USA > Illinois > Bureau County > Reminiscences of Bureau county [Illinois] in two parts > Part 17
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dollars, and this amount, small as it was, proved sufficient to meet all demands for the fiscal year.
BANDITTI.
From 1837 to 1852, Northern Illinois was infested with thieves, counterfeiters, and cut throats, who were organized into a band, and became a terror of the set- tlement. The country at that time being thinly settled, gave these desperadoes a good opportunity of prosecu- ting the business of stealing horses, waylaying, rob- bing, and murdering travelers as they passed through unsettled groves. It was very common in those days to hear of people being missed, who were thought to have been murdered by these bandit. A man was murdered, and his body thrown into a bayou, near the Bureau valley mills, where it was afterwards found, and it was never known who he was, or by whom he was murdered. Lee county was the head quarters for these outlaws; but they committed many depredations in Bureau, and here some of them made their temporary residences. Two of Col. Davenport's muderers, Fox and Birch, frequently visited Bureau; the former was tried in Princeton, under the name of William Sutton. This band of robbers became so numerous, some of whom occupied offices of trust, and by swearing each other clear, it was difficult to convict them, and this band of thieves and counterfeiters was not broken up until Driscolls were killed on Rock river.
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Among these outlaws was a large, athletic man, in the prime of life, by the name of McBroom, who at one time was a constable at Hennepin. This McBroom passed some counterfeit money at a store in Princeton, and a warrant was put into the hands of Sheriff Langworthy for his arrest. McBroom, suspect- ing trouble, in great haste ordered his horse at the hotel, and was in the act of mounting, when the sheriff arrested him. McBroom presented a pistol already cocked at the sheriff's head, swearing at the same time that he would blow his brains out if he laid hands on him. Sheriff Langworthy in an authoritative tone of voice, ordered Mr. Vaughan, the hotel keeper, to take the horse by the bits, and as McBroom turned his eyes in that direction, the sheriff caught hold of the pistol, McBroom, as quick as thought, pulled the trigger; but the hammer striking the sheriff's thumb, prevented it from exploding. Then followed a desperate struggle ; McBroom was dragged from his horse; both officer and prisoner was brought to the ground, when assist- ance came in time to secure the culprit. Irons were put on him, and he was taken to the Peoria jail, as there was none in Princeton at that time.
MURDER AT LOST GROVE.
About the first of August, 1837, a murder of a most revolting character, was committed at Lost Grove, and for many years this affair remained a mystery.
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MURDER AT LOST GROVE.
As the Rev. Rufus Lumry was traveling on the Indian trail, and when about one mile west of Lost Grove, he discovered a large number of buzzards eating · a carcass. Curiosity caused him to ride out to see what they were eating, when he was horrified to find it was the remains of a man. The body was divested of clothing, the eyes picked out by the buzzards, and from appearances it had laid there about three days. There was no one living at that time near the grove, and the people on Bureau were notified of the murder, an in- quest was held, and the remains buried on the prairie, near where they were found. From appearance, the murdered man had been attacked in the grove, shot from his horse, the ball breaking his left arm, and entering his side. From the grove he ran about one mile, in the direction of Bureau settlement, but was overtaken by the assassin, and his brains beat out with a club. The club, with hair and blood on it, was found close by ; also a suit of much worn clothes, and a pocket bible, but these afforded no clue to this mysterious affair.
The bible, which was found by the side of the murdered man, is now in the possession of Andrew Swanzy, a resident of Princeton. Its title page shows that it was printed in London, in the year 1824. On the fly leaf is written the name of Frederick Bunn Ringstead, 1831. "The gift of his friend Mrs. Gard- ner." On the other page of the fly leaf is written a poem, on the presentation of the bible, which consisted 15
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of fourteen lines, and signed by Frederick Bunn. A page in Chronicles, and one in Isaiah are stained with blood, which is still plain to be seen, although thirty- five years have passed away since the murder was com- . mitted. It has never been ascertained who Frederick Bunn, the owner of the bible was, or how his bible became connected with this affair.
For many years this murder remained a mystery ; no clue could be obtained to the murderer, or his victim, until a man named Green was convicted of murder in Iowa, and made a confession. The name of the mur- dered man was Dunlap, a resident of Knox county, Ohio, and he came to this country for the purpose of entering land. He had employed Green to conduct him through from Fox river to Princeton, as there was no direct road through the country at that time. When the travelers arrived at Lost Grove, traveling on the Sac and Fox trail, riding side by side, they discovered on the prairie two large black wolves, and while Dunlap was looking at them, Green drew his pistol and shot him. At the report of the pistol Dunlap's horse jumped and threw him. Although badly wounded, he ran near one mile, when he was overtaken by Green, and his brains beat out with a club, as pre- viously stated. After committing the murder, Green took his victim's clothes, leaving his own in the grass near by ; also his money, which amounted to about five thousand dollars. Green dressed himself in Dunlap's clothes, mounted Dunlap's horse, and leading his own,
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continued his journey westward, stopping the first night in Princeton.
A sequel to this affair went the rounds of the news- papers, in the summer of 1851, which ran as follows : " On the night before Green was to have been executed, through the assistance of confederates, he escaped from jail, and the ends of justice were thwarted. Years afterward Green joined some California emigrants, and while on the plains he murdered an Indian. The Indians, in retaliation, were about to take revenge on the whole party, but the matter was compromised by giving up the murderer, when the Indians took Green and flayed him alive. Before his death, Green confessed that he was the man convicted of murder in Iowa, and the one who had committed the murder at Lost Grove. in Bureau county. In the presence of the emigrants, the Indians took Green, stripped off his clothing, tied him to a small willow tree, and commenced skinning him, which operation was completed before death came to his relief."
ROADS AT THE TIME OF EARLY SETTLEMENT.
For a number of years after the settlement had been commenced, the roads through the county were scarcely anything else than Indian trails, never having been legally laid or worked. With the exception of the Peoria and Galena road, there was not a post route through the county, and but few of the roads across
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the country were accessible for wagons. In the fall of 1833, the Peoria and Galena state road, which ran west of Bureau, was changed so as to pass through Princeton and Tiskilwa. Mr. Argrove, who occupied the farm now belonging to Alexander Holbrook, was at that time overseer of highways, and he called out the people to work on this road. Settlers on the Princeton prairie, among whom were Maj. Chamberlain, Cyrus and John H. Bryant, with their hoes and spades, were engaged in digging on the bluff south of Tiskilwa, and a few days afterwards the stage horn for the first time was heard in Princeton, when it was supplied with a tri- weekly mail.
In the spring of 1837, a state road was located from Princeton to Prophetstown, on Rock river, crossing Green river at New Bedford, and passing near the northwest corner of the county, (now Yorktown).
During the summer of 1837, a road was laid direct from Princeton to La Moille, passing the whole way through unimproved land. This road ran diagonally across tracts of land, and as these lands were improved the road was fenced out. As this road ran in the direction of Chicago, where people had commenced to haul their produce, a straight road was considered of great importance, and in order to accomplish this, Judge Ballou drew up a petition, which was signed by many citizens, and which passed the legislature, legalizing the Princeton and Chicago state road. Under this act the road was surveyed from Princeton to the county
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line, by the way of Dover and La Moille, and perma- nently located. Notwithstanding the road ran almost the entire distance diagonally across farm land, the damage allowed by the commissioners on the whole route, being a distance of about twenty miles, did not exceed one hundred dollars. From the corporation of Princeton, the road angled for nearly one half mile across land which belonged to H. E. Phelps, and the damage allowed him was twenty-five dollars. Mr. Phelps would not accept the damage offered, and appealed to court. At the trial, one witness swore that he was not entitled to damage, as the land where the road ran was so wet that it would not pay to fence it.
During the wild speculation of 1836, many paper towns were laid off, and many paper roads surveyed to connect them with important places. Richard Masters, of the town of Dover, had many roads surveyed and staked off, which ran in various directions through the county, without regard to section lines, and a large number of these passed by his own farm. These roads, with many others of their day, were never traveled except by the parties engaged in making the survey.
CHAPTER XI.
JUSTICE COURT.
It frequently occurred, in the early settlement of the county, that men were elected justices of the peace who had no legal qualifications, and were therefore incompetent to fill the office. Sometimes attorneys would impose upon these justices, by explaining to them law which did not exist, causing them to make erroneous decisions, and thereby thwart the ends of justice. As soon as a man was elected a justice of the peace, his neighbors would apply to him for legal advice, although they well knew that he possessed no knowledge of law, before his election. The county records show many funny things in the official acts of newly elected justices, one or two of which are worthy of note. In one case the acknowledgement of the grantee appears to a deed of conveyance instead of the grantor; in another case, a justice of the peace sold his neighbor a tract of land, and to save expense, took the acknowl- edgment of his own deed, in which he says that he
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examined his wife separate and apart from her husband, &c. A justice, who lived not far from Princeton, took an acknowledgment of a deed where the title was vested in the wife, and filled it out in the usual form, which read as follows: "Mr. B. having been examined by me separate and apart from his wife, acknowledged that he signed the within deed of conveyance, without fear or compulsion from his wife." In these times of women's rights, this acknowledgment may not be out of place, but it appeared strange at the time it was executed.
Many years ago, a justice of the peace, and the attorney for the town of Princeton, kept their respective offices in the court house, and as they regarded them- selves guardians of the public weal, they were always on the lookout to see that no offender of the law should go unpunished, especially if it put money in their own pockets. On different occasions, when the justice was absent the attorney would do business for him, and vice versa, always dividing the fees according to their respective offices. One warm afternoon, while the attorney was sitting at the window of his office, looking out for a client, he saw a man under the influence of liquor, riding his horse on the sidewalk, contrary to the ordinance therein provided. The attorney ran into the justice's office to obtain a warrant, but found him absent. On the table he found an old warrant contain- ing the justice's signature; from this he erased the original name and inserted, "an unknown person."
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With the warrant in his hand, he looked for an officer to serve it, but finding none, he served it himself. All alone and without assistance, he arrested and brought the offender of the law into court, and tried him. Acting as marshal, attorney, witness, and justice, he fined the culprit five dollars, which was paid without a murmer, when he was again set at liberty.
Many years ago, a man named James Gladden stole a horse from one Thomas Hill, who lived on Green river. The thief was followed to Iowa, caught and brought back in irons. The prisoner was taken before a newly elected justice in that vicinity, where a large crowd of angry people had collected, who threatened to lynch the culprit. Thomas Hope and Thomas Hills, who were acting as prosecuting attorneys, advised the excited people to abstain from violence, and let the law take its course. The prisoner was without counsel or friends, his hands and feet in irons, and apparently without any prospect of escaping immediate death, or for a term of years in the penitentiary. Fortunately the prisoner, he had in his possession a good watch and some money. These facts coming to the know- ledge of Mr. W., who was at once moved to action by pure philanthrophy, came forward in defense of the oppressed, and requested the justice to suspend investi- gation until counsel could be procured for the defense. The justice, with the dignity of his position, said to the crowd of people around him, "Although the prisoner is guilty of horse-stealing, he should have a
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fair trial, and if his innocence can be shown, this court will not convict him, notwithstanding his guilt." Mr. W.'s request was granted, and he left in great haste for Princeton, where he procured the services of Judge Zearing. On the arrival of the learned counsel, both court and prosecuting attorneys appeared influenced by his presence, and the prisoner's spirits began to revive. The proof being conclusive against the prisoner, the judge admitted his guilt, but appealed to the court for mercy, which appeal was made in the following language :
"May it please the court-my client, as you will observe, is a very unfortunate man; having no horse and being poor could not buy one on credit, and was therefore under the necessity of stealing. Had he been rich, it would have been an easy matter to have bought a horse on time, and then ran off without paying for it. This, your honor will observe, would be the same as stealing, but what law in this land of liberty would punish him for that offense. Before this court of justice and equal rights, I believe a poor man will fare the same as a rich one"-(the justice nodding assent). He continued, " If a rich man should commit an offense he could give security for a large amount, but this my client cannot do, and because a man is poor should he be oppressed, his rights disregarded, and confined in a loathsome prison for months or perhaps years, while a rich man gives security and retains his liberty ? No. your honor, this cannot be, for it would outrage justice 16
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and be an open violation of the constitution of the United States, which expressly says, ' no man on account of poverty shall be deprived of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' Therefore, your honor will decide that fifty dollar bonds will be sufficient to hold the prisoner for trial."
The attorneys for the prosecution were opposed to admitting the prisoner to bail, making long speeches against horse stealing generally, and the villainous conduct of Gladden in particular.
After hearing the arguments on both sides, the justice said that he would hold the prisoner in one hundred dollar bonds for his appearance at court, as the horse he stole was worth that amount. A bond was executed, being signed by his friend W., who was in possession of his watch and money, so as to indemnify him against loss. The irons were then taken off, the thief set at liberty, and he was never heard from afterwards.
Gen. Wallace, who was afterwards killed at the battle of Shiloh, was then state's attorney, and he made a motion to default the security, when Judge Zearing, attorney for the defense, called his attention to the wording of the bond, which bound the security (not the criminal) to appear at court, and he added, "the security is now in court, and ready to answer." The state's attorney threw down the bond, and called the next case on the docket.
Another remarkable case in the examination of a horse thief, came before a new Green river justice in
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the early settlement of that region. Knowing that the proof of the prisoner's guilt would be conclusive, his attorney was under the necessity of introducing a new plan of defense. While the justice and prosecuting attorney were at dinner, he tore a leaf out of the statute which related to horse stealing. On resuming the examination, the attorney for the defense admitted the theft, but contended that there was no law in Illinois against horse stealing. Every one was surprised at this declaration, and the attorney for the prosecution said he would show the court what the law was. Taking up the statute he consulted the index, but on turning to the page indicated, could find neither page nor law. This was very perplexing to the attorney ; he could not explain this mystery, and after looking the statute over and over again, and finding no law against horse stealing, he abandoned the case.
The justice, leaning back in his chair, manifesting the great dignity which belonged to his position, he addressed the bystanders about as follows: "Gentle- men, I am satisfied in my own mind that horse stealing is wrong, and a great evil in community, but as there appears to be no law in this state against it, I do not feel authorized to hold the prisoner for trial." So the justice ordered the irons taken off, and the thief set free.
POLITICIANS ON A RAMPAGE.
In the summer of 1838, there was great excitement
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among the people of Putnam county in relation to its division and formation of new counties. After Bureau had been set off, Putnam county was left in such a shape that other divisions became necessary. A new county named Coffee, was created in the Spoon river country, at the same time that Bureau was formed, but its boundaries did not suit the people, consequently it was voted down, and Coffee county was heard of no more. The people on Spoon river demanded a county, and those living near Henry and Lacon one, both of which they proposed to take from Putnam. Meetings were held in different localities, politicians were active, old party issues were forgotten, and the all-absorbing topic of forming new counties, was paramount to all other interests. Col. William H. Henderson, of Spoon river, A. Moon and B. M. Hayes, of Hennepin, and Andrew Burns, of Magnolia, were candidates for the legislature. Thomas S. Elston, of Princeton, was also nominated, but he refused to be a candidate. The only issue before the people was the formation of these new counties, and each of the candidates represented different views on the main issue. Henderson, however, was elected by a large majority over all his competitors.
On the day of election, Col. Henderson appeared in Princeton, for the purpose, as he said, of correcting some false reports in relation to his policy. Capt. Parker, of Spoon river, was also present, for the express purpose as he stated, of exposing some of Henderson's political chicanery. Parker said he did not care about
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electing either of the candidates, as he seldom voted to elect a man to office, but for many years he had felt it to be his duty to vote against all d-d rascals. A large crowd of excited people had collected on the street opposite where Jones' meat market now stands, some of whom took sides with Parker, and others witlı Henderson. Capt. Parker insisted on speaking first, but Henderson having previously notified the people that he would address them on this occasion, the majority decided that he was entitled to the stand, and accord- ingly he mounted a store box and commenced his speech. Capt. Parker, being aware of Henderson's gifts of oratory, knowing that he would tell a smooth story, and thereby carry the voters with him, thought of destroying its effects by an opposition speech. He accordingly mounted an empty molasses barrel that stood near the speaker's stand, and commenced speaking in a loud key. Being much excited, and his brain frenzied by bad whisky, he denounced Henderson as a rascal, calling him a Little Bull and Old Wiggins politician, who was in favor of selling the state for a mess of pottage .* This accusation threw Henderson off his balance, and jumping down from the stand, he caught Parker by the leg, upset the molasses barrel,
* Some years previous, the legislature had borrowed one hundred thousand dollars from Old Wiggins, at St. Louis, for the purpose of redeeming the outstanding notes of the old state bank. This act was very unpopular, and people raised a hue and ery against it, saying that Old Wiggins had bought the state, and Its Inhabitants, for genera- tions to come, would be slaves to him, as such a large sum of money never could be paid. About the same time a bill passed the legislature for improving the stock of cattle, and prohibited, under a penalty,
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and brought him sprawling on the ground. By the interference of bystanders, a fight was prevented, but Parker was compelled to defer his speech until Hen- derson was through.
CIVIL AUTHORITY SUPERSEDED BY AN ARMED FORCE.
Many of the early settlers of this and adjoining counties, will recollect Bill Rogers, who acquired great notoriety throughout the west as a sporting character. Rogers was a tall, raw-boned, dark-complexioned man, fond of gambling, horseracing, fighting, &c., and was always the leading spirit among his associates. Many years ago Rogers went to California, where he became equally noted, and at one time was sheriff at Sacramento.
In the fall of 1837, the government removed the Indians from Michigan to lands assigned them west of the Mississippi river. Rogers was employed in con- ducting a party of seven or eight hundred of these Indians to their new home. While encamped in La Salle county, parties greedy of gain, brought whisky into camp to sell to the Indians. Rogers knocked in the head of a barrel, spilling the whisky on the ground, and then whipped one of the dealers. For this offense
little bulls from running at large. This law was thought to favor the rich people, who could own big bulls, and would profit by the de- struction of the small ones. The masses took sides with the little bulls, contending for equal rights even among brutes. These two acts were very unpopular, and for many years all that was necessary to defeat a candidate for office, was to make people believe that he was in favor of the Old Wiggins and Little Bull acts.
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a warrant was issued for the arrest of Rogers, but leaving the country before it was served, it was placed in the hands of Cyrus Langworthy, then sheriff of Bureau county, to serve. The sheriff at once proceeded to make the arrest, and coming up with Rogers in the valley of Bureau, a short distance above Tiskilwa, he notified him that he was a prisoner, and must accompany him forthwith to Ottawa. At this announcement Rogers stretched his tall form up to its full height, while a self-possessing and determined smile lighted up his dark visage, as he politely informed the sheriff that he would not go, and could not be taken. Said he, "Surrounded as I am by numerous friends, (referring to the Indians), I am prepared to resist the state, or even the United States authority." Rogers told the Indians that the sheriff was one of the whisky dealers. had always been an enemy of the red man, and his object was to detain them, so he could steal their ponies. At this announcement the Indians were much exasperated, and formed around Rogers in battle array, showing by their acts that they were determined to defend him. Sheriff Langworthy not liking the looks of the rifles and tomahawks in the hands of several hundred Indians, beat a hasty retreat, while Bill Rogers, with his Indian friends, pursued their way westward.
CHAPTER XII.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
For a number of years Bureau county was a strong- hold of abolitionism, and many exciting incidents, in connection with runaway slaves, took place within its boundaries, a brief account of a few of which may interest the reader. The first case of this kind occurred at the house of Elijah Smith, in December, 1835, and" it created at the time great excitement in the neigh- borhood .*
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