ternal and external influences. Speculators had caused a period of 'boom' which collapsed with the weakening of the financial system. Troubles over land claims, lack of markets, the presence of the "Prairie Pirates" and poor communication with the outside world all tended to make this earlier period one of uncertainty among the settlers.

The later period is the one in which the true growth began. Finances were again comparatively sound, the people were becoming acquainted with their prairie environments and most of all the coming of the railroad was to give them markets. Fully appreciating the advantages of the country, and fully realizing that in order to take advantage of the opening opportunities they would necessarily have to be on the scene at an early date, settlers flocked there in thousands, coming to the northern counties in the greatest numbers. Likewise in the northern counties were located the chief towns, Freeport, Rockford and Belvidere. In the southern part of the valley Dixon and Rock Island alone had reached the dimensions of towns.

63

A glance at the census figures will show the northern counties to be developing more rapidly than their southern neighbors. The explanation of this lies in the influence which lines of communication have upon the growth and character of new settlements. Stage roads lead from Chicago westward across the state in various ways to the Mississippi river towns. Chief of these was Galena. The road leading to Galena passed to the northward from Chicago through Belvidere, Rockford and Freeport. Emigrants arriving in Chicago from the East by way of the lakes and bound for the Rock river valley seemed inclined to select this road to their destination. As an example, Belvidere, according to the local historian, owed its development to the fact that it was situated on this road. Moreover, the railroad was surveyed through these counties and the farmers knew that the value of their produce, to a

63 Whiteside and Lee counties had a combined population of 17,590 in 1850, a gain of 10,400 in the decade; DeKalb and Boone had about 15,000, having gained 11,760 while Winnebago and Stephenson had 33,500 inhabitants which was a gain of almost 23,600 for the decade (Seventh Census (1850), 701-2).

great extent, depended upon the expense incurred in getting it to market, so they got as close as possible to the new line of transportation.

New Englanders and New Yorkers were by far the most numerous elements in the population. "Pennsylvania Dutch,' Germans, Norwegians, and English, Irish and Canadians were generally grouped in settlements by themselves, but they formed a considerable part of the population of some districts, especially in Freeport and the northern portions of Stephenson county.

As a result of this influence of New England and the northern states, schools and churches rapidly sprang into existence, for it was evident that wherever half a dozen families were grouped there must be a school and there must be divine services if these people were to be contented with their lot in the western country. If we could follow their development farther it would' be seen that but few years indeed elapsed between the log church and school house and those of more pleasing and imposing appearance.

However, it must be said that the true development of the Rock river valley was just beginning; vast stretches of prairie land still were lying unoccupied and the work of the railroads. was yet to be done. The foundations had been laid during the period previous to 1850 but the social and industrial development of the region was to be the task of those who were to come later, and who by the aid of transportation facilities and improved farm machinery were to leave the woodlands for the open. prairies.

CHAPTER VIII

EASTERN ILLINOIS

Eastern Illinois is truly the prairie district of the state; and in this district settlement developed slowly, but five counties having been organized previous to 1830.1 The period from 1830 to 1850 was one of beginnings in this part of Illinois. From the first appearance of American settlers until the railway had developed into a probability, the settlements were sparse, for here, too, the prejudice of the pioneers against the prairies displayed itself. Few indeed were the settlers who ventured away from the sheltering timber along the rivers and in nearly every case the early settlements are to be found on the edge of the timber lands. Exceptions, of course, there were but they were few. Along the most-traveled roads leading from the Wabash river settlements to those along the Illinois river or to Chicago, an occasional pioneer more venturesome than the rest built his little cabin, but even in such cases he was careful to select some spot where timber was close.

Local historians of eastern Illinois are agreed on the point that the scarcity of settlement in that district prior to 1850 was due entirely to the inaccessibleness of the country. Mr. Beckwith in his History of Vermilion County says there was no settlement on the prairie until 1849 when a rush of immigration came in, in anticipation of the passage of Douglas's Illinois

1 The counties discussed under the head "Eastern Illinois" are Jasper, Effingham, Cumberland, Coles, Shelby, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Vermilion, Champaign, Piatt, Macon, Logan, DeWitt, McLean, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois and Kanka. kee. Of these Vermilion, Edgar, Shelby, Macon, and McLean were organized

before 1831.

North and east of the curved line is the prairie; less than 20 per cent. woodland. Year indicates date of county organization.

Central Railroad bill, the discussion of which in Congress had attracted much attention to the prairie lands of the state."

The combined population of the five counties organized at the opening of the period (1830) was less than 14,500 and twothirds of this number were within the limits of Vermilion and Edgar counties on the Wabash river. Before the organization of the state Edgar county had received settlers and during the closing years of the decade 1821-1830 immigrants had poured into this portion of the state in increased numbers, distributing themselves along the rivers. Generally speaking, these early pioneers were from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and the Carolinas. Directly to the north lay Vermilion county. Here the population was grouped in the timber lands along the Vermilion river and its tributaries in the southeastern part of the county. Danville, the chief town, situated on the Vermilion river which, at that time, was navigable for steamboats during a great part of the year, had a population of three hundred and fifty and was the most important settlement in this part of the state. Coal mining which later was to become the great industry around the settlement had begun, but only on a small scale for the settlers did not comprehend the value of the coal fields and instead of claiming great portions were content to dig only what they needed for immediate use."

While the early years of the decade 1831-1840 were prosperous years for central Illinois the spread of population was not rapid in either of the Wabash river counties although they both increased considerably in numbers of settlers." A filling-in process was going on here instead of an extension of the frontier line and the timbered banks of the numerous branches of the Wabash which crossed this part of the state were being taken up. Timber seemed plentiful and as yet there was no necessity for

2 Beckwith, History of Vermilion County, 801.

3 Vermilion and Edgar counties had 5,800 and 4,100 settlers respectively; Shelby county had 3,000; Macon county 1,100; and McLean county had less than one hundred families. Seventh Census (1850), 701, 702.

Danville had six stores, four saw mil's, two grist mills, a post-office, a courthouse and a land office. Illinois Monthly Magazine, 2, 456.

* Beckwith, History of Vermilion County, 847.

Some 7,500 settlers were added to the population of the two counties during the decade. Seventh Census (1850), 701, 702.