USA > Illinois > Kendall County > History of Kendall county, Illinois, from the earliest discoveries to the present time > Part 5
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STILLMAN'S RUN,
near Byron, they discerned some mounted Indians. At once a part of the volunteers-without any military order-dashed away in pursuit, but soon found them- selves attacked by a larger force than they anticipated, and began to retreat. A panic seized the others, and it was at once apparent that nothing more could be done that day but for each man to save himself. They struck out for Dixon's, and from midnight until morning con- tinued to arrive in parties of three and four on horse- back and on foot. The serious part of it appeared the next morning at roll call, when forty-two did not answer their names, though all but twelve afterward turned up. The ludicrous side was illustrated by the speech, after roll call, of a volunteer who had formerly been a Ken- tucky militia captain. Mounting a stump, he congratu- lated his brethren in arms on their escape from a savage foe, expressed sorrow for those who had fallen, and con- eluded: "Sirs, Bonaparte or Wellington never com- manded better disciplined forces. But the most impos- ing scene of all was their outflanking us; they out- flanked us in the majesty of their greatness, and their muskets glistened in the moonbeams !"
-
71
INDIANS IN COUNCIL.
In the absence of supplies, Dixon's oxen were killed and eaten without bread or salt.
Gen. Atkinson arrived that day, and at once pro- ceeded to the scene of action, and buried the twelve dead. They were shockingly mutilated and dismem- bered, and were reverently gathered and interred in a common grave. Thus the soil of Ogle county drank the first blood of the war. Afterwards, at the battle of the Wisconsin, the war cry of the whites was, " No Stillman's Run here!" and the issue proved it.
Passing rapidly through the territory of the Winne- bagoes, who were more than half friendly to his cause, his bands scouring the country in various directions, Black Hawk, on the evening of the 14th, or early in the morning of the 15th, reached
FOX RIVER,
at Post's Mill. He was met by the Pottawatomie chiefs and their braves on that remarkable hill, or natural fortress, sometimes called Black Hawk's Mound. It is a spur of limestone sixty or eighty feet high, isolated from the main ridge by a wide ravine, and washed on the remaining sides by Little Rock creek. The top is covered with trees, and is broad enough for a tribe to encamp at once. It has probably been used from ancient times as an Indian fortress and council ground, as many old relics have been found there. At this council, so tradition tells us, Black Hawk made the leading speech, and used all his eloquence to persuade the others to rescind their action at the O'Plain council, raise the tomahawk, and help to drive the white man from their
72
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
lands. On the other hand Shabbona, with less eloquence but more reason, again presented the argument for re- fraining from war. It was in vain. Not only were the Sacs unconvinced, but many of the Pottawatomies were in sympathy with them. Upon Shabbona now depended the safety of the little settlements in Kendall county, with their seventy souls. Messengers had been dis- patched from Dixon's to alarm them, but were inter- cepted and probably put to death by one of Black Hawk's bands, and the peaceful Pottawatomie chief alone re- mained.
It seems strongly probable that the Indians who made the trouble in this county were Pottawatomies, neigh- bors of the settlers, with perhaps a few Sacs for leading spirits. It is certain that many Pottawatomies left their tribe and joined the various marauding bands under Black Hawk, and others, doubtless, who did not go away, were as eager for plunder at home. They had decided, as a tribe, not to engage in the war, and this gave a false idea of security to the settlers and came near costing them their lives.
When Shabbona found that he could not control the council, and that even his own people were breaking away from him, he at once acted. It was the middle of the afternoon, and a short space of sunlight was all that was left, for he felt that with the darkness
THE FATAL BLOW
would fall. He had a nephew, a fine young fellow by the name of Pyps-called Peppers for short by the set- tlers-and who was well known to all acquainted with Shabbona's camp. This young man Shabbona at once
THE INDIAN WAR.
despatched, telling him to go by way of George Hollen- back's. For some reason, however, he did not go there, but gave the alarm first at George B. Hollenback's, and passed on to Holderman's. Shabbona himself waited until the assembly broke up, and then stole away and rode at express speed to spread the alarm further south.
CHAPTER XI.
THE FLIGHT !
UST AS young Peppers rode up to Geo. B. Hollenback's, his wife was setting sup- per, and he had washed and was wiping on the towel, when the Indian said, with- out dismounting: "The Sacs are com- ing !" Mr. H. made some light reply ; but the other added : "My friend, I am in earnest ; go at once if you will save your lives." His wife and step-daughter took the alarm at once, and drop- ping their work, hurried over to Clark Hollenback's
with the warning. Clark himself had gone to Ottawa to get a plow sharpened and do some other business ; and here, too, the women were frightened, and to keep close to the truth, the boys were slightly nervous, as well. Thomas, mounting an unbroken colt, started to alarm his uncle George, and one of the others ran over to Cunningham's. The women, with what articles they
6
74
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
could carry, were mounted on the horses, the men on foot, and so they left for the fort at Ottawa. The prairie grass was green, and wild flowers were growing where Newark now stands, but the fugitives had no heart or time to admire beauty, save the beauty of seeing, as they now and then looked behind, that they were getting farther away and no Indians in sight.
Reaching the point of the Mission timber by dark, they turned the horses out to graze, and hid themselves in the thicket. But it soon commenced to rain, and they decided to move on, most of them this time on foot, as they were unable to catch but one of the horses. The journey was a slow and tedious one, and they reached Ottawa the next evening.
Meanwhile, Thomas, on his
FRIGHTENED COLT,
made double-quick time over the Pavilion road between Newark and William Hollenback's. His uncle, when he arrived, was tying the horses out to grass. after their day's work ; but on hearing the alarm immediately brought them up again, and left the boys to harness them while he hurried over to arouse the other families. Mr. Harris' team had strayed away, and himself and the two older boys were absent searching for them. To add to their dismay, Mrs. Harris' father-old Mr. Coombs-was so sick with inflammatory rheumatism as to be unable to be moved. There appeared no alterna- tive but to leave him if they would save their lives, and to this he urged them. "Leave me to my fate," he said, "and save yourselves ; I am an old man and can live but a little while at best." Taking what articles
75
COMMENCEMENT OF THE RAID.
they could, with tearful farewells, they left him and hur- ried away on foot. Mr. Ackley had no wagon, and he mounted his wife and one child on one horse, while he and the remaining child rode the other. By the time they reached Mr. Hollenback's the sun had set and it was growing dark ; but the boys had the team and wagon all ready, so that they started at once, taking an east- erly direction over the prairie towards Plainfield. Before sunset the Indians were on the move, eager for
SCALPS AND SPOIL.
They struck Harris' cabin first, and Mr. Coombs gave himself up for dead; but having satisfied themselves that he was sick, they did not molest him. Passing on to the two other cabins, they found no one at home ; but the supper tables were spread, and they helped themselves to what they pleased. " Shabbona did this," they said one to another in their Indian guttural, and they laid up a score against him.
They had been but a few minutes at Hollenback's when-the wagon having mired in a slough about a mile out-Mr. Hollenback returned to get a chain that lay on a shaving horse in his yard. As he approached the fence, through the brush, he saw a light through the cracks, between the basswood puncheons of which the door was made. Indians do not usually make lights while on their raids, but these were undoubtedly on a savage spree, and believing their victims had received warning and fled, were off their guard. In a moment the door opened, and one came out bearing a torch ; at that instant the dry twigs snapped under Mr. Hollen- back's feet as he ran away, pursued by two Indians.
76
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
His line of flight was parallel with the present Pavilion road for about a mile, when his strength gave out, and he fell-rolling into a ditch at the foot of the hill south of Dr. Cook's. Fortunately, his pursuers ran past him, and soon gave up the chase. The moon was nearly at the full, but every few minutes it would cloud over and be dark, and Mr. Hollenback being thus unable to keep the wagon track even after he found it, became lost, and rambled about all night. Mr. Harris and his two sons, while after the horses, became lost, but in the morning, strangely enough, came on their family encamped on the prairie. They had passed the slough by unloading the wagon. Although not at that time professing Chris- tians, they always regarded that meeting as a special interposition of
GOD'S PROVIDENCE ;
for had they returned to the house, or taken any other route than the one they did they probably would never have met again.
In the morning the company separated, Mr. and Mrs. Ackley turning off to arouse the Aments. Coming to the door Mrs. Ackley said to them who were up : " Call Edward ; the Sacs and Foxes are upon us, and he must leave just as quick as he can," and while she continued talking Edward was called, and preparation for flight was begun. In a few minutes they were on the road, Mr. Morton, a man who lived with Ament, being with them. With the other party was Peter Bolinger, a single man who worked for Hollenback. Crossing the wide prairie they came soon after sunrise to the claims of Selvey and Dougherty, where two new-comers, Keeler
77
CHECKED BY A CAROUSE.
Clark and his brother William, were breaking sod. The latter was afterwards well known as a Mormon preacher. They put part of their breaking team on the wagon in place of Mr. Hollenback's jaded horses ; thus strength- ened, the party continued their journey with less fear of attack. At this point, too, they were joined by Mr. Hollenback, who was received as one from the dead.
At Clark Hollenback's the Indians found more to hold them, for there were groceries and tobacco and whisky in the store, and they spent the remainder of the night there in wild carousal. It was a fortunate spree for the
HOLDERMAN GROVE SETTLERS.
They had been warned the night before, but the war had been so long talked of they did not believe there was any immediate danger. The possessions that must be left behind doubtless caused some of the hesitation, for Mr. Holderman had but just returned from Ohio with a load of provisions. Two other families had moved in, Mr. Cummins and Wyatt Cook, making again the orig- inal number at the grove.
Mr. Kellogg was away and was not expected home for a day or two, but he would not have hastened matters if he had been present. Mr. Vermet, however, sent his hired man over to warn Mr. Booth and Mr. Litsey, but, perhaps through fear, he did not do his errand.
Before breakfast, in the morning of the memorable and beautiful sixteenth of May, Mr. Holderman took a piece of bread and butter in his hand, mounted his horse, and, in company with Ezra Kellogg and Mr. Cummins, rode over to Newark to see if Clark Hollenback credited the report. Mr. Cummins wore an overcoat and carried
78
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
a rifle ; the others were unarmed. Going first to Pat Cunningham's, they found no one at home ; then passing up towards Hollenback's, their suspicions were aroused. They did not like the appearance of things and stopped. Between them and the house a new sod fence had been made, and an Indian now appeared on the fence and beckoned with his hand to them to come on. It was enough. Instead of coming on, they turned their horses and fled, and were instantly shot at and pursued by a large party of Indians, who were secreted in the fence ditch. They had been drinking and were all excited, otherwise it would seem impossible that the men could have escaped with their lives. As it was, the only bul- let that took effect cut the neck of Mr. Cummins' horse, below the mane. The little valley south of Earl Adams' homestead used to be a sunny spot. The hill each side
was a great den for wolves and badgers. There the Indian ponies had strayed, seeking the green grass, and the Indians were consequently obliged to follow the white men on foot, which they did with all their speed, and with furious yells. But on the Adams hill, Holderman swung his hat and shouted to imaginary reinforcements, and the device was successful. The Indians stopped, and after a short parley retreated. When they reached Kellogg's, Mr. Holderman shouted over the slough to his family, " Gear up, gear up !" and leaving their break- fast untasted, they hastened to obey the warning call.
They did not know but the Indians, catching their ponies, would be upon them within a few minutes, so they made ready with the utmost speed, and were soon far on the road to Ottawa. The Indians, however, did
79
INDIANS AT HOLLENBACK'S.
not leave Hollenback's until the following night, detained either by love of their good fare or by the hope that other settlers might visit them. The last, undoubtedly, was the stronger motive, as the store was tolerably well known through the surrounding settlements, and was frequently visited. It is illustrative of Indian nature that from first to last these robbers skulked in thickets and groves in the daytime, and did their traveling mostly in the night.
CHAPTER XII.
ANSEL REED'S STORY.
LEVEN families were now on their way out of the county, and but three more remained. Mr. Booth had as yet received no warning, and how it came may be best told in Ansel Reed's own words :
It was a pleasant morning, and soon after daylight I was up and went down a little piece from the house, to rive shingle bolts. While at work I heard three reports of guns, close together, from the direction of Newark, and soon after saw three men horseback galloping over a rise of ground toward Holderman's. I supposed then that those three men had fired the guns, and thought little more of it. There had been a talk of war for years, but we did not know as it would ever come. There was
80
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
a pond a little out from the edge of the grove-a quar- ter of a mile from the house. Mr. Booth wished to plant a patch of potatoes by it, and after breakfast I went out to drive up the oxen to do the plowing. While looking for the cattle, Booth came out too, and crossed the fresh horse tracks. They were made by large horses that were shod, and so he knew they were not Indians. Yet, in thinking about it, I remembered that the Indians had appeared unusually busy that spring. Their trail ran along by the grove, about on the line of the Newark and Lisbon road. There were three or four trails side by side. In some places, where the rain had washed them out, they were three feet deep. Indians passed along these every day, sometimes riding at the top of their speed. Booth's oxen were a fine, large, spotted pair ; well known because of their strength and color, and the pride he took in them. He plowed the ground, while I spent the forenoon chopping for sod corn with a wooden ax. There were seventeen acres in the field ; the pond was in the same enclosure. We worked on so all the forenoon, not knowing we were left nearly alone in Ken- dall county, and that the savages were so near us. They had set Clark Hollenback's cabin on fire, and I saw the smoke all the afternoon. Mr. Booth saw it, too, but thought it was burning brush. If the Indians had come then, they certainly would have killed us all, but they probably supposed we had fled. In going to work in the afternoon I met two Frenchmen, half-breeds, riding each a mare with a colt following. They said they lived in Kankakee and were going north for seed corn, and asked if I could not get them some din-
81
ANSEL REED'S STORY.
ner. I directed them to the house, but they would not go unless I went too. I knew if I went back without permission, Mr. Booth would not like it, so I declined. They talked a little while longer and passed on toward Newark. The trail did not run through the present site of Newark, but left it a little to the right, and about there it was crossed by the Chicago trail. Mr. Booth came out and had made two or three turns in furrowing out the potato land, when the Frenchmen returned in a great fright and told Mr. Booth what they had seen. He sent them on to alarm Anthony Litsey, and beck- ened to me to hurry, saying, as I came near, "I don't know but we shall all be killed." We had heard Litsey calling to his oxen during the forenoon. He had joined teams with William Parcell, a bachelor who lived at Cherry's Grove, and they were breaking ground together. Parcell had a two-wheeled cart, which was the only vehicle on the place, as Litsey had none. Booth's wagon had a rack on it, but no box. It had solid wheels, a sapling for a tongue, and was wholly of wood-not even a nail about it. We put on some maple sugar and a loaf of bread, and then I was sent to drive up the cows, but could not find them. I ran around the prairie, but they were nowhere in sight. In coming back I met Mrs. Booth, carrying the youngest child. She looked fright- ened, and said, as she passed,
" WHERE IS MR. BOOTH ?"
The road that led up to the house was the same that leads to it now, and when I came up Mr. Booth said, " Let down the bars and get your shoes and coat and come on." I did so, and then ran on after him. He
82
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
had fastened the door by planting a heavy stick against it on the inside. When we had gone a little way he saw his steers, and let me drive while he went back to the house to yoke them up. But in a moment he said, " I don't think it's safe to go back," and, turning, ran on after his wife. They walked a mile and a half to the north-west corner of Collins' Grove, then called Duck Grove, because there was a large pond in it and wild ducks were plenty there. The thicket was very dense, and Booth hid his wife near where the wagon would pass, while he ran on to alarm Kellogg and the other famil- ies. It was about three-quarters of a mile further. Mr. Kellogg had built a better house, of hewed logs, a few rods from William Stephens' residence. I reached Mrs. Booth and took her on board, and soon Booth came run- ning down, hat in hand, tired out and frightened, and reported that the Kelloggs had gone, leaving their break- fast table set and the coffee poured out in the cups. We were afraid now to go on, and hoping to keep hid until dark, we went
FARTHER INTO THE THICKET,
over logs and fallen limbs, and then I unhitched the cat- tle and took them down to the duck pond, where there was a good bite of grass. I remember that the ring in the yoke staple made such a horrible noise, as the oxen walked, that I believed the Indians must surely hear it. In the meantime, Litsey and Parcell had started, and Booth went up to hail them as they passed. On his way he saw a number of Indians entering Big Grove, north of his house, as if intending to enter it by the rear ; we left, therefore, none too soon. Mr. Litsey
83
FLIGHT TO THE FORT.
did not think it best to wait until dark, so Mr. Booth returned and brought his wagon out of the almost impen- etrable timber. Parcell's cart wheels were making a terrible squealing, and they greased them with some pork Booth had with him. The sun was now about an hour high. Litsey had two horses, and rode one while Booth rode the other, and Parcell and I drove the teams. He had three yoke of oxen in his team, but in the slough this side of Holderman's my wagon mired, and he had to pull me out, and after that we drove two yoke each. From Holderman's, where we found the breakfast table still spread, we struck across the prairie toward Mar- seilles-Booth and Litsey riding ahead, Parcell follow- ing, and I in the rear. The night was cloudy, and about midnight there came a very heavy thunder shower, which compelled us to stop and take off the cattle, and cover the women and children with quilts. We struck the Illinois river timber below Marseilles, near where a Mr. Shaver lived, but they had gone. The next settler was Samuel Parr, and the next Mr. Milligan. They were all gone. By this time it was broad daylight. When we came within two miles of Ottawa, our neigh- bors at the Fort recognized Booth's oxen, and were alarmed, for we had been reported
DEAD AND SCALPED.
But when we had approached near enough for them to know us their alarm was turned into joy, and we had a glad reception. Booth's cattle that he had left behind followed the next day, and were found at their old home on Covill's creek. A company was at once formed to go back to the settlements and reconnoiter, but before they
84
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
started Mr. Kellogg came in on his return journey. He rejected the idea that there was any real danger, and against the persuasion of his friends went on alone to his farm. He found everything quiet, and the table set as it was left, so he sat down in his accustomed place and ate a hearty meal. He then started back, intending to bring his family up, and met a military company barely in time to be saved from assassination at the hands of an Indian who had been watching him and was lurking in the bushes until he should pass. He did not remove his family. The very thought of how certain the bullet and scalping knife of that lurking Indian would have found him if his neighbors had not met him at just that point, made the shudders creep over him. The company num- bered twenty-five men. They found the cabins at New- ark burned to the ground, but at the other groves they were undisturbed, except that milk and provisions had been taken away. After that companies used to come up nearly every day, and found no considerable damage done until three weeks had passed, when, at every house, some animal was found killed and beheaded. It was the Indian declaration of war.
One day, while Booth was at Big Grove, a boat arrived at Ottawa with a family by the name of King, who after- wards settled toward Joliet. They had apples on board, and a French half breed stepped up and bought some. I at once recognized him as one of the men who first warned us of the danger. As he turned to go away he was arrested as a spy, and held under guard for trial, but I felt they did not mean to try him, for I heard some say significantly. "Only wait till night comes," and I was
85
SUSPECTED MAN SAVED.
very much alarmed. At dusk Booth arrived, and as soon as I told him about it he hurried over and procured his release, and did not leave him until he was safely away.
When the fort was built on the bluff in South Ot- tawa, though only a boy, I drove the oxen to help haul the logs, and enjoyed it, too. I had few cares of my own, and there was something exhilarating about seeing so many people at work. As soon as it was safe to travel we removed to Macomb, and remained there dur- ing the summer.
CHAPTER XIII.
MORE BLOODSHED.
O LIFE was lost within the limits of Kendall county, which might have in- duced a belief that the Indians were not so dangerous after all, and wished rather to frighten than to kill the set- tłers. But within a mile of our county line they showed their hand, and again in a more terrible massacre within ten miles. It is pos- sible, however, that these last were committed by a dif- ferent band of Indians. They were a mixture of Sacs and Foxes, and Winnebago and Pottawatomie outlaws, and were led by
MIKE GURTY,
a half breed, one of the most heartless wretches who - ever escaped human justice. He was a large, heavy-set
86
HISTORY OF KENDALL COUNTY.
savage, with high cheek bones, a flat nose and black eyes, and said to have been the son of Simon Gurty, a well-known Revolutionary outlaw who found refuge at last among the Indians of the Ohio, and in Wayne's war, when Col. Crawford was taken prisoner, laughed in fiendish glee while he burnt him alive. Mike aspired to be a chief, but was never wholly trusted by the Indians. He had married a squaw and had a family of sons, some of whom are now living with their tribe in the far West. He acted as interpreter at a council held near the mouth of Crow creek in 1827, between Gen. Cass and the In- dians, and at the close the General gave him a silver medal as a mark of esteem. He fastened it about his neck by a buckskin string, and wore it until death. As soon as the war opened, Gurty and his band scoured the country for blood and plunder, and having raided the country south of us, they came this way, guided by a treacherous half-breed called Tenge Forqua, who had often experienced the hospitalities of the settlers.
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