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 48
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 48
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* Matson's Reminiscences of Bureau County.
571
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
The slave party put their horses at full speed in pursuit of the fugitive, who had taken across the prairie in the direction of Dover, but on coming up with him they were surprised to find instead of the negro Mr. Waldo with a black vail over his face. The slave party attempted to force an entrance into the house, but Mr. Lovejoy forbid them doing so without due process of law. A messenger was sent for a search warrant, and while they were waiting for his return, the boy in disguise, with a basket on his arm, went to the barn. Behind the barn a wagon was standing, into which the slave was placed and covered up with empty bags. This wagon was driven quietly away, and the sla 'e escaped while the slave party stood guard around Mr. Lovejoy's house, waiting for a search warrant.
While the new Court House in Hennepin was being built, a negro slave was caught by an unusually keen detective, and the poor fugitive was put in the basement of the Court House for safe keeping. There seemed to be no weak point in the testimony, and under the law there was no option but to remand the unhappy fellow back to slavery. About forty of the citizens by that mysterious sort of mutual understanding which prevailed in communities of Abolitionists in those days got to- together, Mr. Flagg, who built the Court House, engineering the scheme. The men met in the brick yard, where John Williams was making brick for the building, and by means of a pole broke in the door and got the negro, put him in a carriage and spirited him away, and the slave- hunter, who was a trembling spectator of part of the scene, mounted his horse and fled for Kentucky, where mob law was not so fashionable.
Wm. Lewis, the "agent" of the Underground Railroad at Magnolia, whose cabin standing on the prairie a half mile north of Clear Creek, was the depot, took a just degree of pride in his work in behalf of freedom. At Vermilionville, east of his place, Mr. Jenks, also a hot Abolitionist, kept another stopping place for fugitives, and Lewis frequently carried escaping darkies from his cabin to that of the Jenk's "station." At one time he took a wagon load of these people over to his neighbors on Vermillion River, stopping on the way to call the settlers out to see his "blackbirds," as he facetiously termed them.
A costly chattel once went through Mr. Morse's hands. He had been a steward on a New Orleans and St. Louis packet. In those days no
572
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
negro could leave home without a pass from some competent authority. Purposely remaining concealed one day until the boat had been gone a couple of hours; he went in great haste to the Captain of a boat in the same trade, and explaining his detention asked him to give a "pass" allowing him to go on the first packet and overtake his master. He did overtake, and passed him by, going clear past-to St. Louis and a land of liberty, beyond Lake Erie.
On one occasion a bright, intelligent mulatto came along. He was a valuable chattel belonging to D. A. January, a well known citizen of St. Louis, who determined, if possible, to effect the boy's capture. A trusty agent was sent over the route, scattering hand-bills offering a reward of $1,000 for his arrest, and personally called upon Mr. Morse, the chattel in the mean time being safely hidden in the barn. It was the nearest he ever came to a thousand dollars, but it had no temptations for him.
Many of the escaping fugitives were armed, and sooner than be taken, would have used their weapons. Mr. Morse told the fugitives to never show their arms unless forced to, and then "strike hard and spare not." A mulatto named Free, living at Springfield, had a fine team of horses, and plie regularly between Springfield and Chicago, helping many a slave to freedom. He was once pursued and shot, near Washington, Ill., but upon displaying an old rusty musket his three assailants fled in mortal terror, and he delivered his load safely. The shot lamed him for life.
Among the friends of the slaves and active workers in his liberation Mr. Morse remembers Deacon John Morse, of Mt. Hope; Rev. Mr. Hurl- burt, William Lewis, Samuel and James Work, the Messrs. Dillon, near Tremont; the Roberts brothers, Mr. Mathews, of the same locality; Mr. George Kern and boys, near Washington; Patterson and Randolph Scott, Mr. Chase, Mr. Bayne, and a few others.
Aaron Payne was a good Christian, but reared in the South he firmly believed in the divinity of slavery, and bitterly opposed the advocates of freedom. During the anti-slavery excitement an enthusiastic meeting was once held at the log school house on Clear Creek, north of Magnolia, and addresses and sermons on the subject delivered by such workers as Benj. Lundy, Owen Lovejoy and Richard Codding. Aaron Payne attended one of these gatherings, and created a fearful explosion by getting up and
573
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
denouncing the meeting and its object as an affront to the Almighty, who had created the negro and condemned the race to be the slaves of white men, and the institution being of Divine origin, countenanced and ap- proved by the Creator, in both the old and new testaments, could not be assailed by human hands without sacrilege and sin. The old pro-slavery preacher was not allowed to finish his remarks, having been hustled out of the presence of the offended congregation, and nothing but his personal popularity and known goodness of heart saved him from being roughly handled. He departed highly indignant, and often afterward related the incident as a grevious and unpardonable affront to himself, as well as an assault upon free speech !
James Work learned to abhor slavery when a boy, living in Vir- ginia. He says he often saw gangs of slaves brought up like cattle and driven to market chained together. He has seen hundreds of these human chattles driven along in couples, with a long chain between to keep them in order. Usually a wagon followed with some children and provisions, while the women, who would not desert their offspring, fol- lowed behind. These gangs were always accompanied by two owners or drivers on horseback, with loaded whips similar to those used by cattle drivers now-a-days. One of these rode ahead, and the other followed.
Deacon Smith related an incident told him by a confiding slave holder once on a t me. He was a member of a church in Dixie that had human chattels bequeathed to it by a dying brother, who doubtless hoped in this manner to buy his way to heaven. Wishing to improve their building, they sold a slave or two, and afterward disposed of a other to buy a com- munion service. But a member greatly scandalized himself by refusing to partake of the Lord's supper from the holy vessel, saying, "There is blood in the cup."
574
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
THE INDIANS.
CHAPTER L.
BLACK PARTRIDGE.
HE individual whose name is commemorated in the north- west Township of Woodford County, was an Indian chief of the Pottawatomie nation, whose village was a little south- west of Richland school house, on lands belonging to Wil- liam Hunter. The locality was long known to the early settlers as the "Big Springs," and was a favorite camping ground for travelers. In what year Black Partridge was born is not known. We first hear of him at Mad Anthony's defeat of the Miami Indians, in 1794, where he boasted of taking several scalps, but his band was badly cut up, and himself received an ugly wound on the shoulder. His Indian name was Mucketepokee. He was present at the treaty of Greenville in'1795, and received from General Wayne a medallion likeness of General Washington, which was worn round his neck for many years.
Next we hear of him at a treaty concluded with Gov. Edwards in 1809-11-authorities on this point being somewhat conflicting. He was accompanied by Senachwine, whose village was near the present site of Putnam; Gomo, whose camp was at Chillicothe; Shick-Shack, whose peo- ple lived below Hennepin, and several minor personages whose names are not known. Black Partridge made a speech, and Governor Edwards re- sponded. A great feast was provided of which the Indians partook lib- erally, and not until the beeves were eaten up were the latter ready to talk of business. The peace here concluded was not of long duration. English emissaries were busily fomenting mischief and secretly supplying the Indians with arms in anticipation of coming trouble. Then came the war of 1812, in which many Illinois Indians took the part of Great Brit- n, making raids into the settlements of Madison and St. Clair Counties.
575
BLACK PARTRIDGE, THE INDIAN CHILEF.
At these depredations the people became greatly alarmed, and some fled the country, while others built temporary forts and with their famili s took refuge therein. Governor Edwards being applied to determined to raise a force and chastise the enemy into submission.
The General Government took hold of the matter, and General Hop- kins, with a force of four thousand mounted riflemen from Kentucky, was ordered to rendezvous at Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, while Colonel Russell, with three hundred Rangers, should assemble near the presen't site of Edwardsville and marched north to co-operate with them. A force likewise went up the river in four keel boats, under command of Captain Craig. It was raised near Shawneetown, and counted all told about two hundred men, armed with muskets, while the boats carried howitzers. The reason of these heavy forces being brought to bear upon the Indians was a belief that they had participated in the massacre at Chicago, and deserved the severest punishment.,
On the 14th of October the Kentucky troops, with a grand display, left Fort Harrison, and with bands playing and banners streaming, their horses gaily caparisoned and their guns glistening in the sunshine, took up their line of march. It was the finest army ever seen in the West, and great results were expected from the expedition. They entered the State of Illinois somewhere in the vicinity of Edgar County, and started across the grand prairie. The Kentuckians had never seen the vast level plains of the West, and their imaginations were fired with apprehension of the hidden dangers beyond. They were superstitious withal, and greedily de- voured reports waggishly circulated that great dragons lay in wait, and prairie fires fifty feet high would sweep down and overwhelm them.
On the fourth day out they became panic stricken, their patriotism vanished, and they resolved to go no further into a country so full of dangers. General Hopkins, finding remonstrance useless and his unaided efforts of no avail, sorrowfully gave the order to return.
In the meantime Governor Edwards, with Russell's mounted Rangers, was marching northward, expecting to form a junction with the larger army, but failing to meet them, pushed straight on for Black Partridge's village, near the head of Peoria Lake. They were well mounted and traveled light, relying on the country for forage, and were untrammeled by baggage wagons or commissary stores.
Near the present site of Bloomington they came upon a solitary Indian out hunting, whom a trooper cut down without provocation. They here
576
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
fell in with an old trapper, named Grant, who informed them most of the Indians were off on a hunt, and volunteered to lead them to the vil- lage. Marching to within a few miles they encamped for the night, and sent out spies to reconnoiter, who reported everything quiet.
Colonel Russell divided his forces, stationing a portion in the bottoms near the present residence of Louis Guibert, to intercept fugitives. On their way to the village they came upon an Indian and squaw, mounted, who held up their hands in token of submission, but Captain Judy saying he did not come to take prisoners, fired and mortally wounded the Indian, and several shots were fired at the squaw, who began wring- ing her hands and crying, making no attempt to escape. Her comrade fell from his horse but grasped his gun, when those who were near sud- denly threw themselves from their horses to avoid his fire. A man by the name of Wright, however, was not quick enough and was shot by the Indian, both expiring soon after. In the confusion one of the rangers' guns accidentally exploded, striking a man named Bruce, from East St. Louis, in the forehead and killing him.
Strange as it may appear, these occurrences did not alarm the sleeping village, and when Colonel Russell was satisfied the detachment sent below had reached its destination he gave the order to attack.
The rangers came on in two columns, one division sweeping directly down the point south of the school house, and another some thirty or more rods below. The Indians, taken wholly by surprise, made little resistance. A portion undertook to escape down the river but ran upon the force concealed there and were turned back. Directly in the rear of the camp was an impenetrable swamp, into which they plunged, followed by the rangers, whose horses became mired in a few steps, throwing their riders. A few Indians made a stand, and protected by trees, poured a galling fire into the invaders, killing Patrick White, of Belleville, John Shur, of Edwardsville, and wounding several others. About thirty Indi- ans, old and young, were killed, most of them being old men and squaws. Several pappooses were slain, one soldier inhumanly running his bayonet through a little child and holding it high above his head. Some of the soldiers were guilty of the most inhuman acts,-such as mutilating the dead, placing ropes around their necks and dragging them about.
The camp equipage of the enemy was sunk in the marsh, their wig- wams and provisions burned up, and everything destroyed. While this was being accomplished scouts were sent to follow the retreating force,
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577
BLACK PARTRIDGE, THE INDIAN CHIEF.
which fled up the river to near the mouth of Crow Creek, where they were seen crossing to the other side.
Here it was known a large force of Indians, under Gomo, were encamped, and their early appearance was to be apprehended. No time was lost, therefore, in making ready to return. The dead were deposited in a large box and buried in a shallow grave at the foot of the bluff, near the scene of battle, their remains scantily covered, and the enemy left where they fell to be devoured by wolves. When all was complete the different detachments were called in and a rapid retreat eastward began, the troops marching all day without rest, and camping at night on the prairie, probably not far from where Cruger now stands.
At the time of the destruction of his village Black Partridge was absent. He had long been a friend to the whites and his conduct at the Chicago massacre proves this. On the morning of that day, finding he could no longer restrain his young men, he proceeded to the fort, and with a sorrowful countenance delivered up the medal given him at the treaty of Greenville, seventeen years before, saying his men were going to take up arms against the pale faces, and he did not wish to longer wear a token of friendship. It is known that some of his braves participated in the slaugh- ter, but that he did not is conclusively shown by Mrs. Kinzie in her account of the massacre, and confirmed by Mrs. Beeson, whose narrative is here given: "At nine o'clock the troops left the fort in military array, with drums beating and colors flying. Captain Wells with his mounted Miami warriors led the way, the troops followed on foot, and next came the baggage wagons, containing the sick and the women and children, while the Pottawatomies, five hundred strong, brought up the rear. The train followed the present line of Michigan avenue to a range of sand hills, a mile and a half above, where Fourteenth street strikes the lake. Here the Pottawatomies left them and wheeled off into the prairie, which Cap- tain Wells divined as a signal of treachery and told the troops to prepare for battle. The Indians came on yelling like so many devils, and began shooting right and left. The soldiers defended themselves manfully, but were largely outnumbered.
Mrs. Helm, wife of the Lieutenant, rode beside her husband, but was thrown from her horse early in the engagement and stood looking on the carnage, spell-bound with fright. Her husband and father were in the engagement, and she expected each moment to see them fall before the murderous savages. A tall warrior, hideously painted, rushed at her with
578
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
uplifted tomahawk, but she evaded his well aimed blow, which descended on her shoulder, cutting a fearful gash. Although but seventeen and slightly formed she grasped him round the neck and tried to get posses- sion of a scalping knife hanging at his belt. Throwing her to one side he was about to brain her with his axe when she was caught up by another Indian, and borne struggling into the lake, and plunged beneath the water. It was but for a moment, however, for her head was raised to permit her to breathe, while her body was held under. Gaining courage at this she looked in his face and recognized Black Partridge, the white man's friend. When all was over he took her to the camp of the friendly Indians and delivered her over to a squaw, who cared for her as well as circum tances allowed.
It afterward transpired that Lieutenant Helm's life was spared at the time of the massacre, and he was held a prisoner at a village on the Kan- kakee. On learning it, Black Partridge arranged with his French friends for his ransom, and being provided by them with presents he started for the village, accompanied by a half-breed from Peoria.
They found the Lieutenant closely guarded and suffering from a se- vere wound. He knew that to the old chief he was indebted for the preservation of his wife and her family, and when he approached threw his arms round him and wept like a child. The Indians refused to accept the ransom offered, and Black Partridge voluntarily added to the sum his pony, rifle, and a large gold ring worn in his nose. The party soon started for St. Louis, accompanied one day by Black Partridge, who then left them and rode across the country to learn on his arrival that his home had been destroyed, and to recognize among the half consumed remains his favorite daughter and her infant child. No one was near, and in bit- terness of spirit the old chief threw himself on the ground and wailed in anguish.
The next day he crossed the river to Gomo's town, where Chillicothe stands, and learned the remnant of his band had removed up the river to Bureau Creek. Thither he wended his way in the bitterness of his heart, vowing revenge against his enemies. That winter he traveled from place to place stirring up the red men, and in the spring led a force of three hundred Indians against the the frontier settlements of Randolph, St. Clair and Madison Counties. They massacred several persons, and captur- ing a number of horses made a rapid retreat without loss. Peace was
1
579
THE DEATHI OF BLACK PARTRIDGE.
soon after concluded, and Black Partridge retired to his village beside the big spring to spend the remainder of his days.
He was an old man, his wife and children were dead, his people were yearly growing fewer in numbers, the buffalo had fled the country, the land was passing into the hands of the pale faces, and there was little left to live for. With no desire to longer stay, he looked his last on the green grass and blue sky, turned his face to the wall and died. There was deep sorrow in the camp, and all the rites of Indian mourning were gone through with. His body, clad in richest robes, was laid in a rough box, his ornaments, arrows, pipe and tobacco placed beside him and when securely bound with thongs was hoisted into the forks of a big ash tree growing a few rods distant, where it stood after the Indians had departed, and was cut down by old man Fields. His death is supposed to have taken place about 1819 or 20. In appearance Black Partridge was tall and commanding, with the eye of an eagle, a high forehead, a large nose and comely features. His aspect was noble, his voice heavy, and his hair long and black as a ravens. In his little world he reigned supreme, and his will was law, yet no king on his throne was better be- loved, and no rivals disputed his authority.
THE HUNTER HERMIT OF CROW . CREEK.
In the vicinity of Crow Creek in very early times lived an old hunter and trapper named Grant. His story is told in the diary of an officer en- gaged in the survey of the "Military Bounty Tract " in 1816, and ap- peared in a series of letters published in the "New Yorker " in 1839. Where he came from originally is unknown. We first hear of him as a hunter and scout attached to Lewis and Clark's expedition, which ascended the Missouri and traversed the continent in 1805, being the first to ex- plore the then unknown territory of Oregon.
In 1815 Government set apart that part of the territory of Illinois north and west of the river of that name, or so much of it as was necessary, for the payment of soldiers' bounties in the war of 1812, and ordered its im- mediate survey. The party from whom our information comes says that one Sabbath they crossed the Illinois River at a point about twenty miles above Fort Clark, and followed up a large creek to the cabin of an old hunter and trapper who had lived there for several years, and was held in much esteem by the Indians, over whom he exercised con-
580
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
siderable authority. The way this influence was secured is told in the following story : When he came to the country there were two tribes at perpetual war. He took sides with one, and became the deadly enemy of the other. A small copper camp kettle comprised the sum total of his culinary equipage, which for convenience of transportation was worn on his head, and served not only to cook his provender, but protected his upper works from the weather. One day while alone in the bottoms somewhere between Henry and Lacon, he was surprised by a party of his foes, and they being too numerous to fight, he took to his heels. Among the pursuers was a young brave uncommonly fleet-footed, who coming up with him, dealt a blow with his tomahawk which, according to Indian logic, should have cleaved its way to his enemy's shoulders, but in this case produced only a sharp, ringing report. No Indian's skull would ring like that, and he started back in terror exclaiming, "Manitou!" From that time the hunter was safe. He bore a charmed life, and no one offered or dared to molest him. His cabin was in a secluded nook some two miles up Crow Creek, as near as can be made out.
SHICK SHACK.
While Shaubena achieved greater notoriety and was best known to the whites from his unswerving friendship during the war, he was but an occasional visitor in Marshall and Putnam Counties, and his detailed his- tory is not in accordance with our plan. His friend and cotemporary Shick Shack, whose home was at the mouth of Clear Creek, in Putnam County, more properly comes within our province and deserves mention. He was the head of a branch of the Kickapoo tribe, whom he governed with an authority truly patriarchal. He was a man of large stature and imposing presence, and had sufficiently profited from the example of the whites to know that the best interests of his people lay in a strict observ- ance of treaty stipulations.
Shick Shack had enjoyed the civilizing influences of a residence among a better class of whites than the majority of his people were brought in contact with, having been converted to Christianity when a boy of twelve years old, and sent, with his parents, to St. Louis, where he received some schooling and relig ous training. He spoke English quite fluently, sought the society of his white neighbors, in the association with whom he ever conducted himself with scrupulous politeness; and by example and pre-
583
SHICK - SHACK AND HIS TRIBE.
cept exercised a powerful influence for good among his followers. He was also a preacher, and frequently, alone or in company with white mis- sionaries, expounded Gospel truths to Indian congregations with zeal and eloquence. Personally he was temperate, and compelled, as far as pos- sible, total abstinence among his people. Though depending principally on the chase for subsistence, he gave considerable attention to agriculture and introduced the American breaking plow into use by his tribe.
While emulating the virtues of the whites, he was prompt to condemn their vices and deplored the demoralizing effects upon the Indians of as- sociation with the vicious of our race, claiming that when left to them- selves the Indians were naturally a more peaceable and religious people than the whites. He sorrowfully recognized that the two races never could affiliate and clearly foresaw the ultimate extinction of the red man. He mourned deeply the necessity of leaving here because of the Black Hawk war. A firm friend to the whites, he had, he said, tried to make his people understand and obey white men's laws; he signed treaties that they might live at peace with the palefaces; but with a shrug of the shoulders he added: "Bad Ingen and bad white men make war: good Ingen, good white man, no war."
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