USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 2
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Now, when these massive stone and earthen works have silently and majestically borne down to us, through the long vistas of centu- ries, the undeniable fact that this was, in reality, a sister land to that of the most ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians, we pause in awful wonderment. It is with a feeling akin to reverence that we think of the beings who were here such ages and ages ago.
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CHAPTER IV.
THE FRENCH IN ILLINOIS.
TN 1534, seven years before De Soto discovered the Mississippi river, Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, discovered the gulf and river St. Lawrence. The name was given to the gulf the next year, at the close of Cartier's second voyage. Cartier's discoveries were soon made known, and France immediately attempted to execute a plan for the colonization of New France, as Canada was first called. Various attempts were made, but all proved failures. For a time, while France was employed with domestic troubles, no attempts at coloniza- tion were made. It was not, therefore, until 1608, when France had peace at home, that the first permanent settlement was made in Can- ada. In this year Quebec was founded by Samuel Champlain. In writing of Champlain, Mr. Ridpath says that to lim "more than to any other man, - more than to the French government itself, -the success of the North American colonies of France must be attributed."
Champlain, upon his return in 1615 from a visit to France, brought with him some Recollet monks, who came actuated solely by religious motives. After establishing many missions, they found their field of labor too great for so few laborers, and the Jesuits of France were appealed to. They came, actuated by the same religious zeal that the Recollet monks possessed. Illinois, and in fact all the great North- west, owes not a little to the pure lives and deep religious bearing of the French missionaries.
Nicholas Perrot was the first European to tread the soil of Illinois. Over two hundred years ago, in 1670,* he was sent as an agent of tlie Canadian government to call a meeting of the western Indians at St. Mary's. This peace convention was a movement preparatory to what finally led to the discovery of the Mississippi river. Perrot, after visiting other tribes in the Northwest, proceeded to the village of tlie Miamas, at what is now Chicago. Illinois did well to rear her great- est city where her earliest European visitor placed first liis foot upon her yielding soil.
In 1672 * two Jesuit ministers, Alloüez and Dablon, starting from their mission on Green Bay, passed through the northern part of Illi- nois to visit the Fox, Masquotine and Kickapoo Indians.
Not yet was the idea of the western passage to the Pacific given up.
* Bancroft.
17
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BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
M. Talon, the intendant of Canada, selected Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette to assist in unvailing the great mystery. Before definite arrangements for the expedition were made, the intendant and gov- ernor were succeeded by other men. The new governor, Count Fron- tenac, upon the recommendation of Talon, placed Joliet and Marquette in charge of the western expedition.
Joliet was a native of Quebec, and was born in 1645. He was energetic, had a good education, and was well qualified for the task before him. He had been educated for a priest, but he found his life- work in another direction. For some time previous to his appoint- ment with Marquette he had been a trader among the Indians. After his voyage with Marquette he did further service for the king. As a reward for all of his services he received the island of Anticosti. He, after this, caused his name to be written Joliet d'Anticosty. Some of his descendants are still living in Canada, and are yet in possession of his seigniory .*
Marquette was the greater man of the two. He was born at Laon, France, in 1637. He united with the Jesuits at an early age, and in 1666 was sent to America. On account of his wonderful determina- tion and integrity, his kindness and his deep religious. feeling, he became the most beloved and most successful of all the Indian mission- aries.
Joliet joined Marquette at Mackinaw. Marquette said in speaking of their appointment, "Our joy at being chosen for this expedition roused our courage and sweetened the labor of rowing from morning to night." From Mackinaw Strait, in company with several other Frenchmen, these men started May 17, 1673, on their renowned ex- . pedition. Green Bay was reached, and on the Fox river an Indian village was found. After stating their mission to the wondering Al- gonquins, and after obtaining two Indian guides, the voyagers pro- ceeded up the Fox river and across the Portage, when the Wisconsin river was reached. The guides returned leaving the Frenchinen "alone in an unknown country in the hands of Providence." " France and Christianity stood in the valley of the Mississippi." + Passing down the Wisconsin river, in all its early June beauty, the voyagers reached the Great River on the 17th of June 1673. With untold joy they looked upon the mighty water. With thrilling hearts they eagerly entered the swift current and " the two birch-bark canoes, raising their happy sails under new skies and to unknown breezes, floated down the calm magnificence of the ocean stream." +
*H. W. Beckwith's "Historic Notes of the Northwest."
+ Bancroft.
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THE FRENCH IN ILLINOIS.
About sixty leagues below the mouth of the Wisconsin a little foot- path was seen leading westward from the river. Joliet and Mar- quette, the first white men in Iowa, went alone in search of the In- dians. After going six or eight miles they found, on the banks of the Des Moines river, some Illinois Indians, who received them . kindly. An aged chief addressed them thus: "How beautiful is the sun, O Frenchmen, when thou comest to visit us! All our town awaits thee, and thou shalt enter all our cabins in peace." After six days' delay Marquette and Joliet, escorted by many of the savages, returned to their canoes. As the voyagers journeyed on down the river each day's travel brought new beauties to their view, and ere long the mouth of the Illinois river was reached. The muddy waters of the Missouri soon furnished to them a new object of wonderment. After passing the mouth of the Ohio, and upon nearing the mouth of the Arkansas, they were convinced that the waters of the Mississippi did not reach the Pacific ocean. They therefore decided to return.
Indians had been encountered at various places during the down- ward voyage. The return voyage was begun in the heat of July. Upon reaching the mouth of the Illinois river the Indians persuaded the travelers to follow up that river, thus finding an easier trip to Green Bay. While moving rapidly against the gentle current of the Illinois river, Marquette, thoughi suffering from an illness contracted in the southi, found ready enjoyment in the magnificent scenery which was continually being presented to their view. The blossoming flowers, the bounding deer, tlie roaming buffalo, all added to the in- terest of the scene before them. As they passed up the river, alinost reluctantly their lingering eyes left the beauties in their rear, yet with eagerness they anticipated what was before them.
Upon arriving at Kaskaskia, a town of the Illinois Indians on the " present site of the town of Utica in La Salle county, they procured guides and the party soon reached Chicago. From thence they jour- neyed on to Green Bay. Upon reaching this place Marquette decided to remain at his mission while Joliet went with accounts of their dis- coveries to Quebec.
After nearly a year spent in trying to regain his health, Marquette started on what proved to be his last missionary expedition. In Oc- tober, 1674, he started, with two Frenchimen and some Indians, to Kaskaskia, where he proposed to found a mission. His malady re- turned upon his reaching Chicago, and the winter was spent in a hut on the banks of the river. The following March he continued his journey to Kaskaskia, and the first Jesuit mission was founded in Illi- nois. The Indians took regretful leave of the good man when he
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A BRIEF HISTORY . OF ILLINOIS.
started for Mackinaw, which he hoped to reach ere his death. But it was not thus to be. On the 19th of May he was obliged to pause in his journey. His companions built a hut for him on the banks of the stream which bears his name. Here, in America's great wilderness, where he had ever loved to tell of his unshaken faith, Mar- quette's spirit passed upward to his Maker.
After Champlain, Robert Cavalier de La Salle was the next great French explorer to leave the " vine-clad hills of sunny France " and brave the trials and misfortunes in the New World. Robert de La Salle was the son of a wealthy burgher in Rouen, and was born in 1643. He was deprived of his patrimony by his early connections with the Jesuits. Finding his sphere somewhat limited, he made an honorable withdrawal from the Jesuits and followed his brother, a St. Sulpitian priest, to America. While preparing for the settlement of the grant of land which was presented to him, he became acquainted with nine different Indian languages and dialects.
Upon hearing of the Ohio river from Seneca Indians, La Salle re- solved to attempt to discover the Western Passage to Asia. Although he failed to obtain help from the government, he was not to be baffled in his desire. He sold his grant of land and thus prepared for his expedition. A missionary expedition, which the Seminary was pre- paring for the northwest, was merged into La Salle's expedition, and in July, 1669, the explorers began their journey. The missionary part of this expedition proved a failure. La Salle, however, amid perplexing trials, won for himself an everlasting crown of glory,- won the honor of discovering the Ohio river.
After returning to France, La Salle came back to America with renewed energy and additional means for carrying on his pet project. In 1679 a vessel, the Griffin, was constructed on the Niagara river, and was destined for an expedition on the Great Lakes. La Salle, in company with Tonti, Hennepin and others, embarked in the vessel in August 1679. Green Bay was reached, and the fated Griffin was sent toward Canada, while La Salle with his remaining men started in canoes to the St. Joseph river. Upon the completion of Fort Miama, on the St. Joseph river, La Salle continued his journey, and sought to find the Illinois river. Before the end of December, La Salle, Tonti and Hennepin, with two other men, glided joyfully down the Illinois river and soon reached the Indian village of Kaskaskia. The six hun- dred cabins were deserted, and La Salle, after helping himself to some stored corn, passed on down the river. They soon entered Lake Peoria, and at its lower extremity the friendly Illinois Indians were found.
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THE FRENCH IN ILLINOIS.
Notwithstanding the friendship of the Indians dark days were ahead for La Salle. He already feared the loss of the Griffin, and, too, his men became discontented. When La Salle planned and began to build a fort on the banks of the Illinois river, below the Peoria lake, thwarted by destiny and almost despairing he named the fort "Creve- cœur," or the " Broken Heart."
These trials afforded but another opportunity for La Salle to slow forth his great determination and will power. His men were led to construct a bark on the Illinois river. Hennepin was sent on an expe- dition to the upper Mississippi; Tonti was left in charge of Fort Creve- cœur, while La Salle, with but three companions, started on foot for Fort Frontenac, in Canada. On his way up the river La Salle visited the Illinois Indians, who had returned to Kaskaskia. While here he explored the elevation since known as Starved Rock. This rock is near one hundred and fifty feet in height, and is situated on the south bank of the Illinois river, about one and one half miles from the present town of Utica. La Salle, pleased with the rock, afterward sent word to Tonti to fortify it. After this short pause, La Salle con- tinued his journey toward Canada. He reached his destination safely after a long and perilous journey.
Notwithstanding the loss of the Griffin, the receiving of a discour- aging letter from Tonti at Fort Creve-cœur, and the hearing of the destruction of Fort St. Joseph, still La Salle was not dismayed. He obtained necessary supplies, and with twenty-five men returned to Illi- nois. Upon reaching Kaskaskia they found it deserted. The liouses were burned, and buzzards feasted on the fetid remains of the slaughtered Indians. The dreaded Iriquois had evidently made their threatened invasion. After searching in vain for Tonti, La Salle went on down the river. The deserted and partially destroyed Fort Creve-cœur was found -but no Tonti. La Salle sadly continued his course to the Mississippi river, when, in despair of finding the missing ones, he resolved to return to Fort Miama.
Tonti, in the meantime, after the desertion of some of his men, had found refuge with the Indians at Kaskaskia. Here he remained until the arrival of the Iriquois. Previous to the open attack, Tonti had worked hard on both sides endeavoring to obtain peace. He had risked liis life in vain, and finally, being distrusted by the Indians, he started with what remained of his company for Green Bay.
La Salle next conceived and executed . the plan of getting the Illinois and Miama Indians to unite for defense against the Iriquois. He started again for Canada. and on his way mnet Tonti at Mackinaw.
Upon reaching Canada another expedition was fitted out for the
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
valley of the Mississippi. This party reached the Mississippi on the 6th of February 1682. On the 6th of April the Great Gulf was be- fore them, and on the 9th of April, 1682, La Salle, in the name of Louis XIV of France, took possession of the Mississippi valley. The anticipated goal was reached, and the travelers made preparations for returning to Mackinaw.
From Mackinaw La Salle expected to go to France, but hearing of the Indian troubles in Illinois he returned and built Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock. La Salle next went to Canada, leaving Tonti in charge of Fort St. Louis. From Canada he went to France to fit up an expe- dition via the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi valley. He succeeded in starting from France with four ships and two hundred and eighty men. Unfortunately the mouth of the Mississippi was passed, and the party landed at Matagorda bay. A fort was built here, and named St. Louis, in honor of the king.
La Salle, failing to find either gold or the Mississippi river, started with twenty men overland toward Canada. His men were dissatisfied, and finally in one of their quarrels La Salle's nephew was killed. While seeking for his nephew La Salle was shot by one of his men. Such was the death of this bold adventurer.
" For force of will and vast conceptions ; for various knowledge and quick adoption of genius to untried circumstances ; for a sublime mag- nanimity that resigned itself to the will of heaven, and yet triumphed over affliction by energy of purpose and unfaltering lopes, he had no superior among his countrymen." *
De Soto discovered the lower Mississippi, and Joliet and Marquette discovered the upper part of the river ; but to La Salle will be yielded the honor of starting colonization in the great central valley of the west.
In the preparation of this article on the French explorations the following works have been consulted: Bancroft's "History of the United States," vol. iii; Ridpath's " History of the United States"; Davidson and Stuvé's " History of Illinois"; H. W. Beckwithi's " His- toric Notes of the Northwest"; Peck's "Annals of the West," and Parkman's "Northwest."
* Bancroft.
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LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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CHAPTER V.
INDIANS IN ILLINOIS.
" Alas ! for them-their day is o'er, Their fires are out from hill to shore ; No more for them the wild deer bounds ; The plough is on their hunting grounds ; The pale man's axe rings through their woods ;
The pale man's sail skims o'er their floods ; Their pleasant springs are dry ;
Their children-look ! by power oppressed, Beyond the mountains of the west Their children go-to die."
CHAS. SPRAGUE.
THE present Indians of the United States constitute, it is sup- posed, the third distinct race which has inhabited North America. Their origin is still but a matter of conjecture. The most common supposition, however, is that they sprang from some of the early peo- ples of Asia. According to Indian tradition they came from the northwest. Their "happy hunting grounds" were always toward the west. The Algonquin and Iroquois branches of the American Indians are the only ones which played a conspicuous part in Illinois history.
The principal part of the Iroquois country was in what is now the State of New York. The five principal tribes of the Iroquois-the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas-constituted thie famous Five Nations of New York. It has been considered by some that these nations showed the Indian in his most favorable aspect- that the Iroquois Indian was the bravest, most patriotic and most eloquent of all the Indians. A later opinion, however, is that the Algon- quins, from the same latitude, were fully their equals in courage, patriotism and eloquence.
The territory of the Algonquin Indians completely surrounded that of the Iroquois, and extended far to the north, south and west. The Algonquins were on the St. Lawrence at the time of the French dis- coveries there; they were found as far south as South Carolina, and Marquette and La Salle found them in the Mississippi valley. The Algonquins embraced the Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawatomies, Sacs
3
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and Foxes, Kickapoos, Illinois, and several other tribes. The majority of the Indians who made Illinois their home belonged to the Illinois tribe.
ILLINOIS INDIANS.
The word Illinois is derived from Illini, an Indian term meaning "real or superior men." The French have left their impress upon our state by giving to its name a French termination.
Originally the Illinois confederacy was composed of four tribes, the Kaskaskias, Cahokias, Tamaroas and Peorias. Not a great while previous to the appearance of the French in the west, a foreign tribe, the Michigamies, were taken into the confederacy.
Previous to the discovery of the upper Mississippi by Marquette the Illinois Indians had been driven west of that river by the Iroquois. They afterward returned to their former home, and when Marquette and Joliet passed up the Illinois river they found some of their tribe near the present town of Utica, on the Illinois river. After the repul- sion of the Illinois tribe by the Iroquois the former Indians were in constant fear of renewed attacks; and they had ground for fear, for in 1680 the Iroquois again made their appearance.
Consternation and fear were depicted in the countenance of every inhabitant of the Kaskaskia village when a Shawnee Indian, after starting for home, hurried back with the news of the invaders' arrival. With hurried preparations for war the Illinois crossed the river and barely reached the plain beyond when the Iroquois emerged in vast numbers from the woods of the Vermilion river. Some shots were discharged on both sides, but a partial treaty of peace was made and the Iroquois reserved their attack until later, when they plundered the . village and pursued the Illinois down the river. Near the mouth of the Illinois river seven hundred women and children of the Tamaroas were taken prisoner. Throughout the entire attack the butcheries were fearful ; men, women and children were unmercifully slaughtered. After the appeasing of their fiendish thirst the Iroquois retired from their field of conquest and the remaining Illinois returned to their desolated liomes.
The Iroquois were great warriors, could not remain idle, pre- tended to subject all other nations to themselves, and never wanted a pretext for commencing hostilities. They, however, were not always successful in their campaign into the Illinois country, and into other parts of the west. According to tradition, four hundred Iroquois were
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INDIANS IN ILLINOIS.
defeated at the mouth of Des Moines river by three hundred Sioux. Again, on the banks of the Illinois river, some Illinois Indians, at the instigation of an Indian maiden,* returned after a partial defeat and completely routed the Iroquois.
The founding at the Kaskaskia village of the earliest Jesuit mission in Illinois has already been alluded to. This mission, founded in 1675, was removed by Father Gravier to Kaskaskia, in southwestern Illinois, some time previous to 1690. Kaskaskia, the oldest town in Illinois, was the last abiding place of the Illinois Indians within the limits of the state.
Although the Illinois Indians were considered cowardly, treacher- ous and deceitful, yet the French never had any more faithful allies. Charlevoix, in the "History of New France," said of them: "If we except the Abenaqui tribes, they are the only tribe that never sought peace with their enemies to our prejudice."
In 1684 there were twelve hundred Illinois warriors in their single village at La Salle's colony, at Fort St. Louis, on the Illinois river. These Indians assisted the French in many instances. They assisted in the Chickasaw war, and fought against the Natchez Indians in 1729. They became involved in Pontiac's great conspiracy, but they had seemingly lost much of their old thirst for warfare ; and as they did not show the zeal which Pontiac expected they would, he threatened them severely. In 1767,+ when Pontiac lost his life in the Illinois country, the other nations that had answered to Pontiac's mighty word of command sought revenge upon the Illinois confederacy. During this persecution, shortly after the death of Pontiac, occurred the siege of Starved Rock. Tradition says that a war party of the Illinois sought refuge at the old Fort St. Louis, on Le Rocher, as the French called it. Their enemies besieged these warriors until, when near starving, they grew desperate. One dismal, stormy night they at- tempted to escape, but they were soon overpowered by their blood- thirsty enemies. It is said, however, that a few escaped down the river and joined the remaining Illinois Indians near Kaskaskia. IIence the name, Starved Rock, by which this rocky promontory is known at the present time. In 1794 the Illinois Indians were defeated in a war against the United States. A treaty of peace was made and an annuity was granted them. They made several moves after this, selling their
* Watseka, the county seat of Iroquois county, perpetuates the name of this maiden .- H. W. BECKWITH.
+ H. W. Beckwith.
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BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
land as they left. According to a letter of Gen. Harrison's, written in 1814, the Illinois confederacy was reduced, in 1800, to but thirty warriors, while in 1745 their warriors numbered four thousand. By various treaties their lands were ceded to the United States. They were moved west of the Missouri, and in 1854 were in eastern Kansas. In 1867 they moved farther west. There remained, in 1872, but forty persons, men, women and children, of the once great and powerful Illinois confederacy.
According to the accounts given by some of the early French mis- sionaries, the Illinois Indians originally possessed their full share, probably more than their full share, of Indian vices. Upon the arrival of the French missionaries they were warmly welcomed by the Illinois, and soon christianity had "produced a change such as she alone can produce in morals and disposition." In the use of the bow and arrow they were more skillful than any of the surrounding tribes. They were tall and graceful, and were noted for being swift of foot.
Previous to the coming of the Iroquois the Illinois Indians had lived on the banks of the Illinois river in primitive contentedness. Long before Perrot reached Illinois these Indians had lived, fought, loved and worshiped in the beautiful valley of the river which bears their name. Their swift arrows pierced the hearts of scores of timid bound- ing deer. The buffalo, in all his mightiness, fell to the ground no less surely than did the deer when the Illinois bow was raised. They hunted that they might live. They lived in great simplicity, but with a kindness to relatives and a royal hospitality to friends and strangers, that some of their pale-faced successors would do well to imitate. They fought in defense of kindred and homes, and for their dead. Cupid's arrow was no less potent then than now. Triumphantly the "persistent god" started the mystic dart that pierced with all surety the hearts of dusky youths and maidens. And here on this broad rolling prairie, or in the midst of the great forest, which Marquette said was the Indian's paradise, these Indians thought ever of the Great Spirit -their God.
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