USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 29
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" Signed, " GEORGE E. HASKELL, " BENJAMIN WHITEAKER,
"JOSEPH SAWYER,
" LEWIS CLAPP, " MARTIN WRIGHT. "Committee."
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This report and these proceedings give a very fair idea of the methods adopted by the inhabitants to protect each man in his right of possession to land, and the spirit which animated and governed them in the exercise of their powers. Technically they were there without right-trespassers upon the public domain-yet doing in advance only that which was a gratification to the law and fulfillment of it, when in its tardy progress westward it should overtake "the star of empire." They had left bustling communities and cultivated homes behind, with the ambitious design of making other homes; and while, perhaps, in the long run they would increase their possessions, it was still as much a matter of complacent regard and calculation to the whole country as to them, inasmuch as could be seen in it a laudable growth of empire in wealth, settlement, and population. Civilized usage defends the natural right of ownership to the person first in possession, and the moral aspect of the situation which the early settlers assumed is a com- plete justification of the course they adopted and pursued. The government, indeed, owned the land, and was willing that it should be occupied ; but made no choice as to occupants, and would give title, when put in market, to whomsoever should first present himself as a purchaser. As regarded land and law the pioneers were in the con- dition of our first parents ; to the former they held on by sufferance, and of the latter experienced a distressing nakedness; but their pro- gramme contemplated not their own driving ont, but that of the interlo- pers and speculators. Respecting the question of land-a very precious item of account since it meant home and all-they promptly and wisely constituted themselves law-makers, judges, and executors of the law. From what has gone before we have learned how they discharged the two former functions; and after we have gleaned a little light on the latter we may dismiss this topic.
The making and expounding of law is not the most complex and difficult part of the governmental economy. "The proof of the pud- ding is in the eating;" and of the law in the administering. In mak- ing a claim to land the claimant was required to establish visible limits in some manner, as by staking out the tract, or plowing a furrow around it; and to make some improvement, though this was often very slight, as evidence of good faith on his part to become an actual settler. This "law of the place " completely barred out speculators; for while a man was limited, as we have seen, to a claim of half a section, he was obliged to be a resident, though it was not essential that his land should be taken in a body, for he might have separate claims aggregating his allowance.
New-comers were often inclined to despise and defy the authority of the Grove association, and to jump bona-fide claims. A display of
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publie sentiment was usually all that was required to convince an offender how hopeless was a single-handed contest with a thoroughly organized and determined community. A committee of citizens would wait on him and remonstrate in a firm but friendly manner, pointing out the rights of the prior claimant and showing him his own wrong. Very rarely would such treatment fail of the desired result, and then only when the subject was so obdurate as not to be susceptible to the kindlier influences, in which case nothing remained but to persuade him with literal water baptism for temporal purposes. The people were concerned in the preservation of peace and good order, and the practice of justice ; but human nature being the same in all classes, climes, and ages, they could not escape the necessity of sustaining their home-made laws against the usual license and infraction ; and there is no reason to doubt that a great variety of devices, ingenious and sometimes violent, were brought into requisition first by one side in the commission of wrong, and then by the other in undoing and correcting it.
A grotesque occurrence, exhibiting the spirit of the people, took place soon after the land came into market. A poor man named Anderson lived on a "forty " at Perkins' Grove. Perkins having a spite against him, as subsequently appeared, interested a stage agent at Dixon by the name of Bull to enter Anderson's homestead. At once all except the moving cause became known; and with calm, de- cided purpose the citizens collected one night about sundown at Rocky Ford, to the number of seventy-five, and turning their backs upon the illumination of a big bonfire as the shades of evening began to thicken, they marched all night with resolute tread for Dixon. Sheriff Camp- bell lived a mile or two out of the town, and they took the trouble to call at his house and inform him of the object of the expedition, and to assure him that there was no intention to raise a riot or inflict per- sonal injury. The design was to enter Dixon before the people should be up and stirring about much, to take Bull prisoner, depart to a con- venient place, and demand of him a conveyance of the land to Ander- son. The affair was well planned and executed. Just as day was breaking the motley cavalcade filed into the sleepy town and sur- rounded the hotel. One of the strongest in the crowd had been de- tailed to wait in the bar-room until he should make his appearance. Presently Bull entered and stepped behind the bar; no sooner had he done this than he was vigorously seized, but being also a strong man, and having the advantage of the counter, he was able to maintain a successful resistance until two more men were sent to the assistance of the first, when he was brought out promptly, thrown into the wagon, and driven off. The colored waiter, alarmed at the proceeding, leaped
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into the street and rushed through the town, brandishing a big butcher knife and shouting "murder !" The commotion brought the people out in sudden amazement and in all states of dress, and tarrying only long enough to grasp their weapons they started in hot pursuit on foot, mounted and in wagons. The party with the prisoner were soon overtaken, and the pursuers, in ignorance of their real design, made so excited and hostile a demonstration as to threaten imminent danger of bloodshed. At first Bull himself was not a little terrified, and implored an explanation ; being told his offense he was speedily relieved, and able to convince the people that it was not through any improper motive that he had entered Anderson's land, and that he would at once cheerfully make it over to him. On reaching Sheriff Campbell's a circle was formed to keep back the Dixonites, Bull placed in the ring, and the preliminaries concluded by which Campbell became surety for the performance of Bull's agreement to convey the land to Anderson on terms of no small advantage to the latter. This was in the spring of 1845, and was one of the most notable exploits under the old regime.
BANDITTI.
The boldest creations of romance are little more than feeble imita- tions of the actual. As an illustration of this the system of organized crime which inclosed this region from 1843 to 1850 is an example without a parallel. The history of the western country in the early stages of settlement is checkered with graceless characters who have prosecuted their desperate designs against the peace and safety of society, singly and in gangs; but no other band, we think, was so successful in inveigling into its toils an equal number of confederates, distributed over the land, scattered through every neighborhood, whose operations were so adroit and connections so skillfully concealed, and who secreted stolen property, counterfeited money, and harbored red-handed criminals with such clandestine sue- cess as to make the keenest vigilance for a while appear like a drowsy god. The Green River bottoms in places were gloomy, tangled, un- known swamps, which even the most curious and adventuresome hunters had not explored. The immense Inlet swamp, and the larger Green River swamp in the southwest corner of the county and the northi part of Bureau, were trysting-places for the outlaws. Deep forests and rank vegetation covered them. The latter, a sink and den of horrors, was skirted by low and rambling hills, whose winding ravines were passes in all directions. The sparseness of population was also favora- ble to the commission of crime and the escape of criminals. IIiding- places were convenient and numerous. A man found no difficulty in secreting himself in the tall grass in low places. The rider who pene-
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trated the groves and marshes could elude pursuit ; besides, friends un- known as accomplices, except to the robbers themselves, kept watch for their companions, communicated information to them, hid and pro- tected, fed and warmed them and shared their plunder; and through a period of long-standing danger and excitement were able to defy detection by the people, who were paralyzed with wonder and alarm at the boldness and frequency of the crimes committed. Mysterious sights and discoveries went unexplained. Strangers on foot, sometimes mounted, of singular or suspicious appearance, now with bushy whis- kers and long hair, wearing slouch hats, suggesting dark and dangerous freebooters, again elad in spruce outfit, with tall beaver hats, and canes in hand, would be seen passing through the settlement. Children often eame home with stories of such men seen when driving up the cows at night. Faint trails were discovered, and secluded spots where animals had been fed and men had lounged while waiting ; and at un- usual hours of night and in uncommon places the neighing of horses made women shudder, as they thought of the bandits at their work.
Horse-stealing was but a recreation. Counterfeiting served well the purpose to absorb idle hours. Atrocious murder, blood-curdling and cruel, was committed and expiated on the scaffold without a sign of re- gret by these hardened men. People loeked their stables, barricaded their doors, and placed their weapons within reach for instant use, not knowing what dreadful tragedy they might be actors in before morn- ing. Public helplessness to ferret out and bring to punishment the ruffians who set at naught every form and semblance of law destroyed all sense of security. Suspicions were directed against some, and whispered about ; others were so vague that no man dared more than entertain them. Men stood in doubt, if not in dread, of neighbors, and no one could deny that a strange thrill pervaded his consciousness as if every man's hand was against him.
This gigantic crime against the state is adequately treated of else- where, and we are confined, perforce, to a relation of the local efforts made for its suppression. The operations of the gang embraced the whole Mississippi valley, but its depredations in this region were suf- ficiently startling to awaken among the people and keep in constant activity the liveliest apprehensions.
Among the most daring of these were the robbery of Mulford in Ogle county ; Mckinney, at Rockford ; Miller, at Troy Grove ; George E. Haskell, at Inlet ; the plot against the Dixon land office and the robbery of Frink, Walker & Co's stage; the murder of Campbell, " captain of the vigilance committee " in'Ogle county, by three of the desperadoes, two of whom, the Driscolls, were promptly lynched ; and the shocking murder of Col. Davenport at Rock Island, July 4, 1845.
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The active vigilance and cooperation of the whole community be- came immediately necessary. An attempted robbery near Inlet Grove implicated two of the principal citizens of the place, one of whom was the magistrate. These were arrested, and at the spring term of the Lee county circuit court convicted and sentenced to three years' im- prisonment in the penitentiary. Both died before the expiration of their term. Soon after the arrest of these men, in the autumn of 1844, Charles West, another citizen of Inlet Grove (who was also the constable), was suspected of the robbery of the peddler Miller, at Troy Grove, and search being made some of the goods were found in his house. He was examined and committed for trial, but turned state's evidence and made what purported to be a full disclosure. His con- fession led to a number of searches and arrests, and considerable stolen property was recovered. Goods having been found in the house of an- other leading man at Inlet Grove, he was arrested (June 1845) and sent to the penitentiary for two years, but was pardoned and set at liberty after a few months. He had had a horse stolen, and while de- nying any active participation in the robberies, or having profited by them, he accounted for his guilty knowledge by confessing that the brigands had proposed to return his horse as an equivalent for his friendship, and that in his anxiety to obtain his property he had al- lowed himself to become criminally associated with them. He denied all knowledge of the goods found in his house; and it was and still is the belief that his wife and step-son were far more deeply involved than he. There were strong presumptions in his favor regarding the degree of his complicity, which led to his pardon. One of the methods by which the ringleaders extended their organization was to rob a man, then work on his sensibilities in this manner, and after he had once yielded in the least measure it was an easy matter to terrify the victim into their ranks by threats of exposure.
Close upon these surprising developments at Inlet Grove the peo- ple organized themselves into a body, styled "An Association for Furthering the Cause of Justice," and adopted a constitution, the pre- amble to which explains their motives and the necessity for their action. We acknowledge again our obligations to Mr. Ira Brewer for the original document, together with some resolutions and other pro- ceedings relating to the subject.
" WHEREAS, Sundry depredations have been committed upon the property of the citizens of this vicinity from time to time, and ap- pearances have plainly shown that Inlet Grove has been a resting-place and depot for the numerous rogues that infest the country ; and where- as it has now become a settled point in our belief that there are those about us who are not only willing to aid and succor the thief that
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passes through in the hour of darkness with his ill-gotten booty, but also to receive it at his hands and to share the spoils; and whereas, from the peculiar character of our country, and the numbers associated in the shape of banditti, it has been heretofore and is still difficult for the officers of justice, with the individual assistance of the person robbed or suffering at their hands, to bring the offenders to justice ; therefore we, the undersigned, have agreed to form ourselves into an association for the purpose of aiding any man that unites with us in attempting to regain his property unlawfully taken, to protect our- selves from all incursions of a villainons character, to assist the officers of justice in taking rogues of all descriptions, and as much as may be to assist each other in maintaining good order in society, by keeping a constant look-out for all persons of a suspicions character, and we ac- cordingly pledge ourselves to each other to mutually exert ourselves as far as we are able to counteract the evils enumerated, as well as to bring about the good proposed."
After providing for the customary offices of president, secretary and treasurer, and prescribing their duties, this instrument declares that a vigilance committee shall be appointed by the presiding officer, and defines it to be their duty " to receive from any member of the associ- ation any information relating to unlawful depredations made at any time upon the person or property of our members, and to report it forthwith to a person selected as chairman of said committee, whose duty it shall be to act in behalf of the society by communicating the information immediately to the officers of justice, and to obey any in- struction which may hereafter be given him by the association. The said committee shall elect said chairman, to be known to no one but themselves and the officers of justice ; and he shall make his commu- nications to the said officers of justice as secretly as possible, in order to avoid the escape of a criminal or of persons suspected. Any mem- ber of the vigilance committee may report immediately to the officers of justice if he deem it advisable.
"Article Fifth : A set of runners shall be appointed by the vigilance committee whose duty it shall be to start immediately in all directions that it may be supposed a rogue has gone, whenever anything shall appear to have been feloniously taken, or any mischief done to the property of our associated members, and to make all necessary search." Funds were to be raised by the subscription of members, and it is declared that they " shall consider themselves bound, by their sub- scribing to this constitution, to pay * * as much as if they had given their note for value received," and they pledge themselves to pay to the treasurer on his demand as the vigilance committee require from time to time.
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" Article Seventh .- We do hereby pledge ourselves mutually to do all in our power for the detection of all rogues; that we will be vigi- lant, and whenever any suspicious person shall be around will forth- with report him ; whenever any property shall appear under suspicious circumstances, will give information respecting the same, either to a member of our vigilance committee or directly to the officers of justice ; and will do all in our power consistently with our circum- stances in life to make any sufferer hereafter from their attacks as good as before.
" Article Eighth .- Any person who is not of a suspicious character may become a member of this association by signing the constitution ; but if objections are made to him at the time of joining by any member, he shall be admitted only by a vote of the association, the majority at all times ruling."
In spite of their precautions it is said they did not succeed in keep- ing their ranks free from emissaries of the band, who thus got due apprisal of much that was going on. The expulsion of any member who should aid or countenance the outlaws was declared among the powers of the association, with the supplemental provision that he should " share his fate with them." The chairman of the vigilance committee was to be selected by that committee from the members of the association, and was to be " known to no one but themselves and the officers of justice." Meetings were to be held yearly for the election of officers, and extra meetings were to be called by the vigilance com- mittee, each of whom was to " take his share of notifying members of the association."
" Article Twelfth .- We do hereby agree that our premises and buildings shall at all times be open and ready for search for missing property, and that any member of our vigilance committee shall at any time have liberty to search us onr possessions without any legal process; and whenever we find any person unwilling to admit such search, the person so refusing it shall be considered suspicious, and legal measures shall be taken forthwith to search him and liis premises, and he shall forfeit his membership in the association."
This constitution was adopted November 4, 1844, and seventy-two well known citizens attached their signatures. Moses Crombie was elected president, Ira Brewer clerk, and George E. Haskell treasurer. The president appointed the following vigilance committee : Corydon R. Dewey, Sherman Shaw, George R. Linn, C. I. Hitchcock, Sylvanus Peterson, G. A. Ingalls, Harmon Wasson, and John C. Church. Some resolutions were passed referring to the disclosures made by the detec- tion of the first two offenders arrested at Inlet, pronouncing judgment upon the guilty ; and also declaring the future course of the associa-
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tion toward all who should be found in criminal attitude. It is possi- ble now to remark only in general terms that the association rendered valuable service in the enforcement of the laws, and the final suppression of the band. The reader is by this time acquainted with the end pro- posed, and the means and methods adopted to accomplish it, and in the absence of detailed information it is enough to say that the sanguine aims of the organization were completely and specdily realized. The straggling records before us show that about the first of June, 1845, the community was thrown into fresh commotion, for on the 7th a meeting was held and George E. Haskell, C. I. Hitchcock and C. R. Dewey were appointed to report resolutions, which were accepted and laid over for consideration to an adjourned meeting of the 10th. These show that on the 6th one of the leading bandits was in the set- tlement, and it is charged that "it is confidently believed that
had a conference yesterday with the thief that passed through the grove," and warning him to beware of the wrath of the people. This was probably when they surrounded and beat up the grove for Fox (or Birch) and the audacious outlaw in gentlemanly garb and with walking-stick in hand coolly passed two citizens on the highway who were stationed to intercept him and prevent his escape. They did not recognize him, and were so thoughtless as not to detain him. On another occasion one of the gang, riding a stolen horse, was chased into the grove; but he escaped and left the people balancing between excitement and disappointment.
The last person arrested in the neighborhood and convicted was the one referred to in the resolution, and it was only a few days afterward that he was taken in custody. West's confession, we find, has brought him into danger from another quarter, for the association declare that " it is well known that the life of Charles West has been threatened," but "we are determined to protect the said Charles West at all events, and that if his life is taken we will take measures to avenge his death," and much more on the same point. They dedicate themselves to more efficient work by proposing to improve their communication with the people of Dixon and the settlements at the groves, and thus increase the facilities for arousing the country quickly ; to appoint a special mes- senger to assist 'in giving immediate notice to the members in an emergency, and by instructing the vigilance committee to meet forth- with to prepare "for the summer campaign," and to continue their meetings frequently and regularly.
Here, as in all assemblies, men advocated moderate or extreme measures, according as they were of radical or conservative temper. The resolutions in question bear marks of a threatening impatience, and we should not have been surprised if after having been so much harried
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with dangers and apprehensions the people had put their denunciations in more impetuous words. Dr. Adams, a prominent member, and, by the way, a democrat, whose inflammable nature needed not such fuel as the situation furnished, advocated the resolutions in a strong speech, and proclaimed himself in favor of hunting the brigands like wolves. The Rev. John Cross, than whom no milder mannered man broke the bread of life, opposed these views in a neat and softening speech, deprecating violence, and expressing hope that the people would preserve their reputation for obeying the laws. Dr. Adams arose to reply, with fiery indignation stamped on every feature. In a bitter retort he reminded the reverend gentleman that he might be a consistent stickler for the law if he would give absolutely none of his time to running off negroes on the underground railroad. The range was close, the shot deadly, and the preacher could not recover. The resolutions passed.
This organization was a necessity of the time, and the only feasible adjunct to the arm of the law, which, without its aid, was utterly powerless. It numbered in its ranks all the better citizens, who ad- dressed themselves with energy and resolution to the business of pro- tecting the community from theft and murder. The execution of the Hodges, the Longs, and Young, crushed the head of the anaconda. Alarms ceased, and peace reigned once more.
ORGANIZATION.
Lee county adopted township organization in 1849, and the first election under this new form of local government was in the following spring. Anterior to this date Amboy was divided between the flank- ing precincts on the east and the west. When the township was christened a number of names were proposed, but none gave satisfac- tion until Miles Lewis suggested the name of Amboy, which was re- ceived with unanimous favor, and adopted. The first annual town meeting was held on Tuesday, April 2; Joseph Farwell presided as moderator, and Joseph B. Appleton was elected clerk. Polling places were at school-houses and private residences until Amboy was built, when the town meetings were for several years held in Farwell Hall. John Dexter was an carly magistrate. His way of doing business was not uncommon in his day on the border, but appears novel to his suc- cessors of this period. Complaint had been made against a man for assault and battery, and he fined him three dollars; the constable whis- pered in the justice's ear, when he said he would change the fine, and imposed that amount on each the complainant and the defendant, and divided the costs between them.
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