Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 1

Author: McDonough, J.L., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.L. McDonough & Co
Number of Pages: 578


USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > 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.


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HISTORY


RANDOLPH, MONROE & PERRY CO'S


ILLINOIS


ILLUSTRATIONS


UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN STACKS


THX


1682.


COMBINED HISTORY OF


RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY


COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


Ilith Illustrations


DESCRIPTIVE OF THEIR SCENERY


AND


Biographical Sketches of some of their Prominent


+ PioneErs.


PUBLISHED BY J. L. McDONOUGH & CO., PHILADELPHIA.


CORRESPONDING OFFICE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.


1883.


-0.39 2733


PREFACE.


THE publishers desire to return their sincere thanks


to those who have aided in making this work thorough and complete. For the incidents relative to the carly settlement of these counties, we are indebted to a few carly pioneers, who have seen a wild fron- tier country develop into a wealthy and populous com- munity. For other facts we are under obligations to a class of intelligent men, who, amid the ordinary pursuits of life, have taken pains to thoroughly in- form themselves on the resources of their county. Among those who have specially contributed to the completeness of this history, are Samuel Mansker, Hugh Mathews, John Swanwick, Antoine Blais, Ed- mond Menard, the several members of the O' Hara family, E H. Lemen, W. S. D Smith, the Holmes family, W. K. Murphy, John Chestnutwood, J. H. Wilson, Joseph W. Drury, William and John F. Schuchert. We also acknowledge our obligations to the writings of Governor Reynolds, Rev. John M. Peck, Captain Pit_ man, of the English army, also the American State papers and the writings of the Jesuit Fathers. Many old and valuable manuscripts, both in the French and English languages, have been examined. These rare papers have made plain and intelligible some of the earliest incidents and anecdotes pertaining to this region of the state.


The articles on the common schools have been pre- pared by gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with their subject, whose names appear at the head of the sketches in the body of the work. Among the chapters most


fruitful in interest to a great number of our readers, will be found those which treat of the carly history of the churches. Many persons are now living whose fathers and grandfathers, in the humble log cabin, which was then the only house of worship, assisted in founding organisations which have been of the greatest good to subsequent generations. To the clergy- men of the different denominations, and to many of the older members of these societies, we are indebted for much valuable information. The editors of the several newspapers have also rendered assistance in that prompt and cheerful manner so characteristic of the journalistic profession.


We have endeavored, with all diligence and care- fulness, to make the best of the material at our command. The facts were gathered from a hundred different sources, and depend largely, not on exact written records, but on the uncertain and conflicting recollections of different individuals ! We have tried to preserve the incidents of pioneer history, to accurate- ly present the natural features and material resources of this portion of the state, and to gather the facts likely to be of most interest to our present readers, and of greatest importance to coming generations. If our readers will take into consideration the diffi- culties of the task, we feel assured of a favorable verdict on our undertaking.


THE PUBLISHERS.


TABLE OF CONTENTS.


COUNTY HISTORY.


CHAPTER 1.


A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.


Geographical Position, 9; Early Explora- tions, 9: Discovery of the Ohio, 15; English Explorations and Settle- ments, 16; American Settlements, 22; Division of the North- West Territory, 23; Present Condition of the North- West, 21 . . 9-25


CHAPTER II.


BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ILLINOIS. French Possessions, 25; The first Settle- ments in Illinois, 26; Founding of Kaskaskia, 27; As a part of Louisi- ana, 27; Fort Chartres, 28; Under French rule, 29; Character of the Early French Settlers. 30; A Possession of Great Britain, 30 ; Conquest by Clark, 32; The " Compact of 1787," 32; Land T'enures, 34 ; Physical Features of the State, 35 ; Progress and Development, 35; Material Resources of the State, 36; Annual Products, 36; The War Record, 38; Civil Government, 39; Territorial and State Officers, 40 ; Mis- cellaneous Information . . . 25-43


CHAPTER III.


GEOGRAPHY, AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND RAILROAD FACILITIES.


RANDOLPH COUNTY, -46 ; MONROE COUNTY, 47; PERRY COUNTY, 48; Transpor- tation facilities, 49; St. Louis and Cairo Short Line Railroad, 50; St. Louis and Cairo, 51; Wabash, Chester and Western, 51; St. Louis Coal Road, 51 ; Illinois Central, 52; Rail- road Lands,'53 16-53


CHAPTER IV.


GEOLOGY.


General Stratum, 53; RANDOLPH COUNTY, 54; Coal Measures, 54 ; Chester Lime- stone, 55; Economical Geology, 55; MONROE COUNTY. 56; PERRY COUNTY, 57 . 53-58


CHAPTER V. FLORA.


List of Native Woody Plants, Grasses, etc., etc. . . 58-59


CHAPTER VI. FAUNA.


Treating of the Various Families of Ant- mals and Birds that have existed in these counties . 59-62


CHAPTER VI1.


PIONEER SETTLEMENTS.


RANDOLPH COUNTY, 62. The French Set- tlers, 62; Character of the Early French Settlers, 63; American Immi- gration, 64; American Population in 1800, 67; Subsequent Settlements, 67; Early Mills, 75; Overflows of the Mississippi, 75; MONROE COUNTY, 75; Indian Hostilities, 75; Early Mills, 82; Destructive Hurricane, 82; PERRY COUNTY, 83; Manners and Customs of the American Pioneers, 86. . . 62 -- 89


CHAPTER VIIL.


CIVIL HISTORY.


RANDOLPH COUNTY from 1778 to 1818, 89; License for trade, 92; Letters to the Court of Kaskaskia, 92: Kahokia Fund (No. 1,) 93; Warrant for Exe- cution, 94; Todd's Embargo, 95; James Moore's Naturalization, 96; Land Tenure, 97; Extract from assess-


PAGE


ment of 1808, 98; Government of County in Territorial Times, 100; Scraps from Records of the Period 1795 to 1809, 101; 1809 to 1819, 102; List of Townsluip Officers 1809, 103 ; Proceedings in Courts of Justice, Ter- ritorial Laws, 104; Shadrach Bond and Rice Jones' Duel, 105; Dunlap- Jones Murder, 105; Another Murder Case, 105; Probate Court 1809, 106; Estates under Administration from 1809 to 1818, 106; Slavery in Ran- dolph County, 107; Manumission in 1760, 108; A Negro Child set Free, 109; Public Buildings, 111; Early Marriages, 112; Randolph represented in Territorial Legislature, 1795 to 1818, 112; Territorial Officers, 113 ; Randolph County, 1818 to 1883, 113; Census 1825, --; Ileads of Families, 115; County Finances, 1819 to 1844, 118 ; Change of County Seat to Ches- ter, 119; Financial Condition of tlie County, September 1st, 1882, 122; List of county Officers, 121-127. . 60 -- 127


MONROE COUNTY (from IS16 to 1882), 127: County Government, 129; List of Tax-payers in 1816, 132; Emancipa- tion Papers, 133: Tenure of Lands, 134; Lands Entered, 135; Early Transfers of Real Estate, 136; First Road Petitions and names of Monroe county Pioneers, 137; Early Mar- riages, 139 ; Towns and Villages prior to 1820, 140 ; Contracts for first Public Buildings, 141 ; Prairie Du Long, 144 ; Circuit Courts, 1817 to 1818, 146; Challenge to Fight a Duel, 148; Mur- ders, 148; Naturalization, 148; In General Assembly from 1818 to 1848- 1883, 149 ; Precincts, March, 1875, 155 ; Statistics, 1881-'82, 156; Mur- der and Execution, 156, In General


5


1


vi


TABLE OF CONTENTS.


PAGE


Assembly 1848 to '84. State Offices and Congress, Officers of county, 159.


PERRY COUNTY, 161 ; First License, 164 ; First session of Circuit Court, 164, First Road Districts and Road Offi- cers, 165 ; Proceedings in Relation to Establishing the County Seat, 165; First Officers, 166; First Fiscal State- ment, 167 ; First Probate Court, 167 ; Petition for Redress, 168; First Gen- eral Election, 168; First Bridge, 169; First Court House, 169; Second Court Honse-Remonstrance against build- ing it, 170 ; Third Court House, 170; Present Court House, 171; First and Present Jail, 171; Almsbouse, 173; Circuit Court, 173; First Murder Trial-Execution of Vanghn, 174; Statistics, 175 ; Subscription to Rail- roads, 177 ; Saline and Swamp Lands,


177; Officers, 178. . . 89-180


CHAPTER 1X.


THE BENCH AND BAR.


RANDOLPH COUNTY, 180; Former mem-


bers of the Bar, 182; Present Mem-


bers, 185 ; MONROE COUNTY, For-


mer Members of the Bar, 186;


Present Members, 187; PERRY COUNTY, 188; Non-Resident Lawyers, 190; Former and Present Members, 191.180-193


CHAPTER X.


THE PRESS.


RANDOLPH COUNTY .- First Newspaper in Illinois, 193. Subsequent Newspa- pers-MONROE COUNTY, 198. PERRY


COUNTY, 199 193-201


CHAPTER XI. PATRIOTISM.


Early French, Conquest by Clark, 201 ;


War of 1812, 203 ; Soldiers in Black


Hawk and Mexican Wars, 201: Re-


bellion, 207; Muster Roll of all the Soldiers who enlisted from Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties . . . 201-231


CHAPTER X11.


COMMON SCHOOLS.


Randolph county, 231 , Monroe county,


237, Perry county, 238. . 231-242 -


PAGE


Gerlach, John D. . 295


Gladson, William E. 343


Gordon, Abram G. . 302


Goddard, Reuben J. . 394


Goodman, J. William 398


Gordon, Rev. George A. 426


Gordon, Rev. H. S. 426


Grant William H. . 419


Guker, Frederick, (deceased.)


405


Hamilton, P. P. . 438


Hammack, Lewis . . 352


Hartmann, Christian F. . 320


Hawthorne, J. C.


394


Heape, Hon. Lysias


. 363


Hilyard, W. H. .


. 326


Holbrook, J. C. . 298


Hoener, Hon. Ambrose .329


Holmes, Joseph B.


290


Holmes, William M. . 302


Holt, Nelson


. 364


Horner, H. C. . 302


Janson, Hon. John . . 320


Jahn, George E. 329


Kane, Louis M1, .


. 349


Koenigsmark, Thomas


. 455


Laurence, M. B.


441


Lee, A. HI. . 380


Lemen Edwin H. 340


Malone, James M. . 284


Mansker, Samuel . 469


Matlack and Wassell 301


Mathews, Hugh .


411


McBride, John T. . 300


McCandless, W. L. 359


McFie, John R. . . 373


Mckenzie, William R. 294


Menard, Edmond . . 310


Metzger, Charles . 327


Micban, John .


. 394


Murphy, William K . 34.1


Murphy, William P. 393


O'Hara, Henry . 462


Pantler, Joseph . . 418


Payne, Thomas J. . . 323


Penny, James J. .


. 343


Penwarden, Thomas F.


. 360


Pickett, James 428


Pollock, J. T. . 299


Pyatt, llon. John W. 356


Ragland, J. K. P. . 343


Richards, Charles P. 439


Rickert, J. W. . . 322


Riess, George L. . . 40.1


Roe, Charles H. .


355


Gerlach, Daniel 391


CHAPTER XIII.


ECCLESIASTICAL.


RANDOLPH ('OUNTY .- Reformed Presbyte- rian, 243 ; Evangelical Lutheran, 249 ; Catholic, 254. Presbyterian, 257, Christian, 258; St. Mark's Parish, 259'; Freewill Baptist, 259 (Randolph and Perry counties) : German M. E.,


260. MONROE COUNTY .- Concord Presbyterian, 261 ; Metbodist, 261 ; German Evangelical, 262: Baptist, 263 ; Catholic, 263. PERRY COUNTY. -Christian, 265; Presbyterian, 266; Baptist, 267; Methodist, 278; Ger- man Evangelical. 279; Holy Catho- lic, 280 ; United Presbyterian (Ran- dolph and Perry), 281. . 243-281


BIOGRAPHIES.


Adair, Captain William 431


Anderson, J. B. . 392


Anderson, R. B. .


. 351


Angerer, Hon. John T.


453


Ashwood and Marlow


372


Beem, John T. .


. 445


Bickelhaupt, Peter


327


Blais, Antoine . 379


Blakeslee, A. J.


. 442


Boldt, Dr. H. M.


. 312


Boyd, Hon. John .346


Boyd, Thomas


. 350


Breese, William


M.


. 364


Brey, Paul C. . 321


Burch, J. G. .


. 311


Burbank, Hiram 1 ..


441


Campbell Bros.


393


Campbell, William A.


302


Canniff, James F. . . . 325


Crozier, Dr. William J. 419


Curlee, Charles W. and Albert N. . 441


Curlee, Joseph B. . 366


Davis, Richard M. . 358


Derousse, Louis .


. 297


Derousse, Louis J. Jr.


309


Detrich, J. E.


Dudenbostel, Louis 427


Devine, John . .296


Dyer, Dr. L. . . 443


Edwards, Captain M. C. 357


Elliott, James C. . 430


Erd, William . .327


Fairchild, W. S. 402


Frank, John B.


. 461


. 390


-


Rose, William, M. D. 455


vii


TABLE OF CONTENTS.


PAGE


Rothstein, Dr. Hugo . 327


Rushing, Evan B. . . 353


Sauer, Nicholas . . 419


Schlierholz, Charles A. M. . 328


Schuchert, John F.


. 293


Schuchert, William


. 292


Scott, Henry P.


. 144


Swanwick, John


. 391


Smith, W. S. D.


. 348


Thies, John 11.


428


Thompson, Captain R. Q. .


. 354


Thum, Jacob


458


Ward, John B.


440


Watt, James


410


Wheatley, R. W. S. .


145


Wheeler, Charles M.


. 312


Wiesenborn, John .


. 324


Williams, Frederick .


. 366


Williams, John S, M. D. .


. 365


Wilson, J. H. .


. 151


Wilson, Warren N. .


301


Winthrop, Hon. Charles E R. . 364


Wisely Brothers


. 372


PRECINCT HISTORIES.


PAGE.


Baldwin 105


Beaucoup 472


Blair


163


Bluff


121


Breemen


165


Brewerville . 374


Central


120


Chester


284


Columbia


449


Coulterville . 369


Cutler . 446


Du Quoin 433


Evansville


415


Florence


. 312


Grand Cote


429


Harrisouville . 412


Kaskaskia 303


Mitchie . 395


Moredock .


. 333


New Design


. 330


New Hanover 417


Paradise


.367


Pinckneyville . . 335


Prairie du Long . 456


Prairie du Rocher


. 375


Red Bud .


. 398


Renault . 382


PORTRAITS.


Anderson, J. B .. . 392


Anderson, Mary


. 392


Anderson, R. B


. 351


Blais, Antoine


. 379


Blakeslee, A. J. .


142


Brey, Paul C. .


. 321


Burch, J. G . .


. 311


Canniff,


325


Derousse, Louis


. 297


Detrich, J. E. .


. 390


296


Devine, John .


Dudenbostel, Louis


. 127


Gerlach, Daniel


. 391


Gerlach, John D


295


Hamilton, P. P.


438


Hilyard, W. II. .


326


Holbrook, J. C. .


298


Holmes, Joseph B.


290


380


Lee, A.


Lemen, Edwin H. and Wife .


340


Mansker, Samuel. .


469


Mathews, Hugh 411


Mathews, Jane M. 111


McBride, John T. .


. 300


McCaudless, W. L. .


. 359


McFie, John R. .


. 373


Mckenzie, William R.


. 294


Menard, Edmund. .


310


Murphy, William K. .


34ł


O'Hara, Henry


. 462


Payne, Thomas J. .


323


Pautler, Joseph


418


Pollock, J. T. .


299


Rickert, J. W .


322


Riess, George L. .


40.1


Roe, Charles H. .


. 355


Rushing, Evan B. 353


Schlierholz, Charles A. M. 328


Schuchert, John F


. 293


Schuchert, William


. 292


Scott, Henry P. .


PAGE.


Rockwood


107


Smith, W. S. D. .


. 348


Sprigg, James D


403


South Western


432


Swanwick, John


291


Watt, James.


110


Ward, Jolin B. .


440


Wiesenborn, John


. 324


Wilson, J. II. .


. 15-1


ILLUSTRATIONS.


Anchor Flouring Mills


. Facing 416


Been, E. M.


Facing 406


Boekhoff, S.


Facing 100


Brickey and Anbuchon.


Between 396 -- 397


Brown, Charles


Facing 106


Cape Hotel .


Facing 121


Catholic Church .


Facing 308


Creagau, Thomas


. Facing 160


Crisler, J. M. .


Facing 308


Derousse, Mrs. M E.


Facing 296


Eberinan, Isaac .


Facing 332


Evang. St. Pauls Church, Waterloo, Facing 320


Evansville Catholic Church,


460


Fults, Christopher.


Facing 393


Gardner Roller Mills,


Facing 448


Goodman, J. W. . .


Facing 416


Grannemann, Louis


. Faving 146


Gant, Thomas


Facing 304


Knapp, P. C. .


Facing 360


Lemen, E. H. .


Facing 342


Livingstone, Dr. G P


Facing 116


Mckenzie, Dr. William R.


Faring 304


Maus, Philipp A. .


Facing 384


Map


.


Facing


9


Milligan, William II.


. Faring 336


Meredith, Isaac store and residence, Facing 284


Ollendorph Wagon Factory. . . . Facing 136


Oll Log School-house


and


Puncheon


Benchi


Facing 232


l'ayne, Thomas


Facing 448


Penitentiary,


. Facing 124


Public Buildings, (Randolph County,) Fac. 120


Public Buildings, (Monroe County,) Faring 152


Public Buildings, (Perry County,) . Facing 172


l'yatt, I. J. .


. Facing 356


Roussel, F. L. . Facing 296


Schuchert, William, Facing 251


Schuchert, John F.


Facing 288


Soukup, W ..


Facing 350


" The Roots Place,"


Facing 360


Winklemann, Henry,


Facing 284


Wilson, J. H.


Facing 155


White, John


Facing 132


Amendments to Constitution of U. S .. . 509


Constitution of Illinois,


493


Constitution of United States


506


Declaration of Independence


505


Partial List of Patrons,


175


Ruma


159


Sparta .


384


Steele's Mills . 423


Tamaroa


. 360


Tilden .


. 407


Waterloo .


Wine Hill


. 470


PAGE


HISTORY


OF


RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


CHAPTER I. A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NORTHI WEST TERRITORY.


GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.


N 1784 the North Western Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia. It embraced only the territory lying be- tween the Ohio and Mississippi rivers; and north, to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the arca now embraced in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi river. On the first day of March, 1784, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe, delegates in Congress on the part of Vir- ginia, executed a deed of cession, by which they transferred to the United States, on certain conditions, all right, title and claim of Virginia to the country known as the North- western Territory. But by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was ex- tended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles, being greater than the united areas of the Middle and Southern states, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign states and eight territories, with an aggregate population at the present time of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one-third of the entire population of the United States.


Its rivers are the largest on the continent, flowing thous- ands of miles through its rich alluvial valleys and broad, fertile prairies.


Its lakes are fresh-water seas, upon whose bosom floats the commerce of many states. Its far-stretching prairies have more acres that are arable and productive than any other area of like extent on the globe.


For the last quarter of a century the increase of popula-


tion and wealth in the north-west, has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States.


EARLY EXPLORATIONS.


In the year 1512, on Easter Sunday, the Spanish name for which is Paseua Florida,* Juan Ponce de Leon, an okl comrade of Columbus, discovered the coast of the American continent, near St. Augustine, and in honor of the day and of the blossoms which covered the trees along the shore, named the new-found country Florida. Juan had been led to undertake the discovery of strange lands partly by the hope of finding endless stores of gold, and partly by the wish to reach a fountain that was said to exist deep within the forests of North America, which possessed the power of renovating the life of those who drank of or bathed in its waters. He was made governor of the region he had visited but circumstances prevented his return thither until 1521; and then he went only to meet death at the hands of the Indians.


In the meantime, in 1516, a Spanish sea-captain, Diego Miruelo, had visited the coast first reached by Ponce de Leon, and in his barters with the natives had received con- siderable quantities of gold, with which he returned home and spread abroad new stories of the wealth hidden in the interior.


Ten years, however, passed before Pamphilo de Narvaez undertook to prosecute the examination of the lands north of the Gulf of Mexico. Narvaez was excited to action by the late astonishing success of the conqueror of Montezuma, but he found the gold for which he sought constantly flying before him; each tribe of Indians referred him to those living farther in the interior. And from tribe to tribe he and his companions wandered. They suffered untold priva- tions in the swamps and forests ; and out of three hundred followers only four or five at length reached Mexico. And still these disappointed wanderers persisted in their original fancy, that Florida was as wealthy as Mexico or Peru.


* Pascum, the old English "Pash " or Passover; " Pascua Florida " is the "Holyday of Flowers." 9


9


10


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


Among those who had faith in that report was Ferdinand de Soto, who had been with Pizarro in the conquests of Peru. He asked and obtained leave of the King of Spain to con- quer Florida at his own cost. It was given in the year 1538. With a brilliant and noble band of followers he left Europe and in May, 1538, after a stay in Cuba, anchored his vessels near the coast of the Peninsula of Florida, in the bay of Spiritu Santa, or Tampa bay.


De Soto entered upon his march into the interior with a determination to succeed. From June till November of 1539, the Spaniards toiled along until they reached the neighborhood of Appalachee bay. During the next season, 1540, they followed the course suggested by the Florida Indians, who wished them out of their country, and going to the north-east, crossed the rivers and climbed the moun- tains of Georgia. De Soto was a stern, severe man, and none dared to murmur. De Soto passed the winter with his little band near the Yazoo. In April, 1541, the resolute Spaniard set forward, and upon the first of May reached the banks of the great river of the West, not far from the 35th parallel of latitude .*


A month was spent in preparing barges to convey the horses, many of which still lived, across the rapid stream. Having successfully pas-ed it, the explorers pursned their way northward, into the neighborhood of New Madrid ; then turning westward again, marched more than two huu- dred miles from the Mississippi to the highlands of White river ; and still no gold, no gems, no cities-only bare prai- ries, and tangled forests, and deep morasses To the south again they toiled on, and passed their third winter of wander- ing upon the Washita. In the following spring (1542), De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, descended the Washita to its junction with the Mississippi. He heard, when he reached the mighty stream of the west, that its lower portion flowed through endless and nuinhabitable swamps.


The news sank deep into the stout heart of the disap- pointed warrior. His health yielded to the contests of his mind and the influence of the climate. He appointed a successor, and on the 21st of May died. His body was sunk in the stream of the Mississippi. Deprived of their ener- getic leader, the Spaniards determined to try to reach Mexico by land. After some time spent in wandering through the forests, despairing of success in the attempt to rescue them- selves by land, they proceeded to prepare such vessels as they could to take them to sea. From January to July 1543, the weak, sickly band of gold-seekers labored at the doleful task, and in July reached, in the vessels thus built, the Gulf of Mexico, and by September entered the river Paunco. One-half of the six hundred f who had disem- barked with De Soto, so gay in steel aud silk, left their bones among the mountains and in the morasses of the South, from Georgia to Arkansas.


De Soto 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


De Soto probably was at the lower Chickasaw bluffs. The Spaniards called the Mississippi Rio Grande, Great River, which is the literal meaning of the aboriginal name.


1 } De Biedna says there landed 620 men.


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 De Soto's defeat. As it was, for more than a century after the expedition, the west remained utterly unknown to the whites.


The French were the first Europeans to make settlements on the St. Lawrence river and along the great lakes. Quebec was founded by Sir Samuel Champlain in 1608,* and in 1609 when Sir Henry Hudson was exploring the noble river which bears his name, Champlain ascended the Sorrelle river, and discovered, embosomed between the Green moun- tains, or " Verdmont," as the chivalrous and poetic French- man called them, and the Adirondacks, the beautiful sheet of water to which hus name is indissolubly attached. In 1613 he founded Montreal.


During the period elapsing between the years 1607 and 1664, the English, Dutch, and Swedes alternately held pos- session of portions of the Atlantic coast, jealously watching one another, and often involved in bitter controversy, and not seldom in open battle, until, in the latter year, the English became the sole rulers, and maintained their rights until the era of the Revolution, when they in turn were compelled to yield to the growing power of their colonies, and retire from the field.


The French movements, from the first settlement at Quebec, and thence westward, were led by the Catholic missionaries. Le Caron, a Franciscan friar, who had been the companion and friend of Champlain, was the first to penetrate the western wilds, which he did in 1616* in a birch canoe, exploring lake Huron and its tributaries. This was four years before the Pilgrims


" Moored their bark on the wild New England shore."


Under the patronage of Louis XIII, the Jesuits took the advance, and begau vigorously the work of Christianizing the savages in 1632.


In 1634, three Jesuit missionaries, Brebeuf, Daniel, and Lallemand, planted a mission on the shores of the lake of the Iroquois, (probably the modern Lake Simcoe), and also established others along the eastern border of Lake Huron.


From a map published in 1660, it would appear that the French had at that date, become quite familiar with the region from Niagara to the head of Lake Superior, includ- ing considerable portions of Lake Michigan.


In 1641, Fathers Jogues and Raymbault embarked on the Penetanguishine Bay for the Sault St. Marie, where they arrived after a passage of seventeen days. A crowd of two thousand natives met them, and a great council was beld. At this meeting the French first heard of many nations dwelling beyond the great lakes.




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