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OF

MONTGOMERY COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH

HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS,
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER

AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST PART,
OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

Br H. W. BECKWITH,

1-

OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO:

H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.

2:

Hontgomery County, Ind. - Wis.

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Biog

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3. Wabast river and valley
4. Fountain County, Ind. Hist.

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THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

790994 A

ASTOR, LENOX AND
THERAN FOUNDATIONS
# 1936 L

COPYRIGHT, 1881,

BY H. W. BECKWITH AND SON.

PRESS OF

KNIGHT & LEONARD

PREFACE.

IN presenting this History to the public the editors and publishers have had in view the preservation of certain valuable historical facts and information which without concentrated effort would not have been obtained, but with the passing away of the old pioneers, the failure of memory, and the loss of public records and private diaries, would soon have been lost. This locality being comparatively new, we flatter ourselves that, with the zeal and industry displayed by our general and local historians, we have succeeded in rescuing from the fading years almost every scrap of history worthy of preservation. Doubtless the work is, in some respects, imperfect; we do not present it as a model literary effort, but, in that which goes to make up a valuable book of reference for the present reader and the future historian, we assure our patrons that neither money nor time has been spared in the accomplishment of the work. Perhaps some errors will be found. With treacherous memories, personal, political and sectarian prejudices and preferences to contend against, it would be almost a miracle if no mistakes were made. We hope that even these defects which may be found to exist may be made available in so far as they may provoke discussion and call attention to corrections and additions necessary to perfect history.

The "History of the Wabash Valley"-necessarily the foundation for the history of this part of the country, by H. W. Beckwith, of Danville - has already received the hearty endorsement of the press, of the historical societies of the northwestern states, and of the most accurate historians in the country. Mr. Beckwith has in his possession perhaps the most extensive private library of rare historical works bearing on the territory under consideration in the world, and from them he has drawn as occasion demanded.

The general county history, written by P. S. Kennedy, will be found by our readers to be in a bold, fearless style, dealing in facts as so many causes, and pursuing effects to the end without turning to the right or left to accommodate the opinions or preferences of friend, party or sect.

The war record, which is as complete as can possibly be obtained, it is believed will give eminent satisfaction to the many brave boys who still survive and who took their lives in their hands and went forth to battle for the Union, and who have liberally patronized us in this work.

The township histories, by Messrs. Cowan, Cochran, Raymond, Hyde and Turner, will be found full of valuable recollections, which, but for their patient research, must soon have been lost forever, but which are now happily preserved for all ages to come. These gentlemen have placed upon the county and the adjacent country a mark which will not be obliterated, but which will grow brighter and broader as the years go by.

The biographical department contains the names and private sketches of nearly every person of importance in each township. A few persons, whose sketches we should be pleased to have presented, for various reasons refused or delayed furnishing us with the desired information, and in this matter only we feel that our work is incomplete. However, in most of such cases we have obtained, in regard to the most important persons, some items, and have woven them into the county or township sketches, so that, as we believe, we cannot be accused of either partiality or prejudice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PART I.

CHAPTER I.

Topography-The drainage of the Lakes and the Mississippi, and the Indian and French names by which they were severally called....

CHAPTER II.

Drainage of the Illinois and Wabash - Their tributary streams - The portages connecting the drainage to the Atlantic with that of the Gulf

CHAPTER III.

The ancient Maumee Valley-Geological features-The portage of the Wabash and the Kankakee...

CHAPTER IV.

The rainfall-Cultivation of the soil tends to equalize rainfall, and prevent the recurrence of drouths and floods......

CHAPTER V.

11

17

21

26

Origin of the prairies-Their former extent - Gradual encroachment of the forest-Prairie fires - Aboriginal names of the prairies, and the Indians who lived exclusively upon them.

CHAPTER VI.

29

Early French discoveries-Jaques Cartier ascends the St. Lawrence in 1535Samuel Champlain founds Quebec in 1608-In 1642 Montreal is establishedInfluence of Quebec and Montreal upon the Northwest continues until subsequent to the war of 1812-Spanish discoveries of the lower Mississippi in 1525, 37

CHAPTER VII.

Joliet and Marquette's Voyage-Father Marquette's Journal, descriptive of the journey and the country through which they traveled - Biographical sketches of Marquette and Joliet....

CHAPTER VIII.

La Salle's Voyage-Biographical sketch of La Salle-Sketch of Father Hennepin and the merit of his writings...

CHAPTER IX.

La Salle's Voyage continued — He erects Fort Miamis

CHAPTER X.

The several rivers called the Miamis- La Salle's route down the Illinois - The Kankakee Marshes-The French and Indian names of the Kankakee and Des Plaines-The Illinois-"Fort Crevecœur The whole valley of the great river taken possession of in the name of the King of France.

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