USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 4
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
mains. Air-slacking results from the lime absorbing moisture from the atmos- phere. Slacked lime is chemically speaking hydrated oxide of calcium, or a combination of water and oxide of calcium. Calcium in its metallic state is seen only as a curiosity, its great affinity for oxygen rendering it impossible to preserve it from the attacks of that element whenever they come in contact.
Peroxide of iron is quarried near Rock Falls and is ground at Sterling by the Sterling Mineral Paint Company. It is quite extensively sold and is well liked by those who have used it. It is of a dark rich brown, wears well, and from its composition must be incombustible and as near fire proof as a paint can be. An analysis made by Prof. Mariner, of Chicago, gives as its composition: Peroxide of iron, 68 .; Silica, 15. ; Alumina, 11. ; Water, 5. Eleven hundred tons were quarried last winter and will be required to supply the demand for the current year. It is used by railroad companies in painting cars and largely for painting out-buildings, and in coating iron and tin roofs. The sales extend to all parts of our country and there is a good prospect of a European market. This is therefore one of the most valuable mineral deposits of our County.
Clays .- Red, yellow, blue and white clays are found in almost every neigh- borhood. The red is always an ore of iron resembling in general character the Sterling Mineral Paint, but containing less iron and more silica and alumina. The yellow contains some iron and it is this element that gives the red color to our bricks when burned. Very good brick are made at Morrison, Sterling, Ful- ton, Lyndon, and other places. Fire clay contains little iron and should be free from lime, for while either silica-sand, alumina-clay, or lime taken separately can be melted only in the most intense heat of a powerful furnace, when mixed they are quite fusible, consequently the presence of lime in the clay renders it more fusible, and therefore unfit for use where a high temperature is to be sus- tained. The clay found in beds of from two to eight inches in thickness between the strata of the Unionville sandstone is a very good fire clay and has been used in the manufacture of fire brick at Fulton, and also at the Morrison lime kilns. It was used at Fulton in the manufacture of pottery and would answer a good purpose but does not take glazing readily. It is somewhat difficult to get it out free from arenaceous matter, and the quantity is too small to be of much value. Near Cochran's quarry is a bed of clay that may prove to be of some importance. He informs us that brick made from it stand the action of fire remarkably well. It has not been tried on a large scale.
Sand .- Sand for mortar is found in all parts of the county. Moulding sand (of good quality) is obtained at Lyndon, and a bed that seems to possess all the qualities of a good moulding sand occurs at Cochran's quarry.
Gravel beds are found in the drift everywhere, but in many cases they are deep down and practically inaccessible. South and west of Lyndon on the C. R. I. & St. L. R. R., is a fair deposit of gravel.
Marl .- A calcareous clay or soft shelly limestone, is quite common, but is usually called a clay. These marls where found in sufficient quantities are val- uable fertilizers and are worthy of much more attention than they have received. The exuberant fertility of our soil has caused our people to neglect these sources of wealth because deemed unnecessary, but the day is rapidly approaching when a better system of farming will be inaugurated, and then the question of manures will receive a more careful consideration. The deposit known as quick clay is a marl. A bed of shell marl occurs on Dr. Pennington's land in Jordan, but seems to be thin.
Such then are the mineral resources of Whiteside County. They are not such as are calculated to startle and amaze the reader, and seem when com- pared with those of Jo. Daviess or La Salle Counties, scanty and mean, and when
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NATURAL HISTORY.
contrasted with those of an equal area of Colorado or California to be of no consequence; but we must not forget that these treasures are indispensable to the welfare of a people, that without them progress must be slow and enterprise continually embarassed. Besides they are of such a nature that the demand must continue to increase with time, and the supply is practically inexhaustible. They are therefore of great economical value, mines of wealth more necessary and more conducive to our progress than the gems of Golconda, or the mines of Nevada.
Notes.
The Unionville Sandstone .- These strata seem to form isolated patches or islands in a Niagara sea. As they now exist we believe them to be wholly un- connected. They are fragments of a once much more extensive deposit, most of which has been torn up and scattered over more southern lands.
The Walled Well .- The story of a walled well-a work of aboriginal art- has been heard by many who may read these pages. Mr. Jas. Shaw considers it to be a pot-hole or hole worn out by the action of the water and gravel. The porch of a house now covers it and investigation would be difficult if not impos- sible. It is to be regretted that this object has not been examined by competent parties, as its character is yet doubtful.
Coal and Petroleum .- The search for coal and petroleum may be pronounced in vain. Neither are to be expected in this county. The coal-bearing strata do not extend into the county, and as the shales that are the great reservoirs of petroleum are all wanting we may assume that petroleum does not exist in any quantity worth looking after.
NATURAL HISTORY.
The Natural History of Whiteside County has not been studied with the care the subject should receive. No collection of its animals, reptiles, birds, fishes and insects exists as far as we now know. This is to be regretted, as species once common here are becoming scarce and some not native here are appearing year by year and taking the place of those that are disappearing.
The principal animals found in the county by the first settlers were the Gray wolf, Prairie wolf, Lynx, Wild cat, Raccoon, Skunk, Mink, Weasel, Beaver, Otter, Muskrat, Hare (rabbit), Gray squirrel, Fox squirrel, Grey gopher, Striped gopher (Spermophile), Chipmunk (probably an emigrant), Mole of several species, Mice of several species. The Bison or Buffalo (Bos Americanus) certainly at one time visited this county as the bones are now found in the peat beds. The bear was also probably an inhabitant of this region, although we have not seen it mentioned as being found here by our first settlers. The elk and deer were common and were found many years after the county was settled, although they are now extinct.
The birds of Whiteside County are those of a large section of the United States. Several species are only occasional visitors, many species go southward during the winter, while a small number remain here the year round. Among the birds of prey the Baldeagle (Haliatus leucocephalus), holds the first place. He is probably not a resident of the county at this time. The Buzzard, Spar- row hawk, Goss hawk, Snowy owl, Barn owl, and Screech owl, Butcher bird or shrike, King bird, King fisher, Blue jay, Wood pecker, Yellow-hammer, Meadow lark, Snow bird, Wren, Redstart, Chipping bird, Blue bird, Brown-thresher, Tomtit, Yellow bird, Baltimore oriole, Robin, Pewee, Phoebe bird, Cheewink or Ground finch, Cuckoo, Plover, Snipe, Wild goose, Duck, Crane, Heron, Gull, Brant, Swan, Partridge, Prairie chicken or Pinnated grouse, Quail, Turkey,
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Night hawk, Whipporwill, Swallow, Chimney swallow, Martin, Dove, Pigeon, Crow, Bittern or Pump thunder, Black bird, Woodcock, Rail, Humming bird, are found at some seasons of the year within our borders. Some of them are now seldom seen while others are constantly met with. The practice of ruth- lessly shooting everything that has feathers and wings has tended to greatly diminish the number of birds, and some species are verging on extinction as far as this region is concerned.
Reptiles are neither large nor numerous. Of the turtles there are four species, two of which attain a considerable size. The newts or Tritons are represented by one, perhaps more species. The Mennobranchus inhabits the still water of sloughs. Frogs are numerous and of several species. Toads are common. The tree frog is often heard, if not frequently seen, and the cray fish is a well known denizen of our low lands. Of the Ophidians-the serpents -the number is not large, and most species are less common than they were a few years ago. The rattlesnake was represented by at least three species, two of them the yellow rattlesnake-Crotalus horridus, and the Prairie rattlesnake now seldom seen, are large reptiles. The blow snake-a species of viper, blue racer, garter snake, the most common of our snakes, the water snake, and the ground snake, very scarce, comprise most of our species.
The fishes are quite numerous in all the streams of any size. The catfish, pout, black and rock bass, sunfish, perch, buffalo fish, pickerel, pike, sucker, sheephead, spoon fish, sturgeon, eel, shiner, gar, and minnow, are the principal species. They are caught in considerable quantities, especially in the Missis- sippi and Rock Rivers.
The insects comprise representatives of all the great families. The Lepi- doptera-moths and butterflies, has many species, varying greatly in size, from the great Cecropia moth, five inches across the wings, to the tiny Tenia less than a half inch in breadth. The Neuroptera are common, dragon flies of several species being found along our streams. The Corydalis frequents the same places, especially the woods of Rock River. Mosquitoes are over much of the county, too abundant for comfort. The Coleoptera are numerous, and many of them large and beautifully colored. The beetles, embracing the troublesome and destructive borers of many species, belong to this class, as also the carrion bug or scavenger beetle. Many of the borers are remarkable for the length of their antennae and for the strangeness and elegance of their forms. The beautiful and delicate lady-bugs also belong to this division. The Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera are represented by the flies and bees, of each of which there are several genera and many species: the humble bee, wasp, hornet, yellow jacket, mason wasp, mining bee, and hornet are too well known to require description. The spiders, Arachnida, are found everywhere, many of them being highly colored and some of them of large size.
The molluska are represented by about forty species of Unio, varying greatly in size, form, exterior surface of shell and internal structure. The Viviparus, Melania, and Planorbis are also well represented in most of our streams. Many of these shells are beautiful objects and they offer a fine field to the naturalist, being easily obtained in great quantity. The land species, Physa, Helix, &c. are found in the woods and marshy lands. We have seen no living specimens of either genus in our researches this summer (1877).
BOTANY.
The botany of this county is rich in species both of Exogens-plants hav- ing a true wood and bark and increasing in size by the addition of layers on the outside, and Endogens-plants having no true wood and bark, and growing from
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BOTANY.
within. The Cryptogamia are also quite numerous, the Musci, Filices and Fungi being quite plenty. A list of the plants alone would occupy several pages, and for the general reader possess little interest. We shall therefore only enumerate the principal species:
The forest trees and shrubs embrace the Cottonwood, Yellow Popal, Quak- ing asp; Oak-white, black, yellow, chestnut; Black Walnut; Coffee Bean ---- Gymnocladus; Elms-Ulmus americana and Ulmus fulva; Willows, several species; Mulberry, Morus rubus; Box Elder-Negundo aceroides; Soft Maple --- Acer rubrus; Hard Maple-Acer saccharum; Sycamore; Plane tree-Platanus occidentalis; Ash-black and blue; Baswood, or Linn tree; Honey Locust; Three Thorned Acacia, Gledithschia tricanthus; Sassafras-Sassafras officin- ale; Plum; Crab Apple; Wild Cherry-Cerasus serotinus; Witch Hazel; Dog- wood-Cornus; Shadberry; Juneberry-Amelanchier canadensis; Thorn-Cra- tegus tomentosus and Crategus crusgalli; Sumac-Rhus glabra, Rhus typhina, Rhus radicans, climbing; Staff tree; False Bitter Sweet-Celastrus scandens, climbing; Birch; Hazel; Elder; Button Bush-Cephalanthus; Black Alder; Red Cedar -- Juniperus virginiana.
A noticeable feature of this list is that the finest timber trees of the east are wanting here. Neither the Tulip nor Cucumber tree are present, and the Linn is of less size. The Oaks are more scrubby and less valuable. The Hard Maple is found in a few places only, the Beech not at all. Of the herbs and small shrubs the number is very great, many of them worthy of notice on account of the beauty of their foliage and flowers. From early spring when the Anemone Nuttalliana appear on the sandy hillsides until the chill wind of winter browns the foliage with its icy breath there is a con- stant succession of floral beauties. Several species of Ranunculus enliven pas- tures and roadsides and are known to all under the familiar name of crowfoot or butter cups. Liverwort-Hepatica triloba; Spring Beauty-Claytonia; Cowslip -- Caltha palustris; Dutchman's Breeches-Dicentria cucullaria and canadensis; Dentaria diphylla or pepper root; Cardamine rhomboidia, Arabis canadensis or wild cress; Barbarea vulgaris or water cress; Viola pedata; Viola cucul- lata; Dodecatheon media or prairie points, prairie pink or Mead's cowslip; Thalictrum cornuti; Geranium maculatum or crane's bill; Sanguinaria cana- dense or blood root; Oxalis violacea or purple sorrel; Spirea; Phlox, macu- latum, and several other species make up a constant succession of flowers from spring to midsummer, while the composite through the spring are represented by but few species, dandelion-Leontodon taravensis and Troximon with Cirsium pumilam, a large beautiful thistle. Lilies now begin to appear, and two species,-L. superbum and L. philadelphicum, are quite common. Rosin weed-silphium of three species, sunflowers-Helian- thus of six species; Coreopsis of four species; Rudebeckia, four species, Soli- dago-Golden rod of six species; Vernonia fasiculata; Liatris, four species; Aster, ten or twelve species; Cirsium thistle, four species; Lepachys; Echin- acea purpurea, purple cone flower; Parthenium. Heliopsis lævis; Erigeron, three species; Eupatorium, boneset thoroughwart, four species; Dysodia, dog- fennel; Cacalia; Cynthia Virginiana and several other genera make a splendid display of composite flowers until frost. Lobelia-four species; cardinalis- red cardinal flower; syphilitica-blue cardinal flower; leptostachys-slender lobelia, inflata-lobelia; Campanula Americana; C. rotundifolium, in rocky ground; Lysimachia stricta; L. longifolia; Gerardia auriculata; the curious and beautiful Castilleja coccinea-painted cup ;. C. sessilifolia; Dasystoma flava; Gerardia; Pentestemon grandiflorus; Mimulus ringens-monkey flower; Eryn- gium yuccacefolium; Petalostemon violaceum; Dalea-alopecuroides; Lespedza
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
capitata-bush clover; Cassia chamæcrista; Baptisia, two species; Lathyrus- wild pea-three species; Desmodium, four species; Podophyllum peltatum- may apple, mandrake, are some of the most common. Several species of Asclepidiaceæ or milkweeds, among them the lovely butterfly weed with its large scarlet heads of flowers, is a very conspicuous object by roadsides and in fields; the Calystegia sepium, commonly called morning glory-a great pest of the farmers from its creeping roots and spreading vines of rapid growth; Ipomea panduratus-man root, man of the earth-a splendid plant with large morning glory-like flowers, having a purple tube and white border and a large fleshy root very difficult to kill, are frequently met with and cannot fail to attract the attention of the lover of nature. The curious Euphorbias are not generally striking in foliage or flower, but E. carollata is very common in dry fields and from its large white umbellate heads, is a very conspicuous object. The remainder of the species common here are creeping plants and cover our ploughed lands, if not frequently stirred, with a web of variegated green or red. Of the Grasses we have not space to speak, and moreover have never made them an object of study. The Filices or ferns, Musci or mosses, and Liverworts, must for the same reason be omitted.
It will be seen from this meagre article that the botany of this county offers a treasury by no means poor in its resources, to him who seeks a knowl- edge of the Creator's wonderful works. It is far from creditable to the litterati of the county that no better collections illustrating Natural History exist. Our teachers, especially those standing at the head of our High Schools, could very easily awaken an interest in this subject in the minds of their pupils, and large and valuable collections could readily be made, collections that would not only be of value for illustration in teaching, but become standards of reference in the future. Besides this knowledge has a value that cannot easily be estimated. The man who goes out into the world having some acquaintance with Geology will not spend his time and money in digging in Devonian and Silurian strata for coal, or boring in Niagara Limestone for petroleum. He who has a knowl- edge of botany will not be liable to be tricked by seedsmen and speculators into buying worthless wonders in vegetables. The locust, the potato beetle, the many borers all demonstrate the need of at least a passing acquaintance with insects and their habits, and our teachers should take the lead in the work and make an effort to impress on the minds of all that such knowledge is of great importance. The loss sustained annually by the farmers of Illinois from the ravages of insects may safely be placed at more than $20,000,000-a vast sum in the aggregate-a tax of almost $7 per head on every man, woman and child in the State, and most of it a tax levied by ignorance on those who despise knowledge.
CHAPTER II.
ANTIQUITIES AND PRE-HISTORIC MAN-INDIAN HISTORY.
ANTIQUITIES AND PRE-HISTORIC MAN.
When Europeans first penetrated to the country beyond the Appalachian mountains; they found it covered with dense forests and presenting no evidences of ever having been cultivated, but here and there were hillocks of regular form, some of them of great size, usually occupying commanding positions on the highlands overlooking streams. Besides these hillocks, evidently the work of man, there were walls of great extent, some of them enclosing tracts of many acres, in several cases of more than 100 acres in area. Of these works the Indians, at that time living in the country, could give no account whatever, or but a very vague and unsatisfactory one, and research has resulted only in theo- ries and conjectures and these often of the wildest and most improbable character.
In Whiteside County many mounds are found. On the high point south west of Albany three or four are placed commanding a fine view of the Missis- sippi in both directions. They appear to contain only bones and these crumble as soon as exhumed. In Fenton on the slope overlooking the Rock River Bot- tom were several. In Como a number are found. Some of these have been lately examined, fragments of bone being discovered. In Carroll County, Mr. J. M. Williamson informs us, is found a vast collection of flint chippings, the material of several varieties as if brought from different localities, which are be- lieved to mark the site of an arrow and spear-head manufactory.
The articles found in mounds are of considerable variety, embracing arrow and spear heads, stone axes, shaped and pierced fragments of stone, intended either for ornament or as charms, earthen ware coarse and unglazed, but usually ornamented with simple designs, earthen vessels of varions sizes and forms, beads, etc. Some pieces of copper and other minerals foreign to the locality and evidently esteemed for their beauty and rarity have been obtained, and in a few instances, tablets of stone have been uncarthed covered with hieroglyphic char- acters, which seem from their grouping and arrangement to be designed as a sort of record.
What was the design of these monuments? Many, most of them were un- deniably tombs, as they contain only bones and such articles as were buried with the dead; others contain nothing and seem to have been designed as places for lookouts; while others, no doubt, were at one time places at which religious ex- ercises were held and where sacrifices were offered, and these we have reason to believe were often of human beings. Are they of the same age? Certainly not. We might as well assume that all the buildings in Whiteside County were erected in the same year. No people ever built all they ever constructed at once and then ceased to work. Some of the mounds are probably of great age, comparatively speaking, just as some of the ruins of Rome are much older than others. Were they constructed by one or by different people? We see no rea- son to believe that any change of race took place. The ruins of Roman origin differ as much among themselves as the material found in mounds.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
Were the builders the ancestors of the present Indians? There is nothing to prove that they were not, and some facts go to show that they were. If skeletons are of any value as evidence, then we must admit that there is good reason for assuming those ancient builders and the present Indians to be of the same race. That the Indian of to-day knows nothing of the origin of these monuments proves nothing. What does an Italian peasant know of the Coliseum or a Thessalian Greek of the Parthenon? Yet this does not prove that the blood of Cæsar does not flow in the veins of the one, or that of cotemporaries of Leonidas in those of the other. Neither does this ignorance make the Coli- seum older than the Christian era or carry back the Acropolis to the age of myth. We greatly doubt if a mound 2,000 years old exists in the United States, and all necessity of asking for an age much greater than that of the Egyptian pyramids vanishes when we consider the matter in the light of common sense and faet. Nations under certain circumstances degenerate, a fact well estab- lished by history. Moors could not now build an Alhambra more than Egyptian fellahs could erect the pylons of Karnak or hew the Sphinx. Yet we well know that these are the works of their fathers. Investigators unfortunately gener- ally construct a theory and then search for facts to prove it, viewing each faet captured through the microscope of prejudice and pre-possession, and of course succeed in getting at everything but the truth.
So far the really ancient mounds have furnished but very few implements except those formed of stone. But this by no means proves their extreme antiquity, for all over North America at the time of the Spanish invasion of Mexico-1519-'21-stone implements were used, and in some sections are yet. That the Indians of to-day do not erect mounds, build fortresses and collect in great eities is of no importance. It indicates a retrogression perhaps, but not greater than has been observed among other races, and how much greater is the change than what is observed among the Copts of Egypt? They have remained agriculturists, because even their miserable mode of life could not be maintained by hunting and fishing in that land. How readily has the white man taken to this savage mode of life again and again? Moreover, the Indians of Central America have most of them lost all traces of civilization and are now denizens of the forest with which as with a veil Nature has covered the desolation. The problem of the past of our continent is one of great difficulty. That a cer- tain civilization may have originated here, as Baldwin argues, is not, indeed, impossible, but there is no evidence of its rise and growth. It is only conject- ured at best. At present the tendency of research seems to be to prove all civilization to have come from a common source, and we think that at last we shall find, if we are ever able to obtain decisive evidence, that this is the correct opinion. The tale of Atalantis, Baldwin's notion of three or four successive and almost independent growths of civilization, etc., may all be safely set aside as so many ingenious dreams of no real value.
The flint implements, arrow heads and spear heads, that we have seen, are of various grades of workmanship, some highly finished, others rough and clumsy. The material differs from a fine semi-translucent horn stone to a dull oolitic chert of two or more shades of color. The forms are very various from a kind of spike shaped flint 2} inches long by a { of an inch wide with a head an inch wide to a stout, ovate blade two inches long by 14 inches wide. It would be easy to make out at least twenty types of these implements. The axes and chisels are generally made of doleryte-a greenish, tough rock, or of syinite of a grayish hue, and in a few cases of a fine flesh colored granite of great beauty. These are in all eases beautiful specimens of workmanship. Tools apparently used for skinning animals seem in most cases to be made of doleryte, as it retains
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