Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 3: Climatology, 1911

Chapter 3: Climatology

Logan County, in common with other localities of the same latitude, has the four seasons well defined. The melting snows of winter, generally attended by the rains of spring, convert the rich soil into mud. The heat of summer, at times intense and sub-tropical, is tempered by the breezes of the prairie. Autumn, with diminishing heat, terminating in what is known as Indian summer, with its mild and uniform temperature and soft and hazy atmosphere, becomes the pleasantest part of the year. Winter, with its boreal blasts and its social firesides, is only marred by the severe sudden changes and extreme vicissitudes, that oftimes cause disease.

The extremes of climate in this locality are, by the scientist, thus explained. The different continental masses, during the summer, become rapidly heated, under the influence of the sun, while the surrounding oceans are less sensitive to its effects. As the result, the lands bordering on the sea, have milder temperatures, while the interior is subject to intense heat. During winter, for similar reasons, the interior becomes severely cold. In addition, the air becoming heated and rarefied at the equator, rises and flows in vast masses toward the poles. On reaching colder latitudes, it descends to the earth, and, as an undercurrent, returns to the equator, and supplies the tropical vacuum, caused by its previous ascent. O'wing to the earth's rotation, from west to east, these undercurrents lag behind the earth, while the upper currents get in advance of the earth. The result is that, in this latitude, the prevailing winds come from the southwest. The northeast trade winds, in their progress to the equator, impinge against the lofty chain of the Andes, are deflected up the Mississippi Valley and mingle with the winds from the southwest. In their passage along the Andes, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, they become charged with tropical heat and moisture. On entering the Mississippi Valley, walled in, as it is, by mountain barriers, these winds are directed northward, and mingling with the southwest winds, dispense their waters, warmth and fertility upon this section of the globe. From local causes, these winds often

The sub-tropical heat of our summers make possible the wonderful products of our soil. A high temperature, for a short season, is more beneficial, to many plants, than a moderate temperature long continued. In particular point, is the great staple of Logan County, Indian corn. It was originally a tropical grass, and when cultivated in regions of a high and protracted temperature, exhibits a strong tendency to revert to its original condition. In the Gulf States, it grows to a greater height than farther northward, but its yield is correspondingly less. In the valleys along the Pacific slope, it attains a medium size, but fails to mature, for want of sufficient heat. In this section of Illinois, where it gets the benefit of the short but intense summer heat of this clime, its productive capacity is much greater than in the Gulf States or on the Pacific. It is a strange fact of nature, that a plant should so undergo a transformation, in its structure and natural habits, that its greatest producing capacity should be near the northern limits of its possible cultivation. Only the fact of our short, sub-tropical summers explains this apparent anomaly.

Temperature

Statements:of temperature as to hot or cold periods, observed in any community for a long term of years past, must always be received with more or less allowance, especially when based upon word of tradition. Individual thermometers register variously and individual temperature records of days, that have been noted for the extremes of warmth or cold, when compared with the Government reports on record, invariably lose much by the comparison. Tradition has it that on July 15, 1869, in Logan County, the thermometer reached 135 degrees and that on January 5, 1884, it reached 30 degrees below zero. If this be so, these were the hottest and coldest days, respectively, experienced in the county, but as no verification can be made of these records, they are not vouched for here. Since the year 1879, according to the Government reports, the highest temperature recorded was 107 degrees, which occurred July 22, 1901, and the lowest was 22 degrees below zero, in 1884. During that period, that is, in the last thirty years, the highest and. lowest temperatures in the various months have been as follows: January, highest 68 degrees, lowest 22 degrees below zero; February, highest 72 degrees, lowest 21 degrees below zero; March, highest 84 degrees, lowest 2 degrees; April highest, 88 degrees, lowest 19 degrees; May, highest 92 degrees, lowest 34 degrees; June, highest 98 degrees, lowest 40 degrees; July, highest 107 degrees, lowest 49 degrees; August, highest 100 degrees, lowest 48 degrees; September, highest 99 degrees, lowest 31 degrees; October, highest 91 degrees, lowest 20 de-

In 1893, a U. S. Weather Station was established at Mt. Pulaski, and was discontinued December 31, 1905. This station was equipped with standard maximum and minimum thermometers, exposed in an instrument shelter, and the rain gauge, of standard weather bureau pattern, was exposed in the open, free from all obstructions. The official records of this station, for this entire period of 12 years, beginning 1894 and ending 1905, show the mean average temperature to have been 52.5 degrees. The regularity of the temperature, year by year, is shown by the following statement of the mean annual average temperature, for each year of the period: 1894, 54 degrees; 1895, 51 degrees; 1896, 54 degrees; 1897, 51 degrees; 1898, 54 degrees; 1899, 53 degrees; 1900, 54 degrees; 1901, 52 degrees; 1902, 52 degrees; 1903, 52 degrees ; 1904, 50 degrees; 1905, 52 degrees. The mean average temperature of each month for the entire period of 12 years, was as follows: January, 26.8 degrees; February, 24.6 degrees; March, 41.3 degrees; April 53.2 degrees; May, 64.4 degrees; June, 72.7 degrees; July, 76.2 degrees; August, 68.5 degrees; September, 68.5 degrees; October, 5 5.6 degrees; November, 41.6 degrees; December, 29.7 degrees. No better idea of the average temperature of Logan County could be given than the above.

Rainfall And Precipitancy Late And Early Frosts

As a general indication of the date of the first early killing frosts in the fall, in this region, the following dates of the same, for the period from 1885 to 1906, are herewith given: Oct. 6, 1885; Oct. '1, 1886;

The following list of late frosts and freezes, in the spring, damaging to the fruit, was prepared by Jerry Wheeler, of Lincoln, from a diary kept by him since 1870: April 15, 1870; April 23, 1871; April 16, 1872; May 4, 1873; April 27, 1874; June 10, 1877; April 20, 1879; May 16, 1882; May 21, 1883; April 17, 1884; April 18, 1887; April 20, 1888; May 2, 1889; May 3, 1890; April 19, 1891; April 21, 1893; May 14, 1895; May 1, 1900; April 19, 1901; April 15, 1902; May 1, 1903; April 28, 1904; April 22, 1905; May 7, 1906; May 4, 1907; April 16, 1908. Perhaps one of the most remarkable killing frosts in the history of the county occurred in the spring of 1910. An unusually warm February, in itself unprecedented, in the records of the county, brought out the vegetation, matured the fruit trees past their blossoming, to the formation of the fruit, and covered the shade trees with leaves, to the extent of three-fourths their mature size. Following this condition, on the night of April 23d, the thermometer fell to eighteen degrees and the next day there were from four to six inches of snow, resulting in complete destruction of the fruit crop and the early vegetables and flowers. The leaves on the trees were frozen to a crisp and dropped to the ground. Later on, new leaves put out and clothed the trees again, but the fruit never recovered.

Deep Snows

Undoubtedly the greatest snow storm, ever experienced in Logan County, was the famous "deep snow" of 1830 and 1831, and it marks an epoch in the county's history. The storm began in the latter part of November and snow continued to fall with brief intermissions until January. Then came a cold rain, which froze as it fell, forming a crust on the surface of the snow; then again more snow and after that a continuous blast of cold winds from the north, lasting over two weeks. Although there was only an average fall of from three to four feet, on the level, yet in some places, where it had drifted, the snow banks were seven feet in depth, covering fences and filling up lanes. By January 5, 1831, the snow had reached a depth of over 15 inches, by the roth it had increased to 34 inches, by the 31st to 40 inches and by February 2, 1831, was over three and one-half feet deep. It is not the intention here to more than mention this snow as a meteorological fact, for it will be treated at greater length, in another chapter, in the story of the county's early settlement.

Mild Winter Of 1832

The winter of 1832-33 was as mild, as the winter of 1830-31 was severe. The Sangamo Journal of Jan. 5th, 1832, published at Springfield, described the conditions existing in that year, in what is now Logan County, as well as in what is now, Sangamon. It said: "The season is certainly remarkable. For several days past we have had no frosts and the weather has been as mild as the latter part of April usually is. We hear the melifluous notes of the frog; the grass has started in the prairies; in the bottoms, the May apple has sprouted, from one to three inches; and most kinds of cattle do well without feeding. Plowing is going on in the county. We have some fears the warm weather will cause the wheat to joint. To prevent this, whenever it can be done, the wheat should be fed down by calves. No doubt those of our citizens who left us for Arkansas, last summer, are congratulating themselves on the fine climate of that country, while they suppose the Illinoisans are buried in snow and suffering from cold weather. Joy remain with them."

The Sudden Freeze Of 1836

Along with the "deep snow," what was known, by.the early settlers, as the "sudden freeze," ranks with it as a meteorological event. As with the "deep snow," it will simply be mentioned here and will be later on expanded upon, in the early history of the county. This event occurred Dec. 20th, 1836. Snow had fallen in the morning, turning to rain about noon and melting the snow into slush. Suddenly about two o'clock an icy blast blew from the northwest and instantly everything was frozen hard. Ice was frozen in the creeks, from six inches to a foot, in a few hours, while chickens and domestic animals were frozen in their tracks.

High Water Of 1844

The spring and summer of 1844 is remembered, by the old settlers, as one of the gloomiest and most disastrous in their history. It rained almost incessantly throughout the spring, until some time in June. The whole country was flooded with water. What little corn that was planted was mostly drowned out and vegetation wore a sickly hue. It was a year of short crops and general depression. The creeks were swollen to such an extent as to cover the entire bottoms. The "high water of 1844" stands as the climax, in the matter of land overflow in the county, and the water has never been as high since. Later overflows were always compared to the "high water of 1844" and always unfavorably.

A number of severe windstorms swept over the county, in the forties and early fifties, but owing to the sparcity of settlers did little damage and received little attention. On Friday, May 14, 1858, a severe storm passed over the southern portion of Logan County and along the Sangamon border. In its sweep, it struck the residence of Evans Britton and utterly demolished it. The family, consisting of Mr. Britton, wife, child and hired man, were all in the second story, yet were not killed. Mr. Britton and the hired hand were seriously injured and Mrs. Britton and the child slightly. The foundation timbers of the house, being of solid oak, eight inches square and 30 feet long, were carried a distance of 200 yards. The storm was accompanied with heavy hail and a perfect deluge of rain carried off nearly every bridge in the surrounding country.

A severe wind storm passed through Lincoln and vicinity, April 18, 1869. A great deal of damage was done throughout the city, in the blowing down of fences, shade trees, and the like, and the unroofing of several residences. The house of Oliver Goltra was blown from its foundations, the family barely escaping with their lives. At the fair grounds, several buildings, sheds and stalls were damaged. Several large barns were demolished east of Lincoln, and a general storm prevailed throughout the entire county, doing damage to more or less extent.

That portion of the county in the vicinity of Elkhart, was visited by a wind and hail storm, on July 5, 1870, resulting in much damage. Hail stones fell during the storm in great abundance, being estimated in instances as being as large as partridge eggs and resembling jagged pieces of ice. They were so numerous, that in places they were drifted three and four inches deep. The fury of the wind tore up a section of sidewalk, in front of a business house, and carried it a distance of thirty feet, hurling it against an old frame house and demolishing the house. The Catholic Church was moved three or four feet, from its foundation, the hotel unroofed and the telegraph wires and poles blown down. The cornfields were deluged with water and hundreds of acres of small grain were ruined and destroyed.

The month of June, 1882, witnessed a number of severe storms in the county, which did considerable damage. The rainfall in the county, during that month, was enormous and the entire country flooded. Salt Creek reached to within two inches of the high water mark of 1844. Bridges were washed out in numerous places, including the large covered bridge over Salt Creek, at Middletown, 150 feet long, which also went down and was destroyed. During one of the heavier storms, considerable damage was done on the farm of Andrew Layman, east of Lincoln, corn cribs being demolished, trees twisted off, fragments of lumber scattered for over 200 yards, and a long piece of fencing was driven by the force of the storm into the roof of the house. In Lincoln, the Rubicon sewer overflowed, other sewers were broken and many houses flooded. The main tent of Cole's circus, showing at Elkhart, was demolished, at a loss of $5,000. The rain at times was accompanied by hail. The bottom lands were all inundated and the crops thereupon completely destroyed.

Big Sleet Of 1883

The greatest sleet storm in the history of the county occurred Feb. 2, 1883. The storm came from the northwest. It began with a kind of hard-balled snow, gradually changing to a fine, dry sleet, and then to a mixture of sleet and rain, which froze solid as fast as it fell. Every tree became a mass of ice and every twig an icicle. Fruit and shade trees were broken down by the mass of ice clinging to them. During the night, the almost continuous crashing of branches was heard everywhere. The dawn of day showed everything covered with a coat of ice about an inch thick. All of the telephone wires were down with the heavy weight and nearly half of their supporting poles were snapped in twain and strewn across the roadways, in from two to six pieces. Telegraph wires received the same damage. Even the railroads were for a while blocked by the ice on the rails. In Lincoln, the old court house was coated as with an icy coat of mail, as were all the residences and buildings. Ice was hanging from the trees in every conceivable form. Large trees, in certain instances, were bowed over, in such a manner, as to form magnificent crystal arches, extending to the middle of the road. Two days later came the sun, which shone through the glistening boughs, with all its beauty, until the whole scene seemed like Fairyland, adorned with palaces of pearls, with domes of crystal, and forming a vista, indescribably grand. This continued for nearly a week, before there was sufficient warmth and wind to cause the ice to drop from the trees and other objects. The sleighing was good, until about February 15th, when a thaw set in, causing damaging floods.

Tornado Of 1883

In April, May and June of 1883, there were a number of lines of tornadoes developed in different sections of the West. One of these lines passed through Logan County. On May 17th, a storm center passed down the eastern slope of the Rockies and spread out into a long belt of low barometer, over the Mississippi Valley. On the 18th, the center of this low barometer belt changed its course to the northeast, passing to the north of an area of high barometer, which lay over the Gulf and Middle States, and developing by its rapid movement, a line of tornadoes, which extended from Springfield, Mo., to Chicago. Southeastern Logan County was in the track of one of these storms, which in its severity and resulting damage and loss of life, was the most disastrous storm that Logan County ever experienced in its history. Near Lake Fork, the storm struck the house of Thomas Chandler, completely wrecking it and hurling its inmates out into the fury of the storm. Mrs. Chandler, who was an invalid, died the same night, from the effects of the storm. An infant child was carried three miles away from the house, where it was subsequently found dead. The house of Ben Keck was also destroyed, being carried entirely away, Miss Anna Lanham having her skull fractured. Hamilton Copeland's house was unroofed and the cornice of the building carried a distance of five miles. John D. Copeland's barn was wrecked and five vehicles demolished and blown away. The Muldoon bridge at Lake Fork was destroyed, the fury of the storm being evidenced by the fact, that the mudsills of the bridge, which were three feet underground, were pulled up with the rest of the structure. The house of Peter Shaver, across the Lake Fork and near the Illiopolis bridge, was absolutely destroyed, not a timber being left. Mr. and Mrs. Shaver and an infant child were carried into the air and deposited, unhurt, in the branches of a tree. Isaac Joslyn's house was also destroyed, Mrs. Joslyn being seriously injured. In this vicinity, orchards were mowed down like grass, timber uprooted, fences leveled, stock killed and vehicles and implements blown to pieces and the fragments scattered about the country. From Lake Fork, the storm moved up to the section of the county near Latham, where an incalculable amount of damage was done, but no lives lost. The residence of D. Gordon was blown to atoms. Tenant houses belonging to William Uhle and D. H. Sims were destroyed. The residences of Clarence Emery, Charles Lennons, Richard Hoover, Joseph Woodey and Erastus Nice were lifted from their foundations and in most cases demolished. The residences of Andrew Bauman, George Hanselman, John Keagle, Henry Maxheimer, James Mathews and Conrad Storks were among those unroofed and damaged. The barns of William Waddell, F. D. Belknap, Fred Fuhrers and very many others were blown away. The damage throughout this section of the county was very general, as hardly a farm place, in the track of the storm, escaped great damage.

On the same night, a tornado also struck in the neighborhood of New Holland. Whether this was the same storm or another one of similar kind, it is difficult to decide. This storm came up about nine o'clock at night, first striking the home of Claude L. Stone, three miles southwest of New Holland. The residence was entirely demolished. Mrs. Stone and infant child were found covered with the debris of the house, the former being found unconscious and the latter dead. One farm hand was carried a distance of 300 feet and another was carried 150 feet and landed at the foot of a tree; neither was seriously injured. Miss Hannah Rice, a domestic, was carried forty rods from the house, thrown against a trees and killed. There was not a stick a foot long left of the house and the furniture was actually ground to pieces. The house of M. D. Woodruff was unroofed and the Douglas school house twisted from its foundation. The track of the storm was said to have been about 100 feet wide.

An incident connected with this storm was the finding, by Stephen Beck, upon his farm, near Rocky Ford, of a warranty deed of land from one Sophia E. Wheeler, of Greene County, IIl., to Sarah E. Westrope, of the same county, to certain Greene County lands. Notice of the finding of this deed was published in the papers. Subsequently, Mr. Westrope, husband of the grantee, having seen the notice, sent for the deed. It developed that a tornado had passed through Greene County, on the same day as the Logan County storm, and had destroyed Mr. Westrope's home, near Manchester, IIl., one of his children and a nephew being killed. The deed had thus been carried by the storm a distance of over 80 miles. The deed had not been recorded. Patrick Gleason also found, shortly after the storm, a Greene County tax receipt, in a cornfield, belonging to John D. Gillett.

Cloud Burst Of 1892

On the twenty-first of June, 1892, the City of Lincoln was visited with a cloud burst, that seems to have been purely local. It occurred about 4:30 o'clock, in the afternoon, and consisted in a blinding deluge of rain, that has never been equalled before or since. Buckets standing in the open were filled until they overflowed and it was estimated that at least twelve inches of water fell during the storm. The streets were converted into rivers, door yards into lakes, wooden sidewalks became floating rafts and the entire city, for a few hours, was a veritable Western Venice. Latham Park was a beautiful lake for several days, where boating in tubs and rafts was indulged in by the small boys. Gas, light and water were shut off, sewers bursted open and cellars were filled. The storm was accompanied by fierce lightning, which struck in about a dozen places, including the Odd Fellows' Orphans' Home. One Cornelius Hoagland, out at the ball park, was killed by a stroke of lightning during the storm.

Hurricane Of Iqoi

Another terrific wind and rain storm, that was quite general in the county, occurred June 22, 1901. At Middletown, the Warren Grain Elevator was blown down, with over 2,000 bushels of corn. The Middletown Methodist Church was badly wrecked, numerous business houses were damaged and every house in the country surrounding Middletown was more or less injured. At Rocky Ford, the big iron bridge was lifted and thrown bodily into the creek, at a loss of $4,000. In Lincoln, many houses were twisted from their foundations. The roof and third story of the Lincoln Mattress Factory was carried completely away; an addition to the Roller Mills was blown down and the spires of St. Mary's Catholic and St. John's Lutheran Churches were badly damaged. In the southern part of the county, the fall of rain was very great, washing away fenices, tearing out bridges and destroying crops. Much damage was also done by lightning.

Easter Day Cyclone, 1903

Easter Sunday, April 12, 1903, was marked by a peculiar storm phenomena in the southeastern portion of East Lincoln township. In substantially all other portions of the county, the sun shown brightly all day. So it did also in the portion visited by the storm, until about 2 o'clock, when a small cyclone with a track of about 50 yards in width, was suddenly formed from apparently harmless floating clouds, and first pounced down upon the farm residence of Samuel V. Baldwin, owned by Judge S. A. Foley, about a mile and a half from Lincoln, unroofing the house, blowing in the windows and carrying the porches away. The old residence of Thomas Price was also carried away. The track of the storm for a considerable distance swept everything in its path, as clean as a floor, then suddenly lifted and whirled about in the air for a considerable distance more, when it struck the farm of Adam Schonauer, sweeping a path clean of brush and fences, until it reached the house, which it moved from its foundation and demolished, scattering the fragments for a quarter of a mile. Agricultural implements and vehicles were also destroyed. The Schonauer family were upon their porch and saw the cyclone picking its way along. They fled to the cellar and all escaped without injury. A few minutes before and a few minutes afterward, the sun was shining as usual. The storm could be seen forming, from the City of Lincoln, where it resembled a funnel, the lower portion resembling an elephant's trunk, twisting about in all sorts of contortions, bouncing in the air and then striking earth again. After the storm passed Schonauer's, it lost its fury and was soon dissipated in the air.

Chapter Av The Aboriginees

In the transfer of real estate, it is customary to require an abstract of title, showing the successive owners, from its first possessor. A similar interest should attach to the matter of the past occupants and owners of what is now known as Logan County. At different periods in the distant past, Logan County, in common with other portions of the wide Western World, was the home of vast populations. Here, events transpired as great and thrilling as have ever occurred since. Here were victories and defeats, scenes of happiness and horror. Here cities have risen and fallen. Here great peoples have risen, flourished, and utterly vanished, leaving behind them no record of existence but their voiceless graves. Passing over a consideration of the first primitive peoples, as well as what is known as the Mound Builders of a supposed more recent date, all of whom have left no discovered traces of their existence in this section of the state, and whose history is at best apochryphal and visionary, we come to the American Indian, who at the time the first white man, in his birch bark canoe, floated down the majestic Mississippi, was the real lord and owner of the soil of what is now Illinois.

These Indians were divided into powerful tribes, who held their hunting grounds, by the power of the tomahawk and club. Chief among: these tribes were the Kickapoos, industrious, energetic, more civilized and cleanly than all their neighbors, but equally cruel, treacherous and unforgiving. From the earliest days, their bitter hatred of the encroaching white race was implacable and they were ever a fierce tribe. Their historical records run back to the first occupation of the St. Lawrence Valley, by the French. Champlain found them along the shores of Lake Huron. From that early day, they proved an intractable people, never forming any lasting alliance with either the French or the English. They reached Rock River from the north, about the same time as the white explorers of Illinois, and from that date remained prominent in all the savage warfare incident to early colonization, roaming, at different periods over nearly every county within the present limits of the state. They were almost among the first to commence war and the last to submit and enter into treaties. They were in the field against Generals Harmar, St. Clair and Wayne, and were leaders in all the bloody charges at Tippecanoe. For many years, they harassed the exposed settlements, were long the terror of the Illinois frontier and more than all the other tribes combined, retarded the advance of white settlement.

By 1812, the Kickapoo had become fixtures throughout the central portion of the state and their principal rendezvous was along Salt, Kickapoo and Sugar Creeks in what is now the County of Logan. Davidson and Stuve's History of Illinois, page 39, says: "The Kickapoos, in 1763, occupied the country, southwest of the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. They subsequently moved southward, and at a more recent date dwelt in portions of the territory, on the Mackinaw and Sangamon rivers and had a village on Kickapoo Creek and at Elkhart Grove." Parrish's Historic Illinois says: 'The-principal towns of the Kickapoos were located on Kickapoo Creek and at Elkhart Grove." In fact, Kickapoo Creek, rising in McLean and flowing principally through Logan County, was named in honor of the tribe. Ferdinand Ernst, mentioned heretofore, in his accounts of his travels in Central Illinois in 1819, recites, that after leaving Elkhart Grove, they journeyed northward to Salt Creek, (called by the Indians, the Onaquispasippi River), that they had intended to examine the locality of the Kickapoo town, but were forced to forego it, because unable, from high water, to get across Salt Creek, or as he terms it, the Onaquispasippi River.

Governor Reynolds, in his "Pioneer History of Illinois," in a thrilling account of the kidnaping of certain early settlers, in Kentucky, by Kickapoo braves, and their being carried by their captors to the principal Kickapoo town, located this Kickapoo town, "'on Salt Creek, northeast of the Elk Heart Grove, in Sangamon County." Reynolds wrote his history in the fifties and still includes in Sangamon County, the territory now known as Logan, as was frequently done at that time. As this account, (now out of print), gives a chronicle of the first historic event, which connects Logan County with the white race (the same occurring in 1790, the first year after George Washington was inaugurated first president of the United States), it is reproduced here, in Gov. Reynold's exact words:

"Tt will be recollected, that James Gilham, Sr., emigrated to Illinois at an early day, and at a still earlier one, he emigrated from South Carolina, and settled on the frontiers of Kentucky. Inthe year 1790, he had © selected himself a residence in Kentucky, and was in the field plowing his corn, with one of his sons, Isaac, then a small boy. The boy was with his father, clearing the young corn from the clods and sods, which the plow might throw on it, while the rest of the family were in the house. Several Kickapoo warriors went to the house and captured Gil- ham's whole family, that were not with him in the field. The field was some distance from the house, and he did not immediately discover the disaster. These savages captured his wife, one girl and two sons. What horrible feelings Gilham experienced, when he returned home from his work, as he supposed, to his family and dinner; but discovered his house sacked by the Indians, his family captured, and either killed or ' doomed to savage bondage; but man was made to mourn.

"The Indians made the family, by signs, remain quiet, so as not to alarm Gilham, in the field. They made quick work of it and started for the Kickapoo town, towards the sources of the Sangamon River, Illinois. They cut open the bed-ticks, and took such articles out of the house as they could carry away on their backs. They were afraid to take any horses, lest the whites would follow their trail and destroy them. The country where Gilham resided was thinly settled and before he could get a party to pursue the Indians, they escaped. Mrs. Gilham was so terrified that she was almost bereaved of her mind. After the Indians had taken the house, and the family, the first she recollects was her son Samuel, a small boy, saying: 'Mamma, we're all prisoners.' Gilham and neighbors followed the Indian trail a considerable distance, but could not overtake them. He, on his return, suffered misery and mental anguish that is indescribable. Yet hope lingered with him, that, as the Indians had not killed his people, he would again recover them. Hope never entirely abandons any one, in almost any affliction.

"The Indians steered clear of the settlements and were extremely cautious in their march. They kept a spy before and one behind, on the trail, so that their retreat was guarded, as much as possible, by their numbers. The party suffered from much hunger. The three white children were in great misery, from their hurried march and the want of food. But human nature can endure much and will contrive many expedients, before suffering death. Mrs. Gilham patched up rags around the feet of her children, to save them from the briars and thorn. They traveled over a wilderness, without roads. A mother's love for her children knows no bounds. Sympathy, at last, seized on the warriors, and they treated the prisoners with all the savage kindness and mercy in their power. They were out of provisions and one day they halted to hunt for something, to save them from starving. The children had a small morsel of dried meat to eat, and the grown ones nothing. Two of the best hunters were sent out and one returned with a poor summer racoon. Mrs. Gilham said that the sight of this poor coon caused her more happiness than any other earthly sight she ever saw. She was afraid her children would either perish with hunger or the Indians would kill them, to save them from starvation.

the reason of their going so long without food and almost suffering death from hunger. This coon was not dressed in Parisian style, but most of the hair and fur were taken off, and some of the contents of the extreme inside were thrown away, while the balance was put in a brass kettle and placed over a fire. The coon was soon boiled into a nondescript dish, mixed together the meat, bones, hide, some hair, some entrails, claws and feet, of the animal. As soon as this mess was cool, and before, the horn and wooden spoons were in complete operation, and the whole assembly, of white and red skins, got some relief from absolute starvation.

"As they approached the Ohio River, they became more cautious for fear of meeting the Americans on the river, either waylaying for them, or in boats descending the river. They came to the Ohio a small distance from Hawsville, Kentucky, and camped near the river, until rafts could be made on which to cross it. They were detained more than a day in making rafts. Dry logs were procured and tied together, with red elm bark, and the rafts placed near the edge of the water, so that they might be put in the river in a moment and not touch the water before they started over, as they would not be so light, having received some water before. The wily savages were afraid to cross the river in daylight. Mrs. Gilham was much terrified at the idea of crossing the river with her children at night. The party had three rafts. The largest one took Mrs. Gilham and her three children, with two prudent old Indians, to paddle it over. The others crossed in the two rafts prepared for them. The embarkation was in the night, as silent as if they were in a grave yard, and the rafts were paddled over the Ohio with the same secrecy.

"These warriors considered it a great triumph to take these four prisoners and conduct them in safety to the Indian town. In this proportion, they exercised all their talents of bravery and sagacity to accomplish it. But when they had crossed the Ohio, they considered themselves safe and released their watchfulness and caution to some extent. In the country south of White River, in the present state of Indiana, they hunted, marched slow, and lived well, in comparison to the time they ate the coon. They steered clear of the small white settlements around Vincennes, and crossed the Wabash, below Terre Haute. They marched through the present counties of Clark, Coles and Decatur, Illinois, and, finally, after a long and hazardous travel, from the southwestern frontiers of Kentucky, three or four hundred miles, they reached in safety, the Kickapoo town, which was situated on Salt Creek, northeast of the Elk Heart Grove, in Sangamon County.

"What a horrid situation the Indian war placed the Gilham family in. Four with the Indians, and two in Kentucky, in great misery and affliction. Gilham, as soon as he found his family were not killed, but taken prisoners by the Indians, took courage, and hoped again to see his wife and children. He sold his improvement in Kentucky, put his son, Isaac, with a friend and set out in search of his people. After much delay and fatigue of mind and body, he found they were alive, amongst the Indians, and made arrangements to purchase them. At last, he obtained all his lost family and they lived together, many years, in happiness. The young son, Clement, could not talk a word of English, when he was regained by his father. In 1815, Ann Gilham, wife of James Gilham, obtained a grant of land of 160 acres, from Congress, as an honorable testimonial of the suffering and hardships, in her captivity with the Indians, as above narrated."

The above quaint narrative is valuable for various reasons. It shows that as early as 1790, the Kickapoo tribe of Indians were in full possession of the hunting grounds of Central Illinois; that the principal town or capital of the tribe was in what is now Logan County, and not elsewhere, as frequently claimed; and that the Kickapoo Indians were not the exceedingly cruel and bloodthirsty tribe, they have been described to be. Mrs. Gilham and her children were undoubtedly the first white people to set foot on Logan County soil, even though under protest; and yet this was thirty years before a permanent settlement, by whites, was actually attempted. P

The next record of a white person in Logan County is found in the annals of the Illinois Territory. About 1810, the Indian tribes, including the Kickapoo, had become hostile and were making forays on the scattering white settlers, in the southern portions of the state. Territorial Governor Harrison sent deputations to the various tribes in Illinois, to endeavor to settle, by treaty relations, the unsettled condition of affairs. Davidson and Stuve's History of Illinois, page 256, says: ""A mission in charge of Joseph Trotier, a sagacious French creole, of Cahokia, was also sent to the Kickapoos, who inhabited the country along Sugar Creek, in the northern part of the present county of Logan. The usual talks or speeches, with many fair promises, from this rather shrewd, but treacherous and implacable nation, were had, which were also written down as interpreted."

Following this, in 1812, Governor Edwards, of the Illinois Territory, arranged a protracted council, with the Indian chiefs and warriors. This was held at Cahokia, April 16th, and was attended by representatives of the Kickapoos, Pottawattomies, Ottawas and Chippewas. The Kickapoo chiefs and warriors, (or what might be called Logan County's representatives), present, were Little Deer, Blue Eyes, Sun Fish, Blind of an Eye, Otter, Makkak, Yellow Lips, Dog Bird and Black Seed; these names being, of course, the English equivalent for the real Indian names. Gomo, of the Pottawattomies, was the spokesman of those assembled. On behalf of the Kickapoos, Little Deer, presented Gomo, in the following words: "My father, I am of the village of the Great Lick. I give you my hand and wish to be peaceable. You might have heard talk of me and I am well known by all these Indians here. It is well known to them all that I never listened to the Prophet. I am the first chief, who, after the battle of Tippecanoe, went to Governor Harrison with my flag. My father, my chiefs and warriors are here, who all know me to be a peaceable Indian. Gomo will speak to you and we will all agree to what he willsay. My father, the people of my village are now anxious for my return, to hear the results of this council. We have reflected on your speech of yesterday and we have consulted together, and Gomo will answer, in the name of us all." This eloquent introduction of the speaker of the day, by one who at that time, before the day of white settlement, was the most distinguished resident of what is now Logan County, is well worth preservation here.

The Cahokia council did not accomplish its desired effect and hostilities broke out later more fiercely than ever. Governor Edwards then raised a small army, among the early settlers, to silence the warring Indians. On the 18th of October, the defenses of the frontiers having been provided for, his crude army of 400 mounted men, took up its line of march. Davidson and Stuve's History of Illinois, gives their line of march, as follows: "The route pursued was upon the west side of Cahokia creek, thence to the Macoupin, which was crossed, near the present site of Carlinville; thence northeasterly, crossing the Sangamon below the junction of the north and south forks, west of the present capital of the state; passing thence east of Elkhart Grove, crossing Salt Creek not far from the present City of Lincoln and thence in a northward direction, striking an old deserted Kickapoo village on Sugar Creek." These tenantless bark wigwams were painted up with rude savage devices, representing the red skins scalping whites, and the town was burned to ashes. From this point the "army" moved on to Lake Peoria.

From all of the above interesting Indian history, it can fairly be deduced that the principal Kickapoo Indian town was in Logan County, was located on Salt Creek and its site was probably slightly west of and probably including the present Lincoln Chautauqua grounds. The nearest to an actual eye witness of this location was Ferdinand Ernst, referred to before, who in a recital of his travels in 1819, describes Elkhart Hill, and then continues: "We continued our journey northward (from Elkhart Hill) and soon reached the charming banks of the Onaquispasippi, (the Indian name for Salt Creek). Alas, the river was too high to be crossed on horseback. Here a passable road runs northward to Fort Clark on Lake Peoria," and then he adds, "unable to get across the river (Salt creek), we were obliged to forego examination of the locality of the Kickapoo town and we started on our return jour- ney." It will thus be seen that the Kickapoo town was on the north bank of Salt Creek, across from where Ernst stood, which he could not reach on account of the high water in the creek, and this point was near the road running "northward to Fort Clark on Lake Peoria." Seven years before, Governor Edward's small army had passed this same way, from Elkhart Hill to Fort Clark. They had crossed Salt Creek, as stated by Davidson and Stuve, "near the present City of Lincoln." Later, the road made by Edward's army became known as "the Edward's trace." The state road from Springfield through Logan County to Peoria, known as "the Fort Clark road," followed the old Edward's trace. This state road followed a county road, previously laid out in 1825, by the Commissioners of Sangamon County. The commissioners in their order of laying out said road, began the same at Springfield, "thence to the Sangamon River at Chapman's Ford, thence by Phillip's old store, thence by the old trace to Judge Latham's, thence by the old road to McClure's ferry on Salt Creek, thence to Robert Musick's on Sugar Creek, thence to the county line, in a direction to Fort Clark." "Edward's trace," the state road and the county road running from Springfield to Fort Clark, therefore undoubtedly crossed Salt Creek at McClure's ferry. As near as the writer can ascertain, McClure's ferry was located on Salt Creek, on what is now known as the Spitzbarth land, west of the present Lincoln Chautauqua grounds, and west of the old Primitive Baptist Church. And in this same locality or thereabouts, Ernst, by his testimony, substantially locates the Kickapoo town.

It will also be remembered that Gov. Reynolds, in his pioneer history, locates the Kickapoo principal town, to which the Gilhams were carried, as "on Salt Creek, northeast of Elk Heart Grove." There were no doubt other Indian villages in the county, all more or less transient, as Indian villages usually were. There was no doubt an Indian village at Elkhart Hill, another on Sugar Creek, another on Kickapoo Creek, near where the Champaign and Havana branch of the Illinois Central Railroad crosses the same, for here Indian mounds are found and the plow frequently turns up Indian beads and trinkets on adjoining farms. Many Indian mounds are also to be found near Lake Fork, and Rocky Ford was a frequent Indian habitat. But the firmly established Kickapoo town, the capital of the tribe, known among the Indians far and wide, from Michigan to the Big Salt of Kentucky, was undoubtedly located as aforesaid.

No more beautiful or logical site for an Indian town could be found. The high rolling bluff commanded a view of a great extent of country on every hand. At their feet, the Onaquisapasippi, where the Indian could fish and canoe, rolled onward to the sea. The heavy timber furnished the exact sort of home fitted to the Indian mind. On Salt Creek, there were various "salt licks" and from these the creek derived its name. Here the wild animals came for miles around, to satisfy their taste, by slowly eating the salty earth and here the Indian hunter was always sure to find wild game. It will be remembered that Little Deer at the Gahokia Council stated that he was from the village of the Great Lick. It is even possible that this was the Indian name of the Logan County Kickapoo town.

The beginning of the end of the Kickapoo, in Logan County, occurred July 30, 1819. Prior to that, they were the rightful owners of the soil and claimed all that scope of country south of Kankakee River, east of the Illinois River and north of a line drawn from the mouth of the Illinois to the Wabash. This, they claimed as their property, by descent from their ancestors, by conquest from the Illinois and uninterrupted possession for more than fifty years. The treaty, by which they ceded the above tract of land, to the United States, and retired forever from the home they loved so well, was made at Edwardsville, on the date above given. The negotiations on the part of the United States were made by August Choteau and Benjamin Stevenson. The Kickapoos were represented by Pemoatan, Penasee, Keetatta, Shekoan, Mawntoho and eighty dusky chiefs and warriors, with their plumes, paint and wampum, acting for themselves and their tribe. Reluctantly and substantially under duress, they made their scrawls and marks to the instrument, by which they sadly gave up forever their old time home, the graves of their ancestors, their fertile fields and hunting grounds. The land ceded by them is estimated to have contained ten million acres. For this, they were to receive $2,000, in silver, annually, for fifteen consecutive years, at their new location on the waters of the Osage River, the government guaranteeing them peaceable possession of their country on the Osage and to restrain all white persons from hunting or settling thereupon. The government also agreed to furnish boats to transport their property down the Illinois River, and to select some judicious person to accompany them in their journey through the white settlements.

Ferdinand Ernst, before referred to, was present at the making of his treaty, at Edwardsville. Of the event he says: "The most remarkable curiosity, which met me at Edwardsville, was the camp of the Kickapoo Indians, who were sojourning here, in order to conclude a treaty with the plenipotentiaries of the United States, whereby they renounced all rights and claims to the lands on the Sangamon, Onaquispasippi, and in the entire State of Illinois, ceding the same to congress and to immediately vacate the State of Illinois. Their color is reddish brown; their face irregular, often horribly colored with red paint; their hair is cut to a tuft, upon the crown of the head and painted various colors. Very few are clothed. In summer, a woolen covering; in winter, a buffalo skin is their only covering. They seem to be very fond of ornaments,

Proclamation was made of this treaty January 13, 1821. By 1822, only 400 Kickapoos were left in Illinois. As the white settlers began to come in, these gradually withdrew, until by 1836, none were left. After the establishment of Indian agencies, Indians of other tribes, principally Delawares and Pottawatomies, would occasionally pass through the country, for a number of years following the withdrawal of the Kickapoos, and many of the Kickapoos themselves remained for years, along the creeks and about the timber, loath to leave their old home. In passing through, these Indians of other tribes would stop a day or two, near the creeks, and hunt, in order to obtain a supply of food, principally deer meat.

Referring to the Indians, C. C. Ewing, an early settler in the county, in an interview, said: "The Indians about our place were of the Kickapoo tribe. The government permitted them to remain and hunt, after having treated with them for their lands. These savages were a fearful sight to us boys, they being the first we had ever seen. Some were painted different 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 vension 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. When their dinner was prepared, of venison and soup, the warriors arranged themselves around the pot in a circle, spoon or ladle in hand. The chief placed himself in a prominent position, and amid deep silence, pronounced a harangue in the Indian tongue, which 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."

After the Kickapoo retired to the Osage County, the tribe could not be kept intact. Some settled down to cultivate; more rambled off, to hunt on the grounds of southern tribes, entering Texas and Mexico. They were sent out of the Chickasaw country in 1841, but were allowed in Creek territory for some time. In 1838,-the agency band had dwindled to 725; in 1839 to 419. In 1845, it had increased to 516 and 'these were in a thriving condition, raising enough vegetables and grain, to support themselves and supply Fort Leavenworth. They refused to be Christianized, by any sect. A leading chief, one Kennekuk, set him= self up as a prophet and had quite a following. He was said to have been unusually eloquent. In 1854, they were removed to a reservation, in Atchison County, Kansas, part of their large tract being ceded for $300,000. Soon after, the tribe lost by smallpox and by 1863, there were only 343 on the reservation, the southern or wild band only appearing when the annuities were to be paid. Soon after, the Atchison and Pike's Peak Railroad bought part of their lands at $1.25 per acre. In 1865, thirty families took land in severalty, 160 acres to each family, and seventy-nine families took their land in common. The roving Kickapoos numbered about a thousand in 1873, when about 400 returned from Mexico and were placed in the Indian territory. In 1873, there were 274 at the Kansas reservation and there were 46 children in their schools.

The Kickapoo Indian, like all others of his mysterious, untraceable race, has contended against fate; his once mighty power is broken, the charm of his ancient glory is among those things that are past and this country, once his country, with its limpid streams, its enchanting forests and its magnificent plains, knows him no more. Pursued to his retreating footsteps, by the onward march of civilized man, he sees the final extinction of his race, under the crushing decrees of inevitable destiny. The murmuring streams of the valley, the requiem winds of the surviving forests tell of his wrongs and unite in tones of mournful cadence, in condemnation of his fate. "Lo, the poor Indian."