USA > Illinois > Illinois, the story of the prairie state > Part 12
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But these are her material wealth. And among the states she ranks high in other lines. One of these is the special care she gives to her wards. In the early days, the number of such citizens was very small. In one county, Pope and Bond dispensed public charity, their yearly duty being to farm out to the lowest bidder the care of one old man who was both poor and blind.1 From this beginning came the
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ILLINOIS
present splendid system of state charity, which cares for twenty-one thousand persons and costs six mil- lions a year.
In the early days, law breakers were punished by public flogging; but soon imprisonment was substi- tuted. Instead of the whipping-post and stocks, the community built a rude log jail. Prisoners often escaped, and better places of confinement were needed. But the people were poor and bitterly op- posed to taxation for any purpose; so they would never consider a special tax for a prison. How raise the funds?
The legislature again asked Congress to help, and some forty thousand acres of saline lands were granted, and part of the money from their sale used for a state prison at Alton. This first penitentiary, opened in 1833, had twenty-four cells, and for twenty-four years more were built as needed. But the accommodations were entirely inadequate, as the population increased, and a new prison was built at Joliet. The last convicts were sent from Alton in 1860. But in less than ten years this building, too, was overcrowded and another was planned for Chester.2
Illinois was one of the first states to experiment in prison reform. The indeterminate sentence, the wearing of stripes only as a special punishment, the
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GREATNESS OF THE STATE
honor and merit systems, are some of the steps taken in recent years for a more intelligent and humane care of these people.
Aside from actual convicts, the only citizens re- ceiving public care, in the early days, were the hau- pers. But attention was called to the fact that n.Jny of these so-called paupers might become self-sup- porting, if they could be given some education. For deaf and dumb children a special school was planned in Jacksonville. Beginning in 1842 with four pupils, it is now the largest of its kind in the world. About this time and in the same city, a blind man started a school for blind children. Supported at first by private subscription, it soon became a state school, with this same man as its head. These two schools train into useful citizens children who would other- wise be only a burden to society.3
To Dorothea L. Dix Illinois owes the beginning of her care for the insane. She traveled over the state, addressing meetings everywhere in behalf of these unfortunates. She visited Springfield and ad- dressed the legislature; and as a result of her ef- forts a state hospital was opened in 1851. This work has greatly increased, with the growth of pop- ulation and of city life, with its constant strain and stress. To provide for these patients, Illinois has added hospital after hospital till she now has seven,
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and an eighth for insane criminals. The one in Kankakee, built on the cottage plan, has been widely copied in other states.
Illinois has also an institution for feeble-minded children, a colony for epileptics, a home for soldiers and sailors, for soldiers' orphans, for soldiers' wid- ows, and reform schools for juvenile offenders. Each year a larger number of persons is cared for, but the per capita cost has decreased in the last dec- ades. Much of this is due to an effort to take the state institutions out of politics, making merit and not party service the reason for all appointments, and putting the management for all the twenty-one into the hands of a central organization. Instead of one hundred and twenty-five boards and commis- sions, Illinois now has nine men in charge of this work, a department of public service planned for a businesslike and efficient administration of the care of her wards.
But great as is Illinois for her natural resources and her state institutions, her true greatness is her people. Therein rests the greatness of any state. She has a varied population, the richer for this mingling and mixing, this combining of many peo- ples.
The French, the earliest comers, contributed a strain of romance and gaiety. The soldiers of Clark's expedition were a sturdy backwoods type,
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GREATNESS OF THE STATE
hardy pioneers, adventurous and boldly daring, self- reliant. Then came settlers from the southern states, from the Carolinas, from Virginia and Ken- tucky, giving a southern flavor to society and poli- tics that lasted for more than two generations. Fol- lowing them were the New Englanders and men from New York and Pennsylvania, energetic and enterprising Yankees, good business men, starting schools and churches as soon as their own cabins were under way. And all of these, with a wonder- ful pride in the state, loyal and faithful to Illinois.
Last of our settlers are the immigrants from Europe, citizens of the old world, come to find in the new, social and religious and political liberty ; the chance to improve, to forge ahead if they have ability, instead of staying always in the class where they were born. In the American melting pot Illi- nois does her share of the fusing process; for only two states have a larger number of foreigners.
In the middle of the century men from Ireland and Scotland, from Germany and Scandinavia, fol- lowing the parallels of latitude, came to Illinois and settled in the country, taking up government land. Of late years there has been a decided change in the character of our immigrants. They now come from the south of Europe, Italians and Russians and Hungarians. The growth of manufacturing and the absence of cheap land have planted these
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newcomers in the cities instead of on the farms. On the streets of Chicago every other man you meet is a foreigner or the son of a foreigner. The city has become a great distributing station for all the northwest. Its immigrant population is constantly changing: the newcomers live there a few years, to be near their friends, to learn English, to get adjusted to life in a new country.
Many of these foreigners need our help during the slow process of adjustment and assimilation. They need a background of American history, and the American "feel." They need to be told of the educational advantages open to them, of help easily secured. They need to be warned of dangers and pitfalls, that they may see the best and not the worst of our communities. Their coming to us is a responsibility, creating, it is true, many problems in our social and industrial and political life, in- creasingly important. But it is a responsibility well worth while. For they provide material for loyal citizens. They add a variety and richness to the nation, if we will use and not abuse their presence among us.
Illinois is, you realize, a great state, with a past rich and interesting, a present proud and promising. What of the future? That rests with us, her chil- dren, to build it worthily. It is to him that hath
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GREATNESS OF THE STATE
that much is given. Reverently we guard, tenderly we treasure the memory of our forefathers. In- heritors of such a past, we have a great responsi- bility, inescapable, nor would we escape it if we could.
To belong to Illinois, to the state of Lincoln, spells duty and privilege and high obligation. For he is the vindication of American democracy, of the dignity and nobility of the common people. "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish" worthily the work we are in-to achieve in Illinois a true democ- racy, a government of and by and for the people.
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EPILOGUE
S UCH, briefly told, is the story of Illinois. But this book will have failed of its purpose if you read it and no more. What it has tried to do is to arouse your interest in the great story of a great state, and make you want to find out more for your- self.
Did you know that John Todd's record book tells of an incident in Illinois paralleling the Salem witch- craft?1 That the tragedy at Maramech duplicates the story of the Pequot war ?? That in the dead of winter an Illinois soldier made a Paul Revere ride, galloping across seven counties to warn the Fort Armstrong garrison to be up and to arm?3
Did you know that one Illinois governor was secretary to a president and went to Europe on a diplomatic mission to the Czar?4 That one governor was inaugurated in the executive mansion, instead of in the state house? He was, by the way, the colonel who almost killed (?) Jefferson Davis in the duel.
Did you know that Illinois touches the story of Aaron Burr and the Blennerhassets?5 Have you read the thrilling tale of the 1814 rangers under
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Stephen Rector, who so gallantly and coolly rescued their comrades from Black Hawk's band at Camp- bell's Island, "as heroic a deed of daring as was ever performed in war"?6 There are so many in- teresting incidents !
To name only a few among the many whose sto- ries you will greatly enjoy, find out something about Shabona, "the white man's friend,"7 and Baker, "the modern knight-errant."8 Look up the lives of Francis Vigoº and D'Artaguette,10 of John Mason Peck11 and Jean Gabriel Cerrè.12 What can you learn of Edgar,13 of Pierre Menard and his salt,14 of Fort Massac ?15 Of the Bishop Hill colony,16 the Spanish invasion,17 the lead mines at Fever River,18 the soldier of fortune, St. Leger Grenfell ?19
Did you know that after the Mormons left Nau- voo, the Icarians settled there, and developed a community life which was for a time most success- ful ?20 There is an interesting story about their leader, Etienne Cabet, the son of a cooper, who was at one time attorney-general of France for Corsica. With his followers, men of six countries, he came to America, not expecting to make people perfect, but to establish a colony which should be a practical im- provement of society. Can you find out where they got their name? Trace their journey from France. Why did so few of them reach Nauvoo? How many Icarians made up this single family, where
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all property belonged to the community, and each one worked for all? Could they produce every- thing they needed? What trades did they follow, and where did they sell their surplus goods? How many hours made a day's work in summer; in win- ter? How were they governed? You must read about the Mormon temple, converted into a great dining-hall, with tracks laid from the kitchen and cars of food running to the different tables. Did they really live well on seven cents a day? Perhaps this will interest you in other community experi- ments in Illinois.
What governors, beginning with St. Clair, owe their positions in part to their war records? How many limped into office on Santa Anna's wooden leg? Is this more or less than the number of war- record presidents? How many of our governors were born in Illinois ? Which state has furnished us the most? Can you think why?
Reminders of her history Illinois has preserved in the names chosen for villages and towns and cities, for townships and counties. Go over these lists and see how many you can find that are French in origin, like Fayette and Joliet. How many sug- gest New England, like Warren; or Virginia, like Henry? How many are named for some natural feature, like Island Grove or Buffalo Hart? How many are Indian, like Peoria? How many can you
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EPILOGUE
find commemorating the public service of some dis- tinguished man, like Edwards or Pulaski?
Make friends with the pioneers of your commu- nity. All too quickly they are passing. From such stories and reminiscences as theirs, and from their old letters, history is made to-morrow. And to you, in becoming more familiar with the story of Illinois, the author wishes half the keen pleasure found in the preparation of this book.
It would not be possible to tell you all the people who have helped in its making. But needs must be mentioned the generous service of the state his- torical library; and the indebtedness of the author to many writers of histories of Illinois, to newspa- per files and magazine articles, to pamphlets and books on special subjects, and last but not least, to the invaluable publications of the state historical society.
Among the books consulted, which have proved of especial help, are :
Arnold, Isaac N .- The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Bateman and Selby-Historical Encyclopedia of Il- linois.
Birkbeck, Morris-Letters from Illinois (1817).
Notes on a Journey in America (1818).
Breese, Sidney-The Early History of Illinois (1673-1763).
Brown, Henry-History of Illinois (to 1844).
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Brown, William H .- Early Movement in Illinois for the Legalization of Slavery.
Butterfield, Consul Willshire-History of George Rogers Clark's Conquest of the Illinois and Wa- bash Towns.
Catherwood, Mary Hartwell-Old Kaskaskia. The Story of Tonty.
Coffin, Charles Carleton-Abraham Lincoln.
Colbert and Chamberlin-Chicago and the Great Conflagration.
Cook, John W .- History of Education in Illinois.
Currey, Josiah Seymour-History of Chicago.
Davidson and Stuvé-A Complete History of Illi- nois (1673-1873).
Dillon, John B .- History of Indiana.
Drake, Benjamin-Life and Adventures of Black Hawk.
Dye, Eva-The Conquest.
Edwards, Ninian Wirt-History of Illinois (1778-
1833) and Life and Times of Ninian Edwards. English, William Hayden-Conquest of the Coun-
try Northwest of the River Ohio and Life of George Rogers Clark.
Farnum, Eliza W .- Life in Prairie Land.
Fergus Historical Series.
Flower, George-History of the English Settlement in Edwards County.
Ford, Thomas-History of Illinois (1818-1847).
Gerhard, Frederic-Illinois as It Is (to 1857). Green, E. B .- The Government of Illinois.
Harris, N. Dwight-The History of Negro Servi- tude in Illinois.
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EPILOGUE
Herndon, William Henry, and Weik, Jesse-Abra- ham Lincoln, the True Story of a Great Life. Illinois Historical Collections.
Illinois State Historical Society - Transactions, Publications, Journals.
Kinzie, Mrs. John H .- Waubun, the Early Day in the Northwest.
Levasseur, A .- Lafayette in America.
Lincoln, William S .- Alton Trials.
Lovejoy, Joseph and Owen-Memoir of Elijah P. Lovejoy.
Mason, Edward G .- Chapters from Illinois His- tory.
Mather, Irwin F .- The Making of Illinois.
Meese, William A .- The Battle of Campbell's Is- land. The Beginnings of Illinois.
Moses, John-Illinois, Historical and Statistical.
Nicolay and Hay-Abraham Lincoln, a History.
Nida, William Lewis-The Story of Illinois and Its People.
Ogg, Frederick Austin (Ed.)-Personal Narrative of a Residence in the Illinois Territory, 1817- 1818, by Elias Pym Fordham.
Parish, John Carl-The Man with the Iron Hand. Parkman, Francis-The Conspiracy of Pontiac. La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West. The Struggle for a Continent.
Parrish, Randall-Historic Illinois.
Patterson, J. B. (Ed.)-Autobiography of Black Hawk.
Quaife, Milo Milton-Chicago and the Old North- west (1673-1835).
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Reynolds, John-My Own Times. The Pioneer
History of Illinois (to 1818).
Roosevelt, Theodore-The Winning of the West.
Shaw, Albert-Icaria, a Study in Communistic His- tory.
Shea, John G .- Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi Valley.
Smith, George Washington-A Student's History of Illinois.
Thwaites, Reuben Gold (Ed.)-Jesuit Relations.
Thwaites, Reuben Gold-Early Western Travels (1748-1846). How George Rogers Clark Won the Northwest, and Other Essays in Western His- tory. Life of Marquette.
Wallace, Joseph-Life and Public Services of Ed- ward D. Baker.
Washburne, E. B .- A Sketch of Edward Coles.
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
CHAPTER II
Where are mounds found in Illinois ?
What suggestions can you give for their probable use ?
What do the articles found in the mounds indicate about the builders ?
Why was Illinois so named?
What has been the gain to civilization in the white men's taking the land from the Indians?
CHAPTER III
What was the basis of the French claim to Illinois ?
Why was the first exploring party sent out?
Describe their journey. What record have we of it?
Why did Marquette return to Illinois?
CHAPTER IV
Why is La Salle called the seventeenth-century imperialist ?
What difficulties did he meet, and overcome?
How did his work affect American history?
Why was Fort St. Louis an important post?
How did it get its present name?
CHAPTER V
What result did Law's schemes have for Illinois?
Describe life in a French village.
What part did the French in Illinois have in the colonial wars?
What are the dates for the beginning and end of French rule in Illinois ?
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QUESTIONS
CHAPTER VI
Why was there a delay in England's taking possession ?
Describe the arrival of the Highlanders.
How long did the British govern Illinois ?
CHAPTER VII
What were Clark's qualifications for leading this expedi- tion ?
What was the reason for secrecy?
What was his policy with the French?
Is Gibault appropriately named "the patriot priest of the northwest"?
Describe the journey to Vincennes and its surrender.
Why was Clark's conquest important in making the peace of 1783 ?
CHAPTER VIII
What states claimed Illinois, and on what grounds ?
Name the important provisions of the ordinance of 1787.
What was the fundamental difficulty between the Americans and the Indians ?
Name the governors of Illinois; up to 1818.
What changes in government were made in 1800, in 1809, in 1812 ?
CHAPTER IX
Why did the War of 1812 touch Illinois more closely than the previous wars ?
Why was a fort built at the mouth of the Chicago River ?
Describe the evacuation of Fort Dearborn.
How was the frontier protected, for the remainder of the war?
CHAPTER X
What two great provisions did Nathaniel Pope make for Illinois ?
How did the northern boundary affect future history?
What were the important features of the first state consti- tution ?
What were its peculiar features ?
What is the date for the admission of Illinois as a state ?
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QUESTIONS
CHAPTER XI
Why was the capital changed from Kaskaskia ? Where did most of the settlers live? Why? Whence did they come? What were their occupations ?
Name some of the foreign colonies in Illinois. Why were the regulators needed ?
CHAPTER XII
What were the "black laws"?
Why was it proposed to amend the constitution ?
What were the necessary steps ? What trick passed the resolution in the house?
Who were the leaders on each side?
What was the result of the election?
CHAPTER XIII
Why was Lafayette entertained at Kaskaskia ? Describe the reception and dinner.
Who were the guests at the ball?
How was Lafayette received at Shawneetown?
CHAPTER XIV
What were the effects of paper money in Illinois ? Can you account for the speculation in land ? Why were internal improvements urged ?
Why was it necessary to vote such a large sum?
How did Ford meet the arguments for repudiating the state's debt?
How was a repetition of this financial trouble made impos- sible ? -
CHAPTER XV
What was the American pretext for the Black Hawk War? What was the Indian argument?
Name some soldiers in this war who became prominent later. Describe Stillman's Run and the battle of the Bad Axe. What can you tell of Black Hawk's life, after the war? ,
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QUESTIONS
CHAPTER XVI
What was the "Long Nine"?
How was the capitol secured for Springfield ?
Describe conditions in the pioneer Springfield. Compare with the city of to-day.
Compare the two state houses in Springfield.
CHAPTER XVII
Why did Lovejoy move to Alton ?
For what was he contending?
What were the arguments against his course ?
Tell the story of the tragedy at the warehouse.
CHAPTER XVIII
Where did the Mormons live before they settled in Illinois ? Describe the building of the Mormon temple.
How did the Mormons, who were nominally a religious group, come into Illinois politics ?
What favors did they receive from the legislature? Why? Why were troops sent against the Mormons? Tell of Smith's death.
Trace the journey of the Mormons to Utah.
How did Illinois influence their course there?
CHAPTER XIX
In what battles of the Mexican War did Illinois troops take part?
Tell of their service at Buena Vista.
What trophies did they bring home?
CHAPTER XX
Tell the story of the Bond-Jones duel.
What law concerning dueling was adopted ?
How did Bond enforce it?
Tell about Lincoln's scrape with Shields, of Baker's great speech against dueling, and of the challenge to Bissell.
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QUESTIONS
CHAPTER XXI
How many years elapsed between the first suggestion for the Illinois-Michigan Canal and its completion ?
Why was it so expensive?
How was the canal financed ?
When and why was it deepened ?
Who proposed the Illinois Central?
To whose efforts was the congressional grant due?
Compare the financing of the railroad and of the canal.
What were the results for the state?
Why did the first settlers live in the timber country? Describe Clark's plow.
Name other agricultural improvements.
CHAPTER XXII
Why were early politics in Illinois personal and not party? Tell about the underground railroad in Illinois.
What changed the attitude of Illinois people on the question of slavery?
Who made up the Republican party?
Tell of Trumbull's election to the senate.
Compare Lincoln and Douglas. What was the real issue between them? Why were the debates a matter of national importance? What was the immediate outcome? The final result ?
CHAPTER XXIII
What was Douglas's attitude when war was declared?
How many regiments did Illinois send to the war?
Where did they fight?
Where were the training camps?
Tell of the great general Illinois gave to the nation.
What contribution did the women make?
How did Yates win the name of "the soldiers' friend"?
Tell of the efforts of the copperheads and the Sons of Liberty. What songs were written by Illinois men ?
CHAPTER XXIV
Compare Lincoln's journey to Washington in 1861 with the return in 1865.
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QUESTIONS
Describe the services in the various towns and in Springfield. How was the sum for the monument secured ?
Why is his grave a shrine for all Americans?
CHAPTER XXV
To what was the early importance of Chicago due?
Trace the steps in its growth.
How did the great fire start? Why did it spread so rapidly? Tell of the relief work.
To what was attributable the rebuilding of Chicago?
CHAPTER XXVI
What was Pope's service to the cause of education ?
How were the early schools financed?
Describe a pioneer school.
What was the Duncan law? Why was it unpopular ?
What was the result of the Edwards law?
Tell the story of the first college in Illinois.
CHAPTER XXVII
What was the first state charity ?
Why was a penitentiary needed ?
Why were the schools for special classes of children opened ? Who initiated the work for the insane ?
Tell of the recent changes in penitentiary methods, and in the administration of the state institutions.
Name the various groups who settled in Illinois. What did each contribute?
What is our responsibility to-day?
NOTES
NOTES
CHAPTER I
. 1-Ill. Hist. Lib. No. 11; pp. 209-210.
CHAPTER II
1-Parrish, 18.
2-Davidson and Stuvé, ch. 3.
3-Davidson and Stuvé, 32-35.
4-Parrish, 30-32.
CHAPTER III
1-Mason, 1.
2-Breese, 78.
3-Mason, 8-12.
4-Parrish, 42-43.
5-Il1. Hist. Collections, I, 10; and for the following quo- tations, pp. 17, 20-21, 23, 27 and 40.
6-Mason, 27-29.
7-Mason, 32.
8-Ill. Hist. Lib. No. 20, p. 110.
CHAPTER IV
1-Mason, 46.
2-Breese, 115.
3-Mason, 67; Ill. Hist. Lib. No. 7, p. 183.
4-Brown's History, 130, note 4.
5-I11. Hist. Collections, I, 146.
6-Parrish, 61-64; Mason, 112-117.
7-Davidson and Stuvé, 93.
8-Ill. Hist. Lib. No. 11, p. 207. 9-Moses, I, 66, 69. 10-Jesuit Relations, 63 : 305.
11-Moses, I, 75-76; Parrish, 87. 12-Mason, 187.
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NOTES
CHAPTER V
1-Breese, 160, 161.
2-Breese, 165-168; Davidson and Stuvé, 115-119; Brown's History, 164-168.
3-Breese, 170.
4-Davidson and Stuvé, 109.
5-Mason, 227.
6-Parrish, 182; Mason, 228.
7-Il1. Hist. Lib. No. 10, p. 137; Mason, 228-231.
8-Davidson and Stuvé, 110.
9-Parrish, 92.
CHAPTER VI
1-Brown's History, 196-198.
2-Mason, 235.
3-Moses, I, 135-136; Brown's History, 212-213.
4-Moses, I, 150; Mason, 241.
CHAPTER VII
1-Il1. Hist. Collections, I, 174.
2-Il1. Hist. Collections, I, 224.
3-Brown's History, 230.
4-Davidson and Stuvé, 199.
5-Thwaites, How George Rogers Clark Won the North- west, 18, 19.
6-Il1. Hist. Collections, I, 197-198.
7-Thwaites, 26.
8-Brown's History, 235.
9-Il1. Hist. Collections, I, 200.
10-I11. Hist. Lib. No. 10, p. 25.
11-I11. Hist. Collections, I, 202.
12-Thwaites, 32, 33.
13-Thwaites, 34.
14-Brown's History, 246.
15-Thwaites, 37, 38.
16-I11. Hist. Collections, I, 203-204.
17-I11. Hist. Collections, I, 238.
18-Thwaites, 45-63.
19-Mason, 256.
20-Thwaites, 67, 68.
21-Thwaites, 71-72; Davidson and Stuvé, 200.
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NOTES
CHAPTER VIII
1
1-Meese, Beginnings of Illinois, 2, 3.
2-Moses, I, 187.
3-Moses, I, 186.
4 Meese, 8.
5-Brown's History, 275.
6-Thwaites, 82-93.
7-Moses, I, 259.
8-Davidson and Stuvé, 286, 287; Il1. Hist. Soc. Journal, 8, No. 4, p. 539.
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