USA > Illinois > McLean County > The good old times in McLean County, Illinois : containing two hundred and sixty-one sketches of old settlers, a complete historical sketch of the Black Hawk war and descriptions of all matters of interest relating to McLean County > Part 1
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
977.359 D88g
I .H.S.
THE
GOOD OLD TIMES
McLEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS,
CONTAINING
Two Hundred and Sixty-one Sketches of Old Settlers.
A COMPLETE
Historical Sketch of the Black Hawk War,
And descriptions of all matters of interest relating to McLean County.
Written by Dr. E DUIS,
LATE PROFESSOR OF GERMAN IN THE BLOOMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BLOOMINGTON : THE LEADER PUBLISHING AND PRINTING HOUSE.
1874
997,359
·
Entered, accordingt der o' Ingress, in the year 1874, by E. DUIS, *
In the office of the Libre rian of Congress, at Washington.
977, 359 1800.
Illinois Historical Jurjen C
THIS VOLUME
is most respectfully dedicated to the
OLD SETTLERS OF MCLEAN COUNTY. '
Whose virtues as citizens, and as pioneers in the cause of civilization and progress
will be remembered with gratitude by all the generations which follow in their footsteps, In the fulfillment of that grand destiny, so happily inaugurated in their
BRAVERY, INDUSTRY AND INTEGRITY.
170987
PREFACE.
The author of this volume does not wish to impose on the public a narrative of his trials in collecting information and in writing the sketches contained herein, although the difficulties have been very great. Notwithstanding all of his troubles, it has, on the whole, been a pleasant task. It has brought him in contact with the pleasantest and most freehearted men with whom it has been his lot to be acquainted. They are men whose ideas were formed in the days when neighbors were few and friendships were more highly prized than silver and gold.
It is possible that some mistakes have been made in this work on account of the great variety of facts to be collected, but the anthor has taken extraordinary pains to verify the matters herein narrated, and he believes the mistakes are few.
He is under many obligations to old settlers for favors ren- dered, and had it not been for the exertions of Judge J. E. Mc- Clun and John Magoun, it is doubtful whether the author would have had sufficient courage to have brought the work to comple- tion. He is also under many obligations to Mr. Jesse W. Fell, President Richard Edwards, W. H. Hodge, J. W. Billings and others.
It has been impossible to obtain the sketches of all of the settlers who came to McLean County before the year 1838. The greater number of them are dead; many have moved away ; . some could not be seen, and a few were unwilling to have the incidents of their lives put into print. Nevertheless the sketches of two hundred and sixty-one old settlers, and eight gentlemen of McLean County holding prominent positions are given. Various .other short biographical sketches appear in different parts of the
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Capture of Black Hawk.
Conclusion of Peace.
Distinguished soldiers of the Black Hawk War.
General Harney.
Colonel Baker.
John T. Stuart.
General Albert Sidney Johnson.
General Zachary Taylor.
General Robert Anderson.
Jefferson Davis.
Abraham Lincoln.
General Scott.
THE OLD SETTLERS OF MCLEAN COUNTY.
ALLIN TOWNSHIP.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT.
PAGE.
Presley T. Brooks
1831
127
Greenberry Larison
Fall of 1834
135
ARROWSMITH.
John B. Thompson
October, 1829
136
Jacob Smith
1833
140
BLOOMINGTON.
Spring of 1822
141
John Ilendrix
..
143
John W. Dawson
June, 1822
145
John Dawson
Spring of 1823
14
William Orendorff
66
151
Thomas Orendorff
٠،
157
John B. Orendorff
66
158
James K. Orendorff.
66
163
Oliver H. P. Orendorff.
Spring of 1824
166
Rev. Ebenezer Rhodes
John H. S. Rhodes
..
66
173
Jeremiah Rhodes
66
177
William H. Hodge
Fall of 1824
182
William R. Goodheart
1824
186
William Evans, sr,
1825
189
William Dimmitt
1826
190
Robert Guthrie
..
193
Rev. Robert E. Guthrie
197
Adam Guthrie
198
David Cox
201
William Mccullough
July, 1827
206
Dr. Isaac Baker
66
..
George Hinshaw, jr,
1828
211
Dr. William Lindley
1829
212
Hon. James Allin
..
215
William HI. Allin.
September, 1830
216
Jonathan Maxson
Winter of 1830
125
Richard A. Warlow
..
168
208
-
-
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
ix
DATE OF SETTLEMENT.
PAGE.
David Simmons
Fall of 1830 221
Hon. John Moore
October, 1830 225
Amasa C. Washburn
1831
228
Dr. Stephen Ward Noble
230
Abraham Stansberry
1832
236
James C. Harbord.
October, 1832
239
Ephraim Platte
.Spring of 1838
242
Hon. James B. Priec
.October, 1833
245
George Price
..
246
John J. Price
251
Lewis Bunn.
1833
252
William C. Warlow
..
255
John Lindley
256
Allen Withers
258
Dr. John F. Henry
66
261
General A. Gridley
Fall of 1831
262
Judge David Davis
1835
276
Elder William T. Major
288
Chastine Major
. .
290
Dr. Laban S. Major
..
292
Dr. John M. Major
. .
296
Thomas Fell
October, 1835
298
John Magonn.
1835
301
Thomas Jefferson Karr
306
Hon. James Miller
308
William H. Temple
309 .
James Depew.
..
312
Matthew H. Hawks
314
1 Samuel Lander
Fall 1835
$18
William Thomas
Spring 1836
320
Thomas Williams
..
330
William F. Flagg
1836
336
Judge John E. McClun
Spring 1837
338
Abraham Brokaw
348
Andrew W. Seoggin
1837
351
Dr. C. Wakefield
354
William O. Viney
August, 1837
358
John T. Gunnell
..
361
John W. Billings
364
Henry Richardson
..
369
Joshna Fell
..
371
Jonathan Glimpse
..
373
Dr. Henry Conkling
Fall 1838
376
CHENEY'S GROVE.
Jonathan Cheney
1825
883
IIon. William Haines Cheney
..
387
George Cheney.
66
389
326
Kersey H. Fell
x
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT.
PAGE.
James Vanscoyoc
1829
390
Thomas Cunningham.
393
King Solomon Cunningham
394
James R. Means
March 1830
395
Ephraim S. Myers
April
1830
399
William Riggs.
1830
403
Snowden Ball.
1831
407
Hilleary Ball.
66
408
William K. Stansberry
October, 1833
410
Otha Owen.
.Sept. 1834
413
Joseph Newcom
1835
415
Isaac Stansberry
1836
419
DALE.
Robert II. Johnson
December, 1828
422
William Beeler.
Fall 1830
424
William Beeler, jr
427
Jesse Hill
.October, 1830
430
Abram Enlow
Fall 1835
434
Richard Rowell
Cetober, 1836
436
DANVERS.
Ebenezer B. Mitchel
March, 1825
438
Hon. Matthew Robb
.Spring 1827
344
Thomas MeClure
.Spring 1827
446
Robert McClure
..
..
449
Jonathan Hodge
66
454
Uriah S. Hodge.
66
457
William F. Ilodge
March, 1828
460
James G. Reyburn.
Sept. 1828
462
Levi Danley
Feb. 1829
466
The Conger Family
1829
469
Israel W. Hall
1834
471
Jeremiah S. Hall.
..
472
John Hay
66
474
George F. Hay
66
475
Jonathan B. Warlow
. .
478
DOWNS.
Lawson Downs
1829
480
William Weaver
1832
482
William Bishop
1833
484
Elias H. Wall
486
John Price
1884
491
Rev. Sylvester Peasley
Fall 1834
497
Alexander P. Craig
..
500
Henry Welch.
March, 1835
502
Hon. John Cusey.
Fall 1836
505
Samuel Troop Richardson
Summer 1838
510
457
James O. Barnard
xi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT.
PAGE.
DRY GROVE.
Henry Vansickles
1826
514
Stephen Webb.
July, 1827
516
George M. Ilinshaw
July, 1827
520
Benjamin S. Beeler
.October, 1830
521
Ormond Robison
1832
523
John Enlow ..
Fall 1835
524
Eleazar Munsell
Spring 1837
525
EMPIRE.
R. Franklin Dickerson.
1825
528
Henry C. Dickerson
531
Thomas Buckles
1827
533
James H. Conaway
.February, 1828
537
Esek E. Greenman
.July, 1829
538
Otho Merrifield.
1829
546
Henry Crumbaugh
March, 1830
547
Daniel Crumbangh
6.
550
James Il. L. Crumbaugh.
..
553
Silas Waters
November, 1830
555
James Bishop
May, 1831
557
Thomas Jefferson Barnett
April, 1832
561
Abram Buckles
1832
564
James Kimler
1832
568
Hiram Buck
1833
570
Hon. Malon Bishop
1834
574
Thomas D. Gilmore
1836
578
FUNK'S GROVE.
Hon. Isaac Funk
April, 1824
580
Robert Fuuk
1824
590
Robert Stubblefield
December, 1824
596
Absalom Stubblefield
599
John Stubblefield.
602
GRIDLEY.
William M. McCord
1827
604
John B. Messer
March, 1829
607
John Sloan
November, 1835
611
Jonathan Coon
April, 1836
615
Isaiah Coon
July, 1837
619
James S. Coon
66
621
George W. Cox
1837
624
HUDSON.
Young Bilbrey
1827
625
Joseph' Messer
March, 1829
628
Jesse Havens.
December, 1829
629
Hliram Havens
66
631
Benjamin Wheeler
1830
63₽
John Smith
637
Albert Y. Phillips
640
xii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Isaac Turnipsced
Spring 1821
043
Elijah Priest.
July, JS.34
Samuel Lewis
May. 1836 646
Samuel H. Lewis.
..
..
648
James T. Gildersleeve
Fall 1-50
650
Joseph D. Gildersleeve
+ 1836
654
Jacob H. Burtis.
Winter 1836
650
Enoch A. Gastman.
March, 1838
1:57
LAWNDALE.
David Honline
Fall 1828
William B. Henline.
66
Martin Honline.
' Maron Battertor
Fall 1833
LEXINGTON.
Jacob Spawr
Fall 1826
George Spawr
Fall 1827
1 18
Joseph Brumhead
1828
Henson B. Downey
172
John Haner.
Fall 1828
679
Benjamin Patton.
1828
676
Patrick Hopkins
1830
Peter Hefner
1830
680
John Dawson
December, 1832
683
Croghan Dawson
Fall 1831
1:57
Shelton Smith
..
. 6
689
Milton Smith ..
1835
692
Thomas MeMackin
1838
694
1TIN.
William Wiley
.6
1835
696
Lytle R. Wiley
Spring 1837
009
MONEY CREEK.
Jesse Trimmer
June, 1826
701
Henry Moats
Fall 1829
703
William Stretch
Fall 1830
703
Albert Ogden
Fall 183]
704
William Wilcox
June, 1832
705
John Ogden
Fall 1832
709
I.mes MeAferty
.December, 1832
710
Dr. Ethav McAferty
66
711
Samuel Ogden.
Fall 1833
712
Jonathan Ogden
714
Madison Young
..
715
James R. Wiley
1835
716
Wesley F. Bishop
1836
718
William Crose
1837
720
A
698
Curtis Batterton.
685
James Adauis
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
xiii
DATE OF SETTLEMENT
PAGE.
MOUNT HOPE.
George Mt. Stubblefield
December, 1824
722
Jesse Stubblefield.
1825
727
William Hieronymus
Fall 1828
728
Enoch llieronymus
780
John Hougham
66
1831
732
Westley Hougham
66
6.
734
John Longworth.
1836
735
OLD TOWN.
Lewis Case
July, 1838
788
Ilarvey Bishop.
1833
740
F. R. Cowden
1834
741
PADUA.
William Evans, jr.
1825
743
Daniel Jackson.
October, 1830
745
Jeremiah Greenman
Fall 1831
746
John Bishop ..
March, 1832
747
Adolphus Dimmick
Fall 1832
749
Josiah Horr
October, 1836
750
RANDOLPHI.
Alfred 3. Stringfield
Spring 1823
752
Thomas O. Rutledge
Fall 1824
759
Robert Il. Rutledge
66
6
765
Jesse Funk
December, 1824
769
George C. Hand
66
1825
775
Nathan Low
1829
776
Purnel Passwaters
Spring 1830
779
Richard Passwaters ..
66
780
Purnel Passwaters, jr,
6.
782
Enoch J. Passwaters
66
783
Clement Passwaters.
66
784
Jacob Bishop
September, 1830
784
Matthew Covardale
Fall 1830
788
Samuel Stewart.
Fall 1831
790
John II. Stewart
. 792
David Noble
795
William C. Vohle.
796
Joseph K. Noble 1
1833
800
Walter Karr
March, 1834
802
William Rust.
Fall 1831
805
Jolin F. Rnst.
Spring 1834
806
William MI. Rust
Fall 1234
809
Harvey J. Rust
. .
810
Campbell Wakefield.
June. 1835
812
Dr. Thomas Karr
October, 1835
814
William Karr
..
817
George Martin
6 .
66
810
798
Dr. Harrison Noble
xiv
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT.
PAGE.
TOWANDA.
Jesse Walden
Fall 1828 820
WHITE OAK.
John Benson, sr.,
1823
823
John Benson, jr.,
827
James Benson
66
831
William T. T. Benson
..
833
Elisha Dixon
1828
835
Smith Denman.
.September. 1829
837
Abraham Carlock.
Spring 1831 838
Stephen Taylor Fall 1837
841
PERSONS HOLDING POSITIONS OF HONOR OR TRUST.
Dr. Thomas P. Rogers
846
Judge Thomas F. Tipton.
852
Judge Amasa J. Merriman.
853
Judge Reuben MI. Benjamin 854
General John McNulta.
857
Hon. John L. Routt
858
Henry Honscheidt
803
John Hull, Superintendent of Schools
804
THE OLD SETTLERS.
The old settlers of McLean County are one by one passing beyond the shores of the unknown river, and in a few years not one will be left of the noble band of pioneers who made their homes in what was then a wilderness, inhabited only by red men. Their descendants, and those who come after them, will live to enjoy the full measure of happiness and prosperity built upon the solid foundations laid by the old settlers; and may they ever hold in grateful remembrance those fathers and mothers whose daring and hardihood were the source of our present greatness. May the good actions, the intrepidity, and the daring of the old settlers, remain green in the memory of coming generations, for- ever !
Since this work has been in preparation, five old settlers have passed away. Their names are : James C. Harbord, of Bloom- ington township; Alexander P. Craig, of Downs township; Dr. John F. Henry, late of Burlington, Iowa; Patrick Hopkins, of Lexington ; and Daniel Crumbaugh, of Empire township. Peace to their ashes !
The present generation of MeLean County is so near, in point of time, to the old settlers, that, as a rule, sufficient importance is not attached to their early struggles, their fortitude, and self- sacrifice, which has resulted in the astonishing progress of the county. While the pioneers are deservedly held in high esteem by all who study the local history of Illinois, it will remain for future generations to bestow upon them the full degree of grati- tude and veneration to which they are entitled. In the same manner we now look back to Revolutionary sires with a pride we do not care to conceal.
THE OLD SETTLERS.
The old settlers were ardent believers in the future greatness of Illinois, where they had found a rich soil, a beautiful country, and everything that could promise a wonderful development. How well their anticipations have been fulfilled need not be told. Doubtless they did not believe that the very next generation after them would reap such golden returns from the original invest- ments, but they knew too well that such returns could not be delayed many years after the first inhabitants should pass away.
In a few years the War of Rebellion will be the great dividing line between early and late times in McLean County. Even now it is thirteen years since that bloody storm commenced to sweep over the land, and many who were engaged in its sanguinary encounters have left the scene of action. How important, there- fore, that the incidents connected with the first settlers should be preserved and kept fresh in the recollections of their descendants. The records in old times were few and imperfect, but that which they reveal should be cherished with all the wealth of affection owing to souvenirs and relics handed down from a sturdy ancestry.
.
M'LEAN COUNTY.
ILLINOIS was made a State in the Union in the year 1818, when it had a population of about forty-five thousand. At that time the settlements made were in the southern part, and the first legislature met at Kaskaskia. But a new State Capital was selected. The town of Vandalia was laid out for this purpose in the wilderness on the Kaskaskia River. The town received its name by means of a practical joke played upon the commis- sioners who made the location. In Ford's History of Illinois we find : "Tradition says that a wag, who was present, sug- gested to the commissioners that the Vandals were a powerful nation of Indians, who once inhabited the banks of the Kaskas- kia River, and that Vandalia, formed from their name, would perpetuate the memory of that extinct but renowned people !" Vandalia was made the capital of the State and also the seat of justice of the county of Fayette. This county included a large territory, and the present county of McLean was within its boundaries. Before the spring of 1822 not a single white per- son had made a settlement within the boundaries of the present McLean County. For thousands of years the country had be- longed to the Indians, the wolves, the deer and the rattle snakes. The rich soil had each year produced luxuriant crops of prairie grass, which, on the lowlands, grew from six to eight feet in height. In the fall of each year the prairie fires swept over it, leaving it black and bare and desolate. These fires pre- vented the growth of timber, except occasionally on the high- lands or in broken country formed by streams of water.
In the fall of 1821 John Hendrix and John W. Dawson came with their families to Sangamon County from Ohio. In the spring of 1822 they came to what is now called Blooming Grove and made a settlement. At that time not a single house
2
SKETCH OF
was to be found between Blooming Grove and Chicago. A few men were then engaged in making salt at Danville and a few miners were at Galena.
After the first settler comes and the country is heard of, others soon follow. In about the year 1822 Gardner Randolph settled at Randolph's Grove. In the spring of 1823 John Ben- son, the old soldier of 1812, and his family came to Blooming Grove and made a settlement, living first in a linn bark camp. During the same year the Stringfield family, consisting of the widow Stringfield and her sons Severe and Alfred M., came to Randolph's Grove, where they lived at first in a half-faced camp. Absalom and Isaac Funk and Mr. Brook came during the same year and settled in Funk's Grove. On the second of May, 1823, the Orendorff's, William and Thomas, came to Bloon- ing Grove. It was during this year, too, that William H. Hodge, the pioneer schoolmaster, came to Blooming Grove from Sanga- mon County. Blooming Grove was the favorite spot for the new settlers, and the most of them came there; but the other groves were not long neglected. In about the year 1824 the old Quaker, Ephraim Stout, and his son Ephraim Stout, Jr., made a settlement in Stout's Grove. During this year Robert Stubblefield and family came to Funk's Grove and Thomas O. Rutledge came with his mother and the Rutledge family to Randolph's Grove. The first sermon preached within the limits of the present McLean County was delivered by Rev. James Stringfield from Kentucky. Ile was an unele of Squire String- field of Randolph's Grove. The little congregation was gath- ered at the cabin of John Hendrix and there the services were held. In June, 1824, Rev. Ebenezer Rhodes came with his family to Blooming Grove. He was a member of the Separate Baptist denomination, but afterwards joined the Christian Church. Wherever two or three families could be gathered together, Mr. Rhodes delivered to them a sermon. He was the first regular preacher in McLean County, and for a long while the only one. He often traveled with Rev. Mr. Latta, and they both preached at the same place.
When the first settlers came to the country, the Indians were plenty. The Kickapoos ruled the country. They had made a treaty sometime previous, by which the whites acquired
3
M'LEAN COUNTY.
all their land : but when the whites came in to settle and ocenpy it the Kickapoos were angry, and some of them felt disposed to insult and annoy the settlers. When John Hendrix came to Blooming Grove the Indians ordered him to leave. Not long afterwards they frightened away a family which settled on the Mackinaw. Old Machina, the chief of the Kickapoos, ordered the Dawson family away, by throwing leaves in the air, This was to let the bootanus (white men) know that they must not be found in the country when the leaves of autumn should fall. In 1823, when the Orendorff's eame. Old Machina had learned to speak a little English. He came to Thomas Orendorff, and with a majestic wave of his hand said, " Too much come back, white man, t'other side Sangamon." The Rhodes family was likewise ordered away. These things appeared a little threat- ening, but the settlers refused to leave and were not molested. It is the almost unanimous expression of the settlers that the Indians were the best of neighbors. They were polite and friendly, and Old Machina was quite popular among the whites, especially with the women. He was particularly fond of child- ren, and this touched their motherly hearts.
The year 1825 was marked by some accessions to the little band of settlers. On the third of March, during that year, Rev. Peyton Mitchel came with his family to Stout's Grove. Mr. Mitchel was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was a zealous and earnest Christian. In the fall of this year Jonathan Cheney made a settlement with his family at Cheney's Grove. His stock lived during the winter on the twigs of trees and came out in good condition in the spring. This food was liked by the cattle, and the settlers often fed their stock in this way. During this same year the family of William Evans came to Blooming Grove and made a settlement. This year was marked by some few improvements. The settlers were obliged to go long distances to mill and took large loads. They went first to Attica on the Wabash, one hundred and twenty miles distant. Afterwards they went to Green's mill on Fox River, near where Ottawa now stands, about eighty miles distant. But during the year 1825 Ebenezer Rhodes built a mill at Blooming Grove. The stones for grinding were the "nigger heads" or boulders from the prairie. IIis mill was of the kind which be-
4
SKETCH OF
came afterwards quite common and was called a "corn cracker." The most curious of these mills was the one afterwards built by Major Baker. The stones were "nigger heads" cut in the shape of a coffee mill, and while in motion the lower stone was the one which revolved.
In August, 1826, the Trimmer family came to Smith's Grove. Here John Trimmer died and his widow settled with her family during the same year in Money Creek timber. Jacob Spawr came about the same time and lived with the Trimmer family. It is pretty hard to bring clearly before the mind the circum- stances of the early settlers. Everything was different in their surroundings. In those days the green head flies became very numerons and were almost an Egyptian plague. They became so troublesome that, during about six weeks of the year in fly- time, travelers were obliged to go on their journeys at night ; and even then their horses or oxen were troubled by the flies, if the moon was shining brightly. Their bite was so severe that a horse, if turned loose during that season of the year, was liable to be goaded to death with pain, loss of blood and incessant kicking to become rid of the flies. They were the most numer- ons and troublesome on the routes where travelers, usually passed with their teams.
The devices used by the settlers were of every kind and . description, and a particular account of them would fill a volume. On Greenberry Larison's place, at Brooks' Grove, was for many years a wooden grindstone, made by Josiah Harp. It was a large wooden wheel, and the outer edge or rim was pounded full of sand and fine gravel. This was done while the wood was fresh and green, and when it dried, the sand and gravel were tightly held. By the revolution of this wheel an ax could be sharpened or scratched, and something of an edge given to it. The settlers were obliged to go long distances to have their tools sharpened. Isaac Funk and Robert Stubblefield often carried their plough irons on horseback fifty or sixty miles for this purpose.
The prairie grass in the early days grew very high, and its roots were tough and fibrous. It was therefore very hard for the settlers to break their prairie. A good breaking team consisted of five or six yoke of oxen, and the plow was an old fashioned Barshear, which cut a furrow twenty-two inches in width. This
5
M'LEAN COUNTY.
plow would now be really a curiosity. It had a shear of cold hammered steel and was attached to a wooden mouldboard. It went out of use many years ago. The prairie grass with its tibrous roots has also given way to civilization, and the pretty blue grass has taken its place. The settlers were so far from mar- ket, and the cost of transportation was so great that they could buy but few articles of every day use. They were obliged to make them or do without. They raised their own wool and flax and spun and wove their own cloth. They wore home-made jeans and linsey woolsey. Their shoes were of their own make, and sometimes their leather was of their own tanning. They raised their own sheep, of course. The earliest settlers say that it was easy to raise sheep at first; that the wolves would not molest them. But the wolves soon acquired a taste for mutton and became the most vicious and troublesome enemies with which the settlers had to contend. It became as much the duty of settlers to chase wolves as to plow, sow and reap. They caught the wolves in traps and in pens, killed then with clubs while chasing them on horseback, made ring hunts for the pur- pose of exterminating them, poisoned them, offered bounties for their scalps and made warfare on them in a thousand different ways. Sometimes when a wolf became very troublesome the settlers offered bounties for its particular scalp. More than a thousand bushels of corn were once offered for the scalp of a single wolf. It was killed by John Price of Downs, but he re- fused to accept the bounty. The legislature at last raised the bounty on wolf sealps. A grandiloquous speaker, named Hub- bard, once expressed the feelings of the settlers, though in a laughable style, when he said :
" Mr. Speaker, from all sources of information I learn that the wolf is a very noxious animal ; that he goes prowling about, seeking something to devour; that he rises up in the dead and secret hours of the night, when all nature reposes in silent ob- livion, and then commits the most terrible devastations among the rising generation of hogs and sheep."
The stock, which the settlers raised, was collected by drovers and taken to market to Pekin, Peoria, Galena or Chicago. The Funks were the greatest drovers and did by far the largest busi- ness. They led a hard life, and the difficulties they encountered and overcame seem almost beyond belief.
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