USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens > 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 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
/977.3453H673>01/
-
-
Theodore Lownik Library Illinois Benedictine College Lisle, Illinois 60532
HISTORY
OF
PIKE COUNTY
ILLINOIS;
TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDU. CATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY; PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,
EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE-HISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, FRENCH, ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CONQUESTS, AND A GENERAL REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY.
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS,
Theodore Lownik Library Illinois Benedictine College Lisle, Illinois 60532
ILLUSTRATED.
: CHICAGO: CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO., 1880.
The reproduction of this book has been made possible through the sponsorship of the Pike County Historical Society, Pittsfield, Ill.
A Reproduction by UNIGRAPHIC, INC. 1401 North Fares Avenue Evansville, Indiana 47711 Nineteen Hundred Seventy Four
Binding by MODERN PRE-BINDING CORPORATION Portland, Indiana
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
MOUND-BUILDERS
17
21
INDIAN TROUBLES
83
Winnebago War ..
83
BLACK HAWK WAR
84
Stillman's Run ... 87
. Batile of Bad Axe.
90
91
Black Hawk Captured.
Biographical Sketch of Black Hawk. 92
FROM 1934 TO 1842 ..
95
Internal Improvements. 95
Ilinois and Michigan Canal.
97
Martyr tor Liberty.
98
PRAIRIE PIRATES 102 104
MORMON WAR.
MEXICAN WAR Battle ot Buena Vista
119
125
126
DUELS.
DRESS AND MANNERS.
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF ILLINOIS ..
GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.
157
Lieutenant Governors.
State Officials.
160
161
U. S. Senators
162
Representatives in Congress.
165
CHICAGO.
170
The Great Fire.
172
Commerce of Chicago.
178
STATES OF THE UNION. 177
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .. 191 Introductory. 191 Ante-Pioneer History .. 194 First American Settle- ment. 195 Original Pike County .. 195
First Settlement of Pike County. 199 Franklin and Shinn ... 199 The Rosses. 200 Seeley, MeGiffin and
others ... 201 Sickly Season. 202 Public Improvement .. 203 Criminal Drowned 204 Col. Barney 206 James Ward Drowned. 210 1826. 211
1827 212
1828. 212
1829 213
CHAPTER II.
EARLY SETTLEMENT-
CONTINUED.
215
Big Snow.
215
First Negro Settlers ..
216
Numerous Settlers ..
217
Black Hawk War ..... 218 James W. Whitney .... 218 Prominent Characters. 219 Mr. Hinman's Letter .. 224 Mr. Garrison's Letter .. 230 County-Seat Removed. 231 The Beautiful Prairies. 231 Prairie Fires .. 233
Incidents
of Pioneer
Life. 234
Trade.
235
TheGospel
237
Education
238.
Miscellany
239
First Things.
240
What
the
Pioneers
Have Done.
242
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV. .
IMPORTANT
LABORS
OF THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS'
.
COURT
253
First Meeting.
253
Tavern License ..
254
First Justice of the
Laying Out Roads.
256
Varlous Proceedings 257-260
Difficulty in Selecting
County-Seat ...
263
County Divided into
Townships ..
264
Fearless Commission-
erg
264
Court-House.
265
Connty-Seat Re-located 267
The Clerk Resigns ..... 268
Ad Quod Damuum ....
269
First Court-House
at
Pittsfield ..
269
Present Court-House ..
269
First Jail.
272
Last Meeting.
273
CHAPTER V.
ORGANIC HISTORY ...
..
246
GEOLOGY.
274
CHAPTER VI.
ZOOLOGY
282
CHAPTER VII.
BOTANY ...
288
CHAPTER VIII.
Peace.
254 ARCHEOLOGY
303
INDIANS.
Illinois Confederacy. 23
Starved Rock. 23
Sacs and Foxes. 24 Manners and Customs 27 29
Single-handed ('omhat with Indians .. EARLY DISCOVERIES 31 31 31
Nicholas Perrot.
Joliet and Marquette.
LaSalle's Explorations,. 33
Great Battle of the Illinois. 31 Tonti Safe at Green Bay. 41
LaSalle's Assassination 43
First Settlements ..
'the Mississippi Company .:
ENGLISH RULE 47
Gen. Clark's Exploits. 51
ILLINOIS. Connty of Illinois. 55 55 NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY 55 Ordinance of 1787 .. 56 59
St. Clair Governor of N. W. Territory .. 154 ILLINOIS TERRITORY 59 AGRICULTURE 155
WAR OF 1812-THE OUTBREAK. 59 Massacre of Fort Dear born. 60 Expeditions up the Mississippi. 71
ILLINOIS AS A STATE. 74
Organization .. 74- 77
Derivation of the name " Illinois
Stałe B nk. 78
L"Fayette's Visit.
79
Grammar and Cook Contrasted. 82
FRENCH OCCUPATION. 44 44 45 States Seceding .. The Fall of Sumøter. 127
118
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
Call for Troops Promptly Answered. The War Ended-The Union Reettred. 187 Schedule of Regiments. 138 141 149
128
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
BOARD OF SUPERVI- SORS
307
County Court ..
307
Township Organization 307
Jail.
309
Supervisors ..
310
CHAPTER X.
BLACK HAWK WAR ..
319
Troops Raised ..
320
The Stampede ...
322
CHAPTER XI.
CRIMINAL RECORD.
... 324
CHAPTER XII.
PIONEER LIFE ..
341
CHAPTER XIII
OLD SETTLERS' ASSO-
CIATION .. ..... 355
CHAPTER XIV.
THE REBELLION.
368
The First Indications
of the War.
368
First Call for Troops. .. 371
Meetings lIeld ..
.....
371
Bounty ..
372
Pike County's Soldiers 375
Educational Statistice 915
Pleasant Vale.
835
Agricultural Board ....
916
The Close
383
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Starved Rock
Au Iroquois Chief.
37
Gen. Geo. R. Clark. 49
Gen. Arthur St. Clair
59
Scene on Fox River
121
Old Fort Dearborn 61
Old Kiuzie House.
65
Pontiac ...
69
Black Hawk
85
CHAPTER XV.
PIKE COUNTY BAR ..... 385
Pioneer Courts.
385
Circuit Judges.
386
Prosecuting Attorneys
390
Bar of the Past ..
395
The Present Bar.
401
CHAPTER XVI.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES :-
Chambersburg.
404
Flint ..
417
Detroit
427
Montezuma
445
Pearl.
468
Perry
472
back ..
896
Grigg-ville
513
Newburg.
573
Perry Paragraph.
901
Hardin
586
Spring Creek
602
Fairmount
610
New Salem
627
Pittsfield
649
Martin 715 Pleasant Hill. :23 Hadley 739 Derry 754 Atlas 780 RO-6. 795 Table of Distances .. ... 914 Pres .nt Jail. 333 Old Jail. . 505 151 |First Court-House, Frontispiece PORTRAITS. Alkire, B. W. 750 Angle, H. C 803 Barney. Benjamin 207 Bolin, J. O. 459 Brakefie.d, James 527 Brewster, Charles 878 Brown. H. 635 Chenoweth, J. HI 478 Clark, Samuel. 859 Conboy, J. H. 587 Crandall, E. A. 823 Davie, Samuel 814 Deam, D. W. 786 Dorsey, B F 487 Eastman, Lycurgus 538 Gay, James 615 Harrington, Martin 406 | Seaborn, Robert. 517 DIGEST OF STATE LAWS. Laws. 919 Jurisdiction of Courts 919 Conuty Courts. 920 Com'r of Highways. 920 Fences. 922 Drainage. 924 Trespaes of Stock. 924 Estrays 925 Ногвев 9:6 Marks and Brands 927 Articles of Agreement. 927 Notes. 928 Judgment Note. 929 Interest 929 Wlils 931 Descent 935 Mortgages and Trust Deede 937 Truet Deeds 938 Liens Bill of Sale. 940 Days of Grace. 941 Limitation of Action ... 911 Receipts 942 Exemptions from Forced Sales 942 Landlords and Tenante. 943 Criminal Law 946 Taxes. 948 Subscription 949 Contract for Personal Ser- vices. 950 938 Infants 956 Adoption of Children 957 Church Organizations. 957 Game 958 Millers 960 Panpers 960 Public and Private Convey- ances. 962 Wages and Stakeholders .. 968 Sunday 964 Definition of Commercial Terme. 964 Legal Weights and Mras- Newspaper Libel. 951 uree. 964 Tender .. 951 Drunkenness 958 Deeds .. 936 Marriage Contract 954 Kinderhook. ... 853 Levee. 868 CHAPTER XVII. COUNTY OFFICIALS ... 870 CHAPTER XVIII. Tue Bar ... 392 POLITICAL 873 Election Returne. 875 CHAPTER XIX. THE PRESS 889 The Old Flag. 889 PikeCounty Democrat 841 Griggaville Reflector .. 894 Barry Adage. 895 'The Unicorn Green- Milton Beacon. 899 The Independent Press 902 Other Papers. .. 905 CHAPTER XX. MISCELLANEOUS 904 Railroade. 904 Sny Island Levee. 909 Co. Treasurer's Report. 911 Marriage Licenses. .... 911 Conrt-House .. 190 Map of Pike County. 14-15 Starkey, Jonathan 648 Strubinger, J. H. 816 Sweet, I. A. 917 Thomas, J. A. 731 Watson, William 655 Westlake, B. F 578 Williams, S. R .. 767 Willa, A. V. 887 Wills, sr., William R. 298 Wille, jr., William R. 675 Willsey, B. J. 714 Willsey, James G 666 Ross, Col. W . 244 688 |Shinn, William. 695 Simmons, Cephas. 388 Smith, Eugene. 907 Hull. D 900 Jeffres, Elijah 626 Johnston, D .. 498 Jones, Nathan W 352 Manton, James 442 Martin, Hutson 279 Ma-sie, M. D . 842 Matthews, B. L. 269 McMahan, L. W. 558 McWilliams, James 261 Miller. James B 598 Reynolds, Thomas. 428 99 |Central Insane Hospital ... 160 Industrial Universwy. 160 The Crib, 176 Lincoln Monument 137 Asylum for Fe .ble-Minded 143 Southern Normal Univer- sity ... 25 | C. R. I. & P. R R. Depot .. Eye and Eay Infirmary .... 111 Deaf and Dumb Institute .. 115 Helme, John Hinman, A 2:25 Hopkins, Benjamin B. 547 Yates, George 567 Bees 967 Dogs. 967 Cruelty to Animals. 968 School Months 956 Names. 968 - Agricultural Statistics 911 Barry 796 PREFACE. The history of Pike county possesses features of unusual interest in comparison with those of other neighboring counties, especially those in the Military Tract. Here the sturdy pioneer located and began to exert his civilizing influence long before other sections contained a settler; and this is not only the oldest settled county of all north of its south line, but it was the first county organized in the Military Tract. Another fact worthy of note is, that it originally embraced all the coun- try lying between the great Father of Waters and the placid Illinois, extending east to the Indiana line, and north to the Wisconsin line. Pe- oria, Rock Island, Galena and Chicago were originally little settlements of this then vast c. unty. In matters of general public interest and progress, Pike county has ever taken a leading and prominent position. Here have lived men who have taken no unimportant part in the affairs of the State,-in moulding the political sentiments and destiny of the country. Pike county has been the scene of conflict between some of the most giant intellects of the nation. Here the shrewd and enterprising Easterner, the courtly Southerner and the sturdy, practical Wes erner, have met and mingled, have inherited the better traits, possessed by each other, and thus have formed a society, a people superior in many particulars to that of most localities. The original settlers, the earliest pilgrims, have nearly all passed away. Here and there we see the bended form and whitened head of some of these veterans, but they are not numer- ous. Most of them have gone to that country which is always new, yet where the trials, struggles and hardships of pioneer life are never known. Accurate and reliable history is most difficult to write. Those who have never experienced the difficulties incident to such labor cannot realize how nearly impossible it is, or can appreciate the earnest, honest and faithful labor of the historian. After the most careful and pains- taking searches and inquiry upon any particular subject or about any event, he will even then find many doubts arising in his mind as to its accuracy and entire truthfulness. Each individual of whom inqury is made will give you a different account of any event. One of them may be as honest as the other and try to relate his story correctly, yet they will be so widely different that the most searching and logical mind will be unable to harmonize them. This fact is forcibly illustrated in an incident related of Sir Walter Raleigh. While in prison in a tower of England he engaged himself in writing the history of the PREFACE. world. One day a brawl occurred in the yard of the tower, of which he desired to learn the particulars. Two of the principal actors came before him, and each related the account of the trouble, yet so widely different were they that he found it utterly impossible to tell what the facts were. He then remarked, "Here I am engaged in writing the history of events that occurred 3,000 years ago, and yet I am unable to learn the facts of what happens at my window." This has been the channel of our experience, and that of all others who have at- tempted national or local history. As an example in Pike county, we noticed in a Pittsfield cemetery "Orvillee" on the headstone as the name of the person buried in a certain grave, and "Orval E." on the footstone. Aside from mistakes occurring from the above causes, doubtless there are many others to be found within these pages. To suppose that a volume of this magnitude, and containing so many thousands of names and dates and brief statements would be wholly accurate, is a supposi- tion we presume no sane man will make. While we do not claim for this work critical accuracy or completeness, yet we are quite certain that it will be found measurably and practically so. Let it rest as the foundation for the future historian to build upon. As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous representative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day, as well as the pioneers, represented in this department, and we flatter ourselves on the uniform high charac- ter of the gentlemen whose portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the callings and professions worthy to be represented. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with those presented, but as a matter of course it was impossible for us to represent all the leading men of the county. As we quit our long, tedious, yet nevertheless pleasant task of writ- ing and compiling the History of Pike County, we wish to return the thanks of grateful hearts to those who have so freely aided us in col- lecting material, etc. To the county officials and editors of the various newspapers we are particularly grateful for the many kindnesses and courtesies shown us while laboring in the county. To James Gallaher, editor of The Old Flag, we especially acknowledge our indebtedness for the excellent historical sketch of Pittsfield presented in this vol- ume. Last and most of all we wish to thank those who so liberally and materially aided the work by becoming subscribers to it. We feel we have discharged our duties fully, have fulfilled all our promises, have earned the laborer's pay. Thus feeling, we present the volume to the critical, yet we hope and believe justly charitable citizens of Pike county-or more especially, our subscribers. CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & Co. Chicago, May, 1880. R. 8 W. R.7 W. R. 6 W. R. 5 L 5 72765 3 2 11 1 6 5 4 2 10 5 4 1. 8 10 11 127\8 10 11 12 7 8 9 40 11 12 7 8 of LEVEL SIKINDERHOOK $ 14 13 18 17 16 15 13 18 HADLE 22 23 24 19 - 20 22 3 24 19 22 23 24 19 30 26 85.1 30 2 20 KinderHook 25 29 28 Barry 27 30 20 Cool Bary 36 31 32 34 3 31 32 33 34 35 36 31 32 33 6 5 4 3 2 5 3 Cantor , $ 6 5 DEJĀ 14 15 13 18 15 14 13 18 17 19 PLEASANTCALE 22 20 22 23 27 ME 26 25 30 29 28 36 31 32 33 34 36 31 , 32 - 1 - - 6 . 5 4 3 0 5 9 10 12 7 8 15 14 13 18 16 Rockpd 23 24 19 21 2 20 25 30 29 -. OF 35 36 23 2 1 5 12 RO'S S ILLINOIS. - 20 2 1 - undy Hadley trees 12 7 9 New 10 7 8 23 24 19 Endara : 30 29 28 - - 2 SECTIONAL MAP Louisiana 7 awilarnibay arkivet and Naples RP2 Hannibal. :- Mississippi River Hulls Station 29 In Chanel's Creek Alton and 1 1 BARRY R. A. W. R.3 W. R.2 W. 6 543 2 1 6 4 3 2 1 4 - 7 8 9 10 = 12 7 8 10 12 1, 7 Chambersburg - 18 17 15 15 14 13 18 17 16 14 1 FAIRMOUNT 21 22 23 24 1 19 20 PERRY 22 24517-19 20 22 1.30 29 28 27 26 25 30 Pey"ų 28 27 26 23 30 27 32 35 34 35 36 \ 31 32 33 36 92 33 34 2 - NEW SALEM 10 12 GRIGGSVILLE 1 13/1 18 16 15 14 13 17 10 15 14 1 13 / 18 17 24 | 19 20 21 Hannibal Maysville and Naples 22 20 26 25 30 29 Wew 28 Balem 27 26 25 30 29 Griggsville 28 26 25 35 36 31 32 33 35 96 3/ 32 33 34 . 35 36 92 - - 1 2 6 5 4 3 2 1 6 5 4 3 2 5 3 11 12 7 8 10 11 17 8 9 10 11 12 78 10 Y 14 13 18 13 16 DETROIT 18 17 7.5S. 23 24 13 20 21 22 23 24 19 20 21 22 23 Deltoit 24 20 22 125 26 25 1 30 29 28 Pilisfield 85 30 29 28 26 25 30 20 28 27 26 36 : 31 32 33 34 35 36 32 23 34 36 $ 31 32 33 34 1 1 -- - .3 - 6 5 4 Tỉ mẻ 0 Nitton 3 2 1 11 12 9 9 10 12 17 8 9 10 11 Y 8 9 MONTEZUMA 13 23 24 19 26 22 23 24/ 19 20 20) 1 22 .23 2019 26 21 Betard 22 26 25 kg 29 Martinsburg 30 28 27 26 25 1 30 29 28. 27 26 25 1 30 29 28 27 20 35 3€ 32 34 35 36 31 32 33 34 95 36 33 34 35 -- -- - - - - - 2 5 4 3 2 5 3 6 5 4 3 2 11 12 PLEASANTHILL. 8 9 10 /2 2 10 R. SPRINGCREEK 1 10 TI.S. 23 24 20 20 25 1 20 25 25 30 29 28 27 26 25 26 35 3431 & 32 34 25 1 1 1 30% Chowrong 5 4 + FLINT 7 8 9 Bayles 92 6 5 3 2 1 1 6 sMc.Gees 3 2 1 CHAMBERSBURG T.3 S. 23 pers 18 17 14 T. 4 5. - - -- 15 13 18 NEWBURG Bay Creet New Hartford 5 1 14 13 17 15 14 18 17 RDIN 14 18 16 MARTINSBURG-+ 17 15 $4 13 16 14 Stewart 73 PleasantHill 19 Arbo 22 HEARE Florene 35 2 4 Montezuma - Į - PITTSFIELD 15 15 14 GECEK - -- HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. FORMER OCCUPANTS. MOUND-BUILDERS. The numerous and well-authenticated accounts of antiquities found in various parts of our country, clearly demonstrate that a people civilized, and even highly cultivated, occupied the broad surface of our continent before its possession by the present In- dians; but the date of their rule of the Western World is so re- mote that all traces of their history, their progress and decay, lie buried in deepest obscurity. Nature, at the time the first Euro. peans came, had asserted her original dominion over the earth; the forests were all in their full luxuriance, the growth of many cen- turies; and naught existed to point out who and what they were who formerly lived, and loved, and labored, and died, on the conti- nent of America. This pre-historic race is known as the Mound- Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earth-works left by them. The remains of the works of this people form the most in- teresting class of antiquities discovered in the United States. Their character can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences and.the peculiarities of the only remains left,-the mounds. They consist of remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure grounds, etc., etc. Their habitations must have been tents, struc- tures of wood, or other perishable material; otherwise their remains would be numerous. If the Mound-Builders were not the ancestors of the Indians, who were they? The oblivion which has closed over them is so complete that only conjecture can be given in answer to the question. Those who do not believe in the common parentage of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the West- ern hemisphere; others, with more plausibility, think they came from the East, and imagine they can see coincidences in the religion of the Hindoos and Southern Tartars and the supposed theology of 18 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. the Mound-Builders. They were, no doubt, idolators, and it has been conjectured that the sun was the object of their adoration. The mounds were generally built in a situation affording a view of the rising sun: when enclosed in walls their gateways were toward the east; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried always opened in the same direction; whenever a mound was partially en- closed by a semi-circular pavement, it was on the east side; when bodies were buried in graves, as was frequently the case, they were laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been found representing the sun and his rays of light. At what period they came to this country, is likewise a matter of speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among them, it has been inferred that the time was very remote. Their axes were of stone. Their raiment, judging from fragments which have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven with feathers; and their military works were such as a people would erect who had just passed to the pastoral state of society from that dependent alone upon hunting and fishing. The mounds and other ancient earth-works constructed by this people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the bluffs which border the narrower valleys; so that when one finds him- self in such positions as to command the grandest views for river scenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon, or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the labors of an ancient people. GALENA MOUNDS. On the top of the high bluffs that skirt the west bank of the Mis- sissippi, about two and a half miles from Galena, are a number of these silent monuments of a pre-historic age. The spot is one of surpassing beauty. From that point may be obtained a view of a portion of three States,-Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. A hundred feet below, at the foot of the perpendicular cliffs, the trains of the Illinois Central Railroad thunder around the curve, the portage is in full view, and the " Father of Waters," with its numerous bayous 19 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. and islands, sketches a grand pamorama for miles above and below. Here, probably thousands of years ago, a race of men now extinct, and unknown even in the traditions of the Indians who inhabited that section for centuries before the discovery of America by Colum- bus, built these strangely wonderful and enigmatical mounds. At this point these mounds are circular and conical in form. The larg. est one is at least forty feet in diameter at the base, and not less than fifteen feet high, even yet, after it has been beaten by the storms of many centuries. On its top stands the large stump of an oak tree that was cut down about fifty years ago, and its annual rings indicate a growth of at least 200 years. One of the most singular earth-works in the State was found on the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsinawa creek in the lead region. It resembled some huge animal, the head, ears, nose, legs and tail, and general outline of which being as perfect as if made by men versed in modern art. The ridge on which it was situated stands on the prairie, 300 yards wide, 100 feet in height, and rounded on the top by a deep deposit of clay. Centrally, along the line of its summit, and thrown up in the form of an embankment three feet high, extended the outline of a quadruped measuring 250 feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, and having a width of 18 feet at the center of the body. The head was 35 feet in length. the ears 10 feet, legs 60 and tail 75. The curvature in both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal lying on its side. The general outline of the figure most nearly resembled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megathe- rium. The question naturally arises, By whom and for what pur- pose was this earth figure raised? Some have conjectured that numbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over the prai- ries of Illinois when the Mound-Builders first made their appearance on the upper part of the Mississippi Valley, and that their wonder and admiration, excited by the colossal dimensions of these huge creatures, found some expression in the erection of this figure. The bones of some similar gigantie animals were exhumed on this stream about three miles from the same place. LARGE CITIES. Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the Western country in 1817, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom, says: "The great number and extremely large size of some of 20 HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. them may be regarded as furnishing, with other circumstances, evidences of their antiquity. I have sometimes been induced to think that at the period when they were constructed there was a population here as numerous as that which once aniinated the borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The most num- erous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in pre- cisely those parts of the country where the traces of a numerous population might be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the Ohio on the east side of the Mississippi, to the Illinois river, and on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am perfectly satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country." It must be admitted that whatever the uses of these mounds- whether as dwellings or burial places-these silent monuments were built, and the race who built them vanished from the face of the earth, ages before the Indians occupied the land, but their date must probably forever baffle human skill and ingenuity. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the places of sepulture raised by the Mound-Builders from the more modern graves of the Indians. The tombs of the former were in general larger than those of the latter, and were used as receptacles for a greater number of bodies, and contained relics of art, evincing a higher degree of civ- ilization than that attained by the Indians. The ancient earth- works of the Mound-Builders have occasionally been appropriated as burial places by the Indians, but the skeletons of the latter may be distinguished from the osteologieal remains of the former by their greater stature. What finally became of the Mound-Builders is another query which has been extensively discussed. The fact that their works extend into Mexico and Peru has induced the belief that it was their posterity that dwelt in these countries when they were first visited by the Spaniards. The Mexican and Peruvian works, with the exception of their greater magnitude, are similar. Relics com- mon to all of them have been occasionally found, and it is believed that the religious nses which they subserved were the same. If, indeed, the Mexicans and Peruvians were the progeny of the more ancient Mound-Builders, Spanish rapacity for gold was the cause of their overthrow and final extermination. 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.