History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 33

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Illinois > Union County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 33

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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forts in Illinois, which he finds deserted; takes new courage; goes to Mackinaw; finds his devoted friend Chevalier Tonti in 1681, and is found once more on the Illinois River to continue the explorations of the Missis- sippi, which had been explored by Father Marquette to the Arkansas River, and by Fa- ther Hennepin up to the Falls of St. Anthony, . La Salle, from Fort Creve Cœur, on the Illi- nois River, with twenty-two Frenchmen, . amongst whom was Father Zenobi and Chev- alier Tonti, with eighteen savages and two women and three children, float down until they reached the Mississippi on February 6, 1682. They descend this mighty river until they reach its mouth April 6, 1682, where they are the first to plant the cross and the banners of France. La Salle, with his com- panions, ascends the Mississippi and returns to his forts on the Illinois; returns again to Canada and France.

La Salle is received at the French court with enthusiasm. The King of France orders four vessels, well equipped, to serve him, under Beaugerr, commander of the fleet, to proceed to the Gulf of Mexico, to discover the Balize. Unfortunately for La Salle, he fails in discovering it, and they are thrown into the bay of Matagorda, Texas, where La Salle, with his 280 persons, are abandoned by Beaugerr, the commander of the fleet. La Salle here builds a fort, then undertakes, by land, to discover the Balize. After many hardships, he returned to his fort, and again attempts the same object, when he meets a tragical end, being murdered by the desper- ate Duhall, one of his men. During the voyage of La Salle, Chevalier Tonti, his friend, had gone down the Mississippi to its mouth, to meet him. After a long search in vain for the fleet, he returned to Rock Fort, on the Illinois. After the unfortunate death of La Salle, great disorder and misfortune

occurred to his men in Texas. Some wan- dered amongst the savages, others were taken prisoners, others perished in the woods. However, seven bold and brave men of La Salle's force determined to return to Illinois, headed by Capt. Joutel, and the noble Father Anatase. After six months of exploration through the forest and plain, they cross Red River, where they lose one of their comrades. They then moved toward the Arkansas River, where, to their great joy, they reached a French fort, upon which stood a large cross, where Couture and Delouny, two Frenchmen, had possession, to hold communication with La Salle. This brave baud, with the excep- tion of young Bertheley, proceeded up the Mississippi to the Illinois forts ; from thence to Canada.

This terminated La Salle's wonderful ex- plorations over our vast lakes, great rivers and territory of Texas. He was a man of stern integrity, of undoubted activity and boldness of character, of an iron constitution, entertaining broad views, and a chivalry un- surpassed in the Old or New World.

France, as early as possible, established along the lakes permanent settlements. One was that of Detroit, which was one of the most interesting and lovely positions, which was settled in 1701, by Lamotte de Cardillac, with one hundred Frenchmen.

The discovery and possession of Mobile, Biloxi and Dauphine Island induced the French to search for the mouth of the Mis- sissippi River, formerly discovered by La- Salle. Lemoine d'Iberville, a naval officer of talent and great experience, discovered the Balize, on the 2d of March, 1699; proceeded up this river and took possession of the country known as Louisiana. D'Iberville returned immediately to France to announce this glorious news. Bienville, his brother, was left to take charge of Louisiana during

J.W. Gant

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his absence. D'Iberville returned, when Bienville and St. Denis, with a force, was ordered to explore Red River and thence to the borders of Mexico. La Harpe also as- cended Red River in 1719 built a fort called Carlotte; also took possession of the Arkan- sas River; afterward floated down this river in pirogues, finding on its banks many thriv- ing Indians villages. France, in September, 1712, by Letters Patent, granted Louisi- ana to Crozas, a wealthy Frenchman, who relinquished his rights and power in 1717 to the Company of the West, established by the notorious banker, John Law. Under a fever of great speculations, great efforts were made to advance the population and wealth of Louisiana. New Orleans was mapped out in 1718, and became the important city of Lower and Upper Louisiana. The charter and privileges of "Company of the West," after its total failure, was resigned to the crown of France in 1731. The country, em- bracing Louisiana, was populated by numer- ous tribes of savages. One of these tribes was known as the Natchez, located on a high bluff, in the midst of a glorious climate, about 300 miles above New Orleans, on the river bank. The Natchez had erected a re- markable temple, where they invoked the "Great Spirit," which was decorated with various idols moulded from clay baked in the sun. In this temple burned a living fire, where the bones of the brave were burned. Near it, on a high mound, the Chief of the Nation, called the Sun, resided, where the warriors chanted their war songs and held their great council fires. The Natchez had shown great hospitality to the French. The Governor of Louisiana built a fort near them in 1714, called Fort Rosalie. Chopart, after - ward commander of this fort, ill-treated them and unjustly demanded a part of their vil- lages. This unjust demand so outraged their

feelings that the Natchez in their anger lifted up the bloody tomahawk, headed by the "Great Sun," attacked Fort Rosalie No- vember 28, 1729, and massacred every French- man in the fort and the vicinity. During these bloody scenes the chief amidst this car- nage stood calm and unmoved, whilst Cho- part's head and that of his officers and sol- diers were thrown at his feet, forming a pyra- mid of human heads. This caused a bloody war, which, after many battles fought, termi- nated in the total destruction of the Natchez nation. In these struggles the chief and his 400 braves were made prisoners, and after- ward inhumanly sold as slaves in St. Domin- go.

The French declared war in 1736 against the Chickasaws, a warlike tribe, that in- habited the Southern States. Bienville, commander of the French, ordered a re-union of the troops to assemble on the 10th of May, 1736, on the Tombigbee river. The gallant D'Artaquette from Fort Chartres, and the brave Vincennes from the Wabash River, with a thousand warriors, were at their post in time; but were forced into battle on the 20th of May without the assistance of the other troops; were defeated and massacred. Bien- ville shortly afterward, on the 27th of May, 1736, failed in his assault upon the Chickasaw forts on the Tombigbee, where the English flag waved, and was forced to retreat, with the loss of his cannons, which forced him to return to New Orleans. In 1740, the French built a fort at the mouth of the St. Francois River, and moved their troops into Fort As- sumption, near Memphis, where peace was concluded with the Chickasaws.

The oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi was Kaskaskia, first visited by Father Gravier, date unknown; but he was in Illinois in 1693. He was succeeded by Fathers Pinet and Binetan. Pinet became

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the founder of Cahokia, where he erected a chapel, and a goodly number of savages as- sembled to attend the great feast. Father Gabriel, who had chanted mass through Can- ada, officiated at Cahokia and Kaskaskia in 1711. The missionaries in 1721 established a college and monastery at Kaskaskia. Fort Chartres, in Illinois, was built in 1720; be- came an important post for the security of the French, and a great protection for the com- merce on the Mississippi!' "The Company of the West " sent an expedition under Le Sieur to the Upper Louisiana about 1720, in search of precious metals, and proceeded up as far as St. Croix and St. Peters Rivers, where a fort was built, which had to be abandoned owing to the hostilities of the savages.

The French, as early as 1705, ascended the Missouri River to open traffic with the Missou- ris and to take possession of the country. M. Dutism, from New Orleans, with a force, arrived in Saline River, below Ste. Genevieve, moved westward to the Osage River, then beyond this about 150 miles, where he found two large villages located in fine prairies abounding with wild game and buffalo.

France and Spain, in 1719, were contend- ing for dominion west of the Mississippi. Spain, in 1720, sent from Santa Fé a large caravan to make a settlement on the Missouri River, the design being to destroy the Missou- ris, a tribe at peace with France. This car. avan, after traveling and wandering, lost their way, and marched into the camp of the Missouris, their enemies, where they were all massacred, except a priest who, from his dress, was considered no warrior. After this expe- dition from Santa Fé upon Missouri, France, under M. DeBourgment, with a force in 1724 ascended the Missouri, established a fort above, on an island above the Osage River, named Fort Orleans. This fort was after-

ward attacked and its defenders destroyed and by whom was never ascertained.

The wars between England and France more or less affected the growth of this con- tinent. The war in 1689, known as "King William's war," was concluded by the treaty of Ryswick, 1697. "Queen Anne's war," terminated by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713. "King George's war "concluded by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748. These wars gave England supremacy in the fisheries, the possession of the Bay of Hudson, of New- foundland and all of Nova Scotia.

The French and Indian wars, between 1754 and 1763. The struggle between England and France as to their dominion in America commenced at this period. It was a disas- trous and bloody war, where both parties en- listed hordes of savages to participate in a warfare conducted in a disgraceful manner to humanity. France at this time had erected a chain of forts from Canada to the great lakes and along the Mississippi Valley. The English controlled the territory occupied by her English colonies. The English claimed beyond the Alleghany Mountains to the Ohio River. The French deemed her right to this river indisputable. Virginia had granted to the "Ohio Company " an extensive territory reaching to the Ohio. Dinwiddie, Governor of Virginia, through George Washington, re- monstrated against the encroachment of the French. St. Pierre, the French commander, received Washington with kindness, returned an answer, claiming the territory which France occupied. The "Ohio Company " sent out a party of men to erect a fort, at the confluence of the Alleghany and Mononga- hela rivers. These men had hardly com- menced work on this fort when they were driven away by the French, who took posses- sion and established a "Fort Du Quesne."

Washington, with a body of provincials

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from Virginia, marched to the disputed ter- ritory, when a party of French, under Jnmon- ville, was attacked and all either killed or made prisoners. Washington after this erected a fort called Fort Necessity. From thence Washington proceeded with 400 men toward Fort Du Quesne, where, hearing of the advance of M. DeVilliers, with a large force, he returned to Fort Necessity, where after a short defense Washington had to capitulate with the honorable terms of re- turning to Virginia.

On the 4th of July, 1754, the day that Fort Necessity surrendered, a convention of colonies was held at Albany, N. Y., for a union of the colonies proposed by Dr. Ben. Franklin, adopted by the delegates, but de- feated by the English Government. How- ever, at this convention a treaty was made between the colonies and the "Five Nations," which proved to be of great advantage to England. Gen. Braddock, with a force of 2,000 soldiers, marched against Fort Du Quesne. Within seven miles of this fort, he was attacked by the French and Indian allies and disastrously defeated, when Washington covered the retreat and saved the army from total destruction.

Sir William Johnson, with a large force, took command of the army at Fort Edward. Near this fort, Baron Dieskan and St. Pierre attacked Col. Williams and troop where the English were defeated, but Sir Johnson com- ing to the rescue defeated the French, who lost in this battle Dieskan and St. Pierre.

On August 12, 1756, Marquis Montcalm, commander of the French Army, attacked Fort Ontario, garrisoned by 1,400 troops capitulated as prisoners of war, with 134 cannon, several vessels and a large amount of military stores. Montcalm destroying this fort returned to Canada.

By the treaty of peace of Aix la Chapelle

of October, 1748, Arcadia, known as Nova Scotia, and Brunswick, had been ceded by France to England. When the war of 1754 broke out, this territory was occupied by nu- merous French families. England fearing their sympathy for France, cruelly confiscat- ed their property, destroyed their humble homes and exiled them to their colonies in the utmost poverty and distress.

In August, 1757, Marquis Montcalm, with a large army, marched on Fort William Hen- ry, defended by 3,000 English troops. The English were defeated, and surrenderd on condition that they might march out of the fort with their arms. The savage allies, as they marched out, in an outrageous manner plundered them and massacred some in cold blood, notwithstanding the efforts of the French officers to prevent them. The mili- tary campaign so far had been very disas- trous to the English, which created quite a sensation in the colonies and in Eng- land. At this critical period, the illustrious Mr. Pitt, known as Lord Chatham, was placed at the helm of state on account of his talent and statesmanship, and he sent a large naval armament and numerous troops to protect the colonies.

July 8, 1758, Gen. Abercrombie, with an army 15,000, moved on Ticonderoga, defend- ed by Marquis Montcalm. After a great struggle, the English were defeated with a loss of 2,000 dead and wounded.

August 27, 1758, Col. Bradstreet, with a force, attacked the French fort, Fort Fronte- nac, on Lake Ontario, took it with nine armed vessels, sixty cannon and a quantity of military stores, while Gen. Forbes moved on Fort Du Quesne, who took it, which fort was afterward called Pittsburgh, in honor of Mr. Pitt.

In 1759, the French this year evacuated Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara. Gen.

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Wolfe advanced against Quebec, then defend- ed by the gallant Montcalm, where a terri- ble and bloody battle took place between the two armies. Gen. Wolfe was killed and a great number of English officers. When the brave Wolfe was told the English were victorious, he said he " died contented." Montcalm, when told his wound was mortal said, "So much the better ; I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec," which city surrendered September 18, 1759,

In 1760, another battle was fought near Quebec, which drove the English into their fortifications, and were only relieved by the English squadron. Montreal still contended to the last, when she was compelled to surren- der, which gave Canada to the English.

Treaty of peace, February 10, 1763. By this France ceded to England all her posses- sions on the St. Lawrence River, all east of the Mississippi River, except that portion south of Iberville River and west of the Mississippi. At the same time, all the terri-

tory here reserved being west of the Missis- sippi, and the Orleans territory, was trans- ferred to Spain. France, after all her la- bors, toil and expenditures, and great loss of life surrendered to England and Spain her great domain in North America. The histo- ry of France, embracing a term of 228 years, is replete with interest and with thrilling events in this country up to 1763. The de- feats of the French in North America great- ly led to the establishment of the United States Government. The accomplishment of such a glorious end was largely due to the gallant Frenchmen. As long as the anni- versary of the American Independence shall be celebrated, the names of Washington and Lafayette will ever be remembered by a grateful people. We can but congratulate ourselves, as citizens of this great valley, that owing to the sympathy of France and her people under the great Napoleon and the immortal Jefferson, that we to-day are a por- tion of this grand republic.

CHAPTER IV.

FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FIRST PIONEERS-WHO THEY WERE-HOW THEY CAME- WHERE THEY STOPPED-FROM 1795 TO 1810-CORDELING-BEAR FIGHT-FIRST SCHOOLS, PREACHERS AND THE KIND OF PEOPLE THEY WERE-JOHN GRAMMER, THE FATHER OF ILLINOIS STATE-CRAFT. ETC.

" Yet even these bones from insult to protect,

Implore the passing tribute of a sigh."-Gray.

M ore than two hundred years ago, a large portion of the territory of the Missis- sippi Valley passed nominally at least from under the exclusive dominion of the savage races and the wild beasts to that of the tri-color of France and the benign sway of the Catholic Church. In the year 1673, those bold ex- plorers, Joliet and Marquette, with their

small company of five white men and three Indian guides, floated down the Mississippi River and within the bounds of the territory that is now Union County. It is not at all probable that they rounded to their frail, light crafts and placed their feet upon the actual soil of Union County, yet they were upon our waters, and as they floated down the " Father of Waters " they took possession by virtue of discovery, Joliet in the name of

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France and Marquette in the name of his church. This voyage of discovery resulted in the French settlement of Kaskaskia, and afterward of Cahokia-five miles below St. Louis, on the Illinois side. It is not at all probable that any of the early Kaskaskia settlers ever ventured as far away from their fort and fortifications as to come into the county, even upon hunting expeditions. The next nearest settlement of the white men was at Fort Massac, on the Ohio River, about thirty-six miles above Cairo. This was founded in 1711, and in the course of time became the only trading point for the earliest pioneers of the extreme southern limits of Illinois. It was for many years called Fort Massacre, and it got this blood-curdling name from some Indian strategy that re- sulted in the massacre of every man in the fort. The Indians dressed themselves in bear skins and appeared on the Kentucky side of the river, in full view of the fort, walking and acting like bears, when the soldiers and people, after watching their antics for some time, made up a company, including the most of the men in the fort, gathered their guns and crossed the river in skiffs for a great bear hunt. The few per- sons who did not go in the hunt were gath- ered upon the river bank watching with ea- ger interest their friends as they crossed the river. The moment the Indians saw their trick was successful, they retired to the brush from view, and. making a hasty detour, crossed the river unseen, in a bend a short distance above, and by a small circuit reached the fort from the rear and entering when there was not a soul left, secured the few re- maining guns and then commenced the mas- sacre, which only stopped when no white person was left alive in or about the fort. They then sacked and burned the buildings. A few years after, it was rebuilt and called

for a long time Fort Massacre, but in the course of time it again resumed its original name, Fort Massac, by which it is known to this day.

For some years after the trappers, fishers and pioneers began to skirt with sparse cab- ins the Ohio River and the Cache River, Fort Massac was the only point within reach where these people could resort for the little trading in those essential supplies of ammu- nition, etc., that they were compelled to have. For a long time, too, this place was the land- ing point for all those pioneers from the Carolinas, Virginia and Kentucky, that came down or crossed the Ohio River on their way to Kaskaskia or Cahokia. At first this was a route for nearly all the immigra- tion into Southern Illinois, much of which came down the Ohio River on batteaus, pi- rogues and canoes and skiffs, while some crossed the river at Shawneetown and some at Fort Massac. In the year 1797, some years before any white man had ventured into what is now Union County, in the hunt of a permanent home, a colony of Virginians, numbering 126 persons, landed at Fort Mas- sac, and pursued their toilsome and tedious way through the dense forests to New De- sign. The distance thus traversed was only about 135 miles, yet the little colony was twenty-six days on the road, and so great was their toil and exposure that within a few months after reaching their destination a majority of them died. These emigrants may have touched the northeastern portion of the county on their way through the ter- ritory to their destination. If they passed through any portion of Union County, then they were the first here after the long lapse of years since Joliet and Marquette had passed down the Mississippi, and in the name of France and Papal Christendom started that tremendous drama that lasted

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for more than ninety years, and in which France and the church were the principal actors. New Design, in the present county of Monroe, was established in 1782, and un- til the time of the advent of this Virginia colony, it was the attractive point in the territory for immigrants. But the news of the calamities that befel this colony were carried back to the old States, and for some + years the impression widely prevailed that all this territory was a mere plague spot where civilized people could hardly hope to long survive a removal to it, and this re- tarded the heavy immigration that afterward came.

In the year 1803-just eighty years ago -- the first white settlement was made in the territory now comprising Union County. This feeble colony thus braving the wilds, the dense forests and its almost impenetra- ble undergrowth, consisted of two families, namely, Abram Hunsaker's and George Wolf's. They had come down the Ohio River and up the Cache, hunting and fish- ing, and finally started on an overland route, intending, it is supposed, to strike the Mis- sissippi River and ascend the same to the settlements of Kaskaskia and Cahokia. Those wanderers camped one night a short distance» from where Jonesboro now is, and the next morning the men found that they had to re- plenish their meat supply, and they shouldered their guns and in a few minutes killed a large and fat bear, and in a little while after getting the bear they added a fine turkey gobbler to their store. They were so de- lighted with the land of plenty, both of game and excellent water, that they concluded to rest a few days, and before the few days had expired the men were busy at work building cabins in which to house their families and make this their permanent home. Just eighty years! How feeble this little begin-

ning of the white man and civilization must have appeared in the face of the riot of un- bridled strength of wilderness, the wild beast and the more deadly and treacherous savage. For two years, in all that region then included in Johnson County, these were the only white settlers. They knew of no neighbors in the Illinois Territory, and the nearest white settlements were at Kas- kaskia and Cahokia, which, for any purpose of trade or communication, had as well been at the farthest ends of the earth. For years they saw no white face except the members of their own families. They held no inter- course with their fellow-men; they had placed behind them the comforts and blessings of civilization.

There is a tradition, not well authenti- cated, that in the year 1804 a man whose name will never now be known, had fixed his residence in the hills of the northwest part of the county and here alone he lived for some years. The story is that he had se- lected this wild spot that he might hide him- self from his fellow-men, because at some time he had committed a great crime and was a fugitive from justice; that he fled as soon as he ascertained there had been a set- tlement in this part of the country, and it was only by the discovery of his deserted cabin long after he had gone, and probably there were some things found, either old files of papers or something else to give cur- rency to the stories as to who he was and why he thus fled from the presence of all men.

The next year, 1805, David Green came with his little family and built his cabin in the Mississippi bottom, about a half mile north of what is known as the Big Barn. He was a Virginian, and had been engaged in navigating the rivers in the early flat-boat days, and in waiting upon the banks of the

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 33

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948