Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 93

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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"And when the victory shall be complete- when there shall be neither a slave nor a drunk- ard on the earth-how proud the title of that land which may truly claim to be the birthplace and the cradle of both these revolutions, that shall have ended that victory! How nobly dis- tinguished that people who shall have planted and nurtured to maturity both the political and moral freedom of their species."

Then referring to the one hundred and tenth anniversary of Washington's birth they were celebrating, he added : "Washington is the mightiest name on earth-long since mightiest in the cause of civil liberty; still mightiest in the cause of moral reformation. In solemn awe we pronounce the name, and in its naked, deathless splendor, it is shining on."

While his brilliant and optimistic eloquence undoubtedly thrilled an enraptured audlence, it is safe to say that no one then even dreamed of the part which the orator was destined to play in wiping away the stain of slavery and pre- serving the Union; yet by unanimous judgment the name of Abraham Lincoln, to-day, stands beside that of Washington-representing the two noblest characters In the history of this or any other nation.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS .- Later societies which flourished and did much good in Sangamon County, were the Sons of Temperance and the Daughters of Temperance, whose motto was "Love, Purity and Fidelity," and whose first society was organized in 1848, continulng many years; the Temple of Honor, who advocated temperance and also combined with that cause benevolent features such as the Masons and Odd Fellows afforded their members; the Independ- ent Order of Good Templars, organized about 1851, the first lodge in Sangamon County being instituted about 1855; the organizations which grew out of the "Women's Temperance Cru- sade ;" the Red and Blue Ribbon movements; the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

had been established several years and whose reccut work has been of such benefit and im- portance in the county.

THE LONG NINE .- Two Senators and seven Members of the House of Representatives from Sangamon County served in the Tenth Geueral Assembly, which inet at Vandalia in December, 1836, continuing their session until March, 1837. These were regarded as a remarkable body of men from the fact that aii of them were taller than usual, the combined height of the nine be- ing exactly fifty-four feet. Archer G. Herndon and Job Fietcher were the two Senators, while Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew McCormack, Dan Stone, Wiil- iam F. Elkin and Robert L. Wilson were the Representatives. One or two were tali as Lincoln, but nonc talier. A clause was inserted in the law which located the capital at Van- daiia in 1819, that it should remain there for twenty years, and before the expiration of that time it was generally thought the location should be further north, in order that it might be near- er the center of population. This matter was brought up during the session of 1836-37, and aithough the "Long Nine" asked very little for their section in the way of internai improve- ments (for which an act was passed during this session, appropriating $10,200,000), they never iost an opportunity to make a vote for the re- moval of the capital to Springfield. There were seven cities contesting for the location, and on the first ballot Springfield received thirty-five of the one hundred and twenty-one votes cast, gaining on each successive ballot untii she re- ceived on the fourth baiiot, seventy-three of the one hundred and eight ballots cast. This bailot decided the question ; Springfield became the new location, and from that time the delegation from Sangamon County were known as the "Long Nine," it being largely due to their energetic efforts that the city received the majority vote on the fourth and last baliot.

THE ILL-FATEn REEN ANN DONNER PARTY OF 1846 .- What has generally been known in San- gamon County as the "Reed and Donner emigrant party" was organized near Springfield, Iil., and ieft that city for California and the Pacific Coast, Aprii 14, 1846, this being about two years before the discovery of gold. There were thirty- four persons in the party, and at its head were James F. Reed, George Donner and Jacob Don- ner, with their respective families. With Mr.

Reed were his wife, Mrs. Margaret W. Reed, their four chiidreu and Mrs. Reed's mother, Mrs. Sarah Keyes. George Donner was accom- panied by his wife, MIrs. Tamsen Donner, and their five children, and with Jacob Donner were his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Donner, their five chii- dren, aiso William and Solomon Hook, Mrs. Jacob Donner's childreu by a former marriage. Among others of the party were Miiford (or Mii- ton) Eiiiott, James Smith, John Denton, Eiiza and Bayliss Williams, Waiter Herron and Hiram O. Milier.

The party ieft Sprngfieid for Independence, Mo., where they were to make final preparations for crossing the plains, and where they were joined by parties from Lacon and Beiieville, Iii. ; from Iowa and Tennessee; from St. Louis, Mo .; from Germany, and from Springfield, Ohio, untii it consisted of eighty-one persons. At Independ- ence Mr. Reed loaded eight wagons with provi- sions and other supplies, while the Donners and others did likewise. In starting on a journey of this kind it was necessary for emigrants to travei in numbers iu order to safeguard against Indians, and they had to wait until the grass had a good start in order to insure grazing for their cattie. The start was made from Inde- pendence early in May and they made good progress until they came to the Big Blue River, at the point where the city of Manhattan, Kan., now stands, when they found the stream so fuii it was necessary to begin building boats and rafts for crossing, thus causing considerable delay. Just before reaching there Mrs. Keyes, mother of Mrs. Reed, having aiready shown signs of failing heaith, grew much worse, and while in camp, her death occurred on the morn- ing of May 29th. She was buried with religious ceremonies in the midst of the wilderness and an inscription was cut on the trunk of a tree at the head of her grave.

Between Independence and Blue River the Reed and Donner party feil in with Coi. W. H. Russeii and company, who had ieft Independ- ence a few days before them, and after leaving Biue River, they traveled together until they came to the Sandy River, when a separation took place, the majority of the company start- ing for Oregon with Col. Russeil, who became the head of the party. A day iater George Don- ner was elected Captain of the Reed and Don- ner party, which thereafter was known as the "Donner party." They continued along the

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

Platte Valley, past Fort Laramie, and crossed the Rocky Mountains to Fort Bridger, the jour- ney thus far having cousumed the entire summer. They remained four days at the fort, where letters had reached Mr. "Vasques (then a tem- porary resideut there), addressed to him and Mr. Reed, from others who had made the jour- ney before and knew the Douner party were coming, advising them by no means to take what was known as the Hastings cut-off, hut to go by the Fort Ifall route, which was well known, although it required a detour to the northwest. The former route passed through Webster Canon to the south end of Salt Lake, passing through what is now the site of Salt Lake City, and made the way about three hun- dred miles shorter, which seemed a great In- ducement to the weary travelers. Mr. Vasques, the partner of Mr. Bridger (for whom the fort was named) withheld the letters from Mr. Reed, as he was interested in having the party take the Hastings cut-off route, and Mr. Reed never knew about them until he had reached California. Near the mouth of Webster Canon they found a letter sticking to the top of a sage hrush, which proved to be from Mr. Hastings (who was piloting a party through), proposing to the Donner party that if they would send for him he would return and show them a better way than the one given them. Mr. Reed, with two others of the party, went to find Hastings, who rode part of the way back with them, and gave Mr. Reed directions which would lead them along the new route, then left hlu about where Salt Lake City now stands, and returned to the party he was piloting. Mr. Reed came hack to his party and all hands were set to work open- ing a road passing to the south end of the lake, across its outlet, later called the River Jordan. Then, passing to the northwest around the lake, they were detained by the death of a member of the party from consumption. Traveling a few days farther they reached the Springs, where they were to provide themselves with water and grass for the jouruey across what was known as Ifastings' desert, an alkaline regiou with- out water or vegetation. They had heen led to believe It was but fifty mlles across, hut found it to be nearly eighty. They traveled as they had been directed, day and night, stopping only to feed and water the cattle, and when about two-thirds of the way across, the stock showed such signs of exhanstion that the company asked

Mr. Reed to go on until he conld find water, which he did, reaching it ahout tweuty miles farther on. Returning, he met his teamsters ahout eleven o'clock at night, driving the cattle, hut having left the wagous behind. Directing them on their way, he returned to his family and the remainder of the company. Soon after he had left the teamusters a horse sunk down In the road, and while they were trying to raise it the cattle scented the water and scattered, and nine yoke of them were never recovered, leaving only one ox and a cow.

Mr. Reed was thus left with his wagons and his family. with their supplies. on a desert liun- dreds of miles from a humau habitation, with winter closing in. The fault was that of the teamsters In leaving the wagons so soou, and this mistake would not have been made had he heen with them. The Donners and other members of the company drove their teams much farther he- fore leaving their wagons, and some of them reached the water without unhitching. Mr. Reed reached his family about daylight and waited all day for his men to returu and haul them to water. Not receiving any information, he started on foot with his family, carrying tue youugest child in his arms. The children hecoming ex- hausted, they spread a blanket on the grouud for a hed, but In the morning moved on, soon coming to a wagon helonging to Jacob Donner Wheu Mr. Donner returned from the water with his cattle he hauled his own family and Mr. Reed's to water and they remained about a week in camp there, looking for Mr. Reed's cattle, which they never found. Mr. Reed then divided his pro- vislons except what he could haul In one wagon, borrowed a yoke of oxen and leaving his seveu wagons in the desert, proceeded with the com- pany. A few days later he was obliged to re- turn the yoke of oxen to the owner, then hor- rowing a yoke from another neiglihor. A few days further on, it was found provisions were ruming low and an estimate being made of the amount necessary for each family, Mr. Reed suggested that if two men would go on to Cap- tain Sutter's in California, he would write a letter asking for the whole amount, hecoming personally responsible for the pay. After vol- unteering a Mr. Mccutcheon aud Mr. Stanton were dispatched, but their progress was slow. weeks passing by without word from them. Mr. Reed was then asked to go in advauce to useet them and hurry up the supplles, and soon caught

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

up with the two Donner families, who were in advance of the others. Mr. Herron, with the iat- ter detachment of the party, went on with Mr. Reed and they proceeded with hut one horse, riding by turns. They were obliged to go sev- eral days without food, hnt finally descended into Bear Valley, where they found some emigrants in wagons, who gave them some food, and there they met Mr. Stanton and two Indians seut by Captain Sutter to help carry provisions. They continued on their journey the next day, October 23rd, Mr. Reed golug on to Captain Sutter's where he secured thirty horses, one mule and two Indians to help him bring on the sufferers, and was joined hy Mccutcheon, who had heen unable to return with Stanton on account of sickness. After spending weeks trying to make the return jouruey they had to go hack, as men and horses sank out of sight in the snow, and nothing conld he done until spring, as the tuoun- tainecrs were ahsent fighting the Mexicans.

Snow hegan falling iu the latter part of Octo- ber and caught the entire party scattered along the route, the foremost heing ahout a day's journey ahead of those in the rear. One of the sufferers kept a journal from October 31, 1846, until March 1, 1847, describing the most terrible sufferings. They had made several attempts to cross the mountains, but were unable to do so on account of snow, and fell hack to a shanty on Truckey's Lake, Stanton having joined them. The account records the death of many of the party, the difficulty of procuring wood, the time when they had nothing left to eat but hides, and the gradual deepeuing of the snow hy suc- cessive storms until it hurled the shanty when almost no wood could he procured. Many of the survivors hecame crazed and some were re- duced to the necessity of eating the flesh of persons who had died In camp. On February 29th ten inen arrived from Bear Vaiiey with provisions and started back with seventeen of the surviving sufferers, hut after going some fifteen miles a snow-storm came on and they left fourteen of the party, taking three children with them. When they had reached their des- tination Lieut. Woodworth started to the assist- ance of those left behind, but before he reached them they had eaten three of their number wino had died of hunger. Mr. Woodworth brought in the remainder, and in April, 1847, the last one was brought to Captain Sutter's fort. Those who had heen caught in the mountains died,

one hy one, until thirty-six of the eighty-one who left Independence had literally starved to death, while all who survived had endured terrible suffering. Twelve of those who died were from Sangamon County, namely : George Donner and wife; Jacob Donner aud wife, her son Willlam Hook, and their three sons, Isaac, Lewis and Samuel Donner ; and fonr unmarried men, Bay- less Willlamus, Milford Elliott, James Smith and John Denton. Several among the survivors he- came prosperous citizens of California, where gold was discovered soon after the close of the Mexican War.

The diary of one of the members of this party, covering a period of more than three months (December, January and February, 1846-47), aud giving a pitiable description of the horrible suffering endured fromu cold, hun- ger and absolute starvation, while confined in the mountains, was published in the "Illinois State Journal" of September, 1847. One of those whose death was mnost deplored was C. T. Stan- ton, who, although having no relatives In the party, imperlled and finally sacrificed his own life for the benefit of others.

When Mr. Reed had found himself unable to make his way to his family and the rest of the party, he was advised to go to Yerba Buena, now San Francisco, and make his case known to the naval officer in command there, and on his way joined a company of volunteers and took part In the battle of Santa Clara, which opened the way to SanFrancisco. By voluntary con- tributions he raised the sum of one thousand doilars in the town and three hundred dollars from the sailors in the port, with which he pur- chased supplies, placed themu on board a schooner and had them taken to the month of the Feather River, where' he procured men and horses to carry relief to the emigrants. On their way to the camp they met a party coming out with women and children, among them Mrs. Reed and two children, the other two having heen left In camp with a Mr. Glover, of the' rescuing party, and eventually ail the members of the family were reunited, Mr. Reed's heing the only family' from Saugamon County that reached its des- tination with all its members, which they did withont heing reduced to the necessity of eating human flesh.

EMIGRANTS TO CALIFORNIA .- The discovery of gold having aroused a deep interest In Illinois, as well as in other portions of the country,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the "Illinois aud California Mining Mutual In- surance Company" was organized in Springfield and ieft that city on Tuesday, March 27, 1849, for the gold fields. The company was composed of the following persons :

B. A. Watson, T. Billson,

C. E. White,

Lewis Johnson,

Aibert Sattley, John Rodham,

Benjamin F. Tayior,

Richard Hodge,

E. Fuller, Jacob Uhler,

Willlam B. Broadwell, B. R. Biddle,

W. P. Smith,

J. B. Weher,

B. D. Reeves,

John B. Watson,

William Odenheimer,

F. S. Dean,

Henry Dorand, T. J. Whitehurst.

E. T. Cabaniss,

A MORMON SETTLEMENT .- A uumber of the Mormons or Latter-Day Saints, settled in Sanga- mon County after their expulsion from Missouri, and they had a church organization in the city of Springfield, oue of these heing a young man named James C. Brewster, who in 1842 puh- lished what he ciaimed to be one of the last hooks of the Bihle. The newspaper published in Nauvoo under the supervision of Joseph Smith, claimed this work to he a humbug, saying only Smith could he inspired, hut in 1845 the Spring- field church seceded from the one at Nauvoo and chose Brewster as their prophet. He prophesied the death of Joseph and Hiram Smith, which was fuifilied, and also issued what he claimed was the lost hook of Esdeas, in which the de- struction of Nauvoo was prophesied.

A FUGITIVE SLAVE CASE .- The courts of the Northern States often contested the application of the Fugitive Slave Law, and a case illustra- tive of the proceedings in such an instance was tried in Springfield in February, 1860, hefore United States Commissioner Corneau, the appli- cant heing George M. Dickinson, for the delivery of a fugitive slave whom he ciaimed as his prop- erty. W. H. Herndon, one of the counsel for the slave, moved a few days' postponement, claim- ing he expected papers which would prove the negro to be a free man, also giving the negro's affidavit. as well as his own, to the facts he ex- pected to prove, hut the Commissioner refused to receive it and overruled time motlon. Mr. Dick- inson produced two witnesses who swore the negro was his property and that he ran away during the fali of 1857. Several witnesses were cailed by the defense, hut they were unable to

prove that the negro had lived in Springfield prior to the time it was aileged he ran away from Missouri, and the counsel for the claimant asked that he he delivered to Mr. Dickinson by the Commissioner. Mr. Herndon then contested that no proof had been offered of the existence of slavery in the State of Missourl, and that the Commissioner had no right to presume from historical knowiedge that Missouri was a slave State. John E. Rosette followed with a speech in behalf of the negro, claiming that clear proof was necessary showing Missourl to he a siave- holding State, and also quoting from the Fugi- tive Slave Law in support of his position in the matter. Mr. Rosette was followed hy George F. Pearson, counsel for the claimant, and after his speech the Commissioner decided to deliver the negro to Mr. Dickinson.

COMING OF THE PORTUGUESE .- Quite a colony of Portuguese exiles settled in Springfield about 1849, finding empioyment and hecoming in the main worthy and respected citizens. The story is well known how a Portuguese ship, with Gon- salves Zarco in command, while making a voy- age of discovery, was caught in a storm and its passengers almost gave up hope of surviving. An island suddenly appeared on which they landed, which was afterward named Porto Santo ("Holy Haven"), and there a Portuguese settle- ment was formed. At first they were afraid to go on the larger island of Madeira, hut Gon- salves persisted in his efforts to pursuade them to make a visit to that heautifui place, and a Portuguese settiement was made there. They cleared the land hy setting fire to the forests, the fire hurning for seven years and leaving hardly a tree. A few slips of grape were brought from the Isle of Cyprus and planted there, and thus hegan the celebrated vineyards from which the island has since derived most of its wealth. Here the Catholic religion prevailed, the people looking unkindly upon such readers of the Blhle as had come among them as missionaries. Few of the inhabitants could read, and Christians from the United States, who had sent them mis- slonaries. took a deep interest in the schools thus established. A time came when the vine- yards began to fail and a famine was brought on. The main hody of the inhabitants began to persecute the Protestants and Bihle readers, so ·that the converts had to flee for their lives, as well as the missionarles who had lahored among them, going to other countries where they could

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

worship according to their consciences. Many were taken to Trinidad, one of the West India Islands, as a temporary place of refuge, and in the early part of 1847 there were about five hundred Portuguese exiles on that island, facing the problem of how they were to be supported in a strange land, and unfamiliar with the lan- guage of their benefactors. Several of them had been wealthy and were not possessed of any skill to labor with their hands, and the only employment offered was working on the sugar estates of the planters. Their two missionaries, feeling responsibility for the well being of their charges, sent appeals for help to other lands, and the American Protestant Society sent Rev. G. Gonsalves to Trinidad to inquire regarding their condition, his return soon being followed by the coming to the United States of a Mr. De Silva, who was a native of the island of Madeira and who had been converted to the Protestant faith, but died about one month after his com- ing, January 10, 1849, before he had completed arrangements for the coming of his flock. An-

other efficient laborer in their behalf was Robert B. Kalley, who as a young physician from Scot- land started for China in 1838, intending to en- ter missionary work, but on account of the ill- ness of his wife, had been compelled to stop at Madeira. He thus became interested in the welfare of the Portuguese and finally accom- panied the exiles to the United States, and was an influential agent in securing their satisfac- tory settlement at Springfield, Jacksonville and Waverly, Ill. On October 19, 1849, nearly three hundred left New York and on their arrival in their new homes found a hospitable welcome. They were not accustomed to the severe weather which began soou after they reached Illinois, but those who came to Springfield were well cared for, as were those who came to Jackson- ville and Waverly, and they soon found employ- ment in various liues, where their habits of in- dustry and good principles were appreciated, and where they have generally become thrifty and useful citizens.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.356831H C001 HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS CHGO 2 PT. 1

3 0112 025393213

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 93

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