Reminiscences of Bureau county [Illinois] in two parts

REMINISCENCES

OF

BUREAU COUNTY.

IN TWO PARTS,

WITH ILL U STRA TIOKS
By N. MATSON.

PRINCETON, II,LIM>ls:

REPUBLIC \n BOOK \N1> JOB OFFICE

IS .

4-

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

4 5 9 8 0 5 A

A6T0R, LENOX AND

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

r 1929 *•

Entered according to an act of Congress in the year JN72, by

N*. M A T S O N ,

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, in and for
Northern District of Illinois.

• • ■> •

• • . . .
• » . .

INTRODUCTION TO PART FIRST.

The writer ot the following story came to Bureau
soon after the settlement had been commenced, and
experienced some of the inconveniences common to
the settlement of a new country. At that time, the
prairies of this county were in a state of nature, without
roads, fields, or dwellings, a part of which had aot yet
been surveyed. The only marks of civilization to be
seen were a few log cabins, built here and there in
tin- edge of the timber, and throughout the county there
was Sv a Bchool, or meeting house: aot one

-in- 1 road, nor one stream bridged. Indian trails

were still t<> ho seen, and traveled buth by whites and
Indians.

The writer was well acquainted with the first settlers,
and from them much of this Btory was obtained.
Be I o had frequent interviews wifh Indians, who had
Bpenl their youthful days on Bureau, and from them
many important facta were gathered.

There are Borne incidents narrated in this story, which
were unknown to the early settlers, but the most of

theiu were well known, and will be confirmed by
persons still living. Efforts were made to harmonize
the early traditions of this county, as well as the state-
ments of Indians, with well established facts, and with
a few exceptions it has been successful.

In historical sketches, discrepancies in narratives will
occasionally appear, which must necessarily be supplied
by inference of the writer, and this story is not an
exception to the rule.

Neither monev nor emulation induced the writer to
offer these pages to the public ; the necessarily limited
circulation would prevent the former, and the criticisms
common to local publications the latter. But another
motive more laudable in its nature, and more useful in
its effects, caused this work to appear, that is the great
desire to preserve the early history of the county. The
testimony of many of the early settlers, who are now
in their graves, as well as of Indians that have long
since passed away, was alone in possession of the writer,
and justice required that it should be given to the
public.

The labors of the writer may not at present be
appreciated, but the time will come when these facts,
although crudely expressed, will be regarded of great
importance, forming as they do the connecting link of
history between the past, present and future.

N. M.

Princeton, March, 1872.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Pagk.
The Missionary and the Outlaw — The Indian Feast — Black
Hawk's Appeal to the Pottawatamie Warriors — Speech of
Senachwine — Senachwine's Death and Burial — Visit to hi?

Grave 15

CHAPTER II.
American Fur Company — Mike Girty, the Outlaw — The In-
dian Village — Gen. Cass in Council 85

( HAPTER III.
Bureau Comity in a State of Nature — Pioneers — Religion

Among the Pioneers '■>''>

CHAPTER IV.
Rev. James Sample Preaching to Sinners — Th< Parson Turns
Jockey — Job May, the Hunter, ami his Beautiful

D iter— Misfortune of Old Blind Bob W

CHAPTER V.
Thoma Hartzell, the Indian Trader — Conspiracy to Murder
the st ttlers — Tin- Murderers Detected, and the Lives of the

Saved, 44

CHAPTER VI.
An old Land Mark— Murder of Simmons— The Disputed
Claim, 49

CHAPTER VII.

A Search for a Lead Mine — Patrick O'Lear and his Wonderful
Revelation — False Alarm and Flight of the Settlers — Pat
O'Lear Killed, Scalped, but conies to Life Again — Escape of
Dave Jones and Family, 58

CHAPTER VIII.
The Great Indian Council — Indians Leave Bureau — Indians at
the Graves of their Fathers, tffi

CHAPTER IX.

Dad Joe — Frightened by the Indians — Indians Approach the
Grove — The Lone Traveler — Approach of Stillman's Army
— Camp Attacked — A Joke of Capt. Hackleton, . .74

CHAPTER X.

Commencement of Hostilities — Flight of the Settlers — Lieut.
Jones' Wonderful Account of Stillman's Defeat, . . 82

CHAPTER XI.
Rev. James Sample and Wife — Flight and Capture — The Ex-
ecution, ... 98

CHAPTER XII.

Bui bona — The Fair Maiden and her Two Lovers — The Wed-
ding— The Wedding; Dinner — Four Travelers Arrive — The
Dance and Tragedy , .104

CHAPTER XIII.

Military Forces Organized — Fort Thomas — Scare at Hennepin
and Search for Indians — Fort Wilburn and Ayres' Black-
smith Shop, 11^

CHAPTER XIV.

Explanation — Shaubena — Adventure of Shaubena at Chicago, 124

CHAPTER XV.

Indian Creek Settlement — Indians Leave Bureau — The Massa-
cre— Fifteen Persons Killed and Two Girls Captured —
Sheriff Walker's Two Indian Prisoners, .... 133

CHAPTER XVI.
Captivity of Sylvia and Rachel Hall, 146

CHAPTER XVII.

Girty's Band Visit Fox River Settlement — Adam Paine, the
Missionary — Murder of Rev. Adam Paine, .... 154

CHAPTER XVIII.

Bearer of the Governor's Dispatch — Girty and His Band Re-
turn to Bureau — Indians on a Scout — Flight of General
Atkinson's Party, 162

CHAPTER XIX.

Boyd's Grove — Organizing the Militia — Arrival of the Potato
Birgade — Peculiarities of Old Ben — The Attack and Re-
pulse— Failure of an Indian Raid, 172

CHAPTER XX.

Settlers Return to Look After Their Cattle— Phillips Killed,
and Ament's Cabin Attacked — Flight of the Indians and
Pursuit by the Rangers. 184

CHAPTER XXI.
Gen. Scott's Army Passes Through Bureau County — The
Captive's Return — Retribution, 196

CHAPTER XXII.
Girty's Arrival at Princeton — Two Great, Paper Cities — The

Lust of Girty, . 200

( ontentfl of Pari Second. See Page 811

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

Portrait of Michael Kitterman, - - 57

Flight of Settlers, 87

Execution of Sample and Wife, - 101

Portrait of Shaubena, - - 127

Flight of Gen. Atkinson, - - - 167

Killing of Phillips, - - - 187

Girty's Arrival at Princeton, - - 201

Portrait of John H. Bryant, - - 213

" " Abram Stratton, - 255

" " William Hoskins, - - 285

" " Sylvester Brigham, - - 305

" Cyrus Langworthy, - - 337

Eli Smith, - 359

Joel Doolittle, - - 377

James G. Forristall, - 389

a
u
u

a

CHAPTER I.

THE MISSIONARY AND THE OUTLAW.

On the morning of the 25th of June, 1830, two men
were seen riding across the prairie between East and
Main Bureau, one of whom was a large, portly man.
with a high forehead, black, piercing eyes, and win
black beard hung in waving clusters over his breast.
This man was Adam Paine, a missionary among the
Indians, who was well known by many of the early
settlers of the northwest. The appearance of his trav-
eling companion was the opposite in almost every
particular, being a Luge, bmad-shouldered, heavy-fi '
man, with high check bones, a Hat pug DOSe, black

eagle like eyes, ami whose general appearance indicated
a low savage character. The reader will recognize in
this description Mike Girty, a half-breed Indian, ami
an outlaw. The travelers, at the time we introdu
them, were returning from a tour among the India
on tin- Kankakee river— Paine a- a preacher, and Girt j

a> an interpreter — and they were DOW <>n their way I

16 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Bureau creek to attend an Indian feast. After having
swam their horses across the Illinois river, they were
slowly pursuing their way across the prairie, and over
the very spot the city of Princeton now stands. Instead
of a populous town, surrounded by well cultivated
farms, with fine buildings and thriving orchards, as we
now see it, forty years ago it was in a state of nature,
where the deer and the wolf roamed undisturbed by
human habitation. No whistling of steam engines,
clattering of machinery, nor musical notes of school
or church bells were then heard in this wild region.
The beautiful rolling prairie at that time, covered with
flowers of every hue, extending to the northeast as far
as the eye could reach ; while to the southwest, the view
was obstructed by a large grove of timber, not yet dis-
figured by the woodman's axe.

THE INDIAN FEAST.

On Main Bureau creek, near the mouth of Epperson's
run, were collected a large body of Indians for the
purpose of holding their annual feast, and to attend
this feast our travelers were bound. A number of
chiefs from a distance were here; among them were
Black Hawk, Senachwine, Shaubena, Waba, and many
other distinguished chiefs and warriors from the sur-
rounding tribes. The principal object this large dele-
gation of chiefs and warriors had in attending this

THE INDIAN FEAST. 17

feast, was to unite the different tribes of the west in a
war against the whites. This union was intended by
them to he inaugurated under religious influences, and
thereby cause the warriors to believe that they were
acting in accordance with the will of the Great Spirit.
The Indians had killed a number of their favorite dogs,
and roasted them whole, on which they were feasting.
In the midst of their encampment, an altar was erected.
on which were burning sacrifices, that had been offered
up to the Great Spirit to appease his wrath, and thereby
insure their success in war, hunting, fishing, etc. Skin>.
war implements, and various kinds of trinkets were
burned on the altar while the Indians danced around it,

lingatthetop of their voices. A number of priesl
dressed in long robes, faces powdered, and their head
ornamented with turkey feathers, were directing I

[ercises. With uplifted hands, and their eyes turned
heavenwards, they invoked the blessing of the Great
Spirit on the assembled multitude. Many of the
Indian.- were dressed bo as to represent different kinds
of animal.— some in the skin of a deer with large hoi -
on their heads, .-landing out in bold relict': others in a
-kin of a dog, or wolf, running about on all fours, with

their aose to the ground, tail dragging behind, and
howling iu imitation of the animal they represented;
many of the Indians had painted their faces in rep

itatioii of the BUU, moon and BtaTS, and the place t!

cupied in the performance was in accordance with

their idea- of tin- Bolar By stem. Their religious

18 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

cises consisted principally in lond demonstrations of joy
and grief; sometimes running around a circle on their
hands and knees, jumping up and down, clapping their
hands together, while their whoops and yells could be
heard for miles away.*

When the Indians had completed their feast, and the
ceremonies connected with their religious exercises,
Paine mounted a log and preached to them the words
of life, while Girty stood by him interpreting his sermon
to the Indians. Paine, with that energy and zeal pe-
culiar to him, explained to his hearers the many errors
of their heathen religion, and the great importance of
embracing Christianity. Those who have heard Paine
preach will recollect his peculiar manner of address,
with his body erect, hands uplifted, voice toned to its
highest key ; his features gleaming with enthusiasm,
while his thick, coal black beard extended down to his
waist, giving to him a very impressive, as well as rever-
ential appearance. He explained to his hearers the
principles of the Christian religion, which enjoined on
all its votaries peace and good will to all mankind ;
admonishing them never again to make war on their
white brethren ; that war was wicked, the work of the
devil, and would result in their ruin. Many of the
Indians were converted under his preaching, and de-
clared their intention of giving up the religion of their

* For an account of this Indian feast the writer is indebted to Peter
Demott, an old pioneer hunter, who was an eye-witness to these
strange performances.

BLACK HAWK'S APPEAL. 19

fathers for that of Christianity. A number of warriors
in the audience said that they would forever bury the
tomahawk, and no longer be under the control of
wicked chiefs who were trying to lead them astray.

BLACK HAWK'S APPEAL TO THE POTTAWATAMIE WAR-
RIORS.

The main object of Black Hawk in attending this
feast, was to induce the Pottawatamies to join him in a
war of extermination against the frontier settlers of the
northwest. Many of the chiefs had already pledged
themselves to his support, and the scheme was fast
gaining favor with the warriors. While Paine was
preaching, Black Hawk sat on the ground in front of
him, watching the effect of his word.- upon the warriors.
But when he found that the eloquence of the speaker
was about to ruin his cause, lie sprang to his i\>vt in a
terrible rage, and waving his tomahawk over hi> bead.
he denounced Paine as an enemy of the red man, bi>
religion as coming from the evi] one, and only fit for
white men and squaws. He appealed t<> the warriors
for the Bake of their fathers to Btand by him in his
grand scheme for exterminating the white-, and thereby
Bustain the honor of their race. I d this appeal he said :
"The white- have already ordered me and my people
away from our beautiful home at Rock [aland, com-
pelling us to give up our wigwams, cornfields, and

20 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

hunting grounds, and leave the graves of our
fathers to be plowed over by our enemies. The land
which the Great Spirit gave unto our fathers as a pos-
session for themselves and their children forever, is now
about to be taken from us. We are compelled to leave
our country, the haunts of our youth, with its big
rivers, beautiful green prairies, its shady groves, and go
away into a strange land, leaving all that is dear unto
us in the possession of the conquerors. And before
many moons you too will have to leave your homes and
seek a refuge beyond the ' Father of Waters.' Already
the whites are building wigwams among you, and the
sound of their axe is heard cutting down the forest to
scare away the deer. Soon the game will leave — your
trails will be fenced up, and you will be driven from
the land of your fathers. Therefore rise in your might,
tomahawk the intruders — cut the throats of their squaws
and little ones, so that in future no pale face will settle
among you."

SPEECH OF SENACHWINE.

Seated on the ground in front of Black Hawk, and
listening to his speech, was an Indian stricken in years,
but whose countenance, at the remarks of the last
speaker, became flushed with excitement, and for the
time being showed some of the vigor of youth. For
more than fifty years the voice of this Indian had been
heard in council, and by his wisdom and goodness lie

SPEECH OF SEN ATCH WINE. 21

had long since been styled the father of his people. He
had acquired great celebrity throughout the west, and
his fine oratory had eulogies from writers, both in pro.se
and poetry. This Indian was Senachwine, the principal
chief of the Pottawatamies. At the conclusion of
Black Hawk's speech, he rose to his feet, his face glowing
with enthusiasm, while around his massive brow, and
blowing to and fro by the wind, were long lock.- of hair
whitened by the snows of eighty-six winters. Throwing
his blanket from his shoulders, and straightening himself
up to his full height, he said : " For more than seventy
years I have hunted in this grove and fished in this
stream, and for as many year- I have worshipped on this
ground. Through these groves, and over these prairies
in pursuit of game, our fathers have roamed, and by
them this land was left unto us an heritage forever. No
<>ne is more attached to their home than myself, and no
one among you is so grieved to leave it. But the time
is near at hand, when the red men of the forest will
have to leave the land of their nativity, and tind a home
towards the Betting Bun. The white man of the east,
whose numbers are like the sand of the sea, will ov<
run and take possession of this country. They will
build wigwams and villages all over the land, and their
domain will extend from Bea to Bea, In my boyhood
days I have chased the buffalo across the prairies, and
hunted elk in the grove; but whore are they now?
Long since they have lefl us; the near approach of the
white man ha red them away. The deer and the

22 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

turkey will go next, and with them, the sons of the
forest. Resistance to the aggression of the whites is
useless ; war is wicked and must result in our ruin.
Therefore let us submit to our fate, return not evil for
evil, as this would offend the Great Spirit and bring
ruin upon us. The time is near at hand when our race
will be extinct, and nothing left to show to the world
that we ever did exist. As for myself I have no re-
flections for the past, nor have I any misgivings for the
future ; my race is nigh run, and soon I will be gathered
.to my fathers. My bones will be laid away in that
beautiful green knoll, which overlooks the valley of
Senachwine, and my spirit will go to that happy
hunting ground, where my fathers before me have gone.
Our white friend (Paine) has been telling us of a Savior
who died to save the world. Of this Savior I know
nothing ; but this I do know, the monitor within my
breast has taught me the will of the Great Spirit, and
now tells me that good Indians will be rewarded, and
bad ones punished. My friends do not listen to the words
of Black Hawk, for he is trying to lead you astray. Do
not imbrue your hands in human blood ; for such is the
work of the evil one, and will only bring retribution
upon your own heads.'1 At the conclusion of Senach-
wine's speech, the warriors with loud acclamations,
declared their intention of following his advice, and
remain at peace with their white neighbors. By this
speech Black Hawk's cause was ruined, and when
he found the Pottawatamies would not join his

SENACHWINES'S DEATH AND BURIAL. 23

standard he leit for his home, when the feast broke up.

senachwine's death and burial.

About one year after the events above narrated, as
Senachwine was returning from a neighboring village
where lie had been spending a few days, as he came
cantering his pony into his own village, old and young
ran out to meet him, and welcome his return. But as
he raised his hand to address them, he fell to the ground,
and expired almost instantly. To his people it was like
the falling of a mighty oak in the stillness of the forest.
All mourned his death as that of a father, for long since
lie had been regarded as the benefactor of their tribe.
His three wives, with his numerous children and grand
children, painted their faces black, and accompanied by
the whole village, with loud wailing, followed his
remain- to its long resting place. According to Senach-
wine's request, he was buried on the bluff overlook;
the village and valley of Senachwine, and for many

are afterwards Indian.- from a distance made an annual
pilgrimage to the grave of the sainted dead. The fol-
lowing lines are supposed t>> represent Senachwine's
lasl farewell to his beloved people, as lie departed for
the spirit land :

Senachwine vUl nreU as the stream,

Has echoed my name :i^ sounded in my dream :
in Beard] of deer across i be prairies I bave strayed,
\ n- 1 rested my limbs beneath the cottonwood sha

urewel] ye loved haunts, and you, i"" each B
My i. [ leavi pou while sadlj [go;

m> bod] they will bury '>n yonder green bill,
m> iplrll : bee si 111.

24 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

VISIT TO SENACHWINE'S GRAVE.

In passing down the valley of Senachwine a short
distance below the county line, a curve in the bluff may
be seen, and below which is spread out to the view a
small fertile plain, or bottom prairie, now under a high
state of cultivation. On this little plain, by the side of
a small creek, whose rippling waters are heard as they
glide onward to Senachwine lake, once stood the village
of Senachwine. High above the plain, overlooking the
valley and surrounding country, is a beautiful green
knoll, shaded by a few outspreading oaks, beneath
whose boughs is still to be seen the grave of Senach-
wine.

" He sleeps beneath the spreading shade
Where woods and wild savannas meet.
Where sloping hills around have made
A quiet valley, green and sweet." — Bryant.

A few years ago, as I stood by the side of Senach-
wine's grave, while taking a view of the valley and
surrounding country, I thought how well the old chief's
prophecy had been fulfilled. The puffing of steam-
boats on the river, and the rattling of cars on the
railroad, as well as the tine farm.- and farm buildings in
the surroundings, all go to show a different age from
that in which Senachwine lived. The same bluffs and
valleys over which he roamed, while in pursuit of game*

AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. 25

.-till remain, and the same stream where he used to
fish continues to run as in former days. But not a
vestige of Senach wine's village remains, nor is there
one thing left to mark the spot where he lived, or show
to the world that he or his people ever did exi>t.
While these old land marks have all passed away, and
are almost forgotten, the memory of Senaehwine
remains, and by many held sacred. For it is now quite
evident that it was through his friendship for the whites,
and in counseling his people to remain at peace, that
many of the early settlers of this county owe the pre-
servation of their lives.

CHAPTER II.

AMERICAN FUR COMPANY.

On the east side of the river, a short distance below
the mouth of Bureau creek, was standing in the fall of
1821, a double log cabin, which belonged to the Amer-
ican Fur company, and occupied by its agent, Gerdon
S. Hubbard.* Close bv stood two other cabins, which
were built by the Fur company. In one of these lived
Rix Robinson, a Connecticut Yankee, and in the other
the well known Bulbona. Both of these men had
married squaws, and raised a large family of half-breed
children. Some years afterwards, Bulbona established
a trading house at Bulbona Grove, where he conducted
business on his own footing. A farther account of him
will be given in a subsecpient chapter. Robinson and
Bulbona were not settlers, but employees of the Fur

*In 1818 Mr. Hubbard, then a boy of sixteen years of age, came to
this country, and was employed as a clerk at this trading post. He
hunted on Bureau, and traded with the Indians on Green river, ten
years before a white person had settled here. Mr. Hubbard was one
of the Commissioners to locate the canal, and he is now living in
Chicago. To him the writer is indebted for many of the incidents
related in this story.

MIKE GIRTY, THE OUTLAW. Li

company, whose trading posts were found along the
principal rivers of the northwest. A few years previ-
ous to the time of which we write, Antoine Deschamp-.
a Frenchman, of Fort Clark (now Peoria), while acting
as general agent of this company, established trading
posts, at short intervals, along the river between St.
Louis and Chicago. The goods to supply these posts
were brought up the river in bateaux: and furs, pelts,
&c. returned in a like manner. At that time there was
no permanent settlement north of Springfield, and the
whole northern part of the State was without white
peopli . e . • ept the trading post above alluded to.
G-erden S. Hubbard, in conversation with the writer.
said in passing down the river from the trading post,
near the mouth of Bureau creek, he did not see a white
person, except those engaged in the fur trade, until he
came within eighteen miles of St. Louis.

MIKK UIIJTY. THE OUTLAW.

Aja Mike Girty figures somewhat extensively in our
story, it maybeof interest to the reader to know some
thing of his history. Mike is said to have been the
son of Si ii im i Girty, a well known and notorious outlaw,
who, in the year 1 780, escaped from justice in Western

Pennsylvania, and found refuge a ng the Indian.- in

Ohio. Among the [ndians Girty exercised greal influ-
ence, and l)v liini they were induced to make war on

28 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the frontier settlements. At different times he led a
party of warriors against defenceless settlers on the
Ohio river. Even his former place of residence was
visited in one of these raids, and some of his former
neighbors carried off prisoners to be burned at the
stake. Col. Crawford, when a prisoner among the In-
dians, and bound to a tree, beseeched Girty to shoot
him, and thus save him from the torture of the flames.
But Girty only laughed at his sufferings, and with the
Indians, danced around their victim, while he was being
consumed by the flames. Xot only Col. Crawford, but
many others of the earlv settlers, on the Ohio river,
fell victims through this outlaw. For many years the
name of Girty was a terror to border settlers; and
persons are still living, whose parents were sacrificed
by this white savage.

Mike Girty, the subject of our sketch, was born of a
squaw, and his early life was spent among the Indians,
in the wilds of Ohio. On arriving at manhood, he left
his Indian friends, for a home among the whites on the
Muskingum river, near Zanesville. But the influence
of civilization did not change his savage nature, for
soon afterwards he committed a cold-blooded murder,
and fled his country to escape punishment. In the fall
of 1821, Girty came to this country, and for some time
afterwards was employed as an interpreter by the agent
of the Fur company. Soon after coming here he
married a squaw, and raised a number of sons, one of
whom the writer met a few years ago in the city of

THE INDIAN VILLAGE. 29

Washington, being there on business for his tribe, who
now live in Western Kansas. Although the name of
Girtv was unknown to the earlv settlers, vet inanv of
them knew him bv sight, under a different name, and
they will recollect depredations committed by him,
without ever suspecting the author.

THE INDIAN VILLi^GE.

On the present site of Tiskilwa was located an Indian
village, called by the natives Wappe, but known among
the whites by the name of Indiantown. This village

ntained some three hundred wigwams, or lodge.-, and
at some seasons of the year, about fifteen hundred
inhabitant.-. The lodges were constructed of bark or
reeds, with an opening in the south, and a hole in the
top, to let nut the smoke. Street.-, or alley-, were dis

regarded, as the lodges were built close together, and
on both Bides of the Bpring branch, which run.- imme-
diately west of the Tiskilwa hous< On a little green
knoll, by the creek hank, ami between the depot and
Stevens1 mill, was Located their council house, and b\
side of which was their dance -round. In the
bottom prairies above and below the village, was locati
their cornfield. These corn fields consisted of small
patcl need in by drivin :ks into the ground,

and tying on poles with hark or withes to prevenl the
ponies from destroying their crop. In the fall the\

30 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

would gather and dry their corn, and bury it in the
caches (caves in the ground), where it would be safe for
future use ; after which a large portion of the Indians
would leave the village, and scatter all over the country,
some along Bureau timber and Illinois river, others on
Green river, for the purpose of hunting and procuring
furs.

The principal chief of the village was known by the
name of Autuckee, and the next in authority under him
was called Meommuse. Both of these chiefs were well
known to many of the early settlers. Such was the
condition of things at Wappe, or Indiantown, when
Girty became one of its inhabitants. Understanding
well the English language, he acted as interpreter of
the band in many of their transactions with the Indian
traders. For a number of years, Girty tried to gain the
confidence of the Indians, so that he might become a
leader among them, the same as his father had been
among those of Ohio. But in this he did not succeed,
being regarded by them as a treacherous half-breed, and
unworthy of their confidence.

GENERAL CASS IN COUNCIL.

In the spring of 1827, an effort was made to unite
the different tribes of the West in a war against the
whites. The trouble originated among the Winne-
bagoes, but disaffection had extended to other tribes,

GENERAL CASS IN COUNCIL. 31

and they, too, commenced preparing for war. Councils
were held at different places, and the --moke of signal
fires were seen to ascend from every village throughout
the country. In order r<> pacify them. Gen. Cass, who
was at that time general Indian ag or the north-

west, descended th< Mississippi river, in a keel bo
and ascended the Illinois river, in a bateau, as far
the month of Bureau creek, at the trading post of the
American Fur company. he remained a r

da riding out runner- to the Indian rill _ r<>

notify their principal chiefs to meet him in couni
( >■ e of the runners came to Indiantown, and its chiefs,
withma : -war- including Girty, attended the

council. TL - held on the river hank, n

the* mouth of Crow creek, on the 21st day of Jn
wa >er of the Pottawa

chii Gi . in hi iech to the chiefs, proinis

them, in beha timenl plian< i ad

of all their demands, iding they would remain at

pea re also made by many of tin- clii<

declarin eir willingness to i:- i \ c up their allian
with tin W'imich continue their |>e.

rel i the •anient. lip

• ween the chiefs and ( ren. < Jass,
which pres< ong them. A,

imcil, Gi inter]
chiefs, and for t i rvice I I . ( him a -if

medal, i [' friendship. 1

B

82 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

by a buckskin cord around his neck, was carried by
Grirty until the day of his death.

Twenty-eight years after this event, the great Michi-
gander stated, while in conversation with the writer,
that the Indian council on the Illinois river, was to him
the most agreeable of any that he had held in the west.
He spoke of Senachwine, Shaubena, Waba, Wabonsie,
and others. The names of the two former, he said,
were signed to the great Indian treaty of St. Louis, in
1816, whereby the Indian title to all the military tract
was relinquished. Gen. Cass also spoke of the personal
appearance of Senachwine ; of his fine oratory ; pleas-
ing address, &c, but said much of his speech was
lost to him on account of his interpreter having only
an imperfect knowledge of the Pottawatamie tongue.
This defect, he said, was remedied in the speeches of
other chiefs, by having them interpreted by a half-
breed.

This half-breed spoken of by Gen. Cass is supposed
to have been Mike Girtv, the outlaw.

CHAPTER III.

»

BUREAU COUNTY IN A STATE OF NATURE.

At the time our Btory commences, the territory which
[g now embraced within the limits of Bureau, as well
ae the adjacent counties, was in a state of nature.
Scarcely a house or cultivated field could be seen Oil
those western prairies. Roving bands of Indians were
the occupants of the country, and over which roamed
undisturbed by the marks of civilization, herds of deer
and pack- of wolves. Different localities through*
tin- countrv* were only known by streams, groves, or
points of timber, and these localities were unconnected
hv roads. Bave here and there an Indian trail. The
country, in a Btate of nature, presented a wild, romantic
appearance, without a house or field, or ;m\ eviden •
of civilization on which the eye could rest. The
prairies, during the summer, were covered with flow*
of even hue. presenting a beauty of landscape
seldom met with at the present day. Here and there

34 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

were seen groves of timber, which acted as landmarks
to guide the traveler in his rambles across the great
-aval inns of the west. The water in the streams was
clear as crystal; at all seasons of the year ; no plow-
man had yet broken the sod to muddy their fair
current. Almost ever day deer were seen feeding on
the prairies, and the gobbling of wild turkeys Was
heard in the groves. At night the howling of wolves
and the shrill notes of the catamount would remind a
person that he was among the wilds of the west, tar
from the abode of civilization.

PIONEERS.

Two years before, Henry Thomas, the first >ettler of
this county, had built a cabin on the Galena road, and
on the west side of West Bureau timber. The same
spring John L. Ament. and brothers, >ettled at Red
Oak Grove. A year or two later, Dad Joe, (Joseph
Smith), settled at Dad Joe Grove: Charles Boyd, at
Boyd's Grove, and Elijah Epperson a short distance
north of the present site of Princeton. About this time
Amos Leonard, Daniel Dimmick, John Hall, and Tim-
othy Perkins, settled in the east part of the county.
John M. Gay, Ezekiel Thomas, and Abram Stratton,
between the Bureaus, and William Hall at Dimmici
Grove, his cabin being located on the present site of
La Moille. Subsequently, others came in. many of

PIONEERS. 35

whom built their cabins in the timber by the side of
-j>rin Most of the early settlers were poor, possess

ing nothing but their teams and their scanty household
furniture; being pioneers, or adventurers, who had left
the land of their nativity for a home among the savages
of the we<t. For some years they lived in constant
fear of the Indians, not knowing at what moment thev
would be attacked and murdered by them. In times
the greatest danger, some carried their guns with
them while at work in the field, and would leave their
cabins at night to sleep in the grove, in order to avoid
being surprised by savages. At different time.- the
settlers were compelled to leave their homes and >eek
refuge in forts, or settlements further south, leaving
crops to be destroyed, and their horses and cattle t<> run
wild on the prairie. Such was the appearance of the
country at the time our story commences, and bucIi
were the character of the persons who figure in it.

RELIGION AJfONG THE PIONEERS.

Many of the pioneers were professors of religion, two
whom, Elijah Epperson and grandfather Hall. w\
preachers of the gospel, h wascommon inthosedayn
for missionaries from different denominations to make
\'\-(- recursions through the new settlements, hold

ing meetings, and establishing societies. I »ut no churcli

«

wa persevering in their efforts, and would carry ou1

36 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

their plans with so much energy, as the Methodist.
It lias frequently been said, in regard to the settlements
of the west, as soon as a squatter builds a cabin in any
of the unsettled groves, the next day he was sure to be
called upon by a Methodist preacher, in search of a
place to hold meetings. And it was not uncommon in
those days for them to have appointments forty or fifty
miles apart, traveling back and forth on horseback, and
carrying in their saddle-bags a pocket bible, hymn book,
and a change of linen. These pioneer ministers preached
free salvation, almost without money and without price.
At their own expense, they traveled from settlement to
settlement, proclaiming the gospel to all those who
were willing to hear. Sometimes on foot, at other
times on horseback, they traveled through a thinly
settled country, frequently swimming streams, sleeping
in the open air. and suffering from cold and hunger, at
a time when a paid ministry could not be sustained.
Among the Methodist ministers of note in those days,
were the Revs. Jesse "Walker, John St. Clair, Rufus
Lumery, Stephen R. Begg, William Royal and A. E.
Phelps. These men possessed talent and energy, and
did much in shaping the destiny of the church in
Northern Illinois. Their lives, too, were models of
piety and energy, worthy of imitation at the present
day.

CHAPTER IV.

REV. JAMES SAMPLE PREACHING TO SINNERS.

There was a man by the name of James Sample,
who preached a number of times in Hall's settlement,
a! id was known by many of the early settlers. He was
a young man of preposessing appearance, being tall and
Blim, with a pleasing countenance, and good address;
but in intellect and education he was sadly deficient.
His sermons had no connection with his text, but con-
sisted of a disconnected exhortation, which was always
delivered on a high key: holloing at the top of his
voire, and clapping his hands and stamping his feet in a
furious manner. lie would always take bis stand by tin-
side of a do«»r, or window, and commence his sermon on
a low kr\ : but as be advanced, be would become en-
thusiastic, retreating backwards, always in bad order,
into one corner of the room, among the pots and
kettle.-, : and on one occasion be upset the dinner-pot,
to the ereal annoyance of tin- lady of the bouse.

38 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Sample was not a regular ordained minister, but was
operating on his own footing, and, according to his own

Ltement, he was especially called by the Almighty to
reprove sinners of the errors of their ways, and warn
them to flee from the wrath to come. Sample lived on
the east side of the Illinois river, and as there was no
ferry in those days, it became necessary for him to
swim his horse across it, to meet his appointments. In
ah his sermons, he would allude to the fact of his havi

ivcd his life, by swimming the river, in order to warn
sinners of the errors of their ways, and point out to
them the waj salvation. Meetings were held at the
bouse of John Hall, and were attended by almost every
person in the settlement. Everybody was captiva
with the preaching of Young Sample: his earnest
manner of presenting the subject, would frequently
cause the women to shout, and the men to respond by
loud acclamations of joy.

THE PARSON TURNS HORSE JOCKEY.

Mr. Hall had a beautiful horse, which he had broughl
with him from the east, and on account of his good
qualities, man d tried in vain to buy him. Sample
had noticed this horse on his first visit to Hall's, and as
the sequel shows, he thought more of cheating him out
of the horse than he did about the conversion of
sinners. Sample tried various plans to get possession

THE PARSON TURNS HORSE JOCKEY. 39

of this horse, but all to no purpose. Notwithstanding
Hall was a great admirer of brother Sample, believing
him to be a model of righteousness and piety, and was
willing to serve him in almost every way, with the
exception of parting with his favorite horse. Sample,
to accomplish his ends, thought it best to use a little
strategy, and thereby approach Hall in an unguarded
moment. In his travels he bought, for a mere trifle.
an old, broken-down, worthless horse, but which was at
the time fat and sleek, being put in order for the pur-
pose of cheating some person. This horse he brought
over to Hall's at hie m-xt appointment to preach, saying
that he had bought him of brother Aaron Paine, at an
exhorbitant price, and would warrant him sound in
vYvry particular. Although Hall was a shrewd man.
and a good judge of a horse, the great confidence which
he had in Sample's integrity threw him off' hie guard,
and he exchanged his favorite horse for the worthless
• ■lie. But on the next day he discovered the cheat, ae

1/

the horse proved to be both balky, blind and Bpavined,
besides being afflicted with almost everj malady
that horse flesh is heir t<>. Hall was in a terrible rage
when he discovered the cheat, denouncing the minister

- an impostor, and a ra.-cal -saying thai thifi tiunfi

action showed to him the depravity of human nature,

and had almost destroyed his confidence in the honesty

•

of mankind. In quoting scripture on this point, he
referred \>> a passage applicable to this case. Solomon

in hi.- wisdom hae laid "There is <>in' honest woman

c

4U REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

among a thousand, but an honest man cannot be found
in all the multitude of Israel." Sample preached no
more in the Hall settlement, and his trumpet voice, in
warning sinners to repent, and flee the wrath to come.
was never again heard on the west side of the river.

JOE MAY. THE HTNTER. AND HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.

On the river bluffs, above the mouth of Bureau creek.
lived a man by the name of Job Ma v. who was well
known by some of the early settlers. May was an
easy, good-natured fellow, disliking work, but had a
great fondness for hunting. Each morning, [Rip Van
Winkle like], he would take his rifle, and accompanied
by his dog, cross the river in a canoe, and spend the
day in hunting through the bottom or along Bureau
creek. Mrs. May, his wife, was an intelligent, high-
spirited woman, and used every means in her power to
make her home comfortable, notwithstanding the shift -
lessness of her husband. Their eldest daughter, Lucy,
was at this time about sixteen years of age, a girl of
remarkable beauty and intelligence. She was tall and
graceful in her movements, with fair skin, and finely
moulded features, while her long black hair hung in
ringlets over her shoulders, giving to her a queenly
appearance. Lucy was regarded the belle of the settle-
ment, and she had many suitors, all of whom she treated
with indifference. The Rev. Mr. Sample, in his
ministerial excursions, made the acquaintance of Lucy

JOB MAY THE HUNTER. 41

May, and as a matter of course, tell in love with her.
Mounted as he was on a fine horse, the one he cheated
Hall out of. and his tall manly form set eft' in a new
suit of clothes, lie was not long in captivating the heart
of the young maiden. Sample's visits to May's house
were of frequent occurrence, and these visits were much
appreciated by the mother and daughter, hut May
himself did not approve of them. Being an unbeliever
in the Christian religion, and taking but little stock in
preachers, he tried to prevent his daughter receiving
the addresses of Sample. But Mrs. May, being the
head of the family, doing all the thinking for herself
and husband, would have things her own way. Matters
continued in this wise for >ome months. May, dressed
in his suit of buckskin and his coon cap. with the tail
hanging down behind, (looking for all the world like
Davy Crockett), would each day take his gun and dog
for a hunt in the woods ; sometimes bringing home a
deer or wild turkey as the result of his labor. Mrs,
May and daughter would apply themselves to house-
hold duties, in providing food and raiment for the
family, and was always certain to have everything in
tine order to receive the Rev. Mr. Sample at the time
of hie weekly visil

May's cabin was built on tin- side of the river bluff,
the Bite of which was partly made 03 an excavation

into the bank, SO that the root' on the upper side wa>

elevated but little above the ground. The fire-pl
was about -i\ t'eet wide, composed of earthern-jams.

42 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

The chimney, equally large, built of mud and sticks.
did not extend above the ground, never having been
topped out, so that the cabin looked more like a bank
stable than a dwelling. On one of Sample's visits to
May's house, he introduced the subject of religion, and
proposed to have prayers in the family; but May was
in a bad humor, having that day met with poor success
in hunting, and said to Sample, until he returned Hall's
hurse, his prayers would not be acceptable. After the
family had retired for the night, all sleeping in one
room, as there was but one apartment in the house,
Sample and Lucy sat chatting before the open fire,
which had now burned down to a few coals, when an
incident occurred which startled the lovers, awoke the
family, and frightened the household almost out of
their senses.

THE MISFORTUNE OF OLD BLIND BOB.

Some time before, a neighbor had given May's boys
an old blind horse, which was worn out and worthless.
The little boys were much pleased with their present,
and during the summer months they would ride old
blind Bob after the cows. But winter was now coming
on, and the grass getting bad, old Bob had become poor
and weak, and while searching around the house for
something to satisfy his hunger, pitched headlong down
the chimney into the fire. The old horse, on landing
in the fire-place, commenced snorting and floundering

MISFORTUNE OF OLD BLIND BOB. 43

about at a terrible rate, throwing the hot ashes and
coals all over the room. The women screamed with
all their might, the children cried, and all of May's
doubts about there being a devil were now removed,
for here he was, sure enough. Old Bob soon extricated
himself from the coals and hot ashes, and with his hair
badly singed on one shoulder, was led limping out of
the door. A short time after the adventure of old blind
Bob, Sample and Lucy were married, and their honey-
moon had scarcely passed away, when they met with a
tragical end, an account of which will be given in a
subsequent chapter.

CHAPTER V.

THOMAS HARTZELL, THE INDIAN TRADER.

In the fall of 1828, Thomas Hartzell, an Indian
trader from Pennsylvania, came to this country, and
built a trading house on the river bank, a short distance
below that of the Fur Company. In this house was
held the first County Commissioner's session, as well as
the Circuit Court of Putnam count v. Mr. Hartzell
was a very successful trader ; being popular with the
Indians, he extended his trade into other localities. He
built a trading house at Devil's Grove, and one at
Trading House Grove, which were conducted by agents,
and by his energy he took a large share of trade away
from the Fur Company. There being no ferry at that
time, goods were taken across the river in a canoe,
while the horses were made to swim across. When on
the west side of the river, the goods were loaded on the
horses backs to be carried to their destination, and the
furs and skins returned in like manner. Mr. Hartzell.
by his trade, accumulated a large fortune, and on retiring

INDIAN CONSPIRACY. 45

from business, he moved to Waukegan, where he died
a few years ago, at an advanced age.

CONSPIRACY TO MURDER THE SETTLERS.

In the year 1831, Amos Leonard built a cabin, and
also a mill, on the creek, a few miles below Indiantown.
and about the same time Michael Kitterman made a
claim, where he now lives, built a cabin, and occupied
it with his family. Robert Clark, with a large family
of children, occupied a cabin on Bureau bottom, three
miles above the Indian village. The same year Dave
Jones, who afterwards became notorious, both among
the whites and Indians, built a cabin on the present site
of Tiskilwa, and close to the Indian village. "With the
three former settlers, the Indians lived in perf
harmony, but between them and the latter a bad feeling
existed. Jones liked whisky, and hated Indians, and
he was not backward in making his likes and dislikes
known. He had brought with him into the country a
breechy yoke of cattle, which were in the habit of
breaking into the Indians' cornfields. Although their
pole fences were sufficient to keep out their ponies, it
was no barrier to Jones' breechv cattle. Girtv was one
of the sulV> from the depredations of Jones' cattle,
and therefore went to work to be avenged. Jonee and
Girty mei one day at Bartzell's trading house, and the
former being under the influence of whisky, was de
termined to fight. Jonee Btruck Girtv with his fist,

46 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and in return, Girty knocked Jones down with the
breech of his gun, making a severe wound on his head,
and leaving him for dead. Girty's enmity was not only
against Jones, but against all the settlers, whom he
regarded as trespassers on Indians' rights, and, in
accordance with his savage nature, believed it his duty
to rid the country of them. He was joined in his mur-
derous designs by twenty warriors, who were as depraved
as himself. With them he entered into a conspiracy to
murder all the whites within their reach, and thus rid
the neighborhood of intruders. Their plan was to go
to each house in the dead hour of the night, kill all the
inmates, allowing none to escape to give the alarm, and
then set the house on fire. To carry out their plans
successfully, Girty visited each house of his intended
victims, under the pretext of selling some skins; but
his real object was to examine the doors of the cabins
and means of defense. Must of the settlers were un-
prepared to make any defense, having only a clapboard
door to their cabins, and in some instances a bed-quilt
supplied its place. But at the cabin of Elijah Epperson
he found things very different. Bv the side of the house
he saw heavy split puncheons for the purpose of bar-
ricading the door at night, and on the inside of the
cabin, hanging on pegs drove into the wall, were three
or four rifles, and about the premises were as many
young men capable of using them. Seeing these
preparations for resistance caused Girty to leave the
Epperson family out of his list of intended victims, and

CONSPIRATORS DISCOVERED. 47

as he was a great coward himself, nothing could induce
him to hazard bis own life. The murderers were very
sly in maturing their plans, not letting any other
Indians know anything about them. Their intentions
were to kill the families, and make people believe that
the murders had been committed by a band of Sao
and Foxes, from Rock Island, who had been threat-
ening a raid on the settlers. The time had come, and
everything was ready for the attack. The warriors,
armed with their rifles, tomahawks, and scalping knives,
were only waiting for the settlers to retire for the night,
when thev would commence their work of horror. But
an incident occurred which defeated their plans, and
thereby saved the lives of their intended victims.

THE MURDERERS DETECTED, AND THE LIVES OF THE

SETTLERS SAVED.

On the night in question, Thomas Hartzell, on re-
turning from the Winnebago swamps with four horses
loaded with skins, stopped at the village t«> transact
some business, after which be continued on bis journey
homewards. In company with Hartzell, was a young
half-breed, by the name of Holdav, who had been for
some time in bi- employ. This young half-breed bad
a Bweetheart in the village, and called to see her ae be
passed through, and in conversation t<»M her that !h<-\
did not intend t<» go home that night, owing to the
difficulty of Bwimming their horses across tin- river

D

48 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

after dark, as it was then about sundown, but should
stay all night at the cabin of Amos Leonard, which
was on their way. It so happened that the father of
Holday's sweetheart was one of Girty's conspirators;
and a short time after Hartzell and the young half-breed
had left, she overheard him in conversation with others
of the gang, talking about killing the settlers. Knowing
that Hartzell and her lover must fall victims to their
savage barbarity, the young squaw ran with all haste
to the principal chief, Autuckee, and told him what
she had heard. Autuckee had no sympathy with the
settlers, regarding them as intruders, and would like to
have their throats cut, but knowing that the rash acts
of G-irty and his followers would only bring vengeance
on himself and friends, thought it best to prevent it.
He collected a number of his faithful warriors, and
with them went to Girty's lodge, where they found him
prepared for war, his face painted, and his tomahawk
and scalping knife secured in his belt. Girty, finding
himself betrayed, did not deny his murderous intentions,
but justified himself on the ground that the welfare of
the Indians required the expulsion of the settlers. The
chief, Autuckee, gave orders for Girty and two of his
companions in crime to be bound hand and foot, and
kept in confinement for two moons. Thus the expe-
dition was broken up, and thereby the lives of the
settlers saved.

CHAPTER VI.

AN OLD LAND MARK.

Everybody has noticed the little round grove, south
of the Princeton Court House, where Mrs. Cyrus
Bryant now reside-. This beautiful little grove, occu-
pying, as it doe>. a slight eminence, and isolated from
the main timber, was a noted land mark in the early
settlement of the county, being everywhere known as
Round Point. The tine rolling prairie, lying to the
north and east, at that time unobstructed by houses and
farms, presented a beauty of landscape scenery seldom
met with in any other section of the country. Bv the
side of Round Point once passed an Indian trail, which
had been traveled for ages by warriors and hunters; and
the firs1 wagon track ever made on the Princeton prairie
led to it. Tn 1831, when the settlers on Bureau were
fleeing from the country t<» escape the tomahawk and

ilping knife of the savages, they halted al Round
Point, and senl t\\<> of their number to confer with
Shaubena in relation to remaining Longer at their homes.

50 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

There is a history connected with this little grove,
which may not be without interest to the reader, and
therefore will be given, without note or comment. In
the spring of 1830, a man from Ohio, by the name of
Henry Simmons, came to this country in search of a
home. He stopped for a few days with Timothy Perkins.
who lived in Leepertown ; and accompanied by Leonard
Roth, lie made a number of excursions along Bureau
timber in search of a claim. Many localities were
examined, but none of which pleased him so well a.-
Round Point. Although there was but one family
living in Princeton township, (that of Mr. Epperson),
many claims were taken — the claimant cutting the
initials of his name on the witness-tree, at the section
or half mile corner. This was considered a preliminarv
step, and by common consent among the settlers, it
would secure the ri^ht of the claimant to the land,
until such time as a cabin could be built, There were
many claims made in this way for the purpose of
speculation, and with the expectation of selling them
to new comers. A man having a number of sons
would make claims for all of them, and sometimes for
sons in prospect, or for some imaginary friend, who
was expected to come soon into the country. From
this cause, bad feelings among neighbors frequently
occurred, some of which were settled by arbitration.
It was a common saying in those days, that Adam
Paine, who lived east of Hennepin, had claimed all the

MURDER OF SIMMONS. 51

land between the Illinois and Wabash rivers, and Elijah
Epperson all between the Illinois and Mississippi.

MURDERING OF SIMMONS.

Simmons made claims in the grove for himself and
all his sons, and to make his intentions known to oth<
in search of claims, he cut the initials of his name. "EL
S.," dee]» into the wood of a witness-tree, at the south
west corner of the south east quarter of section twenty,
which initials, I believe, are .-till to be seen. Simmons
had spent some days in looking after corners, marking
witness-trees, and had taken formal possession, (for
himself and sons), of all the timber and adjoining
prairie between Princeton and Deacon Reeve's. After
-[.ending some time in. exploring the country, Simmons
made arrangements to return home by the way of
Peoria; and early in the morning he bade farewell to
Perkins' family, mounted his horse and left, going by
the way of his claim to make some further discover} ;
and while alone in the grove, west of the present resi-
dence of Mr. Douglas, unconscious of danger, the report
of a rifle was heard, and he fell lifeless to the ground,
pierced to the heart by a rifle hall. Nothing was known
of the murder at the time, and the sudden disappearance
ot* Simmons attracted hut little attention, a- it was

thought he had returned t<» hie home in Ohio. Week-

ami months passed away, and Simmons did n<>t return

with hie family to take possession of hi- claim. a> was

52 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

expected, until the affair was almost forgotten, and
other parties had taken his claim. On the day of the
murder. Mike Girty was hunting in the grove, and
seeing Simmons alone and unarmed, shot him for his
money, clothes, and horse. After killing Simmons,
Girty took off all his clothes, and left the body where
it fell, unburied, to be devoured by wolves. Girty
arrayed himself in the murdered man's clothes, and
mounting on his horse, returned to his home at the
Indian village. His squaw, seeing him dressed in the
clothes of a white man, and mounted on a fine horse,
knew at once that a murder had been committed. She
commenced crying, and refused to receive him into her
lodge. But, on Girty showing her >ilver coin, which
he had taken from the murdered man, with which he
promised to buy her ear-rings and other trinkets, she
became reconciled to his conduct. His comrades in the
village, knowing that he had committed a murder,
would shrug their shoulders as he passed them, saying.
" Bad Injun."

Girty was wearing Simmons's clothes, and riding his
horse, at the time we introduce him at the commence-
ment of our story. Five years after Simmons was
murdered, a skull was found in the woods near where
he wa» killed, and this skull came into the hands of
Dr. Wm. O. Chamberlain, who always supposed it to
be that of an Indian. For many years afterwards, the
doctor kept this skull laying on a shelf in his office, and
probably some who read this account will recollect

THE DISPUTED CLAIM. 53

seeing it. Mr. Simmons, not returning home at a

proper time, his friends were alarmed at his long

absence, and his brother came west in search of him :

but nothing was known of t)\e missing man. after
leaving Perkins' house, and his fate to them was
unknown.

THE DISPUTED CLAIM.

Although poor Simmons never returned to make
good his claim to Round Point, such a desirable location
was imt long without a claimant, and the sequel shows
its possession was a matter of controversy for a numb
of years afterward. Shortly after the murder of Sim-
mons, Curtis Williams made a claim here, and cut the
initials of his name, *k C. W.," on the witness-tree, . t
the south west comer of section sixteen, which was *
be seen for many years afterwards. Time passed on.
and Williams made no improvements on his claim, and
it was reported that he was holding other claims, for
the sake of speculation. These facts coming to the
knowledge of Michael Kitterman, who was also capti-
vated with the beauty of Round Point, he "jumpi
William-'.- claim. At that time Mr. Kitterman v
working for John Hall, at nine dollar.- per month, and
unwilling to Lose any time in hifl engagements with
Hall, occupied Sunday- in improving his claim. Each
Sabbath he would take hie axe, with his horse, harm h

54 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and chain, go over to his claim, eight miles distant, cut

and haul a few logs, and put them into the building,

until he had raised the walls of a cabin as high as a

person's head. One day, Williams, on looking after

his claim, was surprised to find a cabin commenced on

the south side of the little round grove, and he notified

Kitterman that he was trespassing on his rights. In
order to avoid trouble, Mr. Kitterman abandoned his

improvements, and made a claim on Bureau bottom,

where he now lives.

Two vears after Kitterman had abandoned his claim

t/

to Round Point, Cyrus Bryant selected it for his future
home. With the permission of Kitterman, whom he
considered the proper claimant, he took possession of
of it, and completed the cabin which had been com-
menced. While at work on the cabin, Williams gave
him notice of his prior claim, but Mr. Bryant paid no
attention to it. When the cabin was completed, Mr.
Bryant was much surprised one morning, on returning
from Roland Moseley's, his boarding place, to find that
Mr. Williams, with his large family, had moved into it.
Beds and clothing, tied up in quilts, were lying in one
corner of the cabin, while pots and kettles occupied
another corner ; but not one chair or stool could be seen.
Mr. Williams met Mr. Bryant at the cabin door,
appearing glad to see him, and invited him in to take a
-oat; but Mr. Bryant, not seeing anything to set on,
and not feeling in a very good humor, did not set down.

THE DISPUTED CLAIM. 55

The case was arbitrated, and Williams was allowed
twenty-five dollars for his claim. On receiving the
money, he moved out of the cabin, and thereby - ave
up possession of the long disputed claim.

E

CHAPTER VIT.

A SEARCH FOR A LEAD MINE.

In passing over the road between Mr. Pendleton's
and Stevens' mill, the traveler will notice near the top
of the bluff a circular embankment, which resembles
sua ancient earth fortification. Many persons have
noticed this embankment, and manv have been their
conjectures concerning its origin. Instead of its being
a relic of antiquity, the work of mound builders, as a
contributor to one of the Chicago papers sometime ago
would have us believe, it was done at the time of the
early settlement of this county, and under the following
circumstances :

In the first settlement of this county, a report was
current among the settlers, that a lead mine existed
somewhere on Bureau, and from which the Indians
obtained their supply of lead. But when the whites
came here, they covered up the mine, secreting all
trace.- of it, so that it should not fall into their hands.
These rumors, coming to the ears of John Hall, Amos

MH'IIAKL KITTERMAN.

jAtT0«,LfcNQX

Ttt.Pt* Fo*»i,»T^m

WONDERFUL REVELATION. 59

Leonard, Timothy Perkins, and others, they organized
themselves into a mining company, and set about
investigating it. On the subject of lead mine discovery,
they became much excited, and for the time being
everything else was laid aside. Indians were applied
to, and rewards offered them for information on this
point, but all to no purpose.. Some time previous,
John Hall gave a party of Indians five bushels of
potatoes to show him the lead mine. Hall, with two
hired men, dug three days, at the place pointed out.
but found no lead; consequently he lost his labor, as
will as his potatoes. On account of the impending
war. the Indian.- suddenly disappeared from Bureau :
and after their departure, our friends of the mining
company examined their village, with its surroundings,
\\)V tlic hidden mine, but without success. A.mos
Leonard professed to be a water witch, and he applied
hi- magic power in searching for lead. Different pla
wore found where the forked stick would turn in his
hand, but on Binking a Bhaft at these places, do lead

mine was found.

PATRICE "I.kai: and hi-, WONDERFUL REVELATION.

At the time of tin- load mine excitement, a jolly, red
faced, and red headed [rishman, l»v the name of Patrick
O'Lear, came into the settlemenl in search of his
fortune. There were no canals or railroads building in
those days, and Pat found work in his line very scarce.

60 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Working on a farm, at low wages, slow pay, and without
whisky, was regarded by him poor business, and he
longed tor something favoring his fortune to turn up.
At that time the lead mine excitement was at its
height, and Pat thought of many plans how he might
turn it to his own account. But all of his plans were
more or less objectionable. At last he caught a bright
idea, and slapping his hands on his thighs, he exclaimed :
"Be jabers, me fortune is made/' A meeting of the
mining company was called, and Pat laid before them
his revelation, in the following words : k' A few nights
ago, while laying on me back, fast asleep, I thought
what a poor miserable critter I was, far from home and
friends, and without one cent in me pocket. And
while in a trance, I prayed to the Holy Virgin, for the
love of St. Patrick to assist me for this one time. And
in me dream a still small voice whispered in me ear.
saying, arise, as soon as it is light, and go to Oshaw, an
Indian, whose wigwam stands on the bank of the creek,
near the village council house, and he will reveal unto
thee great tilings. Next morning, after taking a wee
drap of the critter, I went to Oshaw's wigwam, as
directed in me dream, and he said to me that he and his
people were about to leave the counthry, perhaps never
to return, and the Great Spirit had impressed it on his
mind to make a confidant of me." He continued, " If
I would give him the bottle of whasky which I had in
me coat tail pocket, he would tell me all about the lead
mine. You know, yer honors, it was a trying ordeal

WONDERFUL REVELATION. 61

for me to part wid me best friend, but for the love ot
me eounthrv, and the advancement of your interest,
jintlemen, I made this great sacrifice, by giving up me
whaskv. Oshaw then took me into the woods to show
me the mine, but before he would point out the .spot.
he made me sware upon me honor, that I would not
let the bloody barbarians, (meaning the settlers), know
where it was."

The mining company believed Pat's revelation, or at
least that part of it in relation to his knowledge of the
lead mine, and they offered to take him in as a partner,
giving him a Large percentage of all the profits from the
sale of lead. Pat said he did not want to be bothered
with a lead mine, as he was going back to Ireland -

he could obtain money enough; but if th
would give him ten dollars in hand, pay him wages
each night for his labor, with all the whisky he could
drink, he would point out the mine and commence
work immediately. Pat's terms were acceded to, and
the next day a number of hand.- commenced work.
Whisky was brought there in a keg, ami some of the
operatives, including Pat O'Lear, Mike Leonard, ami
Dave Jones, would net beastly drunk every day. Shaft

after -haft was Sunk, and the \fin <>f lead was m >t

-truck. Pat would scratch bis head, at every fail:
Baying that he had made a slight mistake in hi- reck-
oning, and commence a new one, extending around in
a circular form a- we m.u -«•«• it. While the mining

62 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

operation was progressing finely, an incident occurred
which put a stop to the work, broke up the company,
and from that day forward all hope of finding lead on
Bureau was abandoned.

FALSE ALARM AND FLIGHT OF THE SETTLERS.

One dav while Mike Leonard was hunting deer on
East Bureau, near where Mr. Fox now lives, he con-
cocted a plan to frighten the settlers, by raising a false
alarm. Taking off his hat, he put it up for a mark, and
shot two ball holes through it. He then run with all
haste, out of breath, and much excited, to the house of
Mr. Hall, savins: that he had been attacked by a large
bodv of Indians: many shots were fired at him, and he
barely escaped with his life. To confirm this statement,
he exhibited his hat with two ball holes through it.
This affair created a great panic among the settler-.
People were seen running hither and thither, conveying
the news from cabin to cabin. Women, with children
in their arms, were running to and fro. crying at the
top of their voice, and beseeching every one they met
to save them from the tomahawk of the savages.
Within one hour from giving the alarm, every person
in the neighborhood had left for Hennepin : some on
foot, others on horseback, all of whom were going at
the top of their speed, expecting every moment to be
overtaken and murdered bv the Indians.

KILLED, SCALPED, AND AL1YE AGAIN. 63

PAT O LEAR KILLED AND SCALPED, BUT COMES TO LIFE
AGAIN — ESCAPE OF DAVE JONES AND FAMILY.

While the miners were having a jolly time of it.
between digging, smoking, and drinking whisky, uncon-
scious of danger, Amos Leonard's oldest son, Eli, a lad
of fifteen years of age, come running, much excited,
with tears flowing down his cheeks, and said the country
was full of hostile Indians; that his uncle Mike had
four rifle halls shot through hi.- head; the families of
John Hall, William Hoskins, and others, were mur-
dered; and while <>n the way he saw a large body of
Indian- coming in the direction of the lead mine. ( ro
the reception of this new-, the miners dropped tin r
spades, and fled for their lives. As Pat O'Lear crawled
oul of the pit where he was at work, he exclaime
" Be jabers, if the bloody savages take off me scalp, me
mother won't know her darling son when he goes hack

Ireland." Although Pat at the time was quitedrunk,
the thoughts of Losing his scalp put new life in him.
and at the top of hi- speed lie started tor Hennepin.
As lie fan down the bluff, and through the thick timber
bottom, he siw. (in his imagination), an Indian behind
every tree, Se also heard the report of the rifles,
they shot at him, and fell the balls at each >h<»t pi
through his body. Ai Last, overcome by wound*
lossof blood, he fell down dead, while at the Bame ti i

84 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

lie felt the Indian's big knife grit against his skull bone
as the scalp was being taken off. For some time Pat
lay there, believing himself dead and scalped, having
sacrificed his life, while advancing the interests of the
mining company. But when the effects of the whisky
and the fright passed off, Pat came to life again, and
putting his hand on his bushy red locks, was surprised
to find that his scalp was not gone ; and not being able
to find any holes in his body where rifle balls had
entered, he was convinced that he was not killed, and
started again on a run for Hennepin.

Dave Jones was working at the mine when news
came that Hall's and Hoskins' families were massacred.
Dropping his spade, he ran for his cabin. His family,
without hat or bonnet, left on foot for Hennepin, Mrs.
Jones, with the children, running at the top of their
speed, while Jones followed after, with the youngest
child in his arms, cursing the red skins at every jump.

PANIC SUBSIDES, AND SETTLERS RETURN TO THEIR

HOMES.

When the settlers were safely landed on the east side
of the river, they began to investigate the cause of
alarm. A committee was appointed to examine Leon-
ard's hat, and it was found that the ball holes were too
low down, and could not have passed through the hat
while wearing, without passing through the head also.
All came to the conclusion that Leonard had shot his

THE PANIC SUBSIDES. 65

own hat, and therefore the alarm was a false one. On
the next day the settlers returned to their respective
homes, with loud denunciations against Leonard for
causing them so much trouble.

Pat O'Lear did not fully recover from his fright,
appearing wild and confused, believing that the Indians
were still after him. In his flight he had left his hat
and coat at the lead mine, but nothing could induce him
to so after them: not even the keg of whisky which
was left behind could tempt him to cross the river
again. With a knapsack on his back, lie left next day
for the east, swearing that he would stay no longer in a
country that was full of bloody savages.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GREAT INDIAN COUNCIL.

In February, lb32, were collected at Indiantown, a
large number of' chiefs, belonging to the surrounding
tribes ; among them were Black Hawk, Waba, Sliau-
bena, and the great Winnebago chief, known as the
Prophet.* Previous to this meeting, runners had been
sent to all the principal villages throughout the West.
notifying their chiefs to meet in council. This meeting
was held in the village council house, and its delibera-
tions lasted three days. The object of this council was
to effect a union of the different tribes, for the purpose
of war. Black Hawk, and the Prophet, made long

* This chief lived at Prophetstown, on Rock river, and is said to have
exercised great influence over his people, dictating for them in spiritual
as well as temporal matters. Leonard Roth saw the Prophet at Indian-
town during the deliberations of the council, and describes him as
follows : "He was a large Indian, in the prime of life, tall and straight,
with a broad face, eagle-like eyes, and long coarse hair, which was
black as a raven. He was dressed in white buckskin, fringed at the
seams, and ruffled at the waist. His head dress was also made of white
buckskin, raising high above his head, and on the top of which was ;>
bunch of eagle feathers. Around his ancles he wore small wreaths of
bells, and in his nose and ears were large gold rings."

THE GREAT INDIAN COUNCIL. B7

speeches in favor of this anion, explaining to the Pot-
ratamie chiefs that their only means i >f retaining: their
homes and hunting grounds, was by a union of all the
tribes of the West, and thereby carry on a war of
extermination against the settlers. All the Sacs and
Foxes, and Winnebagoes favored this union, but the
Pottawatamies opposed it. Waubonsie* was the only
chief of note among the Pottawatamies in favor of
war. ECe had a village near the mouth of Fos river,
but was compelled to leave it a short time before, on
account of encroachment of the whites: and himself
and hand found a home at Paw Paw Grove. En his
speech, he called on his brother chiefs to raise their
tomahawks to drive hack the intruders, and maintain
their rights.

But little did the settlers on Bureau think as they
set at night around their cabin fires, that these savages
were debating among themselves the propriety of tut-
ting their throat-, as well as those of their little on.-.
Although Senachwine, the great apostle of peace,
was uow in his grave, there was one left to till his
place. This was Shaubena, the white man- friend.
Shanbena was not a greal orator, but the earned
manner of his appeals more than counterbalanced the

kubonsle was a large, fleshy [ndian, over sis feel in height, and
u;is well known by many of the early settlers He and nl! band oi
follower! remained a1 Paw Paw Grove until the fall "t l$3ii, and then
went weal of the Mississippi, where tnosl <>\ their tribe hid previously
gone, in the summer oi 1888, Waubonsie oame to Princeton,
boughi of M' •• rripletl a beautiful spotted hone, for which he paid

three hundred dollart In illver, all of which was in twenty-flve ceni
plea

68 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

eloquence of others. A few years after the holding of
this council, Shaubena said to the writer, if he had
favored this union, the whole Pottawatamie nation,
from the lake to the Mississippi, would have taken
part in the war. Waba, Autuckee, Meommuse, and
other Pottawatamie chiefs took part with Shaubena, in
opposing the war.

During the deliberations of the council, an Indian
was sitting on the ground in the back part of the coun-
cil room, listening to the speeches of the Potta-
watamie chiefs, his teeth occasionally gritting, and his
face black with rage. This Indian was Mike Girty, the
outlaw. Not being a chief, he had no right to speak in
council, but overpowered by rage, he sprang to his
feet, and waving his tomahawk over his head, he
denounced the Pottawatamie chiefs as cowards and
squaws, and unfit to represent their tribe in council.
Autuckee raised his tomahawk, and was about to strike
Girty dead on the spot, but was prevented from doing
so by the interference of others. Through the influence
of the Sacs, and Foxes, and Winnebago chiefs, Girty
was allowed to make a speech. In this speech he
proposed to head a party of warriors, and attack the
settlers on Bureau, as soon the Sacs and Foxes had
crossed the Mississippi. But his proposition met with
no favor from the Pottawatamie chiefs, they re^ardinu
him as a treacherous hall-breed, and unworthy of their
confidence. Girty, seeing that he would receive no
support from his tribe, raised the war whoop, and left

THE INDIANS LEAVE BUREAU. 69

the council. The uniting of the different tribes proved
a failure, and the council broke up, when the chiefs
returned to their respective homes.

THE INDIANS LEAVE BUREAU.

About the first of May, 1832, Black Hawk, with hie
warriors, accompanied by their families, crossed the
Mississippi, and commenced ascending Rock river.
The squaws and papooses were in canoes, and the
warriors, mounted on ponies, followed along the bank-
of the river. At Prophetstown they were joined by
the great Winnebago chief, known as the Prophet, with
his band of warriors. Here they remained two days,
to hold a feast and a war dance. From here, runners
were sent to the different bands to induce them to join
Black Hawk's standard. Two of these runners, one of
whom was a son of Black Hawk, came to Bureau.
notify the Pottawatamies that hostilities were about
commence, and also to induce them to take part it:
war. At that time, Bhanbena, with his band <>t' fol-
lowers, was encamped on Corse run. east of I
Doolittle farm, near where the road now crosses t: I
branch. Mr. Doolittle was, at that time, engaged
bnilding his cabin, and Borne of the [ndiane cami
assisted him in handling the ]<• Nexl day two

inge [ndians, who proved t<» be emissaries from Black
EEawk, with painted faces, and wearing a peculiar head
dress, were -'-en in camp. There appeared t«> be . .:■ I

70 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

excitement in Shaubena's camp, and the Indians broke
up their encampment, caught their ponies, and left in
great haste. The next day signal fires were seen lighted
all over the county, and in every grove where Indians
were encamped, the smoke of these fires were seen to
ascend. The settlers noticed these signals, and became
much alarmed. Some of them left the country imme-
diately, without further warning. Others remained
some days longer, but were on the alert to avoid being
surprised by the savages. At different places Indians
were seen skulking around people's houses, with their
laces painted red, a token of war. These Indians
appeared shy, unfriendly, and unwilling to hold com-
munications with the whites. A party of warriors
came to the cabins of Eli and Elijah Smith, in the
absence of the men, and their conduct was such as t<»
frighten the women. Thev went into the house, took
down the guns to examine their locks, as well as the
doors of the cabins, and other things about the premises.
They also sharpened their knives and tomahawks on
the grindstone, with the intention, no doubt, of using
them in murdering the settles. Many Indians were
seen riding at full speed across the prairie, conveying
the news from one to another : and within two days
from that time not a red skin could be seen in the
Bureau settlement.

INDIANS AT THE GRAVES OF THEIR FATHERS.

When the Indians on Bureau were notified by

INDIANS AT THE fcKRAVES OF THEIR FATHERS. 71

runners from Black Hawk's band, that hostilities were
about to commence, they were greatly alarmed, knowing
that their lives would be endangered by remaining
longer in the country, and they prepared for a hasty
departure. At their village, where Tiskilwa now stands,
about seven hundred had collected, to deliberate on the
means of making their final exit. After making the
necessary preparations, the Indians en masse, old and
young, repaired to their village burying ground, to pay
their respects to the graves of departed loved one-.

Indians everywhere are attached to their home.-, the
land of their nativity ; and it was with feelings of regret
that they gave up their cornfields and hunting grounds ;
but there is another place still more sacred to them, and
from which they departed with BOrrowful hearts, Th:-
was the graves of their fathers.

< )ii the bottom prairie, a short distance below Tiskilwa.
i.- an oblong knoll, which overlooks the valley, and
presents a line view of the surroundings. This knoll
had been tlte village burying ground for many gene

DO • ■

tions. Here were buried their prophet- and gri

warriors, ;t> well a> their fair maidens, and of their gra\ e&
the Indian.- wen- about to take their lasl farewell. The

ceremonies connected with this affair, is described 1»\
an eve witness, (Amos Leonard) as being verj solemn.
The taces of all the Indians, old and young, were painted

black, an emblem of mourning, and the young squaw*

had powdered their hair, making it white as -mow. in

(2 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

representation of their purity. In the midst of the
group was seen the tall form of Autuckee, the principal
chief of the village. On the head of this chief was a
crown of turkey feathers, and from his neck was
.-uspended an Indian drum. At the tap of this drum,
all the Indians fell on their knees, while the chief with
uplifted hands, and eyes rolled back in their sockets,
prayed to the Great Spirit, for the preservation of the
bones of departed friends. For some time the Indians
remainded on their knees chanting, while the squaws
>od by beating their breast with their hands, weeping
and wailing with loud acclamations of grief for departed
loved ones. Again the chief tapped his drum, when
the Indians sprang to their feet, and commenced singing
a song to the dead. This song was sung on a low plain-
tive key, and sounded like a funeral dirge ; while thus
engaged, the squaws with baskets of flowers, which had
been gathered for the occasion, strewed them over the
graves. After the conclusion of these exercises, the
Indians a^ain returned to their village. One of their
number, an old man of more than four score years,
refused to leave the graves, saying: "Here lie my
father, my squaw, and my papooses, all that was near
and dear unto me ; no one is now left to love or care
for me, and my blood no longer runs in the veins of
any human being." Over the graves of his departed
friends, the old mans form was bent, and here he wished
to die: no persuasion could induce him to leave this

INDIANS AT THE GRAVES OF THEIR FATHERS. 73

spot, and by force alone he was taken away, and placed

on a pony, to be carried westward with the rest of the

band.

At the village, the Indians loaded their ponies with

camp equipage, preparatory to their departure. On

some of the ponies were placed willow baskets, filled

with papooses, and these ponies were turned loose,

without bridle or halter, to follow the procession. The

squaws rode astride of their ponies, many of whom

carried an infant on their back, placed in a pocket in

their blanket, with its head sticking out. Everything

being ready, the procession started for the west, when

old and young joined in singing their farewell song.
a

CHAPTER IX.

DAD JOE.

At Dad Joe Grove lived Joseph Smith, who was
generally known by the name of Dad Joe. For many
years he had been a pioneer, living at different places
among the Indians, and was well acquainted with their
customs and habits. In advance of the settlement, Dad
Joe had lived at Peoria, Rock Island, and at the lead
mines, near Galena ; and two years before the time of
which we write, had settled at the grove for the purpose
of entertaining travelers.

Dad Joe was a thick, heavy-set man, of great physica 1
power, and was always clothed in loose garments, with
a rope or leather girdle about his loins. He had a
heavy bass voice, and in common conversation spoke
so loud as to cause strangers to look at him with
astonishment. His remarkable personal appearance.
peculiar manners, and his lion-like voice, gave him
great notoriety, and there was but few people in tho^e
days, living in Illinois, who had not heard of Dad Joe.

FRIGHTENED BY THE INDIANS. 75

He was kind and benevolent, almost to a fault : and he
is probably the only man who lived and died in Bureau
county without ever having an enemv.

FRIGHTENED BY THE INDIAN-.

About two miles west of Dad Joe's residence, and at
the east end of Red Oak Grove, lived a man by i
name of James Magby, who had a wife and a large
family of children. Besides these two families, there
was no one living within twelve miles. One day while
Mr. Magby's two daughters were on the prairie engaged
in gathering flowers, they saw a large body of [ndians
approaching them, and believing that they were about
to be murdered, fled with all haste to the residence of
Dad Joe. On arriving at the house, they stated that
the Indians had killed their mother, brothers and <i>ter-.
1 Mi-. Magby being absent at the time). This announce-
ment created a great panic in Dad Joe'- family, as they
too expected to he attacked within a few minutes. I )ad
Joe, whose courage never forsook him. made a hasty
preparation to protect himself and family from the
Tomahawk's and scalping knives of the savages.

Although at that time Dad doc was laid ii]> with a lame

hack, through the excitement of the moment, he sprang
from hifi couch, caughl his rifle, which hung on pega
above the door, and prepared himself to give the [ndians
a warm reception.

^ ounfij Joe, a lad of fifteen years of age, mounted

76 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

his horse and started for Bureau, to notify the settlers
of their danger. In his haste to be off, he forgot to let
down the barn yard bars, and urging his horse forward
to make him jump them, he fell, throwing the rider
over his head. Joe again mounted his horse, and pur
him at the top of his speed for Bureau settlement.

This affair turned out to be a false alarm. The In-
dians, (about three hundred in number), were Potta-
watamies. from Bureau, and were on their way to a
country west of the Mississippi. When the Indians
saw the frightened condition of Magby's family, they
did not stop at the grove, but continued on their wax-
westward .

A few davs after this Indian fright, Dad Joe sent his
family off to a place of safety, while himself and son,
(Young Joe), remained on the farm in order to put in
a crop. Each day they carried their guns wTith them
while at work in the field, and they also kept their
saddles close at hand, so thev could mount their horses
at a moment's notice. For many days they saw no one,
as traveling: through the country was now at an end.
The great Galena road, that passed by the house, over
which formerly had ran a daily mail coach, as well as
crowds of people passing to and from the lead mines,
was now deserted : no traveler would risk his life
in passing through a country then thought to be full of
hostile savages.

INDIANS APPROACHING THE GROVE.

One day while Dad Joe and son were at work in the

INDIANS APPRN ACHING THE GROVE. (7

field, they saw on the prairie, in the direction of East
Grove, about sixty Indians approaching them. These
Indians were armed with guns, were mounted on ponies,
and their faces painted red — a sign of war. On seeing
the Indians, Dad Joe and son gathered up their rifles,
mounted their horses, and fled southward. But as the
Indians did not discover them, they returned to a high
piece of ground, where they could watch their move-
ments, and also be ready to flee if pursued. The
Indians went to the house, but finding no one there.
they helped themselves to what they wished to eat, and
carried away with them such articles as thev could use.
They also took with them four young pups, which they
no doubt intended to roast for their supper. After
leaving the house, the Indians discovered Dad Joe and
his son on the prairie, and started toward.- them ; but
prudence required that the enemy should be kept at a
proper distance, and they retired as the Indians ap-
proached. At last one of* the Indians dismounted from
hi.- pony, and laving down his gun and tomahawk,
approached them for the purpose of holding conversa
tion. But as he came nigh to where they were standing,
seeing the determined appearance <>t" Dad Joe, who

Stood with a rifle in his hand, the Indian's courage failed

him, and he tuned pair and Btopped; but <>n being

addressed by Dad Joe in a friendly manner, be took
courage, and came forward t«» offer bis band.

This Indian wished t<> know if any army bad gone
north, and it' it was tin* intention <>t* the whites to fiffht

78 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

them. Dad Joe, in reply, said no army had passed
that way, and he had not seen a person for twelve days.
The Indian said they did not wish to fight, but if
attacked by the whites, they would carry the war into
the settlement, and tomahawk every woman and child
they could find. By the Indian's dress and lanouiacre.
Dad Joe recognized him as one of Black Hawk's band,
having lived at Rock Island among them a few years
before. While living there, one of these Indians
(being exasperated on account of the whites settling on
their land, and also being under the influence of liquor),
tomahawked Dad Joe's wife, and she was only saved
from instant death by Young Joe, then a lad of twelve
years of age, riding his horse on the Indian. These
things, coining fresh to Dad Joe's mind, he felt like
raking revenge on this Indian. He said afterwards to
the writer, that he was tempted to shoot him on the
spot, and trust to the fleetness of their horses to make
their escape.

THE LONE TRAVELER.

The night after their adventure with the Lilians.
Dad Joe and son, as usual, had barricaded the door of
their house with puncheons, and with loaded guns by
their side, they retired to the attic to sleep. They had
\)een asleep but a short time, when they were awakened
by a person holloing and rapping at the door, asking
admittance. Dad Joe suspected that it was an Indian

THE LONE TRAVELER. 79

in disguise, and had taken this plan to gain admittance
to the house, so that he and his comrades could murder
the inmates. The man at the door said he \va> a
traveler, and wished entertainment only. After a long
parley, Dad Joe said he would O] en the door, hut ii'
betrayed, his life should pay the forfeit, as he would
shoot him down on the spot. He removed the barn,
cades, and opened the door with one hand, while in the
other he held his trusty rifle ready for use if betrayed.
The man at the door proved to he a lone traveler from
the lead mines, and on his wray home at the south.
Being mounted on a fleet horse, and armed with a large
holster pistol, he had undertaken the hazardous task of
passing through a country which was thought to be full
of hostile savages.

APPROACH OF STILLMAN'S ARMY.

On the 12th of May. Stillman's army, consisting of
about Beven hundred mounted rangers, mostly from the
southern part of the State, arrived at Dad Joe Grove.
The troops made no halt here, hut continued on their
way to Dixon's ferry. The baggage train, consisting of
Bix wagons drawn by oxen, remained at the grove over
night. This train \\ as guarded l»\ fill y mounted rangers,
under the command of Captain Hackleton. In this

mpany of rangers, was a young man from Sangamon
county, thai every one called Abe. 1 1 « • was tall
Blim, with long black hair, heav) eyelashes, and who

80 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

general appearance was awkward and unprepossessing,
but his witticism, as well as his peculiar gift in telling
stories, kept his comrades all the while in a state of
merriment. This young man was a private in Hackle-
ton's company, but before the close of the war he rose
to be a captain, and thirty years afterwards he became
President of the United States. His name was Abraham
Lincoln. The wagons, belonging to the baggage train.
were left in the edge of the grove, and the oxen, with
bells on them, turned out on the prairie to feed.
About midnight, the bells were heard to ring, and a
party of rangers went in pursuit of the oxen. Between
Dad Joe and East Grove, they overtook a party of
Indians, driving off the oxen ; and on coming up with
them, they fled in great haste, by putting their ponies
at full speed. The night being dark and rainy, the
rangers did not pursue them, but returned to camp with
the stolen cattle. Means were used to guard against a
surprise, as they were now in an enemy's country, and
liable to be attacked at any moment. Rumors were
afloat that a large body of Indians were seen that
afternoon in the direction of the Winnebago swamps.
Picket guards were established around the encampment,
and the men ordered to sleep on their arms. The
horses were tied to trees by the camp, so they could be
mounted at a moment's notice.

THE CAMP ATTACKED — A JOKE OF CAPTAIN HACKLETON.

Captain Hackleton was a man fond of fun, always

THE CAMP ATTACKED. 81

enjoying a good joke, and lie now fell upon a plan of
having some sport at other's expense. He also wished
to test the courage of his men, and thereby ascertain
whether or not they were reliable in case of emergency.
He made his plans known to the guards, and a few
Mends, and immediately went to work to execute them.
About an hour before day, the plans being all matured,
a number of men went back in the grove, and raised
the Indian war whoop, and at the same time the picket
guards tired off their guns. Captain Hackleton, and
others who were in the plot, called on the men as they
were sleeping in their blankets, to flee for their lives,
as they were attacked by over one thousand Indians.
Nothing could exceed the panic among the troops.
Some prayed, others swore, but all sprang for their
horses, with the intention of fleeing for their lives.

The surgeon of the company, who for many years
alter the war was well known in this community as a
skillful physician, mounted his horse, but in his haste
forgot to untie him from the tree; under the spur the
horse sprang forward the length of the rope, then back
again, bringing the doctor's head against the limb of a

tree. The doctor, believing himself .-truck by an
Indian war club or tomahawk, abandoned all hopes <»t

ami at the top of hi- voire he sang "lit : " M

Injun, I surrender, Bpare my life."

Next morning Dad Joe and bod left with the troops,
for Dixon's ferry, and returned to the grove no more

until the war was over,

II

CHAPTER X.

COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES.

The Indians had now left Bureau for other localities,
some going to Chicago to claim government protection,
others west of the Mississippi, while a few joined Black
Hawk's band, and fouarht against the whites. Anions
those who fled to Rock river, to "join the hostile Indians,
was Mike Grirty, the outlaw. His principal object in
doing so was to avenge himself on the settlers, for some
imaginary injury; two of whom, John Hall and John
L. Ament, he told a short time before that he intended
to kill them as soon as the oak leaves became as large
as a squirrel's ear, having, no doubt, reference to the
breaking out of the wrar. On the 14th of May, Still -
man's army was defeated at Old Man's creek, after
which Black Hawk sent out war parties all over the
country, from the lake to the Mississippi. Occupying
with their guerrilla bands many of the principal groves,
waylaying thoroughfares, and skulking around the
frontier settlements.

THE SETTLERS WARNED OF THEIR DANGER. 80

Next day after Stillman's defeat, Girty, at the head
< >f about seventy warriors, left for Bureau settlement.
with the intention of murdering the settlers. The first
house thev came to was that of Daniel Dimmick, at
Dimmick's Grove, but found that their intended
victims had fled. The Indians continued their way
down the timber until they came to the cabins of John
L. Anient and Elijah Phillips, and were much surprise 1
to find them gone also. Anient and family had only
left a few hours before, and the fire on the hearth wag
still burning. The Indians next visited the cabins of
Elijah and Eli Smith, and that of Mr. Epperson, but
with uo better success. Crossing the Main Bureau,
thev went to the Thomas settlement, but found it
deserted likewise. The Indians were much disap-
pointed by their ill success, as it was now evident that
the settlers had left the country, and their expedition
must prove a failure, without being graced by a single
scalp. By a spring in the edge of the timber where
Oscar Knox now lives, the Indians made their encamp-
ment, hobbled and turned out their horse.- to graze.
Here they remained two days, sending out spies in
various directions in search of victims.

THE 8ETTLKUS WABNED OF THBIB DANGER.

h was a warm bright day, <>n the 10th of Maw L832
the sun was >lnning in all its brilliancy, without a cloud
in the >k\. The prairies were now green with early

84 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

spring grass, intermixed with blue bells, and other May
flowers of various hues. The forest trees were in full
leaf, and the balmy air was made fragrant bv the bios-
soms of the plum and crab apple. All nature appeared
clothed in her beautiful garment, and everything in the
surroundings was calculated to fill the pioneer's heart
with bright prospects for the future. The settlers along
Bureau timber were busy with their crops, plowing,
sowing and planting, unconscious of immediate danger
from their red foe. While thus engaged, a lone Indian
was seen cantering his pony across the Princeton prairie,
in a southwestern direction. He was without £un or
blanket, and from his uncovered head, locks of long
hair were streaming in the wind. His jet black pony
was white with foam, and from its extended nostrils
came forth loud puffs of breath. This lone Indian was
Shaubena, the white man's friend, and he was now on
an errand of mercy.

Two day's before, Stillman's army had been defeated
on Old Man's creek, and a band of hostile Indians were
then on their way, as the sequel shows, to Bureau
settlement, for the purpose of murdering its inhabitants.
Shaubena, being unwilling to trust this important mes-
sage in the hands of others, mounted his pony and rode
with all haste to warn the settlers of their danger. He
gave notice to Daniel Dimmick, John L. Anient, Dr.
N. Chamberlain, and others, after which lie left with
his pony, still on a canter, for Indian creek settlement,
giving warning likewise to the people of that region.

WHY t^*^ ■If -.

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FLIGHT OF THE SETTLERS. 85

When the settlers on Bureau were notified that
hostilities had commenced, there was a great panic
among them. People were seen riding on a gallop
across the prairie, conveying the tidings from cabin to
cabin, and within a few hours not a soul was left in
Bureau settlement. It was well they left in haste, for,
as the sequel shows, a few hours of detention would in
all probability have proved fatal to many of them.
Some of the settlers went off on foot, others on horse-
back or in wagons, while a few left on sled-, drawn by
ox teams. Some going to Hennepin, others to Peoria
or Springfield, while others left the country never to
return. Squire Dimmick, who lived at Dimmick's
Grove, on being warned of his danger by Shaubena,
said lif would not leave until he had planted his corn :
that he had left the year before, and it proved to he a
false alarm, and lie believed that it would ho 80 this
time. To which Shaubena replied: "If you will remain
at home, -ond off your squaw and papooses, or thev
will ho murdered before the rising of to-morrow,s sun/1

Shaubena had now mounted his pony, and was about
;.» leave, when lie raised hie hand high above lii- head,
exclaiming, in a loud voice: " Auhaw pud The

meaning of which i-. •• Y<>n must leave;" ami Shau-
bena'e pony was again <>n the gallop to notify other.-.
Wlirii Dimmick noticed the earnest manner in whicl
Shaubena addressed him, he changed hi- mind, un-
hitched tin- horses from the plow, put his t-miih into
•11, and within two hours left hie claim, nev<

88 REMINISCENCE8 OF BUREAU COUNTY,

again to return to it. John L. Anient was planting-
corn when lie received the tidings, caught his horses,
which were feeding on the prairie, placed his wife on
one, and mounting the other himself, with his son
Thomas, then an infant, in his arms, in this way they
started for McLean county. After going about two
miles from their home, they discovered on the prairie,
what they supposed to be, a band of Indians approaching
them. Believing their only means of safety was in
flight, they put their horses at the top of their speed.
In their flight. Ament's hat flew off, and with his hair
streaming in the wind, they urged forward their horses
under the whip. On arriving at Joel Doolittle's cabiu.
the matter was explained ; the supposed Indians proved
to be a party of rangers, who had come over from
Hennepin to look after the settlers. Without a hat,
but with a handkerchief tied around his head, Anient
continued on his way to McLean county. The settlers
in the bend of the timber, southeast of Princeton,
which was known at that time as the Moseley neigh-
borhood, fled across the Illinois river, and sought
protection in different places.

Henry Thomas was with Stillman's army when it
was defeated, and many of the volunteers slain in the
light. The Indians pursued the trooj)S nine miles from
the battle-field, overtaking and killing many on the
way. Mr. Thomas, being mounted on a fleet horse,
soon outstripped the Indian ponies, but one of his
companions in the flight was not so fortunate. In

FLIGHT OF THE SETTLERS. 89

crossing a branch, his horse stuck fast in the mud,
throwing the rider over his head, and before he could
mount his horse again, the Indians came up and toma-
hawked him. Mr. Thomas continued the flight, making
no halt until he reached home, a distance of fifty-two
miles.

On the same day that Shaubena o-ave warning to the
settlers, Henry Thomas returned home from the scene
<>f horror, and all prepared to leave the country forth-
with. In the West Bureau settlement there were four
families, namely: Henrv and Ezekiel Thomas, Abram
Stratton, and John M. Gav. Among these four families
there was only one wagon in running condition; some
put their children, with a few household goods, on
sirds. which were drawn by oxen, and by dark that
same night they were on their road southward. Eli
and Elijah Smith took a large box, containing carpenter
tools and other valuables, into the woods, hiding it in a
thick cluster of ha/el brush, and then lied in ail haste
toward Peoria. Mi-. Epperson's family left about the

tie time, and they f'll in with tin* fugitives from Wi
Bureau near the present site of Providence. About
midnight, as tli • sams were slowly dragging the

sleds along on the grass, and the men and women
walking by their sides, looking after their children who
were sleeping on blanket- or quilts, unconscious of
danger, when all of a Budden behind them were lies
the clattering of b< trees' feet, and the Indian war whoop
ounded through the -till uighl air. The women

90 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

screamed, and the men sprang for their guns, but
instead of it being, as they supposed, the deadly foe, it
was Pete Bulbona and another half-breed, who only
thought of frightening them.

Mr. Epperson and John M. Gay, walking ahead of
the teams, came to Boyd's Grove about sun up next
morning, and having their blankets wrapped around
them, they were mistaken for Indians. Kat, the
youngest boy, on seeing them was much frightened, and
ran into the house, exclaiming : " Good jemmeny, here
are two Injuns." Mr. Boyd picked up his rifle, and
was prepared to shoot, when they threw back their
blankets, showing themselves to be white men.

LIEUT. JONES WONDERFUL ACCOUNT OF STILLMAN S

DEFEAT.

When the Bureau settlers arrived at Peoria, it created
a great panic among the people, as their flight had left
them on the frontier ; and to make the matter worse, a
rumor was in circulation that a lar«;e body of Indians
were seen that afternoon going southward, with the
intention, no doubt, of attacking the place. That
evening a tall, raw-boned Kentuckian, a resident of
Tazewell county, calling himself Lieut. Jones, arrived at
Peoria. Jones had been with Stillman's army when it
was defeated, and in the flight became separated from
his companions, lost his reckoning, and had wandered
about for three days, without seeing a living soul. He

JONES' ACCOUNT OF STILLMAN's DEFEAT. 91

believed that all of Stillman's army were slain, and he
alone left to tell the sad story. Lieut. Jones had an
Indian scalp tied to his left arm, which he swung to
and fro in order that the bystanders should appreciate
his bravery. Jones being surrounded by a crowd of
listeners, in a boasting manner, gave the following
account of Stillman's defeat: Said he, " While our
army was encamped on Old Man's creek, Black Hawk,
with some twenty thousand warriors, came marching
down in solid column, like Wellington's army at the
battle of Waterloo, and at once attacked us on three
-id* Our troops fought bravely, hut soon they we
overpowered, and all slain. Major Stillman, Major Hack-
leton, Col. Stephenson, and myself, with other officers
of high rank, wort- engaged in leading the troops
forward t<> charge the enemy, hut almost within a
twinkling of an eye, these brave officers, with all the
troops under their command, were slain; and I found
myself alone on the field of battle, surrounded by lar<
ht-ao- of dead bodies. At a distance I saw a body of
troops who appeared in good order, not having suffered
much from the ravage- .»f battle, 30 1 hastened t<« join
them, with the intention of putting myself at their
head, and avenge the death of my brave comrad
Bu1 .i- I drew nigh, 1 discovered that these gentlem
wore no hat-, and their faces were painted red; bo I
inferred from that circumstance that they were no
friends of mine. Soon rifle hall.- commenced buzzing

about my ear.-, each on.- a- it passed Beemed t«> whisper

i

92 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

in my ear, saying, in language that I well understood,
' Stranger, you had better get out of here.' So I
wheeled my horse about, and throwing my head on his
withers, I broke for tall timber, followed by some five
hundred Indians, nourishing their tomahawks over their
heads, and yelling like demons. Tiie race continued
for many miles, across prairie and through timber, when
all of the Indians, except one, were left far behind.
This one, who was a great war chief, mounted on a fleet
pony, came up by my side, and as he was about to
tomahawk me, I shot him dead ; and here, gentlemen,
is his scalp," at the the same time raising his arm to
exhibit his trophy. " Out of that brave army under
Stillman, that marched north a few days ago in defense
of their country, I alone am left to tell the sad story/'
Jones' story, although highly colored, was believed
by many, and the panic among the people increased.
On the bank of the river, a short distance above the
ferry, stood an old dilapidated block house, surrounded
by barricades, and called by courtesy, "Fort Clark.'*
Into this fort, both citizens and strangers went, so they
would be protected, should the town be attacked during
the night. Owing to the crowded condition of the fort.
Eli and Elijah Smith, with their wives, took lodging in
the bushes close by. Daring the night they thought
of their exposed situation, in case the Indians should
come, and concluded to go to the fort. As they
approached the fort, some of its inmates mistook them
for Indians, and raised an alarm. The matter, however,
was soon explained, when all went to sleep again, to
dream of Lieut. Jones' wonderful adventure.

CHAPTER XL

REV. JAMES SAMPLE AND WIFE.

Soon after the marriage of the Rev. James Sample
to Luev May, as narrated in a previous chapter, and
before the honeymoon was over, he concluded to go
farther west to seek hie fortune, on the banks of the
Father of Water.-. At that time, there was no wagon
POad between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; the
Indian trail, over which people passed, was only ace. g
Bible for foot and horseback travelers. Everything
being prepared for their journey, Sample and his young

wife left for the west, each mounted on a horse, while

on th<- third one was packed nil of their household
Lro<»d Sample Bettled near Rock Island, and built a
cabin on the site of the old Indian village. Everything
wont off smoothly during the winter, but in the spring

the war <tv wa- raised, and people were alarmed at the

situation of thin<_'-. Rumors were in circulation thai

the Sac< and Foxes were aboul to crOSS tic river, and

take possession of their old rillagi People were not

94 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

long kept in suspense, for on a bright morning in the
latter part of April, it was discovered that the river
was full of Indian canoes, and the water was darkened
by their ponies swimming the stream. The return of
the Indians created a great panic among the settlers,
all of whom left their cabins, and took refuge in Fort
Armstrong:, which was situated on the Island. The
Indians did not molest any one, nor take possession of
their old village, as was expected, but continued their
way up Rock river, with their squaws and papooses in
canoes, while the warriors, mounted on ponies, followed
along the banks.

Sample and wife had been in the fort a few weeks,
when thev concluded to leave it, and return to their
friends east of the Illinois river. Having heard of no
Indian depredations, it was thought perfectly safe to
make the journey. Accordingly they disposed of all
their effects, except two horses, and on them they left
Rock Island.

It was a bright, clear day, on the 18th of Mav, when
Sample and his wife left Rock Island for Hennepin, a
distance of about seventy miles. Being mounted on
fine, spirited horses, which were full of mettle, and as
they cantered proudly across the prairie, the tourists
expected to reach Bureau settlement before dark. The
road traveled by them waa the Sac and Fox trail, which
extended from Lake Michigan to Rock Island, and was
at that time a great thoroughfare from east to west.
being traveled both by whites and Indians. For ages

REV. JAMES SAMPLE AND WIFE. 95

this trail had been the great highway for Indians from
st to west. Over it Black Hawk, with his warriors,
passed to join the British forces in Canada, at the time
of the late war with England; and for twenty years
afterward they made annual trips over it, to receive
annuities from the British government in Canada.
This trail passed through Bureau county, almost in an
east and west direction — crossing Coal creek imme-
diately north of Sheffield, Main Bureau east of Dr.
Woodruff's, passing near Maiden and Arlington, in the
direction of Chicago, Tn some places on high prairie.
the trail was worn down from one to two feet below
the surface, and its course can still he traced through
many of the farms of this county, although thirty-five
pears have now passed away since it ceased to be used.
There was no settlement along tin's trail between the
Mississippi river and Bureau, which made it necessary
to perform the journey in one day.

It was about sundown when the travelers arrived at
the residence of Henry Thomas, where they intended
to stav over night, but unfortunately they found the
house deserted, and the doors and windows barricaded
with heavy puncheons. Again they mounted their

•

horses to pursue their journey, with the intention, no
doubt, of Bpending the night at Smith's cabin, whi
w : of Bnreaucreek. Soon after leaving Thomas',
nighl came on, and with it a terrible rain Btorm,and in
the darkness they lost the trail, and were enable to
find it again, 1 »u t thev continued eastward until they

^6 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

came to Main Bureau, which they found so high as to
make it hazardous to cross in the dark. Tliev had now
rude about sixty miles, were tired and hungry, their
clothes wet, and the rain still continued to pour down
in torrents. But here they were compelled to spend
the night, without one dry spot to lay their heads.
Tying their horses to a tree, and taking their saddles for
pillows, they laid down to rest until morning. After a
long, dreary night, morning came, and with it a bright
sun and clear sky, but the creek was still high, not
being fordable. This obstacle must be overcome, so
they selected a place where the banks were favorable,
swam their horses across, and continued their journey.
On the top of the bluff, by the side of the trail.
stood, at that time, a double log cabin, which belonged
to Eli and Elijah Smith. Here the travelers intended
to rest, dry their clothes, and have something to eat.
But they found the cabins deserted, the families having
fled from their homes the day before. On leaving the
trail here, and going south one mile, brought them to
Epperson's cabin, which they also found deserted. The
premises were searched for something to eat, as well as
feed for their starving horses, but without success. It
was with heavy hearts that our travelers again mounted
their horses to continue their journey, being fatigued,
hungry, and their clothes still wet from the drenching
rain, as well as from swimming the creek. But on
reaching the prairie, the beauty of landscape scenery
which was there presented, dispelled their gloomy

THEIR FLIGHT AND CAPTURE. 97

feelings. Tlie prairie was now covered with early
spring grass, intermixed with flowers of various hues,
the forest trees were in fall leaf, and the air was made
fragrant with the blossoms of wild fruit. Birds were
singing among the branches of the trees; around them
were sporting meadow larks, with their musical notes,
while on the distant prairie was heard the crowing of
prairie chickens. This enchanting scenery of the sur-
roundings, had a good effect on the travelers, and their
despondent spirits were now revived. Over sixty miles
of their journey had already been made, and a few
hours more would terminate it. Their jaded horses
were slowly plodding their way across the prairie, and
over the very spot where the city of Princeton now
stands. The travelers, unconscious of danger, were
talking of the perils of the past night, and the happy
termination of their journey, when they would be
embraced by kind friends. When all of a sudden they
heard a noise behind them, and on looking back, they
saw some twenty Indians pursuing them at full speed.

THEIB FLIGHT AND CAPTURE,

While Sample and wife were al Epperson's cabin,
[ndian, who was on the lookout, saw them, and imme
diately gave notice to Ins comrades, who started in
pursuit The Indians approached quietly without
being discovered, until almost within gun shot of the

travelers, when they raised the war whoop, and put their

9^ REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

ponies on a gallop. Sample was riding the horse

which he had of John Hall, and his wife was

mounted on one equally spry, but owing to the

jaded condition of these animals, the Indians came

within a few yards of them before they were brought

to a gallop. Many .-hots were fired at the fugitives.

one of which slightly wounded Sample, and his wife

was also wounded by a tomahawk thrown by one of

the Indians. The horses, on getting their mettle

up, went off at great speed, leaving the Indian

ponies far behind: but the Indian.- continued the

chase, urging their ponies forward under the whip,

and yelling at the top of their voice. The fugitives

had so far outstripped their pursuers that they

regarded their escape as almost certain ; but an accident

occurred which blasted their fond hopes, and caused

them to fall into the hands of the savages. As they

approached the timber, Mrs. Sample's horse, while

crossing a small branch, stuck fast in the mud, floundered

and fell, throwing the rider over its head. Mr. Sample.

at the time, being so far ahead of the Indians, he

could have made good his escape, but unwilling to leave

bib wife to her fate, returned, and thereby sacrificed his

own life. While Sample was assisting his wife to

remount her horse, the Indians, with deafening yells.

came up with them. Knowing that escape was now

out of the question, Sample only thought of selling

his own life as dear as possible, and drawing forth a

pistol, shot one of the Indians dead on the spot. The

EXECUTION. 99

Indians bound their victims with strong cords, put
them on their own horses, and carried them back to
cam]).

On arriving at camp, the warriors held a council over
their prisoners, and it was decided, in order to avenge
their dead comrade, they should be burned at the
stake. Sample was well acquainted with Girty, having
met him a number of times on Bureau, while on his
ministerial excursions, and offered him all he possessed
as a ransom for the life of himself and wife. But all
to no purpose, nothing but revenge could satisfy tl
blood-thirsty savage.

THE EXECUTION.

A few rods south of what is now known as the Knox
graveyard, stood, thirty years ago, an old burr oak tree,
isolated from other forest trees, and around which was
a beautiful grass plot. Some of the early settlers had
noticed this tree, and probably still recollect it, as it
was burned at the root, as though a camp fire had been
built against it. To this tree the victims were taken,
and to it they were bound with large deer skin thongs.
Diverted of all their clothing, bound band and font,
they stood waiting their doom. A lire of dry limb.-
was kindled around them, while the [ndiane stripped
themselves of their clothing, with their face- painted
red, id preparation for a dance. Every thing being now
ready for the iitio]i, Girty took lib long knife and

/lernon

100 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

scalped the prisoners, saving the scalps as a trophy ol
war. Taking the scalp of Mrs. Sample, and tying the
long hair around his neck, leaving the .bloody scalp to
hang; on his breast. In this way, Girtv, assisted by the
other Indians, danced around their victims, jumping up
and down, and yelling like demons. Mr. and Mrs.
Sample, being bound to the tree, surrounded by burning
fagots, their scalps taken off, with the blood running
down over their faces, and covering their naked bodies
with £ore. Soon the flames began to take effect on the
victims, and in their a^onv tliev besought the Indians
to shoot or tomahawk them, and thereby terminate
their sufferings But their appeals were in vain; with
fiendish laugh the Indians flourished their tomahawk-
over their heads, dancing and yelling in mockery of
their sufferings. Mrs. Sample, whose youth and in-
nocence ought to have moved the hardest heart, appealed
to G-irty, for the sake of humanity, to save her from
this terrible death. But her appeals were without
effect ; nothing could change the purpose, or soften the
heart of this devil incarnate. When life was extinct,
more fagots were put on the fire, until the remains
were consumed. Nothing was known of these murders
at the time, and for more than thirty years the sudden
disappearance of Sample and wife remained a mystery
to their friends.

The next year after this tragedy occurred, James
Hayes made a claim here, and built a cabin by the side
of the spring, where the residence of Mr. Knox now

EXECUTION. 103

stands. Around the tree where Sample and wife were

burned, Mr. Haves had noticed many human bones,
and in a ravine, close by, a human skull was found.

But little was thought of this affair at the time, as these

bones were supposed to be those of Indians, it being

well known that they were in the habit of burying

their dead so near the top of the ground that wolves

frequently dug up and devoured the corpse.

Nearly forty years have now passed away since the
murders were committed, and this place, with its sur-
roundings, has underwent a great change. Herewhere
timber once grew, is qow cultivated land. Instead of

dng surrounded by a wild, uninhabited region, it now
shows everywhere the marks of civilization. To the

*

east, and in plain view, lies the city of Princeton, with
its beautiful landscape scenery, its shade trees and parks,
while its tall spires are seen to glitter in the sunbeams.
The old burr oak tree, where the victim- suffered, and
around which the Indians danced, has lone since fell by
the woodman's axe, but its stump still remains as a relic
<>f the past. And as you look on this stump, and the
scene around it. you will be reminded of the awful
tragedy which took place on this spot.*

came principally through [ndlan sources, and

was unknown to the earls settlers of this county. The manner <>t

capturing and executing the victims was narrated to the writer, a R w

. ii.v two Pottawatamle chiefs, named Hall I >:<>' and Olrty.

During the time oi the Black Haws war, a rumor was current among

the people, that a man and his wife was losl whue traveling from the

pi to the niinols river. Four years after tfa Shaub*

i the writer thai the indlana had burned a man ana woman, wh

Dames were unknown to Dim. Also, Squire Holly, -i well known

CHAPTER XII.

BULBONA.

At the south end of Bulbona Grove, where the
residence of David A. Jones now stands, is a slight
eminence, skirted on three sides by trees, while the
fourth side opens out on the prairie. On this spot
Bulbona built a cabin, in the summer of 1828, and
occupied it as a residence for a number of years. Bul-
bona was born of French parents, and was reared and
spent his youthful days among the Indians, in the wild-

pioneer, and whose face was familiar to many of the Bureau settlers.
Many years ago, a young man named Britt Sample, lived north of
Dover, and for some time made his home with James G. Forristall.
Sample said his uncle and aunt disappeared at the commencement of
the Black Hawk war, and were thought to have been killed by the
Indians.

The writer has spent much time in the investigation of this tragical
affair, corresponding with those who would be likely to have some
knowledge of the matter, also visiting the place where the friends of
the victims are said to have lived, and find the accounts conflicting,
One account says the parents of Mrs. Sample, whose names were May,
lived in a hovel, partly dug out of the bluff, on the site of an ancient
Indian village, nearly opposite the mouth of Lake Du Pue. They had
lived in the country but a short time, and at the commencement of
the war they boarded a steamboat at Fort Wilburn, and went to
Missouri, where they had formerly lived.

BULB ON A. 105

of the west. He was a large, raw-boned, dark com-
plexioned man, and had a coarse bass voice, and at the
time we refer to was far advanced in life. His wife was
an Indian squaw, of thePottawatamie tribe, with whom
he had lived many years, and raised a number of half-
breed children. Their habit- and dress, as well as their
language, was a cross between the French and Indian,
understanding and speaking the English language very
imperfectly. For many years Bulbona was employed
by the American Fur Company, on the Illinois river;
and on leaving them, he commenced trade on his own
footing. After establishing himself at the Grove, he
had a large trade, as Indians from a distance would
patronize his trading house, in preference to that of the
Fur Company. He built a cabin for a store room, on
the west side, adjoining his dwelling, some of the logs
of which, I believe, are still to be seen, or were a few
years ago.

Bullioua was thought to be wealthy, and among tin-
[ndiane he exercised great influence. Black Hawk,
aware of his influence over the Indians, visited him on
one occasion, and with arguments and bribes, tried t<>
induce him to favor a union of the Pottawatamies witli
3 « and Foxes, for the purpose <>f making war on
the frontier settler . Bu1 Bulbona would nol listen t<>
these entreaties, as he was on friendly terms with the

tie)-.-, and did much t<> Bave them from the tomahawk

Of hi- reel friend-.

106 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

THE FAIR MAIDEN AND HER TWO LOVERS.

Bnl buna had a daughter named Zeffa, who was at

this time about eighteen years of age, and a girl of
remarkabl e personal attracti on . Being tall an d graceful ,
with large, expressive black eves, ruby cheeks, and
beautiful long wavy hair, inheriting from her white
father and red mother some of the best qualities of
each. Zeffa had two levers, one of whom was a young
hall-breed, who lived at Indiantown, and the other a
French trader, of Peoria, Between the rival suitors
bad feeling existed, each claiming exclusive right to the
young maiden. The father favored the suit of the
Frenchman, while the mother that of the Indian. The
girl appeared to have an equal attachment for both, and
could not decide in her own mind which of the two to
marry. While things were in this condition, the two
suitors, by chance, met at Bulbona's. The Frenchman
was a small, dark-complexioned, hump-shouldered man.
unprepossessing in appearance, but was dressed in a
new suit of clothes, corresponding with the fashion of
the day. The Indian was the opposite in personal
appearance, being tall and straight, and his manly form
was decorated in a buckskin hunting shirt and leggins,
while around his head Avas a wreath of eaide feathers.
In his belt he always carried his tomahawk and scalping
knife, and a rifle on his shoulder, which caused him to

THE WEDDING. 107

look more like going to war than a courting. Things
had now come to a crisis, and it must be decided, as
h insisted on marrying the maid. The Indian
proposed to fight a duel with the Frenchman, using
rifles at ten p and let powder and ball decide their

3pective claims. Mrs. Bulbona favored this method
of settling the matter, a- she contended that the world
was not large enough to hold both of them, and if one
was killed, her daughter would he at liberty t<> marry
the other. At the proposed duel, the Frenchman
shrugged his shoulders, believing his chance- poor with
an adversary who had handled the rifle from his boy-

» *

hood. In return, the Frenchman offered to compromise

the matter with the Indian, and buy out his claim to

»

the girl, and thereby save the effusion of blood. This
proposition was agreed to, and the arrangements were
mad*- in the presence, and by the consent of. the whole
family. The price and pay d upon consisted of

twenty-one blankets, and fifty strings of beads, to he
delivered at the Frenchman's trading house in Peoria.
T ie rival suitor being uow disposed of, they set about
making preparations fur

THE WEDDING.

< hi the day appointed for the wedding, the intruded
•'••in, accompanied by a French Catholic priest, from
I '• . irrived at Bulbonfi A number of friends,
nsisting of French, [ndians, and half-breeds, we

108 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY,

invited, and great preparations made to celebrate the
nuptials. On the day of the wedding, Col. Strowbridge,
Dad Joe, and Henry Thomas, on returning from Peoria,
where they had been on business, called at Bulbona's
house, and, being old friends, they were invited to stay
and witness the marriage ceremony, which invitation
was accepted. The priest, wearing on his head a gold-
laced cap, and his body wrapped in a ruffled white robe,
with a red ribbon around his neck, on which was
suspended and hanging on his breast, a heavy gold
cross. With all the pomp and dignity of his position,
he was about to celebrate the sacred rights of matri-
mony, according to the Catholic church. While
standing, leaning against the wall, engaged in prayer,
a dog came into the room and seated himself in front
of the priest, and probably being astonished at his fine
regalia, commenced barking. Four or five other dogs,
that were standing at the door, on hearing the dog
baiking in the house, no doubt thinking that some wild
animal was treed within, rushed in, and all commenced
barking at the priest, as though he was a stag at bay.
Bulbona commenced kicking the dogs, in order to drive
them out, but it only set them to righting ; and, in the
melee, they threw down the priest, soiled and tore his
robe, and scratched his face. This affair threw the
wedding party into confusion. Much loud talk and
hard words were used toward the dogs. The priest, in
particular, gave vent to his feelings in loud denun-
ciations against the brutish curs, but everything was

THE WEDDING DINNER. 109

said in French or Indian dialect, which was not under-
stood by Col. Strowbridge and others, of his party.
Things were again put to rights, and the marriage
ceremony performed, after which came

THE WEDDING DINNER.

Mrs. Bulbona was a good cook, and knew how to
prepare a sumptuous dinner, but she still adhered to the
Indian method of serving it up. Her Indian friends
had previously furnished her with various kinds of
game for the occasion, so that her guests could have
their choice of meats. In the center of the table was
placed a large tin pan, filled with soup, and in which
were various kinds of meat. In this soup pan were
the feet of prairie chickens, ducks, squirrels, and coons,
cooked with the claws and hair on. In this way they
were served out to the guests, according to Indian
custom. Col. Strowbridge, who was always full of fun,
took the la<llc and fishing in the Boup until he brought
up a chicken's fool ; then addressing Dad Joe, he Baid :
"Dad, shall I help you to some of the fowl ?" towhich
Dad replied; " No, God bless you !" A^m fishing up
a fool of a coon, with the hair and claws on it. Bang out :
"Dad, shall I help you to some of the coon?" "No,
Gk>d bless you, Colonel; I will wait on myself.'1

• *

110 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

FOUR TRAVELERS ARRIVE.

On the wedding eve, preparations were made to
celebrate the nuptials with a dance: and, in order to
have music on the occasion, a fiddler was brought from
Peoria. The store room was converted into a dancing
hall, and the dancers were a motley set, consisting of
French, Indians, and half-breeds. The bride and groom
took part in the dance, enjoying themselves very much,
being the centre of attraction, and were the gayest of
the gay. In addition to the invited guests, Bulbona
had sent invitations to many of his Indian friends, to
visit the house on the wedding evening, for the purpose
of receiving presents, a treat, etc. And as soon as it
was dark, the cabin was surrounded by some fifty
Indians, who were furnished with all the whisky thev
could drink, and many of whom soon became drunk
and noisy.

It was now after dark, being a beautiful September
night, and the wedding party at Bulbona's was about to
commence the dance, when a light covered wagon was
drove up to the door, and the travelers, four in number,
requested entertainment. Bulbona did not keep a hotel,
but as his residence was a half-way house between
Boyd's and Thomas', travelers sometimes stopped with
him. The host informed the guests that his house was
full, and he could not entertain them : but seeing by

FOUR TRAVELERS ARRIVE. Ill

their uniform that they were army officers, he invited
them in to take something to drink, and see the
wedding party. The invitation was accepted, and the
party entered the house, where they remained several
hours. For the names and description of the travelers,
and what was done at Bulbomvs house, the writer is
indebted to Mr. Kilgore, who was one of the party,
being along with them as teamster. Mr. Kilgore was
at that time living near Peoria, but at the present time
lives, or was a few years aero, living west of Dixon.
The travelers were dressed in United States uniform,
and the straps <>n their Bhoulders showed their rank to
be as follows: A Lieutenant, a Captain, anda Colonel.
Th<- Colonel was a middle aged man, heavy set, broad

oulderes, dark complexion, prominent nose, under
lip projecting, which indicated a person of great decision

d force of character. This man was Zachariah
Taylor, late president of the United States. The
Lieutenant was a young man, tall and slim, with a high
forehead, a large Roman nose, irregular, hut prominent
features, ad the appearance of a man with fine

mental facultii This young man was no other than
.!■ V. Davis, ex president of the lati S >uthern confed
ration. Th< : >tain, whose name was Smith, bel<
to Col. Tay] jiment, at Prairie du Chien, but

nothing is known of bis history. These officers w<
mii :i leave «»t' absence, in order to visit friends at the
iv now "ii Hi' ir return t<> their regiment,
then quartered :it Prairie du Chien. There were but

112 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

few steamboats running on western rivers in those clays,
and the party had ascended the Illinois river, as far as
Peoria, in one of these. Here they employed Mr.
Kilgore to carry them, in a two-horse wagon, to Galena,
from which place they intended to take a boat for their
destination, which was a common way of traveling from
south to north in those' days. Bulbona was always
very polite to strangers, but on the present occasion he
was unusually so. introducing the officers to the wedding
guests, and presenting them with various kinds of
drinks, which had been prepared for the occasion, and
the officers, as well as the wedding party, were soon
under its influence.

THE DANCE AND TRAGEDY.

The style of the dance was partly French and partly
Indian, and with the dancers, all was joy and mirth.
Above the sound of the violin, and the merry laughs of
the guests, the dancers' feet were heard to rattle on the
rough puncheon floor. The Indians, on the outside of
the house, fronting the doors and windows, becoming
animated by the music within, carried on a dance in
their own way. jumping up and down, and yelling at
the top of their voices. Lieut, Davis took part in the
dance, and soon became the leading spirit of the party.
His tall form was conspicuous among the dancers,
sometimes imitating the French style of dancing, then
the Indian, then again going it on his own footing, like
at an old-fashioned Kentucky hoe-down.

THE DANCE AND THE TRAGEDY. 113

Among the wedding party was a niece of Mrs.
Bulbona, a young squaw of great attraction, and she
danced in her Indian style with much grace. Lieut.
Davis was fascinated with her charms, and danced with
her in almost every set. Beinir under the influence of
liquor, he would do many remarkable things; some-
times changing the order of the dance, to suit his fancy.
When quadrilles were danced, he would change it into
a waltz. so he could have hi.- arm around the waist of
the young squaw. Then freeing himself from her, he
would dance with all his force, causing his tall form to
wriggle as ir swayed to and fro: sometimes jumping up
and down in quick succession, and yelling at the top of
his voice, in imitation of the Indians at the door. Col.
Taylor and Capt. Smith took no part in the dance, but
-at in one comer of the room, looking on, and almost
splitting their >ide> with laughter.

Lieut. Davis was now under the influence of liquor,
ami being fascinated with hi.- fair partner in the dan<-<-.
made to her a dishonorable proposition, which was
resented with contempt. Notwithstanding this resent-
ment, the Lieutenant took improper liberties with her;
such liberties a- politeness will not tolerate in a ball
room. The young squaw considered herself insulted,
in the presence of the company, and told her brother
of the insult- Her brother, who was a tall, athletic
Indian, was very angry on accounl of the insult to his
sister, and was determined to punish the offender.
I'" ing quite drunk, ami hi- brain frenzied by anger, he

114 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

went up to Lieut. Davis, and in broken English,
accused him of insulting his sister; and, at the same
time, pulled his nose. Lieut. Davis, who never lacked
courage, pushed the Indian from him, and drew forth a
pistol. The Indian, with a fiendish smile, drew his
long knife. The dancing stopped, the women screamed,
and all was confusion, as it was expected in a moment
to see the death of one or both of the parties. But in
an instant Col. Taylor sprang between the combatants,
and thereby prevented the effusion of blood.

It was no doubt from acts like the one above narrated,
that caused Col. Taylor to denounce Jeff. Davis as a
wild, unscrupulous profligate, and unfit to be a husband
fur his daughter. But notwithstanding the Colonel's
dislike to Davis, forbidding him ever again to enter
his house, in less than one vear from that time, he ran
off with, and married his daughter. In this act, Davis
left his regiment, forfeited his commission in the army,
and settled in the State of Mississippi. Col. Taylor
did not become reconciled to the conduct of Davis, and
for fifteen years they never met or corresponded.

On the battle field of Buena Yista, Davi- at that
time commanding a regiment of Mississippi volunteers,
stormed and took possession of the Mexican batteries,
and therein' saved the battle. Then, for the first time
since Davis left Prairie du Chien, Gen. Taylor rode up
to him, and taking him by the hand, expressed, his
approbation of his heroic conduct, saying after all his
daughter was a better judge of his ability than himself.

THE DANCE AND THE TKAGEDY. 115

After the trouble between Lieut. Davis and the
Indian, the travelers left Bulbona's for Henry Thomas',
which was <>n their road, and about six miles distant.
Here they remained over night, and next morning they
continued their journay towards Galena. At the com-
mencement of the Black Hawk war, Bulbona left the
grove, and aever returned to it again, but settled in the
eastern [tart of the State, in Kankakee county, at a
grove which still- hears his name.

The little hump-backed Frenchman, who married
Bulbona's daughter, was a successful Indian trader, and
accumulated a large fortune. Soon after his marriage,
he went to St. Paul, where he continues to live, and by
whom many of the incidents related in this story will
be confirmed.

CHAPTER XIII.

MILITARY FORCE ORGANIZED.

Forty years ago Putnam county was not such a
diminutive affair as it now is, but included within its
boundaries the territory which at present constitutes
Bureau, Stark, and Marshall counties. "Within this
vast territory, there was not over five hundred inhabi-
tants, who were scattered along the principal groves,
known as settlements. But two towns had been
surveyed within the limits of Putnam county — Hen-
nepin and Columbia, (now Lacon) ; each of these
contained but a few log cabins. Not one frame building,
school or meeting house, nor one surveyed road could
be found within the limits of Putnam county. On tw< >
occasions only the placid waters of the Illinois river
had been ruffled by a steamboat, its commerce having
been carried on by keel boats and bateaux. Such was
the state of affairs at the commencement of the Black
Hawk war, when people were compelled to leave their
cabins, rude though they were, and take refuge in block
houses, called forts, by courtesy.

MILITARY FORCE ORGANIZED. 117

Governor Reynolds issued a proclamation, notifying
the frontier settlers that thev must defend themselves,
as all volunteers would be needed in active service.

In accordance with this proclamation, runners were
sent to the different settlements in the. county, notifying
all persons fit for military duty, to meet at Hennepin,
on the 20th of May, to organize military companies.
Previous to this meeting, John Strawn had received a
colonel's commission, and had been notified to call for
volunteers, under the militia law. On the day ap-
pointed, people from various parts of the county
appeared at the place of rendezvous, all of whom wen-
clothed in their working dresses, and carrying guns on
their shoulders. Col. Strawn made his appearance
among them, in rail military dress, wearing a laced
coat with epaulets on his shoulders, and a cocked hat
of the Bonaparte pattern. Volunteers were numerous,
and three companies of rangers were organized, among
whom were many of the early settlers of Bureau

* *

county. Col. Strawn made a speech to these volun-
teers, exhorting them to deed-, of bravery, and
threatened to shool down the firsl man thai turned his
back on the painted fur. Forthe firsl time in Putnam

mlv was heard the fife and drum, and niueh enthn-

Biasm was manifested among the rangers, some of whom
Bang patriotic song Dave Jones ; I through the
crowd, Blapping his hands on hie thighs, and dancing
"Jim ('row." The rangers were all mounted on
horseback, finding their own horses, arms, provisions,

L

118 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

camp equipage, eVrc, and were on duty about one
month. Some twenty years after the war, these rangers
received for their services, a military land warrant.

It was agreed at the first meeting of the rangers that
the Illinois river should be the line of defense, and an
order was issued, forbidding all persons crossing the
river without permission from the proper officers.
Hennepin was made the headquarters for military
operations, and a fort was ordered to be built for that
purpose. Hartzeirs old trading house was torn down,
and its timbers used in the construction of a fort. This
fort was located on the river bank, opposite the ferry,
(now Front street), and consisted of a two story block
house. The upper story projected over the lower one,
and above and below were port holes, so the inmates
could lire on the enemy, in case they were attacked.
Within this fort, or encamped around it, were the
families of many of the first settlers of this county,
among whom were the families of Dr. N. Chamberlain,
Roland Moseley, John Musgrove, Joel Doolittle, and
Widow Electa Smith.

FORT THOMAS.

About the 20th of May, two companies of mounted
rangers, principally from St. Clair county, under the
command of Maj. Baxter, came to Bureau, and built a
fort. This fort was located on Henry Thomas' claim,
and occupied the very spot where Thomas Yaughan's

INDIAN SCARE AT HENNEPIN. 119

house now stands, being about four miles north oi
Wvanet. Fort Thomas consisted of a Mock house.
surrounded with barricades, which was constructed of
puncheons, set into the ground, and about fifteen feet
high. On the southwest angle of the fort, there was
an entrance through the barricades, guarded by a heavy
swing irate. While the fort was being built, a file of
soldiers stood guard over the workmen, to prevent their
being surprised by the Indians. The horses belonging
to the rangers, were hobbled during the day time, while
feeding on the prairie, and at nighl they were tied to
posts around the fort. There were about one hundred
and forty men belonging to this battalion, and they
remained here on dutv until the war was over. I hiring
their stay, they killed and ate some of Thomas' cattle.
used his crib of corn, and burned his rails for fuel,
sides robbing the cabins of some of the settlers. It
is said while here they drank two barrels of whisky,
had seventeen fights among themselves, and returned

to their home- without bavin-- seen an Indian.

SCARE \ l HENNEPIN- \ SEARCH FOR INDIANS.

It was near sundown, on the 25th of May, L832,
when a steamboat came down the river from Fori
W ilburn. and landed at Hennepin. The captain and
crew of the boat said, about two miles ibove, on the
-t Bide of theriver, they saw a body of Indiana run into
the woods, and skulk behind trees. This report created

120 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

a great panic among the people, and preparations were
made for defense. The fort, at that time, was in an
unfinished condition, and therefore would afford but
little protection. The women and children were put
on board of an empty keel boat, which lay at the
wharf, with three men to manage it. The men having
the management of the boat, were instructed to push
it out into the middle of the stream, and let it float
down stream, should the town be attacked. In this
boat were the families of Mr. Moseley, Mr. Musgrove,
Widow Smith, and others belonging to Bureau settle-
ment. During the excitement, Mr. Blanchard and
wife, unobserved by any one, went on board of a
pirogue, and started down the river. After going a
short distance, and hearing no fighting at the fort, they
laid to ; and about daybreak next morning, returned up
the river to Hennepin. Those on board of the keel
boat, heard Blanchard rowing his craft, and believed
that the Indians were coming. Through the dim
morning light they saw the red bow of the pirogue.
which was mistaken for Indian blankets. The men
prepared themselves for defense, while the women and
children commenced crying, thinking their time had
come. A challenge was given from the boat, but it
was not heard by those in the pirogue ; a second one
was given, and the men in the boat were about to fire,
when Blanchard let himself be known.

For some days it was believed that the Indians were
secreted in the river timber, and a company of rangers

FOKT WILBURN. 121

went in search of them. Some of the rangers ascended
the river in canoes, while others pursued their way on
horseback. After passing the mouth of Bureau creek.
and seeing no Indians, nor Indian signs, the party in
canoes concluded to fire off their guns, in order to
frighten rln.se on horseback, while the party on horse-
back had conceived the same idea, and both parties tired
almost simultaneously, to the great astonishment of
each other. The joke was a good one, and both parties
acknowledged that they were beaten at their own game.
John Hall, with three hired men, had returned to
his claim, to look after his crops, which had been
neglected in consequence of the war. As Indians were
reported to have been seen in the river timber, it was
thought best to notify Hall and his men of their danger.
Consequently, Williamson Durley and Mr. Simpson

volunteered for that purpose. The messengers, in a

canoe, ascended the river as far as Spring Lake, and
from there they went on foot to Hall's cabin. It was
after dark when they arrived, and were much surprised
to find the cabin deserted. On holloing, they were
answered by Hall and party, off in the grove, who had
taken quilts and were deeping some distance from the
»in, so i- i" avoid being surprised, should Indians
tack the cabin during the night.

•i:t WILBURS and \yi:i- BLA4 KSMTTH SHOP.

M.ip of the earh Bettlerswill recollect John Hayi
who kepi a store in a log cabin under the bluff, win

122 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Peru now stands. Mr. Hayes had a farm here by the
side of the river, and had occupied it for three years
previous to the Indian troubles. When the war broke
out, Hayes, Lapsley, and Burton Ayres, with others,
commenced building a fort on the present site of
La Salle; but on being notified of immediate danger,
thev abandoned it, boarded their canoes, and went down
to Hennepin. A few days afterwards, Mr. Hayes' two
hoys, Harrison and Jonathan, (the former now living in
the town of Manlius), took a canoe, and went up to
their farm to finish planting corn. Next day, about
four o'clock in the afternoon, the steamer Caroline came
up the river, with Capt. Wilburn's company of volun-
teers on board. When the captain of the steamboat
saw the boys at work in the field, he fired off a cannon,
rounded to. and sent out a yawl to take them on board.

7 *

Tlie boat ascended the river as far as the mouth of Biu
Vermillion, where she lay all night, anchored in the
middle of the stream, with steam up, and soldiers with
loaded muskets prornenadi ug the deck. Next morning,
the troops were landed on the south side of the river,
and they commenced building Fort Wilbnrn.

William Tompkins and Sampson Cole, with their
families, and John Cole, now a resident of Tiskilwa.
were the only people at that time living in the eastern
part of this county. When the war commenced, they
became alarmed at their exposed situation, liable at any
moment to be attacked by the Indians. Each tnigh
they would take quilts and blankets, cross the river in

FORT WILBUKN. 12o

their canoe, and sleep in the thick timber of the bottom.
In the morning, they would return to their cabins, and
spend the day at work on their claims; hut at night,
cross the river as before. After spending a number of
nights in the woods, they became afraid to return to
their homo, and in their canoes went down to Hen-
nepin, where they remained for some days. As soon as
Fort "Wilburn was built, they took quarters in it. where
they remained until the war was over.

On the "north side of the river, almost opposite Fort
Wilhurn, now within the limits of La Salle, stood a
l<»e; blacksmith shop, which was occupied by a young
man named Burton Avres. For three years, Mr. Avre-
had done a lucrative business here, as his shop occupied
a central position between Bureau and Fox River settle-
ment, and received the patronage of both. Mr. Ayres
was a very industrious man. and had accumulated quite
a .Mini <>f money for those days. On a warm spring
morning, the day before the Indian Creek massacre, as
Mi-. Ayres was engaged in welding a plow share, Shan-

bena called at his shop, and told him to flee for his life.
or he would he killed by the Indians, probably before

the settingof the sun. Mr. Aviv- at once removed his

anvil block, dug a hole in the und, wrapped his

money which was all in Bilver in hie leather apron,
and buried it ; then replacing hie am il block, and closing
the door of his Bhop, lie left mm foot for tin- Btate <»i
<)hi<>. A hunt -i\ months afterwards, Mi. Ayres re
turned, resurrected his money, and continued I

husilii befbl i .

CHAPTER XIV.

EXPLANATION.

It may be of interest to the reader to know by what
means many of the facts relating to the Indians of this
county were obtained, as some of them were unknown
to the early settlers, — therefore an explanation of this
matter becomes necessary :

A few years ago, while in the city of Washington, I
met a number of Pottawatamie chiefs, from Western
Kansas, among whom was Col. Barrassa, an educated
half-breed, and author of a book, entitled, " Indian Life
and Customs." Through the politeness of Col. Barrassa.
I was introduced to two other chiefs, and from whom
many of the incidents related in this story were
obtained. One of these chiefs was the well known
Half Day, a son of Autuckee, and the other represented
himself as a son of Grirty, the outlaw. These chiefs
said they were born on Bureau, but left it while in
boyhood; nevertheless they had a distinct recollection
of some of the early settlers, and described the personal

EXPLANATION. 125

appearance of Michael Kitterman, Elijah Epperson,
and others.

These chiefs inquired if I was connected with any of
the people killed by the Indians: and being answered
in the negative, thev went on to describe the manner
of killing Phillips. Sample, and others. These acts
were justified by the chiefs, contending that thev were
done in defense of their rights. On hearing tli
chiefs describe the manner of killing women and
children on Indian creek, and burning at the stake of
Squire Holly, as well as Sample and his wife, I said to
them their people were really savage barbarians; to
which thev replied, "No act of their's was bo barbarous
as that of the soldiers at the battle of Bad Axe, all of
which is a matter of history. When squaws, with
infants in their arms, asked for quarter, their appeals
were disregarded, being shot down like brutes. A
soldier ran his bayonet through the body of an infant.
holding it up above his head, <>n the end of his gun,
while the child was Bcreaming in the agonies of death,
and this act of barbarity was applauded by his comrades.
Manv <>t* the squaws, on finding no quarter could be
obtained from the Boldiers, threw themselves into the
river, and there mel a water}' grave.* Eight or ten

I ii.iv< h.nr.i it Rtated bj an eye-witness, and It is also a matter oi
history, thai b iqua* named Ne-wa-se, a slstei oi a distinguished chief,
during the hottest <»t 1 1 » • - battle, trapped a blanket around her infant,

I holding 11 In her teeth, plunged Into the Mississippi, seised hold
of the tall of vpony, whose rider wras swimming the river, and 03 that
meant she aran taken safely acron .
II

126 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

small childreu took refuge under the river bank, but
were found by the soldiers, and murdered in cold blood.1

SHAUBENA. *'v

A few years after the Black Hawk war, Shaubena,
with his band of followers, consisting of about one
hundred and forty in number, were encamped for some
weeks on Bureau, near the crossing of the Dixon road.
At that time the writer was living close by Shan-
bena's encampment, and was frequently in his wigwam,
and from him learned much of his history, as well as
other facts relating to the Indians of this county.
Shaubena .-aid that he was of the Ottawa tribe, but 'in
his youth he married the daughter of a noted Potta-
watamie chief, whom he succeeded at his death, which
occurred a few years afterwards, as one of the principal
chiefs of the tribe. In 1811 he accompanied Tecumseh
in his mission to the Creek Indians, in Mississippi, and
was with him at the council of Vincennes. At the
time of the British war, in 1812, he was made a war
'■hief. was an aid to Tecumseh, and stood by his side
when he fell at the battle of the Thames.*)" Shaubena

This name has been spelled in various ways; such as Shaubena.
Shabbona, and Shawbonee. The former mode of spelling has been
adopted, on account of its appearing, so in the Indian treaties.

When Dick Johnson was Vice President, Shaubena visited Wash-
ington, and iiad an interview with him. in relation to the killing of
Tecumseh. After this interview, the Vice President took the old
warrior by the arm, introducing him to the heads of the departments,
on separating, Johnson gave Shaubena a heavy gold ring, as a token
of friendship, which lie wor« on his tinger until the day of his death.

SIIAUBEN \.

•in part km-

•II

. i - ihi

id

i'er tbrpu e
w ir to join

•®E»

TILDE* F04J*n*r,„^

.-.I'll, on

t When Die
ington, and hj
Tecumseh.
warrior by th
' >ii separating
of friendship,

SHAUBENA. 129

was a fine looking Indian, tall and straight, with broad
shoulders, a large head, and a stranger could sec by his
general appearance that he was no ordinary personage.
He spoke the English language very imperfectly, and
was uot celebrated as a great orator in his native tongue,
but bis superior knowledge of men and things, gave
him great influence over his people. After the death
of Senachwine and Black Partridge, no chief between
the lake and Mississippi exercise*] so much influence
over the Indians, as Shaubena. His home was at
aubena Grove, now DeKalb county; but for thirty
vears he had made Bureau his hunting ground, and
.<•!! known by many of the early settlers. Shau-

* « >

bena had two wives, one of whom was the partner of
his youth, and bv her he had many grown up children.
A . later period, he had married a young squaw, and
bv whom he had three small children. Between tin-
old and young squaw, quarrels were very common,
some of which would result in open hostility. One
day Shaubena said to the writer, ii was strange thai his
squaws could not agr< there were onh two of

them, while other chic!'- could have a do/en or more.
and all of whom would live together in perfect harmony,
§ [aubena said at the commen it of the Black

rlawk war. seventeen of hie young warrior- pan oft
imd joined the Sacs and Foxi s, two of whom partici-
i in the Indian ( In ek in well as the

killing of Phillips. I or this offense lie never forgave
them, and tic\ were not allowed after the w join

130 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

his band. One of these only, a brother of his young
squaw, he pardoned, and again reinstated him in favor
with the band. This Indian was tall and lank, with a
savage look; had one hand shot off in the battle of
Wisconsin river, and was present at the Indian Creek
massacre; and through him the writer obtained many
facts relating to that event.

At the commencement of the Black Hawk war,
Shaubena went to Dixon's ferry, to offer the services of
himself and warriors of his band to Gov. Reynolds, r<-
tiirlit against the Sacs and Foxes. Mounted on his
pony, and alone, he arrived at Dixon's ferry on the
same day that Stillman's army reached there. The
soldiers, believing Shaubena to be an enemy in disguise,
dragged him from his pony, took away his gun and
tomahawk, and otherwise mistreated him, telling him
they had left home to kill Indians, and he should be
their first victim. A man, running at the top of his
speed, came to Dixon's house, and told him that the
soldiers had taken Shaubena prisoner, and were about
to put him to death. Mr. Dixon, in all haste, ran to
the rescue, when he found the soldiers (who were
somewhat under the influence of liquor), about to stain
their hands with innocent blood. Dixon, claiming the
prisoner as an old friend, took him by the arm and
conducted him to his own house, when he was after-
wards introduced to Gov. Reynolds, Gen. Atkinson.
( Jol. Taylor, and others.

Shaubena, with his warriors, joined Atkinsons army,

shaubena's ADVENTURE AT CHICAGO. 131

and participated in all the battles during the war. In
the fall of 1836, he and his hand abandoned their
reservations of land at the grove, giving way to the
tide of emigration, and went west of the Mississippi.
But Shaubena's fidelity to the whites, caused him to be
persecuted by the Sacs and Foxes. In revenge, they
killed his son and nephew, and hunted him down Like
a wild beast. Two years after goine; west, in order to
save his life, he left his people, and with a part of his
family returned to this county. For Borne years he
traveled from place to place, visitinga number of eastern
cities, where he was much lionized, and received many
valuable presents. Many of our citizens will recollect
his last visit to Princeton, in 1857, while on his way
eastward. At that time Shaiibena came to the residence
<>f the writer, and an old acquaintance of twenty-two
\ear- standing was renewed. He inquired after many
of the old settlers of his acquaintance, ami on being
told that they were in their graves, tear.- filled his eyes.
Shaubena died in July, L-s59, on the bank of the
Illinois river, near Seneca, in the eighty fourth year of
hie age; and contrary to hie wish, he was buried in
Morris cemetery. No monument marks the last resting

* *

place of this friend of the white man.

-iia I i;i:n Lfi w<\ in I I RE vi I HIC kG< >.

Shaubena, while in con^ creation with the writer, ga\ e

an are,, nnt of a Visit t<. Chicago, in L812. at the time

132 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

of massacreing the troops under Capt. Heald. He
said : " It was in the afternoon of the fatal day, a few
hours after the battle, when in company with twenty-
two warriors, he arrived at Chicago. Along the beach
of the lake, where the battle was fought, lay forty-one
dead bodies — the remains of soldiers, women and
children, all of which were scalped, and more or less
mutulated. The body of Capt. Weils was lying in one
place, and his head in another: these remains were
gathered up by Black Partridge, and buried in the sand
near where he fell. The prisoners were taken to the
Indian encampment, and closely guarded, to prevent
their escape. John Kinzie, an Indian trader, whose
house stood on the north side of the river, opposite
Fort Dearborn, had been for some years trading with
the Indians, and among; them he had many friends.
By special favor, lie was allowed to return to his own
house, accompanied by his family, and the wife of
Lieut. Helm, who was badly wounded.

"That evening, about sundown, a council of chiefs
was called to decide the fate of the prisoners; and it
was agreed to deliver them up to the British com-
mander at Detroit, in accordance with the terms of
capitulation. After dark, many warriors from a distance
came into camp, who were thirsting for blood, and were
determined to murder the prisoners, regardless of the
stipulated terms of surrender. Black Partridge,* with

:: Black Partridge had a village on the Illinois l'iver, a short distance
below the present site of Henry. According to the statement of Shan-

8HAUBENA8 ADVENTUKE AT CHICAGO. 133

a few of liis friends, surrounded Kinzie's house, to

protect the inmates from the tomahawks of these blood-
thirsty savages.'1 Shaubena further said, "that he,
with other warrior-, were standing on the porch, wi
their sruns crossing the doorway, when a body of hostile
warriors, with blackened faces, rushed by them, forcing
their way into the house.

"The parlor was now full of Indians, who stood with
their tomahawks and scalping knives, awaiting the
signal from their chief, when they would commence the
work of death. Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kinzie.
"We have done everything in our power to save you,
hut all is now lost: you.and your friends, together with
all the prisoner.- at the camp, will be .-lain." Art
moment a canoe was heard approaching the shore, wi,
Black Partridge fan down to the river, trying in the
darkness to nuke out the new comer.-, and at the same
time shouted, " Who are you, friend or foe?'" In the

bena, he was an Indian >i more than ordinary intellect, and v
alwaye a friend ol the whites. The reader will recollect an accouni
bin u In Mrs. Kin >ok, saving the life of Mrs. Helm, at

Chicago n e, by taking tier away from a and bearing h

off, wounded and bleeding, inc. the lake. Uso bis lntervl< w «
1 apt. Heald, on the morning ol th< day. On entering the i

Bla ; to the commanding officer, Capt bleald: '•] h»

come to'deliver ap to \ rou this medal, which \\ m i" me bj >

i" »ple, a token ol friendship. Our young warriors are resol
Imbrue their hands in blood; I can nol restrain them,' and [ will i
wear an emblem <>i friendship while I am compelled to
enemj " Notwithstanding IllackPartrid lendshlp for the whil

\\ \« e< k» after* .-. and cornfield w<

md camp equipage curried off, many ■>! h pie K i : l « -< I . and

remainder <>i ins band driven off i" ;i itrange country \ h
account ol the destruction ol Black Partridge's vill immunlcated

the writer i> ■ n Wh i it! be fonnd

another i>:in <>t t * • i — u oi

134 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

bow of the approaching canoe, stood a tall, manly

personage, with a rifle in his hand ; and as the canoe
came to shore, he jumped off on the beach, exclaiming,
in a loud, clear voice, the musical notes of which rang
forth on the still night air: "I am the Sau-ga-nash !"*
"Then," said Black Partridge, "hasten to the house,
for our friends are in danger, and you alone can save
them.'1 Billy Caldwell, for it was he, ran to the house,
entering the parlor, which was full of hostile Indian.-,
and by threats, and entreaties, prevailed on them to
abandon their murderous designs: and by him Kinzie's
family, with the prisoners at the fort, were saved from
death.

* Billy Caldwell, called by the Indians Sau-ga-nash, was a half-breed,
and said to have been a son of Col. Caldwell, a British officer. He was
one of the principal chiefs among the Pottawatamies, and was well
known by the early settlers of Chicago.

CHAPTER XV

INDIAN CREEK SETTLEMENT.

After Shaubena had warned the settlers on Bureau
of their danger, he went to Indian creek and Holder-
man's grove, and irave notice to them also. Bui
unfortunately, some of the settler.- disregarded hi-
warning, and thereby paid the forfeit with their lives.
This tragedy, which we are about to relate, occurred
outside oi the limits of Bureau county, and therefore

<

might he regarded by the reader as foreign to our storv.
But it nni-t be remembered that some of the victims
were resident- of this county, others had been previ-
ously, and the surviving members of the murdered
families resided here for many years afterwards : s< i that
it is properly one of Ha- incident- connected with the
<arl\ settlement of Bureau county. It is also evidenl
tiiat these murders were committed l»\ Indian.-, who
belonged on Bureau, being the same guerrilla hand
thai bad searched in vain for victims along Bureau
timber, a few davs before. The account of this massacre

N

L36 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

is taken from statements made to the writer, by the
surviving members of the murdered families, a short
time after it occurred, and also from the statement of
au Indian who participated in the murder.

In the spring of 1830, William Daviess made a claim
on Indian creek, twelve miles north of Ottawa, and had
built his cabin close by the creek bank. A few rods
from his cabin he had built a blacksmith shop, he being
a blacksmith by trade. He had also commenced
building a mill, and the dam for that purpose was
already completed. Some miles up the creek, was an
Indian village, and its inhabitants were angry at Daviess
for building this dam, as it prevented the fish from
ascending the stream. Each day the Indians were in
the habit of coming down below the dam to fish, and
on one occasion they threatened injury to Daviess"
family if it was not removed, so the fish could come up
to their village. A number of days had now passed
away since the Indians were down to fish, and none had
been seen along the creek, or in the neighborhood.
The absence of the Indians caused Daviess to fear that
they intended revenge on him and family, for what they
considered a trespass on their rights. In order to
compromise this matter, Daviess, accompanied by one
of his neighbors, named John Henderson, went up to
the village for the purpose of making the Indians some
presents, and thereby retain their good will. But on
arriving at the village, they found it deserted, and no
Indians could be discovered in the vicinity, so they

INDIAN CREEK SETTLEMENT. L31

started homewards. On their return home, night over-
took them, and in the darkness they lost their way,
consequently they were obliged to lay out all night.
Daviess not returning at night as was expected, his
family believed that he had 'been murdered by the

• #

Indian-, and the next morning, before it was light, they
left for the fort at Ottawa. When Daviess came home
and found his family gone, he followed after and over-
took them in their flight, causing the fugitives to return
again to their home. On their way homeward, thev
were met by the family of William Hall, who were

* •

also On their way to the fort, but through the persuasion
of Mr. Daviess, they returned with him to his house.

William Hall, who is referred to in a previous chapter
of this story, had a short time before sold his claim,
where La Moille now standi, to Aaron Gunn. and with
hi- family moved to Indian creek. He had been at his
new home but a few weeks, having made claim.- for
himself and sons, and was engaged in building a cabin
when the war broke out.

Mr. Pettigrew had a claim in the neighborhood, and
with hi- family, had. been two day- in the fort at ( Ottawa.
B ilieving that* there was no danger of Indian depred i
tions, he returned t«> Daviess1 house, about noon on tin-
<la\ of tin- massacre. T vo young men, Robert Norris
ami [enn George, were al Daviess house al the time
«>t" the massacre. The former lived with Mi-. Hend<
-on. a neighbor, and wa- .it tin- blacksmith shop at the
time, in order ti> have some work done. The latter.

188 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Henry George, belonged to the Bureau settlement,

owned a claim, and had bnilt a cabin on the present
site of Bureau Junction. He was at the time on a
visit to Hall's family, and gossip said that he was
courting one of his daughters. Mr. Phillips, a mill-
wright by trade, who was engaged in building a mill
for Daviess, with his wife and child, were among the
victims. Both Daviess and Hall had grown up sons,
and with the other visitors at the house, they considered,
themselves of sufficient strength to repel an attack of
the Indians.

On the morning of the fatal day, Shaubena, with his
pony in a foam of sweat from excessive traveling, called
at Daviess' house, and told the inmates that a band of
hostile Indians had been for some days on Bureau, and
on the evening before they were seen crossing the
prairie in the direction of Indian creek timber. On
receiving this information, Hall was in favor of leaving
immediately lor Ottawa, hut Daviess, who was a very
resolute man, opposed it, saying that lie did not fear
the Indians, and that no red skin could drive him away
from home.

INDIANS LEAVE BUREAU FOR INDIAN CREEK.

After the murder of Sample and wife, as narrated in
a previous chapter, rhe Indians broke up their camp at
the Knox spring, and left for Indian creek settlement.
Grirty dressed in Sample's clothes, and mounted on his
horse, with the scalp of ]lv±. Sampie suspended from
his ueck, considering himself " The Big Injun." On

THE MASSACRE. 189

arriving at the Indian creek settlement, they secreted
themselves in the thick timber, and from here they sent
out spies in various directions, to make discoveries.
One of these spies visited the residence of Mr. Davie—.
and by crawling on Ins hands and knees through the
underbrush, he came close to the house, so that he
learned the number of inmate-, a.- well as their means
of defense. On returning to his comrades, and re-
porting hi.- discovery, the Indians mounted their ponies,
and followed down the creek timber, until they came
within one mile of Daviess1 cabin. Here, in the thick
timber they dismounted, tying their ponies to tre<
and then proceeded on foot, in order to carry out tic
murderous designs; being conducted by two Pottawa-
mie Indians, who were raised on Indian creek, and who
were well acquainted with the surroundings of the
house. These Indians led the attacking party with
great caution, crawling along under the creek hank,
until they approached within a few rods of the hous< .
without being discovered by their victims.

THE MA88AORE.*

It was about four o'clock in the afternoon of May

* Shaubena, in conversation with (he writer, stated thai the depre
dations <>u [ndlao creek and i'<»\ river, were committed by [ndia
wh<» belonged ">n Bureau. In this band werea f< - and Fo>

with two warriors belonging t" Bhaubena's band, one ol whom *
his own brother-in-law. Indian chiefs, whom the writer met In
Washington, made the same statement, and It I • h<

two Mil n.-iiK, who tat m«>v| of the Indians al the massaer*

were Pottawatamles, two "i whom thej had seen '

»ra conducted the captive Hall girls »>■ I
Hawk t camp, while the Pottawatamles continued their depred I

. i her loculll

140 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

21st. while the men were at work in the blaekmith
shop, and the women busy with their household affairs,
unconscious of danger, a dog barked, and on looking
out at the door, about seventy Indians, with painted
faces, were seen entering the door yard. Mr. Petti-
grew, who was in the house, attempted to shut the
door, but was shot down while in the act of doing so.
Part of the Indians rushed into the house, killing the
women and children with their tomahawks and scalping
knives, while the others, with deafening yells, attacked
the men at the blacksmith shop. The assault was so
sudden, that the men were unprepared to make a
successful defense; although thev had their "runs with
them, there was not sufficient time for their use, as the
savages were among them in a moment, using their
guns and tomahawks on their victims. William Hall
was shot down instantly; Robert Norn's had grabbed
his gun, and was in the act of shooting, when he too
was killed. William Daviess, who was a large, resolute
man. defended himself for some time, using the breech
of his gun over the heads of the savaires, bending the
barrel in the struggle, but was at last overpowered and
killed. Blood and hair were found on Daviess's gun
barrel, and the ground where his remains lay showed
the marks of a desperate struggle. Near by was a pool
of blood, where an Indian was thought to have been
killed, and carried away by his comrades. Henry
G-eorge jumped into the mill pond, but was shot while
swimming across it. One of Dalies-1 sons, a lad of

THE MASSACRE. 141

fourteen, was caught by an Indian, while crossing the
mill dam, tomahawked, and his remains thrown into
the water. John W., a son of William Hall, ran and
jumped off the creek bank, as many shots were
tired at him. By keeping close under the hank of
the creek, out of their sight, he succeeded in making
his escape. Three young men, Edward and Greenberry
Hall, and a son of Mr. Daviess, were at work in the
field; hut on seeing the Indians killing their people,
they unhitched their oxen from the plow, and tied with
all haste for Ottawa, which place they reached in safety.
When the Indians entered Daviess1 house, they with
fiendish yells commenced killing the inmate-: some
were Bhot down, others dispatched with knives, sp<
or tomahawks, Mrs. Phillips was found with her
infant clasped in her arms, both having their heads
split open by a tomahawk, and werelyingin theirgore.
An Indian snatched an infant out of its mother's arms,
and knocked its brains out against the door frame.
Sylvia and Rachel Hall, and Miss Daviess, jumped on
a bed in order to escape the tomahawk of the Indians.
Mi— Daviess was immediately shot, while R he!
Hall's fa<-e was bo close to the muzzle of the gun as to
hum it to a blister. The [ndians afterwards told, with
infernal glee, how the women and children squawked
like duck-, when the) felt the cold BteeJ pierce their
bodies.

A short distance from Daviess cabin lived two fami-
lies, by the name of Henderson, grandfather and uncle

142 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

of Gen. Henderson, of Princeton. Two days before
the massacre, thev were notified of their danger by
Shaubena, and had taken their women and children to
the fort at Ottawa, while the men returned to work on
their claims. On hearing the firing of guns at Daviess1
cabin, and knowing that the Indians were murdering
their friends, thev hurried to their assistance, but <>n
seeing the strength of the attacking party, thev knew
that assistance would be useless, and only throwing
away their own lives, so they turned back and tied for
Ottawa.

FIFTEEN PERSONS KILLED, TWO GIRLS CAPTURED.

After the Indians had completed their work of
horror, leaving fifteen dead bodies scalped and dreadfully
mutilated, they returned to the place where they had
left their ponies. They took with them a number of
horses, which belonged to the murdered families; also
clothing, provisions, and everything they could use.
They shot horses, cattle, and hogs; even chickens in
the barn yard did not escape their fury. Two daughters
of Mi'. Hall, Sylvia, aged eighteen, and Rachel, aged
fourteen, were taken prisoners, and carried off into the
Indiai i country.

When the massacre was completed, four Indians took
hold of the girls, one holding on to each arm, and
hurried them off as fast as possible, through the woods,
to where their ponies were tied. Here the Indians had

KILLED AND CAPTURED. 143

collected together, and over the prisoners they held a
council to decide about the disposition of them. Girty
wa> in favor of killing the girls on the spot, and thereby
save the trouble of taking them to Black Hawk's camp,
which was about ninety miles distant. But the will of
Girtv was overruled by a majority of the warriors, who
had in view, no doubt, the large reward that would be
paid tbr their ransom. The girls were placed on
horses, Sylvia on one which belonged to her father, and
Rachel on a ^rav horse, that was owned by one of the
Hendersons, and had been rode to the blacksmith shop
bv Robert Norris, a few moments before the massacre.

■

Two Indians rode bv the side of the girls, holding the
reins of their horses to prevent their escape, and in this
position they galloped away.

A son of Mr. Daviess, named James, a lad seven or
eight years of age, was taken prisoner with the Hall
girls. But after going a short distance through the

w Is, in the direction of their ponies, the boy gave

(»nt. no t being able t<> travel sofasl a- the rest of the
party, and the two Indian- who had him iii charge,
made him Btand up to be >h«»t. Little Jimmy, as lie

wa> called, pale a- death, Stood like a marble statue,

without moving a muscle, to receive the fatal -hot.
While the boi was -till struggling in the agonies of
death, the savages took oil' hi- scalp, leaving the bod}

where it fell. t<» be devoured l.\ Wol\e-.

Two days after the massacre, a company of rangers,
many of whom belonged t.. Bureau settlement, went to

144 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Indian creek to bury the dead. All the bodies of the
victims were found, and buried, except that of little
Jimmy, the fate of which was not known until some
time afterwards.

SHERIFF WALKER S TWO INDIAN PRISONERS.

Next spring, after the Black Hawk war, two Potta-
watamie Indians were charged with taking part in the
Indian creek massacre, and were indicted for murder by
the Circuit Court of La Salle county. Sylvia and
Rachel Hall testified that thev knew these Indians
having been to their house before the war, and proposed
buying them of their father. These Indians were
arrested, and bound over to court; but the time of
holding court having been changed, the prisoners,
thinking that they would not be wanted, went west
with their band. George E. Walker, an Indian trader,
was at that time sheriff of La Salle county, and he,
with others, was security for the appearance of these
Indians. Walker went alone in search of the prisoners,
and found them west of the Mississippi, far out in the
Indian country. A council of chiefs was called, and it
was decided that the accused Indians should accompany
Walker to Ottawa, to stand their trial for murder. The
Indians bade farewell to their friends, believing that
they would be executed upon their arrival at Ottawa,
and to all appearance were reconciled to their fate.
For many days the sheriff, with his prisoners, traveled

SHERIFF WALKER'S TWO INDIAN PRISONERS. 145

through an Indian country, camping out at night, and
all -sleeping together. Sometimes the Indians would
go off on a hunt, in order to supply the cam}) with
provisions, and could have made their escape at any
time, but they had pledged their honor to give them-
selves up at Ottawa, and not even the preservation of
their lives, could induce them to forfeit this pledge.

As Sheriff Walker was returning with his prisoners,
he was met on West Bureau by Peter Demott, an old
pioneer hunter. The party was traveling on the Sacs
and Fox trail, mounted on Indian ponies, and carrying
guns on their shoulders. — the sheriff leading the way,
and followed by the Indians in single file. Demotl
recognized one of these Indians as an old friend, with
whom he had hunted on Green river two years before.

This Indian appeared dejected in spirits, saying that
he was going to Ottawa to die, expressing himself
willing to he shot like a brave, hut disliked the idea of
being hung by the neck, like a dog.

Court came on, and the Indians were tried, hut
having their faces painted in sucli a way that the Hall
girls could not swear positively to their identity, conse
quently they were acquitted, and allowed to return t«»
their friends.

CHAPTER XVI.

CAPTIVITY OF SYLVIA AND RACHEL HALL.

The following account of the captivity of the two
Miss Halls, was principally taken from statements made
to the writer by one of the captives, (Rachel Hall), a short
time after the Black Hawk war. Although this account
differs in many particulars from others heretofore pub-
lished, it will, nevertheless, be found correct in the main.
It is given in language as though narrated by the
captive, and in some instances her own words are used :

After being placed on horseback, and guarded by two
Indians, who rode by our side, holding on to the reins
of the bridles, as narrated in the preceding chapter, we
commenced our long, tedious journey. We rode most
of the time on a canter, and the Indians frequently
looked back, as though they were afraid of being
followed by the rangers, who were at that time roaming
through the country. We continued to travel at a
rapid rate, until near midnight, when we halted to rest
our horses. After resting about two hours, we continued

CAPTIVITY OF SYLVIA AND BACHF.L H,\LL. 147

our journey, traveling' all night, and next day until

noon, when we again halted. Here our captors turned

out their horses to graze, built a tire, scalded some beans.

and roasted some acorns, of which they offered us some

to eat, but we declined tasting. We remained in

camp a few hours; during that time the Indians were

engaged in dressing the scalps, by stretching them i m

small willow hoops. Among these scalps I recognized

my mother's, by the bright color of the hair — the sight

of this produced in me a faint ness, and I fell to the

ground in a swoon, from which I was soon after aroused,

in order to continue our journey. After leaving the

camp we traveled more leisurely than before, until

about nine o'clock at night, we reached the camp of

Black Hawk, after having rode near ninety miles in

twenty-eight hours.

We found the Indian cam]) on the hank of a creek,

surrounded by marshy ground, over which were scat-
tered burr <>ak trees, being, as we afterwards learned,
near the Four Lakes, (now Madison City, Wisconsin).
On our arrival in camp, a number of squaws came to
i >ur assistance, taking ns from our horses, and conducted
us int«> a wigwam. These squaws were very kind to
as, and gave as some parched corn and maple Bugar to
cat, it being the tirst food that we had tasted since <»ur

■

captivitj .

Our arrival in camp caused greal rejoicing among the
[ndians. A large body of warriors collected around as,
beating on drums, dancing and yelling, al the top of

148 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

their voice. Next morning our fear of massacre or
torture had somewhat subsided, and we were presented
with beans and maple sugar for breakfast. They also
offered us coffee to eat, which had been taken out of
Daviess' house, not knowing that it required to be
ground and boiled before being used. About ten
o'clock, the camp was broken up, and we moved five or
six miles, crossing a creek, and encamped on high
ground, which was covered with timber. We were
provided with horses to ride, and behind us was packed
camp equipage, which consisted of tents, kettles, pro-
visions, &c. On arriving at our new camp, a white
birch pole was stuck into the ground, on which were
hung the scalps of our murdered friends, being exhibited
here as trophies of war. About fifty warriors, who
were divested of clothing, and their faces painted red,
danced around this pole to the music of drums and
rattling gourds. Every day during our stay with the
Indians, this pole containing the scalps was erected,
and the dance repeated.

One morning, a party of warriors came to our lodge,
and took us out, placing in our hands small red flags,
and made us march around the encampment with them,
stopping and waving the flags at the door of each wig-
wam. After this we were taken to the dance ground, by
the side of the white pole containing the scalps, and by
the side of which a blanket was spread. After painting
our faces, one half red, and the other black, we were
nude to lav down on the blanket, with our faces to the

CAPTIVITY OF SYLVIA AND RACHEL HALL. 149

ground. The warrior.- then commenced dancing around
us, flourishing their tomahawks and war clubs over our
heads, and veiling like demons. We now thought our
time had come, and we quietly awaited our fate,
expecting every moment to be our last. When the
dance was over, we were taken away by two squaws, who
we understood to be the wives of Black Hawk. Bv

*

these squaws we were adopted as their children ;
although separated, we were allowed to visit each other
Frequently. Each day our camp was moved a few
miles, always traveling in a circular route. Along the
trail, at short intervals, the Indians would erect poles,
with tufts of grass tied on one side, showing to the
hunter.- in what direction the camp could be found.
Our tears of massacre had entirely disappeared, being-
adopted into the families of these squaws, not being
required to do any work, but watched closely in order
to prevent our escape.

Some days after our arrival in Black Hawk's camp,
we were told that we must go with two Winnebago
chiefs, who had come for us. The squaws with whom

we lived, were greatly distressed at the thought of
parting with us. The Winnebago chiefs tried t<> make
us understand that they were about to take us o- white

■

people, but we did not believe them. Thinking that
they intended f<» take as further from home and friends,
we clung to the squaws, and refused t<» go. Contrary
to our wish, we were placed on horses, behind each

the chiefs, and with n> they galloped away, traveling

L50 REMINISCENCES OF BUREA.U COUNTY.

twenty miles that same night. The chiefs said that
they were afraid of being followed by some of the Sacs
and Foxes, who were displeased at our departure. Every
few moments the chiefs would look back to see if thev

i

were pursued, then whip their ponies again into a
gallop. Some time after dark, we arrived at the Win-
nebago camp, where we remained over night. Early
next morning we continued our journey, traveling all
day, when we arrived at an encampment on the bank
of Wisconsin river, where there were about one hundred
warriors. During next day a party of Sac Indians,
dressed in the clothes of murdered white men, came
into camp. These Indians commenced talking to us.
but the Winnebago chiefs told us to turn away from
them, and not listen to what they said, which we did.

It was afterwards ascertained that a petty chief, who
had captured the girls, was off on a hunt at the time
they were given up to the Winnebago chiefs, and not
receiving his portion of the ransom, immediately started
with a party of warriors to retake them, or kill them
in the attempt. These warriors did not overtake the
girls until they arrived safe at the Winnebago camp.

One of the chiefs asked us if we thought the whites
would hang them if they took us to the fort, to which
we replied thev would not, but would give you many
presents for your trouble. Next morning the two
chiefs who had us in charge, accompanied by about
thirty warriors, started with us. Crossing the river, we
traveled southward all day until after dark, when we

CAPTURE OF SYLVIA AND RACHEL HALL. 151

camped for the night. Early next morning, as soon as
it was light, we continued our journey, and in the
afternoon we reached the fort, at Blue Mounds. Before
our arrival thither, we were convinced that our pro-
tectors were taking us to our friends, and we had done
them great injustice. About three miles from the fort,
we came to a halt, and the Indians cooked some venison,
and we all set down on the ground and eat it. After
dinner, one of the Indians took a white handkerchief
winch I wore on my head, tied it on a pole, and pro-
ceeded to the fort. We followed after this Indian
untii we came within a half-mile of the fort, when we
were met by a Frenchman, on horseback. The Indian.-
formed a circle, and the Frenchman rode into it, and
had a talk with them. The chiefs were unwilling to
give us up until they had. seen Mr. Gratiot, the Indian

•tit, who was then absent. After being assured by
the Frenchman that we would be well treated until Mr.
Gratiot's return, we were delivered up to the French-
mail, and taken to the fort.

A few days alter the capture of the two Miss Halls,
their oldesl brother, John W. Hall, went with a regi-
ment of volunteers, marching from Fort Wilburo uorth
to join the army in pursuil of Black Hawk. (>m
arriving ai tin- lead mines, and Informing Mr. Gratiol
and (icn. Dodge of his Bisters1 captivity, Mr. Gratiol
emploved t\s<> friendly Winnebago chief'-, named
Whirling Thunder and Fit <» poo, t<» buy the prisoner

152 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

from the Sacs and Foxes ; and the chiefs left for Black
Hawk's camp, on their mission of mercy.

It was agreed that the prisoners should be delivered
up on the payment of two thousand dollars in cash and
forty horses, besides a large number of blankets, beads,
&c. After buying the girls, a difficulty arose, which
came nigh defeating their plan s. A young chief claimed
Rachel as his prize, intending to make her his wife,
and was unwilling to give her up, saying that he would
tomahawk her rather than let her go. The matter was
finally compromised, by giving him ten additional
horses; but on parting with her he drew forth his
scalping knife and cut off a lock of her hair, to keep
as a trophy of his warlike exploit.

A short time after this affair, Major, now Colonel
Dement, of Dixon, while in command of a spy bat-
talion, was attacked by a large body of Indians at
Buffalo Grove. The troops retreated into a block
house, where they held the Indians at bay. A young
chief, while leading his warriors forward to storm the
block house, was shot by the Rev. Zadoch Casey, who
was afterwards Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. On
the head of this young chief was a wreath of laurels in
acknowledgment of his bravery, and around his neck was
lock of braided hair, which was afterwards found to be
the same taken from the head of Rachel Hall.

When the girls arrived at the fort, their clothes were
torn almost into rags, and having no protection

CAPTURE OF SYLVIA AND RACHEL HALL. 153

for their heads except handkerchiefs, they were badly
sunburned. The women at the fort furnished the girls
with clothes, and they were greatly rejoiced to meet
their brother, John W., whom they supposed was killed

at the time of their captivity.

An account of the captivity of these girls was
heralded throughout the United States, and there was
great rejoicing at their rescue. The girls were much
lionized by the people at the fort, and received from
them many presents. Nicholas Smith, now of West
Bureau, being engaged in teaming for the army, took
the girls in his wagon, and carried them to a fort near
Galena, at which point they were put on board of the
steamboat Winnebago, and carried to St. Louis, where
they were received and entertained by Gov. Clark.
While at St. Louis they were met by the Rev. Erastus
Horn, an old friend of their father, who frequently
] (reached on Bureau while president of the Protestant
Methodist Church. Mr. Horn took the girls to his
home, in Morgan county, and acted the part of a father
to them. Soon after, their brother John W., married
and settled on the Seaton place, now in the town of
Selby, and the girls came and lived with him. The
legislature gave them a quarter section of canal land
at Joliet Congress also voted them money as a
donation.

Svlvia married the Rev. William Horn, a son of their
protector, and now lives at Lincoln, Nebraska. Rachel
married William Mhiimhi. and moved to Freehold,
La Salle county, at which place she died a few months

ago.

Rachel Hall, at the time of her captivity, wa> sixteen
years of age instead of fourteen, as previously stated.

CHAPTER XVII.

GIRTY S BAND VISIT FOX RIVER SETTLEMENT.

Shaubena had sent his nephew, a young brave by
the name of Pvps, to Fox river settlement to warn the
settlers of their dano-er."* On being notified of their
danger, George Hollenback, Mr. Ackley, Mr. Harris,
and others, left immediately for a place of safety. Mr.
Hollenback, with his family, left in a wagon ; but Mr.
Ackley, having no wagon, himself, wife and two
children , fled on horseback. It was about sundown when
the settlers fled from their cabins, and made their way
across the prairie, in the direction of Plainfield. After

* For this act of kindness in giving notice to the settlers, young
Pyps lost his life at the hands of those savages who were robbed of
their victims. Those who have visited Shaubena's camp, must have
noticed two young Indians of remarkably fine appearance, and whose
physiognomy showed more than ordinary intellect. One of these
young Indians was Pyps, a nephew, and the other Pyp-a-gee, a son of
Shaubena, — the latter known among the settlers by the name of BiU
Shaubena. Pyp-a-gee had a great desire to marry a white squaw, as he
termed it ; for that purpose he frequently visited the cabins of settlers
and on different occasions attempted to make love to white girls.

In the fall of 1836, Pyps and Pyp-a-gee went west with their baud,
and soon afterwards these noble noung Indians were hunted down
and shot like wild beasts, by those savages who were prevented by
them from murdering the settlers of Fox river and Bureau.

gikty's band visit fox river settlement. 155

aroing about one mile, Hollenback's wagon stuck fast
in a slough, and lie went Lack to his house to get a pair
of double-trees, so that Acklev's horses could be hitched
on to the end of the wagon tongue. It was quite dark
when Hollenback reached his house, and as he came nigh
he saw a bright light shining through the cracks in the
clapboard door. A moment afterwards a person was
seen coming out of the house, with a blazing torch in
his hand, the light of which showed that the door vard
was full of Indians. Mr. Hollenback being within a
few yards of the Indians, was discovered by them, and
he lied at the top of his speed, followed by the savages,
yelling at the top of their voice; but being smart on
foot, and acquainted with the ground, he succeeded in
making his escape. Mr. Hollenback, in his night, losl
his reckoning, and after rambling about for Borne time,
he came to the house of his brother, Clark Hollenback.
As became nigh the house, he saw three men approach
it on horseback; not knowing whether they were
friends or foes, he secreted himself so as to watch their
movement-. These three men proved to be Kellogg.
Cummings, and Holderman, settlers at Elolderman'fl
Grove, who bad heard of Indians being Been in the
settlement, and bad come to Clark Hollenback's, (who
was an Indian trader), to inquire about it. A> the men
rode up to the house, they holloed, when they were
answered bv Borne BeventY shots from the Indians, who
were lying in ambush. Although at Bhort range, their
shots took no on the party, except slightly

156 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

wounding one of their horses. On receiving the fire,
thev wheeled their horses about and fled, followed by
the Indians, who were on foot. The Indians in pursuit
of the fugitives, passed within a few feet of where
Hollenback was lying, but in their anxiety to capture
their prey, did not discover him.

It has already been stated that the Anient family
settled at Red Oak Grove, in the spring of 1828 ; and
with one exception, they were the first settlers of this
county. About two years afterward, John L. and Justus
Anient built cabins on Bureau, while Edward, with his
mother and younger brothers, went to Fox river. Soon
after going there, Edward married a daughter of Mr.
Harris, above referred to, and old Mr. Combs, Mrs.
Harris's father, was living with them. When the
settlers were notified of their danger by young Pyps,
as previously stated, Mr. Harris and his two sons were
off hunting their horses, which had strayed away the
day before; and the family had no means of escape
except on foot. At that time, old Mr. Combs was
confined to his bed with inflammatory rheumatism, and
was therefore left behind. The family regretted to
leave him, but the old man's reply was, "Flee for
vour lives, and leave me to my fate ; I am an old man.
and can live but a short time at any rate." Soon after
the family left, a party of Indians entered the house,
and instead of killing Mr. Combs, as might have been
expected, they administered to his wants, and for nearly
a week they visited him daily, supplying him with food

ADAM PAINE, THE MISSIONARY. 157

and drink, as though he was their friend. Some days
afterwards, a company of rangers visited Harris's cabin,
where they found old Mr. Combs, much improved in
health, and they took him with them to Plainfield, and
from there to Chicago, where his friends had previously
fled.

ADAM PAINE, THE MISSIONARY.

The Rev. Adam Paine, a missionary among the
Indian-, whom we introduced at the commencement of
this story, had been stopping two days in Chicago, on
his return from Ohio. At that time the commander of
Fort Dearborn was pressing horses, in order to mount
part of the garrison as rangers. Paine having a horse,
which he prized very highly on account of hie good
qualities, was afraid of its falling into the hands of the
government, and to avoid it he left Chicago for the
home of his brother Aaron, who lived near Hennepin.
Paine was warned of the danger of traveling through
a country which was in the possession of savages, hut
he believed the Indians would not molest him. as he
had been preaching among them for many year.-, and

was known by most of them a.- Buzee, Cha-mo-co-ma/i.

which means a hairy white man.

( )n the morning that the Rev, Adam Paine left
Chicago, he mounted a Store DOX which Wtt Standing

at the further end of the military parade ground, (now
the corner of Water street and Michigan Avenue), and

commenced Hinging a h\mn. Hi> lood and inu.-ical

158 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

voice soon brought forth a large crowd of listeners,
including most of the people then living in Chicago,
and for about two hours tliev were held spell bound bv
the eloquence of the speaker. This was Paine's last
sermon, and it is described bv an eve-witness as ex-
ceeding in eloquence and power anything that he had
ever before heard. The whole audience, consisting of
traders, soldiers, citizens, and Indians, at the conclusion
of the sermon were left in tears.

About six weeks previous to the Indian war, the
writer heard Paine preach to a large audience, on the
public square of a town in Ohio, and his peculiar appear-
ance formed a picture in his then youthful imagination
which never can be erased. His long wavy beard, as
black as a coal, reached to his waist, and covered his
breast, while the hair of his head, equally long, hung
down over his back, together with his high, marble-
like forehead, and tall, manly form, gave to him a very
imposing appearance. His words and manner of
address had a magic effect on his hearers, and a number
of hardened sinners were converted under his preaching.
Although nearly forty years have passed awav since
hearing Paine preach, his sermon is as fresh in the
mind of the writer as though it was onlv delivered yes-
terdav.

V

MCRDER OF ADAM PAINE.

It was about two o'clock in the afternoon of a bright
May day, as the Rev. Adam Paine was slowlv pursuing:

MURDER OF ADAM PAINE. 159

bis way alone; an Indian trail, and through a grove of
timber, humming a favorite time, unconscious of
danger, when all of a sudden the report of guns wen-
heard, and on looking around, lie saw three Indians
approaching him with uplifted tomahawks, while yelling
at the top of their voice. One of the ball> had entered
Paine's shoulder, and another had pierced the lungs of
his horse. The horse was put into the gallop, and for a
time was fast leaving the Indians behind. But from lo-
ot' blood the horse soon stopped, staggered and fell dead.
In a moment the savages, with deafening yells, and
uplifted tomahawks came up with him ; Paine, with his
bible in one hand, and the other pointing heavenward,
appealed to the Indians for mercy. Two <>t' them
moved by this appeal, lowered their tomahawks, saying
that his lite should be spared, but the third one coming
up behind, struck him on the head, and he fell to the
ground, and expired in a few moments.

One of the Indian.- nit off Pained head, and taking
the beard, which was about two feet in length, in bis
bands, I \ the head over his shoulders, and in

this way it was carried into camp. The Indian- i
greatly delighted with their trophy, and they placed the
I icad on a pole, around which they commenced to da

Girty, i some twenty other warriors, were at that
time ofl <»!i :i Bcout, and on returning to camp they foui
their comrades rejoicing over tin:!- late su This

was food t"!' their savage nature, and imbibing tb "it
of the other warriors, thej to«. t <>. »k part in this barbarous

160 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

exercise. Around the pole they danced and yelled, and
yelled and danced, while the woods rang with their wild
whoops, the sound of which were re-echoed back from
the surrounding bluffs. Girty had supposed the head
on the pole to be that of a woman, mistaking the long
beard for the hair of the head. But on making an
examination, he recognized the head of Adam Paine,
his old friend, with whom he had traveled years before.
On making this discovery nothing could exceed the
grief of Girty ; with loud sighs and groans he beat his
breast with his hands, and for a few moments gave
himself up to feelings of remorse, then grasping his
tomahawk he was about to slay the murderer of his
friend, but was prevented from doing so by the inter-
ference of the other warriors.

Girty ordered the head of Paine taken down from
the pole, and with the body buried on a knoll near
where the murder was committed, and over the grave
he burned a sacrifice, which consisted of his most valu-
able articles, in order to appease the wrath of the Great
Spirit.

The murder of Paine was at the time heralded bv
newspapers throughout the Union, as he had been
known to be the leading spirit among the missionaries
of the west, and for his death a missionary paper of
Boston appeared in mourning.* His brother Aaron.

* The accounts relating to the murder and burial of the Rev. Adam
Paine are contradictory, and all efforts of the writer to harmonize
them have been a failure. One account says Paine's family, at the
commencement of the war, was living at Holderman's Grove, and

MURDER OF ADAM PAINE. 161

who lived east of Hennepin, on receiving the sad new-.
although a man of wealth and a minister of the gospel,
left everything to avenge his death, — shouldering bis
gun, and serving as a soldier in a company of volunteer-.
While in pursuit of Black Hawk, he was shot in the
shoulder by a small Indian boy, and from this wound
he still remains a cripple. Paine with other.- of his
company, while pursuing the retreating Indians came
up with a squaw and a small boy, who had crouched
behind a fallen tree, hut they passed by without mo-
lesting them. Ai'ter the rangers had passed, the hoy
raised his rifle, and shot Paine from his horse; and in
return, the boy and the squaw were riddled with balls.
Paine was thought to he mortally wounded ; and when
intelligence of his fall reached his family, they mourned

for his death. About three mouth.- after this event.
Paine, pale, and emaciated, rode up to his cabin door,
and w:i> hailed by his family and friend- a- one risen
from the dead.

Aaron Paine i- now living in Oregon, and for a

Dumber of years has been a member of the legislature

• ■

<>f that new state.

with others, fled to 01 tawa for protection. Paine being on his way t"
Ottawa, Btopped al Plalnfleld on the day thai the block house was
abandoned, and the settlers fled to Chicago. The people tried to prevail
"ii Paine to accompany them to Chicago; bul believing thai I
Indlaus would noi molesl him, contlnuedon hlswaj
Paine • eared, Gerton R. Hubbard, In command of a com pan 3 <•!

Col Moore s range™, found n dead body on the prairie, near Holder
ive, and some < I i ■- 1 :« 1 1 « •< • off" the bea 1 was round stuck <>n a
pol( 1 . emalns were tboughl :it the time to !>•• those <>t Adam

Mf, us the pt Ion. having long, block beard. [Jul

it is n<>\\ l>eileved thai the i>ody found by th< was that "i n

Dunkard. who lived In Pulton « nty, being on his waj home from

Chicago, bul in- ehed It, The bodj found .- 1 1 1 < I burled bj Huh

bard's company of ran the <1 tlon of th< nu

Dunkard, as well a« that ol Vdam Paine, which makes It quite prol
hie that 11 1 remains, and the Indlai I I on In relation to the

burial ol Pain ■•(.

CHAPTER XVIII.

BEARER OF THE GOVERNOR'S DISPATCH.

As the Indians were returning to Bureau from the
Indian creek settlement, they stopped at Lost Grove,
for a few hours, in order to rest their ponies and prepare
their dinner. They were encamped in the thick timber
near the center of the grove, while two of their number
were stationed as sentinels at the edge of the prairie.
While here on the lookout, they discovered a lone
traveler going in the direction of the Illinois river.
Notice was given to the band, when they all mounted
their ponies, and started in pursuit. But on arriving
at the head of the grove, they found the traveler far in
advance, and mounted as he was, on a fleet horse, which
would without doubt far outstrip their ponies, they
abandoned further pursuit.

The lone traveler, above alluded to, was a lad of about
fifteen years of age, by the name of Joseph Smith, a
son of Dad Joe, who has been referred to in a previous
chapter of our story. This lad was a bearer of a

BEARER OF THE GOVERN ORS DISPATCH. 163

dispatch from Gov. Reynolds, then at Dixon's ferry, to
the commander of volunteers at Fort Wilburn, a
temporary fortification which was located on the Illinois
river, opposite Pern. The Governor found great
difficulty in getting- this dispatch carried, as the country
was thought to be full of hostile savages; even veteran
soldiers, who made war their profession, could not be
induced to undertake this perilous journey. But this
boy alone and unarmed, without any road, traveled
forty-five miles through an unsettled country, regardless
oi danger, and accomplished the journey without being
molested. Before sundown that same day the Gov-
ernor's dispatch was safely delivered to the pro]
officer, when the soldiers at the fort swung their hats,
giving three cheers to its hearer. Gov. Reynold.- has
frequently been heard to speak of this affair as one of
the most heroic exploits of the Black Hawk war.*

GIRTY AM) HIS BAND RETURN To lil'RKAU.

After the [ndian creek massacre, and the attack on
Fox river settlement, the Indians returned to Bureau,
with the intention of burning the bouses, and killing
the stock belonging to the settlers. But <>n their return
bere th«-\ were mel by a runner from Black Hawk,
instructing them t<> remain on the frontier settlements,

♦An Lncidenl In connection with this aflhlr, showing the terror
existing among 1 1 1 « - people '>n account "i Indian depredations, Is
described t>> an eye-n n ness: A R s daj - prei m,us to this aflhlr, fifteen
persons were kiii«<i <>n Indian creek; Mr Dnrley, Mr. Winter, Sqaire
Holly, with many others, were known t<> have (Mien victims ;«> the

164 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

in order to pick off the settlers as they returned to look
after their property. Accordingly, they secreted them-
selves in the thick timber on Main Bureau, about four
miles north of Princeton, and from this place they sent
out small guerilla bands in various directions in search
of victims.

John Hall and William Hoskins, accompanied by
two hired men, left the fort east of Hennepin, and
came over to their farms, to look after their crops. Mr.
Hoskins was engaged in plowing corn, when his horse,
on coming nigh the timber, became frightened, and
refused to go further. He suspected that Indians were
lying in ambush, for the purpose of shooting him ; so
he unhitched the horse, and left the field as quick as
possible. Next year, after the war, an old squaw told
Mr. Hoskins that a party of Indians were, at that time,
concealed in the thick bushes, and could have shot him,
but were afraid of alarming John Hall and his two
hired men, who were at work in the adjoining held,
and whom tliev wished to kill at the same time. Dav
after day, small squads of Indians would lay in ambush
near cabins, or in points of timber, where people would

savage brutality of the Indians. Col. Taylor rode through the camp,
calling for a volunteer to carry the Governor's dispatch, but no one
was willing to risk his life in making the perilous journey. Dad Joe,
who was dressed in his long hunting shirt, with a large rope tied
around his waist, and speaking so loud as to be heard all over camp,
said : " God bless you, Colonel , I'll have that dispatch carried for you,"
and turning to his son, he said, "Joe, put the saddle on Pat, and carry
these papers to Port Wilburn." As the boy left on a canter, Dad Joe
shouted to him, in a voice that could be heard for a mile distant
saying, "Joe, keep away from the timber, out of gun shot of Indians,
and see that the saddle does not hurt Pat's back."

INDIANS ON A SCOUT. 165

be likely to pass. Some of the settlers, on returning
home after the war, found places near their cabins where
Indians had undoubtedly laid in ambush to watch their
return. The doors of many of the cabins were broken

»

open, and household goods carried oft' or destroyed.
Mounted rangers from Hennepin made frequent excur-
sions to Bureau settlement, but they would avoid the
timber as much as possible, so as to be out of the reach
of gun shots from Lurking Bavages. The Indians used
great caution in secreting themselves, to prevent their
presence being known, as this would keep the settlers
from returning to their homes, and thereby defeat thi
plans. During the daytime they would keep their
ponies hobbled while feeding, and at night tie them to
trees around their encampment. As they needed
provisions, they would kill fat cattle or hogs, which
belonged to the settlers, and also use grain and such
things a- they required. Chickens, turkey.- and young

pigs, appeared to be their great favorites, and the
premises «>t' some of the settlers were robbed of tin •
articles.

IN I MANS ON A SCOUT.

While Girty and his band of cut throats were
encamped on Bureau, nine of his party, who were
ambitious to acquire Game by taking scalps, Btarted oil
<>u a scout At the mouth of Bureau creek thei found
an old canoe, and tieing their ponies t<> tree-, t!
crossed the river. It was near Bundown, when the

166 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Indians landed on the east side of the river, and as thev
left the canoe to secrete themselves in the timber, thev
were discovered bv Dr. Ha vs. who came running into
town, with the utmost terror depicted in his counte-
nance, saying, "that he saw a dozen or more Indians a
short distance above the fort, skulking in the woods.'"
The presence of Indians alarmed the people very much,
as it was thought that a large body of them were
secreted in the timber, with the intention of attacking
the town that night. Hennepin, at that time, contained
but a few log cabins, but there were many families from
Bureau and other places, who had come here for pro-
tection, and were living in tents. Although they were
people enough here to have held at bay half of Black-
Hawk's army, they were taken by surprise, which had
created among them a perfect panic.

People were seen riming hither and thither, holloing
at the top of their voice, " Injuns, Injuns." Women,
with babes in their arms were hurrying to and fro,
crying and asking each person they met for assistance,
to save their little ones from the scalping knife of the
savages. Men, without hats or coats, armed with guns,
pitchforks, axes, &&, were seen running towards the fort.
Williamson Durley, in his haste, left his store door
<>pen, but soon ran back again, taking his money, which
consisted of seventy-eight dollars in silver, tore up one
of the puncheons of the floor, and with a spade dug a
hole in the ground and buried it. After replacing the
puncheon in the floor, he hurried back to the fort.

j

Mi

THEN?;
TOLICLIt

'AtTOR, LtNQX
TH.DEW FOWHOATiOMk

FLIGHT OE GEN. ATKINSON AND PARTY. 169

Hooper Warren and Mr. Blanchard, having no guns,
armed themselves with three tined pitch forks, taken
from Durley's store, and with them were prepared to
give the Indians a warm reception. All the al>le
bodied men were on duty all night, but no Indians
appeared. The Indians, knowing they were discoverer I .
re-crossed the river as soon as it was dark, pursued
their way southwest, and were next heard of at Boy* I
Grove.

FLIGHT OF GEN. ATKINSON'S PARTY.

About the middle of June, 1882, Gen. Atkinson.
accompanied by Gov. Reynolds and Col. Taylor,* with
an escort of twenty-five soldiers, belonging to the
regular army, crossed the country from Dixon's terry
to Fort Wilburn. While this party was on the prairie,
between Perkins' and Lost Grove, they encountered
I tpt. Willis' company of rangers. Each party mistook

At that time, Gen. Taylor, Late President of the United states, was
a Colonel In the army, and commanded a regimenl thru quartered al
Dixon's ferry. He accompanied (Jen. Atkinson to Fori Wilburn, t«»

Lai in organizing the volunteers, a Bhorl time previous, Gov.
i:> -\ Qolda bad i^-u<-.i a cai] for three thousand volunteers, who were to
rendezvous al Beardstownand Hennepin, all <>t whom were aft< rwards
ordered to Fori Wilburn, where they were mustered Into sen Ice, us
the supervision ol Gen Atkinson. Col. Taylor mel -'>m.' of thee*
volunteers al Hennepin, and escorted them t" Fori Wilburn, wh
they remained .-■ few dayi These troops marched to Dixon's ferry,
and the trail made by them through Bureau county, could t • for

rs afterwards. This trail passed aorth ol Lost* , through the

south end ol Perkins' Qrovo, and crossed the inlet a) Rock} ford.
1:

170 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the other for Indians, and both prepared for action.
After some maneuvering on each side, the regulars,
with Gen. Atkinson at their head, gave way, and were
pursued by the rangers. The race continued for a
number of miles across the prairie, in the direction of
the Illinois river, both pursuers and pursued urging
their horses forward under the whip. The rangers,
having gained on the fugitives, discovered that they
were soldiers, when they raised their blankets, and
blew their horns, in order to stop them. At last the
regulars found that their pursuers were not the painted
foe, as they had supposed, so they came to a halt, and
sent back two of their number to reconnoitre, when
the whole matter was explained.

Gov. Reynolds and Col. Taylor were in camp dress,
with rifles on their shoulders, having no distinction
from a private soldier; but Gen. Atkinson was in full
uniform, and wearing a cocked hat of the revolutionary
pattern. Gen. Atkinson, being mounted on a fleet
horse, which was urged forward by his sharp spurs, and
with his sword raised above his head, was seen far in
advance of his comrades.

When Capt. Willis came up with Gen. Atkinson he
rebuked him for his cowardice, which had caused all
parties so much trouble ; and probably it was the first
time that a commander-in-chief of the north western
army was reproved by a militia captain.

Capt. Willis was a resident of this county for a

FLIGHT OF GEN. ATKINSONS PARTY. 171

number of years, heing owner of a mill which was
located on the present site of McManis' mill, and he
has frequently been heard to relate this incident. In
his company of rangers were Judge Hoskins, John
Hall, Charles Leeper, Michael Kitterman, James G.
Forristall. and many others of the early settlers of this
county.

CHAPTER XIX.

BOYD S GROVE.

There is scarcely a grove or point of timber in
Bureau county, but what is more or less identified
with its early history. At some of these places material
enough might be collected to form a history of its own.
One of the most noted land marks of early days was
Boyd's Grove, which is located in the town of Milo,
and in the south part of the county. This beautiful
belt of timber, extending out into the prairie, cone-
shaped, occupied for many years a conspicuous place on
the State map, and it was generally known by travelers
throughout the west. With this grove many incidents
are connected, some of which are so much identified
with the earlv settlement of the countv, as to be of
interest to the reader. In the summer of 1828, John
Dixon, then a resident of Peoria, built a cabin at the
head of the grove, where Mrs. Whipple now lives, and
soon afterwards he occupied it with his family. Three
years previous, Mr. Dixon was carrying on the tailoring

bond's grove. 173

business in Springfield, when the Governor appointed
him Recorder, and the Circuit Judge gave him the
clerkship of the new county of Peoria, and he moved
thither to assist in its organization. At the first
election, Mr. Dixon was made County Clerk, Judge of
Probate, and a Justice of the Peace, which position he
held for some years.

Notwithstanding Peoria county, at that time, included
within its jurisdiction all the north parr of the State,
with Chicago and other trading posts on the lake,
extending east as tar as the Indiana State line, and wesl
to the lead mines at Galena. With this vast territory,
the proceeds of these county offices only averaged
thirty-eighl cents per day. The Bix offices which were
held by Mr. Dixon, did not BUpport his family, hut he
made up the deficiency by the needle ami goose, as In
was a taih.r by trade. At the presenl time, the h<
of county offices give them up only when compelled
to, hut it was not m» with Mr. Dixon; he readih
exchanged them tor a claim at Boyd's Grove, where he
contented himself in cultivating the soil.

AJbout this time, an Indian trader al Chicago, by the
name of Bowen, wished to enter into matrimonial
bonds, d being obliged to make a tri|> to Peoria, a
distance <>f one hundred and miles, t-» procure the

license, com eived the novel idea of 1 i the intended
bride with him, «»u a wedding tour. The weddi
party, consisting of four persons, left ( Jhicago in a small
trading boat, ascended the Chicago rn er t«> the porta

174 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

in iiats, which were crossed in high water into the
Desplaines river, and down that stream and the Illinois
to Peoria, reaching their destination on the eighth day
from Chicago. Mr. Dixon issued a license to these
candidates for matrimony, and John Hamlin, then
acting as Justice of the Peace, married them, when the
wedding party returned to Chicago the same way they
came.

About the time Mr. Dixon settled at Boyd's Grove,
the great north and south road, connecting Peoria with
the lead mines, was opened, and his cabin was made a
place of entertainment. Mr. Dixon had a contract for
carrying the mail from Peoria to Galena, once in two
weeks, but this line was soon afterwards changed to a
tri-weekly mail. In addition to farming and keeping
tavern, Mr. Dixon spent much of his time on the road
in the capacity of a stage driver. The travelers to and
from the lead mines, experienced great difficulty in
crossing Rock river, as the Indians were in possession
of the ferry, and their only method of taking wagons
across, was by placing two canoes together so as to
support the wheels. In this way they were paddled
across, while horses and cattle were made to swim
the river. The second year after the road was opened,
a Frenchman, by the name of Ogee, who had a squaw
for a wife, and a number of half-breed children, came
in possession of this ferry, but as he was drunk most of
the time, his accommodations were but little better
than the Indians. In the spring of 1M30, Mr. Dixon

ORGANIZING THE MILITIA. 17o

moved to Hock river, bought out Ogee, and built a good
terry boat, hence the origin of Dixon's ferry. Mr.
Dixon is still living in the citv of Dixon, and although
far advanced in life, he still retains much of the vigor
of manhood.

In April. 1830, Charles S. Boyd, having bought
Dixon's claim at the grove, moved to it with his family,
and resided here for fourteen years. His nearest
neighbors for many years were Henrv Thomas, who
lived sixteen miles north, and J. B. Merrideth twenty
miles south. A post office called Boyd's grove, was
established here, and it was a kind of a head center for
travelers, in passing from north to south. In those days
but few travelers passed the grove without stopping for
refreshments or lodging.

ORGANIZING THE MILITIA.

*

People "ii the border settlements, being apprehensive
<>r further trouble with the Indians, thought it besl to
organize companies under the state militia law, sothej
would be prepared to make a defense in case of war.
A meeting of the citizens of Bureau was called, and it

was agreed to unite with 8j n river and ('n>\\

Meadow settlements, and form a battalion on the west
side of the river, which would consisl of two or mo
(•Mm panic.-, [n accordance to the decree of the meeting,
runners were Bent to the different settlements, which
arc now included within the limits of Bureau, Stark,

176 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Putnam and Marshall counties, notifying all persons
liable for military duty to meet at Boyd's Grove, on the
L8th of April, 1833, for the purpose of organizing
militia companies, and receive instructions in training.
On the day appointed, people were seen in various
directions on the prairie, heading towards Boyd's
Grove, some in wagons, others on horseback, or on foot,
and all carrying guns on their shoulders. Many of
them were provided with camp equipage, including
tents, provisions, &c, as it was thought that the training
would last two or more days. The meeting was well
attended by people from the various settlements, a large
portion of whom were aspirants for military honors.
Two skeleton companies were formed, one for Spoon
river and the other for Bureau settlement. After a
spirited contest, officers were elected for each ; Nathaniel
Ghamberlin, who lived one mile south of Princeton,
was elected major, and was therefore the commanding
officer of the battalion. The captain elected for the
Bureau company was Abram Musick, who afterwards
owned a blacksmith shop, four miles north of Princeton,
and Dr. William O. Chamberlain was made lieutenant.
The drummer of the company was Alexander Boyd,
who was at that time a lad of fifteen years of age, and
is at present a resident of Princeton.

The election of Musick as captain, gave great offense
to part of the company, it being alleged that he was an
escaped convict from the penitentiary, and had therefore
forfeited his citizenship. Some refused to obey the

ORGANIZING THE MILITIA. 177

captain's orders, which threw his company into confu-
sion. When orders were given to halt, they would go
ahead; when ordered to file to the right, they would
tile to the left, and vice versa. Notwithstanding the
animating peals of the fife and drum, and the loud
commands of the officers for the men to follow the
martial music in military array, some would lag behind,
others go ahead, Bwearing that they would not be led
by a penitentiary convict. The major, having no
-word, had supplied its place by a small cottonwood
cane, and with this deadly weapon waving over his
head, he was seen running to and fro, giving orders t<>
those out of lino. With his heavy bass voice keyed t<»
its highest note, he warned them of the consequence of
disobeying a military officer, and in the excitement of
the moment, he threatened to run his sword (cottonwood
cane), through any man who doubted his authority to
command the battalion. But his efforts were all to Q0
purpose, some of the men swore they would not muster
under Capt. Musick; much quarreling and a number
of fights was the result, when all broke dp in a row.
and further training was abandoned.

Before the battalion separated, ;i speech from the
commanding officer was called for, and in compliance
with this call, the major, while using a rail fence for a
rostrum, made a speech, which was much applauded.
It was expected that he would reprove the men for
their bad conduct, telling them lew disgraceful they
had acted, bul he done do Buch thing. < h\ the contrary,

178 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

he eulogized them for their good discipline, military
knowledge as well as their gentlemanly conduct towards
their officers, telling them if they continued in the
discharge of their duty as they had began, it would
certainly lead them to military fame. In conclusion,
he exhorted them to further deeds of heroism, by
saying, " With such troops as now stand before me, the
women and children on the west side of the Illinois
river, are in no danger of suffering from an attack of
ruthless savages.''

Commissions were issued by the Adjutant General to
all the officers elected, but the battalion never met
again, and on that day all of these brave officers
finished their military career.

ARRIVAL OF THE POTATO BRIGADE.

About the 20th of May, 1832, a company of rangers
from the south part of the State, arrived at Boyd's
Grove, while on their way north to join Atkinson's
army. This company was commanded by Capt. Posey,
and was called the "Potato Brigade," on account of the
foraging propensity of some of the soldiers. During
the night, the guards on duty discovered what they
believed to be an Indian crawling on his hands and
knees, in order to get a good shot at them. Three of
the guards fired, and the supposed Indian fell dead,
after which the guards ran into camp to give the alarm.
The soldiers, who were asleep in their blankets, were

ARRIVAL OF THE POTATOE BRIGADE. 179

thrown into a panic at the presence of the supposed
Indians, and they made a hasty preparation for an
attack, a defense, or a flight, as the case might demand.
When the company were under arms. Capt. Posey, his
voice husky from fright, gave orders to charge on the
enemy, who were believed to be lying in ambush.
"With their gnms cocked, ready to tire, they advanced
cautiously, until they came to the late scene of action,
but instead of finding the remains of an Indian
warrior, they found a dead dog. Old Bounce, a dog
belonging to Mr. Boyd, with a large bone in his mouth,
was on his way to hide it, when he was mistaken for an
Indian, and Bhot. After making this discovery, the
soldiers were ordered back to camp,*and had no further
excitement during the night.

During the Black Hawk war, every settler within
the limits of Bureau county, left the country for a place
of safety, except Charles Boyd. When hostilities
commenced, Mr. Boyd sent his wife and small children
to Peoria, while himself and three son-, ranging in age
from twelve to seventeen, remained at home to raise a
crop. The great Galena road, which passed by the
house, was dow deserted, and the welcome sound of
the stage horn was do longer heard in the grove. The
only mail route from north to south was over this road,

■

but it was dow discontinued, as do person could be

found willine; to risk his life in carrying it. The
<i.c ;rnor of the State, with the volunteers under hie

180 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

command, were at the north, and all communication
between them and the settled part of the State was
now cut off. An effort was made to keep open a com-
munication between the north and south, and for this
purpose two companies of rangers were stationed at
Henry Thomas' (four miles north of Wyanet), two at
Dixon's ferry, and one at Apple river. The stage,
guarded by a file of soldiers, made two trips over the
road, but on being attacked at Buffalo Grove by
Indians, the enterprise was abandoned, and from that
time all communication by mail was at an end.

PECULIARITIES OF OLD BEN.

Mr. Boyd and sons remained at the grove, working
on the farm, as previously stated, but they took the
precaution to carry their guns with them while engaged
in the field. Sometimes one of the boys would stand
imard while the others were at work, so he could give
warning if the enemy approached. One day while
Mr. Boyd was plowing in the field, notice was given
him that Indians were approaching the grove. Mr.
Boyd and sons picked up their guns, and prepared
themselves to give the Indians a warm reception. The
supposed Indians proved to be two of Stillman's men,
on their way from the battle-field, having rode sixty
miles without stopping.

At night they would leave their cabin, carrying with

THE ATTACK AND REPULSE. 181

them blanket.- and quilts, and sleep in the grove.
With their loaded enins by their side, they felt more
secure than sleeping in the house.

Mr. Bovd had an old red work ox, named ''Ben."'
which became noted on account of some of his pecu-
liarities. Inheriting from his dam. being frightened
when a calf, or from some other cause unknown to the
writer, this ox had a great dread of Indians. If hitched
to a plow or wagon, and an Indian came in sight or in
scenting distance, old Ben would raise his head, roll hie
eve.- wildly in their sockets, commence bawling, and
start to run, if not prevented. In crossing a trail.
where an Indian had recently passed, old Ben, on
-renting the track, would jump over it, bawling with
all his might. A large bell was put on this ox, and ho
was allowed to lav by the house at night, bo if Indians
approached, he would give the alarm.

THE ATTACK AND REPULSE.

A war party, consisting of nine Indian.^, belonging
t<> Qirty's band <>f cut throats, after having crossed the
[llinoifi river, and scaring the people at Hennepin, con-
tinued their scout southeast, until they came t«. Boyd's
grove. Here they concealed themselves in the thick
timber, while one of their part} reconnoiteredtheposi
tion, That same night, aboul L2 o'clock the Indians made
an attack on Boyd's house, believing that the family were
sleeping within. Having collected, and carried witli

182 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

them bundles of dry sticks, with which they intended
to set the house on fire, and shoot the inmates as thev
came out to extinguish the flames, or escape from the
burning building, as the case might be. The Indians
approached with great caution, until they came within
a few rods of the house, when old Ben on scenting
them, jumped up with a loud bawl, and rang his big
bell at a furious rate. This strange conduct of old Ben
frightened the other cattle, and they too jumped up
and ran in various directions. The dogs barked, the
horses snorted, the Indians thought they had aroused a
regiment of rangers, and could not have been more
frightened had they encountered all of Atkinson's
army. Old Ben's strategy worked like a charm, the
repulse was complete ; the Indians being panic stricken
dropped their bundles of sticks, and fled with all haste
for their camp. Mr. Boyd and sons were asleep in the
grove, some distance from the house, and at the time
knew nothing of the fracas between old Ben and the
Indians.

FAILURE OF AN INDIAN RAID.

The next morning after this affair, an Indian came to
Boyd's house, and secreted himself close by, anions the
thick bushes, in order to shoot the inmates as thev
came out. The dwelling stood in the edge of the
grove, and about three rods from it was a thick cluster
of undergrowth. Mr. Boyd had gone on the prairie
after his horses, and the boys were in the door yard

FAILURE OF AX INDIAN RAID. 183

cleaning their rifles, unconscious of danger. While
they were thus engaged, this Indian advanced quietly
into the cluster of undergrowth, and seeing the boys'
guns were unloaded, he raised his rifle to shoot the
largest boy, with the intention, no doubt, of springing
forward and tomahawking the two smaller ones. But
his rifle missed fire, and the boys, hearing the click of
the lock, ran into the house, thus defeating his mur-
derous intentions. When the Indian found that his
raid was a failure, he fled for his camp, and by skulking
among the brush, he made his way out of the thicket
without being discovered by the boys.

On Mr. Bovd's return to his house, and Learning these
facts, he thought it best to leave the grove immediately,
as their lives would be jeopardized by remaining longer.
Accordingly they mounted their horses, and rode to
Fort Thomas, sixteen miles distant, where they remained
over night. Next morning, accompanied by a file ot
soldiers, they returned to the grove to search for the
Indians. In the thick timber of the grove, Borne
distance from the house, the\ found where the Indians
had encamped the night 1m fore, and the coals of their

camp lire were Mill alive. By the tracks <>t" their
ponies, and 1»\ the marks on the butt of a tree against
which their gun- were leaned, it was thought there
were eighl or ten Indians, bul the\ could n<>t be found,

< ■ •

and it was dow quite evidenl thai the) had left the
-\ c tor other iields of depredation.

CHAPTER XX.

SETTLEKS RETURN TO LOOK AFTER THEIR CATTLE.

On the 17th of June, seven persons, named Elijah
Phillips, J. Hodges, Sylvester Brigham, John L.
Anient, Aaron Gunn, James G. Forrestall, and a boy
of sixteen by the name of Ziba Dimmick, left Henne-
pin for Bureau settlement, in order to look after their
cattle, which had been left to run at large on the
prairie." On arriving at Ament's cabin they prepared

* A week or two previous, the same party came over to Bureau, after
their cattle, with the intention of driving them east of the river.
While at Ament's cabin, they had a controversy as to the propriety of
remaining all night; some favored returning to Hennepin, and others
remaining. Failing to agree, Mr. Phillips, who was somewhat of an
eccentric character, placed a clapboard in an upright position, saying,
"This must decide our cause; if it falls to the north, we are safe, and
will remain ; but if to the south, we must be off." The board fell to
the south, and by common consent, they prepared to leave forthwith.
Their cattle, however, became unmanageable, running towards the
timber, which the settlers wished to avoid for fear of Indian*, and
leaving their cattle near Mr. Musgrove's, they returned to Hennepin.

Many things relating to the killing of Phillips, and an attack on
Ament's cabin, was communicated to John L. Ament, some years after
it occurred, by a French Indian trader, who obtained bis information
from those engaged in this affair. From this account many facts are
taken, as well as from statements made to the writer by one of the
Indians present at the time. On this authority, incidents are given
which were unknown to the early settlers.

SETTLERS RETURN. 185

and ate their dinner, after which they made prepara-
tions to return to Hennepin. Ament's cabin was
situated in the edge of the timber, about one and a
half miles north of the present site of Dover, and on
the farm now occupied by Matthew Taylor. After
dinner was over, it commenced raining, so they con-
cluded to stay all night. They believed it perfectly
safe to do so, as no Indians, nor Indian signs had been
seen in the vicinity for some time. Accordingly they
barricaded the door and window of the cabin, with
heavy puncheons, and with their loaded guns by their
side, they laid down on the floor to sleep.

Immediately west of Ament's cabin, was a place
known by the settlers as "Big Sugar Camp," a part of
which was included within his claim. This sugar camp
had been for many years a kind of headquarters for the
Indians, and here lived during the winter and spring of
each year, a petty chief by the name of Meommuse, who
had in his band ten or twelve lodges, or families. They
and their ancesters bad made sugar here for forty-two
\ear> in succession, and they were very much displeased
at the whites settling so close, regarding them as
trespassers on their rights. A bad feeling existed
li.-t ween these [ndiansandsomeof the Bottlers. Between
some of these Indians and John L. Anient, angry words

bad passed and to make the matter worse, Anient had

killed one of their do

A few days before the incidenl occurred which we
are about to relate, the Indians, who were encamped in

186 REMINISCENCES OF BUKEAU COUNTY.

the bend of the creek, above the crossing of the
Princeton and Dixon road, moved to this big sugar
camp, in order that their ponies might have better
range on the little bottom prairie close by. Spies, who
were on the lookout for victims, discovered this party
of settlers as they approached the timber, and they
immediately gave notice to their comrades, who made
a hasty preparation to attack and murder them. Ac-
cordingly they approached with great caution, crawling
on their hands and knees among the hazel brush, until
thev came within a few rods of the cabin, with the
intention of tiring on the settlers as they came out of
the house, and kill them all at one stroke. After the
settlers had ate their dinner, some in the cabin, others
around it, talking and laughing, unconscious of danger,
not dreaming that a deadly foe was concealed within a
few rods of them. While thus engaged, it commenced
raining, when the settlers went into the cabin, and
seated themselves around a blazing fire. Notwith-
standing the rain, the Indians remained in ambush
until thev were satisfied that their intended victim-
were going to remain over night, when they left for
their cam]).

Among this band of warriors, were a number of
Pottawatamies, who had been raised on Bureau, one of
whom was a son of Meommuse, the chief above alluded
to. This young chief was well acquainted with this
party of settlers, who were now selected as their
victims. Two of these, Sylvester Brigham, and James

THE NEW YC

PUBLIC LiBh

.

DEATH OF PHILLIPS. 189

G. Forristall, he had received presents from, and there-
fore wished to spare their Uvea Towards John L.
A merit and Elijah Phillips, bad feelings were entertained
on account of former difficulty, and these two only, the
young chief washed to kill, and let the others escap
Girty, whose savage nature knew no difference between
former friends and former foes, was in favor of killing
the whole party, and to this proposition all the warriors
tin all v agreed.

PHILLIPS KILLED, AND AMEXT S CABIN ATTACKED.

The Indians had decided to make an attack in the
• lead hour of night, while the inmates were asleep ; -ft
the cabin on lire, and kill all within, but it continued
to rain all night, which defeated their plans. For two
hour.- the Indians remained around the cabin, de\ ising
plans to murder the inmates without endangering their
own Lives, The doors and window.- were examined,
and fonnd bo well barricaded that they could not enter

■

without awakening their intended Victims. \e\t
morning, their moccasin track.- were Been around the
Cabin, and mud WW noticed on the wall- of the house,

where they had climbed up to look through a crack
between tin- logs. After holdings consultation among
themselves, the Indians decided t" abandon further
operations thai night, and returned to their camp, with
the intention of attacking the Bottlers next morning, as
they would leave for Hennepin. To carry out tl

190 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

plan, the Indians concealed themselves in the thick

hazel brush, the same as they had done the day before.

Phillips being the first one to leave the cabin, came

upon the Indians as they lay in ambush, and was in the

act of turning around to run back, when the report of

many rifles was heard, followed by a shrill war whoop,

and poor Phillips lay a corpse, pierced by two balls?

The Indians, with deafening yells, rushed forward from

their hiding places, tomahawked their victim, and

surrounded the cabin. The settlers, in great haste,

closed the door, and pointed their guns at the Indians

through cracks in the wall. A gun in the hands of J.

Hodges, coming in contact with Girty's breast, caused

him to break for the timber, and he was followed by all

of his comrades. Young Diminick called a horse to

the window, caught, mounted, and put him at the top

of his speed for Hennepin, sixteen miles distant, at

which place he arrived safely.

When Dimmick arrived at Hennepin with the sad

tidings, it created a great panic among the people, and

rumors were circulated that Black Hawk's whole force

was about to attack the frontier settlements. On the

west side of the river, and feeding along Bureau creek,

were seen about three hundred ponies, and it was
thought as many Indians were secreted in the thick
bottom timber, with the intention of attacking the
town.* On that day a part of two companies of

* It was afterwards ascertained that these ponies belonged to Atkin-
son's army then on Rock river, having ran off, and were makingtheir
way south to their former grazing grounds.

DEATH OF PHILLIPS. 191

rangers were in Hennepin, for the purpose of being
mustered out of service, and among them a call was
made for volunteers to go to the rescue. Timid men
were in favor of leaving the settlers at Ament's cabin to
their fate, as an attempt at their rescue would only result
in further sacrifice of life. Some of the women com-
menced rino-ino' their hands and crvinjA beseeching the
men not to leave them unprotected, to be tomahawked
by the Indians; while others, of more courage, urged
their husbands and sons on to the rescue, while thev
set about running their pewter spoons into bullets, to
supply them with cartridges.

About thirty persons volunteered to go the rescue,
among whom were Capt. Haws, Capt. Willis, Lieut.
Garvin, and other resolute men. who were willing to
risk their lives to save their friends. Among the
volunteers, was Dave Jones, who was always full of
tight when under the influence of liquor; with hat and
coat off, he would jump up and down, cracking his
heels together, swearing that he would go alone to the
rescue, it he was certain of encountering all of Black
Eawk's army.

Tin* small ferry boat would only carry >i\ persons,

with their horses, .it a time, and as B i :;- all the

volunteers were landed od the weal side of the river,
thev |»ut their horses on a gallop for Anient'.- cabin.
Before reaching their destination, the horse on which
Dave Jone mounted, gave out, but Jones continued
th<- race on foot, keeping up with those on horseback.

192 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

On the arrival of the rangers, they found. the remaining
live safe in the cabin, not having ventured out since the
murder. When the rangers came within a short
distance of the cabin, they called a halt, not knowing
but it was full of Indians. On seeing this, John L.
Anient made an opening through the roof of the cabin,
and displayed a white cloth, a signal that all was right.
The body of Phillips, undisturbed since his death,
was lying in the door-yard, with his lace turned upward.
One bullet had entered his breast in the region of the
heart, and another had pierced his stomach. There
were marks of tomahawk strokes across his temples and
also on the neck. In their haste to leave, the savages
had failed to scalp him.*

FLIGHT OF THE INDIANS — PURSUIT BY THE RANGERS.

The Indians did not notice young Dimmick leave
the cabin for Hennepin, to give the alarm, and there-
fore regarded themselves as perfectly safe. They
remained in ambush, watching the cabin, until the
rangers came in sight, then they left in such haste as

* There are several remarkable incidents connected with this affair,
one or two of which could not be credited, if they were not well authen-
ticated. Brigham and Phillips, being the first up in the morning,
stood for a moment on the porch, engaged in conversation, when
Phillips said he would go over to his own cabin, which was about a
half mile distant, and write a letter. Mr. Bringham said he would go
along, but from some cause unknown to himself, he turned and
entered the house, while Phillips stepped off the porch, and was shot
dead. Mr. Brigham has often said that it appeared to him a striking
providential circumstance, that he entered the cabin as he did, instead
of going immediately with Phillips, having no errand whatever

DEATH OF PHILLIPS. Itt'S

to leave many of their blankets at their hiding place.
They fled to their camp which was distant about three
quarters of a mile, and on arriving there they picked
up their camp equipage, and left for a place of safety.
Part of the Indians having charge of their ponies scat-
tered themselves through the timber in various direc-
tions, so their trail could not be followed bv their
pursuers, while the larger portion of the warriors, left
on foot, and in a northwest direction. After crossing
the creek, they came to a thick cluster of undergrowth,
which they considered a proper place to make a defense.
Here they lay in ambush, concealed by the thick brush,
awaiting the arrival of the rangers.

The rangers remained at the cabin sometime, un-
decided what to do; some were in favor of pursuing
the Iii'iians, while others opposed it. At last Capt
Willi-, called for volunteers, and about twenty-five
came forward, who were willing to undertake the haz-
ardous task of following the Indian.-. At the big sugar

within. Had he not entered the cabin then, tie would in all proba-
bility liavi- shared the same Gate as bis companion.

The horse thai Dimmlck rode i<> Hennepin, belonged to Sylv<
Brigham, and could n<>i becaughl on the prairie, at other times, but on
this occasion, it was called to the cabin window, and allowed Itself to
be bridled and mounted.

Abonl one hour after PhiUips was killed, a very remarkable Incidenl
occurred, which is vouched for by Porristall and others. The cattle
belonging to the settlers came to the dead body of Phillips, and com-
menced BmeUlng It Among the cattle was a yoke ••! Bteers, which
belonged to the deceased, and teas afterwards owned by James G
ristall. These steers appeared to stand guard over the bodj of their
master, and as other cattle came nigh, they would iin\«- them awaj
After which tb.-s.- steers laydown, oneon each side ol the corpse, and so
close t'> 11 thai the slobben from their mouth was found on the clothes,
After lying here abonl two hours, the Jte< rs go1 up and wenl with the
ot her catl le <>n th< ed.

194 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

camp, they took their trail, and followed it across the
creek, and within one hundred yards of the place

where the Indians were concealed. Here thev held a
parley, being undecided which way to go, and by mere
chance turned their course, and thereby avoided the
ambush. Had they continued on their course, the
probabilities are most of the rangers would have lost
their lives, as the Indians were so well secreted in the
thick undergrowth, at short range, but few, if any
could have made their escape.

The rangers continued on a short distance, in a
northwest direction, but having lost the trail of the
Indians, they gave up the pursuit, and turned back.
On returning to Ament's cabin, they immediately left
for Hennepin, taking with them the remains of Phillips,
which was prepared for interment at the house of Hooper
Warren. A large number of citizens and soldiers,
attended the funeral, which took place next day.
Elijah Phillips, was a young man of industry, and en-
terprise, and his loss was much regretted by the settlers
on Bureau. The year before, he had left his parents,
and friends in Massachusetts, to seek his fortune on the
prairies of the west, where he met his death at the
hands of savages, as above stated.

CHAPTER XXI.

SCOTT S ARMi' PASSES THROUGH BUREAU COUNTY.

On the 8th of July, 1832, Gen. Scott, with about
one thousand soldiers of the regular army, arrived at
Fort Dearborn, (now Chicago.) The two steamboats
that brought this army, were the first that ever plowed
the waves of Lake Michigan, and their arrival at Fort
Dearborn, was heraled by newspapers throughout the
United Stai With Scott's army were six companies
from Fortress Monroe, who suffered severely from
cholera, which broke out among them while on the
lakes. Out of four hundred young men. who left the
tort in health and vigor, only eighty lived to return
again to their old quarters. Among these soldiers wh<>

Burvived the ravages of the cholera, was Lewie Cobb,

(now a resident of Wyanct.) t<» whom the writer i.-

indebted tor these lad

Scott's army remained .-it Fort Dearborn about three

weeks, waiting for transportation, and during that time

a large portion of the soldiers died with the cholera,
o

196 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

With the army was Gen. Twiggs, then a colonel and
the rebel Gen. Joe Johnston, at that time a lieutenant,
with many other officers who have acquired notoriety
in the late rebellion. Among the troops was the noted
surgeon, Beaumont, accompanied by his more noted
servant, who had a wound in his stomach. This re-
markable man, received sometime previous, a gunshot
wound, which opened a cavity in his stomach that
never healed. Into this cavity the doctor had placed a
glass tube, so he could watch the progress of digestion.
By experimenting with this man's stomach, it had been
ascertained the length of time required to digest
different articles of diet, an account of which has been
published in different medical works of the day.

The soldiers, by way of derision, would frequently
inquire of this man how much he would ask for a peep
into his stomach.

About the first of August, the army left Fort Dear-
born for Rock Island, one hundred and seventy miles
distant, and each day, while on the road, some of the
soldiers died with the cholera. Accompanying the
troops, were many baggage wagons, and a large drove
of cattle, for army supplies. There was no road across
the country at that time, and the course of the army
was shaped by the compass. Not a dwelling of a white
man, nor one mark of civilization, was seen on the
entire route. Many of the streams and groves had not
yet been named, so that the exact route taken by the
army is not known. Greenberrv Hall, who lived for

THE CAPTIVE'S RETURN. 197

a number of years in the town of Dover, said the next
spring after the passage of Scott's army, their trail was
plainly to be seen between Perkins' and Paw Paw
Grove. This being the case, makes it quite probable
that the army passed through the northern part of
Bureau countv, and on this probability we erive it a
place in our story.

THE CAPTIVES RETURN. — RETRIBUTION.

Soon after the killing of Phillips, the Indians left
Bureau, to join Black Hawk's band, which, at that
time, was fleeing before Gen. Atkinson's army. While
on their way thither, and in the vicinity of Galena.
they killed a number of persom. and attacked a block
house on Apple river, which contained a few families
of miners. After joining Black Hawk's forces, the\
participated in the battle of Bad Axe. where many of

them were killed, and others drowned while attempting
to Bwim tin- Mississippi river.

When the war was over, many of the Indians returned

\>< Bureau, and among them were the squaw and

pai 368 of Girty. Bui Girtv himself did nol return,

and his fate, ;it that time. was unknown, hut it w.i-
■j'-M' rally believed thai he was killed in battle.

A f' .. pears after the Black Hawk war. the writer

in c pany with Dad Joe, found a lone [ndian in the

w Is, near where the Dixon road crosses Bureau

ci-rek. This [ndian was Bitting by a small camp fire,

198 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

where he had spent the night, his head bowed down,
and his blankets wrapped closely around his shoulders.
He had a violent cough, was pale and emaciated,
evidently in the last stages of consumption. Dad Joe
addressed him in the Pottawatamie tongue, but lie
replied in good English, and made to us the following
statement. His home, he said, was at Indiantown,
where he was then going, and had fought at the battle of
Bad Axe, and was there taken prisoner. Having on
his person at the time the badge of a chief, caused him
to be placed on board of the steamer Warrior, and
carried down to Prairie du Chien, where he was con-
lined in the barracks. A few days after his arrival in
the fort, while in a drunken spree, he killed one of the
guards, and for this offense was sentenced to imprison-
ment for life. With a ball and chain around his leg,
he was for four long years compelled to do the drudgery
work of the garrison, but when his health failed, and
could be of no further service, he was set at liberty.
Here he showed us a silver medal, which he wore on
his breast, suspended from his neck by a large buckskin
cord. On this medal were engraved the following
words : " A Token of Friendship, Lewis Cass, U. S.
I. A." For nine years this talisman had been sus-
pended from his neck, and after his death, when his
body was partly devoured by wolves, it was found
attached to the remains.

In conversation with this Indian, he said that he had
a squaw and five papooses living at Indiantown, and

THE CAPTIVE^ RETURN. 199

was in hopes that his strength would hold out until he
reached them; then said he, " I will die contented."
Dad Joe told him that no Indians were then living at
Indiantown, as they had a short time before gone west
of the Mississippi. At this announcement, tears fell
from his eyes, and bowing his head between his knees,
he repeated a short prayer in his native tongue. After
remaining in prayer a few moments, he raised to his
feet with a loud groan, while despair was pictured in
his emaciated face, he made preparations to continue
his journey. His camp kit consisted of two blanket.-.
a small copper kettle, a pot, a gun. a tomahawk, a large
knife, and a piece of venison. With our assistan
these things were gathered up and placed on his hack,
while reeling to and fro from weakness, and without
st\ ing another word, he continued his journey.

This Indian, as the reader may have already con-
jectured, was no other than Mike Girty, the outlaw,
and the retribution which followed his crimes is one of
the most remarkable incidents connected with the early
settlement of this county.

CHAPTER XXII.

OIRTY's ARRIVAL AT PRINCETON.

Girty, in his journey homeward from Prairie du
Chien, traveled on the Winnebago trail, which ran east
of the lead mines and Dixon's ferry, a distance of one
hundred and eighty miles. The country through which
he passed, was, at that time, an unbroken wilderness,
and not a white's man's habitation could be seen on the
entire route. But here on Bureau it was quite different
— people had built cabins along the margin of the
timber, and in some places their fences had already
crossed the Indian trails. Instead of the Indiantown
trail passing through the timber — down Epperson's run
and along Bureau creek, as in former days, it was now
changed to a great wide road, over which passed a dail v
mail coach and emigrant wagons, as well as droves of
cattle, hogs, &c. Along this road Girty traveled,
meditating, no doubt, on the great changes a few years
had produced. It was a clear, bright day, in the early
part of June, 1836 — the prairies were covered with

-

y:

-

pffi&s^

ar-

GIRTY'S ARRIVAL AT PRINCETON. 203

wild flowers, and people everywhere busy with their

crops, as Girty, on his homeward journey, passed along

this road. But great must have been his surprise when

he came in sight of Princeton, to see a group of buildings

here on the prairie, where a few years before not a

house could be seen. On the east side of Main street.

stood a frame building, and in front of it hung a large

painted sign, which read, ''Princeton Hotel, by S.

Triplett.'1 Opposite the hotel, on the west side of the

street, was a small one story building, and over the

door of which were the words " Post Office.'1 Above

the sign of Post Office, was a larger one, reading thus,

" Dry Goods and Groceries ; John M. Gav." Outside

of the building, and fronting the door, stood a tall,

spare, dark-complexioned man, known by every one as

the proprietor of the establishment, and post master,

and by his side stood a medium sized, good looking

man, wearing a white beaver hat, and a blue dress coat,

who was earnestly engaged in explaining to the ]><»t-

master the great importance of baptism. This man,

the reader will recognize as Thomas S. Elston, who was

for many years a citizen of Princeton. On the open

commons, near where Elijah Dee's dwelling now Btandft,

was a small log cabin, over the doo rot" which, andclose

under its clapboard roof, was a large Bign, painted m

Roman Letters, and reading thus, " Templeton'e New

Store." <)n a Blab bench, fronting the cabin, were

ated three young men, engaged in conversation, and

whose nanws were Noah Wiswall, R. T. Templeton,

204 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and Dr. Willian O. Chamberlain. While these young
men were discussing the all important topics of the day.
which were dividing the county, and constructing the
canal, Girty, the outlaw, came along the road. He was
carrying on his back all of his camp equipage, including
gun, blankets, kettles, provision, &c. His once straight.
manly form, was now bent, not from ase, but bv
disease and great fatigue. His head was without
covering, and on his shoulders and down his back were
hanging, in confused masses, locks of coarse, black
hair. The appearance of Grirty was comical, in the
extreme, and the young men were having considerable
merriment at his expense, saying that "He was un-
doubtedly the last of the Mohegansr" The traveler was
asked many questions, but he appeared sullen and
morose, and not inclined to impart much of his history.
On the public square, now occupied by the Court
House, stood the Hampshire Colony Church, which
was at that time the important land mark of Princeton.
Situated, as it was, out on the green, open commons —
elevated high above the ground on wooden blocks —
painted white, with a projecting cornice, which was in
strong contrast with the small unpainted buildings in the
surrounding. This notable structure attracted the
attention of Grirty ; probably it was the first painted
building that he had ever seen, and pointing to it, In-
said, "Big wigwam; great chief lives in it, I 'spect."
Mr. Teinpleton told him it was a church. ]S"ever
having heard of the name church before, Grirty paused

TWO GREAT PAPER CITIE8. 205

a jnoment, and then continued, "I 'sped lie is a biff
warrior, a great brave." At Girty's last remark, JDr.
Chamberlain laughed lona* and loud, when he was
reproved by Mr. Wiswall, who said to him. "Now
what i& the use of laughing at the poor, ignorant
creature." Mr. Templeron explained to Girtv that the
building was not a wigwam, as he had supposed, but a
place where white people went to pray to the Great
Spirit. On receiving this information, the sad face of
Girtv was changed to mirthfulness, and he laughed
heartily at the fanaticism of white people Going to so
much trouble to build a fine wigwam to pray in.
appeared to him ridiculous, and he pitied their igno-
rance. Slowly and feeblv, while bending under hi-
burden, Girtv continued his way toward Indiantown.
On Bureau bottom he passed the cabins of Robert
Clark and Michael Kitterman, the Bight of which mufll
have brought fresh to his mind a conspiracy which he
entered into a few years before, to murder the
families.

TWO GREAT PAPEB CITIES.

If Girt\ was surprised on seeing Princeton, in- in
have been more so on his arrival at [ndiantown. In
stead of finding a quiet Indian village, containing the
wigwam of bis squaw, and those of hi.- friend-, which

*

he had left a tew years before, he found Strang
buildings and strangi All was now changed;

206 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

every relic of the Indian village had disappeared, and
on its ruins stood the great city of Windsor. Rip Yan
Winkle, after sleeping twenty years, found things very
much changed ; but with Girty the same had been done
in one fifth of the time. Here was a great city, which
extended for a long ways, up and down Bureau bottom,
including within its boundaries, timber, prairie, Indian
village, corntields, dance grounds, caches, &e. Running
up and down the bottom, and crossing each other
at short intervals, were many wide streets. Here, too.
were boulevards, connecting together important places,
and intended as great arteries of the city. At the
crossing of these were large public parks, to which the
inhabitants could retreat from the crowed streets of the
citv. Near the center of the city was the sreat countv
square, intended for the court house, jail, and other
county buildings. To the left of the County square,
was Market, and to the right was Liberty square.
both of which were intended for public parks. In
various parts of the city, were reservations for churches,
cathedrals, seminaries, colleges, and other public build-
ings, all of which had been donated by the generous
proprietor for pubi ic use. Passing through the northern
wards of the citv. and following the windings of the
Bureau creek, whs the great ship canal, connecting the
Illinois witli the Mississippi river. By the side of this
canal, was a large haven, or harbor, which w;is intended
to hold much of the shipping of the west, and around
it was room for large business blocks. State roads

<■>! l~

TWO GREAT PAPER CITIES. 20

branched off in various directions, 03 which Windsor
was connected with all the principal cities of the west.

Adjoining Windsor, on the west, and including that
part of Tiskilwa. whicli lays in Indiantown, was another
great city called jWest Windsor. Its boundaries ex-
tended from the bluff, on the south, to the Kinney
farm, on the north, and at the west far up Rocky
Run. Many of thestreetsof this city were named after
the Presidents — great statesmen and warriors of past
age>N It also contained many parks, the niosr conspic-
ous of whicli were, Judicial and Pleasant, intended no
doubt, as breathing places for its (prospective) crowded
population.

We have described these cities as they appeared on
paper; but their real appearance was different. In
West Windsor, south of Bocky linn, in a double i
cabin, lived Sampson Cole, and boarding with him was
R. R. Pearce, who was a cabinent maker, a surveyor,
a justice <>t' the peace and post master. Close by
Col,-' residence, Bodrick Owen, had a Blab blacksmith
shop, and these constituted all the buildings, and all
the inhabitants of Wesl Windsor, This city existed
only a tew months, it- proprietor, J. W. Kinney,
lias in"- mortgaged it to the Btate bank for money, and
in order to beat the mortgagee, bad the town plal
vacated, when it fell int.* ruin and nothing more was
heard of it.

In Windsor proper then were two Log cabin-, and

208 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

two board shanties, and its inhabitant were Dr. Lang-
worthy, Amariah Watson, and Ferrill Dunn. This
town was laid off a few months before, by Dr. A.
Langworthy, and slakes, marked at the top with red
keel, and with the few shanties above referred to, was
all that could be seen of this great paper city.

Such was the appearance of Indiantown when Girty
returned to it; wigwams and cornfields were no longer
to be seen ; even the great council house, where chiefs
and warriors had met for deliberation, had disappeared.
The little green knoll by the creek bank, which had
for ages been used for a dance ground, where young
warriors and timed maidens, at the sound of drums, or
rattling gourds, had danced around their trophies of
war, was now fenced in by Mr. Watson for a goose
pasture. With a sorrowful heart, Girty passed through
the town ; his old haunts were scarcely recognized by
him, and not one familiar face could he see. His worst
tears were now realized; sick and alone, he found
himself a stranger at his own home. At a spring, near
the foot of the bluff, Girty camped for the night,
being overcome by sickness and fatigue, he gave
himself up to feelings of despair. The smoke of his
camp tire, and his loud coughing, attracted the attention
of Dr. Langworthy, who visited his camp, and offered
him provisions, as well as medical treatment, Out of
curiosity others visited Girty's camp, and tried to learn
something of his story; but he appeared sullen and

THE LAST OF GIRTY. 2< >9

morose; to all their Inquiries lie would only shake his
head. Probably the murder of Simmons, Sample and
wife, Phillips, and other victims, were still fresh in his
mind, and if known lie could expect no mercy from
people who had suffered so much at his hands.

THE LAST OF GIRTY.

On the third day after Girty arrived at Indiantown,
he was seen to take up his line of march for the west,
.-till carrying his camp kit on his hack. X. ar the
present site of Sheffield, he was met by Caleh \[o<>re.
slowly and feebly plodding his way westward. About
one week after Girty started west, a man. while traveling
on (he old Sac and Fox trail, saw on the prairie, north
of Barren Grove, two wolves eating a carcass. I kit >•!
curiosity he rude out to see what they were eating, and
found it to he the remains of an Indian, partly devoured.
Near the remains were found a gun, knife, tomahawk,
two blankets, a -mall copper kettle, and a pot. Around

the neck of the remains, which was almost a skeleton,

was a Large buckskin cord, to which was attached .•■

silver medal. This medal was taken i >ff by the traveler,
and the other trinkets, with the remains, wviv left on
the prairie where they were found.

This was the la>t of Girty j although his crimes were
great, the retribution was equally bo.

f

THE NEW YORK

UBLIC LIBRARY

Mion, LINOX

<N FOtmDATfOHi.

■■ i ■

JOHN H. BRYANT.

PART SECOND.

H I S T ( ) R I. 0 A L S K K T ( ' B

OF THE

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

-'■'/.

**»7f

•

I 707

(M)NTE N T s .

Page.

Arrival of Emigrants, - 251

Bureau County Organized. - 334

Banditti, - - - - - - 341

Civil Authority Superseded by an Armed Force, 356

Churches and Schools, - - - 375

Ohenoweth Prairie and Lone Tree Settlement, - 3

Destruction of Black Partridge's V\ 11 age,

Dave Jones, - - 296

Exploring the Country , - - 266

Early Settlement, - - 237

Early Settlement in the North part of the County, •"■

Early Settlement of La Moilleand Perkins1 Gr • •

! trly Settlement of Princeton,

Fir - ad Old Uncle Peter, - 217

False Alarm, ----- 804

Geography of Bureau County, - 281

Hampshire ( lolon^ , - 26J

Hickory Ri<L . - -274

[ndiana of Bureau, - - 241

Jerro and Friends Saved from Starvation, 808

Justice Court, 848

Lost Grove Settlement - - - BBfi

Little Johnny, the Indian Captive, - - 310

Moseley Settlement, - 280

Marriage under Difficulties, - - 295

Mirage and Sounds, - - - - 318

Murder of Rev. John Williams, - - 319

Murder at Lost Grove, - 342

Meteorological Table, - 374

Miscellaneous, - - - - - 400

Old Putnam County, 233

Putnam County Organized, - 287

Peoria and Galena State Road, - - 291

Providence Colony, - - - 331

Progress of Settlement, - 396

Politicians on a Rampage, - - - 353

Roads at the Time of Early Settlement, - 343

Settlers Flee from their Homes, - - 268
Settlement of Leepertown and Hoskins' Prairie, 278

Settlement in the East part of the County. 328

Settlement at Bovd's Grove, - - - 323

Settlement on Green River, - - - 383

Settlement on Main Bureau, - - - 388
Settlement east of the River — First Steamboat, 282

Settlement of Princeton Prairie, - - 374

Settlement in the Xorth part of the County. - 391

The Magician, - - - 371

Third Indian War, - - - - 301

Undei-ground Railroad, - - - 360

Wild Animals, - - - - - 313

West Bureau and Center Grove Settlement, - 329

INTRODUCTION TO PART SECOND.

It could not be expected that a full and complete
history of the county would be given in a book of this
size, consequently no attempt of the kind has been
made The main object has been to collect and preserve
facts connected with the early settlement, that were
aboul to be lost, leaving things of a more recent date,
and that which is a matter of record, for a subsequent
publication. The political, commercial, financial and

rial history, as well as that of towns and villa-
may, however, appeal- in another volume at some future

day.

In the early settlemi Qt of the country, there was a
class of people called squatters, who kept in advance of
permanent settlers, making claims, and selling them at
the first opportunity. These frontiersmen, who were
fund of border life, obtained their Living bj making
and ig claims, hunting, trapping, & .. ind would

go westward people Bettled around them.

of thi.- class bad temporary residences in this

county, but their history is so obscure as to bear no
part in this work.

Many persons, no doubt, will be disappointed to find
no mention of their names, claiming priority to others
whose names do appear, but they must recollect that
all necessary facts were not in possession of the writer,
and names, in a few instances, may have been omitted
by accident.

It is to be expected that some persons will criticise
the statements herein made, point out errors (or sup-
posed to be such), but it must be remembered that
many conflicting accounts were given, and to throw out
the spurious, and retain the genuine, was a difficult
matter to do. The collecting of facts connected with
the early settlement, has been the work of years, and
the statements herein made are not based on the sayings
of a tew persons only ; but different accounts have been
compared and revised, by which correct conclusions
have been arrived at. It would be too much, however,
to presume that no errors have escaped detection.

CHAPTER I.

GEOGRAPHY OF BCREAF COUNTY.

Tln> county contains twenty-three whole, and two
fractional, towns; eighl hundred and sixty-four square
miles, making five hundred and fifty-three thousand
acres of land, about one-ninth of which was originally

aber. The land throughout the county is neither

hilly nor flat, but undulating, and raises in the north

part, where the water.- between the Illinois and

Mississippi divides, to near three hundred feet abo

the Illinois valley. Bureau county contains no high

peaks, capped with overhanging rocks; n<> <h sep, narrow

valleys; no roaring cascades, nor mountain inn-cut-.

shrouded in foam; still it i> nol without picturesque

-i enery. The bigh, rolling prairie, which extend*

through ihf towns of Bureau, Walnut, ami ()!'u>.

affords :i view of laii<lscaj>c scenerv probabh unsur

•I h\ ;im_\ in the State. This prairie overlook*

Bureau timber on the east, and Green river timber on
2

232 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the west, and presents to the eye a beautiful prospective
view of the .surrounding country, for many miles in
extent.

On the elevated land, near Providence, called at the
time of early settlement, " High Land Point," the surface
of nearly half of Bureau county is visible. When the
atmosphere is favorable Buffalo Grove, north of Rock
river, forty -six miles distant, can be seen. The Illinois
river forms fourteen miles of its eastern boundary :
Bureau creek, with its tributaries, waters the central
portion, while Green river, and the head waters of
Spoon river, flows through the western part. Coal
banks and stone quarries are found in the central part
of the county, while peat and mineral paint abounds
in the northwestern towns.

The old Indian Boundary Line, which extends from
Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river, passes through
the northern towns of this county, running almost in
an east and west direction. This line was surveyed in
the spring of 1819, in accordance with an act of
Congress, and it was made one of the standard lines in
surveying the military district. Wisconsin, in 1840,
made a claim under the ordinance of 1787, to all that
part of Illinois lying north of this line. The surveys
south of the Indian Boundary Line, were commenced
in 1816, and completed in 1823. The surveys north of
this line were commenced in 1834, and completed in
1843. South of the boundary line, the land came into

OLD PI IX A.M CO L'NT Y . 23 3

market in 1835, and north of it. in 1844. The land
office for this district was originally at Galena, but
was afterwards removed to Dixon's ferry.

The line that bounds the Military District, com-
mences at the great bend in the Illinois riv< r, near the
mouth of Lake Du Pue, and runs due wesl until it
reach< the Mississippi river, a short distance from X
Boston. The towns of Wheatland, Macon. Milo, and
Neponset, had in them a large quantity of military land,
but the towns of Arispie, Leepertown, and Indiantown,
which lay within the military district, contained none
of these lands.

OLD PUTNAM COUNTY.

In January, 1825, a hill passed the ! ture for

dividing the military district into counties, and provided
their organization, as Boon as the;) contained a suffi-
cient number of inhabit! Putnam, being the most
northern of the new counties, wa6 made to include

[thin its jurisdiction ail of the northeast portion
lie State, and was bounded as follow Commencing
.-n the west bank of the Elliuois river,a1 the north line
of town eleven, following up the Illinois and Kankaki
rivers to the Indiana state line, thence north along the
w< shore of Lake Michigan to the m < »ri It easl corner

of the State, thence wesl to range four, thence south to
town eleven, thence easl to the pi ginning.

234 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

This territory, at the present time, contains twenty-
seven counties, or parts of counties. The act provided,
as soon as this county contained three hundred and fifty
inhabitants, they were authorized to organize; and elect
county officers, tor which the Circuit Judge of the
district was directed to issue his order. Chicago was
the only village in the new county, and outside of
which it is believed there was not a white person living,
with the exception of Indian traders along the Illinois
river and its tributaries.

Five years after Putnam county was set off, it was
found to contain about seven hundred inhabitants, the
most of whom lived on Bureau, about the mouth of
Fox river, and at Chicago. These settlements being so
far apart, scattered, as they were, over a territory more
than one hundred miles in extent, made organization
impracticable, and for six years all the legal business of
Putnam county was transacted at Peoria. The settlers
on Bureau had but little to do with legal matters, as
they had no titles to real estate to look after, and no
law suits to prosecute or defend. One marriage license
only was issued at Peoria to settlers on Bureau, — that
being to Leonard Roth, who married a daughter of
Timothy Perkins. In the spring of 1881. Charles S.
Boyd paid seventy-live cents tax to the collector of
Peoria county, which was the only tax collected of
settlers within the limits of this county, previous to the
organization of Putnam.

DESTRUCTION OF BLACK PARTRIDGES VILLAGE. 235

A short distance below the present site of Henry,
formerly in Putnam, but now in Marshall county, once
stood the village of Black Partridge, a celebrated Indian
chief. The destruction of this village, and the hilling
of many of its inhabitants, I believe has never fully
entered into history, and but few people are familiar
with the tacts therein connected. An account of this
affair was communicated to the writer thirty-six years
ago, by the "Old Ranger," Gen. Whitesides, who was
one of the attacking party, and was acquainted with all
the tacts. In September, 1812, Gov. Edwards fitted
out an expedition against the Indians, on the Illinois
river, in order to avenge the ma-acre of the troops at
Fort Dearborn, which took place a short time previous.
The volunb mder Edwards, were on borseback, and

pursued their way through the unsettled country from
Bellville te Fort Clark, where they were met by then-
comrades, who had ascended the river in small boats.
From Fort Clark the volunteers went up the river for
e0f attacking the village of Black Partridge.

In their march, they used great caution, so the [ndians
would be taken by surprise, and unprepared to make a

defenBe, When they arrived within four miles o1 tl
Ullage, Whitesides, with three other young men, volun

teered to go forward and reconnoitre the position, He
the army remained over night, the soldiers sleeping <
their arms, to be prepared in case the) should be

attacked< Nex1 morning, a1 daylight, Gov. Kd
ordered the troops forward to attack the village, lx

236 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the Indians were aware of their presence. Capt.
Judy's company of spies, to which Whitesides belonged,
was leading the van, and had proceeded but a short
distance, when they came suddenly upon two Indians,
on horseback, who raised their hands in token of sub-
mission. Capt. Judy raised his rifle to fire on them,
when some of his companions begged for mercy ; but
the captain replied that he did not leave home to take
prisoners, and in a moment the dust was seen to raise
from the Indian's buckskin hunting shirt, as the rifle
ball entered his body. The Indian fell from his horse,
and being mortally wounded, commenced singing his
death song, while the blood was streaming from hi.-
mouth and nose. The rangers rode up to the dying
Indian, who was reeling to and fro, under the torture of
pain, when all of a sudden he presented his rifle to
shoot. The rangers sprang from their horses to escape
the shot, but one of their party, by the name of Wright,
not being quick enough, was badly wounded. The
other Indian, who proved to be a squaw, set on her
horse, spell bound, making no attempt at defense or
escape. Many shots were fired at her, none of which.
however, took effect, when she commenced crying, and
was taken prisoner.

The Indians at the village were unaware of the
approach of the army ; many of the warriors were off
on a hunt, the squaws were busy preparing breakfast,
while the papooses were playing on the green, uncon-
scious of danger. The rangers pushed forward in great

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 237

haste, shooting down squaws and papooses,as they fled

panic-stricken from their homes. But little resisistance
was made by the Indians, who lied up the river, leaving
behind them their ponies, camp equipage, and every-
thing valuable. Some of the Indians, being badly
wounded, were unable to make their escape; these,
together with a number of small children, were
butchered in cold blood.

The village, with all its contents, was burned and the
ponies, about one hundred in number, were taken off
by the rangers, who considered them trophies of war.
While the village was burning, an Indian, said to have
been Black Partridge himself, walked boldly along the
bluff, within one hundred and fifty yards of the soldiers,
and tired his gun at them, after which he laughed long
and loud, as he walked slowly away. Many shots were
fired at this Indian, but without effect, and some of the
rangers -tarred in pursuit, but he made good his escape.

LBLT SETTLEMENT.

Bui few people, at the presenl time, are aware of the
hardships that were endured by the earl) settlers of
thig couni \. I deprived of every comforl of civilization,
without schools, churches, and almosl withoul ty,

in many cases, having only the Indian- for their
neighbo Their dwelling

cabins, with a puncheon floor, and clapboard door,
hung "ii . n hii 9 'in.- v o liv<

2 38 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

a tent until a cabin could be built; others lived for
months in a pole shanty, without a floor, chimney or
door, a bed quilt supplying the place of the latter.
Their living, too, was also plain, being deprived of
almost every luxury of life ; for weeks at a time
without bread in their house, living on hominy and
potatoes, while their supply of meat was obtained from
wild game. The place for getting milling done, was
at a horse-mill near Peoria, where some of the pioneers
went, and waited days for their grist. Many of the
settlers pounded their corn in a hominy block, and
ground their wheat in a coffee mill, taking out the bran
with a common meal sieve.

Three years in succession, the early settlers of Bureau
were driven from their homes on account of Indian
hostilities, leaving their farms to grow up in weeds, and
their horses and cattle to run at large on the prairie.
Living in constant fear of the Indians, not knowing at
what moment they would be attacked and murdered by
them. Sometimes they would carry their guns with
them while working in the field, and at night leave
their cabin to sleep in the grove, so they might i sc tpe
should their dwellings be attacked.

Ague and intermittent fever were very common in
the early settlement of tire county, some seasons the
inmates of almost every house would be down sick,
one not being able to assist the other. For the first
three years of the settlement, there was no physician in
the county, and the sick were obliged to rely on such

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 21

remedies as they could obtain. An old lady, by the
name of Archer, Living cast of the Illinois river,
practiced midwiferj on Bureau, and in some instances
attending patients who lived twenty or thirty miles
from her residence. James G. Forristal] being afflicted

■

with the ague, went to Peoria for medical treatment,
and received of Dr. Langworthy, the only physician
of the place, a prescription which was intended to last
him three months, and with this prescription in his
pocket he returned to his cabin.

William Hoskins, one of the early settlers of this
county, came here with his family late in the fall of

* r

1830, and during the greater part of the cold winter

that followed, he lived in a cabin without door or
window, a bed quilt supplying the place of the former.
After moving here, Mr. Hoskins had but fifty cents in
money left, and for the first six months the family Lived

* •

on hominy and meat; but one peck of meal was used,
and that was ground on a hand mill.

[nstances without number might be recited, showing
the hardships endured by the earlv settlers, but tin
• •an be supplied by the reader's imagination.

More than forty Near- have now passed away since
the settlement of Bureau was commenced, and greal
lias been the change in the countn during thai time.

*

Ti i\ pioneer the hunter, and Indian fighter, with

h lev eptions, have | i aw; the report «»t

240 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

their rifles, and the barking of their dogs, are no longer
heard in Bureau timber. Their rude log cabins have
gone to decay, and their places supplied by line build-
ings, in which people live in the enjoyment of the
comforts and luxuries of life.

CHAPTER II.

INDIANS OF BUREAU.

The number of Indians that lived within the limits
of this county is not known: but it is estimated, by
those best posted, to be about fifteen hundred, all <>{'
whom wen- Pottawatamies. The line between the
country of the Pottawatamies and Winnebaeoes, was
the OM Indian Boundary Line, which passed through
the northern portion oi this county. In the timber of
main Bureau and Green river, the Indians ha<l land
mark.- designating tins line — the Wlnnebag hunting
north, an<l tin- Pottawatamies south of it, and tln-\

•

lom trBspaessed upon each other's righl Their
principal chief was named Antuckee, and lie lived
mo at Indiantown. I [e w I ill, athletic

man, with ; physical powers, and exercised much

inrluenc ir his 1 1 muther chief,

:>v mosl of tin M lei's, w inc w

\b mi he \\ hick, he md spoke

tlit- English I. ven well. I chief, with his

j!42 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

band of followers, lived part of each year at the Biu
Sugar Camp, on Main Bureau, (now in the town of
Dover), where he and his ancestors had made sugar for
forty-two years in succession. Wasseaw was a chief of

» * •

some note, and was known by a few of the early
settlers. He is described as being tall and slim, pre-
possessing in appearance, and he claimed to be a son of
Senachwine.

The Indians of Bureau, were low and filthy in their
habits, possessing (with few exceptions), but few of
those noble traits which sometimes elevate the savage
character, and make their history worthy of record.
But they were peaceable and quiet, living on
friendly terms with the settlers, and frequently visiting
their cabins to exchange commodities. As the settle-
ment increased in numbers, the Indians became dis-
satisfied with their situation, and left at different times
from 1832 to '36, t<> occupy lands assigned them by the
government in Western Kansas.

Many incidents are given by old settlers, illustrative
of the peculiar habits of these Indians, and a
short account of some of them may interest the
reader. Amos Leonard one day met an Indian, with
a deer which he had shot, tied to the tail of his pony,
and in that way was dragging it into camp. The pony
was puffing and sweating with fatigue, while the Indian
sat quietly on his back smoking his pipe. At another
time, Mr. Leonard saw an Indian dragging a canoe
across the prairie, in the direction of Green river. A

INDIANS ON BUREAU. 248

buckskin string was tied to the canoe, with the other
end around the Indian's waist; then Leaning forward
and 'holding on to the pony's mane, the canoe was
drawn along on the grass.

Many Indian feasts and war dances were witnessed
by <>ld settlers, the most remarkable of which took
place at Indiantown. in the fall of 183<». Black Hawk,
with many of his warriors, were on their return from
Canada, where they had been to receive their animal

annuities from the British government. Leaving the

■

great Sacs and Fox trail, near the crossing of the Galena
road, Black Hawk and his warriors went to Indiantown,
stopping and conversing with Mr. Epperson, as they
passed hie cahin. It is said that about one thousand
warrior- were present at this great war dance and the
performance is described by an eye witness, John L.
Anient, as exceeding anything of the kind ever
witnessed by the Indian.- <>t* this county. This dance
lasted three days, and the yelling of the [ndians could

be heard for miles away.

A.mong the many curious customs of tin- Indian-.

■

the medical dance is probabl} the mosl remarkable
With the Pottawatamie Indian-, a doctor and a prii

one and the same person, and when hi.- -kill in root*
and herb- fiii, he appeals t.» a ! act I

istance. The friends of the patient are called
together to assist in invoking the Great Spirit to expel
the demon from the Bick person, [f the patient is .
chief, or a person off importance, the warriors off the

244 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

whole band collect to take part in the ceremony.
Nicholas Smith, of the town of Bureau, was present at
one of these dances, which took place on Green river,
and he describes it as follows: A large number of
warriors were formed into a circle, and commenced
dancing to the music of drams, and rattling gourds.
In the center of the circle stood the priest, or medicine
man, with the skins of different animals stuffed, so as
to appear life-like. When the music and dancing
stopped, the priest took an otter skin in his hand and
passed around the circle, until he came to one possessed
of a devil, when he ran the nose of the otter against
his breast, yelling " hoa" at the top of his voice. The
victim fell to the ground, and to all appearance remained
lifeless. Again the music and dancing commenced, as
before, and as the dancers marched around the circle,
they would flourish their tomahawks and war clubs
over their fallen comrade, in order to drive the devil
out of him. When the dancing again stopped, the
medicine man took the skin of a large rattle snake,
with the rattles singing as though alive, passing around
the circle until he came to another victim, and brought
him also lifeless to the ground. This performance was
continued until every warrior, having a demon in his
breast, was made pure by the skin of a certain animal-
Then the dance broke up, and the patients pronounced
safe.

Indians generally bury their dead in a shallow grave,
and deposit with the corpse, knives, tomahawks, and

INDIANS ON BUREAU. 245

such articles as the deceased would be likely to need in
the happy hunting ground to which it is believed he
has gone. Man y of the graves were covered over with
poles, to prevent wolves from digging up and devouring
the corpses. Early settlers had noticed in Black
Walnut Grove, an Indian grave surmounted with a
wooden monument, curiously constructed, intended to
prevent the wolves from digging up the corpse, as well
as to perpetuate the memory of the deceased. Nothing
was ever known of the person buried here, but it was
supposed to have heen a chief, or great warrior. On
one occasion, about thirty Indians were seen to visit
this grave, and with their faces painted black, they
weeped and wailed over this departed loved one.

On Green river, about two milt- above New Bed-
ford, was an old Indian camping ground, where Win
nebago Indians, from Rock river, lived during the
winter hum-. In the winter of 1831, a chief of some
note died here, and out of respect for the remain.- it
was sepulchered above ground. On a sandy knoll, a
short distance from camp, the corpse, in a setting po-
tion, was tied to a tree, and by the Bide of which was
placed a rifle, knife, tomahawk, pipe, tobacco, &C

Around the corpse high palisades were erected to
prevent the wolves from devouring it, and in this position

it was lefl t<» decay.

Children, who died in infancy, were sometimes de
posited on trees, the corpse being placed in a trough, and
fastened by withes to a limb, where they were let) t<>

246 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

decay, or until the trough containing the bones would
tall to the ground. As late as 1835, two of these
sepulchers were found among the branches of trees on
Green river, which attracted much attention among
trappers and hunters.

Marriage rites among the Indians are held sacred, and
the squaw who violates them is subjected to corporeal
punishment. Among the males, no odium appeal's to
be attached to improprieties, but a female is sometimes
publicly whipped, and disgraced in society, by cutting
off her haii' or branded on the check. Youiiir
maidens, for this offence, are made to do penance until
they are purified, and the evil spirit driven out of them,
after which they are restored to favor. Early settlers say
north of Indiantown, in the thick bottom timber, once
stood a very large cottonwood tree, which was fenced
around with poles. When a maid had transgressed the
laws of propriety, she was compelled to remain in this
pen two days and nights, without food or water, in
order to drive the demon out of her; when this was
accomplished, she was again restored to friends and
society.

Young maidens were bought and sold for wives, the
same as a pony or rifle ; a handsome one would be
equal in value to a number of ponies. The first year
George Hinsdale spent on Bureau, he raised a fine crop
of potatoes, which were at that time in great demand,
and could be sold to the Indians at a good price, in
exchange for furs, pelts, &c. One day a party of

FIRST SETTLER. OLD UNCLE PETER. 24?

Indians came to him, and proposed to swap a handsome
young squaw for his potatoes. Mr. Elinsdale, being at
that time a single man, and in need of a wife, declined
the offer: as he could not think of exchanging hi-
potatoes, which cost him a hard snmmer's work, for one.

FIRST SETTLER OF BUREAU, AND OLD UNCLE PETER.

On the 5th of May. 1828, Henry Thomas, with his
family and scanty household goods, in an ox wagon,
arrived <»n Bureau, and made a claim lour miles north
of the present site of Wyanet, on a farm now occupied
by Thomas Vaughan. His cabin was built near a Bmall
branch, at that time skirted with timber. Near the
cabin was a spring, and by its side passed the great
Galena road, which had been opened the year before.
At the time Thomas settled here, there was not a
permanent resident within thirty miles of him, being
alone in a wild, uninhabited country, then in the pos-
session of Indians. A year or two previous, ;i few

families had settled on the Ox Bow Prairie, east of

the river as well as <>n the La Salle prairie north <»f

Peoria, and a few miners aboul Galena; with the

exceptions, all of tin- State lying north of Peoria, h

an unbroken wilderne Mr. Thomas built a shanty

with cotton wood poles, and covered it with bark, in

which his family found shelter, until ;i cabin could be

built. His cabin was constructed with -mall log .

thai himself and a hind man could raise it. as do

distance from neighbors could be obtained. While
4

248 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

they were engaged in building this cabin, a party of
Indians came to them, none of whom could speak or
understand English, and by signs and motions, they
gave Thomas to understand that his building was not
wanted in that locality. These Indians, with angry
looks and threatening gestures, left, but soon returned
with an interpreter, to ascertain the object of this
building. Mr. Thomas told the interpreter that he was
not building a fort, as they had supposed, but a wigwam
for his squaw and pappooses to live in, and he intended
to be their friend and neighbor. The Indians appeared
satisfied with this explanation, and some of them went
to work and assisted them in handling the logs of the
cabin. Before the cabin was completed, Mr. Thomas
commenced breaking prairie, which was the first sod
broke within the limits of Bureau county. In the fall,
his wife, being in a delicate situation, went to visit her
friends, in Tazewell county, and returned soon after-
wards, witli her niece, Miss Elizabeth Baggs, now Mrs.
Geo. Hinsdale ; who is the oldest settler now living in
this county.*

Soon after Mr. Thomas came to Bureau, an Indian
chief of some note came to his house, and proposed to
buy his niece, Miss Elizabeth Baggs, a handsome young
Miss of fourteen summers, to make a wife for his son.
Mr. Thomas, who was always fond of a joke, agreed to
swap the girl for the chief's favorite pony. Next day

:: Mr. Thomas' second daughter, Mary, now Mrs. Sells, was the first
white child born within the limits of Bureau county.

FIRST SETTLERS. OLD UNCLE PETER. 249

the chief, with some of his friends, and accompanied bv
his son, who was along to claim his bride, called on Mr
Thomas to carry out the conditions of the trade. Mr.
Thomas then told him that the girl did not be! one t<>
him, and he could not exchange herforapony withoul
her parent's consent. But the chief insisted on the
swap, and when he found it would not be earned out,
he became angry, saving, as he left, that there was no
reliance in the promise of a white man.

Soon after Mr. Thomas came to Bureau, he and his
family were sitting before a blazing fire, one dark.
rainy night, when a stranger called at the (\n>>\\ asking
admittance. He did not ring the bell, nor rap on the
door, for the cabin contained neither, but with his
ramrod he struck a bed quilt whirl) supplied the place
of a door. Thomas asked who was there, and the
reply was, a friend; as the vx)ice was recognized, he
replied, "Come in Uncle Peter, as long as 1 have a
home I will share it with you." Peter Demott, for it

*

was he. was an old pioneer hunter, who had spent

much of hi- !if<- in the wilds of thewest. Mr. Thomas
had made hi- acquaintance the year before, while <-\
ploring the country, and now regarded him a- an old
friend. For twelve pears, Demott, made lib home
with Thomas, and occupied hi- time in bunting and
trapping. With his gun and blanket, he would sj>end
week'- at a time hunting on Green river, or al grov<
iii tin- west part of the county, camping out at night,
nietimes, sleeping in a hollow log, or bunking with

250 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Indians. Uncle Peter, as he was generally called, was
a man of line education, a surveyor by profession, but
in his youthful days was crossed in love, when he left
the abode of civilization to live the life of a hermit,
a way from kindred and friends. Uncle Peter spent m uch
of his time with Indians, speaking their language, and
learning much of their history. He was a man of
general intelligence, a close observer of nature, and to
him the writer is indebted for many things relating to
the Indians of this county, as well as other matters
connected with the earlv settlement.

CHAPTER III.

ARRIVAL OF EMIGRANTS.

In the spring of May, 1828, a covered wagon, drawn
by four vokc of cattle, was seen on Kellogg's trail,
going northwards, in the direction of the lead mines.
This wagon belonged to a family by the name
Ament, and consisted of Bix brothers— three of whom
were men grown, and the other three were boys,
ranging in age from twelve to seventeen. At Boyd's
( trove they found John Dixon, with some of his friends
from Peoria, engaged in building a cabin, which cabin
was occupied Borne weeks later by his family. At ■
little point of timber, which extended out from West
Bureau, thev came across BLenn Thomas, with his
family, living in a tent, havingarrived there only a few
days before. By the road Bide, at the east end of Red
<>ak Grove, where O. Denham now lives, the Omenta
pitched their tent, with the Intention of making t1 %

place their future limue. At that time DO Cabin ha«i

been built north of La Salle prairie, and from there to

252 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the lead mines, a distance of one hundred and forty
miles, no marks of civilization could be seen except the
tents of Dixon and Thomas, above referred to. The
timber and prairie of Bureau county had not yet been
explored by the enterprising pioneers, and the proba-
bilities are, with the exception of surveyors and fur
traders, no white man had ever crossed the Princeton
prairie.

For two years the Aments kept a house of entertain-
ment— the small boys doing the housework, while the
larger ones were engaged in making a farm. They also
traded much with the Indians, buying of them furs and
pelts, and sending them south to sell. When the
Galena road left Aments1 cabin, they became dissatisfied
with their location. Justus and John L. went south
for wives, and settled on Main Bureau, while Edward,
with his younger brother, went to the Fox river
country, and made it their permanent home.

In the spring of 1829, Sylvester Brig-ham and War-
ren Sherley. two young men from Massachusetts, arrived
at Henry Thomas', after having traveled on foot from
Detroit, with knapsacks on their backs. After spending
a few days in looking at the country, Mr. Brigham
made a claim on the west side of West Bureau timber,
on a farm now occupied by George Hinsdale, and Mr.
Sherley made a claim at the head of the grove, which
place was afterwards known as Heaton's Point. After
working a few months on their claims, they returned
east again, where Mr. Sherley remained.

ARRIVAL OF EMIGRANTS. 253

Next spring Mr. Brigham returned to his claim,
accompanied by James G. Forristall, whose jolly, good-
natured face was, for the first time, seen in the Bureau
settlement. The traveler- had descended the Ohio
river,and up the Illinois as far as Peoria, on a Bteamboat,
and the boat on which they came was the !ir>T one that

er reached that place. This was the steamer Volun-
teer, and her arrival at Peoria, in April. ls»n. astonished
both whites and Indians, many of whom had ne\
seen r sti tmboat before. The arrival of the Volunteer
caused much rejoicing among the people; many swung
their hats and Bhouted, while Bogardus, one of the
leading men of the place, brought out an old blunder-
buss, planted it in the -and, and fired a salute in honor
of her arrival.

On the arrival of Brigham and Forristall, they made
claims on the easl Bide of main Bureau timber, now in
the town of Dover) ; here they built cabins, and occupied
them for -Mine year- alone, both being single men. M r.
Brigham Lived on his claim twenty-five years, then
went wot, and is at present living in Kansas. Mr.
Forristall -ii!I lives near where he took his firel claim,
being one among the few left of the early settlere of
Bureau.

The portraits of Mr. Brigham and Mr. Forristall will
he found in this book, and the\ will be recogn »\

uian\ of the old eili. if Bureau.

In the Bummer of L829, A.brain Stratton, then
young in. m, in company with a friend

254 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Burrell, traveled from the State of New York to Bureau
i >n toot, with knapsacks on their backs. After exploring
the country further south, Mr. Stratton made a claim
on West Bureau, where he now lives, and consequently
he is one of the first settlers of this county. About
one year after coming here, Mr. Stratton returned east
to make preparations for a permanent settlement in
the west. While east, he selected farming utensils,
such as plow irons, hoes, spades, &c, for himself and
two of his neighbors; having boxed them up, he
shipped them west, by the way of the lakes. Late in
the fall the boxes containing the goods were landed
from a schooner at the mouth of St. Joseph river, and
about the same time Mr. Stratton arrived there on foot.
Being late in the fall, no vessel would be likely to cross
the lake before spring, so Mr. Stratton employed two
Frenchmen, with a pirogue, to take him and his goods
around the head of the lake to Chicago, one hundred
and twenty miles distant. Winter was now close at
hand — the lake so rough that their frail craft could
scarcely buffet the waves, and many times they were
compelled to land, unload their goods on the beach, and
wait for the water to calm. After nine days spent in
making this perilous voyage, they at last came in sight
of the stars and stripes that floated over Fort Dearborn.
On arriving at Chicago, Mr. Stratton had his boxes
conveyed to Plainfield, thirty miles southwest. Here
lie bought a yoke of cattle, made a sled, on which his
boxes were placed, and proceeded on his journey

VBB \M STR \ TTON.

'UBLi RAR'

AST OR, LtNOX
TtLDfcN FptJ

ARRIVAL OF EMIGRANTS. 25 i

westward. The snow at the time was very deep, the
weather cold, and part of the way no road could
seen, and the course was taken from grove to gro^
On arriving at Hartzell's trading house, on the Illinois
river, Mr. Hartzell proposed to show him the way
across the river and through the timber of the bottom;
hnt when about to start, a large number of Indians
came in to trade, and he could not leave. Mr. Stratton,
on receiving directions concerning the route, went on
alone. Being directed to cross the river above the
point of Hennepin Island, then go up stream on the
ice. until he came to a blazed tree, from which he could
rind a road through the timber, cut out a few w<
before, by Timothy Perkins and others. Alter goii _
,-i short distance up the river, the ice cracked from the
weight of the cattle and sled, and being fearful of
breaking in, he left it for the shore, but here he was
without a road, and was obliged to cut one through the
timber; in doing so he losl his reckoning, and the da)
was spent in finding his wa\ oul of the river timb<

It was a coid, windy day, the thermometer belov
zer<». the -now three feet deep, and drifted in places bo
that a road had t<> be made with a shovel i the

oxen could eret through. VThen Stratton arrived •
the Princeton prairie, in vain he searched along the
timber for Epp< reon's residen orth,

then .-oiiih .- 1 ! < . - 1 u the margin of tl

•lie t»n, and hi encamped in I

id. hen -l"li!i 11.

258 REMINISCENCES OF BUREA.U COUNTY.

lives. Shoveling away the snow, a place was made to
camp, into which the cattle and sled was brought.
Stratton cut down a dry tree, and as it fell it buried
itself in the snow. With flint and tinder, (matches
not being in use in those days ), he built a fire, by the
side of which he remained until morning. Next
morning, after cutting down a small tree for his cattle
to browse, he started on foot, in search of Epperson's
cabin, which he succeeded in finding; and next day
he reached his claim on West Bureau, after spending
two weeks in making a trip from Plainfield. For many
years Mr. Stratton kept this yoke of cattle and sled —
with them he frequently went to church or a visiting,
and with them he fled from the country at the commence
ment of the Black Hawk war.

In the fall of 1831, Mr. Stratton married Miss Sarah
Baggs, a niece of Henry Thomas, and their wedding
was the second one celebrated within the limits of this
county.

It is a fact worthy of note — Abram Stratton, Ezekiel
Thomas, and Michael Kitterman, are the only persons
in this county, who continue to live on claims, which
they made previous to the Black Hawk war.

About the first of March, 1830, Elijah Epperson, with
his family, arrived on Bureau, in search of a place to make
his future home. Leaving the Galena road, at Boyd's
Grove, they crossed the prairie, near the mouth of
Bureau creek, and stayed over night with Timothy
Perkins. Next day they went in search of a claim.

ARRIVAL OF EMIGRANTS. 259

and by their wagon, the first track was made across
the Princeton prairie. Mr. Epperson, and his son
Hezekiah, followed up Bureau timber, in search of a
spring, until they came to the present residence of James
G. Forristall, and here they were surprised to find
John L. and Justus Anient, engaged in building a
cabin. Retracing their steps, they found in the timber,
where F. Stoner now lives, a good spring, and by the
side of which they built a cabin. Here Mr. Epperson
settled, and here lived until his death, and he will long
be remembered as one of the early pioneer.- of Bureau

county.

Probably there is no one among the pioneers of
Bureau county, whose life has been so eventful, and
who became so extensively known throughout the
country, as Dad Joe. In the spring of Ls25, lie moved
from Kentucky to Peoria, was one of the first commis-
sioners of Peoria county, and assisted in its organization.
A few years afterwards, Dad Joe moved to the lead
mine.-, but Left it on the breaking out of the Win-
uebaeo war, and settled at Rock [sland. lb- had made
a claim near Black Hawk'.- yillage, and was engaged in
making a i'arm, when difficulty arose between the

ittlers and Indian.-, which caused many of the former

, flee from the country.
( ),,,. day while Dad Joe was absent, a party of

■

drunken Indian- attacked bis family, probably with the
intention of murdering them. While his wife was in

the door yard, an Indian struck her on the head with

260 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

his tomahawk, knocking lier down, and cutting her head
in a shocking manner; as lie was about to repeat the
blow, Young Joe, then a lad of twelve years of age.
rode his horse on the Indian, and thereby thwarted the
fatal stroke. Nicholas, an older son, ran to the rescue
of his mother, and was about to shoot the Indian, but
prudence dictated otherwise, knowing, in that event,
the whole family, with all the settlers about Rock
Island, would be massacred. It was after dark when
Dad Joe returned to his home, to learn of an attempt
to murder his wife, and it was with difficulty that he
was restrained from taking revenge on the Indians.

Dad Joe, knowing that the life of himself and family
would be insecure at Rock Island, left it, and in the
spring of 1880 he settled at a grove which still bears
his name.

It was a cold, windy day, in early spring when Dad
Joe, with his family and all his household goods in a
two horse wagon, arrived at the grove. Having been
twice driven from his home on account of Indians, he
concluded to make this grove his permanent residence,
although off from a public road, and only two families
living within twenty miles of him. On the east side ot
the grove a tent was pitched, in which the family found
shelter until a cabin could be built. Soon after settling
at the grove, Dad Joe conceived a plan of changing the
Galena road, which passed by Red Oak Grove, so as
to go by his cabin. Accordingly he staked < >ut the new
road, built a bridge across the Inlet, and in a few week.-

HAMPSHIRE COLONY.

261

it became a beaten track. For six years Dad Joe lived
at the orove keeping a house of entertainment, and on
leaving there he settled lour miles north of Princeton,
when he died in 1852.

HAMPSHIRE COLON Y.

On the 23d of March, 1831, a colony was formed at
Northampton, Massachusetts, for the purpose of settling
in the west. This colony organized a religioi
which was called the "Hampshire Colony Cong eg
tional Church,"' and consisted of eighteen membe
;md it formed the micleus of the present ( Jong ional

Church, of Princeton. By agreement, the members
the colony met at Albany, New York, on the 5th of
May, for the purpose of continuing their jourm
westward. From here they went on a canal boat to
Buffalo, and from there on a Bteamer to Detroit. A:
this place they expected toobtain pas ner

for Chicago; uo Bteamboat had at that time passed
around the lake, and all the commerc* ied on

by sail vessels only. The Bchooner on which tin
expected passage, was already loaded, and could not
take them on board, consequently the) were left on
shore. On learning that it would be about tin
months before anoi chooner would leave for Chica
the) hired teams and pursued their journe) by land.
On arriving Mottsville, on I - , Joseph rh
Mj -hican, two of the horeea belonging to the teams

262 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

died, and some of the party were obliged to continue
the journey on foot. They bought two canoes, lashed
them together, and proceeded down the river sixty-five
miles, to the portage, or big swamp, five miles in
length, which connected with the Kankakee river.
In their canoes they passed down the Kankakee, and
Illinois rivers, to the mouth of Big Vermillion, nearly
opposite the present site of Lasalle. At this point
the}' were met by their agent, Mr. Jones, who had
preceeded them, and had selected what was afterwards
known as Princeton prairie, for their future homes.

At that time, the settlers on Bureau, were all
absent from their homes, having fled on account of
Indian troubles; and to the colonists, things looked
gloomy, and discouraging. The colonists remained at
Baily's Point, east of the river, until a treaty with the
Indians was concluded at Rock Island ; and the settlers
returned to their cabins. Dr. Chamberlain, and Eli
and Elijah Smith, joined in buying a wagon and two
yoke of cattle, so as to move their families and house-
hold goods, to Bureau. At that time, Phillips, Brig-
ham, and Forristall, three single men, occcupied a
cabin where Mr. Forristall. now lives, and to this cabin
the emigrants were bound. Without anv road across

CD i

the prairie, they left Spring creek timber, shaping their
course in a northwest direction, so as to strike Bureau
at the desired point. In a stream on the prairie, ( sup-
posed to be Brush creek), their wagon stuck fast in the
mud. and as it was near night they left it and proceeded

HAMPSHIRE COLONY.

on their journey. Dr. Chamberlain, was riding the
only horse that belonged to the party, and he took
Mrs. Eli Smith, on behind him. Elijah Smith mounted
an ox, with his wife behind him; Eli Smith was on
another steer, with Oscar Chamberlain, riding behind
him. Others of the party were mounted on the otl
two steers, and in this way they Btarted for Phillip's claim,
about ten miles distant. On reaching East Bureau
creek, at a little grove near the present Bite of Maiden,
night overtook them, and in the darkness they found it
impossible to proceed further. Here in this little grove
they decided to stay all night, and without tenta or
bedding, they laid down among the brush to sleep.
Next morning the men mounted the Bteers, with their
women on behind them, as they had done the evenii g

fore, and returned to their wagon; the wagon at 1
was extricated from the mud. and they proceeded on
their way. It was late in the afternoon when the
emigrants reached Phillip's cabin, and their journey to
the west, was al an end,

A few days before starting for the west, Eli and
Elijah Smith were married to two si , and their
journej to Illinois, occupying about three montlis, which
will Ion remembered by them, as their weddi

tour.

When the Hampshire < Jolony arrived on B ■ an,
Mi-. Epperson was the only person living in Princeton
township, and he assisted them in sel< rclain &

The colonists surveyed the land from Epp< laim,

264 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

for five miles up Main Bureau timber, and staked oft'
their claims; but few of them settled on the land
assigned them. Dr. N. Chamber] in located one and
one-half miles south of Princeton, on a farm now
belonging to Mr. Dee. Eli and Elijah Smith built a
double log cabin, on Bureau bluff, three miles north of
Princeton. Among the young men of the colony,
were C. G. Corss, George Hinsdale, Aaron Gunn, John
P. Blake, E. H. and E. S. Phelps, Jr. Aaron Gunn
made a claim on the Doolittle farm, and afterwards at
La Moille, but is now living in La Salle. Mr. Corss
made a claim two and one-half miles southeast of
Princeton, on which he lived until his death, which
occurred a few vears ago. John G. Blake made a claim
where Arthur Br van t now lives, but soon afterwards
went east of the river, where he settled. Mr. Blake
now lives in Putnam county, and for many years was
county judge. E. H. Phelps is now living in Princeton,
and is one among the few original members left of the
Hampshire Colony Church. E. S. Phelps, Sen., also
lives in Princeton, but is tar advanced in life. E. S.
Phelps. Jim., lives in Wyanet, and has been long
known as a contributor to the public journals of Bureau
county.

The settlement made by the colonist,- was called
Greenfield, and Elijah Smith was appointed postmaster.

Their church, when organized on Bureau, consisted
of only -i.\ members, and meetings were held alterna-
tively at the cabins of Chamberlhrs and Smil li's. Before

HAMPSHIRE COLONY. 265

leaving Massachusetts, their Mends presented them with
a silver scarament set. This set was left during the
Black Hawk war, at the house of Elijah Smith, and
was stolen either by whites or Indian-. Next spring
after the war, when the prairie was burned, a part of this
sacramental set was found on West Bureau, but was
much damaged by the burning of the grass.

On account of the Indian war, the Hampshire Colony
was partly broken up; many of its members Left the
country, and settled in other localities, which were lese
exposed to Indian depredations. E. S. Phelps, Sen..
and Alva Whitmarsh were members of the colony, but
went south with their familes, and did not settle on
Bureau, until some years afterwards.

Although the Hampshire Colony did Dot meet with
such success as its projectors expected, .-till it formed
the nucleus for a large New England settlement here,
and many of the enterprising citizens of Bureau county

came here in consequence of it.

6

CHAPTER IV.

EXPLORING THE COUNTRY.

In the summer of 1829, Henry and Ezekiel Thomas,
in company with four other persons, from Tazewell
county, made a tour eastward to see the country. This
party were all mounted on horseback, and supplied with
provisions, blankets, &c, so they could camp out at
night. Leaving Henry Thomas, on the morning of a
bright summer day, they followed up Main Bureau
timber, for a number of miles, then made their way
eastward along the north side of the Illinois river
timber. Not a settler nor one mark of civilization was
to be seen through the limits of Bureau county. The
party followed up the river to the foot of the rapids,
near Starved Rock, where they forded it and explored
the country, on the east side, along the great bend of
the Illinois river. On their return homeward they
came to Hartzell's Trading House, which was located on
the bank of the river, a short distance above Hennepin
Island. At that time there was no ferryboat, and the

EXPLORING THE COUNTRY. 2n7

party were compelled to swim their horses across the
river. Ezekiel Thomas took the lead, and was followed
by the rest of the party in Indian file, whose horg
were soon floundering in the placid waters of I
Illinois. When part way across the girth of Henry
Thomas's saddle broke, and the saddle with the rider
floated off by the current, while the horse continued on
his way for the opposite shore. Mr. Thomas being left
alone in the middle of the river, managed t<> km. p
himself and saddle afloat, until he was rescued by a
man in a canoe.

Tic par; \ being safely landed on the west Bide of the
river, found their wav with great difficulty through the
thick timber of the river bottom. A- they came aigli
the present site of Bureau valley mills, they discovered
a wagon track, which excited their curiosity , as no >n
was then living west of the Illinois river, except Henry

omas and the Anient family. The party turned
their horses about and followed the wagon track, iii
order to obtain a cine to this mvsterous affair. The

*

the creek, and wound along the bluff,
until it came to a .-mall opening in the timber, sin
knows as Hoskins' prairi Here by the side oi
spring, where the family of Brown Searl m»u lives,
they found two families encamped. migrai

had cut down a large tree, againsl the trunk of which
a fire " built, ami fronting the fire
to shield their families from the sun ami rain. The
women were busy with their dome . whi

268 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the men were off deer hunting, in order to supply
them with meat.

The names of these two emigrants were Amos
Leonard and Daniel Dimmick, both of whom were
prominent in the early settlement of this county, and
a further account of them will be found in another part
of this work. They were from Knox county, Ohio,
and had traveled from there with an ox team. Crossing
the river at Peoria, they followed up on the west side
until they came to Bureau, when they stopped, with
the intention of making it their future home.

SETTLERS FLEE FROM THEIR HOMES.

In the spring of 1831, the settlers on Bureau were
apprehensive of trouble with the Indians, as rumors
were in circulation that different tribes had united for
the purpose of making war on the frontier settlement.
Black Hawk, with a part of his band, had crossed the
Mississippi, and had taken possession of his old village
near Rock Island. Trouble existed between these
Indians and the settlers, who had laid claim to the Indian
cornfields and wigwams, and were unwilling to give
them up, on their return to the village. In order to
prevent bloodshed, Gov. Reynolds called out seven
hundred volunteers, to protect the settlers, as well as to
intimidate the Indians. In the later part of June.
these volunteers, accompanied by Gen. Gain's with a
regiment of regulars, repaired to Rock Island, to put

SETTLERS FLEE FROM THEIR HOMES. 269

an cud to these disturbances. On the approach of the
army, the Indians tied west of the Mississippi, and this
bloodless victory was celebrated by firing of cannon.
The report of Gen. Gaines' cannon was heard oil
Bureau, and the settlers believing that hostilities had
commenced, tied from their homes. At that time,
there were only sixteen families living within the limits
of Bureau county, while the country north, and west,
was an unbroken wilderness without one habitation of
white men; BO that Bureau settlement occupied a
frontier position, without protection from forts, or
military posts. A report was current that the Indians
• •I' Bureau had gone weal to join Black Hawk, and a

paid on the settlement might be expected at any time.
A traveler, on the Sac and F<>.\ trail, said he met near
Bureau Grove, about live hundred warriors, going west
ward ; \'nr the purpose as he supposed, of joining the Sac

and Poxes at Rock Island.

The families of Elijah Epperson, John Williams,
John L. and Justus Ament, hearing these reports, and
the firing of cannon at Rock [sland; Btarted t<> leave
the country, and ha<l procceeded as far as Round Point,

when- the city "I PrincetOIl nOW stand-, where thr\

halted, for ultation; some being in favor <>! con-
tinuing on their way, while others opposed it. Ann-
a l(>iiLr parley, it was agreed thai Shaubena should be
consulted in regard to their safety, in ease thr\ remain*

. . .

in the countr . 'i bv hi- decision the) would abidei

• •

Elezekiah Epperson and Justus Amenl went to

270 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Shaubena's camp, which was then located on the Corse
nm east of the Doolittle farm, while the remainder of
the fugitives, with their ox teams returned to Epperson's
cabin to await events. When the messengers arrived
at Shaubena's camp, they did not find him at home,
having gone on business to Hartzell's Trading House,
but thev left word on his return to come immediatelv
to Epperson's cabin, where his friends were in waiting
for him.

Men, women and children, were collected in the door
yard, fronting the cabin, undecided what to do, when
in the distance they heard the clattering of a horse's
feet, and in a moment, Shaubena, with his pony on a
gallop, was seen coming through the timber and across
the Epperson nm, in the direction of the cabin. As
he rode up to the settlers, he raised his hand high above
his head, and addressed them with " Buzu Necons"
which is in English, "How do you do, my friends.''
The men collected around Shaubena, to learn his
opinion in relation to the war, and what he thought
about their remaining longer in the country. In answer
to these inquiries, Shaubena said he thought there
would be trouble between the whites and Sacs and
Foxes. The young men, he thought, might stay on
their claims and raise a crop, but the squaws and
pappooses should leave the country immediately. The
oxen were again hitched on to the wagons, and they
all fled east of the Illinois river. On the Ox Bow
prairie, a call was made for volunteers to assist the

SETTLERS FLEE FROM THEIR HOMES. 2 / 1

Bureau settlers in taking away their property, when
a hunt fifty came forward, who marched forthwith for
Bureau settlement.

A short time previous, Thomas Hartzell, and Ira
Ladd, built a small boat, and established a ferry at the
head of Hennepin Island. At this ferry, the rangers
were taken across, which occupied several hours, as the
boat c<»uld only carry .six horses and their riders at a
time. When the rangers wwa all landed <m the w<
side of the river, they put their horse- on a canter for
Indiantown.

It was a bright June day, without a cloud in the
sky, and the wild flowers along Bureau valley, were in
full bloom; birds were singing among the branches
of the trees, and the rippling water of Bureau creek
could be heard, as it glided quietly on its v I the
river.

A- the rangers cantered their horses up the valley,
crossing and re-crossing tin- creel;, at short intervals;
they were enchanted by the beauty of the surroundii

mi r\ . Their loud talk and merry Laugh, a- well
the clattering of their horses feet, could be heard at a
disl . ami the Bound of which was made t<> re-echo
from the surrounding bluffs.

All was quiet at the [ndian village; athletic hunters

were lazily lying around under the shade of trees.

Tic squaws were it work in their cornfields, sores

were playing on tic en, when all -»t

i sudden tic I lians disc 1 t hi- armed for

272 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

approaching their village, and believing that they were
abont to be attacked, they tied in great haste. War-
riors, with rifles in their hands, and squaws, with
pappooses on their backs, were seen in great numbers,
climbing the bluff south of the village, while others
mounted their ponies, and putting them at the top of
their speed, fled up Bureau bottom, and were soon out
of sight of the rangers.

An old Indian, who was confined to his couch by
sickness, believing that his time had come, commenced
singing his death song, and was prepared to depart to
the happy hunting ground.

John Griffith, one of the rangers, who afterwards
owned a saw mill on Bureau creek, followed the Indians,
and speaking well the Pottawatamie language, prevailed
on their chiefs, and principal warriors to return.
Autuckee, Meommuse and Girty, with others returned
to their village and had a talk with the rangers. In
this conference they stated that they had no intention
of going to war, and until then they were not aware of
the flight of the settlers. The rangers were now con-
vinced, that the alarm was without any foundation, so
far as the Pottawatamies were concerned, and they
returned to their homes.

Seven young men, belonging to this company of
rangers, among whom were Madison Study vin, John
Griffith, Ira Ladd, and Jonathan Wilson, being desirous
of seeing the country, continued their journey west-
ward, and stayed over night at Henry Thomas. Next

SETTLERS FLEE FROM THEIR HOM 273

day. as they were returning home, they saw, while on
the Princeton prairie, three men on horseback, travel-
ing westward, and .being fond of sport, galloped th
horses towards them. These three men proved to be
E] on, Jones and Foot, who w m their way to
Epperson's cabin: Mistaking the ra for Indians,

they wheeled their In out, anifled in the direct*

of Hennepin. The panic tnplete, and the

fugitives urged their h< forward under the whip,

lieving the pri ation of th on

the fleetness of their stee Saddle-bag lank.

►ther valuables, were thrown away to facilitate their
On they went, at a tearful . purstted

the ran. In the flight, Foot's horse fell down,

tin die rider >>\vv hi.- head; hut Epperson and

Jones made no halt, havii time t<» look after th

unfortunate comrade, but leaving him, to tin- ler

ni' f savages, they <•< »nt ini!c< 1 mi their

\\ lit -M the fugitives arrived at the Hennepin ferrj , th<
were exhausted from frighl and <>ver exertion; their
hoi iii a foam of Bweat, while loud pui

l>re;itli came forth from their expanded nostril*
the snorting of the horses, and clattering of their

■

were heard the hoarse voices of the rider the

topof their \ oice, '* Injun-, Injni:

the river were a number of people look in eir

cattle, which had been driven from their clain nd

<»n hearing the cry of Injun.-, they. t«.... ran i>v th-

li\< Epperson and hi- comrade Bpr from th.

274 REMINISCENCES OF BUREA.U COUNTY.

horses, and ran for the ferry boat, saying they had been
chased by a large body of Indians, who were but a
short distance behind, and would be upon them in a
moment. As quick as possible, the ferry boat left for
the opposite shore ; one man being left behind, jumped
into the river, and swam to the boat, when all were
safely landed on the Hennepin side. Soon after
Epperson and his comrade were landed on the east side
of the river, and before the panic subsided, the sup-
posed Indians arrived, when the whole matter was
explained.

Foot and Jones were single men, and belonged to the
Hampshire Colony, having arrived in the county a
short time before. Foot had made a claim two miles
north of Princeton, on a farm now occupied by John
Shugart, and Jones claimed the land where James
Garvin now resides. This terrible scare disgusted them
with the countrv, and neither of them ever returned to
make good their claims, but settled east of the river.

HICKORY RIDGE.

A short distance below the mouth of Bureau creek,
formerly covered with thick timber, is a slight elevation.
miming parallel with the river, and called Hickory
Ridge. In the early settlement of the country, and at
times of high water, this ridge was made a place of
landing for the Hennepin ferry-boat. According to
tradition, this place has been the scene of a number of

HICKORY RIDGE. 275

incidents, which occurred long before the settlement of

the country.

In September, 1681, according to the Jesuit history,
a company of French soldiers, commanded by Capt.
Tonti, were stationed by La Salle at Fort St. Louis, on
Buffalo Rock, two miles below the present site of
Ottawa. To escape from being massacred by Indians,
these soldiers aband< >ned the fort, and escaped at night, in
their canoes, down the river. After proceeding on their
way about twenty miles, they stopped at the mouth of
a large creek to dry their clothing, and repair their
noes. This large creek referred to, must have been
Bureau, as no other stream on the route will answer
tli! Iption. With this party of Boldiers wi

two noted mie ies, named Fath< Z liable and

briel, who bad ed their lives t<. the coi ion

of \\ . WTiile the party wereei

their her Gabriel, who was fond <-t* solitu

folio down the bank of the river, wandering ofl
into tin' thick timber of the "1 was mi

when th*' tin depai arrived, il \ •'

for in vah \ ad fires built al the

bank of i1 !! to no purpose. After waiti

many hours, they i him up for lo . id pr
on their journi

he w oner by a band of

and murdered by them,
was much n ;- he was an old man i

pears, and much devoted to the work of the church.

276 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Ou the upper end of this ridge, a few rods below the
mouth of the creek, a Frenchman, named Beuro, from
whom the stream took its name, built a trading house,
but at what period is not known. Antonia Deschamps,
who for many years was an agent of the American Fur
Company, and spent most of his long life at Fort
Clark, said, when a boy, previous to the year 1790, he
saw every spring canoes loaded with furs and buffalo
robes, and other skins, pass down the river from Beuro's
trading house. The Indians say Beuro died, while
his agent with canoes loaded with furs, was on a trip
to St. Louis, and his wife, who was a Pottawatamie
squaw, put his stock of goods into canoes, and took
them to her people, living at the mouth of Fox river.

After the destruction of Black Partridge's village,
which occurred in September, 1812, by volunteers
under Gov. Edwards, as previously stated, part of the
band took refuge on Hickory Ridge. These Indians,
thinking that the volunteers would pursue them up the
river in their boats, tore down the old trading house of
Beuro, and with the logs built a breastwork on the
river bank, so they could fire on them as they ascended
the river. Grerton S. Hubbard sa " reastwork

was still standing when he ci to the country, in the
year 1818.* It appears the volunteers did not ascend

•* A few years ago, David S. Miller cut the timber off Hickory Ridge,
and put the land under cultivation. On the upper end of the ridge,
many relics of t t were found, showing where a dwelling once

stood. Pieces of pottery, glassware, and other relics of lation,

were found imbedded in the ground. On the bank of the river are still

HICKORY RIDGE. 277

the river in Knar.-, as the Indians expected, but a part
of them on horseback, commanded by Lieut. Robenson,
came up to Bureau creek, and from that circumstance
the stream took the name of Robenson river, which
appeared on the old State maps.

to be seen the signs of a breast work or fortification. Thirty years ago,
Cyrus Langworthy, In cutting timber on this ridge, found a rifle ball
in a tree, which, according to the growth, must have been imbedded
there some seventy years before.

CHAPTER V.

SETTLEMENT OF LEEPERTOWN AND HOSKINS' PRAIRIE.

It has already been stated that Amos Leonard and
Daniel Dimmick settled on the Hoskins' prairie, in the
snmmer of 1829, and were, therefore, the first settlers,
with one exception, in the eastern part of the county.
A few weeks after they came to the county, Timothy
Perkins and Leonard Roth, ( the latter a single man ).
came to Bureau, and built a cabin near the present site
of Leepertown mills. In the spring of 1830, John Hall
came in the set dement, bought the claims of Leonard
and Dimmick, and on them he made a large farm. In
the fall of the same year Win. Hoskins and John Clarke
made claims in this vicinity, and became permanent
settlers. Dimmick, having sold his claim, went to
Dimmick's Grove (now La Moille), where lie lived two
years, and then left the country. During the summer
of 1830, Amos Leonard, who was a mill-wright by
trade, built a grist mill on East Bureau, about eighty
rods above its mouth. This mill was constructed with

LEEPERTOWX AND HOSKIXs" PBAIRIB. 279

round logs, twelve feet square, and all its machinery,
with a few exception re made of wood. The mil!

stones were dressed out of boulder roe!:.-, which were
taken troin the bluffs near by, and the hoop they ran
in was a section of a holloa - jamore tr This mill,
when in running order, would grind aboul ten <-U

lay, but poor a,- it was, people regarded it as ;. _
acc< >sion to the settlement, and it relieved th of the

►w process ot grinding on hand mills, or pounding
their grain on a hominy block. Settlers east of tin*
river, as well ae those living near the mouth of Fox
river, patronized Leonard's mill, and it is now believed

it it was the first water mill built north of Peoria.

In 1831, Henry (> 'le man who was killed

at the Indian creek i . mad. laim. and built

a cabin, on the pro-'.!;: site of Bureau Junction, [n
33, John Leeper bougbl Perkins' claim, and a few
irds built a flouring mill, which

received much patronage from adjoining lounties
Quite a village (called Leepertown w up at tl

mill; hut in 1 " the mill burned down and the villi
went to d<

In numbi r of emigrants found homes in this

locality, amo bom wen David Nickerson, John

M tElwain, J Howe, Charles Leeper, M

\V m. Shield i. i number of persoi

bad settled in Hoskins' neighborhood, among whom
were Daniel Sherle> and G tI Kellums. 'u 1-

280 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the large family of Searl came here, where many of
their descendants continue to live.

MOSELET SETTLEMENT.

In August, 1831, Roland Moseley, Daniel Smith,
and John Musgrove, with their families, came to
Bureau, the two former were from Massachusetts, and
the latter from New Jersey, having met by chance
while on their way to the west. The emigrants
ascended the Illinois river in a steamboat as far as
Naples, and finding it difficult to obtain passage further
up the river, they left then families there, and made a
torn* through the country in search of homes. Hearing
of the Hampshire Colony on Bureau, Mr. Moseley
directed his course thither, and being pleased with the
country, he selected a claim. At that time Timothy
Perkins claimed, for himself and family, all the timber
and adjoining prairie, between Arthur Bryant's and
Caleb Cook's, bnt he agreed to let Mr. Moseley have
enough for two farms, on condition of selling him some
building material. A few months previous to the time
of which we write, Timothy Perkins and Leonard Roth
had built a saw mill on Main Bureau, a short distance
below the present site of McManis' mill. This was the
first saw mill built within the limits of Bureau county,
and with one exception, the first north of Peoria.

Mr. Moseley marked out his claim, cutting the initials

MOSELEY SETTLEMENT. 2£ |

of his aame on witness trees, and contracting with Mr.
Perkins to furnish him, on the land, some boards and
Blabs for a shanty, after which he returned to Naples to
report his discovery.

The three families, with their household goods, were
put on board of a keel boat at Naples, and ascended
the river as far as the mouth of Bureau creek.
after their arrival on Bureau, they were all taken down
sick with the intermittent fever, one not being able to
assist the other. Although strangers in a strange land.
they found those who acted the part of the good
Samaritan. James G. Forristall, although living twelve
miles distant, was a neighbor to them, spending days
and even weeks in administering to their want.-. 1 fmiel
Smith, father of Daniel P. and Dwight Smith, of Ohio
town, found shelter for his family in a shanty constructed

of Bplit puncheon.-, which stood on the Doolittle farm.

Here Mr. Smith died a few weeks after his arrival, and
he was the first white man buried within the limits of
Bureau county. The widow of Daniel Smith, being

i

left with three -mall children, in a Btrange country,

*

and with limited mean-, experienced maiiv of the

hardships common t«» a new settlement. She made
claim where Edward Bryanl dow lives, and with the

•

assistance of friends, built a cabin and made a (arm.

Mr. Moseley and Mr. Muwrrove were men of industn
and enterprise, improving well their claim.-, ami li\.

on them until their death.

282 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY

SETTLEMENT EAST OF THE RIVER FIRST STEAMBOAT.

In the spring of 1827, James W. Willis and brother
made a claim on the Ox Bow prairie, built a cabin,
broke ten acres of land, and planted it in corn. On
account of the trouble with the Winnebago Indians,
which occurred that summer, they fled from the country.
but returned in the fall to find a good crop of corn
which had matured, without fencing or cultivating.
In September, 1826, Capt. Wm. Haws explored the
country east of the river, and selected a claim near the
present site of Magnolia. Sometime afterwards, Capt.
Haws settled on this claim, where he continued to live.
and he is regarded the oldest settler now living" in
Putnam county. Other pioneers came to that section
of country a year or two later, among whom were J.
Strawn. David Boyle, Daniel Gunn, Hilderbrans,
Wilsons and others.

In 1828, Thomas Hartzell an Indian trader, occupied
a cabin on the east bank of the river, a short distance
below the mouth of Bureau creek. Three years after-
wards, he established himself in Hennepin, and had an
extensive trade with the Indians as late as the spring
of 1836. when he retired from business after accumu-
lating a fortune.

In the spring of 1831, Hooper Warren was appointed
by Judge Young, clerk of the court, and he came t«>
Hennepin to assist in organizing the county. For a

FIBS1 STEAMBOAT. 288

Qumber of years, Mr. Warren was clerk of the circuit
court, county clerk, recorder, judge of probate, and
justice of the peace, ail of which he held at one time.
In 1819, Hooper Warren was editor of Edwards'

Spectator, one oi the two papers then published
Illinois, and through it he carried on a warfare again6t
the introduction of slavery, which was at that tin

«

contemplated.

In L829, Smiley and Nelson Shephard, Jam
Dunlavey, Thomas Galleher, dohn E. Wornock, J<>hn
Leeper, Samuel D. Laughlin, and others, settled at
Union Grove, and in the vicinity of Florid. In Sep
tember, L831, James and Williamson Durley opened a

re in a log cabin opposite the mouth of Bureau creek :
afterwards they built the first house in Hennepin.
and moved their store thither. In tin summer of

28, Sniile\ Shephard. then a young man, explored
flic country along the Illinois river, and made a claim
three miles east of the mouth of Bureau creek, where
he now liv( His location is a romantic one, occupying
a higrh knoll at the sidi ove, :r>\A overlooking

■

the beautiful prairie which skirts the great bend in the
Illinois river, and where it- winding m for

foi i inil- After making his claim M . Shephard

returned to liis liome in 0 married h \\ i i . ! the
it summ to 1 llinois, wit li i li. in! >n

of ma it his t'ut uru lion - - tin-

emigrants ascended the [llinois river in a keel bo

id from there t<» the mouth of Bureau

284 REMINISCE NOES OP BUREAU COUNTY.

creek, in a small Indian trading boat. At that time no
steamboat had ever ascended the Illinois river above
Beardstown, and some believed that twenty years or
more wonld elapse before they would be required on the
upper Illinois. But two years had scarcely elapsed,
when on a bright May morning in 1831, Mr. Shephard
and his neighbors were surprised to hear the puffing of
a steamboat, and for many miles they could see the
smoke from her chimneys as she followed around the
great bend of the river. This was the steamer Caroline,
the first boat that ever came above Peoria. The
Caroline ascended the river as far as Crozier's trading
house, at the mouth of Big Vermillion, and from that
day the landing was called Shipmansport. After
cutting and taking some wood on board, and piloted by
Mr. Crozier, who was well acquainted with the channel,
the boat ascended the river to Ottawa. In September
following, the steamboat Traveler came up the river as
far as Crozier1 s landing, and from that time steamboats
would occasionallv ascend the river.

When John Hall, William Hoskins, and others, living
near the Illinois river, heard the puffing of the steamer
Caroline, it caused great rejoicing among them, regarding
it a harbinger of commerce and civilization.

A party of Indians were encamped on Negro creek,
about one mile above its mouth, when the Caroline
ascended the river, and on hearing the puffiing the
squaws and pappooses were greatly alarmed, never
having seen or heard a steamboat before. Some of the

\\ II. 1. 1 \ M IIUSKIXS.

*!«£

PUTNAM COUNTY ORGANIZED. 287

Indians mounted their ponies, and put them at the top
of their speed to learn the cause of the strange noise,
and for some distance they galloped their ponies along
the bank of the river, in order to get a good view of
the monster. An Indian boy was the first to return to
camp after seeing the steamboat, when the squaw*
gathered around him for an explanation of the strange
noise which they had heard. The boy, who was much
excited, said to them that the Great Spirit had gone up
the river in a big canoe. This big canoe, he said, was
on tire, and the puffing which they heard was caused
by the Great Spirit being out of breath paddling it SO
fast up stream.

PUTNAM CODNTV ORGANIZED.

Tn the spring of 1831, Putnam county was organized,
in accordance with an act of the legislature passed in
1 inuary previous. F*v this acl new boundaries were
i^i\ (Ti to Putnam, which made it include territory on
the easi Bide of the i-iver. that formerly belonged to

■

Tazewell county.

*

At the time Putnam county was organized, all the

intrv north and wesl of Bureau settlement, was a

wild, unsettled country, without a permanent resident,

•ept the minersabout Galena. At thai time Chicago

ling post, in the northeast part
of I'm nam county , and contained nothing but a garrison
1 ndian tradei W ith th< >1 ion of the

Peoria and Galena road, then- was nol a mail rou

288 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

throughout the country: all other roads were scarcely
mure than Indian trails, and not passable for wagons.
The only commerce of the country was carried on by
Indian traders, who were located at various places along
the principal streams. Bureau post office, at Henry
Thomas', was the only one in the new county, but a few
weeks after the county was organized, David Boyle, of
Ox Bow prairie, obtained a grant and opened a post
office.

In accordance with the provisions of the legislature,
an election was held on the tirst Mondav of March, at
the house of William Haws, near the present site of
Magnolia, to elect county officers, at which only twenty-
four votes were east. Thomas Galleher, George Ish,
and John M. Gay, were elected county commission ers ;
Ira Ladd, sheriff; Aaron Paine, coroner; Dr. IS". Cham-
berlain was afterwards appointed school commissioner.
Mr. Gay and Dr. Chamberlain were residents of Bureau
settlement.

The act of the legislature for laying off Putnam
county, provided that the county seat should be located
on the Illinois river, and called Hennepin. In May,
the three commissioners appointed by the legislature
met. and after examining a number of places along the
river, located the county seat at Hennepin, where it
still remains. It is said that the town site of Henry
was first selected, but through the influence vi' settlers
on the east side of the river, it was changed to the
present site.

ORGANIZATION OF PUTNAM COUNTY. 28^

The first commissioners' court was held in ETartzelTs
trading house, a short distance above the present site of
Hennepin. One of the first acts of the commissioners
was to borrow two hundred dollars, on the credit of the
county, and send a man to Springfield to enter the land
where Hennepin is located. But the land not being in
market, it was not entered until some years afterwards.
At the first meeting of the commissioners they passed
a license act, fixing the tariff on the different kinds of
business, among which were the following: License
for merchant or peddler, from six to sixteen dollars;
for tavern keeper, from three to five dollars, and they
were restricted to the following charges : For keeping
a horse over night, twenty-five cents; one full feed,
twelve and one-half cents : one meal for a man, eighteen
and three-fourth cents; one night's lodging, six and
one-fourth cents; half pint of whisky, twelve and one-
half cents; oiie gill, six and one-fourth cent-.

The first circuit court of Putnam countv was held in
May, 1831, at the house of Thomas Hartzell. R. M.
Young was judge, and Thomas Ford, afterwards Gov-
ernor, state's attorney. The judicial district at thai
time, extended from the month of the Illinois river to
the northern boundary of the State, including Galena
and Chicago. The records show that most of the earlv
settlers on Bureau served either as grand or petit jurors
at this term of court The grand jury held it- on

on a log, under the shade of a tree, and tin1 only indict-
ment found was against a man for bigamy. The jury

290 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

regarded it unfair for a man to have two wives, while
most of them were without any. There was no civil
business before the court, and it adjourned, after being
in session one day.

Putnam county was divided into four precincts, two
on the east side of the river, named Hennepin and
Sandy, and two on the west side of the river, named
Spoon River and Bureau. Bureau precinct included
all that part of the county west of the Illinois river,
and north of a direct line drawn from the head of Crow-
Meadow prairie to Six Mile Grove, thence northwest
to the county line. This territory included all of
Bureau, and part of Putnam, Stark, and Marshall
counties. The first general election, after the organi-
zation of the county, was held at the house of Elijah
Epperson, on the 18th of August, 1831, when nineteen
votes were cast, whose names were as follows : Henry
Thomas, Elijah Epperson, Mason Dimmick, Leonard
Roth, John M. G-ay, Samuel Glason, Curtiss Williams,
Justus and John L. Anient, J. W. Hall, Henry Harri-
son, Abram Stratton, Ezekiel Thomas, Hezekiah and
Anthony Epperson, E. H. Hall, Adam Taylor, Daniel
Dimmick, and Thomas Washburn.

At this election, John M. Gay and Daniel Dimmick
were elected justices of the peace ; the latter did not
qualify, but the former, John M. Gay, was the only
acting justice of the peace on the west side of the
river, for a number of years after the organization of
the county.

CHAPTER VI.

PEORIA AND GALENA STATE ROAD.

This great thoroughfare of early times, had its origin
in the spring of 1827, and for some years it was known
as Kellogg's trail. The road which formerly connected
the lead mines with the settled part of the state, passed
by Rock Island until the spring of 1827, Mr. Kellogg,
with three wagons and a drove of cattle, went direct
through the country from Peoria to Galena, a distance
of one hundred and sixty miles. Other travelers
followed Kellogg's trail, and soon it became a beaten
track. Charles S. Boyd passed over this road, on
horseback, a few days after it was made, and he did not
see a white man, after leaving the lead mines, until lie
came within twenty miles of Peoria. At the time of
the Winnebago war, in the summer of L827, Col. Xeale.
with six hundred volunteers fnan the southern part of
the State passed >ver this poad,and as no springs were
then found on the route, the troops were obliged to

drink ou1 of sloughs or ponds along the way.

9

292 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Soon after this road was opened, droves of cattle and
hogs, with emigrant and mining wagons, as well as a
daily mail coach, passed over it. which made it one of
the great thoroughfares of the west. For a number of
years after this road was opened, only six cabins were
built along its entire length, and these stood fifteen or
twenty miles apart, so as to entertain travelers. Besides
these six cabins, no marks of civilization could be seen
between Peoria and Galena, and the country through
which it passed was still in the possession of Indians.

This road originally passed through the head of
Boyd's Grove, over the town site of Providence, a few
rods west of Wvanet, and by Red Oak Grove. After-
ward it was changed to pass through Dad Joe Grove,
and in 1833 it was made to pass through Tiskilwa and
Princeton .

In the spring of 1831, Dad Joe received a large,
sealed package, wrapped around with red tape, and
inscribed, "Official Documents.'' On opening it. an
order was found from the commissioner's court of
Jo Daviess county, notifying him that he was appointed
overseer of highways, and fixing his district from the
north line of Peoria county to Kock river, a distance of

sixtv-five miles. In this district Dad Joe could onlv

./ •

find four men, besides himself, to work on this sixty-
five miles of road.

In 1833, an act passed the legislature to survey and
permanently locate the Peoria and Galena road, and
appointed Charles S. Boyd, J. B. Merrideth, and Dad

PEORIA AND GALENA STATE ROAD. 293

Joe, commissioners for that purpose. Although this
road had been traveled for six years, it had never been
surveyed or legally established, and with the exception
of brido-ino- one or two sloughs, no work had been
done on it. The commissioners met at Peoria for the
purpose of commencing their work, and at the ferry, now
Front street, they drove the first stake. A large crowd
of people had collected on that occasion, as the location
of the road was to them a matter of some consequence.
Dad Joe, mounted on old Pat, appeared to be the
center of attraction, as he was well known by every
one about Peoria. Eight years previously, he was a
resident of Peoria, and while acting as one of the
county commissioners, he had located the county seat
there, and by him the name of the place was changed
from Fort Clark to Peoria.

Many of the old settlers will recollect old Pat, Dad
Joe's favorite horse, which was rode or drove by him
for more than twenty years, and he became aim'
well known in the settlement as his noted master. He
was a dark sorrel horse, with foxy ears, a star in the
forehead, a scar on the flank, and was always fit and
sleek. It was this horse that young Joe rode when he
carried the Governor's dispatch from Dix<»n"> ferry to
Fort Wilburn, as previously stated.

Among the crowd that had collected around the
commissioners, on this o< ' a, was John Winter, i
mail contractor, and owner of the Btage line between
Peoria and Galena. Many stories of early times were

294 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

told by those present, funny jokes passed, and all were
enjoying the fun, when Winter offered to stake the
choice of his stage horses against old Pat, that he could
throw Dad Joe down. Now Dad Joe was no gambler,
and would not have exchanged old Pat for all of
Winter's horses; but being fond of fun, and while
shaking all over with laughter, he said in his loud tone
of voice, which could have been heard for half a mile,
" Winter, I'll be blessed if I don't take that bet." Dad
Joe was a thick, heavy-set man, of remarkable physical
power, and wore at the time a long hunting shirt with
a large rope tied around his waist. Winter was a
spare, active man, a great champion in wrestling, and
wore a pair of fine cloth pantaloons, made tight in
accordance with the fashion of the da v. When all the
preliminaries were arranged, and the parties taken hold,
Winter sang out, " Dad, are you ready ?" to which Dad
replied, "All ready, Winter, God bless you.1' Winter,
as cpiick as thought, attempted to knock his adversary's
feet from under him, but instead of doing so, he was
raised off the ground, and held there by the strong
arms of Dad Joe. Winter kicked and struggled to
regain his footing, but all to no purpose; at the same
time his tight pantaloons burst open, exj^osiug his
person to the gaze of the laughing crowd. At last he
said, "Dad, for God's sake let me down, and you shall
have the best horse in my barn." Dad Joe released his
hold. Winter again reached terra jirma, and old Pat
was safe.

MARRIAGES UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 295

The first wedding celebrated within the limits of
Bureau county, took place in the summer of 1830. and
the parties were Leonard Roth and Nancy Perkins, a
daughter of Timothy Perkins. The license was obtained
at the county clerk's office in Peoria, and the parties
were married by Elijah Epperson. There were some
doubts about Mr. Epperson's authority to administer
the marriage rite, as it was obtained through his church
relation some years before, while living in Kentucky,
but there was no authorized person, at that time, living
within fifty miles of them, and the legality of the
marriage was neyer que-tioned.

For a few years after Putnam county was organized,
John M. Gay. as justice of the peace, was the pnly
person on the west side of the Illinois river authorized
to administer the marriage rite. Abram Stratton and
Miss Sarah Baggs deferred their wedding two weeks,
waiting for Mr. Gay to obtain his commission, so he
could marry them. Squire Gay was sent for to marry
a couple at Perkins' Grove, whose names were Peter
Harmon and Rebecca Perkins, a daughter of Timothy
Perkins. On the da\ appointed for the wedding.
Gay's horse having strayed off on the prairie, could not
be found until after noon, and the wedding party, being
disappointed by his non-appearance, started in search of
him. The groom, mounted on a horse, with the bride
behind him, and the groomsman, also on horseback,
with the bridesmaid behind him. and in this way they
started for Gay's residence, twenty miles distant. After

• *

296 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

going about six miles, they met Gray, accompanied by
ITezekiah Epperson, on their way to the marriage least.
and it was agreed that the wedding should take place
then and there. Near by stood a vacant shanty, which
had been built in order to hold a claim. This shanty
was without door or floor, and was very filthy, having
been a resort for deer and cattle, but it answered the
purpose of breaking off the wind, which was blowing
hard at the time. Into this shanty the wedding party
went, and here the marriage service was performed.
When the wedding was over, the happy couple, with
their attendants, again mounted their horses, in the
same order as they came, and started on their wedding
tour, while Squire Gay returned home with a two
dollar marriage fee in his pocket.

DAVE JONES.

This individual became so notorious in the earlv
settlement of the county, and figures so much in its
history, that a further account of him may interest the
reader. Dave Jones, or Devil Jones, as he was gene-
rally called, was a small, well-built man, with very dark
skin, hair and eyes as black as a raven, and he had a
wild, savage appearance. He was strong and active, a
good wrestler and fighter, and but few men could
compete with him. For a number of years he was a
terror to the settlement, being; feared both by whites
and Indians. Jones came to the country in the spring

DAVE .TOXES. 297

of 1831, and built a cabin on the present site of Tis-
kilwa, but getting into trouble with the Indians, he
traded his claim to Mr. McCormis for an old mare,
valued at ten dollars, and two gallons of whisky. He
next built a cabin near where Lomax's mill now stands ;
a year or two later, he went to Dimmick's Grove, and
in 1835 he moved to Indiana, where he was hung by a
mob soon after his arrival. Manv remarkable feats of
Jones are still remembered by old settlers, some of
which are worth preserving.

In the spring of 1832, a dead Indian was found in the
creek, near the present site of the Bureau Valley mills,
with a bullet hole in his back, showing that he came to
his death from a rifle shot. The corpse was taken out
of the water by Indians, buried in the sand near by,
and the affair was soon forgotten. Jones said while
limiting deer in the creek bottom, he saw this Indian
setting on a log over the water, fishing, when all of a
sudden he jumped up as though he was about to draw
out a big fish, and pitched headlong into the water, and
was drowned when he came up to him. Two other
Indians disappeared mysteriously about the same time,
who were supposed to have been murdered, and on that
account, it is said, the Indians contemplated taking
revenge on the settlers.

One warm afternoon, Jones, with a jug in one hand,
came cantering his old mare up to the Hennepin ferry,
saying that his wife was very sick, and would certainly
die it' she did not gel some whisky soon. In great

298 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

haste Jones was taken across the river, and on landing
on the Hennepin side, he put his old mare on a gallop
up the bluff to Durley's store, where he filled his jug
with whisky. Meeting with some old chums, he soon
became intoxicated, forgot about his wife's sickness, and
spent the afternoon and evening in wrestling, dancing
"Jim Crow," and having a fight with some of his
friends.

It was long after dark when Jones started for home,
but on arriving at the ferry he found the boat locked
up, and the ferryman in bed. Jones wrapped at the
door of the ferryman's house, swearing if he did not
get up and take him across, he would pull the house
down, and whip him beside^. But all his threats were
in vain ; the ferryman could not be moved. Jones
went down to the river, took off the bridle reins, with
which he tied the jug of whisky on his back, then
drove his old mare into the river, and holding on to her
tail, was ferried across the river, as he afterward.-
expressed it, without costing him a cent.

One afternoon, while Dave Jones was engaged in
cutting out a road from Hennepin ferry through the
bottom timber, his coat, which laid by the wayside, was
stolen. Although the value of the old coat did not
exceed two dollars, it was all the one Jones had, and he
searched for it throughout the settlement. At last
Jones found his coat on the back of the thief, whom he
arrested and took to Hennepin for trial. The thief was
at work in Mr. Hays' field, immediately west of

DAVE JONES. 299

Princeton, when Jones presented his rifle at his breast,
ordering him to take up his line of march for Hennepin,
and if he deviated from the direct course, he would
blow his brains out. The culprit, shaking in his boots,
started on his journey, while Jones, with his rifle on his
shoulder, walked about three paces behind. On arriving
at Hennepin, the thief plead guilty, being more afraid
of Jones than the penalties of the law, and was there-
fore put in jail. After Jones had delivered up his
prisoner, he got drunk, was engaged in several fights,
and he, too, was arrested and put in jail. At that tim<
the Hennepin jail consisted of only one room, being a
log structure, twelve feet square, and Jones being put
in with the thief, commenced beating him. Seeing
that they could not live together, the thief was libe-
rated and Jones retained. At this turn of affairs,
Jones became penitent, agreed to go home and behave
himself, if they would let him out. Accordingly, the
sheriff took him across the river, and set him at liberty ;
but Jones swore he would not ^o home until he had
whipped every person in Hennepin, so he returned to
carry out his threats, but was again arrested and put in
jail.

A short time after the establishing of the Hennepin
ferry, Dave Jones was on the Hennepin side of the
river, with a wild yoke of cattle, and wished to cross
over, but was unwilling to pay the ferriage. He swore
before he would pay the ferryman's extravagant price,

lie would swim the river, saying that he had frequently

10

300 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

done it, and could do it again. Jones wore a long-
tailed Jackson overcoat, which reached to his heels, and
a coon skin cap, with the tail hanging down over hi.*
shoulders, the weather at the time being quite cool.
He drove his oxen into the river, taking the tail of one
of them in his mouth, when they started for the oppo-
site shore. Away went the steers, and so went Dave
Jones, his long hair and long-tailed overcoat floating on
the water, his teeth tightly fastened to the steer's tail,
while with his hands and feet he paddled with all his
might. Everything went on swimmingly, until they
came near the middle of the river, where the waters
from each side of the island come together; here the
current was too strong for the steers — they turned down
stream, and put hack tor the Hennepin side. Jones
could not open his mouth to say gee or haw, without
losing his hold on the steer's tail, and was therefore
obliged to go where the steers led him, but all were
safely landed some distance below the starting place.
Jones was in a terrible rage at his failure to cross the
river — beat his cattle, and cursed the bvstanders for
laughing at his misfortune. After taking a lug dram
of whisk v, he tried it again, but with no better success.
Three different times Jones tried this experiment, each
time whipping his cattle and taking a fresh dram of
whisky. At last he was obliged to give it up as a bad
job, and submit to paying the ferryman the exorbitant
price of twenty-five cents to be ferried over.

CHAPTER VII.

THIRD INDIAN WAR.

During the latter part of the winter and spring of
1833, the settlers on Bureau were alarmed at the hostile
appearance of the Indians. Humors were in circulation
that the Pottawatamies and Winnebagoes were about
to unite for the purpose of making war on the frontier
settlements, and for that purpose held councils and Avar
dances. In the latter part of February, a council was
held between these tribes, on Green river, near tl it-
present site of New Bedford, and a large number of
warriors from the Kock river country were in attendance.
It is said that a Winnebago chief, by the name of Naw-
wa-see, who had a village near the present site of
Rockford, was wounded, and his squaw, with an infant
in her arms, killed the year before by the troops in
pursuit ■ »(' Black Hawk, mistaking them for Sacs and
Foxes. This chief, in order to avenge himself on the
whites for injuries received, Tisited, it is said, almost
every village between the lake and Mississippi, to

302 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

induce the Indians to make war on tlie settlers, to
expel them from the country, and thereby retain their
homes and hunting grounds. Indians were frequently
seen riding at full gallop across the country, who 'were
supposed to be conveying news from place to place, and
at different times large bodies of them were known to
have been collected together, as though in consultation.
At Devil's Grove, a large number of warriors collected,
and here they held a feast and war dance, which lasted
two days.

The Indians no longer visited the cabins of settlers,
but appeared shy and unfriendly; confidence between
the white and red man no longer existed, each regarding
the other with distrust. It was noticed that the Indians
did not return to their village after their winter hunt,
and were planting no corn, as formerly ; their furs and
pelts were exchanged for munitions of war, instead of
the necessaries of life. The settlers, at these indications
of war, became alarmed, and were undecided what to
do. A meeting was called at the residence of Dr. N".
Chamberlain, for the purpose of consultation, when
Major Chamberlain, with others, was appointed a com-
mittee to visit Rock river, to ascertain, if possible, tl
intentions of the "Winnebagoes, but they return
without obtaining any important fact - .

While people were in a state of feverish excitement,
not knowing at what moment, hostilities would com-
mence. Mrs. Dixon, of Dixon's ferry, with her
children, tied to the south in great haste, telling people

THIRD INDIAN WAR. 303

on West Bureau, as she passed, that the Winnebagoi 3,
on Rock river, were collecting their warriors together,
and in all probability would attack the settlement
within a few days. At this announcement, the panic
became general, and people fled from the country —
-ome going to Peoria, and others east of the river.
Many cabins on Bureau remained vacant all summer,
and fields uncultivated, grew up to weeds. Three years
in succession the settlers had been driven from their
homes, many of them were sick of the country, and
left it forever; others would have done soil* their
means would have permitted. A number of settler^.
<>n the Princeton prairie, joined together, and built a
fort, so they could remain in the country. Joel
Doolittle's cabin was selected as the proper place to
build this fort, and around it they erected barricades,
composed of split puncheons, about fifteen feet in
height, using the former for a block house.

Although this affair passed off without bloodshed, it
prevented the settler.- from improving their claims or
raising a rul] crop. Many of the settlers did not return
until the next year, while others abandoned their
claims, and settled elsewhere, so that the settlement od
Bureau had materially decreased in consequem e of this
tronble.

tbrtj years have now passed awaj since ' -
affair took place; n« >tli i ; > _ '.- positively known with
regard to intentions of the India] -. and in all

obabilityil will remain a secret Som< people believe

304 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

that the Indians intended to make war on the settlers ;
but others think different, as they made no hostile
demonstrations.

This affair is sometimes called Mrs. Dixon's war, as
it was the report which she brought to Bureau, that
scared the settlers away from their homes.

FALSE ALARM.

In the winter of 1832-3, Capt. Brown, with a com-
pany of rangers, spent some time on Bureau, in order
to protect the settlers, in case hostilities should again
commence. On New Year's day, these rangers were
encamped on the Hoskins' prairie, near the present
residence of Mrs. Brown Searl, and as the dav was
warm and balmy, they amused themselves in fighting a
sham battle. The sun was about one hour high when
the firing commenced, and owing to the peculiar state
of the atmosphere, the report of their guns were heard
at a distance of fifteen miles, frightening both whites
and Indians.

Sylvester Brigham, with his two sisters, both of whom
were young women, were living on the Forristall farm,
about two miles north of Dover. At that time they
were the only persons in the neighborhood, all others
having left through fear of the Indians. On hearing
the firing of guns in the distance, they concluded that
fighting between the whites and Indians had already
commenced, and they were greatly alarmed, knowing

SI i.\ E8TEB m/KillAll.

flKism

AST,

FALSE ALARM. 307

their unprotected situation. Believing that their onlv
means of safety was in flight, they hastily left for the
settlement below. It was near sundown when Mr.
Brigham and his two sisters left their cabin, with the
intention of going to Eli Smith's, six miles distant. In
the cabin were three rifles, and each of them carried
one on their shoulder, and on foot thev commenced
their journey for Smith's residence. Keeping out on
the prairie, some distance from the timber, to avoid
falling into an ambuscade of lurking savages, whom
they were fearful of encountering along the edge of the
timber. After traveling about one mile, they saw an
Indian on horseback, who appeared to be looking at
some object in the distance, but on seeing Brigham and
his sisters, he jumped from his horse, and hid himself
in the dead grass near by. On going a short distance
further, thev saw a number of Indians come out of the
timber, who stood for some time looking at them. It
appears the Indians had also heard the firing, became
frightened, and had come out on the prairie to make
observations.

As Brigham and his sisters came nigh Smith's cabin,
they were afraid to enter the timber, as they had seen
Indians going in that direction: so they changed their
course for Eppersons. It was now quite dark, and as
they entered the timber, near Epperson's run, two
Indian.- crossed their path, a tew rods in advance of
them. Believing that the woods were full of Indians,
and the settlers in all probability already massacred,

808 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

they turned about, and again fled for the prairie, and
made their way southward, in the direction of the
Moseley settlement.

It was late at night when the fugitives arrived at
Mr. Musgrove's cabin, and not knowing whether it
contained friends or foes, Mr. Brigham left his sisters
behind, while he reconnoitred the situation. On his
approach, the dog barked furiously, and Mr. Musgrove,
thinking that some wrild animal or robber was about the
premises, urged him on, when Mr. Brigham shouted
and let himself be known. The tnrls were then brought
to the house to rest for the night, after walking twelve
miles, and carrying guns on their shoulders.

JERRO AND HIS FRIENDS SAVED FROM STARVATION.

The winter of 1830-31 was very cold; snow fell
about three feet deep, and drifted badly on the prairies.
The weather was so excessively cold that calves, pigs,
and chickens, in a number of instance, froze to death.
As the settlers wTere unprepared for such a severe winter,
much suffering was the consequence. Part of the
time the snow was so deep, and the weather so cold,
that the Indians could not hunt, causing much suffering
among them on account of scarcity of food; some of
them were obliged to kill their dogs for subsistence, and
many of their ponies died from starvation.

During the snow and cold weather, a party of Win-
nebago Indians, from Kock river, were encamped in

JERRO AND HIS FRIENDS. 309

West Bureau timber, near the residence of John M.
Gay, Jerro, their chief, having made Gay's acquaint-
ance the year before, while he was engaged at Ogee's
ferry (now Dixon). The Indians finding no game in
West Bureau timber, went over to Main Bureau to
hunt, but met with no better success. The hunters
were absent three days, wading through the deep snow
in search of game, while their squaws and pappooses
were a part of the time without food, and no means of
obtaining any until their return. Many times during
the second and third days, the squaws were seen to go
out to the edge of the prairie to look for the returning
hunters, and then with sorrowful hearts go back to their
little ones, who were crying for food. It was after
dark, of the third day, when the hunters returned to
camp, with their feet badly frozen, and nearly starved,
as they had killed no game during their absence. Jerro,
their chief, went to Gay's cabin, and told him of their
suffering condition, saying that they would all perish
unless assisted. Mr. Gay, although short of provisions
himself, opened his potato hole and divided witli them
his scanty supply of potatoes and corn. For many
days these Indians were kept from starvation, by con-
tributions from Gay, Henry and Ezekiel Thomas. As
soon as the weather moderated, Jerro and his band of
followers left for their own country, Baying t«> their
benefactors that they should never again come to

Bureau to hunt.
11

310 REMINISCENCES OF BOREATJ COUNTY.

LITTLE JOHNNY, THE INDIAN CAPTIVE.*

In the fall of 1883, the Peoria and Galena road was
changed so as to pass through Indiantown and Princeton,
and among the first travelers that passed over it, were
three families, with ox teams, moving from Morgan
county to the lead mines. The emigrants encamped
in the timber, near the present residence of Alex.
Holbrook, and their cattle, with bells on, were turned
out in the timber to feed. The weather being fine, the
emigrants remained over here one day, in order to wash
and bake before proceeding any further on their
journey. Next morning two Indians were seen skulk-
ing around the camp, as though they intended to steal
something, and when they found themselves discovered
they lied into the woods. In the afternoon the men
went off deer hunting — the women were engaged in
washing and baking, while the children were playing
along the creek, some distance below the encampment.
Among these children, was a beautiful little boy of four
summers, called Johnny, who was a pet and favorite of
this party of emigrants. This boy was left by the
water's edge, playing with pebbles, while the larger

* For the following story, the writer is indented to Eli Leonard, who
was at the time living near where the incident occurred, Although
Leonard's story is not confirmed by other early settlers on Bureau, who
ought to have heard of this incident, nevertheless, it might have
occurred without their knowledge. The sequel to the story, which
must be familiar to many of the readers, goes far to confirm Leonard's
statement, or at least render it quite probable.

LITTLE JOHNNY, THE INDIAN CAPTIYE. 311

children were off gathering hickory nuts, and when
thev returned he was missing. Search was made for
the lost child, but without effect ; his hat and one shoe
were found, and near by stains of blood were discovered
on the leaves. The night before the cries of a panther
had been heard in the timber, and it was believed the
boy had been killed by it, and carried off. After
searching two davs for little Johnny, the emiorants were
obliged to give him up as lost, and they proceeded on
their journey.

It was a cold, windy November morning, the sky
overcast by gray clouds, the dry leaves were being-
blown hither and thither by the chilly winds, and every
thing appeared dreary and cheerless to the emigrants,
as they resumed their journey towards the lead mines.
The mother of the lost boy, almost frantic with grief,
continued to wring her hands and cry, " Where is little
Johny ? Oh how can I ever leave him here in these wild
woods."

It was afterwards ascertained that a party of Indians,
who lived west of the Mississippi, and wTere visiting
friends at Indiantown, had stolen the buy, and carried
him off with them. These Indians were met by two
travelers, on the Sacs and Fox trail, going westward
with their little captive, who was tied on a pony behind
some camp equipage. On seeing white people, little
Johnny, with tears rolling down his checks, reached his
hands out towards them, crying "I want my ma."
The travelers suspected something was wrong, and

312 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

inquired of the Indians how they came in possession of
a white child, and in reply they said the boy was " half
missionary" (that is a son of a missionary), and his
mother was dead.

A sequel to this story went the rounds of newspapers
in 1848, which ran as follows : " In the fall of 1833, a
family named Cooper, while moving from Morgan
county, to the lead mines, had a boy of four years of
age stolen by the Indians. The boy remained with the
Indians in the wilds of the west, until he arrived to
manhood, when he was informed by one of his captives
where his people would be likely to be found. After a
long search, the captive found his parents, who were
living in Wisconsin, and the long lost boy was at last
restored to his parents and friends, after being absent
fifteen vears."

CHAPTER VIII.

WILD ANIMALS.

At one time buffalo roamed at large over the prairies
of Bureau county, but at what period they left the
country is not positively known. In the year 1778,
Antonia Deschamps, then a lad eight years of age, came
to Fort Clark (now Peoria), where he continued to live
until his death, which occurred more than seventy years
afterwards. Deschamps said for some years after he
came to the country, buffalo were plenty along the
Illinois river, and at different times he saw large herds
of them, and on one occasion, a canoe which he was in
came nigh being swamped by them swimming the
stream. In the early settlement of the country, buffalo
bones were plenty on the prairies, and at three different
places in this county, acres of ground were covered
with them, showing where large herds had perished.
Skulls of buffaloes, with the horns still on, were fre-
quently found, and their trail leading to and from
watering places, were still to be seen.

.\>14 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Thirty-six years ago, an old Indian of near four score
years, who had spent his youthful days on Bureau, said
to the writer, " When a boy, buffalo were quite plenty
throughout the country, and large herds of them were
seen almost every day feeding on the prairies." He
continued, " While yet a boy (which must have been
previous to the year 1790), there came a big snow, as
high as a man's head, and so hard that people walked
on the top of it, and nearly all the buffalo perished.''
Next spring a few buffalo, poor and haggard in appear-
ance, were seen making their way westward from the east
part of the state. As they approached the carcasses of
the dead buffaloes, which were lying on the prairie in
great numbers, they would stop, commence pawing and
lowing, then start off again on a lope for the west.
From that time buffalo no longer lived in this country,
and they were seldom seen east of the Mississippi river.
Mr. Hubbard, of the American Fur Company, says
small herds of buffalo were occasionally seen roaming
through the country as late as 1818, and in 1815 the
Indians killed two between Bureau and Green river.

An account of the killing of the last buffalo on
Bureau, supposed to be the same spoken of by Mr.
Hubbard, was communicated to Peter Demott by some
of the Indians who participated in the sport. Early in
the morning, a small herd of buffalo, consisting of fifty
or sixty, were seen on the prairie near Black Walnut
Grove, and were traveling northward, feeding as they
went. The Indians had secreted themselves in a point

()

(

WILD ANIMALS. 315

f timber, supposed to be French Grove, awaiting their
oming, and attacked them as they came along. These
Indians were mounted on ponies, and armed with guns,
spears, bows and arrows, &c, attacked the herd and
succeeded in killing two, and wounding a number of
others, that made their escape. In the fall of 1831, a
Large buffalo bull was seen on the prairie, north of Dad
Joe Grove, going in a southwest direction. Two
travelers on horseback, carrying rifles, took after this
buffalo, and followed him a number of miles along
l^reen river timber, shooting at him several times, but
he succeeded in making his escape.

Elk at one time were plenty on Bureau, and as late
a.- 1818, their skins were sold in large numbers to the
American Fur Company. Each year after that date,
riiev became more scarce, and in the year 1826 the
trade in them entirely ceased. A few bear and panther
skins were sold at the trading house opposite the mouth
oi Bureau creek, but according to the statement of Mr.
Hubbard, these animal- were never plenty in this
section of country. During the summer of 1836, a
very large panther lived in Bureau timber, principally
in the town of Dover, and it was frequently Been and
heard by the Bettlers. The writer, .me night, came
Middenlv upon its lair, when it appeared more inclined
to fight than run. This panther came one night to the
barn vard of James Gk Forristall, killed and carried off

<

a calf. Mr. Forristall was nol at homeat the time, but
his wife hearing the calf bawl, ran out, and urged on

316 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the dog, but the panther, regardless of their presence,
killed the calf, and dragged it off some distance, where
the remains were found next morning. People turned
out en masse one day to hunt this panther, searching
Bureau timber for miles in extent, but without success.

In the fall of 1836, Daniel Greeley killed a large
bear in the town of Dover, and two bears were seen a
few miles north of Princeton in the spring of 1837.

The large black and gray wolf were occasionally seen
on Bureau, but the greatest pest of the early settlers
was the prairie wolf, which lived on the prairie, and
would come forth at night to kill sheep, pigs, poultry,
&c. The state paid a bounty on wolf scalps, which
done much toward their extermination. Hezekiah
Epperson, of Dover, once shot a wolf in the head, and
to all appearance killed it instantly. He commenced
skining the wolf, and after completing one side he
turned it over to skin the other, when all of a sudden
it came to life again, jumped up and ran off, with the
skin flopping in the air. In this way the wolf ran
about two miles, when it was overtaken by the dogs,
and captured.

Deer were plenty on Bureau until the year 1843,
when a large number of them were killed during a
deep snow. Elial Long killed, during the winter of
1842-3, seventy-eight deer, and other hunters from
from forty to fifty each. During the summer of 1839,
a large white deer was frequently seen north of
Princeton, which attracted much attention among the

WILD ANIMALS. 317

people. Some thought this deer was of a different
species, others a freak of nature ; the latter conclusion
was the most probable, as it was always seen in com-
pany with other deer. In the early settlement of the
county, Mr. Perkins found the skulls of two bucks, with
their horns entangled in such a way, that they could
not be separated without breaking the prongs, evidently
having caught while fighting, and in this way they
both perished. Jacob G. Spangler, of the town of
Gold, while hunting deer one day, came across two
bucks, which had their horns fastened together while
lighting, and not being able to get out of his way, be
shot both of them.

Lynx, otter, catamounts, badgers, raccoon, and skunks
were plenty in the early settlement of the country, but
like the larger game have almost disappeared.

In the winter of 1828, John and Jacob Funk, of

McLean county, drove a lot of fat and stock hogs to

the lead mines, and for ten days these hogs were on the

road without food. While Funks were encamped on

Bureau, some of these hogs strayed off, bo ame wild,

and from them wild hogs were found on Bureau and

Green river many years afterwards. These wild hogs

were hunted in the groves the same as deer, and from

them some of the early settlers obtained their supply

of pork. Late in the fall of 1836, Franklin Marple,

who lived live miles north of Princeton, killed two of

these hogs, and taking out the entrails, he laid them in

one corner of his stable, where thev lav in a frozen
12

318 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

condition until spring, when they were skinned, and
salted down for family use.

Two large wild boars, one black and the other blue,
with enormous tusks, which showed them to be very
old, were frequently seen on Green river, and for some
time were a terror to hunters in that locality. One
night these hogs followed a dog into the camp of two
hunters, and they escaped with their lives by climbing
a tree, while their supply of provision was devoured,
and their camp kit damaged by these brutes. During
a deep snow, these two boars came into West Bureau
timber, and with their large tusks they crippled many
of the tame hogs, causing the settlers to believe that
their hogs had been attacked by a panther. These wild
hogs were afterwards hunted down and killed by
Nicholas Smith; thus the country was rid of these
brutes, which had been feared by the settlers as though
they were tigers.

MIRAGE AND SOUNDS.

In the early settlement of the country, mirage or
optical illusions, some of which were so remarkable as
to astonish the beholder, were of frequent occurrence.
At sunrise, in a certain state of the atmosphere, objects
at a distance would appear many times their actual size.
A house would look to be two hundred feet or more
high, and a grove of timber as though it was suspended
in the air. People were frequently surprised on getting

MURDER OF REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 819

up in the morning to see a grove of timber, or houses,
off on the prairie, where none were ever seen before.
This phenomenon is said to be caused by refraction,
and is seldom seen since the settlement of the country.

Before the country was settled, sounds could be heard
at a great distance. The report of a gun or cow-bell
was frequently heard ten or twelve miles. Mr. Epper-
son's cow-bell could be plainly heard at Henry Thomas',
a distance of seven miles. On the first of January,
1833, the firing of the rangers guns in the Hall
settlement, were heard along Main Bureau timber, a
distance of twelve or fifteen miles. In the summer of
1831, when Gen. Gains removed the Indians from Rock
Island, the report of his cannon were heard on Bureau,
at Dad Joe and Boyd's Grove.

Was it owing to the stillness of the surroundings
which caused these sounds to be heard at a remarkable
distance, or has the settlement of the country produced
a change in the atmosphere, impeding the transmission
of sounds. This is a subject worthy of reflection.

MURDER OF REV. JOHN WILLIAMS.

One of the many conspicuous land marks in the early
settlement of the county, was Black Walnut Grove,
which is situated in the town of Macon, near the southern
limits of the county. This grove originally contained
several hundred acres of good timber, and as it occnpied
high land, could be seen for miles away. Most all of

320 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

this grove was military land, and for many years it
belonged to a non-resident by the name of Hall. Asa
Barney had the supervision of this grove, and sold it
out to people who settled around it. The settlement
commenced at Black Walnut Grove in the year 1837,
and among the early settlers were Thomas Motheral,
William Bates, James B. Akin, Lewis Holmes, Charles
Lee, T. J. Horton, John and Charles Wood.

More than half a century ago, Black Walnut Grove
was the scene of a fearful tragedy, probably the most
brutal, with one exception, that ever occurred within
the limits of Bureau county. This was the murder of
the Rev. John Williams, by the Indians, in the fall of
1812. An account of this bloody affair was communi-
cated to Peter Demott by an Indian who participated
in the murder. The spot where the murder occurred
was pointed out to Demott, and the manner in which
it was accomplished explained. Mr. Williams was a
Baptist minister, and was sent out by the Home Mis-
sionary Society, to preach to the Indians in the wilds of
the west. He had spent three years preaching at the
different Indian villages along the Mississippi river,
making his home most of the time with a French
trader, at Rock Island, named LeClere. He was now
returning to his home at Marietta, Ohio, where kind
friends awaited his arrival. Traveling on horseback
and alone, unconscious of danger, he met his death at
the hands of those savages whom he had been trying to
convert.

MURDER OF REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 821

A short time before this occurrence — in September,
1812 — volunteers under Gov. Edwards, had destroved
the village of Black Partridge, on the Illinois river, and
some of his band being driven from their homes, found
refuge on Bureau ; about twenty of these Indians, some
of whom had lost friends bv the destruction of their
village, and were thirsting for revenge, met Williams
as he was pursuing his way eastward. Instead of a
friendly greeting, as Williams might have expected, the
savages leveled their guns and fired at him, one of the
shots taking effect in his side. Williams being mounted
on a fleet horse, immediately put him at the top of his
^peed, throwing away his saddle bags and heavy-
baggage, so as to facilitate his speed, and for a time he
left the Indian ponies far behind. The race wTas con-
tinued for several miles, the Indians whipping their
ponies, and yelling at the top of their voice. Near
Black Walnut Grove, Williams' horse mired in a slough,
threw the rider over his head, and before he could
mount again, the Indians came up and took him
prisoner.

Some of the early settlers at Black Walnut Grove
will probably recollect a big walnut tree, that stood
near the east cud of the jjrove. To this tree the
prisoner was taken, and around it the Indians formed
themselves into a circle. Into this circle Williams was
brought, with hi.- hands tied behind him. dive-ted of
all his clothing, his ><-alp taken off, with the blood
running down to his heels, and covering his naked

322 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

body with gore. In this way Williams was compelled
to run around in the circle, and as he ran the Indians
would stick their muskrat spears into his flesh. For
some time the Indians continued to torture their victim,
until overcome by loss of blood, Williams fell to the
ground, when one of the Indians, more human than the
others, struck him on the head with his tomahawk, and
thus ended his sufferings.

CHAPTER IX.

SETTLEMENT AT BOYD's GROVE.

It has already been stated that John Dixon located
at Boyd's Grove, in the summer of 1828, and sold his
claim, two years afterwards, to Charles S. Boyd, who
lived on it for fourteen years. Many incidents, worthy
of note, have occurred at or near this grove, the most
thrilling of which was the freezing to death of two men
in December, 1830. Three persons, named Cooper,
McMillan, and a Dr. Jones, were hauling goods from
Peoria to Galena, on sleds, drawn by oxen, when they
were caught in a snow storm while on the prairie south
of the grove. It had been snowing all day until it
became about three feet deep, and toward night it
drifted so that their teams could not get through.
About eight miles south of the grove, they left their
teams, and started on foot for BovdV residence, Bright
came on, and in the darkness and drifting snow, they
lost their wax. Dr. Jones, overcome with cold and
fatigue, gave out, and he was left by his comrades to

324 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

perish on the prairie. Cooper and McMillan, despairing
of finding the grove in the darkness, buried themselves
up in a snow drift, where they remained until morning.
At daylight, the storm having abated, they could see
the ffrove about three miles distant, and started for it.
Cooper's feet being badly frozen, he could not travel,
and McMillan wrapped him up in his blanket and
covered him over with snow, and then started on his
way. After proceeding a short distance, he looked
back and saw Cooper trying to follow him, but he only
went a few rods before he fell down and perished in
the snow. Mr. McMillan, badly frost bitten and almost
exhausted, reached Boyd's house to tell the sad story
about the fate of his comrades. Mr. Boyd immediately
started in search of Cooper, but his horse could not get
through the snow drifts, so he was obliged to turn back,
and the remains of Cooper were not found for some
days afterwards. The remains of Dr. Jones were not
found until the snow went off in the spring, having
laid on the prairie about three months. Some of the
cattle which belonged to the teams, wandered off
toward Spoon river timber, and perished by cold and
starvation.

On the night of January 18th 1832, Mr. Boyd's
house took fire and burned down, with all its contents,
leaving the family almost destitute. The snow at the
time was almost three feet deep, the thermometer below
zero, and not a dwelling within ten miles. The family,
in their night clothes, were compelled to take shelter in

SETTLEMENT AT BOYd's GROVE. 325

the smoke house, where they remained for several days.
Mr. Boyd was left without pantaloons, but was relieved
from his embarrassing situation next day by a traveler,
who had an old pair in his saddle-bags. Neighbors
living twenty miles south, were notified by a traveler
of the helpless condition of Boyd's family, and they
came to their relief, supplying them with clothing,
provisions, &c. Mr. Boyd constructed a tent in the
thick timber of the grove, where himself and family
remained during the winter. When spring opened,
his friends came from Peoria county, and assisted in
building a house.

Shaubena, with his band of followers, was encamped
in the grove at the time Boyd's house was burned, and
he made with his own hands, and presented to Mr.
Boyd, two wooden trays, which he still keeps as a
memento of the past, as well as in memory of the
donor.

For ten years Mr. Boyd lived without neighbors —
not a settler within ten miles of him — his dwelling
being used, during the time, both for a hotel and post
office.

Mr. Boyd is now living in Princeton, which has been
his home fur more than twenty-five years; although far
advanced in lift', he Mill retains much of the vigor of
manhood.

In the spring of 1840, David Bryant and Mr. Clark

settled south of Boyd's Grove, and Barney I lagan north

of it. In 1841, John A. Griswold located on the farm
13

326 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

which is now occupied by him, and consequently he is the
oldest settler now living in the southern part of this
county. Some time afterwards, Isaac Sutherland, R
Hayes, G. W. Griswold and J. W. Harris, became
residents of this locality. Some years later, a settle-
ment was made at a point of timber north of the grove,
and among the early settlers were Edwin Merrick, Col.
A. E. May, and J. V. Thompson.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF LA MOILLE AND PERKINS GROVE.

On the 19th of May, 1830, Daniel Dimmick made a
claim a short distance south of La Moille, on what is
now known as the Collins' farm, and from that time the
head of Main Bureau timber took the name of Dim-
mick's Grove. In the fall of 1830, William Hall made
a claim and built a cabin on the present site of La
Moille, and occupied it about eighteen months. In
April, 1832, Mr. Hall having sold his claim to Aaron
Gunn, moved to Indian creek, twelve miles north ol
Ottawa, where himself and part of his family were
killed by the Indians a few weeks afterwards. At the
commencement of the Black Hawk war, Dimmick left
his claim, and never returned to it again, and for two
vears Dimmick's Grove was without inhabitants; the
cabins and fences went to decav, and the untilled land
grew up in weeds. When Dimmick fled from the
grove, he left two sows and pigs, which increased in a
few years to quite a drove of wild hogs, that were

LA MOILLE AND PERKINS' GROVE. 327

hunted in the grove years afterwards, and from them

some of the early settlers obtained their supply of pork.

In the spring of 1834, Leonard Roth, Greenberrv

•

Hall, and Dave Jones, made claims in the grove, and
for a short time Timothy Perkins occupied the Dim-
mick cabin. In July of the same year, Jonathan T.
Holbrook, Moses and Horace Bowen, settled in the
grove. Mr. Holbrook and Moses Bowen bought Gunn's
claim, and made farms. In the fall of 1834, Enos Hol-
brook, Joseph Knox, and Heman Downing settled in the
grove. In the spring of 1836, Tracy Keeve and Dr.
John Kendall bought Moses Bowen's farm, and laid off
La Moille. Mr. Bowen had previously made a survey
of the town, but made no record of it when he sold to
the above named parties. The town was originally
called Greenfield, but was afterwards changed to its
present name, on account of obtaining a post office.

Joseph Knox, on leaving Dimmick's Grove, located
at a point of timber which was afterwards known as
Knox's Grove. One night, while Mr. Knox and his
sons were absent, two young Indians came to his house,
probably without any evil intentions, but it frightened
the women so they fled on foot for Dimmick's Grove,
eight miles distant. Next morning these tw<> young
Indians, accompanied 1>\ their father, came to Dimmick's
Grove to give an explanation of their visit to the house
the night before. There were present, Leonard Roth,
J. T. Holbrook, and Dave Jon With the two former
the explanation of the Indians was satisfactory, but

-

328 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

with the latter it was different. Jones ordered one of
the Indians to lay down his gun, and with a long stick
lie whipped him severely. •

In 1834, Timothy Perkins and sons claimed all of
Perkins' Grove, and sold out claims to those who came
in afterwards. The first house that was built in the
grove, was on a farm now owned by John Hetzler,
and it was occupied by Solomon Perkins and Elijah
Bevens. The second house was built near the present
residence of A. G. Porter, and occupied by Timothy
Perkins. Part of the roof of this house was composed
of deer skins, and the door and windows were filed with
the same material.

Joseph Screach, Stephen Perkins, and Mr. Hart,
settled on the west side of the grove in the spring of
1835. J. and A. R. Kendall, and J. and E. Fassett,
were among the early settlers of Perkins' Grove. In
1842, a post office named Perkins' Grove was established
here, but was discontinued some years afterwards.

SETTLEMENT IN THE EAST PART OF THE COUNTY.

In the summer of 1828, Reason B. Hall built a cabin
in the bend of the prairie, near the present residence of
J. Wassom. This cabin was the second or perhaps the
third one, built in this county, and for many years it
was occupied in turns by different new comers. Mr.
Hall being alone in a wild country, without neighbors,
became dissatisfied with his location, and aban-
doned his cabin for a residence south of the river.
He afterwards returned to his claim, and lived on it a

WEST BUREAU AND CENTER GROVE. 329

short time, then moved to the lead mines. Edward
Hall, a brother of Reason's, made a claim in this
vicinity, built a cabin and occupied it a short time,
when he, too, left the country.

In the fall of 1829, a black man, named Adams, built
a cabin at the mouth of N~egro creek, and from him the
stream took its name. Adams was scared awav bv the
Indians, abandoned his claim, and settled on the east
side of the river.

In the summer of 1831, "William Tompkins, Sampson
and John Cole, made claims on the east side of Spring
creek, and for some time they were the only permanent
settlers in the east part of the county. In August,
1832, Henry Miller, with his family, settled on the
farm now occupied by his son, Henry J. Miller. About
the same time William Swan made a claim in this
vicinity, and the next year James G. Swan made a
claim where he now lives. In 1833, Robert Scott
became a resident of the settlement, and about the same
time Martin Tompkins and Alexander Holbrook made
claims near the east line of the count v, where H. W.
Terry now lives. Other settlers came in soon after,
among whom were Reason and E. C. Hall, Mr. Wixom,
Mr, Wilhite, Nathaniel Applegate, Dr. Whithead, and
0. W. Combs.

WEST BUREAU AMD CENTER GROVE SETTLEMENT.

It has already been stated that Henry Thomas settled

«»n the west side of Wesl Bureau timber, in the spring

330 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

of 1828, and was therefore the first settler of Bureau
county. In the spring of 1829, Ezekiel Thomas made
a claim, built a cabin, and occupied it with his family,
where he now lives, which makes him the oldest settler
now living in this county. During the summer of
1829; Abram Stratton made a claim where he continues
to live, but did not occupy it with his family until a
year or two later. In 1830, John M. Gay built a cabin
on the east side of the timber, on a farm now occupied
by James Crownover, but sold it soon after to Abram
Oblist, who lived here a short time, then sold it to J.
Allen. John M. Gay had lived for two years previous
to coming to Bureau, on Rock river (now Dixon),
having charge of Ogee's ferry. Ogee, the proprietor
of the ferry, having no education, and being drunk
most of the time, the business was conducted by Mr.
Gay. Soon after Mr. Gay went to Rock river, he was
appointed post master, and opened an office ; but there
was no one living within twenty miles of him who
could read or write, and when he left the place, the
office was discontinued, as there was no one capable of
taking charge of it.

In 1831, Thomas Washburn made a claim immedi-
ately west of the county farm, built a cabin and broke
a few acres of prairie, but abandoned it the next year.
Sometime afterward Benj. Lamb took possession of
Washburn's claim, and in 1834 he sold it to James
Triplett. In 1833, John Phillips, E. Chilson, and
Thomas Fin ley, came to this neighborhood, and became

PROVIDENCE COLONY. 331

permanent settlers. Mr. Finley built his first cabin on
the creek bottom, where J. Dy singer now lives; but
afterwards located further up the creek. Thomas
Finley was a school teacher by profession, and with
one exception, taught the first school in this county.
For many years Mr. Finley was a justice of the peace,
and died three years ago in the poor house.

In the spring of 1834, Isaac Spangler, George Cole-
man, Edward and Acquilla Triplett, made claims on
the east side of Center Grove. William Allen and C.
C. Corss, north of it. In 1835, Lemuel and Rufus
Carey, Solomon Sapp, Jacob and Adam Galer, became
residents of Center Grove settlement. The same year
George Bennett settled at the head of West Bureau
timber, and the next year Rees Heaton settled in that
locality.

In the summer of 1836, Milton Cain built a house
near the present site of Pond Creek station, which was
the first house built west of the timber, with the excep-
tion of that of Henry Thomas. A few years later, William
Frankerbeger, Simon Lemon, Mr. Stubbs, N". Monrose,
Moses and A. T. Thompson, T. Tilson, Ephraim Sapp,
and J. M. Yearnshaw, made farms on the west side of
West Bureau timber.

PROVIDENCE COLONY.

In the spring <>f 1<S3(J, a colony was organized at
Providence, Rhode Island, for the purpose of making a

S'62 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

settlement in the west. This colony consisted of
seventy-two stock holders, who owned from one to
sixteen shares each, and each share was to draw eighty
acres of land, which amounted in all to seventeen
thousand acres. Com. Morris, Col. C. Oakley, Asa
Barney, L. Scott, S. G. Wilson, Edward Bailey and
Caleb dishing, was appointed a committee to select
and enter the lands for the colony. This committee,
after exploring the country in different parts of the
state, selected township 15, range 8, (now Indian-
town), for their future home. The land in this town-
ship was then vacant, except a few tracts in the south
east corner, and it was without inhabitants, with the
exception of Martin Tompkins, and Mr. Burt. All
the vacant land in this township, and some in the
adjoining one, was entered by the colony, and a
portion of which was soon after made into farms. The
colony committee, after entering the land, laid off a
town, and in honor of Roger Williams, named it
Providence. Two of the committee, Asa Barney, and
Caleb dishing, remained until fall for the purpose of
erecting a building on their new town site; this build-
ing was a large frame structure, built out of the funds
of the colony, and intended to be used for a hotel.

In the spring of 1837, about forty persons belonging
to the colony, arrived at their future home, all of whom
found quarters in the house built by the colony, until
other dwellings could be erected. With this colony,
came many of the enterprising citizens of this county,

PROVIDENCE COLONY. 333

and they received a hearty welcome from the early

settlers. ,

This colony, like all others, did not meet the

expectations of its projectors, nevertheless, it added

much to the wealth and population of the county.

Among the members of this colony who settled here

were Alfred Anthony, Hosea Barney, J. Shaw, James

Harrington, James Pilkington, John Lannon, Thomas

Doe, Mathew Dorr, James Dexter, Elias Nickerson,

and Thomas Taylor.
14

CHAPTER X.

BUREAU COUNTY ORGANIZED.

During the fall and winter of 1836, the settlers on
Bureau began to agitate the subject of dividing Putnam
county, and forming a new one on the west side of the
Illinois river. The great distance of part of the settle-
ment from the county seat, and the river at some
seasons of the year overflowing its banks, made it
almost impossible to get to Hennepin to attend court
or transact business, and rendered the division a matter
of absolute necessity. A petition, signed by many
citizens of Bureau, was forwarded to the legislature, and
on the 28th of February, 1837, an act passed setting off
the county of Bureau, and fixing its boundaries as it
now stands, except the towns of Milo and Wheatland,
which were afterwards added on the formation of Stark
and Marshall counties. The act of the legislature was
not to take effect however, unless a majority of the
voters in the whole countv favored it. In accordance
with the act, an election was held on the first Monday of

BUREAU COUNTY ORGANIZED. 335

March, and it was the most exciting one ever held in
the county. Previous to the day of election, a meeting
was held in Princeton, and delegates appointed to visit
each precinct in the comity, to persuade people to vote
for the division. Amariah Sherwin was appointed a
delegate to Spoon river, (now Stark county), and after
performing his duty, he left for parts unknown, to the
disadvantage of his numerous creditors, and he has not
yet returned to make his report. People on the east
side of the river were equally active, and sent men to
different localities, to electioneer against the division.
Hennepin, at that time commanded nearly all the trade
of the county, and it was well known that if a division
took place, a town would spring up on the west side of
the river, and much of the trade would be lost to
Hennepin.

The election for or against division, was a very
important one, and called forth a larger vote than the
county was able to poll for some years afterwards.
On the west side of the river, people voted almost en
masse for the division, while on the east side, they
voted against it. A few votes were cast in Indiantown
precinct, against the division ; and a few in the south
part of the county, in Sandy precinct, for it. On the
day of the election, great excitement prevailed, and
every voter, and BOme that were not voters came
forward to the polls. Many illegal votes were cast,
but it was contended, that the end justified the means.
The writer, although a minor, was brought forward.

336 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and almost compelled to vote, with many others who
were yet in their teens. Hennepin had sent delegates
to Princeton, to guard the polls by challenging voters,
but all to no purpose ; loud talk and much quarreling
was the result, and they left in disgust. On their
return to Hennepin, they reported that a number of
travelers were stopped on the highway, and hired to
vote; that every boy of sixteen, as well as many
women dressed in men's clothes, had voted. There
was about thirty majority for the division, and when
the result was known, there was great rejoicing on the
west side of the river ; in Princeton by firing of guns,
bonfires, and a torchlight procession with other
tokens of joy. Although Bureau had won the victory
fairly, (some however, contending unfairly), the matter
was not yet decided, as the people on the east side of
the river were determined to contest the election, on
the grounds of illegality.

On the day appointed for the examination of the
poll books at the clerk's office in Hennepin, many
people from various parts of the county were in
attendance. Thomas S. Elston, John H. Bryant and
Cyrus Langworthy, were delegates from Princeton,
and carried with them the poll book of the precinct.
On their way to Hennepin, they went by Searl's settle-
ment, and took with them as protectors, William,
Brown, Job and Timothy Searl, who were all large,
athletic men, and their appearance alone was almost
sufficient to intimidate all opposition. Oaks Turner,

( rRUS LANGWOKT1IV.

^&

^^?-;:ox

BUREAU COUNTY ORGANIZED. 339

was at that time county clerk, and his office was
crowded with excited people anxious to see the poll
books opened. The returns of one precinct, which
voted for division, could not be found, although it was
proven to have been placed on the clerk's desk, and
the returns of two other precincts, favoring division,
was rejected on account of informality, which made a
majority against division. Cyrus Langworthy, acting
as spokesman for the Princeton delegation, was not
backward in telling them of their rascality ; a regular
quarrel was the result, and in all probability, he was
only saved from violence by being a cripple, and backed
by the four Searls, who appeared like giants among
the crowd. That night there was great rejoicing at
Hennepin, bonfires were lighted, powder put into
the stumps, which made a loud report, and people
shouted, "No Division, Putman county is still whole.'"
A figure of a man with a broad rimmed hat, and a
cane in its hand, representing Langworthy, was about
to be burned in effigy, but through the interference of
Mr. Durley and others, the burning was abandoned,
and the old clothes saved for other purposes.

Notwithstanding the county authorities at Hennepin
had decided no division, Bureau claimed to be a county
uevertheless, and went on to comply with the provis-
ions of the act of the legislature. William Stadden,
Peter Butler and Benjamin Mitchell, three commie
sioners who were appointed by the Legislature to locate

the county scat, met in May. and selected Princeton :i>

340 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the seat of justice.* On the first Monday in June
following, an election was held to elect county officers,
when Robert Masters, William Hoskins, and Arthur
Bryant, were elected county commissioners, Cyrus
Langworthy, sheriff, Thomas Mercer, clerk, John H.
Bryant, recorder, Jacob Galer, coroner, and Robert
Stewart, surveyor.

Robert Masters and John H. Bryant, obtained a copy
of the poll book of each precinct, showing the vote
on division, and laid them before the governor, who
decided that Bureau was a county, and ordered com-
missions issued for the officers elected. Judge Stone,
of the fifth judicial district, ordered court to be held
the following August, and he appointed Cyrus Bryant,
clerk. Courts were held in the Hampshire Colony
church, until 1845, when a court house was built. A
log jail twelve feet square, lined with heavy sheet iron,
and a building intended for a jailor, but used for com-
missoners' court, was built on a lot now occupied by
the residence of Benj. Newell, northwest of the court
house. The whole revenue of the county, for the first
year, being 1838, including school, county, and state
tax, only amounted to three hundred and thirty-two

* There was but little controversy about the location of the county
seat. Windsor and Providence were spoken of by a few persons inte-
rested in those paper towns, but they were not in fact competitors for
it. Amariah Watson at that time owned a tract of land on Center
prairie, immediately west of Dr. Woodruff's, which land was said to
be in the geographical center of the county, and he proposed to give
part of it, with other contributions, if the commissioners would locate
the county seat there. But Princeton being then a place of about
twenty houses, as well as a natural center of the county, the commis-
sioners looked at no other place.

BANDITTI. 341

dollars, and this amount, small as it was, proved sufficient
to meet all demands for the fiscal year.

BANDITTI.

From 1837 to 1852, Northern Illinois was infested
with thieves, counterfeiters, and cut throats, who were
organized into a band, and became a terror of the set-
tlement. The country at that time being thinly settled,
gave these desperadoes a good opportunity of prosecu-
ting the business of stealing horses, waylaying, rob-
bing, and murdering travelers as they passed through
unsettled groves. It was very common in those days
to hear of people being missed, who were thought to
have been murdered by these bandit. A man was
murdered, and his body thrown into a bayou, near the
Bureau valley mills, where it was afterwards found, and
it was never known who he was, or by whom he was
murdered. Lee county was the head quarters for these
outlaws; but they committed many depredations in
Bureau, and here some of them made their temporary
residences. Two of Col. Davenport's muderers, Fox
and Birch, frequently visited Bureau; the former was
tried in Princeton, under the name of William Sutton,
This band oi* robbers became so numerous, some of
whom occupied offices of trust, «• m < 1 by Bwearing each
other clear, it was difficult to convicl them, and this
band of thieves and counterfeiters was doI broken up

until DrisCOlls were killed on Rock river.

842 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Among these outlaws was a large, athletic man, in
the prime of life, by the name of McBroom, who
at one time was a constable at Hennepin. This
McBroom passed some counterfeit money at a store
in Princeton, and a warrant was put into the hands of
Sheriff Langworthy for his arrest. McBroom, suspect-
ing trouble, in great haste ordered his horse at the
hotel, and was in the act of mounting, when the sheriff
arrested him. McBroom presented a pistol already
cocked at the sheriff's head, swearing at the same time-
that he would blow his brains out if he laid hands on
him. Sheriff Langworthy in an authoritative tone of
voice, ordered Mr. Yaughan, the hotel keeper, to take
the horse by the bits, and as McBroom turned his eyes
in that direction, the sheriff caught hold of the pistol,
McBroom, as quick as thought, pulled the trigger ; but
the hammer striking the sheriff's thumb, prevented it
from exploding. Then followed a desperate struggle ;
McBroom was dragged from his horse; both officer
and prisoner was brought to the ground, when assist-
ance came in time to secure the culprit. Irons were
put on him, and he was taken to the Peoria jail, as
there was none in Princeton at that time.

MURDER AT LOST GROVE.

About the first of August, 1837, a murder of a most
revolting character, was committed at Lost Grove, and
for many years this affair remained a mystery.

MURDER AT LOST GROVE. 343

As the Rev. Rufus Lumry was traveling on the
Indian trail, and when about one mile west of Lost
Grove, he discovered a large number of buzzards eating
a carcass. Curiosity caused him to ride out to see what
they were eating, when he was horrified to find it was
the remains of a man. The body was divested of
clothing, the eyes picked out by the buzzards, and from
appearances it had laid there about three days. There
was no one living at that time near the grove, and the
people on Bureau were notified of the murder, an in-
quest was held, and the remains buried on the prairie,
near where they were found. From appearance, the
murdered man had been attacked in the grove, shot
from his horse, the ball breaking his left arm, and
entering his side. From the grove he ran about one
mile, in the direction of Bureau settlement, but was
overtaken by the assassin, and his brains beat out with
a club. The club, with hair and blood on it, was found
close by ; also a suit of much worn clothes, and a pocket
bible, but these afforded no clue to this mysterious
affair.

The bible, which was found by the side of the
murdered man, is now in the possession of Andrew
Swanzy, a resident of Princeton. Its title page shows
that it was printed in London, in the year 1824. On
the ilv leaf is written the name of Frederick Bunn
Ringstead, 1831. "The gift of his friend Mrs. Gard-
ner." On the other page of the fly leaf is written a

poem, on the presentation of the bible, which consisted
15

344 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

of fourteen lines, and./ signed by Frederick Bunn. A
page in Chronicles, and one in Isaiah are stained with
blood, which is still plain to be seen, although thirty-
five years have passed away since the murder was com-
mitted. It has never been ascertained who Frederick
Bunn, the owner of the bible was, or how his bible
became connected with this affair.

For many years this murder remained a mystery ; no
clue could be obtained to the murderer, or his victim,
until a man named Green was convicted of murder in
Iowa, and made a confession. The name of the mur-
dered man was Dunlap, a resident of Knox county,
Ohio, and he came to this country for the purpose of
entering land. He had employed Green to conduct
him through from Fox river to Princeton, as there was
no direct road through the country at that time. When
the travelers arrived at Lost Grove, traveling on the
Sac and Fox trail, riding side by side, they discovered
on the prairie two large black wolves, and while
Dunlap was looking at them, Green drew his pistol
and shot him. At the report of the pistol Dunlap's
horse jumped and threw him. Although badly
wounded, he ran near one mile, when he was overtaken
by Green, and his brains beat out with a club, as pre-
viously stated. After committing the murder, Green
took his victim's clothes, leaving his own in the grass
near by ; also his money, which amounted to about five
thousand dollars. Green dressed himself in Dunlap's
clothes, mounted Dunlap's horse, and leading his own,

ROADS AT EARLY SETTLEMENT. 345

continued his journey westward, stopping the first
night in Princeton.

A sequel to this affair went the rounds of the news-
papers, in the summer of 1851, which ran as follows :
" On the night before Green was to have been executed,
through the assistance of confederates, he escaped from
jail, and the ends of justice were thwarted. Tears
afterward Green joined some California emigrants, and
while on the plains he murdered an Indian. The
Indians, in retaliation, were about to take revenge on
the whole party, but the matter was compromised by
giving up the murderer, when the Indians took Green
and flayed him alive. Before his death, Green confessed
that he was the man convicted of murder in Iowa, and
the one who had committed the murder at Lost Grove,
in Bureau county. In the presence of the emigrants,
the Indians took Green, stripped off his clothing, tied
him to a small willow tree, and commenced skinning
him, which operation was completed before death came
to his relief."

ROADS AT THE TIME OF EARLY SETTLEMENT.

For a number of years after the .settlement had been
commenced, the roadfl through the county were scarcely
anything else than Indian trails, never having been
legally laid or worked. With the exception of the
Peoria and Galena road, there was not a post mute
through the county, and but few of the roads across

346 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the country were accessible for wagons. In the fall of
1833, the Peoria and Galena state road, which ran west
of Bureau, was changed so as to pass through Princeton
and Tiskilwa. Mr. Argrove, who occupied the farm
now belonging to Alexander Holbrook, was at that time
overseer of highways, and he called out the people to
work on this road. Settlers on the Princeton prairie,
among whom were Maj. Chamberlain, Cyrus and John
H. Bryant, with their hoes and spades, were engaged
in digging on the bluff south of Tiskilwa, and a few
days afterwards the stage horn for the first time was
heard in Princeton, when it was supplied with a tri-
weekly mail.

In the spring of 1837, a state road was located from
Princeton to Prophetstown, on Rock river, crossing
Green river at ISTew Bedford, and passing near the
northwest corner of the county, (now Yorktown).

During the summer of 1837, a road was laid direct
from Princeton to La Moille, passing the whole way
through unimproved land. This road ran diagonally
across tracts of land, and as these lands were improved
the road was fenced out. As this road ran in the
direction of Chicago, where people had commenced to
haul their produce, a straight road was considered of
great importance, and in order to accomplish this, Judge
Ballou drew up a petition, which was signed by many
citizens, and which passed the legislature, legalizing
the Princeton and Chicago state road. Under this act
the road was surveyed from Princeton to the county

ROADS AT EARLY SETTLEMENT. 347

line, by the way of Dover and La Moille, and perma-
nently located. Notwithstanding the road ran almost
the entire distance diagonally across farm land, the
damage allowed by the commissioners on the whole
route, being a distance of about twenty miles, did not
exceed one hundred dollars. From the corporation of
Princeton, the road angled for nearly one half mile
across land which belonged to H. E. Phelps, and the
damage allowed him was twenty-five dollars. Mr.
Phelps would not accept the damage offered, and
appealed to court. At the trial, one witness swore that
he was not entitled to damage, as the land where the
road ran was so wet that it would not pay to fence it.

During the wild speculation of 1836, many paper
towns were laid off, and many paper roads surveyed to
connect them with important places. Richard Masters,
of the town of Dover, had many roads surveyed and
staked off, which ran in various directions through the
county, without regard to section lines, and a large
number of these passed by his own farm. These roads,
with many others of their day, were never traveled
except by the parties engaged in making the survey.

CHAPTER XI.

JUSTICE COUKT.

It frequently occurred, in the early settlement of the
county, that men were elected justices of the peace
who had no legal qualifications, and were therefore
incompetent to fill the office. Sometimes attorneys
would impose upon these justices, by explaining to
them law which did not exist, causing them to make
erroneous decisions, and thereby thwart the ends of
justice. As soon as a man was elected a justice of the
peace, his neighbors would apply to him for legal advice,
although they well knew that he possessed no knowledge
of law, before his election. The county records show
many funny things in the official acts of newly elected
justices, one or two of which are worthy of note. In
one case the acknowledgement of the grantee appears
to a deed of conveyance instead of the grantor; in
another case, a justice of the peace sold his neighbor a
tract of land, and to save expense, took the acknowl-
edgment of his own deed, in which he says that he

JUSTICE COURT. 349

examined his wife separate and apart from her husband,
&c. A justice, who lived not far from Princeton, took
an acknowledgment of a deed where the title was
vested in the wife, and filled it out in the usual form,
which read as follows : " Mr. B. having been examined
by me separate and apart from his wife, acknowledged
that he signed the within deed of convevance, without
fear or compulsion from his wife.1' In these times of
women's rights, this acknowledgment may not be out
of place, but it appeared strange at the time it was
executed.

Many years ago, a justice of the peace, and the
attorney for the town of Princeton, kept their respective
offices in the court house, and as they regarded them-
selves guardians of the public weal, they were always
on the lookout to see that no offender of the law should
go unpunished, especially if it put money in their own
pockets. On different occasions, when the justice was
absent the attorney would do business for him, and
vice versa, always dividing the fees according to their
respective offices. One warm afternoon, while the
attorney was sitting at the window of his office, looking
out for a client, he saw a man under the influence of
liquor, riding his horse <>n the sidewalk, contrary to
the ordinance therein provided. The attorney ran
into the justice's office to obtain a warrant, but found him
absent. On the table he found ;m old warrant contain-
ing the justice's signature; from this he erased the
original name and inserted, "an unknown person.'1

350 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

With the warrant in his hand, he looked for an officer
to serve it, but finding none, he served it himself. All
alone and without assistance, he arrested and brought
the offender of the law into court, and tried him.
Acting as marshal, attorney, witness, and justice, he
fined the culprit five dollars, which was paid without a
murmer, when he was again set at liberty.

Many years ago, a man named James Gladden stole
a horse from one Thomas Hill, who lived on Green
river. The thief was followed to Iowa, caught and
brought back in irons. The prisoner was taken before
a newly elected justice in that vicinity, where a large
crowd of angry people had collected, who threatened
to lynch the culprit. Thomas Hope and Thomas
Hills, who were acting as prosecuting attorneys, advised
the excited people to abstain from violence, and let the
law take its course. The prisoner was without counsel
or friends, his hands and feet in irons, and apparently
without any prospect of escaping immediate death, or
for a term of years in the penitentiary. Fortunately
the prisoner, he had in his possession a good watch
and some money. These facts coming to the know-
ledge of Mr. W., who was at once moved to action
by pure philanthrophy, came forward in defense of the
oppressed, and requested the justice to suspend investi-
gation until counsel could be procured for the defense.
The justice, with the dignity of his position, said to
the crowd of people around him, "Although the
prisoner is guilty of horse-stealing, he should have a

JUSTICE COURT. 351

fair trial, and if his innocence can be shown, this court
will not convict him, notwithstanding his guilt." Mr.
W.'s request was granted, and he left in great haste for
Princeton, where he procured the services of Judge
Zearing. On the arrival of the learned counsel, both
court and prosecuting attorneys appeared influenced by
his presence, and the prisoner's spirits began to revive.
The proof being conclusive against the prisoner, the
judge admitted his guilt, but appealed to the court for
mercy, which appeal was made in the following
language :

"May it please the court — my client, as you will
observe, is a very unfortunate man ; having no horse
and being poor could not buy one on credit, and was
therefore under the necessity of stealing. Had he
been rich, it would have been an easy matter to have
bought a horse on time, and then ran off without paying
for it. This, your honor will observe, would be the
same as stealing, but what law in this land of liberty
would punish him for that offense. Before this court
of justice and equal rights, I believe a poor man will
fare the same as a rich one" — (the justice nodding assent).
He continued, " If a rich man should commit an offense
he could give security for a large amount, but this my
client cannot <1<>, and because a man is poor should lu-
be oppressed, his rights disregarded, and confined in a
loathsome prison for months or perhaps years, while a
rich mail gives security and retains his liberty? No.

your honor, this cannot be, for it would outrage justice
16

352 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and be an open violation of the constitution of the
United States, which expressly says, ' no man on account
of poverty shall be deprived of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.' Therefore, your honor will
decide that fifty dollar bonds will be sufficient to hold
the prisoner for trial."

The attorneys for the prosecution were opposed to
admitting the prisoner to bail, making long speeches
against horse stealing generally, and the villainous
conduct of Gladden in particular.

After hearing the arguments on both sides, the justice
said that he would hold the prisoner in one hundred
dollar bonds for his appearance at court, as the horse he
stole was worth that amount. A bond was executed,
being signed by his friend W., who was in possession of
his watch and money, so as to indemnify him against
loss. The irons were then taken off, the thief set at
liberty, and he was never heard from afterwards.

Gen. Wallace, who was afterwards killed at the battle
of Shiloh, was then state's attorney, and he made a
motion to default the security, when Judge Zearing,
attorney for the defense, called his attention to the
wording of the bond, which bound the security (not
the criminal) to appear at court, and he added, uthe
security is now in court, and ready to answer." The
state's attorney threw down the bond, and called the
next case on the docket.

Another remarkable case in the examination of a
horse thief, came before a new Green river justice in

POLITICIANS ON A RAMPAGE. 353

the early settlement of that region. Knowing that the
proof of the prisoner's guilt would be conclusive, his
attorney was under the necessity of introducing a new
plan of defense. While the justice and prosecuting
attorney were at dinner, he tore a leaf out of the statute
which related to horse stealing. On resuming the
examination, the attorney for the defense admitted the
theft, but contended that there was no law in Illinois
against horse stealing. Every one was surprised at this
declaration, and the attorney for the prosecution said he
would show the court what the law was. Taking up
the statute he consulted the index, but on turning to
the page indicated, could find neither page nor law.
This was very perplexing to the attorney ; he could not
explain this mystery, and after looking the statute over
and over again, and finding no law against horse
stealing, he abandoned the case.

The justice, leaning back in his chair, manifesting
the great dignity which belonged to his position, he
addressed the bystanders about as follows : " Gentle-
men, I am satisfied in my own mind that horse stealing
is wrong, and a great evil in community, but as there
appears to be no law in this state against it, I do not
feel authorized to hold the prisoner for trial." So the
justice ordered the irons taken off, and the thief set free.

POLITICIANS ON A RAMPAGE.

In the summer of 1838, there was great excitement

354 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

among the people of Putnam county in relation to its
division and formation of new counties. After Bureau
had been set off, Putnam county was left in such a shape
that other divisions became necessary. A new county
named Coffee, was created in the Spoon river country,
at the same time that Bureau was formed, but its
boundaries did not suit the people, consequently it was
voted down, and Coffee county was heard of no more.
The people on Spoon river demanded a county, and
those living near Henry and Lacon one, both of which
they proposed to take from Putnam. Meetings were
held in different localities, politicians were active, old
party issues were forgotten, and the all-absorbing topic
of forming new counties, was paramount to all other
interests. Col. William H. Henderson, of Spoon river,
A. Moon and B. M. Hayes, of Hennepin, and Andrew
Burns, of Magnolia, were candidates for the legislature.
Thomas S. Elston, of Princeton, was also nominated,
but he refused to be a candidate. The only issue before

t/

the people was the formation of these new counties,
and each of the candidates represented different views on
the main issue. Henderson, however, was elected by
a large majority over all his competitors.

On the day of election, Col. Henderson appeared in
Princeton, for the purpose, as he said, of correcting
some false reports in relation to his policy. Capt.
Parker, of Spoon river, was also present, for the express
purpose as he stated, of exposing some of Henderson's
political chicanery. Parker said he did not care about

POLITICIANS ON A RAMPAGE. 355

electing either of the candidates, as he seldom voted to
elect a man to office, but for many years he had felt it
to be his duty to vote against all d — d rascals. A large
crowd of excited people had collected on the street
opposite where Jones' meat market now stands, some
of whom took sides with Parker, and others with
Henderson. Capt. Parker insisted on speaking first,
but Henderson having previously notitied the people
that he would address them on this occasion, the majority
decided that he was entitled to the stand, and accord-
ingly he mounted a store box and commenced his
speech. Capt. Parker, being aware of Henderson's
gifts of oratory, knowing that he would tell a smooth
story, and thereby carry the voters with him, thought
of destroying its effects by an opposition speech. He
accordingly mounted an empty molasses barrel that
stood near the speaker's stand, and commenced speaking
in a loud key. Being much excited, and his brain
frenzied by bad whisky, he denounced Henderson as a
rascal, calling him a Little Bull and Old Wiggins
politician, who was in favor of selling the state for a
mess of pottage.* This accusation threw Henderson
off his balance, and jumping down from the stand, he
caughl Parker l>v the leg. upset the molasses barrel,

♦ Some years previous, the legislature bad borrowed one hundred
thousand dollars Orom <»m Wiggins, at si. Louis, for the purpose of
redeeming the outstanding notes of th< old state bank. This act was
very unpopular, and people raised a hue and cry against It, saying
that ( »i<i Wiggins bad boughl the state, and Its Inhabitants, for genera-
tions to c >me, would be slaves to him, as Mich a large sum of money
never could be paid. About the same time a bill passed the Legislature
for Improving the stock of cattle, and prohibited, under a penalty,

356 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and brought him sprawling on the ground. By the
interference of bystanders, a fight was prevented, but
Parker was compelled to defer his speech until Hen-
derson was through.

CIVIL AUTHORITY SUPERSEDED BY AN ARMED FORCE.

Many of the early settlers of this and adjoining
counties, will recollect Bill "Rogers, who acquired great
notoriety throughout the west as a sporting character.
Rogers was a tall, raw-boned, dark-complexioned man,
fond of gambling, horseracing, fighting, &c, and was
always the leading spirit among his associates. Many
years ago Rogers went to California, where he became
equally noted, and at one time was sheriff at Sacramento.

In the fall of 1837, the government removed the
Indians from Michigan to lands assigned them west of
the Mississippi river. Rogers was employed in con-
ducting a party of seven or eight hundred of these
Indians to their new home. While encamped in La
Salle county, parties greedy of gain, brought whisky
into camp to sell to the Indians. Rogers knocked in
the head of a barrel, spilling the whisky on the ground,
and then whipped one of the dealers. For this offense

little bulls from running at large. This law was thought to favor
the rich people, who could own big bulls, and would profit by the de-
struction of the small ones. The masses took sides with the little bulls,
contending for equal rights even among brutes. These two acts were
very unpopular, and for many years all that was necessary to defeat a
candidate for office, was to make people believe that he was in favor of
the'Old Wiggins and Little Bull acts.

CIVIL AUTHORITY SUPERSEDED. 357

a warrant was issued for the arrest of Rogers, but
leaving the country before it was served, it was placed
in the hands of Cyrus Langworthy, then sheriff of
Bureau county, to serve. The sheriff at once proceeded
to make the arrest, and coming up with Rogers in the
valley of Bureau, a short distance above Tiskilwa, lie
notified him that he was a prisoner, and must accompany
him forthwith to Ottawa. At this announcement
Rogers stretched his tall form up to its full height,
while a self-possessing and determined smile lighted up
his dark visage, as he politely informed the sheriff that
he would not go, and could not be taken. Said he,
" Surrounded as I am by numerous friends, (referring
to the Indians), I am prepared to resist the state, or
even the United States authority." Rogers told the
Indians that the sheriff was one of the whiskv dealers,

*

had always been an enemy of the red man, and his
object was to detain them, so he could steal their
ponies. At this announcement the Indians were much
exasperated, and formed around Rogers in battle array,
showing by their acts that they were determined to
defend him. Sheriff Langworthy not liking the looks
of the rifles and tomahawks in the hands of several
hundred Indians, beat a hasty retreat, while Bill Rogers,
with his Indian friends, pursued their way westward.

CHAPTER XII.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

For a number of years Bureau county was a strong-
hold of abolitionism, and many exciting incidents, in
connection with runaway slaves, took place within its
boundaries, a brief account of a few of which mav
interest the reader. The first case of this kind occurred
at the house of Elijah Smith, in December, 1835, and*
it created at the time great excitement in the neigh-
borhood.*

In the summer of 1835, two black girls, belonging
to Maj. Dougherty, of St. Louis, escaped from bondage
and found refuge at Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Some

♦Those engaged in assisting slaves to escape, were regarded by many
as wild fanatics, violators of law, and therefore could not be good citi-
zens. Whether the acts of these mea were justifiable or not, it must
be admitted that they were persons of moral integrity, and did only
what they believed to be their duty. Among those most actively
engaged in this business, were Owen Lovejoy, John Walters, Deacon
Caleb Cook, D. E. Norton, Eli Smith and J. T. Holbrook. Eli Smith
owned an old sorrel horse, named John, and a Dearborn wagon, with
which, for many years, slaves were carried on their way to freedom.
This horse and wagon became noted along the line, and it is said that
It furnished the design for a cat that headed the advertising bill of the
underground railroad.

ELI SMITE

PUBi g

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 361

months after they arrived there, a professional slave
catcher, named Harris, learning of their whereabouts,
captnred them, and was on his way to St. Louis, where
he expected to receive the large reward that was offered
for their return to slaver v. Harris was traveling on
horseback, and leading by his side another horse, on
which the two girls were mounted. On a cold De-
cember night, Harris, with his two captives, whose feet
wTere badly frozen, arrived at Elijah Smith's house of
entertainment, where he procured quarters for the
night. It so happened that same night that James G.
Ross, of Ox Bow prairie, being on his way to Galena,
was staying over night at Smith's house. Mr. Eoss,
being an abolitionist, was soon engaged in a warm con-
troversy with the slave catcher, each of whom accused
the other of rascality. Smith's house of entertainment
consisted of a double log cabin, of two apartments, the
men occupying one, and the women, with the two
black girls, the other. Eli Smith and wife, with another
neighbor, were there spending the evening, and on
hearing the girls tell their sad story, they became
interested in their behalf, and a plan was adopted for
their rescue. Mr. Ross being a party to this project,
proposed to take the girls to his friends, east of the
river, where they would bo assisted on their way to
Canada.

To avoid being snspicioned by Harris, Ross com-
plained of sudden illness, and the women gave him

warm teas, but getting worse, he went up stairs to bed.
17

362 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Each of the cabins of which Smith's residence was
composed, had a flight of stairs that met at the top.
Ross, instead of going to bed, walked down the other
flight of stairs, brought out his horse, hitched it on to
Eli Smith's sled, and with the girls started for Hennepin.
On reaching the timber, near Joel Doolittle's residence,
he found the snow so near gone that his horse could
not draw his load, so he left the old sled by the wayside,
placed the girls on his horse, and going on foot himself,
he continued the journey.

Harris, believing that Ross was sick in bed, gave him-
self no further trouble about his chatties, but went on
to tell what he would do if any one should attempt to
steal his negroes. Before retiring for the night, Harris
went into the other apartment to see if everything was
right, and he was much surprised to find the girls gone.
Assisted by Elijah Smith, carrying a lantern, the barn
and haystacks were searched, but without effect. Harris
was in a terrible rage, accused the family of being
accessory to the escape of the girls, and taking out his
revolver, he swore he would shoot all about the house
if they were not forthcoming.

For three days Harris remained in the neighborhood
searching for the runaways, but without success. The
girls were assisted on their way towards Canada, and
were never returned to slavery.

In 1840, Jonathan T. Holbrook, of La Moille, was
indicted and tried in the circuit court of this county,
for harboring a runaway slave. This being the first

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 363

case of the kind tried in Bureau county, it caused much
excitement among the people, and it established a pre-
cedent for similar cases, which were afterwards tried
under the fugitive slave law.

A black man, named John, supposed to be a runaway
slave, had been in the neighborhood of La Moille about
one year, working for Mr. Holbrook and others. It
being well known that Mr. Holbrook was an abolitionist,
some of the friends of slavery thought it best to make
an example of him, hence the indictment. J. D. Caton
and T. L. Dickey, both of whom were subsequently
circuit judge of this district, were employed in the
defense of Mr. Holbrook. Thomas Ford, afterwards
governor, was on the bench at that time, and his rulings
were such as to displease the prosecution. Although
the court and attorneys were opposed to abolitionism,
they had no sympathy with the prosecution. The trial
was a mere farce, and Mr. Holbrook was acquitted.

In the fall of 1838, a young man, with black hair,
broad shoulders, and peculiar expressive blue eyes, was
seen coming into Princeton on horseback. He was
alone, and a stranger, without means, being in search of
a place to make his future home, and came here by mere
chance. This man was ( )\wn Lovejoy, subsequently of
political celebrity.* Soon after arriving here, Mr.

*0n the morning ->r the 9th <>r November, i-;7, the writer landed
from ;i Bteamboal on tin- wharf at Alton, and Learned from the excited
people what bad transpired there the Dlghl before. The prl-hles on
the wharf were stained with the blood <-t Bishop, and on the door of

364 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTS.

Lovejoy was installed pastor of the Congregational
Church, and occupied that position for sixteen years.
From that time Princeton became a place of note ;
although containing but few inhabitants, and having
but little commercial relation with other parts of the
world, it was, nevertheless, the head center of aboli-
tionism for the west. Newspapers of that day reported
state conventions held here, and great speeches made in
favor of immediate emancipation, so that Princeton
was known in abolition circles throughout the Union.
Even slaves at the south heard of it, and many of them
came to see it, which caused Col. Barksdale in a speech
in Congress, to denounce Princeton as one of the
greatest negro stealing places in the west.

According to abolition papers of that day, an under-
ground railroad was established, which extended from
the slave states to Canada, passing through Princeton,
and making it a place for changing cars. John Cross,
a Wesleyan Methodist minister, who lived near La
Moille, was announced general superintendent, and he
was succeeded in office by Owen Lovejoy. Mr. Cross
had hand bills and large posters circulated through
the country advertising his business, and calling on

Godfrey & Gilman's warehouse, was seen standing in clotted pools, the
life-blood of Elijah P. Lovejoy.

The death of Lovejoy was heralded throughout the Union, and
caused people everywhere to go wild with excitement, but at that time
no one thought that a quarter of a century would scarcely pass away
before thousands of lives and millions of money would be sacrificed
on account of slavery.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 365

abolitionists everywhere for assistance in carrying out
his plans. His bills were not headed with a picture of a
locomotive and a train of cars, but with a bobtail horse
in a Dearborn wagon — the driver leaning forward and
applying the whip, while the heads of two darkies
were seen peering out from under the seat. Stations
were established at proper distances, and agents in
readiness to convey fugitives forward as soon as thev
arrived. It was almost an everv dav occurrence for
slaves to pass through on this line, while their masters
followed after by the ordinary means of conveyance,
and were surprised to find how fast their chatties had
traveled. Many exciting incidents occurred on this
underground railroad, some of which are still fresh in
the minds of the people.

In 1849, a vounff slave named John, ran away from
his master in Missouri, located in Princeton, and became
quite a favorite among the people. His master, hearing
of his whereabouts, and accompanied by a friend to
prove property, came after him. The slave was mowing
in an out lot in the north part of town, and did not
observe the slave catchers until they came upon him,
each of whom presented a pistol to his head, which
caused him to make no resistance. His hands were
tied behind him, and his master holding one end of
the rope, led him like a dog through the streets <>!' the
town. News "t" the boy's capture flew like 'ightning,
and people, much excited, were Been running hither
and thither, marshaling their forces for tin; rescue. A

366 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

warrant was issued, and the slave catchers arrested ou
the charge of kidnapping, and with the slave were
taken to the court house for trial. The court room was
filled with excited people, some of whom sympathized
with the slave, and others his master. While the trial
was progressing, some one cut the rope that bound
the slave, and during the confusion he escaped from the
court room, followed by the excited crowd, some to
catch, and others to assist him in making his escape.
A horse, with a woman's saddle on, was hitched in the
street, on which they placed the slave, and ordered him
to ride with all speed to the residence of Mr. Lovejoy,
followed by the court and crowd of excited people. The
house of Mr. Lovejoy was surrounded by the excited
people, some to protect, and others to capture the
slave. Behind the barn a man was seen to mount a
horse, and a cry was raised, ''There goes the negro."
The slave party put their horses at full speed in pursuit
of the fugitive, who had taken across the prairie in the
direction of Dover, but on coming up with him they
were surprised to find instead of the negro Mr. Waldo
with a black veil over his face.

The slave party attempted to force an entrance into
the house, but Mr. Lovejoy forbid them doing so
without due process of law. A messenger was sent
for a search warrant, and while they were waiting for
his return, the boy in disguise, with a basket on his
arm, went to the barn. Behind the barn a wagon was
standing, into which the slave was placed and covered

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 367

up with empty bags. This wagon was drove quietly
away, and the slave escaped while the slave party stood
guard around Mr. Lovejov's house, waiting for a search
warrant.

The Rev. John Cross, general agent and superin-
tendent of the underground railroad, was charged by
parties in Knox county with assisting a slave on his
way to freedom. For this offense a warrant was issued
for his arrest, and placed into the hands of the sheriff
of this countv, as Mr. Cross resided near La Moille at
that time. The deputy sheriff arrested Cross, and
proceeded with him on his way to Knoxville, where he
was to be tried for the henious offense of assisting a
slave on his way to Canada. At Osceola, Stark county,
the deputy, with his prisoner, stopped for the night, and
as Cross had an engagement to preach there the next
day, he asked permission of the officer to fill his
appointment, but his request was not granted. The
friends of Mr. Cross offered to guarantee his safe de-
livery after the service, but the officer was inexorable,
and explained to then) that the law made no provision
tor a criminal to stem while on his way to jail to deliver
abolition lecture-, telling them that lie was an otlicer
of the law, and should carry out its provisions at all
hazards,- that no abolition mob could intimidate him.
To tin- the friends of Mr. Cross replied that he Bhould
stay and preach, intimating to the officer thai he might
set into trouble it' he undertook forcible means to
carry off his prisoner.* The deputy, finding that he had

368 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY. %

fell into the hands of the Phillistines, lost all his courage,
became nervous, and finally consented that his prisoner
might stay and preach, but he kept all the while at his
elbow to prevent his escape. After preaching was
over, the officer summoned a posse to assist him in
taking the prisoner to Knoxville, but finding they were
all friends of the prisoner, he dismissed them, as they
would be likely to do him more harm than good. The
officer then inquired of Mr. Cross how much he would
ask to deliver himself up peaceably to the jailor at
Knoxville ; to which he replied that he would do it for
ten dollars. The officer thought the price exhorbitant,
but offered him five, and they finally agreed on seven
dollars. Things being now arranged, they proceeded
on their journey, but the officer appeared uneasy,
being fearful that the prisoner's friends had laid a trap
to rescue him on the road. The officer frequently
inquired of Mr. Cross if he though, in case of a rescue,
they would commit violence on him, to which Mr.
Cross replied he could not tell what they would do, as
his friends were very angry at his arrest, and therefore
he would not be responsible for their acts. Fearful
forebodings of evil had now taken possession of the
officer's mind, and he turned pale, became nervous and
excited. Mr. Cross assured him that he had nothing
to do with the rescue, and in fact did not wish it, for in
that case he would lose the seven dollars, which he
very much needed.

As the officer with his prisoner came near Spoon

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 369

river timber, they saw two men in the road ahead of

them, who were engaged in conversation, while two

others were seen going towards them. Mr. Cross

appeared surprised to see his friends about to rescue

him, and said he would defeat their plans, as he could

not think of losing the forthcoming seven dollars. He

told the sheriff to lay down in the bottom of the buggy

and he would cover him over with buffalo robes, so his

friends, seeing him alone and not under arrest, would

not stop him. This arrangement was agreed to by the

sheriff, and he was nicely wrapped up in robes and

horse blankets, so that no part of his person was visible.

On coming up with the men in the road, who were

there by chance, Cross spoke to them, at the same time

whipping his horses, and went on at great speed. A

little further on, where the road was very rough, he

spoke to some imaginary person, again whipping his

horses into a gallop. The old buggy rattled and creaked,

as it bounded over stumps and through deep ruts, the

sheriffs head coming in contact with the seat, then

against the side of the box, while suppressed groans

came forth from the olHcial victim. Again and again

Mr. Cross would speak as though meeting some one,

and whipping his horses into a gallop as before, the

buggy rattled and the sheriff groaned, but on he went,

Jehu-like, for about two miles, over a rough timber
road. At last Mr. Cross made a halt, uncovered the

sheriff, telling him to get up, as they had now ]>:i-^ed
18

370 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

all danger. As he arose, looking cautiously around him
to see that no enemy was near, he took out his two
pistols to examine them, saying at the same time, " If
they had attacked me, I would have made a powerful
resistance."

That same day the prisoner was safely delivered over
to the authorities at Knoxville, and was set at libertv
without an examination.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MAGICIAN.

Many years ago, a tall, spare, light complexioned
man, of peculiar appearance, by the name of Jacob
Wade, came to this county, and for a number of years
made his home near the village of Dover. Wade
professed to be a magician, and by his magic art made
a good living out of those who became his dupes. He
would travel around the neighborhood telling fortunes,
looking up stolen property, and pointing out hidden
treasures. If horses or cattle had strayed off or been
stolen, he would look into his hat, and tell where they
could be found. For a while Wade's fame extended
far and near, and many people from a distance came to
consult him on secret matters. Young men and mai-
dens were in the habit of consulting Wade on their
love affairs, and by him they would always receive balm
to heal their wounded hearts.

Among Wade's dupes was a man named James Peters,
who at that time owned the Bureau Vallev mills, and

372 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

report says that this magician swindled him out of a
large sum of money. Wade made Peters believe that
the peep stone, with which Joe Smith discovered the
golden bible, was still in existence, belonging to a man
in Western New York, and could be bought for two
hundred dollars. Peters believing this story, employed
Wade to purchase this stone for him, advancing the
purchase money and traveling expenses, besides giving
him a fine yoke of cattle for his trouble. After a few
weeks this wonderful peep stone was produced by Wade,
but Peters could see nothing through it. Wade's magic
power was again tested, and on looking through the
stone he discovered a chest of diamonds secreted about
ten feet under ground. Peters now believed his fortune
was made, employed a number of Irish laborers, and
commenced digging. Day after day the digging went
on ; Peters was sanguine that the prize would be ob-
tained, urging on the work by paying extravagant
wages, while Wade sat on a log near by, looking through
the peep stone, and giving directions to the laborers.
As they came nigh the prize, something would be said
or done to break the charm, when it would be moved to
another place. In this way many holes were dug in
the creek bottom, north of the Bureau Valley mills —
some of which are still to be seen. After spending
much time and monev in searching for diamonds, Peters
lost all faith in the magic peep stone, and threw it into
the creek, sold his property, and left the countrjr.
Two prominent citizens of Dover were captivated with

THE MAGICIAN. 373

Wade's magic power, and by him they were made to
believe that a pot of gold was secreted in the bluff near
the present site of Bureau Junction. These men left
their business one bright morning, and went off in
search of gold, without letting their families know of
their whereabouts. With spades and shovels, and two
empty salt sacks to hold the gold, and accompanied by
Wade, they left for Leepertown in order to secure their
fortune. The spot was pointed out by Wade, and the
work commenced. Neither of the men were accustomed
to manual labor, and they found digging in a hard
gravelly knoll very different from measuring calico.
With blistered hands, and the sweat running down
their faces, they worked away in silence, while Wade
sat by their side looking into his hat, by which means
he watched the pot of gold. The day was now far
advanced, the gold diggers tired and their faith wa-
vering, but Wade told them if they doubted their
success, or used hard words, the charm would be broken
and the gold removed. At last one of the gold diggers
threw down his spade, at the same time exclaiming,
"I'll bedurnedif I'll dig any more." Then said Wade,
as he sat looking into his hat, "By yonr incredulity the

prize 18 lost, for thai moment I saw the pot <>t" gold
move to another place."

It was long after dark when the gold diggers returned
home, tired and disheartened, with their hands blistered,
clothes soiled, and their salt sacks still empty.

Years have now passed away, and with many tins

374

REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

incident is almost forgotten, but the parties themselves
still dislike to talk about digging for gold.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE.

During the year 1850, the writer kept a record of
the variation of the thermometer, taken morning and
evening of each day, with the following result:

MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR EACH MONTH.

Montb .

02 •

3 '3

M

Q c

il"

-? o

January, 25

February, 30

March, 34

April, 40

May,

57

June, |71

July, 78

August 70

September,

October,

November,

December,

'60
51

a

21

1

2
4

8

i

9
10

10

5

2

2
3

934
1

1H

3

1

Winter, 29 degrees; spring, 43; summer, 73; autumn, 51. Mean tem-
perature for the year, 48 degrees. Greatest cold, January 4th, — 12
degrees below zero; greatest heat, July 10th, — 101. During the year
there were sixty-eight rains, and thirteen days snow

The winter of 1830-31 was intensely cold, with snow
three feet deep, and drifted very much ; the winter of
1832-33 was unusually mild; the winter of 1842-43
was very cold, and snow lay from November 17th
until April 2d; the summer of 1844 very wet, with
great floods; 1845 was uncommon dry — no rain fell on
the west side of Dover township from April 28th until
Christmas day, when it rained hard, with heavy thunder
and lightning.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. 375

On the 20th of December, 1836, occurred a very
remarkable change in the weather, which will long be
remembered by early settlers. For two days previous
to this sudden change, southern wind prevailed, the sun
shining warm like spring weather, and the snow which
was deep at the time, had melted into slush. About
three o'clock in the afternoon, the wind changed to the
northwest, and blew almost a gale, and within a few
hours the thermometer changed eighty degrees. Forest
trees cracked like guns; sleds and wagons which were
standing in the street froze fast in their tracks. A man
and his daughter who lived east of Hennepin, being
out after their cattle, a short distance from the house,
were frozen to death, and a number of people in
different parts of the west perished that afternoon and
evening. In a number of instances, cattle and hogs,
while standing by the side of a building to shield them-
selves from the wind, with their feet in slushy snow,
were frozen fast in their tracks, and found dead next
morning.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The first religious service within the Limits of Bureau
county, was held at the house of John Hall, in August
1830. Six or eight persons were present, and Elijah
Epperson preached to them. There wh,> qo established
ministry of any denomination, until the summer <>t"
1833, when William Koyal, a Methodist missionary,

376 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

made Bureau settlement one of his appointments,
preaching once in four weeks, at the residence of
Abram Stratton. His mission extended from Peoria
to Ottawa, with twenty-two preaching places, some of
which were more than thirty miles apart, and he passed
around his circuit once in four weeks.

In the fall of 1833, the Rev. Lucien Farnham, a
Congregational minister, located in Princeton, and
received his support partly from the Home Missionary
Society. In September, 1834, the first camp meeting
for Bureau settlement was held in the grove west of
Princeton, near the residence of Oscar Knox. The
Methodists and Congregationalists united in holding
this meeting, and it was agreed that proselytes should
be at liberty to join which ever church they preferred.
John St. Clair was at that time presiding elder; his
district extended over all the north part of the state,
including both Galena and Chicago. The elder, in his
opening address to the congregation, said it was a
Methodist meeting, and they would claim all the
converts. The Congregational ministers, Mr. Farnham
and Mr. Dickey, took exceptions to this, and from that
time forward sectional feeling existed among the
settlers.

The first school house within the limits of this county
was built in the winter of 1833-34, on a farm now
owned by Mrs. R. Moseley. This building was fourteen
feet square, and intended to accommodate all of the
settlement on the Princeton prairie. On the division

JOEL DOOLITTLE.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY!

AtTfcK.LINOX
TILDfcH POWKDATW*.

SETTLEMENT OF PRINCETON PRAIRIE. 379

of the school district, this school house was moved near
Joel Doolittle's residence, and a new one built in the
timber where George Brown now lives. The first
school west of the Illinois river was taught by Elijah
Smith, in a part of his own house, during the winter of
1833-34. The first school west of Main Bureau, and
north of town sixteen, was taught by Miss Hattie
Coulter, (now Mrs. Burnham), in the summer of 1836.
This school was kept in a vacant cabin, where L. Holi-
day now lives, and consisted of eight or ten scholars.

SETTLEMENT OF PRINCETON PRAIRIE.

It has already been stated that members of the Hamp-
shire colony, as well as Roland Moseley and friends,
had settled on the Princeton prairie during the summer
of 1831. Early in the spring of the same year, John
"Williams made a claim west of Princeton, on a farm
now occupied by John Wagner. Mr. William- built a
small log cabin by the side of a spring, where he
remained for a year or two, but bis family was sick
much of the time, and being obliged to liee from his
home two years in succession, lie became disgusted
with the country, abandoned his claim and left it never
to return.

In the spring of 1832, Joel Doolittle settled ona Gum

which still bears his name, and in the fall of the same

year Cyrus and John II. Bryant came t<> the country.

In 1833 James Hayes and Ahram Jones made olaime
19

380 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

west of town, on farms now occupied by Aaron and
Oscar Knox. The same year Arthur Bryant and L.
Reeves came to the country, and settled where they
now live. The land on which they located was claimed
by John B. Blake, but he was then east of the Illinois
river engaged in teaching school for ten dollars per
month, leaving his claim with Dr. N. Chamberlain,
who sold it to the above named parties for twenty-five
dollars. In the spring of 1833, Maj. N". Chamberlain
made a claim south of town, on a farm now occupied
by E. Douglas, and lived here for many years. In
1834, Aaron Mercer,Caleb Cook, Asher Doolittle, Elisha
Wood and Mr. Tucker came here. The next year Col.
A. Bryant, Solomon Burr, James and Alby Smith, But-
ler Denham, David Robinson and the large families of
Coltons and "Winships, became residents of Princeton
prairie.

CHENOWETH PRAIRIE AND LONE TREE SETTLEMENT.

- The prairie lying between Senachwine and Main
Bureau timber, was known in the early settlement of
the county as Chenoweth prairie. The first claim was
made in the fall of 1834 by Ferrill Dunn, on the farm
now occupied by Alanson Benson. In the spring of
1835, Elder J. B. Chenoweth, Elisha Searl, H. Sheldon
and P. Kirkpatrick, settled here. A few years after-
ward, Elial and ISToah Long, Harrison Shepard, Mr.
Perkins, Dr. Swanzy, O. Milling, A. Brown, S. E.

CHENOWETH PKAIRIE AND LONE TREE. 381

Morris, V. Aldrich and S. B. Titcomb, became residents
of this locality.

South of Chenoweth prairie, on high ground, some
distance from timber, once stood a lone tree, which
became a noted land mark in the early settlement of
the country. This tree was a white oak, with large
spreading top, and could be seen for miles away — a
guide for travelers in the absence of roads. After
having withstood the tempest, probably for centuries,
at last it yielded to its power. During a violent gale
in June, 1866, it fell to the ground, and is no more,
but its memory will live long among the people of that
locality. In 1841, a settlement was commenced here,
and for many years it was known as the Lone Tree
settlement. John and T. Kirkpatrick were the first to
settle in this locality, and the next year they built a
saw mill on Crow creek. In the spring of 1842, J.
Larkins and Nelson Ballman made farms near the lone
tree, and next year Alpheus Cook, J. Merritt and others,
made farms north of it. Among the early settlers in
the vicinity of the lone tree, were Iloiirv, G. W. and
Raleigh Rich, S. M. Clark, J. and S. Miller, and the
large family of Andersons.

About two miles northwest of Lone Tree is the
Locust Spring, another old land mark of former days.
This spring was a great watering place for buffalo, am:
at the time <>t* early Bettlemenl their trails were visible,
extending in various directions across tin- prairie,

382 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTS.

leading to and from the water. Along the Senachwine,
above and below the spring, the ground for some ways
was almost covered with buffalo bones, evidently
showing where a large herd had perished.

CHAPTER XIV.

SETTLEMENT OF GREEN RIVER.

For many years after settlements had been made in
the eastern and central portions of the county, the land
on Green river remained vacant, unoccupied, without
a house or a cultivated field, and was visited only by
hunters and trappers. Originally the country was
known as Winnebago swamps, but it took the name of
Green river about the time the settlement commenced.
In October, 1836, Henry Thomas entered land at the
narrows (now New Bedford), and for a number of years
it was the only entered tract in that section of the
country. In the spring of 1837, Cyrus "Watson, the
first settler on Green river, built a cabin on Thomas1
land, believing it to be vacant. About this time a state
road was laid from Princeton to Prophetstown, on Rock
river, crossing Green river at this point, when Henry
Thomas built a ferry boat, and tor a number of years it
was known as Thomas' ferry.

Among the first settlers on Green river, were Francis

384 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

and William Adams, Samuel D. Brady, Milton Cain,
Daniel Davis, Lewis Burroughs, Dwight Bingham,
Norman and Justus Hall, Peter McDonald, Mr. Heath,
George W. Spratt, T. and N. Hill, Joseph Caswell, J.
N. Kise and Jacob Sells. The Yorktown settlement
commenced in the year 1846, and among the first that
settled there were W. and S. Dow, R. H. and S. W.
Seldon, and the large family of McKinzies.

The Indian Boundary line passed immediately north
of New Bedford, and north of wThich the land was not
in market until 1844. The people who settled here
were poor, without money to enter their lands, and for
years it was held by claims or pre-emption right. There
was an organized society formed on Green river, known
as the " Settler's League," with a constitution and by-
laws, the object of which was to prevent speculators
and others from entering their lands. From this
settler's league, originated the phrase " State of Green
river."

George "W. Spratt was the first justice of the peace
elected on Green river, and the first suit before him was
attended by almost every person in the settlement.
Simon Kinney and Judge Ballou were at that time the
only attorneys in the county, and they were employed
in this case as opposing counsel. There was living in
the settlement a half-breed, by the name of Green, with
his two French sons-in-law, Battis and Shane, all of
whom were hunters and trappers. Green was a party
to this suit, and on account of color objections were

LOST GROVE SETTLEMENT. 385

made to his family testifying at the trial. The question
of color was argued by the counsel, and decided by the
court, but the jury did not like the decision, and con-
sequently reversed it.

Spratt's cabin contained only one room, and the jury,
for deliberation, were taken into a cave, dug out of a
sand knoll, and used for a root house. Although the
question of color was settled by the justice, the jury
regarded it their duty to decide the constitutionality of
the black laws of Illinois. And here in this dark and
loathsome root house, lighted only by a single candle,
the first Green river jury decided that a man with a
drop of negro or Indian blood in his veins, could not
be believed under oath.

LOST GROVE SETTLEMENT.

Lost Grove, is a small belt of timber in the town of
Westfield, and contains from one to two hundred acres
of land. Like many other groves in the county, it has
a history; apart of which will be of interest to the
reader. In the spring of 1831, Mason Dimmick,
claimed Lost Grove, and commenced a cabin at its
southeast end, where the village of Arlington, now

nds. Dimmick did not complete his cabin, nor
upy it, and a few years afterwards he abandoned his
claim. In 1834 O. II. BLngh, claimed the grove, com-
pleted the cabin which Dimmick, had commenced,

386 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

moved into it, broke and fenced in a small field.
Hugh being without neighbors, and as he thought,
without any prospect of ever having any, became
disatisfied with his location, and offered to sell his
claim for twenty-live dollars. In the spring of 1835,
Col. Austin Bryant, and Enoch Pratt, examined this
claim for the purpose of buying it, but they thought
the timber only sufficient for two farms, and they must
necessarily be without meeting or schools. Mr. Hugh
being unsuccessful in selling his claim, abandoned it
and left the country ; his cabin went to decay and for
five years no person lived at Lost Grove.

For twelve years after the settlement had commenced
on Bureau, Lost Grove, and the country around it,
remained vacant and unoccupied, the haunts and roving
ground for deer and wolves. In the fall of 1835, Lost
Grove was claimed by two young men named Blodgett
and Lindley. While they were disputing about their
respective rights, Benj. Briggs, a non-resident, entered
it, and in 1840 he sold it to Michael Kennedy, who
made a large farm here soon after.

In the summer of 1840, David Koth having a con-
tract of grading on the old Illinois Central railroad,
built a house on government land, two miles east of
the grove, and sold it the next year to Martin Corley,
who still occupies it. Others settled around the grove
soon after, among whom were Daniel Cahill, Daniel
Lyon, James Waugh, Peter Cassady, and others.

SETTLEMENT IN THE WEST OF THE COUNTY. 387

Previous to the year 1834 no settlement had been made
in the western part of this county, and for many years
after that period the country remained uninhabited and
unoccupied, except a few families who lived at some of
the principal groves. In the spring of 1834, Thornton
Cummings made a claim on the north side of French
Grove, and J. G. Keed at Coal Grove, near the present
site of Sheffield. Next year Paul Riley, Caleb and Eii
Moore, and James Laughrey, made claims at French
Grove. A. Fay, at Menominee Grove, and Benjamin
Cole at Bulbona Grove. In the summer of 1836, John,
Thomas and Moses Stevens, with their large families,
became residents of this locality, and at the same time
Jesse and George Emerson, Joseph Lvford, and others
settled here. Soon after, Amos Whittemore, Franklin
and Joseph Foster, John and C. P. Mason, S. Brainard
and Peter Fitield became residents.

In 1836, William Studley settled at the south end of
Barren Grove, and soon after William and George
Norton, IT. P. BatleriU and James Tibbetts located near
by. About the same time a settlement was made at
Sugar Grove, and the north end <>t* Barren Grov< ;
among the early settlers were Curtiss Williams, Thomas
Grattidge, John Clark, Dr. Ball, George Squires and
E. I>. Kemp.

Tin- towns of Manlius and Gold were fche last in the

county to Bettle, and the land in them was principally

vacant as late as L850. Among tin- early settlers of

these towns were Samuel Matins. Sylvester Barber,
20

388 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Thomas Rinehart, Allen Lathrop, Charles McKune,
James Martin, Dr. Moore, JS". N. Hewitt, David Marple,
George Detro, Jacob Waters and Joseph Johnston.

In the fall of 1834, J. G. Reed found a coal bank in
Coal Grove, which was the first discovered within the
limits of this countv.

EARLY SETTLEMENT ON MAIN BUREAU.

In the spring of 1830, John L. and Justus Ament
made claims on the east side of Main Bureau timber ;
built cabins, and occupied them with their families.
These were the first claims taken along Bureau timber,
and they are occupied at present by James G. Forristall,
and Mathew Taylor. In the fall of 1830, Sylvester
Brigham and James G. Forristall made claims south of
Ament's, the former where James Hensel now lives,
and the latter on a farm now occupied by James
Ooddington. In 1833, James Garvin and D. Ellis
made claims on the east side of the timber, and Green-
berry Hall, and Abram Musick on the west side. In
1834, Elias Isaac, Robert Masters, Obadiah Britt,
Thornton Wilson, and Robert Gerton settled on the
east side of the timber, and about the same time
Richard Masters, Marshall Mason, James Wilson, and
John Elliott made claims on the west side. In 1835,
Israel and J. H. Huffaker, John Wise, Thomas Cole,
Abner Boyle and others settled on the east side of the
timber.

JAMES <•• FOBRISTALL

PUBLICUBR^

\ TILOEHfOOHDiir

SETTLEMENT IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTY. 891

As early as the spring of 1836, a settlement was
commenced on what was afterwards known as the Dover
prairie, and the first house was built by George Clark.
on the farm now occupied by him. "With the exception
of a few houses in Princeton and vicinity, there was
none built off from the timber, and from this time dates
the settling of the prairies of Bureau county.

In the summer of 1836, Enos, Sidney and Oden Smith,
and Alfred Clark entered land and made farms out on
the prairie, near East Bureau creek. Soon afterwards
others came in, among whom were Martin Zearing, S.
Mohler, John Bellangee, Peletiah, and Nathan Rackley,
Benj. Porter, George Wells, and C. G. Reed.

Fur many years the settlement on the west side of
the creek was confined to a string of farms along the
margin of the timber, and land adjoining these farms
belonged to non-residents. In 1840, Robert Limerick
entered land and made a farm near where the village
of Limerick now stands, and for a number of years he
was the only resident on that prairie.

/

SETTLEMENT IN THE NORTH PART OF THE COUNT V.

Although two cabins were built in the north part of

the county at an early day, the settlement of that

loci lity is of ;i recent <late. The towns of Ohio and

Walnut, which arc among the best in the county, were
mostly vacant in 1850, and from that time the Bettle-
ment of them dates. It has alrea<i\ been stated that

392 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

the Anient family settled at Red Oak Grove, in the
spring of 1828 ; three years afterwards they sold their
claim to James Magby,who occupied it a short time, when
he abandoned it and left the country. In 1833, James
Claypoll lived here, and in 1836 he sold his claim to
Luther Denham, who occupied it for some years.

In the summer of 1836, a man named Martin claimed
Walnut Grove, built a cabin ; broke and fenced some
prairie, but next year A.. H. Janes and Greenberry
Triplett jumped his claim and made farms here soon
after, others settled around the grove, among whom
were Truman Culver, Richard Brewer, Peter McKnitt,
Thomas Sanders, Richard Langford, E. Kelly, and the
large family of Wolf.

In the spring of 1830, Dad Joe (Joseph Smith),
located at Dad Joe Grove, and lived here for six years
without neighbors. In 1836, T. S. Elston came in
possession of this claim, and for many years it was
occupied by different renters, who kept here a house of
entertainment. In 1841, F. G. Buckan built a cabin
on the north line of the county, and it was afterwards
occupied by Mr. Abbot. In 1846, Wm. Cleveland
built a cabin on high prairie, three miles south of Dad
Joe Grove, but he abandoned it the next year. A year
or two afterward John and Andrew Ross settled on the
prairie, and soon afterwards others made farms in this
vicinitv, amon^ whom were Squire Falvey, John
Kasbeer, William Cowen, Stephen Wilson, Mr. Hun-
ter, Daniel P. and D wight Smith.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PRINCETON. 393

Princeton is located on the school section, and was
laid off by Koland Moseley, John P. Blake and John
Musgrove, acting as school trustees. Its survey bears
date September, 1832, and the sale of lots took place
at Hennepin in May following. The lots were sold on
credit, with six months interest, payable in advance.
But a small portion of the school section was sold, and
the average proceeds of the sale was about two dollars
and fifty cents per acre.

The first building erected on the site of Princeton
was a log cabin, built by S. Courtwright, in the fall of
1833, immediatelv north of the Congregational Church.
and used by him as a blacksmith shop. The second
building was a one story frame structure, twelve feet
square, built by John M. Gay on the site of the " Tem-
pleton Store,'' and was afterwards occupied by "William
Wells as a dwelling. The third house was a log cabin
built by F. Haskill, on a lot now occupied by the resi-
dence of Elijah Dee. On the 7th of June, 1831, Mr.
Haskill opened a store in this cabin, which was the first
store within the limits of this county, and the first
ar/icle sold was a horse collar to Christopher Corss. In
the fall of 1834, Stephen Triplett built on the cast side
of Main street a one story frame structure, sixteen by
eighteen feet, with an earthen] fire place and a stick
chimney, on the front of which was a large BigD of
" Princeton HoteL" Afterwards MY. Triplett built an

addition on the front of his house, and foT some years

894: REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTS.

it was the principal hotel of the place. In the summer
of 1835, Elijah "Wiswall built a one story frame house
on the corner now occupied by the " Converse Block,"
and for some years it was used for a dwelling.

In the fall of 1835, the Hampshire Colony Congre-
gational Church was built on the public square, where
the court house now stands. This was a two story
frame structure, raised high above the ground on
wooden blocks, and made an imposing appearance.
This church, at the time it was built, attracted much
attention from travelers, as it was far in advance of the
settlement, and had no equal as a public building within
a circle of fifty miles. Deacon Elisha Wood built this
church under a contract for six hundred and fifty dollars,
and for some time the inside remained unfinished, con-
taining only a rough board pulpit and slab seats. This
building is now standing on the south side of the public-
square, and occupied for a dwelling, it being the only
original land mark of Princeton now remaining.

In the fall of 1837, the M. E. Church built a small
frame building on First street, near the present residence
of Mrs. C. L. Kelsey. In 1838, the Baptists built a
small church, and soon after the Protestant Methodists
erected a brick church on Third street.

Among the first mercantile firms of Princeton, were
those of Daniel King and Justin H. Olds, D. G. Salis-
bury and B. L. Smith; the latter firm, with their two
families, occupied a frame building on the site of the

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF PRINCETON. 395

First National bank. In the front part of this building
were dry goods and groceries, post office, county clerk
and recorder's office, county judge and office of a justice
of the peace.*

*For a further account of settlement, see "Sketches of Bureau
County."

CHAPTER XV.

PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.

During the year of 1828, there were only rive families
living with the limits of Bureau county, whose names
are as follows : Henry Thomas, Reason B. Hall, John
Dixon, Bulbona, and Anient family. In 1830, there
were nine families; in 1831, sixteen families; in 1832,
thirty-one families, besides a number of single men,
who had built cabins and were living in them. The
names and location of these thirty-one families were as
follows : Town of La Moille, Daniel Dimmick ; Dover,
John L. Ament; Princeton, Elijah Epperson, Dr. N.
Chamberlin, Eli and Elijah Smith, John Musgrove,
Roland Moseley, Mrs. E. Smith, Robert Clark, and
Joel Doolittle; Arispie, Michael Kitterman, Ourtise
Williams, and Dave Jones ; Selby, John Hall, William
Hoskins, John Clarke, and Amos Leonard; Wyanet,
Abram Oblist, and Bulbona; Bureau, Henry and
Ezekiel Thomas, Abram Stratton, and John M. Gay ;
Ohio. Dad Joe ; Walnut, James Magby ; Milo, Charles

PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT. 397

S. Boyd ; Leepertown, Timothy Perkins, and Leonard
Kotli ; Hall, William Tompkins, and Sampson Cole.

As late as the spring of 1836, there was no one living
in the town of Fairfield, Manlius, Mineral, Neponset,
Macon, Gold, Wheatland, Greenville, nor Westrield.
There was but one family in Milo, one in Walnut, one
in Ohio, four in Berlin, five in Bureau, five in Concord,
and six in Clarion.

The dwellings throughout the county were log cabins,
mostly built in the edge of the timber by the side of a
spring. There was but one meeting house ; two or
three log school houses; only two surveyed roads, and
not a stream bridged. At that time there were but
live families living on the west side of Main Bureau
timber, and two west of West Bureau, north of
town sixteen. There was not a resident on Green river,
nor in the west part of the county, except a few families
at French, Bulbona, and Coal Groves. A few houses
were clustered around Princeton, and with the exception
of these, not a dwelling could be seen on the prairies
of tli nitv. All the land then under cultivation

was a smal] held here and there adjoining the timber,
and the prairies throughout the county were in a state
nature, a part of which had not yet been surveyed.
M.-.-i of the early settlers believed that they would
ah. remain vacant, and unoccupied, being valuable
onL razing Land, \<>v horses and cal I le. At a house

raising two miles north of Princeton, in the Bummer

of L835, where manj of the settlers were collected,

21

398 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

one of their number, Elisha Wood, a Deacon of the
Congregational church, expressed an opinion, that the
time would come, when all the prairie between Main
and East Bureau would be brought under cultivation.
This opinion appeared to those present so ridiculous,
and it was so much criticised, that the deacon qualified
his statement by saying such a thing was possible.

The traveler who crossed these prairies while in
a state of nature, can scarcelv realize the fact that
they are now all under cultivation, fenced into fields,
and dotted over with dwellings and barns. The wheat
and corn fields of the present occupy the place of wild
prairie, covered with grass and flowers of forty years ago.
In less than a half of a century, it has been changed
from a wild, uninhabited region, where the howl of
wolves and yells of savages were heard, to a well im-
proved and highly cultivated country, the homes of
enterprising farmers, whose products feed people in
foreign countries. As it were by magic, fine villages
have sprung up here and there on the prairie, with
their tall spires glittering in the sun beams, and the
musical peals of the church and school bells are heard
throughout the country. The shrill whistle of engines
are heard as they fly swiftly across the prairies, conveying
commerce from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The rude
log cabins, with their puncheon floor, clapboard door and
stick chimney, have been superseded by fine dwellings,
containing the comforts and conveniences of civiliza-
tion. The settlement of the country has exceeded

PKOGKESS OF SETTLEMENT. 3\*\<

the expectations of the most sanguine, as no one
supposed that the prairies of Bureau county would be
settled in so short a time.

In the summer of 1836, Deacon Alby Smith, who
lived southeast of Princeton, on a farm now occupied
by John Rinnan, was a candidate for the legislature.
Some of the early settlers called Deacon Smith a
visionary Yankee, and not a man of good judgment,
because he had made a farm out on the prairie, while
locations were still plenty adjoining timber. It was
also alleged that the Deacon had expressed an opinion
that the time would come when the prairie> throughout
the state would all be brought under cultivation, with
railroads across them. People thought a man enter-
taining such wild, visionary view.-, was uot lit to
represent them in the legislature, consequently he was
dropped, and Thomas Atwater, of Eennepin, was
elected in his place.

During the summer of 1836, there wasgreal emigra-
tion to the western country, and settlements were
commenced throughout the north part of the state.
So soon as grass afforded feed for cattle, the \\hit<--
topped wagons of emigrants were Been crossing the
prairies, and with them were miners with <>\ teams,
called suckers, who wont north in the Bpringand south
in the tall.

The great emigration to this county made il in try
for provison to be brought up the river, to Bupply the
demand. In I there was a Burplue of -rain and

400 .REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

pork, but it found a ready market among the new
settlement on Rock river. About this time people
commenced hauling produce to Chicago, and returning
with lumber or goods. From 1840 to 1852, large
quantities of produce was shipped down the river to
St. Louis, and during part of that time wheat was only
worth twenty-five cents per bushel, and pork, net, one
dollar and fifty cents per cwt.

From 1837 to 1850, the settlement of this countv
was very slow, but at the latter period railroads were
projected, when people came here from various parts
of the world, and settled on the prairies. About this
time the old plan of fencing with rails was abandoned,
and board, wire and hedge fence introduced. In the
first settlement of the country, wooden mouldboard
plows were in use, afterwards the cast mouldboards,
but in 1845 the steel plow took their place. In the
summer of 1837, Flavel Thurston, of "West Bureau,
introduced the small breaking plow, and it is believed
that he was the first man in the state to break prairie
with a span of horses.*

MISCELLANEOUS.

Post Office. — In 1829, Henry Thomas obtained a
grant for a post office, named Bureau, and for a number

* It was not intended in this work to give a history of the agricultu-
ral and commercial resources of the county, nor of the settlement of
towns and villages; but should another volume be required, these
things can be added.

MISCELLANEOUS. 401

of years all the mail for the settlement west of the river
came through it. In the winter of 1831-32, Elijah
Smith was appointed postmaster for the settlement on
Princeton prairie, and his office was called Greenfield.
In 1833, the name of this office was changed to Prince-
ton, and Dr. N". Chamberlain appointed postmaster.
This office was supplied once a week with mail from
Thomas' office, and was generally carried by William O.
Chamberlain. When the streams were high, not
fordable, the mail carrier would go on foot, crossing
the Bureaus on trees which had been fallen for that
purpose. The mail package consisted of a few letters
and papers, which were carried in the coat pocket of
the carrier.

Dr. Chamberlain, living one and one-half miles south
of town, made it inconvenient for people to obtain their
mail, and in the fall of 1834 John M. Gay having
opened a store in town, was appointed postmaster.

Fire on the Prairie. — Before the settlement of the
country, annual fires -wept over the prairies — the grand
and \ct terrific appearance of which will long be
remembered by the early settler.-. Sometimes fires
would travel one hundred miles or more, regardless of
intervening timber and streams. During the tall and
winter, when the weather was dry, lights from these
tires could be seen almost every night, frequently in

variuiis directions at the same tim< . The reflection on
the horizon was such as to make these Lights visible for

402 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

fifty or sixty miles, and on a dark night they would
supply the place of the moon.

In November, 1836, a fire started on Spoon river
(Stark county), about 10 o'clock in the morning, and
with a strong southwest wind, it traveled about ten
miles per hour, passing between West Bureau and
Green river, having a front of eight miles in width,
and its roaring could be heard for many miles distant
Before sundown, this fire had burned to the banks of
Rock river, where Rockford now stands, passing over a
country of about sixty miles in extent.

Physicians. — For the first three years after the settle-
ment had commenced on Bureau, there was no physi-
cian nearer than Peoria, In the summer of 1831, Dr.
N. Chamberlain settled on Bureau, and for a number of
years he was the only physician in the country. When
the settlement was commenced on Rock river, Dr.
Chamberlain extended his practice into that country,
and visited patients in that region as late as 1837. At
a later period, Dr. William O. Chamberlain and Dr.
Swanzy were the principal physicians of this county.
The former was known everywhere as Dr. Bill, and for
twenty-five years he had an extensive practice in
various parts of the country. The latter. Dr. Swanzy,
stood high in his profession, and was frequently called
as counsel in other sections of the country.

Blacksmithing-. — For a number of years after the

MISCELLANEOUS. 403

settlement had commenced on Bureau, there was no
blacksmith shop in the country, and people were
obliged to go fifty or sixty miles in order to have work-
done. On different occasions Dad Joe, sent his plow
irons to Peoria, sixty-five miles distance, in the boat or
the stage coach to get them sharpened. Burton Ayres,
at the mouth of little Vermillion (now La Salle), carried
on blacksmithing, and was patronized by some of the
Bureau settlers. In the summer of 1833, John H.
Bryant, in order to ^et the irons of his breaking
plow repaired, carried them on a horse before him to
Laughlin's smith shop, six miles east of Hennepin.
The first blacksmith shop within the limits of this
county, was built in Princeton, by S. D. Courtwright,
in the fall of 1833, and the next spring Abram Musick
started one four miles north of Princeton.

In the summer of 1831, James G. Forristall, and
George Hinsdale were under the necessity of having
irons made for a breaking plow, and to obtain them,
they made a trip to Peoria. At the mouth of Bureau
creek they went on board of an Indian canoe, one
occupying the bow, and the other the stern, and in this
way they paddled it down to Peoria. On arriving at
Peoria they found the shop closed, and the blacksmith
off on a visit. Again tiny boarded their craft and
wenl down to Pekin, twelve miles further, where they
succeeded in getting their work done, and returned the

-ime wav they came, after being nine days in making

the trio. Each night while on the road they tied their

404 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTS.

canoe to a tree at the shore, and slept in it. The whole
distance traveled in going to and from the blacksmith
shop, was one hundred and sixty-live miles.

Township Organization. — Took effect in 1850,
when the county commissioner's court was superseded
bv the board of supervisors. At that time the county
was divided into nine precincts, which were named as
follows : Princeton, Tiskilwa, Dover, La Moille, French
Grove, Green River, Hall, Brush Creek, and Hazle-
wood.

During the late rebellion, Bureau county furnished
3,626 soldiers, and paid $650,000 in bounties to the same.
A few years previous, in 1860, the board of supervisors
appropriated $18,000 to remodel the courthouse. This
appropriation was much criticised by the people, many
believing this large debt was ruinous to the welfare of
the county, but a few years afterwards a half a million
of dollars was appropriated for soldiers bounties and
paid without a murmer.

The politics of this county originally was Whig; it
is now Republican, by a large majority.

The present population of the county is supposed to
be about 35,000, about one-fourth of whom are
foreigners.

Mills of Bureau County. — There has been built
in this county, at different periods, forty-seven water
mills — thirty-one of which were saw, and sixteen

MISCELLANEOUS. 405

flouring. Of these mills thirty were built on Main
Bureau, four on West Bureau, two on East Bureau, one
on Masters fork of Main Bureau, one on Spring creek,
one on Crow creek, two on Coal creek, one on Green
river, two on Brush creek, two on Negro creek, and
one ran by a spring, at the head of Spring lake. Of
these mills only fifteen are now running.

Illinois and Mississippi Canal. — In the spring of
1836, a project was agitated for constructing a canal, to
connect the Illinois with the Mississippi river, and Dr.
A. Langworthy employed R. R. Pearce, to make a
survey of the route, as far as Green river. In the
.summer of 186b\ another survey of this proposed canal
was made, with a feeder to be taken out of Rock river,
and intersect the canal near Devil's Grove. Again, in
lb7(>, the general government in accordance with an act
of congress, made a survey of this rout, for the purpose
of making it a ship canal.

Railroads. — In 1839 a survey of the old Illinois

Central railroad was made through this county, and the

work on it commenced. This road entered the county

in section twenty-five, W^estfield, and left it in section

two, La Moille, passing north of Lost Grove, and

through the south end of Perkins1 Grove, making a

straight line through the county. After the grading

was partly done through the county, the enterprise wai

abandoned.
22

406 REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.

In the year 1853, the Chicago and Rock Island rail-
road was built, and its length in this county is thirty-
eight miles. The Chicago, Burlington and Quiney
railroad was built in 1854, with a length, in this county
of forty-two miles. The Peoria and Bureau Valley
railroad was built in 1855, and its length in this county
is about five miles. The Rushville and Buda railroad
was built in 1870, and seven miles of its length is in
this county. The Mendota and Prophetstown railroad
was commenced in 1856, completed in 1870, and it has
a length in this county of twenty-seven miles. The
Kankakee and Pacific railroad was built in 1871, and
three miles of its length is in this county.

18 1931"