USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County. A centennial address delivered by Hon. William A. Grimshaw, at Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, July 4, 1876 > Part 1
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977. 345 G88h
Wm.A. GRIMSHAW
(1876) HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
977.345 G88h
Illinois Historical Survey
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
A CENTENNIAL ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY
HON. WILLIAM A. GRIMSHAW
AT
PITTSFIELD, PIKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JULY 4, 1876
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
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A CENTENNIAL ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY
HON. WILLIAM A. GRIMSHAW
AT
PITTSFIELD, PIKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JULY 4, 1876
977,370 988h
Address of the Committee of Invitation
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Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, June 3, 1876.
TO THE PEOPLE OF PIKE COUNTY:
At a meeting held at the court house in Pittsfield, on the 27th day of May last, it was determined that the approaching Fourth of July should be celebrated in an appropriate manner, on the Public Square in Pittsfield, by a basket picnic, with addresses, music, and fireworks at night, and the undersigned were appointed a committee to extend an in- vitation to the entire county to take part in the celebration.
In discharging the duty devolved upon us by the action of the meet- ing, we respectfully call your attention to the following resolution, which recently passed the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, at Washington:
"BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America: That it be and is hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several States that they assemble in the several counties and towns on the ap- proaching 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 be thus obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence."
In pursuance of the action of Congress the President of the United States and the Governor of this State have issued proclamations, request- ing the people of each County to meet at suitable places, and celebrate this first Centennial year of our national existence, in the manner in the resolution we have quoted, suggested.
Pike, as the mother of all the counties North and West of the Illinois River, has a history replete with interest, and it will be but discharging a just obligation due to those who shall follow us upon the stage of ac- tion, if, while meeting to celebrate the Centennial on the coming Fourth, that history shall be presented in such form as to perpetuate it for the future.
In discharging the duties assigned to us let us call your attention to the importance of the day we propose to celebrate. One hundred years ago our forefathers, oppressed by a British Government then ruled by a tyrannous King, conceived the bold idea of forming an independent gov- ernment for themselves. The principal theory of government up to that time had been that the powers of government were inherent in the ruler, who ruled by divine right, and that the people derived their rights from the government. The founders of our admirable system reversed the whole order of government, and declared that the people were capable of self-government, that all power was inherent in them, and that govern- ments derive all just power from the consent of the governed.
e 16853 WH.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
They made the government the creature of the people, and limited it to the exercise of such powers only as should be delegated to it by the people. Under it the rulers and officers are servants of the people. Thus the people are sovereign and rule themselves through officers chosen by them for that purpose.
By the Constitution, which is a delegation of powers to the general government, our people have secured more religious and political liberty than is enjoyed by any other government on earth.
That you fully appreciate the blessings of such a government, and revere the memory of the good and wise men who established and de- fended it in its infancy, is fully attested by the patriotic devotion with which you defended it when in peril. One hundred years of the practical workings of our government have fully proved the wisdom of its founders.
Though many things have occurred to mar our happiness in our ex- istence as a government, we confidently repeat that today we enjoy the most free, least oppressive, and most perfect system of government of any people on the earth.
In its practical workings there may be and doubtless are defects, not attributable to the system, but to its execution, but the remedy for all such defects is in the hands of the people, whose government it is, and if they do not remedy them they should not complain. All that is needed is virtue, intelligence, and honesty, to make the government all it was destined to be by its founders.
In view of these facts, fellow-citizens of Pike, may we not urge you to renew your devotion to the country by laying aside all other business and coming up to the county seat on the Fourth of July next, EN MASSE, to celebrate the One Hundreth Anniversary of our National Independence.
Especially do we extend an invitation to the early settlers of our county to be present and to take part in the exercises of the day. As pioneers in the great work of subduing and bringing into cultivation the fair land wherein we dwell, of establishing thousands of happy homes, and creating the religious, social and material prosperity that exist within our borders, they will meet with a hearty greeting from their successors on that day. Let them then come, and witness the outpouring of a people who will on that occasion come from the hill-tops, plains and valleys, that they have known but as the homes of the savages, man and beast.
In pursuance of the power conferred upon the Committee, they have chosen as the historian of the county for that day, the Hon. Wm. A. Grimshaw, himself one of the earliest settlers in the county, and who, by reason thereof, and his eminent ability, is most fully qualified for the. position.
The Committee would most respectfully urge upon the citizens of each town to proceed immediately to the selection of a town historian to the end that, with the general history of the county, to be prepared by the County Historian, that of each town as a separate municipal organi- zation may be preserved for the future Centennial Historian.
C. L. HIGBEE, Chairman. WM. A. GRIMSHAW. JAMES S. IRWIN. WM. R. ARCHER. STROTHER GRIGSBY. J. M. BUSH. RICHARD M. ATKINSON.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
Ladies, Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens :
With gratitude to Almighty God, who ruleth the destinies of nations, as of individuals, we welcome this our Nation's birthday.
This Centennial day brings evidence to us of the wisdom and fore- sight of the Fathers of this National Government.
How proud we all should and do feel that we are one illustrious, powerful nation, and not divided into jealous, intriguing states; as a people, free as the air we breathe, we are yet bound with the cords of Nationality to the great idea of our Fathers, expressed by a Patriot, "The Union, one and inseparable." Free as to all our individual rights and with no encroachment upon our rights as citizens of Illinois, or of any other State. Subject to the universal law of civilization, which requires restraint on the actions of individuals, in furtherance and protection of the general good of our fellow men. Long may we love, cherish and pro- tect our United States, and love with our hearts' devotion the Flag of Our Fathers, the emblem of our great and glorious nation, renowned to earth's remotest bounds.
The office of historian for this occasion was conferred by the Com- mittee, appointed by a meeting, as will be seen by the published report thereof, to be annexed to the proceedings of this day.
Sensible of the high honor which the office of historian confers, I shrink from the effort to discharge it; by many it will be said these are but dry details, such is often the task of the historian, and in asmuch as the scope of my duty, on this occasion, is circumscribed by the reduced limits of Pike County, as compared with its original boundaries, the sub- jects of greatest interest are in a measure withdrawn from our consider- tion in this sketch, and yet it is justifiable to claim for Pike County part of the history of her former territory, now embraced in towns and cities and counties of high repute, of great extent, solid in wealth, and leading in all the incidents which make conspicuous and renowned the present social and political position of a part of old Pike, now beyond her limits.
In this Centennial year we may indulge in patriotism, and yet in days gone by, it is evident from the name of our loved, beautiful and favored county, that upon it was bestowed a name worthy of its present high standing, as a part of the great and fertile State of Illinois; the limits of the original territory of Pike County are not excelled in scenery, fertility, healthfulness and in the various resources which serve to form a great, civilized country, in this advanced age. The name of our county was given in honor of the gallant General Pike, for whom Pike's Peak is called.
We have assembled today to contemplate the stupendous events of a Century.
Our nation, renowned as far as fame has spread, unsurpassed in all the essentials of greatness, by any country on the Globe, is but in her early life, compared with the nations of the old world.
One hundred years ago the thirteen feeble colonies entered upon a desperate political enterprise. How discerning the great men who pro- jected the government which supplanted the old Monarchy and exchanged a government by and for the people, a representative Democracy, for the old form of King, Lords and Commons.
Grand is the success of the United States of North America in her system of government and in all that exalts a great, prosperous and free nation. £ Imagine the scene if the heroic, stately Washington, the sage
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
Jefferson, the wise Adamses, the eloquent Patrick Henry and all the men of civic and military renown, could now visit us, they who laid up in store for us, or won by their mighty prowess, guided by God's good provi- dence, the inestimable blessings we enjoy. Their deeds immortalized them and conferred on us all the greatness of the past, since the memor- able day of July 4,1776.
THE LIMITS OF THIS HISTORY
We are precluded from going into details as much as we could desire. This history is prepared in the intervals of those pursuits which could not be deferred, and it is impossible to do justice to the entire field which might be embraced. We must content ourselves with a rapid review of the most prominent incidents and abstain from writing extended bio- graphies or even attempting a full history, many subjects will unavoid- ably be ommitted, numerous persons of prominence will not be spoken of.
The aim has been to give so much of the lives of prominent men, especially those who served the county , state and nation as will illus- trate the history of Pike County and to some degree present the claims of the most active or prominent in forming its history.
The citizens of this county have always been marked for a love of our national government, for participation in all state measures to pro- mote the common good of Illinois.
With one brief exception, the period of the Vigilance Committee, local government has always been of an orderly character. The brief excitement of that period led to more efficient laws for the protection of society and thus good came out of evil. The escape of criminals from punishment led to the organization of the Vigilance Committee. "From seeming evil still educing good." Tragic scenes are not of this history.
No fratricidal strife, no display of brothers in battle array, with deadly cannon and all the dread habiliments of war are portrayed here.
The life of our citizens has been with few exceptions that of peace- ful farmers and townsmen, busy in the affairs of domestic life. Thus your historian has no startling tales to tell.
Still as the current of your own gentle river Illinois, with. a few swells in the stream of life, when wars, waged beyond the limits of our present county, called off our men to war, has been the life of your peo- ple. Industry has prevailed. Education has had its marked influence and the holy gospel, taught in its beauty and simplicity, has pervaded your every walk in life. Crime has, notwithstanding been perpetrated, to be brought generally to condign punishment. Such is generally the end of those who violate laws, human and divine.
PIKE COUNTY, HER EXTENT AND ORGANIZATION
This county, once embracing the fairest portions of the Eden-like State of Illinois, yet retaining in her limits land beautiful to look upon, desirable to inhabit and famed for her fair daughters, her gallant sons, prosperous farmers and mechanics, able professional men and legislators, her present territory equal yet almost to some of the old thirteen states, owes much if not all of this to the patriotism and foresight of the Revolu- tionary fathers.
Contemplate the vastness of Pike county, as she was, when organized by the act of the Legislature of 1821 in these words:
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
AN ACT TO FORM A NEW COUNTY ON THE BOUNTY LANDS- APPROVED JANUARY 31, 1821.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the general assembly, That all that tract of country within the following boundaries, to-wit: beginning at the mouth of the Illinois river and running thence up the middle of said river to the fork of the same, thence up the south fork of said river until it strikes the state line of Indiana, thence north with said line to the north boundary line of this state, thence west with said line to the west boundary' line of this state and thence with said line to the place of beginning, shall constitute a separate county, to be called Pike.
"Oh Christ! it is a delicious sight to see,
What heaven hath done for this delicious land. What fruits of fragrance blush on every tree; What goodly prospects o'er the hills expand."
To repeat the extent of the boundaries. On the south, begin at the junction of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, thence follow the Illinois to the fork of the same, meaning the Kankakee, thence to the line of the state of Indiana, thence North and West embracing the territory fron Chicago, following on the line of Wisconsin to the Mississippi river, in- cluding the famed lead mines of Galena, and to the channel of the Missis- sippi, thence descending to the place of beginning.
First note the beautiful, still gliding river, the Illinois, then observe the majestic Father of Waters. Traverse all this territory, great in ex- tent, formerly the home of savage tribes of Indians; the land marked by the tread of the buffalo and dotted over with the graves and mounds, the relics of extinct races, the fierce brute creation and game and fish abound- ing, prairies illimitable, adorned with flowers of gorgeous hue, fruits de- licious in profusion and great variety, forests of vast size filled witlı
gigantic trees and of many species, rivers bounding unfettered by man's contrivances, then no locks and dams existed thereon, fish in myriads were then the dwellers in those rivers, and these all existed in 1821 when Pike county was struck off by name from the older settlements and the few counties then existing in Illinois.
The territory of Pike county, as laid off in 1821, was cut off from Madison county. The counties then existing and created in January, 1821, were, Sangamo, Greene, Madison, Pike, St. Clair, Bond, Montgomery, Fayette, Washington, Monroe, Randolph, Jackson, Union, Alexander, Clark, Crawford, Lawrence, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin, Johnson, Gallatin, Pope, all South and East of the river Illinois excepting Pike, twenty-six in all. About one-half the century since our Nation was pronounced by the Declaration of Independence to be free and independent has elapsed since the organization, and see how changed Pike county is. Behold the marvellous picture, unsurpassed in history; if we contemplate Pike county, as its original territory was, and view its almost superhuman bounds to its present condition.
THE POPULATION OF ILLINOIS
Illinois was created a territory, off Indiana territory, in 1809, in 1818 a State. We are now living under the third Constitution, framed for our guidance by the voluntary act of the people. In 1810 the census of the inhabitants of Illinois was but twelve thousand, two hundred and eighty-
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
two; in 1829, 55,211; in 1830, 157,44g; in 1835, 272,427; in 1870, over two and one-half millions by the last national census.
About 1835 the Illinois & Michigan Canal was arresting the attention of emigrants and speculators, it being a startling novelty, but wise public work. Cook and Duncan, of Illinois, deserve the laurels for this grand work, thereby uniting the waters of Lake Michigan and the Gulf of Mexico.
Originally this canal was about one hundred miles in length. It serves a great purpose, economizing and facilitating the traffic in stone, lumber and other heavy articles. This canal has been extended and deep- ened since its first coming into use.
In 1830 the population of Pike county, in its present limits, was 3,396; in 1835 it had more than doubled, then mostly composed of a farming population, the towns up to that date being few and small. Now our population approximates thirty-eight thousand, and yet we have no large city, but many interesting towns and villages.
Up to 1830 the most noted places or towns in Pike county, before its subdivision, were Peoria, then known as Fort Clark; Warsaw, then called Fort Edwards. Quincy was a very small place, and other towns, now thriving county seats, were just starting. In 1830 Cook county was laid off, it once being embraced in Pike county.
There was in the limits of Cook county, an Indian locality, Chicagoux, so called as early as 1726; thus you see we may trace earlier settlers than the Rosses, and Wheelocks, of Atlas, and Garret Van Duesen, of Blue river, the latter the forerunner of Jonathan Frye as a miller.
The Indians say of the place we now call Chicago, "the first white man who settled here was a negro." His name was Jean Baptiste Point Au Sable, a native of St. Domingo, who went to Chicago in 1796; this man afterwards died in Peoria. At Peoria, also, French settlement ante- dated the settlement of the present Pike county.
Observe what a grand array of counties has sprung up from the sub- division of the original territory of Pike county. How historic the names of these counties! See the map of the old Military Tract, once the almost entire source of Revenue to the State, by its land taxes, beginning with Calhoun and running up to Warren, Mercer, Henry and Knox on the North. Some of the counties in that tract have been subdivided, as Schuyler had Brown set off from her, Warren was divided and Henderson created. Putnam was a large county, lying on both sides of the Illinois river, and Stark was cut off therefrom.
Eighteen other counties have been created from old Pike North of, the "Military Tract." In 1832 the Sacs and Fox Indians devastated a portion of the country from Galena to the Yellow Banks, or Oquawka, in Warren, now Henderson, that being the Black Hawk war. Settlements were very sparse then from Galena to Quincy, and also across to Chicago. Now see the cities and towns, populous, beautiful; full of energy and in- dustry, and the farms unsurpassed in fertility and comfort.
To revert, in 1827 the Winnebago Indians by an outbreak near Galena, on Fevre river, got up a little war, soon ended. At those dates Rock Island was a village, Dixon not existing, Galena a small place, but the largest North of St. Louis, and larger than Chicago up to 1836, at the sale of the canal lands. Galena was famed then more than now for her lead mines. Then there was no Moline and her steel plough factory, and wooden mould board ploughs were the great ploughs of the day.
Time and space forbid to recall all the progress of every part of old
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
Pike, the census of the counties, cities and towns in the territory .once Pike, but now in the newer counties would disclose vast growth in all the essentials of a prosperous country. Chicago, Quincy, Peoria, and the other cities outstripping in growth anything preceding them on this con- tinent.
PIKE COUNTY
Let us confine ourselves for a time to the actual territory now within this county, and consider its progress and present condition.
THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT L
This was at Cole's Grove (now obsolete) but near Gilead, in the limits of Calhoun county, there was held the first Probate Court on the 23rd of May, 1821, and the first Circuit Court for Pike County, John Reynolds as Judge, beginning on the 1st day of October, 1821. At that court a noted and peculiar trial took place of two Indians for murder, and the following full record of the case is now to be seen at Pittsfield, in Volume 1, Page 4, of the Records of the Circuit Court.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 30, 1821.
The People, &c., vs. Pemesan and Shonwennekeh (Two Indians).
The jury in this cause came into Court and returned the follow- ing verdict, to-wit: We have agreed in our verdict, according to the evidence before us, that Pemesan, otherwise called Traveler, is guilty of manslaughter, and that the other, called Spice Bush, is not guilty. It is therefore ordered and adjudged by the Court that the said Shonwennekeh, otherwise called Spice Bush, go hence and be wholly discharged and acquitted. And it is therefore further ordered and adjudged by said Court, that the said Pemesan, otherwise called Traveler, make his fine to the People of this State in the sum of twenty-five cents, and be imprisoned for the term of twenty-four hours.
The earliest record book of the proceedings of the County Commis- sioners, prior to the June Term, 1832, is lost. A fire took place at Atlas which consumed some records and files of the Courts, and it is probable the aforesaid record was then lost.
SECOND COUNTY SEAT
Atlas was the second county seit and thereat was erected a Court House of framework, but of no architectural pretensions, which never was finished as a Court House, being used as such in an incomplete state. There was also a small but solid log jail, a terror to evildoers, but not often tenanted.
FIRST SETTLERS OF ATLAS
It was settled by New Englanders in 1821. In the summer of 1823 the town was laid out, its earliest settlers being Leonard Ross, who had been a captain in the U. S. service during the war of 1812 with England, and his brothers William, John, Clarence, Henry J., the latter being for fifteen years the leading physician in Pike, and extending his ride to other counties. He was an excellent physician, a genial friend and honest man; he died in 1836, leaving no children.
The late Colonel William Ross was one of those pioneers of Atlas. These Ross brothers were all married men and had most estimable and
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
refined families. Dexter Wheelock with his wife, settled at Atlas about the time of the Ross family arriving. He had been during the war of 1812 a drummer, and was a very active, generous man, and for a time the hotel keeper and had a family and other grocery store. He is long dead, his wife and a son and daughter yet survive; and no more estimable man of the early born settlers yet lives than John G. Wheelock, the aforesaid son, now one of the Sny Levee Commissioners.
There was another conspicuous character among those early settlers of Atlas. Benjamin Barney, who was a man of great physical powers, of strong natural sense, benevolent, patriotic, not learned in book lore, but wise in that which made him a leader in trying times; he was long the County Blacksmith, and that meant the only one in fifty miles; sober, industrious, always at his post. His tales of early adventure are mar- vellous, and yet undoubtedly true.
Colonel Wm. Ross as aid to General Whitesides, and Ben Barney, afterwards Colonel of the 17th Illinois Militia, both took part in the Black Hawk war in 1832, and that campaign and the battle of Buena Vista made Zachary Taylor president.
Colonel Ross died within a short period. Colonel Barney yet sur- vives in a vigorous old age.
We will speak further of the Ross brothers. Leonard was Sheriff, and William was until sometime after Pittsfield was laid out, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Judge, and County Court, as well as Postmaster at Atlas, for a time the only post office in the present part of Pike county; there was thereafter up to 1833 the post office at Clio, at Charles Strat- ton's, and the post office at Bay, south of Pleasant Hill.
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