Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 3: First Settlement and Early History, 1886

Chapter 3: First Settlement and Early History

Early in the autumn of 1818 James Chapman, with his wife Betsey, a daughter of James Latham, and her brother Richard, came from Union County, Ky., to the Sangamon River, above the present city of Springfield, and there made a claim. Not long after they were joined by James Latham, who designed settling on the same river. A January thaw occurring, the land was overflowed, and Mr. Latham concluded to find a more elevated portion of country. He, Richard and a relative named Ebenezer Briggs started for this purpose, and in the course of their search came to the Elkhart Grove. Here they found a beautiful location near a spring of water, and determined to locate. The spring was not far from where Mrs. Frank Thompson now lives. They at once built a small cabin, and on the opening of spring planted a crop, in the meantime having brought farming tools from Mr. Chapman's. After the crop was cultivated they built a large double log cabin in the edge of the grove. This house was one of the best cabins erected in pioneer days. It was roomy, had a covered porch between the two parts, and was the house and home for many emigrants coining to this part of the country. As soon as it was completed Mr. Latham returned to Kentucky for his family. He brought them and his household goods in several large wagons, arriving at his Western home in September. Mr. Chapman remained in Sangamon County until the spring of 1820, when he came to the mouth of Lake Fork, built a cabin and made an improvement. Two years after he sold the place to Jerry Birks and removed further down Salt Creek near Rocky Ford, where he remained a few years. He next went to Tazewell County and resided some time, but again returned to Logan where he died.

Indians, who fancied it resembled the heart of an elk. The proper spelling is E-1-k-h-e-a-r-t. The word Itasca, the name of the lake from which the Mississippi rises, is the feminine of the same word and was by them applied to that beautiful sheet of water. Says Schoolcraft, its discoverer : "The beauty and poetry of the name so struck me, I determined it should be preserved."

During the spring of 1820 James Turley located on the east side of Lake Fork timber. He was the first settler there. He was a prominent man in the pioneer days of the county, and left a large family. In the snmmer Aquilla Davis settled near the grove. John Stephenson came in the autumn, and probably a few others. The settlements now began to embrace other localities, following the stream so as to get within the timber for warmth and fuel.

Mr. Latham being the first in the county deserves^more than passing notice. His house was always open to the traveler, and his hospitality unlimited. He was a native of Virginia, and was very well situated when he came to Illinois. In 1824 he was made Indian Agent by President Adams, and removed with his family at once to Fort Clark (Peoria). Two years after he died there, and the family returned to Elkhart Grove to the old home. Mr. Latham was buried here. His family was always well known, and all became useful members of society. Richard Latham was better known in the county than his father. He was a young man on his arrival, married soon after and became one of the most prominent citizens of early days. He built the Kentucky House, so well known in those days, and where all travelers delighted to pass their evenings. It was almost always the stopping place for travelers, especially lawyers, many of whom have since become noted in the Nation, when attending court in Postville. The old house was burned about 1875. Eichard Latham remained in this county until 1852, when lie removed to Springfield where he died.

On the 22d of October, shortly after the arrival of James Latham and his family, Robert Musick with his family arrived from Gibson County, Ind., and settled on Sugar Creek. He came out the autumn before, prospecting, and the next spring returned and put in a crop. He brought the family in the autumn. His family consisted of himself, his wife, two daughters and" one son. Mr. Musick remained on the farm until his death in 1846. John Hamlin, who afterward became one of Peoria's best and most infiuential citizens, came on a prospecting tour through this part of the West, and arriving in the vicinity of Elkhart Grove in the autumn of

Fiest Settlement And Eaelt History

1819, remained with Mr. Latham all winter. The next spring he made an improvement near; but not long after abandoned it and went to Peoria, then a small place, whose inhabitants were chiefly French and American traders, and Indians. The individuals enumerated were in all probability all the white people living in the bounds of the county during the winter of 1819 and '20.

It is thouglit John Porter came in the fall of 1819. This would make him contemporary with the earliest settlers. It is probable, however, he did not locate until a year after. Richard Latham made an improvement in the spring of 1820 at the grove. Charles Turley moved here in the year 1820 or '21; the exact date can not now be determined. The persons mentioned were about all the settlers within the limits of the present county by the close of the season of 1820. A few others may have been here, but their names are now lost, and they have passed away. They were probably persons in search of a home, and only stopped to see the country, afterward locating elsewhere.

It was during this summer that the first mill in the county was built by Mr. Latham, who saw its necessity and began its erection. It was a common horse-mill, and was a great convenience to the settlers. Before this they had to go to Edwardsville, a distance of over a hundred miles, to mill. When the horse-mill was completed, men came a great ways to get grinding done, and often would camp out while waiting their turn. It will be well to notice the habits of life of these pioneers. Money was generally an unknown quantity with them, and all luxuries of life, if groceries, boots and shoes or store clothing may be termed luxuries, were obtained by barter. Tiieir daily life was very simple, their wants few, because easily satisfied, and their generosity and kindness unbounded. Corn meal was a staple article of food prepared in various ways. A very common mode of making corn meal was to take a piece of tin, generally a worn-out pan, and make a grater and grate the corn. It was often prepared after the Indian fashion by hollowing out a log or gtump,and, placing the grain in the cavity, pound it with a heavy pestle. This would pulverize it, when it would be sifted and ready for use. No stoves were thought of. Indeed for many years after the early settlement of the county a stove was unheard of. It wasstatedatoneofthe meetingsoftheoldsettlers,that at one time not a woman lived in the settlement who knew how to bake bread in one. Yery shortly after the establishment of the town of Springfield, a store was started there by Major Elijah lies. He was a native of Kentucky and after attaining his majority herded cattle in the mountains of that State. In 1818 he visited St.Louis; from there he went to Old Franklin, Mo., opposite the present town of Brownsville. In 1821 he visited Kentucky, making the journey on horseback, passing over the present site of the Illinois State capital. Being greatly pleased with the country there, he determined to return and settle. He arrived in June, and in July opened the first store in the place. "When Mr. Eobert Buckles moved to Logan County in 1822, he came through Springfield, and this store was the only one of consequence there. John Williams was clerk. He was then getting $10 per month; but Major lies gave him $120, or $30 more than the agreed price for the year, and entered into an agreement with him to clerk for five years for $200 per year. At the end of the time he purchased the store of Mr. lies, and was for many years a very successful merchant. This was the trading point for several years after the settlenrient of this part of (then) Sangamon County. It must be remembered by the reader that until 1839 all Logan County and much more territory was included in Sangamon County.

The following year, after the location of the settlers already noticed, there came in the spring Benjamin Brigg, who lived at "the grove," on Richard Latham's place. In his family was Emily Hubbard, his wife's sister, who about 1824 was married to Richard. It is a matter of some dispute as to whether this was not the first marriage within the limits of the county. It has been found im possible to settle the question definitely. Mr. Briggs afterward went to Tazewell County, where he accumulated a comfortable competence and lived until his death. Aqnilla Davis came from Kentucky. After living awhile in this county he went to Sangamon County, where he lived a number of years. He returned, however, to Lake Fork, where he lived during the remainder of his life. This same season several others located. They, however, remained only a short time, and can hardly be classed among the early settlers of this county.

About a year after, Robert Musick settled on Sugar Creek; he was joined by Ezekiel Hopkins. This latter pioneer came with his family from Indiana. He remained, however, only about two years, when he returned to that State. He and Mr. Musick were the earliest settlers here. Mrs. Judy remembers that when they arrived her father prepared a small cabin, and that they at once made it their home. On the afternoon of the day of her arrival she, her mother and her sister " Hetty," as she was called, went out into the woods, and proceeding but a short way therein discovered two fine bee trees. Tliese were soon after felled and furnished them an abundant supply of this most delicious of native sweets. The finding of these trees was a very common affair, so abundant were they. The Indians possessed a remarkable instinct for finding honey. For many years following the early settlement of this country honey was commonly used to sweeten coffee ; and at the table, instead of asking if the visitor would take sugar in his coffee, the inquiry would be, " Do you use honey in your coffee ? " Sugar was a costly article then unless made from the native sugar tree, which could be done by all, and honey being plenty and to be had only by a few hours' labor, was made its substitute. Colonel R. B. Latham says : " If all the walnut trees destroyed in this county for the sake of the wild honey found in them were collected now, they would yield a handsome fortune to their possessors."

The same might be said of many other forest trees. In the spring and summer of 1822 Robert Buckles, James Turley and Jerry Birks located on Lake Fork. Mr. Buckles came from White County to this locality. He and Mrs. Buckles came in the spring on horseback, and remained with Mr. Birks, who bought Mr. Chapman's claim. In June they returned to White County following Indian trails, and in October came again to this settlement, and located for the winter in a small cabin near the mouth of Lake Fork. It was a rude structure, little better than a rail pen, but served the purpose of a home to those two and their small family during the winter.

A few cabins had been built along the eastern side of the timber, by some early settlers, but vacated for fear of the Indians. Mr. Buckles entered one of these in the spring of 1823, and opened a farm. It extended into the prairie some distance. On the bottom near him Jeremiah Birks broke about forty acres of prairie. This field was noted for many miles over the country as one of the largest prairie fields cultivated. Mr. Latham was, however, the first to cultivate prairie soil in the county. At first all emigrants to this county settled in the timber. Many of them had no means of cultivating the prairie. It is narrated that one of the most prominent men in Bureau County settled on the prairie to the great surprise of his pioneer neighbors, and not long after, being on a ticket for the Legislature, was defeated for no other reason thin that he was at the time making preparations to cultivate his claini. His constituency declared that a man who knew no more tlian to venture out on the prairie to farm did not know enough to represent them in the State councils. One reason for the settlement in the timber was the natural protection from the cold winds. This was a most sensible move, and in the poor condition of the houses then, doubtless many lives were saved from the winter's cold, or merciless winds. Another reason was, nearly all these pioneers came from a wooded country. Man learns only by experience and by example. Hence many pioneers would clear out a field in the woods, and expend vastly more labor preparing it for the plow than would be required to plant and cultivate several crops. Another objection was the poor tools with which to do the work. The "bar-share" was the only plow then in use. It had a wooden mold-board, and was with difficulty made to clean properly. Y"et it was made to do goad work. Several yoke of oxen would be hitched to it, and from mere force, if nothing else, it was drawn through the ground. It was in time displaced by a moldboard made of iron rods, steel faced. This was quite an improvement, and was for many years the standard breaking plow. The first attempts to cultivate the prairie in this part of the State were made in Sangamon County by William Drennan. It is thus narrated in Power's Early Settlers of Sangamon County : "Early in 1818 William Drennan, his half-brother Joseph, his son-in-law, Joseph Dodds, and George Cox left their families near Alton, and with their teams, farming implements, provisions, and all the young men and boys belonging to the families who were able to assist in making a house, started, piloted by a young man named William Moore, who had belonged to a company that had been over the country before in fighting the Indians. He was called an Indian ranger. Arriving at Sugar Creek, they took a day or two for exploring, and on March 10, 1818, drove to the spot on wnich William Drennan built his cabin, and which proved to be section 32, town 14, range 5 west, when the Grovernment made its survey. It is on the northwest side of Sugar Creek,and twelve miies nearly due south of Springfield, and near where the Sugar Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church no w stands. Immediately after their arrival they built two cabins. One was occupied by George Cox alone; the other by William and Joseph Drennan and Joseph Dodds. As they had not the slightest idea of cultivating the prairie, these three men agreed to clear all the land they could in one body, and have a crop from it that year in common". They cleared the timber from about fifteen acres, fenced it, plowed as well as they could among the roots and stumps with a little, short, wooden mold-board plow, and planted it in corn and pumpkin seed. The soil in the timber was very light, so much so that in many places they would sink in almost over their shoes. In fencing this land they inclosed about three-fourths of an acre of prairie. After they had plowed and planted their crop, one of the men suggested that it was quite a waste to have that under fence and nothing growing on it and proposed that they break it up and plant something on it. In order to make sure work, they uncoupled one of the wagons, hitched four horses to the forward wheels, and fastened their wooden mold-board plow to the axle.

Try as they would, the plow would not enter the sod, and they reluctantly gave it up. While they were taking off the team and plow, one of the boys, full of fun and mischief, took up a hoe and began to shave off the grass, saying he could break the prairie with his hoe. That suggested the idea to one of the men, and he also took a hoe and began shaving the grass. It was the work of but a few moments to remove the sod from a spot several feet in diameter. He then called to the other men, and proposed that, as they were well advanced with their work, and there were seven or eight of them, and all had hoes, that they call all hands together, and shave the grass from the whole piece, plant something on it, and see what would be the result. The man spoken to first, laughed at the idea as ridiculous; but after studying a moment, he fell in with it, and the men and boys were all called up, the grass shaved off, holes dug, and corn and pumpkin seed planted. They did not touch it any more; that killed the grass. The crop was twice as large in proportion to the area as that planted among the stumps, and the next spring it broke up the nicest of any land they had ever seen.

By the year 1823 some improvements in farming implements were made, and the settlers of Logan were beginning to profit by their introduction.

The cabin which Eobert Buckles entered in the spring of 1823 was a very fair sample of almost all occupied then. It contained neither a nail, brick, nor saw board. The doors were hung on a wooden hinge. The chimney was made of mud and sticks, and the floor of split puncheon. The roof was made of walnut shingles, split out and held on by weight poles.

The cupboard was made of a walnut log, hollowed out square, and notches made therein, on which split shelves were placed to hold a few dishes they owned. A cradle was commonly made out of a hollow sycamore log, sawn the necessary length.

About this year, one of the first deaths in this county occurred, that of Sarah Finders. The cofEn was made of a walnut log, hewed out to receive the bodj, which, after being placed in the cavity, -was very neatly covered by a slab made to fit closely over it. She was buried in the Turley graveyard.

There were now quite a number of families in the different settlements. These were known as the Elkhart, the Sugar Creek, the Lake Fork, and the Salt Creek settlements. Afterward, about 1827, Kickapoo was added. In tracing intelligently the early history of Logan County it will be necessary to follow each of these settlements in detail.

The settlement of James Latham, Richard Latham, James Chapman, Jerry Birks, Robert Buckles, Hezekiah Davis, Aquilla Davis, John Stephenson, John Porter, Robert Musick and a few others have already been noticed. Tlxese came during the years 1819 to 1823. After that date the year of settlement cannot now be definitely ascertained. The following persons are, however, known to have settled on the Lake Fork, prior to 1830. Benjamin Davis, a son of Aquilla Davis, came from Kentucky. He was a Baptist preacher, and was one of the first ministers in the county. In aiter years he removed to Iowa. Charles Turley came from Kentucky here, and remained until his death. Abram Bowman was from the same State. Samuel Key was a young man when he settled here. He afterward married and remained on his farm until his death. Ezekiel Bowman, with his family, was from Ohio. He died in the county. After the occurrence of the sudden freeze in 1839 he often told of finding frogs frozen with their mouths open, and said he knew the change was so sudden that they did not have time to close them. James Taylor, a Baptist minister from Tennessee, settled on the Lake Fork, but in after years moved away. Hugh Depriest was also an early settler, who afterward removed. Washington and Jefferson Turley came with their father, James Turley, from Kentucky. The former remained on a farm near his father's until about 1840, when he removed to Mt. Pulaski, where he died. The latter married a Miss Trotter, and settled on Round Prairie, in Sangamon County, where he died. Charles Harper, Sr., was probably on the Lake Fork at the time of the deep snow.

He remained until his death. Spence settled about the same time and afterward removed. Humphrey Scroggin was one of the earliest settlers here, and lived on his farm until his death.

Boston Finders, another earlj settler, remained here during his lifetime. Carter Scroggins, from Kentucky, settled in 1825. He died here. Hugh Collins, from Indiana, Charles Barney, from the same State, and George Girtman, from Missouri, were all earlj' settlers, and all died here. The latter was known, far and near, for the excellent buckskin he made, and which was largely worn by the young men. Hiram Bowman came from Ohio, but afterward removed to Missouri. "William Copeland was among the early settlers. It is stated in the records of the Old Settlers' Association, that Mrs . Miller Copeland was the first white child born in the county. This is, however, an error, as Mrs. Martha Turley's birth preceded hers some time. Drury Martin, John Hueston and Solomon Blue, old settlers, are all now dead. David Sims came from Kentucky, and is yet living. Jeremiah and Richard Birks were from Tennessee, and are both now dead. William Turner is yet living. Michael and Abram Mann, John Jessee and Thomas, Sr., Lucas, and Samuel Myers were from Ohio, and all are now in their graves. Elijah Friend went to Iowa. William Stallings came from Ohio. He removed to Iowa where he died. Theodore Lawrence married here, and remained until his death. His brothers, John and Bobert, are also dead. James and N. R. Cass were from Kentucky, and are now in their graves. Thomas R. Skinner, an early settler, became one of the most prominent men in the county. He was County Surveyor and afterward, for many years, County Judge, and was one of the most upright men ever on the judicial bench. He was serving in this capacity at the time of his death . While he was living no man could have been elected against him, so much confidence did the people have in him. Judge Reuben C. Ewing, the successor of Judge Skinner, was equally well and favorably known. He was born in Tennessee, in 1801, and came to White County, 111., in 1809, where he lived till 1830. He filled the office of Sherifi" there several terms. In April, 1830, he came to Moultrie County, where he resided until 1848, when he was elected to the Legislature, and served several years. In 1854 he came to Logan County, and in 1857 succeeded Judge Skinner to the office of County Judge. He filled this office until 1869. In 1876 he returned to Moultrie County, where he died on the 10th of July of that year.

Aside from the Latham family at Elkhart Grove, several others came, who generally remained but a short time, and then went to the other settlements. Among these may be mentioned the Stephenson family, who afterward went to Sangamon County. Dr. Jayne, for many years a prominent physician in the State capital, made rails for Mr. Stephenson, at one time, for 50 cents per hundred. Mr. Latham had two or three cabins built near his own house, which he rented to persons moving into the country until they could find a location. A family by the name of Lackland, from Tennessee, lived in one of these cabins. A Mr. Glover made a clearing in the timber, where it was about one-fourth of a mile wide, and opened a farm here. Though a stretch of prairie, more than eight miles in extent, lay on each side of him, he had no idea its soil could be cultivated. John and Henry Crumbau rented land of Kichard and Mrs. Latham for two years. At the expiration of that time they went to McLean County. The springs of pure water in the grove were an inducement to locate here. Where water was not obtained by the pioneers in springs or creeks, wells were dug. To supply clothing, flax and cotton were raised, and spun by the women. Shoes were a luxury. Often when a young lady went to church she carried her shoes and stockings until near the place of assemblage, when she would pause and put them on. This was done to save them as much as possible. Who of the young ladies of to day would do that? Many of them, did the necessities of the occasion require it. Human nature is not retrograding, and economy is as much a virtue now as then, and only requires a need to call it out. Springfield was then the postofiice, county seat and market for all these settlers. "Wheat brought from 30 to 40 cents; corn, 6 to 10. One pair of shoes lasted a year. Boots were unknown. Some one about the year 1828 or 1829, had a pair of red-top boots made when on a visit to the older State, and on his return was known, far and near, by those "red-top boots." The boys often wore buckskin trowsers and buckskin hunting shirts. As long as they were kept dry they did well; but when once wet, were almost useless.

Keturning to the list of pioneers, and following the Sugar Creek settlement, after Robert Musick and Ezekiel Hopkins, already mentioned, Daniel Lantis is found to be the next settler here. He removed from Ohio with his family, and located on Salt Creek about the year 1823. He, however, soon came to Sugar Creek. About 1853 he went to Champaign County, where he died in 1866.

First Settlement And Eaelt History

His brother Henry may have preceded him a short time on Sugar Creek, as he came from Ohio about 1824, and settled at once in that locality. He afterward went to Tazewell County, where he died. John Reed came from Kentucky with his family in the year 1827. He lived on Sugar Creek twenty-seven years, when he went to Lincoln. Jerry Dixon removed from Kentucky in 1827, and lived on his farm in this settlement until his death. Abraham Altic came in 1829, and in 1830 moved to Salt Creek. In 1835 he returned to Sugar Creek, where he died in 1840. Archy Brj-- ant came from Kentucky in 1827, and remained until his death. "William (" Pap ") Ryan came from Kentucky with his family in 1830. He went to Missouri, wliere he died. His house was for many years the stopping place in tliis settlement for travelers. Christopher Orendorff and family came early. He built a mill here, the second or third in the county. Daniel Lantis built a saw-mill on this creek, which was afterward converted into a grist-mill. When Robert Musick settled he went to Jacob Moore, a weaver and blacksmith, for work and repairs. 'He also had a mortar in which to pound corn. A horse-mill was afterward erected on Sugar Creek by Fred. Ewing. Mr. Musick's house was partly constructed out ot boards sawn by a whip saw. He did the greater part of his trading, as well as all settlers here, in Pekin as soon as a store was opened there. Mary Ann Musick, now Mrs. Judy, was married April 31, 1829. This was probably the first wedding in this settlement. Mr. Judy settled in Tazewell County in 1825. He was personally acquainted with many of the Indians, who were here then in great numbers. He often shot with them on a trial of skill, and generally defeated them. They had three large villages merged into one near where Bloomington now stands. Here the Kickapoos, Pottawatomies and Delawares dwelt, and during the summer months hunted over the prairie now comprising Logan County. The Kickapoo Creek took its name from the tribe of Indians dwelling in its vicinity. Some of these could talk tolerable English. Mr. Judy knew well Jim Crow, a Kickapoo chief, Toby White Eyes, of the Delawares, and Big Bull, of the Pottawatomies. Robert Musick had lost a toe from one foot, and was an object of much curiosity to these children of the forest, who knew him as the " Man-without-a-toe." He was also a good marksman, and was often challenged by the Indians to shoot at a mark. They much respected him on account of his skill with a gun. Indians and deer were a common every-day sight. The former often camped near this stream. They fed on hominy and deer's meat. The former was made by boiling it until thoroughly cooked. They had procured iron vessels at some of the Government agencies. Tlie venison was cut into long strips and slowly cooked over a fire of coals. They had also procured blankets at the agency, and many of the squaws wore bright colored dresses.

One of the largest Indian towns was not many miles from the present town of Pontiac, county seat of Livingston County. Another village was on what was called Monk Creek, a small tributary of Sangamon River. After the settlers began to take possession of Logan County, the Indians gradually withdrew, until within a few years, by 1836, none were to be found. At the salt spring on Salt Creek was a famous place for their gatherings before the whites came. Here they made salt, and annually made a visit to the place for this purpose. The spring seems to have been equally well known to all the wild animals for many miles around it. Old settlers inform the present generation how they have seen the place when for several rods around the spring the ground was eaten away to the depth of several inches. This had been done by the wild animals, who, having a fondness for the salty taste imparted to the earth wherever saturated by the water, would come to the spring whenever nature demanded more of this element for their food, and satisfy their taste by slowly eating the salty earth. After the establishment of Indian agencies east of this locality, the Indians of other tribes would occasionally pass through the county on their way to and from the agency. They would almost always stop a day or two near some of the streams, and hunt in order to obtain a supply of food. Tiieir manner of hunting the deer was for a number of warriors to surrouud a certain scope of country, and gradually close in upon whatever game they coald secure. As they advanced nearer and nearer together they would commence a series of yells and vociferations, whicli would thoroughly frighten the deer, who would run from one side of the ring to anothei", only to hear the same outcry, and if sufiiciently near, a shot would be fired at them by some of the hunters, These being mounted on ponies, and riding at a furious gait, would be very imcertain in their shots, and seldom brought the deer down until within close range. The hunter did not always seem to care as to the result of his shot, as the excitement of the chase was to him quite enchanting, and he often prolonged it to gratify himself. After the chase they would remove the best part of the carcasp, and, building a fire in an excavation in the ground, would suspend the meat over the fire after it had burned to coals. Here it could slowly cook, and would in this manner become excellent eating. It would also keep fur Tuany days, which was the Indian's primary object in the proceeding. Sometimes they would become tired of the venison, and would go to the settlers' houses to exchange it for " hog-ee meat," as they called it. As they cared more for the quality than for the quantity, they would often get only a small piece of " hog-ee meat" in exchange for a large piece of venison. On one occasion several of them came on this errand to one of the settlers. One of them brought with him his gun, a large smooth bore rifle. While at the house the white man showed the Indian, who appeared to be the chief, his gun, a small rifle, and by signs indicated to him he would like to exchange. The Indian, after carefully looking it over, raised it to his shoulder, and, sighting it, gave an ejaculatory " tush," throwing his head to one side. He then picked up his own gun, sighted it, and giving another " tush," inclined his head toward the earth. The pioneer knew the first movement indicated that the hunter supposed that if the deer was hit by a ball from such a small rifle it would only shake its head in disdain; but if struck by a ball from his gun, it would fall dead to the earth.

After the Black Hawk war, the most of the Indians went to their reservations west of the Mississippi, while the remainder gradually left the country on the approach and settlement of the white man.

In speaking of the Indians, Mr. C. C. Ewing, now a resident of Lawndale, and an early settler, says: "They were of the Kickapoo tribe about our place. The Government permitted them to remain and hunt, after having treated with them for their lands." He further says: '' These savages were a fearful sight to us boys, they being the first we had ever seen. Some were painted difl'erent colors; others had heavy rings in their ears, or had notches cut in them. Their camp was close to our place, and we visited them frequently. They were quite friendly, and we could easily learn their peculiarities. They would spread their deer hides around their wigwams and cut the venison in small slices, and place these on the hides to dry in the sun. Their dogs, which were numerous, had first choice in these pieces, and were generally undisturbed. When a deer would come in sight, the entire squad of braves would rush for their ponies and ride pell-mell after it, shooting from the backs of their ponies. As soon as the deer fell it would be slung across the back of a pony trained to the purpose and brought to camp. On Sundays all was quiet in the village; no hunting was allowed on that day. When their dinner was prepared of venison and soup, the warriors arraigned themselves around the pot in a circle, spoon or ladel in hand. The chief placed himself in a prominent position, and, amid deep silence, pronounced a harangue in the Indian tongue, which," says Mr. Ewing, "we supposed was saying grace. The moment he concluded, each Indian rushed for the pot as if on a race for life, and rapidly began to devour its contents." Their habits were disgustingly dirty and filthy. The favorable opinion of the early settlers concerning these natives was very much changed when the Black Hawk war broke out, and they committed some startling atrocities. These were not, how ever, within the confines of this county, but generally further north.

The third settlement in this county was made on Salt Creek, so named from its saline springs, after Mr. Chapman's location and selling to Mr. Birks in 1822. The next settler here was probably Samuel McClure. He located on Salt Creek in 1823. William McGraw was another pioneer; also William I,ong. In 1825 Philip Suiter settled in what is now Broadwell Township. Solomon Wood located near the Eocky Ford; Nicholas Moore, at Hurricane Point in 1830. He afterward went to Iowa and died there. East of the mouth of Lake Fork, on Salt Creek, Abram Vande venter settled in 1828. In 1826 or '27 Charles Council and Montgomery Warrick came. Samyel Musick located in

1823 or '24 near the present village of Middletown. In 1826 John Barnes came with his family from Kentucky. He lived two years in one of Richard Latham's cabins and then removed to Salt Creek, settling in what is now Corwin Township. James Latham had by this date removed to Peoria, having been appointed Indian Agent by President Adams in 1824. He lived here but two years when death occurred. Between the years

1824 and 1827 or '28 John, Eobert and James Downing, David Lowry and James Morrow settled. Harry Crocker came from the south part of the State, married and died here. Henry De ment settled about 1829. Moses Moore, a nephew of Nicholas, located about the same time. Stephen Moore settled here, but afterward moved to Postville, where he was among the first county officers. He again moved, this time going to Iowa. J. D. and William Dement were from Kentucky, and are now dead. Joseph Bowles purchased a farm of a Mr. Dotson, an early settler, about 1830. Mr. Bowles went to Sangamon County, but returned to Logan in 1840 or '41, where he died. Brooks Eandolph came from Virginia about the time of the "deep snow." He remained during his lifetime. James Randolph was a native of the same place. Willoughby Randolph also came from Virginia. He removed to Iowa. John Vandeventer was from the Old Dominion, and lived on Salt Creek until his death. Alfred and Edmond Sams were natives of Tennessee, and are both in their graves. Preston Pendleton and wife came from Kentucky in 1829, and settled on what is now the John Martin farm. After various removals they located at the Big Grove on the Kickapoo, where Mr. Pendleton died in 1871. His widow still lives. Peter Bashaw settled near the Rocky Ford about 1827. About ten years after he went to Missouri. John Oritz is yet living on the old homestead. His father went to DeWitt County, where he died. Samuel Evans settled about 1827 or '28. He afterward moved to the place known as the Boren farm. He next established a ferry at the Lincoln cemetery. This he changed to a toll-bridge, which he in after years sold to the county. He then removed to his farm, where he died about 1849. Berryman Vaughn was from Ohio, and settled here on James Chapman's farm, which he purchased. He died on his homestead. Peter J. Cowarden also died on his homestead. Thomas Briggs settled early; he died here.

The remaining settlers, before the " deep snow," located on Kickapoo Creek. The first settler here did not arrive until 1826. Prettyman Marvel arrived near the eastern limits of the county, in the timber skirting this stream, in February, 1826. He and his wife scraped away the snow from beside a big log, kindled a fire, wrapped themselves in their blankets and slept during the night. They came from Gibson County, Ind. They moved near Waynesville, DeWitt County, where Mr. Marvel died in 1842. Mrs. Marvel is yet living. One week after their arrival John Barr and wife came from the same place and located near them. They came in an ox-cart, and camped out while on the way. Felix Jones settled near the present Atkinson place, and is now dead. Dr. Throgmorton brought his family here from Indiana. He removed to Mason County, where he died. Chauncy Spears and Matthew Robb are both in their graves. Thomas Robert, James and Samuel Mck^

Clure settled near the junction of Salt Creek and Kickapoo about 1823. John and Reuben Ewing, Hiram Chapin, Benjamin Shipley and Abraham Hamilton are all dead, and were all early residents. Timotliy Hoblit located about 1829. He was from Ohio. William Hutchinson came from Indiana. Andrew Brock and Hiram Bowman, from Ohio. Thefirst two are dead. Mr. Bowman was one of the first teachers here. He was a Baptist minister, and in after years went to Missouri. Joseph Kod^ers removed to Spoon River, and there died. Samuel Hoblit came from Ohio to Sangamon County in 1827. He removed to the Big Grove in the spring of 1829, where he resided until his death. The Hoblit family are now very numerous, and are among the best citizens of the county. Samuel Hoblit was for many years the only mechanic in this part of the county, and performed all repairs on the farming implements used at that time. John Seott owned a small corn mill built by Zion Sugars in 1828, on the Kickapoo. It was run by water, and had one set of stones. It was the first mill in this part of the county. "Wheat was ground on it, and bolted by hand. It was afterward changed to a saw- mill. Thomas Lucas, from Ohio, died here. Charles Council moved to Iowa, Thomas Davis to Missouri, James Ennis, from Tennessee, to the same State. Joseph Clifton settled on a hill near Jerry Bently's. Adam Stephens and wife came from Ohio. They are yet living. Matthew Martin came from Indiana, and afterward settled in DeWitt County, where he died. Ezra Knapp is dead. Gabriel Watt probably came from Indiana. He, William Lee and a Mr. Overstreet were among the first Methodist preachers here. George Clark moved to Delavan Prairie. Levi Jolmston is dead. James Barr, lately deceased, was an early settler here, and a prominent man.

The first postoffice and trading point for these settlers was Springfield. The next were Bloomington, Pekin and Waynesville. This small town in DeAVitt County was laid out by George Isham. Here the settlers first attended church. Many of them went to Peoria for trade. It was then better known as Fort Clark. In addition to the early settlers mentioned, several names will be found in the history of Atlanta. They are those who located in its vicinity. The habits of life of these pioneers were the same as those previously narrated. Their early life was as full of interest as any. John Barr had one clevis when he came. He and others used hickory withes in fastening implements together where any strength was required. They broke ground with three or four

Between the various streams on which were the settlements, already described, no person located until later years. The country remained unbroken in many places until the advent of the railroad in 1853. When J. T. Ohesnut settled in what is now Prairie Creek Township there were but three houses in that part of the county. Delavan was his trading point. Thomas Fletcher was the first settler here. Before closing this it will be very interesting to read the experiences of some of these pioneers as narrated by them in letters and at the gatherings of tlie old settlers. In a letter written to the secretary of the Old Settlers' Association,' Mr. C. C. Ewing, in naTating the early experiences of his father's family, says: "I emigrated with my parents from Tazewell County about the 30th of May, 1829. "We settled upon the border of Kickapoo, about one mile west of where the present village of Lawndale now stands. My father brought with him 160 head of cattle, besides other stock. We had to settle on raw land, there being but little cultivated. We broke sod and planted sodcorn until about the 25th of June, on which to winter our stock. The fall was very favorable, and the corn matured well. There was any quantity of blue-stem prairie grass. Of this we availed ourselves abundantly. Yet we had to buy corn and haul it four miles, that being the winter of the deep snow. We hitched two or three yoke of oxen to a sled and drove after the corn in the morning, and would frequently find our trail completely covered on our return. The snow was two or three feet deep. Sun-dogs frequentlj' followed the sun all day, and the weather was often bitterly cold. We got through the winter with a lot of very poor stock, but the grass being abundant the following spring, we soon forgot the hard winter."

Wild game was remirkably plenty, and all settlers had an abundance of meat. The county seat of Tazewell County was then at Fremont, about thirty miles distant. To neither it nor Springfield was there a road. Each one on making a journey to either of these towns followed an Indian trail. As Pekin was rather a poor market, the settlers determined to try Chicago. The journey there would occupy about four weeks. Wheat could be sold there at from 75 to 90 cents per bushel, while in Pekin it would bring but 50 or 60 cents. Salt, sugar, coffee and other articles needed in the settlement would be brought back. Purchases could be made cheaper in Chicago than Pekin, and on the return of the party could always be sold in the settlement. Mr. Ewing further says: "The item of milling was the most to be dreaded. Cooking stoves were very rarely seen, while a match was not thought of. In our long drives to Chicago we had to keep a supply of flints, steel, tow and punk. With these we made our lires in camp. My father made what he called a mortar, in which to make meal, by hollowing out a solid block of wood and making a pestle to fill the cavity. He fastened an iron wedge in the end of the pestle, which was attached to a sweep, with a round through it at the proper height for the hand. At this grinder, thus roughly made, the boys would have to put in their idle time. Another mode for making meal was to make a grater out of tin. We often preferred these rude mills to going thirty or forty miles to a horse-mill, and wait for those ahead of us. The journey would often require three or four days' time. Flour was a rarity here, and when obtained was of a dirty, sandy color. This was caused by threshing the wheat on a ground floor by driving horses over it. When it was cleaned it was ground in one of those venerable horse-mills, then so few. Yet this was all we could afford. Biscuit was eaten once a week - on Sunday."

At this date there was a small store at Bloomington and one at Joliet, where the settlers on their way to and from Chicago stopped. They often came here to trade. The comfort of the settlers was somewhat advanced by the erection of Orendorffs gristmill. It was built on Sugar Creek, and was since known as Morgan's mill. The burrs were made out of the " lost rocks," as they are called, which were found scattered about over the prairies. They were undoubtedly brought here by the action of water ages ago. They are very hard and durable, and are commonly known as " nigger-heads." This mill was a great convenience to the Sugar Creek and Kickapoo settlers, and had an extensive patronage. A water-mill was erected on Salt Creek about the same time, but was useful only in high-water time, and was then not considered very safe. The first water-mill in Logan County was built by John Glenn, before the deep snow. The Orendorff mill would grind wheat, but the flour was of an inferior quality.

As soon as settlers began to go to Chicago for supplies, Pekin, profitting by the admonition, began to improve. Men in mercantile pursuits knew it was profitable to go to that market for supplies, it was profitable for them to meet the demand, and they

Fiest Settlement And Early Histoey The Deep Snow And Sudden Change

These two important events mark an era in the early life of the pioneers of Logan County. Those living in the county now who passed through them, refer to them as times never since repeated. The snow began falling about "Wednesday, between Christmas of 1830 and January, 1831, and continued falling until it attained a depth of nearly three feet on the level. There was a tradition among the Indians that a similar snow fell about thirty years before. Reference is made to it in the history of the Northwest, in this volume. So completely did the snow cover everything, that wild game perished in great numbers. Over the snow a crust formed, and, the temperature remaining low, everyone walked over the country on this. If a track was broken, the snow would fall, and ere long it would be filled. The people were often put to great straits to preserve life and property. Mr. Power, in his history of the old settlers of Sangamon County, tells of a man named Stout, living alone on Sugar Creek, who, to preserve his life, felled a large tree near his cabin, cut off a log and hollowed out a cavity large enough to contain his body. He made his bed on shavings, as he had done before, placed the trough along side of it, and, lying down, would pull it over him. The warmth of his body soon filled the cavity, and he was preserved from freezing. When the weather was extremely cold, he would remove his fire just before retiring, scraping the coals and ashes carefully away, and make his bed where the fire had been. Mr. Ewing relates that deer, wild cats, catamounts, foxes, ground or hedge hogs, badgers, rac coons, foxes, opossums, and prairie wolves were abundant during the autumn. The deer were fat and abounded in great numbers. So plenty were they that people did not care to hunt them. The crust overspreading the snow would allow all animals as well as man to pass over it in safety. The deer runs by a succession of leaps, and the faster the run the greater the force with which their feet strike the ground. Their feet being small and hard, when pursued the deer would break through this crust, and fall an easy prey to the wolves and other animals in its pursuit. The wolves would generally seize the deer by the throat, and suck its blood. The hunter, following and finding the carcass, would find it untouched, and he had only to take the choice parts for the venison.

Mr. Ewing says: " My brothers and myself concluded we would catch some deer aud tame them. Accordingly we captured a few choice ones, but found they could not be easily tamed, or made to eat, and we were soon compelled to release them."

Not a few persons became lost during this winter, and perished. Their bodies were not found until in the spring, when the snow passed off with a great freshet.

The sudden change occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 20, 1836. It was one of the most remarkable phenomena ever recorded. Kev. John England says: "I moved down near Athens, and was getting out puncheons for the floor of my cabin when the big snow fell. It was all I could do during the day to keep wood enough cut to last all night, and walk a mile and a half to get corn to feed my hog and horses." Mr. Power says concerning this sudden change: " Mr. Washington Crowder remembers that on the morning of Dec. 20, 1836, he started from a point on Sugar Creek about eight miles south of Springfield to the latter place, for the purpose of obtaining a license for the marriage of himself and Miss Isabel Laughlin. There were several inches of snow on the ground; the rain was then falling slowly, and had been long enough to turn the snow to slush. Every time the horse put his foot down it went through the slush, splashing it out on all sides. Mr. Crowder was carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the rain, and wore an overcoat reaching nearly to his feet. "When he had traveled something like half the distance, and had reached a point about four miles south of Springfield, he had a fair view of the landscape, ten or twelve miles west and north. He saw a very dark cloud a little north of west. It appeared to be approaching him very rapidly, accompanied by a terrific, deep, bellowing sound. He thought it prudent to close his umbrella, else the wind might snatch it from his hands, and dropped the bridle rein on the neck of his horse for that purpose. Having closed the umbrella and put it under his arm, he was in the act of taking hold of the bridle rein when the cold wave came over him. At that instant water was dripping from everything about him; when he drew the reins taut, ice rattled from them. The water and slush were almost instantly turned to ice. Mr. Crowder says that in fifteen minutes from the time the cold wave reached him, his horse walked on the frozen snow. Arriving in Springfield, he attempted to dismount at a store on Fifth street, but was unable, his coat holding him as firmly as if it had been made of sheet iron. He then called for help, and two men came, who tried to lift him off, but his clothes were frozen to the saddle, which they ungirthed and carried man and saddle to the fire, and then thawed them apart." Mr. Crowder obtained his license, returned the same day, and was married the next. This event fixes the date in his mind beyond question.

Two brothers in Douglas County were overtaken by the wave, while cutting a bee-tree, and froze to death before reaching their house. Their bodies were found about ten days after. Andrew Herideth, a former merchant in Cincinnati, collected a drove of from 1,000 to 1,500 hogs and started with them for St. Louis. The country was so thinly settled he found it expedient to take three or four wagons loaded with corn to feed on the way. When a load was fed out, there was generally asuffisient number of hogs exhausted to fill the wagon. Mr. Herideth had reached a point on the prairie about eight miles south of Scottville, Macoupin County, when the cold wave overtook him. Finding that men and animals were likely to perish, he called the men together, upset all the wagons but one, in order to leave the corn and hogs together, righted the wagons, and with the men in them drove to the nearest house. Before they could reach it, all were more or less frozen, but none lost their lives. The hogs thus abandoned piled on each other. Those on the inside smothered, and those on the outside froze. A pyramid of about 500 hogs was thus built. The others wandered about and were reduced to skeletons by their sufferings from the cold, the whole proving a total loss. The blow was too much for Mr. Eerideth, who was making superhuman efforts to retrieve his lost fortune, and he not long after died.

The most remarkable case of suffering recorded concerning this change happened to James Harvey Hildreth, of Logan County, and a young man named Frame. Mr. Hildreth could never after be induced to speak of it except with great pain. Frame died at the time. Mr. Hildretli was then about twenty-four years old, and a very stout, rugged young man. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, about the year 1812. He came to Illinois in 1833 or 1834, and settled near Georgetown, Vermillion County, and engaged in cattle trading. He lelt home on the 19th of December, 1836, in company with Mr. Frame, both intending to go to Chicago on horseback. On the second day out, December 20, they entered a large prairie, the next timber being many miles distant, on Hickory Creek, a tributary of tlie Iroquois River, and now in Iroquois County. It rained all the forenoon, and the earth was covered with water. They encountered a slough containing so much water thej did not like to cross it, and turned toward the northeast, riding several miles. Coming to a narrow place in the slough they crossed it, and turned northwest to regain their course. This was about the middle of the afternoon. It suddenly ceased raining, and the cold wave came in all its fury, striking them squarely in the face. They were then out of sight of any human habitation. Their horses becoming unmanageable, drifted with the wind, or across it, until night closed in upon them. How long they discussed what was best to do is not known, but they finally agreed to kill each other's horse. They dismounted, and Hildreth killed Frame's horse. They took out the entrails and crawled into the cavitj', and lay there, as near as Mr. Hildreth could judge, until about midnight. By this time the animal heat from the carcass became exhausted. They cra<vled out, and just then the one having the knife by some means dropped it. It being dark, they could not find it, and being foiled in their purpose, they huddled about the living horse until about four o'clock in the morning. By this time Frame became overcome by the cold, and sank into a sleep from which his companion could not arouse him. He never wakened. Says Mr. Power: "The feelings of Hildreth at this juncture can only be imagined. He managed by jumping about to keep from freezing until daylight, when he mounted his horse and started in search of shelter. In mounting he lost his hat, and was afraid to get off for it, for fear he could never mount again. Bare-headed he wandered about some time, until he reached the bank of a stream, supposed to be the Yermillion River. Seeing a house on the opposite bank, he hallooed as loud as he could, until he attracted the attention of the man, who, after learning what he wanted, said he could not assist him. A canoe was near the man, but he said he was afraid of the running ice. Mr. Hildreth then offered him a large price if he would cut a tree and fell it over the stream so he could cross. The man still refused, and directed Hildreth to a grove, which he said was a mile distant, where he would find a house. He went, but it proved to be five miles, and the house to be a deserted cabin. He returned to the river bank, called again for help, and was again refused. He then dismounted, crawled to the water's edge, and found that the ice had closed and was strong enough to bear him, and he crawled over. Arriving at the fence, the brutal owner of the place refused to aid him, when he tumbled over it, and crawling into the house, lay down by the fire. Here he begged for assistance, and when the man would have relented and done something for him, his wife prevented him. The man's name was Benjamin Euss, that of the wife is not known, nor do any care to remember either, save in ignominy. Mr. Hildreth lay before this fire until four o'clock in the afternoon, when some hog drovers coming took him to another house, where he was properly cared for." The inhuman wretches who refused him aid were compelled to flee to escape the righteous indignation of their neighbors. Mr. Hildreth always expressed his opinion that they imagined he had a large sum of money, and they could secure it in case of his death. Such conduct was very rare among the early settlers, who were always noted for their hospitality to travelers.

Claims And First Impbovements

Future generations will inquire, not only how this country appeared before the hand of civilized man had marred its virgin beauty, but how the first comers managed to live, to protect themselves from the elements, and to procure the means of subsistence; how tRey met the varied requirements of civilization to which they had been accustomed, and with what resignation they dispensed with such as could not be had.

If correctly told, it would be a tale of intense interest; but it would require a master-hand to draw a picture that would show the scene in all of its details - personal experience alone could fully unfold the tale. When a new comer arrived, he first selected a location where he could make his future home; and the question naturally arises. Of whom did he get permission to occupy it? The answer might be given in the language usually used when defining political, or civil rights - every one was free to do as he pleased, so he did not interfere with his neighbor. When the Government had extinguished the Indian title, the. land was subject to settlement, either before or after survey. The settler had no paper title, but simply the right of possession, which he got by- moving on to and occupying it; this gave him the right to hold it against all others, till some one came with a better title, which better title could only be got by purchasing the fee of the Government, when surveyed and brought into market. The right of possession thus obtained constituted what was called a claim. These were regarded as valid titles by the settlers, and were often sold, in some instances for large amounts. Pre-emption laws were passed at different times by

Congress, giving to claimants who had made certain specified improvements the exclusive right to purchase the premises, at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre; provided, they would prove their preemption, and pay for the same, before they were offered for sale by the Gdvernment. The conditions required were possession, or cultivation, and raising a crop, the amount of the crop not being specified. A rail fence, of four lengths, was often seen on the prairie, the ground enclosed, spaded over and sown with wheat.

"When two settlers, by mistake, got a pre-emption ou the same quarter-section they were entitled to a claim on eighty acres more to be selected by themselves; they received a certificate of such claim, it being called a fioat, and was frequently laid on improvements, doing great injustice.

But there was always an understanding among the settlers that each claimaut should be protected in his claim if he had no preemption, provided he would attend the sale when advertised, by proclamation of the President, and bid the minimum price, and pay for it. The settlers usually attended the sale in a body, and although any person had a legal right to bid on any claim not preempted, and it had to be sold to the highest bidder, it w«s not considered a very safe thing to bid on a settler's claim, and it was seldom done. When attempted, the bidding speculator usually got roughly handled, and found discretion the better part of valor. Eastern speculators often complained of this, claiming that they were deprived of the legal right to compete in the open market for the purchase of these lands; but the settlers replied that they had left the comforts and luxuries of their Eastern homes, braved the dangers and privations of a new country, and here made their homes, cultivating and reclaiming these wild lands, and preparing the way for advancing civilization, and that they had a sacred right to the improvements, and the right to purchase the fee of the land, as the land and improvements must go together - and they were right.

The fault lay in the Government ever selling the land in any way except by pre-emption, and to actual settlers. The Government got nothing by offering it at public sale, as the average price obtained, during a long term of years, was only $1.27 per acre, only two cents over the minimum price which would have been paid by actual settlers, not enough to pay the additional cost - and the purchase by speculators enhanced the price and retarded the settlement of the country, forcing the settler to live isolated.

without society, schools, and churches; and it made the honest emigrant pay from $300 to $1,000 more f.^r each eighty acres than the Government price, and this went to the man who did nothing for the country, but sat in his Eastern home and pocketed the amount.

The claim question had a morality of its own, and while at a distance, and from a certain standpoint, it had the appearance of mob law, and was so stigmatized; here where it could be properly understood and appreciated, it was sustained by the purest and best of men; not only so, but an actual settler was never known to oppose it. If ever an equitable and just right existed, it was that of the claimant pioneer to the land he occupied.

The nomenclature was peculiar, and expressive; when a man made a claim, he was said to squat, and was called a squatter, and from that came the phrase Squatter Sovereignty. When the claimant left his claim, the first occupant could have it. If he left it temporarily to visit his friends, or on business, and another embraced the opportunity to possess it, he was said to jump the claim. Each settlement usually had an association where such disputes were settled; and the State enacted laws making claims transferrable, notes given for claims valid, for protecting the claimant from the encroachment of others, and ousting jumpers. A claim jumper often found his way a hard road to travel. This nomenclature was often expressively applied to other matters. If a young man paid marked attention to a young lady, he was said to have made a claim; if it was understood they were engaged, he was said to have a pre-emption, and if another cut him out, he was said to have jumped his claim.

When the settler had selected his location, or made his claim, his first attention was directed to procuring a shelter for himself and family. If in the vicinity of others already provided, he was readily welcomed to share their scanty accommodations, two, and frequently three families, together occupying a cabin with one room, perhaps twelve by fourteen, more or less. But if far removed from neighbors, he had to occupy his covered wagon in which he came, sleeping in or under it, and cooking and eating in the open air, or some other rude contrivance, frequently a tent made of blankets, till a shelter could be provided. This was usually a log cabin, for the raising of which help was needed. When help was not available, his cabin must be built of such logs or poles as, with the aid of his family, could be handled. In raising a log cabin considerable skill is required. What were termed corner hands - one at each corner, or where hands were scarce, one for two corners - should have some experience. The bottom lo^ must be saddled or cut to a sloping edge, or angle, to receive the cross log, which must be notched to fit the saddle - a failure, requiring the log to be removed to be refitted, was sure to bring some pleasant railery on the culprit. If well done, a door or window can be cut, and the parts of the logs will remain firm in their place, but if not a perfect fit, when a space is cut for the door the accumulated weight from above will bring the logs to a fit at the corner and throw the ends at the cutting wide from their place. When the walls were completed, or about ten feet high, the gables were carried up by laying on logs, each shortened in succession, to give the proper slope for the roof, and held by straight logs, or large poles, placed about three feet from, and parallel with, the plate, rising upward to receive the shingles, resting on and holding the short logs at the gables, and terminating with a ridge pole at the center of the building and top of the roof. On these were placed long shingles or clapboards, four feet long, laid double so the top course broke joints with the first, on which was laid another log or pole, held by a pin at each end; this pole held the shingles in place without nailing, and each succeeding course was laid and fastened in the same way. The floor was made of split logs hewn on the split side, and spotted on to the sleepers on the round side, so as to make a tolerable floor; these were called puncheons.

The chimney was built outside of the building at one end and a hole cut through the logs for a fireplace. It was made of timber, lined with stone or clay for four or five feet, and then with a crib of sticks plastered inside with clay mortar. The spaces between the logs were filled with pieces of split timber, called chinking, and plastered inside and out with clay mortar, making a warm and quite comfortable house; but snow and rain, when falling with a high wind, would get inside through the clapboad roof - and where leisure and means justified, a roof of boards and short shingles was substituted.

A one-post bedstead was made as follows: Bore a hole in a log four feet from the corner of the room, and insert a rail six feet long; then bore a hole in the log on the other side of the room six feet from the same corner, and insert a piece of a rail four feet long; then insert the opposite ends of these rails where they meet in a post, which completes the frame ; then lay slats crosswise from the side onto the log opposite, or on to a rail pinned on the log at the proper height, and the one-post bedstead is complete, on which the weary pioneer slept as sweetly as on the most costly one. These rough buildings were quite comfortable, and, as most of the old settlers will testify, witnessed much of real enjoyment. Some of our greatest men were born and reared in such a dwelling. Aehelter provided, the next thing was to prepare to raise whereon to subsist.

The prairie regions offered advantages for an occupant far superior to a tirnbered country; in the latter an immense amount of labor had been done to remove the timber, and for years after the stumps prevented free cultivation; while on the prairie the sod only had to be turned, and the crop put in. At an early day the sod was turned by an ox team of six to ten yoke, with a plow that cut a furrow from two to three feet wide. The plow beam, which was from eiglit to twelve feet long, was framed into an axle, on each end of which was a wheel sawed from an oak log; this held the plow upright. It was a heavy, nnwieldly looking apparatus, but did good work, and the broad black furrow, as it rolled from the plow, was a sight worth seeing. The nice adjustment and filling of the coulter, and broad share, required a practiced hand, as a slight deviation in the tip of the share, or even filling the coulter, would throw the plow on a twist, and required a strong man to hold it in place, but if nicely done the plow would run a long distance without support.

This was the primitive plow, but Yankee ingenuity soon found that a smaller plow and less team did cheaper and better work. It was found that the best time to break the sod was when the grass was rapidly growing, as it would then decay quickly, and the soil soon be mellow and kind; but if broken too early or too late in the season it would require two or three years to become as mellow as it would be in three months when broken at the right time. Very shallow plowing required less team, and would mellow much sooner than deep breaking.

The first crop was mostly corn, planted by cutting a gash with an ax into the inverted sod, dropping the corn and closing it by another blow along side the first. Or it was dropped in every third furrow and the furrow turned on ; if the corn was so placed as to find the space between the furrows it would find daylight, if not it was doubtful. Corn so planted would, as cultivation was impossible.

produce a partial crop, sometimes a full one. Prairie sod turned in June would be in condition to sow with wheat in September, or to put in with corn or oats the spring following. Vines of all kinds grew well on the fresh-turned sod, melons especially, though the wolves usually took their full share of these. After the first crop the soil was kind, and produced any crop suited to the climate. But when his crops were growing the settler was not relieved from toil. His chickens must have shelter; closed at night to protect them from the owls and wolves; his pigs required equal protection; and altiiough his cows and oxen roamed on the wide prairie in a profusion of the richest pasture, still a yard must be made for his cows at night and his calves by day. The cows were turned in with the calves for a short time at night, and then the calves turned on the prairie to feed during the night; in the morning the calves were turned in and the cows turned out for their day's pasture; this was necessary to induce the cows to come up at night, for if the calves were weaned the cows would fail to come. And the stock all needed some protection from the fierce wintry blast, though sometimes they got but little. Add to this the fencing of the farm, the out-buildings, hunting the oxen and cows on the limitless prairies through the heavy dews of late evening and early morning, going long distances to market and to mill, aiding a new-comer to build his cabin, fighting the prairie fires which swept over the country yearly, and with his family encountering that pest of a new country, the fever and ague, and other malarious diseases, and the toil and endurance of a settler in a new country may^be partially, but not fully, appreciated.

A visitor from the Eastern States has often taunted the toiling pioneer with such remarks as these: " Why do you stack out your hay and grain ?" " Why don't you have barns, comfortable houses, stables for your cattle and other conveniences as we have?" He should have been answered, " You are enjoying the fruits of the labor of generations of your ancestors, while we have to create all we have. We have made necessarily rude and cheap shelters for ourselves and animals, have fenced our farms, dug our wells, have to make our roads, bridge our streams, build our school-houses, churches, court-houses and jails, and when one improvement is complete, another want stares us in the face." All this taxed the energies of the new settler to the extent of human endurance, and many fell by the way, unable to meet the demands upon their energies.

Fikst Settlement And Eaely Hi8T0Et

The only wonder is that so much has been accomplished ; that so many comforts, conveniences and luxuries have crowned the efforts of our people ; that we have reached a point for which a century of effort might well have been allowed. Political and financial theorists have tauntingly told the farmers of Illinois that they know nothing of finance, except what wiser heads have told them ; that they have made nothing by farming, and would be poor except for the advance in price of their farms.

These Solons should be told that it is the toil of those farmers that has made their farms increase in price ; their toil has clothed them with valuable improvements, planted orchards and fruit gardens, made roads and bridges, converted a wilderness into a land of beauty, and made it the happy abode of intelligent men. All this had to be done to make these farms advance in price, and those who have done this, and raised and educated their families, have done well ; and if the advance in the price of their farms has ^ven them a competence, it is what they anticipated, and nothing but the most persevering industry and frugality would have accomplished it.

In addition to the labor and multitude of cares that beset the new comer, he had it all to accomplish under disadvantages, and to encounter dangers that of themselves were sufficient to discourage men not of stern resolve. Traveling unworked roads, and crossing streams without bridges, was often a perilous adventure. Many were the hair- breadth escapes which most of the early settlers can recall, and which, in later years, were never referred to without a thrill of emotion. Up to the time of building the first bridge over the Vermillion, the writer had a record of twenty-five persons drowned in that treacherous stream, within a distance of ten miles each way from that locality - all drowned in attempting to ford the stream. It was a common remark, that when a man left home in the morning, it was very uncertain whether his wife's next dress would be a black one, or of some other color.

Crossing the wide prairie at night, with not even the wind or stars for guides, was a very uncertain adventure, and often the wayfarer traveled till exhausted, and encamped till the morning light should guide him on his way. In warm weather, although an unpleasant exposure, this was not a dangerous one ; and although the sensation of being lost is more irksome, and the lonely silence in the middle of a prairie, broken only by the howl of the wolves, is more unpleasant than one inexperienced would imagine, and the gnawing of a stomach innocent of supper adds much to the discomfort, it all passes with the night, and a brighter view and happier feelings dawn with the breaking morn. But crossing the trackless prairie when covered with a dreary expanse of snow, with the fierce, unbroken wintry blasts sweeping over its glistening surface, penetrating to the very marrow, was sometimes a fearful and dangerous experience. No condition could inspire a more perfect idea of lonely desolation, of entire discomfort, of helplessness, and of dismal forebodings, than to find one's self lost on the snow-covered prairie, with no object in sight in any direction but the cold, undulating snow wreaths, and a dark and tempestuous winter night fast closing around his chilled and exhausted frame. His sagacious horse, by spasmodic efibrts and continuous neighing, shows that, with his master, he appreciates the danger, and shares his fearful anticipations. With what longing the lost one reflects on the cozy fireside of his warm cabin, surrounded by his loved ones, which he fears he may never see ; and when the dark shadow of night has closed around and shut in the landscape, and chance alone can bring relief, a joyous neigh and powerful spring from his noble horse calls his eye in the direction he has taken, he sees over the bleak expanse a faint light in the distance, toward which his horse is bounding with accelerated speed, equally with his master cheered and exhilarated by the beacon light, which the hand of aff'ection has placed at the window, to lead the lost one to his home. Nearly every early settler can remember such an experience, while some never reached the home they sought, but, chilled to a painless slumber, they found the sleep that knows no waking.

Mieage, And Traveling At Night

Mirage, or looming, in peculiar states of the atmosphere, is, or was, very common on the prairie, as is usual in any country with a flat or nearly level surface. A grove or improvement, which is ordinarily hid by an intervening ridge of high land, will occasionally be apparently elevated, so it can be seen as fully and perfectly as if the observer were standing on the highest point of the intervening ridge. The writer was traveling in a partially cloudy day, from Peru to Palestine Grove, in Lee County, and when on the level prairie, two or three miles south of the ridge which constitutes the divide separating the waters ot Bureau Creek from those that flow to the Illinois, he suddenly beheld the country lying north of the divide rise into sight, with every feature as distinctly marked as if seen from a position directly over it. Perkins, Knox, and Palestine groves, with Bureau Creek, and the scattering timber that skirts its banks, and the farm houses, were alldistinctly recognized, as they had many times been seen from different points of the ridge, south and east of the Bureau. Tlie view is a fine one, and could not be mistaken. Gradually, in ten or fifteen minutes, the vision faded from sight, and when, half an hour later, the same view was seen from the dividing ridge, without a change in appearance, it was evident it must have been elevated several hundred feet to have met the view. Mirage is more common in a still, slightly hazy atmosphere, and no doubt has bewildered and led many a traveler astray. Jefferson, in his Notes on Yirginia, speaks of the same appearance as frequently occurring in the mountainous districts of that State.

Crossing the uncultivated prairie in a cloudy night, or in a snowy or foggy day, was very liable to have an uncertain come out. In a clear night, the stars were a very reliable guide, and like the Eastern magi on the plains of Syria, the settlers came to have a close acquaintance with the constellations. A steady wind was a very reliable guide ; the traveler would get his bearing, then notice how the wind struck his nose, right or left ear, etc., and then keep that same sepsation, regardless of any other guide,- and he would generally come out right. But if the wind changed, of course he went with it. Without these guides, it was a mere accident if a person succeeded in a still atmosphere, in a cloudy night, or snowy or foggy day, in crossing a prairie of any extent. There is always a tendency to go in a circle; the world moves in a circle; planets and suns, comets and meteors, all move in circles. Blindfold a person, place him in a large hall, let him be a novice, uncautioned, and in a majority of cases he will go several times around the hall before he hits the side. The writer, with an ox team, in a dark evening started to go about three-fourths of a mile to strike a point of timber, but failing to do so, kept traveling till late in the evening, when accidentally the timber was found, and followed to the desired point; the next morning developed the fact that the ox team had traveled three times around about a quarter-section, following very nearly the same track each time.

Peaieie Fiees

natural causes or from being set by human hands, was continued after the white settlers came in, and was a source of much annoyance, apprehension, and frequently of severe loss. From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the first frost, usually about the first of October, till the surrounding prairie was all burnt over, or if not all burnt, till the green grass in the spring had grown sufficiently to prevent the rapid progress of the fire, the early settlers were continually on the watch, and as they usually expressed the idea, " slept with one eye open." When the ground was covered with snow, or during rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both eyes could be safely closed.

A statute law forbade setting the prairie on fire, and one doing so was subject to a penalty, and liable ia an action of trespass for the damage accruing. But convictions were seldom effected, as the proof was difficult, though the fire was often set.

Fires set on the leeward side of an improvement, while very dangerous to the improvements to the leeward, were not so to the windward, as fire progressing against the wind is easily extinguished.

Imagine the feelings of the man who, alone in a strange land, has made a comfortable home for his family; has raised and stored his corn, wheat and oats, and fodder for stock, and has his premises surrounded by a sea of standing grass, dry as tinder, stretching away for miles in every direction, over which the wild prairie wind howls a dismal requiem, and knowing that a spark or match applied in all that distance will send a sea of fire wherever the wind may waft it ; and conscious of the fact that there are men who would embrace the first opportunity to send the fire from outside their own fields, regardless as to whom it might consume, only so it protected their own.

Various means were resorted to for protection; a common one was to plow with a prairie plow several furrows around a strip several rods wide, outside the improvements, and then burn out the strip; or wait till the prairie was on fire and then set fire outside, reserving the strip for a late burn, that is, till the following summer, and in July burn both old grass and new. The grass would start immediately, and the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, so that the fire would not pass over in the following autumn. This process repeated would soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, and in time it would become stocked with blue grass which will never burn to any extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd of business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would prevent him doing what would now seem a small matter; and all such effort was often futile; a prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap all such barriers and seem to put human effort at defiance. A prairie fire when first started goes straight forward with a velocity proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center keeping ahead - it spreads sideways, but,burning laterally, it burns comparatively slow, and if the wind is moderate and steady, is not difficult to manage, but if the wind veers a point or two, first one way and then the other, it sends the side fire beyond control. The head fire in' dry grass and a high wind is fearful, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point from which to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires an engineering skill and tact which can be learned only by experience, and a neighborhood of settlers called out by such an exigency, at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most experienced of the number, and go to work with the alacrity and energy of men defending their homes and property from destruction.

The usual way of meeting an advancing fire is to begin the defense where the head of the fire will strike, which is known by the smoke and ashes brought by the wind long in advance of the fire. A road, cattle path or furrow is of great value at such a place; if there is none such, a strip of the grass can be wet, if water can be procured, which is generally scarce at the time of the annual fires. On the outside, or side next the coming fire, of such road or path the grass is set on fire, and it burns slowly against the wind till it meets the coming conflagration, which stops, of course, for want of fuel, provided there has been sufficient time to burn a strip that will not be leaped by the head fire as it comes in. This is called back-firing; great care is necessary to prevent the fire getting over the furrow, path', or whatever is used as a base of operations. If it gets over and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back to a more defensible position, if such a one exists. If the head of the fire is successfully checked, then the forces are divided, half going to the right and half to the left, and the back-firing continued, to meet the side fires as they come up; this must be continued till the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises endangered and the sides secured.

fourto six feet long, with one end shaved down for a handle, is very effective, if struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel-brush does very well, and a spade or shovel is often used. The women often lent their aid, in cases of danger; their weapon was usually the kitchen mop, which, when thoroughly wet, was very efficient, especially in extinguishing a fence on fire. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze, for the moment, every faculty, and as soon as that fact seemed imminent, united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is due to historical truth to say that the actual losses were much less than might have been expected, though frequently quite severe. The physical efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and in protecting one's home from the devouring element, were very often severe, and even dangerous, and the author has known of more than one instance where it resulted fatally.

The premises about the residences and yards being tramped by the family and domestic animals, after a year or two, became tolerably safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were frequently burnt over. When the prairie was all fenced and undei' cultivation, so that prairie fires were among the things of the past, the denizens of the prairie were happily released from the constant fear and apprehension which for years had rested like a nightmare on their quiet and happiness, disturbing their sleep by night, and causing anxiety by day, especially when called from home, knowing that on their return they might look on a blackened scene ot desolation, instead of the pleasant home they left. And when returning after a day's absence, the sight of a fire in the direction of home, although it might prove to be several miles beyond, would try the mettle of the team, by putting them to a speed proportioned to the anxiety of the driver. And here it may be well to throw a little cold water over the thrilling and fearful stories, got up to adorn a tale, of hair-breadth escapes of travelers and settlers from prairie fires; such stories are not told by the old settlers, who know whereof they speak. It is true, a family might encamp in the middle of a dense growth of dry grass, and let afire sweep over their camp, to their serious injury. But with ordinary intelligence and caution, a traveler on the prairie need have no fear of a fatal catastrophe, or even of any serious danger. If the head of a fire is approaching, it is usually an easy matter to get to one side of it, and when it has passed, pass over the side fire on to the burnt prairie, wliich can easily be done, by getting on to a spot of dry, rolling prairie, where the grass is seldom more than eight to twelve inches high. Or, if the head fire is too wide, and its speed too great to allow getting around it, then at once set afire to leeward, and when it has burnt a short distance, put out the fire on the windward side of the place of setting, and pass on to the burnt prairie and follow the fire till far enough from the dry grass to be out of danger. There are places on low, moist prairie bottoms, or sloughs, where the gr^ss and weeds were much heavier than on dryer land, and their burning was terrific and dangerous; but these places could be avoided, as an approaching fire could be seen a long distance, giving time to prepare for its coming. The early settlers will ever have a vivid recollection of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie tires. The whole horizon would be lighted up around its entire circuit. A heavy fire, six or seven miles away, would aflbrd 8ufl[icient light on a dark night to enable one to read fine print. "When a fire had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires, like two armies facing each other, at night, the sight was grand; and if one's premises were securely protected, he could enjoy such a fire exhibition hugely, free of cost; but if his property was exposed his enjoyment of the scene was like a very nervous person's appreciation of the grand and majestic roll of thunder - the sublimity of the scene lost in the apprehension of danger.