USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 3
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
This trail was used exclusively for three years following and a few Years ago traces left of it might be seen then east of Polo on the prairie, and to this very minute, worn down into the ground across Mr. Edward H. Brewster's estate of Hazelwood just outside of Dixon, the old trail is discernible.
During the season of 1826, travel over this Boles' route was about double that of the preceding summer and autumnm, demon- strating the American mania for short ents even so far back as the year 1826, when ox teams were the vogue. Travel commenced again early in the year 1827. In the month of March, 1827, Elisha Doty, later a citizen of Polo, went to Dixon from Peoria. The river was still frozen. He attempted to cross the river on the ice ; but before proceeding very far, the ice began to give way and he was obliged to give up the attempt and return to the south bank. He made the statement later to the editor of Bross's history, that while waiting on the south bank of the river, just before starting on his return, about two hundred teams had collected there, all bound for Galena.
Mr. Doty lived in Polo subsequently for many years. When ratechised upon the point he gave us facts never incorporated before in a history of Lee county because they were unknown to the historians, and he attached to them the accuracy which history demands. Thus early in the history of the state. Dixon became a place of prime importance.
The "Lewistown trail," opened a little later than Kellogg's trail, passed Rock river a little above Prophetstown in Whiteside county, but this was little used, the Dixon route being preferable.
T. C. Ankeny, son of John Ankeny who was one of the first settlers of Buffalo Grove ( Polo ), wrote a sketch of his father, John Ankeny in 1883, for the Ogle County Press, in which he says, "In 1829, by art of the legislature, he, John Ankeny, with John MeDonald and another man, was appointed to view and lay out a state road from Apple River to Osier's Ferry on Rock river, now city of Dixon. December 25th of that year, he, with the other commissioners and surveying party, in pursuance of their mission, camped in a grove by a ereck which for the vast quantity of buffalo bones covering acres of ground, about the head of the ereck east of the grove, they gave the name of . Buffalo' to the grove and the stream."
As the session laws for a considerable period to 1829 are silent upon the point. it is more than likely that Mr. Ankeny is mistaken and that his father received his authority from the commissioners
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
of Jo Daviess county, or Peoria county. As a matter of fact, those viewers were appointed by the county commissioners and through the very great kindness of Mr. J. C. Scott of Galena, I am able to reproduce their report ; also some other valuable information con- tained in Mr. Scott's letter.
Galena, Illinois, Sept. 27. 1913.
Mr. Frank E. Stevens, Dixon, Illinois.
Dear Sir: Your letter to county clerk inquiring the names of the viewers who located a road from Rock river to Galena in 1829 was referred to me. Herewith is enclosed copy of their report as appears of record.
The County Commissioners Court of Jo Daviess County, Ill., on March 8. 1829, appointed Jolm Brookie, Levi Warner and Alvin Humphrey Viewers to locate a road from Bowman & Co.'s Mill on Buffalo creek to Knox's mill on Elkhorn creek. Levi Warner signs as " Dept. Cty. Surr." In this survey Timothy Widifield. Zahon Livermore and George R. Webster acted as chainmen.
January 7, 1833. the General Assembly of the State of Illinois passed an " Act providing for the location of a road from Chicago to Galena." Joseph Naper acted as Commissioner and G. W. Snow as surveyor. The survey was commenced May 30, 1833, at the northeast corner of Lake and West Water streets.
In the notes is the following :
"N. 20' 00' W. Aeross Rock river at Dixon's Ferry 102 miles 15 chains, 58 1-3 links."
Following the surveyors' notes the following report is made : "Galena-
From Chicago to Dixon's Ferry the Rout generally a high & dry prairie and no expense of consequence will be necessary to open a road with the exception of the streams.
" There is passable fords to all of them.
"From Dixon's to Galena the general line of the present road has been followed-very hilly but a tolerable good road $500 will probably be sufficient for a good road the whole distance."
This road is sometimes called the Galena & Chicago road and other times the Galena & Peoria road.
Trusting what is sent you will prove satisfactory T am.
Respectfully yours,
J. C. SCOTT.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
REPORT : VIEWERS OF THE ROAD FROM THE WOODBINE SPRING TO O'GEE'S To the Honorable the County Commissioners Court of Jo Daviess County, State of Illinois :
We, the undersigned subscribers being duly appointed by said Court at their November term to view and lay out a road from the Woodbine Springs to Joseph O'Gee's Ferry on Rock river beg leave to report: That we commenced at the place and proceeded to the latter, following the Lewistown road about five miles there took across south 50 degrees east for O'Gee ferry. Then finding ourselves about to strike one mile above said ferry, on our return- ing examined the country to Buffalo creek about ten miles where touching our line from thence to Elk creek at a lone tree about five miles, thence to Middle creek three miles, thence to Straddle creek four miles, thence to Crains Grove three miles, thenee to East Plum river four miles, thence to West Plum river four miles, thence to the Lewistown road two miles, thenee along said road to the beginning five miles.
We find the ground excellent and find fords on the different streams and at this time the U. S. Mail is running it, and we deem it essential to have the road confirmed and supervisors appointed to open and work the same, as wide as the balance of the road from Woodbine Springs to Galena.
And the undersigned subscribers beg leave to further suggest that three districts should be made.
1st. Commencing at the ferry on Fever river to extend to the west bank of Apple river.
2nd. Beginning on the east bank of said Apple river and extend to the west bank of Phun river.
3rd. Beginning on the east bank of Pluim river to extend to Rock river and include J. O'Gees residence and such hands as may be living with him subject to labor on highways.
We would moreover state that we employed Colonel Flaek as surveyor and A. Hamlin as axman under a full conviction that your Honorable Body will compensate them for their services.
CHAS. D. ST. VRAIN. JOHN MCDONALD. JOHN ANKENY.
Apple River, March 1. 1830.
It will be perceived in this narrative that he speaks of Ogce's ferry as Osier's ferry. He is nearer right than is the pronmeia-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
tion, Ogee's ferry. While Ogee spelled his name as given here, it was pronounced Ozya. Osier, reduced to the French mode of pro- nunciation would exclude the terminating consonant and give us the prommiciation-Oz-ya, with the first or long sound of O.
The name Ogee would not be called a French name exactly. The old French engages were not particular about their ortho- graphy, and if by calling and writing a name Ogee rather than Osier, Ogee would be easier, we may rest assured Ogee would be used.
Both Father John Dixon and Miss Louise Dixon while living told the writer that Ogee pronounced his name Oz-ya or with the French inflection, Oz-yiah, emphasis on the first syllable.
While discussing the point I may as well introduce at this point a letter from the late Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites which sheds a great deal of light on the subject of Ogee's origin and his name:
Sept. 15, 1913.
Mr. Frank E. Stevens, Dixon, Illinois.
Dear Sir: In response to yours of the 4th :
The records of the wandering French Canadian traders are very hard to trace ; illiterate themselves, almost nothing is known or written about them. You doubtless know Mrs. Kinzie's refer- ence in Wanbun to Joseph Ogee. The name was doubtless Auge, a common French-Canadian family name. Tanguay's "Dictionaire Genealogique" gives a Joseph Auge, who married Aug. 15, 1820, a Sioux woman. There was likewise a Joseph Auge with the North- west Fur Company in 1799 on Red River of the North. This may possibly have been the same as our Illinois Joseph, for after the amalgamation of the Northwest Fur Company with the Hudson's Bay in 1821, many of the employes were thrown out of employ- ment and drifted about. Many sought Prairie du Chien, and started out from thence south and southeast. Joseph Auge was probably a half-breed son of the Mackinac merchant Michel Auge who was an important character there during the British regime. One Etienne Auge was in 1744 lessee of the post of Green Bay and was murdered by a Menominee Indian.
Yours very truly,
R. G. THWAITES, Superintendent.
In the month of May, 1833, when Dixon's ferry had reached a considerable dignity, Levi Warner and two other men, were appointed by the commissioners of Jo Daviess county "to view and
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
admeasure and lay out a road between Galena and Peoria," which they did, and Mr. Warner certified the distance to be 145 miles and 26 and =3100 chains. The route ran through Dixon's ferry and on through to O. W. Kellogg's place in Buffalo Grove and on to Elkhorn creek to Isaac Chambers' hotel at Chambers' grove. He reached his old friend Chambers' house on May 31st. On June 1st he continued on his way and remained over Sunday, June 2nd, at Thomas Crain's, then known as Crain's Fort. At the home of John D. Winters, near Elizabeth, this sturdy bachelor met his future wife, a comely widow. Martha Winters, formerly Martha Bailey of Cincinnati. He completed his survey to Galena, June 6, 1833. His field notes show it was eleven miles from Peoria to station 29. an open prairie known as LaSalle. Station 37 at Meredith's house was nineteen miles from Peoria. The north line of Peoria county was twenty-one miles, which he reached May 23d. and he makes the note. "good selection for a road thus far."
Continuing north ten degrees, west sixty chains, he came to a large prairie extending to Rock river.
Thirty-two miles from Peoria he came to the south branch of Crow creek running from west to cast, to bridge which would require a length of fifty links and a cost for construction, $12.
Station 45; from Fort Clark as Peoria was called in its infancy, to Boyd's Grove was thirty-six miles in a general course north, eight degrees west. Station 53 was north fifty-nine degrees east, 1,250 chains, to Bureau ereck to cross which would require a bridge 150 links long and a cost to build it of $100. Between stations 57 and 58, he ran close to a Mr. Shirley's and a grove. For the six miles before reaching that point the ground was a level prairie. He arrived at that point on Sunday, May 26th. and it was between fifty-fon and fifty-five miles from Peoria. The general course from here to JJoseph Smith's house ( Dad Joe's place ), was mostly north seventeen degrees east. Smith's house was situated in the point of a small grove of timber on a very high elevation of ground. The road ran about one chain east of Smith's house. From Mr. Shirley's to Smith's point the ground was good for a road. Smith's was sixty-three miles from Peoria and was in Jo Daviess county. about three miles north of the then county line,-so says Mr. Smith's son. The course to Inlet timber. north, eleven degrees, east to Inlet creek, sixty-nine miles from Peoria. The cost of a bridge across this creek, he estimated to be $150.
At this point it may be serviceable to note that while the water
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
course was called Inlet then, it should not be confounded with the commonly accepted Inlet creek of today.
From a high point between stations 61 and 62, as noted by Mr. Warner, there was a high bluff from which point the grove at the ferry on Rock river and the grove at Mr. Smith's were both in open view at the same time. "From which point, I should think a straight road, or nearly so, might be located on good ground." From thence to Galena, the bearings were something like or near north, ten degrees west.
From Peoria to Rock river at Dixon's ferry, it measured eighty miles and 56.50 chains. Mr. Warner reached Dixon's ferry May 29, 1833. Across Rock river from bank to bank, the distance was 9.90 chains. "Rock river is a beautiful stream; rocky bottom and healthy water," Mr. Warner wrote at the time.
Warner's course from Rock river to Kellogg's place at Buffalo grove, was north and about twenty-eight to forty degrees west. From Peoria to Kellogg's place he made the distance ninety-one miles and fifty-five chains ( Kellogg's was on the south bank of Buffalo creek ).
Mr. Warner estimated that the bridge needed for Buffalo creek would have to be one chain in length and the cost would be $25; the width of the stream was twenty-five links. He reached that point Thursday, May 30, 1833.
The general direction from Kellogg's to Chambers' was north. thirty-four degrees to sixty degrees, west. From Peoria the distance was ninety-eight miles. He was at Chambers' Friday, May 31st. On Sunday, June 2d. he had reached a point opposite and about fifty links cast of Thomas Crain's, 108 miles, 55 chains from Peoria. From Crain's to east fork of Phn river, the course varied from north, sixty-two degrees west to north, thirty-one degrees west. The cost to bridge the stream was set at $50. The length of the bridge would need to be one chain : the bridge 112 or 113 miles from Peoria. The course from Plum river to middle fork of Plum river was first. north. eight degrees west, and later south by seventy-seven degrees west, then north seventy-two degrees west. The bridge at this point would cost about $5, and it was between 117 and 118 miles from Peoria. The road reached the main stream of Phun river abont 119 miles from Peoria, to bridge which. 100 links, $50 was needed. This point was reached June 3d. The route to Flack's was generally north by forty to seventy degrees. Flack's was 126 miles and fifteen chains from the place of beginning. From there the road to Apple river ran a
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
northwesterly course, varying from north twenty-six degrees west to north eighty-eight degrees west. Of the river, Warner says, "course from east to west, beautiful current of water about 1.75 chains wide; good fording."
On Tuesday, June 4th, he was at Winters' place, about twenty- five links east of John D. Winters' house, and 132 miles and twenty- three chains from Peoria. From Winters' to Morrison's door in Galena, it was about thirteen miles, general direction north by eighty-seven to eighty-two degrees west.
Mr. Warner reached Galena, JJune 6th, making the distance 145 miles and 26.25 chains.
For the above very valuable information, I am indebted to Mr. J. W. Clinton, of Polo.
John D. Winters was a stage driver or mail carrier on this route for a considerable period. Isaar Rucker, who died but recently, also drove stage on this route from 1834 to 1837 on the Winters' line of stages, and very fortunately for us, Mr. Clinton secured from him the names of his stops, which were as follows: Dixon to Buffalo Grove, twelve miles: Buffalo Grove to Cherry Grove, eighteen miles; Cherry Grove to West Phmm river, which was Kellogg's old place in Stephenson county, twelve miles; from West Plum river to Apple river, twelve miles, and from Apple river to Galena, fifteen miles.
From Dixon sonth to Dad Joe's Grove, the distance was twenty miles: from Dad Joe's Grove to Princeton, fifteen miles; from Princeton to Boyd's Grove, fifteen miles; from Boyd's Grove to Northhampton, twenty miles: from Northhampton to Silliman's, fifteen miles; from Silliman's to Peoria, twenty miles. These figures, 105 miles, make a total above Surveyor Warner's of some- thing like twenty-five miles, which must be accounted for by detones made by the stage drivers from the regular and original line rum by Warner.
When Indians were present, the method of crossing Roek river was simple. Winnebago Indians in minbers were found at this point then and rather thickly settled along the banks. Moreover they were very friendly with the whites, acquiescing readily in all requests to oblige them with their simple methods of ferrying over the river. Two canoes were placed side by side. Into one of these the two wheels of one side of a wagon were placed, and into the other, the two wheels of the other side of the wagon were placed. In this position, the Indians easily ferried wagons across the river. The horses were made to swim. Once across. the horses were
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
hitched again to the wagon and the traveler proceeded on towards Galena.
When, however, the Indians were absent, as was too frequently the case, the inconvenience was very great, as fording was impos- sible except at rare intervals.
Delays became so exasperating that John L. Bogardus of Peoria in the year 1827 resolved to construct a ferry boat and establish it at this point. For this purpose he sent up from Peoria a man who built a "shanty" eight by ten on the banks of the stream who remained in it a short while until Bogardus sent up a Mr. Doty, a carpenter, and father of the Elisha Doty already mentioned, who with the first arrival started to build the ferry boat. When about half completed, the Indians burned it and advised Mr. Doty and his assistant to return to Peoria. The advice was accepted without argument. Parenthetically, it may be said of Bogardus, that he had been educated for the law ; but in Peoria he had been mixed up considerably with ferries. In Ballance's history of Peoria, he is put down as a "sharper."
This trail had become so important to the whites, however, that the failure of the Bogardus venture but strengthened their deter- mination to equip Rock river with a ferry and be no longer depend- ent on the whims or habits of the Indians.
More than this,-the route had become so important and travel had become so heavy that the Government had ordered a mail route to follow it, deflecting just enough to go to Gratiot's Grove over into Wisconsin.
When it came time to bid for this profitable job, Mr. John Dixon, then clerk of the county commissioners court of Peoria county and recorder, threw in a bid for it. Later it was awarded to him and he took with him to the crossing Joseph Ogee, there to establish the ferry. Being one-half Indian, Ogee was not disturbed and Mr. Dixon found favor with them for his enterprise and Ogee launched his boat in the spring of 1828; a boat propelled across the stream by poles, the passengers generally taking a pole and assist- ing in the work sometimes arduous enough. This ferry started from the south bank of the stream and landed on the north side wherever good or bad fortune dictated, or perhaps I should say wherever the current of that day dictated ; high and low water of course had their influence on that decree.
This method of "poling' continued until the year 1830 when Mr. Dixon bought the ferry from Ogee. During this period of
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
practically two years Ogee occupied the hut built for Bogardus by the latter's representative.
Joseph Ogee was a Frenchman living at Peoria in the year 1828. For a long while he had acted as interpreter between the whites and the Indians. He must have been a person of average consequence, at least in the year 1825. because I find in H. W. Wells' "The Schools and Teachers of Early Peoria," in a letter written by Mrs. Maria Harkness, who taught school in Peoria in May, 1826. that Ogee was one of her patrons and sent his children to her school to be taught. The same John L. Bogardus was another patron. Judge Latham, the Indian agent, and John Dixon were others. The number of patrons was eleven and the number of pupils was thirty. The tuition charged was $1.50 per pupil for a term of three months, and the teacher, then Miss Waters, boarded round.
The school was commenced in a log cabin owned by William Ilolland, the village blacksmith, where it was continued but one week because there were no windows and no light except the open door. Beginning with the second week. the school was moved to Ogee's "new hewed log cabin." This cabin must have been built abont the year 1825 because James Eads, who attended the first school ever taught in Peoria (in 1821 or 1822 and by James Grant) in referring to the Ogee cabin says. "Ogee's hewed log cabin which was famous afterwards as a schoolhouse and courthouse was not built for two or three years afterwards."
Ogee's cabin stood on the bank of the Ilinois river "near the Fort Clark Mill site and near the bridge." Just prior to the Black Hawk War in 1832 it was still used as a schoolhouse and in 1834 when the first courthouse was built it was still used as a court- house.
Ballance describes it as a cabin 16x18 near the present site of the Fort Clark Mill.
Ogee figured in the first trial held in his cabin-courthouse and the first criminal case tried in the courts of Peoria county : where- fore a brief notice of it should follow while on the subject of the founder of the ferry at Dixon.
Some question has been raised about Ogge's blood. He was not a full blood Frenchman : he was a half breed .- French and Indian. Judge David MeCullough, who wrote the best history of Peoria county ever published. knew intimately all about Ogee while he resided at and near Peoria. Judge Mccullough calls him a half breed.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Another indisputable authority is the record of the trial of the first murder case in Peoria county, and by the way, it mentions not only Ogee, but Father John Dixon, who was clerk of the court. so that Dixon people took an active part in the trial.
Nom-a-que was a Pottawatomie Indian, living far from Peoria on the Illinois river. He wanted to reach Opa (Wesley City) opposite the Bureau river. He reached it only to find the trading point abandoned. It had been moved across the river to Peoria. Waiting for means to eross, a canoe bearing a hunter appeared. When the canoe grated on the beach, the hunter threw his paddle across the gunwales of the boat and greeted the Indian. To the delight of Nom-a-que the greeting was in the language of the Pottawatomies.
Nom-a-que told the hunter he had traveled long and hard, that he wanted to go to the settlement and that he intended to locate there for the winter. Later, as the canoe bearing the Indian and the hunter glided gracefully up the river towards the village. the hunter told Nom-a-que that his name was JJoseph Ogee, that he had come to the trading post in 1818, and that his wife, who was now waiting for him, was a Pottawatomie squaw. As the canoe drew near the village beach, Ogee pointed out a large log cabin that stood near the river, which he said belonged to him and which was his home. After hauling the canoe high upon the bank. Ogee led Nom-a-que to his cabin, where the Indian was given a cordial welcome by the half breed's squaw.
As Nom-a-que refreshed himself with meat and drink and the squaw prepared for the evening meal and he felt welcome in the humble cabin with his new found friends, he little dreamed that a few weeks later he would be tried for murder in the same room and cabin. Yet this is what happened, for he was the first man tried for murder in Peoria county after the circuit was organized on Nov. 14, 1825.
He had murdered Pierre Laundri, a Frenchman, during a drunken brawl. After a trial noted for its many disgraceful exhibitions by counsel, he was convicted. Col. William S. Hamil- ton, son of Alexander Hamilton, defended him. He was convicted and his case was appealed to the Supreme Court and there after considerable delay, a new trial was given.
There was no jail then, and the expense was considerable in hiring guards to watch him, but the Indian made no attempts to escape. He was re-tried and sentenced to be hanged. But his guard being by that time carelessly maintained, at the suggestion
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
of his succeeding counsel he escaped. Subsequently at the battle of Stillman's Run, he was wounded so desperately that when found by Peorians, he was humanely killed.
The courthouse was Ogee's cabin which I have mentioned before. At night the jurors slept in the room in their blankets, on the floor. The cabin is mentioned as standing on the bank of the river, near where the T. P. & W. bridge lands on the Peoria side of the river.
The present Lee county was in Peoria county then. The trial judge was John York Sawyer, the judge who induced Father Dixon to accept the clerkship of that court, and Father Dixon acted as clerk at the trial. The whole countryside attended that trial. Ogee swore to the original complaint, Oct. 4, 1825, before Jacob Wilson, a justice of the peace, and the offense is charged as having been committed Oct. 2, and on the fourth the victim died.
Nom-a-que at one time and another was confined in jail at Springfield, at another in Edwardsville, and the expense was con- siderable for those days. I should explain that after his second conviction, his case was appealed and that pending a decision, he was permitted to roam at large.
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