Fulton County, Illinois - Chapter 1: Early Settlement, 1879

Tlie MUitary Tract. - At tlie close of the war betAvocn the United States and England in 1812 onr Government laid off a tract of lan<l in Illinois for the soldiers who ])artiei])ate(l in that war. The land thns a])propriated was enil,)raced in the region between the Mississippi and the Illinois rivers, and extended as far northward as the north line of Bnreaii and Henry connties. To it the name " Militarv Tract" was given, and by that name this section is still known. Within this boundary is embraced one of the most fertile regions of the globe. Scarcely had Congress made the proper provisions to enable the soldiers to secure their land ere a few of the most daring and resolute started to j)ossess it. There were only a few, however, who at first regarded their '^'quarter-section" of sufficient value to induce them to endure the hardships of the pioneer in its settlement and improvement. Many of them sold their patent to a fine ''prairie quarter" in this county for one hundred dollars, others for less, while some traded theirs for a horse, a cow, or a watch, regarding themselves as just so much ahead. This was a source of no little trouble to the actual settlers, as shown further on in this volume, for they could not always tell which quarter of land belonged to a soldier, or which was "Congress land" and could be pre-empted. Even when a settler found a suitable location knoMU to be " patent land," with a desire to ])urchase, he experienced great difficulty in finding the owner, and often did not find him until he had put hundreds of dollars' wcn-th of improvements on it, when the patentee was sure to turn up.

Fulton County. - The largest <if the counties contained in the Militarv Tract is Fulton county, the history of which we now begin to write, and which we shall seek to make as detailed and accurate as accessible data will permit. That some errors will occur in names and dates, and some statements, cannot be denied, but studious (vare will be taken to avoid as many sii(3h inaccuracies as possible. The face of the conntiy of this county, save that portion bordering on Illinois river, is mostly rich, rolling prairie, watered by Spoon river, Coj)peras, Otter, Cedar, Buckheart, Big, Putjnan and Coal creeks, with their numerous and small tributaries, along which are extensive bodies of timber. The farmers have planted artificial groves extensively over the ])rairie, which has had the effect of ameliorating the climate, by kee])ing the winds of an open country from the surface of the earth. By the energy and enterprise of the citizens of this county it has been transformed from the native wilderness into one of the most attractive portions of the State, if not of the West. It is claimed that there is no spot on the face of the earth capal)lc of sustaining a denser population than the Military Tract; and those familiar with this beautiful portion of our State know that Fulton county is not excelled by any other within its boundary. That this county contains as intelligent, enterjn'ising and thrifty agriculturists as probably can be found elsewhere in the same breadth of territory in the Ignited States, few will deny. Fine barns, with all the modern improvements, comfortable dwellings, lawns, gardens, out-houses, etc., are to be found on every hand ; towns and cities have sprung up as if by magic, and every knoll is graced by a church edifice or school building.

The natural resources of Fulton county, as above alluded to, for agricultural and manufacturing purposes, and marketing, give to the farmers and manufacturers of the county su])erior advantages. The agricultural interests of the county are well advanced. Indeed, it mav be said that Fulton is the great a<i:ricultural countv of Illinois. There is a larger nund)er of people living upon the farms of this county than reside in the rural districts of any other county of this great State. While there are a number of counties having a larger pojndation than Me have in Fulton county, yet all of those have within their boundaries large cities. Outside of the cities there is a greater population in Fulton than in any other county in the Prairie State. The soil is mostly rich ])rairie loam, and has great productive <pialities. It is mostly divided into farms of medium size, from 80 to o'H) acres ; but few large farms are to be found. The benefit of this is apparent by the increased population and a l)etter cultivation. The staple crops of cereals are corn, wheat and oats, which generally yield abundantly. This is the condition of Fulton ecninty at present. How ditt'erent when John Eveland with his family located within its borders ! Then these prairies were a vast wilderness covered with a i-ank growth of prairie grass, and much of the land now under a high state of cultivation was covered with heavy forests. At that time the native red men roamed unmolested over the flowery ])rairies and through dark forests.

Before proceeding further in detailing the immediate history of the county we desire to mention a few important facts relative to the ante-pion(>er history of this section of the State. In 1673 the great

French explorers, Marquette and Joliet, passed up the Illinois in canoes on their return from their famous voyage down the Mississippi. In 1680, January 3, LaSalle, with his little band of Frenchmen, came down the Illinois river and landed upon the' opj)osite shore and erected a fort, - Fort Crevecteur. This fort was sotni evacuated and destroyed, yet the enterprising Frenchmen continued among the Indians as traders. In 1778 the French made another settlement, at the upper end of Peoria lake. The country in the vicinity of this lake was called by the Indians Piin-i-fc-iri, that is, a ])lace where there are many fat beasts. Here the town of Laville de Meillet, named after its founder, was started. Within the next twenty years, however, the town was moved down to the lower end of the lake to the j)resent site of Peoria. In 1812 the town was destroyed and the inhabitants carried away by Cai)tain Craig. In 1813 Fort Clark was erected tliere by Illinois trooj)s engaged in the war of 1812. Five years later it was destroyed by fire.

Year after year rolled by until almost a century and a half had passed since LaSalle stepped ashore from his skifl', before the aV)()rigines who occupied the territory eml)raccd ^vithin the present l)oun(larv of Fulton county were molested by the encroachments of the whit(> man. Generation after generation of natives a})peared upon the wild scenes of savage life, roamed the forest and prairie, an<l glided over the beautiful, placid Illinois and Spoon rivers in tiieii' log and bark canoes, and passed away. Still the advance of civilization, the steady westward tread of the Anglo-Saxon, disturbed them not. The buffalo, deer, bear, and wolf roamed the ])rairie and woodland, tlie Indian tlicir only enemy. But nature had destined better things for this fertile region. She had been too lavisii in the distribution of natural advantages to leave it longer in the |)eaeeable possession of those who had for centuries refused to devehip, even in the slightest degree, any of her great resources. She accordingly directed hitherward the footsteps of the industrious, enter})rising pioneer; and so fertile was the soil, and so beautiful the flowers, so sparkling were the streams and shady the groves that, in advance of all the surrounding country, the pioneers sought and settled the timber land and prairie of Fulton county.

The thrilling scenes through which the [)ioneer settlers passed in the settlement of this portion of Illinois must ever awaken emotions of warmest regard for them. To pave the way for those who followed after them, to make their settlement in the West a pleasure, they bore the Hood-tide wave of civilization ; they endured all, suffered all. But few of these spirits now survive ; they have passed away full of years and honors, leaving their children, and children's children and strangers to succeed them and enjoy the fruits of the toil, privations and savings of their long and eventful lives.

Too great honor cannot be accorded them, and we regret that we have not the data to speak more fully and definitely of them, their ])ersf)nal experiences, their lives and their characters.

Dr. Davison, the Hermit. - Undoubtedly the first white man to make his home within the present boundaries of Fulton county was Dr. W. T. Davison. The time of his settlement here is not known, but was at a very early date. We do not know positively that his name was W. T., but from all we can learn, those must have been his , initials. There was a "W. T." Davison who served on the first ffrand inrv ever chosen in the countv, and as we can find no record of another Davison living in the county at that time (1823), we must conclude that this grand juror was the eccentric Dr. Davison. He was leading the life of a hermit on the south bank of Spoon river near the present town of Waterford when first visited by John Eveland, whom we may justly call the first legitimate settler of Fulton county. He thus continued to live for a few years here, absolutely refusino: to have anvthin*): to do with his neiohbors. A sketch of this most singular individual from the lips of the late Mrs. O. M. Ross has been jilaced on record, which we give below, knowing that from no other source could a more correct or complete account of him be obtained.

Mrs. Ross has said, at the time of the birth of Abner E. Barnes, Mrs. Barnes being very sick, they sent fi)r Dr. Davison, he being the only physician within hundreds of miles. He sent back word that he would not go for the whole "Military Tract." Then Mrs. Ross and ^Irs. Eveland were sent for him, and l)v hard })ersuadino; thev induced him to make the visit, which thev thought saved the life of Mrs. Barnes. Mrs. Ross says he lived in a very small cabin, but all within was neat ; and from the appearance of things, such as fine bed-clothing, his own clothing having been the best and fashionably made and himself an educated man, he had once seen the bright side of life; but from what they could gather from the few remarks he had dropped, he had been disappointed by the lady he had expected to make his partner for life, which so depressed him and made him lose all confidence in the human family that he resolved to push westward so far that he would have no more associations with civilized man. Mrs. Ross also says that, from the clearing of his garden, the advancement of his bushes and shrubbery he had set out, his fiowers, etc., all convinced her that he had been living there for years, which undoubtedly makes Dr. Davison the first settler of Fulton county. In 1823, when Ossian M. Ross ran against William P]ads for Sheriif, the excitement was high, as it was a selection either from Le wisto wn or Peoria ; and as there were less than thirty voters, every vote told perceptibly in the result. In this excitement Dr. Davison was persuaded to go to Lewistown and deposit his first and only vote. He at that day took dinner with Mr. Ross, and remarked at the table how strange it was to eat a meal of victuals with his fellow men, which was something he had not done for many years. He pnrchasetl the walnut boards which were sawed in the short-lived saw-mill on Otter Creek in 1818, for his own coffin. He was very much annoyed by the encroachment of civilization, and about the year 1824 he (juietly gathered his few effects, with the material for his coffin, and })addled his canoe up the Illinois river, since which time his old neighbors have not heard from him.

The late Dr. Reuben R. McDowell thought Dr. Davison to be an uncle of his wife's (of which there is no doul)t), and made extended inquiries into the history of his life ; but as the doctor has left no record of his research we can only obtain such information on this point as a few of the old settlers obtained from him. He came from Pennsylvania to this far western country, hoping, like the red men around him, never to be disturbed by the encroachment of the whites, or civilization. It is told by some that through the disappointment he met with by the young lady- whom he loved he lost confidence in the human family, and desired to have no more intercourse with any one. Another tradition is left to us as a reason for his adopting the life of a hermit, which is this : He joined the I'egular army and was sent into the Southern States. Being insulted while an officer of rank he challenged the officer who offended him to fight a duel. The affair of honor was fought, and the doctor killed his opponent. Through remorse, as mnch as the fear of the law, he sought the wilderness of the banks of S}X)on river. We are also told that instead of having purchased lumber for his coffin he made one by digging it out of a log. Hon. L. W. Ross, of Lewistown, and Henry Andrews, of Canton, remember seeing Davison, and say he was a finelooking man. He left in 1824 and went to Starved Rock, on the Illinois river near Peru, Avhere he died. He kept a journal, which was sent back to two sisters he had in Pennsylvania. This is all, after a careful research, that we are able to learn of Dr. W. T. Davison.

John Ei'dand, the first actual settler, came with his family to what is now Fulton county in the spring of 1820. He landed half a mile north of the present town of Waterford, on the southeast quarter of section 10, Waterford township. He was from Kentucky, and came into Calhoun county. 111., where he had a brother living, a few years prior to his coming here. He was of the same type of Kentuckian as the famous explorer, Daniel Boone. He brought with him a large family, ])erhaps ten or twelve children. Among his children were John, Henry, Mace, William and Amos, the latter of whom but recently died in the old neighborhood. He lived on Spoon river but a few years when he moved to Buckheart township, where he soon died, and where his widow also died. There is now no building where he first settled. Mr. Eveland was a finely formed, square-built man, of l)ut little education, quiet and hospitable. He became a prominent man in the early history of Fulton county. He was appointed its first Treasurer, but declined the office. When he arrived in the county lie found besides Mr. Davison a man by the name of Statler. This individual was livino: in a rude boat floating on the bosom of Spoon river about where Waterford is now situated. He shortly afterwards left the country, and nothing more is known of him. At this time, it must be remembered, this county was a part of Pike eonnty, but it did not long so remain.

A saw-mill was erected by a St. Lonis tirm, Craig ct Savage, on Otter creek, in Kcrton township, in 181<S. This tirm had sawed a a part of their first log when a sudden rise in the stream carried their mill away, and the site was abandoned. This ])erha})S was the iirst enterprise undertaken in the Military Tract.

in his new home on the banks of Spoon river ere Ossian M. Ross and-family came in to be his neighbors, and t<» wield a greater influence in molding and forming the history of the county perhaps than anv other family that ever resided in it. Ossian M. Ross was b<n'n in \ew York State Aug. 10, 1790, and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Winans in Waterloo, X. Y., Jnly 7, 1811. Mrs. Ross was horn A))ril 1, 179o, in Morris county, X. J. Mr. Ross was a soldier in the war of 1812, and came to this section to secure the land triven him bv Government for services rendered as a soldier. In 1820 Mr. Ross with his family came to Alton, 111., and in the spring of the following year (1821), with his family and a few men employed by him to make improvements, sailed up the Illinois river to Otter creek in a keel-boat. It was his intention to locate upon the southeast (piarter of section 29, Isabel townshij). He with three companions came up from Alton the year previous (1820), explored this country, and selected this place because there was a good mill-seat there. It was his intention to erect a water-mill on this stream at that point; Init after traveling up Otter creek for some distance in their cumbersome keel-boat thev came to a large tree fallen across the stream, which made a barrier that could not be passed over or around. These sturdy pioneers, hoM'ever, were not easily turned from their course. They made preparations to saw the log into pieces and remove it. This scheme was frustrated, however, and the whole course of Mr. Ross' plans changed. A heavy rain fell during the night, and in the morning the log they intended sawing was six to eight inches under water and therefore out of reach of workmen. He ran his boat stern foremost back down Otter creek to the Illinois, ^uid up that stream to Spoon river. He entered this stream and started up its swift swollen waters for Mr. Eveland's, intending to go on to where he owned three quartersections of land. They experienced the greatest ditiiculty in ascending this turbulent stream, made so by recent heavy rains. It consumed several days of constant hard labor to reach Eveland's. At ])laces men were put upon the bank and with ropes dragged the boat along. This Mas slow motive power and known as cordelling. Then they wf)uld get liold of the overhanging limbs of trees and pull the boat along in that way. They finally reached Eveland's, in whose cabin the party was welcomed. There they remained until his teams and stock arrived. These were brought across the country. Mr. Ross with his teams then started for his own land, where Lewistown now is. j\Ien were sent ahead to cut down trees and clear a road. On arriving at the end of the journey Mr. Ross iubilantlv exclaimed to his familv, "We are now on our own land." His daughter, Mrs. Steel, of Canton, who was then a little girl, quickly spoke up, "Why, pa, have we come all this distance just for this?" Xothing but a vast wilderness was s])read out before them and the little girl expected to find something wonderfully fine, else they would not have endured all the hardships that had befallen them on their long journey. There have been many hearts made sad by the disappointment received on their arrival into this county (hiring its first settlement when, after traveling for weeks through an almost unbroken country, the husband and father would stop his jaded team under the boughs of a large tree many miles from the nearest white inhabitant and say, " Our journey's end is readied. This is our home. Alight." Surely, as it did to little JNIiss Ross, it must have seemed to the wife and little ones that they had come a long way to make their home in the wilderness among the wild beasts.

In twenty-four hours after arrival Mr. Ross had a shelter made for his family. It consisted of poles set in the ground tent fashion and other poles laid across these and covered with bark. Harvey L. Ross, his son, says he distinctly remembers helj)ing carry bark to cover this shantv. Mr. Ross immediatelv set about buildinj): a log cabin, which was located where Major Newton Walker's residence now stands. He was so well pleased with the location of his land that he determined to lay off a town, which he did, and secured for it the county-seat for the county of Fulton when it was organized.

Among those who came with Mr. Ross AvereMr. Nimon and wife. He was a blacksmith and lived here a long time. Mr. Ross also brought with him a shoemaker bv the name of Swetliup;. He and Nimon died many years ago, and were buried in the eastern part of Lewistown near where the old Presbyterian church stood, which was the first burying ground in the county.

Fenuer Brothers. - Hon. L. W. Ross tells us that when they came to the county there were two brothers, Roswell and Reuben, by the name of Fenner, living at Eveland's. We find frequent mention made of these pioneers in the earliest records of tiie county. They were both unmarried men when they came to the county, but did not long remain so. A few years afterwards one of them was arrested for whipping his wife. Judge Stephen Phel})s, of Lewistown, defended him, and declared that according to law and the scriptures a man had a right to chastise his wife.

The Serc/eants and Barnes. - Theodore Sergeant, his brother, Charles Sergeant, David W. Barnes and William Blanchard, veterans of the war of 1812, at their discharge determined to come west. From Detroit, Mich., they went to Fort Wayne, whence they journeyed in a canoe to Vincennes, thence to St. Louis. From there they came up the Illinois in a keel-boat, manned by a fishingcrew, and commanded by a man named AVarner. They landed at Ft. Clark, now Peoria, in the spring of 1819. Crossing the river to what is known as the bottom lands they found a cleared spot, and with such tools as they could arrange from Avood put in a patch of corn and potatoes. This land is now em1)odied in Fond du Lac township, Tazewell eounty. Looking farther down they found an old French field of about ten acres, upon which they erected a rude habitation. This was the firet settlement between Ft. Clark and vicinity and Chicago, and theirs was the first dwelling erected.

These daring ex])lorers were looking up the "l)0unty land" Congress had given them, which was in the ^Military Tract. Learning the location of his land Sergeant soon made a trip to Fulton county to look at it. He found it to be located in the breaks on Big creek, several miles south of Canton. This was not a desirable location. He reported to his com})anions, however, that there were fine lands, good timber and plenty of water a few miles north of his land, and advised them to come and settle there. Accordingly, in 1821, Charles and Theodore and D. AV. Barnes came to Fulton county and made a temporary settlement near the mouth of Spoon river. Li 1830 Blanchard moved to Woodford county, where he yet resides.

Theodore and Charles Sergeant, John Pixley and Henry Andrews lived with D. W. Barnes at Ft. Clark (now Peoria). The latter, a brother-in-law of Barnes, had lost both his parents while living at Ft. Clark. Pixley had served in the war of 1812, and was a brav^, daring man. One day a stalwart Indian in boasting of his bravery, of having killed men, women and children, said he had once taken a little child by the heels and beat its brains out on the corner of a cabin. He boasted thus to Pixley and others and told how the little creature raised its hands, quivering. This the brutal savage thought showed bravery. There were two hundred Indians around and but eight white men ; l)ut this did not deter the plucky Pixley from giving the Indian a good whipping. He had bought a rawhide, at St. Louis, and when the Indian finished his story he took the rawhide down from between the clapboards of the roof of their cabin, and lit u])on the Indian and threshed him till the blood spurted from his mouth. He flogged him most severely, and so fearless and resolute was he that not an Indian raised an objection.

While Mr. Barnes and his companions lived at Ft. Clark the Indians threatened to kill the whites during a certain moon. The Indians then reckoned time by moons. If they owed a debt it was due at a certain moon. The Indians being offended determined to kill the whites. There were but eight or ten men, mostly young soldiers of the war of 1812, to i)i-otect the women and children. The moon arrived and a slaughter was expected. The women and chiklren were put in Barnes' cabin and tlie latch string pulled in, while the men with their trusty rifles stood outside. They sent word for the Indians to come on, but their courage subsided before the superior courage of the whites,

Barnes with his family came on to Lewistown and became the neighbor of O. M. R^)ss. While living at this place Mr. Barnes hauled a load of salt from the mouth of Spoon river, where the river craft had frozen up, to Ft. Clark. This was a perfectly wild country and of course no roads. He made this trij), which consumed several davs, and in remuneration received one bushel of salt. This was a most precious article at that time, and indeed for many years afterwards.

AVhile residing at Lewistown the Indians would steal his potatoes and everything else they could get their hands upon. One niffht while an Indian was stealiui)- his iiotatoes he was attacked l)v their watch dog, which tore from his blanket a small piece. This was a clue for Mr. Barnes to use in finding the thief. He took the piece and went among the Indians, and finally found a red man with a blanket that had in it a hole the size and shape of the piece he had. This brave he concluded was the thief, which he proved to be.

Mr. Barnes soon left Lewistown and located two and a half miles north of the present city of Canton. He traded 80 acres of land he owned in the upper part of Lewistown for the 1(50 acres he located upon in Canton township. He made this trade because he was getting; crowded at Lewistown and all was a vast wilderness at Canton. Mr. Henry Andrews remembers very distinctly this move. He was a small l)oy and ran along in the Indian trail behind the wagon, and ifot so far behind at one time that he became verv much frightened lest he be left. He also remembers very distinctly the time two Indians came to their cabin shortly after they had settled in their new home, to stay all night. They were traveling toward Chicago, and it being in the fall of the year the weather was cool and they did not like to sleej) out in the cold if they could get a cabin to rest in. Barnes' cabin contained only one room, yet they permitted the two red men to stay with them. They alighted from their ])onies, gave Mrs. Barnes, the chomokoman's wife as they called her, a quarter of a deer and passed into the house. They set their guns up in the corner, hung up their bullet ])ouch, tomahawk, and scalping knives, and lay down before the large fire-place. They cut oft' a large piece of venison, j)ut it on a stick and fixed it before the fire. During the night they would occasionally turn it, thus cooking it thoroughly. This they intended should last them several days. We fear there are few of the present day who would permit two tram])s to sleep in the same room they do even without all the implements of death at hand, as these Indians had. They might have arisen and murdered the entire househfdd, and many days, perhaps months hav^e elapsed before any other white man would have known of it.

Mr. Barnes lived on the very frontier. His was the last cabin travelers passed on the road to Ft. Clark and the first they met going,' south. It was therefore a stopping- place for travelers going both ways. Judge Stephen Phelps, who was living at Lewistown, was traveling toward Chicago. With him were his wife and daughter. They stopped for the night at Barnes' caVjin. The cabin was small and the night warm, and Miss Emily Phelps, the daughter, took her blanket out doors and spread it under the boughs of a tree and passed the night alone in the forest. There are but few of the young ladies of to-day who woidd not shrink from making their bed in such a spot.

It may seem strange, but the very earliest settlers suffered from want of meat. The Indians had driven game almost entirely awav and the wild liog had not yet apjieared. Mr. Andrews tells us that a lady at Lewistown (they were known as neighbors then, although fifte(»n miles away ) sent to one of their neighbors at Canton onehalf of a brant. Meat was then a great luxury, and this piece of fowl Mr. Andrews savs seemed to be worth an ox. It, though so small, was divided among the settlers at Canton. He also tells us he went to a neighbor's on a visit at one time and the only food set before him, or the family, was boiled potatoes and salt, and this latter article was very scarce. He also says that during the first settlement of this county men wore moccasins and buckskin pants and shirts and coonskin caps almost altogether, li' they had a cotton or woolen shirt it was worn only on important occasions. When Eliza Andrews, a sister of Henry Andrews, died, they had no lumber out of which to make a c(»ffin, but dug a receptacle for the body out of a log.

During the great txalena-lead-jnines excitement in 1827 Mr. Barnes went to Galena. He did not reniain long but returned to his home near Canton.

tSerf/cani's Wcddin;/. - Barnes was the only married man in tlic party (from Fort Clark) and Sergeant lived ^vith Barnes until his marriage, Nov. o, 1824, when he was united with Miss Mary Brown. This was one of the earliest weddings of the county, and the following interesting description of it was furnishetl Mr. Swan by Henry Andrews, a member of the wedding party:

" This wedding was a great event in the Barnes neighborhood. It occurred at the cabin of Daniel Brown, the father of the bride. All the neighbors were invited, and probably all were assembled in the cabin ; still, though small, it was not nearly full. The bride was gorgeously appareled in a checked linsey homespun dress, a three-cornered handkerchief about her neck, and ^ her feet encased in moccasins. The groom also wore moccasins, and a full suit of new linsey, colored with butternut bark. The guests were dressed much the same and were seated upon [)uncheon benches around the sides of the cabin. Captain Barnes, at that time County Commissioner, performed the marriage ceremony with due and becoming dignity. At the conclusion of the ceremony all the gentlemen present saluted the bride. When this ceremony was completed, old Mr. Brown produced a ' noggin ' of whisky and a bran-new tin cup - then considered a very aristocratic drinking-vessel - and passed the customary beverage to all present. All drank from the cup, filling it from the 'noggin ' when em])ty, and passing it from hand to hand until again empty. The liquor soon began to make the guests merry, and jokes and songs were considered to be in order, (xeorue Matthews, a gav old bachelor, was considered a fine ballad-singer, and sang a song that would scarcely be considered appropriate on a festive occasion at this day. Mr. Andrews gives from memorv two verses of the ballad:

Sergeant would have been united in marriage sooner than he was, and then would have been the first man married in the county "had the old lady been willin'." He made a proposal for the hand of the lady for whom it is claimed the honor of being the first woman married in the county. AVe take his story of his proposal from Swan's Canton History :

^' I had made up my mind that I ought to have a housekeeper, and accordingly had mv eve out for one. Somehow I heard that there was an old lady living d<twn toward the mouth of S])oon river bv the name of AVent\V(»rth, who had some gals that wanted to marry ; so I concluded I would go down and see about it. I did so, and on arriving there at once made mv business known to old Mrs. AVeutworth. The old lady looked me over, with the air of a judge of the article she wanted', and began her catechism by asking me what I followed, my age, and where I was from. I told her that I was twenty-nine years old, had been five years a soldier, and thought I could manage a wife ; that I was from Barnes' settlement, was opening a farm, and wanted a gal to help me pull through the start. The old lady f^hook her head and informed me that I would not suit her gals, as she had made up her mind that they should all jnarry store-keepers. I told her, if that was the ease I reekoned her gals would not suit me, as I wanted one that would })ull with me on the start. Sero-eant returned to Canton from this unsuceessful wooinoand reported the result to the few young men in that part of the county. They at once determined to get even with the family whose notions were so aristocratic. There was an occasional peddler, named Clark, who came through the county on horseback, carrying needles, thread and other small wares in a sack, dividing his stock into ecpial ])roportions and balancing it over his saddle. This Clark was the first ])eddler who visited the county. Clark was not a man of much force of character, and it was determined to send him after the Wentworth girls. He readily acceded to the proposition, and soon visited Mrs. AV. In reply to her interrogations, Clark informed the old lady that he resided in Peoria, and sold goods for a livelihood. This tilled the old lady's bill, and she at once gave her daughter to Clark in marriage ; and Sergeant thinks theirs was the first wedding celebrated in the county. Tt took place a few weeks ])rior to Sergeant's wedding.

''George S. McConnell, however, relates an incident connected with the first court held in the county, and the spring or early summer of the same year, which establishes the fact that Clark's could not have been the first wedding, as at that court a couple were divorced, the woman l)eing a sister of the Tottens, and the same nigiit the divorced woman was married to one of the jurors, by the name of Williams, who had tried the cause."

"When my commission comes.'' - The following certificate whether true or not is certainly rich. It was ])ublished in a history of Illinois as early as 1837, and the author of that claims to have copied it from a historv of Peoria countv. It therefore is nothinp; new, and might be accredited owing to its age if for nothing else. The Justice of the Peace, O. M. R., we suppose was none other than Ossian M. Ross, the well-known founder of Lewistown. We give it with the writer's comments as copied in the old liistory of 1837, from the History of Peoria county :

"Examining a land title the other day which involved a question of legitimacy, I stumbled upon the following marriage certificate, which is decidedly too good to be lost, and is literally bona fide. Th.e marriage, of which this is the only legal evidence, took place in Copperas precinct (now in Fulton county ), in the infancy of the county, or rather in ])rimitive times, and the magistrate ought to l)e immortalized, whether he gets his commission or not:"

To all the World Greeting : - Know ye, that John Smith and Poly Myers is hereby entitled to go together and do as old folks does anywhere inside of f)fhfr s'^efflers. - In 1822 James and Charles Gardner, with a companion, loft Sano^amon eonnty for Fnlton. The party crossed the Illinois river at Peoria, where they found three settlers, John L. Bogardns, Capt. Eads and Aqnila Moifatt. They journeyed on and met no other white person until they arrived at Lewistown. Thev explored the county and found a suitable location on section 34, Isabel township, where they sowed some garden and apple seed. They then returned to Sangamon after their families. They were ferried over the Illinois at Havana by John Eveland. In the spring of 1823 Messrs. Gardner, assisted by a Mr. Higgins, built a flat-boat on the Sanwimon river in which thev moved to their new homes. Duriug the summer of 1823 the flat-boat was taken for a ferryboat at Havana, and old Mr, Scoville was the first ferryman.

Charles Gardner returned to Sangamon county about twenty years ago and there died. James died here a few years ago. Their |>arents, who came with them when they first moved to this county, passed the remainder of their lives here.

Besides these pioneers there were others who cauie in shortly afterwards. Among these were licJ^ert Reeves, who settled on Keeves' Prairie, Deerfield townshi]), in 1823. William Totteu located on T(jtten's Prairie, Cass township, the same year, and about the same time came Roswell Tyrrell and John Totten, who settled upon the same section. Thomas Cameron came the following vear ( 1 S24 ). Joshua Moore settled in Joshua townshij), from whom it received its name, in 1824. He was closely followed in that townshi]^ by I^evi D. Ellis, who in 1823 moved to Ellisville township and was its first settler. Reading Putman settled on section 2, Putman township, in 1828, and Stephen Chase settled in the southern part of the township the same year.

The FIr.sf Mall Carrien^. - Harvey L. Ross, a sou of Ossian M. Ross, and now a resident of Macomb, 111., at the age of 15 years was employed to carry the mail from Springfield to Monmouth, a distance of one hundred and thirty-five miles, making a tri]) each week. He would often have to swim streams three or four times each day with the mail-bag stra])ped across his shoulders. At that time (1832) there Mas no direct road from Knoxville to Monmouth, a distance of twenty miles, and not a single house between the two ])oints. His only guide along the route was ])oints of tindier. He tells us that he still has a vivid recollection of the imminent danger he found himself in one stormy night in January, when in the vicinity of the present city of Galesburg he heard a pack of hungry wolves set up a tremendous howling a few rods behind him. It may be imagined that the young hero, in that vast wilderness on a mid-winter night with wild and savage beasts howling on every iiand, lost no time in reaching the end of his journey. The only postoffices along the route were Springfield, Sangamon Town, New Salem, Havana, Lewistown, Canton, Farmington, Knoxville and Monmouth. Abraham Lincoln, our martyr President, was then ])ostmaster of Xew Salem, receiving his aj)pointment on the recommendation of (^ssian M. Ross, who Mas one of the oklest postmaster-; in the country, and the only postmaster at that time within the boundaries of the present ]\Iason county. After Harvey L. Koss had carried the mail over that long, dangerous and desolate route for a considerable time, his father let out a part of the route to Malon AVinans, an uncle of Mr. Ross'. Mr. Winans, who lived at Lewistown, was given that part of the line from Lewistown to Monmouth. AVinans had a son that he intended to put upon the route, but concluded to go over it himself first tliat he might make all necessary arrangements fi)r stopping-places. Rut his first trip was his last, for in attempting to swim Spoon river with the mail-bag strap])ed to his back he was drowned. This was in 1834 and was the first death to occur in Truro township, Knox countv. His body was afterwards fimnd in a drift of wood one-half mile beh)W the crossing. A coffin was made by the settlers l)y splitting a log lengthAvise and hollowing it out, using one part as the body of the coffin and the other jiart the lid. Ry these kind but strange hands a grave was dug ujion the bank of the river beneath the boughs of a young iiickory tree and the l)ody of Mr. ^^'inans placed therein. L^])on the trunk of the tree the letters "P. W." were cut and are visible to this day. They made a mistake in the initial of his given name, in making it "P" instead of 'OL"

.4 Trddiin/ Erpcrllfion. - Harvey Tj. Ross in his youthful davs was fond of hunting and trading with the Indians. When l)ut seven years of age he had killed wild turkeys, geese and small game of almost everv kind, and at twelve thoui^ht nothini>- of killing; a deer. He says he also remembei-s catching twelve wolves in less than a month in steel-tra])S ])laced near a dead horse. He relates some incidents of the first trading expedition in which he was engaged, which occurred in 1828. He started from I^ewistown in company with Eldward Plude, a Frenchman and Indian interpreter, and "Rill" Elveland, son of John Eveland spoken of elsewhere in this volume. P^veland was a large, powerful man, well ac([uainted with the country and familiar with the Indian character. They loaded a two-horse wagon, at Lewistown, with goods and traveled through what is now known as Knox and Peoria counties, where they found a large number of Indians and traded their goods to advantage. They returned home with their wagon loaded with furs and deerskins. They were gone three weeks and had traveled about one hundred and fiftv miles, meeting: onlv with two white settlers after leaving the neighborhood of Canton.

Frightened by Indians. - In speaking of Indians Mr. Ross tells us he cannot remember of ever being frightened by the Indians but once. In 1825, when but eight years of age, his father sent him to an old shoemaker by the name of Stephen Meeker, livino- about four miles east of Lewistown, to have some work done. In coming home with a sack of shoes across his horse, and when he had traveled about half the distance along- the little path through heavy timber and thick underbrush, he came suddeidy upon live or six redskins, who were sitting upon the ground. One of the Indians jum])ed up and made a grab at his bridle reins, l)ut young Ross turned his horse (piickly around; and giving him a cut with his whip, hurried back to Meeker's and related his story. Meeker at once took down his rifle, loaded it, and cutting a hickory club, went back with him. When the Indians saw^ Meeker with his rifle and club they commenced to apologize, stating that they were not going to hurt the bov. They had been to Lewnstown to trade and had been drinking, and ])robaV>ly only desired to see what was in the sack and scare the voung traveler.

The earlv recollections of Mr. Koss are many indeed, and his experience in pioneer life in Fulton county was proliably greater than that of any man now living. He remembers partaking of a piece of fat bear, in 1(S29, killecl by Andrew Laswell near the present town of Cuba.

Thv Battle of ^la/oni/'.^ Fcrri/. - The advance guard of civilization, those fearless persons who boldly strike into the Avildness of a new conntrv aixl open the road for the sturdy settlers, encounter hardship'^ and dangers which can but faintly be pictured in wordpainting. Those who first came into this county met the red man in his wigwam or on the chase. Indeed, Indians were numerous for many years after the county was settled, and, although friendly, were often quite troub]esom(\

In 1828, about the middle of May, John Walters, Norman Schofield, Edward Stocking, Simon Kelsey, and an old man by the name of Ensign, came up the Illinois on their little river craft to Malony's ferrv at the mouth of Spoon river. They brought with them from St. Louis a barrel of whisky for Mr. Malony, the accommodating gentleman who carried the pilgrims over the Illinois at that point, ^\lliskv, it must be remembered, was considered an indisj)ensable article for the household and the most desirable and ])rofitable commodity for tavern-kee])ers. Then, as now, however, it was a source of no little trouble and many bruised heads. The men landed at the ferry but found no one there. Mr. Malony and his sons were back in the timber cutting wood. They rolled the barrel of li(pi(tr upon the ferryboat, left it and started overland for Lewistown. After proceeding abont a mile and a half from the ferry William Nichols came running after them for help. No sooner had the barreLof whisky been landed and the little band departed, than twenty-six or 'seven Indians w^ere attracted to it, by its fumes we suppose; any way, just as Malony appeared u])on the scene from the timber he found his barrel of whisky standing on end with two or three stalwart braves making a desperate effort to break in the head. A score of anxious redskins stood around jubilant over the rich bootv they had found. Malony could do nothing more than give them all to drink. A band of drunken Indians are the most des- ])crate and uncontrollable of all beings. The worst wa< feared and therefore Nichols had been sent to obtain hel]). The squaws anticipated trouble and hurriedly secreted all of their guns. The men, five in number, - although Mr. Ensign, who wore spectacles owing to his short-sightedness, was feeble and could do but little, - all started back for the ferry with their canes in their hands ready for an emergencv. Schofield could speak the Indian language, and on their arrival at the ferry told the Indians to leave. This enraged them, and thev swore bitterly at the whites and told them to leave. At this Schofield, fearless of consequences, knocked the leading speaker down. This was the signal for the fray to begin, and every man went to knocking right and left with his cane. The Indians were " pretty full," but the eifects of the liquor had not fully reached the brain. The whites fi)ught their multiplied foe with great desperation. Some vears previous Kelsey had l)een shot in the knee, and when he Avould exercise it hard it would give down. He was in great danger and started to run to save himself, but fell, overtaken by two drunken redskins. Walters, who was oft* some distance, Avas attracted by the cries of Kelsey, He saw one of the braves with knife in hand reachto thrust his victim through. He was fieet of foot and daslied toward the trio, and just as the drunken savage raised his knife fi)r its deadly work he struck him over the head with iiis cane, knocking him down and thus savinir the life of Kelsev. In doiiiii' this, however, he placed himself in danger, for in striking the Indian his cane flew from his hands. Seeing this the other Indian took after him. Walters proved the fleetest runner and widened the distance between them. While running up a hill he gathered up a stone which he hurled at his ])ursuer with such force and accuracy as to " fetch his head and knees togetiier." This gave him an opportunity ttt run back after his cane, which he took advantage of and secured his trusty weapon. The battle was short but fierce, and the whites proved the victors. Mr. Walters tells us that his brother William, an old and respected settler of this county, who died only recently, wore that very cane for fi)rty years. For years it bore the marks r(>- ceived when it struck doAvn the brutal savage who was about to end Kelsey's life. This was the kind of a reception these gentlemen received ujion their introduction into Fulton county.

Trouble in Scftliii;/ f/ic MUitury Tract. - The "^lilitary Tract" comprises all the land between the Illinois and the Mississippi rivers south of the north line of Bureau and Henry counties. It is so called because much of it was "jiatented" by Government, in quarter sections, to soldiers of the war of 1812. There was scarcely a soldier in that early day who counted his land of much value, and ever thought to occupy it himself; but inunigrants came in, entered Government lands and squatted on "patent" or military land, im- proved it, and thus rendered it valual)le. Tt Avas seldom that a '-patentee" could be found at tlie time of settlement, and many of the early settlers presumed that the owner never would be known ; but in manv instances, after a patent quarter-section Avas made valuable by improvement, the orio:inal patent would be brought on by some one, Avho would oust the occupant and take possession, sometimes paying him something for his improvements and sometimes not. Manv holders of patents had no pity. This condition of affairs presented a temptation to merciless ''land-sharks," who would come into this section and work uj) cases, ostensibly for the original patentees, but really for their own pockets. The most notorious of these was one Toliver Craig, who actually made it a business to forge patents and deeds. This he carried on extensively from 1847 to 1854, especially in Knox and Fulton counties. He had 40 bogus deeds put on record in one day at Knoxville. He was arrested in New York State in 1854, by O. M. Boggess of Monmouth, and taken to the jail at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attempted suicide byarsenic ; but at the end of a year he was released on bail.

When the Military Tract was laid off into counties, most of them were named in honor of the military heroes of the nation, mostly of the war of 181*2 ; but Fulton county, the largest one in the Military Tract, was not christened in honor of a soldier-hero. Its name is not a symbol of blood- and battle. It is true that our nation was born in blood and saved by blood, and the memoiy of those brave heroes should be commemorated; l)ut there are other illustrious heroes, who knew not \var, e(|ually deserving. Among these stand in the front the great inventive genius, Robert Fulton, in honor of whom Fulton county was named. We deem it fitting to give a brief personal sketch of this gentleman, whose name this county wears.

Robert Fulton was born near Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, in 1765. His father, an Irish tailor, came to this country in early life, and soon retired to a farm in Lancaster county. The father of Benjamin West, the celebrated artist, and the father of Robert Fulton were neighbors and warm friends. At the age of twenty-one Robert left home and sailed for England to seek instruction from Benjamin AVest. He remained with liim for several years ; but, although an excellent draughtsman, a good colorist, and a diligent workman, he had not the artist's imagination or temperament. His mind was mechanical ; he loved to contrive, to invent, to construct ; and we find him, accordingly, withdrawing from art and busying himself more and more with mechanics, until at length he adopted the profession of civil engineering. Robert Fulton was not the inventor of the steam-boat. It is, nevertheless, to his knowledge of mechanics, and to his resolution and perseverance, that the world is indebted for the final triumph of that invention. His attention was called to the subject by the operations of John Fitch, the inventor of the steam-boat, in 1785. Next, fifteen years later, Fulton visit- ted a steam-boat in Scotland. He then fell in Avith Chancellor Livingston, American minister to France, and constructed a boat and propelled it by steam upon the Seine in France. This was not a success. He then returned to Xew York and built the famous Clermont. On Monday, Sept. 10, 1807, he left New York for Albany on his famous trial trip. He was laughed at and jeered, but at one o'clock the Clermont moved from the dock, vomiting smoke and sparks from her pine-wood fires. She reached Albanv Wednesday at five o'clock. Returning immediately to New York, she made the trip in thirty hours, - exactly five miles an hour. Fulton devoted the rest of his life to the improvement of the steam-boat, and lived to see his labors universally recognized, and acquired a considerable fortune. He died Feb. 24, 1815, aged fifty years, and his remains were consigned to Trinitv Church vard in the eitv of New York.