Burgess, Illinois

The broad domain of Illinois did not afford a more inviting spot to the eye of the early pioneer than the territory embraced within the lines of what is now known as Suez township ; consequently that ])ai't of Mercer county has kept pace with any part of the state in settlement, in thrift, and in religious and educational progress. Along the crystal streams that flow through the township an abundance of timber grew, and, underlying portions of the township, inexhaustible beds of coal are found. Back from the streams a beautiful expanse of fertile prairie greeted the eye of the observer ; and, shortly after the close of the Black Hawk war, the snug log cabin began to take the place of the Indian wigwam ; the white-topped wagon, the lowing of cattle, and the sound of the axe announced the fact that the day of civilization was dawning. Among the first to cast their lot in Suez township we find the following names: David Williams and George Blake came together from the State of Indiana in 1835, the former locating on the S. W. i of Sec. 22, and the latter on the S. E. i of Sec. 21. In the same year James Stewart and family, Robert Pollock and family, and William Moore and family came from the State of Ohio. Mr. Moore located on the N. E. J of Sec. 5, James Stewart on K. E. ^ of Sec. 21, Robert Pollock on the W. ^ of Sec. 27.

Passage source: History of Mercer County : Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., Gathered from Mattter Furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, Interviews with Old Settlers, County, Township and Other Records, and Extracts from Files of Papers, Pamphlets, and Such Other Sources As Have Been Available : Containing Also a Short History of Henderson County, published 1882.

The settlers used farming implements that would bring a smile to the countenance of our modern farmers. Theii* plows had wooden mold-boards, and their harrows were all of wood. William Lafferty states that the tirst plow he used in the west was one with a wooden mold-board. He started in with the clumsy aflair, whei'e the weeds and prairie grass were higher than his head. He rooted along without regard to sectional lines, furrows, angles, or corners, and by night found lie had rooted over about twelve acres. The land appeared as if a drove of long-nosed hogs had been turned loose on it. IMr. Lafferty states that he planted his corn in it, but for reasons best known to himself did not return to look at it until after harvest.

Passage source: History of Mercer County : Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., Gathered from Mattter Furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, Interviews with Old Settlers, County, Township and Other Records, and Extracts from Files of Papers, Pamphlets, and Such Other Sources As Have Been Available : Containing Also a Short History of Henderson County, published 1882.

This st)-ingencv in monetary afiairs existed from 1840 to 1848. During that period it was almost impossible for the fanners to get money with which to pay for their claims when the land came into market. Money was sometimes borrowed at fifty per cent, for this purpose.

Passage source: History of Mercer County : Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc., Gathered from Mattter Furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, Interviews with Old Settlers, County, Township and Other Records, and Extracts from Files of Papers, Pamphlets, and Such Other Sources As Have Been Available : Containing Also a Short History of Henderson County, published 1882.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Suez Township - it names this place 1 more 1 time.