History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 7

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 7
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 7

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This society was organized in Aledo February 19, 1878, under the name of Mercer County Scientific Association. At this meeting were present Tyler McWhorter, W. J. Pepper, J. H. Connell, I. N. Bassett, J. V. Frazier and W. A. Marsh. Mr. McWhorter presided, and Mr. Connell served as secretary. A constitution and by-laws were adopted; a number of invitations issued to others to attend the next meeting, and adjourned to March 5, 1878, to which time election of officers was postponed.

The objects and purposes of this organization may be briefly stated as follows :

Different individuals of our county were more or less interested in scientific investigation, but were isolated from each other, and had few opportunities for interviews, or to profit by each other's study, or line of thought.

The native flora and fauna of our county ; the carboniferous fossils, in connection with our seams of coal ; the implements and relics found in connection with the numerous ancient mounds in various parts of the county; these, and other kindred subjects had elicited the atten- tion of many of our citizens. Already many private collections of sci- entific interest had been made by different individuals of the county, and it was thought that persons whose minds are directed to scientific investigation should associate themselves together, so as to have an interchange of ideas, and enjoy the advantages of each other's re- search. It was believed that, with such an organization, a more gen eral interest might be elicited to investigate and attain to a higher com- prehension of nature.

While we have social organizations, with large expenditures, in support of our various churches, it would seem that we should also have some organizations to encourage thought and stimulate investiga- tion in those important questions of science that are so directly related to the progress of the present age. It was for these reasons that many of our citizens felt that many advantages might be enjoyed by banding themselves together in such a society. Another purpose of the society was to make up a cabinet, or scientific collection, of such specimens relating to the natural sciences as might be contributed by its members, or others.

The meetings of the society are held quarterly, on the first Tuesday of March, June, September and December of each year.

On March 5, 1878, the adjourned meeting was held, and ten names

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MERCER COUNTY SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

were added to the roll of members. Organization was completed by the election of the following officers : president, Dr. J. V. Frazier, of Viola; vice president, I. N. Bassett, Esq., of Aledo; secretary, J. H. Connell, of Aledo; treasurer, W. J. Pepper, of Keithisburg; trustees, six years, Tyler MeWhorter, Aledo; four years, W. J. Pepper, Keiths- burg; two years, J. C. Pepper, Aledo.

· The presidents of the society to date, each holding one year, are as follows: Dr. J. V. Frazier, Viola; I. N. Bassett, Aledo; E. L. Larkin, New Windsor; Tyler McWhorter, Aledo; and John Geiger, now serv- ing in that capacity.

James H. Connell was elected secretary at the first meeting, and was reelected annually until March, 1882, when Alex. McArthur was elected.

The cabinet of the society is very interesting, and includes several hundred specimens-geological, fossil, mineral, etc. The largest do- nations were made by the following persons : geological, etc., by Tyler McWhorter; shells, by W. A. Marsh ; mineral, etc., by J. H. Connell ; miscellaneous, by J. C. Pepper and W. J. Pepper; birds, by W. B. Crapnell.

The following papers have been read before the association: Cli- matic Changes and their Resultant Periods, Dr. J. V. Frazier; Metric System of Weights and Measures, J. R. Wylie; The Domain of Sci- entific Investigation and Thought, I. N. Bassett ; The Mississippi River: Its Geological History, Tyler McWhorter; Future Punishment ; from Ethnical Scripture, E. L. Larkin ; Probable Origin of Life on the Globe, John Geiger ; Shall we Impoverish the Fertility of the Earth, T. McWhorter; Utility of the Stars, W. J. Pepper; Antiquity of Man, T. Me Whorter; Crystalography, J. R. Wylie ; Electricity, R. H. Spi- cer, Sr .; Conchology, W. A. Marsh; Inclination of the Earth's Axis, T. McWhorter ; Force, E. L. Larkin ; Flesh Eating, John Geiger ; Flesh Eating, Joseph McCoy; Population and its Distribution, C. V. Shove ; Motion, E. L. Larkin ; The Birds and Animals we are Losing and Gaining, W. B. Crapnell ; Hygiene of Soil Waters, Dr. J. V. Fra- zier ; Embryology, J. R. Wylie; Axial Rotation, John Geiger ; People of North America, E. L. Larkin ; Biology, T. McWhorter; The Sur- face or Economic of our Prairies, Graham Lee ; Imperfections of Hu- man Knowledge, Tyler McWhorter ; The Planet Venus, J. C. Pepper ; The Coming Man, Tyler MeWhorter; Conscience Man's True Guide, J. Geiger; Progress in Science, I. N. Bassett ; Some Observations on the Rocky Mountains, J. H. Connell ; Silver Coinage, John Geiger; Protoplasm and Life, I. N. Bassett ; Scientific Instruments, E. L. Larkin ;

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

Improved Socialism, John Geiger ; Changes of Organic Life with the Advance of Civilization, Tyler McWhorter.

In December, 1879, the name was changed to the "Mercer County Scientific and Historical Society," the object being to gather up notes on the history of Mercer county. John Geiger, I. N. Bassett, Graham Lee and C. S. Richey were appointed a committee to receive all that had been prepared. May 1, 1880, the committee reported that they had received a considerable amount of historic matter from different sources, which was given into, the custody of the society. In 1882 the society turned all papers in their hands over to Prof. H. H. Hill, to be embodied in this book.

The membership roll contained the following names: Tyler Mc- Whorter, Aledo; J. V. Frazier, Viola ; W. A. Marsh, Millersburg tp .; I. N. Bassett, Aledo; W. J. Pepper, Millersburg tp .; J. H. Connell, now of Pueblo, Col .; J. C. Pepper, J. R. Wylie, Aledo; E. L. Larkin, New Windsor ; W. B. Crapnell, New Boston tp. (died 1881); C. A. Ballard, New Boston ; W. C. Galloway, Joseph McCoy, John Geiger, Aledo ; John B. Holland, Keithsburg ; Thos. Shaver, Tennessee Roll- ing Mills, Ky .; Geo. P. Graham, Paola, Kan .; F. D. Rathbun, New Windsor ; R. H. Spicer, Sr., Viola; C. F. Durston, J. M. Wilson, W. A. Lorimer, B. F. Brock, Alex. Stephens, D. T. Hindman, Horace Bigelow, L. B. Morey, Alex. McArthur, Aledo ; C. S. Orth, William Griffin (died 1882), E. L. Marshall, Keithsburg; C. V. Shove, E. L. McKinnie, G. L. F. Robinson, Viola ; L. C. Gilmore, E. B. David, Miss A. E. Frazier, B. C. Taliaferro, D. R. Johnston, Aledo ; P. F. Warner, Havana, Ills .; Graham Lee, Hamlet; C. H. Gran, Alpha, Henry county ; J. F. McCutcheon, Norwood ; A. P. Willits, T. B. Cabeen, Keithsburg. Honorary member : Lieut. F. S. Bassett, U. S. Navy.

Such is the history, objects and membership of this society, which has already accomplished a work of which its members may feel proud, and has but laid the foundation of a grand and most commendable effort in the advancement of scientific research. And from the pro- gressive character of the men composing its membership we may safely predict for the society a glorious future, and a name that will be known wherever science is made a special study.

NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, BY WILLIAM A. MARSH.

Palæontology .- The principal geological formations that occur in Mercer and Henderson counties which contain fossils are, the coal measures and the St. Louis group, Keokuk limestone, Burlington lime-

JAMES M. EMERSON. ( DECEASED )

NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY.

stone, and Kinderhook group. of the lower carboniferous system. The number of species of fossil flora found within the limits of these two counties is very small compared with other sections, but our fossil fauna will compare favorably with any section of the state, at least as far as the number of species is concerned, although they are not found in as good a state of preservation as might be desired. The whole number of fossil species that have come under my observation, in collecting among the different formations of the two counties, is about 400 species, divided as follows : coal measure flora, twenty-five species; coal meas- ure fauna, 250 species; lower carboniferous, 125 species. The most remarkable and interesting forms are the crinoiden of the lower car- boniferous, and the different forms of the genus Productus, belonging to the Brachiopoda.

Mammals .- The mammalian fauna of these two counties is almost the exact counterpart of all prairie sections. The time was when the larger forms of life abounded ; when the deer, elk, buffalo, beaver, etc., made the prairies their home. The coming of the white man, attended by all the circumstances of progress, has driven these larger forms from the country, and now the smaller kinds alone retain a foot- ing. They are American buffalo, beaver, red deer, gray wolf, prairie wolf, gray fox, otter, mink, weasel, skunk, wild cat, opossum, raccoon, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, black squirrel, flying squirrel, chipmunk, gray prairie squirrel, striped prairie squirrel, woodchuck, striped badger, rabbit, brown rat (introduced), white-footed wood mouse, white- footed prairie mouse, long-tailed jumping mouse, prairie meadow mouse, wood meadow mouse, long-haired meadow mouse, shrew mole, star nose mole, muskrat, house mouse (introduced), long-eared bat.

The number of species of birds, as far as I have been able to iden- tify them, will reach about 180 species, embracing forty-one families. This includes those that remain with us the year round, those that are known to visit us through the spring and summer season, and those that tarry with us a short time during their migrations through the country from north to south.

The number of fish species thus far identified as occurring in the Mississippi river, its lakes and sloughs, and the small streams flowing into it, through the counties of Mercer and Henderson, is about seven- ty-seven species. Besides the fish used for food, this list includes the dog fish, the eel, the gar pike, the alligator gar, the spoon-bill, the spotted sturgeon, and the leech lamprey.

The snakes are: blowing viper, hog-nosed snake, red-bellied water snake, Holbrook's water snake, ribbon snake, Faireye's garter snake,

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

racer, summer green snake, king snake, corn snake, spotted adder, ground snake, timber rattlesnake (now extinct), prairie rattlesnake.

The Batrachians are : frogs, four species ; tree frogs, three species ; toads, one species ; salamanders, seven species ; lizards, four species ; turtles, ten species.

The molluscan fauna of Mercer and Henderson numbers 137 acknowledged species. Seven years of careful study and collecting in this particular branch leads me to believe that very few, if any, new forms will be likely to be found. They may be classed as follows : unionidæ, sixty-eight species ; corbiculada, twelve species ; viviparidæ, seven species ; vulvatidæ, one species; strepomatidæ, one species ; rissoidæ, six species ; helicidæ, twenty-five species; limnaeidæ, four- teen species ; ancylinæ, three species. It will be observed that the per cent of land shells is very small in comparison to the water shells. The absence of timber, the frequent overflowing of our water-courses, and the great number of swine running in the timbered sections, has had a tendency to nearly destroy this interesting class of mollusks.

The flora of Mercer and Henderson counties presents a study of very great interest to the botanist. Over 800 species have been iden- tified, including indigenous and introduced species, as existing in the two counties. The woody plants, including the trees, shrubs and woody climbers, number about 120 species. The filices or ferns, twelve species. The grasses, including the juncaceæ or rush family, and the cyperaceæ or sedge grass family, number 180 species. Among the true grasses may be found some of the most valuable and interesting species found in the United States, and a few of the most obnoxious kinds. It would be a pleasant task to present lists of some of the most interesting orders of our plants, but as the number is so great, it would be almost impossible to list them in a brief report like this.

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

The township of New Boston embraces congressional township 14 north, and ranges 5 and 6 west, extending to the Mississippi river. The eastern part is undulating and contains a depth and richness of soil unexcelled in the county. The western part of the township is level, containing a narrow strip of sandy soil, in some places almost destitute of vegetation ; between this strip and the undulating region of the east the bottom land is extremely fertile and produces heavy crops.

The minerals, as far as known, are limited in kind and quantity, being wholly comprised in a stone quarry at the mouth of the Edwards

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

river. The drainage is excellent. The swamp lands so common to some localities are almost wholly, wanting here. The Edwards river , flows through the township, entering on section 1 and passing out on section 33. In the western part are several small lakes, of which Bald Eagle, Eliza and Swan lakes are the principal ones. The township is well supplied with timber in the eastern part and along the river bot- tom, the kinds being oak, maple, walnut, sycamore, and similar decid- nous trees.

The township has a somewhat interesting railroad history, to which we shall refer more fully farther on. The Galva and Keithsburg branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy enters the township on section 24 and takes a diagonal course to the town of New Boston, a branch running to Keithsburg from a point on section 27, thereby giv- ing a southern outlet and southern connections.

This, in brief, is a description of the town to-day, with its happy, independent, self-reliant people. Let us turn back to earlier days and trace the work of the hardy pioneers, who bravely struggled to reclaim the land from its native wildness, and plant here the institutions of the more favored east.

To Mr. William Denison and his son John W. belong the honor of planting the first settlement in the township, as well as in the county. They were Pennsylvanians, and came directly from Wayne county, Indiana, having previously lived for a short time in Ohio. They set- tled near the site of the present town of New Boston in 1827, and there lived in close and friendly relations with the Indians who at that time frequented the place. The vicinity offered many attractions to the Indians in the shape of hunting and fishing ; and, indeed, at the pres- ent time it has more than a local celebrity in this respect.

H. W. Denison, a son of John W. Denison, born in 1832, was the first white child born in Mercer county. He is still a resident of New Boston, as is also his mother.

Let the reader pause here a moment and call to aid his imagination in picturing a settlement of this kind. On the one hand a boundless waste of prairie, covered with tall waving grass, which sinks and rises with a billowy motion, as far as the eye can reach. On the other hand the great Father of Waters, spread out in silent majesty, or lashed to fury by the untrammeled winds which sometimes sweep over the plains from the west. Here was to be found the savage in his native wildness. Here he smoked his pipe of peace or hallooed his wild war-dance. And here was started the first settlement of what was to be, at a future time, one of the myriads of fair towns that dot the broad State of Illinois.

The elder Denison had several children besides John W., mention-

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

ed above. Among them were Erastus, James, Joseph, Ezra, Newton and Elmer. The family of Denisons, individually and collectively, occupied the greater portion of the region bordering on the river, including what is now the town of New Boston.

During the Black Hawk war of 1832, the Denisons left the county, . but returned after the close of hostilities. Their being enabled to leave the county uninjured was due wholly to the warning of friendly Indians. The first of these warnings were not heeded, but at last those Indians with whom they were friendly came and told them that, as they seemed determined to stay and be killed, it was thought best to let the friendly Indians kill them decently. The family concluded that they would take an excursion in preference to staying at home, even though the staying would secure "decent" killing by their friends. The story is told that, after they had left, their Indian friends gathered up all the articles that had been left in the hurry and excitement of the occasion and placed them in the deserted cabin, marking the spot with such signs as would deter other marauding parties from committing any dep- redations. These articles were found on the return of the family, all in good order and nothing missing. A detailed account of the dangers and narrow escapes is given elsewhere.

Mr. Denison's recollections of the manners, customs and trait's of the Indians in this vicinity, are curious and interesting. Though exceedingly cruel after the actual commencement of hostilities, they invariably abstained from any preliminary bloodshedding. When Black Hawk was passing his warriors up the Mississippi, previous to the last campaign of 1832, he came ashore, stopped at Mr. Denison's house, partook of their hospitality, and guarded the house until the last canoe had passed up the river. They were capable of the strongest sentiments of friendship, and held in lasting remembrance any act of kindness, rewarding the same, sometimes, after the lapse of years. They were strictly honest with those whom they considered honest, and though the Denison family lived among them for years they never suffered a loss from theft or other depredation committed by them.

Immediately after the death of an Indian, the family and friends went into mourning for a length of time proportioned to the dignity of the deceased, which continued day and night until the appointed time had expired. When the sick became conscious of approaching death, they usually selected their own burial place, which was located gener- ally on some commanding eminence, thus enabling the spirit to have a commanding view of the surrounding country, with its more or less busy scenes of warfare or friendly intercourse. In burying the dead, a small amount of food was deposited with the body to last the spirit a

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

year. This was repeated until the relation of body and spirit was sup- posed to be totally severed ; usually till about the third year. A stran- ger was disposed of by being wrapped in bark and hoisted among the branches of some commanding tree. From this fact doubtless arose the supposition that this style was a mode of burial among some of the tribes.

Black Hawk is described as a short, thick-set individual, who was the war chief, while his associate, Keokuk, was a peace chief. Although knowing the superior power of the whites, he made war relying on the help of the Great Spirit to sustain the right. He was taught by bitter experience, as many another has been, the time when "right shall triumph over might" is still in the future.

From Mrs. Margaret Denison, widow of John W. Denison, who was one of the original settlers at the Upper Yellow Banks, we have derived the following information, here given almost in her own words :

William Denison, and his son John W. Denison, with their fam- ilies, came from Connersville, Ind., to Springfield, Ill., in 1826. In 1827 both families came to this county, arriving on the 20th of April, and made settlement at New Boston. They were the first white settlers in Mercer county. A week afterward John Vannatta arrived and lo- cated his home on the present site of Keithsburg. His brother Benja- min came two or three years later to the same place. The Denisons pitched their home on the river bank, half a mile below New Boston, where they started and kept a wood yard for supplying steamboats. They lived opposite the old graveyard. William Denison made a claim in that place, and John Denison took the present site of New Boston. Until the Black Hawk war they planted their garden close to where Dr. Willits' house stands, in rear of the Union hotel. The soil was a rich mold on which vegetables flourished ; but it was blown off by the winds, and is now only a bleak sand ridge.

The Indians called this locality "Upper Yellow Banks." From the time of their settlement here till the spring of 1831. the Denisons lived in perfect peace with the Saes and Foxes. Only occasionally did a Winnebago Indian show himself in these parts. The men of this tribe were large, tall, broad-shouldered, and superior in stature to the Sacs and Foxes, and spoke a different dialect. The Indians dwelt here in great numbers.

In the spring of 1831 the friendly Indians, who belonged to Keo- kuk's band, told the whites at the Upper Yellow Banks that there was going to be war, and urged them to depart to a place of safety among their own people, or to go with them and they would secure them from harm. Keokuk was living on the Iowa river ; he said he was going to

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

build a town, and tried to persuade them to come to his settlement, promising to give them full protection, but they declined to go, feeling that, if they must leave their homes, it would be better to be among their kindred race.

The only settlers at this place at that time were the Denisons, and Daniel S. Witter and wife, and his hired man, named Twist. A cap- tain coming down the river from Rock Island brought word that an ontbreak was imminent, and all these persons were taken on board his steamer and carried to Nanvoo. After a sojourn there of two months they returned, but found their corn, which was up large enough to be cultivated when they went away, all destroyed, and not an ear was raised that year. Witter and Twist never came back. The latter had taken a claim and was cutting wood.

Concerning the troubles of this year. it is recorded in the Atlas Map of Mercer county, that after the whites "had been moved to Fort Edwards, now Warsaw, the friendly or .pet' Indians assembled on the deserted premises, gathered np all the articles of their friends that. had been left in the hurry and excitement of the occasion, stored them safely away in the loft of the house, closed the doors securely, and put. a mark upon them well understood by the tribes. When the family returned home not an article was missing."

Against this recreation of fancy stands the trustworthy statement of old Mother Denison, that they left behind a part of their movable effects. as dishes, books, soap, chairs, chickens, and that such goods as they could they buried ; but the despoilers carried off everything. Her lady's saddle was found with the plush covering taken off and the skirts ent into strips. Mrs. Denison complained to Keokuk of the loss of this, and when he went to St. Louis, he bought another and gave her.

At that time there was not business enough on the upper Mississippi to call for a special class of boats. The furnishing of wood to these boats was a considerable business. About $3 per cord was paid.

The Denisons all conversed readily in the Indian language, having learned it after their settlement on the river. The Indians could talk but little in English.

Early in 1832 a council of war was held at New Boston. This was attended by Black Hawk. Keoknk, and some 3,000 followers. Black Hawk came down the Mississippi, and Keokuk down the Iowa river, on which he was living. New Boston was a central point, and the general rendezvous on grave or mirthful occasions. The council was held on the site of the town, beneath some scattering trees. The Denisons were present and heard the speeches of the two chiefs. Keokuk spoke first. His counsel was pacific. He told his people that a war with the

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

whites would be wasteful, hopeless, disastrous ; that they were as numerous as the trees of the Mississippi valley, and could not be con- quered. Black Hawk sullenly closed his ears with his fingers, and refused to hear what was said. He followed in a speech for war. He said the whites had stolen his land; that his father was buried at Rock Island, and his desire was to be laid among his ancestors.

These two men were strikingly dissimilar in personal appearance. Keokuk was large, of fine person, noble bearing, neat in dress, and went appareled like a white man, in fine blue broadcloth. Black Hawk was a heavy set man, not tidy like Keokuk, and wrapped his muscular form in his blanket, though sometimes he was seen to wear a coat.

Once more the Denisons were urged by their red friends to aban- don their home. They were told that war was decided upon, and that to remain was to court certain death. They were on familiar and friendly terms with the savages, and their experiences of the year before did not make them hasty subjects of fright. When they asked why the war was not begun when threatened the first time, the Indians replied that they were not ready then ; that they submitted to the situ- ation to gain time ; but that they were now fully prepared for war.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 7

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424