Ogle County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 9 of those read), 1859

From 1835, for mauy years following, the northern part of the State was infested by numerous bands of desperadoes, whose principal business was robbery, horse-stealing and counterfeiting. ]^Iany of them "ranged" through Ogle and the adjoining counties. Among the most notorious in this section were William K. Bridge, the leader of the gang, Norton B.

Broady's Grove took its name from the Broadys. The depredations of this gang troubled the settlers to a great extent. So frequently were their lawless acts committed, that there was no security fbjr property of any kind. About the year 1840, the desperadoes were so numerousas to be able to control elections- in. tb.is

In the summer of 1840, a court house was built, and the people were congratulating themselves upon having a proper building for holding Courts. They had long been harassed by the gang of villains who rendezvoused at Washington Grove, and they hoped that the new facilities they now had would aid them in bringing the scoundrels to justice. In this, however, they were disappointed, the depredations proving more frequent and being more boldly carried out. At last, finding the law powerless in their defence, the people formed a band of Regulators, with the avowed intention of taking the law into their own hands. The Regulators were commanded by a Mr. Campbell. a fugitive Canadian patriot, who was universally esteemed by his neighbors as a man of sterling character.

The court house erected in Oregon was never occupied for the sittings of Court. On the night previous to the opening of the Court, the court house was iSred by the desperadoes, in the hope of being able, during the excitemefit of the fire, to liberate some of their confederates who were confined in jail. In this they were frustrated, although they succeeded in knocking the jailor down. Assistance was promptly at hand, and the prisoners were safely removed.

Previous to the formation of the band of Regulators, Norton II Royee had been convicted ef counterfeitiag and sentenced to the Penitentiai-Ji'. Judge Ford presided during the trial, and after the prisoner had been sentenced, Judge Ford remarked that he was then going away on business, and should be obliged to leave his family behind him; and should the desperadoes dare to injure his family or property during his absence, he would follow them until he overtook them, when the first tree should be their gallows; and if the injury should be done while he was trying any case, he would leave the bench and follow them up till they were exterminated. Such language as this, from a judge on the bench, assured the people that Regulators had nothing to fear in a Court presided over by him; and this eventually led to the formation of the Regulators.

A man named Daggett had been horsewhipped at Payne's Point in the spring of 184:1, and the notorious Bridge and some others, obtained of Esq. Wood a warrant for those who inflicted the punishment. The Sherifi" being absent, the warrant was placed in the hands of Coroner James Clark, who, however, did not succeed in serving it - and so the afi"air ended.

One Daniel Ross was taken by the Regulators and made to hold on to the limb of a tree just high enough to allow his toes to rest upon the ground. Whenever he attempted to let himself down, the prompt and vigorous application of the cow-hide on his seat of honor, compelled him to take the old position.

These extreme measures of course aroused the most bitter feelings among the horse thieves and their associates, and they at once resolved to be revenged. One Sunday, as Capt. Campbell and his family were passing from the gate to tlie house door they chanced to look about, and saw two men not very far from them. As they discovered the men, one of the latter drew up his rifle and shot Mr. Campbell through the heart, killing him instantly. Mr. Campbell's son - a "chunk of a boy," as he is described to us - ran into the house for his father's rifle, and bringing it out fired at the men, but they were out of reach and escaped.

This outrage, connected with others which had been committed by the gang, roused the citizens to more vigorous measures in self-defence. Old man Driskell and his son William were suspected of the murder and were at once arrested and taken to Oregon. The Regulators soon assembled en masse at Stevenson's Mill, on the creek running through Washington and Lafayette Groves, and proceeded to try the culprit. A temporary court was organized, counsel was granted the prisonei's, witnesses were examined and cross-examined, and as fair a trial awarded them as could be given under the circumstances. It was decided that they must be immediately executed. A number of men with rifles were detailed to carry the sentence into execution. One of the prisoners was led out and shot, and then the other was led out, and after being shown the body of uis dead relative, he was exhorted to confess that he had committed the crime charged against him. This he refused to do, but acknowledged that he had committed other crimes for which he deserved death.

llegulators, charging them with murder. The Regulators and their friends at once procured similar bills against every person who was present at the execution, the whole numbering about one hundred and twenty-five men ; and as all were under indictment, it was impossible to find any witnesses, and all were cleared.

The remedy adopted by the citizens was a terrible one, but we cannot now ca]l in question its wisdom. We must reflect, in judging of this matter, that the desperadoes were the most numerous^ and were able to control the elections, thereby placing their own friends in power and confiding to them the execution ©f laws intended as a defence against their lawlessness. It was apparently the oidj/ remedy, and the early settlers showed much couraire in luakinu; use of it.