USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 9
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The State receives its name from that of the river which forms its southern boundary. It is of Indian or aboriginal origin. It is not easy to determine its real signification in the Indian language, but some writers have claimed that it means handsome or beautiful. This opinion would seem to be somewhat plausible from the fact that the early French explorers called it La Belle Riviere, or the Beautiful River, having probably learned the signification of the Indian name, and therefore gave it a French name with the same signification.
Ohio was first partially settled by a few French emigrants on the Ohio river, while they possessed Canada and Louisiana, about the middle of the last century. But these settlements were very inconsiderable until the years 1787 and 1788, when the Ohio Company and others from New England made the settlement at Marietta. The early inhabitants were much annoyed by the incursions of the Indians, who had successively defeated Gen. Harmar and Gen. St. Clair, in 1791 and 1792, but were themselves utterly routed by Gen. Wayne in August, 1794. Fort Sandusky, in the war of 1812, was suc- cessfully defended by Maj. Croghan, then but 21 years of age, with 160 men against the attack of Gen. Proctor, with 500 British regulars and as many Indians. Cincinnati was laid out as early as 1788, but there were only a few settlers until after Wayne's victory. It then improved rapidly, having in 1818 a population of upward of 9,000. Chillicothe was laid out in 1796, and in 1818 had a population of 2,600. Columbus, the present capital, was laid out early in the year 1812, and in 1818 contained about 1,500 inhabi- tants. Cleveland was laid out in 1796, and about the same time a number of settlements were made along the Miami. Until the legislature met in Columbus, in December, 1816, Cincinnati and Chillicothe had alternately enjoyed the distinction of being both the Territorial and State capitals. In 1814 the first State-house, a plain brick building, was erected at Columbus, the permanent seat of the State Government. In February, 1852, it was entirely consumed by fire, and was succeeded by the present fine State capitol, which had been commenced prior to the destruction of the old one. The convention which formed the first constitution of the State was held in Chillicothe, in November, 1802.
The following table shows the population of Ohio at the close of each decade, from 1800 to 1870 :
YEAR.
WHITE.
COLORED.
AGGREGATE.
ISOo
45,028
337
45,365
1810.
228,861
I,S99
230,760
1820
576,572
4,723
581,295
IS30.
928,329
9,574
937.903
IS10.
1,502.122
J 7.345
1.519. : 67
1850.
1,955,050
25,279
I 980.329
1860
2,302,808
36 673
*2.339.51I
1870
2,601,946
63,213
*2,665,260
* The above aggregate for IS60 includes 30 enumerated as Indians, and the aggregate for 1870 includes 100 enumerated as Indians.
56
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY
INDIANA.
Indiana was formed out of a part of the Northwestern Territory which was ceded to the United States by Virginia. It received a separate Territorial form of govern- ment by act of Congress of May 7, 1800. and William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor. At this time it included all the territory west to the Mississippi river, includ- ing all now embraced in the States of Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi. The seat of the territorial government was estab- lished at Vincennes. By act of January 11, 1805, it was divided into two separate governments. and that of Michigan created. Again. February 3. 1809, that of Illinois was created. On the 19th of April, 1816. Congress passed an act to enable the people of Indiana to form a constitution and State government. On the 29th of June of the same year the people formed a constitution, and on the 11th of December, 1816, an act of Congress was approved admitting the State into the Union. The laws of the United States were extended to the State by an act of March 3, 1817.
Indiana is 278 miles in its greatest length from north to south, and about 144 miles in width, and includes an area of 33,809 square miles, or 21,637.760 aeres. It has no mountains or great elevations, but portions south of White river are somewhat hilly. North of the White and Wabash rivers the country is generally level or slightly undulat- ing. The rivers are generally bordered by rich alluvial bottom lands, sometimes extend- ing for several miles in width. Some of the southeastern counties in places present a rocky surface. The eastern part is generally heavily timbered, while the western is chiefly prairie. The State has a gradual inclination toward the Ohio, and most of the streams flow into that river. Lake Michigan borders the State on the northwest for a distance of about 40 miles, while the Ohio forms the entire southern boundary. In the northern part there are some small lakes. The Wabash is the largest interior river, and with its tributaries drains nearly three-fourths of the State. At high water it is navig- able by steamboats as far as Covington. White river is its principal tributary. It rises in two branches in the eastern part of the State, the two branches uniting about 30 miles from the Wabash. The Maumee is formed by the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's in the northeastern part of the State, and passes off into Ohio. The Kankakee, one of the sources of the Illinois, drains the northwestern part of the State. Among other streams are the Tippecanoe, Mississiniwa, Whitewater, Flat Rock, and the Blue rivers.
The State yields an abundance of coal, the great deposit being in the southwestern portion, and embracing an area of nearly 8,000 square miles, or some twenty-two coun- ties, in most of which it is profitably mined. There are also iron, zinc, gypsum, and lime and sandstone. Many quarries of stone yield excellent building material.
Indiana is not without its natural wonders which have attracted the attention of the curious. Among these is Lost river, in Orange county. This stream is about fifty feet in width. It sinks many feet under ground, and then rises to the surface at a distance of 11 miles. Then there is Wyandot Cave, in Crawford county. In benuty and magniti- cence it almost rivals the celebrated Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. It has been explored u distance of over 20 miles. Its greatest width is about 300 feet, and its greatest height 245 feet. Among its interior wonders are " Bandit's Hall," " Pluto's Ravine." " Monu- ment Mountain," " Lucifer's Gorge." and " Calypso's Island." The interior is brilliantly sparred with pendant stalactites.
The elimate is milder than in the same latitude on the Atlantic coast, but somewhat subject to sudden changes. The soil is generally prodnetive, and in the river bottoms very deep, well adapted to Indian corn and other kinds of grain. The alluvinl bottom lands of the Wabash and its tributaries are especially noted for their fertility. The pro- ductions are the various kinds of grain, vegetables, and fruits common in temperate lati- tudes.
57
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Indiana has a large variety of forest trees. Among those indigenous to the State are several kinds of oak, poplar, ash, walnut, hickory, elm, cherry, maple, buckeye, beech, locust, sycamore, cottonwood, hackberry, mulberry, and some sassafras.
Indianapolis is the capital, and is situated on the west fork of White river, in Marion county. The site was selected for the capital in 1820, while the whole country for forty miles in every direction was covered with a dense forest. Previous to 1825 the State capital was at Corydon, but in that year the public offices were removed to Indianapolis. The State - house was erected at a cost of $60,000, and at that time was considered an elegant building. It is now unsuited for the purposes of a great State like Indiana, and will soon give place to a larger and more elegant structure. Indianapolis in 1840 had a population of 2.692: in 1850 it had 8,900; in 1860 it had 18,611; and in 1870 it had 48.244.
In works of internal improvement Indiana stands among the leading States of the Mississippi valley. Railroads radiate in all directions from Indianapolis, and there is scarcely a place in the State of any considerable importance that is not connected, directly or indirectly, with the larger cities. Among her early improvements were the Wabash and Erie Canal, connecting Evansville with Toledo, and the Whitewater Canal, connecting Cambridge City with Lawrenceburg, on the Ohio. Of the Wabash and Erie Canal. 379 miles are within the limits of Indiana. The Whitewater Canal is 74 miles long. Indianapolis is the largest and most important city in the State, and among the principal cities may be mentioned New Albany, Evansville, Fort Wayne, La Fayette, Terre Haute, Madison, Laporte, Jeffersonville, Logansport, Crawfordsville, Lawrenceburg, South Bend and Michigan City. Corydon, the former State capital, is 115 miles south of Indianapolis, in Harrison county. When the seat of government was removed from this place to Indianapolis, in 1824, it remained stationary for a long time, but within a few years it has become more flourishing. Vincennes, the ancient seat of the Territorial government, is on the left bank of the Wabash river, 120 miles south of Indianapolis. It is the oldest town in the State, and possesses much historic interest, being first set- tled by the French about the year 1735. Many of the present inhabitants are of French descent. The seat of government was removed from Vincennes to Corydon in 1813.
The following table shows the population of Indiana. at the close of each decade, from 1800 to 1870 :
YEAR.
WHITE.
COLORED.
AGGREGATE.
1800
2,402
298
2,517
ISIO
23,S90
630
24 520
1820
145,758
1,420
147,178
1830
339-399
3,632
343,031
1840
678,698
7,168
685.866
1850
977,154
II,262
988,416
1860
1,338,710
11,428
*1,350.428
1870
1,655,837
24.560
*1,680,637
*The above aggregate for 1860 includes 290 enumerated as Indians, and the aggregate for 1870 includes 240 enumerated as Indians.
ILLINOIS.
Illinois was the third State admitted to the Union from the Northwestern Territory. It was set off from Indiana Territory as a separate and distinct territorial dependency, under act of Congress approved February 3, 1809, and admitted as a sovereign and inde- pendent State under act of Congress approved December 3, 1818.
5
58
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The extreme length of Illinois from north to south is about 380 miles, and its greatest width about 200 miles. It embraces an area of 55,409 square miles, or 35,459,- 200 aeres. The surface of the State is generally level, with a general inclination from north to south, as indicated by the course of its rivers. There are some elevated bluffs along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and a small tract of hilly country in the south- ern part of the State. The northwest part also contains a considerable amount of broken land. Some of the prairies are large, but in the early settlement of the State there were many small prairies, skirted with fine groves of timber. The prairies are generally undulating, and in their native state were clothed in a great variety of beautiful wild flowers. The State is well supplied with minerals of great economic value. The region of Galena, in the northwest part. has for many years yielded vast quantities of lead. The coal fields eover an area of 44,000 square miles. There are salt springs in Gallatin. Jackson and Vermillion counties ; and medicinal springs. chiefly sulphur and chalybeate, have been found in several places. Excellent building stone for heavy masonry, are quarried at Joliet, Lemont. Quincy, and other places.
Illinois possesses preeminent facilities for water transportation, the Mississippi river forming the entire western boundary, and the Ohio the entire southern, while Lake Michigan bounds it on the northeast 60 miles. The Illinois river is navigable for steam- boats 256 miles. Rock river, though having obstructions near its mouth, has in times of high water been navigated for a considerable distance. Kaskaskia. Sangamon and Spoon rivers have also been navigated by steamboat, but the construction of railroads has in a great measure superseded the necessity of this means of transportation. Among the riv- ers are the upper portion of the Wabash, which receives from this State the waters of the Vermillion. Embarras and Little Wabash. The principal tributaries, or sources. of the Illinois river are Kaskaskia, Des Plaines and Fox rivers. Lake Peoria is an expansion of the Illinois river, near the middle of the State. Lake Pishtoka, in the northeast part, is a lake of some importance.
Illinois, extending through five degrees of latitude, presents considerable variety of climate. Peaches and some other fruits, which do not succeed so well in the northern part, rarely fail to yield abundantly in the southern part. The State has immense agri- cultural capabilities, unsurpassed, indeed, by any other State in the Union, unless it may be the younger State of Iowa. Among its agricultural staples are Indian corn, wheat, oats, rye, potatoes, butter and cheese. Stock raising on the prairies of Illinois, has, for many years, been carried on extensively. All the fruits and vegetables common to the latitudes in which it is situated are successfully and abundantly produced.
Timber is plentiful, but not very equally diffused. The bottom lands are supplied with fine growths of black and white walnut, ash, hackberry, elm, sugar maple, honey locust, sycamore, cottonwood, hickory, and several species of oak. Some of these also grow on the uplands, and in addition white oak, and other valuable kinds of timber. White and yellow poplar flourish in the southern part, and express on the Ohio bottom lands.
As we have seen, Illinois did not become a member of the Federal Union until 1818, yet settlements were made within its limits about the same time that William Penn colo- nized Pennsylvania, in the latter part of the seventeenth century. These settlements, like other French colonies, failed to increase very rapidly, and it was not until after the elose of the Revolution, that extensive colonization commenced.
Springfield, the capital of Illinois, was laid out in 1822. It is situated three miles south of the Sangamon river, in Sangamon county, and is surrounded by rich and exten- sive prairies, which have been transformed into splendid farms. Large quantities of bituminous coal are mined in this vicinity. This city will ever be memorable as the home
59
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
of Abraham Lincoln, and as the place where his remains are entombed. In 1840 it had a population of 2,579; in 1850 it had 4,533; in 1860 it had 7,002; and in 1870 it had 17,364. Since the last date the population has increased rapidly. A new and magnifi- cent State capitol has been erected, and Springfield may now be regarded as one of the flourishing cities of Illinois.
Chicago, on the site of old Fort Dearborn, is now the largest interior city of the United States. It stands on the shore of Lake Michigan, with the Chicago river flowing through it. As the great commercial emporium of the Northwest, a special account of this city will be given elsewhere. Among other large and thriving cities are Peoria, Quincy, Galena, Belleville, Alton, Rockford, Bloomington, Ottawa, Aurora, Lincoln, Rock Island, Galesburg, Joliet and Jacksonville.
The internal improvements of Illinois are on a grand scale. The railroads traverse almost every county, connecting her towns and cities with her great commercial city on the lake, and with the markets of the East. Besides these, she has her great canal, from Chicago to Peru, uniting the waters of Lake Michigan with the Mississippi river. This canal is 100 miles long.
A few striking features of the natural scenery of this State may be mentioned. Along the Mississippi are bold and picturesque bluffs, rising from one to three hundred feet. "Starved Rock " and " Lover's Leap " are eminences on Illinois river, the former being a perpendicular mass of limestone, eight miles below Ottawa, and rising 150 feet above the river. It is so called from an incident in Indian warfare. A band of Illinois Indians took refuge on this eminence from the Pottawatomies, but being surrounded by the latter, they all died, it is said not of starvation, but of thirst. Nearly opposite " Lover's Leap " is " Buffalo Rock," 100 feet high. Here the Indians formerly drove the Buffalo, and with shouts caused them to crowd each other over the precipice. On the banks of the Ohio, in Hardin county, is " Cave in the Rock," the entrance to which is but little above the water. The cave ascends gradually from the entrance to the extreme limit, back 180 feet. In 1797 it was the rendezvous of a band of robbers, who sallied forth to rob boatmen and emigrants. Other outlaws have since made it their abode.
The following table shows the population of Illinois at the close of each decade, from 1800 to 1870.
YEAR.
WHITE.
COLORED.
AGGREGATE.
1800
2,275
183
2,158
ISIO.
11,50I
781
12,282
1820
53,788
1,374
55,162
1830
155,06I
2,38.4
157,445
1810
472,254
3,929
476,183
1850
846,034
5,436
851,470
1860
1.704.29I
7,628
*1,711,95I
IS70
2,511,096
28,762
*2,539,89I
* The above aggregate for 1860 includes 32 enumerated Indians, and the same number enumerated as Indians in 1870.
MICHIGAN.
Michigan was formed out of a part of the territory ceded to the United States by the State of Virginia. It was detached from Indiana Territory, and became a separate Territorial government under an act of Congress approved January 11, 1805. It re- mained for more than thirty years under a territorial form of government, but embraced a vast region not now included in the State. During this time there was considerable legislation in regard to its boundaries, the most important of which was the adjustment of the boundary line between Michigan and the State of Ohio, in 1836. In January,
60
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
1833, a memorial of the Legislative Council of the Territory was presented to Congress, praying for admission into the Union as a State. The prayer of the memorial was not granted at that time, partly on account of the disputed boundary question. Finally. on the 15th of June. 1836, an act was passed " to establish the northern boundary of the State of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the State of Michigan into the Union. upon conditions therein expressed." One of the conditions was, that if a convention of delegates elected by the people of Michigan for the purpose of giving their assent to the boundaries, as declared and established by the act of June 15th, 1836. should first give their assent, then Michigan was to be declared one of the States of the Union. This condition having been complied with. Congress, on the 26th of January, 1837. passed an aet declaring Michigan one of the United States, and admitting it into the Union upon an equal footing with the original States.
Michigan ocenpies two peninsulas. the southern one lying between Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron on the east. and Lake Michigan on the west; and the northern one be- tween Lakes Michigan and IInron on the south, and Lake Superior on the north. The northern peninsula is about 320 miles in extreme length, from southeast to northwest. and 130 miles in its greatest width. The southern peninsula is about 283 miles from north to south, and 210 miles from east to west in its greatest width. The joint area of the two peninsulas is 56.243 square miles, or 35,595,520 acres. The northern peninsula embraces about two-fifths of the total area.
The southern peninsula is generally an undulating plain, with a few slight elevations. The shores of Lake Huron are often characterized by steep bluffs. while those of Lake Michigan are coasted by shifting sand-hills, rising from one hundred to two hundred feet in height. In the southern part of this peninsula are large districts covered with thinly seattered trees, called "oak openings."
The northern peninsula is in striking contrast with the southern. both as to soil and surface. It is rugged, with streams abounding in water-falls. The Wisconsin, or Poreu- pine Mountains, form the water-shed between Lakes Michigan and Superior, and attain an elevation of 2,000 feet in the northwestern portion of the peninsula. The shores of Lake Superior are composed of sandstone rock, which in places is worn by the winds and waves into many strange and faneiful shapes, resembling the ruins of eastles, and form- ing the celebrated "Pictured Rocks." The northern peninsula of Michigan possesses probably the richest copper mines in the world, occupying a belt one hundred and twenty miles in length by from two to six miles in width. It is rich in minerals, but rigorous in climate and sterile in soil. Coal is plentiful at Corunna, one hundred miles from Detroit.
The State is so surrounded and intersected by lakes as to fairly entitle it to the sou- briquet of " The Lake State." There are a number of small lakes in the interior of the State, which add to the general variety of scenery, but are not important to navigation. The Straits of Mackinaw(formerly written Michilimackinac) divide the southern from the northern peninsula, and connect the waters of Lakes Michigan and Huron by a navi- gable channel. There are a number of small rivers. the most important in the southern peninsula being St. Joseph's, Kalamazoo. Grand, Muskegon and Manistee, all emptying into Lake Michigan ; and Au Sable and Saginaw, flowing into Lake Huron, and the Huron and Raisin discharging their waters into Lake Erie. 7 The principal rivers of the northern peninsula are the Menomonee, Montreal and Ontonagon. The shores around the lakes are indented by numerous bays. Several small islands belong to Michigan, the most imortant of which is Isle Royale, noted for its copper mines.
The climate of Michigan is generally rigorous, except in proximity to the lakes. where the fruits of the temperate zone sneceed admirably. The northern peninsula is favorable for Winter wheat, but Indian corn does not seceed well. In the southern peninsula, Indian eorn is produced abundantly, as well as the Winter grains. This part of the State is pre-eminently agricultural.
61
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Portions of the northern peninsula are heavily timbered with white pine, spruce, hemlock, birch, aspen, maple, ash and elm, and vast quantities of lumber are manufac- tured at the fine mill-sites afforded by the rapid streams. Timber is plentiful also in the southern peninsula, and consists chiefly of several species of oak, hickory, ash, basswood, maple, elm, linden, locust, dogwood, poplar, beech, sycamore, cottonwood, black and white walnut, cherry, pine, tamarack, cypress, cedar and chestnut.
Northern Michigan abounds in picturesque scenery, among which may be mentioned the " Pictured Rocks," composed of sandstone of various colors. They extend for about twelve miles, and rise 300 feet above the water. Sometimes cascades shoot over the precipice, so that vessels can sail between them and the natural wall of the rock. This portion-of the State every season attracts large numbers of excursionists and pleasure- seekers, on account of its charming and interesting scenery.
The State is named for the lake which forms a part of its boundary, and signifies in the Indian language, " Great Water." The first white settlements were by the French, near Detroit and at Mackinaw, in the latter half of the seventeenth century ; but these colonies did not progress rapidly. This territory, with other French possessions in North America, came into possession of Great Britain at the peace of 1763. It remained under the dominion of Great Britain until the American Revolution, when it became the possession of the United States. The British, however, did not surrender Detroit until 1796. This region was chiefly the scene of the exploits of the celebrated chief Pontiac, after the expulsion of the French. During the war of 1812, Michigan became the theater of several of the battles and many of the incidents connected with that war. At Frenchtown, in this State, January 22, 1813, occurred a cruel massacre by the sav- ages of a party of American prisoners of war. Gen. Harrison soon after drove the enemy out of the Territory, and removed the seat of war into Canada, where he fought and gained the battle of the Thames.
Lansing, the capital of Michigan, is situated on Grand river, in Ingham county, one hundred and ten miles northwest of Detroit. It was selected for the seat of govern- ment in 1847, at which time it was surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. The river here affords excellent water power. A new and handsome State capitol has just been completed.
Detroit, situated on the river from which it takes its name, eighteen miles from the head of Lake Erie, is the largest city in the State. It was the capital until the removal of the seat of government to Lansing, in 1850. Historically it is one of the most inter- esting cities in the West. The French had here a military post as early as 1670. Three Indian tribes, the Hurons, Pottawattamies and Ottawas, had their villages in the vicinity. With other French possessions, it passed into the hands of the British at the peace of 1763, and twenty years later it came under the jurisdiction of the United States, although, as stated above, it was not surrendered until 1796. June 11th, 1805, it was almost to- tally destroyed by fire. Gen. Wm. Hull, first governor of the Territory of Michigan, then projected the city on a new plan. On the 18th of August, 1812, this same Gen. Hull surrendered it into the hands of the British, but the latter evacuated it September 29th of the same year. In 1870 the population was 79,577, and since then has rapidly increased.
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