Tazewell County, Illinois - Chapter 1: Settlement and Organization, 1879

Chapter 1: Settlement and Organization

TO TAZEWELL county belongs the honor of having within her boundary the soil first turned by white men in the great State of Illinois. To it we must also look to find the scene of the first attempt made by Europeans to settle our grand and noble State. On the third day of next January (1880), it will have been just two hundred vears since LaSalle with his little band of Frenchmen stepped from their canoes, which rested upon the placid waters of the Illinois, upon the shore now embraced within the limits of this county. This little fleet of canoes contained in all thirty-three daring, resolute explorers, and were led by the indomitable will, genius and enthusiasm of the most noted of French explorers, Robert Cavalier de LaSalle. This famous explorer had conceived the plan of opening water communication between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Mexico. It was this truly grand and comprehensive purpose that seems to have animated him in all his wonderful achievements and the matchless difficulties and hardships he encountered.

It was in the consummation of this idea of LaSalle's that brought the little band down the beautiful stream named in honor of the Illinois Indians who dwelt upon its banks, and landed them on its eastern shore. Seven years previous Jolict and Marquette, the first Europeans to discover the Illinois, had wended their way up to its course on their return from their famous voyage down the Missis- sippi. Being truly a leader, foremost in every enterprise, every thought, every move, we do not doubt that the dauntless La- Salle himself was the first to alight upon the shore, - was the first white man to set foot upon the soil of Tazewell county. Thus it will be seen that here is a spot truly historic, - a place noted for being the first in one of the greatest States of the Union where civilized man made his first attempt to establish himself.

Fort Crevecceur Built

Through the difficulties encountered with the Indians, and the machinations of his own men, LaSalle was greatly retarded on his journey southward. Winter had overtaken him, and to protect himself and followers, and to provide for them comfortable quarters in which to pass that dreary season, he resolved to erect a fort. His good judgment led him to a spot upon the eastern bank of the Illinois, the site of the present Wesley City, and upon the southeast quarter of section one, Pekin township. Here upon the extremity of a ridge, protected on either side by deep ravines, and extending to within two huudred yards of the water's edge, he built a fort which he christened Fort Crevecoeur. The moaning of the French name is heart-breaker. Why LaSalle should have chosen so sad a name we know not, unless, perchance, by a prophetic vision he glanced into the future and foresaw the sad ending of his enterprise. Or, it may have been thus named as indicative of the misfortunes they suffered here, or from its having been the site of a bloody battle between the brutal Iroquois and Illinois Indians.

To fortify the bluff thus selected, the point of which at the time was about one hundred yards further from the river than it now is, his first move was to dig a ditch behind and connect the two ravines. He thus severed the point upon which the fort was to be constructed, which contains about eighty acres, from all connection with any land of the same altitude. This bluif rises to the height of from 160 to 180 feet, and to increase the altitude of its different sides, which nature has made steep and rugged, an embankment encircling its outer line was thrown up. To make the fortress still more impregnable a palisade of heavy oak timber, twenty-five feet in height, extending around the entire fortification, was constructed. This being completed, buildings for the accommodation of the men were erected within the enclosure, and the little band went into snug winter quarters.

The fort was admirably located, and commanded fnll view of the river for miles above and below ; and its high, perpendicular sides, heavily palisaded, could not be easily ascended by the foe. Thus advanta^eouslv situated a small garrison could have defended it from the combined attack of all the neighboring Indians, at least until the supply of provisions failed.

The Jesuit Priests

Fortunately, however, the fort was never used to protect the men from Indian hostility, as they remained peaceable and friendly with the garrison. Indeed, it was used more as a sanctuary than a fortress of military power. Fathers Hennepin and Membre and old Father Ribourde labored daily with the neighboring Indians. But even the zeal and earnestness displayed by those early Jesuit missionaries in spiritual matters failed to make any perceptible impression upon the filthy savages. Hennepin preached twice every Sunday, chanted vespers, and regretted that the want of wine prevented the celebration of mass.

A Vessel Commenced

The fort having been fully completed, LaSalle set about to build a sailing vessel with Avhich to descend the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Thus we see that the first timber felled by the axe of civilization, the first mechanical labor performed, and not only the first fort built but the first vessel put upon the stocks in Illinois, were all done in Tazewell county.

Hennepin Sent On His Famous Voyage

In the mean time LaSalle sent Hennepin, with Accau and Du Gay, on his famous voyage of the discovery of the upper Mississippi. They left the fort on the last day of February. After a year's sojourn among the Indians of that region Hennepin returned to Europe, where the account of his exploits and the description of this beautiful country was published in several languages. He subsequently, however, attempted to rob LaSalle of his well-earned and deserved honor by giving a false account of his discoveries, in consequence of which much of his writings are discredited.

Legends Of The Mississippi

only the information that the Father of Waters was inhabited by huge goblins, and an attempt to sail upon its boisterous waves w^as destruction. These stories \vere of course discredited by LaSalle, but many of his men were superstitious, and really feared to visit that river, and deserted lest LaSalle should start an expedition in search of it. Soon, however, an incident occurred Avhich enabled him to disabuse their minds of such fabulous stories. AVhile hunting in the vicinity of the fort, he chanced to meet a young Indian who had just returned from a distant war excursion. Finding him almost famished with hunger LaSalle invited him to the fort, where he refreshed him with a generous meal, and questioned him with apparent indiflPerence respecting the Mississippi. Owing to his long absence he knew nothing of Avhat had transpired between his brethren and the French, and, with great subtlety, imparted all the information required. LaSalle now gave him presents not to mention the interview. With a number of his men he then proceeded to the camp of the Indians to expose their misrepresentations. Having found the chiefs at a feast of bear meat he boldly accused them of falsehood, and at once proceeded to substantiate his charges. The Master of Light, he declared, was the friend of truth, and had revealed to him the true character of the Mississippi. He then gave such an accurate description of it that the astonished but credulous savages believed he had derived his knowledge through supernatural agency. They at once confessed their guilt, and gave, as the reason for resorting to such artifice, the fact that they w^anted him to remain with them. This confession removed the principal cause of the desertion of his men.

On the 2d day of April, 1680, LaSalle bid adieu to his diminished band, and left it in the wilderness inhabited only by the wild beasts of the forests and the uncivilized, brutal natives, and hundreds of miles in advance of any frontier post. He placed the garrison in charge of his lieutenant, Henri Tonti, an Italian. For a fuller account of the trials and difficulties encountered bv Tonti than we can give here, we refer the reader to the History of Illinois contained in this volume.

The Fort Destroyed

LaSalle had no sooner left than the dish:>yal men among tlie garrison displayed a spirit of mutiny, which culminated in the almost total destruction of the fort by them, and all save six, besides the faithful Tonti, deserted. After the famous battle between the Iroquois and Illinois Tonti was driven away.

Soon LaSalle returned to find the fort destroyed, tools thrown into the river, and the village of the Illinois, which numbered 8,000 inhabitants, a desolate waste. The vessel, however, was still upon its stocks uninjured. Thus disastrously terminated the first attempt to settle the State of Illinois and the county of Tazewell.

First Settlement At Peoria

The next attempt to settle this section of Illinois was made at the upper end of Peoria lake in 1778. The country in the vicinity of this lake was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the town of Laville de Meillet, named after its founder, was started. Within the next twenty years, however, the town was moved down to the lower end of the lake to the present site of Peoria. In 1812 the town was destroyed and the inhabitants carried away by Captain Craig. In 1813 Fort Clark was erected there by Illinois troops engaged in the war of 1812. Five years later it was destroyed by fire.

During the period from the time Laville de Meillet was founded in 1778, or at least after it was moved to the lower extremity of the lake, French traders had a regular established trading post on the Illinois near the site of old Fort Crevecoeur. They carried on an extensive commerce with the neighboring Indians, buying their furs with notions. At this business they became quite wealthy.

The " old French trading post," by which name it was known, remained at Wesley City for almost a quarter of a century after the first settlers came to the county. A large log building, about 30 by 60 feet in size and 10 feet high, was their principal store-house. Mr. B. F. Montgomery tells us that he visited the place in 1836, and in this building found a very large stock of skins and furs, which they told him were worth in their present state $2,000. The collection contained the covering of almost every animal of any value from the weasel to the buffalo.

The principal traders at this point during the early settlement of the county were Tromly and Besau, both of whom were well known by some of the pioneers. These French traders had lived, traded and intermarried with the Indians until there were many half-breeds throughout the neighborhood. They were quiet, peaceable people, and treated the settlers with the neatest kindness. Besau died at the old post many years ago. Tromly went to Kansas in 1844. The former had married an Indian squaw and reared a large family. One of his daughters, Mary Besau, who is said to have been quite beautiful and her personal appearance and bearing graceful, was married to a man by the name of Anderson. About the year 1845 he moved to Kansas, where, near Leavenworth, he resided when last heard from by any Tazewell county people.

These French traders cannot be classed as settlers, at least in the light we wish to view the meaning of that term. They made no improvements ; they cultivated no land ; they established none of those bulwarks of civilization brought hither a half century ago by the sturdy pioneer. On the other hand, however, they associated with the natives ; they adopted their ways, habits and customs ; they intermarried and in every way, almost, became as one of them.

A Century And A Half Of Peace

Year after year rolled by until quite a centur>' and a half had passed since LaSalle stepped ashore from his skiff, before the aborigines who occupied the territory embraced within the present boundary of Tazewell county were molested by the encroachment of the white man, save the French traders above referred to. Generation after generation of natives appeared upon the wild scenes of savage life, lived, roamed the forest and prairie, and glided over the beautiful, placid Illinois in their log and bark canoes, and passed away. Still the advance of civilization, the steady westward tread of the Anglo- Saxon disturbed them not. The buffalo, deer, bear, and wolf roamed the prairie and woodland, the Indian their only enemy. But nature had destined better things for this fertile region. She had been too lavish in the distribution of natural advantages to leave it longer in the peaceable possession of those who had for centuries refused to develop, even in the slightest degree, any of her great resources. She accordingly directed hitherward the footsteps of the industrious, enterprising pioneer. Before, however, proceeding to recount his

Different Indian Tribes

At the time the earliest European explorers visited the State the various tribes of the Illinois confederacy dwelt upon the banks of the Illinois river. They were the Peorias, Michigans, Tamaroas, Kaskaskias, and Cahokas. This once powerful confederacy was almost exterminated by the wars with the Iroquois, the Foxes and Sacs, and the Pottawatomies. During the latter part of the seventeenth century hard and desperate battles were fought upon the land of this county between the different tribes. Hundreds of brave warriors had fallen beneath the tomahawks of other tribes, until acres of the land now possessed by the nobler race were strewn with the dead and dying. After a famous contest in the year 1680, between the different tribes of the Illinois confederacy and a chosen band of brutal Iroquois, the latter, who were victorious, carved upon the trunks of the largest trees upon the shore of the Illinois river hieroglyphics, representing the chiefs, the braves, and different battle scenes.

From about the year 1780 to 1832, the time of the Black-Hawk war, the Kickapoos dwelt in the western and southwestern part of the county. Their principal village was in Logan county. The Pottawatomies, however, were the chief occupants and immediate predecessors of the whites.

For some years after the first settlers came wigwams were scattered here and there over the county. The kind and generous Shaubena, with his band of Pottawatomies, had his principal camp and wigwams on the bank of the Illinois river near where the gasworks of Pekin are now located. Another extensive camping ground was on the Mackinaw river, near the present town of Mackinaw. Old Machina was the chief of this band. The Kickapoos had made a treaty shortly previous to the coming of the first settler, by which the whites acquired all their land. When the whites came, however, to settle and occupy the land the Kickapoos were angry, and some of them felt disposed to insult and annoy the settlers. When John Hendrix came to Blooming Grove the Indians ordered him to leave. Not long afterwards they frightened away a family which settled on the Mackinaw. Old ]\Iachina ordered one family away by throwing leaves in the air. This was to let the bootanas (white men) know that they must not be found in the country when the leaves of autumn should fall. In 1823, when the Orendorifs came, Old Machina had learned to speak a little English. He came to Thomas OrendorfP and with a majestic wave of his hand said : "Too much come back, white man: t'other side Sangamon." The Rhodes family were also ordered away. These families settled in the eastern part of this and western part of McLean counties, but at the time and for years afterwards was all Tazewell county. These things appeared a little threatening, but the settlers refused to leave and were not molested.

When the Black Hawk war broke out in 1832, the Indians living here were very much like the whites in some particulars. The pale-faces looked upon the neighboring red men with suspicion, and feared they would be massacred by them, while at the same time the Indians experienced a like timidity. They watched the whites closely lest they should arise up some night and butcher their squaws and papooses. Controlled by this feeling they began to emigrate. Shaubena went north and located at Shaubena's Grove, DeKalb county. In the early part of the decade between 1840 and 1850 he returned and spent two winters at Pleasant Grove, in Elm Grove township.

After the grand exit of 1832 the Indians, who had roamed at will over the prairies and through the forests for centuries, returned only as visitors. Devoted to the sweet memories of departed kindred, one would occasionally return alone and with a melancholy spirit. He would hunt the burial mound and silently and sadly commune with the loved dead. You see the native red man no more. He is only of the past so far as Tazewell county is concerned. Should one pass through the principal thoroughfares of your cities robed in his native costume he would excite the wonder and curiosity of all, the old as well as the young.

The War Of 1812

During the war of 1812 Tazewell county was the scene of one of the most effective engagements against the Indians waged in Illinois during that war. Gov. Edwards had collected an army of about 400 men in the southern part of the State, and set out in the latter part of October, 1812, for the seat of war. This was in the neigh- borhood of Peoria lake. At the same time Gen. Hopkins started with 2,000 mounted Kentucky riflemen. His destination was the same point, and Edwards expected to work in concert with the noted General. However, when his men had marched about 90 miles across Illinois prairie into the enemy's country they became wearied, and regardless of the General's protestations, turned about without even seeing the foot-prints of an Indian, and started on a hasty homeward march.

Course Of The Army

Edwards with his brave and courageous Illinois rangers continued on. It may be remarked that in this little band were three men, all of whom subsequently became noted governors of Illinois. Leaving Fort Russell they marched up through Sangamon and Logan counties, striking Tazewell at the point in Hittle townshij) where Sugar creek makes its exit. On this creek the troops found an old deserted Kickapoo village. These tenantless bark wigwams were painted up here and there with rude savage devices, mostly representing the red-skins scalping whites. This provoked the warlike indignation of the little army, and the village was assaulted, set on fire and destroyed. After this, fearing that their nightly camp fires would reveal their approach tat the Indians, whom they hoped to surprise, the marches were continued till midnight. The course of the army was now northward through Hittle, Little MackinaAV, Mackinaw, bearing westward through Deer Creek, striking Morton, and enterino; ^Yashin2;ton near the center of its southern line. From this point they took a direct course for the Black Partridge village of Pottawatomies, located at the upper end of the lake, on the bluffs in Fond du Lac township. Before coming up to the town Lieut. Peyton, with a small party, was sent to Peoria. He made no discoveries. The army moved rapidly but cautiously forward, and late in the night preceding the attack camped in the western part of Washington township.

The Village Reconnoitred

It was now desirable to reconnoitre the position of the Indian town, that the army might know how, when and where to strike. To perform this perilous duty four of the bravest of men stepped forward and volunteered their services. All of them subsequently won enviable reputations in public life. They were Thomas Carlin, and Robert, Stephen, and Davis Whiteside. They proceeded to the viHage and explored all the approaches to it thoroughly without disturbing the wily savage. The town was found to be about five miles from where the army was encamped, and situated on a bluif separated in part from the high lands by a swamp through which ran a small stream (Ten Mile creek). The low banks of this stream were covered by a rank growth of tall grass and bunches of brush, so tall and dense as readily to conceal an Indian on horseback until within a few feet of him. Recent heavy rains had rendered the ground additionally yielding, making it almost impassable to mounted men.

A Night Alarm

That night within the fireless and cheerless camp of the rangers all was as silent as the grave. A deep and solemn gloom settled over the men. The long marches lost the charm they at first possessed, and instead of being jovial and frolicsome as they were then wont to be, they were fatigued and sulky. They were in the enemy's country and feared an attack at any moment. They reposed upon their arms, with their horses tethered near at hand, ready saddled to be mounted in an instant.

During the night, when scarcely a whisper disturbed the air, a gun was carelessly discharged by o^e of the men. This of course caused the greatest consternation in the camp. The treacherous and subtle foe was momentarily expected, and the men regarded that as the signal for attack. All the horrors of the night attack at Tippecanoe, then fresh in the minds of every one, presented themselves to the active imaginations of the rangers. Every white-coated soldier at that battle, it was said, was singled out in the dusky morning and killed by the savages. Every soldier who happened to have on a light-colored coat distinctly remembered this, and in an instant not a white coat could be seen. Soon, however, the voice of the Governor assured the men that the firing was merely accidental, and all became quiet again.

First Indian Killed

A heavy fog prevailed on the following morning; however, the army took up its line of march for the Indian town. Capt. Judy with his spies were in advance. They came up to an Indian and his squaw, both mounted. The tall grass concealed them until within a few paces. The Indian wanted to surrender, but Capt. Judy said he " did not leave home to take prisoners," and instantly shot him. AVith the blood streaming from his montli and nose, and in his agony " singing the death song," the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally wounded one of the soldiers, and expired. The rest of the spies, who had incautiously approached the wounded Indian, when they saw him seize his gun, quickly dismounted on the far side of their horses. Many guns were immediately discharged at the other Indian, not then known to be a squaw, all of which missed her. Badly scared, and her husband killed by her side, the agonizing wails of the squaw were heart-rending. She was taken prisoner and subsequently restored to her nation.

The Attack

Owing to the dense fog which prevailed the army was misled and found itself in the spongy bottom just below the town, with the miry creek to cross. This, of course, deranged the plan of attack, and thus the village escaped a surprise. While a halt was made, preparatory to crossing, the Indians were observed running from the town. An attack from the Indians while crossing the treacherous stream was momentarily expected. However, no attack was made or attempted, but the Indians were fleeing from their village and impending death. Pell-mell they went, men, women and children, some on horseback, some on foot, into the swamp among the tall grass, and toward a point of timber in which the Governor judged they intended to make a stand for battle. " I immediately changed my course," he writes, " ordered and led on a general charge upon them ;" but owing to the unsoundness of the ground, the pursuers, horses, riders, arms and baggage all shared in the common catastrophe alike, and were unhorsed and overwhelmed in the morass.

A pursuit on foot was ordered. Tliis was both difficult and dangerous on account of the tall gra,ss in which the Indians were lurking. Several squads thus pursued the retreating foe for two or three miles across the saturated bottom to the river, killing some of the enemy while attempting to cross to the western shore. To such a pitch of excitement Avere the men wrought that three of them, finding some Indian canoes, in the fury of the chase crossed the river in full view of the Indians, but without molestation.

Chequeneboc Burned

a chief, was burned. The Indians who had not retreated over the river, fled to the interior wilderness. Here some of them were pursued, but the Indians, making a stand in considerable numbers, forced the rangers to retreat. Being reinforced, they returned and routed the savages. Some of the troops were wounded in this action, but none killed.

During these engagements the place was pillaged and burned by the main body of the troops. The Indians in their flight had left behind all their winter's store of provision, which was destroyed or taken away. Hiding about the burning embers of the ruins were found some Indian children, forgotten by the frightened fugitives. There were also found some disabled adults, one of whom was in a starving condition, and with a voracious appetite partook of the bread given him. He is said to have been killed by a cowardly soldier straggling behind, after the main army had resumed its retrograde march, who wanted to be able to boast that he had killed an Indian.

To show the reckless daring of the Indian character, it is mentioned that a warrior walked calmly down the bluff some 200 yards distant from the town, deliberately raised his gun and fired upon the troops in the village, then turned and strode slowly away amid a shower of bullets.

The Army Retreats

Gov. Edwards failed to hear from the larger force under Gen. Hopkins, and fearing the Indians would concentrate and make an attack upon him, concluded to make a hasty retreat. This he began the same day of the attack, and though a heavy and continuous rain prevailed tlxe men were in such dread of a pursuit that they kept up their march until overtaken by darkness, when, greatly exhausted and wet, without fire to dry their clothing or food to nourish their bodies, they sank into sleep upon the wet ground. Soon the little army had passed the limits of this county on their homeward march, where we will leave it.

The Pioneers

Leaving the history of the French and Indians, having given all of interest we have been able to gather, we come now to the time the first pioneer erected his cabin liere and established for himself and family a home in the wilderness. So fertile was the soil and beautiful the flowers, so sparkling were the streams and shady the groves that, in advance of all the surrounding country, the pioneers sought and settled the timber land and prairie of Tazewell county.

The thrilling scenes through which the pioneer settlers passed in the settlement of this portion of Illinois must ever awaken emotions of warmest regard for them. To pave the way for those who followed after them, to make their settlement in the West a pleasure, they bore the flood tide wave of civilization ; they endured all, suffered all. But few of these spirits now survive ; they have passed away full of years and honors, leaving their children, and children's children and strangers to succeed them, and enjoy the fruits of the toil, privations and savings of their long and eventful lives.

Too great honor cannot be accorded them, and we regret that we have not the data to speak more fully and definitely of them, their personal experiences, their lives and characters.

The First Settler

AVhen, in 1826-7, the Legislature formed Tazewell county it extended over a vast region of country. Its boundaries then embraced many of the neighboring counties, and its jurisdiction extended as far north as Chicago. In giving the history of the settlement of the county, however, we will speak only of the territory within its present limits.

The first to cast his fortune here, - to "locate" in Tazewell county, - was Nathan Dillon. He came in the year 182.3, and lived, labored and died in the county of his adoption an honorable, honored citizen. Fortunately we have been able to obtain a very fiill narrative of his coming from his own pen. We give it in his own language just as he has left it to posterity.

It was in the year 1821 that we set our faces westward, with heavy hearts at the thought of leaving near friends and relatives behind, with a view of taking up our abode on the broad prairies of the West, and among strangers and savages. At that early day, our way was in a manner through a wilderness to our journey's end, the destination of which was eight miles south of Springfield, on Sugar creek.

Although we were well outfitted with good horses and wagons, many hardships awaited us of which we had not dreamed. We had a terrible trip through Indiana through mud, over logs and brush, often swamped down to the hubs of the wagon. We could procure but little feed for our horses but new corn, and part of the time could not obtain that ; and when at last we struck the Grand Prairie, west of Clinton, on the AVabash, we found ourselves with brokendown horses and only three days' provisions, our company consisting of my brother Absalom's family and my own, with six horses and seventy head of cattle and twenty sheep. The country before us was wild, new, almost untrodden by man ; but our hearts were brave. The second day out some were attacked with the chills and fever, and as we advanced others were taken with the same disease. Then did we wish ourselves back again to the home we had left in Ohio. Not half way across the prairie and out of provisions, and not able to drive our team, let alone our stock, what to do we did not know ; but at this juncture we were overtaken by three young men, who had set out on our trail with the hope of safely walking through : but when thev overtook us were already out of provisions.

To remedy our scarcity we slaughtered one of our cows, thereby obtainina: what would subsist us till we could reach the forks of the Sangamon, where resided Jacob Scraggs, and where we rested. The next day we reached our destination. We were among strangers, but they were kind, generous and hospitable. AVinter was draAving near, and we had no shelter of any kind in which to stay, no feed for our stock, and my wife the only person among us who had not been sick on the road, and yet we succeeded in passing our first winter in Illinois, as best we could, and without losing much stock. In passing, I will note that at the time of our arrival there was in Springfield a very low, one-story court-house, twenty feet square ; a jail, not so large, built of round logs ; a tavern, kept by a Mr. Price, and a store, kept by John Taylor, who was also sheriff of the county.

The summer following much sickness prevailed, and in the fall we lost two children, which discouraged us veiy much, - made us home-sick, and almost induced us to return to Ohio. Hearing, however, a good account of the Mackinaw country to the north of us, we determined to visit it ; and accordingly, accompanied by my brothers Jesse and AValter, and AVilliam Hays, we set out on a journey to explore it. We struck the stream at Mackinaw Town, and after visiting Deer Creek, Walnut Grove, White Oak and Stout's Groves, our provisions failed us, and we went over to Fort Clarke (as Peoria was then called), but on arrival found neither provisions nor people, except Abner Eads and Jesse Ogee. But we managed to catch some iish, and on them, with some prairie chickens Ave killed, we subsisted until we returned to Elkhart Grove.

On our return we passed through Pleasant Grove and Delavan Prairie. We made selections for future homes near Dillon Creek, and the next fall, having put up cabins, we prepared to remove to our new home, got ready, and set out. On our journey, when a short distance from where the village of Delavan noAv stands, we were overtaken bv a heavv thunder storm. We hurried alono- as fast as possible until sundown, when the wind changed to the northwest, and in fifteen minutes' time our clothes were frozen hard, our horses mired down, and my wife and children had to get out of the wagon into the bleak wind. Then we unloaded the wagon and moved it out of the slough by hand, the water half-leg deep, and reloading, hitched up the horse and moved on about a quarter of a mile further, when the same accident occurred again. It was now quite dark, the wind blowing, the weather freezino; cold, -wolves howlinoin every direction. We concluded to start for the timber, which was about three miles off; so, packing wife and children on horseback, w^e started against the wind : it Avas to do that or freeze on the prairie. We were in a truly desperate condition, - no fire, and all of us wet, cold and hungry. AYe had to have fire or perish ; so on our arrival at the timber it devolved on me to strike a fire, for my brother was so near chilled through he could do nothing, as he had been riding and driving a four-horse team. In those days we had no matches, and were compelled to strike a fire by a flint-lock rifle, which was a bad job, as the whole ground was flooded and nothing could be found dry. I at length succeeded in getting a fire, and we piled high the wood and stood around and thawed out and dried our clothes ; and when my wife went to look for the provisions to get some supper, the dogs had found where it lay, and eaten it all up ; and we went supperless to our wet beds.

The next morning we started by sunrise for the wagon. It was frozen fast, and we had to cut it out and take it back the way it came in. We had left our cattle on the previous night, and they had started ofl". I took their trail and followed them several miles when the ground became so frozen that their hoofs made no impres- sion ; so I gave them up as lost and returned to camp. By this time I was very hungry ; and wife, with provisions brought from the wagon, had prepared a good meal, and we all did it ample justice, as we had not eaten anything for nearly two days.. At the beginning of the second day we mustered all force, determined to reach our destination that day. When we arrived at the MackinaAV the ice was running in large quantities, and the stream hardly fordable ; but with much labor and difficulty we got across, and that evening arrived at our cabin. There was no door or chimney to it; not a crack stopped, and situated so the north wind came through at a sweeping rate ; but having plenty of bed-clothes, we kept ourselves comfortable, and opened a place in the roof to let the smoke escape, prepared a good suppar, slept in the cabin, and felt ourselves at home. We went to work on the cabin, and in a few days had it warm and comfortable.

Brother Walter returned to Sangamon county for a load of corn and meal. While he was gone it rained a great deal, and he was twelve days in coming from Springfield. Wm. Davis came with him with a drove of hogs. When they arrived at Mackinaw the water overflowed the banks, so they left the team on the other side, and with the men with them, made a raft and crossed over, and arrived at home late the same night. The next morning we started for the teams, prepared to make a raft large enough to bring across wagon, provisions and horses. The weather was extremely cold, and the work occupied two days. We got our wagons and provisions across, but were compelled to swim the horses. Brother John was mounted on one of them, and in plunging round in the mud and Avater he got dismounted and thrown in the water, and when he got out had to ride near three miles with frozen clothes on, and almost perished ; but a good fire and hearty supper made us all feel comfortable. But the horses had a hard time of it, as they had to stand out in a cold wind tied with a halter all through the cold freezing night.

So passed the winter at our cabin with wife and children. Occasionally my brother was with us, but my wife never saw a white woman from the month of December to the following March ; but there were plenty of Indians, and they were quite troublesome, and could not be trusted. In the month of May following (1824) I was compelled to go to the settlements after provisions, and John Dillon accompanied me. The night we arrived it commenced rain- ing, and continued, so that on our return the streams had raised to a fearful height. When we came to Salt Creek it was a sea of water from hill to hill, and we were compelled to cross as best we could, by ferrying our load in a small boat, and swimming our horses. Kickapoo was in the same condition, and we crossed in a small canoe, taking our wagons apart in order to get them over. The next was Suffar Creek, where Robert Musick then lived. Here we were one whole day in crossing. The night after we lay out on the big prairie, without fire and but little to eat. If such toils and privations would not try men's souls, what Avould? We had no more ferrying until we reached Mackinaw, but our team broke away, and we had to follow them some eight miles before we overtook them. On our return we foiuid Benj. Briggs, who was on his way to Peoria : had been as far as Mackinaw and could not cross, and was returning. We returned to that stream and spent a lonesome night on its banks, and in the morning found an Indian canoe, and with its aid swam our horses over and reached home. Brothers Walter, Absalom, and others started for the stream and brought our wagons over.

In concluding this narrative I will speak of the other first settlers that came to this section of country (Dillon Grove, Tazewell Co.). In the month of March, 1824, brother Absalom moved here; soon after John Summers, William Woodrow, and Peter Scott came and made improvements. My brothers Jesse and Thomas came out the fall following, and the year after my father and brother William came, and from that time the country settled very fast with an industrious population.

Early Settlements

In 1824 Nathan Dillon was followed by his brothers with their families, who settled on the creek around him. Then came George and Isham Wright to Hittle's Grove, Esau and William OrendorflF to Sugar Creek, Isaac Perkins, Hugh Woodrow, William Woodrow, Samuel Woodrow, John Summers, Jacob and Jonathan Tharp, Peter Scott and others, came into Sand Prairie in 1824. In the northern part of the county came William Blanchard, L. Andress, Elias Avery, John Parker, Thomas Camlin, and William Holland. Mr. Holland came from Peoria in the spring of 1825 and located on the site of the present city of Washington, of which he was the founder. He was formerly from North Carolina, and was employed by the

United States Government as a blacksmith for the Indians who inhabited this portion of our State at that time. For several years after settlino; here Mr. Holland continued to work for the natives. He was also a gunsmith, and as such his services were in great demand by both the Avhite and red men. His was the only house, and his the only family living in the vicinity of Washington until 1826. At the time he came to Washington his nearest neighbor was Thos. Camlin, who lived on Farm Creek, some three miles east of Peoria, in Fond du Lac township. Camlin was a genial, clever pioneer, and always ready to entertain his guests with spicy stories and thrilling incidents of his personal adventures with the Indians, whom, he would claim, he used to shoot at a distance of one-half to threequarters of a mile, - a second Daniel Boone.

Holland often visited at Camlin's, and passed many pleasant evenings in his society. Had we a pioneer of this type in our midst to-day, living as he then lived, with his experiences of frontier life, what a curiosity he would be ! What a thrilling, blood-curdling story would the simple narrative of his life make.

William Davis

One of the earliest settlers of the county was William Davis. He came in the year 1823 with the Dillons. He brought his family the following year, and located on section 27, Elm Grove toAvnship. The widow of Mr. Davis lives at the old homestead, the laud never having been transferred since first entered by her husband. Previous to his coming to this county Mr. Davis had been in the employ of Major Langley, who had the contract from the United States Government to survey the southern part of the State. Mr. Davis was a noted hunter, and with his faithful and unerring rifle supplied the surveying party with abundance of the choicest game the country afforded.

In this connection we will relate an incident in Mr, Davis' life worthy of commemoration. To him belongs the honor of buying the first article of merchandise ever sold in Springfield, the State capital. It was under the following circumstances that the purchase was made : When the surveying party reached the site of the city of Springfield his shoes had completely given out, leaving him barefoot. Some parties by. the name of Isles were putting up a place in which to open a stock of goods at that point. The building was made of bark and was simply intended as temporary quarters. At

Thomas Davis, a son of William Davis, and who now resides in Tremont township, has in his possession the rifle his father carried while connected with the surveying ex})edition. This gun was also the property of William Davis' father, and is over one hundred years old.

Other Settlers

The same year that Mr. Holland came to Holland's Grove, Amasa Stout and Matthew Stout came to Stout's Grove, and Daniel Seward, Benjamin Briggs, Alexander McKnight, and James Scott, to Plum Grove. Jesse, Absalom and Jacob Funk, Jacob Wilson, Jacob Hepperly, Morgan Buckingham, Horace Crocker, Abraham Brown and Jeiferson Huscham came and settled on the river bottom above and opposite Fort Clarke.

Tazewell county was organized by an act of the Legislature Januarv 31st, 1827, with the following boundaries : Beginning at the northeast corner of township twenty, north of the base line, axid range three east of the third printnpal meridian, thence north on said line to the north line of township twenty-eight north, thence west to the middle of the Illinois river, thence down said river to the north line of township twenty north, thence east to the place of beginning.

In the act organizing the county January 31, 1827, an error occurred in describing the boundaries. This error was corrected by an act re-establishing the boundaries, passed January 22, 1829..

The territory comprising the county of Tazewell formed part of the counties at the dates named in the several subdivisions of the State prior to the organization of the county, as follows :

1809 - At this date Illinois Territory was organized, and was subdivided into the counties of Randolph and St. Clair. Tazewell was included in the county of St. Clair.

1814 - Tazewell was included in the counties of Madison and Edwards : west of the third principal meridian in Madison, east of the meridian in Edwards.

1829 - Tazewell boundaries defined, and error in law of 1827 corrected as above given. County originally created from territory then comprising part of the counties of Sangamon and Fayette : west of the third principal meridian taken from Sangamon, east of the meridian, comprising 24 townships, taken from Fayette.

The commissioners to locate the couutv seat were Thos. M. Neale, Wm. L. D. Ewing and Job Fletcher. They were by the act of organization required to meet on the third Monday of March, 1827, or within five days thereafter, at the house of Wm. Orendorif, for the purpose of locating the county seat, which, when located, was to be called " Mackinaw." Until county buildings were erected the courts were required to be held at the house of Wm. Orendorff. Election for county officers at the house of said Wm. Orendorif on the second Monday of April, 1827.

In the year 1825 the Legislature created Peoria county, and attached to it for all county purposes all of the territory north of town 20 and west of the third principal meridian, thus including all the present county of Tazewell. Nathan Dillon, William Holland and Joseph Smith were chosen County Commissioners for the new county. The former two resided in this county. They held their first meeting at Peoria March 8, 1825.

Benjamin Briggs, George Hittle, and James Lotta were chosen Countv Commissioners. The Commissioners at once proceeded to hold a meeting and consummate the organization. This they did at the house of William Orendorff, April 10, 1827. For an account of the labors of the Commissioners we refer the reader to the following chapter.

The county at this time was very large ; even in 1829, when a new boundary was formed, it contained 79 townships. It has been divided for the formation tif other counties so often that it has finally been reduced to 19 townships.

The county was named in honor of Hon. John Tazewell, United States Senator from the State of Virginia. There is a county in that State which also bears the same name, these being the only two in the United States.

The First Mill

One of the greatest difficulties encountered by the early settlers was in having their milling done. By a liberal application of enterprise and muscle they experienced but little trouble in producing an abundance of the cereals, but having it converted into brcadstull was a source of much hard labor. As to the establishment of the first mill in the county we quote from the pen of Nathan Dillon :

" Now let me tell you how we got along about mills. There were three or four horse-mills in Sangamon, at 40 or 45 miles distance. Sometimes we went to them ; sometimes to Southwick's, situated at a distance of 60 miles. We did not mind the journey much, unless the streams were swollen with rains, in which case the task of going to mill was severe, as there were no bridges and ferries in those days. By and by, to remedy our wants, Samuel Tutter erected a small horse-mill in the neighborhood of Peoria ; and a few years after William Eads put one up at Elm Grove, a public improvement which made us feel quite rich. In those early times we took only corn to mill, paying one-sixth or one bit per bushel for grinding. The meal obtained was of an inferior quality when compared with what we now have. Our millers were good, honest fellows, and the somewhat heavy tariffs they laid on their customers not at all wrong, for their income was small. Times are changed. The reader who now looks at the fertile prairies of Illinois, what does he behold? Large cities and flourishing towns. Behold the prairies, then wild and untrodden, now covered with fine farms and dwellings ; behold the travel of our railroads and rivers, visit our county fairs and become acquainted with our intelligent farmers, and the vast and valuable amount of products derived from the soil they till ; behold on every hand our numerous churches and school-houses, our courthouses and seats of justice, spread all over the wide territory which French, Philips and myself early governed as humble justices, and tell me, has not the changed improvement been both great and remarkable."

A Few First Things

As related above, the first cabin built in the county was by Nathan Dillon, on Dillon creek, Dillon township, in 1823. He moved into this rude structure before a door or window was put in. He built a fire in one corner and tore up the clapboard roof to make an opening for the smoke to escape. Here Aug. 2, 1824, was born Hannah Dillon, daughter of Nathan Dillon, the first white child born in the county. Stephen Woodrow was the first white male child born in the county. The first improvement introduced in the county aside from the cabins of the pioneers, was a grist-mill erected by William Eads and William Davis. This mill was built in 1825, in Elm Grove township. It wa^ generally run by four horses, and would not crack over three bushels of corn in an hour. It was what was called in those days a " band mill." Being geared to run by horse or cattle power, the customers, on all occasions, had to furnish their own power. About the asme time Elisha Perkins erected another band mill in the neighborhood of Circleville. Previous to the erection of these important improvements the nearest mill was at Elkhardt, ten miles northeast of Springfield. Perkins' mill was afterwards stockaded and used as a fort during the Black Hawk war.

The first water grist-mill built in the county was erected on Farm creek, in 1827, by a man named Leak. It had one run of stones. The bolting was done by hand.

The first water mill in the southern part of the county was built in 1831 by Summers, on Lick creek west of the town of Groveland. It was a common hand mill run by water. It was so constructed that it would drop but one grain at a time in the mill, thus consuming much time to grind a grist. The mill was built of logs roofed with linden bark, and was about ten feet square.

Theodorus Fisher built the first wooleu factory ever operated in Tazewell county. It was built in 1832, on section 34, Elm Grove township. It was run by ox power. An inclined wheel was used upon which they trod to make the motion. This was an extensive concern for the time, and settlers came from Knox, Peoria, and Sangamon counties to get their wool carded.

The first marriage celebrated in the county was that of Daniel Dillon to Martha Alexander. The ceremony took place in Elm Grove township, the license having been procured at Peoria.

The first marriage that occurred after the county was organized, and the first marriage license issued, were under the following romantic circumstances: Mordecai Mobley, the first County Clerk, happened at old Father Stout's to stay all night. Mr. Stout lived about five miles from Mackinaw. Mr. Mobley says he noticed a boy and girl around but thought they were brother and sister. Soon the " old gentleman " called him aside and told him that " that ar boy had been comin' to see his darter for a long time, and they want to o-et married. Now," continued Mr. Stout, " we are liviii in a new country and we don't know what's to be done, and we thinks as how you can tell us. They have to get some kind of a permit, don't they ? " Mr. Mobley told him they did, and that he could not only tell them how to get married, but that he was the man to issue the permit. This i)leased Mr. Stout, and no doubt the young cou})le were delighted to think that the great obstacles that prevented them from being one - for they were both willing and so were the old folk - were about to be removed. INIr. Stout wanted the license immediately. Accordingly, Mr. Mobley told them if they would get him pen and ink and some paper he would write the license. Not a sheet of blank paper could be found in the cabin. At last, Mr. Mobley asked them if they had a book. Mr. Stout thought they had, "as they used to have one." Finally an old book was found which happened to have one whole unmarked fly-leaf. Being thus provided with paper they found they had no pen. A pen was soon made, however. Mr. Mobley told them to go and catch the biggest chicken they had. This was done and a large feather pulled out of its Aving and a pen made of it. Again they found themselves in a dilemma, but out of which the ingenuity of Mr. Mobley soon brought them. After being provided with paper and pen they were minus ink. He, however, took some water and gunpowder and made some writing-fluid that answered the purpose. With this ink and pen, and upon the fly-leaf of the old book, the first marriage license issued in Tazewell county was written.

The couple for whom such seemingly insurmountable obstacles were overcome were John Stout and Fanny Stout. They were married on the 25th of June, 1827, by Rev. William Brown.

The marriage of the celebrated Peter Cartwright was among the very first to take place in Tazewell county. He was married to Temperance Kindle, Oct. 14, 1827, by George Hittle, County Commissioner. His was the sixth marriage license issued after the county's organization.

The first death of a white man occurring in the county was that of a Mr. Killum in the month of December, 1823. He left Sugar creek, in Logan county, to go to Peoria. Being compelled to wade the Mackinaw river at high water, and the weather turning suddenly cold, he perished on the prairie not far from where he crossed.

In February, 1825, Ezekiel Turner was killed by lightning, being the second death. Not a foot of sawed lumber being within reach, the rites of sepulture were performed in true pioneer style. Wm. Woodrow felled a straight walnut tree, cut a log the proper length, split it, and hollowed one half and shaped it like a coflin. From the other half of the log a slab was hewn for a lid, and in this rude burial case the body was placed and consigned to mother earth ; and no doubt that what was mortal of Ezekiel Turner mouldered into its original element as peacefully as though it had been encased in satin-lined rosewood or polished iron.

The First Steamboat

to ascend the Illinois river landed at Pekin, which at that time was known, from its fine location, as " Town Site," late in the fall of 1828. A steamboat was a novelty, or rather a mystery, to many of the early settlers. Coming up the river the boat passed Kingston in the night. Hugh Barr, who lived near that point, heard it coming, and being on rather unfriendly terms with the Indians, then quite numerous in the vicinity, concluded that it was some infernal contrivance of theirs to frighten or harm him. Seizing his gun and setting his equally bewildered dog at it, he pursued the offending mystery. The pilot, not being familiar with the channel, ran into Clifton's lake, and finding no outlet, he had to back the boat out. Barr, witnessing this, drew off his dog, and though still hugely puzzled to know what manner of craft it was, gave up pursuit. William Haines then lived about where Behrens' brick block, corner of Front and Court streets, now stands. Hearing the puff of the escaping steam he hastily left his bed, and half dressed, crossed the street to Thomas Snell's, now the Bemis House, called neighbor Snell out of bed, and inquired as to what manner of creature was coming up the river. Snell replied : " I don't know. Bill ; but if I was on the Ohio river I would think it was a steamboat." Old Father Tharp, hearing the noise of the paddles and the steam whistle, thought it was Gabriel blowing his horn ; that sure enough the end of the world had come in the night ; and calling up his family, engaged in prayer as a fitting preparation fi)r the advent of a higher and better life.

Pioneer Landlords

As amusingly illustrating the peculiar characteristics of the pioneer hotel keepers, we incorporate the following account of two hotels in Pekin. It is taken from the " Pekin City Directory," published in 1870 by Sellers & Bates:

The year 1848 witnessed the establishment of two "first-class" hotels. The Eagle, which stood on the site now occupied by the Bemis House, was kept by Seth Kinnian, who afterwards acquired considerable celebrity as a hunter and trapper in the far AVest, and by presenting buck-horn and bear-claw chairs, of his own make, to Presidents Lincoln and Johnson.

The other, now the Mansion House, but then known as the " Taylor House," was presided over by William A. Tinney. "Uncle Bill" still resides here, good-natured and hearty, notwithstanding the arduous duties of his offices of Justice of the Peace, Police

Magistrate and Acting Coroner. He distinguished himself in his old days by being the first white man in Pekin to lead a negro to the polls to vote.

The manner of welcoming guests to these hotels was somewhat peculiar, as the following instance will illustrate : A traveler came off a boat one day, and went to the Eagle Hotel. There had been a little western " scrimmage " at the " Eagle " the night before, and though things had not yet been put in order, the proprietor, Seth Kinman, was sitting in front of the door, playing his favorite tune, the "Arkansas Traveler," with the greatest self-satisfaction. The stranger stopped and asked Seth, "Are you the proprietor here ? " Seth, without resting his bow, replied, "Wall, I reckon I be, stranger." "Do you keep tavern?" "Of course I do; keep tavern like h - 1," said Seth, fiddling away with all his might. " Just pile in ; hang your freight up on the floor and make yourself at home. The boys," continued Seth, " have been having a little fun, but if there's a whole table or plate in the house I'll get you some cold hash towards night." The stranger didn't like the place, and took his departure, leaving the " proprietor " still enjoying his violin. Late in the afternoon the traveler presented himself at the " Taylor House." 'Squire Tinney met him outside with his nwst austere expression and "Good morning - good morning, sir; walk in, sir ; take a seat, sir ; shave you as soon as the water gets warm." The stranger, not requiring the services of a barber, walked off in haste and amazement, and the 'Squire swore audibly " that he was some infernal Yankee come out West to steal honest people'smoney." The next steamboat that came along found our discomfited traveler on the beach, awaiting passage for anywhere out of Pekin.

The Deep Snoav

The big snow of 1830 will be vividly remembered by all the old settlers. The snow began falling on the night of the 29th of December, and continued to fall fi^r three days and nights, until it reached an average depth of about four feet, but drifting in places as high as from eighteen to twenty feet. Great suffering was experienced in consequence. The settlers relied for their daily food upon the Indian corn which they were enabled to raise, together with wild game, which was abundant at that time. Plenty of the former was raised to supply the wants of all until the next season's crop ; but when the snow fell very little had been gathered. Game could not be had. The great depth of snow was a barrier to all travel, and it may well be imagined the snfferings of the people were very great indeed.

This was the heaviest snow that ever fell in Illinois within the memory of the oldest settler of this part of the State. According to the traditions of the Indians as related to the pioneers, a snow fell from fifty to seventy-five years before the settlement by the white people, which swept away the numerous herds of buffalo and elk that roamed over the vast prairies at that time. This tradition was verified by the large number of bones of these animals found in different localities on the prairies when first visited by the whites. The deep snow is one of the landmarks of the pioneer. He reck- ' ons, in giving dates of early occurrences, so many years before or so many after the deep snow. He calculates the date of his coming, his marriage and the birth of his children from it, and well might it make a lasting impression upon their minds. Could we picture the suffering of that winter; the dark forebodings that crept into every cabin, starvation staring the inmates in the face ; the meagre meal that for months was their only portion, we, too, would never forget it. But human tongue or pen can never adequately picture the trials endured by the pioneers who were here during that long and eventful winter. For weeks the sun was not visible, and so intense was the cold that not a particle of snow would melt uj)on the south sides of the cabins. People were for weeks absolutely blockaded or housed up, and remained so until starvation compelled them to go forth in search of food.

Israel Shreves, who came to Tazewell county from Decatur county, Indiana, located first in Elm Grove township, where he remained two years, and then moved to section 28, Morton townshij), where he passed the remainder of his days, dying there Aug. 26, 1861. Here he reared a large family of children, eight of whom are still living. His son Julius resides upon the old homestead. During the deep snow Israel Shreves and Major R. N. CuUom (father of the present Governor of Illinois), went to the mill at Pleasant Grove, Elm Grove townshi}). This mill was some eight miles from Shreves' farm, and still farther from Cullom's ; but necessity compelled them to make an effort to obtain some meal. Each of them took a horse to carry their sack of corn. The men traveled upon snow shoes and led their horses. The snow was so deep that it was only with the greatest difficulty that they could get along at all. On the elevated places where the wind could strike, the snow would bear their horses up ; but in the " swags " it was so soft that they would sink, and but for their snow shoes the men would also have gone down. In places the snow was so deep that it would strike the sacks on the horses and brush them off. At such places the men were obliged to take the sacks upon their shoulders and carry them on to a spot that would bear their horses. They would then return to their horses and lead them on. Ofttimes it was quite difficult, owing to the great depth of the snow, to get the horses upon the hard snow. The cold was so intense, and the wind so high, that persons were in great danger of freezing to death ; but the two determined, sturdy pioneers pushed ahead and at last arrived at the mill.

On the following day after their arrival at the mill Mr. Shreves started for home, and after a long and painful journey reached his destination in safety ; but so great was the physical exertion he made that nothwithstanding the intense cold he wiped the streaming perspiration from his brow.

Mr. Cullom remained another night at the mill before attempting to leave for home, which he reached in safety after a tedious, dangerous journey.

Mr. Shreves had seven large, fat hogs running in a ten-acre field. Their bed was quite a distance from the house, and they could not be reached very soon. When found they were all frozen to death.

Major R, X. Cullom, during this winter, carried corn on his back from Mackinaw to his cabin, a distance of ten miles, to feed his horses. He traveled on snow-shoes.

Rev. "Wm. Brown and his brother-in-law, Alfred Phillips, who lived two and a half miles from Mr. Brown's, cut browse for their cattle till they could shovel a path to Holland's Grove, now \yashington, to drive them there. This was a hard task.

So much extra work was to be done in the building of homes that in the fall the pioneers did not gather in and crib their corn. They let it remain in the field until winter came before gathering. The big snow therefore found many of the settlers without any preparation for a long siege. They would go out into the field, and where they could see the top of a corn stalk sticking up through the snow they would dig down until they came to the ear. To get wood they would cut trees at the top of the snow, and when spring came and the snow had disappeared, they often found the stump long enough to cut into fence rails. The snow lay on the ground until about the first of April ; and we have little doubt that many a weary one durino: that long: winter sighed for the comforts of the " old home ;" still, notwithstanding its great dreariness and the greater suiferings of the people, none became disheartened, for we find them in the spring of 1831 as determined as ever to carve out for themselves a home in this truly beautiful country.

During this winter, from Dec. 29, 1830, till Feb. 13, 1831, it snowed nineteen times. After the snow had melted we are told that the bones of deer were so numerous in some })]aces that for onequarter of an acre one could step from bone to bone over the whole surface, so many deer had perished there.

The season following the winter of the deep snow was a very late one, and frost came every month in the year. The crops were poor, as may well be supposed, and the corn did not ripen.

The longest winter ever experienced since this country was settled by the whites was that of 1842-43. The cold weather set in November 4, and lasted until the following April.

Sudden Change

The most extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon occurring within the knowledge of the oldest settler took place in January, 1836. The intensest suffering was caused to man and beast by this sudden change, (^uite a snow had fallen the day previous to the change, and upon that day a slow, drizzling rain fell, making of the snow a " slush." The storm came from the northwest, and the clouds, upon its approach, assumed a threatening and extraordinary aspect, those higher being dark, and those ])el()W of a white frosty appearance. As fast as the storm advanced it instantaneously changed the temperate atmosphere to that of frigid coldness. Incidents arc related in connection with this sudden change which are indeed marvelous. William Hodgson, who had just moved upon the farm he now occupies, section 32, Groveland township, says he went into the timber for a load of wood just before the change. While he was loading his wagon the storm came upon him, and so sudden and terrible that he could scarcely manage his team. Before he could get to his house, which was only forty rods distant, the slush had frozen hard. The next day the surface of the country was one vast sea of ice. Two miles south of Hodgson's farm a drove of hogs out from protection froze to death. Cattle that were in the fields were held fast by the slush freezing about their feet, and it became necessary to cut away the ice to liberate them. J. Roberts, of Morton township, speaks of this change in the following language : " In the winter of 1836, when there was some four inches of snow upon the ground, a warm rain fell which transformed the snow into slush. I was some thirty rods from my house when it began to freeze. I immediately started for it, and before I reached there it was frozen sufficiently hard to bear me up."

High Water

We have spoken of the deep snow and the sudden atmospheric change ; we now wish to record the seasons that the greatest amount of water fell. It is claimed that the greatest rain-fall that has ever occurred in this country was in 1835. There was no record kept of the amount of water that fell by any of the methods in use at the present time, and all we have to judge by is the high water in the streams. The Illinois and tributaries are said to have been higher than at the breaking up of the big snow in the spring of 1831, or at any time since. The rains commenced falling in the early spring and continued throughout the early summer. There have been, perhaps, other seasons just as wet, but the streams were never so high at any other time. During this period there were many hard rains. In the early part of July a storm of rain, thunder and lightning occurred, which for severity has scarcely ever been equaled. It spread throughout the West. The great prairies, then uncultivated and undrained, were a vast lake, and fish were plenty in almost every locality. The large ponds found here and there over the prairies in an early day contained fish large enough for domestic purposes. Tliese ponds would dry up in the summer but in springtime were well filled with water, and how the finny tribe managed to get there is a query the "old settler" cannot answer in a more satisfactory way than " they rained down when small." During this season but little in the way of crops was attempted to be raised. Hogs were fattened in the fall upon the mast, and those that were not killed for food had to subsist during the winter upon acorns ; with them it was literally " root hog or die."

The years 1842, 1844, and 1858, are also notable as years of great rain-fall. During the early history of the county, when there were no bridges, great difficulty was experienced in getting from place to place in the spring-time on account of the high waters. At such times ferrymen were allowed to charge double fare for carrying people or goods across th'e streams. It is remarkable that so few lives were lost during these seasons of high water, but the pioneers were all expert swimmers, and it was very seldom one was drowned

Land Sales

In regard to the first land sales of government land in this part of the State, we cojiy from John W. Dougherty's " History of Washington : "

" The first land sales for this district were held in Springfield in 1830 or 1831. Prior to that date no title could be acquired to any land in this district. The settlers, however, recognized the justice of securing to each of their number the benefit of their labor, and gave effect to this idea by appointing one of their number. Col. Benjamin Mitchell, agent or registrar of claims. By this arrangement,' and the paying of twenty-five cents to the registrar, each applicant secured the registration of his claim, and the right to buy the land he had improved when it came into market. This gave the lands a commercial value in the hands of the holder, and also enabled the person making the claim to sell and transfer it if he so desired. These claims soon became an impoi-ttint item in the limited commerce of these early times, - the other items of wliich were grain, beef, and pork. The principal purchasers were immigrants, most of whom had little if any money, but labor and good promises passed current at par, the latter being secured by the' honor of the promisor. They were usually religiously observed. Indeed, men usually make much of their honor when it is their only stock in trade. Still, we are inclined to think thepro rata of honesty was greater in those days than now, and for the following reasons : These men were not speculators or fortune hunters, but earnest men, seeking homes in the virgin soil of the Great West, and actuated by these generous impulses, honesty was the natural consequence."

Money

Money was an article little known and seldom seen among the earlier settlers. Indeed, they had but little use fi)r it, as all business was transacted by bartering one article for another. Great ingenuity was developed in the barter of their commodities, and when this failed long credits contributed to their convenience. But for taxes and postage neither the barter nor credit system would answer, and often letters were suffered to remain a considerable time in the postoffice for want of twenty-five cents, which was then the postage on all letters fVom any great distance ; nor Avere they carried on the fast express or mail trains. It was only every week or so that a lone horseman, with mail bag thrown astride, would ride into a settlement or village. If, however, the village was on the line of a stage route, the old stage-coach would make its appearance as often. It was not common, then, for persons to get many letters ; indeed, one or two a month was considered a large mail. Nor did three cents pay the postage upon a letter at that day. It seldom took less than twenty-five cents, or two " bits," as Kentuckians would say.

The Beautiful Prairies

The large prairies of the county presented a most beautiful sight before they were settled. The following very descriptive lines on " The Prairies of Illinois," by Captain Basil Hall, graphically portrays their beauty in their wild and native state :

" The charm of prairie consists in its extension, its green, flowery carpet, its undulating surface, and the skirt of forest whereby it is surrounded ; the latter feature being of all others the most significant and expressive, since it characterizes the landscape, and defines the form and boundary of the plain. If the prairie is little, its greatest beauty consists in the vicinity of the encompassing edge of forests, which may be compared to the shores of a lake, being intersected with many deep, inward bends, as so many inlets, and at intervals projecting very far, not unlike a promontory or protruding arm of land. These projections sometimes so closely approach each other that the traveler passing through between them, may be said to walk in the midst of an alley overshadowed by the forest, before he enters again upon another broad prairie. Where the plain is extensive, the delineations of the forest in the distant background appear as would a misty ocean beach afar off. The eye sometimes surveys the green prairie without discovering on the illimitable plain a tree or bush, or any other object save the wilderness of flowers and grass, while on other occasions the view is enlivened by the groves dispersed like islands over the plain, or by a solitary tree rising above the wilderness. The resemblance to the sea which some of these prairies exhibit is really most striking. In the spring, when the young grass has just clothed the soil with a soddy carpet of the most delicate green, but especially when the sun, rising behind a distant elevation of the ground, its rays are reflected by myriads of dew-drops, a more pleasing and more eye-benefiting view cannot be imagined.

" The delightful aspect of the prairie, its amenities, and the absence of that sombre awe inspired by forests, contributes to forcing away that sentiment of loneliness which usually steals upon the mind of the solitary wanderer in the wilderness ; for, although he espies no habitation, and sees no human being, and knows himself to be far off from every settlement of man, he can scarcely defend himself from believing th?^ he is traveling through a landscape embellished by human art. Tne flowers are so delicate and elegant as apparently to be distributed for mere ornament over the plain ; the groves and groups of trees seem to be dispersed over the prairie to enliven the landscape, and we can scarcely get rid of the impression invading our imagination, of the whole scene being flung out and created for the satisfaction of the sentiment of beauty in refined men.

"In the summer the prairie is covered with tall grass, which is coarse in appearance, and soon assumes a yellow color, waving in the wina'like a ripe crop of corn. In the early stages of its growth it resembles young wheat, and in this state furnishes such rich and succulent food for cattle that the latter choose it often in preference to wheat, it being no doubt a very congenial fodder to them, since it is impossible to conceive of better butter than is made while the grass is in this stage.

" In the early stages of its growth the grass is interspersed with little flowers, - the violet, the strawberry-blossom, and others of the most delicate structure. When the grass grows higher these disappear, and taller flowers, displaying more lively colors, take their place ; and still later a series of still higher but less delicately formed flowers appears on the surface. While the grass is green these beautiful plains are adorned with every imaginable variety of color. It is impossible to conceive of a greater diversity, or discover a predominating color, save the green, which forms a beautiful dead color, relieving the splendor of the others. In the summer the plants grow taller, and the colors more lively ; in the autumn another generation of flowers arises which possesses less clearness and variety of color and less fragrancy. In the winter the prairie presents a melancholy aspect. Often the fire, which the hunters annually send over the prairies in order to dislodge the game, will destroy the entire vegetation, giving to the soil a uniform black appearance, like that of a vast plain of charcoal ; then the wind sweeping over the prairie will find nothing which it might put in motion, no leaves which it might disperse, no haulms which it might shake. No sooner does the snow commence to fall than the animals, unless already before frightened away by the fire, retire into the forests, when the most dreary, oppressive solitude will reign on the burnt prairies, which often occupy many square miles of territory."

Fires would visit the grassy plains every autumn. The settlers who had pushed out from the timber took great precaution to prevent their crops, houses and barns from being destroyed, yet not always did they succeed. Many incidents are related of prairie fires. Kezer Hancock, after assisting in cutting about twenty tons of hay in 1838, most of which he mowed himself by hand, saw, to his great sorrow, one of those devastating prairie fires in its onward course toward it. On it came with great rapidity, and before anything could be done to save his hay it was converted into a blackened mass.

The first winter J. M. Roberts came to this county, he, with his father and brother, made 9,000 rails and laid them up around their fields. A hunter set fire to the grass in November to find a wounded deer. The fire spread and swept off all their fences ; their 9,000 rails, 16 acres of corn, their main crop, and only by great efforts were their house, barn and hay saved.

The great conflagrations were caused either accidentally, or designedly from wantonness, or with a view of bewildering the game. The fire often spread further than it was intended it should. Whereever were extensive prairie lands, one-half was burned in the spring and the other half in the autumn, in order to produce a more rapid growth of the naturally exuberant grass, destroying at the same time the tall and thick weed stalks. Violent winds would often arise and drive the flames with such rapidity that riders on the fleetest steeds could scarcely escape. On the approach- of a prairie fire the farmer would immediately set about "burning back," - that is, burning off the grass close by the fences, that the larger fire upon arriving would become extinguished for want of aliment. In order to be able, however, to make proper use of this measure of safety, it was very essential that every farmer should encompass with a ditch those of his fences adjoining the prairie. AVhen known that the conflagration could cause no danger, the settler, though accustomed to them, could not refrain from gazing with admiration upon the magnificent spectacle. Language cannot convey, words cannot express, the faintest idea of the splendor and grandeur of such a conflagration during the night. It was as if the pale queen of night, disdaining to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had despatched myriads upon myriads of messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun until all had flashed into one long and continuous blaze.

" O, fly to the prairies and in wonder gaze, As o'er the grass sweeps the magnificent blaze: The earth cannot boast so magnificent a sight, - A continent blazing with oceans of light."

" Soon the fires began to kindle wider and rise higher from the long grass ; the gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, and soon fanned the small, flickering blaze into fierce torrent flames, which curled up and leaped along in resistless splendor ; and like quickly raising the dark curtain from the luminous stage, the scenes before me were suddenly changed, as if by the magician's wand, into one boundless amphitheater, blazing from earth to heaven and sweeping the horizon round, - columns of lurid flames sportively mounting up to the zenith, and dark clouds of crimson smoke curling away and aloft till they nearly obscured stars and moon, while the rushing, crashing sounds, like roaring cataracts mingled with distant thunders, were almost deafening; danger, death, glared all around ; it screamed for victims ; yet, notwithstanding the imminent peril of prairie fires, one is loth, irresolute, almost unable to withdraw or seek refuge."