USA > Iowa > Marshall County > The History of Marshall County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
THE
HISTORY
OF
MARSHALL COUNTY,
IOWA,
CONTAINING
A history of the County, its Cities, Gowns,
A Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of its Vol - unteers in the late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, His- tory of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Marshall County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c.
ILLUSTRATED.
LIBRARY CC. FYRIGHT UNGRESS
No. ??
CITY JF ASHINGTON 3
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1878.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by
THE WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
ulver frage Moyne 22 PRINTERS 18 & 120 FritPERCE ST CHICAGO
1148
PREFACE.
[THE historian who delves among the records of the far past, and weaves in continuous thread the story of former generations, for the instruction of ages yet to come, must be governed in the methods of his work by one invariable rule, which is : The acceptance of such facts, and only such, as have become established, either by written evidence or by undoubted verbal testimony trans- mitted in consecutive order, and bearing on its face the impress of truthfulness from its consistency with known facts.
The historian who writes of the near past, oftentimes finds more delicate questions arising for him to decide than does the cotemporary of the musty pages. While the latter has but his own sense of consentaneousness to satisfy, the former has a wider constituency to win over to his mode of thinking. The writer upon ancient events is stimulated to careful research by the hope of dis- covering that which will subvert the theories of his collaborators, and vindicate his own claim to literary fame. The man who treats of the early deeds of a generation yet living ean have no such ambition. His duty is to tell the tale in simple manner, leaving to those who shall come after him the more agreeable task of embellishment.
The compiler of this history has endeavored to adhere to the rules which should govern all volumes of its class. Rumors have been given only as such ; traditions find their appropriate place, and assumptions are treated with lightest stroke. Indisputable facts, based upon definite dates and corroborated by tes- timony admissible in courts of justice, alone stand recorded as faets.
Herein lies the most unpleasant feature of the work performed : an impar- tial observance of the rules prescribed by us plays havoe with individual claims in more than one instance. It is just to ourselves that we say : We have been actuated by no motives but the highest in the discharge of our duty. If state- ments made within these pages confliet with personal assertion, let it be remem- bered by the critic that majority judgment has, in every case, prevailed with us on all disputed points. We do not expect to please every subscriber ; that would indicate a millennial condition of unity between the writer and the pub- lic which has never been attained, even in sacred history. We have tried to give a truthful record of events, as the facts have been made known to us.
The most difficult task ever assigned us was the preparation of the chapter on the County Seat Conflict. The nature of the events precludes a full history
PREFACE.
of that absorbing contest. It is not a thing of the past, but is a transaction of the present. The participators therein still live to read these lines. The oppo- sing factions have, in a great measure, doffed the panoply of war, and lifted the implements of peace ; but beneath the calm exterior rest the ragged remnants of former animosities. To expect other than this would be to defy natural and moral laws and seek for miracles in these latter days.
Our work has been to angle among the hidden snags of feeling and bring forth truth-truth of such indubitable form as to silence those who desire to criticise or complain. At the same time we have endeavored to be impartially fearless in the recital of the story of the contest. Much has been left unsaid on both sides, if we consider the acts of individuals ; but nothing of influence has been withheld from the record of actual occurrences. We came not to bring war, but to cement the bonds of peace ; and at the same time rescue from impending oblivion the most important chapter in the history of this county. We have done our work carefully, conscientiously, we trust, satisfactorily.
To the gentlemen in charge of the county records-especially to those in the Auditor's office-we express our cordial thanks for their assistance. Every- where we have been received in the most generous spirit. The Clergy, the Press. the Pioneers, all have aided us in a large degree.
An individual mention of our obligations to Hon. WILLIAM C. SMITH, for the innumerable kindnesses extended to the Company, is due that gentleman.
From the former History of Marshall County, prepared by Mrs. NETTIE SANFORD, we have taken many incidents relating to the early social life here. and we make this general credit for the assistance the volume has been to us. The people of this county owe Mrs. SANFORD a debt of gratitude for the labor she has bestowed upon the work so well performed by her.
The able chapter on the Geology of Marshall County, was prepared ex- pressly for this work by Dr. W. S. McBRIDE, of Marshalltown. The character of the article is such as is rarely met with. It is a popular treatise upon an absorbing topic. It will be read with profit and pleasure by all.
When the present generation has passed into the silent grave, and the his- torian is no longer able to converse face to face with those who laid the corner- stone of the fine structure of Marshall County, the value of this History will be conceded.
October, 1878.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL.
PAGE.
History Northwest Territory .......
19
Geographical . Position.
19
Early Explorations.
20
English Explorations and Set-
tlements.
35
American Settlements
60
Division of the Northwest Ter- ritory. C6
Tecumseh and the War of 1812 70
Black Hawk and the Black
Hawk War ....
74
Other Indian Troubles.
79
Present Condition of the North- west 86
Chicago 95 Illinois. 240
Indiana . 242
lowa ..
243
Michigan
244
Wisconsin.
245
Minnesota
247
Nebraska
248
History of Iowa :
Geographical Situation 109
Topography ..
109
Drainage System.
110
Rivers
111
Lakes
118
Springs
119
Prairies
120
Geology
120
Discovery and Occupation 139
Territory
147
Indians
147
Pike's Expedition
.15 1
Indian Wars
152
PAGE.
History of Iowa :
Black Hawk War. .. 157
Indian Purchase, Reserves and
Treaties
159
MIalf-Breed Tract ..
164
Early Settlements.
166
Territorial History.
173
Boundary Question
177
State Organization
181
Growth and Progress.
185
Agricultural College and Farm.18G
State University.
187
Facts and Incidents
419
State Historical Society.
193
Statistical
433
Post Offices
433
Press ..
433
Agricultural Interests 436
Le Grand Quarry.
448
Grist Mills
448
Speculative and Prophetic
449
War Record
453
Roster
455
Educational .464
Property Statement
543
Vote of 1876 and 1877
544
Survey of towns and Villages .. 542 Town Ilistories :
Marshalltown 466
Albion ...
505
State Centre and Eden
522
Le Grand
529
Liscomb ..
533
Edenville.
539
Dillon ..
540
Lamoille
541
Quarry
541
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Mouth of the Mississippi.
Source of the Mississippi 21. Wild Prairie .. 23
La Salle Landing on the Shore of Green Bay. 25
Buffalo Hunt 27 Trapping 29 Hunting 32 Iroquois Chief 34 Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain.
Indians Attacking Frontiersmen ..
56
A Prairie Storm.
59
2I A Pioneer Dwelling. 61
Breaking Prairie .. G3
Tecumseh, the Shawanoe Chieftain 69- Indians Attacking a Stockade .. 72
Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain ..
Big Eagle
Captain Jack, the Modoc Chieftain 83- Present Site Lake Street Bridge,
Kinzie House 85. Chicago, 1833 .. 98
A Representative Pioneer.
86
Ruins of Chicago ...
104₾
View of the City of Chicago
10G
43- Lincoln Monument .. 87
A Pioneer School House
88
Hunting Prairie Wolves
219
LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Abell, T .. Dobbs. J. W. .509 | Neidig, .A. II ..
PAGE.
PAGE.
.607- Turner, John ...
.... ... .
.339 Y
.....
.. 475v Williams, Jas. C.
.407 ~
Hickox, Geo. S
373M Smith W. C.
5274 Woodbury, G. M.
PAGE.
Ilistory of Marshall County :
Advent of White Men ....
.31>
Settlement of the County.
.32G
Organization
.336
Discovery of the Ohio.
33
Spanish Grants
163
Election .
342
First Courts.
.. 349
Fiscal Records
.. 350
Social and Agricultural Statis-
tics
353
Population in 1875
.354
County Seat Contest
.355
Railroads
410
Penitentiaries ..
194
Insane Hospitals .. 195
College for the Blind.
197
Deaf and Dumb Institution .. 199 Soldiers' Orphans' Homes 199 State Normal School. 201
Asylum for Feeble Minded Children 201
Reform School
202
Fish Hatching Establishment .. 203
Public Lands
204
Public Schools.
218
Political Record
.223
War Record.
229
Number Volunteers ..
233
Number Casualties-Officers ... 234
Number Casualties-Enlisted Men .236
Climatology
137
Population.
238
Gilman.
536
Agricultural Statistics.
.. 274
History of Marshall County :
Physical Geography
.307
Geology
.. 311
PAGE
Pioneers' First Winter 94 . Great Iron Bridge of C., R. I. & P. R. R., Crossing the Mississippi at Davenport, Iowa 91
75~ Chicago in 1833.
95
80% Old Fort Dearborn, 1830.
98
.441| Merrill, J. A.
..... .305 v
PAGE.
CONTENTS.
MARSHALL COUNTY VOLUNTEERS.
Infantry:
PAGE. Infantry :
PAGE.
Cavalry :
PAGE.
Fifth
455
Twenty-third. .459
Second
461
Eighth
456
Thirty-second .. 460
Fifth .. .462
Eighth .462
Miscellaneous .463
BIOGRAPHICAL TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
PAGE.
PAGE.
L'AGE.
Bangor.
,644
Liscomb .......................... .580
.668
State Centre .. .605
Green Castle .. .614
Lynn ...
.545
Taylor .... .648
Iowa .......
664
Marshalltown. .545
Timber Creek .632
Jefferson
672 Marietta.
.683
Washington
689
Le Grand
.59I
.679
Liberty.
ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Adoption of Children .. 287
Forms :
Chattel Mortgage .. 298
Confession of Judgment ...... 290
Landlord and Tenant. 288
Commercial Terms. .289
Lease
.296
Married Women .....
282
Capital Punishment. 282
Charitable, Scientific and Religious Associations 300
Notes ...
.290,297
Descent 275
Orders.
290
Damages from Trespass .. 284
Quit Claim Deed.
Receipts.
290
Wills and Codicils. 293
Support of Poor .287
Taxes ... 277
Wills and Estates. .276
Bills of Sale 292
Bond for Deed. 299
Intoxicating Liquors 30I
Wolf Scalps.
284
Bills of Purchase. .. 290
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Surveyor's Measure
How to Keep Accounts 269 Interest Table 270
Miscellaneous Tahle
270
ident ..
.264
Practical Rules for Every-Day Use .. 265
United States Government Land
Measure .. .268
Population of the United States ..... 272
Population of Fifty Principal Cities
of the United States .. .272 Population and Area of the United States. 273
Population of the Principal Coun-
and their Significations ...
....
271
tries in the World ..
273
Population of Marshall County ...... 354
PACE.
Map of Marshall County Front.
269 Constitution of United States ... .250
Jurors 281
Limitation of Actions.
28I
Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes .275
Mortgages .... 294
Marks and Brands
284
Notice to Quit ... 293
Mechanics' Liens. .285
Roads and Bridges
286
Surveyors and Surveys .. 287
Suggestions to Persons Purchasing Books by Subscription 303
Exemptions from Execution. .282
Estrays. .283 Forms : Warranty Deed. .298 Articles of Agreement 291 Fences .284
Interest ...
275
Weights and Measures
280
Jurisdiction of Courts
281
Minerva ... 640
Eden ..
.586
Logan.
Marion ..
.655
Vienna .. 625
Eleventh 456
457
Forty-fourth .. .460
Thirteenth.
Vote for President and Vice Pres-
Names of the States of the Union
299
1
2.5
FREDONMA
.3/
33
35
36
.31
32
.33
35
31.
32
33
32
34
33
236
BIYER
5
STATE CENTRE
7
12
LE GRAND
Davis
T.83.N.
13
18.
WASHINGTON
TIMBER CREEK
Tunber
21
20
21
22
23
2
DILLON
.30
29
00
27
26
29
23
27
31
32
36
32
33
.3.4
36
31
32
23/
33
3+
35
38
-
UMTIMBER CREEK POZ
3
Raven
10% E DEN VILLE
7
12
T. 82 NY
17
13
18 M
17
16
18
17
16
14
1.3
JEFFERSON
GREEN
CASTLE
LAUREL
24
20
21
23
24
20
23
30
28
27
20°
25
1
30
28
27
30
28
26 0ml
.30
GILMAN
1
31
32
.34
35
..
.37
32
33
.3.5
31
32
33
.3%
35
36
31
32
-
R.18 W.
-
R.19 W.
R.20.W.
I ASPER
COUNTY
GOTT
QUARRY
70
17
12
.9
10
Marshallta Pour Fun
. 13
14
CENTRE
-
19
22
19
20
21
22
6
5
6
5
4
3
.
12
7
8
C
10
18
14
13
18
Y
2
Willen
23
24
19
20
2.3
1
Snipe
-----
R.17 W.
-
FUICICOT LA MOILLE
ynn
MASTERA
TAMA
D
N7
10
37, North Stunk
36
-
MAP OF ARSHALL
COUNTY
IOWA.
GRUNDY
CO
3
2
1
6
5
2
I
5
STANFORD P.O."
6
5
LISCOMB 7
3
12
7
8
10
11
7
1
OVIENNA PO.
T.85.N
IS
16
75
BANGOR
Mister
1
V
F
3
24
19
20
21
24
19
30
27
26
30
2.9
28
25
30
31
.32
.33
33
36
31
3.5
36
14
MINER P.J
.5
4
.3
2
ALBION
AYLOR
10
71
12
8
9
10
T2
GREEN MOUNTAIN
T.84.N.
185.
17
16
15
13
17
16 Link
+
17
MARIETA
R
ER
MARIETTA
1.9
22
23
24.
20
21
2.3
24
300g
23
HARDIN
CO.
BANGOR
16
144
13 -1/7 18
15
14
13
13
18
77
_16
LIRE ETY
BEVINS GROVE P.SLINE
5
Echt
.34
334
2
7
9
Minriva
Linte Aunervo
74 00
.
MINER 21
+
12
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, 'Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the "New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern Territory."
In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of the entire population of the United States.
Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- stretching prairies. more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe.
For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States.
(19)
20
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advantage of these discoveries.
In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots ( Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result ; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac.
During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied -as all others did then-that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
000000000
BRIGHAM
MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
21
22
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- dition, prepared for the undertaking.
On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. Hc assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of the Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of
23
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand "reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors.
THE WILD PRAIRIE.
On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course
24
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. "Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, " did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discovery-one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream-going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan-he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette.
While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre- paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin.
After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of those ages-a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor General of Canada, and laid before him the plan, dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis- tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized.
LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev .-
25
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans " of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.