History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 1

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough
Number of Pages: 530


USA > Illinois > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1


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HISTORY


SIST CLAIR COUNTY)


ILLINOIS WITH ILLUSTRATIONS


CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY


OVEZHA


BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE


Cornell University Library F 547S2 H67 ++ History of St. Clair County, Illinois. W


olin 3 1924 028 805 948


Overs


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A.D


Cornell University Library


The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.


There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028805948


1686 ++++++++++


HISTORY


OF


ST. CLAIR COUNTY,


ILLINOIS.


dalith Illustrations


DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY, AND


Bio ical Sketches of some of its rom It Aten and toneers.


-


BY BRINK, MCDONOUGH & CO., PHILADELPHIA.


CORRESPONDING OFFICE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.


1881


+ Ru


F 547 52 H67++


A782005


Missing Page


TABLE OF CONTENTS.


COUNTY HISTORY.


CHAP. PAGE.


I .- Brief Sketch of north-


west Territory. . . 9


II .- Brief Hist'cal Sketch


of Illinois. . . . . 20


III .- Geography, Agricul- tural Resources and Railroad facilities . 30


IV .- Geology


37


V .- Flora


41


VI .- Fauna


42


VII .- Aborigines


44


VIII .- Pioneers and Early Settlers . 44


IX .- European Immigration 62


X .- Civil History


67


XI .- Bench and Bar


88


XII .- The Press .


98


XIII .- Common Schools. . . 109


XIV .- Patriotism


. 123


XV .- Ecclesiastical History 155


BIOGRAPHIES.


Abend, Hon. Edward . . . . 204 Adams, Capt. Lyman (dec'd) . 343


Anthony, D. D.


. 314


Askins, Chas. T.


. 257


Baird, E. (dec'd)


. 260


Barth, John .


. 359


Barthel, Henry


. 275


Bates, Dr. O. C. 292


Bangh, Levi .


320


Becker, Charles. 221 Becker, Chas. 280


Begole, J. (dec'd) . 290


Blanck, Charles (dec'd)


. 346


Blanck, Hermann J.


. 340


Bock, G. C. (M. D.)


. 366


Bland, Dr. E. P. . 350


Boemer, Caspar 259 Hilgard, T., Jr., (dec'd ) . 232


Brenfleck, G. V. . 257


Brosius, Jacob


. 223


Butler, John O. . 310


PAGE.


Chandler, Hon. S. B. (dec'd) . 200


Cornick, Dr. Boyd


. 360


Dake, C. R. (M. D.) . .


. 231


Darrow, Chas. B. (dec'd). . . 292


Dausch, G. W.


. 310


Deneen, Prof. S. H.


343


Dilg, Fred.


. 358


Dobschutz, M. J.


228


Eckert, Geo. M.


.370


Eckert, T. W. .


218


Eversmann, Louis


. 252


Fietsam, C. H.


. 276


Fietsam, S.


. 240


Fike Family.


. 277


Fischer, Chas. F.


. 294


Fischer, F. X. (M. D.)


.371


Forman, Isaac (dec'd) .


. 291


Gintz, Adam .


226


Graner, Louis


. 238


Graney, Thomas


. 312


Griffen, Charles


. 277


Griffen, Chas ..


. 244


Griffen, Joseph (dec'd)


. 243


Griffen, Joseph .


. 359


Grossman, George


. 365


Guthrie, George W.


. 267


Halbert, R. A. .


. 212


Hamilton, J. H.


. 266


Hartmann Brothers .


240


Hausmann, C. D.


. 370


Heim, F.


318


Heim, M.


316


Heimberger, R. W.


. 273


Heineman, H. A. .


238


Heinfelden, Curt


224


Henrici, J. E.


. 260


Herman, Peter, Jr. .


. 279


Herman, Peter, Sr.


. 280


Higgins, Robert .


. 364


Hoeltmann, John T.


. 251


Holder, Robert D. W.


. . 239


Horner, Hon. H. H.


. . 339


PAGE.


Houser, Elias, Jr.


289


Huber, Henry


258


Huhn Henry .


211


Hypes, Benj. .


340


Illinski, A. X.


332


Jennings, T. C. (M. D.)


313


Jones, Oliver V.


. 344


Kalbfleisch, Peter


257


Karch, Charles


357


Keim, Heinreck


367


Koeberlin, F. (M. D.)


280


Koerner, Hon. Gustavus


. 203


Kohl, Julius (M. D.) .


. 207


Krause, Dr. B. .


293


Laeuffert, Wm. H. (M. D.) .. 366


Land Family , .


. 277


Lebkuecher, L.


237


Richardson, James H. .


. 356


Lemen, Joseph


286


Ries, Michael.


. 238


Lindauer, G. J. . .


256


Little, J. M. (dec'd) .


260


Loelkis, George (M. D.)


. 230


Lorenzen, John . . .


. 235


McBride, W. J. (dec'd)


. 258


McConaughy, T. A. .


. 227


McCracken, N. .


. 331


Mccullough, J. W.


239


Schubkegel, Philip .


. 361


McLean, John J. .


. 309


Meints, A. M.


. 312


Messick, J. B.


. 316


Metschan, F. F.


. 226


Miller, Hon. J. R.


. 249


Moore, R. A.


209


Nairn, Hugh .


267


Nearen, James


. 290


Nichols, Wm.


. 341


Noetling, C. F.


. 220


O'Brien, H. D. .


. 322


Ogle, Joseph . . . 206


Padfield, J. R. .


. 351


Padfield, Wm. R. .


. 349


Perrin, Francis,


. . 360


PAGE.


Perryman, J. L. (M. D.) . . . 215


Pitthan, Louis


236


Ploudre, Louis


333


Poigneé, Frank .


. 293


Postel, Philip


354


Price, Daniel .


246


Probstmeyer, C. L.


259


Quick, Hon. Thomas


219


Rayhill, J. J.


357


Reichert, J., Jr.


272


Reith, J. . .


. 370


Renshaw, J. W.


. 321


Rentchler, D. .


220


Rembe, Dr. C. H. E. E. .


. 273


Reuss, Adolphus (M. D.) .


.


. 245


Reynolds, Ex-Gov. John . .


. 197


Saltenberger, John (M, D,) . . 256


Scheel, Fred E ..


239


Scheel, John .


. 202


Schmahlenberger, D. C.


. 259


Scott, Benjamin (dec'd)


288


Scott, Felix


.205


Sehlinger, Anton .


359


Seibert, Peter


359


Miller, Lloyd T. (M. D.) .


. 251


Seiter, Henry


. 342


Semmelroth, George . . 232


Shultz, John .


. 249


Sikking. J. B.


. 314


Smith, J. P.


. 280


Smith, Samuel G. . . 344


Stack, P. H.


. 322


Starkel, L. C.


214


Stauder, John A. .


.237


Stolberg, George H. .


232


Stookey, Dr. L. P.


.213


Ropiequet, F. K. .


. 218


Rubach, Dr. Ferdinand . . . 219 Saffold, David (M. D.) . ... 230 Sager, Charles H. . . 344


Kempff, William


222


Reinecke, C. :


. 225


6


TABLE OF CONTENTS.


PAGE.


Swahlen, Rev. Wm. F.


. 345


Thomas, James H.


. 222


Thomas, Hon. John


201


Tiedemann, C. A. .


294


Tiedemann, E. J. .


295


Business Houses, Lenzburg“


264


Calbreath, J. H.


350


Catholic Ch., Mascoutah


353


159


City Hall and Central Market,


East St. Louis .


. . facing 328


County Buildings


=


County Map .


=


9


Van Court, B. J. .


. 287


Veile, Hon. Joseph .


.366


Ward, James . .


293


Wastfield, A. J. (dec'd)


. 294


Watts, R. I. (M. D.) .


. 268


Waugh, James


. 211


Weir, M. W. .


. 206


West, B. J., Jr. .


. 222


West, Washington, (M. D.). . 217


White, John K. (dec'd) . .


. 268


Whittaker, James M. . .


. . 350


Wider, E. W. (dec'd)


.


. 311


268


Wiggins, J. L. (M. D.) .


. 250


Green, J. W. (dec'd) .


=


Griffen, Charles


bet. 242 & 243


Griffen, Joseph . .


. facing 359


Guerdan Hat Co. . .


=


310


Guthrie, G. W. .


262


Guthrie, S. J.


264


=


Halbert, R. A.


212


Hall's Metal Separator.


306


Heim's Brewery


=


318


264


Hendren, J. H.


=


268


Thomas, Col. John


204


Tiedemann, C. A.


294


Trendley, John


314


Van Court, B. J. .


287


Watts, Dr. R. J.


266


322


West, Dr. W.


198


257


White, John K.


262


Whittaker, J. P. .


=


348


Williame' Carr'ge Fact'ry "


226


Workingmen's Bank


314


PORTRAITS.


Barthel, Henry


275


Baugh, L. . .


320


Miller, D. D. .


366


Brosius, Jacob .


223


Chandler, Hon. S. B.


. 200


Dake, C. R. (M. D.)


. 231


Dilg, Fred


. 358


PAGE.


Dobechutz, M. J. .


228


Fietsam, C. H. .


. 276


Griffen, Joseph (dec'd) . .


. 243


Griffen, John (dec'd) . . facing 277 Grossman, George and wife. . 365 Halbert, R. A. . 212


Hamilton, J. H.


266


Heim, F.


.318


Higgins, Robert


364


Horner, Hon. H. H.


339


Pitts, Wm.


278


Houser, Elias, Jr. .


289


Illinski, A. X. .


.332


Jenning, T. C. (M. D.) . . 313


Lorenzen, John


235


246


McConaughy, T. A.


227


Richardson, J. H.


356


McLean, John J. .


309


St. Agness Asylum


159


Messick, J. B.


. 316


St. Elizabeth Hospital .


159


Moore, R. A.


209


157


Moore, Mrs. R. A.


. 209


McCracken, N. .


331


Schmahlenberger, D. C.


259


Ortrance Brackett


Scott, Mrs. Elizabeth .


=


Seiter, Henry


"


342


Shiloh M. E. Church


296


Shultz, John .


=


324


Starkel, Louis C. .


=


198


"Star Mills" . . . bet. 354 & 355


Stauder, Peter .


. facing 220


Postel, Philip


354


Stephens, M. M.


310


Reinecke, C. .


. 225


Reichert, Joseph,


.272


Stookey, J. D.


=


Stookey, M. M


=


238


Taylor, Henry .


=


204


Hermann, Peter


=


280


Hoeltmann, J. T.


250


Houser, Elias


=


Howe Literary Institute 122


Jones, Ambrose


Kalbfleisch, P. . .


=


Ladies' Academy


=


Lebkuecher, L. .


201


Lindauer, G. J.


257


Log School-house


=


109


Lortz, John


=


280


Maule, John .


=


220


Mayor's Office & Police Headquartere =


328


McKendree


115


Miller, Joseph E.


218


Miller, W. J.


=


232


Monk, C. A. .


218


PAGE. Morbach, D. . facing 250


Mueller, Solomon


=


226


Nairn, Hugh


=


266


Nehrings, John


=


366


Nuernberger, L.


=


266


Ogle, David . . . bet. 240 & 241


Ogle, Joseph .


. . . facing 206


Old Court House, Cahokia“


328


=


Orth, John


266


Heim, M.


319


Padfield, W. R.


=


348


Perryman, J. L.


215


Reichert, Joseph


=


273


Reinecke, Conrad . bet. 224 & 225


Reuse, A. C. .


. . facing 246


360


Engelmann, Theodore . =


=


Falling Spring .


296


Finger, Henry (M. D.).


266


Fischer, Chas. F. . . .


=


294


Fischer, Christian


=


259


360


Friedewald, H.


159


Forman, Mrs. Rebecca,


292


Ger. M. E. Ch., Mascoutah " 359


Wilderman, J. C. .


. 279


Wilderman, A. S. .


. 229


Willoughby, J. A.


. 237


Winkelman, Wm.


. 216


Yoch, Joseph . .


. 233


PRECINCT HISTORIES.


Athens


261


Belleville


. 183


Caseyville .


. 247


Centerville


. . 252


Cahokia . .


. 325


East St. Louis


. 298


Fayetteville


. 269


French Village


. . 323


Lebanon


. 334


Mascoutah .


. 351


O'Fallon


. 281


Prairie Du Pont


. 296


Richland


. 361


Shiloh


241


Summerfield


. 347


St. Clair


. 367


ILLUSTRATIONS.


Appel, P. H. . facing 216


Backer & Sterns


254


PAGE.


Bates, Dr. O. C. (office) . facing 328


Bevelot, Clement .


=


322


Boul, Nicholas


=


324


266


Tiemann, August .


234


Tissier, M. F.


317


Touchette, Baptiste


330


Trendley, John . .


315


Turner, L. D.


. 224


Underwood, W. J.


. 226


Vahlkamp, S.


. 274


Costello, Wm.


¥


250


360


Eisenmayer. Philip E ..


=


"Emerald Isle Mills " .


=


360


St. Peter's Church


.


=


Saltenberger, J. (M. D ) 260


287


Nichols, Wm.


341


Padfield, Wm. R. and wife . . 349


Park, James


. 243


Perryman, Dr. J. L. . . facing 215


Pitthan, Louis


236


Ploudre, L.


333


Renshaw, J. W.


.321


. Reuss, Adolphus (M. D.) . . 245


Reynolds, Ex-Gov. John . . 197


Richardson, James H. . . . . 356


Rubach, Ferdinand Dr., facing 219


Rutter, Henry


facing 370


Scheel, John


. 202


Seiter, Henry


. 342


Starkel, L. C.


214


Thomas, Hon. John . . facing 201


Tiemann, August


234


Tissier, M. F,


.317


Trendley, John


. 315


Vahlkamp, S.


. 274


Wider, E. W. (dec'd)


. 311


Wilderman, A. S. .


. 229


West, Washington, (M. D.) . 217


Yoch, Joseph.


. 233


Partial List of Patrone. . 372


Constitution of Illinois.


386


Declaration of Independence. 393


Constitution of United States . 394


Burr, J. C.


=


City Hall, Belleville .


=


80


Helbron, J. R.


=


289


120


Stookey Homestead .


216


238


Fischer, Dr. F. X.


=


Reuss, Dr. A. (dec'd) .


=


INTRODUCTION.


HERE are few studies more interesting and pro- fitable to mankind than that of the past expe- riences, deeds, thoughts and trials of the human race.


The civilized man and the untutored savage alike desire to know the deeds and lives of their ancestors, and strive to perpetuate their story. National patriotism and literary pride have prompted many, in all times, to write and preserve the annals of particular peoples. But narrow prejudice and selfish interests too often have availed to suppress the truth or to distort facts.


It is the aim of this work to collect and preserve in enduring and popular form some of the facts of the early settlement and sub- sequent growth of a great county of a grand State. The families whose ancestors were early on the ground, and whose members have made the county what it is, are worthy of remembrance; and their difficulties and sorrows, customs, labors and patriotism, should not be allowed to fall into oblivion. By a knowledge of these the present generation will be instructed, and the future will be guided.


All history, if properly written, is interesting ; and there is not a country, or a city, or a hamlet,-nay, we might say, not a family or an individual on the globe,-whose history might not be more or less valuable to posterity.


From the ancient days, away back in the dim and shadowy past, when the human race first arrived at a state of intelligence suffi- cient to enable them to transmit a traditionary or written account of themselves, all along down the teeming ages, our progenitors have left in various ways, and by different means, information, more or less mythical, of the age and generation in which they played their ephemeral part on the world's ever-changing theatre of action. It is graven in bronze on the wonderful works of the central nations of Africa, around those "dim fountains of the Nile ;" the gray old pyramids in the valley of "twenty thousand cities " are covered with the hieroglyphical language of the


" shadowy past." The vast and mighty " palaces and piles stu- pendous," hoary with the dust of unknown centuries, that bewilder the traveler 'mid Egypt's drifting sands, upon the plains of the Eu- phrates, and hidden away in the tiger-hunted jungles of the "farthest Ind ;" the gigantic ruins of Southern and Central America, under the snow-capped Cordilleras and among the wondrous forests of Yucatan ; the seamed and wrinkled pyramids of the Aztecs, in Mexico and California, and the ten thousand crumbling evidences of a power- ful civilization scattered throughout the great valley of the Missis- sippi, all bear testimony of countless attempts to transmit knowl- edge to posterity.


The written history of the American Continent dates back scarcely four centuries, yet within that comparatively short period its pages have garnered from her hills and mountains, from her grand rivers and mighty inland seas, valuable additions to the world's stock of knowledge.


Like the Eastern Continent, our own has its historic points,-its nuclei around which cluster the memories of heroic deeds, the story of martyrs, and the legends of a barbarous past. St. Augus- tine, Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, Quebec, Montreal, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Detroit, are localities about which gather volumes of history.


The advance of civilization on the North American Continent has been more rapid than in any other portion of the globe ; and, within the memory of living men, the fairest and richest portions have been wrested from the dominion of the wilderness and the savage, and changed into a highly-cultivated region, filled with a race of industrious and thriving people. Prominent among the localities rich in historic lore is the region around the Mississippi river. It early claimed the attention of two of the most powerful nations of Europe, whose pioneers and avant couriers were boldly pushing into the then unknown countries lying towards the " Great South Sea," eagerly looking for gold and precious stones, for fabled Eldorados, and fertile lands.


Dim traditions, fragmentary legends, stories of bloody warfare,


8


INTRODUCTION.


of disaster and defeat ; essays, letters, and public documents, all bearing, more or less, upon the history of the county, have been carefully examined.


To collect and arrange in one volume these various fragments, this abundant material, and to give the cream of all the best authors who have treated the subject, together with all addi- tional information it was possible to obtain, and present it in readable form, has been the object of the publishers of the present work.


We know, full well, the task is not a light one; the contempla- ted work is by no means a holiday frolic. Hard, steady, close ap- plication and untiring energy are necessary to accomplish it, and we have approached the subject with the greatest diffidence, not unmindful of our shortcomings, yet, at the same time, fully deter- mined to do our best, and trust a generous and discriminating pub- lic to do us justice, hoping and believing that our labors shall not have been wholly in vain.


The utmost pains have been taken to read thoroughly and com- pare carefully the various writers, and to sift out and reconcile discrepancies, for historians not unfrequently disagree upon minor points. The work of reading and comparing has been no ordinary one, and the difficulty has not been so much in collecting as in making a judicious and truthful use of the abundant material at hand.


The traditions of the Indians, as given by Heckewelder and others, have been quoted quite extensively, and as an important factor in the sum total of knowledge concerning this region ; and the early discoveries of Marquette, La Salle, Hennepin, and other French adventurers in the valley of the Mississippi and the basin of the great lakes of the Northwest, have also demanded a large share of attention, as preliminary to the troubles which grew out of the conflicting claims of the French and English crowns, resulting in a contest for supremacy, and in which not only all the con- tiguous region, but the entire French and English possessions in America, a large share of Europe, and immense regions in Asia and the islands of the sea, were interested and involved.


Another object to be gained by this work, is to bring to the no- tice of the people, the immense resources which a bountiful Provi- dence has bestowed upon them, and which it becomes, not merely a privilege to use, but a duty to improve. How little is now known of these treasures, and how greatly profitable such information may be, needs only a thought to comprehend. Our fertile soils, our noble timber trees, our genial climate, our inexhaustible mineral treasurers, and our easy facilities for commerce, are, in a great de-


gree, unknown even to our own population. This volume seeks to develop an appreciation of them, and to stimulate a desire to im- prove and extend them.


Then, local customs, old family traits and anecdotes are so rich in interest and so full of instruction to the young, that they ought never to be forgotten. These, so many as time and diligence could gather, are here recorded and will be found to form no unimportant or uninstructive portion of this volume.


Among the most influential agencies in building a nation, and in establishing a character for its people, are the efforts of its citizens to educate their children and to provide for social religious wor- ship. These two interests will, therefore, show most accurately the tastes, the habits and aspirations of a community.


Hence they have been made prominent in the ensuing narrative, and it is confidently hoped that they will not only interest our readers, but will be studied and appreciated.


The work will be found embellished with views of public and private property, in various parts of the County, and with por- traits and biographies of many of the prominent men of the past and present.


The chapter on the early history of the State, will be found inter- esting and instructive.


The Constitution of the United States and of this State, and a roster of the soldiers of the late war, have been inserted with a view to make the work more creditable, alike to the publishers and people of the county.


The work may be incomplete in some particulars. Nor indeed is it possible for it to be otherwise; but we hope, so far as it goes, it is truthful and accurate.


We trust, however, that it will be the means of preserving from the empire of decay a host of incidents, recollections, and anec- dotes, relating to the hardy pioneers and first settlers of the county, which, in the estimation of the historian and student of history, are of priceless value, but which otherwise would soon fade from the memories of the living.


Whether this has been well done, is not for us to say. A gener- ous and intelligent public must decide. It is not permitted any man to attain perfection. Its regions lie beyond our reach. We feel, however, in submitting this work to the inspection of the pa- trons, whose public spirit made possible its preparation, that satis- faction which results from a consciousness of faithful endeavor and an earnest desire to fulfil the expectations of all.


Our work is accomplished, and its result is submitted, with tran- quility, to your inspection.


HISTORY


OF


ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.


CHAPTER I.


A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.


GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.


N 1784 the North-western Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia. It embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and Mississipi rivers; and north, to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the states of Wiscon- sin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and that portion of Min- nesota 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 Virginia, 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 extended 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 thousands of miles through its rich alluvial valleys and broad, fertile prairies.


Its lakes are fresb-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 population 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 Pascua Florida,* Juan Ponce de Leon, an old 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 hy the wish to reach a fountain that was said to exist deep within the forests of North America, which pos- sessed 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 Mi- ruelo, had visited the coast first reached by Ponce de Leon, and in his barters with the natives had received considerable quan- tities 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 un- dertook 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 wan- dered. They suffered untold privations 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.


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 conquer 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


* Pascua, the old English " Pash " or Passover; "Pascua Florida " is the " Holy- day of Flowers."


10


HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.


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 & deter- mination 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 mountains 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 passed it, the explorers pursued their way north- ward, into the neighborhood of New Madrid; then turning westward again, marched more than two hundred miles from the Mississippi to the highlands of White river ; and still no gold, no gems, no cities-only bare prairies, and tangled forests, and deep morasses. To the south again they toiled on, and passed their third winter of wandering upon the Washita. In the fol- lowing 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 uninhabitable swamps.


The news sank deep into the stout heart of the disappointed 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 Mis- sissippi. Deprived of their energetic 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 themselves by land, they proceeded to pre- pare such vessels as they could to take them to sca. 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 ; who had disem- barked with De Soto, so gay in steel and silk, left their bones among the mountains and in the morasses of the South, from Georgia to Arkansas.




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