Piatt County, Illinois - Chapter 4: The French in Illinois, 1883

IN 1534, seven years before De Soto discovered the Mississippi river, Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, discovered the gulf and river St. Lawrence. The name was given to the gulf the next year, at the close of Cartier's second voyage. Cartier's discoveries were soon made known, and France immediately attempted to execute a plan for the colonization of New France, as Canada was first called. Various attempts were made, but all proved failures. For a time, while France was employed with domestic troubles, no attempts at colonization were made. It was not, therefore, until 1608, when France had peace at home, that the first permanent settlement was made in Canada. In this year Quebec was founded by Samuel Champlain. In writing of Champlain, Mr. Ridpath says that to him " more than to any other man, - more than to the French government itself, - the success of the North American colonies of France must be attributed."

Champlain, upon his return in 1615 from a visit tp France, brought with him some Recollet monks, who came actuated solely by religious motives. After establishing many missions, they found their field of labor too great for so few laborers, and the Jesuits of France were appealed to. They came, actuated by the same religious zeal that the Recollet monks possessed. Illinois, and in fact all the great Northwest, owes not a little to the pure lives and deep religious bearing of the French missionaries.

Nicholas Perrot was the first European to tread the soil of Illinois. Over two hundred years ago, in 1670,* he was sent as an agent of the Canadian government to call a meeting of the western Indians at St. Mary's. This peace convention was a movement preparatory to what finally led to the discovery of the Mississippi river. Perrot, after visiting other tribes in the Northwest, proceeded to the village of the Miamas, at what is now Chicago. Illinois did well to rear her greatest city where her earliest European visitor placed first his foot upon her yielding soil.

In 1672* two Jesuit ministers, Allouez and Dablon, starting from their mission on Green Bay, passed through the northern part of Illinois to visit the Fox, Masquotine and Kickapoo Indians.

M. Talon, the intendant of Canada, selected Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette to assist in unvailing the great mystery. Before definite arrangements for the expedition were made, the intendant and governor were succeeded by other men. The new governor, Count Frontenac, upon the recommendation of Talon, placed Joliet and Marquette in charge of the western expedition.

Joliet was a native of Quebec, and was born in 1645. He was energetic, had a good education, and was well qualified for the task before him. He had been educated for a priest, but he found his lifework in another direction. For some time previous to his appointment with Marquette he had been a trader among the Indians. After his voyage with Marquette he did further service for the king. As a reward for all of his services he received the island of Anticosti. He, after this, caused his name to be written Joliet d'Anticosty. Some of his descendants are still living in Canada, and are yet in possession of his seigniory.*

Marquette was the greater man of the two. He was born at Laon, France, in 1637. He united with the Jesuits at an early age, and in 1666 was sent to America. On account of his wonderful determination and integrity, his kindness and his deep religious feeling, he became the mosfbeloved and most successful of all the Indian missionaries.

Joliet joined Marquette at Mackinaw. Marquette said in speaking of their appointment, " Onr joy at being chosen for this expedition roused our courage and sweetened the labor of rowing from morning to night." From Mackinaw Strait, in company witli several other Frenchmen, these men started May 17, 1673, on their renowned expedition. Green Bay was reached, and on the Fox river an It\dian village was found. After stating their mission to the wondering Algonquins, and after obtaining two Indian guides, the voyagers proceeded up the Fox river and across the Portage, when the Wisconsin river was reached. The guides returned leaving the Frenchmen " alone in an unknown country in the hands of Providence." "France and Christianity stood in the valley of the Mississippi. "f Passing down the Wisconsin river, in all its early June beauty, the voyagers reached the Great River on the 17th of June 1673. With untold joy they looked upon the mighty water. With thrilling hearts they eagerly entered the swift current and "the two birch-bark canoes, raising their happy sails under new skies and to unknown breezes, floated down the calm magnificence of the ocean stream." f

About sixty leagues below the mouth of the Wisconsin a little footpath was seen leading westward from the river. Joliet and Marquette, the first white men in Iowa, went alone in search of the Indians. After going six or eight miles they found, on the banks of the Des Moines river, some Illinois Indians, who received them kindly. An aged chief addressed them thus : " How beautiful is the sun, O Frenchmen, when thou comest to visit us! All our town awaits thee, and thou shalt enter all our cabins in peace." After six days' delay Marquette and Joliet, escorted by many of the savages, returned to their canoes. As the voyagers journeyed on down the river each day's travel brought new beauties to their view, and ere long the mouth ot the Illinois river was reached. The muddy waters of tke Missouri soon furnished to them a new object of wonderment. After passing the rnouth of the Ohio, and upon neariug the mouth of the Arkansas, they were convinced that the waters of the Mississippi did not reach the Pacific ocean. They therefore decided to return.

Indians had been encountered at various places during the downward voyage. The return voyage was begun in the heat of July. Upon reaching the mouth of the Illinois river the Indians persuaded the travelers to follow up that river, thus finding an easier trip to Green Bay. While moving rapidly against the gentle current of the Illinois river, Marquette, though suffering from an illness contracted in the south, found ready enjoyment in the magnificent scenery which was continually being presented to their view. The blossoming flowers, the bounding deer, the roaming buffalo, all added to the interest of the scene before them. As they passed up the river, almost reluctantly their lingering eyes left the beauties in their rear, yet with eagerness they anticipated what was before them.

Upon arriving at Kaskaskia, a town of the Illinois Indians on the present site of the town of Utica in La Salle county, they procured guides and the party soon reached Chicago. From thence they journeyed on to Green Bay. Upon i caching this place Marquette decided to remain at his mission while Joliet went with accounts of their discoveries to Quebec.

After nearly a year spent in trying to regain his health, Marquette started on what proved to be his last missionary expedition. In October, 1674, he started, with two Frenchmen and some Indians, to Kaskaskia, where he proposed to found a mission. His malady returned upon his reaching Chicago, and the winter was spent in a hut on the banks of the river. The following March he continued his journej7 to Kaskaskia, and the first Jesuit mission was founded in Illinois. The Indians took regretful leave of the good man when he started for Mackinaw, which he hoped to reach ere his death. But it was not thus to be. On the 19th of May he was obliged to pause in his journey. His companions built a hut for him on the banks of the st'Nsam which bears his name. Here, in America's great wilderness, where he had ever loved to tell of his unshaken faith, Marquette's spirit passed upward to his Maker.

After Champlain, Robert Cavalier de La Salle was the next great French explorer to leave the " vine-clad hills of sunny France " and brave the trials and misfortunes in the New World. Robert de La Salle was the son of a wealthy burgher in Rouen, and was born in 1643. He was deprived of his patrimony by his early connections with the Jesuits. Finding his sphere somewhat limited, he made an honorable withdrawal from the Jesuits and followed his brother, a St. Sulpitian priest, to America. While preparing for the settlement of the grant of land which was presented to him, he became acquainted with nine different Indian languages and dialects.

Upon hearing of the Ohio river from Seneca Indians, La Salle resolved to attempt to discover the Western Passage to Asia. Although he failed to obtain help from the government, he was not to be baffled in his desire. He sold his grant of land and thus prepared for his expedition. A missionary expedition, which the Seminary was preparing for the northwest, was merged into La Salle's expedition, and in July, 1669, the explorers began their journey. The missionary part of this expedition proved a failure. La Salle, however, amid perplexing trials, won for himself an everlasting crown of glory, - won the honor of discovering the Ohio river.

After returning to France, La Salle came back to America with renewed energy and additional means for carrying on his pet project. In 1679 a vessel, the Griffin, was constructed on the Niagara river, and was destined for an expedition on the Great Lakes. La Salle, in company with Tonti, Hennepin and others, embarked in the vessel in August 1679. Green Bay was reached, and the fated Griffin was sent toward Canada, while La Salle with his remaining men started in canoes to the St. Joseph river. Upon the completion of Fort Miama, on the St. Joseph river, La Salle continued his journey, and sought to find the Illinois river. Before the end of December, La Salle, Tonti and Hennepin, with two other men, glided joyfully down the Illinois river and soon reached the Indian village of Kaskaskia. The six hundred cabins were deserted, and La Salle, after helping himself to some stored corn, passed on down the river. They soon entered Lake Peoria, and at its lower extremity the friendly Illinois Indians were found.

Notwithstanding the friendship of the Indians dark days were ahead for La Salle. He already feared the loss of the Griffin, and, too, his men became discontented. When La Salle planned and began to build a fort on the banks of the Illinois river, below the Peoria lake, thwarted by destiny and almost despairing he named the fort "Crevecoeur," or the " Broken Heart."

These trials afforded but another opportunity for La Salle to show forth his great determination and will power. His men were led to construct a bark on the Illinois river. Hennepin was sent on an expedition to the upper Mississippi ; Tonti was left in charge of Fort Crevecceur, while La Salle, with but three companions, started on foot for Fort Frontenac, in Canada. On his way up the river La Salle visited the Illinois Indians, who had returned to Kaskaskia. While here he explored the elevation since known as Starved Rock. This rock is near one hundred and fifty feet in height, and is situated on the south bank of the Illinois river, about one and one half miles from the present town of Utica. La Salle, pleased with the rock, afterward sent word to Tonti to fortify it. After this short pause, La Salle continued his journey toward Canada. He reached his destination safely after a long and perilous journey.

Notwithstanding the loss of the Griffin, the receiving of a discouraging letter from Tonti at Fort Creve-coeur, and the hearing of the destruction of Fort St. Joseph, still La Salle was not dismayed. He obtained necessary supplies, and with twenty-five men returned to Illinois. Upon reaching Kaskaskia they found it deserted. The houses were burned, and buz/ards feasted on the fetid remains of the slaughtered Indians. The dreaded Iriquois had evidently made their threatened invasion. After searching in vain for Tonti, La Salle went on down the river. The deserted and partially destroyed Fort Creve-coeur was found - but no Tonti. La Salle sadly continued his course to the Mississippi river, when, in despair of finding the missing ones, he resolved to return to Fort Miama.

Tonti, in the meantime, after the desertion of some of his men, had found refuge with the Indians at Kaskaskia. Here he remained until the arrival of the Iriquois. Previous to the open attack, Tonti had worked hard on both sides endeavoring to obtain peace. He had risked his life in vain, and finally, being distrusted by the Indians, he started with what remained of his company for Green Bay.

La Salle next conceived and executed .the plan of getting the Illinois and Miama Indians to unite for defense against the Iriquois. He started again for Canada, and on his way met Tonti at Mackinaw.

valley of the Mississippi. This party reached the Mississippi on the 6th of February 1682. On the 6th of April the Great Gulf was before them, and on the 9th of April, 1682, La Salle, in the name of Louis XIV of France, took possession of the Mississippi valley. The anticipated goal was reached, and the travelers made preparations for returning to Mackinaw.

From Mackinaw La Salle expected to go to France, but hearing of the Indian troubles in Illinois he returned and built Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock. La Salle next went to Canada, leaving Tonti in charge of Fort St. Louis. From Canada he went to France to fit up an expedition via the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi valley. He succeeded in starting from France with four ships and two hundred and eighty men. Unfortunately the mouth of the Mississippi was passed, and the party landed at Matagorda bay. A fort was built here, and named St. Louis, in honor of the king.

La Salle, failing to find either gold or the Mississippi river, started with twenty men overland toward Canada. His men were dissatisfied, and finally in one of their quarrels La Salle's nephew was killed. While seeking for his nephew La Salle was shot by one of his men. Such was the death of this bold adventurer.

" For force of will and vast conceptions; for various knowledge and quick adoption of genius to untried circumstances; for a sublime magnanimity that resigned itself to the will of heaven, and yet triumphed over affliction by energy of purpose and unfaltering hopes, he had no superior among his countrymen." *

De Soto discovered the lower Mississippi, and Joliet and Marquette discovered the upper part of the river; but to La Salle will be yielded the honor of starting colonization in the great central valley of the west.

In the preparation of this article on the French explorations the following works have been consulted : Bancroft's " History of the United States," vol. iii; Ridpath's "History of the United States"; Davidson and Stuve's "History of Illinois"; H. W. Beckwith's "Historic Notes of the Northwest"; Peck's "Annals of the West," and Parkman's " Northwest."