The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-02-26
OTTAWA FREE TRADER: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY &C. 1870

from fragmentary reports and other sources, and
it would be impossible to give the proper credit
TO all. We have taken down much information
AS it fell from the lips of early settlers; those
who have witnessed the growth of La Sale coun-
ty for nearly forty years, and who speak from
personal knowledge, as in that short period the
state has grown and become one of the leading
ones in our great republic.
LA SALE COUNTY
Was organized as a separate county in 1881,
and was at that time much larger than now,
taking into ts limits parts of other counties that
have been formed since that period. All that
portion of the state north of this county and
reaching to the Wisconsin line is laid down on
one of the earlier maps attached to La Sale
county Its name was derived Immediately from
that early pioneer, La Salle who, it is said, was
the first white man to explore the Illinois river
country, and whose name should be held dear to
every resident of this beautiful valley, which he
was SO Instrumental in opening to the westward
civilization.
LaSalle county did not increase rapidly in
population until after the termination of the
Black Hawk war in 1928 But after the con.
clusion of hostilities, and when security was re-
stored to tho settlers, emigrants came in from
every quarter of the union, and spread over the
country in every direction like flood, so that
nearly every grove soon found an ,nhabitant of a
very different stamp from the native red man,
who, but a short time since, was lord of the
grove and prairie, and who roamed over these
fair plains unmolested, having none to dispute
his right to the SOIL or disturb him In his scenes of
pleasure at his wigwam and the enjoyments of
the chase.
And every year, for a score of them, added
large numbers to the snterprisiny population
who first planted themselves around the beauti.
full groves Of La Sale county, and so rapid was
the increase, that not only immediately around
the groves did the new corners settle, but our
vast prairies soon became studded all over with
houses and farms, presenting to the eye of the
beholder scene Of singular beauty and grandeur.
The county has become the most populous and
wealthy, and successfully vles with any other in
the state, except Cook. La Sale county is stu
ated on both sides of the Illinois river, and is
ries, interspersed with fine groves of excellent
timber and Astounding in bituminous coal of
good quality, together with sufficient supply
Of rock for building purposes, and is wstered by
number of fine streams, possessing large
amount Of hydraulic power. which, ON many Of
them, is now pretty we'll improved.
We have no hesitation in saying, that La
Sale county possesses agricultural and CONNER
cial advantages equal to those of any county in
this or any other state, and that it has as beauti
full surface and as rich soil, with as good sup
ply of timber as is found anywhere in the Mis-.
sissippi valley The land being dry and rolling,
ia pleasant and easy to cultivate, yielding to the
industrious farmer an abundant reward for his
labor, and producing everything incident TO
the climate in the greatest profusion, and with
an ease to the cultivator that would appear
almost incredible to the people of the states fur.
ther east, who are accustomed to hard and
sterile soil, when compared with ours.
| The inhabitants of this county are enterpris.
ing and intelligent, having emigrated mainly
from Ohio, New York and New England, with
sprinkling of foreigners, especially Germans and
Irish. All coming here with habits of industry.
they soon succeeded in subduing these fertile
prairies to state of cultivation. And such is
the comparative ease with which land is brought
into cultivation that the farmer could accomplish
here in three years what could not be attained
in the timbered parts of Ohio and Indiana, with
the same labor, in ten; which circumstance
alone, when duly considered by him who is
about to sniigratc to the west to find home, is
an inducement amply sufficient to give decided
preference to prairie country.
| There are many beautiful and thrilling legends
connected with the past history Of La Sale cour-
ty, and among the latter, are those of fierce wars
aud Discussions among the aborigines. Many
have heard recounted the tragedy of Starved
Rock" and perhaps many have not, so we will
venture to repeat it. .......
Starved Rock, or Rock Fort, as it is sometimes
called, near the foot Of the rapids and ON the
right bank of the Illinois river, is perpendicu-
lar mass of lime and sand stone, washed by the
currens at its base, and elevated one hundred
and fifty feet. Its perpendicular sides arising
from the river are inaccessible bat it is connected
with chain Of heights that extend up the
stream by narrow ledge the only ascent to
which is by winding and preciptous path. The
diameter at the top is about one hundred feet
and is covered with Il soil of some depth, which
has produced growth of young trees. The adj.
vautges it affords US an impregnable retreat
induced band of Illinois Indians who sought