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
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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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