USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 65
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and Moore. These men had been engaged in many Indian fights in the war of 1812, and they could not be induced to go, although their families begged hard for them to do so. Micajah Stanley nearly lost his life. After leaving the house, as lie came out on the prairie, he met a peddler, who had reached William Stanley's house after the fam- ily had left. Hearing the report, he had mounted his horse and was pushing after the fugitives when he saw Micajah, and in the gloom supposed him to be an Indian ; he was on the point of shooting him when he discovered who he was. The route taken by William Stanley led to a ford two or three miles above Milford. As he was driving up the opposite bank, he thought he saw two Indians, who seemed to slip back into the brush as his wagon came into view. He had already con- sidered the probability of the Indians waylaying the fugitives at this point, and, seeing these, he imagined that his surmise was correct. Much alarmed, his father and brother immediately jumped from the wagon and commenced a search. The supposed Indians turned out to be Pickerel and Isaac Stanley, who, having fled by a different way, had met them at this point. In the Thomas party a mother and child nearly perished before they could be rescued from a sink-hole filled with water into which they had fallen. When this party reached Parrish Grove, about daylight, they saw some soldiers who were encamped there, and this caused another alarm, for many supposed them to be Indians. The Thomas boys and some others here first heard the sound of a fife and drum. It is said that all this alarm and flight was caused by a man who saw a party of friendly Indians riding rapidly out of a grove near Bunkum, and imagining them to be hostiles, had rushed away and spread the alarm. Another story was that a mail-carrier had been chased by some Indians. Soon after this stampede, in consequence of the many rumors of Indian depredations, and to provide against further trouble on that account, Gen. Brown came down into the Wabash coun- try and raised a company of mounted men. They came to Milford on their way northward, and encamped on the bottom between Anthony Stanley's house and the creek. The troops remained until next day, Gen. Brown staying at Stanley's honse, when they left for Fort Dearborn.
Many incidents connected with the Indians living on Sugar creek are related by the settlers. These Indians were principally Pottawat- omies. Several hundred Kickapoos were also encamped at Crab Apple Grove, now in Stockland. The Indians never gave the settlers any serious trouble, nor were they given to stealing; yet they were very fond of whisky, and whenever a supply could be obtained, would " go on a spree." The " Blue Ribbon " movement had not been heard of ;
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still, it was not an easy matter for them to get whisky, as those who kept it were very careful in this matter. There was, however, a small grocery in the neighborhood, and to this the Indians usually resorted when they wanted a supply. On occasions of this kind, i.e. "going on a drunk," the squaws invariably took away all knives 'and other weapons, and carefully hid them, so that no serious mischief could arise from that source-a practice that might be profitably imitated at the present time.
As illustrative of the " manners and customs" of the "olden time " this incident is related : A party of Indians, somewhat the worse for liquor, were collected together at a cabin with a few whites. A general frolic ensued. The Indians had been dancing and insisted that the white men should dance also, at the same time leading them " unto the floor." While there, the Indians sent to the grocery for more whisky. As soon as it was received they repaired to an unoccupied cabin that was partially inclosed, and seating themselves on the ground within, one of the number who had been detailed to "keep sober" proceeded to "pass around the drinks," and soon everything was going
"Merry as a marriage bell."
As the fun was getting "fast and furious," the sober Indian said to the whites, *"Schomokoman better go home-wigwam. Inge get high- cok-koo-sie-no good; maybe kill Schomokoman." The whites, who had also drank some whisky, did not heed this warning until it had been repeated several times. As they went out one of them observed a bed of live coals glowing in the darkness. Finding a clap-board, he gathered up a large quantity, and going to the rear of the cabin, which was partially open, threw the coals over the crowd within. A fearful howl was the response, and the whites scattered. The next morning a negro who lived with the Indians, and was named "John," came to William Johns' house and said that the Indians were very angry at the trick played upon them, and had threatened to kill the white men. The settlers in the neighborhood were much alarmed at this threat, but Johns told the negro to say to the Indians, "Schomokoman was high-cok-koo-sie-no good," and invited them to attend a shooting- match at his house the next day. The Indians were thus led to believe that the whole affair was done in a drunken frolic, and were easily pacified. The following day several Indians repaired to Johns' house, and with William and Lemuel Johns, spent the entire day in shooting, the target being a large stump. Mrs. Johns provided an excellent dinner for them. At the close of the day, they agreed to "shoot for
* The writer confesses his ignorance of Indian orthography.
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the lead," i.e. who should have the lead that had been fired into the stump. The Indians were permitted to win, whereat they were greatly pleased and went away in excellent humor. Mr. Johns tells of the amusement afforded him in witnessing the grotesque attempts of the Indians to use forks; holding the meat in the hand, they first cut it in pieces, then carefully taking a piece in the fingers, solemnly impaled it on a fork and then carried it to the mouth.
As an illustration of the rough sports of the period, a story is told of a foot-race between Elijah Sapp and a fleet-footed Pottawatomie. Sapp was considered exceedingly swift, and the Indian had distanced all the runners of several tribes. As Sapp had beaten all the Indians in his neighborhood, they sent for this runner to come and try his speed with him. They could not agree on the distance to be run, as Sapp, conscious that the Indian could beat him in a long race, pur- posely opposed every suggestion. They finally agreed on a game of "base." The Pottawatomie was chosen captain of the Indians, Sapp of the whites. Sapp gave the signal and started up the road, on " trace," and the Indian after him. Seeing that the Indian was likely to catch him, Sapp took to the brush, and as the Indian was nearly naked, this dodge gave him a decided advantage. They had run sev- eral hundred yards, and the Indian was rapidly closing the gap between them, when Thomas' dog getting loose joined in the race, and catch- ing the Indian by the leg threw him down. At this mishap everybody laughed, which so enraged the Indian that he went into a wigwam, and donning his war paint came out and challenged any one, Indian or white, to fight him to the death. As no one seemed disposed to fight on such terms, the Indian retired in disgust.
As showing the Indian mode of burying the dead, Mrs. Gray relates that she, as well as others, saw an Indian grave near her father's house. The bones were found in a log which had been split, and each portion hollowed out sufficiently to contain the body ; the parts had then been replaced, and secured by heaping small logs upon it. With the remains were also found portions of a blanket and some tin utensils, among them a small pail.
A noted character in his way was Jimmie Cain. He came into the county at an early day and settled east of Milford. He was an exceed- ingly rough and eccentric character ; a " champion fighter," and engaged in numerous quarrels, yet a man of many good qualities. He was exceedingly fond of practical jokes, and lost no opportunity to play them off, especially upon the Indians. Cain had some sheep, and also a dog that was somewhat too fond of inutton. This dog he determined to kill, and meeting a couple of Indians, proposed that one of them should
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cut off the dog's tail with his tomahawk, while he (Cain) should hold the dog across a convenient log, offering at the same time to give a pipe of tobacco for doing the job. Arrangements were at once made for the " execution," and as the Indian was in the act of bringing his hatchet down on the devoted tail, Cain adroitly moved the dog so that the blow fell upon the body, severing the back-bone; of course the dog was instantly killed. The Indian was frightened, and exclaimned, " Oh ! oh ! me miss him !" Cain pretended to be terribly angry, and told tlie Indian that as he had killed his dog he would kill lıim. Both Indians then ran away. Cain is credited with saying, in view of the petty law- suits that sprang up after the country began to indulge in justice's courts, and something like regular preaching had beconie established, that " We used to live like brothers, but now that the law and gospel have come, we are more like devils."
Among the Indians was an old chief called Washcuck, who had fought under Harrison in the war of 1812. At the battle of Tippeca- noe lie was wounded and placed upon a horse. He always retained this horse, and still owned him when the Stanleys came. The horse was evidently very old. Mrs. Gray, a daughter of Anthony Stanley, says that she knew this chief very well. She used to visit his camp at the mouth of Barbee's Run, when the Indians were making sugar, and he always gave her at such visits a large cake of inaple sugar. .
Indians were last seen in this region in 1834. Robert Nilson remem- bers seeing a large band of several hundred, on Coon creek, as they were taking their departure that spring. These Indians were Kicka- poos. The Pottawatomies had gone in 1833. These Kickapoos were an exceedingly well disposed, and even a religious tribe. They were very orderly, and every Sunday conducted a religious service in Crab Apple Grove, to which the whites were usually invited. These services always ended with a " big dinner," managed as follows: A number of large kettles, having been first suspended in a long row, were filled with the flesh of all kinds of game, and such vegetables as could be had, and corn,-not much attention was given to dressing the meat,-and the
fires kindled. While the cooking progressed, the Indian preacher occupied the time in talking to the assembled company, an interpreter usually translating his discourse to the whites as he proceeded. At the conclusion of the sermon the Indians arranged themselves on each side of the row of kettles, and having first furnished each white person present with a wooden bowl or ladle, accompanied with a cordial invi- tation to partake, proceeded to ladle up the " savory mess" in a most primitive fashion. The whites invariably contented themselves with simply observing the gastronomic performances of their copper-colored
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entertainers. After the dinner was concluded, all who wished joined in the games which followed; the squaws amusing themselves with petting the white children.
The Indians carried on a species of rude husbandry on a very limited scale, cultivating small patches of corn and peas. All manual labor was performed by the squaws, the men being entirely occupied in hunting and fishing. Some traces of the Indians still remain. One of their "plantations" may still be seen just east of the artesian well on B. F. Thomas' farm. The Indians had a large encampment or village in a bend of Sugar creek, in the north part of the township, on the east part of what is now Robert Webster's farm. The low, flat mounds upon which they erected their wigwams can still be distinctly seen. This village covered an area of several acres, and was admirably selected with a view to shelter from cold storms, and facilities for water and grazing. At one time nearly 4,000 Indians were encamped on what is now Aaron Thomas' farm. They remained here several weeks, waiting to receive the payment for their lands which had been trans- ferred to the United States government under treaty stipulations. While here the Indians got on a " big spree," and it is said that two of them were killed. Some accounts place the killing at Lone Tree, four miles south. They were soon after removed to their far western homes.
Not pages only, but books could be filled with accounts of the privations endured by the hardy pioneers in their efforts to subdue the wilderness. The people of the present generation little realize what scenes of hardship and heroic endurance have transpired on the very ground they now tread upon; that where now are found the peaceful, smiling fields, the quiet homes, the, grazing herds, the busy marts of trade, the rushing trains or the varied appliances of the mechanic arts, was heard, but a few years ago, the wild whoop of the Indians, the scream of the panther, and the howl of the wolf. Yet all this wonder- ful transformation is but the outgrowth of the work wrought by these brave men and women; who so resolutely held their way amid dangers, and sickness, and death. But few of those, who may well be called the advance guard of civilization, now remain; some of them lie in · forgotten graves. Yet of those who still live, what emotions must fill their souls as they think of the past and behold the present! They have indeed well earned the peace and prosperity that so abundantly crown their later years.
In order to have a better understanding of this subject, let us examine more minutely the history of the "early time."
Samuel Rush, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, May 19, 1793. He
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lived there until early manhood, when he removed to Indiana, and in 1829 or 1830 came to Milford. Arriving at his destination he camped beside a large log, the only house for the family being a tent con- structed of the wagon cover. He proceeded to build a cabin with floor and roof made of bark. One end of this cabin was left open, the roof projecting so as to protect the fire of logs which was kept burning in this open space. In this manner the family passed their first winter. As has been already mentioned, several families came in during the year 1830. The settlers of that date now living, well remember the terrible winter of 1830-31. Snow fell early, and before spring opened had accumulated to a great depth. The driving winds heaped the drifting snow, and along the edges of the groves drifts were formed eight or ten feet high. Large numbers of deer, caught in these drifts by the pursuing wolves, were destroyed. Cattle also suffered severely. Little provision had been made for man or beast, and in the long and fearful journeys which were necessarily undertaken to the Wabash country for food, terrible sufferings were endured. One of these expe- ditions, undertaken by Mr. Rush and two others, is thus described : They had three teams. At the moment of starting Mr. Rush was delayed from some cause. The others pushed on, having a large kettle and some firewood with them. This kettle was used for carrying fire, and answered the purpose of a stove. It was expected that Rush would soon overtake them. Soon after it began to snow, and by the time that Rush was on the way the snow was falling very fast. He drove on all day but did not see his companions, and as night drew near he found himself lost in the snow. Still he pushed on, hoping at least to find some shelter. In order to keep from freezing he had to keep moving, and during all that night and the next day he wandered over the trackless prairie. The storm still continned, and late in the evening he thought he saw a light, and started his team toward it, when sud- denly the cattle dropped into a deep drift and could go no farther. Leaving the team he pushed on for the light, and found that it pro- ceeded from a cabin occupied by James Crow. After warming him- self and getting something to eat, he asked Crow to go with him and take some food to the cattle, which he knew were suffering for want of it, but no persuasion could induce him to peril his life in what he believed would be a vain attempt. In the morning they started ont to find the team, but all trace of them had disappeared. At length a column of steam was seen rising from the snow, and on searching, the oxen were found lying comfortably underneath, but nearly famished. After feeding them he proceeded to his destination, where he found his companions. While he was wandering about during the first night
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
he found a man who was nearly frozen ; he had great difficulty in per- suading him to make any effort, and was obliged to compel him to exert himself in order to keep him from perishing. On another occa- sion, while returning from a trip after provisions, he attempted to cross Sugar creek. The water was at a very high stage, and while making the ford his wagon-bed floated away, and the cattle were also carried down stream some distance. He finally recovered the bed, but lost a considerable part of his provisions. Asa Thomas and his brother also encountered a somewhat similar experience, being obliged to return to La Fayette for food while engaged in building a cabin for liis family when they should arrive next spring. On one occasion they worked half a day to get one mile.
The Stanleys and some others made trips after provisions. They had endeavored to get their supplies before winter should set in, but the severe weather came on before a sufficiency was obtained, and corn became very scarce by the first of January. They were, on one trip, blinded by a furious snow-storm, and were compelled to camp in Hickory Grove. They were obliged to feed the fire in their kettle with corn all night to keep from freezing. Many similar instances occurred; two others who were exposed to the intense cold were so frozen as to remain cripples for life ..
The snow did not begin to melt until the first of March, and then, in one night, the water in Sugar creek rose over twelve feet. In many shaded places along the creek the snow did not inelt until May. An old Indian, named Pesque, said that no such snow had been seen for sixty years. Previous to that time the country liad abounded in buffalo and elk, but after that winter, Pesque says, they entirely disappeared. Mr. Johns and others say that, in a hickory grove about four miles above Milford, they have seen the remains of buffalo, and elk horns, that then covered the ground. But the trouble did not end with the departure of jack frost. During the following summer severe sickness prevailed. So prevalent was this sickness, chills and fever, that the most necessary work in house and field was left undone. The settlers were without medical aid, and frequently without bread. The country was very wet, and the exhalations were the fruitful cause of sickness. The country at the present time presents a widely different appearance. What was then swamp is now the best arable land. What were once denominated " swamp and overflowed lands," are now dry and readily cultivated. Teams became mired where now is firm ground. It is certainly curious to observe that as the country becomes settled and improvements are made, the wet portions become dry and tillable.
The only road in the country was what was known as the " Hub-
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bard trace," between Danville and the lake shore, by way of Bunkumn. Mr. Hubbard lived in Danville, and had a trading-post at Bunkum; as there was no regularly laid out road, the route he followed was named for him. This trace crossed Sugar creek at the ford, a short distance below the place now spanned by the iron bridge, and continued in a northierly direction, near Anthony Stanley's house, to Bunkum.
The first post-office in Milford was established at the house of Levi Thompson, about the year 1833, and was named Driftwood. Thompson was postmaster. His house stood near the trace, north of Stanley's house, and near the center of the S.E. ¿ of Sec. 10. The mails were usually carried on horseback ; the carrier stopping at Thompson's house over night. Previous to this time, letters were brought from La Fay- ette or Danville by any person who might chance to come to Milford. The post-office was kept at Thompson's house till about 1835, when it was moved to Charles Axtell's house, who had bought Thompson's and Stanley's land, and built his house near the northeast corner of sec- tion 15.
Asa Thomas built the first house in the township south of Sugar creek. It is nearly certain that Samuel Rush built the first one north of the creek, and the first in the township, if we except a log house which stood on the land claimned by . William Pickerel, and into which he moved. It is not known who built this house.
As time passed and settlers began to gather around themselves some of the comforts of life, they began to make trips to Chicago. The first of these was made in the fall of 1830, by Micajah Stanley. He went at the urgent request of Hubbard to bring a quantity of goods to Danville that were to arrive at Chicago by vessel. Miles went with him. William Johns also went in 1831, and took a load of such " truck " as could be gathered up; he mentions a lot of dried pumpkin which sold for $1 per bushel. The difficulties on the road were great. Teams were obliged to cross extensive swamps, ford streams, and often sank in the mnd. There was not a house between Bunkum and Chicago, and but one store in Chicago. As the country became settled and more abundant crops raised, the business of hauling goods to and from Chicago and Danville increased, and at the time railroads were talked of had assumed vast proportions.
The first mill for grinding was constructed by William Pickerel. It was certainly a unique affair, consisting of two " hard-heads " dressed in a circular form, like a grindstone, and placed in a frame in an up- right position, with cranks attached. The inner surfaces were so adjusted as to nearly touch each other, and the whole was inclosed in a sort of box with a hopper placed above to receive the grain. The 9
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machine could be worked by two or four men. Pickerel made it for his own use, but others had the benefit of it as well; while he sharp- ened their plows, they ground their corn. It was a decided improve- ment over the wooden mortar, and when one could not go thirty-five or forty miles to mill certainly a great convenience. Pickerel next built a horse-mill, sending to Cincinnati for the stones. These stones were large "nigger-heads," dressed in single pieces. This mill stood in a bend of the bank a short distance above the present one. The horse- mill was followed by a water-mill, built about 1835. The building was of logs and stood just east of the present site. The burrs in the horse-mill were transferred to the water-mill. The dam was built somewhat above the present one, and its location is indicated by three or four stakes still standing in the water. To this was added a frame saw-mill. In 1837, Pickerel sold out his entire property to Maj. John B. Strickler. The first dam failing, Mr. Strickler built another farther up the stream and cut a race to the mill. The property next passed into the hands of Jacob Wagner, who at once proceeded to build a new saw and grist-mill a few rods below the old one. One of the timbers of this mill can still be seen under water on the north side of the creek. Mr. Wagner continued in this business until his death. In consequence of legal difficulties arising, the mill remained idle for several years. In 1852 the property passed into possession of William Clement and Aaron Thomas, who rebuilt the saw-mill and constructed the present dam. These owners remained in possession until 1859, when they sold to Barnabas Brown, who afterward built the mill now standing. The present owner is John Van Meter.
In 1833 William Gray located on section 14, and built a hewed log house just east of the present limits of Milford village. The house is still standing, but has since undergone considerable alterations. The property is now owned by James Blanchfill. With the year 1834, came a numerous and valuable accession to the population of the town- ship. In the spring of this year John Nilson and family came from Fountain county, Indiana, and bought out Robert Hill. Mr. Nilson had means with which he was able to push forward improvements vigorously. The frame house that he built is still standing on lot 5 in the N.E. ¿ of Sec. 3, and is now occupied by his grandson, John Nilson. Robert, son of John. Nilson, Sr., has been for many years largely identified with the growth of the county. He was for many years county surveyor, and says that he has tramped over every forty- acre tract in this 'region. This year also witnessed the advent. of Thomas Vennum and a large company from Washington county, Pennsylvania. They, too, were possessed of considerable means, and
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