Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 5: French Settlements, 1919

Chapter 5: French Settlements

La Salle, a Jesuit monk from France, who had secured a large allot¬ ment of land from the government of France at the head of the St. Law¬ rence River near Lake Ontario, and who was an active man of great energy and ambition, having heard of the settlements on the Great Lakes, returned to France and secured funds to extend the enterprises of his country to the Great Lakes, by bringing a vessel on Lake Erie and trad¬ ing to the west. He returned and built a forty-ton sloop, named the Griffin, and proceeded to Green Bay, and loaded his vessel with a very valuable cargo of furs and pelts to export to France. Upon the home voyage the Griffin, with all its cargo and crew, was lost and never heard from again.

Upon the return of Joliet from his trip with Marquette which re¬ sulted in the discovery of the Mississippi River, La Salle again returned to France, and for five years was engaged in arranging to further ex¬ plore the Mississippi River and establish forts from the Great Lakes down that river to its mouth.

Further Developments

In 1680 La Salle came back to this country, accompanied by Chevalier Henri De Tonti, a soldier of fortune who had lost an arm in the Italian wars, as his military attendant. The Chevalier was a very excellent man. These two were joined by Father Hennepin and they three pro- ceedecl to Illinois, where they built Fort Creve Coeur (Brokenhearted) on the present site of Peoria, and commenced the construction of a fortyton batteau for the purpose of exploring the Mississippi River, but hav¬ ing no rigging or outfit for the vessel, La Salle returned to Mackinaw and Fort. Frontenac for the purpose of securing the necessary outfit, leaving Tonti in charge. In the spring of 1680 he dispatched Father Hennepin, who was also a monk, down the Illinois River to its mouth, with orders to explore the Mississippi River to its source, and Father Hennepin, on February 29, 1680, left Creve Coeur with his canoe and two men, and proceeded to the mouth of the Illinois River. The Mis¬ sissippi River being full of ice at that time, he remained ten days at or near the present site of Grafton in this county. On March 12, he proceeded on his expedition up the river, and when he had ascended to near the Fox, where Minneapolis now stands, he was captured by the Sioux Indians and taken to the falls.

Father Hennepin remained at the falls for some time and named them St. Anthony, after St. Anthony of Padua. When he was released by the Indians, he returned to Green Bay. While La Salle was looking after securing his outfit for the vessel, the Iroquois Indians attacked Fort Creve Coeur, and Tonti 's men having deserted him, the village of the Illinois Indians was destroyed and Tonti had to flee with the one or two men he had left. In the next spring when La Salle returned to Creve Coeur, he found that the village had been destroyed and Tonti was gone.

Another Expedition

Supposing that Tonti had gone down to the Mississippi River, La Salle made a voyage to the mouth of the Illinois River in search of Tonti, but not finding him he left a letter to him attached to a tree at the mouth of the river, and returned to Mackinaw, where he finally found Tonti. La Salle then enlisted a number of men and concluded to make another trip, planning to go down the Mississippi River to its mouth in canoes. In February, 1682, he, Tonti, and Hennepin, with a crew and five canoes, started down the Illinois River and having reached the mouth of the river, they were detained'by the ice in the Mississippi River, at Grafton. When the river was clear, they went on their way south and discovered the mouth of it April 9. La Salle set up a cross and took possession of

Fort St. Louis

La Salle then ascended the river up to the mouth of the Illinois River, and on the latter to the lake. On the way up the Mississippi River, he and Tonti established Fort St. Louis at Starved Rock. He left. Tonti in charge of the fort, and proceeded to return to France, where he re¬ ported that he had taken possession of the country. He was then given an expedition to colonize and settle the French territory of the Mis¬ sissippi.

Death Of La Salle

In 1683, La Salle started with an expedition, to return to the mouth of the Mississippi River, but missing it, he went to Matagorda Bay in Texas, and there landed. He made several attempts to reach the Mis¬ sissippi River from there, but did not succeed, and lost a number of his men from disease. He then started another expedition in order to try and find the river, but was shot and killed by some of his men, and was buried near Matagorda Bay, in 1687. Tonti, not having heard from La Salle, went on an expedition to find him, to the mouth of the Mis¬ sissippi River, but not being able to ascertain anything with reference to him, he returned to Fort St. Louis. In August of that year, some of the men who were with La Salle, after passing through many difficulties and dangers, reached Fort St. Louis and reported La, Salle's death.

New Orleans

De Bienville organized another expedition and went to the Mississippi River, several years after the death of La Salle, and was at its mouth in January, 1700. In 1718 New Orleans was laid out and platted.

Company Of The West

In 1712 King Louis NIY gave the right to Crozat, one of the leading statesmen of France, to explore the Mississippi country with the expec¬ tation of finding silver and gold in that region, the same as Cortez found in Mexico and Pizarro in Peru. An expedition was organized for the purpose of exploring the country and seeking for these precious metals. They took a lot of slaves and brought them to Kaskaskia, exploring the region around the village, and across the river in the lead mines of Petosi, but they were unsuccessful in finding gold, silver or precious stones, and in 1717 Crozat surrendered his charter to the government. Then John Law organized his Company of the West, and took over the charter for further explorations, still believing that there were gold and silver in that vicinity. Under the control of this company a large number of men and slaves were taken up the river to Kaskaskia, and Fort Chartres was built above Kaskaskia. It. was built of stone and pierced for cannon and rifles, being the most pretentious fort on the American continent. It was 490 feet square, with quarters for officers and men inside, and the French commandant was installed there and so remained until the foundation of this fortress was undermined and it had to be abandoned.

Other Important Settlements

In 1744, another fort was built across the peninsula near the Kas¬ kaskia River. Settlements were made at Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Prairie De Rocher (Prairie of the Rock), some distance from Kaskaskia. After the establishment of New Orleans and settlement of Kaskaskia, the Illi¬ nois country was attached to that department. Up to that time this region had been attached to Canada and all of the commerce had been by way of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, past Grafton, and the main travel to and from Kaskaskia was along that route. After the settlement at Kaskaskia, the priests having received large grants from the govern¬ ment, had erected mills and breweries, and were farming a large part of the common land that was granted to them, so it was quite a pros¬ perous community. Until the establishment of Fort Chartres, the priests had the full government of those settlements. They built a stone church at Kaskaskia, and later a monastery, and churches were also built at Cahokia, Prairie De Rocher and Prairie Du Pont. They were all cared for by the priests who were brought to Kaskaskia and that vicinity, it being the only settlement of any importance in what is now the state of Illinois.

Early Conditions

similar commodities that they needed for their community. The settlers then at Kaskaskia were French and their slaves that they had brought with them to work in the mines, and they were a contented and pros¬ perous people. The French were traders with the Indians, and bought the furs and pelts and anything else the Indians had for sale. They had their homes in the towns, and their farming interests in the country. They built their dwellings by setting poles in the ground, to which they attached peaked roofs covered with thatch. The more pretentious houses were made of hewed poles covered with wooden boards fastened with wooden pegs. The houses were surrounded by porches and were com¬ fortable and convenient, and in them the settlers enjoyed life to a very great extent. They were living under the direction of the Jesuits. All questions which arose among them were settled by the priests. They were not annoyed by hostile tribes. All of their farming implements were made by them of wood, including plows. Their carts had wheels which were sawed from the ends of trees, and to these carts were attached oxen or ponies which they had brought from Canada, by harness made of rawhide. The settlers raised large numbers of cattle, poultry, sheep and flax. The women had spinning wheels and looms, and spun the wool, cotton and flax, and wove their own clothing on their own hand looms, and then cut out and made all the garments for the men and themselves. They also wove their own blankets and bed clothing. Their cooking was done in the fireplaces in their cabins. Other clothing aside from that made of homespun, was made from deerskin and other skins that were tanned according to Indian methods, and the leggins and moccasins were always made from them. For amusements, they had their violins and dancing, and the Indians had their tom toms at all of the gatherings. All of the transportation was done on the river with canoes and later larger boats. The voyage to New Orleans took from three to six months for the round trip. The voyageurs who made these trips were hardy Canadians who were accustomed to work upon the rivers and lakes, and enjoyed their outdoor life to the fullest extent. After they returned from a voyage to New Orleans and received their wages, they frequently spent it in a day, and were ready for another trip.

English Control

This was the foundation of the settlement of the state of Illinois, and until the close of the French and Indian War, and the peace of 1763, all of the control of these settlements had been in the hands of the French.

In 1762, France had secretly conveyed her possessions in Louisiana and on the west bank of the Mississippi River to Spain, and in the peace of 1763, France ceded that portion east of the Mississippi River, includ¬ ing Canada and Vermont, to Great Britain. In 1765, the French flag was taken down from Fort Chartres and Kaskaskia, and the English flag was flown in its place. Prior to the close of the French and Indian War, and before the transfer of this territory to Great Britain, France had issued an edict against the Jesuits, and had ordered confiscation of all their property and the expulsion of the Jesuits from the French posses¬ sions. This decree was executed at Kaskaskia, and its vicinity, in the fall of 1763, when all of the property of the Jesuits at Kaskaskia and the surrounding country, was sold, and the priests were expelled. They crossed the river to the west bank of the Mississippi, and settled at Fort Ste. Genevieve, and in 1764, St. Louis was founded, and a great many of the leading French settlers went to the new village, which was near Cahokia. A few still continued to live at Kaskaskia and its vicinity, but the majority sought refuge at St. Louis, and became the founders of that city. The British rule and the officers in charge undertook to establish the common law to some extent in their new possessions in Illinois, but they were obnoxious to the people, who had but little sym¬ pathy with them. The British rule lasted for thirteen years, when an¬ other flag was raised over Kaskaskia and other Illinois settlements, the one which still floats above them.

Chapter Yi

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK - PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS - CAPTURE OF KASKASKIA - NEW ORDER OF THINGS - FURTHER ENTERPRISES - CAMPAIGN AT, VIN¬ CENNES - A BRAVE VENTURE - RECAPTURE OF VINCENNES - COUNTY OF ILLINOIS - DISSATISFACTION - SECURING TITLE TO NORTHWEST TERRITORY - A DEFEATED PROJECT - GOVERNMENT OF NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

George Rogers Clark

Kentucky had been made a county of Virginia, and Col. George Rogers Clark was in command of the militia that had been summoned to protect that dark and bloody ground. He was born in Albemarle County, Va., in 1752, was educated in the schools of that locality, and like Washington was a surveyor, but being of venturesome spirit, he had crossed the mountains into Kentucky, following Daniel Boone and the other early settlers, and made a careful study of the county, its settlers, their difficulties and dangers, and the nature of the Indian foes. Having learned of prejudicial reports being instilled into the minds of the Indians by the English in Illinois, he concluded that the best way to protect his country was to drive the English out of the Illinois country.

Preliminary Movements

In order to learn the lay of the land, he sent parties to Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Vincennes and Detroit, and after receiving their reports, he went to Gov. Patrick Henry and his council at Williamsburg, Va., and gave in detail the situation and his plan of operation. This being ap¬ proved, Governor Henry gave him authority to raise seven companies of fifty men each, and $1,200 script to carry out his plans, and Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe and George Mason pledged that if he were successful, they would use their influence to secure an allotment of 300 acres of land for each man engaged in the enterprise. Colonel

Clark was given an order for boats and equipment, and left for bis field of operation. He descended the Ohio River, and made his ren¬ dezvous at Corn Island opposite Louisville, and there being some delay in securing all of the troops he was authorized to enlist, he determined to proceed with the 193 men then in camp.

Capture Op Kaskaskia

The little party embarked on the boats and descended to Fort Massac, where they concealed the boats in a creek, and marched overland 120 miles through forests and across hills and streams, and after eleven days, ragged and unkempt, they reached the vicinity of Kaskaskia, which was then a village of 250 cottages besides the fort and church, on July 4, 1778.

It being necessary that their presence should not be known to Rocheblave, the commandant, or his garrison, they carefully secreted themselves in the forest until night, when Colonel Clark divided his forces into three companies, one to cross the river above the fort and village, one below, and with the third he was to cross in front of the fort. Signals were to be given when he entered the fort, and then the other troops were to rush into the village with whoops and yells and clear the streets of all persons, but not to kill or injure any person unless necessary. These instructions were carried out. Clark and his company entered the fort, secured the commander and his men and not a person was killed or wounded on either side.

The New Order Of Things

The next day Colonel Clark sent Lieutenant Bowman and his com¬ pany to Cahokia, with some of the leading people of Kaskaskia who explained the situation, and the people readily submitted to the new order as did also those of Prairie Du Rocher and other settlements in that vicinity. Colonel Clark called all of the people together and ex¬ plained to them who he was, and that he represented the governor of Virginia, and was at war with the English, but that he did not make war on citizens, nor their religion or deny them their freedom to wor¬ ship as their consciences dictated. He told them that the great English army under General Burgoyne had surrendered to the Americans, and the King of France had joined the Americans against the English. He told them that if they were willing to submit to American rule, they could remain in possession of their property and religious privileges, but if they did not desire to do this, they were free to leave and live under English rule. In order that they might decide quietly and deliberately, he suggested that they hold their church services and consider these questions carefully among themselves, and report to him the next day what their conclusions were. On the next day they reported to Colonel Clark that they would remain, and were happy they were allowed to do so. Their spokesman, M. Gibault, their priest who also officiated at Vin¬ cennes, hearing that Colonel Clark proposed to send an expedition against Vincennes, told him that he was pastor of the Catholic Church at that place, that the people were all parishoners and members of his church, and that he would go to them and try and explain the situation, and he thought they would readily accept the new order and American rule. Clark readily accepted his offer, and dispatched him with an embassy on his mission, and he returned in August and reported the entire success of his work. Colonel Clark then appointed Captain Helm commandant at Vincennes and Indian agent for the Wabash.

Further Enterprises

Having settled matters in this way, Colonel Clark then turned his attention to securing the friendship of the Indians in the Illinois country, and through his understanding of their nature and character, his diplomatic skill met with great success. His original plans included the capture of Detroit, but by reason of his small force and the necessity of dividing it between the different forts and localities he was called upon to protect, the prosecution of that part of his plan was abandoned for the time being. He had sent Captain Montgomery, in charge of M. Rocheblave the British commandant, to Virginia with a report of his conquest, and November 23, 1778, a vote of thanks to Colonel Clark and his brave officers and men for their extraordinary resolution and per¬ severance in so hazardous an enterprise, and the important services thereby rendered the country, was unanimously carried in the Virginia house of delegates.

Campaign At Vincennes

Lieut-Governor Hamilton, in command of the British forces at De¬ troit, learning of the capture of Vincennes by Colonel Clark, began preparation for its re-capture. He assembled a force of 100 white soldiers and 400 or 500 Indians, with which he marched to and cap¬ tured the village and fort, and announced that in the following spring he intended to attack and drive the Americans from the Illinois country. In the meanwhile he had disposed his forces into different commands and sent them east against posts in Indiana and Ohio, leaving a force of only seventy or eighty men at Vincennes.

Colonel Clark's situation was very critical. He had previously written Governor Henry for additional men and supplies, but was in¬ formed that neither could be furnished for the reason that the resources of the colony, both men and supplies, were required in its war with the British.

A Brave Venture

Upon receipt of the information as to the conditions at Vincennes, and Colonel Hamilton's plans, Colonel Clark immediately selected forty men, placing them in charge of Capt. John Rogers, and placed them with two small cannon and four swivels on boats, instructed them to pro¬ ceed to the mouth of the Wabash River, and go up that stream to the mouth of the White River, and there to await further instructions. He then proceeded to mobilize his forces, and on February 17, 1779, eight days after receiving the report from Vincennes, with 170 men, he started on his march overland to co-operate with Captain Rogers in the attack upon the fort.

Recapture Of Vincennes

It was the rainy season, streams were all at flood, water was every¬ where, ice cold. With no boats with which to cross the stream, the men were compelled to wade or swim across. This was one of the most exhausting, perilous marches ever before attempted by man, and it took all of Clark's resources and persuasive skill and ingenuity to prevent his men from abandoning him and returning home. They finally reached the east bank of the Wabash, but Captain Rogers had not arrived, and there was no word received from him. Clark determined to proceed at once to the attack without waiting for the boats, as he regarded secrecy as one of the best aids to securing his success. Without going into all the details, it is sufficient to say that he captured the fort and Colonel Hamilton without the loss of a man, and learning that a force was coming from Detroit with supplies for the fort, he sent a force to intercept them. This force from Detroit was captured but parolled, and the supplies, $50,000.00 in value, were brought in. Hamilton was sent to Virginia where he was imprisoned for his barbarities in paying rewards for the scalps of American prisoners, on account of which practice he was called the "hair buyer." Finally, through the inter¬ cession of Thomas Jefferson, the matter was referred to General Wash¬ ington, who decided that under Colonel Clark's parole he should have his freedom and so Hamilton was discharged, but he no longer was a factor against the Americans in the Illinois country.

County Of Illinois

Colonel Clark placed Captain Helm again in command of Vincennes and after settling matters there returned by boats to Kaskaskia. All of the northwestern territory was included in the County of Illinois, and attached to Virginia, as had been previously done with Kentucky, and December 12, 1778, John Todd of that country was appointed lieu¬ tenant commander of the Illinois County. In a letter to Clark, Jef¬ ferson said: "Much solicitude will be felt for the result of yaur expedition to the Wabash; if successful, it will have an important bear¬ ing in determining our northwestern boundary."

Colonel John Todd arrived at Kaskaskia in the spring following his appointment, and on June 15, 1780, issued a proclamation to the people, notifying them of his appointment, and intentions in regard to a civil government, requesting all of the residents to yield their allegiance thereto. After consultation with Colonel Clark, an old friend of Todd's, a meeting was called of the people, in front of the church, where their meetings were usually held, and upon addresses by both Clark and Todd being made, justices were elected for the two districts of Kaskaskia and Cahokia, with representatives from the other settlements who were given jurisdiction over all matters civil and criminal. Leading men in whom the people had confidence, mostly Frenchmen, were elected, and Todd issued commissions to them. Richard Watson was appointed sheriff, and Jean Girault state's attorney. These courts being now com¬ pletely organized, held their first session about June 19. Todd soon thereafter returned to Kentucky, and never came back to Illinois. He was killed at the battle of Blue Lick, Ky., August 18, 1782.

Dissatisfaction

discontent, the complaints of settlers, the scheme of land grabbers, forgery of titles and transfers of land claims, the assumption of power by the courts to grant and confirm land grants and titles, Indian troubles, the machination of politicians and intriguers, and the general disposition of men to settle their difficulties regardless of courts, created a situation which, for the next ten or twelve years, amounted to little less than chaos, through which it seems almost miraculous the govern¬ ment should have survived. Nothing save the infinite patience, diplomacy and absolutely fair dealing of Colonel Clark accomplished this result.

Securing Title To Northwest Territory

The Articles of Confederation of the Colonies, under the name of the United States of America, was ratified by Congress in its session at Philadelphia, July 9, 1778. The treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States wras signed at Paris, September 23, 1783, and ratified by Congress, January 4, 1784, in which the former ceded all rights to Vermont and the Northwestern Territory to the United States. Besides Virginia, the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland and the Carolinas claimed rights to this territory, and in order to settle these controversies, and at the suggestion of Congress, by Act of the Virginia Legislature, December 30, 1783, Thomas Jeffer¬ son, George Wythe, George Mason and James Monroe were appointed by Virginia as commissioners to convey by deed all of the rights of Virginia in this territory to the United States, in which act it was provided that the latter should reimburse the former for all of its expenses incurred in its conquest and occupancy, and recognize all grants to settlers and their religious freedom. This deed was executed March 1, 1784. The other colonies also relinquished their claims to the United States.

A Defeated Project

An attempt was then made to organize all of this western country into seventeen states, twelve of which should have as their western front the Mississippi River, their eastern, a line running north and south crossing the Ohio River at the falls at Louisville, and the other states being between this line and the original colonies, with the proviso pro¬ hibiting slavery in all of the proposed states written therein by Jef¬ ferson, following the sentiment expressed by him in the Declaration of Independence: "that all men are created equal; that they are en¬ dowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Government Of The Northwest Territory

On July 13, 1787, the ordinance for the government of the Northwest Territory was adopted by Congress. Slavery was prohibited, and the capital was established at Marietta. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was ap¬ pointed governor, and Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum and John C. Symmes, judges. In the summer of 1788 they met at the capital, and adopted a code of laws for the whole territory, which included Illinois.