USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois with life sketches and portraits > Part 3
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The French were vanquished by the English in the war, and peace was made by the Treaty of Paris, February 10th, 1763, the French surrendering all their American possessions east of the Mississippi river.
But the French garrison held Massac nntil directed to give it up, by a special order of April 21st, 1764. After that, the French held the fort another year, finally surrendering to Captain Stirling of the British army, in 1765.
Fort Massac was not again occupied by troops until trou- ble arose with Spain, about 1796, when it was repaired and occupied under the special orders of Washington, who 'had been made Commander-in-Chief of the United States army.
It was used during the French crisis, under Genet's min- istry. Mad Anthony Wayne and General Wilkinson, com- manders-in-chief of the army, occupied the fort, and for per- iods of time made it their headquarters. Aaron Burr made it one of the points where he directed his southern conspiracy, and it was here that he formed his "entangling alliance" with General Wilkinson. It was the scene of many intrigues in those pioneer days, between Spanish, French and ambitious Americans, male and female.
Mrs. Blannerhasset spent one night here, on her way to join her husband on the lower Mississippi.
The fort was repaired and used for defensive purposes during the war of 1812-14 with Great Britain.
It yet remains a landmark of the early pioneer history of the West.
FORT MASSAC.
TEC
POWERS SCHOOL HOUSE. (See page 59).
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MASSAC COUNTY.
CHAPTER III. FORT MASSAC.
(HON. W. H. GREEN)
F ORT MASSAC is situated in Massac county, Illi- nois, on the Ohio river far above the highest flood at a point where that river bends from its pre- vious course and turns northwest, and where the land projects to the Southeast. It was built by the French government in the latter part of the seventeenth century- more than two hun- dred years ago. It became one of the chain of forts, beginning at Fort Du Quesne, built subse- quently and intended to be used in defense of the claim of the French government to that part of cur country once known as the Northwest Territory, and it was for many years occupied by French soldiers. During the short period that Spain owned the French claim to the Northwest Terri- tory, Fort Massac was occupied by Spanish soldiers, and many Spanish coins have been found in the ground in and around the Fort, notably one coin of the reign of Charles the Fifth. There is a tradition that there was a Spanish Fort a few rods East of Fort Massac; but that is probably not true, though there is a tradition and there are still remaining evidences of a subterranean house at the point indicated. The Spanish government during its possession of Fort Massac had an American Secret Agent (we would now call him a Detective) named Daniel Flannery, whose grand-nephew, of the same name, lived many years and died in Massac county. From the
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HISTORY OF
Massac Daniel Flannery, part of the Spanish traditions con- cerning Fort Massac were obtained by the writer. The Span- ish government very carefully and specifically recognized the services of their agent, Daniel Flannery, in connection with their possession of Fort Massac, and besides paying him a compensation in money, granted to him the right to locate a quantity of land equal to an area of four leagues in length and a third of a league in width anywhere in the Spanish pos- sessions, not within one mile of Fort Massac. When Spain relinquished to France all her rights in the country after- wards known as the Louisiana Territory and the Northwest Territory, she specially protected the grant of land to her agent Daniel Flannery, and in the relinquishment of the French claim to the Northwest Territory to Great Britain after the conquest of Canada, this same grant of land is pro- tected by treaty stipulation. The facts stated in reference to the Daniel Flannery land grant may be found in the third volume of American state papers. Twelve hundred acres of the Flannery grant are located in Alexander county, Illinois, between Thebes and Santa Fe; and the first ejectment suit ever brought by the writer was to recover the Alexander coun- ty portion of the Flannery Spanish grant, and by means of cer- tified government records, in addition to oral testimony, a perfect title was established in the heirs at law of Daniel Flan- nery, the Spanish detective, and some of the history of Fort Massac was learned during the investigation of the Flannery title.
When the land in South Illinois was surveyed and offered for sale, the land around Fort Massac was reserved from sale; and from 1808 to 1839 fractional section 12 in township 16 south of range 4 east (on which section Fort Massac stands) was held and known as a government reservation, to be used for some national purpose. In the year 1838 a commission of army officers, including Surgeon General Lawson of the Unit- ed States regular army, and a civil engineer, was appointed by the secretary of war in pursuance of an act of Congress, to visit the West and select a place for a Western armory. They visited Nashville, St. Lonis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rock Island
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MASSAC COUNTY .
and many other points. They then visited Fort Massac, and remained there several days in June, 1838. They made a to- pographical survey of the country within a mile of the Fort and of the river bank for half a mile above and below the Fort; and took the statements of all the neighboring inhabitants as to knowledge of facts and traditions concerning the height of the river, and concerning the fort itself. The writer obtained the above facts concerning the United States Commission from the late J. H. G. Wilcox, and from Aaron B. Brown, and his wife, and from the family of General John M. Robinson, (tlen United States Senator from Illinois) and who accom- panied the Commission to Fort Massac. Mr. A. B. Brown and wife were the mother and father and Mr. Wilcox was the unele of Mr. Joseph Brown, now a worthy citizen of Metropolis. The father of Mrs. Brown owned the Metropolis Ferry ninety years ago, and owned the land on which part of Metropolis is built, and Mrs. Brown remembered when the Fort was occupied by United States soldiers and heard her father tell all the details connected with the soldiers who rendezvoused at Fort Mas- sac during the period when danger was anticipated from the Burr conspiracy. Mrs. Brown's father lived in the Fort after the soldiers were withdrawn and Fort Massac ceased to be a military post.
After the Commission returned to Washington they re- ported in favor of Fort Massac as the best site in the West for a national armory. And in that report they say substan- tially that Fort Massac, from its environments and topogra- phy gives promise of being the healthiest point which they visited in the West.
Subsequently the Western Armory was located at Rock Island, and the fractional section twelve on which Fort Mas- sac is situated, was offered for sale as other government land and was entered by John M. Robinson and a patent therefor was issued to him and others by the United States, which patent is recorded in the Recorder's office of Massac county, and the title to the Fort as to all the lands in that section 12 is deraigned from him.
General George Rogers Clark rendezvoused his little army
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HISTORY OF
at Fort Massac, and rested several days on his way to the cap- ture of Kaskaskia, and there at Fort Massac the flag of the New Union of the Colonies was first unfurled within the ter- ritory now constituting the state of Illinois. These facts concerning the expedition of General Clark are matters of history; but were detailed by Mrs. Brown as told to her by her father.
The earth works of Fort Massac are well preserved, and very much resemble the remaining earth works near New Orleans, known as the "Spanish Fort." The gravelled sentry walk may also be traced.
CONSPIRACIES ABOUT FORT MASSAC.
(O. J. PAGE.)
French-Fort Massac, built by the French under M. Mas- sac in November, 1758, when driven down the Ohio from Fort Du Quesne by General Forbes, has been a central figure in a number of intrigues against the government. Chief among these was that of Genet, the French minister, who came to the United States as a representative of his government in 1793, when England and France were at war. Because President Washington, a federalist, would not openly aid the French, Genet secretly aided in the organization of anti-Federalist clubs to enlist men and raise supplies in an effort to wrest the Mississippi valley from Spain. Alluring offers of French com- missions, pensions, titles and vast territorial interests, involv- ing the free navigation of the Mississippi river, controlled by the Spanish were made, especially to Kentuckians who nat- urally criticised the Washingtonian government because they believed France was our great friend. Even General George Rogers Clark accepted a major general's commission, and when the forces began to leave the state Governor Shelby re- fused to prohibit them, replying to the secretary of state in substance that they were "friends" and "brethren," while Washington was an "enemy" and a "tyrant."
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MASSAC COUNTY .
This sentiment was so general in Kentucky that Presi- dent Washington ordered General Wayne to occupy Fort Mas- sac with his artillery and arrest the rash expedition down the "Rivers." A great mass meeting was called at Lexington, 1794, which adopted violent resolutions of secession from the national government, but were nullified by the instant with- drawal of Genet and disavowal of his acts by his government.
Spanish-About 1787 to 1791, the Spanish government in- trigued with General Wilkinson, Sebastian, Innis and prom- inent Kentuckians to secede from the East, and establish an "Independent government." The pay was to be $200,000.00, twenty cannon and munitions of war, supplied by his majesty, the Pope. Fort Massac was to be siezed and become the cen- ter of operations against all Western posts. Be it said to the credit of Innis and Nicholas they refused. It was proved in the Kentucky legislature later that Sebastian annually drew a pension of $2,000 from Spain, a traitor to his country. The plot failed.
Burr's Conspiracy-Aaron Burr, vice-president, brilliant lawyer, and murderer of Hamilton, conspired in 1806 and sought to aid the Spanish, who were advancing against Gen. Wilkinson, once commandant of the Western forces at Fort Massac. Burr induced Blannerhasset to join him. Blanner- hassett's Island is in the Ohio. Kentucky and Tennessee be- came the field of his operations. He visited Fort Massac, and hoped to be able to either divide the nation, invade Mex- ico, or form an aesthetic colony on the Washita river. Gen- eral Wilkinson entered into the conspiracy, either as a de- tective or a traitor to Burr and reported the plot to President Jefferson and aided in the wholesale arrests which followed. Henry Clay defended Burr, who was acquitted. Wilkinson was later tried for treason and acquitted. Burr died in a hovel, fit penalty to traitors.
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER IV. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
(O. J. PAGE.)
S URFACE-Massac county contains 244 square miles, or about 156,160 acres. The surface nat- urally divides itself into cultivated and timbered upland, low bottom lands densely timbered, cy- press swamps, and small lakes. The lakes are to be found for the most part in a connected chain extending from the Cache river in the northwest corner of the county in a southeast- ward and then northeasterly course to big Bay river in the northeast corner of the county. Skirting these lakes are cypress swamps not covered during all the year with water but even in the dryest season pre- senting a loose saturated black soil of a murky nature. Ad- jacent to these swamps is a stretch of low bottom land with undulating sandy ridges which join the foot-hills of the up- land, and intersect the swamps, rising slightly above the an- nual overflow. This lower surface of lakes, swamps and un- dulating low lands varies from a mile to four miles in width. The lakes occupy by far the smallest area, the swamps being more extensive, while the greater part consists in the low flat soil with undulating ridges or swells. Another swamp dis- trict, annually overflowed by the Ohio, lies in the Black Bend and is termed the Black Bottom. It contains long lines of sloughs, cypress ponds, low flats, and sand ridges. The Ohio bottom lands in Massac county, however, are quite limited
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MASSAC COUNTY.
as undulating hills above high water closely fringe the bank. Between the chain of lakes, cypress swamps and low lands of the north and the Ohio lies the upland, forming a narrow brok- en ridge in the western part becoming more rolling and wid- ening to the east, less cut by numerous ravines and forming the greater area of the county. Between Johnson county and the swamp lauds, the surface resembles Johnson county, is more elevated than the rest of the county, presents splendid open, tillable land, and in many places ends in precipitous bluffs marginating the swamps.
Drainage-One division of the uplands forms a water shed intersected by numerous ravines which carry the rainfall to the Ohio on one side and the lakes on the other. The Ohio backs up in the Cache river in the northwest and the drain- age from the hills inundates the low lands with an apparent tendency to escape into the Ohio river by the Big Bay river, which it will do when that stream does not present as high backwater as the Cache. This order is reversed when the Cache is lower than Big Bay, presenting a drainage current alternating in its course. There also seems to be a low water- shed between the swamp lands and Cache and also the Big Bay, which retains a large body of water as these streams fall. Herein lies the much discussed question of drainage and will be some day solved. Professor Englemann, who made the extensive and accurate geological survey of Massac county for Illinois, under the direction of State Geologist Worthen, says the lands may be reclaimed by an artificial drainage system of simple dykes to prevent the overflow from the Cache and Big Bay rivers, and drainage ditches. This would reclaim 25,000 acres of the richest soil and add greatly to the health- fulness and material wealth of the county. Western Massac contains no large creeks. Eastern Massac is drained by the Robinet, Barren, Dog, Elkhorn and Massac creeks.
Soil- The upland between Johnson county and the swamps is underlaid with sand and limestone of the sub-car- boniferous formation. The soil is light, warm and excellent farm land. The upland between the swamps and the Ohio
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HISTORY OF
river bottoms, in the less broken parts is a yellow loam, oak barrens which merges into post oak flats. Sandy soil occurs in township 14, range 5, while a sub-stratum of gravel forma- tion presenting a dry, sandy soil, varying to a rough yellow loam, occurs in townships and ranges: 15, 4; 14, 4; 15, 6; and 16,7. Thrifty German settlements have made of this upland fine fertile farms. The chain of lakes, cypress swamps, sand ridges, erosions on the sides of the bluffs in connection with the deep, loose, black silt formation clearly prove that the course of the Ohio river once followed the depression and after a change in the original course heavy currents of back water passed through until the deposit gradually prevented an ex- cessive overflow. Of similar nature is the soil of the Black Bottom, the most fertile soil on the surface of the earth.
Timber-Heavy growths of valuable timber have dotted the surface consisting of barren, post, black, laurel, white, black-jack, and water oaks; barren, scalybark and pignut hick- ories; soft and sugar maple, pecan, tupelo and black gum; ash, cottonwood, sycamore, willow, yellow poplar, sassafras, hazel, sumac, etc.
Minerals, etc. - Coal formations do not extend into Mas- sac county; thin streaks of carboniferous matter have ap- peared which has led some to suppose coal might be found in paying quantities, but the state geologist assures us this is a "futile hope." He also informs us that all specimens of galena, or lead ore which have been found were brought by the Indians from other fields. In section 26, range 6, town- ship 14, fluor spar has been found, indicating lead ore, vaguely so. Iron ore exists only as it is dessimated throughout the conglomerate gravel, which makes the conglomerate so val- uable in the construction of streets and pikes and which is found so extensively near old Fort Massac. The iron is also mixed with smilex and prevents its being smelted. Near Go- lightly's mill is the best evidence of the existence of iron ore. The fluor spar might be utilized in the manufacture of hydro- fluoric acid used in the mechanical arts. Copperas springs along the Ohio river are found and are of no value. Fine plas-
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MASSAC COUNTY.
tering sand prevails. The Chester and St. Louis limestones could be utilized in building, while the latter could be easily converted into quick-lime. Excellent brick may be produced throughout the county.
Mounds- On the Kincaid farm, located in the Black Bend of the Ohio river, appears the clear outline of an earthenwork resembling a levee enclosing about 40 acres of land. Inside this enclosure are a number of mounds. Two of these mounds are quite large and are built according to the points of the compass. The one on which the residence stands is 45 feet high, perpendicular, with a 60 foot slope. Sundried cups bowls and water bottles have been found. An image, perhaps an idol, about 10 inches in height, was also found. Near this mound is another, also about 150 feet long, but rising higher at only one extremity. The barn occupies a flat mound about 20 feet high. Two are quite large and in the form of a pyra- mid. Many smaller ones exist and have been cultivated. In the spring of 1900 after the rise of the Ohio had receded the plowman found the skeletons of two very large human beings. The bones of the forearm were as long as the average forearm and extended hand while the lower jaw readily enclosed the lower jaw of an average man's face. The skeletons sat up- right. These mounds present an interesting study to the sci- entist and might be made to yield a number of valuable relics by proper investigation.
Agriculture-The soil of Massac county is very fertile. Tobacco and cotton have been grown, but not to profit. Wheat and corn develop more perfectly here than in almost any spot on the globe. The best developed corn at the Columbian Ex- position, Chicago, was from Massac county. While the acre- age is necessarily limited the yield has reached one hundred and forty-two bushels per acre. Wheat is the principal prod- uct and the berry is usually so perfect that Pittsburg and East- ern millers prize the crop. Oats and the grasses flourish.
One of the chief occupations, however, is gardening. The various vegetables are readily and profitably grown. We have seen a number of delicious watermelons weighing almost
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HISTORY OF
70 pounds, unlike the Missouri melon, retaining their flavor. Musk-melons also thrive. Vineyards have been made to pay, while the delicious and beautiful strawberry develops into rare beauty, size and perfection.
It might, perhaps, be a surprise to many to know that the winesap apple attains its most perfect growth in Massac county. To this statement, we know no exception in the way of territory. Winesap apples raised by Mr. R. Byrd Leeper in Jackson precinct have by the greatest horticulturists been declared to excel the world. By the investment of some mon- ey, the exercise of caution and patience it is believed the fertile acres of Massac county could be made to produce a Winesap apple which would find a ready market at large profit. The open sweep from the southland and the great protection from cold storms by the skirting Ozarks on the north in a great measure accounts for this condition.
Points of Interest in Agriculture-D. H. Freeman, the veteran secretary of the Massac County Fruit Growers' Asso- ciation, tells us in his most excellent little pamphlet, entitled "Southern Illinois," that the largest wheat yield was by John Anderson, who threshed 102 bushels off two acres; W. C. Sex- ton raised 2,005 bushels on fifty acres; John Stewart made 910 bushels on twenty acres; while J. D. Kennedy realized 29 bushels per acre on land which had been in constant cultiva- tion over 50 years without artificial fertilization and only one year in clover. John McElya raised 140 1-2 bushels of corn on one acre, and took the world prize, offered by W. H. Maule of Philadelphia, on canteloupes. The prize was $25.00, secured with a canteloupe weighing 28 1-2 pound; S. H. Johnson took a $15.00 prize for best yield of tomatoes and a $50.00 on the largest yield of Japanese buckwheat offered by Mr. Maule, and open to the world; F. N. Kirk raised 300 bushels of Irish potatoes on one acre without the use of fertilizer; William Mesker raised a sweet potato weighing 10 pounds, 9 1-2 inches by 13 1-2 inches in diameter; John Oakes paid $10 to raise an acre of melons which made him $200; D. H. Freeman gathered 125 barrels of apples per acre on an orchard grown on land that had been in constant cultivation for seventy years. The
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MASSAC COUNTY.
trees were seven years' growth; Robert Williams, a practical gardener, grows four crops of vegetables each season on the same soil.
Proud Record-In the Illinois building at the World's Fair was arranged a corn exhibit of immense proportions which astonished the world. From this exhibit was selected a small number of ears of corn to enter the competition in the general exhibit for the "World's Best Corn" prize. Mr. Free- man chose ears grown by H. D. Fry, our county commissioner, as perfect ears of white bread-corn and Mr. Fry holds the di- ploma over the whole world. Because of this the state agri- cultural society called upon Mr. Freeman to supply from Mas- sac county the corn exhibit which took the premium at the Mid-Winter exhibit in San Francisco, California, the following winter. Why should we not feel proud of our record?
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER V. PEOPLES.
(O. J. PAGE.)
W
HEN organized as a county, 1843, there were about 250 votes, near 1,500 people, composed for the most part of emigrants from the Southern States, and a few free negroes, others serving by inden- ture.
A gradual though almost imperceptible flow of Eastern and Northern elements has changed to a certain extent the character of the people, not distinctly racial as the Germans and colored. The census of 1890 gave Massac county "11,313, chiefly of American birth, including colored." An addition of 33 1-3 per cent will give us 15,084 under the census of this year, 1900. It may be less or it may be more.
Of this number fully one-third are of German blood, while strictly demonstrating their heredity-many born in Germany -they are positively Americanized, exceedingly law-abiding, industrious, frugal, honest, intelligent and control a lion's share of the wealth of the county. They support six churches and two parochial schools, although they are not exclusive, but sociable and fraternal. Not only are they engaged in till- ing many of the best farms, but they comprise many of our leading business men, hold bank stock, wield a strong politi- cal influence and are a valuable factor in the peace, progress and prosperity of Massac county.
Another large element are of various extractions, among them a hardy Scotch element, immigrants from Tennessee,
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MASSAC COUNTY.
Kentucky, the Carolinas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine and other places. From this element come most of our professional men, teachers, lawyers and physicians. There is not a single German practicing law in Massac county, only a small per cent of the physicians and a very small per cent of the teach- ers. Instead their tastes run in other directions, while the varied elements of our society to a great measure supply these professions, and are to be found among the best citizens of the county.
The colored race came to the river counties among the first people in the hopes of securing their freedom. The Yan- ceys and Chavises were early families-the former always free. There are about 530 colored votes in the county and 2,500 colored citizens, located principally in Metropolis, Brooklyn, the Black Bottoms and in the lower end of the county. They are above the average of their race, and support two Method- ist, one Presbyterian, one Christian, and two Baptist church- es. Plenty of teachers are supported-who are intelligent and well-educated at Carbondale, Ill., and Wilberforce, Ohio, to instruct the children. Aside from a floating element, they are industrious and law-abiding, and represent considerable capital.
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
(O. J. PAGE.)
T
ERRITORY-After the Revolution the colonies ceded their western territory to the Federal Gov- ernment, which in 1787 was organized as the "Northwest Territory." From this successive states were carved, until Feb. 3, 1809, Congress organized the "Illinois Territory," and fixed the capital at Kaskaskia. Vandalia became the capital in 1820, and Springfield in 1837. Ran- dolph and St. Clair counties constituted the ter- ritory. The government was of the first grade until 1812, the territorial governor, John Boyle, succeeded by Ninian Edwards, was appointed by the President and in con- nection with the judges, constituted the "Legislative Council." The governor appointed all the officers; in 1812 the second grade was established and the people elected a legislative council of five members and a house of representatives of seven members, also a delegate to Congress.
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