CHAPTER XIII-COMMUNISTIC SETTLEMENTS IN ILLINOIS -con. 2. The Bishop Hill Colony-continued Accounts of their appearance. PAGE 529 The Phalanx and Icaria as examples of the westward move ment.... 536 Icaria an example of democratic government and pure 536 Hunter pioneers driven back from northern Illinois ... Effect of steam navigation on the Great Lakes... 538 538 538 539 CHAPTER XIV-THE PRAIRIE FARMER-continued 2. Illinois prairies in 1830-continued. Reports concerning climate Much sickness in the new country High lands most heathful ... 3. The home of the prairie man... PAGE 541 542 543 543 CHAPTER XV-CONCLUSION 1. Comparative views of Illinois Frontier line in 1830.. Frontier line in 1840.. Frontier line in 1850... Population maps give only general idea of location of set PAGE 559 559 559 559 Recovery not rapid in all parts of the state.... 571 572 572 573 Nativities of the settlers of Illinois.... 573 Lines of communication and their influence on sectionalism 573 574 [20] THE SETTLEMENT OF ILLINOIS FROM 1830 TO 1850 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The state of Illinois offers a unique opportunity for the study of the westward movement and of the influences determining the character and location of settlement. Owing to its size, its favorable location, the routes by which it can be reached, its varied physiographic divisions, its abundance of internal waterways, its numerous stretches of woodland, its extensive prairies and the time taken for the frontier line to cross the state we may well expect to find within its limits a varied population. The settlement of the state may be divided into four clearly defined periods, viz: (1) the period of the French occupation; (2) from the coming of the Americans to the opening of steam navigation on the Great Lakes; (3) from the opening of steam navigation on the Great Lakes to the opening of the railroads across the prairies; (4) after the opening of the railroads. This investigation deals with the third period of settlement (approximately from 1831 to 1850) which itself is conveniently divided into four periods somewhat less clearly defined than the general divisions already noted. First of these minor divisions is the period extending to the Black Hawk War; this serves as an introductory period for the greater development soon to follow. Second is the period of speculation and rapid settlement which extends to the collapse of the internal improvement system in the state. It is difficult to fix a date for the |