ILLUSTRATIONS. Baker, Edward D., from a portrait in possession of Joseph Springfield, Ill., 490 286 490 Breese, Sidney, from "Western Monthly," Chicago, 1870, Springfield, Ill., Chicago in 1812, from "Massacre of Chicago," by Mrs. John 424 246 Clark, Gen. Geo. Rogers, from his "Campaign in Illinois," 158 508 400 Edwards, Ninian, from oil portrait in Chicago Historical Soc'y, 242 Ewing, William Lee D., from litho, by permission of H. W. Rokker of Springfield, Ill., 424 First State-House, at Kaskaskia, 306 Ford, Thomas, from a daguerrotype in possession of his nephew, J. S. Hambaugh, Springfield, Ill., Fort Chartres, from Reynolds' "Pioneer History of Illinois," 2d ed., 1887, 490 115 at Springfield, Ill., French, Augustus C., from oil portrait in Executive Mansion Hall, James, from his "Romance of Western History," of Western History," Vol. I, Henry, Patrick, from an India-ink drawing, by A. F. Brooks, taken from a portrait, by Thomas Sully, in possession of his grandson, Wm. Wirt Henry of Richmond, Va., Illinois in 1673, showing location of Indian tribes, drawn for Jones, John Rice, photo from painting owned by his son, Kane, Elias Kent, from India-ink drawing, by A. F. Brooks, 158 286 268 Frontispiece Lincoln, Abraham, from a photo by Alex. Hesler of Chicago, taken at Springfield in summer of 1860, Menard, Pierre, from oil portrait in Chicago Historical Soc'y, 289 "Mormon, Book of," fac-simile of characters from which it was alleged to be translated, Ordinance of 1787, fac-simile of "Article VI" in handwriting of Nathan Dane, through W. F. Poole, LL.D., Chicago, Peck, John Mason, from engraving by J. Sartain, in memoir of, by Rufus Babcock, Pope, Nathaniel, from portrait in U.-S. District Court, Chicago, by permission of Judge Henry Williams Blodgett, Reynolds, John, from his "Pioneer History of Illinois," 2d ed., 352 Robinson, John M., from litho, by permission of his daughter, Mrs. R. F. Stewart, Carmi, Ill., 471 512 424 286 424 Second State-House, at Vandalia, Ill., 306 Semple, James, photo from oil painting, by permission of his daughter, Mrs. Lucy V. Semple Ames of Elsah, Ill., 460 Shields, James, from engraving, 490 Starved Rock, from a photo in 1879, by Wm. E. Bowman of Ottawa, Ill., 42 St. Clair, Gen. Arthur, from engraving, "The St. Clair Papers," 158 Thomas, Jesse Burgess, sr., from a daguerrotype in posses sion of his grandnephew, H. T. Thomas, New-York City, 286 PREFACE. H1 ISTORIES of Illinois, valuable and interesting, have already been written. It is not because the author un- . derestimates these or would detract from their importance that he has undertaken the same task, but for the purpose of connecting what in some respects are merely fragmentary accounts, contained in dusty volumes, the greater portion of which have been long since out of print; of correcting or modifying many previous statements in the light of later information; and of presenting new facts and recent events in such accessible form and manner that they may be readily consulted and employed in every field of labor, professional as well as mercantile, official as well as manual. In its preparation every available source of information has been utilized. Public documents, official records, and manuscripts have been carefully examined, compared, and verified. The author has also very largely drawn upon his own knowledge of what such a work should contain, and how it should be arranged—a knowledge derived from half a century's residence in the State, and from a long and varied experience in the judicial, legislative, and administrative departments of public life. The opinions expressed on public questions and men are his own, intended to be free from prejudice, as they certainly are uninfluenced by patronage or subsidies. Nor has he assumed. to be the champion of any party, sect, or measure. What was originally intended for one, has grown into two volumes, the second of which, now nearly completed, will bring the history down to the date of issue. Among the many who have contributed information and rendered other valuable assistance in the preparation of the work, the author tenders his especial thanks to the following persons: Oscar W. Collet, librarian of the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Mo.; Prof. John H. Woods of Jacksonville, Ill.; and Walter B. Wines, LL.B., of Chicago. In submitting his work-the result of many years of study and research-to the judgment of his fellow-citizens, the author is inspired with the hope that it may not be without its influence in contributing toward the expansion, elevation, and onward march of the people and institutions of the mighty State whose phenomenal progress has been a source of congratulation and pardonable pride to all her citizens. CHICAGO, April 1, 1889. Where Moses. ILLINOIS, HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL INTRODUCTORY. ILLINO CHAPTER I. Extent, Soil, Climate, and Productions. LLINOIS is the name given by the French to a confederate tribe of Indians and the country which they inhabited. It is derived from the Algonquin word Inini, which the French pronounced Illini. It signified "the men, perfect and accomplished," and, by way of sharp antithesis, implied that all other aborigines were "mere beasts."* The suffix ois is purely French, and denotes tribe. Hence the word Illinois may be translated as meaning "tribe of men." It was variously written by early French chroniclers: Illinoies, Illinoues, Illimomouek, Illinewek, Illiniwek, and L-in-i-wek; but its definition has always been the same. The general form of the State is that of a truncated cone, extending from north to south. Its boundary line, however, is very irregular, following as it does from its northwest corner the windings of the Mississippi, which separates it from the states of Iowa and Missouri on the west, and which washes its entire western and southwestern border. From Cairo, the line follows the still more tortuous Ohio, which divides it from Kentucky, to the mouth of the Wabash. Thence ascending this river to the meridian of Vincennes, it follows a straight line, separating it from Indiana, to Lake Michigan, from which point it takes a turn east, along the northern line of Indiana, to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence north along the middle of that lake to north latitude forty-two degrees and thirty minutes; thence west along said line, which divides it from Wisconsin, to the middle of the Mississippi.† * Marquette, Hennepin, et al. + The boundaries of the State are officially defined by the Act of Congress of |