USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
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No. S. Trenton Limestone .- The oldest formation found in Southern Illinois. Its presence is attributable to like causes with the three preceding groups It forms a low ledge of massive gray limestone at the base of a bluff about two miles below Eagle cliff. Wherever it outerops it consists of heavy bedded yellowish gray crystalline limestones, inter- sected with vertical fissures or joints. These vertical fissures are, in places most marked, separating great columns so that they stand apart like silent sentinels. Some of them are from forty to fifty fect in height. They have locally received the appellation of the " stone chimneys."
Economical Geology .- In his report the State Geologist says there is no county in Southern hilinois more abundantly supplied with building stone of various qualities than this, and it is so generally distributed over all portions of the county as to be easily accessible to every neighborhood The stratified rocks are here something more than a thousand feet in thickness, and fully one-half may be considered of economieal value. The sandstone that forms the basis of the Chester group will furnish an unlimited supply of excel- lent building stone. It generally is compact, free from foreign substances, but sometimes shows a coneretionary structure; where this is the case it can be readily quarried as it splits evenly in blocks of required sizes. It works easily under the chisel, and hardens on exposure. The lime- stones of the same group furnish some good material suitable for rough walls. The rock most generally used, however, comes from the St. Louis group which furnishes the bed rock of a much larger area of territory than does any other. It is mostly a compact, fine grained, bluish-gray limestone, weathering to a nearly white color, and generally lies in regular beds of fair workable thickness from size suitable for flagging, curb-stones, &c., to blocks of two feet thickness. Most of the macadamizing material used in the county is obtained from the hard, bluish-gray limestones of this group. Dimension stone of any required thickness and form is obtainable from the lower division of this group. It is one of the best building stones in the county. In the next or Burlington group the rock is too cherty for use.
Marble .- The Trenton limestone affords some beds of light- gray crystalline thick-bedded rock that receives a fine polish, and the thickly imbedded organic forms give to the polished surface a slightly mottled appearance, pleasing to the eye. It may be obtained at Salt Lick Point in inexhaustible quantities. 8
Coul. - As already indicated the only coal found in this county is that obtained in the valley or basin formed by the upheavals on either side. The valley is narrow and coal seams irregular throughout its extent, being found in pock- ets. The veins where found are of uueven thickness, rang- ing from thin leaves to four fect.
Iron Ore may be found thick enough to prove of some economical value at the junction of the Chester and St. Louis groups. Its presence is indicated, and a hand, appar- ently of good quality, is here exposed.
Hydraulic Limestone. - The manufacture of cement is of sufficient importance to cause thorough examination to de- termine the existence of Hydraulie limestone in workable quantities. That it exists here is well known, whether in quantity and of quality to re-pay investment in its mining and reduction is problematic.
Limestone for Lime,-This county could afford sufficient lime, that too, of most excellent quality, to supply all the demands that could possibly be made upon it for centuries. Lime kilns are here and there operated successfully. and at a hundred other points might be constructed to the advantage of proprietors.
Brick Materials .- ('lay suitable for the manufacture of briek everywhere abounds, and sand may be readily sup- plied from the banks of adjacent streams.
PERRY COUNTY.
The geological formations of this county are restricted to the coal measures and the superficial deposits known as drift. 'The eoal measure strata that formed the original sur- face in this region, consist mainly of arenaceous, argillaceous and bituminous shales, fine-grained sand stones, and thin bals of silicious and argillaceous limestone. The drift de. posits above the coal measures are comparatively thin. Perhaps a medium would be represented by the following section :
sod and suh-soil 3 feet.
Reddish Ciay
12
sand and gravel
Yellow tough clay
Beneath this clay last named, is encountered a blue mud, which is rich in vegetable remains, or in places where the stratified rocks belonging to the coal measures are reached, the blue mud being absent. The coal measures embrace a depth of about three hundred feet. At Tamaroa the follow- ing sectiou was obtained :
Soft micareons sand-tones
15 feet.
Sandy Shale
20
Massive hard ferruginous sandstone 10
Blue clay shale .
20
Impure Iron ore, with fossil shells
2
Bituminous Shale
3
Coal No.
0 9 10.
Fire-clay
3
Sandstone
15
Sandy Shale
102
Hard calcareous sandstone
3
Black carbonaceous slate .
1 6 in.
Clay Shale
3
Hard, arenaceous, slaty rock
16
Clay Shale
7
Light-grey, sub-crystalline limestone
8
58
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Bituminons Shale .
2 ft.
Coal, sometimes wanting No. 6 ?
2 4
Fire clay or clay shale ..
3
Limestone, light-colored, arenaceous
7
Gray S ale
6 4
Limestone
Shales, with fossil plants. 25
Coal No. 57.
5 to 7 ft.
('lay shale, with nodules of limestone 15 4
At other points throughout the county workable veins of coal were found at much less depths. The Black Diamond mine exhibits the following section :
Clay, («urface material )
24 fpet.
Limestone
9
('lay Shale.
1
Bituminous Shale
1
Coal .
1
Fire-clay
4
Limestone
5
Limestone
7
Blue clay shale .
15
Hard, dark-colored limestone
3
2
=
Bituminons Shale
5
=
Coal.
93 6
At Pinckneyville the depth is only some forty to fifty feet to coal, which out-crops on a ravine southeast of the town in section 30, T. 5 S. R. 2 W.
Economical Geology .-- Perhaps no county in Southern Illinois offers superior inducements to the mining of coal than this. The accessibility and quality of the coal are both in its favor. Mr. Pratten's analysis of the Du Quoin coal gave the following result :
Specific gravity.
1.240
Loss in coking
48 9
Total weight of coke
51.1-100
ANALYSIS :
Moisture
Volatile matters
40.4
Carbon in coke.
48.1
Ashes (light gray)
30-100
Carbon in coal
59.6
The analysis when compared with that of other bituminous coal found throughout the state is favorable to the Du Quoin. In reference to the accessibility, not alone is the coal found throughout this county at comparatively little depth, but the roofing is superior, being in places a hard, blue limestone. Where it is a bituminous shale it is not so good.
The amount of accessible coal in this county is enormous. The State Geologist in his report estimates it at two billion, four hundred million tons, which at $1.50 per ton would yield $3,600,000, and adds that this estimate is undoubtedly below rather than above the actual amount of coal to be ob- tained from the beds underlying the surface of this county alone. Here then, would we look for the future manufactur- ing establishments of Southern Illinois, for the erection of smelters, furnaces, iron industries, foundries, &c. An era of prosperity awaits the hand of industry, and the mining of her black diamonds will expedite its advent.
Building Stone .- In this, Perry county is deficient. Material suitable for foundation walls is found and some adapted to such masonry as enters into making of bridges and culverts is accessible. Some of the limestone out-
cropping is adapted to the manufacture of quick-lime, and has been thus used. The sand-stones, are too soft for general uses, but are used for flagging, light walls, &c.
Sand und Clay for the manufacture of brick may be found almost in any place where it may be desirable to manufacture them : and from the abundance of coal, and the economy with which they can be burned, brick will always be one of the cheapest and most easily obtained materials for building purposes in this county.
CHAPTER V.
FLORA.
"'lay Shale
N treating of the flora of these coun- ties, it is not our purpose to treat exhaustively on all the plants of the respective counties, but rather to give a list of the native trees and grasses found within their limits. The intelligent and prac- tical husbandman first looks to the native vegetation as a dial to be governed by in determining the value of new lands. The growth, size, and kinds of timber will, to a great extent, decide and determine the qualities of the soil for agricultural purposes.
The botanist, in making a survey of the State, classes it under three heads : the heavily timbered regions of the South, the flora of which is remarkable for its variety and beauty ; the central portion, consisting mainly of prairie region ; and the North, which is a combination of both timber and prairie. These counties represent the charac- teristics of the latter, having a fair proportion of each, also including the American Bottom varieties. Many of the early species of the vegetable kingdom have changed and passed out of sight since the coming of the Anglo-Saxon. The "buffalo grass," which formerly grew only upon the prairies, and the high pampas grass, have become extinct and given place to blue grass and other varieties sown and cultivated by the present tillers of the soil. The plants are many and rare, peculiar to this climate and latitude. Among the most important for medical purposes we find the bone- set, ginseng, colombo, pennyroyal, pink-root, Indian turnip, sarsaparilla, and other varieties too numerous to mention. The native plants of beauty are the lily, phlox, golden rod, eye-bright gerardia, asclepias, and hundreds more which adorn the meadows and flower-gardens of this section of the Prairie State. Beside these, there are the climbing vines, which fill the forest with beautiful festoons of artistic form, such as the woodbine, grape, clematis, bitter-sweet, etc. The trees and grasses, however, engage the special attention of the traveler. The many varieties of oak, hickory, and elm, are in abundance,-the giant cotton woods, sycamore, walnut,
59
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and hundreds more that wave in the breeze, attest the virtue of the soil and the excellence of climate to produce what Dame Nature has so bountifully brought forth.
The following are the indigenous floral aud vegetable products of these counties : Poa pratensis-spear-grass ; Pod compressia-blue-grass ; Arisuma triphyllum-Indian turnip; Thyplatifolia-eat-tail ; Sagittaria variabilis-arrow- head ; Cypripedium pubescens - yellow lady's slipper ; Cypripedium candidum-white lady's slipper, common ; Cannabis sativa - hemp; Humulus lupulus-hop, com- mon ; Datura stramonium-Jamestown weed ; Asclepias cor- nuti-milk weed; Frarinus Americana-white ash; Fraxinus sambucifolia-black ash ; Phytolaccu decandra-poke weed ; Amyruntus hybridus-pig weed ; Rumex crispus-sour dock ; Sassafras officinale-sassafras ; Benjoin odoriferus - fever bush ; Marrubium rulyare-hoarhound ; Solanum nigrum- night-shade; Physalis viscosa-ground cherry ; Monarda di- dym-horsemint; Nepeta eataria-catnip ; Hedeoma pule- gioides - pennyroyal ; Diospyros virginiana-persimmon ; Plantago major-plantain ; Verbascum thapsus-mullein, com- mon ; Cissium lanceolatum-common thistle ; Lappa major- burdock ; Taraxacum dens-leonis-dandelion, common, been introduced during the last forty years; Errethites hieracifolia- fire-weed ; Ambrosia artemis@folia-rag weed ; Xanthium strumarium-cockle burr; Bidens bipinnata-Spanish needle ; Bidens chrysanthemoides-beggar tieks ; Manta cotula-May- weed ; Leucanthemum vulgare-ox-eye daisy. Another plant which has become quite common in Randolph county, along the bluff near Kaskaskia, is a species of the flag. It was brought from Franee by one of the old Frenel families, on account of its floral beauty. The berries that it bears are a special delight of the birds, and the result is that the whole section of country is likely to be inoculated with its presence.
Eupatorium perfoliatum-thoroughwort, not common ; Cornus Florida, dogwood ; Sambucus Canadensis-elder, very common ; Ribes eynosbati-wild gooseberry ; Tyrus coronana -wild erab, abundant.
Crategus, several species ; Rosa setigera-climbing rosc ; Rubus lucida-dwarf wild rose ; Rubus villosus-blackberry, abundant.
Aximina triloba-papaw, quite abundant along the creek bottoms ; Nelunbium luteum - May apple, abundant in shady places.
Sanguinaria Canadensis, or bloodroot ; Lepidium Virgini- cum-wild pepper grass; Portulaca Oleracea, or purslane ; Tilia Americana, or linden ; Xanthoxylum Americanum- prickly ash ; Rhus typhina-sumach ; Rhus toxicodendron- poison oak ; Vitis cstivalis-summer grape, common ; Vitis cordifolia-frost grape ; Ampelopsis quinquefolia-Virginia creeper ; Esculus pavia-buckeye ; Acer succharinum-sugar maple ; feer dasyearpum-white maple; Negundo aceroides -box elder; Baptista tinctoria-indigo weed, not abundant; Cercis Canadensis-red-bud ; Gymnoctudus Canadensis- Kentucky coffee-tree; Gleditschia tracanthos-honey locust ; Prunus Americana-red plum ; Prunus chicasa-Chickasaw plum ; Prunus ecrotina-wild cherry ; Fragarin Virginiana -wild strawberry ; Rubus occidentalis-black cap raspberry ; Rubus Canadensis-dewberry, common.
Populus angulata-cotton-wood, abundant. Salix-willow, several varieties.
Alnus serrulata-alder.
Betula-birch ; Carpinus Americana-horn-bean, not com- mon.
Corylus Americana-hazel nut; C'estanen pumilt-chin- quapin.
Quercus rubra-red oak ; Quercus tinctoria-black oak ; Quereus nigra - black jack ; Quercus imbricaria-laurel oak ; Quercus prinus-chestnut white oak ; Quercus castanea- yellow oak, not common ; Quercus alba -white vak, common ; Quercus obstiloba-post oak, abundant.
Carya glabra -pig-nut hickory ; Quercus macrocarpa- overcup oak ; Charya tomentosa-white heart hickory ; Curya alba-shell bark hickory ; C'iryu olireformis-pecau, com- mon.
Juglans nigra-black walnut, abundant ; Juglans cinerea -butter-nut, not common.
Platanus occidentalis-sycamore.
Ulmus fulre-red elm ; Morus rubra-red mulberry ; Urtica dioica-stinging nettle ; Ulmus Americma-white eliu, abundant.
In the above list we have given the scientific as well as the English names, believing such a course to pursue in the study of plants more beneficial to the student or general reader. There may be some plants omitted, yet we think the list quite complete.
CHAPTER VI.
FAUNA
THE study of Natural History is always interesting to all ages and classes of so- ciety, and more especially the animal kingdom of our own inhabitation, both the fauna of the past and present. It is difficult for those of the present day to believe that the will buffalo of the West- ern plains once roamed over the prairies east of the Mississippi; or that the Elk and Black Bear were on their native heath in this part of the country only a little more than half a century ago. Many other varieties of animals, which found their homes in the forests and on the prairies of this part of the state, have fled before civilization, and are now secu by our chil- dren only in the cages of the menagerie. In order to more fully interest and inform the reader, pertaining to this science, we here append iu a elassified form the most im- portant animals indigenous to this region.
UNGULATA, OR HOOFED.
Of the hoofed animals, one of the most prominent is the American Bison (Bison, or Bos Americanus,) which disap- peared from the prairies of Illinois before the arrival of the white man, leaving, as the unly evidence of its former pres-
60
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ence, a few " buffalo wallows " in certain parts of the state. The bison is a large animal, with thick, heavy body, short, stout legs, short, black horns, and black, or brown shaggy hair. Large herds of these animals at present roam over the plains at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. Like the mastodon and other ancient animals, the bison is destined at no distant day to become extinct. The American Elk ( Cerrus „Imericanus,) next to the moose, is the largest deer of America. It is remarkable for the size of its antlers, which sometimes grow to the height of six feet, and weigh from forty to eighty pounds. The animal itself is about as tall as an ordinary horse, is very fleet, and has wonderful powers of endurance. It long ago left the prairies of Illinois, and is now found in the northern parts of the United States and in British America. The deer family ( Cerridc) has had, so far as is known, only one representative in this region, viz. : the common American deer, (Cerrus Virgini- anus, ) which disappeared from its prairie haunts several years ago, and is found in the mountainous regions of Mis- souri and the unsettled parts of other states. Its flesh is very sweet and palatable, and it is highly prized in the finest markets, where it commands a ready sale at the high- est price.
CARNIVORI, OR FLESHI-EATERS.
The most ferocious animal of the carnivorous order, com- mon to this country, is the wolf, which belongs to the dog family ( (unida). There were formerly two species of this animal in these counties, viz. : the prairie wolf ( Canis latrans), and the common American, or gray wolf ( Canis occidentalis). The former is small, with long body, elongated, sharp muz- zle, smooth tongue, and like all the dog family, has five- toed fore-feet and four- toed hind ones. It formerly inhabited, in large numbers, the wild prairie regions, but latterly has disappeared from this part of the state. The latter is large, with long, slim body, long, sharp muzzle, smooth tongue, and straight, bushy tail. In years gone by the howling of these wolves was the evening serenade of the pioneer settlers, and foreboded havoc among the flocks of those times. A few of this species are still found in dense woodlands and unfre- quented thickets on the prairies. Two species of fox ( Vulpes) are found here, the common or Gray Fox ( Vulpes vulgaris), and the Red Fox (Vulpes fulrus). The former are still numerous in this region ; the latter, rare. Both species are noted for their extreme cunning, and their predatory habits. Foxes are readily distinguished by their slender, pointed muzzle, long, bushy tail, and the elliptical pupil of the eye. Of the Cat family ( Felidu), the only two indigenous repre- sentatives are the American wild-cat ( Lynx rufus), and the Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis). The former was very common during the carly history of this country. It was about thirty inches long. of a pale rufous color, dappled with gray, ears black ou the outside, tail short, with black patch above the end. It was very destructive to lambs, kids, poultry, etc. It has, within the last few years, almost dis- appeared. The lynx was never common in Illinois, though it was occasionally seen thirty years ago, and even later. It is about forty inches long, of a grayish color, streaked with black ; ears tipped with a bunch of black hairs, and tail very short.
It is further distinguished by having one molar less than the true cat, in each side of the upper jaw. The panther (Felis pardus) was also an early inhabitant of this region, although not numerous. The common Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is one of the most familiar wild animals in these parts. It in- habits the timbered regions, generally near some stream or body of water, to which it resorts for food, in the shape of craw-fish, frogs, mussels, etc. It also feeds upon roots, ber- ries, young corn, "roasting-ears," birds, and other small animals. This animal, from the end of its nose to the tip of its tail, is about two feet long, and has a pointed muzzle, five toes on each foot, and a ringed tail. It is nocturnal in its habits, and in cold climates passes the winter in a par- tially torpid state. Its fur is valuable. The raccoon be- longs to the family of Procyonide, of which it is probably the only representative in this region.
The weasel family (Mustelidt), belong to the well-known animals, minks, skunks, otters, common weasels, etc , most of which have long, slender bodies, five-toed feet, and glands which secrete a liquid of very disagreeable odor. Otters and minks are hunted for their furs, which are very valuable. The former are amphibious, and are at present rarely seen. The costly fur called ermine is obtained from a weasel which inhabits the northern parts of Europe and Asia.
Weasels are brown in summer and white in winter, the tip of the tail being black. The color of minks is dark-brown, or black, throughout the year. The otter ( Lutra canadensis) is black, and is noted for its size and strength, Its toes are webbed ; head large and flat ; ears short ; tail slightly flat- tened, and nails crooked. It is aquatic, and subsists on fish. Minks and weasels prey on birds, poultry and small animals of various kinds. The skunk (Mephitis Americana) has a pointed nose, bushy tail, and is nocturnal. It feeds upon beetles and other small animals. It is also fond of eggs It was very common a few years ago, but like most of the wild animals, is gradually disappearing. Of the opossum family (Didelphididæ), the only species here is the common opossum (Didelphys Virginiana). Opossums are small animals, about twenty inches long to the tail, which is from twelve to fifteen inches in length, nearly bare, and prehensile. Its hair is whitish with dark-brown tips. When captured and wounded. it feigns itself dead. It is a marsupial, or pouched animal, and carries its young, which at birth weigh only a few grains, in a ventral pouch situated near its hind-legs. On emerging from this pouch, which occurs four or five weeks from birth, the young twine their tails around that of their mother, and thus supported ride on her back. The opossum lives on birds, eggs, iuseets and other small animals. This animal, like the raccoon, is found in all parts of the United States and throughout most of North America.
RODENTIA, OR GNAWERS.
The animals of this order are easily distinguished by their teeth. In the front part of each jaw they have two chisel- shaped incisors, between which and the molars is a consider- able space without teeth, these animals having no canines. The largest representative of the rodents ever known in this country is the American beaver ( Castor canadensis). The
61
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
rats and mice (Murida) constitute the most numerous family of the rodents. They number, in all, about three hundred species in the world.
Their appearance and habits are too well known to require description here. The black rat (Mus rattus) was formerly very common, but of late years it has been almost extirpated by the brown, or Norway rat (Mus decumanus), which is much larger and stronger.
Of the mice we note, as found here, the common house- mouse ( Mus musculus), the field-mouse, the meadow-mouse, the jumping-mouse (Jaculus hudsonius of the family Jucu- lido ),-which has a body about three inches long and a tail six inches,-and the tree-mouse. The musk-rat ( Ondatra zibethicus), allied to the beaver, has but one species. This animal is about the size of a cat, and has a strong, musky smell. It is amphibions, building its mud honses in ponds and shallow lakes. It is a native of North America, and is still quite common. Its fur, like that of the beaver, is valu- able. The fur of the latter is used for making the finest hats.
The squirrel family (Sciurider) is represented here by the red fox) squirrel (Neiurus hudsonius), the gray squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis), the flying-squirrel (Pteromys volu- cellu), the ground-squirrel (Tamias striatus), the gopher (Spermaphilus), the prairie squirrel and the woodchuck or ground-hog ( Arctomys monar), all of which are so common that they need not be described.
Of the hare family ( Leporider ), the common gray rabbit (Lepsus cuniculus) is the only representative now inhabiting this region. It is very prolific, and is destined to propagate its species long after some of the animals mentioned shall have become extinct.
Bats and moles-the former belonging to the order of animals ((hiropetra), the latter to the order (Insectirori)- are still very numerous. Both are carnivorous ( insretiro- rous), and during hibernation are semi-torpid.
CLASS OF AVES, OR BIRDS.
In the following list of birds indigenous to these countries the old system of groups, or orders, is used rather than the new classification of birds adopted provisionally by the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. The former, as it contains fewer and less difficult technical terms, will, it is believed, be more readily understood by the general reader. The chief characteristics of all the birds belonging to each order are given first, and appended thereto are the names of such birds of the order as are indigenous to this region.
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