McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 2: The Early Settlers, 1885 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 2: The Early Settlers

Aboriginal Inhabitants of Northern Illinois. - Characteristics of the Different Tribes. - Indian Titles and Their Extinguishment. - Various Treaties. - Final Treaty at Chicago in 1833. - The Dawn of Civilization. - Gillilan, the First Settler in McHenry County, 1834. - Early Centers of Settlement. - Pioneer Life. - The Log Cabin. - Characteristics of the Pioneers. - An Early Settler's Reminiscences.

The aboriginal inhabitants of Northern Illinois were of the Algonquin lineage. The Sacs and Foxes, famous in the history of the Indian warfare, dwelt in the northwest portion of the State. They came originally from the vicinity of Quebec and Montreal, being driven west by the Iroquois. The Foxes first removed west and established themselves on the river bearing their name which flows into the head of Green Bay. The Sacs being driven from their country in Canada, fled west and settled near their kindred, the Foxes. Both tribes being threatened, they formed an alliance for mutual protection; and by intermarriage and community of interest eventually became substantially one people. From Green Bay they moved southward, and about the time the French pioneers visited the country occupied the northwestern portion of this State, having driven out the Sauteaux, a Chippewa people. They were afterward allied with the Pottawatomies and other nations, in conjunction with whom they forced the tribes of the Illinois confederacy south, almost exterminating them finally. In 1779, with the Menomonees, "Winnebagoes and other tribes living near the lakes, they attempted to destroy St. Louis, but were prevented by the opportune arrival of General George Rogers Clark with a force of 500 men. Finally, in the Black Hawk war, they attracted the attention of the whole country and won wide reputation. The Winnebagoes were another tribe inhabiting Northern Illi- nois. According to tradition, they anciently inhabited the western shores of Lake Michigan, north of Green Bay. Thence they appear to have wandered southward, finally settling in Southern "Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa. "The Illinois portion," according to Davidson & Stuve's "History of Illinois," "occupied a section of country on Rock River, in the county which bears their name, and the country to the east of it. In Pontiac's war they, with other lake tribes, hovered about the beleaguered fortress of Detroit, and made the surrounding forests dismal with midnight revelry and war-whoops. English agents, however, succeeded in mollifying their resentment, and when the new American power arose, in 1776, they were subsequently arrayed on the side of the British authorities in regard to questions of local jurisdiction at Prairie du Chien, Green Bay and Mackinaw. In the war of 1812 they remained the allies of England, and assisted in the defeat of Colonel Oroghan, at Mackinaw; Colonel Dudley, at the rapids of the Maumee; and General Winchester, at the River Raisin. In the Winnebago war of 1827, they defiantly placed themselves in antagonism to the authority of the General Government, by assaulting a steamboat on the Mississippi engaged in furnishing supplies to the military post on the St. Peters."

The Pottawatomies were found by the early French explorers in habiting the country east of the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. Thence a portion of the tribe passed around the lake and occupied Northeastern Illinois. At Chicago, in 1812, they perpetrated one of the most atrocious massacres known in the history of barbaric warfare. They removed west from Illinois, and found their way to the Indian Territory. During their residence in Northeastern Illinois, portions of the energetic and powerful Ottawa and Chippewa tribes lived with the Pottawatomies.

Indian Titles And Their Extinguishment

By a treaty in 1804 the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States an extensive tract of land on both sides of the Mississippi River, on the east bank extending from the mouth to the source of the Illinois River and thence north to the Wisconsin River. In 1816 that portion of this territory lying north of a line drawn west from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan was ceded back to the allied tribes - the Ottawas, Ohippewas and Pottawatomies. Out of this cession grew the Winnebago war, the tribe feeling aggrieved because it was not included in the treaty. The "war" was not of great magnitude, but it resulted in the complete humiliation of the Winnebagoes and their abandonment of all claim to the land south of the Wisconsin River. This was in 1827.

The Black Hawk war of 1831-'2, an account of which is given elsewhere, prepared the way for the extinguishment' of the last vestige of the Indian title to land in Northern Illinois, and opened an extensive region, rich in beauty and fertility, to the white settler.

Sept. 15, 1832, a treaty was concluded at Fort Armstrong whereby the "Winnebago nation ceded to the United States all their lands lying south and east of the Wisconsin River and the Fox River of Green Bay. The united nations, namely, the Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottawatomies, still retained their title to the land of Northeastern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, besides other ill defined lands in Indiana and Michigan.

As there was already a considerable settlement at Chicago, which was growing rapidly, there was a general desire that all Indian titles to land in that vicinity be speedily extinguished. That this result might be secured peaceably, in September, 1833, a grand council of chiefs and leading men of the tribes was called to meet at Chicago. The Government Commissioners, G. B. Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen and William Weatherfield, were present, and on the 26th of September, a treaty was signed, which was ratified by the Senate May 22, 1834. Article 1 ceded all land of the united nations "along the west shore of Lake Michigan and between this lake and the land ceded to the United States by the Winnebago nation by the treaty at Fort Armstrong, made Sept. 15, 1832; bounded on the north by the country lately ceded by the Menominees, and on the south by the country ceded at the treaty of Prairie du Chien, made July 29, 1829, supposed to contain 5,000,000 acres."

This cession completely extinguished all title to land owned or claimed by the united nations east of the Mississippi. In return for it the Indians were given a reservation of 5,000,000 acres on the east bank of the Missouri River. The treaty further stipulated that the Indians should be allowed to remain in the country ceded by them until August, 1836, when they were obliged to remove beyond the Mississippi.

The Dawn Of Civilization

white man who set foot upon the soil of McHenry County. It is not at all improbable, however, that some of the French explorers visited this part of the present State of Illinois while the red man yet held undisputed sway over it. It is likewise probable that early Indian traders visited the Fox River in this county and used it for canoe traffic. But in the absence of direct evidence, speculation is idle.

By a law of Congress settlers were forbidden to occupy the newly ceded Indian fanda before the year 1836. This provision of the law, like most others of a similar nature, did not result in actual prohibition. A few bold pioneers, anxious to test the quality of the soil of the new country, longing for the wild freedom of life on the broad prairies, pushed their way into the region west of Lake Michigan, and the year 1835 witnessed the advent of several white settlers to the present counties of McHenry and Lake. The first white settler in McHenry County located in what is now the town of Algonquin, in November, 1834. His name was James Gillilan, and he came from West Virginia with his wife and family, settling here at the time mentioned. Mrs. Gillilan was the first white woman in the county.

Two principal settlements were founded in 1835 - the "Virginia settlement," so called because the majority of the early settlers in that neighborhood were Virginians; and the "Pleasant Grove'' settlement, now known as Marengo and vicinity. The Virginia settlement was principally in the eastern part of the present town of Dorr, where the following persons settled in 1835: James Dufield, Christopher Walkup, John Walkup, Josiah Walkup, Win. Hartman, John Gibson, John McClure and Samuel Gillilan. The settlers of 1835 in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood were Oliver Chatfield, Calvin Spencer, A. B. Coon, Porter Chatfield, Russel Diggins,|Richard Simpkins and Moody B. Bailey.

With the year 1836 there was quite an influx of population. At the time of the first election, in 1837, the population of the county was estimated at 500, of whom probably more than 300 lived within the present limits of Lake County. The census of 1840 showed that McHenry County had a population of 2,578. Lake County had been formed the year previous.

New England. An English settlement was founded early in the northeastern part of the county. Hartland was settled principally by Irish Catholics. Later, a large number of German settlers came to the county. For further details respecting settlement the reader is referred to the township histories.

Life In The Backwoods

The life of the pioneer is humble yet glorious. He prepares the way for advancing civilization, endures poverty and hardship, toils without recompense, that his posterity may enjoy the full fruition of his labors. He is the adventurer in fields untried, the pathfinder, the discoverer, the advance agent leading others to a land of promise. In all ages and countries he has been honored and remembered on account of his self-sacrificing labor.

Pioneer life in McHenry County finds its almost exact counterpart in every part of the West. When the first settlers arrived here, they found a fair and beautiful region, but just left by the aboriginal inhabitants. Forests were to be felled, prairies broken, cabins built, mills, school-houses, churches, roads - the labor of a lifetime rose before them. But were these bold spirits dismayed ? Not they ! They had journeyed from their far distant homes, through a rough country, over bad roads, rivers, swamps and marshes, passing nights with no shelter above them, and toiling forward by day, meeting new obstacles ever and anon. Now they had reached the land for which they had started, and fair and pleasant was the prospect.

In McHenry County the settlement is of so recent date that almost every one is familiar with pioneer ways either from actual experience or from hearsay. Nevertheless, for the benefit of posterity, who may be interested in knowing what was the real nature of pioneer life and the character of the work of the early settlers, we devote a portion of this chapter to a description of primitive manners, customs and labor.

Such has been the change since the days of our fathers and grandfathers in this State, it is almost as though a new race of beings had come into possession of the land. Clothing, diet, dwellings, social customs, individual habits, have all been transformed. Old wavs are not our ways; but they were good ways, and served their purpose admirably, and the memory of them is full of tender interest to us. The earliest settlers, upon their arrival, constructed hastily what they called "three-faced camps:" that is, buildings with three walls, and the front open. These camps were usually about seven feet high, without floors, and roofed with poles upon which bark or shingles lay, held in place by weight-poles. No windows, doors or chimneys were needed in these dwellings, which were not built for temporary residences, but usually merely to serve as shelter while the cabin was bein^ constructed.

The cabin of round logs was a material advance upon the camp. The interstices between the logs were filled with chips, or sticks, then daubed abundantly with clay mortar. A log "house" - in distinction from a cabin - was constructed of hewed logs, and was the prevailing style of residence for rich and poor. The building was often without a floor, but more commonly one was built of "puncheons," or split logs, made smooth as possible on one side by the adze or the ax. The roof was covered with long shingles, or "shakes," held in place by weight-poles. For a fire-place, a space about six feet long was cut out of the logs at one end of the room, and three sides were built up with logs, making an offset in the wall. This was lined with stone when convenient, and plentifully daubed with clay. The chimney was built of small split sticks, plastered together with clay, and rose but little above the roof.

A space for a doorway was cut in one side of the cabin, and in it was hung a door made of split shingles or puncheons, fastened together with cleats and wooden pins. The hinges were also of wood, and the latch. The latch-string was of leather, extending through a hole a few inches above the latch, to the outside, so that a pull lifted the latch from the catch enabling the door to open. It was only necessary for those inside to pull the latch-string in to lock the door securely against all comers.

The living-room was of good size, as it ought to be - for it was parlor, dining-room, sitting-room, kitchen, pantry and bed-room, all in one. The rafters were usually adorned with flitches of bacon or festoons of dried pumpkins. In one corner of the apartment were seen the loom and, perhaps, the spinning wheel, while the kitchen utensils were grouped about the ample fire-place. One side of the room was devoted to the family wardrobe, which hung suspended from pegs driven into the wall.

The trusty rifle usually hung over the door, and near it the powder-horn and hunting-pouch. Well-to-do families had a spare room for guests - that is, a space in the loft of sufficient size to contain a bed, besides serving usually the purposes of a lumberroom. The loft was reached by a ladder from the main room. Sleeping apartments were sometimes separated from the sittingroom by partitions made by suspending quilts, coverlets or sheets from the upper floor.

This mode of living was not so irksome as might be supposed. People soon became accustomed, to it, and patiently put up with it until their means had increased sufficiently to enable them to enlarge their domicile by a lean-to, or, better yet, to construct a double log cabin - a happy distinction to which only the wealthy could attain. The furniture of the cabin was as primitive as the house itself. Bedsteads, chairs and tables were of home manufacture, and the makers were not always skilled workmen. The articles used in the kitchen were few and simple : a " Dutch oven," a skillet, or long-handled frying pan, an iron pot or kettle, and sometimes a coffee-pot were all that the best furnished kitchen contained. When a stone-wall formed the base of the fire-place a long iron crane on which, attached to a pot-hook, hung a large pot or kettle, was one of the indispensable features. The style of cooking was necessarily simple, as all of it had to be done at the fire-place and in the fire. Corn meal, cooked in various forms, such as "mush," " Johnnycake," "hoe-cake" and "pone," was one of the staple articles of diet. The " pone" and "corn-dodger" were cooked in the Dutch oven, set upon a bed of glowing coals. The oven being filled with dough, the cover, already heated, on the fire, was placed over it and covered with hot embers. After the bread was cooked, it was taken from the oven and placed near the fire to keep it warm, while the oven was again pressed into use in the preparation of some other article of food. The " hoe-cake" was cooked upon a board or fiat stone placed in front of the fire, a thick dough of meal and water having first been prepared. Cooked pumpkin was sometimes added to the dough to give it richness and flavor. Venison or hani was fried in the Dutch oven. Hominy or hulled corn was often added to the frugal meal. Wild honey was found in abundance; game was plenty, and although flour was at first scarce, the pioneer's bill of fare was usually a good one, containing a plenty, if not a variety, of good wholesome food, well cooked.

The pioneers were true-hearted and hospitable. Strangers were never denied shelter or food, though often the family were much discommoded by furnishing such entertainment. The early settlers of were some English and Irish. They were generally poor, and understanding the hardships and disadvantages of poverty themselves, they sympathized with, and aided the more readily, those whom they found in need of assistance. Selfishness was not in their nature. They were bold, brave, free-hearted, and led usefal and uprightlives. Of course there were exceptions - now and then a selfish man, and once in a great while a rascal - but the great body of the early settlers was composed of men fearless in the right, honest, generous, truthful, and independent even though they were poor. Their situation was one calculated to beget feelings of friendliness and helpfulness. They were all situated alike; all had left the associations and the friends of other days, and were seeking the accomplishment of a difficult task. There was no room for idlers, but newcomers were looked upon as helpers, and the watchword appeared to be, " The more the merrier." Says an early writer: "Men must cleave to their kind and must be dependent upon each other. Pride and jealousy give way to the natural yearnings of the human heart for society. They begin to rub off the neutral prejudices; one takes a step and then the other; they meet half way and embrace, and the society thus newly organized and constituted is more liberal, enlarged, unprejudiced, and of course more affectionate than a society of people of like birth and character who bring all their early prejudices as a common stock to be transmitted as an inheritance to posterity.

The life of toil and hardship was one well calculated to develop a strong character and a self-reliant, trustful spirit. Many men of eminence have risen from humble homes; have studied by the firelight, or in the old-fashioned log school-house, and become distinguished far above those reared in homes of luxury and schooled in affluence. The best citizens of McHenry County to-day are those who have cleared the forests and subdued the prairies, or the descendants of these early settlers. The boys in early times were early taught to put their hands to every kind of farm work; they plowed and grubbed; pulled flax, broke and " hackled" it; wore tow shirts, coon skin caps; picked and carded wool; and "spooled" and carded wool.f The girls were taught to make and mend their own clothes; to cook, wash and scrub; to lend a hand in the harvest field if necessary. They were not injured by the exercise. It gave

Such industry, coupled necessarily with energy and frugality, brought its own certain reward. The men grew prematurely old while sustaining their burdens, but they saw the forests pass away and beautiful fields of grain take their place. Marvelous indeed has been the change wrought in a half century. Many an aged pioneer, as he sits in his easy chair and overlooks the past, involuntarily exclaims, "Is it possible that all these things have been wrought by the hand of man within the space of one life-time?"

Now, o'er the vision, like a mirage, falls The old log cabin with its dingy walls And crippled chimney, with the crutch-like prop Beneath, a sagging shoulder on the top. The 'coon-skin, .battened fast on either side ; The whisps of leaf tobacco, cut and dried ; The yellow strands of quartered apples hung In rich festoons, that tangle in among The morning glory vines that clamber o'er The little clapboard roof above the door ; Again through mists of memory rise The simple scenes of home before the eyes ; The happy mother, humming with her wheel, The dear old melodies that used to steal So drowsily upon the summer air ; The house-dog hid his bone, forgot his care And nestled at her feet, to dream, perchance, Some cooling dream of winter-time romance. The square of sunshine through the open door

The clothing of the early settlers was simple, being usually entirely of home manufacture. The supply brought with the family into the new country was made to serve until flax could be raised from which to make more. It was with difficulty that sheep could be kept, owing to the prairie wolves; but after sheep had been introduced and flax and hemp raised in sufficient quantities, it still remained a difficult task for the women of the household to make cloth and fashion clothing for the entire family. Flannel and linsey were woven and made into garments for women and children, and jeans for the men. The wool was usually colored with walnut or some other kind of bark; or else black and white wool mixed made "pepper and salt" cloth. Every household was a factory in which every branch of clothing manufacture was carried on - carding, spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing. Before carding machines were introduced all the wool used was carded by hand on cards about four inches wide and eight or ten inches long. Flax, after being dried, broken and "scutched," was spun on a small wheel, worked by a treadle, such as may now be seen once in a while among the lumber of an ancient garret. Tow and linen cloth was worked into shirts and dresses, or pantaloons for summer wear. Tow, the coarse part of flax, formed the filling of the cloth, the strong linen threads being the warp. A tow and linen shirt was not a thing of beauty, and it had a tendency to irritate the skin, but the boys of that day were satisfied with it. The following is a graphic description of preparation for the winter in a pioneer's household : the early fall, and the work was continued on into the winter months, when the whir of the wheels and the regular stroke of the loom could be heard until a late hour of the night. No scene can well be imagined more abounding in contentment and domestic happiness. Strips of bark of the shell-bark hickory, thrown from time to time into the ample fire-place, cast a ruddy, flickering light over the room. In one corner, within range of the reflected light, the father cobbling a well-worn pair of shoes, or trying his skill at making new ones. Hard by, the young ones are shelling corn for the next grist. The oldest daughter whirls the large spinning-wheel, and with its hum and whir trips to the far side of the room, drawing out the thread, while the mother, with the click of the shuttle and the measured thump of the loom, fills up the hours. The whole is a scene of domestic industry and happiness rarely to be found elsewhere."

Shoes were one of the most expensive of necessary articles. Boots were then unknown. Shoes were used sparingly. A pair must be made to last a year, and longer, if possible. Men and women, boys and girls, all went barefooted in the summer months to save shoe leather. The shoemaker and the blacksmith were indispensable members of society in every settlement, and found enougli work to keep themselves well employed. Every pioneer at times was obliged to be a jack at all trades, though by no means a successful worker in all. Happy the man 'whose native ingenuity enabled him to turn his hand to shoemaking, blacksmithing, coopering, carpentering, cabinet-making or masonry, as occasion required! He at least was certain to have the best of implements and furniture for his own use; and he was also able to assist many of his less skillful neighbors.

Tinware was too expensive to form much of the household supply of dishes. Instead of it plates or trenchers and bowls of wood were used. Even knives and spoons for table use were fashioned of wood. Troughs or "gums" were made to serve the purposes of tubs, pails, etc. The "gums" were obtained in various sizes by cutting lengths from hollow trees and providing them with bottoms of bark or puncheons, or blocks of wood. "A sugar trough for a cradle" is no fiction of the imagination ; many a child has been cradled in that fashion, and has grown to a strong and vigorous maturity.

miles. To hew the logs for a cabin, raise them into position, and fit the dwelling for inhabitants requires the labor of all the men and boys in a settlement. Raisings were grand events. Everybody far and near was invited and everybody came that could, for they knew a raising meant a good time. To be sure there was hard work, but the presence of many and the good natured strife to out do one another made it seem like pastime. The process of erecting a log house has been described as follows :

"Neio'hbors for miles around were there to lend a friendly lift. One of the party was appointed captain, whose business it was to direct the work of the day. He was generally a man of strong character and commanding presence, one whose word was law, and yet whose directions were without the semblance of command. A jug of rum or home-made whisky was always 'on tap,' and contributed its strength to the spirit of the day. First, the ground was cleared. The trunks of large, straight-grained trees were split into clapboards for the roof or puncheons for the floor. Smaller trees were cut down and logs of suitable length prepared for the walls of the cabin. Flat stones were placed at each corner for the foundation, on which two heavy logs were adjusted, one at each side of the building. These were notched at distances of about four feet, and straight poles laid across to serve as joists or sleepers for the puncheon floor. A skilled axman then took his place at each corner, and as log after log for the walls tumbled into place it was notched near the ends so that the next, crossing at right angles, would rest more firmly. Thus, log by log, the cabin was raised to the height of about eight feet; another row of joists was then placed across for the upper floor. One or two logs more and then the gable was commenced, which was built up of smaller timber, secured by poles running the whole length of the building at intervals of about three feet. On these clapboards four feet long were laid in such a way as to make a tight roof."

Most of the early settlers learned to fear and dread the fever and a<me. In case they were fortunate enough to escape it one season, they were in trepidation lest the next year should bring it to them. The ague or "shakes" is a disease peculiar to new countries and to malarious districts. It is caused by impurities in the air and water. It is not contagious, but is sure to result from the upturning of a rich, rank soil for the first time. The patient breathes in the impurities from day to day until his whole system is impregnated with them. Then, with electric force, the shock comes, returning at regular intervals to renew its attack. After the shock comes the fever, a burning, enervating, indescribable fever that leaves the patient thoroughly miserable. Of all forms of illness, chills and fever, or fever and ague, is one of the most painful and tormenting.

For amusement, the early settlers had raisings, log-rollings, beehunts, wolf-hunts, and other diversions. "Wrestling matches, and sometimes fights, were also regarded as amusements; and the man who was agile and strong enough to be the champion wrestler of a neighborhood was regarded as a very fortunate individual. The game of ball was played by men and boys with skill and dexterity. It was not the modern game of " base ball," with such rules as none but a skilled " professional" can understand; but, instead, " round ball," "three-year-old cat," "four-year-old cat" and other games, with few rules and restrictions, yet requiring agility and muscle in a successful player. As the settlements grew and took on the ways of civilization, there were singing schools, spelling-schools, writing-schools, parties and "bees" of various kinds, where good-natured merriment and hearty fun were always discovered by the young people in attendance.

Agricultural labor was performed at a disadvantage on account of the crude implements in use. Hoes, spades, shovels, etc., were generally such as a blacksmith - and not always a skillful one - could fashion. Plows were far inferior to the smooth, cast-steel, light-running instruments of to-day. Corn was planted by hand ; grain drills, reapers and mowers were for long years articles entirely unknown to the "Western farmer. Wheat and other grains were sowed by hand, and covered with earth by dragging a wooden-toothed harrow across the land, smoothing off the surface finally by dragging a heavy brush across the field. The grain was cut with the cradle, and thrashed either with a flail or trampled out by horses. Fanning-mills were very useful; and it occasionally happened that there was but one such mill in a neighborhood, when it would be moved from place to place and in constant demand. Those who were not able to obtain the use of a fanning-mill were obliged to winnow their grain by the aid of the wind.

The want of mills for grinding grain and corn was at first a serious inconvenience to the people of McHenry County. Journeys of forty and even of sixty miles, through woods and across prairies, had to be undertaken by those who wished to obtain a grist. But the settlement increased rapidly and this state of affairs did not long continue, the county being soon supplied with useful little mills run by water-power. They ground slowly and not always "exceeding fine," but they were more serviceable than the handmill, the horse grist-mill, or the mortar and pestle which had bee n used largely hitherto.

Pioneer life was free from conventional politeness, yet rich in true politeness. Morals were good if manners were rough. There were no neighborhood quarrels; no gossiping and slander; there was also . toleration of various religious opinions. Almost every shade of religion was represented, and all dwelt harmoniously together - perhaps for the reason that there were no churches, church quarrels were impossible. But from whatever cause, pioneer society was as good an example of " brethren dwelling together in unity" as we are ever likely to find in this busy and selfish world.

Pioneer Life

Extracts from an oration delivered before the Old Settlers' Association of McHenry and Lake counties at McHenry on the 8th of September, 1869, by Hon. George G-age:

Mr. President and Felt.ow-oitizens: - We are assembled to-day for the first time, as an organized association of old settlers of Mc- Henry and Lake counties; and probably, for some of us, the last time, to exchange friendly greetings with each other once again before taking our final departure from this beautiful land of ours that is endeared to us by all the sacred memories of the past, for that undiscovered country beyond the tomb, from whose bourne it is said no traveler ever returns and unto which we are all so rapidly hastening.

After a residence of thirty-five years in this county, during which time the waves of adversity have beaten heavily against our frail bark of life, many times wrecking our dearest hopes of life upon a dark sea of uncertainty and doubt, it affords us untold satisfaction to meet so many of our old friends here upon this occasion, and under circumstances of so favorable a nature - circumstances which arouse every latent energy of the soul and inspire the most profound emotions of the heart. I see around me here to-day men and women whose faces were familiar in former years, gathered together from the different States of the Union, from the East and from the "West, from the North and from the South, to grasp the friendly hand again. One lady, in particular, one of the oldest settlers of the town of McHenry, has left her home upon the Pa- cific coast, over 3,000 miles distant, lias scaled the Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountains, and crossed the great American Desert to join in our festivities.

I also see around me men and women venerable with age, p passing down the declivity of life with that quiet, unpretending demeanor which characterizes a life of labor, of purity and usefulness, a conscience void of offence and which dignifies old age, - who have lain the foundation for all the present and future prosperity and happiness of this country. Here nearly thirty-five years ago we commenced this journey of life together. Animated by the alluring promises of youth and the rich prospects spread out around us, we have struggled on through storm and tempest, through summer's heat and winter's cold, sunless hours and clouded sky, until the vitalizing forces of youth are far spent, the realities of life are nearly past, and the grand, culminating reward is summed up in our children and our children's children around us.

No country ever inspired higher hopes and expectations than this, and few ever proved more deceptive and illusory. Disappointment heaped upon disappointment, loss upon loss, failure upon failure, has been the rule and not the exception in our struggle here against contending forces. Still no more inviting prospect was ever held out to mortal vision than 'this country presented in its native purity, with its rich, rolling prairies, before the hand of civilization had ever marred its original symmetry and beauty.

1 wish to go back with you to-day to our starting point in life here and trace our footprints along the winding way which brings us to our present position. And first I wish to introduce a prairie view, a view of the country as we found it - a prairie

These groves of timber in the distance, which seem to skirt the horizon, mark the line of some water course or lake which serves to protect them against the annual desolating scourge, the prairie fire. Those spanceled Indian ponies, quietly feeding by yonder grove, admonish us of the presence of a race of men who have been the terror of the frontier settlements in all ages of our country. The " prairie schooner " dragging its slow length along; the buck and the doe bounding lightly away over the lawn; the rich flowery carpet spread out under our feet; the grand, rolling prairie extend- ing in the distance - all are scenes which increase in interest as we gaze back upon them through the long vista of intervening years. This little bird that flies screeching and screaming around us, known as a " prairie jack," with his long pipe-stem bill, sends his sharp, shrill voice far echoing over the prairie. The sand-hill crane in yonder marsh catches the echo, and tunes her throat to the melody her mother taught; her mate takes up the glad refrain, responds in perfect time and harmony, and while they dance and sing

Such is a faint outline of the picture as mirrored from memory's chart to-day. Well might one exclaim like the companion of our venerable friend as his eye caught, for the first time, a view of our broad, rolling prairies: "My God, Bartlett, is that country just as God left it?" " I don't know," says Charles; ' ' It was just so when I came here."

Now again, as we look over the country, upon the spot where the painted savage, the prowling wolf and the timid deer have been wont to roam unmolested, " a humble cottage marks a happy home." The quiet farmer with his plow has commenced a war of extermination against the prairie flowers and grasses. Civilization, which, like the Star of Empire, westward takes its way, in its grand progressive march has established a permanent residence here, carrying destruction to all the lower orders of animated nature, to make room for a higher, more perfect development of the vegetable, animal and intellectual kingdoms. * * * I have said that for some of us this is the last old settlers' convention we shall ever attend. * * * These facts admonish us that we are fast passing away and each succeeding year decimates our number and will continue to do so until the last one of us shall wait for the Angel of Death to roll back the door and show us those we love. In view of these

Let ua hope for the future, when Death shall relieve us And open the portals above to sight, When those gone before us with joy shall receive ua And welcome us home to the mansions of light."

Notwithstanding the fact that this country presented the most cheering prospects in oar beginning here, with its rich alluvial soil spread out in unlimited extent, we were all doomed to bitter disappointment. Bright visions of golden harvests have loomed up before us only to be swept away in a single hour. Prairie fires have swept over the country like a flaming tornado leaving all a blackened mass of ruins in their path, and always finding victims among the farmers. Fences, hay, grain and buildings have fallen before the devouring element. The swarming blackbirds, like the locusts of Egypt, have been the terror of farmers in early times. They would first ruin our harvests and then add insult to injury by chanting their funeral dirge amid the green branches of the forest, while they laughed at our calamity and mocked when our fear cam . The malaria arising from the newly turned prairies has caused us to burn with fever and freeze with ague. We struggled year after year against fire, blackbirds, vermin and disease, until we began to realize fine harvests, and then we had no markets.

We came to this county poor in everything but strong constitutions, generous impulses and voracious appetites. We had our land to buy; our fences, barns, sheds, houses, school-houses, roads and bridges to build; our horses, cattle, hogs and sheep to buy or raise; our farming tools and household furniture to purchase. Money was sometimes borrowed at ruinous rates of interest, and as a consequence some have lost their farms, others their health, and some in the struggle have lost their lives.

In our primitive style of living the most fashionable~dwellings were log shanties with "shake" roofs and puncheon floors. Our furniture was improvised out of such material as the country afforded and manufactured with a farmer's "kit," which was generally an ax, a hammer, a draw-knife and an auger.

We suffered much inconvenience for many years for want of proper farming implements, but most of all for a good crossing plow. Ren wick and Gifford manufactured the first I ever saw, at Elgin, in 1844. * * * As we look back over the country today, behold how changed! Shanties have given place to capacious dwellings, constructed with all the convenience and elegance of the most approved style of modern architecture. The rude habitations of the past exist only in the memory as among the things that were. It seems more like a dream than a reality that these changes have been wrought in our generation. The oldest settlements on the continent furnish no more of the comforts and luxuries of life than are now enjoyed by all the country around us.

The first settlers of this county were composed of two classes: The one was the claso that floats along on the tide of emigration for the purpose of plunder, and the other came here to secure homes and an honorable living. The former class soon floated away and left the country clear of the desperadoes for which some of the western counties in this State were noted in early history. The latter class, who may now be considered as the only actual settlers, were emigrants from different States of the Union and provinces of Europe.

There was a glorious hospitality among the early settlers which we do not see to-day. "With all your abundance, a meal of victuals is not now given as readily and freely to a hungry traveler as it was when you had to divide the last loaf to beBtow it. You are not as whole-souled, benevolent, and philanthropic as you were. Your purest and noblest affections are dried up; your hearts are dead to the generous impulses of former days; are not overflowing with kind words, and thoughts beaming from the eye, speaking from the tongue, radiating from the genial hues of the countenance, as in the days of yore. "Why is this? "Why is it that in proportion as our necessities decrease and as old age comes creeping on, the desire for wealth and influence increases and a more penurious spirit crowds out the nobler impulses of our nature? It is this: Ever since we began to accumulate property it has required constant care and watchfulness to guard it. The world seems to be swarming with people who are trying to get something for nothing, and that something must come out of those who earn it. It is becoming second nature in us to guard against its being filched from our hard earnings. Should we not rather try and guard against the other extreme to which the force of such circumstances tends to drive us? Better be poor, noble and generous than rich, acid and seclusive.

Now for a moment I wish to take a broader, more comprehensive view of the situation. This country which seems to have sprung up, as it were, out of the depths of the seas, extending from the At- lantic to the Pacific, from the great lakes on the north to the broad gulf on the south, with its giant mountain ranges, its majestic rivers, its fertile hills and verdant plains, seems to have been the chosen spot of all others on God's green earth for the highest and most perfect development of the human intellect. With a Government based upon the principles of equal and exact justice to all mankind, recognizing the principle of human equality before the law, extending its protecting arm alike around and over all, with freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, stirring up, agitating, purifying the stagnant pools of the dead past, America is fast advancing the sciences and arts, and is to-day the guiding star, the light and the hope of the world. Our railroads and telegraphs, our steamboats and steam printing presses, are scintillating light all over the world, over the Atlantic and through it, over mountains, hills and plains to all parts of the habitable globe.

These wonderful and marvelous inventions together with the thousands of others that aid the farmer and the mechanic in their daily labors are the results of American science and industry and the product of the age in which we live. These are the offspring of American institutions, freed from the spirit of bigotry, superstition and intolerance which has so long been the blighting curse of humanity. In view of these considerations, what glorious prospects are spread out around us, for us and succeeding generations, in this land but just redeemed rom the hand of the vandal barbarian.

Now for a moment I wish to talk to the ladies wearing the badge of this association. I should always feel I had been derelict in my duty should I fail to express my high appreciation of your usefulness in your field of labor here. In your early walks in life you never trailed long richly embroidered silk dresses in the dust in the vain hope of exciting admiration. You never disfigured your early tabernacles with stays and laces for the same object. You never shut out the light of heaven from your habitation for fear it might interfere with your personal beauty. But, satisfied with the divine form that God had given you, in which no sculptor could detect a fault, you attired yourself with neatness and simplicity; and when employed in the sphere of your usefulness you were more lovely and beloved than the gaudy queen in her palace. But you were the guardian angels of our household homes, without whom this landj would have been desolate indeed. You commenced your journey in life here in log shanties with blanket partitions of your own manufacture, with probably a chest for your first table, and a three-legged puncheon stool for your first sofa; and without a single female friend to whom you could confide the secret treasures of your womanly heart. "With all these discouragements surrounding you, you have patiently toiled and struggled on until your reward is apparent in your parlor and in your kitchen; in your fine carriage, your costly dwelling and your broad acres; but most of all in the bright prospects of these children around you. To you, ladies, we owe much for what our country is to-day.

* * * To the president, marshal, officers of the day and members of the association I have a few words to say at parting. We came to this couutry many years ago, all nearly at the same time, and the paths we have trod have all rain nearly in the same direction; and notwithstanding the many trials we have encountered, the tribulations we have passed through, the gloom that has at times enveloped us, I feel that we have reason to rejoice that we staked our fortunes here. When I look around upon the bright, intelligent faces of these, our children, and realize that they have all been nurtured, fed and educated from the products of this land of our adoption, matured and developed into manhood and womanhood, with capacity for filling and adorning the highest positions in life, I feel that we have not labored in vain, nor spent our strength for naught, but that when we shall be called from this sphere of existence we shall go hence leaving a proud, imperishable record.

Finally, to all, let me say, let the glad greetings of friends here to-day be indelibly impressed upon the memory. May joy and gladness pervade every heart and go with you to your several homes, and a spirit of true love and affection permeate every soul, and flow out in kind words and deeds through all the ramifications of society.

The Prairie-Fire

Blazing bright as vivid lightning in sheeted wreaths of fire - Rushing onward like the tempest, like a demon in its ire - Loud as the roaring cataract, or breakers on the strand, The flaming billows brightly roll across the fated land.

Fierce as the crested billows upon the surging main, It sweeps in fiery grandeur across the fertile plain, Lapping up all vegetation with red tongues sharp and lithe - Nature's automatic mower, cutting cleaner than a scythe.

Like the sand-storm of the desert, the scorching dread simoom, It makes the land a wilderness though clothed in summer-bloom, Marring everything it touches, leaving in each tread a stain - Scathing, shrivelling, and destroying in its devastating train.

The swift-winged grouse in terror fly before its torrid breath ; The startled deer bounds nimbly on to 'scape a fiery death j The gray wolf knows its fateful sound, and fears its fatal glare, And hurries from its baleful light to seek a cooler lair.

The Indian from his wigwam surveys the gleaming flood, And mounts his mettled pony to reach some sheltered wood; How often have the restless flames his simple lodge cousumed, And all his earthly treasures in one red grave entombed !

The hunter in his lonely camp dreads its infernal roar, As does the mariner the storm upon the leeward shore ; Yet in its flames he can discern the pillar, cloud, and hand By which Jehovah leads the way toward the Promised Land.

Each grand fire of the prairie is Nature's mirror-stone, Young Freedom's glowing oriflam to light the squatter's throne ; Hail ! glorious waves of fire and cloud upon the Western lea, The beacons of the wilderness, the watchflres of the free.

Civil History

Origin of the County's Name. - Establishment of MoHenet County feom Cook. - Legislative Commission. - Selection of the County Seat. - First Election. - Commissioners' Court. - Formation of Precincts and Eoad Districts. - Tax and Toll Kates. - Lake County Organized. - Precincts Re-formed. - Township Organization. - The Circuit Court. - First County Buildings. - Removal of the County Seat. - New County Buildings. - The Present Court-House and Jail. - Provisions for Paupers. - The County Farm. - Items of Interest.

The county of McHenry was named in honor of Colonel William McHenry, an officer in the Black Hawk war, who marched with his forces through the territory that now comprises McHenry County. He joined his forces with General Atkinson's at Fort Atkinson, Wis., and subsequently fought with General Dodge. He participated in the battle of Bad Axe, which resulted in defeating Black Hawk and driving him west of the Mississippi River.

The territory now comprising McHenry and Lake counties was formed into McHenry County by an act of the Legislature approved Jan. 16, 1836. The title of the bill was "An act to establish certain counties," and section 1 reads as follows: uBe it enacted, etc., That all that tract of country within the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at a point on Lake Michigan where the township line dividing townships 42 and 43 strikes said lake and running thence west along said line to the east line of range number 4, east of the third principal meridian, thence north to the boundary line of the State, thence east to Lake Michigan, thence along the shore of said lake to the place of beginning, shall constitute a new county to be called McHenry."

The territory constituting the new connty was taken from the county of Cook.* Section 16 of the above mentioned act contains a provision that

*Cook County was organized in March, 1831, and embraced, in addition to its present territory, what is now included in the counties of Lake. McHenry Du Page and Will.

" The county of McHenry shall continue to form a part of Cook until it shall be organized; shall vote with the county of Cook in all general elections, until otherwise provided by law."

Subsequently the Legislature provided for the organization of the county, appointed a commission to locate the county-seat, and set apart the first day of June, 1837, as an election day, for the choosing of county officers. The commissioners appointed to locate the county-seat were: M. L. Ooville, of McLean County. Peter Cohen, of "Will County, and Daniel Dunham, of Kane County! Of course every important settlement in the county desired to have the seat of justice for its possession. Therefore Independence Grove (now Libertyville), Half Day, McHenry, Crystal Lake and Fort Hill each urged its claims to the honor. The commissioners, after examining the various competing points, on the 10th of May, 1837, fixed upon McHenry. as the county seat, it being near the geographical center of the county as then constituted. McHenry County then contained thirty congressional townships, and a small population, most of which was east of Fox Eiver.

The First Election

" At an election held at the house of Hiram Kennecott,* in McHenry County and State of Illinois, on the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, which was ordered by the Legislature for the organization of said county of McHenry, the following named persons were duly elected for the following described offices, to- wit:

Sept. 9, 1837, a general election was ordered in the several precincts of the county on Oct. 9, 1837, for one county commissioner, one commissioner's clerk; and also to fill all vacancies in the precincts with magistrates and constables.

Proceedings Of The Commissioners' Court

From the organization of the county until the adoption of the township system, in 1850, the duties now devolving upon the Board of Supervisors were discharged by three commissioners, who fixed the rates of taxation, granted mercantile, tavern and ferry licenses, established rates of toll and prices for entertainment, ordered roads, formed election precincts, appointed county and municipal officers, and exercised general supervision over all county matters. The record of their first meeting, or court, begins as follows:

" At a meeting of the Commissioner's Court of Mc Henry County, begun and held in said county on the fifth day of June, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, it being the first session of said court after the organization of said county of McHenry: Present, The Hon. Charles H. Bartlett, Matthias Mason, and Solomon Norton, Commissioners; Hamilton Dennison, Clerk.

"Hamilton Dennison was appointed Clerk, came forward and gave bail bond, with Seth Washburn and Henry B. Steele, his sureties, and took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Illinois, and the oath of office," etc.

The next act was the appointment of Andrew S. Wells as County Treasurer, who gave bonds, with Starr Titus and Seth Washburn as sureties, and was duly sworn into office. This done, the court proceeded to divide the county into election precincts.

Fox Precinct. - "Ordered by the court, That the following described district of country - viz.: Commencing at a point two miles east of Fox River on the south boundary line of McHenry County; thence west, following the south line of said county to the southwest corner of said county; thence north, following the west line of said county; thence east, on the north line of said county to a point two miles east of Fox River; thence south, fol lowing the course of said river, to the place of beginning - shall constitute a general precinct and magistrate's district, to be called Fox Precinct and Magistrate's District."

For this extensive precinct - comprising more territory than the whole of the present county of McHenry - Christy Gr. Wheeler, Win. L. Way and John V. McLean were appointed judges of election. The place of holding elections was ordered to be at the house of Christy G-. Wheeler, and an election for two justices of the peace and two constables was ordered on the third day of July, 1837.

journed until Saturday next, at the house of Charles H. Bartlett, on the Desplaines River, at one o'clock p. m." In the foregoing entries no attempts have been made to follow the original spelling as it appears upon the records. There district appears as "destrict;" magistrate, as " magestrate ;", place, as "plase;" meeting, as "meting," together with many other departures from modern orthographical standards, showing that the writer was probably better accustomed to holdiug the plow than to guiding the pen.

Saturday, June 10, 1837, the court met, pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded to divide the remainder of the county into precincts. These were named Oak, Lake, Indian Creek and Abington precincts. As these divisions belonged to the territory now included in Lake County, we omit any description of them. The fact that but one precinct was deemed necessary for all the people living in what now comprises McHenry County, while four election districts were provided for the people of Lake, shows that the latter territory must have been much more populous than the former.

Road Districts. - At the first term of Commissioners' Court, June 10, 1837, McHenry County was divided into eight road districts, described as follows:

No. 1. - "That part of the Lake road commencing at line of McHenry County and extending to the north line of Oak Precinct." A. C. Ellis was appointed Supervisor of this district for one year from the first day of March, 1837.

No. 2. - "That part of the Lake road commencing at the north line of Oak Precinct and extending to the north line of McHenry County." Thomas W. Nichols was appointed Supervisor.

No. 3. - "That part of the road in Oak Precinct west of the north branch of the Chicago River, commencing on the south line of said county, and extending to the north line of Oak Precinct." Supervisor appointed, Samuel Sherman.

No. 4. - " That part of the Desplaines road leading from Chicago to Milwaukee, commencing at the south boundary line of said county, and extending to the north line of Ferry Hubbard's claim." Seth Washburn was appointed Supervisor.

No. 5. - " That part of the Desplaines road commencing at the north side of Ferry Hubbard's claim, and extending to the north side of Wynkoop's claim." Ransom Steele, Supervisor.

Tax Rates. - June 10, 1837, " Ordered by the court, That the following descriptions of property be taxable one per cent, on the dollar for this year, viz. : On slaves and indentured or registered negro or mulatto servants; on pleasure carriages; on distilleries; on stock in trade; on all horses, mares, mules, asses and neat cattle above three years of age; on swine; on lumber and one-horse wagons; on clocks and on watches with their appendages."

At the March term, 1838, all of the kinds of property above described, as well as " sheep and all ferry s," were declared taxable at one-half per cent, on the dollar.

First Roads. - At the September term of court, begun Sept. 4, 1837, the subject of roads first enlisted the attention of the commissioners. Daniel Newcomb, John McCullotn and Doctor Hale were appointed Viewers, "to view, survey and lay off a road to commence at McHenry Village and running north to the State line. The same date, Chauncey Beckwith, Abijah Barnum and John V. McLean were appointed to survey a road " commencing at or near Doctor A. Cornish's, thence running to McHenry, crossing English Prairie to the north line of said county of McHenry." Another road was ordered to be surveyed by Win. Sponable, Robert C White and David Bay, to commence "at the east line of Winnebago County, west of Belden's Grove; thence east to Joseph Belden's; thence east along the edge of the timber to the Kishwaukee, near Robert G. White's; thence across the Kishwaukee; then on the nearest and best route to the bridge on Fox River, near Samuel Gillon's." John McClure, John C. Gibson and William Bay were appointed to view a road "from McHenry Village, running a southwest course across Wm. M. Holenback's claim, near his house, to William Hartman's in Virginia settlement; thence through the Bay settlement to the Kishwaukee, at or near Mr- White's" (Robert G. White's).

Virginia Precinct. - In the Commissioners' Court, September term, 1837, ordered by the court, "That that tract of country - viz. : Commencing at a point two miles east of Fox River, thence west following the south line of said county a distance of twelve miles, thence north twelve miles, thence east to a point two miles east of Fox River, thence south following two miles from the river to the place of beginning - shall constitute a general precinct and magie trate's district to be called Virginia Precinct and Magistrate's District."

For the above precinct, Berman Crandall, Andrew Cornish and Abner W. Beardsley were appointed judges of election. The house of Berman Crandall was designated as the voting place.

June 1, 184:0, "all that part of Virginia Precinct lying north of the north line of township 43, east of Fox River, was attached to McHenry Precinct." In December, 1842, the place of holding elections was changed to the house of Lyman King.

McHenry Precinct. - Sept. 4, 1837, the Commissioners' Court ordered: "That the following tract of country - viz.: Commencing at a point two miles east of Fox River, thence west following the noith line of the Virginia Precinct twelve miles, thence north to the State line, thence east following said State line to a point two miles east of Fox River, thence south following said river to the place of beginning - shall constitute a general precinct and magistrate's district to be called McHenry Precinct and Magistrate's District." For this precinct, elections were ordered to be held at the house of Christy C Wheeler, and Christy G. Wheeler, John V. McLean and Wm. Way were appointed judges of election.

Nepeksink Precinct. - Sept. 4, 1837: "Ordered by the court, That the following tract of country - viz.' Commencing at the north corner of McHenry Precinct on the State line, thence south following the west line of McHenry Precinct to the southwest corner, thence west to the county line, thence north to the State line, thence east along said State line to the place of beginning - shall constitute a general precinct and magistrate's district to be called Nepersink Precinct and Magistrate's District." Samuel Conlogne, John D. Cone and John Diggins were appointed judges of election of the above district; and elections were to be held at the house of Samuel Conlogne. In December, 1838, the place of elections was changed to the house of Robert Metcalf. June 20, 1839, it was changed to the school-house on section 1, township 45, range 5 east.

Kishwaukee Precinct. - Under the same date, " Ordered by the court, That the following tract of country - viz.: Commencing at the southwest corner of Virginia Precinct, thence west following the south line of said county of McHenry to the west line of said county, thence* north following said county line to the southwest corner of Nepersink Precinct, thence east to the northwest corner of Virginia Precinct, thence south to the county line to the place of beginning - shall constitute a general precinct and magistrate's district to be called the Kishwaukee Precinct and Magistrate's District."

For Kiskwaukee Precinct, Robert G. White, Whiteman Cobb and William Sponable were appointed judges of election; and elections were ordered to be held at the house of William Sponable. In June, 1838, the house of J. Rodgers was made the voting place. Two years later the election place was changed to the "Block School-house"; and in October, 1840, to Calvin Spencer's.

Cook County Line. - Dec. 11, 1837: " Ordered by the court, That McHenry County, in conjunction with Cook County, furnish a surveyor and necessary help to survey the county line between Cook and McHenry, commencing at the northwest corner of Cook County." The report of the survey was accepted at the March meeting following.

Tavern Rates. - In the Commissioner's. Court, Dec. 11, 1837, " Ordered by the court, That the several landlords of McHenry County shall receive the following fees and compensations for the years 1837-'8:

For brandy, gin and rum, per half pint, 12£ cents; per pint, 25 cents; for wine, per half pint, 18J cents; per pint, 37£ cents; for whisky, per half pint, 6^ cents; per pint, 12£ cents; for cider or beer, per half pint, 6£ cents; per pint, 12£ cents; for breakfast, dinner or supper, 37i cents; for lodging, per night, 12£ cents; for horses to hay, per night, per span, 25 cents.

Licenses. - Among early licenses granted by the Commissioners' Court were the following: Andrew Cornish, ferry on Fox River, one year from Sept. 4, 1837, $5. B. B. Brown, ferry license. Dec. 4, 1837, C. G. Wheeler, mercantile license for one year from June 1, 1837. David Goff, for $5, granted a tavern license for one year from Jan. 1, 1838; Emery B. Johnson, ditto, $10; Seth Washburn, ditto, $10; John King, ditto, $5; J. G. Gary, Lake Precinct, tavern license for one year from Jan. 1, 1838; J. H. Foster and Rufus Soules, tavern licenses. -Sawyer, mercantile license, Independence Grove, June term, 1838. The tavern-keeping industry seems to have flourished, the forms of the law not always being complied with, as the following order bears witness: that are keeping public houses in this county, and those who have got no license are to get them, or take their signs down, or be fined according to law."

Brown & Johnson, McHenry,were granted a ferry license at the September term, 1838. Wm. Luce, mercantile license in McHenry for ninety days, $5; September term, 1838. Dr. "Wm. Crane, mercantile license, Independence Grove, one year, $8; George Thompson, mercantile license, one year, $5. In December, 1838, Erastus Hanghton, of Indian Creek Precinct, was granted a tavern license for $7. At the January term, 1839, the following licenses were granted: B. Simons, peddler, $6; John Easton, merchant, $7; "Wm. Crane, tavern-keeper, $10; Swain & Storrs, merchants, $5. At the March term, 1839, licenses were granted as follows: David Goff, tavern, $7; Stanton M. Thomas, ferry. $7; Solomon D. Belden, mercantile, $8; Christy G. Wheeler, tavern, $5; Wm. Easton, tavern, $10; J. H. Foster, tavern, $10; Asahel Disbrow, tavern, $5; Andrew Donnelly, tavern, $7; "Wm. Dwyer, tavern, $10; AbnerW. Beardsley, tavern, $5; Christopher Walkup, " temperance house," $5; Proctor Smith, tavern, $8; Joseph Wood, "temperance house," $5; Ezra Newell, tavern, $7. In June, 1839, Isaac Daney (Dana?) was granted a license to keep a ferry on Fox River, for $5. By an order of the court passed at the June term, 1842, merchants, peddlers and auctioneers were required to pay a license fee of $5 per year; grocers who sold liquors,' $25 per year.

Bounty on Wolves. - At the June term of the Commissioners' Court, 1838, the following bounty upon wolves was fixed: "For each wolf known and denominated as the big wolf, of six months old and upward, $10; for each wolf of the same kind under the age of six months, and for each wolf known and denominated as the prairie wolf, of any age, the sum of $5 to be paid out of the county treasury on the certificate of the clerk of the County Commissioners' Court. The person claiming such reward shall produce the scalp or scalps with the ears thereon within thirty days after the same was taken and killed; also to comply with all of the act entitled 'An act for the encouragement of killing wolves,' passed by the Legislature of this State March 2, 1837." This order was repealed at the September term following.

rider, 25 cents; for each extra or led horse or ox, 6| cents; for each foot passenger, 124, cents; for neat cattle, per head, 6J- cents ; for each hog, sheep, goat or calf, 4 cents; for horse and sulky or hor8e and gig, 37£ cents; for cart and oxen or horse and cart, 37£ cents;

Lake County Formed. - By act of the Legislature approved March 1, 1839, it was enacted that " all that portion of Mc Henry County east of a range or sectional line not less than three miles nor more than four miles east of the present county seat of Mc- Henry County shall constitute a new county to be called the county of Lake."

June 20, 1839. At a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners of McHenry County it was ordered, " That an election be held in Lake County on the first Monday in August next, in each precinct as now organized in McHenry County, for three commissioners, one commissioners' clerk, one coroner, one probate justice of the peace, one treasurer, one recorder, one school commissioner, two justices of the peace and two constables in each precinct." It was further ordered, "That the portions of Indian Creek, Abingdon, McHenry and Virginia precincts which lie east and west of the division line-between Lake and McHenry counties be attached to the opposite precincts."

Jane 25, 1839. " Ordered by the court, That the poll books be opened at the August elections to vote for and against a division of the county of McHenry, the line thereof to be the center of Fox River from north to south, and that the east end be called Lake County."

Instead of the "center of the river," as the dividing line, Lake County took all east of the section line running north and south throe miles east of the river at McHenry; in other words, two-thirds of range 9, east, together with all lying eist of the line mentioned.

Lake County Line. - March 2, 1840, Abijah S. Barnum, Surveyor of McHenry County, was appointed to act in conjunction with an agent to be appointed from Lake County, to establish the line between McHenry and Lake counties. Barnum was authorized to select a disinterested third person, not living in either of the two counties, in conjunction with whom the two surveyors were to proceed to establish the line. The report of the survey does not appear upon the records, but it is probable that it was satisfactory, as no further mention of the subject is made.

Henry Precinct, embracing township 46, range 7; township 46, range 8, and that part of township 46, range 9, which belongs to McHeury County shall be known and designated as and by the name of Independent Precinct; and that Bela H. Tryon, Jonathan Kimball and "William McOonnell be appointed judges of election in and for said precinct; and that the place of holding election in said precinct shall be at I. W. White's, at Solon Mill."

Precincts Reformed

" Hartland Precinct contains township 45, range 6, and the west half of township 45, range 7; the north half of township 44, range 6» and sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17 and 18 of township 44, range 7.

" McHenry Precioct contains the east half of township 45, range 7; township 45, range 8; west half of township 45, range 9, and all that part of township 44, range 9, which formerly belonged to Virginia Precinct lying on the east side of Fox River.

"Virginia Precinct contains township 44, range 8, sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and also the south half of township 44, all being in township 44, range 7; and township 43, range 7; township 43, range 8; the west half of township 43, range 9.

Nepersink Precinct, house of Eli S. Reynolds; Eagle Precinct, house of Nathan H. Foster; Hartland Precinct, house of Alvin Judd; McHenry Precinct, court-house. In March, 1845, the courthouse at Centerville (Woodstock) was made the election place of Hartland Precinct; June 3, 1845, it was changed to the house of John A. Cannada.

Precinct was changed to " the school-house in Hebron Township." In June, 1846, "the school-house near James Livingston's, in Hebron Township," became the voting place. At the same time the election place of Hartland Precinct was changed to Dennis Quinlan's house; of McHenry, to the school-house in the town of McHenry, and of Kishwaukee to the house of David Hammer.

March 29, 1841, " Ordered by the court, That township 45, range 5, be annexed and hereafter form a part of Nepersink Precinct; and that part of township 44, range 5, which heretofore belonged to Eagle Precinct be attached to Kishwaukee Precinct; and that Eagle Precinct (formed at the March term of said court) be and is hereby extinguished from the list of precincts in McHenry County; and that the place for holding elections in Nepersink Precinct be held at the school-house near Jason N. Jerome's, in said precinct; and that Joseph Metcalf, Nathaniel Smith and Welby Digging be appointed judges of election in said precinct."

At the June term, 1841, the north half of township 44, range 6, was re-annexed to Kishwaukee Precinct and Hartland Precinct "ceased to exercise jurisdiction over said portion of the township above named."

Wentwoeth Peecinot. - March 6, 1843, " Ordered by the court, That the petition of divers citizens of Independent Precinct [be granted] that the precinct heretofore known as Independent precinct [be divided] and that a new precinct be formed with the boundaries as follows, to-wit: To consist of the whole of township No. 46, of range 9, and four miles off from the side of township - No. 46, of range 8, east of the third principal meridian; and that the election be held at the house of Sylvester Wilson. And it is further ordered, That Jonathan Kimball, Daniel Andrews and Joseph S. Blivin be appointed judges of election of said precinct. And it was further ordered, That said precinct be known and styled by the name of Wentworth." In June, 1846, the school-house in Solon was made the election place of this precinct.

Fox Peecinct. - Dec. 5, 1843. In the Commissioners' Court, " Ordered by the court, That a new precinct be formed off from the southeast corner of Virginia, with the boundaries as follows, viz.: Commencing at the southeast corner of McHenry County, running north on the line between McHenry and Lake counties to the northeast corner of section 5, on the south line of township 44, range 9; thence west six miles to the northwest corner of section 4, township 43, range 8; thence south to the Kane County line; thence east to the place of beginning. Said precinct shall be known by the name of Fox Precinct, and that Thomas R. Ohnnn, Jared Cornish and John Gillilan be, and they are hereby, appointed judges of election in and for said precinct. The elections in said precinct are to be held at the house of Horace Wells."

In June, 1841, the boundaries of the above precinct were altered as follows : " Commencing at the northeast corner of section 4, running thence south to the southeast corner of section 16, thence west one mile, thence south to the county line."

Same date. "Ordered, That the lines of Fox Precinct be changed, so as to ."commence at the southwest corner of section 9, in township 43 north, range 8 east, on the west line of Fox Precinct; thence east on the south side of sections 9, 10, etc., till it reaches the county line." In June, 1846, S. M. Thomas's house was made the voting place.

Byron Precinct. - June 2, 1845. " Ordered by the court, That a new precinct be formed from Nepersink Precinct with the boundaries as follows: Including townships 45 and 46 north, of range 5, east of the third principal meridian, and that said precinct be called Byron." Robert Latham, Joseph Kerr and John Diggins were appointed judges of elections - the place of holding elections to be at the house of Jonathan Jackman.

Alden Precinct. - June 2, 1845. " Ordered by the court, That a new precinct be formed from the remainder of Uepersink Precinct, consisting of township 46 north, range 6 east, and that said precinct be called Alden." Elections were ordered to be held at the house of F. "Wedgwood. Henry Bashford, George "Ward and Jonathan Manzer were appointed judges of elections. In September, 1848, the election place was changed to ' ' the school-house in District No. 3, in township 46, range 6."

"Woodstock Precinct. - June 3, 1845. " Ordered by the court, That township 46 north, range 7 east, and the north half of township 44 north, range 7 east, constitute a new precinct, and that said precinct be called Woodstock." Elections were ordered to be held at the court-house; Alvin Judd, Pliny Hayward and Robert Metcalf, judges of election.

Cass Precinct. - June term, Commissioners' Court, 1846. "Ordered by the court, That the place of holding elections in Virginia Precinct be at the house of Henry M. Wait and S. King in

Franklin Preoinot. - March 2, 1847. "On the petition of Paschal Stowell and others, Kishwaukee Precinct was divided, and township 44 north, range 6 east, was constituted a precinct to be known as Franklin." Elections were ordered to be held at the school-house in Franklin Wile; {and S. Stowell, Dantbrth S. Marcy and Andrew Purvis appointed judges of election.

Coral Preoinot. - March 2, 1847. " And now come Sloan and Strode, attorneys for Ellison D. Marsh and others, and filed the petition of one hundred and eighty-two citizens of Kishwaukee precinct for a division of said precinct, to be bounded as follows, to-wit: To consist of township 43, ranges 5 and 6, as described in said petition, and the new precinct as prayed for to be called Coral; which motion is resisted by A. B. Coon, attorney for D. Hammers; and the court, having heard the parties thereon, sustains the motion of the said Ellison D. Marsh as made by his attorneys. It is therefore ordered that a division of Kishwaukee Precinct be made and that a new precinct be formed, consisting of said township 43, ranges 5 and 6, and that said precinct be known and styled by the name of Coral Precinct. And thereupon the said David Hammers, by Coon, his attorney, prays the court for an appeal herein to the Circuit Court of said county, which motion is resisted by Sloan; and the court having heard the parties thereon overrules the said motion of the said Hammers."

Dec. 7, 1847. "Ordered by the court, That the petition of divers citizens residing north of the center line in township 44 north, range 8, east of the third principal meridian and west of Fox River, asking to have that part of said township above described annexed to McHenry Precinct be accepted."

Chemung Precinct. - June 7, 1848. "Ordered by the court, That township 46 north, range 5 east, be, and is hereby, constituted an election precinct by the name of Chemung; that the elections in paid precinct be held at the Parker's Hotel, in the village of Chemung, and that Daniel P. Hutchinson, Daniel Baker and ffm. Hart, Jr., be appointed judges."

Grafton Precinct. - June 7,1848. " Ordered by the court, That township 43 north, range 7 east, and the south half of township 44 north, range 7 east, be, and is hereby, constituted an election precinct under the name of Grafton Precinct, and that Jesse Slavins, E. S. Hayden and Elisha Dayton be appointed judges ot elections in said precinct; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct be at the school-house on section 10, in township 43, range 7 east."

Sept. 5, 1849. - On the petition of John Pardy and others, Independent Precinct was divided, and the Western third of township 46, range 8, taken from Independent and attached to Kishwaukee Precinct.

"The court having received from the clerk a certified statement of the vote of the freemen of McHenry County on the sixth of November, instant, and having found that the whole uumber of votes so given were nineteen hundred and forty-three in favor of a township organization, it is therefore ordered that Carlisle Hastings, Phineas W. Piatt and Frederick W. Smith be, and are hereby, appointed commissioners to divide the county of McHenry into towns or townships, as is provided by the 5th section of the 1st article of the act to provide for township and county organization. Approved Feb. 12,1849."

The towns or townships formed by this commission, with the names of their first judges of election (appointed June 5, 1850), are given below.

Coral. - L. C. Anderson, Peres Brown, Jr., K. B. Sirapkins. Grafton. - Thos. S. Huntley, Martin Costigan, Lewis Holdridge. Algonquin. - J. T. Pierson, H. B. Throop, H. C. "Wells. During the year 1850 the name of Brooklyn was changed to Nunda, Byron to Dunham, Center to Dorr, and Benton to Burton.

The Circuit Court

" Pleas before the Hon. Judge of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of Illinois, the Hon. Judge Pearson, and presiding judge of the McHenry Circuit Court, at a Circuit Court begun and held at McHenry, in McHenry County, on Thursday, the tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thonsand eight hundred and thirty-eight, and of the independence of the United States the sixty-second.

"Present, the Hon. John Pearson, Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit; Alonzo Huntington, State's Attorney; Henry B. Steele, Sheriff of McHenry County.

Thus reads the record which is unnecessarily verbose, even for a court record. It goes on, becoming hopelessly entangled in grammatical meshes:

" On return of the summons issued by the commissioners [of] court to the sheriff of McHenry County to summon grand jurors, was returned this tenth day of May served on the following persons, to-wit:

" And there not being a quorum present there was chosen from the bystanders two jurors, viz.: Wm. E. Keyes and John McCollom, from which number Charles H. Bartlett was appointed foreman."

Win. Easton, John Herrick, J. H. Foster, John Hicks, John A. Mills, Erastus Houghton, Theheran Pearson, Nelson Darling, Ahijah S. Barnum, John McOmber, Samuel H. Walker, Eli W. Bingham, Russel Diggins, Uriah Cottle, Samuel Terwilligan, Abraham Vincent, E. F. Freeman, Burley Hunt, Timothy B. Titcomb, William Irwin. Of this number there were but three delinquents - John Herrick, Theheran Pearson and Wm. Irwin.

No mention is made of lawyers except incidentally. We see that the following were present at this first term of court in the county: Alonzo Huntington, John C. Newkirk, E. W. Casey,

No remarkably interesting cases appeared, though the amount of business was quite large. On the first day nineteen cases received the court's attention, three of which were for trespass and one for slander. On the second day the grand jury returned three indictments for larceny and one for assaulting an officer in the discharge of his duty. The court adjourned on Saturday, May 12.

County Buildings

Though McHenry County is less than fifty years old, her citizens have thrice been called upon to provide public buildings. Scarcely had the first court-house and jail been finished and the public officers comfortably established therein when new buildings were rendered necessary by a change in the location of the county seat. The second building was a hastily contrived structure, and soon became inadequate for the wants of the county. In 1857 the present court-house and jail, a building of substantial qualities and of good architectural style, was provided.

At first the county officers and courts were compelled to seek quarters where they could. A few extracts from the early records will show how and by whom these temporary offices and courtrooms were provided. Thus, June 16, 1838, E. B. Johnson was allowed $1.88 for boarding prisoners at the May term of the Circuit Court. As the term lasted three days, the number of "prisoners " could njt have been large, or else the jailer put a low estimate upon the value of the services rendered by him. In June, 1839, B. B. Brown was allowed $34.75 for the use of a room for the Circuit Court; Christopher Walkup, $6 for taking charge of prisoners; Job McOmber, $6 for "watching" prisoners; Ambrose Stolleker, $4.25 for "guarding jail" - the absurdity of which is apparent, as the county had no jail; "William Olmsbury, $4 for guarding prisoners; George Wooster and Isaac Dana, $3 each for similar services. Thus we see that the number of prisoners must have been considerably greater than at the first term, and that they required " watching." By orders dated Dec. 4, 1839, March 2r 1840, and June 1, 1840, we learn that S. S. Greenleaf was renting a shop to the county for the use of the clerk of the Circuit Court and the county commissioners, while B. B. Brown still provided a court-room.

In the Commissioners' Court, Dec. 11, 1837, "Ordered by the court, That the preemption right to the southeast quarter of section twenty-six (26) in township forty-five (45), range eight (8), east of the third principal meridian, and also the balance of the survey of the town of McHenry, comprising in all 160 acres, being the seat of justice of said county of McHenry, State of Illinois, be sold for the purpose of erecting public buildings for said county; and also all the right, title and interest of said county to the twenty acres around the stake stuck by the commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice of said county. The amount of said sales of land is $3,000, including the whole interest of said county."

At the same time Joseph "Wood was authorized by the commissioners to act as their agent in disposing of the above described lands. He was also " appointed agent to contract for the public buildings for said county, and further to see that said buildings- are built according to contract."

Note. - At a special meeting of the Commissioners' Court, Feb. 7, 1840, "Ordered by the court, That the appointment of Joseph Wood on the 11th day of December, A. D. 1837, as an agent or commissioner for said county, is null and void and of no effect for want of jurisdiction of the court, and that all his acts and appointments are void and are of no binding force whatever."

To further invest Mr. Wood with authority to act for them the commissioners ordered, "That Joseph Wood, their commissioner, be, and he is hereby, appointed to enter the southeast quarter of section 26, township 45 north, range 8, east of the third principal meridian; and also all that part of the northwest and southwest quarters of said section on which the county seat of McHenry is located, said county seat being located on a part of all the above named quarters of said section; and to convey all the right, title and inter- est of said county and court, in fee simple, with a general warranty thereto, whenever said lands shall be entered by their said agent, to assure unto the purchaser a quit claim deed until a more complete and full conveyance can be made by said commissioner; also, the entry of said lands to be made as soon as the plats and survey have come into the land office by the purchaser furnishing the entrance money." This order was revoked June 20, 1839.

The proposals of Thomas H. Haines, of Bloomington, McLean Co., 111., for erecting public buildings, were accepted Dec. 11, 1837, " The plan to be set forth in the article of agreement made and entered into by the said commissioners through their agent or commissioner appointed to contract for said buildings; the said buildings to be one court-house and one jail, to be built on the public square or some other suitable place selected by their commissioner."

Sept. 2, 1839, in the Commissioners' Court it was ordered, " That Ziba S. Beardsley be, and he is hereby, appointed an agent to make application to the register of the land office in Chicago for the southeast quarter section 26, in range 8 east, township 45 north, on which the county seat of McHenry County is located, for the purpose of obtaining a good and sufficient title to said land according to the act of Congress in such cases made and provided."

The contractor for the court-house having died, further action became necessary, and on Oct. 7, 1839, " Ordered by the court, That Horace Long be, and he is hereby, appointed agent for the county of McHenry and State of Illinois to make an arrangement and adjustment on equitable principles with the heirs of Thomas H. Haines in relation to the contract made and entered into with the commissioners of McHenry County or their authorized agent, to erect, construct and complete the court-house and jail of said county; and that he is further instructed to use all reasonable diligence to bring this matter to a speedy termination." This order was revoked Feb. 17, 1840.

Feb. 17, 1840. " Ordered by the court, That Horace Long is hereby appointed their agent and commissioner to obtain all their right and interest to the southeast quarter of section 26, in range 8, east of the third principal meridian, township 45 north, it being the quarter section on which the commissioners, viz.: - Peter Cohen, of "Will County; Meritt L. Coville, of McLean County; and Daniel Dunham, of Kane County, were appointed by the Legislature of the State of Illinois at their session in 1837, to locate the seat of justice in said county, did establish the same thereon; and that he is fully authorized to purchase the same whenever the said land can be obtained either by preemption or purchase, and he is further authorized and empowered to sell the same for the purpose of erecting one court-house aud one jiil on said quarter section, according to the plans to be furnished him by the county commis sioners; and said building to be erected on such sites as fshall be selected by said commissioners; said public buildings to be completed and finished by the first day of August, A. D. 1840."

Nearly three years had passed and still the county buildings were a fiction of the imagination. Now the commissioners had decided that something must be done. On the 2d of March, 1840, they appropriated the sum of $6 for "services rendered in making a plan and specifications for a court-house and jail for said county;" but the clerk neglects to tell us who made the plans and received the magnificent reward.

March 2, 1840. '-Ordered by the court, That whereas Horace Long has been appointed agent and commissioner for the county of McHenry, State of Illinois, to purchase the quarter section of land on which the county seat of said county is now locatedrsaid Horace Long is hereby authorized and required and fully empowered to execute a bond with a penal snrn of five thousand ($5,000) dollars, to William H. Beach, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to purchase said land of Government as soon as it can be obtained, and thereupon to assign the same to the said William H. Beach or any other person or persons said Beach may direct - which bond shall be forever binding on the county commissioners of said county of McHenry and their successors in office, it being agreed and understood that the said Beach shall furnish the purchase money to enter said quarter section of land. It is further agreed by the said William H. Beach that if he shall not within ten days hereafter - to wit, by the fifteenth day of March, 1840, execute and deliver to the said Horace Long a bond in the penal sura of five thousand dollars with security, to be approved by said Long, conditioned thatjie will build, finish and complete a 'certain courthouse, and jail underneath, according to a plan which has been furnished said Long by said county commissioners, - the said buildings to be completed by the first day of August, A. D., 1840, - then this to be null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue."

There is no further mention of Mr. Beach, and whether he gave up the contract or let it to other parties the records do not inform us. At all events the court-house was built and on the 5th of Augr-

Oct. 5, 1840, the commissioners ordered, " That the court-house erected by Rufus Soules and Caleb Davidson at McHenry be, and the same is hereby, accepted by the county commissioners of Mc. Henry County."

The county seat being in the eastern part of the county, dissatisfaction arose among those living at a distance from McHenry, and petitions were sent to the Legislature asking that the location of the county seat be changed. By an act approved Feb. 6, 1843, the Legislature provided that a vote be taken for and against removal, and to decide to what point it should be moved if at all. Crystal Lake, Walkup's Corners (four miles east of Woodstock), and the center of the county, now "Woodstock, each set up their claims to the seat of justice and the latter succeeded in securing it.

June term, 1843. " Ordered by the court, That the bond filed herein by Christopher Walkup, James Dufield, William Carmack, Josiah Walkup and Linus Morse, obligating themselves to erect a court-house and jail on the land described in said bond, providing the seat of justice should be located on said land in a certain time mentioned in said bond, be accepted, and that the same be kept on file in the clerk's office of this court; and that an order entered upon the records of this court on Monday last be accepted."

Same date. "Ordered by the court, That the bond filed by Alvin Judd, Daniel Blair, Andrew J. Hayward, James M.Judd, Josiah Dwight, George H. Griffing, Joseph Golder, George Stratton and Stuart Slavins relative to the removal of the seat of justice of McHenry County be accepted and approved."

Also, " Ordpred by the court, That the bond filed by Samuel F. Shepard, J. T. Pierson, D. W. Joslyn, Beman Crandall, Alien Baldwin, Alexander Dawson, Joseph B. Butler, A. W. Beardsley and M. F. Irwin, relative to the removal of the seat of justice of McHenry County, be accepted and approved."

Sept. 5, 1843. " This day came intojcourt Charles McOlure and moved the court to rescind an order entered on the records of this court at the June term, 1843, approving and accepting a bond entered into by Alvin Judd and Daniel Blair as principals, and Andrew J. Hayward, James M. Judd, Josiah Dwight, George H. Griffing, Joseph Golder, George Stratton and Stuart Slavins as securities, conditioned that now if the said Alvin Judd, Daniel Blair and Stuart Slavins erect a court-house and jail, and the conveyance of two acres of land, should the seat of justice of McHenry County be removed, at an election held in said county in pursuance of an act entitled ' an act for the removal of the seat of justice of Mc- Henry County,' approved Feb. 6, 1843, to the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 5, in township 44, range 7, east of the third principal meridian ; on the ground that the persons aforesaid did not agree in said bond to convey to the county aforesaid the two acres of ground aforesaid by warranty deed ; which said motion was resisted by Prelver (?) and Ames. The court after being advised in these premises was divided in opinion, and only two being present, therefore the motion is overruled."

Next day. " Or ered by the court, That Charles McClure be required to enter into bonds in the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars in an appeal from a decision of this court yesterday upon the motion of said McClure to rescind an order made and entered of record in this court at the June term thereof, 1843, approving th bond for the conveying two acres of land and the erection of a court-house and jail upon the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 5, township 44, range 7 east, by Alvin Judd and others in case the seat of justice should be located at an election held for the removal of the seat of justice of McHenry County in pursuance of law."