Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 28

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

northward to the Sangamon; but it is, how- ever, of no considerable elevatlou. East of the road are some lakes or swamps, from which the two branches of Shoal Creek receive their first water. The entire region south of this prairie elevatiou is especially distinguished by the eleva- tion of the prairie and by the smoothness and fertility of the land; however, no spring or river water is to be found anywhere in it. In general the few springs which may possibly be there occur only in the bordering timber. .

"As soon as one arrives upon the elevation and northern side of this prairie, the grass of the prairie changes and the ground becomes visibly better. The river banks decline in a gentle slope from the prairie to the water, and are likewise covered with woods, which also shows the greater fertility of the soil. We find here in the State of Illinois almost the same variety of woods that are found in Ohlo; and I found in addition to the soft maple, the sugar tree, which, in its leaves, differs but little from it. The inhabitants regard the latter as far better for the production of sugar.

"On Sugar Creek, where we passed the second night, we found, right at the point of timber, a family who had not yet finished their cabin. Half a mile farther three families had settled near an excellent spring, and here we passed the night. Upon this little stream, which, about fifteen miles to the north of its source, empties into the Sangamon, about sixty farms have been laid out, indeed all since this spring of 1819. They have only broken up the sod of the prairie with the plow and planted their corn, and now one sees these splendid fields covered, almost without exception, with corn from ten to fifteen feet high. It is no wonder that such a high degree of fruitfulness attracts men to bid defi- ance to the various dangers and inconveniences that might, up to this time, present themselves to such a settlement. And one can, therefore, predict that possibly no region in all this broad America will be so quickly populated as this. Nevertheless, one must regard as venturesome dare devils all settlers who thus early have lo- cated here, for they trespassed upon the posses- sions of the Indians and ran the risk of being driven ont or kilied during the great annual hunt of the Indians, if that treaty at Edwards- ville had not fortunately been made. . If now all these considerations and actuai dangers could not restrain them from migrating

to this territory, this, then, is the most con- vincing proof of its value, and that it is justly styled 'the beautiful land of the Sangamon.' "

(The point visited by Mr. Ernst at this time was evidently in the immediate vicinity of the home of Robert Puliiam, the first settler of Sangamon County, who came to this region and erected a cabin on Sugar Creek in 1817, al- though he did not bring his family here until some two years later. Mr. Ernst's narrative continues : )

"From Sugar Creck we turned immediately westward with the intention of reaching the point where the Sangamon empties into the Illinois, and there crossing the former to the north bank. We crossed Lake Creek (by 'Lake Creek' here mentioned is evidently meant what is now known as Lick Creek, which empties into Sugar Creek about six miles south of Springfield), then the two branches of Spring Creek, both of which flow in the open prairie -a thing which I had never before seen here in America. On the other side of Spring Creek is a camping gronnd of Indians, whence the prairie rises to gentle hills, where we found two springs shaded simply by a few trees. The water of these brooks flows swift and clear through the luxuriant prairie, the high grass of which reaches above the head of the horse- man. From these two little brooks rises a plain which extends to Richland Creek."

(The reference here to the two branches of Spring Creek-Big Spring and Little Spring Branch-indicates clearly the portion of Sanga- mon County through which Mr. Ernst's trip ex- tended, passing northwestwardly through the vicinity of the present town of Curran toward Richland Creek, which flows eastwardly from Pleasant Plains, in the northwest corner of the county, to Salisbury, and near there empties into the Sangamon. After spending the night at the home of a farmer named Shaffer, Mr. Ernst proceeded northward and in the vicinity of Richiand Creek found three or four other farms, but owing to the intense heat and being compelled to travel through dense forests and underbrush, he found it necessary to abandon his projected trip to the mouth of the Sangamon, some twenty-five or thirty miles distant. His story is here continued :)

"We were now obliged to proceed farther up the river, and between the mouths of Sugar and Spring Creeks we found a crossing where there

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was a canoe In which we crossed and let the horses swim alongside. The bank of the river is here about fifty feet high, measured from the surface of the Sangamon, where a broad plain is formed-a grand spot for the founding of a city. . . As soon as we had left the timher of the Sangamon, upon the other bank, we came into another large prairie where a not Insignificant hill covered with timber attracted our attention. It was Elkhart (Grove). This place is renowned on account of its agreeable and advantageons situation. A not too steep hill, about two miles in circuit, provided with two excellent springs, Is the only piece of tim- bered land in a prairie from six to eight miles broad."

As Mr. Ernst's narrative says that his cross- ing of the Sangamon took place between the months of Sugar and Spring Creeks-the loca- tion of the latter (the more westerly of the two) being directly north of the eastern portlon of the city of Springfield-it is evident that the crossing occurred at some point northeast of Springfield, and that in order to reach this point he must have passed near or over the site of the present city, where the Kelly broth- ers became the first settlers during the same year (1819). The Mr. Latham, whom Mr. Ernst. met at Elkhart Hlli, was James Latham, the head of the well-known Latham family, who settled there-now the southwest corner of Lo- gan County-in 1819, and two years later, after the organization of the original Sangamon County, became the first Probate Judge of the county. Except Peoria, Elkhart was then recog- mized as the most northly settlement in Iliinols east of the Mississippi River, and It was not until this year that a final permanent settle- ment of Peoria was made. Elkhart later be- came the home of John Dean Gillett, a success- ful agriculturist and stock-grower of Illinois.

From the conditions existing as he saw them at the time, Mr. Ernst took it for granted that the Sangamon River must be permanently navi- gable for a distance of "at least 300 mlles from its union with the Illinois"-although Its head- waters had not then been explored. He was also deeply impressed (as were the French ex- plorers) with the posslhillties of a water-way connection between the Illinois and Lake Michi- gan by the construction of "a 12-mile canal," and as shown by the following quotation, took

an especially optimistic view of the future of Illinols as a State:

"By means of this canal" (between the Illi- nois and Lake Michigan), "iniaid navigation would he opened up from New York to New Orleans, a distance of 3,000 English miles. Such an internal water-way not only does not exist at the present time in the whole world, but It will never exist anywhere else. Besides, this State enjoys the navigation of its boundary and internal rivers amounting to 3,094 miles, and all are placed In communication with each other through the Mississippi. In short, I do not believe that any one State in all America is so highly favored by nature in every respect as the State of Illinois."

Later, after giving evidence of his falth ill the future of Illlnols and its future capital by the purchase of town lots at Vandalia, Mr. Ernst took a trip to the Missouri, and then up the Mississippi (past Alton) to the moutli of the Illinols and some distance up that stream. Of the latter he says: "There Is certainly no river in North America better adapted to navl- gation up stream than the Illinois." Then, after agaln alluding to the possibilities of a unlon of Lake Michigan with the Illinois, he turns to the Missouri with the prediction-

"The Missouri River may possibly at some time hecome the channel through which the Americans will carry on their commerce in the Pacific Ocean with China. There is already much talk about the Government putting in shape the not very iong road between the sources of the Missourl, over the White (Rocky) Mountains, to the headwaters of the Columbia, which empties into the Pacific. In any event, tilis road to the Pacific will be the short- est and, In the future. the safest and most pass- able. What flourishing elties St. Louis and New Orleans will become !"

While, if the writer of this entertalning story, of more than ninety years ago, had lived to the present day, he might not have scen his pleture of a road connecting the navigable waters of the Missouri and Columbia realized, he would have seen it more than transformed into a reality by the connecting of the shores of the Atlantic and the Pacific by more than one continental iine of railroad-then not dreamed of- and the problem of uniting the waters of Lake Michigan and the Illinois already solved. And, although he foresaw with unerring accuracy the astonisli-

Henry Taylor, Jr. & Co. Chicago.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

ing development of St. Louis and New Orleans, there was not even a hint of the future metropo- lis of the Central West and the second city on the American continent except the mention of Chicago River as the gateway to the lakes. Except as a millitary station Chicago was not then in existence.

A STEAMBOAT TRIP UP THE SANGAMON. (By Clinton L. Conkling.)

In the early days the water ways were the main avenues of communication and efforts were made to navigate every stream to the highest point possible. As attempts were made to navi- gate the Kaskaskia River, on whose banks the first and second capitals of the state were io- cated, so were efforts made to navigate the Sangamon and with not dissimilar results.

In the "Sangamo Journal" of January 26, 1832, there appears a letter from Vincent A. Bogue, written In Cincinnati and addressed to Edward Mitchell, Esq., ot Springfield. Mr. Bogue says he will attempt the navigation of the Sangamon River if he can find a suitable boat, and expresses the opinion that if he suc- ceeds it will revolutionize the freight business. This is an editorial paragraph from the "Spring- field Journal" of February 16, 1832 :

"NAVIGATION OF THE SANGAMO .- We find the foliowing advertisement in the 'Cincinnati Ga- zette' of the 19th ult. We hope such notices will soon cease to be noveltles. We seriously be- lieve that the Sangamon River, with some littie improvement, can be made navigabie for steam- boats for several months in the year."

Here is the advertisement :

"FOR SANGANO RIVER, ILLINOIS .- The splendid upper cabin steamer, Talisman, J. M. Pollock, Master, will leave for Portland, Springfield, on the Sangamon River, and all the Intermediate ports and landings, say Beardstown, Naples, St. Louls, Louisville, on Thursday, February 2. For freight or passage, apply to Capt. Vincent A. Bogue, at the Broadway Hotel, or to Allison Owen."

The same boat was advertised in the St. Louis papers.

After the above notices appeared In the "Jour- nal," the citizens of Springfield and surround- ing country held a public meeting, February 14, 1832, and appointed a committee to meet -

Mr. Bogue with a sultable number of hands to assist in clearing the river of obstructions. Another committee was appointed to collect sub- scriptlons to detray the expense. "The Journal" of March 8th anuounces the arrival of the steamer at Meredosia, where Its further pro- gress was obstructed by ice. The "Sangamo Journal" of March 29, 1832, says :

"On Saturday last the citizens of this place (Springfield) were gratified by the arrival of the steamboat Talisman, J. W. Pollock, Master, of 150 tons burthen. at the Portland landing, opposite this town. (Portland was at the south side of the Sangamon River, between where the bridges of the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois Central Rallroads now stand. ) The safe arrival of a boat of the size of the Talisman, on a river never before navigated by steamer, had created much solicitude. and the shores for miles were crowded by our citizens. IIer arrival at her destined port was halled with loud acclamations and full demonstrations of pleasure. When Capt. Bogue located luis steam-mill on Sangamon River, twelve months ago, and asserted his de- termination to land a steamboat there within a year, the idea was considered chimerical by some, and utterly impracticable by others. The experiment has been made, and the result has been as successful as the most enthusiastic could expect ; and this county owes a deep debt of gratitude to Capt. Bogue for getting up the expeditlon, and his never tiring and unceasing efforts until the end was accomplished. Capt. Pollock, who Is naturally warm and enthusiastic, entered fully into the feeling of our citizens, who visited the mouth of the river to render any and every assistance In their power ; and much credlt is due him for his perseverance and success. The boat experienced some difficulty from drifts, and leaning timber on shore, whichi made her trip somewhat tedious. The result has clearly demonstrated the practicability of navigating the river by steamboats of a proper size; and, by the expenditure of $2,000 in re- moving logs and drifts and standing timber, a steamboat of 80 tons burthen will make the trip In two days from Beardstown to this place. The citizens of Beardstown manifested great interest for the success of the enterprise, and some of them accompanied the boat mutil the result was no longer doubtful. They proposed the cutting of a communication or canal from the bluffs to their landing-about five miles-

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whereby seventy-five miles of navigation may be saved, and offered one thousand dollars to assist in completing It. It is to be hoped that the next Legislature will afford some aid in making the river safe and pleasant in its navigation. Springfield can no longer be considered an in- land town. We have no doubt but within a few months a boat will be constructed for the special purpose of navigating the Sangamo River. The result which must follow the successful termina- tion of this enterprise, to our county and to those counties lying iu its neighborhood, it would be impossible to calculate. Here is now open a most promising field for the exercise of every branch of honest industry. We congratulate our farmers, our mechanics, our merchants and professional men for the rich harvest in pros- pect, and we cordially invite emigrating citizens, from other States, whether rich or poor, if so be they are industrious and honest, to come hither and partake of the good things of Sangamo."

A ball was gotten up in honor of the arrival, and several yards of machine poetry appeared in the next number of the "Journal," detailing the various incidents connected with the wondrous event. The boat was unloaded and immediately started on its return, but the river had so fallen and brought the water within so narrow a chan- nel, that it was impossible to turn it around, and the officers and crew were compelled to back it out the entire distance. The only mention ever made of the boat afterwards was a news- paper report that the Talisman was burned at the wharf in St. Louis in the latter part of the next April. No attempt was ever made after that to bring a boat up the river, and thus ended the dream of navigating the Sangamo.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SECOND STATE CAPITAL. .

FIRST SESSION OF THE OENERAL ASSEMBLY AT KASKASKIA-PETITION FOR SITE FOR A NEW CAPITAL ORANTED BY CONORESS-COMMISSION- ERS FOR SELECTION OF SITE AND ERECTION OF STATE HOUSE APPOINTED BY THE LEGISLATURE-

VANDALIA SELECTED AND INCORPORATED IN 1821 -STORIES REGARDING CHOICE OF SITE AND NAME -QUESTION OF NAVIOABILITY OF KASKASKIA RIVER-STATE HOUSE BURNED AND THIRD SES- SION HELD IN CHURCII BUILDINO AND PRIVATE DWELLING-CITIZENS OF VANDALIA ERECT A SEC- OND STATE CAPITOL-THIS GIVES PLACE TO A NEW BUILDING IN 1836.

(By Clinton L. Conkling.)

The first session of the General Assembly for the State of Illinois convened at Kaskaskia Octo- ber 5, 1818, remaining in session eight days, when it was adjourned to January 18, 1819. This body adopted the petition to Congress pre- scribed by the Constitution, requesting a grant of land, which was complied with by act of Con- gress on March 3, 1819, granting a tract of four sections-the largest amount mentioned in the petition-to be selected by the State for the establishment thereon of the seat of government for a period of twenty years. During this same session of the General Assembly, an act was passed (which was approved March 30, 1819) providing for removal of the State capital. This act, after expressing satisfaction with the com- pliance of Congress with the petition submitted by the State Legislature, provided as follows :

1. For the appointment by joint ballot of both branches of the Legislature of five Com- missioners "to select a suitable site whereon to fix the seat of government of this State," each commissioner pledging himself "to be governed alone by the interest of this State" in discharg- ing the duties of his office.

2. That the Commissioners, "or a major part of them," should within not less than "three months from the official publication of the act of Congress," select the lands as prescribed, "said land to be situate on the Kaskaskia River, and as near as may be east of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian on said rlver."

3. That "as soon as practicable" the descrip- tion of the land selected should be transmitted "to the Registrar and Receiver of the Land Office in whose district" the land should be sit- uated, or to any other officer as may be re- quired by act of Congress.

4. That the Commissioners should have the power to employ a skillful surveyor to lay off a town on said land, choose a name for the same and draw upon the State treasury for compen- sation for the surveyor.

Mr. John M. Palmer مـ

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

5. The Commissioners were "authorized and required to sell one hundred and fifty lots (not more than ten lots to be on the public square) to the highest bidder," after advertising the sale not less than six weeks-the iots to be paid for in cash, or on credit, with approved security of six, twelve or eighteen months; also that the Commissioners be empowered to receive money from the saie of iots, giving bond and security for the same (on approval of the Governor), in doubie the amount received, payable to the State within one month after receipt of the same.

6. The Commissioners were empowered to give deeds of conveyance for all lots sold, with warranty on the part of the State.

7. As soon as practicable after the platting of the town as a State capital, the Commission- ers were required to secure a contract for the erection of "a suitable house for the reception of the General Assembly at their next stated session," the building to be two stories iu height with capacity for the accommodation of both houses,-the House of Representatives in the lower story and the Senate in the upper, with rooms for clerks, etc .- the same to be completed at least six months before the next session.

8. The eighth section prescribed that the next session should be held in the new capital building, and that this piace should remain the capital for twenty years.

Sections 9 and 10 prescribed the methods of calling meetings of the Commission and the re- porting of proceedings of the same to the Gen- eral Assembly ; the 11th provided that the sum required for the erection of a temporary state house should be paid out of money received from the saie of lots; and the 12th (and last) fixed the compensation of the Commissioners, . for the time actually spent in the public service, at three dollars per day.

Under the act of March 30, 1819, Samuel Whiteside, of Madison County; Levi Compton, of Edwards County ; William Alexander of Mon- roe County ; Thomas Cox, of Unlon County, and Guy W. Smith, of Edwards County, were ap- pointed Commissioners to carry out its provi- sions, which they did by selecting Sections 8, 9, 16 and 17, in Township 16 North, Range 1 East of the Third P. M. and located the capitol thereon. They caused a portion of these tracts to be surveyed in July, 1819, into town iots re- .

serving a block on which the capitol building should be erected.

It is said that while the Commissioners were making their way along the west bank of the Kaskaskia River (now the Okaw) In search of a site, that one of the party shot a deer which fell at the trunk of a large oak tree. They cooked a portion of the animai for their dinner and, while partaking of this repast, they de- cided that the new capitol building should stand on the exact spot where the deer fell. It was so located.

The Commissioners named the town thus lo- cated in the midst of the wilderness, and twenty miles from any settlement, Vandalia.

In reference to this incident, Gov. Ford, in his "History of Illinois," says: "After the place had been selected, it became a matter of great interest to give it a good sounding name, one which would please the ear, and at the same time have the classic merlt of perpetuating the memory of the ancient race of Indians by whom the country had first been inhabited. Tradi- tlon says that a wag, who was present, sug- gested to the Commissioners that the "Vandals" were a powerful nation of Indians, who once inhabited the banks of the Kaskaskia River, and that "Vandalia," formed from their name, would perpetuate the memory of that extinct but renowned people. The suggestion pleased the Commissioners, the name was adopted and they thus proved that the name of their new city (if they were fit representatives of their con- stituents) would better illustrate the character of the modern than the ancient inhabitants of the country."

The Commissioners reported their acts at the next General Assembly and the same were ap- proved by the following act of the Legislature :

"AN ACT APPROVING ANN CONFIRMING THE PRO- CEEDINOS OF THE VANDALIA COMMISSIONERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, Approved January 27, 1821. "Section 1. Be it enacted by the General As- sembly, etc., That all the acts and proceedIngs of the Commissioners appointed by the last Gen- eral Assembly, to select four sections of iand, granted to this State by the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1819, "An Act for the removal of the seat of government of the State of Illi- nois," as well as such as relate to the selections made by them, of Sections 8, 9, 16 and 17 in Township 6 North of Range 1, East of the Third Principal Meridlan, as those relating to other objects of thelr appointment, be and the same are hereby approved and confirmed; and the said Town of Vandaiia, laid out by the said com-

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missioners on part of said four sectious, is here- by declared to be the permanent seat of govern- ment of the State of Illinois, for twenty years from and after the first Monday of December, 1820."

The first capitol building was a plain two story frame house of rude architecture and lo- cated on the corner of Fifth and Johnson Streets in Vandaiia. The lower floor consisted of one room for the House of Representatives and a place for the passage and stairway to the second floor. The second floor consisted of two rooms the larger for the Senate Chamber and the smaller for the Council of Revision. The Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer oc- cupied rented offices elsewhere In the town.' No ceremonies were observed in laylng the corner- stone of this unsightly structure.

The State Archives, constitutiug one small wagon load, were moved in December, 1820, from Kaskaskia to Vandalia by Sidney Breese, then Clerk to the Secretary of State, but after- ward a Justice of the Supreme Conrt, for which service he received $25. The first session of the Second General Assembly met in the first capi- tol building owned by the State December 4, 1820. After the removal of the capital Kaskas- kia rapidly declined in importance and, from a town of several thousand inhabitants, became a mere hamlet and has since almost entirely dis- appeared.

Soon after the location of the capital at Van- dalia, a bill was introduced into the Legis- lature providing for the navigation of the Kas- kaskia from its mouth to Vandalia. Quite a number of the members of the General Assem- bly were In favor of the measure. When the bill reached the Senate and had been considered for some time, pro and con, the Hon. Peter War- ren, then a Senator from Shelby County, arose and addressed the President of the Seuate as follows :

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 28

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864