History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 4

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 544

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The spring preceding, Joseph Naper had been to the place, made a claim and hired men to come from Chicago and put up a log cabin

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

where Naperville now stands. The building was made ready and also ten acres of ground " broke," as per a contract with Mr. Scott, on the arrival of the colony, for such in substance, was the Naper settlement. The season was too far advanced to plant corn, and in its stead, buckwheat was sown on seven acres of it, and the balance planted with rutabaga turnips. This, together with a few acres of ground planted by Mr. Hobson, constituted the first tillage of the soil of this county, unless some of its red owners, with the assistance of their loving brothers-the French-had raised scan- ty patches of corn, beans or pumpkins on it, which is quite probable, for as early as 1790 the Indians had cultivated extensive fields on the Maumee, and also on the Wabash, and more than half a century before had, with the aid of the French, plowed and planted fields in Southern Illinois, and also reaped considerable income from working the lead mines of Galena on their own private account, all of which goes to show that the inevitable crops of eorn so essential to their existence had ere this been planted by them on the fertile lands of the Du Page. Mr. Naper's buckwheat crop was a bountiful one, and in the autumn drew to the place countless numbers of prairie chickens to get a taste of the kind of food then so new to then.

The Naper and Scott settlements, being as they were in such close proximity to each other, with a reciprocity of interest in all mat- ters pertaining to the welfare of newly-settled countries, began in September following the arrival of the Naper colony, to lay plans for the education of their children. To this end, preparations were made to build a schoolhouse which should accommodate both settlements, and the following subseription paper was drawn up by John Murray, father of our present County Judge, to obtain support for and to es- tablish the school.

The original document is now in possession

of William Naper, now a clerk in Messrs. Seott & Co.'s dry goods store (son of Joseph Naper, deceased):

SEPTEMBER 14, 1831.

We, the undersigned, whose names are hereto affixed, do agree to hire Lester Peet to teach a school in our respective distriet for the term of four months, for the consideration of $12 per month. Said teacher doth agree, on his part, to teach a regular English school, teaching spelling, writing, arithmetic and English grammar, if required. And the understanding is, that said teacher is to board with the scholars. School is to commence by the 15th of November next.

N. B .- Each subscriber doth agree to pay his proportionable part of the teacher's wages, accord- ing to the number of scholars that he subscribes for or sends, and it is likewise understood that Joseph Naper, Christopher Paine and Bailey Hobson be and are a committee to superintend said school, and to see that there is a suitable house built in due season, ete.

Joseph Naper, six scholars; H. T. Wilson, two scholars ; Richard Sweet, two scholars ; Daniel Landon, one scholar; James Green, one scholar ; Bailey Hobson, one scholar; John Naper, one scholar; Johu Manning, one scholar; Daniel Wilson, one scholar ; Christopher Paine, three scholars ; John Murray, two scholars; Edward A. Rogers, one scholar.

Ere this school had been established, both the Naper and Seott settlements had been re- enforced by new arrivals, as appears from such names not mentioned in the history found among the subscribers to support the school.

But ere we proceed, let us give to the Napers an historic recognition of their many worthy traits of character.

Joseph Naper, the oldest of the two brothers, began his career as a cabin boy on a steamer on Lake Erie. In this occupation he was con- tinually exposed to danger, which accounts for the bold and daring resolution which character- ized him throughout his life. He remained on the lakes till he rose to the distinction of Cap- tain of a steamer on Lake Erie which plied be- tween Buffalo and Detroit from 1828 to 1830. As has already been told, he came to the Du Page

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

in 1831, and here he soon established a repu- tation as a generous benefactor to all who came within the reach of his liberality. He donated land to all who wished to come to the place and build on it, and to those who owed him debts which could not be paid without distress, he always extended clemency, and sometimes forgave the debt entirely.

John Naper was also a sailor in his tender years like his older brother, and as soon as he was old enough commanded sailing vessels on Lake Erie, and remained in this employment till 1830. The two were in partnership together in their Du Page colony, bringing with them to the place the ironwork for the saw-mill to be erected here, and also a stock of goods with which to open trade. Whatever may be said of the oldest brother as to both his courage and generosity, may also be said of John, " and," says Judge Murray, " the latter (John) had more dash than his older brother. His weight was about 200 pounds, his limbs muscular, and his whole frame almost as elastic as a circus tum- bler."

Mr. P. F. W. Peck, afterward well known in Chicago, came to the Du Page a few weeks after the arrival of the Napers, and formed a partnership with them in storekeeping, which was the first establishment of the kind in the country around. The Sauk war, which followed the next year, discouraged Mr. Peck, and the partnership between him and the Napers was dissolved by mutual consent, the latter giving to Mr. Peck three lots, each 80x165 feet, on South Water street, Chicago, for his interest in the store. It was not without misgiving that this offer was accepted, but it laid the founda- tion for the princely fortune which he ultimately amassed.

From Judge Murray, also, the writer has learned of the versatile and useful talents of Christopher Paine which are worthy of record, inasmuch as he was a remarkable representa- tive of pioneer ingenuity.

To him the whole settlement looked for de- vising ways and means to accomplish ends. Mr. Naper set about building a mill in the au- tumn of 1831, and to Mr. Paine was confided the building of the dam. This he did by first laying logs, next stone and after these the buckwheat straw from the ground sowed in the summer to help hold the dirt in its place when laid on the logs and stone. The dam served its purpose, and in the spring of 1832 Mr. Na- per's mill-the first ever built in Du Page River-was in running order.

A grist-mill was needed perhaps more than a saw-mill, and Hawley conceived the idea of building it. But how to get the mill stones- " that was the rub." He laid the case before Mr. Paine. He scratched his head and " his jaws wagged with increased rapidity while he kept up an incessant expectoration," (says Mr. Murray), and exclaimed " By Jinks, I can make them " (the stones). He then selected two good bowlders from the grove, and hammered and pecked on them till he had fashioned them into upper and nether mill stones.

The stone chisels to do this were probably made by Isaac Blodgett, who was a blacksmith in the Scott settlement, of whom mention has already been made. The mill was a success. It was propelled by ox power, by means of a sweep. Each neighbor brought his grain to it and ground it with his own team.

As to the toll, no one now knows how it was paid. Probably it was a free mill, but without doubt Mr. Paine was rewarded for the service he had rendered the neighborhood.

The same year he introduced the culture of flax, and made the necessary machinery-the spinning wheel and loom-with which to make it into cloth. His wife, not less ingenious than her husband, spun the flax and wove it into a handsome cloth, coloring a part of the yarn or thread, and weaving into the fabric a bright plaid check. Of this cloth she made suits for the whole family, including herself and her husband.

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

They were the admiration of the neighbor- hood, but they were thought to be rather cool for winter, though Mr. Paine at that season wore a warm buekskin sack, tanned and made by himself, from beneath which the check linen vest showed conspicuously, and is still remembered by the old settlers of Naperville. Mr. Paine was a model of generosity. "Would divide his last potato," says Judge Murray, "with any one in need." In the fall of 1832, he sold out and settled on the Fox River at the present site of Batavia, where he was subse- quently bought out by Judge Wilson. He then went to Geneva Lake, Wis., where he started a saw mill. From thence, after again selling out, he went to Duck Creek, Wis., and again built a saw mill. Here he remained, still dispensing his ntilitarian labors with a generous hand, till he died, respected by all who knew him. Returning again to the Naper settlement, the severity of the winter of 1830- 31 should not be left without a record. Snow fell to an average depth of four feet, and the cold was intense from November till April, with but little cessation. The wild turkeys all died for want of forage ; and, up to that tinie, the country was full of wild hogs bred from those left by the garrison when Fort Dearborn was abandoned in 1812. These all died also, for they could not penetrate the deep snow for acorns in the groves, and the last one starved to death.

The deer fared better because they could live on browse, but many of them died also. Mr. Willard Scott, banker in Naperville, the son of Stephen J., is the authority for the above ; and further states that for the next four years suc- ceeding the winter of 1830-31, he had often passed from the Desplaines River through Mud Lake into the Chicago River with the barges of the American Fur Company.

John Baptiste Beaubien was their agent there at that time, to whom some of the In- dians brought their furs to sell, packed on the

backs of ponies, but most of them sold their furs to the traders, who had transient stations throughout the country. Bernardus Lawton was one of these traders, whose station was at Plainfield, but his headquarters were at Chi- cago. David Lawton lived on the Desplaines, where he kept a tavern at the present site of Riverside from previous to 1830 till his death. Both were highly esteemed alike by whites and Indians. Says Mr. Scott : " Ber- nardns had an Indian wife, who was a sensible and discreet woman, who ever enjoyed the con- ficence of her husband."

From the very first the Pottawatomies, who were frequently at the Naper settlement, had always been friendly, and highly esteemed Mr. Scott, with whom their acquaintance had been of several years' duration, and likewise held the Naper brothers in like favor, though their ac- quaintance had been shorter. The same may be said with regard to all the old settlers with whom the writer has conversed, all of whom speak kindly of the Pottawatomies. Why should they not ? They had settled on land that the Indians never had sold, and they made no attempt to molest them, but treated them with kindness.

In speaking of an interview with the In- dians, says Mrs. Hobson : " The Pottawatomies frequently called at our house, and were always friendly up to the spring of 1832, when strange appearances began to be manifest. On one occasion, three Indians came to her house when no one but her two youngest children were with her. Two of them seemed friendly as usual, but the third betrayed himself to be of a strange tribe, and wore a rueful counte- nance. He would not eat of the food she placed before the visitors, which behavior, so eccentric in an Indian, boded no good intent. Besides this, she plainly saw that it required an effort on the part of the two friendly Potta- watomies to prevent an outbreak on the spot."

When the three left, she saw him conceal a

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

carving knife under his blanket, with which she had been cutting off some dried beef for her visitors, and, as they were departing, she in- formed the two friendly Indians of the theft. They promptly took the knife from the culprit, and restored it to Mrs. Hobson, meanwhile evidently rebuking the faithless vagabond for his perfidy ; and, at the same time, apologizing to Mrs. Hobson by repeating to hier " me-o-net -no good Indian, pointing to the stranger.

He was doubtless a Sauk, who had come among the Pottawatomies to influence them to take up the hatchet against the whites.

Two days after this adventure at the house of Mrs. Hobson, the real alarm came.

Its incidents are so well told in Richmond & Vallette's Early History, that their relation of it has been transferred to these columns by permission of Col. Henry Vallette :

" Never was a ' good time come' hailed with more gladness than was the spring of 1832 by the infant colony. A prospect of reward for past hardships was before them. All was busy preparation for the approaching seed time. The labor of breaking and fencing went briskly for- ward, and in due time the new-fledged grain came peering from the mellow ground. But long before the growing fields stood ready for the sickle of the glad harvester, the little band were obliged to relinquish their cherished antici- pations, and flee from their new homes for the safety of their lives.

" The news of the breaking-out of the Black Hawk war caused great excitement in the settle- ment, and the alarm was heightened by the arrival of Shata, an express from the Pottawat- omies, who were friendly to the whites, with the intelligence that a party of Sac Indians were committing depredations among the set- tlers on Fox River, some ten miles distant, and that the houses of Cunningham and Hollenback had been burned to the ground, and their prop- erty entirely destroyed. Aware of their ina- bility to carry on a successful warfare with the

Indians, as the colony was in an almost defense- less state, and, being liable to an attack from them at any moment, the settlers decided to send their families, with all possible haste, to Chicago, where old Fort Dearborn offered its protection to any fearing the incursions of the savages. The settlement was now the scene of universal disorder and alarm. Bustle and con- fusion were the order of the hour. Men were hurrying to and fro in eager pursuit of their wives and children, while weeping wives and crying children were hurrying with equal ra- pidity and greater anxiety in pursuit of their husbands and fathers. Order was at length, in some degree, restored, and while the women were engaged in packing such articles of cloth- ing and provision as they would require for the journey, the men were actively fitting ont teams to convey them away.

" Early in the afternoon of the 18th of May, the train started for Chicago. But the family of Christopher Paine, who lived near the place of S. & D. Babbitt, consisting of his wife and six children, were, in the general confusion in- cident to their hasty departure, left behind. The family were sent in advance of the train, with directions to wait at a short distance from the settlement for its arrival. Concealing them- selves in a thicket by the roadside, near the farm now owned by Capt. John Sargent, and not hearing the company as it passed, they were obliged to remain in their place of con- cealment during the night, which must have been one of fearful anxiety to the mother, as the imaginative dangers of her situation mag- nified, while watching over her houseless and defenseless children. They returned in safety to the settlement next morning, but much ex- hansted by fatigue and hunger.

" The following incidents relating to the alarm and sudden flight of Mr. Hobson's family, have been kindly furnished by one of its members. Mr. Hobson. with Mr. Paine and son, had just seated themselves at their noonday meal, relat-

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

ing, in the meantime, the intelligence they had received while working in the field ; that a band of Indians were advancing, and were then only thirty miles distant, when they were suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Paine's eldest son, who rushed into the house, bareheaded and breathless, informing them that Specie and Ament had just arrived from the Au Sable grove, having run their horses down, and per- formed a part of the journey on foot, to bring the alarming intelligence that a body of Indians had that morning passed through Hollenback's Grove, killing several settlers, and burning every thing in their path. Upon this intelligence, immediate preparations for safety were consid- ered expedient. Hobson and Paine arose from the table, leaving the dinner untasted. Mr. Paine, accompanied by his sons, started in great haste for their home, while Mr. Hobson pre- pared to ride up to the Naper settlement to see what the inhabitants there had concluded to do, but his wife and children, elinging to him, begged him not to leave them ; whereupon he saddled the horses, and after seeing the wife and children all mounted, except the eldest son who was to accompany them on foot, they started together. They directed their course through the east end of the grove, and coming upon a rise of ground, beheld a man on horseback, about a mile distant. It immediately occurred to Mr. Hobson that this was an Indian spy, but it proved to be one of a small party of scouts sent out from the settlement. He, however, directed his wife and children to hasten out of sight. They rode into the grove and dismounted. Mr. Hobson came up soon after, threw the saddles into a thicket, turned the horses into a neigh- boring field, and made all possible haste to se- crete his family ; direeting them to use every precaution to evade pursuit, and not to tangle nor bruise the grass and weeds as they went along. Having done this, his attention was next directed to his dog, a faithful and valuable animal. 'You have been,' said lie, . my com-

panion and protector for years ; you have never been unfaithful to a trust, nor given me cause to question your fidelity-always the first to welcome, foremost to defend. But now yon may betray us, and, saddening as the thought may be, I must be reconciled to the thought of putting you to death.' So, taking the unsnspect- ing victim, he went to a cabin near by, which had been but recently occupied by the family of Mr. Seth Wescott, his object being to pro- cure an ax with which to do the deed at which his very soul shuddered. It was supposed that the family of Mr. Wescott had received the alarm, and fled. What then was his surprise to meet him at the threshold of liis door, with gun in hand, just starting out on a hunting ex- pedition. At Mr. Hobson's solicitation, the dog was shot ; but he died not, as many pass from life, without a tear to consecrate the event, or a heart to embalm the memory of the de- parted soul-his loss was sincerely lamented. Mr. Wescott made immediate preparation to join the settlers, and Mr. Hobson, fearing that the report of the gun might have alarmed his family, hastened to meet them. Accompanied by his wife, he then returned to the house to make preparations, in case it should become necessary for them to desert their home. The box had been removed from the wagon, but with his wife's assistance he was enabled to re- place it, and after completing their arrange- ments, they again set forth, Mrs. Hobson with some food to seek her children in the grove while her husband went to the settlement to see what preparations were being made there. On his arrival he found that the families, with a part of the men, had gone to Chicago. He informed those that remained of the condition of his family, and of his anxiety that they should set out that night, in hopes of overtaking the advance party. Capt. Naper, Lieut. King, and Specie volunteered to return with him to the place where he had concealed his family. They were all mounted except King, who was on

Samuel Curtis

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

foot. Having found the family in their hiding place, it was a matter that required considerable mathematical skill to determine how they were to be conveyed. It was at length decided that the two eldest children should be placed on the horse of Mr. Hobson ; that Capt. Naper should take two more on the horse with him ; and that Mrs. Hobson, assisted by King, should go on foot, carrying the youngest child, then two years . old. They pressed on toward the north end of the grove, where Mr. Hobson had agreed to meet them with his team. Emerging from the grove they had yet half a mile to go, and Mrs. Hobson being fatigued from the journey, one of the children was taken from Capt. Naper's horse and placed on the horse with the two others, while Mrs. Hobson mounted behind Capt. Na- per. They started again, one horse carrying Capt. Naper, with his huge Kentucky rifle, to- gether with Mrs. Hobson, one child, and sundry and divers trappings. It is supposed that the gallant Captain never presented a more formid- able appearance than he did while riding along on that memorable occasion, with his burnished steel glistening in the moonbeams, although he has, since that day, been the hero of at least three decisive battles.

" They arrived in safety at the place appointed to meet Mr. Hobson, who soon came up with his oxen and wagon, bringing with him such things from the house as he could hastily pick up in the dark. The announcement of " all aboard " soon followed. Mr. Hobson gave up his horse to Mr. King, who returned with Capt. Naper to the settlement, while the vehicle con- taining the family moved on its slow and weary way. The night was cold, and rendered still more uncomfortable by a heavy fall of rain ; but wet and cold are of minor consideration when compared with the horrors of an excited imagination, which transforms every tree and shrub into a merciless Indian foe, with toma- hawk and scalping knife in hand, ready to com- mit their deeds of cruelty and slaughter. Pass-

ing a night of the most intense fear and anxiety, they arrived at Brush Hill at sunrise. Crossing the O'Plain, they found a habitation, the only one on the whole route. They journeyed on and soon reached the " Big Prairie," the distance across which is about ten miles. Crossing this prairie was the most tedious part of the way. The wheels, during a greater part of the dis- tance, were half imbedded in the marshy soil, rendering it almost impossible for the team to move on, even with an empty wagon. The chil- dren became sickened from exposure and thirst. Being unprovided with a drinking vessel, Mrs. Hobson frequently took the shoe from her foot and dipped the muddy water from the pools by the roadside, which they drank with much ap- parent satisfaction. They plodded on at a slow pace, and reached their destination at a little before sunset, much exhausted hy hunger and fatigue, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hobson having tasted food for more than thirty-six hours. They were safely quartered in Fort Dearborn, and here we leave them, and return to the settlement.

" Some fifteen or twenty men remained be- hind, when the settlement was abandoned by the families, in order to protect, if possible, their dwellings and other property, from the depreda- tions of the Indians, should they come to de- stroy them. They quartered themselves in the log house of Capt. Naper, and kept vigilant guard during the night. On the following morning the settlers were visited by Lawton, an Indian trader, living on the O'Plain, in company with three Indians and a half-breed, named Burrasaw. They brought no news, but came to gather further particulars in relation to the threatened invasion of the Sacs. As the set- tlers had heard nothing of their movements since the departure of Shata's express, it was resolved that a party, joined by Lawton and the three Indians, should go to the camp of the Pot- tawatomies, near the Big Woods, some ten miles distant, for information. Two men,

HISTORY OF DU PAGE COUNTY.

named Brown and Murphy, had been placed on patrol that morning, and were out on the prairie, a little west of the settlement. The party setting out for the Big Woods determined to test their courage, and for that purpose, sent the three Indians in advance of the main party. As soon as the Indians came in sight of the patrol, they gave a most terrific war-whoop, and darted on after them with the fleetness of so many arrows. The patrol, seized with sudden consternation, sprang to their horses and fled in the wildest dismay-first toward the north, but being intercepted by some of the company, whom they took to be savages, they wheeled and took an opposite direction. In this course they were again intercepted by the three In- dians. Concluding they must be surrounded, they came to a halt, laid down their arms, and were about to sue for mercy, when they chanced to discover in the features of their vengeful pursuers a striking likeness to those they had left at the settlement. The fact soon dawned upon them that they had been successfully hoaxed, and their duties ' on guard ' terminated with that adventure.

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History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 4

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 544

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 544