History of Illinois

\ HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. FROM ITS COMMENCEMENT AS A STATE IN 1818 TO 1847. o o n t a in i.n o a FULL AOUOtTNT OP THE BLACK IIAWK WAR, THE R1BE, PROORK8H, AND FALL OF MORMOKISM, THE ALTON AND LOVEJOY RIOTS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT AND INTER ESIN O EVENTS. BY THE LATE , GOV. THOMAS FT)RD. CHICAGO: PUBLISHED BY S. C. GRIGGS & CO., Ill LAKE STREET. NEW YORK: IVISON <t PHINNEY. 1854. ©SIUEIsiue.edu/digitalcollections Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year IW4, by 8 . C. GKIGGS & CO., In the Clerk’» office of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 6XKHS0XTP*D b y l’HOMAS B. SMITH, 216 Wllltani St. • p r * (§SIUE| siue.edu/digita ¡collections »*. .. " INTRODUCTION , BY OEN. JAMES SHIELDS. In 1850, while the author of this work was on his death-bed, he placed in my hands a manuscript, with the contents of which I was then wholly unacquainted, with the injunction that after his decease I should have it published for the benefit of his family. He soon after departed this life, leaving his orphan children in a des titute condition. In compliance with his dying request, I made re peated efforts to have the work published on terms that might secure some percentage to the orphans, but until my arrangements with the present publishers, all these efforts proved unsuccessful. By this arrangement the children will receive a liberal percentage on the sales of the work. The author, during his whole life, had very favorable opportunities for observing events and collecting infor mation connected with the history of his State. He was yet a child when his parents emigrated to Illinois. On arriving at maturity he was there admitted to the bar, and practised his profession for many years with ©SIUE | siue.edu/digitalcollections INTRODUCTION. very considerable success. He was afterwards elected an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, and discharged the duties of that responsible station with distinguished ability. Subsequently he was chosen Governor o f the State, which was the last public office he held. From this office he retired to private life, and during his retirement prepared this history for publica tion. His opinions of men and measures are very freely and unreservedly expressed; but they may be regarded as the opinions of a man of strong feelings, who took such an active part in many of the scenes which he repre sents, that it was impossible for him to describe them with ordinary moderation. I regret the severity of some of the author’s judg ments, and the censure with which he assails the char acter o f some of our public men, who are both my per sonal and political friends; but I feel it to be incumbent upon me, by the very nature and circumstances of the trust, not only to have the work published according to his injunction, for the purpose intended by him, but also to abstain from making any alteration in the text. I therefore give it to the public just as I received it from the hands of the author, and with the sincere hope, for the sake of his destitute children, that it may meet with an indulgent and generous reception. W ashington, Feb. 8 d , 1 8 5 4 . ©SIUEIsiue.edu/digitalcolle.ctions CONTENTS. CHAPTER L Petition of the Territorial Legislator* to Congres» to be admitted into the Union— B li*’ * reported by Judge Pope, the territorial Delegate— Amendment« proposed by him— Boundaries o f the 8 tate enlarged—Ordinance« of 1787—Claim o f W isconsin to the fourteen northern counties—Reasons for extending the boundaries—Call o f a Con vention—Constitution adopted— E. K. Kane—Petition of the Covenanters—Organi zation of the Mtate Government— Gov. Bond recommends the Canal to Lake Mich igan—Judge Foster—Judge Thomas— legislature of iHltf—Code of law»—Removal o f the Seat of Government to Vandalla—Origin of the name VandnIia—Charac ter of the people—Notice of the French villages ami of tho early American set tlers—Schools, learned professions—The early preacher*—Pursuits and business of the people—Their Ingenuity—Anecdote of James Lemon-Commerce— Money— Speculation—Banks in Ohio and Kentucky—General Indebtedneaa— Money crisis —Creation of the State Bank of ISil— Its history—Col. Menard—John M‘Lean— Ju dge Y ou n g— First du el—J u d g e L o c k w o o d ................................................................... 10 CHAPTER II. G o t . Colea, Judges Philips and Brown, and Gen. Moore—The question o f Slavery— The Missouri question— Immigrants from the 81 are States to Missouri—«row ing desire for the introduction of Slavery—The Slavery partjr-Effort for a Convention to amend the Constitution— Hanson and Shaw—Résolution for a Convention pass ed—The riotous conduct of the Slave party—The free State party rally—Contest be tween them in the election of 1814— Principal men or each party—The Convention defeated—Character of early political contesta—No measures ; and no parties of W hig or Democrat, Federalist or Republican—Effect of regular political parties__ Reorganization of the Judiciary—Circuit Coons established— First case of pro scription—Causes the repeal of the Circuit Court*—Road law and School law pro viding for a tax ; operated well, but were repealed— Hatred of taxation—School law of 1840; of 1845—Win. Thomas, H. M. W ood, John a Wright, and Thomp son Campbell—Present state of School*—Revision of the laws by Judges Lock wood and Smith—Gov. Edward»—Mr. Sloe—Lieut. Gov. Hubbard—His speech, a» a candidate for Governor—His speech about W olf scalp»—The old State Bank again— Effort to Investigate Its management—Resisted by the Bank officers—Gov. Edwards’ message»—A packed committee report against the Governor—Power of a broken Bank—Combinations to commit crime or resist law—Daniel P. Cook— Gov. Duncan—Change of political parties—Gen. Jackson's defeat, and subsequent election— Influence of this upon parties—Gov. Duncan's change— Winnebago War —Galena—“ Suckers” —“ Pukes”—The chief, Red Bird—Gov. Edwards’ claim to the public lands—Sale of School lands—Borrowing of the School fund. .. 90 CHAPTER III. R ev iew — E lection o f Stale Treasurer In 1827— E lection and defalcation o f Sheriflk— Court*—Judge*—Sentence of Green— Instructions to Juries—The hung Jury—Law o f 1846— Eminent lawyers—Character of litigation— Election by ballot—The keep- dark system—The “ butcber-kntfe boys” — Influences In the Legislature— Creasing ©SIUE| siue.edu/digita ¡collections y iii CONTENTS. PAG* and swallowing, &.c—Alms of politicians and of the people— Anecdote of Senator Crozier—Good and bad self-government—Rule to test the capacity of the people for either—Educated ministers of the Gospel—Ill-will towards them of some of the old ministers—Room enough for both— Benevolent institutions and education --Colleges—Change of dress among young people—Regrets of the old folks—Ef fects of attending church on Sundays— Effects of not attending church on Sundays upon young people— Progress In commerce—Character of first merchants—Sell ing for money supplied by emigration—Nothing raised for or shipped to foreign markets—Flat-boats-Farmers taking their own crops to market, and bad effects of It—Foreign markets-Steamboats and high rates of exchange encourage the merchants to become exporters— Bad effects of farmers holding their produce from market, expecting a higher price—This practice contrasted with the New England practice of selling at the market price—Good effects of this practice—Prosperity of northern Illinois in a great measure owing to this...................... ................................... 81 CHAPTER IV. Extent of settlements in 1830—Election for Governor that year—Judge John Rey nolds—W lllism Kinney— Further development of party—Description of an elec tion of contest— Reynolds eleoted by Jackson and anti-Jackson men—Legislature of 1831 bound to redeem the notes of the old State bank-Horror o f increasing taxes—Fears of the Legislature—The Wiggins’ loan—All the members broke down — The little bull law—Penitentiary punishments—Curious contest for Slate Treas urer— Indian disturbances—Treaties with the Indians— Black Hawk's account of them— His character— He Invades the Rock river country—Call for volunteers— March to Rock Island— F.-wapo of the Indians—New treaty with them— Next yCJir Black Hawk returns—Volunteers again called for— March of Gov. Reynolds and Gen. Whiteside— Burning of Prophet’s town— Arrival at Dixon—Majors Stillman and Bailey—Route at Stillman's run— Account of it by a volunteer Colonel—Coun cil of war— Gen. Whiteside marches in pursuit or the Indians-Massacre of In dian Creek—Two young Indies captured and restored—Gen. Whiteside buries the dead and marches back to Dixon—Meets (Jen. Atkinson—Dissatisfaction of the men— Marches to Ottawa—Army discharged—New call for volunteers— Volunteer regiment left as a guard of the frontiers—Col. Jacob Fry—Capt. Snyder—Battle with the Indians— Bravery of Gen. Whiteside—Gen. Semple and Cant. Snyder— Indian murders—St. Vrain and others—Siege or Apple-river Fort—Col. Strmle— Galena— Martial law there—Gen. Dodge's successful attack—Capt. Stephenson- Martial spirit of the Indians—Major Dement— Defence of Kellogg's Grove—Gen. Posey's march—Gen. Alexander—Gen. Atkinson—Gen. Henry— March up Rock river-Turtle Tillage—Burnt village— I-ake Keshkonong—Search for the Indians —Two regular soldiers fired on—Expedition to the “ trembling lands” — Army dls- persed in search of provisions...................... * .................................................................. 10 » CHAPTER V. Gen. Posey marches to Fort Hamilton— Gens. Henry and Alexander, and Major Dodge, to Fort W innebago—Gen.

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