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THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY
X977.324 24th
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
1
1
A HISTORY
LIBRARY
RBARA
OF THE
COUNTY OF DU PAGE, ILLINOIS;
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT AND PRESENT ADVANTAGES,
A SEPARATE
HISTORY OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS,
INCLUDING
NOTICES OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES, WITH THE NAMES AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST SETTLERS IN EACH TOWNSHIP,
AND MUCH
VALUABLE STATISTICAL INFORMATION.
BY C. W. RICHMOND & H. F. VALLETTE.
CHICAGO:
STEAM PRESSES OF SCRIPPS, BROSS & SPEARS, 45 CLARK STREET.
1857.
ENTERED, ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1857, BY C. W. RICHMOND AND H. F. VALLETTE,
IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS.
CULVER, PAGE & HOYNE, BINDERS, 128 and 130 Lake Street.
24. Hurt demenz
977.324 R41h
12.111 01 314180 DRBIRA
39en 36 D. HILL
TO THE READER.
THE authors propose to offer no apology for the appearance of this work. They are, however, con- scious of many of its imperfections, to which it would be unwise in them to draw the attention of the public.
26235 Howes 1857ed
The original manuscript was prepared more than a year ago, and placed in the hands of a printer, whose establishment, with all his effects, including said manuscript, was carried down stream at the time of the high water last spring. To this cir- cumstance may be attributed the delay in its pub- lication, as well as some slight errors of omission and commission, which anybody is at liberty to find in the work. If the reader chances to discover anything of the kind, we here take the liberty to inform him beforehand, that "we knew it." And if anybody thinks he can write a better history of Du PAGE County, we can only say to him, in the
SALLI
del.
.
iv SAN TO THE READER.
language of the good deacon who made an un- successful attempt to preach in the absence of the regular pastor, " if you really think you can do it better, why, try it, that's all."
We hereby tender our acknowledgments to the following named persons, for much valuable in- formation for the work : Capt. JOSEPH NAPER, Miss NANCY HOBSON, JOHN WARNE, WILLARD SCOTT, R. N. MURRAY, H. B. HILLS, H. D. FISHER, L. W. MILLS, E. DUNCKLEE, Rev. Mr. WASHBURNE, E. R. LOOMIS, Hon. WALTER BLANCHARD, JOHN GRANGER, MYRON C. DUDLEY.
THE AUTHORS.
IPERSITY OF ERININ
ORBANA
EARLY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
PIONEER REMINISCENCES.
THE present chapter is designed to embody the leading incidents connected with the early settlement of Du PAGE County, and embraces a period of nearly three years. It may be for the benefit of some to state, that this narrative does not disclose a succession of "disastrous chances," nor is it fraught with "mov- ing accidents by flood and field," and he who peruses these pages, thinking to derive gratification from such sources, will undoubtedly be disappointed. The pioneers of our county are fast passing from us, and soon there will none remain to tell the story of their hardships.
That such facts and incidents, relating to their settlement here, as are considered worthy of record, may be preserved, is the object of this sketch; and if these convey no lessons of historic valne, it is believed that they will not be devoid of interest to those familiar with the locality of the scenes de- scribed. The bulk of information herein detailed, has been gathered from authentic sources, from living witnesses ; and if errors or omissions have occurred,
6
HISTORY OF
the writer can only assert, in extenuation, the honesty of his intentions, and crave a liberal indulgence toward his deficiencies.
The first permanent settlement within the limits of Du PAGE, was made in the fall of 1830, and during the spring of the year following. Stephen J. Scott removed from Maryland to this State, with his family, in the year 1825, and "made a claim" near the present site of Gros Point. While on a hunting tour, in the month of August, 1830, in company with his son Willard, he discovered the Du PAGE river, near Plainfield. Impressed with the beauty and apparent fertility of the surrounding country, he resolved to explore the river, and ascended it as far as the con- fluence of its east and west branches, now called "The Forks." Here he became enamored of the gorgeous adornings with which the hand of nature had embellished the scene around him. In these he beheld infallible tokens of the "promised land," and it required but little time for him to ponder and determine the question of making that beautiful region liis future home.
A comfortable log house was subsequently built upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Sheldon, and the family of Mr. Scott came on to possess the "new claim," in the fall of 1830. Other families soon settled in the vicinity. Although Mr. Scott is en- titled to the distinction of having been the pioneer of the " settlement," which soon extended for several miles along the river into WILL and Du PAGE, yet there are others who lay well established claims to the pioneership of this county. About the middle -
7
DU PAGE COUNTY.
of March, 1831, Baley Hobson came and settled, with his family, near the present site of the family resi- dence, being the first actual settler on tlie soil of Du PAGE County. The family of Mr. Paine located near Mr. Hobson, in April following. In July the family of Capt. Joseph Naper came from Ohio, accompanied by the family of his brother, John Naper. Capt. Naper had visited the county in February, 1831. He built a cabin near the site of his flouring mill, in which he lived until a more commodious dwelling could be provided for his family. He also built a trading house that season, and carried on quite an extensive trade with the settlers and Indians. The latter were quite numerous here at that time, but he. always sustained the most friendly relations with them. The settlement received constant additions to its numbers, and at the end of spring, 1832, it contained one hun- dred and eighty souls. Among the families were those of H. T. Wilson, Lyman Butterfield, Ira Car- penter, John Murray, R. M. Sweet, Alanson Sweet, Harry Boardman, Israel Blodgett, Robert Strong, Pierce Hawley, Walter Stowel, C. Foster, J. Man- ning, and H. Babbitt.
The locality was then known as "Naper's Settle ment." The winter of 1832 was one of unusual severity, which, together with a scarcity of provisions, rendered the prospects of the settlers rather gloomy. John Naper, John Murray, and R. M. Sweet were sent . to the "Wabash" for provisions, from which place supplies were at length obtained, and the dreary sea- son, "on his frozen wings," passed away without much suffering among the settlers. The new spring awoke and clothed the earth in all the beauty and freshness of
8
HISTORY OF
a young creation, quickening into life countless germs, in bud, and flower, and tree ; filling the air with the mel- ody of motion, the murmur of released waters, and the song of birds, and spotting the verdure of the wide- spreading prairies with fire and gold in the tint of flowers. How true to the sentiment of all who witnessed the opening of that long looked for spring, must be the words of the poet :
" These are the gardens of the Desert - these The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, And fresh as the young earth ere man had sinned. The Prairies! I behold them for the first, And my heart swells, while the dilated sight Takes in the encircling vastness."
Never was a " good time come " hailed with more gladness than was the spring of 1832, by the infant colony. A prospect of reward for past hardships was before them. All was busy preparation for the ap- proaching seed time. The labor of breaking and fencing went briskly forward, and in due time the new fledged grain came peering from the mellow ground. But long before the growing fields stood ready for the sickle of the glad harvester, the little band were obliged to relinquish their cherished anticipations, and flee from their new homes for the safety of their lives.
The news of the breaking out of the Black Hawk war caused great excitement in the settlement, and the alarm was heightened by the arrival of Shata, an ex- press from the Pottawattomies, who were friendly to the · whites, with the intelligence that a party of Sac Indians were committing depredations among the settlers on Fox river, some ten miles distant, and that the houses of
9
DU PAGE COUNTY.
Cunningham and Hollenbeck had been burned to the ground, and their property entirely destroyed. Aware of their inability to carry on a successful warfare with the Indians, as the colony was in an almost defenseless state, and being liable to an attack from them at any moment, the settlers decided to send their families, with all possible haste, to Chicago, where old. Fort Dearborn offered its protection to any fearing the incursions of the savages. The settlement was now the scene of universal disorder and alarm. Bustle and confusion were the order of the hour. Men were hurrying to and fro in eager pursuit of their wives and children, while weeping wives and crying children were hurrying with equal rapidity and greater anxiety in pursuit of their husbands and fathers. Order was at length, in some degree, restored, and while the women were engaged in packing such articles of clothing and provision as they would require for the journey, the men were actively fitting out teams to convey them away.
Early in the afternoon of the 18th of May, the train started for Chicago. But the family of Christopher Paine, who lived near the place of S. & D. Babbitt, . consisting of his wife and six children, were, in the general confusion incident to their hasty departure, left behind. The family were sent in advance of the train, with directions to wait at a short distance from the settlement for its arrival. Concealing themselves in a thicket by the roadside, near the farm now owned by Capt. John Sargent, and not hearing the company as it passed, they were obliged to remain in their place of concealment during the night, which must have been
1*
10
HISTORY OF
one of fearful anxiety to the mother, as the imagina- tive dangers of her situation magnified, while watching over her houseless and defenseless children. They returned in safety to the settlement next morning, but muchi exhausted by fatigue and hunger.
The following incidents relating to the alarm and sudden flight of Mr. Hobson's family, have been kindly furnished by one of its members. Mr. Hobson, with Mr. Paine and son, had just seated themselves at their noonday meal, relating, in the meantime, the intelligence they had received while at work in the field; that a band of Indians were. advancing, and were then only thirty miles distant, when they were suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Paine's eldest son, who rushed into the house, bareheaded and breathless, informing them that Specie and Ament had just arrived from the Au Sable grove, having run their horses down, and performed a part of the journey on foot, to bring the alarming intelligence that a body of Indians had that morning passed through Hollen- beck's grove, killing several settlers, and burning everything in their path. Upon this intelligence, immediate preparations for safety were considered expedient. Hobson and Paine arose from the table, leaving the dinner untasted. Mr. Paine, accompanied by his sons, started in great haste for their home, while Mr. Hobson prepared to ride up to the Naper settle- ment, to see what the inhabitants there had concluded to do, but his wife and children, clinging to him, begged him not to leave them; whereupon he saddled the horses, and after seeing the wife and children all mounted, except the eldest son, who was to accompany
11
DU PAGE COUNTY.
them on foot, they started together. They directed their course through the east end of the grove, and coming upon a rise of ground, beheld a man on horseback, about a mile distant. It immediately occurred to Mr. Hobson that this was an Indian spy, but it proved to be one of a small party of scouts, sent out from the settlement. He, however, directed his wife and children to hasten out of sight. They rode into the grove and dismounted. Mr. H. came up soon after, threw the saddles into a thicket, turned the horses into a neighboring field, and made all possible haste to secrete his family; directing them to use every precaution to evade pursuit, and not to tangle nor bruise the grass and weeds as they went along. Having done this, his attention was next directed to his dog, a faithful and valuable animal. " You have been," said he, "my companion and pro- tector for years ; you have never been unfaithful to a trust, nor given me cause to question your fidelity- always 'the first to welcome, foremost to defend.' But now you may betray us, and, saddening as the thought may be, I must be reconciled to the necessity of putting you to death." So, taking the unsuspecting victim, he went to a cabin near by, which had been but recently occupied by the family of Mr. Seth Wescott, his object being to procure an ax with which to do the deed at which his very soul shuddered. It was supposed that the family of Mr. Wescott had received the alarm, and fled. ' What then was his surprise to meet him at the threshold of his door, with gun in hand, just starting out on a hunting expedition. At `Mr. Hobson's solicitation, the dog
12
HISTORY OF
was shot ; but he died not, as many pass from life, without a tear to consecrate the event, or a heart to embalm the memory of the departed soul-his loss was sincerely lamented. Mr. Wescott made imme- diate preparation to join the settlers, and Mr. Hobson, fearing that the report of the gun might have alarmed his family, hastened to meet them. Accompanied by his wife he then returned to the house to make prepa- rations, in case it should become necessary for them to desert their home. The box had been removed from the wagon, but with his wife's assistance he was enabled to replace it, and, after completing their arrangements, they again set forth, Mrs. Hobson with some food to seek her children in the grove, while her husband went to the settlement to see what prepara- tions were being made there. On his arrival he found that the families, with a part of the men, had gone to Chicago. He informed those that remained of the condition of his family, and of his anxiety that they. should set out that night, in hopes of overtaking the advance party. Capt. Naper, Lieut. King, and Specie volunteered to return with him to the place where he had concealed his family. They were all mounted ex- cept King, who was on foot. Having found the family in their hiding place, it was a matter that required considerable mathematical skill to determine how they were to be conveyed. It was at length decided that the two eldest children should be placed on the horse of Mr. Hobson ; that Capt. Naper should take two more on the horse with him; and that Mrs. Hobson, assisted by King, should go on foot, carrying the youngest child, then two years old. They pressed on
13
DU PAGE COUNTY.
toward the north end of the grove, where Mr. Hobson had agreed to meet them with his team. Emerging from the grove they had yet half a mile to go, and Mrs. Hobson being fatigued by the journey, one of . the children was taken from Capt. Naper's horse and placed on the horse with the two others, while Mrs. Hobson mounted behind Capt. Naper. They, started again, one horse carrying Capt. Naper, with his huge Kentucky rifle, together with Mrs. Hobson, one child, and sundry and divers trappings. It is supposed that the gallant captain never presented a more formidable appearance than he did while riding along on that memorable occasion, with his burnished steel glisten- ing in the moonbeams, although he has, since that day, been the hero of at least three decisive battles.
They arrived in safety at the place appointed to meet Mr. Hobson, who soon came up with his oxen and wagon, bringing with him such things from the house as he could hastily pick up in the dark. The announcement of "all aboard" soon followed. Mr. Hobson gave up his horse to Mr. King, who returned with Capt. Naper to the settlement, while the vehicle containing the family moved on its slow and weary way. The night was cold, and rendered still more uncomfortable by a heavy fall of rain; but wet and cold are of minor consideration, when compared with the horrors of an excited imagination, which trans- forms every tree and shrub into a merciless Indian foe, with tomahawk and scalping knife in hand, ready to commit their deeds of cruelty and slaughter. Passing a night of the most intense fear and anxiety, they arrived at Brush Hill at sunrise. Crossing the
14
HISTORY OF
O'Plain, they found a habitation, the only one on the whole route. They journeyed on, and soon reached · the "Big Prairie," the distance across which is about ten miles. Crossing this prairie was the most tedious part of the way. The wheels, during a greater part of the distance, were half imbedded in the marshy soil, rendering it almost impossible for the team to move on, even with an empty wagon. The children became sickened from exposure and thirst. Being unprovided with a drinking vessel, Mrs. Hobson fre- quently took the shoe from her foot and dipped the muddy water from the pools by the roadside, which they drank with much apparent satisfaction. They plodded on at a slow pace, and reached their desti- nation at a little before sunset, much exhausted by hunger and fatigue, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hobson . having tasted food for more than thirty-six hours. They were safely quartered in Fort Dearborn, and here we leave them, and return to the settlement. .
Some fifteen or twenty men remained behind, when the settlement was abandoned by the families, in order to protect, if possible, their dwellings and other prop- erty, from the depredations of the Indians, should they come to destroy them. They quartered themselves in the log house of Capt. Naper, and kept vigilant guard during the night. On the following morning the set- tlement was visited by Lawton, an Indian trader, liv- ing on the O'Plain, in company with three Indians and a half-breed, named Burrasaw. They brought no news, but came to gather further particulars in rela- tion to the threatened invasion of the Sacs .. As the settlers had heard nothing of their movements since .
15
DU PAGE COUNTY.
the departure of Shata's express, it was resolved that a party, joined by Lawton and the three Indians, should go to the camp of the Pottawattomies, near the Big Woods, some ten miles distant, for informa- tion. Two men, named Brown and Murphy, had been placed on patrol that morning, and were out on the prairie, a little west of the settlement. The party setting out for the Big Woods determined to test their courage, and for that purpose, sent the three Indians in advance of the main party. As soon as the Indians came in sight of the patrol, they gave.a mnost terrific war whoop, and darted on after them with the fleet- ness of so many arrows. The patrol, seized with sud- den consternation, sprang to their horses and fled in the wildest dismay-first toward the north, but being intercepted by some of the company, whom they took to be savages, they wheeled and took an opposite direc- tion. In this course they were again intercepted by the three Indians. Concluding they must be surrounded, they came to a halt, laid down their arms, and were about to sue for mercy, when they chanced to discover in the features of their vengeful pursuers a striking likeness to those they had left at the settlement. The fact soon dawned upon them that they had been suc- cessfully hoaxed, and their duties "on guard" termi- nated with that adventure.
The company advanced toward the Big Woods. As they drew near the timber, an Indian was ob- served mounted on a horse, who, on seeing them, turned and fled. The three Indians made instant pursuit; overtaking him before he had gone far, they made themselves known as friends, and detained him
16
HISTORY OF
until the company came up. Lawton understood the dialects of several Indian tribes, and in a conversation with him ascertained that lie belonged to the Potta- wattomies, who were encamped only three miles distant. The Indian said the whole of his tribe were drunk, and it would be dangerous for the company to visit them. However, after brief consultation, they decided to proceed to the encampment, and the captured Indian led the way. Although the appear- ance of the company in the camp, caused some little excitement among that portion of the tribe wlio were sufficiently sober to entertain an emotion of any kind, yet they were received with no apparent indications of hostility. On examination, the testimony of the Indian , was fully substantiated. Indians were found in a state of beastly intoxication in every part of the camp; while others were enjoying the pastime in the most picturesque, amusing and fantastic series of per- formances that can be imagined. Dancing, singing, whooping and screeching, delightfully mingled, form- ed the grand offering which there went up at the shrine of bad whisky and worse tobacco. One fellow, who seemed to be of a decidedly pugnacious turn, was lying on the ground, face downwards, with his hands secured behind him, Samson like, with green withes. Frantic with rage, lie seemed to utter the most vehement and fearful denunciations against all who came near lim. Upon inquiry, it was ascer- tained that the fellow had violated an important law in their code respecting these orgies, which law for- bids " a brother knocking a brother down," and he was suffering the penalty affixed.
17
DU PAGE COUNTY.
.
The company were summoned into the presence of the chiefs, who gave them a friendly and courteous reception. A council was called, and Lawton and Burrasaw were admitted to the ring. The consulta- tion lasted for two or three hours, and the "outsiders" were becoming rather impatient. An old Indian- woman, known to Capt. Naper, while passing near him, uttered in his ear the word " Puc-a-che," which, being bothi literally and liberally interpreted, signi- fies " Be off." And the Captain began to think it time to heed the advice.
Inquiry was made in relation to the deliberations of the council, and Lawton responded, that "there were three hundred Sac Indians in the Black Berry timber, some four miles distant; and," said he, "you will see them if you wait here an hour. These Indians will not fight them, but will 'stop them by talk,' if they can, from burning your settlement." The Cap- tain signified no inclination to hold an interview with three hundred Sac Indians, but suggested the propri- ety of retreating to the settlement as soon as possible, and sending the most valuable property there to Chicago. This plan received the acquiescence of all the company, and after making arrangements with Lawton to send an express to notify them of any immediate danger from the Sacs, the settlers returned. The packing of their goods was immediately com- menced. All the articles which were inconvenient to convey, were lowered into a well partly dug, and all was soon ready for loading the wagons. The horses had been harnessed, and were then feeding at a stable some ten or fifteen rods from the honse.
18
HISTORY OF
Capt. Naper was in the house tying the corners of a quilt, which contained the remnant of clothing left behind by his family, when a man rushed wildly into the room, shouting at the top of his voice, " the Indians are upon us !" The whole company took instant alarm, and with the exception of Captain and John Naper, beat a precipitate retreat to a thicket of hazel bushes, which, in those days, flourished in prolific exuberance on the soil now known as' Jefferson avenue. The two Napers were somewhat unlike the redoutable Mr. Sparrowgrass, who was prone to pull trigger and make inquiries afterward. They decided that inquiry should take the precedence, and if it came to that, why, they could run some.
As the horses were near, they removed the harness and put on the saddles, that they might be in readi- ness in case of emergency. They had scarcely accom- plished this, when Alanson Sweet came galloping up on his fierce charger, exhorting them to instant flight, if they valued their lives. "There are at least five hun- dred Indians upon-us," said he, " and they are not more than fifteen rods off." Alanson rode away, but the Na- pers resolved to investigate. They walked in the direc- tion from which Sweet said the Indians were approach- ing, and soon came upon a rise of ground which had concealed the Indians from view, when lo! the dusky visage of their friend Lawton appeared before them. He was at the head of about fifty brawny Pottawatto- mies, and had come to warn the settlers of immediate danger. Messengers were sent out to gather in the fugitives, that all might listen to Lawton's story. He said that at least sixteen of the Sacs, and how many
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