USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
N
SINF
7
C
4
7
.
LIBRARY
THE IK. ONGRES
'E L.IRK
THE LIBRARY THE LIBIAKY 2
OF CONGR
R 1 CONGRES AL LIBRARY O 3
C
5 1
C
2
CONGRESS CONGRESS. THE LIBRARY
THE LIBRARY THE
COF CONGRESS F 5 5 3 : 1 E 6 2 UF CONGRF. 1 2 T 2 A . LIBRARY OF CONC .
-1 )
CONGRESS
(F C. NGRESS HE TIP CIPY
OF CONGRESS
7 e 3 THE LIBRARY A CO. ; RE.
0
?
CONGEF.
E
1
H
3
CONGRESS IR LIBRARY
THE LIBRARY . . W
F CONGRESS H r . CONGRES THE LIBRARY
ul
LIBRARY M OF CO.YGI
OF CON:
LIBRARY OF CONGI . )F CONG 5 ·
JIPRARY
L TI. A.IRY OF CON ;
1: 1
FLIER !!
LIBRARY
ABRAP
OF CONK
n . + 1 . - : . 5 4 THE LI 4 S C o N 2 H F . OF CONG CONGRESS THE LIBRARY
ONGGRESS THE LIBRARY
THE LIBRAPY
1
OF
C
CONGRESS
0 THE LIBRAR F CONGRESS THE LIBRARY IBRARY
A " IF LIBRARY GF CONGRES. THE LIBRARY 4
THE LIIR AY 4 OF RES ME MEDRARY. E- 5 R 4 3
THE LIPRARY
ONGRE .IBRARY -
ON
CONGRESS
. . ABYNUM BA VE LIBRARY THE LIBRARY 1 4 2 OF CONGRESSUNOS OF CONGRESS THE LIBRARY HAVARIT HE HE LIBRARY A G A . . 2
LIBRARY OF
(F CONC
CON
.
. .
LIBRARY OF CONGRES.
7 'ONGRESS | 22 . 3 CONGRESS S V THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS THE SE CONCRE HONOR I' THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS OF CONCRE. . A
3 SS H CON(
5 1. OF CONGRESS THE LIBRARY THE LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS THE LIBRARY
D
.
A
.
·
ONGRESS CHE IIBRA.
€
F H OF CONGRESS CONGRESS LIBRARY MIR LIBRARY OF CONGRE. 'S THE LIPR. CONSTA . . THE LIBRARY
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
CONGRESS SSHYONO) JO
N 0
THE LIBRARY (E
RY
. IL
LIBRIPY HI. I.IPR/FY ... . . CONGI. >> "'E LIBRARY LITRIRY
KY
I.IB
.
7
PA
IF CONGE
.
+4
1
M
KI IRKA
. A OF CONGRES. . H THE LIBRARY
ONGRES
H
5 A . 11 %.
.. 5 THE LIBRARY OF CONCRES.
1 FTHE
NGRESS.
THE LIIRARY H . CONGRES THE LIBRARY OF CONGI ESS TER LIBRA. . A
2 # ‹ .Y(. THE
1.
?
S THE IIFRA.
FF
1
.
THE LIGAR
.
I
RISS
ONGRES
ONGE .. TE LIBI
ONGRESS THE LIBRARY P HP LIBK 3
. IBKidy TB .. LE CONGR. .
WENS THE LIBRARY
2
.
HE LIBRARY
CON OF CONGRES. THE LIBRARY
4
3 3 AR je IBA € 1 N . H : LIBRARY RY OF CONGRE.S.
HE . 1.
.
ODE
MANONOY
RY LIPK THE LIPKA OF
LONGAE. 5 CONGRES
IF CONGRE.
STHE CIPRIRY
.1
.
CONGRESS CHE !! ONG ...
RY OF CONGRESS THE II: KARY
THE LIBRARY
THE
ONGRES.
N
IIBR
"IBR
1RY
TR: LIBRARY
1 H
10
CF CONGRE TE LIBRARY . 5
(LNGKFS
HE LIBRARY
. JUNOD & CONGRESS
IE LIBRARY
4
-4%
T. CON ,KIS
LIVRERY OF
CONGRESS THE LIBRARY
ONGRES
E 1 THE LIBRARY OF VE CONCRETE A.T RIRY
.
¥
RY 0
N LIBRARY OF CONGRESS THE LIBRARY THE LIBRARY . 3 ₹ 1. E
OF CONGRESS IHR
17
F CONGRE.
T
7
C.
IE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
NO. 2 THR FIV RATY F CONGKIS CONGRESS
CONG ESY CHE LIBRARY
IBRAR.
THE LIBRARY
HISTORY
OF
DU PAGE COUNTY. 1
ILLINOIS.
BY RUFUS BLANCHARD. 11
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO .. HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, LAKESIDE BUILDING. 1882.
F517 ·D930
PREFACE.
A FTER several months of laborious research and persistent toil, the history of Du Page County is complete. and it is our hope and belief that no subject of general importance or interest has been overlooked or omitted, and even minor facts, when of sufficient note to be worthy of record. have been faithfully chronicled. In short. where protracted investigation promised results commensurate with the undertaking, matters not only of undoubted record. but legendary lore. have been brought into requisition. We are well aware of the fact that it is next to impossible to furnish a perfect history from the meager resources at the command of the historian under ordinary circumstances, but claim to have prepared a work fully up to the standard of our engagements. Through the courtesy and assistance generously afforded by the residents of Du Page, we have been enabled to trace out and put into systematic shape, the greater portions of the events that have transpired in the county up to the present time, and we feel assured that all thoughtful persons interested in the matter will recognize and appreciate the importance of the work and its permanent value. A dry statement of facts has been avoided, so far as it was possible to do so, and anecdote and incident have been interwoven with plain recital and statistics, thereby forming a narrative at once instructive and entertaining.
To the many friends who have contributed special portions of the matter herein contained, and to those who have assisted Mr. Blanchard with dates and other memoranda, our thanks are due, and we trust that the earnest endeavors that we have exercised to present our patrons with a work worthy in all respects will, in part, repay them for their kindness.
NOVEMBER, 1882.
0, 4. BASKIN & CO.
CONTENTS.
PAG8.
PART I. HISTORICAL. PAGE.
CHAPTER I .- Du Pagea Spanish Possession-The French Take Possession of the Northwest-The Country Comes Under English Rule-George Rogers Clarke-Territorial Subdi- visions-First Conveyance of Land in Du Page County- The Pottawatomies-Great American Treaty of 1833- The Chicagou Portage-The Removal of the Indians- Their Present Condition-Origin of the name Du Page- Spanish Conquest and Its Aims-Baron de Carondelet- - The Spanish Close the Lower Mississippi-County Organ- ization and Subdivision-Northern Limits of Illinois- The French Traders-Act Organizing Du Page County .. II CHAPTER IF .- The Pioneer-Stephen J Scott-The Scott Set- tlement-Blodgett Hauley-Bailey Hohson, the First Set- tler of Du Page County-Building the First Cabin-Cross- ing & Slough-Williard Scott-Social Entertainments- Corn Pancakes-The Napers-First Ground Plowed-The First School-Joseph Naper-John Naper-The First Stove-Christopher Paine-The First Saw-Mill-Home- made Spinning Wheels and Loouis-Cold Winter of 1830- 31-Portage to Chicago-The Lawtons-The Pottawato- mies-Flight to Fort Dearborn-Horrible Massacre at Indian Creek-Exploits of Col. Beaubien .. 25
CHAPTER III .- Capt. Paine arrives nt the Naper Settlement -Fort Paine Built-James Brown Shot by the Indians- Expedition to Half Day's Village-Maj. William Whistler Arrivee at Fort Dearborn-Capt. Paine's Company Return to Danville-Gen. Scott arrives at Chicago-The Cholera -Gen. Scott Encamps on the Desplaines-Gen. Scott at Fort Peine-Gan. Scott's Army at Rock Island-John K. Clark-Black Hawk Sent to Fortress Monroe-His Death -Poll-Lists-The Pre-emption House-Claimants-The Prairie Schooner-The First Grist-Mill-Fowler's Grap- ple with the Wolf-The Pioneer of Pioneers-Early Preachers 42
CHAPTER IV .- Public Land Surveys-The Land Claim Sys- tem-Necessity for the Iligher Law-The Big Woods Claim Protecting Society-The Land Pirate Company- Land Speculators-Indian Burying Grounds-The Fox River Country-Method of Grinding Corn-Indian Vil- lages-Indian Agriculture-Indian Modes of Travel- The Conotry North, East and South of the Du Page Set- tlements-The Du Page County Society for Mutual Pro- tection-The Hognatorial Council 55
CHAPTER V -First Introduction of Slavery into the Colony of Virginia - First Anti-Slavery Literature -Southern Origin of Anti-Slavery Societies-Action of the Quakers -" The Genius of Universal Emancipation "-Early Abo- litionists-The Old Federal Party-Origin of the Demo- cratic and Whig Parties-Origin of the Republican Party -Gov. Coles-Elihu B. Washburne-Stephen A. Dougles -Abraham Lincoln-The Western Citizen Introduces Abolitionism into Chicago-Its Effect-Illinois the First State to Take Political Action in the Abolition Movement -John Brown-Fort Sumter 63
CHAPTER VI .- Record of Du Page Conuty in the War of the Rebellion
(IIAPTER VII .- The First Election-County Commissioners' Court-The County Line Surveyed-The County Divided into Precincts-Townships Organized-List of County and Town Officers-Valnation of Taxable Property-The First Grand Jury-Public Schools-The Old Stage Coach -Railroads-Removal of the County Seat-The County Fair-Geology of the County 139
CHAPTER VIII .- Milton Township-Its First Settlers- Wheaton-How It Received Its Name-The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad - Churches of Wheaton - Pio- neer School-Stacy's Corners-Babcock Grove-Prospect Park-Its Churches. 163
CHAPTER IX-Downer's Grove TownshipThe Old Indian Boundary - Cass - Pierce Downer - Thomas And/ 115- Chicago Reminiscences-The Village of Hinsdale-Brush Hill Memoriee - Clarendon Ilille - Fredericksburg- Downer's Grove Village-An Ox Teim Hitched to an Oak Log-What Grew Out of It-The Underground Rail- road 194
CHAPTER X -Naperville Township-List of Early Settlers- Village of Naperville-Churches-Schools-Manufacto- ries - The Northwestern College - Temperance Move- ments-Newspapers-Fire Department-Military Con- pany-Nurseries-The Lodges-Bank-Stone Quarry ...... 212
CHAPTER XI .- Lisle Township-The First Settler-His Hardi- hood-Thanksgiving-A Female Pow-wow-The Old Grist Mill-The Chronic Pioneer-His Generosity :40
iv
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER XII .- York Township-Origin of Its Name-Its Early Settlers-The Desplaines Bridged-Sunday Service on Slab Seats-The Pioneer School Mistress-The Widow- er'a Cabin-Praying Matches-Suicide-Bursting Forth of a Spring-Elmhurst-Germao Evangelical Seminary- Lombard 246
CHAPTER XIII .- Winfield Township-Warrenville-Water Cresses-Their Consequences-Newcomers and Distant Neighbors-Parties and Raisings-Railsplitting-Fourth of July-The Schoolgirl's Haodkerchief-The Old Saw- Mill-The Hotel and Dancing Hall- What was in a Trunk of Old Papers-Churches-The Warrenville Academy- Gary's Mills-Methodist Church at the Place-A Shylock Member Excommunicated-Winfield -- Turner Junction -John B. Turner. 255
CHAPTER XIV .- Wayne Township-Pioneer Life of Its Set- tlers-Corner ou Whisky and Its Result-Indian Burial -Indian Importunity-Wolves on the Rampage-Going to Mill-Father Kimball-Pioneer School-Gimletville- Its Hopes Dashed to the Ground-Hillocks, Spas and Rivulets-Wayne Station-Relics of the Stone Age ......... 268
CHAPTER XV .- Bloomingdale Township-Indian Burying- Gronads-The Meachams-Pioneer Burials-Early Road Districta-Scene in a Sunday Service-Tragical Termi- uatioo of a Law Suit-School Districts-Petrifactions- Bloomingdale Village-Churches - Business Men of Bloomingdale-Roselle-Its Business Men-Meacham- Strange Phenomenon on Kelley's Farm. 274
CHAPTER XVI -Addison Township-The Mountain Daisy- Indian Encampment-The Army Trail-The Soldier's Grave-The Log Cabin-Home Talent-The German Vanguard-The Pioneer Tavern-The Old Galena Trade -Salt Creek-Francis Hoffman, a Lay Preacher-The Village of Addison-The German Evangelical Teachers' Semioary-The Orphan Asylum-Professional and Busi- ness Men of Addison-Itasca-Its Business Men-Lester's -Bensonville-Schools 284
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL. PAGE.
Naperville Township 3
Milton Township 46
Dowuer's Grove Township 77
Lisle Township 130
York Township 153
Wiofield Towaship J19
Wayne Township. 195
Bloomingdale Township. 214
Addison Township 227
PORTRAITS.
Albro, Ira .: 17
Bates, Gerry 89
Bates, Frederick H 117
Benjamin, D Y. 279
Blanchard, Walter 99
Carr, John 107
Curtiss, Samuel. 35
Fischer, Henry D. 135
Grane, Frederick 243
Graue, Deidrick 261
Greene, Daniel M 53
Middangh, HI. C 125
Patrick, W. K 153
Robbins, W. 81
Scott, Willard
225
Siaith, John
143
Struckmann, Deidrich
63
Thatcher, A. T
45
Walker, James B 27
Warne, Johu. 189
Warde, Sarah 2017
Wheaton, J. C., Sr 171
Wiant, Joel
71
PART I.
HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
DU PAGE A SPANISH POSSESSION-THE FRENCH TAKE POSSESSION OF THE NORTHWEST-THE COUNTRY COMES UNDER ENGLISH RULE-GEORGE ROGERS CLARK-TERRITORIAL SUBDI- VISIONS-FIRST CONVEYANCE OF LAND IN DU PAGE COUNTY-THE POTTAWATOMIES -GREAT AMERICAN TREATY OF 1833-THE CHICAGOU PORTAGE-THE REMOVAL OF THE INDIANS-TIIEIR PRESENT CONDITION-ORIGIN OF TIIE NAME DU PAGE-SPANISH CONQUEST AND ITS AIMS-BARON DE CARON- DELET -THE SPANISHI CLOSE THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI - COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND SUBDIVISION-NORTIIERN LIMITS OF ILLINOIS-THIE FRENCH TRADERS-ACT ORGANIZING DU PAGE COUNTY.
"THE history of the world has a grandeur, like a distant landscape-too far away for the eye to take in its infinite detail-such as the delicate tracery of plant life or the stub- born structures of rock formations which make it up.
But the history of our age, and especially our own locality, comes home to us personally. Commonplace as it may seem to us now, in the distant future, it will help to make up a whole; deepening in interest as time chops off the centuries, one after another. All great men must have a constituency, but little if any inferior to themselves in intellect, and it is the actions and deeds of the citizen which speak through some representative whose talent for becoming their advocate has given him a famejustly to be shared by his cotem-
poraries, and of these, county history is to speak. They constitute the delicate tracery and details of the historic landscape destined some day to be as grand as it is distant.
We propose to give a history of Du Page County from the earliest records pertaining to it, to the present time.
Not long ago, comparatively, as to the world's chronology, but primitively as to our history, this county was lost for want of a suit of clothes, nor was it but a small part of the loss for such default. The circumstances are these: When Columbus was casting about from king to king in Europe to obtain patronage where- with to pursue his plans of discovery, he had dispatched his brother Bartholomew to the court of Henry VIIth of England to beg his royal favor and material aid. On his way
12
HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
thither, he was taken by pirates, and during his captivity was robbed of all his valnables, including his pretty suit of clothes with which he was to be attired when he made his humble petition to the king, and after finally reaching England he was obliged by the labor of his hands to earn another suit in which to appear before him ere his mission could be executed. At last this was done, and he gained the king's ear, who listened to his proposals with favor, but alas for courtly etiquette !- while Bar- tholomew was at work earning money to pay his tailor's bill, Queen Isabella, of Spain, had fitted out Columbus, and Henry's hopes were dashed to the ground. Not the last time that the impulses of a woman have circumvented the mature but tardy plans and ambitions of man.
Du Page County is but an infinitesimal part of the New World which Columbus promised to give to the king who should fit him out and which, as far as such a title could go, fell into the hands of Spain by right of priority of dis- covery, a precarious title as the sequel proved, but nevertheless an honor which England will regret the loss of, till Macauley's New Zealander shall sketch the ruins of St. Paul.
Beginning with this pretentious right of Spain to the soil of Du Page County, let us trace the National claims to it, till private claims began to be granted to actual settlers. The Spanish claim vanished out of existence as other nations began to take possession of parts of the New World, for occupation based on priority of discovery soon began to trans- cend any decree not sustained by the sword.
The French found their way up the St. Law- rence River as early as 1534, settled Quebec in 1608, and under Father Alouez took nation- al possession of the Great Northwest on the 14th of June, 1671, at the falls of Ste. Marie
(the outlet of Lake Superior). Courcelles was then Governor of Canada, and the entire country along the lakes through the latter was an unknown quantity. Frontenac was Gov-
ernor from 1672 to 1682, during whose admin- istration Marquette and Joliet discovered the Mississippi River in 1673, and on their return trip, passed up the Desplaines River, which washes the soil of Du Page County. These with their five attendants were the first white men who ever beheld its soil. They might have encamped on it, but this is only specula- tion. La Barre became Governor of the coun- try from 1682 to 1685, during whose term of office La Salle, Tonty and numerous mission- aries and fur traders passed along the Des- plaines River to and from the " Chicagon " portage, which route of travel is older than history.
Denonville was Governor from 1685 to 1689. Frontenac a second term from 1689 to 1699. De Calliers from 1699 to 1703. Vandreville from 1703 to 1726. Beauharnois from 1726 to 1747. Galissoniere from 1747 to 1749. Jonquiere from 1747 to 1752. Sonquill for 1752.
Du Quesne from 1753 to 1755, during whose term of office the French built forts where Erie and Pittsburgh, Penn., now stands, the latter being named after him. The Marquis de Vandreville de Cavagnal was the last French Governor; his authority ceased when the English conquered the country under Gen. Amherst ; the chief victory by which the con- quest being made was Wolf's on the heights of Abraham in 1759. Though Canada now was under English rule with Sir Jeffrey Amherst as Governor, yet the French posts of the Illi- nois country were not taken possession of by the English till 1765, when Capt. Stirling, with a force of one hundred men, established him- self at Fort Chartres, at which time the English flag first waved over the soil of the Prairie State.
Gen. James Miller succeeded Amherst as Governor the same year, 1765, who, in turn, was suceeded by Paulus Emelius Irving in 1766. The latter was succeeded by Sir Guy
13
HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
Carleton, who was Governor till 1770. Hector T. Crumahe was Governor till 1774, and Sir Guy Carleton again till 1778, during whose term of office the American Declaration of In- dependence in 1776 raised a new and then strange issue in the minds of men. During all these past years of French and English occupation, the native inhabitants of Du Page County, as well as their white companions, the fur traders, took interest in all that was pass- ing in the political world, and when the Amer- ican fires of the Revolution were kindled along the Atlantic coast, the issue was explained to the Indians of the entire Northwest as the En- glish viewed it, which, of course, won their sympathies. The Americans were represented to the Indians as being cruel and savage to the last degree, and the quiet French of the Illinois country, together with their loving red com- panions, believed the story, yet a combination of events in 1778 dispelled this illusion and changed the destiny of the Northwest. This was George Rogers Clark's conquest of the Illi- nois country, which was the first raising of the American flag on her soil. By virtue of this conquest, the country was transferred from English to American rule, and by the peace of Paris in 1783, the entire Northwest, as far as the Mississippi River, became a part of the United States.
Until the year 1784, it was within the juris- diction of the Old Virginia Colony, at which time it passed into that of the United States, and three years later, in 1787, St. Clair was ap- pointed to govern the entire Northwest, of which Du Page County formed a part.
In 1800, the Territory of Indiana was set off, which included the present States of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and the Peninsular portion of Michigan, and William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor, with Vincennes on the Wa- bash as the seat of government. In 1809, the Territory of Illinois was set off and Ninian Edwards was appointed Governor, who held
this position till Illinois became a State, and Shadrack Bond was its first Governor. Edward Coles was, in 1822, elected the next Governor, after a struggle between the advocates of slav- ery and those of freedom, perhaps never before equaled in a State election in sanguine bitter- ness, for particulars of which see E. B. Wash- burne's Life of Edward Coles.
During all these years, the original owners of the soil (the Indians) were resting in a happy but treacherous security that they should ever retain it. No white people had settled on it or manifested any disposition to do so, and although six miles square had been ceded to the United States by the Pottawatomies and other tribes at the treaty of Greenville in 1795, yet up to this time no use had been made of it except to build a fort and establish a trading- post there. The first special conveyance of lands within the limits of Du Page County from the Indians to the United States was made Au- gust 24, 1816. The Pottawatomies (who then held the whole of Du Page County) uniting with the Ottawas and Chippewas in making a grant to Ninian Edwards, William Clark and Auguste Chouteau acting in behalf of the United States. The cession included the southeast corner of Lisle Township, all of Downer's Grove except the northwest corner and the southeast corner of York.
The whole cession was a strip of land which the Government bought for the purpose of con- structing a military road on it from Chicago to Ottawa to facilitate the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, a scheme to which pub- lic attention had early been called. Says Mr. Edwards : " Having been one of the Commis- sioners who treated for this land, I personally know that the Indians were induced to believe that the opening of the canal would be very ad- vantageous to them, and under authorized ex- pectations that this would be done, they ceded the land for a trifle." (See Edwards' History of Illinois, page 99.)
14
HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
The Pottawatomies, or Peuteowatamis as they were sometimes called, were found by the French adventurers along the shores of Lake Michigan when the country was first discovered by them. The position they held was a com- manding one as to locality, as it is known that their hunting-grounds extended at one time all around the Southern extremity of Lake Michi- gan, though shared at various times with the Ottawas, the Cherokees and the Miamis.
When Alonez was exploring the shores and islands of Lake Superior, even before the inte- rior of the country had been entered except by Nicolet, he met a delegation of 300 Pottawato- mies at Chagouamigon (an island in Lake Su- perior) as early as 1668. Among them was an old man of 100 winters. Says the relation : He appears to have been a great " medicine man " among his tribe, and was regarded by them as a wonderful prophet. He could fast for twenty days, and often saw the Great Spirit. This venerable seer died while on the island on his visit to Alouez here.
Father Marquette makes frequent mention of the Pottawatomies in his journal, which he kept, in the winter of 1674-75, at " Chicagou," and to them and the Illinois tribes was he in- debted for many acts of kindness extended to him during his detention at Chicago on account of sickness.
This tribe continued to be the transcend- ent Indian power along the Southern shores of Lake Michigan from its first discovery till the final removal of all the Indians from the country by Col. Russell in 1836. They took sides with the British in the war of 1812, and struck heavy blows against the Americans in that war, of which the massacre at Fort Dear- born and other casualties in the early part of that war bear testimony.
They had joined with other tribes in ceding six miles square at the month of Chicago River to the Americans at the treaty of Greenville in 1795, as already told, and when the progress
and development of the country demanded fur- ther cessions of territory, it was to them chiefly that the Government looked as the highest au- thority to apply to for the purchase of needed lands.
As late as 1833, they had only sold to the United States Government the small part of their Illinois hunting-grounds contained within the limits of the treaty of 1816, and up to this time they owned, perhaps, in common with the Ottawas and Cherokees, all that part of North- ern Illinois which lies east of Rock River and northwest of the strip of land ceded by the three tribes in 1816. Settlers were coming in- to the country and staking out their claims, knowing full well that the Government would soon extinguish the Indian title.
Under this pressure, the United States Gov- ernment summoned the Pottawatomies, Ottawa and Chippewa, tribes to a great council to be held at Chicago in September, 1833. This was the greatest event the little then mushroom town had ever seen. Besides the interest the Indians felt in the treaty, there were scores of white men gathered around the spot to put in various speculative claims as to property al- leged to have been stolen by the Indians, or to bring in enormous charges for services ren- dered to the Government by virtue of contracts of an indefinite character.
The Government had made immense prepa- rations to feed the Indians, of whom three tribes were on the ground with their squaws and pa- pooses stretched on boards or slung in pocket- shaped blankets.
After several days of palaver in which the whims of the Indians were artfully humored, and the bright side of their natures had been brought to the front by those arts which had the result of years of practice, the Indians finally affixed their sign to the treaty, by which they sold the entire northeastern portion of Illinois (an area embracing more than ten of its present counties, among which Du Page was one) to
15
HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.
the Government. G. B. Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen and William Weatherford, in behalf of the Government, negotiated the treaty. It bears date of Chicago, September 26, 1833. It was the last treaty of importance ever held with the Indians in the Northwest, and was the instrument by which the Indian title to the country became extinguished after its joint oc- cupation by the red and white races (the latter including the French) ever since 1673, more than a century and a half.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.