USA > Illinois > Mason County > Centennial history of Mason County, including a sketch of the early history of Illinois, its physical peculiarities, soils, climate, production, etc. > Part 1
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THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
LIBRARY
977. 355 C64c
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
S. Bupest.
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له
٦٠
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REDING'S NURSERY,
Tallula, Menard County, Illinois.
I have always on hand a large and well selected stock of
Fruit, Shade & Ornamental Trees
Green House and Bedding Plants,
This is the only Nursery in the West where you can procure the DWARF DESERT PLUM, which bears equal to the Gooseberry, and is not injured by the Curculio. I have also a large stock of the ALEXANDER and AMSDEN June Peaches, the ear- liest peaches grown. Also HUCKELBERRIES in abundance. The THORNLESS BLACKBERRY has no thorns to lacerate your face or hands, or tear. your clothes ; several thousand plants for sale.
I have a large stock of the above, all propogated by myself, and warranted true to name, which I will sell at reasonable rates.
If my Agents do not call on you, send your address to me for price lists and circulars.
.
MY MOTTO IS
to sell good stock at reasonable rates and guaran- tee satisfaction to all favoring me with their pat- ronage. Correspondence solicited from all needing Nursery Stock of any description.
For price lists, circulars, and all information,
Address E. W. REDING,
Box 82, Tallula, Menard, Co., Ill.
CHEAPEST BOOKSTORE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS!
FRANK SIMMONS,
Bookseller, Stationer & Newsdealer
206 South Sixth Street.
SPRINGFIELD. : : ILLINOIS.
-: SPECIALTIES :-
Gift Books, Albums, Bibles, School Supplies,
Singing Books, Blank Books Fine Stationery.
TEACHERS' HEADQUARTERS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES. .
Orders by mail promptly attended to, and prices furnished on any book published.
DR. JNO. MARENBURG,
HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN HAVANA, ILLINOIS.
In the strict performance of his duty as a physician he will try to gain the good will of his fellow citizens.
OFFICE AND RESIDENCE ON ORANGE ST.
PAUL G. BIGGS.
BIGGS STATION, ILLS.
DEALER IN COAL
SALT, LIME, ETC.
Highest Price Paid for Grain and Produce. A STOCK OF
GROCERIES n
AT LOWEST CASH PRICES.
Quick Sales and Small Profits.
STEPHENSON & WAHLFELD,
GENERAL GROCERS
Market St., bet. Plum and Orange.
HAVANA, ILLINOIS.
Take this method of informing the public that they will sell Teas. Coffees. Sugars, Glassware, Queensware. Woodenware, Table Cutlery. Pocket Cutlery Canned. Fruits, Dried Fruits, and
TOBACCOS,
-- O ANDO --
SMOKERS' ARTICLES Of all kinds, for the
Lowest Cash Prices,
That can be offered in the City.
WE ARE AGENTS FOR THE WELL AND FAVORABLY KNOWN
McHARRY'S MILLS FLOUR,
Corn Meal, and all kinds of Chopped Feed.
A FULL LINE OF NAILS ALWAYS ON HAND.
STEPHENSON & WAHLFELD.
HENRY BREIDERT
MARBLE DEALERS,
. PEKIN, ILLINOIS.
TOMBS, MONUMENTS, ETC.
AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE RATES.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
THE CELEBRATED PRESCOTT ORGAN. ORGANS, PIANOS,
Musical Merchandise,
TUNING AND REPAIRING,
Done by experienced hand in the very finest style.
INDUCEMENTS .- Parties wishing to buy instruments for cash, can have them at lower figures than ever before offered. To responsible parties I will sell on credit and give them bottom figures. Those wishing to purchase an instrument on monthly in- stallments can be accommodated.
I am Agent for all the Leading Pianos and Organs Manufactured in this Country. The well known Music Dealer of Pekin, Ill.
FRED. SCHÆFER.
O. C. TOWN,
DEALER IN
WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWELRY,
Silverware, Spectacles, Gold Pens, &c.
Silverware Replated.
ENGRAVING FINELY EXECUTED.
I sell no cheap, worthless goods; every article warranted strictly as represented.
SPECIAL. ATTENTION GIVEN TO
REPAIRING WATCHES, CLOCKS AND JEWELRY.
ALSO DEALER IN
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE,
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German Accordeons, Violins, Guitars, Flutes and Fifes, a full line of Violin and Guitar Strings and Trimmings.
SHEET MUSIC, ETC.
Main Street, Havana, Illinois.
O. C. TOWN.
Strickle Bros' Store,
Sign of the
Is the Headquarters for the
OLD SETTLERS
AND THE
YOUNG SETTLERS
Of Mason county to buy their
DRY GOODS, CLOTHING,
BOOTS, SHOES, &C., FOR CASH! AT THE
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Gash Buyer's Hard-Pan Prices!
WE ARE THE
Cheap Cash tore OF MASON COUNTY.
No. 39 MAIN STREET, HAVANA, ILL.
STRICKLE BRO'S.
PEORIA HOUSE.
East Corner Public Square,
PEORIA, ILLS.
CHAS. H. DEAN, Proprietor.
RATES REDUCED
GASTOS
$2, $2.50 AND $3 PER DAY,
According to Size and Location of Room.
1
ENTI AL HOTEL.
TED.
SPRINGFIELD. II
TERMS 81.50 PER DAY.
D. ETNIER. - PROPRIETOR.
EPLE &
-
FLOUR
N GRAD =
E
Omies Snimier ant Saisacion Maranes
THERE IS MONEY IN IT.
SPECIAL .INT JCEMENTS TO THE TEADE.
AGENTS WANTED
EVERYWHERE FOR TEE
WEED
Sewing Machine.
THE E THE
SIMPLEST, LIGHTEST RUNNING, BEST MADE
Most Reliable Sewing Machines in the World.
AFiress.
G MACHINE CO.
& 20; Wabash Are .. Chicago. Il.
DR. R. M. SCANI IN
DENTIST. .. .... ..
Warente
WRIGHT & COCHRANE.
au.
ttorney 5 at _ -
REAL ESTATE AGENT S.
HAVAN LLINOIS.
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INDEX .
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PAGE.
Title page
1 Preface. 3
Introductory . S
Historical events 1 1
Sketch of the early history of Illinois 15
Forests of Illinois 21
Illinois river and tributaries 22
Sangamon river and tributaries. 25
Productions of Illinois. 26
Sangamon, Menard and Tazewell counties 28 Mason county 30
Mason county Postoffices 39
Salt Creek township
40
Lynchburg township. 43
Forest City 44
Crop statistics in 1853. 46
Geology of Mason county,.
52
Treelessness of the Prairies
67
Early efforts at fruit growing
73
Havana, History of. So
Meteorological. 86
Mason City, History of.
IOI
Biographical . IIS
Benevolent Orders. 230
Newspapers of Mason county 234
Railroads of Mason county 256
Educational . . 266
County Poor Farm .274
Military History .. .277
, Conclusion-The Pioneer 347
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY
.
OF
MASON COUNTY,
INCLUDING A
SKETCH OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,
ITS
*
PHYSICAL PECULIARITIES, SOILS, CLI- MATE, PRODUCTIONS, ETC.
BY
JOSEPH COCHRANE.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL .: ROKKER'S STEAM PRINTING HOUSE.
1876.
977.355 C64c
11 Ja 16 Hammond.
PREFACE.
The origin and the object of this work is best set forth in the following documents and proceedings. The work was engaged in by the writer without fully comprehending the undertaking before him; but, as new subjects and new interests have presented them- selves, we have assumed to present them to the people fully, in the belief that the intelligent reading and appreciative people of Mason county will appreciate our efforts.
021 Jauna
The scientific features of the work have been supplied by the State Geologists of Illinois and of Michigan. To these gentlemen Lwe are under obligations for their assistance in " Exploring the hills of scientific truth that shade the landscapes of eternity."
It has been our aim and our ambition, in the following work, to sgive FACTS, and facts only; to ignore our individual opinions.
With Dr. Gall we can say: " That one fact is with me more positive Wand decisive than a thousand methaphysical opinions." Our opinions and our own preferences are not history. In the Biograph- Sical Department of the work we have found it necessary to practice Ja large amount of self denial. After a residence of over twenty -years in Mason county, and the friendships formed in that long period of time, we find it difficult, in writing personal sketches of Cold friends and neighbors, to say much of them historically and [restrain feelings engendered by their long personal friendships. How well this has been done the public must be the judge. With the sentiment, rendered immortal by the late President Lincoln, for our guide, we cannot be far wrong: " With charity to all, and ; malice towards none." For the military history of the county we acknowledge our indebtedness to Adj. Gen. Hillyer, of Springfield, Illinois, through whose promptness and kindness we have been furnished with the very full and perfect details which we have been
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
enabled to give. We are also under large obligations to Mr. Ludlam, of the Secretary of State's office, for documents and data no where else obtainable. Also, to a careful and judicious use of " paste and scissors," for some of the most valuable extracts. In the defence of this I can only say, it is the general usage of writers. A noted author says: "I am not ashamed to borrow to enrich my own history." My own credit, if any shall be, in uniting the links to form a chain.
We are indebted, also, for information and assistance, to numer- ous individuals in every part of the county, and to acknowledge all would necessitate the publication of a county directory. All will please accept our thanks. This work has been assigned us without our solicitation, and we are thus under obligations to do a work creditable alike to all, more than could be placed upon us by any pecuniary reward.
The following is an extract from the Clarion, of Havana, pub- lished by S. Wheadon, and was our first notification of the work :
"HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY .- We understand that many of our citizens have spoken favorably of our townsman, J. Cochrane, Esq., to prepare a history of Mason county, to be filed at our national capitol, in pursuance of the recommendation of their Gov- crnor. We earnestly hope that Mr. Cochrane may be appointed for the work-being an old citizen, thoroughly acquainted with the geography, soil and products of our county, and withal an interest- ing writer. We know of no one who is better fitted for the task."
In pursuance of previous call, a meeting was held at the court house on the evening of May 27, to make arrangements for the celebration of the approaching Centennial Anniversary. The meeting was called to order by I. N. Mitchell, Mayor of Havana. Major H. Fullerton was elected Chairman, and F. Ketchum and S. Wheadon, Secretaries. The Chairman addressed the audience in an able, patriotic speech, which elicited much applause.
Mr. J. Cochrane offered the following, which was adopted :
Resolved, That the Committee of Conference with other towns be instructed to use every effort to obtain the co-operation of every and each individual town in the county for a grand County Cen- tennial Celebration on the coming anniversary of our National Independence, in conformity to the resolution of the Legislature, and the proclamation of the Governor.
Hon. J. A. Mallory offered the following :
Resolved, That this meeting recommend the appointment of Joseph Cochrane to write the History of Mason county, in ac-
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PREFACE.
5
cordance with the proclamation of the Governor, and that an appro- priation be made by our Board of Supervisors to defray the neces- sary expenses of the same.
. Remarks on the above were made by Major Fullerton and F. Ketchum, favoring the resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
On motion of H. A. Wright, Esq., Mr. J. R. Foster was elected Treasurer.
On motion of J. M. Ruggles, Esq., the Board of Aldermen of this city were requested to appropriate from three to five hundred dollars to defray the expenses of the celebration.
It was moved and carried that these proceedings be published in the papers of Mason county, and this meeting stand adjourned to next Friday night.
H. FULLERTON, Chairman.
F. KETCHAM, Secretaries.
S. WHEADON, S
The origin of Centennial County Histories is contained in the following resolution of Congress, approved March 3, 1876:
Joint resolution on the celebration of the Centennial in the sev- cral counties or towns :
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it be and is hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Represen- tatives, to the people of the several States, that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching Centennial anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such a day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the Clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence. Approved March 13, 1876.
On the 25th of April, 1876, Governor Beveridge issued the fol- lowing proclamation :
To the People of the State of Illinois, Greeting :
WHEREAS, The Senate and the House of Representatives have issued, and the President of the United States has approved, a joint resolution on the celebration of the Centennial in the several counties or towns, which joint resolution is as follows, viz:
Be it resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, That it be and is hereby recom-
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
mended by the Senate and House of Representatives, to the people of the several States, that they assemble in the several counties or towns on the approaching Centennial anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in print or manuscript, in the Clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the pro- gress of our institutions during the first Centennial of their exis- tence.
.
Now, therefore, I, John L. Beveridge, Governor of Illinois, do hereby earnestly recommend to the people of our State, that prompt measures be taken in each county and town for the selection and appointment, in such manner as may be deemed best, of one or more persons, who shall prepare, as suggested in the resolution, complete, thorough and accurate historical sketches of each county, city, town or village, from the date of its first settlement to the present time; one copy of each of said sketches to be filed in the office of the County Clerk, and an additional copy to be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at the City of Washington. That these sketches may be of the greatest . historical value, I would especially urge the importance of the utmost care in their preparation, in order that they garner many interesting facts con- nected with the earliest days of our State, the knowledge of which, recorded only in the memories of our older citizens, is gradually passing away, and soon will be lost to us forever.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed.
Done at the city of Springfield, this 25th day of April, A. D. IS76.
JOHN L. BEVERIDGE.
By the Governor:
GEORGE II. HARLOW, Sec'y of State.
A CARD.
The position of Centennial Historian of Mason county being offered me by our citizens, and by the recommendation of the meeting of the 27th inst., to prepare for the approaching Anniver- sary, I hereby tender my thanks to those who have, with such en- tire unanimity, offered me this work. It will be my ambition to accomplish the work assigned, not only to the best of my ability, but have engaged the criticisms and advice of competent friends, to whom all manuscripts will be referred for examination. I desire that FULLNESS, CORRECTNESS and IMPARTIALITY shall be charac- teristics of the work. I would be glad to receive from old resi- dents such incidents of the early history of the county as may be at their command.
J. COCHRANE.
INTRODUCTORY.
We live in an age of light and of knowledge; an age in which the progress of science and of art is unprecedented in the history of the world. Their progress is onward with the step of a Col- lossus. We abide, too, in a land of civil and religious liberty. The benignant smiles of an overruling Providence have ever beamed upon us in all their glory and their effulgence.
The trump of the warrior, the noise and confusion of battle, and the garments dyed in blood, have passed from our heritage, and we are living in the felicitous enjoyment of those twin boons of freedom and prosperity, purchased by the blood of, and bequeathed to us by, our fathers. Let us emulate their deeds, practice their virtues, and hand down to posterity the rich legacy bequeathed to us. untarnished by them, unimpaired by us. Let us contemplate , the edifice they reared, this magnificent temple of CIVIL AND RELI- GIOUS LIBERTY !
The permanent fruits of liberty are wisdom, moderation and mercy. Its abuse are crimes, conflicts, errors. It is at this latter crisis that its enemies love to exhibit it. They would pull down the scaffold- ing from the half-finished edifice, and point to the flying dust, the falling timbers and debris, and then ask in scorn, where is the promised comfort and splendor of the structure to be found?
But there stands this ancient architectural pile, with tokens of a century's age covering it from its corner-stone to its topmost turret. Some of its enemies point to these symbols of age as tokens of decay, while to its friends they indicate the years they have stood; and chronicle a massiveness that can yet defy more cen- turies than it has stood years. Its foundations are buried in the accumulated mould of an hundred years. Its walls are mantled by ornamental vines of ever green foliage.
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Dig away the mould of a century, and these foundations were laid by no mortal hand. The Temple of Civil Liberty is founded on primitive rock. It strikes its roots to an unfathomable depth. No frost can heave-no convulsions shake it. The Centennial Anniversary of the Temple of Liberty to-day we celebrate. July 4, 1876.
COLUMBIA.
Come forth in all thy maiden charm, Serenely still, benignly fair, For greetings true and glad and warm Are thrilling through the summer air. Come forth, so dowered with youthful grace, Columbia, Lady of the West! And be the welcome in thy face, The pride of every honored guest.
A hundred years, in shade and light, Have cast their glory o'er thy brow; But what are they? A watch by night To nations vast who seek thee now, Who heard the overture of morn Swept grandly by the choiring stars, Ere yet across the earth was borne The sound of strife, the clash of wars.
The children of the farthest East Have brought their tributes to thy shrine. Though last, fair land, thou art not least, And cordial hands solicit thine. Lo! out from all her mystic past Steps she who reared the Pyramid; And China opens wide the fast
Barred door which once her empire hid.
With stately courtesy they bring Their wishes for thy long success; Their golden censers gently swing With incense pure as love's caress. With treasures of an elder art, Across blue-rounding waves, Japan Comes mingling in thy thronging mart, To tell the brotherhood of man. -2
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
And other than these Orient ones Are pilgrams to thy radiant shore; The emphasis of kindred tones Makes sweet the hail from lips, before, A century back, that, touched with scorn, In English accents told thy name- Thy name! to-day with glory worn Wherever reaches England's fame.
Italia sends her dreams sublime In marble wrought. From Spain and France, From German lands, From Russia's clime,
From Greece, with thoughts of old romance Entwined, the votive offerings come; And syllabled in silvery speech, Beneath the deep cerulean dome, Flow words of cheer thine ear to reach.
From where the Amazon's deep tide Full-hearted glides through banks of green, A royal pair have sought thy side, With simplest grace and courtly mien; And from their broad and ample state, Where thousands bend to do their will, Comes, fitly crowning freedom's fete, A wreath of bloom from fair Brazil.
A fading shape, the while it fades, That gives thee homage, joins to raise, Ere vet it vanish 'mid the shades Of night and eld, its chant of praise. Its name is on thy rivers writ, Its music crowns thy mountain peaks, Yet, phantom-like, its children flit Before the tongue Columbia speaks.
Receive, fair virgin of the West, The friendly plaudits of the world; Receive the love in flowers expressed, By flags in gentle peace unfurled ! Begin the century to come In faith unfeigned, in solemn awe, And consecrate thy soil, the home Of Liberty allied to Law!
HISTORICAL EVENTS
LEADING TO THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.
However instructive to the student of history to trace the lead- ing events from the creation, the deluge, the calling of Abraham, the exodus of Israel, and the giving of the Law, the foundation of Sparta, the death of Saul, the foundation of Rome, the destruction of Nineveh, the death of Cyrus, the battle of Marathon, the death of Darius, birth of Plato, the death of Socrates, the destruction of Thebes, Alexander invades Asia, completion of the Collossus of Rhodes, Hannibal crosses the Alps, death of Hannibal, birth of Julius Ceasar, death of Marius, Ceasar crosses the Rubicon, and is made Dictator, death of Cicero, of Anthony and Cleopetra, and the great central event of the world's history, the birth of Christ, it is not the province of this work to detail.
From the birth of Christ to the discovery of America, a period of nearly fifteen centuries, events thicken, as time rolls on, with ap- parently an accellerated velocity. Prominent among them, we note the death of Augustus, and the accession of Tiberius, and the . crucifixion of Christ, Nero Emperor of Rome, and Titus of Jeru- salem, christianity preached in Britain, siege of Alexandria, Con- stantine the Great, Emperor of Rome, Anglo-Saxons in Britain, Persia conquered by the Saracens, descent of the Danes on England, Otho, the first King of Germany, America discovered, in 1801, by Biorn and Lief, two Icelanders, accession of William the Con- queror, death of Abelard, the Tartar in Hungary, Palestine lost to the Christians, Turks in Europe, burning of Heretics in England, siege of Orleans, fall of the Byzantine Empire, Gibralter taken by the Moors, birth of Luther and Raphael, the inquisition in Spain, battle of Bosworth, Cape of Good Hope discovered, surrender of Grenada, end of the Moorish Dominion in Spain, expulsion of the Jews from Spain; and the discovery of America.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.
The province and scope of this work suggest extreme brevity, and the avoidance of detail in the part of the work before us. We will merely state in brief, in their chronological order, the events bearing on the discovery of America.
Christopher Columbus discovered land belonging to the Western Hemisphere, October 12, 1492, first landing on one of the Bahama Islands.
John and Sebastian Cabot landed on Newfoundland the following June.
Columbus on his third voyage discovered the Continent, near the mouth of the Orinoco river, in South America, in 1498.
In the following year, Americus Vespucius conducted a vessel to the coast of South America, and told the story of his voyage so well that the Continent received his name; an error which the in- justice of mankind has allowed to continue.
Ponce De Leon, in 1512, discovers Florida while searching for the "Fountain of Youth."
James Cartier, a French sailor, discovers the river St. Lawrence, in 1535. DeSoto, a Spaniard, discovers the Mississippi, discovers Indians, near where the city of Mobile now stands, residing in a walled city, of several thousand inhabitants. He explored the Mississippi and Red rivers, and died, near the mouth of the latter, May 21, 1542.
The first English settlement was contemplated in 1578, or about three centuries ago. Queen Elizabeth, of England, granted a pat- ent to Sir Humphry Gilbert "to such remote heathen and barbar- ous lands as he should find in North America." Two unsuccessful attempts are made by him to establish colonies. He finally perishes, with his vessels, Sept. 23, 1583. Sir Walter Raleigh is then sent with two vessels, and lands at Pamlico Sound; also makes an un- successful attempt on Roanoke Island. A third attempt, in 1587, was unsuccessful, by the interference of the Spanish Armada, and surrenders his charter to a company of merchants or Indian traders. The Plymouth company landed a colony at the mouth of Kenebec river, in 1607, are unsuccessful, and return to England; and the same year a London company establish a settlement at James river, which was the first permanent English settlement in America. English convicts are sent to Virginia, and slaves introduced in 1620. Vari-
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HISTORICAL EVENTS.
ous colonies and settlements were now established, with variable success, encountering opposition from the Indians.
The first germ of American Union, we find in a confederation of the Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven colo- nies, a confederation that lasted nearly forty years. Common school laws, an institution purely American, were passed in Connecticut, in 1650.
The growth of the colonies, by emigration and natural increase, continued to progress favorably, till they suffer the misfortune of the resignation of their distinguished friend, Mr. Pitt, in October 1761.
In 1'763, a treaty of peace between England and France closed the war in America which was so disastrous to the colonies, by reason of the atrocities committed by the Indians at the instigation of the French. The colonies paid $16,000,000 war expenses, and lost 30,000 men, and the French lost their Canadian possessions and all of their immense territory east of the Mississippi river. These were preparatory steps; in the hands of an overseeing Providence other results that were to follow, namely: preparing the people for war, and the organization of the new confederation whose centen- nial anniversary we celebrate the present year.
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