Grundy County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter 15 1882
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Book Title: History Of Grundy County IL 1882

CHAPTER XV.*
 
WAUPONSEE TOWNSHIP—ITS MATERIAL RESOURCES—EARLY SETTLERS—PIONEER LIFE ON THE 
PRAIRIE—THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL.

NEAR the center of Grundy County, abutting on the south bank of the Illinois 
River, lies Wauponsee Township, or in the technical language of the 
congressional survey, township 33 north, range 7, east. The name immortalizes 
that prosaic warrior, better characterized by the closing tragedy on the 
Kankakee River than the sentiment of the "leather stocking" tales, who once 
made his home near the western line of the township. This name was early 
applied to what is now Grundy County, but these extended territorial limits 
have been curtailed from time to time, until now it contains but little larger 
area than that assigned to a regular congressional township, six miles square. 
The surface, considerably broken in the northwestern corner, is generally a 
rolling prairie, sloping gradually toward the northwest. The natural drainage 
is fair, the Mazon River, flowing along the eastern border and taking a short 
turn westward near the northeastern corner and emptying into the Illinois near 
the middle part of the town; and the Waupecan Creek, entering west of the 
middle of the southern line of the township, passing in a northwesterly 
direction to the northwest corner into the Illinois, affording an outlet for 
the surplus rainfall. The outline of the highlands, which reach almost to the 
altitude of bluffs in the northwest corner, gradually recedes from the course 
of the Illinois as it proceeds eastward, leaving a space of nearly two miles 
occupied by the first and second bottoms. These are subject to annual 
overflows which are not an unmixed evil. Skiffs owned and kept by farmers at 
their residences a mile or two away are suggestive of the inconven-

*By L. W. Claypool.
 
iences of a flood, but the luxuriant crops which are annually produced on 
these lands give sure token of the blessing which comes in this guise. 
Occasionally a late flood or one accompanied with floating ice does 
considerable damage, but on the whole these inundations are not unwelcome to 
the farmers. Along the bottoms the soil is a rich and most alluvial deposit, 
fertile and of inexhaustible richness. The first and second rises or "benches" 
are marked by a preponderance of sand, forming a productive loamy soil 
especially adapted to gardening and certain fruits. The high, plateau beyond 
is more of a clay soil admirably calculated for good results in corn and grass 
cultivation. Here the timber is principally oak, while in the lower portions 
of the township black and white walnut, blue ash, hackberry and some maples 
are found. The original supply of timber was much less than now appears, and 
differently distributed. Along the margin of the streams, in the bottom and 
northern sides of ravines there was a considerable growth of trees, which by 
judicious handling, and the absence of prairie fires has spread, so that the 
lack of timber is now observable only to the practiced eye. The native prairie 
grass is yet to be seen here and there, and is prized for hay equal to the 
finest timothy. The attention of farmers in this township is chiefly devoted 
to the cultivation of small fruits and vegetables upon the sand ridges, large 
numbers of melons being shipped from this point, annually. Elsewhere the 
cultivation of corn, with stock raising, and some dairying, absorbs the 
farmer's efforts, the product finding a ready and profitable market at Chicago.

The first settlement of the county was made in this township, in 1828, by Wm. 
Marquis. He came across the country in a wagon from the vicinity of the 
Wabash. He was of French extraction, of a roving disposition, and being 
something of a trader, was probably attracted hither by the advertisement of 
the canal lands and the near location of the Indians. Whatever the reason, he 
came here and halted his wagon on the south fraction of section 2, 33, 7. Here 
he erected a building near the banks of the river, of such timber as he could 
handle, aided only by his wife, children and team. He was more trader than 
farmer, and made very slight improvements. He cultivated the acquaintance of 
the Indians that lived and hunted through the contiguous country, and through 
them some stories of Marquis have come down to a later day. It is said, in 
dealing on one occasion with Wauponsee for some wild geese feathers, Marquis 
insisted on paying him in pumpkins, at the rate of pound for pound. This was 
too much for even the indolent credulity of an Indian, and the enraged old 
chief drove him into his cabin, smashing the pumpkins after him. Marquis 
threatened to report his actions to the whites—with whom the chief was not in 
good repute—but the Indian, undaunted, replied, "Whites like Indian more than 
he like Marquis; he talk nice and smooth, but he d—d rascal." This is said to 
be not an unfair estimate of his dealings with the Indians, by whom he was not 
greatly liked. The whites who came to the township subsequently, found in him 
a good neighbor, but a cunning and dangerous opponent. Here he lived for 
several years completely isolated, trusting for subsistence upon his own 
resources alone. The story of the death of his son, about twelve years old, in 
the winter of 1834-5, and the funeral, gives some idea of the early 
privations. The father, after placing the body of his child on a scaffold out 
of doors where it would be safe from the attack of marauding animals, left his 
family sick in the cabin and walked several miles to get help from the 
neighbors for the burial. Three of them responded, Jacob and Perry Claypool 
and William Robb. For a burial case they cut off an old canoe, closing the 
open end with a piece of board, dressed the body in a clean shirt, and placing 
it in the extemporized coffin, covered it with a board. To remove it to the 
place of burial, in the absence of any sort of vehicle, a yoke of oxen was 
attached to the affair, and the pioneer cortege proceeded in this 
unceremonious manner through the snow to a ridge at some distance, where the 
grave had been prepared. The young team, not impressed with the solemnity of 
the occasion, made a nearly successful attempt to run away, and though the 
burial was accomplished without any unseemly accident, there was painfully 
lacking that careful tenderness which so mitigates the pain of the funeral 
ceremony. This was the first white man's funeral in Grundy County, and is 
typical of the privations of frontier life—an experience rigorous enough with 
health and good fortune to support it, but sad beyond expression when sickness 
and death are added to its miseries. In 1835 Marquis sold out to A. Holderman 
and removed to the mouth of the Au Sable, where he bought some land and lived 
a number of years. He subsequently lost the principal part of his property, 
and left for Texas in 1850.

In 1833 Col. Sayers came from the lower settlements to Wauponsee, and made a 
claim on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 14, building his 
cabin near the present residence of J. H. Pattison. He never came here to live 
or to make further improvements, but sold the claim to W. A. Holloway, who 
moved into the cabin in March of the following year. The latter was not a long 
resident of this township, selling his place next year and buying land in what 
is now Felix township, where he was the first settler.

Mr. S. Crook, who succeeded Holloway in the Sayers cabin in 1835, was a New 
York merchant. The notoriety which the "canal lands" got through the State 
agents was such as to create the belief in many minds that there were fine 
opportunities here for successful speculation in lands, and attracted many who 
found themselves mistaken, and soon moved elsewhere. Among this number, 
perhaps, should be placed Mr. Crook. He brought with him several trunks filled 
with goods, with which to trade with the natives. He never formally opened a 
store here, but found ready access to his goods when an occasion offered 
opportunity for trade. He left Wauponsee in the following year, and 
established a store at Ottawa, where he continued in business for a long time.

The next family to join its fortunes with the little colony in this township 
was that of Jacob Claypool. He was a Virginian by birth, and moved with his 
father to Ohio, settling near Chillicothe, in 1799. In the war of 1812 he 
served in a rifle company which was a part of the first regiment, and in a 
diary, now in the possession of his son, L. W. Claypool, has left an 
interesting history of the movements and experiences of that part of the army 
to which he was attached. He was in the campaign about Detroit, was captured 
with Gen. Hull and paroled. His observation of the Lake region made a deep 
impression upon his mind; and when the canal lands were advertised he became 
possessed with a desire to make his home near the lake on these lands. Mr. 
Claypool had something of the true spirit of the pioneer, and preferred the 
isolation and freedom of the frontier to the crowded settlements. On arriving 
at his majority his first move was to go, with others, to the east fork of the 
Miami River, in Brown County, Ohio, to establish a new settlement. He was 
therefore; in 1833, anxious to leave his farm and go further west, and 
determined, whether he sold his place or not, to go to the lake region; and 
started this year for the northern part of the State of Ohio. He was forced to 
return, however, after getting to Dayton, by the sickness of his horse. In the 
following year, having an opportunity to sell his Ohio farm, he started for 
the canal lands in Illinois, taking his son, L. W. Claypool, with him, on a 
prospecting tour. His design was to follow the Illinois River by boat to Peru, 
and thence to walk to Chicago, the aim of his journey. At Cincinnati they took 
a boat "bound for the Illinois River," on which they made the journey to 
Beardstown, where the boat ended its trip. Disappointed, but undaunted, the 
two started out on foot, and made their way finally to the residence of James 
Galloway, near Marseilles. Here Mr. Claypool rested for the night, and was 
advised in the morning to go to Holloway's cabin. Here, tired with his journey 
and pleased with the prospect, he selected the southwest quarter of section 20 
as his future home, and with his son then struck out for home, following the 
course of the river, determined to take the first boat they could get. They 
were fortunate enough to find one at Pekin, on which they made the trip to 
Cincinnati. Mr. Claypool set about preparing for the removal, and in making up 
a party to accompany him.

In the fall of this year (1834) Mr. Claypool returned with his goods on 
wagons, accompanied by his family, James Robb and his family, Wm. Brown and 
family, John Snowhill and Wm. Eubanks. The little company came over the 
country, and getting into the Chicago trail, Mr. Claypool was then anxious to 
go to Chicago, notwithstanding he had selected another place. At the point 
where the road branched off toward Wauponsee the caravan was brought to a 
halt, and the question of going to the lake was put to a vote, and Mr. 
Claypool being in the minority, came with the rest to his chosen spot. James 
Robb located on the southeast quarter, section 18, but subsequently sold out, 
moved out of the township, and later returned to his homestead on section 28. 
William Brown erected his cabin on the northwest quarter, section 30, 33, 8, 
but in 1842 he sold this place, moved to section 13, 33, 7, where he died.

In 1835, Richard Griggs settled on the southeast quarter, section 33, built 
his cabin and fenced a few acres, but soon sold out and left for parts 
unknown. In the same year the oldest son of Jacob Claypool, Perry A. Claypool, 
put up a cabin on the east half of northeast quarter, section 28. He had 
returned the previous year to Ohio to consummate his marriage to Miss Mary 
Hollsted, and then brought his bride to Wauponsee to begin life upon the 
Illinois prairie. The year following, Geo. W. Armstrong, an early settler of 
La Salle County, and of a very prominent family there, came to Wauponsee, and 
erected a cabin on the southeast quarter of section 18, and began immediately 
afterward to erect a saw-mill on the Waupecan Creek, finishing it the next 
year. He added to this business a few pieces of dry goods and a stock of 
groceries, which constituted the first regularly opened store in the township, 
and probably the first in the county. There was but little business in so 
sparse a settlement, and the venture probably did not yield great returns. The 
scarcity of timber operated unfavorably to the interests of the mill, though 
it undoubtedly proved a great convenience to the settlers, who otherwise were 
forced to split and hew out puncheons as a substitute for boards. The mill 
changed hands several times, and finally so completely disappeared as to leave 
no trace by which its actual site can be identified. Mr. Armstrong did not 
stay long in Wauponsee, returning to his former home in the adjoining county, 
in a year or two.

Ezekiel Warren, who came to La Salle County in 1832, and where he took part in 
the Black Hawk War, moved into Armstrong's cabin in 1839. Here he lived two or 
three years, and then located on the east half of the southeast quarter, 
section 17, 33, 7. James Thompson and James Berry came into the township about 
1841. Both were Irishmen, brought here by interests of the canal, and have 
proven a valuable acquisition to the growth of the township.

The pioneers who thus formed the little colony that early gathered in this 
township were familiar with the isolation, and inured to the hardships and 
privations of frontier life! But with all this, the open prairie presented 
difficulties to which they had hitherto been strangers. From this point of 
view, when the adaptability of the prairies has been so abundantly proven, it 
seems unfortunate that the early experiences of these pioneers led them to 
cling to the timbered portions of the land, where foul water and miasma 
aggravated the inevitable discomforts of frontier life. The cabin built, many 
turned their attention at once to building tight, expensive fences. The 
Claypools enclosed eighty acres with a stout Virginia fence, "staked and 
ridered," and others fenced similar fields, but they soon learned that this 
was an unnecessary expense here. Most of the settlers brought in horses and 
cows, but the former pretty generally gave way to oxen for working purposes, 
and hogs were soon introduced from the older settlements on the lower part of 
the river, as the most available way to supply the table.

These preliminaries accomplished, the most urgent necessity was to secure a 
crop. The plows were crude affairs, strong and serviceable, but requiring 
great team power and considerable mechanical skill in the plowman. The sod was 
found tough, not easily "tamed," and very uncertain in producing a first crop. 
So tenacious was it, that the furrow turned out one unbroken strip of sod, and 
occasionally, when not especially careful, the plowman had the disappointment 
of seeing yards of this leathery soil turn back to its natural position, 
necessitating the tedious operation of turning it all back by hand. The result 
of all this labor was generally well repaid the first year, if the sod became 
thoroughly rotted, though it produced but a small crop. Often times the second 
and third plowing showed the soil still stubborn and unkind. Few, even among 
farmers, know much of the labor involved in "breaking prairie," unless they 
have experienced its obstacles and overcome them. Corn was the only crop 
planted at first, and this furnished food for man and beast, and a few years 
later it was a mark of unusual prosperity to be able to furnish wheat bread to 
especial guests. When these difficulties had been surmounted; when rude barns 
and stacks of grain began to mark the home of the thriving frontier farmer, 
his very prosperity made him the readier victim of the desolation that stalked 
abroad in the prairie fire. Against this evil there was at that time no sure 
defense, but eternal vigilance. Mr. Baldwin, who has described this so well in 
his history of La Salle County, says: "From the time the grass would burn, 
which was soon after the first frost, usually about the first of October, till 
the surrounding prairie was all burnt over, or if not all burnt, till the 
green grass in the spring had grown sufficiently to prevent the rapid progress 
of the fire, the early settlers were continually on the watch, and as they 
usually expressed the idea, 'slept with one eye open.' When the ground was 
covered with snow, or during rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and 
both eyes could be safely closed, A statute law forbade setting the prairie on 
fire, and one doing so was subject to a penalty, and liable in an action of 
trespass, for the damage accruing; but convictions were seldom effected, as 
proof was difficult to obtain, though there were frequent fires. These, 
started on the leeward side of an improvement, while very dangerous to 
property to the leeward, were not so to the windward, as fire progressing 
against the wind is easily extinguished. The apprehension, therefore, of a 
frontier farmer may be readily imagined. Alone, in a strange land, he has made 
a comfortable home for his family; has raised and stored his corn, wheat, 
oats, and fodder for his stock, and sees about these, stretching away for 
miles in every direction, a vast sea of standing grass, dry as tinder, waving 
in threatening movement as the fierce prairie wind howls a dismal requiem, as 
over fair hopes doomed to destruction.

"Various means were resorted to for protection. A common one was to plow 
several furrows around a strip, several rods wide, outside the improvements, 
and then burn out the strip; or to wait until the prairie was on fire and then 
set fire outside of this furrowing, reserving the inner strip for a late burn, 
i. e., until the following summer, and in July burn both old grass and new. 
The grass would start immediately, and the cattle would feed it close in 
preference to the older grass, so that the fire would not pass over it the 
following autumn. This process repeated would soon, or in a few years, run out 
the prairie grass, and in time would be replaced by blue grass, which will 
never burn to any extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd of 
business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, 
would prevent him doing what would now seem a small matter; and all such 
effort was often futile. A prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap 
such barriers and seem to put human effort at defiance. 

"A prairie fire when first started goes straight forward with a velocity 
proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center 
keeping ahead; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally, it makes but 
comparatively slow progress, and if the wind is moderate and steady, this 
spreading fire is not difficult to manage; but if the wind veers a point or 
two, first one way and then the other, it sends this side fire beyond control. 
The head fire in dry grass and a head wind is a fearful thing, and pretty sure 
to have its own way unless there is some defensible point from which to meet 
it. A contest with such a fire requires such skill and tact as can be learned 
only by experience, and a neighborhood of settlers called out by such an 
exigency at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most 
experienced of their number, and go to work with the alacrity and energy of 
men defending their homes and property from destruction.

"The usual way of meeting an advancing fire was to begin the defense where the 
head of the fire would strike, which is calculated by the smoke and ashes 
brought by the wind long in advance of the fire. A road, cattle path or furrow 
is of great value at such a place; if there is none such, a strip of the grass 
is wetted down if water can be procured, which is,  however, a rather scarce 
article at the time of the annual fires. On the side nearest to the coming 
fire, of such road or path, the grass is set on fire, which burns slowly 
against the wind until it meets the coming conflagration, which stops of 
course for want of fuel, provided there has been sufficient time to burn a 
strip that will not be leaped by the head fire as  it comes in. This is called 
back-firing; but in this method, great care must be exercised to prevent the 
fire getting over the furrow path, or whatever is used as a base of 
operations. If it gets over and once under way, there is no remedy but to  
fall back to a more defensible position. The head of the fire successfully 
checked, the forces divide, part going to the right and part to the left, and 
the back-firing continued to meet the side fires as they come up. This must be 
continued until the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises 
endangered, and the sides secured.

"Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even the head 
of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, four to six feet long, with one 
end shaved down for a handle, was very effective when struck flat upon the 
narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel brush, a spade or shovel were often 
used with effect. The women frequently lent their aid and dexterously wielded 
the mop, which, when thoroughly wet, proved a very efficient weapon, 
especially in extinguishing a fire in the fence. When the fire overcame all 
opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal 
loss would paralyze, for the moment, every faculty, and as soon as that danger 
seemed imminent, united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own 
as best he could. It is due to historical truth to say that the actual losses 
were much less than might have been expected, though frequently quite severe. 
The physical efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and in protecting 
one's home from this devouring element were of the most trying nature, 
resulting fatally in more than one instance.

"The premises about the residences and yards being trampled down by the family 
and domestic animals, after a year or two became tolerably safe from fire, but 
the fences, corn and stubble fields were frequently burned over. When the 
prairie was all fenced and under cultivation, so that prairie fires were a 
thing of the past, the denizens of the prairie were happily released from the 
constant fear and apprehension which for years had rested like a nightmare on 
their quiet and happiness, disturbing their peace by night, and causing 
anxiety by day. The early settlers will ever have a vivid recollection of the 
grand illuminations nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late 
spring, by numberless prairie fires. The whole horizon would be lighted up 
around its entire circuit. A heavy fire six or seven miles away, would afford 
sufficient light on a dark night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire 
had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires like two 
armies facing each other, at night the sight was grand; and if one's premises 
were securely protected and he could enjoy the fine exhibition without 
apprehension, it was an awe-inspiring sight well worth going far to see."

The isolation of the Wauponsee community, while not that of many a frontier 
colony, was such as to command the greatest respect for the patient endurance 
of the pioneers of this county. The nearest post-office was at Ottawa, while 
the only "grist-mill" was that of a Mr. Green at Dayton. Here the farmers took 
a wagon load of corn or a year's supply of wheat and often waited a week for 
their turn, camping out in the vicinity in the meanwhile. This lack of milling 
facilities led to the adoption of many substitutes, such as grating the corn 
on a perforated tin or iron, parching and grinding in a coffee mill, or more 
commonly pulverizing it with a huge wooden mortar and pestle. Sometimes a 
conveniently placed stump furnished the material for the mortar, otherwise a 
section of log was hollowed out to form a bowl-like receptacle in which the 
corn was placed and plied with a heavy wooden pestle. The finest of the 
product was used for the "corn pone" or "slapjack," while the coarser part 
furnished forth the characteristic "hominy."

Game consisted principally of wild hogs and wolves. There were some deer to be 
found in the timber, and smaller game such as squirrels, woodchucks and 
prairie chickens on the prairie, but the first named animals furnished the 
principal sport. Wild hogs were such as had wandered off from the older 
settlements and gone wild in the course of nature. They were of a long-legged, 
gaunt species, and kept the timber pretty closely. They were no particular 
damage or annoyance to the early settlers, but furnished capital hunting 
sport, though of not very long duration. The wolves were of the coyote species 
and haunted the open prairies. These were of more annoyance to the 
settlements, and a bounty was early offered by the county for their scalps, 
and is still paid when claimed by hunters. They were a small undersized breed, 
and would make the night dismal with their howling, though they never attacked 
full-sized animals or persons. There were no sheep in the township, but young 
calves often fell an easy victim to these insatiable beasts, and young pigs 
when alone or accompanied only by the mother sow were often captured. They 
were hunted with dogs, and when run down would fall on their backs and fight 
very much like a cat. On frozen ground and when filled by a recent meal they 
were run down without much difficulty on horseback, as they seemed to avoid 
the timber and would risk capture rather than go into it. An instance is 
related where a wolf was thus run down and suddenly seized by the hinder leg 
as he lay on the ground ready to fight, was whirled about the hunter's head 
and killed by bringing him forcibly on the ground. Their nature of late years, 
however, seems to have undergone a decided change. They now attain a much 
larger size and inhabit the timber almost exclusively. Occasionally one is 
still shot and exhibited as quite a curiosity. Prairie chickens are still 
found, though in decreasing numbers, and serve to attract sportsmen from less 
favored localities.

Wauponsee was in the line of early travel—one of the principal traveled routes 
passing through its territory—and the old hotel on the Mazon was for some time 
a point of considerable importance. But the regulation of the roads, the 
building of railroads and the location of the county seat so near at hand, 
have all conspired to discourage the growth of any village within its borders. 
Its only centers of attraction are the school-houses and a church building, 
situated rather southeast of the center of the township. There was occasional 
preaching in the cabins by passing ministers as early as '34 or '35, but the 
first regular services were held in Wauponsee Grove, just over the township 
line, in 1837 or '8, by a Rev. Mr. Rogers, of the South Ottawa circuit. In 
1839, Harvey Hadley, of the same circuit, officiated, followed by Jno. F. 
Devore, who was the means of a great revival in 1842 or '3.

The Mormons were also early in the field, and had their preachers out quite 
regularly until 1844. Elder Pratt is especially remembered as one of these 
Evangelists of the Latter Day Saints. They made several converts to their 
peculiar doctrines, some of whom left for Nauvoo, but the majority lost their 
faith and "slid back." The first church organization in the township, however, 
was the Wauponsee Methodist Episcopal Church. J. W. and J. P. Riding, though 
of Congregational proclivities, were prominent in its early organization, but 
subsequently withdrew. For nearly ten years it held its meetings in the cabins 
around until about 1872, when, under the lead of Mr. Morgan Button, an effort 
was put forth for a regular place of worship. The result of these efforts is 
the neat wooden edifice in which the church now worships. It was dedicated in 
August, 1873, and cost some $3,000.

Schools were not established until after the formation of the county. The 
community was small, and there were but few scholars to attend if such had 
been started. But in 1843 a school was opened in a log cabin erected in the 
center of section 20, and was kept by Amanda Pickering. This was not a public 
sehool, but supported by the patrons, who "swapped" pork, corn, etc., with a 
little money, for the less materialistic benefit received by their children. 
This was one of the earliest schools in the county, and the cabin is still 
pointed out. The second school-house, which was known as the "Satterly School 
House," was constructed of logs on the east line of section 15, about 1848, 
where its site is now marked by a modern structure, in which the children of 
to-day go to school. This old school-house was for years used as town hall for 
the regular town meetings and occasional religious services. But since then 
how marked the change! Neat school-houses are found in every quarter of the 
township, where advanced methods and improved means unite to fit the rich and 
poor alike for the duties and dangers of life.

NOTE.—The Cicada, or Seventeen-year Locust, has been a visitant of this 
country, as elsewhere, and since first noticed has been regular in its coming. 
It was first noticed in 1837, and in June of that year began to attract very 
general attention. They came out of the ground about the last of May, and by 
the middle of June seemed to have taken possession of the country. A sudden 
jar on a small bush would put to flight as many as could be put into an 
ordinary pail, and during the middle part of the day their noise would drown 
the tones of a cow-bell a hundred yards away. They took every green thing in 
their way, and it was estimated that fully one-third of the leaf-bearing twigs 
on the oak timber on the eastern banks of the Mazon was destroyed by 
their "prodding" to deposit eggs.

In 1854 the locusts began to appear about the 28th of May. They came out of 
the ground a large bug, which fastened itself to a twig for an hour or two, 
when its encasing shell parting along the central line of the back, disclosed 
the ravaging locust. In a few days the country began to resound with their 
noise, but a heavy rain early in June seemed to destroy large numbers. By the 
middle of June they began to deposit their eggs, and becoming fat and 
enervated by their gorging, fell an easy prey to the birds, which destroyed 
large numbers. They went away as rapidly as they came, and by July 1st nothing 
but dried fragments of the insect could be discovered.

In 1871 farmers were expecting the return of the locust invasion, and kept a 
keen watch for the first appearance of the scourge. On the 20th of May the bug 
was plowed up, and by the 25th they had become quite numerous above ground. On 
June 7 these insects killed sixty apple trees for L. W. Claypool, though they 
had been planted three years. By July 2nd there could be heard now and then 
one in the woods, but all the rest had gone. In the later visits the locusts 
were much less numerous than in 1837.

Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ILLINOIS; Containing a History from the earliest 
settlement to the present time, embracing its topographical, geological, 
physical and climatic features; its agricultural, railroad interests, etc.; 
giving an account of its aboriginal inhabitants, early settlement by the 
whites, pioneer incidents, its growth, its improvements, organization of the 
County, the judicial history, the business and industries, churches, schools, 
etc.; Biographical Sketches; Portraits of some of the Early Settlers, 
Prominent Men, etc.; ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL 
PUBLISHERS, Lakeside Building. 1882.


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