History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 12

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776

USA > Illinois > Bureau County > History of Bureau County, Illinois > Part 12

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).

" It seems to me but a transient season Since all was new and strange; I gaze on the scenes around me And wonder at the change." -JOHN H. BRYANT.

T THE subject of Old Settlers' Meetings was first agitated in Bureau County as early as 1861. This is an important item in the county's history, as it is an index, first, to the patriotic interest the people entertained for their adopted State and county, and sec- ond, to the possession of that higher order of intelligence that makes a community inter- ested in the history of their own people, and that country of which they are a component part. This was among the youngest of counties, and yet it was among the first to realize the great fact that the public mind had become active in gathering rapidly the materials of history-materials not only of a temporary interest, but of a permanent value, that should be gathered and preserved for the historian's use. They showed by this act that they held a high appreciation of the great deeds of the early pioneers, and that their names and memories should not be for- gotten. The reader must bear in mind that as far back as 1861 the subject of forming Old Settlers' Societies was then a new and unheard-

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

of thing; the conception as applied to a com- paratively new country was fresh and original. Hence the importance which attaches to the fact that Bureau was among the first to com- mence to educate its people to become interest. ed in the important subject, and there is no doubt but that the action of a few of the people of the county was one of the influences that spread over the United States, and finally in- duced the action of Congress, and the Presi- dent and the Governors of all the States in the year 1876, in recommending to the people of the several counties and towns of the State and Nation, to cause a history of their respect- ive localities to be prepared for the One Hundredth Anniversary of our National In- dependence. This action is something of an index of the activity of the feelings of the heart and of the faculties of the mind of these pioneers and their children. Nothing aids the historian to get at the real lives of a peo- ple who have passed away so well as to see their literature (if they had any), the pictures of their leading personages as preserved by the photographer's art, or the inception and spread of a public movement that becomes wide-spread and permanent in its actions or effects.

And just here we note it with pleasure, this early agitation of the subject of Old Set- tlers' Meetings resulted as early as 1865 in the organization of an Old Settler's Society, which continues in active and vigorous exist- ence to this day. And upon their record books are most invaluable facts and incidents preserved for posterity. Everything about them is deeply interesting-the proceedings, the officers, the manner of working up their accounts of the meetings, the addresses and the reminiscences of the venerable men at the meetings, who in their own way recalled the long ago. Nor should we omit mention of the touching poetical addresses on these occa-

sions, many of which will take a permanent place in Western literature. To all these may be added the picture, by Mr. Immke, photographer, grouping over 400 of the early settlers, and which for a work of that kind we do not remember to have seen excelled. Here is a picture of most interesting study. It is the serious, stern, heavy-featured faces of men and women, who commenced life in its most real and trying phases; who faced dangers, trials and sore vexations; the most of their young lives they knew they carried their lives in their hands. but they had counted the costs and weighed the chances, and foreknew the grand results that awaited upon their ultimate victories. The ripened fruits have come doubtless much sooner than any of these strong-faced, stern-souled old pioneers, even the most sanguine, expected. And some few of them have been spared to witness what they once had only hoped might come to their children's children. Every picture in this large group of representative pioneers is a study of itself, and could a copy of the group be preserved for the people in their second centennial celebration, and then by the improved arts of that age each face be restored to its natural size, with its faithful reproduction of the strong lineaments and feat- ures, it would be one of the most valuable lega- cies in the world to the great-grandchildren of the present age. A room set apart for these faithful portraitures of the pioneer men and women in some of the county's public build- ings, would be an inexpensive public school and place of recreation and resort, and yet it would become a public teacher and a mon- itor and guide that no amount of money could otherwise supply. We wish we could im. press upon the people, the liberal and public- minded people of the county, the great importance of preserving and placing where they will be carefully kept, copies of this

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

picture for posterity. If lost now it cannot be replaced.

A preliminary meeting was held in Prince- ton, December 21, 1861, at which J. V. Thompson was chosen, Chairman and E. S. Phelps, Jr., Secretary. Remarks were made by D. McDonald, E. S. Phelps, L. J. Colton, C. G. Reed. Cyrus Langworthy and A. Bryant.

It was resolved to hold a regular county Old Settler's Meeting in Princeton, February 22, and E. S. Phelps was appointed to pre- pare an address of invitation to the people. Mr. Phelps wrote the address-an admirable document-and it is so full of the real hearts of the old settlers, so vivid and true, that we reprint much of it for the admiration of posterity :

When we look back to these early days of our county, when mills, churches, schoolhouses. etc., were few and far between, and when, in order to market our produce, we had to travel with our wagons to Chicago and bring back our lumber, salt, etc., when we would take our teams and families and go several miles to see our neighbors, and help them raise their cabins or houses, and when it cheered the hearts of us all to again shake the hands of true friends and look into each other's countenances; when the fathers and mothers, with the young men and maidens, could go to the house of God and sit on benches made of rails, puncheons, or slabs, and worship and sing praises with spirit and in the love of it. and when our schoolhouses were no better seated-in fact, the little schoolhouses were almost the only places in which meetings were held -oh, with what joy we met one another on these oc- casions, and how our hearts swelled within us, feel- ing that we were truly brothers and sisters in a strange land.

No one who now comes into this beautiful county and sees our railroads, splendid churches, school- houses, dwellings, publie houses, carriages, markets almost at our doors, improved machinery, county fairs, political meetings and other gatherings of the people, can realize the condition of our county from the time the first settlers came in, about 1828, up to 1847, when some of our sister counties ceased calling immigrants "old settlers."

Who but the early settlers know the trials by cold, liunger, privation, wild beasts, Indians and

other things we had to contend against? Who else has the history of those times engraved on their hearts never to be erased? What history has more interest than that of the early pioneers, and who can give that history better than they? Is not this history important? Is it not one worthy of preser- vation? Are you not willing that the rising gener- ation should have this history to be hauded down as a memento of our country? If so, let us try and gather up the fragments of this history, that is left in the memories of those who have not yet gone to the spirit world. How it cheers us as we see the faces of those once loved and respected as neigh- bors aud frieuds scattered over this country and will we not cherish the times in which we may meet and talk over past scenes, and compare them with the present time?

Other counties in our loved Illinois have and are commencing to organize "Early Settlers" Societies for the purpose of gathering statistics of early times and enjoying in a social manner the company and presence of those who were scattered as early set- tlers over their counties. * * * * * * * *

The writer then appeals to all to attend the meeting, bring their dinner-baskets full, and each one get up appropriate toasts- appropriate to the occasion and the day (Feb- ruary 22), and thus concludes:

Let us show to our children and those who have recently settled among us that we are friends and brethren and that the love and respeet kindled in years gone by have not died out, but still live and are cherished in true friendly hearts.

This address had the effect to awaken a deep interest in the history of the early times, and this followed with the meetings and addresses and talks among the old settlers and their friends awoke the whole community to the fact that here at home was the most interesting, instructive and entertaining his- tory in the world; that every aged pioneer was of himself a history; that the sacred cir- cle of these gray-haired fathers and mothers "In Israel" was fast narrowing by old age and death, and that unless the facts that they carried in their memories were at once col- lected and put in a more permanent form that very soon they would be forever lost, except

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

in so far as they might be perpetuated by the " faltering tongue of faint traditions."

Pursuant to this circular address of E. S. Phelps, a meeting of old settlers was con- vened at Converse Hall, Princeton, February 22, 1865. A permanent organization was formed and Hon. John H. Bryant elected President; C. G. Reed, Vice President, and adjourned. January 12, 1865, an Old Set- tlers' Meeting convened at Converse Hall, Princeton. Col. J. T. Thomson called the meeting to order. William Hoskins, of Selby, elected Chairman. George Radcliffe made appropriate remarks explanatory of the objects of the meeting. L. D. Whiting, J. V. Thompson, and Milo Kendall appointed Com- mittee on Resolutions. The names of 151 old settlers, those who came to the county from 1828 to 1841, were given to the Secretary. Remarks were made by William Hoskins, who settled in the county December 6, 1830. Charles S. Boyd, who settled at Boyd's Grove, in 1830; James G. Forristol, March 4, 1830; Nicholas Smith, 1831; Frederick Mosely, August 1831; E. H. Phelps, July, 1831; Charles G. Reed, 1845; William Cowan, November 16, 1832; Alexander Hol- brooke, 1832; and J. V. Thompson, 1840.

J. V. Thompson also read a poem, printed in the Bureau County Advocate of December 26. 1849, J. H. Bryant editor and poet.

The committee reported a stirring set of resolutions, in which they eloquently talk of the people who came here from various States and countries to build homes in the West, and be friends and co-workers in the great cause of civilization, and acknowledge with grateful hearts the kindness of Providence which " conducted us here, and cast our homes where genial skies and wholesome air favor health and its attendant blessings; where enterprise has a fair field for success; where the great arteries of travel and com-

merce pass through our borders, and where nature on every haud has been grandly lavish of her wealth and her charms, in woodland and stream, in prairie and glen.

"That the marvelous progress we have wit- nessed during the last third of a century, in numbers and wealth, in mental, moral and material progress, and in all that attends a high and advancing civilization, is but the shadow and prelude of a nobler coming age, when our rich prairies shall be cultivated to their highest limit, and adorned with all that beautifies rural scenery, thus rendering them the happy homes of multiplied thousands; when our villages and cities shall be centers of refinement and wealth, of manufacturing industry, and of the various institutions for social, moral and intellectual advancement.

"Virtue, intelligence, justice, honor and patriotism are above wealth and material pros- perity ; that we are more anxious to endow our sons and daughters with high social, moral and intellectual qualities, than with gold and silver and lands."

February 22, 1867, another large meeting was held in the same place, John H. Bryant, Chairman, and Elijah Smith, Secretary; C. G. Reed, Vice-President; T. W. Nichols, L. J. Colton, E. S. Phelps, Jr., and Col. J. T. Thomson, Executive Committee.

The following is the record, as gathered at this meeting of the early settlers, commenc- ing with the year 182S. In addition to the 151 names handed in we have gathered such as we find in the records and added them:

1828 .- Mrs. Sarah Stratton, nee Baggs, widow of Abram Stratton, still living in the county ; Mr. and Mrs. George Hinsdale (Mrs. Hinsdale was a niece of Henry Thomas. and a member of his household); Mr. and Mrs. Ira Jones. Also on the records are the names of Smiley Shepherd, 1828, and Nelson Shep-

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

herd, 1829, and Williamson Durley, 1831, (Putnam County men).

1829. - Abram Stratton (see preceding page for complete sketch of), Amos Leonard, Daniel Dimmick, Timothy Perkins, Leonard Roth, William Hoskins, John Clark, Reason B., John and William Hill.

1830 .- Charles S. Boyd, William Hoskins, James G. Forristal, Nicholas Smith, John M. Gay, Mrs. John M. Gay, M. Kitterman, Sylvester Brigham, the Searle family.

1831 .- E. S. Phelps, Mrs. Anna W. Phelps, E. Hinsdale Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith, Nicholas Smith, John Cole, Fredrick Moseley, D. P. Smith, Dwight, Smith, Nicholas Smith, George Hinsdale, E. H. Phelps, Daniel Jones (see biography), Abram Jones, Mary Jones, Daniel Smith, Henry George (killed in Hall massacre), Roland Moseley, John Musgrove.

1832 .- Nathaniel Chamberlain, William O. Chamberlain, Elias Isaacs, William Cowan, Joel Doolittle, John Green Reed, Alexander Holbrook, Mrs. M. Sturdyvin, Mrs. H. W. Kelly, John H. Bryant (Sep- tember 22), James O. Doolittle (January 10), Joseph Brigham, Mrs. Joseph Brigham, William Munson (married Miss Hall. He hewed the first logs for Griffin & Wilson's Mill at Leepertown), Daniel Sherley, Gil- bert Kellums.

1833 .- Arthur Bryant, Lazarus Reeve, Abbott Ellis, Madison Sturdyvin, Demarcus Ellis, James Wilson, Frank Shepherd, Sam- uel Triplett, William Allen, Aquilla Trip lett, Mrs. Elizabeth Matson, Mrs. Arthur Bryant, Mrs. Elizabeth Norton, C. C. Corse, H. B. Leeper, Charles Leeper, Mrs. Sarah Ann Taylor, I. Wilson, James Garvin, John Leeper.

1834. - Richard Masters, John Masters, Caleb Cook, Mrs. Lucy Cook, Henry Cook,

Edward C. Hall, Chauncey D. Colton. McCayga Triplett, C. F. Winship, Mrs. Sarah Winship, J. T. Holbrook, Cyrus Langworthy, Mrs. Cyrus Langworthy, Will- iam Knox, John Elliott, Daniel R. Howe, Samuel Fay, Hemar, Downing, Mrs. De. marcus Ellis, Mrs. Lumry, Mrs. Mason, Tracy Reeve, Mrs. Maria Clapp, Adam Galer, Mrs. Clark Norton, Bar. Mercer, Mrs. Julia E. Whitemarsh, Rev. J. E. Prunk, Mary Durfee, N. Perkins, John Clapp, W. Mercer, W. P. Griffin, E. H. Phelps, Mrs. John Vaughn, Jonathan , Ire- land, Mrs. Eliza Ireland, Mrs. Andrew Ross, W. L. Isaac, Moses M. Thompson, Enos Holbrook.

1835 .-- Lewis J. Colton (in Kansas), Cy- rus Colton and wife, Frank W. Winship, Solomon Sapp, Henry Sapp, James Cod- dington, Austin Bryant, Timothy Searl, I. B. Chenoweth, Sol F. Robinson, James S. Everett, Enos N. Matson, Charles H. Bryant, James M. Winship, Mrs. S. M. Dun- bar, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Newell, Mrs. David Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Phelps, Mrs. Hannah M. Phelps, John Clapp, E. Strong Phelps, W. C. Drake, Sarah Tucker, E. Sherwin, Enoch Pratt, Amanda Pratt, John Pratt, Susan Pratt, George W. Pratt. Susan married Daniel Kiser, and George W. was born in this county. Mrs. Susan Brown was a sister of Enoch Pratt. She was the wife of George Brown and the mother of George H. Brown.

1836 .- Nathan Rackley, Justin H. Olds, Enos Smith, Jacob Albrecht, Allen S. La- throp, Sidney Smith, Daniel Radcliffe, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mohler, Martin Hops, John Long, Seth C. Clapp, John Stevens, E. S. Phelps, Jr., George Brown, A. R. Kendall, Jesse Emmerson, George M. Emerson, Alfred Lyford, Daniel Heaton, Caleb Pierce, Enos Matson, Enoch Lumry, Mrs. Sarah B. King,

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Mrs. William Cowan, Mrs. Susan Brown, George H. Brown, Enos Smith, O. E. Jones, W. Prunk, W. E. Chenoweth, George R. Phelps, Susanna Campbell, George Rackley, Joseph Houghton (of La Salle County), Sam- uel E. Norris (Iowa), Mrs. Adaline D. Norris (Iowa), Adelia E. Drake, Mrs. Sarah Mus. grove, E. S. Phelps, Nehemiah Matson, Par- ker J. Newell, Alonzo R. Kendall, Mrs. Har- riet Childs Everett.

1837 .- Mr. and Mrs: Stephen Wilson, Da- vid Maple, James H. Smith, William Young, Caleb Cushing (relative of the celebrated Caleb Cushing), James M. Dexter, Joseph S. Clark, Evan H. Swayne, George M. Radcliffe, David Greeley, William Hudnut, George E. Dorr, John Vaughan, Jr., William Frankeber - ger, Mrs. Rebecca Warfield, Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, Mrs. Daniel King, Mrs. Rufus Carey, Mrs. Aaron Fisher, Mrs. Eli Wood, Mrs. A. M. Hops, Mr. and Mrs. John Walter, John Vaughn, J. Walter, A. M. Sheldon, John L. Enyart, Mrs. Mary M. Anthony, Alfred An- thony, Mrs. W. J. Moore, Frank Langworthy, J. N. Hill, James Richards Phelps, Edward C. Winship, Mrs. Ann Winship.

1838 .- Benjamin Porter, Henry V. Bacon, Amos N. Bacon, Samuel Dexter (Hinsdale), Anthony Sawyer, Franklin Foster, William Robinson, James B. Aiken, P. J. Newell (born in county), Mrs. Lucinda Bubach, Mrs. Nancy Morton, Caleb Cook (died March 27, 1876), Mrs. Lucy Cook, Mary Cook, A. Dur- fee, Mrs. Mary Ann Colton, Joseph I. Taylor, Henry Cook, Amos N. Bacon, Samuel Dexter (Hinsdale), Franklin Walker (Champaign County), Gilbert Clement, Oliver Denham, J. W. Spratt, Mrs. Nancy H. Morton. M. Prictchey, Orris S. Phelps, J. R. Phelps.

1839 .- Rufus L. Craig, Joseph Pierce. Niel McArthur, Francis Buchan, Samuel M. Dunbar, Mrs. HannahMI. Phelps, L. A. Hope, E. G. Peter, Andrew Gosse, E. J. Benson,

E. B. Belknap. M. T. W. Lathrop. A. Benson, Robert M. Kearns.

1840 .- J. V. Thompson, William S. Rich- ards, Martin L. Goodspeed, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Prutsman, Mrs. Joseph S. Clark, Mrs. William McKee, E. R. Mathis, A. Prutsman, J. N. Ries, Zilpha Griffin, L. L. Frizzell, Mrs. Lucretia Jones, W. W. Ferris, Carlton W. Combs. M. Bertrand Lockwood.

The poem referred to as written by John H. Bryant, was entitled " 'Indian Courtship' -Reminiscence-By An Old Settler"; And the scene is located by the first, two lines:

"Where French Grove road winds down the hill, The hither side of Galer's Mill, In the mild winter of thirty-three A wigwam stood beneath a tree."

Here was the home, as the poet proceeds to tell us, of Maumese.

"A proud chieftan of the band Which erst possessed this lovely land."

Then in rythmic phrase the story of a young white man's love with Maumese's daughter is well told, and how his heart was finally wrenched by the old chief striking his tent very suddenly and moving away. The young man was the "Deacon's son,"

(" Since better known as Doetor Bill With sulky, saddle bags and pill.")

And the most knowing ones said this was Dr. Chamberlain, whose luckless fate it was to be thus

-stepped between Our hero and his forest queen "

whose

"Step was lighter than the fawn's That bounded o'er these blooming lawns,"

And her father " bounded " her away and Dr. Bill was left to choose him a very sweet "pale face" and thus plod along in the old fash- ioned way of rearing young pioneers.

The reading of the poem attracted great attention. and its happy chord is evidenced by the fact that to this day many of those

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

who heard it so much admired it that they can yet repeat it entire.

In February, 1867, another very large Old Settlers' meeting convened in Princeton, and we condense the following summary of its proceedings:

Elijah Smith, Secretary; T. W. Nichols, L. J. Colton, E. S. Phelps, Jr., Col. J. T. Thomson, Executive Committee.

The principal address was then delivered by Milo Kendall. The speaker commenced with an eloquent apostrophe to the memory of George Washington. He then referred to the important but generally little understood fact, that. "When a country emerges from a savage to a civilized life, not by the slow process of development and culture, but by the sudden and abrupt change produced by conflict between savage and civilized races, the events which mark the transitions of pow- er and dominion over the soil from one race to the other, are often the most interesting features in history." He then refers in fit- ting language to the story of the conflict that marks every inch of advance of the white man from his landing on the Atlantic shores un- til he had conquered all before him to the western ocean.

"Forty years ago," he says, "not a white man dwelt upon the soil within the limits of our county. What a mighty transformation has been wrought out by a single generation of settlers! The footprints of the retreating savage are scarcely obliterated in the Indian trail, before the shrill whistle of the locomo- tive is heard upon their track."

He then proceeds to tell how these glor- ious pioneers were the avant couriers, the true soldiers and husbandmen pioneering this great nation, and preparing the easy way for all to follow. He then rapidly sketches the growth and present greatness of the county, and argues for it au undimned fu-

ture. He refers to the Hampshire colony and recounts the happy achievements of that body of Christian men and women,

These are some of the important facts in the early history of which accounts have been given that materially differ in the facts, and were it not that these incidents were talked over and agreed upon by those who were there to see, we confess we find often great difficulty in reconciling these stories. We have no hesitation in adopting as the true version every historical fact that was re- lated in these Old Settlers' Meetings and to which all present assented.

Killing of Phillips .- Mr. Kendall proceeds in his address to tell of Shabbona and the melancholy circumstance of the killing of Elijah Phillips:

" There was a venerable old chief and war- rior of the Pottawattomie family, who had, in earlier days, fought side by side with the re- nowned chieftain Tecumseh. But forever banishing the hope, and even the desire, of ridding his vast hunting grounds of the presence of the white man, he became the friend of the early settlers, and devoted his remaining years to the welfare of the white mau against the strategems and machinations of the more cruel and bloody of his race. Old Shabbona, as he was called, sent spies into the camps of the Sacs and Foxes to as- certain their designs against the whites. On learning that these hostile tribes had formed the bold plan of exterminating the whole white population in northern Illinois at one fearful blow, he lost no time in warning the inhabitants to leave. This duty he did not and would not entrust to any living mortal but himself alone. At the risk of his life he undertook and performed the duty; night and day, wet or dry, the old chieftain rode on from one settlement to another, heralding the terrible news of the assassination plot which

HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

had already been matured, and which was about to be put into execution. All who obeyed the warning of the old chief were saved. The Hall, Davis and Pettigrew fam- ilies on Indian Creek paid dearly for their most sad mistake in disobeying the earnest and almost passionate appeals of the old veteran to flee from the awful fate that await- ed them. The details of that tragic event, already a matter of history, are as familiar to you as household words, and too painful to be related here.

" The Forristol party, near the present site of Dover, came near sharing the same fate. As there are some features connected with that event which I have obtained from living witnesses who ere long will pass away, I have concluded to tell the story as I gathered it from them, at the risk of being censured for repeating an oft-told tale, although I do it more with the hope of rescuing some of the details from oblivion, than from any ex- pectation of interesting the old settlers with the narration.

"In the spring of 1832 John and Justus Ament each owned a cabin situated half a mile apart on Section 13 in Dover. The For- ristol party then consisted of James G. For- ristol, John Ament, Sylvester Brigham, Aaron Gunn, Jonathan Hodge, Ziba Dimick and Elijah Phillips. It became known to Shab- bona that the Sacs and Foxes intended to commence a massacre of the settlers about the 1st of June that year. He notified the set- tlers of this fact in time to allow them to take shelter in a rude fort erected that season at Hennepin.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 12

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company Number of Pages: 776

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776