Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 4

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

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CHAPTER III.

INDIAN HISTORY.

MOUNDS IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY-THREE KINDS- OPINIONS OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS CONCERNING THEIR BUILDERS-WINNEBAGO COUNTY IN INDIAN HIS- TORY-INDIAN TREATIES-TREATY OF 1829-IN- DIAN ELOQUENCE-FLOATING LANDS-DEPARTURE OF THE WINNEBAGOES-CEDE THEIR LANDS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI-WINNEBAGO WAR-WINNE- BAGO NAME PERPETUATED-FORT WINNEBAGO- JEFFERSON DAVIS AN OFFICER OF ITS FIRST GAR- RISON-THE SACS AND FOXES- TREATY OF 1804 -BLACK HAWK DENIES ITS VALIDITY-DETER- MINES TO RESIST REMOVAL OF TRIBE-BORN ON SITE OF ROCK ISLAND-THE BLACK HAWK WAR- SETTLERS CALL FOR PROTECTION-BLACK HAWK VIOLATES THE TREATY OF 1832-AGAIN CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI-ENCAMPS AT DIXON'S FERRY- FIRST FATALITIES-BATTLE OF STILLMAN'S RUN- ITS SITE COMMEMORATED BY A GRANITE SHAFT -GENERAL SCOTT REACHES FORT DEARBORN- BLACK HAWK RETREATS-END OF WAR-BLACK HAWK SURRENDERS-SPEECH OF BLACK HAWK -HIS IMPRISONMENT-RELEASE AND DEATH- HIS CHARACTER-LINCOLN'S COMMENT ON THE WAR.

MOUNDS IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

In his "Pre-historic Races of the United States," Prof. J. W. Foster says: "The sub- ordinate valleys of the Rock River, the Fox, Kankakee and Illinois, show abundant evidence of former occupancy by the Mound-builders, and whilst the monnds are inconspicnous, they are not destitute of relics, and the hnman remains are indicative of a race whose skills are marked by peculiarities which distinguish them from the red man."

Three classes of mounds were found in Win- nebago County. There was the common ronnd mound, from 10 to 30 feet in diameter, and from 21% to 5 feet high. These monnds were quite nnmerons along the banks of the Rock, Kishwaukee and Pecatonica rivers. The oblong- shaped monnd is much less common, bnt is fre- qnently remarkable for its great length. One

was fonnd within the present limits of Rock- ford which measured 130 feet in length, 12 feet wide at the base, and 3 or 4 feet high. Mounds of the third class have a fancied resemblance to some form of animal life, and are called "effi- gies." The most common forms of these are called Bird and Turtle monnds, and are found in many localities in the county. Some fine speci- mens of this class, as well as the ronnd and ob- long monnds, are still carefully preserved on the grounds owned by the Misses Beattie and those of the late G. A. Sanford, north of the Rockford water-works, on the west side of the river. Some of these monnds were disturbed when the homes fronting on Indian terrace were erected. That portion of the Sanford estate between Indian terrace and North Main street is now owned by heirs of the late Ralph Emerson. The ronnd monnds were frequently constructed for the purpose of sepultnre, the elongated for cir- cumvallation or as "game-drives," while the effigies were probably ceremonial.

A number of archæologists believe that the bnilders of these mounds were a race inhabiting this conntry before the American Indian; and in the absence of any information concerning their origin, they are denominated "mound- builders." Other recent anthorities incline to the opinion that the mounds were constructed by the ancestors of the Indians. Their earth- works are found in large numbers in Rockford and vicinity ; there are probably not less than five hundred within the limits of Winnebago County. These earliest inhabitants had no beasts of burden, and naturally their travel and traffic were largely by canoe np and down the rivers. Their settlements, therefore, and their monnmental monnds were nniformly located near or npon the river banks; and in the vi- cinity of the confinence of streams these united evidences of a dense population are generally abnndant. Near the month of Kishwaukee River more than one hundred have been snr- veyed by Prof. T. H. Lewis, and probably as many existed near Rockton before their demoli- tion during the progress of railroad constrnc- tion and other improvements. When the cut was made in East Rockford in grading for the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad in 1852, many monnds were destroyed ; and gruesome evidence of the sepulchral purpose of some of them was given by the fragments of human skeletons dis- interred.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

WINNEBAGO COUNTY IN INDIAN HISTORY.

Winnebago County does not figure promi- nently in Indian history. The Winnebagoes oc- cupied it as a portion of their reservation at one time. The earliest Winnebago traditions relate to their residence at Red Banks, on the eastern shore of Green Bay, in Wisconsin, where they traded with the French. This tribe was first met by the Jesuit fathers near the month of Fox River, at the head of Green Bay. Confusion may arise from the fact of two rivers with the same name in the same state. One stream rises in Waukesha Conuty and flows in a general southerly direction and enters the Illinois River at Ottawa. The other vises near the southern boundary of Green Lake County, flows westward to Portage City, thence north- ward until it expands into Lake Pacawa; after a tortuous course it enters Lake Winnebago, issues from the northern end of this lake, flows northeastward and enters Green Bay. These streams are distinguished respectively as Fox River, and Fox River of Green Bay. The latter is always understood whenever the name is mentioned in connection with the history of this tribe.

The Winnebagoes belonged to the Dacota or Sionx nation. During the era of authentic his- tory they wandered to sonthern Wisconsin and northern Illinois and Iowa. In 1812 the Win- nebagoes of Illinois occupied a section, of which this county formed a part. To the sonth were the Illinois tribes, and the disputed territory be- tween the two shifted north and south as the fortunes of war favored the one or the other. In time, however, the Winnebagoes were driven well back within the present limits of Wiscon- sin, and were subsequently regarded as a tribe of that state. The territorial claims of these contestants were not finally settled until 1825. By a treaty negotiated at Prairie du Chien Angust 19 of that year between the United States, the Winnebagoes, the Sacs and Foxes, the Pottawatomies and other attending tribes, the boundaries of the Winnebago country were finally determined. Thus was peace established after a nearly continuous warfare of almost two centuries.

The records of the interior department at Washington show not less than twelve treaties negotiated between the United States and the Winnebagoes, during the period of fifty-one

years front 1816 to 1867. The most important treaty was negotiated at Prairie dn Chien, Au- gust 1, 1829, by which. the Winnebagoes ceded to the United States certain lands in Illinois, of which Winnebago County west of Rock River was a part. The consideration was "eighteen thousand dollars in specie, annually, for the period of thirty years; which said sum is to be paid to said Indians at Prairie du Chien and Fort Winnebago, in proportion to the numbers residing within the most convenient distance of each place respectively ; and it is also agreed, that the said United States shall deliver im- mediately to said Indians, as a present, thirty thousand dollars in goods; and it is further agreed, that three thousand pounds of tobacco and fifty barrels of salt, shall be annnally deliv- ered to the said Indians by the United States for the period of thirty years."

TREATY OF 1829.

Caleb Atwater was one of the commissioners ou the part of the United States government in negotiating this treaty. In a book in which he gives an account of the proceedings of this council he takes occasion to remark at consid- erable length on the beauty and force of Indian oratory as displayed on that occasion. He says their persons are the finest forms in the world. As he stands erect, with eyes flaming with ardor, and a mind laboring nnder an agony of thought, the Indian is a most impressive orator. When he speaks before his assembled nation on some great national subject, he shows most forcibly that he feels an awful responsibility in what he attempts to advocate in behalf of his people. Mr. Atwater relates that he has seen a chief, when he approached the sale of his country in his speech, turn pale, tremble with fear, and sit down perfectly exhansted in body from the effect. In council on such occasions, on either side of the speaker, sit all the chiefs and warriors of his nation ; behind him, within sound of his voice, sit the women and children. His subject then becomes of the highest con- ceivable importance to himself and his entire nation. In such a position the character of his eloquence is easily conceived. It abonnds with figures drawn from every object which nature presents to his eye. He thanks the Great Spirit that he has given them a day for holding their council without clouds or with few, as the case

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

may be; that the several paths between their homes and the council fire have been unattended with danger; and hopes that during his absence the beasts may not destroy his corn, nor any bad bird be suffered to fly about the council with false stories. Thus far the speaker may have proceeded without enthusiasm; but should he touch upon the sale of his country, his whole- soul is in every word, look and gesture. His eye flashes fire, he raises himself upon his feet, his body is thrown in every attitude, every mus- cle and nerve is strained to its utmost tension. His voice is clear, loud, distinct and command- ing. He becomes, to use his own expressive phrase, a man. Then he recalls, with deep pathos and genuine eloquence, the time when his ancestors inhabited the entire continent, and how they have been driven by the white man from river to river, and from mountain to mountain, until they now have no home in which they may live in peace.

FLOATING LANDS.

Article V of the Treaty of Prairie du Chien granted sections of land to certain Indian de- scendants of mixed blood who did not wish to migrate with their tribe. Thirty-six of these descendants were given one section of land each; two received two sections each; and three received two sections jointly. The total grant was forty-two sections, divided among forty-one grantees. These grants were unlo- cated or "floating" lands. From this fact came the word "float," by which these sections were popularly known. The grantees were allowed to select a section, and their choice was to be approved by the Indian commissioner and by the president of the United States. There were several of these "floats" in Rockford Township. The east half of section 14 and all of section 13 west of Rock River, containing 637 acres, were located for Catharine Myott. Further refer- '

ence to this tract will be made in a subsequent chapter. Section 21 was located for Therese Leciier, child of Mauh-nah-tee-see; section 22 was selected for James Leciier ; and section 27 for Simon Leciier. These sections now comprise the most populous and wealthy portions of West Rockford, with its thousands of beautiful homes. There were other "floats" located in this immediate vicinity, some of which may be noted. Section 11 in Rockford Township was

claimed by Domitille, child of John Baptiste Pacquette. Besides the section above men- tioned, Catharine Myott was given another sec- tion, of which the west half of section 10 forms a part. One section in Winnebago County was given to Brigitte, the child of Hee-no-kau. These lands could not be sold without the con- sent of the president of the United States. The Indians were the wards of the nation, and the approval of the president was required by the treaty for their protection from dishonest spec- ulators; but this precaution was not always successful. There is no evidence of local record that the transfer of Brigitte's claim by the original grantee has ever been approved by the president. A full list of these "floats" located in this county may be obtained from the Tract Book in the office of the county recorder.

DEPARTURE OF THE WINNEBAGOES.

Upon the close of the Black Hawk war, by the terms of the treaty negotiated by General Scott, September 15, 1832, the Winnebagoes ceded their lands lying east of the Mississippi, in Wisconsin, and accepted a reservation in Iowa, designated as the Neutral Ground. The Winnebagoes were loth to emigrate, and their removal was finally effected by the government in 1837. By another treaty, concluded Novem- ber 1, 1837, they finally ceded all of their lands lying east of the Mississippi River. By the terms of this treaty they were to remove west. of this river within eight months thereafter. Their reservation was subsequently changed several times, until in 1865 they were perma- nently located on their Omaha reservation in Nebraska. In 1890 there were 1,215 Winneba- goes on this reservation ; and nearly an equal number were scattered over Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, where they now live chiefly by agriculture, with a strong predilec- tion for hunting.

The Winnebagoes were men of good stature and dignified bearing, with the characteristic black hair, black, glistening eyes, and red skins of the Indian race. They maintained the posi- tion of a tribe of independent feelings and na- tional pride. The claim made for them of con- siderable mental capacity is sustained by the cranial measurements made some years ago at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadel- phia. In these examinations their crania were

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

shown to have an average internal capacity of 89 cubic inches, and a facial angle of 79 degrees. The so-called "Winnebago war" occurred in 1827, in the vicinity of Galena. It was more of a scare than a war, and has no local interest.

WINNEBAGO NAME PERPETUATED.

For many years after the Winnebagoes had removed from this section, small companies would occasionally return to visit their former hunting-ground. As Israel could not sing the songs of Zion in a strange land, so these red men of the forest could not forget their early home. The love of country and kindred is the same in subject or in king. It is a universal pas- sion that makes the wide world kin. The Cre- ator hath made of one blood all nations of inen. The Winnebago has given a name to a lake, a fort, a village and a county in Wisconsin, and to a village, a township and a county in Illi- ' nois. The Wisconsin Indian village is the pres- ent city of Beloit. Fort Winnebago is a historic spot. Its site is within two miles from the present city of Portage, Wisconsin. The fort was built in 1818-29, at the solicitation of John Jacob Astor, of the American Fur Company, to protect his trade from the Winnebagoes. Jeffer- son Davis was one of the first lieutenants in the original garrison.

THE SACS AND FOXES,

The Sacs, according to an Indian tradition, were first placed by the Great Spirit in the vicinity of Montreal. Their enemies conspired to drive them from their home to Mackinac and other points, until they built a village near Green Bay, on what is now Sac River, a name derived from this circumstance.

The Foxes were first found on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. From there they were driven to Detroit, thence to Mackinac, and from there to the river which bears their name, at a point near its entrance into Green Bay. The Foxes subsequently abandoned their village, and formed a treaty of alliance with the Sacs. Neither tribe was sufficiently strong to success- fully meet its enemies. Hence they became one nation, and the bond of friendship was never broken. This allied tribe belonged to the Algon- quin nation. The Sacs and Foxes remained for some time in the vicinity of Green Bay. But as

early as 1718 they had obtained a firm footing on Rock River. A party of their young braves descended the Rock to its mouth, and upon their return they presented a favorable report of the country. The entire tribe then migrated to the southwest, drove the Kaskaskias from the coun- try, and founded a village on the point of land at the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers. At the beginning of this century the Sacs and Foxes occupied lands in northwestern Illinois lying between the Winnehagoes and the Mississippi River,

TREATY OF 1804. 1173231

In 1804 a treaty was negotiated at St. Louis between William Henry Harrison and five chiefs of the Sac and Fox nation. Mr. Harrl- son was then governor of the Indiana Territory, and of the district of Louisiana, superintendent of Indian affairs for the district, and commis- sioner plenipotentiary of the United States for concluding the treaty. By this treaty the Sacs and Foxes ceded their land on Rock River and territory elsewhere to the United States. The treaty provided that the Indians should retain these lands until they were required for settle- ment. During the war of 1812 with England, through the influence of Colonel Dixon, a Brit- ish officer at Prairie du Chien, a portion of this tribe allied itself with the English. This fac- tion was called the "British Band," and Black Hawk was its acknowledged leader. The other portion of the tribe remained peaceable during the war, and reaffirmed the treaty of 1804 at Portage des Siouxs, in September, 1815. The hostile warriors professed repentance for their violation of good faith, and at St. Louis, in May, 1816, they confirmed the treaty of 1804. A small party, however, led by Black Hawk, a chief of the allied tribes of the Sacs and Foxes, persistently denied the validity of the treaty of 1804 as well as all subsequent agreements. He contended that certain chiefs, while at St. Louis in an intoxicated condition, were induced to sell the Indian country without the consent of the nation. Competent authorities have dif- fered concerning the equity of the treaty of 1804; but the Sacs and Foxes as a nation never disavowed it. On the contrary, they reaffirmed it in the treaties of 1815 and 1816.

Amicahle relations existed between the Sac and Fox nation and the United States from the

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

elose of the war with England until 1830. In July of that year Keokuk, another Sac ehief, made a final eession to the United States of the lands hield by his tribe east of the Mississippi. Aeeording to this treaty, his people were to remove from Illinois to the country west of the Mississippi and they quietly removed across the river. This treaty was negotiated without the eonsent of Black Hawk, and he determined to resist the order of the government for the re- moval of his tribe west of the Mississippi. This resistance brought affairs to a erisis.

THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

The Black Hawk war directed the attention of eastern settlers to the Rock River valley. The history of this outbreak also has a loeal interest from the faet that this famous Indian warrior, in his flight from Roek Island, fol- lowed the general course of Rock River through this eounty, into Wiseonsin territory, where he was defeated and captured. Ma-ka-tai-me-she- kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born at the Sae village, on the site of Roek Island, iu 1767. About 1833 a book was published at Roek Is- laud, which purported to be an autobiography of Black Hawk. Subsequent editions of this work have been published. Goveruor Ford, however, in his "History of Illinois," plaees little value upon this work. He says it was dictated by Colonel Davenport, an old Indian trader, and Antoine Le Clair, a United States interpreter for the Sacs and Foxes, and edited and published by J. B. Patterson. Governor Ford believed that Black Hawk knew eompara- tively little of this alleged autobiography, al- though it has been recognized as authority by reliable writers upon this subjeet.

Dnriug the wiuter of 1830-31 Black Hawk and his tribe left their village, as usnal, aud crossed the Mississippi ou a hunting expedition, to procure furs wherewith to pay their debts to the traders, and bny new supplies of goods. They re-crossed the river in April, and ou their return they found their village iu possession of the pale-faces. The United States had caused some of these lands, which ineluded the chief town of the nation, to be surveyed and sold. A fur-trader at Rock Island had purchased the very ground on which their village stood. Blaek Hawk ordered the settlers away, and destroyed their property. A truee was arranged, but it

did uot permanently settle the difficulty ; and May 18 eight settlers addressed a memorial to Governor Reynolds, in which they stated their grievanees. The governor immediately com- municated with General Gaines, of the United States army, who was then iu eommaud of the military distriet. General Gaines repaired to Rock Island in June, with a few companies of regular soldiers. Upon ascertaining the critical situation, he ealled upon Governor Reyuolds for mounted volunteers. The governor honored the requisition, and in response to his eall 1500 ,volunteers from the northern and eeutral couu- ties rallied to his support at Beardstown, aud were placed under command of General Duuean, of the state militia. This army, after a few days' march, joined General Gaines below Rock Island, where the two generals formed a plan of aetiou. General Gaines took possession of the village June 26; but Black Hawk aud his baud had quietly departed during the night in their eanoes for the western shore of the Mis- sissippi, where they raised the white flag of truee. They subsequently re-crossed the river, and thus elaimed protection. On Juue 30 Geu- eral Gaines negotiated a treaty with Blaek Hawk and his chiefs and braves, by which they agreed to remain forever on the western side of the river ; and never to re-eross it without per- mission from the president of the United States or the governor of the state. Notwithstanding the treaty, iu the spring of 1832 Black Hawk attempted to re-assert his right to his formuer territory.

Hostilities began in April, when Black Hawk and his band re-crossed the Mississippi, under preteuse of paying a visit to his Winnebago friends in Wiseousin. The manifest purpose of this visit was to form an alliance with the Win- nebagoes in offensive warfare. General Atkin- son, who was then in eommaud of Fort Arm- strong, sent messengers to warn Black Hawk to returu. The warrior did not heed the warn- ing, but eontinued his mareh until he reached Dixon's Ferry, where his braves eneamped. The news of Black Hawk's return to Illinois reached Governor Reynolds, who raised a foree of eighteen hundred men, under eommaud of Gen- eral Whiteside. This army arrived at Dixon on the 12th of May. Meauwhile Black Hawk had departed and eueamped on Roek River thirty miles above.

While at Dixon an ambitious offieer named

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Stillman asked the privilege of making a recon- noissance on Black Hawk's camp. It was granted with reluctance, and Major Stillman started with two hundred and seventy-five men on the adventure. When the volunteers ap- proached the camp of Black Hawk, he sent a party of six men to meet them, under protection of a white flag. By some mistake, undisciplined volunteers fired upon them, and two were killed while in retreat. Black Hawk was justly indig- nant, and he resisted the attack with his usual spirit. The result was the slaughter of eleven volunteers, and the others fled in confusion. This was the first blood drawn in the Black Hawk war.

STILLMAN'S RUN.

On the following day General Whiteside led his entire force to the scene, near a creek since called Stillman's Run. Fourteen years after the battle of Stillman's Run, Joshua White en- tered the tract of land where the engagement was fought, from the government. By this time the graves had become sodded, but were not difficult to locate. The half acre was never broken by the plowshare, and was regarded as a sacred spot. After the death of Mr. White, in 1890, this tract was platted and became a part of the village of Stillman Valley. It was owned by strangers, and the exact site of the graves became unknown. In November, 1899, the owner offered the parcel of ground for sale.

On November 14, 1899, Rev. R. W. New- lands, pastor of the Congregational church, and Hon. John A. Atwood began digging for the remains of the soldiers and continued the work until they were found. The Battleground Me- morial Association of Stillman Valley was later incorporated. Citizens subscribed $1,000 and the lots were purchased and deeded to the asso- ciation. The Forty-second General Assembly was asked to appropriate $5,000 for a monu- ment, and May 11, 1901, a bill for this purpose was signed by Governor Yates. A granite shaft 50 feet high was dedicated June 11, 1902, when Lawrence Y. Sherman, now United States Sen- ator from Illinois, delivered the principal ad- dress.

The news of the Indian war spread rapidly throughout the East, and the administration sent nine companies to the scene, under com- mand of General Scott. He arrived at Fort

Dearborn in Chicago, July 8. The cholera had broken out among his men on the way, and he was thus detained at the fort. As soon as the cholera had subsided General Scott removed his quarters from Fort Dearborn to the banks of Desplaines River. From there he sent the main body, under command of Colonel Cummings, to the site of Beloit, then a deserted Winnebago village. At that point orders came from the general in chief command for the army to march down Rock River to Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, at which place General Scott had arrived by a hasty march across the country by way of Naperville.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 4

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972