USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 2
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645 Lanphere, A. P. 769
Gesler, James
1082 Hayes, J. H.
Langsford, J. H. 981
Gilfrey, John
864 Head, William T
317
Jackson, Rev. W. H
960 Laughlin, Patrick 689
799
Gilebrist, C. B.
559 Head, Albert
955 Jackson, W. J.
961
Lawyer, M. V.
804
Gilchrist, V. B.
560
Head, J. M ..
955
Jackson, N. H. 1001
Lawyer, Jacob ..
807
Goldsmith, Edward
766
Head, Bigger
Jackson, J. M.
1156
Lawyer, Michael
732
Glasgow, Douglas
Jacobs, Seth ..
969 Lawyer, James
~33
Gloyd, S. V. R.
991
Hendee, S. A
638
Hendricks, H. F.
660
James, Thomas
588
Lawyer, Michael
1139
Hendricks. J. W
658
James, J. T.
869
Lawyer, John 558
Greenup, C. W
753 Hendricks, J. B.
659
James, W. E.
933
Lawson, David.
322
Greene, W. H.
933
Leavitt, Sewell.
864
Greene, L. H.
849
Hendrickson, J. E ..
1012
James, J. C ..
934 Ledgerwood, Elijah
672
Griffith, J. D.
673 Herndon, Marcellus
923
James, Abel.
934 Leftridge, P. M. 799
Griffith, C. F
674 Herbertz, H. J
538 James, J. E.
947 Lege, J. M. 706
Griffith, J. L
847 Hiatt, W. S.
Janes, John
730 Leighty. J. M ..
909
Griffith, B. A
937 Hicks, E. N.
628
Janes, Jesse
(30 Leighty, Samnel 928
Griffing, J. T.
929 IIickey, James
622
Jarvis, James
582 Leighty, H. S .. 796
Grigsby, J. E
685 Jarvis, Epbraim
583 Leighty. J. H.
798 838
Grigshy, S. J.
889 Highee, Chauncey E.
336
Job, Willlam
84 LeMatty, Dr. J. B
4:25
Grigsby, S. J., Jr
890 Hills, Charles
650
857 LeMaster, J. F.
977
Grigsby, J. H.
1070 Hills, John.
650
Jobnson, C. F
678 Lightner, A. B. 613
Gnmbart, Capt. G. C ..
1109 Hills, Ishmael.
703 228
Jolly, T. J.
1094 Little, L. D
Guy, B. F.
670 Hire, George
629
Jones, Ahner
722 Lipe, Francis D.
Hallenbeck, Francis.
938 Hire, Cyrus
629
Jones, Perry C.
324 Lisk, Captain O. M. 891
782 Lock, Samuel.
944 1100
Hageman, W. M.
1026 Hogan, Sydnor 11 310 Kaiser, Louis
1021
Kaiser, G. A. 829 Logan, Samuel.
625
Haines, E. D C.
Iloller, Eli.
996
Kay, Dr. James
417 Logan, John .. 934
Haines, Dr. W. E 417
Holland, L ..
Keach, Elisha
800 Logsdon. Squire. 831
Hainline, Wm. H
513 Ilolliday, L. A
Kee, Samuel.
801
Lott, Peter 331
llainline, Jacoh.
627 Holton, Isaac ..
Keefer, J. M.
1065 Lyon, Jobn.
537
Hainline, George W
639 Holton, William
lainline, J. D
674 Holton, C. E.
699 912
Keith, D. B.
1060 McCandless, William 961
Hall, Enoch
764
778
Horrell, J. L.
Keithley, James
639 McClure, Hugh ... 816
Hamilton, J. A
768
Horton, Tbos ..
Kelly, J. M.
717 MIcClnre, Thomas 578
Hamilton, J. M
778 Horrocks, Abram 1003 Kepple, David
845 McClure, Rutherford. 579
lIamilton, A. J 688 Iloskinson, J. L ..
1088 Kepple, J. K.
970 Mcclintock, William .... 1153
Hamilton, Harrison 1020 Hoton, William 652 Kerr, Jobn ..
705 Mcclintock, Karr. .1154
Hamilton, J. F 1021 Houghton, Silas.
763 Kinkade, J. P
799 McCord, J. A. F 636
557
Hainline, John.
930 ITolley, Isaac
Hainline, J. W.
431 Iloover, M. L.
831
Kenner, W. L
Hall, M. S.
751
Hoover, Josepb. Horrabin, Humphrey 284
831
Keithley, Jacob
627 NIcCartney, G. A. 935
Keithley, George W
638 | McClelland, W. S. 816
Hamilton, G. W
722
Hobart E.
1152 1153
Jones, J. A.
Lodge, A. K.
829 Logan, Elder John 465
Hageman. J. D.
1028 832
Hogsbett, James
629
Jones, J. B.
724 Little, J. M.
763 657 801 309
Hire, William
629
Jones, W. F.
723 Lipe, William M. 311
Hagerty, J. T. 1140 Hobart, Wesley
874
Jarvis, Edward
656 Leib. John ..
Grigsby, Redman
889 Hickman. Arehart
Job, William .
Johnson, Dr. B. F 416 Lindsay, Jonah
Guy, G. C.
669 Hire, George
James, Rev. S. P
449 Lawyer, G. J .. 660 557
Graves, D. M.
972 Hendrickson, G. F
1011
James, W. H.
933 Ledgerwood, John. 672
Gribble, J. L
1099 Herndon, Elijah.
723 James, Aaron
1087 Lane, John E. 325
Gardon, W. B
979
Hays, Dr. Charles
407
Irish, Dr. B. F
Gilfrey, H. F
865
Head, James
666 Jackson, J. W 961
Lawyer, Thomas
568
Head, C. A.
1009 828
Graham, Bedford.
Harris, R. R
873
lluston, Dr. W. A
407
Knowles, William
Galvin, Daniel. 1107
Hardesty, Dr. John.
873 418 749
Hutchins, G. W ..
966 Kreider, Dr. W. L.
Kreider, Dr. H. W. 425
Hatbaway, Caleb
Garrettson, Dr. P. F.
415
Havens, Henry
631 Hays, J. W.
1062 630
972
748
882 IIickman, Eliphalet.
.
Guy, J. V. 688 Ilire, Jesse ..
Ilagerty, J. V.
1137 880 562 699
Keefer, Geo .. 1142 Lyon, R. W
Keister, Daniel 1035 1157 McCandless, A 1149
699 751
718
Fulkerson, C. W 552
985
Ilardesty, W. T.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
XV
Page.
Page.
Page.
Page.
McCord, W. W.
636 Munson, Charles 735
Pointer, William
750 Simpson, B. E. 1151
McCord, William .. 882 | Murray, J. B. 632
Pollock, Robert .. 1017 Shaffer, T. B. 1069
McCormick, Theodore B. 309 | Murray, J. R. 634 Pontious, Byron 395 |Shannon, Delas .. 973
McDonald, C. P 919 Murray, Eli ..
635 Porter, J. F. 913 Shannon, R. 728
McDonough, Ed .. 111% Murray, Rev. J. T
444
Posey, W. A 763 Shannon, H. M. 395
584 Shaunou, Charles. 89
McDonough, Hugh, Jr .. 550 Murphy, Benjamin
949
Powers, Abraham
1010 Shannon. Dr, G. G. 426
McElvain, H. H.
994 Mustain, Mrs. Hannah 892 Price, T. J.
McFadden, Elias
810 Mustain, G. D
867
Price, S. J ..
804 | Shevaller, Clias 1146
McFadden, S. M
797 Mustain, N. D 865
Price. G. L.
804 Sherman. L. Y 898
McFall, Sylvester
888 Mustain, G. W
866
Prentiss, William
393 Shoop, W. W ..
1036
McGahan, A. H. 849 Mustain, C. P.
866
Pulliam, Samuel.
639 Shoopman. T. F.
698
McGanghey, J. G. McGee, W. T
770 Mustain, W. D
862
Purple, Norman H
335 Shriner. I. H. Shrier. Davld
885
McKamy, Rev. W. C. 730 Myers, Adam 659
Ragon, William M.
313 Shuff, Dr. J. L ..
407
McKee, A. R .. Mckinney, R. W
401 Myers, Robert 591
Ralston, James H.
331 Sikes, Dr. H. B.
1013
McLean, Hector.
1132
Randall, R. S ..
402 Simmons, Louls A 803
1133 Nance, Dr. H. H 968
Randolph, James M.
277 Slinmous, Joshua.
667
1136
Naylor, Resin 307
Randolph, Benjamin ..
1137 Simmons. T. M.
667
McLeod, W. C ..
288 Naylor, B. T. 668 Randolph, Wm. H .. Randolph, Mrs. W. H ..
275 Skinuer O. C. 335
McMillan, John.
1023 Naramore, J. M. 897 Rankin, Rev. J. G.
441 Skean, James .. 782
McNeely, Thompson
268: Nebergall, David.
918
Rapelje, H. L.
567 Skiles, Mrs. Elizabeth 733
McNutt, Elder Wm
465 Nebergall, J. H.
Raymond, G. F.
702 Slade, C W 1004
Makinson, G. W
655 Slater, John. 968
Manly, James.
286 Neece, W. H.
269
Reed, Arlington
932 Smick, J. C .. 974
Mapes, Charles.
1059 Neff, John ..
Reid, Lewis G ..
282 Smick, Lewis. 967 537 Smith, J. S 1145
596 Smith, W. H. 738
Marvin, W. H.
762 Newland, Fred .. 327
Reid, W. M.
814 Smith, Samuel 1149
Martin, Evan. Martin, B. F
1077
Rexroat, G. R.
720 Smith, J. H. 651
Martin, W. E.
Rexroat, L. T ..
720 Smith, I. G. 651
Marvin, Alfred.
657| Obermeyer, Jacob 954 Rexroat, J. M.
Mason, H. N.
587 Smithers, W. T .1083
Mason, Burrow
703|Opp, Isaac. 914
791 Osborn, Willian. 86
Riggs, J. E ..
337 Smithers, Thomas 1083 700 Smithers, Thomas Jr ... 1083
Mathews, Benj.
696 Ott, Hieronymus 595
Riggs, Samuel.
700 Smith, W. F. 1071
Mathews, John.
699 Owen, Ambers G .. 567 Riggs, Russell.
700 Snapp, J. H. .1029
Maury, W. B. Magee, Rev. A.
780 Owens, Nathaniel. 997
Roberts, B. H.
640 Snodgrass, Aaron. .1027
Maloney, J. H.
587 Snowden, John
802
Maxwell, Henry A
Robertson, Hugh
771
Solomon, G. W. 984
Mead, Alfred ..
768 Pace, A. J. 715
Robinson, J. C.
704 Sommers, S. L .. 1147
Meador, G. C.
739 Pace, G. W 1076
Robinson, D. L. A
939
Southward, William ... 321
993 Painter, T. G. 685
640 Sparks, Allen L. 295
800 Painter, F. M. 685
Rogers, II. F
953 Spangler, W. W. 1155
Miller, J. W.
739 Parnell, John, Sr 602
Rogers, A. B.
834 Sperry, Levinus Sperry, Ornan.
974
Miller, P. J.
1095 Parkin, W. H. 950
Ross, L. W
268 | Spiker, Martin. 867
Ross, C. N.
1058
Standard, S. R. Standard, J. B 798 803 Standard, Gideon, 732
671
Millett, Charles
777 Pearson, Isaac N
291
Mills, S. D
609 Peck, Orrin.
814
Rush, W. C.
785 Statler, James 916
771
817
Pelley, J. M. 1002
Rutledge, R. G ..
914 Steach, H. S .. 781
760
Miner, J. F.
916 Pennington, William 36
88 Saffell, R. W.
813
Stevens, J. F. 602
606
Stevens, W. O.
609
Monninger, J. M
946 Pennington, Joel. 795
Sandidge, Daniel.
702 Stevens, J. W
Monger, A.
1085 Pennington, William 901
Sandidge, Jolın .. 792
Stevens, J. H
Moran, W. B
797 Pennington, T. J. 905
905
Schisler, George ..
802 Steckel, W. F
812
Morris, S. F
652 Phelps, J. H.
1061
Scott, Josliua.
Moss, W. W.
895 Phillips, J. C. 887 Scott, Richard.
Scott, J. J.
1018| Stickle, A. B
683
Mourning, W. H.
591 Phillips, Heslip. 772
Seaburn, George
722 Stickle, Abralıam 684
Mourning, L. B.
558 Piper, O. F 1111
Seaburn, Thomas ..
911 |Stickle, George ... 684
Mullen, Solomon
705 Pittinger, A. H. 1029
Seibert G. P.
818 Stickle, William. 684
Munson, E. P
572 Pittman, Dr. W. R. 422-
Serven, J. J ..
761 Stocker, L .1068
Munson, George Plassman, August 814
Serven, J. H
761 Stoffer, J. 1145
Munson, Daniel 735 Pointer, R. C .. 1004 Seybold, James
623 Stoneking, Rev. Urlah 705
962
Miller, Marvin
702 Parnell, James 602
Rorer, Edmund. 690
Miller, Mason. Miller, Rev. Jacob
'454 Patterson, J. R.
1110
Ruddell, G. II
384
Miller, W. M.
867 Pearce, J. B.
1030
Ruddell, William 626
Mills, J. A.
706| Pearson, Dr. C. H 786
Runkle, David, Runkle, W. J
994 Statler, Samuel 690
Mills, Ladson Mills, R. J. Miner, J. F
817 Pech, Joseph.
1098
Russell, Dr. D. L.
784 Steach, R. R
Ryan, Rev. John 499 Stearns, S. S. Stevens, H. H. 529
Minshall, Wm. A.
335 Pennington, Richard
Mitchell, N. B.
947 Pennington, T. J.
736 Sanders, Dr. S. F. 422 Stevens, C. A.
Monk, Malachi .. Monk, John ..
697 Pennington, W. R. 795
Sandidge, Joshua 803 Stevens, E. D
601 601 601
1155 Stevens, Willlam 964
Morey, C. A ..
992 Pennington, Stewart ..
635
Schroder, T. F
Morrison, Levi
1081 Phelps, L. P.
803 Steckel, Mrs. W. F 812
704 |Stewart. W. W .. 1022
646 Stites, T. B ... 1035
Mosser, J. F
748 Phillips. W. A 887
736
861
Purdum, James
704 Shope. S. P.
3:6
McIntosh, J. W
1110|Mustain, J. F. 863
989 Myers, D. M. 983
Ralston, W. D. 655 Siders. John W.
312
McLean, Alexander McLean, John.
272 Simpson, S. C ... 707
McMillan, William.
724 Naylor, W. B. . 669
978 399
Reans, John W
Mariner, Henry
1023 Nickel, J. B. 304 Reid, Lucien S
Martin, Dr. I. M
412 Nessel, Conrad. 834
Reid, Captain G. W
6224 Newland, Abraham, Jr .. 571 Reid, John ..
1078 Oakman, Joseph 597
885 Odenweller, Isaiah. 734
Reynolds, B. D
Richardson, W. A
Mathews, Anson
1075 Owen, Ambrose E 567 Roach, John ..
836 Snapp. Alex. 1. 29
Roberts, A. B.
939 Sorter, Thomas I 314
Merrell, Lycurgus Merriam, S. A. Mershon, Henry Meyers, F. F
588 Park, James. 1014
Rogers, J. S.
833 Sparks, T. J. 401
1073 O'Meara, Patrick 1158 378
912 Pace, W. I. 1075 Robbins Family
Rodgers, Randolph
802 Parker, Prof. C. W 614
718 Pennington. Riggs 84
697 Pennington, D. A. 736
Sanders, Jos. T .. 400
Sandidge, W. W.
994 Stapp, J. W ..
720 Smith, P. r' 735
981 Neece, Jesse T.
313
814 Smith, A. J. Sr 603
995
734 Mustain, T. A ..
1108 Sheets. II. W. 978
McDonough, Hugh, Sr .. 550 Murray, M. A. 610 Post, Nathaniel.
XVI
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Stookey, J. A. 602
Tyrrell, Roswell 546
Ward, William.
1113
Williamson, Mathew. 823 Wilson, Hugh 85
Stewart, John T.
266 Upp, George ... 992
Washburn, L. I. 767 Wilson, Samuel. 324
Sullivan, Joseph, Sr ... 713 Updegraff, J. C. 973 Waters, Louis H .. 391 Wilson, J. O. C ... 376
Sullivan, T. D
747 Updegraff, J. P. 1055 Watson, Archibald 716
717
Wilson, J. H. 775
Sumpter, H. C 881 Vance, John. 85
Watson, Thomas
717 Wilson, Lewis 1013
Swango, S. W.
918 Vance, John. 858 Watson, Alexander
Swayze. W. C .. 980 Varner. J. J .. 837 Watson, John.
Sylvester, C. R. 1081
Vall, Ebenezer 754
Watson, Thomas 716 Wilson, W. L.
643
Talnter, Almon 852
Vail, G. W 755
Wayland, W. F
815 Windsor, Benjamin. 591
Tainter. Benj / 822 Vaif. J. B 754
Weaver. I. M.
774 Winslow, M. T 1076
Talnter. Mrs Benj.
822 Vall, Christopher 753 Wear, H. E.
652 Wisherd, J. II .. 823
Tallls, William. 586 | Van Hosen, Isaac .. 1080 Wear, J. D. 653; Wisherd, Jacob 823
Tannehill, J. F. 1026 VanHosen, W. J .. 1080
Webb, Bowen
698 Wissler, J. i). 927
Tannehlil. W. H. 764 Venard, J. B. 1114
Webb, J. C ..
69S' Wold. Ole E.
606
Tate. R. D. 1151 | Venard, R. H. 1115
Webb. S. A.
954 Woolley, Fitzgerald .. 627
Tate, A. K 1152 Venard, John 696
Welr, Dr. Win. H.
292 Woods. Salem
902
Taylor, George A
322 Venard, Wm .. 696
Wells, G. M. 1063 Woods, Edward
904
Taylor, W. H.
326 Venard. George 696
Wells, E. L.
1063 Woods, D. D .. 904
Wells, G. P. 1063 Woodside, W. L. 870
Teats. Alpha
737 Vose, L. B.
397 Terr:11, John .. 621
Thomas, Jesse B. 332 Waddlll, Col C. W. 553
Thomas, W. O
1106 Wad illl, Michael L .... 554
Westfall, Dr. A. M.
426 Wright, I. N.
620
Thomas, G. W.
921 Waddill, John .. 552 Westfall, Dr. E. K ..
287 |Wright, T. R .. 940
Thompson, Dr. S ..
421 Waddill, C. W. 552 Westfall, Dr. B. R 408 Wrigley, T. H .. 704
Thompson, Mrs. Loren 703 WaddIll, Benjamin
Thompson, Rev P.W .. 714 Walker, J. D. 1150
Thornton, Anthony .... 312 Walker, Pinkney H ... 335
Tinsley, N. P.
1135 Walker, Cyrus. 387
.1024 Walker, Allen H. 713
1035 Walker, T G.
713
White, F. S ..
620 Yard, Thomas C. 666
89 Yates, Christopher 650
Yeast, J. L .. 932
964 Yoder, J. P. 855
989 Yocum, Stephen 905
910
Young, W. W. 1031
330
Twaddle, W. H. 395 Walker, J. M. .1157 Williams, John H 337
Twaddle. George W 700| Wallln, J. M .. 941
Williams, Richard ....
1096|Zirkel, Adam 995
Twidwell, John 652 Wallingford, J. R. 936
Twyman, Iverson L 303| Ward, Q. C. 295
Williams, L. M. 921
PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Page.
Stickle, Abraham
.. 351
Prentiss, William
...
171
Miner, J. F. .... 539 Miner, Mrs. J. F. 540
Clark, Alvah 607
Cole, James .. 315
Neece, W. H
279
Newland, Fred
243
Sperry, L. B.
675
Western Normal Coll .. 384 Whitaker, C. H 135
Court House. 50
Cruser, Frederick 743
Porter, J. E.
403
Blackstone, Stephen ... 201
Bushnell High School .. 854
Tunnicliff, D. G. 99
Randolph, W. H ... 471
396 519 Yard, Job 666
588 Yard, Job Jr .. 666
Toland, William
705 Waiker, Cyrus. 724
Towner, Rev. J. L.
752: Walker, A. A., Sr ..
682
White, Dr. Abner.
Trew, J. D 611 Walker, A. A ..
Trull, G. C. 613 Walker, H. B.
815
Trumpy, Henry. 773 Walker, Gilmer 1016
Tuggle. John .... 741 Walker, Quintus. .1016
Tunnicliff, D. G. 392 W»Iker, A. H 1019
Willey, Charles
706 | Young, Richard M.
917 Wyne, J. W 1059
Wetsel, Christopher.
Wettengel, C. W.
Wetsel, G. W ..
Wheat, Crosby F. Whitaker, Charles HI. White, S. A.
683 Whittington, Beverly. 652 Wilcox, J. M. . Wiley, John.
Wilkins, W. G ..
688 Wyne, H. C. 1059
993 Wyne, Joseph E. 320
Tig. r', A. J ...
Tobin, A. D
West, Stockton.
756|Woodworth, Rev. H.G. 779 835 Work, J. M. 971
Wells, W. F 1074 Woodside, T. F. 870
Wells, J. T.
716 Wilson. John W
680
Vall, H. W. 754
Watson, Hugh
Wilson, John .. 728
Sullivan, H. C. 747
Watson, Jno. W.
715 Wilson, J. H. 982
715| Wilson, James. 640
Stookey, Dr. D. V 423
Warren, C. A. 938
Williams, Lafayette ... 910
553
Tatman, Hiram 1142 Vincent, Michael. 1006
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER I.
I LLINOIS, the fourth state in the Union in wealth, population and po- litical power, lies in the very heart of the upper valley of the Mississippi. Stretching over five degrees of latitude, from parallel 37} to 423, it has consider- able diversity, both of soil and climate. The boundary line of the state is about twelve hundred miles in length. From the point where it joins the Wisconsin line on the northeast, Lake Michigan bounds it on the east for fifty miles to the northwest corner of Indiana; thence a line is drawn due south one hundred and sixty-eight miles to the Wabash river. The Wabash and Ohio rivers constitute the remainder of the eastern and southern boundaries, while the lordly Mississippi washes its entire western border. The extreme length of the state is three hundred and seventy- eight miles; the extreme breadth, in the latitude of Danville and Rushville, is two hundred and ten miles, and the average breadth is about one hundred and fifty miles.
Illinois contains 55,405 square miles, or more than 35,000,000 acres of land.
Fully two-thirds of this is prairie, and nearly all of it is susceptible to proper cultivation. The state has 10,000 more square miles than New York or Ohio, and is larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined, and is almost as large as all the New England states taken together.
THE MOUND BUILDERS.
That Illinois was inhabited by a race of men prior to the present Indian race that yet inhabits a portion of the Union, hardly admits of a doubt. It is clearly demonstrated by the well authenticated accounts of discoveries made that a civ- ilized people, and one highly cultivated, once occupied the great "Prairie " state, and various parts of the country now constituting the American union, but the date of their rule in the western world is so remote that all traces of this history, progress and decay, lie buried in the deepest obscurity. This pre-historic race is known as the . Mound Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earthworks left by them. Their char- acter can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences and peculiarities
2
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
of all that remains of them-the mounds. Remains of what were appar- ently villages, altars, temples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifi- cations, and pleasure grounds have been found, but nothing showing of what material were their habitations.
The question as to the origin of the Mound Builders is an interesting one. If they were not the ancestors of the Indians, who were they? Those who do not believe in the common parentage of mankind contend that they were an in- digenous race of the western hemis- phere; others think they came from the east, and imagine the religion of the Hindoos and southern Tartars, and the supposed theology of the Mound Build- ers to be coincident and identical. They were, no doubt, idolaters, and it has been conjectured that the sun was the object of their adoration. The mounds were generally built in a situation af- fording a view of the rising sun; when enclosed in walls, their gateways were toward the east; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried al- ways opened in the same direction; whenever a mound was partially enclos- ed by a semi-circular pavement, it was on the east side; when bodies were bur- ied in graves, as was frequently the case, they were laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been found representing the sun and his rays of light.
At what period they came to this coun- try, or how, is likewise a matter of speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among them, it has been inferred that the time was very re- mote. Their axes were of stone. Their
raiment, judging from fragments which have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven with feathers; and their military works were such as a people would erect who had just passed to the pastoral state of society from that dependent alone upon hunting and fish- ing.
The mounds and other ancient earth- works constructed by this people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water-courses that are large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the bluffs which border the narrower valleys; so that, when one finds himself in such posi- tions as to command the grandest views for river scenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon, or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the labors of an ancient people.
One of the most singular earthworks in the state was found on the top of a ridge near the east bank of the Sinsin- awa creek, in the lead region. It re- sembled some huge animal, the head, ears, nose, legs, and tail, and general out- line of which being as perfect as if made by men versed in modern art. The ridge on which it was situated stands on the prairie, 300 yards wide, 100 feet in height and rounded on the top by a deep de- posit of clay. Centrally, along the line of its summit, and thrown up in the form of an embankment three feet high, ex- tended the outline of a quadruped meas- uring 250 feet from the tip of the nose
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
to the end of the tail, and having a width of 18 feet at the centre of the body. The head was 35 feet in length, the ears 10 feet, legs 60, and tail 75. The curv- ature on both the fore and hind legs was natural to an animal lying on its side. The general outline of the figure most nearly resembled the extinct animal known to geologists as the Megatherium. The question naturally arises, by whom and for what purpose was this earth fig- ure raised ? Some have conjectured that numbers of this now extinct animal lived and roamed over the prairies of Illinois when the Mound-Builders first made their appearance on the upper part of the Mississippi Valley, and that the won- der and admiration, excited by the colos- sal dimensions of these huge creatures, found some expression in the erection of this figure. The bones of some similar gigantic animals were exhumed on this stream about three miles from the same place.
Mr. Breckenridge, who examined the antiquities of the western country in 1817, speaking of the mounds in the American Bottom, says: "The great number and extremely large size of some of them may be regarded as furnishing, with other circumstances, evidences of their antiquity. I have sometimes been in- duced to think that at the period when they were constructed there was a pop- ulation here as numerous as that which once animated the borders of the Nile or Euphrates, or of Mexico. The most nu- merous, as well as considerable, of these remains are found in precisely those parts of the country where the traces- of a numerous population might be looked for, namely, from the mouth of the Ohio,
on the east side of the Mississippi, to the Illinois river, and on the west from the St. Francis to the Missouri. I am per- fectly satisfied that cities similar to those of ancient Mexico, of several hundred thousand souls, have existed in this country."
OTHER RACES.
Following the Mound-Builders as in- habitants of North America, were, as it is supposed, the people who reared the magnificent cities the ruins of which are found in Central America. This people was far more civilized and advanced in the arts than were the Mound-Builders. The cities built by them, judging from the ruins of broken columns, fallen arches and crumbling walls of temples, palaces and pyramids, which in some places for miles bestrew the ground, must have been of great extent, magnifi- cent and very populous. When we con- sider the vast period of time necessary to erect such colossal structures, and, again, the time required to reduce them to their present ruined state, we can con- ceive something of their antiquity. These cities must have been old when many of the ancient cities of the Orient were being built.
The third race inhabiting North Amer- ica distinct from the former two in every particular, is, the present Indians. They were, when visited by the early discov- ers, without cultivation, refinement or literature, and far behind the Mound Builders in the knowledge of the arts. The question of their origin has long interested archæologists, and is the most difficult they have been called upon to answer. Of their predecessor, the In-
20
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
dian tribes knew nothing; they even had no traditions respecting them. It is quite certain that they were the success- ors of a race. that had entirely passed away ages before the discovery of the new world. One hypothesis is that the American Indians are an original race indigenous to the western hemisphere. Those who entertain this view think their peculiarities of physical structure preclude the possibility of a common parentage with the rest of mankind. Prominent among those distinctive traits is the hair, which in the red man is round, in the white man oval, and in the black man flat. A more common suppo- sition, however, is that they are a deriv- ative race, and sprang from one or more of the ancient peoples of Asia. This last is doubtless the true theory.
INDIANS.
When Christopher Columbus had finally succeeded in demonstrating the truth of his theory, that by sailing west from Europe land would be discovered, landing on the island of San Salvador he supposed that he had reached the East Indies. This was an error, but it led to the adoption of the name of "In- dians" for the inhabitants of the newly discovered county, by which name the red men of America have ever since been known. At the time of the discovery of America, the Algonquins, one of the most powerful tribes of Indians, occu- pied the seaboard, while the Iroquois, another great tribe, inhabited the country almost surrounded by them. The Algon- quins spread over vast territory, and various tribes of Algonquin lineage sprang up over the country, in time
adopting distinct tribal customs and laws. An almost continuous warfare was carried on between tribes, but when the white men came, a confederacy of Indian tribes was formed, and every foot of territory was fiercely disputed. The Algonquins formed the most extensive alliance to resist the encroachments of the whites, especially the English. Such was the nature of King Philip's war. This king, with his Algonquin braves, spread terror and desolation throughout New England. With the Algonquins as the controlling spirit, a confederacy of continental proportions was the result, embracing in its alliance the tribes of every name and lineage from the north- ern lakes to the gulf. Pontiac having breathed into them his implacable hate of the English intruders, ordered the conflict to commence, and all the British colonies trembled before the desolating fury of Indian vengeance.
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