USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 14
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The next coal seam, number 2 of the Illinois section, is generally from a foot and a half to three feet in thickness. This coal is con- sidered fully equal in quality to that of any other seam found in the county. In township 12, range 1, a coal that appears to be the equiv- alent of this seam is worked in sections 20, 21, 29, 30, 32 and 33. The seam is from two to three feet thick, with from one to three feet of clay shale and a band of limestone above, and a floor of fire-clay. In sec- tion 23 and near the south west corner of 16, township 11, range 2 it is again worked. From here along down Court creek to its mouth, and on some of its branches, this seam has been more or less worked in sections 19, 22 and 23, township 11, range 3, also in sections 13 and 35. In Truro, township 11, range 4, it appears in or near the bed of Spoon river, and has been worked at various places. From here there are outcrops along the river, at intervals, to near the south line of the county.
West of the river, in township 10, range 3, this seam is worked in sections 8, 16, 19 and 29, also in township 10, range 2, in sections 14, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 33 and 34. In section 33, along Hog creek, specimens of cone-in-cone were found in considerable quantities. West of this the coal has been found in sections 10, 14 and 23.
The lower seam, number 1, is not worked to any extent in but one locality in Knox county, on section 21, township 12, range 1. It is liere worked by means of a shaft, which is about 30 feet deep. The coal is 6 feet thick, but as much of the roof is not very firm, and the upper part of the coal is of an inferior quality, from 1 to 2 feet of
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
coal is left to strengthen the roof. In section 36, township 9, range 1, this seam has been found several feet below the bed of the little stream that passes through it. In section 31, township 9, range 2, it crops out in the bed of a small run, and a little coal has been taken ont here.
Coal number 2 first outcrops in the bed of Walnut creek, in sec- tion 17, township 12, range 5, in Stark county. South of this it is not again exposed, as far as I learned, between that point and section 14, township 11, range 4, in Knox county. From this point, upon Spoon river, with its various windings, it runs to the west for about 5 miles, and south about 9 miles, from whence it passes to the south- west till it leaves the county. From where this coal first appears in Knox county it is occasionally exposed along the river, and near its bed to a point a little beyond, where the river turns south. In the northwest quarter of section 6, township 10, range 4, it lies low in the bed of the river, and is frequently torn np in considerable quan- tities by the action of the current at high water, and is sometimes worked when the river is very low. Some 2 or 3 miles south, near the bridge, it appears a little above the bed of the river. At Bur- nett's mill, section 34, township 10, range 3, the coal lies some 10 or more feet above the level of the river; but southwest of this, in sec- tion 10, township 9, range 3, it is worked in the bed of the river. In sections 26 and 27, township 9, it again appears.
ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY .- STONE FOR BUILDING.
Knox county lias but a limited supply of good building stone. Some portions, however, have sufficient for their own wants. North of Knoxville, in the western half of sections 16 and 21, township 11, range 2, quarries have been opened in a lieavy sandstone bed. Some portions of the rock do not appear to be of much value, while others, though soft, form a durable material for the use of the builder. In the northwest quarter of section 16 there is a quarry that affords an entirely different rock. It is a dark-drab-colored conglomerate, spotted by darker, slate-colored pebbles. By exposure it changes, on its surface, to a lighter and yellowish color that is mellow and pleas- ing in its effect. It is compact, moderately hard and makes a valu- able building stone. The foundation stone of the " fire-proof" build- ing attached to the court-house in Knoxville was obtained from this locality. Sections 27, 33 and 34, township 10, range 2, furnish some building stone. Some of the other localities are section 14, township 10, range 3; section 27, township 10, range 4; and sections 21, 27,
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
35 and 36, township 9, range 3. Some of these quarries are large, and considerable amount of material have been taken from them.
The ledge of limestone, which lies just above coal number 6, and is from 1 to 4 feet thick, has been considerably worked where so ex- posed as to be readily obtained. One of the largest quarries in this limestone is south of Yates City, in section 25, township 9, range 4. The bed is here 4 feet thick, and yields a hard, dark-drab or grayish- colored compact rock, which readily breaks into good shape for build- ing purposes.
LIMESTONE FOR LIME.
This is rarely found in any abundance. In township 12, range 2, near the center of section 24, considerable quantities of limestone are found, which is manufactured into lime, yielding a fair article. Else- where the manufacture has been attempted only on a small scale. For the most part Knox county has to depend upon localities more favored in this respect for its supply of lime.
COAL.
The best and largest. quantity is furnished by the upper seam, num- ber 6. This is principally worked in township 12, ranges 2, 3 and 4, and in townships 9 and 10, range +. This seam is from 4 to 6 feet thick, and at many of the mines it is comparatively free from foreign substances, and hence requires but little sorting. "Horsebacks" or slips, which in some places greatly injure this seam, are not so numerous in this county as elsewhere. The coal is somewhat lighter than that from seam number 4, and is preferred by blacksmiths.
Number 4 furnishes the northwestern part of the county with a good supply of coal of a fair quality, and the mines in this seam are among the best in the county. Nearly all the coal obtained in town- ship 11, range 2, is probably from this seam, and also that from township 9, range 3. It is also worked in some other places, and affords a coal of good quality, and harder than that from number 6. It does not kindle as easily, but lasts longer, and for some purposes is preferred.
Coal number 3. This is worked in township 10, range 1, and fur- nishes a good coal, and the larger part of the supply for this section.
The remaining portions of the county are furnished by mines, which probably are in coal number 2. At most places where worked this coal is of excellent quality, and usually pretty free from admixture with other substances. It is largely used for, and well adapted to,
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
blacksmithing purposes. Though this is the thinnest seam worked, yet the amount obtained from it is quite large.
From this it will be seen that Knox county is abundantly supplied with good coal, there being but three townships in which coal is not mined now, viz., township 13, ranges 2, 3 and 4; and in two of them it has been worked formerly, and probably not less than two workable seams may be found in every part of these townships.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
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CHAPTER V.
ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY. -
QUADRUPEDS.
Many of the various species of animals that roamed the native prairies of Knox county, or made their homes in the wild forests within its borders, and lived undisturbed and free from the haunt of the hound or the crack of the hunter's rifle, are gone from this sec- tion forever. Not even a specimen is preserved in taxidermy. The buffalo which grazed upon the verdant prairies has been driven west- ward. With or before it went the beaver, elk, badger, panther, black wolf and black bear. Some animals that were quite numerous have become very rare, such as the gray fox, the catamount, otter, lynx, and the beautiful Virginia deer.
There still remain many of the different species, mostly inhabiting the country adjacent to Spoon river and a few of the other larger streams. These are, however, fast disappearing, and ere long will be known only in history, as are the deer, the beaver, and the bison. Among those still to be found here are the gray wolf, which is numer- ous in some parts, the opossum, raccoon, mink, muskrat, the common weasel, the small brown weasel, skunk, woodchuck, or Maryland mar- mnot, prairie mole, common shrew mnole, meadow and deer mouse, and the gray rabbit. Of squirrels there are the gray timber squirrel, the fox, chipmunk, the large, gray prairie squirrel, the striped and the spotted prairie squirrel, and the beautiful flying squirrel. The dark brown and the reddish bat are cominon. Other small animals have been found here which have strayed from other localities.
BIRDS.
Of the 5,000 existing species of birds many have sojourned in this county, some temporarily, and others for a considerable time. Many migratory species come only at long intervals, and therefore but little is known of them.
There are certainly no more beautiful ornaments for parlor or drawing-room thian a well preserved collection of stuffed birds; and it is a matter of great wonder that more of the schools of the county have not turned their attention in this direction. There is not a more fascinating study than that afforded by our feathered friends. Their
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
free movement through seemingly boundless space, the joyous songs of many, and the characteristic tones of all, their brilliant colors, their lively manners, and their wonderful instincts, have from the earliest ages made a strong impression on men's minds, and in the infancy of intellect gave rise to many peculiar and mysterious associations. Hence the flight of birds was made the foundation of a peculiar art of divination. Religion borrowed many symbols from them and poetry many of its ornaments. Birds avail themselves of their powers of wing to seek situations adapted for them in respect to temperature and supply of food. The arrival of summer birds is always a wel- come sign of advancing spring, and is associated with all that is cheer- ful and delightful. Some birds come almost at the same date annu- ally; others are more influenced by the character of the season, as mnild or severe.
A collection of bird's eggs make a beautiful ornament also, and are easy of access, require but little care, and will create a lively interest in the study of birds and their habits. The following list is as nearly correct as can be compiled from the available information upon the subject:
Perchers .- This order of birds is by far the most numerous, and includes nearly all those which are attractive either in plumage or in song. The ruby-throated humming-bird, with its exquisite plumage and almost ethereal existence, is at the head of the list. This is the humming-bird which is always the delight of the children, and is the only one found in Illinois. The chimney swallow, easily known from other swallows by its very long wings and forked tail, and which is a true swift, is quite numerous. Of the whippoorwill family there are two representatives,-the whippoorwill proper, whose note enlivens the forests at night, and the night-hawk. The belted king-fisher, so well known to the school boy, is the only member of its family in this region. At the head of the fly-catchers is the king-bird, the crested fly-catcher and the wood pewee.
Of the sub-order of singers there are the following: The robin, the wood thrush, Wilson's thrush, the blue-bird, the ruby-crowned and the golden-crested wren, tit-lark, the black and the white creeper, blue yellow-backed warbler, yellow-breasted cliat, worm-eating war- bler, blue-winged yellow warbler, Tennessee warbler, and golden- crowned thrush. Shrike family .-- This family is represented by the great northern shrike, red-eyed fly-catcher, white-eyed fly-catcher, the blue-headed and the yellow-throated fly-catcher. Swallow family. -This family of birds are very numerous in Knox county. Among them are the barn swallow, white-bellied swallow, bank swallow,
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
cliff swallow, and purple martin. Wax-wing family .- The cedar bird is the representative of the wax-wing in America. Mock- ing-Bird family. - The genera of this family are the cat-bird, brown thrush, the house and the winter wren. Finch and Spar- row family .- The snow bunting and Smith's bunting appear only in winter. The purple finch, the yellow bird and the lark finch inhabit this county. Of the passerine genus of this family are the Savannah sparrow, the field and the chipping sparrow, the black snow- bird, the tree sparrow, the song sparrow, the swamp and the fox- colored sparrow, the black-throated bunting, the rose-breasted gros- beak and the ground robin. Titmouse family-are represented by the chickadee and the tufted titmouse. Creeper family .- There are two specimens of this family,-the white-bellied nut-hatch and the American creeper. Skylark family .- This melodious family is rep- resented here by only the common skylark of the prairie. Black- bird family .- The rusty blackbird, the crow blackbird, the cow-bird, the red-winged blackbird, the meadow lark, the orchard and the Balti- more orioles of this family, are the most beautiful and brilliant of birds that inhabit this region. Crow family .- The blue-jay and the common crow comprise the species of this family.
Birds of Prey .- This order of birds comprises all those, with few exceptions, whichi pursue and capture birds and other animals for food. They are mostly of large size, the females are larger than the males, they live in pairs, and choose their mates for life. Most rap- torial birds have disappeared. Among them are the golden eagle, which was always rare but now no longer seen here; the bald eagle, or properly the white-headed eagle, once quite common, now very scarce, no longer breeds here, but strays from the heavy timber on the Illinois river. Some well preserved specimens of this genus are in the county. This eagle enjoys the honor of standing as our national emblem. Benjamin Franklin lamented the selection of this bird as emblematical of the Union, for its great cowardice. It has the ability of ascending in circular sweeps without any apparent motion of the wings or the tail, and it often rises in this manner until it dis- appears from view; when at an immense height, and as if observing an object on the ground, it sometimes closes it wings, and glides toward the earth with such velocity that the eye can scarcely follow it, causing a loud rustling sound like a violent gust of wind among the branches of the forest. The Hawk family are eight or nine species, some but seldom seen, others common. The turkey-buzzard lias almost, if not quite, disappeared. Of the owl genera are several species, though all are but seldom seen because of their nocturnal
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Г. Г. Сборег. М. Д.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
habits. Among them are the barn owl, the screech owl, the long and the short-eared owl, the barred owl, and the snowy owl, the latter being the rarest.
Climbers .- But few of this order remain in the county, the most common of which are the woodpeckers. Of the various kinds there are the golden-winged, the pileated, the hairy, the downy, the yel- low-bellied, red- bellied and the red-headed. At an early day the Car- olina parrot was often seen, but has now entirely deserted this sec- tion. The yellow and black-billed cuckoos are occasionally seen.
Scratchers .- This order contains but few genera in this county. The wild turkey, the choicest of game, has almost entirely disappeared, and was the only one of its family that ever sojourned here. In an early day they were in abundance. Grouse family .- The chiefest among this family is the prairie chicken, which, if not carefully pro- tected, must ere long follow the wild turkey, never to return. The ruffled grouse, wrongfully called " pheasant," has of late made its ap- pearance. It is quite fond of cultivated fields, and, if properly pro- tected and encouraged until it becomes firmly settled, will make a fine addition to the game, and fill the place of the prairie chicken. Partridge family .- The fate of that excellent bird, the quail, is only a question of a short time. The Dove family .- The wild pigeons continue to make their semi-annual visits, but not in such vast num- bers as years ago. Acres of forest were often so filled at night with these birds that the breaking of boughs and the flying of pigeons made a noise that could be heard for miles, and the shot of a sports- man's gun could not be heard at a distance of ten feet. Highly in- teresting is the description by Audubon of the enormous flights which he observed on the Ohio in the fall of 1813; they obscured the day- light and lasted three days without interruption. According to a very moderate estimate of his, each flight contained the stupendous number of one billion, one hundred and fifteen thousand million, one hundred and thirty-six thousand pigeons. These flights caused a general com- motion among the entire rural population. Desirous of booty and anx- ious lest their crops should be spoiled, the farmers, arming themselves with rifles, clubs, poles, torclies and iron pots filled with sulphur, pro- ceed to the resting-places of the birds. The work of slaughter being accomplislied, everybody sat down among mountains of dead pigeons, plucking and salting the birds which they selected, abandoning the rest to the foxes, wolves, raccoons, opossums and hogs, whole herds of which were driven to the battle field. The plaintive notes of the Car- olina dove, commonly known as the turtle-dove, are still heard.
Swimmers .- This order of birds, which formerly frequented this 11
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
county in large numbers, have almost disappeared. They are migra- tory, and in their usual season would appear coming from the north or southi, as winter passes into summer or summer into winter.
Diver family .- The great northern diver, or loon, sometimes visits this section, but inhabits tlie frigid zone. Gull family .- Of this family are Wilson's tern and the silvery gull. Pelican family. -The rough-billed pelican was the only genus of this family that ever stopped in Knox county, and it has now altogether ceased to make its visits here. Cormorant family .- The double-crested cormorant, or sea raven, has been seen here. Duck family .- This family of mi- gratory birds visited the ponds and streams of this county in large numbers before it became so thickly settled, both on their northern and southern passage. There are the wood duck, the big black-headed duck, the ring- necked duck, the red-head, the canvas-back, the dipper, the sheldrake or goosander, the fish duck, the red-breasted and the liooded merganser, the mallard and the pintail, the green-winged and the blue-winged teal, the spoonbill and the gadwall, the baldpate, the American swan, the trumpeter swan and the white-fronted goose,- all of which often swam upon the waters of Knox.
Waders .- Probably less is known of this order of birds than of any other, because of their slyness and solitary habits. They fre- quented the marshes, but cultivation has drained their favorite haunts. Crane family .- The whooping crane, always rare, is now never seen. The sandbill cranes stop on their journeys north and south. Heron family .- The great blue heron or crane, least bittern, the green heron, night heron and the American bittern, compose those of this family visiting this region. Ibis family .- The glossy ibis has been seen liere. Plover family .- The golden plover, the killdeer and the king plover comprise this family known here. Phalarope family .- The Wilson's and the red phalarope have frequented the swamps of this county. Snipe family .- Various birds of this family have been common in and around the swamps of this county. Among them were Wilson's snipe, gray or red-breasted snipe, the least and the semi-palmated sandpiper, the willett, the tell-tale, the yellow-leg, the solitary sandpiper, the spotted sandpiper, the field plover, long-billed curlew, the common rail, the clapper rail or mud hen, and the coot.
Reptiles .- All of the species of this class that ever inhabited this region are still to be found here except the poisonous snakes. The rattlesnake, of the genus crotalus, is of a yellowish brown color, and has a series of horny joints at the end of the tail, which make a rattling sound. These were the most venomous of all snakes found here, and were numerous in the early settlement. There are two
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
kinds, the bandy or striped and the prairie rattlesnake, the latter being still occasionally found. The copperhead was always rare. Among the harmless snakes are the water-snake, the garter-snake, the bull- snake, the milk-snake, the black-snake and the blue racer.
Many reptiles found here are erroneously called lizards, but are sal- amanders and other like innocent creatures. Lizards are never found in this county. Among the tortoises or turtles are found the map turtle, the snapping and the soft-shelled turtle. Of the batrachian, or naked reptiles, there are a few, and, though loathsome to sight and touch, are harmless. The toad, the bull-frog, the leopard frog, the tree toad, with some tailed batrachia, comprise the most of this order.
FISHES.
Although fishes are the lowest class of vertebrates, their varied forms and colors, which often rival those of precious stones and bur- nished gold, the wonderful power and velocity of some, the whole- some food furnished by many, and the exciting sport of their capture, combine to render fishes subjects of great interest to the casual ob- server, as well as to the amateur and professional naturalist. The number of known species of fishies is about ten thousand. The waters of Knox county are not as prolific of fish as many other streams in this latitude, yet they are not barren of the finny tribe, and the sportsman often returns home heavily laden with choice fish. Sickle-backed family .-- This family furnishes the game fish, and are never caught larger than four pounds in weight. The various genera found here are the black bass, goggle-eye, the croppy, or big black sun-fish, and the two common sun-fish. Pike family .-- There is but one species of this family, the pickerel, which is caught weigh- ing from five to twenty-five pounds. Sucker family .- Of this tribe are the buffalo, red-horse, white sucker, two species of black- suckers, mullet ranick. Fish of this family are found in all the streams of the county. They abound wherever there is water. Cat- fish family .- Of this voracious family the channel cat-fish, the mud cat-fish and two species of the small cat-fish inhabit the waters of this county, and are caught ranging in weight from one to thirty pounds. Besides these varieties there are the chub, silver-sides and fresh-water herring, and large numbers of other species denominated minnows, which are found in the smallest spring branches, as well as the larger streams.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
BOTANY.
There are probably over 500 species of plants growing spontane- ously within the bounds of Knox county, but we will not attempt to give a complete list of the herbaceous plants, or indeed name any of the mosses, mushrooms, etc.
TREES AND SHRUBS.
While Nature has not given a great quantity of these, she has furnished a liberal variety. In this respect Knox county is in ad- vance of most of the Northern States. No one or two species of tree monopolizes the ground in the forest, as they do in many sections of the United States. Some of the less hardy shrubs, like the wild prairie flowers, are slowly disappearing before the encroachments of civilization, yet we shall endeavor to enumerate them all, as well as the trees.
Oak Family .- The White Oak is king of the forest trees in this country in respect to grandeur, strength and general utility, and in early day afforded " mast," a first-class feed, for hogs running at large. Those which wintered in the wild woods were often fat enough for market in the spring, although not fed a grain by human hand. The Burr Oak is a fine tree, with a rich and beautifully cut foliage. The wood is valuable, and the acorns are sweet. They are buried in deep, mossy cups, whence the tree is also called "overcup oak." The Swamp White Oak is a tall tree and grows in low grounds. The Yel- low Chestnut Oak is a tree of medium height and has leaves like those of the chestnut. The Laurel Oak is a very common tree on gentle slopes of ground, having the leaves undivided and somewhat like laurel leaves in appearance: whence the name. In the days before the railroads brought pine so plentifully into this prairie country, the peo- ple found this one of the best trees for making shingles: whence it is also called " shingle oak." Barren Oak, or " black jack," is scarce, being found mostly in sandy barrens. It seldom exceeds 25 feet in height. Leaves, wedge-shaped and three-lobed. Black Oak, or "yel- low oak," has the inner bark yellower than the other oaks have, and is valuable for dyeing and tanning. Externally the bark is very rough and almost black. The tree is large and quite common. Red Oak is a tall, handsome tree on northern hill-sides and in shady woods. The acorn cup is flat and saucer-shaped. Swamp; Spanish Oak, or "pin oak," is found, but is scarce. The tree is much like red oak, but is not so tall. All the white-barked oaks decay on the outside first, and all the black-barked varieties decay first on the inside. Hence rails made of any of the black oaks have a hard exterior and seem sound
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