  the  grantor,  except  the  rents  and  devises  that  may 
be  reserved,  and  also  for  quiet  enjoyment  against  the  grantor,  his  heii's  and 
assigns,  unless  limited  by  express  words  contained  in  such  deed.  (R.  S.  105, 
Sec.  11.) 

Every  deed  conveying  real  estate,  which,  by  anything  therein  contained, 
shall  appear  to  have  been  intended  only  as  a  security  in  the  nature  of  a  mort- 
gage, though  it  be  an  absolute  conveyance  in  terms,  shall  be  considered  as  a 
mortgage.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  12.) 

Provisions  op  the  Statutes  concerning  Proof  and  Acknowledgment  op 
Deeds  and  Mortgages,  in  Illinois. 
AU  instruments  for  the  conveyance  of  real  estate  in  this  State,  or  any  inte- 
rest therein,  affecting  the  rights  of  any  person  in  law  or  equity,  must  be 
acknowledged  or  proved  before  one  of  the  following  officers,  viz. :  When 
acknowledged  or  proven  in  Illinois,  before  any  Judge,  Justice,  or  Clerk  of  any 
Court  of  Record  therein,  having  a  seal,  or  before  any  Mayor  of  a  city.  Notary 
Public,  or  Commissioner  authorized  to  take  the  acknowledgment  of  deeds, 

15* 


174  LAWS. 

Laving  a  seal,  or  any  Justice  of  the  Peace.  When  acknowledged  or  proved 
vrithout  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  within  the  United  States  or  their  territories, 
or  the  District  of  Columbia,  before  an  officer  commissioned  for  the  purpose  by 
the  Governor  of  Illinois,  in  conformity  with  the  laws  of  such  State,  Territory, 
or  District ;  provided,  that  any  Clerk  of  a  Court  of  Record  within  such  State, 
Territory,  or  District,  shall,  under  his  hand  and  the  seal  of  such  Court,  certify 
that  such  deed  or  instrument  is  executed  and  acknowledged,  or  proved,  in 
conformity  with  the  laws  of  such  State,  Territory,  or  District.  AVhen  acknow- 
ledged or  proven  without  the  United  States,  before  any  Court  of  any  Republic, 
State,  Kingdom,  or  Empire,  having  a  seal,  or  any  Mayor  or  chief  officer  of  any 
city  or  town,  having  a  seal,  or  before  any  officer  authorized,  by  the  laws  of 
Buch  foreign  country,  to  take  acknowledgments  of  conveyances  of  real  estate, 
if  he  have  a  seal,  such  deed  to  be  attested  by  the  official  seal  of  such  Court  or 
officer ;  and  in  case  such  acknowledgment  is  taken  other  than  before  a  Court 
of  Record,  or  Mayor,  or  chief  officer  of  a  town,  having  a  seal,  proof  that  the 
officer  taking  such  acknowledgment  was  duly  authorized  by  the  laws  of  his 
country  to  do  so,  shall  accompany  the  certificate  of  such  ackiiowledgmenL 
(R.  S.  105,  Sec.  16.) 

The  officer  taking  the  acknowledgment  must  certify,  that  the  person  offering 
to  make  such  acknowledgment  is  personally  known  to  him  to  be  the  real  per- 
son whose  name  is  subscribed  to  the  deed  as  having  executed  the  same,  or  that 
he  was  proved  to  be  such  by  a  credible  witness  (naming  him).  (R.  S.  107, 
Sec.  20.) 

In  case  of  married  women,  in  addition  to  the  above,  he  shall  acquaint  her 
with  the  contents  of  the  deed,  and  shall  examine  her  separately  and  apart 
from  her  husband,  whether  she  executed  the  same,  and  relinquished  her  dower 
to  the  lands  and  tenements  therein  mentioned,  voluntarily,  freely,  and  without 
compulsion  of  her  said  husband,  and  shall  certify  the  sanie  on  or  annexed  to 
the  deed.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  17.) 

Recording  of  Deeds  and  Mortgages,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

All  instruments  relating  to  or  affecting  the  title  to  real  estate  in  this  State, 
must  be  recorded  in  the  county  in  which  such  real  estate  is  situated.  (R.  S. 
108,  Sec.  22.) 

All  deeds,  mortgages,  and  other  instruments  of  writing,  which  are  required 
to  be  recorded,  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  after  the  time  of 
filing  the  same  for  record,  and  not  before,  as  to  all  creditors  and  subsequent 
purchasers,  without  notice,  and  all  such  deeds  and  title  papers  shall  be  ad- 
judged void  as  to  aU  such  creditors  and  subsequent  purchasers,  without  notice, 
nntil  the  same  shall  be  filed  for  record.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  23.) 

All  powers  of  attorney  to  convey  lands  are  required  to  be  recorded  before 
any  deed,  executed  under  the  authority  contained  in  the  power,  goes  upon 
record.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  24.) 


LAWS. 


175 


The  County  Recorder,*  biennially  elected,  commissioned  by  the  Governor, 
and  required  to  reside  at  the  county  seat,  and  to  keep  the  books  of  record,  is 
also  required  to  give  a  receipt  to  the  person  bringing  any  deed  or  writing  to 
be  recorded,  bearing  date  on  the  same  day  as  the  entry,  and  containing  the 
abstract  aforesaid,  and  for  which  entry  and  receipt  he  is  entitled  to  no  fees 
(R.  S.  432,  Sec.  7),  but  for  the  recording  he  is  entitled  to  fifteen  cents  per 
hundred  words,  and  twenty-five  cents  for  a  certificate,  that  the  same  has  been 
recorded.     (R.  S.  248,  Sec.  23.) 

All  conveyances  acknowledged  or  proven  in  the  State  before  any  Judge, 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  or  Circuit  Court,  or  before  any  Court  or  of&cer,  having 
a  seal,  and  attested  by  such  seal,  are  entitled  to  record  without  further  attesta- 
tion. But  when  acknowledged  or  proven  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  resi- 
ding within  the  State,  the  certificate  of  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  of  the  proper  county,  under  his  seal  of  office,  that  the  person  taking 
such  proof  or  acknowledgment  was"  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  time  of  taking 
the  same,  must  be  produced  to  the  Recorder;  and  when  acknowledged  or 
proved  out  of  the  State,  before  an  officer  other  than  Commissioner  of  this 
State  residing  there,  the  certificate  of  acknowledgment  or  proof  must  be  ac- 
companied with  a  certificate  of  a  Clerk  of  a  Court  of  Record  within  the  State, 
Territory,  or  District,  where  the  acknowledging  officer  resides,  under  the  hand 
of  such  clerk  and  the  seal  of  his  Court,  setting  forth  that  the  deed  or  instru- 
ment is  executed,  acknowledged,  or  proved,  in  conformity  with  the  laws  of  such 
State,  Territory,  or  District. 

The  conveyance,  certificate  of  acknowledgment  or  proof,  and  the  certificate 
of  authentication,  go  upon  record  together,  and  for  recording  the  whole  thereof 
the  Recorder  is  entitled  to  be  paid. 

Satisfaction  of  mortgages  may  be  entered  upon  record,  by  the  mortgagees, 
in  the  Recorder's  office,  and  the  record  will  thereby  be  effectually  cancelled. 
If  not  so  done,  the  cancellation  may  be  effected  by  the  mortgagees  signing  and 
sealing,  in  the  presence  of  an  attesting  witness,  and  acknowledging  in  form, 
satisfaction  thereof  in  writing ;  which  instrument,  on  being  produced  to  the 
Recorder,  is  sufficient  authority  for  him  to  discharge  the  record.  (R.  S.  110, 
Sec.  37.3 

Wills  of  Real  Estate. 

The  Statutes  of  Illinois  provide,  that  every  person  aged  twenty-one  years, 
if  a  male,  or  eighteen  years,  if  a  female,  or  upwards,  and  not  married,  being 
of  sound  mind  and  memory,  shall  have  power  to  devise  all  the  estate,  right, 


*  The  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  is  now  Recorder  of  Deeds,  and  performs  all  the  duties  fop- 
■merly  required  to  be  performed  by  the  County  Recorder,  which  office  was  abolished  by  act  of 
the  Legislature  of  18i9.    (Laws  of  1849,  page  64,  Sec.  12.) 


176  LAWS. 

title,  and  inierest,  in  possession,  reversion,  or  remainder,  wliicli  he  or  slie 
hath,  or  at  the  time  of  his  or  her  death  shall  have,  of,  in,  and  to  any  lands, 
tenements,  hereditaments,  annuities,  or  rents  charged  upon  or  issuing  out  of 
them,  or  goods  and  chattels,  or  personal  estate  of  every  description  whatso- 
ever, by  will  or  testament ;  all  persons  of  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  of 
sound  mind  and  memory  (married  women  excepted),  have  power  to  dispose 
of  their  personal  estate,  by  will  or  testament ;  and  married  women  have  power 
to  dispose  of  their  separate  estate,  both  real  and  personal,  by  wiU  or  testa- 
ment, in  the  same  manner  as  other  persons.     (R.  S.  536,  Sec.  1.) 

Wills,  testaments,  and  codicils,  by  which  any  lands,  tenements,  heredita- 
ments, annuities,  rents,  or  goods  and  chattels  are  devised,  shall  be  reduced  to 
writing,  and  signed  by  the  testator  or  testatrix,  or  by  some  person  in  his  or 
her  presence,  or  by  his  or  her  dii-ection,  and  attested  in  the  presence  of  the 
testator  or  testatrix,  by  two  or  more  credible  witnesses.  If  the  testator  be 
unable  to  write,  his  mark  affixed  wiU  suffice  for  a  signature,  if  accompanied 
with  the  declaration,  that  the  same  is  his  mark ;  if  another  wi'ite  his  name  by 
his  direction,  the  same  must  be  done  in  his  presence,  otherwise  such  signature 
■will  be  invalid.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  2.) 

Wills  may  or  may  not  contain  a  provision  for  the  appointment  of  executors 
thereof.  If  they  contain  no  appointment,  the  Court  which  admits  them  to 
probate  has  the  power  to  supply  the  omission,  by  appointing  an  administrator, 
with  the  will  annexed. 

In  no  case,  where  any  testator  or  testatrix  shall,  by  his  or  her  wiU,  appoint 
his  or  her  debtor  to  be  his  or  her  executor  or  executrix,  shall  such  appoint- 
ment operate  as  a  release  or  extinguishment  of  any  debt  due  from  such  exe- 
cutor or  executrix  to  such  testator  or  testatrix,  imless  the  testator  or  testatrix 
shall,  in  such  will,  expressly  declare  his  or  her  intention  to  devise  or  release 
such  debt ;  nor  even  in  that  case,  unless  the  estate  of  such  testator  or  testatrix 
is  sufficient  to  discharge  the  whole  of  his  or  her  just  debts,  over  and  above  the 
debt  due  from  such  executor  or  executrix.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  12.) 

If,  after  making  a  last  will  and  testament,  a  child  or  children  shall  be  born 
to  any  testator  or  testatrix,  and  no  provision  be  made  in  such  will  for  such 
child  or  children,  the  will  shall  not,  on  that  account,  be  revoked,  but  unless  it 
shall  appear  by  such  will,  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  testator  or  testatrix 
to  disinherit  such  child  or  children,  the  devises  and  legacies  by  such  wiU 
granted  and  given  shall  be  abated  in  equal  proportions,  to  raise  a  portion  for 
such  child  or  children,  equal  to  that  which  such  child  or  children  would  have 
been  entitled  to  receive  out  of  the  estate  of  such  testator  or  testatrix,  if  he  or 
she  had  died  intestate.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  13.) 

^Vhenever  a  devisee  or  legatee  in  any  last  wiU  and  testament,  being  a  child 
or  grandchild  of  the  testator  or  testatrix,  shall  die  before  such  testator  or  tes- 
tatrix, and  no  provision  shall  be  made  for  such  contingency,  the  issue  of  such 
devisee  or  legatee  shall  take  the  estate  devised  and  bequeathed,  and  if  there 


LAWS.  .177 

be  no  such  issue  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  such  testator  or  testatrix,  the 
estate  disposed  of  by  such  devise  or  legacy  shall  be  considered  and  treated  in 
all  respects  as  intestate  estate.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  14.) 

Codicils  must  be  executed  in  the  same  manner  as  "wiUs,  and  no  will,  testa- 
ment, or  codicil,  shall  be  revoked  otherwise  than  by  burning,  cancelling,  tear- 
ing, or  obhterating  the  same  by  the  testator  himself,  or  in  his  presence,  by  his 
direction  or  consent,  or  by  some  other  will,  testament,  or  codicil  in  wiiting, 
declaring  the  same,  signed  by  the  testator  or  testatrix,  in  the  presence  of  two 
or  more  witnesses,  and  by  them  attested  in  his  or  her  presence,  and  no  words 
spoken  shall  revoke  or  annul  any  will,  testament,  or  codicU  in  writing,  executed 
as  aforesaid,  in  due  form  of  law.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  15.) 

Every  devise  of  land  or  any  estate  therein,  by  a  married  man,  shall  bar  his 
surviving  widow's  right  of  dower  therein,  unless  otherwise  expressed  in  the 
will,  but  she  may  elect  whether  she  will  take  such  devise  or  bequest,  or  whether 
she  will  renounce  the  benefit  of  such  devise  or  bequest,  and  take  her  dower  in 
the  lands.  And  she  will  be  deemed  to  have  elected  to  such  jointure  or  devise, 
unless  within  one  year  after  the  authentication  or  probate  of  the  will,  she  shall 
deliver  or  transmit  to  the  Court  of  Probate  of  the  proper  county,  a  written 
renunciation.     (R.  S.  199,  Sec.  11.) 

'  The  Peobate  and  Recording  of  Wills. 

When  any  will,  testament,  or  codicil  shall  be  exhibited  in  the  Court  of  Pro- 
bate* for  probate  thereof,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  court  to  receive  the  pro- 
bate of  the  same  without  delay,  and  to  grant  letters  testamentary  thereon  to 
the  person  or  persons  entitled,  and  to  do  all  other  needful  acts  to  enable  the 
parties  concerned  to  make  settlement  of  the  estate  at  as  early  a  day  as  shall 
be  consistent  with  the  rights  of  the  respective  persons  interested  therein: 
provided,  however,  that  if  any  person  interested  shall  within  five  years  after 
the  probate  of  any  such  will,  testament,  or  codicil,  in  the  Coui't  of  Probate  as 
aforesaid,  appear,  and  by  his  or  her  bill  in  chancery  contest  the  vahdity  of  the 
same,  an  issue  at  law  shaU  be  made  up,  whether  the  Avriting  produced  be  the 
will  of  the  testator  or  testatrix  or  not ;  which  shall  be  tried  by  a  jury,  in  the 
Circuit  Court  of  the  county  wherein  such  will,  testament,  or  codicil  shall  have 
been  proved  and  recorded  as  aforesaid,  according  to  the  practice  in  courts  of 


*  The  County  Court  is  invested  with  all  of  the  powers  and  jui-isdiction  formerly  exercised  by 
the  Probate  Court,  which  is  now  abolished.    (Laws  of  111.,  p.  65,  Sec.  13.) 

The  County  Court  was  created  by  the  same  act  by  which  the  Probate  Court  was  abolished 
and  holds  its  sessions  for  the  transaction  of  business  at  the  Court-house,  or  usual  place  ot 
holding  courts  in  the  several  counties,  on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month,  except  the  month.? 
of  December,  March,  June,  and  September,  and  on  the  third  Mondays  of  said  months,  and 
continues  open  day  by  day,  until  all  the  business  before  it  be  disposed  of. 

M 


178  LAWS. 

chancery  in  similar  cases ;  but  if  no  such  person  shall  appear  within  the  time 
aforesaid,  the  probate  as  aforesaid  shall  be  forever  binding  and  conclusive  on  all 
the  parties  concerned,  saving  to  infants,  femmes  covert,  persons  not  compos 
mentis  or  absent  from  the  State,  the  like  period  after  the  removal  of  their 
respective  disabilities.  And  in  all  such  trials  by  jury,  as  aforesaid,  the  certi- 
ficate of  the  oaths  of  the  witnesses  at  the  time  of  the  first  probate  shall  be 
admitted  as  evidence,  and  to  have  such  weight  as  the  jury  shall  think  it  may 
deserve.     (R.  S.,  p.  537,  Sec.  6.) 

On  the  probate  of  any  will  at  least  two  credible  attesting  witnesses  are 
required  to  be  sworn  and  examined,  and  before  the  same  can  be  admitted  to 
record  such  witnesses  must  have  declared,  on  oath  or  affirmation,  that  they 
were  present  and  saw  the  testator  or  testatrix  sign  said  will,  testament,  or 
codicil  in  their  presence,  and  heard  him  or  her  acknowledge  the  same  to  be  his 
or  her  act  and  deed ;  and  they  believed  the  testator  or  testatrix  to  be  of  sound 
mind  and  memory  at  the  time  of  signing  or  acknowledging  the  same.  (R.  S., 
p.  536,  Sec.  2.) 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  and  every  witness  to  any  will,  testament,  or 
codicil,  made  and  executed  in  this  State  as  aforesaid,  to  be  and  appear  before 
the  Court  of  Probate  on  the  regular  day  for  probate  of  such  will,  testament, 
or  codicil,  to  testify  of  and  concerning  the  execution  and  validity  of  the  same, 
and  the  said  Court  of  Probate  shall  have  power  and  authority  to  attach  and 
punish  by  fine  and  imprisonment,  or  either,  any  witness  who  shall,  without  a 
reasonable  excuse,  fail  to  appear  when  duly  summoned  for  the  purpose  afore- 
said ;  provided  the  said  punishment  by  imprisonment  shall  in  no  case  exceed 
the  space  of  twenty  days,  nor  shall  a  greater  fine  be  assessed  for  any  such 
default  than  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars. 

When  any  will,  testament,  or  codicil  shall  be  produced  tfl  the  Coxirt  of  Pro- 
bate for  probate  of  the  same,  and  any  witness  attesting  such  will,  testament, 
or  codicil  shall  reside  without  the  limits  of  this  State,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the 
Probate  Justice  to  issue  a  dedimus  poleslatem,  or  commission  annexed  to  such 
will,  testament,  or  codicil,  directed  to  some  judge,  justice  of  the  peace,  mayor, 
or  other  chief  magistrate  of  the  city,  town,  or  corporation,  or  county  where 
such  witness  may  be  found,  authorizing  the  taking  and  certifying  of  his  or 
her  attestation  in  due  form  of  law.  And  if  the  person  to  whom  any  such  com- 
mission shall  be  directed,  shall  certify  in  the  manner  that  such  acts  are  usually 
authenticated,  that  the  witness  personally  appeared  before  him  and  made  oath 
or  affirmation  that  the  testator  or  testatrix  signed  and  published^  the  writing 
annexed  to  such  commission  as  his  or  her  last  wiR  and  testament ;  or,  that 
some  other  person  signed  it  by  his  or  her  direction,  that  he  or  she  subscribed 
his  or  her  name  as  a  witness  thereto  in  the  presence  of  the  testator  or  testa- 
trix, and  at  his  or  her  request ;  such  oath  or  affirmation  shall  have  the  same 
operation,  and  the  will  shall  be  admitted  to  probate  in  like  manner,  as  if  such 


LAWS.  179 

oath  or  afSrmation  had  beea  made  in  the  Court  of  Probate  from  whence  such 
commission  issued.     (R.  S.,'p.  537,  Sec.  4.) 

Any  will,  testament,  and  codicil,  or  authenticated  copies  thereof,  proven 
according  to  the  laws  of  any  of  the  United  States  or  Territories  thereof,  or  of 
any  country  out  of  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  and  touching  or  concerning 
estates  within  this  State,  accompanied  with  a  certificate  of  the  proper  officer 
or  ofiicers  that  such  will,  testament,  codicil,  or  copy  thereof,  was  duly  executed 
and  proved  agreeebly  to  the  laws  and  usages  of  that  State  or  country  in  which 
the  same  was  executed,  shall  be  recorded  as  aforesaid,  and  shall  be  good  and 
available  in  law,  in  like  manner  as  wills  made  and  executed  in  this  State. 
(R.  S.,  p.  538,  Sec.  8.) 

Form  of  Attestation. 

Signed,  sealed,  published,  and  declared,  by  the  said  John  Warren,  as  and 
for  his  last  will  and  testament,  in  the  presence  of  us,  who,  at  the  request  of 
the  said  John  Warren,  and  in  his  presence,  and  in  the  presence  of  each  other, 
have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  and  respective  places  of  residence,  as 
witnesses. 

[Names.)  (Residences.) 

JOHN  WALTER, 

JOHN  GRIFFITH, 

I  Title  to  Real  Estate  by  Inheritance. 

The  Statutes  provide  that  the  estates,  both  real  and  personal,  of  resident  or 
non-resident  proprietors  dying  intestate,  or  whose  estates  or  any  part  thereof 
shall  be  deemed, and  taken  as  intestate  estate,  and  after  all  just  debts  and 
claims  against  such  estates  shall  be  paid  as  aforesaid,  shall  descend  to  and  be 
distributed  to  his  or  her  children  and  their  descendants  in  equal  parts :  the 
descendants  of  a  deceased  child  or  grandchild  taking  the  share  of  their 
deceased  parent  in  equal  parts  among  them;  and  when  there  shall  be  no 
children  of  the  intestate,  nor  descendants  of  such  children,  and  no  widows, 
then  to  the  parents,  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  deceased  person  and  their 
descendants  in  equal  parts  among  them,  allowing  to  each  of  the  parents,  if 
living,  a  child's  part,  or  to  the  survivor  of  them,  if  one  be  dead,  a  double  por- 
tion ;  and  if  there  be  no  parent  living,  then  to  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  the 
intestate  and  their  descendants.  When  there  shall  be  a  widow  and  no  child 
or  children,  or  descendants  of  a  child  or  children  of  the  intestate,  then  the 
one-half  of  the  real  estate  and  the  whole  of  the  personal  estate  shall  go  to  such 
Tvidow  as  her  exclusive  estate  forever,  subject  to  her  absolute  disposition  and 
control,  to  be  governed  in  all  respects  by  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as 
are  or  may  be  provided  in  case  of  estates  of  femme  sole  :  if  there  be  no  chil- 
dren of  the  intestate,  or  descendants  of  such  children,  and  no  parents,  brothers  or 
eisters,  or  descendants  of  brothers  and  sisters,  and  no  widow,  then  such  estate 


180  LAWS. 

shall  descend  in  equal  parts  to  the  next  of  kin  to  the  intestate  in  equal  degree, 
computing  by  the  rules  of  the  civil  law ;  and  there  shall  be  no  representation 
among  collaterals,  except  with  the  descendants  of  the  brothers  and  sisters  of 
the  intestate ;  and  in  no  case  shall  there  be  a  distinction  between  the  kindred 
of  the  whole  and  the  half  blood :  saving  to  the  widow  in  all  cases  her  dower, 
as  provided  by  law.     (R.  S.,  p.  545,  Sec.  46.) 

When  any  femme  covert  shall  die  intestate,  leaving  no  child  or  children,  or 
descendants  of  a  child  or  children,  then  the  one-half  of  the  real  estate  of  the 
decedent  shall  descend  and  go  to  her  husband,  as  his  exclusive  estate  forever. 
(R.  S.,  p.  546,  Sec.  47.) 

Upon  the  decease  of  any  alien,  having  title  to  or  interest  in  any  lands  or 
tenements,  such  lands  and  tenements  shall  pass  and  descend  in  the  same 
manner  as  if  such  alien  were  a  citizen  of  the  United  States;  and  it  shall 
be  no  objection  to  any  person  having  an  interest  in  such  estate,  that  they  are 
not  citizens  of  the  United  States,  but  all  such  persons  shall  have  the  same 
rights  and  remedies,  and  in  all  things  be  placed  on  the  same  footing  as  natui-al 
born  citizens  and  actual  residents  of  the  United  States.  (R.  S.,  p.  48, 
Sec.  1.) 

It  is  further  provided,  that  if  any  person  shall  die  seized  of  any  real  estate, 
without  having  devised  the  same,  and  leaving  no  heirs  or  representatives 
capable  of  inheriting  the  same,  or  the  devisees  thereof  capable  of  holding 
the  same,  such  estate  shall  escheat  to  and  vest  in  the  State.  (R.  S.,  p.  225, 
Sec.  1.) 

The  Levy  and  Collection  of  Land  Taxes. 

All  real  estate  within  the  State  is  liable  to  taxation,  except  such  as  belongs 
to  the  State  or  to  the  United  States ;  lands  sold  by  the  United  States  within  the 
preceding  five  years ;  lands  belonging  to  township  school-funds ;  lands  whereon 
any  school-house,  court-house,  or  jail,  shall  have  been  erected;  lands  not  ex- 
ceeding five  acres,  whereon  any  county  buildings  are  situated ;  not  exceeding 
ten  acres,  whereon  any  church  shall  have  been  erected ;  burial  grounds,  not 
exceeding  ten  acres,  and  grounds  on  which  any  building  belonging  to  any 
literary,  rehgious,  benevolent,  charitable,  or  scientific  institution,  shall  be 
situated,  not  exceeding  ten  acres. 

The  Statutes  invest  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  with  the  power  to 
levy  taxes  in  their  respective  counties  for  county  purposes,  under  the  restric- 
tions that  they  shall  not,  unless  specially  authorized  by  law,  levy  a  tax  that 
shall  exceed  four  mills  on  each  dollar's  worth  of  property. 

The  Treasurer,  in  the  capacity  of  Assessor,  upon  the  receipt  of  such  tran- 
script and  list,  is  required  to  prepare  a  list  of  all  taxable  property  within  his 
county,  and  to  proceed  to  assess  the  value  thereof  by  going  to  the  place  of 
residence  of  such  owner  of  taxable  property  within  his  county.  And  if  he 
Bhall  deem  it  necessary,  he  may  require  every  owner  of  taxable  property  "  to 


LAWS.  181 

give  in  under  oath,  either  by  himself  or  agent,  a  list  and  description  of  all  his 
taxable  lands,  by  townships,  ranges,  quarter  sections,  tracts,  lots,  or  parts 
thereof,  and  the  number  in  each  tract,  with  the  improvements  thereon ;  all 
town  lots,  with  the  improvements  thereon;  all  pleasure  carriages,  whether 
with  two  or  four  wheels;  all  horses,  mares,  jacks,  jennies,  mules,  indentured 
servants,  neat  cattle,  ships  and  vessels,  stocks,  money  on  hand  and  at  interest, 
household  fui-niture,  and  every  other  description  of  personal  property ;  all  capital 
employed  each  year  in  merchandising,  adopting  as  a  criterion  the  value  of  the 
greatest  amount  of  goods  on  hand  at  any  time  in  the  year:  and  he  (the  As- 
sessor) shall,  in  the  presence  of  such  person,  enter  the  same  in  his  book,  and 
value  each  ti'act  or  lot  separately,  and  each  sj^ecies  of  personal  propei-ty  sepa- 
rately, placing  the  description  and  value  in  figures  opposite  the  name  of  tl?e 
person  owning  or  listing  the  same ;  provided,  that  unimproved  town-lots  may 
be  hsted  and  assessed  in  blocks.     (R.  S.,  p.  439,  Sec.  16.) 

The  minimum  value  of  all  lands  in  this  State,  for  the  purposes  of  taxation, 
is  three  dollars  per  acre. 

If  any  Assessor  shall  be  unable  to  find  the  owner  of  any  lands  or  lots  con- 
tained in  his  list,  he  shall  value  the  same  according  to  the  best  information  he 
can  procure,  and  enter  the  same  on  his  hst  in  the  name  of  the  patentee  or 
present  owner,  if  known.     (R.  S.,  p.  440,  Sec.  17.) 

If  any  person  shall  give  a  false  or  fraudulent  list,  or  refuse  to  deliver  to  the 
Assessor,  when  called  on  for  that  purpose,  a  list  of  his  or  her  taxable  property 
as  required  by  law,  the  said  Assessor,  as  a  penalty  therefor,  shall  assess  the 
property  of  such  person  at  double  its  value.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  18.) 

Lands  and  town  lots  owned  by  non-residents  of  the  country,  when  once 
correctly  hsted  for  taxation  by  their  owners,  shall  not  be  requii-ed  to  be  listed 
again  by  them,  tiU  a  subdivion  or  change  of  ownership  takes  place.  (R.  S. 
Sec.  20.) 

Any  person  feeling  himself  aggrieved  by  the  assessment  of  his  property 
must  apply  to  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  at  the  September  term  thereof 
next  succeeding  the  assessment;  and  if  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  by  credible 
proof,  that  the  valuation  of  the  Assessor  was  too  high,  such  court  in  its  dis- 
cretion may  order  a  reduction  ;  but  if  he  does  not  apply  at  the  said  term,  he 
will  be  concluded  by  the  assessment  as  made  by  the  Assessor. 

The  Sheriff  of  each  county  in  Illinois  is  ex  officio  Collector  of  Taxes  levied 
therein.  After  having  given  a  bond  to  the  people  of  the  State  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  his  duty  as  Collector  of  Taxes,  it  is  his  duty  to  receive  from 
the  County  Commissioners'  Clerk  the  assessed  list,  and  to  proceed  to  collect 
the  taxes  charged  on  said  hst  by  calHng  on  each  person  residing,  in  his  county, 
at  his  or  her  usual  place  of  residence,  and  requiring  payment  thereof. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  hst  by  the  Sheriff,  a  lien  upon  the  property  assessed 
attaches  for  the  tax,  and  no  sale  or  transfer  of  the  same  after  that  time  can 
defeat  or  affect  such  hen.     The  property  may  be  seized  by  the  CoUector,  and 

16 


182  LAWS. 

,  by  him  sold  to  discharge  the  taxes  and  the  costs  and  expenses  of  collection, 
(R.  S.,  Sec.  38.) 

The  statute  further  proYides,  that  in  case  any  person  shall  refuse  or  neglect 
to  pay  his  or  her  taxes  when  demanded,  or  within  ten  days  thereafter,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Collector  to  levy  the  same,  together  with  the  costs  and 
charges  that  may  accrue,  by  distress  and  sale  of  the  personal  property  of  such 
person  as  ought  to  pay  the  same,  wherever  the  same  may  be  foiuid  in  the 
county.  No  real  estate  can  be  legally  sold  for  taxes  whilst  personal  property 
can  be  found  by  the  Collector.  But  no  sale  is  valid,  unless  by  advertisement 
posted  in  at  least  three  public  places  in  the  precinct  where  such  sale  shall  take 
place,  at  least  ten  days  jDrevious  to  the  day  of  sale,  the  Collector  shall  have 
notified  the  public  of  the  time  and  place  thereof  and  the  property  to  be  sold. 
(R.  S.,  Sec.  35,  36.) 

The  sale  is  required  to  be  at  public  auction,  and  if  practicable  no  more 
property  than  is  suflBcient  to  pay  the  tax,  costs,  and  charges  due,  should  be 
sold.  "Land  shall,  if  convenient,  be  sold  in  parcels,  and  if  sold  for  more  than 
the  amount  of  the  tax,  costs,  and  charges,  the  siirplus  shall  be  retiu-ned  to  the 
owner  of  such  property."     (R.  S.,  Sec.  87.) 

State  taxes  are  required  to  be  collected  in  gold  and  silver  coin  and  Auditor's 
warrants,  and  county  taxes  in  gold  and  silver  coin,  Auditor's  warrants,  or 
jury  certificates. 

The  statute  further  provides,  that  when  any  person  owning  lands  in  any 
county  shall  fail  to  pay  the  taxes  assessed  thereon,  and  the  Collector  shall  be 
unable  to  find  any  personal  property  of  such  person  in  his  county  whereon  to 
levy,  of  a  value  sufficient  to  pay  the  taxes  and  costs,  it  is  made  the  duty  of  the 
Collector  to  make  report  thereof  to  the  Circuit  Court  of  his  county,  at  the  first 
term  thereof  in  each  year.     (R.  S.,  p.  444,  Sec.  46.) 

At  least  six  weeks'  notice  of  such  report  and  application,  however,  is  neces- 
cessary  to  be  pubhshed  in  some  newspaper  printed  in  the  said  county,  if  any 
Buch  there  be,  or  if  there  be  none,  then  in  the  nearest  newspaper  in  the  State ; 
which  notice  is  required  to  contjtin  the  names  of  the  owner  or  owners,  if  known, 
the  amount  of  the  delinquent  tax,  interest,  and  costs  due  thereon,  and  the  year 
or  years  for  which  the  same  are  due ;  and  to  mention  his  intended  appUcation 
to  the  court  for  judgment  against  said  lands,  and  for  an  order  to  sell  the  same 
for  the  satisfaction  of  such  taxes,  interest,  and  costs  ;  and  that  on  the  foui-th 
Tuesday  next  succeeding  the  day  fixed  by  law  for  the  commencement  of  the 
said  term  of  the  said  Circuit  Court,  all  the  lands  against  which  judgment  shall 
be  pronounced,  and  for  the  sale  of  which  such  order  is  required  to  be  made, 
wiU  be  exposed  to  pubhc  sale,  at  the  Court-house  of  the  said  county,  foi^ 
the  amount  of  said  taxes,  interest,  and  costs  due  thereon.  (R.  S.,  Sec. 
47.) 

Such  Circuit  Court,  at  the  term  aforesaid,  is  required  to  caU  the  docket  of 
such  cases,  and  if  upon  such  calling  any  defence  be  offered  by  any  of  the 


LAWS.  183 

owners  of  lands  delinquent  and  reported,  or  by  any  person  haying  a  claim  or 
interest  therein,  it  shall  hear  and  determine  the  same  in  a  summai'y  way, 
without  pleadings  ;  and  if  no  defence  be  made,  to  pronounce  judgment  against 
the  said  lands,  and  direct  the  Clerk  to  issue  an  order  for  their  sale.  (R.  S., 
p.  445,  Sec.  58.) 

On  the  day  specified  in  the  Collector's  notice,  it  is  the  duty  of  that  officer  to 
attend  at  the  Court-house  in  his  coxinty,  and  then  and  there,  at  the  hour  of 
ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  to  proceed  to  offer  for  sale,  separately,  each  tract 
of  land  in  the  said  list  on  which  the  taxes  and  costs  have  not  then  been  paid, 
and  the  person  offering  to  pay  the  taxes  and  costs  for  the  least  quantity  of 
land  becomes  the  purchaser  of  such  quantity,  to  be  taken  from  the  east  side 
of  the  tract.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  51.) 

Any  person  or  persons  owning  or  claiming  lands  advertised  for  sale  as  afore- 
said, may  pay  the  taxes,  interest,  and  costs  due  thereon,  to  the  collector  of  the 
county  in  which  the  same  are  situated,  at  any  time  before  the  sale  thereof. 
(R.  S.  446,  Sec.  61.) 

AVhen  purchasers  fail  to  pay  the  taxes  assessed  on  lands  designated  and 
known  as  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  lands,  sold  upon  a  credit,  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  collector  to  report  such  failure  to  the  acting  commissioner  of  the  said 
canal,  and  thenceforth  all  right,  interest,  and  title  of  the  said  purchaser  ceases, 
and  said  lands  are  not  permitted,  in  any  case,  to  be  sold  for  the  non-payment 
of  taxes,  and  any  sale,  if  made,  is  declared  to  be  absolutely  void.  (R.  S.  450, 
Sec.  94.) 

If  taxes  assessed  upon  property  as  aforesaid  shall  not  be  paid  according  to 
law,  and  it  shall  be  necessary  to  sell  the  same  for  taxes,  such  sales  shall  extend 
to  the  interest  paid  and  all  improvements  thereon,  the  simple  title  to  said  pro- 
perty still  remaining  in  the  State.     (R.  S.  590,  Sec.  2.) 

Every  tract  of  land  offered  for  sale  by  any  collector,  as  hereinbefore  provided, 
and  not  sold  for  want  of  bidders,  is  considered  as  forfeit  to  the  people,  and  the 
claims  thereto  of  the  former  owner  or  owners  utterly  transferred  to  and  vested 
in  the  State  of  Illinois ;  yet  lands  thus  forfeited  may  be  redeemed  at  any  time 
within  two  years,  by  paying  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court 
of  the  county  in  which  said  lands  may  be  situated,  double  the  amount  for 
which  such  real  estate  was  forfeited,  and  all  taxes  accruing  thereon  to  the  time 
of  redemption,  with  interest  on  each  year's  tax  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent, 
from  the  first  Monday  of  May  in  each  year  to  the  time  of  redemption.  Infants, 
femmes  covert,  and  lunatics,  may  redeem  at  any  time  within  one  year  after 
the  removal  of  such  disability  or  disabilities.     (R.  S.  449,  Sec.  78.) 

Concerning  these  lands,  it  is  provided,  that  every  two  years  from  the  first 
/Monday  of  September,  eighteen  himdred  and  forty-five,  the  Clerks  of  the 
County  Commissioners'  Coui'ts  of  the  several  counties,  respectively,  shall  cause 
them  to  be  sold  at  public  auction.  "When  any  sale  of  any  lot  thus  forfeited 
shall  be  effected,  it  is  the  duty  of  such  clerk  to  deliver  to  the  pui'chaser  a  cer- 


184  LAWS. 

tificate  of  purchase,  whicli,  on  being  presented  to  the  auditor,  entitles  the 
holder  thereof  to  a  deed,  conveying  all  the  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim  of 
the  State,  to  the  tracts  or  lots  described  in  said  certificate.  (R.  S.  450,  Sec. 
87.) 

Land  Tax,  Forfeitures,  and  Redemptions. 

The  Statute  provides,  that  real  estate  sold  for  delinquent  taxes  may  be  re- 
deemed at  any  time  before  the  expiration  of  two  years  from  the  date  of  sale, 
by  the  payment,  in  specie,  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court 
of  the  proper  county,  of  double  the  amount  for  which  the  same  was  sold,  and 
all  taxes  accruing  after  such  sale,  unless  such  subsequent  taxes  have  been 
paid  to  the  collector,  as  may  be  shown  by  the  collector's  receipt,  by  the  person 
redeeming,  with  six  per  cent,  interest  thereon  from  the  first  day  of  May  in 
each  year  up  to  the  time  of  payment ;  provided,  that  if  the  real  estate  of  any 
infant,  femme  covert,  or  lunatic,  be  sold  for  taxes,  the  same  may  be  redeemed 
at  any  time  within  one  year  after  such  disability  shall  be  removed,  upon  the 
terms  specified  in  this  section.     (R.  S.  447,  Sec.  69.) 

At  any  time  after  the  expiration  of  two  years  from  the  sale  of  any  real 
estate  for  taxes,  if  the  same  shall  not  have  been  redeemed,  the  collector,  on 
request,  and  on  the  production  of  the  certificate  of  purchase,  shall  execute 
and  deliver  to  the  purchaser,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  a  deed  of  conveyance  for  the 
real  estate  described  in  such  certificate.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  71.) 

The  deed  so  made  by  the  collector  shall  be  acknowledged  and  recorded  in 
the  same  manner  as  other  conveyances  of  real  estate,  and  shall  vest  in  the 
grantee,  his  heii'S  or  assigns,  the  title  of  the  property  therein  described.  (R. 
S.,  Sec.  72.) 

Where  purchasers  of  land  sold  for  taxes  shall  neglect  to  pay  ,the  taxes 
thereon,  and  such  land  shall  be  again  sold  for  taxes  before  the  expiration  of 
two  years  from  the  date  of  his  or  her  purchase,  such  purchaser  is  not  entitled 
to  a  deed  for  the  land  until  the  expiration  of  two  years  from  the  date  of  the 
second  sale,  during  which  time  the  land  is  subject  to  redemption  upon  the 
usual  terms,  except  that  the  person  redeeming  is  only  required  to  pay  for  the 
use  of  such  purchaser,  the  amount  paid  for  the  land,  and  double  the  amount 
paid  by  the  second  purchaser.     (R.  S.  451,  Sec.  97.) 

Limitation  of  Actions. 

All  actions  of  trespass  quare  clausum  fregit,  trespass  detinue,  trover,  and 
replevin,  for  taking  away  goods  and  chattels,  all  actions  for  arrearages  of  rent 
due  on  a  parole  demise,  and  all  actions  of  account  and  upon  the  case,  except 
actions  for  slander  and  malicious  prosecution,  and  such  as  concern  the  trade 
of  merchandise  between  merchant  and  merchant,  their  factors  or  agents,  shall 
be  commenced  within  five  years  next  after  the  cause  of  action  accrued.. 


LAWS.  185 

Actions  of  trespass  for  assault,  battery,  wounding,  and  imprisonment,  shall 
be  commenced  Tvithin  two  years  next  after  the  cause  of  action  accrued. 

Actions  on  the  case  for  words  shall  be  commenced  within  one  year,  and  for 
malicious  prosecution  shall  be  commenced  within  two  years. 

Every  action  of  debt,  or  covenant  for  rent,  or  arrearages  of  rent,  founded 
upon  any  lease  under  seal,  and  of  debt  or  covenant,  founded  upon  any  single 
or  penal  bill,  pi'omissory  note,  or  wi'iting  obhgatory  for  the  direct  payment  of 
money,  or  the  delivery  of  property,  or  the  performance  of  covenants,  or  upon 
any  award  under  the  hands  and  seals  of  arbitrators  for  the  payment  of  money 
only,  shall  be  commenced  within  sixteen  years  after  the  cause  of  action  ac- 
crued, and  when  any  payment  has  been  made  tipon  such  instrument,  then 
within  sixteen  years  from  the  time  of  such  payment. 

Judgments  of  any  Court  of  Recoi'd  of  the  State  may  be  revived  by  action 
of  scire  facias,  or  action  of  debt,  within  twenty  years  after  the  rendition  of  the 
same. 

Eight  of  entiy  and  actions  to  recover  lands  are  barred  by  the  lapse  of  twenty 
years. 

Infants,  married  women,  persons  insane  and  absent  from  this  State,  may 
make  such  entry  and  bring  such  actions  within  the  times  respectively  limited, 
after  the  removal  of  their  disabihty. 

The  absence  of  a  defendant  from  the  State  is  not  to  be  computed  in  the 
limitation. 

Limitation  of  Actions  for  the  Recovery  of  Real  Estate. 

The  Statutes  provide,  that  no  person  having  any  right  of  entry  into  any 
lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments,  shall  make  an  entry  therein  but  within 
twenty  years  after  such  right  shall  have  accrued,  and  that  such  person  shall 
be  barred  fi'om  any  entry  afterwards.     (R.  S.  349,  Sec.  6.) 

That  every  real,  possessory,  ancestral,  or  mixed  action,  or  vrrit  of  right, 
brought  for  the  recovery  of  any  lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments,  shall  be 
brought  within  twenty  years  next  after  the  right  or  title  thereto,  or  cause  of 
such  action  accrued,  and  not  after.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  7.) 

That  every  real,  possessory,  ancestral,  or  mixed  action,  or  writ  of  right, 
brought  for  the  recovery  of  any  lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments,  of  which 
any  person  may  be  possessed  by  actual  residence  thereon,  having  a  connected 
title  in  law  or  equity  deducible  of  record,  from  this  State  or  the  United  States, 
or  from  any  public  officer  or  other  person  authorized  by  the  laws  of  this  State 
to  sell  such  land  for  the  nonpayment  of  taxes,  or  from  any  sheriff,  marshal,  or 
other  person  authorized  to  sell  such  land  on  execution,  or  under  any  order, 
judgment,  or  decree  of  any  Court  of  Record,  shaU  be  brought  within  seven 
years  next  after  possession  being  taken  as  aforesaid,  but  when  the  possessor 
shall  acquire  such  title  after  taking  such  possession,  the  Umitation  shall  begta 
to  run  from  the  time  of  acquiring  title.     (R.  S.,  Sec.  8.) 

16* 


186  LAWS. 

But  possession  to  bar  sucli  rights,  actions,  and  suits,  must  have  been  con- 
tinued in  manner  aforesaid  for  the  term  of  seven  years  next  preceding  the  time 
of  asserting  the  right  of  entry,  or  the  commencement  of  any  suit  or  action. 
(R.  S.,  Sec.  9.) 

No  person  who  has,  or  may  have,  any  right  of  entry  into  any  lands,  tene- 
ments, or  hereditaments,  of  which  any  person  may  be  possessed  by  actual 
residence  thereon,  having  a  connected  title  in  law  or  equity  deducible  of  record 
from  this  State  or  the  United  States,  or  from  any  public  ofScer  or  other  person 
authorized  by  the  laws  of  this  State  to  sell  such  lands  for  the  nonpayment  of 
taxes,  or  from  any  sheriif,  marshal,  or  other  person  authorized  to  sell  such 
land  on  execution,  or  under  any  order,  judgment,  or  decree  of  any  Com-t  of 
Record,  shall  make  any  entry  therein,  except  within  seven  years  from  the  time 
of  such  possession  being  taken ;  but  when  the  possessor  shall  acquire  such 
title  after  the  time  of  taking  such  possession,  the  Umitation  shall  begin  to  run 
from  the  time  of  acquiring  title. 

In  all  the  foregoing  cases,  in  which  the  person  or  persons  who- shall  have  any 
right  of  entry,  title,  or  cause  of  action,  shall  be,  at  the  time  of  such  right  of 
entry,  title,  or  cause  of  action,  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  insane,  or 
femme  covert,  such  person  or  persons  may  make  such  entry,  or  institute  such 
action,  so  that  the  same  may  be  done  within  such  time  as  is  within  the  time 
limited,  after  his  or  her  becoming  of  full  age,  sane,  or  femme  sole. 

Exemptions. 

The  necessary  wearing  apparel  of  every  person  shall  be  exempt  from  sale  on 
execution,  writ  of  attachment,  or  distress  for  rent. 

The  following  property,  when  owned  by  any  person  being  the  head  of  a 
family  and  residing  with  the  same,  shall  be  exempt  from  levy  and  sale  on  any 
execution,  writ  of  attachment,  or  distress  for  rent,  and  such  articles  of  property 
shall  continue  so  exempt  while  the  family  of  such  person,  or  any  of  them,  are 
removing  from  one  place  of  residence  to  another  in  this  State,  viz. : 

1.  Necessary  beds,  bedsteads,  and  bedding,  the  necessary  utensils  for  cook- 
ing, necessary  hoiisehold  furniture,  not  e|:ceeding  in  value  fifteen  dollars,  one 
pair  of  cards,  two  spinning  wheels,  one  weaving  loom  and  appendage,  one 
stove,  and  the  necessary  pipe  therefor,  being  in  use,  or  put  up  for  ready  use, 
in  any  house  occupied  by  such  family. 

2.  One  milch  cow  and  calf,  two  sheep  for  each  member  of  the  family,  and 
the  fleeces  of  two  sheep  for  each  member  of  the  family,  which  may  have  been 
purchased  by  any  debtor  not  owning  sheep,  and  the  yarn  and  cloth  that  may 
be  manufactured  from  the  same,  and  sixty  dollars'  worth  of  property  suited  to 
his  or  her  condition  or  occupation  in  life,  to  be  selected  by  the  debtor. 

3.  The  necessary  provisions  and  fuel  for  the  use  of  the  family  for  three 
months,  and  necessary  food  for  the  stock  hereinbefore  exempted  from  sale,  or 
that  may  be  held  under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 


LAWS.  187 

Wlien  any  lot  not  exceeding  ten  acres  shall  be  appropriated  and  used  as  a 
burying  ground,  and  shall  be  recorded  as  such  in  the  Recorder's  ofiBce  of  the 
county,  it  shall  be  exempt  from  all  taxes,  and  when  sold  in  lots  for  burying 
the  dead,  the  said  lots  shall  not  be  subject  to  execution  or  attachment;  pro- 
vided, that  no  person  shall  hold  more  than  one-eighth  of  an  acre  exempt  from 
execution. 

When,  in  any  case,  the  head  of  a  family  dies,  deserts,  or  ceases  to  reside 
with  the  same,  the  said  family  shall  be  entitled  to  retain  the  property  above 
exempted  free  from  levy  and  sale  on  execution. 

In  cases  of  fines  for  assault,  assault  and  battery,  and  frays,  the  property 
of  the  party,  having  a  family,  reserved  from  execution,  is  one  bed  and  bedding, 
one  cow,  and  ten  dollars'  worth  of  household  kitchen  furniture. 

Homestead  Exemption. 

In  addition  to  the  property  now  exempt  by  law  from  sale  under  execution, 
there  shall  be  exempt  from  levy  and  forced  sale,  under  the  process  or  order 
from  any  court  of  law  or  equity  in  this  State,  for  debts  contracted  from  and 
after  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1851,  the  lot  of  ground  and  the  buildings  thereon, 
occupied  as  a  residence  and  owned  by  the  debtor,  being  a  householder  and 
having  a  family,  to  the  value  of  one  thousand  dollars.  Such  exemption  shall 
continue  after  the  death  of  such  householder  for  the  benefit  of  the  widow  and 
family,  some  or  one  of  them  continuing  to  occupy  such  homestead  until  the 
youngest  child  shall  become  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  until  the  death  of 
such  widow,  and  no  release  or  waiver  of  such  exemption  shall  be  valid,  unless 
the  same  shall  be  in  writing,  subscribed  by  such  householder,  and  acknow- 
ledged in  the  same  manner  as  conveyances  of  real  estate  are  by  law  required 
to  be  acknowledged. 

No  property  shall,  by  virtue  of  this  act,  be  exempt  from  sale  for  nonpayment 
of  taxes  on  assessments,  or  for  a  debt  or  liabiUty  incurred  for  the  purchase  or 
improvement  thereof,  or  prior  to  the  recording  of  the  aforesaid  conveyance  or 
notice. 

If,  in  the  opinion  of  the  creditors  or  officer  holding  an  execution  against 
such  householder,  the  premises  claimed  by  him  or  her  as  exempt,  are  worth 
more  than  one  thousand  dollars,  such  officer  shall  summon  six  quahfied  jurors 
of  his  county,  who  shall,  upon  oath,  to  be  administered  to  them  by  the  officer, 
appraise  said  premises,  and  if,  in  their  opinion,  the  property  may  be  divided 
without  injury  to  the  parties,  they  shall  set  off  so  much  of  said  jjremises,  in- 
cluding the  dwelling-house,  as  in  their  opinion  shall  be  worth  one  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  residue  of  said  premises  be  advertised  and  sold  by  such  officer. 

In  case  such  surplus,  or  the  amount  due  on  said  execution,  shall  not  be  paid 
within  the  said  sixty  days,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  officer  to  advertise  and 
sell  the  said  premises,  and  out  of  the  proceeds  of  such  sale  to  pay  to  such  exe- 
cution debtor  the  said  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  which  shall  be  exempt 


188  LAWS. 

from  execution  for  one  year  thereafter,  and  apply  the  balance  on  such  execu- 
tion ;  provided,  that  no  sale  shall  be  made  unless  a  gi-eater  sum  than  one  thou- 
sand dollars  shall  be  bid  therefor,  in  which  case  the  officer  may  retm-n  the 
execution  for  want  of  property. 

The  costs  and  expenses  of  setting  off  sxich  property,  as  provided  herein, 
shall  be  charged  and  included  in  the  officer's  bill  of  costs  upon  such  execution. 

Lien  Law. 

Boats  and  vessels  of  aU  descriptions,  built,  repaired,  or  equipped,  or  running 
upon  any  of  the  navigable  waters  within  the  jmisdiction  of  tliis  State,  shall  be 
liable  for  all  debts  contracted  by  the  owner  or  owners,  masters,  supercargoes, 
or  consignees  thereof,  on  account  of  all  work  done,  supplies  or  materials  fur- 
nished by  mechanics,  tradesmen,  and  others,  for  or  on  accoimt  of  the  building, 
repairing,  furnishing  or  equipping  such  boats  and  vessels,  and  such  debts  shall 
have  the  preference  of  all  other  debts  due  from  the  owners  or  proprietors,  ex- 
cept the  wages  of  mariners,  boatmen,  and  others,  employed  in  the  service  of 
such  boat  and  vessels,  which  shall  be  first  paid. 

AU  engineers,  pilots,  mariners,  boatmen,  and  others,  employed  in  any  capa- 
city in  or  about  the  service  of  any  such  boat  or  vessel,  who  may  be  entitled  to 
arrearages  of  wages  in  consequence  of  such  service,  shall  have  a  hen  as  above. 
No  creditor  shall  be  allowed  to  enforce  the  lien  created  as  specified,  unless 
such  lien  be  enforced  withui  three  months  after  the  indebtedness  accrues. 

All  judgments  rendered  in  any  court  of  record  for  any  debt,  or  damages, 
costs,  or  other  sum  of  money,  shall  cease  to  be  a  hen  upon  the  lands,  tene- 
ments, and  real  estate  of  the  persons  against  whom  it  is  rendered,  after  the 
lapse  of  seven  years. 

The  time  during  which  any  person  in  whose  favor  any  such  judgment  shall 
have  been  entered,  shall  be  restrained  by  injunction  out  of  chancery,  or  order 
of  any  judge  or  court,  from  issuing  execution  or  selling  thereon,  shall  not  be 
deemed  as  part  of  the  seven  years. 

Every  landlord  shall  have  a  lien  upon  the  crops  growing  or  grown  upon  de- 
mised premises,  in  any  year,  for  rent  that  shall  accrue  for  such  year. 

Any  person  who  shall  furnish  labor  or  materials  toward  the  erecting  or  re- 
pairing any  building,  or  the  appurtenances  of  any  building,  shall  have  a  hen 
upon  the  same,  and  upon  the  land  on  which  such  building  stands,  for  the 
amount  due  him  for  such  labor  or  materials,  whether  the  kind  or  quantity  of 
work  or  amount  to  be  paid  be  specified  or  not,  provided  the  time  of  completing 
the  contract  be  not  extended  beyond  the  period  of  three  years,  nor  the  time 
of  payment  beyond  the  period  of  one  year  from  the  time  stipulated  for  the 
completion  thereof. 

Persons  furnishing  labor  or  materials  in  repairing  or  erecting  any  building, 
in  order  to  enforce  their  lien  as  above  stated,  must  bring  suit  within  sis 
months  from  the  time  that  the  last  pajnuent  should  have  been  made. 


LAWS.  189 

Chattel  Moktgages. 

No  mortgage  on  personal  property  hereafter  executed  shall  be  valid  as 
against  the  rights  and  interests  of  third  persons,  unless  possession  of  the  pro- 
perty shall  be  delivered  to  and  remain  with  the  mortgagee,  or  the  said  mort- 
gage be  acknowledged  and  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  recorder  of  the  connty 
in  which  the  mortgagor  shall  reside. 

Any  mortgagor  must  first  acknowledge  before  any  justice  of  the  peace,  in 
the  justice's  district  in  which  he  may  reside,  such  mortgage,  and  the  said 
justice  must  certify  to  such  acknowledgement,  and  enter  the  same  upon  his 
docket. 

It  shall  then  be  valid  for  two  years,  provided  that  such  mortgage  shall  pro- 
vide for  the  possession  of  the  property  so  to  remain  with  the  mortgagor. 

Contracts. 

No  action  shall  be  brought  whereby  to  charge  any  executor  or  administrator 
upon  any  special  promise  to  answer  any  debt  or  damages  out  of  his  own 
estate,  or  whereby  to  charge  the  defendant  upon  any  special  promise  to  answer 
for  the  debt,  default,  or  miscarriage  of  another  person,  or  to  charge  any  per- 
son upon  any  agreement  made  upon  any  consideration  of  marriage,  or  upon 
any  contract  for  the  sale  of  lands,  tenements,  or  hereditaments,  or  any  interest 
in  or  concerning  them  for  a  longer  term  than  one  year,  or  upon  any  agreement 
that  is  not  to  be  performed  within  the  space  of  one  year  from  the  making 
thereof,  unless  the  promise  or  agreement  upon  which  such  action  shall  be 
brought,  or  some  memorandum  or  note  thereof,  shall  be  in  writing,  and  signed 
by  the  party  to  be  charged  therewith,  or  some  other  person  thereunto  by  him 
lawfully  authorized. 

Collection  of  Debts. 
Arrest. 

When  any  debtor  shall  refuse  to  surrender  his  estate,  lands,  goods,  or  chat- 
tels, for  the  satisfaction  of  any  execution  which  may  be  issued  against  the  pro- 
perty of  any  such  debtor,  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  plaintiff  or  his 
attorney  or  agent  to  make  affidavit  of  such  fact  before  any  justice  of  the  peace 
of  the  county,  and  upon  filing  such  affidavit  with  the  clerk  of  the  com']t  from 
which  the  execution  issued,  or  with  the  justice  of  the  peace  who  issued  such 
execution,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  such  clerk  or  justice  of  the  peace,  as  the  case 
may  be,  to  issue  a  capias  ad  satisfaciendum  against  the  body  of  such  defendant 
in  execution. 

In  all  actions  to  be  commenced  in  any  court  of  record  in  the  state, 
founded  on  any  specialty,  judgment,  or  contract,  ia  which  the  plaintiff  or  other 
credible  person  can  ascertain  the  sum  due  or  damages  sustained,  and  wiU 


190  LAWS. 

make  affidaTit  before  the  clerk  of  the  court  from  which*  process  issues,  or  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  or  if  the  plaintiff  resides  out  of  the  state,  before  any  per- 
Bon  who  may  be  authorized  to  administer  an  oath  in  the  state  or  kingdom  in 
■which  he  resides,  that  the  same  is  in  danger  of  being  lost,  or  that  the  benefit 
of  any  judgment  which  may  be  rendered  will  be  lost,  unless  the  defendant  be 
held  to  bail,  and  such  affidavit  be  delivered  to  the  clerk  of  the  court,  the  clerk 
must  issue  a  writ  against  the  body  of  the  defendant,  with  directions  to  the 
sheriif  endorsed  to  take  bail. 

When  damages  are  unliquidated,  the  affidavit  must  state  facts,  and  the 
nature  and  cause  of  action,  and  the  clerk  must  fix  the  amount  of  bail. 

When  any  person  is  arrested  for  debt  on  execution,  or  on  original  process, 
for  the  purpose  of  being  held  to  bail,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  officer  having  the 
custody  of  the  debtor,  at  his  request,  to  convey  him  before  the  judge  of  the 
county  ia  which  the  arrest  is  made.  The  county  judge  must  require  of  the 
debtor  a  complete  schedule  of  his  property,  of  whatever  description,  with  an 
account  of  the  debts  owing  by  the  debtor  at  the  time.  The  debtor  may  then 
take  the  oath  prescribed  by  statute,  and  if  no  fraud  appears  upon  examination 
of  the  debtor,  or  of  the  witnesses  produced,  and  the  debtor  assign  the  property 
named  in  the  schediile,  not  exempt,  and  produce  the  receipt  of  the  assignee  to 
the  court,  he  is  discharged. 

The  plaintiff  in  execution  may,  after  the  defendant  has  taken  the  oath  pre- 
scribed, pay  the  sheriff  the  jail  fees  on  the  Monday  of  each  week,  and  keep 
the  defendant  in  jail  until  the  debt  is  paid,  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  day,  upon  the  happening  of  which  event  the  sheriff  returns  the  exe- 
tion  satisfied  by  imprisonment. 

AUachment. 

If  any  creditor  or  his  agent  shall  make  complaint,  on  oath  or  affirmation,  to  the 
clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  any  county  in  this  state,  that  his  debtor  is  about 
to  depart  from  this  state,  or  has  departed  from  this  state,  with  the  intention, 
in  either  case,  of  having  his  effects  and  personal  estate  removed  without  the 
limits  of  this  state,  to  the  injury  of  such  creditor,  or  stands  in  defiance  of  any 
officer  to  arrest  him  on  civil  process,  so  that  the  ordinary  process  of  law  can 
not  be  served  on  such  debtor,  and  that  the  debtor  is  indebted  to  him  in  a  sum 
exceeding  twenty  dollars,  specifying  the  amount  and  nature  of  such  indebted- 
ness, such  creditor  may  sue  out  a  writ  of  attachment  against  the  debtor's 
lands  and  tenements,  goods  and  chattels,  rights  and  credits,  moneys  and  effects, 
of  what  nature  soever,  or  so  much  as  wiU  satisfy  the  debt  sworn  to,  with  in- 
terest and  costs. 

When  any  creditor,  his  agent  or  attorney,  shall  make  oath  or  affirmation 
before  any  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  state,  that  any  person  being  a  non- 
resident of  this  state  is  indebted  to  such  creditor  in  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifty 
dollars,  such  justice  may  issue  an  attachment  against  his  personal  estate. 


LAWS.  191 

Attachment  may  issue  in  the  case  of  a  non-resident  against  all  his  property, 
for  a  sum  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  from  the  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  any 
county. 

Imprisonment  for  debt  is  forbidden  by  the  Constitution,  except  in  case  of 
the  debtor's  refusal  to  deliver  up  his  estate  for  the  benefit  of  creditors,  as  pre- 
scribed by  law,  or  when  there  is  strong  evidence  of  intentional  fraud. 

Rate  of  Interest. 

From  and  after  January  30,  1819,  money  may  be  loaned  at  such  rate  of 
interest,  not  exceeding  ten  per  cent,  per  annum  on  each  hundred  dollars,  as 
the  parties  may  agree  upon.  In  the  trial  of  any  action  brought  upon  a  promis- 
sory note  or  writing  obligatory,  in  any  of  the  courts  of  this  state,  wherein  is 
reserved  a  higher  rate  of  interest  than  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  the  defendant  to  set  up  and  plead,  as  a  defence  in  any  such  suit, 
that  the  consideration  of  said  note  or  writing  obligatory,  upon  which  such  suit 
is  brought,  was  not  "money  loaned"  ;  upon  which  issue  it  shall  be  lawful  for 
the  debtor,  the  creditor  being  alive,  to  become  a  witness,  and  his  testimony 
shall  be  received  as  evidence  ;  and  the  creditor,  if  he  shall  offer  his  testimony, 
shall  be  received  as  a  witness,  together  with  any  other  legal  evidence  that  may 
be  introduced  by  either  i^arty ;  and  if  upon  the  trial  of  the  said  issue  it  shaU 
be  found  that  the  said  note  or  writing  obligatory,  upon  which  such  suit  is 
brought,  was  not  given  for  money  loaned,  then  the  said  court  shall  render 
judgment  for  the  principal  sum  in  said  promissory  note  or  writing  obligatory, 
and  six  per  cent  interest  thereon. 

1 
Landlord  and  Tenant. 

Tenants  who  hold  over  after  the  exj^iration  of  their  term,  and  after  demand 
made  and  notice  in  writing  given  for  the  possession  thereof,  by  the  landlord, 
must  pay  at  the  rate  of  double  the  yearly  value  of  the  land  for  the  time  such 
landlord  is  so  kept  out  of  possession. 

Every  tenant,  who  shall  be  sued  in  ejectment  by  any  person  other  than  his 
landlord,  shall  forthwith  give  notice!  thereof  to  his  landlord  or  his  attorney, 
under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  two  years'  rent  of  the  premises  in  question. 

In  all  cases  of  distress  for  rent,  the  landlord  may  by  himself,  or  his  attorney, 
seize  for  rent  any  personal  proj^erty  of  his  tenant,  that  may  be  found  in  the 
county  where  such  tenant  shall  reside,  and  in  no  case  shall  the  property  of  any 
other  person,  though  the  same  shall  be  found  on  the  premises,  be  hable  to 
seizure  for  rent  due  from  such  tenant. 

The  person  making  the  distress  shall  immediately  file  with  some  justice  of 
the  peace,  in  case  the  amount  claimed  does  not  exceed  one  hundi-ed  dollars,  or 
with  the  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  case  it  exceeds  that  sum,  a  copy  of  the 
distress  warrant,  together  with  the  inventory  of  the  property  levied  upon,  and 


192  LAWS. 

thereupon  the  tenant  shall  be  summoned,  and  the  amount  due  from  him  as- 
sessed and  entered  upon  the  records  of  the  Court.  The  Court  shall  certify  to 
the  person  or  officer  making  the  distress,  the  amount  found  due,  together  with 
the  costs  of  the  Court,  and  the  officer  shall  proceed  to  sell  the  property  dis- 
trained, and  return  the  certificate,  with  an  endorsement  thereon  of  his  pro- 
ceedings, which  return  and  certificate  shall  be  filed  in  the  proper  court. 

If  the  tenant  does  not,  within  fiye  days  after  notice  of  such  distress  and  the 
cause  of  taking,  replevy  the  goods  so  taken,  the  person  distraining  may,  with 
the  sheriff  or  constable  of  the  county,  cause  the  goods  to  be  appraised  by  two 
reputable  freeholders  under  oath,  and  the  landlord  may  then  sell  the  goods  at 
pubhc  auction,  on  giving  ten  days'  notice. 

The  landlord  has  a  lien  upon  the  growing  or  grown  crops  for  rent  that  shall 
accrue  during  the  year  of  their  growth. 

If  any  person  makes  an  illegal  or  forcible  entry  into  lands,  or  holds  over 
after  the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  such  lands  were  let  to  him,  after 
demand  made  in  writing  for  possession  thereof,  such  person  shall  be  adjudged 
guilty  of  a  forcible  entry  and  detinue,  and  may  be  removed  from  such  pos- 
session by  an  action  before  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

Form  of  Demand  for  Possession. 

To  A.  B.,  of  M.,  in  the  County  of  H. 

Take  notice,  that  you  are  hereby  required  to  quit,  and  dehver  up  to  me,  on 
the  day  of  next  (or  immediately),  the  possession  of 

the  dwelhng  house  (or  rooms  and  apartments,  or  lands  and  premises),  with  the 
appurtenances,  which  you  now  hold  or  claim  to  hold  of  me,  situate  in  M.,  in 
the  County  of  H.,  known  as  No.  12,  on  E.  street. 

May  4th,  185    ,  J.  L. 

Affidavit  of  Service  [written  on  a  copy), 

I  certify,  that  on  the  day  of  ,  185    ,  I  gave  to  A. 

B.  above  named  (or  left  at  the  usual  place  of  abode  of  A.  B.  above  named),  an 
original  notice,  of  which  the  within  is  a  true  copy. 

H.,  May  4th,  185    .  [Seal.] 

Personally  appeared  T.  W.,  and  made  oath,  that  the  above  affidavit,  by  him 
subscribed,  is  true. 

Before  me,  N.  M.,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Warrant  to  Distrain. 
To  C.  D. 

I  hereby  authorize  and  require  you  to  distrain  the  goods  and  chattels  in  the 
dweUing  house  (or  rooms  and  apartments,  or  on  the  lands  and  premises)  now 
in  the  possession  of  A.  B.,  situate  in  M.,  in  the  County  of  A.,  known  as  No 


LAWS.  193 

12,  on  E.  street,  for  six  montlis'  reut,  due  to  me  under  a  lease  of  the  same, 
and  to  proceed  thereon  for  the  recovery  of  the  said  rent,  as  the  law  directs. 

Witness  my  hand,  this  day  of  ,185     . 

E.  F. 

^N'ote.  —  This  warrant  may  be  addressed  to  any  agent  or  attorney  of  the 
landlord.] 

Notice  to  Tenant  of  Distress  for  Rent. 
To  A.  B. 

Take  notice,  that  by  the  authority  and  on  behalf  of  your  landlord,  E.  F.,  I 
have  this  day  distrained  the  several  goods  and  chattels  specified  in  the  inven- 
tory hereto  attached,  in  your  house,  in  M.,  in  the  County  of  H.,-known  as  No. 
12,  on  E.  street,  for  eighty  dollars  arrearages  of  rent  due  to  him,  the  said  E. 
F.  Now,  therefore,  if  you  do  not  pay  the  rent  so  due,  or  replevy  the  said 
goods  and  chattels  according  to  law,  within  five  days  from  the  date  hereafter, 
I  shall  cause  the  said  goods  and  chattels  to  be  appraised  and  sold,  according  to 
the  statute  in  such  case  made  and  provided. 

May  10th,  185     .  '  C.  D. 

\_N'ote.  —  The  inventory  must  be  attached  to  the  foregoing,  and  left  with  the 
tenant,  in  presence  of  some  one,  who  should  certify  to  that  fact.] 

Promissory  Notes  and  Bills  of  Exchange. 

Foreign  bills  of  exchange,  expressed  that  the  value  has  been  received,  pro- 
tested for  non-acceptance,  or  non-payment,  are  entitled  to  ten  per  cent, 
damages,  together  with  legal  interest  and  costs,  and  charges  of  protest. 

A  foreign  biU  is  one  di^awn  on  a  party  out  of  the  United  States. 

When  an  inland  bill  of  exchange,  expressed  that  the  value  has  been  receivea, 
is  protested  for  non-acceptance  or  non-payment,  the  drawer  or  endorser  shall 
pay  legal  interest  from  the  time  such  bill  ought  to  have  been  paid,  and  five 
per  cent,  damages,  together  with  costs  and  charges  of  protest. 

All  promissory  notes,  bonds,  due  bills,  and  other  instruments  in  writing,  for 
the  payment  of  money  or  articles  of  personal  pi'operty,  are  assignable  by 
endorsement,  in  the  same  manner  as  bills  of  exchange,  so  as  absolutely  to  vest 
the  property  thereof  in  the  assignee. 

The  assignee  cannot  sue  the  assignor  on  such  endorsement,  until  he  has 
^  first  instituted  and  prosecuted  a  suit  against  the  maker  of  such  note,  bond, 
&c.,  for  the  recovery  of  the  money  due  thereon ;  provided,  that  if  the  institu- 
tion of  such  suit  would  have  been  unavailing,  or  the  maker  had  absconded  or 
left  the  State  when  such  note  became  due,  such  assignee  may  at  once  sue  on 
the  endorsement.  * 

Apprentices. 
All  children  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  may  be  bound  without  their 
consent,  and  all  minors  above  that  age  with  their  consent,  males  until  they  are 
17  N 


194  LAWS. 

twenty-one,  and  females  iintil  they  are  eighteen.  Such  mmors  may  be  botuicl 
with  the  consent  of  the  father,  or  if  he  be  incompetent,  then  with  the  consent 
of  the  mother,  or  if  she  be  incompetent,  then  with  that  of  the  guardian  of  the 
minor,  or  if  there  be  no  guardian,  then  with  the  approbation  of  the  Judge  of 
the  County  Court,  or  by  any  two  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  county  in  which 
such  minor  resides,  endorsed  on  the  indenture. 

The  fact  of  such  incompetence  to  consent  shall  be  tried  and  found  by  a  jury 
in  the  County  Court. 

Any  minor  who  shall  be  likely  to  become  a  public  charge  may  be  bound  by 
the  County  Court,  or  by  any  two  overseers  of  the  poor,  or  by  any  two  justices 
of  the  peace  of  the  county  in  which  such  minor  may  reside,  with  the  approval 
of  the  Judge  of  the  County  Court. 

The  indenture  must  be  signed  and  sealed  by  the  parties,  whose  consent  is 
required  by  law,  but  the  approval  of  the  Judge  of  the  County  Court  may  be 
endorsed  on  the  indenture,  attested  by  his  seal  of  office. 

The  age  and  time  of  service  of  the  minor  shall  be  inserted  in  the  indenture. 
It  must  be  provided  in  the  indenture,  that  the  apprentice  shall  be  taught  to 
read,  write,  and  the  cardinal  rules  of  arithmetic. 

The  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  or  any  two  justices  of  the  peace,  excepting 
the  justices  who  may  have  bound  the  apprentice  complaining,  shall  hear  com- 
plaints of  apprentices  against  their  masters,  and  may  discharge  the  indentui'e. 

Indentures  not  in  conformity  with  this  law  are  void. 

Rights  of  Makried  Women  and  Widows. 

Widows  shall  be  allowed,  in  all  cases,  in  exclusion  of  creditors,  as  their  sole 
property  for  ever,  necessary  beds,  bedsteads  and  bedding  for  themselves  and 
families,  necessary  household  and  kitchen  furniture,  one  spinning  wheel,  one 
loom  and  its  appendages,  one  pair  of  cards,  one  stove,  and  the  necessary  pipe 
therefor,  the  wearing  apparel  of  themselves  .and  families,  one  milch  cow  and 
calf  for  every  four  persons  iu  the  family,  one  horse  at  the  value  of  forty  dol- 
lars, one  woman's  saddle  and  bridle  of  the  value  of  fifteen  dollars,  provisions 
for  themselves  and  families  one  year,  two  sheep  for  each  member  of  the  family, 
and  the  fleeces  taken  from  the  same,  food  for  the  stock  above  described  for  six 
months,  fuel  for  themselves  and  families  for  three  months,  and  sixty  dollars' 
worth  of  other  property. 

The  appraisers  certify  to  the  County  Coui't  an  estimate  of  the  value  of  each 
article  allowed  to  the  widow,  and  she  may  take  other  property  in  lieu  of  that 
above  specified,  at  the  value  affixed  by  the  appraisers. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  widows  of  persons  who  may  die  intestate  shall  be 
entitled  to  one-third  of  the  personal  estate  of  their  deceased  husbands,  after 
the  payment  of  debts,  as  their  property  for  ever. 

If  the  estate  be  intestate,  and  there  shall  be  a  widow,  and  no  child  or  de- 


LAWS.  195 

scendants  of  the  intestate,  then  the  one-half  of  the  real  estate,  and  the  whole 
of  the  personal  estate,  shall  go  to  such  ■widow,  as  her  exclusive  estate  for 
ever. 

A  widow  is  endowed  of  a  third  part  of  all  the  lands  whereof  her  husband 
was  seized  of  an  estate  of  inheritance  at  any  time  during  the  marriage. 

Every  devise  of  land  bars  her  dower,  unless  otherwise  expressed  in  the  will, 
but  she  may  elect,  at  any  time  within  a  year,  whether  she  wiU  take  her  dower 
or  take  under  the  will. 

Dower  may  be  barred  by  a  jointure  created  before  marriage,  with  the  assent 
of  the  intended  wife,  evinced  by  her  becoming  a  party  to  the  conveyance,  by 
which  it  shall  be  settled,  if  she  be  of  full  age,  or  if  she  be  an  infant,  by  her 
joining  with  her  father  or  guardian  in  such  conveyance. 

A  married  woman  may  relinquish  her  right  of  dower  in  any  of  the  real  estate 
of  her  husband,  by  joining  him  in  a  deed  of  conveyance,  and  acknowledging 
the  same,  separate  and  apart  from  the  husband. 

The  real  estate  of  the  wife  may  be  conveyed  by  her  joining  with  her  hus- 
band in  the  deed,  if  she  be  above  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  and  by  her  ac- 
knowledging the  same,  separate  and  apart  from  her  husband. 

Married  women  have  power  to  dispose  of  their  separate  estate,  both  real 
and  personal,  by  will,  in  the  same  manner  as  other  persons. 

A  married  woman,  residing  out  of  the  State,  may  relinquish  dower,  if  above 
eighteen  years  of  age. 

ESTRATS. 

f 

Sec.  1.  Every  person  who  shall  take  up  any  estray  horse,  mare,  colt,  mule, 

or  ass,  after  having  given  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than  fifteen  days'  notice, 
by  posting  up  notices  in  three  of  the  most  public  places  in  the  justice's  dis- 
trict in  which  he  resides,  shall  take  the  same  before  some  justice  of  the  peace 
of  the  county  where  such  estray  shaU  be  taken  up,  and  make  oath  before  such 
justice,  that  the  same  was  taken  up  at  his  or  her  plantation  or  place  of  resi- 
dence, in  said  county,  and  that  the  marks  or  brands  have  not  been  altered 
since  the  taking  up. 

Sec.  2.  The  said  justice  shall  then  summon  three  disinterested  householders 
of  the  neighborhood,  to  appraise  said  estray,  under  oath,  which  appraisement, 
together  with  the  brands,  marks,  stature,  color,  and  age  of  such  animal,  shall 
be  entered  in  a  book  to  be  kept  by  said  justice,  and  transmitted  to  the  clerk 
of  the  County  Coiirt  within  fifteen  days  after  the  same  is  taken  up. 

Sec.  3.  No  such  animal  shall  be  taken  up  and  posted  between  the  first  day 
of  April  and  first  day  of  November,  unless  the  same  be  found  out  of  the  range 
of  the  proper  owner,  or  within  the  lawful  fence  or  enclosure  of  the  taker  up, 
having  broken  in  the  same,  or  manifestly  running  away  from  the  owner. 

Sec.  4.  No  person  not  a  householder  of  the  county  shaU  take  up  or  post 
Buch  animal. 


196  LAWS. 

Sec.  5.  Any  person  who  shall  take  up  any  neat  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  or  goats, 
shall  give  the  notice  required  in  Sec.  1,  and  shall  go  -with  some  householder 
before  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county,  and  make  the  oath  required  in  the 
same  section,  and  then  such  justice  shall  take  from  the  householder  a  parti- 
cular description  of  the  animal,  and  cause  the  same  to  be  appraised  as  in  Sec. 
2d,  which  description  and  valuation  to  be  entered  and  transmitted  to  the  clerk 
of  the  County  Court,  as  before  directed.  In  case  the  value  of  such  animal 
does  not  exceed  five  dollars,  the  justice  need  not  make  such  return  to  the 
clerk,  but  shall  enter  the  descrij^tion  and  value  in  his  estray  book,  and  adver- 
tise the  same  in  three  of  the  most  public  places  in  his  neighborhood. 

Sec.  6.  The  clerk  shall  cause  a  copy  of  such  return  to  be  afiSxed  to  the 
court-house  door,  within  five  days  after  the  same  shall  be  transmitted  to 
him. 

Sec.  7.  No  neat  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  or  goats,  shall  be  .taken  up  between  the 
month  of  April  and  the  first  day  of  November,  unless  the  same  be  found  in  the 
lawful  fence  or  enclosure  of  the  taker  up,  having  broken  the  same,  and  for  the 
reward  of  the  taker  up  there  shall  be  paid  by  the  owner  one  dollar  for  every 
horse,  mare,  colt,  mule,  or  ass,  and  for  every  head  of  neat  cattle  fifty  cents, 
and  for  every  hog,  sheep,  or  goat,  twenty-five  cents,  with  all  reasonable 
charges. 

Sec.  8.  If  the  owner  shall  prove  and  take  away  such  animals  before  ap- 
praisement, he  shall  pay  all  reasonable  charges  of  the  taker  up.  It  is  not 
lawful  for  the  takers  up  to  use  estrays  previous  to  advertising  them. 

Sec.  9.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  clerk  of  the  County  Court  to  publish  the  jus- 
tice's return  in  some  paper,  to  be  designated  by  the  governor,  at  the  end  of 
ten  days  after  the  same  is  transmitted  to  him,  and  the  px'inter  must  transmit 
a  copy  of  his  paper  to  the  clerks  of  the  County  Court  of  the  several  counties 
of  the  State. 

Sec.  10.  If  no  owner  appears  within  one  year  after  such  publication,  the 
property  shall  be  vested  in  the  taker  up ;  but  the  former  may,  at  any  time 
thereafter,  by  proving  his  property,  recover  the  valuation  money,  upon  pay- 
ment of  costs  and  all  reasonable  charges. 

Sec.  11.  If  any  person  shall  sell  or  dispose  of  such  estray  within  the  year, 
lie  shaU  be  liable  to  indictment,  and  shall  be  fined  double  the  value  of  the 
property. 

Sec.  12.  When  the  estray  is  worth  less  than  five  dollars,  the  property  vests 
in  the  taker  up  in  one  year  from  the  time  the  description  and  value  have  been 
published  at  the  coiu't-house  door. 

Sec.  13.  It  is  lawful  for  any  person  taking  up  an  estray  hog  between  the 
first  day  of  November  and  the  first  day  of  March,  after  complying  with  the 
pi'ovisions  of  Sec.  1  and  Sec.  3,  and  making  oath  that  he  believes  said  estray 
has  strayed  from  some  drove,  if  no  owner  shall  appear  to  prove  said  estray 


LAWS.  197 

■within  the  time  specified  in  said  notice,  to  sell  said  estray  to  the  highest  bid- 
der, after  giving  public  notice  of  said  sale  ten  days  previous  thereto,  the  pro- 
ceeds, after  paying  reasonable  charges,  to  be  paid  to  the  county. 

The  Game  Law. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois  represented  in  the 
General  Assembly,  That  it  shal  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  kill,  ensnare, 
or  trap,  any  deer,  fawn,  wild  turkey,  grouse,  prairie  hens  or  chickens,  or 
quail,  between  the  fifteenth  day  of  January  and  the  first  of  August  of  each 
and  every  year. 

Sec.  2.  That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  buy,  sell,  or  have  in 
possession,  any  of  the  above-mentioned  animals  or  birds,  which  shall  have 
been  killed,  ensnared,  trapped,  or  taken,  between  the  first  day  of  January  and 
the  first  day  of  August  of  each  and  every  year,  as  aforesaid ;  and  that  having 
.or  being  in  possession  of  any  of  the  above-mentioned  animals  or  birds 
aforesaid  by  any  person  or  persons  between  the  said  first  day  of  January  and 
the  first  day  of  August  aforesaid,  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  2uS  prima  facie 
evidence  that  the  same  was  ensnared,  trapped,  or  killed,  by  the  person  having 
possession  of  the  same,  in  violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  3.  Any  person  who  shall  go  upon  the  premises  of  any  person  or  per- 
sons, or  corporation,  whether  the  same  be  enclosed  or  not,  with  intention  to 
hunt,  or  to  be  found  hunting,  entrapping,  or  ensnaring  any  of  the  above- 
mentioned  animals  or  birds,  at  or  within  the  time  aforesaid  shall  be  deemed 
guilty  of  trespass,  and  may  be  prosecuted  before  any  justice  of  the  peace  in 
the  county  whei'ein  the  said  premises  may  he,  by  the  owner  or  person  in  pos- 
session of  the  same,  in  action  of  trespass,  and  fined  in  any  sum  not  less  than 
five  nor  more  than  twenty  dollars,  to  go  to  .the  owner  or  occupant  of  said 
premises:  Provided,  hoivever,  that  a  judgment  obtained  against  any  person  for 
a  violation  of  this  act,  under  the  fourth  section  thereof,  shall  be  a  bar  to  any 
suit  under  the  thii'd  section  of  this  act. 

Sec.  4.  Any  person  who  shall  wilfully  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this 
act,  shall  forfeit  and  pay  a  fine  of  fifteen  dollars  for  each  deer  or  fawn  thus 
killed,  ensnared,  entrapped,  bought,  sold,  or  held  in  possession ;  and  for  any  other 
wild  game,  animals,  or  birds  enumerated,  either  killed,  ensnared,  entrapped, 
bought,  sold,  or  held  in  possession,  as  aforesaid,  the  sum  of  five  dollars  shall 
be  paid ;  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered  before  any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the 
county  in  which  the  act  shall  have  been  violated,  in  an  action  of  debt,  or 
before  any  coui-t  having  jurisdiction  thereof;  one-half  of  said  penalty  shall  go 
to  the  complainant,  and  the  other  half  to  the  school  trustees  of  the  township 
in  which  the  act  shall  have  been  violated,  to  be  added  to  the  school  fund  of 
said  township ;  the  action  to  be  brought  in  the  name  of  said  county. 
Sec.  5.  Provided  that  nothing  in  this  act  shall  apply  to  the  counties  of 
17* 


198  LAWS. 

White,  Wabash,  Clay,  Richland,  Jasper,  Lawrence,  Crawford,  Clark,  Edgar, 
Coles,  Moultrie,  EiSngham,  Fayette,  Bond,  Cass,  Menard,  Pike,  Schuyler, 
Brown,  Scott,  Washington,  Jefferson,  Marion,  Hamilton,  Clinton,  Jackson, 
Franklin,  Wayne,  Edwards,  McDonough,  Alexander,  Pulaski,  Union,  Hardin, 
Massac,  Warren,  Henderson,  Monroe,  Perry,  Shelby,  Cumberland,  Jersey, 
Calhoun,  Randolph,  Pope,  McLean,  Knox,  Fulton,  Hancock,  Adams,  Stark. 
Vermilion,  Montgomery,  and  Christian. 
:      Sec.  6.     This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage. 

Approved,  February  15,  1855. 


GEOGRAPHY. 

Situated  ia  the  centre  of  the  United  States,  the  state  of  Illinois 
extends  from  37°  to  42°  30'  latitude  North,  and  from  87°  49'  to 
91°  28'  longitude  West  of  Greenwich,  or  from  10°  47'  to  14°  26' 
longitude  West  of  Washington.  Illinois  is  bounded  on  the  North- 
east by  Lake  Michigan ;  on  the  East  by  Indiana,  from  a  part  of  which 
it  is  separated  by  the  Wabash  river;  on  the  South  by  Kentucky  and 
Missouri,  being  separated  from  Kentucky  by  the  Ohio,  and  from  Mis- 
souri by  the  Mississippi ;  on  the  West  by  Missouri,  from  which  it  is 
also  separated  by  the  Mississippi ;  on  the  North-west  by  Iowa,  the 
Mississippi  constituting  the  common  boundary  of  both  states,  and  oa 
the  North  by  Wisconsin. 

The  whole  length  of  the  lUinoisian  frontier  amounts  to  1160  miles, 
855  of  which  are  formed  by  navigable  waters,  as  Lake  Michigan, 
the  Wabash,  Ohio,  and  Mississippi.  The  greatest  length  of  the  state, 
from  South  to  North,  from  Cairo  to  Wisconsin,  amounts  to  378  miles; 
its  greatest  breadth  to  212  miles.  The  area  of  the  state  is  computed 
at  55,405  square  miles,  or  35,459,200  acres, — 1,833,412  of  which 
are  so-called  swamp-lands;  the  residue,  33,625,788  acres,  being  till- 
able, and  the  most  part  of  them  having  a  soil  of  unsurpassed 
fertility. 

Illinois  communicates  by  means  of  the  St.  Lawrence  with  the  At- 
lantic ocean,  and  by  the  Mississippi  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  state  of  Illinois  forms  the  lower  part  of  that  slope  in  which  is 
embraced  the  greater  part  of  the  state  of  Indiana,  and  of  which  Lake 
Michigan,  with  its  shores,  constitutes  the  upper  part.  The  lowest 
point  of  this  slope  and  of  the  state  is  the  city  of  Cairo,  situated  about 
350  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  at  the  conflux  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi,  in  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  state; 
hence,  the  highest  place  in  Illinois  being  situated  only  800  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea,  it  will  appear,  that  the  whole  state,  though  coa- 

(199) 


200  GEOGRAPHY. 

faining  several  hilly  sections,  is  a  very  level  plaia ;  being,  -with  the 
sole  exception  of  Delaware  and  Louisiana,  the  flattest  country  in  the 
Union. 

Illinois  is  more  than  forty  times  as  great  as  the  state  of  Rhode 
Island  in  its  area,  containing  but  10,720  square  miles  less  than  the 
entire  New  England  states.  None  but  the  following  states  possess  a 
greater  area — Virginia  having  61,852,  Georgia  58,000,  Florida 
59,268,  Missouri  67,380,  Michigan  56,243,  California  188,981,  and 
Texas  237,321  square  miles;  but  if  California  shall  yet  be  divided 
into  Upper  and  Lower  California,  Michigan  into  the  state  of  Superior 
and  Michigan  proper,  and  Texas,  as  at  the  time  of  its  annexation  was 
provided  for,  into  five  different  states,  then  Illinois,  as  far  as  regards 
its  area,  will  rank  fifth  among  the  states  of  the  Union.  Illinois 
seems  to  be  destined,  within  a  short  time,  to  play  a  great  role  in  the 
United  States,  being  entitled  to  this  not  only  by  the  vastness  of  its 
area  and  its  excellent  geographical  position,  but  also  by  the  fertility 
of  its  easily  ciilivated  soil,  the  multitude  of  its  rivers  and  fine 
railroads,  and  the  rapid  increase  of  its  population,  together  with  the 
enterprise  and  intelligence  of  its  citizens. 

The  principal  rivers  of  the  state  of  Illinois  are  — 

The  Illinois  river,  which,  formed  by  the  conflux  of  the  Kankakee 
and  Des  Moines  about  fifty  miles  south-west  of  Chicago,  during  a 
course  of  500  miles,  receives  several  other  rivers,  as  the  Fox  river, 
the  Spoon  river,  the  Crooked  Creek,  Mackinaw,  Sangamon,  and  the 
Vermilion,  from  the  south,  besides  several  others.  The  Illinois  river 
is  deep  and  broad,  extending  at  several  places,  as  at  Peoria,  where  it 
forms  a  basin  called  then  Peoria  Lake,  to  such  a  breadth  as  to  present 
the  appearance  of  a  sea.  It  was  first  navigated  in  the  year  1828  by 
a  steamboat. 

Rock  River,  rising  in  Wisconsin,  pursues  a  course  of  300  miles, 
being  navigable  to  some  extent;  there  are,  however,  several  rapids  ia 
the  upper  part  of  its  course.  A  great  part  of  the  country  through 
whicli  Rock  River  runs  is  an  undulating  prairie,  with  a  rich  soil, 
though  with  but  few  forests. 

The  Xaskaskia,  a  navigable  river,  rising  in  Champaign  county, 
after  a  run  to  the  south-west  of  more  than  300  miles,  empties  its 
waters  into  the  Mississippi,  about  120  miles  above  the  mouth  of  th© 


GEOGRAPHY.  201 

Ohio.  Kaskaskia  River  was  already,  in  the  year  1837,  navigated  by 
steamboats  as  far  as  Carlisle.  Its  banks,  for  an  extent  varying  from 
two  to  ten  miles,  are  richly  garnished  with  woods  and  forests  of  oaks, 
hickory,  ash,  maple,  elm,  and  acacia  trees.  The  country  through 
which  the  river  winds  its  course  is  undulating  and  fertile. 

The  Big  Muddy  river,  in  the  south-western  portion  of  the  state, 
has  various  sources,  constituting  at  their  conflux  the  river  above 
named,  which,  after  a  run  to  the  south-west,  discharges  its  waters 
into  the  Mississippi.  The  country  through  which  it  runs  is  undulat- 
ing and  wooded,  offering  great  advantages  to  agriculture  and  the 
breeding  of  cattle, 

Emharras  River,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  takes  its  rise 
near  the  source  of  the  Kaskaskia,  and  runs  southerly,  discharging  its 
waters  into  the  Wabash  about  six  miles  below  Vincennes.  The  land 
along  Embarras  Eiver  is  not  everywhere  of  the  same  good  quality, 
consisting  at  the  origin  of  the  river  chiefly  of  prairie  lands,  and  further 
north  of  Charleston,  of  forests  garlanding  the  banks  of  the  river  at  a 
breadth  varying  between  two  and  six  miles,  extending  even  to  ten 
miles  below  that  place. 

Little  ^Yabash  River,  rising  also  near  the  source  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
runs  south,  emptying  its  waters  into  the  Great  Wabash,  in  Gallatin 
county.  Its  banks,  for  an  extent  of  several  miles,  are  garnished 
with  good  and  heavy  timber ;  at  intervals  poplars  can  be  found. 
The  country  adjacent  to  this  river  is  fertile,  exposed  however  to  in- 
undations from  the  river. 

Sangamon  River,  rising  in  McLean  county,  runs  south-west,  con- 
stituting during  the  latter  part  of  its  course  the  boundary  line  between 
Monroe  and  Cass  counties,  and  emptying  its  waters  into  Illinois 
River.  The  country  watered  by  the  Sangamon  is  one  of  the  richest, 
being  quite  level,  and  having  excellent  soil. 

Ajiple  River,  rising  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  near  the  Wisconsin  fron- 
tier, has  a  rocky  bed,  and  is  very  rapid,  running  south-west,  and  flow- 
ing into  the  Mississippi  about  twenty  miles  below  Galena.  The  adja- 
cent bottom-lands  have  excellent  soil ;  the  more  elevated  country  in 
its  vicinity  being  hilly,  its  banks  woody,  and  the  country  around  its 
springs  undulating. 

Chicago  River,  consisting  of  two  branches,  the  more  considerable 


202  GEOGRAPHY. 

one  of  winch  is  that  running  North,  and  both  of  them  flowing 
together  within  the  city  of  Chicago,  empties  its  waters  into  Lake 
Michigan. 

Des  Plaines  River,  rising  in  Wisconsin,  at  the  distance  of  a  few 
miles  from  Lake  Michigan,  runs  South,  and  is  a  tributary  of  Illinois 
E-iver  by  the  union  of  its  waters  with  those  of  the  ^aukakee.  Its 
banks  are  tufted  with  frequent  groves,  the  country  around  it  being 
well  watered,  and  the  soil  very  rich. 

Du  Page  River,  in  the  north-eastern  section  of  the  state,  consists 
of  two  branches,  emptying  their  united  waters  into  the  Des  Plaines 
river,  three  miles  above  the  confluence  of  the  latter  with  the 
Kankakee. 

The  Cash  river,  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  state,  formed  by  the 
union  of  several  small  streams,  flows  into  the  Ohio,  six  miles  above 
the  junction  of  the  latter  with  the  Mississippi.  The  alluvial  land 
along  Cash  Eiver,  wherever  it  is  not  exposed  to  inundation,  possesses 
a  rich  soil  and  heavy  timber. 

The  Edwards  river,  rising  in  the  midst  of  the  prairies  of  Henry 
county,  runs  Westward,  through  Mercer  county,  to  the  Mississippi. 
The  country  around  it  consists  of  undulating  prairie-lands,  intersected 
by  shady  groves,  and  well  supplied  with  water. 

The  Fever  river,  rising  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  consists  of  two 
branches,  and  empties  its  waters  into  the  Mississippi,  about  seven 
miles  south  of  Galena.  Its  channel  is  rocky,  and  its  course  very 
rapid.  On  the  eastern  branch  there  is  little  wood,  but  excellent 
prairies,  and  mines  yielding  an  abundant  supply  of  lead.  There  is 
more  wood  on  the  western  branch,  the  alluvial  country  around  which 
has  a  rich  soil.  The  name  of  the  river  has  been  derived  from  the 
fevers  said  to  prevail  in  the  vicinity  of  its  banks ;  whilst  others  have 
called  it  Bean  Eiver  (in  French,  Eivi^re  h.  la  Feve),  either  of  which 
is  incorrect,  the  river  having  been  named  by  a  Frenchman  of  the 
name  of  Le  Fevre,  who  at  an  early  period  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the 
stream. 

Fox  River,  on  the  banks  of  which  fine  forests  may  be  found,  rises 
in  Wisconsin,  flowing,  near  Ottawa,  into  the  Illinois. 

Another  river  of  the  same  name  runs  south,  a  tributary  of  the 


GEOGRAPHY.  203 

Little  Wabash,  into  which  it  empties  its  waters.  The  land  along  its 
banks  is  not  very  excellent. 

A  third  river  of  the  same  name,  in  White  county,  runs,  after  a 
short  course,  into  the  Great  Wabash. 

Green  River,  rising  in  the  swamps  of  the  northern  counties,  runs 
west,  through  Henry  county,  into  Rock  River.  The  country  below 
the  swamps  is  good,  consisting  of  both  woods  and  prairies. 

Henderson  River,  rising  in  Knox  county,  runs  south-west,  receiv- 
ing during  its  course  several  small  streams,  and  flowing  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Fine  forests  grow  on  its  banks,  the  country  around  which 
is  among  the  most  fertile  in  Illinois. 

Iroquois  River,  rising  in  the  north-western  section  of  Indiana,  runs 
North-West,  becoming  a  tributary  of  the  Illinois  by  discharging  its 
waters  into  the  Kankakee.  The  country  through  which  the  Iroquois 
runs  is  undulating ;  the  soil  a  little  sandy,  but  rich ;  timber  to  be 
found  in  sufficient  quantity. 

The  Kanhahee,  one  of  the  principal  tributary  rivers  of  the  Illinois, 
rising  in  Indiana,  runs  west,  receiving  the  Iroquois  and  Des  Plaines 
rivers.  Woods  are  but  rarely  to  be  met  with  on  its  banks,  the  prairies 
around  which  are  slightly  undulating,  having  a  rich  soil. 

The  Kickapoo  consists  of  two  branches,  after  the  conflux  of  which 
it  pursues  a  southerly  direction,  discharging  its  waters  into  the  Illi- 
nois, two  miles  below  Peoria.  On  both  its  branches  there  is  much 
excellent  land,  intersected  with  groups  of  forests,  the  ground  being 
rather  hilly. 

The  Kisluoauhee,  or  Sycamore,  formed  by  the  junction  of  several 
small  waters,  some  of  which  rise  in  Wisconsin,  others  in  the  northern 
counties  of  Illinois,  discharges  the  waters  of  its  three  principal 
branches,  after  their  combination,  in  Rock  River.  Its  banks  have 
but  little  wood  ;  the  prairie  along  the  eastern  branch  is  flat  and  fertile ; 
and  the  country  along  the  southern  and  northern  branches  undulating, 
and  remarkable  for  its  very  rich,  deep,  black  soil,  and  its  beds  of 
lime  and  coal. 

The  Kite  river,  in  Ogle  county,  runs  west,  flowing  into  Rock  river, 
about  two  miles  below  Oregon.  The  country  is  very  level,  and  the 
soil  very  fine ;  woods,  among  which  are  many  poplars,  can  be  found 
at  intervals. 


204  GEOGRAPHY. 

The  Leaf  river,  in  Ogle  county,  also  empties  its  waters  into  Rock 
River.  The  land  adjoining  its  banks  is  rich,  calcareous,  and  woody 
at  intervals. 

Little  Roch  River,  rising  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  flows  into  Rock 
River.     On  its  banks  there  is  much  excellent  soil. 

The  Mackinaw  (Michilimackinac),  rising  in  the  prairies  of  McLean 
county,  and  receiving  several  small  brooks,  runs  through  Tazewell 
county  into  the  Illinois  river,  three  miles  below  Pekin.  The  adjacent 
bottom-lands  have  a  rich  soil.  Timber,  especially  white  oak  and 
cedar,  may  be  found.  The  prairies  of  the  country  are  undulating  and 
dry.  Towards  the  sources  of  the  river,  the  number  of  species  of 
woods  increases,  whilst  the  soil  is  very  good. 

The  llauvaise  Terre,  in  Morgan  county,  runs  west,  meeting  Illi- 
nois River  about  two  miles  below  Naples.  Although  from  the  name 
of  the  river  (Mauvaise  Terre,  "  poor  land")  one  might  infer  that  the 
soil  of  the  adjacent  country  is  of  a  very  bad  quality,  this  is  not  the 
case  J  the  country,  on  the  contrary,  surpassing  many  other  sections  in 
fertility,  and  has  the  advantage  of  having  a  just  proportion  between 
prairie  and  forest,  as  also  a  remarkable  salubrity  of  waters. 

The  Peeh-a-ton-o-hee  rises  in  Wisconsin,  in  two  separate  branches, 
which,  after  their  conflus,  flows  into  Illinois  to  meet  Rock  River. 

The  Plum  river,  the  country  surrounding  the  banks  of  which  has 
a  flue  soil,  with  both  wood  and  prairie,  runs  through  Jo  Daviess  county 
into  the  Mississippi. 

Papers  River,  rising  in  the  great  prairies  in  the  southern  part  of 
Henry  county,  runs  west  through  Mercer  county,  discharging  its 
waters  into  the  Mississippi  a  few  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Edwards' 
River.  The  adjacent  country  is  very  good,  but  destitute  of  forests; 
on  the  banks  of  the  river,  towards  the  end  of  its  course,  there  are, 
however,  some  extensive  woods,  while  its  upper  banks  are  surrounded 
by  prairies. 

Saline  River,  in  Saline  and  G-allatin  counties,  consists  of  three 
branches,  discharging  their  united  waters  into  the  Ohio,  twelve  miles 
below  Shawneetown. 

Senatchwine  River,  on  the  banks  of  which  there  is  much  good  land, 
both  wood  and  prairie,  runs  through  Peoria  county  into  Illinois  River, 
about  twenty  miles  above  Peoria. 


GEOGRAPHY.  205 

The  Sinsinaivay,  rising  in  Wisconsin,  runs  south-west  into  the 
Mississippi,  about  six  miles  above  Fever  River.  Timber  on  its  banlis 
is  very  rare ;  only  now  and  then  some  cedars  and  pines  may  be  found. 

Small-pox  River,  rising  south-east  of  Galena,  runs  west  into  the 
Mississippi,  close  by  the  mouth  of  Fever  River.  On  its  banks,  near 
the  place  where  it  flows  into  the  Mississippi,  much  valuable  timber 
may  be  found. 

The  Snycartee,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi,  whence  it  flows,  in  the 
southern  portion  of  Adams  county,  running  for  about  fifty  miles  par- 
allel with,  and  five  miles  from,  the  Mississippi,  to  meet  it  again  in 
Calhoun  county,  forms,  with  the  Mississippi,  an  island,  consisting  of 
alluvial  land,  not  destitute  either  of  forest  or  prairie,  but  frequently 
exposed  to  inundations. 

Spoon  River  consists  of  an  eastern  and  western  branch,  both  of 
which  having  received  a  multitude  of  creeks,  unite ;  whereupon  the 
river  takes  a  southern  direction  to  meet  the  Illinois,  opposite  Havana. 
On  its  banks  there  are  many  extensive  woody  tracts ;  the  soil  of  the 
adjoining  country  is  of  unsurpassed  excellence.  The  prairies  near  by 
the  river  are  undulating,  dry,  and  fertile. 

>S'^  Mary's  River,  rising  in  Perry  county,  discharges  its  waters  into 
the  Mississippi  six  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia. 

The  Sugar  river,  rising  in  Wisconsin,  runs  southerly  to  meet  the 
Peek-a-ton-o-kee.  The  land  upon  its  banks  is  of  good  quality ;  the 
country  between  Rock  and  Sugar  rivers  very  humid. 

Turtle  River,  rising  in  Wisconsin,  flows  near  the  boundary  into 
Rock  River, 

Vermilion  River,  rising  in  Livingston  county,  runs  through  La 
Salle  county,  emptying  into  Illinois  River.  Towards  its  springs  the 
country  is  nearly  level,  having  a  rich  soil  and  vast  prairies,  but  very 
little  wood.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  river,  and  near  the  blufis,  are 
'  many  extensive  coal  mines,  of  which  those  situated  in  the  direction 
of  the  Illinois  river  reach  a  depth  of  100  feet ;  also  beds  of  sand,  and 
lime,  and  a  kind  of  stone  used  as  whetstone,  may  here  be  found. 

Big    Vermilion   River,    proceeding    in    three    different   branches 
through  Champaign  and  Vermilion  counties,  falls,  in  Indiana,  into  the 
Wabash.     Its  banks  are  garnished  with  a  wood  from  one  to  two  miles 
broad ;  the  adjacent  prairies  are  dry,  rolling,  and  fertile. 
18 


206  GEOGRAPHY. 

Little  Vermilion  River,  rising  in  the  southern  part  of  Vermilion 
county,  runs  also  into  the  Wabash  in  Indiana.  On  its  banks  fine 
forests  may  be  found. 

Wood  River,  rising  in  Macoupin  county,  runs  through  Madison 
county,  discharging  its  waters  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, into  the  Mississippi.  The  land  through  which  it  runs  is  of 
superior  quality, 

Illinois  has,  besides  these  streams,  a  multitude  of  rivulets,  the  banks 
of  which,  as  well  as  those  of  the  rivers  mentioned  above,  consist  of 
alluvial,  and  consequently  very  fertile  soil,  so  that  neither  in  the 
Union,  nor  anywhere  else  on  earth,  could  be  found  a  State  of  equal 
size  with  Illinois  rivalling  the  latter  in  the  fertility  and  superior 
quality  of  its  soil. 

Of  lakes,  none  can  be  found  in  Illinois;  that  portion  of  Lake 
Michigan*  bounding  the  State  being  comparatively  but  small,  so  that 
this  lake,  the  navigation  of  which  has  contributed  so  much  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  Illinois,  cannot  be  properly  considered  as  belonging  to 
the  State. 

The  only  sheet  of  water,  that  in  a  measure  might  lay  claim  to  the 
name  of  a  lake,  is  Peoria  Lake,  which,  however,  as  was  mentioned 
when  Illinois  River  was  spoken  of,  is  nothing  but  an  enlargement  of 
this  river ;  none  of  the  other  waters  deserve  this  name  at  all,  but 
should  rather  be  called  ponds. 

An  artificial  aqueduct,  that  has  likewise  considerably  accelerated  the 
advancement  of  Illinois,  is  yet  to  be  mentioned.  The  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal  extends  from  Chicago  to  Peru,  a  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred miles,  connecting  thus  the  Lake  of  Michigan  with  the  Illinois  : 
it  is  6  feet  deep,  70  feet  broad  at  the  top,  and  36  at  the  bottom. 

What  distinguish  the  State  of  Illinois  from  all  the  other  States  of 
he  Union,  are  its  immense  prairies,  from  which  it  has  been  exclusively 
ailed  the  "Prairie  State.'^  We  do  not  intend  to  give  in  this  geo- 
graphical sketch  a  detailed  description  of  the  nature  of  a  prairie,  but 
Kitting  apart  a  special  chapter  for  this,  we  shall  here  only  mention  the 
principal  prairies  —  those  known  under  peculiar  names. 

*  The  greatest  length  of  Lake  Michigan  is  3G0  miles ;  its  greatest  breadth, 
108  miles;  mean  depth,  300  feet;  elevation,  587  feet;  area,  23,000  square 
miles. 


GEOGRAPHY.  207 

The  most  considerable  of  these  prairies  is  the  Grand  Prairie,  com- 
prehending all  prairie-lands  between  the  rivers  flowing  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  those  meeting  the  Wabash.  The  prairie  itself  does  not 
consist  of  one  single  continuous  extensive  tract  of  land,  but  of  many 
difiterent  prairies,  separated  one  from  the  other  by  a  range  of  woods, 
while  the  prairies,  in  their  turn,  stretch  between  the  usually  woody 
banks  of  the  rivers  and  creeks.  The  most  southerly  portion  of  the 
great  prairie  is  situated  in  the  north-east  section  of  Jackson  county, 
extending  north-easterly  from  the  Mississippi,  with  a  breadth  varying 
from  two  to  ten  and  more  miles,  through  Perry,  Washington,  Jeffer- 
son, Marion,  Fayette,  Clay,  Effingham,  Shelby,  Moultrie,  Cuniberland, 
Coles,  Champaign,  Vermilion,  and  Iroquois  counties;  here  it  meets 
the  prairies  stretching  easterly  from  Illinois  River  and  its  tributaries. 
That  portion  of  these  prairie-lands  lying  in  Marion  county,  between 
Crooked  Creek  and  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Kaskaskia,  intersected 
by  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  is  often  exclusively  named  the 
Grand  Prairie. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  Grand  Prairie  is  slightly  undulating,  its 
southern  part  quite  level,  having  many  tracts  of  land  of  but  inferior 
quality.  At  the  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  around,  timber  is 
sure  to  be  found ;  coal  almost  everywhere,  at  no  great  depth. 

Another  prairie,  also  called  Grand  Prairie,  commences  in  Crawford 
county,  extending  north  through  Clark  and  Edgar  counties  to  Vermi- 
lion. It  is  not  very  broad,  and  at  frequent  intervals  is  intersected  by 
forest-bordered  rivers. 

The  soil  of  the  southern  and  eastern  is  not  as  good  as  that  of  the 
northern  and  western  portion  of  these  prairies,  which,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  those  adjacent  to  the  Wabash,  have  a  thin  and  nearly  level 
washy  humus. 

Allen's  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  twelve  miles  north-east  of  Car- 
rollton,  is  fertile,  and  wooded  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers  running 
Ihrough  it. 

Alison's  Prairie,  in  Lawrence  county,  five  miles  easterly  from 
Lawrenceville,  is  some  five  miles  by  ten.  That  portion  of  it  adjacent 
lo  the  Wabash,  is  humid;  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  it,  however 
is  dry  and  fertile. 


208  GEOGRAPHY. 

Apple-Crech  Prairie,  iu  Greene  county,  north  of  Apple  Creek,  is 
from  three  to  four  miles  by  ten  in  extent.     Its  soil  is  good. 

Barney  s  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  north  of  Mount  Carmel. 
Fertile. 

Bear  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  east  of  Fairfield. 

BcUevue  Prairie,  in  Calhoun  county,  at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  ten 
miles  in  extent,  has  a  dry  and  fertile  soil. 

Big  Mound  Prairie,  Wayne  county,  west  of  Fairfield,  three  miles 
long,  rolling,  with  a  thin  surface  of  humus. 

Big  Prairie,  in  White  county,  three  miles  square,  much  mixed 
with  sand,  but  fertile. 

Boltingliouse  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  south  of  Albion,  ex- 
tending four  miles  by  three,  has  an  undulating,  fertile  soil. 

Bonpas  Prairie,  in  the  same  county,  north-east  of  Albion,  and 
about  two  miles  in  diameter.     Soil  good. 

Brown's  Prairie,  twelve  miles  north  of  Alton,  runs  through  the 
corner^  of  Macoupin,  Jersey,  and  Madison  counties,  which  border 
upon  each  other.     The  soil  is  dry  and  fertile. 

Brushy  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  eleven  miles  east  of  Fairfield. 

Buchheart  Prairie,  in  Fulton  county,  north-east  of  Lewistown, 
about  seven  miles  long. 

Buck  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  six  miles  north-east  of  Albion, 
two  and  a  half  miles  broad. 

Buchhorn  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  about  seven  miles  south  of 
Jacksonville.     The  soil  is  rich,  a  little  humid,  and  very  level. 

Billiard' s  Prairie,  in  Lawrence  county,  west  of  Lawrenceville,  is 
ten  miles  by  two  in  extent,  having  a  second-rate  soil. 

Burnt  Prairie  extends  from  the  north-western  section  of  White 
into  Wayne  county.  Its  circumference  is  not  very  great ;  its  soil  at 
intervals  good. 

Another  prairie  of  the  same  name,  situate  in  Edwards  county, 
north-west  of  Albion,  extends  two  miles  by  six,  interspersed  with 
many  small  groves.     Soil  good. 

Canton  Prairie,  in  Fulton  county,  commencing  in  the  vicinity  of 
Spoon  River,  extends  northerly  till  it  meets  Grand  Prairie,  near  Rock 
River  ]  it  is  rolling,  dry,  and  very  fertile,  with  the  exception  of  its 
northern  section,  which  is  of  inferior  quality. 


GEOGRAPHY.  209 

Casey s  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  five  miles  by  two,  nearly 
level ;  second-rate  soil. 

Christy's  Prairie,  in  Lawrence  county,  ten  miles  west  of  Lawrence- 
ville,  rolling,  and  of  good  average  soil. 

Clay's  Prairie,  in  Clark  county,  eight  miles  south-west  of 
Darwin. 

Cold  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county,  between  Belleville  and  Illinois- 
town. 

Compsfon's  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  twelve  miles  west  of  Mount 
Carmel,  is  level,  fertile,  but  somewhat  humid. 

Cotton  Hill  Prairie,  in  Sangamon  county,  twelve  miles  south  of 
Springfield. 

Cox's  Prairie,  in  Jackson  county,  north-east  of  Brownsville  ;  good 
rolling  prairie. 

Crow  Prairie,  in  Putnam  county,  twelve  miles  below  Hennepin, 
six  miles  by  three ;  fertile,  and  bounded  by  forests. 

Another  prairie  of  the  same  name  extends,  four  miles  by  twelve, 
along  the  western  bank  of  Illinois  Eiver  from  Putnam  into  Bureau 
county  ;  soil  dry  and  productive. 

DecJcer's  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  twelve  miles  north-east  of 
Mount  Carmel. 

Diamond  Grove  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  south  of  Jackson- 
ville, containing  about  sixteen  square  miles,  is  dry,  undulating,  and 
productive. 

Dolson's  Prairie,  in  the  western  section  of  Clark  county,  contain- 
ing about  seventy  square  miles,  has  a  level,  humid,  clayish  soil. 

Dutch  Prairie,  in  the  south-western  part  of  St.  Clair  county. 

Edmonson' s  Prairie,  in  McDonough  county,  six  miles  south-west 
of  Macomb,  ten  miles  by  two. 

Ei(jlit-mile  Prairie,  in  Williamson  county,  eighteen  miles  south- 
west of  Frankfort ;  very  flat. 

Elk  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  five  miles  long,  dry  and  nearly  level; 
second-rate  soil. 

Ester's  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  fourteen  miles  north  of  Frank 
fort;  level  and  dry. 

Flat  Prairie,  in  Eandolph  county,  twenty  miles  east  of  Kas- 
kaskia. 

18*  o 


210  GEOGRAPHY. 

Fork  Prairie,  in  Bend  county,  north  of  Greenville;  gently  undu- 
lating. 

Four-mile  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  four  miles  by  seven;  dry, 
rollinir,  and  productive. 

Fourteen-mile  Prairie,  m  Effingham  county,  east  of  Livingston; 
Dearly  level,  for  the  most  part  dry,  interspersed-^with  groups  of 
forests. 

Garden  Prairie,  in  Sangamon  county,  fourteen  miles  north-west 
of  Springfield,  two  miles  by  eight;  first-rate  soil. 

Granger's  Prairie,  in  the  north-western  section  of  Adams  county, 
three  miles  square ;  possesses  very  productive  soil. 

Gini  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  six  miles  south  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, has  a  considerable  circuit,  and  a  fertile  soil. 

Hancock  Prairie,  commencing  in  Adams  county,  runs,  with  a 
breadth  varying  between  ten  and  twenty  miles,  far  north,  through 
Hancock,  Henderson,  and  Warren  counties,  between  Henderson  and 
Spoon  rivers,  being  nearly  level,  and  very  productive. 

Hargrave' s  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  seven  miles  by  two,  is  un- 
dulating, having  but  a  thin  surface  of  humus. 

Hawkins'  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  nine  miles  south-east  of 
Carrollton. 

Herron's  Prairie  is  situated  in  Williamson  county. 

Herringfon's  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  eleven  miles  north-west 
of  Fairfield,  eight  miles  by  four ;  has  an  undulating  surface,  and 
second-rate  soil. 

High  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county,  eight  miles  from  Belleville^ 
very  productive. 

Hog  Prairie,  in  Hamilton  county,  situated  westerly  from  McLeans- 
burg  ;  has  a  small  circumference,  and  a  level,  humid  soil. 

Horse  Prairie,  in  Randolph  county ;  soil  rolling  and  fertile. 

Hlinois  Prairie,  in  Calhoun  county,  commencing  near  the  mouth 
of  Illinois  Biver,  runs,  twenty  miles  by  two,  along  the  bluffs,  having 
a  fertile  soil. 

Indian  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  ten  miles  north-west  of  Fair- 
field; is  level,  and  its  soil  of  indifferent  quality. 

Jersey  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  ten  miles  north  of  Jacksonville, 
has  a  rich  soil,  and  is  bounded  by  fine  timber. 


GEOGRAPHY,  211 

t 

JoTclarCs  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  six  miles  north  of  Mount 
Vernon,  five  miles  by  two,  has  a  second  rate  soil. 

Knight! s  Prairie,  in  Hamilton  county,  west  of  McLeansboro'. 

Knoh  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  north-west  of  Frankfort,  is  low 
and  humid. 

La  Mofte  Prairie,  in  Crawford  county,  eight  miles  long,  of  a 
breadth  which  greatly  varies;  has  a  somewhat  sandy,  but  rich  soil. 

La  Salle  Prairie,  in  Peoria  county,  adjacent  to  Peoria  Lake;  the 
southern  section  is  rolling  and  fertile,  though  a  little  sandy;  the 
northern  being  more  clayish. 

Lemarde  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  seven  miles  north-west  of 
Fairfield,  is  three  miles  by  six  in  extent,  having  an  indifferent  soil. 

Little  Mount  Prair'",  in  the  same  county,  three  miles  south-west 
of  Fairfield ;  not  very  large. 

There  are  four  prairies  in  the  state  bearing  the  name  of  Long 
Prairie,  of  which  — 

The_;??'s^  is  in  "Wabash  county,  thirteen  miles  north-west  of  Mount 
Carmel ;  undulating,  and  of  but  inferior  quality. 

The  second,  in  Edwards  county,  north  of  Albion,  is  nine  miles  by 
two  in  extent,  interspersed  with  many  groves. 

The  third,  in  Clay  county,  runs  into  Wayne  county,  nine  miles  by 
three;  being,  properly  speaking,  a  branch  of  Twelve-mile  Prairie.  It 
is  level,  and  has  but  a  poor  soil. 

^he  fourth,  in  Jefferson  county,  five  miles  west  of  Mount  Vernon, 
is  four  miles  by  two  in  extent,  having  a  sufiiciently  good  soil. 

Loohing-glass  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county,  twenty  miles  long,  and 
from  six  to  ten  miles  wide ;  undulating,  and  very  productive,  runs 
into  Madison  county. 

Lorton's  Prairie,  in  the  northern  part  of  Greene  county,  has  excel- 
lent soil  and  fine  forests. 

Lost  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  seven  miles  west  of  Pinckneyville, 
one  and  a  half  miles  broad  and  double  that  length,  is  high,  rolling, 
and  very  productive. 

Loup  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county. 

Luckons'  Prairie,  in  the  southern  part  of  Lawrence  county. 

Macon  Counts/  Prairie,  situated  north  of  Decatur,  extends  between 
the  northern  branch  of  the  Sangamon  river  and  Salt  Creek,  with  a 


212  GEOGRAPHY. 

breadth  varying  from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles;  some  parts  of  it  are 
level  and  humid,  others  rolling  and  dry. 

Macoupin  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  reaches  into  Jersey  county  j 
gently  rolling,  having  a  rich  soil  and  stately  forests  near  the  Illinois 
river  and  the  JMacoupin  creek. 

Marshall's  Prairie,  in  Jackson  county,  fourteen  miles  north-east  of 
Brownsville,  has  a  rolling  and  fertile  surface. 

Mason's  Prairie,  in  the  southern  section  of  Richland  county. 

Mill's  Prairie,  in  Edwards  county,  eleven  miles  north-east  of  Al- 
bion, is  four  miles  long,  about  two  broad ;  quite  fertile. 

Moore's  Prairie,  in  Jefferson  county,  south-east  of  Mount  Vernon, 
eight  miles  by  about  two.  Some  parts  of  it  are  flat  and  humid, 
others  dry  and  gently  undulating. 

Another  prairie  of  the  same  name,  situated  in  St.  Clair  county, 
five  miles  east  of  Belleville,  has  a  diameter  of  about  five  miles ;  it  is 
nearly  level,  and  fertile. 

Mud  Prairie,  in  Washington  county,  reaches  into  Perry  county, 
north-east  of  Pinckneyville;  it  is  level  and  humid. 

Another  prairie  of  the  same  name  lies  in  Wayne  county,  north-west 
of  Fairfield ;  also  low  and  humid. 

A  third  prairie  of  the  same  name  (Mud  Prairie)  is  situated  in  the 
south-eastern  portion  of  St.  Clair  county. 

Nine-mile  Prairie,  in  Perry  county,  ten  miles  east  of  Pinckney- 
ville. 

North  Arm  Prairie,  in  Edgar  county,  six  miles  east  of  Paris,  is 
three  miles  broad,  running  along  the  frontier  of  Indiana,  until  it 
meets  the  grand  prairie.     Its  soil  is  good. 

North  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  twelve  miles  north-east  of  Jack- 
sonville, is  dry,  undulating,  and  very  productive. 

Another  prairie  of  the  same  name,  in  the  same  county,  runs  along 
'  Walnut  Creek,  and  is  level. 

Ogle  Prairie,  in  St.  Clair  county,  five  miles  north  of  Belleville, 
extending  one  and  a  half  miles  by  five,  is  rolling  and  very  fertile. 

Ox-how  Prairie,  in  Putnam  county,  ten  miles  south  of  Hennepin, 
five  miles  by  one  and  a  half,  surrounded  by  fine  forests,  and  very 
productive. 


^  GEOGRAPHY.  213 

Par/cer's  Prairie,  in  the  western  section  of  Clark  county,  has  a 
level,  humid  soil,  of  inferior  quality. 

Philo's  Prairie,  in  Williamson  county,  twelve  miles  south  of  Frank- 
fort; gently  undulating,  and  fertile. 

Plum  Creek  Prairie  reaches  from  St.  Clair  into  Randolph  county, 
and  is  ten  miles  by  three  in  extent.     Its  soil  is  good. 

Prairie  du  Long,  in  the  south  of  St.  Clair  county. 

Pratt's  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  fifteen  miles  north-west  of  Car- 
roll ton. 

Rattan's  Prairie,  in  Madison  county,  seven  miles  north-west  of 
Edwardsville ;  is  level,  and  at  intervals  washy. 

Ridge  Prairie,  in  Madison  county,  is  eight  miles  by  eight,  running 
from  near  by  Edwardsville  to  St.  Clair  county;  gently  undulating, 
and  very  productive. 

Rollins'  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  north  of  Frankfort,  is  six 
miles  long  by  four  broad ;  it  is  level  and  fertile. 

Five  different  prairies  in  the  State  of  Illinois  bear  the  name  of 
Round  Prairie,  of  which  — 

The  fiT,st  is  in  Schuyler  county,  four  miles  in  diameter;  dry,  fer- 
tile, and  surrounded  by  woods. 

The  second  is  in  Wabash  county,  north-east  of  Mount  Carmel,  with 
a  diameter  of  four  miles  :  has  an  excellent  soil. 

The  third  is  in  Bond  county,  six  miles  north-west  of  Greenville, 
with  a  diameter  of  nearly  two  miles :  is  rolling,  very  fertile,  and  sur. 
rounded  by  forests. 

The  fourth  is  in  Perry  county,  about  eight  miles  from  Pinckney-, 
v^Ue  :  it  has  but  a  small  circumference. 

The  fifth  is  in  Sangamon  county,  seven  miles  south-east  of  Spring- 
field :  it  is  very  productive. 

Salt  Prairie,  in  Calhoun  count}'-,  forms  a  small  strip,  half  a  mile 
broad  and  six  miles  long  :  it  is  dry  and  fertile. 

Sand  Prairie,  in  Tazewell  county,  four  miles  south  of  Pekin,  has 
a  sandy,  good  soil. 

Seven-mile  Prairie,  in  White  county,  seven  miles  west  of  Carmi. 

Shipley's  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  five  miles  south-east  of  Fair- 
field. 

Shoal-  Creek  Prairie  runs  from  Clinton  through  Bond  into  Mont- 


214  GEOGRAPHY. 

gomery  county,  with  an  average  breadth  of  eight  miles,  gently  undu- 
lating, and  containiDg  much  good  land. 

Six's  Prairie,  in  Brown  county,  seventeen  miles  south-west  of 
Kushville,  is  ten  miles  by  three  in  extent,  undulating,  dry,  productive, 
and  surrounded  by  woods. 

Six-viiJe  Prairie,  in  the  south-western  section  of  Madison  county, 
consisting  of  alluvial  ground,  is  enclosed  by  woods. 

Another  prairie  of  the  same  name  is  situated  in  Perry  county,  nine 
miles  south  of  Pinckneyville,  nine  miles  long  by  six  broad,  with  toler- 
ably good  soil. 

Smooth  Prairie,  in  Madison  county,  eight  miles  east  of  Alton,  is 
three  miles  by  two  in  extent,  being  level  and  somewhat  humid. 

South  Prairie,  in  Morgan  county,  on  the  southern  side  of  Walnut 
Creek. 

Squaio  Prairie,  in  Boone  county,  is  level  and  fertile,  containing 
about  ten  square  miles. 

String  Prairie,  in  Greene  county,  commences  four  miles  west  of 
CarroUton,  running  fifteen  miles  east,  with  a  breadth  of  from  one  to 
three  miles  j  is  level,  and  a  good  tract  of  land  upon  the  whole. 

Sweet's  Prairie,  in  Scott  county,  three  miles  west  of  Manchester, 
is  level  and  washy. 

Swett's  Prairie,  in  Mi:dison  county,  four  miles  north-east  of  Ed- 
wardsville. 

Three-mile  Prairie,  in  Washington  county,  eight  miles  south  of 
Nashville,  is  undulating. 

To7iis  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  six  miles  north-east  of  Fairfield, 
has  second-rate  soil. 

Totten's  Prairie,  in  Fulton  county,  seven  miles  north-west  of  Lew- 
istown,  is  ten  miles  long  and  of  varying  breadth.     The  soil  is  good. 

Turney's  Prairie,  in  Wayne  county,  eight  miles  south  of  Fairfield, 
has  a  small  circumference  and  a  good  soil. 

Twelve-mile  Prairie,  in  Effingham  county,  reaches  into  Clay 
county;  level  and  humid  at  intervals. 

Another  "  Twelve-mile  Prairie,"  situated  in  St.  Clair  county,  is 
somewhat  rolling,  having  a  good  soil. 

Union  Prairie,  in  the  south-eastern  section  of  Clark  county,  is  five 
miles  long  by  three  broad. 


GEOG  RAPHY. 


215 


Another  prairie  bearing  the  same  name  (Union  Prairie),  lies  in 
Schuyler  county,  four  miles  west  of  Rushville. 

Village  Prairir,  in  Edwards  county,  two  miles  north  of  Albion,  is 
about  three  miles  long. 

Walnut  Hill  Prairie  reaches  from  Jefferson  into  Marion  county; 
it  is  four  miles  by  three,  some  -parts  of  it  being  fertile,  others  humid 
and  level. 

Walnut  Prairie,  in  Clark  county,  extends  five  miles  by  two,  having 
a  fertile,  though  somewhat  sandy  soil. 

Wehh's  Prairie,  in  Franklin  county,  fifteen  miles  north-east  of 
Frankfort,  has  a  fertile  soil. 

Wood's  Prairie,  in  Wabash  county,  ten  miles  distant  from  Mount 
Carmel,  is  very  productive. 

Having  enumerated  above  the  prairies  which  are  known  by  their 
own  proper  names,  we  cannot  leave  it  unmentioned,  that  there  are 
many  others  bearing  indiiferent  names;  Illinois  having  in  general 
such  an  abundance  of  prairies,  that  nearly  two-thirds  of  its  area  con- 
sist of  them. 

In  order  to  enable  the  reader  to  inform  himself  regarding  the  man- 
ner in  which  prairie  and  forest  are  distributed  over  the  area  of  the 
State,  we  subjoin  a  prairie  and  forest  map,  wherein  the  counties  are 
marked  and  designated.     We  repeat  them  here,  in  alphabetical  order : 


1.  Adams. 

2.  Alexander. 

3.  Bond. 

4.  Boone. 

5.  Brown. 

6.  Bureau. 

7.  Calhoun. 

8.  CarroU. 

9.  Cass. 

10.  Champaign. 

11.  Christian. 

12.  Clark. 

13.  Clay. 

14.  CUnton, 

15.  Coles. 

16.  Cook. 


17.  Crawford. 

18.  Cumberland. 

19.  De  Kalb. 

20.  De  Witt. 

21.  DuPage. 

22.  Edgar, 
28.  Edwards. 

24.  Effingham. 

25.  Fayette. 

26.  Franklin. 

27.  Fulton. 

28.  GaUatm. 

29.  Greene. 
80.  Grundy. 

31.  Hamilton. 

32.  Hancock. 


33.  Hardin. 

34.  Henderson. 

35.  Henry. 
30.  Ii'oquois. 

37.  Jackson. 

38.  Jasper. 
89.  Jefferson. 

40.  Jersey. 

41.  Jo  Daviess. 

42.  Johnson. 

43.  Kane. 

44.  Kankakee. 

45.  KendaU. 

46.  Knox. 

47.  Lake. 

48.  La  Salle. 


216 


GEOGRAPHY. 


49.  Lawi'ence. 

50.  Lee. 

51.  Livingston. 

52.  Logan. 

53.  Macon. 

54.  Macoupin. 

55.  Madison. 

56.  Marion. 

57.  Marshall 

58.  Mason. 

59.  Massac. 

60.  McDonough. 

61.  McHenry. 

62.  McLean. 

63.  Menard. 

64.  Mercer. 

65.  Monroe. 

66.  Montgomery. 


67.  Morgan. 

68.  Moultrie. 

69.  Ogle. 

70.  Peoria. 

71.  Perry. 

72.  Piatt. 

73.  Pike. 

74.  Pope. 

75.  Pulaski. 

76.  Putnam. 

77.  Randolph. 

78.  Richland. 

79.  Rock  Island. 

80.  Saline. 

81.  St.  Clair. 

82.  Sangamon, 

83.  Scott. 

84.  Shelby. 


85.  Schuyler. 

86.  Stark. 

87.  Stephenson. 

88.  TazeweU. 

89.  Union. 

90.  Vermillion. 

91.  Wabash. 

92.  Warren. 

93.  Washington. 

94.  Wayne. 

95.  White. 

96.  Whitesides. 

97.  Will. 

98.  Wilhamson. 

99.  Winnebago. 
100,  Woodford. 


There  are  no  mountains  in  Illinois ;  in  the  southern,  as  well  as  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State,  there  are  a  few  hills ;  near  the  banks 
of  the  Illinois,  Mississippi,  and  several  other  rivers,  the  ground  is 
elevated,  forming  the  so-called  bluffs,  on  which,  at  the  present  day, 
may  be  found,  uneffaced  by  the  hand  of  Time,  the  marks  and  traces 
left  by  the  water,  which  was  formerly  much  higher,  and  gradually 
lowered ;  whence  it  may  be  safe  to  conclude,  that  where  now  the  fer- 
tile prairies  of  Illinois  extend,  and  the  rich  soil  of  the  country  yields 
its  golden  harvests,  must  have  once  been  .a  vast  sheet  of  water,  the 
mud  deposited  by  which  formed  the  soil,  thus  accounting  for  the  pre- 
sent great  fertility  of  the  country. 

In  relation  to  the  quality  of  its  soils,  Illinois  is  generally  divided 
as  follows : 

First,  the  alluvial  land  on  the  margins  of  the  rivers,  and  extending 
with  a  breadth  varying  from  half  a  mile  or  a  mile  to  seven  or  eight  miles. 
Wherever  it  is  elevated,  this  country  is  of  an  extraordinary  fertility ; 
at  those  places  where  it  is  low,  and  consequently  exposed  to  inunda- 
tions, it  is  a  very  unsafe  matter  to  attempt  cultivating  it.  The  most 
extensive  tract  of  alluvial  laud  is  the  so-called  American  Bottom, 
which  was  thus  named  at  the  time  it  formed  the  western  boundary 


216 


GEOGRAPHY. 


49.  Lawrence. 
60.  Lee. 

51.  Livingston. 

52.  Logan. 

53.  Macon. 

54.  Macoupin. 

55.  Madison. 

56.  Marion. 
67.  Marshall 

58.  Mason. 

59.  Massac. 

60.  McDonough. 

61.  McHenry. 

62.  McLean. 

63.  Menard. 

64.  Mercer. 

65.  Monroe. 

66.  Montgomery. 


67.  Morgan. 

68.  Moultrie. 

69.  Ogle. 

70.  Peoria. 

71.  Perry. 

72.  Piatt. 

73.  Pike. 

74.  Pope. 

75.  Pulaski. 

76.  Putnam. 

77.  Randolph. 

78.  Richland. 

79.  Rock  Island. 

80.  Saline. 

81.  St.  Clair.' 

82.  Sangamon. 

83.  Scott. 

84.  Shelby. 


85.  Schuyler. 

86.  Stark. 

87.  Stephenson. 

88.  Tazewell. 

89.  Union. 

90.  Vermillion. 

91.  Wabash. 

92.  Warren. 

93.  AVashiugton. 

94.  AVayne. 

95.  White. 

96.  Whitesides. 

97.  Will. 

98.  Williamson. 

99.  Winnebago. 
100.  Woodford. 


There  are  no  mountains  in  Illinois ;  in  tbe  southern,  as  well  as  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State,  there  are  a  few  hills ;  near  the  banks 
of  the  Illinois,  Mississippi,  and  several  other  rivers,  the  ground  is 
elevated,  forming  the  so-called  bluffs,  on  which,  at  the  present  day, 
may  be  found,  uneffaced  by  the  hand  of  Time,  the  marks  and  traces 
left  by  the  water,  which  was  formerly  much  higher,  and  gradually 
lowered ;  whence  it  may  be  safe  to  conclude,  that  where  now  the  fer- 
tile prairies  of  Illinois  extend,  and  the  rich  soil  of  the  country  yields 
its  golden  harvests,  must  have  once  been  a  vast  sheet  of  water,  the 
mud  deposited  by  which  formed  the  soil,  thus  accounting  for  the  pre- 
sent great  fertility  of  the  country. 

In  relation  to  the  quality  of  its  soils,  Illinois  is  generally  divided 
as  follows : 

First,  the  alluvial  land  on  the  margins  of  the  rivers,  and  extending 
with  a  breadth  varying  from  half  a  mile  or  a  mile  to  seven  or  eight  miles. 
Wherever  it  is  elevated,  this  country  is  of  an  extraordinary  fertility; 
at  those  places  where  it  is  low,  and  consequently  exposed  to  inunda- 
tions, it  is  a  very  unsafe  matter  to  attempt  cultivating  it.  The  most 
extensive  tract  of  alluvial  land  is  the  so-called  American  Bottom, 
which  was  thus  named  at  the  time  it  formed  the  western  boundary 


GEOGRAPHY.  217 

of  the  United  States;  it  stretches  from  the  junctioa  of  the  Kaskaskia 
with  the  Mississippi,  along  the  latter  to  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri, 
containing  about  450  square  miles,  or  288,000  acres. 

Secondly,  the  table-land,  fifty  to  a  hundred  feet  higher  than  the 
alluvial  land ;  this  commences  at  the  slopes,  by  which  the  latter  is 
encompassed;  it  consists  principally  of  prairies,  which,  according  to 
their  respectively  higher  or  lower  situations,  are  either  dry,  or  humid 
and  marshy. 

Thirdly,  the  somewhat  hilly  sections  of  the  State,  which,  alternately 
consisting  of  wood  and  prairie,  are  on  the  whole  not  as  fertile  as  either 
the  alluvial  or  the  table  land. 

The  soil  of  Illinois  is  unsurpassed  in  fertility  by  that  of  any  other 
State,  there  being  no  room  for  doubt,  that  at  the  time  it  shall  have 
been  settled  throughout  its  entire  extent,  the  produce  of  its  harvests 
will  surpass  that  of  many  other  States  together.  Where  in  the  world 
could  a  fertility  be  found  equal  to  that  of  the  American  Bottom,  which, 
"■'ever  since  it  was  settled  by  the  French,  about  150  years  ago,  has, 
without  any  manuring  whatever,  yielded,  year  after  year^  tha  most 
abundant  crops  of  Indian  corn  ? 


19 


STATISTICS. 


The  population  of  Illinois  is  returned,  by  the  Census  of  1855,  at 
1,300,251  souls;  having,  since  the  year  1810,  increased  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

In  the  year  1810  it  amoimted  to  12,282  inhabitants. 

1820  "  55,211 

1830  " 157,445  " 

1835  "  272,427  " 

1840  "  476,183  " 

1845  "  602,125  " 

1850  "  851,470  " 

1855  "  1,300,251  «' 

Thus  increasing  — 

From  1810  to  1820  by 42,929  inhabitants. 

1820  "1830  '„'   102,234 

1830  "1835  "  J 114,982 

1835  "1840  "   203,756  " 

1840  <'1845  "  185,942  " 

1845  "1850  "  189,345  " 

1850  "1855  "  448,781 

What  distinguishes  the  state  of  Illinois  from  the  other  states  of 
the  Union,  is  its  gigantic  growth  in  numbers,  as  upon  instituting  a  com- 
parison with  those  states,  the  ratio  of  the  increase  in  the  population  of 
which  has  also  been  very  considerable,  will  be  placed  beyond  a  doubt. 

The  United  States'  Census  returns  the  population  of  Indiana, 
Maine,  Massachusetts,  Michigan,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Ohio,  and 
Pennsylvania,  as  follows  : — 


Indiana, in  1800  4,875  inhab 

1810 24,520          < 

1820 147,178 

1830 343,031          « 

1840   685,866          < 

1850 988,416          ' 


tants. 


(218) 


STATISTICS.  219 

Maine,  .-...  in  1790  96,540  inhabitants. 

1800  151,719 

1810  228,705  « 

1820  298,335 

1830.. 899,455 

1840 501,793 

1850 583,169  " 

Massacliusetts,  in  1790 878,717  " 

1800 423,245 

1810  472,040 

1820 523,287 

1830 610,408 

1840  737,699  " 

1850 ■ 994,514 

Michigan, in  1810 4,762  " 

1820 8,896  " 

1830 31,639  " 

1840 212,267 

1850 397,654 

New  Jersey,  ...  in  1790  184,139  " 

1800 211,949 

1810  245,555  " 

1820 277,575 

1830 320,823  " 

1840  373,306  " 

1850 489,555  " 

New  York, in  1790 840,120         " 

1800 586,756 

1810 959,049 

1820 1,372,812 

1830  1,918,608 

1840  2,428,921 

1850  3,097,394  " 

Ohio,  inlSOO 45,365 

1810 230,760 

1820 581,434 

1830 937,903  " 

1840 1,519,467         '' 

1850  1,980,329  « 

PennsylYania,  in  1790  434,373  " 

1800  602,361  " 

1810 810,091 


220  STATISTICS. 

Pennsylvania,   in  1820  1,049,'458  inhabitants. 

1830  1,348,233 

1840 1,724,038 

1850  i 2,311,786 

Thus  the  increase  of  the  population  of  the  before-mentioned  states, 
in  which  census  returns  were  naade  since  1810,  for  the  forty  years, 
from  1810  to  1850,  must  be  calculated  as  follows :  — 

Indiana 8,931  per  cent. 

Maine 155  " 

Massachusetts 110  " 

Michigan  8,250  « 

New  Jersey ; 99  " 

New  York 31G  " 

Ohio 758  " 

Pennsylvania 185  " 

lUinois 6,832  " 

Although  from  the  above  it  would  appear,  that  Michigan  surpasses 
the  state  of  Illinois  in  the  rapid  increase  of  its  population,  on  con- 
sidering that  in  the  year  1850  Michigan  possessed  a  much  smaller 
population  than  Illinois,  having  but  397,654  inhabitants  to  set  off 
against  the  851,470  of  the  latter;  that  the  immigration  to  Michigan, 
during  the  years  1850  —  1855,  was  considerably  less  than  that  to 
Illinois;  further,  that  the  population  of  Illinois,  during  the  five  years, 
1850 — 1855,  has  increased  by  about  52  per  cent.,  or  more  than  one- 
half;  and  during  the  forty-five  years,  1810 — 1855,  by  about  10,486 
per  cent. ;  we  can  only  regret  that  we  are  not  in  possession  of  the 
returns  of  the  census  of  Michigan  for  1855 ;  by  placing  the  statement 
given  by  these  with  regard  to  the  increase  of  the  population  of  Michi- 
gan up  to  that  year  before  the  reader,  we  would  be  enabled  to  prove, 
that  the  state  of  Illinois,  far  from  being  inferior  in  rapidity  of  the 
growth  of  its  population,  for  the  last  forty  years,  to  the  other  states, 
is  in  reality  superior  not  only  to  them,  but  also  to  Michigan. 

Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  which  states  have  also  prodigiously  advanced, 
could  not  be  well  compared  with  the  above  states,  for  the  last  forty 
years,  they  being  of  too  recent  date. 

Illinois  consists  of  one  hundred  counties,  the  population  of  which, 
for  the  years  1840,  1850,  and  1855,  was,  respectively,  the  foUow- 


STATISTICS. 


221 


COUNTIES.  1S40.  1850.  1S55. 

Adams 14,476  26,598  34,311 

Alexander 3,313  2,484  2,927 


Bond 5,060 6,144 7 

Boone 1,705  7,024 10^ 

Brown 4,183  7,198  7 

Bureau 3,067  8,841  19 


Calhoun 1,741 

CarroU 1,023 


2,981 
1,475 
1,878 
7,453 

OOQ 


3,231 

4,586 
■  7,253 
2,649 
3,203 
9,532 
4,289 
5,139 
9,335 
43,385 


.  6 
,  14, 
103 
,  10, 


Cass  , 

Champaign 

Christian 

Clark , 

Clay 6,zz!: 

Clinton 3,718 

*Coles 9,616 

Cook 10,201 

Crawford 4,422 7,135 

Cumberland 3,718  6^ 

DeKalb 1,697 7,540  13 

DeWitt 8,247 5,002  8^ 

DuPage 3,535  9,290  12 

Edgar 8,225  10,692  13 

Edwards 8,070 3,524 4 

Effingham 1,675  3,799... 6 

Fayette 6,328 8,075  9 

Franklin 3,682  5,081  7 

Fulton 13,142  22,508  27 

*GaUatin 10,760  5,448  6 

Greene 11,951  12,429  13 

*Grundy 3,023  7 

HamHton 8,945  6,362  7., 

Hancock 9,946  14,652  22 

Hardin 1,378  2,887  3 

Henderson 4,612  7 

Henry 1,260  3,807  9 

flroqiiois 1,695  4,149  6 

Jackson 3,566 5,862 

Jasper 1,472  3,220 6 


511 

994 
940 
518 
768 
610 
946 
565 
041 
803 
076 
823 
937 
900 
152 
099 
636 
508 
307 
920 
598 
226 
592 
182 
968 
723 
092 
021 
212 
158 
920 
128 
218 
788 
834 
842 


*  The  counties  marked  *  were,  during  the  years  1840 — 1850,  subdivided  into  new  counties. 
J  From  the  counties  Will  and  Iroquois,  denoted  by  t>  sections  were  taken  since  1850,  and 
made  to  constitute  Kankakee  county. 

19* 


222  STATISTICS. 

COUNTIES.  1840.                           1850.                         1855. 

Jefferson 5,7G2  8,109  10,258 

Jersey 4,535 7,354 8,771 

Jo  Daviess G,180  18,604 24,104 

*Johnson 3,626 4,114  4,966 

Kane 6,501  ...  16,703  26,665 

Kankakee 10,110 

Kendall 7,730  10,145 

Knox 7,060  13,279  22,847 

Lake 2,634  14,226  17,630 

*La  Salle 9,348  17,815  35,563 

*Lawrence 7,092. 6,121  8,160 

Lee 2,035  5,292  11,618 

Livingston 759  1,552  4,606 

Logan 2,333  5,128 8,324 

McDonough 5,308  7,610  12,886 

McIIenry 2,578    14,978  19,285 

McLean 6,565 10,163  19,578 

*Macon 3,039  3,998  8,365 

Macoupin 7,826  12,355  17,403 

Madison 14,433  20,441  31,556 

Marion 4,742  6,720  10,139 

■Marshall 1,849  5,180  9,900 

Mason 5,921 7,775 

Massac 4,092  5,692 

Menard 4,431  6,349  8,029 

Mercer 2,352  5,246 9,660 

Monroe 4,481  7,629 10,285 

Montgomery 4,490 6,277  9,041 

Morgan 19,549  16,064  17,735 

Moultrie 3,234 4,435 

Ogle 8,479  10,120  16,456 

Peoria 6,153  17,547  30,134 

Perry 3,222  5,278 6,858 

Piatt 1,605 3,052 

Pike 11,728  18,819  23,351 

*Pope 4,094  3,975  6,835 

Pulaski ■.  2,265 2,402 

Putnam 2,131  3,024  5,100 

Randolph 7,944  11,879  12,001 

Bichland 4,012  7,049 

Rock  Island 2,010  6,937  16.217 

St.  Clair 13,031  20,180 28,554 


STATISTICS.  223 

COUNTIES.  1S40.  1850.  1855. 

SaUne 5,588  6J76 

*Sangamon 14,716  19,224  25,604 

Schuyler 6,972  10,573  12,296 

Scott 6,215  7,914  7,937 

*She]by 6,659  7,807  11,270 

Stark 1,573  3,710 6,293 

Stephenson 2,800  11,666  13,316 

*TazeweU 7,222  12,052  17,371 

Union 5,524  7,615  10,106 

Vermillion 9,303  11,492  15,893 

Wabash 4,240  4,692  6,233 

*Warren 6,739  8,176 12,209 

Washington 4,810  6,953  10,059 

Wayne 5,133  6,825 9,902 

White 7,119  8,925 10,387 

Whitesides 2,514  5,361  13,416 

fWill 10,107  16,703  24,468 

*Wimamson 4,457  7,216 9,430 

Winnebago 4,609  11,775  20,826 

Woodford 4,415 8,400 

Illinois  has,  besides,  a  county  called  Cook  county,  vfhicb  numbers 
more  than  100,000  inhabitants,  and  in  which  Chicago,  that  city  of 
unparalleled  growth,  is  situated ;  another  county  (La  Salle),  with 
more  than  35,000 ;  three  (Adams,  Madison,  and  Peoria),  with  from 
30,000  to  35,000;  four  (Fulton,  Kane,  St.  Clair,  Sangamon),  with 
from  25,000  to  30,000 ;  six  (Hancock,  Jo  Daviess,  Knox,  Pike,  Will, 
Winnebago),  with  from  20,000  to  25,000;  ten  (Bureau,  Lake, 
McHenry,  McLean,  Macoupin,  Morgan,  Ogle,  Rock  Island,  Tazewell, 
and  Vermilion),  with  from  15,000  to  20,000 ;  twenty-four  with  from 
10,000  to  15,000;  forty-two  with  from  5000  to  10,000:  and  nine 
with  less  than  5000  inhabitants.  The  counties  having  the  fewest 
inhabitants  are  Pulaski  and  Alexander,  the  former  with  2462,  the 
latter  with  2927  inhabitants,  contiguous  to  each  other,  and  being 
jituated  in  the  most  southern  section  of  the  State. 

In  order  to  enable  the  reader  with  one  glance  to  survey  the  com- 
paratively smaller  or  greater  density  of  the  population  of  the  various 
parts  and  counties  of  the  State,  we  here  subjoin  a  population-map  of  it, 
wherein  the  counties  are  marked  and  designated,  the  following  columns 


224 


STATISTICS. 


corresponding  to  which  contain  a  statement  of  the  number  of  inha- 
bitants residing  on  a  geographical  square  mile  in  every  single  county, 
according  to  the  census  of  the  State  returned  in  1855  : 


1.  Cook 2306 

2.  Kane 1049 

3.  Peoria 1031 

4.  Adams 937 

5.  Madison 918 

6.  St.  Clair 916 

7.  McHenry 878 

8.  Eock  Island 862 

9.  Knox 843 

10.  "Winnebago 830 

11.  Jo  Daviess 822 

12.  Morgan 820 

13.  Lake 816 

14.  Boone 805 

15.  Clark  782 

16.  Scott 782 

17.  LaSaUe 714 

18.  Fulton 684 

29.  Wabash  682 

20.  Kendall  666 

21.  Pike 643 

22.  Schuyler 639 

23.  WiE 639 

24.  DuPage 630 

25.  Monroe....... 628 

26.  Hancock 624 

27.  Edgar 588 

28.  Sangamon 588 

29.  TazeweU 586 

30.'  Bro-mi... 554 

31.  Union 553 

32.  Jersey 537 

33.  Greene 528 

34.  Marshall 526 

35.  Randolph 511 

36.  Cass 511 

37.  Massac 505 

38.  Stephenson 503 

39.  Crawford 490 

40.  Wan-en 482 


41.  McDonough 475 

42.  Edwards 466 

43.  Williamson 464 

44.  Johnson 456 

45.  White 456 

46.  Ogle 452 

47.  DeKalb 449 

48.  Hardin 447 

49.  Bureau 432 

50.  De  Witt 432 

51.  Macoxipin 430 

52.  Coles 426 

53.  Menard  413 

54.  Henderson 409 

55.  Bond 404 

56.  Whitesides 404 

57.  McLean 394 

58.  Kankakee  386 

59.  Cumberland 385 

60.  Pope 384 

61.  Eichland 383 

62.  Saline 383 

63.  Stark 383 

64.  JeflPerson 379 

65.  Putnam  377 

66.  Washington 377 

67.  Lawi-ence 377 

68.  Marion 375 

69.  Mercer 366 

70.  CarroU 362 

71.  Franklin..... 353 

72.  Hamilton  353 

73.  Lee 349 

74.  Grundy 345 

75.  Woodford 341 

76.  Perry...., 337 

77.  Shelby 336 

78.  GaUatin 330 

79.  Pulaski 327 

80.  Macon 319 


224 


STATISTICS, 


corresponding  to  which  contain  a  statement  of  the  number  of  inha- 
bitants residing  on  a  geographical  square  mile  in  evcrj^  single  county, 
according  to  the  census  of  the  State  returned  in  1855 : 


1.  Cook 2396 

2.  Kane 1049 

3.  Peoria 1031 

4.  Adams 937 

5.  Madison 918 

6.  St.  Clair 916 

7.  McHenry 878 

8.  Rock  Island 8G2 

9.  Knox 843 

10.  Winnebago 830 

11.  Jo  Daviess 822 

12.  Morgan 820 

13.  Lake 816 

14.  Boone 805 

15.  Clark  782 

16.  Scott 782 

17.  La  Salle 714 

18.  Fulton 684 

m  AVabash  682 

20.  Kendall  666 

21.  Pike 643 

22.  Schuyler 639 

28.  Will ,.  639 

24.  DuPage 630 

25.  Monroe.. 628 

26.  Hancock 624 

27.  Edgar 588 

28.  Sangamon 588 

29.  Tazewell 586 

80.'  Brown 554 

81.  Union 553 

32.  Jersey 537 

83.  Greene 528 

84.  Marshall 526 

85.  Randolph 511 

36.  Cass 511 

37.  Massac 505 

38.  Stephenson..  503 

89.  Crawford 490 

40.  Warren 482 


41.  McDonoiTgh 475 

42.  Edwards 466 

43.  Williamson 464 

44.  Johnson 456 

45.  White 456 

46.  Ogle 452 

47.  DeKalb 449 

48.  Hardin 447 

49.  Bureau 432 

50.  De  Witt 432 

51.  Macoupin 430 

52.  Coles 426 

53.  Menard  413 

54.  Henderson 409 

55.  Bond 404 

56.  Whitesides 404 

57.  McLean 394 

58.  Kankakee  886 

59.  Cumberland 885 

60.  Pope 384 

61.  Richland 883 

62.  Saline 383 

63.  Stark  383 

64.  Jefferson 879 

65.  Putnam  877 

66.  Washington 877 

67.  Lawrence 377 

68.  Marion 375 

69.  Mercer 866 

70.  CarroU 362 

71.  FrankUn...., 353 

72.  Hamilton  353 

73.  Lee 349 

74.  Grundy 345 

75.  AVoodford 841 

76.  Perry..., 337 

77.  Shelby 336 

78.  Gallatin 330 

79.  Pulaski 327 

80.  Macon 319 


=^0® 

^ 


STATISTICS. 


225 


81.  Mason 319 

82.  Calhonn 315 

83.  Clay 313 

84.  Clinton  302 

85.  Fayette  .- 298 

86.  Jasper 292 

87.  Wayne 292 

88.  Moultrie 292 

89.  Logan 290 

90.  Jackson 277 


91.  Montgomery 273 

92.  Alexander 260 

93.  Effingham  256 

94.  Henry 251 

95.  Cliristian 213 

96.  Vermillion 202 

97.  Pyatt 164 

98.  Cliampaign 138 

99.  Iroquois 134 

100.  Livingston 94 


The  entire  number  of  dwellings  in  the  State,  was,  in  the  year 
1850,*  146,544;  the  number  of  families  149,153,  with  851,470 
members,  846,104  of  whom  were  whites,  and  5,366  free  colored  per- 
sons. Of  the  whites  445,644  belonged  to  the  male  and  400,460  to 
the  female  sex ;  of  the  colored  population  2756  to  the  male  and  2610 
to  the  female  sex.  Among  the  851,470  inhabitants,  there  were  475 
deaf  and  dumb,  257  blind,  249  maniacs,  and  371  idiots. 

Of  the  inhabitants,  736,931  were  born  in  the  United  States,  in- 
cluding also  the  descendants  of  the  earlier  European  settlers  and  the 
later  immigrants;  110,593  in  foreign  countries;  while  the  birth-place 
of  3946  could  not  be  ascertained.  Of  those  born  in  America,  3693 
were  from  Maine,  4288  from  New  Hampshire,  1381  from  Vermont, 
9230  from  Massachusetts,  1051  from  Rhode  Island,  6899  from 
Connecticut,  67,180  from  New  York,  6848  from  New  Jersey,  37,979 
from  Pennsylvania,  1397  from  Delaware,  6898  from  Maryland,  226 
from  the  District  of  Columbia,  24,697  from  Virginia,  13,851  frown 
North  Carolina,  4162  from  South  Carolina,  1341  from  Georgia,  23 
from  Florida,  1335  from  Alabama,  490  from  Mississippi,  480  from 
Louisiana,  63   from  Texas,  727   from  Arkansas,  32,303  from   Ten- 


*  Omng  to  the  fact,  that  in  the  year  1855  an  incomplete  and  very  imperfect 
census,  -which  does  not  enter  into  details  as  did  the  census  of  1850,  was  re- 
turned, most  of  the  amounts  could  only  be  stated  according  to  the  census  of 
1850.  Had  a  complete  census,  that  besides  stating  the  number  of  inhabitants, 
would  have  paid  due  regard  to  the  agricultural,  manufactuiing,  commercial, 
industrial,  and  social  interests  of  the  State,  been  published,  the  pictin-e  of 
Illinois  this  book  is  intended  to  place  before  the  eyes  of  the  reader,  would  no 
doubt  have  been  a  much  more  complete  one;  for  in  this  very  period  of 
1850-1855,  the  brilliant  progress  of  Filinois  has  been  such  as  no  former  period 
ever  witnessed. 


226  STATISTICS. 

nessee,  49,508  from  Kentucky,  64,219  from  Ohio,  2158  from  Mich- 
igan, 30,953  from  Indiana,  7288  from  Missouri,  1511  from  Iowa, 
1095  from  "Wisconsin,  3  from  California,  16  from  tlie  Territories,  and 
343,618  were  natives  of  Illinois. 

Of  those  born  in  foreign  countries,  18,628  were  natives  of  England, 
27,786  of  Ireland,  4661  of  Scotland,  572  of  Wales,  38,511  of  Ger- 
many, inclusive  of  Austria,  3396  of  France,  70  of  Spain,  42  of  Por- 
tugal, 33  of  Belgium,  220  of  Holland,  43  of  Italy,  1635  of  Switzer- 
land, 27  of  Russia,  93  of  Denmark,  2415  of  Norway,  1123  of 
Sweden,  4  of  Greece,  3  of  Asia,  11  of  Africa,  10,699  of  British 
America,  30  of  Mexico,  12  of  South  America,  75  of  the  West  Indies, 
9  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  495  from  various  other  countries. 

Farming  lands.  —  lu  the  year  1850,  Illinois  had  76,208  farms, 
containing  12,037,412  acres,  making  an  average  of  158  acres  to  each 
farm,  5,039,545  of  which  were  improyed,  and  6,997,867  still  unculti- 
vated. The  value  of  these  76,208  farms  was  estimated  at  ^96,133,290  ; 
hence  the  average  value  of  each  farm  was  $1261.  The  value  of  the 
agricultural  implements  amounted  to  $6,405,561. 

The  live  stock,  of  cattle,  was  estimated  at  $24,209,258 ;  of  horses, 
$267,653  J  of  asses  and  mules,  $10,573  :  making  an  aggregate  of 
$278,226,  against  $199,235  in  1840;  of  milk  cows,  $294,671;  of 
oxen,  $76,156 ;  of  bulls,  heifers,  and  cattle  fit  for  slaughter,  $541,209  ; 
neat  cattle  in  the  aggregate,  $912,036,  against  $626,274  in  1840 ; 
of  sheep,  $894,043,. against  $395,672  in  1840;  of  hogs,  $1,915,907, 
against  $1,495,254  in  1840.  The  value  of  the  slaughtered  cattle  in 
the  year  1850,  ^mounted  to  $4,972,286 ;  and  the  value  of  the  live 
stock  of  cattle  in  1850,  to  $30,000,000. 

The  following  were  the  crops  in  1850:  —  9,414,575  bushels  of 
wheat,  against  3,335,393  in  the  year  1840;. 83,364  bushels  of  rye, 
against  88,197  in  1840  ;  10,087,241  bushels  of  oats,  against  4,988,008 
in  1840;  57,646,984  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  against  22,634,211  in 
1840;  2,514,861  bushels  of  Irish,  and  157,433  bushels  of  sweet 
potatoes  —  making  an  aggregate  of  2,672,294  bushels  of  potatoes, 
against  2,025,520  bushefs  in  1840;  110,795  bushels  of  barley, 
against  82,251  in  1840;  184,504  bushels  of  buckwheat,  against 
57,884  in  1840;  601,952  tons  of  hay,  against  164,932  in  1840. 
Hence  it  follows,  that  of  the  produce  of  the  fields,  rye  alone  has  de- 


STATISTICS.  227 

creased,  all  the  other  species  of  corn  having  increased,  and  that  wheat 
and  Indian  corn  have  advanced  by  the  highest  ratio. 

The  harvest  of  1855  is  roughly  estimated  at  20,000,000  bushels 
of  wheat,  20,000,000  bushels  of  oats,  130,,000,000  bushels  of  Indian 
corn,  and  1,000,000  tons  of  hay. 

Other  farm  produces  in  the  year  1850,  were  :  —  3551  lbs.  of  hops, 
against  17,742*  in  1840;  3427  lbs.  of  cloverseed;  14,380  lbs.  of 
seeds  of  other  species  of  grass ;  12,526,543  lbs.  of  butter;  1,278,225 
lbs.  of  cheese  —  making  an  aggregate  of  18,804,768  lbs.,  against 
428,175  lbs.  in  1840  ;  82,814  bushels  of  peas  and  beans.  The  value 
of  the  produce  of  the  market-gardens  amounted  to  $127,404  ;  fruitery, 
etc.,  §1,146,049,  against  $126,756  in  1840;  wax  and  honey,  to 
869,444  lbs.,  against  29,173  in  1840;  articles  of  produce  for  domes- 
tic use,  to  $1,155,902  ;  flaxseed,  to  10,787  bushels ;  flax,  to  160,063 
lbs.;  maple  sugars,  to  248,904  lbs.;  molasses,  to  8,354  gallons;  to- 
bacco, to  841,394  lbs.,  versus  564,326  in  1840;  wool,  to"  2,150,113 
lbs.,  versus  650,007  in  1840;  silk  cocoons,  to  47  lbs.,  versus  1150  in 
1840  ;  wine,  to  2997  gallons,  versus  474  in  1840. 

Of  manufactories,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1850,  had  3164  establish- 
ments, doing  business  with  a  capital  of  $6,385,387,  consuming 
$8,915,173  worth  of  raw  materials,  employing  11,632  men  and  433 
women,  paying  wages  to  the  amount  of  $3,286,249,  and  manufac- 
turing goods  to  the  value  of  $17,236,073. 

Of  manufactories  of  woollen  articles,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1850,  had 
16,  operating  with  a  capital  of  $154,500,  consuming  of  raw  materials 
396,964  lbs.  of  wool  and  987  tons  of  coal,  valued  in  the  aggregate  at 
$115,367;  employing  124  men  and  54  women,  and  manufacturing 
goods  to  the  value  of  $206,572. 

Of  manufactories  of  pig  iron,  there  were  but  two,  having  a  capital 
of  $65,000.  These  consumed  5500  tons  of  ore,  estimated  at  $15,500, 
and  while  employing  150  laborers,  manufactured  2700  tons  of  pig 
iron,  valued  at  $70,200. 

*  Tliis  statement,  thougli,  like  all  the  preceding,  taken  from  the  United 
States  census,  appears  to  us  erroneous ;  for  as,  during  the  last  few  years,  a 
remarkable  increase  has  taken  place,  both  in  the  brewing  and  consumption  of 
beer,  it  seems  scarcely  credible,  that  the  cultivation  of  hops  should  have  so 
considerably  fallen  off. 


228  STATISTICS, 

Of  iron  foundries,  there  were  29,  doing  business  with  a  capital  of 

1200,400.  These  expended  ^172,330  for  4818  tons  of  pig  iron,  50 
tons  of  old  iron,  besides  fuel,  &c. ;  employing  832  laborers,  and  manu- 
facturing goods  to  the  value  of  §441,185. 

Of  >  breweries  and  distilleries,  there  were  52,  having  a  business 
capital  of  8303,400,  consuming  98,000  bushels  of  barley,  48,700 
bushels  of  rye,  and  703,500  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  occupying  274 
hands,  and  furnishing  a  supply  of  27,925  barrels  of  beer,  &c.,  and 
2,315,000  gallons  of  whiskey,  and  various  other  spirits. 

Lastly,  Illinois  possesses  a  salt  manufactory,  operating  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $2500,  consuming  §2000  worth  of  raw  material,  employing  3 
hands,  and  producing  20,000  bushels  of  salt,  estimated  at  §6000. 

Of  churches,  there  are  1223  in  the  State,  having  486,576  mem- 
bers, and  appertaining  to  the  various  denominations,  as  follows  :  The 
Baptists  have  282  churches,  with  94,130  members ;  the  Christians,  69 
churches,  with  30,864  members;  the  Congregationalists, 46  churches, 
with  15,626  members ;  Dutch  Reformed,  2  churches,  with  875  mem- 
bers ;  Episcopalians,  27  churches,  with  14,000  members ;  Free,  2 
churches,  with  750  members;  Friends,  6  churches,  with  1550  mem- 
bers ;  German  Reformed,  8  churches,  with  280  members ;  Lutherans, 
42  churches,  with  16,640  members;  Methodists,  405  churches,  with 
178,452  members;  Moravians,  2  churches,  with  400  members;  Pres- 
byterians, 206  churches,  with  83,129  members  ;  Roman  Catholics,  59 
churches,  with  29,100  members;  Swedenborgians,  2  churches,  with 
140  members;  Tunkers,  4  churches,  with  1225  members;  Union- 
ists, 30  churches,  with  8625  members ;  Unitarians,  4  churches,  with 
1050  members ;  Universalists,  2  churches,  with  2000  members ; 
yarious  other  small  sects,  25  churches,  with  7740  members.  Th" 
whole  church  property  amounted  to  §1,482,182. 

Of  places  for  education  there  were: — 4052  public  schools,  with 
4248  teachers,  125,725  pupils,  and  a  yearly  revenue  of  §349,712; 
83  academies  and  private  schools,  with  160  teachers,  4244  scholars, 
and  a  yearly  income  of  §40,488 ;  4  colleges,  with  29  professors,  and 
223  students.  Whole  amount  of  lands  appropriated  by  the  Federal 
Government  for  educational  purposes,  up  to  1st  of  January,  1854 : 
for  schools,  978,755  acres;  for  universities,  23,040  acres;  making 
an  aggregate  of  1,001,795  acres. 


STATISTICS.  229 

According  to  the  army  register  for  1851,  tlie  militia  of  Illinois 
numbered  170,359,  in  all  the  departments,  4168  of  whom  were  com- 
missioned officers,  the  residue  (165,741)  being  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers, privates,  and  musicians.  Among  the  commissioned  officers  there 
were  30  general  officers,  79  general  staff  officers,  1297  field  officers, 
and  3192  company  officers. 

Of  libraries,  Illinois,  in  1850,  possessed  152,  with  62,486  volumes, 
33  of  which,  with  35,982  volumes,  were  public  libraries;  29  school 
libraries,  with  5875  volumes;  86  Sunday-school  libraries,  v/ith 
12,829  volumes ;  4  college  libraries,  with  7800  volumes. 

In  the  year  1828,  4  newspapers  were  edited;  in  1840,  52  ;  in  the 
year  1850,  107 ;  among  which  were  7  monthly  and  1  quarterly  peri- 
odical. These  107  newspapers,  &c.,  issued,  in  the  year  1850, 
5,102,276  numbers,  and  may  be  classified  as  follows:  literary  and 
miscellaneous,  22;  neutral,  1;  political,  73;  religious,  8;  scien- 
tific, 3. 

In  1850,  797  paupers  were  in  the  State,  who  were  either  viholly 
or  to  some  extent  provided  for  and  relieved. 

Of  criminals,  316  were  condemned  during  the  year  expiring  June 
1st,  1850;  on  that  day  the  number  of  those  imprisoned  for  ci'ime, 
&c.,  amounted  to  252. 

Of  the  851,470  inhabitants  of  the  State  in  1850,  41,283  were  un- 
able to  read  or  write;  35,336  of  these  were  born  in  the  United  States, 
and  5947  in  foreign  countries ;  40,054  of  them  were  whites,  to  wit : 
16,633  males  and  23,421  females;  and  1229  were  colored  people,  to 
wit :  605  males  and  624  females. 

20 


CLIMATE,  SOIL,  PLANTS,  AlSTD  ANIMALS.* 

Upon  looking  at  the  map  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  we  have  before 
us  that  very  extensive  net  of  streams  and  rivers  which  is  bounded  ia 
the  west,  below  the  junction  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  by  the  Ozark 
Mountains,  through  which  the  Arkansas  and  Red  Rivers  have  forced 
their  passage ;  and  in  the  east,  by  the  projecting  ridge  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains.  High  lands,  elevated  2000  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  divide  this  district  in  the  north  from  the  Arctic  river-district, 
together  with  which  it  was  undoubtedly  covered  by  a  vast  sheet  of 
water,  at  an  early  period  of  the  formation  of  the  earth ;  the  hills  sepa- 
rating it  from  Lake  Superior,  which  is  situated  600  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea,  do  not  rise  more  than  1000  feet  above  it,  and  the 
boundary  line  dividing  it  from  the  river-district  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
runs  along  the  shores  of  the  other  great  lakes.     No  chain  of  moun- 

*  Dr.  Fred.  Brendel,  of  Peoria,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  many  valual^le 
contributions  to  this  cliapter,  has  for  several  years  pursued  with  great  zeal  the 
study  of  the  natural  history  of  Ilhnois,  and  would  be  very  happy,  could  he 
meet  with  fellow-laborers  in  this  work ;  for  which  reason  we  take  the  liberty  of 
calling  the  attention  of  those  of  our  readers,  who  take  an  interest  in  Natural 
Sciences,  to  the  following  lines : — 

"A  thorough  examination  of  such  an  extensive  State  as  Illinois,  with  res- 
pect to  all  the  various  branches  of  natural  science,  is  a  difficult  undertaking 
for  a  single  man,  but  might  be  easily  accomplished  by  a  number  of  scientific 
meri,  co-operating  in  the  different  parts  of  the  country.  Meteorological  obser- 
vations, catalogues  of  the  plants,  animals,  and  petrifactions  found  in  the  vari- 
ous districts,  it  would  be  advisable  to  publish  in  one  annual  collective  report ; 
specimens  contributed  from  every  district  would  form  a  State  Museum ;  and 
naturalists,  residing  at  distances  from  each  other,  would  much  more  enhance 
and  accelerate  the  advancement  of  knowledge  by  mutual  correspondence, 
than  by  pm-suing  separate  studies,  each  one  for  himself.  Any  person  who  is 
willing  thus  to  promote  the  interests  of  science,  will  find  me  ready  to  assist 
liim."  Frederick  Brendel,  M.  D.,  Peoria,  IlHnois, 

(230) 


CLIMATE,    SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.         231 

tains,  therefore,  properly  speaking,  separates  in  tbe  north  this  enor- 
mous territory,  a  small  portion  of  which  constitutes  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, from  the  plateaux  projecting  to  the  north,  which  circumstance 
must  necessarily  exercise  a  decisive  influence  upon  the  climate  of  the 
State,  situated  as  it  is  between  the  43d  and  37th  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  and  separated  by  seven  degrees  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

A  sea  open  at  all  times  of  the  year  separates  Europe  from  the  North 
Pole;  and  the  Mediterranean  Sea  washes  between  it  and  Africa;  this 
will  sufficiently  account  for  her  moderate  climate.  A  frozen  regioL 
sending  during  winter  its  icy  blasts  after  the  flying  sun,  bounds  Nortl, 
America  on  the  north,  while  her  southern  coast,  penetrated  in  the  sum- 
mer by  the  almost  perpendicular  rays  of  a  burning  sun,  radiates  its 
accumulated  heat  to  the  north.  This  will  explain  why  a  country 
situated  within  the  same  degrees  of  latitude  with  Spain  and  Italy,  has 
cold  winters  and  hot  summers. 

Illinois  has  an  average  temperature,  which,  if  compared  with  that 
of  Europe,  equals  that  of  Middle  Germany ;  its  winter  is  more  severe 
than  that  at  Copenhagen,  and  her  summer  as  warm  as  those  of  Milan 
or  Palermo.  Compared  with  the  o^her  States  of  the  Union,  Northern 
Illinois  possesses  a  temperature  similar  to  that  of  Northern  Pennsyl- 
vania or  Southern  New  York,  while  the  temperature  of  Southern  Illi- 
nois will  not  differ  much  from  that  of  Kentucky  or  Virginia. 

As  far  as  we  know,  exact  observations  of  the  state  of  the  weather  have 
not  yet  been  published  in  Illinois ;  we,  therefore,  coniine  ourselves  to 
the  observations  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Engelmann,  at  St.  Louis,  which 
at  least  serve  for  07ie  part  of  Illinois.  From  his  observations  of  20 
years  we  infer,  that  at  a  middle  height  of  the  barometer,  of  "29-477, 
(105'  above  the  lowest  height  of  water  in  the  Mississippi),  the  great- 
est diff"erence  in  a  year  (1852)  amounted  to  1"  5'",  and  that  at  a  mid- 
dle temperature  of  +  54°  8  P.  (=  +  13°  79  C.  =  +  10°  13  E.), 
very  great  fluctuations  prevailed. 

At  the  coldest  day,  (Feb.  8,  1835,)  the  thermometer  stood  —  25° 
F.  (=  —  31°  6  C.  ■=  ^  25°  3  R.),  while  during  the  hottest  days  in 
July,  1833,  '34,  '38,  and  '41,  and  in  August,  1834,  the  mercury  indi- 
cated a  little  more  than  +  100°  P.,  (=  -f  38°  C.  =  +  30°  R.), 
making  a  difiference  of  125°  P.,  (=  69°  4  C.  =  55°  5  R.)  Very 
great  and  rapid  changes  often  take  place  in  the  temperature ;  thus,  the 


232        CLIMATE;     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

temperature  from  the  16tb  to  the  17th  day  of  March,  1852,  fell,  within 
17  hours,  about  51°  P.,  (=  28°  3  C.  =  22°  5  R.)  As  for  the  rest, 
the  thermometer  very  rarely  falls  below  0  F.  (^=  — 17°  7  G.  =  — 
14°  2  li) ;  on  Jan.  19th,  1852,*  the  coldest  day  for  20  consecutive 
years,  the  mercury  ranged  —  12°  F.  (=  —  24°  4  C  =  —  19°  5  R.) 
The  lowest  temperature  is  generally  above  0  F.,  and  on  an  average 
ranges  highest  in  July;  then  follow  June  and  August;  January  being 
'  the  coldest  month.  The  fii  st  frost  generally  appears  on  the  26th  of 
October,  the  last  on  the  6th  of  April,  203  days  thus  intervening' be- 
tween the  first  frost  in  autumn  and  the  last  in  spring.  The  earliest 
frost  appeared  on  Oct.  4th,  1836,  and  the  latest,  May  2d,  1851. f 

The  prevailing  winds  are  either  western  or  south-eastern.  Storms 
generally  come  from  the  west  or  north-west,  in  the  summer  sometimes 
from  the  south..  The  severest  storms  are  those  coming  from  the  west, 
as,  on  considering  that  they  traverse  the  entire  space  between  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Mississippi,  within  24  hours,  and  reach  the 
Atlantic  coast  within  the  next  24  hours,  will  be  placed  beyond  a  doubt. 
A  clear  sky  and  dry  air  prevail  while  they  sweep  over  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  and  not  before  having  reached  the  east,  will  they  be  accompa- 


*  The  winter  of  1855-6  alone,  which  reigned  with  almost  unexampled  rigour 
throughout  the  United  States,  makes  an  exception ;  we  here  subjoin  a  report 
of  the  state  of  the  thermometer  on  the  coldest  days  of  the  winter,  in  the  fol- 
owing  places  in  Illinois : — 

On  January  4th,  1856,  at  Am'ora,  Kane  Co.,  22  degrees  below  zero ;  at  Ster- 
ling, Whiteside  Co.,  26°;  at  Dixon,  Lee  Co.,  23°;  at  Sycamore,  De  Kalb  Co., 
24°;  at  Waukegan,  Lake  Co.,  21°;  at  Moline,  Rock  Island  Co.,  18°.  On  Ja- 
nuary 5th,  at  Elgin,  Kane  Co.,  26° ;  at  Moline,  14° ;  January  6th,  at  Moline, 
30°;  January  8t.h,  at  Sterling,  21° ;  at  Springfield,  Sangamon  Co.,  20°;  at 
Rock  Island,  22°;  at  Bloomington,  McLean  Co.,  18°;  at  Belvidere,  Boone  Co., 
22°;  at  Macomb,  McDonough  Co.,  17°;  at  Elgin,  18°;  at  Moline,  20°;  at 
Oquawka,  Henderson  Co.,  25°;  at  Peoria,  14°.  January  9th,  at  Springfield, 
24°;  at  Chicago,  24°;  Alton,  Madison  Co.,  22°;  at  Aurora,  30°;  .at  Geueseo, 
Henry  Co.,  29°;  at  JerseyviUe,  Jersey  Co.,  20°;  at  Macomb,  20°;  at  Mendota, 
La  Salle  Co.,  28° ;  at  Monmouth,  Warren  Co.,  28°  ;  at  Morris,  Grundy  Co.,  20° ; 
at  Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  30° ;  at  Peoria;  20°  ;  and  at  Sterling,  21°. 

f  In  the  summer  of  1850,  while  the  temperature  of  St.  Louis  ranged  very 
high,  that  of  St.  Clair  Co.  was  continually  lower,  by  about  2°  R.,  than  the  for- 
mer, which  diifcrence  was  probably  in  consequence  of  the  calcareous  soil  of 
the  city. 


CLIMATE,    SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.      233 

Died  with  heavy  showers  of  rain ;  which  latter  fact  we  may  account  for 
by  the  condensation  of  the  vapours  abstracted  by  them  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  coming  in  contact  with  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 

Kainy  days  there  were  in  1838  but  78;  in  1836,  however,  115; 
there  are,  on  an  average,  89  in  every  year,  with  a  quantity  of  rain 
amounting  to  42  inches,  the  smallest  portion  of  which  (2")  falls  in  Ja- 
nuary; the  quantity  of  rain  falling  increasing  with  every  succeeding 
month,  until  in' June  it  reaches  the  height  of  6".  More  than<-4  inches 
of  rain  fell  within  24  hours,  June  23,  1852. 

The  first  fall  of  snow  generally  takes  place  in  November,  often, 
however,  not  before  December;  the  last,  in  March,  it  occurring  but 
very  rarely  in  April.  The  greatest  quantity  of  snow  which  fell  in  a 
single  month,  (December,  1839,  and  December,  1846,)  amounted  to 
scarcely  1"  5.  Thunderstorms  there  were  on  an  average  49 ;  beauti- 
ful days,  137  ;  changeable  days,  180 ;  days  without  sunshine,  45. 

Upon  comparing  these  results  with  the  observations  made  in  1852, 
in  Wisconsin,  at  eight  different  places,  the  observation  made  at  one  of 
which,  to  wit,  at  Beloit,  near  the  Illinoisian  frontier,  half  way  between 
the  Mississippi  and  Lake  Michigan,  may  be  considered  as  valid  for  the 
northern  part  of  Illinois  also ;  we  find  the  thermometer  ranging  be- 
tween 29-597  and  28-665,  being  a  difference  of  0-932,  while  in  the 
south  the  s-ame  amounted  to  1-584;  an  avenge  temperature  reigns 
there  of  +  47°  421  F.  (=  +  8°  1  C.  =  +  6°  5  11.),  being  7°  1  F.  (= 
4°  C.  =  3°  1  E,.)  less  than  in  the  south.  On  the  coldest  day  the  mer- 
cury indicated  — 18°  F.  (=  —  27°  7  G.  =  —  22°  1  E.),  and  there- 
fore 6°  F.,  (=  3°  3  C.  =  2°  6  E.)  less  than  at  the  south ;  and  on  the 
hottest  day  +  93°  F.  (=  +  34°  C.  =  +  27°  E.)  and  therefore  only 
2°  F.  (=  1°  1  C.  =  0°  9  E.)  less  than  in  the  south.  Here  we  must 
remark  that  the  winter  at  that  place  was  unusually  cold.  It  rained  40 
inches,  2  inches  less  than  at  the  south,  which  difference,  as  already 
observed,  was  created  by  a  single  day's  rain.  The  prevailing  winds 
were  north-west  by  north,  and  south-west. 

From  the  direction  of  its  hills  and  rivers,  which  generally  run  from 
north-east  to  south-west,  a  plain  forms,  gently  sloping  to  the  south- 
west; in  this  plain  the  rivers  have  worn  channels  from  60  to  200  feet 
deep ;  being  dammed  up  at  one  side  by  a  terrace-like,  rising  bank, 
they  inundate  the  opposite  plain  to  a  considerable  depth,  overflowing 
20* 


234      CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

it  from  winter  to  summer,  and  producing  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass  j 
causing  also  the  intermittent  fever,  the  principal  sickness  of  the  coun- 
try, which,  however,  only  seizes  the  incautious  settler,  at  places  near 
the  river ;  and  never,  except  in  very  rainy  years,  visits  the  settlers  on 
the  ocean-like,  undulating  prairies.* 

That  the  channels  have  gradually  sunken  we  may  distinctly  sec,  on 
the  shores  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  walls  of  rock  rising  perpendicu- 
larly, up(jD  the  sloping  banks  of  which  extend  from  Lake  Pepin  to 
below  the  junction  of  the  Wisconsin  with  the  Mississippi,  as  if  they 
were  walls  built  of  equal  height  by  the  hand  of  men.  Wherever  the 
river  describes  a  curve,  walls  may  be  found  on  the  convex  side  of  the 
latter.  Here,  the  force  of  the  river,  ere  it  had  yet  excavated  its  chan- 
nel, was  broken,  and  the  river,  tired  of  being  resisted,  turned  against 
the  other  side ;  not,  however,  without  causing  some  damage  to  the 
rock  which  it  washed;  just  as  at  the  present  day  the  river  may  be 
seen  undermining  its  steep,  rocky  bank,  above  and  below  St.  Paul,  in 
Minnesota. 

The  upper  coal  formation  occupies  three-fifths  of  the  State;  com- 
mencing at  41°  12'  north  latitude,  where,  as  also  along  the  Mississippi, 
whose  banks  it  touches  between  the  places  of  junction  of  the  Illinois 
and  Missouri  Rivers,  it  is  enclosed  by  a  narrow  layer  of  calcareouS 
coal.  This  immense  co:  1-field  extends  south-easterly  beyond  the  Wa- 
bash and  Ohio  Rivers,  far  into  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  The 
shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  that  narrow  strip  of  land,  which,  com- 
mencing near  them,  runs  along  the  northern  bank  of  the  Illinois, 
towards  its  south-western  bend,  until  it  meets  Rock  River,  at  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Mississippi,  belongs  to  the  Devonian  system ;  the  residue 
of  the  northern  territory  consists  of  Silurian  strata,  which,  containing 
the  rich  lead  mines  of  Galena,  in  the  north-western  corner  of  the 
State,  rise  at  intervals  in  conical  hills,  thus  giving  the  landscape  a  cha- 
racter different  from  that  of  the  middle  or  southern  portion  of  the 
State. 

Over  these  various  geological  formations,  underlaid  at  intervals  by 
beds  of  sand,  a  process  of  putrefaction,  which,  for  thousands  of  years 

*  The  attention  of  those  readers  wishing  more  minute  information  regarding 
the  state  of  health  in  Illinois,  is  called  to  the  chapter  treating  of  that  subject 
in  particular. 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANI MALS .        2oO 

continued  uninterrupted,  has  spread  the  richest  humus,  that,  rather 
too  luxurious  for  other  grains,  yields  the  most  abundant  harvests  of 
Indian  corn,  the  staple  commodity  of  agriculture. 

Eemarkable  are  also  those  large  blocks  of  granite  and  other  primi- 
tive rocks,  -which  are  scattered  along  the  banks.  Since  the  nearest 
beds  of  primitive  rocks  first  appear  in  Minnesota,  and  the  northern 
part  of  Wjsconsin,  their  presence  can  only  be  accounted  for  by 
assuming,  that  at  the  time  the  State  of  Illinois  vras  covered  with  wa- 
ter, they  were  floated  down  from  the  north,  enclosed  and  supported  by 
masses  of  ice,  which  no  sooner  melted  than  the  rocks  sunk  to  the  bot- 
tom, maintaining,  as  old  settlers,  their  present  position,  whilst  the 
work  of  excavation  of  the  valleys,  ravines,  and  channels  by  the  water, 
was  going  on ;  whereas  the  lighter  masses  of  earth,  driven  down  the 
river,  were  deposited  at  the  southern  corner  of  the  State,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio,  or  contributed  to  the  formation  of  the  Mississippi 
Delta;  since,  in  fact,  the  later  alluvial  land  of  the  Lower  Mississippi 
Valley  reaches  up  the  river  to  that  point. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Illinois  Kiver,  the  pebbles  rounded  by  the 
water  may  be  found  covered  with  a  yellowish  crust,  as  if  they  were 
baked  together.  These  are  the  later  fresh  water  calcareous  strata, 
continually  deposited  before  our  eyes  by  the  water. 

The  vegetation  of  the  State  forms  the  connecting  link  between  the 
Flora  of  the  northeastern  States,  and  those  of  the  Upper  Missisippi, 
exhibiting,  besides  the  plants  common  to  all  States  lying  between  the 
Mississippi  and  Atlantic  Ocean,  such  as  are,  properly  speaking,  natives 
of  the  western  prairies ;  not  being  fuund  east  of  the  x\lleghany  Moun- 
tains. Immense  prairies  of  grass,  interlaced  with  groves,  and  stretch- 
ing, principally,  along  the  water-courses,  cover  two-thirds  of  the  en- 
tire area  of  the  State  in  the  north,  while  her  southern  part  is  garnished 
with  tufts  of  massive  thickets,  greatly  diversifying  the  otherwise  some- 
what monotonous  landscape. 

In  order  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  variety  of  the  vegetable  creation  of 
the  State,  we  invite  the  reader  to  accompany  us  on  a  summer  excur- 
sion. 

The  large,  scattered,  village-like  formation  of  the  smaller  and  middle 
towns,  and  the  want  of  a  pavement,  render  it  possible  for  us  to  herb- 
alise  in  the  very  town,  from  the  moment  we  have  stepped  outside  our 


236       CLIMATE,    SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

house.  Lo !  close  to  the  door  is  the  round-leaved  mallow,  Malva  ro- 
tundifolia,  L.),  next  to  it  the  swine-grass,  (Polygonum  aviculare,  L.), 
here  the  cass-weed,  (Capsella  bursa  pastoris,  Moench),  there  the  pseudo- 
camomile,  (Anthemis  arvensis,  L.),  covers  entire  tracts;  a  neglected  gar- 
den adjoining  the  house  is  entirely  overspread  with  the  fleshy  leaves  of 
the  purslain,  (Portulaca),  among  which  rises  the  white  orache  (Cheno- 
podium  album,  L.),  to  an  unusual  height.  But  do  they  belong  to  the 
American,  and  particularly  the  Illinoisian  Flora?  No,  they  are  immi- 
grants; the  vegetable  immigration  from  the  old  world.* 

*  Whether  the  various  species  of  a  genus  are  of  common  origin,  and  have 
formed  themselves  under  external  influences,  having  sprung  from  a  single  in- 
dividual, and  spread  from  a  single  place  of  nativity,  are  questions  regarding 
■which  opinions  are  divided.  Of  many  cultivated  plants  in  Europe,  one  could 
not  tell  whence  they  came  thither,  and  of  many  that  grow  wild,  whether  they 
occupied  their  present  domicile  from  primeval  times,  or  only  lately  emigrated 
to  it.  That  the  plants  do  migrate,  nay,  that  they  even  leave  a  country  alto- 
gether, when  the  conditions  indispensable  to  their  growth  are  no  longer  found 
in  the  country,  has  been  historically  proven.  Mr.  Fraas,  in  a  little  work  pub- 
lished in  Germany,  entitled  "  The  Plant  in  Time  and  Climate,"  (Die  Pflanze  in 
Zeit  und  Ivlima  ")  has  quoted  from  ancient  Greek  authors  many  passages  men- 
tioning plants  of  Greece  identical  with  certain  ones  existing  at  this  present  day 
in  Germany,  which  therefore  must  at  that  time  have  been  indigenous  in  the 
Grecian  groves,  but  which  have  now  disappeared  together  with  the  groves. 
The  wooded  country  having  assumed  the  character  of  a  mere  heath,  other 
plants  have  taken  their  place,  which  may  also  be  found  in  Syria  and  Egypt, 
whence  they  probably  emigrated  into  Greece,  and  being  rather  remarkable, 
would  certainly  have  been  noticed  and  mentioned  by  the  ancient  authors,  had 
they  existed  in  Greece.  Although  the  fact  of  the  immigration,  which  by  the 
agency  of  man  took  place,  of  plants  from  the  old  to  the  new  continent,  is  within 
the  reach  of  modern  history,  so  that  similar  investigations  might  be  instituted 
with  the  greatest  success  here,  the  American  botanists  have  in  regard  to  many 
plants  not  yet  been  able  to  agree,  whether  they  are  of  native  or  foreign  origin. 
In  his  "Principles  of  Geology,"  Lyon  speaks  of  an  old  author  by  the  name  of 
".Jocelyn,"  as  having  drawn  up  a  catalogue  of  the  plants  that,  since  the  colo- 
nization of  New  England,  came  to  these  shores.  The  common  nettle  (Urtica), 
he  says,  was  the  first  which  the  settlers  noticed,  and  the  plantain,  (Plantago 
major,  L.),  received  the  name  of  the  "Englishman's  Foot,"  by  the  Indians:  by 
which  the  latter  understood,  that  it  appeared  to  have  grown  up  under  the  very 
footsteps  of  the  English.  The  total  number  of  those  plants  was  estimated  to 
be  22 ;  it  has,  however,  enormously  increased  since.  These  emigrants  have  of 
course  not  spread  equally.     Thus,  although  many  species  have  penetrated  to 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.      237 

In  the  same  manner  in  which  the  immigrating  races  of  the  human 
family  do  in  this  country  prosper  and  increase,  becoming  as  numerous 
as  the  sands  on  the  sea-shore,  prosper  and  grow  up  also  the  plants  ac- 
companying the  immigrant.  Thus  the  rather  inodorous  thorn-apple 
(Datura  stramonium,  L.),  occupies  in  our  land  so  large  a  space  as  to 
make  one  doubt,  whether  it  is  to  be  considered  a  native  of  the  old  or  new 
world.*  And  as  the  immigrant  on  his  arrival  finds  many  a  country- 
man whom  he  is  by  no  means  overjoyed  to  meet  again,  he  salutes  on 
the  other  hand  many  an  old  acquaintance  among  the  vegetable  world, 
with  the  exclamation,  "  You  here,  too  1" 

Where  once  the  prairie  stretched  along  the  banks  of  the  river, 
or  skirted  the  forest,  and  the  wigwam  of  the  Indian  was  standing, 
there  the  stately  mansions  of  modern  civilisation  may  now  be  found — 
and  near  them  many  a  foreign  plant.  Brick  walls  not  being  congenial 
to  them,  the  flowers  of  the  prairie  and  forest  unfold  their  charm-s  under 
the  airy  canopy  of  heaven ;  and  the  few  left  behind  of  the  various  ver- 
vains (Verbena),  ambrosias  (Ambrosias),  the  prickly  lidas  (Lida  spi- 
nosa  L.),  and  the  Pennsylvanian  polygonies  (Polygonum  Pennsylvani- 
cum),  and  others,  are  peaceable  neighbors  of  the  immigrated  burdock 
(Arctium  lappa,  G-aertn.),  the  so-called  ''Leonurus  cardiaca,"  the  com- 
mon marum  (Marubium  vulgare,  L.),  the  marsh-mallow  of  Vincennes 
(Abutilon  avicennse,  Gaertn.),  the  yellow  lion's  mouth  (Linaria  vulga- 
ris, Mill.),  the  black  mustard  (Sinapis  nigra,  L.),  and  the  rue  (Sisym- 

tlie  Mississippi,  we  have  not  yet  been  able  to  discover  in  Illinois,  that  primi- 
tive settler,'  the  nettle  (XJrtica),  nor  the  knot-grass  (Triticnm  repens),  which 
has  already  become  the  plague  of  the  eastern  farmer.  Most  of  the  Serbs 
known  to  have  immigrated  are  of  European  origin ;  but  a  few  belong  to  other 
countries,  as  the  prickly  amaranth  (Amaranthus  spinosus,  L.),  from  East  India ; 
the  Indian  eleusine  (Eleusine  Indica,  Gaertn.),  a  tropical  plant,  a  native  proba- 
bly of  the  West  Indies ;  the  Mexican  poppy  (Ai'gemone  Mexicana,  L.),  from  the 
south-western  States ;  as  also  the  so  called  martynia  proboscidea,  Glox.  Whether 
the  catalpa  (Catalpa  bignonioides),  which  you  may  frequently  fi.nd  planted  in 
the  streets,  is  peculiar  to  the  Southern  States,  or  was  introduced  by  the  na- 
tives, remains  uncertain. 

*  It  is  singular,  that,  while  the  stramonium  is  sure  to  be  encountered  wher- 
ever the  white  man  has  fixed  his  domicile,  again,  at  places  where  the  wigwam 
of  the  red  man  is  still  standing,  you  would  search  in  vain  for  this  poisonous 
plant ;  thus,  in  a  manner  is  it  intimated,  that  nature's  pure  state  is  corrupted 
by  civihsation. 


238        CLIINIATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

brium  officinale,  Scop).  Unlilje  their  human  prototypes,  these  plants 
do  not  deny  to  others,  because  immigrated,  the  right  of  settling  at  any 
place  they  may  have  chosen,  but  stand  peaceably  side  by  side,  deriving 
their  nourishment  from  the  same  parent,  imbibing  the  dew  of  the  hea- 
vens, and  enjoying  the  light  equally  difi'used  over  them,  of  the  glo- 
rious sun  of  Deity. 

Before  we  finally  turn  our  backs  on  the  last  scattered  houses  of  the 
city,  we  find  both  sides  of  the  road  lined  with  ugly  worm-fences,  which 
are  overtopped  by  the  various  species  of  helianthus  (Helianthus),  this- 
tles (Cirsium  Virginianum,  Mich,  and  C.  altissimum,  Spr.),  biennial 
gaura  (Gaura  biennis,  L.,  Greek  yaDpa  =  proud,  superb),  with  the  ver- 
milion, and  the  Illinoisian  bell-flower  (Campanula  Illiuoisiensis,  Fre- 
sen.),  with  cerulean  blossoms,  and  other  tall  weeds.  Here  may  also  be 
found  the  coarse-haired  Asclepias  tuberosa,  L.,  with  fiery-red  umbels, 
the  strong-scented  IMonarda  fistulosa  L.  var.  mollis,  and  an  umbellife- 
rous plant,  the  grass-like,  spiculated  leaves  of  which  recall  to  mind 
the  southern  agaves,  the  eryngo  (Eryngium  aquaticum,  L.)  Among 
these  untutored  children  of  nature  rises  the  civilised  plant,  the  Indian 
corn,  with  its  stalks  nearly  twelve  feet  high,  and  its  green,  succu- 
lent leaves  and  swelling  knots. 

Next  to  Indian  corn,  wheat  is  most  cultivated ;  oats  next,  and,  since, 
in  consequence  of  the  extensive  German  immigration,  rye-bread  and 
beer  are  in  great  demand,  also  barley  and  rye.  The  broom-corn  (Sor- 
ghum saccharatum  Pers.),  is  raised  for  the  manufacturing  of  brooms. 
Potatoes  being  a  rather  expensive  lux'ui-y,  are  little  cultivated,  and 
that  little  chiefly  in  the  north-western  part  of  the  State,  near  Galena, 
on  meagre  soil.  The  sweet  potato  (the  tuber  of  a  eonvolvulacea,  of  the 
Batatas  edulis,  Choisy),  the  water-melon,  sweet  melon,  various  pump- 
kins and  tomatoes  (Lycopersicum  esculentum,  Mill.),  are  common  pro- 
ducts of  the  fields.  In  the  south  the  castor-oil  plant  (Iticinus  com- 
munis, L.),  is  also  cultivated. 

Having  now  arrived  at  the  end  of  the  cultivated  lands,  we  enter 
upon  the  dry  prairies  extending  up  the  blufl's,  where  we  are  saluted 
by  the  small  vermilion  sorrel  (Rumcx  acetosella,  L.),  and  mouse-ear 
(Myosotis  stricta.  Link.),  which,  however,  do  not  reside  here  as  foreign- 
ers, but  as  natives,*  like  many  other  plants  that  remind  the  European  of 

*  Of  such  plants  as  are  equally  diffused  over  the  entire  north-temperate 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,     AND    ANIMALS.       239 

his  native  country,  as  for  instance  the  dandelion  (Taraxacum  officinalCj 
■\Yig.),  a  kind  of  rose  (Kosa  lucida),  with  its  sweet-scented  blossoms,  has 
a  great  predilection  for  this  dry  soil.     With  surprise  we  meet  here  also 
many  plants  with  hairy  greenish-gray  leaves  and  stalk-covers;  as,  for  in- 
stance, the  Onosmodium  melle,  Mich.,  Hieracium  longipilum,  Torr., 
Pycnanthemum  pildsum,  Nutt.,  Chrysopsis  villosa,  Nutt.,  Amorpha  ca- 
nescens,  Nutt.,  Daleaalopecuroides,  "Willd.,  Tephrosia  Virginiana,  Pers., 
Lithospcrmum  canescens,  Lehm. ;  between  which  the  immigrated  mul- 
lein (Verbascum  thapsus,  L.),  may  be  found.    The  pebbly  fragments  of 
the  entire  slope,  which,  during  spring-time  were  sparingly  covered  with 
dwarfish  herbs,  such  as  the  Androsace  occidentalis,  Pursh.,  Draba  Caro- 
liniana,  Walt.,  Antennaria  plantaginifolia,  Hook.,  plantain  (Plantago 
Virginica,  L.),  Scutellaria  parvula,  Mich.,  are  now  crowded  with  plants 
of  taller  growth  and  variegated  blossoms.     Eudbeckia  herta,  L.,  with  its 
numerous  radiating  blossoms  of  a  lively  yellow  colour,  and  the  closely 
allied  Echinacea  purpurea  (Moench),  whose  long  purple  rays  hang  down 
from  a  ruddy  hemispherical  disc,  are  the  most  remarkable  among  plants 
belonging  to  the  genus  "composite,"  which  blossom  early  in  summer; 
in  the  latter  part  of  summer  follow  innumerable  plants  of  the  different 
species  Liatris,  Vernonia,  Aster,  Solidago,  Helianthus,  &c.,  Tephrosia 
Yirginiana,  Pers.,  with  numerous  great  pink  and  yellow-coloured  blos- 
soms; the  violet  Psoralea  floribunda,  Nutt.,  and  Psor.  Onobrychis, 
Nutt. ;  Petalostemon  violaceum,  Mich.,  and  Petalostemon  candidum, 
Mich.,  belonging  all  of  them  to  the  family  of  the  leguminous  plants, 
blossom  here,  together  with  the  Linum  Yirginianum,  L.,  and  the  Poly- 
gala  incarnata,  L.,  with  rosy,  pretty  little  blossoms  on  a  tall  stalk. 

We  approach  a  sinuous  chasm  of  the  bluffs,  having  better  soil  and 
underwood,  which,  thin  at  first,  increases  gradually  in  density.  Low 
bushes,  hardly  a  foot  high,  are  formed  by  the  American  thistle  (Cea- 
nothus  Americanus,  L.),  a  plant  whose  leaves  were  used  instead  of 
tea,  after  the  English  tea  had  been  thrown  in  the  sea,  at  Boston,  dur- 
ing the  revolution ;  the  flower  being  very  beautiful  may  be  used  for 
ornamental  purposes.  Next  follow  the  hazel-bush  (Corylus  Ameri- 
cana, AYalt.),  the  fiery-red  Castilleja  coccinea,  Spreng.,  and  the  yellow 


zone,  there  are  many,  especially  ranunculse,  cruciferse,  aquatic  plants  of  every 
kind,  and  reed-grasses. 


240        CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

Canadian  lousewort  (Pedicularis  Canadensis,  L.)  ;  the  Diptera,  canthus 
strepens  Nees  (Ruellia,  L.),  with  great  blue  funnel-shaped  blossoms,  and 
the  Gerardia  pedicularia,  L.,  are  fond  of  such  places ;  and  where  the 
bushes  grow  higher,  and  the  Rhus  glabra,  L.,  Zanthoxylum  America- 
num,  Mill.,  Ptelea  trifoliata,  L.,  Staphylea  trifolia,  L.,  together  with 
Ribes-Rubus  Pjrus,  dogwood  (cornus),  and  hawthorn  (Crataegus),  form 
an  almost  impenetrable  thicket,  surrounded  and  garlanded  by  the 
round-lea-ved,  rough  bind-weed  (Smilax  rotundifolia),  and  herbacea 
L.,  Dioscorea  villosa,  L.,  the  blooming,  everywhere-climbing,  bristling 
rose  (Rosa  setigera,  L.),  the  Celastrus  scandens,  L.,  remarkable >f or  its 
beautiful  red  fruits,  the  Clematis  Virginiana,  L.,  the  polygeny  of  the 
brakes  (Polygonum  dumetorum,  L.),  the  bindweed  (Convolvulus  pandu- 
ratus,  L.),  and  other  vines,  these  weedy  herbs  attempt  to  over-top  the 
bushes.  Developing  their  young  shoots  under  the  protection  of  the 
shade,  they  exert  themselves  to  gain  the  open  air,  and  unfold  in  the 
sunshine  the  splendours  of  their  brilliant  blossoms.  Baptisia  leucan- 
tha,  Torr  &  Gr.,  with  its  delicate  pale  hue,  the  Canadian  tragacanth 
(Astragalus  canadensis,  L.),  which  grows  to  an  extraordinary  size,  the 
goat's  beard  (Spirasa  Arancus,  L.),  the  Canadian  elder-bush  (Lambucus 
Canadensis),  ^he  purple  liver-wort  (Eupatorium  purpureum,  L.),  and  the 
gigantic  Compositurae  Silphium  perfoliatum,  L.,  the  Rudbeckia  lacini- 
ata,  L.,  Lepachys  pinnata,  Torr.  &  Gr.,  finally  the  deep  blue  Tradescan- 
tia  Virginica,  L.,  stand  beside  the  purple  swallow-wort  (Asclepias  pur- 
purascens,  L.);  and  the  carmine  calix  of  the  Lilium  superbum,  L.,  among 
which  those  beautiful  grasses,  Melica  speciosa,  Muhl.,  Tricuspis  sesleri- 
oides,  Torr.,  Stipa  Avenacea,  L.,  Andropogon  Virginicus,  L.,  elevate 
their  heads. 

Having  reached  the  table  land,  we  wander  through  a  little  grove, 
consisting  of  small-sized  trees,  stunted  oak  and  hickory,  which  on  bet- 
ter soil  attain  a  good  height,  since  in  the  forests  you  may  find  white 
oaks  a  hundred  feet  high,  and  of  considerable  thickness ;  with  hickory, 
and  maple  trees,  cotton — poplars,  and  sycamores  80  feet  high,  besides 
at  least  twenty  different  species  of  trees,  attaining  or  even  surpassing 
the  height  of  60  feet. 

We  now  enter  upon  the  illimitable  prairie  which  lies  before  usj  not 
upon  that  dry  sandy  prairie,  with  its  temporary  herbaceous  dress,  but 
the  fertile  prairie,  in  whose  undulating  surface  the  moisture  is  retained  ; 
this  waits  for  cultivation,  and  will  soon  be  deprived  of  its  flowery  attire, 


CLIMATE,  "soil,    PLANTS,  AND    ANIMALS.        241 

and  bear  plain,  but  for  man's  nourishment  indispensable,  grain.  Those 
who  have  not  yet  seen  such  a  prairie,  should  not  imagine  it  like  a  cul- 
tivated meadow,  but  rather  a  heaving  sea  of  tall  herbs  and  plants, 
decking  it  with  every  variety  of  colour.. 

In  the  summer  the  yellow  of  the  large  compositse  will  predominate 
hero  and  there,  intermingled  with  the  blue  of  the  tradescantias,  the 
fiery  red  of  the  lilies  (Lilium  Philadelphium,  and  Lilium  Canadense,  L.), 
the  purple  of  the  Phlox  glaberrima,  L.,  the  white  of  the  Cacalia  tube- 
rosa,  Nutt.,  the  pepper-wort  (Melanthium  Virginicum,  L.),  and  the  um- 
belliferous plants.  In  spring,  small  sized  plants  bloom  here,  such  as  the 
anemone  (Anemone  Caroliniana,  Walt.),  with  its  blue  and  white  blos- 
soms, the  palmated  violet  (Viola  palmata),  the  ranunculus  (Ranunculus 
fascicularis,  Muhl.),  which  are  the  first  ornament  of  the  prairies  in 
spring;  then  follow  the  esculent  sea-onion  (Scilla  esculenta,  Ker.),  Pen- 
talophus  longiflorus,  D.  C,  the  grummel  (Lithospermum  hirtum, 
Lehm.),  the  Cynthia  virginica,  Don.,  Echinacea  angustifolia,  D.  C.,  and 
Baptisia  leucophasa,  Nutt.  As  far  as  the  eye  reaches  no  house  nor  tree 
can  be  seen ;  but  where  civilization  has  come,  the  farmer  has  planted 
s.mall  rows  of  the  quickly-growing  black  acacia  (Robinia  pseudaeacia, 
L.),  which  afibrds  shelter  from  the  sun  to  his  feeding  cattle,  and  fuel  for 
his  hearth  in  the  winter.  We  find  the  greatest  prairies  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  State,  stretching  from  the  Illinois  River  to  the 
State  of  Indiana,  at  intervals  intersected  by  the  shaded  course  of  a 
river,  but  entirely  destitute  of  trees  on  its  highest  points,  whence 
in  all  directions  flow  little  brooks  to  meet  the  Illinois  and  Wabash. 

''There  one  breathes  more  freely,"  are  the  words  of  an  old  hunter, 
for  whom  the  daily  increasing  fences  proved  too  confining;  "as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach,  nothing  but  the  skies  and  an  ocean  of  grass." 
Taste,  however,  varying  greatly,  many  would  prefer  a  limited  view, 
changing  by  turns  and  affording  to  the  eye  points ^f  rest ;  such  a  view 
as  may  be  had  from  Prospect  Hill,  four  miles  north  of  Peoria.  Hav- 
ing approached  the  margin  of  the  table-land,  we  look  down  upon  a  de- 
lightful valley,  through  which  flows  the  Illinois  River,  enlarged  to  the 
breadth  of  a  sea.  Fifteen  miles  further  up,  we  perceive  the  cloud  of 
smoke  following  a  steamer  sailing  upward,  and  stopping  at  the  white 
houses  of  yonder  little  town  just  built,  from  which  a  long  railroad  train 
hurries  across  the  gently  rising  prairie,  disappearing  behind  the  pro- 
21  Q 


242        CLIMATE,    SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

jecting  -wooded  bluff.  Bushes  rise  prominent  above  the  sheet  of 
water  which  inundates  the  country,  adjacent  to  the  other  bank,  be- 
yond which  in  the  distant  background  may  be  seen  a  cultivated  plain, 
destitute  of  trees,  covered  with  corn  fields,  which  wave  around  the 
isolated  farms  enclosed  by  groves ;  close  to  our  feet,  however,  and  dis- 
tinctly indicating  the  broken,  rolling  formation  of  the  slope,  is  a  vast 
forest,  which,  assuming  in  autumn  all  varieties  of  colour,  from  the 
most  lively  carmine  to  the  darkest  green,  presents  a  most  striking  ap- 
pearance. 

Here  in  rocky  places  may  be  found  the  Aquilegia  Canadensis,  L., 
fostered  in  the  gardens  of  Europe,  and  remarkable  for  its  yellow  and 
red  coloured  blossoms,  curiously  shaped  in  the  form  of  a  bell ;  the 
violet  wood-sorel  (Oxalis  violacea,  L.),  that,  together  with  the  Dodeea- 
theon  meadia,  L.,  is  fond  of  the  prairie ;  the  well  known  strawberry 
(Fragaria  vescat.  and  Virginiana,  Ehrh.),  the  Senega  milk-tare  (Poly- 
gala  Senega,  L.),  the  Comandra  umbellata,  of  the  order  of  the  santalacese, 
Heuchera  Americana,  L.,  one  of  the  few  saxifragas  growing  here,  the 
shrub-like  Hydrangea  arborescens,  L.,  with  its  white  tufts;  the  Rhus 
aromatica,  with  its  irregularly  indented  leaves,  and  scarlet-red  fruits, 
flourishing  at  the  feet  of  old  trunks  of  trees;  and  various  rock  cresses. 
On  descending  below  the  shadowy  canopy  of  mighty  oaks,  walnut 
trees,  linden,  maple,  elm,  ash,  mulberry,  sassafras,  and  chesnut 
trees,  we  find  the  ground  strewn  with  beautiful  grasses,  (belonging  to 
the  orders  of  the  Muhlenbergia,  Glyceria,  Uniola,  Leersia,  Cinua  and 
Panicum),  and  numerous  ferns,  among  which  the  pedate  venus  grass 
(Adiantum  pedatum,  L.),  excels  by  its  delicate  fan-form  and  purple-black 
stalk,  and  the  Claytonian  onoclea  (onoclea  Claytoniana),  Polystichum 
acrostichoides,  Schott.,  and  the  Pteris  aquilina,  well  known  in  Ger- 
many by  its  exuberant  growth.  Among  these  rises  the  Desmodium  acu- 
minatum, D.  C,  on  its  broad-leaved  basis,  the  rosy-red  Paniela,  adorned 
with  papilionaceous  blossoms,  together  with  the  tall  white  anemones 
(Anemone  Pennsylvanica,  L.,  and  Anemone  Virginiana,  L.),  the  beauti- 
ful blue  Delphinium  exaltatum,  Ait.,  the  American  bell-flower,  (Campa- 
nula Americana),  with  long  stalks  covered  with  sky-blue  blossoms,  the 
Aralia  racemosa,  L.,  Triosteum  perfoliatura,  L.,  and  the  AgrimoniaEu- 
patoria,  L.,  are  rarely  wanting.  Following  the  course  of  a  spring,  which 
bubbles  down,  we  find  at  its  margin  the  Circaca  lutetiana,  L.,  also  in- 


CLIMATE,    SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.      243 

dio-enous  in  Germany,  the  marsh  wolf's  milk  (Lathyris  palustris,  L.),  the 
asper  horse-mint  (Stachys  aspera,  Mich.),  the  meadow  rue  (Thalietrum 
Cornuti  L.),  the  clustered  rough  bind-weed  (Smilacina  racemosa,  Desf.), 
and  the  high-growing  Polygonatum  canaliculatum  Pursh.  We  now 
enter  the  level  part  of  the  forest,  which  has  a  rich  black  soil.  Great  sar- 
mentous  plants  climb  here  up  to  the  tops  of  the  trees,  wild  grapes,  the 
climbing  poisonous  sumac  (Rhus  toxicodendron,  L.,  var.  radicans),  and 
the  vine-like  quinquefoil  (Ampelopsis  quinquefolia,  Mich.),  which 
transforms  withered  naked  trunks  into  green  columns,  Tecomaradicans 
Juss  (Bigno.nia,  L.),  with  their  brilliant,  scarlet,  trumpet  flowers,  are 
the  most  remarkable.  Imposing  are  also  the  draperies  of  the  green 
dome  of  foliage,  the  contemplation  of  which  delights  the  eye  of  the 
spectator ;  but  you  would  search  in  vain  here  for  the  evergreen  pine- 
tree,  with  its  strong  smell  of  resin.  The  Thuja  occidentalis,  L.,  which 
may  be  met  with  in  European  gardens,  stands  in  mournful  solitude  on 
the  margins  of  pools ;  here  and  there  an  isolated  cedar  (Juniperus 
Virginiana,  L,),  and  the  low  box-tree  (Taxus  Canadensis),  on  the  rocky 
slopes  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  are  in  Illinois  the  only  representatives 
of  the  evergreens,  forests  of  which  first  appear  in  the  northern  part  of 
Wisconsin  and  Minnesota. 

Gerardias,  with  purple  and  yellow  monkey-flowers,  Mimulus  rin- 
gens,  L.,  and  Mimulus  alatus.  Ait.,  Chelone  glabra,  L.,  Blephilia  hir- 
suta,  Bentb.,  and  the  common  prunel  (Prunella  vulgaris,  L.),  blossom 
here;  of  the  composita?,  the  beautiful  Rudbeckia  triloba,  L.,  excels  by 
its  black  purple  disc,  and  fiery  yellow  spoke-flowers,  and  among  the 
delicate  little  plants,  the  Anychia  dichotoma,  Mich.,  Cerastium  nutans, 
Raf.,  Stellaria  longifolia,  Muhl.,  and  various  galia,  are  deserving  of 
particular  notice.  On  wet  and  shaded  places  an  exuberance  of  Impa- 
tiens  fulva,  Nutt.  and  pallida,  Nutt.,  may  be  found  united  with  urtica- 
ceas. 

While  the  forest  is  resplendent  in  summer  with  a  dazzling  array  of 
colours,  in  spring  it  is  adorned  with  lovely  plants  of  delicate  succulent 
structure.  The  first  child  of  spring  is  the  blue  liverwort  (Hepatioa 
triloba.,  D.  C.),  which  unfolds  its  brilliant  blossoms  about  the  middle  of 
March ;  then  follows,  on  wet  places,  the  buttercup  (Caltha  palustris, 
L.),  and  in  the  midst  of  April,  we  see  among  the  naked  trees,' of  which 
the  yellow  winter-oak  (^sculus  flava.  Ait.),  first  shoots  forth  its  leaves, 
a  muldtude  of  most  beautiful  flowers,  most  of  them  of  the  purest  white. 


244       CLIMATE,    SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

or  imperceptibly  changing  from  wliite  into  a  tender  rose  colour,  among 
them  that  lovely  anemone-like  meadow  rue  (Thalietrum  anemonoides, 
Mich.),  the  Canadian  blood-wort  (Sanguinaria  canadensis,  L.),  the 
broad-leaved  Podophyllum  peltatum,  L.,  the  round-leaved  Cardamine 
(Cardamina  rotundifolia,  Mich.),  Mitella  diphylla,  L.,  the  Trillium  cer- 
nuum,  L.,  Dicentra  canadensis,  D.  C,  a  delicate  fumariacea,  with  a  flesh- 
coloured  stalk,  and  pale  green  leaves,  which,  on  account  of  the  peculiar 
form  of  its  blossoms,  that  in  a  manner  resemble  short,  spread-out  leather 
breeches,  is  called  "Dutchman's  breeches,"  the  Dentaria  lanciniata 
MubL,  Claytouia  Virginica,  L.,  and  EUisia  nyctelaea,  L.  The  blue  tint 
is  peculiar  to  the  Mertensia  Virginica  D.  C,  which  covers  entire  wooded 
tracts,  the  capon's  tail,  Polemonia  reptans,  L.,  or  Polemonia  pilosa 
L.,  and  the  crested  violet  (Viola  cucullata.  Ait.),  the  Violet  Pedanthus 
hesperides,  Torr.  &  Gr.,  the  red  Geranium  maculatum,L.,  the  Trillium 
sessile,  L.,  with  a  brownish  flower  enclosed  in  three  leaves,  the  yellow 
ranunculus  (Ptanunculus  repens,  L),  Cypripedium  pubescens,  Willd., 
with  pedate  flowers,  almost  two  inches  long,  and  the  Uvularia  grandi- 
fiora.  Smith.  All  these  species  are  represented  by  numerous  individ- 
uals. Less  frequently  are  seen  the  purple  violet  rag-wort.  Orchis  spec- 
tabilis,  L.),  with  white  labiated  flowers,  Leontice  thalietroides,  L., 
Aralia  medicinalis,  L.,  &c. 

The  trees  are  also  clad  in  other  colours  besides  green.  The  inflex- 
ible branches  of  the  Cereis  canadensis  are  covered  with  peach-coloured 
blossoms,  the  Pyrus  coronaria,  L.,  exhibits  rosy-red  blossoms,  the  Sas- 
safras ofiicioale  Nees,  yellow  ones,  and  different  species  of  hawthorn 
(Crataegus),  and  dogwood  (Cornu). 

The  pawpaw  tree  (Asimina  triloba,  Dunal),  a  small  tree,  with  large 
oval  leaves,  developes  still  sooner  its  brown-red  blossoms,  and  bears 
in  autumn  great,  fleshy,  dirty-yellow  fruits,  which  taste  like  stale 
, dough;  the  Euonymus  atropurpureus  Jacq.,  has  smaller,  brownish- 
red  blossoms.  Of  large  trees,  there  are  also  the  wild-cherry  tree, 
(Cerasus  serotina,  D.  C),  the  prickly  Gleditschia  triacanthos  L.,  with 
its  fine  coronate  leaves,  and  another  cisalpinia,  the  Gymnocladus  cana 
densis.  Lam.,  with  thick  pulpous  pods;  rarer  to  be  seen  is  the  Virgi- 
nian persimmon  (Diospyros  Virginiana,  L.),  whose  orange-coloured 
fruits  are  eatable  only  after  the  first  frost  in  late  autumn,  and  the 
Cornus  Florida,  L.,  with  its  great  snow-white  husks,  both  of  them 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.      245 

'being  more  frequent  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  On  the  mar- 
gin of  the  forest  we  also  perceive  the  American  plum-tree,  a  small 
tree  bearing  an  orange-coloured  fruit;  yonder  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
stand  mighty  trunks,  indigenous  to  a  wet  soil,  and  stretching  forth  their 
branches  far  beyond  the  edge  of  the  water;  perhaps  the  flowery  Echino- 
cystis  lobata,  Torr.  &  Gr.,  clasps  itself  around  them ;  there  you  may 
find  also'the  Platanus  occidentalis,  L.,  here  called  sycamore,  with  its 
glistening  bark  and  deeply-indented  leaves,  and  the  Populas  monilifera, 
L.,  called  cotton-wood,  because  its  fruits,  which  are  strung  together  like 
beads,  on  bursting  cover  the  surrounding  earth  with  its  wool-like  cap- 
sules. 

Flowers  of  the  most  brilliant  hues  bedeck  the  rivers'  banks;  above 
all  the  Lobelia  cardinalis,  L.,  and  the  Lobelia  syphilitica,  of  the  deep- 
est carmine  and  cerulean  tinge,  the  yellow  Cassia  Marilandica,  L., 
whose  leaves  serve  for  the  aiFusion  of  the  senna,  and  the  delicate 
Cassia  chamsecrista,  L.,  with  sensitive  elder-leaves,  then  the  deli- 
cate Rosa  blanda,  L.,  a  rose  without  thorns,  also  the  Scrophularia 
nodosa,  L. 

The  sandy  parts  of  the  banks  have  their  own  particular  Flora. 
Dwarfish  cyperoids,  and  the  frequent  Mollugo  verticillata,  L.,  Lespe- 
deza  .repens,  Torr.  &  Gr.,  Eragrostis  reptans  Nees,  Euphorbia  maculata 
L.,  and  other  creepers  partly  cover  the  gravelly  sand ;  among  them 
rises  the  deep-rooted  Allionia  nyctaginea,  Mich.,  Euphorbia  Cyathiphora 
Mich.,  Darlingtonia  brachyloba,  D.  C,  the  only  species  of  mimosa, 
Crotalaria  sagittalis,  L.,  amsonia  salicifolia  Pursh,  and  Clematis  pit- 
cher., Torr.  &  Gr.,  with  procumbent  violet-colored  stalks,  and  thick  re- 
flexed  tips  of  the  calix,  finally,  Polanisia  graveolens,  Eaf,,  an  isolated 
apparidacea,  of  repulsive  smell. 

The  banks  flattening,  the  marshy  ground  commences,  upon  whicli 
thrive  the  Iris  versicolor,  L.,  Cephalanthus  occidentalis,  L.,  Asclepias 
incarnata,  L.,  the  primrose-tree  (Lysimachia),  liver-wort  (Eupatoria), 
most  frequent,  however,  are  the  tall  Physostegia  Virginiana,  Beuth, 
with  rt)sy-red  blossoms,  and  the  Helenium  auctumnale,  L.,  in  which  the 
yellow  coldr  predominates.  In  spring,  the  dark  violet  blossom  of  the 
Amorpha  fructicosa,  L.,  difi"uses  its  fragrance. 

Let  us  now  jump  in  the  boat  and  row  to  the  opposite  flat  bank, 
21* 


246        CLIMATE,   SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

where  a  branch  of  the  river  joins  a  swamp,  and  at  the  end  of  our  ex- 
cursion examine  the  aquatic  vegetation. 

Already  where  we  cannot  touch  the  bottom  with  the  oar,  we  per- 
ceive a  little  white  flower,  waving  to  and  fro,  supported  by  long  spiral 
balms  between  straight  grass-like  leaves.  This  is  the  valisneria  spi- 
ralis, L.,  a  remarkable  plant,  which  may  also  be  met  with  in  Southern 
Europe,  especially  in  the  canal  of  Languedoc,  and  regarding  the  fruc- 
tification of  which  different  opinions  prevail.  This  plant  has  two  dif- 
ferent blossoms,  a  male  and  a  female  one,  the  latter  are  situated  ou 
spiral  pedicals,  which,  lengthened  at  the  time  of  blooming,  elevate  the 
flower  above  the  surface  of  the  water  to  reach  the  female  blossom  with- 
out separating;  though  this  was  heretofore  supposed,  it  was  believed 
that  the  male  flower,  after  separating,  rose  to  swim  round  the  female, 
delivering  the  pollen  it  was  bearing  at  the  time.  As,  however,  no 
such  male  flower  was  ever  observed  to  separate  and  swim  freely  about, 
but  the  particles  of  pollen  have  been  observed,  the  latter  are  presumed 
solely  to  reach  the  surface  and  fecundate  the  female  flowers. 

Already,  nearer  to  the  land,  we  observe  similar  grass-like  leaves, 
but  with  little,  yellow,  stellated  flowers ;  these  belong  to  the  order  of 
the  Schollera  graminea  Willd,  which  also  vegetate  on  the  banks,  but 
then  in  diminished  size.  Other  larger  leaves  belong  to  the  amphi- 
bious Polygony  (polygonium  amphibium),  and  different  species  of  the 
potamogeton,  the  ears  of  whose  blossoms  rise  curious  above  the  sur- 
face of  the  water.  We  can  already  look  down  upon  the  bottom  of  the 
river.  Ceratophyllum  echinatum  Gray,  predominates ;  at  intervals  cha- 
ras  and  utriculareas  may  be  found.  Clearing  our  way  through  a  row  of 
tall  swamp  weeds  (rye-grass,  zizania  aquatica,  L.,  rush-grass,  Scirpus  la- 
custris,  L.,  Scirpus  pungens  Vahl.),  among  which  the  white  flowers  of 
the  bur  reed  (Sparganium  ramosum  Huds.,  Sagittaria  variabilis  En- 
gelm.),  and  Echiuodorus  subulatus  Engelm.,  are  conspicuous,  we  steer 
into  a  large  inlet  entirely  covered  with  the  broad  leaves  of  the  odorife- 
rous seagarland  (Nymphaea  odorata.  Ait.),  but  little  differing  from  the 
European  water  lily,  and  the  Nelumbium  luteum,  Willd.,  of  whieh  the 
former  modestly  waves  its  beautiful  flower  on  the  surface  of  the  river, 
whilst  the  latter,  the  queen,  in  fact,  of  the  waters,  proudly  raises  her 
magnificent  crown  upon  a  perpendicular  foot-stalk ;  yonder,  on  the  oppo- 
site bank,  the  evening  breeze  lifts  the  triangular  leaves,  and  rosy-red 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.       247 

flowers  of  the  marsh-mallow  (Hibiscus  militaris  Cav.),  overhung  by 
gray  willows  and  the  silver-leaved  maple  (Acer  dasycarpum,  Ehrh.,  and 
acerrubrum,  L.,)  on  which  a  multitude  of  white  herons  have  alighted. 
A  profound  silence  reigns  everywhere,  scarcely  interrupted  by  a  few  dra- 
gon-flies, buzzing  about,  and  over  the  entire  scene  the  parting  sun  dif- 
uses  his  rosy,  faint,  trembling  light.  It  is  a  solemn,  sublime  scene ;  an 
hour  thus  passed,  within  nature's  bosom,  is  an  hour  of  consecration; 
an  hour  of  true  edification  and  devotion.  Nature,  indeed,  is  the  most 
sublime  temple  of  God. 

At  the  termination  of  our  excursion,  let  us  throw  a  glance  over  the 
whole,  and  consider  how  man  turns  to  advantage  the  wealth  of  the 
vegetable  creation. 

The  species  of  corn  that  are  cultivated  have  already  been  mentioned 
at  length,  with  the  exception  of  a  species  used  for  nourishment  by  the 
Indians,  to  wit,  the  wild  maize  (Zizauia  aquatica  L.),  which  has  been 
slightly  noticed.  This  plaut,  six  feet  high,  or  more,  has  a  panicle  but 
below  male,  another  above,  female  flowers.  In  autumn,  when  the 
grains  are  ripe,  the  Indian,  or  rather  his  squaw,  rows  in  a  canoe  to 
this  aquatic  harvest,  the  tops  of  which  he  bends  over  the  gunwale  of 
his  boat,  beating  out  the  grain  with  a  stick ;  the  rice  is  so  loosely  en- 
closed between  the  bearded  husks  as  to  fall  out  at  the  slightest  puff  of 
wind,  by  reason  whereof  this  harvest  can  only  be  continued  for  a  few 
days  after  the  maturity  of  the  crop.  Many  prefer  this  wild  to  the 
ordinary  rice,  and  cattle  feed  with  avidity  on  its  succulent  leaves.* 
The  timothy  grass  (phleum  pratense  L.),  was  imported  almost  a  cen- 
tury since  from  Europe,  and  has  been  cultivated  until  now,  as  also  the 
Dactylis  glomerata,  L.,  Poa  pratensis,  L.,  Festuca  pratensis,  Huds., 
and  other  European  grasses  for  fodder,  for  which  purpose  the  indigenous 
herbs  command  an  inferior  value,  with  hardly  the  exception  of  the 
Calamagrostis  canadensis,  Beauv.,  and  several  glycerias,  one  of  which 
Glyoeria  fluitans,  E.  Br.,  produces  the  "  manna  seed,"  that  is  often 
mixed  as  groats  with  the  soup.  A  gigantic  gTass  attaining  the  height 
of  forty  feet,  the  Arundinaria  macrosperma,  Mich.,  thrives  in  the  south 

*  The  Indians  have  a  wild-growing  succedaneum  for  the  potato,  to  wit :  the 
mealy,  bulbous  roots  of  the  nelumbium  luteum,  and  paint  themselves  yellow 
■with  the  root  of  hydrastis  canadensis,  L. 


248       CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,     AND    ANIMALS. 

ou  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  and  along  the  Ohio  as  far  as  to  its 
falls,  near  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Its  stalks  are  frequently  sold  for 
fishing-rods  in  the  market. 

The  forest  furnishes  of  eatable  fruits,  strawberries,  blackberries, 
raspberries,  gooseberries,  mulberries,  grapes,  wild  plums  and  cherries, 
wild  apples  and  hips,  the  Ameldnehier  canadensis,  Torr.  &  Gr.,  the 
persimmon,  the  pawpaw,  hickory,  hazel,  and  walnuts.  Many  other 
fruits  are  greedily  devoured  by  "  pigs  and  boys,"  as  Asa  Gray  re- 
marks, when  speaking  of  the  May-apple,  the  fruit  of  the  Podophyl- 
lum peltatum. 

The  sugar  maple,  besides  the  sugar  gathered  from  its  sap,  furnishes 
also  firewood  of  very  superior  quality;  the  white  oak  (Quercus  alba  L., 
Quercus  maerocarpa  Mich.),  and  the  hickories,  especially  Carya  alba 
ISutt.,  and  Carya  tomentosa  Nutt.,  yield  also  excellent  fuel;  the  Carya 
amara  Nutt.,  however,  to  a  less  degree. 

The  bark  of  the  dying  oak  (Quercus  tinctoria,  Bartr.),  furnishes  the 
famous  color  for  the  home-made  woollen  fabrics  of  the  former.  From 
the  wood,  which  may  be  easily  split,  of  the  Quercus  imbricaria  Mich., 
with  not  lobated,  but  laurel-like,  leaves,  roof-shingles  are  made.  Oak, 
linden,  ash,  walnut,  cherry,  hickory,  and  maple  trees,  famish  the  wood 
required  by  wheelwrights  and  cabinet-makers,  for  their  work ;  the 
hardest  is  the  iron-wood  (Carpinus  Americanus  Mich.,  and  Ostrya 
Virginica,  Willd.) ;  the  wood  of  the  sycamore  and  the  cotton-wood  is 
almost  useless. 

Next  follow  the  plants  used  for  medicinal  purposes.  It  is  well 
known,  that  the  medical  profession  has  usurped  almost  every  thing 
having  either  taste  or  smell,  in  the  vegetable  creation,  in  order  to 
prepare  those  infallible  remedies  and  specifics,  mixtures,  pills,  and 
drugs,  so  abundantly  praised  and  recommended  in  the  newspapers,  and 
at  every  street  corner;  although  it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  they 
prove  much  more  frequently  injurious  than  beneficial,  their  healing 
properties  being  at  best  very  indiflferent.  Too  much  time  would  be 
taken  up,  should  we  enumerate  every  herb  and  root.  How  many 
emetics  besides  the  phytolacea  decandra  do  they  not  substitute 
for  ipecacuanha!  how  many  drastics  besides  the  Eadix  Podophylli 
for  jalap  !  And  what  specifics  against  the  bite  of  serpents,  and  fevers ! 
We  confine  ourselves  to  a  few  wild  growing  drugs,  most  frequently 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,     AND    ANIMALS.       249 

met  in  the  trade ;  the  blood-wort,  Sanguinaria  canadensis,  L. ;  milk" 
tare,  Polygala  senega  L. ;  Cassia  Marilandica  L. ;  Lobelia  inflata  L. ; 
Menyanthes  trifoliata  L. ;  Sassafras  officinale  Nees.  We  shall,  how- 
ever, not  exhibit  ingratitude  towards  some  popular  remedies,  whose 
virtues  entitle  them  to  mention  here,  for  example,  the  slippery  elm 
(ulmus  fulva  Mich.),  and  the  oriental  sesame,  frequently  growing  in 
our  gardens  (sesamum  orientale  L.);  the  interior  bark  of  the  former 
and  the  leaves  of  the  latter,  may  be  recommended  as  mucilaginous  re- 
medies, the  latter,  especially,  for  summer  complaints;  and  an  in- 
fusion of  water-melon  seeds  may  be  drunk  in  case  of  dropsy,  after  inter- 
mitting fevers. 

We  shall  conclude  with  the  best  and  most  efficient  medicinal  herb. 
Various  species  of  the  vine  grow  here,  they  climb  the  highest  trees, 
and  separate  themselves  from  the  trunk,  so  that  the  bunches  of  grapes 
hang  down  from  the  twigs  as  big  as  one's  arm ;  the  grapes  are  small, 
of  good  flavour,  and  are  much  used  by  housewives  for  preserves;  if 
cultivated  this  grape  attains  a  larger  size,  and  is  most  succulent.  The 
American  vine,  less  influenced  by  the  weather  than  the  European,  ad- 
mits of  more  successful  cultivation  than  the  latter.  The  fox-grape 
(Vitis  labrusca  L.),  is  the  most  improvable  variety,  and  furnishes  va- 
rious brands ;  Isabella,  &c.  The  tilling  of  vines  makes  rapid  progress 
in  the  Western  States,  and  is  already  comtnenced  in  Illinois.  St. 
Clair  and  3Ionroe  Counties  in  the  south  produce  an  excellent  Catawba 
wine,  which  may  be  safely  compared  to  good  Rhine-wine,  and  is  nearly 
equal  in  strength  to  the  Hungarian  wines.  Also  in  the  environs  of 
Peoria  and  Nauvoo,  the  cultivation  of  the  vine  has  been  commenced, 
and  that  with  a  success  which  bids  fair  to  be  lasting.  Let  us  hope, 
that  at  no  distant  time  many  counties  of  the  fertile  Prairie  State  will 
be  clothed  in  the  green  dress  of  this  noble  plant. 

The  times  have  long  since  passed  when  herds  of  buffiiloes  were  feed- 
ing in  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  and  the  beaver  built  her  dwellings  here, 
and  the  elk  (Elaphus  canadensis  Ray),  bounded  through  the  forests. 
The  latter  must  now  be  hunted  up,  far  away  in  Minnesota.  The  last 
beaver  was  killed  in  Wisconsin,  in  1819,  and  the  last  bufl^alo  (Bison 
Americanus,  Grm.),  on  this  side  of  the  Mississippi,  was  seen  in  1832. 
Also  the  black  beai*  (ursus  Americunus  Pall.),  has  become  very  rare. 
Civilization  has  driven  all  these  beasts,  together  with  the  Indiacs,  to  the 


250       CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

north  and  west.  Nevertheless  the  hunter  cannot  complain  of  want  of 
occupation.  The  largest  animal  of  the  forest  is  the  Virginian  stag, 
midway  in  size  between  the  European  stag  and  roe.  Of  carnivorous 
animals  may  be  found  the  red  fox  (Vulpes  fulvus  Desm.),  the  gray  fox 
(Vulpes  Virginianus  Dekay),  the  prairie  wolf  (Canis  latrans  Say),  the 
common  wolf  (Lupus  Occidentalis  Richardson),  the  wild  cat  (Lyncus 
rufus,  Temm,);  but  scarcely  a  single  specimen  of  the  panther  (Felis 
concolor  L.)  ;  the  otter  (Lutra  Canadensis  Sabine),  the  mink  (Putorius 
visor  L.),  the  marten  (Mustek  Canadensis  L.),  the  pole-cat  (Mephitis 
Americana  Desm.),  the  badger  (Meles  Labradoria  Sabine);  lastly,  the 
raccoon  (Procyon  lotor,  L.),  (Waschbar,  in  German),  which  can  be 
easily  tamed,  and  runs  freely  about  the  dwellings;  he  has  received  his 
Latin  and  German  names  probably  on  account  of  his  rubbing  every  ob- 
ject with  his  forepaws,  and  splashing  about  in  the  water.  That  lie  im- 
merses every  morsel  of  food  in  the  water  before  devouring  it,  is  a  mere 
fable,  which,  however,  may  still  be  found  in  many  treatises  on  zoology. 
The  farmer  is  his  sworn  enemy,  since  the  raccoon  not  only  steals  away 
bis  poultry,  but  entering  the  maize-fields  at  a  time  when  the  grains  are 
just  milky,  commits  great  devastation,  by  spoiling  more  than  twenty 
times  the  amount  he  devours.  The  opossum  (Didelphys  Virginiana 
Pennant),  with  his  naked  rat-like  tail,  looks  extremely  ugly,  but  fur- 
nishes excellent  roast-meat,  for  which  reason  he  is  not  skinned,  but, 
like  the  hog,  dipped  in  boiling  water.  This  animal  brings  forth  eleven 
young  ones,  which  she  carries  about  in  a  pouch  in  her  belly. 

We  have  besides,  the  red,  gray,  black,  and  mottled,  together  with 
the  flying  squirrel  (Pteromys  volucella  Harl),  the  American  marmot 
(Arctomys  monax  Gm.),  the  muskrat  (Fibes  Zibethicus  L.),  and  two 
species  of  rabbits,  to  wit :  Lepus  nanus  Schreb.,  and  Lepus  Americanus 
Erzl. ;  an  infinite  number  of  rats,  mice,  &c. 

The  largest  bird  of  prey  is  the  white-headed  eagle  (Haliretus  leuco- 
cephalus  L.),  which  the  Union  has  chosen  for  its  emblem.  With 
his  wings  spread  he  measures  more  than  seven  feet.  The  Washing- 
ton eagle  (Halisetus  Washingtonii,  And.),  is  by  many  believed  to  be 
identical  witli  the  white-headed  eagle,  although,  while  both  head  and 
tail  of  the  latter  are  white,  those  of  the  former  on  the  contrary  are 
black,  and  further,  while  the  beak  of  the  white-headed  eagle  is  yellow, 
that  of  the  Washington  eagle  is  of  an  entirely  difibrent  dusky  hue. 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,     AND    ANIMALS.      251 

The  Washington  eagle  is  believed  first  to  get  the  white  plumage  of  his 
head  and  tail,  and  his  jellow  beak  when  three  or  four  years  old,  a 
chano-e  of  colors  being  not  unusual  in  the  case  of  birds  of  prey.  A 
certain  naturalist  has  embraced  this  opinion  because  the  birds  have 
the  same  manner  of  living,  and  are  frequently  seen  together.  They 
subsist  like  the  smaller  Pandiou  Haliastus,  L.,  on  fish.  The  royal 
eagle  (Aquila  Chryaaitos,  L),  is  said  to  build  its  nest  here,  on  high 
trees,  in  the  absence  of  rocks,  as  do  also  from  fifteen  to  twenty  smaller 
species  of  falcons.  The  only  kind  of  vulture  to  be  met  with  here  (Ca- 
thartes  Aura,  L.),  is  called  the  turkey-buzzard,  because  of  his  resem- 
blance to  the  turkey :  he  feeds  on  carrion. 

The  larger  among  the  ten  or  twelve  different  species  of  owls  are,  the 
snowy  owl  (Lurnia  Lyctia,  L.),  and  the  great  horned  owl  (Bubo  Vir- 
ginianus,  Gm.),  which  last  is  quite  similar  to  the  European  eagle-owl. 

Numerous  species  of  smaller  birds*  belonging  to  the  order  of  the 
Oscines  Clamatores  and  Scansores,  populate  the  forest  and  prairie. 

The  plumage  of  many  is  resplendent  with  lively  colors,  thus  Pyranga 
rubra,  Wils.,  is  scarlet-red,  but  has  black  wings;  Agelajus  Phceniceus, 
L.,  the  notorious  corn-thief,  better  known  by  the  name  of  blackbird, 
whole  swarms  of  which  pounce  upon  the  maize-fields,  picking  the 
grains  out  of  the  germs  on  the  soil,  has  a  shining  black  hue,  but  scar- 
let-red wing-shell  feathers;  the  various  wood-peckers  are  most  of  them 
carmine,  black  and  white;  the  Blue  Jay  (Garrulus  cristatus,  L.),  and 

*  A  complete  list  of  all  the  birds  of  Illinois  has  not  yet  been  compiled ;  Mr. 
Lapham,  however,  has  published  such  a  catalogue  for  Wisconsin, — which  may 
answer  for  HUnois  also  —  wherein  290  species  are  entimerated ;  to  wit :  — ■ 
34  different  birds  of  prey ;  9  fowls ;  49  swamp-birds  (the  Canadian  crane,  Grus 
Canadensis,  is  wanting  here) ;  50  swimming  birds;  12  climbing  birds  (to  which 
the  woodpeckers,  parrots,  and  cuckoos  belong) ;  4  clamatores  (halcyon,  colibri, 
and  goat-suckers) ;  lastly,  132  warblers,  bii'ds,  the  heads  of  whose  windpipes 
are  furnished  with  the  song-muscle  apparatus ;  though  some,  like  the  ravens, 
which  belong  to  this  class,  are  unable  to  sing.  The  families  of  the  finches  and 
sylviades  are  most  numerously  represented  by  them;  these  by  36,  those  by  33 
species ;  then  follow  14  species  of  gnat-snappers ;  10  of  the  throttles,  and  10  of 
the  starlings ;  6  of  the  swallows  and  vireoninse,  respectively ;  5  of  the  ravens 
and  certhiadfe ;  3  of  the  shrikes,  and  but  2  of  the  larks  and  ampelides,  re- 
spectively. One  of  the  larks  '  Alauda  alpestris,'  L.,  maybe  met  with  anywhere 
from  Texas  to  Labrador;  the  other,  Otocoris  rufa.  And.,  is  more  froqiiently 
seen  farther  west. 


252      CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

Siulia  Wilsonii,  Sw.,  are  beautifully  blue — the  latter  has  a  brownish-red 
breast;  Icterus  Baltimore,  L.,  which  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to 
the  European  oriole,  is  black  and  yellow ;  Sturnella  Ludoviciana,  L.,  im- 
properly called  tit-lark,  has  a  tawny  breast.  Of  the  species  Fringilla 
Sylvia,  and  Muscicapa,  thei-e  are  a  great  many  varieties.  The  throt- 
tles excel  in  song;  we  count  eight  different  species;  most  worthy  of 
mention  is  the  mocking-bird  (Mimus  polyglottus,  Lath.),  which  closely 
imitates  the  voice  of  every  other  bird.  The  southern  orders  of  birds 
are  represented  by  single  species ;  the  parrots,  by  the  Psittacus  Caro- 
vinensis,  Bon. ;  the  humming-bird,  by  the  Trochilus  colubris,  L.,  which 
can  be  seen  every  summer,  buzzing  about  the  flowers,  and  is  often  con- 
founded with  a  butterfly. 

The  hunter  takes  but  little  notice  of  these  birds,  while  looking  for 
richer  booty,  especially  in  spring  and  autumn,  when  the  waters  are 
crowded  with  ducks,  geese,  or  other  aquatic  birds.  The  duck  most 
frequently  met,  is  the  so-called  Anas  Borchas,  L.,  then  follows  the  Anas 
Strepera,  L. ;  Anas  Obscura,  Gm. ;  A.  americana,  Gm. ;  A.  discors,  L. ; 
the  fen  duck  (A.  crecca,  Bon.),  the  shoveler  (A.  clypeata,  L.),  A.  acuta, 
L.,  and  the  wood-duck  (A.  sponsa,  L.),  the  most  beautiful  of  them  all, 
which  lays  and  sets  on  trees,  remaining  here  all  summer.  Of  divers, 
there  may  be  frequently  met  with  the  scaup-duck,  Fuligula  Marila,  L., 
Fuligula  Valisneria,  Bonap.,  F.  rufitorques,  Bon.,  the  red-headed  duck, 
(F.  ferina,  L.),  the  golden  eye  L.,  (F.  clangula),  the  bufi'alo-headed 
duck,  Fuligula  albeola,  L.,  and  Fuligula  glacialis,  L.  Rarer  to  be  seen 
is  the  Fuligula  Histrionica,  L.,  and  Fuligula  rubida,  Bon.  Of  geese 
there  are  sis  different  species,  of  which  the  Canadian  goose  (Anser  Cana. 
densis,  L.),  the  whito-fronted  goose  (Anser  albifrons,  Bechst),  the  ring- 
goose  (A.  berniclea,  L.),  and  the  snow-goose  (Anser  hyperborea,  Gm.), 
most  frequently  occur. 

Of  swans  we  distinguish  two  diff'erent  species,  Cygnus  Americanus, 
And.,  and  Cygnus  buccinator.  Rich.  The  mergansers,  Mergus  mer- 
ganser, L.,  Mergus  serrator,  L.,  and  Mergus  cucullatus,  L.,  have  a  very 
fishy  taste,  and  are  therefore  not  eaten. 

Among  the  marsh  birds  that  can  be  hunted  there  are  the  cranes, 
which  are  good  roasted,  and  of  which  there  are  three  species  :  the  Ame- 
rican crane  (Grus  Americana,  Bon.),  the  Canadian  crane  (Grus  Cana- 
densis, Temm.),  and  Grus  ciiierea,  L. ;  then  many  gold-breasted  trum- 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.       253 

peters  and  plovers  (Tringa,  Charadrino),  the  common  snipe  (Scolopax 
Wilsonii,  Temm.),  and  the  wood-snipe  (Scolopax  minor,  Bon.) 

In  autumn  and  spring  millions  of  migratory  pigeons  (Ectopistes  mi- 
gratoria,  And.),  arrive;  immediately  everybody  hurries  into  the  field 
to  exact  a  tribute  from  the  passing  flights,  so  that  all  day  long  nothing 
but  continuous  discharges  are  heard.  Plighly  interesting  is  the  des- 
cription by  Audubon,  of  the  enormous  flights,  which  he  observed  on 
the  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1813  ;  they  obscured  the  'day-light,  and  lasted 
three  days  without  interruption.  According  to  a  very  moderate  esti- 
mate of  his,  each  flight  contained  the  stupendous  number  of  one  bil- 
lion, one  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand  millions,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  thousand  pigeons.  These  flights  caused  a  general  commotion 
among  the  entire  rural  population.  Desirous  of  booty,  and  anxious 
lest  their  crops  should  be  spoiled,  the  farmers,  arming  themselves  with 
rifles,  clubs,  poles,  torches,  and  iron  pots  filled  with  sulphur,  proceeded 
to  the  resting  places  of  the  birds,  in  order  to  shoot  the  pigeons,  or 
knock  them  down  from  the  trees,  or  kill  them  by  sulphurous  exhala- 
tions, expedients  which  were  rendered  necessary  by  their  numbers ; 
since  the  birds  were  so  numerous  on  the  trees  that  their  excrements 
covered  the  ground  several  inches  deep.  The  work  of  slaughter  being 
accomplished,  everybody  sat  down  amongst  mountains  of  dead  pi- 
geons and  barrels,  busying  himself  with  plucking  and  salting  the  birds 
which  they  selected,  abandoning  the  rest  to  the  foxes,  wolves,  raccoons, 
opossums,  and  hogs,  whole  herds  of  which  were  driven  to  the  battle- 
field. Also  flocks  of  eagles,  hawks,  buzzards,  and  vultures  came 
thither,  having  scented  the  prey  from  afar. 

The  turtle-dove  (Ectopistes  Carolinensis,  Aud.),  is  the  permanent 
resident  of  the  forests,  as  is  also  the  partridge  (Ortyx  Virginians,  L.), 
and  the  Tetrao  umbell.,  L.  The  prairie-fowl  (Tetrao  cupidus,  L.), 
never  enters  the  forest,  but  stays  in  the  prairies,  and  approaches  in  win- 
ter so  near  to  the  habitations  of  man,  that  it  may  often  be  seen  sitting 
on  the  fences.*  It  is  as  large  as  the  domestic  fowl;  the  greatest, 
however,  among  the  game-birds  is  the  turkey,  the  same  which  can  be 

*  The  sportsman  presents  a  very  curious  appearance,  "who,  on  a  fine  Tvin- 

ter's  day,  when  the  earth  is  covered  with  snow,  turns  out  to  shoot  wild  fowl. 

Dressed  entirely  in  white,  with  his  face  also  painted  white,  save  two  great 

spots  below  the  eyes,  which  are  painted  black  to  absorb  the  rays  of  the  sun, 

22 


254        CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,     AND    ANIMALS. 

found  among  the  tame  poultry,  but  in  a  wild  state,  and  always  with 
brown-red  plumage,  playing  from  one  color  into  another. 

Among  the  birds  not  hunted,  those  worth  remarking  are  the  various 
herons,  of  which  the  smallest  (Ardea  exilis,  Bon.),  measures  but  one 
foot  from  the  end  of  his  beak  to  the  tiPp  of  his  tail,  and  the  largest  (Ar- 
dea herodias,  L.),  more  than  four  feet.  Besides  these,  there  are  the 
Ardea  nycticorax,  L.,  also  existing  in  Europe;  the  freckled  heron  (Ar- 
dea lentiginosa,  Swains.);  the  Ardea  vircocens,  L. ;  the  western  heron 
(Ardea  oecidentalis,  And.),  the  Ardea  candidissima,  Gmel.;  the  Ardea 
egretta,  Gmel.  The  three  latter  are  white.  Of  pelicans  there  are 
Phalacrocorax  dilophus,  Swains.,  and  the  Pelicanus  Americanus,  And., 
Colymbus  glacialis,  Bon.,  several  gulls  and  sea-swallows,  among  which 
is  the  Sterna  hirundo,  L.,  with  scarlet-red  feet  and  beak. 

Of  the  reptilia,  numerous  species  of  serpents  exist,  only  three  of 
which  are  venomous,  to  wit :  the  striped  rattlesnake  (Crotalus  durissus, 
L.),  the  prairie  rattlesnake,  or  Massasauga  (Crotalophorus  tergeminus, 
Say.),  and  the  copper-head  (Agkistroton  contortrix,  Baird  &  Girard, 
Boa  contortrix,  L.)  The  largest  snakes  are  the  black  serpent  (Basca- 
nion  constrictor,  B.  &  G.,  Coluber  constrictor,  L.),  five  feet  long,  and 
the  Pituophis  malansleucus,  Holbr.,  which  measures  six  feet. 

Among  the  batrachii,  the  bull-frog  (Rana  pipiens),  is  most  deserving 
of  notice,  who,  with  his  feet  spread,  attains  a  length  of  nearly  two  feet, 
and  raises  at  night  a  hideous  clamor.  The  wood-frog  (Rana  silvatica), 
and  the  marsh-frog  (Rana  palustris),  are  much  smaller.  Of  toads  there 
is  but  one  species,  the  American  toad  (Bufo  Americanus);  of  green 
frogs,  two  species,  Hyla  versicolor,  and  Hyla  lateralis.  Of  the  lizards, 
we  notice  Triton  dorsalis,  Necturus  lateralis,  Ambystoma  punctata,  and 
Menopoma  Alleghaniensis,  the  greatest  species,  which  often  attains  the 
length  of  two  feet.  Of  the  numerous  Saurii  peculiar  to  the  Southern 
States,  there  are  either  few  or  none  in  Illinois ;  of  turtles,  however, 
quite  a  large  number.  Of  the  twenty  species  which  belong  to  the  ge- 
nus of  the  fresh-water  turtles  (Emys),  Illinois  has  several,  among 
which  are  the  beautiful  Emys  picta,  and  the  Chelonura  serpentina, 
which  presents  a  grim  aspect,  and  is  wont  to  snap  with  his  sharp  beak 
at  the  intruder.     The  lower  shell  of  the  Cistuda  clausa  is  subdivided 

he  manages  to  advance  stealthily  within 'a  short  distance  of  the  prairie  fowls, 
sittinj;  on  the  hedges. 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS.        255 

into  three  parts,  the  anterior  as  well  as  the  posterior  of  which  it  may 
draw  up  at  pleasure,  wholly  enclosing  itself  in  the  shell.  The  soft- 
shell  species,  which  is  often  used  for  soups,  belong  to  the  genus 
Trionyx. 

The  waters  of  Illinois  teem  with  fish,  but  few  of  which  have  been 
properly  examined  or  classified. 

The  perch  (Perca),  the  Centrarchus,  Pomotis,  Pimelodus,  Leuciscus, 
salmon  (Salmo),  Corregonus,  Lepidosteus,  Pike  (Esox),  eel  (Anguilla), 
tunny-fish  (Anica),  Noturus  and  Corvina,  are  the  chief  species,  the 
largest  of  which  is  the  Lepidosteus  osseus,*  here  called  Alligator  gar, 
because  of  the  resemblance  of  his  head  to  that  of  the  real  alligator. 
In  the  Peoria  Lake  one  was  once  captured,  which  was  fifteen  feet  long. 
A  singular  cartilaginous  fish  is  a  species  of  sturgeon  called  the  paddle- 
fish  (Polyodon  folium),  whose  upper  gill  is  horizontally  compressed, 
projecting  about  half  the  length  of  the  whole  body.  This  fish  also  at- 
tains a  considerable  size. 

Besides  these  the  waters  contain  crabs,  and  many  molluskas ;  among 
the  snails,  the  Helice33  and  Lymneace^e  predominate;  among  the 
the  shell-fishes,  the  Najads. 

The  greatest  variety,  however,  prevails  among  the  spiders  and  in- 
sects. Among  the  Scarabees,  the  family  of  the  Cerambides  has  many 
different  species  excelling  by  their  size  and- beauty,  as,  for  instance, 
the  Clytus  pictus,  which  measures  nearly  If  inches.  Another 
Scarabee,  belonging  to  the  family  of  the  spring  beetles,  or  Ela- 
terides  (Alaus  oculatus),  is  1|  inches  in  length.  We  have  yet  to  no- 
tice many  beautiful  Cicindela^,  and  the  shining  lantern-flies,  myriads 
of  which,  in  warm  summer  nights,  alight  on  the  flowers,  or  buzzing 
about,  produce  the  most  brilliant  illumination  of  the  forest.  The  sca- 
rabeus  first  noticed  by  everybody,  is  the  Canthon  laeve,  which  belongs 


*  The  Ganoides  populated  tlie  waters  in  the  earliest  times  of  animal  forma- 
tion ;  most  of  the  genus  disappeared  in  the  course  of  time,  and  are  now  only 
to  be  found  in  a  petrified  state ;  few  belong  to  the  present  animal  creation. 
Of  the  Holosteffi,  with  bony  skeletons,  the  species  Lepidosteus  and  Amia  belong 
to  North  America  ;  the  Polypterus,  however,  to  Africa.  Of  the  Chondrostese, 
with  cartilaginous  skeletons,  the  sturgeon  (Scaphichynchus  platyrhynchus),  and 
the  paddle  fish  (Polyodon  folium),  may  be  found  in  the  waters  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. 


256       CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

to  the  family  of  the  Carabaides ;  these  animals  busy  themselves  with 
removing  globules  an  inch  in  thickness  from  the  excrements  of  the 
cows,  on  the  roads,  at  which  work  two  are  invariably  engaged,  one  of 
which,  leaning  on  its  fore  feet,  pushes  the  load  with  its  hind  feet, 
whilst  the  other  climbs  the  front  part  of  the  globule,  and  draws  it 
down  by  its  weight.  After  depositing  their  eggs  in  these  globules, 
these  ingenious  animals  bury  them  on  a  place  where  the  ground  can 
be  easily  scratched  up.  The  prairie  teems  with  grasshoppers  and 
crickets,  and  many  a  dwelling  is  pestered  with  mill-moths  (Blatta). 
The  most  remarkable  species  of  the  Orthopterse  is  the  "  wandering 
leaf,"  (Mantis  Carolina),  here  called.  "  devil's  horse,"  because  of  its 
adventurous  figure.  Of  the  Heteropteroe,  an  insect  of  the  class  of  the 
Nepides,  nearly  three  inches  long,  known  as  the  Belostoma  grandis, 
which  lives  in  the  water,  subsisting  on  small  fishes  and  frogs,  deserves 
to  be  mentioned,  as  also  a  small  but  terrible  insect,  immense  numbers 
of  which  are  found  in  the  beds,  the  Acanthia  lectularia,  or  bed-bug ; 
of  the  Homopterre,  many  Cercopedes,  and  the  improperly  so-called  lo- 
cust (Cicada  septemdecim).  The  mate  of  this  noxious  hardy  insect, 
which  at  first  sight  resembles  a  great  hornet,  and  attains  the  length  of 
one  and  a  half  inches,  deposits  her  eggs  in  the  fresh  twigs  of  trees,  after 
having  perforated  their  bark  with  her  feeling  saw.  The  twig  soon 
withers,  so  that  the  tops  of  the  trees  of  entire  forests  often  appear  as 
if  desolated  by  fire.  Within  52  days,  the  larva  creeps  out,  falls  down 
to  the  ground,  and  bores  its  way  through  the  same  to  the  roots,  whose 
sap  it  greedily  sucks,  causing  new  damage  even  then.  After  this  it 
changes  into  a  chrysalis,  that,  toward  the  end  of  May,  leaves  the  earth, 
so  that  the  empty  cases  can  be  seen  everywhere  on  trees  and  fences. 
In  many  seasons  thousands  of  this  plump  animal  can  be  seen  flirting 
about,  and  clinging  to  the  wheat-grains,  which  it  bites  ofi",  thus  des- 
troying on  many  a  corn-field,  the  crop  which  the  farmer  was  all  along 
so  anxiously  expecting.  Another- sworn  enemy  of  the  crops,  fortu- 
nately not  very  frequent  here,  is  the  so-called  ''  Hessian  fly,"  a  Ceci- 
domyia,  of  the  family  of  the  Tipulid^e  (class  Diptera).  To  these  and 
the  Culcides,  the  various  species  of  the  notorious  musquitoes  belong, 
which,  if  we  are  to  assume  that  everything  has  been  created  on  accoun-t 
of  man,  must  have  been  created  to  teaze  and  torment  him;  but  only 
the  female  is  the  real  tormentor;  the  male,  whom  you  may  easily  tell 


CLIMATE,     SOIL,     PLANTS,     AND    ANIMALS.      257 

by  his  feathery  feelers,  is  harmless,  and  never  stings.  High,  airy 
dwellings,  are  little  frequented  by  these  terrible  guests,  which  usually 
visit  those  which  are  low,  or  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  waters.  They 
harass  people  generally  only  at  night,  commissioning  the  house-fly  to 
vex  hitu  in  day-time. 

On  walls  and  underneath  roofs,  cells  may  be  frequently  seen,  con- 
structed of  mud,  in  the  same  fashion  in  which  bees  use  to  build  their 
own — a  wasp-like  insect,  marked  black  and  yellow,  flies  to  and  fro,  fear- 
less and  undisturbed,  for  it  fetches  forward  the  building  materials  it 
wants  without  molesting  men  any  further.  The  posterior  part  of  the 
body  is  connected  by  a  very  long  isthmus  of  muscles  with  the  breast ; 
the  name  of  this  industrious  little  animal  is  Pelopjeus  flavipes ;  it  be- 
longs to  the  Sphegides  (class :  Hymenoptera),  as  also  the  genera  of  Am- 
mophila  and  Pompilus,  whose  species  may  often  be  seen  bearing  the 
former  company.  Xylocopa  victima,  which  belongs  to  the  bees,  is 
another  domestic  resident;  she  selects  wooden  buildings,  whose  frame- 
walls  she  perforates  to  deposit  her  eggs  therein ;  the  honey-bee,  how- 
ever, builds  her  mellifluous  cells  in  hollow  trees,  to  the  great  joy  of 
the  raccoon.  The  nests  of  the  paper-wasps,  which  belong  to  the  Po- 
listes  fuscata,  can  be  often  seen  on  bushes.  The  greater,  hornet-like 
wasp  (Vespa  maculata),  frequently  enters  houses  to  hunt  after  flies. 
Of  the  ants,  the  large  yellow  ones  enslave  the  smaller,  black  ones,  so 
that  we  can  only  wonder  why  the  human  slave-holders  have  not  yet 
adduced  this  fact  in  proof  and  evidence  of  slavery  being  instituted  by 
nature  herself. 

Among  the  Neuropteras,  numerous  Libellas,  part  of  which  are  of  very 
vivid  colors,  a  light  green  Hemerobide,  and  the  ephemerides  claim  our 
attention.  In  summer,  millions  of  the  latter  appear  suddenly,  espe- 
cially in  the  vicinity  of  rivers ;  on  houses,  hedges  and  everywhere,  the 
first  dress  can  be  seen  hanging,  which  they  cast  ofi"  in  the  first  night. 
They  float  about  in  so  dense  swarms  as  to  resemble  a  shower  of  snow, 
whenever  their  glassy  wings  gleam  in  the  sun.  Eight  or  ten  days 
after  their  first  appearance  they  all  vanish  again. 

"We  conclude  with  the  Papilios,  the  most  beautiful  and  most  admired 

of  all  insects.     Among  the  Bomlicides  tkere  is  a  magnificent  Satur- 

nia ;  among  the  "  Spanners,"  a  light-green  Aca3na.    The  genus  Papilio 

here  has  many  different  species  and  varieties,  among  which  is  the  Pa- 

22*  R 


258        CLIMATE,     SOIL,    PLANTS,    AND    ANIMALS. 

pilio  turnus,  very  similar  to  his  European  brother.  Of  swallow-tails, 
there  are  a  great  many  varieties;  the  yellow  color  of  the  one  is  almost 
entirely  superseded  by  black.  Many  European  species  are  indigenous 
here,  among  other,  many  Vanessa  species,  the  admiral  (V.  Atalanta), 
the  morio  (V.  Antiopa),  the  great  and  small  brownish-red  Papilio  (V. 
polychlorus  and  V.  urticse),  and  the  C.  bird  (V.  C.  album).  Very 
frequent  is  the  painted  lady  (V.  Cardui),  which  rocks  on  flowers  in 
all  parts  of  the  globe. 

The  view  of  such  a  Papilio  flying  from  flower  to  flower,  and  parad- 
ing in  the  most  magnificent  colors,  reconciles  us  with  many  of  its  trou- 
blesome fellow-creatures.  An  image  of  the  fickleness  of  beauty  and 
a  symbol  of  transitoriness,  he  inculcates  high  wisdom,  and  while  ex- 
horting us,  during  the  short  span  of  our  mortal  life,  to  enjoy  what 
Grod's  beautiful  world  profiers  us,  he  admonishes  us  that  the  end  of 
our  earthly  career  is  not  very  far  oS^. 


STATE  OF  HEALTH  AND  DISEASES. 

When  people  ia  the  Eastern  States  speak  admiringly  of  the  extra- 
ordinary fertility  of  the  soil  of  Illinois,  they  will  often  add  some  re- 
mark, expressing  their  fears  in  regard  to  the  fever  and  ague  said  to 
prevail  there,  just  as  though  the  state  of  health  in  Illinois  was  so  mi- 
serable as  to  counterbalance  all  the  great  advantages  that  a  residence 
in  the  State  offers  to  the  industrious  settler.  Were  this  really  the 
condition  of  things,  how  could  the  population  of  the  State  increase  at 
such  an  enormous  rate  as  it  does  now,  and  would  not  many  of  the  fami- 
lies, after  a  residence  of  a  few  years  in  Illinois,  leave  the  State  in  order 
to  select  a  more  healthy  residence  ?  Just  the  contrary  is  the  case,  as 
will  at  once  appear  from  the  fact,  that  the  tide  of  immigration  from 
the  Eastern  States  to  Illinois,  swells  enormously  every  year,  and  but 
very  few  families  residing  in  the  State  are  known  to  remove  beyond 
its  limits. 

Everybody  knows  that  of  all  diseases  the  ague  occurs  most  fre- 
quently in  Illinois,  but  they  will  know  also,  that  while  new  ground  is 
annually  subjugated  to  culture,  the  disease  is  confined  to  more  and 
more  narrow  limits;  and  further,  that  it  depends  very  much  upon  the 
particular  plan  of  abode,  and  manner  of  living,  whether  the  fever  is  to 
visit  a  family  or  not.  Whosoever  resides  in  the  bottoms,  or  close  by 
swamps,  or  in  districts  where  the  water — owing  to  the  ground  being 
rather  too  level,  cannot  rapidly  flow  off,  will  be  more  exposed  to  the 
fever,  than  one  who  resides  on  the  high,  rolling  prairie.  Moreover  it 
is  perfectly  safe  to  presume  that  one-half  of  those  who  are  down  with 
this  fever,  have  to  ascribe  this  to  nothing  but  their  own  imprudence, 
and  the  use  of  improper  food. 

To  the  latter  cause  must  be  added,  drinking  of  stagnant  water,  or  a 
too  immoderate  use  of  fruits,  lard,  eggs,  or  fish ;  and,  further,  nobody 
should  needlessly  expose  himself  to  the  night  air,  but  live  in  substan- 
tially-built dwellings  and  sleep  in  well-ventilated  rooms ',  wearing  by 

( 259 ) 


260  STATE    OF    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES. 

day  thin  clothing,  and  in  the  evening,  when  exposed  to  the  night  air, 
warm,  thick  clothing,  and  making  a  fire  in  the  grate,  whenever, 
even  in  the  midst  of  summer,  a  change  of  temperature  should  occur, 
especially  when  it  begins  to  rain.  But  few  of  those  strictly  following 
these  rules,  will  ever  be  visited  by  the  fever. 

Mankind  would  undoubtedly  be  happy,  were  there  no  graver  dis- 
eases than  fever  and  ague,  which,  though  disagreeable,  are  certainly  not 
deleterious,  much  less  dangerous.  Deaths  in  consequence  of  fever 
and  ague  are  nowhere  reported,  however  closely  the  long  lists  and  bills 
published  by  the  newspapers,  of  the  mortality  prevailing  in  the  va- 
rious, most  widely  separated,  cities  may  be  examined.  And  where 
would  the  ague  not  be  met  with  ?  the  ague,  which  more  or  less  occurs 
on  Dewly-broken  land,  or  meadows,  or  lands  with  a  very  rich  humus, 
from  which  the  golden  fruits  are  gathered  that  fill  the  farmers'  barns. 
The  fever  exists  as  well  on  the  eastern  seaboard,  and  in  Europe,  as  in 
the  Western  States.  Nobody  will  ever  venture  to  call  Hoboken,  a 
pretty  little  city  situated  opposite  New  York,  a  place  infected  with 
fevers;  though  many  cases  of  fever  occur  in  those  parts  of  it  touching 
on  meadowy  ground,  few  of  those  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  which, 
along  the  Hackensack  River,  having  yet  escaped  being  visited  by  this 
unwelcome  guest,  the  ague.  And  on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean,  in 
Europe,  you  will  find  the  ague  in  the  rich  low  lands  of  the  Vistula, 
the  great  granary  of  Prussia,  on  the  marshes  of  the  Oder,  and  in  the 
rich  marshy  lands  of  Eas-t  Frieseland. 

Should  this  book  be  doomed  to  reach  the  hands  of  none  but  those 
residing  in  Illinois,  it  would  hardly  be  necessary  to  say  anything  con- 
cerning the  sanitary  condition  of  the  State;  every  inhabitant  being 
from  his  own  experience  sufficiently  acquainted  with  it;  but  as  it  is 
designed  to  furnish  information  of  a  reliable  character  to  such  as  intend 
-  to  seek  their  homes  in  Illinois,  the  state  of  health  of  that  country  can- 
not be  passed  over  in  silence.  The  importance  of  the  question  as  to 
the  salubrity  of  a  country,  for  those  wishing  to  settle  in  it,  being  self- 
evident,  we  have  felt  it  incumbent  upon  us  to  gather  the  opinions  of 
men  long  resident  in  the  State,  and  we  now  submit  to  the  reader,  the 
results  arrived  at  by  private  gentlemen  and  doctors  residing  within  its 
limits,  from  many  years  personal  experience ;  to  which  is  added  the 
testimony  of  a  gentleman  from  Massachusetts,  who  travelled  through 


STATE    OF    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES.  261 

Illinois  in  every  direction,  for  the  purpose  of  comparing  the  state  of 
her  affairs  with  those  of  the  fornaer.  First,  however,  let  us  hear  the 
doctors. 

Daniel  Stahl,  M.  D.,  of  Quincy,  Adams  County,  a  resident  of  the 
United  States  for  22  years,  and  of  Illinois  for  14  years,  a  physician 
by  profession,  writes  the  following : 

"  We  have  here  in  autumn,  bilious  diseases,  more  or  less ;  for  in- 
stance, the  ague,  the  intermitting,  and  the  properly  called  bilious  fever. 
In  very  rare  cases,  however,  do  these  diseases  prove  dangerous  or  de- 
leterious; every  new  resident  of  the  West  acquiring  in  a  short  time 
the  knowledge  of  the  very  simple  remedies  by  which  their  cure  is 
effected.  Fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago,  these  diseases,  together  with 
those  always  sure  to  accompany  them,  the  hepatical  diseases,  hypo- 
chondriasis and  jaundice,  held  such  a  formidable  sway,  that  they  spared 
but  very  few,  especially  of  the  immigrants.  But  as  the  land  is  becom- 
ing subjected  to  culture,  as  forests  are  cleared,  and  swamps  and  marshes 
dried  up,  these  diseases  more  and  more  rarely  occur,  so  that  I  now 
only  render  professional  services  to  one-third  of  the  number  of  fever- 
patients  I  formerly  had  in  treatment,  some  ten  or  fifteen  years  ago. 
Diarrhoea  prevails  to  some  extent,  bat  always  in  a  mild  form,  being 
very  rarely,  if  ever,  dangerous^.  Infants  suffer  in  great  cities,  from  the 
''cholera  infantum,"  which  disease  can  nowhere  be  met  with  in  the 
country;  all  those  diseases,  however,  which  are  caused  in  all  other 
countries  by  the  rapid  change  of  temperature,  occur  also  here. 

"  Upon  comparing  the  state  of  health  of  this  country  with  that  of 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  of  which  I  was  a  former  resident,  I  must  arrive 
at  the  conclusion,  that  we  live  in  a  comparatively  very  salubrious  dis- 
trict." 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  letter  of  Dr.  J.  Gr.  Zeller,  M.  D.,  a 
physician  of  Springbay,  Woodford  County. 

"  In  summer,  miasmatical  fevers  prevail.  Those  residing  along  the 
ravines  of  rivers,  or  in  their  valleys,  are  usually  visited  by  them ;  some- 
times, also,  particularly  in  a  moist  spring,  the  inhabitants  of  the  prai- 
ries suffer  from  them.  In  fall  and  winter,  the  abdominal  typhus  fever 
sometimes  occurs  ;  but  never  the  real  typhus,  properly  speaking,  as  the 
miasma  proceeding  from  morasses  appears  to  be  antagonistic  to  the 
typhus  miasma.     A  regular  habit  of  living  can  do  much  against  these 


262  STATE    OP    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES. 

miasmatical  diseases,  and  after  a  sojourn  of  two  years  in  these  regions 
you  may  consider  yourself  acclimated." 

T.  A.  Hoffman,  M.  D.,  a  physician  and  resident  since  1835,  of 
Beavdstown,  Cass  County,  communicates  the  following  : 

"  The  tracts  of  uncultivated  soil  at  that  time,  and  the  superabun- 
dance, especially  in  the  rich  bottom  lands,  of  the  exuberant  vegetation 
which,  if  not  used,  was  left  to  putrefy,  caused,  as  in  all  western  coun- 
tries having  a  rich  humus,  intermitting  fevers,  particularly  in  fall, 
when  the  plants  cease  to  perform  their  office  of  purifying  the  air. 
Ever  since,  however,  the  plains  overgrown  with  tall  grasses,  were  con- 
verted into  fertile,  arable  land,  and  the  morasses  into  meadows;  whilst 
the  stagnating  waters  were  drained  off  by  ditches  dug  for  that  purpose, 
the  state  of  health  has  visibly  improved." 

Frederick  Brendel,  M.  D.,  a  ph3'sician  of  Peoria,  communicates  to 
us  as  follows: 

"  Intermitting  fevers  are  the  principal  diseases  of  the  country.  As 
is  the  case  in  Peoria,  the  malaidy  will  remain  confined  to  those  por- 
tions of  a  city  sti-etching  along  some  river,  whose  opposite  bank  is 
marshy,  while  almost  all  those  residing  along  rivers,  both  banks  of 
which  are  dry,  will  be  spared.  Near  houses  on  the  more  elevated 
prairies,  whose  inmates  are  down  with  .the  fever,  you  will  almost  al- 
ways discover  a  pool  of  stagnating  rain-water.  Bilious  fevers  appear 
towards  the  end  of  summer,  intermitting  fevers  in  September  and  Oc- 
tober, and  in  the  latter  part  of  autumn,  typhus  fevers,  which,  though 
lasting  a  long  time,  prove  but  very  rarely  dangerous.  Diarrhcoa  also 
prevails.  At  the  time  of  the  raging  of  that  great  epidemic,  cholera 
appeared  here  in  a  mild  form ;  .but  in  the  last  years  it  was  chiefly  con- 
fined to  the  immigrants,  most  of  whom  brought  the  disease  with  them. 
Pulmonary  diseases  seldom  occur;  those  who  came  hither  afflicted 
with  them,  manage  to  live  longer  than  would  have  been  elsewhere  the 
case." 

F.  Wenzel,  M.  D.,  of  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  communicates 
the  following : 

''The  state  of  health  is  everywhere  very  satisfactory,  save  in  marshy 
districts.  The  cases  of  fever,  particularly  of  the  intermitting  and  re- 
mitting bilious  fevers  decrease  in  number,  from  year  to  year.  The 
time  in  which  southern  Illinois  might  with  propriety  be  denounced 


STATE    OF    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES.  263 

as  tte  fever  country,  has  long  passed  by.  The  prairie  is  healthy.  The 
last  census  of  Belleville,  and  the  whole  county,  exhibits  so  considerable 
a  number  of  old  people,  that  the  state  of  health  must  be  considered  as 
in  every  respect  very  excellent." 

In  a  letter  of  Dr.  C.  Hofman,  a  physician  in  Pekin,  we  riotice  the 
following : 

''  Patients  down  with  intermitting  fevers  usually  suffer  but  little ; 
they  get  the  fever  once  or  twice,  the  disease  disappearing  each  time 
before  an  adequate  dietetical  treatment,  without  any  serious  conse- 
quences ;  it  will  then  reappear,  after  the  lapse  of  some  two,  three,  or 
four  weeks,  to  be  again  expelled  by  the  same  treatment.  Many  ex- 
perience but  a  single  attack,  after  which  they  remain  exempt  for  entire 
years. 

"  Very  grave  cases  but  seldom  occur,  perhaps  only  one  among  a 
hundred.  Whenever  they  occur,  they  are  chiefly  the  consequence  of 
immoderate  eating  or  drinking,  incautious  exposure  during  sleep  or 
labor,  the  use,  or  rather  the  abuse,  of  dangerous  remedies,  and  the  ne- 
glect of  the  frequent  use  of  pure  cold  water. 

"  The  best  preservative  is  cold  water.  Every  morning,  after  rising, 
take  a  cold  bath,  or  if  this  be  inconvenient,  wash  your  whole  body 
with  cold  water;  after  which,  while  still  jejune,  drink  a  few  cups  of 
cold  water,  as  also  shortly  before  going  to  bed ;  select  for  your  bed- 
chamber a  well  ventilated  room,  in  one  of  the  upper  stories;  and  be 
moderate  in  eating,  especially  in  the  use  of  fruit,  bacon,  fish,  or  eggs ; 
all  of  which  directions,  if  strictly  followed,  are  well  calculated  to  pro- 
tect you  from  the  fever. 

"  The  best  remedy  is  acid  sulphuric  Peruvian  bark,  in  doses  of 
from  2  to  4  grains,  at  intervals,  till  10,  15,  20  grains  are  taken.  There 
are  many  nostrums  fabricated  and  sold  at  wholesale,  whose  chief  sub- 
stance, however,  consists  of  Peruvian  bark  intermixed  with  arsenic* 

"  So  much  in  regard  to  the  intermitting  fevers. 

"  With  respect  to  other  diseases,  Illinois  is  not  worse  off  than  other 
countries,  nay,  even  decidedly  far  more  healthy  than  many  of  those 
in  which  intermitting  fevers  are  less  frequently  to  be  encountered. 

*  Persons  should  therefore  be  very  cautious  in  using  such  remedies,  whose 
Bubstance  has  not  been  accurately  ascertained. 


264  STATE    or    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES. 

Tuberculous  consumption  is  extremely  rare ;  people  afflicted  with  it 
sometimes  attain  to  a  very  considerable  age,  provided  they  came  here 
at  a  not  too  far  advanced  stage  of  the  disease,  and  did  not  indulge  in 
any  excesses.  Illinois  is  the  veritable  paradise  for  those  with  tuber- 
culous consumption,  being  in  this  respect  to  America,  what  Southern 
Italy  is  to  Europe.  I  have  seen  men  come  thither  in  a  very  advanced 
stage  of  consumption,  who  by  prudent  habits  of  living  soon  stopped 
the  further  progress  of  the  disease,  and  increasing  in  strength  and 
corpulence,  might  deem  themselves  perfectly  cured.  A  certain  Mr. 
Robertson,  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  sent  by  his  doctor  to  reside  with 
his  relatives  in  Illinois,  in  the  vicinity  of  Pekin,  in  order  to  impede 
the  ferther  advancement  of  a  tubercular  disease,  with  which  he  had 
already  been  afflicted  for  several  years.  He  speedily  improved,  regain- 
ing his  former  strength,  and  becoming  more  corpulent  than  ever,  and 
exposing  himself  to  all  those  obnoxious  influences,  which  in  other  con- 
stitutions superinduce  the  intermitting  fever,  without  ever  getting  it. 
He  then,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  his  doctor,  returned  to  Pittsburg. 
The  climate  of  Pittsburg  exercising  anew  its  dangerous  inliuence  upon 
the  disease,  he  had  a  relapse,  of  which  he  died.  Had  he  remained  in 
Illinois,  he  might  have  lived  some  twenty  or  thirty  years  longer. 

"During  the  winter,  acute  inflammations  of  the  lungs  will  some- 
times occur,  probably  in  consequence  of  the  keen  blasts,  which  rush 
wildly  over  the  prairies,  without  encountering  mountains  or  forests  to 
break  their  fury;  this  malady,  however,  seldom  presents  a  serious  as- 
pect, the  patient  easily  recovering  under  an  appropriate,  careful  treat- 
ment." 

So  far  the  statements  by  doctors,  residing  and  practising  physic  for 
many  years  in  the  State,  who  must,  therefore,  have  an  exact  know- 
ledge of  her  sanitary  condition ;  let  us  now  listen  to  what  other  gen- 
tlemen, not  physicians,  but  old  inhabitants  of  Illinois,  have  to  commu- 
nicate, on  the  subject. 

Edward  Bebb,  Esq.,  of  Fountaindale,  Winnebago  County,  in  his 
letter,  dated  January  23,  1856,  writes  as  follows  : 

"The  country  is  remarkably  healthy;  I  cannot  give  you  a  better 
proof  than  that  we  have  lived  here — a  family  of  seven — since  the  first 
of  August,  1850,  and  have  never  had  to  call  in  a  doctor  on  profes- 
sional business." 


STATE    OF    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES.  250 

John  Williams,  Esq.,  of  New  Albany,  Coles  Ccunty,  says  in  a  let- 
ter dated  December  23,  1S55  : 

"  I  have  never  been  sick  one  whole  day  in  thirty  years ;  and  there 
has  been  but  one  death  in  this  neighborhood  this  season." 

A.  J.  Galloway,  Esq.,  ofEwington,  Effingham  County,  says: 

''  There  is  little  disease  at  any  time  in  the  State,  which  may  not  be 
traced  directly  or  indirectly,  to  derangement  in  the  biliary  organs,  and 
much  of  this  should  no  doubt  be  attributed  to  the  free  use  of  heavy 
bread,  strong  coffee,  a  large  amount  of  animal  food,  and  the  partial  or 
total  exclusion  of  vegetable  diet.  I  think  I  am  free  from  prejudice 
when  I  say  that,  except  in  the  valleys  of  the  larger  streams,  but  more 
especially  upon  the  high,  rolling  prairies  of  middle  and  Northern  Illi- 
nois, a  more  healthy  country  is  not  to  be  found,  even  in  the  moun- 
tainous districts  of  the  older  States." 

L.  G.  Chase,  Esq.,  of  Massachusetts,  who  travelled  for  several 
months  through  Illinois,  writes,  in  a  letter  dated  Pera,  Dee.  22,  1855, 
as  follows : 

"  So  far  as  health  is  concerned,  time  will  prove  that  the  prairies  of 
the  West  will  compare  well  with  any  of  the  Eastern  States.  Eastern 
people  have  made  a  great  bugbear  of  the  miasma  of  the  prairies ;  but 
if  they  will  turn  their  attention  to  the  thousands  of  alder  swamps  be- 
tween their  hills,  where  the  sun  and  wind  are  almost  strangers,  they 
will  discover  more  causes  of  ill-health  concentrated  there  in  a  few 
acres,  than  is  scattered  over  a  whole  prairie,  where  the  purifying  in- 
fluences of  the  sun  and  wind  have  full  scope.  This  season  has  been 
an  unusual  unhealthy  one  for  this  State,  but  during  the  most  sickly 
time,  I  was  wandering  over  the  prairies,  and  saw  but  few  instances 
where  the  ill-health  could  not  be  directly  traced  to  infringements  of 
physical  laws,  either  through  ignorance  or  necessity.  In  some  cases 
of  chills  and  fever  that  have  come  under  my  observation,  a  few  out- 
ward applications  of  soap  and  water  no  doubt  would  have  relieved  the 
patient.  Then  again,  if  the  pioneers  would  eat  less  pork,  and  more 
fruit  and  vegetables,  it  would  be  much  better  for  them  ;  and  I  only 
wonder,  all  things  considered,  that  there  is  so  much  health  here,  where 
the  people  are  such  great  sinners  in  a  physical  point  of  view.  Pure 
water  is  an  important  item  in  the  bill  of  health,  though  it  is  but  little 
attended  to.  People  all  over  the  prairies  drink  surface-water,  when 
23 


266 


STATE    or    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES, 


by  digging  or  boring,  pure  water  can  bo  had,  or  what  might  be  still 
better  for  f^iniily  use,  cisterns  can  be  sunk  in  the  earth  at  a  triflinfr 
expense,  to  save  all  of  the  rain-water  from  buildings.  When  the  new 
settlers  get  the  conveniences  of  life  around  them,  the  prairies  will  be 
regarded  as  more  healthy  than  the  Eastern  States. 

"  The  fevers  of  the  West  will  never  be  a  match  for  the  consumption 
of  the^  East." 

In  a  letter  written  by  Joseph  C.  Orth,  Esq.,  of  McCleary's  Bluff, 
Wabash  County,  we  find  the  following  : 

"  As  to  health,  I  honestly  believe  Southern  Illinois  will  compare 
favorably  with  any  portion  of  the  West.  That  scourge  of  the  north, 
consumption,  is  almost  unknown  here.  On  the  rich  lowlands,  border- 
ing .the  streams,  bilious  disorders  prevail  to  some  extent,  in  the  fall, 
but  on  the  upland,  good  health  may  be  enjoyed,  with  ordinary  pru- 
dence. Diseases,  the  result  of  miasma,  prevail  in  every  new  country 
south  of  the  44th  parallel  of  latitude,  when  the  virgin  soil  is  first 
turned  over  and  exposed  to  the  atmosphere.  It  was  so  in  the  Genesee 
Valley,  in  New  York,  and  in  the  Valley  of  the  Miami,  in  Ohio;  and 
it  has  been  so  in  Illinois;  but  the  country  becomes  more  healthful  aa 
it  grows  older.  A  great  deal  of  ague  and  fever  is  attributable  to  er- 
rors in  diet,  to  imprudent  exposures,  to  uncomfortable  dwellings,  and 
to  the  use  of  well-water  where  it  leaks  through  the  soil,  instead  of 
flowing  through  veins  in  the  rock.  By  occupying  comfortable  tene- 
ments, avoiding  needless  exposure,  eating  suitable  food,  and  using  only 
sweet,  pure,  cistern  water,  for  drinking  and  culinary  purposes,  as  good 
health  may  be  enjoyed  in  Southern  Illinois  as  any  where  in  the 
Union." 

Lastly,  Edward  Ilarkness,  Esq.,  of  Southport,  a  resident  in  Peoria 
County,  for  twenty  years,  communicates  the  followino-: 

"  Those  who  have  been  induced  to  believe  that  Illinois  is  a  very 
unhealthy  country,  would  do  well  to  examine  the  census-tables  of  1S50 
and  compare  the  bills  of  mortality  with  those  in  the  States  reputed  to  ' 
be  healthy.  I  have  not  now  those  tables  at  hand,  but  well  remember 
that  the  deaths  for  one  year  previous  to  June,  1850,  was  a  less  ratio 
in  Illinois  than  in  Massachusetts,  and  was  considerably  below  the  ge- 
neral average  in  the  United  States.  The  facts  and  figures  of  the  cen- 
sus ought  forever  to  stop  the  babblings  of  interested  parties,  who  wish 


STATE    OF    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES.  267 

to  divert  ■western  immigration  to  some  other  quarter.  But  they  have 
repeated  the  falsehood  so  often,  that  man}'  of  them,  no  doubt,  now 
believe  it  themselves.  What,  it  may  be  a?ked,  is  there  in  the  soil, 
climate,  or  habits  of  the  people,  to  make  Illinois  an  unhealthy  coun- 
try? The  land  is  well  drained — we  have  few  pools  of  stagnant  wa- 
ters. The  table  lands,  which  comprise  at  least  nine-tenths  of  the  coun- 
try, are  high,  dry,  and  fully  exposed  to  the  sweep  of  the  wind.  Our 
sprino-s  break  out  of  the  mountain  limestone,  and  above  the  universal 
layer  of  stone  there  is  no  coal  or  other  mineral  deposit.  The  wells 
are  sunk  into  clay,  sand,  or  gravel,  and  very  seldom  reach  down  to  the 
limestone.  Hence  the  water  from  our  wells  and  springs  is  very  pure 
and  good.  With  plenty  of  pure  air,  pure  water,  and  wholesome  food, 
is  there  any  good  reason  why  we  may  not  live  as  long  as  other  people  ? 
The  only  native  of  mature  age,  whom  I  know,  is  now  41  years  old,  6 
feet  1  inch  high,  and  weighs  220  lbs. — is  not  overburdened  with  flesh, 
but  is  lithe,  active,  and  strong.  His  oldest  son  is  15  years  old,  5  feet 
8  inches  in  height,  weighs  140  lbs.,  and  is  a  man  at  most  kinds  of  bu- 
siness. Neither  the  father,  the  son,  nor  the  still  younger  members  of 
the  family,  have  ever  been  seriously  ill  in  their  lives.  The  generation 
which  has  sprung  up  in  the  last  twenty  years,  in  this  region,  bears 
every  mark  of  vigorous  health. 

''It  is  common  among  persons  not  very  well  informed,  to  think  that 
where  they  happen  to  live,  is  a  very  healthy  place,  but  oiF  somewhere 
else,  it  is  terribly  sickly.  And  here.  I  must  be  permitted  to  relate  an 
anecdote,  by  way  of  illustration  :  While  travelling  alopg  the  national 
road  in  Indiana,  many  years  ago,  I  met  a  moving  family;  an  old  man 
with  his  wife,  two  married  daughters  with  their  husband?,  and  some 
younger  scions  of  the  same  stock,  making  twelve  souls  in  all.  They 
had  a  light  wagon,  which  contained  all  their  worldly  goods — this  had 
sunk  into  a  deep  mud-hole.  Their  two  lean  hor&ea  hud  been  down  iu 
the  mire,  but  had  just  been  unharnessed  and  got  out.  One  of  the 
young  men  was  absent  in  search  of  a  team  to  haul  out  the  wagon. 
The  women  had  kindled  a  fire,  were  smoking  their  pipes,  and  at  the 
same  time  bestowing  upon  their  husbands  all  the  terms  of  reproach 
they  could  muster,  for  bringing  them  '  from  a  nice,  beautiful  country, 
into  such  a  horrible  place.'  During  my  stay  to  help  them  out  of  the 
difficulty,  my  conversation  with  the  old  woman  was  about  as  follows  : 

R 


268  STATE    OF    HEALTH    AST)    DISEASES. 

"  '  You  speak  of  having  come  from  a  beautiful  country.  May  I  ask 
where  you  are  from  ?' 

Old  woman.     "''Way  down  below  Xorfolk,  in  old  Yirginny.' 
cc  I  Yery  fine  country,  that,  I  am  told.  Do  you  have  the  ague  there  V 
Old  woman.     "'  Wall,  we  do  have  the  ager  proper  bad  sometimes, 
and  the  fever  too.' 

"  '  Are  you  ever  troubled  there  with  musquitoes  V 
Old  woman.     "  '  0  Yes  !  they  are  bad  most  all  che  year.' 
"'It  is  a  fine  place  to  raise  corn,  is  it  not?' 

Old  woman.  "  '  Wall,  when  I  was  young  we  used  to  raise  pretty 
good  corn,  but  the  land  is  so  worn  out,  we  can't  get  much  now.' 
"  '  Have  you  and  your  family  generally  enjoyed  good  health  ?' 
Old  loonian.  "  '  La  me,  no  !  we've  been  sick  most  half  our  lives.' 
"The  appearance  of  the  whole  family  testified  to  the  truth  of  the 
old  woman's  remark ;  for  they  all  looked  more  like  shadowy  ghosts,  than 
veritable  men  and  women  with  flesh  upon  their  bones,  and  blood  in 
their  veins.  Merely  because  they  had  encountered  a  slight  difficulty 
in  the  way,  these  poor  women  were  abusing  their  husbands  for  bring- 
ing them  from  the  most  miserable,  forsaken  spot  on  the  American 
continent.  I  gave  the  poor  woman  and  her  family  all  the  words  of 
encouragement  I  could  muster — the  wagon  was  got  out  of  the  mud — 
they  went  on  their  way,  and  I  have  not  since  heard  from  them.  But 
from  what  I  know  of  the'history  of  the  class  to  which  they  belonged, 
it  is  fair  to  presume  that  these  poor  creatures  have  gained  their  health, 
have  gradually  surrounded  themselves  with  the  comforts  of  civilized 
life  —  that  their  frugal  mode  of  living  and  habitual  industry  have 
enabled  them,  without  the  exercise  of  much  intellect,  gradually  to  ac- 
cumulate pi'operry — ^tliat  with  this  accumulation  has  come  a  greater 
self-respect,  and  a  disposition  to  so  educate  their  children  as  to  fit  them 
for  a  higher  sphere  of  usefulness  than  their  fathers  were  able  to  occupy. 
Thus  it  often  happens  that  the  grand-children  of  the  poor,  degraded 
sand-hillers,  when  subjected  to  the  vivifying  influence  of  the  Free 
West,  become  men,  high-minded,  honorable,  useful  men  I" 

Mr.  Harkness,  in  the  above  passage  of  his  letter,  refers,  with  regard 
to  the  respective  mortality  of  Illinois  and  of  other  States,  to  the  cen- 
sus of  1850.  Page  105  of  De  Bow's  Compendium  of  the  seventh  cen- 
sus, contains  a  review  of  the  deaths  which  occurred  in  the  single  States, 


STATE    or    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES.  269 

and  of  the  ratio  they  bear  to  the  entire  population;  according  to  which 
Compendium  there  died  of  the  population 

Of  Illinois 1 1-36  per  cent. 

"  Arkansas 1-44  " 

"  Mississippi 1-44  " 

"  Ohio 1-4G  " 

"  Texas 1-4(3  " 

"  New  Yorli >  1-47  " 

"  Khode  Island , 1-52  *' 

"  Kentucliy 1-53  " 

"  Connecticut 1-56  " 

"  Dist.  of  Columbia 1-G3  " 

"  Maryland 1-G5  " 

"  Missouri 1-80  " 

"  Massachusetts 1-95  " 

"  Louisiana ..,  2'31  " 

Thus,  of  the  above  enumerated  12  States,  in  which  many  of  those 
Eastern  States  are  included  that  are  habitually  considered  far  more 
healthy  than  the  West,  as  for  instance,  New  York,  Ehode  Island,  Con- 
necticut, and  Massachusetts,  Illinois  at  once  assumes  the  first  rank  in 
point  of  salubrity ;  for  wherever  fewest  people  die  in  proportion  to  the 
entire  population,  there  human  life  must  undoubtedly  be  considered 
safest  from  the  insidious  assaults  of  disease,    f 

We  cannot  conclude  this  chapter  without  once  more  directing  the 

o 

attention  of  the  settler  to  the  fact,  that  pure  wholesome  water  is  a  most 
important  item  in  the  bill  of  health.  He  who  is  no  friend  of  disease 
should  particularly  avoid  drinking  stagnant  water.  This  can  be  easily 
done,  for  everywhere  throughout  the  State,  at  a  depth  of  from  twelve 
to  twenty -four  feet,  a  large  supply  of  excellent  water  can  be  had,  and 
moreover,  the  digging  of  a  well  is  neither  a  very  difficult  nor  expen- 
sive aifair.  Proper  care  should  be  taken  to  make  the  well  deep  enough, 
walling  up  its  inner  side  with  bricks,  or  blue  clay,  to  the  depth  of  se- 
veral feet  below  the  surface,  lest  the  water  on  the  surface  of  the  ground 
might  trickle  down  in  the  well,  thus  wholly  frustrating  your  endea- 
vor to  obtain  a  supply  of  pure  fresh  water.  Cisterns,  if  possible, 
should  also  be  sunk  to  save  all  of  the  rain  water  from  the  roofs  of  the 
buildings;  this,  if  properly  filtered,  is  not  noxious,  and  is  readily  drunk 
23* 


270  STATE    OF    HEALTH    AND    DISEASES. 

by  those  accustomed  to  it.  The  water  of  springs,  which  in  many  parts 
of  the  State  are  very  numerous,  is  of  course  to  be  preferred  to  all 
others,  provided,  however,  the  springs,  from  which  a  supply  of  water 
is  to  be  obtained,  do  not  proceed  from  sloughs,  since  the  water  of  such 
springs  or  rivulets  is  exceedingly  unwholesome. 


THE  PRAIEIES. 

The  most  remarkable  and  striking  feature,  distinguishing  the  State 
of  Illinois  from  the  other  States  of  the  Union,  consists  in  her  extensive 
prairies,  which,  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass,  and  forming 
excellent  natural  meadows,  by  reason  of  which  circumstance  they  re- 
ceived their  present  name  from  the  earlier  French  settlers,  commence 
on  a  comparatively  small  scale,  near  Lake  Erie,  and  occupy  the  chief 
part  of  the  land  about  Lake  Michigan,  the  upper  Wabash,  and  the  Il- 
linois, predominating  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Mississippi;  so  that  this 
entire  region  is,  properly  speaking,  nothing  but  a  vast  prairie,  inter- 
sected by  strips  of  woods,  chiefly  confined  to  the  banks  and  the  valleys 
of  the  rivers.  The  prairies  are  characterized  by  the  absence  of  timber ; 
they  present,  in  other  respects,  the  same  varieties  of  soil  and  surface 
that  are  found  elsewhere ;  some  extend  in  immense  level  plains,  others 
are  rolling,  others  again  broken  by  hills,  while  nearly  all  of  them  pos- 
sess an  inexhaustible  fertility,  and  but  few  are  sterile. 

The  prairies  of  Illinois  may  be  divided  into  three  classes :  the  allu- 
vial, or  wet,  the  dry,  or  undulating,  and  the  bushy. 

Those  denominated  alluvial,  or  wet  prairies,  are  generally  on  the 
banks  of  the  rivers,  though  sometimes  at  a  distance  from  them ;  their 
soil,  consisting  of  a  deep  stratum  of  alluvial  land  upon  clayish  ground, 
is  black,  friable,  and  of  unsurpassed  fertility,  admirably  adapted  to  the 
culture  of  Indian  corn  and  wheat,  and  even  of  grapes,  as  may  be  judged 
from  the  specimens  of  wild  grapes,  which  in  these  prairies  exhibit  a 
very  luxuriant  growth,  and  from  the  results  hitherto  known  attending 
the  attempts  at  vine  culture,  made  in  several  parts  of  the  State. 

The  dry  or  undulating  prairies  have  but  few  springs.     In  general, 

the  undulations  are  so  slight,  that  if  it  were  not  for  the  ravines  made 

by  freshets,  one  might  suppose  that  there  was  no  inclination  at  all. 

Their  fertility  varies  greatly,  the  prairie  being  in  general  considered 

the  more  productive;  the  more  undulating  its  surface. 

(271) 


272  THE    PRAIRIES. 

The  busby  prairies  have  an  abundant  supply  of  wbolesome  water, 
and  are  covered  witb  hazel  and  furze  bushes,  together  with  small  sas- 
safras shrubs,  interspersed  with  grape-vines.  Many  species  of  garden- 
sage,  mug-wort,  dogwood,  and  an  exhaustless  variety  and  exuberance 
of  gay,  herbaceous  plants,  also  grow  on  these  prairies.  Early  in 
March  the  forests  begin  to  blossom — the  Lonoera  Flava,  L.,oryellow- 
fiowered  honeysuckle,  and  the  Jasminum  fructicans,  or  yellow  jasmine, 
diffuse  their  delicious  fragrance  through  the  air,  while  the  red-tufts  of 
the  Judas-tree  (Cercis  Canadensis),  unfold  their  brilliant  charms  to 
the  eye  of  the  admiring  lover  of  nature. 

Of  the  prairies,  the  following  lines  by  Captain  Basil  Hall,  an  intel- 
ligent English  traveller,  are  highly  descriptive : 

'■'■  The  charm  of  a  prairie  consists  in  its  extension — its  green,  flowery 
carpet,  its  undulating  surface,  and  the  skirt  of  forest  whereby  it  is 
surrounded ;  the  latter  feature  being  of  all  others  the  most  significant 
and  expressive,  since  it  characterizes  the  landscape,  and  defines  the 
form  and  boundary  of  the  plain.  If  the  prairie  is  little,  its  greatest 
beauty  consists  in  the  vicinity  of  the  encompassing  edge  of  forests, 
■which  may  be  compared  to  the  shores  of  a  lake,  being  intersected  with 
many  deep,  inward  bends,  as  so  many  inlets,  and  at  intervals  project- 
ing very  far,  not  unlike  a  promontory,  or  protruding  arm  of  land. 
These  projections  sometimes  so  closely  approach  each  other,  that  the 
traveller  passing  through  between  tbem,  may  be  said  to  walk  in  the 
midst  of  an  alley  overshadowed  by  the  forest,  before  he  enters  again 
upon  another  broad  prairie.  Where  the  plain  is  extensive,  the  deline- 
ations of  the  forest  in  the  far  background  appear  as  would  a  misty 
coast  at  some  distance  upon  the  ocean.  The  eye  sometimes  surveys 
the  green  prairie  without  discovering  on  the  illimitable  plain  a  tree  or 
bush,  or  any  other  object,  save  the  wilderness  of  flowers  and  grass, 
while  on  other  occasions  the  view  is  enlivened  by  the  groves  dispersed 
like  islands  over  the  plain,  or  by  a  solitary  tree  rising  above  the  wil- 
dei'ness.  The  resemblance  to  the  sea  which  some  of  these  prairies  ex- 
hibited, was  really  most  striking.  I  had  heard  of  this  before,  but  al- 
ways supposed  the  account  exaggerated.  There  is  one  spot  in  parti- 
cular, near  the  middle  of  the  Grand  Prairie,  if  I  recollect  rightly,  where 
the  ground  happened  to  be  of  the  rolling  character  above  alluded  to. 
and  where,  excepting  in  the  article  of  color,  and  that  was  not  v.i'Iely 


THE    PRAIRIES.  273 

different  from  the  tinge  of  some  seas,  the  similarity  was  so  striking, 
that  I  almost  forgot  where  I  was.  This  deception  was  heightened  by 
a  circumstance  which  I  had  often  heard  mentioned,  but  the  force  of 
which  perhaps  none  but  a  seaman  could  fully  estimate;  I  mean  the 
appearance  of  the  distant  insulated  trees  as  they  gradually  rose  above 
the  horizon,  or  receded  from  our  view.  They  were  so  exactly  like 
strange  sails  bearing  in  sight,  that  I  am  sure,  if  two  or  three  sailors 
had  been  present,  they  would  almost  have  agreed  as  to  what  canvass 
those  magical  vessels  were  carrying.  Of  one  they  would  all  have  said, 
"Oh  !  she  is  going  nearly  before  the  wind,  with  top-gallant  studding- 
sails  set."  Of  another,  "she' has  got  her  canvass  hauled  up,  and  is 
going  by  the  wind."  And  of  a  third  they  might  say,  "  she  is  cer- 
tainly standing  toward  us,  but  what  sail  she  has  set  is  not  quite  clear." 
In  spring,  when  the  young  grass  has  just  clothed  the  soil  with  a 
soddy  carpet  of  the  most  delicate  green,  but  especially  when  the  sun, 
rising  behind  a  distant  elevation  of  the  ground,  its  rays  are  reflected 
by  myriads  of  dew  drops,  a  more  pleasing  and  more  eye-benefitting 
view  cannot  be  imagined.  You  see  the  fallow  deer  quietly  feeding  on 
the  herbage;  the  bee  flies  humming  through  the  air;  the  wolf,  with 
lowered  tail,  sneaks  away  to  its  distant  lair,  with  the  timorous  pace  of 
a  creature  only  too  well  conscious  of  having  disturbed  the  peace  of  na- 
ture ;  prairie-fowls,  either  in  entire  tribes,  like  our  own  domestic  fowls, 
or  in  couples,  cover  the  surface ;  the  males  rambling,  and,  like  turkeys 
or  peacocks,  inflating  their  plumage,  make  the  air  resound  with  a 
drawled,  loud,  and  melancholy  cry,  resembling  the  cooing  of  a  wood- 
pigeon,  or  still  more,  the  sound  produced  by  rapidly  rubbing  a  tam- 
bourine with  the  finger.  The  multitude  of  these  birds  is  so  surpris- 
ingly great,  as  to  have  occasioned  the  proverbial  phrase,  "  that  if  a  set- 
tler on  the  prairie  expresses  a  desire  for  a  dish  of  omelets,  his  wife 
will  walk  out  at  night  and  place  her  bonnet  on  the  open  ground,  to 
find  it  full  of  eggs  on  her  return  next  morning."  The  plain  is  lite- 
rally covered  with  them,  in  every  direction,  and  if  a  heavy  fall  of  snow 
had  driven  them  from  the  ground,  I  could  see  myriads  of  them  clus 
tered  around  the  tops  of  the  trees  skirting  the  prairie.  They  do  not 
migrate,  even  after  the  prairie  is  already  settled,  but  remain  in  the 
high  grass,  near  the  newly-established  farms ;  and  I  often  saw  them  at 
no  great  distance  from  human  habitations,  familiarly  mingle  with  the 


274  THE    PRAIRIES. 

poultry  of  the  settlers.  They  can  be  easily  captured  and  fed,  and  I 
doubt  not  but  they  can  be  easily  tamed. 

On  turning  from  the  verdant  plain  to  tbe  forests  or  groups  of  high- 
grown  timber,  the  eye,  at  the  said  season,  will  find  them  clad  also  in 
the  most  lively  colors.  The  rich  under-  and  brushwood  stands  out  in 
full  blossom.  The  andromedeas,  the  dogwood,  the  wood-apple,  the 
wild  plum  and  cherry,  grow  exuberantly  on  rich  soil,  and  tbe  invisible 
blossom  of  the  wild  vine  impregnates  the  air  with  its  delicious  perfume. 
The  variety  of  the  wild  fruit-trees,  and  of  blooming  bushes,  is  so  great, 
and  so  immense  the  abundance  of  the  blossoms  they  are  covered  with, 
that  the  branches  seem  to  break  down  under  their  weight,  and  the  eye 
of  the  spectator  comes  very  near  being  over  satiated. 

The  delightful  aspect  of  the  prairie,  its  amenities,  and  the  absence 
of  that  sombre  awe  inspired  by  forests,  contributes  to  forcing  away  that 
sentiment  of  loneliness,  which  usually  steals  upon  the  mind  of  the  soli- 
tary wanderer  in  the  wilderness,  for  although  he'  espies  no  habitation, 
and  sees  no  human  being,  and  knows  himself  to  be  far  off  from  every 
setflement  of  man,  he  can  scarcely  defend  himself  from  believing,  that 
he  is  travelling  through  a  landscape  embellished  by  human  art.  The 
flowers  are  so  delicate  and  elegant  as  apparently  to  be  distributed  for 
mere  ornament  over  the  plain,  the  groves  and  groups  of  trees  seem  to 
be  dispersed  over  the  prairie  to  enliven  the  landscape,  and  we  can 
scarcely  get  rid  of  the  impression  invading  our  imagination,  of  the 
whole  scenfe  being  flung  out  and  created  for  tbe  satisfaction  of  the  sen- 
timent of  beauty  in  refined  men.  The  similarity  of  the  whole  fre- 
quently reminds  the  Englishman  of  the  extensive  parks  of  the  great 
aristocratical  palaces  he  used  to  admire  in  his  country;  the  grass  plots, 
the  shaded  walks,  groves  and  bushes,  produced  there  by  a  designing 
art,  nature  has  spontaneously  created  here;  and  nothing  but  proud 
structures  of  lordly  mansions,  and  the  view  of  distant  towns  or  vil- 
lages are  wanting,  to  make  the  resetnblance  complete." 

In  the  summer  the  prairie  is  covered  with  tall  grass,  which  is  coarse 
in  appearance,  and  soon  assumes  a  yellow  color,  waving  in  the  wind 
like  a  ripe  crop  of  corn.  In  the  early  stages  of  its  growth,  it  resem  • 
bles  young  wheat;  and  in  this  state  furnishes  such  rich  and  succulent 
food  for  cattle,  that  the  latter  choose  it  often  in  preference  to  wheat,  it 
being,  no  doubt,  a  very  congenial  fodder  to  them,  since  it  is  impos  ■ 


THE    PRAIRIES.  275 

sible  to  conceive  of  better  butter  than  is  made  while  the  grass  is  in 
this  stage.  On  the  lower,  humid  prairies,  where  the  clayey  stratum 
lies  close  to  the  surface,  the  middle  or  principal  stalk  of  the  grass, 
bearing  the  seed,  grows  very  thick,  having  long  and  coarse  leaves,  and 
attaining  a  height  of  nine  feet,  so  that  the  traveller  on  horseback  will 
frequently  find  it  higher  than  his  head.  Although  the  plants  are  very 
numerous,  and  stand  alone  by  each  other,  they  seem  to  grow  up  each 
one  by  itself,  the  whole  effort  of  vegetation  tending  upward.  On  the 
undulating  prairies  the  grass  vs  finer,  and  exhibits  more  leaves,  its  roots 
are  interlaced  so  as  to  form  a  compact  mass,  and  its  leaves  spread  in  a 
dense  sod,  which  rarely  esceads  the  height  of  18  inches,  until  late  ia 
the  season,  when  the  seed-P/alk  shoots  up. 

In  the  earliest  stages  of  its  growth,  the  grass  is  interspersed  with 
little  flowers,  the  violet,  the  strawberry-blossom,  and  others  of  the  most 
delicate  structure.  When  the  grass  grows  higher,  these  disappear,  and 
taller  flowers,  displaying  more  lively  colors,  take  their  place;  and  still 
later  a  series  of  still  higher  but  less  delicately  formed  flowers  appears 
on  the  surface.  While  the  grass  is  green,  these  beautiful  plains  are 
adorned  with  every  imaginable  variety  of  color.  It  is  impossible  to 
conceive  of  a  greater  diversity,  or  discover  a  predominating  color,  save 
the  green,  which  forms  a  beautiful  dead  color,  relieving  the  splendor 
of  the  others.  In  the  summer,  the  plants  grow  taller,  and  the  colors 
more  lively;  in  the  autumn  another  generation  of  flowers  arises,  which 
possesses  less  clearness  and  variety  of  color,  and  less  fragrancy.  In 
the  winter,  the.  prairie  presents  a  melancholy  aspect.  Often  the  fire, 
which  the  hunters  annually  send  over  the  prairies,  in  order  to  dislodge 
the  game,  will  destroy  the  entire  vegetation,  giving  to  the  soil  a  uni- 
form black  appearance,  like  that  of  a  vast  plain  of  charcoal;  then  the 
wind  sweeping  over  the  prairie,  will  find  nothing  which  it  might  put 
in  motion,  no  leaves  which  it  might  disperse,  no  halms  which  it  might 
shake.  No  sooner  does  the  snow  commence  to  fall,  than  the  animals, 
unless  already  before  frightened  away  by  the  fire,  retire  into  the  forests, 
■when  the  most  dreary,  oppressive  solitude,  will  reign  on  the  burnt 
prairies,  which  often  occupy  many  square  miles  of  territory. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  the  prairies  are  comparatively 
Bmall,  varying  in  size  from  those  of  several  miles  in  width  and  length 
to  those  which  contain  only  a  few  acres.     Here  many  flowery  prairies 


276  THE    PRAIRIES. 

maybe  found,  presenting  a  spectacle  of  unrivalled  splendor.  A  rich 
soil  is  covered  with  innumerable  turnsols  (Heliauthus  tuberosus),  great 
euphorbias,  and  purple  lupines,  intertwined  with  the  rosy  blossoms  of 
the  wild  mallow,  and  the  brilliant  orange-tawn}''  vermilion  poppj',  while 
the  ground  is  literally  crowded  with  beautiful  violets.  The  traveller 
on  horseback  then  looks  down  upon  a  sea  of  flowers,  over  which  float 
thousands  of  the  most  sumptuously  colored  papilios  and  scarabees,  with 
the  many  variegated  buzzing  insects,  while  he  is  nearly  overpowered 
by  the  penetrating,  delicious  perfume,  with  which  the  immense  multi- 
tude of  blossoms  impregnate  the  air. 

In  the  north  the  prairies  widen,  and  frequently  extend  from  sis  to 
twelve  miles  in  width,  intersected  in  every  direction  by  groups  of  fo- 
rests and  woods,  alternately  advancing  into  and  receding  from  the 
prairie  towards  the  water  courses,  the  banks  of  which  are  usually  to  be 
found  lined  with  timber,  principally  of  magnificent  growth.  Between 
these  rivers,  in  many  instances,  are  groves  of  timber  containing  from 
100  to  2000  acres,  in  the  midst  of  the  prairie,  like  islands  in  the  sea, 
this  being  a  common  feature  of  the  country  between  Lake  Michigan 
and  the  Sangamon  River,  and  the  northern  parts  of  the  State. 

As  to  the  origin  of  the  prairie-lands,  various  speculations  have  been 
indulged,  giving  rise  to  a  diversity  of  opinions,  the  least  tenable  of 
which  is  that,  according  to  which  stately  forests  once  covered  these 
plains,  afterwards  being  destroyed  by  fire;  for  nothing  is  better  esta- 
blished than  the  fact,  that  the  travellers  who  first  entered  upon  \these 
plains,  200  years  ago,  and  gave  them  their  present  name,  found  them 
destitute  of  woods  and  forests ;  and,  moreover,  evidence  may  be  adduced 
to  the  efi"ect  of  showing,  that  wherever  those  dangerous  enemies  of  the 
forests,  the  Indians  and  bufialoes,  were  expelled,  and  the  settlers  com 
menced  planting  trees,  as  well  as  in  the  vicinity  of  extensive  inhabited 
tracts,  the  grass  will  at  once  recede,  giving  free  scope  for  the  forest  to 
develope  itself.  In  proof  of  our  position,  that  these  prairies  were  not 
formerly  covered  by  forests,  we  may  also  refer  to  the  immense  savan- 
nahs and  Llanos  of  South  America  and  Middle  Africa,  where  traces  of 
former  forests  have  yet  to  be  discovered.  Thus  the  late  distinguished 
English  traveller,  Mungo  Park,  speaks  of  the  plains  of  Mandingo,  in 
Western  Africa,  as  having  probably  existed  there  since  the  earliest 
times;  he  also  describes  their  annual  burning  in  the  same  manner  in 


THE    PRAIRIES.  277 

wticli  that  of  tbe  prairies  in  the  Western  States  would  be  described 
now;  the  practice  there,  according  to  his  account,  being  attended  with 
the  same  results  as  here,  the  couutry  there  being  also  within  a  short 
time  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  young  and  tender  grass,  on 
which  the  cattle  feed  with  avidity. 

According  to  another  opinion,  the  truth  of  which  is  highly  probable, 
the  level  surface  of  the  State  of  Illinois  was  formed  by  inundations. 
The  whole  of  the  State,  from  a  few  miles  north  of  the  Ohio,  where  the 
prairies  commence,  affords  tolerably  conclusive  evidence  of  having  been 
once  covered  with  water,  which,  having  forced  itself  a  passage,  whereby 
it  was  drained  off,  the  ground  was  left  with  a  rich,  soft,  muddy,  level 
surface,  much  of  which  was  afterwards  successively  worn  off  by  waters 
formed  from  the  effect  of  rain ;  whence  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  ac- 
count for  the  greater  dryness  of  the  more  elevated  undulating  prairie 
lands. 

From  whatever  cause  the  prairies  took  their  origin,  they  are  no 
doubt  perpetuated  by  the  annual  fires  that  have  swept  over  them,  from 
an  era  probably  long  anterior  to  the  earliest  records  of  history,  and 
still  often  continue,  lit  by  the  hunters,  in  order  to  frighten  and  bewil- 
der the  game  that  bounds  over  these  prairies,  and  thus  render  them 
an  easy  prey,  or, to  replace  the  old  grass  by  a  luxuriant  growth  of  ten- 
der herbage,  which  might  serve  as  nourishment  for  the  deer.  "Where 
the  soil  is  too  wet  to  produce  a  heavy  annual  growth  of  grass  sufficient 
to  sustain  a  strong  fire,  there  is  no  prairie.  Forests  prevail  along,  the 
streams,  and  in  other  places  where  vegetation  does  not  suffer  from  the 
drought  of  the  latter  part  of  summer  and  early  autumn,  and,  therefore, 
is  less  combustible  than  in  the  open  plains.  And  the  prairies  them- 
selves, wherever  they  do  predominate,  as  will  be  found  invariably  the 
case  on  dry  level  regions,  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  sun,  may  be  easily 
converted  into  wooded  land,  by  destroying  with  the  plough  the  tough 
sward  which  has  formed  itself  on  them.  There  are  large  tracts  of 
country,  where  a  number  of  years  ago  the  farmers  mowed  their 
hay,  that  are  now  covered  with  a  forest  of  young,  rapidly-growing 
timber. 

As  soon  as  the  prairies  are  ploughed,  and  the  heavy  grass  kept  un- 
der, timber  or  orchard  trees,  when  planted  in  them,  will  grow  with 
unexampled  luxuriance.  A  resident  of  Adams  County  testifies  to  the 
24 


278  THE    PRAIRIES. 

effect,  that  locust  trees  planted,  or  rather  sown,  on  prairie  land  near 
Quinoy,  attained  in  four  years  a  height  of  twenty-five  feet,  and  their 
trunk  a  diameter  of  from  four  to  five  inches;  these  grew  in  closely 
ci'owded  rows,  affording  a  dense  shade.  In  a  few  instances,  where  the 
same  kind  of  trees  had  been  planted  in  a  more  open  manner,  they 
grew  in  the  same  period  to  a  thickness  of  sis  inches,  and  in  from 
seven  to  ten  years  from  their  planting,  have  been  known  to  attain  suf- 
ficient bulk  to  make  posts  and  rails.  In  a  like  manner,  the  uplands 
of  St.  Louis,  which  were,  in  1823,  principally  prairie  lands,  are  now 
covered  with  a  young  growth  of  fine  and  thrifty  timber,  so  that  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find  an  acre  of  prairie  in  the  county. 

The  first  efforts  to  convert  prairies  into  forest  land,  were  usually 
made  on  the  part  of  the  prairie  adjoining  to  the  timber.  A  range  of 
farms,  which  girded  the  entire  prairie  along  its  circumference,  having 
been  established,  three  furrows  were  ploughed  all  round  the  settle- 
ments, in  order  to  stop  the  burning  of  the  prairies,  for  the  whole  dis- 
tance of  the  circuit  in  the  neighborhood  of  these  farms,  and  prevent 
injury  to  the  fences  and  other  improvements;  whereupon  the  timber 
quickly  grows  up  spontaneously  on  all  the  parts  not  burnt,  the  groves 
and  forests  commencins:  a  gradual  encroachment  on  the  adjoining  prai- 
ries, so  that  one  after  another  concentric  circle  springs  up  inside  of  the 
preceding,  and  thus  the  entire  prairie  is  steadily  narrowed  from  all 
sides,  until  it  is  finally  occupied,  forming  a  vast  region  covered  with 
timber  and  farms. 

Such  a  prairie-farm  is  always  conducted  on  a  magnificent  scale.  The 
fences,  if  any  there  are,  do  not  cut  it  up  in  little  acre  patches,  but  di- 
vide it  into  large  squares.  The  sight  of  such  a  farm  on  a  rolling  prai- 
rie, partly  in  grass,  partly  in  corn,  partly  in  grain  and  garden  vegeta- 
bles, as  the  sun  chases  over  it  the  cloudy  shadows,  and  the  light  breeze 
waves  the  di.stant  grove,  to  a  lover  of  the  beautiful  is  perfectly  en- 
chanting. / 

Early  in  the  morning,  when  a  mist  is  on  the  ground,  the  fog  ap- 
pears all  around  the  edge  of  the  timber  in  the  prairies,  rendering  at 
times  the  residence  on  the  circuit  of  the  prairie  less  healthy  than  that 
on  the  n)iddle  or  highest  part,  which  latter  is  also  connected  with  an- 
other advantage,  to  wit:  the  facility  with  which  excellent  water  is  pro- 


THE    PRAIRIES,  279 

cured,  at  a  depth  of  15  feet,  whereas,  along  the  borders  of  the  timber, 
the  common  depth  of  the  wells  is  40  feet. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed,  that  life  on  these  boundless  regions  is  mo- 
notonous and  dreary,  for  nowhere  does  nature  sit  more  majestically 
enthroned,  overawing  man  by  the  terrible  grandeur  of  her  phenomena, 
than  on  these  immense  prairies.  What  can  be  more  beautiful  and 
charming  than  a  summer's  day — what  more  sublime  and  terrific  than 
a  thunder-storm,  on  these  plains  Z — what  language  can  convey  the 
faintest  idea  of  the  splendor  of  their  conflagration  ?  And  even  when 
stern  winter  has  thrown  her  snow-white  mantle  over  the  earth,  and 
the  silence  of  death  seems  to  reign  over  the  far-reaching  waste,  the  ap- 
parent illiraitation  of  which  deeply  impresses  the  mind  of  the  specta- 
tor with  the  idea  of  the  infinite  Being  ruling  the  universe,  then  the 
prairie  presents  a  truly  magnificent  aspect,  amply  compensating  for  the 
hardships  of  an  icy  journey.  Yielding  to  our  entreaties,  an  experi- 
enced traveller,  several  spirited  letters  regarding  his  journey,  written 
by  whom,  appeared  under  the  title  "  A  Rambler  in  the  West,"  in  the 
columns  of  the  Pennsylvania  Inquirer  and  Daily  Courier,  thus  de- 
picts in  lively  colors,  the  events  of  his  seemingly  rather  dangerous 
journey : 

"  'Now  sliarp  Boreas  blows  abroad,  and  brings 

The  dreary  winter  on  his  frozen  wings ; 

Beneath  the  low-hung  clouds,  the  sheets  of  snow 

Descend,  and  whiten  all  the  fields  below.' 

"  Such  was  the  burden  of  my  song,  when  I  awoke  from  a  most  re- 
fi'eshing  slumber,  and  saw  large  white  flakes  descending,  and  the  whole 
country  covered  with  the  snowy  garb  of  winter.  It  is  oft-times  a  very 
pleasant  employment  to  watch  the  progress  of  a  snow-storm,  but  then 
you  must  be  sheltered  from  its  violence ;  for  I  assure  you  you  cannot  at 
all  sentimentalize  when  you  are  breasting  its  fury,  and  have  a  long  and 
dreary  journey  before  you.  However,  this  morning  I  was  in  a  pecu- 
liarly good  humor,  and  disregarding  the  solicitations  of  my  friends, 
who  begged  me  to  remain  until  the  storm  had  abated,  I  determined 
to  resume  my  journey.  Soon  the  merry  jingle  of  the  sleigh-bells  an- 
nounced to  me  that  my  vehicle  was  at  the  door  of  my  friend's  hospi- 
table raansion — into  it  I  sprung  with  joyous  gayety,  and  away  we  flew 
over  the  broad  and  boundless  prairies.     My  noble  steed  seemed  to  feel 


280  THE    PRAIRIES. 

a  new  excitement,  as  he  inhaled  the  fresh  morning  breeze,  which  lent 
life  and  vigor  to  every  nerve. 

"  A  prairie  is  most  beautiful  in  the  spring  time  of  year,  for  then  it 
is  a  garden,  formed  and  cultivated  by  nature's  hand,  where  spring  the 
clustering  flowers  which  bloom  in  rich  luxuriance,  and  shed  their  fra- 
grance on  the  desert  air.  But  when  winter  binds  land  and  stream  in 
icy  fetters,  then  a  prairie  is  a  spectacle  grand  and  sublime,  and  will 
well  repay  for  the  privations  of  western  travelling.  I  was  compelled, 
however,  to.  ride  against  the  wind,  which  whistled  around  and  blew 
directly  in  my  face.  So  violent  was  the  storm,  that  I  was  almost 
blinded  by  the  thick  flakes  that  were  dashed  directly  in  my  eyes.  Had 
I  acted  with  prudence,  I  should  have  discontinued  my  journey,  and 
made  myself  comfortable  for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  at  the  log  hut 
where  I  dined  —  but  I  determined,  in  spite  of  wind  and  weather,  to 
reach  Peoria  by  night.  Whilst  progressing  quietly  on  my  way,  gray 
twilight  extended  her  evening  shades  on  earth.  Still  I  drove  on,  anx- 
ious to  reach  my  point  of  destination.  Not  a  single  star  peeped  out 
from  the  heavens  to  shed  its  light  on  a  benighted  traveller.  The 
storm  increased  in  violence,  and  the  cold  winds  whistled  a  wintry  tune. 
I  now  found  I  had  strayed  from  the  road,  and  here  was  I  on  a  broad 
prairie,  without  mark  or  mound,  and  had  lost  the  track,  which  was, 
ere  now,  covered  by  the  falling  snow. 

"  Unfortunately,  I  had  left  my  compass  behind,  and  now  I  was  on 
a  broad  sea  without  a  chart  or  compass,  and  without  one  stray  light  >in 
the  heavens,  whereby  to  direct  my  course.  The  mariner,  when  tossed 
upon  the  billows  of  the  stormy  ocean,  has  at  least  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  where  he  is,  for  the  needle  will  always  point  to  the  pole,  and 
his  chart  will  tell  him  of  the  dangers  in  his  path;  but  the  weary  tra- 
veller, who  has  lost  his  way  on  a  prairie,  is  on  a  boundless  sea,  where 
he  cannot  even  tell  the  direction  he  is  pursuing ;  for  oft  times  he  will 
travel  hour  after  hour  and  still  remain  at  nearly  the  same  point  from 
which  he  started.  Had  even  one  accommodating  star  beamed  in  the 
heavens,  I  should  not  have  been  the  least  disconcerted,-  for  then  I 
could  have  some,  object  whereby  to  guide  my  steps.  But  all  the  ele- 
ments combined  against  me,  and  I  assure  you  my  feelings  were  by  no 
means  comfortable.  Memory  ran  over  the  sad  history  of  the  nume- 
rous travellers  who  had  been  overtaken  by  night,  and  been  buried  in 


THE    PRAIRIES.  281 

the  falling  snow  :  many  wlio  had  started  in  the  morning  full  of  gay 
hopes  and  buoyant  anticipations,  who,  ere  another  sun  had  risen,  had 
found  a  cold  and  solitary  grave — arrested  in  their  course  by  the  chill 
and  icy  hand  of  death.     Alas,  thought  I,  how  true  it  is 

"  For  them  no  more  the  blazing  hearth  shall  burn, 
Or  busy  housewife  ply  her  evening  care, 
No  childi-en  run  to  lisp  their  sire's  return, 
Or  climb  his  knee,  the  envied  kiss  to  share." 

"  Insensibly  I  felt  a  strong  inclination  to  sleep.  I  had  alway^s  heard 
that  this  was  a  dangerous  symptom,  and  if  I  yielded  to  its  influence, 
my  life  would  certainly  be  lost.  I  endeavored  to  shake  off  the  drowsy 
feeling.  Never  before  did  I  exert  myself  more  to  keep  awake.  I  hal- 
loed— I  shouted — I  beat  my  breast  to  preserve  animation,  and  tried 
every  method  to  prevent  my  yielding  to  the  drowsy  influence.  My 
noble  horse  was  almost  exhausted,  and  I  myself  began  to  despair  of 
reaching  a  place  of  shelter — when  suddenly  a  ray  of  light  beamed 
upon  the  snow,  and  cast  a  shadow  around  me.  Encouraged  by  the 
favorable  token,  I  urged  on.  My  jaded  steed  also  seemed  to  know 
that  he  was  approaching  a  place  of  shelter,  for  he  quickened  his  pace, 
and  shortly  afterwards  I  discovered  at  a  distance,  a  small  log-hut,  from 
the  window  of  which  beamed  a  broad  blaze  of  light.  Soon  was  I  at 
the  door,  and  warmly  welcomed  by  the  kind  owner,  who  shook  the 
snow  from  my  garments,  and  gave  me  a  seat  before  a  blazing  fire. 

"  Oh  how  delightful  was  the  sense  of  security  from  the  wintry  blast, 
as  I  listened  to  the  tales  of  the  inmates,  many  of  whom  had,  like  me, 
been  overtaken  by  the  storm,  and  now  were  relating  the  events  of  their 
journey.  I  have  passed  many  delightful  evenings,  in  the  course  of  a 
short  but  eventful  life — I  have  been  at  the  festive  board,  where  the 
wine-cup  was  pushed  merrily  around,  and  song  and  laughter,  and  mer- 
riment abounded — I  have  mingled  in  the  society  of  the  gay — I  have 
been 

"  Where  youth  and  pleasure  meet, 
To  chase  the  glowing  houi's  with  flying  feet," 

"  But  never  have  I  passed  a  more  happy  evening,  than  in  the  small 
and  narrow  cabin  of  that  Illinois  farmer." 
24* 


282  THE    PRAIRIES. 

Thus  narrates  our  traveller  his  somewhat  perilous  trip,  and  the  win- 
try scene  he  witnessed.  While  we  congratulate  him  upon  his  fortu- 
nate escape,  and  allow  him  to  rest,  our  attention  is  next  engaged  on 
quite  a  different  topic,  by  another  traveller,  Mr.  Daniel  S.  Curtiss, 
who,  after  stating  in  his  "  Western  Portraiture  "  that  he  never  had 
seen  the  thunder-storm  exhibit  so  much  terrific  grandeur — so  much  of 
the  Mighty  One's  oratory — as  whils  traversing  one  of  the  vast  prairies 
of  the  West,  proceeds  to  give  the  following  glowing  account  of  the  one 
he  beheld  : 

"Once  in  the  summer  of  '48,"  relates  he,  "I  had  set  out  on  foot 
to  travel  westward  over  one  of  those  green,  undulating  prairies,  be- 
tween Rock  River  and  the  Mineral  District,  in  the  aftern-oon.  I  had 
been  stepping  on  some  hour  or  two,  over  the  light  swells  and  gentle 
slopes,  when  the  storm  came  buzzing  and  bellowing  portentously  after 
me;  directly  I  turned  to  look  at  the  approaching  storm,  when  soon  an 
indescribably  grand  conflict  or  agitation  of  the  elements  was  presented, 
where  lightning,  thunders,  rain  and  wind,  seemed  to  be  contending  for 
the  mastery,  in  their  startling  displays.  Thunder-bursts  held  you  in 
awe — flashes  of  lightning  would  make  you  start  and  shrink — gusts  of 
wind  whirled  you  into  the  high  grass — rain-torrents  drenched  you  to 
the  skin ;  yet,  suffering  and  dreading  all,  you  felt  no  power  or  will  to 
escape — there  was  no  retreat — no  refuge — the  jarring  sounds  vibrated 
on  every  hand — torrents  and  blaze  poured  around  in  every  direction  ; 
the  muscles,  together  with  volition,  seemed  paralyzed — two  sensations 
alone  took  possession  of  you — awe,  and  admiration — which,  anon,  as 
you  looked  aloft  into  the  dread  concave,  were  resolved  into  a  feeling  of 
heart-homage  for  Him  who  holdeth  the  storms  in  His  hand.  The 
herds  which  grazed  upon  these  luxuriant  meadows,  ran  in  confused 
fright  down  the  vales  to  the  groves ;  the  crane  and  wild  bird  flew 
screaming  with  fear  to  the  forests  for  shelter.  All  was  one  boundless 
scene  of  rushing  dread.  The  expanded  prairie,  carpeted  in  deep 
green,  below;  above,  the  dark  blue  clouds,  with  their  pendant  folds, 
were  ranged  along,  one  after  another  (like  the  lower  edges  of  curtains 
in  the  theatre's  dome),  as  you  gazed  towards  the  east,  the  nearest  be- 
ing darkest,  then  an  interval  of  hesitating  light  falling  between,  then 
another  cloud-sheet  was  swinging,  and  so  on,  in  a  series  of  some  half- 
a-dozen,  till  at  the  farther  end  of  the  arched  way  greater  light  appeared, 


THE    PRAIRIES.  '  283 

much  as  if  you  looked  for  miles  through  a  vast  tunnel,  with  occasionab 
openings  for  light  from  above.  While  I  was  gazing,  absorbed,  upon 
this  already  gorgeous  spectacle,  the  fury  of  the  storm  had  abated,  the 
black,  upper  clouds,  were  mostly  dispersed,  and  as  a  brighter  sky 
poured  its  flood  of  light  into  this  magnificent,  ample  theatre,  its  splen- 
dor and  beauty  were  heightened  beyond  all  description,  and  presented 
a  panorama  to  the  rapt  beholder,  which  unmistakeably  proclaimed,  that 
only  by  the  Almighty  could  it  have  been  thrown  out  before  the  world  ; 
and  presently  the  Author's  signature  was  dashed  across  it,  in  the  bright 
bow  which  clasped  the  whole." 

Thus  far  our  traveller,  who,  one  year  afterwards,  on  an  evening  in 
the  autumn  of  1849,  had  the  opportunity  of  witnessing,  in  almost  a 
rapture  of  amaze  and  delight,  the  waving  prairies  on  fire,  for  many 
miles  around : 

"I  was  driving,"  he  relates,  ''in  a  buggy,  from  Platteville  to  Mine- 
ral Point,  and  reached  Belmonte  mound  just  at  the  coming  in  of  twi- 
light. The  evening  was  one  of  those  bland,  mellow  seasons,  usual  in 
the  time  of  Indian  summer;  and  on  reaching  the  centre  mound,  which 
lay  rolled  up  and  shrouded  in  smoke,  handsome  as  an  apple-dumpling 
all  steaming  from  the  kettle,  as  I  felt  strongly  tempted  to  know  and 
see  farther,  I  drove  nearly  to  its  summit,  to  take  a  leisure  survey  of  the 
vast,  flame-lighted,  and  enchanting  panorama,  flung  out  so  profusely 
by  artist  nature;  the  moon  and  stars  peered  but  dimly  through  the 
hazy  air,  adding  mystic  force  to  the  scenes  in  the  passing  twilight. 

"  Soon  the  fires  began  to  kindle  wider  and  rise  higher  from  the  long 
grass;  the  gentle  breeze  increased  to  stronger  currents,  and  soon  fanned 
the  small,  flickering  blaze,  into  fierce  torrent-flames,  which  curled  up 
and  leaped  along  in  resistless  splendor ;  and  like  quickly  rai>ing  the 
dark  curtain  from  the  luminous  stage,  the  scenes  before  me  were  sud- 
denly changed,  as  if  by  the  magician's  wand,  into  one  boundless  am- 
phitheatre, blazing  from  earth  to  heaven,  and  sweeping  the  horizon 
round — columns  of  lurid  flames  sportively  mounting  up  to  the  zenith, 
and  dark  clouds  of  crimson  smoke  curling  away  and  aloft  till  they 
nearly  obscured  stars  and  moon,  while  the  rushing,  crashing  sounds, 
like  roaring  cataracts  mingled  with  distant  thunders,  were  almost  deaf- 
ening; danger,  death,  glared  all  around;  it  screamed  for  victims,  yet, 


284  THE    PRAIRIES. 

notwithstanding  the  imminent  peril  of  prairie-fires,  one  is  loth,  irreso- 
lute, almost  unable  to  withdraw,  or  seek  refuge. 

'■'■  1  now  thought  of  the  spot  on  the  banks  of  the  bright  Kankakee, 
where  some  years  ago  two  young  persons — beautiful,  betrothed  lovers, 
perished  in  the  prairie  flames,  their  crisped  forms  being  found  near 
that  of  their  horse,  next  day,  by  a  hunter.  It  is  a  rich,  beautiful 
prairie — the  river  murmured  along  to  leeward  of  them,  but  the  flames 
outstripped  their  fleet  charger,  upon  which  both  were  riding,  before 
he  could  reach  the  stream.  Why  did  they  not  have  the  presence  of 
mind  to  set  a  'back  fire,'  and  take  refuge  on  the  bui'ued  space? 

"  But  I  am  back  to  the  mound :  will  the  remorseless  flames  leap 
along  the  high  grass  that  has  grown  luxuriantly  upon  the  sides,  to  the 
very  pinnacle  of  this  cone?-  Surely  the  wind  is  this  way,  and  my 
horse  is  already  restive — aye,  but  I've  a  match  in  my  pocket,  and  it  is 
easily  lighted.  Persons  travelling  in  prairie  regions  should  bear  this 
in  mind.  But  see  that  ocean  of  flame,  I  must  look  still  again,  even 
my  little  match  has  sent  a  lively  current  dancing  from  the  leeward 
slope,  and  I  am  admonished  to  follow  it;  but  in  presence  of  such 
scenes,  at  such  an  hour,  the  sensitive  mind  feels  its  frailty,  and  in- 
stinctively awards  the  homage  due  to  the  majesty  of  his  Creator,  from 
the  creature. 

"Next  morning  I  again  visited  this  mound,  rode  over  the  charred 
grass-stubble  to  its  top,  the  scene  of  so  much  terrific  brilliance  but  a 
few  hours  before  I  Now  all  that  was  changed,  the  green-brown  carpet 
was  displaced  by  the  black  spread — the  ravaging  flames  had  consumed 
everything,  black  destruction  sickened  the  heart  in  sadness — the  keen- 
est, darkest  emblem  of  desolation  that  can  be  imagined ;  even  the  livid, 
confused  glimmer,  still  almost  trembled  around  the  eyes,  from  last 
night's  flames — such  as  gleaming  lights  leave  upon  the  optic  nerve ; 
now  it  was  painful  to  contemplate  for  a  moment,  the  same  expanse 
which  a  few  hours  ago,  it  required  an  efibrt  to  withdraw  from  its  en- 
chanting, but  fearful  sublimity — like  the  giddy  fascination  of  the  ser- 
pent which  holds  its  victim  in  thrall  till  destruction  overwhelms  be 
yond  escape — is  the  charm  of  such  spectacles.  It  was  as  if  the  destroy- 
ing angel  flew  abroad,  crying  in  terror-tones,  breathing  tempests  of  fire 
and  smoke  from  his  nostrils,  that  should  awe  and  paralyze;  I  may  not 


THE    PRAIRIES.  285 

describe — my  pen  is  tame  and  dark — but  would  you  realize  sucb  emo- 
tions— experience  its  force — 

"  0  fly  to  the  prairies  and  in  wonder  gaze, 
As  o'er  tlie  grass  sweeps  the  magnificent  blaze, 
The  earth  cannot  boast  so  magnificent  a  sight, 
A  continent  blazing  with  oceans  of  light." 

So  far  Mr.  Curtiss,  to  whose  eloquent  description  of  a  prairie-fire 
we  now  subjoin  several  rcniarkL^,  which,  intended  to  form  the  conclu- 
sion of  this  brief  sketch  of  the  prairies  of  Illinois,  we  deem  must  be 
cf  essential  service  to  those  of  our  readers  intending  to  settle  on  prai- 
rie-lands, by  rendering  them  familiar  with  the  measures  of  precaution 
they  have  to  adopt,  in  order  to  secure  themselves  against  loss  of  life 
and  property,  whenever  such  a  conflagration  occurs. 

Conflagrations  of  prairies  and  woods  are  caused  either  accidentally 
or  designedly,  from  wantonness,  or  with  a  view  of  bewildering  the 
game ;  and  often  spread  further  than  the  incendiaries  supposed  or  in- 
tended they  should.  Wherever  extensive  prairies  are,  one-half  of  them 
is  burnt  iu  spring,  the  other  half  in  autumn,  in  order  to  produce  a 
more  rapid  growth  of  exuberant  grass,  destroying  at  the  same  time  the 
tall  and  thick  weed-stalks,  together  with  their  seeds.  The  wind  blow- 
ing to  the  side  opposite  the  neighboring  farms,  the  dry  grass  is  fre- 
quently set  on  fire,  it  being  supposed,  (in  fact  it  but  rarely  happens), 
that  the  flames  would  not  spread  beyond  certain  ways,  ditches,  or 
creeks ;  but  a  violent  storm  suddenly  starting  up  from  the  opposite  di- 
rection, drives  the  flames  to  the  same,  and,  kindled  to  a  tremendous 
heat,  they  spread  with  such  rapidity,  that  riders  on  the  fleetest  steeds 
can  seldom  escape.  The  more  violent  the  wind,  and  the  greater  the 
burning  plain,  from  which  the  blaze  spreads  toward  a  neighboring 
farm,  the  greater  also  the  necessity  of  burning  back ;  that  is,  of  ig- 
niting the  grass  or  foliage  of  the  woods  close  by  the  fences,  in  order  to 
bring  it  to  pass,  that  the  larger  devouring  fire,  upon  arriving  at  the 
place  already  designedly  ignited,  becomes  extinguished  for  want  of  ali- 
ment. In  order  to  be  able,  however,  to  make  proper  use  of  this  mea- 
sure of  safety,  it  is  very  essential,  that  every  fai-mer  should  encompass 
with  a  ditch  those  of  his  fauces  adjoining  the  prairie,  and  clear  a  space 
at  least  twelve  feet  broad,  of  all  trees  along  those  situated  in  the  forest 


286  THE    PRAIRIES. 

— thus  preventing  the  withered  leaves  from  accumuliiting.  A  much 
trodden  road  around  the  fences  is  of  the  highest  importance,  present- 
ing, as  it  dues,  the  best  security  against  danger  of  fire ;  for  the  flames 
penetrating  in  even  the  smallest  possible  strip  to  the  fence,  the  dry 
wood  of  the  latter,  kindled  by  the  withered  weeds,  and  the  burning, 
whirling  leaves,  ignites  with  the  most  astonishing  rapidity,  firing, 
especially  at  night,  the  houses  along  the  fields,  ere  their  thoughtlessly 
slumbering  inhabitants  become  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  danger,  or 
even  imagine  it  to  be  at  hand. 

The  farmer,  who,  by  the  adoption  of  the  above  mentioned  measures, 
has  secured  himself  against  ordinary  fires,  is  also  able  to  protect  him- 
self against  very  extensive  conflagrations  of  the  prairies  or  woods,  by 
carefully  sweeping  away  in  the  direction  of  the  fire,  all  leaves  that  may 
happen  to  lie  on  the  road,  the  grass  and  foliage  on  the  other  side  of 
which  he  will  ignite,  fully  convinced,  that  the  blaze  burning  away 
from  his  hedges,  will  much  less  endantrer  them,  than  will  that  sea  of 
flames  waving  from  afar.  Should  the  fences,  nevertheless,  be  endan- 
gered, they  must  be  torn  down  as  quickly  as  possible,  the  fire  being 
thus  almost  wholly  prevented  from  spreading  any  farther.  Should 
there  be  no  road  or  ditch  along  the  fence,  and  the  soil  be  fit  for  the 
use  of  the  plough,  it  would  be  advisable  before  firing,  to  plough  seve- 
ral times  along  the  enclosures,  thus  covering  the  dry  grass  with  the 
largest  possible  clods  of  earth.  When  a  large  conflagration  cafrnot  be 
kept  ofi"  by  burning  back,  and  there  be  no  time  to  tear  down  all  the 
fences  exposed  to  the  fire,  acquiescing  in  what  the  hand  of  man  proves 
too  feeble  to  avoid,  one  should  only  break  down  that  part  of  them 
nearest  to  the  fire,  in  order  to  save  the  buildings,  and  stores  of  corn 
and  provisions.  Thus,  a  cautious,  circumspect  farmer,  with  the  aid 
of  his  family,  or  men,  can  put  a  stop  to  a  conflagration,  that  without 
much  resolute  action  on  their  part,  would  have  consumed  and  destroyed 
everything  for  an  extent  of  several  miles,  as,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  hap- 
pens here  and  there  every  year.  Conflagrations  of  forests,  during 
which  the  trees  themselves  stand  in  full  blaze,  only  occur  in  forests 
of  pine,  fir,  or  other  oily  trees,  and  can  only  be  stopped  by  large  rivers, 
or  heavy  showers  of  rain,  or  be  suppressed  by  the  united  exertions  of 
the  inhabitants  of  entire  regions.  Conflagrations  of  woods,  during 
which  the  flames  consume  the  dry  foliage  Ij'ing  on  the  ground,  may 


THE    PRAIRIES.  287 

be  more  easily  extinguished.  It  is,  nevertheless,  often  quite  a  tedious, 
toilsome  job,  on  account  of  the  clouds  of  smoke  and  sparks,  which  roll 
far  in  advance  of  the  fire.  With  shovels,  spades,  and  brooms  hastily 
made  out  of  brushwood,  the  farmers,  almost  suiFocated  with  the  smoke, 
and  singed  by  the  flying  sparks  and  blaze,  exert  themselves  to  ap- 
proach the  burning  line,  and  by  quickly  beating  out  the  fire,  to  con- 
quer in  the  very  line  of  operation  of  the  enemy ;  a  position  whence, 
in  all  directions,  the  fire  may  be  beaten  out  with  the  above  instru- 
ments. When  the  wind  is  moderate,  the  fire  is  usually  extinguished 
by  the  united  efforts  of  the  neighboring  farmers.  It  occurring,  how- 
over,  not  unfrequently,  that  flames  apparently  beaten  out,  are  kindled 
anew  by  the  wind,  it  is  necessary  to  run  several  times  in  the  most  ra- 
pid course  along  the  extinguished  lines,  promptly  to  despatch  the  fire 
which  starts  afresh. 

Should  the  conflagration,  however,  in  spite  of  all  efforts,  visibly 
gain  ground,  extending  for  so  great  a  distance  that  there  could  be  no 
reasonable  hope  of  extinguishing  it,  in  the  manner  above  described, 
without  wasting  time  or  strength  in  fruitless  efforts,  one  should  rather 
resort  to  the  safer  method,  used  in  protecting  the  fences,  of  burning 
back — even  if  a  part  of  the  best  timber,  which  at  any  rate  more  or  less 
suffers  from  such  fires,  should  be  exposed  thereby.  The  ''  nil  despe- 
randum  "  applying  to  nothing  better  than  danger  by  fire,  the  super- 
human efforts  which  are  frequently  made  to  avert  with  little  or  no  aid, 
the  most  imminent  danger  by  fires,  can  scarcely  be  imagined.  Language 
cannot  convey,  words  cannot  express,  the  faintest  idea  of  the  splen- 
dor and  grandeur  of  such  a  conflagration  of  forest  or  prairie,  during 
the  night  J  one  would  think  that  the  pale  queen  of  night,  disdaining 
to  take  her  accustomed  place  in  the  heavens,  had  despatched  a  myriad 
of  messengers  to  light  their  torches  at  the  altar  of  the  setting  sun,  and 
that  now  they  were  speeding  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  to  their  appro- 
priate stations.  If  you  know  that  the  conflagration  can  cause  no  da- 
mage, you  do  not  cease  to  gaze  with  admiration  upon  the  magnificent 
spectacle,  but  the  news  of  its  approach  to  the  vicinity  of  a  farm,  rouses' 
the  gazers  as  would  an  electric  shock,  impelling  those  present  who  are 
able  to  work,  instantaneously  to  rise  and  rush  to  the  threatened  places, 
indicated  from  afar  by  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame.  Should  the  fire 
be  seen  in  the  day-time,  or  at  an  early  hour  in  the  evening,  the  neigh- 


288  THE    PRAIRIES. 

bors  residing  so  close  together  as  to  be  able  to  succor  each  other,  then 
it  is  advisable,  that  one  or  two  persons  should  plough  along  the  fences, 
however  distant  the  danger  may  be,  whilst  the  others  should  imme- 
diately commence  extinguishing  the  flames,  so  that,  should  the  dan- 
ger be  increased  by  a  storm  suddenly  springing  up,  the  expedient  of 
burning  back  might  yet  safely  and  successfully  be  resorted  to. 


AGRICULTURE. 

If  any  State  of  the  Union  is  adapted  for  agriculture,  and  the  other 
branches  of  rural  economy  relating  thereto,  such  as  the  raising  of  cattle, 
and  the  culture  of  fruit  trees,  it  is  pre-eminently  Illinois,  whose  ex- 
tremely fertile  prairies  recompense  the  farmer  at  less  trouble  than  he 
would  be  obliged  to  incur  elsewhere,  in  order  to  attain  the  same  re- 
sults. Her  virgin  soil,  adapted  by  nature  for  immediate  culture,  only 
awaits  the  plough  and  the  seed,  in  order  to  mature  within  a  few 
months  golden  ears  of  the  most  beautiful  Indian  corn,  the  heaviest 
wheat,  and  such  other  species  of  corn  as  are  indigenous  in  the  tempe- 
rate zones.  Here  the  husbandman  is  not  obliged  for  whole  years  to 
squander  his  best  strength  in  clearing  the  primitive  forest,  hewing 
down  gigantic  trees,  and  rooting  out  stumps  and  weeds,  in  order  to 
gain  after  each  and  every  year  of  toilsome  labor,  in  the  sweat  of  his 
brow,  another  patch  of  arable  ground;  but  the  soil  only  wants  com- 
mon tilling;  here  the  farmer  is  not  obliged  to  gather  the  stones  from 
his  acres,  so  that  the  halms  may  have  a  large  scope  for  development, 
for  the  soil  is  so  little  encumbered  with  them,  that,  if  you  should  re- 
quire a  proprietor  of  some  twenty  acres  of  prairie  land  to  collect  from 
them  a  cart-load  of  stones,  in  return  for  which  he  was  to  receive  a  cart- 
load of  the  purest  gold,  he  would  be  compelled  to  decline  accepting 
this  handsome  offer.  Here  no  manure  is  wanted  to  fertilize  the  soil ; 
it  consists  here  of  a  rich  black  mould,  several  feet  deep,  that  wants  no 
dung,  but  is  almost  inexhaustibly  fertile,  and  capable  of  producing  the 
richest  fruit,  year  after  year,  for  entire  generations.  The  lUinoisian 
farmer  who  cares  not  to  improve  the  land,  or  enhance  its  fertility, 
as  he  should,  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  plough,  sow,  and  reap :  less 
labor  is  here  required  than  at  other  places  where  the  usual  demands 
of  agriculture  must  first  be  satisfied.  Hence  a  man  of  small  means 
can  more  rapidly  acquire  wealth  in  this  State,  than  at  places  where 
25  T  (289) 


290  AGRICULTURE. 

he  must  waste  his  best  time  and  strength  in  occupations  not  required 
here. 

The  vegetable  products  of  Illinois  are  especially  —  Indian  corn, 
•which  is  the  staple  commodity ;  wheat,  which  thrives  well  in  all  parts 
of  the  State;  and  also  oats,  barley,  rye,  buckwheat,  potatoes,  sweet 
potatoes,  flax,  hemp,  peas,  clover,  cabbage,  rapes,  and  the  ordinary 
pot-herbs,  tobacco,  and  the  bean  from  which  the  castor-oil  (ol.  ricini) 
is  obtained,  are  cultivated  here;  of  the  latter  enough  is  raised  for 
home  use. 

The  culture  of  fruit-trees,  though  securing  a  handsome  profit  to  the 
farmer,  is  chiefly  confined  to  that  of  apples  and  peaches,  most  excel- 
lent varieties  of  which  are  grown  here;  besides  these  there  are  already 
several  vineyards  yielding  a  very  good  wine.  The  culture  of  fruit- 
trees  and  of  the  vine  will  be  treated  of  in  a  special  chapter,  whilst  in 
this  present  chapter  we  shall  speak  of  agriculture  particularly. 

The  amoxint  of  hiisheh  raised  per  acre,  first  claims  our  attention, 
for  the  comparatively  smaller  or  greater  amount  reaped  by  the  farmer, 
in  connection  with  the  market  prices  of  the  produce,  will  naturally 
exercise  a  great  influence  in  diminishing  or  increasing  his  revenue,  and 
thus  impair  or  enhance  his  prosperity. 

As  already  mentioned  in  the  preface  of  this  book,  we  have  received 
from  a  number  of  gentlemen,  for  many  years  resident  in  Illinois, 
among  whom  are  also  many  practical  farmers,  information  concerning 
all  matters,  so  that  the  statements  subjoined  here  may  be  relied  upon 
as  the  results  of  a  practical  experieuce  for  many  years.  We  quote 
here  the  testimony  of  several  in  regard  to  the  amount  of  the  various 
products  per  acre. 

F.  A.  Arenz,  Esq.,  of  Bear^stown,  Cass  Co.,  states  the  amount  of 
produce,  as  follows :  Indian  corn,  50—70  bushels  per  acre;  wheat,  IS— 
25;  rye,  35-40;  oats,  40-45;  potatoes,  150-200. 

James  Gr.  Loulard,  Escj.,  of  Maple  Lawn,  Jo  Daviess  Co.  ;  Indian 
corn,  30-100  bushels,  per  average  60 ;  wheat,  15—40,  per  average, 
22;  oats,  per  average,  45;  barley,  25—60,  per  average,  35;  rye,  20— 
50,  per  average,  30;  potatoes,  100-300,  per  average,  150. 

Heinr.  Funk,  Esq.,  of  Stout's  Grove,  McLean  Co. ;  winter  wheat, 
20-30 ;  spring  wheat,  20-28 ;  oats,  40-50 ;  Indian  corn,  45-70. 


AGRICULTURE.  291 

Stephen  Teussner,  Esq.,  of  Marissa,  St.  Clair  Co. ;  Indian  corn,  30 
-50;  wheat,  18-30;  oats,  30;  potatoes,  100-200. 

Kev.  F.  "Will.  Holls,  of  Centreville,  St.  Clair  Co. ;  barley,  40-i5 ; 
wheat,  15-20  ;  Indian  corn,  50-55. 

Michael  Kleinhenz,  Esq.,  of  Henry,  Marshall  Co. ;  Indian  corn, 
50-70. 

"Wm.  Ross,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  Pike  Co. ;  Indian  corn,  50-70 ; 
wheat,  20-40 ;  oats,  40-50. 

Dr.  Danl.  Stahl,  of  Quincy,  Adams  Co. ;  Indian  corn,  60-70 ; 
wheat,  20-40. 

Dr.  Welsch,  of  Mascoutah,  St.  Clair  Co.;  Indian  corn,  70-75; 
winter  wheat,  22-25;  barley,  40—45;  castor  beans,  80;  oats,  40;  po- 
tatoes, 50-80. 

Geo.  Bunsen,  Esq.,  of  Belleville,  St.  Clair  Co. ;  Indian  corn,  40- 
100;  wheat,  16-25;  barley,  40;  rye,  16;  oats,  40-60 ;  potatoes,  100. 

Isaac  Underbill,  Esq.,  of  Peoria;  Indian  corn,  30-60;  wheat,  15 
-25. 

A.  Collins,  Esq.,  of  Hadley,  Will  Co.;  Indian  corn,  50;  oats,  40 
-60. 

Thus,  according  to  these  observations,  which  were  made  in  nine 
different  counties  of  the  State,  throughout  her  longitudinal  extension, 
from  her  northern  boundary  to  St.  Clair  County,  in  her  southern  por- 
tion, we  receive  the  following  average  numbers,  per  acre : — Indian 
corn,  56  bushels;  wheat,  24;  oats,  44;  barley,  41;  rye,  29;  potatoes', 
143. 

Let  us  now  listen  to  a  well  known  authority,  with  respect  to  agri- 
culture in  Illinois.  Mr.  J.  Ambrose  Wight,  of  Chicago,  who  was  for 
many  years  the  accomplished  editor  of  the  **  Prairie  Farmer,"  an  ex- 
cellent journal,  largely  diffused,  which,  however,  should  not  be  want- 
ing in  the  house  of  any  llUnoisian  farmer,  and  which  should  be  stu- 
diously perused  by  every  new  settler, — in  a  letter  dated  Jan.  9,  1855, 
and  addressed  to  John  Wilson,  makes  the  following  statements : 

*'  At  Tonr  request,  I  would  state,  that,  from  an  acquaintance  with  Illinois 
lands,  and  Dlinois  farmers,  of  eighteen  years,  during  thirteen  of  which  I  have 
been  engaged  as  editor  of  the  'Prairie  Farmer,'  I  am  prepared  to  give  the  fol- 
lowing as  the  lates  of  produce  which  may  be  had  per  acre,  with  ordinary  cul- 
tm-e : 


292  AGRICULTURE. 

Winter  wheat -...  15  to  25  bushels. 

Spring  -wheat 10  to  20      " 

Indian  corn 40  to  70      '« 

Oats 40  to  80     " 

Potatoes 100  to  200      '< 

Grass,  (timothy  and  clover) IJ  to  3  tons. 

"  '  Ordinary  culture,'  on  prairie  lands,  is  not  what  is  meant  by  the  term  in 
the  Eastern  or  Middle  States.  It  means  here,  no  manure ;  and  commonly  but 
once,  or,  at  most,  twice  ploughing,  on  perfectly  smooth  land,  with  long  fur- 
rows, and  no  stones  or  obstructions ;  when  two  acres  per  day  is  no  hard  job 
for  one  team.  It  is  often  but  very  poor  culture,  with  shallow  ploughing,  afdd 
without  attention  to  weeds. 

I  have  known  crops,  not  unfrequently,  far  greater  than  these,  with  but  little 
variation  in  their  treatment ;  say  forty  to  fifty  bushels  of  winter  wheat ;  sixty 
to  eighty  of  oats ;  three  himdred  of  potatoes,  and  one  hundred  of  Indian  corn. 
'  Good  culture,'  which  means  rotation,  deep  ploughing,  farms  well  stocked, 
and  some  manure  applied,  at  intervals  of  from  three  to  five  years,  would,  in 
good  seasons,  very  often  approach  these  latter  figures." 

It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Wight's  statements  are  in  perfect  harmony 
with  the  above  observations,  made  for  several  years  by  practical  lUi- 
Doisian  farmers ;  hence  these  numbers  may  be  considered  the  exact 
rates  of  average  produce. 

In  another  chapter  we  have  noted  the  market-prices  of  corn,  and 
other  farm  produce,  as  the  newspapers  stated  them  to  rule  during  the 
first  half  of  January,  1856,  in  51  different  places,  scattered  all  over 
Illinois.  According  to  this  account  the  highest  prices  in  the  places 
mentioned  before  (with  the  sole  exception  of  Chicago,  which  cannot 
be  considered  as  a  place  of  production),  have  been  the  following : 

For  Indian  corn,  in  Joliet. f     54  cents. 

"    Wheat,  in  Aurora  and  Batavia 1  60  " 

"    Rye,  in  Freeport 1  00 

"    Potatoes,  in  Springfield 1  00 

"    Oats,  in  Cairo,  Moline,  and  Ottawa 35  " 

"    Barley,  in  Quincy 1  50  " 

While  the  average  price 

Of  Indian  corn,  was 33|^  " 

"Wheat 127  " 

«  Rye 70  " 

"  Potatoes 42  " 

"Oats 25  « 

"  Barley 1  03 


AGRICULTURE,  293 

Let  us  now  calculate  in  money,  the  probable  produce  of  an  acre. 

Basing  our  calculation  upon  the  average  ruling  prices  of  the  various 
products,  during  the  first  half  of  January,  1856,  and  upon  the  above 
given  average  rates  of  bushels  per  acre,  we  should  estimate  every  acre 
to  be  worth,  if  planted  with 

Indian  corn $18  67 

Wheat 30  48 

Rye 20  30 

Potatoes 60  06 

Oats 11  00 

Barley 42  23 

Basing  our  calculation,  however,  upon  the  above  mentioned  highest 
prices,  we  find  every  acre  to  be  worth,  if  planted  with 

Indian  corn $30  24 

Wheat , 38  40 

Rye 29  00 

Potatoes 143  00 

Oats 15  40 

Barley 61  50 

Having  shown  by  the  preceding,  how  much  an  acre  of  land  at  an 
average  rate  of  produce,  and  at  average  prices,  must  yield,  and  how 
much  at  those  highest  prices,  paid  in  the  first  half  of  January,  1856, 
(which  latter  calculation  is  also  based  on  the  average  rate  of  produce), 
we  now  turn  to  the  profitableness  of  farming  itself. 

Profits  of  farming. — Here,  also,  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  refer 
to  the  observations  and  statements  made  by  practical  men, 

Edward  Bebb,  Esq.,  of  Fountaindale,  Winnebago  Co.,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  us,  gives  the  following  account  of  his  first  crop,  on  newly- 
broken  land : 

"In  the  summer  of  18.51,  -we  had  sixty-five  acres  of  an  eighty  acre  lot 
broken.  In  the  spring  of  1852,  we  fenced  the  whole  eighty  and  sowed  it  with 
oats.     The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  crop : 

25* 


294  AGRICULTURE. 

80  acres  of  land,  entered  at  $1  25  per  acre $100  00 

Fencing  80  acres  with  post  and  board,  (two  boards  only  being 

put  on) ". 320  00 

Breaking  65  acres,  at  §2  00  per  acre 130  00 

Seed,  130  bushels,  at  12  cents  per  bus.,  (oats  being  very  cheap 

that  spring) 15  65 

Sowing  and  harrowing,  at  37^  cents  per  acre 24  37 

5  acres  mown  and  fed  before  harvest,  no  account  kept. 

Reaping  60  acres,  at  50  cents  per  acre 30  00 

Binding  60  acres,  at  75  cents  per  acre 45  00 

Threshing 120  00 

Total  cost , S785  02 

3000  bushels  of  oats,  sold  in  January,  at  30  cents  per  bushel...       900  CO 

Balance  in  favor  of  crop 114  98 

In  the  foregoing  statement  I  made  no  mention  of  the  straw,  which  being  cut 
before  it  was  dead  ripe,  and  gotten  up  without  any  rain,  wintered,  with  scarcely 
any  other  feed,  25  head  of  cattle." 

Wm.  "\Yaite,  Esq.,  Eock  Island  Co.,  in  the  spring  of  1853,  pur- 
chased 80  acres  of  prairie  land,  at  ?4  50;  bis  account  of  the  first  jear 
is  as  follows : 


80  acres  of  prairie,  at  S4  50  per  acre §360  00 

Breaking  60  acres,  at  $2  50  per  acre 150  00 

Fencing  60  acres,  at  $1  00  per  rod,  400  rods  of  board  fence  ...  400  06 
Seed  for  40  acres  with  winter  wheat,  1 J  bushels  to  the  acre,  at 

SI  OOper  bushel 60  00 

Sowing  and  harrowing,  75  cents  per  acre 30  00 

Harvesting  and  marketing,  SI  50  per  acre 60  00 

Threshing  and  cleaning,  1,100  bushels^  at  10  cents  per  bush...  110  00 

Hauling  15  miles  to  rail-road,  6  cents  per  bushel 66  00 

Ploughing  20  acres  for  corn  in  the  spring,  at  75  cents §15  00 

Marking  off  and  planting 15  00 

Cultivating,  at  SI  25  per  acre 25  00 

Harvesting,  at  $1  per  acre 20  00 

Threshing,  and  hauling  15  miles  to  rail-road,  1000  bushels,  at 

10  cents  per  bushel 100  00 

Total  cost  of  farm  and  crops $1411  00 

1100  bushels  of  wheat,  at  SI  15  per  bushel $1,265  00 

1000  bushels  of  corn,  at  28  cents  per  bushel 280  00 

Total  amount  of  crops 1545  00 

Profits  of  60  acres,  after  paying  all  expenses $134  00 

and  20  acres  of  land  unbroken. — This  farm  is  now  worth  $25  per  acre. 

Jos.  Keinbardt,  Esq.,  of  Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  gives  the  following 


AGRICULTURE.  295 

statement  of  tbe  first  year's  crop  of  80  acres,  wliico.  he  purchased  at 
an  original  cost  of  §15  per  acre  : 

80  cacres  prairie  land,  at  $15 $1200  00 

Breaking  70  at  $2  50 175  00 

320  rods  fence,  (480  rods  -would  have  been  necessary,  but  for 

160  adjoining  rods  of  the  neighbor's  fence),  at  $1 320  00 

Second  ploughing  and  harrowing  at  $1  50. 105  00 

Sr.wing  105  bushels  of  wheat,  at  $1  25 131  25 

Harvesting,  at  $1  per  acre 70  00 

Threshing  and  transporting,  at  $1   80  per  acre 126  00 

Total  cost $2127  25 

Assuming,  at  a  moderate  calculation,  every  acre  to  yield  20 

bushels,  we  have.1400  bushels,  at  $1  25 1750  00 

rience,  the  80  acres,  after  the  first  harvest,  wiU  cost  only $377  25 

Relying  on  my  own  expeinence,  I  have  based  the  above  calculation  upon  the 
highest  cost,  an  average  price  of  wheat,  and  the  low  produce  of  20  bushels  per 
acre,  although  I  myself  have  reaped  25  bushels,  and  many  others  from  30  to 
35  bushels.  I  also  assumed  only  70  acres  fit  to  be  broken,  as,  among  80  acres 
of  prairie  lands,  there  are  in  most  cases  10  acres  of  lowland,  best  fit  for  mea- 
dows. Every  such  acre  may  be  safely  supposed  to  yield  2  tons  of  hay,  worth 
from  $2  to  $4  per  ton,  which  amount  does  not  form  one  of  the  items  of  my 
calculation. 

Jno.  S.  Peironnel,  Esq.,  of  Peru,  gives  the  following  statement  of. 
a  crop  from  10  acres,  purchased  by  him  April,  1855,  at  §30  per  acre : 

J.  S.  Peikonnel,  Dr. 

To  10  acres  of  land  at  $30  per  acre $300  00 

"  6  months' interest 9  00 

"  3  2"  days'  ploughing 8  75 

"  1  do  harrowing 2  50 

"  lido  drilling 2  75 

"  5  days  with  cultivator  and  shovel  plough 8  75 

"  paying  for  husking 28  90 

*'  shelling  and  taking  to  market 24  00 

$384  65 

J.  S.  Petronnel,  Ck. 

By  723  bushels  of  corn,  at  53  cents $383  19 

"  corn  cobs  from  same 8  00    $391  19 

Due  J.  S.  Peironnel,  above  every  cost $6  54 

Ealph  Anderson,  Esq.,  of  Silver  Creek,  Stephenson  Co.,  estimates 
the  costs  and  receipts  of  31  acres,  as  follows  : 


296  AGRICULTURE. 

34  acres  purchased  last  ■mnter,  at  $5 $170  00 

Fencing 100  00 

Breaking 87  00 

Sowing  and  tilling 400  00 

68  bushels  of  seed  wheat 68  00 

HarTesting 71  00 

Threshing  and  taking  to  market 100  00 

Total  cost $996  00 

KECEIPTS. 

950  bushels,  sold  at  $1  05 $997  50 

200         "       on  hand,   "     210  00 

Total  receipts.,. $1,207  50 

Deducting  costs 996  00 

Net  proceeds  of  the  first  year $211  50 

A  correspondent  of  the  Alton  Courier,  writes  the  following  from 
Shipman : 

"I  saw  a  communication  in  the  'Courier,'  over  the  signature  of  '  Amand,' 
in  which  it  is  stated  that  Col.  Wm.  B.  AVarren,  of  Jacksonville,  had  a  crop  of 
wheat  which  netted  him  $20  per  acre,  clear  of  all  expenses,  at  present 
prices,  and  that  the  wheat  crop  of  Mr.  Constant,  of  Sangamon  County,  netted 
him  $17  per  acre. 

"  They  were  certainly  profitable  crops.  I  threshed  my  crop  of  Maryland 
■white  wheat,  a  few  days  ago,  a  small  one  it  is  true.  The  thresher  measured 
317  bushels,  the  most  of  which  was  measured  by  him  into  the  sacks  of  farnxers, 
for  seed,  at  $1  25  per  bushel.  I  have  been  asked  a  great  many  times  how 
many  acres  of  ground  that  crop  of  wheat  gi-ew  on  (with  numberless  other 
questions),  and  my  answer  invariably  was,  'about  eight.'  I  have  since  mea- 
sured the  ground,  and  there  was  a  little  less  than  7f  acres.  I  submit  the  fol- 
lowing items,  which  were  set  down  as  they  occurred : 

EXPENSES, 

To  10  bushels  of  wheat  for  seed,  at  $1  25 $13  50 

Two  days  with  cultivators,  one  horse,  and  one  hand,  at  $1  50..  3  00 

Cutting  off  cornstalks  in  spring 1  00 

Cutting  7f  acres,  at  75  cents 5  81 

Nine  hands  for  binding  and  shocking,  at  $1  25 11   25 

Three  days  stacking,  with  2  hands 9  00 

Threshing  317  bushels,  at  5  cents 15  85 

Hands  and  team  for  same  with  same 15  00 


$74  41 

CREDIT. 

By  317  bushels  of  wheat  at  $1  25 $396  25 


Net  profit $320  84 

Which  would  be  a  little  more  than  $41  49  per  acre. 


AGRICULTURE.  297 

W.  R.  Harris,  Esq.,  of  Palmyra,  Lee  Co.,  makes  the  following 
communication  concerning  the  management  of  his  farm  : 

"  T  commenced  here  in  the  spring  of  1847,  ■with  a  capital  of  $700,  with 
which  I  purchased  twenty  acres  of  timber,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  prairie  land.  The  first  season  I  broke  up  fifty-five  acres,  Avith  a  pair  of 
horses  and  one  yoke  of  oxen,  breaking  two  acres  per  day.  The  third  year,  I 
added  eighty  acres  to  my  farm,  and  hired  fifty  acres  broke  at  $2  per  acre. 
The  fourth  year,  I  hired  ten  acres  more  broke,  at  $2  25  per  acre,  which  gave 
me  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  under  cultivation.  This  is  all  that  I  have 
had  under  cultivation,  and  I  have  sold  the  product  this  year  for  over  S2000. 
I  have  now  been  engaged  here  for  about  eight  years,  and  my  capital  of  $700 
has  increased  to  between  $8000  and  $10,000." 

Charles  W.  Murtfeldt,  Esq.,  of  Oregon,  Ogle  Co.,  gives  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  management  of  80  acres,  purchased  hy  him  at 
$20  per  acre,  and  planted,  53  of  them  with  wheat,  and  the  remain- 
ing 27  with  Indian  corn  : 

10  per  cent  interest  on  $1600,   being  the  purchase  money  of 

the  80  acres,  at  $20  per  acre $160  00 

Taxes 7  00 

Ploughing,  at  $1  per  acre 80  00 

Sowing  and  harrowing  53  acres  at  75  cents 30  75 

Cutting  and  binding  53  acres,  at  $1 63  00 

Stacking  of  the  wheat 30  00 

Seed  of  wheat 88  00 

Seed  of  Indian  corn 1  75 

Planting  and  cultivating  Indian  corn 50  00 

Haiwesting  Indian  corn , 30  00 

Threshing  1100  bushels  of  wheat,  at  5  cents 55  00 

Other  work  and  labor 30  00 

$633  50 

The  receipts  were,  for  1100  bus.  of  wheat,  at  $1 $1100 

For  750  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  at  50  cents 375       1475  00 

Gain $841  00 

Eev.  Jno.  S.  Barger,  of  Clinton,  De  Witt  Co.,  in  a  letter  dated 
22d  Jan.,  1855,  states  the  following  facts  in  relation  to  the  mannge- 
ment  of  his  farm  : 

«'  From  1848  to  1850,  I  purchased  in  De  Witt  County,  and  nearly  adjoining 
Clinton,  400  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  through  which  the  Illinois  Central 
Railway  passes ;  and  in  the  vicinity  three  timbered  lots,  containing  140  acres, 
making  in  all  540  acres,  at  a  cost  of  $1513  19.  In  the  spring  of  1853  I  de- 
termined to  make  my  farm,  and  accordingly  contracted  for  the  breaking  of 
300  acres,  at  $600;  also  for  making  400  rods  of  fence,  at  $4  75  per  100  rails 
in  the  fence,  equal  $494  19 ;  making  altogether,  $1094  19.     Having  obtained 


298 


AGRICULTURE. 


the  privilejie  of  joining  to  720  rods  of  fence  on  adjoining  farms,  I  thus  en- 
closed 360  acres,  and  had  280  prepared  for  seeding. 

"  The  breaking  was  done  from  the  27th  of  May  to  the  9th  of  July.  The 
greater  portion  of  this  ploughed  land  might  therefore  h.ave  been  planted  in 
corn,  and  harvested  in  time  for  seeding  with  wheat ;  and  thus  I  might  have 
added  considerably  to  the  avails  of  the  first  year,  had  I  not  been  80  miles  dis- 
tant, engaged  in  the  labors  of  the  Jacksonville  district. 

I  paicffor  seeding  800  acres $230  00 

To  325  bushels  seed  wheat 243  75 

Add  the  cost  of  making  the  farm 1094  19 

$1567  94 
I  paid  for  harvesting,  threshing,  packing,  and  delivering  at  the 

Clinton  depot,  distant  from  the  farm  from  J  to  1^- miles 1650  00 

$3217  94 
Sold  at  the  Clinton  depot,  4378J  bus.  of  wheat,  for. ..$4378  82 

I  kept  for  bread 50  00 

Making  the  gross  income  of  the  first  year 4.428  82 

From  which  take  the  entire  expenditui-e 3,217  94 

And  you  have  the  net  proceeds  of  the  first  year 1,210  88 

To  winch  add  the  cost  of  making  the  farm 1,094  19 

Making  the  entire  avails  of  the  first  year 2.305  07 

"  Furthermore,  to  do  justice  to  the  productiveness  of  the  soil,  and  to  show 
what  the  well  directed  efforts  and  judicious  management  of  a  well-trained  and 
practical  Illinois  farmer  would  have  done,  it  should  be  stated  that,  at  least  in 
my  judgment,  some  1500  bushels  of  wheat  were  wasted,  by  untimely  and  care- 
less harvesting  and  threshing,  equal  to  $1500  net  proceeds.  Then  add 
$55  33,  excess  of  payments  for  ploughing  and  seeding  only  280  acres,  which 
a  skilful  farmer  would  have  known  before  making  his  contracts,  and  you  have 
a  loss  which  ought  to  have  been  a  gain  of  $1,555  33.  This  amount  saved, 
would  have  shown  the  avails  of  the  first  year's  operations,  on  280  acres  of  the 
farm,  to  have  been  $3,860  40. 

"  Now,  sir,  if  one  tinder  such  circumstances,  with  but  little  more  than  a  the- 
oretical knowledge  of  farming,  has  succeeded  even  so  well,  having  hired  all  the 
labor,  and  mostly  at  very  high  prices,  how  much  larger  profits  might  have 
been  reaUzed  by  a  skilful  and  practical  fanner,  devoting  his  whole  time  and 
attention  to  his  appropriate  occupation.  How  mucli  more  successful  thou- 
sands of  farmers  and  farmers'  sons,  on  our  eastern  seaboard,  and  in  the  East- 
em  States,  might  be,  were  they,  or  could  they  be  induced  to  move  on  and  ap- 
ply their  skill,  industry,  and  economy,  in  the  cultivation  of  the  rich  and  pro- 
ductive praii-ies  of  Illinois." 

The  "Prairie  Farmer,"  of  January  24,  1856,  contains  the  follow- 
ing letter  of  a  farmer  residing  in  "Warsaw,  Hancock  Co. : 

"  I  purchased  these  acres  of  woodland,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  town, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  fruit  orchard.  By  the  time  I  could  get  it  cleared 
and  enclosed,  the  season  had  so  far  advanced  that  I  could  not  plant  trees — so 
I  contented  myself  with  putting  in  such  a  crop  as  the  advanced  season  would 


AGRICULTURE.  299 

justify.  About  the  20th  of  June,  I  finished  planting  three  acres  of  "white 
beans,  two  of  corn,  pumplcins  and  gai'den  vegetables,  and  half  an  acre  of  po- 
tatoes;  and  later,  say  about  the  1st  of  July,  I  sowed  about  two  and  a  half 
acres  of  buckwheat. 

"In  the  autumn  I  harvested  the  following  crops,  worth,  in  the  market  at 
home,  the  prices  annexed : 

35  bushels  of  beans,  at  $2 $70  00 

50         "           buckwheat,  at  70  cents 35  00 

40         "           potatoes,  at  40  cents 16  00 

Com  with  the  fodder 15  GO. 

Pumpkins,  cabbages,  tomatoes,  melons,  sweet  potatoes,  &c 14  00 

Total $150  00 

"This,  it  strikes  me,  was  a  tolerably  fair  result.  I  did  not  expect  to  do 
much,  as  the  season  was  so  far  advanced  when  I  commenced  ;  yet  I  have  de- 
monstrated to  my  own  satisfaction,  that  with  a  good  season  nest  year,  aud 
fair  prices  in  the  fall,  I  can  make  my  little  farm  of  ten  acres  bring  me  $300 — 
besides  growing  an  indefinite  number  of  young  fruit  trees ;  and  that  too  with- 
out going  beyond  mere  ordinary  farm  crops. 

H.  H.  Hendrick,  Esq.,  of  Batavia,  Kane  Co.,  calculates  the  value 
of  a  farm  of  160  acres,  as  follows  : 

"A  small  farm  would  be  worth  more  per  acre,  with  the  same  improvements, 
than  a  very  large  one.  For  example,  take  IGO  acres,  purchased  at  $10  per 
acre: 

First  cost  of  160  acres,  at  $10  per  acre $1600  00 

Breaking  one  hundred  acres,  at  $2  25 225  00 

160  rods  fence  on  front  side,  or  road,  $1  per  rod 160  00 

Half  of  the  other  three  sides 240  00 

Building  house,  &c 500  00 

Fruit  trees,  &c 25  00 

Amounting  to .$2750  00 

It  is  probably  now  worth  $25  per  acre,  which  will  be 4000  OO" 

Leaving  a  profit  for  owner  of 1,250  00 

Or,  at  $20  per  acre,  still  leaves  a  balance  of 450  00 

"It  is  probable  that  the  fence  maybe  built  for  a  little  less  than  $1  per 
rod;  but  as  I  have  made  no  allowance  for  cross  fences,  yards,  &:c.,  and  calcu- 
lated only  half  of  three  sides,  and  one  whole  side  for  the  road,  I  think  the  ex- 
cess of  price  will  not  more  than  pay  the  expense  of  building  the  necessary 
fences  inside.  I  have  also  left  sixty  acres  for  meadow  and  pasture.  If  the 
purchaser  have  means  to  make  the  necessary  improvements,  or  most  of  them, 
I  think  he  would  do  well  to  settle  on  such  lands." 

The  "Prairie  Farmer,"  of  February  14th,  1856,  contains  a  very 
detailed  account  of  the  management  of  a  farm,  by  Mr.  Wra.  P.  West, 
of  Blackberry,  Kane  Co.     This  account,  which  has  but  this  present 


300  AGRICULTURE. 

moment  been  published,  was  originally  intended  for  the  Agricultural 
Society,  of  Kane  Co.  The  farm  of  Mr.  West  containing  240  acres, 
this  account  deserves  particular  notice,  because  of  its  comprising  all 
the  branches  of  rural  economy.     The  account  is  herewith  subjoined  : 

1852.  23  ACRES,  Dr. 

June. — To  breating  23  acres,  3  inches  deep,  at  $1  50  per  acre  $34  50 

Aug. — To  8  days  cross  ploughing,  4  inches  deep,  at  $2 16  00 

Sept.  1st. — To  46  bu.  Soule's  seed  wheat,  at  75c.  perbu 84  50 

2  days' work  sowing  the  same,  at  $1 2  00 

6  days'  work  harrowing,  at  $2  per  day 12  00 

cost  harvesting  23  acres,  at  $1  50  per  acre 34  50 

threshing  690  bu.  at  8c.  per  bu 55  20 

hauling  the  same  to  market,  at  2c 13  80 


$202  50 
1853.  Cr. 

By  30  bu,  per  acre,  690  bu.,  at  95c $655  50 

Cost 202  50 


Net  profit $453  00 

Cost  per  acre  $8  80 

Net  profit  per  aci'e 19  70 

1852.                          17i  ACRES  WHEAT  ON  CORN  GROUND.  Dr. 

Aug.  20. — To  sowing  IJ  days,  at  $1  per  day $1  50 

"           *'    35  bu.  Soule's  seed  wheat,  at  75c 26  25 

Aug.  20. — To  4  days'  work,  man,  horse  and  shovel  plough,  at 

$1  50  per  day 6  00 

"  "    2  days'  work,  man,  horse,  and  small  harrow,  at 

$1  50  per  day 3  00 

"           "    6  days'  work,  hoeing  in  wheat  around  hills 6  00 

"           "   cost  harvesting  17J  acres,  at  $1  50  per  acre 26  25 

"           "    threshing  394  bu.,  at  8c.  per  bu 3152 

"          "   carting  214  bu.  to  market,  at  2c.  per  bush 4  28 


Total  cost $104  80 

1852.  Cr. 

By  22|  bu.  per  acre,  394  bushels. 

«'     214  bu.  sold  at  95c.  per  bu $203  30 

"     180  bu.  sold  at  farm,  at  $1  per  bush 180  00 


$383  30 
Cost 104  80 


Net  profit,  17|  acres $278  50 

Cost  per  acre $5  93 

Net  profit  per  acre 15  91 


AGRICULTURE.  301 

1853.                                 12  ACRES  or  oats.  De. 

April  15,— To  5  days'  ploughing,  at  $2 $10  00 

"            "    4  days' harrowing,  at  $2 8  00 

"           "    36  bu.  oats  for  seed,  and  1  day's  work  at  $1 10  00 

"           "   threshing,  $42— harvesting,  $18 60  00 

Total $88  00 

1853.  Cr. 

By  87^  bu.  per  acre,  making  1050  bu.,  at  25c $262  50 

Cost 88  00 

Net  profit $174  50 

Cost  per  acre $7  33 

Net  profit  per  acre 14  54 

1852.  9 J  ACRES  SPRING  WHEAT.  Dr. 

Sept. — To  5  days'  ploughing,  8  inches  deep,  at  $2 $10  00 

"         "  19  bu.  Rio  seed  wheat,  at  75c 14  25 

1853. 

March  25. — 1  day  sowing  the  same 1  00 

3  days' work  harrowing,  at  $2 6  00 

Cost  harvesting  9J  acres,  at  $1  50  per  acre 14  25 

Cost  threshing  228  bu.  8c 18  24 

To  carting  the  same  to  market  at  2c 4  56 

Total  cost $68  30 

1853.  Cr. 

By  9J  acres,  24  bu.  per  acre,  228  bu.,  at  $1 $228  00 

Cost 68  30 

Net  profit $159  70 

Cost  per  acre $7  20 

Net  profit  per  acre 16  81 

1852.                                            2|-  ACRES  WINTER  RTE.  Dr. 

Sept.— To  ploughing  1  day $2  00 

To  4  bu.  seed,  50c 2  00 

To  sowing  and  harrowing,  1  day 2  00 

To  harvesting  the  same 3  75 

To  threshing  50  bu.  rye,  8c 4  00 

To  carting  the  same  to  market,  2c 1  00 

Total  cost $14  75 

1852.  Cr. 

By  2^  acres,  22  bu.  and  7  qts.  per  acre,  50  bu.  at  50  c $25  00 

Cost 14  75 

Net  profit 10  25 

Cost  per  acre.. $6  50 

Net  profit  per  acre 4  55 

26 


302  AGRICULTURE. 

\ 

1853.  5-J  ACRES  BARLEY.  DE. 

April.— To  21-  days'  pbuglimg,  at  $2 $5  00 

To  12  bu.  seed  at' 40c 4  80 

To  1  day's  work  sowing  same 1  00 

To  1 J  day's  work  harrowing,  at  2$ 3  00 

To  harvesting  5 J  acres,  at  $1  50 8  25 

To  carting  182  bu.  to  market,  2c 3  64 

Threshing  the  same,  8c 25  09 

Total  cost , $40  25 

1853.  Ck. 

By  5J  acres,  33  bu.  3  qts.  per  acre,  180  bu.,  40c $72  90 

Cost 40  25 

Net  profit 32  55 

Cost  per  acre $7  82 

Net  profit  per  acre 5  92 

28J  ACRES  CORN  GROUND. 

One  half  of  this  was  fall  ploughed,  the  balance  timothy  sod,  broke  May  1st, 
1852,  7  inches  deep.     Cost  of  tending  about  the  same  as  faU  ploughing. 

To  28|  acres  ploughing,  at  $1  per  acre $28  -50 

To  5  days'  harrowing,  at  ^2 .' 10  00 

To  4  bu.  seed  corn,  75c 3  00 

To  9J  days' planting,  7s 8  31 

To  20  days' cultivating  corn,  $1  25 30  50 

To  12  days'  hoeing,  88c 10  56 

To  57  days' husking,  $1 , , 57  00 

Shelling  and  marketing  1710  bu.  at  4c 68  40 

Total  cost .' $216  27 

Cr. 

By  28J  acres,  60  bu.  per  acre,  1710  bu.  at  50c $855  00 

Cost 216  27 

Net  profit $638  73 

Cost  per  acre $7  59 

Net  profit  per  acre 22  41 

1853.  ONE  ACRE  POTATOES.  Dr. 

To  cost  of  raising $10  00 

Cb. 
By  150  bu.  potatoes,  25c $37  50 

Net  profit $27  50 


AGRICULTURE.  SOS 

ONE  HUNDKED  AND  THEEE  SHEEP.  Dr. 

To  cutting  and  stacking  25  tons  hay,  at  $1 $25  00 

To  feeding  30  bu.  corn,  50c 15  00 

To  feeding  and  salt 10  00 

To  -wasliing  and  shearing  sheep,  and  marlceting  wool 10  00 

Total  cost $G0  00 

Cr. 

By  103  fleeces,  average  3  lbs.  10  oz.  373  lbs.,  at  46c... $171  58 

By  53  lambs  at  $1  25 66  25 

$237  83 

Cost 60  00 

Net  profit $177  83 

FIFTEEN  HEAD  OF  CATTLE  AND  ONE  COLT.  Dr. 

To  cost  keeping  to  hay $25  00 

To  25  bii.  corn  feed,  50c 12  50 

To  labor  and  salt 10  50 

Total  cost $47  00 

Cr. 

By  growth  on  cattle  and  colt $150  00 

Cost 47  00 

Net  profit $103  00 

Dr.  To  fatting  one  sow  and  four  pigs,  80  bu.  corn  at  50c 40  00 

Cr.  By  1500  lbs.  pork,  at  5c.  per  lb , 75  00 

Net  profit $35  00 

25  bu.  apples,  $1 25  00 

8bu.  peaches,  $1 8  00 

5  swarms  bees,  $5 25  00 

50  lbs.  honey,  12ic 6  25 

24  turkeys,  50c...1 12  00 

60  chickens,  12i  c 7  50 

$83  75 

Cost  of  keeping  the  above 10  00 

Net  profit $73  75 

TWENTY-ONE  ACRES  TIMOTHY  SEED. 

Dr.  To  hai'vesting,  threshing,  and  cleaning $45  00 

Cr.  By  84  bu.,  at  $2  per  bu 168  00 

Net  profit $123  00 


804  AGRICULTURE. 

KECAPITULATION. 

Cost  of  growing.  Net  profits. 

23  acres  of  wheat $202  50  $453  00 

17i  acres  wheat 104  90  278  50 

94  acres  spring  wheat G8  30  159  7C 

24  acres  rye 14  75  10  25 

54  acres  barley 40  25  82  55 

12acrcsoats 88  00     •  174  50 

284  acres  corn 216  27  638  73 

1  acre  potatoes 10  00  27  50 

103  sheep 60  00  177  83 

Cattle  and  colt 47  00  103  00 

Pork 40  00  35  00 

Apples,  peaches,  bees,  turkeys,  &c 10  00  73  75 

21  acres  timothy  seed 45  00  123  00 

Total $946  87  $2287  31 

The  preceding  twelve  accounts  kept  of  farms  in  the  most  widely 
separated  parts  of  the  State,  will  be  sufficient  to  give  the  reader  an 
idea  of  the  comparative  profitableness  of  husbandry  in  Illinois.  To 
these  accounts  we  now  add  several  other  communications,  which, 
though  not  calculations  themselves,  serve  nevertheless  very  well  to 
show  that  the  Illinoisian  farmer  has  all  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  his 
lot. 

John  Williams,  Esq.,  of  New  Albany,  Coles  Co.,  says,  in  a  letter 
dated  Dec.  23,  18^5  : 

"I  can  raise  on  my  farm,  and  have  done  it,  60  to  100  bushels  of  corn  to  the 
acre ;  30  to  40  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre,  and  every  kind  of  vegetables  in  the 
greatest  abundance.  I  harvested  off  my  farm  this  season  15,000  bushels  of 
corn ;  two  men  raised  for  me  with  but  little  more  than  their  own  labor,  about 
7,000  bushels  of  corn  and  oats;  this  corn  is  now  worth  in  the  crib  over  25 
cents  per  bushel.  My  neighbors  raised  from  25  to  38  bushels  of  wheat  per 
acre,  and  sold  it  on  the  spot  at  from  $1  25  to  $1  30  per  bushel.  Early  in  the 
season,  Mr.  Cuthbertson,  a  neighbor  of  mine,  sold  the  crop  of  wheat  off  of  50 
acres  of  land,  as  it  stood,  for  $1500,  cash." 

"The  "Chicago  Democratic  Press,"  dated  Dec.  23,  1855,  states 
that,  in  that  year,  Mr.  Lewis  Prettyman  derived  from  his  farm  of  80 
acres,  the  sum  of  $3965,  receiving,  among  others,  $230  for  cider, 
$460  for  apples,  $10  for  pears,  $20  for  asparagus,  and  other  pot- 
herbs, $375  for  wheat,  $168  for  oats,  $1320  for  Indian  corn,  $20  for 
potatoes,  $200  for  hay,  $400  for  horned  cattle,  $450  for  horses, 
&c.,  &c 


AGRICULTURE.  305 

Peter  Unzieker,  Esq.,  of  Groveland,  Tazewell  Co.,  in  a  letter  dated 
Nov.  20,  1855,  says  the  following : 

"In  1848,  I  purchased  a  farm  of  182  acres,  together -with  a  dwelling  house 
and  a  good  well,  for  $1,250;  in  1853,  a  man  from  Pennsylvania  offered  me 
$4000  cash  for  it,  and  if  I  would  sell  it  now,  I  would  receive  much  more  for 
it ;  but  I  do  not  think  of  it.  I  have  now  been  fourteen  years  in  America,  and 
came  soon  after  my  arrival  in  this  country  to  Illinois,  when  my  resolution  of 
settling  here  became  irrevocably  tixed,  and  I  am  now  very  glad  to  have  exe- 
cuted it.  I  am  of  opinion  that  any  man,  especially  however,  the  farmer,  can 
acquire  and  obtain  in  Ilhnois,  as  contented  and  independent  a  hviug  as  he 
could  ai  ywhere  else.  I  have  travelled  through  many  States,  but  was  never 
pleased  better  than  when  settling  on  the  exuberant  soil  of  Illinois." 

A  short  time  since  there  appeared  in  the  "  Hunterton  Gazette," 
New  Jersey,  a  letter  written  by  a  well  known  citizen  of  that  State, 
who,  having  travelled  through  Illinois  to  see  whether  it  would  be  ad- 
visable for  him  to  settle  there,  takes  occasion  to  drop  the  following 
remarks  concerning  the  state  of  affairs  there.  We  quote  from  his  let- 
ter the  following  passage : 

"  Let  me  cite  a  few  facts  which  I  know  to  be  true,  however  large  they  may 
seem  to  be.  Mi\  Peter  C.  Rea,  who  resided  twelve  years  in  Piaritan,  near 
Clover  Hill,  and  emigrated  to  Fulton  County,  Ilhnois,  in  the  early  part  of  this 
year,  told  me  he  had  raised  and  sold  more  wheat  since  he  had  been  there,  than 
he  had  done  in  twelve  years  he  had  resided  in  Raritan.  He  simply  raked  and 
biirned  the  cornstalks  in  the  spring,  and  without  ploughing  the  ground,  sowed 
it  with  spring  wheat,  and  harrowed  it  in ;  and  in  a  few  months  he  reaped  a  fine 
crop  of  spring  wheat.  He  has,  besides,  on  his  farm,  a  good  prospect  for  a 
crop  of  winter  wheat.  I  ate  at  his  house  some  bread  made  of  the  flour  from 
his  spi'ing  v/heat,  and  it  was  as  white  and  as  good  as  any  I  ever  ate  in  New 
Jersey.  He  also  told  me  he  should  probably  make  as  much  money  this  year 
in  Illinois,  as  he  did  in  twelve  years  in'New  Jersey. 

"  I  saw  a  farmer  in  Peoria  County,  who  lived  on  a  rented  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  for  which  he  paid  $200  rent  for  the  land,  and  $26  for  the  house  ;  he 
did  all  his  work  himself,  except  some  help  in  planting  corn ;  had  one  team  of 
horses,  and  after  paying  his  rent  and  supporting  his  family,  would  clear  one 
thousand  dollars  this  year. 

"  My  friend,  Mr.  D.  H.  L.  Sutphen,  of  Pike  County,  formerly  of  this  county, 
had  a  field  sown  with  wheat,  and  harvested  therefrom  upwards  of  3000  bushels. 
He  hired  everything  done,  and  if  I  remember  correctly,  had  cleared  over  and 
above  all  expenses,  about*$2000  by  the  operation.  He  introduced  me  to  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Simpkins,  in  that  county,  who  came  there  a  few 
years  ago  with  nothing  save  his  health  and  his  hands.  He  was  now  farming, 
and  he  told  us  that  he  would  sell  this  year,  produce  from  his  farm  amounting 
to  between  $17,000  and  $18,000.  I  saw  his  hog-pen,  containing  481  fat  hogs, 
srhich  would  average  350  pound,s  each." 

26*  u 


306  AGRICULTURE. 

D.  L.  Phlllippi,  Esq.,  of  Anna,  Union  Co.,  in  a  letter  dated  22d 
Jan.,  1856,  recites  as  proof  of  the  facility  with  which  a  man  may  ac- 
quire an  easy,  independent  competence,  in  Illinois,  the  following 
facts : 

"Winstead  Davis,  Esq,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  to  Jonesboro  thirty 
years  ago,  -without  means  of  any  kind.  He  has  been  for  many  years  both 
merchant  and  farmer.  Owns  now  many  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  has  suc- 
ceeded well  as  a  merchant.  Plas  under  cultivation  between  2500  and  3000 
acres  of  land.  Rent  corn  this  year,  at  10  bushels  per  acre,  12,000  bushels; 
he  is  supposed  to  be  worth  $300,000. 

"  Willis  AVillard,  Esq.,  a  native  of  Vermont,  farmer  and  merchant,  com- 
menced in  the  world  penniless,  and  was  left  an  orphan  when  very  young. 
Owns,  say  10,000  acres  of  land — possibly  much  more.  Has,  perhaps,  2000 
acres  in  cultivation.  Is  one  of  the  heaviest  dry  goods  dealers  in  the  southern 
half  of  the  State,  and  is  estimated  to  be  worth  $250,000  or  $300,000.  Mr. 
Willard  came  to  Jonesboro  when  a  small  lad. 

"Jacob  Randleman,  farmer  and  tanner,  a  native  of  Xorth  Carolina,  came  to 
Union  County  when  quite  young;  commenced  poor;  has  now  some  500  acres 
of  land  in  cultivation ;  sold  dui'ing  the  past  year  his  crop  of  wheat  to  Messrs. 
Bennett  &  Scott,  the  amount  was  3000  bushels,  for  which  he  received  nearly 
$4000.  Has  on  hand  now,  for  sale,  4000  bushels  of  corn.  Has  always  been 
healthy,  and  has  raised  a  large  family  of  healthy  children." 

To  this  he  adds  : 

"  Hundreds  of  other  men  might  be  named,  who  have  succeeded  well  on  a 
smaller  scale,  who  commenced  here  without  a  dollar." 

Jas.  Philipps,  Esq.,  of  Nashville,  Washington  Co.,  in  a  letter  dated 
Dec.  26,  1855,  states  the  following  instances,  in  which  men  acquired 
wealth  by  agricultural  pursuits,  in  Illinois : 

"  There  is  Mr.  K ,  who  came  here  a  poor  adventurer,  with  nothing  of 

this  world's  goods ;  he  went  to  farming,  continued  it  assiduously,  turning  his 
fai'm  produce  into  stock,  his  stock  into  cash,  and  his  cash  into  lands.  He  is 
now  worth  about  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

"  A  son  of  the  preceding  commenced  about  ten  years  ago,  doing  business 
for  himself.  He  had  about  one  thousand  dollars  to  start  with,  and  has  gone 
on  increasing  his  wealth  at  the  rate  of  a  thousand  a  year.  This  was  done  ex- 
clusively by  farming. 

Colonel  P came  here  as  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  country,  went 

to  tilling  the  land,  and  followed  it  up  to  the  present  time,  engaging  in  nothing 
else ;  he  is  now  worth  about  twenty  thousand,  having  begun  with  less  than  one 
hundred  dollars."  He  adds :  "  These  are  a  few  of  many  that  might  be  cited. 
Dne  remark  about  this  country ;  one  fair  crop  of  any  of  the  usual  grains  grown 
here,  is  worth,  when  harvested,  what  the  land  will  cost ;  so  that  an  emigrant 
?an  easily  calculate  what  he  can  do  on  an  average.  Thus,  if  he  can  plant  and 
till  one  hvmdred  acres  of  land  by  putting  in  corn  or  wheat,  he  can  pretty  safely 
estimate  that  when  he  thi-eshes  bis  wheat,  or  cribs  his  coi-n,  it  will  be  worth 


AGRICULTURE.  307 

tte  prime  cost  of  his  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  This  is  not  all ;  for  when  his 
land  is  ploughed  and  fenced,  it  is  worth  double  what  it  was  before  subju- 
gation." 

The  "  Prairie  Farmer/'  of  May  6th,  1856,  says :  "  A  farmer  ia 
Morgan  County,  sold  last  year,  $60,000  worth  of  cattle,  at  a  very 
handsome  profit." 

Jno.  S.  Barger,  Esq.,  in  his  above  mentioned  letter,  states  as  proof 
how  easily  fortunes  are  made  here,  the  following  facts : 

"  I  will  now  give  you  a  concise  history  of  the  operations  of  Mr.  Funk.  Both 
before  and  since  his  marriage  he  had  made  rails  for  his  neighbors,  at  twenty- 
five  cents  per  hundred.  But  when  the  lands  where  he  lived  came  into  market, 
25  years  ago,  he  had  saved  of  his  five  years'  earnings  $1400,  and  says  if  he 
had  invested  it  all  in  lands,  he  would  now  have  been  rich.  With  $200  he 
boiight  his  first  quarter-section,  and  loaned  to  his  neighbors  $800  to  buy  their 
honies ;  and  with  the  remaining  $400  he  pui-chased  a  lot  of  cattle.  With  this 
beginning,  Mr.  Funk  now  owns  7000  acres  of  land,  has  near  2700  in  cultiva- 
tion, and  his  last  year's  sale  of  cattle  and  hogs,  at  the  Chicago  market, 
amounted  to  a  little  over  $44,000. 

"  Mr.  Isaac  Funk,  of  Funk's  Grove,  nine  miles  distant  from  his  brother  Jesse, 
and  ten  miles  northwest  from  Bloomington,  on  the  Mississippi  and  Chicago 
Railroad,  began  the  world  in  Illinois,  at  the  same  time,  having  a  little  the  ad- 
vantage of  Jesse,  so  far  as  having  a  little  borrowed  capital.  He  now  owns 
about  27,000  acres  of  land,  has  about  4000  acres  in  cultivation,  and  his  last 
sales  of  cattle  amounted  to  $65,000." 

We  do  not  consider  it  a  matter  of  any  importance,  that  there  exist 
such  rich  men  in  Illinois  as  the  Funks  :  for  wealth  may  be  inherited, 
and  fast  by  the  most  magnificent  wealth  the  most  squalid  poverty  may 
drop  her  bitter  tears;  but  we  consider  it. a  matter  of  no  small  moment, 
that  the  Funks  have  risen  to  their  present  condition  from  that  of 
humble  day-laborers;  that  they  acquired  this  enormous  amount  of 
property  in  Illinois,  and  that  all  those  willing  to  devote  themselves  to 
agriculture,  can  easily  acquire  wealth  and  independence  in  Illinois. 
Illinois  is  the  paradise  of  the  farmer;  we  have  above  stated  several 
instances,  in  which  the  purchase-money  was  either  wholly,  or  almost 
wholly,  repaid  by  the  produce  of  the  first  harvest.  These  are  not 
such  rare  occurrences  as  will  only  happen  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances,  but  it  is  the  usual  course  of  development,  as  it  is  con- 
ditioned by  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  country;  whoever  would  take  the 
trouble  of  travelling  through  Illinois,  in  order  to  collect  such  instances, 
would  have  to  register  thousands  of  such  cases. 


308  AGRICULTURE. 

After  having  thus  presented  to  the  ejes  of  our  readers  various  cal- 
culations of  the  average  yield  of  an  Illinoisian  farm,  wc  cannot  con- 
clude this  present  chapter  without  having  submitted  to  him  also  a 
very  interesting  parallel  between  the  profitableness  of  rural  economy 
in  Illinois  on  the  one  hand,  and  that  of  husbandry  in  other  Western 
States,  on  the  other.  This  parallel  is  thus  drawn  up  in  a  little  inte- 
resting pamphlet  just  published  by  A.  Campbell,  Esq.,  of  La  Salle, 
entitled  "  A  Glance  at  Illinois." 

"  Now  if  the  following  plan  were  adopted,  it"  wonid  probably  be  as  profitable 
a  division  as  could  be  made  for  farming  purposes,  and  woiild  suit  the  means 
and  views  of  a  majority  of  farmers,  as  well  as  any  other  which  could  be  made : 
— Say  with  a  farm  of  160  acres,  you  appropriate  40  acres  to  buildings,  or- 
chards, and  pasture  grounds ;  upon  which  also  may  be  raised  the  vegetables 
for  the  family,  and  a  portion  of  the  provender  for  the  stock ;  20  acres  for  mow- 
ing ;  30  acres  for  wheat,  and  70  acres  for  corn. 

"  We  will  assume  that  the  wheat  and  corn  crops  are  the  only  ones  of  which 
the  farmer  will  have  any  surplus.  This  may  of  course  be  varied  to  suit  the 
views  and  circumstances  of  the  cultivator,  but  wiU  not  materially  aifect  the 
general  result.  With  fair  farming,  20  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre  is  not  too 
large  an  estimate,  nor  are  50  bushels  of  corn  by  any  means  a  large  average 
yield  upon  our  rich  prairie  lands.  Therefore,  assuming  the  above  to  be  a  fair 
estimate  of  the  yield,  we  have 

SO  acres  of  wheat,  at  20  bushels  per  acre  =  600  bushels. 

70  acres  of  corn,  at  50  bushels  per  acre  =  3500  bushels. 

"Now  if  you  retain  200  bushels  of  wheat,  for  seed  and  family  use,  and  900 
bushels  of  corn,  for  working  stock,  and  fattening  animals  for  family  use,  both 
of  which  allowances  are,  iindoubtedly,  sufiSciently  large — you  will  have  left  for 
market,  400  bushels  of  wheat,  and  2600  bushels  of  corn, — in  all  3000  bushels 
of  grain. 

"And  as  this  is  a  strictly  agricultural  country,  it  must  depend  upon  an 
eastern  or  foreign  market  for  the  sale  of  its  surplus  produce.  And  with  the 
present  and  prospective  railroad  facilities,  communicating  with  Lake  Michi- 
gan, we  are  safe  in  assuming  that,  as  a  general  thing,  all  sui-plus  north  of  the 
40th  parallel  of  latitude,  not  only  in  this  State,  but  from  the  country  west, 
must  inevitably,  by  the  laws  of  trade,  find  its  outlet  to  the  eastern  market  by 
what  is  termed  the  Northern  or  Lake  route. 

"  Although  there  is  a  considerable  consumption  of  meat  and  grain  upon  the 
sugar  and  cotton  plantations  of  the  south,  and  in  the  West  Lidies,  the  country 
soiith  of  the  line  we  have  named,  is  at  all  times  fully  adequate  to  the  supply, 
except  in  case  of  a  short  crop. 

"  A  bushel  of  gi-ain  is  worth  upon  the  farm  as  much  less  as  the  cost  of  car- 
rying it  to  market.  And  the  cost  of  transporting  wheat  or  corn  by  raih-oad, 
is  about  eight  cents  per  bushel  per  hundred  miles,  and  for  meats  about  fifteen 
cents  per  hundred  pounds,  per  hundred  miles.  The  average  cost  per  bushel 
for  transporting  wheat  or  corn  from  Chicago  to  Buffalo,  by  way  of  the  lakes, 
will  not  exceed  seven  cents,  during  the  season  of  navigation;  while  from 
Cleveland  to  Buffalo,  it  is  about  four  cents  per  bushel. 

"Now  as  the  comparative  advantage  of  different  points  in  the  west,  for 
farming  purposes,  is  the  object  we  wish  to  arrive  at,  suppose,  in  making  a 


AGRICULTURE. — SOIL.  809 

comparison,  we  take  for  one  locality,  the  vicinity  of  Columbus,  Ohio  t-— another, 
80  miles  we^t  or  southwest  of  Chicago,  in  Illinois,  on  the  line  of  any  of  the  nu- 
merous r;ii!!  iMvls  diverging  wcstei'ly  or  southwesterly  from  that  point.  For  a 
third,  lown  City,  the  capital  of  Iowa,  whicli  is  242  miles  wei?t  of  Chicago;  and 
Fort  Des  Moines,  in  Iowa,  for  a  fourth ;  this  is  367  miles  west  of  Chicago,  by 
way  of  the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  which  is  now  completed  to  Iowa  City,  and 
in  process  of  construction  to  Fort  Des  Moines. 

"  From  Columbus,  Ohio,  to  Cleveland,  125  miles,  at  eight  cents  per  hundred 
miles,  by  raih-oad,  the  cost  would  be  ten  cents ;  from  thence  to  BuflFalo  by  the 
way  of  Lake  Erie,  four  cents  ;  from  thence  to  New  York,  twelve  cents ;  total, 
twenty-six  cents.  From  the  points  80  miles  west  or  south-west  of  Chicago,  by 
railroad,  it  would  be  seven  cents  to  Chicago ;  from  thence  to  Buffalo,  seven 
cents ;  from  thence  to  New  York,  twelve  cents ;  total,  twenty-six  cents.  From 
Iowa  City  to  Chicago,  242  miles,  the  cost  would  be  nineteen  cents  per  bushel ; 
thence  to  BuflFalo,  seven  cents;  thence  to  New  York,  twelve  cents,  would  give 
a  total  of  thirty-eight  cents,  from  Iowa  City  to  New  York.  From  Fort  Des 
Moines  to  Chicago,  367  miles,  the  cost  would  be  twenty-nine  cents  ;  from  thence 
to  Buffalo,  seven  cents ;  thence  to  New  York  twelve  cents  ;  total  cost,  from  Fort 
Des  Moines  to  New  York,  forty-eight  cents.  And  in  like  ratio  for  any  dis- 
tance greater  or  less. 

"The  value  of  the  crop  upon  a  farm  of  160  acres,  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
upon  one  of  the  same  size  80  miles  from  Chicago,  are  equal;  whilst  there  is  a 
diiference  in  favor  of  the  latter  over  the  one  nt  Iowa  City,  of  360  dollars ;  and 
over  the  one  at  Fort  Des  Jloines,  in  Iowa,  of  660  dollars.  Three  hundred  and 
sixty  dollars  will  pay  an  interest  of  six  per  cent  upon  a  valiiation  of  $6000; 
and  $600  is  the  interest  at  the  same  rate  upon  $10,000.  This  shows  that  a 
farm  of  160  acres  within  80  miles  of  Chicago,  is  worth  $6000  more  than  one 
of  the  same  size  in  the  vicinity  of  Iowa  City;  which  is  equal  to  $37  50  per 
acre,  and  $1100  more  than  one  at  Fort  Des  Moines ;  which  is  equal  to  $68  75 
per  acre,  when  appropriated  to  raising  grain." 

SOIL. 

In  regard  to  agriculture,  the  soil  of  Illinois  is  divided  into  three 
classes.  On  the  prairies  it  is  a  vegetable  mould  of  different  depth,  on 
a  substratum  from  3  to  4  feet  thick,  of  rich  mulatto  loam  or  clay, 
being  in  most  cases  entirely  free  from  stones,  and  requiring  only  a 
single  tilling  in  order  to  produce  all  the  various  species  of  corn  and 
fruits  peculiar  to  these  latitudes.  The  wild  grass  growing  on  the 
prairies  furnishes  a  very  nutritious  article  of  food,  which  will  at  once 
account  for  the  universal  renown  of  the  beef  of  Illinois. 

The  bottom  lands  skirted  by  the  rivers  are  of  extraordinary  fertility, 
but  exposed  to  frequent  inundations,  and  covered  with  tall  forest  trees. 
Here  the  vegetable  mould  attains  a  depth  of  from  three  to  twelve  feet ; 
its'  inexhaustibility  is  easily  accounted  for  by  the  consideration  that 
the  rivers  impregnated  with  the  humus  of  the  prairies  through  which 
they  flow,  deposit  it  in  the  bottom  lands,  whenever  a  rise  of  the  water 
causes  the  latter  to  be  iauadated. 


310  BREAKING    THE    SOIL. 

The  soil  of  the  openings  covered  with  scattered  trees  of  the  forest, 
and  these  mostly  oak,  though  not  as  good  as  that  of  the  prairies,  will 
yet  yield  as  fine  a  crop  without  any  manure,  as  can  be  obtained  in  the 
Eastern  States  with  the  aid  of  manure. 

But  it  should  be  added  that  the  character  of  the  soil  differs  in  the 
different  sections  of  the  State.  The  substratum  is  clay,  (this  is  inva- 
riably the  case  in  Central  Illinois),  which  precludes  the  idea  that  the 
fertility  of  the  soil  ever  could  be  lost.  By  injudicious  tillage  the 
lands  may,  after  years,  tire,  but  can  never  be  worn  out.  Upon  the 
large  water-courses,  and  in  the  extreme  north  and  south,  the  soil  is 
sandy,  and  the  substratum  sand  and  gravel,  with  some  clay.  In  Cen- 
tral Illinois  the  soil  is  without  sand ;  on  the  undulating,  or  rolling 
prairies,  the  soil  is  of  a  mulatto,  or  yellow  cast ;  on  the  level  lands  it 
is  black ;  but  no  difference  can  be  discovered  in  the  fertility  of  these 
two-thirds  of  soil,  both  producing  equally  well  all  kinds  of  grain  and 
grasses.  The  depth  of  the  black  soil  is  from  twenty  to  thirty  inches ; 
the  yellow  from  fifteen  to  twenty-four  inches.  It  is  the  prevailing- 
opinion  that  the  level  or  table-lands  stand  a  drought  better  than  the 
rolling.  The  soil  in  Central  Illinois  partakes  largely  of  limestone, 
without  the  appearance  of  the  stone  itself,  therefore  rendering  it  the 
more  valuable,  and  easy  of  cultivation,  and  causing  it  to  stand  a  long 
and  continued  drought,  with  less  injury  to  growing  crops  than  those 
portions  of  the  country  where  rock  is  interspersed  through  the  culti- 
vated lands. 

BREAKING   THE    SOIL. 

It  is  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  any  situation  where  he  feels  more 
like  an  honest  conqueror  than  he  does  when  turning  over  the  verdant 
turf  of  the  prairies.  His  plough  must  have  a  keen  edge,  and  cut  from 
twenty-two  to  thirty-six  inches  wide.  A  thin  sod  of  two  or  three 
inches  thick  is  cut  smooth  and  turned  completely  upside  down.  The 
bottom  of  the  furrow  and  top  of  the  reversed  sod  are  as  smooth  as  if 
sliced  with  a  keen  knife.  Every  green  thing  is  turned  out  of  sight, 
and  nothing  is  visible  but  the  fresh  soil.  When  the  prairie  is  broken, 
and  the  sod  has  time  to  decompose,  the  land  is  thoroughly  subdued, 
and  in  a  good  condition  for  any  crop — not  a  stump  or  a  stone  in  the 
way,  over  a  whole  quarter  section  ;  free  from  weeds,  rich,  fresh,  and 
mellow;  it  is  the  fault  of  the  farmer  if  it  is  not  kept  so. 


FENCING.  311 

Some  farmers  are  accustomed  to  cross-plough  the  land,  about  two 
months  after  it  has  been  broken,  but  others  say  cross-ploughing  is  not 
necessary ;  however,  it  will  do  no  harm  to  the  land  if  cross-ploughed, 
but  increase  its  fertility. 

The  cost  of  breaking  prairie  is  from  two  to  three  dollars  per  acre; 
and  it  is  principally  done  by  men  who  keep  teams  for  the  purpose, 
and  do  their  work  by  the  job.  A  three-horse  team  will  break  two 
acres  per  day,  and  a  heavy  ox-team  with  a  36  inch  plough,  will  break 
three  acres  per  day. 

The  breaking  of  prairie  is  done  in  the  different  sections  of  the  coun- 
try at  different  times ;  say  from  the  1st  of  May  till  the  20th  of  July, 
monthly  from  the  10th  of  May  till  the  20th  of  June. 

FENCING. 

After  the  farmer  has  broken  his  land,  his  nest  care  must  be  to  en- 
close it  with  a  fence  in  order  to  secure  his  crops  against  the  cattle. 
You  may  find  in  Illinois  all  sorts  of  fences,  from  the  clumsy  zig-zag 
fence,  to  the  hardly  visible,  cheap,  and  wood-saving  wire  fence; 
that  fence,  however,  which  is  the  most  conformable  to  the  purpose, 
the  cheapest,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  embellishing,  is  the 
living,  to  wit :  the  Madura  hedge,  which,  with  every  new  year,  may 
be  seen  planted  and  growing  more  and  more. 

Referring  to  the  special  chapter,  wherein  the  culture  of  the  Madura 
hedge  is  more  particularly  described,  we  shall  here  call  the  attention 
of  our  readers  to  the  fact,  that  every  farmer  commencing  his  business 
here,  should  at  once  proceed  to  plant  this  hedge,  which  affords  most 
ample  security  against  all  kinds  of  animals,  provided  his  means  per- 
mit him  to  do  so.  Although  it  is  true,  that  such  a  hedge  will  first 
afford  security  four  years  after  its  being  finished,  so  that  during  that 
time  another  fence  must  be  erected  outside  of  the  Madura  hedge,  the 
money  expended  on  it  is  not  lost,  but  amply  compensated  for,  since 
the  live  hedge  affording  perfect  protection  at  the  end  of  this  time,  the 
other  fence  may  either  be  sold,  or  its  wood  used  for  some  other  pur- 
pose. 

The  two  best  kinds  of  wood  fences  are  the  zig-zag,  and  the  board 
fence.  He  who  is  about  erecting  the  first,  and  owns  no  wooded  tract 
of  land,  should  purchase  a  couple  of  acres,  and  have  the  rails  split 


312  DIVISION    or    FARMS. 

under  his  immediate  supervision.  The  hewing  and  splitting  is  usually 
paid  for  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  for  every  hundred,  the  wood  costing 
about  as  much,  so  that  the  expenses  of  fencing  must  be  computed  not 
higher  than  three  dollars  for  every  hundred  rails.  To  diminish  the 
cost,  it  would  be  advisable  for  friends  to  purchase  contiguous  lots,  so 
that  for  the  tracts  owned  by  them,  only  one  external  fence  would  bt- 
required  at  first.  Twenty  acres  will  require  4704 ;  forty  acres,  G720  : 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  13,440;  and  a  full  section,  or  sis  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  28,880  cross-beams. 

In  building  board  fences,  iron  posts  and  pine  boards  are  made  use 
of,  and  constructed  in  such  a  manner  that  two  posts  and  three  boards 
constitute  a  panel.  The  cost  would  be  for  boards  and  hauling  $1  15 
per  rod;  the  boards  for  320  rods  of  fencing,  the  amount  for  40  acres, 
would  cost  8368.  About  700  posts,  at  eleven  cents  each,  would  cost 
S77 ;  for  putting  up  the  fence  the  cost  would  be — for  digging  post 
holes  and  setting  posts,  828 ;  for  nails,  $19 ;  for  nailing,  814 ;  making 
the  whole  cost  of  fencing  40  acres,  8506.     For  enclosing  640  acres  in 

one  field,  the  cost  is  four  times  as  much,  viz.,  82,024. 
1 

DIVISION    OF   FARMS,    ROTATION   OF   CROPS,    AND    MANURING. 

The  division  of  a  farm  after  the  various  species  of  corn  and  other 
products,  of  course  depends  on  the  northern  or  southern  exposure  of 
the  farm.  We  may,  however,  regard  it  as  a  division  conformable  to 
the  purpose,  if  one-half  of  the  entire  tract  of  land  destined  for  the  cul- 
4ure  of  grains  and  vegetables  is  planted  with  Indian  corn,  while  three- 
fourths  of  the  residue  are  sown  equally  with  wheat  and  oats.  The 
culture  of  barley,  rye,  and  potatoes,  depends  upon  the  character  of  the 
respective  farms,  and  their  comparative  distance  from  the  markets. 

Heretofore  but  little  has  been  said  concerning  the  rotation  of  crops 
in  Illinois ;  the  exuberant  soil  yields  whatever  is  required  from  it,  and 
most  fanners  deeming  it  unnecessary  to  pay  any  regard  to  the  land, 
are  under  the  impression  of  best  guarding  their  interests  by  exclusively 
cultivating  that  which  commands  the  highest  price  at  the  time. 
While  one  cultivates  Indian  corn  and  wheat  for  a  succession  of  ten  or 
fifteen  years,  or  more,  another  will  plant  Indian  corn  for  a  few  years, 
next  oats,  and  then  wheat  in  the  stubble  of  the  oats,  repeating  this 
for  several  times,  after  which  he  plants  again  Indian  corn.  A  third 
27 


ROTATION    OF    CROPS.  —  MANURING.  313 

Will  first  plant  Indian  corn  for  a  couple  of  years,  then  winter-barley, 
after  which  oats.  Thus,  without  caring  much  about  a  fixed  order  of 
crops,  a  majority  of  the  farmers  will  husband  and  grow  rich  within  a 
short  time,  without  considering,  however,  that  a  propel  succession  of 
crops  would  considerably  increase  and  enhance  their  wealth. 

Little  as  on  most  farms  a  fixed  succession  of  crops,  that  would  ne- 
cesi^itate  a  division  of  the  entire  farming  lands  into  certain  fields,  is 
observed,  a  manuring  of  the  soil  is  never  thought  of.  It  is  true,  as 
we  have  already  mentioned,  that  the  rich  soil  of  Illinois  produces  with- 
out any  manure  at  all ;  yet  how  much  larger  would  its  produce  be, 
were  that  which  by  annual  cultivation  is  withdrawn  from  the  soil,  res- 
tored to  it  by  manuring  the  same. 

The  average  produce  of  an  acre  of  Indian  corn  has  been  stated  by 
us  at  56  bushels;  we  now  cite  an  instance  to  show  how  enormously 
this  amount  may  be  swelled  by  cultivation  and  by  manure. 

Two  years  ago,  three  men  in  Ogle  County  vied  with  each  other  to 
see  who  would  raise  the  best  acre  of  corn,  and  obtain  the  premium 
to  be  awarded  at  the  County  Fair.  Each  manured  his  land  slightly, 
and  cultivated  it  well  with  the  hoe;  and  the  result  was  that  they  ob- 
tained respectively  127,  131,  and  134  bushels  from  the  acre. 

But  if  such  results  can  be  attained,  would  it  not  amply  compensate 
a  farmer  for  his  trouble  in  directing  his  undivided  attention  to  this 
subject,  the  more  since,  by  being  manured,  the  land  would  not  become 
exhausted,  but  on  the  contrary  be  rendered  more  valuable  and  pro- 
ductive ? 

We  cannot  abstain  from  quoting,  what  in  regard  of  the  succession 
of  crops,  and  general  cultivation  of  farms,  is  said  in  his  letter  to  Brow- 
man  Murray,  by  Mr.  Jas.  N.  Brown,  of  Island  Grove,  the  former  Pre- 
sident of  the  Illinois  State  Agricultural  Society;  in  which  letter, 
after  stating  the  productiveness  of  an  acre  at  from  20  to  25  bushels 
of  wheat,  60  to  80  of  oats,  and  40  to  50  of  Indian  corn,  he  proceeds  as 
follows : 

"  SucTi  poor  results  should  not  be,  except  from  an  imperfect  system  of  til- 
lage. When  the  farmer  breaks  his  land  from  three  to  four  or  five  inches  deep, 
the  plough  cutting  ten  or  twelve  inches,  and  covering  five  or  six  more,  (thus 
leaving  one-third  of  the  ground  untouched),  covers  the  corn  with  a  horse, 
ploughs  the  crop  three  times,  and  twice  out  of  the  three  times  ploughs  with 
two  furrows  in  the  row,  and  this  completes  the  tillage :  it  is  surprising  that  he 

27 


314  MANURING. 

raises  any  crop  at  all.  And  yet  tlie  fertility  of  our  soil  is  sucli  that  it  yields 
abundance  to  such  poor  cultivation  as  this,  whilst  in  other  parts  of  our  coun- 
try such  results  are  not  obtained  except  by  judicious  culture  and  rotation  of 
crops.  Such  culture  and  rotation  I  warmly  recommend.  After  turning  over 
the  prairie  sod,  cultivate  three  or  four  years  in  corn,  then  oats  or  rye,  which 
ehould  be  pastured  aud  turned  under,  then  corn  again ;  and  then  clover  and 
timothy  for  four  or  five  years.  Be  careful  not  to  burn  any  manure  that  may 
be  on  the  land,  such  as  corn  stalks  for  stubble,  as  is  the  custom  of  many  of  our 
best  farmers,  who  seem  to  forget  that  it  is  as  important  to  feed  their  land  as 
to  feed  their  stock,  and  that  no  labor  pays  so  great  a  return  as  the  labor 'ex- 
pended in  manm-ing  their  lands  intended  for  the  plow.  Haul  your  manure, 
and  feed  stock  on  lands  intended  for  corn,  during  the  autumn  and  winter ; 
being  careful  to  keep  the  stock  from  stubble  land,  when  soft  and  rainy;  the 
treading  of  sod  in  soft  weather  in  winter  will  not  injure  the  land  intended  for 
corn  or  grass  the  next  year.  Our  yield  by  adopting  this  or  a  similar  system, 
(with  four  workings,  the  first  with  a  two-horse  harrow,  and  thinning  and 
Euckering  the  corn  when  about  knee  high),  would  be  from  eighty  to  one  hun- 
dred bushels  per  acre. 

"  In  confirmation  of  the  foregoing  views  I  give  the  following  experiment : — 
Last  April  I  broke  thirty-five  acres  of  old  pasture  land ;  the  first  portion  has 
been  in  grass  eighteen  years,  the  second  portion  fourteen,  the  third  part  ten 
or  twelve  years.  The  portion  that  had  been  in  gi-ass  eighteen  years  I  par- 
tially manured  with  dung  from  the  horse  aud  cow  yards,  and  turned  under  im- 
mediately after  spreading  it.  The  whole  field  was  prepared  in  the  same  man- 
ner with  the  exception  of  the  manure.  It  was  all  planted  the  same  week  in 
May,  and  received  the  same  tillage,  to  wit :  one  harrowing  and  three  plough- 
ings,  with  suckering  and  thinning  out  to  three  and  four  stalks  in  a  hill.  The 
distance  of  the  rows  apart  was  four  feet  by  three,  and  the  yield  was  as  follows : 
— That  portion  that  had  been  in  grass  eighteen  years,  and  was  partially  ma- 
nured, contained  nine  and  a  half  acres,  yielded  a  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre ; 
the  second  piece,  fourteen  years  in  grass,  and  manured  six  or  seven  years 
since,  produced  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  bushels  per  acre — number  of 
acres,  five  and  two-thirds;  the  third  lot,  ten  years  in  gi'ass,  twenty  acres, 
yielded  eighty  bushels  per  acre.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  experiment, 
that  by  an  imperfect  system  of  rotation  in  crops,  and  rather  poor  farming,  I 
have  increased  my  yield  of  corn  over  the  common  yield  of  our  virgin  soil,  from 
twenty  to  one  hundred  per  cent.  My  land,  after  nineteen  years'  cultivation, 
aifords  a  larger  yield  of  corn  and  grass  than  it  did  when  fresh,  andis  conse- 
quently more  valuable." 

From  the  preceding  it  will  appear,  that  by  manuring,  a  proper  cul- 
tivation, and  succession  of  crops,  a  much  higher  product  will  be 
attained,  than  the  soil  by  itself  is  able  to  bring  forth.  On  the  other 
hand  we  shall  not  omit  to  point  out  the  fact,  that  the  very  largely 
prevalent  opinion  that  the  soil  of  Illinois  is  totally  inexhaustible,  and 
of  indestructible  fertility,  rests  on  a  slight  error.  Even  the  deepest 
well  can  at  last  be  emptied,  and  the  most  fertile  soil,  whose  produc- 
tive powers  are  used  without  being  restored  again,  must,  at  last,  either 


MANURING 


3  if) 


partially  or  wholly  lose  its  fertility.  No  doubt  much  time  will  be  re- 
,  quired  to  exhaust  the  soil  of  Illinois  so  far,  that  even  very  deep 
ploughing  should  be  found  insufficient  to  insure  good  harvests;  yet, 
unless  the  farmers  can  be  persuaded,  that  the  preservation  of  the  fer- 
tility of  the  soil  requires  those  productive  powers,  which  it  has  ex- 
pended in  bringing  forth  a  crop,  to  be  restored  to  it,  that  time  must 
speedily  arrive.  And  further,  but  few  farmers  perceive  that  by  wast- 
ing the  straw  of  their  wheat,  they  inflict  as  great  an  injury  upon  them- 
selves, as  they  would  by  destroying  the  very  wheat,  since  the  produc- 
tion of  wheat  depends  upon  the  production  of  straw;  a  feeble  halm 
will  but  rarely  bear  a  stout  ear ;  and  if  you  insist  upon  being  wasteful, 
you  might  as  well  feed  the  cattle  with  the  wheat,  as  with  the  straw 
upon  which  it  grew.  A  good  field  of  wheat  yields  about  2000  pounds 
of  straw  per  acre,  which  entire  weight,  save  only  the  carbonate  which 
it  contains,  is  withdrawn  from  the  soil,  thus  diminishing  its  produc- 
tiveness for  the  following  harvest,  by  just  the  same  amount;  therefore 
we  are  right  in  saying  that  if  the  straw  is  cut  close  to  the  ground,  by 
the  reaper,  as  is  usually  the  case,  this  would  be  no  less  a  prodigality 
than  to  feed  the  cattle  on  the  wheat  altogether.  So  much  of  the  straw 
taken  from  the  acre  as  would  be  restored  to  it,  would  increase  the 
faculty  of  producing  new  straw  on  the  part  of  the  soil ;  on  the  straw 
the  wheat  thrives  well,  and  luxuriant  halms  bear  stout  ears. 

The  soil  of  the  prairies  has  been  stated  above  to  consist  generally 
of  clay,  which  much  impedes  the  further  descent  of  the  water  trick- 
ling down  to  it  from  the  surface — thus  protecting  and  securing  the 
natural  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  preventing  the  escape  of  the  powers 
derived  by  the  soil  from  being  manured;  on  the  other  hand,  it  must  be 
admitted,  that  this  property  of  the  soil  is  the  reason  why  many  level 
sections  of  the  prairies  are  frequently  wet,  and  thus  unfit  for  advan- 
tageous and  immediate  cultivation  of  corn.  Such  humidity  on  the 
part  of  the  soil  will  in  most  cases  admit  of  being  obviated  by  deep 
ploughing  and  manuring;  often  deep  ploughing  will  be  found  sufficient 
to  obviate  the  difficulty;  where,  however,  deep  ploughing  or  manuring 
should  not  prove  adequate  to  accomplishing  this  object,  a  few  ditches 
properly  dug  will  not  fail  to  dry  the  land. 


316      LABOR,    WAGES,    AND    FARM    IMPLEMENTS. 
LABOR,    WAGES,    AND   FARM.  IMPLEMENTS. 

What  Illinois  requires  is  a  further  increase  of  her  laboring  popula- 
tion, the  farmers  in  every  section  of  the  State  loudly  complaiuing  of  the 
want  of  hands,  adding  that  much  more  land  might  be  tilled,  if  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  hands  could  be  found  for  the  purpose.  We  subjoin 
a  review  of  the  wages,  which,  during  1855,  were  paid  in  the  various 
sections  of  the  State  : 

County.  Monthly  wages,  (wath  board.)        Daily  wages. 

Cass $12  00  to  $20  00        $1  00  to  $2  00 

De  Kalb 12  00"  20  00 

DuPage 10  00"  12  00 

JoDaviess 10  00"  15  00 

Macoupin 14  00"  15  00            100"     175 

Marshall 15  00"  18  00            100"     150 

McLean 12  00"  20  00            100"     150 

Peoria 12  00"  16  00 

Eock  Island..... 100"     100 

Sangamon 12  00"  16  00 

St.  Clair 10  00"  14  00               75"     150 

Tazewell 125"     150 

Woodford 12  00"  16  00            100"     150 

Will 15  00                             100"     175 

Winnebago 15  00"  20  00 

The  higher  rates  are,  of  course,  only  paid  during  the  harvest,  but 
these,  in  many  counties,  exceed  the  above  amounts;  the  remuneration 
in  winter  is  less  than  that  in  summer.  Much  new  land  having  been 
broken  during  1855,  many  farmers  express  their  fears  that  wages  will 
be  still  higher  in  1856. 

The  many  difficulties  which  a  single  farmer  has  to  surmount,  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  business,  render  it  difficult  to  determine  how  much 
work  a  man  with  two  horses  is  able  to  perform;  from  thirty  to  forty 
acres,  it  is  usually  reckoned,  can  be  easily  tilled  by  a  single  man,  pro- 
vided he  procures  himself  some  hand  to  assist  him  during  harvest  time. 
Two  men  with  four  horses  can  easily  till  one  hundred  acres,  and  three 
men  with  five  horses  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  We  know  of  a 
man  who,  together  with  a  boy  of  some  twelve  years,  and  now  and  then 
with  an  assistant  (who,  however,  did  not  cause  him  more  than  fifteen 
dollars  annual  expense),  and  five  horses,  tilled  a  farm  of  forty  acres 
of  Indian  corn,  ten  acres  of  wheat,  ten  acres  of  oats,  six  acres  of  flax, 


FARM    IMPLEMENTS.  317 

ten  acres  of  prairie,  besides  breaking  some  twenty  acres  of  new  prairie, 
and  sowing  it  with  sod  corn. 

Two  acres  are  estimated  a  good  day's  work  for  a  single  team  of 
horses,  and  one  and  a  half  for  osen;  on  many  places,  however,  more 
is  done.  Many  farmers  prefer  horses  to  oxen,  horses  always  having 
this  advantage,  that  they  go  faster ;  and  many  farmers  also  contend 
that  they  turn  up  the  land  better  than  oxen.  A  man  walks  about 
twenty-five  miles  while  ploughing  a  day. 

What  facilitates  the  labor  of  a  farmer  in  the  west,  and  especially  in 
Illinois,  is  the  use  of  mechanical  power,  as  the  same  is  employed  in 
the  Eastern  States — excellent  agricultural  machines  being,  in  fact, 
turned  out  in  the  west.  Most  of  the  ploughs  are  made  of  steel  plates, 
and  are  polished  on  wheels,  so  as  to  shine  like  mirrors,  furrowing  the 
soil  to  a  great  depth.  There  are  ploughs  which  furrow  the  ground 
for  the  breadth  of  forty  inches.  That  such  large,  smooth,  and  sharp 
ploughs,  will  do  their  work  much  faster  than  others,  is  self-evident. 
Yery  good  ploughs  are  turned  out  by  the  manufactory  of  J.  Drew, 
Moline,  Rock  Island  County. 

Wheat  and  other  grain  is  usually  sown  with  the  rotation-sowing 
machine,  by  the  use  of  which  seed  and  time  are  saved,  and  a  success- 
ful crop  ensured.  The  machines  most  frequently  used  were  invented 
by  Piersons  and  Garling. 

The  grains  are  in  most  cases  gathered  by  harvesting  machines,  the 
most  excellent  of  which  are  those  of  McCormick  and  Henry,  to  which 
were  awarded  the  highest  premiums  at  the  "  World's  Fair." 

For  the  cutting  of  hay  on  the  prairies,  reapers  are  used,  and  espe- 
cially those  of  Scoville,  Danforth  and  McCormick. 

Lastly,  the  threshing  is  done  by  threshing  machines,  either  at  once, 
on  the  fields,  or  in  the  barns. 

While  speaking  of  agricultural  implements,  we  shall  here  particu- 
larly mention  two  machines,  which,  though  not  yet  introduced  into 
Illinois,  seem  so  wel.l  adapted  and  calculated  for  that  State,  that  it 
cannot  be  long  ere  they  are  introduced :  we  refer  to  the  steam  plough, 
and  the  wind-mills. 

With  the  first,  whose  inventor,  Mr.  Obed  Hassey,  also  probably 
constructed  the  first  reaping  machine,  experiments  were  not  long  ago 
made  at  the  exhibition  of  the  Maryland  Agricultural  Society,  that 
27* 


818  FARM    IMPLEMENTS. 

proved  completely  satisfactory.  The  machine  steamed  alone  to  tbe 
field,  distant  two  and  a  half  mile?,  where  the  experiment  was  to  be 
made ;  there  four  great  turf  ploughs  being  attached  to  it,  it  entered 
upon  its  task,  furrowing  the  earth  fourteen  inches  deep.  The  plough- 
ing was  exceedingly  well  done,  many  of  the  farmers  present  expres- 
sing their  opinions  to  the  effect,  that  the  machine  was  particularly 
adapted  for  breaking  the  soil  of  the  prairie.  "We  trust  it  will  not  be 
long  ere  we  shall  see  the  steam  plough  furrowing  the  fertile  soil  of  the 
lUinoisian  prairies,  and  thus  annually  and  more  rapidly  than  ever  be- 
fore, subjugating  to  culture  many  thousands  of  new  acres. 

Of  wind-mills  there  are  but  few,  as  yet,  in  Illinois,  though  the 
large  prairies  are  admirably  adapted  for  the  use  of  the  wind,  as  me- 
chanical power.  Perceiving  tbis,  several  gentlemen  of  Rochester,  N. 
Y.,  have  formed  themselves  into  a  company,  to  erect,  during  1856, 
fifty  windmills  on  the  western  prairies;  and  in  Peoria  a  company  has 
been  organized  for  a  like  purpose.  The  mill  to  be  constructed  by  the 
last  will  contain  two  different  milling  apparatus,  the  grinding  stones 
used  in  which  are  four  feet  in  diameter;  the  whole,  including  the 
building  and  the  right  of  using  the  patent,  to  cost  $4000.  A  mill 
thus  constructed  in  Rochester,  will  grind  thirty  bushels  of  grain  per 
hour,  and  it  being  estimated,  that  these  mills  can  be  in  active  operation 
for  full  ten  months  in  a  year,  they  ought  to  be  preferred  on  this  ac- 
count, if  on  no  other,  to  water-mills,  since  but  few  of  the  latter  might 
be  found  in  constant  operation  for  such  a  length  of  time. 

Five  bushels  of  prime  wheat  will  make  one  barrel  of  superfine  flour, 
leaving  a  handsome  pay  to  the  miller. 

Another  project  for  the  purpose  of  rendering  available  the  power  of 
wind,  has  been  started  by  Mr.  M.  D.  Codding,  of  Lockport,  Will  Co., 
who  has,  three  miles  from  that  place,  established  a  machine-factory, 
and,  for  the  above  purpose,  has  constructed  a  machine  which,  simple, 
substantial,  and  low-priced,  can  be  used  for  a  number  of  purposes;  for 
instance  — for  sawing  wood,  whetting  stones,  pumping  water,  etc.  Mr. 
Codding  turns  out  these  machines  of  any  power  desired,  from  that  of 
one  man  to  twenty  horse  power.  A  machine  of  one  horse  power,  in- 
clusive of  gearing,  can  be  had  for  825  to  -S-aO;  the  expense  of  larger 
machines  of  this  kind  not  exceeding  a  just  proportion  to  this. 


INDIAN    CORN.  819 


INDIAN    CORN. 


There  are  a  great  number  of  varieties  of  corn  in  cultivation,  and 
these  varieties  have  become  considerably  intermingled.  The  princi- 
pal varieties,  which  may  be  distinguished  by  the  number  of  rows  or 
grains,  on  the  cob,  and  the  color,  shape  or  size  of  the  kernels,  may  be 
classified  and  described  as  follows : 

1.  Yellow  Corn,  Golden  Sioux,  or  Northern  Flint  Corn;  having  a 
large  cob,  with  twelve  rows  of  moderate  sized  grains,  very  oily,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  varieties  for  fattening  animals,  or  for  hu- 
man food.  By  skilful  tillage,  130  bushels  have  been  raised  to  the 
acre,  weighing  9,216  lbs.  in  the  ear,  when  dry:  75  lbs.  of  ears  gave 
a  bushel  when  shelled. 

2.  King  Philip,  or  the  Eight-Rowed  Yellow  Corn.  Its  ears,  which 
contain  only  eight  rows,  are  longer  than  those  of  the  Golden  Sioux, 
and  it  will  yield  about  the  same  quality  of  oil.  It  is  a  hardy  plant, 
which  belongs  to  a  high  latitude;  grows  to  about  nine  feet  in  height; 
stalks  small,  ears  from  ten  to  fourteen  inches  in  length, 

3.  Canada  Corn,  or  Eighteen-Rowed  Yellow.  This  corn,  which  is 
smaller,  earlier,  and  more  solid  than  any  of  the  preceding,  contains 
more  oil  than  any  other  variety,  except  the  Rice  Corn,  and  the  Pop 
Corn.  It  is  exceedingly  valuable  for  fattening  poultry,  swine,  &c., 
and  is  grown  by  many  in  gardens,  for  early  boiling. 

4.  Dutton  Corn.  The  cob  sometimes  grows  to  the  length  of  four- 
teen or  fifteen  inches,  but  the  grain  is  so  compact  upon  it  that  two 
bushels  of  small  ears  have  yielded  five  pecks  of  shelled  corn,  weighing 
62  lbs.  to  the  bushel.  With  proper  management,  an  acre  of  ground 
will  yield  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  bushels  to  the 
acre.  As  it  is  very  oily,  gives  a  good  yield,  and  ripens  early,  it  has 
always  been  a  favorite  variety  for  culture  in  the  north. 

5.  Southern  Big  Yellow  Corn.  The  cob  of  this  corn  is  thick  and 
long,  the  grain  much  wider  than  it  is  deep,  and  the  rows  unite  with 
each  other.  The  grain  contains  less  oil  and  more  starch  than  the 
Northern  Flint  kinds;  yet  its  outward  texture  is  somewhat  flinty, 
solid  and  firm.  It  comes  to  maturity  rather  later,  affords  an  abun- 
dant yield,  and  is  much  used  for  fattening  animals. 

6.  Southern  Small  Yellow  Corn.     The  ears  of  this  variety  are  more 


320  INDIAN    CORN. 

slender,  as  well  as  shorter  than  the  last  named ;  the  grains  are  smaller 
though  of  the  same  form,  of  a  deep  yellow,  more  firm  and  flinty,  and 
contain  an  abundance  of  oil,  which  renders  it  more  valuable  for  the 
purpose  of  shipping,  or  for  feeding  poultry  or  swine. 

1.  Rhod-e  Island  White  Flint  Corn.  The  grains  of  this  variety  are 
about  the  size  and  shape  of  those  of  the  Tuscarora  Corn,  but  differ 
from  them  in  containing  an  abundance  of  a  transparent  and  colorless 
oil,  which  may  be  easily  seen  through  their  clear,  pellucid  hulls.  The 
farinaceous  parts  of  the  grains  are  white,  and  as  the  quantity  of  oil 
which  they  contain  is  large,  the  flour  or  meal  is  more  substantial  as 
an  article  of  food,  and  less  liable  to  ferment  and  become  sour. 

2.  Southern  Little  White  Flint  Corn.  The  kernels  of  this  variety 
are  considerably  smaller  than  those  of  the  preceding,  and  much  re- 
semble them  in  shape,  but  they  are  more  firm  and  solid,  contain  more 
oil,  and  consequently  are  of  more  value  for  feeding  poultry  and  swine, 
and  for  human  food. 

3.  Button  White  Flint  Corn.  A  variety  not  differing  materially 
from  the  Yellow  Dutton  Corn,  except  in  the  color  of  the  oil. 

4.  Early  Canadian  W^hite  Flint  Corn.  Cultivated  principally  for 
early  boiling  or  roasting,  while  green. 

5.  Tuscarora  Corn.  The  ears  contain  from  twelve  to  sixteen  rows 
of  grains,  which  are  nearly  as  deep  as  they  are  broad,  of  a  dead  whitish 
color  on  the  extreme  end,  are  entirely  composed  within  of  pure,  white 
dextrine,  and  starch,  except  the  germs.  As  it  contains  neither  gluten 
nor  oil,  it  may  be  profitably  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  starch.  It 
is  much  softer  and  better  food  for  horses  than  the  flinty  kind,  and  if 
used  before  it  becomes  sour,  it  may  be  converted  into  excellent  bread. 
It  is  also  an  excellent  variety  for  boiling,  when  green,  or  in  the  milky 
state. 

6.  White  Flint  Corn.  The  ears  of  this  variety  contain  twelve 
rows  of  rather  white,  roundish,  thick  grains,  which  are  filled  with  a 
snowy  white  flour,  composed  principally  of  starch,  but  does  not  con- 
tain either  gluten  or  oil.  It  is  much  used.  As  it  possesses  similar 
properties  with  the  preceding  variety,  it  may  be  profitably  employed 
for  the  same  purpose.  It  is  also  an  excellent  variety  for  boiling, 
when  green. 

7.  Virginia  White  Seed  Corn.     The  ears  of  this  corn,  which  are 


INDIAN    CORN.  321 

not  very  long,  (uor  is  the  cob  so  long  as  those  of  the  Big  White,  or 
Yellow  Flint),  contain  from  twentj-four  to  thirty-six  rows  of  very  long, 
narrow  grains.  These  grains,  at  their  extreme  ends,  are  almost  flat, 
and  crow  so  closely  together  from  the  cob  to  the  surface,  that  they 
produce  a  greater  yield  than  any  other  variety,  in  proportion  to  the 
size  of  the  ears.  They  contain  more  starch,  and  less  gluten  and  oil, 
than  those  of  the  Flint  kinds,  and  from  their  softness  they  serve  as 
better  food  for  horses,  but  are  less  nourishing  to  poultry  and  swine. 
This  variety  ripens  later,  though  it  is  more  productive  than  any  other 
kind. 

8.  Early  Sweet  Corn.  There  are  two  kinds  of  this  corn  ;  one  with 
the  cob  red,  and  the,  other  white.  The  ears  are  short,  and  usually  con- 
tain eight  rows, 'the  grains  of  which,  when  mature,  are  of  a  lighter 
color,  and  become  shrivelled,  appearing  as  if  they  were  unripe.  It 
contains  a  very  large  propoi'tion  of  the  phosphates,  and  a  considerable 
quantity  of  sugar  and  gum,  though  but  little  starch.  It  is  extensively 
cultivated  for  culinary  purposes,  and  is  delicious  food  when  boiled 
green. 

9.  Rice  Corn.  A  small  variety,  with  small  conical  ears,  the  ker- 
nels terminating  in  sharp  points,  which  give  them  the  appearance  of 
burrs ;  the  kernels  in  size  and  shape  something  like  rice.  It  contains 
more  oil  and  less  starch  than  any  other  kind,  and  when  ground,  its 
meal  cannot  be  made  into  bread  alone,  but  is  dry  like  sand.  From 
its  oily  nature  and  peculiar  size,  this  corn  is  well  adapted  for  feeding 
poultry. 

10.  Pearl  Corn.  Commonly  called  pop-corn,  from  the  fact  of  its 
being  used  for  popping,  or  parboiling.  The  ears  of  this  variety  are 
small,  the  grains  are  round,  of  various  shades  of  color,  the  white  of  a 
pearly  appearance ;  and  contain,  with  the  rice  corn,  more  oil  and  less 
starch  than  any  other  variety. 

11.  Chinese  Tree  Corn.  It  is  a  pure  white  variety,  a  very  hand- 
some ear,  about  ten  inches-  long,  has  ten  rows,  grain  very  closely  set, 
long  and  wedge-shaped,  well  filled  out,  to  the  end  of  the  cob ;  some  of 
the  grains  slightly  indented.  One  peculiarity  of  this  corn  is,  the  ears 
grow  on  the  ends  of  the  branches,  hence  its  name  "  Tree  Corn."  It  is 
said  to  yield  from  one-fourth  to  one-third  more  than  the  common  va- 
rieties.    When  ground  into  meal  it  is  handsomer  and  better  flavored 

V 


322  INDIAN    CORN. 

than  the  common  varieties  of  white  corn.  There  are  generally  two 
ears  on  a  stalk,  and  often  three. 

There  are  many  other  species  of  corn,  but  the  foregoing  embrace 
pretty  much  all  those  worthy  of  cultivation. 

To  raise  a  good  crop  of  corn,  a  man  must  of  course  have  all  the  im- 
plements required  for  it.  If  the  planting  is  to  be  done  on  old  ground, 
the  old  stalks  should  be  cut  and  broken  down  first.  This  is  usually 
done  with  a  roller  or  a  cylinder  of  wood,  which  is  within  a  square 
frame,  and  about  four  feet  long,  and  nineteen  inches  in  diameter,  and 
has  four  blades  placed  at  equal  distances  around  it,  and  running  its 
entire  length ;  drawn  along  by  the  horses,  this  instrument  breaks 
down  the  stalks  and  cuts  them  up  in  fine  style,  leaving  the  stalks  so 
cut  about  a  foot  long,  and  finishing  about  from  six  to  eight  acres  per 
day  in  this  manner.  After  this,  the  farmer  should  plough  in  the  di- 
rection in  which  the  stalks  were  broken  down,  so  as  to  bring  them  un- 
der the  earth  turned  up,  which  is  easily  accomplished;  and  never  for- 
get to  harrow  on  rough  or  heavy  land.  If  he  then  proposes  making  a 
marker,  he  should  construct  four  wedge-shaped  forms,  2|  feet  long,  5 
inches  thick,  10  inches  wide  at  one  end,  and  running  to  an  edge  at 
the  other.  These  forms  may  be  made  of  two  inch  plank ;  and  two 
floor  joists,  one  close  to  the  points,  and  the  other  close  to  the  heads, 
may  be  laid  between  them.  A  pole  being  then  procured  for  a  tongue, 
the  back  end  should  be  run  over  the  front  joist,  and  under  the  back 
one,  and  bolted  at  the  two  places  where  it  touches  them,  in  such  a 
manner  that  when  the  end  rests  in  the  neck-yoke,  the  points  of  the 
wedges  are  lifted  a  little.  A  marker  thus  constructed,  makes  a  broad 
mark,  proof  against  a  fortnight's  rain,  and  destroys  young  weeds  at 
the  same  time,  to  a  great  extent.  The  land  being  thus  marked  both 
ways,  get  Randall  &  Jones'  Double  Hand  Planter,  which  is  light,  sub- 
stantial, and  rapid,  sowing  two  rows  at  once,  of  any  number  of  ker- 
nels required,  on  pressed  earth,  from  which  the  germ  will  sprout 
rapidly,  the  covering  being  as  certain  as  if  done  with  the  hoe.  Ten 
or  twelve  acres  can  thus  be  planted  in  a  single  day. 

Corn-land  should  always  be  rolled  after  planting,  since  this,  in  dry 
weather,  will  prevent  evaporation  and  diminish  the  surface  exposed  to 
the  rays  of  the  sun.  Rolling  should  be  repeated  if  the  land  continues 
dry,  in  order  to  bring  up  by  capillary  attraction,  the  moisture  from  the 


INDIAN    CORN.  323 

subsoil.  In  tending  corn,  the  earth  should  not  be  turned  away  from 
the  hill  in  the  day-time,  since  this  would  increase  the  chance  of  its 
drying  through ;  and  in  throwing  the  earth  up  to  the  hill,  the  part  of 
the  stalk  above  the  bulb,  from  which  the  supporters  put  out,  should  be 
prevented  from  being  covered. 

One  of  the  best  cultivators  known  to  us  is  that  one  which  has  the 
general  form  of  the  common  dray-shaped  cultivator,  except  that  it  is 
just  as  long  and  wide  again  as  that,  and  the  two  iron  bars  are  made 
like  the  beam  and  knees  of  a  sleigh.  Its  steel  teeth  run  very  flat  ia 
the  ground — it  runs  with  the  broad  end  forward,  straddles  a  row,  and 
requires  two  horses  to  draw  it,  but  will  perform  twice  as  much  work 
as  can  be  done  by  any  of  the  common  methods. 

Indian  corn  is  frequently  sown  as  the  first  grain  on  newly-broken 
land ;  but  as  there  is  no  reliance  to  be  placed  upon  sod  corn,  many 
farmers  prefer  to  leave  the  broken  land  lying  fallow,  until  September, 
when  it  is  sown  with  wheat.  The  planting  of  sod  corn  is  done  by 
sticking  an  axe  or  a  spade  between  the  layers  of  sod,  and  after  drop- 
ping the  corn  apply  the  heel  of  the  boot  freely.  Some  farmers  prefer 
to  drop  the  seed  into  every  third  furrow,  and  turn  a  furrow  on  it.  If 
the  latter  plan  is  adopted,  the  ground  must  be  well  rolled  to  ensure  a 
good  crop.  To  corn  pi;t  in  on  the  sod,  usually  no  further  attention 
is  paid  till  harvest.  The  times  of  planting  and  harvesting  depend 
upon  the  northern  or  southern  exposure,  and  the  harvest  will  often 
last  until  the  end  of  November. 

In  1835,  Mr.  Jno.  Schoonhover  raised  an  ear  which  gave  one 
quart  and  one  gill  of  the  shelled  corn. 

We  have  just  enumerated  the  different  varieties  of  maize,  which  are 
cultivated,  and  before  concluding  this  chapter  we  cannot  forbear  to 
point  out  a  new  variety,  the  cultivation  of  which  has  but  just  begun, 
viz.,  the  Wyandott  Corn.  The  seeds  of  this  were  obtained  three 
years  ago,  from  the  Wyandott  Indians,  and  first  cultivated  by  a 
farmer  in  Waverly,  Morgan  County,  who  produced  a  crop  of  1 50  bushels 
per  acre,  and  who,  at  the  Agricultural  State  Fair,  at  Chicago,  in  the 
fall  of  1855,  sold  the  single  ears  of  this  variety  at  twenty-five  cents 
each.  The  ears  are  from  five  to  nine  inches  long.  It  is  a  fine,  pearly 
white,  has  but  little  chit,  and  grinds  nearly  all  into  meal.  A  che- 
mical analysis  of  its  properties  proves  it  to  contain  a  large  portion  of 


324  WHEAT.  '  ^ 

glutinous,  starchy  qualities,  and  less  of  spirit  and  strength  than  the 
Great  Yellow  Dog  Tooth  Corn,  for  which  Suckerdom  is  famous.  This 
corn  is  planted  one  kernel  to  the  hill,  and  sometimes  in  drills.  The 
one  kernel  forms  a  mass  of  rooty  fibres,  often  as  large  as  a  man's  hat, 
and  from  these  start  up  from  four  to  nine  shoots  or  stalks,  and  each 
of  these  stalks  will  bear  from  one  to  five  ears.  A  hill  of  this  corn 
was  grown  in  Upper  Alton,  from  one  kernel,  which  multiplied  to  the 
extent  of  over  eight  thousand  kernels. 

WHEAT. 

The  kinds  of  wheat  mostly  cultivated  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  are 
the  Canada  Club,  Italian,  Hedgerow,  White  Flint,  and  the  Eio 
Grande.  Spring  Wheat  succeeds  well,  but  has  been  blighted  for  a 
few  years  past.  One  ploughing  is  deemed  sufficient,  and  better  than 
two,  even  on  a  summer  fallow.  No  manures  are  used  on  this  or  any 
other  crop,  except  that  from  the  barn-yard,  which  is  usually  spread  on 
the  corn-field.  With  special  regard  to  Spring  Wheat,  it  may  be  of 
importance'  to  say,  that  for  preparing  the  ground,  fall  ploughing  is 
best,  since  the  land  is  in  better  order,  and  can  be  sown  one  or  two 
weeks  earlier,  which  is  a  great  advantage.  The  earlier  it  is  sown  the 
better,  if  the  ground  is  in  order  for  the  harrow,  no  matter  how  cold, 
the  frost  will  not  hurt  young  wheat.  The  land  should  by  all  means 
be  ploughed,  although  some  may  be  for  ploughing  in  the  cornstalks, 
and  harrowing  in.  Experience  has  taught,  that  in  this  latter  case, 
the  crops  at  harvest  have  been  so  full  of  weeds,  that  the  usual  average 
proceeds  were  considerably  diminished.  Plow  your  lands  not  over 
two  rods  wide,  and  in  a  direction  to  lead  oflP  the  water  best;  cut  cross 
furrows  in  every  slough  or  sag,  so  as  to  let  no  water  stand  on  the 
wheat.  Old  land  ought  to  be  ploughed  in  the  fall,  but  if  ploughed  in 
the  spring,  should  be  ploughed  deeper.  \ 

Corn  stubble  is  preferable  to  wheat  or  oat  stubble. 

The  Canada  Club  is  as  good  a  kind  as  can  be  found.  It  is  a  good 
plan  to  change  seeds  frequently,  as  it  has  appeared  that  by  continuing 
the  same  seed  on  the  same  land,  it  becomes  diseased  and  sickly.  To 
prevent  smut  wet  your  wheat  and  mingle  slaked  lime  with  it,  at  the 
rate  of  one  bushel  to  twenty  of  wheat.  If  there  are  oats  in  the  seed, 
the  whole  may  be  put  in  strong  brine,  and  the  oats  skimmed  off.     It 


WHEAT.  325 

IS  in  fact  necessary  to  examine  the  seed  well,  for  it  will  not  grow  if  it 
has  heated,  or  become  musty;  but  this  cannot  always  be  detected  by 
the  eye,  and  it  will  therefore  be  better  to  try  a  sample,  and  see  what 
portion  will  germinate;  this  will  give  you  the  quantity  needed  per 
acre.  Of  good  seed,  one  bushel  and  a  third  to  one  and  a  half  is  about 
the  right  quantity.  The  '^  disease  "  it  takes  on,  comes  from  sowing 
much  imperfect  seed,  which  never  can  produce  vigorous,  healthy 
plants.  Let  only  the  best  seed  be  used,  that  which  is  free  from  all 
light,  imperfect  grains,  and  there  will  be  found  little  "  disease  "  or  de- 
generacy. Spring  Wheat  is  liable  to  grow  too  rank ;  it  should  be 
sown  as  soon  as  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground,  that  the  straw  may 
have  a  stunted  growth.  The  winter  crop  may  be  got  in  at  a  time 
when  other  labor  does  not  press,  and  the  whole  preparation  for  it  may 
be  so  managed  as  to  interfere  with  no  other  work.  It  is  easier  sown 
therefore  than  Spring  Wheat,  and  moreover  it  is  easier  harvested; 
from  the  fact  that  it  ripens  from  two  to  four  weeks  earlier,  the  har- 
vest season  is  prolonged  to  that  extent.  It  will  undoubtedly  be  both 
of  great  use  and  unparalleled  interest  to  wheat  growers  and  others 
who  are  engaged  in  farming,  to  listen  to  the  advice  and  hints  on  the 
subject  of  the  culture  of  wheat  of  an  lUinoisian  farmer,  who  has  been 
engaged  in  the  business  in  the  fertile  prairie  sections  for  many  years. 
He  says  that  manures  for  the  preparation  of  the  soil  are  no  more  ne- 
cessary than  the  application  of  any  other  substance.  The  land  is 
turned  over  in  June,  and  ploughed  deeply  and  thoroughly.  Imme- 
diately after  ploughing,  the  whole  springs  up  into  a  dense  and  vigo- 
rous growth  of  "Pigeon  Grass."  The  land  may  be  left  in  that  con- 
dition until  the  middle  of  July,  when  you  give  it  a  single  harrowing, 
letting  all  the  stock  you  can  command,  run  and  tread  upon  it  till  a 
week  before  sowing.  Then  harrow  it  till  the  surface  is  sufficiently 
mellowed  to  cover  the  grain ;  this  is  best  done  with  a  drill.  One- 
fourth  or  half  an  inch  is  enough  to  cover  the  grain.  This  should  be 
done  in  the  middle  of  September,  and  a  plough  should  not  be  allowed 
to  touch  the  land  afterwards.  The  very  best  mode  would  be,  to  put 
it  in  with  a  cultivator,  and  then  run  a  roller  over  it.  The  treading 
with  the  feet  of  cattle  on  the  loose  prairie  soil,  before  getting  in  the 
seed,  is  something  very  necessary,  and  should  therefore  not  be  looked 
upon  with  indifference  and  carelessness.  The  soil  in  those  regions 
28 


326  WHEAT. 

is  loose,  and  therefore  must  be  packed  together,  to  hold  the  roots  of 
the  wheat  plants;  and  for  the  same  reason  it  would  not  be  a  good 
practice  to  give  the  land  more  than  one  good  ploughing.  As  confir- 
matory of  this,  at  least  as  far  as  the  packing  of  the  soil  is  concerned, 
the  same  farmer  adds,  that  every  farmer  must  notice  places  about  his 
fields,  where  there  is  a-road,  or  the  land  has  been  tramped  hard  from 
some  cause,  where  there  is  no  killing  of  his  wheat,  e^en  though  all 
the  rest  of  the  field  may  be  killed.  He  happened  to  put  in  part  of  a 
crop  on  some  summer-fallowed  land,  without  the  usual  ploughing  be- 
fore mowing,  and  his  surprise  was  great,  when  harvest  came,  to  find 
that  here  was  a  splendid  crop,  while  all  the  rest  of  his  wheat  had 
either  failed,  or  turned  out  badly. 

It  is  supposed,  that  the  common  fault  must  be  to  put  in  the  wheat 
too  deep,  and  as  usually  cultivated,  it  is  very  likely  the  fact,  that  the 
depth  is  too  great  if  the  ground  can  be  made  to  stay  where  it  is  put. 
A  half  inch,  if  the  kernel  is  made  to  stay,  and  also  the  ground  above 
it,  is  about  the  right  depth. 

In  the  north  of  the  State  wheat  should  be  sown  broad-cast,  and  har- 
rowed both  ways,  or  drilled  in  by  a  proper  machine  about  the  begin- 
ning of  September.  Wheat  sown  upon  such  land,  in  this  manner, 
rarely  fails  to  produce  an  excellent  crop.  The  best  way  I  thint,  to 
raise  Winter  Wheat  on  new  prairie,  is  to  br^ak  it  in  June  very  shal- 
low, and  cross-plough  it  a  little  deeper  than  it  was  broken,  about  the 
end  of  August,  then  sow  and  harrow  it  well,  and  leave  it  as  rough  as 
you  can.  If  among  corn,  sow  about  the  last  of  August,  or  first  of 
September,  and  put  in  with  a  double  shovel-plough,  by  going  twice  in 
a  row.  Cattle  must  not  be  allowed  to  run  on  it  and  tramp  it,  unless 
the  ground  is  covered  with  snow.  The  stalks  must  be  broken  down 
or  cut,  in  spring.  To  break  them,  one  takes  a  pole,  ten  or  twelve  feet 
in  length,  and  hitches  a  team  to  it,  so  as  to  draw  it  sideways,  when 
the  snow  is  off,  and  the  ground  and  stalks  frozen,  and  break  three  rows 
at  once.  One  man  with  a  team  will  break  thirty  acres  in  a  day.  I 
roll  all  my  small  grain  in  spring,  thinking  that  it  grows  more  evenly, 
and  knowing  that  it  is  better  harvesting. 

A  surprising  fact,  which  deserves  to  be  mentioned  is,  that  many 
good  farmers  in  the  State  of  Illinois  have  often  looked  upon  grow- 
ing Winter  Wheat  as  an  enterprise  which  is  not  always  attended  with 


WHEAT.  327 

the  best  success,  or  •which  comparatively  affords  but  little  profits ; 
while  it  may  be  derived  from  very  reliable  sources,  that  at  the  time 
when  the  country  was  first  settled,  some  farmers  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Rock  River  did  not  seldom  produce  over  forty  bushels  of  wheat  to 
the  acre.  For  fear  of  ill  success  in  growing  Winter  Wheat,  they 
mostly  depend  upon  Spring  Wheat,  and  there  can  certainly  no  fail- 
ures of  the  crops  occur,  if  the  soil  is  but  properly  tilled,  that  is  to  say, 
if  you  plough  deep  enough,  not  only  three  inches,  but  from  three  to 
six  inches  deep,  which  practice,  though  requiring  more  labor  and  ex- 
pense, will  amply  recompense,  and  be  of  incalculable  advantage  to 
those  who  do  not  object  to  it.  The  result  of  the  first  crop  is  of  greater 
importance  to  the  new  settler  or  beginner,  than  any  of  the  subsequent 
ones,  because  at  the  beginning  such  heavy  expenses  will  arise,  that  no 
one  should  neglect  the  somewhat  exhausting  labor  of  tearing  open  the 
sod  turned  round.  Winter  Wheat  will  then  yield  a  splendid  crop. 
On  older  land  the  culture  of  Winter  Wheat  deserves  a  particular  at- 
tention, where  the  seed  cast  between  the  corn  rows  still  on  the  field, 
is  ploughed  in  with  a  three-shovel  cultivator.  Seldom  as  this  last 
method  is  adopted,  several  years'  practice  have  shown,  that  such  win- 
ter seed  is  least  exposed  to  freezing,  because  the  dropping  corn-leaves 
screen  it  exceedingly  well,  and  the  wheat  soon  overtops  the  stubble, 
so  that  at  harvest-time,  it  forms  no  obstruction.  One  could  certainly 
put  in  a  great  deal  more  wheat  in  this  manner,  if  there  would  not 
usually  be  too  much  weed  amongst  the  corn-rows,  or  if  as  it  frequently 
happens,  the  wind  had  not  broken  or  bent  so  many  corn-stalks.  An- 
other fact  which  should  not  be  left  unobserved,  is,  that  seed  wheat 
should  never  be  threshed  with  a  machine,  but  should  be  carefully 
shelled  to  prevent  its  cracking;  from  a  continued  use  of  threshed 
wheat  for  seed,  it  becomes  more  and  more  degenerated  every  year,  and 
the  blasting  or  sickening  in  general,  of  the  wheat  designated  for  seed, 
may  really  be  derived  from  the  wrong  method  of  threshing  the  same, 
it  becoming  spoiled  by  the  thresher.  Many  kernels  are  broken  or 
partially  mashed,  and  can  never  produce  a  perfect  crop,  but  ou  the 
contrary,  render  poorer  and  poorer  every  succeeding  harvest. 


328  OATS. —  BARLEY. 

OATS. 

Oats  are  extensively  grown  in  almost  every  part  of  the  State,  and 
never  fail  to  produce  a  reununerating  crop.  In  order  to  prevent  tbeir 
lodging  or  falling  out,  which  they  are  apt  to  do  soon  after  heading 
out,  the  farmer  sows  on  corn  land,  and  harrows  in  the  crop,  without 
using  the  plough,  putting  from  two  to  three  bushels  on  the  acre.  Mr. 
Jas.  N.  Brown,  former  Secretary  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society, 
in  a  letter  to  the  above  named  institution,  says,  that  in  his  judgment, 
farmers  are  in  the  habit  of  putting  too  little  seed  of  oats  or  other  grain 
upon  the  acre ;  he  thinks  that  if  the  land  is  too  thinly  sown,  the  defi- 
ciency resulting  will  be  supplied  by  noxious  weeds.  The  accounts  of 
persons  for  many  years  engaged  in  farming,  show  that  in  some  loca- 
tions, only  from  40  to  50  bushels  of  oats  per  acre  have  been  obtained, 
while  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  for  example,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Springfield,  from  60  to  80  bushels  per  acre,  are  obtained.  It  may 
not  be  a  wrong  suggestion  that  much  depends  on  the  quantity  of  seed 
oats  planted  in  an  acre;  three  bushels  of  seed  will  undoubtedly  yield  a 
more  plentiful  crop,  than  one  and  a  half  or  two  bushels,  provided  that 
the  soil  is  well  tilled. 

BARLEY. 

Barley  is  commonly  sown  after  Indian  Corn.  It  seldom  thrives  ou 
newly-broken  soil.  A  gravelly  soil,  which  is  light,  warm,  and  sandy, 
is  best  fitted  for  it.  It  should  be  prepared  as  early  as  possible  in  the 
season. 

The  ground  for  barley,  more  than  for  any  other  grain,  must  be 
deeply  ploughed  and  finely  pulverized.  Twice  ploughing  is  necessary, 
and  unless  the  soil  is  very  light,  it  would  be  an  advantage  to  have 
one  ploughing  done  in  the  fall.  Barley  may  be  sown  after  corn,  po- 
tatoes, or  beans;  it  is  sometimes  sown  after  wheat  or  oats,  but  though 
the  grain  in  this  case  is  always  finely  colored,  it  is  bad  farming,  and, 
except  under  peculiar  circumstances,  should  never  be  done.  The  ear- 
lier it  is  done  the  better,  but  it  is  sometimes  sown  as  late  as  the  last 
of  May. 

No  crop,  perhaps,  is  benefitted  so  rriuch  by  rolling  as  barley.  Wood 
ashes  are  an  excellent  manure  for  barley.  Fresh  barn-yard  manure 
should  not  be  used.  Well  rotted  manure  from  the  yard,  thoroughly 
mixed  with  the  soil,  will  give  the  tender  grain  a  quick  and  vigorous 


^  RYE. —  BUCKWHEAT.  329 

start,  and  add  greatly  to  the  yield.     Dry  weather,  after  sowing,  is 
highly  favorable  to  this  crop,  but  wet  Weather  is  injurious. 

On  new  prairie-land  barley  is  not  a  profitable  crop,  unless  the  soil 
be  deeply  broken  up  in  the  fall,  and  then  thoroughly  worked  in  the 
spring,  with  a  cultivator,  or  by  light  ploughing,  so  as  not  to  disturb 
the  sod.  Barley  is  one  of  the  best  crops  to  sow  grass-seeds  with, 
and  ranks  among  those  species  of  grain  which  are  much  cultivated, 
and  very  successfully,  in  a  portion  of  the  State. 


Although  rye  is  not  extensively  raised  in  Illinois,  it  cannot  be  de- 
nied that  if  the  culture  (^  it  is  properly  managed,  pretty  good  crops 
may  here  and  there  be  obtained.  Some  farmers  in  St.  Clair  County 
and  neighborhood,  have,  for  some  years  past,  been  pretty  successful 
with  it.  The  farmers  who  live  in  the  neighborhood  of  towns  in  this 
State,  generally  devote  part  of  their  land  to  the  cultivation  of  it,  in 
order  to  meet  the  demands  of  bakers. 

BUCKWHEAT 

Is  an  excellent  crop,  as  far  as  it  goes,  and  for  the  uses  required.  It 
is  easily  raised,  requiring  neither  an  over  rich  soil,  nor  a  culture  more 
particular  than  good  management  would  demand  for  any  crop.  The 
best  time  for  sowing  it  is  the  advanced  part  of  the  summer,  when  it 
will  also  work  the  destruction  of  the  weeds ;  so  that  tHe  culture  of  this 
crop  is  favorable  for  cleaning  the  fields. 

It  may  be  sown  in  the  course  of  the  month  of  June,  and  it  has  even 
been  put  in  as  late  as  the  4th  of  July,  and  good  crops  have  been  ob- 
tained. It  is  usual  to  sow  about  one  bushel  per  acre,  or  a  little  less, 
broadcast,  and  cover  with  the  harrow.  It  is  better  to  roll  the  ground 
after  sowing.  By  so  doing  the  crop  grows  slow;  but  without  careful 
management,  will  be  liable  to  become  foul  with  sand  or  earth,  and 
thus  injure  the  flour  made  from  the  grain.  The  ground  should  be 
well  tilled ;  there  is  no  other  difficulty  in  the  culture.  The  crop  is  cut 
with  the  cradle  before  frost,  and  should  be  raked  very  carefully  on  a 
dry  day,  to  avoid  dirt.  It  is  advisable  to  set  up  the  gavels  on  the 
beds  for  drying,  and  to  carry  them  to  the  floor  and  thresh  immediately. 
The  crop  is  liable  to  heat  if  staked  or  packed  closely  in  a  mow,  and 
28* 


330  HOPS. —  POTATOES. 

the  srain  must  be  thoroughly  cleaned,  if  it  is  desired  to  serve  as  food 
for  human  beings. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Ohio  Caltivator  says,  that  he  "  has  made 
experiments  to  render  land  designed  for  wheat-culture  more  fertile, 
breaking  up  and  ploughing  under  buckwheat  plantations."  This  seems 
to  be  a  method  which  meets  the  general  approbation  of  those  who 
have  ever  made  the  same  expei'iment,  with  care  and  attention. 

HOPS. 

This  branch  of  agriculture  comes  more  and  more  into  use,  and  is  very 
lucrative  to  the  farmer,  if  he  understands  the  proper  and  judicious 
manaoement.  Considering  the  great  increase  of  the  production  of 
beer  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the  prices  will  ever  be  lower  than 
twenty  cents.  The  middle  and  southern  parts  of  Illinois  seem  to  be 
particularly  favorable  for  the  growing  of  hops.  In  the  neighborhood 
of  Belleville,  and  in  Missouri,  the  most  promising  beginnings  have  been 
made  in  the  culture  of  hops. 

Deep,  loamy  soil,  is  best  for  hops,  and  good  corn  land  is  good  hop 
land  also.  To  prepare  land  for  hops,  plough  nine  or  ten  inches  deep, 
the  land  to  be  furrowed  the  same  as  for  corn.  Hops  have  running 
roots,  from  one  foot  to  three  feet  long,  with  joints  or  eyes  to  them. 
These  roots  are  cut  from  the  old  hill,  every  spring,  after  they  have 
been  planted  two  years.  The  joints  or  eyes  are  two  or  three  inches 
apart.  These  are  the  roots  to  be  planted;  they  must  be  cut  so  as  to 
have  three  joints  to  a  piece,  and  put  three  pieces  to  a  hill.  They  are 
covered  three  inches  deep.  The  second  year,  the  quantity  and  qual- 
ity are  likely  to  be  as  good  as  ever  from  the  field.  Hops  are  generally 
planted  at  a  distance  which  gives  eight  hundred  hills  to  the  acre 
They  twine  around  poles  from  thirteen  to  twenty  feet  long. 

POTATOES. 

In  order  to  obtain  good  potatoes  for  seed,  make  choice  of  a  small 
spot  of  arable,  well-drained  land — an  eastern  slope,  and  new  land,  are 
the  best — ploughed  early  in  the  spring,  and  furrowed  four  or  five 
inches  deep,  2i  feet  apart.  Select  middling-sized  potatoes,  which 
have  touched  the  ground  during  the  winter  previous;  but  do  not  cut 
them.     Drop  one  every  eight  inches  along  the  furrows,  and  cover  them 


POTATOES.  331 

by  filling  tlie  furrows  with  earth.  Then  cover  them  with  a  top  dress- 
ing of  forest-leaves  and  straw,  two  inches  deep.  As  soon  as  the  tops 
of  the  young  plants  are  two  or  three  inches  high,  pass  between  them 
with  a  shovel  plough,  followed  by  a  hoe,  destroying  the  weeds  and 
levelling  the  ground;  do  not  hill.  This  is  all  you  have  to  do  until 
fall ;  when  the  ground  begins  to  freeze,  cover  over  with  straw,  chaff, 
or  forest-leaves,  six  inches  deep,  to  keep  them  from  frost.  Your  pota- 
toes will  now  have  a  chance  to  rest  and  ripen  during  the  winter.  In 
this  way  you  will  have  the  greatest  yield  and  best  quality.  Continue 
this  course  from  year  to  year,  and  the  rot  will  not  only  disappear,  but 
your  crop  will  increase  from  25  to  100  per  cent. 

The  third  year  you  may  increase  your  field  crop,  by  ploughing  in 
fine  manure. 

In  some  parts  of  the  State  we  learn  that  the  rank  growth  of  the 
crop  has  chiefly  developed  itself  in  the  vines,  which  are  luxuriant  be- 
yond precedent,  while  the  essential  root  itself,  the  potatoe,  is  found, 
upon  being  pulled,  to  amount  to  almost  nothing,  being  very  small  and 
poor.  This,  however,  may  be  no  sign  of  a  bad  crop,  for  strong  vines 
are  considered  a  proof  of  good  potatoes.  There  is  time  enough  yet 
for  the  roots  -to  grow  to  their  full  size,  and  they  probably  will,  if  the 
vines  continue  in  good  health.  The  crop  is  a  very  large  one,  and  if 
the  yield  proves  to  be  abundant,  the  price  will  fall  much  below  its  pre- 
sent cost. 

Mr.  Albert  Weinberger,  a  farmer  of  thorough  experience,  in  White- 
field  township,  Marshall  County,  Illinois,  gives  good  encouragement 
in  speaking  of  his  own  potatoe  growths ;  he  says,  that  the  average 
crops  in  his  neighborhood  may  be  laid  down  at  about  100  bushels  per 
acre,  although  he  himself  raised  150  bushels  per  acre  last  year,  and 
so  did  several  of  the  neighboring  farmers,  in  spite  of  the  more  or  less 
injurious  influences  of  the  weather  during  the  summer;  this  is  a  very 
good  crop.  The  average  price  of  potatoes  last  year,  in  some  markets 
of  Illinois,  was  about  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  and  it  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon occurrence,  that  speculators  make  engagements  for  potatoes,  even 
as  early  as  the  time  of  their  planting. 

In  opposition  to  the  system  of  planting  potatoes  late  in  the  season, 
a  communication  was  made  to  us  by  a  farmer,  that  he  raised  no  less 
than  two  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  per  acre,  having  planted  them 


332  SWEET    POTATOES. 

about  the  middle  of  May,  that  they  should  be  well  advanced  by  the 
time  the  hot  weather  comes  on  ;  or,  according  to  his  opinion,  they  may 
not  be  planted  till  after  the  middle  of  June,  that  they  may  have  the 
benefit  of  the  September  rains.  He  says  that  last  season,  late  planted 
potatoes  in  his  neighborhood  were  almost  an  entire  failure. 

SWEET  POTATOES. —  Convolvulus  Batatas. 

These  are  now  existing  in  a  number  of  varieties.  The  roots  are 
usually  spindle-shaped  and  farinaceous ;  the  vines  are  herbaceous,  tak- 
ing roots  at  intervals;  the  leaves  are  hastate,  (cross-bow  shaped),  and 
consequently  three-lobed.  The  flowers,  which  are  few,  are  white  ex- 
ternally, and  purplish  within.  In  Northern  lEinois,  only  one  variety 
succeeds  perfectly,  viz :  the  Nansemond,  brownish-yellow,  short  va- 
riety, which  can  be  grown  as  far  north  as  the  varieties  of  Indian  corn. 

The  ground  should  be  trench-ploughed,  at  least  one  foot  deep,  and 
the  soil  thoroughly  pulverized;  this  should  be  done  at  the  time  of  set- 
ting the  plants,  and  is  a  principle  to  be  observed  in  all  hoed  crops — to 
plant  in  newly-ploughed  land.  No  manure  should  be  used,  as  this  gives 
an  excess  of  vine  at  the  expense  of  tuber,  nor  will  the  potatoes  be  so 
rich,  for  with  high  manuring,  they  incline  to  be  watery. 

The  best  seed-time  is  about  the  first  of  April,  and  as  the  season  is 
usually  pretty  rough  then,  it  is  necessary  to  put  the  seed-potatoes  in 
hot-beds,  for  sprouting,  and  then  cover  them  with  hay  or  straw,  to 
shelter  them  from  rain  or  snow,  still  much  prevailing  at  that  early 
season.  About  the  first  or  middle  of  May,  the  plants  will  be  several 
inches  high,  and  should  be  transplanted  as  soon  as  no  more  danger  of 
frost  is  to  be  feared.  The  ground  into  which  they  are  then  planted, 
and  which  has  been  prepared  as  above  described,  is  laid  off  with  a  two- 
horse  plough,  in  ridges  about  four  feet  wide. 

These  ridges  are  then  divided  with  a  hoe  into  hills  the  same  dis- 
tance apart,  making  four  feet  each  way,  so  as  to  allow  of  culture  with 
a  shovel-plough  both  ways.  The  hills  should  be  made  large,  like  a 
two-bushel  basket,  though  a  little  broader  at  the  base ;  a  small  exca- 
vation is  made  with  the  hand  in  the  top  of  the  hill ;  at  the  bottom  of 
which  a  plant  is  set  in  the  usual  way,  and  a  little  water  is  then  poured 
in,  to  settle  the  earth  about  the  plants;  if  ordinary  care  has  been  be- 
stowed on  them,  very  few  will  fail.     In  the  after  culture  a  shovel- 


FLAX.  -  833 

plough  is  run  through  in  both  directions,  which,  with  the  aid  of  the 
trowel  about  the  top  of  the  hills,  will  keep  the  crop  free  from  weeds. 
The  shovel-plough  not  only  kills  the  weeds,  but  by  breaking  the  crust, 
admits  the  air  to  permeate  the  soil,  which  is  of  high  importance  to  the 
fair  growth  of  all  tuberous-rooted  plants.  The  crop  should  be  worked 
in  this  way  several  times,  until  the  vines  too  much  obstruct  the  way, 
when  little  farther  attention  is  required,  except  to  raise  the  vines  with 
a  stick,  or  by  the  hand ;  since  they  then  have  a  disposition  to  send 
down  roots  at  the  joints,  which  should  not  be  permitted. 

Being  in  possession  of  various  accounts  from  persons  in  this  State, 
who  have  been  growing  the  sweet  potatoe  for  several  years,  we  are  led 
to  the  conclusion,  that  even  the  rich,  loamy,  prairie  soil,  with  its  abun- 
dance of  vegetable  mould,  yields  pretty  good  average  crops  of  this  fa- 
vorite variety  of  tuberous  plants;  while  on  the  other  hand  it  may  be 
considered  as  a  long  established  fact,  that  sandy  loam  answers  the  pur- 
pose still  better. 

No  rotation  with  other  crops  is  required  in  growing  the  sweet  po- 
tatoe; it  succeeds  well  year  after  year  in  the  same  place.  The  great 
advantage  to  be  derived  from  this  is,  that  a  suitable  place  can  be  se- 
lected, in  which  every  excellence  is  united.  The  principal  objects  are 
to  have  a  place  where  the  plants  may  enjoy  much  heat  and  sunshine, 
and  where  they  are  at  the  same  time  protected  from  cold  winds  and 
blasts. 

It  were  to  be  wished  that  farmers  and  gardeners,  even  in  the  north- 
ern counties  of  this  State,  would  give  this  vegetable  the  attention  it 
deserves. 

FLAX 

Is  grown  to  a  certain  extent  in  several  parts  of  the  State,  as  well  as 
in  most  of  the  Western  States  of  this  country.  It  is  not  only  the 
seed,  but  the  fibre  also,  which  makes  this  a  plant  of  high  value. 

No  country  in  the  world  presents  so  many  and  so  great  advantages 
for  the  production  of  flax,  as  our  own.  In  any  of  the  Western  States, 
the  seed  will  always  pay  the  expenses  of  growing,  and  give  to  the 
grower  the  average  profit  of  50  to  75  per  cent.  The  production  of 
flax  has  sometimes  been  encouraged  by  manufacturers  of  woven  goods 
in  the  Eastern  States,  for  they  have  always  been  obliged  to  import 


334  FLAX. 

their  supplies  of  flax  from  Europe;  and  the  prices  paid  for  it,  includ- 
ing the  cost  of  transportation,  duties,  etc.,  makes  the  material  pretty 
expensive  before  it  reaches  their  hands;  the  question,  therefore,  arises, 
■whether  flax  would  not  be  much  less  expensive  as  a  home  product. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  would — and  great  sums'would  be  added 
to  the  present  profits  of  flax-growing,  which  are  only  based  upon  the 
yields  of  flax-seed. 

It  is  thought  by  some,  that  the  growth  9f  flax  is  injurious  to  the 
soil ;  but  the  experience  of  those  who  have  paid  complete  and  long  at- 
tention to  it,  entirely  contradicts  this. 

The  soil  best  adapted  to  flax,  is  a  rich,  alluvial,  or  sandy  loam,  or 
a  loose  marl,  neither  too  wet  nor  too  dry.  Upon  poor,  wet,  or  gra- 
velly soils,  it  will  not  succeed,  and  manure  should  be  applied  on  land 
of  an  inferior  kind.  Good  wheat  land  will  also  be  good  for  flax;  soils 
of  medium  quality  are  best  suited  to  its  growth. 

The  ploughing  should  be  done  in  fall,  and  the  land  be  well  drained, 
and  repeatedly  and  carefully  cleansed  from  weeds.  In  the  spring  the 
cultivator  may  be  passed  over  the  land  to  the  depth  of  four  or  five 
inches ;  a  light  harrow  may  then  be  run  over  it.  Then  the  land 
should  be  rolled  and  harrowed,  to  make  a  fine  surface  for  the  reception 
of  the  seed,  and  a  firm  and  compact  bottom. 

The  expense  of  preparing  grass  land  directly  for  flax,  may  some- 
times be  too  great,  and  it  is  therefore  desirable  that  some  other  crop 
should  intervene,  of  plants  such  as  do  not  occupy  the  land  long,  and 
which  during  their  growth  want  frequent  stirring;  such  plants  as; 
beans,  peas,  &c.,  because  the  repeated  stirring  renders  the  mould  soft 
and  loose,  and  at  the  same  time  destroys  the  weeds  which  would  other- 
wise do  much  damage  to  the  flax. 

The  seed  may  be  sown  any  time  between  the  middle  of  April,  and 
the  middle  of  June ;  later  sowing  is  not  to  be  recommended,  as  the 
crop  always  blossoms  in  the  month  of  July,  and  if  sown  later,  the 
plant  is  short,  and  the  fibre  soft  and  brittle.  The  seed  should  be 
spread  evenly,  and,  if  possible,  in  moist  weather. 

The  roots  penetrate  downward  about  half  the  length  of  the  stem; 
and  a  soil  of  the  above  description,  loose  and  loamy,  should  therefore 
be  chosen  for  the  cultivation  of  flax ;  a  soil  which  is  not  liable,  either 
to  contain  too  much  moisture,  or  to  be  too  dry,  but  is  capable  of  being 


FLAX.  835 

well  tilled,  answers  the  purpose  best.  With  regard  to  the  choice  of 
seed,  it  should  be  of  a  bright,  brownish  color,  oily  to  the  feel,  and  at 
the  same  time  heavy.  The  seed  from  Holland  not  only  ripens  sooner, 
but  it  also  yields  more  fibre  than  most  others.  American  seed  pro- 
duces a  common  fine  flax. 

The  quantity  of  seed  required  per  acre  is  from  two,  to  two  and  a 
half  bushels,  when  sown  broadcast.  It  may,  however,  be  added,  that 
with  regard  to  the  quantity  of  seed,  much  depends  upon  the  quality 
of  the  soil,  and  also  on  the  weather;  for  if  too  much  seed  is  sown  on 
rich  and  fertile  land,  the  crop  is  in  danger  of  lodging. 

If  the  cultivation  is  performed  in  a  proper  manner,  an  acre  of  good 
soil  will  readily  produce  20  bushels  of  this  seed,  which  is  worth  from 
81  50  to  $2  per  bushel,  according  to  the  quality. 

In  regard  to  the  preparation  of  the  flax,  the  following  is  to  be  ob- 
served :  If  we  take  straw,  break  it,  and  carefully  examine  it,  it  will  be 
found  to  consist  of  three  distinct  parts ;  the  centre  is  occupied  by  a  sort 
of  cellular  tissue,  having  the  appearance  of  wood ;  this  is  usually  called 
the  "  shave,"  or  ''  bean ;"  it  is  composed  of  bundles  of  long  and  tough 
fibres,  the  whole  enveloped  by  a  thin  and  delicate  bark  or  skin. 

The  first  process  is  called  the  "steeping,"  or  "  dew-rotting;"  in  this, 
the  straw  is  spread  on  the  grass,  and  carefully  watered,  suflicient  mois- 
ture being  supplied  to  support  the  action  of  fermentation  in  the  tis- 
sues of  the  plant.  This  method,  however,  is  very  tedious,  and  re- 
quires several  weeks  for  completion.  The  usual  method  is  to  immerse 
the  straw,  either  in  tanks  or  pits,  constructed  for  the  purpose,  or  in 
slowly-running  streams.  In  a  few  days,  a  scum  appears  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  and  is  succeeded  by  the  evolution  of  gaseous  bub- 
bles, arising  from  the  decomposition,  which  is  now  actively  at  work. 

Great  care  must  then  be  taken  to  prevent  this  from  proceeding  too 
far,  and  efiecting  injury  to  the  quality  of  the  fibrous  portion;  it  must 
be  constantly  watched,  ^nd  removed  as  soon  as  the  desired  end  has 
been  attained.  This  is  known  immediately  by  a  person  of  experience, 
from  the  manner  in  which  the  fibre  separates  from  the  straw,  in  break- 
ing a  portion  of  the  stalk.  Great  judgment  is  required  in  determining 
the  proper  time  for  drawing  the  flax  from  the  steep ; — if  the  process 
has  not  been  carried  far  enough,  the  fibre  is  coarse,  and  can  only  be 
used  for  the  manufacture  of  the  common  goods. 

The  temperature  of  the  steep  is  kept  between  80  and  90  degrees. 


S36  BROOM    CORN. 

BROOM   CORN. 

This  corn  is  not  very  extensively  cultivated,  as  yet,  in  the  State 
but  the  usefulness  of  it  makes  it  a  subject  worth  mentioning,  as  it 
may  be  cultivated  in  localities  adapted  for  it.  Mr.  Beebe,  a  farmer 
near  Platteville,  Illinois,  is  known  to  have  cultivated  this  corn  for 
about  three  years,  raising,  however,  but  a  small  quantity,  until  last 
year,  when  he  planted  about  12  acres,  and  obtained  an  excellent  crop. 
The  soil  best  adapted  for  it  seems  to  be  the  broken  sod  of  an  old  prai- 
rie or  pasture.  Any  soil  which  will  serve  for  the  cultivation  of  In- 
dian corn,  is  equally  adapted  for  Broom  corn.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
apply  manure  if  the  soil  is  but  of  a  middling  quality.  Broom  corn  is 
considered  to  be  a  crop  which  will  hardly  fail,  if  it  is  not  sown  too 
late.  The  soil  is  prepared  almost  in  the  same  manner  as  for  Indian 
corn,  but  should  be  tilled  a  little  more  with  the  roller  and  cultivator, 
because  the  seed  is  smaller,  requiring  a  more  loosened  soil  for  sprout- 
ing. The  ridges  are  laid  about  three  and  a  half  feet  distant  from  each 
other,  so  that  the  sun's  rays  may  penetrate  to  the  roots;  the  hills  18 
inches  apart;  and  from  10  to  12  kernels  are  taken  for  each  hill.  It 
is  best  to  plant  as  early  as  the  season  will  permit.  As  soon  as  the 
corn  is  grown  high  enough  to  distinguish  the  rows,  it  is  worked  with 
the  cultivator  and  the  hoe,  not  leaving  more  than  four  or  five  stalks  to 
a  hill;  the  hoeing  is  usually  performed  twice. 

There  are  two  methods  of  harvesting, — the  one  is,  to  cut  the  stalks 
as  soon  as  they  are  ripe,  to  bring  them  to  the  barn,  remove  the  seed, 
and  place  the  stalks  on  planks  for  drying.  In  this  manner  the  stalks 
preserve  their  original  bright  color,  and  the  brooms  bring  a  higher 
price.  The  other  method  is  to  let  the  crop  stand  until  the  seed  is  per- 
fectly ripened,  then  to  cut  it  and  spread  it  on  the  field  for  two  or  three 
days,  to  get  dry ;  it  is  then  taken  to  the  barn  and  put  on  scaifoldings, 
for  thorough  drying,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  allow  the  air  to  pass  freely 
over  it,  and  to  prevent  its  rotting.  By  following  this  latter  method, 
from  30  to  50  bushels  of  good  seed  per  acre  are  obtained,  which  are 
equal  in  value  to  the  same  quantity  of  oats,  for  feeding  poultry,  cows, 
sheep,  etc.  The  average  yield  is  about  400  brooms  per  aere-r-100 
pounds  of  good  brush  make  about  70  medium  sized  brooms. 

The  brush  of  Mr.  Beebe's  Broom  corn  crop,  of  last  year,  was  of  the 


CHOCOLATE    CORN.  337 

finest  order;  and  he  was  engaged  during  the  fall  in  manufacturing 
brooms.  He  intends  to  build  larger  shops,  and  carry  on  the  business 
on  a  more  extensive  scale.  He  is  ready  to  furnish  seed,  and  will  pur- 
chase, next  fall,  all  good  Broom  corn  which  may  be  offered  him.  It 
is  beyond  any  doubt,  that  the  raising  of  this  corn,  will  soon  prove  very 
profitable  for  the  farmers  in  this  State,  as  well  as  for  those  who  are 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brooms  made  of  this  domestic  material 
About  one  peck  of  seed  is  required  per  acre. 

CHOCOLATE   CORN. 

This  seems  to  be  a  variety  of  the  so-called  "  millet  corn,"  and  as  it 
may,  perhaps,  be  little  known  as  yet,  I  take  this  opportunity  of  pre- 
senting to  the  reader  the  information  that  was  given  to  me  with  re- 
gard to  this  corn,  by  Mr.  Feussner,  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illine'is;  he 
says: — ''I  raise  a  plant  for  my  household  use,  which  seems  to  be  a 
variety  of  millet,  having  a  black  seed.  The  right  name  of  it  I  have 
not  been  able  to  find — we  call  it  "chocolate  corn,"  a  name  which  may 
be  derived  partly  from  the  way  in  which  it  is  used,  and  partly  from 
the  manner  of  its  cultivation.  We  use  it  as  a  very  delicious  substi- 
tute for  coffee;  and  it  sometimes  also  serves  us  as  a  savory  dish  at  our 
meals.  It  is  easy  of  digestion,  and  tastes  precisely  like  weak  choco- 
late, and  even  resembles  it  in  color.  It  is  sown  in  the  beginning  of 
May ;  it  ripens  about  the  beginning  of  September,  and  is  not  affected 
by  light  night-frosts.  This  plant  is  cultivated  like  Indian  corn  or  po- 
tatoes ;  the  seed,  if  sown,  is  covered  but  one  inch  high.  The  hills  are 
to  be  kept  apart  a  distance  of  three  or  four  feet,  and  from  five  to  seven 
plants  are  left  to  each  hill. 

"  The  preparation  of  a  beverage  from  this  corn,  is  accomplished  in 
the  following  manner  : — 

"  We  want  for  our  table  four  pints  of  chocolate ;  we  take  one  and  a 
half  ears,  nearly  filling  the  funnel  of  our  coffee-mill,  which  is  about 
4^  inches  wide,  and  If  inches  high,  and  grind  the  kernels  a  little  fine  ; 
having  proceeded  thus  far,  we  mix  the  ground  substance  with  two 
pints  of  water,  and  boil  it  until  the  starch  contained  in  it  forms  into 
a  lump,  the  liquid  is  then  passed,  to  separate  it  from  the  grains,  through 
a  fine  wire  sieve,  or  tin  colander;  two  pints  of  sweet  milk,  from  which 
the  cream  has  been  skimmed,  and  a  good  tablespoonful  of  common 
29  w 


338  CHINESE    YAM. 

powdered  sugar,  and  a  little  cinuamon  are  then  added  to  tlie  decoc- 
tion ;  it  is  now  boiled  once  more,  and  a  most  delicious  beverage,  which 
is  scarcely  distinguishable  from  light  chocolate,  is  ready  for  use.  If 
you  wish  to  improve  it  still  further,  you  may  add  an  egg,  and  a  little 
nutmeg." 

If  this  corn  could  gradually  be  brought  to  serve  as  a  substitute  for 
coffee,  considerable  sums  which  are  every  year  paid  for  this  latter  ar- 
ticle would  be  saved. 

CHINESE  YAM.     (Dioscorea  Batatas!) 

This  tuber  has  not  been  cultivated,  as  yet,  in  the  State ;  but  as  it 
can  he  raised  in  Illinois,  we  think  it  a  duty  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
farmers  and  settlers  to  it. 

From  a  report  made  by  the  agricultural  division  of  the  Patent  Of- 
fice, it  appears  that  this  variety  of  tuber  has  lately  been  introduced 
into  the  United  States,  for  experiment. 

The  method  of  cultivation  as  adopted  by  the  Chinese,  appears  to  be 
easy  and  simple. 

"  In  the  autumn,  they  select  the  smallest  tubers,  preserving  them 
from  injury  by  frost,  by  covering  them  in  a  pit  with  earth  and  straw. 
The  spring  succeeding  they  plant  them  near  each  other,  in  a  trench, 
in  well  prepared  soil.  When  they  have  put  forth  shoots,  one  or  two 
yards  in  length,  the  joints  and  leaves,  containing  the  buds,  are  cutoff 
and  planted  for  reproduction.  For  this  purpose,  they  form  the  ground 
into  ridges,  on  the  top  of  which  a  shallow  trench  is  made  with  the 
hand,  or  some  suitable  implement,  in  which  these  joints  are  planted, 
covered  slightly  with  finely  pulverized  earth,  with  the  leaves  rising 
just  to  the  surface.  Should  it  rain  the  same  day,  they  shoot  imme- 
diately ;  if  not,  they  must  be  gently  watered,  until  they  do  so.  In 
fifteen  or  twenty  days,  they  give  birth  to  new  tubers  and  stalks,  the 
latter  of  which  it  is  necessary  to  remove  from  time  to  time,  to  prevent 
them  from  taking  root  on  the  sides,  and  thus  injuring  the  development 
of  the  tubers  already  formed." 

By  the  report  of  the  gentleman  to  whom  the  yam  was  sent  for  ex- 
periment, we  learn  that  it  is  growing  finely,  promises  an  abundant 
yield,  and  appears  to  be  well  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate. 

Another  communication,  received  from  a  gentleman  in  the  State  of 


GRASSES.  339 

Elinois,  with  regard  to  the  "  Yam,"  treats  this  interesting  subject  as 
follows : 

"  I  cannot  forbear  to  make  mention  of  a  plant,  which  may  probably 
soon  take  its  way  to  our  Western  States,  and  to  which  the  general  at- 
tention may  already  be  directed,  since  it  promises  to  bring  greater  be- 
nefits to  the  Eastern  as  well  as  to  the  Western  Hemisphere,  than  per- 
haps any  other  plant  heretofore  known.  A  'Yam'  tuber  of  the  va- 
riety above  mentioned,  was  sent  some  six  years  ago  by  the  French 
Consul,  M.  de  Montigny,  at  Shanghai,  to  Paris,  where  it  was  planted 
and  cultivated  with  much  care.  From  thence  plants  were  sent  to 
America." 

Mr.  Prince,  on  Long  Island,  has  already  obtained  a  full  crop  of 
yams.  The  accounts  of  Professor  Decaines,  at  Paris,  the  Chinese  and 
Japanese  news,  and  the  opinions  of  Mr.  Prince,  and  others,  establish 
this  point,  that  the  plant  may  be  grown  in  all  countries  where  pota- 
toes succeed  well.  It  does  not  suffer  from  frost,  when  kept  in  the 
ground,  and  may  be  preserved  in  cellars,  in  good  and  sound  condition, 
for  ten  months.  It  is  easy  to  transplant  and  increase  it,  and  it  is  sure 
to  give  abundant  yields,  even  on  a  small,  but  well  cultivated  piece  of 
land.  It  is  not  liable  at  all  to  disease  or  rot,  and  is  more  nutritive, 
healthy,  and  palatable,  than  our  common  potatoe,  and  seems  to  be  de- 
signed to  become  the  nourishment  of  many  people. 

Small,  sound  tubers  of  the  "  Chinese  Yam,"  are  sold  at  §6  per 
dozen,  sent  by  mail,  if  ordered  soon,  at  Ellwanger  &  Barry's,  Mount 
Hope  Nurseries,  Rochester,  New  York. 

GRASSES. 

This  State,  especially  in  the  central  part,  may  properly  be  considered 
a  good  grass-growing  region.  The  cultivation  of  tame  grass,  was,  iu 
former  years,  when  farmers  were  yet  scarce,  and  the  surrounding  prai- 
ries still  afforded  a  sufficiency  of  grass  for  hay-making,  not  deemed  to 
be  necessary,  and  was  entered  on  by  but  few,  till  it  was  found  that  in 
the  course  of  time,  the  natural  prairie-grass  in  the  neighborhood  of 
farms,  remarkably  diminished  by  the  pasturing  of  cattle.  Farmers 
then  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  raising  of  grass  crops  would  be 
highly  important  and  even  very  necessary  for  them.  The  varieties 
generally  grown  are  clover  and  timothy. 


340  GRASSES, 

In  order  to  get  a  permanently  good  pasture,  it  is  necessary  to  culti- 
vate the  old  land  for  some  time  in  corn,  wheat,  and  other  grain,  as  by 
this  method,  the  wild  properties  of  the  soil,  the  weeds,  and  the  wild 
grass,  will  be  effectually  destroyed.  For  this,  six  or  seven  years'  good 
tillage  of  the  land  that  is  to  be  prepared  for  grass,  is  required ;  and 
such  land,  if  after  this  time  sown  with  clover,  may  serve  exceedingly 
well  as  pasture  for  5  or  6  years.  The  sod  may  then  be  broken  again, 
and  the  same  rotation,  commencing  with  the  cultivation  of  grain,  be 
repeated.  In  some  parts  of  the  State,  timothy  is  better  adapted  for 
permanent  pastures  than  clover.  If  timothy  is  on  rich  and  good  soil, 
two  crops  may  be  obtained ;  one  mowing  is  then  performed  in  the  ear- 
lier part  of  the  summer,  and  another,  in  the  latter  part  of  it. 

The  best  time  for  sowing  grass  is  considered  to  be  in  the  month  of 
March  ;  at  least  this  may  be  the  case  in  Central  Illinois,  while  in  more 
northern  regions  it  may  perhaps  be  more  advisable  to  sow  a  little  later. 
Some  farmers  in  Central  Illinois  mix  their  grass-seeds  together,  and 
sow  at  the  rate  of  one-third  clover,  and  two-thirds  timothy,  using  one 
bushel  of  clover,  and  two  bushels  of  timothy,  on  twelve  or  thirteen 
acres.  Stock  should  not  be  suffered  to  run  on  grass  during  March 
and  April.  If  the  seeds  are  not  mixed,  the  average  quantities  re- 
quired for  sowing  are  about  as  follows  :  clover,  one  bushel  to  ten  acres ; 
timothy,  one  bushel  to  five  acres. 

Blue  grass  is  also  cultivated,  but  not  so  extensively  as  clover  and 
timothy. 

Mr.  Weinberger,  a  farmer  in  Marshall  County,  directs  our  attention 
to  a  variety  which  is  known  by  the  name  of  Millet  grass.  This  va- 
riety would  deserve  greater  attention  if  it  were  perennial,  but  it  is  only 
a  one  year's  plant,  and  therefore  must  be  sown  every  year.  The  va 
riety  was  made  known  and  cultivated  some  years  since  in  that  county, 
and  is  very  valuable,  not  only  for  the  excellence  of  the  blade,  but  also 
for  its  seeds,  which  are  in  fair  demand.  Dry  land  is  best  adapted  for 
its  growth  ;  it  grows  to  the  height  of  seven  or  eight  feet.  If  much  at- 
tention is  to  be  bestowed  on  the  sefc7-crop  of  millet,  it  is  better  to  sow 
the  seed  broad-cast,  since  this  will  promote  a  fuller  development  of  the 
seeds.  But  if  a  good  Zioy-crop  is  expected,  one  may  sow  thicker;  the 
stalks  will  thus  be  prevented  from  growing  too  hard  and  coarse.  The 
average  yields  of  this  variety  may  be  about  four  tons  of  hay  per  acre, 
and  twenty  bushels  of  seed. 


FRUIT   CULTURE. 

The  culture  of  fruit  bas  for  many  years  been  carried  on  more  or 
less  extensively,  in  tbose  parts  of  tbis  State  in  wbicb  tbe  localities  ap- 
peared to  be  adapted.  In  Middle  and  Soutbern  Illinois,  orcbards  bave 
existed  for  a  long  wbile,  and  even  in  tbe  nortb  of  tbis  State,  near  the 
Lake  Micbigan,  tbe  culture  of  some  kinds,  especially  tbe  apple,  bas 
been  attended  witb  pretty  good  success.  Tbe  principal  varieties  of 
fruit  grown  in  Illinois,  are,  tbe  apple,  peacb,  pear,  quince,  plum,  &c. 

Tbe  State  Fair  beld  at  Springfield,  last  year,  offers  great  induce- 
ments to  poTiiologists  and  fruit-growers  in  general.  Tbe  most  beauti- 
ful specimens  of  apples  and  otber  fruit  were  tbere  to  be  seen,  and  se- 
veral premiums  were  awarded. 

THE   APPLE. 

Tbe  apple,  as  a  tree,  as  well  as  a  fruit,  is  said  to  have  reacbed  a 
higb  degree  of  perfection  in  some  parts  of  Central  and  Soutbern  Illi- 
nois. Tbe  crops  raised  in  a  year  of  abundance  are  often  superior  to 
tbe  best  crops  obtained  in  tbe  States  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Obio,  botb  in  quality  and  in  quantity.  It  is  an  established  fact,  tbat 
each  desirable  variety  of  tbe  apple  bas  its  own  latitude,  in  wbicb  it 
attains  its  bigbest  perfection,  and  tbat  every  departure  from  this  par- 
ticular latitude  depreciates,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  the  value  of 
tbe  fruit.  Tbe  orcbards  in  tbe  State  contain,  for  the  most  part, 
grafted  fruit  alone.  The  soil  best  adapted  for  planting  apple-trees  is 
a  mixture  of  loam,  mould,  and  lime ;  a  sloping  hill  is  preferable  to  a 
level  place.  Among  the  numerous  varieties,  may  be  mentioned  as  the 
most  approved :  Red  June,  Early  Ho^rvest,  Tops  of  Wine,  Sine  qua 
non,  Hamho,  Newark,  Pippin,  Alexander,  Fameuse,  Golden  Pippin, 
uEsopus  Spitzenherg,  Yellow  Belljiower,  Priestley,  Long  Green,  Non- 
pareil, Red  Baldwin,  Newton  Pippin,  Lansinhurg,  Michael  Henry, 
29  *  ( 341 ) 


342  THE    PEACH. 

and  Pippin.     The  best  cider  is  obtained  from  the  Virginia,  and  Si-  ■ 
beria  Crab. 

Sweet  apples  are  more  nourishing  and  healthy  than  acid  ones.  For 
feeding  stock  of  all  kinds,  an  orchard  of  sweet  apples  is  as  profitable  as 
anything  which  the  land  will  produce. 

The  following  are  good  kinds  for  planting:  Early  Golden  JSioeet,' 
Hog  Island  Sweet,  Ramsdell  Sweet,  Pound  or  PumpJcin  Sweet, 
TolmarCs  Sweet,  Peach  Pond  Sweet,  &e.  With  regard  to  the  crops, 
it  may  be  said  that  they  are  sometimes  very  remunerating.  Examples 
may  be  given,  where  single  trees  have  yielded  from  five  to  ten  dollars 
a  year  in  fruit.  Apple  trees  are  generally  transplanted  from  the  nur- 
series after  one  year's  growth,  at  which  time  they  will  be  from  three 
to  four  feet  high. 

Apple  trees,  to  any  amount,  and  of  all  varieties,  can  be  had  in  our 
nurseries  from  12|  to  15  cents  a-piece. 

THE   PEACH. 

With  regard  to  the  peach  tree,  it  may  be  said  that,  in  some  por- 
tions of  this  State,  it  may  be  cultivated  with  considerable  success, 
while  here  and  there,  in  the  northern  regions,  it  is  liable  to  be  killed 
by  the  winter.  The  reason  for  this  may  be  attributed  to  the  tender- 
ness of  the  tree,  which  is  of  eastern  origin.  Some  peach-growers  are 
of  opinion  that  seedling  peach  trees  are  more  successful  in  their  growth 
than  those  raised  from  buds,  and  that  it  is  the  better  plan  to  continue 
them  through  seeds. 

The  peach  is  considered  rather  an  uncertain  crop  in  North  Illinois. 
The  failures  of  crops  usually  arise  from  the  winter  killing  of  the  fruit- 
buds. 

A  dry  soil,  containing  but  few  organic  substances,  seems  to  be  best 
adapted  for  peach  trees.  Mr.  Harkness,  a  farmer  in  Peoria  County, 
who,  from  his  personal  experience,  knows  the  results  of  the  fruit-crops 
in  that  portion,  during  more  than  twenty  years,  thinks  that  the  peach 
tree,  when  cultivated,  is  not  sufiiciently  cared  for,  and  that  it  is  not 
always  planted  in  a  sufiiciently  sheltered  situation;  therefore  its  blos- 
soms will  sometimes  freeze  in  early  spring.  It  is,  however,  not  only 
the  spring  frost,  but  also  a  certain  degree  of  severe  frost  during  the 
winter,  which  is  injurious  to  the  peach  tree,  but  if  no  damage  of  such 


THE    PEAR.  843 

kind  has  been  done  to  the  trees,  they  are  sure  to  vield  very  full  and 
abundant  crops ;  and  this  will  be  still  more  the  case  if  there  be  some 
little  cultivation  on  such  peach  lands,  in  a  bearing  year;  the  cultiva- 
tion needed,  is  a  loosening  and  stirring  up  of  the  ground  a  little  in 
the  early  part  of  the  summer.  Young  trees  often  commence  to  bear 
in  their  third  year.  The  peach,  more  than  any  other  kind  of  tree, 
can  stand  great  drought. 

There  are  but  few  farmers  who  are  entirely  without  peach  trees, 
and  they  are  found  both  wild  and  grafted.  The  principal  varieties 
known  in  Illinois,  are  :  1.  The  GlhvjRtone,  or  Phim  Peach,  which  is 
juicy,  aromatic,  and  hard.  2.  The  Freestone  Peach,  white,  with  a 
loose  stone;  and 3,  the  Nectarine,  plum-like,  with  a  smooth  skin;  very 
delicious,  but  a  little  difBcult  to  raise. 

THE   PEAR. 

Although  the  pear  is  not  frequently  seen  in  this  State,  it  may,  in 
some  districts,  be  found  as  large,  as  fine  flavored,  and  as  perfect  in 
every  respect,  as  anywhere  in  the  United  States.  The  pear,  we  know 
from  good  authority,  to  have  certainly  been  reared  in  western  nurseries, 
some  fifty  years  ago,  and  even  for  a  longer  time.  Some  men  are  not 
in  favor  of  growing  pears,  from  the  mere  prejudiced  opinion  that  they 
do  not  promise  a  crop  sufficiently  profitable  to  make  it  worth  while  to 
cultivate  this  fruit.  There  is  certainly  much  truth  in  the  assertion, 
that  the  trunks  and  larger  branches  of  the  pear  tree  are  frequently 
affected  by  the  blight,  and  that  then  a  large  portion  of  the  standard 
pear  trees,  which  have  come  into  bearing,  are  swept  away.  Those 
which  have  been  but  partly  destroyed,  will  sometimes  revive  and  be- 
gin to  bear  again.  For  planting,  one  should  be  careful  to  select  a 
place  where  the  soil  is  not  too  dry,  and  heavy  rather  than  too  light 
and  too  mellow ;  the  trunks  and  roots  should  then  be  well  screened 
from  the  influence  of  the  heat,  at  noon.  As  manure,  urine,  soap- 
water,  bones,  ashes,  etc.,  may  be  used.  As  a  reason  for  the  dying  of 
the  trees,  carelessness  in  the  treatment  has  been  alleged,  and  a  farmer 
whom  we  met,  said  that  the  destruction  is  caused  by  a  neglect  in  the 
proper  setting  and  trimming,  and  insufficient  protection  from  insects. 
Good  varieties  of  pears  are  not  much  found  in  our  markets,  and  com- 
paratively high  prices  are  paid  for  them,  on  account  of  their  scarcity; 


344  THE    PRUNE. 

yet  it  should  be  remembered  that  it  does  not  cost  much  more  to  grow 
a  good  quality  of  pears,  than  of  apples.  A  sound,  bearing  tree,  will 
produce  almost  as  much  fruit  as  an  apple  tree,  and  it  will  live  many 
years.  There  are  now  more  than  eighty  distinct  varieties  cultivated 
in  this  country,  many  of  which  may  be  had  at  every  nursery. 

The  principal  varieties  known  in  this  State,  are :  the  Barthtt,  the 
Bergamotte,  the  Beurre^  the  Basse,  the  Napoleon,  the  Vii'guleuse, 
the  St.  Germain,  the  Pound  Pear,  the  Dix,  the  Seckel,  etc. 

THE   QUINCE. 

As  far  as  it  has  hitherto  been  cultivated,  the  quince  seems  to  be 
hardy  and  productive.  It  is  a  small  tree,  or  large  shrub,  is  very  slow 
in  coming  to  a  bearing  condition,  but  is  one  among  the  oldest  fruit- 
trees  known  in  the  country.  Some  very  good  and  plentiful  crops  have 
already  been  produced,  in  cases  where  proper  management  has  been 
bestowed. 

THE   PLUM. 

The  cultivation  of  the  plum,  as  a  grafted  fruit-tree,  has  not  as  yet 
become  so  extensive  as  to  give  much  for  experience  to  say  on  the  sub- 
ject. A  fruit-grower  in  Peoria  County  says,  that  in  that  region,  wild 
plums  were,  for  eight  or  ten  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  country, 
found  in  great  abundance.  During  the  progress  of  civilization,  he 
says,  came  the  plum  Curcusio,  and  now  one  will  not  meet  with  a 
sound  wild  plum  in  a  whole  season.  Our  cultivated  plum  trees  grow 
well  and  blossom  abundantly;  the  young  fruit  is  often  very  promising, 
but  the  insect  above  named  is  so  universal,  that  very  little  of  it  ever 
comes  to  maturity.  North  of  latitude  41°  the  Curcusio  is  not  so  trou- 
blesome, and,  in  those  parts,  plums  have  therefore  been  cultivated  in 
many  places  with  success. 

The  climate  best  adapted  to  the  plum,  seems  to  be  nearly  distinct 
from  that  suited  to  the  peach.  North  of  latitude  41°  is  the  proper 
region  of  the  plum. 

THE   PRUNE. 

This  variety  of  fruit  is  of  German  origin,  and  among  fruit-growers 
the  opinion  has  been  prevalent,  that  it  degenerates  in  this  country, 


THE    CHERRY.  845 

and  that  a  fruit  would  be  produced  which  in  shape  and  quality  would 
perfectly  resemble  our  common  plum,  but  this  has  been  fairly  refuted 
by  an  experienced  fruit-grower,  who  goes  as  far  as  to  protest  that  within 
his  own  knowledge  and  experience,  prune  crops  have  even  surpassed 
apple  crops,  and  that  splendid  results  have  been  attained  with  im- 
ported young  trees.  This  must  necessarily  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
both  soil  and  climate,  in  this  country,  are  exceedingly  good  for  the 
culture  of  this  fruit.  It  may  also  be  observed  that  the  prune  tree  is 
one  of  the  fruit-trees  which  do  not  suffer  from  frost,  and  that  its  fine 
appearance  makes  it  desirable  as  an  ornament,  in  gardens. 

THE   CHERRY. 

Most  of  the  large  wood  cherries  grow  so  fast  as  to  be  liable  to  win- 
ter kill,  and  can  only  be  grown  with  success  on  thin,  poor  soil,  or  in  a 
grass  plat.  The  Morilles,  and  May  Cherries,  are  hardy  and  produc- 
tive. It  is  a  great  drawback,  that  a  large  portion  of  the  crop  is  con- 
sumed by  the  birds. 

The  principal  varieties  of  cherries  are,  the  Mayduhe,  the  Early 
Whiteheart,  the  Late  Duke,  &c. 

The  Blaclibcrry  is  abundant  and  fine  in  all  the  groves  where  the 
timber  has  been  partly  cut  away. 

The  Raspberry.  The  black  variety  is  common  in  the  open  woods, 
but  the  red  is  not  found  here,  except  as  a  cultivated  plant;  where 
planted,  it  thrives  and  grows  luxuriantly.  There  are  several  varieties, 
foreign  as  well  as  domestic,  well  known  in  this  State. 

Tlie  Strawberry.  The  prairie  soil  is  well  adapted  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  this  delicious  berry,  which  may  at  the  same  time  be  found  in 
very  great  abundance,  growing  in  the  woods,  in  a  wild  state.  Several 
experiments  whicb  were  made  with  the  cultivation  of  the  strawberry, 
have  proved,  that  apple  orchards  are  very  proper  places  for  planting 
them,  especially  for  those  northern  varieties,  the  leaves  of  which  are 
much  affected  by  very  hot  sunshine.  If  strawberry  plants  of  almost 
any  variety  are  planted  upon  orchard  land,  (no  matter  how  close  the 
trees  stand,  for  the  shade  is  not  at  all  injurious,  but  on  the  contrary, 
quite  beneficial  to  strawberry  growth,)  a  crop  of  about  25  or  30  bush- 


346  FRUIT    CULTURE. 

els  may  be  obtained  upon  an  acre.  The  varieties  most  admired  are 
the  Hovey's  Seedling^  Mammotli  Aljpine,  Burr's,  Ncio  Pine,  Black 
Prince,  and  Hudson. 

The  Currant.  This  bust  grows  exceedingly  well  and  vigorously, 
and  should  be  shaded  a  little  from  the  intense  heat  of  the  sun,  that  it 
may  mature  well.  The  common  red  currant  gives  the  highest  yield, 
but  requires  a  cool  situation,  and  a  moistened,  loose  soil. 

The  Gooseberry.  It  is  not  much^found  in  the  southern  part  of  this 
State,  and  requires  almost  the  same  properties  of  soil  as  the  currant 
bush.  The  berry,  as  it  grows  hereabouts,  is  smooth  and  of  medium 
size.  It  is  found  in  abundance  in  the  groves,  but  is  much  improved 
by  cultivation.  Some  of  the  large  foreign  sorts  are  subject  to  mildew, 
but  the  natives  and  smaller  class  of  imported  sorts,  flourish  and  bear 
well. 

The  Cranherry  will  succeed  very  well  in  the  most  northern  parts 
of  Illinois,  on  a  swampy  soil. 

Nurseries.  The  number  of  nurseries  in  this  State  is  truly  a  matter 
of  astonishment.  In  Northern  Illinois,  nurseries  are  found  capable  of 
supplying  the  surrounding  country  with  apple,  as  well  as  other  fruit, 
and  ornamental  trees,  and  flowering  plants.  And  yet,  more  trees  are 
planted  from  Eastern  nurseries,  than  from  home  establishments.  It 
is  a  fact,  however,  that  as  far  as  our  principal  variety — the  apple — is 
concerned,  the  eastern  trees  are  worth  less,  and  cost  much  more  than 
those  of  the  same  size  or  age  at  home.  They  are  worth  less,  because 
usually  more  attenuated  in  form,  and  unacclimated  here,  and  wlien 
badly  handled — which  is  often  the  case  with  those  peddled  about  the 
country — they  have  less  vitality,  and  are  more  apt  to  die,  or  become 
diseased ;  and  they  cost  more,  because  heavy  charges  and  large  com- 
missions have  to  be  added  to  the  nursery  price.  It  is  known  that 
eastern  apple  trees,  which  are  "  peddled"  through  the  West,  at  from 
20  to  30  cents  per  tree,  are  bought  East  at  from  ^80  to  SlOO  per 
thousand. 

The  principal  nurseries  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  are : 

The  Grove  Nursery,  of  J.  &  0.  Kennikott,  at  West  Northfield,  Cook  Comity, 
office  No.  47  Clarkson  Street,  Chicago. 


FRUIT    CULTURE.  347 

t 

The  Lake  Nursery,  at  Waukegan,  Robert  Douglas,  proprietor ;  this  nursery 
is  thirty-five  miles  north  of  Chicago,  on  the  Chicago  and  ililwaukie  Railroad. 

The  Franklin  Grove  Nursery,  A.  R.  Whitney,  proprietor.  Franklin  Grove, 
Lee  County,  is  located  but  one  mile  south  of  Franklin  Station,  on  the  Chicago 
and  Dixon  Air  Line  Railroad. 

The  Pleasant  Ridge  Nursery,  Perry  Aldrich,  proprietor,  five  miles  east  of 
Hennepin,  one  mile  east  of  Swaney,  on  the  Hennepin  and  Indianto'wn  road, 
town  of  Aripze,  Bureau  County. 

The  Bloomington  Nursery,  F.  K.  Phoenix,  proprietor,  at  Bloomington,  HI. 

The  Kankakee  Nursery,  at  Kankakee,  HI.  McGrew,  Leas  &  Co.,  proprie- 
tors, ■where  first-rate  Osage  plants  for  hedging  may  be  had  at  reasonable  prices. 

The  Dupage  Nurseries,  Lewis  Ellsworth  &  Co.  proprietors,  at  NaperviUe,  Du- 
page County,  HI. 

The  Persimmon  Grove  Nursery,  at  Pi-inceton,  Bureau  County,  PJ.,  Ai'thur 
Bryant,  proprietor. 

In  any  of  the  above-mentioned  establishments,  fruit  trees  of  good 
parentage  and  germ,  as  well  as  shrubs,  and  various  plants  for  hedging 
and  ornamental  purposes,  may  be  had ;  and  all  those  that  are  engaged 
in  the  cultivation  of  choice  trees  or  plants,  will  do  well  to  get  their 
supplies  as  little  away  from  these  places  as  possible. 


GRAPE   CULTURE. 

After  manj  tiresome  attempts  that  have  been  made  in  the  west 
and  southwest  of  the  United  States,  to  promote  this  important  branch 
of  culture,  it  may  now  be  considered  as  a  department  of  national  agri- 
culture, whose  progress  cannot  be  checked. 

Experiments  in  the  cultivation  of  the  grape  were  made  many  years 
ago  in  this  State;  it  appears  that  the  first  trials  to  introduce  it  were 
made  in  the  years  1830  to  18S6,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Belleville, 
by  Germans,  who  had  emigrated  to  this  country  from  the  banks  of  the 
Ehine.  They  at  first  only  planted  such  varieties  as  may  be  found  on 
the  banks  of  the  Rhine.  These  grape  vines  grew  but  poorly,  for  some 
years  bore  very  little  fruit,  and  gradually  died  away.  This  want  of 
success  created  discouragement.  It  was  generally  believed  that  the 
climate  of  that  part  of  the  country  was  altogether  unfavorable  to  the 
grape,  and  hence  no  farther  attention  was  bestowed  on  that  branch  of 
agriculture,  until  a  few  years  since,  when  it  became  known  that  the 
grape  culture,  near  Cincinnati,  made  rapid  and  encouraging  progress. 
Therefore  in  the  years  1845  to  1847,  this  culture  was  resumed  by  the 
grape-growers  near  Belleville,  and  for  that  purpose  they  had  some  cut- 
tings of  the  American  Catawba  sent  to  them  from  Cincinnati.  The 
Catawba  derives  its  name  from  a  variety  growing  wild  near  the  Ca- 
tawba Ptiver.  The  soil  near  Belleville,  and  that  in  St.  Clair  County, 
seems  to  be  particularly  adapted  for  the  grape,  since  it  is  a  sandy  loam, 
containing  neither  too  little  nor  too  much  moisture.  The  open  prairie- 
land  seems  to  be  less  adapted  for  grape  culture,  and  this  may  fre- 
quently prove  so,  on  account  of  the  too  great  fertility  and  richness  of 
the  soil.  With  regard  to  the  b^st  mode  of  cultivation,  it  should  be 
remembered  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  lay  out  the  land  in  ridges,  by 
trench  ploughing.     It  will  be  sufl5cient  to  dig  holes  two  feet  square, 

or  to  make  them  three  feet  long,  and  two  feet  deep. 

(348) 


GRAPE    CULTURE.  349 

In  a  vineyard  newly  laid  out,  the  principal  object  is  to  keep  the 
ground  cleansed  of  weeds  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  vines  have  attained  their 
full  size,  it  is  sufficient  to  plough  and  hoe  the  land  twice  a  year ;  the 
first  time  in  spring,  and  again  soon  after  the  vintage.  If,  in  the  mean- 
time, the  weeds  should  grow  too  high,  they  should  be  cut  off  with  the 
sickle.  The  tillage  of  the  soil  should  be  deferred  until  after  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  when  no  more  injurious  night-frosts  are  to  be  dreaded. 
These  are  the  most  important  suggestions  concerning  the  tillage;  as  to 
the  treatment  of  the  vines  themselves,  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  the 
stocks  should  be  planted  from  six  to  eight  feet  apart;  this  open  space, 
as  may  be  easily  conjectured,  will  cause  them  to  grow  strong,  vigorous, 
and  productive  of  good  and  plentiful  crops. 

The  two  principal  home  varieties,  are  the  Isabella  and  the  Cataicha. 
The  former  is  more  adapted  to  northern  latitudes,  from  42°  upwards, 
while  the  latter  grows  better  in  a  southern  region,  perhaps  not  much 
above  37°. 

Of  distinguished  foreign  varieties,  the  Rhenish  Grape,  originating 
on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  and  first  grown  in  this  country  iu  the 
State  of  Ohio,  near  Cincinnati,  deserves  to  be  mentioned.  A  farmer 
in  Peoria  County  obtained  a  few  samples  of  this  kind,  and  says  that 
they  have  produced  a  fair  crop  of  grapes,  fifteen  seasons  in  seventeen. 
It  has  a  considerable  resemblance  to  the  Isabella,  in  appearance  and 
flavor,  but  the  vine  is  of  much  slower  growth,  and  very  hardy.  The 
destruction  to  which  grapes  are  more  or  less  exposed,  is  caused  by  the 
rot,  produced  by  excessive  rains,  followed  by  very  sultry  weather.  If 
the  winter  lasts  very  long,  the  frost  will  sometimes  affect,  and  even 
kill  the  buds,  without,  however,  injuring  the  vines.  The  best  quality 
of  wine,  which  may  be  had  at  Belleville,  is  the  Catawba  wine,  which 
is  far  superior  to  any  other  kind  grown  in  the  United  States.  That 
the  grape  culture  is  quite  remunerating  near  Belleville,  and  even  a 
little  farther  north,  is  confirmed  by  the  statements  of  most  of  the 
growers  there.  One  of  these  informs  us  that  from  two  acres  of  laud, 
which  have  been  iu  a  bearing  condition  since  1850,  he  obtained  640 
gallons  in  the  first  year,  and  652  gallons  in  1853 ;  this,  however, 
shows  only  the  richest  crops  he  obtained  in  the  course  of  six  years ; 
but  though  the  vines  may  huve  yielded  but  half  as  much  at  other 
30 


850  GRAPE    CULTURE. 

times,  it  will  still  leave  a  handsome  average  yield — aLout  IGO  gallons 
per  acre. 

The  market  price  of  the  Catawba  is  from  two  to  three  dollars  a 
gallon. 

The  rot,  and  the  mildew,  to  which  the  grapes  are  more  or  less  sub- 
ject, may  be  diminished  by  very  careful  treatment  in  the  cultivation, 
as  well  as  a  judicious  selection  of  the  locality.  If  we  consider  the  dif- 
ficulties and  risks  attending  the  cultivation  of  foreign  grapes,  which 
may  either  degenerate  or  prove  to  be  failures,  it  will  doubtless  appear 
a  better  plan  to  bestow  a  little  more  attention  on  the  grafting  of  those 
wild  varieties  of  grapes,  which  nature  allows  to  grow  and  thrive  freely 
in  the  Mississippi  valley.  This  enterprise  has  already  been  started  by 
a  few  people,  who  commenced  their  researches  last  year,  going  to  the 
Ozark  Mountains,  as  far  as  Springfield.  They  gathered  whatever  they 
thought  valuable  of  the  kind,  and  returned  with  five  new  varieties  of 
grape  vines,  and  a  quantity  of  seed.  Not  a  little  work  and  labor  were 
expended  in  rendering  useful  these  wild  children  of  nature. 

The  most  valuable  varieties  thus  discovered  are  : 

1.  The  Halifax  vine,  a  native  of  the  east;  the  grapes  are  pretty 
large,  of  good,  rather  peculiar  flavor. 

2.  The  Wine  Home  vine,  was  found  growing  wild  in  a  rocky  place  ; 
the  dark  grapes  are  of  medium  size,  and  the  juice  nearly  colorless. 

3.  The  Waterloo,  or  RocJchouse  Indian  \me,  groyning  viWdi  in  the 
neighborhood  of  ^Vaterloo,  III.  This  vine  grows  very  luxuriantly,  and 
has  a  rough  appearance.  The  little  grapes  are  close  together,  and 
contain  a  very  dark  colored  juice.  This  grape  ripens  about  the  mid- 
dle of  October.  The  wine  has  a  fine,  bright,  reddish  blue  color,  and 
strongly  resembles  the  best  Burgundy. 

4.  The  Ozarh  Muscat  wine,  from  the  Ozark  Mountains ;  in  appear- 
ance it  is  similar  to  No.  2.  The  grape  tastes  like  nutmeg,  a  peculi- 
arity which  is  not  shared  by  the  wine. 

5.  The  Little  Ozarh  vine.  The  whole  plant  has  a  bright  and  fresh 
appearance;  the  dark  and  long  clusters  nestle  close  under  the  shining, 
green  leaves,  and  not  a  rotten  berry  is  to  be  seen  on  the  whole  stock. 
They  ripen  about  the  beginning  of  October. 

6.  The  Ozark  Seedling.  Most  of  the  seedlings  reared  from  the 
seeds  gathered  in  the  Ozark  Mountains,  after  some  years  proved  to  be 


GRAPE    CULTURE.  351 

unpromising  varieties.     The  grapes  are  a  little  larger  than  those  of  the 
varieties  above  named. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  cultivation  of  the  grape,  certainly  the 
most  valuable  of  all  fruits,  will  be  extended  more  and  more  through- 
out the  west  and  southwest  of  the  United  States;  and  it  is  beyond  all 
doubt,  that  those  who  engage  in  this  business  will  be  amply  re- 
warded. 


GROWING   OF   TIMBER. 

There  is  not  so  mucli  wood  in  this  State  as  there  is  in  the  Eastern 
States,  and  in  some  districts  a  scarcity  of  fuel,  of  fencing  and  building 
material,  may  be  noticed.  The  prairies  do  not  exhibit  impenetrable 
forests,  but  are  only  interspersed  with  groves  of  limited  extension. 
Upon  first  viewing  the  vast  prairie-lands,  it  would  seem  that  there 
must  be  something  in  the  soil  of  the  prairies  which  is  hostile  to  the 
growth  of  trees,  and  yet  a  careful  comparison  would  detect  no  differ- 
ence in  the  qualities  of  the  soil  where  timber  grows,  and  where  it 
grows  not.  The  small  groves  at  the  head  of  streams,  and  along  the 
river  banks,  were  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  the  first  settlers,  but  these 
were  far  from  sufiicient  for  fencing  the  vast  prairies;  and  it  was  plain, 
that  whatever  should  be  used  as  a  fencing  material,  must  be  grown 
upon -the  soil.  The  prairie  is  well  supplied  with  all  the  elements  ne- 
cessary to  the  growth  of  the  most  gigantic  trees. 

The  following  varieties  have  been  cultivated  with  success : 


American  ^Tiite  Pine,      Yellow,  or  Pitch  Pine,     Hemlock, 


Balsam  Fir, 
European  Larch, 
Norway  Spruce, 
American  Chestnut, 
Weeping  Willow, 
Black  Spruce, 


Silver  Spruce, 
Austrian  Pine, 
Black  Locust, 
American  Birch, 
Alanthus, 
American  Larch, 


White  Cedar, 

Pinus  Maritima 

Yellow  Poplar,  (Tulip  Tree.) 

Yellow  Birch, 

Osier  Willow, 

Black  Birch. 


All  these  trees  have  done  well  upon  the  prairie  soil,  and  most  of 
them  grow  with  a  vigor  astounding  to  those  who  have  only  seen  them 
upon  the  barren  lands  of  their  native  localities.  The  prairie  farmer, 
if  he  be  a  lover  of  beautiful  trees,  need  not  long  be  without  them. 
He  can  surround  his  farm  with  a  belt  of  evergreens,  at  a  trifling  ex- 
pense; this  will  add  greatly  to  its  beauty  and  value.     The  nurseries 

(352) 


GROWTH    OF    TIMBER. 


353 


in  the  West  as  well  as  in  the  East,  can  supply  him  with  almost  every 
variety  of  trees  for  his  lawn,  or  his  timber  plantation. 

While  some  counties  of  this  State  possess  but  few  attractions  for 
settlers,  being  destitute  of  timber,  other  districts,  Marshall  County, 
for  example,  afford  a  sufficiency  of  timber  to  meet  the  wants  of  new 
settled  farmers,  whom  they  therefore  attract. 

As  a  building  material,  the  Locust  deserves  to  be  recommended  for 
its  durability;  used  for  posts  it  will  last  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  years. 
The  cultivation  of  timber  on  the  prairies  as  a  shelter,  is  highly  im- 
portant. 

As  very  rapid  growers,  and  of  an  immediate  effect,  the  following 
varieties  are  recommended ;  they  have  been  successfully  cultivated  : — 
the  Soft  Maple,  the  Golden  Willow,  the  Buttermit,  and  the  BJaclc 
Walnut. 

Such  as  wish  to  have  the  very  best  kinds,  should  take  Evergreens, 
of  which  the  Norwaj/  Spruce,  the  Hemlock,  and  American  Arhor, 
are  the  most  desirable  for  screens. 

The  cultivation  of  the  Locust,  of  which  we  spoke  before,  is  per- 
formed as  follows : — The  seeds,  if  new,  may  be  made  to  vegetate  rea- 
dily, by  being  placed  in  a  vessel  in  which  some  hot  water  has  been 
poured;  the  water  is  then  turned  off,  and  the  seeds  are  mixed  with  a 
little  sand,  and  placed  in  a  box,  in  which  condition  they  are  to  be  ex- 
posed to  the  rains  and  frosts  of  the  winter  and  spring.  About  the 
middle  of  April,  sift  the  sand,  and  plant  the  seeds  in  a  well-prepared 
soil,  about  one  inch  deep,  in  rows  three  or  four  feet  apart,  so  as  to  ad- 
mit the  passage  of  the  cultivator  between  them.  By  fall,  if  the  trees 
are  properly  cultivated,  they  will  be  from  three  to  five  feet  high.  The 
following  spring,  prepare  by  ploughing  and  harrowing  the  ground 
well ;  lay  off  the  ground  with  a  plough  in  rows,  six  or  eight  feet  apart. 
Dig  the  brier  carefully,  cut  off  at  one-third  or  one-half  their  height 
from  their  tops,  and  lay  them  into  the  furrows,  putting  the  roots  of 
one  close  to  the  top  of  another,  covering  the  roots  eight  inches  deep, 
letting  the  tops  gradually  rise  to  within  one  inch  of  the  surface.  The 
first  and  second  years  the  ground  should  be  ploughed  and  kept  clean 
from  weeds,  after  which  the  ploughing  may  be  discontinued. 

The  Willow  Tree.     Some  people  think,  and  they  may  perhaps  not 
be  wrong,  that  these  trees  are  as  profitable  as  plums,  peaches,  &c 
30*  X 


354  GROWTH    OF    TIMBER. 

Willow  wands  have  for  some  time  been  in  fair  demand,  and  our  mar- 
kets can  by  no  means  be  sufficiently  supplied  from  our  home  produce. 
The  amount  of  wands  annually  imported  from  Germany  and  France, 
is  variously  stated  to  be  from  five  to  six  millions  of  dollars  worth. 

It  will  be  seen  with  regard  to  willow  trees,  that  they  readily  grow 
in  the  vicinity  of  swamps  or  pools,  or  properly  speaking,  in  places  that 
can  hardly  be  used  for  anything  else. 

The  prairie  soil  must,  to  a  certain  extent,  be  very  well  adapted  for 
willows,  as  there  are  many  marshes  or  ''sloughs"  within  the  prairie 
region. 

There  is  a  variety  called  the  "  Osier  Willoio,"  which  is  used  in  the 
manufacturing  of  baskets,  chairs,  cradles,  &c.  The  raw  material  for 
all  this  work  is  imported  from  Europe.  The  manufacture  is  mostly 
confined  to  foreigners.  If  our  enterprising  farmers  would  commence 
its  culture  they  would  find  it  very  useful  for  many  purposes.  As  the 
material  for  a  hedge  or  fence,  it  could  be  used  with  advantage,  by 
weaving  together  the  stalks  and  branches. 

Before  concluding  this  chapter,  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  make  a  few 
rem.arks  about  the  right  seasou  for  cuttincr  timber.  The  method  fre- 
quently  pursued  in  woodlands,  is  to  girdle  or  deaden  the  trees,  in  July 
or  August,  when  the  sap  is  up,  and  after  a  few  years  the  decay  in 
their  limbs  and  body  will  be  so  great,  that  the  trees  can  be  cleared 
up,  and  the  land  put  in  corn.  When  girdled  during  the  winter 
months,  when  the  sap  is  down,  the  decay  will  not  be  half  so  rapid. 
Hickory  and  ash  timber  for  wagon-work  is  generally  cut  in  July,  and 
left  on  the  ground  for  use  until  winter.  The  peeling  of  timber  de- 
signed for  rails  has  sometimes  been  advocated,  as  improving  the  dura- 
bility,  but  the  durability  may  perhaps  depend  on  the  period  at  which 
the  timber  is  cut;  for  it  has  been  ascertained  that  timber  cut  towards 
the  end  of  May,  or  at  the  beginning  of  June,  is  exempt  from  the 
worms,  whether  it  be  peeled  or  left  with  the  bark  on. 


THE   MACLURA   HEDGE. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  country,  -who  took  good  care  to  locate  as 
near  the  groves  as  practicable,  had  no  difficulty  in  enclosing  their  farms 
with  the  heavy  worm-fence.  But  when  the  prairies  became  settled, 
rail-timber  soon  began  to  grow  scarce  and  dear,  and  in  many  places  it 
was  plain  there  was  not  timber  to  be  had  for  reconstructing  the  fences 
already  built.  The  great  and  only  remedy  for  this  want  of  timber  is 
now  seen  to  be  the  formation  of  live  hedges,  in  the  place  of  rails  or 
boards.  And  after  a  fair  trial  of  various  shrubs  and  trees,  foreign  and 
native,  it  is  now  universally  conceded  that  the  Madura,  or  Osage 
Orange,  is  the  best  known  plant  for  a  living  hedge  on  the  prairies. 
This  opinion  is  not  founded  upon  mere  theory,  or  partial  experiments. 
Hedge  planting  has  already  become  a  regular  branch  of  business.* 
The  Madura  hedges  which  have  been  planted  four  years  or  more,  have 
become  a  fixed,  tangible,  and  well  established  reality.  There  is  no  mis- 
take about  their  being  respectable  barriers  against  the  intrusion  of  do- 
mestic animals  of  every  kind.  This  wild  orange,  of  which  the  hedges 
are  made,  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  the  orange  of  the  tropics. 

*  Among  the  gentlemen  whose  business  is  Osage  Orange  plantijQg,  we  note 
Messrs.  McGrew,  Leas  &  Co.,  of  Kankakee  City,  and  Messrs.  W.  A.  AUender 
&  Co.,  of  Lawrence  Co.  The  first  named  firm  charges  for  plants  of  one  and 
two  years  growth,  from  $2  to  $3  per  thousand,  according  to  quality  and 
amount.  100,000  plants  to  one  order,  boxed  and  dehvered  at  railroad  depot, 
for  $2  per  thousand,  for  those  of  one  year;  $2  50  per  thousand,  for  two 
years  old.  The  latter  firm  charges  for  setting,  resetting,  (if  necessary)  prun- 
ing, cultivating,  and  completing  a  perfect  hedge,  60  cents  per  rod,  payable  in 
rates  of  20  cents  at  the  time  of  setting,  and  yearly  10  cents,  the  balance  when 
completed.  The  farmer  has  to  prepare  the  ground,  to  board  hands  while  set- 
ting and  attending  the  hedge,  and  to  protect  it  from  all  damage  by  stock,  oi 
other  injury. 

(355) 


356  THE    M  AC  LURA    HEDGE. 

The  leaves  are  a  little  more  pointed,  but  have  the  rich  gloss,  and  deep 
green  peculiar  to  the  cultivated  plant.  They  are,  in  truth,  very  beau- 
tiful. The  fruit  is  not  edible,  but  is  large,  showy,  and  very  full  of 
seeds.  The  oldest  plants  in  Illinois  are  now  in  full  bearing.  Branches 
full  of  fruit  were  exhibited  at  the  recent  State  Fair,  so  that  the  neces- 
sity of  importing  seeds  from  Arkansas  and  Texas,  will  soon  be  abo- 
lished. 

The  merits  of  the  Osage  Orange  as  a  hedge-plant,  may  be  briefly 
summed  up  as  follows  : 

1st.  The  seeds  may  be  obtained  in  any  desirable  quantity,  at  a  cost 
of  ten  to  twenty  dollars  per  bushel,  and  a  bushel  of  seeds  will  produce 
from  80,000  to  120,000  plants. 

2d.  The  seeds,  when  properly  treated,  are  as  certain  to  germinate 
as  seed-corn. 

3d.  The  young  plants  are  rarely,  if  ever,  attacked  by  insects,  and 
will  grow  large  enough  in  one  season  to  plant  out  in  hedge-rows. 

4th.  No  plant  bears  removal  better  than  the  Osage  Orange.  Hence 
an  even  and  uniform  start  in  the  hedge-row  is  attained  without  diffi- 
culty. 

5th.  The  growth  of  tbe  hedge  where  the  land  has  been  properly 
prepared  and  cultivated,  is  very  rapid.  A  good  fence,  fit  to  line  the 
public  highway,  is  often  obtained  in  two  years  and  a  half  after  planting. 

Cth.  The  wood  is  durable,  as  much  so  as  cedar,  and  both  the  leaves 
and  the  wood  are  as  yet  free  from  the  depredations  of  insects. 

7tb.  When  pruned,  it  will  always  throw  out  sprouts  from  the  ex- 
treme points  of  the  living  wood. 

8th.  It  never  throws  up  any  suckers  from  the  roots,  but  always 
sprouts  at  or  above  the  collar — of  course  it  will  never  spread  off  on 
each  side  of  the  hedge-row,  as  many  varieties  of  hedge-plants  will  do. 

9th.  The  spine^  are  strong,  durable,  and  very  offensive  to  all  do- 
mestic animals.  Hence  no  animal  familiar  with  its  appearance  will 
touch  it. 

10th.  It  will  grow  on  any  soil,  where  any  description  of  timber 
will  grow. 

Regarding  the  culture  of  the  plant  itself  for  the  purpose  of  hedging, 
the  following  rules  and  directions,  laid  down  by  practical  farmers,  and 


THE     MACLURA     HEDGE.  357 

evidently  the  fruit  of  much  observation  and  experiment^  should  be  ad- 
hered to. 

Seed  should  only  be  procured  from  a  responsible  source,  and  great 
care  should  be  taken  in  its  selection.  The  most  certain  way  of  testing 
it  is  to  take  a  tumbler  and  fill  it  two-thirds  full  of  warm  water,  then 
put  cotton  enough  into  it  to  keep  whatever  seed  you  put  on  it  just 
above  the  surface  of  the  water;  the  cotton  in  this  way  will  remain  wet, 
and  keep  the  seed  moist,  and  yet  the  seed  will  get  air,  and  if  kept  in 
a  warm  room  it  will  soon  vegetate.  The  water  may  have  to  be  re- 
newed several  times  during  the  process. 

The  best  method  of  sprouting  seed  is  as  follows :  Soak  the  seed  in 
warm  water  at  least  for  forty  hours;  (an  entire  week,  if  possible,)  then 
put  it  in  shallow  boxes,  not  more  than  four  or  five  inches  deep.  To 
every  bushel  of  seed  put  one  half  bushel  of  sand,  (smaller  quantities 
in  proportion),  then  mix  it  thoroughly,  keep  it  in  a  warm  place,  and 
wet  it  as  often  as  twice  per  day  with  warm  water,  and  stir  it  thoroughly, 
as  often  as  three  times  a  day.  A  more  frequent  stirring  would  be  bet- 
ter. The  seed  should  be  put  to  soak  about  the  fifteenth  or  twentieth 
of  April,  at  a  temperature  of  from  sixty-five  to  seventy  degrees.  Seed 
attended  to  as  above  described,  and  kept  in  a  warm  place,  at  a  proper 
temperature,  would  sprout  suflaciently  in  ten  days  to  be  put  into  the 
ground.  It  is  necessary,  however,  to  have  the  seed  well  separated  be- 
fore planting.  Much  care  should  be  taken  in  the  selection  of  a  good 
piece  of  ground  for  the  nursery,  or  place  of  planting  the  seed.  The 
ground  should  be  fresh,  fertile,  and  free  from  the  seed  of  weeds  and 
grass.  It  should  be  mellow,  not  subject  to  bake,  and  rather  inclined 
to  be  wet  than  otherwise.  Good  prairie,  that  has  been  broken  the 
year  previous,  is  undoubtedly  preferable  to  any  other  ground.  The 
ground  should  be  well  ploughed,  harrowed,  and  rolled,  if  necessary. 
When  the  ground  has  been  thus  prepared  and  well  pulverized,  the 
most  expeditious  way  of  making  the  drills  is  to  obtain  a  common 
wheat  drill,  and  take  out  one-half  of  the  planters.  Have  large  points 
put  upon  those  that  are  used  in  making  the  drills;  the  points  or  sho- 
vels upon  the  planters,  about  five  inches  in  width,  of  the  same  shape 
as  the  common  points.  The  drills  made  in  this  way  will  be  sixteen 
inches  apart,  and  by  putting  weights  upon  the  drag  bars,  the  drills  can 
be  made  of  sufficient  size  and  depth.     They  will  be  regular,  and  it  is 


358  THE     MACLURA     HEDGE. 

a  very  expeditious  manner  of  making  the  drills.  The  seed  must  then 
be  drilled  in  the  above  described  drills  or  furrows,  by  hand,  putting 
one  quart  to  three  or  four  square  rods,  which  would  amount  to  from 
one  and  a  quarter  to  one  and  a  half  bushels  per  acre.  The  covering 
can  best  be  done  with  licrht  steel  rakes.  The  hands  engaged  in  cover- 
ing  should  walk  upon  the  side  where  the  seed  is  covered ;  by  so  doing, 
they  would  draw  all  the  earth  one  way,  in  filling  up  the  drills  and  co- 
vering the  seed.  When  the  planting,  as  above  described,  has  been 
finished,  nothing  more  is  necessary  to  be  done  until  the  plants  begin 
to  come  up  in  sufficient  numbers  to  indicate  the  situation  of  the  drills. 
The  space  between  the  drills  should  then  be  hoed,  and  the  weeds  and 
grass  in  the  rows,  among  the  plants,  pulled  out  by  hand.  This  pro- 
cess of  hoeing  the  spaces  between  the  rows,  and  weeding  the  rows, 
should  be  repeated  as  often  as  necessary  to  keep  the  weeds  down,  and 
the  ground  loose,  and  in  good  condition.  If  the  soil  is  good,  the  sea 
son  favorable,  and  the  proper  cultivation  given  them,  they  will  be  suf- 
ficiently large  for  transplanting  the  following  spring. 

The  process  of  taking  them  up  is  as  follows :  A  subsoil  plough 
should  be  used  to  cut  them  oif ;  the  share  of  the  plough  should  be 
steel,  quite  large,  and  as  flat  as  possible;  the  depth  of  its  running  can 
be  regulated  by  a  wheel  in  front,  at  the  end  of  the  beam.  Cutting 
them  off  in  this  way,  the  larger  portion  of  them  will  remain  standing 
in  their  place  until  they  are  gathered  by  hand.  They  should  be  cut 
off  about  eight  or  ten  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  They 
can  then  be  gathered  into  bundles,  and  the  roots  covered  to  keep  them 
moist,  after  which  they  can  be  taken  out,  assorted,  tied  up  in  bundles 
of  fifty  or  a  hundred,  and  the  tops  cut  off  upon  a  block  with  an  axe, 
or  hatchet.  They  are  then  ready  for  boxing  and  shipping.  In  box- 
ing them,  the  boxes  should  not  be  too  tight,  for  some  air  is  necessary 
to  prevent  them  from  moulding.  Small  boxes,  and  those  of  moderate 
size,  are  best — say  about  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  wide,  about  the 
same  depth,  and  three  or  three  and  a  half  feet  long.  The  plants  may 
be  packed  in  the  most  convenient  way. 

We  now  come  to  the  setting  of  the  hedge.  The  ground  should  be 
thoroughly  broken  up,  to  the  depth  of  twelve  or  fourteen  inches;  the 
space  broken  at  least  ten  feet  wide,  and  the  hedge  set  in  the  centre, 
would  leave  five  feet  to  be  cultivated  upon  each  side.     When  a  hedge 


THE    MACLURA    HEDGE.  359 

is  to  be  set  along  an  old  fence-row,  the  fence  ought  to  be  moyed  the 
year  previous,  and  the  ground  broken  up  and  cultivated.  It  would 
then  be  in  a  better  condition  to  receive  the  hedge.  After  the  ground 
has  been  fully  prepared,  it  is  necessary  to  stake  ofi  the  row,  and  draw 
a  line  to  work  by.  The  hole  for  inserting  the  plants  should  be  made 
with  a  dibble,  twelve  inches  in  length,  and  three  and  a  half  inches  in 
diameter  at  the  top,  having  a  wicket  into  which  to  insert  a  handle, 
with  a  pin  at  the  top  of  the  socket  to  bear  the  foot  upon,  in  pressing 
it  into  the  ground  to  make  the  holes;  these  holes  should  be  about 
eight  inches  apart;  the  plants  then  to  be  put  into  the  holes  about  an 
inch  deeper  than  they  were  in  the  ground  when  in  the  nursery — the 
earth  to  be  then  well  packed  about  the  roots.  Proper  transplanting 
is  one  of  the  most  important  matters  in  getting  the  hedge  properly 
started.  Too  much  care  cannot  be  taken  in  this  particular.  After- 
wards comes  the  cultivating,  hoeing,  ploughing,  &c.-  The  soil  on  both 
sides  of  the  hedge  needs  thorough  cultivation,  and  the  hedge  row 
must  be  kept  clean  during  the  whole  of  the  summer  season.  No  stock 
should  be  allowed  in  the  enclosure  where  the  hedge  is  set  until  after 
harvest;  and  it  is  better  to  have  none  until  fall.  The  summer's 
growth  will  by  that  time  become  hard,  and  will  thenceforward  pro- 
tect itself. 

The  next  spring,  a  year  from  the  time  the  hedge  was  set  out,  it 
must  be  cut  off  at  the  surface  of  the  ground,  below  all  the  buds,  just 
at  the  top  of  the  yellow  root.  The  root  will  then  swell  up,  and  put 
out  a  number  of  strong  shoots,  just  at  the  surface  of  the  ground.  It 
then  needs  to  be  thoroughly  cultivated  until  about  the  middle  of  June, 
when  it  should  have  another  cutting  within  two  inches  of  the  former 
one,  and  then  cultivate  as  usual.  By  this  process  of  cutting,  is  formed 
at  once  a  strong  and  firm  base;  and  if  this  process  of  cultivating  tho- 
roughly, and  cutting  down  completely,  is  carried  out  systematically, 
success  is  certain.  It  is  thought  by  some  that  it  is  necessary  to  cut 
down  more  than  twice  a  year,  but  it  is  a  mistake,  for  any  one  who  has 
bad  any  experience  in  matters  of  this  kind,  as  one  practical  farmer  as- 
sures us,  will  know  that  it  is  necessary  to  let  a  tree  form  a  top  to  a 
certain  extent,  in  order  to  obtain  roots  and  trunk ;  and  by  keeping  it 
trimmed  too  closely  it  will  paralyze  its  growth.  The  following  spring- 
cut  within  three  or  four  inches  of  the  former  cuttins;,  and  again  in  June 


360  THE     MACLURA    HEDGE. 

four  or  five  inches  above  that,  continuing  the  cultivation  until  it  is 
four  years  old,  and  even  after  it  has  attained  the  size  necessary  to  an- 
swer the  purpose  of  a  good  fence,  the  ground  alongside  of  it  should  be 
kept  in  good  condition. 

Many  persons  have  supposed  that  the  plant  will  not  endure  severe 
cold.  It  certainly  has  endured  cold  35°  below  zero,  and  will  un- 
doubtedly meet  the  contingencies  of  hard  winters;  but  like  every  thing 
else  upon  a  farm,  it  ought  never  to  be  treated  with  neglect.  The 
only  difficulty  is  the  first  winter,  on  ground  that  cracks  badly  with 
frost.  A  sure  remedy  for  this  is  to  cover  the  ground  close  up  on  both 
sides  with  straw,  in  the  fall.  The  straw  need  never  be  removed,  as  it 
keeps  the  ground  moist,  and  the  weeds  from  growing  in  the  summer. 

The  fourth  spring  it  may  be  cut  six  or  seven  inches  above  the  for- 
mer cutting.  The  following  June  eight  inches  higher,  after  which 
the  latter  part  of  the  summer's  growth  will  make  it  sufficient  to  an- 
swer the  purpose  of  a  good  fence.  After  this,  trimming  once  a  year 
will  be  sufficient;  this  should  be  done  in  the  latter  part  of  the  sum- 
mer or  fall,  before  the  wood  hardens.  It  will  be  found  that  much  less 
trimming  is  necessary  after  the  hedge  is  formed.  The  reason  is  very 
obvious,  to  wit :  its  manner  of  growing  will  cause  each  plant  to  spread 
and  throw  out  a  great  number  of  branches,  to  be  supplied  with  sap, 
and  cause  the  former  vigorous  growth  to  be  exhausted,  so  that  it  will 
then  grow  more  slowly. 

The  first  cutting,  that  of  one  year  after  the  hedge  has  been  set,  can 
be  best  done  with  a  pair  of  shears  made  for  the  purpose,  and  to  be  had 
at  most  hardware  stores.  The  second  cutting  can  be  done  with  a 
short,  heavy,  briar  scythe,  hung  upon  a  strong,  stiff"  snathe.  The  se- 
cond year's  cutting  can  also  be  done  with  a  scythe.  The  best  way  is 
to  walk  along  the  right  side  of  the  row,  and  cut  half  way,  or  to  the 
centre  of  the  row.  Vrhen  you  get  to  the  end  of  the  row,  turn  around 
to  the  right,  and  come  back  upon  the  other  side,  cutting  the  other 
half  in  a  similar  manner.  In  so  doing  it  can  be  cut  of  an  oval  shape. 
Then  by  taking  a  large  cutter,  such  as  are  used  for  cutting  up  corn- 
stalks— it  should  be  kept  very  sharp — using  the  knife  and  cutter  to 
trim  the  sides,  and  keep  them  in  proper  shape,  at  all  times  letting  the 
lower  branches  extend  out,  in  order  that  they  may  become  strong, 
that  the  base  may  be  wide.     It  should  be  at  least  four  or  five  feet 


THE    MACLURA    HEDGE.  361 

wide  at  four  years  old.  If  the  lateral  shoots  are  trimmed  as  frequently, 
and  with  as  much  thoroughness  as  the  upright  shoots,  they  will  soon 
lose  their  vigor  and  strength,  as  the  natural  tendency  of  the  growth 
is  upward — hence  the  necessity  of  skill  and  judgment  to  properly  form 
the  hedge.  Great  care  should  be  taken  to  secure  a  close,  strong,  and 
firm  ba.se,  since  a  large  portion  of  the  hedges  that  have  been  set  have 
failed,  for  want  of  the  use  of  a  proper  method  in  forming  the  base. 
The  trimming  of  the  third  year  can  be  done  in  the  same  manner  as 
that  of  the  second  year.  The  fourth  year's  trimming  will  have  to  be 
done  mostly  with  the  knife,  at  all  times  keeping  the  hedge  in  the 
shape  of  the  one  above  represented. 

Concerning  the  amount  of  time  and  labor  expended  in  planting 
and  cultivating  this  plant  for  hedge  purposes,  another  practical  farmer 
assures  us,  that  it  takes  four  or  five  years  to  make  a  fence,  costing  one 
day's  Work  for  forty  rods  in  planting,  as  much  for  cultivating  and  hoe- 
ing as  it  would  cost  to  hoe  a  row  of  corn,  and  no  more ;  say  half  a  day 
for  cutting  and  hoeing  forty  rods  yearly,  which  for  five  years  would  be 


two  and  a  half  days  for  forty  rods ;  in  all,  at  $1  per  day,  the  cost 
would  be  83  50.     He  speaks  of  companies  who  set  out  thousands  of 
31 


362  THE     MACLURA    HEDGE. 

rods  of  Osage  hedge  yearly;  they  charge  sixty  cents  a  rod,  but  get  but 
little  pay  down  ;  they  guarantee  a  good  fence,  and  wait  for  most  of  the 
pay  until  the  fence  is  perfected.  It  is  true,  says  our  farmer,  that  the 
ground  should  be  well  prepared,  and  all  the  work  well  done,  and  in 
season,  to  make  a  good  hedge  row ;  so  it  must  be  to  make  a  good  row 
of  corn,  and  there  is  no  more  difficulty,  and  but  little  more  labor  in 
cultivating  the  Osage  Orange  row,  than  the  row  of  corn. 

Such  are  the  merits  and  excellencies  of  this  plant,  that  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  most  experienced  hedge-growers,  the  Osage  Orange  will 
rapidly  take  the  place  of  all  other  fences  on  the  prairies,  inasmuch  as 
it  is  more  protective,  easier  to  be  kept  in  repair,  and  the  cost  is  but 
trifling. 

The  preceding  cut  represents  a  full  grown  and  completed  hedge 
fence :  nothing  would  add  more  to  the  beauty  and  protection  of  a 
farm,  than  being  surrounded  and  divided  by  well  trimmed  and  thriftj 
hedses. 


MAPLE   SUGAR. 

The  preparation  of  maple  sugar  is  considered  one  of  the  most  agree- 
able of  their  occupations,  by  farmers  residing  in  districts  where  many 
sugar  maple  trees  grow  wild.  A  great  part  of  the  forests  of  Northern 
Illinois  consists  of  these  valuable  trees.  Towards  the  latter  part  of 
March,  when  the  buds  begin  to  swell,  and  the  nocturnal  frosts  are  fol- 
lowed by  warm  days,  these  trees  are  tapped  with  augers,  about  two 
feet  above  the  earth,  and  hollow  elder  tubes  being  inserted  in  the 
bores,  the  sap  is  made  to  trickle  through  them  into  troughs  placed  be- 
low. Every  morning  the  contents  of  the  troughs  are  emptied  into 
kettles,  and  the  sap,  at  first  but  slightly  sweet,  is  boiled  the  whole  day 
until  it  assumes  the  thickness  of  syrup ;  from  the  moment  it  com- 
mences to  thicken,  it  is  continually  stirred.  This  maple  syrup  has  a 
very  agreeable  and  aromatic  taste,  as  if  it  had  been  mixed  with  va- 
nilla, or  the  extract  of  orange  blossoms,  and  hardens  within  a  few 
hours  after  being  poured  out  of  the  kettle  into  flat  vessels.  If  it  is 
previously  clarified  with  milk,  or  the  white  of  eggs,  the  sugar  receives 
a  light  brown  color;  without  such  previous  purification,  however,  it 
has  a  dark  brown  appearance,  having,  nevertheless,  a  sweet  and  plea- 
sant taste.  From  one  bore  of  a  tree  a  gallon  of  sap  runs  out,  within 
about  twenty-four  hours,  three  or  four  gallons  yielding  a  pound  of 
sugar.  At  spring  time,  a  family  can  prepare  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  pounds  of  sugar  within  eight  days.  Tapping  the 
trees  does  not  damage  them,  if,  after  the  sap  has  ceased  to  flow,  the 
holes  are  stopped  with  clay. 

In  districts  where  no  sugar  maples  grow  wild,  every  farmer  should 
plant  a  half  or  a  quarter  of  an  acre  with  these  trees,  which  may  be 
easily  raised  from  the  seed.  In  the  short  space  of  eight  or  ten  years, 
he  might  raise  a  sufficient  supply  for  himself,  and  in  a  longer  period, 

(363) 


3G4  MAPLE    SUGAR. 

even  much  for  sale.  Whilst  the  trunks  are  still  young,  the  land  may 
be  turned  to  account  as  a  meadow ;  and  lastly,  the  wood  itself  is  far 
more  valuable  than  common  timber,  being  admirably  suited  for  pur- 
poses of  joinery  and  turning,  and  therefore  commands  a  higher  price 
than  any  other  species  of  American  wood. 


BREEDING  CATTLE. 

This  State  is  well  adapted  for  the  raising  of  stock,  of  almost  every 
variety,  on  account  of  the  rich  grass-land,  and  the  prairies,  Vfhich 
yield  an  abundance  of  excellent  fodder. 

The  value  of  cattle  consists  chiefly  in  the  quantity  and  quality  of 
milk  and  beef  they  will  produce  at  maturity. 

The  Durham  breed  seems  to  thrive  very  well  in  Illinois ;  they  are 
the  kind  called  also  short  horns.  A  few  of  the  most  prominent  and 
never-failing  characteristics,  are :  color,  which  is  always  red  or  white, 
or  a  mixture  of  the  two — no  other  colors  are  ever  found  upon  them — 
and  a  bright,  full  eye,  encircled  with  a  skin  of  rich  cream  color ;  the 
nose  also  of  the  same  color.  Any  variations  from  these — any  black  in 
the  skin  of  the  nose,  is  an  indication  of  an  impure  breed.  The  horns 
are  small  and  tapering,  generally  bent,  and  of  a  yellow  or  light  waxy 
color;  small,  but  lengthy,  tapering  head;  fine,  tapering  tail;  rather 
short  legs ;  fine,  and  bony  body. 

James  N.  Brown,  the  first  President  of  the  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, is  one  of  the  best  stock  farmers  of  the  State — his  herd  of 
"  short  horns"  standing  almost  unrivalled,  and  his  other  stock  being 
the  best  of  their  kind.  If  any  one  desires  to  see  a  fine  sample  of  a 
Central  Illinois  stock-farm,  and  some  of  the  best  Durhams  in  the 
State,  he  need  only  go  to  Mr.  Brown's  farm,  at  Island  Grove,  Sanga- 
mon County,  Illinois. 

Another  gentleman,  B.  E.  Harris,  Esq.,  residing  in  the  edge  of  the 
Sangamon  timber,  ten  miles  west  of  Urbana,  is  also  a  very  successful 
and  enterprising  stock-farmer.  A  herd  of  one  hundred  cattle,  ave- 
raging 1965  pounds,  fed  by  him,  took  the  premium  at  the  World's 
Fair,  in  New  York. 

For  stock-raising,  Central  and  Southern  Illinois  offer  great  advan- 
31  *  (365) 


366  BREEDING    CATTLE. 

tages,  as  the  winters  are  comparatively  mild  and  short,  and  domestic 
animals  consequently  require  less  feeding,  and  can  be  raised  with  less 
expense  than  in  a  higher  latitude. 

Last  year,  cattle  did  well  upon  the  prairies  until  late  in  December. 
It  is  expedient  to  feed  from  the  middle  of  November  until  the  latter 
part  of  March.  A  pasture  of  blue  grass  will  keep  cattle  and  other  live 
I  stock  in  good  condition  for  ten  months. 

The  different  kinds  of  cattle  reared  and  bred  in  this  State,  are,  be- 
sides the  Durham,  or  "  short  horn,"  of  which  we  have  spoken  before, 
the  Devons,  the  Herefords,  the  Ayrshires,  the  Holsteins,  and  the  Al- 
derney,  or  Guernsey  cattle.  Although  it  must  be  admitted  that  the 
Durhams  grow  to  a  larger  size,  and  come  to  maturity  younger,  it 
should  not  be  asserted  that  they  are,  for  these  reasons,  superior  to  all 
other  breeds.  The  Devons  are  notable,  and  perhaps  even  superior  to 
any  other  kind,  for  the  creamy  properties  of  their  milk,  for  being  first- 
rate  working  cattle,  and  for  the  quality  of  their  beef.  They  are  of 
two  kinds — the  North,  and  the  South  Devons.  The  North  Devons 
are  of  a  deep  red  color,  with  long,  well  turned,  and  beautifully  taper- 
ing horns ;  stand  low,  on  small  bony  legs ;  compact,  symmetrical  forms, 
so  much  so  as  to  deceive  the  eye  with  regard  to  their  weight ;  hair 
soft  and  silky,  and  generally  in  curled  and  wavy  lines ;  eyes  bright 
and  prominent,  encircled  with  a  golden-colored  skin;  small,  well- 
formed  heads,  shorter  and  broader  than  the  Durhams ;  muzzle  fine, 
the  skin  of  the  nose  like  that  around  the  eyes,  of  a  rich,  golden  color; 
tail  set  on  high,  even  with  the  back,  and  rather  long,  terminating  in 
a  tuft  of  silvery  white  hair.  These  are  never  failing  marks  of  the 
breed. 

Price  of  Cattle  and  Beef. — Working  oxen  are  sold  from  $80  to 
S125  per  yoke.  Young  cattle  cost  from  $2  50  to  S3  per  hundred 
weight,  or  about  $25  per  head.  Cows  sell  in  the  fall  at  from  $20  to 
$25 — in  the  spring,  together  with  the  young  calf,  at  $30.  Some  five 
years  ago,  the  price  for  cow  and  calf  was  not  over  $15.  The  prices 
rise  more  and  more  every  year,  and  it  is  seldom  now  that  a  weaned 
calf  can  be  bought  in  autumn  as  low  as  $6. 

Good  beef  sells  at  present  at  from  $4  to  $5  per  hundred  weight. 
Of  all  markets  in  the  State,  the  most  extensive  business  in  cattle  and 


BREEDING    CATTLE.  367 

beef  is  done  at  Chicago,  which  from  its  location  offers  such  facilities 
for  eastern  transportation. 

The  dairying  interest  of  Illinois  must  doubtless  be  very  great.  The 
value  of  the  butter  and  cheese  of  Illinois,  for  1850,  was  $1,668,076. 
Each  cow  in  the  great  State  of  Illinois,  produced  on  an  average  for  her 
owner,  in  1850,  42  pounds  of  butter,  and  from  4  to  5  pounds  of 
cheese,  which  brought  him  about  $5  50.  Butter  in  the  Chicago  mar- 
ket usually  averages  about  22  cents  per  pound.  Cheese  usually  sells 
for  from  8  to  12J  cents. 

Horses. — Illinois  is  well  adapted  for  the  rearing  of  horses. 

Till  within  a  few  years,  little  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  im- 
provement of  horses.  Hay  is  abundant,  and  oats  can  always  be  raised 
at  a  trifling  cost,  so  that  there  is  no  reason  for  this  want  of  attention 
to  the  breeding  of  horses,  the  more  since  the  climate  in  general  is  so 
well  suited  to  the  most  perfect  development  of  the  carriage,  the 
draught,  and  the  dray-horse. 

Horses  are  rather  high  in  price — a  good  working  horse  sells  now  at 
from  $125  to  $150,  while  some  four  or  five  years  ago,  they  were 
worth  from  §75  to  $100.  A  weaned  foal  is  worth  in  his  first  fall, 
from  $30  to  $40. 

As  the  buying  of  horses  entails  a  considerable  expense  on  flirmers, 
they  would  do  much  better  to  raise  them  themselves,  and  to  keep  for 
the  purpose  at  least  one  good  mare.  There  is  no  scarcity  of  stallions. 
The  mare  should  be  spared  a  couple  of  weeks  before  and  after  the 
foaling,  leaving  her  in  the  prairie  for  grazing.  The  young  foals  are 
left  with  the  mare  for  about  four  or  five  months,  after  which  time 
they  are  to  be  accustomed  to  the  collar  with  care,  and  kept  in  the  stable 
for  a  short  time.  The  foals  are  usually  broken  for  work  after  they 
are  three  years  old,  and  one  should  not  commence  with  them  sooner. 

Mules  are  also  raised  pretty  extensively  in  this  State,  and  high 
prices  are  paid  for  them;  they  may  feed  upon  coarser  food  than 
horses,  and  are  often  fed  with  corn-stalks,  straw,  &c. 

Sheep  do  very  well  in  Illinois,  and  are  found  to  be  a  profitable 
stock,  since  wool-growing  is  becoming  quite  a  business  in  some  por- 
tions of  the  State.  There  are  a  number  of  flocks  in  Sangamon,  Mor- 
gan, and  adjacent  counties.  Prairie-wolves  in  the  early  history  of 
this  State,  made  great  havoc  among  the  flocks,  but  they  make  their 


368  BREEDING     CATTLE.  ' 

appearance  very  seldom  now,  and  in  some  sections  they  have  been  en 
tirely  exterminated.  A  herd  of  sheep  will  do  very  well  on  a  farm 
for  trimming  the  pastures;  and  some  farmers  say  the  average  yield  of 
fleece  from  large  flocks  is  about  three  pounds.  The  flocks  in  some 
parts  of  Central  Illinois  are  not  sheltered  in  winter.  It  may  be  said 
that  sheep  consume  food  in  proportion  to  their  weight,  that  is  to  say, 
two  sheep  weighing  150  pounds  each,  require  as  much  food  as  three 
sheep  weighing  100  pounds  each.  A  good  fattening  food  for  sheep 
is  cake  or  corn,  with  chafi"  and  roots. 

Shorn  sheep,  sufficiently  fat  for  the  market,  will  contain  about  fifty 
pounds  of  carcass  in  every  hundred  pounds  of  the  unfatted  live  weight. 
Hogs. — This  State  is  considered  to  be  very  suitable  for  raising 
swine.  The  favorite  food  of  this  animal,  consisting  in  corn,  is,  we 
have  seen,  abundantly  produced  here.  It  is  true  that  on  prairie 
farms  they  are  not  found  in  large  numbers,  owing  to  the  law  which 
prohibits  the  running  about  of  hogs,  on  account  of  the  danger  to  the 
newly-erected  fences ;  prairie  farmers  are  therefore  compelled  to  keep 
their  hogs  shut  up  in  a  comparatively  small  place,  where  the  feeding 
of  them  during  the  whole  year  costs  a  great  deal  more  than  it  would 
if  they  could  freely  run  about,  in  search  of  their  food. 

One  may  therefore  find  larger  herds  jn  the  neighborhood  of  woods, 
where  the  hogs  are  allowed  to  go  to  the  bottoms  after  acorns,  nuts, 
&c.  Such  food  is  very  good  for  fattening  them,  and  making  them  fit 
for  market. 

The  hog  may  be  reared  and  fatted  at  much  less  expense  than  any 
other  domestic  animal. 

The  breeds  of  swine  that  are  most  valued  in  North  Illinois,  are  the 
Middlesex  and  the  Suflblk ;  these  two  varieties  are  very  like  in  most 
respects ;  they  are  famous  for  their  early  maturity,  as  well  as  for  their 
small  consumption  of  food,  and  great  proclivity  to  fatness.  They  do 
not  grow  to  a  large  size,  but  their  rapid  development,  in  addition  to 
their  above  mentioned  qualities,  renders  them  marketable  much  sooner 
than  other  varieties.  This  more  than  recompenses  the  farmer  for 
their  want  of  size.  Suffolk  pigs  have  been  slaughtered  when  they 
were  not  over  six  months  old,  and  their  weight  was  then  between  three 
and  four  hundred  pounds;  they  will  easily  bring  from  1^  to  2  cents 


BREEDING    CATTLE.  369 

per  pound  more  than  other  varieties  of  hogs,  on  account  of  their  fine 
quality  of  meat  and  little  loss  in  oiFal. 

Many  experiments  have  already  been  made  by  farmers  in  this 
State,  with  regard  to  hog-breeding;  more  than  twenty  different  kinds 
exist  here,  and  yet  experience  has  led  most  farmers  to  the  conviction, 
that  the  "  Sufiblk  breed"  is  the  best  and  most  profitable  of  all  varieties 
that  are  known  throughout  the  State.  The  Suffolk  may  be  con- 
tinued either  pure  or  crossed  with  the  Maekay  or  different  other  varie- 
ties; by  this  means  an  increase  in  the  size  of  the  breed  will  be 
created.  \ 

The  Suffolk  pig  was  brought  to  this  country  by  a  gentleman  of 
Boston,  who,  amongst  other  importations,  obtained  this  breed  from 
Suffolk  County,  England,  whence  the  London  markets  have  received 
most  of  their  supplies  of  pork  during  The  last  eight  or  ten  years. 

The  inclination  to  fatness  in  hogs  may  be  distinguished  by  the  fol- 
lowing points:  head  small;  short  snout;  a  dished  face  ;  neck  thick 
and  short;  the  ear  thin  and  small;  the  breast  broad;  the  ribs  round; 
the  back  straight;  the  loin  broad;  the  rump  long,  from  the  hips  back- 
ward ;  legs  pretty  small,  and  straight;  the  skin  soft  and  smooth,  with 
fine,  thin  bristles. 

The  principal  varieties  of  "swine,"  besides  those  already  men- 
tioned, are  :  the  Maekay  breed;  the  Neapolitan;  the  Essex;  and  the 
Middlesex  breed. 

It  would  make  this  treatise  too  lengthy,  should  a  full  description, 
with  all  the  particulars  of  these  varieties  be  given ;  it  may  therefore 
suflSce  to  say,  that  no  practical  farmer  will  fall  short  of  his  expecta- 
tions, if  he  breeds  the  "  Suffolk ;"  and  if  he  should  wish  to  have  larger 
hogs  than  are  usually  found  in  this  race,  he  may  try  to  make  a  breed, 
by  using  a  full  blood  Suffolk  or  Middlesex,  and  an  Essex  boar.  The 
breed  thus  raised  will  probably  grow  to  a  pretty  large  size,  and  weio-h 
from  600  to  800  pounds,  at  the  age  of  15  or  18  months. 

The  average  price  for  pork  during  the  last  four  or  five  years,  was 
from  3 1  to  4  cents  a  pound,  while  formerly  it  was  still  cheaper.  At 
the  beginning  of  last  winter,  (1855-6)  an  advance  in  pork  took  place, 
and  from  7  to  Tj  cents  per  pound  were  paid;  but  these  high  rates 
gradually  declined,  so  that  soon  after  New  Year's  day  the  market 
prices  were  as  follows  :  , 

Y 


370  BREEDING    CATTLE. 

Pigs  from  150  to  200  pounds,  at 4  cents. 

200to300      " 4J  " 

"     over    300  "  5     " 

The  Charleston  (111.,)  Courier,  says  that,  for  the  year  1855,  the 
bogs  sent  from  Coles  County,  will  not  return  less  than  8500,000. 

The  traffic  in  pork,  is,  in  the  Western  States,  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive branches  of  business.  The  principal  markets,  Cincinnati, 
(Ohio,)  and  Chicago,  (111.,)  make  very  considerable  exports  in  this 
article.  They  have,  in  both  places,  large  packing  establishments  for 
pork,  and  smoke-houses  for  smoking  hams,  shoulders,  and  bacon. 
Even  our  Eastern  markets  are  indebted  to  the  West,  for  a  large  por- 
tion of  their  supplies  in  the  above  produce. 

The  following  table  shows  that  in  most  towns  of  Illinois  the  pork 
traffic  has  diminished,  while  in  Peoria  it  has  considerably  increased : 


Farmington, 

Beardstown, 

Quincy, 

Naples, 

Alton, 

Pekin, 

Canton, 

Lacon, 

Peoria, 

Springfield, 

Springberg, 

Chicago, 


]  8.54-5. 
sold  8,000  hogs 
22,400 
32,443 
16,327 
23,000 
18,000 
28,000 

9,400 
30,000 
24,000 

1,300 
73,000 


1855-6. 


"  27,400  hogs. 

"  43,600 

"  7,426 

"  28,000 

"  3,000 

"  19,000 

"  9,700 

"  55,000 

"  21,000 

'<  200 

"  70,000 


SlocJc  of  Cattle  in  Illinois. — According  to  the  official  reports  of  the 
State  Auditor,  the  present  stock  of  the  entire  State,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  counties  of  Alexander,  Bond,  Carroll,  Fulton,  Moultrie, 
Pope,  and  St.  Clair,  exhibits  the  following  result : 


Horses 395,692  head. 

Cattle 1,175,838     " 

Mules  and  Asses 19,528     " 

Sheep 811,827     " 

Hogs 1,689,537     " 


BREEDING    CATTLE.  371 

The  total  value  as  obtained  from  the  estimates,  amounts,  for 

Horses $20,364,812 

Cattle 14,619,529 

Mules  aud  Asses 1,106,094 

Sheep 1,044,181 

Hogs 1,689,537 

Total,  $38,824,153 


MARKET-PRICES,  * 

In  several  places  of  Illinois,  during  the  first  half  of  January,  1856.* 

Indian  Corn,  per  bushel :  In  Alton,  shell,  35  cents ;  in  ears,  30  cents.  Au- 
rora, shell,  34-35 ;  in  ears,  35  per  75  lbs.  Batavia,  shell,  42-44 ;  in  ears,  35 
per  75  lbs.  Beardstown,  shell,  33-35 ;  in  ears,  30.  Belvidere,  shell,  40 ;  in 
ears,  35  per  70  lbs.  Cairo,  25-30.  Canton,  30-35.  Central  City,  25-30. 
Chicago,  55-60.  Clinton,  shell,  22-28  ;  in  ears,  18-25.  Dixon^  shell,  40 ;  in 
ears,  30.  Decatur,  shell,  25.  Freeport,  33-36.  Galena,  in  ears,  30-35. 
Galesburg,  shell,  SO  per  60  lbs.  Geneseo,  shell,  30 ;  in  ears,  28.  Jerseyrille, 
in  ears,  25.  Joliet,  shell,  40-54 ;  in  ears,  35-50.  Kankakee,  shell,  35 ;  in 
ears,  25.  Knoxville,  30.  La  Salle,  shell,  40;  in  ears,  30.  Marshall,  20-25. 
Mendota,  37.  Moline,  shell,  40.  Monmouth,  25.  Morris.  35.  Oquawka, 
shell,  30 ;  in  ears,  28.  Ottawa,  shell,  38  per  60  lbs ;  in  ears,  38  per  80  lbs. 
Paris,  shell,  25 ;  in  ears,  20-25.  Peoria,  shell,  40 ;  in  ears,  35.  Pontiac,  30 
-33  per  60  lbs.  Quincy,  33.  Eockford,  shell,  45  per  60  lbs ;  in  ears,  35  per 
70  lbs.  Rock  Island,  shell,  40;  in  ears,  25-85.  Shawneetown,  shell,  35-40; 
in  ears,  33-35.  Shelbyville,  20.  Springfield,  shell,  30 ;  in  ears,  25.  Ster- 
ling, shell,  40  per  60  lbs ;  in  ears,  30  per  60  lbs.  Walnut  Groye,  shell,  35 ;  in 
ears,  25-30.     AVaukegan,  shell,  50  per  74  lbs  ;  in  ears,  37  per  74  lbs. 

Wheat,  per  bushel :  In  Alton,  120  cents.  Aurora,  winter,  150-160;  spring, 
125-130.  Batavia,  winter,  150-160 ;  spring,  135-140.  Beardstown,  100-150. 
Belvidere,  winter,  125;  spring,  112.  Cairo,  135-155.  Canton,  110-140. 
Central  City,  120-140.  Chicago,  winter,  150-170;  spring,  125-150.-  Clin- 
ton, winter,  110-125:  spring,  100-110.  Dixon,  winter,  145-150;  spring,  120. 
Decatur,  winter,  130-140;  spring,  115.  Freeport,  winter,  135-140;  spring, 
115-125.  Galena,  winter,  110-135;  spring,  100-115.  Galesburg,  100.  Ge- 
neseo, winter,  125-130;  spring,  110-112 J.  Jacksonville,  winter,  120-125; 
spring,  90-100.  Jersoyville,  120-125.  Joliet,  winter,  145-155  ;  spring,  135 
-145.  Kankakee,  winter,  135-140;  spring,  112.  Knoxville,  winter,  115-125; 
spring,  107.  La  Salle,  winter,  135-140;  spring,  120-125.  Marshal,  125. 
Mendota,  winter,  125;  spring,  120.      Moline,  spring,  125.     Monmouth,  win- 

*  According  to  the  newspapers  of  said  places. 

(372  J 


MARKET-PRICES.  373 

ter,  120-125;  spring,  110-115.  Morris,  winter,  130-135;  spring,  110-120. 
Oquawka,  winter,  120-135;  spring,  115-120.  Ottawa,  winter,  140;  spring, 
125-130.  Paris,  120-125.  Peoria,  winter,  125-135;  spring,  110-115.  Pon- 
tiac,  winter,  125;  spring,  100.  Quincy,  100-150.  Eockford,  winter,  130- 
185 ;  spring,  120-125.  Eock  Island,  winter,  100-125 ;  spring,  100-110. 
Shawneetown,  110-120.  SlielbyviUe,  110.  Springfield,  winter,  116-130. 
Sterling,  winter,  125;  spring,  115-118.  AValnut  Grove,  winter,  110-125; 
spring,  105-115.     Waukegan,  winter,  150;  spring,  140-150. 

Rye,  per  bushel:  In  Aurora,  85  cents.  Batavia,  85-90.  Belvidere,  85. 
Central  City,  50-65.  Chicago,  95-100.  Freeport,  90-100.  Galena,  60-65, 
Geneseo,  75-80.  Jacksonville,  50.  Kankakee,  70.  Oquawka,  60.  Paris, 
50.  Peoria,  80.  Quincy,  75.  Shelbyville,  50.  Springfield,  65.  Walnut 
Grove,  75.     Waukegan,  85-90. 

Oats,  per  bushel:  In  Alton,  27-30  cents.  Aurora,  23-24.  Batavia,  24-25. 
Beardstown,  25.  Belvidere,  22.  Cairo,  30-35.  Canton,  25.  Central  City, 
20-25.  Chicago,  29-30.  Clinton,  30.  Dixon,  30.  Decatur,  25.  Freeport, 
28-30.  Galena,  30.  Galesburg,  28  per  35  lbs.  Geneseo,  2-5-27.  Jackson- 
ville, 15-20.'  Jersey ville,  20-21.  Joliet,  25-26.  Kankakee,  22.  Knoxville, 
30.  La  Salle,  27.  Marshall,  20.  Mendota,  22.  Moline,  30-35.  Mon- 
mouth, 25.  Morris.  22.  Oquawka,  22.  Ottawa,  27-35.  Paris,  18.  Peo- 
ria, 25.  Pontiac,  25.  Quincy,  22-23.  Eockford,  30  per  32  lbs.  Rock  Is- 
land, 25-30.  Shawneetown,  25.  Shelbyville,  25.  Springfield,  22-25.  Ster- 
ling, 28  per  32  lbs.     Walnut  Grove,  20.     Waukegan,  25-28. 

Barley,  per  bif  hel:  In  Aurora,  95-100  cents.  Batavia,  95-100.  Belvidere, 
100.  Canton,  110-125.  Chicago,  100-115.  Dixon,  80-100.  Freeport,  100 
-110.  Galena,  75-100.  Geneseo,  95-100.  Jacksonville,  125.  Kankakee, 
100.  La  Salle,  100-112J.  Mendota,  100  Paris,  100.  Peoria,  60-62. 
Quincy,  150.  Eock  Island,  100.  Springfield,  115-125.  Sterling,  95.  Wal- 
nut Grove,  100.     Waukegan,  100. 

BucTncheat,  per  bushel:  In  Aurora,  55  cents.    Batavia,  62.    Springfield,  100. 

Wheat  Flour,  per  barrel:  In  Alton,  850-950  cents.  Aurora,  700-900.  Ba- 
tavia, 900.  Beardstown,  850-900.  Cairo,  750-850.  Central  City,  700-800. 
Chicago,  525-950.  Clinton,  900.  Dixon,  800.  Decatur,  700-800.  Galena, 
650-850.  Galesburg,  700-800.  Geneseo,  875.  Jacksonville,  650-850.  Jer- 
seyville,  800-900.  Joliet,  950.  Kankakee,  800-900.  Knoxville,  800-900. 
La  Salle,  850-900.  Marshall,  825.  Mendota,  900.  Moline,  800-850.  Mon- 
mouth, 900.  Morris,  500-900.  Oquawka,  850.  Ottawa,  875.  Paris,  700- 
800.  Peoria,  800-900.  Pontiac,  900-1000.  Quincy,  750-900.  Eockford, 
650-700.  Rock  Island,  800.  Shawneetown,  750-850.  Shelbyville,  800. 
Springfield,  850-925.     Sterling,  750-825.     Waukegan,  800-900. 

Corn  Meal,  per  bushel :  In  Beardstown,  60  cents.  Cairo,  75-80.  Chicago, 
150-175  per  100  lbs.  Decatur,  40.  Jacksonville,  50.  Jerseyville,  50.  Kan- 
32 


374  MARKET-PRICES. 

kakee,  90.     La  Salle,  65-75.     Marshall,  35.     Moline,  CO.     Paris,  40.     Pon- 
tiac,  50-60.     Quincy,  70.     Shelbyville,  40.     Springfield,  50. 

Potatoes,  per  bushel:  In  Alton,  50  cents,  Aurora,  37|.  Batavia,  37. 
Beardstown,  40-50.  Belvidere,  30.  Cairo,  40-50.  Central  City,  50.  Chi- 
cago, 55-60.  Clinton,  25.  Dixon,  50.  Freeport,  85-40.  Galena,  50-75. 
Galesburg,  35.  Geneseo,  35.  Jacksonville,  30-40.  Jersey ville,  80-100. 
Joliet,  34-40.  Kankakee,  20-25.  Knoxville,  25.  La  Salle,  50.  Marshall, 
40.  Moline,  45-50.  Monmouth,  25.  Morris,  50.  Oquawka,  20-25.  Ot- 
tawa, 3-^.  Paris,  30.  Peoria,  50-60.  Pontiac.  25-30.  Quincy,  50-60. 
Rockford,  37J.  Rock  Island,  25-30.  Shelbyville,  50.  Springfield,  75-100. 
Sterling,  40.     Walnut  Grove,  25-30.     Waukegan,  40-50. 

Hay,  per  ton:  In  Alton,  1000-1200  cents.  Cairo,  2000.  Chicago,  700-1200. 
Decatur,  800-900.  Jacksonville,  800.  Peoria,  800-1200.  Pontiac,  500. 
Quincy,  1200.  Eock  Island,  1000-1100.  Shelbyville,  700.  StcrUng,  550- 
600. 

Hams,  per  pound:  In  Cairo,  14-15  cents.  Central  City,  9-12.  Chicago, 
11-12J.  Clinton,  10-15.  Jacksonville,  12^-14.  Jerseyville,  12J-15.  Mo- 
line, 10J-12J.  Paris,  12^.  Quincy,  11-12.  Rockford,  7-8.  Shawneetown, 
12i-15.     Steriing,  7-8.     Waukegan,  12. 

Shoulders,  per  pound :  In  Cairo,  lli-12i  cents-  Chicago,  8-10.  Clinton,  6-8. 
Jacksonville,  8-10.  Jerseyville,  10-12J.  Moline,  7-8.  Paris,  9.  Quincy, 
6-8.  Rockford,  6-7.  Rock  Island,  8-9.  Shawneetown,  10-12J.  Sterling, 
8-9.     Waukegan,  9. 

PoT-A-,  per  100  pounds:  In  Alton,  400-450  cents.  Aurora,  475-525.  Bata-via, 
550-600.  Belvidere,  425.  Central  City,  450-500.  Chicago,  500-550.  Dix- 
on, 400-500.  Freeport,  400-565.  Galena,  300-425.  Galesburg,  400-475. 
Geneseo,  450-475.  Jacksonville,  375-450.  Joliet,  550-600.  Kankakee,  400. 
La  Salle,  550-600.  Mendota,  500.  Monmouth,  450-500.  Oquawka,  450- 
500.  Ottawa,  500.  Pontiac,  450-500.  Rock  Island,  450-500.  Shelbyville, 
500.  Springfield,  400.  SterUng,  700-800.  Walnui  Grove,  450-500.  Wau- 
kegan, 600-650. 

^e*/.  per  pound:  In  Chicago,  4-5  cents.  Clinton,  5-7.  Dixon,  5-6.  Joliet,  5- 
6J.  Knoxville,  6.  Marshall,  5.  Monmouth,  6-8.  Paris,  5-7.  Pontiac,  0 
-7.     Shelbyville,  5-8.     Sterling,  7-8.     Wahiut  Grove,  5-6.     Waukegan,  4-5. 

Mutton,  per  pound :  In  Chicago,  3-4  cents.  Spripgfield,  4.  Waukegan, 
4-5. 

Lard,  per  pound:  In  Aurora,  12 J  cents.  Batavia,  10-12.  Beardstown,  10. 
Cairo,  14.  Central  City,  9-10.  Chicago,  11-13.  Clinton,  10-12.  Dixon. 
11.  Freeport,  8-10.  Galena,  9.  Galesburg,  10-11.  Geneseo,  8-10.  Jack- 
Bonville,  10-12^^.  Kankakee,  8.  Knoxville,  8.  Marshall,  10.  Moline,  10- 
12^.  Monmouth,  10.  Morris,  12.  Paris,  10.  Pontiac,  8-10.  Quincy,  9- 
10.  Rockford,  10.  Rock  Island,  9-10.  Shelbyville,  10.  Springfield,  10- 
12f     Sterhng,  10.     Waukegan,  10-12. 


MARKET-PRICES.  875 

Butter,  per  pound:  In  Alton,  15-25  cents.  Aurora,  20.  15eardstown,  15- 
20.  Belvidere,  20.  Cairo,  25.  Centrcal  City,  20.  Chicago,  18-25.  Clinton, 
20-25.  Dixon,  20-23.  Decatur,  20-25.  Freeport,  16-18.  Galena,  16-20. 
Galesburg,  22-25.  Geneseo,  20-25.  Jacksonville,  15-20,  Jerseyville,  20- 
25.  Joliet,  18-20.  Kankakee,  18.  Knoxville,  15-20.  La  Salle,  20-25. 
Marshall,  16.  Moline,  25-30.  Monmouth,  20.  Morris,  18-20.  Oquawka, 
20.  Ottawa,  20.  Paris,  20.  Peoria,  25-30.  Pontiac,  20.  Quincy,  20-25. 
Rockford,  16-18.  Rock  Island,  15-30.  ShelbyTille,  15.  Springfield,  20-25. 
Sterling,  17-20.     Walnut  Grove,  25.     Waukegan,  20-22. 

Cheese,  ^Qv  pound:  In  Auroi'a,  9j  cents.  Batavia,  10-12.  Cairo,  10-11. 
Chicago,  8-12.  Clinton,  15-16.  Freeport,  11-15.  Geneseo,  10-12*.  Jer- 
seyville, 12|-15.  Joliet,  12-15.  Kankakee,  10.  Knoxville,  10-12J.  La 
Salle,  lli-12|.  Moline,  11-15.  Monmouth,  12.  Morris,  9-10.  Quincy, 
10-12.  Rockford,  8-10.  Springfield,  12^-15.  Sterling,  10-13.  Wauke- 
gan, 12. 

Turkeys,  each :  In  Alton,  50-75  cents.  Batavia,  8-10  per  lb.  Beardstown, 
60.  Belvidere,  7  per  lb.  Chicago,  9-10  per  lb.  Clinton,  50-60.  Decatur, 
50-60.  Galena,  75.  Monmouth.  50-60.  Peoria,  75-100.  Springfield,  50- 
75.     Waukegan,  75-100. 

Geese,  each:  In  Alton,  30-40  cents.  Chicago,  50-GO.  Galena,  50.  Wau- 
kegan, 37^. 

Ducks,  per  dozen:  In  Alton,  250  cents.     Chicago,  125-150. 

Chickens,  per  dozen :  In  Alton,  200-225.  Aurora,  7  per  lb.  Batavia,  6-8 
per  lb.  Beardstown,  150.  Belvidere,  10  each.  Central  City,  140-200. 
Chicago,  18-20  each.  Clinton,  150.  Dixon,  20  each.  Decatur,  175.  Ga- 
lena, 15  each.  Geneseo,  8  per  lb.  Jacksonville,  150.  Jerseyville,  150. 
Marshall,  125-150.  Monmouth,  150.  Paris,  150.  Peoria,  20  each.  Quincy, 
150-200.  Rockford,  7  per  lb.  Rock  Island,  165-200.  Shawneetown,  100- 
125.     Springfield,  155-175.     Waukegan,  150-175. 

Eggs,  per  dozen:  In  Alton,  16-18  cents.  Aurora,  20-22.  Batavia,  20-22. 
Beardstown,  12,}.  Belvidere,  20.  Cairo,  15-20.  Central  City,  15.  Chi- 
cago, 25-27.  Clinton,  10-15.  Dixon,  20.  Decatur,  20.  Freeport,  18-20. 
Galena,  20-25.  Galesbm-g,  18-20.  Geneseo,  18-20.  Jacksonville,  15-20. 
Jerseyville,  20.  Joliet,  18-25.  Kankakee,  18.  Knoxville,  8.  La  Salle,  20 
-25.  Marshall,  10.  Moline,  25.  Monmouth,  20.  Morris,  20.  Oquawka, 
20.  Ottawa,  18.  Paris,  8.  Peoria,  25.  Pontiac,  15-20.  Quincy,  15-20. 
Rockford,  20.  Rock  Island,  35.  Shawneetown,  8-10.  Shelbyville,  10. 
Springfield,  20-25.     Sterling,  20-23.     Walnut  Grove,  18.     Waukegan,  25. 

Prairie  Chickens,  per  dozen:  In  Alton,  225  cents.  Central  City,  175-200. 
Waukegan,  200. 

Wood,  per  cord :  In  Alton,  450-500  cents.  Central  City,  200.  Chicago, 
6Q0-1000.  Clinton,  250.  Dixon,  400-500.  Decatur,  250-300.  Galesburg, 
350-500.  Geneseo,  300.  Jerseyville,  250-300.  Joliet,  400-500.  Rockford, 
200-5C'>.     Rock  Island,  400-500.     Springfield,  500.     Sterling,  600. 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINING. 

The  entire  area  of  Illinois  seems  at  one  period  to  have  been  a  level 
plain,  or  ocean  bed,  wbich  has  not  since  been  disturbed  by  any  consi- 
derable upheaval.  The  present  irregularities  of  the  surface  are  clearly 
traceable  to  the  washing  out  and  carrying  away  of  the  earth  which 
once  filled  the  spaces  occupied  by  our  valley.  The  Illinois  River  has 
washed  out  a  valley  about  250  feet  deep,  and  from  Ij  to  6  miles  wide. 
The  perfect  regularity  of  the  beds  of  mountain  limestone,  sandstone, 
and  coal,  as  they  are  found  protruding  out  of  the  bluflFs  on  each  side 
of  this  valley,  on  the  same  levels,  is  pretty  conclusive  evidence,  that 
the  valley  itself  owes  its  existence  to  the  long-continued  action  of  the 
water.  The  lower  bed  of  the  coal  as  at  present  worked,  which  is  30 
feet  above  the  river,  is  found  along  the  banks  of  Kickapoo  Creek  for 
15  miles  from  its  mouth  at  nearly  the  same  elevation  from  the  water. 
The  upper  bed  of  coal  is  65  feet  above  the  lower,  and  95  feet  above 
the  bed  of  the  river.  The  mountain  limestone  is  65  feet  above  the 
upper  bed  of  coal,  and  160  feet  above  the  river.  It  is  supposed  that 
there  is  another,  or  third  workable  bed  of  coal,  below  the  bed  of  the 
river.  The  limestone  and  the  three  uppermost  beds  of  coal  are  iden- 
tical in  character  at  La  Salle  and  in  Peoria  County.  This  lowermost 
bed  of  coal,  as  found  at  La  Salle,  is  quite  different  in  its  quality  from 
the  other  two,  and  is  quite  free  from  sulphur. 

Among  the  valuable  natural  products  noted  up  to  this  time,  may  be 
mentioned  the  ores  of  iron^  lead,  and  zinc;  coal,  porcelain  earth,  fire- 
clay, potter's  clay,  fuller's  earth,  marble,  oolitic  marble,  limestone, 
grit-stones,  flags,  &c.  The  value  of  the  salt-springs  in  the  southern 
portion  of  the  State,  cannot  yet  be  estimated.  Notwithstanding  they 
have  been  worked  from  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  country,  nothing 
sufficient  seems  to  have  been  developed,  upon  which  an  estimate  of 
their  true  value  could  be  based.     The  investigations  made  in  the 

(376) 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINING.  377 

southern  coal  region,  have  led  to  some  conclusions,  which  will,  ulti- 
mately, be  of  great  service  to  the  public  in  preventing  the  loss  of  ca- 
pital by  vain  explorations  for  that  mineral  in  sections  where  it  does 
not  exist,  and  also  by  pointing  out  the  special  conditions  under  which 
labor  and  capital  may  be  employed  with  a  prospect  of  success. 

Marble,  lime,  and  sandstone  are  found,  either  the  one  or  the  other, 
in  each  county;  secondary  sandstone  forms  the  basis  of  the  rocks  in 
the  whole  northern  part  of  the  State.  Near  Athens,  in  Du  Page 
County,  fine,  milk-white  limestone  quarries  have  been  found;  the 
stone  is  of  a  marble-like  appearance,  and  susceptible  of  receiving  an 
excellent  polish.  Near  Chicago  is  found  quite  a  peculiar  variety  of 
stone,  of  a  dark  grey  color,  a  variety  of  marble,  of  a  granulous 
cleavage,  from  which  a  bituminous  matter  constantly  oozes. 

If  lime  should  ever  be  largely  used  in  farming  concerns  in  Illinois, 
or  if  it  should  be  deemed  worth  while  to  export  it,  many  of  the  coun- 
ties would  be  able  to  supply  large  quantities  of  it. 

Sandstone,  which  when  dug  out,  hardens  through  the  influence  of 
the  air,  is  preferred  to  lime.  In  Randolph  County  are  the  finest 
marble  quarries.  Quartz  crystals  are  found  in  Gallatin,  and  the  ad- 
jacent counties;  gypsum  in  St.  Clair  County,  In  general,  however, 
metallic  ores  are  considered  to  be  of  a  higher  value ;  and  though  in 
this  branch  Illinois  cannot  boast  of  gold  and  silver  mines,  it  is  in  pos- 
session of  other  ores  which  are  of  a  far  greater  importance.  There 
are  in  the  State  two  hilly  districts,  one  in  the  north-east  of  the  State, 
north  of  Galena,  which  derived  its  name  from  galena  (lead  ore),  and 
one  in  the  south  of  Illinois,  in  the  counties  of  Union,  Johnson,  Pope, 
Hardin,  Gallatin,  and  Williamson,  which  latter  seems  to  be  a  continu- 
ation of  the  hilly  regions  which  are  encompassed  by  the  Cumberland 
and  Tennessee  Ptivers.  These  two  districts  form  the  metallic  region. 
The  southern  metallic  districts  have  only  been  worked  for  a  few  years. 

In  prospecting  and  sinking  shafts  for  the  lead  mineral,  or  galena, 
after  penetrating  the  earth  from  40  to  70,  and  even  100  feet,  the 
miner  sometimes  finds  himself  in  caverns  of  different  dimensions,  va- 
rying in  size  from  about  three  to  six  rods.  It  will  sometimes  happen 
that  he  hits  on  a  crevice,  which  hardly  aff"ords  space  enough  to  crowd 
the  body  through.  A  great  many  of  these  subterranean  apartments 
present  scenes  of  grand  and  brilliant  splendor,  from  the  various  crys- 
32* 


378  GEOLOGY  AND  MINING. 

tallizations  found  in  them.  Calcareous  spar,  in  great  diversity  and 
beauty  of  shape,  is  often  found  in  considerable  quantities,  in  some  of 
the  richest  of  these  mineral-bearing  grottoes. 

In  some  of  the  caves,  more  particularly  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cop- 
per mines,  the  sulphates  of  lime  are  to  be  found  in  different  forms, 
such  as  opaque  plaster  and  gypsum ;  and  sometimes  in  beautiful  crys- 
tallized forms,  as  selenites  and  alabastrties,  which  are  generally  of  a 
pure,  sparkling  white.  The  richest  and  most  abundant  lead  ore  is  ge- 
nerally found  in  caves,  beneath  an  earth  whose  drippings  are  fruitful 
with  these  beautiful  specimens  of  spar;  it  is  in  most  cases  a  clay  or 
marl  soil,  in  which  aJuminuvi  constitutes  a  large  ingredient,  and 
where  soap-clay  is  found  in  abundance.  It  can  be  easily  cut  or  mo- 
delled into  various  forms  and  images,  and  hardens  when  dried — but 
shakes  into  fragments  when  exposed  to  the  air. 

Iron  is  one  of  the  most  considerable  productions  of  the  State. 

In  the  year  1850,  the  pig  iron  produced  in  this  State  amounted  in 
value  to  $65,000,  for  which  iron  5500  tons  of  ore  were  required.  Of 
cast  iron,  4477  tons  were  manufactured  of  pig  iron,  and  50  tons  of 
old  iron.  The  entire  capital  invested  in  the  iron  manufacture, 
amounted  to  $325,400;  the  cost  of  the  ore,  expenses,  &c.,  to  $197,- 
830;  wages,  $153,264;  and  the  total  value  of  the  manufactured  ar- 
ticle, to  $511,385. 

Copper  has  been  found  in  large  quantities,  in  the  northern  counties 
of  the  State,  especially  at  the  mouth  of  Plum  Creek,  and  other  little 
creeks.  It  is  also  found  in  small  quantities  in  Jackson  County,  on 
Muddy  River,  and  back  of  Harrisonville,  in  the  bluffs  of  rivers  in 
Munroe  County,  to  some  small  extent. 

Zinc  exists  in  considerable  quantities  in  several  districts  of  the 
State. 

Silver  has  been  found  in  rather  small  quantities  in  St.  Clair  County, 
two  miles  from  Hock  Spring;  whence  Silver  Creek  has  derived  its 
name.  It  is  said  that  in  early  times,  the  French  sunk  a  shaft  here, 
and  tradition  tells  us  that  considerable  quantities  of  the  metal  were 
then  obtained;  and  it  is  even  asserted  that  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State,  several  sections  of  land  were  reserved  from  sale,  owing  to  the 
silver  ore  which  they  were  supposed  to  contain. 

Before  commencing  to  speak  of  coal  mines  in  this  State,  it  will  not 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINING.  379 

be  improper  to  give  a  few  more  hints  with  regard  to  the  geological 
formation  of  this  vast  State,  which  may  serve  as  an  addition  to  what 
was  already  mentioned,  concerning  geology,  at  the  beginning  of  this 
chapter. 

The  profile  of  the  country,  in  fact,  does  not  present  one  uniform, 
dead  level,  but  a  succession  of  gentle  undulations,  which  have  very 
forcibly  been  compared  to  the  swells  of  the  ocean.  The  highest,  or 
culminating  points,  attain  an  elevation  of  not  more  than  800  feet  above 
the  Ohio  River,  and  about  300  feet  above  the  level  of  Lake  Michigan. 
The  valleys  cut  through  the  superfical  deposits,  and  occasionally  ex- 
pose the  rocky  strata  beneath  ;  while  from  the  main  channels  start  nu- 
merous ravines. 

The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  passes  over  all  those  systems  of 
rocks  which  are  included  between  the  Upper  Carboniferous,  and  the 
Lower  Silurian.  The  greater  portion  of  the  underlying  rocks  con- 
sists of  sandstone,  shale,  and  limestone.  The  question  has,  as  yet, 
not  been  solved,  whether  they  form  an  uninterrupted  assemblage  of 
strata,  dipping  towards  a  common  centre,  or  are  arranged  like  the  Ap- 
palachian coal-field,  in  a  series  of  undulations. 

The  continuity  of  the  coal-bed  has  been  found  in  one  or  two  in- 
stances, to  be  interrupted  by  older  rocks,  interfering  between  them ; 
but  if  the  supposition  be  made  that  the  coal-bearing  strata  had  once 
been  arranged  in  a  series  of  waves,  or  corrugations,  and  that  in  the 
progress  of  time  their  crests  had  been  abraded,  so  as  to  expose  the 
subjacent  rocks,  all  those  phenomena  would  be  exhibited  which  one 
attempts  to  explain  by  a  resort  to  limited  basins. 

Geological  Structure  of  the  Soxitliern  Division. — The  strata  conti- 
guous to  the  above  mentioned  railroad,  may  best  be  divided  into  three 
groups,  which  are  in  the  ascending  order,  thus : — 

Group  I. — Alternation  of  blue  compact  limestone,  black  slate,  and 
fine-grained  sandstone,  with  traces  of  hydrated  brown  iron  ores. 

Group  II. — Small  pebbles,  mill-stone  and  grindstone  grit,  and 
sandstone  of  various  colors,  or  variegated  sandstone. 

Group  III. — Alternations  of  shale  with  vegetable  impressions,  fire- 
clays, impure  limestone,  and  sandstone,  with  seams  of  coal,  and  traces 
of  iron  carbonate. 

Geological  Structure  of  the  Northern  Division. — In  the  northern, 


380  GEOLOGY  AND  MINING. 

or  north-eastern  part  of  the  State,  adjacent  to  the  Central  Railroad, 
is  found  the  La  Salle  coal-field,  the  northern  margin  of  which  extends 
but  a  few  miles  north  of  the  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  Road.  The 
intermediate  space  between  its  outcrop  and  galena,  is  occupied  by 
groups  of  strata  below  the  Carboniferous. 

The  buff-colored  magnesian-limestone  also  belongs  to  this  series ; 
in  its  texture  it  is  compact,  and  close-grained,  and  may  be  worked 
easily  by  the  chisel,  into  any  form,  and  is  from  that  reason  very  well 
adapted  for  building,  the  more  so,  since  it  is  but  little  more  expensive 
than  brick.  It  is  found  in  layers,  the  under  surfaces  of  which  are 
covered  with  water-marks.  Such  rocks  as  contain  a  large  number  of 
ingredients,  not  chemically  combined,  are  apt  to  crumble ;  but  this  ob- 
jection does  not  apply  in  this  case. 

Near  La  Salle,  Dr.  Norwood,  the  State  Geologist,  discovered  one  of 
the  most  interesting  facts  in  the  history  of  the  Carboniferous  period 
of  America,  viz  :  the  existence  of  the  coal  seams  xipon  the  upturned 
strata  of  the  Lower  Silurian  series. 

Visiting  the  "  Split  Rock,"  about  three  miles  east  of  La  Salle,  he 
observed  a  coal-seam  with  a  thin  intervention  of  shale,  occasionally 
wanting  this,  reposing,  though  only  at  intervals,  upon  strata  which 
contain  fossils  belonging  to  some  of  the  earliest  forms  of  organic  life. 

The  vast  series  of  rocks  that  are  so  conspicuously  displayed  in  the 
slate  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  interposed  between  the  Lower 
Silurian,  and  the  productive  coal  strata,  as  well  as  the  carboniferous 
limestones  and  sandstones,  which  form  so  prominent  a  feature  in  the 
geology  of  Southern  Illinois,  are  here  entirely  wanting.  Examining 
further,  it  will  be  perceived  that  the  sandstone  here  comes  out  in  bold 
scarps,  and  is  surmounted  by  limestone  containing  fossils,  and  reposes 
upon  a  magnesian  limestone  which  contains  traces  of  early  animal  life. 
This  sandstone  stratum  is  about  100  feet  in  thickness. 

The  limestone  reposing  upon  it,  according  to  Dr.  Norwood's  mea- 
surement, is  about  250  feet  thick. 

The  coal-field  at  La  Salle  occupies  the  trough-like  depression  thus 
created.  Its  lowest  seam  sometimes  reposes  upon  the  older  rocks. 
Its  thickness  is  from  three  to  four  feet.  Between  the  lower  seam 
and  the  middle  one,  there  is  an  interval  of  176  feet,  consisting  of 
alternations  of  shale  and  limestone,  with  thin  bands  of  sandstone. 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINING.  381 

The  middle  seam  is  about  six  feet  in  thickness;  the  upper  part, 
for  the  distance  of  a  foot,  or  fifteen  inches,  consists  of  an  impure, 
slaty  cannel.  Tlie  upper  seam,  appearing  53  feet  above,  is  nearly 
four  feet  thick.  The  interval  between  consists  of  alternations  of 
sbale  and  limestone,  with  a  belt  of  sandstone  twenty  feet  in  thick- 
ness. The  coal  seams  dip  towards  the  soutb-west.  The  mines  are  on 
the  right  bank  of  tbe  canal,  and  adjacent  to  the  Chicago  and  Rock 
Island  Railroad. 

Illinois  has  as  much  and  perhaps  more  coal  tban  any  other  State 
in  the  Union.  Till  within  the  last  few  years  her  mines  have  been 
very  imperfectly  worked,  but  it  is  found,  that  as  the  deposits  are 
worked  at  a  greater  depth,  the  quality  becomes  much  better,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  after  a  few  years,  the  people  of  Illinois  will  be  able 
to  supply  their  own  markets,  with  fuel  equal  to  the  best  Pennsylvania 
or  Ohio  coal. 

Nature,  in  fact,  seems  to  have  anticipated  the  inconvenience  to 
which  the  inhabitants  of  the  prairies  would  be  subjected  by  the 
scarcity  of  timber  for  fuel,  and  long  ago  provided  for  it  a  compensation, 
by  carefully  storing  beneath  their  surface,  an  almost  unlimited  supply 
of  excellent  mineral,  or  stone  coal.  Nearly  the  entire  State  is  under- 
laid with  it,  south  of  a  line  running  west,  from  the  southern  extremity 
of  Lake  Michigan.  It  is  found  at  a  little  depth  below  the  surface, 
and  crops  out  upon  the  banks  of  most  of  the  streams  in  that  part  of 
the  State. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  article  must  ultimately  become  a  great 
source  of  wealth  to  this  region  of  the  country,  and  it  already  attracts 
the  attention  of  capitalists. 

Mining  is  largely  practised  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington, 
and  Quincy  Railroads,  in  the  counties  of  Stark  and  Knox,  by  means 
of  shafts  sunk  in  the  prairie,  immediately  on  the  line  of  the  road. 
Also  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago,  and  Rock  Island  Railroad,  in  Grundy, 
La  Salle,  Bureau,  and  Rock  Island  Counties.  Extensive  works  are 
in  operation  at  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  where  a  large  amount  is 
mined  from  the  outcrop  of  the  veins  in  that  vicinity. 

The  mines  at  ShefSeld  are  owned  and  worked  by  a  wealthy  com- 
pany, and  are  yielding  a  large  amount  of  good  coal,  which  is  chiefly 


882  GEOLOGY  AND  MININa. 

shipped  to  Chicago.  The  coal  is  raised  from  these  mines  by  a  station- 
ary engine. 

The  La  Salle  coal  basin,  in  La  Salle  County,  contains  the  most  ex- 
tensive and  valuable  deposits  of  coal  on  the  northern  outcrop. 

The  lower  seam  of  coal  crops  out  in  the  bluffs  of  the  Illinois, 
from  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county,  to  near  La  Salle,  where  a 
sand-ridge  occurs,  running  in  a  north-west  and' south-east  direction, 
thus  dividing  the  Ottawa  and  La  Salle  coal-fields. 

The  La  Salle  coal  basin  contains  three  workable  beds  of  coal,  which 
are  of  about  the  following  average  thicknesses  : — The  lower  bed,  two 
and  a  half  to  three  feet;  the  middle  bed,  five  and  a  half  to  six  feet; 
the  upper  bed  about  four  and  a  half  feet.  These  beds  "  crop  out"  in 
the  blufl^s  of  the  Little  Vermillion  River,  and  adjacent  ravines;  and 
all  reappear  in  the  bluffs  of  the  Big  Vermillion,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Illinois  River;  the  lower  bed  being  here  four  feet  thick;  some  fif- 
teen to  eighteen  miles  up  this  stream,  the  middle  vein  is  found  eight 
feet  thick,  and  of  good  quality.  The  coal  is  found  all  along  the  Big 
Vermillion,  from  its  mouth,  near  La  Salle,  to  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  county.  It  also  extends  into  the  northern  part  of  Livingston 
County. 

The  La  Salle  coal  basin  embraces  an  area  of  country  about  eighteen 
miles  in  length,  by  ten  miles  in  breadth,  being  180  miles  square,  or, 
114,000  acres.  A  coal  bed,  one  foot  thick,  contains  1400  tons  per 
acre,  and  estimating  the  workable  coal  to  be  twelve  feet  in  thickness, 
the  average  yield  would  be  16,800  tons  per  acre,  or  to  the  whole  coal 
basin  the  quantity  of  1,931,920,000  tons. 

Although  the  usual  method  for  working  consists  in  sinking  shafts, 
to  reach  the  coal  beds,  at  various  depths,  another  system  of  mining  has 
lately  been  carried  on,  which  is  called  drifting. 

A  vertical  shaft  is  run  into  the  coal  bed,  entering  at  the  "out  crop," 
and  this  method  has  been  found  a  very  successful  one. 

At  La  Salle,  all  three  of  the  beds  are  worked  by  ''  drifts."  There 
are  some  twelve  to  fifteen  openings  on  the  bank  of  the  canal,  and  in 
the  valley  of  the  Little  Vermillion,  and  contiguous  ravines.  The 
lower  bed  of  coal  is  now  being  worked  to  some  extent,  at  Marseilles, 
near  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county.  The  bed  is  largely  worked 
at  Buffalo  Rock,  and  near  Ottawa,  for  the  supply  of  that  city,  the  sur- 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINING.  383 

rounding  country,  and  the  shipping.  The  variety  of  coal  principally 
found  here,  as  well  as  in  the  whole  State,  is  the  bituminous ;  but  an 
excellent  article  of  cannel  coal  has  lately  become  known.  It  was 
taken  from  a  shaft  opened  a  few  miles  above  La  Salle,  near  the  Rock 
Island  Road,  where  a  vein  about  eighteen  inches  thick  has  lately  been 
struck,  and  is  likely  to  increase  in  thickness  as  far  as  progress  is 
made.  The  coal  is  of  a  quality  equal  to  the  best  Liverpool  Cannel 
Coal  that  was  ever  seen;  it  is  equally  frangible,  susceptible  of  as  fine 
polish,  does  not  soil  the  fingers,  and  leaves  but  four  or  five  per  cent. 
of  ashes. 

The  following  companies,  whose  shafts  are  located  for  the  greater 
part  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Little  Vermillion  River,  and  Swan- 
son  Ravine,  from  one  to  four  miles  distant  from  La  Salle,  all  carry  on 
their  coal-mining  by  "  drifting  :" 

Field  &  Rounds;  Egletson  &  Parsons;  A.  J.  Hartshorne;  La  Salle 
Coal  Mining  Co. ;  James  Forsyth ;  Munsell  &  Heath ;  J.  Robsan  & 
Co.;  William  Ireland;  Sanderson  &  Co. ;  Thomas  Evans;  William 
Reevely. 

It  will  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  some  information  here,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  operations  of  some  of  these  companies.  The  first  named, 
Field  &  Rounds'  coal  bank,  is  situated  immediately  west  of  the  tun- 
nel on  the  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  Railroad,  about  two  miles  east  of 
La  Salle.  They  are  working  the  lower  bed  of  coal  by  three  different 
drifts,  the  entrances  to  which  are  but  a  few  rods  from  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal,  and  the  Rock  Island  Road.  They  employ  at  present 
about  sixty-five  miners,  with  eight  laborers,  a  carpenter,  blacksmith, 
teamsters,  &e.,  and  are  mining  about  sixty  tons  per  day.  The  bed  of 
coal  which  they  are  working,  averages  about  three  feet  in  thickness. 
The  quality  of  coal  now  being  taken  out  from  their  drifts,  which  have 
been  carried  in  to  the  extent  of  about  150  yards — is  said  to  be  the 
best  ever  taken  from  the  lowest  bed.  With  but  little  addition  to 
their  present  working  force,  they  can  very  easily  mine  100  tons  per 
day.  At  most  of  their  banks  coal  is  worth  two  dollars  and  a  half  per 
ton. 

The  La  Salle  Coal  Mining  Co.,  generally  known  by  the  name  of 
the  ''Kentucky  Co.,"  have  been  for  several  months  past  engaged  in 
sinking  a  shaft  on  the  west  side  of  Little  Vermillion  River,  near  the 


384  GEOLOGY  AND  MINING. 

line  of  the  Illiuois  Central  Railroad,  about  one  mile  north  of  La  Salle. 
This  is  the  first  shaft  that  has  yet  been  sunk  in  the  La  Salle  coal 
basin,  west  of  the  Little  Vermillion.  The  first,  or  upper  workable 
bed  of  coal  was  reached  at  the  depth  of  198  feet.  The  company  is 
expecting  to  be  able  to  mine  and  hoist  not  less  than  100  tons  per  day, 
or  30, 0(^  tons  a  year.  There  are  at  present  in  the  La  Salle  coal 
basin,  about  twenty,  or  even  more,  shafts  open  and  being  opened. 
The  number  of  men  employed  in  and  about  these  works,  is  about  300. 
The  amount  of  coal  taken  out  is  about  600  tons  per  week,  of  which 
about  450  tons  are  sent  off  by  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  while  the 
remainder  is  sold  at  the  banks  for  home  consumption.  The  price  for 
which  the  coal  is  delivered  at  La  Salle  is  four  dollars  per  ton.  The 
price  paid  for  mining  is  five  cents  per  bushel,  and  about  27  bushels 
make  up  a  ton.  Where  mining  is  carried  on  upon  leased  land,  one 
cent  per  bushel,  or  twenty-five  cents  per  ton,  is  paid  to  the  land 
owner,  as  a  bank-rent,  or  "  royalty." 

The  price  of  transportation  on  the  railroad,  from  La  Salle  to  Men- 
dota,  is  75  cents  per  ton  j  to  Amboy,  81  •  to  Dixon,  ^1  35  ;  to  Polo, 
$1  65 ;  to  Forreston,  §1  75 ;  to  Freeport,  ^2 ;  to  Eleroy,  $2  25 ;  to 
Lena,  ^2  25 ;  to  Warren,  $2  75;  to  Apple  Eiver,  ^3;  to  Galena,  §3; 
to  Dunleith,  $3  50. 

As  the  land  owners,  who  lease  lands  to  practical  miners,  receive  a 
"royalty"  of  twenty  five  cents  per  ton,  for  the  coal  taken  out,  the  re- 
venues thus  obtained,  alone  yield  84,200  to  the  acre. 

The  La  Salle  Basin,  being  the  northern  limit  of  the  coal  in  this 
State,  the  market  to  be  supplied  must,  for  centuries  to  come,  continue 
as  great  as  the  supply  which  can  be  furnished.  Chicago  will  also  af- 
ford a  constant  demand.  Erie  coal  sells  in  that  city  at  88  per  ton ; 
■while  La  Salle  coal,  adding  the  cost  of  transportation,  which  by  canal 
would  not  exceed  one  dollar  per  ton,  can  be  sold  at  85,  and  even  less. 

The  Peru  Coal  Mining  Company  has  been  organized  for  some  time, 
and  intend  to  commence  the  work  of  sinking  their  shaft  immediately. 

The  Chicago  and  Danville  Coal  Mining  Company.  The  deposit  of 
the  said  company  is  at  Danville,  in  Vermillion  County.  The  Great 
Western  Railroad,  which  passes  through  Danville,  crosses  this  field 
from  east  to  west.  They  have  made  arrangements  for  working  these 
mines  extensively,  with  a  view  to  supply  the  country  along  the  line 


384  GEOLOGY    AND    MINING. 

line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  about  one  mile  north  of  La  Salle. 
This  is  the  first  shaft  that  has  yet  been  sunk  in  the  La  Salle  coal 
basin,  west  of  the  Little  Vermillion.  The  first,  or  upper  workable 
bed  of  coal  was  reached  at  the  depth  of  198  feet.  The  company  is 
expecting  to  be  able  to  mine  and  hoist  not  less  than  100  tons  per  day, 
or  30,090  tons  a  year.  There  are  at  present  in  the  La  Salle  coal 
basin,  about  twenty,  or  even  more,  shafts  open  and  being  opened. 
The  number  of  men  employed  in  and  about  these  works,  is  about  300. 
The  amount  of  coal  taken  out  is  about  600  tons  per  week,  of  which 
about  450  tons  are  sent  off  by  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  while  the 
remainder  is  sold  at  the  banks  for  home  consumption.  The  price  for 
which  the  coal  is  delivered  at  La  Salle  is  four  dollars  per  ton.  The 
price  paid  for  mining  is  five  cents  per  bushel,  and  about  27  bushels 
make  up  a  ton.  Where  mining  is  carried  on  upon  leased  land,  one 
cent  per  bushel,  or  twenty-five  cents  per  ton,  is  paid  to  the  land 
owner,  as  a  bank-rent,  or  "  royalty." 

The  price  of  transportation  on  the  railroad,  from  La  Salle  to  Men- 
dota,  is  75  cents  per  ton ;  to  Amboy,  §1 )  to  Dixon,  §1  35  ;  to  Polo, 
$1  65 ;  to  Forreston,  U  75 ;  to  Freeport,  $2 ;  to  Eleroy,  $2  25 ;  to 
Lena,  $2  25;  to  Warren,  $2  75;  to  Apple  River,  $3;  to  Galena,  §3; 
to  Dunleith,  $3  50. 

As  the  land  owners,  who  lease  lands  to  practical  miners,  receive  a 
"royalty"  of  twenty  five  cents  per  ton,  for  the  coal  taken  out,  the  re- 
venues thus  obtained,  alone  yield  ^4,200  to  the  acre. 

The  La  Salle  Basin,  being  the  northern  limit  of  the  coal  in  tliis 
State,  the  market  to  be  supplied  must,  for  centuries  to  come,  continue 
as  great  as  the  supply  which  can  be  furnished.  Chicago  will  also  af- 
ford a  constant  demand.  Erie  coal  sells  in  that  city  at  ^8  per  ton; 
while  La  Salle  coal,  adding  the  cost  of  transportation,  which  by  canal 
would  not  exceed  one  dollar  per  ton,  can  be  sold  at  ^5,  and  even  less. 

The  Peru  Coal  Mining  Company  has  been  organized  for  some  time, 
and  intend  to  commence  the  work  of  sinking  their  shaft  immediately. 

The  Chicago  and  Danville  Coal  Mining  Company.  The  deposit  of 
the  said  company  is  at  Danville,  in  Vermillion  County.  The  Great 
Western  Railroad,  which  passes  through  Danville,  crosses  this  field 
from  east  to  west.  They  have  made  arrangements  for  working  these 
mines  extensively,  with  a  view  to  supply  the  country  along  the  line 


i 


GEOLOGY    AND    MINING.  38 J 

of  the  Cliicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  as  well  as  the 
Chicago  market. 

The  Northern  Coal  Mining  and  Transportation  Company,  is  the 
name  of  a  new  association,  lately  formed  at  La  Salle;  their  coal  beds 
are  adjacent  to  the  lands  of  the  La  Salle  Coal  Mining  Company ;  they 
are  about  to  commence  operations  by  sinking  a  shaft  on  the  line  of 
the  Central  Railroad,  about  half  a  mile  further  north. 

The  mines  in  the  vicinity  of  Morris,  in  Grundy  County,  are  yield- 
ing a  large  amount  of  coal. 

The  Kingston  Coal  Mines  are  situated  in  Peoria  County,  and  the 
lands  of  that  region  consist  of  about  1180  acres.  The  depth  at  which 
the  coal  lies  varies,  the  surface  being  very  uneven.  Its  greatest  depth 
is  seventy-five  feet,  while  in  other  places,  even  where  it  has  been 
worked,  it  is  no  more  than  ten.  It  lies  108  feet  above  the  river  level. 
It  is  divided  into  two  unequal  parts  by  the  intervention  of  a  thin 
stratum  of  plastic  clay. 

There  are  also  extensive  and  valuable  mines  on  the  line  of  the  Il- 
linois Central  Railroad,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  Those  at 
Du  Quoine,  and  De  Soto,  are  yielding  abundance  of  a  good  quality. 

The  valleys  of  the  .Sangamon  and  Spoon  Rivers  also  contain  beds 
of  coal,  and  it  is  also  found  in  Schuyler,  and  several  other  counties 
lying  between  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  Rivers — that  district  usu- 
ally called  the  "  Military  Tract." 

Salt  Sprinffs  are  found  in  the  southern  counties.  Several  years 
since  they  were  worked  quite  extensively,  and  as  some  of  them  yielded 
largely,  they  will  doubtless  again  come  into  use,  as  soon  as  it  shall  be 
deemed  practicable  to  invest  more  capital  in  the  enterprise,  and  when 
labor  becomes  less  expensive,  so  as  to  enable  the  owners  to  work  them 
with  profit. 

With  regard  to  this  branch  of  industry,  the  reader  may  direct  his 
attention  to  the  Saline,  Coal,  and  Manufacturing  Company.  This 
company  has  bought  a  portion  of  land,  commencing  at  a  point  about 
two  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Saline,  on  the  Ohio  River,  (106 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  latterj)  in  Gallatin  County,  Illinois,  and 
extending  two  miles  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  from  the  mouth  of 
'the  Saline. 

The  fact  of  the  existence  of  salt  here,  was  well  known,  even  whilst 
33  z 


886  GEOLOGY  AND  MINING. 

this  spot  was  yet  Indian  territory,  when  millions  of  bushels  were  ma- 
cufoctured.  When  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States,  by  a  treaty 
made  with  the  Indians,  such  portions  of  the  tract  as  were  known  to 
contain  a  salt  deposit,  or  other  minerals,  were  reserved  from  sale  by 
the  government.  However,  it  was  subsequently  donated  to  the  State 
of  Illinois.  It  is  supposed  that  some  15,000  bushels  of  salt  can  be 
obtained,  per  annum,  from  these  Salines.  The  company,  however, 
have  made  the  production  of  iron  their  principal  business.  The  diffi- 
culties in  carrying  on  the  salt  manufacture  are  by  no  means  as  great 
here,  as  in  Missouri,  on  the  iron  mountains,  or  on  Lake  Superior — as 
in  those  places  the  facilities  for  conveyance  are  not  fully  established. 

The  company,  with  their  capital  of  three  millions,  have  on  hand  a 
sufficiency  of  fuel,  and  have  very  excellent  landing  and  shipping  places, 
and  considering  the  continued  and  constantly  increasing  demand  for 
iron,  they  cannot  be  in  want  of  custom.  The  annual  call  for  bar  iron 
amounts  to  850,000  tons,  of  which  250,000  are  imported.  The  land 
in  this  section  is  well  timbered,  and  furnishes  a  first  class  building 
material;  numerous  salt  springs  water  the  land.  The  coal  veins  cross- 
ing the  land  at  this  place  are  of  an  average  thickness  of  32  feet,  and 
the  coal  contained  in  these  beds  is  estimated  at  about  180  millions  of 
tons,  while  the  quality  of  coal  is  said  to  be  as  good  as  any  in  the 
whole  State  of  Illinois. 

In  the  southern  part  of  Illinois  deposits  of  marble  of  different  co- 
lors have  been  found.  They  will  compare  favorably  with  most  of  the 
imported  marbles,  used  for  ornamental  purposes,  and  it  closely  resem- 
■■bles  some  varieties  of  Egyptian  marble.  Several  pieces  of  black  mar- 
ble, remarkable  for  depth  of  color,  and  high  polish,  have  lately  come 
from  that  region,.  A  light-colored,  nearly  white  marble,  from  the  vi- 
cinity of  Thebes,  appears  to  be  among  the  best  that  has  been  met,  for 
almost  every  purpose  of  in  and  out-door  work. 

A  specimen  of  marble  conglomerate  from  Pike  County,  is  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  ornamental  rocks  that  has  ever  been  met  with  in 
the  West.  It  much  resembles  the  "  Potomac  marble,"  used  in  the 
pillars  of  the  capital  at  Washington,  and  seems  to  be  quite  durable. 

Argentiftrous  Lead  Ore. — There  is  a  quantity  of  lead  now  worked 
by  the  Linden  Mining  CompauT/,  near  Chicago,  which  is  highly 
argentiferous.     Three  specimens  of  the  ore,  assayed  by  a  competent 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINING.  387 

assayer,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  have  yielded :  1840  ounces 
of  silver  to  the  ton  of  ore;  another,  1200,  and  the  third,  1600  ounces. 
The  agent  of  the  company,  not  satisfied  with  this  test,  has  sent  an 
average  sample  of  the  ore  to  Dr.  Hays,  of  Boston,  the  State  Assayer 
of  Massachusetts.  Should  he  pronounce  it  argentiferous,  containing 
only  the  lowest  estimate  of  the  Philadelphia  assayer,  then  there  cau 
be  no  doubt,  judging  from  the  quantity  of  ore  already  raised,  the 
known  extent  of  the  mine,  and  the  ease  and  cheapness  with  which  it 
is  worked,  that  it  is  far  the  most  valuable  mine  of  any  description  in 
the  United  States. 

The  two  north-western  counties  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  form  a  part 
of  the  richest  and  most  extensive  lead  region  known  in  the  scientific 
world. 

During  the  year  1854,  there  were  received  in  Chicago,  by  the  Ga- 
lena Railroad,  4,051,346  pounds  of  lead;  and  it  further  appears,  from 
authentic  statements,  that  the  products  of  these  lead  mines  shipped  dur- 
ing the  last  five  years,  from  Galena,  were  as  follows : 

1851.— 474,115  pigs,  equal  to  33,188,050  lbs.,  of  the  value  of  $1,534,062  44. 
1852.-408,628     "  "     28,603,960    "  "  1,178,488  95. 

1853.-425,814     "  "     29,806,980    "  «  1,639,383  90. 

1854.-423,617     "  "     29,653,190    "  "  1,630,925  45. 

1855.-430,365     "  <'     30,125,550    "  "  1,732,219  02. 

Nothing  can  better  show  the  wealth,  and  importance  of  the  mining 
region  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  than  the  above  statement.  The  con- 
sequence is,  that  the  city  of  Galena  and  surrounding  country  have 
increased  in  wealth  and  population  very  rapidly,  of  late  years. 

Arrangements  are  now  being  made  for  the  construction  of  white- 
lead  works,  at  Galena,  and  there  is  no  other  spot  in  the  United  States, 
where  a  manufactory  of  this  kind  would  be  as  profitable. 

A  short  time  ago,  a  discovery  of  a  rich  layer  of  iron  ore  was  made, 
about  two  miles  distant  from  the  little  town  of  Moline,  in  Rock  Island 
County.  This  layer  is  supposed  to  extend  over  a  space  of  75  acres. 
The  veins  of  ore  appear  two  or  three  inches  below  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  and  they  are  eight  or  ten  inches  thick. 

The  annexed  geological  map  will  explain  to  the  reader  the  great 
geological  riches  of  the  State,  more  fully  than  it  can  be  done  by 
words. 


COMMEECE   AND  MANUFACTURES   OF 
CHICAGO. 

In  comparing  Chicago,  as  it  was  a  few  years  since,  with  Chicago  of 
to-day,  we  behold  a  change  whose  veritable  existence  we  would  be  in- 
clined to  doubt,  were  it  not  a  stern,  indisputable  fact.  Rapid  as  is 
the  customary  development  of  places  and  things,  in  the  United  States, 
one  will  yet  be  forced  to  admit,  that  the  growth  of  Chicago  and  her 
trade,  stands  without  a  parallel,  Chicago,  now  hardly  twenty  years 
old,  whose  port  in  1831  was  frequented  by  four  small  vessels,  two 
brigs,  and  two  schooners,  then  fully  adequate  to  satisfy  the  commer- 
cial wants  of  Northeastern  Illinois  and  Northwestern  Indiana,  toge- 
ther, in  1855  witnessed,  beating  in  her  harbor,  6610  vessels,  of 
1,608,845  tons  burden,  and  in  the  same  year  exported  more  grain 
than  any  other  commercial  emporium  throughout  the  world ;  Chicago, 
which  in  1823  was  but  a  wretched  village  of  ten  frame  huts,  and  sixty 
inhabitants,  in  1855  numbered  83,509  inhabitants,  and  in  the  same 
year  dealt  more  largely  in  timber  than  the  markets  hitherto  the  most 
considerable  in  the  world  can  boast  of. 

Thus,  as  far  as  regards  the  grain  and  lumber  trade,  Chicago  has  sur- 
passed all  rivals,  and  as  far  as  regards  the  money  market,  has  also  al- 
ready evinced  that  independence,  which  alone  can  form  the  safe  and 
substantial  basis  of  a  far-reaching  commerce.  In  spite  of  an  obstinate 
bank  dispute,  and  the  diminution  by  several  millions,  of  the  bank 
capital  of  Chicago,  in  consequence  of  the  redemption,  in  part,  of  the 
Georgia  bank  notes,  till  then  circulating  in  Chicago,  the  capital  con- 
centrated in  that  city  proved,  nevertheless,  fully  adequate  to  all  wants 
created  by  the  increase  of  business,  and  the  immense  importation  of 
grain. 

There  arc  many  reasons  why  the  position  Chicago  will  assume  a 
few  years  hence,  will  be  even  much  more  important  than  that  which 

(388) 


COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO.  389 

she  now  occupies;  one  of  the  most  essential  of  which  is  the  opening 
of  the  direct  line  of  water  communication,  between  the  city  and  Lake 
Superior.  By  the  St.  Mary  River  Canal,  easy  access  is  possible  from 
Chicago  to  the  inexhaustible  iron  and  copper  mines  of  Michigan ;  and 
by  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  the  illimitable  coal  beds  of  Southern 
Illinois  are  placed  within  her  reach ;  and  by  these  means  she  has  se- 
cured for  herself  that  degree  of  industrial  development,  which  gives  a 
firm  support  and  lasting  warranty  to  trade.  Already  the  surveyor's 
chain  has  designated  the  places  in  Chicago  where  the  manufacture  of 
iron  wares  will  be  carried  on  to  such  an  extent,  as  continually  to  keep 
pace  with  the  incessantly  increasing  demands  of  the  immense  north 
and  south-west. 

No  sooner  were  the  great  copper  mines  at  Lake  Superior  opened, 
than  the  steamers  of  the  ship-owners  of  Chicago  hastened  closely  to 
attach  the  interests  of  that  important  region  to  their  city ;  only  a  short 
time  has  passed  since,  and  already  the  wholesale  dealers  of  Chicago 
count  the  people  of  those  mining  districts  among  their  regular  cus- 
tomers. The  fruits  of  the  bold,  but  sure  policy  of  Chicago,  are  al- 
ready visible  to  a  larger  degree  on  another  field. 

The  immense  tracts  of  land  of  Middle  and  Southern  Illinois,  then 
without  any,  either  natural  or  artificial,  means  of  communication,  for 
years  awaited  purchasers  in  vain,  notwithstanding  the  low  price  (§1 
25)  at  which  Congress  sold  each  acre  of  the  richest  land,  whose  culti- 
vation did  not  present  the  slightest  difficulty.  No  sooner  were  the 
rails  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  laid  through  the  entire  length  of 
the  State,  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  than  towns  and  villages  sprung  into 
existence  along  the  track,  as  if  by  magic,  and  the  granaries  of  Chi- 
cago were  filled  with  the  produce  of  thousands  of  fertile  acres,  then 
for  the  first  time  subjected  to  culture.  At  the  same  time  that  the  , 
quantity  of  the  yield  increased,  its  quality  was  improved.  The  gene- 
ral use  of  machine  power,  nowhere  proved  of  greater  advantage  than 
on  the  vast  plains  of  Illinois ;  the  rapidly  progressing  intelligence  of 
the  Illinoisian  farmers,  which,  far  from  being  contented  with  having 
created  agricultural  societies  in  every  county  of  the  State,  now  already 
calls  for  the  erection  of  an  agricultural  university,  will  account  for  the 
fact,  that  a  great  part  of  the  grain  sold  as  "Extra  Genesee,"  may  be 
33* 


390  COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO. 

safely  considered  "Extra  Illinois,"  disguised  in  some  shape  or  an- 
other. 

In  consequence  of  these,  and  many  other  improvements,  among 
which  we  may  notice  the  continuation  of  the  Galena  Railroad  to  Du- 
buque, of  the  Fox  River  Valley  Railroad  to  Richmond,  and  of  the  Il- 
linois and  Wisconsin  Railroad,  to  Woodstock,  the  Indian  corn  crop 
reaches  the  enormous  yield  of  130,000,000  bushels,  which  must  be 
chiefly  attributed  to  the  advent  of  Southern  Illinois  on  the  commer- 
cial stage.  The  wheat  crop  of  Illinois,  amounting,  as  it  does,  to 
20,000,000  bushels,  has  secured  to  Chicago  its  prominent  position 
among  the  grain-exporting  commercial  cities.  In  1855,  Chicago  ex- 
ported twice  as  much  grain  as  Galatz  and  Braila,  the  great  wheat  em- 
poriums of  the  Lower  Danube,  and  four  times  as  much  as  Dantzic,  the 
place  of  export  of  the  Polonian  wheat. 

The  following  comparison  of  those  cities  in  Europe  which  possess 
the  largest  corn-trade,  with  Chicago,  will  place  the  great  importance 
of  the  former  in  this  respect  beyond  a  doubt : 

1854.  Wheat.  Indian  Corn.    Oats,  Rye,  &  Barley.  Total. 

Bushels.  Bushels.  Bushels.  Bushels. 

Odessa 5,600,000  1,440,000  ....^. 7,040,000 

Galatz,  and  Braila  2,400,000  ..  5,600,000  ...      820,000  ....'. 8,320,000 

Dantzic 3,080,000  1,328,000  4,408,000 

St.  Petersburg 7,200,000 

Archangel 9,528,000 

Riga ....    4,000,000 

Chicago 3,644,860  ..  6,837,899  ...  3,419,551   12,902,310 

Chicago  (1855)...  7,115,250  ..  7,517,625  ...  2,000,938  16,633,813 

And  yet  the  present  position  of  Chicago  is  only  the  beginning  of 
the  beginning.  The  area  of  the  State  is  upwards  of  55,000  square 
miles,  80  per  cent,  of  which  are  corn  lands  of  the  first  quality.  These 
44,000  square  miles,  or  28,160,000  acres,  planted  with  Indian  corn, 
at  an  average  yield  of  50  bushels  per  acre,  would  fix  the  productive- 
ness of  the  entire  State,  at  the  enormous  rate  of  1,408,000,000  bush- 
els. Adding  to  this  the  facility  of  cultivation,  the  reader  will  have  an 
idea  of  the  almost  fiibulous  wealth,  that,  accumulating  in  Illinois,  in  its 
reaction  upon  Chicago,  the  great  commissioned  agent  of  these  trea- 
sures, must  incessantly  propel  her  onward  in  her  career  of  progress. 


COMMERCE    OP    CHICAGO.  S91 

The  eyes  of  the  world  are  already  fixed  upon  the  high,  commauding 
position,  which  Chicago  assumes  on  the  globe;  this  will  appear  from 
the  fact  that  in  1855,  agents  of  the  French  and  English  Governments 
attended  the  meetings  in  the  Chicago  Corn  Exchange.  Chicago,  in- 
deed, is  the  only  place,  in  the  world,  where  orders  of  many  millions 
of  bushels  can  be  promptly  attended  to  and  executed. 

If  thus  the  productiveness  of  the  State  has  surpassed  even  the 
most  sanguine  expectations,  the  increase  of  so  powerful  an  instrument 
for  the  acquisition  of  wealth,  on  the  other  hand,  has  also  not  been 
slow.  Large  sums  of  money,  following  the  law  by  which  they  are  in- 
evitably attracted  to  the  place  where  they  bring  the  highest  profit, 
concentrated  at  Chicago,  whose  numerous  sumptuous  stores  and  ba- 
zaars, fitted  up  in  the  most  elegant,  fashionable  style,  and  enormous 
granaries,  with  their  steam-cranes  lifting  on  one  side  of  the  building 
the  grain  from  the  railroad  trains,  and  lowering  it  at  the  other  side 
into  the  vessels,  together  with  great  numbers  of  new  buildings,  (2700 
of  which  were  erected  in  a  single  year),  as  also  the  fact,  that  in  every 
branch  of  business  within  her  limits,  the  demand  far  exceeds  the  sup- 
ply, are  characteristic  of  her  prodigiously  increasing  prosperity. 
Everything  doubled  or  quadrupled !  And  upon  reviewing  the  ship- 
ping interest  of  Chicago,  we  find  the  same  surprising  increase.  The 
tonnage  of  all  vessels  owned  by  Chicago,  and  registered  in  that  city 
until  the  end  of  1855,  amounts  to  56,670  tons.  So  considerable,  in- 
deed, is  the  commercial  navy  of  Chicago,  that  in  a  single  season,  that 
of  1855,  not  less  than  120  large  vessels  put  into  that  port  on  one  day. 
The  enormous  stores  of  grain  accumulated  within  Chicago,  keep  busy 
an  entire  flotilla,  in  proof  whereof,  we  might  refer  to  the  fact,  that  in 
1855,  a  single  firm  contracted  for  the  transportation  from  Chicago  to 
Buffalo,  of  500,000  bushels,  kept  in  store  within  that  city.  As  al- 
ready mentioned,  during  the  season  of  1855,  not  fewer  than  6610  ves- 
sels, of  1,608,845  tons  burden,  entered  the  port  of  Chicago.  Dividing 
them  into  classes,  according  to  their  respective  tonnage,  we  subjoin  a 
list  of  the  vessels  registered  in  the  Chicago  custom-house,  as  having 
entered  that  port: 

Steamers  of  less  than  500  tons 141 

from  500  to  1000  "    237 

more  than  1000     '< 59 


392  COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO. 

Screw  steamers,  of  less  than  400  tons 193 

"  more  "         287 

Sailing  vessels  of  less  than  150  tons 2,131 

"  from  150  to  350     "     2,546 

"  from  350  to  500     "     865 

"  of  over  500  "     100 

With  respect  to  her  commerce  and  navigation,  Chicago  has  already 
projected  a  new  enterprise,  which,  if  executed,  as  no  doubt  it  will  be, 
taking  into  consideration  the  indomitable  energy  of  the  west,  must  as- 
tonish the  world ;  nothing  less  being  intended  than  to  place  Chicago, 
an  inland  city,  situated  in  the  far  west,  1500  miles  from  the  seaboard 
— in  possession  of  direct  communication  by  sea  with  all  the  sea-port 
.towns  of  the  world,  by  shortening  the  eastern  water-passage  from  Chi- 
cago some  500  miles,  and  avoiding  the  dangerous  St.  Clair  Flats. 
Using  Georgia  Bay  and  several  small  Canadian  lakes,  it  is  contem- 
plated to  connect  Lake  Huron  with  Lake  Ontario,  thus  opening  for 
the  commerce  of  Chicago  a  free  access  to  the  Atlantic. 

The  commerce  of  Chicago  was  also  favorably  affected  by  the  Cana- 
dian reciprocal  treaty,  her  lumber  trade  receiving  a  considerable  im- 
pulse from  the  Canadian  imports,  in  consequence  of  that  treaty. 
"While  pushing  her  railroads  far  into  the  interior  of  the  pine  forests 
of  Wisconsin,  Chicago  at  the  same  time  sends  her  fleet  to  the  Cana- 
dian hickory  forests,  paying  with  the  luxuriant  grain  of  the  fertile 
Illinoisian  prairies,  for  the  timber  which  the  people  of  Illinois  require 
for  building  their  houses,  or  fencing  their  lands. 

We  will  now  review  the  state  of  the  Chicago  market,  as  far  as  regards 
the  various  staple  articles  : 

Flour.— 'While  in  1853  not  more  than  18,247,  and  in  1854,  158,- 
575  barrels  of  flour  were  imported,  the  quantity  of  flour  imported  in 
1855  reached  the  colossal  amount  of  240,662  barrels.  Besides  these, 
three  mills  of  Chicago  turned  out  79,650  barrels,  thus  making  an  ag- 
gregate of  320,312  barrels  for  the  year  1855. 

Owing  to  the  increased  European  demand,  prices  ranged  higher  in 
1855  than  in  1854,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  table : 

1854.  1855. 

January per  barrel  $5  50  $7  50 

February "  6  75  7  50 


COMMERCE    OP    CHICAGO 


J93 


March 

April 

Mcay 

June 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

November.. 
December.. 


1854.  1855. 

7  25  7  50 

7  25  7  50 

7  25  7  50 

7  75  9  75 

8  25  9  75 

7  75  8  75 

8  25  ....  8  25 

8  25  7  25 

7  75  9  00 

7  50  8  00 


Wheat. — The  wlieat  import  readied  the  already  very  considerable 
total  of  3,038,955  bushels  in  1854,  while  in  1855,  more  than  double 
this  quantity  was  exported,  viz.,  7,535,097  bushels.  No  other  mar- 
ket on  earth  can  boast  of  such  a  traffic ;  and  the  facts,  that  the  harvest 
of  1855  was  by  no  means  one  of  the  best,  and  that,  in  every  new  year, 
many  additional  thousands  of  acres  are  subjected  to  culture,  cause  us 
to  conjecture  such  a  development  and  progress  in  this  branch  of  busi- 
ness, in  Chicago,  as  would  startle  even  the  boldest  calculation. 

The  following  table  shows  the  prices  as  they  ranged  in  1854  and 
1855: 

1855. 
Summer.  Winter. 

...  120 

120    140  118 

106 

100 

130 

180 

100 

110 

120 

105 

125 

110 


1854. 
Summer.  Winter. 


January cts.  per  bushel 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 


95 


115 
140 
130 
120 
150 
150 
120 
150 
140 
140 
145 
125 


122 
145 
160 
170 
155 
110 
110 
135 
146 
135 


140 
150 
155 
160 
200 
200 
185 
150 
145 
165 
175 
165 


Indian  Corn  almost  everywhere  failed  in  1854,  in  consequence 
of  the  wet  season,  so  that  the  importation  of  1855,  it  was  supposed, 
would  scarcely  equal  that  of  the  preceding  year ;  and  yet,  while  the 
maize  import  of  1854  amounted  to  7,490,753  bushels,  that  of  1855 


394  COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO. 

amounted  to  8,532,377  bushels,  being  an  increase  of  1,081,624  bush- 
els.    The  prices  in  1854  and  1855  were  as  follows : 

Per  bushel  of  60  lbs. 
1S54.  1855. 

January 55 c 40 

February 46  51 

March 50  51 

April 44 55 

May , 45  69 

June 46  76 

July 51   73 

August 55  72 

September , 61   , 69 

October 55   64 

November 52   72 

December 47  50 

Oafs. — In  1855,  the  importation  of  oats  had  diminished  by 
1,247,197  bushels,  in  comparison  with  the  preceding  year;  this  may  be 
ascribed  to  the  fact,  that  the  cultivation  of  this  species  of  corn  proves 
least  profitable  to  the  farmer.  The  imports  in  1854,  amounted  to 
4.194,385  bushels,  and  in  1855,  to  2,947,188  bushels,  and  the  prices 
were  as  follows : 

1854.  1855. 

January 26@26^ 26@27 

February 30     31   30 

March 27     285 29  30 

April 2GJ  27   34 

May 30     31   44  46 

June 30     31^ 48 

July 31     33" 45  46 

August 29     30  44  45 

September 32     33   25  26 

October 33     34  25  26 

November 32     33   28  30 

December 28     28  28  30 

Ht/e. — The  rye  imports  had  also  diminished,  partly  owing  to  the 
indifferent  demand,  it  being  less  cultivated  than  other  species  of 


COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO.  395 

corn,  and  partly  because  considerable  quantities  of  it  were  used  for 
distillery  purposes.  The  imports  of  1854  amounted  to  85,691  bush- 
els— those  of  1855,  to  68,086.  The  prices  in  1854  and  1855,  were 
as  follows: 

1854.  1855. 

January 55@60  70@75 

February 70  75  70     75 

March 75  78  75     85 

April 65  70  88     90 

May 70  75  95  100 

June 70  75  110  120 

July 80  85  100 

August 55  60  70    80 

September.. 65  70  70    75 

October 80  85  83     85 

November 80  81   90     93 

December 65  70  , 95  100 


BarJey. — The  imports  of  1854  amounted  to  201,764  bushels,  and 
in  1855  to  201,895  bushels,  or  about  the  same.  The  price  of  barley 
ranged  considerably  higher  in  1855  than  in  1854,  as  will  appear  from 
the  following : 

1854.  1855. 

January 43@47  90  100 

February 45     50 110  120 

March 56     58  100  112 

April 50     56  115  125 

May 65     70  115  125 

June 50     60  75  100 

July 50     55  100 

August 45     50  80     85 

September 50     60  80     90 

October 85     90  100  110 

November 90  100  115  130 

December. 75    85  130  135 

The  imports  in  1854  and  1855,  of  the  various  species  of  grain, 
amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  the  following  totals,  respectively : 


896  COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO. 

1854.  1855, 

Bushels.  Bushels. 

Wheat , 8,038,955 7,535,097 

Indian  Corn 7,490,753  „  8,532,377 

Oats.. 4,194,885 2,947,188 

Rye 85,691   68,086 

Barley 201,704 201,895 


15,011,548  19,284,643 

Flour  (set  down  as  wheat)         792,875 1,203,810 


Total., 15,804,423  20,487,953 

The  total  export  of  grain  was  as  follows : 

1854.  1855. 

Bushels.  Bushels. 

Wheat 2,106,725 6,298,155 

Indian  Corn 6,837,899 7,517,625 

Oats 3,229,987  1,889,538 

Kye 41,153  19,818 

Barley 148,421 92,082 


12,364,185  15,816,718 

Flour  (set  down  as  wheat)        538,135  817,095 


Total 12,902,320  16,633,813 

Grass-seeds  ;  chiefly  timothy-grass,  less  of  clover,  or  flax.  The  im- 
ports of  1854  amounted  to  3,047,945,  and  of  1855,  to  3,024,238 
pounds.  The  price  of  timothy-seed  varied  between  |2  and  $2  37J 
per  bushel. 

Butter. — Imports  in  1854  amounted  to  2,143,569  pounds;  in  1855, 
to  2,473,982  pounds.  Although  the  excellent  pasturage  grounds,  of 
which  the  prairies  of  Illinois  consist,  ofler  great  advantages  for  the 
preparation  of  cheese  and  butter,  but  little  attention  is  directed  to  it. 
The  market  prices  of  butter,  in  1854  and  1855,  were  as  follows : 

1854.  1855. 

January 1S@1Q 

February 11@15  12     13 

March 10     15  12     14 

April 9    14  12    14 


COMMERCE    or    CHICAGO.  397 

1854.  1855. 

May 9@16  12@13 

June 9     14  12     13 

July 11     13  12     13 

August 12     14  12     14 

September 12J  15  14     19 

October U    25   14    15 

November 12     15  = 15     19 

December 13     20  18     20 

Lard. — Imports  in  1854  amounted  to  4,380,978  pounds;  those  of 
1855  cannot  be  exactly  stated,  (lard  being  chiefly  mentioned  under 
the  head  of  pork  and  provisions,)  however,  they  are  estimated  at  from 
5  to  6,000,000  pounds.     Prices  can  be  seen  from  the  following  table  : 

ISa-t. 

January 83@,9  

February 8J     9  

March 9     10  

April 81     9   

May 8i     9 

Jvine 8^-     9  

July 8J     9  

August 8J     9  

September 9J  10    

October 10     10  

November 9J  10  

December 9     10  

Sags  and  PorJc. — The  trade  of  Chicago  has  of  late  so  considerably 
increased  in  this  respect,  that,  unless  indeed  all  tokens  should  prove 
fallacious,  Chicago,  also,  in  this  branch  of  commerce,  will  soon  have 
rendered  all  rivalry  with  her  hopeless.  Imports  of  the  season  1853-4 
amounted  to  115,680  head,  or,  20,834,062  lbs.,  and  in  the  season 
of  1854-5,  to  136,515  head,  or,  25,778,879  lbs.  The  prices  in 
1854  and  1855,  were  as  follows  : 

1854.  1855. 

January  (per  100  lbs)  $3  25@4  00  $3  00@3  75 

February 4  25     4  50  3  50     3  88 

March 4  50    4  75  4  25    4  50 

November 3  00     3  50  6  75     7  00 

December 3  25    3  75  5  50    6  00 

Beef. — Chicago  mess  beef  is  being  already  preferred  to  all  other 
beef,  both  in  Europe  and  America.     The  condition  of  the  cattle  driToa 
34 


1855. 

8J@9 

8 

8i 

8 

8i 

8 

8.^ 

9 

9^ 

9 

n 

10 

10 

10} 

10?r 

11 

11 

12 

11 

12* 

11 

12 

398  COMMERCE     OF    CHICAGO. 

to  Chicago,  in  1855,  was  very  excellent,  so  that  that  season  has  sub- 
stantiated the  fame  of  Chicago  in  this  respect  also.  In  1854  there 
■were  slaughtered  23,691  oxen,  weighing  13,402,223  lbs,  and  in  1855, 
28,972  oxen,  weighing  16,032,138  lbs.  We  note  the  prices  of  1854 
and  1855 : 

1854.  1855. 

September $6  00@6  50  $6  50@7  50 

October 5  50     6  25  5  50     6  25 

November 5  50     6  50  6  00     6  50 

December 4  50     6  00  6  50     7  00 

The  lumber  trade  of  Chicago  ranks  next  in  importance  to  her  corn 
trade,  being  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  other  market.  In  1847,  the 
importation  of  boards  amounted  to  but  32,000,000  feet;  in  1853, 
however,  already  over  300,000,000  feet.  In  1854,  the  imports 
amounted  to  228,326,783  feet  of  boards;  32,431,550  laths,  and 
82,061,250  shingles;  in  1855,  to  306,553,467  feet  of  boards; 
46,487,550  laths,  and  158,770,860  shingles. 

Foo/.— Imports  in  1854,  951,838  lbs.;  in  1855,  1,369,039  lbs. 
Prices  in  1854  and  1855,  as  follows  : 

-"  1854.                                                   1855. 

June (per  lb.) 20-30  20-34 

July 23-31  25-36 

August 20-30 25-38 

Lead. — Owing  to  the  completion  of  the  Galena  and  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroads,  imports  had  more  than  doubled  in  1855;  in  1854, 
they  amounted  to  but  4,247,126,  in  1855,  however,  to  9,965,950  lbs. 

Fire-wood  and  coal  are  among  the  dearest  articles  in  Chicago. 
Owing,  however,  to  the  great  wealth  of  the  Illinoisian  coal  beds,  this 
condition  of  things  cannot  last  long ;  especially  since  several  new  coal 
mines  will  probably  soon  be  opened,  so  that  the  prices  of  coal  will 
quickly  fall,  which  will  again  exercise  an  influence  upon  the  price  of 
fire-wood,  to  the  sanie  eifect.  Imports  in  1854;  50,650  cords  of 
wood,  and  56,768  tons  of  coal;  in  1855,  74,810  cords  of  wood,  and 
110,075  tons  of  coal. 

Duties. — Duties  paid  at  the  custom-house  foR  imported  merchan- 
dise, amounted,  in  1854,  to  $575,802  85  ;  in  1855,  to  but  $278,978 ; 
which  fact  points  out  the  great  developments  which  must  have  taken 
place  in  the  industrial  activity,  and  in  the  manufactures  of  Chicago. 


COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO.  399 

These  are  also  fully  brought  to  light  by  the  following  statements,  pub- 
lished by  the  "  Democratic  Press/'  and  chiefly  based  upon  figures 
given  by  the  parties  interested.  Where  these  were  wanting,  reliable, 
competent  judges  were  consulted,  so  that  the  estimate  must  be  con- 
sidered as  rather  too  low  than  too  exaggerated. 

Capital. 

Ironworks,  Machinery,  &c 1,102,000 

Agricultural  Implements 454,000 

Raili'oad  Cars,  &c 750,000 

Brass,  Tin,  Copper  Ware,   &c 142,000 

Type,  Printers'  FurnisMng,  &c., 15,000 

Carriages,  Wagons,  &c 417,000 

Lead  Pipe,  &c.,  (estimated) 20,000 

Planing  Mills,  Sash  Factories,  Shin- 
gle Mills,  &c 374,000 

Cabinet  Furniture,  &c 300,000 

Marble  and  Stone : 578,000 

Whiskey,  Ale,  Porter,  Beer,  &c 397,500 

Oils,  Soap,  Candles,  &c 361,000 

Gas,  Coke,  &c 

Leather 150,000 

Brick 56,000 

Saddlery 52,000 

Musical  Instruments 16,000 

Daguerreotypes,  Photographs,  &c....  43,500 

Jewelry,  Silver  Plating,  &c 77,000 

Quick  Lime 80,000 

Confections 24,000 

Stoves 80,000 

Wooden  Ware,  Brooms,  &c....  90,000 

Blank  Books,  Book  Binding,  &c 26,500 

Barrels 80,000 

Glue 10,000 

Ship  Building 50,000 

Hats,  Caps,  &c 17,000 

Mill  Stones 5,000 

Trunks 50,000 

.Lithography,  Engraving,  &c 10,000 

Salseratus 6,000 

Matches 5,000 


Hands. 

1,395 

480 

Value  of 

Manufactures. 

1,926,500 
649,790 

550 

188 

950,000 
377,200 

12 

792 

702,104 

75 

50,000 

396 

749,684 

530 
676 

455,500 
588,900 

180 

826,645 

104 

464,130. 
126,442 

130 
220 

290,000 
260,000 

120 

142,000 

38 
47 
37 

45,000 
70,000 
80,100 

110 

96,000 

60 
92 

80,000 
195,000 

48 

66 

100 

120,000 
124,000 
105,000 

15 

250 
30 

4,072 

300,000 

40,000 

14 
80 
15 
8 
21 

23,418 
180,000 
20,000 
18,000 
18,000 

400  COMMERCE    OF    CHICAGO. 

Boots  and  Shoes,  Clothing,  Millinery, 
Tobacco,  Crackers,  Bread,  Coffee 
and  Spices,  Surgical  Instruments, 
etc '. 506,500       1,866      1,954,006 


$6,295,000      8,740     11,031,491 
For  the  year 4,220,000      5,000      7,870,000 

Consequently-increase  during  1855...$2,075,000      3,740     $3,161,491 

With  this  we  conclude  our  chapter  on  the  commerce  and  manufac- 
tures of  Chicago.  When  to  her  present  age  of  twenty  years,  Chicago 
shall  have  added  four  new  lustres,  our  readers,  on  reviewing  the  sta- 
tistics grow  before  them,  will  smile  at  the  insignificance  of  the  num- 
bers, however  far  beyond  belief  they  may  appear  to  them  now.  Chi- 
cago, indeed,  has  a  splendid  and  magnificent  future. 


I 


LANDS  AND  THEIE  PRICES. 

During  the  last  few  years  there  has  been  a  steady  advance  in  the 
price  of  lauds  in  Illinois,  as  well  as  throughout  the  United  States 
generally ;  in  the  former,  they  are,  however,  still  offered  at  very 
different  prices,  and,  with  proper  judgment  and  care,  advantageous 
purchases  may  readily  be  made. 

Lands  may  be  purchased,  —  1.  of  the  Federal  Government;  2.  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad;  and,  3.  of  private  proprietors. 

The  Cjuantity  of  public  lands  has  been  considerably  diminished. 
According  to  the  State  Auditor's  report  there  are  only  about  100,000 
acres  in  the  market,  and  the  greater  part  of  these  is  situated  in  the 
eastern  and  southern  part  of  the  State.  Their  price  is  from  12i  cts. 
to  $2.50  per  acre,  and  purchasers  must  apply  to  the  Land  OfBce  at 
Springfield,  the  only  one  still  existing  —  those  at  Chicago,  Dixon, 
Quincy,  Palestine,  Edwardsville,  Shawneetown,  and  Kaskaskia,  having 
been  closed  some  time  ago. 

The  lands  which  were  granted  to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
amount  to  about  two  millions  and  a  half  of  acres,  over  800,000 
acres  of  which  were  sold  in  the  course  of  the  last  two  years,  thus 
leaving  about  1,700,000  acres  unsold;  these  are  situated  in  a  strip, 
thirty  miles  in  breadth,  lying  along  the  said  railroad,  and  afford  a 
rich  choice.  In  the  next  chapter,  we  will  give  fuller  details  concern- 
ing these  lands,  by  the  cultivation  of  which  the  population  of  the 
State  is  being  greatly  promoted. 

Private  lands  and  farms  are  also  to  be  had  in  almost  every  part  or 
county  of  the  State,  and  deserve  to  be  recommended  to  purchasers 
who  wish  to  buy  farms  already  under  cultivation  and  well  organized. 
The  prices  vary,  according  to  the  quality  of  the  soil  and  the  greater 
or  less  distance  from  the  towns,  rivers,  and  railroads.  It  being  our 
object  to  give  authentic  accounts  on  this  subject,  we  have  classified 
the  information  obtained  by  us,  as  to  the  prices  of  private  lands  in 
3-1*  2a  -  (401) 


402  LANDS    AND    THEIR    PRICES. 

different  districts  of  the  State,  in  the  order  of  the  respective  coun- 
ties, viz. :  — 

In  Cass  county,  land  may  be  bought  at  from  61  to  $40  per  acre. 
Land  bought,  some  seven  years  ago,  for  from  §6  to  810  per  acre,  is 
now  worth  from  §25  to  $30.  Wild  land  costs  from  $5  to  §15,  and 
farms  from  $15  to  $40  per  acre.  This  county  contains  about  2000 
acres  of  swamp-land,  which  sells  at  from  50  cts  to  $2.25  per  acre. 

la  Du  Page  county  there  is  but  little  wild-prairie  land  to  be  had. 
Farm-land  is  vrorth  from  $8  to  $30  or  $40  per  acre ;  wood-land  from 
$15  to  $90  and  $100. 

In  La  Salle  county  the  prices  are  about  the  same  as  those  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  county;  and  well-arranged  farms  can  be 
bought  at  proportionate  prices. 

In  Lee  county,  land,  which  only  four  years  ago  was  sold  at  from  $5 
to  $10,  now  sells  at  from  $50  to  $100  per  acre.  Mr.  J.  H.  Cropsey 
of  Dixon,  three  years  ago,  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  at  $8  per  acre, 
and,  in  December,  1855,  sold  it  again  for  $25  per  acre. 

In  Livingston  county,  Mr.  J.  L.  Miller,  in  February,  1855,  bought 
212  acres,  partly  prairie-land  and  partly  wood-land,  at  $12  J  per  acre, 
which,  ten  months  afterwards,  he  sold  for  $25  per  acre.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1855,  Judge  Babcock  sold  a  farm  of  1486  acres,  on  which  there 
were  two  groves,  containing  together  130  acres,  with  a  dwelling-house 
and  barn,  for  $30,000.  He  had  bought  these  lands,  successively,  in 
smaller  tracts,  paying  $10,  $6  per  acre,  and  for  some  not  more  than 
the  government  price. 

In  Macoupin  county  farms  are  sold  at  from  $10  to  $30  per  acre. 

In  Marshall  county,  an  acre  of  wild  prairie-land,  two  or  three  miles 
distant  from  Henry  or  Bacon,  sells  at  from  $18  to  $20,  six  miles  dis- 
tant at  $10,  and  fifteen  miles  distant  at  $5  per  acre.  Good  wood- ' 
land  on  the  bluff  is  worth  from  $15  to  $25.  The  price  of  cultivated 
and  improved  farms,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  towns  or  at  a  distance  of 
from  three  to  four  miles,  is  from  $30  to  $35,  and  six  miles  distant, 
from  $20  to  $25  per  acre.  In  1850,  prairie-land  two  or  three  miles 
distant  from  Henry  was  sold  at  $6,  that  situated  five  or  six  miles  off 
at  $2|,  and  Congress-land  nine  or  ten  miles  from  Henry  could  be 
bought  at  $1J  per  acre. 

In  MacLean  county,  land  costs  from  $5  to  $30  per  acre.     Land 


LANDS    AND    THEIR    PRICES.  ^jS 

for  wbich  f4  an  acre  was  paid  four  years  ago,  now  brings  three  times 
as  much ;  and  for  cultivated  farms,  which  were  then  worth  from  $10 
to  $15  per  acre,  from  $25  to  $35  are  now  paid. 

In  Menard  county,  a  farm,  situated  a  few  miles  from  Petersburg, 
and  containing  250  acres,  was  sold,  in  December,  1855,  for  $7500. 

In  Morgan  county,  a  farm  of  640  acres,  near  Jacksonville,  was 
also  sold  for  $32,000. 

In  Peoria  county,  wild  land  is  now  worth  from  $15  to  $20  per 
acre. 

In  Putnam  county,  cultivated  farms,  for  which  from  $12  to  $20 
per  acre  were  paid  six  years  ago,  are  now  sold  at  from  $25  to  $85. 
Wild  prairie-land,  formerly  worth  from  $4  to  $6,  now  brings  from 
$10  to  $15,  and  wood-land  from  $15  to  $30  per  acre. 

In  Eock  Island  county,  near  the  town  of  the  same  name,  an  acre 
fetches  from  $30  to  $100 ;  farther  off,  from  $5  to  $30. 

In  St.  Clair  county,  three  or  four  miles  from  Belleville,  cultivated 
land  costs  from  $40  to  $50  an  acre,  and  at  a  distance  of  from  ten  to 
fifteen  miles  from  the  town,  from  $20  to  $25.  In  the  year  1855,  a 
tract  of  land,  situated  two  miles  from  Belleville,  which,  twelve  years 
ago,  had  been  bought  at  $15  an  acre,  was  sold  for  $120  per  acre. 
Wild  prairie-land  has  here  reached  the  following  prices  :  in  1840,  $3 : 
in  1845,  $5 ;  in  1850,  $10 ;  and  in  1855,  $20  to  $25. 

In  Sangamon  county,  land  has  doubled  its  price  within  the  last 
three  years.  Wild  land  costs  from  $10  to  $20  per  acre ;  cultivated 
land,  from  $20  to  $40. 

In  Tazewell  county,  farms  are  sold  at  from  $35  to  $40  per  acre. 
Land  for  which,  five  or  sis  years  ago,  from  $4  to  $5  was  paid,  can- 
not be  bought  at  present  below  $20  or  $30  per  acre. 

In  Will  county,  wild  prairie-land,  which,  four  years  ago,  could  be 
bought  at  Congress  price,  is  now  as  high  as  $10;  and  farms  worth  $6 
per  acre  four  years  ago,  now  sell  at  from  $20  to  $25. 

In  Winnebago  county,  as  late  as  the  year  1852,  wild  prairie-land 
could  still  be  bought  at  the  Congress  price  of  $1.25,  but  from  $12  to 
$25  per  acre  is  now  paid  for  it. 

In  Woodford  county,  pretty  good  land  cannot  be  bought  below  $10 
an  acre;  farms  bring  from  $30  to  $40,  and  wood-land  from  $15  to  $20. 


404  LANDS    AND    THEIR    PRICES. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  wild  prairie-land  can  yet  be  bought 
at  from  $3  to  $4:  per  acre. 

The  above  instances,  taken  from  nineteen  different  counties  of  the 
State,  -will  be  sufficient  to  enable  the  reader  to  form  a  tolerably  correct 
idea  of  the  price  of  land  in  general,  while,  at  the  same  time,  they 
show  the  relative  i'ise  in  prices  during  the  last  few  years,  and  with 
what  reasonable  prospects  of  gain  capital  may  at  present  still  be  in- 
vested in  the  purchase  of  Illinois  lands.  The  supposition,  that  prices 
have  reached  their  culminating  point,  cannot  be  admitted ;  for,  setting 
aside  every  other  consideration,  Illinois  has,  by  the  construction  of 
the  Central  railroad,  made  these  immense  uncultivated  tracts  in  the 
heart  of  the  State  easily  accessible  to  the  cultivator ;  and  along  the 
whole  extent  of  country  intersected  by  t"he  road,  numerous  towns 
have  sprung  into  existence,  where,  but  a  short  time  ago,  nothing 
except  the  flower-covered  carpet  of  the  prairie  and  the  blue  canopy 
of  heaven  was  to  be  seen. 

We  do  not  take  too  sanguine  a  view,  in  asserting  that,  in  the  year 
1860,  we  shall  look  back  upon  just  such  a  period  of  great  advance  in 
the  price  of  lands,  as  we  now  do  when  looking  back  to  the  year  1850. 
At  that  time,  who  would  have  ventured  to  anticipate  the  enormous 
rise  in  real  estate  that  is  now  actually  exhibited  ? 

Any  one  who  may  prefer  to  hire  land  or  a  farm,  rather  than  to 
acquire  the  ownership  of  it,  will  find  good  chances  to  do  so  in  almost 
all  the  counties.  The  rents,  with  some  few  exceptions,  are  nearly  as 
follows :  — 

1.  For  the  use  of  cultivated  land,  from  $1^  to  $2  per  acre. 

3.  If  the  tenant,  besides  the  land,  also  receives  from  his  landlord 
a  house,  &c.,  the  rent  amounts  to  $3  per  acre ;  or, 

3.  The  tenant  gives  all  the  work,  seeds,  &c.,  and  furnishes  the 
working-cattle,  and  then  gives  one-third  of  the  returns  or  crops  to 
the  owner  of  the  land;  or,  finally, 

4.  The  tenant  furnishes  the  work,  and  in  return  obtains  a  dwelling- 
place,  working-cattle,  agricultural  implements,  seed,  &c,,  and  then 
the  owner  is  entitled  to  one-half  of  the  crops. 

We  cannot  conclude  this  chapter  without  mentioning  an  extra- 
ordinary instance  of  the  rapid  increase  in  the  value  of  real  estate. 


LANDS    AND    THEIR    PRICES.  405 

In  the  year  1848,  Mr.  William  Green,  of  Chicago,  bought  a  tract 
of  land  containing  200  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $100  per  acre, 
making  a  sum  total  of  820,000.  Of  this  tract  he  has  already  sold,  as 
follows  :  — 

In  1855,  a  plot,  for $40,000 

"      "        "        "      .     .     .     .         10,000 

«      "        «        " 50,000 

"  1856,  150  acres,  for    .     .     .       600,000 
and  he  has  lots  left,  with  a  front  of  1700  feet, 
worth  $100  per  foot,  amounting  to   ...     .     170,000 


Total,         $870,000 
Thus,  within  eight  years,  he  made,  with  a  capital  of  $20,000,  a  profit 
of  $860  000  !     Where  else,  in  another  country,  can  such  a  result 
be  even  approximated  to  ? 


THE  LANDS   OF   THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRAL 
RAILROAD   COMPANY. 


On  the  20th  of  September,  1850,  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
passed  a  law  by  which  two  millions  five  hundred  and  ninety-five 
thousand  acres  of  the  public  lands  were  granted  to  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois for  railroad  purposes;  and  on  the  10th  of  February,  1851,  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  the  whole  of  the  immense 
tract  of  land  before-mentioned  was  granted  to  the  company,  to  aid  in 
the  construction  of  the  railroad  projected  by  it. 

By  this  grant  of  lands,  and  the  consequent  construction  of  the  rail- 
road, that  new  era  has  been  opened  for  Illinois,  which  manifests  itself 
in  the  unparalleled  growth  of  its  population  and  in  its  great  wealth. 
This  road  intersects  the  entire  State  from  north  to  south :  running, 
first  in  two  branches,  viz.,  from  Chicago  to  Centralia,  and  from  Dun- 
leith  to  Centralia;  and  then,  in  but  one  branch  from  Centralia  to 
Cairo.  The  great  prairies  of  Central  Illinois,  so  particularly  distin- 
guished for  the  rich  fertility  of  their  soil,  but  hitherto  lying  entirely 
uncultivated  and  almost  wholly  excluded  from  the  markets  by  the 
want  of  means  of  communication,  have  thus  been  rendered  accessible 
to  cultivation. 

However  speculative  the  construction  of  a  railroad  seven  hundred 
and  four  miles  in  length,  and  through  a  territory  almost  entirely  un- 
cultivated, may  at  first  have  appeared,  the  excellence  of  the  great 
undertaking  is  fully  demonstrated  by  the  immense  advantages  already 
derived  from  it.  Not  only  is  it  true  that  the  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany is  doing  a  splendid  business,  and  that  the  bonds  issued  by  it  are 
commanding  pretty  high  rates,  as  compared  with  other  railroad  bonds, 
but  it  is  also  a  fact,  that  by  the  construction  of  this  road,  those  vast 

(406) 


LANDS    OF    THE    CENTRAL    RAILROAD.  407 

and  desert  prairie-lands  have  been  transformed  into  well-cultivated 
farms,  which  are  now  annually  contributing  many  millions  of  bushels 
of  excellent  grain  to  the  general  produce  of  the  State,  and  still  present 
the  prospect  of  much  larger  crops  in  future ;  and,  moreover,  the  popu- 
lation of  the  State  has  been  increased  by  the  addition  of  thousands 
of  industrious  and  enterprising  citizens,  who  are  mostly  farmers.  The 
State  of  Illinois  has  thus  came  to  be  ranked  among  the  most  import- 
ant States  of  the  Union. 

The  lands  of  the  company  extend  themselves  on  both  sides  of  the 
road,  in  a  breadth  of  thirty  miles,  so  that  it  mostly  ruiis  through  the 
middle  of  them.  The  greater  part  of  these  lands  are  well-watered 
and  intersected  by  creeks,  and  where  such  are  wanting,  good  water 
may  be  obtained  by  digging  to  the  depth  of  a  few  feet  below  the 
surface. 

A  kind  of  loam,  well  suited  for  the  manufacture  of  bricks,  is  fre- 
quently found  near  the  surface ;  and  bituminous  coal,  which,  as  has 
been  already  mentioned,  underlies  almost  the  entire  State  of  Illinois, 
is  found  at  several  points  of  the  railroad,  furnishing  a  very  excellent 
and  cheap  fuel.  The  soil,  to  a  depth  of  about  five  feet,  is  of  a  rich 
black  substance,  with  a  surface  partly  undulating  or  rolling,  and  partly 
level,  and  well  adapted  to  all  the  various  branches  of  agriculture  and 
cattle-breeding.  In  some  parts,  there  is  a  fine  growth  of  oak  and 
other  trees. 

Besides  all  the  above  advantages,  the  farmers  who  settle  on  these 
lands  have  still  another  great  benefit,  in  their  immediate,  or  at  least 
very  near,  connexion  with  the  State's  mighty  artery  of  intercommu- 
nication, by  which  they  are  enabled,  without  the  slightest  difficulty, 
to  forward  their  products  to  the  markets,  and  there  to  realize  good 
prices  for  them. 

Of  the  2,595,000  acres  which  were  granted  to  the  Illinois 
Central  Kailroad  Company,  528,863.11  acres  were  sold,  in  the 
short  space  of  seventeen  months,  namely,  from  August,  1854, 
up  to  the  31st  day  of  December,  1855,  and  brought  the  sum  of 
$5,598,577.88. 

Since  the  1st  of  January,  1856,  there  have  been  sold,  in  each 
month  respectively,  as  follows  :  — 


408      LANDS  or  THE  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 

In  January 11,481.36  acres,  for $175,057.46, 

February 4,959.04  "  75,509.09 

March 26,880.14  "  827,331.54 

April 12,853.22  "  211,442.17 

May 18,328.45  "  293,360.96 

June 15,529.56  "  241,291.96 

July 19,509.97  "  301,066.16 

August 27,288.88  "  381,744.09 

September 43,018.35  "  662,014.23 

October 56,421.76  "  906,800.58 

November 54,004.76  "  859,290.47 

So  that  on  the  1st  of  December,  1856,  819,138.60  acres  -were  already 
sold  for  $10,033,486.54;  leaving  only  1,775,861.40  for  future 
purchasers. 

These  extraordinarily  rapid  sales,  —  this  unexampled  sudden 
transformation  of  such  a  large  territory,  hitherto  lying  in  a  wild  and 
uncultivated  state,  into  luxuriant  cornfields,  inviting  farms  and  fruit- 
ful orchards,  must  not  be  attributed  solely  to  the  location  and  fer- 
tility of  the  land,  but  also,  in  as  great  a  measure,  to  the  unequalled 
and  ready  facilities  that  are  afforded  to  the  owner  and  cultivator  by 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  The  same  advantages  are 
still  offered,  and  persons,  even  with  limited  means,  may  yet  acquire 
valuable  property,  and  thus  come  to  enjoy  wealth  and  independence 
within  a  comparatively  short  time. 

Influenced  by  these  reasons,  hundreds  of  people  are  weekly  coming 
from  the  Eastern  States  to  Chicago,  because  they  have  become  dis- 
couraged with  the  hard  and  unenriching  labour  bestowed  on  eastern 
land,  and  now  choose  rather  to  apply  their  energies  and  industry  to 
the  productive  virgin  soil  of  Illinois.  In  the  morning,  long  before 
the  hour  of  opening,  the  doors  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany's Land  Office,  at  Chicago,  are  thronged  with  people ;  and  when 
opened,  the  office  is  soon  densely  filled  with  eager  purchasers.  It  is 
not  a  trifling  business  of  everyday  life,  such  as  a  stranger  to  these 
scenes  might  suppose,  that  is  here  daily  transacted,  but  lands  to  the 
value  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  in  their  monthly  aggregate 
are  disposed  of. 

The  settlement  of  these  lands,  which  has  been  accelerated  as  if  by 
a  stroke  of  magic,  is  made  on  the  following  conditions  :  —  The  Com- 


LANDS  or  THE  CENTRAL  RAILROAD.      409 

pany  requires  no  payment  of  purchase-money  during  the  first  two 
years  from  the  day  of  purchase ;  and  further,  a  long  credit  is  given 
to  the  purchaser,  while  the  interest  on  the  purchase-money  does 
not  exceed  three  per  cent,  per  annum. 

The  prices  vary  from  85  to  $25  per  acre,  according  to  the  quality 
and  location  of  the  lands,  —  whether  they  lie  next  to,  or  more  dis- 
tant from,  the  railroad,  towns,  or  town-sites. 

The  first  instalment  of  the  purchase-money,  being  one-fifth,  becomes 
due  at  the  expiration  of  two  years  from  the  time  when  the  contiact 
was  made;  another  fifth  at  the  close  of  each  subsequent  year,  with 
three  per  cent,  interest :  so  that  the  last  instalment  will  become  due 
at  the  end  of  six  years. 

The  interest  for  each  ensuing  year  is  paid  in  advance,  upon  making 
the  first,  second,  third,  and  fourth  payments.  The  interest  for  the 
fh'st  two  years  is  to  be  paid  upon  making  the  contract. 

The  purchaser  is  obligated  to  cultivate  at  least  one-tenth  of  his 
land  every  year;  and  upon  making  the  last  payment  of  instalments 
he  will  be  entitled  to  a  deed  in  fee  simple. 

Purchasers  who  are  willing  to  pay  six  per  cent,  interest  may  enjoy 
a  longer  credit.  An  allowance  or  deduction  of  twenty  per  cent  will 
be  made  on  cash-payments;  and  the  construction-bonds  of  the  com- 
pany will  be  taken,  and  considered  as  equivalent  to  cash. 

Now,  let  us  suppose  a  purchase  of  80  acres,  at  $10  per  acre,  to  be 
made  on  the  1st  of  May,  1857,  the  payments  on  the  same  would 
then  run  as  follows  :  — 

May  1,  1857.  E.eceived  contract  for  a  deed  for  80  acres  of  land, 
at  $10  per  acre  ($800),  and  paid  two  year's  in- 
terest, at  3  per  cent,  per  annum,  in  advance,  $48  00 
"  1859.  Paid  first  instalment  of  principal,  being  one-fifth 
of  $800,  $160  00 
One  year's  interest,  in  advance,  on  bal- 
ance due  ($640),  at  3  per  cent.                   19  20 


179  20 


35 


I860.  Paid  second  instalment,  being  one-fifth, 

as  above,  160  00 

One  year's  interest,  in  advance,  on  bal- 
ance due  ($480),  as  above,  14  40 

174  40 

Carried  over,  $401  60 


410     LANDS  OF  THE  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 

Brought  over,  $401  60 

May  1,  1861.  Paid  third  instalment,  being  one-fifth, 

as  above,  $160  00 

One  year's  interest,  in  advance,  on  bal- 
ance due  ($20),  as  above,  9  00 


18G2.  Paid  fourth  instalment,  being  one-fifth, 

as  above,  *  160  00 

One  year's  interest,  in  advance,  on  bal- 
ance due  ($160),  as  above,  4  80 


169  60 


164  80 


'<        1863.  Paid  fifth  instalment,  being  one-fifth,  as  above, 

and  received  deed,  160  00 

Making  the  full  payment,  principal  and  interest,  $896  00 

If  the  purchaser  of  these  80  acres  brings  only  20  of  them  into  cul- 
tivation each  year,  by  raising  Indian  corn  on  the  one  half  and  wheat 
on  the  other,  according  to  the  average  yield,  as  stated  on  page  291, 
viz.,  56  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  and  24  bushels  of  wheat,  per  acre, 
the  average  price  of  the  former,  as  mentioned  on  page  292,  being 
33  cents  per  bushel,  and  that  of  the  latter  $1.27  per  bushel,  his 
yearly  returns  will  be  as  follows  :  — 

In  the  first  year  — 

560  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  $184  80 

240         "  -wheat,  304  80 


In  the  second  year  — 

1120  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  369  60 

480        "  wheat,  609  60 


$489  60 


979  20 


In  the  third  year  — 

1680  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  554  40 

720        '•  wheat,  914  40 


1468  80 


In  the  fourth  year  — 

2240  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  739  20 

960        "  wheat,  1219  20 


1958  40 


Hence,  in  the  first  four  years $4896  00 

From  the  sum  thus  obtained,  deduct  the  entire  pui'chase-money, 
amounting  to  §896,  with  interest  included,  and  there  will  remain 
an  average  annual  income  of  81000   to  be  used  for  alimony  and  the 


LANDS    OF    THE    CENTRAL    RAILROAD.  411 

defraying  of  farming  expenditures,  ■which  will  be  found  more  than 
sufficient  to  cover  such  expenses.  The  farmer  will,  then,  not  only 
be  free  from  debts,  and  possess  an  unencumbered  farm  of  80  acres, 
but  the  value  of  his  farm  will  in  the  mean  time  have  increased  to 
two  or  threefold  its  original  cost. 

Considering  the  ease  with  which  prairie-soil  can  be  put  under  cul- 
tivation, it  is  hardly  probable  that  an  enterprising  farmer  will  be 
satisfied  with  making  only  20  acres  arable  in  each  year.  As  stated 
on  page  317,  one  man,  with  a  team  of  horses,  can  farm  about  40  acres, 
needing  hired  help  only  in  harvest  time;  and  hence  we  may  suppose 
that  the  owner  of  80  acres  will  make  them  all  arable  within  two  years, 
or  40  acres  in  each  year,  and  in  this  case  his  returns  will  be  as 
follows  :  — 

In  the  first  year  — 


1120  bushels  of  Indian  com, 

1369  GO 

480        "          wheat, 

609  60 

<it»07ri   on 

In  the  second  year  —                             ' 

2240  bushels  of  Indian  corn, 

739  20 

960        "          wheat, 

1219  20 

incjQ    At) 

■^— ^^— —     J.  tJOO     rt\J 

Hence,  in  the  first  t-wo  years,  §2937  60 

And  he  will  thus,  at  the  expiration  of  such  a  very  short  term,  be 
enabled  to  hold  his  property  entirely  free  from  debt. 

These  figures,  although  they  are  merely  assumed  as  an  approxima- 
tion to  what  may  be  realized,  nevertheless  furnish  an  irrefutable 
proof  that  the  credit  system,  as  established  by  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  Company,  affords  the  greatest  and  most  favourable  facilities 
to  persons,  even  of  very  limited  means,  to  become  possessed  of  valu- 
able real  estate,  independence,  and  wealth. 

While  on  this  subject,  let  us  regard  the  testimony  of  one  who,  iu 
the  year  1853,  himself  purchased,  from  the  Illinois  Central  Hailroad 
Company,  forty  acres  of  land,  situate  in  the  neighborhood  of  Blooming- 
ton,  and  who  therefore  speaks  from  his  own  experience.  In  a  letter 
to  Mr.  Chas.  M.  Du  Puy,  Sir.  John  Lindley  says :  — 


412  LANDS    or    THE    CENTRAL    RAILROAD. 

Dear  Sir  :  — 

Having  seen  a  publication,  made  by  you,  in  relation  to  the  value  and  pro- 
ductiveness of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company, 
I  take  the  liberty  to  make  the  folio-wing  statement  of  my  own  experience  in 
the  premises. 

In  August,  1853,  I  purchased  of  said  company  the  N.  W.  quarter  of  the 
S.  W.  quarter  of  section  82,  township  23,  north  of  range  2,  east,  containing 
40  acres  of  prairie-land,  six  miles  from  Bloomington,  in  the  county  of  McLean, 
and  State  of  Illinois. 

I  broke  up  the  40  acres  of  land,  and  put  it  all  in  fall  wheat ;  and  from  my 
first  crop,  which  I  harvested  in  July,  1854,  I  raised,  on  the  40  acres,  eleven 
hundred  and  ten  bushels  of  first  quality  white  Genesee  wheat,  which  I  dis- 
posed of  as  follows :  — 

1st.  I  sold,  to  different  individuals,  100  bushels,  at  $1.25 $125  00 

2d.    I  sold  Brown  &  Mayers  300  bushels,  at  $1.25 875  00 

3d.    I  sold  to  Brown  &  Mayei^s  600  bushels,  delivered  at  Blooming- 
ton,  at  $1.50 900  00 

110  bushels  I  kept  for  my  own  use,  say 165  00 

Showing  the  aggregate  value  and  receipts  to  be $1565  00 

as  the  production  of  40  acres  of  land  for  one  season,  and  that  being  the  first 
crop  raised  on  said  land,  —  being  what  is  known  as  fall  wheat  —  crop  sown 
upon  the  sod,  after  the  first  breaking  up  and  turning  over  of  the  prairie. 

My  whole  expense  of  producing  the  same  was :  — 

'Fencing,  say $200  00 

Breaking  40  acres  of  land 100  00 

Wheat  for  seeding  $50,  sowing  the  same  $15 65  00 

Harvesting,  say 75  00 

Threshing,  say 60  00 

$500  00 

Leaving  a  net  profit,  on  40  acres,  of  $1065. 

And  now,  as  the  40  acres  of  land  are  fenced  and  broke  up,  and  in  fine 
condition  for  cultivation,  I  can  readily  sell  the  land  at  $25  per  acre,  cash ; 
but  I  should  decline  selling  if  oiFered  thirty  dollars  per  acre. 

I  make  the  aforesaid  statement  for  the  information  of  all  persons  who  con- 
template coming  to  this  State,  that  they  may  know  the  agricultural  advan- 
tages of  Illinois. 

No  one  having  an  intention  to  settle  in  Illinois,  and  whose  means 
are  not  very  great,  should  neglect  to  examine  the  lands  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Eailroad  Company,  before  makiug  a  purchase  in  any  other 
quarter.     There  is  much   advantage  in  the  method  of  paying  the 


LANDS    OP    THE    CENTRAL    RAILROAD.  413 

purchase-money  by  instalments,  bearing  an  interest  of  only  three  per 
cent,  per  annum.  On  this  account,  not  only  settlers  from  the  Eastern 
States,  but  even  Illinois  farmers,  heretofore  living  in  other  parts  of 
this  State,  are  settling  on  the  lands  of  the  Company,  and  here 
providing  new  homes  for  themselves. 

These  lands  become  liable  to  taxation  only  at  the  time  when  the 
last  instalment  is  paid,  and  after  the  purchaser  has  received  his 
deed. 

A  service  may  be  rendered  to  those  who  intend  to  settle  on  these 
lands,  by  giving  a  description  of  them,  in  their  whole  extent  along  the 
line  of  the  railroad,  Ts^ith  particular  regard  to  the  qualities  of  the  soil. 
We  will,  therefore,  commence  by  following  the  route  of  the  Chicago 
Branch-road  to  Centralia,  and  thence  along  the  main  line  from  Cairo 
up  to  Dunleith. 

Calumet,  Thornton,  Richton.  —  Land  level  and  rich.     By  ditching, 

it  may  be  made  well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  supply  Chicago  with 

milk,  vegetables,  and  hogs. 
Monee,  Ilanteno.  —  Splendid  rolling-prairie ;  rich,  deep,  black  soil. 

Extremely  valuable,  owing  to  its  vicinity  to  the  Chicago  market. 

A  sulphur  spring  in  township  32,  range  10,  east. 

Sourhonnais,  Kanliahee,  Chehanse. — Beautiful  prairie-country ;  well 

watered  and  timbered. 
Ashlium,  Onarga.  —  Rich,  gently  rolling  prairie ;  well  adapted  to 

grazing.     Streams  fringed  with  ash,  oak,  elm,  &c.     Fine  living 

springs  pouring  into  the  Iroquois  river. 
Loda. — Beautiful  rolling-prairie,  thinly  interspersed  with   timber. 

Well  adapted  to  grazing  and  tillage.     Watered  by  a  number  of 

streams. 

Pera.  — Land  high  and  rolling;  watered  by  the  Big  Vermillion  and 
Sangamon  rivers. 

Rantoul.  —  Vast  prairie ;     highly  adapted   to  grazing  and  raising 

stock. 

Uriana,  Pesotum.  —  Fertile  in  the  highest  degree,  and  well  wooded. 
The  Great  Western  Eailroad  crosses  south  of  Urbana,  and  brings 
coal  from  the  Danville  coal-fields. 
35* 


414      LANDS  OF  THE  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 

OJcaio.  — Rich   rolling-prairie.     The   Indiana  and  Illinois  Railroad 

passes  north  of  Okaw.     Country  well  watered  by  the  Kankaskia 

and  its  branches.     Streams  fringed  with  timber. 
Arno.  —  Prairie    and    wood-land;,  rich,   fertile,   and   well   watered. 

The  Terrehaute  and  Alton  Railroad  intersects  south  of  Arno. 
Nioga,    Effingham.  —  Rolling,    rich    prairie )    well   supplied   with 

streams  and  fine  groves  of  timber.     Excellent  farming  country. 

The  National  road  passes  through  Effingham. 
Edgewood.  —  Timbered  with  oak,  hickory,  &c. ;  interspersed  with 

almost  the  same  quantity  of  prairie. 
Farina,  Tonti.  —  Fine,  open  prairie,  and  interspersed  with  groves 

of  timber. 
Cairo,  Villa  Ridge.  —  Cairo  is  the  southern  terminus  of  the  road, 

and  is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers. 

Country  back  heavily  timbered  with  poplar,  oak,  cotton-wood,  gum, 

elm,  cypress,  &c. 
Ullin,  Jone&bord.  —  High,  rolling  land,  heavily  timbered  with  beach 

and  cotton-wood.     Wheat,  of  a  very  superior  quality,  ripens  in 

May.     Iron  ore  is  found  near  Jonesboro'. 
Macanda,    Carhondale.  —  A  fine,  timbered   country,  covered  with 

gum,  poplar,  sugar-tree,  mulberry,  oak,  and  ash;  watered  by  the 

Big  Muddy  river,  &c.     Coal  is  found  in   this  region.     Tobacco 

is  also  cultivated  here. 

De  Soto,  Du  Quoin. —  The  centre  of  the  coal  region.  At  Du  Quoin 
it  is  mined  thirty  feet  from  the  surface.  "Eine^  open  prairie,  inter- 
spersed with  walnut,  oak,  sugar-tree,  &c.  Excellent  farming 
lands. 

I'amaroa.  —  Northern  limit  of  the  coal-field.  About  an  equal 
quantity  of  timber  and  prairie;  watered  by  the  Big  Muddy 
river,  &c. 

Ashley,  Richvieic,  Centralia.  —  Gently-rolling  prairie,  well  watered. 
Proceeding  north,  prairie  more  rolling,  and  interspersed  with  groves 
of  oak,  ash,  &c. 

Sandoval,  Paloha.  —  Country  well  watered,  and  interspersed  with 
timber.     The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  crosses  at  Sandoval. 


LANDS    or    THE    CENTRAL    RAILROAD,  415 

Vandalia. — Well  watered.  Climate  mild  j  winters  short.  Cattle 
thrive  on  the  prairie  for  nine  or  ten  months  in  the  year. 

Ramsei/,  Oconee.  —  Level  and  rolling  prairie,  interspersed  with  tim- 
ber, and  well  watered.  The  Terrehaute  and  Alton  Railroad  passes 
through  this  section. 

Pana,  Taciisah.  —  Fine  prairie  ;  streams  fringed  with  timber.  The 
Terrehaute  and  Alton  Railroad  intersects  at  Pana. 

Moawequa,  Macon,  Decatur.  —  Rich  prairie,  well  timbered,  and 
watered  by  the  Sangamon  river,  &c.  The  Great  Western  and  the 
Indiana  Central  Railroad  intersect   at  Decatur. 

Maroa.  —  Gently-rolling,  rich  prairie,  well  watered.  Streams  fringed 
with  hickory,  elm,  walnut,  and  pawpaw. 

Clinton,  Wapellah,  Elmwood.  —  Rolling,  rich  prairie,  with  groves  of 
timber,  watered  by  Sugar  creek  and'  the  Kickapoo. 

Bloomington,  Hudson.  —  A  beautiful,  fertile,  and  rolling  farming- 
country,  well  watered,  and  supplied  with  timber.  Highly  adapted 
for  settlement. 

Kappa,  Panola,  3Imon7c.  —  Rich,  rolling  prairie.  Timber  in  groves 
and  on  creeks.  Watered  by  Panther  creek,  &c.  The  Peoria  and 
Oquawka  Railroad  passes  south  of  Panola. 

Wenojia.  —  Level  and  rolling  prairie,  interspersed  with  timber,  and 
well  watered.  Deep  and  rich  soil.  The  Fort  Wayne  and  Lacon 
Railroad  intersects  at  Weuona. 

Tonica,  La  Salle,  Homer.  —  The  great  belt  of  coal,  passing  through 
the  centre  of  the  State,  is  found  extensively  at  La  Salle,  and  ranges 
a  long  distance  east  and  west.  Junction  of  the  Illinois  Central 
and  Rock  Island  railroads ;  also,  intersection  of  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  canal. 

Mendota,  Soiillette,  Amhoy.  —  In  Mendota,  the  junction  of  the  Illi- 
nois Central,  Military  Tract  and  Aurora  Branch  railroads.  High, 
rolling  land,  occasionally  interspersed  with  timber.  Good  water- 
power. 

Dixon.  —  Country  well  settled  throughout.  Excellent  agricultural 
land,  well  watered  by  Rock  river,  &c.  The  Galena  and  Chicago 
Air  Line  Railroad  intersects  at  Dixon.  . 


416   ■  .  LANDS  OP  THE  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 

Foreston.  —  High,  dry,  and  upland  prairie,  well  timbered  and  well 

watered. 
Freeportj  Elleroy,  Lena,  Nora.  —  Magnificent  farming-country,  well 

watered.     The  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad  intersects  at 

Freeport. 
Warren,  Scales  Mound,  Council  Hill,  Galena,  Dunleith.  —  A  rapidly 

growing  country.     Fine   agricultural  soil  throughout  the  section. 

Galena  is  the  centre  of  the  lead  region.     Dunleith  is  the  northern 

terminus  of  the  road. 

Through  the  above  brief  description,  the  reader  may  become  some- 
what acquainted  with  the  general  character  of  the  country  traversed  by 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  as  well  as  with  the  peculiar  qualities  of 
the  various  sections  of  land  brought  into  market  by  the  Company. 
It  remains  still  to  be  mentioned,  as  a  striking  proof  of  the  extra- 
ordinary progress  already  made  in  the  development  and  cultivation 
of  these  lands,  that,  in  the  year  1856,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ur- 
bana  alone,  within  a  circuit  of  fifteen  miles,  about  20,000  acres  were 
tilled  and  sown  with  wheat;  which  more  than  doubles  the  quantity  of 
all  the  land  together  that  had  been  previously  broken  up  and  culti- 
vated in  this  region.  It  is  further  supposed,  that,  from  the  crop  of 
1856  alone,  between  300,000  and  400,0,00  bushels  of  wheat  will  be 
sent  only  to  the  market  at  Urbana.  From  this  we  can  form  some  idea  of 
the  rapid  increase  in  the  quantity  of  tilled  lands  throughout  the  whole 
of  this  rich  and  fertile  country. 

Lastly,  the  following  table,  which  is  constructed  from  data  collected 
in  January,  1856,  shows  the  rapid  growth  and  great  strides  towards 
municipal  importance  of  the  numerous  towns  and  villages  already 
founded  in  this  bountiful  territory,  and  which  lie  dotted  along  the 
line  of  the  railroad  and  its  branches,  in  the  whole  of  the  long  distance 
between  the  beginning  and  the  end.  In  fact,  many  of  these  places 
have  during  the  last  year  doubled  the  number  of  their  inhabitants ; 
and,  therefore,  although  these  data  have  been  so  lately  and  carefully 
collected,  they  will  enable  the  close  examiner  to  form  merely  a  rea- 
sonable conjecture  of  what  is  the  present  state  of  things. 


LANDS    OF    THE    CENTRAL    RAILROAD. 


417 


Table  showing  the  mimher  of  inhabitants,  houses,  churches,  S^c,  of  the  towns  on 
the  route  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  in  1850  and  January,  1856. 


Nasib. 

S 

a 

1850 
1854 
1854 
1832 
1836 
1838 
1853 
1854 
1854 
1845 
1828 
1829 
1854 
1839 
1853 
1853 
1850 
1855 
1838 
1836 
1818 
1852 
1853 
1839 
1853 
1855 
1854 
1854 
1854 
1855 
1853 
1854 
1853 
1850 
1852 
1854 
1854 
1855 
1853 
1854 
1854 
1840 

Inhab 

in 

1850. 

16 

22o6 

300 

50 

*760 
300 
600 

"546 
5 

""is 
i'ioo 

25 

584 

"206 
5 

145 
"'65 

TANTS 

in 
Jan'ry 

1856. 

Hot: 

in 

1S50. 

3 

"460 
15 
12 

"306 

75 

175 

notk. 
1 

""8 

"206 

6 

113 

"25 
1 

'"'26 
""13 

SES 

in 
Jan'ry 

1856. 

u 

=s 

0 
2 

2 

10 

4 

2 

2 

1 

2 
1 
6 

"e 
1 

"9 
1 
2 
4 

"4 

2 

1 

1 
1 

"1 

1 
1 

1 

< 
1 

1 

] 

17 
1 

2 
1 
1 

"3 

2 
4 
1 
3 

2 

1 
1 

"5 
1 

2 
4 
1 
8 
1 

"{ 

1 
3 
1 
1 

3 
1 

1 

"i 
1 
1 

30 
6 
8 

26 

25 
2 
6 

11 
2 

20 
3 

30 
4 

43 
6 
6 
5 
2 

85 

1 

13 

45 

2 

60 
5 
3 

"3 

9 
25 
1 
7 
3 
7 
-4 

7 
2 

18 
1 
9 

1 

0 
1 

2 
8 
3 
2 
2 
4 

3 
3 
4 
2 
6 
4 
1 
1 
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3 
3 

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7 
1 
0 

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3 
1 

2 
2 
1 

3 

=^ 

&: 

C3 

1 
"{ 

7 

0 
0 
1) 

1 

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4 
3 

2 

3 

1 

5 

2 
2 
1 

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1 

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1 
1 

1 

1 

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3 

i 

8 

"3 

8 

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1 

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4 

19 

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1 

'e 
"3 

5 

16 

2 
"5 

1 

1 

14 

Amboy 

1329 
140 
150 

5500 

1300 

150 

350 

600 

25 

1500 
400 

2200 
500 

3200 

700 

125 

225 

90 

5000 
103 
803 

2400 
150 

3500 
350 
100 
28 
14 
175 
150 

1800 
70 
300 
800 
300 
70 
100 
250 
150 
550 
100 
525 

300 

30 

60 

1540 

150 

40 

90 

60 

5 

500 

100 

600 

70 

notk. 

175 

20 

42 

13 

1000 

21 

162 

400 

35 

800 

65 

10 

1 

22 
40 

200 
15 
40 

200 
60 
10 
26 
32 
15 

130 
13 

120 

Apple  lliver 

Bloomiugton 

Calumet  Settlement 

Cliebanse 

Clinton 

Council  Hill 

Decatur .-. 

De  Soto 

Dunleith , 

EUeroy 

Kappa  

La  Salle 

Lena 

Macon 

Makanda 

Manteno 

Mattoon 

iMendota 

Minonk 

Moawequa 

Monee 

Nora 

Oconee  

Pana 

Panola 

Polo 

Pulaski 

Rich  view 

2b 


418 


LANDS  or  THE  CENTRAL  RAILROAD, 


Table  showing  the  number  of  inhabitants,  houses,  churches,  ^c,  of  the  towns  on  the 
route  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  in  1850  and  Jan.,  1856.  — Continued. 


Sandoval 

Scales  Mound. 

Soublette 

Tacusa  

Tamaroa 

Thornton 

Tonica 

Ullin 

Urbana 

Urbana(West) 

Vandalia 

Wapella 

Warren 

Wenona 

Woosuno; 


1854 
1850 
1855 
1855 
1854 
1853 
1850 
1854 
1835 
1854 
1820 
1853 
1850 
1853 
1855 


1850. 


Jan'ry 

1856. 


14 


500 


360 


25 


Houses 


120 

256 

2 

185 

40 

48 

120 

180 

1 

110 

1145 

notk. 

416 

notk. 

1000 

60 

275 

350 

4 

80 

54 

Jan'ry 

1856. 


20 

35 

38 

5 

14 

21 

41 

10 

notk. 

notk. 

125 

35 

155 

15 

12 


BANKS. 


The  banking  system  of  Illinois  is  regulated  by  two  acts  of  tbe 
Legislature,  passed  respectively  on  the  15th  of  February,  1851;  and 
on  the  10th  of  February,  1853. 

The  following  are  the  principal  enactments  and  provisions  of  these 
several  laws  :  — 

No  bank  shall  be  organized  with  a  less  capital  than. 850,000 ;  and 
stocks  to  be  deposited  to  secure  the  circulation,  &c.  The  amount  of 
circulation  shall  in  no  case  exceed  the  capital  stock  set  forth  in  the 
certificate  of  incorporation ;  but  the  deposit  of  stock  securities  and 
the  circulation  may  be  increased  from  time  to  time,  until  they  equal 
the  maximum  of  the  certified  capital  stock. 

Bank  charters  shall  not  be  granted  for  a  longer  period  than 
twenty-five  years. 

All  notes  issued  by  the  banks  must  be  payable  on  demand,  at  the 
respective  places  where  the  banks  are  located,  and  be  countersigned, 
numbered,  and  recorded  by  the  register. 

No  bank  shall  be  authorized  to  put  into  circulation  a  larger  amount 
of  notes  than  the  amount  of  stocks  deposited  as  security  with  the 
State  auditor. 

The  stock  thus  deposited  is  intended,  in  the  first  place,  for  the  re- 
demption of  the  notes  in  circulation,  provided  the  bank  itself  should 
fail  to  redeem  them  j  and  in  the  next  place,  they  are  niiade  to  sub- 
serve the  purpose  of  liquidating  all  the  liabilities  of  any  bank  thus 
failing.  Each  stockholder  is  also  made  individually  liable  in  propor- 
tion to  the  full  amount  of  capital  stock  owned  by  him. 

If  any  bank  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  redeem  any  one  of  its  notes, 
and  such  fact  be  properly  certified  by  an  ordinary  protest,  drawn  up 
and  acknowleged  by  any  notary  public,   it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 

(419) 


420  BANKS. 

auditor  of  the  State,  as  soon  as  he  shall  be  informed  of  the  fact,  to 
take  immediate  measures  against  such  bank. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  commissioners  of  banks  to  examine  into  their 
condition  once  in  every  year. 

'  Every  bank  shall,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  make  a  full  statement 
of  its  funds  and  business  transactions  to  the  State  auditor. 

In  writing  this  book,  we  have  been  guided,  as  far  as  possible, 
by  the  principle  of  pointing  out  facts  merely,  and  hence  we  have 
generally  refrained  from  expressing  our  own  bare  opinions.  How- 
ever, although  we  do  not  now  intend  to  go  into  a  particular  criticism 
of  the  banking  laws  of  Illinois,  we  cannot  forbear  from  remarking, 
that,  in  our  opinion,  a  general  alteration  and  amendment  of  them  is 
necessary  to  preserve  the  people  of  the  State  from  the  great  inconve- 
niences which  otherwise  must  sooner  or  later  arise  under  the  present 
law. 

According  to  a  statement  published  by  the  State  auditor,  on  the 
10th  of  January,  1856,  (Congressional  Documents,  on  Banks  in  1855, 
pages  176  and  177,)  there  were,  at  that  time,  forty-five  banks  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  having,  altogether,  stock  securities  deposited  to  the 
amount  of  81,134,879.62,  while  their  note  circulation  reached  only 
$3,514,911  — showing  an  excess  of  §619,968.62,  in  deposits,  over 
the  amount  of  notes  in  circulation. 

At  the  present  time,  (December,  1856,)  there  are  fifty-two  banks 
in  the  State,  —  nine  of  which,  however,  are  about  to  wind  up  their 
business. 

We  here  give  the  names,  location,  &c.,  of  those  fifty-two  banks, 
together  with  their  respective  capitals,  as  shown  in  the  statement 
above  mentioned,  the  amount  of  capital  stock  actually  paid  in,  and 
the  amount  of  stock  securities  deposited,  with  the  circulation  based 
thereon ;  and,  also,  the  maximum  capital  authorized  by  their  several 
charters,  as  it  is  set  down  in  the  Banker's  Almanac  for  the  year 
1856 :  — 

Alton  Bank  —  Alton. 

E.  Marsh,  President;  Chas.  A.  Caldwell,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $61,581.32 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,      69,845.21  Circulation,  51,819 


BANKS.  421 

Agricultural  Bank  —  IMarion. 

S.  B.  VVheelock,  President ;  R.  M.  Herndly,  Cashier. 

American  Exchange  Bank  —  Raleigh. 

AV.  H.  Parish,  President;  C.  H.  Miner,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  America — Chicago. 

G.  Smith   President;  E.  W.  Willard,  Cashier. 
^Charter,  $1,000,000  Stocks  deposited,    $89,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     50,000  Circulation,  50  000 

Bank  of  Aurora.  —  Aurora. 

M.  V.  Hall,  President;  B.  F.  Hall,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  Belleville.  —  Belleville. 

E.  Miltenberger,  President;  S.  E.  Mandelbaum,  Cashier. 

Charter,                        $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $65,000 

Capital  Stock,  paid  in,    56,990  Circulation,                56,990 

Bank  of  the  Commonwealth.  —  Robinson. 

I.  N.  Whipply,  President ;  I.  H.  Low,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  Elgin.  —  Elgin. 

A.  J.  Waldron,  President;  J.  J.  Town,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $200,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $100,000  Circulation,  94,380 

Bank  of  Galena.  — Galena. 

Henry  Corwith,  President;  C.  C.  P.  Hunt,  Cashier. 
Charter,                       $100,000  Stocks  deposited,  $104,814.75 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     57,000  Circulation,  73,668 

Bank  of  Hutsonville.  —  Hutsonville. 

Stocks  deposited,  $100,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $90,950  Circulation,  90,950 

Bank  of  Illinois.  —  New  Haven. 

G.  C.  Smith,  President;  P.  C.  Biiggs,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  Naperville.  —  Naperville. 

W.  Scott,  President;  A.  Keith,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $55,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     50,000  Circulation,  52,780 

Bank  of  Northern  Illinois. — Waukegan. 

C.  D.  Bickford,  President;  Chas.  R.  Steele,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $53,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     50,000  Circulation,  50,000 

*  According  to  Monroe's  Bant  Note  List,  $200,000. 

36 


422  BANKS. 

Bank  of  Ottawa.  —  Ottawa.     [Closing.) 

B.  C.  Cook,  President ;  G.  S.  Fisher,  Cashier, 
Charter,  $150,000  Stocks  deposited,    $25,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     20,654.70  Circulation,  20,500 

Bank  of  Peru.  —  Peru. 

Charter,  $100,.000  Stocks  deposited,    $55,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     88,500  Circulation,  50,002 

Bank  of  Pike  County.  —  Griggsville. 

Thos.  I.  Ludus,  President;  R.  M.  K.  Ludlow,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  Quincy.  —  Quincy. 

Jno.  McGinnes,  President;  M.  Boon,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  Raleigh.  —  Raleigh. 

Wm.  Stadden,  President ;  R.  C.  Spain,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  the  Republic.  —  McLeansboro. 

J.  Rockwell,  President;  C.  H.  Rockwell,  Cashier. 

Bank  of  Southern  Illinois.  —  Bolton. 

E.  K.  Willard,  President;  W.  L.  Joiner,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,    $75,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $75,000  Circulation,  68,550 

Belvidere  B^^nk.  —  Belvidere.     [Closing.) 

A.  Neely,  President;  Chas.  Neely,  Cashier. 
*Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $31,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     80,000  Circulation,  29,397 

Central  Bank.  —  Peoria. 

E.  B.  Elwood,  President ;  S.  Matteson,  Cashier. 

Charter,                        $200,000  Stocks  deposited,    $50,500 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     50,500  Circulation,                47,975 

Chicago  Bank.  — Chicago. 

Thos.  Burch,  President ;  I.  H.  Burch,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,  $119,328.25 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     59,501.29  Circulation,  50,014 

ClarKs  Exchange  Bank.  —  Springfield.     [Closing.) 

N.  H.  Ridgely,  President ;  Chas.  Ridgely,  Cashier. 
*Charter,  $200,000  Stocks  deposited,    $21,056.41 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     10,107.07  Circulation,  10,000 

*  According  to  Monroe. 


BANKS.  423 

Commercial  Bank. — Chicago.     {Closing.) 

I.  Cook,  President;  A.  Gilbert,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,    $27,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $52,000  Circulation,  25,005 

Corn  Exchange  Bank.  —  Fairfield. 

Stocks  deposited,    $60,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $50,000  Circulation,  52,300 

Du  Page  County  Bank.  —  Naperville.     {Closing.) 

W.  Scott,  President ;  A.  Keith,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,        $5000 
Circulation,  4470 

Edgar  County  Bank.  —  Paris. 

II.  Sanford,  President;  G.  E.  Loving,  Cashier. 

Exchange  Bank  of  H.  A.  Tucker  ^  Co.  —  Chicago.     {Closing.) 
H.  A.  Tucker,  President ;  H.  B.  Dox,  Cashier. 

Circulation,  $1186 

(Has  returned,  as  required  by  law,  the  amount  of  notes  in  circulation, 
and  withdrawn  its  stocks.) 

Farmers  and  Traders  Bank.  —  Charleston. 

W.  H.  Murstin,  President;  Thos.  A.  Marshall,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $157,500 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $150,000  Circulation,  149,735 

Grand  Prairie  Bank.  —  Urbana. 

W.  N.  Coler,  President ;  T.  S.  Hubbard,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $100,000 

Grayville  Bank.  —  GrayviUe. 

E.  Chasy,  President ;  L.  B.  Clark,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $458,297.86 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $331,698.91  Circulation,  331,696 

Hamilton  County  Bank,  —  McLeansboro. 

Stocks  deposited,  $110,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $110,000  Circulation,  101,870 

Lafayette  Bank.  —  Bloomington. 

W.  H.  Cord,  President;  J.  L.  Stockton,  Cashier. 

Marine  Bank  of  Chicago.  —  Chicago. 

J.  Y.  Scammon,  President ;  B.  T.  Carver,  Cashier. 
Charter,                        $550,000  Stocks  deposited,  $198,767.15 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,    150,000  Circulation,  100,706 


424  BANKS. 

McLean  County  Bank.  — Bloomington. 

C.  A.  Gridley,  President;  T.  Pardee,  Cashier, 
Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $68,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,       65,000  Circulation,  64,998 

Merchants  and  Drovers  Bank.  — Joliet. 

Wm.  Smith,  President;  R.  E.  Goodell,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $250,000  Stocks  deposited,  $191,346.92 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     189,038  Circulation,  178,331 

Merchants  and  Mechanics  Bank.  — Chicago.     [Closing.) 
James  H.  Woodworth,  President. 
^Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,       $6000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,       85,500  Circulation,  6561 

Mississipjii  River  Bank.  —  Oxford, 

C.  C.  Merriam,  President;  W,  H.  Merriam,  Cashier. 

Morgan  County  Bank. — Jacksonville. 

H.  R.  Reed,  President ;  W.  W.  Wright,  Cashier. 
*Charter,  $50,000  , 

National  Bank.  —  Equality. 

E.  J.  Humphrey,  President;  W.  H.  Crawford,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,    $80,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,     $80,000  Circulation,  74,376 

Peoples  Bank.  —  Carmi. 

S.  Vorhies,  President;  E.  Dodge,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $500,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $464,516  Circulation,  464,515 

Prairie  State  Bank.  — Washington. 

J.  L.  Marsh,  President;  H.  Lee,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $115,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $104,160  Circulation,  104,160 

Railroad  Bank.  —  Decatur. 

P.  D.  Kline,  President ;  C.  H.  Fuller,  Cashier. 
Charter,  $50,000  Stocks  deposited,    $50,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,     [56,000  Circulation,  48,050 

Eock  Island  Bank.  —  Rock  Island.     (Closing.) 

M.  B.  Osborn,  President;  S.  H.  Mann,  Cashier. 
*Charter,  $100,000  Stocks  deposited,    $18,000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,       50,000  Circulation,  16,007 

*  According  to  Monroe. 


BANKS.  425 

Rushville  Bank.  —  Rushville. 

Stocks  deposited,    $81,500 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,     $73,300  Circulation,  73,800 

Southern  Bank  of  Illinois.  —  BeUeville.     ( Closing. ) 

R.  Hinckley,  President;  F.  Hinckley,  Cashier. 
^Charter  $300,000  Stocks  deposited,       $7000 

Capital  Stock  paid  in,  7000  Circulation,  6000 

Southern  Bank  of  Illinois.  —  Grayville. 

L.  Hinckley,  President;  C.  D.  AfSeck,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,    $60,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,     $53,380  Circulation,  53,380 

State  Bank  of  Illinois.  —  Shawneetown. 

J.  Bowles,  President;  A.  B.  Saiford,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $471,186.96 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $431,305.03  Circulation,  425,389 

Stock  Security  Ba?ik.  —  DanviUe. 

D.  Clapp,  President;  W.  W.  Fellows,  Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $200,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $183,400  Circulation,  183,470 

E.  I.  Tinkham  and  Co.'s  Bank.  — McLeansboro. 

S.  Tinkham,  President;  W.  Eickords,   Cashier. 

Stocks  deposited,  $265,000 
Capital  Stock  paid  in,  $255,000  Circulation,  233,385 

Warren  County  Bank.  — Monmouth. 

T.  L.  Mackey,  President;  J.  Quimby,  Cashier. 

The  following  banks  have  been  closed  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
period  above  stated.  Those  marked  with  a  f  have  returned,  as  re- 
quired by  law,  the  amount  of  notes  put  in  circulation,  and  withdrawn 
their  stocks ;  the  notes  of  the  others  are  at  present  redeemed  at  the 
auditor's  office. 

^Bank  of  Lucas  and  Simonds  —  Springfield. 

Bank  of  Rockford — Rockford. 

City  Bank  —  Chicago. 

Farmers'  Bank  —  Chicago. 

Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Bank  —  Springfield. 

Phoenix  Bank  —  Chicago.  ^  '■ 

•]■  Quincy  City  Bank  —  Quincy. 

Union  Bank  —  Chicago. 

*  According  to  Monroe. 

36* 


426 


BANKS. 


According  to  the  Congressional  Documents,  the  amount  of  capital 
employed  by  bankers,  banking  without  charters,  and  by  money  and 
exchange  brokers,  was,  in 


Galena Dec.  22, 

Peoria "  18, 

Elgin "  22, 

Aurora "  20, 

La  Salle "  20, 

Henry "  19, 

Pern "  20, 

Springfield "  19, 

Chicago ....     «*  17, 

"Waukegan *'  24, 

Quincy "  22, 

Decatur Feb.  — , 

Ottawa "  15, 

Bloomington '*  11, 

Freeport Dec.  31, 

Princeton Feb.  22, 

Belvidere Jan.  — , 

Jacksonville Mar.  7, 


1855  $550,000 

"      550,000 

'«      10,000 

"      50,000 

"      20,000 

«'      15,000 

"      48,000 

"      300,000 

" 273,100 

"      * 10,000 

"      130,000 

1856  45,000 

"      200,000 

"      50,000 

1855  70,000 

1856  10,000, 

"      110,000 

"      5,000 


RAILROADS. 

The  present  position  of  Illinois  as  regards  the  natural  and  artificial 
elements  that  make  a  great  and  prosperous  State,  is  mainly  attribut- 
able to  the  construction  of  her  railroads,  by  which  the  State,  in  all  its 
length  and  breadth,  is  traversed,  and  every  possible  facility  afforded 
for  an  unlimited  domestic  and  foreign  trade  and  intercourse;  and 
this,  considering  her  immense  territory  and  the  enterprising  character 
of  her  population,  must,  for  all  future  time,  necessarily  secure  to  her 
an  equal  position  with  the  highest  in  this  great  confederation  of  sister 
States. 

Up  to  the  year  1850,  Illinois  had  only  one  railroad,  running  a  dis- 
tance of  fifty-five  miles.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1855,  there 
were  already  1892  miles;  at  the  beginning  of  1856,  2215  miles,  and 
at  its  close,  there  were  over  2600  miles,  nearly  all  completed,  while 
several  new  roads  were  either  being  projected,  or  even  already  in  pro- 
gress of  construction. 

Among  the  States  of  the  Union,  New  York  and  Ohio  have 
the  greatest  share  of  railroads  :  the  former  having  2795,  and  the 
latter  2725  miles.  Illinois,  indeed,  is  now  but  little  behind  them, 
and  no  doubt  in  a  very  brief  time  will  surpass  both,  and  possess  more 
miles  of  railroad  than  any  other  State. 

By  means  of  the  railroads,  Illinois  is  in  immediate  communicatioa 
with  the  East  and  the  West,  with  the  South  and  the  North.  The 
State  itself  is  traversed  by  railroads  in  all  directions  —  within  one 
year's  time,  there  will  hardly  be  a  single  spot  in  it,  from  which  one 
of  the  railroads  cannot  be  reached  within  one  day's  travel. 

The  number  of  railroads  that  either  pass  entirely  through  the 
State,  or,  coming  from  adjacent  States,  merely  traverse  it  in  some 
parts,  is  no  less  than  forty-eight,  which  are  nearly  all  completed  and 

(427) 


428  RAILROADS. 

in  successful  operation.  They  are  all  enumerated  in  the  subjoined 
alpljabetical  list,  in  whicli  are  also  stated,  the  points  of  commencement 
and  termination  of  each  road,  the  points  at  which  it  is  crossed  or  in- 
tersected by  other  roads,  together  with  the  number  of  miles,  &c., 
as  far  as  we  were  able  to  ascertain. 

The  Alton  and  Illinoistown  Railroad — • 

Connects  Alton  and  Illinoistown,  and  is  25  miles  long. 

The  Atlantic  and  3Iississij>pi  Railroad  — 

Will  run  from  Illinoistown,  northeasterly,  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and 
cross  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Vandalia,  the  Chi- 
cago branch  of  the  same  at  Effingham,  and  the  Wabash  Valley  Railroad 
about  ten  miles  from  the  frontier  of  Indiana. 

The  Belleville  and  Illinoistown  Railroad  — 

Connects  Belleville  and  Elinoistown,  and  is  15  miles  long. 

The  Belleville  and  Mount  Vernon  Railroad — 

Will,  in  coming  from  Belleville,  cross  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  south  of  Richview,  and  terminate  at  Mount  Vernon,  Jefferson 
county,  by  an  intersection  with  the  Massac  and  Sangamon  Railroad. 

The  Belleville  and  llurphysboro  Railroad  — 

Will  run  southeast  of  Belleville,  cross  the  Kaskaskia  river  near  Athens, 
then  cross  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Carbondale, 
and  touch  the  Ohio  river  at  Brooklyn,  Massac  county. 

The  Beloit  Branch  of  the  Galena  Railroad  — 

Runs,  in  a  northwestern  direction,  from  Belvidere,  Boone  county,  to  Be- 
loit, Wisconsin.     Length,  20  miles. 

The  Bureau  Valley  Railroad  — 

Joins  the  Rock  Island  Railroad  at  Bureau  Junction,  Bureau  county,  and 
follows,  in  a  southern  direction,  the  Illinois  river ;  at  Lacon,  crossing  the 
Fort  Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad,  and  terminating  at 
Peoria.'    Length,  47  miles. 

The  Cairo  and  Vincennes  Railroad — 

Is  intended  to  run  south,  from  Vincennes,  and,  crossing  the  Massac  and 
Sangamon  and  the  Belleville  and  Murphysboro  railroads,  to  have  its  ter 
minus  at  Cairo. 

The  Central  Military  Tract  Railroad — 

Forms  a  portion  of  the  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad,  from  Mendota, 
La  Salle  county,  up  to  Galesburg,  Knox  county;  in  Bureau  county,  it 
crosses  the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  and  at  Galvy,  Knox  county,  the  Fort 
Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad.     Length,  80  miles. 


RAILROADS.  429 

The  Chicago,  Alton,  and  St.  Louis  Railroad  —  ' 

Connects  Chicago  and  Alton,  in  a  distance  of  260  miles.  It  runs  from 
Chicago,  in  a  southwestern  direction,  via  Joliet,  at  which  latter  place 
several  railroads  cross  each  other.  Between  Dwight  and  Odell,  it  crosses 
the  Fort  Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad ;  at  Peoria  Junction, 
the  Logansport  and  Pacific  Railroad ;  at  Bloomington,  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  and  at  Springfield,  the  Great  Western  Railroad. 

On  the  last  of  November,  1856,  the  privilege  was  granted  to  this  com- 
pany to  extend  the  road  through  Alton,  so  that  there  is  now  an  \ininter- 
rupted  railway  communication  between  Chicago  and  Illinoistown. 

The  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad — 

Connects  Chicago  and  Burlington,  in  a  distance  of  210  miles.  It  runs, 
westerly,  to  the  Junction,  where  the  Fox  Valley,  the  Chicago,  St.  Charles, 
and  Mississippi,  and  the  Chicago,  Fulton,  and  Iowa  Central  railroads  termi- 
nate; and,  proceeding  thence  in  a  southwestern  direction,  via  Mendota 
and  Galesburg,  it  reaches  its  terminus  at  Burlington.  (See  Central  Mili- 
tary Tract  Railroad.) 

The  Chicago  and  Cincinnati  Railroad  — 

Will  use  the  track  of  the  Chicago  and  Alton  Railroad  from  Chicago  to 
Junction;  thence  run  towards  the  southeast,  and,  north  of  Calumet,  cross 
the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad;  and,  passing  Ro- 
selle  and  Logansport,  finally  reach  the  Indiana  line. 

The  Chicago  and  Fort  Wayne  Railroad  — 

Uses  the  track  of  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  as 
far  as  Calumet,  and  from  thence,  as  far  as  Lake,  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad;  from  the  latter  point,  it  will  be  continued,  via  Roselle,  to  Fort 
Wayne. 

The  Chicago,  Fulton,  and  Iowa  Central  Railroad — 

Also  called  the  Dixon  Air  Line,  or  the  Galena  Air  Line,  forms  the  shortest 
route  (only  135  miles)  from  Chicago  to  the  Mississippi.  It  crosses  the 
Rockford  and  Central  Railroad  west  of  Lane,  and  the  main  line  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Dixon. 

The  Chicago  and  Milwaukie  Railroad  — 

Along  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  forms  a  connection  between  Chicago 
and  Milwaukie.  Its  whole  length  is  85  miles,  of  which  40  miles  are 
within  the  State. 

The  Chicago  and  Oswego  Railroad — 

Will  run  from  Chicago,  in  a  southwestern  direction,  to  Athens,  and  from 
thence,  after  crossing  the  Lockport  and  Junction  Railroad,  will  reach  its 
terminus,  near  Oswego,  by  intersecting  the  Chicago  and  Burlington 
Railroad. 


430  RAILROADS. 

•  The  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  Railroad  — 

Runs  via  Joliet,  at  which  place  it  crosses  the  Illinois  river.  At  La  Salle 
it  crosses  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  the  Burling- 
ton and  Quincy  Railroad  between  Wyanet  and  Princeton,  and  then  goes 
"westward  to  Rock  Island.     Length,  182  miles. 

The  Chicago,  St.  Charles,  a7id  Mississippi  Railroad  — 

Will  run,  via  Junction  and  St.  Charles,  as  far  as  Savannah,  Carroll 
county,  on  the  Mississippi  river.  On  its  way,  it  will  cross  the  Rockford 
and  Central  Railroad,  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and 
the  Dixon  and  Galena  Railroad.  It  is  now  completed  as  far  as  St. 
Charles. 

The  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  and  Fond  dii  Lac  Railroad  — 

Formerly  called  the  Illinois  and  Wisco?isin  Railroad,  runs  from  Chicago, 
via  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  through  Wisconsin,  crossing  the  Fox  River 
Valley  Railroad  at  Crystal  Lake.  Its  whole  length  will  be  about  3G0 
miles,  of  which  about  60  miles  are  within  the  limits  of  Illinois.  It  is 
finished  as  far  as  JanesviUe. 

The  Dixon  and  Galena  Air  Line  Railroad  — 

Will  run,  in  a  straight  line,  from  Dixon,  in  a  northwestern  direction,  and, 
after  crossing  the  Chicago,  St.  Charles,  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  lead 
directly  on  to  Galena. 

The  Fort  Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad — 

Is  intended  to  form  a  connection,  in  a  straight  line,  between  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  and  the  INIississippi  river ;  south  of  Bourbonnais,  it  will  cross  the 
Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad ;  the  Alton  and  Chicago 
Railroad  south  of  Dwight ;  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
north  of  Wenona ;  the  Bureau  Valley  Railroad  near  Lacon  ;  the  Chicago 
and  Burlington  Railroad  near  Galvy,  and  terminate  about  ten  miles  below 
Muscatine,  near  the  Mississippi. 

The  Fox  River  Valley  Railroad  — 

Commences  at  Elgin,  and  runs  through  the  Valley  of  the  Fox  river  up 
into  Wisconsin.  Near  Crystal  Lake,  it  crosses  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  and 
Fond  du  Lac  Railroad.  It  is  finished  to  the  State  boundary  line 
Length,  34  miles. 

The  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad  — 

Runs  from  Chicago,  via  Junction  and  Elgin,  as  far  as  Freeport. 
Near  Belvidere,  terminates,  north,  the  Beloit  Branch  Railroad,  and  at 
Rockford,  south  of  it,  will  terminate  the  Rockford  and  Central  Railroad 
Length,  121  miles. 


RAILROADS.  431 

J'he  Great  Western  Railroad — 

Runs  from  Lafayette,  Indiana,  via  Danville,  Vermillion  county,  as  far  as 
Naples,  on  the  Illinois  river ;  it  touches  the  Chicago  branch  of  tho 
niinois  Central  Railroad  between  Urbana  and  Tolono ;  crosses  the  main 
line  of  the  last-mentioned  railroad  near  Decatur,  and  the  Alton  and  Chi- 
cago Railroad  near  Springfield.  Its  length,  from  Naples  to  the  Indiana 
State-line,  is  174^  miles. 

That  portion  of  this  railroad  which  connects  Springfield  with  Naples, 
was  the  first  railway  constructed  within  the  State  of  Illinois  (in  the  year 
1837),  but  it  soon  fell  into  dilapidation,  and  continued  so  up  to  the  year 
1847,  when  it  was  purchased  from  the  State  by  several  capitalists,  under 
whose  direction  it  was  reestablished,  and  the  construction  of  it  gradually 
continued,  until  it  was  ready  as  far  as  the  Indiana  State-line. 

The  Jacksonville  and  Alton  Railroad  — 

Will  form  a  connection  between  Jacksonville  and  Alton.  The  subscrip- 
tions for  it  were  started  in  October,  1856. 

The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  — 

Being  704  miles  long,  is  the  longest  railroad  in  the  State  —  one  of  the 
longest  in  the  Union.  To  its  construction  and  use,  the  State  of  Illionois 
is  unquestionably  indebted  for  the  great  progress  that  has  been  made 
during  the  last  few  years. 

This  railroad  may  be  subdivided  into  three  sections,  viz.  : 

1.  The  Main  Line,  from  Cairo  to  La  Salle  —  308  miles. 

2.  The  Galena  Branch,  from  La  Salle  to  Dunleith  — 146  miles. 

3.  The  Chicago  Branch,  from  Chicago  to  Centralia  —  250  miles. 

The  Main  Line  will  be  crossed  at  Carbondale  by  the  Belleville  and  Mur- 
physboro  Railroad.  It  crosses  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  at  San- 
doval. At  Vandalia  it  will  be  crossed  by  the  Atlantic  and  Mississippi,  and 
by  the  Massac  and  Sangamon  railroads.  At  Panola  it  will  be  crossed  by  the 
Terrehaute  and  Alton  Railroad ;  at  Decatur,  by  the  Great  Western  Railroad, 
also  touching,  at  the  latter  place,  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road. At  Bloomington  it  crosses  the  Alton  and  Chicago  Railroad,  and  it 
will  also  be  crossed,  at  the  same  place,  by  the  railroad  which  it  is  in  con- 
templation to  construct  from  Peoria  to  Danville.  South  of  Panola  it  will 
be  crossed  by  the  Logansport  and  Pacific  Railroad ;  and,  north  of  Wenona, 
by  the  Fort  Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad ;  while  at  La  Salle 
it  is  crossed  by  the  Rock  Island  and  Chicago  Railroad. 

The  Galena  Branch  crosses  the  Buriington  and  Quincy  Railroad  at  Men- 
dota ;  at  Dixon,  the  Chicago,  Fulton,  and  Iowa  Central  Railroad ;  and  it 
will  be  crossed,  south  of  Foreston,  by  the  Chicago,  St.  Charles,  and  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad,  while  it  joins  the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad 
at  Freeport,  and  thence  runs  as  far  as  Dunleith. 


432  RAILROADS. 

The  Chicago  Branch  crosses  the  Michigan  Southern  and  Northern  Indiana 
Railroad  east  of  Junction;  and  north  of  Richton,  the  Joliet  and  North- 
ern Indiana  Railroad.  South  of  Manteno,  it  will  be  crossed  by  the  Wa- 
bash Valley  Railroad ;  south  of  Bourbonnais,  by  the  Fort  Wayne,  Lacon, 
and  Platte  Valley  Railroad ;  north  of  Onarga,  by  the  Logansport  and 
Pacitic  Railroad.  At  Tolono,  it  crosses  the  Great  Western  Railroad,  and 
south  of  Pesotum,  it  will  be  crossed  by  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Central 
Railroad.  At  Mattoon,  it  crosses  the  Terrehaute  and  Alton  Railroad ;  at 
Effingham,  it  ■will  be  crossed  by  the  Atlantic  and  Mississippi  Railroad, 
and  at  Tonti,  by  the  Massac  and  Sangamon  Railroad ;  at  Odin,  it  crosses 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  and  then  terminates  in  the  main  line 
at  Centralia. 

By  means  of  its  great  number  of  junctions  and  crossings,  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  has  the  advantage  of  being  in  the  closest  connection 
■with  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  while  it  traverses  the  same  from  Chicago 
to  Cairo,  and  from  Cairo  to  Dunleith,  it  connects  the  South  with  the 
Northeast  and  Northwest. 

The  construction  of  this  railroad  was  rendered  possible  by  a  grant  of 
two  and  a  half  millions  of  acres  of  land.  It  was  commenced  on  Christ- 
mas, in  the  year  1851,  and  on  the  27th  of  September,  1856,  the  last  rail 
was  laid;  so  that,  through  excellent  management,  this  great  work  was 
accomplished  in  the  comparatively  short  space  of  four  years  and  nine 
months.  While  we  look  upon  the  marvellous  manner  in  which  this  road 
has  been  constructed  as  something  unique  and  unsurpassed  in  the  history 
of  railroad  building,  and  consider  of  what  inestimable  value  it  is  to  the 
State  of  Illinois,  we  must  likewise,  looking  upon  it  as  a  mere  individual 
speculation,  undoubtedly,  give  it  the  highest  rank  among  similar  enter- 
prises. The  receipts  of  the  Company  from  passengers  and  for  the  trans- 
portation of  goods  increase  from  month  to  month  ;  its  stocks  always  com- 
mand a  high  price ;  and  there  is  nO'  doubt  but  that  the  sales  of  the  land 
belonging  to  the  Company  will  soon  enable  it  to  liquidate  its  entire  debt, 
after  which  there  will  still  be  enough  land  left  to  enable  the  Company  to 
make  a  dividend  of  fifty  per  cent,  on  the  capital  stock.  Hence,  in  every 
respect,  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  maintains  a  position  which  makes 
it  worthy  to  be  ranked  among  the  greatest  enterprises  of  the  present 
century. 

The  Illivois  Coal  Company  Railroad — 

Connects  Caseyville  with  Brooklyn.     It  is,  as  indicated  by  its  name,  only 
a  coal  road,  but  it  also  does  a  passenger  and  freight  business. 

The  Illinois  River  Railroad — 

Is  expected  to  run  from  Naples  to  Pekin,  or  to  some  other  spot  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  the  Illinois  river,  opposite  Peoria.     The  counties  which 


RAILROADS.  433 

this  road  will  traverse,  have  ali'eady  made  large  subscriptions  for  the 
construction  of  it. 

The  Indiana  and  Illinois  Central  Railroad  — 

Will  be  constructed  from  IndianajDolis,  Indiana,  to  Decatur.  It  ■will 
cross  the  Wabash  Valley  Railroad  north  of  Bloomfield,  and  the  main  line 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  between  Pesotum  and  Okaw,  and  then 
join  the  Great  AVestern  Railroad  at  Decatur.     Length,  149j  miles. 

The  Joliet  and  Athens  Railroad  — 

Runs  from  Joliet,  in  a  northerly  direction,  to  Athens. 

The  Joliet  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad — 

Runs  from  Joliet  to  Lake,  "where  it  meets  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad.  It  crosses  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
north  of  Richton.     Length,  45  miles. 

The  Logansport  and  Pacific  Railroad  — 

Running  in  a  straight  line  from  Logansport,  Indiana,  towards  the  West, 
will  cross  the  Wabash  Valley  Railroad  at  Middleport,  the  Chicago  branch 
of  the  Dlinois  Central  Railroad  north  of  Onarga,  the  Alton  and  Chicago 
Railroad  at  Peoria  Junction,  and  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  south  of  Panola ;  then,  pursuing  a  southwestern  direction,  ter- 
minate on  the  Illinois  river,  opposite  Peoria. 

The  Lockport  Junction  Railroad — 

Is  intended  to  run  from  Lockport,  in  a  northwestern  direction,  to 
Junction,  via  Naperville,  after  previously  crossing  the  Chicago  and  Os- 
wego Railroad,  and  at  Junction  joining  the  several  roads  which  ter- 
minate there. 

The  Massac  and  Sangamon  Railroad  — 

Is  intended  to  run  from  Massac,  on  the  Ohio  river,  via  Marion,  Frank- 
fort, and  Mt.  Vei-non,  crossing  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Raikoad  at  Salem, 
the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Tonti,  the  main  line 
of  the  latter  at  Vandalia,  and  the  Terrehaute  and  Alton  Railroad  at 
HiUsboro,  to  Springfield. 

The  Michigan  Central  Railroad  — 

Runs  from  Calumet,  on  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road, in  a  southwestern  direction,  through  the  northern  part  of  the  State 
of  Indiana,  and  into  the  State  of  Michigan,  to  Detroit.  The  whole  length 
of  this  road  is  282  miles,  of  which,  however,  only  a  few  miles  are  within 
•    the  State  of  PJinois. 

The  Michigan  Southern  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad  — 

Runs  from  Chicago  to  Monroe,  Michigan.     It  commences  at  Junction, 
on  the  Piock  Island  and  Chicago  Railroad,  crosses  the  Chicago  branch  of 
37  2c 


434  RAILROADS. 

the  rilinois  Central  Eailroad,  and  turns  to  the  southeast,  traversing 
Northern  Indiana,  and  penetrating  into  Michigan.  Its  -whole  length  is 
245  miles,  of  -which  but  a  few  miles  are  within  the  State  of  Ilhnois. 

The  Naples  Hannibal  Railroad — 

Is  intended  to  form  a  continuation  of  the  Great  Western  Railroad,  and  to 
traverse  the  region  between  the  Ilhnois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  so  as  to 
connect  Naples  and  Hannibal. 

The  Northern  Cross  Railroad  — 

Runs  from  Galesburg  to  Quincy.     Length,  100  miles. 

The  Northern  Cross  Branch  Railroad  — 

Will  run  from  Morgan  City,  on  the  Great  Western  Raih'oad,  to  Camp 
Point,  on  the  Northern  Cross  Railroad,  and  traverse,  near  Mount  Sterling, 
the  Peoria  and  Hannibal  Railroad. 

The  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  — 

Runs  from  Vincennes,  Indiana,  to  Ulinoistown,  thus  traversing  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  State  in  its  entire  bread  h.  It  will  be  crossed,  near  Salem, 
by  the  Massac  and  Sangamon  Railroad.  At  Odin,  it  crosses  the  Chi- 
cago branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  RaUroad,  and  at  Sandoval,  the  main 
line  of  said  road.     Length,  145  miles. 

The  Peoria  and  Hannibal  Railroad — 

(Also  called  the  Bureau  Valley  Extension  Railroad)  will  be  opened  at  Peo- 
ria, and  run  in  a  southwestern  dii-ection,  crossing  the  Northern  Cross 
Branch  Railroad  near  Mt.  Sterling,  and  terminate  at  Hannibal.  Its  length 
will  be  about  120  miles. 

The  Peoria  and  Oquaivka  Railroad  — 

Runs,  in  a  northwestern  direction,  from  Peoria  to  Galesburg,  where  it 
joins  the  Chicago  and  Burlington  Railroad.  Also  the  eastern  branch  of 
this  road  is  already  under  construction ;  at  Bloomington  it  will  cross  the 
Alton  and  Chicago  Railroad,  and  the  main  line  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad ;  at  Urbana,  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  latter  road,  and  join  the 
Indiana  roads  at  Danville. 

The  Peoria  and  Rock  Island  Railroad 

Will  bring  Peoria  and  Rock  Island  into  immediate  connection.  It  -will 
cross  the  Chicago  and  Burlington,  and  the  Fort  Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte 
Valley  railroads.     Length,  82  miles. 

The  Rockford  Central  Railroad — 

Will  run  from  Rockford,  in  a  southern  direction,  crossing  the  Chicago, 
St.  Charles,  and  Mississippi  Raih-oad,  and  the  Chicago,  Fulton,  and  Iowa 
Central  Railroad,  and  join  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Mendota. 


RAILROADS.  435 

The  Terrehaute,  Alton,  and  St.  Louis  Railroad — 

Soon  after  passing  the  Indiana  frontier,  -will  be  crossed,  near  Paris,  by 
tlie  Lake  Erie,  Wabash,  and  St.  Lonis  Raih-oad.  It  crosses  the  Chicago 
branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Mattoon,  the  main  line  of  said 
road  at  Pana,  and  then  runs,  in  a  southwestern  direction,  to  Alton.  At 
HiUsboro,  it  -will  be  crossed  by  the  Massac  and  Sangamon  Railroad. 
Length,  173  miles. 

The  Vincennes  and  Paducah  Railroad — 

Will  run,  almost  in  a  southern  direction,  from  Vincennes,  to  Brooklyn, 
Massac  county,  opposite  Paducah,  in  Kentucky. 

The  Wabash  Valley  Railroad  — 

Will  run  from  Joliet,  in  a  southern  direction,  to  Vincennes;  it  ■will  cross, 
south  of  Manteno,  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  IlUnois  Central  Railroad, 
then  the  Fort  Wayne,  Lacon,  and  Platte  Valley  Railroad ;  then  the  Logans- 
port  and  Pacific  Railroad  at  Middleport ;  the  Great  Western  Railroad  at 
Danville ;  '  then  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  Central  Railroad  ;  the  Terre- 
haute and  Alton  Railroad  at  Paris ;  and,  finally,  the  Atlantic  and  Missis- 
sippi Railroad. 

The  Warsaw  and  Rockford  Railroad  — 

Win  run  from  Warsaw,  Hancock  county,  to  Port  Byron,  Rock  Island 
county,  and  have  a  length  of  62  miles. 


PUBLIC    INSTITUTIONS. 


The  Illinois  University,  at  Springfield,  was  establisted  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature,  in  the  year  1855.  Although  the  main  object 
of  its  establishment  was  to  diflFuse  useful  knowledge,  science,  and 
art,  in  general,  yet  there  have  been  established  principally  — 

1.  A  department  for  the  education  of  teachers  of  the  common 

schools. 

2.  An  agricultural  department,  for   the    education  and  accom- 

plishment of  farmers ;  and 

3.  A  mechanical  department,  for  instruction  in  the  mechanical 

sciences. 

The  management  of  the  University  is  entrusted  to  the  care  and 
supervision  of  a  president  and  twelve  trustees,  while  a  number  of  pro- 
fessors impart  instruction  in  the  various  branches. 

The  number  of  students  is  about  130. 

Tlie  NortJiern  Illinois  University,  at  Henry,  IVlarshall  county,  was 
likewise  established  in  the  year  1855,  and  is  placed  under  the  pa- 
tronage of  four  Methodist  conferences. 

The  Illinois  College,  at  Jacksonville,  was  established  in  the  year 
1829.  It  has  from  seven  to  eight  professors,  and  about  140  alumni 
and  students. 

The  Shurtlrff  College,  at  Upper  Alton,  under  the  superintendency 
of  the  Baptists,  and  in  connection  with  a  theological  seminary,  was 
established  in  the  year  1835.  It  has  seven  professors,  and  about  70 
alumni  and  students. 

(436) 


PUBLIC    INSTITUTIONS.  437 

The  McKendree  College,  at  Lebanon,  under  the  superintendency 
of  the  Methodists,  and  likewise  established  in  the  year  1835,  has  six 
professors,  and  about  150  alumni  and  students. 

The  Knox  College,  at  Galesburg,  was  established  in  the  year  1837. 
It  has  seven  professors,  and  the  number  of  its  students  and  alumni 
is  from  90  to  100. 

The  Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  established  in  the  year 
1842,  has  nine  professors,  and  counts  about  130  students  and 
graduates. 

The  Illinois  Hospitcd  for  tJie  Insane  is  at  Jacksonville.  In  the 
years  1851  to  1854,  there  were  404  persons  admitted  into  it,  of  which 
number  148  were  cured,  and  27  died.  Of  the  404  patients  admitted, 
46  were  born  in  Illinois,  and  the  rest  partly  in  other  States  of  the 
Union,  and  partly  in  Europe.  The  majority  of  these  patients  were 
males. 

In  197  of  the  patients,  causes  of  their  insanity  were  unknown. 
Of  the  other  cases,  among  the  known  causes,  the  following  deserve  to 
be  mentioned:  —  37  in  consequence  of  other  diseases  and  defects  of 
the  constitution;  33  from  child-bearing  and  certain  female  diseases; 
12  through  hereditary  imperfections;  13  of  injuries  to  the  head;  2  by 
sun-stroke  (coup  de  soleil) ;  4  from  intemperance;  35  through  grief; 
22  from  pietism;  8  by  "spirit  rappings,"  or  spiritualism;  17  from 
unhappy  love ;  6  from  excessive  study ;  2  of  home-sickness ;  4  from 
distress  for  money;  1  through  jealousy;  1  by  seduction,  and  1 
through  ambition. 

Of  the  22  patients  whose  insanity  was  caused  by  pietism,  17  were 
males  and  5  females  ;  of  those  from  unhappy  love,  11  were  males  and 
6  females ;  and  of  those  who  suffered  through  the  influence  of  spiri- 
tual manifestations,  7  were  males,  and  1  a  female. 

Since  the  16th  of  June,  1854,  the  institution  has  been  under  the 
superintendency  of  Dr.  McFarland,  late  superintendent  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Asylum  for  the  Insane.  During  the  two  years,  from  the 
1st  of  December,  1852,  to  the  1st  of  December,  1854,  the  receipts 
of  the  institution  amounted  to  §104,696.59,  and  the  expenditures  to 
^100,680.93. 
87* 


438  PUBLIC    INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Institution  for  the  Education  of  tJie  Blind  is  at  Jacksonville, 
and  stands  under  the  superintendeney  of  Joshua  Rhoads,  Esq.  Ac- 
cording to  the  Ileport  of  the  first  of  January,  1855,  there  were  at 
that  time  35  pupils  in  it. 

The  Institution  for  the  Education  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  is  like- 
wise at  Jacksonville.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1855,  there  were 
99  pupils  in  it,  of  whom  59  were  males,  and  40  females.  Ninety-five 
were  of  Illinois,  and  four  from  Missouri. 

The  State  Penitentiary  is  at  Alton,  and  the  usual  number  of  its 
inmates  is  from  450  to  500. 


NEWSPAPERS. 


It  is  a  well-kaown  observation,  that  the  superiority  or  inferiority 
of  a  people  with  respect  to  intelligence  may  be  fairly  estimated  by 
the  greater  or  lesser  activity  of  the  newspaper  press  in  their  midst. 
"We  therefore  record  it,  as  a  very  satisfactory  fact,  that  Illinois, 
although  but  a  virgin  State,  and  just  entering  the  period  of  her  real 
development,  already  possesses  a  large  amount  of  daily  literature. 
According  to  the  information  we  have  obtained,  there  are  not  less 
than  161  newspapers  published  within  the  State :  of  these,  147  are 
printed  in  the  English,  13  in  the  German,  and  1  in  the  French  lan- 
guage. The  subjoined  is  an  alphabetical  list  of  them,  according  to 
their  respective  places  of  publication  :  — 

ALTON.  —  The  Courier,  by  G.  T.  Brown.     Daily,  weekly,  and  tri-weekly. 

The  Democrat,  by  J.  Fitch.     Daily  and  weekly. 

Illinois  Beobachier.     Weekly.     (German.) 

The  Telegraph,  by  J.  L.  Baker  &  Co.     Weekly. 
AURORA.  —  The  Beacon,  by  D.  &  J.  W.  Randall.     Weekly. 
'  The  Guardian,  by  S.  Whiteley.     Weekly. 

BATAVIA.  —  The  Fox  River  Expositor,  by  ?usk  &  Co.     Weekly. 
BEARDSTOWN.  —  The  Central  Illimisian,  by  Shaw  &  Reavis.     Weekly.  ■ 

The  Gazette.     Weekly. 
BELLEVILLE.  —  The  Advocate,  by  J.  S.  Coulter.     Daily  and  weekly. 

Der  Deutsche  Democrat.     Weekly.     (Gei'man.) 

BelleviUer  Volksblatt,  by  Dr.  Wenzel.     Weekly.     (German.) 

Belleviller  Zcitung,  by  I.  Grimm.     Daily.     (German.) 
BELVIDERE.  —  The  Standard,  by  R.  'Roberts      Weekly, 
BLOOMINGTON.  —-The  Flag.     Weekly. 

The  Pantagraph,  by  W.  E.  Foote.     Weekly. 

The  Times.     Weekly. 

The  Central  Illinois  Times^  by  J.  W.  Underwood  &  Co.     Weekly. 

(439) 


440  NEWSPAPERS. 

CAIRO.  —  Times  and  Delta,  by  E.  Willet  &  L.  G.  Faxon.  Tri-weeklyandweekly. 
CALEDONIA. —PuZasAr/D^mocra/,  by  Miller.     Weekly. 
CAKLINYILLE.  —  Macoupin  Statesman,  by  J.  L.  Dagger.     Weekly. 
CARLYLE.  —  The  Age  of  Progress,  by  I.  W.  Snow.     Weekly. 
CAREOLTON.  —  TAe  Gazette,  by  G.  B.  Price.     Weekly. 
CENTRAL  CITY.  —  The  Gazette,  by  E.  Schiller.     Weekly. 
CHARLESTON.  —  The  Courier.     Weekly. 
CHESTER.  —  The  Herald,  by  Hanna  and  Pliillips.     Weekly. 

CHICAGO.  —  Bank  Note  List,  by  F.  G.  Adams.     Semi-monthly. 

Chicago  Abendzeitnng,  by  Committi  &  Beckert.     Daily.      (German.) 

Christian  Times,  by  Church  &  Smith.     Weekly. 

Commercial  Advertiser,  by  A.  Dutch.     Daily,  tri--5veekly,  and  weekly. 

Congregational  Herald,  by  I.  C.  Halbrook.     Weekly. 

The  Democrat,  by  John  Wentworth.     Daily  and  weekly. 

The  Democratic  Pr-ess,  by  Scripps,  Bross  &  Spears.      Daily,  tri-weekly, 
and  weekly. 

The  Evangelist,  by  Patterson  &  Curtis. 

The  Garden  City,  by  Sloan  &  Co.     Weekly. 

The  Journal,  by  Wilson  &  Co.     Daily,  tri-weekly,  and  weekly.     ■ 

Illinois  Staatszeitung,  by  Hoffgen  &  Schneider.  Daily  and  weekly.  (Germ.) 

National  Demokrat,  by  Diverzy  &  Schade.     Daily.     (German.) 

Neiv  Covenant,  by  Skinner  &  Day.     Weekly. 

Northwestern  Christian  Advocate,  by  J,  Y.  Watson.     Weekly. 

The  Prairie  Farmer,  by  A.  F.  Kennicott  &  Co.     Weekly. 

Prairie  Herald,  by  J.  A.  Wright.    Weekly. 

The  Times,  by  Cook  &  Co.     Daily  and  weekly. 

The  Tribune,  by  Fowler  &  Co.     Daily  and  weekly. 

Western  Crusader,  by  J.  Dow  &  Co.     Weekly. 

Western  Enterprise,  by  E.  P.  Little.     Weekly. 

Western  Pathfinder,  by  W.  B.  Hanner.     Weekly. 

Western  Tablet.     Weekly. 
DANYILLE.  —  The  Illinois  Citizen.     Weekly. 
D^CMI'UVv.—  Gazette,  by  G.  Shoaff.     Weekly. 
DE  WITT.  —  The  Courier,  by  Jones  &  Watkins.     "Weekly. 
DLXON.  —  The  Telegraph,  by  B.  F.  Shaw.     Weekly. 

The  Transcript,  by  Stevens  and  Johnson.     Weekly. 
DU  PAGE.  —  The  Journal,  by  Keith,  Edson  &  Co.     Weekly. 
ELGIN. — Kane  County  Journal,  by  Lyman  cS:  Smith.     Weekly. 

The  Palladium,  by  Rowe  &  Joslra.     Weekly. 
FAIRFIELD.  —  Independent  Press,  by  F.  C.  :Mawley.     Weekly. 


NEWSPAPERS.  441 

FREEPORT.  —  The  Bulletin.     Weekly. 

Deuischer  Anzeiger,  by  W.  Wagner.     Weekly.     (German.) 
l^e  Journal,  by  H.  M.  Scbeetz.     Weekly. 

FULTON  City.  —  The  Advertiser,  by  McFaddon  &  Laigliton.     Weekly. 

Whiteside's  Investigator.     Weekly. 
GALENA.  —  The  Advertiser,  by  H.  H.  Hougbton.  Daily,  tri-weekly,  and  weekly. 

The  Courier,  by  Leae,  Crouch  &  Co.     Daily. 

The  Jeffersonian,  by  Ray  and  Sanford.     Weekly. 

North  Western  Gazette,  by  Houghton  &  Co.  Weekly. 
GALESBURG.  --  Free  Democrat,  by  W.  J.  Woods.  Weekly. 
GENESEO.  —  The  Standard.     Weekly. 

GENEVA. — Kane  County  Democrat,  by  Herrington  &  McQuillen.     Weekly. 
GRAYVILLE.  —  The  News,  by  J.  Prather.     Weekly. 
HAVANA. — Mason  County  Herald.     Weekly. 
HILLSBORO.  — Montgomery  County  Herald,  by  C.  D.  Dickerson.     Weekly. 

Prairie  Mirror,  by  G.  H.  Gilmore.     Weekly. 
HUTSONVILLE.  —  Wahash  Sentinel,  by  E.  Callahan.     Weekly. 
JACKSONVILLE.  —  The  Constiiutionist.     Weekly. 

The  Morgan  Journal,  by  Selby  and  Clayton.  Weekly. 
JERSEYVILLE.  —  The  Prairie  State,  by  A.  Smith.  Weekly. 
JOLIET.  —  The  True  Democrat,  by  A.  Mcintosh.     Weekly.  ( 

The  Signal,  by  C.  &  C.  Zarley.     Weekly. 

KANKAKEE  CITY.  —  Gazette,  by  Leonard  &  Grooms.     Weekly. 
Journal  de  r Illinois.     Weekly.     (French.) 

KNOXVILLE.  —  The  Journal,  by  J.  Regan.     Weekly. 
LACON.  —  The  Herald,  by  S.  Ramsey.     Weekly. 
Illinois  Gazette,  by  A.  N.  Ford.     Weekly. 
LAKE  ZURICH.  —  7%e  ^aK^er,  by  S.  Paine.     Weekly.  '     . 

LA  SALLE.  —  The  Press,  by  Boynton  &  Co.     Weekly. 

LEWISTOWN.  —  The  Fulton  Democrat,  by  J.  M,  Davidson.     Weekly. 

Fulton  Ledger.     Weekly. 

Fulton  Republican.     Weekly. 
LINCOLN.  —  The  Illinois  Citizen,  by  Moudy  Fuller.     Weekly. 
LOCKPORT.  —  The  Telegraph,  by  Dagett  &  Holcomb.     Weekly. 
MACOMB.  —  McDonough  Democrat,  by  Smith  &  Royalty.     Weekly. 

McDonough  Independent,  by  G.  W.  Smith.     Weekly. 

MARSHALL.  —  The  Eastern  Illinoisan,  by  Robinson  &  Zimmerman.    Weelily, 
The  Telegraph,  by  S.  P.  Andrews.     Weekly. 


442  NEWSPAPERS. 

ItlENDOTA.  —  The  Press,  by  C.  R.  Fisk.     Weekly. 

METAMORA.  —  Wood/ord  County  Visitor,  by  S.  P.  Shope.     Weekly. 

MIDDLEPORT.  —Iroquois  County  Press,  by  Keady  &  Scott.     Weekly. 

MOLINE.  — T/ig  Workman.     Weekly. 

MONMOUTH.  —  r/ifi  Atlas,  by  C.  K.  Smith.     Weekly. 

The  Review,  by  A.  H.  Swain.     Weekly. 
MORRIS.  —  The  Gazette,  by  A.  J.  Asliton.     Weekly. 

Grundy  County  Herald,  by  BufEngton  &  Soutard.     Weekly. 

The  Grundy  Yeoman,  by  I.  C.  Watkins.     Weekly. 
MOUNT  CARMEL.  —  The  Register,  by  T.  S.  Bowers.     Weekly. 
MOUNT  STERLING.  —  The  Chronotype,  by  J.  R.  Bailey.     Weekly. 

The  Western  Spy.     Weekly. 
MOUNT  VERNON.  —  The  Jeffersonian,  by  J.  S.  Bogan.     Weekly. 
NAPERVILLE.  —Du  Page  County  Observer,  by  G.  Martin.     Weekly. 
NASHVILLE.  —  The  Monitor,  by  H.  Johnson.     Weekly. 
OREGON.  —  The  Ogle  County  Reporter,  by  M.  W.  Smith.     Weekly. 
OQUAWKA.  —  The  Plaindealer,  by  Dallam  &  Bigelow.     Weekly. 

The  Spectator.     AVeekly. 
OSWEGO.  —  Kendall  County  Courier,  by  H.  S.  Humphrey.     Weekly. 
OTTAWA.  —  The  Freetrader,  by  AV.  Osman.     Weekly. 

The  Republican,  by  T.  Hampton.     Weekly. 

PARIS.  —  The  Prairie  Beacon.     Weekly. 

The  Valley  Blade,  by  Pi-att  &  Brendt.     Weekly. 
The  Wabash  Valley  Republican.    Weekly. 

PEORIA.  —  Illinois  Banner,  by  A.  Zotz.     Weekly.     (German.) 

Jlli?iois  Republikaner,  by  I.  P.  Stibolt.     Weekly.     (German.) 

Morning  News,  by  G.  V/.  Raney.     Daily. 

The  Press.     Daily  and  weekly. 

The  Evening  Republican,  by  S.  L.  Coulter.  Daily,  tri-weekly,  and  weekly. 

The  Transcript,  by  N.  G.  Nason.     Daily  and  weekly. 

PERU.  —  Der  Anzeiger,  hj  Heinrichs.     Weekly.     (German.) 
The  Chronicle,  by  J.  F.  Linton.     Weekly. 

PITTSFIELD.  —  PiA-«  County  Free  Press,  by  J.  G.  Nicolay.     Weekly. 
PONTI AC.  —  Livingston  County  News,  by  Cook  &  Renoe.     Weekly. 
PRINCETON.  —  The  Post,  by  Ch.  Faxon.     AVeekly. 
QUINCY.  —  Illinois  Courier.     Weekly.     (German.) 

The  Ilerald,  by  A.  Br^ks.     Daily  and  weekly. 

Quincy  Journal.     Weekly.     (German. ) 


NEWSPAPERS.  443 

QT7INCT.  —  The  Republican,  by  D.  S.  Morrison  &  Co.     Daily. 

The  Western  Patriot,  by  Warren  &  Gibson.     AVeekly. 

The  Whig,  by  Norton  &  Ralston.     Daily,  tri-weekly  &  weekly. 
EOCKFORD.  —  iJocA  River  Democrat,  by  Dickson  &  Bird.     Weekly. 

The  Register,  by  E.  C.  Dougherty.     Weekly. 

The  Republican,  by  Blaisdell,  jr.,  &  Co.     Weekly, 
ROCK  ISLAND.  —  The  Advertiser,  by  0.  P.  Wharton.     Daily. 

The  Morning  Argus,  by  Danforth  &  Shurly.     Daily. 

The  Republican,  by  J.  B.  Danforth.     Weekly. 

Rock  Island  Beobaehter.     Weekly.     (German.) 

RUSHVILLE.  —  Prairie  Telegraph,  by  J.  Scripps  &  Son.     Weekly. 
ST.  CHARLES.  —Kane  County  Democrat,  by  J.  S.  Jones,     Weekly. 
SHAWNEETOWN.  —  The  Southern  lllinoisan,  by  Edwards  &  Son.     Weekly, 
SHELBYVILLE.  —  The  Shelby  Banner,  by  P.  L.  Schutt.     Weakly. 
SPRINGFIELD.  —  The  Illinois  Farmer,  by  S.  Francis.     Weekly. 

The  Illinois  State  Journal,  by  Bailhache  &  Baker,     Daily,  tri  weekly, 
and  weekly. 

The  Illinois  State  Register,  by  Lanphier  &  Walker.     Daily. 
STERLING.  —  The  Times,  by  Narwood  &  Goodrich.     Weekly. 
SYCAMORE.  —  The  Republican  Sentinel,  by  H.  A.  Hough,     Weekly 
TOULON.  —  The  Prairie  Advocate.     Weekly, 
URBANA.  —  The  Uiiion.     Weekly. 
WARSAW.  —  The  Express,  by  Thos.  C.  Sharp.     Weekly, 
WATERLOO.  —  ilonroe  Advertiser,  by  H.  C.  Talbott,     Weekly 

Monroe  Demokrat.     Weekly.     (German.) 

The  Patriot,  by  G.  Abbott.     Weekly. 
WAUKEGAN.  —  The  Gazette,  by  N.  C.  Geer.     Weekly, 
WILMINGTON.  —  The  Herald,  by  W.  H.  Clark.     Weekly. 
WOODSTOCK.  —  The  Republican  Free  Press,  by  C.  C.  McClure  &  Co    "Weekly 


WEIGHTS    AND    MEASURES. 


By  an  act  of  the  last  Legislature  of  Illinois,  it  was  ordained,  that 
whenever  any  of  the  articles  specified  below  shall  be  contracted  for, 
or  sold  and  delivered,  the  weight  of  each  shall  be  the  number  of 
pounds  per  bushel  set  opposite  to  it,  unless  there  shall  be  a  special 
contract  or  agreement  to  the  contrary. 


Pounds. 

Wheat. 60 

Shelled  Corn 56 

Corn  in  the  ear 70 

Rye 66 

Oats 38 

Barley 47 

Irish  Potatoes 60 

Sweet  Potatoes 55 

White  Beans 60 

Castor  Beans 46 

Clover  Seed  60 

Timothy  Seed 45 

Hemp  Seed 44 

Flax  Seed 66 


Pounds. 

Blue  Grass  Seed 14 

Buckwheat 52 

Dried  Peaches 33 

Dried  Apples 24 

Onions 57 

Salt 50 

Coal 80 

Malt 38 

Bran 20 

Turnips 55 

Plastering  Hair 8 

Unslacked  Lime 80 

Corn  Meal 48 

Fine  Salt 65 


(444) 


HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS. 


As  this  book  is  designed  to  be  read  and  used,  not  only  by  thoso 
who  already  enjoy  the  happiness  of  being  citizens  of  the  Prairie 
State,  but  also  by  those  who  may  hereafter  seek  to  establish  homes 
for  themselves  within  its  borders,  it  will  doubtless  be'  quite  acceptable 
to  the  latter  class,  to  receive,  in  addition  to  the  information  contained 
in  the  preceding  chapters,  a  few  hints,  dictated  by  experience,  in  re- 
spect to  what  is  in  the  first  place  most  expedient  and  necessary  to  be 
done  by  them,  and  next  as  to  what  they  may  expect,  in  their  efforts 
to  secure  a  fortunate  settlement. 

In  the  first  place,  then,  no  immigrant  should  neglect  to  make  a 
tour  of  the  State,  and  carefully  examine  for  himself  into  the  diver- 
sified nature  and  quality  of  its  soil,  as  found  in  the  various  districts ; 
and  until  he  has  done  so,  he  should  not  purchase  any  land.  Time 
and  means,  it  is  true,  are  both  required  for  this  purpose,  but  cer- 
tainly, neither  will  be  lost  or  spent  in  vain.  The  advantages  that 
may  thus  be  gained,  will  amply  repay  the  investment ;  and  it  will  be 
found  far  better,  than  to  purchase  in  haste,  and  repent  at  leisure,  as 
is  too  often  the  case  with  inconsiderate  settlers.  Besides,  since  the 
opening  of  the  railroads,  travelling  in  Illinois  is  so  much  facili- 
tated, that  one  may  visit  almost  every  place  at  a  trifling  cost. 

Persons  who  have  large  means  at  command,  will  undoubtedly  do 
well  to  purchase  their  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  some  railroad 
or  large  town ;  while  those  whose  means  are  limited,  will  find  it  more 
advantageous  to  make  their  choice  of  land  in  districts  Ij-'ing  fiirther 
removed  from  such  centres,  but  where  the  soil  is  equally  notable  for 
its  excellent  qualities,  and  the  price  a  great  deal  lower. 

A  person  with  small  means,  having  found  from  forty  to  eighty 
38  (445) 


446  HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS. 

acres,  situated  in  a  neigbborhood  wbich  he  likes,  and  but  five  or  siy 
miles  from  a  place  where  building  and  fencing  materials,  as  well  as 
fuel,  can  be  bought  at  reasonable  prices,  should  endeavor  to  effect  a 
purchase,  under  au  arrangement  for  a  credit  on  three-fourths  of  the 
purchase-money  for  a  suflBciently  long  term  ;  and,  after  succeeding 
in  this,  he  should  then  immediately  set  to  work  and  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  his  new  family  hearth. 

A  pair  of  good  horses,  a  wagon,  one  cow,  a  couple  of  pigs,  several 
domestic  fowls,  two  ploughs  (one  for  breaking  up  the  prairie,  and  the 
other  for  tillage),  together  with  a  few  other  tools  and  implements, 
are  all  that  is  necessary  for  a  beginning.  A  log  house  can  soon  be 
erected.  Thus  provided  for  in  the  outset,  and  working  with  a  joyful 
heart  and  honest  perseverance,  the  confiding  farmer  will,  surely,  under 
the  blessing  of  heaven,  soon  be  enabled  to  replace  his  log  hut  with  a 
cheerful  dwelling-house,  and  to  meet  the  payments  of  purchase-money 
as  they  become  due,  and  still  have  a  handsome  surplus.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  therefore,  one  whose  means  in  the  start  are  rather 
stinted,  may  become  an  independent  farmer,  and  enjoy  his  own  farm 
and  homstead  free  of  debts.  Of  such  success,  innumerable  instances 
may  be  found  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

In  the  chapter  on  "  Agriculture,"  we  have  shown,  by  several  ac- 
counts of  the  yield  of  crops,  how  easy  it  is  for  a  farmer  to  rise  in  this 
State.  We  will  here  cite  but  one  instance,  to  show  that  a  mechanic 
may  also,  with  equal  ease,  secure  wealth  and  independence.  It  is 
found  in  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Atkinson,  of  Pekin, 
dated  December  the  5th,  1855.  This  gentleman,  speaking  of  Pekin, 
writes  thus :  — 

This  town  has  about  two  thousand  inhabitants,  and  contains  two  houses 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons ;  four,  of  ploughs ;  two,  of  carriages 
and  buggies ;  two  places  for  horse-shoeing,  exclusively ;  two  gunsmiths  ;  two 
cabinet-makers ;  one  chair-maker ;  three  coopers'  shops ;  one  foundry  and 
machine  shop;  one  large  manufactory  of  reaping  and  mowing  machines,  and 
one  pottery ;  —  all  of  which  may  be  said  to  be  doing  a  first  rate  business,  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  capital  invested,  which  is,  in  some  instances,  very 
small,  and  in  others  proportionately  large. 

All  composing  said  manufacturing  firms  (making  no  exceptions)  came  here, 
or  were  raised  here  (poor  men),  mechanics  or  artisans,  and  have  pretty  much 
the  same  circumstances  marking  the  history  of  their  rise,     All,  by  steady  in- 


HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS.  447 

dustry,  have  commenced  small  shops  on  their  own  hook,  and  work  on  repairs 
or  job  work,  filling  in  their  spare  time  on  new  Avork,  which  gradually  grew 
into  a  business,  only  varied  in  the  amount  of  its  prosperity  by  the  difierence 
in  energy  of  its  proprietors,  or  its  own  susceptibilities  of  extension  or  enlarge- 
ment. In  a  few  instances,  this  rapidity  of  growth  is  truly  astonishing.  I  will 
give  you  one  instance:  — The  firm  of  T.  and  H.  Smith  &  Co.  now  works  on  a 
capital  of  probably  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  employs,  regularly,  from  fifty- 
five  to  sixty  men,  mechanics  and  artisans  of  all  descriptions,  at  prices  varying 
from  $1.50  to  $3  per  day;  turn  out  one  wagon  per  day,  at  a  price  varying 
from  $90  to  §130,  according  to  quality;  a  great  many  buggies  and  carriages, 
at  prices  fron}§115  to  $700  each;  together  with  a  plough  business,  amounting 
to  near  one  thousand  ploughs  a  year  of  all  descriptions.  Said  firm,  five  years 
ago,  consisted  of  T.  and  Henry  Smith,  two  poor  Hanoverians,  the  one  a  wagon- 
maker,  the  other  a  blacksmith,  who  rented  a  smaU  shop,  and  went  to  work  on 
repairing  wagons,  shoeing  horses,  &c.,  and  were  soon  enabled  to  buy  the  old 
shop  and  lot  on  which  it  stood ;  after  which,  they  began  by  filling  in  spare 
time  on  new  work,  to  be  able  to  make  a  business  of  it,  which  has  gradually 
increased  up  to  its  present  limits,  and  instead  of  the  old  shop  first  rented, 
only  large  enough  to  contain  one  work-bench  and  one  smith's  fire,  the  lot 
first  mentioned  and  five  adjacent  ones  are  occupied  by  large  and  commodious 
workshops,  each  branch  of  the  business  being  headed  by  one  of  the  firm,  all 
of  whom  are  mechanics  (brothers),  and  all  work. 

This  is  the  history  of  every  shop  in  town  and  the  adjacent  country.  AU 
were,  only  a  few  years  ago,  poor  men,  and  now  many  of  them  are  wealthy ; 
and  we  have  no  instances  of  men  who  have  commenced,  even  in  the  smallest 
■way  at  first,  who  have  attended  to  their  business,  and  lived  within  their 
means,  not  meeting  with  the  same  success.  Our  business  men,  merchants 
and  storekeepers,  millers,  pork  packers,  bankers — in  fact,  every  man  who  now 
figures  in  this  town,  as  being  above  the  condition  of  laboring  men,  are  men 
who  came  here  poor  —  most  of  them  very  poor. 

Let  the  immigrant  coiisider  this.  Such  advantages  as  those  here 
stated  are  still  everywhere  open  to  the  honest,  industrious,  and  eco- 
nomical settler.  What  is  said  of  Pekin  is  but  the  oft-repeated  story 
of  many  other  places,  and  will  be  as  frequently  verified  in  the  future 
history  of  the  State. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work,  whenever  it  became  necessary  to 
state  our  opinions  on  any  particular  subject,  we  have  always  fortified 
them  by  the  authority  of  reliable  persons  who  have  for  many  years 
resided  in  Illinois  —  we  have  frequently  even  made  use  of  their  own 
words ;  and  now,  in  giving  these  hints  to  new  settlers,  we  will  agaiu 
avail  ourselves  of  the  information  communicated  to  us  by  practical 


448  HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS. 

men,  whose  actual  observations  for  many  years  past  enable  thein 
to  speak  familiarly  and  authoritatively  "  on  matters  and  things  in 
general,"  as  they  exist  in  the  State  of  which  they  are  citizens.  We 
will,  therefore,  here  introduce  to  our  readers  an  old  settler,  Mr.  John 
Williams,  of  Albany,  Coles  county,  who,  in  a  letter  dated  December 
the  23d,  1855,  says  :  — 

I  have  lived  in  Illinois  about  thirty  years,  and  have  seen  some  ups  and 
downs  in  that  time.  I  moved  from  Kentucky,  and  settled  first  in  Vermillion 
county;  after  living  there  thirteen  years,  I  moved  into  Champaign  county, 
lived  there  three  years,  and  then  went  over  into  Piatt  county,  Missouri ;  biit 
not  having  seen  the  land  there  before  moving  out,  and  finding  it  did  not 
equal  my  expectations,  I  returned  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Coles  county, 
where  I  have  remained  ever  since.  You  can,  therefore,  see  that  I  have  been 
over  some  of  the  West,  in  search  of  the  best  place  to  make  the  "almighty 
dollar;"  and,  as  I  think  I  have  found  it,  I  will  here  say,  that,  after  a  man  has 
lived  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  farmed  its  rich  soil  for  a  few  years,  he  will 
find  it  hard  work  to  hunt  up  a  better  country. 

When  I  first  settled  in  Vermillion  county,  the  representation  of  our  district 
comprised  all  the  State  lying  up  along  the  Lake,  including  Chicago,  'which 
then  consisted  only  of  the  old  block  fort  on  the  lake  shore.  At  that  time,  we, 
in  the  centre  of  the  State,  had  no  market  for  any  of  our  produce ;  we  had  no 
railroads,  and  were  forced  to  kill  our  hogs  at  home,  team  them  to  Terre  Haute, 
sixty  miles,  and  then  get  $1.50  to  $2  per  hundred  weight,  taking  half  the 
amount  in  store  goods  at  a  very  high  figure. 

So  farmers  had  to  work  along,  in  those  days.  I  have  known  corn  to  sell 
for  five  to  eight  cents  per  bushel ;  and  yet,  even  then,  they  did  well,  from  the 
fact  that  they  could  raise  everything  they  wanted  to  eat,  and  in  abun- 
dance too. 

My  advice  to  farmers  in  the  East  is,  to  leave  their  rocks  and  hills,  where 
they  are  just  grubbing  out  a  living,  and  come  on  to  these  splendid  prairies, 
as  they  lie  all  ready  for  the  plough,  and  where  everything  which  the  farmer 
plants  yields  such  an  abundant  return. 

Mr.  James  N.  Brown,  of  Island  Grove,  formerly  President  of  the 
State  Agricultural  Society,  in  a  letter  dated  November  the  28th,  1855, 
says :  — 

Let  the  industrious  poor  man  know,  that  all  he  has  to  do,  is,  to  become 
the  holder  of  forty  or  eighty  acres  of  land,  build  his  cabin,  and  go  to  work 
with  his  team,  and  turn  over  th^  sod,  and  commence  tilling  the  soil, — and 
that  the  laws  of  the  land  protect  him  against  the  depredations  of  stock— 


HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS.  .  449 

and,  my  word  for  it,  we  shall  see,  in  a  Tery  short  time,  iill  our  prairies 
brought  into  cultivation,  and  teeming  with  an  industrious  and  happy  popula- 
tion, adding  millions  to  the  wealth  of  the  State. 

Kev.  J.  S.  Barger,  of  Clinton,  De  Witt  county,  in  his  letter  of 
the  22d  of  January,  1855,  says  :  — 

Let  them  come  by  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  —  there  is  room  enough 
—  and  examine  the  country.  They  will  find  rich  lands,  and  good  water,  and 
general  health,  almost  everywhere.  This  is  not  a  wilderness.  They  will  find 
schools  and  churches  springing  up  in  almost  every  settlement  made,  and  now 
being  made,  throughout  the  State.  Illinois  is  not  a  moral  desolation.  It 
literally  and  spiritually  "blossoms  as  the  rose."  Let  them  come  to  Chicago, 
and  go  to  Galena,  and  visit  Cairo.  But  let  them  not  remain  at  either  place, 
unless  they  choose.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  and  its  branches  traverse 
the  finest  portion  of  the  globe.  Let  them  glide  through  our  State,  on  these 
and  other  roads,  now  checkering  the  entire  of  this  "Garden  of  the  Lord," 
and  stop  where  they  will,  to  "  examine  the  land,  of  what  sort  it  is,"  and  they 
win  no  longer  consent  to  dig  among  the  rocks,  and  plough  the  sterile  land  of 
their  forefathers.  But  they  will  long  bless  the  day,  when  they  found,  for 
themselves  and  their  children,  such  comfortable  homes,  as  they  still  may 
obtain  in  this  rich  and  beautiful  Prairie  State,  destined  soon  to  compare 
^ith  — nay,  to  surpass,  in  all  the  most  desirable  respects — the  most  prosper- 
ous State  in  the  Union. 

We  think  we  cannot  conclude  this  last  chapter  of  our  book  in  a 
better  manner  than  with  the  words  of  one  of  the  worthiest  citizens  of 
Illinois,  and  who,  having  been  one  of  its  earliest  settlers,  now  looks 
back  through  a  long  life  of  toil  and  experience.  This  gentleman  is 
Mr.  Edson  Harkness,  of  Southport,  Peoria  county,  to  whom  we  are 
also  indebted  for  valuable  contributions  to  this  work,  as  well  as  for 
the  kindness  through  which  we  are  privileged  to  place  before  our 
readers  the  following  extract  from  his  excellent  "  Volunteer  Advice 
to  Immigrants"  :  — 

A  few  suggestions,  to  those  who  are  desirous  of  building  up  a  home  in  the 
rich  and  rapidly  improving  West,  may  not  be  out  of  place,  from  an  old  man, 
who  has  seen  much  of  pioneer  life.  It  can  hardly  be  expected,  that  you  will 
be  entirely  free  from  those  amiable  prejudices,  which  spread  a  sort  of  sanctity 
over  the  manners,  customs,  language,  and  habits  of  the  home  you  have  left. 
You  will  find  yourself  constantly  instituting  comparisons  between  the  old  state 
of  things  to  which  you  have  been  accustomed,  and  the  changed  condition  of 
affaire  which  you  find  in  the  West.  If  the  old  and  the  new  are  alike,  you  wiU 
-    38*  2d 


450  HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS. 

conclude  that  all  is  well.  But  the  old  will  be  very  apt  to  be  set  np  as  a 
standard  of  right.  This  state  of  mind  you  must  endeavor  to  change,  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  to  decide  every  question  upon  its  intrinsic  merits. 

You  will  come  in  daily  contact  with  people  from  all  the  other  States  and 
from  all  the  nations  of  Western  Europe.  There  will  be  many  of  them  speak- 
ing strange  dialects  of  the  English  language  —  that  is,  strange  to  you.  But 
you  must  not  forget  that  yours  is  also  strange  to  them.  Be  therefore  very 
cautious  how  you  criticise  the  bad  English  of  others  —  for  they  can,  perhaps, 
point  out  as  many  defects  in  your  pronunciation,  as  you  can  in  theii-s.  The 
best  way  is,  to  look  over  your  dictionary  occasionally,  correct  yom-  own  errors, 
and  let  other  people,  if  they  will,  do  the  same. 

Again,  be  very  careful  not  to  underrate  the  intelligence  or  the  capacity  of 
those  with  whom  you  may  come  in  contact.  Many  of  our  people  are  very 
plain  in  their  manners;  but  they  are,  like  yourself,  all  immigrants  —  have 
seen  a  great  deal  of  the  world,  and  have  become  shrewd  observers  of  character. 
With  such  men,  you  will  soon  find  your  level,  wherever  that  level  may  be.  — 
It  is  not  uncommon  for  young  men,  who  have  received  the  best  educational 
advantages,  to  come  out  to  the  West  with  high  expectations  of  honor  and 
distinction  among  a  people  not  peculiarly  blessed  with  the  means  of  intelli- 
gence. Such  expectations  are  pretty  sure  to  end  in  disappointment.  Our 
people  are  eminently  practical,  but  too  stupid  or  too  gain-loving  to  appreciate 
ver'y  highly  the  refinements  of  the  mere  scholar,  whose  claim  to  distinction 
is  based  upon  a  knowledge  of  books   alone. 

If  the  scholar  will  in  any  way  bring  his  knowledge  to  bear  upon  the  prac- 
tical interests  of  society,  he  may  do  well  enough.  If  he  wiU  teach  a  country 
school  for  from  twenty  to  thirty  dollars  per  month,  and  "board  round,"  he 
may  soon  get  the  good  will  and  esteem  of  the  community.  He  must  be  care- 
ful not  to  use  a  language  which  is  "all  Greek"  to  his  hearers  —  must  treat 
every  one  with  respect  and  kindness  —  must  take  an  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  every  family,  and,  at  the  same  time,  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  small  scandal 
and  small  gossip  of  the  neighborhood. 

A  yoimg  man  may  learn  more  that  is  really  useful  by  teaching  a  country 
school  for  one  winter,  than  in  twice  that  time  spent  in  college  —  that  is,  if  he 
thoroughly  studies  the  living  "subjects"  around  him.  If  he  has  tact  and 
good  sense  enough  to  keep  on  the  right  side  of  his  pupils  and  their  parents 
he  is  then  fairly  started  on  the  highway  to  honor  and  distinction.  He  can 
then  go  and  make  his  "claim,"  or  his  purchase  of  wild  land,  and  prepare  to 
set  up  as  a  farmer.  If  he  had  not  a  cent  in  his  pocket  when  he  came  to  the 
"settlement,"  if  he  is  orderly,  prudent,  and  industrious  for  a  year,  his  credit 
will  be  estabUshed. 

He  can  then  purchase  what  may  be  indispensable,  in  the  way  of  a  team  and 
implements,  for  starting  business  on  a  small  scale.  After  toiling  on  a  year 
or  two  more,  some  one  of  the  bright-eyed  maidens  who  attended  his  schoolj 


HINTS    TO    IMMIGRANTS.  451 

will  begin  to  pity  his  lonely  condition,  and  consent  to  sliare  the  joys  and  the 
sorrows  of  life  with  him. 

A  small  house  is  then  built,  and  is  enlarged  as  the  inmates  multiply.  The 
farm  is  also  enlarged  as  the  wealth  of  the  owner  is  increased.  Orchards  are 
planted  —  ornamental  trees,  shrubs  and  vines  start  up,  and  grow  luxuriantly 
about  the  house.  The  house  itself,  having  been  built  a  piece  at  a  time,  from 
the  necessities  of  the  hour,  begins  to  look  shabby,  and  yet  below  the  con- 
dition of  the  owner,  — a  new  and  splendid  one  is  accordingly  built,  near  the 
site  of  the  old  one,  so  as  to  save  the  shrubs  and  trees  for  the  neYi  lawn.  The 
old  house  is  sold  to  some  new  settler,  and  taken  away. 

The  poor  schoolmaster  has  become  a  man  of  afiluence,  and  has  filled 
various  pubhc  ofSces  with  advantage  to  the  State,  and  with  credit  and  honor 
to  himself. 

This  is  no  dream,  —  no  fancy  sketch  —  but  the  literal  history,  so  far  as  it 
goes,  of  thousands  of  our  western  farmers. 

But,  perhaps,  there  may  be  too  much  hard  work  implied,  in  the  foregoing 
sketch,  to  suit  the  refined  tastes  of  a  portion  of  those  who,  in  imagination,  are 
rearing  their  future  castles  on  the  broad  western  prairies.  Let  me  say  to  you, 
young  man,  if  you  come  to  a  new  country  to  avoid  hard  work,  you  will 
commit  a  great  error.  If  you  are  a  preacher,  lawyer,  physician,  farmer,  or 
mechanic,  you  must  work  —  work. 

We  have,  out  here,  got  rid  of  the  old  feudal  prejudices  of  caste.  Work  is 
not  only  honorable,  but  the  only  means  of  distinction.  We  have,  it  is  true, 
a  large  and  flourishing  establishment,  provided  by  the  State,  as  a  home  for 
those  who  endeavor  to  get  their  living  without  honest  work :  but  it  is  not 
popular  to  go  there  —  in  fact,  none  go,  unless  compelled  to  do  so  by  positive 
law,  and  under  the  escort  of  —  a  sheriff. 

If  you  are  willing  to  work  at  any  honest  business,  for  which  your  previous 
training  has  fitted  you  —  if  willing  to  join  the  great  army,  which,  with  the 
axe,  the  plough,  and  the  steam-engine,  is  striking  out  into  the  desert,  and 
conquering  an  empire  greater  than  was  ever  ruled  by  a  Tamerlane  or  a 
Bonaparte  —  come  on  !  we  will  give  you  a  place  in  our  ranks,  and  if  you  act 
the  part  of  a  good,  brave  soldier,  in  the  struggle  for  personal  independence, 
you  shall  be  promoted.  It  is  the  object  of  every  true  soldier  in  this  great 
army,  to  "conquer  a  piece"  of  rich  and  bountiful  land,  for  himself  and  his 
posterity.  Our  ranks  are  not  full.  We  have  room  enough  to  take  in  half  a 
million  of  recruits  annually  for  the  next  century,  and  still  there  will  be  room 
for  more !  Come  on,  then,  and  work  out  life's  problem,  as  best  you  can,  in 
the  free  and  boundless  West. 


THE   END 


KEEN  &  LEE 

Offer  to  the  Trade  of  the  North-  West  the  following  QATA- 
LOQ^UE  OF  GOODS  connected  with  the  Book  and 
Stationery  Business. 

Their  connections  with  large  Importing  and  Manufac- 
tui'ing  Establishments,  both  at  the  East  and  in  Europe,  as 
well  as  frequent  visits  thereto,  enable  them  to  have  con- 
stantly on  hand  a  complete  assortment  of  Goods,  ivldch 
they  can  supply  to  the  Trade  at  the  very  lowest  prices,  and 
on  the  best  terms. 

Merchants  from  the  Oountry  visiting  Chicago,  are  re- 
quested to  call  and  examine  their  stock. 


CATALOGUE. 

SCHOOL  BOOKS. 
Readers. 

McGUFFY'S  FIRST  READER.      . 

"  SECOND,  THIRD,  FOURTH,  and  FIFTH  do 

SAUNDERS'  FIRST  READER,  (Old  Series.) 
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«  THIRD        "  " 

"  FOURTH     "  " 

TOWN'S  FIRST  READER. 

"  SECOND,  THIRD,  and  FOURTH  do. 

PENMAN'S  STUDENT'S  FIRST  READER. 
"  "  SECOND     " 

"  "  THIRD  and  FOURTH  do. 

PARKER'S  FIRST  READER. 

"  SECOND,  THIRD,  FOURTH,  and  FIFTH  do. 

SANDERS'  NEW  FIRST  READER. 

"  "      SECOND,  THIRD,  FOURTH,  and  FIFTH  do. 

WEBB'S  READER,  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3. 
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"  FIFTH 

C2) 


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GOODRICH'S  FIRST  READER. 

«  SECOND,  THIRD,  FOURTH,  and  FIFTH  do. 

Spelling  Books. 

WEBSTER'S  ELEMENTARY  SPELLER. 

SANDERS'  OLD  and  NEW  SPELLER;  McGUFFY'S  do. 

TOWN'S  OLD  and  NEW  SPELLER. 

PENMAN'S  STUDENT'S  SPELLER. 

PRICE'S  SPELLER ;  WEBSTER'S  PICTORIAL  do. 

Arithmetics. 

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«  TABLE  BOOK. 

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ADAMS'  NEW  REVISED  ARITHMETIC. 

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Keys  to  Arithmetics. 

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«  SMITH'S  ARITHMETIC. 

Mathematical  Books. 

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Eng-lish  Grammars. 

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WELD'S  PARSING  BOOK;  WELLS'  GRAMMAR. 

PINNEO'S  PRIMARY  GRAMMAR;  PINNEO'S  ANALYTICAL  do. 

BULLION'S  ANALYTICAL  GRAMMAR;  BULLION'S  ENGLISH  do. 

"  FIRST  LESSONS  IN  GRAMMAR. 

TOWER'S  ELEMENTS  OF  GRAMMAR;  KIRKHAM'S  do. 
SMITH'S  GRAMMAR;  CLARK'S  NEW  do. 
CLARK'S  NEW  REVISED  GRAMMAR. 
GREEN'S  FIRST  LESSONS  IN  GRAMMAR. 

«  INTRODUCTION  TO  ENGLISH  GRAMMAR. 

"  ELEMENTS  OP  GRAMMAR;  GREEN'S  ANALYSIS  OF  do. 

TOWN'S  ANALYSIS;  McELLIGOT'S  YOUNG  ANALYSER. 
McELLIGOT'S  ANALYTICAL  MANUAL;  BUTLER'S  GRAMMAR. 

School  Geographies. 

MITCHELL'S  SCHOOL  GEOGRAPHY  AND  ATLAS. 
«  PRIMARY         " 

'•  ANCIENT         "  " 


KEEN  &  lee's  publications. 


MITCHELL'S  QUARTO  GEOGRAPHY;  MITCHELL'S  PHYSICAL  do. 
"      GEOGRAPHICAL  QUESTION  BOOK. 
«      OUTLINE  MAPS  AND  KEY;  PELTON'S  do. 
OLNEY'S  SCHOOL  GEOGRAPHY  AND  ATLAS. 

"    QUARTO  GEOGRAPHY;  SMITH'S  PRIMARY  do. 
SMITH'S  GEOGRAPHY  AND  AND  ATLAS. 

"    QUARTO  GEOGRAPHY;  MORSE'S  QUARTO  do. 
PARLEY'S  PRIMARY  GEOGRAPHY;  MONTEITH'S  MANUAL  OP  do. 
CORNELL'S  PRIMARY  GEOGRAPHY;  CORNELL'S  QUARTO  do. 
McNALLY'S  PRIMARY  GEOGRAPHY ;  COLTON  &   FITCH'S  do. 

Dictionaries. 

WEBSTER'S  QUARTO  DICTIONARY;  WEBSTER'S  ROYAL  870.  do. 

"  UNIVERSITY  DICTIONARY. 

"  QUARTO  ACADEMIC  DICTIONARY;  HIGH  SCHOOL  do. 

'    "  SMALL  SCHOOL  DICTIONARY;  POCKET  do. 

WORCESTER'S  8vo.  DICTIONARY;  COMPREHENSIVE  do. 

"  PRIMARY  DICTIONARY;  ACADEMIC  do. 

COBB'S  MINIATURE  LEXICON;  LADIES'  do.;  PARLOR  do. 
DICTIONARY  OF  POETICAL  QUOTATIONS. 

WALKER'S  PRONOUNCING  DICTIONARY;  WALKER'S  RHYMING d«. 
MEADOWS'  SPANISH  AND  ENGLISH  DICTIONARY. 

Astronomy. 

GUY'S  ASTRONOMY  AND  KEITH  ON  THE  GLOBES. 
MATTISON'S  ELEMENTS  OF  ASTRONOMY. 

"  HIGH  SCHOOL 

BURRITT'S  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  HEAVENS  AND  ATLAS. 
SMITH'S  ILLUSTRATED  ASTRONOMY. 
OLMSTED'S  SCHOOL  ASTRONOMY;  OLMSTED'S  LARGE  do. 

Anatomy  and  Physiology  for  Schools. 

CUTTER'S  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY. 
"  FIRST  BOOK  IN  ANATOMY. 

PRIMARY  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY. 
JANE  TAYLOR'S  PHYSIOLOGY;  LAMBERT'S  do. ;  COxMSTOCK'S  do. 

Botany. 

WOOD'S  FIRST  LESSONS  IN  BOTANY. 

"        CLASS-BOOK  OF  " 

MRS.  LINCOLN'S  BOTANY;  COMSTOCK'S  do. 

Works  on  Bookkeeping. 

MAYHEW'S  BOOKKEEPING;  MAYHEW'S  BLANKS  to  do  ;  KEY  to  do. 
FULTON  &  EASTMAN'S  BOOKKEEPING. 
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