USA > Illinois > Ogle County > The history of Ogle 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 history of the Northwest, history of Illinois etc > Part 28
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The next morning not an Indian remained on the east side of the Wis- consin. Gen. Henry pushed back for supplies, and Gen. Atkinson's "bottled forces" coming up, the pursuit was renewed, and the battle of Bad Axe was fought August 2, 1832. " For eight miles," says Townsend, "we were skirmishing with their rear guard," and numbers of squaws and children were killed.
When the troops charged upon the Indians the squaws and children were so closely commingled with the braves, and the squaws were dressed so nearly like the bucks, that it was almost impossible to distinguish between them.
In a sketch of the Black Hawk War, published by Benjamin Drake, - the following incident is related : "A young squaw was standing in the grass, a short distance from the American line, holding her child, a little girl four years old, in her arms. In this position a gun was directed at her, and the bullet struck the right arm of the child just above the elbow,
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shattering the bone, passed into the breast of the young mother and instantly killed her. She fell upon the child and confined it to the ground. When the battle was nearly over, Lieutenant Anderson, of the United States Army, heard the cries of the child, and went to the spot and took it from beneath its dead mother and carried it to the place for surgical aid. The arm was amputated, and during the operation the half-starved child did not cry, but sat quietly eating a piece of hard biscuit. [Other authori- ties say it gnawed ravenously at the raw flesh on a horse-bone it had in its hand when its mother was shot .- ED.] The child was sent to Prairie du Chien, and fully recovered from its wound."
The battle of Bad Axe terminated the war, and Black Hawk's surrender, subsequent visit to Washington, and return to his people in Iowa, are events familiar to the reader. After nearly half a century has passed, and the Indians have disappeared before the westward advance of civilization, it is but just that the truth should be recorded. Passion and prejudice have passed away, and it must be admitted that " when the toma- hawk and scalping knife were drawn " in 1832, it was only after the whites had commenced the carnival of blood by first firing on the flag of truce at "Stillman's Run." The vindictive pursuit and murder of women and children after the Prophet had in person informed his ruthless pursuers that " his people were starving and wanted peace," can not be justified. It was as savage an act as the savages themselves had committed. It must be added, also, that after Stillman's defeat, Black Hawk, then an old man, lost all control of his young braves, who were led by Ne-o-pope. But for that fatal act of Stillman's drunken soldiers, in all human probability the subse- quent acts of savage barbarity by both Indians and whites had remained undone. "Fire-water " was the active cause of the Black Hawk War, as it was of the Winnebago War.
LOCAL HISTORY.
In the Spring of 1832, the few settlers at Buffalo Grove and other parts of the country, had commenced plowing and planting, only to be in- terrupted in their pioneer pursuits by the Black Hawk War. They had heard and seen that the Indians were going up Rock River, the Indians saying that they were going up to plant corn, etc. Some time in the month of April, some friendly Indians called at Reed's with some fresh fish, and one of them told the family that Gen. Whiteside was coming up the river with "heap Che-mo-kee man," to fight the Indians, and that they (the whites) must go away-that bad Indians would kill them. " Me no kill you; bad Indians kill you and your papooses."
Mr. Reed had planted some potatoes and about two acres of corn and other "truck," on Saturday, May 12. On Sunday, says our anthortiy, there was a heavy fall of rain, which rendered the ground in an unfit condi- tion for further planting. On Monday evening the report of fire arms was heard in the direction of Kellogg's house, which, on account of the num- ber of shots, alarmed the Reed family. IIad they known the occasion of the firing, there would have been no cause for alarni at that immediate time. But of this they were ignorant, and they were thrown into a terrible state of excitement and suspense. Gen. Dodge, with a scouting party, had encamped near Kellogg's, and on their arrival had discharged their pieces. Tuesday morning, however, a messenger from Whiteside's camp arrived at
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Reed's with the news of the battle at Stillman's Run, and advising them to go immediately to Dixon, where the main body of the army was encamped. Arrangements for removal were made as hastily as possible. There house- hold goods were loaded on a wagon without much regard to order, and the flight to Dixon was commenced and reached in safety. After remaining there a few days, the Reed family went to Peoria, under escort of a com- pany of volunteers, who were going south to receive their discharge. In September, after the conclusion of hostilities, the men returned to their claims, leaving the women in Peoria County. There was now no danger of Indian molestation, and vigorous and active measures were inaugurated for the improvement of their homes. The prairies were covered with a thick and luxuriant growth of grass, which was mown, cured and stacked for hay for their stock. Additional ground was plowed and sown to wheat, and when Winter began to approach, they returned to Peoria and brought their wives and children back to their homes, from which they had been frightened by the Indians in the month of May preceding.
The wheat sown on the Reed claim was probably the first ever sown in the county.
In 1833 the quiet and tranquility into which the pioneers had settled was partially disturbed by the rumor that the Indians were dissatisfied with the treaty they had made, and were resolved on another war. For the third time the settlers at Buffalo Grove abandoned their homes and went to Peoria. Leaving their families there, the men returned to cultivate their crops, and " fight it out that Summer." But before harvest time came, the women and children were sent for and again brought up to their homes. The rumor here referred to proved to be a false one, and came to be known among the settlers as " Mammy Dixon's War."
A few Indians still remained in the country after the conclusion of the Black Hawk War in 1832, and the alarm of 1833 was occasioned by Mrs. Dixon overhearing a conversation between some of the remaining Indians, in which they expressed their dissatisfaction with the treaty. She commu- nicated this conversation to her neighbors. It spread rapidly, grew as it spread, as gossip always does, until a panic ensued. No outbreak occurred however, and from that time forward the people of Buffalo Grove and other parts of the Rock River country were left in undisturbed possession of their claims, so far as the Indians were concerned.
As the reader has observed, the settlement of Ogle County was com- menced at Buffalo Grove. As the years increased and people continued to come in, the settlements extended to other parts of the county, but it was many years before the land was all occupied. From 1833 to about 1845-'6 the immigration was slow, but gradually increased from year to year. About 1845-'6, however, when the Chicago and Galena Union Railroad en- terprise was being agitated, a large influx of immigration set in, which was continued until the county was generally occupied.
The next settler at Buffalo Grove, after those already named, was Elisha Doty, who came from Peoria, in 1834. The same year Ankeney re- moved to the farm subsequently owned and occupied by Harry Smith. In May of this year, Albion Sanford and his family settled here, and in the Fall they were followed by Cyrenus, Ahira and Harrison Sanford and their fam- ilies. Cyrenus Sanford was the father of Ahira, Albion and Harrison San- ford, and he continued to occupy the claim upon which he first settled, until the date of his death, May 28, 1858. In 1834 a man named Sackett, also
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became a settler at Buffalo Grove. Pearson Shoemaker eame about the same time, but subsequently removed to Elkhorn Grove, and re-settled near the line between Ogle and Carroll Counties.
In 1834-'5 there were numerous accessions to the Buffalo Grove Colony, if we may call it such. Among the new-comers were John D. Stevenson, George Webster and the Waterburys. In 1835, O. W. Kellogg and Hugh Stevenson laid out a town at Buffalo Grove, which they ealled St. Mary's. The name was afterwards changed to Buffalo.
Firstlings .-- The first houses built in the county were ereeted by Messrs. Isaac Chambers and John Ankeney.
The first wedding was the marriage between Samples M. Journey and Ankeney's only daughter, early in 1832. It was attended with great eclat, as it was a wedding among the first families. The license was proenred at Galena, this county still being within the jurisdiction of Jo Daviess County. All the neighbors, the Kellogg family excepted, for miles around, were present, including guests from Galena, Rush Creek and the southern part of the state. Festivity and daneing were kept up until the " wee small hours " of morning began to approach, when the happy couple were put to bed in real old fashioned style. Journey subsequently went to California, where he was living in 1858-'9, while his wife was living at Lyons, Iowa, at the same time, from which it is to be inferred that the match did not prove a happy one.
September 4, 1834, Cyrus Doty, the first white child native of Ogle County, was born at Buffalo Grove, where he continues to reside, engaged in farming. He is now a grandfather.
The first school taught in the county was in the Winter of 1834-'5. Simon Fellows was the teacher. The school was kept in a house belonging to O. W. Kellogg.
Elkanah P. Bush was the first postmaster, and Buffalo Grove was the first post-office. It was established in the Winter of 1835 (before a post- office was established at Rockford). Previous to the establishment of this post-office, the settlers hereabonts received their mail matter at Dixon. Mr. Bush was not permitted to wear the honors of postmaster very long, but was removed and O. W. Kellogg appointed in his place.
The Town of St. Marys, afterwards called Buffalo, was the first town laid off in the county.
According to Mr. Boss, the first wheat sown was in the Fall of 1832. But the same local writer says the "first erop of Winter wheat raised near Buffalo Grove, was in 1834." [There is a probability that the first wheat sown was in the Fall of 1833, after the "Mammy Dixon War " scare, instead of in the Fall of 1832, after the Black Hawk War.]
The first saw mill was built in 1836 by O. W. Kellogg, George D. Wilcoxen and Reason Wilcoxen, on Buffalo Creek.
In 1835, Joseph M. Wilson and James Talbot commenced the erection of a grist mill. It was completed in the early Summer of 1836, and in June commenced grinding corn. Flour was manufactured there in the Fall of the same year.
The first lawsuits grew out of the claim troubles (already mentioned) between Chambers and Ankeney, commeneing in 1836. They were eon- tinued until 1839.
Appearance of the Country in 1837 .- " When we came from Dixon," said Mr. C. G. Holbrook in Boss' Sketches, "and came up on the rising
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ground three miles north of that place, there was not a single foot of ground to be seen which the hand of man had touched. Men were located in the country, but their abodes were in the hollows and groves where they could not be seen." Mr. Boss added: "Since settlements have been made, many of the prairie flowers have disappeared, being destroyed by the cattle and the fires. When the first settlers arrived here, there was no underbrush in the groves, as the Spring fires * always kept it down, and one could see almost as far in the groves as on the prairies."
COUNTY ORGANIZATION-FIRST ELECTION-FIRST BOARD OF COUNTY OFFICERS -- FIRST TERM OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, ETC.
Ogle County was erected by an act of the legislature, approved Jan- uary 16, 1836. The boundary lines of the county were defined as follows :
Commencing at the southwest corner of township number nineteen, north, range eight, east of the fourth principal meridian, and running thence north along the range line, dividing ranges numbered seven and eight east, to the southwest corner of township number twenty-six, north of range number eight east; thence east to the third principal meridian ; thence sonth along the line of said meridian, to the southwest corner of township number forty-three north, of range number one, east of the third principal meridian; thence east with the line dividing townships numbered forty-two and forty-three north, to the southeast corner of township number forty-three north of range two, east of the third principal meridian; thence south with the line between ranges numbered two and three, east of the third principal meridian, to the southeast corner of township thirty-seven north; thence west with the line dividing townships thirty-six and thirty-seven north, to the southwest corner of township thirty-seven north: thence south with the third principal meridian, to the southeast corner of township number nineteen, north of range eleven, east of the fourth principal meridian ; thence west with the line between townships numbered eighteen and nineteen north, to the place of beginning, shall constitute a county, to be called Ogle.
The name was suggested by the late Governor Ford, and was intended to perpetuate the memory of Captain Ogle, whose coolness, courage and daring were so conspicuous in the long and bloody conflict attending the siege of Fort Henry, during the early days of our country's history.
Kane, McHenry, Winnebago and Whiteside Counties were organized under the same law. Stephenson, Boone and DeKalb were organized in 1837.
Kane was named in honor of Elias K. Kane, the guiding and control- ling spirit of the constitutional convention of 1818. Winnebago is an Indian name, and was so named because of its territory having been the favorite "hunting ground " of the Winnebago Indians. Whiteside was named in honor of General Whiteside, who participated in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Stephenson was named in honor of Colonel Stephen- son, who also bore a gallant and conspicuous part in that campaign, and Boone was named in honor of Kentucky's great pioneer hunter, Colonel Daniel Boone.
DeKalb County was named in honor of Baron John DeKalb, a native of the Province of Alsace, a German province in the possession of France, who, in November, 1776, offered his services to Dr. Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane (the first envoys from the American Republic after the declara- tion of independence), to serve in the armies of the revolted colonies. He fell, at the head of his command, at the battle of Camden, on the 7th of August, 1780, pierced by eleven bayonet wounds, and died in a few hours. To a British officer who kindly condoled with him on his misfortune, he
* Some old settlers of Jo Daviess County, at Galena, told the writer that the Indians set out these fires every Spring in order to keep down the undergrowth that their hunting grounds might be unobstructed-to afford them better opportunities for sighting deer, etc.
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replied: "I thank you for your generous sympathy, but die the death I have always prayed for-the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man; and, though I fight no more in this world, I trust I may still be of some service to the cause of freedomn."
As originally organized, Ogle County included the present County of Lee, but rival interests led to a division of the territory. and the erection of Lee County in 1839. Of this, more in another paragraph.
Section eleven of the act under which the county was organized pro- vided that, "for the purpose of fixing the permanent county seat of Ogle County, Charles Reed, of Cook County, James L. Kirkpatrick, of Jo Daviess County, and James B. Campbell, of Cook County, are hereby appointed Commissioners, who, or any two of them, being first duly sworn before some justice of the peace of this state, as is required by the seventh section of this act, shall meet at the house of Oliver W. Kel- logg, in said county, on the first Monday of May next or within sixty days thereafter, and shall proceed in all respects as is required in the seventh section of this act."
Section seven, herein quoted, provides that the said county seat shall be located on lands belonging to the United States, if a site for said county seat on such lands can be found equally eligible, or upon lands claimed by citizens of said county ; but if such location shall be made upon land claimed by any individual having title or pre-emption right to the same, the claimant or proprietor upon whose claim or right of pre-emption, the said seat of justice may be located, shall make a deed in fee simple to any number of acres of said tract, not less than twenty, to the said county ; or, in lieu thereof, such claimant, or owner or owners of such pre-emption right, shall donate to the said county, at least three thousand dollars, to be applied to building county buildings, within one year after the location of said county seat ; and the proceeds of such quarter section, if the said county seat shall be located on government lands, or the proceeds of such twenty acres of land, if it be located on the pre-emption right of an individual or individuals, or the said three thousand dollars, in case such pre-emption right owner or owners, shall elect to pay that sum in lieu of the said twenty acres, shall be appropriated to the erection of a sufficient court house and jail.
Section twelve provided that the county and circuit court should be held at such places as the county commissioners court should appoint, and that the circuit judge of the sixth judicial circuit should have power to fix the times for holding courts as in his discretion he might think would best promote the public good.
Section nine provided that an election should be held on the first Mon- day of April (1836) for one sheriff, one coroner, one recorder, one county surveyor, and three county commissioners, who should hold their offices until the next succeeding general election, and until their successors were elected and qualified, and, that the qualified voters present might elect from among their own number, three qualified voters to act as judges of said election, and that they, the judges, should appoint two qualified voters to act as clerks.
Section nine also declared that the election should be held at the house of John Phelps, and that it should be regulated and conducted in the same manner as prescribed in section nine, etc.
- Section eighteen provided, however, "that no one of the counties created
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by this act shall be organized, and no election hereby authorized, shall be held, until a petition shall be presented to the judge of the sixth judicial circuit, or in his absence, some other circuit judge, signed by a majority of the voters of the county asked to be organized, and proof made before such judge, that such county contains at least three hundred and fifty inhabi- tants ; and upon such petition being presented, and such proof made, the said judge is hereby authorized and required to grant an order for the election of county officers, naming the day for such election, the place at which such election shall be held, the description of officers to be elected, and appointing the judges of elections ; and the said judges of election shall give public notice of said election, by posting up notices in at least four public places in the county ; and, such election shall be held and conducted in all respects as other elections."
From some reason, presumably because there were not the requisite nnin- ber of inhabitants within the county limits, the election provided for in section thirteen, to-wit : on the first Monday in April, was not held ; and until the 1st of Jannary, A. D., 1837, the territory named in the boundaries of Ogle County, as originally defined, remained under the jurisdiction of Jo Daviess Connty. For the same reason, perhaps, the organization of Whiteside was not fully perfected until 1839, when Lee and Whiteside were both set off from Ogle.
Origin of Names .- Before proceeding further with the local affairs of the county, a few paragraphs will be devoted to the origin of names as applied to several historic points in the county, from the reason that fre- quent reference will necessarily be made to them in coming pages.
White Rock .- So named because of the white rock to be seen on the banks of Stillman's Run from a long distance.
Killbuck .- Because of a large buck being found dead in the stream so named. Another version is that the Driscolls, who moved from the banks of an Ohio stream by that name, named this one Killbuck, they being the first settlers here.
Brodie's Grove .- From the name of a notorions first settler, an associ- ate and relative of the Driscolls.
Pine Rock .-- Because of a number of pine trees growing on a large rock.
Grand de Tour .- From a long bend or curve in the course of Rock River.
Mount Morris .- After Bishop Morris, an eminent divine of the Methodist Episcopal Church. [This distinguished and worthy Bishop died at his home in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, a few years ago.]
Adeline .- After the name of the first wife of Thomas J. Turner, a former member of Congress from this district, who lived at Freeport. He died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, only a few years ago.
Washington and Lafayette Groves .- In honor of Generals Washing- ton and Lafayette, and so named by the Aikens families.
Light House Point .- Because of the high ground and lights being seen from the summit at great distances, believed to have been so namned by Dr. John Roe.
Knox's Spring .- After Dr. J. Knox.
Indian Mound .- Because of the remains of an Indian having been found buried there by the early settlers. The skull was to be seen at Mount Morris Seminary some years ago, and may still be preserved there.
William Wormsley (DECEASED) BUFFALO TP.
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Liberty Hill .- This elevated point on the outskirts of Oregon, was named by an old gentleman from Yankee Settlement, Illinois, named Teller.
Daysville .- After Colonel Day, who attempted to build a village there in opposition to Oregon.
Oregon .- So named by Miss Sarah Phelps, daughter of John Phelps, who first came here in 1833. She subsequently married Mr. Wesley Johnston, and still lives in Oregon.
Hyde Park .- Was named by George W. Lee, after Hyde Park, New York.
Payne's Point .- In honor of Aaron Payne, an early settler.
Buffalo Grove .- Because of the finding of buffalo bones there by the first settlers.
Pine Creek .- From the pine trees that grew along its banks,
Dement .- In honor of Colonel John Dement, of Dixon.
Byron .- This village was first named Bloomingville. When the people first petitioned for a post-office under that name, the petition was refused by the Postmaster General because of the similarity of the name to Bloomington. The name of Byron was adopted at the suggestion of Leonard Andrus - probably a reader and an admirer of the works of Lord Byron.
Flagg .- In honor of W. P. Flagg.
Lane .- After Dr. Lane, a prominent physician of Rockford.
Pulpit Rock .- Because of its fancied resemblance to a pulpit.
Sugar Loaf .- Because of its resemblance to a sugar loaf. After the killing of the Driscolls, June 29, 1841, the Regulators met there to the number of 112 and surrendered themselves to the Sheriff.
Skunk Town .- Because of the number of skunks killed there at one time.
Squaw Hill .- Because of the accidental killing of an Indian squaw on its summit. Her body was enclosed in a rnde coffin, made by sawing an old canoe in halves, which, according to Indian custom, was elevated about four feet from the ground. This rude coffin was not long enough to include her whole body, and her feet and ankles were left protruding at the open end. James V. Gale says: "I saw her feet while she lay thns entombed. A Vandal named Thompson tore down the scaffold, rifled the old canoe of her remains, and carried the trinkets, beads, etc., to Dixon.
West Grove .- Because situated in the western part of the county.
North Grove .- Because situated in the northern part of the county.
Stillman's Run .- In memory of Colonel Stillman, who was defeated there by the Indians at the commencement of the Black Hawk War.
Polo .- The name was adopted at the suggestion of Hon. Zenos Applington, who was killed at the head of his command at the battle of Corinth.
Woosung .- Named by the proprietors after a Chinese city of that name. Campbell's Grove .- In honor of an old Virginian who settled there. Sinnissippi .-- Indian for Rocky River.
Devil's Backbone .- A sharp ridge of rocks about one mile and a quarter below Oregon.
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