Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-06-12
r rom the Illinois Champion and Peoria Herald
PEORIA, May ~, sea4.
PEORIA

~ Has ioTS Deen our Intention, as soon
a we could possibly collect the neces
sary Information to enable US to do so.
t'present the public with general de-
scription of this place and vicinity
lis present condition and future pros,
poets, and the advantages it offers to
migrants to settle among us. The
lumber of inquiries made of US on this
:bJect by persons living at distance.
md DESTROYS of emigrating, induces us
represent brief article onthe subject
at this time, although necessarily less
full, and satisfactory than we could have
wished it.
We have been unable to ascertain
the precise period at which the first set
Element was made here, but find, from
inquiry, that it must have been near Il
century ago; about the time the first
settlement was made at Vincennes, in
Indiana, and st. Louis, in Mo. The orr.
ginal settlers were Frenchmen, who
held small tracts of land granted to them
by the French government. They first
ocated their village at what is termed
'the narrows,' about foul miles above
this place, from which they removed
the ensuing spring, finding the land
there too low, and subject to inundation.
They afterwards made. a,temporary res
idence mile and half above this
place where they~>built fort and
erected a few housds; they soon, howev-
er, removed from thence 10 this town,
where they erected number of build
ings for residences and trading houses.
They carried on very extensive trade
with the Indians, and about the year
1869 they manufactured and sold 100
hhds. of wine. Having intermarried
with the tribe Of Indians here at the
time, they we're enabled to maintain
with them the most friendly relations.
No American settlements were made
here until about the year 1900, when
many were made along the Illinois riv-
er. The French continued in the
peaceable possession Of their land until
the year 1913, at which time their town
was destroyed by fire, by company Of
United States troops under the COM
mand of Capt. Craig, from belief that
they were aiding and abetting the lndi
ans in their aggressions on ouI citizens.
AT this time their village contained a.
bout seventy buildings, among which
were twenty-four stores or trading hou
SEES; the whole ofwhich were consumed.
The United States troops then erected a
fort here denominated Fort Clark, and
occupied it till the spring of 1918, at
which time it was evacuated. In The
fall Of that year, the town was again
burnt down by portion of the Pota-
wattamie tribe Of Indians.
The land was laid off by the county
as town in 826, and many lots sold,
but owing TO some doubts with regard to
the title TO the land, most of the pur
chasers relinquished their lots, and no
building, Of consequence were erected
until 1882.
The town of Peoria is idelightfully
situated on the northwest bank of the
Illinois river, about two hundred miles
from its junction with the Mississippi,
and $40 above ST. Louis. There is not
probably, in the Union, as beautiful "a
site for a town as this. The land on
wi. ch it is situated rises gently from the
river for about 400 yards, when it be-
comes almost perfectly level for nearly
half mile. al which distance there ri
,ses ''bluf" forty feet high, extending
parallel with the river for great dis
tdnce.
At the southern line Of the town
commences what is termed Lake PEG
ria, being merely an expansion of the
river, aud running for about twenty
miles above this place, varying in width
from one to three miles. This is most
beautiful sheet Of water, generally tran
quill clear and deep, and astounding with
fish of almost every description, whilst
near its shores sportsmen generally find
wild game in abundance. The bank is
formed Of gravel, and affords conven
lent and safe landing for Steam Boats al
all stages Of the river. When the VIA.
ter is low, an innumerable number o.
small springs are found oozing from the
shore, from which some families derive
their supply Of water during the sum
mer months. Although this town, is no