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 49
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 49
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His method of inculcating temperance was both novel and successful If a member of his band got tipsy he was soundly whipped. If he trans- gressed a second time he was whipped harder, and if after these admoni- tions he continued to tipple he was whipped to death.
INDIANS MAKING SUGAR.
One of the first settlers near Florid, in entering land for his farm, took within its boundaries a maple grove, where Shick Shack's tribe annually made sugar. One afternoon in early spring a formidable procession of painted warriors rode up and surrounded the house of the pioneer, nearly frightening his wife to death. In the cabin was a couch-shell use . as a horn, which she had been instructed to sound on the appearance of danger, as a warning to the men at work in the fields or woods. But the sight of the savages so completely terrified her that she was unable to give the signal. An Indian picked up the shell, looking inquiringly at her, as though to ask its use. Her woman's wit prompted her to cause him. to sound the alarm, which she dared not give herself. Swelling out her cheeks and puckering her lips upon her closed fist, with expressive panto-
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
mime, she imitated blowing. The Indian swelled his stalwart chest, pressed hs coarse lips, and with great ado-
Blew a blast as erst threw down Old Jericho's substantial town.
His companions instinctively seized their tomahawks as if to repel an attack, but learning the source of the strange noise, gathered round eager as children to manipulate a new toy. Meantime the men, alarmed at the signal, came running to the house, when it was found that the Indians had no hostile intentions but simply wanted to make sugar on their old grounds.
Shick Shack used frequently to visit the homes of his white friends, bringing venison, honey, fish, moccasins, etc., to trade for flour, corn, pota- toes, meal or corn bread. Though noted for his temperance, honesty and morality, he had the weakness of his race for finery. On one occasion he with a number of his followers, called on Mr. Samuel D. Laughlin and asked for some rooster feathers. Told to help themselves they charged upon the frightened cocks, robbed them of their gaudy plumage, and soon each dusky brave appeared profusely and ludicrously decorated. Shick Shack wore a high-crowned silk hat which some white friend had given him, in the band of which he thrust the longest and brightest feathers, and strutted proudly about with his borrowed plumes waving in the breeze.
Himself and his tribe went beyond the Mississippi, upon the reserva- tion appointed by their treaty with the Government, in the fall of 1832.
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RIVER NAVIGATION.
THE ILLINOIS RIVER.
CHAPTER LI.
EARLY STEAMBOATING.
N the Illinois River Peru was practically the head of naviga- tion, though a few boats in seasons of high water occasion- ally ran up to Ottawa. Forty years ago travel was prin- cipally by the rivers. Passengers for St. Louis took the stages or the canal (when built) at Chicago, and at Peru transferred themselves on board steamers in waiting to carry them to their destination. These boats were well equipped and quite equal to those of the present day.
The name and date of arrival of the first steamer seen on the Illinois above Peoria are unknown, but it is believed to have been in 1830. Wm. Strawn, who at the time lived three miles in the country, once visited the Indians on the river bottoms and found them in a high state of excite- ment over the supposed visitation of the Great Spirit, which passed up the river the night before. As described by them it was enveloped in flames and with a roar like thunder and a great rush of waters passed slowly by, returning the next night. It was a long time before their de- scription was intelligible, but finally the whites concluded it must have been a steamer, which probably passed up to Hennepin or further, and the next night returned.
In 1832 the steamer Souvenier came up with supplies for troops en- gaged in the Black Hawk war. There was very little to attract trade for several years and arrivals were few.
In 1838 the Joe Daviess, Capt. John Hall, ran during the season of navigation between Peoria and Peru, doing a fair business.
In 1839 the steamers "Exact" and " Tiskilwa " made occasional trips here, the latter boat terminating her existence the following year in a col- lision with the "Wacousta," in which both were disabled.
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
The steamer " Frontier " was put on the route by Frink & Walker to carry the mail from Peoria to Peru. Her commander was O. C. Pratt, and her pilots were Detwieler and Mosher, afterward well known Cap- tains. She was sunk at the "Tow Heads," a well known locality in the narrows of Peoria Lake, about 1843. in a collision with the "Panama." Its place was supplied by the " Governor Briggs."
About 1850 the " Prairie Bird " and " Governor Briggs " collided at a place since known as Prairie Bird Point. The "Bird " had a large number of emigrant Irish on board and safely landed them on an island.
The "Lucy Bertram ". was wrecked at Trenton (Depue) many years ago.
The principal obstructions were Tree Top bar, Crow Creek bar, the Sister Islands and Hennepin Flats.
Among the men best known as commanders or pilots were Captains Price, Blake and Swaney, "Hard " Culter and others. A noted murder once occurred above Henry, when a steamboat commander shot and killed a rival Captain. The murderer escaped and was never seen afterward.
For twenty years no boat ascended the river above La Salle, but in 1877 the Grey Eagle, commanded by Captain Morris, carried an excursion party to Starved Rock. Since its erection the Illinois Central Railroad bridge had never been swung, and the stringers were sawed off to permit the draw to revolve and the boat pass through.
KEEL AND FLAT BOATS.
Before steamboats began to ply upon the river, most of the business was done by sail and flat boats, especially that of transporting to the South, the enormous crops of potatoes then raised everywhere, near the Illinois especially in Putnam County.
These huge arks were from 75 to 115 feet in length, 20 to 25 feet wide, from six to seven feet between decks and would hold from 4000 to 6000 bushels of potatoes, and cost from $300 to $400.
They floated to their destination, no propelling power being used, and a trip from Hennepin or Henry to New Orleans required six to ten weeks.
In 1842 Wm. B. Mann and others built about twenty flat boats at Hennepin, loaded them with potatoes, and floated down to New Orleans where they sold boats and cargoes realizing an average of $30 each for the
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FLATBOATING ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER.
boats. Capt. Leech left Hennepin rather late one cold season about 1844 or '45, with a cargo of these vegetables and a consignment of oats and was caught four miles below Liverpool, Fulton County, on the 15th of November and frozen in, being ice-bound until the 25th of the fol- lowing January. The potatoes were not damaged and the oats he traded for flour, meal and groceries, made an early voyage in the spring and sold out to advantage at St. Louis.
These boats were used but once. As soon as the cargo was removed they were broken up, and the lumber and spikes from the dismembered craft sold for what they would bring.
The keel boat, however, was a more permanent vessel and could be rowed up stream. They were smaller than the others mentioned, more resembling the canal boat of our day in form and shape. Around the outer edge of the deck was a narrow walk, but without guards. Cleats of wood were nailed parallel across this walk, as braces for the feet of the polesman, who, with a stout well-seasoned pike or staff, twelve or fifteen feet in length and as thick as he could conveniently grasp, one end braced against his shoulder and the other on the bed of the river, shoved the boat along. Should the pole break or slip he invariably plunged head- long into the water at the imminent peril of his life, especially where the current happened to run quartering from his side under the vessel.
There were from ten to twenty men employed on each of these treach- erous crafts, and accidents of the kind described were frequent, and often fatal.
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
THE GRAVES TRAGEDY.
CHAPTER LII.
THE REED AND DONNER PARTY.
MONG the saddest episodes in the frontier history of the West is the narrative of the Reed and Donner party of ninety persous, which, in attempting to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains late in the fall of 1846, were over- whelmed in one of the great storms peculiar to that sec- tion, and one half of them perished. With this party were a family of emigrants from Sparland, whose history we propose briefly to follow. From time to time vague and unreliable accounts have appeared, made up from rumors and "facts " supplied by the vivid imagination of enthusiastic writers, but until the past year no authentic history has ever been given. The experience was too dreadful, the recollection of their sufferings too horrible to be dwelt upon, and no persuasions could induce the survivors to recall their superhuman sufferings. So much had been and was being told that was false, and so little was really known upon the subject, that for the benefit of correct history the survivors were at last persuaded to unseal their lips, and give to the world their awful experience. To C. F. McGlashan, of Truckee, California, is 'due the credit of bringing this about, and to whom we are indebted for the particulars which follow :
Franklin Ward Graves was a Vermonter by birth, who came to Put- nam County in 1831, where a couple of half brothers resided. He spent some time looking up a location, and finally purchased a claim of the In- dians where Sparland stands, erected a cabin near the present residence of Dr. Tesmer, and moved into it probably in the fall of 1831. During the Black Hawk war he enlisted and served as Drum Major in Strawn's Regiment of Infantry, his family remaining most of the time in their cabin. Mr. Graves was a genuine backwoodsman and pioneer, who found
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SAD STORY OF THE GRAVES FAMILY.
his most congenial associations on the frontier. He despised the tranimels of civilization, and loved the unshackled freedom of the red man. In summer he went shoeless, hatless and coatless, his long coarse hair his only protection. He was a man of large frame, good natured, hospitable and ever ready to do a kindness. Mrs. Graves was tall and thin, her good natured sun-burnt face wreathed in smiles. She wore a blue calico frock, an old sun-bonnet and a faded shawl, on dress occasions, and like her liege lord, went barefoot. It was her custom to cross the river daily in fair weather, laden with honey, wild fruits or soft. soap, and dispose of them to the settlers of Columbia (Lacon). There was not a woman in the place but knew her and loved to see her kind face make its appear- ance. She would cross the river in the coldest days and stormiest weather in her little canoe to convey some remedy to the sick or do a kindness. Mr. Graves was more hunter than farmer, but managed to secure a large tract of land and open up a considerable farm upon the bottoms. For some time before leaving he grew restless and longed to explore the then little known Pacific States, and sought a purchaser for his property, finding one in Geo. Sparr, to whom he sold 500 acres of land for $1,500. This was in the spring of 1846, and immediate preparations were made for depart- ure. His family at the time consisted of himself and wife, and nine chil- dren as follows : Mary A., William C., Eleanor, Lovina, Nancy, Jona- than, Franklin Ward Jr., Elizabeth, and Sarah. The latter was engaged to Jay Fosdick, and did not design accompanying her parents, but when the time for departure drew nigh her heart failed, and she decided to go. Her lover chose to accompany his wife, and they were married a few days before starting. Along with them went John, Snyder, a tall, good look- ing young man afterward engaged to Mary.
Mr. Graves had an extensive outfit, and was equipped in the best pos- sible manner for the journey. He had three teams drawn by oxen, and took along with him several head of cattle and cows besides. The pay- ment for his land was mostly in silver half dollars, and for their safe con- veyance he put heavy cleats in the corners of his wagon box, bored holes from below with an auger sufficiently large for the purpose, and then de- posited them. They journeyed leisurely to New Boston, where they crossed the Mississippi, traversed Iowa and reached Independence.
There was a large emigration that year to Oregon and Salt Lake. One hundred miles west of Fort Bridger the Graves party overtook a company numbering one hundred or more, which from the leadership was
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known as the Reed and Donner party. Previous to this a man named William Trimble, traveling with their party, was murdered by the Paw- nees, and his stock stolen. His family turned back. At Fort Laramie they celebrated the Fourth of July with appropriate exercises. Occasion- ally they were pestered by thieving Indians, but not often.
Once a party of friendly Sioux offered to purchase Mary Graves, and failing in this one of them laid hold of her bridle as though disposed to carry her off by force, but a rifle pointed in that direction caused the fellow to quickly drop the bridle. At Fort Bridger there was talk concerning a newly discovered route across the mountains, known as Hasting's Cut-off, said to be 300 miles shorter than the usual route by Fort Hall. A large number took the old route and got through safely, but the Donner party of ninety persons, at the earnest solicitation of Bridger and Vasquez, who had charge of the fort and were personally interested in the new route, concluded to adopt it. To these men is due all the disasters that followed.
The party traveled several days without difficulty, crossing Weber River at the head of the well known canyon. Here a long delay occurred until men could be sent forward to ascertain a proper route, when they con- cluded to take across the mountains in a more direct line to Salt Lake. Innumerable difficulties were experienced, and three weeks of precious time was spent making roads. When the party arrived at the outlet of the stream down which they had followed, it was impossible to proceed further, and the wagons had to be hoisted to the top of a steep bluff and then lowered upon the other side. The dreadful difficulties can never be described. Instead of reaching Salt Lake in a week they were thirty days in making the trip.
The terrible delays made possible the imminent dangers that awaited them on the Sierra Nevadas. From where they stood the great lake and the plains surrounding it were seen, and they hailed it with joy and grat- ยท itude as the end of their difficulties, looking forward to a prosperous and peaceful journey over pleasant roads for the remainder of their trip. Alas! there were trials in the way compared with which their recent struggles were insignificent. But for the fatal delay caused by the Hastings Cut-Off all would have been well, but now the summer was passed, themselves and teams well nigh exhausted, and their stook of pro- visions nearly consumed.
The valley of Salt Lake contained little of gladness for the Donner
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SAD STORY OF THE GRAVES FAMILY.
party. At this time the Mormon emigration had not arrived, and all was a vast solitude. It was the 3d of September when they arrived, but warned by the lateness o. the season, stopped but a single day. Here one of the party died, a poor consumptive named Halloran, and was buried beside the road in a bed of. almost pure salt. He left about $1,500 in cash, which he gave to Captain Donner. On the 6th of September they reached a valley called Twenty Wells, and laid in a supply of pure water, . knowing they had a fifty mile desert to cross. It was a vast alkaline plain destitute of either water or grass, and instead of fifty was seventy- four miles wide. Long before crossing its wide expanse their supplies gave out, and after being on the plain two weary nights and one day, James Reed volunteered to ride ahead and, if possible, discover water. It was twenty miles away, and during his absence his eighteen oxen, mad- dened by thirst, wandered off in the desert and were never seen again, leaving himself and family of nine persons destitute in the midst of a desert eight hundred miles from California. When he returned the awful truth was disclosed, and the full horror of the situation dawned upon him.
But to remain here was death, and taking his child in his arms all started to walk the twenty miles. The sufferings of that dreadful night can never be told. Some of the children became so worn out and exhausted for want of water that they laid down on the bleak sands and would never have risen had they not been forced forward. During the night they were intensely frightened by the rush of a wild animal, that proved to be one of his lost steers maddened with thirst. Finally it dashed off in the darkness and was seen no more. At last they reached the welcome spring and found relief. For eight days they camped here all hands seek- ing Reed's cattle.
The outlook for him was gloomy enough. . An ox and a cow was all he had left, but Mr. Graves and a Mr. Breen each lent him an ox, and hitching them all together and abandoning everything that could not be loaded on one wagon they started once more.
While here an inventory of provisions was carefully taken, and the startling discovery made that all their supplies would not take them through. And to render their situation still more terrible a storm came on and the hill tops were covered with snow. A council was held and it was decided to send two of the party forward to seek relief, aud a couple
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
of brave volunteers were found in the persons of William Mccutchen and C. T. Stanton, the latter from Chicago.
DEATH OF JOHN SNYDER.
Between Mary Graves and John Snyder, the young man who ac- companied the family, a love affair had grown up, which ripened into a marriage engagement. He was about twenty-three years of age, of manly carriage, erect, tall and muscular. On the march and in camp, through hardship, toil and danger, he was the life of the party, never cast down and never despondent. His intended was about nineteen years old. She was tall and slender, of graceful form and build, and had been better educated than most persons in her station, having taught school before leaving Illinois.
Of James Reed mention has before been made, and the deplorable in- cident we have to relate concerning these men shows how sudden passion makes deadly foes of warmest friends.
The train had reached Gravelly Ford on the Humboldt. Already they were beginning to eagerly scan the Western plains in hopes of relief from Sutter's Fort. Occasionally a wagon would need repairing or there would be a brief halt to recruit the jaded cattle. The Indians were troublesome and had stolen two of Mr. Graves oxen and one of the horses.
In traveling the party observed this rule, the team that led one day was obliged to take the rear position in the next, this system of alterna- ting allowing each one to lead the train. On the 5th of October Franklin Graves was ahead, Jay Fosdick second, John Snyder third, and the team of J. F. Reed came fourth. Milton Elliott drove Reed's team. Arrived at a st ep sandy hill they were obliged to double up, that is, hitch several yoke to each wagon. There was some difficulty in doing this, and Elliott and Snyder exchanged hot words, the origin of which is unknown. Sny- der being nettled at some remark of Elliott's, declared his team could pull up alone, and made use of very bad language. It is probable the teams collided, but of this nothing now can be known. . All parties agree that Snyder was greatly enraged, and was beating his team over their heads with the heavy end of his whip when Reed, who had been hunting, ar- rived and remonstrated with Snyder for beating his cattle, offering his own team to assist.
Snyder refused the proffered aid, and used very abusive language to-
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SAD STORY OF THE GRAVES FAMILY.
ward both Reed and Elliott. Reed attempted to calm the enraged man, but it only added fuel to the fire. Both were men of fiery, passionate dispositions, and angry words multiplied rapidly. When Reed saw that trouble was inevitable, he said something about waiting until they got up the hill and then settling it, but Snyder construed it into a threat and re- plied, "We will settle it now," at the same time striking Reed a heavy blow with the but end of his heavy whip-stock. This was followed by a second and third, each one cutting through the scalp, from which the blood flowed in streams. Mrs. Reed believing her husband was being murdered, ran between the parties, and the blow descended on her own head and shoulders. Again the whip was raised, when Reed, blinded by the blood and dazed by the shock of the fierce blows, rapidly drew his knife and struck Snyder in the breast, penetrating the lung. He stag- gered and fell into the arms of W. C. Graves, who laid him on the ground, his only utterance being, "I am a dead man." Reed's wife and daughters gathered about him and began to stanch the blood that flowed from his wounds, but he pushed them aside and went to the assistance of the dying man.
Snyder's death fell like a thunderbolt on the party, who immediately went into camp. Reed felt he had only acted in self-defense and in the protection of a wife he adored, nevertheless it was evident trouble was brewing among Snyder's friends that boded no good to him. The Reed family were in a bad situation. At the commencement they had the best turnout or outfit in the party. He had a fine horse, his daughter had a pony, on which she often rode beside her father, and was looked upon as " aristocratic." Mrs. Reed was so unmanned with grief and remorse that she could do nothing, and the wounded man came to his twelve-year old daughter to have the cuts dressed. They were wide and deep, and years after, when he lay in death, a gently stirring wind blew his gray locks aside, disclosing the ugly scars. A council was held to decide his fate, and they said he must die. John Snyder had been an unusual favorite, and they felt that nothing else could atone for his loss; but when they looked on his weeping wife and children, who would be left without a protector, they relented, and said he might live, but should be banished from the party.
When this was communicated to Reed he refused to comply. He had only obeyed the dictate of self protection and would not accede to an un- just punishment. Then came the wife's pleadings, and long and earnestly
.
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RECORDS. OF THE OLDEN TIME.
she urged him to go. If he remained he would be sacrificed to the deadly enmity of of Snyder's friends, and if he went forward he might reach the settlements and return with provisions already needed in camp. Even if permitted to stay he might be compelled to see those he lo ed so dearly perish of starvation. The wife's counsels prevailed and sorrowfully he prepared to go, first exacting a solemn promise from the company that they would care for his family. It was their purpose to turn him adrift with- out food or the means of procuring any, but their intentions were frustra- ted by his faithful daughter who smuggled to him his gun and ammuni- tion and a few crackers. A man named Herron also chose to accompany him. Sad and bitter was the parting, for each felt a presentiment they were never to meet again and the unhappy man sorrowfully departed.
, Starvation now stared the emigrants in the face. Their provisions were nearly exhausted, the oxen were poor and scarcely able to drag the wagons. On the 12th of October they reached the sink of the Humboldt. Here the cowardly Indians ran off twenty-one head of cattle, and they were never recovered. All who were able had to walk, and many carried little children. Some had lost their entire stock and had to carry whatever of personal effects they had. The men, as a rule, became exhausted much sooner than the women. Only the sick, the little children and the utterly exhausted were allowed to ride.
On the 9th a death occurred. It was an old German named Hard- coop, traveling with a person by the name of Keseberg. He was nearly three score years; was sick, feeble and helpless, yet lie was compelled to walk with the rest. He walked till his feet actually burst,-walked until he sank exhausted, and then as the train pitilessly left him, tried to walk again. It was terrible to think of, for well he knew this abandon- ment meant death by exposure and starvation in its most dreadful form. Keseberg made no attempt to return and find the old man, and owing to the overwhelming dangers that now threatened the company they could not wait.
A few days later another tragedy occurred. This time it was a man named Wolfinger, supposed to be wealthy. He and Keseberg were walk- ing in the rear, and when the latter came into camp he was alone. Sev- eral went back to search for the missing man but he was never found, and the supposition was strong that Keseberg had murdered him for his money.
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