USA > Illinois > Morgan County > History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.] > Part 28
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" The gross revenue of Morgan County from assessment in 1827, including $60 for fines, amounted to $804.10. For the year 1828, $940.68. For 1832, $2,209.66-an increase from 1827, five years, of $1,405.53. The assessment of 1866, thirty-nine years after that of 1827, foots up to $58,199.85.
" The first Circuit Court was held in the log-cabin of Mr. Olmstead, at Olmstead's-since Allison's-Mound : John Reynolds, judge ; Dennis Rockwell, clerk; Mr. Green, sheriff. The petit and grand juries held their deliberations in the open grove. The second term of the court was held at Jacksonville, in a log-cabin built by Mr. Cox.
" Jonathan Atherton settled in the vicinity of Arcadia, on Indian
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Creek in 1827. He taught a school during the first winter. In the fall of 1828 he moved to Adams County, but returned the following season.
" Alexander Johnson located on Indian Creek, near Mr. Atherton, at about the same time, and the place is now owned by Henry Johnson, Esq., of Jacksonville ; he remembers that when a very small boy, the Indians used frequently to call at their house. During the Black Hawk war, mistaking for Indians a party of rangers who stopped for refresh- ments, he crawled under the bed, and finding a cat-hole leading under- neath the puncheon floor, he forced himself through and remained perfectly quiet until they had left. He then found it impossible to return in the same way, and it was necessary to take up a portion of the floor in order to get him out.
" Rev Thornton Shepherd came to Morgan County from Tennessee, iu the Fall of 1830. He first stopped at the Jesse Barrows place, but soon after obtained the use of a large unfinished cabin on William Scott's farm, on consideration of finishing it. The fireplace was so large that it would take in a log nine feet long. Here Mr. Shepherd wintered with his family. About the middle of December, he had occasion to visit the northeast corner of Greene County, for the purpose of marrying a couple, and on his return was caught in 'the deep snow.' His sister-in- law accompanied him, both riding the same horse. It became too cold to ride, and they were obliged to walk through the deep snow, the journey occupying the entire day. The snow continued to fall, to a great depth; covering the corn in the fields-very little having been gathered-and the settlers were compelled to turn in their stock to gather for themselves. Mr, Shepherd had nineteen head of cattle at the time, and threshed wheat with a flail for Mr. Magill, in exchange for the straw, which he had to haul home the best he could. As the threshing was obliged to be done in the open air, the tips of his fingers were frozen in the attempt to obtain straw for his cattle.
" Mr. Shepherd bought a farm of Levi Fanning, and moved to it March 8th, 1831. He made his first well-bucket by chopping off a section of a log, boring an auger hole through it, and lengthening and enlarging the hole with a chisel until nothing remained of the block but a thin rim. He then fitted in a bottom. A split appearing in the side, he was compelled to take his bucket to Fielding Grimsley, the nearest blacksmith, to get it ironed. That individual, when questioned as to what he was doing, dryly replied that he was ' hooping Shepherd's folly.' Mr. Shepherd was a 'hardshell' Baptist preacher, and was highly esteemed for noble traits of character and strict rectitude. He remained on Big Sandy until his death, a few years since, and left a large family.
" When the Robertson family came to Morgan County, in 1821, and struck the northern fork of the Mauvaisterre, where they settled, the only white men living on Indian Creek, were Roland Shepherd, who was settled at Taylor's Point, and his son, Peter Shepherd, who had made an improvement at Adams' Point. The Kelloggs had built two cabins in the neighborhood, in 1820, one on what is now known as the Roach place, and the other on the place settled by Alexander Robertson. They vacated these cabins and claims, for a location further west, in the Gillham neighborhood. The Kellogg cabin, on the Robertson place, was
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burned down by a prairie-fire ; it was located on rising ground, west of a pond of water.
" The first school-house in the settlement, was built a little south of the burnt cabin. A school was kept by a stern, old Yankee, a teacher of the olden type, named Soule. He was strict with his pupils, and first taught in Mr. Jones' kitchen, while the school-house was being erected. On the last day of school, his scholars demanded that he should treat or be turned out. He refused to do either, and a fight ensued. One of the pupils knocked him against the log mantel, and all the large boys piled on him ; but he was stout and ' plucky,' and soon turned the tables on them, quelling the rebellion, and remaining master of the field. Mr .. Soule left the settlement, with his old mare and cart, and little wife, going west. Captain Bennett, Colonel Samuel Matthews, and Wm. O'Rear, afterward each taught schools in the neighborhood-all in log cabins.
" The Corrington farm on the Mauvaisterre, was settled in 1821, by Mr. W. Miller. Stephen Jones settled the Cassell place, and Joseph Slattern made the first improvements on the O'Rear place.
" Billy Robinson, an old, white-haired hunter, made an improve- ment north of Antioch Church, on which Bennett Jones afterward settled. Isaac Edwards and Mr. Scott located north of the Curts and Reeve places.
" John Anderson settled on the Layton place; James Taylor taking the farm west of the Stephen Dunlap place, on the northern side of the north-fork. 'Mr. Murray was the first settler on the Dunlap farm, and Mr. S. Berey took possession of the quarter-section east of it.
" Mr. Olmstead settled on the quarter-section east of Colonel Matthews. All of the above setttlements were made in 1821.
" Rev. Peter R. Boranau was one of the early Methodist preachers in the county ; he became a noted revivalist, and died in Chicago, some forty years ago."
During the period between 1823 and 1827, there was a constant. increase of emigration to Morgan County, principally from the southern counties of the State.
The southern section of the State was called " Egypt," from the fact that the early settlers of the more northern counties were compelled to. go there for their corn and grinding. Hence, when the settlers of Mor- gan, Sangamon or Greene found themselves under the necessity of making a trip to the southern counties for provisions, they called it " going down into Egypt; " and in consequence, that part of the State has ever since been known as Egypt.
But little trouble with the Indians was experienced by the early set- tlers of Morgan County. There were none in its limits after the white men entered, save straggling hunters or small roving bands who came to some parts, especially those near the river, to fish or hunt. The western part of the county contains several Indian mounds of great antiquity. Just. above Meredosia, on the east bank of the river, is a beautiful level plateau containing about fifteen acres. This was the village home of a- tribe of Indians, and it was here that Antoine D'Osia, a French priest from whom the lake and present town of Meredosia received its name, labored for the good of these sons of the forest. The Indian village and
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its dusky inhabitants have long since gone, but the name of D'Osia will live as long as Meredosia and its lake remain. During a visit of some Indians to Washington City, not many years ago, they stopped at Mere- dosia while on their way, where one of them nearly ninety years of age, related how he had roamed over various parts of the county, and pointed out many objects of interest to his companions. He also related to one of the citizens of Jacksonville, while they were encamped at the fair grounds, many interesting stories of his youthful days. He had hunted and fished in the woods and streams near the present city, when no thoughts of the white man existed in his mind, and when he and his com- m'ades were sovereigns of this country.
No depredations by the Indians were ever committed among the. settlers of Morgan County, and no record of the killing of any white men after the settling of the county is known to have occurred. The set- tlers north of the Illinois River were, however, not so fortunate. In 1827 occurred what is known as
THE WINNEBAGO WAR,
Fully described in the following article, written by Judge William Thomas, for the weekly Journal of August 17, 1871. As it gives an accurate account of the participation of several Morgan County men in this conflict, it is worthy a place in the history of the county :
" But few of the actors in this war remain among us. In 1827, General Edwards received information on which he relied, that the Winnebago Indians had attacked some keel-boats, which had been employed convey- ing army supplies to Prairie du Chien, on their return down the river, and that settlers and miners on Fox River were in imminent danger of an attack from a band of these and other Indians. The general ordered " the commanders of the different regiments and odd battalions of General Harrison's brigade on the eastern side of the Illinois River- excepting the 20th regiment - to take immediate steps for detaching into service, according to law, one-fourth of their respective commands. And should any part of the frontiers south of Rock River be invaded by the savages, the colonel, entitled by law to command the detachment, was ordered to march with the least possible delay to the support of the point attacked, without waiting for further orders.'
" The governor also sent by express - a messenger on horseback - to Colonel Thomas M. Neale, of Springfield, commander of the 20th regiment, an order saying: 'You will accept the services of any number of mounted volunteers, not exceeding six hundred, who will equip them- selves and find their own subsistence, and continue in service thirty days, unless sooner discharged ; they will rendezvous at Fort Clark - Peoria - where you will organize and take the command of them, and march with all possible expedition to the assistance of our fellow-citizens at Galena, where, if you find an officer of the U. S. army entitled to a superior command to yourself, you will report to him and receive his orders. In your progress you will avoid rashly exposing your men to unequal contests, but it is expected that you will not overlook any proper opportunity of repelling any hostile incursions of the savages.' The facts reported to the governor on which he acted have never, as far as I have known, been made public. Acting upon this order of the governor, Colonel Neale
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called for volunteers from the Counties of Sangamon and Morgan. Three companies were raised in this county, one commanded by William B. Green, then sheriff of the county, numbering nearly one hundred, with John Wyatt first, and James Evans second lieutenant. Jesse Ruble was orderly sergeant. The second company was commanded by William Gordan, and numbered not more than forty. Nathan Winter was first lieutenant. Captain Rodgers' command numbered the same as Captain Gordan's. The names of the other officers I do not now remember. I was a volunteer in Captain Graves' company. My messmates were Doct. H. G. Taylor, McHenry Johnson, Enoch C. March, Samuel Blair, and a man named Biggs, a visitor from Kentucky. Of these I am the only survivor. We were required to take ten days' provisions, during which time it was expected we would make Galena, where additional supplies could be obtained. During our preparations to start we had constant, heavy rains, which raised the rivers, creeks, and branches to an unusual height. The companies from this county made their way to Peoria in messes and squads, swimming the streams not bridged. Upon the arrival of all the companies at Peoria, Colonel Samuel T. Matthews was elected lieutenant-colonel, and Elijah Iles, of Springfield, major, who, because he rode a mule, was called the 'innle major.' So soon as organized we left Peoria. James D. Henry (afterward General Henry), was appointed adjutant, Dr. G. Jayne, of Springfield, surgeon, and Dr. Taylor assistant. William Smith, a merchant of Springfield, was appointed quartermaster, and I was quartermaster's sergeant. The heavy rains had extended to Rock River, and the prairies were so saturated with water, so that we could only travel in a walk, our horses breaking the sod at every step. Following a trail made by the Indians, and persons going to the lead mines, on the fifth day from Peoria we reached Rock River (now Dixon). During this march we had to drink the water standing in swamps, pools, and holes in the prairie. On reaching Rock River, seeing that it was a beautiful clear stream, with a gentle current, we expected a good drink of water, but to our surprise we found it no better than the water of the swamps through which we had passed. Dozens were made sick by swallowing the water before tasting. We forded the river in the afternoon on a Sunday, those riding small horses swimming, and encamped on the bank until the next day. Beyond the river we found the country dry. By this time our ten days' provisions were almost exhausted - we had in a baggage wagon only two barrels of flour, and some crackers, and nearly a barrel of whisky, which we divided that evening, and prepared for an early march the next morning. On the morrow we made an early start, and about twelve o'clock we found a beautiful spring of clear water, the first we had had since leaving Peoria, and of which we partook with a will. We took dinner here and let our horses graze for more than an hour ; we then continued the march until sundown, when finding a good spring we encamped, having marched, as we supposed, thirty-five or forty miles that day. The next day, by a forced march, we reached Gratiot's Grove, fifteen miles from Galena, where we were unable to obtain supplies, and where we remained the next day, when we removed our encampment to the White Oak Springs, near a tavern house occupied by a Mrs. Nabb, from Springfield. We neither found or could hear of any officers of the U. S. army, nor of any hostile Indians.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
" Capt. Smith of Sangamon, and Capt. Rodgers of this county, agreed to go to Prairie du Chien with a report from Col. Neale to the command- ing officer at that post. They started without a pilot or compass. They were gone several days and finally returned, reported that they had lost their way and had not been able to reach the garrison. The thirty days being then about expiring, and all apprehension from the hostility having . ceased, Col. Neale decided to disband the army ; the men were supplied with provisions enough to supply them home, and returned in companies, squads, and messes. During the Winter of 1826-7 and the Spring of 1827, an immense number of adventurers and pioneers had gone to the Fox River country expecting to make fortunes by working the mines, who, upon the alarm that the Indians were threatening them, returned in haste by the first means or conveyance. Most of them came down the river, because it was not considered safe to attempt to pass down the land route, and here originated the name of ' sucker,' the fish of that name, it was said, passed down the river at that season of the year, and citizens of southern Illinois were said in their flight to follow the example of the fishes."
Referring to the origin of the term "Sucker," the following is taken from Davidson's History of Illinois :
" On occasion of a pleasant entertainment at Petersburg, Virginia, Judge Douglas gave the following humorous account of the origin of the term 'Suckers,' as applied to Illinoisans ; the account is valuable further, and confers a proud distinction upon Illinois, in that it clears up all doubt regarding the discovery of that important and inspiring beverage called ' mint julep,' a momentous question heretofore covered with obscurity and beset with many doubts, but now in the light of these facts, happily , placed at rest. It is not improbable that a glass of the animating bever- age served to quicken the memory of the honorable Senator on the occasion : .
" About the year 1777, George Rogers Clark applied to the governor of Virginia, and suggested to him that as peace might be declared at any time between Great Britain and the Colonies, it would be well for us to be in possession of the Northwest Territory, so that when the commis- sioners came to negotiate a treaty, we might act on the well-known prin- ciple of uti possidetis, each party holding all they had in possession. He suggested to the governor to permit him to go out to the Northwest, conquer the country, and hold it until the treaty of peace, when we would become possessed of it. The governor consented and sent him across the mountains to Pittsburgh. From there he and his companions floated down the Ohio on rafts to the falls, where Louisville now is. After remaining there a short time, they again took to their rafts and floated down to the Salines, just below the present Shawneetown, in Illinois. Here they took up their march across the country to Kaskaskia, where the French had an old settlement, and by the aid of a guide they reached the Oquaw River, and encamped near Peter Menard's house, some little distance from the town. You see I am well acquainted with the locality. Next morning, Clark got his little army of ragamuffins together (for they had no army wagons with supplies, no sutler, and no stores, and by this time looked ragged enough), and took up his line of march for the little French town of Kaskaskia. It was summer and a very hot day, and as
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he entered the town he saw the Frenchmen sitting quietly on their little verandahs, in front of their houses, sucking their juleps through straws. He rushed upon them, crying, 'Surrender, you suckers, you !' The Frenchmen surrendered, and from that day to this Illinoisans have been known as 'suckers.' That was the origin of our cognomen, and when George Rogers Clark returned to Virginia he introduced the juleps here. Now I want to give Virginians fair notice, that when they claim the honor of a Jefferson, of a Madison, of a Marshall, and of as many other distinguished sages and patriots as the world ever saw, we yield ; when you claim the glory you achieved on the field of battle, we yield ; when you claim credit for the cession of the Northwestern Territory, that out of it Sovereign States might be created, we yield; when you claim the glory of never having polled a vote against the Democratic party, we yield ; but when you claim the glory of the mint julep, hands off ; Illinois wants that."
Another account of the origin of the name Sucker is attributed to the custom of early emigrants who, when passing through the State and find- ing a scant supply of water on the prairies, would thrust a sharpened stick three or four feet down into the loose, porous soil. A short time . after the stick would be withdrawn, the hole would partially fill with water. The emigrant would then insert a long, hollow reed through which he would suck up sufficient water to quench his thirst. From the custom of sucking the water through these hollow tubes the early inhab- itants are said to have derived the appellation of Suckers.
Still another source of the derivation of the term is given. It is related that one spring during the early settlement of the State, the rain fell in such abundance, and the ground remained so long wet after the corn had been planted, that the settlers raised very little if any corn, as it all grew to "suckers," and when the settlers who left the State were asked where they were from, were always ready to reply, "from the Sucker State."
Of all the derivations of this sobriquet, the one given by Judge Thomas is probably correct, and most generally received.
Leaving this digression and returning to the Judge's narrative, we find he proceeds as follows :
" We found the flux prevailing as an epidemic all over the mining country. All the doctors in the country were constantly engaged. The extent of the fatality I had no means of knowing, but there was neces- sarily much suffering for want of medical and other attendance among the sick, and many deaths.
" During that campaign many incidents of amusement occurred, although the march through mud and water was by no means pleasant, either to man or beast. We had several false alarms from the night sentinels, and in consequence calls to arms, intended to test the discipline and courage of the officers and troops. Upon the first alarm, one Captain Greene, was suddenly taken very ill, and so continued until the apparent danger was over. We encamped the second night out near the present village of Tiskillwa (Bureau County), where Sergeant Teas, of Sanga- mon County, found a bee tree, from which he and his mess obtained a good supply of honey. One morning Adjutant Henry and myself, hoping from the appearance of the country miles ahead, that we could find run-
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ning water, rode in advance of the regiment, intending to mix the water with part of a bottle of whisky in my saddle-bags; we found several pools of stagnant water, but every drop of the whisky had leaked through the corn-cob stopper of my bottle, so that we had to drink of the stagnant water without the benefit of the whisky. We saw no deers or wolves on the route, but prairie rattlesnakes afforded numerous oppor- tunities for the skill of our marksmen. When we reached the White Oak Springs, our quartermaster, whose duty it was to purchase supplies, deserted us; and this duty devolved upon the sergeant, who discharged it to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Crossing the Winnebago Swamps, or marshes, many of our horses became mired so that the riders had to dismount, and occasionally the horses had to be drawn out by the use of the halters and bridles. Forage for horses was out of the ques- tion, and they subsisted on the prairie grass. After leaving the settlements we saw no greenhead flies, though they were exceedingly troublesome on the boats at Peoria.
" The governor's order was dated July 4th, at Mt. Vernon. The regiment composed of independent farmers and mechanics was raised, organized, marched to the White Oak Springs, and returned home in not exceeding thirty days. Two of our Morgan County men were drowned in a branch of Crooked Creek returning home. We had no baggage wagon from this county. My mess had a very good tent, which very few of the other messes had. Having no baggage wagons, and having to carry our provisions, arms, and equipments on horseback, we had but little room for tents, even if they had been supplied. We slept on saddle-blankets, with our heads on saddles, and for covering had overcoats and blankets ; but during that season of the year we had but little use for covering other than overcoats.
" The question of pay was not considered of much consequence ; it was well understood that this depended on the action of Congress, and no fears were entertained of the success of General Duncan, our representa- tive in Congress, in obtaining the necessary appropriation. We were not disappointed, for appropriations were made by the Congress of 1827-8, and we were paid in the Spring of 1828, the following rates: Each sergeant major and quartermaster-sergeant, $9 per month ; each drum and fife major, $8.33 per month; sergeants, $8; each corporal, drummer, fifer and teamster, $7.33 ; each farrier, saddler and artificer included as a private, $8; each gunner, bombardier, and private, $6.66. In addition to which we were paid for the use of horses, arms and accoutrements, and for the risk thereof, except for horses killed in action, ten cents per day. For rations, 25 cents per day, and one day's pay for fifteen miles travel to the place of rendezvous and returning home."
Nothing of interest occurred in the history of the county from the close of the Winnebago war until the fall of the " deep snow," which happened in the Winter of 1830-31. Quite a number of persons had settled in the county during this interval, and population and improve- ments had largely increased. This fall of snow was indeed a remarkable event. Nothing like it had ever occurred in the annals of the Northwest. The Indians relate that years before the discovery of the Mississippi River, a great snow fell to the depth of a man's waist. Wild animals perished in great numbers, and the suffering among the Indians, which
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followed the loss of so much game, was severely felt. In the early days of Kentucky a snow fell to a depth of more than a foot, causing great privation among the settlers ; it however did not equal the " deep snow " of 1830-31.
THE DEEP SNOW.
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