USA > Illinois > Jo Daviess County > The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States > Part 24
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For many years, and as late as 1856-'7, the only money current in the mines consisted of British sovereigns and French five-franc pieces. The former were rated at $4.90-often passing for $5, and the latter were cur- rent at $1.00.
In 1832, just before the commencement of the Black Hawk War (to be noticed inore at length hereafter). the whole mining district was in a prosperous condition. In 1829-'30, the price of lead went down, and for two or three years the miners labored under serious disadvantages, but in 1830 the government reduced the lead rent from 10 to 6 per cent, lead advanced until, in 1832, it commanded a fair price, and the condition of the county at that time is admirably summed up in an article published in thie Miners' Journal of May 9, 1832, as follows :
The miner, the smelter and the merchant all transact a cash business. Fine farms are to be seen in every part of the country. Mills are built on almost every stream. Machines are in operation for the rolling of Jead and for the manufacture of leaden pipes. A shot tower is being built at Helena.t Laborers receive from $15 to $20 per month and their board. There are three churches in the town of Galena-a Catholic, a Methodist and a Presbyterian. There is a temperance society of seventy-five members, and a juveni e tem- perance society of forty-five members. Education is encouraged and promoted. Justice is regularly administered: Numerous crimes common in older settlements are here wholly unknown. Most persons sleep with unbarred doors, and sleep in safety. A jail has been finished three years, and during all that time has not been occupied a single week. The people of Galena are generally well dressed, polite and sociable, and if there is a place where a respectable stranger finds pure, unalloyed hospitality, it is at the Upper Mississippi
* Slavery existed in the mines for several years after this date, and was not finally abolished until about 1840.
+ This was on what was called January's Point. The tower was never built, but the foundations were commenced, and the location is now called "Shot Tower Hill." Sheet lead was manufactured a short time by Parker, at Ottawa, but the enterprise was soon abandoned.
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
lead mines. One hundred and two steamboats* and seventy-two keel-boats have arrived in a single year, and the annual product of lead has increased to 13,343,150 pounds.
It is now necessary to return to a review of the early history and management of the lead mines under United States authority. Prior to the appointment of Lieut. Martin Thomas, as superintendent of United States lead mines, in August, 1824, there does not appear to have been an agent of the government here authorized to grant leases and permits to operate on United States lands. Leases of large tracts were obtained from the government, and on these lands. small miners were permitted to enter and dig under the lessees. But their numbers were few. In 1823 the prin- cipal leads worked were all old Indian and French mines struck anew. There were diggings on January's Point, about six hundred yards above January's warehouse. On the school section just above were two leads. Next north was the "Hog" lead, beyond which were the "Doe" and " Buck " leads, the latter of which had been worked by French miners under Dubuque. Then there was the "Old Cave Diggings," on Cave Branch, in what is now Vinegar Hill Township, that had also been worked by Dubuque, and the old "Indian lead," west of the "Buck lead." On the east side of the river was the "Back-bone lead," about half a mile east of January's Point, and Vanmatre's lead, on the east side of Apple River, near the present Village of Elizabeth. On the west, near Anderson's (now Harris') Slough, were two old French leads, one of which was worked by McLanahan, and the old "Indian Diggings," west of Galena two miles. In 1824, John and Cuyler Armstrong struck a lead on the middle fork of Miller's Branch (now Meeker's), above the old Indian leads. North of this another lead was struck. near where the Comstock lead was afterward dis- covered. Mr. Vanderslice had made a discovery about two miles northwest ·of the settlement, and two new leads east of Vinegar Hill, were worked by J. Bruner, Michael Byrne and John Furlong. On Cave Branch. one and one quarter miles southeast of " Cave Diggings," John Armstrong had found a good lead, and "the only one," says Captain Harris, "where I ever saw native lead sticking to mineral." These were all the principal diggings known in what is now Jo Daviess County when Lieut. Thomas arrived, and they had all, or nearly all, been previously worked by the Indians and Frenchi.
Up to that time it is probable that the local agent, Major Anderson, had not been authorized to grant leases and permits. Johnson and others had obtained their leases at Washington. But the Fever River lead deposits were found to be richer than those of Missouri, and the greater facility with which the mines or " leads " were worked attracted a large number of miners from Missouri. The government of the United States had, by advertisements in the leading papers of the Union, called the attention of tlie people to these lead mines, and invited miners and settlers to the region. They were flocking hither, and it became indispensable to station a resident superintendent here, clothed with authority to grant permits and leases, issue regulations, settle disputes, etc. There was no other law at that time,
* It was nothing remarkable to see fifteen or twenty large Mississippi steamboats in the river at a time, and Captain Harris is sufficient authority for the statement that steamboats have arrived or departed in every month in the year. The channel of the river, which has very little current, has become filled up now, so that steamers can come up to Galena only in high water, but the people think, not without reason, that if the government would improve the channel by dredging-with the construction of a narrow guage railroad now in operation from this point into the mining districts of Wisconsin-some, at least, of the old prestige of Galena would return.
Diodamia Fentress DUNLEITH.
THE LIBRARY OF THE
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS . COUNTY.
and, as a rule, the inhabitants were quite as orderly and quite as mindful of each others' rights as they have been in later days. Property was safe, and doors needed no locks.
Lieut. Thomas arrived at Fever River in October (probably), 1824, and established his headquarters in a double log cabin which then stood on the bank of the river, in the middle of what is now Main Street, about sixty feet south of Gear Street. On the north side of Gear Street, close by the agency, was a little pond, fed by a large spring, and a little creek con- nected the pond with the river. Immediately after his arrival, Lieut. Thomas issued an order to all miners to suspend operations the next day, (the absence of records renders it impossible now to fix the precise date). William Adney, D. G. Bates, John Barrell and John Furlong were working the " Old Cave Diggings," and had just uncovered a sheet of mineral wlien the order came to stop the next day. They worked all night, and the next morning had raised 100,000 pounds. All mining operations stopped, but only for a short time. Within a week they were at work again, under direc- tion to sell the mineral only to licensed smelters,* so that the government could collect the rent lead.
No records can be found of Major Anderson's transactions, and two old volumes marked "A" and "B," containing some of the transactions of Lient. Thomas' agency during 1825-'6-'7, which are preserved in the archives of the county, are all of these records available for this work. Mr. Charles Smith was the sub-agent residing here, and came with Lieut. Thomas, who lived at St. Louis and visited Fever River occasionally.
The first established regulations of which record remains, and probably the first code promulgated by Superintendent Thomas, bear date "1825," but were undoubtedly issued very early in the Spring, and are as follows :
REGULATIONS, FOR MINERS AT THE UNITED STATES MINES ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
First .- All miners shall forthwith report themselves to the agent, who will enter their names on a register and give them a written permit to mine on ground which is not leased.
Second .- Without such written permit, no miner shall dig or mine; he sliall forfeit his diseovery and all mineral he digs, and be prosecuted as a trespasser.
Third .- Any miner who gives false testimony in any dispute or arbitration, or before any magistrate, or who is convieted of stealing ore or any other thing, setting fire to the prairie or woods, cutting timber where it is prohibited, shall forfeit his permit to mine or dig, and no smelter shall purehase his ore or give him any employment.
Fourth .- When going to dig, two or more miners must work in company. They are permitted to stake off three hundred yards square, lines to be north and south and east and west.
Fifth .- A permanent post or stake shall be placed near every digging with marks designating ownership.
Sixth .- A discontinuanee of work for eight days in suecession shall cause a forfeit- ure of ground.
Seventh .- When a dispute shall arise respeeting the right to ground, the matter shall be arbitrated among miners or smelters. On their failing to settle it, a reference to the agent, whose decision shall be final.
Eighth .- No person is permitted to build a cabin, eultivate land, cut timber, or settle in any manner, without written permission of the agent.
Ninth .- Whenever surveys of discovery are required, they will be surveyed twenty rods by forty, running to cardinal points, the lengthi to correspond with the course of the lead, and the diseoverer will be entitled to a certificate of survey.
* Miners eould sell mineral only to licensed smelters. for which the government eol. leeted one tentli for rent, and paid them for smelting it. Miners were paid for only nine tenthis of the mineral they delivered. It is said that in later years the smelters have received from the government the value of the lead thus paid, but it belonged to the miners, not to the smelters, and the money should have been expended in public improvements in the ter- ritory, in the absence of the rightful claimants.
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Tenth .- No miner shall hold two discoveries at the same time, nor shall any miner be permitted to go on other ground until his lead is dug out or sold, or until he abandons it and renders up his certificate of survey.
Eleventh .- All miners must report to the agent the name of the smelter to whom they deliver their mineral, and the amount they deliver in each quarter.
Twelfth .- No certificate of survey shall be sold or transferred to any other than a miner who has a written permit, or to a smelter who has a license; and no survey or other diggings shall remain unwrought for more than eight days in succession on penalty of forfeiture.
Thirteenth .- All mineral raised when searching for discoveries or leads must be deliv- ered to a licensed smelter, and to no other person.
Fourteenth .- Any miner who shall disobey or go contrary toany of these regulations, shall forfeit his permit to dig or mine; and should he attempt to cut timber, mine, farm, cultivate land or build cabins, without written permission from the agent, he will be prose- cuted as a trespasser on United States land.
(Signed) M. THOMAS,
Lieut. U. S. A. and Superintendent of Lead Mines.
FORM OF PERMIT TO MINERS.
is hereby permitted to dig or mine on United States land which is not leased or otherwise rightfully occupied. He is not to set fire to the prairie grass or woods, and must deliver his mineral to a licensed smelter, and comply with all regulations.
FEVER RIVER, - -, 1825.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
Smelters and lessees will have their ground on Fever River off two hundred yards in front on the river, and four hundred in depth, running in right lines perpendicular to the river.
No timber to be cut within one hundred yards of Fever River bank, from one mile above its mouth to and one mile above the point where January's cabins are situated.
M. THOMAS, Lieut. U. S. Army and Supt. of Lead Mines.
Persons desirous of taking a lease are notified that Bonds in the penalty of $5,000, with two sureties, are required, when a lease for 320 acres, as usual, will be granted, pro- vided the ground is not occupied. Blank Bonds may be had of the agent, who will make the survey when the bonds are given.
REGULATIONS FOR SMELTERS.
- This agreement, made and entered into this - day of --- , 1825, between Licut. M. Thomas, Superintendent of the United States Lead Mines and , Lead Smelter. Witnesseth :- That the said - is hereby permitted to purchase lead ore at the United States Lead Mines on the Upper Mississippi, for one year from the date hereof, on the following conditions :
.
First .- No purchases of ore to be made from the location of any person without his consent in writing.
Third .*- To smelt with a log furnace. or furnaces, at all times when one hundred thousand pounds of ore (or more) are on hand at any one furnace.
First .- No ore, ashes or zane to be purchased or otherwise acquired from any other person than an authorized miner or 'essee.
Fourth .- To haut mineral to furnaces when fifty thousand pounds (or more) are dug at any one place of three hundred and twenty acres.
Fifth .- To run an ash furnace when four hundred (or more) thousand pounds of ore have been smelted at any one set of furnaces.
Sixth .- To comply with all general regulations for cutting timber.
Seventh .- To keep books which shall contain an accurate and true account of all lead ore, ashes or zane purchased or dug, of a'l smelted, and of the amount of lead manufactured or purchased ; from whom purchases were made, and from whence the ore was dug. Said books to be open for the inspection of the U. S. Agent of Mines, and a monthly transcript of the contents to be furnished to him, to be verified on oath, if required.
Eighth .- To clean, or cause to be cleaned, all lead ore previous to smelting it, and to weigh a charge of the log furnace when required and the lead made from such charges.
Ninth .- To pay to the United States a tax of one tenth of all lead manufactured from ore, ashes or zane, to be paid monthly in clean, pure lead, to be delivered at the U. S. Ware- house (near the mines), free of expense.
* The record was so made.
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Tenth .- To build a strong log warehouse twenty by sixteen feet, one story high; the logs to be squared as not to admit of a bar of lead being passed between them, to have a strong door with a good and sufficient lock, to have a log ceiling in the usual manner; said warehouse to be located at such place as the agent for mines shall direct, to be built free of expense to the United States.
Eleventh .- Not to employ in any manner whatever any miner, lessee or smelter who has forfeited his permit to dig, his lease or license, on written notice to that effect being given by thic agent.
Twelfth .- A non-compliance or neglect of performance of any one of the foregoing articles to constitute a forfeiture of this license and of the Bond given for the faithful per- formance thereof, and on proof being offered to the Agent of the United States that such forfeiturc has been incurred, his written notice to the smelter shall be sufficient to suspend the stipulations aforcsaid.
Thirteenth .- No sale, transfer or shipment of lead is to be made by said smelter until all arrears or tax which are due are paid; nor any removal of Icad from the place of manu- facture, without the consent of the Agent of the United States. The said - to be allowed wood and stone for smelting and furnaces, and to cultivate enough land to furnish his teams, etc., with provender and his people with vegetables.
It is distinctly understood that the Bond given for the performance of the Stipulation in this License is to be in full force and virtue until all arrearages of rent or tax are paid to the Agent of the United States, and a written settlement is made with him, on which a cer- tificate that no such arrcarages exist shall be given, when the Bond shall be null and void.
The earliest permit recorded is as follows :
John S. Miller, a blacksmith, has permission to occupy and cultivate U. S. land. Hc will comply with all regulations for the cutting of timber, etc. 20 acres. Dated May 16, 1825. (Signed) M. THOMAS, etc., etc.
The first recorded survey of mineral land `was of " five acres of mineral land (a discovery lot), two acres in length by one quarter of an acre in breadth, lying and being on what is known as 'January's patch dig- gings,' " bounded by " beginning at a stake on the north side of a rocky bluff," running to stakes in mounds to the place of beginning. This was a survey for Patrick Dugan and Barney Handley, dated Fever River, May 28, 1825, and signed Charles Smith, Acting Sub-agent, U. S. Lead Mines. . There is also recorded, June 21, 1825, a survey of 320 acres of mineral land on Apple River, for David G. Bates, the original field notes being taken July 2, 1823. Signed, Jolın Anderson, Major U. S. Top'l Engineers, on Ordnance duty.
A copy of a bill of lading of May, 1825, shows that lead was trans- ported from the Fever River mines to St. Louis for forty cents per hundred pounds.
According to the Regulations, all disputes between the miners were settled by the U. S. agent. The earliest account of these of which record now exists is a " Record of Proceedings in the case of Dugan and Welsh and David Mitchell." Joseph Miller and Ebenezer Orne were witnesses for Dugan and Welsh, and Joseph Hardy, Stephen Thrasher and William H. Smith, for Mr. Mitchell. There were no lawyers to complicate matters. The witnesses stated what they knew in few words, and the case was summed up and adjudicated by Lieut. Thomas, who gave one half the min- eral dug on the disputed claim to Mitchell, "and it is considered that the other half is an ample compensation to Dugan and Welsh for the labor they bestowed on digging it. Their conduct was violent and quarrelsome, which will be utterly discountenanced at these mines. Mr. Charles Smith, acting Sub-agent, will see this settlement carried into effect." Signed M. Thomas, Lieut. U. S. Army, Superintendent of Lead Mines, and dated May 21, 1825.
In the record of the proceedings in the case of Joseph Hardy vs. Ray,
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
Orne and Smith, on the same day, Israel Mitchell testified that Col. Ander- son stated that " Mr. Hardy was the oldest applicant for survey on the river."
The following extracts from reports made by Charles Smith, to his superior officer, are valuable as showing the exact state of affairs at that time :
June 11, 1825. Hardy and Jackson are running an ash furnace. Meeker is smelting in his log furnace. Vanmatre's ash furnace will be in operation to-day. Perfect harmony exists among the diggers. The Regulations appear to give universal satisfaction. Every man appreciates the protection which they afford, and the security they give to their opera- tions presents a stimulus to enterprise, and prevents encroachments upon the rights of others. The difficulty of borrowing or hiring a horse when wanted has rendered necessary the pur- chase of one. I have accordingly bought one-old, to be sure, but serviceable-the price $20. He will be worth as much, probably, a year hence.
June 11, 1825. I have just visited a discovery made by C. Armstrong and I. Thorn, about 34 of a mile south of the cave diggings. They dug 20 or 30 feet before they struck mineral. 2,000 were taken out in three hours-6,000, at least, are in view on the west side of the digging, and I struck mineral over one half of the bottom. The hole is about five feet in diameter.
Lead was low, and Smith already begins to find that the miners appre- ciate the situation. The following extracts are significant, and indicate that the miners were not quite satisfied with the reign of Thomas, and were expecting a change. They were not delivering mineral to the licensed smelters with much alacrity.
July 4, 1825. The diggers generally are keeping back their mineral, some with the expectation of raising the price, and others in the belief that licenses will be obtained by smelters from below. I understand that Meeker offers $18, an increase of 50 cents on the former price.
July 22, 1825! Smith reported that in his opinion some regulation is necessary to enable the smelters to keep their furnaces in operation. The diggers are deluded with an expectation that mineral will rise, and as they are generally able to hold on, they refuse to make deliveries.
July 22, 1835. Lieut. Low is here with 25 men; arrived on the 11th inst .; he is encamped near the Agency's establishment for a few days and occupies the finished cabin, with my permission, until he can select a suitable scite for building barracks.
Lieutenant Low came here with his men to build barracks and remain to enforce the regulations and the collection of the lead rent, as well as to compel the miners to deliver their mineral to the licensed smelt- ers, whether they desired to do so or not. Lieutenant Low selected as a cuit- able " scite " for barracks a point on the west side of Fever River, at abont one and one half miles below the Agency establishment, cleared the ground, erected a flag staff, but before the barracks were commenced, the order was countermanded and Low left with his command. The point is still known as " Low's Point." Tholozan & Detandabaratz afterwards had their smelting establishment on the east side of the river, about half a mile below " Low's Point," or half way down the " Long Reach."
It is to be inferred that the orders of Lieutenant Thomas were not always obeyed with the promptness desired by military officers. The fol- lowing is selected from a large number of similar orders on record at that time because Mr. Meeker was one of the prominent men at the mines, as well as to show that then, as in later days, such men sometimes took their own time.
FEVER RIVER, July 19, 1825.
To MR. MOSES MEEKER, Smelter,
Sir .- By an order of Lieut. Thomas, of the 18th of May, 1825, you were required to "erect the warehouse stipulated in your license as a smelter (at the place on Fever River
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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.
where it will be designated to you), without delay, as it was required immediately. You have since, by consent, commenced the erection of a cabin in lieu of the storehouse, and made considerable progress in that building. You are now required to ereet a storeliouse (agreea- bly to the stipulation in your license) from the foundation on such ground as will be desig- nated to you, or to complete the cabin, at your election. Should the order not be complied with within a reasonable time, the faet will be reported to the Principal Agent, and such measures adopted in the meantime as will be justified by the 12th Article of your license. By order, CHARLES SMITH, U. S. A.
The following orders indicate difficulty in securing obedience to estab- lished regulations :
Notice is hereby given to all the diggers of lead ore upon the publie land in the vicinity of Fever River, Small Pox and Apple Creeks, that they must fortliwith deliver to the licensed smelters all the mineral they have dug; and in future, the smelters, wlien guaran- teeing the tax to the United States, will take measures to have the ore delivered at such times as may be convenient-at least once every month. A refusal on the part of any digger to comply with this order (which is in accordance with the true intent and meaning of the Regulations), will cause his permit to dig to be forfeited, and the ore already obtained will be taken possession of by the Agent for the use of the United States.
Sept. 5, 1825. (Signed) M. THOMAS, Lieut. U. S. Army. Supt. of Lead Mines.
.
FEVER RIVER, Oct. 13, 1825.
M. MEEKER, EsQ.,
Sir :- Unless immediate provision be made for the hauling and smelting of mineral at the diggings, as well as for a satisfactory settlement therefor, notice will be given to diggers to deliver their mineral to licensed smelters, without regard to existing guarantees. It is necessary that the order of the 5th of September should be immediately complied withi.
I am, Sir, CHARLES SMITH,
U. S. Leud Mines, Fever River.
The first recorded return of lead mineral received and on liand at the furnaces of M. Meeker and Bates & Vanmatre, the only licensed smelters at that date, from April 3 to May 31, 1825, shows that Meeker received from sundry persons 30,342 pounds, and Bates & Vanmatre 25,601 pounds. Total number of diggers who have permits, 69. June 30 the number of diggers had increased to 89: July 31, 96. In August the number of dig- gers permitted was 105. Five smelters reported in August, viz .: Meeker, Bates & Vanmatre, Hardy, Jackson and N. Bates. At the end of Septem- ber there were 127 diggers, and the five smelters had manufactured during the month: 154,323 pounds of lead. The name of Gratiot first appears in these monthly reports in December, 1825, but he made no return until June following. The number of diggers at the end of December is reported at 151, but the aggregate amount of lead manufactured was only 2,792 pounds.
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