Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 4: Early Historical Events, 1919

Chapter 4: Early Historical Events

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA - A WOMAN'S INSTINCT - ABBOT'S ACCOUNT - THE queen's GENEROSITY - OTHER EXPEDITIONS - OTHER DISCOVERIES - FUR¬ THER DEVELOPMENT - A MISSION OF PEACE - THE CALUMET OF PEACE -

FIRST MENTION OF JERSEY COUNTY TERRITORY - INDIAN ART - THE MIS¬ SOURI RIVER - THE RETURN VOYAGE - THE ILLINOIS RIVER - LOSS TO HISTORY - THE BEGINNING OF CHICAGO - DEATH OF MARQUETTE - GOV¬ ERNOR REYNOLDS' EULOGY - MISSION OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.

Discovery Of America

Since the smaller division of territory is included in the larger one until its segregation, so Jersey County will he considered a part of North America until it is separated from the larger body. This history will commence with the discovery of America and the events leading up to it, and will trace down through the subsequent events and changes that be necessary to reach the County of Jersey.

At the close of the fifteenth century there was a spirit of general unrest in the countries of western Europe, and a very great desire was expressed to be permitted to participate in the rich trade with the Orient, from which they had been excluded by the merchant princes of the east¬ ern Mediterranean Sea. Many minds wTere engaged in trying to solve this difficult problem. Among others was Christopher Columbus. He was a sailor by calling, a native of Genoa, Italy, and he had studied this problem until he had become obsessed with the idea that the earth is a sphere, and that by sailing westward a vessel could reach the Indies and China without obstruction. He presented his views to his own coun¬ try, and to Portugal, where he was married to the daughter of a rich maritime merchant; and his theories were rejected. He then went to Spain, and applied to King Ferdinand for help to outfit an expedition to test his ideas of a western route to India.

His propositions were rejected, but he had the good fortune to make a convert of Queen Isabella, and several leading churchmen and states¬ men of Spain, and through the Queen's intercession, a council of phi¬ losophers and prelates was called to consider the propositions of Columbus and deliberate upon his theory. He went before this council and very eloquently presented his cause, but met with very little, if any, sym¬ pathy. His theories were negatived in the council.

"The philosophers and the clergy alike assailed him with arguments which now provoke the derision even of the most common minds. The following passage from Lectantius wTas quoted as a triumphant refu¬ tation of the statement of Columbus that the world is round: 'Is there anyone so foolish, as to believe that there are antipodes with their feet opposite to ours; people who walk with their heels upward and their heads hanging down? That there is a part of the world in which all things are topsy-turvy; where the trees grow with their branches down¬ ward, and where it rains, hails and snows upward?' The idea of the roundness of the earth was the cause of the inventing of this fable of the antipodes with their heels in the air, for philosophers having once erred, go on with their absurdities, defending one with the other."

Columbus was dismissed from this council in disgrace as a visionary enthusiast, and started at once for the court of France, to which he had been invited. Queen Isabella, hearing what had been done, at once sent a messenger to secure the return of Columbus, and stated that she would, if necessary, pledge her crown jewels to raise the money to furnish an outfit for the expedition to test Columbus' views. Her sacrifice was not required, for the funds were raised by other means, and Columbus' three vessels and outfit were furnished, and he started on his voyage of discovery in 1492, returning the following year with samples of dis¬ coveries and specimens of the inhabitants of the countries they had found, reporting that he had discovered the route to India on his voyage.

Other Expeditions

It is unnecessary to follow him in his other expeditions and the treatment he received, it being sufficient to state that they were four in number. The other countries of western Europe, having learned of Columbus' success, fitted out expeditions to participate in this great trade with the Indies, not being then aware that a continent lay between them and the Orient.

Other Discoveries

The Cabots, John and Sebastian, from England, in 1497, discovered Labrador and Hudson's Bay. The French, about the same time, dis¬ covered the St. Lawrence River. Other discoveries were made farther south along the Atlantic coast. It may be true that prior to that time a Norseman had coasted along Labrador and probably farther south, but no attention had been paid to these discoveries by the civilized coun¬ tries of Europe, and Columbus' expedition was regarded as the real discovery of America. The French ascended the St. Lawrence River, and established Quebec and later on, Montreal. Europe was so engaged in turmoil and warring among their nations over political and religious subjects, that the governments had little time to pay attention to the affairs of the newly discovered American continent.

Further Development

During the sixteenth century but little progress was made in the de¬ velopment of the new continent. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, settlements were made on the Atlantic coast of North America, in what are now Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, the Carolinas and Florida, but little advance was made in penetrating into the interior of the country until about the middle of the seventeenth century, when the French pushed on up the St. Lawrence River and through the Great Lakes, accompanied by Jesuit missionaries, who were establishing mis¬ sions of their order at different localities where traders had opened up trading posts, and pushing their way into Indian country, to convert the natives. In 1666, Father Marquette, a highly educated and consecrated

Jesuit priest, left Quebec and pushed further on, establishing missions of his order in Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan districts, and in connection with this work, he learned from the Sioux Indians that there was a great river, known as the Father of Waters, that was very large and flowed southward for many miles. He learned what he could with reference to this river and its bearings, and reached the conclusion that possibly the river flowed into the Pacific Ocean and that it would give an outlet to the European trade coming up the St. Law¬ rence River and through the lakes into the river, and by means of this access could be gained to the Orient. In 1673, he and Monsieur Joliet, with five Frenchmen, started in two bark canoes from Green Bay, Wis., across the divide to find this great river. They followed the Wisconsin River on the east side to the portage, when they crossed it, and going down it, after many difficulties on June 17, 1673, they passed out of the Wisconsin into the Mississippi River.

A Mission Of Peace

While floating down the river, after several days, the travelers dis¬ covered footprints of men upon the bank, and thereupon they hid their canoes and left their men to watch them, and Marquette and Joliet fol¬ lowed the tracks back into the country until they reached an Indian village, where by a "hello" they made their presence known. After much delay, and many forms and ceremonies, lasting over two days, which are minutely described by Marquette in his journal of this ex¬ pedition, Father Marquette was presented with a "Calumet of Peace." This journal, which was found by Judge Sidney Breese among the old archives at Quebec, and translated by him from the original French in which it was written, is printed as an appendix to Breese 's Early His¬ tory of Illinois at page 235, and it is the only accurate and authentic history of this voyage of discovery of the Mississippi River that is still in existence.

The Calumet Of Peace

Father Marquette says of the Calumet of Peace: "Nothing is to it, among these people, more mysterious or estimable. They would not do as much honor to the scepter of kings, as they render to it; it ap¬ pears to be the God of peace and of war, the arbiter of life and death ; it is enough for one bearing it to go with confidence in the midst of enemies, who in the heat of combat throw down their arms when it is shown to them ; it was for virtue in it that the Illinois gave me one to serve me as a safeguard among the nations through which I should he compelled to pass in my voyage. ' '

In his preparation for the voyage, Marquette had not included any weapons or arms of any kind, offensive or defensive, relying wholly upon his authority as a messenger of Almighty God and the Prince of Peace, to overcome any and all difficulties he should encounter by the way; but he was very glad to be able to have the benefit of this "Calumet," which was of great benefit to him in his meeting and dealing with the hostile tribes met by him on his journey down the river. At the close of his visit to this tribe, they all accompanied him to the river for his embarcation, and expressed much surprise at the appearance of the bark canoes for they had never seen any like them.

While continuing to float down the river, Father Marquette made notes of the forest, nuts and fruits seen along its shores until the party reached the mouth of the Illinois River, which is now included in Jersey County. His reference to this is the first mention of any part of Illinois specifically referred to, and his company were the first white men who ever visited or looked upon any part of Jersey County. This voyage took place 245 years ago. At page 258 of the history above mentioned, Mar¬ quette says :

Indian Art

"As we coasted along, the rocks frightful from their height and vast¬ ness, we saw upon one of them two monsters painted upon it, that we were alarmed at first sight, and upon which some of the most courageous savages dare not, for a long time, fasten their eyes. They are as large as a calf, have horns on the head like a deer, a frightful look, red eyes, a beard like a tiger, the face something like a man's, the body covered with scales, the tail so long that it made the circuit of the body, passing over the head and returning between the legs, terminating in a tail like that of a fish; the colors that composed it. were green, red and black. In truth these two monsters are so well painted, that we cannot believe that a savage was the workman, since good painters in France would find it difficult to do as well, and, moreover, they are so high up on the rock that it is difficult to reach them conveniently by painters. As we were conversing about these monsters, rowing quietly in a beautiful water, clear and tranquil, we heard the noise of a rapid into which we were going to fall.

The Missouri River

''I have never seen anything more frightful; an impediment caused by whole trees and branches and floating islands proceeded from the mouth of the river Pekatononi (Missouri) with so much impetuosity, that we could not attempt to pass across without danger; the agitation was such that the water was all muddy and could not be purified."

Leaving Father Marquette's account of the painting on the bluff, it is sufficient to say that it was a representation of the "Piasa Bird," the foundation of the famous Indian legend which represented a great monster visiting the tribe and carrying away into captivity their finest and bravest young warriors each year.

The Return Voyage

After passing the mouth of the Missouri, the voyageurs descended the river to the mouth of the Arkansas, stopping to ascend the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, meeting a number of hostile Indian tribes, the hostility of whom was overcome through the efforts and influence of Father Marquette, who finally preached the gospel to them until July 17, when, having been just a month on their trip from the mouth of the Wisconsin River, and two days from the Gulf of Mexico, on account of being subjected to the scorching rays of the July sun by day, and innumerable swarms of voracious mosquitoes by night, and being scant of a proper supply of food, and having only warm, brackish river water to drink, upon due consultation with Joliet, they decided to return and make report of their discoveries. So, upon July 17, A. D. 1673, they started upon that long, toilsome and wearisome journey, contending against the strong current of the river, under all of the adverse condi¬ tions mentioned. They found themselves resting at the mouth of the Illi¬ nois River, at Grafton, where they took under consideration the question of abandoning their hard and laborious journey up the Mississippi River, or returning to Green Bay by way of the Illinois River and Lake Mich¬ igan, and the further problem of Marquette's health, which had broken down under the terrible strain of this trip. With the rest, shade, and cool, refreshing spring water, however, his health, before many days, was sufficiently restored to permit a resumption of the return trip, and they left the Mississippi River there, and went on up the Illinois River. Father Marquette says:

"We quit it (the Mississippi River) at the Thirty-eighth degree to enter into another river which shortened our way very much, and con¬ ducted us with little trouble to the Lake of Illinois.

The Illinois River

"We have never seen anything like this river, which we entered, for the richness of the soil, the prairies, the woods, the buffaloes, the elks, the deer, the wildcats, the bustards, the swans, the ducks, the paraquets, and beavers. It is made up of little lakes and rivers. This upon which we voyaged was wide, deep and gentle for sixty-five leagues. In the spring and part of the summer it is necessary to make a portage of half a league. We found a village of Illinois called Kuilka, consisting of seventy-four cabins; we were very kindly received by them, and they obliged me to promise them I would return to instruct them. One of the chiefs of this nation with a young man conducted us to the Lake of Illinois, by which we returned to the Bay of Plants (Green Bay) at the close of September, and which we had left at the commencement of the month of June.

"Although my voyage should possess no other value than the salva¬ tion of one soul, I shall esteem all of my troubles well recompensed, and that I have done this, I have the right to presume, for on my return as we passed through the Illinois of Perouacca, I preached for three days to them of the mysteries of our faith in all their cabins, after which, as we were about to embark, they brought me, at the edge of the water, a dying infant, which I, by wonderful providence, baptised a little before it died, for the salvation of its innocent soul."

Loss To History

Upon their arrival at Green Bay, Joliet, who had been appointed to act as historian of the expedition, immediately returned to Quebec to make his report, but during a storm on his return trip, his canoe was capsized and he lost all his manuscripts, and barely escaped with his life. He returned to Quebec, and made a verbal report, but he never returned to Illinois.

The Beginning Op Chicago

Marquette 's health was thoroughly broken, and he remained at Green Bay until November, 1674, before he was in fit condition to return to Utica and redeem his promise to those Kaskaskia Indians to come back and preach to them. In the late fall with two Frenchmen, and an escort of Indians, he started on his mission, coasting down the west coast of Lake Michigan until he reached the present site of Chicago, intending to make a portage into the Des Plaines River, but he was again taken ill of his old malady. He was unable to pursue the journey further that winter. His attendants erected a log cabin supposed to have been .located where McCoi^nick's Reaper factory was later built.

Death Of Marquette

Father Marquette spent the winter there from December 14 to March 1, 1675, when, by the aid of his Indians, he completed his journey to the Kaskaskias, and remained with them and the Peorias from March until the fall of that year. He established the Mission of the Immaculate Con¬ ception at Kaskaskia (Utica) which was to have a lasting and beneficial effect upon the Indians and white people of Illinois. He thoroughly taught them their duties, as members of this holy organization, and in the fall of that year, as he was returning to Green Bay, when near the shores of Lake Michigan, with no white man near except his two attendants, he set up his altar and performed his devotions, and then requested his attendants to leave him for a space alone. Upon their return, they found that his spirit was with God. They buried him there in the sand on that bleak shore of the lake, where his body was to remain for a num¬ ber of years without any mark or monument to indicate the place of his interment. Later his remains were removed to the mission at St. Ignace. Thus' perished Father Marquette, the most devoted and consecrated mis¬ sionary, whose influence had a lasting and beneficial effect upon these aborigines of Illinois, who had no ambition other than to obey the direc¬ tion of his Master to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

"He was the Napoleon and the ne plus ultra of all the Indian mis¬ sionaries in the northwest. He followed in the footsteps of Loyola, his illustrious predecessor, in all the relationships and duties so far as he had ability to act. He abandoned the old world, and the common com¬ forts and enjoyments of life, for the sole object of Christianizing the Indians in the wilds of America. He gave himself entirely up to the most severe and dangerous service, and to the uncommon hardships and perils, and almost to starvation itself, among the wildest savages of North America. All these dangers and perils did he perform and endure with the greatest pleasure, because his conscience assured him that he was doing the will of God. Among all the devout and benevolent Indian missionaries, Marquette, for his true piety, holiness of purpose, and grand enterprises performed, stands unrivaled in the west."

Mission Of The Immaculate Conception

After the death of Marquette, his associates from St. Xavier, at Green Bay, went to Kaskaskia (Utica) and took charge of the mission of the Immaculate Conception that he had established there, and continued in that capacity until it was removed to the Mississippi River, with the emigration of the Kaskaskia and Illinois Indians to that point several years later on.