USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 2
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The foregoing theory is based upon a large and constant water supply ; another theory, which is accepted by many, assumes a very different aqueous condition in accounting for the prairies. It is a well-known faet in physical geography that the chief continents of the globe are generally surrounded by belts of timber, while further inland are areas of treeless traets, and centrally extensive deserts. On the eastern coast of North America, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Hudson Bay, as well as on the Pacific slope of the continent, timber grows thiekly and spontaneously. These two zones of timber approach each other at the north and south, and within them lie the wide prairies of the Mississippi Valley. Farther west are those arid regions which have eaused them to be designated as the "Great American Desert." Other portions of the earth have likewise their areas of forest, treeless lands and barrens. In Africa, the Sahara ; in Europe, the Steppes; in Asia, the rainless wastes; in South America, the Ateama, all serve to illustrate that the operation of physical laws such as have caused the diversification of the United States has been general in all countries.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
"Upou investigation it will be found that this alternation of woods, prairie and deserts corresponds with the variations in the amount of rain- fall. The ocean is the great source of moisture, and the clouds are the vehicles which transport it over the land. Actual investigation has proved that most of the water taken from the ocean in form of vapor or clouds is discharged upon the rim of the continent; that the amount of rainfall is much less toward the interior, until finally, almost total aridity is found. Upon applying this theory to the American continent, it will be found that in going from New York to San Francisco, the amount of rainfall very nearly coineides with the alterations of woodland prairie and desert. At New York the average rainfall is forty-two inches; the region extending thence to Ann Arbor, Mich., where the annual rainfall is twenty-nine inches, is well timbered; thence to Galesburg, Ill., where the rainfall is twenty-four inches, the country is prairie interspersed with occasional clumps of woodland; thenee to Ft. Laramie, having ouly twenty inches of rainfall, the country rapidly changes to continuous prairie; thenee to Ft. Youma, having three inches, it becomes a desert ; and then to San Francisco, where the rainfall is twenty-two inches, it changes back to thick forests. Illinois lies within the region of alternate wood and prairie.
"Still further some scientists elaim that the treeless traets are due to the nature of the soil. It is highly probable that each of the forees named in these theories may have had something to do with the forma- tion of our beautiful and productive prairies."
OEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
It is not the object of this chapter to go far into the detailed account of the geological formation of this county, but merely to give a general idea of the common geological formations as have been determined by state and other geologists, especially Prof. Worthen, former state geol- ogist.
The geological formations in this county consist largely of drift. The bedrock, which is rarely exposed, belongs chiefly to the Niagara group. Along the western border of the county, is a narrow strip running north and south, the underlying formation belongs to the Cincinnati group. The drift deposits consist of clay and hardpan, with occasional beds of sand and gravel, and boulders frequently scattered throughout the mass, cover the whole surface of the county for an average depth of about seventy feet. The mighty agencies of nature at work during the
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
glacial period ground away and transformed all of the original forma- tions above the Silurian rocks, and buried these rocks themselves beneath a mass of debris of heterogeneous character.
There are no good opportunities afforded for observing sections of drift in this county. There being no natural exposures, excavations for wells afford about the only data accessible, and this is meagre. Wells are seldom sunk to a greater depth than forty feet, and in that distance little is found except blue elay, or hardpan, with an occasional pocket or irregular seam of quicksand and gravel. Boulders are found both on the surface and in excavations. They are of varying size and of all sorts of material, such as granite, senite, trap, greenstone, limestone and sand- stone. Near the Fox River the ridges contain large quantities of rolled limestone boulders, evidently derived from the Niagara rocks of Wiscon- sin. The mass of the drift, however, appears to be clay and hardpan, with occasional boulders. Logs of wood and other vegetable remains have frequently been found beneath the surface at distances from fifteen to fifty feet.
With the exception of the narrow belt along the western line of the county, already referred to as belonging to the Cincinnati group, the underlying formation probably belongs wholly to the Niagara group. The outerops, however, are so few as to render absolute knowledge of the formation impossible. In the northeastern corner, in section 17, town- ship 44, range 9, nearly on the county line between Lake and MeHenry, the limestone is exposed in an exeavation by the roadside. It is unstrati- fied and contains no well-preserved fossils. At the Sand Hills on the Kishwaukee, in the southwest part of section 21, township 44, range 6, a bed of limestone was found in an excavation, fourteen feet below the surface. This is probably of the Niagara group.
The exposures of the Cincinnati formation are limited to one locality, about two miles east of Garden l'rairie station, of the Galena division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, about one-fourth of a mile south of the main wagon road between that station and Marengo. This roek has been quite extensively quarried here. It is a bluff limestone, thinly bedded, and containing considerable chert in some part of the quarry. Frequently it has a slight bluish tinge. Fossils are scarce and very im- perfeet.
The only extensive stone quarry in the county is the one just men- tioned. The rock being thin-bedded, and containing ehert, is not cal- eulated to serve all purposes of a building stone, yet it becomes very useful in foundation and for the rougher kinds of masonry. Along the
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
Fox River the boulders found in the ridges have been quarried to some extent, and a rough building material obtained therefrom. Lime has been burned from the limestone boulders in some places, but no extensive mannfacture of it has ever been attempted.
Good clay for brick-making is quite abundant in MeHenry County. Its prevailing color, when burned, is red, or reddish brown. At Wood- stoek and MeHenry, however, a white straw-colored briek is made. The elay for the white brick is obtained at Woodstock, under a peat bed, and it was formerly supposed to be a sedimentary formation more recent than the drift. That at Me Henry, geologists tell us, belongs to the drift period proper. At Woodstock the same elay used in making brick has also been profitably employed in making drain tile.
Peat is abundant in the county, but the most extensive deposits are in the north half of the county. It is found in the sloughs or bogs, in vary- ing depths and of various qualities. Many years ago it was thoroughly tested and found to be excellent for fuel. In 1880 it was estimated that there were between 4,000 and 5,000 aeres of sloughs containing peat in the counties of Lake and MeHenry. One of the largest peat sloughs was situated near Hebron station, in sections 7 and 8 in township 46, range 7. This bed, with slight exceptions, extends several miles to the southwest, to the Nippersink, probably covering an area of about three square miles. The average depth appears to be from six to ten feet. It was stated in the seventies, that these peat beds afforded an almost inexhaustible fuel supply, stored for future ages. Peat was used for fuel in Durfee's briek and tile works at Woodstock, where it proved very successful. But from the faet that eoal and wood were to be had here, but little practical atten- tion was ever given to the use of peat. Many of the sloughs, where it exists, have been drained and are today "pastures of living green" more valuable to its owner than for fuel, it is believed. Ilenee it will be observed that MeHenry County does not possess great mineral wealth and depends largely on what its rich soil will produce, rather than from anything to be taken from beneath its surface.
CHAPTER II
INDIAN OCCUPATION
ORIGIN OF THE INDIAN-ILLINOIS TRIBES-BLACK HAWK WAR-DEATH AND BURIAL OF BLACK HAWK-INDIAN IN THIS COUNTY-INFLUENCE OF THE INDIAN-INDIAN MOUNDS-INDIAN OF TODAY.
ORIGIN OF THE INDIAN
Archeologists and ethnologists differ materially with reference to the origin of the North American Indian, the Red Man. Some contend that he is the direet deseendant of the two lost tribes of Israel; others that he is but the climatie development from the original man; and still others that with the scattering of mankind at the fall of the Tower of Babel, some found their way across Asia into North America at a period long antedating recorded history aside from the preserved parchments of Saered Writ. However, no matter what is the origin, the American Indian was found on this eontinent when its wonders and possiblities were revealed to the Old World. By right of possession, he was the owner of this vast country, and many believe that shame will ever rest on the White Man that the Aborigine was grievously deprived of his birthright.
ILLINOIS TRIBES
The tribes found in what later became the State of Illinois, are usually grouped under the name Illini, from whenee eomes onr name Illinois. The leading tribes in the Illini confederation were the Sac, Fox, Winnebago, Chippewa, and Pottawatomi. The latter were friendly, and gave little or no trouble to the white settlers, very friendly relations existing between the Indians and the pioneers. The government had con- siderable trouble with the Sae and Fox Indians, making several treaties with them, which were regarded by the ignorant savages as "mere bits of paper," something in the same manner as a onee powerful nation was to later treat similar sacred obligations, without the extenuating excuse of
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IHISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
ignorance. Black Hawk, the sagacious leader of the Saes, resenting the exile of his people from their dearly beloved camping grounds on the present site of Rock Island, violated the provisions of the treaty of 1804, and returned to the disputed territory in 1831. General Gaines, with a company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers took the Indians by surprise, burned their village, and forced a new treaty in which they ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi River to the government and agreed to remain west of the "Father of Waters. " Onee more the solemn agreement was disregarded, and Black Hawk with his people erossed the river, ostensibly to visit the village known as "Prophet's Town, " but evidently with the idea of eventually regaining the longed for land lying along the eastern banks of the Mississippi. This invasion precipitated what is known in history as The Black Ilawk War.
BLACK HAWK WAR
Governor Reynolds collected 1,800 volunteers, placing them under the command of Brig .- Gen. Samuel Whiteside, who joined the regular army under General Atchison, and two companies under Major Stillman. After the village of the Prophet was burned. there was a small engage- ment at Stillman's Run. There were engagements at Apple River Fort, an expedition against Rock Island, the battle of Bad Axe, and finally Black Hawk was captured, together with his son and the Prophet, and sent to Washington, D. C., and thence as prisoners to Fortress Mon- roe. There Black Ilawk was eonfined until July 4, 1833, when he was set at liberty by order of the President, and together with his eom- panions returned to Rock Island, where with impressive ceremonies they were set at liberty, and crossed the Mississippi River for the last time. In 1838, Black Ilawk built himself a white man's dwelling near Des Moines, Iowa, and there rounded out his life, engaging in hunting, fish- ing and agricultural pursuits. , Ilis death occurred October 3, 1838, and he was buried in a grave six foot deep, in a sitting posture. The body
of the old warrior was clothed in a uniform presented to him by the President of the United States; in his right hand was a cane given him by Henry Clay, and thus he rested on the banks of the "Father of Waters," but in death as in life, separated by it from what was to him the "Promised Land." About the time of the Civil War, possibly earlier, the Iowa State University, of Iowa City, took the mortal remains of old Black Hawk up and placed them in the State museum, where a few years later, through accident, his bones were burned along with many other invaluable Iowa relies.
Charles T. allen
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
THIE INDIAN IN THIS COUNTY
As MeHenry County did not become a separate unit until after the Indians were finally exiled from this part of the state, as a corporate body, it had no part in the Indian troubles, nor did any of its settlers participate in the Black Hawk War, save as residents of some other section. Prior to the coming of the first permanent white settler in 1834, roving bands of Indians hunted over this territory, and camped along its streams. It is claimed that Indian traders frequently came up the Fox River with their goods which they bartered in exchange for the pelts the Indians secured from their hunts.
INFLUENCE OF THE INDIAN
As long as the nomenclature of the State of Illinois remains as it is, the Indian will not be forgotten. The beautiful Fox River recalls the powerful Fox tribe that for so many years spelled terror to the settlers in some parts of the state. Algonquin, Nippersink, Kishwaukee are also reminiscent of the days when the Red Man reigned supreme.
INDIAN MOUNDS
No one has satisfactorily explained the origin of the mounds found in various parts of the country, known as Indian Mounds. They have been given the name Indian, although relies found in them prove that they were originally built by some peoples antedating the Red Man. That the Indians used them for interment purposes, and also for stor- ing away of implements and articles of value to them, is admitted. Some claim that these mounds were watchtowers of the tribes, from which the advance of hostile tribes could be watched. At any rate they are interesting and their value as monuments of a period in our history. would seem to suggest that they be preserved for posterity by the government.
INDIANS OF TODAY
Gone is the warrior of old. His arrows with his bow, are but curi- osities to be handed down to his children as heirlooms of the past. Few of the Indians now wear their tribal garb. Many of the racial character- isties have disappeared. The younger generations have been, and are
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
being, edneated at Carlisle and other government schools. Many of the Indians are wealthy and honored members of several of the western states, where they are living on the grants of land from the government. In a few years more the descendants of the old-time warriors will be as other Americans, differentiated perhaps by here and there features which reeall the base reliefs in the capitol at Washington, or a dusky pigmentation dating back to the days when the Red Man had no adequate protection from the onslaught of the cold of winter or the heat of summer.
CHAPTER III EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS
FRONTIERSMEN-PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS-THE NEW HOME-EARLY ROADS- EARLY MILLS-PASTIMES-FIRST RECORDED SETTLERS-PREVENTING CLAIM JUMPING - PIONEER CONDITIONS - OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION - RE- UNIONS-PIONEER SETTLERS.
FRONTIERSMEN
The history of each county of every state has its own distinguishing features, but there are certain faets common to all of them. Before any permanent settlements could be made, explorations had to be set on foot by those fitted by nature and training for such arduous work, and from the reports brought back by them, those seeking new homes made their decisions. The hardy frontiersmen who traveled at different periods over the fertile prairies now included in MeHenry County, brought back glowing accounts of the advantages to be had in this section of Illinois territory, but owing to Indian disturbances, no permanent settlements were made here until 1834. As soon as it was found that settlers could come here with impunity, others flocked to get a title to some of the land the more foresighted saw soon would be very valuable, and the results prove that they knew their business thoroughly.
PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS
No one of this generation has any conception of the conditions pre- vailing when the pioneers entered what was to become one of the most important divisions of the state. At that time there were no railroads, and travel on the rivers, canals and the lakes was slow and expensive. For this reason, many preferred to load their possessions into a covered wagon, drawn either by horses or oxen, and travel across country, driv- ing their stock before them. There were no conveniences then along the way. When night eame, the hardy emigrants camped by the wayside, having to depend upon their seanty stores for food, although occasionally
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
the men folks were able to bring down birds or game of some kind. If the time could be spared, some nimrod sought an addition to the food supply in the numerous streams, but those were times that would have delighted Mr. Hoover, for certainly food conservation was practiced, and there was no waste of any kind. It was a period when only the fit survived, as the records show. Many of little life flame flickered and went out on the long journey from the old home to the new, and more than one aged person found life too difficult, and so laid down its burdens, and made the wayside a permanent abiding place until summoned by the last call upon judgment day.
THE NEW HOME
When the journey was over with all its dangers and hardships, the wagon that had been the family shelter for so many weary weeks, brought to a standstill, and the household goods covered with a makeshift shelter on the land selected for the claim, the difficulties had only commenced. The food, brought in the wagon naturally ran low, and until a erop could be put in, the pioneers had to depend chiefly on what could be garnered from the woods and streams. Fortunately nearly all of them knew the value of wild growths and could find palatable and nourish- ing foods in what their great-grandehildren would consider weeds. It was not long, of course before the energetic settlers had crops and from them ground their own meal, and made their own products. The homes of the pioneers were erndely fashioned from rough logs, and the furni- ture was homemade. Glass was a luxury, and stoves unknown. Cloth- ing was made from eloth woven from flax and wool spun and earded by the women, and all of the stockings and sox were knit by them. The women generally planted and took care of the gardens; they made medi- eines from berries and roots, and in the very earliest days had to minister to and nurse the sick. The men ent down the forest growths, grubbed out the stumps, and then plowed the land and planted the erops. They also hunted and fished, for in those days stock was too valuable to be killed to furnish meat, and when wild game was plentiful, the pioneers did not suffer.
EARLY ROADS
Of course at first there were no roads of any kind, save the dim Indian trails. As settlements increased, however, of course the pioneers
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
made trails of their own, as convenience or preference suggested, and in time some of these were developed into well defined roads. In the early days all travel was done on horseback or in the wagons of the periods. Carriages and buggies were unknown, and it was many years after the first settlers of Mellenry County had located there before the railroads were built.
EARLY MILLS
The first settlers had to grind their own meal, but it was not long after the pioneers had assembled before one and then others, erected crude horse-mills, and later water ones by means of which a certain amount of service could be seeured, although the process was tedious and the trip a long one for some who lived far distant from the nearest of these mills. Going to mill was quite a journey in those days, and the grain was carried in saddle bags on horseback, and the meal taken back in the same way.
PASTIMES
It must not be thought, however, that because there was plenty of hard work and hardships, that the pioneers failed to enjoy themselves, for they had their dancing and games, their spelling matehes and singing sehools, their barn and house raisings, their apple-parings and quilting bees. Whenever a religious teacher could be found, there were services either in the homes or at the log schoolhouses, and because of their scarcity, these meetings were all the more appreciated. No weather was severe enough to keep any of the pioneers away from a "preach- ing." They were kind-hearted, generous and sympathetic, always will- ing to lend a hand or listen to a tale of woe, and the advice given was generally sound and always well meant. The pioneer has passed, but his influence lives on in the lives of the community his foresight and persistent hard work established.
FIRST RECORDED SETTLERS
James Gillilan came to what is now Algonquin Township in No- vember, 1834, bringing his family with him from West Virginia, and he was the first to locate here permanently. Mrs. Gillilan was the first white woman in MeHenry County. In 1835, two settlements were made
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IIISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
in this county, one known as The Virginia Colony, located in what is now the eastern portion of Dorr Township; and The Pleasant Grove Colony, located on the present site of Marengo. Those in the latter set- tlement were as follows: Oliver Chatfield. Calvin Spencer, Porter Chatfield, Russel Diggins, Richard Simpkins and Moody B. Bailey. The settlers of the Virginia Colony were as follows: James Duffield, Christopher Walkup, Josiah Walkup, William Hartman, John Gibson, John MeClure and Samuel Gillian, all of whom came in 1835.
PREVENTING CLAIM JUMPING
Soon after the organization of Mellenry County, immigration set in at a wonderful rapid rate. Men came in on foot, on horseback, with horse-teams and more with ox-teams. But as the government surveyor had not yet made his appearance, each man could only choose prairie or timber solely, stake out his "claim" or plow around it if he had a plow to do with, put up his cabin and consider himself at home. Ae- eording to Henry Clay the whole mass formed "a lawless band of squatters. '
The human disposition being the same then as now, it became necessary to provide some mode of proving and recording those claims as a security against those disposed to "jump." Accordingly the set- tlers formed themselves into an association for mutual protection organ- izing a sort of "court of claims." In pursuance of this object the territory was divided into "elaim districts."
Each district was then subdivided into subdistricts in each of which three commissioners were appointed to record claims and hear and determine all contests in that regard. These claims when recorded became evidence of title. It does not appear that the claim commis- sioners had much to do with what is now MeHenry County, but so well did they perform their duty in the Lake precinets that but Little trouble arose and what did, was easily and quietly adjusted. The survey of the land comprised in the county proceeded from the Third principal meridian eastward reaching the west range 5 in 1838 and finishing Lake County four years later when these courts of claims being no longer needed, ceased to exist.
These emigrants were a neighborly set, coming as they sometimes did in strings of from six to eight covered wagons, the inmates of which were seeking to better their condition by putting to some use the im- meuse waste of timber and prairie stretching away on every side as far
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
as the range of human vision. The trouble of choice was inereased by the extent of unoccupied, beautiful country, still they could not wander on forever ; they must have land, water and timber the last all important to them, as the first thing to be provided was shelter. The spot having been selected and claim satisfactorily adjusted, they formed themselves into a co-operative society for the purpose of housebuilding, putting up the first house for the one who seemed to them to stand the most in need of shelter. Thus all in a short time were provided with such dwell- ings as the materials at hand afforded.
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