Bureau County, Illinois - Chapter 5: Black Hawk War, 1906

Chapter 5: Black Hawk War

BLACK HAWK WAR. The many tales and reminiscences of the Black Hawk war are familiar to every household in Illinois. No period of our existence as a state has had so much real and imaginary history written as that from 1830 to 1833, and probably no other period has had so many exaggerated accounts written for the general reader as this. In our research for this article we have consulted a large number of works bearing upon this subject, written by men whose ability and integrity should not be questioned. Yet when you sum up all tire facts and incidents of this short and decisive struggle you will, if of a reflective turn of mind, wonder why it was necessary to call out eight thousand volunteers to assist fifteen hundred regular troops to drive from our state about four hundred poorly equipped and scantily" fed Indians who were also incumbered by being obliged to looK after the comfort and safety of about one thousand squaws and pappooses. Yet such seems to be the fact, and iu this short campaign of a little over three months millions of dollars were spent and more than one thousand lives sacrificed. Probably the real cause of the war grew out of the fact that the white man, especially the early pioneers, despised the Indian and said "he must go." They also said that "all good Indians were dead Indians." The prime cause, however, grew out of the interpretation of the treaty of 1804 between the general government and the Sac and Fox Indians, who were at that time living in tlie northwestern corner of the state, their territory coming down as far south as Rock river. The government agreed to pay these two confederated tribes the sum of one thousand dollars annually, and for this annuity the Indians ceded to the govermnent all the territory lying between the Wisconsin river, the Fox river, the Illinois river and the Mississippi and about one-third of the state of Missouri. This tract of land contained about 50,000,000 acres. The treaty, however, contained a clause that as long as these lands remained in the hands of the United States the '"Indians belonging to said tribes should have the privilege of living and hunting upon them."" It undoubtedly was the vague and mystifying wording of this treaty - whether intentional or otherwise we cannot say - that was made a pretext for the war. The conditions at this time were about as follows: Near Pock Island, a few miles above the mouth of Rock river, was located the chief dwelling place of the Sacs. This tribe for a long series of years had undisputed possession of the eastern side of the Mississippi river between the mouths of the Wisconsin and the Missouri. Their village near Rock Island was their metropolis, ajid was named Sankenuk. It contained about five hundred families. Here they had lived for generations, here their children were born and here lay the bones of their fathers. Here also were their cultivated fields. The Sacs seemed to be divided into two factions. One of these was friendly to the Americans, tlie other to the British. The latter were under the leadership of Makabaimeshekiakiak, which signifies Black Sparrow Hawk, but commonly called Black Hawk. Black Hawk was now an old )nan, and had been a warrior from bis youth. He bad led many a war party and vanquished many a foe and had never been defeated. He had served with the English during the war of 1812 and had fought under the great Tccumseh. He was noted for his personal courage and also for his kindness to his subdued enemies, but he always contended that the so-called treaties were not valid, as they had been signed by a few drunken braves who had no authority to negotiate with the government. Black Hawk, although brave and aggressive, did not possess those higher qualities that are essential in a commander. While he was kind and affectionate to his family and kindred, he was, in his personal de])ortment, grave and melanchol)', and was disposed to brood over the supposed wrongs which he had received from the Americans. This, coupled with the thoughts that his tribe would soon be extinct, and the land of his youth, the home of his fathers, with its fertile fields, its silvery lakes and llowing rivers, were soon to pass into the liands of his hated enemy, made liini sour and morose, and in his heart he thirsted for revenge. 'J'he land occupied by the Sacs became noted as being very fertile, and soon after Illinois was admitted as a state a class of people called squatters were always pressing toward the frontier. These squatters settled on unsurveyed land, and were many times fifty miles ahead of the real settlements, and in this way much of the land previously cultivated by the Indians was squatted upon without a shadow of right or title. The Indians used to go on their annual hunts and leave the squaws to look after putting in the crops. The whites, knowing the habits of the Indians, took advantage of their absence and appropriated these lands to their own use. They even went so far as to drive away the squaws and fence up the land, so that when the braves returned the white man was in possession of their iields. There was constant trouble upon the frontier. Complaints, disputes and actual collisions occurred between the Indians and the trespassing whites, until 1828, when (ioviTunr Edwards demanded the expulsion of the Indians, and as a result of his ell'orts President Jackson ordered their removal aci'oss the Mississippi in 182!), but by a personal appeal from Colonel George Davenport, of Kock Island, the time was extended to April 1, 1830. In 1829 Colonel Davenport and some of his friends purchased from the general government the site of this beautiful village of Sankeniik and nearly all of the lands cultivated by the Sacs. Their object in so doing was to permit the Indians to remain there undisturbed. Black Hawk, not understanding the motive of Colonel Davenport, became greatly enraged at him. Learning this fact Colonel Davenport offered, with the consent of the government, to exchange these lands for others or to cancel the sale and let the Indians remain in possession. Keokuk, with some of his followers, made a journey to Washington to efTcct a change, in compliance with Colonel Davenport's offer. But President Jackson would not consent to the arrangement, and notified the Indians that all of the lands embodied in the treaty of 1804 must be surrendered and they must remove to the west side of the Mississippi, as he had previously ordered. It seems that Keokuk, as well as the United States Indian agent at Fort Armstrong, advised peaceable compliance with the order. But Black Hawk, sore and dejected, after consulting with White Cloud, the prophet, and the British agent on the Canadian frontier, refused to go. When the Sacs returned from the annual hunt in the spring of 1830 they found that the settlers had practically taken possession of their fields and nearly destroyed their beautiful Sankenuk and had even disturbed the graves of their ancestors with the implements of civilization. The white settlers at this time numbered about forty, and, becoming frightened at the attitude of Black Hawk, petitioned Governor IJeynolds for protection. Accordingly, on May 2i; the governor issued a call for troops. General Edmund P. Gaines was in command of the military district at that time and ordered six companies of regular troops to Rock Island to assist the seven hundred militia that had been called for by Governor Reynolds. The militia assembled at Beardstown early in June, but instead of seven hundred there were nearly double the number. General Gaines, hearing that the Winnebagos, Pottawatoiiiies and Kickapoos were going to join Black Hawk, asked the governor to send him a battalion of mounted men. The combined forces of the army, numbering about twenty-five hundred, appeared liofore the village of Sankenuk on the morning of June 2."i, 1831. JMack Hawk, having only about three hundred warriors with him, at once saw that the odds were too great and that he could not hope to cope successfully with so formidable a foe. Realizing this, and night coming on, he quietly withdrew his forces and successfully retired to the west side of the river, about ten or twelve miles below. On the following morning General Gaines, discovering that the Indians had crossed tu the Iowa side of the river, ordered the village burned, and then marched the troops to where Rock Island now stands. Being somewhat chagrined o\-er the fact of Black Hawk's escape in the darlaiess, he declared that he would overtake and disperse the whole tribe. Black Hawk, hearing of his intentions, and knowing the fate of his followers if they were ]nirsued, returned to General Gaines' head(|uarters, where, on June 30, a treaty was signed, in which he agreed that neither he nor his tribe would ever return to the east side of the river unless they had permission from the United States government. This treaty was never ratified by Congress. And so ended the first campaign of the Black Hawk war, the campaign of 1831, without either powder or blood being sacrificed. Black Hawk, feeling his humiliation, and realizing that he had forever lost the fertile fields that surrounded his beautiful village of Sankenuk, and also knowing that his tribe must suffer for the necessary food to carry them through the coming winter, again became restless and dissatisfied. Neopope. second in command under Black Hawk, shared these same feelings with his leader. Accordingly he again visited the "British father" at Maiden, on the Canadian frontier, also the Winnebagos and Pottawatomies, and brought back word that they were all in sympathy with this transplanted tribe. Eelying upon them for support, and following the advice of White Cloud, the prophet. Black Hawk resolved to again go back to the land of his fathers, and, if permitted by the government, to again cultivate the fields where his youth ^nd young manliood had been spent, and if refused that privilege to move on to the Winnebago country and join with them in raising a crop. This was a direct violation of the treaty, but Black Hawk claimed the treaty hail l)ecome void by the failure of the government to properly pi'ovide supplies for the Indian families. Be that as it may, he, with his warriors, their wives, children and all of their belongings, on the sixth day of April. 1832, crossed the Mississippi back into Illinois.

They started on the warpath at Keokuk, rendezvoused at Fort Madison, crossed the river a few miles north of that city, taking their ponies over on what was known as "floats."' These floats were made hj lashing three canoes together and covering them with poles, which in turn were covered with boughs and leaves to a thickness sufficient to make a platform strong enough to carry as many ponies as could be made to stand upon it. After crossing the Mississippi they traveled up Eock river into Wisconsin, doing but little damage to the settlers.

At this time, according to the most reliable history, there were but a few settlers in northern Illinois ; in fact, it was almost an uninhabited wilderness. ''Some thirty families had settled along Bureau creek, and a few cabins had been built at Peru, La Salle, Ottawa, Holdman's Grove and Indian creek, besides the towns of Chicago and Galena."' The Indian trails at this time were without number, crossing and recrossing the country in all directions, but the leading ones were from Chicago to Galena and from Galena to Peoria, but there was but one wagon road north of the Illinois river, and that was the road spoken of in another part of this volume as extending from Peoria to Galena. On this road a daily stage coach run, carrying passengers and mail to the lead mines of the north. There were relay stations at Kellogg's Grove, Apple river, John Dixon"s, at Dixon"s ferry, on Eock river; "Dad Joe" Grove, Henry Tliomas", on West Bureau, and Charles S. Boyd"s, at Boyd"s Grove. The great Sac trail connected Rock Island with the country along the south end of Lake Michigan, and from there it passed on to Maiden, on the Canadian frontier, for there was where Black Hawk got his inspiration from the "British father" to war with the whites. After the treaty of 1831 had been signed, Black Hawk, wishing to wreak his vengeance upon some one, fell upon a small band of the- Menominees. who were encamped on a small stream near Prairie-du-Chien, and nearly anniliilated them. General Joseph M. Street, the Indian .agent, demanded the surrender of the murderers. This demand Black Hawk refused to obey, contending that this bloody massacre was ju.stiliable. The "overnment being informed of this outrage and of Black Hawk"s refusal to surrender the perpetrators of the crime, sent General Henry Atkinson to Fort Armstrong with a coni- ]5any of regular troops to enforce their surrender. But Black Hawk, with his usual alacrity, crossed the river seven days liefore General Atkinson had any knowledge of his intentions. The fact of the Indians having crossed back into Illinois becoming known created great and widespread excitement among the settlers. General Atkinson did not lack in personal bravery, and was not unduly alarmed, but not knowing to what extent other tribes would follow the lead of the Sacs, deemed it prudent to prepare for- any emergency that might follow. Accordingly, he called upon Governor Eeynolds for a force of state militia to assist the regulars in protecting the frontier. On April 16, 1832, the governor called for troops and ordered that they should rendezvous at Beardstown on April 22.

The following description of the disposition of troops has been taken from what we consider the best authority upon this subject, as a great deal has been said and even written in regard to this war that is wholly without fact or foundation : "The volunteers were organized into four regiments, an odd battalion, a spy battalion and a foot battalion, and were placed under the command of Brigadier General Samuel AVliiteside. These regiments were commanded respectively by Colonels John Dewitt. Jacob Fr}-, John Thomas and Samuel M. Thompson; the spy battalion by Major James D. Henry; the odd battalion by Major Thomas James, and the foot battalion by Major Thomas Long."' The governor also ordered a troop of two hundred mounted men to guard the frontier between Eock Island and the Illinois river, and placed them under Major David Bailey, and the same number to guard the country bordering the Mississippi, and these were commanded by Major Josiah Stillman. The entire force called out numbered 1935 men and the regulars about one thousand. The troops, accompanied by Governor Eeynolds, broke camp at Beardstown on .Vpril 27 and nuirched north, arriving at Fort .Vrmstrong, wliich is situated on the island of Eock Island, on May 7, where they were mustered into the service of the United States. Here they were met by Colonel Zachary Taylor, with about three hundred additional troops. One of the lieutenants in liis comiiiaud was Jetlerson Davis, a future son-in-law and later president of the Southern Confederacy, while Abraham Lincoln was in command of one of the companies of the fourth regiment of volunteei-s. Moses, in his history of Illinois, says: "A story is related of -Old Zach,' as he afterward came to be called, that upon ordering an advance movement, in which ho did not feel certain of the conduct of the volunteers, some of whom seemed to hesitate, he rode out in front of them and made them a little speech. He said : 'Soldiers, the order you have just hoard must be pronijitly obeyed. The safety of all depends upon the obedience and courage of all. You are citizen soldiers, some of you may fill high offices or even i)e president some day, but not if you refuse to do your duty. Forward, inarch !' " It truly was a remarkable circimislance that away out on the frontier, on the very border of civilization, in the golden sunlight of that beautiful morning in Hay, that there should stand, within the sound of one man's voice, three men whose future lives had so much to do with the destinies of this great republic. Yot such is the recorded fact, for there on the banks of the "father of waters," linder the folds of the stars and stripes, already having received orders to march, stood Zachary Taylor, the hero of Monterey and the twelfth president of the United States; JefTerson Davis, the traitor and future president of the so-called Southern Confederacy, and .\braham Lincoln, the great euuuicipator and martyr president. The army was mobilized into two divisions. One, under General Atkinson, ascended Rock river in boats; the other, under General Whiteside, marched along the eastern bank. ft being in the early s])riug time, the streams were out of ihoir i)anks, and the ground was soft and full of water; so much so that both divisions had a bard and fatiguing trip. Their objective point was Prophet's village, and Whiteside was the first to reach it. To their disap])ointment they found it deserted, but regardless of their fatigued condition the troops pressed forward and reached Dixon's ferry on May 12 in a weary and jaded condition, being also short of supplies. Here they met Majors Stiilman and Bailey, who had united their forces and were thirsting for blood, at least they thought they were, for they seemed to think that no foe, however strong, could long stand before them. They had an abundance of ammunition and supplies, and refu.sed to become a part of the main forte. In view of this fact Governor Reynolds orderccl them to advance to "0I<1 Man's"" creek, where it was thought they would lind some hostile Indians and have a chance to lest their bravery and cover themselves with glory. Black Hawk's dream of conquest was fast fading away, as he had failed to bring the Winnebagos and Pottawatomies under his command, as only a few fif these tribes joined liis army. In view of this fact, and in accordance with the natural tendency of his disposition, he became suspicious and charged them with treachery. While in this despondent state he learned that a company of mounted troops had encamped a few miles away. Supposing them to be a part of General Atkinson's anny, when they were only a fewrangers under Stillnum, he immediately dispatched a few braves to inform General Atkinson that he was ready to meet him at his headquarters in council. He also sent five other braves to watch the result of the deliberations. Wlien Stillman's soldiers saw the flag of truce they disregarded all rules of warfare and rushed forward, seized the jiarty as prisoners and also gave chase to the five Indians sent to watch the proceedings, and two of them were slain. The Indians who escaped returned to camp, where Black Hawk was making jireparations to go to meet Atkinson under a flag of truce. 'UTien he received the news of the treatment of his men, who were under the protection of a white flag, his rage knew no bounds. He tore into shreds his own truce flag and called liis braves around him and swore them to avenge the death of their comrades who had been so wantonly butchered. He had with him only about forty braves when he started out to meet the white troops. The Pottawatomies, his supposed allies, refused to go with him and departed for their own villages in the north. When the rangers saw him coming they made a wild, reckless and undisciplined charge. Black Hawk ordered his men to fall back into ambush and await the advance. When the rangers began to realize that they were really in the presence of the foe their enthusiasm suddenly left and they made a halt. BlacK Hawk, taking advantage of their disorderly and uiulecided condition, immediately raised his terrifying warwhoop, and rushed out to meet the whites, at the same time giving them a volley from their rifles, which was olTectual in causing the rangers to stampede in all directions. Any way was the right way with them if it led away from the Indians. Nothing could stop their flight. On through their own camp they went, never stopping till they arrived at Di.xon's, thirty miles distant, and many of them forgot to stop even there, but. remembering that tliey had business at home that needed their attention, went at breakneck speed until they were sheltered under tlwir own roofs, miles away from the dark and bloody ground of Sillman's run. The frightened rangers si)read the story through the country that Black Hawk, with an invincible army, was marching dow^n upon the defenseless settlers, wreaking wrath and vengeance upon the people. Those who had returned to their farms again lied to the forts for protection, and dread and consternation again reigned among the inhabitants.

Thus ended the military farce of "Old JIan's" creek, now called Stillman's run, a small stream in Ogle county. The casiuilties of that so-called battle were few, eleven whites licing killed and two wounded, while the Indians lost but three killed, and they were under the supposed protection of a white flag at the time. The umnilitary conduct of Stillman and his men has caused a great amount of discussion pro and con, and the general opinion among those best prepared to judge correctly is that the men were strongly under the influence of liquor and were having a whisky jubilee when the three Indians bearing the flag of truce made their appearance. The sight of these braves kindled their already stimulated patriotism into a flame of indiscretion. But tiiov soon found that enthusiasm did not necessarily mean courage. A few days later General Atkinson, with his entire iorce, proceeded np Rock river, leaving what remained of Stillman's men to guard the wounded, who were left at Dixon's ferry, but again, to their shame, they showed the white feather, for as soon as Atkinson had fairly started they once more proved themselves unworthy of the confidence of their leader, as they left their post and fled. Yet it is highly probable if these men had been properly drilled and disciplined they would have made brave and efficient soldiers. But as it was, they came together from the different settlements and were organized in a haphazard kind of a way, and when the test came they were not equal to the requirements of good soldiery. Hearing of their cowardice General Atkinson, with his regulars, returned to Di.xon's, leaving General Whiteside to follow Black Hawk. The Indians, feeling exultant over their easy victory, and after they had replenished their wasted supplies from Stillman's abandoned camp, retired into the swamp on Lake Koshkonong, near where Fort Atkinson now stands, in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Leaving their women and children there they returned to Rock river, recruiting what they could on their way from the Winnebagos and Pottawatomies. Their forces \\'cre divided into several small companies. Black Hawk's band being the largest, consisting of aljout two hundred braves. In addition to the Sacs forces, about one hundred roving Pottawatomies, under the notorious Mike Girty, also a few Winnebagos in small bands preyed upon the settlements, burning houses, killing stock and using the tonuihawk and scalping knife wherever they dared u])on the defenseless inhabitants. The massacre of Indian creek, in La Salle county, was especially exasperating. Hero a band of about thirty Indians belonging to different tribes nearly annihilated the families of Will Hall, AVilliam Pettigrew and AVilliam Davis. Sixteen were butchered in cold blood and two Hall girls were carried away prisoners. The seat of war had by this time moved .north into Wisconsin, only scattering bands playing "hide and seek" with the rangers remained in Illinois. Consequently the Illinois troops refused to serve longer, as they said they did not enlist to flglit Inclians outside of their own state. Besides, their tinu; had expired. General ^A'hitesido urged them to continue in the service, but to no avail. Accordingly, after a counsel of war was held it was decided that the troops should return to Ottawa and be mustered out of service. So on May 28, under the supervision of Lieutenant Robert Anderson, the hero of Fort Sumter, the army, consisting of thirtyseven companies, was disbanded. This practically left the settlers all along the frontier unprotected from any depredations the savages were liable to commit. Governor Reynolds immediately issued his third ]3roelamation, asking for 2000 men to enlist for the war, and General Winfield Scott was ordered from the east with 1000 regulars. Governor Reynolds and General Atkinson made a personal appeal to the discharged rangers. According!}', three hundred of them re-enlisted for twenty days. xVmong the three hundred were Ain-aham Lincoln and General Whiteside, both enlisted as privates. The last troops called went into camp at Fort Wilbourn, near the present city of Peru, June 1.5. These troops were organized into three divisions or brigades, and each division had three regiments and a spy battalion. The volunteer force was also strengthened by the addition of a battalion under Colonel Henry Dodge. Including the regular troojjs this new army ininibered about four thousand men. The first brigade was formed with 915 men, and elected Alex Posey as commander. The late General John A. McClernand was a member of his staff. The second brigade was imder the command of General Milton K. Alexander, and the spy battalion under Major William McHenry. The third brigade elected General James D. Henry as their leader. These three brigades, with their subdivisions into i-egiments, constituted the volunteer army. A portion of the first brigade was ordered to station themselves between Galena and Rock river. The other two brigades marched through to Dixon, where the third tirigade, with Gent-ral .\tkinson, rcuuiined for a time, and the second, under General Henry, was sent to Plum river, which empties into the Mississippi from Carroll county. The Indians at this time, owing to the \\-ildness of the country and the larg-e number of their small bands, were hard lo locate, yet there were many slcirmishes and small engagements, which resulted in the death of many of the white troops and more or less of the Indians, but with no decisive results. On the sixth of June Black Hawk led in person an attack upon the fort located at Apple river, about twelve miles east of Galena. This fort was defended by (,'aptain Stone. After a short struggle they gave up the attack and withdrew-, but laid waste the country around. Also on June 11 there was a short skirmish at Pecatonica, between Black Hawk and a portion of General Posey's brigade, in which three whites and eleven Indians were killed. Another small engagement took place on June 16 at Burr Oak Grove, where tlie company of Captain onyan was attacked by a jjarty of about seventy braves. While this was a fiercely contested com- bat, the Indians were repulsed with a loss of but three white men and the loss of the enemy not known. There were also three killed and two wounded in a skirmish near Prairie Grove on June 17. The battle of Kellogg"s Grove, where Polo is now located, occurred on June So. 1832. Major John Dement, father of Henry 1). Dement, e.xsecretarv of state, had been ordered by Colonel Zachary Taylor to defend tnis post at all hazards. Hearinor that a large force of the Indians, commanded by Black Hawk in person, was in close proximity to their camp, he sent a scjuad of about fifty men to recoanoiter. As they came in sight of tlie enemy they at once made a dash, and Black Hawk, with his accustomed cunuingncss, allowed them to proceed until they were well advanced into the ambush, where they received the reserved volleys of the concealed savages. Major Dement, seeing and realizing their danger, tried to recall them, but could not make them hear in season to prevent the collision. The troops, upon receivinsr this une.\pected reception, broive and ran, ]>ursued by the Indians. All that saved an ignominious defeat to the regulars was the brave and heroic action of Major Dement, who repeatedly rallied his men, exposinghimself to the greatest danger, but after a series of maneuvering he succeeded in withdrawing his men back into the stockades. The braves followed up the attack, but without any particular result except the killing of lorty-soven horses that had ...i-u left oiiimu,- the inclosiirc. The loss in this encounter was four whites killed and two wounded, and the Indians were reported to have lost sixteen. As before stated the Indians had left their families at Lake Koshkonong, and General Atkinson, supposing ii.at the braves made that their headquarters, started from Dixon June 27 with his main army, numbering about 2()00. They crossed the state line into Wisconsin June 30 near where Beloit now stands. On reaching the outlet of the lake, on the second of July, they found no Indians. Two days after the arrival of .Mkinson's army at the lake (general Henry came with his forces, and on the sixth of July (ieneral Posey's brigade, accompanied by Dodge's command. Here they all were in this desolate land of swamp and lakes, but no Indians were there to either welcome or repel them. In Dodge's command there were some Winnebagos, who pretended to be friendlv with the whites, but probably intended to lead them into ambush, where they could wreak their vengeance upon them. One of the chiefs olfercd to pilot the army to Black Hawk's camp, winch he said was on Bark river, a little stream that flows into KosliKonong from the east. Another ollered to guide General Atkinson to the secret hiding place of the Sacs, but he located it in a difTerent direction. While the soldiers were looking around, trying to find the Indians. Black Hawk left his hiding place, which was a hi^h bluff on the east side of Bock river, where he had expected Ut meet the whites, and fled. About this time Governor Reynolds, becomiuc: impatient at the seeming waste of time and strength, decided to leave tlie army and return to the walks of civil life. At tills time a new campaign was arranged. General AtKinson and the regulars \vent into a fortified camp on Bark river, a small stream which empties into Lake KosliKonong. not far from where the present town of Fort Atkinson now stands. A part of the army, under Alexander and Henry, were sent to Fort Winnebago for supplies. A small force under Colonel Ewing was sent back to Dixon, while General Posey, with what was left of his command, was sent to Fort Hamilton to guard the mining districts. The expedition sent to Fort Winnebago for supplies fell in with a halfbreed scout and fur trader, who gave to General Henry the exact location of Black Hawk's forces. Accordingly, he determined to return to General Atkinson, who still remained on Bark river, by this route, where the Sacs were said to be located. On making his intentions known to his men. also to the forces under General Alexander, there was a decided protest by a part of the militia, and General Alexander's soldiers refused to follow General Henry, but took the shortest route back with their supplies to General Atkinson. General Henry therefore, with about seven hundred and fifty men, with Chief Poquette and several Winnebagos for guides, set out for the hiding place of the Sacs. They arrived at the supposed place on July 15. but here asrain no warlike Indians were found. The Indians that remained in the village said the warriors had gone about a half day's march up the river to Cranberry I^ake. General Henry, not feeling justified in taKmg his men any further without permission, dispatched two adjutants to General .Atkinson for orders, ooon after starting on their journey to head(|uarters they discovered a fresh trail leading westward. This news being communicated to General Henry, and he becoming satisfied that the Indians had given up the struggle and started for the Mississippi, at once ordered his command to pursue and capture, if possible, the fleeing army. The soldiers, who had for weeks been chasing back and forth without any perceivable results, now were exultant with joy. Cheer upon cheer rent the air and echoed and re-echoed over those virgin prairies and through the primeval groves as the troops started in pursuit of. as they thought, a vanquished foe. The energy displayed by the advancing troops has seldom if ever been excelled. They waded through swamps and in water sometimes up to their armpits. Wet, tired and hungry, they still kept up the chase. Sonic of the Winnebagos, becoming disheartened, deserted the rauKs of the Sacs and were picKed up by General Henry's men. They increased the zeal of the whites by telling them that the enemy was only a few miles ahead. Everything that would retard their prosrress was discarded, and on every hand were evidences of the hasty flight of the Indians. Camp kettles, blankets and disabled ponies, and, iu fact, everytliiug that would hinder their flight was thrown away. The troops pressed on through the site of Madison, now Wisconsin's capital, until, on the afternoon of July 31, the rear guard of the braves, under Neapope, was overtaken, and a running engagement took place. This was continued until the bluffs of the Wisconsin river were reached, where Neapope, with a small band of warriors, made a stand. In a short time Black Hawk, with a few more, joined liim - probably they both had about iifty men - their object being to stop the pursuit of the white soldiers and let the main force escape. Black Hawk, seated upon a white pony, directed the battle. The lighting was severe upon both sides. Finally the Sacs made a charge, which was repulsed uy the troops under Colonels Fry and James. The Indians then fell back into ambush, and kept up their firing until driven out at the point of the bayonet. Then the whites came upon a larger force of Indians, when another charge was made, the Indians fleeing to the place where the old men, women and children were crossing the river. This last charge of the whites ended the battle of Wisconsin Heights. The loss of the Indians has Ijeen variously estimated at from forty to sixty: the whites lost one killed and eight wounded. 'I'he night following the Indians placed the noncomljatants upon rafts and canoes and sent them down the Wisconsin river, hoping tliat they would be allowed to cross the Mississippi without further trouble. Fort Crawford was located so as to guard the mouth of the Wisconsin river, and was occupied by a body of regular soldiers. On hearing of the Indians' apparent intention, General Street, Indian agent at Prairie-du-Chien, sent Lieutenant Eitner with some regulars with orders to allow none to escape. The orders were carried out with a vengeance and cruelty almost unparalleled in the annals of history. They went forth to meet the fleeing savages, and, iipon sight, fired a volley which killed fifteen of their number, while thirty-two women and children and four braves were made prisoners and about fifty were drowned. What few were left fled to the forest and there most of them met death either by exposure and starvation or by the merciless hand of a baud of revengeful Menominees led by white officers. Such is the disgraceful story of that properly named nuissacre. To return to the army at Wisconsin Heights - where the soldiers slept on their arms the night following the victory and awoke to find the enemy had fled. When the fact of their escape became Icnown the army at once started to Join General Atkinson at Blue Mounds, which is located in Iowa county about thirty miles southwest of Madison. On July 28 all of the troops, both regulars and volunteers, met at Helena, an abandoned village on Wisconsin river, where they made use of the logs taken from the old cabins to fonn rafts, which safely took them to the opposite side. The sights that met their eves as thev followed the trail of the disheartened savages was sickening. Evidences of starvation and suffering were visible upon every hand; trees were stripped of their bark to satisf}' the terrible pangs of hunger; flesh was cut from the carcasses of dead annuals, and at intervals the bodies of dead Indians were found who actually died from starvation. Black Hawk reached the Mississippi in advance of the troops, at a point where a small stream known as Bad Axe empties into the Mississippi, about forty miles above the mouth of the Wisconsin river in what is now Vernon county. At this point Black Hawk expected to cross, but on account of the scarcity of canoes but little progress had been made when the transport AVarrior came down the river on a return trip from an expedition to wai-n the Sioux of the return of the Sacs. She had on board a few regulars, also a small nimiber of volunteers under the command of Lieutenants Holmes and Kingsbury. Black Hawk raised the white flag as a token of his subpiission and asked that a boat be sent ashore. The crew, fearing some treachery, replied that he must com.e (in board the transport. Black Hawk tried to explain to them that he had no canoe, therefore it was impossible. Not waiting to fully understand the situation, they discharged three murderous volleys of canister from the Warrior. The Indians returned the fire, and in the affray twentythree Indians and one white inan were killed. The steamer, after this reckless and wholly uncalled for slaughter, repaired to Prairie du Chieu for fuel. Black Hawk, realizing that further resistance was useless, during the night, in company with White Cloud, the Prophet, together with a small band of women and children, fled to the northeast, where he had been promised concealment by some of the Winnebagos.

On August 2 the division of the army under General Henry came upon tlie remaining Indians at the battlefield of Bad Axe and immediately made an attack. Atkinson soon after arrived with the main army and for a few hours the terrible scene of carnage and death were too barbarous to recite. The Indians, being weak and almost helpless from hunger and fatigue, were an easy prey to the desultory and brutal soldiers. No quarter was given - only revenge seemed to be in the hearts of the troops. They charged the Indians with bayonets, driving them into the tree tops and into the river to be drowned, while expert marksmen with unerring aim dispatched men, women and children indiscriminately. And to add to her former shame, the transport Warrior returned and again poured grape and canister into the ranks of the disheartened savages. Yet, during all this strife, matched against terrible odds, the braves stood with heroic fortitude, never flinching when a crisis overtook them, but with face to the foe they met danger and death witli a seemingly stolid indifference. In this uncalled for ensragement, twenty whites were killed anrl twelve were wounded. The Indian loss was about one hundred and fifty killed in battle and about an equal number drowned. Black Hawk hearing from his liiding place the firing of the troops and knowing the probable fate of his tribe, also feeling the pangs of remorse at having left thorn to their fate, came back to the .scene of slaughter in season to witness the last expiring struggle of his once powerful tribe. Viewing them for a time and becoming fearful of his own safety, he gave one long last whoop of despair, and a.s its sound floated out over the landscape and died away in the distance, he turned and fled again into the depths of the forest. The whites took some forty prisoners, mostly women, and in all about three hundred had succeeded in crossing the Mississippi, mostly non-combatants, all of them in a weak and half starved condition. They now thought they were safe, as they were on the land where they were first ordered to go, but in defiance of all principles of justice, General Atkinson, to say the least, allowed if he did not order a band of Siou.x under Wabasha to attack tlinin and nearly lialf of the remainder perislied in their hands. The remnant sought out Keokuk who refused to join Black Hawk and placed themselves under his protection.

On the 1.5th of August the volunteers were mustered out of the service at Dixon by General Winfiold Scntt, who had recently arrived with a force of regulars and liad taken command. His troops had passed tlimui^h a terrible scourge of cholera; about two hundred and fifty fell lieforc its ravages. The cost of the war in round numbers was about two millions of dollars. The campaign lasted about three months. The Indians crossed into Hlinois on May (5. 18.32. and the war terminated with the battle of Bad Axe on the second day of August, the same year. .\s before stated. Black Hawk fled, for protection, to the Winnebago nation, where he rema'ned xintil the United States authorities sent him word that if he would surrender liimself to General Street, the Indian agent at Prairie du Ghien, that ho would be immediately set free. He replied that he believed the offer to be an untrutli ; but for the sake of his starving wife and children, he would comply with the terms. Accordingly, on the 2rth day of .\ugust, 18.32, he was conducted to the garrison at Prairie du Ohien and surrendered to General Street, whereupon, it is stated, that he delivered the following speech :

"My warriors fell around me. It began to look dismal. T saw my evil day at hand. Tlie sun rose clear on us in the morn'ng; at night it sank in dark clouds and looked like a ball of fire. This was the last sun that shone on Black Hawk. He is now a pri.«oner to the white man. But he can stand the torture; he is not afraid of death. He is no coward. Black Hawk is an Tnd'an. No Indian need hliish with shame at ti>e history of his life. Black Hawk has only fought the battles of his country against the white man, who came year after year to rob us and take from us our lands, where rests tiie bones of our fathers. The white man knows the cause of this war. They are the ones who should droop and wither in shame. This is my message to the pale face. Black Hawk is satisfied. He will go to the world of spirits contented. He has done his duty, and the Great Spirit will meet and reward him. The white men do not scalp the heads, but they do worse; they po'son the hearts. Farewell to my nation! Farewell to Black Hawk."

On September 21, 1832, the final treaty of peace was signed. Accompanying Black Hawk as prisoners of war were his son Xeapope, Wishick and White Cloud the Prophet. The prisoners named were held as hostages for peaceable behavior of the still hostile Indians. They were taken to Washington, where they met President Jackson, to whom, according to reports. Black Hawk made this speech. "I am a man and you are another. We did not expect to conquer the white people. I took up the hatchet to revenge injuries, which could no longer be borne. Had I borne tlicni longer, my people would have said Black Hawk is a squaw; he is too old to be a chief. He is no Sac. This caused me to raise the war whoop. I say no more of it. All is known to yon. Keokuk once was here, you took him by the hand and when he wanted to return you sent him back to his nation. Black Hawk expects, that like K("okuk. lie will lie ])pnnitt(>il to return, too.'"

The President assured him that when he was satisfied that there would be no more trouble with his jieople they should return. They were held as prisoners at Fortress Monroe until June 4, 1833, when they were taken back to Fort Armstrong and released from captivity. On their way back they passed through many of the principal cities of the country and every where great crowds of people gathered to see them.

After being liberated he returned to his people on the Iowa River, where he remained until the reservation was sold in 1836, when he went to the Des ^loincs Reservation, where he died in 1838. at the advanced age of about eiglity years, and was buried in the Indian fashion in a sitting position with his face toward the rising sun; his gun, tomahawk and blankets being placed by his side for use in the happy hunting ground. Thus ended the life of the mighty chief and the great warrior of the Sacs.

Had not the state authorities listened to the appeals of a few law-breaking squatters and by so doing interfered with the policy of the general government it is altogether probable that the war would never have occurred, as the Sacs for a small compensation could have been peaceably and permanently removed beyond the Mississippi.

present boundaries of Bureau county by the Indians during the Black Hawk War. The many dijTerent accounts of this cold blooded tragedy vary somewhat in detail, but the essential facts are narrated about the same. We have tried to gather the real facts in the case and we believe that we have come as near the truth as possible at this distance in years from that early time. Mr. Phillip and John Ament held claims adjoining each other on the east side of Bureau Creek on section 13 in Dover township, a few rods from the present home of Matthew Taylor. Upon these claims they had erected cabins and were occupying them when notified by Shabbona that Black Hawk's bands were roving through the country destroying property and killing and scalping the settlers. On hearing this and knowing of the Indian Creek massacre they at once fled with their families to the forts on the Illinois River, leaving their household goods in their abandoned cabins. Near the claims of Ament and Phillip were those of a Mr. Hodge, fathor-in-law of Mr. Ament. Mr. Forestal, Sylvester Brighani, Ziba Dimmock and Aaron Gunn. Soon after they left their cabins troops began to collect at La Salle and vicinity and at that time about five thousand mounted men were mobilizing at La Salle. In view of this fact it was thought to be safe for some of the men to return to the settlement and look after the things they had left in their cabins. Accordingly the above named party started on June 16 (some accounts say 17) for their claims. They arrived at Ament's cabin about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. They spent the rest of the day in various ways. Some of the party visited their own claims which were nearby ; others gathered wild fruit and assisted Ament in his work of caring for his belongings. The whole party felt that they were perfectly safe and retired for the night wholly unconscious of approaching danger. They lay for a long time discussing the great possibilities of this then new counti'v and went so far into the future in their imagination that some of the party even saw the possibility of the open prairie being settled; others said no, but possibly it might be used for grazing purposes. As they lay discussing the past and s)icculating in regard to the future they were startled by a shrill whistle which was answered by a like whistle in another direction. While they were somewhat disturbed over the matter they finally accepted the supposed knowledge of one of their party who knew of the bird of night in those primeval woods that had this same shrill sound in his night song. So at last they soundly slept. But, alas, the morning i-cvealed to them the source of the sound that startled them in the night. Mr. Phillip arose at daylight and started to go to his cabin, but he had gone only a few feet when the crack of a rifle was heard and Phillip lay prostrate upon 1he ground in the agonies of death. Brigham was the first to realize the situation when he, looking out, said : "Boys, here are more than fifty Indians." The door of the cabin was in a dilapidated condition, but Brigham and Gunn placed it in position as best they could and stood with guns in hand prepared to sell their lives as dearly as possible. The Indians, seeing that they stood ready to defend themselves turned back into the hazel brush and hid from sight. The party held a consultation, some wishing to do one thing and some another, but meanwhile they removed the mortar from the chinks between the logs so as to be alile to use their guns in case of an attack. Dimmock, a young lad of only fifteen years, was anxious to start out and run for his life, but they would not allow him to go, as they felt it was sure death for any one to expose himself outside the cabin. But after deliberating for a time it was agreed that if he could call one of the horses up to the cabin he might mount it and ride to Hennepin and notify the people at the fort and secure help. Accordingly he with the help of an ear of corn called the pony to the door and placing the bridle upon him and springing upon his back, started on his perilous journey. Those remaining in the cabin anxiously watched him in his flight until he was lost in the distance, then turned their attention to making their refuge more secure. Young Dimmock urged his horse to his utmost speed until he reached Hennepin, when he spread the news of Phillip's assassination and immediately about seventy men started to the rescue of the imprisoned party. They reached the scene of the tragedy, which was about twenty-five rods east of where the house of Matthew Taylor now stands, neat 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the same day. They found the body of Phillip where he fell, pierced by two bullets and also mutilated by the tomahawk, but was not scalped. The rescuing party made an extended search for the savages, but none could be found and from the appearance of their camp, which was near by, it is probable that they left soon after the shooting of Phillip. The body of Phillip was taken to Hennepin for burial. His grave was the first one dug in the cemetery at Hennepin. Mr. Aaron Gunn, one of the rescued party, suffered so from fright that his hair became white in a short time. Phillip's claim extended across Bureau Creek and contained a good mill site and he was making preparations to build a dam across the creek and erect a mill for sawing timber. The Indians were much opposed to the settlers building dams or in any way interfering with the waterways, as they thought it prevented the fish from going up stream, and they regarded fishing and hunting as their natural right, and any one who interfered with that right was considered as an enemy. In view of this fact it was the opinion of some of the early settlers that Phillip was the only man the Indians were lying in wait for, as, according to the testimony of Mr. John Ament, one of the party, the Indians came within five feet of the door and could have killed the entire party had they desired to do so, but they passed by and disappeared, seemingly satisfied with their atrocious work. The Indians numbered about forty and from the appearance of their camp they had probably been there some little time waiting for the return of the settlers, and after they had wreaked their vengeance they fled back into the swamps of the north. Such scenes as are here narrated are some of the penalties of progress. The poet says :

So in the grand march of civilization, hardships, privations, solitude and even death must go before the ever onward stride of advancement as it blazes the way to that better and higher state of human society whose pedestal nf hope and prosperity rest upon the sufferings of the past.

The name of this chief we find spelled in several different ways, but have chosen the above, as it seems to be more nearly Anglicized than any other. Shabbona has ever been justly considered the white man's friend, yet his tribe, many of them at least, felt that they had been wronged by the pale faces, but before discu.-ising his attitude toward the settlers we wish to narrate some of the circumstances that led up to his final derision. As stated, at the approach of General Whiteside, Black Hawk passed up Rock River only a few days in advance of the troops. At Dixon he was invited by Mr. Di.xon to dine with him and he accepted the invitation. We have the authority of a daughter of Jlr. Dixon, who was there at the time for the statements here made. The old chief was much pleased that Mrs. Dixon sat at the table and ate her dinner with him and her husband. Mr. Dixon bad lived among the Pottowattomies so long that he spoke their language readily. Black Hawk talked very freely about the situation and how liis people had suffered during the previous winter, after being driven from Sankenuk and also of his reasons for coming back to Illinois, and said he was going up the river to rent land from the Pottawattomies and Winnebagos; but after the assault made by Stillman's men upon the three braves bearing a flag of truce and their subsequent flight. Black Hawk became exasperated at the conduct of the soldiers and unduly elated over the fact that a few of his tribe had so successfully dispersed the rangers. Knowing there was an under-current among the Pottawattomies that was anxious to avenge some supposed wrong they had received. Black Hawk sent runners to every one of their villages urging them to attend a war dance that was to be held near Shabbona's camp which was then at Paw Paw

Grove near the head of Indian Creek - ^then in La Salle county, now in De Kalb. Here Black Hawk, mounted upon his favorite pony, dressed it is said in the red coat and epaulets of a colonel of British cavalry, with a huge sword hanging by his side, came rushing into the presence of Shabbona, followed by his under chiefs and his entire army expecting by such a display to at once excite the Pottawattomies into a war fever so that they would Join with them in the dance and then become an ally in the crusade against the whites. As they approached the lodge of Shabbona they placed the war-post in the ground ready for the dance. But to Black Hawk's great disappointment Shabbona showed no interest in the pow-wow that followed, but surrounded by his chiefs sat silent and indifferent and the young Pottawattomies seemed to act as if they were being held in check by some unknown influence and but few joined in the dance, which was soon discontinued. Black Hawk, seeing his failure, tried his matchless eloquence upon Shabbona. He possessed by nature a wonderful magnetism in speech; his voice was smooth and melodious and he had the art of modulation to such an extent that it seemed almost classical. He commenced by thanking the Great Spirit for giving him power to vanquish his white enemies under Major Stillman. saying that Stillman's army fled before his men like deer before a pack of wolves. Then rehearsing the grievances he and his tribe had received from the whites, closing his speech. After making a strenuous personal appeal to Shabbona to join him as follows: "Shabbona, if you will permit your young men to unite with mine, I will have an army like the trees in the forest and will drive the pale faces like autumn leaves before an angry wind." "Aye," Shabbona replied, laying his hand down heavily upon Black Hawk's shoulder, "but the pale faces will soon bring an army whose numbers are like the leaves on the trees and sweep you and your army into the great ocean beneath the setting sun." Shabbona at that time was not only chief of the Pottawattomies, but was also at the head of the Ottawas and Chippewas. He had seen enough of the whites to realize that the red men of the forest were no match for them. In view of this fact Black Hawk's eloquence had no effect upon him and he emphatically said: "No, neither I nor my tribe will make war upon the paleface." Shabbona had fought with Tecumseh and was second in command when that noted chief fell and he then made a vow to the Great Spirit that if he spared his life that he would never again go to war against the palefaces, and this vow he sacredly kept. His attitude in this regard was not pleasing to the younger chiefs and braves of his tribe and he was soon superseded by Wauponsee as the war chief of the Pottawattomies. Although Wauponsee had a noted record as a warrior hr stoo<l by Shabbona in his decision in regard to joining

Black Hawk, for he, too, had seen the courage and felt the cold steel of the white man upon more than one battledeld. Notwithstanding Shabbona had successfully prevented his people, as a tribe, from joining the Sacs, he knew that there was an element of discontent and revenge lurking in the hearts of some of his followers that was liable to be fanned into a flame of vengeance, and for fear that some of these dissatisfied ones might form into bands or join with the Sacs and commit some atrocities upon the defenseless settlers, he determined to go personally and warn the dwellers who were scattered along the groves and besides the rivers extending from Bureau Creek on the west to the Du Page on the east, a distance of nearly one hundred miles. After doing all that he could to dissuade Black Hawk from allowing innocent women and children to be tortured and murdered by his men, he with his son Pyps, or Pepper, taking their lives in their hands, started out on their perilous journey. He was unknown to most of the whites, besides he could neither speak nor understand their language. All he could do was to talk by signs. This w'as not his only source of trouble and danger, for Black Hawk when he positively refused to become his ally withdrew from his war dance, became his deadly enemy, and sent fleet-footed spies to follow his every action. Not only that, but he sent out oily-tongued orators to all of the villages of the Pottawattomies to inflame their minds against the settlers. Shabbona ilid not even know how his own people felt in regard to the war, so intent was his mind upon the safety of the pioneers. In his thoughts by day and in his dreams by night he saw on the one hand peaceful homes and happy families with innocent children prattling around the door of the settler's cabin. On the other he heard the war 'whoop of the savage, the shrieks of the defenseless women and children, and saw the tomahawk and scalping knife raised above the heads of those who were vainly pleading for mercy. Becoming more and more distracted by the thoughts of the probable desolation and death that would follow the trail of the enraged Sacs, Shabbona silently stole away from the war dance and determined if possible to notify every settlement between Bureau Creek and Du Page or Princeton and Plainfield. Mounting his favorite pony he ])assed quietly alouir until he was bevond sight and hearing: of the Indian camp when he urged his pony to its utmost speed, going here and there and everywhere that a settlement had been started, warning them to flee to the forts as the Indians were on the warpath. Some of the settlers did not heed his warning and perished at the hands of the savages. Nothing daunted, he still kept on in his zig-zag course from settlement to settlement until his pony gave out and dropped dead beneath him. Hastily taking off the saddle and bridle, he started onward on foot to the house of a friend, George Hollenbeek, where he obtained a swift horse and continued on his errand ; he had now been thirtj hours in the saddle without sleep or rest. On his way he visited the scene of the Indian Creek massacre where he met .Mr. Davis and urged him by signs - as he could not speak English - to take his family and go to the forts, but was driven away without ceremony, but so great was his desire to save the shedding of blood that he returned and again urged them to leave for a place of safety, but to no purpose. Shabbona"s son was equally active in saving the settlers, they dividing their route. No nobler type of manhood has ever been chronicled upon the pages of history. He went at the peril of his life, not knowing even how his tribe would treat his efforts to save desolation and death. Yet his great heart beat in defiance of all and firmly relying upon the Great Spirit he fearlessly rode over marshy swamps, forded swollen streams and passed through tangled jungles. On, on, he rode under the blazing noonday sun and in the blackness of night - without food or shelter until his task was done, when he quietly retired to the home of his kindred and family on the undulating prairie where Plainfield now stands. We only regret that space will not allow us to give a more extended account of this remarkable man, for his history is both interesting and inspiring, but we can only devote a few lines more in tracing his career to its final closing. Shabbona was born among the Ottawas in Canada in 1775. About the year 1800 when he was twentyfive he came on an extended hunting expedition, which led him into the Pottawattomie country. The chief of the Pottawattomies was so impressed with this young brave of the Ottawas, that he and his wife gave their consent to his marriage with their daughter "Wiomex Okono." This marriage ceremony was performed with great pomp at her home in Chicago. Although Shabbona kept his vow to the Great Spirit that he would never more go on the war-path, and in consequence of this he ceased to be war chief of his adopted tribe, yet he was advanced to a more influential position, that of head-man or peace chief of the confederated tribes of the Pottawattomies, Ottawas and Chippewas, and for twenty years, ranging from 1812 to 1832, was the influential Indian of the three nations. But, strange and cruel as it may seem, the facts of his subsequent history show that for his noble deeds and personal sacrifices he was ostracised by his own nation and race and later was robbed by the whites of what had been ceded to him by the Government and he was left for years a wanderer in the states of Illinois, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri without home or interested friends or any means of support. He called Shabbona Grove in De Kalb county his home until 18.36, when his nation was moved across the Mississippi. The Government had by the treaty of 1829 ceded two sections of land to Shabbona near Paw Paw Grove, but when he went temporarily to Iowa to help locate his tribe there were some greedy settlers who coveted this land, ceded to Shabbona, who said to the agents of the Government: '"Shabbona has gone and left this land ; now let the Government dispose of if Consequent] V it was sold and Shabbona, the friend of the palefaces became a penniless wanderer. From IS.Jl to 1857 Shabbona spent most of his time traveling. During this time he visited the settlers in northern Illinois frequently. Many of them knew him personally. His last visit to Princeton was in 1857, when he called on many of the old settlers and seemed pleased at being able to again have the privilege of talking over the scenes that occurred a quarter of a century before. He was everywhere kindly received and his heart, that had not grown old with his body, kindled into a new flame the love of his earlier years. In the spring of 1857 a subscription paper was started and five hundred dollars was soon subscribed for the benefit of the old chief. Mr. Lucien P. Sanger, of Ottawa, was one of the active promoters of the enterprise and he, after consulting Shabbona, purchased twenty acres of timber land lying on the south l):ink of the Illinois river in Grundy counts'. Knowing that an Indian could not hold title to land in foe simple Mr. Sanger caused the title to be given in trust to the judge of the circuit court of I-a Salle county for the following uses and pur])oses, to-wit: "This grant to be held in trust for the use and benefit of Shabbona, Indian chief of the Pottawattomies, and his heirs forever, the use. rents and profits thereof to be enjoyed by the said Shabbona and his heirs exclusively."" The ladies of Ottawa took upon them.selves the responsibility of building a house upon the land deeded for Shabbona"s benefit. On the fourth of July, 1857, a celebration was held in Ottawa and in the evening a grand ball was given for the ]>urpose of raising funds for the building of the house. That with the voluntary contributions gave sufficient means to erect a house sixteen by twenty-four feet and one and onehalf stories high. But Shabbona and his wife. Wiome.x Okono, never occupied it, preferring to live, as their fathers had done, in a tepee in a small ravine nearby. Shabbona had become old and feeble and life was hanging by a brittle thread, and he was waiting, waiting for the Great Spirit to Bummon him to the land of his fathers. Accordingly on the 17th day of July, 1850, Shabbona, the once mighty chief, passed into the groat beyond at the advanced age of eighty-four. Ho was buried upon a lot given by the ^lorris Cemetery- Association, located about two miles east of Morris. His wife and three of his daughters attended his funeral as mourners. November 30. 1864, Wiome.x Okono, or Conoke. the widow of Shabbona, was drowned while crossing Mazon Creek about three miles southeast of Morris. She is supposed to have either fallen out or to have been thrown out of her little democrat wagon, as she was found with her little granddaughter clasped in her arms, both dead, having been drowned in about si.x inches of water. In the later years of her life she had grown to an enormous size, weighing over four hundred pounds, and rode to town in a large chair placed in the wagon. From this chair she is supposed to have fallen and probably fell upon the little child, crushing it beneath her great weight. They were buried by the side of Shabbona, where a few years ago. a huge boulder, proper carved, was placed as a monument to their memorv.

John Bowen

In the spring of 1849 a negro, calling himself John Bowon, who had escaped from his master in St. Louis, arrived in Princeton. Bowen was a fine looking, well-built young man and was willing to work. He was handy with tools and, in fact, was an all-around hand and found ready employment among the citizens of Princeton. He was fairly intelligent and quite a regular attendant at Lovejoy's meetings. Mr. 'SI. J. Keith, of Dover, from whom the writer obtained the facts for this skoich, tolls us he became quite well acquainted with Bowcn and, as he was a good talker, obtained mucli information in regard to the condition of the slaves in Missouri. He was not a full blood, but had quite a dark skin. Things moved along ])leasantly with Bowen until one Sunday the ])eoplo were somewhat startled to see one of the white ladies of the town taking a pleasure ride with this young mulatto, but John kept on in the oven tenor of his ways until the morning of .July ."x when he started in to cut the grass in the field about east of the Barnes place on the Dover road. John was hap|>y ho had escaped the degradation and shackles of slavery and now stood out before I lie world as one of its factors. He was leveling the tall grass with his sturdy stroke humming one of the old plantation aii's. Avhon suddenly from a concealed place two men armed with bowie laiives and revolvers sprang upon him, throwing him to the ground : then with a small rope bound his hands togetlier and fastened the ends of the rope about their own bodies. In this way they intended to take John to Hennepin and there down the river to St. Louis. But other eyes had been looking on the scene. Mr. Hinsdale Phelps, who lived nearby seeing the situation that John was in. immediately started across the field to Lovejoy's residence. Mr. Lovejoy with his usual speed and determination was soon at the office of Judson Waldo, a justice of the peace, and swore out a warrant for all three, the negro and his captors, for riot and put it in the hands of J. Y. Thompson, sheriff, wlio served it at once and took them before Justice Waldo in the court house. Lovejoy, Levi North and C. L. Kelsey defended the negro and Milo Kendall was called to defend the alleged owners of John. .Vfter the trial com- menced Mr. North moved that the prisoner be released, as the men who held him captive were on trial themselves for disturbing the peace. This motion was being argued by the attorneys when one Tallet, who kept a low-down tavern in a building where Delano's store now stands, came into the court room and stated that he had authority to take the prisoner Ijefore another Justice for trial. Sheriff Thompson ordered him to leave the room. Tallet refused to go and the sherilf stepped toward him, revolver in hand. As the sheriff started toward Tallet the whole crowd in the court room raised up and confusion was everywhere present, but amid it all several persons kept their heads and gave their attention to freeing the negro. M. J. Keith started for John's rescue at the same time Lovejoy, James H. Scaverns and Oliver Jaynes placed themselves beside the negro. Seaverns and Keith clutched the rope that bound the prisoner and pulled for dear life, while Lovejoy caught Bowen, who claimed he owned John, by the hair and crowded him back away from the others, while Oliver Jaynes cut the rope between the hand of Keith and Bowen and then cut the rope that fastened him to the other man. Keith and Seaverns then untangled the rope from John and an opening was made in the crowd and John darted out a free man, and Eev. Lovejoy without hat or coat followed closely hallooing at the top of his voice : "Go it, John ! Go it. John !" and John went and not one of the crowd knew where but they did know that Mr. Bowen, the man who claimed to own John, went back to St. Louis without his man. Those men who so heroically released this colored man have, with the exception of M. J. Keith, passed to the other shore, but the remembrance of their good deeds remains on the tablets of time.