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euchau
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INDEX
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
Illinois History Goes Back to the Period of French Occupation-Connection With Colonial History of the United States-Its Early People Were Great in War-A History Not Devoid of Romance-Civilization at the Center of the Continent --- Fort Chartres-Early Settlement of Illinois Ante-dates That of Some of the East- ern States-Importance of Local History-Its Knowledge Urged Upon All. .631-634
CHAPTER II.
A PERIOD OF TRANSITION.
Governments Holding Dominion Over Illinois Territory-Discovery and Explorations by Marquette and Joliet-Indian Occupation-Uncertain Land Claims of the Iro- quois-Illinois Indians and Their Destruction- Coming of the French-Catholic Missionaries-Illinois Successively a Part of Louisiana, Canada, Virginia and the Northwest Territory .634-636
CHAPTER III.
UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS.
Indian Treaty of 1819-Acquisition of Champaign County Lands-Coming of the United States Surveyors in 1812 and 1822-Their Work-Records of the County Showing Surveys 636-638
CHAPTER IV.
ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION.
Written History Extends Only to 1634-Jean Nicolet-Illinois, or "Illini," Indians- Conquest and Destruction by the Iroquois-Champaign County Region Occupied by Kickapoos-Illinois Indians Fight the Whites at St. Clair's Defeat, Fallen Tim- bers, Tippecanoe and Fort Harrison-They Join in Wayne's Treaty-The Treaty of Vincennes-After Treaty, Indians Removed-Their Visits to Big Grove-Sadorus Grove-Chief Shemauger-Indians Told to Leave-Indian Scare During Black Hawk War-The Miamis-Indian Burials in Champaign County-Passing of the Tribes
638-645
CHAPTER V. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-SOME NOTABLE EVENTS.
Size and Location of Champaign County-Streams and Topography-Kaskaskia, Salt Fork, and Sangamon Rivers-Grand Prairie-Groves of Timber and Their Origin -Glaciers-Boulders-Drainage-Swamp Lands-The Prairie as Seen in Summer and in Winter-Coal Deposits Wanting-Artesian Wells-Delusions of French as to Precious Metals-Beaver Dams-Extremes of Heat and Cold-The "Cold Monday" of 1836-The Deep Snow-The Moraines of the County. . 645-654
CHAPTER VI. EARLIEST MILITARY OCCUPATION.
Champaign County has Little Martial History-Passage of Spanish Force-Fort Har- rison Nearest Historic Fortress-Prehistoric Earthworks-The War of 1812- Conditions about Fort Dearborn and the Illinois River-The Expeditions of Col- onel Russell and General Hopkins-Captain Zachary Taylor-Some Relics of a War Period-The Black Hawk War 654-657
CHAPTER VII. EARLY NAMES OF LOCALITIES.
First Homes Set Up in the Groves-Names of Localities, as Now Known, Unknown Prior to 1860-Some Notable Points-Big Grove-Salt Fork-Sangamon-Ambraw -Middle Fork-Sadorus Grove-Bowse's Grove-Linn Grove-Lost Grove-Hickory Grove-Burr Oak Grove-Mink Grove-Dead-Man's Grove-Cherry Grove-The Tow- Head- Adkin's Point-Nox's Point-Butler's Point-Pancake's Point-Strong's Ford-Prather's Ford-Newcom's Ford-Kentucky Settlement-Yankee Ridge- Dutch Flats .657-660
CHAPTER VIII. EARLY ROADS.
Early .Trails in Champaign County-How Made The Famous Fort Clark Road-Its Great Service to the Early Settlers-Change to the South-Other Trails-Shelby- ville and Chicago Road-Brownfield and Heater Roads -Other Early Lines of Communication and Points Connected. .660-664
CHAPTER IX. FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Big Grove-Coming of the Squatters-Runnell Fielder First Permanent Dweller-The Site of his Home-William Tompkins-Elias Kirby-John Light-John Brownfield -Thomas Rowland-Robert and Joshua Trickle-Lackland Howard-Sarah Coe -Jacob Heater-Matthias Rhinehart-James Clements-John S. Beasley-Matthew and Isaac Busey-Col. M. W. Busey-William T. Webber-Nicholas Smith-Samuel Brumley-John Truman-Asahel Bruer-S. G. Brickley-Stephen Boyd-Elias Sta- mey-Pathetic Story of the Isham Cook Family-Town of Lancaster-Town of Byron 664-673
*
CHAPTER X.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS. (Continued.)
Primitive Conditions of Okaw Land-Sadorus Grove-Coming of the Sadorus Family -Death of Henry Sadorus-William Rock-Entry of Lands-John Cook-Isaac, James, Benjamin and John Miller-Ezra Fay-John O'Bryan-John Haines-Na- thaniel Hixson-Zephaniah Yeates-H. J. Robinson-Shelton Rice and Family- The Black and Crow Families-Dr. J. G. Chambers .673-678
CHAPTER XI.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS. (Continued.)
Salt Fork-First Entry of Lands-Roster of Early Settlers-Thomas L. Butler-Abra- ham Yeazel-Moses Thomas-James Freeman-William Nox-Jacob Thomas- Thomas Deer-George Akers-The Coddingtons-Bartley Swearingen-John Sauls- bury-The Bartley Family-Cyrus Strong-Nicholas Yount-Joseph Stayton-Jef- ferson Huss-William Peters-The Argos-Hiram Rankin-The Shreeves-Sam- uel Mapes-Robert Prather-Isaac Burris-Dr. Stevens-Lewis Jones-Dr. Lyons -M. D. Coffeen-Origin of Homer Village
.678-684
CHAPTER XII.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS. (Continued.)
The Sangamon Timber-Is Last to be Settled-Isaac Busey Entered First Land-Jona- than Maxwell-John Bryan-John Meade-John G. Robertson-Noah Bixler- Isaac V. Williams-F. L. Scott-J. Q. Thomas-B. F. Harris-George Boyer- William Stewart-Joseph T. Everett-Jesse B. Pugh-Jefferson Trotter-F. B. 684-686 Sale-W. W. Foos
CHAPTER XIII.
SETTLEMENTS IN OTHER GROVES.
Middle Fork: Samuel Kerr, Anthony T. Morgan, William Brian, Sanford and William Swinford, William Chenoweth, John Kuder, Solomon and Lewis Kuder, Solomon Wilson, Levi Wood, Daniel Allhands, Solomon Mercer-Burr Oak Grove. Samuel McClughen, John Strong, Isaac Moore, Anthony T. Morgan .- Linn Grove: Joseph Davis, Daniel Johnson, Frederick Bouse-Ambraw Timber: Thomas, Samuel and Hugh Meharry, George W. Myers, James M. Helm, Alfred Bocock, Cornelius
Thompson, Woodson Morgan, John Spencer - Mink Grove: Archa Campbell, George W. Terry-Lost Grove. John F. Thompson-Pioneer West 686-688
CHAPTER XIV.
EARLY CONDITIONS AND CUSTOMS.
The Cabin Home-Better Houses-First Frame Dwellings-Diseases-Early Deaths- Great Age of Some Pioneers-A Cholera Visitation-Some Early Physicians-Dr. T. Fulkerson-Dr. J. H. Lyon-Dr. H. Stevens-Dr. W. A. Conkey-Dr. John Saddler- Dr. Winston Somers-Dr. N. H. Adams-Dr. C. C. Hawes-Dr. Crane- Dr. J. T. Miller-Dr. C. H. Mills-Dr. H. C. Howard-Early Mills-Develop- ment From the Hand Mill to the Steam Mill.
688-697
CHAPTER XV.
SOCIAL LIFE-AMUSEMENTS.
Some Features of Pioneer Life-Long Rides to Social Gatherings-Corn-Shuckings, Dances, Etc .- Early House Parties-House-Raisings-Gathering at Henry Sadorus's -A Barn Raising and Quilting Bee-Old Settlers' Meeting-Allen Sadorus's Rec- ollections-Plentifulness of Wild Game and the Hunt-A "Circle" Hunt-Wolves and Their Ferocity-Wild Game as Food-Shooting Match - Horse Racing-An Early Social Gathering at Champaign-A Reminiscent Poem-Pic-Nics - Promi- nent Families Among the Pioneers 697-704
CHAPTER XVI. LIFE IN THE NEW COUNTRY.
The Sadorus Family-Their Coming in 1824-Forty Miles from Neighbors-Their Cabin-Hunting-First Window Sash-First Entry of Land-Recollections of Wil- liam Sadorus-Indian Visitors-Game-Paris the Nearest Postoffice-Going to Mill -Trips to Chicago-Early Schools-Permanent Home-Coming of the Railroad- Deaths of Henry and William Sadorus. .704-711
CHAPTER XVII. LIFE IN THE NEW COUNTRY. (Continued.)
The Coming of the First Busey Family-Selection of a Home-View from the New Home-Entry of Lands-Coming of Isaac Busey and Others-Visits of Indians- Recollections of Mrs. Stamey-Going to Mill-No Store-Business Trips to Chicago -Merry Makings-Weddings-Sickness-Death of Matthew Busey 712-716.
CHAPTER XVIII. ORGANIZATION OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
The Making of Counties-Senator Vance-Population-Champaign Formerly a Part of Vermilion County-Passage of Act Creating the New County-Copy of Act-Peo- ple Who Were Here-First Marriages-Hospitality-Church History - Schools- No Newspapers-Organization of the County Machinery-Location of the County- Seat-Controversy. 716-726
CHAPTER XIX.
COUNTY AFFAIRS-PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Inauguration of County Business-First Officers-Sessions of County Commissioners -Circuit Courts-First Cases-First Attorneys-Judges of Circuit Court-Court Houses-Contests over Buildings-Jails-Poor Farms-Past and Present County 'Officers
.726-737
CHAPTER XX.
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
Coming of the Ministers of Christ-Early Preachers-John Dunham, William I. Pet- ers, John G. Robertson, J. D. Newell-Elders Taylor, Reese, Carter, Riley, Farr, Paseley, M'Pherson, Combs and Gleason-Rev. Cyrus Strong-Rev. James Holmes · - First Methodist Class-Rev. Arthur Bradshaw and His Circuit-Building of the First Church-Theology and Discipline of Early Preachers-First Baptist Church Organized-First Presbyterian Church-First Church Bell in the County-First Congregational Church-Middletown Circuit - Universalist Church-St. Mary's Catholic Church-First Sunday School.
737-744
CHAPTER XXI.
NEWCOMER'S FIRST VIEW.
Champaign as First Seen by the Writer-Arrival at Urbana-First Impressions of a Prairie Country-Urbana as it Then Appeared-Stock and Poultry Ran at Large- No Sidewalks But Wood Piles-Only Two Bridges in the County-Two Lawyers- Somers and Coler-Webber Clerk of the Courts-Business Men-One Newspaper -Mail Facilities-Homer and Middletown-Country Wholly Open-Big Grove- People Living Here-Manner of Life-Homespun Clothing-Staple Products~ 744-759 Manner of Cultivating the Soiland Harvesting the Crops
CHAPTER XXII.
WHY TWO TOWNS?
The Cities of Urbana and Champaign-Existence of Two Towns in Center of the County Matter of Surprise-Not Due to Design-Surveys and Location of Illi- nois Central Railroad-Economy in Construction Decides Location-Col. M. ' W. Busey's Offers of Land-Urbana Station-Bill to Incorporate the City-What Might Have Been-Local Jealousies-Urbana Without Shipping Facilities-Local Rail- road Enterprise-Efforts of Urbana Citizens to Hold Their Own-Favorable At- titude of New County Board in 1857-Court House Condemned by Grand Jury -Ruse Which Resulted in New Court House-Local Jealousies inflamed-Ef- fect on Elections-Attempt to Attach University to Champaign
.
760-765
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE AWAKENMENT.
Review of Conditions-Coming of Railroads and Telegraph Lines-Land Rapidly Taken Up-Increase in Population-Hindrances to Poor Men-Talk of Drainage -Early Frost-Breaking Out of the War of Secession-Dealings of the Illinois Central Railroad With Land Purchasers-Pre-Emption of Government Lands- Graded Land Prices-Swamp Lands-Currency-State Credit. 765-772
CHAPTER XXIV. THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
Review of Educational Conditions in the County-Urbana Seminary-Homer Semin- ary-Mrs. Fletcher's Schools-Technical Education Discussed in the State-Con- gressional Action-Proposition to Build a· Seminary-Enterprise Undertaken- Local Discussion and Effort-The War Period-Newspaper Comment on Seminary Enterprise-Steps Leading to Location of the University at Urbana-Proposition To Utilize Seminary Building-Dr. C. A. Hunt-Board of Supervisors Take Hold -Effort of 1865 and Its Defeat-Report of Legislative Committee-Preparations for Future Work-Service of Representative C. R. Griggs-Proposition of Cham- paign County-Opposition-Success 773-786
CHAPTER XXV. POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES.
Politics as a Part of History-Representatives In the General Assembly-Early Con- gressmen-Slavery Question Ignored up to 1854-Break With Senator Douglas- Gathering of Forces Against Him-Contest of 1858-W. N. Coler-His Popularity -Visits of Lincoln and Douglas-Lincoln at a Barbecue-Newspaper Comments -Contest of 1860-"Wide-Awakes" and "Hickory Boys"-Contest of 1864. .786-796
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The People Unacquainted With War-First Election of Lincoln-Excited Condition of Public Sentiment-First News of Hostilities-Breaking Up of Families-First Company Organized in Champaign County-Twentieth Illinois-Twenty-Fifth Reg- iment, Col. W. N. Coler-Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Col. C. J. Tinkham-Seventy- Sixth Regiment, Col. S. T. Busey-One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Regiment, Col. O. F. Harmon-One Hundred and Thirty-Fifth Regiment, Col. J. S. Wolfe-Second Illinois Cavalry-Tenth Illinois Cavalry-Other Regiments In Which Champaign County Citizens Enlisted-The Story Often Ends in Death. 796-802
CHAPTER XXVII. TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
Sketches of the Several Towns of Champaign County - Ayers-Brown-Champaign- Colfax-Compromise-Condit - Crittenden-East Bend-Harwood-Hensley-Kerr -Ludlow-Mahomet-Newcomb-Ogden-Pesotum - Philo-Rantoul-Raymond- Sadorus- Saint Joseph-Scott-Sidney-Somer-South Homer-Stanton-Tolono -Urbana-The Twin Cities and the University 802-836
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY PRESS.
No Newspaper Published in Champaign County Before 1852-First Papers Circulated Among the People-Urbana Union Established-Some Reminiscences - Urbana Constitution-Spirit of the Agricultural Press-Central Illinois Gazette-Urbana Clarion- Champaign County Journal-Illinois Democrat -- Champaign County Her- ald-Champaign Times-Urbana Messenger-Urbana Courier-Champaign County Tribune-The Political Magazine-Papers of Tolono, Homer, Rantoul, St. Joseph, Gifford, Sidney, Philo, Ivesdale, Fisher and Mahomet-Contrast Between the Past 1 and Present 836-846
CHAPTER XXIX.
WOMEN'S CLUBS.
General Club History of the Twin Cities-Aid Rendered to Club Organizations by Uni- versity Professors-Champaign Art Club-The Thirty Club-Social Science Clubs -Urbana Fortnightly Club-Chautauqua Circles-Juvenile Clubs and Other Or- ganizations .847-852
CHAPTER XXX. BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.
-
Benevolent Institutions of Champaign County-The Cunningham Deaconess Home and Orphanage-Its Origin and Purpose-The Julia Burnham .Hospital - Garwood Home for Old Ladies 852-853
CHAPTER XXXI.
ABANDONED CEMETERIES.
Come Reminiscences of Early Burial Places-The Resting Places of Many Pioneer Settlers Have Become Pasture Lands or Cultivated Fields-The Old Cemetery at Urbana Transformed Into a Public Park. 853-855
SUPPLEMENTARY.
Spanish-American War-Other War History-Telegraph and Telephone Systems-
Conclusion of General History. 855-858
CHAPTER XXXII. BIOGRAPHICAL.
Citizens of Champaign County-The Part of Biography in General History-Personal Sketches of Citizens of Champaign County-(These Sketches being Arranged in Al- phabetic, or Encyclopedic, Order, No List of Individual Subjects is Deemed Nec- essary in this Connection) 859-1060
.
PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Agronomy Building-University of Illinois
750
Bartley, James
866
Beardsley, George Fitch.
866
Beef Cattle Building-University of Illinois
750
Beisser, Frederick August
867
Bliss, George P.
869
Boggs, Benjamin F.
870
Boggs, Franklin Howard
871
Buch, Jacob
875
Burnham, Albert C.
878 790
Burnham, Julia F
878
Burrill, Thomas Jonathan, LL. D.
879
Busey, Mary E.
884
Busey, Matthew W., Sr.
885
Busey, Samuel T
886
Busey, Simeon H.
888
Butler, John W.
889 890
Butterfield, Mary L.
890
Carley, Mark
893
Carley, Mrs. Abigail S.
893
Carley Coat of Arms
894
Carley, Graham
895
Champaign County Court House, Urbana.
631
Chemical Laboratory-University of Illinois
700
Cherry, William
896
Coggeshall, F. A.
898
Cole, Isaac
899
Coler, William N.
900
College of Agriculture-University of Illinois. .
690
College of Law-University of Illinois.
664
Collison, Fred. 903 Columbia, Curtis F 903
909
Deaconess Home, Urbana
852
Doney, Oliver K. 917
Edward's, James
921
Butterfield, Albert M.
Burnham Athenaeum, Champaign
Page.
Cunningham, Joseph O.
Page
Edwards, Hannah A.
921 Engineering Hall-University of Illinois. 720
Falls, Jesse 924 Fay, Andrew F. 925
Freeman, Edmund 927
Freeman, Mrs. Edmund 927
Garwood Home, Champaign 852
Glascock, Mahlon 932
Glascock, Ulysses G.
932
Green Street, Through the Campus-University of Illinois.
770
Gymnasium-University of Illinois
740
Hayes, Richard P.
Horticultural BuildingUniversity of Illinois. .
Hotel Beardsley, Champaign
804
Howser, Leonidas H.
951
Hubbard, Thomas S. 952
953
Hummel, Philip 954
James, Edmund Janes, LL. D. . 960
852
Ketchum, Ichabod E.
964 965
Kincaid, Mary A. C. .
965
Kirkpatrick, John C.
968
Lamb, Andrew J.
971
Leal, Thomas R.
972
Lemen, Mrs. Mary Catherine
974
Library Building-University of Illinois.
680
Lloyde, David H
976 976
Lloyde, Frank H.
976
Lloyde, Clifford L.
976
Love, Samuel W. 978
Mathews, Milton W. 981
988
Mckinley, James B.
989
Miller, Andrew J.
993
Natural History Hall-University of Illinois
670
Oldhanı, James G.
998
Observatory-University of Illinois
730
Peters, Isaac S. 1002
Phares, Charles Alfred 1003
Philbrick, Solon 1004
Porterfield, L. C. 1005
Porterfield, Samuel A. 1005
943 750
Hudson, Christopher
Julia F. Burnham Hospital, Champaign.
Kincaid, Samuel W.
Lloyde, Clarence A.
McIntyre, Daniel P.
Page.
President's House-University of Illinois.
760
Rice, Arthur
1010
Richards, Jacob Walker
1011
Richards, Ann Eliza.
1011
Richards, Patrick
1012
Robinson, Hugh Jackson
. 1013
Rugg, Daniel
.1018
Rugg, Frederick Daniel
1019
Russell, Henry M.
1020
Savage, John H.
.1023
Scenes on the Campus-University of Illinois 780
Silver, Wallace .1026
Somers, James W. 1029
Staley, Calvin C. . 1032
Swaim, George Harvey 1035
Thompson, William H. 1040
Thompson, Mrs. William H.
1040
Tobias, Conrad ..
1041
Topographic Map of Champaign County ( No. 1)
652
Topographic Map of Champaign County (No. 2)
654
Township Map of Champaign County
Preceding Index
University Hall-University of Illinois
658
Vennum, Frank B. 1045
Walker, Francis Theodore 1047
1049
Webber, Thomson R.
1050
Weir, Joseph C.
1052
Wolfe, Col. John S. 1057
Webber, George G.
Woman's Building-University of Illinois 710
1
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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY COURT HOUSE, URBANA
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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١
HISTORY
OF
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
ILLINOIS HAS A HISTORY GOING BACK TO FRENCH OCCUPATION AND CONNECTED WITH CO- LONIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES-ITS EARLY PEOPLE WERE GREAT IN WAR-ITS HIS- TORY NOT DEVOID OF ROMANCE - A CIVILIZATION AT THE CENTER OF THE CONTINENT-FORT CHAR- TRES-ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT ANTE-DATES THAT OF SOME OF THE EASTERN STATES-A KNOWL- . EDGE OF LOCAL HISTORY URGED UPON ALL.
"Woe to the people who forget their own his- tory."-Hirsch.
"Only a dead nation loses sight of its legends and early history."-Illinois State Histori- cal Society.
The story of Illinois has been so well and so fully told in the preceding pages of this work by its able editors, that nothing, perhaps, remains to be said to impress the reader with a true sense of the greatness of the Common- wealth in peace and in war; in the men it produces and inspires; in its territorial gran- deur; in its material wealth of soil and mines, nor in the great events of its history.
Recalling its part in the wars which have engaged its forces, we see nothing in contests with Indian aborigines which exceeds the dar- ing of the men of the little French colony in grappling with and routing the powerful Chickasaw nation, under the leadership of the Illinois commandant, D'Artaguette, who after-
wards fell a victim to savage ferocity by be- ing caught and burned at the stake. Or, later, who has excelled the valor of another Illinois soldier, Jumonville, whose life was laid down at Great Meadows in defense of French supremacy on this continent? Be it remembered that it was to Villiers, the Illi- nois commandant, and to his handful of fol- lowers from Fort Chartres, that Washington, in his great extremity, surrendered Fort Ne- cessity, on July 4, 1754, the first and only surrender which marks the career of that great American as a soldier.(1)
Illinoisans fell before Quebec, in the strug- gle which ended French dominion in North America in 1759, as well as in contests with Spanish forces west of the Mississippi, for its maintenance.
The capture of Kaskaskia, on July 4, 1778, by George Rogers Clark and his handful of . adventurous Virginians, a thousand miles from their base of supplies, was as heroic an act as ever marked the arms of any country; and, in the history of this Republic, second
(1)"In May, 1754, the young George Washing- ton, with his Virginia riflemen, surprised the party of Jumonville at the Great Meadows, and slew the French leader. His brother, Neyon De Villiers, one of the captains at Fort Chartres, obtained leave from Makarty to avenge him, and with his company went by the Mississippi and the Ohio to Fort Du Quesne. where he joined the head of the family, Coulon De Villiers, who was marching on the same errand. Together, with 'a force as numerous,' said the Indians, 'as the pigeons in the woods,' they brought to bay 'Monsier Wachenston,' as the French dispatches call him, at Fort Necessity, which he surren- dered on the 4th of July."-"Chapters from Illi- nois History," by Edward G. Mason, page 228.
632
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
only in its effects upon the ultimate peace boundaries, to the capture of the British army at Yorktown.
Coming farther down to the period of Amer- ican dominion, no pages of any history are more radiant with great deeds of men in wars than are those which tell the stories of Illinois regiments; or, over all, of the armies of Illinois which swept down the valley of the Mississippi, overcame insurrections along its borders, and marched thence with Sherman to the sea.
So, turning from war to times of peace, the same text furnishes the history of the great deeds in statesmanship of Pope and Cook; of Thomas and McLean and Kane; of Edwards and Coles, and Douglas and Lincoln; which deeds connect their names with the greatest events in State and National history.
The natural wealth of Illinois early im- pressed explorers with estimates of its future greatness, which have been realized an hun- dred fold. From details of travel the patient explorers often, in their daily journals, paused to speak admiringly of the "great natural meadows," constantly encountered by them, which "meadows" are now the renowned corn- fields of Illinois. True, the mines of gold and silver which John Law saw in his visions, were not found, though diligently sought for along the valley of the Kaskaskia and other streams of the country; and the extravagant dreams of the authors of the celebrated "Mis- sissippi Scheme" were never realized in the smallest part, for the greatness of Illinois was to come from different sources and to a dif- ferent race.
The history of our State from its earliest discovery and exploration, to many may seem devoid of that romance which attaches to the history of the seaboard States, where civili- zation was first planted by Europeans upon this continent, and where was fought out the question of American Independence; or to that of the Southern States, where, in like man- ner, the question of the continuance of na- tional life was settled during the last cen- tury; yet, to him whose love of State history has enticed him into following the footsteps of Nicolet, of Marquette, of Joliet, of Henne- pin, of La Salle, and of those of whom the editors of the "Encyclopedia of Illinois" have so fully spoken, the history of Illinois is not
wanting in stories of the romance of adven- ture and discovery; in startling espisodes of war and conquest; in instances of border wars where the tomahawk and scalping knife, the rifle and the bludgeon have brought death and destruction to the frontiersmen.
The student of Illinois history will not be long engaged in his pursuit, until he will con- clude that it lacks nothing of incident to com- mand the attention of the most adventurous. (1)
The fact that the Illinois country was first peopled by French peasants, voyagers and trappers, who were governed by their priests and military commandants, and that out of this condition, which marks the first century of the occupation of Illinois by Europeans, grew a civilization little removed from that of the aborigines of the continent; that such as it was, it remained for a century the one iso- lated and almost unknown civilized commu- nity in the heart of the continent, and that upon this foundation, as one of the results of a great European war, another race built, within another century, a state exceeding in wealth, population and intelligence many European states from which have come much of the material which has entered into its com- position, bears in it romance and history enough to tempt and well employ the pen of a Macaulay, a Bancroft, or a Roosevelt. Human history has few parallels and no chap- ters exceeding Illinois history in interest. We need not go eastward to realize history.
The story of the erection, occupation and final destruction of Fort Chartres, in Ran- dolph County, forms a chapter in Illinois his- tory of the greatest interest to the antiqua- rian. First erected by John Law, for the Royal Company of the Indies, in 1718, of
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