USA > Illinois > DuPage County > A history of the County of Du Page, Illinois > Part 8
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The pioneers of this town had many privations to
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undergo, but these were endured and at last conquered by manly courage and enterprise.
A spirit of cordial sociability, friendly sympathy and intercourse prevailed among the early settlers, which, it is feared has lost something of its charms since the country has become more densely populated.
We have frequently heard it remarked by our pio- neer mothers, that the pleasantest period of their lives was when they lived in the old log house, of one apartment, which served as kitchen, parlor; pantry, bedroom, wood house and cellar. Sociability was then untrammeled by forms and ceremonies, and the question of "What sliall we eat and wherewithal shall we be clothed," was thoughit to have a more spiritual application than in modern times.
Mrs. Scott made a "party" at an carly day, to which all her neighboring friends were invited. For supper she placed before her guests a prodigious loaf of corn bread, the material for which had been pre- pared by grinding the corn between. two stones. Al- though the repast was pronounced by all most delicious, yet it was entirely eclipsed by that of Mrs. Hobson, who had her "party" soon after, and entertained her guests, not with corn bread alone, but corn bread and molasses graced her festive board.
The following details will serve to show something of the trials endured by our early settlers, and the heroic fortitude with which they braved discourage- ments .:
About the middle of May, 1830, Baley Hobson, weary of the toil of clearing the encumbering forests from the rugged banks of the Ohio river, and animated
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by the hope of finding a home in the wilderness of the northwest, more congenial to the spirit and genius of agriculture, set out from the sparsely settled county of Orange for the more sparsely settled section of north- ern Illinois. His resolutions were those of the pioneers of the west. Without arms amounting to more than a jack-knife, for defense, he mounted his horse, and destitute of chart or compass, groped his way, as best he could, through the dense forests and deep ravines, and forded the bridgeless waters that lay in his course. Day after day was consumed in the solitary windings from hut to hut, through a region which then presented but slight indications of that civilization which has since struck its roots deep into the bosom of those forests. Rain and sunshine alternately poured through the darkening foliage that overarched his pathway. Many miles were traveled where not a sound broke the silence of the dim woods, save the tread of his own steed as it bore him onward. The dismal surroundings of a forest path accompanied him until state lines were crossed, and the bright opening prairies were gained in the state of Illinois. Emerging from the heavy timber country of Indiana, into the prairie wilderness, was an agreeable respite from the dull monotony of the scenery through which he had passed.
Here was a spot fit for a moment's pause, to view with far-strained vision those undulating plains, in contemplating which
The heart swells, while the dilated sight Takes in the encircling vastness.
Moving onward to the north with the hope of suc- cess brightening before him, he gained the south bank
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of the Illinois river, which he crossed in a ferry-boat at a place then called Ft. Clarke, near the present site of Peru. At this place he fell in company with four strangers, who had been spending some time in ex- ploring the country further west, which they found, comparatively speaking, a blank wilderness, peopled only by savages. Discouraged at the idea of settling in a country so wild and so remote from civilized man, they had abandoned their journey and were returning, with not the most favorable impressions of the great west. They urged Mr. Hobson to abandon the idea also, not only as impracticable, but as a wild and hazardous undertaking. He however left them, and pushed onward, soon reaching Weed's Grove, since known as Holderman's grove, where he found a set tlement consisting of five little huts, occupied by as many families. Here, for the first time in his journey, he made a halt, and explored the Du Page river as far as Walker's grove, near Plainfield. He after- wards explored Fox river as far as Long grove, and finally made a claim six miles from Holderman's, and three miles from the main village of the Pottawattomie Indians, on Fox river. In order to secure his claim while moving his family out to it, he cut logs for the erection of what in later times has been termed the " squatter's hut." Having done this, he mounted his horse and turned homeward. To save distance, he took a new route, and struck out upon the unknown prairies, where the footprints of neither man nor beast were to be seen, without a solitary thing to guide him, save the instinctive allurements of his own fireside, which was more than four hundred miles distant.
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About noon of the same day he re-crossed the Illinois river, at the lower rapids, and pursued his way until night shut in upon him, when he pitched his camp, consisting of a horse blanket and overcoat, on the banks of a small stream that flowed along the border of a grove. , During the night there was a heavy fall of rain, which put out his fire, and for the remainder of the night he was obliged to hold himself in a de- fensive ,attitude against the ravenous mosquitoes. The sun rose bright and clear next morning, and he pressed onward. Late in the afternoon he overtook a company of Kickapoo Indians, who were returning from a hunting excursion, and accompanied them to their village, where he was fortunate enough to find a white man, a trader, with whom he passed the night. Leaving the wigwam town early next morning, he laid his course over the trackless prairie, for the waters of the Sangamon, which were reached just as the sun went down. Here, for the first time in three day's travel, he struck the trail of his former course. A cabin stood on the bank of the stream, occupied by a family whose nearest neighbors were twelve miles distant. He passed the night with them, and after breakfast the next morning, re-crossed the river which he had left some five weeks previons. Retracing his former path over the wide prairies of Illinois and through the dense forests of Indiana, he reached his home about the first of July. On the first day of September, in the same year, he started with his family, accompanied by L. Stewart, for his new claim amid the wilds of the northwest. They had proceeded scarcely half a mile when the wagon was upset, and
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the entire "bag and baggage" strewn promiscuously upon the ground. This was by no means a welcome omen of the invisible future, and created unpleasant forebodings of what might lie before them in their perilous journey. Four hours detention was the result of this first ill fortune. After the wagon was turned right side up, and their effects gathered together, they moved on again. They soon lost sight of things which had grown familiar by time, and the forest through which they passed opened upon them new scenes. The camp fire was kindled whenever night overtook them, and a small canvas tent was their only protection from the inclemency of the weather, and all that screened the starlight and moonbeams from their pillows.
The evening of the third day found them at the Drift Wood fork of the White river. This was now to be crossed. It was a difficult stream, without bridge or ferry, and having a bed of quicksand. As there was but one plan to choose, ("Hobson's choice," of course), they resolved to hazard the experiment of fording. So, increasing the load of the already bur- dened team with their own weight, and giving the oxen a few smart blows with the braid of buckskin, they dashed into the stream, and with great effort reached the opposite bank. The men were obliged to re-cross the stream for the herd of cattle and horses that were left behind, and the journey was resumed, until the shadows of night compelled them to pitch their tents. Thus they journeyed, day after day, leaving no visible evidence of their passage, save here and there the ashes of their camp fires, fording all the
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streams that lay in their course, until they came to the Wabash, which they crossed in a ferry, two miles above Terre Haute.
- Coming upon the prairies, the land was marshy for a considerable distance, and their progress was slow and difficult; but nothing of moment occurred until they arrived at the Black Swamp, which was about half a mile in width. Here they were obliged to take everything from the wagon and carry to the opposite side on foot. Mrs. Hobson rode across on horseback, with her babe, and the two little boys waded through the mire, at the imminent hazard of being entirely swallowed up. This passed, they journeyed on, en- countering similar obstacles, often getting mired, and often being obliged to unload a part of their goods in order to proceed. Leaving the Ft. Clarke road, and having no path to guide them, they now passed through an uninhabited region for the distance of one hundred miles, finding but one habitation during six days, and being able to obtain neither wood nor water to cook their meals more than twice during the whole time. Arriving at the Illinois river, they crossed that stream at the lower rapids, and after traveling a few miles further, fell in company with Mr. Clark, whose father resided at Walker's grove. Preparations were being made for a night encampment, but Clark insisted that they should go as far as Holderman's grove, where he intended to remain that night. Having with him three yoke of oxen, he attached two of them to Mr. Hobson's wagon, and thus assisted, they went on, arriving at Holderman's grove at about midnight, having been on the road twenty-one days. Here they
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remained three weeks, during which time Mr. Hobson so'wed some fall wheat, cut some hay for his cattle, and began the erection of a cabin on his new claim.
The family were moved to the claim, and lived in a tent until the cabin was so far completed as to admit of their occupying it. Their provisions were likely to run short, and Mr. Hobson set out on horseback to pro- cure some. After spending two days in fruitless search of something to prevent starvation, he returned home. In a few days, he started again on a longer journey, crossing the Fox and Vermilion rivers, the latter of which he forded, where the water covered the back of his horse. Still onward he went, and after crossing the Illinois, and arriving at the Ox Bow prairie, he found he could purchase no flour, but pork was offered him, which he engaged, appointed the time when he would come for it, and returned.
Not feeling entirely satisfied with his location, he resolved to examine the country still further, and accordingly set out in the direction of . Fox river. Knowing that a solitary Frenchman was living in a grove near that stream, he thought to reach his hut, if possible, before night-fall ; but the darkness came on before he was able to find it, and tying his horse to a tree, he laid down upon the ground, and, with nothing to shield him from the cold of a November night, save his overcoat and horse blanket, slept till morning. On waking, he found, to his surprise, that he had encamped in full sight of the Frenchman's dwelling, but was separated from it by a swamp. It being very cold, he hastened to the cabin, but found the door closed and fastened. He however effected
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an entrance by descending the chimney, encountering in his descent some smoke, considerable soot, a blazing fire, and last, but not by any means least, a huge bull- dog, who bristled up savagely at the singular phenom- enon. He made peace with the dog, and sat down to warm himself by the fire. The proprietor of the cabin soon returned, and was not a little surprised, on open- ing the door, at finding a strange guest within. After breakfasting, Mr. Hobson made his way across the country to the Du PAGE river, examining the lands and localities as far as the site of his present family residence. This place satisfied him in every respect, and he at once determined to abandon the claim he had already made, and secure this as his future home. He made a few marks by which to identify it, and returned to his family, having been absent five days.
In a few days, Hobson and Stewart both set out for the new claim, for the purpose of cutting timber and building" a cabin upon it. This was in December. They arrived at the Du PAGE, and found it frozen over. Unable to force their team into the crusted stream, they waded through it themselves, breaking a path in the ice, which the oxen were made to follow. Having succeeded in crossing, they pitched their tent, built a fire, and made preparations for passing the night. During the night it commenced snowing, and continued throughout the next day. They attempted to work, but were unable to accom- plish anything in consequence of the severity of the weather, which continued to increase until they were obliged to abandon their undertaking. They drove down the river, a distance of three miles, to the dwell-
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ing of Mr. Scott, who had built a cabin and moved into it a few days before. Here they passed the night, and the following day and niglit. On the third day the wind ceased, the severity of the weather somewhat abated, though still very cold, and they started toward home. Their course lay across a prai- rie for thirty miles, on which there was no appear- ance of a road, but they accomplished the distance, reaching home before midnight, nearly exhausted by fatigue, hunger and cold. In the course of a few days the weather changed; some rain fell which melted the snow, and by a succession of snow, rain and frost which followed, the earth was covered with a crust of ice, which made traveling almost impossible.
It was now near Christmas, the time at which Mr. Hobson had agreed to go for his-pork.
He therefore left his family and stock in care of Mr. Stewart, and set out for Ox Bow prairie with the intention of returning in about ten days. The weather was now extremely cold, and on the afternoon of the second day it commenced snowing. The storm came so fast and thick that the track was soon covered, and he had nothing to direct his course, while the atmos- phere was so filled with the falling flakes that he could see only a few feet before him. Toward night a horseman passed him, but said nothing, and was very soon out of sight, leaving no traces of his course, as the snow filled the horse's track almost as soon as made. Night closed in upon him, with no cessa- tion of the driving storm. Unable to see his way even a rod before him, the chance of reaching a
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habitation, or place of shelter seemed hopeless, and he was about to resign himself to his fate, when he discovered a light at a little distance which appeared to be coming toward him. On its nearer approach, to his inexpressible joy and gratitude, he discovered two or three men, who had come to his assistance, from the nearest settlement. They liad been made acquainted with his situation by the horseman who passed him in the afternoon. They assisted him in reaching the settlement, where he stayed till next morning, when, the storm having considerably abated, he started on his way. .
He followed a small stream, though it was not his direct course, in order to be nearer the timber and nearer habitations. Before night came on, guided by the barking of dogs, he was enabled to reach a dwelling. Finding it unoccupied, he took temporary possession. A few embers were still burning on the hearth, and taking some rails from the fence he re- duced them to fuel and built a fire. He found feed for his oxen, and a supply of provisions for himself, of which he partook without much ceremony, and in peaceful and quiet possession passed the night.
Pursuing his journey next morning, he shortly ar- rived at another dwelling, where he found the owner of the cabin in which he had stayed the night before, and told him of the liberty he had taken. Being assured that all he had done at the cabin was right, he pressed on and reached his destination on the evening of the fourth day. The pork was procured, and he started homeward on the following morning, his team consisting of two yoke of heavy cattle, and
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ยท his load, of about one thousand pounds, including a prairie plow.
The snow had fallen to such a depth that he found it impossible to proceed, and was obliged to employ a man with an additional team to assist him on. With the three yoke of oxen attached to the wagon they started, going before with wooden paddles to shovel the snow from the path. About two hours before sunset, they found that in the course of the whole day, they had advanced just one mile! There was little use in trying to go on, so they turned their team and took the back track for a quarter of a mile to a dwell- ing. Here they remained for a few days, endeavoring to fit tlie wagon to runners, but in this they were un- successful. Mr. Hobson now resolved on trying to reach home on foot, and accordingly set out. He had to cross a twelve mile prairie before coming to a settlement. This he aimed to do in one day, but the sun had passed the meridian before he had made. a third of the distance. Knowing it was vain to attempt to gain the settlement, he retraced his steps to the dwelling he had left in the morning, where he arrived, with life and strength nearly exhausted. Here he remained a few days, hardly knowing what course to pursue. Having already been absent many days longer than lie had intended, he felt great anxiety for his family, whom he had left but scantily provided with provisions, and at length determined upon mak- ing another effort to reach home. Leaving his team and load, with orders, that if it became necessary, the meat should be cut up and salted, he set out in a new direction, pursuing his way through tlie groves
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towards the Illinois river, and finding shelter at night in the cabins which at long intervals were scattered through the forests. ~ At length, he arrived at the Illinois, which he found frozen and covered with snow. To facilitate progress he now traveled upon the ice for thirty miles, in imminent peril of his life. The ice, in many places, was so thin that it gave way be- neath his feet. . At the end of this distance the river was open in consequence of its junction with a large spring, and he was now obliged to travel again through the deep and drifted snow. His progress was slow and fatiguing, but impelled by anxiety for the loved ones at home, he journeyed on with unflag- ing zeal, and at last reached home on the nineteenth day of his absence, to the almost overwhelming joy and surprise of his destitute family, from whom the last, lingering hope of ever beholding him again had faded out. Imagine his feelings as his little ones, half famished, came around him anxiously inquiring about his wagon, and about the provisions which they ex- pected he would bring to them. Until now he had borne up against a tide of adverse circumstances with a determined and even a cheerful spirit, but the situa- tion of his family, with no prospect of relief, was a matter not to be contemplated without the most dis- tressing apprehensions. Nearly a week passed, and the weather became so much moderated that the snow began to melt, and it was feared that a thaw was about to commence, in which case their situation would be rendered still more hopeless. Corn . was their only article of food, and upon this alone they had already subsisted for more than two months;
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this they prepared by hulling and boiling. Some- thing must be done, for starvation seemed looking them in the face. But one plan suggested itself to ~ Mr. Hobson, and that was a hard one to execute. It was to leave his family, and accompanied by Stewart, make one more effort to get his provisions home be- fore the breaking up of the ice. His situation was . indeed a trying one. It was with great reluctance that he resolved to leave his family alone and unpro- tected in the dead of winter, and in a region inhabited only by Indians, whose proximity produced no more agreeable impression than fear, to say the least. But Mrs. Hobson, brushing the tears from her face, and suminoning all the courage and resolution she could command, entreated him to go, and leave her to do the best she could. After preparing fuel sufficient to last until their return they set out, taking with them a yoke of cattle which they drove in advance, for the purpose of breaking a road through the snow. Thir- teen head of cattle and three horses were left in Mrs. Hobson's care. On the second day after the departure of Messrs. Hobson and Stewart, it commenced snow- ing and continued without interruption for two days and nights, covering the earth upon a level, three feet deep. On the third day, just at sunrise, the wind be- gan to blow with fury from the west, and continued like a hurricane, without cessation, for three days, sweeping the snow from the ground and piling it in drifts twenty, thirty, and even forty feet high, while the atmosphere was so thick with the driving snow, as almost to turn daylight into darkness. On the first morning of the wind storm, Mrs. Hobson, taking a
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pail, went to a spring a few yards from the house for some water, but before reaching the house she was compelled to throw the water upon the ground and make all possible haste back. The children opened tlie door for her, which, being in the west side of the house, it required all their strength to close again. . It was not opened again until after the storm had sub- sided. The snow, which. was constantly driving into the house, supplied them with water; but who shall describe the feelings of that mother, as alone with her little ones, the days dragged wearily along, while her mind was filled with the most fearful aprehensions. Husband or brother she should in all probability see no more. Her children might perish in her sight, while a like fate awaited herself. It was, indeed, a severe trial of endurance, and needed all the fortitude of her soul to sustain such agonizing reflections while the raging storm swept around her solitary dwelling. After the wind had ceased, Mrs. Hobson went out to look after the cattle and horses, but could discover nothing of them, and concluded they had been covered in the snow-drifts and perished. The day passed without any of them making their appearance. The next morning they all came around from the east side of the grove, whither they had fled and remained during the storm. The fuel which had been prepared and put in the house was now exhausted, while that which had been left outside was embedded in a deep snow drift. The only alternative was to dig this wood out of the snow with a pick-ax, and Mrs. Hobson accordingly set about it, working and resting alter- nately, as her strength would permit. Weak and
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faint from hunger, and with hands frozen and blis- tered, she worked on day after day, unable to get out more wood than would barely serve from one day to another. A cow, that was accustomed to being fed at the door came into the house one day and seemed to reel, as if about to fall. Mrs. Hobson pushed her-out- side of the door, when she immediately fell dead. Fearing that the wolves, which were very plenty and hungry, would come to the door to feed upon the carcass, she covered it deep in the snow.
On the fourteenth day after his departure, Hobson returned with some provisions, leaving Stewart at Holderman's grove with a part of the oxen that were unable to finish the trip. On his arrival, he found the wood which they had prepared, all consumed, and Mrs. Hobson tearing down a log stable and chopping it up for fuel. During that fourteen weary days, Mrs. Hobson had not seen a human being besides her child- ren. Though it was known at Holderman's grove that they were alone, yet no one dared venture to see what had become of them. It was thought by all there that the family would inevitably perish. In the course of eight days Stewart arrived with the remain- der of the oxen. They presented a deplorable spec- tacle indeed, being worn with fatigue, their flesh sore and bleeding, and the hair all cut from their legs by wading through the hard crusted snow. The drifting of the snow had been altogether favorable to the return of Hobson and Stewart. Having arrived at their des- tination before the wind storm, they remained until they could make themselves some sledges. On the way home, they could travel sometimes the whole day with-
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out the crust giving way, and some days their teams would break through every little while, when they were obliged to dig them out again.
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