USA > Illinois > Bureau County > Reminiscences of Bureau county [Illinois] in two parts > Part 2
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THE INDIAN VILLAGE.
Washington, being there on business for his tribe, who now live in Western Kansas. Although the name of Girty was unknown to the early settlers, yet many of them knew him by sight, under a different name, and they will recollect depredations committed by him. without ever suspecting the author.
THE INDIAN VILLAGE.
On the present site of Tiskilwa was located an Indian village, called by the natives W appe, but known among the whites by the name of Indiantown. This village contained some three hundred wigwams, or lodges, and at some seasons of the year, about fifteen hundred inhabitants. The lodges were constructed of bark or reeds, with an opening in the south, and a hole in the top, to let out the smoke. Streets, or alleys, were dis- regarded, as the lodges were built close together, and on both sides of the spring branch, which runs imme- diately west of the Tiskilwa house. On a little green knoll, by the creek bank, and between the depot and Stevens' mill, was located their council house, and by the side of which was their dance ground. In the bottom prairies above and below the village, was located their cornfield. These corn fields consisted of small patches, fenced in by driving sticks into the ground. and tying on poles with bark or withes to prevent the ponies from destroying their crop. In the fall they
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
would gather and dry their corn, and bury it in the caches (caves in the ground), where it would be safe for future use ; after which a large portion of the Indians would leave the village, and scatter all over the country, some along Bureau timber and Illinois river, others on Green river, for the purpose of hunting and procuring furs.
The principal chief of the village was known by the name of Autuckee, and the next in authority under him was called Meommuse. Both of these chiefs were well known to many of the early settlers. Such was the condition of things at Wappe, or Indiantown, when Girty became one of its inhabitants. Understanding well the English language, he acted as interpreter of the band in many of their transactions with the Indian traders. For a number of years, Girty tried to gain the confidence of the Indians, so that he might become a leader among them, the same as his father had been among those of Ohio. But in this he did not succeed, being regarded by them as a treacherous half-breed, and unworthy of their confidence.
GENERAL CASS IN COUNCIL.
In the spring of 1827, an effort was made to unite the different tribes of the West in a war against the whites. The trouble originated among the Winne- bagoes, but disaffection had extended to other tribes,
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GENERAL CASS IN COUNCIL.
and they, too, commenced preparing for war. Council- were held at different places, and the smoke of signal fires were seen to ascend from every village throughout the country. In order to pacify them, Gen. Cass, who was at that time general Indian agent for the north- west, descended the Mississippi river, in a keel boat. and ascended the Illinois river, in a batean, as far as the mouth of Bureau creek, at the trading post of the American Fur company. Here he remained a few days, sending out runners to the Indian villages to notify their principal chiefs to meet him in council. One of the runners rame to Indiantown, and its chiefs. with many of its warriors, including Girty, attended the conneil. This council was held on the river bank, noa the mouth of Crow creek, on the 21st day of June, and was attended by a large number of the Pottawatamie chiefs. Gen. Cass, in his speech to the chiefs, promised them, in behalf of the government, a compliance in full of all their demands, providing they would remain at peace. Speeches were also made by many of the chief -. declaring their willingness to give up their alliance with the Winnebagoes, and continue their peaceful relations with the government. Pledges of friendship were made between the chiefs and Gon. Cass, after which he distributed presents among them. Ai dis commeil, Girty interpreted the speeches of some of alo. chiefs, and for this service Gen. Cass gave him a silver medal, ash token of friendship. This medal. stepemfed
B
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
by a buckskin cord around his neck, was carried by Girty until the day of his death.
Twenty-eight years after this event, the great Michi- gander stated, while in conversation with the writer, that the Indian council on the Illinois river, was to him the most agreeable of any that he had held in the west. He spoke of Senachwine, Shaubena, Waba, Wabonsie, and others. The names of the two former, he said. were signed to the great Indian treaty of St. Louis, in 1816, whereby the Indian title to all the military tract was relinquished. Gen. Cass also spoke of the personal appearance of Senachwine; of his fine oratory ; pleas- ing address, &c., but said much of his speech was lost to him on account of his interpreter having only an imperfect knowledge of the Pottawatamie tongue. This defect, he said, was remedied in the speeches of other chiefs, by having them interpreted by a half- breed.
This half-breed spoken of by Gen. Cass is supposed to have been Mike Girty, the outlaw.
CHAPTER III.
BUREAU COUNTY IN A STATE OF NATURE.
At the time our story commences, the territory which is now embraced within the limits of Bureau, as well as the adjacent counties, was in a state of nature. Scarcely a house or cultivated field could be seen on those western prairies. Roving bands of Indians were the occupants of the country, and over which roamed undisturbed by the marks of civilization, herds of deer and packs of wolves. Different localities throughout the country, were only known by streams, groves, or points of timber, and these localities were unconnected by roads, save here and there an Indian trail. The country, in a state of nature, presented a wild, romantic appearance, without a house or field, or any evidence of civilization on which the eye could rest. The prairies, during the summer, were covered with flowers of every hue, presenting a beauty of landscape scenery seldom met with at the present day. Here and there
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
were seen groves of timber, which acted as landmarks to guide the traveler in his rambles across the great savannas of the west. The water in the streams was clear as crystal, at all seasons of the year ; no plow- man had yet broken the sod to muddy their fair current. Almost ever day deer were seen feeding on the prairies, and the gobbling of wild turkeys was heard in the groves. At night the howling of wolves and the shrill notes of the catamount would remind a person that he was among the wilds of the west, far from the abode of civilization.
PIONEERS.
Two years before, Henry Thomas. the first settler of this county, had built a cabin on the Galena road, and on the west side of West Bureau timber. The same spring John L. Ament, and brothers, settled at Red Oak Grove. A year or two later, Dad Joe. (Joseph Smith). settled at Dad Joe Grove : Charles Boyd, at Boyd's Grove. and Elijah Epperson a short distance north of the present site of Princeton. About this time Amos Leonard, Daniel Dimmick, John Hall, and Tim- othy Perkins, settled in the east part of the county. John M. Gay, Ezekiel Thomas, and Abram Stratton. between the Bureaus, and William Hall at Dimmick's Grove, his cabin being located on the present site of La Moille. Subsequently, others came in, many of
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PIONEERS.
whom built their cabins in the timber by the side of springs. Most of the early settlers were poor, possess- ing nothing but their teams and their seanty household furniture ; being pioneers, or adventurers, who had left the land of their nativity for a home among the savages of the west. For some years they lived in constant fear of the Indians, not knowing at what moment they would be attacked and murdered by them. In times of the greatest danger, some carried their guns with them while at work in the field, and would leave their cabins at night to sleep in the grove. in order to avoid being surprised by savages. At different times the settlers were compelled to leave their homes and seek refuge in forts, or settlements further south, leaving erops to be destroyed, and their horses and cattle to run wild on the prairie. Such was the appearance of the country at the time our story commences, and such were the character of the persons who figure in it.
RELIGION AMONG THE PIONEERS.
Many of the pioneers were professors of religion, two of whom, Elijah Epperson and grandfather Hall, were preachers of the gospel. It was common in those days for missionaries from different denominations to make frequent excursions through the new settlements, hold ing meetings, and establishing societies. But no church was as persevering in their efforts, and would carry out
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
their plans with so much energy, as the Methodist. It has frequently been said, in regard to the settlements of the west, as soon as a squatter builds a cabin in any of the unsettled groves, the next day he was sure to be called upon by a Methodist preacher, in search of a place to hold meetings. And it was not uncommon in those days for them to have appointments forty or fifty miles apart, traveling back and forth on horseback, and carrying in their saddle-bags a pocket bible, hymn book. and a change of linen. These pioneer ministers preached free salvation. almost without money and without price. At their own expense, they traveled from settlement to settlement, proclaiming the gospel to all those who were willing to hear. Sometimes on foot, at other times on horseback, they traveled through a thinly settled country, frequently swimming streams, sleeping in the open air, and suffering from cold and hunger, at a time when a paid ministry could not be sustained. Among the Methodist ministers of note in those days, were the Revs. Jesse Walker, John St. Clair, Rufus Lumery, Stephen R. Begg, William Royal and A. E. Phelps. These men possessed talent and energy, and did much in shaping the destiny of the church in Northern Illinois. Their lives, too, were models of piety and energy, worthy of imitation at the present day.
CHAPTER IV.
REV. JAMES SAMPLE PREACHING TO SINNERS.
There was a man by the name of James Sample, who preached a number of times in Hall's settlement, and was known by many of the early settlers. He was a young man of preposessing appearance. being tall and slim, with a pleasing countenance, and good address : but in intellect and education he was sadly deficient. His sermons had no connection with his text, but con- sisted of a disconnected exhortation, which was always delivered on a high key: holloing at the top of his voice, and clapping his hands and stamping his feet in a furious manner. He would always take his stand by the side of a door, or window, and commence his sermon on a low key; but as he advanced, he would become en- thusiastic, retreating backwards, always in bad order. into one corner of the room, among the pots and kettles; and on one occasion he upset the dinner-pot. to the great annoyance of the lady of the house.
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
Sample was not a regular ordained minister, but was operating on his own footing, and, according to his own statement, he was especially called by the Almighty to reprove sinners of the errors of their ways, and warn them to flee from the wrath to come. Sample lived on the east side of the Illinois river, and as there was no ferry in those days, it became necessary for him to swim his horse across it, to meet his appointments. In all his sermons, he would allude to the fact of his having risked his life, by swimming the river, in order to warn sinners of the errors of their ways, and point out to them the way of salvation. Meetings were held at the house of John Hall, and were attended by almost every person in the settlement. Everybody was captivated with the preaching of Young Sample; his earnest manner of presenting the subject, would frequently cause the women to shout, and the men to respond by lond acclamations of joy.
THE PARSON TURNS HORSE JOCKEY.
Mr. Hall had a beautiful horse, which he had brought with him from the east, and on account of his good qualities, many had tried in vain to buy him. Sample had noticed this horse on his first visit to Hall's, and as the sequel shows, he thought more of cheating him out of the horse than he did about the conversion of sinners. Sample tried various plans to get possession
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THE PARSON TURNS HORSE JOCKEY.
of this horse, but all to no purpose. Notwithstanding Hall was a great admirer of brother Sample, believing him to be a model of righteousness and piety. and was willing to serve him in almost every way, with the exception of parting with his favorite horse. Sample. to accomplish his ends, thought it best to use a little strategy, and thereby approach Hall in an unguarded
moment. In his travels he bought, for a mere trifle. an old, broken-down, worthless horse, but which was at the time fat and sleek, being put in order for the pur- pose of cheating some person. This horse he brought over to Hall's at his next appointment to preach, saying that he had bought him of brother Aaron Paine, at an exhorbitant price, and would warrant him sound in every particular. Although Hall was a shrewd man. and a good judge of a horse, the great confidence which he had in Sample's integrity threw him off his guard. and he exchanged his favorite horse for the worthless one. But on the next day he discovered the cheat, as the horse proved to be both balky, blind and spavined, besides being afflicted with almost every malady that horse flesh is heir to. Hall was in a terrible rage when he discovered the cheat, denouncing the minister as an impostor, and a rascal-saying that this trans- action showed to him the depravity of human nature, and had alnost destroyed his confidence in the honesty of mankind. In quoting scripture on this point, he referred to a passage applicable to this case. Solomon in his wisdom has said "There is one honest woman C
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
among a thousand, but an honest man cannot be found in all the multitude of Israel." Sample preached no more in the Hall settlement, and his trumpet voice, in warning sinners to repent, and flee the wrath to come. was never again heard on the west side of the river.
JOB MAY. THE HUNTER, AND HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
On the river bluffs. above the mouth of Bureau creek. lived a man by the name of Job May. who was well known by some of the early settlers. May was an easy, good-natured fellow, disliking work, but had a great fondness for hunting. Each morning, [Rip Van Winkle like], he would take his rifle, and accompanied by his dog, cross the river in a canoe, and spend the day in hunting through the bottom or along Bureau creek. Mrs. May, his wife, was an intelligent, high- spirited woman, and nsed every means in her power to make her home comfortable, notwithstanding the shift- lessness of her husband. Their eldest daughter, Lucy, was at this time about sixteen years of age, a girl of remarkable beauty and intelligence. She was tall and graceful in her movements, with fair skin, and finely moulded features, while her long black hair hung in ringlets over her shoulders, giving to her a queenly appearance. Lucy was regarded the belle of the settle- ment, and she had many suitors, all of whom she treated with indifference. The Rev. Mr. Sample, in his ministerial excursions, made the acquaintance of Lucy
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JOB MAY THE HUNTER.
May, and as a matter of course, fell in love with her. Mounted as he was on a fine horse, the one he cheated Hall out of, and his tall manly form set off in a new suit of clothes, he was not long in captivating the heart of the young maiden. Sample's visits to May's house were of frequent occurrence, and these visits were much appreciated by the mother and daughter, but May himself did not approve of them. Being an unbeliever in the Christian religion. and taking but little stock in preachers, he tried to prevent his daughter receiving the addresses of Sample. But Mrs. May, being the head of the family, doing all the thinking for herself and husband, would have things her own way. Matters continued in this wise for some months. May, dressed in his suit of buckskin and his coon cap, with the tail hanging down behind, (looking for all the world like Davy Crockett), would each day take his gun and dog for a hunt in the woods; sometimes bringing home a deer or wild turkey as the result of his labor. Mrs. May and daughter would apply themselves to house- hold duties, in providing food and raiment for the family, and was always certain to have everything in fine order to receive the Rev. Mr. Sample at the time of his weekly visits.
May's cabin was built on the side of the river bluff. the site of which was partly made by an excavation into the bank, so that the roof on the upper side was elevated but little above the ground. The fire-place was about six feet wide. composed of earthern-jams.
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
The chimney, equally large, built of mud and sticks. did not extend above the ground, never having been topped ont, so that the cabin looked more like a bank stable than a dwelling. On one of Sample's visits to May's house, he introduced the subject of religion, and proposed to have prayers in the family ; but May was in a bad humor, having that day met with poor success in hunting, and said to Sample, until he returned Hall's horse, his prayers would not be acceptable. After the family had retired for the night, all sleeping in one room, as there was but one apartment in the house, Sample and Lucy sat chatting before the open fire. which had now burned down to a few coals, when an incident occurred which startled the lovers, awoke the family, and frightened the household almost out of their senses.
THE MISFORTUNE OF OLD BLIND BOB.
Some time before, a neighbor had given May's boys an old blind horse, which was worn out and worthless. The little boys were much pleased with their present, and during the summer months they would ride old blind Bob after the cows. But winter was now coming on, and the grass getting bad, old Bob had become poor and weak, and while searching around the house for something to satisfy his hunger, pitched headlong down the chimney into the fire. The old horse, on landing in the fire-place, commenced snorting and floundering
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MISFORTUNE OF OLD BLIND BOB.
about at a terrible rate, throwing the hot ashes and coals all over the room. The women screamed with all their might, the children cried, and all of May's doubts about there being a devil were now removed, for here he was, sure enough. Old Bob soon extricated himself from the coals and hot ashes, and with his hair badly singed on one shoulder, was led limping out of the door. A short time after the adventure of old blind Bob, Sample and Lucy were married, and their honey- moon had scarcely passed away, when they met with a tragical end, an account of which will be given in a subsequent chapter.
CHAPTER V.
THOMAS HARTZELL, THE INDIAN TRADER.
In the fall of 1828, Thomas Hartzell, an Indian trader from Pennsylvania, came to this country, and built a trading house on the river bank, a short distance below that of the Fur Company. In this house was held the first County Commissioner's session, as well as the Circuit Court of Putnam county. Mr. Hartzell was a very successful trader; being popular with the Indians, he extended his trade into other localities. He built a trading house at Devil's Grove, and one at Trading House Grove, which were conducted by agents. and by his energy he took a large share of trade away from the Fur Company. There being no ferry at that time, goods were taken across the river in a canoe, while the horses were made to swim across. When on the west side of the river, the goods were loaded on the horses backs to be carried to their destination. and the furs and skins returned in like manner. Mr. Hartzell. by his trade, accumulated a large fortune, and on retiring
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INDIAN CONSPIRACY.
from business, he moved to Waukegan, where he died a few years ago, at an advanced age.
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER THE SETTLERS.
In the year 1831, Amos Leonard built a cabin, and also a mill. on the creek. a few miles below Indiantown. and about the same time Michael Kitterman made a claim, where he now lives, built a cabin, and occupied it with his family. Robert Clark, with a large family of children, occupied a cabin on Bureau bottom, three miles above the Indian village. The same year Dave Jones, who afterwards became notorious, both among the whites and Indians, built a cabin on the present site of Tiskilwa, and close to the Indian village. With the three former settlers, the Indians lived in perfect harmony, but between them and the latter a bad feeling existed. Jones liked whisky, and hated Indians, and he was not backward in making his likes and dislikes known. He had brought with him into the country a breechy yoke of cattle, which were in the habit of breaking into the Indians' cornfields. Although their pole fences were sufficient to keep out their ponies, it was no barrier to Jones' breechy cattle. Girty was one of the sufferers from the depredations of Jones' cattle, and therefore went to work to be avenged. Jones and Girty met one day at Hartzell's trading house, and the former being under the influence of whisky, was de- termined to fight. Jones struck Girty with his fist.
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
and in return, Girty knocked Jones down with the breech of his gun, making a severe wound on his head. and leaving him for dead. Girty's enmity was not only against Jones, but against all the settlers, whom he regarded as trespassers on Indians' rights, and, in accordance with his savage nature, believed it his duty to rid the country of them. He was joined in his mur- derous designs by twenty warriors, who were as depraved as himself. With them he entered into a conspiracy to murder all the whites within their reach, and thus rid the neighborhood of intruders. Their plan was to go to each house in the dead hour of the night, kill all the inmates, allowing none to escape to give the alarm, and then set the house on fire. To carry out their plans successfully, Girty visited each house of his intended victims, under the pretext of selling some skins; but his real object was to examine the doors of the cabins and means of defense. Most of the settlers were un- prepared to make any defense, having only a clapboard door to their cabins, and in some instances a bed-quilt supplied its place. But at the cabin of Elijah Epperson he found things very different. By the side of the house he saw heavy split puncheons for the purpose of bar- ricading the door at night, and on the inside of the cabin, hanging on pegs drove into the wall, were three or four rifles, and about the premises were as many young men capable of using them. Seeing these preparations for resistance caused Girty to leave the Epperson family out of his list of intended victims, and
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CONSPIRATORS DISCOVERED.
as he was a great coward himself, nothing could induce him to hazard his own life. The murderers were very sly in maturing their plans, not letting any other Indians know anything about them. Their intentions were to kill the families, and make people believe that the murders had been committed by a band of Sacs and Foxes, from Rock Island, who had been threat- ening a raid on the settlers. The time had come, and everything was ready for the attack. The warriors, armed with their rifles, tomahawks, and scalping knives. were only waiting for the settlers to retire for the night. when they would commence their work of horror. But an incident occurred which defeated their plans, and thereby saved the lives of their intended victims.
THE MURDERERS DETECTED, AND THE LIVES OF THE SETTLERS SAVED.
On the night in question, Thomas Hartzell, on re- turning from the Winnebago swamps with four horses loaded with skins, stopped at the village to transact some business, after which he continued on his journey homewards. In company with Hartzell, was a young half-breed, by the name of Holday, who had been for some time in his employ. This young half-breed had a sweetheart in the village, and called to see her as he passed through, and in conversation told her that they did not intend to go home that night, owing to the difficulty of swimming their horses across the river D
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REMINISCENCES OF BUREAU COUNTY.
after dark, as it was then about sundown, but should stay all night at the cabin of Amos Leonard, which was on their way. It so happened that the father of Holday's sweetheart was one of Girty's conspirators ; and a short time after Hartzell and the young half-breed had left, she overheard him in conversation with others of the gang, talking about killing the settlers. Knowing that Hartzell and her lover must fall victims to their savage barbarity, the young squaw ran with all haste to the principal chief, Autuckee, and told him what she had heard. Autuckee had no sympathy with the settlers, regarding them as intruders, and would like to have their throats cut, but knowing that the rash acts. of Girty and his followers would only bring vengeance on himself and friends, thought it best to prevent it. He collected a number of his faithful warriors, and with them went to Girty's lodge, where they found him prepared for war, his face painted, and his tomahawk and scalping knife secured in his belt. Girty, finding himself betrayed, did not deny his murderous intentions, but justified himself on the ground that the welfare of the Indians required the expulsion of the settlers. The chief, Autuckee, gave orders for Girty and two of his companions in crime to be bound hand and foot, and kept in confinement for two moons. Thus the expe- dition was broken up, and thereby the lives of the settlers saved.
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