USA > Illinois > Lee County > Recollections of the pioneers of Lee County [Illinois] > Part 28
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Intending to confine my remarks to Harmon I ask pardon for this digression.
I am warned by the accumulated manuscript before me that no in- considerable space will be occupied in its publication. If the twenty odd towns in Lee county contribute as voluminously your book will certainly have the advantage of immensity. Before laying my pen aside I wish to offer an apology. Doubtless many persons are left out who are deserving of mention. In other places errors as to dates may havecrept in. There are paragraphs that may reflect slightly on some persons particularly mentioned. To those I humbly apologize, and add that in my heart I have only the feeling of "good will to all."
C. J. ROSBROOK.
ONE OF THE PIONEER FARMERS.
The Township of LEE Center.
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MRS. ADOLPHOS BLISS.
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Lee Center.
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I T will be be obvious to anyone at a glance that God has not made any such thing as a complete remembrance of past ages possible. He writes oblivion against all but a few names and things, and empties the world to give freer space for what is to come."
In writing a sketch of this particular part of God's heritage we have drawn largely upon the memories of the oldest settlers, their sons and daughters, for stories which contain all the fascination of personal exper- ience and personal encounter.
We have striven for accuracy in dates and locality, without which his- tory is but driftwood in the tide of events. In our search for ancient landmarks we hope not to be so entirely surpassed as was a certain Eng- lish gentleman who was boasting to a Yankee that. they had a book in the British museum which was owned by Cicero. "Oh, that's nothing," retorted the Yankee, "in the museum in Bosting, they've got the lead pencil that Noah used to check off the animals that went into the ark.',
When our grandparents raked the ashes over the glowing coals upon their hearthstones, and retired to dream of the sons who had gone to the new country to make for themselves a home, they could not then realize what a garland of honor already encircled their heads, or what a sceptre of power awaited their hands, for we hold that ne who makes the oppor- tunity of discovery possible to another, himself refraining from the grat- ification thereof, justly deserves the conqueror's meed. All honor then to those who "remained by the stuff" and kept the hearthstone warm and bright for those on the frontier.
It is with pleasure that we present the name and face of Mrs. Adol- phus Bliss to the readers of this sketch. She was ninety-three years of age on Valentine's day, the 14th of February, 1893. She. with her hus- band, settled in what is Lee Center township today, in May, 1834-the first white woman in the present township and the second white woman in the county. Here she lived one year before she had a neighbor nearer than Dixon. Our informant, her son, Mr. Volney Bliss, says "We have
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lived in three counties without moving," referring to the three names, Jo Davics, Ogle and Lec, which have been given this county.
Near Mr. Bliss' home two hundred red men were in camp, awaiting payment and the repairing of their guns before their westward march. John Fosdick was a blacksmith and gunsmith and was employed by the government to repair their guns. These Indians werc peaceably inclined, but nevertheless they must have struck terror to the hearts of many a woman by appearing in the most unexpected manner. One of the carly settlers, Mrs. Ira Brewer, was sitting alonc in her log cabin onc day when suddenly the window was darkened and looking up she saw Indian faccs crowded so thickly together that the light was entirely obscurcd. Another one, Mrs. Lewis Clapp, was frying doughnuts in her kitchen when a number of Indians with their chicf walked in and ranged them- selves around the wall. The woman did not scream, she greeted them with a calm exterior, finished frying her cakes-I imagine it did not take long-and then proceeded to pass them. But the chief relieved her of this hospitality by deliberately emptying the entire panfull into his blanket.
These first settlers realized another's need as their own, and protected or respected the rights of each other at the peril of life somctimcs. Of course there were exceptions to the rule, where individuals allowed the desirc for possession to rule them, else, the need of an association for the adjustment of claims, called "The Grove Association," would have becn unnecessary. Mr. Ira Brewer kindly furnished mc with the original doc- uments of this association. We handled the worn and yellowcd papers with exceeding care, for they embodicd the very nucleus round which our laws cnwrap themselves.
Dated, Inlet, Ogle Co., Ill., July 10, 1837. We read the following prc- amble.
"The encouragement which Congress gave to the pioneers of this country stimulated the present inhabitants to sacrifice property and ease and commence a long and fatiguing journey in order to better themselves and their offspring; not only the fatigue of a long and expensive journey, but the privations to which they were exposcd in consequence of the scarcity of the comforts of life and the exposure to the inclemency of the weather in an open log cabin. Everything considered, we think it no more than right, just and honorable that each man should hold a reason- able claim, and at the land sales obtain his lands at Congress' price.
Therefore, We, the subscribers, fccl willing to come under any rulcs and regulations that are warranted by honor and principle in regard to our honest claims.
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"Therefore, We establish a few rules and regulations whereby we may be governed on principles of equity."
This preamble is followed by seven Articles whereby the society should be governed, and a long list of names, some of them almost illegible.
A few years later an "Association for the Furtherance of the Cause of Justice," was organized. We note a "cast iron constitution," includ- ing instructions to a "Committee of Vigilance." which makes it evident these were perilous times in the history of the county. In the spring of 1836, the first sermon was preached by Peter Cartwright, "the backwoods preacher," at Mr. Dewey's house. A Methodist preacher in those days when he felt that God had called him to preach, instead of hunting up a college, or Biblical Institute, hunted up a hardy pony and some traveling apparatus, and with his library always at hand, namely: the Bible, Hymn Book and Discipline, he started, and with a text that never wore out nor grew stale he cried "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world." In this way he went through storms of wind, hail, snow and rain; plunged through swamps, swam swollen streams, lay out all night, wet, weary and hungry, held his horse by the bridle all night or tied him to a limb, slept with his saddle blanket for a bed, his saddle for a pillow, and his old big coat or blanket, if he had any, for a covering. Often he slept in dirty cabins, on earthen floors before the fire; drank butter-milk for coffee, or sage tea for Imperial, partook with hearty zest of deer or bear meat, or wild turkey, for breakfast, dinner and supper, if he could get it. This was old fashioned Methodist preacher fare and fortune, so says Peter Cartwright himself.
During the summer of '36 there was occasional preaching in Inlet, and the first Methodist class was organized with John Fosdick leader. In the spring of 1837 Mr. David Tripp and family, also his brother-in-law, Orange Webster, settled in Inlet. Mr. Tripp was the first Baptist in the town, and soon the first Baptist minister with the name of - - Hetler followed. Then one - 'Turtillock and these two came occasionally and preached in Mr. Tripp's house, until Mr. Tripp built a new barn. This was dedicated with a protracted meeting in which a large number were converted. The Baptist church was organized with Mr. Webster as deacon and Mr. Tripp clerk. They held meetings regularly at Mr. Tripp's place until a school house was built near the Dewey mill. The "circuit rider" for this district would come from the east and go west, taking about two weeks to complete his circuit. He was a young married man by the name of Smith. His stopping place in Inlet was at Mr. Dewey's. Here he was taken ill, and lived but a few days-there was
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no physician in Lee county then. On the night of his death two families arrived from New York and took up their abode in the Tripp house. Mr. Birdsall, who came in the fall of '37, occupied a room in the Tripp house-and his sons-in-law, Rev. Luke Hitchcock and Oscar F. Ayres, found shelter under the same hospitable roof; so the Rev. Luke Ilitch- cock preached the first funeral sermon in the town of Lee Center over the remains of this young circuit rider. He was buried near Mr. Darius , Sawyer's presen i home where a stone still marks his grave.
One can imagine how gladly a regularly licensed physician would be welcomed in a community where sickness and death had made inroads, and when Dr. R. F. Adams arrived in 1837 to stay the people breathed more freely. Then came a physician by the name of Hubbard-but only for a year, and Dr. Welch, now of Galesburg, followed Dr. Charles Gardner came at an early date and was held in high esteem throughout the county. The story is told that on the night of the arrival of Dr. Gardner and the Rev. D'Wolf at the Tripp house, there was quite a stir in the family, for professional gentlemen were miich needed on these prairies. The guess was passed from one to another as to which was the "Rev." and which the "Dr." The unanimous decision was in favor of Dr. Gardner as the Reverend. When the truth was known a general laugh ensued in which the newly arrived joined as heartily as any. The first building occupied for a store stood on the ground where David Tripp's Grout-house stood, then the building was sold to Mr. George Haskell, who moved it nearer to Inlet creek, where it stood several years, when it was moved to the town of Lee Center and occupied for some years by Joseph Cary. The pioneer teacher was Miss Ann Chamberlin who in the summer of '36 occupied a room in Mr. Adolphus Bliss' house for that purpose. After this a log school house was built near Mr. Bliss house in which Mr. Olis Timothy taught. This gentleman is now living at Franklin Grove and from the pen of his wife we learn that Mr T. taught nearly three months in the winter of '37-38. That he boarded round, receiving $15 per month, having 20 or 25 pupils in attendance.
In gathering items in regard to the early school teachers, we find that the first were invariably women.
All honor to her who led the van in educational interests; with what cost of trial and patience and soul weariness, none can estimate.
Among the name of old settlers we find the name of Mr. Roswell Streeter, and fron the pen of his son, A. G. Streeter, we liave the follow- ing: "My father made a claim on the land on which Lee Center is situ- ated in the year 1833. In the following year we moved from Allegheny
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county, New York, to near the claim and built a log house in the edge of Inlet Grove, where we found some protection from the winter storms. I was then 13 years old and the eldest of seven boys. Father improved the claim of 160 acres, and in after years when the government survey had been made, and the land offered for sale at the land office in Dixon, he entered the same. Later on father sold that part on which Lee Center now stands, and gave a portion more, (the amount I do not re- member) for the erection and maintenance of an academy. One or two years before these transactions I had left Lee Center for Galesburg, where I had been told there was a Normal labor school or college where a young man could work his way through without money. I found that the labor department was not in working order, in fact it never was. On arriving in Galesburg I had thurteen dollars, and this with willing hands backed by strength, energy and a determined will to succeed, was all I had. It was enough, for I was ready to do whatever I could find to do. So I set up the business of making shingles with a froe and drawing knife. The bolts, shingle length, were sawn off the tree; with froe and maul, split to the proper thickness, then with shaving knife cut down to the proper taper. Many and manv a day I fixed my school books up before me to get my lessons while at work.
I well remember the first school house and the time it was built in the old Inlet Grove. It was in the edge of the timber, and pretty well hidden from view by a hazel thicket on Mr. Bliss' land. Geo. E. Haskell teacher. T'was made of logs, cracks chinked and filled with mud, floor of split logs, fire place on one side, chimney out side made of rough stone, and split logs for seats. We lived a mile away, through the grove part way. We had to cross a small creek on the way with no bridge. When- ever the creek was over the banks, I would pull off shoes and wade through, then on to school, holding my book before me to make up for lost time. For Mr. Haskell had promised the one who "left off head" the most times during the term, fifty cents. I attended school two winter quarters before leaving for Galesburg. In 1849 I drove an ox team in company with others to California, remained there in the mines eighteen months. After that took two droves of cattle to California to market. In 1855 I returned and bought land near where I now live and settled down to farming and stock raising."
Mr. Streeter has been successful in business, at the same time has kept posted in the affairs of the general government and of the state. He has seryed in four sessions of the state legislature, both house and senate. Has been candidate for congress, governor and president on a minority ticket.
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"A typical old sett'er," who proves to be Mr. Charles Ingals, came to Lee Center in 1836. He was a Yankee, born among the New England hills, upon a farm settled and tilled by four generations of ancestors. After the death of their parents, half a dozen brothers and sisters of the family went west, although the traditional advice to do so had not then been published. The subject of our sketch lived more than fifty years, on the territory which he selected for a home, called at that time Pales- tine Grove, Ogle county, but now Lee Center, Lee county. Mr. Ingals who modestly speaks of himself in the third person, says: "The young man located, and without experience, council or cash, borrowed an ax, and the long fought battle of the prairies began. A cabin home was erected in two weeks, without the sound of a hammer or sight of a nail, that did good service for ten years. That cabin was made especially pleasant for two years through the efficiency and kindness of a well- beloved sister. A marriage alliance was then negotiated and solemnized without any undue nonsense and the bride and groom began a novel wedding journey of which an account is given by Mrs. Ingals a few pages farther on.
In those early times transportation and team work was done mostly hy oxen.
As winter approached (the first winter north) these cattle became home-sick and strayed, often going south, to their former homes among the stock fields and corn cribs of Egypt-they having been brought fron Southern Illinois. One morning our "typical old settler" found the last hoof of stock he owned was gone! No cow was left to furnish milk, no ox to haul fuel. The owner pursued on foot and was gone six weeks be- fore reaching home again with those indispensable animals. The ground was thickly covered with snow, prairies bleak, and the weather intensely cold. Today it seems strange that a man would foot it 500 miles under such circumstances for a few head of cattle. The reason was simple and plain-he had to have 'em. His family, knowing nothing of his where- abouts welcomed him as one from the dead.
Mr. Ingals in speaking of his chase after his cattle, reminds us of a story told by one of the old settlers concerning another.
"I was eating breakfrst when I heard a man calling from the street. It proved to be Squire Robinson, from Melugin's Grove and he was in- quiring if we had seen any cattle. He had missed them when he first went out in the morning, and started without his hat in pursuit, and he continued to pursue until he reached Dixon, still without a hat. I hope someone appreciated his energetic pursuit of knowledge-no cattle, and presented him with a good, substantial hat.
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DR. EPHRAIM INGALLS.
MRS. EPHRAIM INGALLS.
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Next in order comes a letter from Mrs. C. F. Ingalls giving an account of their wedding tour, of which she says, "It was so pleasant that even then I could have turned about and repeated it with pleasure." We give her story in her own words, and she begins:
"September 6, 1838, I was married and left my native town in Vermont for a new home in Illinois.
"We had a one-horse wagon-buggies not having come much into use there-in which were two trunks and some smaller baggage; the trunks were not Saratogas, but contained our wearing apparel. A journey of 1,000 miles lay before us. With constantly new and changing scenery, delightful and invigorating air, the trip was pleasant and enjoyable. Spent one week with friends in Indiana and arrived at our future home October 12. Then commenced the new experience of housekeeping and farm life in a log cabin 13x15 feet inside, with "loft" in which three cor- ners were occupied by beds and one by a ladder (for stairs). Below was a bed, cookstove, cupboard, small sink (or washstand), table, bureau, with chairs and benches needful for a family of six. A sister-in-law, who had been the previous housekeeper, was visiting us with her affianced, wilo were intending to marry and go east in the spring. In February we were visited by an aunt and her son-in-law from Ottawa. The proposi- tion was made that the wedding should take place at that time. A mes- senger was dispatched to the county seat for a license and clergyman. High water prevented his reaching the county clerk, so the license could not be procured. Our visitors then proposed that we all return with them and the ceremony be performed at their house. Hasty preparations were made. Flouring mills at Dayton being not far from Ottawa, three or four sacks of wheat were put up to take to have ground or exchanged for flour, and a company of six started. The snow was gone, frost not out of the ground enough to make the roads very soft, and the weather dull. About six miles brought us to the first creek, which was much swollen, and the question arose how it could be crossed. Our friend had a span of large horses which were unhitched, the sacks of grain placed upon their backs and swam across, then rehitched and the party ferried over, somehow, without getting wet. One or two other streams were crossed, after which the aunt proposed changing seats with one of the other party. The lot fell upon myself, and I rode with our visitor. It was probably the middle of the afternoon when he said to the others: "I will leave the road and strike across the prairie, which will be shorter, and get home to tell my wife that she prepare for the company." The others kept the road. The fog soon became so dense that we could see nothing
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at any distance. The wind was an uncertain guide. We rode on and on until night and'no indication of any habitation. At length, finding we were only going round and round in a circle we stopped, not knowing which way to go. There was a good moon and though foggy it was not dark. An umbrella protected us from the mist and it was not cold. When morning came we could see where the sun rose, and starting again, found ourselves but a short distance from the road and reached our desti- nation about ten o'clock. The wedding came off the evening of the same day, and the adventure caused much merriment. We returned to our home in a few days. The newly wedded couple (Dr. R. L. Adams and Deborah Ingals) left ns in March for Vermont, but returned after a time to Lee County. Our cabin being near the main road north and south we often entertained travelers and had some pleasant experiences in that way. Another incident occurred the next winter, I think in February. One cold stormy afternoon a inan came in for help to get a load out of a little creek about two miles distant, where it was stuck fast in trying to cross. My husband asked him to wait until the stormn was over and be would help him, to which he readily assented. A friend from Princeton was visiting me at the time and as a natural thing I had tried to have a good supper that evening of chicken and such vegetables as we had. All was on the table and we were about sitting down when a step jarred the puncheon floor, one leg slipped into a large crack, and down went one corner, dishes, supper and all in a heap. Whether anything but dishes was saved I do not remember, but know another meal was cooked. The event had passed out of mind and was recalled years after by a neighbor, who heard the man that stopped for help relate it where she was visiting in another town.
In those early days neighbors had no prescribed bounds, and roads were not fenced, driving eight or ten miles to make a social visit was no uncommon thing. If a minister stopped in the vicinity word was at once sent around, the people would gather at some place and have service. Many enjoyable and profitable meetings were held in different catins. Time passed, the population increased, also labor and care, which in a measure restricted the old, free intercourse. Schools and churches were established. Young people grew up, married and scattered, some to build homes in other new places, some to the city to enter various avo- cationsof life. Generations have come and gone. The ranks of old settlers are depleted until very few are left to be interested in the great enterprise now absorbing so much attention.
A brother, Dr. Ephraim Ingals, also well known and highly esteemed
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in Lee county, sends us from his beautiful Chicago home, with pictures of himself and wife, the following interesting story of pioneer days.
In the autumn of 1832, my eldest brothers, Henry and Addison, next older than myself, came to Illinois and settled on the Illinois river, near where Chandlersville now stands. Mr. Lincoln surveyed my brother's farm for him. In the spring of 1836 my brother, Charles F. Ingais, took up a claim at the east end of Palestine Grove on the land where he lived more than fifty years. Addison and Deborah, (our sister) came north with Francis to assist in improving the claim. She stopped near Ottawa, with her uncle, the father of R. E. Goodell, now of Denver, who was to some extent associated with the early history of Lee County, while the brothers went out to build a cabin for their home.
During the two weeks they were building the cabin of logs they lived in a tent made of the cover of their farm wagon, for which their only team was a pair of oxen. When the cabin was inclosed Francis went to Ottawa with this team for Deborah, leaving Addison, then but sixteen years old, at the camp. The only persons he saw during his two days solitude were about seventy Indians who called uninvited while he was at breakfast. They asked for food. of which he had little to give. An Indian trail from Green river east to Chicago passed close by the camp. This could be plainly seen a number of years later when the prairie was burned off, as it stretched away over the ridges towards Melugins Grove. The trail crossed the creek about a mile directly west of the Ingals farm, at what was called the thicket. This was a little fertile bottom on which grew numerous wild plum trees that bore excellent fruit; also crab apples, butternuts, hazelnut, grapes and May-apples. As there were only wild fruits in the country then, these were all highly prized. This had been the site of an Indian camp during the winter of 1835 and '36 and their lodge poles were standing a number of years later. Mr. Ingals built his cabin in a hazel thicket, on the spot where he afterward built his house.
Returning from Ottawa with Deborah he reached the camp in the evening, after a fatiguing day's ride of thirty miles, in a lumber wagon without springs, drawn by a pair of oxen. The cabin was not chinked, and its light of welcome as they approached it shone not from windows, but from between the logs. It had no floor and the stubs from recently cut hazel brush were far from pleasant. As Deborah looked into the cabin, she said-and in no spirit of irony-"Francis, what a nice home you have provided for me." There was no better housekeeper than she Her linen and table, however simple they might be, were spotless. The
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beauty and excellence of the first breakfast she prepared, served, though it was on a drygoods box gave memories that the lapse of near three score years has not effaced. Her only neighbors were in the Doan settlement two miles west, Inlet Grove five north, Melugin's Grove seven east and settlers on the Bureau creek ten south. No one then built, except in immediate contact with the timber. The nearest store where a lady could shop was at Dixon, twelve miles away. This however did not much matter, for the simplicity of pioneer life required but little and had it been otherwise there was no money with which to make purchases.
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