USA > Illinois > Randolph County > A directory, business mirror, and historical sketches of Randolph County > Part 3
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DAYLE located permanently in Kaskaskia, and being a man of some education, he taught school-whether English or French is now a matter of conjecture. He understood both languages. Nearly all of the others were farmers, and settled in the bottom above Kas- kaskia. This was the first settlement of the Americans in the country, and from the fact of their settling here, the name "American Bottom" has been applied to that large extent of alluvial land along the Mis- sissippi, reaching from Alton to Chester-a distance of about one hundred miles.
About the same time, a Mr. HUFF, with his family, and a few others, left Pennsylvania, and started for Illinois. HUFF had married the widow MOOREDOCK, who had three sons along with the party. While as- cending the Mississippi, near the Grand Tower, the party were attacked by Indians, and Mrs. HUFF, one of her sons, and some others of the party, were killed. Mrs. Hurr was butchered in a shocking manner. The remnant of the party reached Kaskaskia, and settled in
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the American Bottom. A few years afterwards, Mr. HUFF was killed by the Indians, on the road between Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. JOHN MOOREDOCK, (the stepson of HUFF,) whose name figures conspicu- ously in the early events of Illinois, harbored a spirit of unrelenting revenge against the Indians for injuries he had received in the horrible death .of his mother- the death of two stepfathers, and the death of a brother. The destruction to Indian life was his ruling passion, and he sought it at all times, whether in peace or war. He was the most deadly foe that ever ap- peared against the Indians of Illinois. He was fore- most in every Indian campaign. His name was a ter- ror to his savage enemies. But notwithstanding the destructive vengeance that burned in his bosom for savage blood in retaliation of injuries received, in the civil walks of life he was kind, benevolent, sociable and gay, and yielded willingly to the fascinations of agreeable society. He married a Miss GARRISON-stepdaughter to SHADRACK BOND, Sen. He was elected a member from St. CLAIR county to the Territorial Legislature, which convened at Vincennes in 1803, and served again in the Legislature at Kaskaskia, in 1814. He held the rank of Major in the militia, and was field officer under Governor EDWARDS, in the campaign of 1812.
About the year 1782, ICHABOD and GEORGE CAMP came to Kaskaskia, and resided for some time in the town. They afterwards made improvements west of the Kaskaskia river, not, far from the residence of JAMES O'HARA and HENRY D. SIMPSON. Camp's Creek, which crosses the Kaskaskia and Red Bud road, between O'HARA's and SIMPSON's, took its name from these men. They afterwards moved away, and
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located at " Camp's Spring," in Missouri, a few miles vest of St. Louis.
JOHN and ISRAEL DODGE caInc to Kaskaskia about the close of the Revolution. ISRAEL DODGE was the father of HENRY DODGE, late United States Senator from the State of Wisconsin. Hon. A. C. DODGE, Ex- United States Senator from Iowa, is the son of the Wisconsin Senator.
The DODGE family left Kaskaskia in 1794, and went to St. Genivieve. They manufactured salt at the mouth of Saline Creek, a few miles below St. Genivieve, on the Mississippi.
JOHN COOK, JACOB JUDY, WILLIAM MUSIC, JAMES PIGGAT, and ROBERT SYBALD, came to Kaskaskia about the close of the year 1780. JUDY remained in Kaskaskia a few years, and then located on the site. of " JUDY's Mill," in Monroe County. He erected this mill in the year 1794. It was the first water-mill of any kind built by the American settlers in that region. It did good service for many years.
In 1784, JOHN EDGAR, from the British navy, reached Kaskaskia. The circumstances of his quitting the navy and seeking a home in this wild country, are of sufficient interest to be recorded. During the Revolu- tion he was fighting against the Colonies in their strug- gle for Liberty and Independance. He had courted and married an American lady, whose sympathies, of course, were warm and deep for the American cause. She was a woman of extraordinary talent and shrewd- ness, and was the projector of many plans by which the soldiers in the British army, who became tired of fighting against the cause of freedom, made their es- cape and joined the Americans. On one occasion she had arranged with three soldiers to desert-she was to
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
furnish them guns and uniform, and give them all nec- essary information to enable them to reach the Amer- ican camp. When they came she was absent, but her husband, although belonging to the British army, was her confidant in all her operations, and knowing the object for which these soldiers had come, furnished them with the outfit prepared for them by her. They unfortunately were apprehended, and taken back to the British camp.
There they were made to reveal the names of those who had assisted them. This implicated EDGAR, and he had to fly. He remained awhile in. the American army, where he became the intimate friend of LA FAY- ETTE, but deeming the West a safer retreat for one whose life was in such imminent jeopardy, he came to Kaskaskia. His property was confiscated, but his wife, with her remarkable sagacity, saved from the wreck about twelve thousand dollars, which she carefully hus- banded until she joined her husband, two years after- ward, in his western home. Mrs. EDGAR's name merits a high rank among the heroines of Revolutionary memory.
Leaving the British service for the American cause, was a source of no regret with Gen. EDGAR. He was an Irishman by birth, and the wrongs of England towards his native land had made their impress upon his patriotic mind.
He engaged in business, and stimulated the com- merce of the country by his energy, enterprise and sagacity. He traded extensively in lands, and left, at his death, large tracts in Randolph, Monroe, St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Washington, Perry and Jackson counties, which are known to this day as the "Edgar Lands." He rebuilt the mill of M. PAGET, (which had
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passed into ruins,) and shipped his flour to the southern markets. When St. Clair County was organized, in 1790, he was appointed one of the judges of the Common Pleas Court, and his name appears upon the Court Records in some official capacity for more than a quar- ter of a century. He was elected a member of the Legislature which convened at Chillicothe, Ohio, under Governor ST. CLAIR's Administration. The United States appointed him Major General of the Illinois Mili- tia, which post he filled with dignified ability for a long series of years.
JOHN RICE JONES, a Welchman, located in Kaskaskia, in 1790, and commenced the practice of law. He was the first lawyer in Illinois who practiced at the bar. Nature intended him for an ornament, and her work was well performed. His career at the bar was brill- iant. He remained in Kaskaskia until 1802, when he moved to Vincennes. In the same year, he was ap- pointed a United States Judge of the Indiana Territory. He afterwards moved to St. Louis, and finally to Wash- ington County, Missouri, and became one of the most conspicuous men in the early days of that State. He was a candidate, in opposition to Col. BENTON, for the United States Senate, before the first General Assembly of Missouri, but was defeated. He was elected by the same Legislature one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri, which office he held until his death. in 1824.
RICE JONES, the oldest son of JOHN RICE JONES, hav- ing acquired the profession of law in Connecticut, loca- ted in Kaskaskia in 1806, and commenced the practice with much'success. He became conspicuous as a poli- tician. He had a difficulty with Governor BOND, growing out of political differences, which almost re- 4
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sulted in a duel. The preliminaries were arranged, and the parties were upon the ground, but JONES' pistol went off by accident, just before the word was given to fire, and BOND refused to fire at JONES. The matter between JONES and BOND was amicably adjusted, but a controversy grew out of it between JONES and DUNLAP, BOND's second. This quarrel became bitter and malig- nant. One afternoon, as JONES was standing on the side of the street, leaning against the railing of a gal- lery, conversing with a lady, DUNLAP approached and shot him dead.
Hon. G. W. JONES, late United States Senator from the State of Iowa, is a younger brother of RICE, whose terrible death has just been narrated, and son of JOHN RICE JONES.
The same year, (1790,) PIERRE, HYPOLITE, and FRAN- ÇOIS MENARD-three brothers-originally from Quebec, arrived in Kaskaskia. PIERRE established a mercantile house, and opened a lucrative trade with the Indians. Endowed with rare business talent, a well balanced judgment, and an honest purpose, he rose rapidly to a high degree of eminence and distinction among the people of the West, and became the idol of the Indians. The Federal Government appointed him Indian Agent, which post he held for many years, and gave perfect satisfaction to both parties. No man ever enjoyed the confidenco and esteem of the Indians more than he. They worshiped him; and though he controlled them as a father does his children, he never took advantage of that confidence and simplicity to wrong them. Purity of intention and upright honesty marked the outlines of his character. In private life he was a model. Sym- pathy and benevolence were his ruling traits. From his commercial transactions he realized a fortune, which
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OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
he cheerfully shared with the needy. No charitable call ever reached his ear without a ready response.
He was often elected a member of the Legislature, and was speaker of the House in 1812. He was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State, when it was admit- ted into the Federal Union. After the close of this term of office, lie declined to accept public stations, and devoted himself to private affairs. He died in 1844, and was buried in a vault, prepared under his own supervision, in the old grave yard at Kaskaskia.
He left three sons-PIERRE, CIPRION and EDMUND. The two former left the county many years ago. The latter lives upon his father's old place, on the eastern side of the Kaskaskia river. The oldest daughter of Col. MENARD, Mrs. MAXWELL, is yet living in Kaskaskia. She has spent her whole life in the village of her nativ- ity, and has occupied the house where she now resides for more than forty years. She has in her possession a Damask rose bush, which was brought from New Orleans more than a century ago. It is the first rose bush that ever bloomed in Illinois, and though it has been swept over by the floods of the last hundred years, it still retains its vigor and bloom, putting forth its sprouts upon the annnal recurrence of springtime .- Many an ardent lover has plucked a gem from its stately stock, to be presented to some loved one, to tes- tify of the heart's devotion.
FRANÇOIS MENARD became a distinguished and suc- cessful navigator and trader upon the Mississippi .- With an energy that bent before no obstacle, and a courage that defied opposition, he prosecuted his peril- ous voyages upon the river for a long series of years. He died in Kaskaskia.
HYPOLITE MENARD engaged in farming. He was of
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
a very lively and sociable disposition, and became very popular among the people. . He represented Randolph County in the General Assembly one session.
WILLIAM MORRISON was another of the distinguished characters who came to Kaskaskia in the year 1790. He came from Philadelphia, as the representative of the mercantile house of BRYANT & MORRISON, of that city, and established a branch of the business in Kaskaskia. Under his sagacious management the transactions of the house rapidly extended throughout the Mississippi Valley. The field of his operations was vast, but the capacity of his mind was fully adequate to cover it. From his store in Kaskaskia, the merchants of St. Louis, St. Genivieve, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid, supplied themselves with goods.
But the mighty machinery of commerce which he managed, did not claim the exclusive control of his capacious mind. Home was never crowded out by the pressure of business. He found plenty of time to en- joy the affectionate society of his family. Sociable and fond of company, his house was the welcome resort of every visitor to Kaskaskia.
Much of his time was devoted to public enterprise. Every project that promised to advance the prosperity of the country, found in him an energetic advocate. He was the moving spirit in constructing a bridge across the river at Kaskaskia, the piers of which are yet standing, and form an excellent monument to his public spirit.
He died in the year 1837, leaving a vacancy in life which but few have the ability to fill. His remains were deposited in the old graveyard at Kaskaskia, where all that was mortal of so many of the pioneers has mingled with its original dust.
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His descendants have occupied respectable positions in community. JOSEPH was his oldest son. He went to Ohio, and resided there several years, then returned, and died at Prairie du Rocher in 1845.
JAMES, the second son, is now a citizen of Wisconsin, having gone to that State many years ago.
WILLIAM located in Belleville, and died there in 1843
LEWIS located in Covington, Washington county, and practiced medicine there until 1851, when he removed to Chester, and engaged in the mercantile business. He died in 1856.
GEORGE is the youngest son, and still resides in Kas- kaskia, where he was born.
ROBERT MORRISON, a brother of WILLIAM, came to Kaskaskia in 1793. He was of a friendly, sociable disposition, and became very popular. He was ap- pointed Clerk of the Common Pleas Court in 1801, and held the office for many years. A favorite with the people, he was often selected to fill positions of impor- tant trust. Like his brother, he dispensed hospitality in a liberal manner, and his house became the home of his friends and visitors to Kaskaskia.
His second wife, who was the mother of his children, was a literary prodigy. Many of her poetical contribu- tions to the magazines of that day, touched the higher order of poetry. She remodeled in verse the Psalms of David, and had the volume presented to the Philadel- phia Presbytery for criticism. The work passed a crit- ical examination, and received much praise, but was rejected, probably more from the fact that it came from an obscure author, than from its merits. She took a deep interest in politics, and often wielded much influ. ence in a political campaign by her ably written com- munications in the newspapers. *4
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The sons of ROBERT MORRISON are EDGAR, JAMES LOWERY DONALDSON, JOHN MURRAY, and ROBERT.
EDGAR graduated at the West Point Military Acade- my, and entered the army. He died in the home of his infancy, while on a visit to his parents, in 1836.
JAMES L. D. chose the profession of law, and prac- ticed at the bar for several years. He joined the volun- teers who went to Mexico, in 1846, and was promoted to the office of Lieutenant Colonel of Illinois' second regiment. He has often been a member of the Legis- lature, and was elected to Congress in 1856. His younger brothers emigrated to California, where they now reside.
SHADRACK BOND, from Maryland, arrived in Kaskas- kia in 1794. He was a nephew of SHADRACK BOND, whose name was mentioned among the first settlers in the American Bottom. Nature had designed BOND for a Representative man, and though he was surrounded by men of great minds, he soon became a leader. He was elected first to the Territorial Legislature, then to the lower House of Congress, and the first Governor of the State, without opposition. After he retired from the Executive chair, he was appointed Register of the Land Office at Kaskaskia, and continued in that position for many years. He died in 1830-the lamented and favorite Statesman of Illinois. With all those noble qualities which adorn mankind. the character of Gov- ernor BOND was richly endowed.
He left two sons-THOMAS and BENJAMIN.
THOMAS chose the profession of law, and practiced in Randolph and adjoining counties, until the year 1849, when he died, in the very vigor of manhood's youth and promise. BENJAMIN is a respectable physician, prac- ticing his profession at Evansville.
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In the year 1798, Dr. GEORGE FISHER, from Virginia, located in Kaskaskia, and commenced the practice of his profession. He remained in the town until 1806, when he moved out about five miles on the Prairie du Rocher road, and opened a farm. By his sprightly activity, and practical judgment, he became an influen- tial member of the community, and a popular politi- cian. When the Indiana Territory was organized, he was appointed Sheriff of Randolph County. Upon the organization of Illinois Territory, he was elected a member of the first General Assembly, and chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1818, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Con- vention which framed the first Constitution for the State of Illinois.
The region in which he lived has always borne the name of " Dr. FISHER's Settlement," because he was the first and leading man there. He died in 1820. on his farin at the foot of the bluff. JACOB FISHER. who improved a farm upon the Western side of the Kaskas- kia river, near the shoal, was the only son of the Doc- tor. Ho moved away to Arkansas many years ago.
Dr. TRUMAN TurHILL, came to Ka-kaskia in 1802, with the army, as a surgeon. He located and practiced for several years in the town, and then moved to C'alo- kia In 1809, he was appointed Judge of the Comarion Pleas Court of St. Clair County.
BENJAMIN HI. DOYLE, JoUN REPTor, and JAMES HING- av. came to Kaskaskia in 1904, and commenced the practice of law. HAGGAN returned to Kentucky, from whence he came, and afterwards became a distinguished Judge of that State.
NATHANIEL POPE first appeared in Kaskaskia in 1804, but he located and practiced law at St. Genivieve, Mis-
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
souri, until 1808, when he returned and became a per- mauent citizen of the former place. The year follow- ing, Illinois Territory was organized, and POPE received the appointment of Secretary. In the absence of Gov- ernor EDWARDS, who had not yet arrived, Secretary POPE. as Acting-Governor, issued a proclamation formally organizing the Territory. In 1817, he was elected the Territorial delegate to Congress, and became a very influential member of that body. It was by his efforts that the northern boundary of the State was changed from a line running due west from the southern point of Lake Michigan, and fixed upon latitude forty-two and a half degrees north. Upon the admission of Illinois into the Federal Union, POPE was appointed Judge of the United States District Court, and held that office for more than thirty years. Nature, it would seem, had designed him for the bench, and he ocenpied the position with such ability and dignity as elevated him to a high rank among the jurists of the country.
In 1844, he moved from Kaskaskia and located in Alton, where he died in 1850, having attained the age of sixty-six years. He left two sons-WILLIAM and JOHN. WILLIAM died in St. Louis some years ago. Joux belongs to the United States Topographical Ser- vice, and has become somewhat distinguished for his scientific efforts in sinking Artesian wells on the West- ern plains.
The RECTOR family, consisting of nine brothers, came to Kaskaskia in the year 1806. They were in the United States Surveying Service, and only remained temporarily in Kaskaskia.
From this period up to 1830, Kaskaskia was the resi-
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OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
dence of many young men who have risen to positions of distinction.
SIDNEY BREESE, who is now one of the most distin- guished jurists and statesmen in Illinois, located at Kaskaskia on his arrival in the Territory, and remained there several years. He was often elected a member of the Legislature, and served one or two sessions in the lower House of Congress. When the judiciary of the State was re-organized, in 1835, he became the first Judge of the Circuit Court whose jurisdiction included Randolph County. He was afterwards elected by the Illinois Legislature to a seat in the United States Sen- ate, and bore a conspicuous part among the stalwart characters of that august body. He is now upon the Supreme Bench of the State.
JAMES SHIELDS, an Irishman by birth, camo to Kas- kaskia, and commenced his brilliant career by teaching school. He afterwards studied law, and became a poli- tician. He represented Randolph County in the Legis. lature-was Judge of the Circuit Court, and when the Mexican War commenced, in 1846, he was appointed Brigadier-General of the Illinois volunteers, and distin- guished himself as a brave and intrepid soldier in several battles. After his return from the Mexican campaign, the Illinois Legislature testified their appreciation of his military services by electing him to the United States Senate. He now represents the new State of Minnesota in the Senate of the United States.
ELIAS K. KANE commenced the practice of law in Kaskaskia, in 1814, before the time of the two gentle- men previously referred to. He was a man of brilliant talents, and rose to a high position among the members of the bar. He served in the Legislature, and was
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
elected by that body to the United States Senate. He rose high, and died early.
DAVID J. BAKER commenced his successful careor at the bar, in Kaskaskia. He enjoyed a lucrative practice for many years. He now lives in Alton, having retired, in his old age, from the profession.
KASKANKIA, SINCE 1800.
About the commencement of the year 1800, a differ- ent class of people, bringing different customs and characteristics, began to disturb the quiet repose which the happy people of Kaskaskia had enjoyed for nearly one hundred years, and a rapid transition from a French to an American city was commenced. At that time it was essentially a French village, with all their peculiar customs. The French style of architecture had been adopted and preserved in the crection of their buildings, and though there were some fine and elegantly fur- nished houses, an altitude of one story was as high as they ever rose. The only brick house in the place had been standing for fifty years or more, and at the time it was built, it was the only brick house west of Pitts- burg. The brick of which its walls were made were brought from Pittsburg in flatboats. It is still stand- ing-an interesting relic of Kaskaskia's former days.
A new order of things was inaugurated by the new class of citizens, and the place began to experience the symptoms of those convulsions in which "junction cities" spring into existence. General Edgar erected a large dwelling, and furnished it in grand style. The ruins of this building still remain-the posts and the chimney are standing-the more interesting as a relic
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OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
of days gone by, because it was the house in whose spacious parlors General LAFAYETTE was entertained when he visited Kaskaskia, in 1824. WILLIAM MOR- RISON, also, erected a large stone mansion, where he dis- played hospitality in a princely style. The walls of this building are still standing, cracked and shaken, however. It, too, is interesting, because the complimentary ball to General LAFAYETTE was given in its richly furnished parlors.
In 1809, when Illinois Territory was organized, Kas- kaskia became the seat of Government-the Governor and Secretary resided there, and brought all the con- comitants of municipal regulations. The first session of the Territorial Legislature convened in Kaskaskia, on the 25th day of November, 1812, and continued to hold its sessions there until the. capital was located at Vandalia. Kaskaskia was, and had been since the year 1795, the county seat of Randolph County; where the courts were held, from the Supreme down to the Justices.
The first newspaper in Illinois was established in 1809, by MATHEW DUNCAN, from Kentucky. He con. ducted it until 1815, when it was purchased by ROBERT BLACKWELL and DANIEL P. COOK. During its exist- ence its columns were edited by many persons who have become distinguished lawyers and statesmen- Judge BREESE is one of them.
During the period of ten years, from 1810 to 1820, Kaskaskia was the rendezvous of an immense floating population, which gave it the air of a bee-hive. Every emigrant to the Territory directed his course to it as the point from which to explore the country and select locations. A census taken then showed the population to be seven thousand and some hundreds.
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
About 1820 other towns began to spring up and claim attention. The confusion, bustle and storm raised by the swarming emigrants in Kaskaskia, began to die away, leaving the village to gradually and quietly resume its original character.
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