Stark County, Illinois - Chapter 5: The Fauxa of Stark County, 1876 (part 3 of 5)

He lived and died an uncompromising whig; was elected to the senate of Tennessee in 183"), served during the winter of 183") -o() ; was personally and politically opposed to Andrew Jackson and his policy ; yet he was capable of breaking even party trammels at times and exhibiting great independence in action, as the following incident will show. He lived in the congressional district represented by David Crockett, who fell at the battle of Fort Alamo, in the war between Texas and Mexico. And al- U though Crocki-tt was a whig-, aiul FitzgcraUl, his oi)ponent, a doniofvat, yrt Colonel Henderson regarding Crockett as an unsuitable man for congress, took the stump in favor of P'itzgerahl, and largely aided in defeating Crocl-cett in his first candidacy for et)ngi'ess.

In tlie spring of ls:}o, on his return iVoni tlie state capital, lie resigned lus seat in the senate, in order to carry out his long clierished plan of removal to Illinois, This, however, was not the lirst attempt he had made in that ilirection.

Five years before, or in is;ii, having some twenty thousand dollars at his dispo^allu- lucl deterndned to invest it in Illinois lands, and for that purpose went to Chit'ago to be present at the opening sales, at the newly established land ottii'e - Cliicago being then but an Indian trading post. But the sales were deferred and he was compelleil to postpone liis venture until a later period. He did not return, however, until he had selected a place for Ids future liome, on Indian creek of Fox river, some fifteen miles north of Ottawa, in what is now LaSalle county. As soon as he returned to Tennessee, he engaged in active measures for sending forward his little colony, mostly comprised of relatives, to the new home he had selected.

Accordingly in the spring of 1S;52, his aged father ami mother, two of his brothers, one with a family, and two of his wife's brothers with their fannlies, his oldest son John W., and a hired man by the name of llobert Xorris, went forward and commenced improving the claims. The colonel had intended to move his fanuly in the autunm, of 1S:5:J, but after visiting the neighi>orbood to complete his arrangements, whih^ on his way back to Tennessee, having reached St. Louis, he received the painful intelligcjice of "the Indian creek massacre," the killing of llobert Xorris and the dispersion of his relatives. This must have been a heavy l)low to his adventurous spirit, and for a time all his' plans were thwarted.

The various relatives made their way l)ack to Tennessee, save one l)rother of the Colonel. .John II. Henderson, who on account of his deep Tooted hostility to slavery refused to return, l)ut went into central Illinois, and settled on the Sangamon river, where he lived for some years, and then went back to Indian creek to pass tlie remnant of his days. Soon afti-r the massacre. Colonel Henderson vu'ged this Ijrother to return and hold possession of the claims, but the bloody deaths of his neighboi-s, then so fresh in his mind, naturally made him shrink from doing so. This was a great disappointment to the colonel, who concluded to put the funds destined for speculation in ami iniinvn'ement of ^vestern lands, into a larg-e steam saw and jirist mill, which proved a most disastrous investment, as after the terms of sale were nearly agreeil upon, it was entirely consumed by tire.

After this, he again visited the scene ot" his former colony in LaSalle county, only to find his claims occupied by strangers who refused to surrender them, although upon some he had already expended considerable sums of money, lint possession was truly in those cases " nine i)oints of the law," and the colonel seems to have concluded to surrender whatever rights he had in that vicinity rather tlian to attempt to regain them, under such circumstances.

One would think that even a man fertile in resources as this man was, would by this time have felt himself completely baffled in his attempts to establish himself in Illinois, but at Hennepin, in Putnam county, where he rested for a day or two, he met with an old man by the name of Leek, who was among the first settlers on Indian creek of Spoon river.

There surely could not have been anything alluring in the name to Colonel Henderson, but he i)urchased the land owned by Leek and innnediately commenced preparations for moving his family from Tennessee. They arrived at their farm July 2d, ls;3().

At that time, as T. J. Henderson remembers, there were about ten familes living on Indian creek, above the old town of Moulton, near which the AVards resided ; and ]\[oultf)n consisted of one building - the Sammis store ! On the south and west side of the oreek wc?re Stephen G. Worley, Elijah MeClennahan, senior, William Mahany, AVilliam Bowen, and Harris AV. INIiner. On the north and east side, were Colonel Henderson, Adam Perry, AVilliam Ogle wh6 then lived in Lewis Perry's cabin, ]N[inott Silliman and Ephraim Barrett ; the latter living in a cabin owned by John Culbertson just north of the present town of Toulon.

As will be known by all who have read the preceding pages of this book, these settlenuMits and contigiu>us ones were still in "Old Putnam, the mother of counties," anil the people had to go to Hennepin, more than forty miles distant, over uncertain roads to attend court and transact all sorts of county business.

These pioneers were not slow in r(H'ognizini>- in Colonel Henderson a leading spirit, which might aid in lu-inging about a better .state of things, and he was sent as an Imofficial representative to A'"andalia in the winter of 18;>()-;57, to procure if possible suitable legislation in regard to the establishment of new counties.

ill l.'^.']s-;39, and also of the lir^t that met in Springfield in IS40-41. In l'<42 he was a candidate on the whig ticlcet for Lieutenant Governor, Josepli Duncan being a candidate for Governor on tliesanie ticket, lie made a tliorough canvass of the state from Cairo to Chicago, and although lie was defeated in tlie contest, (the whigs being greatly in the minority at the time) yet wherever lie ad- ^Iressed the people, he established the re[)utation of an alile political debater. Stephen A. Douglas, who had heard the ablest political speakers in the United States, both on the "stump" and in the halls of congress, did not hesitate to pay Colonel Ilenderson a marked compliment in this regard.

Ikit the labors he performed dyring these years, in behalf of public interests, form a part of the general history of our county, and as stich will be found more in detail in a former part of this, volume, and however remunerative such labors may be, in one sense, especially if crowned with success, to men of a certain mould, yet from a monetary point of view tliey were certainly far from iirofitable ; at that time, the country really too poor to suitably reward its servants, and the pilfering, swindling and chicanery, by means of which every pretender to politics nowa-days fills his own jtockets attheexpenseof his constituents or of the public funils, had not yet come in vogue, and at any rate could not but have been abhorrent to the soul of such a man as Colonel Henderson. He could berate a man soundly, abuse him if you please, in a time of excitement, but it could never occur to inm to fawn on his supporters, and pick their pockets meanwhile. Thus it came to pass, he grew poorer instead of richer as the years went l)y, and we infer that he was not a good practical farmer, that the croi>s were turned over to the care of "the boys," who probably found something more congenial to their tastes, a g(jod share of the time, and these were the days when corn went begging for ten cents per bushel, and pork for $2 per hundred weight ! Then, the demands of this growing family of the rude '- home on the hillside," were neither few nor small. Seven hungry boys daily surrounded his table, which, indeed seldom lacked the presence i)f guests beside. As heretofore stated, one of their rooms was offered at the organization of Stark county, for the use of the court and the transaction of county business, county commissioners' court, tS:c.

At such times Colonel and Mrs. IlenderscMi often provided food and beds forjudges, lawyers, otiicers, jurors and witnesses, sometimes amounting to scores of persons entertained at a time, and all without thinking of a charge. AVitliout exaggeration these were " liard tiinos " lor iminy settlers, but liank'^t I'or tlie overtasked wives and iiiotliers, wlio were trying to make one dollar do the work of five, and to practice iniwearying' ]ios})ita!ity, at a fearful outlay of vital force.

In 184'), Colonel Henderson took the state census of Starlc county, and poverty compelled him to aeeoniplish the work on foot; the meager compensation he received for this service, he devoted to the purchase of a horse to make out a team with which to move his family to Iowa, and there in Npvemljer of that year he went, settling in Johnson county, near Iowa city, hoping to give his sons better educational than they had hitherto enjoyed ; but in the si)ring of 18-iG, he was compelled to move further, into the country, and after many hand to hand struggles with poverty and hardship, he finally secured and imi)roved a large farm in the northern part of Johnson county, twenty miles from Iowa city, and eight or nine froivi Cedar Rapids. This fine tract of land he afterwai'ds sold for $10,0(10, l»ut unmindful of his former bitter experience with mill })roperty niadea similar investment with similar results.

In IS.jO, Colonel Henderson was again drawn into tiie i)olitical arena, was a whig candidate for congress. "But (writes one who liad good opportunity of knowing the facts) "he was defeated, as the democracy was then dominant in Iowa, but succeeded in reducing their majority, and paved the way for a whig victory at the next election." In 1S02, he was a candidate for in-esidential elector, on the whig ticket, but shared the general rout of tlie party that year, when it practically ceased to exist. This was his last venture on the suttYages of the people; not even politically could he be called a fortunate man, yet he certainly l)etter deserved success than thousands who achieve it.

If in conclusion of this narrative we might venture to weigli for a moment the ingredients that went to make up the character we have been contemi)lating, we should place on one side the strong prejudices, that found vent in stronger expressions, that sometimes wounded as they flowed; the fiery vehemence, we often associate with southern blood, a general imi)etuosity and recklessness of danger, prol)ably engendered, or at least fostered by the adventurous life he had led. To offset these, we should have a large brain and unselfish heart, manifesting themselves in an enlightened zeal for the public good, whether that pu1»lic consisted for the time being of a large and intelligent community, or of a struggling settlement on the frontier. Though not a classical scholar, he was possessed of a vast fund of general informa- tion, and grasped -with a master's hand the political issues of his time. He lived to see the war cloud he had dreaded, lower upon his beloved country, to see his own sons, urged by their convictions of duty and fealty to the old flag, go to carry fire and sword to the very spot where they were born, and he deplored all this Avith a bitterness characteristic of his passionate nature. One can hardly repress a sigh of regret that the brave old man could not have lived to see the termination of hostilities, and the binding up of the nation's wounds. But it was otherwise ordained by that Power before which we must all bow, the strong as well as the weak.

On the 27th of January, 1804, while the reverberations of canon were still jaiTing every hearthstone in our land, it was said of him as it will be one of these days, of every man, he died. Calmly, fearlessly he met his last enemy, realizing the situation, but shrinking not. AVith him in that solemn hour were his wife, his guiding star through so many dark scenes of the past, and his five sons ; the other two, Thomas and Webster, being in the army, their names were among the last words his lips ever uttered. Let us hope "After life's fitful fever he sleeps well." Now it is meet we should as it were, roll back the scroll of years, that we may review very briefly the life and character of Mrs. Sarah M. Henderson, for more than forty years the wife of the principal figure in this group, and mother to five sons to whose lives we shall turn the reader's attention on a subsequent page.

This lady was a native of Sampson county, X(M-th Carolina, was born September 15th, 1804, l)eing at this date, 1875, 71 years of age ; her maiden name was Howard. When she was yet a child her parents removed with their family to middle Tennessee, but after several minor changes they finally settled in Haywood county, west Tennessee, where she was married November Gth, 1823. This county was notorganizedtill the following spring, and in March 1824, its first election took j^lace. From the outlines of her life furnished us, we infer that Mrs. Henderson was by birth and education a pioneer, always on the frontier. Those who understand the full significance of that fact, will not be surprised to learn that this lady was not " educated " in the usual sense of that word. She was taught to read and write, and that was about all the mental culture permitted her until some years after her n\arriage. But she was possessed of good natural abilities, strong common sense, combined with many womanly graces and great purity of character. And to her, quite as much as to their father, do her children iwe whatever of mental or phy- sieal vigor they possess. From her youth she has lived a devoted christian ; a member of tlie Methodist church for more than half a century, a self-constituted, self-sustaining missionary, wherever she went she carried the emblems of her faith, and with her woman's hands i)lanted its standards wherever her lot was cast. Her devotion has been marked by a beautiful consistency, through all the vicissitudes of her long life, the best proof of which is the reverence she has inspired in the hearts of her children. And now, as the shadows lengthen, and the feebleness of age creeps on, she fears no evil, she knows for her " at eventide there shall be light ;" with much of the quiet iirmness, the cheerful fortitude that marked her earlier years, she accepts whatever life brings. And really, her age is crowned with blessings and honors, a rich reward for all the sacrifices and labors of the past.

Her home has been for many years at Marshalltown, Iowa, with her son Henry ('., where she will probably remain until summoned to join "the loved ones gone before."

Colonel Henderson had three childrcju Ijy his first wife, Mary Anne, John and William P. Mary Anne, died in 1834, was married and left one child who still survives, and lives in or near Brownsville, Tennessee, so long the home of tlie Hendersons.

.John W., was for many years a prominent citizen of Stark county, and held important positions while here, mention of which has been made in the body of this work.

His first wife was ]Miss IMary Perry, a mend)er of a pioneer family frequently alluded to in these pages. She died young and her remains rest in tlie Toulon cemetery. This bereavement left ]Mr. Henderson, as his father had been left, with three motherless children. He was afterwards married to Elizabeth, daughter of Cai)tain liutler, of Wyoming, Stark county, and removed to Cedar Ra[)ids, Iowa, where he still resides, and has proven himself, as here, a good citizen and successful business man.

^^'illiam I*, is a farmer, and resides at present in Green county, Iowa. By his second marriage, Colonel Henderson had one daughter and five sons - the daughter dying in infancy. The sons, mentioned in the order of their ages, are Thomas .J., Hcmy C, Stephen H., Daniel W., and James A.

Of these, Thomas J. remained for a long time a resident of our county after his father's emigration to Towa, holding many important trusts both as citizen and soldier ; on this account wesliall accord him a fuller notice on subsequent pages.

u clerk in the treasury deijarlment at Vv"asliing't(tii, IVoiii !s}I) ia 1802. In 18')0, Jie married Mi-s lanthe FLi!!(>r, of Elniira, Stark eounty, by wiioni he has a large family. In 1S.>], he went te lloek Island, Illinois, and practiced law for three years, then rcinoved to his present location, lie was elected to the state senate of Iowa, in I8G0, and in 1861, was a presidential elector on the republican ticket, voting for Lincoln and Johnson. This gentkman seems to have inherited much of his father as a political speaker and leader, but of late has devoted himself exclusively to the i)ractice of his profession.

Stephen II. read law in Rock Island, Illinois, and entered upon the practice; but soon abandoned the bar for the i)uljiit, becoming a Metliodist itinerant. In 18(52, however, he left the pull)it for the army, was chosen captain of company .\, L'lth regiment Iowa infantry, and was afterwards colonel of 44th regiment, Iowa infantry. He was with (irant at the siege of Vickl>surg, participated in the battles of Port Gibson and Champion Hills, besides many minor engagements around \"icksburg. At the close of the w^ar he returned to his clerical duties, and has been for several years, a presiding elder in the INIethodist church, noted for the force and finish of his oratory and his devotion to his work.

Daniel W. \\'as a lieutenant in tlie 22d Iowa infantry, under the command of Colonel, afterwards Governor Stone. He also was with Grant at Vicksburg, and j^articipated in the battle of Port Gibson, where he was seriously wounded ; served in ]Nrississipi)i, Louisiana and Texas mostly ; is now a respected citizen and successful farmer of Green county, Iowa.

.lames A. vras a<ln!iited to the })ractice of law from his l)rothcr's otlice in Toulon, Illinois ; was at one time n^aster in chancerv of Stark county, and hc>re enlisted in com})any K, 47th regiment of Illinois volunteers. He was promoted to a lieutenantcy, but on account of })()or liealth could not serve. This gentleman has been twice married to ladies well known here ; first to Miss Burdell Turner, of Hennei)in, grand-daughter of Captain Butler, second to ]Miss i^^rank Dewey of Toulon. Since the war he has resided in Iowa, at ^larshalltown, and at Jefferson, Green county, and devoted himself to the practice of his profession.

Although most of tliis group have given the strength of their juanhood to Iowa, yet as boys they belonged to us. Here their characters were formed, and it is their voluntary statement that whate\er is valuable therein, they attribute in a large degree to the influences that surrounded tliem in those early yeai's passed in Stark ; tliat t'u'ir ineiiiorif-s still fondly turn to tiiat cal)inlionieon tiio hill just south of Toulori, and rcrall with jileasure the si'cncs and frieiids of those days. In return we may say "the Henderson boys," will never be forgotten while an old settler remains on Indian ereek of Spoon river.

Kev. Samuei. G. V.'Uk.Iit

llev. S. (i. A\'ri>^ht was enii)hat;eally a jdoneer ]>reaeher, and seems to have bt^en eminently fitted Ijoth by nature and education for the arvluons work he had undertaken; and as many of the )»est years of his life were given to Stark county in the various roles of preaclier, ]vastor, lecturer, school commissioner, and citizen, in all of which he was conspicuous, a few jiages of this volume are justly his due.

He sprung from a family remarkable for their unswerving faith in Christianity, therefore was by nature religious ; was one of five brothers, all of whom had at one time devoted themselves to preparation for the ministry. Two finally concluded duty pointed them to other fields of laljor.

Mr. John Wright took charge of the home farm and his aged parents, in Fulton county, \chile a younger brother liecame our neighbor, ('aptain William Wright, and fell mortally wounded while leading his men upon tlie l;attle field of Resaca. Of the three others, B. N. died many years since while pastor of the Congregational church at Belvidei-e. Ashur more recently {)assed away, having spent most of his life as a missionary to the Indians on the reservations in New York. Thus the subject of this sketch remains the sole survivor, and is still with unabated zeal pursuing Ids calling in the frontier state of Kansas.

Four sisters still remain - INIrs. (xeorge W. Dewey, and Mrs. Dianthia Shinn, of Toulon ; ]Mrs. Dr. Curtis of Canton, Illinois, and Mrs. Otis Curtis, of Wisconsin.

As their father, ]Mr. lloyal Wright, emigrated to Canton, Fulton county, as early as lSo2. they have all lu-cni fully initiated into the mysteries of jnoneer life.

Samuel (i. was born at Hanover, New Hampshire, December, 180;) ; married in 1^32, to Miss Eliza :M. Page, a relative of Harlan Page, so well known throughout the New England churches.

Soon after this niarrias'o the young- couplo emigrated to Fulton eounty, Illinois, where ]Mr. Wriglit projiosed to coninience farming, but elianging his mind, resolved to go to Lane's theological seminary, in order to iire}>are himself for the ministry. Thither his young wife aeeomi)anied him, aiding his exertions by her cheering presenct', imtil failing health compelled her return to the friends in Fulton county, wliere she died of consumption in IS-V.\ leaving two children, but one of whom now survives, 31 r. Fdward P. Wright, of Osceola. After this sad bereavement, ]N[r. Wright again returned to Cincinnati to complete his course of study, which lie seems to have done in 1S4(), as in that year he was married to Miss Minerva Hart of Farmington.

He was commissioned by t!ie Home Missionary Society and commenced labor in Stark county in 1.S41. His first home among us was in West Jersey townshi}*, in those days familiarly known as the Webster settlement or *' Nigger Point." But he seems to have had tlie whole county for his parish, besides many outlying districts where he occasionally laljored. From his journal it may be gathered that for the first few years he had regular appointments at the following named places: Walnut creek (at different l)oints), Victoria, Henderson, Wetherstield, I/afayette, Wyoming, Osceola, Wall's school house, 3loulton, and later at Toulon, and contiguous points, many meetings being held at privati' houses ^ prominent among- those mentioned in this vicinity are INIr. Hugh ilhod''v' and 'Siw Xichol-;on's, and this was all beside the honie work.

In 1842, he preached one lumdred and seventy sermons, and traveled '2W>, miles. In isj;',, he preached tw.) hundred sermons and rode 2,.']'»o miles, administered the sacranu'nt nine times, received seventeen into fellowship with the church. In 1844, he preached X)ne hundred and eighty-one sermons, and traveled ;),l(i.'> miles.

This he characterizes as "a barren, barren year, frought witli many discouragements" Still he continued to labor even more abundantly, and outsitle of this strictly ministerial work, he lectured frecjueutly upon reforms and scientific subjects, giving' temperance and anti-slavery addresses without number, also astromical lectures, broaching among other things the then new " Nebular theory " of creation, hoi)ing thus as he says, " to open tlie eyes of the understanding, that men might be induced to listen to God's word by a consideration of his works." Who can measure the influence of such a man in moulding public sentiment in the then new and plastic condition of our conununity?

And this work was performed at the cost of personal discomfort and self-denial, both to himself and family, that wonld a[)pal people now-a-days. As to salaries, he says : " Tlie 1 lome^Iissionary Society heli)ed in some eases to raise them to |4(I0 per annum, but this was only for a favored few. ]My salary for the first twelve years of my missionary life averaji'ed about $800 i)er year." No wonder his wife writes, " we did not live but only endured in those days."

" Mr. Wright bore a great deal of what we may now eall persecution and unmerited obloquy for Ids devotion to anti-slavery principles, l>eing' rather the standard bearer of the old "liberty party " in tliis county. He never slirank from the odium incurred, for his own sake, but rather rejoiced that he was deemed worthy to suffer for the oppressed; but when it interfered with his usefulness as a mhiister of Christ, and thinned his conjiregations, then came many a painful struggle, as to wiiere lay tlie i)ath of duty, and many a heartfelt prayer for Divine direction. Then his interest for the temi)erance reformation and against the prevalent practice of "timl)er hooking" made him some enemies. Men did not brook reproof then, any better than now and he could not let wrong doing go umvproved ; so there was a time when many railed at him, but he swerved not, remembering probably, " woe unto thee when all men speak well of thee."

" But in no way can we so well l)ring before our readers a correct idea of this life of labor and self-sacrifice as a series of extracts from his diary, entitUMl, " ^V journal of missionary work in Stark county," commencing December, IS 11, and running forward over the next seven or eight years.

" First entry, December 2tth, 1841. " Started for AValnut creek, there had been a great rain, the creek was swimming; Kichard and William Dunn were with me; had much ditticulty in crossing the branch above Trickle's mill ; had to break ice for near an hour, and to go round by Fraker's grove, in order to get to the bridge l)elow C'entreville; i)reac]ied at Mr. Foster's Friday evening, ttc, etc.

"January 17th, 1842 - Last Tuesday gave another astronomical lecture at Rochester ; it was very muddy, yet the house was well filled, mostly with men, who gave close attention. Thursday, went to rrinceville; very few came out to hear the temperance lecture, and only four signed the pledge; on my way back, found Spoon ri\^er over its banks for a quarter of a mile or more, and the ice too thick to break; went back to Rochester and there made out to cross the river. Saturday evening, gave an astronomical lee-

"January ;Ust, 1842 - Find 1 have atteniled evening meetings for ten successive nights ; feel the need of rest to keep health ; ean't l)ear everything, though I should love to hold meetings seven times a Aveek, while I live. February 7th; came into collision with ]Mormons on Walnut creek.

" INIay 2nd - Went to Lafayette to hear Mr. Harris expose ]Mormonism ; rehearsed his lecture to my people at iNlr. Webster's. Jiast week preached but twice; ploughed the rest of my Held, and .sowed four and a lialf bushels of oats.

"May 0th - Went for the Hrst tinu' to Osceola ; in-eached in the morning to a large and attentive audience; in the evening deliv- I'red a temperance lecture, following ('a])tain liutler.

"August 1st - ^Meeting of the association; circumstances rather disheartening-; hurry of harvest, heavy rains, &q.; cold and ilamp in the barn where Me met, as it was not all enclosed.

" There is a great effort to destroy the influence of this church by reporting that we are abolitionists, an<l have formed lines for helping runaways, hence are as bad as horse thieves.

" Many are highly prejudiced against us, and what the end will be, the I^ord only knows. We are conscientiously engaged in doing to others as wi' would that they should do unto us ; and if this will injure the cause of Christ in the long run, we are deceived. True, it is very unp()i)ular, and many that would otherwise attend the preached word and sal)l)ath school, stay away. Lord «jive us the wisdom of serpents and the harmlessness of doves. 8ome of the church are also offended ; I^ord restore them.

"Se])tend)er 14th - Went to Henderson and Oalesburg ; made iirrangements for a meeting at Jjafayette; at Jvnoxville was hindered all the next day endeavoring to get relief for five colored persons who were that day imprisoned l)ecause they could not produce full evidence that they were free.

"November IStli - Last week I went to ( ialesbur<>' to att^'iid tlie assoeiation; no minister present Init myself. Preaehed Tour successive (lays, and was detained two <lays lonj^'er by the severity of the weather. How soon I can return I know not, as the snow is badly drifted and the wind yet hif^'h and cold.

"November 80th - Went to Farmington to attend the sitting- of jyresbytery; (h'tained there two days ; then went to Ellisville and preached to a few hearers, twenty-tiv(M>r thirty, from a p()[)ulation of one hundred and fifty. IIow has the j^old become dross? Two years ai^o it was said all EUis^-ille was converted. From Ellisville went to 8wan creek. The country is fast iilliny up ; where six years ap:o everything was in a state of nature as far as the eye could see, now farms are seen in all directions, and many little towns are springing up. Preached five times at Swan creek.

"December 24th - Attended the first meeting- for mutual improvement at Knoxville ; also the other association, indeed had a prominent part in it, but was comi)elletl to tear myself away as jiiy house and family needed my attention, for it is very cold and our liouse has neither doors nor floors.

"January 4th, 184;} - Early on Monday morning a daughter A\as^ born to us, and, as it was the day of fasting and prayer for the conversion of the world, in the afternoon I preached a sermon.

"January 28d - Preached at Toulon on the Sabbath, in the court house which had just been received from the builders by the county commissioners. Tl^ere was no Are in the house and it was a chilly day; still there were i>erhaps sixty in attendance, and I left another appointment in four weeks.

"February Gth - Last week hud much severe cold weather; had to be at home most of the week; read "Home's Introduction," &c. On Friday another fugitive from slavery came along, making twenty-one that have passed through this settlement on their way to Canada. To-day it is extremely cold, the ink freezes in my pen as I try to write beside the stove.

"February 20th - Did not go to Toulon, am almost sick from cold, my horse is lame and it is too cold to hold meeting in the court house without Are.

(lone. Saturday, went to the Emery settlement, but found so .strong' an antipathy against aV)oliti()nists that hut few would hear nie i)reaeh, so 1 >\ent on, and on tSal)bath morning' })reaehed at Toulon to a large congregation ; most of the seats filled. Report said the Mormons meant to encounter me here and draw me into a debate, but all passed off quietly.

"May 2Mth - The grand jury found a l)ill against me, and my Polder, W. W. Webster, for harboring runaway slaves! Some excitement exists, but hope good will result. Many sympathize with us and with the who had seldom thought on the .subject before ; and these wicked laws "to be hated need but to be seen." Rev. Osven Lovejoy, of Princeton is also indicted. We have not yet been taken by the sheriif, but probably shall be soon.

"October 28rd, l^Vo - Sabbath at Toulon; many Mormons came expecting a champion to attack me ; there were a numl)er of their elders present ; I fully ex^iected an attack, but they did not see lit to make one, probably waiting to get a big gun for the assault.

"August 14th. - Last week worked three days at harvesting. Much sickness around. Our election took place, and I 1>elieve there were eleven liberty votes cast in the county ; last year there ^\'ere but two !

" Xoveml)er 20th, 1843 - Last week had the house plastered ; had to attend mason myself, cV'C, &:c For live weeks have been to work almost constantly al)out home, trj'ing if possible to get the house comfortable to winter in. It has been almost insupportable, especially for the children. Never, since 1 began to labor in the ministry have I had, until now, a house with more than one room in it, which has hail to answer for kitchen, parlor, bed-room, closet, <1'C. My sermons have all been prepared in the midst of the confusion of cooking, care of children, and comi)any I Xow l)y the l>lessing of Ood, I have a room for retirement and study.

"December loth - Last week worked at getting wootl ; got a good supply for the winter; preached live times; rode seventy -five miles, went to Knoxville to give information to the committee on home missions ; got horse shod and wagon repaired.

" ]May 20tli, 1^44 - Heard there was to be an informal meeting of presbytery at Knoxville, and went, returning the next day in the rain. Sal)bath rainy, but preached twice ; we have more rain .than ever before; creeks are all full, bridges gone, the earth perfectly saturated A\ith water, sickness begimiing to prevail, lungfevers especially.

stoalors " this time; court lu'ld but one day. Tuesday went to iS[r. Rhodes' and to Lafayette to make arranu'ements tor a convention and debate on Friday. Friday, went to Toulon to attend tlie convention; W. .T. P'raser and Fs(i. ivinney debated with James H. Dickey and O. P. Lovejoy, ujion tlie princijjh's and practices of tlie liberty party. Th.e deliate held from 2 P. M., till 5, and from 7 till 3 A. INE. No decision was taken either by judges or vote; l)ut we thiidv tlie negative established nothing, it rained hard all night and in the morning creeks were almost impassable. In crossing a little branch l)etween ]Mr. Silliman's and Hugh Phodes' the water was so deep that my wagon uncoup- \od, and the hind parts tioated otf, and I went out with the fore wheels, well wet.

"June 10th, 1S44 - Last week started with wife and two daughters for Knoxville, Galesburg, \'ictoria, tV:c. Wednesday evening at Knoxville, a most dreadful storm of wind, hail, rain and lightning, broke over us ; several houses were unroofed and one new two story house was ui>set and dashed to fragments. In it were a mother and three children ; one child dangerously hurt. The storm raged from Galesburg to Si)Oon river, how much farther we know not. It seemed for many minutes impossible that the house in whicli we were could withstand its force. Mr. Cole was absent and no man present Ijut myself. There seemed J)ut a step between us all and death. God alone could understand our feelings. The lightning was almost constant, and in many places seemed to be running all over the ground ; persons riding in wagons saw the" wheels apparently encircled with fire. This occurred on the 5th of June, 1844. .Streams are all swimming, bridges gone, roads dreadful, still raining.

"June 24th - Went to Knoxville as a witness for Rev. Mr. Cross, in the case of the People cs. Cross for harboring slaves ; at length a iwffe proserjxi was entered and I returned home. On Friday, went to Farmington to attend a convention for organizing a general association for the state. The constitution was changed in divers places, and the confession of faith sliglitly altered; strong resolutions passed on the subject of slavery.

"July 2nd, 1844 - Last week went to Lafoyette and Toulon to liear the candidates for congress speak. After IMr. Cross, the liberty candidate had spoken. Colonel W. H. Henderson delivered himself of a speech against abolitionists in general, and ministers in ])arti<'ular. At Toulon also, he expressed the same sentiments, only was more personal. He warned the people against all sorts of abolitionists, said ' they would destroy the country ; slavery wa.s a great eiu^e, hut ,God would remove it without human in^irumeatality. Warned all not to hear abolition preacher.K; lie would not hear one preach, .sing or pray ! neither should his children go to our sabbath scliool ; warned the children not to believe what such preachers said ; he would say to the gentleman whom he had iji his eye, we don't wa)it him, he can go back to the east where he came from ; I never heard him, and never will. If he comes here let him talk t(j empty seats,' etc.

"August 12th - I^ast week went to election ; brought down the bil)les from Lafayette ; stacked my oats ; went to see Mrs. Nicholson, (who is dying of cancer i; marked the bibles ; prepared two sermons; on Sabbath preached twice, and rode sixty-tive miles during the week.

"September 28rd - Last week worked at home most of the time ;, threshed my oats, dug my potatoes, waited on the sick ; my wife has fever and ague.

"September 80th - Was at home the former i)art of the Meek reading, etc. Thursday went to visit ]Mrs. ]N[cClennahan and Mr. Khodes. Friday attended to Inisiness for the bil)le society at Toulon ; got medicine for my wife of Dr. Hall ; went home and administered it. Saturday went to Lafayette and preached preparatory lecture.

"July 8th, lS4o - IMonday, attended an adjourned discussion of anti-slavery principles at Toulon. I regret to be obliged to enter this field, others ought to do it ; but if they will not, shall I be silent ? Would it please God ? Would conscience leave me at ease? I pray God to guide me in this matter, and if I misapprehend my duty, may I know it.

"January 2-ith, 184(5 - Last week made arrangements for a preaching field, which will be Stark county only. Gave a lecture on capital punishment at Toulon ; went to Walnut grove and preached on AVednesday evening, and on Monday evening a temperance lecture ; thence to Galesburg to attend examinations.

"February 2d, 184G - W\nit to Lafayette ; found a INIethodist meeting whi^-h had continued for nineteen days with good success ; a spirit of union seemed to prevail. I was invited to preach, which I did ; then went to Toulon and Wyoming to arrange appointments ; I am met by a good degree of cordiality, that shows prejudice has greatly abated. Salibath at Toulon ; the i)rospect is flattering as compared with former times.

installation of brother Jvc-lIof>'^- ; * was iinexnoctcdly called to give the ciiarge to the i)eo[>!e. After preaching we had a conference of bn^thren in reference to uniting our presbytery and central association in a sort of x-ojiventiou, so ther(> shonid he one and not two l)o<lies.

"June 2(ith - Left the association contrary to their vote, to fill a})pointnu'nts on tiie Sabbath, ^reached at Toulon to a full hous(\ from the te^t, ''no weapon formed against thee Khali prosper." ^Vt Wyoming from the same. Next day spent with Dr. Castle reading "S[>ooner's work "

"Tuesday, wentto Cialesburg to attend the commeuceir.ent exercises of Knox College. They were quite flattering to the institution. jNlr. lilanehard, however, so far forgot the spirit of the age, and of the west, as to appear in a "toga," and to wear his hat, A'C, ttc, while giving his inaugural address.

"August 2")th - Had a longinterview with Captain Butler. The captain is something of a Unitarian, but likes Walker's book on the philosophy of the plan of salvation pretty well, but thinks Walker fails to recognize one fact, viz: " penalty precedes protection." If he could see the fallacy of this, his theory would be sapped.

"August 31 - Last week wrote a letter covering two sheets, to Captain Butler, trying to expose the fallacy of his dogma, "penalty })recedes protection ;" also aftended upon sick neighbors considerably.

"On Saturday, preached another funeral sermon. Sunday morning i)reached from 1st Corinthians, xv, 24-28, showing that the mediatorial key is given up at the resurrection, and that afterwards there can be no restoration to hapijiness or favor. P. M., found the sickness still increasing about Moulton ; l)ut few out in consequence. Just at the close of services, word came that wife was sick, so I returned immediately; shall visit here again as soon as wife's liealth pernuts ; she has a fever but hope nothing serious.

"Wednesday, September loth - Was called to attend a funeral at the residence of Mv. liuswell, of a little boy who had suffered greatly from stricture of the bowels. The family are deeply atilicted. Saturday I had an attack of fever myself ; was better on Sunday, so I preached twice, but have been very weak ever since.

found Edward had bseii taken sick all alune at home ; wife and daughters were with me; wife hardly able to sit u]); thought ridingmight benefit her; Edward had a high fever which lield him till "Wednesday morning; came on again on Thursday morning with great violence. The girls too have botli suffered similar attacks, though not so severe. We have had work hands all week finishiiig off the chambers, so all week, could do no more than wait on the sick and heli) wife about the house. 4

"Saturday expected to deliver a preparatory lecture at the court house in Toulon, but found sickness had been so severe there, that hardly any of tlie In'ethren could attend ; posti)oned it for four weeks. The health of my family is improving. The amount of sickness is un})aralleled, although not very fatal.

"October 17th, 184G - Started for synod at Belvidere ; took wife and daughters to Henry, to stay with brother PeiuUeton's wife, while he and 1 go to synod in company. As we went north, found sickness even more severe than at h(jme. Absent 12 days ; family still suffering from intermittent fever; Edward on his bed, and the little girls unable to ride.

"Saturday, October 24th - Still find much to do at home on account of sickness in my family and among the neighl)ors. Have been all this morningfeedingand picking cornforMr. A. A. Dunn, who is confined to his bed. This is the third time I have been to help him this week.

"November (Jth, 184() - Had a good meeting at l)rother Hugh Rhodes', persons from different parts of the county. They agreed it was best that 1 should remain and ijroceed to organize a Congregational church in Toulon the last Sabbath of the month.

"Decamber 1st - On Sabbath Bro. Parker was with me at Toulon and we organized a churcli of nine mend)ers. It was a solemn time. The house was full and I hope a good impression was made.

"January 5th, 1817 - ^ Went to attend the ordination of brother Blanchard at Knoxville; very muddy bad roads. Arriving at home on Friday evening, found two fugitives from slavery had been along, with only "Christmas papers." Messrs. Smith and Oordon of Farmington pursued, got out a search warrant for two stolen horses and two colored men who were supposed to have stolen them. Neither horses or men were described except that one man called himself " Major." They searched our premises in vain, however, for the birds liad flown, having- got a wink from friends at Farniington that tliey were imrsued. .Several constables and others followed them to Osceola, but before they reached there, the fugitives were safely out of the county.

"October 18th, 1847 - Last week attended themeeting of the as- -^ociation at Groveland; it was a pleasant and profitable time; we have now 11 ministers and IS churches - more than Knox Presbytery ever hacV.

"October 2Sth, 1847 - Monday, returned to Toulon, bought 6} acres of land. Had my horse shod by Ford, wlio said he would take nothing but preaching for his work. He is doul)tless a wicked man, but I must visit in his family and try to do them good.

"November 25th, 1847 - Visited Mr. McWilliams and was invited to preach at liis house. Same evening married Miss Eliza Rhodes and C. ]M. S. Lyons.

Hereafter for ten years Mr. Wright's life was more closely identified with the interests of the Congregational church at Toulon , which he built up from the little handful that met in Mr. Rliodes' cabin in November, 184(5, into a large and flourishing church, Avith a comfortable building of their own and which continues unto this day.

Shall we ask pardon of the Stark county reader for introducing .so many extracts from this journal ; or rather express regret that we can give no more? Not on account of their intrinsic worth, of themselves considered, but on account of the memories they awaken and the light thrown on the "long ago." Such simple allusions to matters then current, come to us now, with their far ofl" dates, like echoes from a huid we shall see no more.

From tiie sanie source we could draw i)ictures of funerals and weddings, death bed scenes or joyous gatherings, at the very mention of which, to the aged among us, recollections would come trooi)ing up, like an unnumbered host. But in a work like this, we dare not enter on sucli a field. The extracts we have made are such as relate principally to the material or "outer life" of the writer, or show something of the spirit and temper of the times and men of which he writes. They show, too, very nearly what the lives of otlier earnest pioneer preachers were 30 or 40 years ago.

j>rofessional flutie^^, Avhere he had made record, we have quoted nothing-. For this, perhaps we owe him an apology, as it may seem to place him unfairly before our readers.

Since leaving us, Mr. "Wi'ight has ministered to many churches; f(»r a time he was pastor of the Congregational church at Lyndon, in this state ; afterwards he held the same relation toward the churches of Galva and Neponset; but he has now for several years been residing at Bmlington, Kansas - still a missionary, still a worker, and will be wiiile life lasts.

Hall Family

The Halls of whom I write, are directly descended from Thomas. Hall and Sarah his wife, nee Cokayne, of Hulland, Derbyshire, England. There, they ont-e formed a large and vigorous lamily, brothers and sisters a dozen in number, living to pass the meridian of life an unbroken band.

At different times during the years 183ti, 1S37, and 1S8S, nine of tliese brothers and sisters crossed the sea, and settled in what \)i now, Stark county, Illinois.

The first installment was Robert and his sister Mary, William and his wife Anne. Next came Langley, l)y the way of New Orleans, that he might at less expense bring- with him a few fine sheep and dogs with which to begin life in this new world. He suffered shipwreck off the Florida coast, but after l^eing reduced to great straits of hunger and fatigue was in common with his shipmates rescued, and he finally arrived at the Osceola settlement. Then in 1837, came Thomas, with his wife and four children, bringing also with him his aged father, Elizabeth (Mrs. Harvey), her husband and five children. Some months later,

After about twenty years residence here, John, Langley ami *T3orge, hired by promises of a more desirable climate, again took up the line of march westwiird, and settled upon the farther slope of the Ri)cky mountains, where they still reside.

Marj' became the wife of Mr. Orrin Hasard of Xeponset, Bureau county, Illirjois ; and Fanny, the youngest of the family, married Hon. Joseph Harris of Boyd's grove, in the same county, 3Irs. Harvey and William rest beside their father in the family burial ground at Osceola, while their mother sleeps beneath the sea. At this writing, in ISTG, Thomas and Robert and the widow of William, alone remain to Stark countv' of those who were adult at the date of the first emigration.

Their father was a plain sturdy Englishman, of tall statiire and rugge<l features ; in faith, a Meth(xlist, and cotemporary with .John Wesley aixl Adam Clark ; iu politics a radical, making no pretension to aristocratic tastes or descent, he was yet a man of strong common sense and strict integrity. But in their mother's veins ran gentler blood. Her progenitors had come from Xomiandy with the "conqueror;" some old writers say were allied to him, but however that may be, they carried his banners on the bloody field of Hastings, and were rewardefl for their valor by I)rincely gifts of land and honors. They seem to have been ever an eminently loyal race, always fighting for or with their king. It is not necessary here, to follow their footsteps through the pages of English history, from the conquest to the protectorate, although it could \:>e easily done. At Tumey and Tur\^'\'ne, at Xaseby and Shrewsbury', at Leith and Edinburgh, wherever hard blows were to be given and taken, the C'okaynes were conspicuous,

A great-grandson of the man knighted at the taking of the latter eiti^, was Sir Aston Cokain, or Ashton C'okayne. The orthography of these old names varies at difterent dates and in different places. This gentleman was born at or near Ashbourne in Derbyshire, in 1008, and was known among writers of his day as a " wit and dramatist," and although he may have reflecte<l .some lustre upon his ancient lineage by his talents and acquirements, he seems to have been a boon companion of other celebrate<^l wits and courtiers of Charles II's time, and to have squandered orencumbered the fine estates he had inherited, many of which passed out of the family in his life time, or immediately subsequent to his death. But as the Cokaynes had continuet.l, so far as we can learn, llomanists in foith, as vvell as loyal to a fault, it can be readily conceived they had suffered severely during- Cromwell's protectorate and its antecedent struggles ; so prolxibly, the improvidence of Sir Aston did but give another blow to the already falling fortunes of his house.

For generations their princii)al seat in Derbyshire had l)een in the vicinity of Ashbourne, and the church at that iilace still contains many interesting memorials of them. Grim old knights and stately ladies repose in a sort of gloomy granduer upon their marble tombs, whose quaint and curious records reveal the strange story of their lives to their latest descendants.

A portrait of Lady Dorathea Cokayne by Holbein, now in possession of Dr. John Cokayne Copestake of Wyoming, Stark county, Illinois, is probably the only relic of the ancient magnificence of the Cokaynes that has ever crossed the Atlantic.

Tliis picture possesses a peculiar interest for any one who loves to peer into the shadowy past, not only for its family associations but as an art treasure. Tliose versed in the history of art are aware that prior to the reign of Henry ^"III, no portraits of any note had been painted in England. During the reign of that dissolute but generous monarch, letters and art took fresh root in his dominions. Erasmus visited the English court, and being a friend and countryman of the celebrated i)ainter Holbein, invited him to come too. He came and was introduced at court by Sir Thomas More, and at once became "the rage " among tlie nobles and aristocracy of the land. H.olbein reigned like a kingin his own realm, while he continued to amass great wealth, l)ut death put an end to his triumphs, A. D. l")o4.

These facts furnisli a clue to the date of the portrait, and together with the style of costume, and other co-relative incidents, establish beyond doubt tliat the original of this picture was the wife of the Sir Thomas knighted at Edinlturgh in 1544, and who died in 1593. But in 1780, or thereabout, the male line of this old fiimily became extinct, two sisters only being heir to the traditions of the Cokaynes of Derbyshire! These sisters became in course of time, Mrs. Earp and Mrs. Hall. Thus the old name was extinct, or preserved only as a prefix among their descendants, and it is curious to observe that few of them have failed to pay this sly tribute to ]>ride of blood, even in the midst of a republicanism that i^rofesses to sneer at such distinctions.

The marriage l)etween Thomas Hall and Sarah Cokayne, occurred probably in 1797. In 1837 this aged couple set sail for America, in company with the family of Dr. Thomas Hall, and their eldest dau.fi'litor, Mrs. Ilnrvey. But the weary sea voyage of over six weeks duration was too luueli ibr tlie already failing- health of INIrs. Hall, who sunk from exhaustion induced by excessive sea sickness, a few days before the vessel reached the harbor of New York. The recollections of that sad funeral can never fade from the memories of those who witnessed it, even in their early childhood, or the aged husband's last tribute to the virtues of his wife, wrunj? from his breaking- heart as she Avas carried past him on the ship-deck, all shrouded in sail-cloth and weighted preparatory to her burial beneath the sea. These were his words : " Farewell thou best of women." The solemn rites of the English church Avere performed over one who had always loved them well. The body was then reverently lowered to the surface of the waves which silently closed over it and told no tales of sorrow. The remainder of this group of emigrants with smitten hearts pursued their journey toward a land of strangers.

Passing- up the lovely Hudson, its banks clothed in all the freshness of early sujnmer, they came to Albany, thence to Buffalo by tlie EIrie canal, then l)y steam .to Cleveland, from Cleveland to Portsmouth by Ohio canal, again to Carlo and St. Louis by so called steamboats, but which w(re hardly more than a caricature of the I)oats that have since plied our western waters. Our travelers left St. Ijouis on tlie "Swift Sure (?)" on Friday morning, and did not reach Peoria until Tuesday night. Tiiey passed Alton on Sunday morning-, as peopU^ were going to church, and on Monday jnorning were still Just above the city tied to a tree! as through some defect in her engine the Swift Sure could not stem the current, and tliere was danger of her being drifted back during- the night. So much for the pleasures of traveling in b'-^:>7. But Peoria was finally reached on the night of July 4th, and the emigrants learned something, new to them, of the confusion and disorder following a celebration of inde])endence day. Several days passed ere teams could be secured and drivers solier enough to manage them, to convey the two fiimilies and their effects to Wyoming, their ultimate goal being Osceola grove. Peoria was then but a hamlet on the lake. A half built hotel on the corner of Main and Water streets, kept by Oarrett, affordetl shelter to strangers. On the evening of July the 8th, the two families, and Thomas Hall, sen., arrived at the house of General Thomas at Wyoming, and had seen but one log hut since leaving Peoria.

Early on the morning of the !)tli, th(> doctor hired a horse of General Thomas, and made his way to " Vandyke's ford," there received fresh directions bv means of which he found his brother

William's cabin in due time. Soon an ox team i.nl biy wagon were on tlieir wivy to Wyoming-, and after sundry exixn-ieiu-cs, novel as trying, to the occupants of the big wagon, lioine was at last reached, and brothers and sisters, parted weary months Vkfore in England, were now I'e-united in Illinois. But the congratulations of what would otherwise have Ix'cn such a lia})i)y meeting, were drowned in tears at mention of their honcjred mother whom they could no longer even hoi)e to see again on earth.

We must now go h,vA<. in the order of time some eighteen months, or to February, 1S36, when tlie first installment of this family sailed for the new world, and, as nnglit be expected, met even greater obstacles and privations in the course of their journey than were encountered by the second gr()U[), to which we have briefly alluded, as at this period of history every subsequent year rendered emigration easier and i)ieasanter ; some one has said " a winter x>assage of the Atlantic is init a sliort cut to a watery grave," and too often it proves so, even in these days of improved navigation.

Let those who can, imagine its horrors in 1S36, before the invention of ocean steamers, and when the tinancial ruin that had overtaken this family-, comi)elled them to content themselves with cheap accommodations on a sailing vessel. Head winds and rough seas made their voyage unusually tedious, and when in mid ocean, they encountered icebergs that threatened certain destruction. Butafter overseven weeks buffeting with tlie waves,tliey anchored in the harbor of New York. Mrs. William Hall had an uncle in Pennsylvania, who made a (luiet resting place for them, but after recruiting for a little while, they resumed their journey westward, crossing the mountains by a " horse railway," a means of transit that luid new terrors for the women, at least. At Pittsburg they took a boat down the (Jhio. Tliey had reason to fear they had l)een exposed to small pox, and soon discovered that two of their party, (Robert and IMary) had fallen victims to this terril:)!e malady. This was a sad trial to these strangers in a strange land ; they feared to have their condition known lest they should be summarily set ashore and abandoned to their fate. So they nursed their sick as (luietky 'as i)ossil)le, asking aid from no one, until the boat exploded one of her cylinders, scalding two engineers to death, and filling every nook and corner with hot steam ; then the sick were snatched from cheir berths and hurried on deck, not knowing Wiiat sliape di-ath would meet them. But so great was the excitement on Ijoard, that although the faces of the sufferers were then a mass of eruj)tion, no one seemed to notice them, and they crept back to their ))eds without experieneing- any serious results from their Mi>-ht and exi)osure. By the time they readied St. Louis tiiey were able to pass muster without attracting attention, and arrived in l^eoria early in tiie month of June, 1836, all in passable health. (Ju the boats they had made the acquaintance of Archibald and Charlie ^"an.dyke and. Brady Fowler. These men were all in search of homes in the west ; so a common interest made them friends. When the Halls left England they all lookvd toward Jacksonville as a place of residence, but for some reason changed their minds. While at Peoria they met with those who recommended the ( )sceo!a region highly. Major Moore, Watts and iSpencer had just c(»m})lete(l tiie original survey. Messrs. Buswell and Winslow had been to the grove, made claims, built calnns, and then returned for a time to Peoria. Under directions from ]Moore, the Hall and Vandyke brothers started early in June to walk across the pathless prairies that then stretched from Mount Hav\'ley to Wyoming. After resting at Wyoming ibr a short time, as did nearly all who journeyed this way in those days, and being refreshed l)y a good meal, they proceeded toward the grove. Here they found several families encamped, some sheltering in cabins half built. Among these were Mr. William Parks ; he had moved from Virginia with his teams, had a huge boat-shaped Avagon, drawn by four stout horses, one of which he rode, postillion fashion, when on the road. He also owned a "carry-all" that cut ({uite a figure in the social life of that neighborhood for many years.

The Hall brothers hired this man, his big wagon and team to return with them to Peoria after the women and goods, the latter only amounting to fourteen large boxes.

.Since the men had left Peoria a drove of cattle l^ad passed through, and Anne and Mary each bought a cow. So now they loaded up - women and goods in the wagon, ]Mr. Parks on his horse, and the men on foot to drive the stock.

They provided themselves with l)read and cheese for refreshment at noon, fully expecting to enjoy supper and bed at the house of (ieneral Thomas, at Wyoming. The wagon was covered, and so fully loaded that the women had to sit in a constrained and uncondbrtaljie jiosition, and would often have preferred to have walked for a time, but as the grass was nearly to their waists and they had an English liorror of snakes, this was a poor relief.

The day wore slowly away ; they were all very weary, the horses often floundering in treacherous sloughs, the wagon rocking like a shii^ at sea, while the driver hallooed to his team in a manner that startled, alniostfrijilitened those unaccustomed to such sights and sounds, hut still no Wyoming dawned upon their anxious eyes. At lengtli night came on, the team was exhausted, the driver confessed himself lost, and there was no alternative but to wait the dawning of another day uiM;)n the open prairie. The horses ate eagerly of the grass around them, the women crept faint and hungry under the shelter of the wagon cover, and the men threw themselves upon the ground beneath. They were all too excited to sleep much ; the women's minds were busy thinking of the homes and friends they had left, contrasting the comfort of tiiat life with the hardships of this, for although they had braced their minds to meet bravely whatever befell, yet this was a performance not thought of Miien the programme was made out.

When Mrs. William Hall had in her English home revealed to her mother her plan, to be married shortly, and two wrecks thereafter to set out for America, the good woman exclaimed " Oh, Anne, you are going to suck down sorrow by the spoonful." That night on the prairie, and many a night afterwards her daughter rememl)ered those words, and perchance thouglit them prophetic. Yv'hen they suspended their journey the lightning was playing about the horizon, and by midniglit a storm broke upon them such as they had never conceived of, and such as is rarely witnessed here, of late years. But morning came at last, the rain had ceased, and they started again for AVyoming, or any other point where food and shelter could l)e olitained, and about ten o'clock A. M., the cabin of (reneral Thomas was reached.

Ilefreshed by a good breakfast and a brief rest, the emigrants again started forward, only to renew the exi)eriences of the previous day with new complications. They first made for Mr. James Holgate's place, and there got directions fV)r Seeley's Point, pretty well to the east of the grove. By this route they hoped to reach the unoccupied cabin of Mr. Buswell, of which they were to take possession until they could build one. But Spoon river must be crossed by a deep and dangerous ford, where the chances were very good that the wliole load would capsize down the steep bank into the water, and by the time this difficulty was disposed of, the shades of evening were again closing round them.

William Hall, who it will be reraembei'ed hacf been over this route but lately, to make his claim, now proposed to leave the^ party and make his way on foot directly to the cabin, kindle a fire to guide the rest, and have some food in readiness when they arrived. He was spurred on to tliis course, more especially as his youns: wife was already iviling under the combined strain of IVitigue and excitement, and lie feared if rest and refreshment could not soon be procured she would be seriously ill. He succeeded in carrying out his part of the contract without mucli difficulty, and ])y nightfall a bright fire was blazing on the rude hearth of the cabin. But no wagon put in an appearance, and the solitary watcher looked and listened in vain for any sight or sound of the wanderers. In fact they were far to the north-east of the grove, near where the town of Osceola was afterwards laid out - the team floundering hopelessly among the big sloughs, and the driver again pretty well confused as to the points of the compass. For miles the women had been driving the cows ; Ilobert aiding the driver and keeping a sharp lookout for signals from William, or for game that would add to the repast if they reached the cabin fire.

Mrs. Hall had been slowly growing worse, and finally crawled back into the crowded wagon, in blank despair. Robert had been discharging his gun and blowing his bugle, in the vain hope of making somebody hear; V)ut the dull and distant echoes were their only response.

At last Mary's quiet courage began to give way, and she turned to the l>ewildered 3[r. Parks, and said " for goodness sake take us somewhere; another night out now will kill Anne." " If there is nowhere to go to, Ikjw can I take you ?" curiously enough enquired the poor man.

Soon after things had reached this crisis, somebody noted a glimmer near the western horizon ; at first they feared it was Init a star, but as they gradually drew nearer, concluded, not that it was "a light in the window for thee," for well they knew the home they souglit had no windows, but a light issuing from the ojien door of a cal)in. Robert again blew a blast upon his bugle horn, which was answered by a shot from the cal)in. So they made their way through the dense wood, over hills and througli hollows, over fallen logs and swampy sloughs, and finally, abend eleven o'clock P. M., drew up at the cabin door.

A bed was soon made for the sick woman, and they carried her in, gave her tea and vvine, composf^tl themselves to rest with thankful hearts after their long and perilous journey of nearly five months duration. And this was the strange connng home, the first "house warming " of the Halls in Illinois, and occurred on Friday, June 2Gth, 1S3G. ]Mr. Parks went a mile or more to reach his own home.

less and anxious to see wiiat thesurrounding.s were, as soon as day dawned she lirose, partially dressed, and ([uietly slipped out. As may be imagined all tliat met her eye was a wild unbroken solitude, nothing save the rude htlt, that bore the imi:)ress of human hands, or that showed a human foot had ever approached the spot. The grass and weeds were tall as lierself, and a heavy dew lunig on them, glittering in the dawning light like frost work. Whether overcome by conflicting emotions or by increasing weakness, she knows not, l;)ut slie swooned and fell. When the men arose they were distressed to find her lying in an unconscious state beside the cabin wall. Again they carried her to her resting ph\ce in the corner, administered the best restoratives their circumstances permitted, and hung over lier witli anxious hearts. She soon rallied and begged them not to be alarmed ; she said " it was only A\'eakness induced Ijy fatigue." It was Saturday now, and knowing that the Sturnis at Seeley's Point had horses to sell, Kobert went to l)uy a team, which lie did, getting Dick and Queen, two horses deservedly famous in the annals of the family f(jr twenty years thereafter.

But Mrs. Hall grew worse instead of better, and during the second (Satnrday) night, was tinite delirious, raving so pitiously of past scenes, that the courage of all faltered, and on Sunday morning her husband was about starting back to Peoria, only fifty miles away, for a physician.

Just then Mr. Parks rode up to encpiire after the welfare of the new coiners, especially the one he had left so sick. They told him their fears; he said M'hat he could to allay them and advised them not to go to Peoria yet. " He would fetch Xancy (his wife) who had a g(^od deal of experience among sick folks." And soon the good woman came, and then and there began a series of ministrations to the sick and sutfering for which she has long been held in grateful remeiiibrance.

Her knowledge of simple remedies, her words of encouragement and kind attentions in times of affliction, were a real boon to the infant settlement. This kind old lady yet lives, having entered her ninety-third year, and an honored old age is hers.

" Her children have risen up to call her blessed," and thougli her flesh is sul)ject to. many infirmities, yet is her spirit tranquil, and her faith looks steadfastly to\\ards that brighter country, "where the inhabitants never say, I am sick."

But to resume our story. jNIrs. Hall soon recovered under good and careful nursing, and prejnirations for building themselves a house went rapidly forward. First of course trees must be felled for the log's, and this was aM'kward work for the Plalls, as i)rol:)al)ly neither of them had ever s\\'ung- an axe before, at least not sueh an axe as is used l)y the American backwoodsman to such advantajj:e. But they worked with a will and whacked away at the trees all round, until by the time they were ready to fall they were literally whittled off to a point.

This style of work could be seen as long- as the first cabin stood and was the butt of numberless jokes among the neighbors touching the capabilities of Englishmen as wood choppers !

But the logs answered a good purpose, nevertheless ; a storyand-half house was raised, a sawpit was dug in which a large two liandled saw could be worked, and thus they made their own )»oards; the tools were unpacked and as William had some practical knowledge of their use, they soon had floors and battened doors, and windows with glass in them, which advantages were almost enough to make them "take airs" over their neighbors, in those times. This house became a sort of headquarters for all incoming detachments, and if its half floored loft was sometimes so crowded with beds and their occupants, that some luckless wight occasionally made a sudden descent to the next floor, he was pretty sure to find a bed r'^ady to catch him there, so no serious results followed, only some slight re-adjustment to secure safety the balance of the night.

Here the weary " itinerant " always found a home, and the pious of every name a welcome. Within its walls were assembled some of the first congregations that ever met for religious worship in the settlement. Often and again, have roof and rafters rang with the grand old hymns learned across the sea. "Denmark" and "Coronation," "Old Hundred" and "Silver Street," were "the familiar i)aths their souls oft trod towards Ood."

The clear, full treble of the sisters chorded well with the deep bass of William's voice and the tones of his great viol, makingharmony that would have befitted better surroundings.

In recalling this group, ]Mr. Oummings, the first missionary but lately said, " They were right loyal Metliodists of the true Wesleyan type." Audit was William Hall Mho led the first class, formed at Wall's by this missionary (to which reference is made in another i^lace) seven miles from his home, with an unl^ridged river intervening, and never missed an appointment in ten years I

But the cabin long since gave place to a more modern and commodius structure, and the once familiar name of WiUlam Hall lives there no more save in memory, or on sculptured marble. A son who bore it, gave his life for his country in 1802, expiring in a

3Ienip]iis hospital; his fatlier wlio went to close liis eyes and bring- his remains home for interment, contracted the same army fever and soon followed his boy to the grave. But that first home in the g-rove has never been abandoned. The bereaved wife and inother still fondly clings to the spot, which for forty years has been hallowed by the presence of all that home means to faithful hearts.

And thongh the death angel comes again and again, she weeps, but her faith falters not. And now at the age of seventy, still keeps " watch and ward" from h.er windows over the graves of her departed, patiently waiting, "only \vaiting" for permission to join them again in the realms of the blest.

And to her memory wliich still reflects as in a clear mirror, all the events of her earlier life, the reader is indebted for the princijjal part of this narrative.

For a time he had for neighbors his sister, Mrs. Harvey, to the west of him and his brother Langley to the east. But they have both gone long since, one, to " that V)ourne from whence no traveler returns," the other to the Pacific coast, but Robert still lives where he settled forty years ago, and so quietly and unobtrusively has he worked and saved, that people seem almost surprised to realize the tkct that he is comparatively a rich man, able to build a fine house and pay for it, and is actually verging on luxury in his old age.

In 1840, he married Miss Harriet Marsh, a sister of Mrs. James Holgate, a lady of superior mental endowments, and*by her has had a large family of sons and daughters.

Edgar, their eldest son, fills a soldier's grave, he having died in the service of the United States, at AV'hite Station, near Memphis, in 18G3. After forty years Americanizing, Robert Hall still shows unmistakably the stock from whence he sprung. Of all the sous, he is most like their father.

"When young he manifested the English love of field sports together with the kindred passion for fine horses and dogs, but in later years his nationality reveals itself in an increasing love-of retirement and dislike of ostentations and shams; for himself he asks nothing beyond a quiet corner by Jais own fireside, and the companionship of a few old friends. Then he can recall with evident gusto, the adventures of his youth, the deer and wolf hunts of yore.

This land wliieh lie entered at Dixon in 18;3(j, is the north-east quarter of section 2, Ehnira township. Robert is a shre^^ d observer, a thrifty manager, and withal kindly of heart. Delighting to ol)lige a friend M'hen occasion offers, Init with oharactei'istio caution never letting " his left hand know what his right hand doeth." The plenty that crowns his age is but meet reward of his laborious and self denying- youth.

Several members of this Hall fomily have manifested a marvelous attachment for, and power over the l)rute creation. Perhaps this is more especially true of the three brothers now in Oregon.

Through the long and wearisome journey hither in is;3(j or 1837, they l)rought with them the long wooled Leicestershire sheep, the first ever brought into this portion of the state, probably the first in any part of the western country ; also some fine dogs, among which were greyhounds, shepherd dogs and setters.

John, the eldest brother who has always remained an incorrigible old bachelor, lavished upon these canine pets all the tenderness men ordinarily reserve for their own kind. While en route for Illinois, he had, as an especial companion, a noble greyhound named Grasper, " unmatched for courage, breath or speed." "While on the canal they fell in with some sporting characters who offered an almost fal)ulous sum for this dog, three or perhaps five hundred dollars. John listened to the proposal, much as other men would listen to a proposition to dispose of wife or children for pecuniary considerations ! and spurned them accordingly.

Not very long after their arrival here, unfortunately for Grasper, the fourth of July was to l>e celebrated by a " general hunt," and the faithful creature ran till he dropped dead by the way, probably sinking from the excessive heat to which he was unaccustomed. Somelxxly was sordid enough to ask his bereaved master if he did not now regret refusing the round hundreds offered on the journey ?

But he promptly responded "Xo ! I now know the worst ; had I sold him I should always have l)een afraid he was neglected or ill treated." George, the youngest brother was even more remarkable for his knowledge of and power over animals, even the most ferocious. Said a careful observer of men and things, ^'George Hall is not one whit l^ehind Van Amburg as a beast tamer, and could create as great a furor if he turned his attention to making public displays of his power."

they are famous wherever known, liut as these men have longsince ceased to be citizens of Stark county, ^ve pass them by M'ith the mere alhi-^lDn to tliis curious cliaracteristic.

And perliaps it is well we can do so, for Ivanc^'ley's humor, his clear insight of nature, his <puaint though subtle i)hilosophy are certainly indescribable by any process known to this writer. He was for many years a successful practitioner of medicine, but of late g'ives his time principally to the beautifying of his Oregon homestead, which he has enriched by the presence of many choice 'shrubs and trees brought from Europe, which his acquaintance with the climate and conditions of the two countries, enabled him to select witli pretty good prospect of successful culture.

This brings us, alinoat rchickinflij, to consider the last figure in this groui), Thomas, so long and familiarly known as " old Di\ ITall.'''' For when a father's life is weighed, it is a delicate task for a daughter's hand to adjust the scales.

But, as it would be unfair to omit him in a record of Stark county j^ioneers, and unkind to slight him in his own family, Ave shall try to do our duty, and give the facts as they appear to us, trusting that if to others they seem colored by a daughter's partiality, an indulgent i^ublic will forgive the tault.

Thomas Hall A\"as born (as were all his father's family) at jNIansel Park, near Hulland in Derbyshire. He tirst saw the light March 12th, 180-'), making him at this present writing, in the 71st year of his age. Being in his childhood of rather feeble health, he was excused from manual labor in a great degree, and allowed to indulge his studious turn of mind "to the top of his bent."

Indeed, while hewasyet quiteyoung,itwasd^cidedtogivehima thorc^ugh education and professional training, in the direction of medicine and surgery. So he was kept steadily at school after he had reached his eighth year, first at the village school of Hulland, where he acquired the rudiment of an education ; from there at the age of ten, he was transferred to a sort of grannnar school at Weston- Vnder- Wood ; from there to Brailsford for the study of French and Latin; at fourteen he went for two years to a finishing school at (^uarndon, and at sixteen was "entered as an apprentice" (this being the law of the land) to Dr. Coleman of Wolverhampton for five years.

Having now attained his majority, "he went to walk the hospital at Guys," and during the next two years in London, enjoyed the instruction of many eminent men, whose names have since become historical, especially in the archives of medical science.

In ]S.")(l, Pusli Medical Col Ici^c conferred on Tliomas Hall, in view of the hi<;h testimonials he had l)rou<;ht with him from Ids native land, and his lony experience in western practice, an "honorary de<;rce," constituting' him " Doctor of ^Eedicine," "done at Chicajj'o, Illinois, February 7th, ISf)!)."

Thus, it may be seen the doctor holds in Ids hands tlie best cr(>- dentials of b!)th lands; but j)erliai)s no man ever lived who valued such honors less, or cared less for distinction of any kind. AV' hen he came to Illinois in 1837, he brought with him not only a thorough ac(iuaintance with his profession, but the prestig'e of nearly ten years successful practice at home ; to these advantages may be added an abounding vitality, giving- powers of endurance far beyond the average of men.

Then he brought with him a library of clioice medical works and surgical instruments of the mostapproved pattern then known, to meet every emergency.

Coming- thus ecpiipped, to a new and growing state, what opi)ortunities for professional distinction and ultimate wealth loomed up before him, had he been gifted with even ordinary ambition. But this he had not. lie Iniilt him a cabin and settled down in the obscurity of Osceola Grove; and although the finest lands could still be held by pre-emi)tion, and afterwards came into market and were sold at ll.^o per acre, y(^t he never bought one, although trom the date of his settlement he had a large practice, soon kept four or five horses and rode almost constantly.

In 1840, when sickness here assumed a very fatal type, dysentery and ty{)hoid fevers prevailing to a frightful extent, he rode on horseback for nine successive weeks, eighty miles one day and fifty-six the other, alternately. In ].S4(), he and his partner Dr. Chamberlain treated fifteen hundred cases of fever and ague or kindred diseases, using in their practice that season SO ounces of (piinine or its ('(juivalent, in the shai)e of the extract of Peruvian bark.

When advised by his fanuly or friends in those days to collect liis dues and invest them in something for future resource, he would turn away with a smile saying, "Don't .bother me about such trifles, I am laying up treasures in Heaven!" 10 .

But wliile t'lius indifferent to [)ecuniar.y rewards, lie was by no means insensible to the approval, or gratitude of his patients. No man ever more liighly appreciated the beaming smile or moistened eye, that must sometimes reveal, especially to a physician, emotion too deep for utterance, (rr treasured in a warmer heart the memory of grateful words and generous deeds I One of his favorite (juotations shows this Vtent.

Indeed it would seem these sentiments chiefly inspired him duruing many years of active professional life ; for rather than disappoint the siclv whom he knew would be watching anxiously for his coming, he encountered all sorts of personal perils and discomforts^braved all dangers, buffetting with the fierce storm at midnight on the snow-covered pathless prairie, swimming swollen rivers, sometimes with the thermometer so low that he was encased in an inflexible armor of ice, five minutes after he had emerged from the flood.

Of late years, when to our view death seemed hovering very near him, he would refer to a little incident that occurred long ago, in his native land, liut which has no doulit colored more or less his whole life. When, as he relates, having wonhisdiploma, lie was about leaving home to begin life and practice for himself, his mother followed him to the gate, and laying her hand lovingly on his shoulder said, "Tom, do your duty by all, but esi)ecially remember the poor;" and he would add " I am not afraid to meet my mother, for she knows I have done as she told me."

This lady w^as otrr mother, and we have lost her all too lately to discuss with any appearance of im})artiality (if that was desirable) her life and character. Her memory is enshrined in tho hearts of her friends; leave it with them alone, knowing this would be her desire could she be consulted ; for few ever shrank more instinctively from public gaze than she. Her inner life was

Her children can never estimate their indebtedness to Jior, not only for the mere fact of existence, which sometimes in this uncertain world is ratlier a questionable boon, or for the mother's love she gave them all; but, for that "well of English undefiled," which her conversation always supplied, and for even a tithe of the mental acuteness and i»hysical vigor she possessed. .She left us August 8th, 1874, in the seventy-second year of her age, yet, as iinother truly said "she died as the young die," with all her faculties in full play, as if with her, it was yet life's inorning ! The children of this marriage are in the order of their ages. 1st, Eliza, the writer of this little volume ; 2nd, Harriet ]M., wife of P. M. Blair, Esq.; od, Mary S., who rests beside her mother ; 4th, Henry M. Hall, present editor and proprietor of " The Red Oak New Era ;" oth. Dr. Walter Thomas Hall, successor to his father's home and honors ; Gth, Louisa, wife of Mr. John C. Emery, now of Ottumwa, Iowa ; 7th, James Knox Hall, at present following his trade, that of a printer, at Cambridge, Illinois.

We inay remark in passing, that of these children, the first four M'ere born in England, prior to the emigration, the three remaining ones being native Illinoisans. Mrs. Emery was the first chihl ever born in the town of Toulon, to which place the family removed soon after the site was surveyed, and have resided within its limits since July 6th, 1842.

As we write that date, memory reproduces with wonderful fidelity, the laieture of that summer morning, so 'ong ago. We had been up since dawn, marking with charcoal the logs in our big cabin, preparatory to taking them out of their places, and loading them on the wagons, which would soon be waiting for them. By six o'clock the family had breakftisted, the teams were arriving, and the bustle of moving began in earnest. Think of it eader, not only the contents of the house and all the appurtenances of a large family to be packed and loaded, but the house itself to be taken down and prepared for a journey to Toulon ! We can see the teams, many of them consisting of four horses, as they <lrew up around the scene of our labors. They had come from Spoon river, from AVethersfield, fr(jm Lafixyetteand Walnut creek, "to help the doctor move."

We could give you the names of tiie drivers - true pioneers every one of them, not a laggartl among them all ; but our i-eaders would not know them, for they have nearly all taken a longer journey since that time, from which they never returned. But fin- ally the last load started, even Peter Miner's laugh was lost in the lengthening distance, and silence settled upon the hill, where for five years there had been a busy hapi)y home, ringing with the voices of children, and the patter of little feet. But we looked our farewells to the spot, and not without tears set our faces in another direction.

We were soon on the open prairie, and towards evening reached our destination, the house of Mr. Benjamin Turner, Mho in those days kept a sort of hotel for the accommodation of the public. The cabin had undergone a second " raising," the roof was j)artly on and we could say and feel wehadalreadj' a home in Toulon. But that first home long since passed into disuse; audits successor, with its old fashioned belongings, and quaint surroundings, endeared by long years of association, hallowe^d by so many christenings, weddings and funerals, has at length been torn assiuider and lost its identity. True, a better house has been reared upon its ruins, and this is an age of progress. Yet for some of us the old house had charms we can never transfer to the new ! But wherefore dwell on these things. The old doctor looks calmly on, and accepts the inevitable like a true philosopher. He has a home in the house of his son, jokes with his gray-haired boys and girls, and laughs with his twenty-one grand-children, sings, in a tone that shows he does not grieve over the situation a bit. His wonderful memory, which he still retains uninipaired, is of more value to him than a garnished palace would be. It is crowded with all things fair, like the Poet's

" Tliere^sa Magical Me up the ricer of Time Where the softest of airs are playing ; There's a cloudless sky, and a troiiical clime And a song as siceet as a vesper chime And the Junes, with the roses are staying.

are fragments of song, that nobody sings, And a part ejf an infants prayer ; There'' s a lute unsirept, and a harp without strings, There are broken bows, a?id pieces of rings, And the garments she used to wear.

'-''There are Jiand.s th(d are wared, when the fairy shore By the mirage is lifted in air; And we sometimes hear, through the turbident roar iSweet voices toe heard in the days gone before, WJten the iri/ul doim the river is fair I

! remembered for aye be the blessed Isle All the day of life, till night - When the evening comes with it\s beautiful smile And our eyes are closing to slumber awhile, May that Greenwood of soul be in sighf.''^

Thus our father g-rows old - not without his weal^nesses aiid infirniities, l)ut gently and kindly as a child, and can he but go to his grave, followed by the respect of his neighbors, and the blessings of the poor, his heart will be fully satisfied, and trust God for the rest.

Soon after w? had coneludecl to sheaf these gleanings of local history into a volnme for pnblication, we paid a visit to this most interesting neighborhood, with the intention of interviewing John TnrnbuU, sen., if possible, as he stands in the relation of I)atriarch to the clans of " Bonnie Scots " who till the broad acres stretching over almost a township. And if he had deliberately '"sat for his picture" he could not have taken a better position than he occupied that blustering October morning, 1874.

He had evidently just Pome in from looking after somethingon the farm, had taken his seat before a wide old-fashioned fireplace in which a clieerful fire was burning. His hat or plaid, had not yet been hiid aside, the latter enveloped his broad shoulders in those easy folds that none but a Scotchman can fashion. By his side and at his feet crouched two beautiful shepherd dogs, wliich sprang up all alert at the entrance of a stanger, but a word from their master subdued them, and as he rose and turned toward us a face fresh and florid yet, after the battles of near seventy winters, and eyes beaming with intelligence not unmixed Mith humor, we pronounced him a representative Scotchman from "top to toe."

Quickly recognizing the daughter of an old friend he greeted us cordially, and gratified us highly by giving in substance the following account of their emigration to America and subsequent experiences.

We believe these families, the Turnbulls and Olivers, of which particular mention will l)e made in this sketch, were of " Lowland" birth and lineage, although for sometime previous to their emigration, had dwelt in the "Highlands," following the occu- })ation of shepherds.

The Turnbulls were from Roxburghshire, on the southern border of Scotland. And our informant sailed for ^Vmerica with his aged mother, his wife, and her father's family, June 17th, 1837 ; arriving at Quebec after six weeks at sea, journeyed up the St.

La\vrenc-e, then across the country to Niag'ara Falls, thence to Bufialo, found the only imssenger boat at the wharf under arrest, so got on board an old schooner bound for Chicago. So slow was their progress that the packet, released from durance two weeks after they left port, passed them on the route. AMule wandering among the flats of lake 8t. Clair, the otticers used to cut the huge canes or reeds with which they abounded, and used then^ for sounding rods, to determine the depth of Avater, which in some places was so shallow as to make navigation both difficult and dangerous. Sometimes as their sluggish craft crept by a low island, the men would wade ashore in quest of discoveries, and once they found a few potatoes growing and some vines, like nothing they had ever seen before, bearing gigantic fruit of wiiich they longed to taste, their curiosity naturally being excited touching overytlung American.

As there was no sigji of human habitation on the island, and their fare upon the schooner was very poor, the honest Scotchmen thought it could be no mortal sin to help themselves. So in additioh to a few new potatoes, each man carried under his plaid an immense green pumpkin. Arriving with their booty on the deck of tlie boat, the emigrants (piickly collected to try the flavor of the new fruit.

The scene must have iK'cn intensely amusing to tlie boat crew who watched it out of the corners of tlieir eyes and laughed most provokingly at the disappohitment and disgust expressed by the emigrants at the u[>shot of their morning's adventure.

When at length Chicago was reached, they found it a lov/ sandy flat, with here and there a cheap dwelling (n- warehouse, and thought the Americans nnist be very short of land on which to build towns, when they would attempt to make one on such a f place as that. From Chicago they soon made their way to .Joliet drawn thither by the tidings of a canal in process of construction, which would pretty certaiidy aflford ^\-ork for the men, of \\hich they were sorely in need, for by this time their slender resources were about exhausted.

At Joliet they found two vacant cabins ; the neighbors told them to " move right in," which they thankfully did. Everybody was kind to them, one man lent them a scythe which enabled them to cut the ))rairie grass growing so luxuriantly about them. This gave them clean beds, and with it they tilled the crevices in their half-flnished huts. Soon each family bought a cow from a drover who i)asse(l that way, and as they must be kept tied to a stake to