Stark County, Illinois - Chapter 3: Indian History, 1916

Chapter 3: Indian History

When Christopher Cohimhiis first discovered the Western Hemisphere, in l-^D-i, he heheved that he had at hist reached the goal of his k)ng- cherished desires and that the country was the eastern shore of Asia. The first European explorers in America, entertaining a similar belief, thought the country was India and gave to the race of copper colored peojjle they found here the name of Indians. Later explorations established the fact that Columbus had actually discovered a land hitherto unknown, but the name conferred upon the natives still remains. This race is divided into several groups, or families, each of which is marked by certain physical characteristics and the language spoken. At the beginning of the Sixteenth century the \arious groups, or at least the leading ones, were distributed over the continent of North America as follows :

In the far north were the Eskimo, a tribe that never played any iiiipdrtaiit part in history. Their descendants still inhabit the country in tlie vicinity of the Arctic Circle, where some of them are occasionally employed as guides to polar expeditions.

The Algonquian family, the largest and most powerful of all the Indian nations or groups, occupied a large triangle, roughly liounded l)y the Atlantic coast from the most eastern point of Labrador to Ca]je Hatteras and lines from those two points to the western end of Lake Superior. To this great group belonged the tribes that once inhabited what is now the State of Illinois, the principal of which were tlie Illinois, the Sacs, the Foxes, the Shawnees, the ^Vinnebagoes, the Ottawas, and the Pottawatomies.

In the center of the Algonquian countiy - along the shores of Lake Ontario and the upper waters of the St. I>a\\rence River - was the home of tlie Irociuoian trihes, to wit: The Oneidas, Onondagas, JMoliawks, Cayugas and Senecas. To the early colonists these tribes became known as the "I^'ive Nations." Some years later the Tuscaroras were added to the confederacy, whicii then took the name of the "Six Nations."

South of the Alguntjuian and Iroquoian families lay the country of the JMuskhogean family, the principal tribes of which were the Creeks, Chickasaws, Choctaws and Cherokees. The people of this group were among the most intelligent and aggressive of the North American Indians.

In the great Northwest, about the sources of the Mississippi River and extending westward to the IMissouri, Mas the country of the Siouan group, which was composed of a number of tribes noted for their physical prowess and warlike tendencies. South and west of this lay the domain of the bold, vindictive Comanche, Apache and other tribes, closely allied to the Sioux in appearance, language and customs, while in various parts of the continent were minor tribes which claimed kinship with none of the great families. They were generally inferior in numbers, often nomadic in their habits, and consequently are of little historic importance.

Yolinnes have been written upon the subject of the North American Indian - his legends, traditions and habits - and it has not yet been exhausted. In a work of this nature it is not the design to give those tribes whose history is connected with the country now included an extended account of the Indian race as a whole, but to notice onlj' within the State of Illinois and Stark County.

The Illinois

The Illinois - or Illini, as they were at first known to the white men - belonged to the Algonquian family and was the tribe from Avhich the State of Illinois took its name. The organization of the Illinois was in the natiu-e of a confederacy, which \\as conq)osed of five subordinate tribes - the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Tamaroa, jNIichigani (or jMoingwena) and the Cahokia. According to their traditions they were once a powerful tribe and took ])ossession of their lands in Illinois by driving out some of the Siouan group. Later they made war on the Winnebago Indians and drove them northward, after which they held undisinited possession of the broad prairies of Illinois until about

The Illinois were expert hunters, skilled in the use of the bow and arrow, but could not successfully handle a canoe. The principal center of their coirfederacy was at Kaskaskia, which, during the most prosperous days of the tribe, numbered some eight thousand inhabitants. Their cabins here were well built and covered with a water])r()of matting. Generally each cabin contained four tires, around which the inmates would gather of evenings, the old warriors relating instances of skill and bravery in the chase or in battle for the edification of the members of the younger generation.

.Vbout the beginning of the war with the Iroquois, in Ki.jd, some of the Illinois crossed the Mississippi River and established several villages in what is now Lee County, Iowa, where they were visited by JNIarquette and Joliet in tlie summer of 1073.

In the summer of 1G80 anotiier invasion of the Illinois country was made by the Iroquois, who attacked the Peoria and Kaskaskia tribes, the object having been to drive them out and get possession of their hunting grounds. ]Many of the Illinois were killed, their homes burned, their crops destroyed and about nine hundred were carried away as prisoners.

In 1709 the Ottawa chief, Pontiac, who had formed the conspiracy and led the uprising against the white settlements six years before, was killed by some of the Illinois Indians. The great chieftain was the idoj of his tribe and was also held in high esteem by the Chii)pe\va and Pottawatomi Indians. The three tribes allied themselves in a waiupon the Illinois to avenge the death of Pontiac. The Illinois, who had never fully recovered from the onslaughts of the Iroquois, were in no condition to meet such powerful enemies. Defeat after defeat followed in (piiek succession and the remnant of the tribe was driven to the summit of the bluff known as "Starved Rock," on the Illinois River, about half way between the ])resent cities of La Salle and Ottawa. The bluff offered a good ])lace of defense, as the sides of the rock are perpendicular, except in one place, and there not more than two persons could ascend abreast. Assault was therefore out of the question and the allies settled down to a siege. The Illinois held out until one dark, stormy night, when they made a sortie, but only a few succeeded in making their escape. Those few took to canoes and ])ad(lled down the river, finally reaching St. Louis, where they were given shelter and food by the white occu])ants of the fort.

fore the fort and demanded the surrender of the Illinois, that the tribe might be comijlctely exterminated, and that when their demands Avere denied they departetl witli threats of Nengeance against the fort - threats that were never carried into execution. After spending some time at the fort, until their strength was fully recovered, the refugees recrossed the Mississii^pi and joined their kindred tribes in Southern Illinois.

Some writers say that tlie Illinois were greatly addicted to vice and were almost constantly at \var until they were converted by the teachings of Father JNIarquette and other Jesuit missionaries. But, so far as can be learned, the only aggressive wars ever waged by tliem were against the minor Siouan tribes and the Winnebagoes in the early days of their history, the accounts of which are only vague traditions. In the wars with the Iroquois, and the allied tribes above mentioned, the Illinois fought on the defensive.

These two tribes, Ashicli at one time occujiied a large tract of country in Western Illinois, and no doubt hunted where Stark County is now situated, are usually sjioken of as one people, though they were two separate and distinct tribes. They liecame allied by force of circumstances for their mutual protection, each tribe maintaining its identity, though one chief ruled over both.

The Sacs - also called Sauks and Saukies - belonged to the Algonquian family and were known as "The people of the outlet." Their earliest known habitat was in the lower peninsula of IMichigan, where they lived with the Pottawatomi. The name Saginaw, as applied to a bay and city in ^Michigan, means "the place of the Sac," and marks the place where they once dwelt. The Sacs are first mentioned as a separate tribe in the Jesuit Relations for IGiO, though they were then allied with the Pottawatomi, jNIascoutens, Foxes and Kickapoos, and maintained friendly relations a\ ith the 3Iiami and Winnebago tribes. Their ti'aditions tell how they were driven from the shores of Lake Huron by the Iroquois and their allies before the middle of the Seventeenth century. They then retired by A\'ay of jNIackinaw and a few years later found a new abode along the shores of Green Bay, AVisconsin. Father AUouez, one of the early Jesuit missionaries, in Avriting of these Indians in 1667, says: "They are more savage than any of the other people I have met ; they are a populous tribe, although they have no fixed dwelling place, being Avanderers and vagabonds in the forests."

Iiistokv Of Stark Couxtv 35

That portion of their traditions rchiting to their expulsion from the eountry on the west shore of Lake Huron and their pilgriniage to Green Bay is first told by Father Uablon, in the Jesuit Kelations for KiTl. Says he: ''The Sacs, Pottawatomies and neighboring tribes, being ilriven from their own countries, which are the lands southward from ^Nlissilimakinac, have taken refuge at the head of this bay, beyond which one can see inland the Nation of Fire, with one of the Illinois tribes called Oumiami and the Foxes."

In the same year that this was written, the Ilurons and Ottawas startetl on an invasion of the Sioux country. On the way they persuaded the Sacs and I'ottawatomi to join the expedition. They were defeated in the undertaking and the surviving Sacs returned to Green Hay, where they were content to live in peace for several years before making any more warlike demonstrations.

Dorsey divides the tribe into fourteen gentes, or clans. ^Marriages were usually made between men and wouien of different clans, though they were not forbidden among persons of the same clan. Polygamy was practiced to some extent, though in this respect the Sacs were not so bad as some of the other AIg(iii(|uian tribes. Their religion consisted of a belief in numerous "JNlanitous" and was rich in myth and fable.

The Foxes, also an Algonquian tribe, resembled in many particulars the Sacs, with whom they became confederated. Their Indian name was JMesh-kwa-ke-lnig (nearly always written INIusquakies), signifying' "Peojile of the red earth." Their original dwelling place is somewhat uncertain. According to their traditions they once lived along the Atlantic coast in the vicinity of the present State of Rhode Island. Subsequently some of them occu])ied the country along the southern shore of Lake Sii])erior, from which they were driven by the Chippewas. In IG.'Ji Jean Nicollet found some of them on the Fox River, not far from Gi'cen Bay, Wisconsin, and in 107(5 Father .Allouez visited a band of Foxes on the Wolf River, in the same state. In his rejxirt of his year's work he speaks of a "IMus()uakie village of about five thousand inhabitants."

The name "Fox" originated with the French, who called these Indians "Reynors." They were regarded by the neighboring tribes as "avaricious, thieving. ])assionate and (|iiarrelsome." With an intense hati-cd for the French they planned the attack upon the ])ost at Detroit in 1712. The timely arrival of reinforcements saved the post and the Indians were signally defeated. The Foxes that took ])art in this movement then joined those spoken of by Father Allouez on the ^Volf River.

About 1730 the Dutch and EngHsh traders, knowing the hatred of the Foxes for the French, formed an alliance with the tribe for the jjurpose of driving French conijjetition from the fur country about the Great Lakes. On the othei- hand the French enhsted the cooperation of the Huron, Ottawa, Pottawatomi and some minor tribes. In the war which followed the Foxes were defeated and sought shelter M'ith the Sacs who lived near Green Bay. The French authorities, thinking the Foxes had not been sutticiently punished, sent a force of French soldiers and Indians, ccjmmanded by an officer named De Villiers, to the Sac village on the shores of Green Bay to demand their surrender. The demand was rei'used by the Sac chiefs and a hard fought battle ensued, in which the Sacs were defeated, but the refugees were not surrendered. This was the beginning of the alliance which afterward resulted in the two tribes being generally recognized as one.

In the meantime some of the Sacs had migrated southward, into what is now the State of Illinois, and in 1731 they fovmded the Village of Sau-ke-nuk on the Kock River near its mouth. ^Vhen those who remained in Wisconsin were defeated bj' the French and their Indian allies for defending the Foxes, they brought their refugees and joined the Sacs on the Rock River. At the beginning of the Xineteenth century there were about eight thousand Sacs and Foxes living along the Rock River, their hunting grounds extending eastward to the Illhiois River. When Lieut. Zebulon ]M. Pike went up the Mississippi River in 180.5, he visited the Sac and Fox villages in Illinois.

Of all the Indian tribes, the Foxes were prol)ably the only one that had what might be called a coat of arms. The design consisted of an obli(|ue line (supposed to represent a river), with the figure of a fox at each end, but on opposite sides. Following a victory in Mar this emblem was ])ainted or carved on rocks and trees to tell the story of their valor and at the same time serve as a warning to their enemies.

The Fox tribe, according to Dorsey, was divided into twelve gentes. Their pi'incipal deities were Wisaka and Kiyapata. mIio were bi'others. The former ruled the day and the latter the night. The princijial features of their religion were animal fable and a crude mythology, and they had many ceremonial observances, anniversaries, etc. The Fox Indians practiced agriculture in a primitive way. raising corn, beans, tobacco, squashes and some other vegetables. In a few cases some big chief or warrior of note would l)e i)ermitted to have more than one squaAv, but jjolygamous marriages were the exception rather than the rule.

Indians hflonoed to tlif allied tribes of the Sacs and Foxes. They were Rlaek Hawk and Keokuk, both born of Sac parents, but recognized as chiefs by the Foxes. Black Hawk was a warrior and Keokuk was a politician. The latter never played any considerable part in the history of Illinois.

Black Hawk, whose Indian name was INIa-ka-ta-wi-nie-sha-ka-ka, was born at the Sac village on the Rock River in 1767. His father, l*y-e-sa, was a direct descendant of Xan-a-nia-kee (Thunder) and l?lack Hawk was therefoi-c a member oi' the Thunder clan. According to tribal tradition, Xan-a-ma-kee had been intrusted by the (ireat Spii'it with the great medicine bag of the Sac nation and instructed to keep it always within the clan. ^Vhen Black Hawk was about nineteen years old his fatiier was killed in an encounter with the Cherokee Indians and the youth thus became the custodian of the sacred medicine bag. This medicine bag had never been disgraced, and to ])re])are himself for the duty of preserving it unsullied Black Hawk took no part in the military affairs of his ])coi)le for about five years, although be bad l)een trained in tlie arts of war by liis father and bad already (Hstinguished himself upon the Held of battle. The five years were s{)ent in praying to the (ireat S])irit to endow him with the necessary strength and wisdom to perform his duty. During that ])criod he would fre(iuently go to the i)romontory near his home on tlie Roeli IJivcr. where be would pass hours at a time smoking and meditating. 'IMie pi'omontory is still called "HIack Hawk's ^Vatch Tower."

On November ."}, 1804, (xcn. William H. Harrison, then governor of the Indiana Territory, negotiated a treaty at St. I>ouis with some of the ihinor chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes, by which the confederated tribes ceded their lands cast of the JNIississippi Rivei- to the United States, retaim'ng the ])rivilege of dwelling thei'eon until the lands were actually taken up by white settlers, wiien they were to remove to a new reservation west of the IMississippi River. There was a great deal of dissatisfaction among a large element of the Sacs and Foxes over the terms of this treaty. It was then the custom for these tribes to instruct their chiefs or delegates to a treaty council in advance as to what course was to be pursued, or afterward confirm the action of such chiefs or delegates by a vote. Some of the Indians claimed that the chiefs who attended the council at St. Louis had no definite instructions to sell the lands east of the Mississi])pi, and a |)ortion of

At the heginnino- of tlie War of 1812 part of tlie Sacs and l-'oxes joined tile British and became known as the "British Hand of Rock River," of which Black Hawk was tlie leader. Shortly aftei- tiie conclusion of the war treaties were made with the several tribes or bands wiiich had fought on the side of England, but it was not until JNIay 13, 1816, that Black Hawk and twenty-one other head men of the Rock River Sacs could be persuaded to enter into an agreement to keep the peace. On that date, at St. Louis, those twenty-two Indians "touched the goose quill," or signed a treaty reaffirming the treaty of November 3, 1804, though Black Hawk afterward declared that he did not understand what he was signing and repudiated his action.

In 1828 President Adams issued a proclamation declaring the lands ceded by the treaty of ISO-t opened to white settlement and ordering the removal of the Indians to the west side of the JNIississipjji. As a matter of fact Chief Keokuk and his band had removed to the west side of the river about two years before the proclamation was issued, but Black Hawk refused to vacate until the United States Government actually sold the section of land upon which his village was situated. In 1830 he and his followers crossed tiie river "under protest," the old chief being far from reconciled to the situation.

In the spring of 1831, «'ith a number of his braves and their families, he recrossed the river antl they took possession of their old cabins and cornfields. The white settlers appealed to Governor Reynolds, of Illinois, for protection and the governor sent General Gaines to Rock Island with a force large enough to compel the Indians to go back to their new home west of the river.

During the winter of 1831-32 the Indians underwent severe hardships in their new homes. Their houses were poorly built and provisions were scarce, so that thej' suffered from both cold and hunger. About this time Black Hawk fell under the influence of AVa-bo-kieshiek, a "bad medicine man," who advised him to recross the ^lississippi, ostensibly to visit the Winnebagoes, secure the cooperation of that tribe and the Pottawatomies, and drive out the hated pale faces. Accordingly, on April (!. 1832. he again crossed over to the east side of the jMississippi within ])lain view of the garrison at Fort Armstrong, giving out the information that he was on his way to visit the \Vinnebagoes and join witli tliein in raising a crop of corn. His disobedience Avas construed as a hostile demonstration, however, bv the military authoritifs. who feared that he ini^ht attempt to take possession of his old village on the Roek River. There is no evidence that he made or attempted to make any such an attempt, and some of the settlers, knowing that an Indian war party was never accomi)anie(l hy the old men. women and children of the trihe, expressed the opinion that J}laek Hawk was on a peaceful mission.

Although the settlers felt no special alarm over the expedition, Governor Reynolds took the view that Black Hawk's conduct in the ]jast had heen such that he would "hear watching." He therefore ordered out the state militia to the numher of -2,000 men, which force, under command of General Whiteside, was sent to the aid of the gai-i-ison at Fort Armstrong. There has al\\a\s heen a difference of opinion as to whether Black Hawk's intentions were really hostile, it is certain, however, that the first warlike movement was made hy tlie M-hites. 31ajor Stillman was sent out with a force. of 2.50 moimted meu to turn hack the Indians. The detachment came upon Black Hawk and about fort>- of his warriors at some distance from where the main body of the Indians were encamped. Black Hawk sent forward five of his men bearing a flag of truce, to ask for a parley, but Stillman's men opened fire and two of the messengers were killed. The Indians then took up the fight according to the tactics of their race, concealing themselves behind trees and rocks and picking off the white troopers. Stillman's men being mounted fought at a disadvantage and in a short time were uttei'ly routed, abandoning their provisions and camp equipage in their fiight.

Up to this time no hostile demonstration had been made by the Indians. The killing of the two warriors while engaged in bearing a Hag of truce was the beginning of hostilities. This occurred on ^lay 12. 18.'}2. and during the next month some raids were made by the Inrlians upon the unprotected settlements. But not all the atrocities were committed by the members of Black Hawk's band. A number of 'Wimiebagoes and Pottawatonn'es took advantage of the disturbed conditions to kill and ])lunder. though they declined the invitation tv join Black Hawk and "fight like men."

Stark County was at that time a ])art of Putnam, and though at some distance from the seat of war the settlers Avere greatly alarmed for fear that some straggling war ])arty would reach the Spoon River A'alley. ]Mrs. Shallenberger, in her "Stark County and Its Pioneers," savs: "Manj' settlers along the frontiers of Northern Illinois, in dread of the untold horrors of savage warfare, fled from their lands and homes, some of them never to return. It was at this crisis that volunteers from Spoon River rciulezvoiised at Hennepin, as related hv Mr. Clifford, under the direetion of the gallant Colonel Strawii in 'Honajjarte hat and laced coat,' and it is said that no less than fifteen hundred men reported themselves for service at that point."

Colonel Strawn's name does not appear in any published account of the war and it is possible that his men were employed for local defense. Immediately after Stillman's defeat volunteers were called foi' and on June 1.3, 18.'32. there were three brigades in camp at Dixon's Ferry, commanded by Gens. Alexander Posey, Milton R. Alexander and James D. Ilein-y. In addition to these volunteer l)rigades. there were the regular ti'oops at Fort Armstrong, commanded by General Atkinson, and the state militia under General Whiteside. And all this military array was considered necessary to overcome the little, half-starved band of Sacs and Foxes, whose hostile intentions had not j^et been made certain.

General Atkinson being between Black Ha^\k and the ^Mississippi River, the chief started for the \Visconsin River, intending to descend that stream and recross the jNIississippi. Early in June jNIaj. Henry Dodge, with his Galena Battalion, joined the forces at Dixon's Fei-ry. ^^'hen it was learned that Black Hawk was making for the \Visc()nsin River, General Henry and Major Dodge started in pursuit. On July 21, 18.32, they overtook the Indians at the Wisconsin, about fifty miles above its mouth, and Black Hawk was forced to make a stand until the women, children and old men could retreat across the river. With his few warriors he held the white soldiers at ba.y until the squaws constructed light rafts for the transportation of the goods and small ehildi-en. These rafts thej' pushed across the stream, at the same time leading the ponies. When the noncombatants were out of danger on the other side. Black Hawk sent half his fighting force over. From the opposite shore these braves opened fire to cover the retreat of the chief and the remainder of his little band, who then swam across to safety. This feat was accomplished with fewer than two hundred warriors in the face of a vastly superior force, with a loss of oidy six men. Jefferson Davis, then an ofi^cer in Dodge's Battalion, afterward president of the Southern Confederacy, said of this maneuver:

"This was the most brilliant exhibition of military tactics that I ever witnessed; a feat of most consummate management and bravery in the face of an enemy of greatly superior numl)ers. I never read of anything that could be compared -^ith it. Had it, been performed by white men it would have been immortalized as one of the most wonderful achievements in military history."

The last battle of the Black Hawk War was fought at the mouth of the Bad Axe River on August '2, 1832. Here all the white troops were concentrated against Black Hawk, and a steamboat luul been sent up the river from Fort Crawford to i)revent the Indians from crossing the ^lississippi. The force on this boat kept up a tire on tlie red men in front, while from all sides the Indians were assailed by the land forces. Yet, in spite of the great inequality in the strength of the two armies. Black Hawk held out for about two hours, hoping vainly for some fortunate turn in the battle that would permit at least a part of liis people to escape. Some even attempted to swim the ^lississippi, but the steamboat ran in among tliem, capturing a few and dro\^ning others.

After the battle of tlie Bad Axe, Black Hawk escaped to the \\'innebago village at Prairie la Crosse. Through the treachery of two AVinnebago Indians, he was turned over to General Street, the huhan agent at Prairie (hi Chien, as a prisoner. His two sons were also captured and held as ])risoners of war. They were contined at Fortress ^Monroe, ^'^a., until June -4, 1833. when President Jackson ordered their release. Under the escort ol' Major (iarland the three Indians were then taken on a tour of the country, in order that they might behold the greatness of the United States and the futility of again making war against the white men. AVhen taken ])efore President Jackson, Black Hawk said:

"I am a man; you are only another. We did not expect to con- (pier the whites. Thej'' had too many men. I took up the hatchet to avenge injiu'ies my ])eo])le could no longer endure. Had I borne them longer without striking, my people would have said Black Hawk is a s(|uaw; he is too old to be chief; he is no Sac. These retlections caused me to raise the war whoop. The result is known to you. I say no more."

This speech has been quoted to show that Black Hawk really crossed the Mississii)pi with a hostile object in view. At its conclusion President Jackson presented the old chief Avith a beautiful sword - "a gift from one warrior to another." Black Hawk then rejoined the remnant of his band in Iowa and died there on October 3, 1838. An old ^Vtlas of Stark County states that Black Hawk once had an encampment in what is now Goshen Township, but there is no corroborative testimony to show that he ever sojourned, even for a brief pei'iod. in the present county of Stark.

The Pottaavatojii

Tribal traditions and accounts in the Jesuit relations go to show that the Pottawatonii once constituted one of the powerful tribes of the Algonquian family. French missionaries and traders first came in contact with them near the northern limits of the lower ^Michigan peninsula, where they were known as the "Nation of Fire." Nicollet met with some of tliem in Wisconsin as early as 1664. Bacqueville de la Potherie. an early French writer, says: "In 1665 or 1666 the Pottawatonii took the southern and the Sac the northern shores of Green Bay, and the ^Viimebago, who were not fishermen, went back into the forests to live on venison and bear meat."

A few years later the Pottawatonii moved southward in large numbers and took possession of the country around the head of Lake ^lichigan. In 1674. some of this tribe met Father ^Marcjuette on his return from the ^Nlississipjji River and acted as his escort part of the way back to Canada. As already related, they joined with the Ottawa and Chipi^ewa tribes in a war with the Illinois Indians after the death of Pontiac, and as a result of that war became possessed of a jjortion of the lands once inhabited by the Illinois.

About the close of the Revolutionary war a part of the tribe moved eastward and in the early years of the nineteenth centuiy occupied practically all that part of Indiana lying north of the \Vabash River. By the treaty of August '2i. 1816, they ceded their lands along the shores of Lake ^Michigan to the United States and received in exchange some of the Sac and Fox lands in Western Illinois. This brought them into the valley of the Illinois River and some of the tribe established their homes along Walnut Creek, in what is now Stark County. In 1830 the band removed to Indian Creek, in the i)reseiit townships of Goshen and Toulon, where they were joined by others, and for a time this region A\as the principal hunting ground.

The leading Pottawatonii chief in this part of the state was Shabbo-nee, who was really an Ottawa, ])ut became chief through his marriage to a Pottawatonii maiden, daughter of a chief. In the War of 1812 he listened to the blandishments of the ShaMnee chief, Tecumseli, and joined the British, but afterward proved to be a good friend to the white settlers. In 1832, at the time of the Black Hawk war, he visited the settlers on the Spoon River and warned tliein to leave, as tlie war was likely to extend to that part of the country. Acting upon liis information David Cooper and the three Essex families went to the flirt at the foot of Peoria Lake, tliough they all returned to their liouies in Stark County with the exeeption of Thomas Essex, Jr., who settled near Peoria. Shab-bo-nee died in Grundy County, Illinois,

On August 17, IH-'l. a council was held at Chicago, when (icn. Lewis Cass, as the coniniissioner of the United States, defined the Pottawatonii country as "extending along both sides of the Illinois Kiver and all its tributaries, and along the western shore of Lake JMichiiian to CTreen Bav, with certain lands south of Lake Erie." At tlie same time the trilie reliiKiuished title to about five millions of acres in Michigan and Northern Indiana.

Another council was held at Chicago on September 26, 1833, when the Pottawatomi chiefs and head men ceded all their remaining lands in Indiana, and all their possessions in Illinois, to the United States. Two years later they received their last annuity east of the ^Mississippi and soon afterward removed to reservations in Iowa and INIissouri. A few of this once powerful tribe are still living in Kansas.

Says ]Mrs. Shallenberger: "Our pioneers report those they found here as a dirty, shiftless, set. the men of the tribe eking out a precarious living by hunting and fishing, while the women broke the sod, built the 'pony fences,' and raised paltry cro])s of coi-n. They were given to begging most importunately, if not to stealing from their white neighbors; their villages or encampments, of which there were several within our present county limits, formed rendezvous, especially on Sundays, for the idle and vicious, where horse trading and liquor drinking went on. much as in later days at a gipsy camp. So destitute of any element of poetry or romance were the last days of the red man in this region, and their trails, their corn pits, and the graves of their dead were the legacies they left us when they took up their enforced march west of the Mississippi about 183.5-3(5."

The Avinnebago

Originally this tribe belonged to the Siouan family, but far back in the past they became allied with the Algonquian tribes living about the Great Lakes, and some ethnologists class them as being one of tiie iMgonquian tribes. They are first mentioned in history as early as l(i()l). wlien they were allied with the Pottawatonii, Chippewa, Sac and Fox and other members of the Algonquian group.

of Falk'ii Tiiiihers against the white forces coininaiided by Gen. ^Viithuny Wayne. A few were en<>a<>'e(l in the battle of Tippecanoe in Novenibei", 1811, and witii the I'ottavvatomi were active in the massacre at Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) in 1812. Shortly after that tiiey located in that part of Illinois lying north and west of the Hock Kiver, tliongh they frecinently visited their Pottawatonii brethren farther south, and it is quite likely that some of them passed through Stark County. They were friendly to Black Hawk at the time of his mvasion of Illinois in 18.'32, though it was through the treachery of two members of the tribe tliat Black Hawk was captured. Not long after that they were given the strip known as the "neutral ground" in Iowa for a reservation in excliange for their lands east of the INIississippi. They intermarried freely with the Sacs and Foxes and were closely allied to those tribes. - so closely in fact that some of the last treaties made by the Sacs and Foxes were submitted to the ^Vinnebago chiefs and head men before they became effective.

The foregoing includes probably all the Indian tribes that inliabited or hunted over that part of Illinois now included in Stark County. As the march of civilization proceeded westward the Indian retired before the superior race, and about all that is left as a reminder of their former occupation of the country are the names of certain streams and towns which ai-e of unquestionable Indian origin. The county seat of Gallatin County, in the southern part of the state, bears the name of Shawneetown. in memory of the Indian tribe that once liA-ed in that region. Kaskaskia. Kandolj))) County; Cahokia, St. Clair County; Tamaroa, Perry County; and the city and county of Peoria all bear names of minor tribes of the great Illinois confederacy, and Indian Creek, in Stark County, marks the site of the Pottawatomies' old hunting grounds.

Eastiat. thv eminent Freneh writei- on political economy, once wrote an essay entitled "The Seen and the Unseen." People of the present generation see the conditions around them, hut they are not always so well acquainted with the conditions of former years, and therefore do not fully appreciate the influence of the ])ast upon the ])resent. Civilization is the outgrowth of a gradual evolution. Stark County, like all the political suhdivisions of the Lhiited States, is the ])r()(luet of a series of events running hack for many years. The part of each event may have heen small, hut tlie gradual development constitutes the "unseen" history of the county. It is therefore deemed ad\isaiile to devote a chapter to this subject, in order that the reader may he able to form some general idea of the evolution of the State of Illinois and the County of vStark.

In 14!).'J. the year iollow ing the first voyage of Columbus to America, the pojjc granted to the King and Queen of Spain "all countries inhabited by infidels." At that time the extent of the continent (liseovered by Columbus was not known, but in a vague way this papal grant included the present State of Illinois, the region then inhabited by Indian tribes who knew not the religion of the Catholic Church, and therefore came within the categoiy of infidels.

J6 Ii Is Tory Of Stakk County

they may discover and lay claim to in the name of the Knglish crown." Before the close of the century the Cahots had made exjjlorations aloni>' the Atlantic coast from Cape Ilatteras northward, and their discoveries formed the hasis of England's claim to all the central portion of North America.

While Spain was pushing her explorations through the West Inches and along the coast of the (iulf of ^Mexico, and Kngland was oi)erating along the xVtlantic seahoard farther north, the French Government sent Jacques Cartier on an expedition to the New World. He discovered and laid claim to the Valley of the St. Lawrence River and the country ahout the Great I^akes, from which hase the French suhse(iuently pushed their explorations and claims westward to the JNIississippi River and southward into the Ohio Valley.

Following the usage of that jjcriod, each of these three great Euro- ])ean nations claimed title to certain territory "by right of discovery." Spain's 2)apal grant was strengtliened by the expedition of Hernando de Soto into the interior in 1.54U-i2, one result of whicli was the discovery of the Mississippi River. De Soto died in the wilds and his body was buried in the great river. The few survivors, after many hardships, finally reached the Sjianish colony at St. Augustine and upon their report Spain, in 1.54.;j. claimed all the land bordering upon the iMississippi as well as the gulf coast. In this way what is now the State of Illinois became Spanish territory.

In 1()20 the Eritisli crown, ignoring the authority of the pope and the explorations of De Soto, issued a charter to the Plymoutli Company including "all the lands between the fortieth and fortyeighth parallels of north latitude from sea to sea." The southern l)oundary of this grant crossed Illinois about fifteen miles north of the present city of Springfield, and wliat is now Stark County was therefore included in the old Plymouth Company grant.

Eight years later (in 1(;2S) the ^lassacliusetts Bay Company received a grant that included a strip of land al>out one Inmdred miles Avide "extending from sea to sea." The northern boundary of this stri]) crossed tiie Mississippi River not far from tlie present city of Prairie du Chien. Wis., and the southern crossed the State of Illinois about ten miles north of the noi-th line of Stark County. Thus at least a part of the state was claimed by both Spain and England "by right of discovery." but no effort was made by either nation to extend colonization into the interior. S])ain was so busily engaged in the search for the rumored rich gold and silver mines that she paid but little attention to the establishment of permanent settlements, whil^

^leantinie the l<'rench were not idle. Quebec was fouiuled by Samuel Champlain in 1608, only one year after the English colony was planted at Jamestown. In KH I Jesuit missionaries from Quebec visited the Indian tribes living about the Great I>akes, and in l(>ir> a French explorer named Le Caron \isited the country of the Huron and Inuiuois tribes. The reports of Le Caron and the missionaries C(in\iiieed the r'rencii authorities that it was possible to open up a jM-otitable trade with the natives, particularly in furs, and explorations were pushed still farther westward. In KJ.'U Jean Nicollet reached the Fox River country, in what is now the State of ^Visconsin. For more than half a century, however, after the founding of Quebec, no systematic eff'ort was made to establish anything like a colony in the (ireat Lake basin.

In the fall of KHi.j Claude xVllouez, one of the most zealous of the Jesuit missionaries, held a council with the Indians at the Chippewa village on the southern shore of Lake Superior. Chiefs of tiie Sioux, Chippewa, Sac, Fox, Pottawatomi and Illinois tribes were present and to them and their jjcople Alloue/. promised the j^rotection of the great French father, thus opening the way for the establishment of trading posts in the Indian country. Some of the Sioux and Illinois chiefs told .Alloue/, of a great river farther to the westward, "called bj^ them the ^le-sa-sip-pi, which they said no white man had yet seen (they knew nothing of the expedition of Ue Soto), and along which fur bearing animals abounded."

This same Fa4:her Allouez and another missionary named Claude Dablon founded the JNIission of St. jNIarys - the first white settlement in Michigan - in lOCtH. Friendly relations were soon established between the people of the mission and the neighboring Indians. In 1(J71 Jac(jues INIarquette, one of the most influential of the Jesuit missionai'ies in Aniei'ica. founded the Mission of Point St. Ignace, near the present city of INIackinaw, for the benefit of the Huron Indians. For many years this mission was considered as the key to the great, unexplored West.

Father .Marquette had first heard of the great river through the report given bj" Allouez of the coimcil held at the Chippewa village in IfU!.). and as time passed he grew more desirous of verifying the Indian accounts of its existence. Fearing hostility, or at least opposition, on the part of the natives, he made no attempt to reach the river until after the founding of the mission at Point St. Ignace. Some time was then sixnt in making his preparations and in obtaining the consent of the Canadian colonial officials. In the spring of 1073, armed with the proper credentials, he went to Michilimackinac to com])Iete his final arrangements for the expedition. It is said that the friendly Indians, w^ien they learned of his intention, tried to dissuade him from the undertaking by telling him that the Indians who lived alonsi' the great river were cruel and treacherous, and that the river itself was the abiding place of great monsters that could easily swallow a canoe loaded with men.

Giving no credence to the horrible stories, JNIarquette continued his work of preparation and on ^Nlay 13. 1673, accompanied by Louis Joliet. an explorer and trader, and five voyageurs, with two large canoes, the little expedition left the mission.

Discovery Of The Mississippi

Passing up Green Bay to the mouth of the Fox River, they ascended that stream to the portage, crossed over to the Wisconsin River and drifted down that stream in the belief and hope that it emptied into the great river of which they were in search. Xor were their hopes idle and their belief without foundation. On the morning of June 17, 1673, a little over a month from the time they left Point St. Ignace, their canoes floated out upon the broad bosom of the Mississipi)i. Turning their canoes down the mighty stream, a few days later they came to what is now the State of Illinois, opposite the city of Dubuque, Iowa, and were probably the first white men to see the western part of the state.

On their way down the river ^Marquette and Joliet visited some of the villages of the Illinois Indians in Southeastern Iowa, after which they continued their voyage until they met with a tribe of Indians whose language they coidd not understand, when they retraced their steps and returned to the French settlements about IMichilimackinac. They had been absent about four months and had traveled about two thousand five hundred miles, through an unknown region, anchoring at night in mid-stream to prevent attacks by foes, and to avoid any rocks or rapids that might be in the river.

Joliet was a good topographer and prepared a map of the countrj'^ through which he and jNIarquette had passed. The reiJorts of their voyage, when presented to the French authorities, made the knowledge of the ]Mississippi's existence certain and it was not long until a movement was started to claim the countrv drained bv it for France.

Robert Cavalier, Sieur tie la Salle, in \(\7i. was granted the seigneury of Fort I'rontenac, where the eity of Kingston, Canada, is now located, and on ]May 12, 1078, Louis XIV, then King of France, granted him a permit to continue the explorations of Marquette and Joliet, "tind a port for the king's ships in the (iulf of 3Iexico, discover the western parts of New France, and find a \\ay to penetrate Mexico."

Nicholas Perrot had already made some explorations in the Illinois country in l()71:"the missionaries Allouez and Dablon visited the Illinois Indians in 1(572; and in 1073 Father ^Nlaniuette ascended the Illinois and Desplaines rivers. The information gained from the reports of these early explorers led La Salle to select the Illinois River route as the best way to reach the Mississippi. His first attemj)t ended in failure, chiefly because his preparations had not been carefullv made. As his desire was to explore the great river from its source to its mouth, he sent Father Louis Hennepin in 1680 to lead an expedition from the mouth of the Illinois River to the headwaters of the Mississippi, and in April of that year Heimei)in reached the Falls of St. Anthony, where the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota, now stands.

Late in December, 1681, La Salle, accompanied by his lieutenant, Henri de Tonti; .Taccivies de la ]Metairie, a notary; Jean ^Michel, a surgeon; Father Zenobe 31endjre, a Recollet missionary, and "a number of Frenchmen carrying arms," started upon the second expedition to the mouth of the JMississipjji. After a weary journey in the dead of winter, they arrived at- Peoria Lake on January 2.3, 1082. La Salle had reached this ])oint about two years before, and had here built Fort Creveeoeur (liroken Heart), so named because it was here he had been forced to abandon his first expedition. A short rest was taken at the old fort and on February (>, 1082, the whole party reached the mouth of the Illinois. Here another halt of a week was made until the Indian members of the expedition came up, their progress having been impeded by the heavy snow and ice. On the 13th the canoes started down the Mississippi and on i\])ril S. 1(582, I^a Salle and Tonti jjassed through two of the channels that led to the (iulf of Mexico. The next day La Salle formally took possession of all the country drained by the great river and its ti'ibutaries in the name of France, and conferred upon it the name of Louisiana, in lionor of Louis XIV, the French king. Under this claim Illinois became a dependency of France.

Before the close of the year 1682 settlements were established by the French at Kaskaskia and Cahokia - the oldest settlements on the INlississippi River. A little later settlements or trading posts were established at Fort Chartres, Prairie du Rocher, Prairie du Pont and Peoria. To the French therefore belongs the honor of founding the first settlements within the limits of the present State of Illinois.

It is not surprising that in time a conflict of interests arose among the English, French and Spanish. Spain claimed the interior of the continent by virtue of De Soto's discovery of the ]Mississippi River. England had sent no expeditions into the interior, but upon the discoveries made by the Cahots claimed the country "from sea to sea." Neither Sjiain nor England made any attempt to found settlements in the ^Mississippi Valley. The claim of La Salle was acknowledged by other European nations after some dispute and hesitation and France remained in control of the great valley for more than threequarters of a century. At the beginning of the eighteenth centiuy the English settlements occupied the Atlantic coast from INlaine to Georgia; Spain was in possession of the Peninsula of Florida and that part of the Gulf coast not included in Louisiana: and France held the Valley of the St. Lawrence, the Great Lake Basin and the Mississippi Valley.

In 1712 the French Government granted to Antoine Crozat, a wealthy merchant of Paris, a charter giving him exclusive control of the Louisiana trade under certain conditions. But when his agents arrived in the Gulf of ^Mexico they found the Spanish ports closed to Crozat's ships, for Spain, while recognizing France's claim to Louisiana, as based upon the discovery of La Salle, A\as jealous of French ambitions. xAfter five years, tired of -constantly combating the Spanisli ojiposition and other difKculties, Crozat surrendered his charter.

Crozat was succeeded by the INIississijjpi Company, which A\as organized by John I^aw as a branch of the Bank of France. In 1718 Law^ sent about eight hundred colonists to Louisiana and the next year Philipe Renault went up the ]Mississippi to the Illinois country with about two himdred colonists. He reestablished the settlement at Kaskaskia and laid the foundations of the settlements at Prairie du Rocher and Prairie du Pont. Law AA-as a good promoter, but a poor executive. In 1720 his whole scheme collajised and so dismal was the failure that his company is known in history as the "^Nlississijjpi Bubble." In 1730 the white i)opulation of the French settlements in the Illinois country was about three hundred and fifty, and in 1732 Law surrendered his charter and Louisiana again became a French crown province.

111 the iiicaiitinif the English had l)eeii gnulually ])iishiiig the frontier of their eivihzation farther westward. As early as 1()(>7 the Hudson's Bay Company had been organized and its trappers and traders passed freely among the Indian tribes around the Great Lakes and in the Upper .Mississippi \'alley, despite the French claim to the territory and oblivious to the French protests against their trespasses. The attack of the Fox Indians on the French post at Detroit in 1712 was incited by the English traders. iVgain in 1730 the English and Dutch traders infiuenced some of the tril)es to make war on the French in the hope of driving them from the country. The first open rupture between France and England did not come until 17.53, when the former began the establishment of a line of forts from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Kiver, for the pur])osc of holding back the threatened English occupation of the Ohio \'alley. The French claimed that the Allegheny JNIountains formed a natural boundary, west of whieli the British had no right to pass. One of the French forts was located upon land claimed by Virginia, and (Governor Dinwiddie of that colony sent George ^Vashington, then just turned twenty-one, to demand of the French commandant an explanation of this invasion of English territory while the nations were at peace. The reply A\as unsatisfactory, not to say insolent, and in 1754 Washington was sent into the disputed territory with a detachment of troo])s. having been promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

Some years before this a charter had been granted by the British Government to an association called the Ohio Company. The charter carried with it a large tract of country and the right to trade with the Indians on the Great Miami River. In 17.50 the Ohio Company built a fort and opened a trading post near the site of the present Citj^ of Piqua. Ohio. The Canadian authorities, regarding this as an encroachment upon French territory, sent a body of soldiers and Indians to break up the post. The Ohio Com]iany then began a ne\v ]K>st at the head of the Ohio River, where the City of Pittsi)urgli is nowlocated, but again they were driven away by the French. Part of Washington's instructions in 175-1 was "to complete the fort already commenced by the Ohio Comi)any at the forks of the Ohio, and to capture, kill or drive out all who attem])te(l to interfere with the English posts."

England. The conflict that followed is known in American history as the "French and Indian war," which in the end had a great iniluence upon the history of the Illinois country. After keeping the Indian tribes and Ajnerican colonies in a state of tvn-nioil for several years, the war was concluded by the treaty of Fontainebleau on November 3, 17()2, by which France ceded that ])art of Louisiana lying east of the ^Mississippi River (except the City of New Orleans and the island upon which it is situated) to Great Britain. The treaty was ratified by the treaty of Paris on February 10. 1768, and on the same day it was announced that, by an agreement jireviously made in secret, all that part of Louisiana lying west of the ^Nlississijjpi was ceded to Sjjain. Through the operation of these two treaties the jurisdiction of France came to an end in what is now the LTnited States and Illinois became a British jjossession.

]Many of the French subjects living east of the INIississippi refused to acknowledge allegiance to Cireat Britain ami removed to the west side of the river. When the English colonies in America became involved in war with the JNIother Country in 177.>, a large number of the French, who had formerly lived in Illinois, recrossed the river and joined the colonists in their struggle for independence.

In the territory acquired by England by the treaty of 1763, several posts had been established by the French, prior to the cession. Near the present City of East St. Louis was Cahokia. Forty-five miles down the river was St. Philippe. A few miles below St. Philippe were Prairie du Rocher and Nouvelle Chartres (on the site of the old fort of that name), and a little farther south was Kaskaskia. On the Wabash River, in what is now the State of Indiana, were the posts of Ouiatenon and Vincennes, and still farther north was Detroit, the most important post of all. These posts Avere occupied by the British at the beginning of the Revolutionary war.

In 1777 George Rogers Clark, a colonel of the Virginia line, sent two spies - Samuel INIoore and Benjamin Liim - into the Illinois country disguised as hunters to ascertain the conditions there. LTpon their return they reported the population of Cahokia as 300 whites and 100 negroes; that a few French families Avere living at St. Philijjpe and Prairie du Rocher; that Kaskaskia consisted of eighty houses, 500 white inhabitants and nearly as many negroes; that in none of the posts was the garrison very strong, and that many of the French inhabitants were friendly to the American cause.

Armed with this inloriiiation, Chirk Merit before the Viroinia Assembly and presented a phm for the overthrow of British power in the Mississippi Valley. On Jannary 2, 1778, the Assembly voted £1,200 to defray the expenses of the expedition and the same day Governor Patriek Henry gave Colonel Clark seeret instruetions authori/ing him to raise seven companies of fifty men each, ol)tain boats at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) for the transportation of troops, ammmiition and supplies down the Ohio River, "and during the whole transaetion you are to take especial care to kee]) the true destination of your forces secret. '

Clark raised but four of the seven companies. These four, commanded by Captains John Montgomery, Joseph Bowman, Leonard Helm and \Villiam Ilarrod, rendezvoused on Corn Island, in the Ohio Ri\er, not far from the present City of Louisville, Kentucky. On June 24, 1778, the little ai-my left the island and droi)i)ed down the Ohio, Clark's intention beiirg to ascend the \\'abash and attack the ])ost at ^^incennes first. Circumstances caused him to change his plan and begin his campaign at Kaskaskia. Leaving the boats at the mouth of the Tennessee Rivei-, Clark marched his force across the country to Kaskaskia, which place was captured without opposition on the night of Jidy 4, 1778.

The inhabitants were treated with every consideration and some of them joined Captain Bowman, who was sent up the river Avith his com])any to capture the post at Cahokia. Here another bloodless victory was won and the inhabitants cheerfully took the oath of allegiance to Virginia. Clark then commenced his preparations for the reduction of the ])ost at Vincennes. Father Pierre (ribault, who liad been in charge of the parishes between the Wabash and ^Mississippi rivers for ten years, volunteered to bring the people of A'incennes over to the American interests without any military demonstration, provided his name should not be used openly in the transaction and that Dr. Jean Baptiste LafFont, a ])hysician of Kaskaskia. might be cliarged with the temporal i)art of the mission.

The priest anil the doctor, with tlieir attendants, left Kaskaskia on the 14th of July, with an address to the ])co])le of Vincennes authorizing them to garrison their own town. etc. They succeeded in their embassy and Clark placed the post under the command of Capt. Leonard Helm, who was also appointed Indian agent for the dcjiartment of the Wabash.

Hamilton, the British lieutenant-governor at Detroit, eolleeted a force of thirty regulars, fifty French volunteers and 400 Indians, with which he descended the Wabash and on December 1.5, 1778, recaptured the post at Vincennes. No attempt was made by the inhabitants to defend the place. They were disarmed and Captain Helm wa.s detained as a prisoner of war. When this unfortunate event occurred Clark was making his preparations for his advance upon 13etroit, but now he deemed it more important to take and hold Vincennes.

On January 29, 1779, Francis Vigo, a Spanish merchant who liad been at Vincennes, arrived at Kaskaskia and gave Clark the information that Hamilton had weakened his garrison by sending his Indians against the frontier settlements: that the garrison did not number more than seventy-tive or eighty men, and that the plan was to have the Indians gather at Vincennes eai-ly in the spring for the purpose of driving the Virginians from Kaskaskia and Cahokia. Ui^on learning these things Clark realized that there was no time to be lost. On February 4, 1779, Capt. John Rogers and forty-six men embarked on a large keel-boat, with two four-pounders and four swivels and a su])ply of ammunition and provisions, under instructions to drop down the ^lississippi and ascend the Ohio and AVabash rivers with all sjiecd jiossible, while Clark, with the remainder of his force and some French volunteers marched across the country.

Crossing the Kaskaskia River, Clark followed the old trail between the two posts imtil he reached the Embarrass River, near the present City of Lawrenceville, where the flooded condition of the country caused him to change his course and he struck the \A'abash River about ten miles below the post. The march was one of great hardshijis. the men often wading in water up to their waists and the rations were limited for the greater portion of the march. Notwithstanding all the obstacles, on the morning of February 18, 1779, they were near enough to the fort to hear Hamilton's morning gun. Three days later, two canoes having been found, the men were ferried over the ^Vabash not far from the j^resent Town of St. Francisville.

In his account of the expedition Clark says: "Our fate was now to be determined, probably in a few hours. We knew that nothing Init the most daring conduct would insure success." Confident that some of the inhabitants were friendly to the American cause, and believing that he had some friends among the Indians, Clark inaugurated his "daring conduct" polic_y by writing the following address:

"Gentlemen - Bein,i>' now within two miles of your villa<);e, with my army, determined to takeyoui- fort this night, and not heini>- \villiiii>- to surprise you, I take this method to request sueh of you as are true eiti/ens and willing to enjoy the liberty I brin<)- you. to remain still in your houses. And those, if any there be. that are friends to the king-, will instantly repair to the fort and join the hair-buyer general, and tight like men. And if any sueh as do not go to tlie i'ort shall be discovered afterwards, they may depend on severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friends to liberty may depend on beingwell treated, and 1 once more recpiest them to keep out of the streets. For every one I find in arms on my arrival I shall treat him as an enemy.

After sending this by messenger, Clark l)egan to maneuvei- his force in such a way as to make it appear much more formidable then it really was. A few horses had been captured from some hunters near the i)ost. These were now mounted by the officers, who rode about in all directions, as though carrying orders. There were several stands of colors, each of which was fixed on a long jjole and carried so that it could l)e seen above the top of one of the ridges, while the man who carried it remained out of view. These maneuvers were kept up until dark, wiien the direction of the ad\ance was suddenly changed and before the inhabitants were aware of what was taking place Clark had gained the heights back of the village. Lieutenant liaylej' advanced with fourteen men and opened fire upon the fort, the main body taking ])ossession of the town.

\Vithout going into details regarding the events of the next fortyeight lioin's, early on the morning of the "i-ith Clark sent the following communication to Hamilton under a flag of truce:

"Sir: In order to save yourself from the impending storm that now threatens you, I order you immediately to surrender yourself, \vith all your garrison, stores, etc. Foi- if I am obliged to storm, you may depend on such treatment as is justly due to a murderer. Beware of destroying stores of any kind, or any jjapers or letters that are in your possession, or hurting one house in town - for, by Heavens ! if you do. there shall be no mercy shown you.

on the fort was renewed. Some of the men begged to be permitted to storm the fort, but Clark knew he had no men to spare and kept his solchers from exposing themselves as much as possible. In the afternoon Hamilton asked for a truce for three days, which Clark denied, and even refused to go to the gate of the fort for a conference, fearing treachery on the part of the British commander, who liad won the appellation of "the hair-buyer general" through his custom of paying- Indians a certain price for American scalps. However, Clark offered to meet Hamilton at the church, some eighty yards from the fort, and requested that Captain Helm, who was still a prisoner, be present at the jjai-ley. The result of the meeting was the surrender of the fort, with all its stores and munitions and Clark took possession at 10 o'clock the next morning. Three days later Hamilton and liis troops took their departure from Vincennes. During the siege Clark lost one man wounded, while the British casualties amounted to seven wounded.

Virginia claimed the territory captured by Colonel Clark and in October, 1778, the Legislature of that colony passed an act providing tliat the conquered region should comprise the "County of Illinois," of A\hich Col. John Todd was appointed county lieutenant in the spring of 1779. Soon after receiving his commission Colonel Todd visited Vincennes and Kaskaskia and organized in each place a temporary government, in accordance witli the provisions of the act creating the county.

The importance of Colonel Clark's conquest can hardly be overestimated. By the treaty of Sei^tember 3, 1783. which ended the Revolutionary war. the western boundary of the United States \vas fixed at the JNIississippi River. Had it not been for the action of Colonel Clark and his little band of heroes in driving the British out of tile 31ississip2)i ^"alley, the chances are that the treaty would have applied only to the territory included in the thirteen original colonies, the western boundary of which would in all probability have been fixed along the summit of the Apj^alachian ]Mountains, and the interior of the continent would have remained an English possession. In 1784. Virginia relinquished her claim to the region and Illinois became territory of the United States. By the Ordinance of 1787 the country ac(]uired by and through tlie campaign of Colonel Clark - lying north and west of the Ohio River - was organized as the Xoithwest Territory.

In 1800 all the Northwest Territory, except the present State of Ohio, was erected by an act of Congress into the Territory of Indiana, of M-Iiich Illinois formed a part. On February 3. 1809. President

Jeft'erisou approved tlic act uiaking lUiiujis a separate territory and appointed Xinian Edwards governor. At that time there were but two organized counties within tlie present state limits - Randolph and St. Clair. Immigration itito the new territory was ra])id and on April 18, 1818, I'resident Monroe approved the "Enabling Act," which authorized the people of Illinois to elect delegates to a constitutional convention and adopt a constitution, preparatory to admission into the Union as a state. The convention assembled at Kaskaskia in July, the constitution was ratitied by the people and a])proved by Congress, and on IJecember .'3. 1818, Illinois was formally admitted to statehood. The two counties of 1809 have been multiplied until there are now 102 counties in the state. Stark became a separate and independent county in 1839.

Having thus briefly traced the evolution of Stark County, step by steji, let us recapitulate. In 1.543 the territory now comprising the comity was claimed by Spain. Through the claim of La Salle, made on ^Vpril 9, 1682, it was included in I^ouisiana and became a part of the French possessions in iVmerica. Ry the treaty of February 10, 17(i"J. which ended the French ami Indian war, it was ceded to Great Rritain and remained a dependency of that government until the reduction of the Rritish posts by George Rogers Clark in 1778. It was then a part of ^"irginia until 1784, when it was ceded l)y that state to the United States. Ry the Ordinance of 1787 it was made a part of the Northwest Territory. From 1800 to 1809 it formed a part of the Territory' of Indiana. It was then included in the Territory of Illinois, which was admitted to statehood in 1818, when Stark was still lield by the IndiaTis. Ry the treaty of Chicago, Se])tember 2(), 1833. the IniUan title to the land was extinguished and the white man came into full possession.

What were once the hunting grounds of the Pottawatomi Indians are now cultivated fields. Where once was the Indian trail is now tile railroad. The whistle of the locomotive has sup])Ianted the warwhooj) of the savage. The tepee of the red man has given way to the schoolhouse and the halls of legislation have taken the place of the trilial council. Indian villages have disappeared and in their stead have come the towns of civilization, with paved streets, electric lights, public libraries and all the evidences of modern progress. To tell the story of this progress is the aim of the subsequent chapters of this liistorv.