USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 21
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
which the district has been safely stecred through and beyond the shoals of complicating litigation which frequently threat- ened it.
But credit for the successful development of Inlet Swamp Drainage District is chiefly due to the court and the commis- sioners-a court that had faith in the possibilities of drainage and at the same time proper regard for the views of the land- owners and commissioners who were steadfast in their purpose to accomplish the thorough drainage of the lands of the district. It, doubtless, would have been much more economical if the required funds had been raised in one or two assessments instead of six, and greatly to the benefit of the proprietors if the work as first proposed could have all been done under the first contract; but conditions which could not be ignored demanded a slower, though more expensive process.
As already noted the first commissioners (the ones who may be justly said to have laid the foundations of the work) were E. C. Parsons of Dixon, Wesley Steward of Steward and John Nelles of Viola. On the organization of the district the court appointed William S. Frost of Bradford, Henry B. Cobb of Viola and Wes- ley Steward, their successors. Frost was made president and Steward secretary. The board as thus constituted continued with- out changes until Sept. 12, 1899, when Xavier F. Gehant was ap- pointed in Mr. Steward's place, and succeeded him as secretary. They have all accounted to the county court for every dollar of the funds expended by them, and every expenditure, item by item, will be found spread upon the records of the court, where he may read who cares. That these several commissioners should each be some- what proud of their part in the work as finally consummated is not strange. No better nor more enduring monument marks the faith- ful services of public officers in Lee county.
In 1901 the 30,000 acres comprising and bordering the old Inlet Swamp will take their place among the most pro- ductive and valuable agricultural districts in the county to which they belong. The only solicitude now to be indulged is that a network of drainage on which so much has been expended may not be properly cared for. If not kept clear of the industrious and prolific willow, and if bars are allowed to form, its service will rapidly decline and the lands will suffer accordingly. It is to be hoped that in maintaining the ditches up to the highest state of use- fulness the commissioners will receive the active cooperation of all persons interested therein.
JOHN DIXON
CHAPTER XVI JOHN DIXON By Henry S. Dixon
John Dixon was born at Rye, Westchester county, New York, Oct. 9, 1784. His father, likewise named John Dixon, was a native of Newcastle on Tyne, England, and came to America during the War of the Revolution as an officer in the British Army. He married an American woman named Elizabeth Purdy, and did not return to England after the war but remained in Westehester county, New York, until his death. It is said that the wife of the first John Dixon was disinherited by her parents because of her marriage to the British officer. Of this marriage ten children were born, viz .: Thomas Dixon, James Dixon, Phoebe Dixon Minuse, John Dixon, Elizabeth Dixon Boyd, Margaret L. Dixon, Catherine Dixon Fisher and three others whose names are now unknown.
The birth place of the first American John Dixon was at his parent's residence, then on the North Street road, a few rods back from the Boston post road, and afterwards known as the "Corn- ing" property, in the Village of Rye. It is said that the first house from the post road, on the northeast side, which was still standing as late as 1886 is the identical house in which he was born, but there is no certainty as to this. It is certain, however, that it was upon this same property the house of his birth stood, and the house in question is either the Corning cottage or a house remembered by old residents of Rve which stood in the hollow behind the bluff on which the Corning house stands and which was taken down years ago.
Jolin Dixon, married Rebecca Sherwood of Peekskill, N. Y., at New York city in 1808. He had removed from Rye to New York city in 1805 and engaged in the business of clothing merchant and merchant tailor, his place of business being on Chatham street. He
237
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
was one of the founders of the Young Men's Bible Society of New York, which was organized Feb. 16, 1809. There is still in exist- ence a paper in the hand writing of John Dixon, giving the names of the first officers of this Society which reads as follows :
"Members of the Young Men's Bible Society of N. Y .: Cha. C. Andrews, president; Griffith P. Griffiths, vice president; Henry Johnson, secretary; William Colgate, treasurer; Board of Direc- tors, Francis Hall, Edward Gilbert, Jr., John Dixon, Benjamin G. Barker, Joseph George, Jr., Charles Mais, Asa Whitney, David MeClure, Instituted Feb. 16, 1809. Mr. Samuel Colgate, No. 55 John street, N. Y."
During his residence in New York Mr. Dixon became well acquainted with Robert Fulton and was one of the party who took passage on the Clermont on the occasion of its first trial trip, at which time he paid Fulton one dollar for his fare and which pay- ment was without doubt the first money paid by anyone for trans- portation as a passenger on a steam driven vessel.
In 1820 Mr. Dixon sold his business and departed for the West. He was accompanied by Mrs. Dixon and their children, James P., John W., and Elijah, by his sister Elizabeth Boyd and her husband Charles S. Boyd. The party left New York with a single covered wagon drawn by a team, whether of oxen or horses is now unknown, although it is a matter of family history that an ox team was the motive power, and passing through the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in due time reached Pittsburg. The household goods of the two families were not taken overland, but were shipped by vessel to New Orleans and thence up the Mississippi river to Illinois.
At Pittsburg a flat boat was purchased for the sum of $30. They partitioned off a part of the boat for living quarters and stored their wagon, oxen or horses and other goods in the other part and floated off down stream. When they reached Cincinnati they stopped for a short time to rest and purchase provisions, among other things getting a barrel of flour at the cost of two dollars and sixty-two and one-half cents, as some documents now in the possession of the family show. At Cincinnati they engaged a pilot to take the boat through the Ohio River rapids, which were passed in safety, and Shawneetown, in the State of Illinois, was finally reached. The time occupied in the journey from New York city to Shawneetown was seventy days. The boat used on the Ohio river trip was sold for $5 and the party went overland to Madison county where they stopped for a time at the place known as the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
" Marine Settlement," so called because it was first settled by retired sea captains and mates.
The Marine Settlement was located between the east and west forks of Silver creek, in Madison county, about twelve miles east of Edwardsville. Here they made inquiry concerning the country and soon went on to a point on Fancy creek in what is now Sanga- mon county about eight miles north of the present city of Spring- field and near the present village of Sherman.
John Dixon and his family remained at this place until 1824. Until 1823 the nearest postoffice was Edwardsville, about eighty miles distant and the mail for the settlers in that neighborhood was carried by Mr. Dixon from Edwardsville in a hack which he would send down there whenever he could secure a load of pas- sengers.
Sangamon county was established by an act of the General Assembly passed Jan. 30, 1821, and three county commissioners were elected who qualified as such on April 3, 1821. On April 10, 1821, a county commissioner's court was held at the house of John Kelly, on the waters of Spring creek, at the present site of the city of Springfield. Mr. Dixon was the foreman of the first grand jury impaneled in this county after its organization, at the court hell at the Kelly house.
Soon thereafter Peoria county was organized embracing all of the territory in the northern part of the state. Judge Sawyer in the year 1825 requested Mr. Dixon to take the appointment of circuit elerk of that county, which he did and became the first incumbent of that office. About the same time he was appointed by Governor Coles as recorder of deeds of that county and he removed to what was then called Fort Clark, now Peoria. While living there he was elected justice of the peace of Peoria county and duly commissioned by Gov. Ninian Edwards, his commission as such, which is still in existence, being dated Sept. 6, 1827.
While living at Peoria. Mr. Dixon became a rather extensive contractor for the carrying of the mails and there is still in exist- ence a copy of a settlement made by him with Col. E. B. Clemson for services rendered in such matters which reads as follows :
"Lebanon, Jan. 23, 1830. "E. B. Clemson, to John Dixon, Dr.
"For carrying the mail on Route 529, from Springfield to Peoria, for the quarter end- ing Sept. 30, 1829, at $500 per annum. $125.00
1
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
"For ditto on Route 530, from Peoria to Galena, for the quarter ending Sept. 30, at $900 per annum 225.00
"For ditto on Ronte 142, from Danville to Fort Clark, for the quarter ending Sept. 30, at $300 per annum. 75.00
Cr. $425.00
"By payments made up to this date. $192.32
"By land script to be remitted to said Dixon at Springfield, say on or before the 31st instant 160.00
$352.32
"Balance dne $ 72.68
"To my order on Governor Edwards at sight in full of said account. $ 72.68
"Settled Jan. 23, 1830, "E. B. CLEMSON."
During the period covered by his mail contracts Mr. Dixon sometimes did the carrying himself, but the greater part of the driving was done by men hired by him for that purpose and by his sons, particularly his son, James P. Dixon.
The only river of any importance between Peoria and Galena was the Rock river. This offered a great obstacle to the carrying of the mail and in order to afford safe passage it was desirable that a ferry be maintained. In the year 1827 a man by the name of J. L. Bogardus of Peoria, established a ferry across this stream at the present site of the city of Dixon, but he remained only a short time, when he was driven away by the Indians.
There was even at that early date a considerable travel from Fort Clark to the lead mines at Galena and the Indians resented the intrusion of the white man who would take away from them the ferry monopoly that they then had. Bogardus had built a log
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
hut said to have been about Sx10 feet in dimension and two work- men employed by him had the ferry boat nearly completed when the Indians attacked them and burned their boat, the workmen leaving the country without any delay.
In 1828 a French Indian half-breed named Joseph Ogee erected a cabin on the bank of the river at the present site of Dixon and operated a ferry there until 1830. Ogee's wife was a half-breed Pottawatomie woman by the name of Madeline. She was the daughter of a Frenchman named LaSallier, who was probably the first white man to make his home on the banks of the Rock river. LaSallier built a trading post on the south side of what is now known as the Franklin creek, about thirty or thirty-five rods from the Rock river. This point is in Lee county and across the river from the present village of Grand Detour and about five miles northeast of the city of Dixon. The ruins of this cabin were visible as late as 1835, when they were observed by Joseph Crawford, one of the early settlers of Dixon. LaSallier was one of the agents of the American Fur Company.
Joseph Ogee, the son-in-law of LaSallier is known to have been in Illinois as early as in 1823, on June 4 of which year he obtained a license from Fulton county to operate a tavern. He lived in Peoria in March, 1825, and owned the house in which the county commissioners of that county held their first meeting. He was on the first panel of petit jurors of that county and is believed to have been the representative of the American Fur Company, at its trading house at what is now Wesley City.
In the spring of 1828 Ogee came to the Rock river. His wife being of Indian blood he was permitted to establish and operate his ferry without being molested or driven away as Bogardus and his employees had been.
Ogee continued to operate the ferry alone until Nov. 21, 1829, when he sold a half interest therein to George Schellenger, who is described as a resident of Jo Daviess county, for which Schellenger paid $700, and they became partners in the enterprise and remained such for a few weeks. On Jan. 29, 1830, the partnership was dis- solved and Ogee bound himself to pay to Schellenger $1,060 for his half interest in the establishment, to be paid $100 in thirty days, $60 on or before the first of the next September. $400 in twelve months and $500 in two years, and gave to the latter his chattel mortgage on the ferry premises, which mortgage was filed in the office of the recorder of Jo Daviess county at Galena on Feb. 18, 1830, and recorded in Book A, pages 71, 72 and 73.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Endorsed on the back of the mortgage was an assignment by Schellenger to Laurent Rolette for an expressed consideration of $900. There also appears on the same instrument an undated receipt, signed by Laurent Rolette and Joseph Rolette, by J. P. Nash, their attorney in fact, acknowledging receipt from John Dixon of the sum of $400 by note at ninety days "in full satisfac- tion and liquidation of the within mortgage."
In 1828 Mr. Dixon with his family left Peoria and located at what was called Boyd's Grove in what is now Bureau county, where they made their home near the family of his brother-in-law, Charles S. Boyd, until their removal to the present site of the city of Dixon.
In March, 1830, Mr. Dixon made a lease of the ferry from Ogee with its rights, privileges and appurtenances and soon thereafter moved to Ogee's Ferry, as it was then called, with his wife and family, reaching there April 11, 1830. He continued to operate the ferry under this lease until Jan. 27, 1832, when he purchased it for the sum of $550, giving to Ogee two notes, one for $150 and one for $400, both due in four months after date and assuming the lien of the Schellenger mortgage. The deed conveying the ferry property was filed for record in the office of the recorder of Jo Daviess county and recorded in Book A. pages 163 and 164, on March 1, 1832.
Ogee at about the time he purchased the Schellenger interest in the ferry was evidently being pressed by his creditors for there is still in existence another chattel mortgage given by him. This mortgage is dated Feb. 10, 1830, and conveys to Laurent Rolette to secure a debt of the firm of Ogee & Schellenger amounting to the sum of $258.02 and the individual debt of Ogee to Rolette of $84.35, the following property belonging to Ogce, to-wit: "The equal and undivided half of a team of five horses, waggon and harnis of the value of $250 (the other half of said team, waggon and harnis being held by a cimelar artical to this by the firm of Henry Gratiot and company ) * * * and also four fether beds and beding complete, towit, one pair of sheets, one pair of pillows and slips, one blanket, one quilt and stand of curtains to each bed and each bed of the value of eighteen dollars and fifty nine cents, one whipsaw of the value of twelve dollars and one cross ent saw of the value of six dollars."
Ogee remained in the neighborhood of the Rock river for a few years after selling the ferry as is evidenced by charges against him for goods purchased of John Dixon and noted in his account book which is in the writer's possession, under date of May 13 and June
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
3, 1832. Later than the last date his history and future where- abouts are now unknown.
The entry in question is found at page 52 of the account book and reads as follows :
"Jos. Ogee -- Dr.
"1832. "May 13, To boarding $2.75
1/4 lb. tea. .371/2
"June 3rd, To 2 lbs. beeswax .371%
1 sack. .25
Tin beeswax and nails to mend canoe. 1.00"
Ogee had built a log cabin near the ferry landing, and Mr. Dixon after his arrival added to the building. The ferry landing as oper- ated by both Ogee and Dixon was at what is now the foot of Peoria avenue in the city of Dixon. The log house stood about three hun- dred feet south of the river bank near the present intersection of Peoria avenne and First street and upon what is now lots 5 and 6 in block 7 of the original town of Dixon.
The log cabin was in two parts, a one-story structure erected by Ogee and a two-story portion built by Mr. Dixon. Between the two houses and forming a part of the one-story building was a ten or twelve-foot hallway with a door at either end, facing the north and south. Entering the hall from the south, on the west was the family sitting room and on the east the travelers' and hired helps' rooms, each about eighteen feet square. The furniture of the west room consisted of two beds, a number of chairs and a table extend- ing nearly across the room. The east room contained four beds, one in each corner. Father Dixon lived here until 1836 or 1837 when he moved to a house which stood a few rods southeast of the present location of the Chicago & Northwestern railway station. The original log cabin stood until 1845, when it was destroyed.
The store room in which he traded with the Indians was in the east part of the cabin, in the two-story portion. and there he sold powder, lead, shot, tobacco, pipes, cloth, blankets, guns, beads, traps, etc., or exchanged them for furs and deer skins, which he would ship to St. Louis, Peoria or Galena.
When John Dixon reached the Rock river and established his house at Ogee's ferry he was forty-six years of age, strong, hearty, vigorous and thoroughly acquainted with the frontier. He had
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
had ten years experience in the West. He had traveled the then new State of Illinois from one end to the other on horseback and on foot. He had met and lived with and among the Indians, had be- come their friend, and was recognized by them as such. Though in the prime of life and in the best of health his hair was white and was worn long, giving him the appearance of age. The Winnebago Indians, with whom he was always on terms of friendship, called him, "Nada-chu-ra-sah," or "Head-hair-white," which term in common speech was soon contracted to "Nachusa." The early white settlers not long after Mr. Dixon's arrival at the Rock river began to call him "Father" Dixon and from thence on he was so termed and in speaking of him since his death it is usual to so char- acterize him. An old friend and early settler, John K. Robison said : "His personal appearance was almost unchanged from 1827 to 1876, his hair being white during all those years; age dealt kindly with him."
In addition to operating the ferry Mr. Dixon carried on the business of an Indian trader, exchanging blankets, knives, guns, powder, traps, cloth and other necessaries for furs and selling or trading such articles to the white settlers as well. He also con- ducted a tavern in his cabin and kept overnight the travelers to and from the Galena lead mines.
In 1827 or 1828 Charles S. Boyd and his family moved from Springfield to Boyd's Grove in the present county of Bureau and about the same time O. W. Kellogg and family settled first at Kel- logg's Grove in Stephenson county : later at Buffalo Grove, in order to be near the Dixons. Buffalo Grove is now a part of the town of Polo, Ogle county and twelve miles from Dixon. The Dixon, Boyd and Kellogg families were the first permanent white settlers in the territory between Peoria and Galena. After that settlers became more numerons, a few locating in the neighborhood of the ferry and others at eligible spots in the neighboring country.
Oger's settlement was first known as Ogee's Ferry and a post- office by that name established, a man by the name of Gay being the first postmaster. Mr. Dixon was appointed postmaster of Ogee's Ferry by commission dated Sept. 29, 1830. Afterwards in 1834 the name was changed to Dixon's Ferry and he was appointed postmaster of that place and served as postmaster until 1837.
The log cabin of his son James P. Dixon, which stood on the south side of First street between Galena avenue and Ottawa ave- nue and which was built in 1834 was for many years, in part used
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
as a postoffice. It had a room built on the side as a "lean-to" about 10x10 feet, where the postoffice was kept. Before that time the postoffice was at the John Dixon cabin.
Reference is several times made in this sketch to John Dixon's account book. Two books were kept by him and are still in exist- ence. One is an account of sales and other transactions with the Indians and whites and begins very soon after he settled on the Rock river. The entries in the other book are principally during and immediately after the Black Hawk war period.
The first entry in the older of the two books is as follows:
"Wm. Kirkpatrick, Dr. "1830.
"April 29, Self and horse one night and fer-
riage N. 1.25
"May 10, Same S. 1.25
"Oct. 21, Self and father in-law and horses, one night and ferriage 2.50
"Led horse ferriage and keeping and 2 buck- skins 2.75
$8.25"
The name of Joseph Ogee appears frequently in this book the first entry under date of April 29, 1830, with many others on pages 27-28, 47 and 48, and the aggregate charges against him for goods sold and money advanced being in excess of $500. Ogee evidently had a family as is evidenced by a charge of for "21% yds. lining for children clothes 50c," "2 caps for sons $2.50," "2 pr. shoes for sons $2," "2 pr. socks for sons 75c," "2 pr. mittens for sons 75c," "cash to Margaret to go to Fort $2."
It appears that in those days muskrat skins were of consider- able value as on June 28, 1830 (Book p. 16), Mr. Dixon sold forty skins at 20 cents each to H. B. Stillman and on Aug. 22, 1830, sold eighty-five more to the same person at 15 cents each and on Sept. 20, 300 more for $60.
The usual charge for ferrying of a man and horse, as shown
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
by frequent entries on the book was 25 cents, for each meal 25 cents and for a night's lodging the same amount.
By this book it seems (p. 24) that on Sept. 10, 1830, he loaned to J. M. Strode, who was a character of some note in those days the sum of $5 and afterwards on Oct. 20, made a charge against him of 621., cents for dinner, horse feed and ferriage. There are no eredits of payment of this account and indeed a large number of the accounts seem to be still due and unpaid.
On page 45 is found a record of a sale of furs to P. Menard, Jr., under date of May 30, 1831, as follows: 3 "rats" 4 "auter," 5 coon, 6 mink and "bunch rabit."
There are a large number of entries of this character. "July 10, 1831, Edward Hall Dr. Ferriage of waggon, four yoke of oxen and one hors $2.75. Cr. By cash $1.00."
Many travelers were apparently ferried across the river and paid but a part of the bill as money was scarce and he took the chances of being paid the remainder some other day.
The last half of this book is made up of charges against the Indians for goods sold to them, among the names of those with whom he dealt are :
Patchunka Chief Crane.
Old Quaker.
Old Blue Socks son.
Old Grey Headed Pottawatomie.
Old Gray Heads fat son.
Tall rawboued Pottawatomie who came with the gambler.
Old White Head Pottawatomie's son.
Tall Pottawatomie.
Plump Face. American Woman.
Chief Jarro.
Great Dancer.
Man That Has A Sick Squaw.
Wa-Wa-Cockera.
Crane's son.
Daddy Walker. Mother Flat Face. Ho-wo-kah.
One-eye Old Man that come with Crane.
A Young Yellow Man.
Chief Crane's brother.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Blinky.
Raw Boned Black Face Stayed A Long Time. Limpy.
Jarro's oldest son.
Old Blue Coat Man Came With Teabon.
Young Part White Squaw.
Yellow That Came With The Blind Man.
Sour Eads Ox.
Paschchunk. Squirrel Cheeks.
Preacher.
Good Singer
Yellow Lad.
Blinky's brother
Jarro's second son.
Long Sober Man.
Daddy Walker.
The name of Chief Jarro is found the most of any and from the account it would seem that the chief has credit for having paid for what he purchased.
The following extracts are typical of the entries of the pur- chases made by the Indians.
"W. Lock old man (Ogee says he is good)
1 Spear $ 6
1 Steel
1
Corn
1
2 shirts
6
Beads
2
2 knives
2
Corn
2
1 gım 50
Mending ax
2
Corn
2
"Fat squaw many beads
Due on shirt
$ 2
!
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
"Patchunka Chief Crane
Blue cloth $20
Red clo. 25
2 shirts 6
Beads 2
Tobacco
1
Powder
8
2 combs 2
2 spears
10
Paint
The other account book begins in 1832 and covers a period of three or four years.
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