USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Memoirs of a French village : a chronicle of old Prairie du Rocher, 1722-1972 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
He left London in April, 1808, for Charleston, South Carolina, and thus began a series of travels which extended over eight years. He traveled through the Carolinas westward to the sources of the French Board river, and followed its current down to the Holston to the Tennessee, and then by the waters of that river and the Ohio and Mississippi, stop- ping at various places along the banks to learn something of the nature of the localities and the habits of the people, he at last reached New Orleans. In the summer of 1809 a visit was made to some of the West Indian Islands, particularly Jamaica. Leaving the West Indies, the vessel on which he took passage to Savannah was shipwrecked, and he was compelled to return to Kingston. He next found his way to New Orleans, from which he as- cended to the sources of the Red river, and spent some time among the different Indian tribes. Among his other adventures he killed a snake thirty-eight feet in length. He also discovered a mine of platina, but fell under the suspicion of the Indians and was sentenced to be killed. He was suddenly rescued by the chief's daughter, much after the manner in which Pocahontas interfered in behalf of the life of Captain John Smith.
He then traveled South, and passing through the province of Tula, arrived at the City of Mexico. In February, 1814, he bethought himself of returning to the United States, but be- fore getting out of the country was captured by a band of banditti. His faithful negro ser- vant, Edom, his companion through many days of toil and danger, was killed, but Ker him- self gained the friendship of the leader of the band by his skill in medicine, and was per- mitted to escape. He immediately started for the United States, and traveled extensively through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and up the Atlantic coast to New York. He published a book at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in 1816, which describes at length his "travels through the western interior of the United States, with a particular descrip- tion of a great part of Mexico, or New Spain, and accounts of thirteen different tribes of Indians."
Such was the father of Henry Ker. He came to Randolph County in 1816, and located at Prairie du Rocher as a physician, and at the same time opened a store for dry goods and general merchandise. This was in the year 1816. Soon after coming to Prairie du Rocher he married Felicite Fascair, who was born and raised in Prairie du Rocher. She was a member of one of the early French families. Henry Ker died on the eighth of June 1828, having spent his life since 1816 in Prairie du Rocher, with the exception of three or four years, during which he resided at Ste. Genevieve, Mo. His life had been eventful. He was a man of fine natural talents, and good education, as is shown in the volume he left be- hind him. His wife Felicite lived till February 1846.
Henry Ker had four children, Ambrose, John, William, and Henry, of whom all are dead except the youngest, Henry, the subject of this biography. He was the posthumous child of his father, born on the Twenty-second of January, 1829, while his father had died in June, seven months preceding. The village of Prairie du Rocher was his birthplace, where also he was raised and went to school, going two years to a French school, and nineteen
-40-
months to an English teacher. This was all the schooling he enjoyed. French was the lan- guage of his mother and the family, and he was unable to speak English till seventeen. His mother remarried a farmer, Antoine Langlois, and Mr. Ker worked on a farm from the time he was able to be of any use. He drove a horse-mill at Rocher, two miles below Prair- ie du Rocher, then the only mill of the kind in the country.
He remained at home till seventeen years of age, and then began life for himself by hiring out to work on a farm at six dollars a month. He worked about three years in this way. In 1849 he was working for Mr. Brickey, of Prairie du Rocher, for ten dollars a month, when a party was organized to visit California, the discovery go fold having recently been made in that country. Beside Mr. Ker, Antoine Blais, Dr. McDonald, Dr. Smith, Captain Whiteside, of Waterloo and several others were numbered among the members of the expe- dition. Starting in April, 1849, the party reached California by the overland route the suc- ceeding October. Mr. Ker at once went to work at mining gold, and continued pretty close- ly at it during the time he remained in California. He succeeded in accumulating about two-thousand dollars. The party kept together as much as possible. Among their adventures was a skirmish with the Indians. In October, 1850, Mr. Ker sailed from San Francisco, and reached New Orleans by way of the Isthmus of Panama, whence he proceeded up the Miss- issippi to his home in Randolph County.
In the spring of 1851, that following his return home, he rented land and settled down once more as a farmer. The prospects were favorable for a good crop, when the high water of that year swept everything away, and left him without resources with which to begin again. In May of the same year he was married to Mary Brown; who died in childbirth the following February 1852. The year following the disaster by the overflow Mr. Ker again began as best he could, and rented land on till 1856. His second marriage occurred two years after the death of his first wife, in February, 1854 to Mary Phegley, the daughter of Jacob Phegley. Miss Phegley was born in Ohio County; Kentucky, August eight, 1823, and was about twenty-two years old when she first came permanently to Illinois. She was a sister of William Phegley, who had been Mr. Ker's companion and partner during his life in California. He has had two children by his present wife, Mary and William H. The daugh- ter is the wife of Frank Cirnino, who lives in the neighborhood of Prairie du Rocher, Ill.
In 1856, Mr. Ker bought the property on which he now resides. He purchased about two hundred and ten acres, one hundred and forty at two dollars and fifty cents an acre, and seventy at six dollars. In 1861 he bought an additional seventy for thirteen dollars. None of this land was in cultivation at the time of coming into Mr. Ker's hands. The spot now occupied by his buildings, was a dense growth of brush and forest, where now is a richly cultivated and productive tract of land. His farm is composed of three hundred and twenty- eight acres, and is one of the richest and most fertile in the bottom. His neat and sub- stantial residence was erected in the fall of 1870.
Mr. Ker, like a large number of the most successful and substantial members of Ran- dolph County, had no resources with which to begin his career. Even after he had made a start everything he was worth, in 1851, was swallowed up in the overflow of that year. Mr. Ker stands well as a man of honesty and integrity, and has won a good reputation as a prosperous and substantial farmer of enterprise and good management. He has made his way by industry and economy, and in carving a farm out of the wilderness growth with which its site was covered, he added not only to his own material prosperity, but given an example, which if it were more generally followed, would add greatly to the resources and wealth of the County.
-41-
N
The habitat of the Metchigamis was originally west of the Mississippi and they really became a part of the confederacy by adoption when they migrated to Prairie du Rocher between the years 1718-1723. They have impressed their name on the lake and state of Michigan.
The habitat of the Kaskaskias was the region between Lake Michigan and Lake Peoria. They have impressed their name on the village and river of Kaskaskia and the mound in Clinton County.
The habitat of the peorias was the region of Lake Peoria. They have impressed their name on the lake and city of Peoria.
The habitat of the Cahokias was the region of Cahokia and the American Bottom. They have impressed their name on the village, creek, and mound of Cahokia.
The habitat of the Tammarois was the region of southeastern Illinois. They have im- pressed their name on the town of Tamaroa.
The Metchigamis were a small tribe of about one hundred. They have never made much of a name for themselves, for they were a peaceful lanquid people who were content with little, had no great ambitions and rather enjoyed having the French around.
History traces three small villages in the immediate area. Just as one comes into town on Route 155 from Ruma, there was a village at now where is a concrete bridge crossing a creek. There was a second village on the bluffs just south of town, and another to the west.
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES HAUCK
Charles Hauck, the well-known dealer in horses, mules and cattle, was born May 31, 1864, in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. He attended the parochial and public schools, and after leav- ing school became an apprentice of Louis Naumann, learning the butcher trade. He fol- lowed this trade in Ste. Genevieve until 1889, when he came to Prairie du Rocher with strong arms and a willing heart and started a meat market in this place. He bought cattle and did his own work slaughtering. Later he began dealing in horses and mules. He assis- ted in organizing the bank in 1906 and has been director since.
On August 8, 1888, he married Miss Mary Sucher. One son, Archibald N., came to bless the home.
Mr. Hauck is a Democrat, a trustee of the village for twenty-two years; director of the State Bank of Prairie du Rocher, and trustee and treasurer of the Commons, and is rated as one of the substantial citizens of Prairie du Rocher. Ill.
He built a large home. In 1899 he bought 190 acres of fertile soil and built three big barns. Mr. Hauck, buying stock for a radius of over 30 miles, is well and favorably known. He is a member of Fort Chartres Association, and is also known to be a good supporter of the Catholic Church.
Mrs. Hauck (nee Mary Sucher) was born on a farm near Ste. Genevieve September 19, 1866, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Sucher of near Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
-42-
Chas. Hauck
Mrs. Chas. Hauck
Residence of Chas. Hauck, Prairie du Rocher
Chas. Hauck's Live Stock Barn, Prairie du Rocher
-43-
Early Crops and Flowers
The crops of the early French settlers were cultivated by themselves and by slaves or indentured servants. The settlers of Prairie du Rocher were much given to the cultivation of small fruits, and flowers. Cherry, apple, peach and plum trees grew in every yard. Large beds of flowers were cultivated, and wild flowers were gathered in abundance to adorn homes and church.
As late as 1825, when LaFayette visited Kaskaskia, Cahokia and St. Louis, the French inhabitants searched the woods for wild flowers and the banquet hall at Kaskaskia and the Jarrott Mansion at Cahokia, where he and his entourage were feasted and dined, were literally filled with flowers.
There have really been three predominant crops in the county of what might be con- sidered the staple products that have engaged the attention of the agriculturist. In very early times, Indian corn was the principal product. Later, the castor bean was largely cul- tivated, and was considered a most profitable crop. Still later, wheat became largely planted, and continued as the best crop of the county.
The principal varieties of timber are black oak, white oak, shell bark and pig nut hick- ory, sugar maples, linden, black gum, persimmon, red slippery and white elm, black ash red bud, dogwood, sassafras, cottonwood, sycamore, honey locust, hackberry, box elder, sweet-gum, white ash, swamp oak, burroak, white and black walnut, pecan and white maple. The timber served as fuel and was also used for building purposes.
KILLIAN COERVER
Killian Coerver, the well-known miller, was born in Monroe County, near Waterloo, Il- linois, on April 10, 1861. He attended the parochial and public schools and also St. Vin- cent's College at Cape Girardeau, Mo. After leaving school he learned the printing trade, and then clerked in a dry goods business a short time, and at the age of 18 he started to work in the circuit clerk's office. From December, 1882, to 1886, he served as deputy county treasurer, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket as county treasurer of Monroe County and served from 1886 to 1890. On October 1, 1890, he went to work at the office of Koenigsmark Milling Company, Waterloo, Ill., and remained there until 1906, when the Schoening-Koenigsmark Milling Company, Prairie du Rocher, Ill., was incorporated and Mr. Coerver became a stockholder in this new company and was elected secretary- treasurer and general manager. In 1911 another company was incorporated, known as the Salt Lick Milling Company, Valmeyer, Illinois., of which Mr. Coerver was made general manager, and in 1913 he was elected secretary and treasurer of this corporation also. He
-44-
is a member of the Knights of Columbus of the East St. Louis, Ill., Council.
Mr. Coerver was married September 10, 1885, to Miss Mary Schuell of Waterloo, Ill. Three children were born to this union: Fred H. Coerver, who at present is assistant sec- retary of the Prairie du Rocher corporation; Walter H. Coerver, who holds a similar posi- tion with the Valmeyer corporation; Amanda M. Coerver if the only daughter at home.
Mr. Coerver is president of the Fort Chartres Association of Prairie du Rocher, Ill., and is one of the leading men in the community. He is a staunch member of the Catholic Church.
Mrs. Coerver was born in Waterloo, Ill., March 24, 1864, the daughter of John Schuell, a well-known jeweler.
Residence of Killian Coerver,
Prairie du Rocher
Horses and Cattle Introduced
Horses and cattle were introduced in this vicinity very early. It is said the cattle came from Canada, while the horses were of Arabian strain and were brought from the Southwest by the Spaniards. It is not to be understood that the cultivation of the soil was of a very high order in 1772, and for some decades after. Utensils were crude. The plows were of wood and were usually drawn by oxen. The oxen were fastened together by the horns, by means of a flat piece of wood, not as later on yokes as was customary with the English . Wagons were usually small two-wheeled carts, made by the early settlers themselves, usually with little iron, and were pulled or pushed by hand, seldom by horses or oxen.
-45-
************
**********
MR. AND MRS. FRANK H. MOSKOP
Every community contains a few men of remarkable business ability, men who have ris- en to enviable success in some branch of trade. They deserve the public gratitude for their contribution to its prosperity no less than they win general admiration for the manner in which they have risen into eminence and won the hard struggle of life. Such a charac- ter is Mr. Moskop, the well-known manager of the Nanson Commission Company.
He was born January 28, 1866, in Monroe City, Monroe County, being the son of a prominent farmer. After finishing the parochial and public schools he worked for a time for his father, being employed in operating a threshing machine. In 1895 he took employment in a flour mill at Harrisonville, Ill., as engineer. Then, in 1900, he became the salesman for Southern Illinois of a Chicago firm that manufactured harvesting implements; a position which he held for three years. Then he removed to Prairie du Rocher. On January 1, 1903 he became connected with the Nanson Commission Company, with which he has been af- filiated to this day.
His marriage with Miss Elizabeth Stiegler occurred February 3, 1891. She was the daughter of a well-known farmer of Madonnaville, Ill .; was born September 27, 1868, and lived at home until shortly before her marriage, when she lived with the Austin James family for nine years. She is.a member of the Altar Society. Mr. and Mrs. Moskop have four children - Charles P., Armin J., Louise M. and Cecelia M.
The company of which Mr. Moskop is manager has grain elevators in Valmeyer, Mayes, Fults, Renault, Riley Lake, Jones Ridge, Raddle; Jacob, Wolf Lake, Grimsby and Prairie du Rocher. He owns, further, a palatial home on the city limits of the town. He was a member of the school board, on which he has served for nine years, and is an active Re- publican. His favorite sport is automobiling. He is a devoted member of the Church, and has been industrious in furthering its welfare.
Early French Government
In 1717 the Illinois country became a district of the French Province of Louisiana, and was governed by a major commandant, who, besides exercising military powers super- vised fur trading and agriculture. Other district officers were a doctor, a notary, and inter- preter, and a judge who administered the coutume de Paris or common law of Paris. Each village maintained a militia company, the captain of which was an agent of the district., judge and the major commandant.
Although there was no legal basis for local government, that function was admirably performed by marguilliers (church wardens) elected by the parishioners of the Catholic churches of Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. In addition to accounting of church property, the marguilliers passed acts concerning the time of harvest, fence repair, and in short the general welfare of the village.
We refer on another page to the election of judges for the district. One of these judges, in later days, was M. Andrew Barbeau, who was present at the corner-stone laying of St. Joseph's Church, on July 19, 1858, when a new brick church was erected.
-46-
.
-
7
Jean St. Theresa Langlois
It has been difficult to trace the line of descendants of this founder of Prairie du Ro- cher. In a document of December 30, 1740, we learn that the late Ettienne Langlois mar- ried Catherine Beaudrau, a widow, and had the following children; Marie Louise, who married Pierre Messenger; Marie Josefine, m. Louis Populus sieur de St. Photes; Toin- ette, m. Pierre Boucher de Monbrum sieur de Soudray; Francois, Louis, Girard, Perine and Auguste. These last five were minors. From other sources it is learned that Ettienne had two brothers, August who lived at Kaskaskia, and Louis. What relation the notary Pierre Langlois was to these is not apparent. He was married to Catherine Normand Labriere, and had two children, Pierre and Marie Louise. The latter signed a marriage contract with Pierre Lefebhve of Vincennes, October 9, 1785. Pierre Langlois died in 1789, and his widow took oath to the inventory of the property December 14, of that year.
MR. AND MRS. HENRY I. BARBEAU
The name of Barbeau, so well known in all Randolph County, was never more honorably borne than by the present head of the family. His ancestors have lived near Prairie du Rocher for generations. His father Henry Barbeau, who died in 1902, was born in the vi- cinity of the Commons. Both this gentleman and his wife, who lived until 1915, were well known through the length and breadth of the county.
Henry I. Barbeau was born on the farm where he now resides, on February 1, 1863. He attended the parochial and public schools, and after this studied the science of farming under the effective tuition of his father. He remained on his father's farm and succeeded to the management of it when his father retired. This was in 1882. In the same year Mr.
-47-
1.
1
Barbeau was married.
Mrs. Barbeau was born in St. Louis, Mo., on April 22, 1861. Her father, whose name was McCaron, died soon after, when she came under the care of relatives in Prairie du Rocher. She received a good education, after which she taught school for three years near Ruma. Here she made the acquaintance of Mr. Barbeau, which resulted in their marriage. Seven children were born to them; Harry J., Frank W., Edward, Louis J., Leo A., George A., and Ella J. Barbeau.
Besides the care of his large farm, which comprises 450 acres, Mr. Barbeau has been deeply interested in public matters. As superintendent of highways of Randolph County he earned the gratitude of all citizens. He is prominent in the affairs of the Democratic party and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Even these duties leave him some leisure for the pursuit of his favorite hoppy, which is automobiling. He must be an able man who can unite in one life such varied interests, and yet pursue each of them so successfully. Some men may be great in one thing, and do that one thing admirably, but it is the versa- tile man, the character who is large enough to find enjoyment in many things, and at the same time with ability to attain prominence in all of these activities, who may be said truly to stand forth from the multitude and constitute greatness.
StLouis
FAC SIM EI
River
2
2
of the several Villages in the,
4
Belle Fountain,
welb Part of the
River Mifsifsippi&c
River
The Hutchins
Mifsifsippi
S!Philips
Indian Millage
aFort Charser
A hiskias Rover
Y'allage
-
Told
First Mitt
Indian
E'! Fort
Kuskuskids,2 Villaune
3. Cenavier
The Salune
1 , 3 4 5
10
15
10
Scale of Miles.
Cond maskasking Cahokia
APL.A.V
-
?
ILLINOIS COUNTRY.
Fond
via l'urie de Roche
2
-48-
Early Legal Transactions
Reference is made in Kaskaskia records, as far back as 1778 to legal transactions. One pertains to the death of Antoine Cottinault, in which a scribe of the house of M. Bar- beau, captain of militia and commanding the said place of Prairie du Rocher, sought the privilege of being appointed administrator, and to have a guardian chosen for the minor children. This petition was resented by the spirited widow, and its prayer was, though first granted, soon resended. She was rather permitted to act as guardian for her children, and to enjoy, and make use of her goods whatsoever they may be without interference of anyone, whoever he may be. The property thus placed in her care included a tannery. A sign of the commercial life of Prairie du Rocher at so early a day in its history.
Another reference is to Instruction to George Rogers Clark from Patrick Henry, Gov- ernor of Virginia, in which Clark is instructed to spare no pains to conciliate the affec- tion of the French and Indians, as their friendship was of great importance to the strugg- ling Union of States as then constituted.
Another reference is to a strict command by Colonel Clark, prohibiting the sale of in- toxicants to Indians or Negro slaves, or to lend or rent to any red or black slaves their house, buildings, and courts, after sunset or for the night, for the purpose of dancing, feasting or holding nocturnal assemblies therein.
Still another reference is found relative to an election at Prairie du Rocher held on May 17, 1779, at which election, two magistrates for the district were chosen. The first judge chosen was M. Jean Baptiste Barbau, captain of the militia, and the second judge chosen was' M. Antoine Duchafour du Louvieres, lieutenant of said militia.
MR. AND MRS. FRED J. WIERSCHEM
One of our literary geniuses has remarked that the history of any locality is but the history of its great men. The destinies of splendid empires are shaped by the personali- ties of their rulers, and a whole people sometimes owes its prosperity to the energies of of one man, who stands at the head of the state. And in a community this principle is even more forcibly demonstrated, for here the thoughts of a few leaders permeate to the farth- est boundaries and shape the thoughts of the masses. Viewed in this light, how signifi- cant do the biographies of prominent men become!
The subject of our sketch was born in Madonnaville, Monroe County, on August 3, 1868. He was one of a family of fourteen children, whose father was John Wierschem, a known farmer. He attended both the parochial and the public schools, and then remained at home, assisting in the work of the farm until the death of the father in 1892. In that year Mr. Wierschem decided to become master of his own farm, and accordingly bought the farm of 65 acres situated on Rural Route #3, Prairie du Rocher, Ill. This has been his home up to the present time.
On November 30, 1893, he was married to Miss Zoe Thuillier. She was born in Septem- ber 1872, a daughter of the widely-known farmer, Emil Thuillier of Prairie du Rocher, and lived at home up to the time of her marriage. Her life has been notable for great devotion to the Church, which she is constantly helping. She belongs to the Altar Society. The four children of their marriage are Louis E., George A., Robert J., and Augusta E. Wier- schem.
In 1912 Mr. Wierschem entered public life, when he was elected to the office of road commissioner. This important office he has filled with that industry and devotion to public welfare which has been the guiding policy of his whole life.
-49-
ANTOINE BLAIS
The old town of Prairie du Rocher has undergone, perhaps, fewer changes than any other locality of Randolph County. Its foundation dates back to the early part of the pre- vious century. Its growth has not been rapid. The French population of which, its inhabi- tants were at first entirely composed, has here retained its distinctive character more closely than elsewhere, and a considerable proportion of the present residents of the village are descendants of the families who were identified with its history a century ago.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.