English Settlement
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED to extract portions of The History of the English Settlement in Edwards county, Illinois, founded in 1817 and 1818 to include on this website.
TABLE of CONTENTS
Introductory. page 3
Preface. page 11
CHAPTER I. page 19
Prefatory Remarks — The Founders of the English Colony in Illinois, Morris Birkbeck and George Flower — Sketch of Morris Birkbeck — His Father a Quaker — His Education and Early Life in England — Travels of Birkbeck and Flower through France — Edward Coles visits Mr. Birkbeck and Family at Wanborough, England — Coles afterward becomes Governor of Illinois, and Birkbeck his Secretary-of-State — Characteristics of Birkbeck - Embarks for the United States in April, 1817 - Richard Flower, father of George Flower — Reflections on the United States - George Flower in the United States a year before Birkbeck
CHAPTER II. page 29
Mr. Flower sails for America — Reflections on the Voyage — Arrives in New York and visits Philadelphia — Invited to Monticello by Mr. Jefferson — Journey Westward — Visits Dr. Priestly, on the Susquehanna — Lost in the Journey to Pittsburgh — From thence to Cincinnati — The Town as he found it, and the People — The Neave Family — Crosses the Ohio River and visits Lexington, and also Gov. Shelby, in Lincoln County — Fording of Dick's River — Hears of the Illinois Prairies for the first time — Visits Nashville, Tenn. — Meets Gen. Jackson at a Horse-Race — Returning East, visits Mr. Jefferson at Poplar Forest, South-western Virginia — Description of his House and his Personal Appearance, Dress, etc. — Visits Col. John Coles, father of Edward Coles, in Albemarle County — Passes the Winter with Mr. Jefferson at Monticello — At the Inauguration of Mr. Monroe, and meets Edward Coles for the first time — Mr. Birkbeck and his Family arrive at Richmond, from England
CHAPTER III. page 42
Joins Mr. Birkbeck and Family in Richmond, Va. — Miss Andrews, afterward Mrs. Flower — Decides to go Westward from Richmond — Incidents of the Trip — Meets with Mr. Sloo, U. S. Land-Officer at Shawneetown, who conducts the Party to Illinois — They stop at Gen. Harrison's, at North Bend — At Vincennes "Painted Warriors, Bedecked Squaws, and Bedizened Pappooses" — Mr. Birkbeck's Daughters and Miss Andrews -Difficulties of the Journey bravely met — Mr. Birkbeck proposes Marriage to Miss Andrews — Offer Declined — Leads to Unpleasant Results — The Party first Establishes itself at Princeton, Indiana — A Visit to the Shaker Settlement at Busro — Account of the French-Canadian Settlement at Cattinet — Birkbeck and Flower start out in Search of the Prairies — Pass through New Harmony, George Rapp's Colony — Description of the Place — Cross the Wabash and enter the Territory of Illinois, and reach the Big-Prairie Settlement — Boltenhouse Prairie, a Beautiful Sight — Crossing the Wabash into Illinois Territory — Hard Ride to Birk's Prairie — The Prairie-Flies — Captain Birk, a Specimen Pioneer — His Cabin and his Family — Intense Prejudice against the British — Journey Continued — Reflections on the Pioneers — Long Prairie reached, where the English Settlement was afterward made — Return to Princeton — Timber-land around Boltenhouse Prairie entered at Shawneetown — Mr. Birkbeck to remain and Mr. Flower to return to England to procure more Funds and beat up for Recruits — The Decision made
CHAPTER IV. page 36
Fear of Speculators — Desire to get a Grant of Land from Congress — Mr. Jefferson Written to on the Subject — His Answer — Letter of Hon. Nathaniel Pope — Reply of Mr. Birkbeck — Mr. Flower sets out for England — Long Horseback-Trip to Chambersburgh, Pa., Accompanied by Mrs. Flower — The Outfit — Incidents of the Journey — Mrs. Flower Remains in Chambersburgh — Mr. Flower Sails from New York to Liverpool — Birkbeck's Notes of Travel — The Emigrants
CHAPTER V. page 78
First Party of Emigrants Sail from Bristol, in March, 1818 — Many of Mr. Birkbeck's Neighbors and Acquaintances among them — Letter of Richard Birkbeck — Farm Operatives in England — Persons composing the Party — Land in Philadelphia, in June, 1818 — Reach Pittsburgh and descend the Ohio River to Shawneetown — Arrive at Mr. Birkbeck's Cabin on Boltenhouse Prairie — The Barracks — Sufferings and Discomforts of the Party — Wanborough laid off by Mr. Birkbeck — The next Ship-load of Emigrants sail in the following Month, April, 1818 — Mr. Flower's Family with this Party — Other Persons composing it — Mr. Flower Journeys by Carriage from Philadelphia to Chambersburgh with his Family — The last Ship-load of Emigrants proceeding to their Destination — Want of Harmony — A Black Sheep in the Fold — Arrival at Pittsburgh — Preparations to Descend the Ohio River — The Perils of the Voyage — Stop at Shawneetown — The Appearance of that Village — Mr. Fordham comes from the Settlement to meet Mr. Flower and Party at Shawneetown — His Account of Mr. Birkbeck and condition of Things at the Settlement — Preparations to receive the Emigrants — Log-Cabins and Hard Food — The first Meal on their Arrival — The blessing of an Iron Teakettle — No Greetings from the Settlement — Mr. Birkbeck and Mr. Flower at Variance — A short Dialogue between them, and they never Speak to each other afterward — The Cause of the Estrangement — First Experiences — A Sickly Season — A Time of Trial — Labor and Self-Sacrifices of Mrs. Flower — A Noble and True Woman — The first building of Cabins — Close run for Provisions — Settlement in Village Prairie — Emigrants coming in — Determined to lay out a Town — The spot Selected — The Name Agreed upon
CHAPTER VI. page 102
Albion Founded — Town Surveyed and Laid Off — First Double Cabin — Benjamin Grutt — Albion a fixed Fact — The Log Cabin and Blacksmith-Shop — Rowdyism — Wanborough springs into Existence in 1818 — Efforts to obtain Water — Visit to Lexington, Ky. — Death of William Flower — Building in Albion — Old Park-House — The Sunday Dinner — Brick-Kilns — Market-House — New Roads — Brick-Tavern, built by Richard Flower — Kept by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis — The Mill — The first Store-keepers in Albion — Other early Settlers — Albion made the County-Seat — Erection of a Court House and Jail — Pardon of Perry by Gov. Coles — Disappointment of the People in not seeing him Hung — Consoling themselves with Whisky and a score of Fights — Thirty-nine Lashes for a Poor Frenchman — Hon. William Wilson
CHAPTER VII. page 114
Settlers on the Prairies about Albion — Death of Mrs. Wood — Other Settlers — Billy Harris' Wagon — Visiting England — Changes in the Country at large, but little in the respective Villages — Another Ship-load of Emigrants — An Inappropriate Settler — John Tribe — William Clark and Family — William Hall, five Sons, and four Daughters — A Well Accident — Emigration for 1820 — Quarrels of Doctors — Another Well Accident — Lawrence and Trimmer Return to England — Col. Carter — Further Settlers Sketched — Francis Hanks, Judge Wattles, and Gen. Pickering — Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd — Cowling, Wood, Field, Ellis, and others — Old Neddy Coad — Accident to the Sons of William Cave — Small-Traders and Farmers
CHAPTER VIII. page 132
Religion in the Settlement — Slanders and Efforts to divert Emigrants — First Religious Services — Mr. Pell and Mr. Thomas Brown — The Hard-Shell Baptist Preacher — Jesse B. Browne and Judge Thomas C. Browne — The Campbellites or Christian Church — First Episcopal Church — Gen. Pickering an Active Promoter — Influence of the Chimes of Bells — Bishop Chase Consecrates the First Episcopal Church of Albion — William Curtis and his Congregation — Backwoodsmen don't like Episcopacy — The Methodist Church Better Adapts Itself to all Classes — Reflections Thereon — A Methodist Camp-Meeting Described — Mr. Birkbeck Unjustly Assailed — Mr. Birkbeck's Letter on Religion — Features of the Country — A Glowing Description — The Calumnies against the Settlement Rebutted by Mr. Birkbeck — Toleration of all Religious Opinions
CHAPTER IX. page 144
Consultations as to how to Advance the Interests of the Settlement — The Backwoodsmen begin to Leave the Country — The Michaels Brothers — Moses Michaels Elected to the Legislature, and a "Weak Brother" — Descriptions of Moving Emigrants — Two Early Settlers at Albion — One of them become Governor — English and Americans have Different Ways of Doing Things — Emigrants from Europe bound for Albion, Land at nearly every Port from St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico — A Welshman Rides on Horseback from Charleston, S. C, to Albion — British Sketches Recognized by Britains at Albion — Cobbett's Abusive Letters about the English Colony — Cobbett's Character — Replies by Richard Flower and Morris Birkbeck — Dr. Johnson's Charges — Mr. Fearon's Book of Travels — Adverse Influences — The Evil Genius of Slavery
CHAPTER X. page 154
Conspiracy against Liberty — The Convention Question — The Salines — Slaves to Work them — How Slavery got a Foothold in Illinois — Provision of the First Constitution — Gen. Willis Hargrave — System Adopted to Change the Constitution — The Project Exposed — The Pro-Slavery Men holding all the Offtces — Judge Samuel D. Lockwood an Exception — Letters of "Jonathan Freeman" and "John Rifle" — Handbill " ProBono Pu blico" — Letters of Morris Birkbeck — The Election takes Place — Vote of Edwards County — Slavery Men Active and Unscrupulous — Gov. Coles and Mr. Birkbeck — The latter appointed Secretary-of-State by Gov. Coles — The Outrages on Gov. Coles by the Slavery Party — Letter of Gov. Coles to Mr. Birkbeck — Honorable Exceptions among the Pro-Slavery Men, Judges Wilson and Browne — The Cloven-Foot Exposed by the "Shawneetown Gazette" — The Death of Mr. Birkbeck — Buried at New Harmony, Ind. — His Memory to be held in Respect and Gratitude
CHAPTER XI. page 198
Interest in the Convention Question — Difference between Slaves and Servants — Asperity and Bitterness of the Contest — The English Spoke their Minds Freely — Estrangement of Friends — The English Settlement Persecuted — Outrages on Colored Men — Lawsuit in Albion — Threatening Letters from Kidnapers — Negroes Kidnaped in Illinois and Indiana — The White-River Desperadoes — Their Arrest — Persecution of the Colored Men in the English Settlement — Mr. Flower sends a Colony to Hayti — Account of Difficulties Encountered — The Colony a Success in Hayti — The Settlement the Object of Detraction and Misrepresentation — The Fate attending Discoverers of New Countries and Founders of Colonies — Illustrated in the Case of William Penn — Treatment of Mr. Flower — The Cause of It
CHAPTER XII. page 213
Murder of Richard Flower, son of George Flower — Murderer Acquitted — Large Outlays for Food — Relations between New Harmony and the English Settlement — Robert Owen Buys Out the Harmonites — New Harmony under Robert Owen — Men Eminent in Literature, Science, and Art Flocked Around him — His Doctrines Promulgated Spread far and wide — Mr. Owen's Ability as a Conversationist and His Equanimity of Temper — His Address to the People of Albion — Rapp's Society at New Harmony
CHAPTER XIII. page 220
The Emigration to the Settlement Recommences — The Character of the New Emigrants — The Crackles Brothers — Mr. Joseph Applegath — The Good Farms about Albion — The Courts at Albion — Attended by Eminent Men — Judge Wilson, Edwin B. Webb, Col. Wm. H. Davidson, Gen. John M. Robinson, John McLean, and Henry Eddy — Their Visits to Mr. Flower — "A Good Supper and a Bowl of Punch" — Dreary Travel to Vandalia — Bear-Meat and Venison — An Enormous Elk, the Patriarch of the Prairies — The Wrestling Match between Indians and White Men — The Indians "Down" the Pale Faces - Perilous Ride from the Wabash to Vandalia — Judges Wilson and Lockwood and Henry Eddy out all Night in a Dreadful Storm — Horseback the only Mode of Conveyance — Its Fatigues and Dangers
CHAPTER XIV.
Long Horseback Excursions — The Cabin Found — Island Grove — The Tempest — A Horrible Night — John Ganaway's Roadside-Cabin — A Good Breakfast — Hugh Ronalds' Adventure — Narrowly Escapes Death — Long Journey by Wagon — The Delights of that Mode of Travel — Health and Spirits Renewed — Travel of that Day and the Present Day Contrasted — Mr. Hulme's Journey — Mr. Applegath, Bishop Whitehouse, and Mr. Kleinworth's — The First Crops and Cabins — The Progress Year by Year — The Peach Orchard — A Happy Life — Children Growing Up — "Edward's Orchard" — The Herding of Sheep — The Boys and Girls — A Charming Picture of Rural Life — The Hospitable Home — Lingering on the Porch — The Welcome Guests — The Lost Child — The Finding and the Rejoicings — The Wild Animals, Wolves, Bears, and Panthers — The Panther — The Wolf Chase — Savage Fight between Man and Wolf
CHAPTER XV. page 238
Marriage Certificates Average Cost of Marriage — Erecting Log Houses — Farmers Trading down the Mississippi — English Farm Laborers become Substantial Farmers and Merchants in the English Settlement — Death of Richard Flower — His Characteristics — Frequent Festivities and Family Reunions at his House - The Ancestors of the Flowers — Mrs. Richard Flower — The Buckinghamshire Party of Emigrants Arrive — German Families Come in — The Yorkshire Men — Good Pork and Beef at Albion — The Last Ship's Party Arrive — Travelers Visiting the Settlement — Mr. Hulme — Mr. Welby writes an Abusive Book — Mr. Fearon writes about the Settlement, but never saw It — The Thompsons — Mr. Stewart an Edinboro' Man — Mr. D. Constable, the Man with a Knapsack and a Cane — An Admirable Character — Good accomplished by Mr. Constable — Sir Thomas Beevoir and Lady Beevoir visit Albion — The Beevoir Family in England — The Aristocracy of England not a Degenerate Race — Lord Frederick's Sermon — The American Clock-Peddler — Defamatory Books Published in England — Constitution for a Library — Albion in 1822 and i860 — Its Peculiar Characteristics — No Printing-Press, no Bank, no Lawyer for Thirty Years — Log-Cabins give way to Comfortable Dwellings — Town and County Affairs — The Steady March of Improvement in the Settlement — A Bank Established in Albion — Two Lawyers settle there — The Doctors — Joel Churchill, the "Poor Man's Friend" — Cotton grown in the Settlement at one Time — Limits of the English Settlement — Never any Quarrels between the English and Americans — Projected Railroads — The Southern Cross Railroad bought by Gen. Pickering — Solid Prosperity enjoyed by the Settlement — Annoyances by Insects — The "Tires"
CHAPTER XVI. page 257
Difficulty in Establishing Schools — A certain Density of Population Necessary — In Town or Village of Spontaneous Growth — Oswald Warrington keeps School at Albion in its Earliest Days — Englishmen and New Englanders build a School House near Albion — A Colored Man Assists, but his Children are not Allowed to go to School — Another School House — The Scene at a Country School — The Little Urchin at School — The Older Scholars — The Log School House on the Frontier an Interesting Object — Contrasts with the Crowded City School — Permanent Brick School House at Albion — Influences of the School on the Backwoodsmen — The Free-School System in Illinois — Statistics of Education in Edwards County — Agricultural Fair at Albion in 1858 — Splendid Display
CHAPTER XVII. page 266
Success of the English Settlement — What Contributed to it — Absence of Land-Speculation — Happy Adaptation of the Country to Settlers — Prairie-Land a Source of National Wealth — Sterling Qualities of the English Laborers and Farmers — Solid Prosperity of the English Settlement in Illinois — The First Annoyances of the Early Settlers — The Prairie Fires - First-Founders of Settlements rarely attain Material Advantages — What they are Compelled to Do — The Fate of William Penn — The Compensations — Striking Incidents in the History of the State — First Settlers Accounted for — The Destiny which Befell the First Founders — The Remains of Morris Birkbeck Repose in the Graveyard at New Harmony, Ind. — What became of his Children — The Pecuniary Difficulties and Disasters of George Flower — Leaves Illinois with his Family in 1849, never to Return to Live — Cross the Great Wabash — Begin the World Anew in New Harmony — Removes to Mt. Vernon, Ind., in 1860 — The Last Stage of Life's Journey — Ready to Lie Down to Sleep
Appendix [Letters], page 275
Extracted 20 Feb 2017 by Norma Hass from History of the English
Settlement in Edwards county, Illinois, founded in 1817 and 1818, by Morris
Birkbeck and George Flower, published in 1909
