The past and present of Kane County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion statistics history of the Northwest etc., etc, Part 1

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.); Merrill, Arthur; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Le Baron (Wm. jr.) and Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, jr.
Number of Pages: 831


USA > Illinois > Kane County > The past and present of Kane County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion statistics history of the Northwest etc., etc > Part 1


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HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH


-


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Brigham Young University


http://www.archive.org/details/pastpresentofkan00peir


977,323 KI31Pg


THE


PAST AND PRESENT


01


1


KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS,


CONTAINING


A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY-ITS CITIES, TOWNS, &C., A DIRECTORY OF ITS CITIZENS, WAR RECORD OF ITS VOLUNTEERS IN THE LATE REBELLION, PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT MEN, GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS, MAP OF KANE COUNTY, HISTORY OF ILLINOIS, ILLUSTRATED, HIS- TORY OF THE NORTHWEST, ILLUSTRATED, CON- STITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, MIS- CELLANEOUS MATTERS, ETC., ETC.


ILLUSTRATED.


CHICAG(): WM. LE BARON, JR., .& CO., 186 DEARBORN STREET.


1878.


Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, by


WM. LE BARON, Jr., & CO., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C:


ulver Hage Hoyne PRINTERS 18 &120 MONROE SI CHICAGO


THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH


PREFACE.


In presenting our Past and Present of Kane County in historical form, we deem a few prefatory words necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement with our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon the principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires that the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the county. We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not be attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. Almost the entire matter contained in the first fifty pages of the County History was obtained from Henry B. Peirce, and the remainder was compiled by our historians, Arthur Merrill and W. H. Perrin. Some of the Township Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interesting events. While fully recognizing this important differ- ence, the historians have sought to write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has been prepared, believing that it will be received as a most. valuable and complete work.


THE PUBLISHERS.


CONTENTS.


HISTORICAL.


PAGE.


PAGE.


PAEG.


History Northwest Territory. 19


Other Indian Troubles 79


History of Chicago


132


Geographical 19


Present Condition of the Northwest 87


Early Discoveries.


109


Early Exploration 20 Illinois 99


Early Settlements. 115


Discovery of the Ohio. 33 Indiana


101


Education


129


English Explorations and Settle- Iowa ments 35 Michigan.


103


Genius of La Salle. 113


American Settlements 60 Wisconsin


104


Material Resources. 124


Division of the Northwest Terri-


Minnesota


106


tory 66


Nebraska


107


Physical Features. .121


Tecumseh and the war of 1812 70


109


Progress of Development ..


123


Black Hawk and the Black Hawk


Coal. 125


Religion and Morals


.128


War Record of Illinois


130


War


74


ILLUSTRATIONS.


PAGE.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Source of the Mississippi. 21


Great Iron Bridge of Chicago, Rock


Island & Pacific Railroad, Cross- ing the River at Davenport, Iowa 96


Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain ..... 75


Big Eagle. 80 A Western Dwelling. .. 100


Hunting Prairie


Wolves at an


Village Residence. 86


A Representative Pioneer.


87


Iroquois Chief. 34


Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain. 43


Indians Attacking Frontiersmen 56


A Prairie Storm. 59


A Pioneer Dwelling.


61


Pioneers' First Winter. 92


View of the City of Chicago 144


High Bridge and Lake Bluff.


94


Shabbona.


.149


KANE COUNTY HISTORY.


PAGE.


PAGE.


PAGE.


General History of Kane Co. 221


Campton Township


465


Plato Township .449


Aurora Township.


.270


Dundee


396


Rutland 442


Batavia


296


Elgin 357


St. Charles " .. 329


Blackberry


473


Geneva 311


Burlington


.480


Hampshire ¥


457


Virgil 430


LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.


PAGE.


Browning, S. W. .183


Kelley, L. M ..


.381


Pingree, Andrew 363


Borden, Gail.


237


Ketchum, E. G.


.489


Starks, E. R. 543


Burlingame, D. E


.525


Mann, S. S .219


TOWA, MI. C .. 291


Barrows, M. T. .550


Minard, Ira .. .309


Tabor, Mervin 399


Crabtree, L. A 201


Mann, James. 345


Tefft, Dr. Jos. 417


Chisholm, R. B. 471


Mixer. Chas. S. 435


Farnsworth, A. P 165


Merrill, Arthur H .. 567


Wheeler, A. R 507


Gillett, L. H. .147


Manu, A. J. 453


Herrington, A. M .255 Pingree, Daniel. 327


KANE COUNTY WAR RECORD.


Infantry


497 |Cavalry


....


PAGE. 537 Artillery


PAGE. .. 545


La Salle Landing on the Shore of Green Bay 25 Buffalo Hunt 27 Trapping 29 Hunting .. 32


Captain Jack, the Modoc Chieftain .. 83 Kinzie House 85 Early Day. 108 Starved Rock, on the Illinois River, La Salle County, Ill. 110


Lincoln Monument, Springfield, Il1. 88 An Early Settlement .. 116 A Pioneer School House .. 89 Chicago in 1833 133


Farm View in the Winter. 90 Old Fort Dearborn in 1830 .136 Ruins of Chicago ... 142 Spring Scene. 91


Sugar Grove Township 411


Big Rock


488 | Kaneville =


422


PAGE.


PAGE.


Breaking Prairie. 63


Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chieftain ... 69 Mouth of the Mississippi. 21 Indians Attacking a Stockade. 72 Wild Prairie .. 23


102


First French Occupation 112


Massacre of Fort Dearborn. .141


History of Illinois


Compact of 1787


117


Wheeler. H. N. 273


PAGE.


8


CONTENTS.


TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.


PAGE.


Aurora Township 737


Batavia


591


Elgin


Blackberry ‘


Burlington


661


Hampshire " 559


Big Rock :


715


Kaneville


625


Virgil


.706


ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS.


PAGE.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Adoption of Children. 160


Chattel Mortgages.


.177


Codicil ...


.. 189


Jurisdiction of Courts 154 Lease of Farm and Build- ings. .179 Limitation of Action 155


Conveyances.


164


Lease of House.


180


Landlord and Tenant


169


Church Organizations.


189


Landlord's Agreement.


.180


Notes.


174


Notice Tenant to Quit. 181


Orders .


174


Quit Claim Deed


185


Paupers


164


Roads and Bridges.


161


Surveyors and Surveys 160


Suggestions to Persons Purchasing Books by Subscription 190


Taxes


154


Wills and Estates


152


Weights and Measures.


158


Wolf Scalps


.. 164


MISCELLANEOUS.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Interest Table


212


Miscellaneous Tables ..


.212


Names of the States of the Union


and their Signification ..


213


Aurora Light Guards.


548


Errata.


550


Business Directory. .810


Population and Area of the United


Population of the Principal Coun-


tries in the World .. 215 Population of Illinois. 216-217 Elgin National Guards. .548


Electors of President and Vice Pres- ident .. .206 Practical Rules for Every Day Use.207 U. S. Government Land Measure ... 210 Agricultural Productions of Illi- nois by Counties, 1870 210


Surveyors' Measure.


.211


How to Keep Accounts.


211


Game ..


158


Interest


.151


County Courts.


155


Descent.


151


Deeds and Mortgages. 157


Drainage 163


Damages from Trespass


169


Definition of Commercial Terms.


173


Exemptions from Forced Sale. 156


Estrays.


157


Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure Payment of Money .181


Fences.


.168


Release


.186


Forms :


Articles of Agreement 175


Bills of Purchase ... 174


Bills of Sale ..


176


Will


.187


Bonds.


176


PAGE.


Dundee Township.


566


Plato Township


732


Rutland


66


722


608


Geneva


551


St. Charles


.637


Sugar Grove " .654


Campton


619


Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes. 151


Receipt


174


Liens.


172


Married Women 155


Millers


159


Marks and Brands


159


Tenant's Agreement .180


Tenant's Notice to Quit. .181


Warranty Deed


182


Assessors' Report.


822


States.


215


Population of Kane County


.826


PAGE.


Map of Kane County .... Front Constitution of the U. S. .192


Population of the United States ..... 214 Population of Fifty Principal Cities of the United States .. 214


.668


L'AGE.


6


5


5


3


A


IM


7


8


10


T. +2'N.


18


17


16


15


16


16


D


N


19


27


23


19


20


2


23


19


Hudpshire Centre


Daudee


30


2


26


CIFI


32


31


36


Burlingtonh


North ProRo


10


11


u Figin


13


14


13


15


18


15


T. 41 N.


B


22


East


KANE COUNTY


ILLINOIS 1878.


REFERENCE


Church School House


Road Railroad


Swamp Creek


82


32


GENEVA 4


1.


6


5


4


3


2


8


LaForsalep.


11


12ノ


18


17


15


15


V


LEE


B


25


24


MIFAGETTY P.O 1


6313N


B


27


28


25


30


26


51


33


₹ 35


96


83


30


---


5


4


3


X


5


3


5


4


2


11


18


SugarGrove


A


18


WesAurora


HICA


CHIS


NOUSY


PO


10


10


20


G


30


15


29


96


3


32


5.3


35


36


Acomery


Jenid.P.o.


R. 6 E.


R.7 E


R. 8 EJ.


N.


80


2


23


23


28


25


30


89


25


29


28


StCharles


28


25


30


SouthElgin


3


35


34


5


4


B


10


11


12


8


10


18


78


14


18


13


16


CHICAGO


CALENNE


R.


THOR stein


KILLARNEY


NION


A MP


SHIRE


Gilbertes


Carpenter


CCHICAGO


29


20€


CO


TOX


7


MÅP


OF


E


22


Ludington Po


25


9


10


T.39 N.


19


20


HACKBERRY 21


-BAltavia


Kane ville P.Q.


96


25


C ..


35


634


Ift Yer thisirrorati


G


16


16


15


T.38 N


191


32


36


35


30


91


3%


135


36


1


5


18


F


31


28


23/0)


AR


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.


When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River ; 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. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the "New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern Territory."


In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of the entire population of the United States.


Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe.


For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States.


(19)


20


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


EARLY EXPLORATIONS.


In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advantage of these discoveries.


In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac.


During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied -as all others did then-that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a


GRAND SUMMARY.


PERSONAL PROPERTY.


ITEMS.


No.


Av. Val.


Assessed Val.


1 Horses of all ages.


10596


$34 73


$367993


2 Cattle of all ages.


40447


13 21


534215


3 Mules and Asses of all ages.


206


42 04


8661


4 Sheep of all ages.


15306


1 62


24827


5 Hogs of all ages.


26730


2 64


70530


6 Steam Engines, including Boilers


46


348 76


16043


7 Fire or Burglar-Proof Safes.


125


39 66


4958


8 Billiard, Pigeon Hole, Bagatelle. or other similar Tables


56


40 28


2256


9 Carriages and Wagons of whatsoever kind.


5521


22 73


125498


10 Watches and Clocks.


4968


5 56


27616


11 Sewing or Knitting Machines


2724


13 55


39910


12 Piano Fortes.


564


79 24


44694


13


Melodeons and Organs.


525


33 44


17557


15


Annuities and Royalties


16 Patent Rights.


18 Merchandise on hand.


427352


19 Material and Manufactured Articles on hand.


290956


20 Manufacturers' Tools, Implements and Machinery (other than Engines and Boilers, which are to be listed as such).


172211


22


Gold and Silver Plate and Plated Ware


2329


23 Diamonds and Jewelry


1446


24


Moneys of Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber.


21728


25


Credits of Bank, Banker Broker, or Stock Jobber


9686


26


27 Moneys of other than Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber.


259568


Credits of other than Bank, Banker, Broker or Stock Jobber


428655


28 Bonds and Stocks


7650


29


Shares of Capital Stock of Companies and Associations not incorporated by the laws of this State


400


31 Property of Companies and Corporations other than hereinbefore enumerated ..


32 Bridge Property


10


33 Property of Saloons and Eating Houses


5440


34


35 Houshold or Office Furniture and Property.


325


36 All other Personal Property required to be listed


77522


37 Shares of Stock of State or National Banks.


351500


Total Value of Personal Property


$3633736


LANDS.


8.


Av. Val. Per Acre.


Improved Lands.


309028 55


$23 26


$7187542


Unimproved Lands


14678 50


14 16


207839


Total Value of Lands.


$7395381


TOWN AND CITY LOTS.


No. of Lots.


Average Value.


Improved Town and City Lots ..


9153


$475 65


$4353679


Unimproved Town and City Lots.


3105


74 73


232059


Total Value of Town and City Lots


$4585738


PROPERTY BELONGING TO RAILROADS.


Lands other than "Railroad Track"


$ 2899


Lots other than "Railroad Track"


189523


Personal Property other than " Rolling Stock "


208361


Grand Total of all Property as assessed.


$16015638


Acres of Wheat


1461 00


Acres of other Field Products. 4059 18


Acres of Corn.


35983 46


Acres of Enclosed Pasture. 65887 64


Acres of Oats.


21324 04


Acres of Orchard.


1500 94


Acres of Meadow


40823 27


Acres of Wood Land


19653


21 Agricultural Tools, Implements and Machinery.


57222


30 Pawnbroker's Property.


237968


Investments in Real Estate and Improvements thereon (See Sec. 10).


POPULATION OF KANE COUNTY, BY TOWNSHIPS.


1870.


1860.


TOWNS.


Total.


Native.


Foreign.


White.


Colored.


White.


Colored.


Aurora


2033


1274


759


2017


16


1395


Aurora City


11162


8091


3071


11013


149


5999


12


First Ward


760


594


166


748


12


Second


480


380


100


474


Third


1037


873


164


1008


29


Fourth


497


354


143


486


11


Fifth


639


318


321


639


Sixth


1368


833


535


1368


Seventh


929


692


237


922


7


Eighth


1448


1089


359


1444


4


Ninth


1465


1156


309


1403


62


Tenth


1225


786


439


1225


Eleventh "


1314


1016


298


1296


18


3018


2231


787


2972


46


2338


15


Batavia City.


1606


15


Big Rock.


829


645


184


829


911


Blackberry


1173


985


188


1171


2


1080


Burlington


919


687


232


919


886


Campto


957


745


212


956


1


1027


Dundee.


2079


1320


759


2079


1888


1


Elgin ..


1298


997


301


1298


1390


Elgin City.


5441


3989


1452


5360


81


2797


Clinton City


544


Geneva ...


1829


1350


479


1789


40


1505


Geneva City.


997


Hampshire.


1049


815


234


1049


1049


1


Kaneville


999


840


159


998


1


1072


1004


773


231


1002


2


1007


1


Rutland.


960


682


278


960


1013


St. Charles.


2281


1720


561


2261


20


2491


6


St. Charles City.


1816


6


Sugar Grove.


787


667


120


779


8


967


2


Virgil.


1273


944


329


1272


1


120


6


Batavia.


Plato.


1


SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


BRIGHAM


MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI.


21


22


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- dition, prepared for the undertaking.


On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of the Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of


23


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand "reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab .. itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors.


THE WILD PRAIRIE.


On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33°, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course


24


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, "did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discovery-one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream-going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan-he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette.


While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from him and each other, were pre- paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de La Salle and Louis Hennepin.


After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio River (see the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of those ages-a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor General of Canada, and laid before him the plan. dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warmly into his plans, and saw that LaSalle's idea to connect the great lakes by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose adminis- tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized.


LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also received from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev-


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alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded a fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans" of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors,


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LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY.


started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all his men-thirty working men and three monks-and started again upon his great undertaking.




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