USA > Illinois > Cass County > Beardstown > Historical sketch of Cass County, Illinois: an oration delivered July 4, 1876, at Beardstown, Ill. > Part 5
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
her, down on Indian Creek. That they started down on horseback, but that she decoyed him away down on Hog Island, where they met the gang, who shot and killed him in revenge for his having " peached" on them ; and that if the prosecutors wanted to use him for a witness again they could find him at a certain place on Hog Island, and designated it.
Upon being informed of this, John Craig and I rode down there, and at the place designated in the girl's letter, we found the bones of a man, evidently about the large size of Honorius, but so much torn to pieces and broken by animals, that we could find but three whole bones, the two thighs and the jaw bone, which I have yet in my possession. The perpetrators were never retaken, but the county was not troubled with horse-thieves for a long time afterwards.
By virtue of the State Constitution of 1848, a statute was passed by the legislature of 1849, abolishing the County Commissioners' Court, and the office of Probate Justice of the Peace, and creating instead the County Court, consisting of one judge and two associate justices of the peace.
The first court elected under the new law was : James Shaw, judge ; Wm. Taylor and Thomas Plaster, associates.
At the same session an act was passed authorizing counties to adopt township organization, if a majority of the citizens should favor it. An effort was made at that time, and several others by a vote of the people have been made since, but have failed ; the people in every instance preferring to remain under the old form of organi- zation.
In the same year, 1849, Beardstown was incorporated as a city, with the same charter as those of Springfield and Quincy. In this year also occurred the third election for location of the County Seat, which was decided in favor of Beardstown. Another election was had in 1857, and another in 1868, for the same purpose, but the County Seat still remained at Beardstown. Another election was held in 1872, under the Constitution of 1870, and a new general statute governing re-location of county seats. The history of this last election and its results is too fresh in the memory of my hearers to need repeating now.
The first census taken after Cass County was formed. was in 1840 ; it then had a total population of 2,981. In 1850, it had 7,253; in 1860, 11,325 ; in 1870, 11.580.
43
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
The principal officers of Cass County since its formation, are as follows :
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. CASS COUNTY.
Joshua P. Crow
Amos Bonney
Elected August 7, 1837.
George F. Miller
Joshna P. Crow.
Amos Bonney.
Isaac C. Spence.
Elected August 6, 1838.
Amos Bonney.
John C. Scott Elected August 3, 1840, for 3 years.
Marcus Chandler
John C. Scott.
Marcus Chandler.
W. J. DeHaven. Elected August, 1841.
John C. Scott.
W. J. DeHaven.
..... · Elected August, 1842.
Robert Leeper.
John C. Scott.
W. J. DeHaven.
Henry McHenry Elected December 26, 1842.
W. J. DeHaven.
Henry McHenry.
Jesse B. Pence.
..... Elected August 7, 1843.
Henry McHenry.
J. B. Pence.
George B. Thompson .... Elected August, 1844.
J. B. Pence.
George B. Thompson.
William McHenry ..... Elected 1st Monday of August, 1845.
J. B. Thompson.
William McHenry.
Henry McHenry Elected 1st Monday of August, 1846.
William McHenry.
Henry McHenry.
George H. Nolte. .. Elected 1st Monday of August. 1847.
Henry McHenry.
George H. Nolte.
George W. Weaver Elected Ist Monday of August, 1848.
James Shaw, Judge
William Taylor, Associate ... ¿Elected November 6, 1849.
Thomas Plaster, Associate ..
44
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. CASS COUNTY-Continued.
James Shaw, Judge. Thomas Plaster. Associate. Jacob Ward, Associate Elected May 19, 1851.
John A. Arenz. Judge
Isaac Epler. Associate ¿Elected November, 1853. Sylvester Paddock
John A. Arenz. Judge. Sylvester Paddock. Associate. James M. Short, Associate ..... Elected November. 1854.
H. C. Havekluft. Judge
Win. McHenry, Associate. >Elected November. 1857. G. W. Shawen, Associate
F. H. Rearick, Judge . Elected November. 1861. Wm. McHenry, Associate: G. W. Shawen, Associate.
John A. Arenz, Judge .. Jennings G. Mathis, Associate {Elected November, 1865. Samuel Smith, Associate .
Alexander Huffman, Judge. . 7 Andrew Struble, Associate ... >Elected November, 1869. Jepthah Plaster, Associate ...
F. H. Rearick. Judge . Elected February 24. 1872.
Andrew Struble, Associate. Jepthah Plaster, Associate.
John W. Savage, Judge · Elected November. 1873.
William Campbell
John H. Melone
Commissioners. Elected Nov .. 1873.
Robert Fielden
William Campbell. John M. Melone. Luke Dunn Elected November, 1875.
PROBATE JUSTICES-1837 TO 1849.
John P. Wilbourne Elected August 7. 1837. 1839.
Joshua P. Crow
Alexander Huffmann.
1842.
H. E. Dummer
1843.
Hulett Clark
1847.
H. E. Dummer 66 May 13. 1849.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
SHERIFFS.
Lemon Plasters
Elected August 7, 1837.
John Savage.
1841.
Joseph M. McLean
1848.
J. B. Fulks.
November, 1850.
William Pitner.
.6
1852.
James Taylor
1854.
James A. Dick.
66
1856.
Francis H. Rearick
IS5S.
James Taylor
1860.
Charles E. Yeck.
.6
1862.
James A. Dick .
..
..
1861.
Charles E. Yeck
..
1866.
Thomas Chapman
1868.
Horace Cowan
1870.
George Volkmar
6.
1872.
William Epler
6:
1874.
I have now extended this address far beyond the limits which cus- tom has assigned to Fourth of July orations, and must soon close. It has been usual on our national birth-day for the orator to take a survey of our past history, and awake the enthusiasm of his hearers by referring to the dark and bloody days of the revolution of 1776. So often have our hearts expanded at the relation of the glorious deeds of our fathers east of the Appalachian chain, that I fear we have allowed ourselves to forget the brilliant exploits of George Rogers Clark and his daring followers, who made the most extraordinary march and impor- tant conquest of the war, and who, just ninety-eight years ago to-day, planted the American flag upon the battlements of Kaskaskia, and declared the Illinois country free from Great Britain. We have also allowed ourselves to think too little of that band of patriots, the pioneers of the great Mississippi Valley. It was that we, their pos- terity, might enjoy the blessings which now surround us, that they left their comfortable homes in the far East and South, and settled the wild prairies and woodlands of Illinois, and caused them to blossom with the rose and flow with milk and honey. And perhaps, too, in our enthusiasm for the heroes of the last century, those for whom and in whose memory Independence Day as a national feast- day was originally inaugurated, we have, through custom, neglected to pay a passing tribute to the heroes of later times. This ought not to be. Our own eyes have witnessed our country in the throes of a revolution, far greater, far grander, more fearful, more terrible, than that of 1776, which we are more particularly called upon to celebrate to-day.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
Fifteen years ago, a cloud, deep and dark and impenetrable, settled down upon our beloved country. It was that cloud that had been feared by Webster, and Jackson, and Clay, and a host of their compatriots. No statesman was wise enough to see through the gloom. But the country, in its agony, called upon its citizen-soldiery for protection ; and the call was not in vain. From every village and hamlet ; yea, from almost every farm-house in Cass County, men sprang to the rescue, as lions do when their young is threatened with danger.
Upon every field between the Ohio and the Gulf, and from where the Blue Ridge steps his feet upon the savannas of the South. away westward to where the Arkansas grasps the prairies of the West in his watery fingers, the heroes of Cass County have borne aloft the Stars and Stripes ; and many of them are now at rest, the long southern grass waving upon the level surface above them. and the head-boards which were placed over them by their departing comrades have long since mingled with the dust.
But the time will come-it must come, fellow-citizens-when the history of Cass County will not be compressed into a Fourth of July oration, but will be enlarged into the dignity of a volume. and on its pages will be transcribed the name of every man who sacrificed him- self for the good of his country, whether he fell upon the bloody field, or languished in the dreary hospital, or, with his honored scars upon him, has lived to mingle in the avocations of civil life.
I have now told you, in so comparatively short a time, what I can condense of the half century's history of what is now Cass County, four-fifths of which period has passed under my own personal obser- vation. How strange that a man should see the birth and infancy, and live on through the youth to the maturity of a great State ! How passing strange that the pioneer of the prairie and the forest should witness all the mysteries of the building-the substructure and the superstructure ; should with his own hands help, not only to lay the foundation rocks deep in the soil, but also to bear up the pillars of strength, and assist in rearing upon them the dome and pinnacle of an Empire State ! But so it is. In other countries. generations aft r generations pass away, and witness no perceptible change in their communities ; but here. men have passed their early lives in log cabins, who now rest from their labors in rosewood beds enshrined in marble.
And what may we learn by to-day's lesson ? It is this, if no other : that whatever condition in life circumstances may place us in. to act
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTI.
well our part, and then we cannot fail to become important factors in the making up of the State in which we live. Nations are but a con- glomerate of communities, and communities of individuals ; and the State looks to every man to do his duty.
And now, finally, as this is a county festival, the people of which are assembled together to celebrate this, the centennial, anniversary of our country's independence, let us ask ourselves this question : Has Cass County, during the half century of its history, done its duty to the State and nation ; its duty to God and the great world of humanity outside of it ; its duty to itself and to the future generations that are to succeed us ?
And, in response, I believe we can lay our hands upon our hearts, and our consciences will tell us that this county, as a community, has done its duty ; and results show it. There is probably as much of wealth, intelligence and happiness in it, present and prospective, as in any rural district of its size and population in this great valley. The patriotism of its people and the integrity of its magis- tracy stand unimpeached. No duty to the nation nor to humanity has been left unperformed. And the generation now passing away can say to the one just stepping upon the platform : Go and do like- wise, and your reward shall be equal, and we trust even an hundred- fold more abundant.
ILLINOIS RIVER MEMORANDA.
The following I have collected from various sources as well as largely from my own observation.
J. HENRY SHAW.
1640-Twenty years after the settlement of Plymouth Colony, the Illinois River was first navigated by white men in pirogues and birch canoes, and Illinois was colonized by Frenchmen, and added to the French Dominion. 1
1673-Marquette and Joliet with five followers crossed Wisconsin in canoes to the Mississippi River, down that stream and up the
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
Illinois to Lake Michigan, the point of their departure, the entire . route being at that time, and for a hundred years later, navigable for pirogues and canoes. The route being via Green Bay, and the Wisconsin, Mississippi, Illinois, Kankakee and St. Joseph Rivers. There was another navigable connection, during the whole of that period, between the Illinois and Lake Michigan, by means of the DesPlaines and Chicago Rivers. which men now alive have traveled in pirogues, all the way.
1670, Dec .- The Illinois, Kankakee and St. Joseph route was navigated by La Salle and thirty-three followers.
1681, Aug -Illinois, Kankakee and St. Joseph route again navi- gated by La Salle and party.
1682-La Salle and party navigated the waters from Lake Michigan, across Wisconsin, down the Mississippi, up the Illinois, Kankakee and St. Joseph to the Lake. At that time Beardstown was upon an island. The water surrounding it the year round, per- manently.
1687, Sept .- The Illinois, Kankakee and St. Joseph route navi- gated by seven Frenchmen, mutineers and murderers of La Salle, on their way from Arkansas to Lake Michigan.
1693-Gravier and his followers settled at Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria, and from this time for fifty years the Illinois was continually navigated by canoes, pirogues, and other small boats.
1725-The first of the four greatest floods of the Western rivers.
1750-Vivier says that forty vessels from the Illinois River landed at New Orleans, laden with lumber, brick, beef, tallow, cotton, myrtle, wax, leather, tobacco, lead, iron, copper, wild game, tar, skins, furs, pork, bears' oil, flour and other articles of produce.
From this time on for many years, the principal part of the produce received at New Orleans was shipped from the Illinois River.
1763-LaClede founded St. Louis, which gave a new impetus to commerce in the Illinois River, it being a nearer market. At this time the Illinois country was ceded by France to Great Britain, which closed the French war.
1772-Second great flood.
1778-Illinois was conquered and taken from Great Britain by Virginia, and was added to that State, and named Illinois County.
1785-A great flood on the Illinois and all Western Rivers, the third highest ever known.
1786-Another great flood. The Ohio rose fifty-nine feet above low water mark. The stage of water in the Illinois River is not recorded that I can find, but known to be very high.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
1792-Another great flood. The Ohio rose sixty-three feet above low water mark. Stage of the Illinois not recorded, but very high.
1800-The population of Illinois, on the borders of its rivers, 3,000.
1810-Great flood in all the Western rivers. The Ohio at Pitts- burg higher than ever before known. Stage of the Illinois not recorded. Steamer " Orleans," the first on the Western rivers, built.
1811-On the 16th day of December began the most remarkable phenomena that ever occurred in North America : an earthquake, the continued shocks of which lasted for the space of three months, a longer period than ever before known ; the effects of which were felt in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, the focus of which seemed to be about the mouth of the Ohio. It made great commotion in the rivers the banks of which caved in by whole acres at a time. Large islands disappeared under the waters. The town of New Madrid, Missouri, was destroyed, and the river now runs over part of its former site. The balance of it is lower by twenty- five feet than it was before. The bed of the river just below the mouth of the Ohio raised up like a bow and turned up stream, until its pent-up waters with accumulated force swept over the barrier and poured into the craters and fissures of the ground, when they were again thrown out in huge streams higher than the trees.
The river was navigated at that time by many flat-boats from the Illinois, Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, some of which were swallowed up in the great chasms of the river. There was much loss of life and property. Fortunately at that time the country was sparsely settled ; for no building could have withstood its fury.
This calamity checked the commerce of the Illinois River, as indeed also the general prosperity of the Western States. All immi- gration stopped, and the impression became general in the Eastern and Middle States, that Illinois and Missouri were so subject to earthquakes, as to be forever unsafe as a place of habitation. But in a few years this impression with its attendant fears wore away, and immigration again was resumed.
There have been but two earthquakes in Illinois since that time, one in 1840 and the other in 1862; both slight shocks ; the one in 1840, however, doing some little damage to brick buildings and chimneys.
1815-The steamer " Enterprise " built, and run from New Orleans to Louisville, the first steamboat which ever run up stream in the Western rivers. The " Orleans " was able only to rim down stream, and
4
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HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF CASS COUNTY.
had to be cordelled back. From 1815, steamboats multiplied very fast, and the pirates, who in large numbers had infested the Western rivers, began to disappear, and finally ceased their depredations altogether.
1826, June 2-The Illinois and Mississippi were higher than before known for forty years. The river was up to Main Street, in St. Louis, which caused great destruction of property.
1827-Steamer " Mechanic," Jolin S. Clark, captain, first steam- boat ever up the Illinois River.
1828-Another great flood. supposed to be as great as that of 1792.
1829-Beardstown was founded by Thomas Beard.
1830-31-The great snow, six feet deep.
1836-The Illinois and Mississippi again flooded. The water at St. Louis was fifty-four feet above low water mark, being nine feet ten inches higher than in 1810.
1837-Steamer " Wave" burned near Peru. One man lost, a passenger, who was drowned.
1844-This was the greatest flood on record in this or any other country, since the days of Noah. Every river west of the Alle- ghanies and north of the Gulf of Mexico rose simultaneously, and the channel of the Mississippi was unable to pass out the vast amount of water which came into it. Four hundred human beings, and a great number of horses, cattle and other stock lost their lives.
The water was one foot deep on Main Street, in Beardstown, and this city again became an island, with ten feet depth of water between it and the bluffs. The water rose to a level with the second story windows on Front Street, St. Louis. A great many towns were inundated and houses washed away.
The four greatest floods on the Mississippi River and its tri- butaries, within the last 150 years. are those of 1725, 1772, 1785 and 1844.
1848-" Planter" exploded and burned at Jones' Ferry on the Illinois River. Five persons were killed and many scalded, some of whom afterward died. The captain escaped harm, but was shortly afterward killed by the explosion of the "Saluda," on the Missouri River.
1849-Another flood this year. The water was on a level with Main Street, in Beardstown, and again it became an island. The people on the lower Mississippi suffered more than in 1844, on account of crevasses, their losses amounting to $60,000,000. The
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HISTORICAL SKETCHI OF CASS COUNTY.
water was ten feet deep in some of the streets of New Orleans. At this time, and for several years afterward, steamboating on the Illi- nois River arrived at the zenith of its glory and prosperity. During these years it boasted the finest vessels which ever floated on its waters ; among which were the Die Vernon, Prairie State, Cataract, Garden City, Ocean Wave, Belle Gould, Polar Star, and many others ; they were truly floating palaces, and the travel was upon the river and canal exclusively, there being no railroad convenient for that class of travelers. On May 17th of this year, occurred the great conflagration in St. Louis, by which several whole blocks of buildings and twenty-three steamboats were burned, among which were the Prairie State and Acadia, Illinois River packets.
1850-Financier, an Illinois River packet, exploded at Alton. Seven lives lost.
1851-August 20, Dacotah exploded at Peoria ; eleven lives lost. November 27, Die Vernon and Archer collided three miles above the mouth of the Illinois River ; the Archer sank immediately ; twenty- three persons were drowned, whose names were known, also quite a number on deck, whose names were unknown. In this year there were two floods, the two continuing so long as to cause more damage than any former one. The water was highest on the 11th of June, when it was four feet nine inches lower than the high water mark of 1844.
1852-Prairie State No. 2 exploded April 25th, at Pekin ; twenty lives lost. In April, the Illinois was very high, but no unusual dam- age was done. The Ohio rose as high as in 1832, doing an immense injury to property.
1856-Illinois River on a level with Main Street, running over at one place, Lafayette Street. March 22, Tropic and Challenge first boats up. Ocean Spray burned. December 14, River closed.
In 1852 and 1856, during the high water, first-class steamboats went entirely around Beardstown without any difficulty.
1857-February 18, Brazil first boat up. River moderate. No- vember 19, River closed. December 1, Opened and remained navi- gable until February 19, when it closed.
1858-March 11, River opened ; Adriatic first boat up. River did not close again. Prairie State collapsed a flue ; one man killed. This spring the river very high, being nearly as high as in 1844. The water crossed over Main Street, and all the lower parts covered. The city again an island, and a first-class steamer, loaded with pas- sengers, went around it.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
1859-January 21, River closed for the first time. Open to St. Louis on the 28th. February 3, Closed again. February 16, F. X. Aubry first boat up. December 15, Closed.
1860-February 21, Polar Star first boat up. Belle Peoria burned. November 24, River closed. December 7, Sam. Young came up. December 13, River closed. January 1, Deep snow ; very cold ; rail- roads generally blocked up ; mails stopped, and traveling suspended two weeks.
1861-February 16, Polar Star first boat up. Still very cold ; some ice running. February 22, Minnesota Belle came up. Decem- ber 26, River closed.
1862-March 12, Minnesota Belle first boat up. December 6, River over the Schuyler Bottom lands, and closed. December 12th, River open. La Salle first boat up.
1863-February 3, River closed until February 13th. Lacon first boat down. December 9th, River closed.
1864-February 2, Schuyler first boat up. February 16th, River closed. February 22, River open. From September 1 until October 13, only two feet of water in channel, and navigation suspended. December 9, River closed.
1865-February 20, City of Pekin first boat up. December 12, River closed. December 21, Thermometer 14° below 0, Fahrenheit. December 23, 14° below.
1866-January 21, Six o'clock P. M., thermometer 4° above, with heavy rain, freezing as it fell, and heavy thunder and lightning, mer- cury falling rapidly meantime, until nine o'clock P. M. it stood 8º below, where it stood until morning. Thunder and lightning lasted one hour, say until seven o'clock P. M. It will require a skillful meteorologist to explain this phenomena. February 15th, thermom- eter 26° below at Beardstown, which was the coldest day ever known in this country. In the northern counties of this State it ranged from 30 to 40° below. February 16, thermometer 16° below. March 1, Schuyler first boat up ; river over bottom lands. Steamer Farra- gut collided with the Meredosia bridge, whereby the canal boat Ajax, with entire cargo, was lost, and John Quigg drowned. The Ajax was in tow of the Farragut. March 17, Thermometer 7º above, but river remained open. Fall quite warm and pleasant until December 11 ; turned cold, mercury 8° above. December 12, 4º above, and ice running thin. Illinois run down in the morning, cutting her way through. Same day river got clear of ice and Farrugnt went down. December 15, Snowed six inches ; weather moderate ; 26° above, but
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CASS COUNTY.
ice running ; 17th, 2º below ; 19th, river opened and boats run until Christmas ; 25th, ice running ; and 26th, river closed, 2° above.
1867-February 9th and 10th, Thermometer 10° below. March 8, River clear of ice ; Farragut and Gem started down. Boats run all the week. March 13, Weather turned suddenly cold, 6º below, ice running ; and March 14, River closed. March 20, River open ; water all over the low lands and within three feet of the surface of Main Street, Beardstown. June 14, Peoria City's last trip down ; low water began. July 20, Illinois' last trip down. August 8, City of Pekin's last trip down. Gem collapsed a flue ; two men killed. Sep- tember 18, Lancaster's last trip down. December 1, Lacon's last trip down. December 5, Beardstown's last trip up. River closed.
1868-March 4th, River open ; Schuyler first boat up. March 5, City of Pekin up. March 9, Beardstown up. March 10, Illinois up. July 7, Low water began ; Schuyler's last trip down. July 13, Illi- nois' last trip down. November 15, River in good stage ; Illinois began regular trips. December 4, Snow six inches ; thermometer 33° above. Belle Pike burst a cylinder ; one life lost, one wounded. December 9, 4° below ; river closed. Illinois last boat up. Decem- ber 12, Mercury 10° below. The second week in this month was the coldest week ever experienced in this State, the mercury 26° below, Fahrenheit.
1869-January 1, Weather warm. January 6, River opened ; Pekin up. April 2, River moderately high, and ferry-boat ran to Frederick. River continued gradually to rise until about August 3, when it reached its highest, being on State Street, in Beardstown, within one foot of the level of Main Street. The rainiest season ever known. River open to navigation until January 7, 1870.
1871-November 11, River closed, and remained closed all winter.
1873-January 28, Coldest night ever known in this State. Early in the morning the thermometer stood 40° below zero, Fahren- heit. Mercury congealed. Snow 16 inches deep.
THE CELEBRATION.
Beardstown was selected as the site for the celebration of the Cen- tennial in Cass County. The weather was inauspicious on the morn- ing of the Fourth, and doubtless lessened the attendance on the occa- sion. Towards mid-day, however, the storm passed away, and the Public Park, in which the prominent features of the day were to take place, soon began to fill. Judge Savage, of Virginia, was elected to the Chair. A. M. Brownlee, of Virginia, read the Declaration of Inde- pendence ; and J. Henry Shaw, of Beardstown, delivered the oration. Schneider's Band filled the orchestra of the stand, and the Beardstown Glee Club occupied a temporary platform on its right. On the stand were Judge Savage, Judge Emmons ; Robert Hall, marshal of the day ; Judge Arenz, Dr. Ehrhardt ; Mr. Oetgen, Sr., of Bluff Springs ; Mayor of Beardstown ; Mr: Petefish, of Virginia ; Rev. R. Knoll, N. Parsons ; Chas. Robinson, of Arenzville ; Henry Mekinnel ; J. S. Nicholson, of the Central Illinoiun; A. M. Brownlee, of the Gazette; Dr. Littlefield ; J. S. Harper, of the Ashland Eagle; George Kuhl ; Rev. J. II. Shay, of the Cass County Messenger; Cyrus Loomis, HI. B. DeSollar, D. M. Irwin, J. Henry Shaw, John Husted, Henry Durham, Ilon. William Epler, Chris. Crum, Rev. L. F. Grassow, Milton Logan, John Milt. Epler, J. W. Lawson, and others. 1
All passed off with great eclut, and the only regret was that the long-protracted shower had excluded many distant citizens of the county from participating.
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