History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 4

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General Arthur St. Clair was, by eon- gress, elected governor of this vast ter- ritory.

ILLINOIS TERRITORY.

After the division of the Northwest- ern Territory, Ilinois became one of the counties of the territory of Indiana, from which it was separated by an act of congress, February 3, 1809, forming the territory of Illinois, with a popula- tion estimated at 9,000, and then includ- ing the present state of Wisconsin. It was divided, at the time, into two coun- ties-St. Clair and Randolph. John Boyle, of Kentucky, was appointed gov- ernor by the president, James Madison, but declining, Ninian Edwards, of the same state, was then appointed, and served with distinction ; and after the organization of Illinois as a state, he served in that capacity, being its third governor.

During Governor Edwards' adminis- tration, the war of 1812 commenced, and the few whites in the state had to con- tend against a savage foe incited on to deeds of violence by the British officers sent out for that purpose. The massa- cre at Fort Dearborn, of helpless pris- oners, by the infuriated Indians, forms a black page in Illinois history. Several expeditions were put on foot by Gover- nor Edwards against the Indians, and in the various campaigns the governor bore an honorable and heroic part. Peace came at last, the Indian depreda- tions ceased, and the territory of Illinois was again on the road to prosperity.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

CHAPTER III.

STATE ORGANIZATION.

In January of 1818 the territorial leg- islature forwarded to Nathaniel Pope, delegate in congress from Illinois, a petition praying for admission into the national union as a state. On April 18 of the same year, congress passed the enabling act, and December 3, after the state government had been organized, and Governor Bond had signed the con- stitution, congress, by a resolution, de- clared HHinois to be one of the " United States of America, and admitted into the union on an equal footing with the original states in every respect."

FIRST CONSTITUTION.

In July and August of 1818, a con- vention was held at Kaskaskia for the purpose of drafting a constitution. This constitution was not submitted to a vote of the people for their approval or rejee- tion, it being well known that they would approve it. It was about the first or- ganie law of any state in the union to abolish imprisonment for debt. The first election under the constitution was held on the first Thursday and the two succeeding days in September, 1818. Shadrach Bond was elected governor, and Pierre Menard lieutenant-governor. Their term of office extended four years. At this time the state was divided into 15 counties, the population being about 40,000. Of this number, by far the larger portion were from the southern states. The salary of the governor was $1,000, while that of the treasurer was

$500. The legislature re-enacted, ver- batim, the territorial code, the penalties of which were unnecessarily severe. Whipping, stocks and pillory were used for minor offenses, and for arson, rape, horse-stealing, etc., death by hanging was the penalty. These laws, however, were modified in 1821.

The legislature first convened at Kas- kaskia, the ancient seat of empire for more than one hundred and fifty years, both for the French and Americans. Provisions were made, however, for the removal of the seat of government by this legislature. A place in the wilder- ness on the Kaskaskia river was selected, and named Vandalia. From Vandalia it was removed to Springfield in the year 1839.

THE WINNEBAGO WAR.

The Indians, who for some years were on peaceful terms with the whites, became troublesome in 1827. The Win- nebagoes, Sacs and Foxes and other tribes had been at war for more than a hundred years, In the summer of 1827 a war party of the Winnebagoes surprised a party of Chippewas, and killed eight of them. Four of the murderers were arrested, and delivered to the Chippe- was, by whom they were immediately shot. This was the first irritation of the Winnebagoes. Red Bird, a chief of this tribe, in order to avenge the execu- tion of the four warriors of his own people, attacked the Chippewas, but

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

was defeated ; and being determined to satisfy his thirst for revenge by some means, surprised and killed several white men. Upon receiving intelli- gence of these murders, the whites who were working the lead mines in the vicinity of Galena formed a body of volunteers, and, reinforced by a company of United States troops, marched into the country of the Win- nebagoes. To save their nation from the miseries of war, Red Bird and six other men of his nation voluntarily surrendered themselves. Some of the number were executed, some of them imprisoned, and destined, like Red Bird. ingloriously to pine away within the narrow limits of a jail, where for- merly the vast forests had proven too confining for them.

BLACK HAWK WAR.

In the year 1804, a treaty was con- cluded between the United States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations, who had fought with great bravery in the service of Great Britain during the war of 1812. Black Hawk had always taken exceptions to this treaty. pro- nouncing it void. In 1831 he estab- lished himself, with a chosen band of warriors, upon the disputed territory, ordering the whites to leave the coun- try at once. The settlers complaining, Governor Reynolds dispatched General Gaines, with a company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers, to the scene of action. Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their villages and forced them to conclude a treaty, by which they ceded all lands east of the Missis- sippi, and agreed to remain on the western side of the river. Necessity

forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into submission, which made him more than ever determined to be avenged upon his enemies. Having rallied around him the war-like braves of the Sac and Fox nations, he crossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1832. Upon learning of this invasion, Governor Reynolds hastily collected a body of 1,800 volun- teers, placing them under command of Brigadier-General Whiteside. The army marched to the Mississippi, and having reduced to ashes the Indian village known as "Prophet's Town," proceeded several miles up the river to Dixon, to join the regular forces under General Atkinson. They found at Dixon two companies of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoi- tre the enemy. They advanced, under command of Major Stillman, to a small creek, afterward known as "Stillman's Run," and while there encamped, saw a party of mounted Indians at a distance of a mile. Several of Stillman's party mounted their horses and charged the Indians, killing three of them, but being attacked by the main body under Black Hawk, they were routed, and by their precipitated Hight, spread such a panic through the camp that the whole com- pany ran off to Dixon as fast as possible. On their arrival, it was found that eleven of their number were missing, having been killed by the Indians.

In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of 150 warriors, attacked Apple River Fort, near Galena, defended by 25 men. This fort, a more palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the miners. For fifteen consecutive bours the garrison had to sustain the assault of the savage enemy; but knowing

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

very well that no quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and desperation that the Indians, after losing many of their best warriors, were compelled to retreat.

New forces having been sworn into the service, Generals Atkinson and Henry determined to pursue the retreat- ing foe. They followed them into Wis- consin, and hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Rock river, at the Manitou village, issued orders to con- tinue the pursuit. The officers of General Henry handed to him a written protest ; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered the officers to be arrested, and escorted to General Atkin- son. Within a few minutes after the order was given, the officers all collected around the general's quarters, and pledged their word that if forgiven, they would return to duty, and never do the like again.

The battle of Bad Axe immediately followed, resulting in a loss to the In- dians of three hundred, besides fifty prisoners. The whites had but seven- teen killed and twelve wounded. Blaek Hawk, with twenty of his braves, oseaped, retreating up the Wisconsin river. The Winnebagoes desiring to secure the friendship of the whites, went in pursuit, and captured and de- livered them to General Street, the United States Indian agent. Among the prisoners were the son of Black Hawk and the prophet of the tribe. These, with Black Hawk, were taken to Washington, D. C., and were soon confined as prisoners at Fortress Mon- roe. Thus ended the Black Hawk war.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. At the general election in 1834, Joseph

Duncan was chosen governor by a hand- some majority. A reckless and uncon- trollable desire for internal public improvements seized the minds of the people. In his message to the legisla- ture, in 1835, Governor Duncan said: When we look abroad and see the extensive lines of inter-communication penetrating ahnost every section of onr sister states; when we see the canal boat and the locomotive bearing with seeming triumph the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and oceans, almost annihilating time, bur- then and space, what patriotic bosom does not beat high with a laudable am- bition to give Illinois her full share of those advantages which are adorning her sister states, and which a magnificent Providence seems to invite by a wonder- ful adaptation of our whole country to such improvements."

STUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF IMPROVEMENTS INAUGURATED.

The legislature responded to the ardent words of the governor, and enacted a system of internal improve- ments without a parallel in the gran- deur of its conception. They ordered the construction of 1,300 miles of rail- road, crossing the state in all directions. This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. There were a few counties not touched by the rail- road, river or eanal, and they were to be compensated by the free distribution of $20,000 among them. Toinflate this balloon beyond eredence, it was ordered that work should commence on both ends of each of these railroads and rivers, and at cach river crossing, all at the same time. This provision, which

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

has been called the crowning folly of the entire system, was the result of those jealous combinations emanating from the fear that advantages might accrue to one section over another in the commencement and completion of the works. We can appreciate better, , perhaps, the magnitude of this grand system by reviewing a few figures. The debt authorized for these improvements in the first instance was $10,230,000. But this, as it was soon found, was based on estimates -at least too low by half. This, as we readily see, commit- ted the state to a liability of over $20,- 000,000, equivalent to $200,000.000 at the present time, with over ten times the population, and more than ten times the wealth.

Such stupendous undertakings by the state naturally engendered the fever of speculation among individuals. That particular form known as the town lot fever, assumed the malignant type at first in Chicago, from whence it spread over the entire state and adjoining states. It was an epidemic. It cut up men's farms without regard to locality, and cut up the purses of the purchasers without regard to consequences. It was estimated that building lots enough were sold in Indiana alone to accommo- date every citizen then in the United States.

Chicago, which in 1830, was a small trading post, had within a few years grown into a city. This was the start- ing point of the wonderful growth and marvelous career of that city. Im- provements unsurpassed in the annals of the world by individual effort, were then begun, and have been maintained to this day. Though visited by the

terrible fire fiend, and the accumula- tions of years swept away in a single night, vet she has arisen and to-day is the best built city in the world. Reports of the rapid advance in property in Chicago spread to the east, and thous- ands poured into her borders, bringing money, enterprise and industry. Every ship that left her port carried with it maps of splendidly situated towns and additions, and every vessel that ro- turned was laden with immigrants. It was said at the time that the staple article of Ilinois exports was town plats, and that there was danger of crowding the state with towns to the exclusion of land for agriculture.

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL.

The Illinois and Michigan canal again received attention. This enterprise is one of the most important in the early history of Illinois, on account of its mag- nitude and cost, and forming as it does, the connecting link, between the great chain of lakes and the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Governor Bond, the first governor, recommended in his first message the building of the canal. In 1821, the legislature appropriated $10,000 for surveying the route. This work was performed by two young men who estimated the cost at $600,000 or $700,000. It cost, however, when com- pleted $8,000,000. In 1825, a law was passed to incorporate the canal com- pany, but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of Daniel P'. Cook, congressman from this state, congress gave 800,000 acres of land on the line of the work. In 1828. commissioners were appointed and work commenced, with a new survey and new estimates.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

In 1834-5 the work was again pushed forward, and continued until 1848, when it was completed.

PANIC-REPUDIATION ADVOCATED.

Bonds of the state were . recklessly disposed of, both in the east and in Eu- rope. Work was commenced on various lines of railroads, but none were ever completed. On the Great Western Railroad, from Meredosia cast eight miles, the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel in the great valley of the Mississippi was run. The date of this remarkable event was November 8, 1838. Large sums of money were being expended with no assurance of a revenue, and consequently, in 1840, the legislature repealed the improvement laws passed three years previously, not, however, until the state had accu- mulated a debt of nearly $15,000,000.

Thus fell the most stupendous, extrava- gant and almost ruinous folly of a grand system of internal improvements that any civil community, perhaps, ever en- gaged in. The state banks failed, specie was scarce, an enormous debt was accumulated, the interest of which could not be paid, people were disap- pointed in the accumulation of wealth, and real estate was worthless. All this had a tendency to create a desire to throw off the heavy burden of state debt by repudiation, Men, true, hon- est and able, were placed at the head of affairs; and although the hours were dark and gloomy, and the times most trying, yet our grand state was brought through and prospered, until to-day, after the expenditure of millions for publie improvements, and for carrying on the civil war, it has, at present, no public debt whatever.

CHAPTER IV.

MORMON, MEXICAN AND CIVIL WARS.

In April, 1840, the "Latter-Day Saints," or Mormons, came in large numbers to Illinois, and purchased a tract of land on the east side of the Mississippi river, about ten miles above Keokuk. Here they commenced build- ing the city of Nauvoo. A more pictur- esque or eligible site for a city could not have been selected.

The origin, rapid development and prosperity of this religious seet are the

most remarkable and instructive histori- cal events of the present century. That an obscure individual, without money, education or respectability, should per- suade hundreds of thousands of people to believe him inspired of God, and cause a book, contemptible as a literary production, to be received as a continua- tion of the sacred revelation, appears almost incredible ; yet, in less than half a century, the disciples of this obscure

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

individual have increased to hundreds of thousands ; have founded a state in the distant wilderness, and compelled the government of the United States to practically recognize them as an inde- pendent people.

The founder of Mormonism was Joseph Smith, a native of Vermont, who emi- grated while quite young with his father's family to western New York. Here his youth was spent in idle, vaga- hond life, roaming the woods, dreaming of buried treasures, and in endeavoring to learn the art of finding them by the twisting of a forked stick in his hands. or by looking through enchanted stones. Both he and his father became famous as "water-wizards," always ready to point out the spot where wells might be duy and water found. Such was the character of the young profligate when he made the acquaintance of Sidney Rigdon, a person of considerable talent and information, who had conceived the design of founding a new religion. A religious romance, written by Mr. Spaulding, a Presbyterian preacher of Ohio, then dead, suggested the idea, and finding in Smith the requisite duplicity and cunning to reduce it to practice, it was agreed that he should act as a prophet; and the two devised a story that gold plates had been found buried in the earth containing a record inscribed on them in unknown characters, which, when inspired by the power of inspira- tion, gave the history of the ten lost tribes of Israel.

After their settlement in and about Nauvoo, in Hancock county. great dep- redations were committed by them on the "Gentiles." The Mormons had been received from Missouri with great

kindness by the people of this state, and every possible aid granted them. The depredations committed, however, soon made them odious, when the ques- tion of getting rid of them was agitated. In the fall of 1841, the governor of Mis- souri made a demand on Governor Carlin for the arrest and delivery of Joe Smith as a fugitive from justice. Smith was subsequently arrested, but was re- leased by Judge Douglas upon the ground that the writ had once been re- turned before it had been executed. In 1842, he was again arrested, and again escaped. Emboldened by success, the Mormons became more arrogant and overbearing. Many people began to be- lieve they were about to set up a gov- ernment for themselves in defiance of the laws of the state. Owners of prop- erty stolen in other counties made pur- suit into Nauvoo; and were fined by the Mormon courts for daring to seek their property in the holy city. About this time they petitioned congress to estab- lish a territorial government for them in Nauvoo.

Smith soon began to play the tyrant over his people. Among the first acts of this sort was an attempt to take the wife of William Law, one of his most talented disciples, and make her his spiritual wife. He established, without author- ity, a recorder's office, and an office to issue marriage licenses. He proclaimed that none could deal in real estate or sell liquor but himself. He ordered a printing office demolished, and in many ways controlled the freedom and busi- ness of the Mormons. Not only did he stir up some of the Mormons, but by his reckless disregard of the laws of the land, raised up opposition on every

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

hand. It was believed he introduced the Danite band, which he had chosen as the ministers of his vengeanee, that no blood, except that of the church, was to be regarded as sacred, if it contra- vened the accomplishment of his object. It was asserted that he inculcated the legality of perjury and other crimes, if committed to advance the cause of true believers ; that God had given the world and all it contained to his saints, and since they were kept out of their right- ful inheritance by force, it was no moral offense to get possession of it by steal- ing.

It was currently reported that an es- tablishment existed in Nauvoo for the manufacture of counterfeit money, and that a set of outlaws were maintained for the purpose of putting it in circula- tion. Statements were circulated to the effect that a reward was offered for the destruction of the Warsaw Signal, an anti-Mormon paper, and that Mormons dispersed over the country threatened all persons who offered to assist the con- stable in the execution of the law, with the destruction of their property and the murder of their families. There were rumors also that an alliance had been formed with the western Indians, and in case of war they would be used in murdering their enemies. In short, if only one-half of these reports were true, the Mormons must have been the most infamous people that ever existed.

William Law, one of the proprietors of the printing office destroyed by Smith, went to Carthage and procured a warrant for the arrest of Smith and others in the deed. The prophet, his brother Hiram and others, surrendered themselves at Carthage, June 24, 1844,

on a charge of riot, and all entered into a recognizance before a justice of the peace for their appearance at court. They were again arrested, and thrown into prison at Carthage. The people of Hancock, MeDonough and Schuyler counties had assembled, armed and ready to avenge the outrages that had been committed by the Mormons, Great excitement prevailed. All were anxious to march into Nauvoo, The 27th of June was appointed for the march, but Gov- ernor Ford, who at the time was in Car- thage, apprehended trouble if the militia should attempt to invade Nauvoo, dis- banded the troops, retaining only a guard for the jail.

Governor Ford went to Nauvoo on the 27th. The same morning about two hun- dred men from Warsaw, many of them disguised, hastened to Carthage. On learning that one of the companies left as a guard had disbanded, and the other stationed 150 yards from th jail, while eight men were left to guard the prison- ers, a communication was soon estab- lished between the Warsaw troops and the guard ; and it was arranged that the guard should have their guns charged with blank cartridges and fire at the as- sailants when they attempted to enter the jail. The conspirators came up, jumped the fence around the jail, were fired upon by the guard, which, according to arrangement, was overpowered, and the assailants entered the prison to the door of the room where the two prisoners were confined. An attempt was made to break open the door; but Joe Smith, be- ing armed with a pistol, fired several times as the door was broken open, and three of the assailants were wounded. At the same time several shots were fired

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

into the room, by some of which John Taylor, a friend of the Smith's, re- ceived four wounds, and Hiram Smith was instantly killed. Joe Smith, se- verely wounded, attempted to escape by jumping out of a second-story win- dow, but was so stunned by the fall that he was unable to rise. In this position he was dispatched by balls fired through his body. Thus fell Joe Smith, the most successful imposter of modern times. Totally ignorant of almost every fact in science, as well as in law, he made up in constructiveness and nåt- ural cunning what he lacked in educa- tion.

Many feared the Mormons would as- semble in force and attack Carthage for the purpose of avenging the death of the prophet. But this was never done. In the fall of 1845, a convention, con- sisting of delegates from eight of the adjoining counties, assembled to con- cert mensures for the expulsion of the Mormons from the state. The Mormons seriously contemplated emigration west- ward, believing the times forbode evil for them. Accordingly during the win- ter of 1845-46, the most stupendous preparations were made by the Mor- mons for removal. All the principal dwellings, and even the temple, were converted into workshops, and before spring, 12,000 wagons were in readi- ness; and by the middle of February, the leaders, with 2,000 of their follow- ers, had crossed the Mississippi on the ice.

Before the spring of 1846, the major- ity of Mormons had left Nauvoo, but still a large number remained.

THE BATTLE OF NAUVOO.

In September a writ was issued

against several prominent Mormons, and placed in the hands of John Carlin, of Carthage, for execution. Carlin called out a posse to help make the ar- rest, which brought together quite a large force, in the vicinity of Nauvoo. Carlin, not being a military man, placed in command of the force, first, General Singleton, and afterward Colonel Broek- man, who proceeded to invest the city, erecting breastworks, and taking other means for defensive as well as offensive operations. What was then termed a battle next took place, resulting in the death of one Mormon and the wounding of several others, and loss to the anti- Mormons of three killed and four wounded. At last, through the inter- vention of an anti-Mormon committee of one hundred from Quincy, the Mor- mons and their allies were induced to submit to such terms as the posse choose to dietate, which were that the Mor- mons should immediately give up their arms to the Quincy committee and re- move from the state. The trustees of the church and five of their clerks were permitted to remain for the sale of Mor- mon property, and the posse were to march in unmolested and leave a suili- cient force to guarantee the performance of their stipulations. Accordingly the constable's posse marched in, with Broekman at their head. It consisted of 800 armed men, and 600 or 700 un- armed, who had assembled from all the country around, through motives of curiosity to see the once proud city of Nauvoo humbled and delivered up to its enemies. They proceeded into the city slowly and carefully, examining the way for fear of the explosion of a mine, many of which had been made by the

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 4

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150