DESCENDANTS OF FRENCH SETTLERS. 295
Dubuque, cousin of Julian Dubuque, a noted pio-
neer and founder of the city in Iowa wliich still
bears his name. La Croix came to Peoria in 1805,
and for many yeavs was engaged in trade, shipping
furs to Canada in a two-mast batteau, and loading
back with goods for the Indian market. lie was on his
way to Canada with his batteau, loaded with furs,
when the town was destroyed, and on arriving at Mon-
treal heard that the Yankees had burned Peoria, and
killed all its inhabitants, among whom were his wife
and children. With his heart filled with revenge
he joined the British army, became an officer, and
• took part in many of the battles wliich followed.
At the close of the war La Croix learned that his
family were not killed, as reported, but living at Ca-
hokia, consequently he came west to join them. A
few years after joining his family he died, and his
widow married John Peynolds, afterward Governor
of Illinois.
Hypolite Pilette, a descendant of the Peoria
French, is a son of Louis Pilette, one of the French
land claimants, born at Peoria in 1799, and is now
living on the American Bottom. He claims to be a
great-grandson of Captain Richard Pilette, who in
1686 built Le Fort des Miamies, on Buffalo Rock,
and has now in his possession the sword, eagle and
epaulets worn by that distinguished personage. In
296 PIONEERS OF ILLIIN^OIS.
speaking of the burning of Peoria by Captain Craig,
in 1812, he said : " On a cold November morning,
when a boy of thirteen years of age, 1 was driven
from home without coat, hat or shoes ; my mother
sick with the ague, and with an infant in her arms,
was compelled to leave her* bed, protected from the
cold winds only by an Indian blanket, while our
house with all its contents were consumed by the
iiames. My father a prisoner, my mother sick, my
brothers and sisters almost naked, without food or
shelter, we were left to our fate. Thus were we
turned out of doors to freeze and starve, but f )rtu-
nately rescued by friendly Indians."
Three davs after Peoria was burned Mrs. Pilette,
with her live small children, were put in a canoe by
the Indian chief Go'mo, and iu company with others
as unfortunate as herself started down the river.
After six days of exposure, and suffering from cold
and hunger, they reached Cahokia, and were prp-
vided for by their countrymen and friends. Pilette
is a jolly old Frenchman, fond of a bottle of wine,
and very talkative while under its influence. Al-
though born and raised in Illinois he speaks no
English except in broken, detached sentences, but
in his own language, I should judge, he is quite elo-
quent. While speaking of the past Pilette became
very much excited ; his eyes flashed with anger, his
PERILS OF FUR TRADERS. 297
voice raised to a higli kej, while denouncing the
barbarous acts of Captain Craig, and I'rum that time,
said he, " I hate Yankees."
There are some facts connected with the burning
of Peoria not generally known, but when properly
understood will explain a matter which to many ap-
pears mysterious. A few months ago I called on an
old gentleman living in St. Louis, by the name ot
James Porter, who was a soldier in Captain Craig's
command. Mr. Porter believes that he is the only
person now living who participated in burning
Peoria, and although seventy years have passed
awav he has a vivid recollection of many of the inci-
dents which occurred on that eventful day. He says
all the soldiers believed that the French were assist-
ing the Indians to make war on the settlers, and this
belief w^as conlirmed by Baptiste Snipkins, General
Howard's express, who came on board of a boat as
soon as they arrived at Peoria.
Mr. Porter also says that it was afterward ascer-
tained that the depredation on the settlement was
committed by a war party of Sacs and Foxes, and
the Indians along the Illinois Piver were innocent
as well as the French. When all the facts became
known, years after Peoria was burned, Cai)tain Craig
and many of those under his command were tilled
298 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
with remorse on account of having committed this
outrage on innocent people.
PERILS OF FUR TRADERS ON ILLINOIS RIVER.
After the burning of Peoria there was but little
trade on the Illinois Riv^er for three years, and the
Indians failing to obtain their usual supply of goods
were in a suffering condition. For an American
trader to enter the Indian country would be at the
risk of his life, and while French traders were sate
from harm among the Indians, they were liable to
fall into the hands of soldiers, and have their goods
confiscated to the government. After the evacua-
tion of Fort Dearborn a Frenchman named Du Pin
took possession of John Kinzie's dwelling, and for
three years traded with the Indians. During the
continuation of the war a number of Frenchmen con-
tinued to live with the Indians, but none of them ex-
cept Du Pin kept a stock of goods for Indian trade.
In the summer of 1814 Jacques Jarret, a French
Canadian, came down the Illinois Piver in a batteau
loaded with goods for the Indian market. The
trader had two Frenchmen employed as boatsmen,
and an Ens-lishman named John Ford acted as a
clerk and salesman. At different places where the
batteau stopped to trade the Indians looked on Ford
with much suspicion, accused him of being an Amer-
BURNING OF FORT CLARK. 299
ican, and at one time threatened liini with death.
While tlie batteau hiv at tlie mouth of Crow Creek,
for the purpose of trade, a hirge number of warriors
collected around Ford, denounced liim as an Ameri-
can and a spy, and made him a prisoner, and were
about to carry him off to a place of execution. In
vain Jarret tried to make the warriors understand that
Ford was an Englishman, and that his country was
then at war with the Americans. After a long parley
the prisoner was ransomed by the trader giving the
captors a large amount of goods for his liberation.
After this narrow escape from death Ford laid aside
his fashionable suit, clothed himself as a boatman,
and disguised his face with paint. From that time
he spoke no language in the presence of Indians,
and was know^n thereafter among them as the deaf
and dumb Frenchman.
BURNING OF FORT CLARK.
For many years this old historical spot at the foot
of the lake was known as Fort Clark, but as the town
became a place of importance it again resumed
its former name, '^Peoria.'' At the close of the
British war the Chauteaus and Menards continued
the fur trade along the Illinois River until super-
seded by the American Fur Company. In 1816
Antoine Des Champs received an appointment of
300 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
general agent of the American Fur Company in Illi-
nois territory. Des Champs was an old fur trader,
at one time a resident of Peoria, but afterward at
Cahokia, and proved to be an efficient agent. He
dispatched runners to different Indian villages,
requesting the inhabitants to meet him at Fort Clark
on the 5th of August to receive presents sent them
by the great fur company. At the appointed time
about one thousand Indians were collected at the
old fort when Des Champs arrived with a Mackinaw
boat loaded with goods. Alter making many pres-
ents to the Indians, and obtaining their promise to
patronize the new fur company, he establishing trad-
ing-posts at various places along the river.
It has already been stated that Fort Clark was
built in the fall of 1S13, abandoned soon after, and
never occupied by troops again. 'No white person
lived in Peoria (then called Fort Clark) after the
troops left it until the spring of 1819. The gate of
the fort having been left open it became a lair for
deer, and a roost for wdld turkeys. In the fall of
1816 a party of hunters from St. Clair county came
to Fort Clark and found about twentv deer in the
fort, and the floors of the block-houses covered with
manure. The hunters cleaned out this building, and
occupied it as a residence during a stay of ten days
while hunting deer and collecting honey in the
BURNING OF FORT CLARK. 301
river timber. Fort Clark stood unmolested until
the fall of 1818, when it was burned by the Indians.
The following account of the burning of Fort
Clark is taken from the statements of Colonel Gur-
don S. Hubbard, now a resident of Chicago:
In the tall of 1818 Antoine Des Champs, general
agent of the American Fur Company, accompanied
by a number of persons, were on their way to St.
Louis with two boats loaded with furs. On coming
around a point in the lake they discovered Fort Clark
on fire, and near it were about two hundred In-
dians engaged in a war dance. The warriors, almost
naked, hideously painted, as they went through
the dance yelled like demons. They had a large
number of scalps hanging to their belts, and in one
part of the dance these were placed on the ends of
spears and held above their heads, after which they
went through the motions of taking them from the
heads of the victims. Des Champs was well ac-
quainted with many of the Indians, and went among
them engaged in conversation, leaving the boats
guarded by one of his men and Mr. Hubbard, who
at 1 hat time was a boy of sixteen years of age. The
Indians inquired of Des Champs about this boy,
who in reply said that he was his adopted son from
Montreal, but tliey did not credit this statement, say-
ing he looked like an American, and regarded him
302 PIONEERS OF ILLINOIS.
with suspicion. An Indian took a scalp from Lis
belt, and held it near Hubbard's face, saying to him
that it was taken from the head of his countryman.
Young Hubbard became very much frightened, but
when the Indian urinated on the scalp, and with it
sprinkled his face, all fear vanished, and picking up
a gun which lay in the bottom of the boat fired at
the Indian, bat the man in charge of the boat threw
up the muzzle as it went off, thereby saving the In-
dian's life. This affair created great excitement,
and Des Champs fearing trouble bade his Indian
friends good-by, went aboard of the boats, and con-
tinued on his way down the river.
Although the block-houses and part of the stock-
ades of Fort Clark were burned, as above stated, a
portion of the latter stoocj for many years after. In
the spring of 1819 a party of the emigrants from
Clinton county, among whom were Captain Abner
Eads, Isaac and Josiah Fuhlton and J. Hersey, came
to Fort Clark, and from that time dates the American
settlement here. These emigrants ^Ditched their
tents against the stockades of the old fort, and for
years the inclosure within the pickets was used for
penning cattle. During the Black Hawk war, in
1832, the old fort was repaired, new pickets put in
place of burned ones, and intended as a place of pro-
tection from an attack of Indians.
GENERAL INDEX.
American Bottom - - - 183
American Pioneers of Illinois - . - 206
Antiquities of Illinois _ . - - 17
Aztalan the ruined city - - - 197
A scene of horror 75
Besiegers and besieged - - - 155
Bourassa, Colonel Joseph N. cited - - 160
Brady's Tom wild adventure - - - - 119
Baptiste Jean and Father Bonner- - - 212
Baldwin Elmer cited - - - - 201-202
Black Partridge, a noted Indian chief - - 242
Saves the life of Mrs. Helm - - - 2-15
Destruction of his villasre - - 251
In defense of his country - - - 280
Besson's Mrs. narrative - - _ . 257
Bruce Elijah a vagabond - - . - 939
Bucher's Father Jacques manuscript - - 117
Buffalo disa])pearance of - - - - - 209
Burning of Peoria - - - 265
ChiqAgo, early history of - . _ - 210
Chassagoac, an Indian chief - - - 10 1
Clark, Colonel G. R. conquest of Illinois - 127
Cross raised on the bank of Chicago Piver - 38
Chartres Fort - - - - 180
Cahokia - - - - 186
Chauteau Auguste and Pierre mentioned - 202
Costumes and manners of the French - 222
304 GENERAL INDEX.
Council at Cahokia - - - 234
Craig's Captain attack on Peoria - - 264
De Beuro Pierre an Indian trader - - - 229
Domestic animals left by the captives - - 273
Davenport, Colonel George - - - - 282
Descendants of French settlers at Peoria - 293
Des Champs Antoine mentioned - - - 301
English and French relation with Indians - 205
Edwards Governor Ninian mentioned - - 237
Fort Creve-Coeur _ _ . ^ _ 57
Fort St. Louis building of - - - - 83
Attacked by Iroquois _ - - 87
Burned - - - - 99
Kelics of - 173
French settlement at - - - - 104
Fox River the ruined fort of - - - 201
French inhabitants of Peoria - - - - 222
French land claims 226
False report circulated 239
French at Peoria - - - 262
Fort Clark, building of 284
Burning of - - - 299
Ghastly spectaciC 163
Gc>ld, searching for - - - - - 168
Goodell Dr. J. H. referred to _ . - 201
Gabriel, Father death of - - - - ,, 73
History, errors of- - - - - -173
Hitt, Colonel D. F. cited - - 173-176-201
Helm, Lieutenant ransomed - - - - 254
Heald Captain mentioned - - - - 255
Howard's General expedition - - - - 279
Hubbard Colonel G. S. cited . - -
GENERAL INDEX, 305
Illinois topogra])liy of Tliver - - - - 22
Early French settlement of - - 112
Eritish rule of 117
Early government of ... 207
Indians Illinoisans - - - 2-1
Massacre of _ - - - 25
Iroquois raid of 26
Tribes in Illinois territory - - 193
Drepredations of - - - - - 232
Council on Bureau - - - - 247
Trade with 85
Joliet Louis mentioned - - - - 30
Jennette Medore, a fur trader - . - 202
Kennedy Pat searching for copper - - 125
Kaskaskia - - - - - - - 187
Kaskaskia and Cahokia Indians - - - 189
Kinzie John mentioned - - - 244
La Yantum or great Illinois town - - 47
Yoyageurs at 34
French at - - - - 62
La Pance Felix cited 49
La Salle and friends western bound - - 53
In an Indian camp - - - - 59
Success, failure and death - - - 86
Le Fort des Miamis 93
Louisiana colony IC.l
Le Eocher - - - - 171
La ville de Maillet 218
Lee Charles noticed 258
Marquette Jacques - - - 28
Death of - 43
Resurrecting his bones - - - 45
Mammoth and Mastodon - - - - 20
Massac Fort of 20
806 GENERAL INDEX.
Marseilles, ancient fortification at - - - 199
Mississippi River, discovery of - - - 30
Mission of Immaculate Conception - - - 40
Monks of La Trappe 194
Old fort near Starved Rock - - - . 195
Peoria Lake of - _ - . _ 56
Burning of
Indians - -.-_ 191
Pilette Captain Richard mentioned - - - 93
Hjpolite mentioned - - - -
Pontiac - - - 137
Assassinated 147
Prairie du Roclier 185
Porter James mentioned - - _ - 297
Relics of French and Indians - - - - 174
Relics of a tragedy - - - - - 166
Rock of refuge 142
Retribution unjust - - - 249
Robinson Lieutenant in search of the enemy - 288
St. Louis, early settlement of - - - 99
St. Joseph expedition against - - - - 123
Starved Rock 78
Tecumseh at Peoria 231
Emissaries from _ - - _ 248
Tidings of war ._ - - 243
Territory of Illinois at the time of the British
war - - 243
Treaty of peace 280
Torturing prisoners - - - 72
Tonti de Henri - - - - - 70
Return of his victorious army - - 90
Death of - - - . - - 96
Wolsey's Amanda captivity - _ _ 276
H^
DEC 18 1941