The history of Adams 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; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 139

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Illinois > Adams County > The history of Adams 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; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 139

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Willis Mrs. Ann S. P. O. Columbus. Z

Zeiger Henry, farmer ; sec. 13; P. O. Camp Point. ·Zeiger Wm. farmer; sec. 13; P. O. Camp Point.

HOUSTON TOWNSHIP.

Aden -, farmer : sec. 14; P. O. Chatten. Aden H. M. farmer; sec. 25; P.O. Keokuk Junction. Anderson J. T. farmer ; sec. 13; P. O. Chatten. Aspey George, farmer; sec. 19; P. O. Camp Point.

Bennett A. farmer: sec. 23; P. O. Chatten. Bennett E. H. farmer; sec. 13; P. O. Chatten. Bennett J. E. farmer; sec. 13; P. O. Chatten. Bennett M. farmer; sec. 14: P. O. Chatten. Bennett M. F. farmer; sec. 14; P. O. Chatten. Bennett Mrs. T. H. sec. 23; P. O. Chatten. Bennett Wm. farmer; sec. 13; P. O. Chatten. Brown Wm. farmer; sec. 22; P. O. Chatten.

- Carlin Daniel, farmer; sec. 5; P. O. Bowensburg. Cate C. F. farmer ; sec. 8; P. O. Chatten. Comeford John, farmer; sec. 14; P. O. Chatten. Cook Jasper, farmer; sec. 8; P. O. Bowensburg. Craig James, farmer; sec. 17; P. O. Chatten. Craig Wm. farmer: sec. 17; P. O. Chatten. Crune J. W. farmer; sec. 8; P. O. Bowensburg.

Dismore R. farmer; sec. 36 P. O. Keokuk Junction.

DOUGLASS J. W., farmer; P. O. Chatten (son of James and Locky Douglass) was born in Adams county, Jan. 17, 1837; married Sarah A. Anderson. She was born in Illinois, Jan. 31, 1840. Five children: George M., born March 7, 1863; Minnie F., born May 6, 1866; Clara E., born June 29, 1870; James A., born Jan. 3, 1872. Are members of the M. E. church. His father was born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky when he was a boy; and in 1835 came to this county, where he lived until his death, in his seventy-sixth year. His mother is still living, at the age of seventy- three. The subject of this sketch enlisted

in Co. D, 10th Regt. Ill. Inf., three months' service; then enlisted in 2d Ill. Cavalry Co .; was in the 16th Army Corps; was in several skirmishes, and had some warm times chas- ing bushwhackers.

Downing R. H. farmer ; sec. 36; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

Eckles J. H. farmer ; sec. 28; P. O. Camp Point.

Fleshner G.H. farmer ; sec.24; P.O. Keokuk Junction. Finley L. farmer; sec. 19; P. O. Chatten.

Galt A. G. farmer; sec. 84; P. O. Camp Point. Gay A. P. farmer; sec. 2; P. O. Chatten. Gergans C. farmer; sec. 13; P. O. Chatten. Giberd M. farmer; sec. 31; P. O. Keokuk Junction. Groves Joseph, farmer; sec. 5; P. O. Bowensburg.

GROVES STEPHEN, farmer; Sec. 30; P. O. Big Neck; was born in Cubell county, Va., Feb. 22, 1818; came to this county in 1842; has 640 acres of land, valued at $25,000; married, for his first wife, Nancy . E. Strickler, Dec. 28, 1848. Four children; two living: Jacob, born March 17, 1851; Martha, born Sept. 26, 1849. For his second wife, he married Mary J. Campbell, Jan. 12, 1862. Seven children, six living: Eliza E., born April 7, 1863; Sarah A., born July 28, 1864, died Sept. 29, 1864; Joseph, born Dec. 19, 1865; John, born Feb. 14, 1867; Ste. phen, born May 24, 1869; Artimisa A., born July 31, 1872; Daniel, born July 25, 1876. He has held the office of Commis- sioner of Highways, etc. He emigrated from Virginia to Sangamon county in 1828, when he was ten years old; lived there three years; thence to Brown county, where

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HOUSTON DIRECTORY.

he lived eight years; thence to Adams county, where he has resided since. At the time he was in Sangamon county there were but few cabins in Springfield, and only one or two stores. His father came to the State poor, and worked a farm on shares for three years. His whole outfit when he came was one team and wagon, and $7 in his pocket. Mr. Groves, although a poor boy when he came here, to-day is one of the sound farmers of the county.

Gunn John, farmer; sec. 8; P. O. Chatten.

Harris Clark, farmer; sec. 16; P. O. Chatten. Harris S., Jr., farmer; sec. 5; P. O. Bowensburg. Hilderbrand Wm. farmer; sec. 8; P. O. Bowensburg. Hoyt D. W. merchant; P. O. Chatten.

HOYT E. G., farmer and stock- raiser; Sec. 1; P. O. La Prairie; son of E. B. and Mary J. Hoyt; was born in Orange county, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1835, and came to this county July 6, 1843; has 280 acres of land, valued at $9,000; married Mary Ellen Bacon. She was born in Hancock county, June 3, 1841, and is the mother of four chil- dren: Gracie L., born Oct. 15, 1862; Marga- ret, born Nov. 2, 1864; Benj. F., born Dec. 28, 1869; Horace E., born June 1, 1875, died Dec. 28, 1878, Mrs. Hoyt is a member of the M. E. church. He turns out a car-load of cattle and hogs yearly, and raises eighty acres of corn. He came to this county when he was seven years old, when the prairies were wild; has grown up with the county, and by industry has made himself and family a comfortable home.

Huff A. farmer; sec. 4; P. O. Bowensburg. Hughes Elizabeth ; sec. 5; P. O. Bowensburg.

Ihnen Gerd, farmer; sec. 24; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

Jacobs H. F. farmer; sec. 15; P. O. Chat.en. Jacobs John W. farmer; sec. 22; P. O. Chatten.

Kern Chas. farmer; sec. 25; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

Kern Elizabeth; sec. 34; P. O. Camp Point. Kerr John, farmer; sec. 11; P. O. Chatten.

LOWARY THOMAS, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Big Neck; was born in Washing- ton county, Pa., Feb. 24, 1817, and came to this county in the fall of 1850. Has 584 acres of land, probable value, $29,000; mar- ried Martha Markley, April 8, 1840. She was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1820. Ten children, eight living: Tabi- tha, born April 16, 1841; Mary, Oct. 9, 1842 (died March, 1874); John, born Oct. 1, 1843 (died in infancy); Daniel, born April 3, 1845; Thomas M., Oct. 6, 1848; Jennie, Feb. 20, 1851; William, Jan. 26, 1854; Rhoda, Sep. 20, 1855; Saralı, Jan. 20, 1857; Mertie, Dec. 5, 1863. His father emigrated to Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1836; lived there until 1852; then came to Adams. county-came through with teams, he driv- ing one and his wife the other, camped out. His son Daniel was in the Union army, ninety days' service; was in several skirm- ishes and battles. Mr. Lowary came here in limited circumstances, and by industry has made a fine property and home, and is one of the sound farmers of the township.

McAnulty, farmer; sec. 35; P. O. Camp Point. McCoy Mrs. J. A. farmer; sec. 14; P. O. Chatten. McCoy J. E. farmer ; sec. 14; P. O. Chatten. McDavitt J. E. farmer ; sec. 14; P. O. Chatten. McFarland T. N. farmer; sec. 31; P. O. Keokuk Junction.

McFARLAND WM. M., farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. La Prairie; was born in Greene county, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1814; came to this county, Oct. 8, 1832; has 210 acres of land, vauled at $8,000; married Eliza McFarland. She was born in same county, Feb. 3, 1814 (twin brothers' children); was mother of four children, three living: Rebecca Jane (now Mrs. L. L. Strickler); Martha L. (now Mrs. Forsyth); Amy H. (now Mrs. Suter) ; George G. (died March 2, ,852); has held the office of Town Clerk and Road Commissioner. His father came from Tennessee, left there when he was four years old, and came to Harrison county, Ky., lived there about seventeen years; thence to Greene county, Ohio, lived there twenty years, and thence

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

to Adams county. His grandfather was in the Revolutionary War and served seven years, and his father was in the War of 1812, was under Gen. Harrison. When they came here, located on a place two and a half miles northeast of Camp Point-lived there in a log cabin, 16x20, puncheon floor. Re- members well the night after moved in, came a big snow storm,-wind blew snow through their shanty, so his father had to put up a wagon sheet to keep the snow off the children. Mr. McFarland came here among the first, and well can be called one of its pioneers; has a fine home and is one of the stirring farmers of the township. McGill Samnel, farmer; sec. 34; P. O. Camp Point. McGinnis W. farmer; sec. 23; P. O. Chatten. McGinnis Martha A. sec. 30; P. O. Chatten. Missick J. M. farmer; ses. 8; P. O. Bowensburg. Mustain Harriet; sec. 4; P. O. Bowensburg.

Nelson Bazel, farmer; sec. 20; P. O. Chatten. Nelson Mrs. Z. sec 6; P. O. Wood, ille.

NEVINS JOSEPH A., famer; Sec. 32; P. O. Camp Point; born in Carbon county, Pa., Aug. 16, 1845; came to the county in 1850; has 120 acres of land, val- ued at $6,000; married Emma Stahl. She was born in Mercer county, Pa., Oct. 31, 1853; mother of two children, John, born March 11, 1876; Alice E., Aug. 3, 1877. Poli- tics, Democratic. He held the office of Super- visor for three years; emigrated with his parents to this county, when he was five years old; has a fine home and a good orch- ard of four acres, and is in good circum- stances, and one of the leading men in the township.

Owen Archibald, farmer; sec. 4; P. O. Bowens- burg.

Pearce A. F. farmer; sec. 23; P. O. Chatten. Pearce J. farmer, sec. 2; P. O. Chatten. Pearce J. C. farmer, sec. 11; P. O. Chatten. Prather Mrs. Sarah, sec. 15; P. O. Chatten.

Rayno'ds H. farmer; see. 33; P. O. Camp Point. Reynold Horace, Jr., farmer, sec. 21; P. O. Chatten.

Rice John, farmer; sec. 27; P. O. Chatten.

RILEY JOHN E., farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Chatten. He was born in Sangamon county, Ill., Sep. 24, 1827; came to this county in 1848; has 120 acres of land, valued at $5,000; married Lucinda Harris. She was born in Tennessee, July 31, 1828. Seven children, five living: Susanna, born Nov. 23, 1848; William, May 27, 1851; Elijah, Aug. 6, 1853; John F., Sept. 11, 1855; Nancy Ellen, May 31, 1858; James A., Jan. 23, 1861; Solomon, Sept. 13, 1866. Nancy Ellen died Oct. 27, 1863, and William, Nov. 26, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Riley are members of the Baptist church. In 1815, his father moved from Virginia to Ohio; had two sons drowned in the Scito River; came to Sangamon county, Ill., in 1824; was in the War of 1812, and served three years as com- mander; also, mowed hay where Spring- field now stands. The subject of this sketch is a native of the State, has lived to see the developments of the State, and well can be called one of its pioneers.

ROBERTS H., farmer and stock raiser; Sec. 20; P. O. Camp Point. He was born in Kentucky, Dec. 25, 1823; came to this county the fall of 1835. He has forty acres of land, valued at $2,000. He married E. L. Willard, who was born in Tennessee, January 22, 1827. Four children : M. A., born May 8, 1851; Joel M., July 12, 1864; M. E., Oct. 19, 1867, and S. E., Oct. 2, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts belong to the United Brethren church. Emigrated from Kentucky to Schuyler county, Ill., in March, 1833; lived there about two years; thence to Adams county, where he has lived since. When he first came to this State he was ten years old ; Schuyler county was wild; moved into a log cabin a short time until they built a shanty of hewed logs, 18 x20; used prairie bed- steads. When he was a boy he worked for six and one-quarter cents, and what he could eat, per day, and a man's wages at that time was only fifty cents, and thought that good wages. Mrs. Roberts came to the State when she was only two years old, the winter be- fore the " big snow." Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were among the earliest settlers, and can well understand what a life in a new country is.

Ross George, farmer ; sec. 36; P.O. Keokuk Junction.

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HOUSTON DIRECTORY.

Sartorious H. farmer; sec. 11; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

Sechrist S. farmer; sec. 32; P. O. Camp Point. Selby Mrs. Thos. sec. 34; P. O. Camp Point. Shirrick J. D. farmer; sec. 20; P. O. Chatten. Shirrick Mrs. M. sec. 20; P. O. Chatten. Shirrick J. W. farmer; sec 10; P. O. Chatten. Simpson John, sec. 7; P. O. Woodville.

Smith Daniel, farmer; sec. 27; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

Strickler A. R. farmer; sec. 11; P. O. Chatten. Strickler Caleb, farmer; sec. 24; P. O. Chatten. Strickler D. farmer; sec. 33; P. O. Camp Point. Strickler J. S. farmer; sec. 33; P. O. Camp Point. Strickler Jacob L. farmer; sec. 24; P. O. Chatten. Strickler L. farmer; sec. 22; P. O. Chatten. Strickler S. farmer; sec. 29; P. O. Camp Point. Strickler Samuel, farmer; sec. 24; P. O. Chatten. Strickler Wesley, farmer; sec. 34; P. O. Camp Point.

Stahl Elias, farmer ; sec. 30; P. O. Camp Polnt. Stahl Frank, farmer; sec. 28; P. O. Chatten. Stahl Evans, farmer; sec. 31; P. O. Camp Point. Stump F. M. farmer ; sec. 19; P. O. Chatten. Suter John, Jr. farmer; sec. 16; P. O. Chatten.

Taylor J. T. farmer; sec. 15; P. O. Chatten.

Wallace A. R farmer; sec. 35; P. O. Camp Point. Wallace J. A. farmer; sec. 26 . P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

Wallace Jas. H. farmer; sec. 25; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion.

WARTICK J. F., farmer; Sec. 31; P. O. Camp Point. He was born in Fayette county, Pa., May 20, 1840; came to this county in the spring of 1855; has 110 acres of land, valued at $5,000. He married Eliza Mullen, who was born in Ireland. Six children: Mary, born March 29, 1867; John, Feb. 4, 1869; James, Dec. 20, 1871;

Simon, Sept. 15, 1873; Jane, Nov. 3, 1875, and Thomas, Jan. 27, 1878. Politics, Repub- lican. Has held the office of School Direc- tor. He raises twenty acres of corn and the same of wheat. He enlisted in Co. C, 10th Regt. Ill. Inf., in 1861; was in the Army of the Cumberland, and battles of Chattanoo- ga, Murfreesboro' Lookout Mountain, or the battle above the clouds; was discharged at Louisville, Ky .; was in the service three years and seventeen days; lost one of his legs in the service.

Wartick Simon, farmer; sec. 31; P. O. Camp Point. Willard John, farmer; sec. 9; P. O. Chatten. Willard Mrs. D. sec. 27; P. O. Chatten.

WILLARD MADISON, farmer and stock raiser; Sec. 10; P. O. Bowensburg. He was born in Clay county, Mo., Jan. 17, 1820; came to this county the year before the Black Hawk War. He has 600 acres of land, valued at $24,000. He married Lucina Taylor, who was born in the State of New York, and was mother of two children, Almira, and one which died in infancy. His father emigrated from Tennessee to this county, where he raised a family of six boys and three girls. He was what would be con- sidered a frontiersman; came here when there was but a few families in the township. When he came here he had but two yoke of cattle and no money ; was among the earliest settlers, and can well claim as being one of the pioneers of the county. He is one of the solid farmers of the county.

Willard Samuel, farmer; sec. 9; P. O. Chatten. Willard Thomas, farmer; sec. 21; P. O. Chatten. Willard Wm. farmer; sec. 27; P. O. Chatten. Whitford Wm. farmer; sec. 36; P. O. Keokuk Junc- tion,

Witt Geo farmer; sec. 30; P. O. Coatsburg Witt J. J. farmer; sec. 7; P. O. Bowensburg. Wood Z. farmer; sec. 6; P. O. Chatten. Woode S. Samuel, farmer; sec. 9; P. O. Chatten.

MISCELLANEOUS.

BOWLES WILLIAM A., residence, Furlong House; was born in Ell- ington township, Adams county, October 24, 1858 ; received a common school education in Ellington township, and at the age of seven years went to Galesburg, Ill., and en-

tered the Lombard University at that place remaining one term ; then returned to Quincy and entered Johnson College, re- maining two terms, and thence to the " Gem City " Business College, where he remained one term; then went upon his father's farm, where he remained one year, when he went into partnership with Robert L. Bowles (his

932

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

brother), in the grocery business, which was dissolved by mutual consent at the expira- tion of six month". His parents are among the oldest settlers in this county, respected by all, and good Christian people.

CALL A. B., school teacher; Sec. 5; P. O Barry, Pike county, Ill. ; born in Pike county, Ill., in 1857; attended common schools until thirteen years of age, then at- tended Quincy College, then at Christian University, at Canton, Mo., and again at Quincy College. After leaving college com- menced teaching, at the age of sixteen years, attending school during the vacations ; has taught six years in Adams and Pike coun- ties, giving the best satisfaction, and having a large average attendance during the school term.

CHILDERS M. D., farmer ; P. O. Carrollton, Mo .; was born in Grant county, Ky., July 5, 1821; moved to Illinois in 1831, and lived with his father on the old home- stead in Burton township for forty-five years. In 1877, he removed to Carroll county, Mo., where he now resides ; was married to Miss Elvira Birch in 1842 ; have no children. Mr. C. was Commissioner of Highways for a number of years while he resided in Illinois; he followed blacksmithing at one time, and is a man highly esteemed by a large circle of friends in Burton and surrounding country.

DWYER WILLIAM, agricultur- ist ; Pittsfield, Pike county, Ill .; was born in Hancock county, Ill., in 1853; has fol- lowed farming and merchandizing mostly. In June, 1877, he located in Pike county, and has been engaged in selling agricultural implements and binding machinery. Has now one of the best riding attachments for a common plow ever invented, and guaran- tees satisfaction to farmers. His business house and store is on Monroe street, Pitts- field, one block east of the public square.

ROBERTS JAMES, coal mer- chant; residence, Colchester, McDonough county, Ill. He was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, March 20, 1820; married there to Celia Knight, Sept. 7, 1846. In March, 1847, they sailed for America, and, on arriving, settled in Lawrence county, Penn. He was engaged in coal mining for over two years, then superintended the business for Crawford & Co., near New Castle; came west in 1853, and embarked in the coal business in Col- chester, McDonough county. He then was obliged to haul his coal to Augusta, with teams, and from there shipped to Quincy; he being the first shipper to the city, over the Northern Cross Railroad. He estab- lished the first coal market in the city ; was associated with his brother several years, afterward was in partnership with John McGinnis, Wm. Morris, and Mr. McCoy, they owning six-tenths interest. He finally sold to his brother. He again embarked in the business with Morris & Spencer, and cleared $10,000; sold out. The Colchester Coal Company consists of Henry Roberts & Bro.'s (his sons); they have run the business since September, 1877; they have leased the mines and machinery to A. Newland, Jr. Mr. R.'s marriage resulted in seven children : Henry, born March 20, 1849; James, Jane, Burdett, John R., Joseph, Cecelia M., and George W.

SELLERS ELKANAH W., school teacher; Sec. 5; P. O. Barry, Pike county, Ill .; born in September, 1857. His father and mother are still living on Sec. 5. He continued his education in the com- mon schools until fourteen years of age, then attended the public school at Kinderhook, from thence to Quincy College, and after- ward at the Christian University at Canton, Missouri, and Chaddock College at Quincy, Ill. He commenced teaching in 1875; has taught four terms of school, giving satis- faction in every instance, and has always had a good average attendance during school term.

933

CONCLUSION.

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

MOUNDS AND MOUND BUILDERS-SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS-THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT-THE COUNTY POOR-TEMPERANCE -- EDUCA- TIONAL - PUBLIC BUILDINGS - BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES - FIREMEN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION-QUINCY FREE READING ROOM-QUINCY LIBRARY-THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-CHARITABLE AID AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION-QUINCY WORKHOUSE-HOTELS- MANUFACTORIES-THE WHOLESALE TRADE OF QUINCY-QUINCY HORSE RAILWAY AND CARRYING COMPANY-UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CLAYTON-CHRISTIAN CHURCH, PLEASANT VIEW-CHRISTIAN CHURCH URSA.

MOUNDS AND MOUND BUILDERS.

Adams county, like other portions of the western country, is dotted here and there with these indistinct relics of a prehistoric people, who have thus left their "footprints upon the sands of time," that their Cau- casian successors away down in this nineteenth century may read and inter- pret from this unknown tongue somewhat of the history of the civilization that antedated the wild Red man on the American continent.

Of the origin and purpose of these so-called " Indian monnds " various theories have been advanced by scientists and historians. The location and shape of these ruins seem to indicate that they or some of them were used as habitations for the living; while the human remains exhumed from the interior of many of them by explorers, point to them as sepnltures for the dead. But whoever the mound builders were, or at whatever period of antiquity they existed, fragments of their constructive genins remain, and have been resurrected, which furnish unmistakable evidence of a civilization and considerable knowledge of the industrial arts.

As being pertinent to this subject and embodying facts and some logical theorizing deduced therefrom, we'republish, through the kindness of Gen. John Tillson, of Quincy, an article prepared by him for the columns of the Quincy Commercial Review, called forth by an editorial therein commenting upon a paper read by Dr. Rice before the Wisconsin Historical Society :

Editor Review :- "In your issue of February 16, reference is made to a report of Dr. Rice, of Wisconsin, in regard to the origin and use of the so- called Indian mounds scattered throughout the Mississippi valley, in which he asserts that they are the remains of hnts-residences-and that their use as places of sepulture was by a later race than that which erected them. It is also said that this is a new theory. There is therein a good deal that is probable and considerable that is incorrect. First, as to the novelty of the theory; it is not new. It has been the belief of the earlier examiners of these remains, long prior to the birth of Dr. Rice or the Wisconsin His- torical Society, that the great mass of the mounds found in the West (with

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

an exception to be noticed hereafter) were built for and used as residences- places for living-with occasionally a larger one for public use, such as a fort, place of worship or council.

The material of their construction may have been wood,-now com- pletely decaycd,-but much more probably was of earth, as near most of the mounds can be observed an excavation, like that near a brick-kiln or a rail- road embankment, from which the soil appears to have been removed. Most of these mounds have a depression in the center just such as would appear where the walls of a building had crumbled down and the roof's, of lighter material and less bulk, had dropped when unsupported. The walls were, undoubtedly, if this theory is to be considered, of great thickness, for this reason, that they were both the honses and defenses of the frail, scattered fragments of an almost exterminated race-the race which research has almost conclusively proven of higher civilization than their successors- swept from existence by the Indian.

The exception to which I allude above is this, that the isolated, conical mounds on high points of the bluffs were undoubtedly for burial purposes only. They were the monumental resting places of honored and eminent men; and Dr. Rice is, no doubt, correct in the statement that the moldered huts of these long-gone builders were used by a succeeding race as places of burial. This is an Indian custom almost to the present day.

But as to the other mounds, those not on the bluff peaks, their outline which, so far as it can be ascertained, is usually rectangular, with the de- pression in the center above named, their location like those found near Bear Creek, Mill Creek, and in the Redmond field south of Quincy, on ground just above overflow, accessible from the river and yet concealed therefrom, indicative of their fugitive character, the utensils found therein, and all the surroundings, point to the plansibility of their having been domestic abodes.

Another feature sometimes noticeable is that the tree growth from these mounds is often of a character unlike that contiguous or adjacent; the evident product of some nuts, seeds or some vegetable brought from afar, left in the hut when it fell, sprouting and growing clusters of trees only seen right there, no where else near, and not natural to the soil around them.

The examination of these vestiges of a long-gone race, made half a century or more ago, was more exhaustive and better based than any that can be made now. It was made by skillful, learned and curious men who saw them in far better preservation than they are at present, before civili- zation had aided time in their destruction, and when, as is not the case now, all the Indian traditionary history was at hand to throw its wavering light upon the subject.

The best based theory heretofore generally accepted as to the past occupation of this continent is, that races existed here advanced in civili- zation beyond any that have succeeded them, until its discovery by Euro- peans, races possibly cotemporary in improvement with Greece and Rome, but probably far earlier in point of time, and that they were swept from supremacy by a vandalism such as burst upon Europe centuries ago; that, just as theirs was inferior to European civilization, so more effectually have their memorials been extinguished; and, unlike European civilization, no sufficient vitality remained to conquer their conquerors.

The "mound builders " were the probable successors of a more highly cultivated stock, the remains of whose existence are found throughout

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The history of Adams 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; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 139

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps Number of Pages: 1254

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254