History of Knox county, Illinois, Part 5

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Blakely, Brown & Marsh, printers
Number of Pages: 732

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OLD FORT DEARBORN, 1830.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

CHICAGO.

While it is impossible in this brief space to give more than a meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, yet we feel the history of the State would be incomplete without speaking of its metropolis, the most wonderful city on the globe.

In comparing Chicago, as it was a few years since, with Chicago of to-day, we behold a change whose veritable existence we would be inclined to doubt, were it not a stern, indisputable fact. Rapid as is the customary development of places and things, in the United States, the growth of Chicago and her trade stands without a parallel. The city is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Chicago river. It lies 14 feet above the lake, having been raised to that grade entirely by the energy of its citizens, its site having originally been on a dead level with the water of the lake.

The city extends north and south along the lake about ten miles, and westward on the prairie from the lake five or six miles, embracing an area of over 40 square miles. It is divided by the river into three distinct parts, known as the North, West and South Divisions, or " Sides," as the popular phrase is. These are connected by 33 bridges and two tunnels. The first settlement of Chicago was made in 1804, during which Fort Dearborn was built. At the close of 1830 Chicago contained 12 houses, with a population of about 100. The town was organized in 1833, and incorporated as a city in 1837. The first frame building was erected in 1832, and the first brick house in 1833. The first vessel entered the harbor June 11, 1834; and at the first official census, taken July 1, 1837, the entire population was found to be 4,170. In 1850 the population had increased to 29,963; in 1860, to 112,172; and in 1870, to 298,977. According to the customary mode of reckoning from the number of names in the City Directory, the population of 1878 is over 500,000.

It has been often remarked that the first white man who became a resident of Chicago was a negro. His name was Jean Baptiste Point au Sable. He settled there in 1796 and built a rude cabin on the north bank of the main river, and laid claim to a tract of land sur- rounding it. He disappeared from the scene, and his claim was "jumped " by a Frenchman named LeMai, who comnienced trading with the Indians. A few years later he sold out to John Kinzie, who was then an Indian trader in the country about St. Joseph, Mich., and agent for the American Fur Company, which had traded at Chicago with the Indians for some time; and this fact had, probably more than any other, to do with the determination of the government to estab-

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

lish a fort there. The Indians were growing numerous in that region, being attracted by the facilities for selling their wares, as well as be- ing pressed northward by the tide of immigration setting in from the South. It was judged necessary to have some force near that point to keep them in check, as well as to protect the trading interests. Mr. Kinzie removed his family there the same year Fort Dearborn was built, and converted the Jean Baptiste cabin into a tasteful dwelling.

For about eight years things rolled along smoothly. The garrison was quiet, and the traders prosperous. Then the United States be- came involved in trouble with Great Britain. The Indians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the two civilized nations, committing great depredations, the most atrocious of which was the

MASSACRE AT FORT DEARBORN.

During the war of 1812, between the United States and England, the greatest, as well as the most revolting, massacre of whites that ever occurred in Illinois, was perpetrated by the Pottawatomie Indi- dians at Fort Dearborn. This fort was built by the Government, on the south side of the Chicago river, in 1804, and was garrisoned by 54 men under command of Captain Nathan Herald, assisted by Lieu- tenant Helm and Ensign Ronan; Dr. Voorhees, surgeon. The only residents at the post at that time were the wives of officers Herald and Helm, and a few of the soldiers, Mr. Kinzie and his family, and a few Canadians. The soldiers and Mr. Kinzie were on the most friendly terms with the Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes, the princi- pal tribes around them.

On the 7th of August, 1812, arrived the order from General Hull, at Detroit, to evacuate Fort Dearborn, and distribute all United States property to the Indians. The Indian chief who brought the dispatch advised Captain Herald not to evacuate, and if he should decide to do so, that it be done immediately, and by forced marches elude the con- centration of the savages before the news, of which they were yet ignorant, could be circulated among them. To this most excellent advice the Captain gave no heed, but on the 12th held a council with the Indians, apprising them of the orders received, and offering a liberal reward for an escort of Pottawatomies to Fort Wayne. The Indians, with many professions of friendship, assented to all he pro- posed, and promised all he required. The remaining officers refused to join in the council, for they had been informed that treachery had been designed,-that the Indians intended to murder those in the council, and then destroy those in the fort. The portholes were

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

open, displaying cannons pointing directly upon the council. This action, it is supposed, prevented a massacre at that time.

Mr. Kinzie, who knew the Indians well, begged Captain Herald not to confide in their promises, or distribute the arms and muni- tions among them, for it would only put power in their hands to destroy the whites. This argument, true and excellent in itself, was now certainly inopportune, and would only incense the treacherous foe. But the Captain resolved to follow it, and accordingly, on the night of the 13th, after the distribution of the other property, the arms were broken, and the barrels of whisky, of which there was a large quantity, were rolled quietly through the sally-port, their heads knocked in and their contents emptied into the river. On that dark night the lurking red-skins had crept near the fort, and discovered the destruction of the promised booty going on within. The next morning the powder was seen floating on the surface of the river, and the Indians asserted that such an abundance of "fire-water " had been destroyed as to make the river taste " groggy." Many of them drank freely of this.

On the 14th the desponding garrison was somewhat cheered by the arrival of Captain Wells, with 15 friendly Miamis. He had heard at Fort Wayne of the order to evacuate Fort Dearborn. and knowing the hostile intentions of the Indians, had made a rapid march through the wilderness to protect, if possible, his niece, Mrs. Herald, and the officers and the garrison from certain destruction. But he came too late. Every means for its defense had been destroyed the night before, and arrangements were made for leaving the fort on the fol- lowing morning.

The fatal morning of the 15th at length dawned brightly on the world. The sun shone in unclouded splendor upon the glassy waters of Lake Michigan. At 9 A. M. the party moved out of the southern gate of the fort, in military array. The band, feeling the solemnity of the occasion, struck up the Dead March in Saul. Captain Wells, with his face blackened after the manner of the Indians, led the advance guard at the head of his friendly Miamis; the garrison with loaded arms, and the baggage wagons with the sick, the women and children, followed, while the Pottawatomie Indians, about 500 in number, who had pledged their honor to escort in safety to Fort Wayne, brought up the rear. The party took the road along the lake shore. On reaching the range of sand-hills separating the beach from the prairie, about one mile and a half from the fort, the Indians defiled to the right into the prairie, bringing the sand-hills between them and the whites. This divergence had scarcely been effected when Captain

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

Wells, who had kept in the advance with his Indians, rode furiously back and exclaimed, "They are about to attack us; form instantly, and charge upon them!" These words had scarcely been uttered be- fore a volley of balls from Indian muskets was poured in upon them. The troops were hastily formed into line, and charged up the bank. One veteran of 70 fell as they ascended. The Indians were driven back to the prairie, and then the battle was waged by 54 soldiers, 12 civilians, and three or four women-the cowardly Miamis having fled at the outset-against 500 Indian warriors. The whites behaved gallantly, and sold their lives dearly. They fought desperately until two- thirds of their number were slain; the remaining 27 surrendered. And now the most heart-rending and sickening butchery of this calamitous day was committed by a young savage who assailed one of the baggage wagons containing 12 children, every one of which fell beneath his murderous tomahawk. When Captain Wells, who with the others had become prisoner, beheld this scene at a distance, he exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be heard by the savages, " If this be your game, I can kill, too;" and turning his horse, started for the place where the Indians had left their squaws and children. The Indians hutly pursuing, he avoided their deadly bullets for a time. Soon his horse was killed, and he severely wounded. With a yell the young braves rushed to make him their prisoner and reserve him for torture. But an enraged warrior stabbed him in the back, and he fell dead. His heart was afterwards taken out, cut in pieces and dis- tributed among the tribes. Billy Caldwell, a half-breed Wyandot, long well known in Chicago afterward, buried his remains the next day. Wells street, in Chicago, perpetuates his memory. In this fear- ful combat women bore a conspicuous part. A wife of one of the soldiers who had frequently heard that the Indians subjected their prisoners to tortures worse than deatlı, and resolving not to be taken alive, continued fighting until she was literally cut to pieces. Mrs. Herald was an excellent equestrian, and an expert in the use of the rifle. She fought bravely, receiving several wounds. Though faint from loss of blood, she managed to keep in her saddle. A savage raised his tomahawk to kill her, when she looked him full in the face, and with a sweet smile and in a gentle voice said, in his own language, "Surely you will not kill a squaw." The arm of the savage fell, and the life of this heroic woman was saved.

Mrs. Helm had an encounter with a stalwart Indian who attempted to tomahawk her. Springing to one side, she received the glancing blow on her shoulder, and at the same time she seized the savage round the neck, and endeavored to get his scalping-knife which hung .

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

in a sheath at his breast. While she was thus struggling, she was dragged from his grasp by another and an older Indian. The latter bore her, struggling and resisting, to the lake and plunged her in. She soon perceived it was not his intention to drown her, because he held her in such a position as to keep her head out of the water. She recognized him to be a celebrated chief called the Black Partridge. When the firing ceased, she was conducted up the sand-bank.

The prisoners were conducted back to the Indian camp, when a new scene of horror was enacted. The wounded not being included in the terms of surrender, as it was interpreted by the Indians, and the British general, Proctor, having offered a liberal bounty for Ameri- can scalps, nearly all the wounded were killed and scalped, and the price of the trophies was afterwards paid by the British general.

That evening, about sundown, a council of chiefs was held to decide the fate of the prisoners, and it was agreed to deliver them to the British commander at Detroit. After dark, many warriors from a distance came into camp, who were thirsting for blood, and were deter- mined to murder the prisoners regardless of the terms of surrender. Black Partridge, with a few of his friends, surrounded Kinzie's house to protect the inmates from the tomahawks of the bloodthirsty sav- ages. Soon a band of hostile warriors rushed by them into the house, and stood with tomahawks and scalping-knives, awaiting the signal from their chief when they would commence the work of death. Black Partridge said to Mrs. Kinzie: " We have done everything in our power to save you, but all is now lost; you and your friends, together with all the prisoners of the camp, will now be slain." At that mno- ment a canoe was heard approaching the shore, when Black Partridge ran down to the river, trying in the darkness to make out the new comers, and at the same time shouted, " Who are you?" In the bow of the approaching canoe stood a tall, manly personage, with a rifle in his hand. He jumped ashore exclaiming, "I am Sau-qu-nash." " Then make all speed to the house; our friends are in danger, and you only can save them." It was Billy Caldwell, the half-breed Wyandot. He hurried forward, entered the house with a resolute step, deliberately removed his accouterments, placed his rifle behind the door, and salnted the Indians: " How now, my friends! a good- day to you. I was told there were enemies here, but am glad to find only friends." Diverted by the coolness of his manner, they were ashamed to avow their murderous purpose, and simply asked for some cotton goods to wrap their dead, for burial. And thus, by his presence of mind, Caldwell averted the murder of the Kinzie family and the prisoners.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

THE GREAT FIRE.

In 1837 Chicago became a city, and from that period to the date of the great fire the onward march of the great city is well known to the world. We have no space to recount its marvelous growth in popu- lation, wealth, internal resources and improvements, and everything that goes to make up a great and mighty city. Its progress aston- ished the world, and its own citizens stood almost appalled at the work of their own hands; and Chicago was great, prosperous, and happy when, time brought that terrible October night, and with it the great fire, memorable as the greatest fire ever occurring on earth. The sensa- tions conveyed to the spectator of this unparalleled event, either through the eye, the ear, or other senses or sympathies, can not be adequately described, and any attempt to do it but shows the poverty of language. As a spectacle it was beyond doubt the grandest as well as the most appalling ever offered to mortal eyes. From any elevated standpoint the appearance was that of a vast ocean of flame, sweeping in mile-long billows and breakers over the doomed city.

Added to the spectacular elements of the conflagration -. the intense and lurid light, the sea of red and black, and the spires and pyramids of flame shooting into the heavens-was its constant and terrible roar, drowning even the voices of the shrieking multitude. And ever and anon-for awhile as often as every half-minute -- resounded far and wide the rapid detonations of explosions, or falling walls. In short, all sights and sounds which terrify the weak and unnerve the strong abounded. But they were only the accompaniment which the orches- tra of nature were furnishing to the terrible tragedy there being enacted.

The total area burned over, including streets, was nearly three and a third square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was 17,450; persons rendered homeless, 98,500; persons killed, abont 200. Not including depreciation of real estate, or loss of business, it is estimated that the total loss occasioned by the fire was $190,000,000, of which but $44,000,000 was recovered on insurance. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time; and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned district was rebuilt, and at present there is scarcely a trace of the terrible disaster, save in the improved char- acter of the new buildings over those destroyed, and the general better appearance of the city,-now the finest, in an architectural sense, in the world.

One of the features of this great city worthy of mention, is the exposition, held annually."The smoldering ruins were yet smoking

INTER-STATE INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION OF CHICAGO 1878.

Length, 1000 Feet. Width, 260 Feet.

Dome, 160 Feet High.

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

when the expositiou building was erected, only ninety days being consumed in its construction. The accompanying engraving of the building, the main part of which is 1,000 feet long, will give an idea of its magnitude.

COMMERCE OF CHICAGO.

The trade of Chicago is co-extensive with the world. Everywhere the trade-marks of her merchants are seen. Everywhere Chicago stands prominently identified with the commerce of the continent. A few years ago grain was liauled to the place in wagons: now more than 10,000 miles of railroad, with hundreds of trains heavily laden with the products of the land, center there. Enormous elevators, capable of holding 15,000,000 bushels of grain, stand as monuments of the vastness of her grain trade. The caslı value of the produce handled in a year is $215,000,000, and the produce weighs 7,000,000 tous, or would make 700,000 car loads. This handles thirteen and one-half tons each minute during the entire year.

As far as regards the grain, lumber and stock trade, Chicago has surpassed all rivals, and to-day, in each of those branches, has no peer in the world. Her manufacturing interest has grown enor- inously. In 1876 her manufactories employed 60,000 operators. The products manufactured in 1875 amounted to $177,000,000. In re- viewing the shipping interests of Chicago we find it equally enormous. So considerable, indeed, is the commercial navy of Chicago, that in the season of uavigation one vessel . sails every nine minutes during the business hours; add to this the canal-boats that leave one every five minutes during the same time, and you will see something of the magnitude of her shipping.

In 1852 the commerce of the city reached the hopeful sum of $20,- 000,000; since then one firm has sold that amount in one year. In 1870 it reaclied $400,000,000. In 1871 it went $450,000,000, and in 1877 it touched nearly double that amount.

Iu 1831 the mail system was condensed into a half-breed, who went on foot to Niles, Mich., once in two weeks, and brought back what papers and news he could find. . As late as 1846 there was often but one mail a week. A postoffice was established in Chicago in 1833, and the postmaster nailed up old boot legs npon one side of his shop to serve as boxes. It has since grown to a daily average of 7,000 pounds.

In 1844 the quagmires in the streets were first pontooned by plank roads. The wooden-block pavement appeared in 1857. In 1840 water was delivered by peddlers in car.s or by hand. Tien, a twenty-

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.

five horse power engine pushed it through hollow or bored logs along the streets till 1854, when it was introduced into the houses by new works. The first fire-engine was used in 1835, and the first steam fire-engine in 1859. Gas was utilized for lighting the city in 1850. The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1858. Street cars commenced running in 1854. The museum was opened in 1863. The alarm telegraph adopted in 1864. The opera-house built in 1865.

One of the most thoroughly interesting engineering exploits of the city is the tunnels and water-works system, the grandest and most unique of any in the world; and the closest analysis fails to detect any impurities in the water furnished. The first tunnel is five feet two inches in diameter and two miles long, and can deliver 50,000,000 gallons per day. The second tunnel is seven feet in diameter and six miles long, running four miles under the city, and can deliver 100,- 000,000 gallons per day. This water is distributed through 410 miles of water mains.

Chicago river is tunneled for the passage of pedestrians and vehi- cles from the South to the West and North divisions.

There is no grand scenery about Chicago except the two seas, one of water, the other of prairie. Nevertheless, there is a spirit about it, a push, a breadth, a power, that soon makes it a place never to be for- saken. Chicago is in the field almost alone, to handle the wealth of one-fourth of the territory of this great republic. The Atlantic sea- coast divides its margins between Portland, Boston, New York, Phil- adelphia, Baltimore and Savannah, but Chicago has a dozen empires casting their treasures into her lap. On a bed of coal that can run all the machinery of the world for 500 centuries; in a garden that can feed the race by the thousand years; at the head of the lakes that give her a temperature as a summer resort equaled by no great city in the land; with a climate that insures the health of her citizens; sur- rounded by all the great deposits of natural wealth in mines and for- ests and herds, Chicago is the wonder of to-day, and will be the city of the future.

MWING & CoFa

CHICAGO WATER WORKS -THE CRIB-TWO MILES FROM SHORE.

ABSTRACTS OF STATE LAWS.

JURISDICTION OF COURTS.

Justices have jurisdiction in all civil cases on contracts for the recovery of moneys for damages for injury to real property, or taking, detaining, or injuring personal property; for rent; for all cases to recover damages done to real or personal property by railroad com- panies, in actions of replevin, and in actions for damages for fraud in the sale, purchase, or exchange of personal property, when the amount claimed as due is not over $200. They have also jurisdiction in all cases for violation of the ordinances of cities, towns or villages. A justice of the peace may orally order an officer or a private person to arrest any one committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense. He also, upon complaint, can issue his warrant for the arrest of any person accused of having committed a crime, and have him brought before him for examination.

COUNTY COURTS

Have jurisdiction in all matters of probate (except in counties hav- ing a population of one hundred thousand or over), settlement of estates of deceased persons, appointment of guardians and conserva- tors, and settlements of their accounts; all inatters relating to appren- tices; proceedings for the collection of taxes and assessments; and in proceedings of, executors, administrators, guardians and conservators for the sale of real estate. In law cases they have concurrent juris- diction with Circuit Courts in all cases where justices of the peace now have, or hereafter may have, jurisdiction when the amount claimed shall not exceed $1,000; and in all criminal offenses where the punishment is not imprisonment in the penitentiary or death, and in all cases of appeals from justices of peace and police magistrates; excepting wlien the county judge is sitting as a justice of the peace.

Circuit Courts have unlimited jurisdiction.

COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.

The commissioners of highways in the different towns have the care and superintendence of highways and bridges therein. They have the power to lay out, vacate, regulate and repair all roads, build and repair bridges, and divide their respective towns into as many road districts as they shall think convenient. This is to be done

ABSTRACTS OF STATE LAWS.

annually, and ten days before the annual town meeting. In addition to the above, it is their duty to erect and keep in repairs at the forks or crossing-place of the most important roads, post and guide-boards with plain inscriptions, giving directions and distances to the most noted places to which such roads may lead; also to make provisions to prevent thistles, burdock, cockle-burs, mustard, yellow dock, In- dian mallow, and jimson weed from seeding, and to extirpate the same as far as practicable, and to prevent all rank growth of vegeta- tion on the public highways, so far as the same may obstruct public travel; and it is in their discretion to erect watering places for public use, for watering teams at such points as may be deemed advisable. Every able-bodied male inhabitant, being above the age of twenty-one years and under fifty, excepting paupers, idiots, lunatics, trustees of schools and school directors, and such others as are exempt by law, are required to labor on highways in their respective road districts, not less than one nor more than three days in each year. Three days' notice must be given by the overseer of the time and place he requires such road labor to be done. The labor must be performed in the road district in which the person resides. Any person may commute for such labor by paying the equivalent in money. Any person liable for work on highways, who has been assessed two days or more and has not commuted, may be required to furnish team, or a cart, wagon or plow, with a pair of horses or oxen and a man to man- age them, for which he will be entitled to two days' work. Eight hours is a day's work on the roads, and there is a penalty of twenty- five cents an hour against any person or substitute who shall neglect or refuse to perform. Any person remaining idle, or does not work faithfully, or hinders others from doing so, forfeits to the town $2. Every person assessed and duly notified who has not commuted, and refuses or neglects to appear, shall forfeit to the town for every day's refusal or neglect the sum of $2; if he was required to furnish a team, carriage, man or implements, and neglects or refuses to comply, he is liable to the following fines: 1st, For wholly failing to comply, $4 each day; 2d, For omitting to furnish a man to manage team, $2, each day; 3d, For omitting to furnish a pair of horses or oxen, $1.50 each day; 4th, For omitting to furnish a wagon, cart or plow, 75 cents each day. The commissioners estimate and assess the highway labor and road tax. The road tax on real and personal property can not exceed forty cents on each hundred dollars', worth. The labor or road tax in villages, towns or cities is paid over to the corporate authorities of such, for the improvement of streets, roads and bridges within their limits.

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History of Knox county, Illinois, Part 5

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : Blakely, Brown & Marsh, printers Number of Pages: 732

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Blakely, Brown & Marsh, printers
Number of Pages: 732