Pike County, Illinois - Arcileology, 1880

Arcileology

Perhaps no district of country in the West contains more traces of that pre-liistoric people known to us only as the '" ]\[ound-I>nilders" than the district between the Illinois and the ]\Iississipj)i rivers. Tiiere is scarceh* a township of land in this section which does not contain more or less of these traces, and in some of them are works which in extent and character will compare with anj in the West.

Tlie mounds in this county are evidently of three classes : sacred mounds, which were used fur the sacrificial lires; burial mounds, which were erected over the last remains of important pei'sonat^es; and mounds which were used for domestic habitations. These were probably residences similar to those of some tribes of our present Indians. First, poles or logs set up in a circle, then covered with brush or iJ^rass, and the whole with earth to a considerable extent. The sacrificial moun<ls always contained burnt earth, burnt bones, and frequently, too, the charred bones of human beings. In the burial mounds only the bones of a few persons are found, ])robably of some chief and his immediate family, and usually near them are uten>ils of tlie kitchen, arrows, pottery, and such articles as were most prized in life by the departed.

In some localities immense shell-heaps exist, while it is not uncommon to iind in the mounds shells from the sea, notably the conch-siiell and sea-periwinkles, the latter very ct)inmon. Implements of both hardened copper and copper in a soft state are often found, and a metal resembling iron in texture and color, but hard enough to cut glass and which resists the action of almost all the acids.

Tiiat these mounds were not erected by the same race as our present Indians is at once apparent from the bones of the latter being of a reddish hue, while those of the Mound-Builders are of a different shade and much larger.

It is our opinion that the Mound-Builders were a pastoral peo- ])le, who had made considerable progress in civilization. In the winter, doubtless, they drove their flocks and herds to the bluffs and rich, slieltered l)ottonis where they could obtain shelter, and in the summer they drove them to the jirairies for pjisturaf^e. I)oiil>tlesti, like the ('hiiiese of to-day, they esteemed their native hills sacred and sought to he hurled there, no matter where the iron iiand of Death overtook them: and their friends, respecting this desire, were in the hahit of hringing the bones of each family or tril)e to these sacred hurial places, after they had heen stripj)ed ot their th'sh, for permanent hurial.

l*erhai)s some future archajolo«'ist will delve among these ruins and tind a key to the mystery ot the Builders, of whom we to-day know next t«» nothing; and unless some means are taken hy the Government or societies organized for the purpose, and these measures ut no distant day, they will have become so far obliterated by the plow and by unskilled diggers that the slight clues they contain will be buried in oblivion greater than now enslirouds the history of their builders.

A few years ago some of the prominent gentlemen of I*ike county interested themselves in organizing an " Archa'sological Society," but of late the interest seems to have aliated very perceptibly, ami the Stjciety so enthusiastically organizetl can now scarcely be said to be in existence.

W. IJ. (Jrimes. Dr. Mittower and C'. L. (>i»st were apjtointed a committee to solicit contributions t«> the wibinct of the Society, and invite the exhibition of such relics as owners are unwilling to part with, the object being to obtain j)ossession of evidences and traces of the j)eople of antiijuitv, their iinplements and usages as far as })racticable.

" I see in the papers a call for a meeting in Pittsfield on the 24th in&l., lo oryfaniz'- a society with a view of further investi;;ation and more perfect knowledge of relics and ancient remains near the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. I have for the last 15 years, during my leisure hours, been making some investigations of the moimds and tumuli cjf Jersey and Calhoun counties. There is not perhaps in all the West a section richer or more interesting in its great numi)ers of relics of an almost unknown race of people who once inhabited this countrv. No thoroUi;h investiiration lias been made. Alreadv many of them have been destroyed by the cultivation of new fields. Before inativ years the inaioritv of them will be obliterated, or so defaced that the ori<ri:ial ])lan of constnielioii will be lost. There should be a society like the one yon propose to organize, not only for the purpose of investi<^ation but also for the purpose of inakini;; some record of their woi-k. Comparatively little is known of the mounds of Jersey and Calhoun, although I have visited many of them and collected quite a number of interesting relics. Yours truly,

The second week in June, 1873, the Society made an excursion to the southern part of the county and spent several days among the numerous mounds in that locality, where they found many relics of the aborij^^ines, anionic: which were arrow heads, fish-S]')ears, stone knives and liatchets, earthen vessels of various kinds, coj)per kettles, stone pipes, shell and cop])er beads, silver ear-rings, silver buckles, etc. Nearly all these articles were fo«nd imbedded in the mounds with human bones, pieces of pottery, etc., genei'ally at a depth of about three feet below the surface. In some cases stone vaults containing bones and other relics were discovered a few feet beneath the surface. The members of the Society who went on that excursion say they had a most enjoyable trip and consider themselves well repaid for their tr(Mibl(\

In the summer of 1873, Col. J). \>. Bush presented to the Society for its museum Indian trappings of great value. Thos. James, of Martinsburg. i>resented a large lot of beautiful beads and amulets from the Big ^Nlound of Saci'amento valley, Cal.; also, moss, peat, cinnal)ar and Chinese corn, etc. - all from California. Col. S. S. Thomas presented a rare and beautiful specimen of coquine and concrete shells from St. Augustine, Florida. In Septeml)er of the same year. Col. A. C. Matthews eontril)uted to the museum one beaked saw-lish {Pristis) from Matagorda Island, Texas; autograj)h letter of Henry Clay, dated Oct. 5, 1829, Ashland, Ky.; pass of Lieut. Gen. S. B. Buckner, C. S. A.; one copy of army correspondence; also coin and fossils. Geo. H. French presented a stone mortar from Pilot Blufl", Illinois river; E. JS. French, s])ecimens of columnar limestone; Hon. J. M. Bush presiMited one copy of the Massachusetts Centennial, published at Boston, Sept. 5, 1789, about four months after the inauguration of President Washington; Hon. W. A. Grimshaw ]^resented books as follows: American Volume, Ancient Armeca; Lines of Humboldt; two volumes of Smithsonian Institute Re})orts, 1865-'6; two volumes of History of Wisconsin; stone and flint implements, bone needle and specimens of ])otterv. Patrick Ilalpin presented specimens of American and Italian marble.

In December, Mr. R. Perry contributed s])ecimens of silicious and ferruginous conglomerate; Dr. A. McFarland, a very nice human skeleton, five bottles containing in alcohol si)eciniens of ophidian, all indigenous to Pike county, and also one containing

In the soiitheast part of I'earl township ahout a mile from the Illinois river tw«> opper vessels were once fouiul, one smalK-r than the other, under bome Hat stones which had been plowed up, and a little lower down stone cotfins were f«)und in a field where they had been plowing; but ihcj-e "remains" were probably left tliere by early French e.xplorers.

Mr. C L. Obst, photographer in Fittsliehl, who id a fine archffiologist and the virtual foumler of the '* I'ike County Anticpiarian Society," hasH splendid collection; namely, 100 varieties of Hint implements, four varieties of stone hatchets, four of wedges, varieties of stone disks of various materials, as iron <»re, sandstone, granite and greenstone, four varieties of plummets, mostly iron ore, two of hammers, pestles, round stone for clubs, eight kinds of pipes, iron ore and gn-eii^totie chisels, plowshares and hoes, a large variety «»f pottery, drills and mortars, bone of the pre historic bison, sinkers, weights, etc., etc. Mr. Obst has also a g<»o<l collection of geological specimens.

The museum of the S«»ciety is in the Public LiWrary room over the postoflice in I'ittslield, but the association is not active at present and their collection of relics seems neglected.

County Coukt

In 1847 a State election was held for members of the Constitutional Ooiiventiou, which Convention prepared and submitted to the people a new Constitution, which was adopted by a large majority. By this Constitution, in place of the Commissioners' Court a County Court was organized in each county. This Court consisted of a County Judge, and, if the Legislature saw proper to so order it, two Associate Justices. This the Legislature favorably acted uj)on. The last meeting of the County Commissioners' Court was held November, 1849. After the transaction of such business as properly came before them, they adjourned until court in course, but never re-assembled.

On the tirst Monday of December of the same year the first regular term of the County Court was held. The duties' of the Court in a legislative capacity were precisely the same as those of the County Commissioners' Court. In addition to the legislative power the members of this Court were permitted to exercise judicial authority, having all the rights and privileges of Justices of the Peace, together with all probate business. This C'ourt consisted of a County Judge and two Associate Justices. The Judge and Associate Justices acted together for the transaction of all county business, but none other. The Justices had an equal vote with the Judge, and received the same salary while holding Court, which was $2 per day. Two of the three constituted a (juoruni.

The Constitution of 1847 provide*^ for township organization in those counties desiring it. (lions. Wm. II. Archer and Wm. A. Grimshaw, both of this county, were members of the Convention framing this dmstitution.) The (piestion of organizing according to this j)rovision soon began, of course, to agitate the

}>eoj)le (»t" Pike County, and the controversy -;re\v bitter, - the bitterest indeed that this more than usually peaceful coniinunity ever indiiliri'd in. Iinnit;jrants from the Kast were familiar with the workiii«;s of town-hip le:,'islation and matiai^iMUcnt, and desired to perpetuate their home iri>titutiun in the Wi-pI; l)Ut the other citizens of the county were afraid that the introduction of the measure would necessitate an incivase of office holders, useless expenses and manv unforeseen vexations. The Jud^/es in otfioe w»'re all opixtsed to the innovation, - st> much so indeed* that they continued to hold Court even after the j^reat victory of the innovators in carry in«!j the county by 1,563 votes agjiinst 317, and the election of new menibers. For a short time the eoiiiitv had two le«;iplatures at once. The vote w.is taken at the j^eneral election jf November (j, 1>4'.>, at which election IV'ter V. Siiankland was elected County Clerk on this hotly contested issue, and Stephen It. Gray Sheritl". I'oth these gentlemen were Di'inocrate, in favor of township or;^anizati(»n. Indeed, as a matter <d* curiosity, but of no political si;;niticance, we mav state that the tiiflit on ln»th sides was nearly all done bv the l)emt»crats, the Whi;;s Uikinjj but little part.

An election was held in Novfml>er, 1^40, to vote " for " or "a<rainst " township ori^miz ition. wliich resultetl in favor of tlie measnr<'. This was met with bitter opposition however, and an apjHjal was tikon to the Circuit Court by Samuel L. Crane. The law was decided to \)c constitutional, and the election a fair one.

The Hoard wf Supervisors of Pike county first assembled April 8, 18.">0, this buin;; one of the first <-.. unties in tin' Stutf to organize under the township ino«le.

There were present at this meeting the fo|h»win;; members : Moiitj^omrrv HIair. Parry; Ila/en Pn-ssy. Washin^rton; Archibald Prooks, (/liaml)ersburi;; Uavid Preljle, Salem; Wilson Adams, llarilin; Win. Koss, Newburj;; Thos. Hull, Kinderln»ok; A. \V. Jiemis, Martinsburj^; li. C. Kobertson, Milton; Janus M. Seeley, Atlas, and John McTucker. Iladlev. Stipervipor Plair was elected temporary Chairman and Col.Iluss chosen Chairnjan. The Poard then adjourned to re-assemble April 23. Ib'iO. There were j)resent at this the second niettin^ the following gentlemen: Wm. Iloss; Archibald Pr«M»ks; Darius Dexter, Perry; Amos Hill, (iriggsville; David Preble; John McTucker; Montgomery Plair; Jesse Seniff, Detroit; Th««mas Hull; A, W. Pemip; J. M. Seeley; J. T. Hyde, Pittsfield; H. C. Uoljertson; Wilson Adams; Iliucen Pressy; and Jann'S Talbot, Pleasant Vale.

The County Court, when in session in 1*^40. appointed a committee to divide the county into townships. This committee made their report to the Board of Supervisors, which is as follows :

** We. the undersigned, CoHimissioncrs appointed by the horutrable the County Court at the December term. l'^49, to divide Pike cotinly into towns or townships pursuantto the declared wish of the citizens of said county, decided by a majority of votes given for and against townshij* organization at an election held on Tuesday after the first Mundiiy in Xovoinber, 184:9, under und by antliority of an act to provide for townsbij) and county ori^unization, and may organize whenever a majority of votes of said county at any general election shall so determine, res))ectfnlly report that, after mature delil)eration and liearing tlie views and ci»nsultiiig ihe wishes of the people through delegations apjxn'nted by the (litfei'cnt j)recincts, they have unanimously agi-eed .upon the following division boundaries and names, and report the same as organized :

Subsequently the Board of Supervisors were notified by the State Auditor that the names of Washington and Milton must be changed, owing to other townships in the State bearing those names. On motion of Suj)ervisor Pobertsou the name of Milton was changed to Montezuma; and on motion of Supervisor Pressly that of Washington to Derry.

In 1S7G the fractional ]iart of township 4 s., 8 w., and heretofore a part of Kinderhook township was organized into a separate township and named Levee. In 1879 that part of Atlas township in town 7 s., 5 w., was organized into a separate township and named Ross.

Jail

At the April meeting, 1863, the Board of Supervisors resolved to build a new jail, llie costof whi'3h should not exceed §15,000. Supervisors Gray, Dimmitt, Smitherman, Roberts, Dennis, Adams and Shields were ajipointed a committee to carry out the decisions of the Board, and they authorized a sub-committee to visit jails of other counties and procure i)lans and specifications for consideration and adoption by the above committee; and also with full ])ower to appoint, if they see proper, a sub-committee as acting superintendents of the erection of said building; and also the said committee was given power to dispose of the old part of the present jail, together with the lot, and to purchase a more suitable lot whereon to erect the new buildingr.

Below we ^ive a full list of all the Supervisors from the time the county was organized umler the townshij) law till the j)rescnt time, by years, to:,M»ther with the name of the chairman and the township each member is from:

Thos. (iray. New Sali-m. Ausiin HarluT, l'ilih(i< M. JottlitiH Mini) r. .Martinsliiir;;. John Ci. Silton, lM<asaut Hill. Wm. (fianuniir, 1 1 adit y Jnhn I.. rnd<rwoi>d, Derry. Shi-rman Brown, .Vilan. Jaini-H B. W illiams. Barry. Jiitnrti Wallucf. I'hasant Vale. A. T. Ixjvo, Kimlfrh(K)k.