USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 15
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
" Head-hair white," in allusion to his flowing white hair. It is also their custom to run compound words or sentences together, as in the case of this name, pronounced by them "Na-chu-salı." Mr. Dixon's influence over the moral habits of the Indians of the Rock River valley seriously curtailed the profits of the few Indian traders who had established posts there. They found but a poor market for the whisky with which they were wont to defraud the Indians out of their furs and other pelts. Owanico, or "Jahro," the Winnebago chief, who claimed and proved to be the "fast friend " of Mr. Dixon and family, became an active and energetic disciple of temperance. The advent of Black Hawk with his six hundred warriors, who were marching from the Des Moines river, in Iowa, up this valley, and who encamped at a spring a few hundred yards above the ferry (now flooded by the back-water of the mill-dam), gave the Winnebago chiefs abundant opportunity to manifest their fast friendship for the family of Mr. Dixon. During the campaign Mr. Dixon's intimate knowledge of his country, and of the character and habits of the Indian race, enabled him to render important services to the country. This seems to have been appreciated, and to have gained for him the personal friendship and esteem of gentlemen of world-wide reputa- tion. Among these were Colonel Baker, who was killed in the early part of the rebellion, Albert Sidney Johnston, Zachary Taylor, Robert Anderson, afterward hero of Sumter, Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln, Gen. Winfield Scott, and others. He entered the land upon which the most valuable part of the (now) city of Dixon stands, and in 1835 laid it off into town lots. In this connec- tion it may not be improper to say that all the lands thus subdivided were disposed of from time to time, and the avails, instead of being hoarded up for individual use, have gone to build up the general interests of the city.
In 1838, when the general system of internal improvements in the state were adopted by the legislature, and a vacancy occasioned by the death of Col. Stevenson occurred in the state board of com- missioners, he was appointed by Governor Duncan to fill the vacancy, and subsequently elected by the legislature a permanent member of the board; and although subsequent experience showed that the state had undertaken too much, resulting in failure, careful investi- gation manifested the fact that the business of the state board had been honestly and faithfully executed. While serving as commis- sioner an incident occurred to Mr. Dixon that will not be out of place to notice in this connection. The pay-rolls of the companies were made out and signed, and awaited Mr. Dixon to pay them off. It was his duty as commissioner to draw the money at Springfield
155
THE FOUNDER OF DIXON.
and pay the men. He had intrusted his draft on Springfield for collection to a contractor named Hamlin, who absconded with the proceeds, $11,500. James P. Dixon and Smith Gilbraith started in pursuit, traveling by stage coach through many of the eastern states, but returned without success. Soon after James and Elijah Dixon renewed the search, traveling in Canada and the eastern and New England states, striking his trail once in Connecticut, but again losing it they returned to Dixon without recovering anything. In the meantime Mr. Dixon had raised the money and paid the amount to the state. Some time afterward Hamlin drew a prize of $25,000 in a lottery. With this and his other ill-gotten gains he re- turned boldly to Galena and opened a store. Mr. Dixon at once instituted suit and recovered judgment for the $11,500 and interest. The sheriff closed out all of Hamlin's goods that he could get possession of, which paid the costs and expenses of the search for Hamlin, and a few hundred dollars of the stolen money. In 1840 Mr. Dixon visited Washington with application for the removal of the land office from Galena to Dixon, and Gen. Scott, and perhaps other army officers, personal friends of Mr. Dixon, who had become familiar with the topography of the country during the Black Hawk war, promptly interested themselves in his behalf, and introduced him to President Van Buren, who at once signed the order for removal. Of his domestic life it is becoming to make but bare men- tion. His wife, formerly Rebecca Sherwood, of New York, a lady of superior mental capacity and energy, shared with her husband the toils and privations incident to frontier life, and exerted a moral and religious influence which will be felt in this region for all time. She, with all her children, ten in number, passed away before the husband and father. Mr. Dixon continued to live here in the city that he loved, where for nearly fifty years he had walked the Indian trail as well as paved streets, until his death, which occurred Thurs- day, July 6, 1876. His death was expected, as he had been grad- ually failing for several weeks; yet, when the muffled tones of the bell on Thursday morning announced the sad news that the beloved founder of the town had passed away, it carried sorrow to every heart, for old and young alike had learned to love and revere him as a father. His city made suitable arrangements for the funeral, which occurred on the next Sabbath. The services took place at the north front of the court-house, where platforms and seats had been erected for the pur- pose. Early in the day delegations composed of civic societies from neighboring cities arrived, each headed by a band of music. Many of the stores and public buildings were deeply draped in mourning. The body was laid in state at the court-house under
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156
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
guard of Sir Knights Templar. The remains retained the pleasant features of life, and were looked upon for the last time by 10,000 people, who "loved with a love that was more than love " the good Father Dixon. The honor shown his remains in death was truly a worthy remembrance of a long life of purity and goodness. It has been the custom and inclination of the human race from the earliest historical ages to pay honors at burial ceremonies of mili- tary heroes and political leaders, and the men of wealth have often been thus honored and followed to their grave by the multitudes, but seldom in all these ages has there been such ovation and general marks of respect tendered to a man in the common walks of life as was witnessed at the obsequies of Father Dixon. It was emphat- ically an ovation of the masses, and especially of the old settlers of this and adjoining counties, who came to pay their respects to the last on earth of Father Dixon. It would reasonably be supposed that a man so universally loved and respected at his death as was Father Dixon never had an enemy in the world, but this was not 80,-at least in his earlier days,-for in his long and active life he had battled earnestly and unflinchingly against evil in every form, and by such firmness for the right he did, as might be expected, antagonize men who could not understand, or, if they understood, had not the souls to appreciate those noble characteristics which raised him far above ordinary men. Yet it can be truly said that "none knew him but to love," or "named him but to praise," because those with whom he had met in the strife incident to life were at last led to acknowledge the nobleness of his character. It was not alone that he was unselfish, hospitable, kind and generous, patriotic and loving, which gained him the respect of all ;; but it was that, when in active life, he was always unswervingly for the cause of human pro- gress and the right, and stubbornly opposed evil. Though his wife had passed away more than twenty-nine years before, and he had outlived all his children, and it could long since be truly said that
"The mossy marbles rest On the lips that he had prest In their bloom, And the names he loved to hear Had been engraved for many a year On the tomb,"
yet he was surrounded by kind and loving hearts and willing hands that administered to his every want. It was well, as a lesson to the generation of man coming after him, that such marked respect should be paid to the closing life of such a man. It was well that such a concourse of people should assemble here as had never before congregated in one day in this his own city. It was well that
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THE FOUNDER OF DIXON.
the court-house and other public buildings should be deeply draped in the habiliments of woe, for a truly good man lay dead in its halls.
At a citizens' meeting held on Friday evening after Father Dixon's death, the following memorial was prepared and spread on the records of the city :
IN MEMORY OF JOHN DIXON.
We, the people of Dixon, called upon to mourn the departure of him who gave our city existence and its name, desire to place among its records this testimonial of our appreciation of his virtues. His neighbors,-many of us have known him for a third of a century,- who during all that time have looked up to him and have loved him as a father, with one accord have assembled to pay this tribute to his memory. John Dixon, after a life extended far beyond the life ordinarily assigned to man, at the ripe age of nearly ninety-two years, one-half of which had been passed in this town so loved by him, which he had made, has departed from the scene of his earthly labors. Having long outlived all that were, by the ties of blood, nearest and dearest to him, his weary pilgrimage at last is ended. He has gone to the summer land. A man of great strength of mind, force of character, and determination of purpose; yet he has lived and died without an enemy. Forgetful of himself, he lived for others, a pure and unselfish life. He was that noblest work of God-an honest man-and he has
"So lived that when the summons came to join The innumerable caravan, that moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls at death. He went, not as the quarry slave of night, Scourged to his dungeon; but sustained and sooth'd By an unfaltering trust, approached the grave Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch Around him and lies down to pleasant dreams."
Born at the close of the revolution and rocked in his cradle when the "cradle of liberty " was swinging to and fro with a new-born nation, Father Dixon was imbued with all those noble principles of patriotism characteristic of that age, and which he retained through life. He lived to see his country grow from a vast wilderness, with only about the number of inhabitants contained in our state, to a great nation of forty millions. When he was born there was hardly a white inhabitant in all the great states of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and indeed the entire northwest, now the most flourishing part of the United States. A dozen years before, the American colonies were the most loyal part of the British empire, and on the political horizon no speck indicated the struggle that had just closed
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
and established the great republic of the world. There were then only about half-a-dozen newspapers in this vast country, while railroads, telegraphs and steam-engines had not entered into the remotest conceptions of man. It is indeed a very pertinent fact, in this connection, that when Fulton took his first steam-boat up the Hudson on a trial trip, John Dixon was a passenger, and paid the great inventor of steamboats the first money as fare ever received as a return for his immense expenses and time. So it was our own Father Dixon who paid the first steamboat fare ever paid; who was the first patron of steam, that now earns, every moment, its millions of dollars. Fulton at first refused to receive the money, but Father Dixon with his innate principles of justice, insisted that he should, and it was only by his determination to be just that gave him the satisfaction of being honored, as we said. He lived through a history in which has been allotted more important events, in their bearing upon the happiness of the world, than any other which has elapsed since the creation. Now he has gone down to his grave full of honors, such as any hero of any age might envy.
Mrs. Dixon was one of the few women who could and did adorn any position in life in which she was placed. Her person was rather under size, exhibiting no marked peculiarity. She was intelligent, far above the age and circumstances surrounding her, and had a warm heart and ready hand for every good word and work alike. Devout and fervent in all the holy exercises of religion and morality, ardently attached to the church (Baptist) to which she belonged, she gave her hand to all who bore the name and character of that great christian body. Her moral worth, talents, virtue, and her whole life, was one of devotion to christianity. She was Solomon's ideal of glorious womanhood before he was corrupted by the false glare and glitter of a false religion and an impure life. "As an early reminis- cence of Mrs. Dixon's rare tact and knowledge of character, shall I venture to write that in the dead of winter, preceding the Black Hawk war, the prophet, from Prophetstown, Black Hawk, and a chief from Rock Island, whose name I have forgotten, held a council at Dixon's Ferry, and then and there negotiated with the Pottawato- mies for the occupancy of the Spotted Arms' town near the present site of Rockford. Meal time came three times a day, to which the chiefs at the council fire were invited as guests of Mrs. Dixon. She presided as waiter, and. to allay any fears of her guests, sat down and ate and drank with them. The perfect lady was reminded by Black Hawk, as spokesman, of her goodness, and he called the at- tention of the other chiefs to her care and politeness to them."
159
LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS.
LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS.
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
The Thirteenth Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized under the Ten-Regiment bill, at Dixon, Illinois, May 9, 1861, and went into camp on the fair grounds at Dixon. On the next day, after going into camp, the following regimental officers were elected : John B. Wyman, colonel, B. F. Parks, lieutenant-colonel, A. B. Gorgas, major. Colonel's staff consisted of A. W. Pitts, commissary, W. C. Henderson, quartermaster, J. L. McCleary, assistant quarter- master, H. T. Porter, adjutant, Dr. S. C. Plumer, surgeon, Dr. D. W. Young, assistant-surgeon, Rev. J. C. Miller, chaplain. The drawing of positions by the companies resulted as follows :
Dixon Captain H. T. Noble
Sterling
D. R. Bushnell
Company A ני
B
Amboy
M. H. Messinger C
Rock Island
Q. McNeil
D
Sandwich
S. W. Partridge
E
Sycamore Z. B. Mayo
F
Morrison
G. W. Cole
G
Aurora
- Gardner
H
Chicago
S. W. Wadsworth . 6
I
Du Page
W. Blanchard .
K
This regiment was organized with 870 men, and was composed of companies from Dixon, Sterling, Amboy, Rock Island, Sandwich, Sycamore, Morrison, Aurora, Chicago, and Du Page. The regiment was organized for the three months service, but the call being made soon after for three-years volunteers, the regiment was mustered into the United States service under the last call, May 24, 1861, being the first regiment mustered into the three-years service.
Company A was the first company of volunteers raised at Dixon, and on April 22, 1861, they met at their armory and elected company officers : A. B. Gorgas, captain, Henry T. Noble, first-lieutenant, Henry Dement, second-lieutenant, Benjamin Gilman, first-sergeant, and O. M. Pugh, second-sergeant, and on the same day hoisted the union flag opposite the mayor's office. On April 25 the ladies of Dixon presented the company with a handsome banner, when as- sembled in front of the court-house. Miss Mary Williams (Mrs. H. D. Dement) delivered the presentation address.
Two other companies, the Dixon Cadets and the Dixon Blues, were organized within a few days, but their services were not needed on account of the regiments under the first call being full. Most of the members of these companies afterward enlisted and went to the war in other companies and regiments. On June 1, 1861, the ladies presented Co. A with uniforms made by their own hands.
160
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Company C was organized at Amboy, electing as company officers as follows : Henry M. Messinger, captain, Nathaniel Neff, first lieutenant, George B. Sage, second lieutenant.
The two companies above, A and C, were of Lee county, while the other companies were from the different parts of the state as above given.
This regiment remained in camp at Dixon until Sunday, June 16, when they were ordered to Caseyville, Illinois ; from thence to Rolla, Missouri, by rail, July 6. Here they remained until October 10, 1861, when they were ordered to Springfield, Missouri; and in thirty days (November 10) they were ordered back to Rolla. Here they went into winter quarters, and remained until March 16, 1862, when they were ordered to Arkansas ; and leaving Rolla, Missouri, on the above date, they marched, via Springfield, to Pea Ridge, Arkansas; thence, via Kietsville, to Balesville, and thence to Helena, Arkansas, arriving on July 14, 1862. On December 27, 1862, they reached Chickasaw Bayou, being the first regiment to reach that battleground and lead in the assault against the enemy, on Decem- ber 29, 1862. In this battle fell some of the brave boys of Lee county. On the 11th day of the following month (January 1863) they participated in the battle of Arkansas Post. Then followed the battle at Jackson, Mississippi, May 22, 1863, in which they were engaged; and on the 22d of the same month they participated in the assault on the rebel works before Vicksburgh. From here they returned to Jackson, Mississippi, and participated in the siege of that "city, July 1863. They were in the battles of Tuscumbia, October 26 and 27, 1863. From there to Lookout Mountain, No- vember 24; thence to Mission Ridge on the following day (Novem- ber 25) ; two days later (November 27, 1863) they were in the battle of Ringgold, Georgia. In the following spring (May 1864) they were in the battle of Madison, Alabama.
Their term of service having expired, they returned to Spring- field, Illinois, and were mustered out of the service of the United States on June 18, 1864.
Veterans were transferred to the 56th Illinois Volunteers, among whom were some of the Lee county soldiers, which will be noted in the following table. Mark M. Evens, of Dixon, was mustered in as captain of Co. I in the 56th regiment, as above, and was mus- tered out of the service at the close of the war, under date of August 12, 1865.
Officers Roll at the Close of Service .- Col. John B. Wyman, Amboy, killed in battle of Chickasaw Bayou, December 28, 1862.
Lieut .- Col. Benjamine F. Parks, Dixon, resigned June 24, 1861.
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LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS.
Major, Adam B. Gorgas, Dixon, promoted June 25, 1861, to lieu- tenant-colonel, and to colonel December 29, 1862; term expiring June 18, 1864.
Second Assistant Surgeon, David H. Lane, resigned November 15, 1862, to accept commission as surgeon in 9th Cav., Mo. Vols.
Chaplain, Joseph C. Miller, Amboy, was honorably discharged September 4, 1863.
Company A .- Captain, Henry T. Noble, Dixon, promoted by the President, July 8, 1863.
Second Lieut., Henry D. Dement, Dixon, was promoted to first lieutenancy April 27, 1861, and resigned August 1, 1863.
First Sergeant, Geo. L. Aiken, Dixon, was promoted second lieu- tenant March 1, 1862, and died April 2, 1863.
Sergeant, Adanaran J. Pinkham ; was promoted second lieutenant June 11, 1863, and was promoted captain August 1, 1863.
Sergeant, Henry Van Houton, discharged November 30, 1863, to accept commission as major of 3d Arkansas Cavalry.
The following privates in Co. A were promoted : Sherman A. Griswold, Lee Center, was discharged to be promoted to second lieutenant in 1st Missouri Cavalry ; Jedediah Shaw, Dixon, as cor- poral; Charles W. Snider, Dixon, as sergeant-major ; William Irwin, Dixon, as sergeant ; Mark Evens, as first lieutenant ; Jonathan H. Crabtree, Dixon, as corporal ; John H. Brubaker, Dixon, as first sergeant ; Henry B. Anderson, Dixon, as corporal, and Alx. Pitts as sergeant.
THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY REGIMENT.
On September 2, 1861, five companies left Dixon for the army, and were organized in the :34th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, at Camp Butler, a few days after. The companies leaving Dixon at this time were Co. A, from Sterling, commanded by E. B. Ward ; Co. B, from Morrison, H. W. Bristol, captain ; Co. C, from China, Lee county, Alx. Dysart, captain ; Co. D, from Dixon, T. L. Pratt, captain, and Co. F, from om Grand Detour.
Companies C and D were made up of Lee county boys, while a number were received in other companies of this regiment.
The 34th Illinois Infantry Volunteers was organized at Camp Butler, September 7, 1861, by Col. E. N. Kirk. On October 2 moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and from thence to Louisville, and then to camp Nevin, Kentucky, where it remained until February 14, and was afterward hotly engaged in the battle of Shiloh, losing Major Levenway and fifteen killed, and one hundred and twelve wounded. From here they moved to Iuka and Florence. They crossed the river at that place and moved to Athens, Huntersville and Steven-
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
son, Alabama; thence to Battle Creek, where they were encamped over a month.
Leaving Battle Creek they marched to Louisville, Kentucky, arriving September 27, 1862. October 1, 1862, left Louisville for Frankfort. October 4 was engaged in a skirmish at Claysville, Kentucky. From Frankfort moved to Nashville. November 27 had a skirmish at Lavergne. Regiment remained in camp five miles southeast of Nashville until December 26, 1862.
On leaving the above camp they moved on to Triune, near which płace they became engaged with the enemy on December 27. On the 29th they moved toward Murfreesboro, and on the 30th took position on the extreme right of the Union lines. On the following day, December 31, 1862, the enemy attacked the regiment in over- whelming force, driving it back on the main line. Many of the regiment were captured ; twenty-one killed, twenty-three wounded, and sixty-six missing.
During the three following days the regiment did guard duty. .
On June 25, 1863, they were engaged in a battle near Liberty Gap, losing three killed and twenty-six wounded.
The regiment was now in the 20th Army Corps. On the 26thi it moved to Manchester, entering Tullahoma on the morning of July 1. August 10, moved to Bellefonte, Alabama. The 34th was detailed as provost guard ; 30th, moved to Caxertain's ferry, on Tennessee river. Here the regiment was left to guard the pontoon bridge. September 18, moved the boats to Battle Creek. October 20, 1863, moved to Anderson's Cross-roads, in Sequatchie valley. November 8, moved to Harrison's Landing, on Tennessee river. Arrived at Chattanooga the 15th, and camped on Moccasin point. November 25th, ordered to join the brigade on the battle-field of Chattanooga. Moved by Chickamauga Station ; met the retreating enemy near Graysville, and was engaged about half an hour. 28th, moved back to Chattanooga, where those unable to march were put in camp; the remainder of the regiment moving on the expedition into East Ten- nessee, as far as Loudon, where the 34th was detailed to run a grist-mill, grinding corn and wheat for the division. Returned to Chattanooga, arriving December 19, 1863.
December 22, the 34th was mustered as a veteran organization. Received veteran furlough, and rendezvoused at Dixon, Illinois, arriving January 21, 1864. February 28. started to Chattanooga, arriving March 17, and moved out to join the second brigade, in camp near Roseville, Georgia. Mustered out July 12, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. Arrived at Chicago, July 16, for final pay- ment and discharge.
163
LEE COUNTY UNION VOLUNTEERS.
Officers' Roll-Company C .- Captains : Alex T. Dysart, China, promoted major, then to colonel; Benson Wood, China, resigned Jan- uary 29, 1863 ; Peter F. Walker, Bradford, promoted major ; L. W. Rosecrans, China, mustered out July 1865.
First Lieutenants : Benson Wood, China, promoted ; P. F. Walker, Bradford, promoted ; J. W. Williams, China, mustered out November 5, 1864 ; L. N. Black, China, killed in battle March 1865 ; David Wingert, China, mustered out July 12, 1865.
Second Lieutenants : P. F. Walker, Bradford, promoted ; J. W. Williams, China, promoted ; B. F. Dysart, China, mustered out November 5, 1864; L. W. Rosencrans, China, promoted.
Company D .- Captains : T. L. Pratt, Dixon, resigned August 18, 1862; William S. Wood, Dixon, resigned April 14, 1864; S. B. Dexter, Amboy, mustered out November 8, 1864; Charles Eckles, Palmyra, mustered out July 12, 1865.
First Lieutenants : William Wood, Dixon, promoted ; S. B. Dex- ter, Amboy, promoted ; Francis Forsyth, Dixon, mnstered out ; H. A. Jeffs, Franklin, mustered out July 12, 1865.
Second Lieutenants : S. B. Dexter, Amboy, promoted ; Francis Forsyth, Dixon, promoted ; Charles Eckles, Palmyra, promoted ; Spencer Conn, mustered out July 12, 1865.
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