USA > Illinois > Madison County > Alton > Gazetteer of Madison County : containing historical and descriptive sketches of Alton City, Upper Alton, Edwardsvile, Collinsville, Highland, Troy, Monticello, Mairne, Bethalto, and other towns, including some account of the resources of the various townships, to which is added a directory of the Altons,. > Part 3
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Pyrangra rubra, Scarlet Tanager; Pyrangra astiva, Summer Red Bird.
Hirundo horreorum, Barn Swallow; Cotyle riparia, Bank Swallow, Progne purpurea, Blue Martin; Ampelis cedrorum, Cedar Bird.
Mimus polyglottus, Mocking Bird; Mimus carolinensis, Cat Bird; Har- porhynchus rufus, Brown Thrush; Troglodytes aedon, House Wren.
Sitta carolinensis, White-bellied Nuthatch.
Chrysomitris tristis, Yellow Bird; Junco hyemalis, Snow Bird; Spizella socialis, Chipping Sparrow; Spizella pusilla, Field Sparrow; Melospiza palustris, Swamp Sparrow; Cyanospiza cyanea, Indigo Bird; Cardinalis
* In the preceding mention of trees, flowers, etc., as well as in the following list of birds, both the Scientific and Common names are generally given for the con- venience of the reader.
4-
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virginianus, Cardinal Red Bird, (Toxia cardinalis, Cardinal Grosbeck, Wilson;) Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Cheewink.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Bobo'link; Aegelaius phoniceus, Red Winged Black Bird; Sturnella magua, Meadow Lark; Icterus baltimore, Golden Oriole.
Corvus carnivorus, American Raven; Corvus americanus, Common Crow; Cyanurus cristatus, Blue Jay.
Ectopistes migratoria, Wild Pigeon; Zenaidura carolinensis, Common Dove. Meleagris gallopavo Wild Turkey.
Cupidonia cupido, Prairie Hen; Pinated Grouse; Bonasa umbellus, Ruffed Grouse, came about 1835; Ortyx virginianus, Quail.
Grus canadensis, Sand Hill Crane.
Herodias egretta, White Heron; Ardea herodias, Great Blue Heron; Botaurus lentiginosus, Bittern.
Tantalus loculator, Wood Ibis, were here in the summer of 1854 and 1855. Aegialitis vociferus, Killdeer Plover, Ball Head, Yellow-legged and Upland Plover.
Philohela minor, Woodcock: Gallinago wilsonii, English Snipe; Macror- hamphus griseus, Red Breasted Snipe; Gambetta melanoleuca, Telltale Snipe; Gambetta flavipes, Yellow Legs; Limosa fedoa, Marbled Godwit, (Scolopax fedoa, Wilson;) Numenius longirastris, Long-billed Curlew; Numenius hudsonicus, Short-billed Curlew; Rallus virginianus, Virginia Rail.
Cygnus americanus, American Swan; Cygnus buccinator, Trumpeter Swan.
Anser hyperboreus, Snow 'Goose; Bernicla canadensis, Canada Goose; Bernicla Brenta, Brant.
Anas Boschas, Mallard; Anas obscura, Black Duck; Datila acuta, Pin- tail Duck; Nettion carolinensis, Green Winged Teal; Querquedula dis- cors, Blue Winged Teal; Spatula clypeata, Shoveller; Mareca americana American Widgeon; Aix sponsa, Summer or Wood Duck; Aythya ameri- cana, Red Head Duck; Aythya vallisneria, Canvass Back Duck, occasion- ally; Bucephla albeola, Butter Ball; Lophodytes cucculatus, Hooded Merganser.
Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, Rough-billed Pelican.
Columbus torquatus, The Loon.
TRACES OF THE FRENCH IN THIS VICINITY.
The first traces of civilized man in these regions of which we have been able to discover any account is found in the narrative of Father Marquette, of "Voyages and Discoveries in the Valley of the Mississippi," from which it appears that this brave and untiring explorer reached the Mouth of the Missouri about the first of July, 1673. The following is his language :
"As we coasted along rocks frightful for their height and length, we saw
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two monsters painted on one of the rocks, which startled us at first, and upon which the boldest Indian dare not gaze long. They are as large as a calf, with horns on the head like a deer, a frightful look, red eyes, bearded like a tiger, the face somewhat like a man's, the body covered with scales, and the tail so long that it twice makes the turn of the body, passes over the head and down between the legs, ending at last in a fishes' tail. Green, red and a kind of black are the colors employed. On the whole these two monsters are so well painted that we could not believe any Indian to have been the designer, as good painters in France would find it hard to do as well; besides this they are painted so high upon the rock that it is hard to get conveniently at them to paint them. As we were discoursing of them, sailing gently down a beautiful still clear water we heard the noise of a rapid, into which we were about to fall. I have seen nothing more frightful: a mass of large trees, entire with branches, real floating islands, came rushing from the mouth of the river Pekitanoui (the Missouri,) so impetuously that we could not without great danger expose ourselves to pass across. The agitation was so great that the water was all muddy, and could not get clear.
Pekitanoui is a considerable river, which coming from very far in the north-west empties into the Mississippi. Many Indian towns are ranged along this river, and I hope by its means to make the discovery of the Red or California Sea." (Discovery and Explorations of the Valley of the Mississippi, page 39 and 249.)
The rocks, to which the explorer here refers, constitute part of an exten- sive chain of almost perpendicular bluffs, commencing at the city of Alton and extending northward up the Mississippi. Upon one of these, the Piasa or Pi-a-sau Rock, so-called from the remarkable legend connect- ed with it, and situated on the western confines of Alton, immediately on the Mississippi, the remains of two enormous figures, corresponding in all respects to the description given by Marquette, were still to be observed at a comparatively recent date. But the original face of the bluff has been removed to a considerable extent in quarrying for building stone, and with it all trace of their existence has also disappeared.
"The tradition connected with this rock was not confined to a few tribes but existed among all the aboriginal inhabitants of the great west, none of whom even to this day (1841) pass the rock without discharging their rifles or arrows at the figures upon and around which are innumerable marks of balls and other missels. (Wild's Mississippi Valley Illustrated.)
As the legend may serve in some measure to illustrate the beliefs and superstitions of the ancient race who once inhabited this beautiful land, 110 apology is needed for introducing it here entire.
The Legend of the Piasa .- Many thousand moons before the arrival of the pale faces, when the great Megalonyx and Mastadon whose bones are dug up, were still in this land of green Prairies the numerous and power-
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ful nation called the Illinois, inhabited the State which now bears their name over the greater portion of which their hunting grounds extended. For many years they continued to increase in numbers and prosperity and were deemed the brayest and most warlike of all the tribes of the great Valley. At length in the most populous districts of their country near the residence of their greatest chief, there appeared an enormous animal, part beast and part bird, which took up its abode on the rock, and banqueted daily upon numbers of the people, whom it bore off in its immense talons. It was covered with scales of every possible color, and had a huge tail, with a blow of which it could shake the earth. From its head which was like the head of a fox, with the beak of an eagle, project- ed immense horns, and its four feet were armed with powerful claws, in each of which it could carry a buffalo. The flapping of its enormous wings was like the roar of thunder, and when it dived into the river it threw the waves far up on the land. To this animal they gave the name of the Bird of the Pi-a. sau, or "Bird of the Evil Spirit." [According to some "the bird which devours men."] In vain did the Medicine Men use all their power to drive away this fearful visitor. Day by day the number of their tribe diminished to feed his insatiable appetite. Whole villages were desolated, and consternation spread through all the tribes of the Illinois. At last the young chief of the nation Wassatogo (or Ouataga,) beloved by his people and esteemed their greatest warrior and whose fame extended even beyond the great lakes, called a council of the Priests in a secret cave, where after fasting many days they slept, and the Great Spirit came to the young chief in his sleep, and told him the only way to rid his people of their destroyer was to offer himself as a sacrifice. Wassatogo started up, aroused the slumbering Priests and informing them of what had occurred to him, announced his determination to make the required sacrifice.»
*In another narration of the same Legend we find the following version, viz: At length, in a trance it was revealed to Owatoga, that the terrible visitant, who had hitherto eluded their utmost sagacity, might be destroyed. The mode was this. First, a noble victim was to be selected from among the bravest war- riors of the tribe, who by religious rites was to be sanctified for the sacrifice. Secondly, twenty, equally as brave, with their stoutest bows and sharpest arrows, were to conceal themselves near the spot of sacrifice. The victim was to be led fortlı, and singly to take his stand upon an exposed point of the rock, where the ravenous bird would be likely to note and sieze upon him. At the moment of descent the concealed warriors were to let fly their arrows, with the assurance that he would fall.
On the day appointed, the braves, armed agreeably to the instruction of the vision, safely reached their hiding place, which commanded a full view of the fatal platform. The name of the victim had been kept profoundly secret, 'up to the sacrificial hour. Judge then, the consternation, when, dressed in his proudest robes, Owatoga appeared at the head of his tribe, himself the voluntary victim .- The tears and shrieks of the women, and the expostulations of all his chiefs
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Wassatogo then dressed-himself in his chieftain's carb, put on his war- paint as if going to battle, and taking his bow and arrows and tomahawk he placed himself on a prominent point of rock to await the coming of the monster bird. Meanwhile as had been directed in his vision a band of his best braves had been concealed in the interstices of the rock, waiting each with his arrow drawn to the head of the monster when their chief should be attacked, to wreak their last vengeance on their enemy. High and erect the bold Wassatogo stood chanting his death song with a calm and placid countenance, when suddenly there came a roar as of awful thunder and in an instant the bird of the Piasau uttering a wild scream that shook the hills, darted down upon the chief. At that moment Wassatogo dealt it a blow in the head with his tomahawk, and every bow sprung at once sent its arrow quivering up to the feather into its body. The Piasau uttered a shriek that resounded far over the opposite shore of the river and expired. Wassatogo was safe. Not an arrow, not even the talons of the bird had touched him. The Master of Life in admiration of the gen- erous deed of Wassatogo had held over him an invisible shield. The tribe now gave way to the wildest joy, and held a great feast in honor of the erent, and to commemorate it, painted the figure of the bird on the side of the rock, on whose summit the chieftain stood, and there it has endured for ages a mark for the arrow or bullet of every red man who has since passed it in ascending or descending the great Father of Waters.#
availed nothing: he was bent upon his solemn and awful purpose. "Brothers and children," he addressed them, waving his hand in which he held a short wand, and which procured for him instant and profound audience, "the Great Spirit is angry with his children. He hath sent us this scourge to punish us for our sins. He hath demanded this sacrifice. Who so fit as your chief? The blood of my heart is pure. Who will bring any charge againtst Owatoga ? Many moons have I been your chieftain. I have led you to conquest and glory. I have but this sacrifice to make, and I am a free spirit. I am a dry tree, leafless and branchless. Soon shall I sink upon the wide prairie and moulder away. Cherish and obey the sapling that springs up at my root. May he be braver and wiser than his sire. And when the Great Spirit smiles upon you and delivers you, forget not the sacri- fice of Owatoga. Hinder me not-I go forth to the sacrifice."-"Illinois and the West," by A. D. Jones, 1838,-page 55-6-7.
*The spot became sacred from that time, and no Indian ascended or descended the Father of Waters for many a year without discharging his arrow at the image of the warrior-destroying Bird. After the distribution of fire-arms among the Indians, bullets were substituted for arrows, and even to this day no savage presumes to pass that magic spot without discharing his rifle and raising his shout of triumph. I visited the spot in June (1838) and examined the image, and the ten thousand bullet-marks upon the cliff seemed to coroborate the tradition related to me in the neighborhood. So lately as the passage of the Sac and Fox delegations down the river on their way to Washington, there was a general dis- charge of their rifles at the Piasau Bird. On arriving at Alton, they went on shore in a body, and proceeded to the bluffs, where they held a solemn war-council, con- cluding the whole with a splendid war dance, manifesting all the while the most exuberant joy .- IBID, page 50.
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In the "Journal D'au Voyage fait par ordre du Roi dans L' Amerique Septentrionalepar le P. Charlevoix." We find some notes of travel and description of the face of the country between the Sangamon river and the Mouth of the Missouri, of which the following is a rude translation. "Upon the 6th, (Oct. 1721) we perceived numbers of Buffalo who crossed the river, swimming with great precipitation, and we did not doubt in the least that they were pursued by one of the hostile parties, of which we had been informed, a circumstance which obliged us to travel the whole night in order to escape from such a dangerous neighborhood. Upon the morrow before day we passed the Sangamon, a large river which comes from the south; five or six leagues lower down we left upon the same side another much smaller, called le riviere des Macopines; (now Macoupin Creek.) These are large roots which, if eaten raw are a poison, but which after being cooked at a small fire for five or six days or a longer time have no bad qualities. Between these two rivers is found a swamp called Machoutin, which is precisely half way from Pimikeouy to the Mississippi. Shortly after having passed la reviere des Macopines we perceived the banks of the river which are of very great hight. Nevertheless we still journeyed more than twenty-four hours, and after under sail before enter- ing it, for the reason that the Illinois river changes its direction at this point from West completely to South-East. It might be said that in chagrin at being obliged to pay homage with its waters to another river it was about to return to its source. Its entrance into the Mississippi is east south-east. It was upon the 9th about half past two in the afternoon, that we found ourselves upon this river, which was then making so much stir in France; leaving upon the right hand a large prairie, from which pro- ceeds a small river where there is some copper, (Riviere du Cuivre.) Nothing is more charming than this whole shore. It is not by any means the same upon the left. Only very lofty hills (Montagnes) are there to be seen strewn with rocks, among which grow some cedars. But this is only a ridge which has little depth, and which conceals very beautiful Prairies Upon the 10th at nine o'clock in the morning after having traveled five leagues upon the Mississippi we arrived at the confluence of the Missouri which is in a direction north north-west and south south-east.
I believe this to be the most beautiful confluence which can be seen in the world. The two rivers are of almost equal size, each half a league in width; but the Missouri is much the more rapid and it appears to enter . the Mississippi in triumph, through which it bears its turbid waters even to the other shore without mingling them. It communicates to it that color which the Mississippi never loses, and hurries it with precipitation even to the Sea."-( Hist de Nouvelle France Tome VI, page 135.)
EARLY LAND TITLES IN MADISON .- In the second volume of the Ameri- can State Papers we find the confirmation of the earliest land titles in the Kaskaskia District including the present County of Madison.
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MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Michael Jones and E. Backus were first appointed Commissioners, to sit in judgment upon the various claims brought under the provisions of various acts of Congress, and their first reports are dated, December 31st, 1809.
"There are," say the Commissioners, "four species of claims upon which, as Commissioners for this district we have had to act: 1st. Those founded on ancient grants or allotments derived from former government or from the Indians. 2d. Those founded on the grant of a donation of four hundred acres to each of those who were heads of families in the county at or before the treaty with England in 1783. 3d. Those founded on having actually improved and cultivated land in the country, under a supposed grant of the same by court or commandent. 4th. Those founded on the having been enrolled on the 1st of August, 1790, and done duty in the militia."
The first and second of these classes were under the act of 20th, June, 1778, and third and fourth under that of 3d, March, 1791. Of the first class there were none confirmed within the present bounds of Madison. Of the second there were a few. Of the third a good many, and of the fourth class more than half the whole number as will appear in the follow- ing extracts from their various reports. The first concerns, "A statement of claims in virtue of improvement within the district of Kaskaskia affirmed by the Board .*
"Claim 1865 original claimant Alexis Buyatte, present claimantt Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres. Affirmed to the legal representatives of A. Buyatte. · Situate on the river l'Abbe nine miles above Cahokia." The river l'Abbe spoken of here is Cahokia Creek, so-called from the monastery, on . Monk's Mound, which was once called "Abbey Hill," even by the American settlers. The claim, however, is really some distance from the Cahokia creek, being on the bank of the Mississippi in Township 3-10, near Kinder Station and opposite Cabaret Island. Its present ownership is divided.
"Claim 526, James Biswell, the heirs of Biswell, 400 acres, on Buck run a branch of Kaskaskia river. Affirmed to the legal representatives." This is in the southwest corner of Township 3-7, and extends into St. Clair County.
"Claim 519 Alexander Denis, William Bolin Whitesides 400 acres, on Winn's run in the County of St. Clair, [St. Clair and Randolph were then the only counties,] beginning at a White Walnut near Cummin's Sugar Camp, &c." This in Township 4-8, Section 20, on the bluffs of the Ameri- can Bottom, in what appears to have been the most attractive part of our county, "the Goshen Settlement."
"Claim 561 Clement Drury, heirs of Samuel Worley 400 acres. Below the Narrows, below Hull's Station to be located adjoining the patented militia rights of Samuel Worley and James McNabb, these rights having been located in the improvement." This is mostly in Section 6, of Town- ship 3-9, and includes the farm of Samuel Squire, one of the oldest im- provements in the county, upon which are pear trees seventy-five years of age.
* In the following we have retained the orthography of the "American State Papers," which in the case of some claimants' names were not always correct.
+Hereafter the words "Original Claimant" and "Present Claimant" will be omit- ted. The words "Present Claimant" mean the Claimant of 1309.
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"Claim 1844 Jacque Germain, Nicholas Jarrot 400 acres. At l'Abbe, thirteen miles above Cahokia." This is in Section 32, of Township 3-9, on the borders of Horse Shoe Lake and not far distant from Venice.
"Claim 133 Jean Baptiste Gouville, alias .Rappellay, Nicholas Jarrot 400 acres. Affirmed to Jarrot. Situated at Canteen about ten miles above Cahokia." This claim includes "l'Abbe" itself, the monastery of the Monks of La Trappe, who from 1810 to 1813, resided on "Monk's Mound." It lies mostly in Sections 35 and 36, of Town 3-9.
"Claim 1883 Joseph Hanson, Nicholas Jarrot 400 acres. Affirmed to Jarrot. Situated at Marais Mensoui." This lies mostly in Section 26 of Town 3-9, and on the borders of Horse Shoe Lake, which may be intended by Marais Mensoui.
Claim 637 James Kinkead, James Kinkead by George H. Dougherty 400 acres. In the Mississippi bottom four or five miles above the ferry op- posite St. Louis." This lies in Township 3-10, in Sections 25 and 26, about two miles above Venice.
"Claim 1855 (4?) Baptiste Lionais, Nicholas Jarrot 400 acres. Affirmed. Situated opposite the mouth of Missouri." Nearly the whole of this claim had been swept away by the ceaseless abrasion of the Missouri. The landing of the Madison County Coal Company is upon the remnant of it on Section 32 of Town 5-9.
"Claim 902 Isaac Levy, Isaac Darneille 400 acres. On the river l'Abbe above Cahokia about twelve miles, near where the French Church stood." The most of this claim lies in St. Clair County-a part in Sections 34 and 35 of Township 3-9, close to Canteen Village.
"Claim 1838 Michel Pichette, Nicholas Jarrot 400 acres. At a place called l'Abe river [Cahokia Creek again] eight miles above Cahokia." The most of this claim lies in Section 31 of Township 3-9.
"Claim 1653 Isaac West. I. West 400 acres. By the testimony of George Atcheson and David Waddle, that this land on which the actual improve- ment was made has been included in the survey of James Pigott; and by Alexander Waddle and Amos Squire that this claim has been surveyed about the year 1802,in the place where the said West now lives; affirmed." This tract is in Section 19 etc., of 3-8.
These twelve claims are all relating to Madison County, that we find in the first report of Michael Jones and E. Backus Commissioners, dated Kaskaskia December 31st 1809.
In their "statement of claims founded in acts of Congress, granting donations of four hundred acres each to the heads of families in the dis- triet of Kaskaskia, affirmed by the Board," over the same date and signa- tures we find only-
"Claim 527 James Biswell. Heirs of Biswell 400 acres. To legal repre- sentatives." This joins and is a part of the same survey with claim 526 already mentioned.
By far the largest number of claims are found under "a statement of claims founded on an act of Congress granting a donation of one hundred acres of land to each militia man enrolled and doing duty in the Illinois on the 1st day of August 1790 within the district of Kaskaskia, affirmed by the Board," composed of the same members and dated at the same time and place as above.
"Claim 1869 Jean Brugier, Nicholas Jarrot 100 acres. Affirmed and located together with claim of Lonis Menard, No. 1880, and others." This claim lies in Township 4-9, a little above the town of Madison and mostly beneath the waters of the Mississippi.
"Claims 1324 Mathew Rene Bouvet, James Haggin 100 acres. On the
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MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
head waters of Judy's Creek." This is mostly in Sections 22 and 23 of 4-8, not above two miles south of Edwardsville.
"Claim 338 (a) Louis Bibo, [or Biboux on the Surveys.] Samuel Judy 100 acres affirmed. See description under Louis Laflammes claim, 338." Four claims were located together, mostly in Sections 32 and 33 of 4-8, by Samuel Judy, apparently about 1800 On this farm an orchard was set out in 1502 or 1803 and a brick house which still stands, was builtin 1810 and 1811. "Claim 605 Lonis Bison, Isom Gillham 100 acres affirmed. Beginning at Samuel Judy's south-west corner" etc. This is in Section 5 of 3-8.
"Claim 2603 George Biggs, John Whitesides 100 acres affirmed. Located on Wood River, including a mill." This includes the site of the former town of Milton, in Section 17 of 5-9, and covers in part at least claim 2056.
"98 Jean Beaulieu, Nicholas Jarrot 100 acres, affirmed. On Cahokia Creek in the Mississippi Bottom." This is near the mouth of Indian Creek, in Section 7 and 8 of 4-8, and was a mill site in the early days of the county. At the June term of the Court of Common Pleas in 1815 we find a verdict of inquest of John Robinson and others to the effect that a mill dam seven feet high could be built without damage to any persons' land.
"Claim 1258 (a) Francois Campeau, John Rice Jones 100 acres. This lo- cation includes the claims of Pierre Martin, jr., J. B. Raplais, Jacque Mulott, Lonis Harmond, Joseph Poirier, Dennis Lavertue, Philip de Boeuf, Jas. Lamarch, Constant Longtemps, Affirmed. This claim with nine others has been located in the Mississippi Bottom, between Grand Isle and Preque Isle opposite Isle of Cattarot, bounded by the Mississippi West." This Survey lies in Sections 1 and 12 of 3-10. Grand Isle is now known as Choteau's Island, Prevue Isle is probably the peninsula on which Old Venice was situated and the Isle of Cattarot is probably intend- ed for Isle of Cabaret; now known as Cabaret Island, or as mis-spelled on our County Map Gabberet Island. Isle de Cabaret or Tavern Island is the probable meaning.
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