SOCIAL LIFE AND SCENES IN THE EARLY

SETTLEMENT OF CENTRAL

ILLINOIS.

Our president has asked me to write about "Social Life and Scenes in the Early Settlement of Central Illinois." I should be good authority on this theme as I lived continuously through and was an ardent participant in all its young activities from five years of age up to this my eighty-second year.

INTRODUCTION.

A plain, succinct account of the labors, pursuits, interests, amusements and achievements of common life during a period of nearly thirty years will display about what I wish to lay before my hearers. This survey will bring my comments up to about 1855. And I wish to present it as if a transcript of my young, fresh memory-plates were spread out palpably before you to read from. To do this I know is very difficult. And even if this be fairly done I cannot then hope you will see incidents, events and results as my young, eager eyes and faculties saw and recorded them then.

To give you my impressions of that early time in all their vividness, I cannot hope to do in their fullness. But I may expect better success in reaching your understanding if I place you as nearly as I can in possession of the conditions and surroundings of the early inhabitants of Central Illinois during this pioneer period which I propose to write about and discuss as intelligently as I can.

For portrait of this condition and the environment my memory is quite the sole authority. Books were not written in this locality then, diaries or records were not kept of current events and even important transactions worthy of local history were not recorded. If such records had been made by the authors and participants in the local history of that time it would be a far easier and more successful task to write and fill with interest and intelligence the story I would fain rehearse for your ears, and the picture I would like to paint to feast your eyes upon, all in illustration of social life and scenes in the early settlement of central Illinois. There were no newspapers at first. Very few at any time-fewer novels and no libraries.

DESCRIPTION OF INHABITANTS

It is not the present population of central Illinois whose social life and scenes I wish to portray before you, but that of the pioneer population emigrating to and dwelling there in the early settlement of central Illinois. 'There was great variety too and disparity in this new-comer population. Gathered as it was from many and widely distant states of the older portions of the union, it would necessarily partake somewhat of each locality whence it came. Dress. manners, language and occupation gave token of the land and race furnishing the supply of individuals to form the mass of population whose social life I wish to describe.

All were common in dress, some rude in manner, few boisterous, mostly quiet in speech and slow in movement, very little refined as now gauged, no learning from books outside the bible, hymn, song, music, and school books. Intercourse between inmates and close relatives, frank, laconic, abrupt, good natured; with acquaintances only, and strangers, inquisitive, genial, tolerant and leading to more intimacy. These characteristics I recall of men mostly. Women conformed in milder degree of each phase of speech, manner and action.

Necessary labor was fairly well performed but little love for it was displayed, except by the women, whose greatest and constant toil was feeding the hungry-cooking, housekeeping. nursing the children and sick-where as ever from first history they were always present, active, patient, successful and pleasing…. All females of age to work found constant, useful employment about their cabin homes at the time and place which I am trying to illustrate.

Sheep were raised as much for their wool as for their flesh. Flax and cotton were cultivated too. All these home-grown materials combined to furnish a fairly full supply of home-made clothing for winter and summer. The hunter contingent for the population furnished a useful share of material for the clothing department as well as food supply. Preparation of the clothing material fell largely to the womankind, and after the web was produced cutting, fitting and making the garments for all the family was entirely their work, except moccasins, shoes and boots, which were made by the males of the family, or hired cobblers.

All home-grown cotton had to be ginned by a rude home-made gin of my elder brother's invention and bad to be carded by hand-cards as there was no power-driven machinery for that purpose then known to us. Thus production of cotton yarn for cotton cloth became tedious and a heavy draft on labor of the household, and was early abandoned by the new comers. But it was soon afterward quite easily obtained from St. Louis, Mo., by keel boats, Mackinaw boats and pirogues--very large canoes. Home-made cotton yarn was never used by the population I am writing of for warp or length-wise thread of cloth or web, but only for woof, or filling, as more generally designated then. Hence wool and flax became of general use as material for all our clothing and nearly all labor for its production was woman's work.

This added to "house affairs," care of children, nursing the sick, entertaining company, and going to meetings-as church gatherings were called-left little time for females of early Central Illinois to "cultivate and improve their minds" by reading and study of books or practice of literary pursuits. Would not a jury 'of present day women, on above evidence, excuse them if they failed in examination in "book-larnin" and "the higher education?"

This jury would surely allow them-which I do not-time for dressing. I ought to say something about their dresses-frocks, as then called, and about their dressing-putting these frocks on; but I fear I shall bungle here. As to the frock itself, first: It was composed of wool, flax, cotton, or a combination of two or more of these materials, plain or plaid, relieved with all the colors of the rainbow, in part or whole, as fancy or taste dictated. For vegetable productions of prairie and of forest bark had well supplied all these colors to these embryo chemists seeking color, tint and shade. And these were fast colors too, not fading when the garments were cleansed by frequent washings.

Their construction was usually much simpler than their ornamentation by color and stripe. A common garment for all females of working age while working in the cabin home during summer and mild weather was a common, plainly made skirt of "rainy day" length with sleeves attached, made of wool, flax or cotton, put on by slipping it down over the head, fastening to its place by tying a draw-string of cord or tape fairly tight at the threat under the chin. A collar of same or kindred stuff, with plain, scalloped or stitched edge might be added around the neck, and a like draw-string inserted all round the skirt at a point desirable to establish the waist; and tied there like the draw-string round the neck. Puckering string we boys called this device. A few buttons, when obtainable, placed below the chin down the opening in front would complete the garment. and when properly donned would present a fully dressed female equipped for work in her home. This was the work-a-day dress or frock-slip it was usually called. Other and better dresses-frocks, all females of that time usually had, but I feel wholly incompetent to attempt their description before this present day, intelligent, critical and highly artistic audience.

However, dressed in slips or frocks of wool, flax, cotton or towlinen suitable to her work, occupation or position, the pioneer female of mature age and mind in the early settlement of Central Illinois was the peer of any of her sex in truth, purity, virtue and morality. Great Caesar himself could have sanely and safely chosen a wife there and then, without fear she would fall below his high requirement-"Must be beyond suspicion."

More intimate association between parents and children in the old pioneer days than now and sharing with them by the parents in all important matters of family and life interests increased the kindred ties of blood, affection and love. This strengthened the force of parental control--convincing the children of that over-mastering

power the parental tie, especially as manifested in the mother's love Children were not spoiled "by sparing the rod" however, as some stings in my memory recall.

Demonstrations not unfrequently witnessed then of the force of these sentiments calls to mind what the same great poet wrote of parental affection near the period we are now considering:

Perhaps I have given more space and more fatigue to my helpless hearers in praising the female branch of my subject and "magnifying their office" in all good works of the heart and the affections than is justly their due. But I had a mother and five sisters all older and better than 1, and it is all from the precious memory of their good deeds, constant care and tenderness for me-the baby of the large family-their innate truth, purity, and active watchful charity and love unfailing for me, that I have been able-inspired-to write this all-too-feeble and faulty tribute to the woman-kind in the early settlement of Central Illinois.

AMUSEMENTS.

Amusements of the time I write about were quite equally distributed between male and female. While the women cultivated the joys and pleasures of the hearth and home and were themselves the authors of their happiness, they fully shared in all their delights and enjoyment. Men had the hunt, the chase, the horse-race, foot-race, the jolly meetings at rude elections, school meetings, muster-meetings, cabin-raisings, road making and road repairing, pitching horseshoes-instead of quoits, town-ball and bull-pen-quite all to themselves. Women of that day attended none of these rough and exciting sports of men. Foot-bail had not yet come to pollute the purer taste of that day to its brutal grade of barbarity and cruelty.

I had five brothers, all older than I, making me as above stated the baby of the whole family' of eleven children. From memory of their work, amusements, conduct, characters, I draw my descriptions of all other like population of the territory and time I try to illustrate before you.

My brothers were all tender, kind, considerate, helpful to all my wants and needs; physical, mental, moral and social. Like conditions and relations I know prevailed in many other families of that time and country, and hence I believe these noble sentiments and worthy characteristics dominated and controlled largely all the population, male and female.

One marked characteristic of all gatherings of these people was interest in each other and care for each other's well fare and comfort, showing a bond of union and of good will. The affection and love manifested by children for their parents, brothers and sisters, and by the parents for their children, as I have tried to show, existed so generally among the pioneer population, and the good effect it produced on the children in early Central Illinois as compared with conduct of children in the same territory now, lead to the belief there was a latent power ruling in the family then that does not wholly dominate it now. As I call to my memory to give me the clue to this potent ruling force echoes of its name and office come to my ears and kindle response in my heart and impel the tongue to speak, the pen to write, words of the grand poet so often called on in this paper.

In all gatherings of both sexes of this people while there was levity, jollity, frankness and liberal affection manifested there were few or no sallies or attempts at flirting with the true, pure feelings of the heart, now called flirting.

I recall no such word then in use ; perhaps because no such trivial practice then existed to require such odious name. Independent, manly and honorable, the males could not stoop to such trifling conduct, while the females were too pure, too true, too worthy to ask aid from falsehood and deceit. Neither sex feared recognition of all their good qualities and honest claims of merit and had no fear on this point, only the fear of doing wrong and being unworthy of true love and its just reward.

Of such honest, manly and pure womanly characters I have appealed to my youthful memory to give me record, and lo, is it not fairly, though feebly, written above?

MALE DRESS AND BUSINESS HABITS.

Having written freely about female dress, male attire should also have some attention now:

All males of work age dressed nearly alike. Male apparel too, at the time I am writing about, was made almost wholly by the females, the wearers' associates. The common working boy and man, during summer and mild weather, in field, prairie or forest, wore no more than three articles of dress at one time. - Hat of plaited rye, oats or wheat-straw; shirt and pants of cotton, flax or tow-linen cloth. All made in simplest, plainest manner, indeed so uniform in style as to claim the title of fashion. Comfort and utility absolutely controlled material, make, and fit of all male garments, whether for summer or winter, hot or cold weather, home or wear abroad. Traveling or local cobblers were utilized for supply of boots and shoes for males and females of all ages. Almost the sole thought controlling change of apparel for male wearers was to suit the weather and work engaged in. Attending meetings of church or other interests had little influence as to dress. Greater cleanliness of apparel was desired when going away from home among strangers.

There was very little time spent. in what deserves the name of business as now understood, either private or public. Trade, barter and exchange of commodities and swapping work in corn-planting and harvest time, for work back in corn-husking and hay-making time, was the only commerce known in very early times. Honest, faithful memory, discarding day book and ledger, held all accounts and recorded balances of money and labor due; and merciful, charitable memory forgot all debts of debtors too poor to pay.

So simple and domestic were all the ways and wants of that early country life. Loafing was yet unknown. That came with earliest saloons for sale of intoxicating liquors, in small towns. They were called groceries, or doggeries then. Road-making, efforts to secure schools or aid church interests, to regulate militia musters and drills, to select the best candidates for elective offices of county, state and nation required only a small portion of time, at command of the ordinary citizen.

As to the last duty, selecting candidates for offices of all kinds and grades, serious attention and ample time were always given and the best, wisest and most competent men were always sought and selected; differing diametrically from the custom of the present-day population of the same district in this most important duty of citizenship in a republic like ours.

The voting citizens of that time seemed more intelligently concerned about a wise use of the ballot. The close of the revolutionary war and the achievement of our independence of England and all other foreign powers, was much fresher in, the memories of the voters of that day than now. And the value of liberty, newly and bloodbought, seemed greater to them than to us. The war of 1812 with England had been lately fought in defense of this inestimable liberty, and they had helped to win the victory that would make liberty a permanent possession of our whole country. Hence the revolutionary war and the war of 1812 that demonstrated our ability to defend and maintain our dearly bought rights were the leading and- constant themes of thought and discussion. Nobler and more patriotic themes than now absorb and control the whole thought, aim and struggle of our active, strenuous, commercial, money-grabbing voting population. They talked of, admired and sought to imitate the pure patriots, great statesmen and generals who won our independence and established free government by the people for the greatest republic the world has ever known. Pure, noble thoughts and desires indulged by a people will make them strive to achieve and secure their high aspirations and ideals. Such were the early settlers of whom I write.

Elective officers and rulers of our State and its organized counties in these early days have made and left a history that proves the ballot of that time and territory was not only highly esteemed but honestly, wisely and successfully used to secure happiness and prosperity to the vast population that has won third place in our union, for Illinois.

SOCIAL SINGING.

Some one esteemed for wisdom said or wrote: If he were allowed to write the songs of a people any one else might make their laws. A large share of the amusements and entertainments indulged in and practiced by the early population of Central Illinois consisted in social singing of play or forfeit songs, illustrating the evening entertainment of home and fire-side, for girls and boys. Singing of well-known hymns to familiar tunes used at church and religious meetings enlisted the aged also of both sexes. So it often happened after the light aand frolic plays of the youth had ended in sale and redemption of all play-forfeits and pawns in affection and hilarity, some elder witness of the youthful jollity would raise a tuneful voice of psalmody, reciting in solemn melody the words of some "Hymn, devout or holy psalm," in which all, young and old, would join to make a benediction to close the evening's entertainment.

I wish to enlarge somewhat on this branch of old fashioned earlytime youthful entertainment. Each play or individual entertainment was introduced by a song or words in jingling rhyme sung in chorus by all taking part in the play. These words explained and carried forward as it were, the movement and progress of the play to its own close, when another song for like purpose would start and carry forward another play.

OLD PLAY AND FORFEIT SONGS.

The language, poetic measure and harmony of these songs are woefully irregular in feet-almost lacking whole limbs in some lines. But this infirmity of movement and action in sound and rhythm was quite cured and redeemed by the glib, flippant and jolly notes of the singers as they gushed from their laughing jubilant lips almost smooth and flowing as Lord Byron's Assyrian battle song:

"The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold,
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Gallilee."

These plays were sung and performed around the firesides of the log cabin homes in presence of the family and assembled guests and participants. Each pawn or forfeit of the play was represented by some small article from pocket or dress of its owner, such as a penknife, glove or handkerchief and was held over the head of the blindfold judge or umpire who was supposed not to see it or know who owned it. Intimating thus that justice was blind. Is it not often so still?

The pawn or forfeit was held over the judge's head out of his or her sight and this formula cried aloud: "Heavy, heavy hangs over your head." -Fine or superfine?" came the inquiry of the judge(Fine meaning boy's, superfine girl's pawn.) Then the penalty was declared. If a boy's forfeit, say: The penalty. might be: "Go kneel to the wittiest, bow to the prettiest, and kiss the one you love best." If a girl's pawn perhaps the penalty would be: "Go choose a boy partner and with his aid measure ten yards of tape,"' as follows: Take one end of the tape between thumb and finger of one hand and draw it between two fingers of the other hand pressed on your lips till your arm is fully extended, then cut it off at your lips with a kiss to your partner on his lips, loud and clear so all can hear to the end of ten yards, each yard cut off with a hearty, distinct smack.

Innumerable like penalties were thus imposed and infinite jollity and amusement produced for all present. Our present 400 of best society would be shocked at the present day by such rude, vulgar behavior between girls and boys, yet evil results did not follow these innocent entertainments of that earlier time in our social history.

Children. boys and girls, were more obedient and respectful to their parents and guardians, chaste and moral then than now, while leading single lives; and divorce and disagreement after almost universal marriage were quite unknown instead of quite usual as now, when the dance, refined, elegant and intellectual amusements prevail among our better educated, more polite and accomplished citizens, male and female. And I believe parents suffered far less then than now from that sorrow of sorrows which Shakespeare describes as, "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child."

OTHER AMUSEMENTS.

Pioneers, old settlers, new-comers, of central Illinois were generally a jolly, hilarious, happy population, manifesting their disposition by speech and action. One early and long resident I recall as remarkable for his social greetings and conversation with familiar friends.

On meeting such after long separation he would manifest his delight by declaring he "would rather see them than his own heart's blood.' Or if speaking of death be would wish its delay for him, and when it must come he "hoped he might be kissed to death by pretty girl and die laughing."

Odd pronunciation of many English and most foreign words made cause of pleasantry to the few able to detect the erroneous pronunciation and accent. Necessity was quite frequently rendered need-cessity and vehicle, vichle; catastrophe, catisfere; faux paux [pas] fox pox. Rude, unlearned, almost barbarous though this pronunciation was, those who perpetrated it knew as well the real meaning of these mutilated, tortured words in this shape as did the most polite Frenchman or learned Englishman when they were pronounced according to the latest standard of the French or English tongue.

SCHOOLS AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first new-comers found no school houses and could not build any for many years. The same was true of church buildings Schools and church meetings had to be held in private homes. School teachers and preachers were very scarce, too. My father hired a Yankee girl about 18 years old, fresh from Vermont, to come to our house and teach "us children," six or seven in number, till school houses were built and regular school teachers employed, under whom we "finished our education." A very limited one indeed, covering the "elements of the three It's," with a smattering of geography and history thrown in as a kind of dessert after the feast of other commoner studies.

Preachers and exhorters were plentier than school teachers, and found ready welcome in every cabin home where they held religious and prayer meetings for attending neighbors and strangers. Methodists and Baptists predominated here then. The singing master soon invaded Central Illinois, too. His classes were gathered from the elder children and youth verging into manhood and womanhood, and added largely to the higher grade of social amusements for youth and age as well.

TIES OF BLOOD KINDRED.

"Blood is thicker than water" we quote as an adage now, but we practiced the precept then effectively and generally. Not to the extent of bloody feuds and extermination of whole families by use of shotguns, revolvers and bowie knives, as Kentucky and some other states execute the adage now and have for years past. But this kinship of blood was held in high esteem by way of preferment over others not within its limits. And disagreements within its binding reach generally developed by showing lack of courtesy or kindness, want of respect and privileges of intimate friendliness. Such as barring neighborsbip and close social relations between the families while in a quarrel, or "at outs," as termed; discouraging or denying entirely to the younger members of both sexes permission "to keep company," court and "spark" each other with indications of engagements and final marriages.

Among the males the unpleasantness sometimes went so far as open boisterous quarrels and personal combats or fights at elections, militia musters or other jolly gatherings. The better side, however, of these blood kinships was revealed in the many close-clinging, devoted friendships, increased cultivation of the better affections and tender relations between blood relatives, ripening into lifelong, pure, honorable devotion of mind and heart, so frequently illustrated in the history of frontier and pioneer life in our great West.

While blood affinity constrained all to love each other better within its influence than those outside of its control, even within this circle of preference there was a choice again of finer, higher regard-the highest of all selection of affinity.

This supreme selection I made quite early in life between all my numerous brothers and sisters. One brother and one sister I set apart and above all the others, and of course above all other human beings excepting only my father and my mother. And this canonization has never wavered or changed and I still hold, one a saint, the other my ideal now in life. The whole population, both men and women, young and old, paid great respect and obedience to this blood line of affinity in their intercourse and social conduct with each other. Though frankly courteous and jolly, inclined to joke and jest with all acquaintances, the blood line of relationship always marked the line of their finer, warmer feelings.

HOSPITALITY.

Hospitality of home and hearth, table and bed was quite universal. Cabins, though generally small, like an omnibus would always admit one more to share in all the comforts they afforded. These were few and simple, but supplied all real wants and pressing needs of that time. They would fall far short of the demands of present-day luxury, of warmth, cupboard and bed room equipment. The fireside was wide and generous in heat, but sometimes one side of its guests froze while the other side burned.

The table of rude puncheons or unplaned boards, split from green trees lately cut in the forest, was held up by rough legs firmly inserted and spread out to support it safely. Table cloth of home-made towlinen for common use, flax-linen for "company." Its burden of "creature comforts" abundant in quantity, rich, toothsome and healthy in quality, and quite various in kind. Corn bread baked in many ways furnished "the staff of life," and corn-pone was the king of all its varieties. Mush and milk and fried mush were very popular with old and young. Home-raised vegetables, wild honey and wild fruits were liberally used, supplying dessert and sauce to the meal. Lye hominy was an old-fashioned, much-prized article of food taken with milk or honey, and often with both. To this limited enumeration of food material was added fish, flesh and fowl of great variety and almost unlimited quantity and rare quality. Rivers, lakes, forest, prairie and barnyard were bountiful sources producing these food supplies. Their skillful preparation for table use. increase of health, animal vigor and palate delight, were all entrusted in simple faith to the female artists of the cabin kitchens of that happy primitive time.

Real tea and coffee of commerce could not be used at meals during the early period of which I write. Their supply was limited to that brought with new comers from home lands till improved transportation from St. Louis, supplied them for common use in Central Illinois. Herbs and roots from forest and prairie, supplied the only tea generally used by pioneers. Dr. Wm. S. Maus, my father-in-law, told this anecdote about early use of tea. The family doctor in early days stood next to the preacher in respect and esteem-even in preference at births. Dr. Maus practiced widely and had to make long rides on horseback to reach patients in need of his services, hence was often hungry. The custom was universal to ask the doctor to stay and eat something before leaving his patient, and equally customary for him to accept offered hospitality. Usually just before the meal was "set up" inquiry came from the cook: "What kind of tea do you like best, doctor? We have both kinds, in plenty, sage and sassafras."

Liberality of supply, frank heartiness in offering-even pressing-food on table guests were prominent and pleasing graces at all meals. No suggestion of stint or stinginess ever appeared in manners, acts or words of gracious host or hostess. Greed of gain, that insidious poison that kills all real enjoyment of food bounties, lest hospitality exhaust the supply and want may follow, had not touched or stung the broad liberality of the big generous hearts of that day.

THE SPINNING WHEEL.

One gentle touch on young memory's valve and the old light of pioneer days streams in showing the interior of a log cabin home complete, of that day.

An elder wife-perhaps grandmother in person-sits at the small spinning wheel driving it rapidly by intermittent pressure of her right foot on the treadle, with eye and mind intent on drawing out and twisting the fine linen thread from the flax-covered distaff in even size and continuous length, while a younger wife or unmarried girl drives a big wheel to furious motion and loud hum with the wheel-pin in her right hand dashing backward to draw the roll of carded wool to proper size as the whirring spindle unites and hardens it into yarn-woof for the loom. And ever as she returns in gentle pace from the utmost stretch of the yarn she jogs with her foot the sugar-trough cradle close to her line of retreat to reunite the baby's broken slumber. Meantime the low sound of gently simmering cabbage and bacon-perchance fresh venison, fruit of the hunter's skillfrom the singing iron pot on the wood fire, joins with the hum of wheel and lullaby song of the spinner. Rare fragrance from the boiling pot fills the cabin area with appetizing odors reminding all its occupants of approaching meal time. The spinner hastens her humming wheel to complete the half dozen cuts-her stint for the dinner hour-eighteen cuts or hanks being a big day's work.

When at noon the simple meal is set up and all the family gather at the table to discuss the "creature comforts" of a log cabin dinner the graceful, health-giving exercise of the big wheel over a puncheon floor and the rugged sprinting demands of the chase or long plodding guidance of the plow, all prove their power to win a vigorous appetite. Not strictly a "dinner of herbs" yet it had the Bible element to sweeten it--"love therewith."

PRAIRIE FIRES.

The great annual growth of tall thick prairie grass covering vast areas of surface when killed by autumn frosts and dried to tinder by Indian summer suns was liable to accidental and malicious fires each year. A conflagration of this abundant material forming a continuous line of many miles in length driven by a high wind would make the solid earth tremble and quiver beneath the feet as if the embattled charging columns of flame had weight equal to their brilliant light. A low sullen roar, like distant Niagara, accompanied its march as if Pluto, from his fiery regions, lent it subterranean music. Flame, light, motion and sound combined to make a spectacle and scene, in night time, unequalled in beauty and grandeur.

Often alarm for safety of property, home and human life, added excitement to the absorbing manifestation of power and splendor. Billowy swaying clouds of black smoke, lifting skyward would suddenly explode into flame, lighting the whole landscape and heaven above, beyond the brightness of noonday even if the hour was midnight. All combustible substance melted and vanished before this besom of heat and flame. Its progress was swift as the wind. The fleetest horse could hardly escape it by utmost strain of speed. Birds of the air and wild beasts of the prairie and grove, fled before its withering, scathing march with cries, screams and howls of fright and terror, sometimes overtaken and burned to cinder despite their wings and fleetness of foot.

Early inhabitants, from experience, had learned to guard against danger and loss from prairie fires, by plowing wide and numerous furrows round fields, cabins, stables, stacks of hay, grain, fodder and all exposed property. But sometimes great sheets of flame driven by strong winds would be torn from the line of fire and leap over protecting plowed spaces and kindle in hay stack or thatch of stable or shed, threatening cabin-roof and all property and life, home and surroundings. If instant sufficient help were not present, all might be swept away in one fell swoop of fire and devastation. Sometimes such fiery visitation came in the darkness of night and neighboring homes were added to the smoking ruins of the same fire. To skillfully fight and rescue life, homes, and property from the ravages and loss by prairie fires, offered quite as wide opportunity to bravery and heroism of that time, as did fear, danger and suffering from tomahawk and scalping knife. And there were many men of that day, and not a few women too, ever present to act the brave hero and fearless heroine in time of need.

For days after an extensive prairie fire the whole landscape was covered with a black pall or robe of ash and cinders of charred grass. Soon the sweeping winds of autumn would lift this black debrissole remnant of the prairie's beautiful summer drapery of grass and flowers. During the annual Indian summer season the "prairie land" rarely lacked the bible illustration of "a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night."

DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.

I can't hope it possible, for your imagination, to produce before your minds the picture my memory now presents to my ready familiar vision of the physical aspect of this same wide belt of territory then fresh and glowing with that youth and glory only once incident to all sentient or inanimate creations of nature's God. Only the poet's, words can faintly shadow forth what my faithful memory tries in vain to spread before your inquiring gaze.

Unable to produce for your view the charms of the wilderness of that time as seen by its then scattered inhabitants, all justly termed "new-comers", how shall I hope to give you knowledge and understanding of its new tenants and would-be owners, cultivators and redeemers? Then it was a wonderland to them, new in all its features and quite different in many of its characteristics from any of the home lands they had left to seek this long dreamed of, hoped for, home in the west. The prairie feature of this new land was the most remarkable in distinction from any other land known to the newcomers and called forth constant surprise and enjoyment. It was this grand feature too, that gave to Illinois by its first impression on all first immigrants the well earned appellation of "Prairie land."

The best picture I can recall of a prairie and of prairie scenes I quote from "Going to hear Peter Cartwright preach in Early Days," written by myself in after years, and being one of the party then and about ten years old.

"Surely this continuous 'blossomed plain' over which our wagon wheels rolled so swiftly without jolt or jar was all one of, Bryant's Gardens of the Desert for which the speech of England has no namethe prairie, about which he sang in noble strain soon after. The whole glowing landscape about and around us far as eye could command, gave hint that the stars of night when eclipsed by the transcendent glories of dawn had slipped from their high places in the cerulean dome down to the green flowered earth, kindling it to 'rival the constellations.' The sunny, fragrant atmosphere palpitated with glad songs of mocking birds, thrush and meadow-larks, soaring on wing or swaying in the tall white-bloomed milkweed.

Inspiring scenes and sounds entranced the little party. Our animal companions, horses and dogs, seemed quite as much excited as their superiors and more demonstrative in expressing their joy. Had we by accident discovered and assumed possession of the long lost primeval "Garden of Eden?" Was this "Paradise Regained?" I don't believe within the four corners, or upon the round surface of this globe exists such beautiful scenes or swell such melodioussounds as greeted and blessed our eyes and ears that day. Such full appreciation of the simple joys, beauty and pleasures of life and earth I never hope again to realize in the body. But the memory, as now aroused of such long past pleasures, is a very precious legacy and till warms and quickens the pulse of old age."

Fitly ornamenting, dividing and illustrating these vast prairie seas. angled forests, well defined groves, wide flowing rivers, rushing reeks, winding streams and placid lakes, combined to form a whole country unsurpassed, if anywhere equaled in the great Mississippi alley, for landscape beauty, forest, stream and prairie attractions.

And forest, stream and prairie were filled with game, birds, wild beasts and fish, making this land the hunter's paradise for sport; including supply of food and raiment for hunter, family and guests.

The charms and attractions of this country were innumerable, suiting and satisfying well the wants of its newly-come inhabitants. And have now written fully about them. Yet I feel all this labored description of them fails to place you in possession of knowledge equal to what a single glance of my backward memory reveals to me.

Perhaps I would better illustrate my theme and create for you and or me an atmosphere in which we both could realize more clearly what I wish you to comprehend of social life and scenes in the early settlement of Central Illinois, by reading liberally an address delivered by me before the Tazewell County Old Settlers' annual meeting at Delavan, Ill., in 1899.

At that time I told of the things which appear retold in the following paragraphs. Among other things I said that my parentage entitled me to speak of pioneer life and its incidents.

My father came of Swiss descent and my mother of old New Jersey stock. Both were born in New Jersey. My father spent his youth in Philadelphia and saw General Washington frequently, and his memory was especially impressed by the pictorial occasion where, on his military charger, he is represented as riding nearly stirrup deep in flowers strewn before him by beautiful girls clothed in white, who address him in smiles and tears: ."He who saved the mothers will protect the daughters." He often worked for Stephen Girard by day's work at 50 cents a day, paid in silver half-dollars. Emigrating to Ohio at an early day, he was offered choice lots in Cincinnati at 25 cents apiece. He volunteered in the war of 1812 against England and was engaged against the Indians in northern Ohio about the Maumee river county.

Stories told in this campaign turned his thoughts toward the "Illinois country," and he made ready in the fall of 1827 for a second emigration westward; so that when he reached Illinois in that year he became an early settler of four states-New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois, all holding high place in the grand union of states since their birth as states of the Union.

Only a small portion of the inhabitants of Illinois know anything of its early pioneer life, and this number is growing rapidly smaller. Our foreign population, now forming a large proportion, know almost nothing of early life, labor, and enterprise that wrenched this beautiful land from the savagery of life and occupancy of man and beast and the rude wilderness of nature. A glance at its history is therefore pertinent, and if I give the record of my family's emigration to this country at that period it will suffice as a history for all others making the like emigration. Not at all that my family "was the whole thing," but that its record was "a specimen brick" of the time and that what befell us was similar to the happenings of others who were "in the swim" of old settlers' days.

The period of arrival and location in the new country closely allied with vivid events of the tedious journey accomplished by old fashioned and nearly forgotten means of transportation, stands first on memory's page. Strong and roughly-built wagons, surmounted by Pennsylvania fashioned beds closely covered by heavy tow-linen cloth, woven from flax, home grown, and manufactured entirely by members of the family in Ohio, composed the ark, car or moving house or home, that transported the "new-comers" to the "Dillon Settlement," Tazewell County, Illinois. These wagons so equipped were drawn by horses or oxen, and sometimes by both, jointly, when heavily loaded. 'A span or pair of horses being used in the lead, and a yoke of oxen being hitched next the wagon; and sometimes two or three yokes of oxen were required to draw a very heavy wagon and its load. Traveled roads and bridges were unknown to the first comers, only wagon tracks guided "movers" to the unbridged fords or best crossing of streams, sloughs or swamps. Plentiful and continous rains of spring and fall, thawing out of the frozen ground, or when only slightly frozen, made conditions of travel quite impossible to imagine now, with our graded and graveled roads, with iron and stone bridges wherever needed; and the memory of mud, slough, swamp and impassable stream seem like fables or unreliable dreams to us now. All difficulties of the trip from the starting point, in our case Butler County, Ohio, to the destination or accepted location, Dillon Settlement with us, being endured and overcome, next followed a choice of a new home in the newly found promised land.

But, says some tenderfoot traveler of this palace-car by day, and sleeping-coach by night railroad-time, had you no troubles, accidents, sufferings and pains, during this long six weeks' struggle with the wilderness, swamps, and streams and cold of the bleak frosty autumn, running far into the cheerless blasts of November? Truly and indeed we had our full share of all these terrors of the pathless wilderness, unknown sea of prairie, without guide or compass to show us on our way- Agonies of toothache, wrenchings of rheumatism, scorchings of fever, assailed and tortured us by day, and "murdered sleep" by night. But we bad bidden farewell to the old home, we must find a new one.

Some bright flashes of memory lighten the gloom of that long, toilsome journey. Boy of only five years old then, I well remember the first wild doer brought into camp for food! It was a fine fat buck of four prongs. Camp had been made and November twilight was gathering fast, but rashers of venison from that buck's saddle soon smoked and sputtered on the coals, and joined their appetizing odors with the boiling coffee pot, and the feast that followed in that forest bivouac far outranked in joy and gladness Belshazzar's royal banquet, and no fateful handwriting marred its progress or paralyzed all guests with fear at its conclusion. Impassable sloughs and more treacherous swamps compelled long detours to circumvent their impediment to a direct route. Swollen, ferryless, bridgeless streams barred our passage except by waiting until they fell to a fordable stage, or by constructing dugouts or rafts of dry logs to transport ourselves and goods over them, dragging the empty wagons through the raging floods and compelling the live stock to swim.

Arrived on the hither shore, wagons reloaded and the caravan reorganized, forward march was sounded, or if too late in the day, camp was made, stock corralled in some way, and all sought rest, with hooting owl for lullaby, or howling wolf to frighten the timid. O, tenderfoot man, or too softly nurtured woman of our present effeminate civilization and comfort, do you shudder at this picture and fear for the safety of our repose? Possibly the winds howled too, and the rain and sleet "froze as they fell" and

above our tents and covered wagons, but peace and trust reigned therein. My memory recalls cuddling close and warm to my mother's side, her arm beneath my head, surrendering myself to "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," which came more graciously to me in this rude "wild west" camp, if history speaks true, than it comes to downy couch in gilded chamber of royal guarded palace, for czar, emperor, king or queen.

Our long journey came to a close just as winter began to set in. Fortunately for us, a vacant cabin in the Dillon settlement afforded temporary shelter till the February following. By that time my father had located a claim and built a cabin on it by help of all the male members of the family old enough to work. This was (and is) situated three miles southeast of "Town Site" then, Pekin now About this log cabin, its wild vicinity and incidents connected therewith cluster all the sweet memories of my childhood, youth and early manhood; and in common with all present, as to these mornings of life, come as their fullest, sweetest expression of recall the words of an early American poet:

The cabin-our home-was rude in construction, as all buildings of that period necessarily had to be. There was not a nail, or screw, or bolt, or scrap of iron used in any part of it, or any tin or metal attached to it. No glass could be obtained for window, door or transom, or sky light. Containing only one room below of 16 by 18 feet, an upstairs room, loft or garret, of more limited dimensions, as the sloping roof greatly curtailed the area of height sufficient for erect occupation and use. Within these two rooms, father, mother and eight children, then at home, found ample accommodation and happy entertainment throughout the circling year of summer's heat and winter's cold. Within these two rooms of circumscribed size and height we found all the pleasures and joys now distributed by modern civilization, refinement and the best society over habitable houseterritory designated in part by hospitable fashion, as: Hall, reception room, sitting room, parlor, double parlor, music room, bed room, guest room, chambers ad libitum, library-generally small and few books-dining room, store room, china closet, kitchen, laundry, lavatory, bath room, servant's room, etc., etc.

Of the eight children, inmates of our cabin, four vere sisters, four were brothers, and the poetess, Mrs. Hemans, aptly described them with prophetic pen in her home across the ocean when she sang:

Of our whole family, eleven children, father and mother, in all thirteen, only two are left-an elder sister and myself. She to recall all the important events of the old home in Ohio and of the new one in Illinois, and I to recite a few of them here today. Two brothers and a sister were married before we came to the new country, and never lived with us in our cabin, having each one like it of their own not far away, and were always welcome visitors at the main family cabin, which seemed to extend its walls to fully accommodate the three kindred families whenever they chose to join us.

In fact, memory supplies no limit to the capacity of the old settlers' cabins to give room and hospitality to all friendly comers, and would be guests. Not for a few brief minutes of hasty inquiry and question as to results of the last card party, dance or ball, and if baby slept well during its mother's necessary attendance on these functions of fashion in the present time. No, bless the memory of visiting and hospitality of good old log cabin days, time was the essence of enjoyment, jollity and fun, and a visit meant nothing short of a whole day' including the night, when story and song and game could be shared in by all after the day's work or hunt brought the entire family and guests together. So flowed on this simple, happy life in the newcomers' homes till many years greatly multiplied their number throughout this "Prairie Land," as our part of Illinois had then won that name.

Natural and constant change in family and neighborhood relations kept pace with increase in age and numbers of our population, Suitors came to woo and win the sisters from their parents' arms and protection, to join their lovers in making new homes for themselves; and blushing happy brides left their girlhood homes in faithful love and trust and tearful joy! The brothers, with like intent, moved by the sweet, invisible, all-pervading law of love, left the old cabin door to make like reprisal in kind, and brought back with them willing, happy brides to replace the lost sisters, till a cabin could be built for the last mated pair. So went on the endless chain, the golden chain, of love and marriage until our land became thickly dotted with homes of new made families in addition to those of the original "newcomers." Humble and simple in manner and form, these marriages promised and produced more happiness in family and social life than most marriages of princes and princesses, attended by grand ceremonies in palaces where transfer of wealth or acquisition of political power outweighed the impulse of love or regard for honor or purity of life in the holy state of matrimony, As for time and opportunity to make matches and marriages, these came by nature as it were. No matter how many others were around, eyes could wink and blink faster than tongues could clatter and a squeeze of the hand or pinch of the arm or ear could be executed with effect if not too much light present. Lamps and candles were scarce and feeble in those days-and above all in favor of effective sparking, that greatest enemy of all private, social enjoyment of chat, or reverie, or tete-a-tete, the electric light, was not then known! Call to mind the many quilting, carpetrag sewing, apple paring, pumpkin peeling frolics, made by the girls and matrons, the corn shuckings, wood choppings, rail splittings, house and barn raisings by boys and men, wild berrying, nutting and many other parties made and joined in by male and female of all ages, and sparking opportunities were plenty.

And then, over and above all, and better than all other opportunities for sparking, love making and falling in love with each other came the annual Methodist camp meeting! Blessings on the memory of these rude, wild, exciting camp meetings! Organized by the religious element in good men and women of that illiterate period, when nearly all the books known to us were summed up in the scant list of the Bible, Hymn Book, Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe and "The Indian Book." for spiritual culture and comfort. All classes and conditions, far and near, attended and were made hospitably and socially welcome to tent and table, mourners' bench and family circle. Preachers, elders and heads of families gave devout, inspired attention and labor to the spiritual demands and needs of the miscellaneous congregation, and looked after the interests of the Methodist church organization. The younger persons present, of both sexes, gave more attention to worldly interests, and affairs of the heart were in ascendant. Too young to join in these delectable enterprises myself, memory seems to say all times, all places, afforded ample opportunity-nay, inducement-to spark the pretty girls, fall in love with them, marry them, and live happy, prosperous lives. Getting married meant something practical then. A log cabin soon followed on a claim made by the husband. Corn bread, hominy, wild game, bacon, eggs and butter were the main articles of living, all cooked and served by the new wife. No hired girls, no boarding-house life then as is so general now. Husband and wife both joined at once in bread winning, left [felt] no fear of the wolf of want. Health and happiness, crowned with parentage and frequent use of the sugar-trough cradle won the highest position ever attained by man and woman, makers of a virtuous, happy home, helpers to make a patriotic nation. The sugar-trough was fashion's baby home then.

Only a few years pass, and the cabin was enlivened by bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked children, laughing and shouting like the wild bird's song and the prairie wolves' yelp-crowding in clusters at the cabin door to see a stranger pass, thick as grapes on the wild vine. Early mating, almost universal marriage, and few divorces, was the mainspring of rapid population.

Scattered settlements in a new country traversed by Indians and wild beasts, made friendly association and frequent visits among distant neighbors necessary and pleasant. Friendship then was warm and true, not merely

Needs of mutual help bound old settlers in fraternal bonds of closest, tenderest ties. None knew when "the savage Indian war-whoop might rouse the midnight slumber of the cradle, and the burning cabin force them to flee by its light for safety to the forest and hills." Mutual dependence for help in raising their cabins and barns, for aid in time of sickness, accident and misfortune, incident to pioneer life, kept alive and active all the better instincts of our nature.

Many practical demonstrations of true friendship, uninfluenced by hope of financial gain, can be recalled of these early times. Horse-' stealing was held the highest crime against property rights. Next after this came "jumping" a new-comer's claim, that is, taking forcible or other unfair possession of a claim to a homestead or location for a home. One of the most noted old settlers in this region felt himself aggrieved in this way. Not having money enough to enter at the beginning of the "land sales" all the pieces he had made claim to, he was compelled to leave one eighty exposed to the claim jumper. Time passed and he could not secure the one hundred dollars in cash-silver was all our money then-to enter the coveted tract. Rumor came to him that a neighbor had entered it away from him jumped it! He sought the offender at once and charged him with the great wrong. "Yes," replied the great transgressor, "I have entered thy favorite eighty of timber because thee said thee could not get the money, and I feared somebody else would enter it away from thee. But, friend Martin, I entered it in thy name, and it is thine now forever-and not mine. Thee need not worry about payment for it. Whenever thee gets a hundred dollars thee can give it to me. There will be no interest to pay. The land is thine." And lo, his lineal offspring occupies the land to this day, and it blooms as the Garden of Eden, yielding an hundred fold.

This was the act of the good old Quaker friend, Dr. Griffith. Personal test compels the declaration that his doses of "Peruvian barks" for "fever 'n ager" were large, frequent and very bitter, but his words, when he said: "James, these will make thee better," were sweet as the fabled honey of Hymettus, and his gentle hand when be pressed the fevered brow was soft and cool as the leaves that fall in Vallombrosa's Vale.

The "laws of the land" were not much in evidence then. Justices of the peace only administered them, aided by constables. The sheriff and his deputies were seldom seen in early days. But good order and peace prevailed generally. Differences of opinion were discussed at house raisings and like gatherings. Serious quarrels were settled at election by personal combat. Social intercourse war, frank to a degree and devotees of fashion today would declare it rude and vulgar. Whatever form of words used they declared their meaning clearly and did not hide or stimulate impure thoughts, or lead to improper conduct. Social purity between male and female, old and young, was strictly observed and all lapses from its simple code were punished by reprobation and discredit by all the good. Lack of certainty as to male parentage never occurred then as it is said to happen often now -in foreign countries The classic denunciation of broken faith in love was then real, not as we hold it now, only poetic:

Early in our pioneer life in Illinois came the Black Hawk Indian war. This brought days of fear and nights of terror from Springfield to Chicago-Fort Dearborn. Captain Adams raised a company of volunteers in this neighborhood and went at once to the front, meeting defeat with General Stillman in command at "Stillman's Run" and his own death while fighting desperately hand-to-hand with the main force of the Indians, striving in vain to form and protect his surprised and panic stricken men. Majors Bailey and Perkins, by their bravery and coolness, saved many lives also at this time. Eleven of this command were killed in the battle and flight, and many were wounded. This bloody disaster covered the country round with grief and foreboding as to the future. It was for some time feared all our homes and property would have to be abandoned in flight South for safety. Though temporarily victorious, the Indians feared a return of the white settlers and fled toward the North and were soon overwhelmed and practically destroyed at the battle of the "Bad Ax." We were left to mourn our dead and bring home the wounded and nurse them back to health and strength. To comfort our sorrow we remembered and sung the immortal song for the fallen brave:

Time had but little softened grief for those slain by Indians when the cholera spread a funereal pall over the same territory. Lately stricken by war. The swift flying messengers on horseback in pursuit wherever to be found dotted the prairies with omens of dread. For when the fell disease struck its victim no time could be lost before active remedies were applied. Death was the quick result if potent relief was not found within the early hours of attack. In my family four were fatally stricken in as many days. Many who were not at once attacked fled their homes, only to meet death a little later in the lonely prairie or unsettled forest. Bereavement and sorrow were widespread-almost universal-over a great part of the West. Typhoid and other fevers followed this dreadful visitation, swelling the death list generally from those who escaped the cholera. Indeed the "cholera year," as it was long referred to, was a period of gloom from which memory turns in horror. From this period may be dated most of our country graveyards, being then set apart for burial of our first dead.

Then to us were verified the comforts found in the good old hymn

There is a calm for those who weep,
A rest for weary pilgrims found;
They softly lie and sweetly sleep,
Awaiting us, low in the ground.

Sorrow, affliction, and trouble are incident to every stage and situation in life. Neither country nor climate can entirely protect us from misfortune and defeat at some periods of our life. To make wise selection least liable to a multiplicity of disagreeable conditions seems a natural incentive of all intelligent creatures. The pioneer incentive to man, however, seems a violation of this common principle of self-protection or self-escape from disagreeable conditions. My family were comfortably located in a happy home and a desirable part -of Ohio, but insidious whisperings of a better, brighter, newer country west of us invaded our ears and influenced our desires to the point of change of our home. Hence the trip above narrated and all its attendant afflictions. Yet no one of the survivors ever thought or dreamed of return to the old location. No, indeed!

There was a charm about the new home, a fascination in all our surroundings that claimed our allegiance and love in spite of all temporary inconvenience, sickness, suffering, death, and sorrow. The broad, limitless expanse of unclaimed, unused virgin nature appealed to us in all its smiling beauty, to be used, occupied, and enjoyed by man and woman for virtuous, civilized homes of love and human production. It seemed a new Garden of Eden without a serpent. Knowledge was ours, our eyes were opened, and we feared no fall.

The earliest noted writer to praise our "prairie land" says of it: "I have loved the West, and it still claims my preference over all other portions of the earth. Its magnitude, its fertility, the kindness of the climate, the variety and excellence of its productions, are unrivaled in our own country, if not on the globe. In these characters it presents itself to my mind, in the light of a strong and generous parent, whose arms are spread to extend protection, happiness, and life to throngs who seek them from other and lest favored climes. The magnificent freedom and beauty of the country form, as it were, a common element in which all varieties of character, education, and prejudice are resolved into simple and harmonious relation. Living near to nature, artificial distinctions lose much of their force. Humanity is valued mainly for its intrinsic worth-not for its appurtenances or outward belongings. "The writing of these sketches," the writer continues, "has heretofore been a labor of love. While engaged upon them I have lived again in the land of my heart. I have seen the grasses wave, and felt the winds, and listened to the birds, and watched the springing flowers, and exulted in something of the old sense of freedom which these conferred upon me. Visions prophetic of the glory and greatness which are to be developed here have dwelt in my mind and exalted it above the narrow personal cares of life."

Such are the declarations of one who had large opportunity and kindred capacity to judge fairly the charms of this country in its days of pristine beauty and enchantment--the days we are now recalling. And who of us old settlers today cannot lift the veil from memory's page and see again before us this beautiful land as it then absorbed our vision, enchanted our fancy, and filled our long cherished hope as the "land of hope" realized at last.