USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 15
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
long after all the inside is rotten, thus being very deceptive; but white-oak rails last many years longer in the fence. The up-land black oaks make a hotter fire than any other kind of wood. The Ha- zel-nut and two species of Iron-wood belong also to the oak family, botanically speaking. The iron-wood, which is also called " American hornbeam," " blue beech," and " water beech," is a beautiful tree, but is scarce. The more common species have the seeds of the appear- ance of hops.
Birch Family .- The Red Birch is the only member of this family found in Knox county. The outer bark peels itself off horizontally around the trunk and limbs, like that of the cherry.
Willow Family .- The Prairie Willow is small, and was very com- mon before the white man's plow deprived it of its native home. The Glaucous Willow grows 8 to 10 feet high, and is common. The Black Willow grows 15 to 25 feet high, twigs brittle at the base, bark of the trunk somewhat black, and the leaves pointed at each end. Common. The Long-leaved Willow occurs, growing generally as a sınall shrub. The Shining Willow, and possibly one or two other species, can be found. . To the Willow Family belong also the Quak- ing Asp, or Aspen, the Cotton-wood, the Silverleaf Poplar, Lombardy Poplar, and Balm-of-Gilead, all of which grow spontaneously in this county, although the last three have been introduced by the settlers. Of the Aspen there are two kinds,-the American and the Large- toothed. The poplars and the Balm-of-Gilead have a great ten- dency to sprout from the roots. The Lombardy poplar does not prosper well in this windy country. It grows too tall.
Walnut Family .- The Black Walnut is a large, noble and most valuable tree, too well known to need description. It is yet " com- mon " in this county. A few Butternuts, or " white walnut," are also found. The wood is of a lighter color and more brittle than that of black walnut. It is now being used for veneering. Of the Shell- bark Hickory there are two kinds,-one with a scaly bark and fur- nishing most of our hickory-nuts in the market, and the other with a smoother bark and lighter heart-wood, and bearing the largest kind of hickory-nut. The Bitter-nut Hickory is very common.
Plane-tree Family .- The only representative in America is the Button-wood, or " sycamore," a large, coarse, white-barked tree com- mon in river " bottoms," but is of little value. A few grow within the limits of Knox county.
Nettle Family .- At the head of this family stands the American or White Elin. Although so common in the forest, it promises to be- come one of the most popular ornamental or shade trees. The Red
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Elm ("slippery-elm") is scarce. Called "red" on account of having red heart-wood, while the white elm has white heart-wood. The Hackberry is a beautiful tree, of full forest height, hardy and tough. The Mulberry is very scarce.
Rose Family .- The Crab-apple, Wild Plum, Wild Black Cherry and Red Haw (two species) are abundant,-the cherry on high land and the rest along the streams. There are also found the Choke- cherry, Nine-bark (a shrub), Black Raspberry, Blackberry (and possi- bly the Dewberry), Chokeberry, two species of wild rose (Early and Dwarf), and a very few June-berry. The Blackberry has been very abundant, but its ground the farmer finds more valuable for corn. The other berries are very scarce. The Dwarf Wild Rose used to ornament the prairies, especially their margins, but there is scarcely any room left now-a-days for the modest little thing by the rough hand of agriculture.
Maple Family .- The White Maple, commonly called "soft maple," is by far the most abundant, especially as a shade-tree in the towns and villages; but is soft and brittle and the limbs, are easily broken off by the wind, so that it is now about to be abandoned as a shade or ornamental tree. As an example of the adaptability of the prairie to the growth of timber, we may refer to the fact that the first set- tlers here 30 to 40 years ago planted the common locust ; and after it grew up 20 to 35 feet high the worms and the winds made an unsight- ly tree of it, and the white maple (acer dasycarpum) was next resorted to, which has already attained the height of 40 and 50 feet, with top and trunk in due proportion. Box Elder and Sugar Maple (both mem- bers of this family) and white elm are now being substituted, thus making the third crop of good sized forest trees raised on this prairie within the short space of civilized life here. The Sugar, or "hard," Maple makes the most beautiful and durable shade-tree, as well as
Indeed, durability and ornamental tree, but it is of slow growth. slowness of growth necessarily go together. Box Elder is of a scrub- by form, and the least esteemed of the three most popular slade trees. As members of this family there are also the Bladder-nut, a beautiful little bush, and the Buckeye, a tree of heavy foliage, soft wood, and large, poisonous nuts, and growing only in the river bottoms. Like the currant, it sheds its leaves in August.
Custard- Apple Family .- The Pawpaw is found in this county. This fruit is abundant along the Illinois river.
Linden Family .- Bass-wood everybody knows. It is also called " white-wood," "linden," and "lime-tree," and in the Southern States is known only by the name of " lin," from its old European name lind,
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
which gave the family name to the great Linnaeus, the father of botan- ists.
Rue Family .- The Prickly Ash used to be a common bush or shrub, but is now fast disappearing. It is characterized by a very rank and pungent odor and taste, is covered with short briers or thorns, and bears a small, brown berry. The Hop-tree, or " wafer ash," is a small tree sometimes met with.
Cashew Family, or Sumachs .- The Smooth Sumach is by far the most abundant, growing even as weeds upon prairie farms. The Fragrant Sumach and the Poison Ivy are said also to be found in Knox county.
Buck-thorn Family .- Red-root, or New Jersey Tea, was abundant in the margin of the uncultivated prairies, but is pretty well de- stroyed at the present day. A decoction of its leaves has been em- ployed as a substitute for China tea. Possibly a species of common Buck-thorn may be found in this county.
Staff-tree Family .- Burning-bush (" waahoo") is a beautiful bush, sometimes cultivated for the fine show of odd-shaped crimson berries it displays after the leaves have fallen off. The Climbing Bittersweet is also to be found in this county; but at the most is exceedingly rare.
Pulse Family .- Trees and plants of this family are characterized by bearing pods of seeds like beans. The Red-bud is a shrubby kind of tree, and, contrary to waahoo, displays a red top in early spring, before leaves appear on it or any other tree. The color is a beautiful crimson, and is made by the buds and flowers. The Honey Locust is famous for its large thorns and long pods, the inner border of the lat- ter containing a large quantity of a sweet substance which tastes some- thing like honey. A species or variety is said to occur which has but few thorns, if any. A few specimens of the Kentucky Coffee-tree grow in this county. The seeds of this tree are of the size of gum- drops, and have a hard, glossy, beautiful shell. A small shrub often called " swamp locust " is probably False Indigo.
Saxifrage Family .- The Gooseberry, and Wild and Black Currants thrive in this section, though the latter are not abundant.
Dogwood Family .- Four species of Dogwood flourish here, the most abundant of which is the Panicled Cornel, bearing white berries about the size of peas.
Honeysuckle Family .- The most "extensive individual " of this family is the common Elder, growing like weeds in gardens and farms. The Yellow Honeysuckle and Sweet Viburnum, or "sheep-berry," re found in this vicinity, but are exceedingly rare. The Black Haw
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
is a common bush, averaging 10 feet in height, and producing very edible sweet fruit.
Madder Family .- The Button-bush flourishes on the borders of ponds and streams.
Olive Family .- It would sound more natural to Westerners to call this the Ash family, as the ash is the principal representative herc. The White Ash is the most prevalent kind, and is valuable on account of its strength, hardness, durability and freedom from warping, as well as its quality for making a blazing fire. The Blue Ash is about as good. Distinguished from the White by having square twigs. Perhaps two other species of ash can be found in the county,-the Green and the Swamp.
VINES.
Vine Family .- The Winter or Frost Grape is common, and tlie Summer Grape rare. The Virginia Creeper is also common.
HERBACEOUS PLANTS.
We will name only about 200 of the most common, growing spon- taneously, and give them, as nearly as we can conveniently estimate, in the order of their abundance, the more common first:
Growing Wild .- Besides several species each of grass, sedge, ferns, aster, golden-rod, wild sunflower, evening primrose, cone-flower, flea- bane, cinquefoil, tick trefoil, violet, crowfoot, milk-weed, cress, loose- strife, and beggar's-lice, there are the sneeze-weed, wood sorrel, wild bergamot, strawberry, wild cranesbill, boneset, spring beanty, clear- weed, arrow-head, tick-seed, blue cardinal flower, May apple, self-heal, scouring rush, spider-wort, ginseng, sweet William (two species), meadow parsnip (two or three species), cow-bane, wild onion, louse- wort, vetchling, ditch stone-crop, cardinal flower, milk-vetch, three- seeded mercury, pepper root, wild mint, spotted touch-me-not, soft rush (and probably one or two other species of rush), rue anemone, liver-leaf, marsh marigold, early meadow rue, blood-root, Indian turnip, mitre-wort, white and purple trilliums, cat-tail flag, cup-plant, everlasting, avens, bell-flower, ox-eye, blue-joint grass, white lettuce, hawk-weed, lobelia (medical), gentian, yellow adder's-tongue, larbin- ger of spring, skull-cap, hare-bell, stone-root, groundsel, catch-fly, false Solomon's seal, Gerardia (two species), dodder, wild senna, wood sage, American pennyroyal, wood nettle, black snake-root, water plan- tain, rattlesnake master, Dutchman's breeches, button snake-root, Solomon's seal, blne cohosh, Seneca snake-root, bastard toad-flax,
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
arrow-leaved tear-thumb, iron-weed, water star-grass, peppermint, Greek valerian, trumpet weed, hop, bell-wort, rosin-weed, prairie dock.
Growing in Cultivated and Waste Places .- Blue-grass, white clover, dandelion, water smart-weed, hog-weed (" rag-weed "), plan- tain, door-weed (" goose-grass," two species), sneeze-weed, " wire-grass, panic-grass (several species), fox-tail grass, hair-grass ("tickle-grass"), spear-grass, shepherd's purse, green pig-weed, Spanish needle (tliree species), chick-weed, purslane, common smart-weed, May-weed, goose- foot ("lamb's-quarter"), ground ivy, blue vervain, hedge mustard, yarrow, nightshade, cinquefoil (two species), mild water-pepper, mal- low, burdock, white pig-weed (" tumble-weed "), wild sunflower (sev- eral species), mother-wort, black mustard, chenopodium urbicum and murale, Euphorbia maculata, orchard grass, wood sorrel, polygonum Pennsylvanicum, clear-weed, wild pepper-grass, black bindweed, barn. yard grass, biennial wormwood, sow thistle (?) (two species), scurvy grass, convolvulus bindweed (three species?), catnip, cockle-bur, com- mon thistle, three-seeded mercury, toad-flax, false red. top (grass), fes- cue (grass), jimson-weed, red-top (grass), red clover, bouncing Bet, curled dock ("yellow dock"), mullein, great rag-weed ("horse-weed"), white vervain, timothy, cirsium altissimum, Indian mallow, ground cherry, hemp, fetid marigold, cnd-weed, bugle-weed, wire-grass (two species), swamp milk-weed, horse-tail, green inilk-weed, morning-glory, speedwell, silk-weed, hop, scrophularia nodosa, verbena Aubletia hoary vervain, climbing false buckwheat, wild balsam-apple, sida, hedge nettle, fire-weed, tansy, chess, wild rye, buckwheat, white sweet clover, asparagus, white mustard, poke, prince's feather (polygonum orientale).
All plants growing in cultivated and waste grounds, except four or five repeated in each of the above lists, may be considered as intro- duced by Anglo-Saxon civilization. While the wild plants in the woods are supposed to be the same now as originally, the prairie has changed its grassy clothing for cultivated crops and hundreds of dif- ferent weeds. Before settlement by the whites the prairie was mostly covered by one kind of grass. Several other kinds could be found, especially in places here and there, notably the blue-joint, which grew the tallest of any. Along the sloughs and in other wet places there was the slough grass and several species of golden rod, aster and wild sunflower. All other kinds of weeds were scarce. Here and there were patchies of rosin weed. But the golden-rod, aster, and sunflower made beautiful yellow stripes across the prairies in low places, which were peculiarly charming. In the earliest stages of the growth of prairie grass it was interspersed with little flowers-the violet, straw-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
berry-blossom and others of the most delicate structure. ' Soon these disappeared, and taller flowers, displaying more lively colors, took their place, and still later, a series of still higher, but less delicately formed flowers appeared. While the grass was green the prairies were adorned with every imaginable variety of color. In the summer the plants grew taller and the colors more lively ; in autumn another generation of flowers came. A poetess writes in the Knoxville Jour- nal of March 7, 1850, as follows:
Where'er I turn my eyes There springs a lily : here the wild pink vies With clustering roses and the rich blue-bell, The morning-glories and the daffodil, And countless others. How and whence they came, I leave for botanists to tell and name.
The original prairie grass can scarcely be found anywhere now. It cannot stand close pasturage. The blue or June grass bears pastur- age the best of any; but where live stock are kept off this grass, it will be eradicated by other kinds of grass. A curious fact similar to this, and of interest to botanists, is the eradication of the May-weed along the road-sides by hog-weed, smart-weed and Spanish needles. Possibly this has been aided by the greater amount of wet weather for a few years past.
The most troublesome weeds which are on the increase at the pres- ent time are the common and the tall thistle, Indian mallow, toad- flax, wild lettuce or sow thistle, and jimson-weed. Clear-weed and mercury are becoming abundant in the gardens and door-yards where shade trees are plentiful, but they are not troublesome.
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Blanchard
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER VI.
ARCHEOLOGY.
A history of the county might be considered incomplete without somne reference to the antiquities of the county. It is to be regretted that the subject has been left so long without investigation. Many of the aboriginal remains have been removed from the county, no record being left of their character or locality where found. Many more have been lost. Attention was called to the subject by the Smithsonian Institution a few months ago, and M. A. McClelland, of Knoxville, has made some examinations and a short report to the Institution, which he designs supplementing by further examinations and a subsequent report. His first report was accompanied by some very perfect specimens of stone axes, celts, discoidal stones, and arrow- heads. His present collection consists in some unique specimens, notably a double-bitted war-ax, hour-glass in shape, with very perfect grooves sunk in the constricted part for the firm attachment of a withe handle. This specimen and a large stone ax were found in the vicinity of the trail leading from near the mouth of Court creek, northwest to Henderson Grove, or to the trail known as the old Galena trail, running northwest from Maquon through the county.
Among his present specimens are seven very perfect arrow-points, so near alike in size, shape and character of stone from which they are made, as not easily to be distinguished. These were found en cache on the farm of Myers A. Eiker, northeast quarter of section 16, Orange township. Numerous other specimens were obtained from the same locality. In ancient times there was a small grove on this part of the section, and it being the highest point of ground on the west bank of Haw creek, in this vicinity, it doubtless was a favorite camping spot for roving bands of Indians that were making their way up the creek from Spoon river to the head waters of streams running west from the northwest part of the county to the Mis- sissippi.
Of the numerous specimens already sent to the Smithsonian Insti- tution most were found on section 16, Knox township, on the farms of Mr. Wm. R. Higgins and Mrs. Wilts. Mr. Willard Witherell, of Knoxville, has a large number of specimens from this locality. The
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
north part of Mrs. Wilts' farm is probably the highest point in Knox township, a fine view of the surrounding country being had from it. Along the eastern face of the hill composing it, ran, within the recol- lection of many citizens of the county, one of the trails from Maquon to Henderson Grove. This trail ran across what now are the homes of Geo. A. Charles and D. B. Huggins, in the city of Knoxville. To the east of this trail, about one-fourth of a mile from the top of the hill, there is a fine spring of water. The entire eastern slope of the hill presents evidences of having been the site of a somewhat per- manent Indian settlement. The ground for several acres in extent is covered with flakes and chips of the same kind of stone the arrow- points are made of; and beneath the surface a few inches, at the distance of a rod or two apart, are found collections of flat stones that have evidently undergone the action of fire.
South of the top of the hill about a fourth of a mile is an Indian mound, thirty-six feet across, and raised in the center about three feet above the level of the surrounding surface. This mound had been dug into several years ago, but nothing was found except decided traces of charcoal, at a depth corresponding with the surrounding surface. The mound was more fully examined in the summer of 1878 by McClelland and Witherell, of Knoxville. Nothing was discovered at this examination except that the general features of the several strata of the mound were the same as those found in the mound a mile and a half west of Knoxville, and south of Harvey Montgomery's a quarter of a mile. This mound was much larger than the one on sec- tion 16, and it also had been dug into. The examinations made by McClelland were pretty thoroughi, a trench some ten to fifteen feet long being cut from the center of the mounds and carried toward the edge, extending to a foot or more beneath the general surface. Nothing was found in this mound except traces of ashes at a depth correspond- ing with the level of the general surface. About a hundred feet to the west-southwest of the center of the mound is a mardelle, or pit, from which doubtless the material composing the mound was obtained.
There are numerous other mounds in various parts of the county. On section 33, Chestnut township, there is a group of three, and about half a mile south, in Fulton county, there are three more. These are found on the western bluffs of Spoon river, and north of Cedar creek, on and near the farm of Elaminder Bond. Near Tren- ton Mills there are other mounds. One was taken as the site upon which to build a house many years ago, and in excavating the cellar a large number of human bones were unearthed. At Maquon, on or near what is known as the Barbaro mound or hill, there is an ancient Indian cemetery. This point on Spoon river was a favorite settle-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
ment of the Indians, within the recollection of many living citizens of the county. Both here and at Trenton their primitive sepulture was among the branches of trees. This was changed for burial at the instance of the whites.
Mr. Eiker, npon whose farm the arrow-points spoken of were found, says that the grove that formerly stood upon his farm, constituted, in the days of "ring hunts," or wolf hunts, the objective point towards which the circle of hunters directed their course. This may perhaps serve to identify it in the minds of some readers.
Various trails crossed the county. The old Galena trail, running from Peoria to Galena, crossed Spoon river at Maquon, and ran north- west to Henderson Grove. Another trail ran from the mouth of Court creek, west-northwest, to strike it in the vicinity of the grove. One branch of the Galena trail crossed Court creek near Pleasant Henderson's, near the northwest corner of section 21, Knox township. Another bore more to the west, crossing Orange and Knox townships diagonally from southeast to northwest. This branchi passed through the northeast corner of the present city of Knoxville. There was another trail further west in Orange township, connecting Brush creek with the lead waters of Haw creek. On the eastern side of one of the little streams running into this latter creek, and probably at no great distance from the trail, is located the mound south of Harvey Montgomery's lionse.
There are numerous collections of arrow-points, celts, axes, etc., in the county. The Hon. Rufus W. Miles, of Persifer, has one. Mr. Willard Witherell, and Dr. McClelland, of Knoxville, have each one. None of these specimens have ever been figured or described, except in the report to the Smithsonian Institution above referred to. Knox College and Lombard University have each a collection. Many more isolated specimens are doubtless in possession of citizens of the coun- ty, and many liave been taken away.
The Smithsonian Institution is engaged in collecting the material for an extended work on American archæology, and to this end de- sires to collect from every available source whatever is now known, or can be ascertained by special investigation, of the antiquities of North America; and it desires not only specimens, but also the de- scription of the localities where found, so that the geographical distri- bution of each form may be accurately determined. All specimens will « be duly accredited to the donor, in the reports of the Institution, and also in the proposed work on American archæology, and on the labels of the specimens. Parties having such specimens are assured they will reach the proper destination if they will forward them to M. A. McClelland, at Knoxville.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII. PIONEER LIFE.
LOG CABINS.
We shall, in this chapter, give a clear and exact description of pioneer life in this county, commencing with the time thie sturdy set- tlers first arrived with their scanty stores. They had migrated from older States, when the prospects for even a competency were very poor, many of them coming from Kentucky, for, it is supposed, they found that a good State to emigrate from. Their entire stock of furniture, implements and family necessities were easily stored into one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only vehicle.
As the first thing after they arrived and found a suitable location, they would set about the building of a log cabin, a description of which may be interesting to the younger readers, and especially their descendants, who may never see a structure of the kind. Trees of uniform size were selected and cut into pieces of the desired length, each end being saddled and notched so as to bring the logs as near together as possible. The cracks were "chinked and daubed" to pre- vent the wind from whistling through. This had to be renewed every fall before cold weather set in. The usual height was one story of about seven or eight feet. The gables were made of logs gradually shortened up to the top. The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from gable to gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the clapboards after the manner of shingling, show- ing two feet or more to the weather. The clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called "weight poles," reaching from one gable to the other, being kept apart and in their places by laying pieces of timber between them called "runs." 'A wide chim- ney place was cut out of one end of the cabin, the chimney standing entirely outside, and built of rived sticks, laid up cob-house fashion, and filled with clay or stone,-often using two and three cords of stone in building one chimney. For a window a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes with glass but oftener with greased paper pasted over it. A doorway was also cut through one of the walls, and the door was made of spliced clapboards and hung with wooden hinges. This was opened by pull-
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