USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 31
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 31
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. During election times "Free State " was the scene of great commotion. The boys would vote at one poll, cross the County line into the next voting place, and there also give their favorite candidates a lift, provided the other party was not too strong; and if nearly equal, a general pitched battle was the result of denying these extremely free American citizens their right to vote early and often, "a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only !"
In these conflicts, as detailed by an eye witness, besides brawny fists,
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such weapons were used as clubs, fence stakes, pieces of broken rails, hand- spikes, and such stones as could be found lying around loose. In one of these skirmishes a then well known young man of that section had his entire clothing stripped off, and was obliged to wend his way homeward under cover of a horse blanket.
"Bill Sowards," elsewhere mentioned, also lived here, and was never an idle spectator of such performances. He was, in fact, an active spirit among them, and when properly "liquored up," usually went around "spoiling for a fight" and anxious to "chaw some one up."
For years Bill "ruled the roost" like a tyrant, but at last met his match. Among others, he had deeply insulted George Hedlock, a dimin- utive fellow, but full of grit, who determined on revenge. Getting together a number of "the boys," pledged to see fair play, he took a handful of red pepper in one hand, and challenging Sowards to a contest, filled the bully's eyes with the pungent powder, completely blinding him, and then pounded his victim until the latter prayed for mercy and promised to ever after behave himself. It was Bill's last fight, and he became a quiet, peaceable citizen.
In justice to Bill, it should be said that when sober he was a generous, warm-hearted man, upright and industrious; but when inflamed by drink his brutal qualites were developed. ,
AN OLD PIONEER.
Joseph Babb, an old pioneer of Lacon Township, came to the country in the fall of 1831, and erected a cabin three miles below town, on what has since been called the "Babb place." He stayed two weeks at John Strawn's while selecting a location and building a cabin, and the night of moving into it was surprised by the appearance of a large body of In- dians, mounted on their ponies, whose camping ground he had unwit- tingly invaded. They were returning from their annual fall hunt, and came back, as was their custom, to spend the winter here. Mr. Babb having seen his family comfortably settled, returned to Ohio to close up some unfinished business, and for four months his unprotected family, consisting mainly of women, were exposed to the ignorant and-when in- flamed with whisky-infuriate whims of three hundred savages. Of his six children, five were girls, and his only son a stripling of nineteen.
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LACON TOWNSHIP-AN INDIAN WAR INCIDENT.
Mrs. Babb was an exceedingly timid woman, and the agony and terror they suffered cannot be described.
The life led by Mis. Babb and her family, alone in the woods, over a mile from any white settler, in the edge of this hell of blood-thirsty de- mons, was fearful beyond description and how she passed through it is a marvel. One of the actors, then a timid girl of fifteen, still lives (Mrs. Lot Bullman), and to this day her recollection of the terrible scenes seems like a hideous nightmare. The days were hard enough, but the nights were worse, and when the drunken savages grew too demonstrative it was the mother's custom to take her little children and flee to the woods in the rear of her cabin, where sheltered behind some friendly log, wrapped in blankets, they lay exposed to the pitiless cold until morning. These orgies were of daily and nightly occurrence, and not once but many times did the poor wife and children lay in their blankets upon the bleak hillside. Toward spring a Mr. Newton Reeder, learning the state of things, volun- tarily rode to the Indian Agent's below, who promptly came to their relief and compelled the chief ;and his people to remove their eamp across ยท the river, threatening if not done to send his soldiers and shoot every In- dian found. As the lands had been already sold to the Government, and the savages had no longer any right to remain, they had to comply.
Nacquette, the chief, had seven wives whose wigwams were ranged round his own, and who reigned supreme. He had a son, a fine looking Indian, who desired to marry Anna Babb (now Mrs. Bullman), and one day presented himself before her father's cabin, arrayed in the killing outfit of an Indian brave, and formally proposed to "swap" a dozen or more of ponies for the comely white squaw, and great was his grief when his offer was deelined.
AN INCIDENT IN THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
During the Black Hawk war it was greatly . feared by the settlers of Round Prairie and neighborhood that the Indians would pay them a visit, destroy their homes, and massacre their families. Joseph Babb, who was a most courageous and energetic man, declared from the first, however, that he was confident they would not be molested, and en- deavored in many ways to imbue his neighbors with a like feeling of con- fidenee. His wife, however, was a very timid lady, and the many wild rumors which reached the settlement from time to time tended to greatly
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excite and alarm her, and in obedience to her wishes he removed her and the children from his own house to Mr. John .Wier's.
At Mr. Wier's quite a number already had collected, and the first night the Babbs were there twenty-two persons slept in one room, which was scarcely larger than an ordinary sleeping apartment in our days.
It was reported that the Indians had appeared in large force some dis- tance up the Illinois River, and that they had killed a Mr. Phillips, west of Hennepin. The rangers thereupon hastened to the scene of their re- ported depredations.
In the meantime orders had been given that from sunrise to sunset no guns should be fired, lest their report should create unnecessary alarni among the settlers, and it was determined that a fine of five dollars should be imposed on whoever should be guilty of disobedience. This was well understood throughout the vicinity and everyone was exceedingly careful.
One day about three o'clock in the afternoon, the party assembled at Mr. Wiers were suddenly startled by a heavy discharge of firearms. All were seized with terror and fright, for it was immediately supposed that the long expected and much dreaded savages had come at last, and that . scenes of havoc, bloodshed and outrage were about to be enacted.
Momentarily expecting to hear the fearful war-whoop, they awaited in terror and almost breathlessly for the appearance of the painted fiends, but hours passed and yet no enemy appeared, nor did any alarming sounds greet their ears.
Evening came at last and with it Mr. Swan and Miss Price, both on horseback. All rushed forth to meet them, anxious to hear the latest news.
Mr. Swan said the Indians had encountered the Rangers and fired upon theni, about sixteen miles up the river, and that they intended to attack the settlement that night. He advised everyone to flee at once to Colonel Strawn's-a mile or two distant-whither he and Miss Price were going, and assist in fortifying the place. With this he and his com- panion rode on.
Mr. Babb and Mr. Wier determined, however, to remain where they were and began to make preparations for defense. Mrs. Babb was a very religious woman and possessed great faith in the efficacy of prayer. Calling Mrs. Wier to one side she whispered to her and together they withdrew to the woods near by, where they remained a short time.
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When they returned, Mr. Wier, assisted by Mr. Babb, was rolling a wagon up against a window to still further strengthen their position.
" Joseph," cried Mrs. Babb to her husband in a peculiarly joyous tone of voice, "you need n't fortify any more against the Indians, for I have been out in the forest and on my bended knees I have prayed to my Maker for protection and He has answered my prayers, and told me in His way that there is no danger."
Both men gazed at her in surprise and reverence akin to awe, for her cheeks were like roses, her face shown with an unusual light and her eyes sparkled with a singular brilliancy. So impressed were they by her words that they made no more attempts at fortifying, and such confidence had been restored by her surprising speech and appearance that all thought of danger seemed to have faded from their minds and they went to bed that night at the usual time.
About midnight, however, they were awakened and again startled. On this occasion by a loud knocking on their cabin door and by the bark- ing and howling of dogs. "The Indians have come !" exclaimed some one, and in a moment all was confusion. Guns were seized, locks were hastily inspected and they prepared to sell their lives as dearly as possible, but the sound of a familiar voice outside soon allayed all their fears. It was Mr. Swan, who, having learned that all rumors of the presence of Indians in the neighborhood were false, and thinking that the people at Wier's would all be sitting up and anxiously watching the turn of affairs, had very considerately come to acquaint them with the glad tidings.
The firing they had heard was done by the Rangers themselves, who had returned home about three in the afternoon, and having been absent when the agreement about the use of firearms had been made and being ignorant of it, had discharged their weapons, as it was the custom to do in the days of flint-locks.
WILD HOGS.
The first settlers in the country found the river bottoms abounding in hogs, and when a diet of fresh pork was wanted a few hours' hunt would yield a supply. We have been told that in 1825-6 a man named Funk used to drive hogs from the vicinity of Springfield to Galena and many escaped by the way, from which sprung those found in this section. They were tall and raw-boned-regular rail splitters as the settlers said,
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and as ferocious as they were wild. Numerous instances are told of settlers being "treed " by them, but no worse accidents happened. One Billy Marsh, from the vicinity of Crow Creek, was returning home one night in a jubilant mood when he ran into and wakened a brood, which pursued and compelled him to take to a tree for safety; and once on a time Sam Headlock and Roderick Owen, going home from Lacon at night, disturbed a drove near the mouth of Crow Creek, and were compelled to climb trees for safety. The infuriated porkers gashed the trees with their teeth and tried to shake them down, but failing in this they retired a few rods and kept sharp watch of their prisoners until morning, when they wandered off and allowed them to escape.
A DRUNKEN INDIAN RIOT.
In the spring of 1831 Robert Bird, Jr., and John S. Armstrong, now a prominent citizen of La Salle County, nephew of Col. John Strawn, visited the camping place of the Indians, a little north of where the Lacon cemetery is located. As the visitors were entering the camp a violent out- break occurred among the red men, in which knives and tomahawks were freely used, and a fearful tumult of cries arose. As they passed the tent of Nauquette, the chief, he rushed to the door and exclaimed, " Puckachee (clear out), Indians drunk, Indians kill chimokaman" (white man). They left as directed, but returning next day found the place deserted, and in a rudely constructed pen the bodies of five dead Indians lying stark and stiff, killed in the melee of the day before. One fellow's head. had been nearly cut off. By his side near one hand the carcass of an opossum was placed. The bodies were laid side by side upon mats made of flags from the neighboring swamps, with pipes and tobacco at the left and a knife by the right hand of each. Blankets were laid over the bod- ies and the heads of the dead were all turned toward the east. Around this strange grave, on an elevation a foot or more above the general level of the ground, there was built a pen of maple and ash poles, and a few poles covered the same, which were weighted down by heavier logs and stones, which the boys had no difficulty in removing to get a better view of the bodies, some of which were hacked and cut in a frightful manner.
It. appears that a number of the Indians the day before had re- turned from "Cock-a-mink,"-the name by which Peoria was known to
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them- where they had bartered furs, venison and fish for knives, blankets, tobacco and whisky, with results as above stated.
FATHER AND DAUGHTER FROZEN TO DEATH.
The remarkable change of temperature that took place December 20, 1836, is noted all over this section, and has its place in the memory of every old citizen. One person describes it as follows:
The morning was mild, with a settled rain gradually changing the snow on the ground into a miserable slush. Suddenly a black cloud came sweeping over the sky from the northwest, accompanied with a roaring wind. As the cold wave it bore struck the land, the rain and slush were changed in a twinkling into ice.
It is stated upon the authority of many that the change of tempera- ture was so great and so swift that "chickens and geese, also hogs and cows, were frozen in the slush as they stood, and unless they were extri- cated by cutting the ice around their feet, they remained there to perish." It is reported that a drover on the large prairie north of Springfield, with a herd of 1,000 to 1,500 hogs, was overtaken by the sudden cold on the prairie eight miles from town. He left his hogs and drove with his men to the village for safety, -all of the party more or less frozen before shelter was reached. The abandoned animals piled one upon another for warmth. Those on the inside smothered, and those on the outside froze; and next morning a pyramid of 500 dead swine was heaped up on the prairie. The remainder wandered about, but eventually perished of cold.
Almost every locality has its separate story of suffering and exposure, which will be told in their appropriate places, but the crowning horror happened just across the line of Woodford County, in Black Partridge Township. A laborer, named Butler lived there his family consisting of himself and wife, a grown up daughter named Margaret, and a son about ten years old. They were in very destitute circumstances, and fre- quently objects of public charity, the neighbors supplying them with clothing and provisions.
That fatal afternoon Mr. Butler and his daughter left the house in search of an estray cow. When they started a light rain was falling, and the was covered with mud and slush. How far they had journeyed is not exactly known, but from circumstances it is presumed when a mile or two from home, on their return, the fearful change began. They
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were most thinly clad, the girl's clothing consisting of a calico dress, a single under garment, and an old shawl thrown across her shoulders.
They traveled as fast as possible, but the intense and piercing cold so affected the girl that she could go no further. . They were less than a mile from home, and her father removing his coat and putting it around her; put his boots upon her feet, and placing her in a sitting position against a tree he left, hoping to return and save her.
He started home coatless and barefoot, and reached a running stream, where appearances indicated he turned to restore circulation to his frozen feet by placing them in the water.
On the following morning neither of the unfortunate people having returned, search was made and he was found at the creek frozen stiff, his feet encased in a sheet of ice. The girl was found sitting against the tree dressed as stated and so frozen that it was impossible to compose her limbs so as to fit an ordinary coffin. They were buried a couple of days afterward, the unusual spectacle attracting people from long distances. In the locality the noted change is commemorated as the "Butler Snap."
FIGHT OF HOOVER AND BOWLES, AND DEATH OF BOWLES.
Cy. Bowles was the bully of all this country until the advent of big Bill Hoover. He came from the vicinity of Hennepin, and numerous stories are yet told in the river towns of his fights and arrests. He could not bear a rival, and when Hoover came upon the scene would not rest until he had tested his strength. Report credited him with coming purposely to provoke a quarrel with his rival, and that he began the contest is proven. Hoover sat in Vinecore's saloon, when Bowles entered with gun in hand, and setting his foot on Hoover's knee, gave him a push, upon which Hoover remarked he "had best let him alone." Bowles re- peated the act, when Hoover rose, and catching him round the waist, doubled him down on the floor as he would a ten year old boy.
In all of this no temper was exhibited by the parties, but it is evident Bowles, who was a man of ungovernable passions, was deeply angered at his discomfiture, and going over to Fenn's store, procured a heavy dirk knife and hid it in his sleeve. Some one told Hoover of this, and he was cautioned to beware of him. Presently Bowles returned, and the men, warily watching each other, began bantering for a fight and passed out of
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the door. Going out Bowles made a pass at Hoover and cut him in the back and again in the breast, and the fight began.
Hoover was unarmed while his antagonist held a knife in one hand and his gun in the other. It was the aim of the former to knock the knife from Bowles' hand by striking his wrist, and twice he tried it with- out effect, but the third time succeeded. Bowles then grasped his gun by the muzzle and aimed a fearful blow, which Hoover dodged with sur- prising agility, recovering himself with incredible quickness. The gun was broken to pieces, and Hoover, warding off the blows, wrenched it from his hands, when Bowles ran into the street.
Prudence, it seems, should have taught the man the futility of a longer fight and warned him to let Hoover alone. But he was insane with passion and incapable of reasoning. Procuring a stout cudgel, he returned to renew the contest. Hoover waited until he saw his enemy, and then went to him. The latter aimed a blow with his cudgel, which was turned aside, when Hoover's weapon descended on Bowles' head, cutting it clear open and exposing the brain. He lived but three days.
Mac Robinson was Constable, and tried to arrest Hoover, but the lat- ter told him to stand aside. He went to Peoria for a time, but the Grand Jury refused to find a bill against him, he returned. In 1852-3 he went to California, and was finally killed there in a row.
BIG BILL HOOVER.
A noted character here in early times was the individual named above. He was a Hercules in form and muscle, stood six feet in his stockings, and weighed 248 pounds. One who saw him stripped said he was the finest specimen of physical manhood he ever looked upon. He was quick as a mountain cat and fearless of danger. His disposition was quiet and peaceable, but he was addicted to drink, and when in his cups was like an enraged tiger.
At one time while living in Peoria he attended Mabie's circus, and became enraged at some remark of the clown, whom he wished to punish in the ring, but being prevented, went to the hotel where the latter stopped and knocked him down. Attached to the circus were three men who, priding themselves on their fighting abilities, determined to have revenge. Bill had gone to the Franklin House, where he boarded, and
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sat by the fire playing with a poker when they entered and asked the landlord for their man, who, suspecting trouble, answered evasively, while Bill passed into the dining room and secreting a large butcher knife in his sleeve and further arming himself with the poker returned. "Have you seen Bill Hoover?" they asked, as he entered, and the answer was given, "That's me." Quick as lightning came a blow that felled him to the floor, but he was on his feet in an instant, knife in hand, with which he dealt his assailant a deadly blow across the ribs and laid him out. The next one he struck across the face, making a gash that cut one eye out, laid open the side of his head, and nearly severed an ear. The third he knocked down with the poker, and the battle was over. He was arrested by the Coroner and discharged, as he had acted clearly in self-defense.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF HENRY TOWNSHIP.
HENRY TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
HIS is a fractional Township consisting of ten full and eight parts of sections, or portions of eight sections. The Illinois River in a devious way washes its eastern boundary, and Senachwine and Whitefield bound it north and west.
Along the river borders it is low and swampy and unfit for cultivation, but soon rises into arable table lands cap- able of high cultivation and yielding large returns to the husbandman. This portion is known as Crow Meadow Prairie, once a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, and long noted for its unrivaled beauty.
On the west, a border of low wooded hills enclose it when the leaves are out with an emerald setting, while on the east the bolder bluffs of the Illinois sweep round in a graceful curve, and then bend away again to- wards Lacon.
The river is navigable for boats of the largest size, and here is located the finest lock in the West, built at a cost of half a million dollars. The town is well situated for business and commands a heavy trade in grain and lumber. It has likewise an energetic set of business men and mer- chants, who have pushed their enterprises far beyond the usual limits of trade and draw traffic from all the towns surrounding. A steamer con- nects it with Peoria, making daily trips throughout the season of naviga- tion, and the Bureau Valley Railroad connects the place with Chicago, etc.
The first known resident here was a man named Hart, who built a cabin on the present site of the town in 1830, which was soon after deserted. About 1831 another cabin was built, near the site of the old mill, north of the ravine, and for some time was occupied by a man named Stacy, who built a log house in 1832 on the site of Webster. Elias Thompson
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came next. His house stood on the edge of the ravine, near or on the ground afterward occupied by Bower's mill. For a long time it was the only hotel, and occasionally served as a church, the proprietor, in addi- tion to his other duties, being a local preacher of deserved note.
Mr. Thompson and his son David opened the first farms in the Town- ship, the former at the head of the ravine, east of where he lived. They devoted their time principally to raising vegetables for the "tavern."
At this time settlers hugged close to the timber, the prairies being con- sidered too bleak and exposed for cultivation, and only fit for pasturage.
Another log cabin is known to have stood under the river bank as early as 1833, and was occupied by a hunter named Hatfield, who some- times served as ferryman.
There stood a small log building near the corner of School and Front streets, and across on the north side of School street, nearly opposite the present bridge, stands the first frame building erected in the city. It was built by Mr. Hale, and occupied by him in 1835, and is now a part of Mrs. St. Clair's residence.
In 1831 or '32, Erastus Wright and William Porter, of Springfield, visited this section, and foreseeing a good prospect for a future town, made a claim. They also procured a ferry license from the Commissioners of Peoria County, a transcript of which they filed upon the organization of Putnam County, in the proper court.
In 1833 Anson L. Deming and Elisha Swan, of Columbia, also made claim to the town site, and to strengthen it procured a boat and contracted with Major Thompson to run a ferry for them, and Swan made prepara- tions to build a store.
The rival claimants after some wrangle concluded to jointly lay out a town and divide the profits on the lots as fast as sold. They sent to Springfield for a surveyor named Porter, when the discovery was made that being school land it could not be sold, so Mr. Swan abandoned his plans and returned to Columbia, and Thompson became possessor of the ferry property.
The school officers soon after circulated petitions asking of the Super- intendent of Schools permission to sell the Sixteenth Section, setting forth there were fifteen voters and fifty white people in the Township. It was granted, and B. M. Hayes appointed to survey and lay it out, which was done, and the Trustees in their report say :
"Lots from number thirty to two hundred and ninety-one inclusive,
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THE TOWN OF HENRY LAID OUT AND CHRISTENED.
with streets and alleys within and thereto appertaining, and the public grounds on said map designated, we propose as a town by the name of Henry, in memory of the late Gen. James D. Henry, deceased, who gallantly led the Illinois volunteers to victory over the hostile Sac and Fox Indians in the year 1832, and who lately died of disease caused by that arduous service.".
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