USA > Illinois > Bureau County > Reminiscences of Bureau county [Illinois] in two parts > Part 18
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In the summer of 1835, two black girls, belonging to Maj. Dougherty, of St. Louis, escaped from bondage and found refuge at Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Some
*Those engaged in assisting slaves to escape, were regarded by many as wild fanatics, violators of law, and therefore could not be good citi- zens. Whether the acts of these men were justifiable or not, it must be admitted that they were persons of moral integrity, and did only what they believed to be their duty. Among those most actively engaged in this business, were Owen Lovejoy, John Walters, Deacon Caleb Cook, D. E. Norton, Eli Smith and J. T. Holbrook. Eli Smith owned an old sorrel horse, named John, and a Dearborn wagon, with which, for many years, slaves were carried on their way to freedom. This horse and wagon became noted along the line, and it is said that it furnished the design for a cut that headed the advertising bill of the underground railroad.
ELI SMITH.
THE RO YORK PUBLICLIBRARY
ASTOR, LFNOK TILDEN FOUNDEDPINE
361
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months after they arrived there, a professional slave catcher, named Harris, learning of their whereabouts, captured them, and was on his way to St. Louis, where he expected to receive the large reward that was offered for their return to slavery. Harris was traveling on horseback, and leading by his side another horse, on which the two girls were mounted. On a cold De- cember night, Harris, with his two captives, whose feet were badly frozen, arrived at Elijah Smith's house of entertainment, where he procured quarters for the night. It so happened that same night that James G. Ross, of Ox Bow prairie, being on his way to Galena, was staying over night at Smith's house. Mr. Ross. being an abolitionist, was soon engaged in a warm con- troversy with the slave catcher, each of whom accused the other of rascality. Smith's house of entertainment consisted of a double log cabin, of two apartments, the men occupying one, and the women, with the two black girls, the other. Eli Smith and wife, with another neighbor, were there spending the evening, and on hearing the girls tell their sad story, they became interested in their behalf, and a plan was adopted for their rescue. Mr. Ross being a party to this project, proposed to take the girls to his friends, east of the river, where they would be assisted on their way to Canada.
To avoid being suspicioned by Harris, Ross com- plained of sudden illness, and the women gave him warm teas, but getting worse, he went up stairs to bed. 17
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
Each of the cabins of which Smith's residence was composed, had a flight of stairs that met at the top. Ross, instead of going to bed, walked down the other flight of stairs, brought out his horse, hitched it on to Eli Smith's sled, and with the girls started for Hennepin. On reaching the timber, near Joel Doolittle's residence, he found the snow so near gone that his horse could not draw his load, so he left the old sled by the wayside, placed the girls on his horse, and going on foot himself, he continued the journey.
Harris, believing that Ross was sick in bed, gave him- self no further trouble about his chattles, but went on to tell what he would do if any one should attempt to steal his negroes. Before retiring for the night, Harris went into the other apartment to see if everything was right, and he was much surprised to find the girls gone. Assisted by Elijah Smith, carrying a lantern, the barn and haystacks were searched, but without effect. Harris was in a terrible rage, accused the family of being accessory to the escape of the girls, and taking out his revolver, he swore he would shoot all about the house if they were not forthcoming.
For three days Harris remained in the neighborhood searching for the runaways, but without success. The girls were assisted on their way towards Canada, and were never returned to slavery.
In 1840, Jonathan T. Holbrook, of La Moille, was indicted and tried in the circuit court of this county, for harboring a runaway slave. This being the first
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case of the kind tried in Bureau county, it caused much excitement among the people, and it established a pre- cedent for similar cases, which were afterwards tried under the fugitive slave law.
A black man, named John, supposed to be a runaway slave, had been in the neighborhood of La Moille about one year, working for Mr. Holbrook and others. It being well known that Mr. Holbrook was an abolitionist, some of the friends of slavery thought it best to make an example of him, hence the indictment. J. D. Caton and T. L. Dickey, both of whom were subsequently circuit judge of this district, were employed in the defense of Mr. Holbrook. Thomas Ford, afterwards governor, was on the bench at that time, and his rulings were such as to displease the prosecution. Although the court and attorneys were opposed to abolitionism. they had no sympathy with the prosecution. The trial was a mere farce, and Mr. Holbrook was acquitted.
In the fall of 1838, a young man, with black hair, broad shoulders, and peculiar expressive blue eyes, was scen coming into Princeton on horseback. He was alone, and a stranger, without means, being in search of a place to make his future home, and came here by mere chance. This man was Owen Lovejoy, subsequently of political celebrity .* Soon after arriving here, Mr.
* On the morning of the 9th of November, 1837, the writer landed from a steamboat on the wharf at Alton, and learned from the excited people what had transpired there the night before. The pebbles on the wharf were stained with the blood of Bishop, and on the floor of
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Lovejoy was installed pastor of the Congregational Church, and occupied that position for sixteen years. From that time Princeton became a place of note ; although containing but few inhabitants, and having but little commercial relation with other parts of the world, it was, nevertheless, the head center of aboli- tionism for the west. Newspapers of that day reported state conventions held here, and great speeches made in favor of immediate emancipation, so that Princeton was known in abolition circles throughout the Union. Even slaves at the south heard of it, and many of them came to see it, which caused Col. Barksdale in a speech in Congress, to denounce Princeton as one of the greatest negro stealing places in the west.
According to abolition papers of that day, an under- ground railroad was established, which extended from the slave states to Canada, passing through Princeton, and making it a place for changing cars. John Cross, a Wesleyan Methodist minister, who lived near La Moille, was announced general superintendent, and he was succeeded in office by Owen Lovejoy. Mr. Cross had hand bills and large posters circulated through the country advertising his business, and calling on
Godfrey & Gilman's warehouse, was seen standing in clotted pools, the life-blood of Elijah P. Lovejoy.
The death of Lovejoy was heralded throughout the Union, and caused people everywhere to go wild with excitement, but at that time no one thought that a quarter of a century would scarcely pass away before thousands of lives and millions of money would be sacrificed on account of slavery.
365
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abolitionists everywhere for assistance in carrying out his plans. His bills were not headed with a picture of a locomotive and a train of cars, but with a bobtail horse in a Dearborn wagon-the driver leaning forward and applying the whip, while the heads of two darkies were seen peering out from under the seat. Stations were established at proper distances, and agents in readiness to convey fugitives forward as soon as they arrived. It was almost an every day occurrence for slaves to pass through on this line, while their masters followed after by the ordinary means of conveyance, and were surprised to find how fast their chattles had traveled. Many exciting incidents occurred on this underground railroad, some of which are still fresh in the minds of the people.
In 1849, a young slave named John, ran away from his master in Missouri, located in Princeton, and became quite a favorite among the people. His master, hearing of his whereabouts, and accompanied by a friend to prove property, came after him. The slave was mowing in an out lot in the north part of town, and did not observe the slave catchers until they came upon him, each of whom presented a pistol to his head, which caused him to make no resistance. His hands were tied behind him, and his master holding one end of the rope, led him like a dog through the streets of the town. News of the boy's capture flew like lightning, and people, much excited, were seen running hither and thither, marshaling their forces for the rescue. A
.
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warrant was issued, and the slave catchers arrested on the charge of kidnapping, and with the slave were taken to the court house for trial. The court room was filled with excited people, some of whom sympathized with the slave, and others his master. While the trial was progressing, some one cut the rope that bound the slave, and during the confusion he escaped from the court room, followed by the excited crowd, some to catch, and others to assist him in making his escape. A horse, with a woman's saddle on, was hitched in the street, on which they placed the slave, and ordered him to ride with all speed to the residence of Mr. Lovejoy, followed by the court and crowd of excited people. The house of Mr. Lovejoy was surrounded by the excited people, some to protect, and others to capture the slave. Behind the barn a man was seen to mount a horse, and a cry was raised, "There goes the negro." 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 veil 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
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up with empty bags. This wagon was drove quietly away, and the slave escaped while the slave party stood guard around Mr. Lovejoy's house, waiting for a search warrant.
The Rev. John Cross, general agent and superin- tendent of the underground railroad, was charged by parties in Knox county with assisting a slave on his way to freedom. For this offense a warrant was issued for his arrest, and placed into the hands of the sheriff of this county, as Mr. Cross resided near La Moille at that time. The deputy sheriff arrested Cross, and proceeded with him on his way to Knoxville, where he was to be tried for the henious offense of assisting a slave on his way to Canada. At Osceola, Stark county, the deputy, with his prisoner, stopped for the night, and as Cross had an engagement to preach there the next day, he asked permission of the officer to fill his appointment, but his request was not granted. The friends of Mr. Cross offered to guarantee his safe de- livery after the service, but the officer was inexorable, and explained to them that the law made no provision for a criminal to stop while on his way to jail to deliver abolition lectures,-telling them that he was an officer of the law, and should carry out its provisions at all hazards,-that no abolition mob could intimidate him. To this the friends of Mr. Cross replied that he should stay and preach, intimating to the officer that he might get into trouble if he undertook forcible means to carry off his prisoner .. The deputy, finding that he had
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.
fell into the hands of the Phillistines, lost all his courage, became nervous, and finally consented that his prisoner might stay and preach, but he kept all the while at his elbow to prevent his escape. After preaching was over, the officer summoned a posse to assist him in taking the prisoner to Knoxville, but finding they were all friends of the prisoner, he dismissed them, as they would be likely to do him more harm than good. The officer then inquired of Mr. Cross how much he would ask to deliver himself up peaceably to the jailor at Knoxville; to which he replied that he would do it for ten dollars. The officer thought the price exhorbitant, but offered him five, and they finally agreed on seven dollars. Things being now arranged, they proceeded on their journey, but the officer appeared uneasy, being fearful that the prisoner's friends had laid a trap to rescue him on the road. The officer frequently inquired of Mr. Cross if he though, in case of a rescue, they would commit violence on him, to which Mr. Cross replied he could not tell what they would do, as his friends were very angry at his arrest, and therefore he would not be responsible for their acts. Fearful forebodings of evil had now taken possession of the officer's mind, and he turned pale, became nervous and excited. Mr. Cross assured him that he had nothing to do with the rescue, and in fact did not wish it, for in that case he would lose the seven dollars, which he very much needed.
As the officer with his prisoner came near Spoon
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river timber, they saw two men in the road ahead of them, who were engaged in conversation, while two others were seen going towards them. Mr. Cross appeared surprised to see his friends about to rescue him, and said he would defeat their plans, as he could not think of losing the forthcoming seven dollars. He told the sheriff to lay down in the bottom of the buggy and he would cover him over with buffalo robes, so his friends, seeing him alone and not under arrest, would not stop him. This arrangement was agreed to by the sheriff, and he was nicely wrapped up in robes and horse blankets, so that no part of his person was visible. On coming up with the men in the road, who were there by chance, Cross spoke to them, at the same time whipping his horses, and went on at great speed. A little further on, where the road was very rough, he spoke to some imaginary person, again whipping his horses into a gallop. The old buggy rattled and creaked, as it bounded over stumps and through deep ruts, the sheriff's head coming in contact with the seat, then against the side of the box, while suppressed groans came forth from the official victim. Again and again Mr. Cross would speak as though meeting some one, and whipping his horses into a gallop as before, the buggy rattled and the sheriff groaned, but on he went, Jehu-like, for about two miles, over a rough timber road. At last Mr. Cross made a halt, uncovered the sheriff, telling him to get up, as they had now passed 18
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all danger. As he arose, looking cautiously around him to see that no enemy was near, he took out his two pistols to examine them, saying at the same time, "If they had attacked me, I would have made a powerful resistance."
That same day the prisoner was safely delivered over to the authorities at Knoxville, and was set at liberty without an examination.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE MAGICIAN.
Many years ago, a tall, spare, light complexioned man, of peculiar appearance, by the name of Jacob Wade, came to this county, and for a number of years made his home near the village of Dover. Wade professed to be a magician, and by his magic art made a good living out of those who became his dupes. He would travel around the neighborhood telling fortunes, looking up stolen property, and pointing out hidden treasures. If horses or cattle had strayed off or been stolen, he would look into his hat, and tell where they could be found. For a while Wade's fame extended far and near, and many people from a distance came to consult him on secret matters. Young men and mai- dens were in the habit of consulting Wade on their love affairs, and by him they would always receive balm to heal their wounded hearts.
Among Wade's dupes was a man named James Peters, who at that time owned the Bureau Valley mills, and
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report says that this magician swindled him out of a large sum of money. Wade made Peters believe that the peep stone, with which Joe Smith discovered the golden bible, was still in existence, belonging to a man in Western New York, and could be bought for two hundred dollars. Peters believing this story, employed Wade to purchase this stone for him, advancing the purchase money and traveling expenses, besides giving him a fine yoke of cattle for his trouble. After a few weeks this wonderful peep stone was produced by Wade, but Peters could see nothing through it. Wade's magic power was again tested, and on looking through the stone he discovered a chest of diamonds secreted about ten feet under ground. Peters now believed his fortune was made, employed a number of Irish laborers, and commenced digging. Day after day the digging went on; Peters was sanguine that the prize would be ob- tained, urging on the work by paying extravagant wages, while Wade sat on a log near by, looking through the peep stone, and giving directions to the laborers. As they came nigh the prize, something would be said or done to break the charm, when it would be moved to another place. In this way many holes were dug in the creek bottom, north of the Bureau Valley mills- some of which are still to be seen. After spending much time and money in searching for diamonds, Peters lost all faith in the magic peep stone, and threw it into the creek, sold his property, and left the country.
Two prominent citizens of Dover were captivated with
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THE MAGICIAN.
Wade's magic power, and by him they were made to believe that a pot of gold was secreted in the bluff near the present site of Bureau Junction. These men left their business one bright morning, and went off in search of gold, without letting their families know of their whereabouts. With spades and shovels, and two empty salt sacks to hold the gold, and accompanied by Wade, they left for Leepertown in order to secure their fortune. The spot was pointed out by Wade, and the work commenced. Neither of the men were accustomed to manual labor, and they found digging in a hard gravelly knoll very different from measuring calico. With blistered hands, and the sweat running down their faces, they worked away in silence, while Wade sat by their side looking into his hat, by which means he watched the pot of gold. The day was now far advanced, the gold diggers tired and their faith wa- vering, but Wade told them if they doubted their success, or used hard words, the charm would be broken and the gold removed. At last one of the gold diggers threw down his spade, at the same time exclaiming, " I'll be durned if I'll dig any more." Then said Wade, as he sat looking into his hat, "By your incredulity the prize is lost, for that moment I saw the pot of gold move to another place."
It was long after dark when the gold diggers returned home, tired and disheartened, with their hands blistered, clothes soiled, and their salt sacks still empty.
Years have now passed away, and with many this
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incident is almost forgotten, but the parties themselves still dislike to talk about digging for gold.
METEOROLOGICAL TABLE.
During the year 1850, the writer kept a record of the variation of the thermometer, taken morning and evening of each day, with the following result :
MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR EACH MONTH.
Month.
Degrees.
Days
rain.
Inches
rain.
Days
snow.
Inches
snow.
January,
25
1
1/0
4
91/2
February,
30
2
13
I
1
March,
34
4
2
1
11/2
April,
40
8
2
..
.....
May,
57
4
11%
..
....
June,
71
8
55$
..
.....
August.
70
10
September,
60;
10
219
2
..
.....
October,
51
5
3
November,
14
5
33/1
3
16
December,
21
2
1
4
31/2
-
Winter, 29 degrees; spring, 43; summer, 73; autumn, 51. Mean tem- perature for the year, 48 degrees. Greatest cold, January 4th,-12 degrees below zero; greatest heat, July 10th,-101. During the year there were sixty-eight rains, and thirteen days snow
The winter of 1830-31 was intensely cold, with snow three feet deep, and drifted very much ; the winter of 1832-33 was unusually mild; the winter of 1842-43 was very cold, and snow lay from November 17th until April 2d; the summer of 1844 very wet, with great floods; 1845 was uncommon dry -- no rain fell on the west side of Dover township from April 28th until Christmas day, when it rained hard, with heavy thunder and lightning.
..
.....
July,
78
9
.....
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CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
On the 20th of December, 1836, occurred a very remarkable change in the weather, which will long be remembered by early settlers. For two days previous to this sudden change, southern wind prevailed, the sun shining warm like spring weather, and the snow which was deep at the time, had melted into slush. About three o'clock in the afternoon, the wind changed to the northwest, and blew almost a gale, and within a few hours the thermometer changed eighty degrees. Forest trees cracked like guns; sleds and wagons which were standing in the street froze fast in their tracks. A man and his daughter who lived east of Hennepin, being out after their cattle, a short distance from the house, were frozen to death, and a number of people in different parts of the west perished that afternoon and evening. In a number of instances, cattle and hogs, while standing by the side of a building to shield them- selves from the wind, with their feet in slushy snow, were frozen fast in their tracks, and found dead next morning.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
The first religious service within the limits of Bureau county, was held at the house of John Hall, in August 1830. Six or eight persons were present, and Elijah Epperson preached to them. There was no established ministry of any denomination, until the summer of 1833, when William Royal, a Methodist missionary,
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made Bureau settlement one of his appointments, preaching once in four weeks, at the residence of Abram Stratton. His mission extended from Peoria to Ottawa, with twenty-two preaching places, some of which were more than thirty miles apart, and he passed around his circuit once in four weeks.
In the fall of 1833, the Rev. Lucien Farnham, a Congregational minister, located in Princeton, and received his support partly from the Home Missionary Society. In September, 1834, the first camp meeting for Bureau settlement was held in the grove west of Princeton, near the residence of Oscar Knox. The Methodists and Congregationalists united in holding this meeting, and it was agreed that proselytes should be at liberty to join which ever church they preferred. John St. Clair was at that time presiding elder; his district extended over all the north part of the state, including both Galena and Chicago. The elder, in his opening address to the congregation, said it was a Methodist meeting, and they would claim all the converts. The Congregational ministers, Mr. Farnham and Mr. Dickey, took exceptions to this, and from that time forward sectional feeling existed among the settlers.
The first school house within the limits of this county was built in the winter of 1833-34, on a farm now owned by Mrs. R. Moseley. This building was fourteen feet square, and intended to accommodate all of the settlement on the Princeton prairie. On the division
JOEL DOOLITTLE.
THE NEW YORK PUBLICLIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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SETTLEMENT OF PRINCETON PRAIRIE.
of the school district, this school house was moved near. Joel Doolittle's residence, and a new one built in the timber where George Brown now lives. The first school west of the Illinois river was taught by Elijah Smith, in a part of his own house, during the winter of 1833-34. The first school west of Main Bureau, and north of town sixteen, was taught by Miss Hattie Coulter, (now Mrs. Burnham), in the summer of 1836. This school was kept in a vacant cabin, where L. Holi- day now lives, and consisted of eight or ten scholars.
SETTLEMENT OF PRINCETON PRAIRIE.
It has already been stated that members of the Hamp- shire colony, as well as Roland Moseley and friends, had settled on the Princeton prairie during the summer of 1831. Early in the spring of the same year, John Williams made a claim west of Princeton, on a farm now occupied by John Wagner. Mr. Williams built a small log cabin by the side of a spring, where he remained for a year or two, but his family was sick much of the time, and being obliged to flee from his home two years in succession, he became disgusted with the country, abandoned his claim and left it never to return.
In the spring of 1832, Joel Doolittle settled on a farm which still bears his name, and in the fall of the same year Cyrus and John H. Bryant came to the country. In 1833 James Hayes and Abram Jones made claims
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