L I B RA R,Y OF THE U N I VER.5 ITY or ILLI NOIS 57737.31 F66h f RHHSIS BSIsJiM aiiffiE? 1 i I, I (I I 1 I 'i (Chicago ]^iBtoxica( ^ocieig COLLECTION Vol. I. Tke Libria of the Uiitv«r«ity of Illinois -^•^/^^r <y y^ ^^. i. a^^ rhotti-Mcchauiciil Printinjj; Co., Chicaj^o. Tk« Ubfiry of the 4n Chicago Historical Society's Collection. —Vol. I. HISTORY OF THE Englisli Settlement in Edwards County ILLINOIS, Founded in 1817 and 18 18, by MORRIS BIRKBECK A\'D GEORGE FLOWER. BY GEORGE FLOWER. WITH PREFACE AND FOOT-NOTES BY E. B. WASH BURN E, Member of the Chicago Historical Society; Honorary Member of the Massa- chusetts AND Virginia Historical Societies; Corresponding Member of the Maine Historical Society; author of the "Sketch of Edward Coles, and the Slavery Struggle in Illinois in 1823-4." etc., etc. CHICAGO: FERGUS PRINTING COMPANY. 1882. 977.3791 CONTENTS. Introductory, Preface, CHAPTER I. Prefatory Remarks The Founders of the Enghsh Colony in Illinois, Morris Birkbeck and George Flower Sketch of Morris Birkbeck —His Father a Quaker His Education and Early Life in Eng- land— Travels of Birkbeck and Flower through France -Edward Coles visits Mr. Birkbeck and Family at Wanborough, England — Coles afterward becomes Governor of Illinois, and Birkbeck his Secretary-of-State Characteristics of Birkbeck Embarks for the United States in April, 1817 — Richard Flower, father of George Flower Reflections on the United States —George Flower in the United States a year before Birkbeck. - - 17 CHAPTE R II. Mr. Flower sails for America — Reflections on the Voyage—Arrives in New York and visits Philadelphia— Invited to Monticello by Mr. Jefferson —Journey Westward Visits Dr. Priestly, on the Susquehanna Lost in the Journey to Pittsburgh —From thence to Cincinnati —The Town as he found it, and the People - The Neave Family- Crosses the Ohio River and visits Lexington, and also Gov. Shelby, in Lincoln County — Fording of Dick's River — Hears of the Illinois Prairies for the first time —Visits Nashville, Tenn. — Meets Gen. Jackson at a Horse-Race— Return- ing East, visits Mr. Jefferson at Poplar Forest, South-western Virginia— Description of his House and his Personal Appearance, Dress, etc. —Visits Col. John Coles, father of Edward Coles, in Albemarle County— Passes the \A^inter with Mr. Jefferson at Monticello—At the Inauguration of Mr. Monroe, and meets Ed- ward Coles for the first time Mr. Birkbeck and his Family arrive at Richmond, from England. - - - 30 775646 —— 2 CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. Joins Mr. Birkbeck and Family in Richmond, Va. — Miss Andrews, afterward Mrs. Flower Decides to go Westward from Richmond - Incidents of the Trip Meets with Mr. Sloo, U. S. Land-Officer at Shawneetown, who conducts the Party to Illinois —They stop at Gen. Harrison's, at North Bend — At Vincennes — " Painted Warriors, Bedecked Squaws, and Bedizened Pappooses" - Mr. Birkbeck's Daughters and Miss Andrews -Difficuities of the Journey bravely met Mr. Birkbeck proposes Marriage to Miss Andrews —Offer Declined — Leads to Unpleasant Results — The Party first Establishes itself at Princeton, Indiana A Visit to the Shaker Settlement at Busro Account of the French-Cana- dian Settlement at Cattinet — Birkbeck and Flower start out in Search of the "Prairies" Pass through New Harmony, George Rapp's Colony Description of the Place — Cross the W^abash " and enter the Territory of Illinois, and reach the " Big-Prairie Settlement — " Boltenhouse Prairie," a Beautiful Sight— Crossing the Wabash into Illinois Territory — Hard Ride to Birk's Prairie The Prairie Flies — Captain Birk, a Specimen Pioneer— His Cabin and his Family Intense Prejudice against the British Journey Continued — Reflections on the Pioneers — Long Prairie reached, where the English Settlement was afterward made ~ Return to Princeton — Timber-land around Boltenhouse Prairie entered at Shawneetown — Mr. Birkbeck to remain and Mr. Flower to return to England to procure more Funds and beat up for Recruits—The Decision made. - - - 47 CHAPTER I \\ Fear of Speculators Desire to get a Grant of I,and from Congress Mr. Jefferson Written to on the Subject His Answer — Letter of Hon. Nathaniel Pope- Reply of Mr. Birkbeck Mr. Flower sets out for England -Long Horseback-Trip to Chambersburgh, Pa., Accompanied by Mrs. Flower The Outfit -Incidents of the Jour- ney— Mrs. Flower Remains in Chambersburgh — Mr. Flower Sails from New York to Liverpool -Birkbeck's Notes of Travel—The Emigrants. __.-_-. 75 CHAPTER V. First Party of Emigrants Sail from Bristol, in March, 1818 —Many of Mr. Birkbeck's Neighbors and Acquaintances among them Letter of Richard Birkbeck Farm Operatives in England Per- sons composing the Party Land in Philadelphia, in June, 1818 —— CONTENTS. iii —Reach Pittsburgh and descend the Ohio River to Shawnee- town—Arrive at Mr. Birkbeck's Cabin on Boltenhouse Prairie The "Barracks" — Sufferings and Discomforts of the Party "Wan borough laid off by Mr. Birkbeck—The next Ship -load of Emigrants sail in the following Month, April, 1818— Mr. Flower's Family with this Party— Other Persons composing it — Mr. Flower Journeys by Carriage from Philadelphia to Chambersburgh with his Family—The last Ship-load of Emigrants proceeding to their Destination — \A/^ant of Harmony—A Black Sheep in the Fold Arrival at Pittsburgh— Preparations to Descend the Ohio River —The Perils of the Voyage— Stop at Shawneetown—The Appear- ance of that Village— Mr. Fordham comes from the "Settlement" to meet Mr. Flower and Party at Shawneetown —His Account of Mr. Birkbeck and condition of Things at the "Settlement" Preparations to receive the Emigrants—Log -Cabins and Hard Food—The first Meal on their Arrival—The blessing of an Iron Teakettle No Greetings from the Settlement— Mr. Birkbeck and Mr. Flower at Variance —A short Dialogue between them, and they never Speak to each other afterward —The Cause of the Estrangement— First Experiences —A Sickly Season—A Time of Trial—Labor and Self-Sacrifices of Mrs. Flower—A Noble and True Woman—The first building of Cabins Close run for Pro- visions — Settlement in Village Prairie — Emigrants coming in Determined to lay out a Town—The spot Selected—The Name Agreed upon. ---.__ gg CHAPTER VI. Albion Founded—Town Surveyed and Laid Off—First Double Cabin — Benjamin Grutt — Albion a fixed Fact — The Log-Cabin and Blacksmith-Shop—Rowdyism —Wan borough springs into Exis- tence in 1818 Efforts to obtain W^ater—Visit to Lexington, Ky. —Death of William Flower—Building in Albion—Old Park-House —The Sunday Dinner— Brick-Kilns—Market-House—New Roads —Brick-Tavern, built by Richard Flower— Kept by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis—The Mill—The first Store-keepers in Albion— Other early Settlers — Albion made the County-Seat — Erection of a Court- House and Jail — Pardon of Perry by Gov. Coles — Disappoint- ment of the People in not seeing him Hung—Consoling them- selves with W^hisky and a score of Fights—Thirty-nine Lashes for a Poor Frenchman—Hon. W^illiam W^ilson. - - 127 CHAPTER VII. Settlers on the Prairies about Albion—Death of Mrs. Wood Other I — IV CONTENTS. Settlers Billy Harris' Wagon — Visiting England — Changes in the Country at large, but little in the respective Villages —An- other Ship-load of Emigrants An Inappropriate Settler— John Tribe William Clark and Family—William Hall, five Sons, and four Daughters -A Well Accident—Emigration for 1820— Quar- rels of Doctors—Another Well Accident— Lawrence and Trim- mer Return to England— Col. Carter— Further Settlers Sketched — Francis Hanks, Judge Wattles, and Gen. Pickering—Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd -Cowling, Wood, Field, Ellis, and others— Old Neddy Coad — Accident to the Sons of William Cave -Small- Traders and Farmers. _____ i^^ CHAPTER VIII. Religion in the Settlement — Slanders and Efforts to divert Emi- grants — First Religious Services — Mr. Pell and Mr. Thomas Brown The Hard-Shell Baptist Preacher ^Jesse B. Browne and Judge Thomas C. Browne—The Campbellites or Christian Church —First Episcopal Church—Gen. Pickering an Active Promoter Influence of the Chimes of Bells — Bishop Chase Consecrates the First Episcopal Church of Albion—William Curtis and his Congregation —Backwoodsmen don't like Episcopacy—The Meth- odist Church Better Adapts Itself to all Classes — Reflections Thereon—A Methodist Camp-Meeting Described —Mr. Birkbeck Unjustly Assailed— Mr. Birkbeck's Letter on Religion — Features of the Country—A Glowing Description — The Calumnies against the Settlement Rebutted by Mr. Birkbeck — Toleration of all Religious Opinions. --____ iQj CHAPTER IX. Consultations as to how to Advance the Interests of the Settlement —The Backwoodsmen begin to Leave the Country—The Michaels Brothers Moses Michaels Elected to the Legislature, and a "Weak Brother" — Descriptions of Moving Emigrants — Two Early Settlers at Albion — One of them become Governor—Eng- lish and Americans have Different W^ays of Doing Things Emigrants from Europe bound for Albion, Land at nearly every Port from St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico — A W^elshman Rides on Horseback from Charleston, S. C, to Albion -British Sketches Recognized by Britains at Albion -Cobbett's Abusive Letters about the English Colony Cobbett's Character — Replies by Richard Flower and Morris Birkbeck Dr. Johnson's Charges —Mr. Fearon's Book of Travels —Adverse Influences —The Evil Genius of Slavery. ------ 183 — A CONTENTS. V C H A P T E R X. )nspiracy against Liberty—The Convention Question —The Salines — Slaves to Work them — How Slavery got a Foothold in Illi- nois —Provision of the First Constitution — Gen. Willis Hargrave — System Adopted to Change the Constitution — The Project Exposed The Pro -Slavery Men holding all the Offices—^Judge 1 Samuel D. Lockwood an Exception — Letters of "Jonathan Free- , ' man" and "John Rifle"—Handbill "Pro Bono PubHco"—Letters ij of Morris Birkbeck — The Election takes Place— Vote of Ed- wards County — Slavery Men Active and Unscrupulous — Gov.