Montana Advisory Council for Indian Education.
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, history of the northwest, his online
. (page 1 of 152)
Online Library → Montana Advisory Council for Indian Education → 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, history of the northwest, his → online text (page 1 of 152)
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1132544
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 00828 8844
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofadamscoOOchic
~-iif*s^s*^
qUlNCY
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.
History of the Northwest, History of Illinois,
Map of Adams County, Constitution of the United States,
Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED. ,
CHICAGO:
MURRAY, WILLIAMSON & PHELPS,
85 Washington St.
1879.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
MURRAY, WILLIAMSON & PHELPS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
Blakei.y, Brown & Marsh, Manufactured hy
Printers, Donohue & Henneberry,
155 and :S7 Dearborn Street, Chicago. Chicago.
PREFACE.
113254.1
Could Time's eternal scroll have been unrolled by some magic hand, and three score
C^years of his close-mouthed secrets been portrayed in panoramic view to the astonished gaze
)/, of John Wood, as he stood upon the rugged crest of the bluft" where the city of Quincy now
is, and took a survey of the Great River" as it flowed on in silent, resistless grandeur, with
bosom unrufiied by paddle or oar ; or turnin
dressed and ever varying landscape of undi
away until the green and blue blent in misty
bird, have fluttered to be free from its narrow^ house, that the disenthralled spirit might
rise heavenward to mingle with the forest choristers his meed of praise to the God of Na-
ture and of Time.
More than fifty-eight eventful years have been erased from the eternity of the future and
written in the eternity of the past since that day, and still the grand old man lives to see
the scroll of time unrolled.
When Mr. Wood stood upon the site of Quincy, in February, 1819, and resolved that he
would plant civilization on that spot, there was no mark of the white man's presence in the
ainbroken wilderness of what is now Adams County. The woodman's despoiling ax had
"leveled no tree of the primitive forest, nor had the then rude implements of the husband-
man disturbed a wisp of the prairie virgin sward. The herds of sleek deer leisurely cropped
the tender herbage of the thicket, or lay lazily ruminating in the shaded glen, without
knowledge or fear of the argus-eyed huntsman ; the saucy wolves galloped in gangs about
the prairies, in search of victims on which to glut their screed for blood, regardless of the
near coming of their most deadly foe; while the wild Indian indolently floated about in his
bark canoe fishing, or wandered over his "happy hunting grounds" in search of game,
with no thought of being disposessed of his domain by the encroachments of the greedy
W^ale face. But what change busy mind and hand hath wrought in little more than half a
\century ! In the year 1822, John Wood returned to put his former resolution into execution
and planted the nucleus of the new order of things by erecting the first cabin, in December
of that year. Willard Keyes built the second one, on the site of Quincy, while Justice I.
Perigo and Daniel Lisle settled in other parts of the county about the same time. Ihus
began wdiice man's history in Adams county, now one of the most populous and wealthy
in the great " North West." .
It is to gather up and arrange in chronological order and historic form the important
events that have transpired during this marked transition of the wild wilderness to the
beautiful cultivated farms, the ^' Red man's" wigwam to the palatial home, and the
teeming towns and cities, with their fine business blocks, their splendid school houses,
colleges and church edifices, and from the diminutive Indian pony to the iron horse and the
harnessed lightning, as vehicles of burden and thought, that we, with our corps ot helpers
have many months been engaged. This volume is the result of these months ot diligent
labor and earnest research. f+ f
The value of a history depends upon its accuracy. Truth must ever be the motto oi
the historian, else his book is but a prosy, pointless fable. It has been the purpose ana ei-
fort of the publishers of this work to compile a reliable and valuable reference book lor tne
posterity of those heroic fathers and mothers who battled with nature and won. Many
were their labors, hardships and privations during those years of pioneer lite, but gi ana
have been the results. To gather up the fragmentary facts of nearly sixty years, many oi
them hitherto unwritten, and only treasured in the minds of those early settlers who were
the actors in, or observers of, what transpired, the details and important connections oi
which have slipped through the meshes of memory— and rivet them into a faulMess cnain
of history, is beyond mortal ken. But neither time nor eftbrt has been spared to Procure
the " missing links " and bridge the chasms, so as to present to our readers as compieie a
record as possible. How well we have succeeded in the object sought they must jua^e,
but we trust not rashly, for in seeking for information to establish points ot ^^^^^^^^Vfiv
terest, while generally we and our assistants received the kindest of treatment '^ii*^ J^^ j^
responses to such inquiries, there are other instances where every atterupt was oame ,
either by the inexcusable delay in furnishing promised matter, or willful indiflerence "i j;"^
persons appealed to. Then, too, there are frequently dilferences of opinion as regar
PEEFACE. IV
the dates, names, etc., in -which cases some one will declare the record ol them in this work
at fault; but in every instance the most reliable data were obtained and published. As
far as the history is founded upon recorded facts, it can be safely said to be trustworthy
for it was written with great care with reference to dates and proper names.
The war record was compiled from the Adjutant General's, and other published re-
ports, and carefully re-read and compared, and will be found very correct.
The history of the county seat contest, which is quite full, was also obtained from
published facts and records, and from living witnesses, and prepared with special pre-
caution.
Quite a large portion of the history of the early settlement of the county was procured
through ex-Governor John Wood, and from the records of the "Old Settlers' Association,"
and from General John Tillson's carefully kept memorabilia of dates and occurrences, as he
has gathered them from the most authentic sources, and from his own acute observations
and wonderful memory.
Whatever of merit this volume possesses as a work of history, is very largely due to the
material furnished and other invaluable aid, so cheerfully rendered in many ways, to the
publishers and their agents, by the persons whose names we here mention in grateful
acknowledgement :
Ex-Gov. John Wood, Gen. John Tillson, Willis Haselwood, County Clerk, and his ef-
ficient deputy, Mr. Head; Gen. James W. Singleton, Hon. O. H. Browning, Gen. J, D.
Morgan, Anton Binkert, County Treasurer; George Brophy, Circuit Clerk : Col. Edward
Prince, Cadogan & Gardner, of the Quincy Herald ; D. Wilcox & Sons, Qxiincy Whig ;
Addison L. Langdon, Quincy Commercial Review ; Quincy Daily News ; G. L. Hoffmann,
Editor of the Oermania ; W. D. Perry, Proprietor of the County Neics ; Geo. W. Cyrus,
Proprietor of Camp Point Journal, ; Orestes Ames, Esq. ; Al])ert Beebe, Esq. ; Dr. Joseph
Bobbins, Dr. M. F. Bassett, Lorenzo Bull, Esq. ; Wm. McFaden, Esq. ; Chas. W. Kcyes,
Ben. H. Miller, John Wessels, Michael Farrell, John Williams, E. K. Stone, Gen. E. B.
Hamilton, A. W. Blakesley, John J. Metzger, John M. Grimes, Hon. J. N. Carter, Mavor
W. T. Rogers, Mrs. Sarali Denman, Mrs. Chas. H. IVIorton, Mrs. Jacob Dick, Col. K." K.
Jones, Joseph H. Stewart, John M. Sterne, John T. Turner, Col. S. B. Chittenden, S. H.
Bradley, Adam E. Horn, Thomas Bailey, Richard Seaton, E. B. Curtis, Prof. S. F. Hall,
Hon. Maurice Kelly, Dr. T. G. Black, James Campbell, Charles Ballow, Wm. ]\Iontgomery,
S. M. Irwin, Solomon Wigle, Edw'd F. Humphrey, Perry Alexander, Rev. Wm. Stewart,
Henry Summers, J. O Bernard, Woodford Lawrence, W. A. Mitchell, Rev. H. C Adams,
H. E. Wharton, R. F. Edmunds, W. C. Taylor, Osker Wagy, Rev. G. W. Huntley, Philo E.
Thompson, Joel K. Scarborough, Brackett Pottle, Geo. H. Walker, J. B- Fraize"r, Alex M.
Smith, D. Whitlock, Hon. Ira Tyler, Philip Fahs, C. J. Tenhaeft", J. J. Graham, Charles M.
Gammer, James Sykes, M. D., James Richardson, Sr., Hon. W. T. Yeargain, Michael Ste-
vens, Christopher Seals, Paris T. Judy, Geo. Phirman, Henry Renken, "A. C. Robertson,
Wm. Sykes, Geo. Hughes, E. W. Lierly, Geo. Cutforth, Laris Pulman, Ii-win Anderson,
W. D. Dodd, J. W. SteflFen.
To the above persons, to the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Adams county, to the
members of the Newspaper Press of the county generally, to the Pastors and Officers of the
various churches, and to the many citizens throughout the county wlio have so courteouslj-
assisted us in this arduous labor, we tender our most sincere thanks.
And now we write the word Finia. Our work conscientiously performed, is complete.
The result we hand j^ou, believing that when you have carefully examined it, you will find
it comparatively free from errors, and to contain much that you will be proud to transmit
to posterity; and we hope and trust you can truthfully award us the verdict, "well done.-"
To our numerous subscribers and their families, this volume is respectfully dedicated
by the publishers,
Murray, Williamson & Phelps.
July, 1879.
INDEX.
HISTORICAL .
The Northwest Territory:
fiarly French Explorations in the Mississippi
Valley 7
Early Settlements in the Northwest 14
The Northwestern Territory 22
The Louisiana Purchase 28
Indian Wars in the Northwest 34
Sketches of Black Hawk and Other Chiefs... 42
Early Navi2;ation of Western Rivers 56
Archseology of the Northwett. 59
Sketches of the Western and Northwestern
States 67
Expedition of Lewis and Clark 86
Sketch of Chicago 96
History of Illinois:
Former Occupants 17
Indians 21
Early Discoveries 31
French Occupation 44
English Rule 47
County of Illinois 55
Northwestern Territory 55
Ordinance of 1787 56
Illinois Territory 59
War of 1813. The Outbreak 59
Illinois as a Stale 74
Indian Troubles 83
Black Hawk War 84
From 1834 to 1842 95
Prairie Pirates 102
Morman War 104
Mexican War 118
Dress and Manners 149
Physical Features of Illinois.. 154
Agriculture 155
Governors of Illinois 157
United States Senators 162
Representatives in Congress 165
Chicago 170
States of the Union 177
Digest of State Laws 187-238
History of Adams County 239
Chapter I.
Boundaries— Geological —Carboniferous— St. Louis
Sand Stone — Kinderhook Group— Economical
Geology — Bituminous Coal — Limestone for
Lime — Clay and Sand for Brick— Soil and
Timber 239
Chapter II.
French Missionaries— Discovery of the Mississippi-
History Prior to State Organization— First White
Settlement of the County— Organization of the
County— Origin of Names of County and County
Seat — First Election— Court Seals — Entry of
County Seat Land— Quincy Platted— First Sale
of Town Lots— First Marriage 257
Chapter III.
First Court House — County Commissioners'
Court— Town Rates— Rules of County Commis-
sioner's Court— Lead Mine Excitement — Suck-
ers—School and Temperance— First Stock of
Goods— First Ferry Rates— Maine Street Opened
in Quincy— Fiscal — First County Jail— First
Preaching— Brick Made — Deep Snow 266
Chapter IV.
First Flouring Mill— Land OfBce Investigation—
Tavern Rates Established— Weather in 1832—
Black Hawk War- Anecdotes— Causes of Slow
Growth — Cholera— Population— Prices of Pro-
duce — Wild-cat Schemes — Agricultural —
Mails- Prices in Quincy — The Jail —Election
Precincts — Incorporation — County Seat Con-
test— Columbus— Highland County 272
Chapter V.
The Mormons— The Quincy Riflemen— The Mexican
War 296
Chapter VI.
The California Excitement— The Asiatic Cholera,
Etc 307
Chapter VII.
Township Organization— Origin — Report of Com-
missioners-Division of County into Town-
ships—First Meeting of Board— Names of Mem-
bers-Election Precincts— Aid to Soldiers' Fam-
ilies-Difficulties in Paying Taxes — Bounty
Act— County Line 312
Chapter VIII.
Burning of the Court House- County Seat Elec-
tion—The New Court House— Proceedings of
the Board of Supervisors in Relation to the
Building— Description of the Building as Com-
pleted—Occupancy 332
Chapter IX.
The Civil War— Cairo Expedition— Col. B. M. Pren-
tiss takes Command — Ten Regiments of In fantry
and Cavalry— Cavalry— Independent Regiments
— New Call — General Call — Recruiting again
Stopped — Recruiting for Old Regiments— Ex-
citement in May — Last Calls — Appointments
and Promotions 330
.351
Chapter X.
Adams County — War Record
Chapter XI.
Early Settlements— By Whom and How Made— First
Settlers— Old Settlers' Society— List of Mem.
bers — Eirly Experiences —First Ferry— Eirly
Customs— Lost Children— First Mill— Their Life ^
and Work 395
Chapter XII.
Bench and Bar— Judges of Circuit Court— Primi-
tive Practice— Early Members— Legal Contests
—Bar Association 407
Chapter XIII.
Miscellaneous Mention— County Officials— Precinct
Elections, 1835— First Court— First Probate Mat-
ters—High Water— Agricultural Society 420
Chapter XIV.
The Press ^29
Chapter XV.
Horticultural— Medical Society 435
Chapter XVI.
history of Q0INCT.
Historical— City Officers- Commercial and Manufac-
turing—Ice Harvest— Churches— Water Works
VI
INDEX.
HISTORICAIi.— CONTINUED.
— Fire Department— Schools — Academy of Mu-
sic—Opera House — Railroad Bridge— Military —
Societies — Railroads — Building Association-
Gas Company— Cemeteries 453
Chapter XVII.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
Beverly — Benton— Camp Point— Clayton— Concord
— Columbus- Ellington — Fall Creek— Gilmer-
Houston— Honey Creek— Keene— Lima— Liberty
— Mendon — Melrose — McKee— Northeast- Pay-
son— Richfield- Ursa 503
Concluding Chapter.
Mounts and Mound-Builders — Swamp and Over-
flowed Lands— The Soldiers" Monument— The
County Poor— Temperance— Educational-Pub-
lic Buildings— Benevolent Societies— Firemens'
Benevolenr Association— Quincy Free Reading
Room— Q,uiiicy Library— Tiie Youn^Mens' Chris-
tian Association — C'haiitable Aid and Hospi-
tal A6'<ociation— Qnincy Work House— Hotels —
Manufactories— The Wholesale Trade of Quincy
— Quincy Horse Railway and Carrying Com-
pany — United Presbyterian Church, of Clayton —
Chii.>itian Church, Pleasant View — Christian
Church, Ursa 933
ILLUSTRATIONS— NORTH'tVEST HISTORY.
Westward, the Star of Empire takes its vyay 17
An Indian Camp 33
Indian-; irying a Prisoner 49
A Pioneer Winter 65
Lincoln Monument, Springfield 72
Chicago in 1820 , 97
Present site of Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, 1833. 97
Old Fort Dearborn, 18.30 103
The Old Kinzie House 103
ILLUSTRATIONS -STATE HISTORY, ETC.
IllinoLs State Capitol 17
Starved Rock on Illinois River near Peru 25
Iroquois Chief 37
Gen. George Rogers Clark 49
Gen. Arthur St. Clair 59
Pontiac, The Ottawa Chief 69
Black Hawk, The Sac Chief 85
Insane Hospit il, Jacksonville 99
Illinois Industrial University 99
Illinois Institute for Deaf and Dumb.. Ill
Illinois Charitable Kve and Ear Infirmary 115
Southern Illinois Normal University, Carbon-
dale 121
Illinois Asylum for Feeble Miuded .Children 143
Scene on Pox River 151
Passenger Depot L. S. &. M. S., and C. R. I. & P.
R. R. Companies, Chicago 167
Sectional View of LaSaile Street Tannel 170
Inter-State Industrial Exposition 173
Lake Crib Chicago Water Works 177
Adam!^ County Court Hjuse 2 58
Franklin School, Quincy 478
The Jeffer'-on School, Quincy 482
Maplewood High School, Camp Point 514
Chaddack College, Quiucy 940
St. Francis Solauus College, Quincy 942
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Abel Christian 540
Artus Joseph 460
Bailey Thomas 752
Baker Aaron 888
Baker George 552
Bassett M. F 596
Batscuv C 760
Leebe Silas 398
Bebrensmeyer C. F. A 374
Binkert A 310
BlackT.G 734
Booth Stephen , 800
Bowles A. E 286
Bowles Holmau 366
Bradley Daniel 786
Bradley S . H 794
Bredewpg JohnG. H 718
Browning Hon. O. H 406
Brophy Georee 318
Buttz A. H. D 402
Byrd Wm. A., M. D 608
Cadogan John P 433
Campbell James 278
Castle T. H 264
Chapman E. W 286
Chase Charles 286
Chittendrjn John B 788
Chittenden S. R 790
Church Samuel P = 270
Calvin D. P ' 810
Cooley Hon. H. S 160
Cranshaw Tneophilus 846
Crippen Samuel L 382
Curtis C. R. S 612
Cutfoflh George 366
Cyrus George W 512
DanehertyM 810
Davis Levi 854
Fairchild M. Augusta 622
Frazer James 286
PAGE.
Gartner Henry J 432
GayV. P. 760
Geisel Henry .'i90
flallS. F 294
Hardv-I.P 534
Haseiwood Willis 302
Hulse Wm 724
Iu2rah;im Thos .• 760
Jarrett James 456
Jones K. K 390
JudyParisT 366
Kelley Hon. Maurice 880
Kendall Lewis 724
Keyes Willard 258
King E. M . : .♦. 902
Kinney Benjamin 502
Langdon Addison L... 430
Larimore Albert W 552
Larimore J. W 552
Lawrence Woodford 552
Lewi'fEber 728
Likes A. H 888
Likes Wm 88'^
Logue J. C 518
Lowery Thos 760
Mclntyre Robert 540
Moecker H 664
Montgomery Wm 748
Moore F. C 486
Moore John, M . D 494
Morgan Gen. Jas. D 352
Morris George 366
ilorrison Hugh C 888
Morton CM 510
Nichols James 810
Norwood J. E 670
Ording Henry 326
PfanschmidtH. C 724
PfeitferP 590
Powell <J0hn 526
INDEX.
POKTRAITS.— CONTINUED.
PAGE.
Powell Wm. C 526
Ealston J.N 680
Rankin Robert 910
Redmond Thos 472
Richardson Gen. James 502
Robertgon John B 502
Roeschlaub M. J 448
Rogers W. T .' 452
Ruddell J. M 800
Ravage Chas. A 728
Seals C 534
Seals Joseph 534
SegerS. E 466
Sheer David 540
Singleton Gen. Jas. W 498
Steiner Michael 534
Sterne John W 526
PAGB.
Stewart J. H 434
Summers Henry .."!.546
Summers Richard [ I526
Sykes James Sen 820
Tenhoeff C. J !!!874
Tenhoeff W goo
Terrill Geo. F ! ! . . 506
Thompson W. H 566
Tillsou Gen. John .330
Van Der Wall Peter ....!502
Wagner Jacob . 590
Walker Geo. H .810
Wible Daniel 800
Wilcox Daniel 428
Williams Archibald 414
Wii^kiarchen Heinrich 590
Wood Ex-Gov. John Frontispiece
BIOGRAPHICAIi TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
PAGE.
Ci';y of Quincy 591-716
Ellington 734
Clayton 753
Camp Point 772
Melrose ...787
Mpndon 800
Ursa 811
Beverly • 821
Payson 841
McKee 847
Lima 856
PAGE.
Keene 863
Northeast ' 876
Liberty 883
Richfield 891
Honey Creek 901
Gilmer 907
Pall Creek 914
Burton 920
Columbus 924
Houston 928
Miscellaneous 931
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
Mao of Adams County Front .
Official Vote of Adams County 450-451
Tabular statement 45'^
8th Regiment Illinois Natiinal Guards 561
ConBtitutii.n of United States 567
Electors of Presidt-ut and Vice-President, 1876. .579
Practical Rules for E > ery Day Use 579
U. S Government Land Measure 582
Surveyors' Measure 583
How to Keep Accounts 583
PAGE.
Interest Table 584
Miscellaneous Table 584
Population of the United States 585
Population of Fifty Principal Cities 585
Population of Illinois .586-.587
Agricultural Productions of Illinois by Cjuu-
tiL-8 1870, 588-589
Population and Area of th- United States 590
Population and Area of the Principal Coun-
tries of the world 590
Canl
^^P OF
County "i^'
The Northwest Territory.
EAELY FRENCH EXPLORATIONS Us THE MISSISSIPPI
YALLEY.
De Soto — Lo Caron — Samuel de Champlain — French Adventurers — James Marquette — Louis
Joliet — Embarkation to Explore New Countries — Lake Michigan and Green Bay — The
"Ouisconsin" — Indian Accounts of the Countiy — Discovering' the Great River — Indian
Name of the River — Joy of the Explorers — Interview with Indians on Iowa Soil — Feast —
Speech of an Indian Chief — The Des Moines River — " Muddy Water " — The Arkansas —
Return — Indian Nations — Marquette's Record — His Subsequent Voyage — La Vantura —
Marquette's Death — Removal of His Remains — Joliet's Subsequent Explorations — Robert
La Salle — Louis Hennepin — Chevalier de Tonti — De La Motte — Fort Crevecceur — Henne-
pin's Voyage — Falls of St. Anthony — Seur de Luth — Hennepin's Claims as an Explorer —
!' Colonization of Louisiana — Dissensions — Murder of La SaJle.
The three great colonizing powers of the Old World first to raise the
standard of civilization within the limits of North America were France,
England, and Spain. The French made their earliest settlements in the
cold and inhospitable regions of Quebec; the English at Jamestown, Vir-
ginia, and at Plymouth, Massachusetts; and the Spaniards on the barren
sands of Florida. To the French belongs the honor of discovering and colo-
nizing that portion of our country known as the Valley of the Mississipj)i,
including all that magnificent region watered by the tributaries of the Great
River. It is true that more than one hundred years earlier (1538-41) the
Spanish explorer, De Soto, liad landed on the coast of Florida, penetrated the
everglades and unbroken forests of the south, finally reaching the banks of
the Great River, probably near where the city of Memphis now stands.
Crossing the river, he and his companions pursued their journey for some
distance along the west bank, thence to the Ozark Mountains and the Hot
Springs of Arkansas, and returning to the place of his death on the banks of
the Mississippi. It was a perilous expedition indeed, characterized by all
the splendor, romance and valor which usually attended Spanish adventurers
of that age. De Soto and his companions were the first Europeans to behold
the waters of the Mississippi, but the expedition was a failure so far as related
to colonization. The requiem chanted by his companions as his remains
were committed to the waters of the great river lie had discovered, died
away with the solemn murmurs of the stream, and the white man's voice
was not heard again in the, valley for more than a hundred years. De Soto
had landed at Tampa Bay, on the coast of Florida, with a fleet of nine ves-
sels and seven hundred men. More than half of them died, and the remainder
made their way to Cuba, and finally back to Spain.
Four years before the pilgrims "moored their bark on the wild Kew Eng-
land shore," a French Franciscan, named Le Caron, penetrated the region of
1
8 THE NORTUWEST TEREITORT.
the great Inlces of tlie north, then the home of the Troqnois and the Huron s,
but a Frencli settlement had been establislied at Quebec bj Samuel de
Champlain in 1008. This was followed by the establishment of various
colonies in Canada, and the hardy French adventurers penetrated the coun-
try by the way of the St. Lawrence and the lakes. In lGi!5 a number of
missionaries of the Society of Jesus arrived in Canada from France, and
during the succeeding forty years extended their missions all along the
shores of Lake Superior.
In 1G37 a child was born at the little city of Laon, in France, whose
destiny it was in the fullness of time to be instrumental in the hands of
Providence in giving to the world a definite knowlcd"^e of the grandest and
most fertile region ever opened up to civilization. That chilcl was James
Marquette, the descendant of a family of Celtic nobles. He entered the
Society of Jesus when seventeen years of age, and soon conceived a desire to
engage in the labors of a missionary among the Indians. He sailed for
Quebec in 1666, and two years later founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie
at the Falls of St. Mary. The winter of 1669-70 he spent at Point St.
Ignatius, where he established another mission. Here the old town of
Michillimackinac, afterward called Mackinaw, was founded. It was from
Indians of the different tribes who came to this mission tliat he received
Adlh
1132544
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
*>»
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 00828 8844
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofadamscoOOchic
~-iif*s^s*^
qUlNCY
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.
History of the Northwest, History of Illinois,
Map of Adams County, Constitution of the United States,
Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED. ,
CHICAGO:
MURRAY, WILLIAMSON & PHELPS,
85 Washington St.
1879.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
MURRAY, WILLIAMSON & PHELPS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
Blakei.y, Brown & Marsh, Manufactured hy
Printers, Donohue & Henneberry,
155 and :S7 Dearborn Street, Chicago. Chicago.
PREFACE.
113254.1
Could Time's eternal scroll have been unrolled by some magic hand, and three score
C^years of his close-mouthed secrets been portrayed in panoramic view to the astonished gaze
)/, of John Wood, as he stood upon the rugged crest of the bluft" where the city of Quincy now
is, and took a survey of the Great River" as it flowed on in silent, resistless grandeur, with
bosom unrufiied by paddle or oar ; or turnin
dressed and ever varying landscape of undi
away until the green and blue blent in misty
bird, have fluttered to be free from its narrow^ house, that the disenthralled spirit might
rise heavenward to mingle with the forest choristers his meed of praise to the God of Na-
ture and of Time.
More than fifty-eight eventful years have been erased from the eternity of the future and
written in the eternity of the past since that day, and still the grand old man lives to see
the scroll of time unrolled.
When Mr. Wood stood upon the site of Quincy, in February, 1819, and resolved that he
would plant civilization on that spot, there was no mark of the white man's presence in the
ainbroken wilderness of what is now Adams County. The woodman's despoiling ax had
"leveled no tree of the primitive forest, nor had the then rude implements of the husband-
man disturbed a wisp of the prairie virgin sward. The herds of sleek deer leisurely cropped
the tender herbage of the thicket, or lay lazily ruminating in the shaded glen, without
knowledge or fear of the argus-eyed huntsman ; the saucy wolves galloped in gangs about
the prairies, in search of victims on which to glut their screed for blood, regardless of the
near coming of their most deadly foe; while the wild Indian indolently floated about in his
bark canoe fishing, or wandered over his "happy hunting grounds" in search of game,
with no thought of being disposessed of his domain by the encroachments of the greedy
W^ale face. But what change busy mind and hand hath wrought in little more than half a
\century ! In the year 1822, John Wood returned to put his former resolution into execution
and planted the nucleus of the new order of things by erecting the first cabin, in December
of that year. Willard Keyes built the second one, on the site of Quincy, while Justice I.
Perigo and Daniel Lisle settled in other parts of the county about the same time. Ihus
began wdiice man's history in Adams county, now one of the most populous and wealthy
in the great " North West." .
It is to gather up and arrange in chronological order and historic form the important
events that have transpired during this marked transition of the wild wilderness to the
beautiful cultivated farms, the ^' Red man's" wigwam to the palatial home, and the
teeming towns and cities, with their fine business blocks, their splendid school houses,
colleges and church edifices, and from the diminutive Indian pony to the iron horse and the
harnessed lightning, as vehicles of burden and thought, that we, with our corps ot helpers
have many months been engaged. This volume is the result of these months ot diligent
labor and earnest research. f+ f
The value of a history depends upon its accuracy. Truth must ever be the motto oi
the historian, else his book is but a prosy, pointless fable. It has been the purpose ana ei-
fort of the publishers of this work to compile a reliable and valuable reference book lor tne
posterity of those heroic fathers and mothers who battled with nature and won. Many
were their labors, hardships and privations during those years of pioneer lite, but gi ana
have been the results. To gather up the fragmentary facts of nearly sixty years, many oi
them hitherto unwritten, and only treasured in the minds of those early settlers who were
the actors in, or observers of, what transpired, the details and important connections oi
which have slipped through the meshes of memory— and rivet them into a faulMess cnain
of history, is beyond mortal ken. But neither time nor eftbrt has been spared to Procure
the " missing links " and bridge the chasms, so as to present to our readers as compieie a
record as possible. How well we have succeeded in the object sought they must jua^e,
but we trust not rashly, for in seeking for information to establish points ot ^^^^^^^^Vfiv
terest, while generally we and our assistants received the kindest of treatment '^ii*^ J^^ j^
responses to such inquiries, there are other instances where every atterupt was oame ,
either by the inexcusable delay in furnishing promised matter, or willful indiflerence "i j;"^
persons appealed to. Then, too, there are frequently dilferences of opinion as regar
PEEFACE. IV
the dates, names, etc., in -which cases some one will declare the record ol them in this work
at fault; but in every instance the most reliable data were obtained and published. As
far as the history is founded upon recorded facts, it can be safely said to be trustworthy
for it was written with great care with reference to dates and proper names.
The war record was compiled from the Adjutant General's, and other published re-
ports, and carefully re-read and compared, and will be found very correct.
The history of the county seat contest, which is quite full, was also obtained from
published facts and records, and from living witnesses, and prepared with special pre-
caution.
Quite a large portion of the history of the early settlement of the county was procured
through ex-Governor John Wood, and from the records of the "Old Settlers' Association,"
and from General John Tillson's carefully kept memorabilia of dates and occurrences, as he
has gathered them from the most authentic sources, and from his own acute observations
and wonderful memory.
Whatever of merit this volume possesses as a work of history, is very largely due to the
material furnished and other invaluable aid, so cheerfully rendered in many ways, to the
publishers and their agents, by the persons whose names we here mention in grateful
acknowledgement :
Ex-Gov. John Wood, Gen. John Tillson, Willis Haselwood, County Clerk, and his ef-
ficient deputy, Mr. Head; Gen. James W. Singleton, Hon. O. H. Browning, Gen. J, D.
Morgan, Anton Binkert, County Treasurer; George Brophy, Circuit Clerk : Col. Edward
Prince, Cadogan & Gardner, of the Quincy Herald ; D. Wilcox & Sons, Qxiincy Whig ;
Addison L. Langdon, Quincy Commercial Review ; Quincy Daily News ; G. L. Hoffmann,
Editor of the Oermania ; W. D. Perry, Proprietor of the County Neics ; Geo. W. Cyrus,
Proprietor of Camp Point Journal, ; Orestes Ames, Esq. ; Al])ert Beebe, Esq. ; Dr. Joseph
Bobbins, Dr. M. F. Bassett, Lorenzo Bull, Esq. ; Wm. McFaden, Esq. ; Chas. W. Kcyes,
Ben. H. Miller, John Wessels, Michael Farrell, John Williams, E. K. Stone, Gen. E. B.
Hamilton, A. W. Blakesley, John J. Metzger, John M. Grimes, Hon. J. N. Carter, Mavor
W. T. Rogers, Mrs. Sarali Denman, Mrs. Chas. H. IVIorton, Mrs. Jacob Dick, Col. K." K.
Jones, Joseph H. Stewart, John M. Sterne, John T. Turner, Col. S. B. Chittenden, S. H.
Bradley, Adam E. Horn, Thomas Bailey, Richard Seaton, E. B. Curtis, Prof. S. F. Hall,
Hon. Maurice Kelly, Dr. T. G. Black, James Campbell, Charles Ballow, Wm. ]\Iontgomery,
S. M. Irwin, Solomon Wigle, Edw'd F. Humphrey, Perry Alexander, Rev. Wm. Stewart,
Henry Summers, J. O Bernard, Woodford Lawrence, W. A. Mitchell, Rev. H. C Adams,
H. E. Wharton, R. F. Edmunds, W. C. Taylor, Osker Wagy, Rev. G. W. Huntley, Philo E.
Thompson, Joel K. Scarborough, Brackett Pottle, Geo. H. Walker, J. B- Fraize"r, Alex M.
Smith, D. Whitlock, Hon. Ira Tyler, Philip Fahs, C. J. Tenhaeft", J. J. Graham, Charles M.
Gammer, James Sykes, M. D., James Richardson, Sr., Hon. W. T. Yeargain, Michael Ste-
vens, Christopher Seals, Paris T. Judy, Geo. Phirman, Henry Renken, "A. C. Robertson,
Wm. Sykes, Geo. Hughes, E. W. Lierly, Geo. Cutforth, Laris Pulman, Ii-win Anderson,
W. D. Dodd, J. W. SteflFen.
To the above persons, to the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Adams county, to the
members of the Newspaper Press of the county generally, to the Pastors and Officers of the
various churches, and to the many citizens throughout the county wlio have so courteouslj-
assisted us in this arduous labor, we tender our most sincere thanks.
And now we write the word Finia. Our work conscientiously performed, is complete.
The result we hand j^ou, believing that when you have carefully examined it, you will find
it comparatively free from errors, and to contain much that you will be proud to transmit
to posterity; and we hope and trust you can truthfully award us the verdict, "well done.-"
To our numerous subscribers and their families, this volume is respectfully dedicated
by the publishers,
Murray, Williamson & Phelps.
July, 1879.
INDEX.
HISTORICAL .
The Northwest Territory:
fiarly French Explorations in the Mississippi
Valley 7
Early Settlements in the Northwest 14
The Northwestern Territory 22
The Louisiana Purchase 28
Indian Wars in the Northwest 34
Sketches of Black Hawk and Other Chiefs... 42
Early Navi2;ation of Western Rivers 56
Archseology of the Northwett. 59
Sketches of the Western and Northwestern
States 67
Expedition of Lewis and Clark 86
Sketch of Chicago 96
History of Illinois:
Former Occupants 17
Indians 21
Early Discoveries 31
French Occupation 44
English Rule 47
County of Illinois 55
Northwestern Territory 55
Ordinance of 1787 56
Illinois Territory 59
War of 1813. The Outbreak 59
Illinois as a Stale 74
Indian Troubles 83
Black Hawk War 84
From 1834 to 1842 95
Prairie Pirates 102
Morman War 104
Mexican War 118
Dress and Manners 149
Physical Features of Illinois.. 154
Agriculture 155
Governors of Illinois 157
United States Senators 162
Representatives in Congress 165
Chicago 170
States of the Union 177
Digest of State Laws 187-238
History of Adams County 239
Chapter I.
Boundaries— Geological —Carboniferous— St. Louis
Sand Stone — Kinderhook Group— Economical
Geology — Bituminous Coal — Limestone for
Lime — Clay and Sand for Brick— Soil and
Timber 239
Chapter II.
French Missionaries— Discovery of the Mississippi-
History Prior to State Organization— First White
Settlement of the County— Organization of the
County— Origin of Names of County and County
Seat — First Election— Court Seals — Entry of
County Seat Land— Quincy Platted— First Sale
of Town Lots— First Marriage 257
Chapter III.
First Court House — County Commissioners'
Court— Town Rates— Rules of County Commis-
sioner's Court— Lead Mine Excitement — Suck-
ers—School and Temperance— First Stock of
Goods— First Ferry Rates— Maine Street Opened
in Quincy— Fiscal — First County Jail— First
Preaching— Brick Made — Deep Snow 266
Chapter IV.
First Flouring Mill— Land OfBce Investigation—
Tavern Rates Established— Weather in 1832—
Black Hawk War- Anecdotes— Causes of Slow
Growth — Cholera— Population— Prices of Pro-
duce — Wild-cat Schemes — Agricultural —
Mails- Prices in Quincy — The Jail —Election
Precincts — Incorporation — County Seat Con-
test— Columbus— Highland County 272
Chapter V.
The Mormons— The Quincy Riflemen— The Mexican
War 296
Chapter VI.
The California Excitement— The Asiatic Cholera,
Etc 307
Chapter VII.
Township Organization— Origin — Report of Com-
missioners-Division of County into Town-
ships—First Meeting of Board— Names of Mem-
bers-Election Precincts— Aid to Soldiers' Fam-
ilies-Difficulties in Paying Taxes — Bounty
Act— County Line 312
Chapter VIII.
Burning of the Court House- County Seat Elec-
tion—The New Court House— Proceedings of
the Board of Supervisors in Relation to the
Building— Description of the Building as Com-
pleted—Occupancy 332
Chapter IX.
The Civil War— Cairo Expedition— Col. B. M. Pren-
tiss takes Command — Ten Regiments of In fantry
and Cavalry— Cavalry— Independent Regiments
— New Call — General Call — Recruiting again
Stopped — Recruiting for Old Regiments— Ex-
citement in May — Last Calls — Appointments
and Promotions 330
.351
Chapter X.
Adams County — War Record
Chapter XI.
Early Settlements— By Whom and How Made— First
Settlers— Old Settlers' Society— List of Mem.
bers — Eirly Experiences —First Ferry— Eirly
Customs— Lost Children— First Mill— Their Life ^
and Work 395
Chapter XII.
Bench and Bar— Judges of Circuit Court— Primi-
tive Practice— Early Members— Legal Contests
—Bar Association 407
Chapter XIII.
Miscellaneous Mention— County Officials— Precinct
Elections, 1835— First Court— First Probate Mat-
ters—High Water— Agricultural Society 420
Chapter XIV.
The Press ^29
Chapter XV.
Horticultural— Medical Society 435
Chapter XVI.
history of Q0INCT.
Historical— City Officers- Commercial and Manufac-
turing—Ice Harvest— Churches— Water Works
VI
INDEX.
HISTORICAIi.— CONTINUED.
— Fire Department— Schools — Academy of Mu-
sic—Opera House — Railroad Bridge— Military —
Societies — Railroads — Building Association-
Gas Company— Cemeteries 453
Chapter XVII.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
Beverly — Benton— Camp Point— Clayton— Concord
— Columbus- Ellington — Fall Creek— Gilmer-
Houston— Honey Creek— Keene— Lima— Liberty
— Mendon — Melrose — McKee— Northeast- Pay-
son— Richfield- Ursa 503
Concluding Chapter.
Mounts and Mound-Builders — Swamp and Over-
flowed Lands— The Soldiers" Monument— The
County Poor— Temperance— Educational-Pub-
lic Buildings— Benevolent Societies— Firemens'
Benevolenr Association— Quincy Free Reading
Room— Q,uiiicy Library— Tiie Youn^Mens' Chris-
tian Association — C'haiitable Aid and Hospi-
tal A6'<ociation— Qnincy Work House— Hotels —
Manufactories— The Wholesale Trade of Quincy
— Quincy Horse Railway and Carrying Com-
pany — United Presbyterian Church, of Clayton —
Chii.>itian Church, Pleasant View — Christian
Church, Ursa 933
ILLUSTRATIONS— NORTH'tVEST HISTORY.
Westward, the Star of Empire takes its vyay 17
An Indian Camp 33
Indian-; irying a Prisoner 49
A Pioneer Winter 65
Lincoln Monument, Springfield 72
Chicago in 1820 , 97
Present site of Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, 1833. 97
Old Fort Dearborn, 18.30 103
The Old Kinzie House 103
ILLUSTRATIONS -STATE HISTORY, ETC.
IllinoLs State Capitol 17
Starved Rock on Illinois River near Peru 25
Iroquois Chief 37
Gen. George Rogers Clark 49
Gen. Arthur St. Clair 59
Pontiac, The Ottawa Chief 69
Black Hawk, The Sac Chief 85
Insane Hospit il, Jacksonville 99
Illinois Industrial University 99
Illinois Institute for Deaf and Dumb.. Ill
Illinois Charitable Kve and Ear Infirmary 115
Southern Illinois Normal University, Carbon-
dale 121
Illinois Asylum for Feeble Miuded .Children 143
Scene on Pox River 151
Passenger Depot L. S. &. M. S., and C. R. I. & P.
R. R. Companies, Chicago 167
Sectional View of LaSaile Street Tannel 170
Inter-State Industrial Exposition 173
Lake Crib Chicago Water Works 177
Adam!^ County Court Hjuse 2 58
Franklin School, Quincy 478
The Jeffer'-on School, Quincy 482
Maplewood High School, Camp Point 514
Chaddack College, Quiucy 940
St. Francis Solauus College, Quincy 942
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Abel Christian 540
Artus Joseph 460
Bailey Thomas 752
Baker Aaron 888
Baker George 552
Bassett M. F 596
Batscuv C 760
Leebe Silas 398
Bebrensmeyer C. F. A 374
Binkert A 310
BlackT.G 734
Booth Stephen , 800
Bowles A. E 286
Bowles Holmau 366
Bradley Daniel 786
Bradley S . H 794
Bredewpg JohnG. H 718
Browning Hon. O. H 406
Brophy Georee 318
Buttz A. H. D 402
Byrd Wm. A., M. D 608
Cadogan John P 433
Campbell James 278
Castle T. H 264
Chapman E. W 286
Chase Charles 286
Chittendrjn John B 788
Chittenden S. R 790
Church Samuel P = 270
Calvin D. P ' 810
Cooley Hon. H. S 160
Cranshaw Tneophilus 846
Crippen Samuel L 382
Curtis C. R. S 612
Cutfoflh George 366
Cyrus George W 512
DanehertyM 810
Davis Levi 854
Fairchild M. Augusta 622
Frazer James 286
PAGE.
Gartner Henry J 432
GayV. P. 760
Geisel Henry .'i90
flallS. F 294
Hardv-I.P 534
Haseiwood Willis 302
Hulse Wm 724
Iu2rah;im Thos .• 760
Jarrett James 456
Jones K. K 390
JudyParisT 366
Kelley Hon. Maurice 880
Kendall Lewis 724
Keyes Willard 258
King E. M . : .♦. 902
Kinney Benjamin 502
Langdon Addison L... 430
Larimore Albert W 552
Larimore J. W 552
Lawrence Woodford 552
Lewi'fEber 728
Likes A. H 888
Likes Wm 88'^
Logue J. C 518
Lowery Thos 760
Mclntyre Robert 540
Moecker H 664
Montgomery Wm 748
Moore F. C 486
Moore John, M . D 494
Morgan Gen. Jas. D 352
Morris George 366
ilorrison Hugh C 888
Morton CM 510
Nichols James 810
Norwood J. E 670
Ording Henry 326
PfanschmidtH. C 724
PfeitferP 590
Powell <J0hn 526
INDEX.
POKTRAITS.— CONTINUED.
PAGE.
Powell Wm. C 526
Ealston J.N 680
Rankin Robert 910
Redmond Thos 472
Richardson Gen. James 502
Robertgon John B 502
Roeschlaub M. J 448
Rogers W. T .' 452
Ruddell J. M 800
Ravage Chas. A 728
Seals C 534
Seals Joseph 534
SegerS. E 466
Sheer David 540
Singleton Gen. Jas. W 498
Steiner Michael 534
Sterne John W 526
PAGB.
Stewart J. H 434
Summers Henry .."!.546
Summers Richard [ I526
Sykes James Sen 820
Tenhoeff C. J !!!874
Tenhoeff W goo
Terrill Geo. F ! ! . . 506
Thompson W. H 566
Tillsou Gen. John .330
Van Der Wall Peter ....!502
Wagner Jacob . 590
Walker Geo. H .810
Wible Daniel 800
Wilcox Daniel 428
Williams Archibald 414
Wii^kiarchen Heinrich 590
Wood Ex-Gov. John Frontispiece
BIOGRAPHICAIi TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
PAGE.
Ci';y of Quincy 591-716
Ellington 734
Clayton 753
Camp Point 772
Melrose ...787
Mpndon 800
Ursa 811
Beverly • 821
Payson 841
McKee 847
Lima 856
PAGE.
Keene 863
Northeast ' 876
Liberty 883
Richfield 891
Honey Creek 901
Gilmer 907
Pall Creek 914
Burton 920
Columbus 924
Houston 928
Miscellaneous 931
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
Mao of Adams County Front .
Official Vote of Adams County 450-451
Tabular statement 45'^
8th Regiment Illinois Natiinal Guards 561
ConBtitutii.n of United States 567
Electors of Presidt-ut and Vice-President, 1876. .579
Practical Rules for E > ery Day Use 579
U. S Government Land Measure 582
Surveyors' Measure 583
How to Keep Accounts 583
PAGE.
Interest Table 584
Miscellaneous Table 584
Population of the United States 585
Population of Fifty Principal Cities 585
Population of Illinois .586-.587
Agricultural Productions of Illinois by Cjuu-
tiL-8 1870, 588-589
Population and Area of th- United States 590
Population and Area of the Principal Coun-
tries of the world 590
Canl
^^P OF
County "i^'
The Northwest Territory.
EAELY FRENCH EXPLORATIONS Us THE MISSISSIPPI
YALLEY.
De Soto — Lo Caron — Samuel de Champlain — French Adventurers — James Marquette — Louis
Joliet — Embarkation to Explore New Countries — Lake Michigan and Green Bay — The
"Ouisconsin" — Indian Accounts of the Countiy — Discovering' the Great River — Indian
Name of the River — Joy of the Explorers — Interview with Indians on Iowa Soil — Feast —
Speech of an Indian Chief — The Des Moines River — " Muddy Water " — The Arkansas —
Return — Indian Nations — Marquette's Record — His Subsequent Voyage — La Vantura —
Marquette's Death — Removal of His Remains — Joliet's Subsequent Explorations — Robert
La Salle — Louis Hennepin — Chevalier de Tonti — De La Motte — Fort Crevecceur — Henne-
pin's Voyage — Falls of St. Anthony — Seur de Luth — Hennepin's Claims as an Explorer —
!' Colonization of Louisiana — Dissensions — Murder of La SaJle.
The three great colonizing powers of the Old World first to raise the
standard of civilization within the limits of North America were France,
England, and Spain. The French made their earliest settlements in the
cold and inhospitable regions of Quebec; the English at Jamestown, Vir-
ginia, and at Plymouth, Massachusetts; and the Spaniards on the barren
sands of Florida. To the French belongs the honor of discovering and colo-
nizing that portion of our country known as the Valley of the Mississipj)i,
including all that magnificent region watered by the tributaries of the Great
River. It is true that more than one hundred years earlier (1538-41) the
Spanish explorer, De Soto, liad landed on the coast of Florida, penetrated the
everglades and unbroken forests of the south, finally reaching the banks of
the Great River, probably near where the city of Memphis now stands.
Crossing the river, he and his companions pursued their journey for some
distance along the west bank, thence to the Ozark Mountains and the Hot
Springs of Arkansas, and returning to the place of his death on the banks of
the Mississippi. It was a perilous expedition indeed, characterized by all
the splendor, romance and valor which usually attended Spanish adventurers
of that age. De Soto and his companions were the first Europeans to behold
the waters of the Mississippi, but the expedition was a failure so far as related
to colonization. The requiem chanted by his companions as his remains
were committed to the waters of the great river lie had discovered, died
away with the solemn murmurs of the stream, and the white man's voice
was not heard again in the, valley for more than a hundred years. De Soto
had landed at Tampa Bay, on the coast of Florida, with a fleet of nine ves-
sels and seven hundred men. More than half of them died, and the remainder
made their way to Cuba, and finally back to Spain.
Four years before the pilgrims "moored their bark on the wild Kew Eng-
land shore," a French Franciscan, named Le Caron, penetrated the region of
1
8 THE NORTUWEST TEREITORT.
the great Inlces of tlie north, then the home of the Troqnois and the Huron s,
but a Frencli settlement had been establislied at Quebec bj Samuel de
Champlain in 1008. This was followed by the establishment of various
colonies in Canada, and the hardy French adventurers penetrated the coun-
try by the way of the St. Lawrence and the lakes. In lGi!5 a number of
missionaries of the Society of Jesus arrived in Canada from France, and
during the succeeding forty years extended their missions all along the
shores of Lake Superior.
In 1G37 a child was born at the little city of Laon, in France, whose
destiny it was in the fullness of time to be instrumental in the hands of
Providence in giving to the world a definite knowlcd"^e of the grandest and
most fertile region ever opened up to civilization. That chilcl was James
Marquette, the descendant of a family of Celtic nobles. He entered the
Society of Jesus when seventeen years of age, and soon conceived a desire to
engage in the labors of a missionary among the Indians. He sailed for
Quebec in 1666, and two years later founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie
at the Falls of St. Mary. The winter of 1669-70 he spent at Point St.
Ignatius, where he established another mission. Here the old town of
Michillimackinac, afterward called Mackinaw, was founded. It was from
Indians of the different tribes who came to this mission tliat he received
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152
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