USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 2
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DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS.
Marquette had made known the gospel to those with whom his brief visits brought him in contact.
The formal occupation of the Mississippi and Illinois valleys was. accomplished in 1680, in the name of the French, by Robert La Salle, who came, with about thirty followers, for the purpose of building forts on the Illinois river at different points, and establishing trading points. with the natives in the name and for the benefit of the French govern- ment, which he represented. Even at this early date the English and French were disputing the rights of each other to the trade of these valleys, and this expedition was watched with suspicious eyes by the former. Not only so, but the enterprise which bid fair to be popular and profitable was jealously viewed by the order of Jesuits, who had been excluded from it, and their rivals of the Recollet order selected as spiritual counsel and companions. Of the last was father Hennepin, after whom, 150 years later, was named a town on the Illinois river. Owing to these, and unfaithful members of the expedition, treacherous guides and hostile Indians, with many unforseen mishaps, the story of La Salle's travels sounds more like fiction than truth. Often, almost alone, he traveled for many days through the wilderness in the dead of winter and almost without a mouthful of food. His forts and trading posts were built and destroyed and rebuilt by turns, until at last, having formally taken possession of the country and traversed the Illinois river from Lake Michigan, the Kankakee to its junction therewith, and the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, he was basely assassinated by his own followers in January, 1687. In taking possession of the country he gave it the name of his reigning monarch and called it. Louisiana, so that what is now Mercer and Henderson counties and Illinois was once called by that name.
Very much that would be interesting to the general reader concern- ing La Salle's voyages must necessarily be omitted, as our work has not so much to do with the State of Illinois and the great water-courses explored by him as with the locality under immediate consideration. Father Hennepin, whose name has already been mentioned, made by La Salle's order an excursion from the mouth of the Illinois up the Mississippi as far as the Falls of St. Anthony, and may have touched at points bordering on this section. Henry Tonti, one of La Salle's companions, figures largely in the early explorations of this part of the country. He spent over twenty years in establishing posts and build- ing fortifications for their protection. Under his command was all of the territory from the Allegheny to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Gulf of Mexico as far north as imagination could carry.
Although the French had, as noted, taken possession of this large
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
tract of country, it was not an undisputed occupation. The English, having settled the Atlantic coast, were gradually pushing their settle- ments toward the west, and finding the fur trade a profitable source of revenue to individual enterprise and also to the government, disputed with the French who inhabited the shores of the great lakes, the right to the monopoly. To carry out their plans it became necessary for either to enlist the Indians in their schemes, as from them they were to derive their profit. Accordingly, the natives of the Alleghenies and the Ohio valley were naturally arrayed against each other and many and bloody wars were the consequence. In the mother countries the French and English were engaged from time to time in combat, which naturally extended to the colonies of America, and thus were the strug- gles for the fur trade, which might otherwise have been confined to active competition, transformed into long-continued and bloody conflict. These wars in history are termed the French and Indian wars, and lasted for a period of more than fifty years. At last, in 1763, at a treaty between these nations, all that portion of the Mississippi valley east of the river was ceded to England, and thus for a time, until the war of the revolution, this section of country remained a province of Great Britain.
The great struggle of the colonists, commencing in 1775 and ending with their independence in 1783, though mostly confined to the shores of the Atlantic were not wholly so, for while a fierce conflict was going on at the east, the valleys of the Mississippi, Wabash and Ohio were receiving some attention from both the English and Americans. At the beginning of that war the whole northwest was in the possession of the British.
The brilliant achievements which wrested these beautiful valleys from English rule were brought about by Gen. George Rogers Clarke, of Virginia. He well understood the relations existing between the Indians and the mother country, and though the natives had been stirred up to jealousy by the rapid encroachments of white settlers upon their domain, he wisely judged that if the British posts and forts could be wrested from them, the subjugation of the Indians would be a com- paratively easy matter. Accordingly he applied to the authorities of Virginia for men and means for the accomplishing of the enterprise, and though they could at that time ill be spared, they were granted, and Clarke set out upon the undertaking. Though many hardships conse- quent upon hunger and fatigue had to be endured, the whole line of forts, including Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Vincennes, was taken with scarcely a show of resistance, the inhabitants of the posts apparently being desirous of coming under the new government. In February, 1777,
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DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS.
Vincennes was taken, and thus hostilities for this region, not only between the Americans and English, but for the time being between the Americans and Indians were terminated, and the possession of the northwest made secure. But for these brilliant strokes of Gen. Clarke it is hard to conceive what would have been the history of this part of the country. Possibly a union of all the tribes from Maine to Florida might have been effected, which in conjunction with foreign foes, though then somewhat discouraged, would have retained possession of the whole Mississippi valley even to this time.
The close of the war of independence left this portion of the country under the government of the United States, and as a part of Virginia. In 1778, the legislature of Virginia formed, from the ter- ritory under that dominion, all of the country now embraced in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, the county of Illinois, so that what is now embraced in Mercer and Henderson counties was once a part of Virginia. Illinois continued a part of Virginia until March 1, 1784, when that state ceded it with all other territory north of the Ohio river to the United States.
In 1787, the whole country under consideration was, by an ordinance passed by the government, set apart and named the Northwestern Ter- ritory. After a while the territory was divided into smaller territories, and what is now the state of Illinois fell into that portion called Indiana Territory as one of its counties, with its old name of 1778- Illinois county.
In 1809, the country now' known as Illinois and Wisconsin was erected into a separate territory with the name of Illinois Territory. The population of this vast region was then only about half that of Mercer and somewhat less than Henderson county, being all told 9,000. Many of the oldest citizens of this region, but then residents of other states, doubtless remember, if not the event itself, many incidents of as early a date. Now there are 102 counties in the State of Illinois, few of which contain a smaller population than did both these great states only seventy-five years ago, one of which has residing within its limits a population sixty times as great. At the time of which we write, the territory was divided into two counties-St. Clair and Randolph.
Though the valley of the Mississippi was a part of the United States, and though it belonged to the government, it was occupied almost exclusively by the Indians, and they claimed it as their rightful possession in which to live and derive support, not from the cultivation of its soil, but from its natural products. In 1804 William Henry Harrison, authorized by the general government, made a treaty with
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the chiefs and head men of the Sac and Fox nations who were then the occupants of all this region, whereby all the country on both sides of the Mississippi and including all the country west of the Illinois, was given up to the government for purposes of settlement by the whites. Out of this treaty. a number of years later. grew what is known as the Black Hawk war.
GENERAL HARRISON.
In 1816 all that portion of the state between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and extending from the mouth of the latter about 170 miles north, and including the counties of which we now write, was surveyed by the government and subsequently set apart as bounties to soldiers of the regular army who had served in the war with Great Britain, and which had just preceded the date just given. The whole tract contained 207 entire townships and several fractions. These land grants or bounties became a kind of currency in this part of the coun- try, and were used not only by actual settlers in making homes for themselves, but large numbers were bought by speculators for a trifling part of their face value. From misunderstandings as to their real value and of their validity, many claims were put in jeopardy, and much litigation in regard to the land titles in the parts of the counties embraced by the military tract have been the result. Whoever has held successfully a disputed title in the Bounty lands, from bitter expe- rience has learned the history of these land schemes and speculations better than any but the attorneys engaged in unravelling them can know or care to learn.
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BLACK HAWK WAR.
In 1818 the territory now embraced in Illinois became a separate organization and was admitted into the Union as a State. As yet but fifteen counties had been formed in the state and all of these in the southern part. None had been formed in the military tract, nor indeed was there much necessity for such organizations, as there was scarcely a family permanently established. However, a few years later, Pike county, embracing all of the wilderness of Warren, Mercer, Henderson and a number of other counties, was organized.
From and after the Black Hawk war, settlements were quite rapid west of the Illinois river, and new counties were accordingly as rapidly authorized. The army which went forward to suppress the uprising of the Indians under that chief in 1832 had much to do in settling the section between the mouth of the Illinois and Rock Island. It was then discovered by many of the soldiery that the garden of Illinois lay along that line of march. Many of them profited by their experience by themselves selecting homes in the section under consideration. Information sent by others to friends in the east and south brought many more, so that in 1825 the county of Warren, embracing all of the territory now included in Warren and Henderson, and Mercer with its present limits, were formed and attached to Peoria for political pur- poses. Subsequently, Warren county was organized and Mercer was attached to Warren for a few years. In 1835 Mercer was organized, and in 1841 Henderson with its present limits was cut off from the west side of Warren and immediately organized. This then brings us to the consideration of the several counties as separate organizations, and as such we shall refer to them as separate items of historical interest.
BLACK HAWK WAR.
Though this was not the battle-field of the Indian troubles, yet its proximity to the scenes of the struggle makes the Black Hawk war a peculiarly interesting topic for consideration ; indeed this portion of the valley of the Mississippi was the home of the Indian. On its banks and those of the Edwards, Pope and Henderson rivers, and the smaller streams of the two counties, he built his wigwam, hunted game and fished in their waters. This country was dear to him and for it, though not in it, he made his last desperate struggle.
The rich mines of lead at and in the vicinity of Galena had for some time been worked. That section, about fifteen miles square. had been bought by the government in 1804, and its occupation by the whites had been the source of some ill-feeling on the part of the Indians, which was resented by the whites. In 1825 or thereabouts real trouble began to show itself and conflicts between the two races
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
were common. At this time the number of miners had increased to more than 1,500 and they were not always careful to avoid crossing the Indian claims, nor were they always particular about holding sacred the rights of Indians to their property, or of shooting their game or stealing their ponies, and it finally came about that an Indian's scalp was considered as much of a trophy as was a white man's to an Indian.
These growing animosities finally culminated in an attack by the Winnebago Indians on the 30th of July, 1827, on two keel-boats which were passing up the Mississippi river with supplies for Fort Snelling. Several of the crew were killed and others wounded. The state gov- ernment being apprised of the outbreak ordered forward, to the threat- ened portion of the state, military to quell the hostiles. The whole country roundabout was in confusion and alarm, and settlers. throughout the northern part of the state fled to distant points where had been erected fortifications for safety. At Galena 3,000 people, men women and children from the surrounding country were gathered for protection. Several hundred men at Galena were armed and equipped, and in Sangamon and Morgan counties a regiment was formed and sent forward, but before they arrived the Indians had been driven far north and some of the leaders captured.
Hardly had the excitement occasioned by this outbreak died out, however, until trouble began with the Sac and Fox tribes. The leaders. and chiefs of these were Keokuk and Black Hawk, whose names have been perpetuated in different localities in this vicinity by places which bear their names. These men were not friends; had they been, the war which was soon to follow might have been a much more serious. affair than it proved. Keokuk was loyal to the government and con- trolled much the larger portion of the people, though they were anx- ious for war, and in accordance with the stipulations of a preceding treaty he with a majority of the two tribes remained on the west side of the Mississippi river. Black Hawk, however, claiming that the treaty alluded to was void, crossed the river with 300 warriors in the: spring of 1831 with a view of occupying his former home near where the city of Rock Island now stands. Here had these people lived for more than a hundred years and this was the principal town of the Sac nation. According to one provision of the treaty the Indians had a. right to occupy the lands until wanted by the government for actual settlement, and though the Indians had been ordered to vacate them no actual settlers were very near-in all of Mercer and Henderson counties perhaps not more than five or six families, and in the whole county of Rock Island not one. However, in those times people liv-
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BLACK HAWK WAR.
ing within forty miles of each other were neighbors, and the two races could not well exist within twice the distance without encroaching on each other. Doubtless both parties were much to blame in bringing about this final conflict, and doubtless both were anxious that the final test should be made. It is not our province to discuss causes or details, but simply relate facts that seem to have a close connection with the territory whose history we set out to write.
On the 30th of April, 1831, a petition signed by forty persons was sent to the executive of Illinois representing that the Indians had done much damage to their property, and that their lives and homes were in constant danger. John Reynolds was then Governor of Illinois and believing from this petition and other information received, that Black Hawk was determined to retain possession of the dis- puted territory to the detriment of the state, resolved to expel him. He accordingly made a call for volunteers. In a very short time 700 militia were assembled at . Beardstown on the Illinois river ready to take up the line of march toward the camp of Black Hawk. Before moving, however, Gen. Gaines, who was then stationed at St. Louis, passed up the river to Rock Island in command of a regiment of United States troops, with the hope of returning the Indians to the west side of the river without the necessity of calling upon the militia. The Indians were obstinate and refused to move, and according to previous arrangement the volunteers from Beards- town were advised to go forward, which they did with much enthu- siasm, their numbers having in the meantime been swelled to twice the original call.
The brigade was accompanied by Governor Reynolds ; and Joseph Duncan, whose name appears on the records of Mercer and Henderson as a large land-holder in the early times of this section, was appointed brigadier-general. On the 15th of June, this, the largest body of military that had ever been seen in the state, left their encampment at. Rushville, just west of the Illinois river, and marched to within a few miles of the Sac village. This line of march took them directly through the central part of Mercer county, and the exact route is still known and pointed out, it being on the old Indian trail (which was nearly on the Henderson and Warren county line) and extending through Mercer county northward between Aledo and Joy. When the Indians found that the government and state were in earnest, and that they were nearly surrounded with bristling bayonets and cannon, and were about to be cut off, they took the alarm, and the night before the intended attack escaped to the west side of the river. Doubtless their retreat was known and could have been cut off, but Gen. Gaines was
.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
anxious that the affair should end without bloodshed. The soldiery were somewhat disappointed, and in a spirit of revenge burned their town. though the wigwams and cabins were needed to protect them- selves from the rain which was falling incessantly.
Thus bloodlessly terminated the campaign, but the war was not yet at an end. Black Hawk had promised to submit to the government of the country and to the counsel of the friendly chiefs, but he still had the defiant will which ere long must needs break out in the act which did not terminate so favorably to him and his braves. During the fol- lowing winter he was busy inciting the Indians to hostility, and by spring had succeeded in raising a force of 500. His headquarters were at the site of old Fort Madison, just on the west side of the Mis- sissippi. From thence they proceeded up the river on horses, the women and children in canoes, to a point just opposite the present town of Oquawka. Here they were met by White Cloud, the prophet, who, at a council held at the place named, advised them to go forward and cross the river, and that numerous other tribes would surely join them in a war against the whites. Accordingly the Indians crossed the Mississippi at Rock Island and ascended the Rock river to the country still occupied by the Winnebagos, near its source. Couriers were sent to warn them to return, but with no effect. The attitude of Black Hawk looked so alarming that the settlers of the whole of the north half of the state fled precipitately to the southern part and to the more thickly settled portions of Indiana.
Governor Reynolds at once called for volunteers to meet at Beards- town. About 2,000 men assembled upon this call, and on the 27th of April the army started on their march to Oquawka, where they were joined by two companies from Shelby county. Here the army encamped for several days awaiting supplies and provisions, which were furnished them from Rock Island and St. Louis. As soon as they could be supplied, baggage wagons were loaded and all was got in readiness for a march to Dixon, where they had been informed the enemy was encamped. When the army was ready to start a letter was brought from Gen. Atkinson, who commanded several companies of the regular army at Fort Armstrong, that Black Hawk had descended the Rock river, and requesting the governor to march immediately with troops to Fort Armstrong. The army was then put in motion and moved to the mouth of Rock river, where they were received into the service of the United States, and Gen. Atkinson assumed command.
The volunteers now took up their course along Rock river toward Dixon, where they were joined a few days later by Gen. Atkinson and
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BLACK HAWK WAR.
the regulars. From this point Majors Stillman and Bailey had been detailed to protect the pioneer border, and having as yet seen but little service they were anxious to go farther up the river to reconnoitre. Accordingly orders were given to proceed up the river for this purpose, and with nearly 300 men they advanced about thirty miles, where they captured a few Indians and pursued some others, who had fled, into the very ambush of Black Hawk, who with only about forty warriors put them to flight and killed several of them. The retreat was as inglorious as it was confusing ; ammunition, food, horses and wagons were left in the precipitate flight, and the fugitives did not stop running until they arrived at Dixon, in squads of from two or three to a dozen.
The war was now fully inaugurated, and the next day the army started for the field of action. They found the ground strewn with their comrades in a horribly mutilated condition, with heads and limbs sundered from the bodies and hearts plucked out. The fragments were gathered together and buried in one common grave on the spot. The Indians had fled, well knowing that the fury of the whites would be fully aroused upon the discovery of the atrocious deeds.
The Government now sent Gen. Scott with 1,000 United States troops to superintend operations in the future campaigns. New levies of troops were made and sent forward by the State. On the 6th of June Black Hawk made an attack with about 150 warriors on the fort at Apple river, near Galena. There were only twenty-five men in the fort, but they defended it with desperation for fifteen hours, and the Indians were finally compelled to retire, the only damage sustained being the loss of one man, the burning of the houses of the village, and the destruction of other property.
Other conflicts followed rapidly in succession between bands of Indians and detachments of American troops, but as the engagements did not occur in the vicinity of the counties of which we write, we shall but mention them. The battle at Kellogg's Grove, and other conflicts in the northern portion of Illinois and the southern part of Wisconsin occurred during the months of June and July.
At last, about the first of August, the Indians were completely hemmed in at a point on the Mississippi called Bad Axe, where they were driven into the river, many being killed and many others being drowned in the attempt to gain the opposite shore. The loss of the Indians was not far short of 300, and near 100 more were wounded and taken prisoners. The war virtually ended with the battle of Bad Axe, and the further pursuit of the hostiles was not deemed necessary.
Many of the names of those engaged in the war, such as Anderson, Turney, Ewing, Breese, Dement, Ford, Duncan, Dodge and Lincoln,
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
afterward became noted in the history of the state and of the nation. Among the many who distinguished themselves, none made a more brilliant record than did Gen. James D. Henry, of Springfield, after whom has been named an adjoining county.
A few weeks subsequent to the battle of Bad Axe, Black Hawk and the Prophet were captured by some friendly Indians and turned over to the United States authorities. They were held in custody for about. one year, when they were set at liberty; subsequently Black Hawk settled down in Lee county, Iowa, for a short period, and then moved to the vicinity of the Des Moines, twenty miles above its mouth. In 1838 he contracted a disease which ended his life when he had attained the age of seventy-two years. Abraham Miller, formerly a resident of Mercer county, says, in a letter to the Historical Society of Mercer county, that he frequently saw Black Hawk after his expulsion from this section, in the neighborhood of New Boston, where, Mr. Miller says. Black Hawk's daughter lies buried. Quite a number of citizens of Mercer and Henderson counties yet survive who were per- sonally acquainted with this great chief, notably amongst whom is Colonel Patterson of Oquawka, whose intimacy with him and his his- tory we shall notice at length on a subsequent page.
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