USA > Illinois > Randolph County > The history of Randolph county, Illinois, including old Kaskaskia Island > Part 1
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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977.392 M76h 1970
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
http://archive.org/details/thehistoryofrand00mont
"THE HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS, INCLUDING
OLD KASKASKIA ISLAND" By S. J. MONTAGUE 1859
Copiod by Elisabeth Pinkerton Leighty Sparta, Illinois 1948
977,392 M16h 2790
Reproduced by
DUOPAGE PROCESS
in the
U.S. of America
Micro Photo Division Bell & Howell Company Cleveland, Ohio 44112
DP # 11968
Den.
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TABLE DE CONTENIS
I INTRODUCTION AND MAP Elisabeth Pinkerton Leighty
II HISTORIAN E. J. MONTAGUE'S
"A DIRECTORY, BUSINESS MIRROR, HISTORICAL SKETCHES, RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS, WITH BRIEF NOTES OF THE PIONEER SETTLE- MENTS", published in 1859 Pages 1-134
Copied by Elisabeth Pinkerton Leighty
III ZEBEDIAH BARKER III, MINUTE MAN Pages 135-135a
Sketch by Mrs. Lilian Bratney Gordon
IV REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS BURIED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Pages 137-142
According to records of Harriet J. Walker
V CLASSIFIED PRECINCT DIRECTORIES (Namos not repeated in Index)
Chester 74- 78
Liberty 97-98
Coulterville
109-111 Pr. du Rocher 94- 95
Eden 88- 89
Preston
116-118
Evansville 100-101
Shiloh Hill 119-120
Florence (Ellis Grove) 112-113
Sparta 82- 86
Kaskaskia Island 68- 70
Steeleville
104-107
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VI INDEX
Pages 143-158
Compiled by lirs. Eliza Keys Pinkerton
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3.12. 98 Mrs. R. R. Helm- Lion.
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SKETCHES OF KASKASKIA
Indians
For many years before Kaskaskia was known to the white man, it was an Indian village, around which the crude natives hunted and fished, boiled their corn and venison, smoked the calumet, and danced to the guttural notes of discordant music. Without a reference, therefore, to the Indian tribe from which Kaskaskia has taken its name, & sketch of the place, however complete in other particulars, would yet be imperfect.
At the time when the first white adventurers extended the .r explorations into Illinois, a confederation embracing five tribes the Kaskaskias, the Cahokias, the Terrarais (or Tamaroas, ) the Peorias and the Mitchigammies -- were found inhabiting the Illinois country, and were called the "Illinois Confederacy".
The Kaskaskias occupied the country around the village which bears their name, and claimed for their hunting grounds the district which now embraces the counties of Randolph, Jack- son, Perry, Washington, and portions of St. Clair and Monroe. The Cahokias inhabited the region around Cahokia -- another Indi- an village -- whose history commences and runs along with that of Kaskaskia -- situated on the eastern bank of the Mississippi river, in St. Clair county, a little below a point opposite the city of St. Louis. The Tammarais have left no traces of their locality, except that the Twelve Mile Prairie, in st. Clair Co., was formerly called "Prairie Tammarais", which gives founda- tion to the opinion that that was the place of their residence. It was an Indian tradition that this tribe was nearly exterminat- ed in a battle with the Shawnees, fought on Six Mile Prairie, in Perry county. The bones of the slain, and other evidences of the battle were to be seen there not many years ago. Sometime afterward, this tribe lost its national identity and united with the Cahokias. The Peorias ranged along the Illinois river in the region of the now flourishing city of Peoria, and left the evidences of their battles with other tribes in that country which are yet visible. The Mitchigammies were first found along the shores of Lake Michigan. But they removed in a few years afterwards, and settled about Fort Chartres and Prairie du Rocher (Illinois). Soon afterward they ceased to exist as a distinct tribe, and the remnants blended with the Kaskaskias.
These tribes were once numerous and powerful in war, and successfully defended their claims to the country around the southern borders of Lake Michigan; but a series of disastrous conflicts with the doubly savage Pottowatomies -- a powerful branch of the great Chippeway nation, who claimed and exercised hunting and fishing dominion over that v ast extent of country which now embraces the States of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and the northern portions of Illinois -- so reduced their numbers that they were forced southward in search of relief from their
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SKETCHES OF KASKASKIA
Indians
For many years before Kaskaskia was known to the white man, it was an Indian village, around which the crude natives hunted and fished, boiled their corn and venison, smoked the calumet, and danced to the guttural notes of discordant music. Without a reference, therefore, to the Indian tribe from which Kaskaskia has taken its name, a sketch of the place, however complete in other particulars, would yet be imperfect.
At the time when the first white adventurers extended ther explorations into Illinois, a confederation embracing five trines the Kaskaskias, the Cahokias, the Terrarais (or Tamaroas, ) the Peorias and the Mitchigammies -- were found inhabiting the Illinois country, and were called the "Illinois Confederacy".
The Kaskaskias occupied the country around the village which bears their name, and claimed for their hunting grounds the district which now embraces the counties of Randolph, Jack- son, Perry, Washington, and portions of St. Clair and Monroe. The Cahokias inhabited the region around Cahokia -- another Indi- an village -- whose history commences and runs along with that of Kaskaskia -- situated on the eastern bank of the Mississippi river, in St. Clair county, a little below a point opposite the city of St. Louis. The Tammarais have left no traces of their locality, except that the Twelve Mile Prairie, in St. Clair Co., was formerly called "Prairie Tammarais", which gives founda- tion to the opinion that that was the place of their residence. It was an Indian tradition that this tribe was nearly exterminat- ed in a battle with the Shawnees, fought on six Mile Prairie, in Perry county. The bones of the slain, and other evidences of the battle were to be seen there not many years ago. Sometime afterward, this tribe lost its national identity and united with the Cahokias. The Peorias ranged along the Illinois river in the region of the now flourishing city of Peoria, and left the evidences of their battles with other tribes in that country which are yet visible. The Mitchigammies were first found along the shores of Lake Michigan. But they removed in a few years afterwards, and settled about Fort Chartres and Prairie du Rocher (Illinois). Soon afterward they ceased to exist as & distinct tribe, and the remnants blended with the Kaskaskias.
These tribes were once numerous and powerful in war, and successfully defended their claims to the country around the southern borders of Lake Michigan; but a series of disastrous conflicts with the doubly savage Pottowatomies -- a powerful branch of the great Chippeway nation, who claimed and exercised hunting and fishing dominion over that v ast extent of country which now embraces the States of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and the northern portions of Illinois -- so reduced their numbers that they were forced southward in search of relief from their
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cruel adversaries. But even here they were not secure from their savage kinsmen. Predatory bands of Kickapoos and Shawnees occasionally engaged them in war, and reduced them in numbers. One by one these tribes ceased to exist, and united with another, until finally, in the year 1830, the whole Confederacy was merged into the Kaskaskia tribe, and known only as the "Kaskaskia Indians. "
Thus banded together, and having only about one hundred and fifty warriors, they were in a condition to love peace rather than war, of which they had had more than sufficient to satiate the ferocity of their savage natures. They hailed the advent of the whites among them with joy, and cultivated their friendship as a source of protection against the attacks of their Indian enemies. For this reason, they became the friends of the whites, and often rendered valuable services in the capacity of spies and guides. It was the boast of Ducoagne, or Ducogne, their last chief, that his tribe had never shed the blood of the white man.
They cultivated some corn in the American Bottom, which:, with the game they obtained by hunting, furnished them a sub- sistence. They exchanged their furs with the French traders for such articles of apparel as their habits of life and tastes demanded . Leading a listless, indolent life, with no higher aim or ambition than obtaining sufficient food and raiment to supply the wants of nature, they became lazy, drunken, de- graded and debauched, and lost that noble spirit of dignity and independence which pulses in the veins of the true Indian.
In the year 1833, finding their hunting grounds occupied by the industrious white man, and not fitted to enjoy the privi- leges of encroaching civilization, they bade farewell to the land which had been the lifetime home of themselves and their fathers, and joined that stubborn tide of emigration which has borne away towards the Pacific Ocean all that wild race of men, who once held undisputed possession of the Continent. with tearful eyes and bitter lamentations, they turned their backs upon scenes familiar and dear, and sought new hunting grounds towards the setting sun. The tribe is now extinct, but a few of the descendants still live with other tribes of the west. The common fate of the Indian race is a source of saddening re- flection; but the contributions to christianity, to science, to industrial enterprise, and the world's material wealth, and to the political elevation of mankind, which have followed in their retreating wake, sufficiently vindicate the usurpation.
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF KASKASKIA
The precise time of the discovery and settlement of Kas- kaskia by the whites is not definitely fixed, but the best known data determine it to have been in the year 1686. Fxplor- ing parties had been traversing the Mississippi valley for some
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time before Kaskaskia was marked for settlement. A brief reference, therefore, to these successive expeditions be- comes necessary in completery the chain of events which gave an origin to Kaskaskia.
The romantic adventures of James Marquette, the Jesuit Missionary, and Chevalier Joliet, a merchant of Quebec, are familiar to the readers of western history. These two in -. defatigable and fearless men were the pioneers of those ex- plorations which opened the Western wilderness to the ingress of a white population. Their first expedition was com- menced on the 10th day of June, 1670. They started from Green Bay, accompanied by five others, and crossed the coun- try on the head-waters of the Fox river to the wisconsin, which stream they descended to its mouth, and floated out upon the broad bosom of the majestic Mississippi, on the 17th of the same month. From the time the heroic adventurer, DeSoto, and his brave followers discovered this great river, in 1542, its mighty current had swept along unseen by the eye of civilized man, until the day these two Frenchmen entered it at the mouth of the Wisconsin river. They beheld its grandeur and magnitude, M arquette remarks, "with a joy I cannot express . "
Resolving at once to descend and see where the fresh, clear waters of this noble river were lost in the ocean, they lost no time in prosecuting their perilous journey. AS they passed along, they noticed the Piasau -- a painted . rock standing on the margin of the river, near the present city of Alton; the confluence of the Missouri's muddy current with the pure waters of the Mississippi; the Grand Tower -- a high, perpendicular rock standing near the middle of the river, about thirty miles below the present city of Chester; the mouth of the Ohio, which they thought was the wabash. Finally, reaching an Indian village in Arkansas, where they found the natives savage and ferocious, almost beyond control, and learning it was yet a long distance to the mouth of the river, they determined to return, and accordingly, on the 17th of July, one month from the day they first saw the river -- they commenced their homeward journey. Instead of re- turning by the Wisconsin river as they had come, they as- cended the Illinois and reached Lake Michigan about the locality of Chicago, from whence they went direct to Green Bay, at which place they arrived in September.
The pious and holy Marquette went about his missionary labors with the Indians, and died suddenly soon afterwards. Joliet went immediately to Quebec , and spread an account of their discoveries before the people, who became so electri- fied by the thrilling narrative of their voyage that the spirit of adventure rose to fever heat. The news soon reached France, and produced a similar excitement there. Impelled by the feverish zeal which these reports created, came Robert De La Salle, whose enthusiastic composition was almost melting with the eagerness of adventure. Upon his ar- rival at Quebec, he conceived the project of establishing a
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line of posts from Canada, through the Illinois country, and down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. Securing the approbation and influence of Frontinac, then the Governor-General of Canada, he returned to France, and laid the plans of his enterprise before Colvert, the King's minis- ter. Meeting a favorable consideration from the King, he was created a Chevalier, and received a commission to return and rebuild Fort Frontinac. Upon the reconstruction of the Fort he labored with indefatigable zeal until the Autumn of 1677, when he sailed again to France.
Having fulfilled his mission to the satisfaction of the King, he received an outfit for a voyage, and brought with him thirty-four emigrants to the New World, among whom was Lieutenant M. Tonti, an Italian, who became the devoted friend and faithful follower of Lasalle in all his expeditions and enterprises. During the next five years he traveled the wilderness almost constantly, around the Lakes, and from St. Anthony's Falls to the mouth of the Mississippi, encounter- ing difficulties, perils and privations almost beyond human. endurance. In the autumn of 1683, he sailed a third time. for France. The energetic industry he had displayed in prose- cuting his adventurous exploits, secured for him the cordial
approbation of the King, who placed under his direction a fleet of four vessels, carrying two hundred and eighty emi- grants for settlement in the wild country which he had been exploring. It was the intention of Lasalle to make the mouth of the Mississippi river; but, dissensions of a most discord- ant and disastrous character arising between him and M. de Beaugeu, the marine commander, the fleet drifted slowly and sluggishly across the ocean, and finally, after a voyage of six month's duration, they reached Madagarda Bay, in Texas, having drifted southward of the Mississippi. After exploring the coast for a few months, the commander left Lasalle and his party to search alone for the "hidden river", and returned with the fleet to France. with hope and courage such as few men ever possessed, did Lasalle continue to search for the mouth of the Mississippi, by which he wished to return to Canada. Disappointment met him in every expedition; but his spirit was a stranger to despair, and he continued to traverse the marshy country along the Gulf coast, until his followers, less courageous than himself, and dying from fatigue and fever, became dispirited and sullenly refused to obey him. Mutiny arose, which alone would have disappointed the object of the search; but fate had decreed c more tragic termination to the Chevalier's exploits. He was waylaid and shot dead by one of the chief conspirators.
During the two years which Lasalle had been absent, his lieutenant, Tonti, who had been left in command of the Illi- nois country, was engaged in explorations, and. building forts. The long absence of Lasalle, from whom he could get no intelli- gence, was a source of melancholy speculation for Tonti. Finally, hearing a rumor that Lasalle was in the west Indies, he organized an expedition, and descended the Mississippi in search of him; but, on reaching the mouth, he was compelled to
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return without any tidings of his long lost friend. In making this voyage he established several trading posts, and the weight of authority establishes the opinion that Kaskaskia was one of them. The presumption, therefore, is irresistable, that M. Tonti was the first white man whose foot pressed the soil on which Kaskaskia was afterward built. As it became a permanent settlement, its existence may date from that period -- 1696.
Father Allous, a companion of Lasalle, and a devoted Christian missionary, came to Kaskaskia soon after the visit of Tonti, and established a missionary station. He was probably the first white man who made a permanent residence in Kaskaskia. In a short time afterwards the French traders made their advent into the place, and then commenced the transition from an Indian to a French village. This trans- ition, however, was rather slow for several years, as the French who came at that time were chiefly traders, whose avocation required them to be transient rather than perma- nent inhabitants. Probably Kaskaskia could not be con- sidered anything more than a trading post and mission sta- tion, before the year 1712. The mission became a very flourishing one soon after it was established by Father Allous. In 1690, Father Gravier took charge of the station. and christened it "The Village of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin. " A chapel was erected, probably on the eastern side of the Kaskaskia river, near the residence of Mr. Menard, the remains of which are still to be seen. The ruins of another Jesuit chapel, erected just in the rear of the present church edifice, are also visible, but at what time it was built is now unknown. A Jesuit register, com- mencing in 1695, has been preserved, and is now among the church papers of the perish. At what particular period the first permanent settlers came to Kaskaskia, and who they were, is a matter more of conjecture than certainty; no record of them having been preserved. It is known, however, that previous to the year 1720, a considerable emigration had arrived from Canada and France, by the way of New Orle- ans, and made permanent settlements. As to the names of these pioneers, there is also an uncertainty, but the most authentic traditions which the writer has been able to gather, corroborates the well established belief among the present inhabitants of Kaskaskia, that the following were among the principal ones of those early settlers, viz: Bazyl La Chapelle, Michael Derouse, (called St. Pierre,) Jean Baptiste St. Gemme Beauvais, Baptiste Montreal, Boucher De Montbrun, Charles Danie, Francois Charlesville, Antoine Bienvenu, Louis Buyat, Alexis Doza, Joseph Paget, Prix Pagi, Michael Antoyen, Langlois De Lisle, La Derroutte, Noval, and some few others.
Bazyl La Chappelle was among the first from canada, and came to Kaskaskia in company with eleven brothers, but he alone of the number remained permanently. He left four sons : Antoine, Louis, La Chappelle and Baptiste, from whom are
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descended the family bearing that name; Louis La Chappelle, now living about two miles south of the village, is the son of Baptiste.
Michael Derouse came also from Canada, and was the pro- genitor of the numerous family of that name now living in and around Kaskaskia. This is the most numerous of any descendency of the original settlers. He was the father of Michael, Joseph, Phillip, Jerome, DeBarbeau, who became prominent and influential men in the community. Pierre Derouse, now living in the vicinity of Kaskaskia, at the age of 60 years, is a son of Joseph.
(It is proper to explain that the names by which many of the French are known are those of the names of the places from whence they came. For instance, "Beauvais" was af- fixed to the name "St. Gemme" because that family came from the city of Beauvais in France. In many instances the real name has been lost, and that of the town from which the per- son came substituted. The Derouse family came originally from St. Pierre, in France, which accounts for that affix to their name. The right name of the Montreal family, is now unknown. The first of the name who came to canada, were called "Montrois", because they came from Montrois, and after they came to Kaskaskia, they received the name of Montreal, for the reason that they came from Montreal. in Canada. The St. Gemme family dropped the affix "Beau- vais" after they came to Kaskaskia, and are now known by the original name. Some of the descendants residing in St. Genevieve, Mo. are now writing the name "St. James".)
Jean Baptiste St. Gemme was the first of that family who located in Kaskaskia. He was a man of some wealth and became a conspicuous constituent of the place. He lived to a very old age, and died leaving six sons : Raphael, Antoine, Charles, Joseph, Vitol, and Baptiste, and two daughters, one of whom married De Ruisseau, and is the grandmother of Mrs. J. H. Lucas of St. Louis. Joseph, the third son, died in early life, and was buried in Kaskaskia by the side of his father and mother; Raphael became a citizen of New Orleans, and died there; Charles died somewhere in Louisiana; An- toine moved to Arkansas where he died, at an advanced age. Vitol and Baptiste were among the first French settlers of St. Genevieve, Mo., and died in that place, leaving large families, some of whom are yet living; Mrs. Jarrot, of St. Louis, now eighty years old, is the daughter of Vitol St. Gemme. £ Baptiste had fourteen children, three of whom are yet living; viz: Augustus St. Gemme, aged 68 years; Eleanor aged 66; and Julia, aged 76.
Raphael St. Gemme first located at Fort Du Quesne, and took part in the defense of the Fort, an interesting account of which. will be found in Sparks'. He also aided in the celebrated defeat of Gen. Braddock on the 9th of July, 1755. He afterwards came to Kaskaskia and located permanently. His family consisted of one son, Alexis, and five daughters.
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Alexis St. Gemme was the grandfather of Mrs. Maxwell, now residing in Kaskaskia.
Baptiste Montreal came from Canada, and was noted for his industry and quiet deportment. From him sprang the numerous family bearing his name. One of his grandsons died a few months ago, aged seventy-seven years.
Boucher De Montbrun was a man of sprightly activity, and became very prominent in Kaskaskia. He married a Miss Langlois, a lady of much beauty and respectability. Some of his descendants are now to be found in that country.
Charles Danie devoted his life to the quiet pursuit of farming. The oldest land grant on record that we have been able to discover, was made to Charles Danie, on the 10th day of May, 1722. His descendants became very numerous at one time, but now only a few of them remain.
Francois Charlesville came among the first from Canada, and engaged in 'trading down the river to New Orleans. He was a man of remarkable shrewdness and energy, and amassed considerable wealth. Charlesville left four sons -- Francois, Baptiste, Charles, and Louis. Andrew Charlesville, now living in the Point, about 70 years old, is the son of Francois, and grandson of the first Francois.
Antoine Bienvenu came from New Orleans, and brought with him considerable wealth. He lived for the sole object of enjoying life, and probably no man ever received a larger share of life's ephemeral joys. He left three sons, Antoinc, Henry, and Michael, all of whom lived and died in Kaskaskia. Some of their children are yet living about the village.
Louis Buyat came direct from France to Kaskaskia. belonged to a family of some rank, and on his arrival in Kaskaskia, he took a leading position among the people. The bell which hangs by the church, whose mellow tones were the first ever heard in the Mississippi Valley, and which has announced the hour of worship for more than a hundred years, was sent as a present to Mr. Buyat to be given by him to the infant church of America .. His name is intimately connected with the church and the town. From him sprang & numerous descendency, Louis Buyat, the first son of the pioneer, was the father of Louis, Michael,
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Nicholas, Henry, and Joseph, who became prominent men &mong the people. Joseph, the youngest son is still living, and is now one of the oldest mon to be found about Kaskaskia. The family is less numerous now than formerly.
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