Ogle County, Illinois - The whole text, 1878 (part 7 of 25)

Capt. D. S. Harris, who was a volunteer in the Galena company commanded by Gen. Dodge, says: " We marched to Fort Winnebago, where Red Wing was brought in a prisoner, and that was the end of it." The Winnebagoes surrendered Red Wing and We-Kaw, the two chiefs who had led the attack upon the keel-boats, when Gen. Atkinson made the imposing military display in " the heart of their country." Red Wing was imprisoned at Prairie du Chien, where he was to be kept as a hostage for the good behavior of his nation, but his proud spirit was so broken by the confinement which he felt was unjust, that he soon died.

Thus ended the Winnebago War, which was really only an attack upon some keel-boatmen, provoked by the outrages upon the Indians by the boatmen themselves. There was no war elsewhere, but the prosperity of the mining region was temporarily checked by the alarm and consequent suspension of mining and business.

Whether, had the Indians succeeded in their attempt to murder the offending crew of the boat they attacked while they permitted the other to pass down the river unmolested, they would have entered upon the war path against all the white settlements in this region, must forever be a matter of conjecture, and while there were and are differences of opinion, the most of the survivors of that period of excitement coincide in the belief that had not the Indians been stung to fury by these drunken boatmen there would have been no trouble. The mineral lands could have been bought, as they were, subsequently, by treaty. If the government, when it demanded the surrender of Red Wing and kept him as a hostage, had arrested these boatmen and imprisoned them for hfe, both for the outrage they committed and for recklessly disturbing the peace, and destroyino^ for a ti'me the prosperity of the frontier settlements, and causing so much damage to the innocent settlers, or had delivered them to the Indians to be kept as hostages for the good behavior of their class, it would have been only even-handed justice.

Soon after this digraceful and, in some respects, ludicrous affair, a treaty was made with the Winnebagoes by which, for twenty thousand dollars paid in goods and trinkets at fabulous prices, they were'satisfied for the damages sustained by them in consequence of the trespasses on their lands, and relinquished a large tract of these lands to the miners.

The Black Hawk War

The great event of the year 1832 was the Black Hawk War. The reader is familiar with the general history of this war, but there are some incidents connected with it and some phases of it familiar to the survivors of the sturdy rank and file that participated in it, who had and still have their opinions relating to its causes and conduct, differing from most published accounts, that should be recorded. The war was commenced and most of the blood was spilt in what was then Jo Daviess County. Mostly confining this sketch to these events and to the causes of the war as received from the lips of the survivors, it may appear that, like the Winnebago affair of 1827, the whites were not entirely guiltless.

In 1831, Black Hawk and his band had crossed to their old homes on Rock River, but had negotiated a treaty and returned to the west side of the Mississippi, receiving liberal presents of goods and provisions from the Grovernment, and promised never to return without the consent of the President of the United States or the Grovernor of Illinois. But on the 6th day of April, 1832, he again recrossed the Mississippi with his entire band and their women and children. The Galenian^ edited by Dr. A. Philleo, of May 2, 1832, says that '^ Black Hawk was invited by the Prophet, and had taken possession of a tract about forty miles up Rock River, but that he did not remain there long, but commenced his march up Rock River." Capt. William B. Green, now of Chicago, but who served in Stephenson's Company of mounted rangers, says that " Black Hawk and his band crossed the river with no hostile intent, but to accept an invitation from Pit-ta-wak, a friendly chief, to come over and spend the Summer with his people on the head waters of the Illinois," and the movements of Black Hawk up Rock River before pursuit by the military, seems to confirm this statement. There seems to be no question of the fact that he came in consequence of an invitation from the Prophet or Pit-ta-wak, or both, as his people were in a starving condition.

Others who agree with Green, that Black Hawk did not come to fight^ and had no idea of fighting, say that he had retired to the west side of the Mississippi the previous year under treaty, receiving a large quantity of corn and other provisions, but in the Spring his provisions were gone, his followers were starving, and he came back expecting to negotiate another treaty and to get a new supply of provisions.

There is still another explanation that may enable the reader to harmonize the preceding statements and to understand why Black Hawk returned in 1832. It is well known that in nearly aU the treaties ever made with the Indians, the Indian traders dictated the terms for their allies and customers, and, of course, received a large share of the annuities, etc., in payment for debts due to them. Each tribe had certain traders wko supplied them. George Davenport had .a trading post at Fort Armstrong. His customers were largely the Sacs and Foxes, and he was held in high esteem by them ; in fact, his word was their law. It is said that Black Hawk's band became indebted to him for a large amount and were unable to pay. They had not had good luck hunting during the Winter, and he was likely to lose heavily. If Black Hawk, therefore, could be induced to come on this side of the river again and the people could be alarmed so that a military force could be sent in puriuit of him, another treaty could be made, he might assist in making terms and get his pay out of the payrhents the government would make, and all would be well. Mr. Amos Farrar, who was X)aven port's partner for some years, and who died in Galena during the war, is said to have declared, while on his death-bed, that the " Indians were not to be blamed, that if they had been let alone there would hava been no trouble - that the band were owing Mr. Davenport and he wanted to get his pay and would, if another treaty had been made."

In a letter to Gen. Atkinson, dated April 13, 1832, Davenport says : *' I have been informed that the British band of Sac Indians are determined to make war on the frontier settlements. * * -^ From every information that I have received I am of the opinion that the intention of the British band of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier."

Just such a.letter as he or any other trader would have written to cause a pursuit, and consequent treaty. Black Hawk evidentlj^ understood the fame. He was leisurely pursuing his way up Rock River, waiting for the rst appearance of the military to display the white flag and negotiate as he had done the previous year.

Although Black Hawk's movement across the Mississippi, on the 6th of April, was at once construed into a hostile demonstration, and Davenport skillfully cultivated the idea, he was accompanied by his old men, women and children. No Indian warriors ever went on the war path encumbered in that way. More than this, it does not appear, from the sixth day of April until Stillman's drunken soldiers fired on his flag of truce, on the 12th of May, that a single settler was murdered, or suffered any material injury at the hands of Black Hawk or his band. In truth, Hon. H. S. Townsend, of Warren, Jo Daviess County, states that in one instance, at least, where they took corn from a settler they paid him for it. Capt. W. B. Green writes : " I never heard of Black Hawk's band, while passing up Rock River, committing any depredation whatever, not even petty theft." Frederick Stahl, Esq., of Galena, states that he was informed by the veteran, John Dixon, that" when Black Hawk's band passed his post, before the arrival of the troops, they were at his house, l^e-o-pope had the young l)raves well in hand, and informed him that they intended to commit no depredations, and should notpght unless they were attacked."

Whatever his motive may have been, it is the unanimous testimony of the survivors, now residing on the old battle-fields of that day, that except the violation of treaty stipulations and an arrogance of manner natural to an Indian who wanted to make a new trade with the " Great Father," the Sacs under Black Hawk committed no serious acts of hostility, and intended none, until after the alternative of war or extermination was presented to them by Stillman's men.

Certain it is that the people of Gralena and of the mining district generally, apprehended no serious trouble and made no preparations for war until Capt. Stephenson brought the news of Stillman's route, on the 15th of May. '

Some United States troops arrived at Galena from Prairie du Chien on the 1st of May, and about the same time Black Hawk commenced his march up Rock River, from the Prophet's Tillage (Prophetstown, Whiteside County), but there was no serious alarm among the inhabitants of the settled portions of Jo Daviess County, and the troops went to Rock Island (Fort Armstrong) on the 7th. About that time J. W. Stephenson, John Foley and Mr. Atchinson returned from a reconnoitering expedition, and reported that the Indians had " dispersed among the neighboring tribes." The Galeman of May 16th, printed before the tidings of Stillman's fiasco had reached Galena, said : " It is already proved that they will not attempt to fight it out with us, as many have supposed. Will the temporary dispersion of Black Hawk's band among their neighbors cause our troops to be disbanded?"

On Saturday, May 12, Gov. Reynolds was at Dixon's Ferry, with about two thousand mounted riflemen, awaiting the arrival of Gen. Atkinson's forces from Fort Armstrong. A day or two previous, Major Isaiah Stillman, " with about four hundred well-mounted volunteers," says the Galenian^ " commenced his march with a fixed determination to wage a war of extermination wherever he might find any part of the hostile band." Just before night, on the 12th | of May, 1832, Stillman's forces encamped at White Rock Grove, in the eastern part of Marion Township, near what is now called Stillman Creek, about ten miles from Oregon. He was in close proximity to Black Hawk's encampment, but did not know it. Black Hawk was at that moment making arrangements to propose a treaty of peace. Stillman's men were well supplied with whisky. Some authorities state that they had with them a barrel of " fire water," and that many of them were drunk. They were all eager to get sight of an Indian, and were determined not to be happy until each had the gory scalp of a. Sac dangling at his belt. Extermination was their motto, although the game they hunted had committed no depredations.

Soon after, becoming- aware of the immediate presence of an armed force. Black Hawk sent a small party of his braves to Stillman's camp with a flag of truce. On their approach, they were discovered by some of the men, who, without reporting to their commander, and without orders, hastily mounted and dashed down upon the approaching Indians. These, not understanding this sudden movement, and apparently suspicious, retreated toward the camp of their chief. The whites fired, killed two and captured two more, but the others escaped, still pursued by the reckless volunteers. When Black Hawk and his war chief, Ne-o-pope, saw them dashing down upon their camp, their flag of truce disregarded, and, believing that their overtures for peace had been rejected, they raised the terrible war-whoop and prepared for the fray.

It was now the turn of the volunteers to retreat, which they did with wonderful celerity, after murdering their two prisoners, without waiting for the onslaught, supposing they were pursued by a thousand savage warriors. The flying braggarts rushed through the camp, spreading terror and consternation among their comrades, but late so eager to meet the foe. The wildest panic ensued, there was " mounting in hot haste," and without waiting to see whether there was any thing to run for, every man fled, never stopping until they liad reached Dixon's Ferry or some other place of safety, or had been stopped by the tomahawk or bullet. The first man to reach Dixon was a Kentucky lawyer, not unknown to fame in Jo Daviess County, who, as he strode into Dixon, reported that every man of Stillman's command had been killed except himself. Another man, named Comstock, never stopped until he reached Galena, where he reported that " the men were all drunk, as he was, got scared and made the best time they could out of danger, but that he didn't see a single Indian." All accounts concur in the main facts, however, that the men were drunk, and that the white flag displayed by Black Hawk was fired upon in utter disregard of all rules of warfare recognized, even among the Indians. The whites had commenced the work of murder, and the Indians, losing all hope of negotiation, determined that extermination was a game that both parties could play. Gen. Whiteside, who was in command at Dixon, at once marched for the fatal field, but the enemy had gone, the main body having moved northward, and the rest scattered in small bands to avenge the death of their people upon unoflending settlers. Eleven of Stillman's men were killed, among whom were Captain Adams and Major Perkins. Their mutilated remains were gathered and buried, and the place is known as " Stillman's Run " to this day. This was the commencement of hostilities, and justice compels the impartial historian to record that. the whites were the aggressors. Many of the volunteers appreciated the fact, too. It was not such grand sport to kill Indians when they found that Indians might kill them, and esi)ecially when war had been wantonly commenced by firing upon and killing the bearers of the flag of peace. They grumbled and demanded to be mustered out, and were dismissed soon after by Governor Reynolds. Another call was issued, and a new regiment of volunteers was mustered in at Beardstown, with Jacob Fry as Colonel; James D. Henry, Lieutenant Colonel, and John Thomas, Major. The late commanding general, Whiteside, volunteered as a private.

The fatal act of Stillman's men precipitated all the horrors of Indian border warfare upon the white settlements in Jo Daviess County, as it then existed, and in the adjoining portions of Michigan Territory. ]^or is it certain that all the outrnges were perpetrated by the " British Band." It is certain that young Pottawattomies and Winnebagoes joined Black Hawk, and after the war suddenly closed at Bad Axe, it was ascertained that many of the murders had been committed by these Indians. Among the first results of " Stillman's defeat" was the descent of about seventy Indians upon an unprotected settlement at Indian Creek (LaSalle County) where they massacred fifteen men, women and children of the families of Hall, Davis and Pettigrew, and captured two young women, Sylvia and Rachel Hall. These girls, seventeen and fifteen years old, respectively, were afterwards brought in by Winnebagoes to Gratiot Grove, and were ransomed by Major Henry Gratiot, for two thousand dollars in horses, wampum and trinkets, and taken to Galena.

May 15, 1832, Capt. James W. Stephenson arrived at Galena with the startling intelligence of Stillman's disastrous defeat and the commencement of bloody hostilities by tlie Indians, creating intense excitement among the people. The ringing notes of the bugle called the settlers and miners together on the old race course on the river bottom, near the foot of Washington Street, and a company of mounted rangers was organized, with James W. Stephenson for captain. At 3 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, May 19, Sergeant Fred Stahl (now a respected citizen of Galena) and privates William Durley, Yincent Smith, Redding Bennett, and James Smith, started to bear dispatches to Gen. Atkinson, at Dixon's Ferry, with John D. Winters, the mail contractor, for guide, but on Sunday, 20th, Sergeant Stahl returned and added to the alarm of the people by reporting that his party had been ambuscaded by the Indians just on the edge of Buffalo Grove, about 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon, aiid that Durley was instantly killed and left on the spot. Stahl received a bullet through his coat collar, and James Smith afterwards found a bullet hole in his liat and became intensely frightened. After the w^ar the leader of the Indians told Dixon that he could have killed the young fellow (Stahl) as well as not, but he had a fine horse, and in trying to shoot him without injuring the animal, he shot too high, as Stahl suddenly stooped at the same time.

The Galenian ot' Msij 23, iS32, ssijs: "The tomahawk and scalping knife have again been drawn on our frontier. Blood of our best citizens has been spilt in great profusion within the borders of Illinois. * * The Indians must be exterminated or sent off."

In the same paper it is said that " fortifications for the defense of the town are rapidly progressing. On Saturday last (19th) a stockade"* was commenced near the centre of the town." On a bluff above, at a spot selected by Lieut. J. li. B. Gardenier, commanding the stockade and a large part of the town, a blockhouse was erected and a oattery planted, manned by an artillery company, of which Lieut. Gardenier was captain.

On Monday, May 21, f Col. J. M. Strode, commanding the 27th Regiment Illinois Militia, proclaimed martial law, and required every able bodied man to work on the stockade from 9 A. M. to 6 P. M. Strode's proclamation also prohibited the sale of spirits " at any of the groceries or taverns in Galena from 8 o'clock A. M. until 7 o'clock P. M.," and all persons were " positively prohibited from firing guns without positive orders, unless while standing guard to give an alarm."

Captain H. H. Gear's company consists of sixty men. Captain Beedle's company of forty or fifty men. Captain Aldenratli's company, from East Fork, is also in town.

A blockhouse and stockade are built at Apple River (near Elizabetli) aud a company of forty-six men organized, commanded by Vance L. Davidson ; James Craig and James Temple, Lieutenants.

* A stockade was made by first digging a trench and standing upright in it timbers from six to twelve inches in diameter, from ten to fourteen feet long, and hewed to a point on the top end. These timbers were placed close together, so that when the trench was filled with earth there would be a solid wooden wall eight to ten feet in height. In the inside a platform was built, on which the inmates could stand to fire over the top, and the walls were also pierced with loop-holes.

At the New Diggings, nine miles from Galena, was another company of sixty-nine men under command of L. P. Vosbargh, Captain; P. Carr and H. Cavener, Lieutenants; and at Vinegar Hill a company of fifty-two men was commanded by Captain Jonathan Craig, with Thomas Kilgore and R. C. Bourn, Lieutenants. There was also a large company of nearly one hundred men at Gratiot's Grove.

May 23, Felix St. Yrain, agent for the Sacs and Foxes, bearer of dispatches, left General Atkinson's headquarters, on Rock River, accompanied by John Fowler, Thomas Kenney, William Hale, Aquilla Floyd, Aaron Hawley, and Alexander Higginbotham. At Buffalo Grove they found the body of the lamented Durley, and buried it a rod from the spot where they found it. The next day (24th) .they were attacked by a party of thirty Indians near Kellogg's "old place." St. Yrain, Fowler, Hale and Hawley were killed. The other three escaped, and arrived at Galena on the morning of the 26th.

From the time the first volunteers were mustered out by Gov. Reynolds, on the 26th or 27th of May, until the new levies were organized, on the 15th of June, numerous murders were committed by the Indians, and the only protection the people had were their own brave hearts and strong arms. The atrocities perpetrated by the Indians upon the bodies of their victims, aroused the vengeance of the settlers and miners, many of whom had previously felt that the Indians were not so much in fault, and had been needlessly provoked to bloodshed.

On the 30th day of May, 1832, a meeting of the citizens of Galena and vicinity, called by Col. Strode, to consider the perilous situation of the mining district, and devise measures for security and protection, was held at the house of M. & A. 0. Swan (standing on the corner of Main and Green Streets, opposite De Soto House). William Smith, Esq., was called to the chair, and Captain James Craig,appointed secretary.

On motion of Dr. Meeker, a committee of nine, consisting of Moses Meeker, William Hempstead, Michael Byrne, Robert Graham, Mr. Shears, James Craig, D. R. Davis, Mr. Thomas and David McNair were appointed to deliberate, and propose such measures as they might think best calculated to secure the object in view. This committee subsequently reported a series of resolutions, that the picketing and block houses be finished ; that a garrison of 100 to 150 men be detailed, one third to be quartered in the garrison, and the others to be equally divided in the two extremities of the town, independent of the artillery and horse companies; that not less than fifteen men belonging to the artillery company lodge in the block house every night; recommending that two companies be made of Capt. Stephenson's company, and that they and Capt. Craig's company elect a major to command the squadron ; that these companies shall be stationed in the vicinity of Galena, and shall keep out a sufficient number of spies or scouts to form a circuit of from ten to twenty-five miles around Galena, and report every evening; that all persons subject to military dut}^ be immediately enrolled, held in readiness for active service, and to parade with their arms and equipments every evening at four o'clock ; that at least ten days' provisions for one thousand men, with fifty barrels of water, be kept constantly in the stockade ; that there must be unity of action between the forces under Gen. Dodge and the mounted men of the place, and that Dr. A. T. Crow, William Smith, Esq., and James Craig should prepare an address to the citizens of the mining district, in order to I'eraove some existing misunderstanding "^ between the people of the town and country.

Address

To the Citizens of the Mining District, embracing the County of Jo Daviess, in the State of Illinois, and the Western part of the Territory of Michigan, on the Tipper Mississippi:

Inhabiting, as we do, a country isolated from our brethren, both of the State and of the Union, to which we belong, surrounded by a savage and hostile enemy, who have raised both the tomahawk and the scalping knife, alike on the defenseless inhabitants, as the soldier going forth to battle. Already have we witnessed the fall of a Durley, a 8t. Vrain, a Hale, a Fowler, and a Hawley, on this side of Rock River, while the scalping knife is still reeking in the blood of our fellow citizens between Rock River and Peoria, and two of our sisters (Sylvia and Rachel Hall) are groaning in captivity amongst a savage enemy - our communication is cut off by land from the south and east. Prevented by Indian hostility from cultivating our farms and gardens, receiving but little succor from the state to which we belong, or from the general government, receiving but scanty supplies by way of the Mississippi, which must every day become more precarious. Thrown as we are upon our defensive means and resources, let us rally to the standard of our country, and husband with the utmost care the means we can command for our preservation and protection. Our supplies of every kind are principally in this place. Already are our means of security advancing rapidly to a completion, and here will be a place of security iov our women and children; here, also, will be food and raiment for them. It is but too true that some of our citizens have been too remiss in their duty; the flame of patriotism does not burn alike in every bosom; and the soldier will look with pity, and not with contempt, at his less gifted neighbor. But when common danger threatens, let brethren unite the more closely, and while our enterprising men shall contend with an enemy in the open field, let those who remain at home do their duty in procuring and preparing all the means of defense and preservation in their power.

The time can not be distant when our situation must be known to our brethren abroad, and if we can defend our position but a short time, we may reasonably look for the succor which both the state and general government are bound to give us. Let us do with alacrity the duty assigned to each of us, and forget our little bickerings and jealousies. Let us finish our stockading and block houses. Let us examine the country, watching the approach and movements of any hostile party that may be in our borders ; meet and chastise them if we can ; and when peace shall again gladden our ears, we will then settle our misunderstanding, if any should then remain.

Wm. Smith

On the 6th of June the Galenian says : " The stockade in Galena is nearly done, and those in the country are in a tolerable state of completion." But it is evident, from the above address and from concurrent testimony, that the people did not all rally to the work as earnestly as the commander wished. Perhaps they did not realize that they were in any immediate danger, and they had to attend to their own business affairs. To show them the importance of completing their defenses and of attending to duty, as well as to give the citizens some practice in case the Indians should really make a night attack, some of the officers, including Col. Strode, planned to have a false alarm, by firing the cannon at midnight, the Monday night following the meeting. The date and results of the '* scare '' are given

* The people of the country coming to Galena for safety were not provided for as they thought they ought to be. The people of the town were all excited, had their own business (the little that remained) to manage, and probably left their country neighbors to take care of themselves. Numbers of them were encamped on the bottom near the river for some time, no provision for them having been made within the stockade. Mmers refused to come into town for this reason. They said, " We may as well remam at home as to go to the Point, w^here no arrangements have been made for us." A feelmg of jealousy or bitterness sprang up in consequence, and to this the committee had reference.

The Indian war has assumed an alarming character. On Monday night last (4th) we had an alarm that the town was attacked. The scene was horrid beyond description ; men women and children flying to the stockade. I calculated seven hundred women and children were there within fifteen minutes after the alarm gun was fired - some with dresses on, and soiiie with none ; some with shoes, and some barefoot ; sick persons were transported on other's shoulders ; women and children screaming from one end of the town to the other. It was a false alarm. Had there been an Indian attack, I believe the people would have fought well.

Many ludicrous incidents are related of this " bi^ scare," ludicrous afterwards and now, but not then, when all, save a few in the secret, fully beheved the Indians were upon them. Among these, it is said that the worthy postmaster didn't stop to put on his trousers, and rushed into the stockade wrapped in a sheet, calling wildly for some one to bring him a pair of pants. A Mrs. Bennett was already there, making cartridges; and as the P. M. was rushing about for some clothes, she handed him a musket, with the cool remark, " Here, take this gun, and don't be scared to death."

The next day, when the people learned how cruelly their fears had been played upon, their indignation knew no bounds. All business was suspended. Col. Strode and his associates fled the town, an impromptu indignation meeting was held at Swan's tavern, at which strong denunciatory resolutions were passed, and a committee appointed to investigate the matter, of which Rivers Cormack, the old Methodist minister, was chairman. After a few days, popular indignation subsided, and Colonel Strode returned. His motive was good, but the means adopted did not quite meet the approval of the citizens, and the experiment was not repeated.*

The Indians have already taken about forty scalps in the whole. News has this day arrived of one more man (Mr. Auberry) having been killed and scalped, near Blue Mound.f

June 8, Captain Stephenson's company of mounted rangers found the bodies of St. Yrain, Hale, Fowler and Hawley, four miles south of Kellogg's Grove, and buried them.

Colonel William S. Hamilton (a son of Alexander Hamilton, who was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr) arrived in Gralena with two hundred and thirty Indians, mostly Sioux, with some Menominees and Winnebagoes, on the 8th. These Indians left Galena on the 10th, to join General Atkinson at Dixon's Ferry, all anxious to obtain Sac scalps. Black Hawk's band was reported moving slowly northward.

On the night of June 8, the Indians stole fourteen horses just outside the stockade on Apple River (Elizabeth), and on the night of the 17th, ten more were stolen. The next morning, Capt. J. W. Stephenson, with twelve of his men and nine from Apple River Fort, started on the trail of the red thieves, and overtook them about twelve miles east of Kellogg's Grove, southeast of Waddam's Grove, and pursued them several miles, until a little northeast of Waddam's (in Stephenson County), the Indians (seven in number, says Captain Green), took refuge 'in a dense thicket, and awaited the

* Tuesday night, July 24, a fire broke out in Dr. Crow's stable in the stockade, and two horses were burned. It was said that there was powder stored in the stable, and there was another scare, but this time the stampede was from the stockade. Amos Farrar died at his house in the stockade the same night.

attack. Stephenson dismounted his men, and, detailing a guard for the horses, led his men in a gallant charge upon the concealed foe, received their fire and returned it, returning to the open prairie to re-load. Three times the brave boys charged upon this fatal thicket, losing a man each time. Only one Indian was known to be killed. He was bayonetted by Private Hood, and stabbed in the neck by Thomas Subktt. This Indian was scalped several times, and a piece of his scalp-lock is now (1878) in the possession of Wm. H. Snyder, Esq., of Galena. The three men killed were Stephen P. Howard, George Eames and Michael Lovell. Stephenson himself was wounded. After the third charge, Stephenson retreated, leaving his dead where they fell, and returned to Galena, arriving on the 19th. Of this desperate battle. Gov. Ford says: "This attack of Capt. Stephenson was unsuccessful, and may have been imprudent; but it equalled any thing in modern warfare in daring and desperate courage.''

On the evening of June 14, five men, at work in a cornfield at Spaf ford's farm, five miles below Fort Hamilton, on Spaftord's Creek, and on the morning of the 16th, Henry Apple, a German, were killed within half a mile of the fort. Gen. Dodge, with twenty-nine men, at once pursued them about three miles, when they were discovered, eleven in number, in open ground, but were not overtaken until they crossed the East Pick-e-tone-ka, and entered an almost inpenetrable swamp, at Horse Shoe Bend. At the edge of the swamp. Dodge ordered his men to dismount and link horses. Four men were left in charge of the horses, four were posted around the swamp to prevent the escape of the savages, and the remainder, twenty-one in number, advanced into the swamp about half a mile, where they received the fire of the Indians, and three men fell severely wounded. Gen. Dodge instantly ordered a charge. The Indians were found lying under the bank of a slough, and were not seen until the soldiers were within six or eight feet of them, when they fired. The whole hostile party were killed and scalped in one or two minutes, except one who swam the slough in an attempt to escape, and was shot down on the opposite bank. In this battle F. M. Morris and Samuel Wells were mortally, and Samuel Black and Thomas Jenkins severely, wounded. This was the first victory achieved over the murderous Sacs, and occasioned great rejoicing in the settlements.

On the 20th, Stephenson's and Craig's companies, under command of Col. Strode, went to Waddam's Grove to bury the remains of Howard, Eames and Lovell, which they did, but left the dead Indian above ground. On their return they heard some suspicious sounds, but pushed on iu the night to Imus's (in Push Township) and returned to Galena in safety. Afterwards, says Capt. Green, who was with Stephenson's company,^ we learned that '' a large party of Sacs were within a half-hour's march of us, when we left the graves of our dead comrades."

This party, which numbered about 150, had left the main body of Sacs on Rock River, and, after following Strode's command, were, undoubtedly, the same who made a furious attack on the stockade at Apple River, on the night of the 24th, under the following circumstances : I . Dixon, Edmund Welsh, G. W. Herclerode and Jas. L. Kirkpatrick started to carry dispatches to Gen. Atkinson. They had passed Apple River Fort when they were fired upon by Indians, and Welsh was badly wounded. His companions told him to retreat to the fort, and to give him time, turned upon the foe and raised a yell. This temporarily checked them; Welsh reached the fort and gave the alarm. Their stratagem succeeded. Dixon dashed through the savages, and escaped to Galena. Kirkpatrick and Herclerode gained the fort ; the gate was shut, and for three quarters of an ^hour the battle raged. The women and girls made ' cartridges and loaded the muskets. Herclerode was killed while taking deliberate aim at an Indian over the top of the pickets. The number of Indians killed was not known, but thej were supposed to have lost several, and finally withdrew, after stealing a large number of cattle, and destroying considerable property.

On the 29th of June, three men at work in a cornfield at Sinsinawa Mound (Jones' Mound), ten miles from Galena, were attacked by a small party of Indians, and two of them, James Boxley and John Thompson, were killed. Major Stephenson with thirty men started immediately on receipt of the news, to bury the murdered men and pursue the murderers. The bodies were shockingly mangled and both scalped, and Thompson's heart cut out. The Indians were followed to the residence of Mr. Jordan, (now Dunleith), on the Mississippi, where they had stolen a canoe and crossed the river. These Indians could hardly have been any of Black Hawk's band, unless they had deserted and were making their way back to the west side of the Mississippi.

On the 30th of June, all the inhabitants north of Galena and on the Mississippi, this side of Cassville, came into Galena for safety. It was not then considered safe to go a mile out of town without a strong guard.

Captain George W. Harrison, in Command at Fort Hamilton, on the Pick-a-ton-e-ka, thirty miles from Galena, after vainly endeavoring to get a cannon, went to Colonel Hamilton's furnace and cast several lead pieces, intended for two-pounders, which were properly mounted at the stockade, and answered every purpose.

June 20, 1832, the ladies of Galena, represented by Mrs. Nancy B. Lockwood, Mrs. Sarah B. Coons, and Miss Elizabeth A. Dodge, committee, presented a stand of colors to Captain Jas. W. Stepenson's company. On the 21st, "The daughters of the lead mines " presented a flag " to our Father War Chief," General Henry Dodge. Afterwards, on the 15th of July, the ladies of the mining country, represented by Miss Margaret C. Brophy and Miss Bridget F. Kyan, presented a stand of colors to Captain Bazil B. Craig's company, and about the same time, Misses Catherine S. and Amelia G. Dyas presented colors to Captain Alexander M. Jenkins.

It must be remembered that Black Hawk's forces kept on their march up Rock River, with the evident intention of returning to the west side of the Mississippi, as the forces of General Atkinson below prevented their return by the way they came, and they as evidently believed, after the afiair with Stiilman, that no flag of truce or proposals for peace would be received by the whites. But various Indian signs were discovered on the Mississippi River. July 6, Lieutenant Orrin Smith was sent, with twenty men, to Jordan's farm (opposite Dubuque), to scour the country there. On the 9th, Indians were in the vicinity of Rountree's Fort (Platteville), where they held a war dance around the scalp of a woman. On the 10th, the Oalenian says : " To-day we learn that the trail of the Indians shows that they must have come from the west of the Mississippi, in a direction from Dubuque's mines."

These facts indicate very plainly that Black Hawk and his band were not responsible for all the outrages committed in the mining district, but that some of them, at least, are to be attributed to Indians from the west, while others, it is now known, were committed by young Winnebagoes.

^ July 14, Governor Reynolds, Colonel Fields (Secretary of State), Judges Smith and Brown, Colonels Hickman, G-rant, Bresse and Gatewood, Captain Jeffreys and others, arrived at Galena from the army. These gentlemen reported that the Indians were entirely destitute of provisions, and were endeavoring to re^ch and re-cross the Mississippi.

July 15, an express arrived at Galena, stating that Captain Harney, of the U. S. A., had found and pursued the trail of the Indians for thirty miles, passing four of their encampments in that distance, and that lie found many signs of their want of provisions, " such as where thev had butchered horses, dug for roots, and scraped the trees for bark," and it became evident that the military had concluded that Black Hawk was doing his best to escape to the west side of the Mississippi. Orders were sent to troops stationed on the banks of that river " to prevent or delay the Indians from crossing until the brigade sent by General Atkinson could come up with them." Indian outrages had now nearly ceased in Jo Daviess County, and a brief sketch of the movements of the troops from Dixon's Ferry to Bad Axe will close this part of the history.

On the 15th of June, 1832, the new levies of volunteers in camp at Dixon's Ferry were formed into three brigades. The first was commanded by General Alexander Posey; the second by General Milton R. Alexander, and the third by General James D. Henry.

June 17th, Captain Adam W. Snyder, of Colonel Fry's regiment, sent to scout the country between Rock River and Galena, while encamped near Burr Oak Grove, in what is now the Township of Erin, Stephenson County, was fired upon by four Indians. He pursued and killed them, losing one man mortally wounded. Returning, he was attacked by seventy Indians, both parties taking positions behind trees. General Whiteside, then a private, shot the leader of the band and they retreated, but were not pursued. Snyder lost two men killed and one wounded.

June 25th, a detachment of General Posey's brigade, commanded by Major John Dement, and encamped at Kellogg's Grove, or Burr Oak Grove, as it was then called, was attacked by a large party of Indians, and a sharp skirmish ensued. Major Dement lost five men and about twenty horses killed. The Indians left nine of their number stretched upon the field. General Posey, then encamped at Buffalo Grove, hastened to the relief of Dement, but the Indians had retreated two hours before he arrived. He returned to Kellogg's Grove to await the arrival of his baggage wagons, and then marched to Fort Hamilton, Michigan Territory.

Gen. Atkinson commenced his slow and cautious march up the river about the 25th of June, and finally reached Lake Koshkonong, where he was joined by Gen. Alexander's brigade, and then continued his march to White River, or Whitewater, where he was joined by Posey's brigade and the Galena battalion under Major Dodge. Gen. Alexander, Gen. Henry and Maj. Dodge were sent to Fort Winnebago for supplies. Here they heard that Black Hawk was making his way toward the Wisconsin River, and, disobeying orders, Henry and Dodge started in pursuit (Gen. Alexander and his brigade returing to Gen. Atkinson), struck the broad, fresh trail of the Indians and followed them with tireless energy. Ever and anon they would find old men, women and children, who could not keep up and had been abandoned to their fate by the flying Indians; some were killed. One old man, left to die, was sitting against a tree, and was boldlyshot and scalped bj a surgeon, who afterwards exhibited the scalp as a trophy of his valor.

Black Hawk was overtaken at Wisconsin River, and his braves offered battle, to enable the women and children to cross the river. The battle of Wisconsin Heights, at which the Indians were badly whipped by our troops, and '' worse whipped by starvation," says Mr. Townsend, was fought on the 22d of July, 1832. Skirmishing commenced a little after noon, but the heaviest fighting was about sunset. The first Indian killed was discovered walking ahead of the troops with a pack of meat on his back, A soldier fired but missed him, when he turned and threw down his gun but was bayonetted after his surrender by Samples M. Journey, The fighting ceased about 10 o'clock, P, M., and the men bivouacked for rest on their arms. " About daybreak," says Oapt. D. S. Harris, then a Lieutenant in command of Stephenson's Company, " the camp was alarmed by the clarion voice of the Prophet from a hill nearly a mile away. At first we thought it was an alarm, but soon found that the Prophet wanted peace. Although he was so far distant I could hear distinctly every word, and I understood enough to know that he did not want to fight. The interpreter said that the Prophet said they ' had their squaws and families with them and were starving - that they did not want to fight any more, but wanted peace and would do no more harm if they could l)e permitted to cross the Mississippi in peace,' " Mr, P, J. Pilcher, now of Elizabeth, who was also there, says that they were awakened by the shrill voice of the chief, and that he plainly understood: " Ne-com, P-e - e-1 - o-o-o;" "Friends, we fight no more." Mr. Pilcher says he told Henry what the Indian said, but Henry said " pay no attention to any thing they say or do, but form in line of battle." The Witinebagoes in camp also informed the officers of the meaning" of the Prophet's message, and " early in the morning," says Pilcher, " they went with us to the spot where the Indian had stood when he proclaimed peace, and there we found a tomahawk huried^^ an emphatic declaration that so far as Black Hawk and his band were concerned, hostilities were ended. I^o attention was paid to this second attempt to negotiate peace. It is said that the officers had no interpreter and did not know what the Prophet said until alter the war closed. This excuse is exploded by the direct and emphatic testimony of Capt. Harris and Mr. Pilcher that the starved and dying Indians must be exterminated.

The next morning not an Indian remained on the east side of the Wisconsin. Gen. Henry pushed back for supplies, and Gen. Atkinson's " bottled forces " coming up, the pursuit was renewed, and the battle of Bad Axe was fought August 2, 1832, " For eight miles," says Townsend, " we were skirmishing with their rear guard," and numbers of squaws and children were killed.

When the troops charged upon the Indians the squaws and children were so closely commingled with the braves, and the squaws were dressed so nearly like the bucks, that it was almost impossible to distinguish between them.

In a sketch of the Black Hawk War, published by Benjamin Drake, the following incident is related : "A young squaw was standing in the grass, a short distance from the American line, holding her child, a little girl four years old, in her arms. In this position a gun was directed at her, and the bullet struck the right arm of the child just above the elbow, shattering the bone, passed into the breast of the young mother and instantly killed her. She fell upon the child and confined it to the ground. When the battle was nearly over, Lieutenant Anderson, of the United States Army, heard the cries of the child, and went to the spot and took it from beneath its dead mother and carried it to the place for surgical aid. The arm was amputated, and during the operation the half-starved child did not cry, but sat quietly eating a piece of hard biscuit. [Other authorities say it gnawed ravenously at the raw flesh on a horse-bone it had in its hand when its mother was shot. - Ed.] The child was sent to Prairie du Ohien, and fully recovered from its wound."

The battle of Bad Axe terminated the war, and Black Hawk's surrender, subsequent visit to Washington, and return to his people in Iowa, are events familiar to the reader. After nearly half a century has passed, and the Indians have disappeared before the westward advance of civilization, it is but just that the truth should be recorded. Passion and prejudice have passed away, and it must be admitted that " when the tomahawk and scalping knife were drawn " in 1832, it was only after the whites had commenced the carnival of blood by first firing on the flag of truce at "Stillman's Run." The vindictive pursuit and murder of women and children after the Prophet had in person informed his ruthless pursuers that " his people were starving and wanted peace," can not be justified. It was as savao^e an act as the savasres themselves had committed. It must be added, also, that after Stillman's defeat, Black Hawk, then an old man, lost all control of his young braves, who were led by N"e-o-pope. But for that fatal act of Stillman's drunken soldiers, in all human probability the subsequent acts of savage barbarity by both Indians and whites had remained undone. " Fire-water " was the active cause of the Black Hawk War, as it was of the Winnebago War.

Local History

In the Spring of 1832, the few settlers at Buffalo Grove and other parts of the country, had commenced plowing and plantino, only to be interrupted in their pioneer pursuits by the Black Hawk War. Thej^ had heard and seen that the Indians were going up Rock River, the Indianssaying that they were going up to plant corn, etc. Some time in the month of April, some friendly Indians called at Reed's with some fresh fish, and one of them told the family that Gen. Whiteside was coming up the river with " heap Che-mo-kee man," to fight the Indians, and that they (the whites) must go away - -that bad Indians would kill them. " Me no kill you; bad Indians kill you and your papooses."

Mr. Reed had planted some potatoes and about two acres of corn and other " truck," on Saturday, May 12. On Sunday, says our authortiy, there was a heavy fall of rain, which rendered the ground in an unfit condition for further planting. On Monday evening the report of fire arms was heard in the direction ^of Kellogg's house, which, on account of the number of shots, alarmed the Reed family. Had they known the occasion of the firing, there would have been no cause for alarm at that immediate time. But of this they were ignorant, and they were thrown into a terrible state of excitement and suspense. Gen. Dodge, with a scouting party, had encamped near Kellogg's, and on their arrival had discharged their pieces. Tuesday morning, however, a messenger from Whiteside's camp arrived at

Keed's with the news of the battle at Stillman's Run, and advising them to go immediately to Dixon, where the main body of the army was encamped. Arrangements for removal were made as hastily as possible. There household goods were loaded on a wagon without much regard to order, and the flight to Dixon was commenced and reached in safety. After remaining there a few days, the JReed family went to Peoria, under escort of a company of volunteers, who were going south to receive their discharge. In September, after the conclusion of hostilities, the men returned to their claims, leaving the women in Peoria County. There was now no danger of Indian molestation, and vigorous and active measures were inaugurated for the improvement of their homes. The prairies were covered with a thick and luxuriant growth of grass, which was mown, cured and stacked for hay for their stock. Additional ground was plowed and sown to wheat, and when Winter began to approach, they returned to Peoria and brought their wives and children back to their homes, from which they had been frightened by the Indians in the month of May preceding.

In 1833 the quiet and tranquility into which the pioneers had settled was partially disturbed by the rumor that the Indians were dissatisfied with the treaty they had made, and were resolved on another war. For the third time the settlers at Buffalo Grove abandoned their homes and went to Peoria. Leaving their families there, the men returned to cultivate their crops, and " fight it out that Summer." But before harvest time came, the women and children were sent for and again brought up to their homes. The rumor here referred to proved to be a false one, and came to be known among the settlers as '^ Mammy Dixon's War."

A few Indians still remained in the country after the conclusion of the Black Hawk War in 1832, and the alarm of 1833 was occasioned by Mrs. Dixon overhearing a conversation between some of the remaining Indians, in which they expressed their dissatisfaction with the treaty. She communicated this conversation to her neighbors. It spread rapidly, grew as it spread, as gossip always does, until a panic ensued. Ko outbreak occurred however, and from that time forward the people of Buffalo Grove and other parts of the Rock River country were left in undisturbed possession of their claims, so far as the Indians were concerned.

As the reader has observed, the settlement of Ogle County was commenced at Buffalo Grove. As the years increased and people continued to come in, the settlements extended to other parts of the county, but it was many years before the land was all occupied. From 1833 to about 184:5"'6 the immigration was slow, but gradually increased from year to year. About 18 J5-'6, however, when the Chicago and Galena Union Railroad enterprise was being agitated, a large influx of immigration set in, \vhich was continued until the county was generally occupied.

The next settler at Buffalo Grove, after those already named, was Elisha Dotv, who came from Peoria, in 1834. The same year Ankeney removed to the farm subsequently owned and occupied by Harry Smith. In May of this year, Albion Sanford and his family settled here, and in the Fall they were followed by Cyrenus, Ahiraand Harrison Sanford and their families. Cyrenus Sanford was the father of Ahira, Albion and Harrison Sanford, and he continued to occupy the claim upon which he first settled, until the date of his death, May 28, 1858. In 1831 a man named Sackett, also became a settler at Buffalo Grove. Pearson Shoemaker came about the same time, but subsequently removed to Elkhorn Grove, and re-settied near the line between Ogle and Carroll Counties.

In 1834-''5 there were numerous accessions to the Buffalo Grove Colony, if -we may call it such. Among the new-comers were John D. Stevenson, George Webster and the Water burys. In 1835, O. W. Kellogg and Hugh Stevenson laid out a town at Buffalo Grove, which they called St. Mary's. The name was afterwards changed to Buffalo.

The first wedding was the marriage between Samples M. Journey and Ankeney's only daughter, early in 1832. It was attended with great eclat^ as it was a wedding among the ^rs^ families. The license was procured at Galena, this county still being within the jurisdiction of Jo Daviess County. All the neighbors, the Kellogg family excepted, for miles around, were present, including guests from Galena, Rush Creek and the southern part of the state. Festivity and dancing were kept up until the " wee small hours " of morning began to approach, when the happy couple were put to bed in real old fashioned style. Journey subsequently went to California, where he was living in 1858-'9, while his wife was living at Lyons, Iowa, at the same time, from which it is to be inferred that the match did not prove a happy one.

September 4, 1834, Cyrus Doty, the first white child native of Ogle County, was born at Buffalo Grove, where he continues to reside, engaged in farming. He is now a grandfather.

The first school taught in the county was in the Winter of 1834-'5. Simon Fellows was the teacher. The school was kept in a house belonging to O. W. Kellogg.

Elkanah F. Bush was the first postmaster, and Buffalo Grove was the first post-office. It was established in the Winter of 1835 (before a postoffice was established at Rockford). Previous to the establishment of this post-office, the settlers hereabouts received their mail matter at Dixon. Mr. Bush was not permitted to wear the honors of postmaster very long, but was removed and O. W. Kellogg appointed in his place.

According to Mr. Boss, the first wheat sown was in the Fall of 1832. But the same local writer says the " first crop of Winter wheat raised near Buffalo Grove, was in 1834." [There is a probability that the first wheat sown was in the Fall of 1833, after the " Mammy Dixon War " scare, instead of in the Fall of 1832, after the Black Hawk War.]

In 1835, Joseph M. Wilson and James Talbot commenced the erection of a grist mill. It was completed in the early Summer of 1836, and in June commenced grinding corn. Flour was manufactured there in the Fall of the same year.

The first lawsuits grew out of the claim troubles (already mentioned) between Chambers and Ankeney, commencing in 1836. They were continued until 1839. . ground three miles nortli of that place, there was not a single foot of ground to be seen which the hand of man had touched. Men were located "in the countrj^ but their abodes were in the hollows and groves where they could not be seen." Mr. Boss added: "Since settlements have been made, many of the prairie flowers have disappeared, being destroyed by the cattle and the fires. When the first settlers arrived here, there was no underbrush in the groves, as the Spring fires "^ always kept it down, and one could see almost as far in the groves as on the prairies."

Commencing at the southwest corner of township number nineteen, north, range eight, east of the fourth principal meridian, and running thence north along the range line, dividing ranges numbered seven and eight east, to the southwest corner of township number twenty-six, north of ran^e number eight east ; thence east to the third principal meridian ; thence south along the line of said meridian, to the southwest corner of township number forty-three north, of range number one, east of the third principal meridian ; thence east with the line dividing townships numbered forty-two and forty-three north, to the southeast corner of township number forty-three north of range two, east of the third principal meridian ; thence south with the line between ranges numbered two and three, east of the third principal meridian, to the southeast corner of township tliirty-seven north; thence west with the line dividing townships thirty-six and' thirty-seven north, to the southwest corner of township thirty-seven north ; thence south with the third principal meridian, to the southeast corner of township number nineteen, north of range eleven, east of the fourth principal meridian ; thence west with the line between townships numbered eighteen and nineteen north, to the place of beginning, shall constitute a county, to be called Ogle.

The name was suggested by the late Governor Ford, and was intended to perpetuate the memory of Captain Ogle, whose coolness, courage and daring were so conspicuous in the long and bloody confiict attending the siege of Fort Henry, during the early days of our country's history.

Kane was named in honor of Ehas K. Kane, the guiding and controlling spirit of the constitutional convention of 1818. Winnebago is an Indian name, and was so named because of its territory having been the favorite " hunting ground " of the Winnebago Indians. Whiteside was named in honor of General Whiteside, who participated in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Stephenson was named in honor of Colonel Stephenson, who also bore a gallant and conspicuous part in that campaign, and Boone was named in honor of Kentucky's great pioneer hunter. Colonel Daniel Boone.

DeKalb County was named in honor of Baron John DeKalb, a native of the Province of Alsace, a German province in the possession of France, who, in November, 1776, ofiored his services to Dr. Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane (the first envoys from the American Republic after the declaration of independence), to serve in the armies of the revolted colonies. He fell, at the head of his command, at the battle of Camden, on the 7th of August, 1780, pierced by eleven bayonet wounds, and died in a few hours. To a British officer who kindly condoled with him on his misfortune, he

* Some old settlers of Jo Daviess County, at Galena, told the writer that the Indians set out tliese fires every Spring in order to keep down the undergrowth that their hunting grounds might be unobstructed - to afford them better opportunities for sighting deer, etc.

replied: "I thank you for your generous sympathy, but die the death I have always prayed for - the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man; and, though I fight no more in this world, I trust I may still be of some service to the cause of freedom."

As originally organized, Ogle County included the present County of Lee, but rival interests led to a division of the territory, and the erection of Lee County in 1839. Of this, more in another paragraph.

Section eleven of the act under which the county was organized provided that, "for the purpose of fixing the permanent county seat of Ogle County, Charles Reed, of Cook County, James L. Kirkpatrick, of Jo Daviess County, and James B. Campbell, of Cook County, are hereby appointed Commissioners, who, or any two 'of them, being first duly sworn before some justice of the peace of this state, as is required by the seventh section of this act, shall meet at the house of Oliver W. Kellogg, in said county, on the first Monday of May next or within sixty days thereafter, and shall proceed in all respects as is required in the seventh section of this act."

Section seven, herein quoted, provides that the said county seat shall be located on lands belonging to the United States, if a site for said county seat on such lands can be found equally eligible, or upon lands claimed by citizens of said county ; but if such location shall be made upon land claimed by any individual having title or pre-emption right to the same, the claimant or proprietor upon whose claim or right of pre-emption, the said seat of justice may be located, shall make a deed in fee simple to any number of acres of said tract, not less than twenty, to the said county ; or, in lieu thereof, such claimant, or owner or owners of such pre-emption right, shall donate to the said county, at least three thousand dollars, to be applied to building county buildings, within one year after the location of said county seat ; and the proceeds of such quarter section, if the said county seat shall be located on government lands, or the proceeds of such twenty acres of land, if it be located on the pre-emption right of an individual or individuals, or the said three thousand dollars, in case such pre-emption right owner or owners, shall elect to pay that sum in lieu of the said twenty acres, shall be appropriated to the erection of a sufficient court house and jail.

Section twelve provided that the county and circuit court should be held at such places as the county commissioners court should appoint, and that the circuit judge of the sixth judicial circuit should have power to fix the times for holding courts as in his discretion he might think would best promote the public good.

Section nine provided that an election should be held on the first Monday of April (1836) for one sherifi", one coroner, one recorder, one county surveyor, and three county commissioners, who should hold their offices until the next succeeding general election, and until their successors were elected and qualified, and, that the qualified voters present might elect from among their own number, three qualified voters to act as judges of said election, and that they, the judges, should appoint two qualified voters to act as clerks.

Section nine also declared that the election should be held at the house of John Phelps, and that it should be regulated and conducted in the same manner as prescribed in section nine, etc.

bj this act shall be organized, and no election hereby authorized, shall be held, until a petition shall be presented to the judge of the sixth judicial circuit, or in his absence, some other circuit judge, signed \)j a majority of the voters of the county asked to be organized, and proof made before such judge, that such county contains at least three hundred and fifty inhabitants ; and upon such petition being presented, and such proof made, the said judge is hereby authorized and required to grant an order for the election of county officers, naming the day for such election, the place at which such election shall be held, the description of officers to be elected, and appointing the judges of elections ; and the said judges of election shall give public notice of said election, by posting up notices in at least four public places in the county ; and, such election shall be held and conducted in all respects as other elections."

From some reason, presumably because there were not the requisite number of inhabitants within the county limits, the election provided for' in section thirteen, to-wit : on the first Monday in April, was not held ; and until the 1st of January, A. D., 1837, the territory named in the boundaries of Ogle County, as originally defined, remained under the jurisdiction of Jo Daviess County. For the same reason, perhaps, the organization of "Whiteside was not fully perfected until 1839, when Lee and Whiteside were both set ofi^ from Ogle.

Origin of Naiaes. - Before proceeding further with the local affairs of the counl^, a few paragraphs will be devoted to the origin ^of names as applied to several historic points in the county, from the reason that frequent reference will necessarily be made to them in coming pages.

Killhuck. - Because of a large buck being found dead in the stream so named. Another version is that the Driscolls, who moved from the banks of an Ohio stream by that name, named this one Killbuck, they being the first settlers here.

Mount Morris. - After Bishop Morris, an eminent divine of the Methodist Episcopal Church. [This distinguished and worthy Bishop died at his home in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, a few years ago.]

Adeline. - After the name of the first wife of Thomas J. Turner, a former member of Congress from this district, who lived at Freeport. He died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, only a few years ago.

Light House I^oint. - Because of the high ground and lights being seen from the summit at great distances, believed to have been so named by Dr. John Roe.

Indian Mound. - Because of the remains of an Indian having been found buried there by the early settlei's. The skull was to be seen at Mount Morris Seminary some years ago, and may. still be preserved there.

Buffalo Tp

Liberty Hill. - This elevated point on the outskirts of Oregon, was named by an old gentleman from Yankee Settlement, Illinois, named Teller. Baysville. - After Colonel Day, who attempted to build a village there in opposition to Oregon.

Oregon. - So named by Miss Sarah Phelps, daughter of John Phelps, who first came here in 1833. She subsequently married Mr. Wesley Johnston, and still lives in Oregon.

Paynes Point. - In honor of Aaron Payne, an early settler. Buffalo Grrove. - Because of the finding of buffalo bones there by the first settlers.

Pine Creek. - From the pine trees that grew along its banks. Dement. - In honor of Colonel John Dement, of Dixon. Byron. - This village was first named Bloomingville. When the people first petitioned for a post-oflSce under that name, the petition was refused by the Postmaster General because of the similarity of the name to Bloomington. The name of Byron was adopted at the suggestion of Leonard Andrus - probably a reader and an admirer of the works of Lord Byron.

Lane. - After Dr. Lane, a prominent pliysician of Rockford. Pulpit Rock. - Because of its fancied resemblance to a pulpit. Sugar Loaf. - Because of its resemblance to a sugar loaf. After the killing of the DriscoUs, June 29, 1841, the Regulators met there to the number of 112 and surrendered themselves to the Sherifil

Squaw Hill. - Because of the accidental killing of an Indian squaw on its summit. Her body was enclosed in a rude coffin, made by sawing an old canoe in halves, which, according to Indian custom, was elevated about four feet from the ground. This rude coffin was not long enough to include her whole body, and her feet and ankles were left protruding at the open end. James Y. Gale says: "I saw her feet while she lay thus entombed. A Yandal named Thompson tore down the scaffold, rifled the old canoe of her remains, and carried the trinkets, beads, etc., to Dixon. West Grove. - Because situated in the western part of the county. North Grove. - Because situated in the northern part of the county. Stillman^s Pun. - In memory of Colonel Stillman, who was defeated there by the Indians at the commencement of the Black Hawk War.

Polo. - The name was adopted at the suggestion of Hon. Zeuos Applington, who was killed at the head of his command at ^the battle of Corinth.

Woosung. - Named by the proprietors after a Chinese city of that name. CarnphelVs Grove. - In honor of an old Yirginian who settled there. Sinnissippi. - Indian for Rocky River.

then judge of the sixth judicial district, for an election to be held on the 24th day of December - the day before Christmas - 1836. The election was appointed to be held at the house of John Phelps, a " tavern." The judges were: James Y. Gale, George W. Rosecrans and Jonathan W. Jenxins. The clerks were George Chandler and Smith Gilbraith.

Even at that day a rivalry had sprung up between Oregon and Dixon for county seat honors, notwithstanding the commissioners appointed for the purpose by the legislature had located the county seat on the 20th of June, 1836, where Oregon has since been built up. In selecting candidates for county commissioners, partisanism was ignored. Only local influence was considered. The Dixonites selected three citizens for county commissioners, Wvho were believed to be friendly to Dixon, and who would use their official influence to maintain the county offices at that place. Oregon people were equally zealous, and they, too, selected candidate^ for county commissioners pledged to their interests. The Dixon candidates were V. A. Bogue, S. Si. John Mix and Cyrus Chamberlain. The Oregon candidates were Isaac Rosecrans, Ezra Bond and W. J. Mix. The contest was animated and excited, and the polls were kept open until midnight. The certificate of the judges of election showed the following vote:

Dixon Candidates Oregon Candidates

There was great excitement at this election. All the towns were against Oregon. A large quantity of whisky was drunk, and several fights occurred. Dixon, Grand De Tour, Buffalo Grove, and Bloomingville (now Byron) all combined against Oregon. A great deal of hard feeling grew out of this election that lasted until Lee County was set off and erected into an independent county. One man became so boisterous and pugilistic towards his brother that he was tied with a rope. It was the noisiest, roughest, most exciting election ever held in the county.

One hundred and eighty-eight votes were cast at this election. A part of the poll-book is still in preservation at the county clerk's office; but much the larger part has either been unintentionally destroyed, lost or carried off, although the records of that department of county affairs are remarkably well preserved and are arranged with admirable system. The papers are all kept in such order that the present incumbent of the office, Mr. George W. Hormell, and his assistant, Mr. J ohn Mack, can place their hands on any desired paper at once. In fact, the office is a model of neatness - a pattern which seven out of every ten county clerks in the state might follow with profit and credit.

of the first county election, held on the 24th day of December, A. D. 1836, has the names of the following forty-three voters. We would like to present the names of the entire 188 sovereign and independent settlers of forty- two years ago, but can not for the reasons already stated. The names preserved are: those marked f are known to be living. Jonathan W. Jenkins, James Y. Gale and Robert Page only are known to have always maintained a residence in the county. Mr. Jenkins is in his seventyseventh year. James Y. Gale is seventy-one years of age.

James Y. Gale, recorder, still lives in Oregon, where he has always maintained an excellent name. He filled the office of recorder for eleven years. He was also elected as the first justice of the peace in Oregon Precinct, and held that office four years. He was likewise appointed as the first public administrator in the county by Governor Duncan, and held that office eight years. During the war period he served his county as representative in the State Legislature, and has served Oregon Township about ten years as supervisor. He is now a prominent stockholder and director and vice president of the First National Bank of Oregon. Besides these positions, he held the post-office of Oregon two years, being appointed under President Harrison in 1841, but was removed in 1843 because he wouldn't Tylerize. When Orgeon was incorporated as a city, in 1870, he was elected the first mayor, in which position he served two years.

Yirgil A. Bogue, one of the county commissioners, died at Bufiklo Grove in 1869, where he had accumulated a handsome property. He also served one or two terms as probate judge, and as justice of the peace of his precinct - Buffalo Grove.

S. St. John Mix, another one of the commissioners, is still a resident of the county and of Byron, from which place he was elected - Byron then being called Bloomingville. He is now nearly eighty years of age, and still engaged in active business pursuits.

Cyrus Chamberlain, the third commissioner, is now between eightythree and eiglity-four years of age, and a resident of Grand deTour. He has always maintained a residence in the county, and at ^one time had acquired a valuable property.

S03 History Of Ogle County

Joseph Crawford, surveyor, who lived near Grand de Tour at the time of his election, accumulated a handsome competency and subsequently removed to Dixon, where he became a prominent politician and representative man. He is now president of one of the national banks of that city.

Ira Hill, coroner, also removed from the county a number of years ago, and, like Sherifi' Mudd, has become lost to the knowledge of Ogle County people.

Smith Grilbraith, county clerk, was appointed from Dixon, where, as the county settled up and Dixon began to assume some importance, he became a conspicuous character in public affairs. He died at Dixon a number of years since.

Of the judges of the election at which the above named gentlemen were chosen to office, James Y. Gale is still a resident of the county and of Oregon, as elsewhere noted. George W. Rosencrans died in Utah some three or four years ago, where he was engaged in mining, etc. Jonathan W. Jenkins is still living and a resident of Oregon, as already mentioned.

The first session of the County Commissioners Court was held at the house of John Phelps, in Oregon City, January 3, 1837. Present, Yirgil A. Bogue and S. St. John Mix. The first order entered was the appointment of Smith Gilbraith as clerk of the County Commissioners Court. He was required to give bond in the sum of one thousand dollars for a faithful discharge of the duties of the office. O. W. Kellogg and James P. Dixon were his bondsmen.

The court then ordered that " the precincts in Ogle County remain the same as established by the Commissioners of Jo Daviess County until the next session, and then adjourned until the first Monday in March, to meet at the house of F. Cushman in Buffalo Grove Township."

March 6 the commissioners met at the house of Mr. Cushman, Buffalo Grove Precinct, pursuant to adjournment. At this session, Joseph Crawford, the other commissioner, appeared, took the prescribed oath and entered upon the duties of commissioner.

At this session Oliver W. Kellogg was appointed county treasurer, and entered into bonds in the sum of $3,000 for a faithful discharge of the duties of the office. E. W. Covell and James P. Dixon, both of Dixon, were his bondsmen.

License was granted to E. W. Covell, of Dixon, to sell goods, wares, merchandise, etc., for one year, upon consideration of the payment of ten dollars to the county treasurer. This was the first money paid into the county treasury.

Bloomingville. - Commencing on the north line of Ogle County on the, line between ranges of townships 9 and 10; thence south to the center of township 24; thence east to the line between 10 and 11; thence south to the north line of township 23; thence enst to the east line of the county through the center of townsship forty-one, one and two, east of the third principal meridian; thence north and west along said county lines to the place of beginning.

Joseph Sanford, Miner M. York and Asa G. Spaulding were appointed judges of elections in this precinct, and the elections were appointed to be held at the school-house.

9 east of the 4th principal meridian, and running south to the center of township 23, same range; then east to the line between 9 and 10; then south one mile; then east to Rock River; then down said river to the line between towns 22 and 23; thence east to the line between 10 and 11; then south to the north line of 21; then east to the east line of said county; then north along said line to the center of town 41 ; thence west along the line of Bloomingville precinct to the place of beginning.

William J. Mix, James Clark and John Phelps were appointed judges of elections. Elections were appointed to be held at the house of John Phelps.

Grand de Tour. - (Americanized Grand Detour.) Beginning at township 23, north range 9, east of the 4th principal meridian, and running east to town line ; then south one mile ; then east to Rock River ; then down said river to the north line of town 22 north; then east to the line between

10 and 11; then south to the north line of town 20; then west to the west line of range 10; then north to the north line of town 21; then west two miles; then north three miles; then west to Rock River; then up the river until it strikes the line between 4 and 5; then north to the town line; then east one mile; then north to the place of beginning.

John Chamberlain, Spooner Ruggles and Ira Hill were named as judges of elections, and elections were ordered to be held at House & Co.'s Btore.

Buffalo Grove. - Commencing at the northwest corner of the county and running east to line of township between 9 and 10; then south to the center of township 24, north; thence west to the center of town 24, range 9, east; then south to the north line of town 22; then west to the county line; then north on said line to the place of beginning.

Stephen Hull, John D. Stephenson and Frederick Cushman were appointed judges of elections, and the elections were appointed to be held at the house of Mr. Cushman.

Dixon. - Commencing on the west line of the county on township hne between 22 and 23, running east eight miles; then south to Rock River; down Rock River to the south line of section 17; then east two miles; then south three miles on line between sections 34 and 35 ; then east to town line; then south to the north Hne of town 20; then west to county line; then north to place of beginning.

William P. Burrows, James P. Dixon and William Martin were appointed judges of elections, and the house of E. W. Co veil was named as the voting place.

I nlet. ~Bo\m&Qdi as follows: On the north by Dixon, Grand de Tour and Oregon City Precincts; on the east, by the county line, and on the south and west, bv the lines of said county.

Z. Mellugin, Thomas Dexter and Charles West were appointed judges of elections, and the elections were appointed to be held at the house of Cory don Dewey.

law creating Whiteside Countv (passed at the same time Ogle was erected) was divided into four election precincts, and each precinct was declared to be a road district.

March 7th, Adolphus Bliss and others presented a road petition asking for a view of a certain route defined in the petition. The petitioners were required to deposit $5 with the county clerk to cover expenses, etc., in the event the viewers did not report favorably. If the report was favorable, the deposit was ordered to be returned to the depositors. Tliis was the practice in all new counties. John Dixon, Oorydon Dewey and Z. Mellugin were appointed viewers.

[Adolphus Bliss and Oorydon Dewey will be made to figure somewhat conspicuously, if not creditably, in another department of this history, and it may not be out of place to remark that this first road was intended to open up a highway of travel to and past Bliss' " Traveller's Home," a " log tavern " familiarly known to the early settlers as a rendezvous or headquarters for the outlaws, horse-thieves, counterfeiters, etc., that infested this county from 1835 to 1845, when the gang was finally broken up by the honest, sturdy settlers whom they had so repeatedly outraged.]

The same day, Leonard Andrus presented a road petition looking to the opening up of a legal highway to Bloomingville (now Byron), and, after making the conditional deposit, M. M. York, J. P. Dixon and E. Hubbell were appointed viewers.

In those days the county commissioners granted license to parties desirous of keeping tavern, and as almost every man who had a cabin aspired to be a " tavern-keeper," the income from this source was not inconsiderable, and was the means of meeting some of the first expenses, such as stationery, etc., etc. Grocers, merchants, etc., were also required to take out license, as were ferrymen and the like. The first tavern license was granted to Joseph Sawyer, and the second to Adolphus Bliss, each of whom was required to pay to the county treasurer the sum of $10. Messrs. Wales, Hunn & Oo. were licensed to sell " goods, wares and merchandise " upon the payment of $12. J. D. Stephenson & Oo. were charged $12 for the privilege of selling goods at Buffalo Grove.

The county commissioners were also vested with power to fix the rate of charges for "tavern keepers " and ferry men, and among the "orders " entered up at this session of the county commissioners court were the following, copied verhatim from the record :

Tavern Rates Rock River Ferry Rates

Ordered, That, on the second Monday in June next, such portion of the section of land on which the county stake is stuck, be sold at public auction for the benefit of Ogle County ; the portion to be sold to be hereafter designated by the county commissioners. Adjourned March 8, 1837.

At this session of the commissioners, the court ordered an election to be held in each of the precincts in Ogle County, on the 12th day of April, to fill vacancies in the county ofiices. An examination of the poll -books fails to show the election of any officers but justices of the peace and constables. The Oregon City Precinct election resulted as follows :

Justices of the Peace - James H. Stephenson received 58 votes ; Isaac W. Moss received 44 votes ; Lester H. Everts received 35 votes. Constahles - Isaac DeMott received 71 votes, and John S. Lord received 74 votes.

Justices of the Peace - John D. Stevenson received 3 votes, and Yirgil A. Bogue received 13 votes. Constahles - Charles Cushman received 13 votes ; Benajah Beardsley received 14 votes, and Isaac Every received 3 votes.

Justice Dewey, Constable West, Adolphus Bliss (of the old "Travellers' Home"), his wife, Hannah, and a few others of their gang, because of their " close " connection and secret and suspicious ways of transacting public and private business, came to be known to the pioneers as " Dewey, West & Co." To this wing of the Driscoll gang a distinct section of this history will be devoted.

Justices of the Peace - James Scott received 23 votes ; Lucius Read received 15 votes, and Asa Gr. Spalding received 11 votes. Constables - James Scott received 23 votes ; Andrew Shepherd received 15 votes, and Iliram Maynard received 8 votes.

Justices of the Peace - John W. Chapman received 12 votes ; Elijah Worthington received 10 votes, and Yon J. Adams received 2 votes. Constables - John McLemore received 5 votes ; Nelson Mason received 11 votes, and Isaac H. Albertson received 8 votes.

In Grand de Tour Precinct twenty-seven votes were cast. Erastus Hubbell and Cyrus Chamberlain were elected justices, and Calvin Turner and Jeremiah Murphy were chosen as constables.

The next session of the county commissioners court was ordered to be held at Grand de Tour, where it convened on the 6th of June, 1837, when Leonard Andrus was authorized to keep a ferry at Grand de Tour, upon the payment of a license fee of $10. The clerk was also authorized to issue a license for a ferry at Van Buren, on the payment of $20, and Sanford was authorized to keep a ferry at Bloomingville on the payment of $5.

Ordered, That Oregon City precinct be divided by Rock River, and that that part of it on the south side be called Washington precinct ; and that James Clark, Richard B.

Ordered, That the clerk commence suit, in the name of the County Commissioners, against the Sheriff of Ogle County, in each and every case for omission of duty.

Smith Gilbraith presented his account for official services to date, $8.87; also, for expenses for records, stationery, etc., $8.50 - $17.50; the first account filed against the county. The account was allowed and an order directed to be issued against the treasury for the same.

The commissioners next passed upon their own claims against the county: Y. A. Bogue, $6; C. Chamberlain, $6; S. St. John Mix, $7.50. Sheriff Mudd was allowed $3 for attendance upon the court.

June 20, 1836, Charles Reed and James L. Kirkpatrick, two of the commissioners appointed to locate a permanent seat of Justice for Ogle County, proceeded to discharge that duty. The report was in these words:

"We, the undersigned commissioners appointed by an act of the Legislature, entitled " an act to establish certain counties," approved January 16, 1836, for the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice for Ogle County, report, that we did, on1;he 15th day of June, 1836, meet at the house of O. W". Kellogg, in the county of Ogle, and having been first duly sworn before J. C. O wings, Esq., justice of the Peace in, and for Jo Daviess County, agreeably to the provisions of said act, proceeeded to view, select, locate and establish the seat of justice for said county; we, the commissioners, believe, that in making the location for said seat of justice, that they have complied with the letter of the law in that respect. We have selected a point which we consider the most eligible. We have fixed the location with a view to the convenience of the people, the situation of the settlement, and also, with a view to the future population of said county, and to the general advantage and convenience of the people. We, the commissioners, having the above objects in view, and being governed in the matter by the best judgment that we are able to form respecting the same, having determined on, fixed and selected the following place or location for the permanent seat of justice for the County of Ogle, to wit: the southeast quarter of section four (4), township twentythree north, range ten, east of the fourth principal meridian, upon which quarter we, the commissioners, have set a stake this day, the 20th of June, 1836, the said quarter being claimed by John Phelps & Co., of Ogle County. " Signed,

[The point on which the stake was planted was on the high point of ground just north of and adjoining the grounds occupied by the present Union school house.]

This report was dated June 20, 1836, but does not appear of record until the 4th of September, A. D. 1838, when the County Commissioners Court being in session it was ordered to be accepted and entered upon the records of the court. When the locating commissioners " stuck " the county seat stake on the 20th of June, 1836, the lands had not been subdivided into sections, half sections, etc. Only the township lines had been established, and, as subsequent developments proved, the site selected was on the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section three. This error was occasioned by a misapprehension as to the true location of the line (north and south) between sections three and four - that line and the halfsection line east and west, crossing on the high point or mound, where the stake was planted. The fault originated with a local surveyor, who had been employed by parties interested, to run temporary section lines from the east and north lines of township twenty-three. When the government surveyors come to subdivide the township in 1837, they fixed the section line between sections three and four, a few rods west of the line marked out by the temporary survey, which left the spot selected by the locating

Rochelle

When this error was fully established, the county commissioners, under authority of an act of congress, approved Feb. 5, 1829, granting 160 acres of government land for county seat purposes, sought to hold the northwest quarter of section three, by causing the following entry to be made on their record:

Ordered, That the clerk cause three written notices to be posted in Oregon City, forbidding all persons trespassing, or in any way taking possession of any portion of the northwest quarter of section number three, in township number twenty-three north, range ten, east of the fourth principal meridian, the quarter section on which the stake designating the location of the county seat was planted.

The mistake or error of the locating commissioners, and the action of the county commissioners, resulted in a long contest between the county authorities and Mr. John Phelps, which was carried before the Commissioner of the General Land Office, at Washington City, for final arbitrament and decision. The nature of this contest will be more fully noticed under the incidents of 1838, and the years following until permanently settled.

In order to follow in chronological order the history under consideration, it is necessary to go back to the 10th of June. On that day the pioneers of Dixon voted for Justices of the Peace and Constables, with the following result:

On the first day of July the people of the county voted for member of the General Assembly. The candidates were S. M. Bartlett and James L. Kirkpatrick. The vote in the several precincts (as far as poll -book evidence can be found) was as follows:

David Crockett had one vote, increasing the total number of votes cast to 150. The vote for Crockett - presumably old Davy Crockett of Texas memory - was probably cast by some wag as a reminder to the successful candidate, " to be sure he was right (in legislative affairs) and then go ahead."

An extra session of the Commissioners Court was held at Dixon on Saturday, July 29, 183T, when a petition was presented, asking the Court to refuse license to grocery keepers (saloon). The petition was granted and this responsive order directed to be entered:

of John F. Stevenson, Esq., three dollars, collected from P. Blivios, for assault on Lewis Cavr. Also, five dollars from P. Blivias for malconduct.

The court then adjourned, and its next session was held at Buffalo Grove September 4,. 1837, when Smith Gilbraith, having been elected County Clerk at the August election, filed his bond, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, with C. Chamberlain as bondsman.

A new precinct, erected out of parts of Bloomingville, Oregon City and Bufiklo Grove precincts, to be called Boston, was established, the elections to be held at the house of S. S. Crowell. James Snyder, John C. Oliver and M. T. Crowell were appointed judges.

Among other orders, the clerk was directed to commence immediate proceedings against all inkeepers who were violating, or had violated, the law regulating their avocation. It was also

Ordered, That the clerk inform all the county officers and the judge of the Circuit Court that Dixon has been selected as the place of holding courts until August, 1838.

The records do not show where the next (December) session was held, but the tfenor of the order last quoted would indicate that it was held at Dixon. Wherever held, the session wa^ principally devoted to the examination and allowance of accounts, and " squaring " up the business of the year.

Then followed this entry : " Settled with Jehiel Day, County Treasurer, and found due him on the 5th day of March, 1838, forty-four dollars and forty-five cents ($4:4.45)." The court also

Ordered, That the clerk give himself credit for $237, it being in full for all moneys received by him for the use of Ogle County up to March 5, 1838.

Between the time of the adjournment of this session of the court and August 30, the sessions of the court were taken up in the ordinary routine of business - granting road views, appointing viewers, preparing for the August election, etc.