USA > Illinois > Randolph County > A directory, business mirror, and historical sketches of Randolph County > Part 2
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They introduced the French system of agricul- ture, and cach family had a parcel of land in the "Common Field." A strict community system was observed, and if the head of a family was sick or nec- ·essarily absent, his crop was attended to by his neigh- bors. Ordinances were made regulating the repairs of fences, time of gathering crops, and opening the field for the range of stock, in the fall. Each plat of land in the Common Field was distinctly marked out and owned in fee simple by the person to whom granted. It was a universal custom among the villagers, when the husband returned in the evening, weary from his daily toils, for his affectionate wife and children to meet
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him with a kiss. This domestio interview was at the gate of the door-yard, in full view of the village. It was an evidence of the happiness that reigned within.
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THE CHURCH.
At what time the first parish priest appeared among the people of Kaskaskia, is now nnknown ; nei- ther can it be ascertained when the first parish church was built. It is certain, however, that the parish congregation occupied the Jesuit chapel until about the year 1721, when the old building which stood for half a century was erected. This was the first permanent church built west of the Alleghany Mountains, upon this continent. The bell which now hangs by the spacious brick church in Kaskaskia, was brought from France and placed upon this old building, and was the first bell to ring out the tidings of christian worship in the Mississippi valley. Its measured strokes have tolled at the burial of three generations, and still the towering forest trees and hill sides in the vicinity echo its musical pealing. The church record, now among the archives of the church, reaches back only to the year 1721-the previous record, if there was any kept, having been lost. At that time Father GIBAULT was ¡the officiating priest. He resided at Prairie du Rocher, and was priest of that parish. He performed the duties pertaining to his holy office, for both these parishes, for many years, and died deeply lamented by the people, for whose spiritual good he had lived and labored. He. lived a truly christain life, and so deported himself as to show that he was at peace with his God, and his
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
fellow men. He was always cheerful, and carried with him a smile and pleasant word for every one he met. The church to which reference has been made, stood until about the year 1780, when another was erected near the same spot, which gave place to the present large brick edifice about twenty years ago. It is one of the largest churches in Illinois. Father PERREN is now the officiating priest, and though he has attained the age of sixty, he is able to read the ancient church record, which is imperfect French manuscript, without the aid of glasses.
GOVERNMENT.
In the year 1708, the French Government sent out D'ARTAGUETTE as commissary of Louisiana, with in- structions to put in operation a system of government.
He made some progress towards the object of his mission, but owing to the remote distances of the set- tlements from each other, he could do but little. In 1712, the French Government, believing the object could be best attained through private enterprise, conferred upon a wealthy merchant of Paris, named CROZAT, the monopoly of Louisiana for fifteen years, expecting that his commercial operations would be an inducement to a speedy colonization of the country. The nucleus of his operations was in Louisiana, but his trading posts extended throughout the Mississippi valley. A post established at Kaskaskia, was the means of creating a lively trade in deer, buffalo, and bear meat, which were purchased for transportation to New Orleans and Mo- bile. This also stimulated the erection of Mills for the manufacture of flour, to be shipped to the same market!
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OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Traces of these mills may be seen to this day, along the bluffs which skirt the cultivated lands, and the remains of a wind-mill were visible a few years ago, in the prairie between Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. . The re- mains of a mill are yet to be seen on the eastern side of the river, near the residence of Mr. MENARD. It was probably at this time that a mill was erectedupon the same site where Mr. RILEY's mill now stands.
CROZAT was succeeded, in 1717, by the "Company of the West," organized in Paris, to cooperate with a crazy Scotchman, JOHN LAW, in a wild banking and stock- jobbing scheme, and invested in fee simple to the public lands. From this source the villages and individuals obtained grants and titles to such quantities of the public domain as they wanted. This company was merged into the "Royal Company of the Indies," in 1/19, and thereafter transacted business under that name. M. BOISBRIANT, the representative of the crown, Abd commissary of the Company, and DE URSINS, were stationed at Fort Chartres for the purpose of conveying lands to the settlers. A series of articles were enacted in 1721, by a council deputed by the King of France, for the government of the Royal Company. Under these regulations the company prospered, and agricul- ture, commerce and population increased rapidly .- Here a little pebble of civilization had been dropped Into the centre of the wild ocean of savage life, and the reling ripple was well started, and beginning to widen out
Through the agency of this Company, horses, cattle, hogs and chickens were introduced. Cattle were brought from Canada, and were almost universally black. Horses were brought from the Spanish posses- sions in the south. They were of the Arabian stock,
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having been introduced into Spain by the Moors, and brought to America by the Spaniards. The celebrated French, or "Point Ponies," have descended from this stock. The "Company of ST. PHILLIPS"-a branch of the Royal Company, was organized in 1719, in Paris, and PHILIP FRANÇOIS RENAULT was appointed the principal agent. He expected to engage in mining, and brought with him about two hundred miners, me- chanics and laborers. He stopped in the West Indies and bought five hundred negro slaves, and arrived in Illinois with ample means for prosecuting the business of the Company. This was the origin of the "French slaves" in Illinois, whose numerous descendants can now be found in Kaskaskia, St. Genivieve, St. Louis and many other places.
The charter of the Royal Company was surrendered in 1732, and the country reverted back again to the Gov. ernment of France. M. D'ARTAGUETTE was appointed Governor of Illinois. Under his administration the French settlements enjoyed their palmiest days. He became a very popular man, and was known from Louisiana to Canada. He gave his personal attention and energies to every enterprise whose object was to benefit the people of his province.
In 1736, when the French Government decided upon an expedition against the Chickasaw Indians, he col- lected all the military force he could muster in the Illinois and Wabash country, which consisted of a few regulars who had been stationed at Fort Chartres, a few companies of volunteer militia, and about one. thousand redskins, whom he had induced to join his army by his own personal influence among them. He descended the Mississippi to the lower Chickasaw Bluffs, and then crossed the country to the sources of the Tal-
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lahatchie river, where, by appointment, he was to meet BIENVILLE, with the troops from Louisiana. BIEN- VILLE failed to come at the appointed time, and not being able to restrain the undisciplined Indians, D'AR- TAGUETTE was forced to attack the enemy against his own judgment. His little army was forced to retreat, and he and the gallant VINCENNES, and some others were taken prisoners and were burned at the stake. Never did Indian fires erackle the sinews of braver and nobler men. LA BUISSONIERRE was appointed the suc- cessor of D'ARTAGUETTE, and a'lministered the govern- meut until the year 1751. During this period the whole country enjoyed a profound peace. Happiness and prosperity smiled upon the settlements. The Indians throughout the whole length and breadth of the valley were at peace, and the commercial intercourse between the Southern and Northern posts, which had been inter- rupted by the Chickasaws, was again resumed. Cheva- lier MCCARTY succeeded to the Governorship in 1751, and continued to hold the position until a short time before the country passed into the possession of the English, in 1763. M. ST. ANGE DE BELLE RIVE was the last of the French Governors for the Illinois country.
On the arrival of Capt. STIRLING, of the Royal Higli- landers, in 1765, Governor RIVE retired to St. Louis. Capt. STIRLING died at Fort Chartres a short time after his arrival, and was succeeded first by Major FRAZIER, and soon after by Col. REED, who become notorious for his military oppressions. His career, however, was short, as he was succeeded in 1768 by Col. WILKINS, who, by the authority of Gen. GAGE, then Commander of the British army in America, established a court of justice. He appointed seven judges who held court at Fort Chartres, commencing on the 6th of December,
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
1768. This was the first court of common law juris- diction ever held in the Mississippi valley. In 1772, the seat of government was moved from Fort Chartres to Fort Gage. The British garrison which had been stationed at Fort Chartres, under the command of the Governor, removed and occupied the Fort. This Fort became the seat of Government, and was occupied for that purpose as long as the English retained possession of the country. M. ROCHEBLAVE, a Frenchman, was commandant at the time the Fort was surrendered to Col. CLARK, 1778.
CLARK'S EXPEDITION.
The people of Kaskaskia and the West took but little part in the American Revolution, during the first years of its existence. Remotely situated from the theatre of war, and menaced by no invading army, they quietly pursued their ordinary avocations, giving themselves but little concern about affairs on the Atlantic coast. Indeed, they knew but little of what was going on, for the means of obtaining news was scarcely sufficient to give them a correct idea of the cause of the war. A small garrison of British soldiers occupied Fort Gage, and passed the time in listless inactivity.
In 4778, Col. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, acting under instructions of PATRICK HENRY, then Governor of Vir- ginia, collected four companies of volunteers in the neighborhood of the "Ohio Falls" and "Corn Island," and set out on an expedition to take Kaskaskia. This little army, numbering one hundred and fifty-three men, descended the Ohio river to Fort Massacre, below
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the mouth of the Tennessee, where they landed and commenced their march across the wilderness.
On the banks of the Ohio they found a party of hunt- ers from Kaskaskia, from whom they obtained impor- tant information about the state of affairs there. CLARK secured JOHN SAUNDERS, one of the hunting party, to conduct the army across the country. The distance was one hundred and twenty miles. Reaching the vicinity of the Fort on the eastern side of the river, CLARK concealed his men until nightfall, and sent out spies to reconnoitre and report. After dark he took pos- session of the old ferry house, three-quarters of a mile above the village. Here he divided his army into three parties; two were to cross the river and attack the town upon two points, while the third was to capture the Fort. The British had instilled into the minds of the French that the "Long-Knives"-as they called the Virginians-were the most terrible monsters in the world. CLARK used this impression to a good purpose in this attack. He directed that the divisions crossing the river should enter the town from two opposite extremes, and as they came in they should frighten the quietly slumbering people into a surrender. These divisions were under the command of the intrepid Cap- tain HELM, and when they entered the town, and were well distributed through it, they set up such a terrific yelling and shouting as frightened the unsuspecting people into the thought that the whole savage race of "Long-Knives" had broken loose upon them. Never did such a hideous, terrifying noise proceed from human beings as those Virginians kept up until the dawn of day. The terrified people were told if they remained in their houses they would not be hurt, but if they came out, or made any resistance, they would 3
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
be killed in the most barbarous manner. They sur- rendered their guns and every means of defense, and seemed willing to accede to any demand which the invaders should make. Never were people more effect- ually frightened. They believed that they were sur- rounded by a number of these monsters sufficient to exterminate the whole village in half an hour.
When morning eame, the people were not less terri- fied at the appearance of the "Long-Knives," than they had been at their furious noise.
While the tumultuous uproar of taking Kaskaskia was going on, CLARK, at the head of the third division of his little army, was quietly possessing himself of Fort Gage. The Fort was well guarded with regular soldiers, and cannon. CLARK had no cannon or any means whatever, of assaulting the Fort. It became necessary, therefore, to resort to stratagem. By ac- cident, an American in the Fort, whose sympathies were with the American cause, met Capt. KENTON, who was leading the detachment to enter the Fort. This American conducted KENTON and his men in by a back gate. They found a light burning, but all within were sleeping soundly. Governor ROCHEBLAVE had no in- timation of what was going on until awakened by Capt. KENTON to be informed that he was a prisoner.
The annals of romance furnish nothing more singular than this achievement. The origin of the expedition, the journey-with its perils and hardships, the manner of the attack, and the success, possessed the air of fiction.
With the Fort in his possession, which commanded Kaskaskia. CLARK had the means of enforcing any mandate he might issue. The people were in his power, and regarded him with mistrustful awe. The day after
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the conquest, CLARK organized a temporary military government, and put some suspected persons in prison. Governor ROCHEBLAVE was refractory, and CLARK But him in irons and sent him in charge of Capt. MONT- GOMERY to Williamsburg, then the capital of Virginia.
The people, fearfully excited, and seeing these pro- ceedings, concluded that some terrible doom awaited them. CLARK designedly remained silent, and appeared to be meditating some mode of awful torture to inflict upon the people. On the third day, M. GIBAULT, the priest, and some others, came to CLARK and asked that they might have permission to assemble in the church once more before they were destroyed, and bid each other a last farewell.
CLARK replied, in a very careless manner, that he cared but little how they took their final separation- that they could go to the church if they wished. He looked destruction, and his words, which were few, scorched as if they proceeded from out a fiery furnace.
The whole population assembled in the church, mournfully chanted their prayers, and took final leave -never expecting to meet each other again in this world. After their parting interview was over-which must have been a scene to melt the savage hearts of the imaginary "Long-Knives"-CLARK, regarding the ob- ject of his artful maneuver fully accomplished, called them together, and thus addressed them :
" Who do you take us to be ? Do you think we are savages-that we intend to massacre you ? Do you think Americans will strip women and children, and take the bread out of their mouths ? My countrymen never make war upon the innocent. It was to protect our own wives and children that we have penetrated this wilderness to subdue these British posts, from
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whence the savages are supplied with arms and ammu- nition to murder us. We do not war against French- men. The King of France, your former master, is our ally. His ships and soldiers are fighting for the Amer- icans. The French are our friends. Go and enjoy your religion, and worship where you please. Retain your property-and now please to inform all your citizens for me that they are quite at liberty to conduct them- selves as usual, and dismiss all apprehensions of alarm. We are your friends, and came to deliver you from the British."
This speech relieved the pressure of anxiety which had weighed so heavily upon them, and a revulsion of the most uproarious joy prevailed throughout the town. To the people it seemed a deliverance from horrible tortures and death. They cheerfully and gladly ac- knowledged CLARK the Commandant of the country.
In the winter following, Col. CLARK received infor- mation that Gov. HAMILTON, commanding the British forces at Vincennes, had determined to re-capture Kas- kaskia. At first CLARK decided to defend, and com menced preparing Fort Gage for the siege, but upon mature reflection he resolved to invade Vincennes and take HAMILTON, lest HAMILTON should invade Kaskas- kia and take him. He reinforced the remnant of his army still remaining, by a volunteer company of Frenchmen from Kaskaskia, under Capt. CHARLES- VILLE, and another from Cahokia, commanded by Capt. MCCARTY, and on the 7th of February, 1779, this heroic band, with the brave and sagacious CLARK at its head, commenced the perilous march on the " Old Vincennes trace" to Fort Sackville. A boat had been dispatched around by the Ohio river, carrying two four-pound can- non, four swivels, and a quantity of provisions. Capt.
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JOHN ROGERS, with forty-six men, was entrusted with this boat, and instructed to meet the army near Vin- cennes. When CLARK approached the village, he sent a note to the inhabitants informing them of his arrival, and the object of his coming. To make the people think that he had a formidable army, he sent in the names of various gentlemen in Kentucky, to their ac- quaintances in Vincennes, which made them believe that nearly all Kentucky was in the field. He prac- ticed this delusion upon the troops in the garrison, as well as upon the people of the town, by marching his army several times around a mound in the prairie, changing the colors of the flag every time he came around on the side of the mound next the Fort. These several divisions of a fine Kentucky army, carefully watched and counted by the soldiers in the Fort, had a dampening effect upon red-coat bravery. The assault on the Fort was made on the evening of the 23d. On the morning of the 24th, CLARK, moved apparently by an amiable desire to prevent further bloodshed, sent in a note ordering Gov. HAMILTON to surrender the gar- rison immediately.
The Governor refused to comply with this peremp- tory order, and CLARK renewed the attack with all the force and fury he could summon. An incessant fire of eighteen hours brought forth a note from HAMILTON, requesting a truce for three days, and an interview with Col. CLARK. To this note CLARK briefly replied, posi- tively refusing to grant the truce, but very carelessly remarked that if HAMILTON wished to talk with him, he could be found at the church. HAMILTON sought the interview, which gave CLARK to understand that the Governor was becoming concerned about his situa- tion. CLARK was powerfully courageous. He would
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listen to nothing but an immediate surrender of the garrison at discretion. HAMILTON yielded, and on the 25th, the Fort, with all its stores, amounting in value to more than fifty thousand dollars, was surrendered. Seventy-nine prisoners were paroled, and went to De- troit. Governor HAMILTON was sent under a strong escort to the capital of Virginia.
This reference to the taking of Vincennes diverges somewhat beyond the limits of these sketches, but it appeared necessary as a connecting link in the chain of events of which Kaskaskia was the prolific source, and to show more fully the operations and character of Col. CLARK, than whom no man was better fitted for the conquest of Illinois. High upon the scroll of fame should be registered, in enduring characters, the name of GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. Upon the summit of Gar- rison Hill, amidst the remaining ruins of Fort Gage, Illinois should do honor to a gallant soldier and pure patriot, by the erection of a monument to his memory.
ILLINOIS BELONGED TO VIRGINIA.
Col. CLARK had now effectually conquered the Illi- nois country, and driven the British from it. Illinois then embraced the territory out of which have been formed the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wiscon- sin, and Illinois. This territory was claimed by Vir- ginia, and, as a matter of course, it fell under her juris- diction. In October, 1778, the House of Burgesses created "Illinois County"-which included the whole district on the " Western side of the Ohio river." Col. JOHN TODD, of Kentucky, was appointed by PATRICK HENRY, the Governor of Virginia, Lieutenant Gov-
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ernor, or County Lieutenant, and Civil Commandant of "Illinois County." He arrived at Kaskaskia on the 15th of June, 1779, and proceeded immediately to put in operation a civil government, by establishing courts and appointing officers. He administered the executive trust of Illinois County until the year 1782. In that year he went to Virginia, on business pertaining to the county. On his return through Kentucky, finding his old companions, Colonels DANIEL BOONE, LOGAN, COOPER, Major McGARY, and others, by whose side he had stood in many a skirmish with Indians-going to fight their troublesome enemies again, he could not resist the temptation of joining them. But the romance of an Indian war became a sad reality with him. He was killed in the celebrated battle of Blue Licks.
The successor of Col. TODD was TIMOTHY DE MONT- BRUN, a Frenchman. His name is attached to deeds of conveyance and other public papers, now among the archives of Randolph County.
THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.
Virginia ceded the North-West Territory to the Con- tinental Congress in 1784, but the bill organizing the Territory did not pass until 1787. General ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, of Pennsylvania, who had borne a conspic- nous part in the revolution, and filled many civil offices, was appointed Governor of the newly organized Ter- ritory. WINTHROP SARGEANT was appointed Secre- tary, and PARSONS, BARNUM, and SYMMES, United States Judges.
Though these Territorial officers were appointed in 1787, they did not reach Kaskaskia until the year 1790.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Upon the arrival of the Governor and Secretary, the county of St. Clair was organized-the boundary line commencing at the mouth of Mackinaw creek, on the Illinois river, and running in a direct course to the Ohio; thence down that river to its mouth, and up the Mis- sissippi and Illinois rivers to the place of beginning. A Court of Common Pleas was established, and JOHN EDGAR, of Kaskaskia, JOHN BAPTISTE BARBEAU, of Prairie Du Rocher, and JOHN DE MOULIN, of Cahokia, were appointed Judges, each of whom held courts in the district of his residence-the county being divided into three judicial districts. WILLIAM ST. CLAIR was ap- pointed Clerk, and Recorder of Deeds, and WILLIAM BIGGS, Sheriff. Thus the machinery of government was set in motion, and continued without interruption until 1795, when Randolph County was stricken off from St. Clair, and organized. As a sketch of the county will be given, further reference to it will be omitted here.
To preserve the chronological order designed in these sketches, it becomes necessary here to refer to the first English settlers in Kaskaskia.
ENGLISH SETTLERS IN KASKASKIA.
At this period Kaskaskia was the most important place west of the Alleghany Mountains, and was the point to which all emigrants to the wilderness Territory directed their course. After reaching Kaskaskia, they would explore the adjacent country and select loca- tions. Some of these, to whom we shall refer, remained in Kaskaskia only a short time.
Some of the soldiers under Col. CLARK remained in the country, or returned to the States and brought
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their families and other emigrants to the newly con- quered Territory. Among these pioneers were JOHN DAYLE, JAMES PIGGAT, ROBERT WHITEHEAD, BOWEN, WM. BIGGS, JAMES MOORE, SHADRACK BOND, ROBERT KIDD, LUKE RUTHERFORD, and JAMES GARRISON. This band of brave pioneers who opened the way for that influx of emigration which has peopled the West, reached Kaskaskia in the year 1781. DAYLE, PIGGAT, BOWEN, BIGGS, KIDD, RUTHERFORD, and WHITEHEAD, were sol- diers, accustomed to the privations of pioneer life and travel. They had pursuaded the others to come with them to the wilderness country, and make their home upon the rich soil and amidst the deepened forest of Illinois.
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