Whiteside County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 23 of those read), 1877 (part 2 of 2)

"I have spoken of this country at the time when it was in possession of the Indians and when they were compelled to retire before the advancing wave of civilization and progress. It might be interesting to go back farther, and to the by-gone ages when the Aborigines were the only possessors of the soil, unknown to and undisturbed by the white man, and to briefly trace how the very soil on which we stand to-day has passed under the jurisdiction of different nations, governments, states, territories and counties. The French and English who first laid claim to the lands of North America, founded their rights on two theories, quite different: The English relied on discovery, and the French on exploration and occupation. Relying on their right of discovery, the last charter granted by England to Virginia in 1609, extended her boundaries from sea to sea and com- prised within her limits Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and many other States of the present time - so according to the English claim Whiteside County was first under this Virginia charter. The French, however denied the validity of this title, claiming that the eastern slopes of the Alleghanies were the natural limits of British possessions, and that the vast area of country which extended on the other side of that chain of mountains belonged to them by the right of exploration and occupation.

"In the beginning of the Sixteenth Century the English had not yet gone beyond the Alleghanies, while the French by their missionaries and adventurers, had traveled through the whole of the western region and taken possession of the country. In 1673 Fathers Marquette and Joliet, coming by the Great Lakes, and by way of the Mississippi river, which washes the western boundary of your county, founded important settlements at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, now in this State. Shortly after, the great explorer of the Mississippi, LaSalle, coming from Lake Michigan, then called Lake "Illinois," descended the Illinois river, on the banks of which he founded Creve-Coeur, afterwards Fort Clark, now Peoria, entered the Mississippi, and on the 9th day of April, 1682, took formal possession of the country in the name of Louis IV, and gave it the name of Louisiana. This was undoubtedly the better title, and Whiteside county may have been considered to have been in French territory in 1682. Fo7-t Chartres, which was an astonishing work of art and of military skill at that day was the seat of the government of Louisiana in 1720, and the first county seat oj Whiteside County. It was situated on the east side of the Mississippi river, on what was the first road from St. Louis to Kaskaskia, and six miles above the old French village of Prairie du Rocher.

" After great disputes, contests and wars France in 1763 ceded to Great Britain, Canada and all that part of Louisiana east of the Mississippi, so Whiteside county in 1763 became again, and now without dispute, English territory. When the American colonies made peace with England in 1783, England ceded all this section of country to the United States, Whiteside county then for the first time could be called American territory, and attached to Virginia under the name of the "County of Illinois." In 1787 the whole of this country northwest of the river Ohio constituted one district - and now Whiteside county became a part of the territory of Ohio.

"In 1800 Congress established a new territory which included the present States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, which was called the "Territory of Indiana" and hence in 1800 Whiteside county was in Indiana Territory, and in the county of St. Clair. In 1809 Congress established the Territory of Illinois, taken from the territory of Indiana - and so in that year Whiteside county was in the territory of Illinois and included in the county of St. Clair. On the 18th day of April, 1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State and Whiteside county was then included in Madison county in the State of Illinois. In 1821 Pike county was created out of Madison and other counties, and it embraced the whole central and northern part of the State. "Colesgrove" was the county seat, and all the knowledge that I now have of the then county seat of Whiteside county, is that it was situated in "Township Number Eleven South, and Range Two West of the Fourth Principal Meridian." In 1825 Peoria county was incorporated out of the northern portion of territory embraced in Pike county, and Creve-Cocxir, afterwards called "Fort Clark," and later Peoria, was your county seat until 1827, when Jo Daviess county was incorporated (embracing Whiteside) and Galena your county seat. In speaking of Whiteside county at a time when it was not in existence, I of course have meant the territory which is now embraced within its present limits. If you will pardon me, I will now say a word touching the organization of your county, and for whom it was named. In 1835 Benjamin Mills, who was then a lawyer at Galena, and one of the most brilliant and gifted men who has ever lived in the State, was a member of the Legislature from the Representative district composed of the counties of Jo Daviess, Cook, La Salle, Putnam, and Peoria. On the 2d of December in that year he introduced a bill to establish certain counties - this bill became a law on the 18th day of January, 1836 - it established the counties of Whiteside, Mc- Henry. Winnebago, Kane and Ogle. It appears in the original bill one of the counties was named "Michigan," but that name was stricken out and "McHenry" inserted, but for what reason, I am unable to say. As to the name of your county, Whiteside, I cannot presume to give you, who live hei-e, much information, further than you already have, why it was so named. The name of Whiteside is most honorably connected with the early history of this State. It is an Irish name of note - the late Chief Justice of Ireland was a Whiteside. The branch to which the Illinois family belonged emigrated to North Carolina and removed to Kentucky in 1790, and to what is now Illinois in 1793.

"The settlement of "New Design;" which cut quite a figure at the end of the last century, and was near where the present town of Waterloo, Monroe county, now is, was made up of numerous emigrants from Kentucky. This colony was composed mostly of the Whitesides and their numerous connections. The leading man of this colony was William Whiteside, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and who had fought at the battle of "King's Mountain." The family soon became numerous and influential in Southern Illinois, and no name was better known than that of William Whiteside, sometimes called "Captain," and at other times called "Colonel."

"In Peck's "Western Annals," speaking of the state of things - in what is now our State - in 1793, the author says: "This was a period of contention and alarm - the little settlements were strengthened this year by the addition of a band of emigrants from Kentucky, amongst whom was the family of Whiteside." William Whiteside built a Fort called "Whiteside Station," on the line of travel between Kaskaskia and Cahokia, and in what is now Monroe county. At this period the Indians were very troublesome; a party of Kickapoos headed by the celebrated war chief "Old Pecan," made a predatory excursion into the "American Bottom," and a number of citizens immediately rallied to repulse and pursue them. William Whiteside, who is described as "a man of great prudence, and unquestioned bravery in Indian warfare," was chosen the commander. Such were his feats of daring and jcourage, and so well known did he become to the Indians, that it was said from that time, "the very name of Whiteside struck terror among the Kickapoos." Governor Reynolds says of him that he "was as cool, firm and decided a man as ever lived - scarcely any of the family knew what fear was." A brother of William Whiteside was John Whiteside, who settled and died at Bellefontaine, Illinois. He was a brave and true man, but not as much distinguished as his brother William. He was a Colonel of St. Clair county Militia in the war of 1812 - a Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county. He died at his residence at "The Station" in the year 1815, universally respected.

"John Whiteside was the father of Samuel Whiteside .who was a prominent man of his day, well-known as a Ranger and an Indian fighter, and was appointed by Governor Reynolds commander of all the Illinois troops in 1832, in the expedition against Black Hawk. The question has been discussed whether Whiteside county was named after him, or after Col. Wm. Whiteside, the pioneer Whiteside of the State, or generally, in honor of the family of Whiteside. The Hon. John T. Stuart, of Springfield, in a letter addressed to me on the subject, says; 'There is no evidence so far as I have been able to ascertain that it was called for either of them; there is more reason to believe it was called after Col. Wm. Whiteside. My own conclusion is that it was called for neither of them in particular, but in honor of, and as a compliment to the Whiteside family. I have conversed with several persons conversant with the history of the times when the bill was passed, who concur in the opinion that it was called and named for the Whiteside family . This belief is strengthened by the additional fact that in the same bill another county is named "Ogle," and there is no evidence that it was named for any particular person, but is believed to have been named in honor of the "Ogle" family, which like the Whiteside was numerous, settled early in Southern Illinois, and were of great respectability. I believe that "Whiteside" and "Ogle" counties were named in honor of the families, and not from any individual member of the families.' I am inclined, however, to differ with Mr. Stuart on this subject and I think it is quite certain the county was named either after the old pioneer Col. William Whiteside, or Gen. Samuel Whiteside. The venerable Judge William Thomas, of Jacksonville, in a letter to Mr. Stuart, dated on the 27th ult., says: 'I have a distinct recollection of being informed when the bill was pending in the Senate, that it was called for the father of John D. Whiteside, afterwards State Treasurer.'

"The John D. Whiteside alluded to by Judge Thomas, was a very prominent man in the history of our State in his time, and was the son of the old pioneer. Col. Wm. Whiteside. He was a member of the State Senate, from Monroe county, at the time the bill was passed creating Whiteside county in 1836, which might have given color to the idea that the county was named after his father. But my judgment is that it was named after GrEN. Samuel Whiteside. He had resided at an early day in what was then called the "Galena country," was known to the people, identified with their interests, and had been a leading figure in the Black Hawk War. I am strengthened in this belief from the fact that the bill creating Whiteside and other counties, was introduced in the Senate by the then Senator from this District, Col. James M. Strode, who himself commanded a regiment in the Black Hawk War, and who was attached to the command of Gen. Whiteside, and knew him well. It was, therefore, much more natural for him to give to the county the name of Gen. Samuel Whiteside, who was so familiar with this section of the country, and who had been identified with its struggle, rather than to Col. Wm. Whiteside. This is the opinion of Hon. Joseph Gillespie, who was an early pioneer of the Galena mining region, and mined for lead at "Snake Diggings," now Potosi, Wisconsin, before the Black Hawk War. Distinguished as a lawyer and Judge, Mr. Gillespie is probably as well posted in the earlier history of our State, as any man in it. My acknowledgments are due to him for the following sketch of Gen. Samuel Whiteside. After enumerating the services he rendered in a military capacity, and which I have already stated, he says of him: 'He never put any value on promotion in civil life, but seemed, indeed, to despise it. He could undoubtedly have succeeded to any civil place in his county if he had striven for it. He did, however, act as one of the Commissioners who selected Vandalia for the seat of Government of Illinois, and I think aided in selecting the Canal lands. In matters of religion he sided with the Baptists, and in political affairs he co-operated with the Democrats. He was an honest man, and the only thing that he seemed to be afraid of was being in debt. He believed with all his powers that what he believed was right, and it was rather a hard task to convince him that the opposite side might seem to be right. He thought there was but one right side to a question, and that all honest men would be apt to see it in the same light. He was a famous hunter and followed the chase as long as his strength permitted. He was thoroughly versed in wood craft, and knew all the haunts and habits of wild animals to perfection. He loved to take long hunts and live in camp for weeks together, and eat nothing but game. His hunting dress in early life was buckskin, and he wore moccasins while in the woods. It would have delighted him to attack a lion, or tiger, or grizzly bear. I believe he would have gone into the fight with as little dread on his mind as if he had a rabbit to contend with, and I have no doubt he would have employed the skill and means in every instance, to enable him to come out without any risk or scratch. The writer knew of his killing three panthers on one occasion, and he did not seem to think he had performed a feat worthy of mention. He died on the 3d day of January, 1866, one mile and a half east of Mount Auburn, Christian county, Illinois, at the house of his son-in-law, John A. Henderson, with whom he had been living since 1855. Whiteside county, I have no doubt, was named in his honor. The county was formed in 1836, and he was the only Whiteside of note at that time.'

-- So much in regard to the particular individual for whom your county is named. It has in reality but little importance, for it bears an honorable name, and with which you all are satisfied.

" Distinguished in a remarkable degree by the high character, intelligence, and enterprise of its population, its fertile soil, its heavy timber, its prairies, its manufacturing industries, Whiteside county has a just claim to the highest consideration, not only of its own people, but of those of the whole State.

"I have spoken of the nations, governments and jurisdictions in which territory the present Whiteside county has been included; I might go farther back and allude to the Congressional districts in which it has been embraced, and persons bj whom if has been represented. Nathaniel Pope, of Kaskaskia, was the first delegate in Congress, and Daniel P. Cook was the first Representative, and his district included the State of Illinois. The State has never had an abler or more influential member. His name was honored by the Legislature which named Cook county after him. Your next Representative was John McLean, from whom McLean county was named, and who was succeeded by Jo seph Duncan. The districts of both of these men embraced the entire State. After the second apportionment, which gave the State three members, Joseph Duncan, representing the northern part of the State, was again your Congressman. He was succeeded by William L. May, who was succeeded by John T. Stuart, of Springfield, who, as the Whig candidate, beat Stephen A. Douglas for Congress in 1839. Mr. Stuart was re-elected as a Whig in August, 1841. His district embraced the northern and central part of the State - Springfield, Peoria, Quincy, Galena, Sterling, Peru, and Chicago, were all in his district at that time. He was the first Congressman for whom I ever voted - an honest, able man, and a faithful public servant It was my pleasure, twenty-five years afterwards, to serve with him in Congress, and we both represented but a small portion of that vast country of which he was the sole representative in 1841. He has had the kindness to furnish me many items in the history of your county, and for which I desire to tender him my sincere thanks. In the third apportionment of the State, Whiteside county was embraced in a district consisting of the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, Rock Island, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Stark, Knox, Hancock, McDonough, and Henry, and your Representative in that district was Joseph P. Hoge, of Galena, who represented you four years. Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport, represented you for two years. Edward D. Baker, of Galena (having just removed from Springfield), and Thomas Campbell, of Galena, each two years. Under the fourth ap- portionment of the State you were represented by John Wentworth, James H. Woodworth, John F. Farnsworth, and Isaac N. Arnold. In the fifth apportionment Whiteside and Jo Daviess counties were again thrown into the same Congressional district, and your vote assisted to elect me four times, 1862, 1864, 1866 and 1868. Mr. Burchard has since been the Representative of Whiteside county in Congress.

" But I have no time to dwell on the later history of your county. Even if I had, it would be useless, for I learn that one of your fellow citizens, Mr. Bent, is rendering not only you, but all interested in the history of the State a valuable service, in writing a history of the county.

" My purpose is accomplished. I have no words to adequately thank you for all the cordiality, the warmth, and the kindness of your generous welcome.

" So long as ' unimpaired remembrance reigns,' I shall guard in my heart, and with feelings of the profoundest gratitude, the recollection of your greeting here to-day. I shall watch with deepest solicitude all that concerns Whiteside county. Keeping its course in the pathway of progress, the great future is assured to you.

" Grentlemen of the Board of Supervisors, citizens of Whiteside county, and ladies and gentlemen, I now have the pleasure of introducing to you the Prophet."

During the delivering of his address the painting (of Prophet) had leaned upon an easel at the left of the stage, veiled from sight by an American flag. As be pronounced the closing words of his address, Mr. Washburne slipped the fastenings of the flag and disclosed the picture. The sight of it was the signal for hearty cheers and applause.

Mr. C. C. Buell, of Montmorency, made the response to Mr. Washburne's presentation speech, in which he signified the pleasure with which Whiteside county accepted the valuable gift. He spoke as follows:

" Honored Sir: - It is made my pleasing duty, on behalf of the County Board, and of the people of Whiteside county, to accept this gift. Be assured, sir, of the thorough appreciation on our part of the distinguished favor shown by you in the presentation of so fitting and expressive a memorial of the relations so long existing between yourself as representative in Congress of this district and your constituents of Whiteside county. We have taken natural pride in the uniform efficiency and success of your public life. Of your ability as a statesman and legislator, nine successive elections to Congress by the same constituency, should be sufficient proof. We have been not inattentive observers, among a nation of observers, of the distinguished services rendered by you both at home and abroad in the interest of free government and of humanity. In the great Franco-German war we have seen you as the representative of the United States' government accepting the care of German citizens within the beleaguered territory of France, and so discharging these delicate duties as to command the unqualified approval of both contending parties, as well as that of your own government.

"The Royal Head of the German nation does honor to itself by pressing upon you its hospitalities and by expressing to you the gratitude of the people for your humane and disinterested labor in their behalf. Nay, what is more touching and expressive, your name is borne in many a French and Gennan home by the child born into the arms of parents who have been the recipients of your benefactions. These things and many other such as these make significant the cordial greeting the people of Whiteside this day ofi'er you.

"I believe, sir, as a people we are not altogether unworthy the distinction your name and services, as a citizen of this district, have brought to us, or of the flattering designations you have in your correspondence and present remarks seen fit to apply to us. If, as a distinguished writer has in effect said, civilization must always be in advance of the govermental forms or political institutions which give to this civilization expression, or if, in other words, the government and representatives of a people can be no better than the people themselves, then indeed we may claim great honor in connection with the events in which you have borne so conspicuous a part.

"Accept, sir, the thanks of this people for this significant and valuable gift. As a work of art, as a memento of Geo. Catlin, the celebrated painter and traveler, and of the no less distinguished artist, Mr. Healy, as the portrait of the great Winnebago chief, whose tribe once occupied this region, and whose principal village was but a few miles from this spot on which we now stand, it will deserve to be carefully guarded and preserved by the people of this county. It will ever be a lesson of that intermediate time between the half civilized period of the Mound Builders and the greater civilization of the present, but it will also be associated with the political institutions of to-day which have made possible this occasion and this event. As long as the records of this county shall be preserved, so long shall the story this picture tells, of representative and people, of distinguished public services, and an appreciative constituency, be read by the generations to come.

''Wherever, sir, may be your future home, whatever responsibilities, either public or private, you may be called to bear, we tender to you assurances of the continued sympathy, confidence, and support of the people of Whiteside county."

At the conclusion of Mr. Buell's address, adjournment was taken for dinner which was served in Floral Hall. Full justice having been done to the sumptuous repast, the large company again assembled at the rostrum to listen to the toasts and responses. The first toast, "Paris in 1870,"' was responded to by Hon. E. B. Washburne; the second, "Our Country," by Wm. H. Allen, of Erie; the third, "Prophetstown, the Home of the Prophet," by P. B. Reynolds, of Prophetstown; the fourth, "Our Sister State of Iowa," by Hon. Waldo M. Potter, of the Clinton Herald, Clinton, Iowa; and the fifth, "Common Schools," by Prof. M. K. Kelly, of Morrison. In the evening a private banquet was given to Mr. Washburne, at the Revere House, at which about one hundred ladies and gentlemen were present, including the members of the Board of Supervisors of Whiteside county, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the city of Morrison, prominent gentlemen from nearly every town in the county, and representatives from neighboring counties.