USA > Illinois > Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and state, Vol. I > Part 21
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Corn for bread was broken in a mortar and ground in a grater, or hand-mill. Mills were few and far apart, some of the back- settlers having to go fifty miles for their grist. Here the saying "first come, first served" originated, which frequently carried the late arrival over the night, and sometimes prolonged the trip to procure a few bushels of meal three or four days. "Band-mills" run by horses, and small water-mills, where the situation per- mitted, came into use to supply the demand of larger ones. The building of a good mill was hailed with more satisfaction than that of a church.
Education received but little attention. School-houses, always of logs, were scarcely to be seen. Schools were sometimes opened at private houses, or at the residence of the teacher; but "book larnin" was considered too impractical to be of much value.
While the standard of morality, commercial as well as social, was of a high order, few of these early settlers were members of any church. Many of them, however, had been raised in relig-
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ious communities by Christian parents, had been taught to regard the Sabbath as a day of worship, and had been early impressed with a sense of the necessity of religious faith and practice. Many of the prominent citizens encouraged these views by occasionally holding meetings in their cabins, at which the scriptures and sometimes sermons were read and hymns sung -- but no prayers were offered .*
The first regular religious services in the Territory were held by Rev. James Smith, a Baptist minister, who visited New Design in 1787. His labors were measurably successful, but were ab- ruptly terminated. On his way from one blockhouse to another he was captured by the Indians, and although he was ransomed by the payment of $170, by his friends, he was satisfied that Illinois was not the country to which his duty called him, and, while he subsequently visited the Territory, he transferred him- self and his ministrations to Kentucky.
The next preacher to visit the country was Rev. Joseph Lil- lard, a Methodist, also from Kentucky, who, in 1793, formed the first class in the territory, with Capt. Joseph Ogle as leader.
In 1794, Rev. Joseph Dodge held meetings at New Design, and for the first time the rite of baptism was administered in the Territory. In 1796, Rev. David Bagley, who subsequently brought a large colony from Virginia to Illinois, with Joseph Chance, a lay-elder, organized, with twenty-eight members, the first Baptist church in the Territory .*
The first circuit-preacher under the direction of a conference of the Methodist-Episcopal church, was Rev. Berryman Young, in 1804. He was followed by Rev. Joseph Oglesby, in 1805, and by Rev. Charles R. Matheny, in 1806.+ Rev. Jesse Walker was also a noted and successful circuit-rider and presiding-elder
* Rev. John Milton Peck in "Pioneer History of Illinois, " 256.
+ Charles R. Matheny was born in Virginia, in 1786, and while preaching read law and was admitted to the bar. He was a member of the third Territorial, and second State, general-assemblies. He removed to Springfield in 1821, where at one time he held the offices of probate justice, county auditor, clerk of the circuit- court, and clerk of the county-court. The latter office he continued to hold until his death in 1839. He was succeeded by his son Noah W. Matheny, who held the office until 1873. At this time, James H. Matheny, another son, was elected county- judge, a position he still occupies. This is an example of county civil-service that is unprecedented, and in which the family who have enjoyed the well-earned distinc- tion may feel a just pride.
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in Illinois from 1806 to 1818. In connection with Rev. Wm. M. McKendree, afterward bishop, he held the first camp-meetings in Illinois in 1807.
Rev. John Clark, a Scotchman, was a preacher and a school- teacher of those days, of great usefulness. He was also a member of the Methodist-Episcopal church, and was the first Protestant to cross the Mississippi and preach to the Americans there, in 1798 .* Other noted preachers of these early times were as follows: John Scripps, Jacob Whiteside, Josiah Patter- son, J. Nowlen, A. Amos, Elders John K. Simpson, Wm. Jones, James Lemon, sr.
The restraining and moulding influence of these early Christ- ian efforts upon the habits and morals of the people, was in every respect wholesome and beneficial. The attention of the people was arrested and turned to the study and investigation of moral and religious questions, and direction was given to the contemplation of higher thoughts and a better life,
In the meantime, other elements were introduced which effec- ted a radical change in the habits of the people for both good and evil. The first settlers lived in the country, in the woods and wilds, whose "clearings" were far apart. Not one in ten of them had ever dwelt in any town, or even visited one having as many as a thousand inhabitants. And now there came the mer- chant, the lawyer, the doctor, and the mechanic, who resided in the towns, which began to grow and to put on a new life. Most of these had enjoyed superior advantages, so far as related to education, and that worldly wisdom which comes from experience in older communities. Some of them had come from across the ocean, and others from the larger American cities, bringing with them manners, customs, furniture, and wares, of which the like had never been seen by the oldest inhabitant.
Large stores were opened in Kaskaskia and Cahokia, and goods were supplied from these at wholesale and retail, to all the country around, including the villages of St. Louis, St. Gene- vieve, and Cape Girardeau. A large and profitable trade was opened with Pittsburg and New Orleans, by which, in exchange for goods purchased, the flour, provisions, lead, and furs of the country were marketed and exported in barges or flat-boats.
* J. M. Peck in Reynolds' "Pioneer History of Illinois," 2d ed., 266.
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And thus were gradually introduced the methods and appli- ances of a more advanced civilization. The pioneer and his wife, hearing of these things, would occasionally "go to town" to see "the sights," and would there discover that there were many useful and convenient articles for the farm and kitchen which might be procured in exchange for their corn, bacon, eggs, honey, and hides; and although the shrewd merchant was care- ful to exact his cent per cent, the prices asked were little heeded by the purchaser who was as ignorant of the value of the com- modities offered, as he was delighted with their novelty and apparent usefulness.
There was need for but few members of the legal profession in these early days. The sessions of the courts were far apart, and presented but a beggarly docket of litigated cases when con- vened. The distinction of being the first lawyer in Illinois be- longs to John Rice Jones, who was a native of Wales, where he was born in 1759, and came to Kaskaskia from Philadelphia in 1790; he was a classical scholar, and possessed fine native abili- ties. His practice was large and very remunerative. He re- moved to Vincennes in 1802, where he became a member of the legislative council and assisted in a revision of the territorial laws. Removing to the territory of Missouri in 1810, he was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and subse- quently judge of the Supreme Court, which position he con- tinued to hold until his death in 1824. He was the father of Hon. George W. Jones, a former U .- S. Senator from Iowa. Rice Jones, a son of John R. Jones, located in Kaskaskia in 1806. He bid fair to become eminent, but was assassinated soon after his arrival.
Isaac Darnielle, the second lawyer to become a resident of Illinois, was a native of Maryland, and settled at Cahokia in 1794; he had received a collegiate education, and possessed a high order of intellect; was a fluent speaker, of fine personal appear- ance and popular manners; a great admirer of the fair sex, to whom he paid court with a greater devotion than to his profes- sion; was never married according to law, says Gov. Reynolds, " but to all appearances was never without a wife or wives." His irregularities in this direction, his only weakness, for he neither drank nor gamed, compelled him to abandon his practice,
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and to remove to Kentucky, where after teaching school for some years, he died, rather "humbled and neglected," in 1830, aged 60.
James Haggin came from Kentucky in 1804, to Kaskaskia, where he practised law for several years; returning to Kentucky he became eminent in his profession.
Benjamin H. Doyle emigrated from Tennessee in 1805; was appointed attorney-general of the Territory in 1809, but soon after resigned his office and left the country.
John Rector - one of a family of nine brothers -located in Kaskaskia in 1806, and remained only a few years in the Ter- ritory.
William Mears, an Irishman by birth (1768), emigrated to Ca- hokia in 1808; was clerk of the house of representatives in 1814, was appointed attorney-general in 1800, and later a judge of the circuit-court; was a man of good education, industrious habits, and an able lawyer; and died at Belleville in 1824.
Russel E. Heacock practised law in Kaskaskia in 1808; and removed to Jonesboro, where he remained several years; thence he returned to New York, his native state, and subsequently came back to Illinois, settling at Chicago, where he acquired a large property; he died of cholera, June 28, 1849, aged 70.
Nathaniel Pope became a permanent resident of Kaskaskia in 1808, having first settled at St. Genevieve, Mo. He was born at Louisville, Ky., in 1784, and was educated at Transylvania University, whence he graduated with high honors. He read law with his brother, Senator John Pope. In 1809, he was appointed secretary of Illinois Territory, which position he held until 1816, when he was elected a delegate to congress. Upon the admission of Illinois as a state, he was appointed a judge of the United-States district-court in which office he continued until his death, November, 1850. He was a profound lawyer, an able legislator, a dignified and upright, yet courteous judge, and wore the ermine for over thirty years without a stain. He was the father of Maj .- Gen. John Pope.
Samuel D. Davidson came from Kentucky in 1809. Gov. Reynolds says of him that " he was a decent young man, wrote a beautiful hand, but was not much of a lawyer." He served in the war of 1812, and thereafter disappeared from public view.
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
Joseph Conway became a resident of Kaskaskia in 1812, and after the war, in which he served, practised law for some years. He was a senator in the fourth and fifth general assemblies.
In addition to those already mentioned, the following mem- bers of the legal profession, who will be more particularly re- ferred to elsewhere, became citizens of Illinois during its terri- torial existence, namely, Thos. C. Browne, John McLean, Daniel Pope Cook, Jeptha Hardin, John Warnock, Elias Kent Kane, . Robert K. Mclaughlin, Alonzo C. Stuart, Joseph Phillips, George Forquer, Sidney Breese, John Reynolds, Thomas Rey- nolds, and David Jewett Baker.
Among the early physicians, perhaps the most distinguished was Dr. George Fisher, who came from Virginia, and settled at Kaskaskia before 1800. He was not only talented in his pro- fession, but very popular with the people. He served as sheriff of Randolph County, and member of the first and third territo- rial legislatures, of both of which he was elected speaker. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of 1818; he died on his farm in 1820.
Dr. George Caldwell was also an eminent pioneer physician, who settled first on the American Bottom, near Fort Chartres, and afterward removed to Madison County. Entering public life, he served as judge of the County Court of both St.Clair and Madison counties, and as a representative from Madison in the first and second general assemblies, and from Greene County in the third. He lived to an old age, and died in Morgan County.
Dr. Wm. L. Reynolds was also a noted physician, who prac- tised many years very successfully at both Kaskaskia and Ca- hokia; he came from Kentucky, was a classical scholar, and "regular bred."
Dr. Truman Tuttle was from the East, and came to Illinois as a surgeon of the U .- S. Army in 1802. He resigned his position and settled in Kaskaskia, afterward moving to Cahokia, where he became eminent in his profession. He also filled the office of judge of the Court of common pleas of St. Clair County.
Still earlier physicians, of whom not so much is known, were Drs. Wallace at New Design, and John Lyle at Cahokia.
Dr. James Rose settled in Kaskaskia from Kentucky in 1805,
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and had a large practice for many years ; removed to Belleville subsequently, where it is said that "neglecting his profession it neglected him."
Dr. Caldwell Cairnes, known as "a good physician" as early as 1805, was from Pennsylvania. He also entered into public life and represented Monroe County in the constitutional con- vention of 1818.
John Edgar, a native of Ireland, came to Kaskaskia in 1784, bringing with him a stock of goods, and soon built up an exten- sive trade, to which he added the business of milling; was industrious, intelligent, and hospitable, and was at one time the wealthiest man in Illinois. He filled many stations of honor and trust, including the position of major-general of Illinois militia. He died at Kaskaskia, at an advanced age in 1832.
William Morrison, a native of Pennsylvania, immigrated from Philadelphia to Kaskaskia in 1790. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and for many years stood in the foremost rank in all the commercial transactions in the Territory. He had large stores in Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and at other points, from which goods were shipped to St. Louis, and all the surrounding country. His business extended even to Pittsburg, New Orleans, and the Rocky Mountains. He accumulated a large amount of property. His residence was a spacious stone house at Kas- kaskia, where for many years he dispensed a generous hospital- ity. His personal appearance, we are informed, was "dignified, commanding, and prepossessing." He dressed richly, with taste and elegance. He died in April, 1837.
William Morrison was followed to Illinois by his brothers, Robert and James in 1798, by Jesse in 1805, and by Samuel in 1807, all of whom became prominent merchants and influential citizens. Col. Jas. Lee Donaldson Morrison, prominent in the politics of Illinois and Missouri, was a son of Robert Morrison; and Col. William R. Morrison, for so many years a representative in congress from the district in which he was born, is the son of Jesse Morrison (?).
The Menards, Pierre, Hypolite and François, who were natives of Quebec, also came to Kaskaskia in 1790, and became leading traders and merchants. Their transactions, including the Indian trade, which they mostly controlled, were large and very profit-
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ILLINOIS-HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL.
able. Pierre, as will elsewhere appear, also became prominent in political circles.
Jean Bte., Michael, and François Saucier, whose father had been a French officer at Fort Chartres, located at Cahokia in 1780, where they carried on a large business. Daughters of François were married to Col. Pierre Menard, James and Jesse Morrison, and George Atchison.
Charles Gratiot, another early merchant, was born in Switzer- land in 1752. He had been a trader in Illinois as early as 1774, and was at Cahokia when it was captured by Col. Clark in 1778. He subsequently had stores at Cahokia and Kaskaskia, from which his business extended to the Wabash and Maumee rivers. He removed to St. Louis in 1784, where he was a leading citizen, until his death, April 20, 1817.
Jean François Perry immigrated from France in 1792, and settling in Prairie du Pont soon became a successful merchant and miller. He was well educated, and filled various civil offices in his county very creditably. He was benevolent, hos- pitable, and influential; and left a large estate unencumbered by a single debt.
Nicholas Jarrot, also a native of France, reached Cahokia in 1794. By his ability, industry, and energy, he soon built up a large business both as an Indian trader and local merchant. He acquired a large fortune, the most of which descended to his heirs. He acted as justice-of-the-peace, and judge of the county-court for many years. He resided in a spacious brick- dwelling, where he raised a large family and died in 1823. Vital Jarrot, long prominent in St. Clair County, was his son.
The account-books of P. Menard & Co., as probably those of other French merchants, prior to 1800, were written in French, and values were generally expressed in piastres, but sometimes in pounds sterling, and again in dollars and "bits"(1212 cents.)
The articles charged were chiefly whisky, sugar, and coffee, the prices for which were the same - that is a pound of coffee or sugar or a quart of whisky, cost two and a-half piastres, or fifty cents. Lard was 25 cents per pound, and flour $8 per barrel. Bohea tea was 6633 cents per pound, and calico, the same price per yard, and flannel 50 cents. In 1797, it appears that prices were as follows: corn 50 cents per bushel, pork 121/2
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FIRST MERCHANTS.
cents, and hams 25 cents per pound, foolscap paper 50 cents per quire, and nails 31 14 cents per pound .* Their customers appear to have been principally French and Indians.
Col. John de Moulin, although rather a speculator in land, than a merchant, engaged in milling to some extent, and was a very conspicuous and popular character in his day. He was a Swiss, but came to Cahokia in 1788 from Canada. He was a classical scholar and a good lawyer. He was judge of the court of probate, and presiding judge of the court of common pleas in St. Clair County for many years. The Colonel was a fine- appearing and well-preserved gentleman of the old school. He had no family, and died in ISO8.
The first American merchant in Cahokia was Wm. Arundel. He located there in 1783, having previously been engaged in business at Peoria. He was of Irish descent, of fair education, and agreeable manners.
William Kinney, lieutenant-governor in 1826, although begin- ning life as a farmer, at an early day tried the experiment of a country store. His venture was successful, and he gradually built up a large and prosperous business. He early conceived a fondness for political life, and his public career will be here- after noticed.
Gov. Edwards was the foremost merchant of his day. Aban- doning the practice of law after his removal to the Territory, he engaged in commercial pursuits on a most extensive scale. He established saw and grist mills, and stores in Kaskaskia, Belleville, Carlisle, Alton, and Springfield in Illinois, and at St. Louis, Chariton, and Franklin in Missouri; he gave them his personal attention so far as was consistent with his official duties, himself purchasing the immense stocks of goods required
Mather and Lamb-a firm composed of Col. Thomas Mather and James L. Lamb, at a later period were extensive merchants at Kaskaskia, with branches at several other points. They were the first pork-packers in Illinois; and both afterward removed to Springfield, where the Colonel became president of the bank and Lamb continued to manage their large business.
* From original MSS. in possession of Chicago Historical Society, Vol. 61.
Authorities : "Laws of Congress "; " American State Papers"; Reynolds' " Pioneer History of Illinois"; "History of Sangamon County"; Dillon's "Indiana."
16
CHAPTER XVI.
Illinois Territory [Continued]-Its Organization-Governor. Edwards and other Officers-Indian Disturbances- The War of 1812-The Chicago Massacre - Cam- paigns against the Indians-Peace.
FOR the people whose primitive customs have been described in the foregoing chapter, a government was now to be organized within the limits of their own newly-created Terri- tory ;- its chief seat was to be at their own largest town, and they were to be brought into more direct contact with the machinery of courts and the mysterious forms of law with which they had heretofore been but distantly related, and for which, indeed they had had but little need. Whatever benefit was to be derived therefrom, they were anxiously waiting to receive.
John Boyle, associate-justice of the Kentucky court of appeals, was at first appointed governor of the newly-formed Territory, but, preferring to remain on the bench, he declined the proffered honor.
Ninian Edwards, chief - justice of the same court, upon the recommendation of Senator John Pope of Kentucky, and of Henry Clay, late a U .- S. senator and soon to reoccupy that position, thereupon received the appointment from President Madison, April 24, 1809.
Nathaniel Pope, heretofore mentioned, was appointed secre- tary of the Territory, March 7. In the absence of the governor, who was detained in Kentucky closing up his affairs, preparatory to removal, the secretary proceeded to organize the government, April 28, by proclamation, reestablishing the counties of St. Clair and Randolph, with their existing boundaries.
The first-appointed territorial judges were Alexander Stuart, Obadiah Jones, and Jesse Burgess Thomas, late delegate to congress from the territory of Indiana. Judge Stuart being transferred to Missouri, Stanley Griswold was appointed to succeed him.
Gov. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia early in June, and soon
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Miman Edwards
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GOV. NINIAN EDWARDS.
thereafter entered upon the discharge of his official duties. The precedent of appointing distinguished and influential citi- zens to the office of territorial governor had not been departed from in his selection. The son of Benjamin Edwards, he was born in Maryland, March 17, 1775. His early education was under the direction of William Wirt, between whom and himself a devoted, life - long friendship was cemented. His collegiate course was completed at Dickinson College, Penn. At the early age of nineteen, he left his paternal roof, taking with him ample means to purchase and improve lands in Kentucky; where he laid out farms, built tanyards, and distilleries, and erected houses. Like many other young men, however, of warm and generous dispositions, but wanting experience, he entered without restraint into all the excesses of society, as it then existed, and became dissipated. Having suddenly awakened to the fact that he had squandered his patrimony, impaired his health, and disappointed his friends, he formed the resolution to break away from his wild associates and thoroughly reform his life. This resolve he manfully carried out and never after fell into irregular habits. Removing from Nelson to Logan County he devoted himself to the study and afterward to the practice of law, in which he soon attained distinction. Although beginning life anew without a dollar, he firmly refused the proffered aid of his father, and in a few years, by the practice of his profession and through prudent investments, he amassed the nucleus of a large fortune .* Hav- ing served two terms in the Kentucky legislature, he filled successively the offices of presiding-judge of the general court, circuit-judge, and chief-justice of the court of appeals. His promotion had been as rapid as it was merited. Henry Clay said of him: "his good understanding, weight of character, and conciliatory manners gave him very fair pretentions to the office [of governor]. I have no doubt that the whole representation from the State [Kentucky] would concur in ascribing to him every qualification for the office in question."
Without the wide experience of St. Clair, or the military training of Harrison, his previous service on the bench and in the forum gave him superior advantages over either of his predeces- sors in discharging the civil duties upon which he now entered.
* Edwards' "History of Illinois, " 241.
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Gov. Edwards found on his arrival the people divided into parties and cliques, as in older communities. The controversy over the division of the Territory had been bitter, and left behind it the stings of disappointment and defeat. While the majority had been in favor of separation and the establishment of a new government, whose proximity might enable them personally to participate in its administration, a very consider- able minority had preferred that it should have remained at a distance, thinking perhaps, that their schemes of speculation and trade would be less liable to provoke interference. Those who had been successful in the contest thought that they should be preferred by his excellency in the distribution of his favors, because of "the calumnies, indignities, and other enormities which had been heaped upon them by those who had opposed that measure."*
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