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 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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"Claim 485 (a) Pierre Clement, John Briggs 100 acres. On the bank of the Mississippi adjoining Cahokia Common; surveyed with Antoine Labu- sceir's claim." This lies in Section 36 of 3-10, on the south line of the county.
"Claim 753 Frances [Francis] Colline, John Bloone, [Blcom] 100 acres. Affirmed. See description under Francois Deneme's claim 752."
"Claim 755 Thomas Callahan, John Bloone, [Bloom] 100 acres. Affirm- ed. See description under Francois Deneme's claim."
"Claims 752 Francois Deneme, John Bloom 100 acres. Affirmed with two above on Canteen Creek." Part of this survey lies in Sections 31 and 32 of 3-8; the remainder in St. Clair County.
"Claim 754 J. B. Derousse St. Pierre, John Bloom 100 acres. Affirmed and surveyed adjoining Etienne Pincenoe." [Pencenneau?] Probably in Section 35 or 36 of 3-10.
"Claim 1258 (2d) Jean B. Girand, alias Jean Pierre, John Rice Jones 100 acres. Affirmed and conveyed by Jones to Thomas Gilham, and located in Goshen adjoining Samuel Jndy and Isham [Isom] Gilham." This is in Sections 4 and 5 of 3-8; Goshen is used as the designation for the other - wise unnamed locality. In the early records of the Court of Common Pleas of Madison County, this part is designated as Goshen Township.
"Claim 1745, Elisha Harrington, Uel Whitesides 100 acres, Sec 1061 hereafter.
"Claim 1258 (b) Louis Harmond, John Rice Jones, 100 acres." See 1258. (a)
"Claim 115 Charles Hebert, (alias Cadien) Nicholas Jarrot 100 acres. Affirmed and located with others on the bank of the Mississippi, about two miles below the mouth of Mad river. See Louis Menard's claim 1880." This claim was in Sections 8 and 9 of 4-9, but is now nearly all washed away. Mad river is probably Wood river.
"Claim 338 (b) Jacob Judy, Samuel Judy 100 acres, Affirmed. This with Louis Laflamme's claims and others, surveyed." See 338. (a)
5-
34
A GÁZETTEER OF
"Claim 1841 Baptiste Lecompte, Nicholas Jarrot 100 acres. Affirmed." This is in Section 17 of 4-9, close by Madison Landing.
"Claim 1851 Barzle Lecompte, Nicholas Jarrot 100 acres, Affirmed." This is immediately in front of the one last mentioned, includes the site of Madison and is about one-third washed away.
"Claim 1719 Louis Le Brun, jr .. Thomas Kirkpatrick 100 acres. Affirm- ed by the Board and located." This is in Section 23 of 4-8.
"Claim 1258 (c) Constant Longtemps, John Rice Jones, 100 acres." See 1258. (a)
"Claim 1258 (d) Dennis Levertue, John Rice Jones, 100 acres," See 1258. (a)
"Claim 125S (e) Philip Le Beauf, ]Le Boeuf?] alias Laflamme, John Rice Jones 100 acres. See 1258. (a)
"Claim 1258 (f) Joseph Lemarch, [Lamarch, ] John Rice Jones, 100 acres." See 1258. (a)
"Claim 331 Francis Louval, Henry Cook, 100 acres. Affirmed and sur- veyed. Situated on the waters of Judy's Creek. (This survey includes the militia claim of Wm. Young Whitesides 330.") This on the corners of Sections 4, 5, 8 and 9 of 3-8, near the the claim of Samuel Judy in Goshen.
"Claim 338 (c) Louis Laflamme, Samuel Judy 100 acres. Affirmed and surveyed with the claims of Louis Bibaux, Francois Ritchie and Jacob Judy, St. Clair County in the Mississippi Bottom." See 338 (a).
"Claim 484 John Lisle, John Biggs, 100 acres. Affirmed and located; beginning at a stake on the banks of the Mississippi," etc.
"485 (b) Antoine Labussiere, John Biggs, 100 acres, Affirmed." See 455 (a).
"Claim 991 Pierre Lejoy, Thos. Kirkpatrick 100 acres. Affirmed; located on Cahokia Creek, three miles east of the Mississippi. This lies mostly in Sections 2 and 3 of 5-8, and ineludes the north-western part of Edwards- ville." "At the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick the Honorable John G. Lof- ton and the Honorable Jacob Whiteside, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Madison County, took their seats and proceeded to business as a County Court" on the 5th day of April 1813. This claim is noted as three iniles east of the Mississippi. It is about eight.
"Claim 1880 Louis Menard, Nicholas Jarrot 100 acres. Affirmed, located together with claim of J. B. Brugier, Barzel Leconte, Charles Hebert and another to be substituted to cover his mill seat near the the mouth of Wood River." Claim 1880 is in Section S of 4-9, and now mainly washed away by the river.
"Claim 1258 (g) Pierre Martain jr., John Rice Jones, 100 acres." See 1258 (a).
"Claim 1258 (h) Jacque Mulot, John Rice Jones, 100 acres." See 1258 (a).
"Claim 1258 (i) Joseph Poirier, John Rice Jones 100 acres." See 1258 (a).
"Claim 600 Levi Piggot, Benjamin Casteline, 100 acres. Affirmed and Surveyed on Canteen Creek with Louis Rhali, No. 599." This lies mostly in Section 29 of 3-8, near Collinsville.
"Claim 125S (k) Jean Bapt. Rappalais, John Rice Jones, 100 acres." See 1258 (a).
"Claim 338 (d) Francis Ritchie, Samuel Judy 100 acres, affirmed." See 339 (a).
"Claim 599 Louis Rhelle, Renjamin Casterline 100 acres. Surveyed with Levi Pigget's claim No. 600 on Canteen Creek," which see above.
"Claim 113 Joseph St. Ives, Nicholas Jarrot, 100 acres." In Section 17 of 4-9 close to Madison. Mostly under the river now.
"Claim 330 William Young Whitesides, Henry Cook, 100 acres. Af- firmed and surveyed with Francois Louval's claim 133," which see above.
"Claim 545, David Waddle, David Waddle 100 acres. Affirmed and loca- ted with two other militia claims in Six Mile Prairie. (This survey in- cludes the militia claim of Alexander Waddle, and the improvement right of 250 acres of this claimant.") They lie mostly in Sections 31 and 32 of 4-9.
35
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
"Claim 546 Alexander Waddle, Alexander Waddle, 100 acres." See 545.
"Claim 1061, John Whitesides, John Whitesides, 100 acres. Affirmed and surveyed with Elisha Harrington's claim 1745. Situated on the waters of Cahokia Creek, St. Clair County." In Sections 1 and 2 of 3-S.
On the 24th of February, 1813, the Commissioners in their "Report on clainis to lands within the district of Kaskaskia, which have been con- firmed by the Governors of the Territory," discuss:
"Claim 2056 John Edgar claims four arpents in front by forty in depth at Piasa, so-called, in virtue of an improvement said to have been made by J. Baptiste Cardinal; and the claim appears to have been conveyed to John Edgar by deed dated 17th, September, 1795, witnessed by La Violette and acknowledged before William Morrison, April 10th of the same year -five months before its execution. This Board is fully impressed with the belief that the name of this witness was written by John Edgar. It is further remarkable that although the said Cardinal affixes his mark to the deed, the claimaint [Edgar] adduces in proof of the fairness of this transaction a letter from said Cardinal, dated the 29th of July of the same vear offering him this land, which is signed by himself in a very good hand.
"It is further apparent from the most respectable testimony that no im- provement in early times was here made,"
On the 4th of January 1813 the Commissioners Michael Jones, John Cald- well and Thomas Sloo, "a list of claims confirmed by the Governors of the North-West and Indiana Territories, to those persons who improved and cultivated land in the Illinois Country pursuant to the act of the 3rd of March 1791, (other than those entered on the affirmed list of the late Board of Commissioners for the district of Kaskaskia, transmitted by them on the 31st of December 1809,) and which in the opinion of the Com- missioners ought to be confirmed by Congress." Among these we find:
"Claim 602, original claimant Peter Casterline; person to whom con- firmed by Governor, Peter Casterline, person by whom claimed before late Boad; Peter Casterline. * Governor confirming, Harrison; 250 acres." This lies mostly in Section 32 of 3-8, on the bluffs near Collinsville.
"Claim 328, Isaac Enochs; Isaac Enochs; Jacob Whitesides, Gov. Har- rison; 250 acres." In Sections 4 and 9 of 4-9. Nearly all washed away.
"Claim 517 Abraham Rain: widow and heirs Rain; Uel and Bolen Whitesides, Harrison, 250 acres. This is in Section 20 and 21 of 4-9. The name of Rain is spelled Rainer on the surveys.
"Claims 756 John Sullivan, Larkin Rutherford, Larkin Rutherford, Harrison, 440 arpents." This is mostly in Sections ;8 and 9 of 5-9, and embraces the farm of the Hon. Cyrus Edwards, the only claim in the vicinity.
"Claim 544 David Waddle, David Waddle, David Waddle, Harrison 250 acres." See claim 545 above.
The above five claims were all, it will be seen, confirmed by Governor William H. Harrison.
We find two more claims considered under the heading of "A transcript of claims which are derived from confirmations made by the Governors of the Northwest and Indiana Territories to those persons who had im-
*In the following paragraphs the words "Original Claimant,"-"Person to whom confirmed by the Governor,"-"Person by whom claimed before the Board," and "Governor confirming," will be omitted.
36
A GAZETTEER OF
proved and cultivated lands in the Illinois country, in pursuance of the fourth section of the act of the 3rd March, 1791; but which are unsupported before the Board of Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the act of the 20th of February, 1812."
First is a consideration of the case already given of the "improvement of Jean Bte. Cardinal.
"No 2056. The claim of John Edgar, assignee of Jean Bte. Cardinal for one hundred arpents of land, in virtue of Court deed and improvement. This claim derives its validity from a confirmation made by Governor St. Clair to the said John Edgar. It is proved that about thirty years ago, Jean Bte. Cardinal lived at Paisa, five or six leagues above Cahokia; that he built a house and resided there with his family; that he was taken prisoner by the Indians, when his family were obliged to abandon there, and retired to the village of Cahokia; that no cultivation is recollected to have been observed. Should the foregoing claim be confirmed by Con- gress, the Commissioners would recommend that the confirmation be to the said Cardinal, or his legal representatives, as the title papers of the said John Edgar appear not to be regular." This looks to a settlement within the bounds of the county as early as 1785.
"Improvement of Philip Gallaghen, No. 2079. The claim of John Edgar assignee of Philip Gallahen, for four hundred acres in right of cultivation and improvement.
"This claim likewise derives its validity from a confirmation made by Governor Harrison to said Edgar.
"The deponents state that they knew said Gallaghen, but I know of no improvement made by him." This claim was located in Sections 8 and 17 of 4-8, on the bluffs.
Also over the date of Jannary 4th 1813 we find "a list of militia dona- tions granted by the Governors of the North-West and Indiana Territories in pursuance of the act of the 3rd of March 1791 (other than those which were reported in the affirmed list of the late Board of Commissioners for the district of Kaskaskia,) and which in the opinion of the present Com- missioners, ought to be confirmed. The following belong to Madison County.
"Claim 548, original claimant Jean Baptiste Becket; confirmed by Gov- ernor to Etienne Pencennoe; claimed before the late Board by Etienne Pencennoe; Governor Harrison 100 acres." This is in township 3-10 and covers a part of the town plat of Venice.
"Claim 549, Auguste Belcour; Auguste Belcour, Etienne Pencennoe; Harrison 100 acres. Adjoining 548.
"Claim 103 Raphael Belanger; N. Jarrot; N. Jarrot; Harrison; 100 acres. Also in 3-10.
"Claim 19)7 Charles Deneau; Hannah Hillman; Harrison; 100 acres."
"Claim 104 Stephen Louis Lamall, A. Jarrot; A. Jarrot, Harrison, 100 acres.
"Claim 609 Charles Francois Lancier; Charles Francois Lancier; [Selucier on Surveys.] Thomas H. Talbot; Harrison; 100 acres." In Sec- tions 33 and 34 of 3-8 just south of Collinsville and extending into St. Clair County.
"Claim 928 James Whitesides; James Whitesides; James Whitesides; Harrison; 100 acres. In Sections 16, 20 and 21 of 4-8; on the bluffs.
The above enumeration comprises it is believed all the claims which were located partly or entirely within the present boundaries of Madison. The list comprises 69 "claims" which are included in 48 "Surveys." Of
37
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
these 49 are for 100 acres; 13 for 400; 3 for 250; 1 for 300 1 for 160 arpents; and 1 for 440 arpents.
The following is their location by townships. .
3- 7, contains all or most of.
2 claims.
1 survey.
3- 8,
18
11
4- 8,
8
66
8
66
3- 9,
21
9
66
4- 9, 66
66
S
..
S
5- 9,
60
9
S
-
Total
69
45
It will be seen by this that they are confined to the south and west part of the county.
Through the kindness of Don Alonzo Spaulding, Esq., late Surveror General of Illinois and Missouri, and Fred H. Mosberger, Esq., Recorder, U. S. Recorder's Office, St. Louis, Mo., we are enabled to present in a tabular form a
LIST Showing at what time the United States Surveys were made within the present County of Madison, State of Illinois, and the names of the Deputy Survey- ors, who executed the same, and reference to No. of Volume, in which the Field Notes are contained.
Towships all North of the Base Line, and Ranges West of the 3rd Principal Meri- dian.
TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES AND SUBDIVISION.
TOWNS'P
RANGE.
WHEN SURVEYED.
BY WHOM SURVEYED.
REMARKS.
South boundary ..
3 . 5 |April 1808.
John Messenger
Vol 12
East boundary .....
31
5
April 1808.
M Moore ..
Vol 12.
Subdivision ..
3
5 Dec 1813.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 43.
South boundary.
4
5 April 1808.
MI Moore.
Vol 12.
East boundary.
1
5 May 1808.
John Messenger
Vol 12.
Subdivision
5
Dec Jan, 1813-14. J Milton Moore.
Vol 43.
5 :
5
April, May 1808 ..; J Messenger
Vol 12.
5
5 Jan 1814.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 44.
6
5 May 1818.
Tho W Thurston.
Vol SS.
6
5 June 1818 ...
Tho W Thurston.
Vol 89.
7
5 June 1818 ..
J Milton Moore.
Vol 86.
3
6 April 1808.
John Messenger.
Vol 12.
3
6 Dec 1813.
Enoch Moore
Vol 43.
4
6 April 1808.
John Messenger
Vol 12.
4 1 6
6 April 1808.
John Messenger.
Vol 12
5
6 April, May 1808 .; John Messenger
Vol 12.
5
6Feb 1814.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 14.
5
6 Feb, March 1814 6 Feb 1814 ..
J Milton Moore.
Vol 41 ...
6
6 May 1818.
Tho W Thurston
Vol $8, 90 ...
6 6 May, June 1818 ..
JS Conway.
Vol 91 ...
Vol S6.
3 7 |April 1808.
John Messenger.
V 12, 18, 54.
3
7 April 1808.
John Messenger
V 12, 18, 51.
3
7 Feb 1S11 ..
Win Rector ..
Vol 51 ..... ...
South boundary .. East boundary ....
4
7 April 1808
John Messenger
V 12, 17, 54.
Subdivision.
7
Feb 1812
Wni Rector ..
Vol 56.
South boundary ..
5:7 April, May 1808 John Messenger.
Vol 12.
East boundary ....
5, 7 Feb 1814
J Milton Moore.
Vol 4-1 ..
4
5 Feb 1814.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 44.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 4-1 ..
South boundary .. South boundary .. East boundary .... Subdivision
3
6 April 1808.
M Moore ...
Vol 12.
South boundary .. East boundary ... Subdivision
Dec, Jan 1813-14. ' Enoch Moore ..
Vol 43.
South boundary .. East boundary ... Subdivision
J Milton Moore.
Vol 44.
6
South boundary .. East boundary .... Subdivision
6 June 1818.
J Milton Moore ..
South boundary .. South boundary .. East boundary .... Subdivision ..
4 7 April 1808.
John Messenger.
Vol 12 ..
South boundary .. East boundary .... Subdivision
South boundary .. East boundary .... Subdivision
Feb 1814.
3
3
6-10,
38
A GAZETTEER OF
LIST OF SURVEYS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37.
TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES AND SUBDIVISIONS.
6 6 6 999SI | TOWNS'P'
WHEN SURVEYED.
BY WHOM SERVEYFD.
REMARKS.
Subdivision
March 1814.
J Milton Moore ..... ...
Vol 44.
South boundary ..
7
March 1814.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 41.
East boundary. ...
7 June 1818.
JS Conway
Vol 90.
Subdivision
7 Oct, Nov 1818.
Charles Powell
Vol 92
South boundary ..
7
June 1818.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 86 ..
South boundary ..
3
S Dec 1807
Messenger
V 12, 55, 58*
Subdivision
3
8
May 1810 Ap 1'15
H Morley, E Barcroft.
Vol 55, 58 ..
South boundary ..
1
8 Jan 1808
Moore.
Vol 12.
East boundary ....
1
8 Jan ISOS
Messenger ..
Vol 12.
Subdivision
4
8 'March 1812.
Geo Frazer, G Marshall
Vol 55.
South boundary ..
5
8 Jan 1808.
Messenger ..
Vol 12
5
8 March 1814
J Milton Moore.
Vol 44.
5
S March, Ap'l 1814
J Milton Moore.
Vol 41
South boundary .. 6
CO
March 1814
J Milton Moore
Vol 44
East boundary. ...
6
8 Oct IS18 ..
Charles Powell
Vol 92.
Subdivision
8 Jan 1819.
Joseph Borough.
Vol 93.
South boundary ..
7
8 June 1818.
J Milton Moore.
Vol 86.
South boundary ..
3
9 Jan ISOS.
Messenger
Vol 12, 57 ..
East boundary ....
3
9
Jan 1808.
Moore
Vol 12.
Subdivision .
9
May 1813
G W Frazer.
Vol 57 ..
South boundary .. 4
9 Jan 1808.
Moore
Vol 12, 57
East boundary .... 4
9 Jan ISOS.
Messenger ..
Vol 12 ..
Subdivision
9
Ap'l May 1811-13 Jan 1808
Messenger
Vol 12.
East boundary.
5
9 March 1812
Gilbert Marshall
Vol 57
Subdivision
5
9 March Ap'l 1812
Gilbert Marshall
Vol 57.
South boundary ..
9 Marclı 1812
Gilbert Marshall.
Vol 57.
East boundary ... 6
9 NovISIIS.
Joseph Borough.
Vol 93.
Subdivision
6
9 Feb 9.
J Messenger
Vol 95.
South boundary ..
7
9 June SI8
J Milton Moore.
Vol 86.
South boundary ..
6
10 April 1812.
Elias Barcroft.
Vol 57
East boundary ....
6.10
J Messenger.
Vol 94.
Subdivision ..
6 10 Jan 1819 ..
J Messenger, J Judy, J D Bates V 91 96 527+
South boundary ..
7|10 June, Dec 1818.
J Milton Moore,jJ Messinger ... | Vol 86, 94 ...
Township 5, Range 10, (in which the City of Alton is situated,) was surveyed by Elias Barcroft in .April and May, 1812 and 1813, Vol. 57.
*The two latter connections.
+Survey of Islands in Vol. 327. (Islands Nos. 60 and 61.)
EARLY EMIGRATION.
It does not appear that any permanent settlements were made by the French, either at this or any subsequent period prior to the commence- ment of the American emigration from the East within the present limits of Madison County, though the statement is made by Governor Reynolds that "the French had resided upon the Big Island in the Mississippi below the mouth of the Missouri at intervals for fifty or sixty years before (1804.) Squire LeCroix who died in Cahokia an old man, a few years since was born on that Island." [Choteau's Island.]
But however this may be they left little to mark the fact of their exis- tence, and exerted virtually no influence upon the infant fortunes of the country. It remained for a hardier, bolder, more intelligent and more
East boundary .... 3
8 Jan 1808.
Messenger
Vol 12.
East boundary .... Subdivision
G
4
G W Frazer, C Lockhart.
Vol 51
South boundary .. 5
9
3
39
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
industrious class, the brain and pith, the bone and sinew of a new civiliz- ation just breaking from the restraints of European tyranny-American born-to develope the wonderful resources of this still more wonderful country, with its abundance of mineral wealth, its soil of exuberant fertility, its magnificent natural features, and to make it what it must soon become, the garden of Illinois.
Emigration in earnest commenced to flow into the Illinois country after the division of the Indiana Territory in 1800. The American and even the French settlements began to extend themselves throughout the west- ern section of Illnois. In this year (1800) the first white man located him- self at Goshen, more than twenty miles in advance of the settlements. His name was Ephraim O'Conner, and he located in the American Bottom near the bluff, five or six miles south-west from the present town of Edwardsville. Col. Samuel Judy bought out O'Connor in 1801; lived upon this spot more than the third of a century and died in the same place .*
The Rev. David Badgley and some others in 1799 explored the country at present embraced in the County of Madison, and called it "Goshen." They gave it this name on account of the fertility of the soil, and the con- sequent luxuriant growth of vegetation. It was indeed a land of promise, and some years afterward was the largest and best settlement in Illinois.
Goshen settlement, so called in early times, embraced about the whole territory of Madison County, and was in its early history as it has always been, a compact happy and prosperous community. In 1801 the first white settlers located in Six Mile Prairie, within the present limits of the County. Their names were Patrick Hanniberry and - Wiggins. The latter had a family, but Hanniberry was a single man. Their settle- ment received the name of the Six Mile Prairie, from the situation, which was six miles north of St. Louis, in Upper Louisiana.
The emigrants to the country at this period were mostly from the South- ern and Western States. Very few eastern people settled in Illinois at that early day, and the Ohio river was the main channel by which the hardy pioneers reached their new homes in the wilderness ..
AN INDIAN MURDER .- The infant colony in Goshen Settlement was early called to experience the perils of a new country, and the cruelty of a savage and treacherous foe. In 1802, Turkey-Foot, an evil disposed and cruel Chief of a band of Potawatamie Indians and his party returning homeward from Cahokia to their towns toward Chicago fell in with two men named Dennis and Van Meter, at the foot of the Mississippi bluff, about five miles southwest of the town of Edwardsville and murdered them in cold blood. The country contained at that day very few inhabi- tants above Cahokia, and Turkey-Foot seeing the Americans extending their settlements toward his country took fire at the spectacle, and with
*Hon. Thos. Judy, grandson of Samuel Judy, thinks the latter came to Goshen in 1793.
40
A GAZETTEER OF
true savage and unreasoning ferocity wreaked his resentment on the first who crossed his path. No further acts of hostility were committed at this time and the murder seems rather to have been regarded as an outburst of drunken fnry than as indicating any settled purpose of enmity to the whites.
In the year 1802 the whole country extended its borders. Many citizens left the older settlements and pressed forward toward the frontiers. The Goshen settlement among others was considerably enlarged and improved.
The Gillham# and Whiteside families settled there at this time. These two large connections embraced nearly all the inhabitants of the settle- ment. The Seybolds, Groots, Casterlines and others located at the foot of the bluff, above Quentine or Cantine Creek. [Canteen?]
In IS03 Samuel Joel Whiteside made the first improvements on Ridge Prairie, six or eight miles south of where Edwardsville now stands. These settlements for the most part were made by pioneers who had already been in the country for many years, and who had been ac- customed to a frontier life. The whole frontier was then exposed to the incursions of Indians, not entirely friendly to the whites, and the hardiest, and bravest of the old settlers were required to display a bold front to the fierce and roving bands who infested the settlements at that day.
One of the greatest drawbacks to the growth of the colonies was the want of mills, schools and houses of worship.
WANT OF MILLS .- The greatest difficulty was experienced in procuring a supply of meal. Flour at that time was not much in use. All the fron- tiers of Goshen settlement, and 'in fact all the upper colonies were com- pelled to go to Cahokia, in what is now St. Clair County, to procure their supplies. The extreme settlements being obliged for many years to travel fifty miles or more for this purpose. To relieve absolute want the band mill propelled by horse power made its appearance, and was hailed as a kind of God-send. Several of these mills were erected in Goshen settle- inent. The Pruitts built one on the edge of the prairie, a few miles east of the present site of Collinsville. Talbot had first a horse mill and after- wards a water mill, on the Quentine Creek, south of Collinsville. Cor- nelins built a water mill on the same creek below. Elliott had a horse mill south of the present location of Edwardsville, about three miles dis- tant. Carpenter kept one in the Six Mile Prairie, and Thomas Kirkpat rick built a water mill on Cahokia Creek adjoining the site of Edwards-
* The Gillhan subsequently became the most numerous of any family in the county, as is illustrated by the fact that at one time it was a common remark among the people, that "a candidate whose named headed the County Ticket would rarely be elected unless he had some of the Gillham connection also on the ticket."
41
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ville. These were the pioneer mills of the frontier for many years, and were all built before 1807.
Soon after the purchase of Louisiana, President Jefferson had projected a tour of exploration and discovery across the continent to the Pacific, with the object of acquiring information of the country between the two oceans, and to secure the friendship and trade of the Indians. The ex- pedition consisting in all of thirty-four men camped during the winter of 1803-04, in the American Bottom not far from the Mississippi below the mouth of Wood river. This camp was the ultima thule of the white settle- ments in Illinois at that period.
During this year, (1804,) the Goshen settlements were extended further toward the north, James Stockton and Abraham Pruitt being the first to make settlements at the foot of the bluffs not far from Wood river.
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