The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-06-10

county, in a later later day, Major Widmer,
Mr.. Cheever, we believe, as well as others,
were transported to your vicinity.
Henry, Wenona and Lacon are the leading
cities of Marshall county, and the Lesser ones
are Varna, La Rose and Washburn, on the
Peoria branch Of the c. a. Il st. Louis rail-
road Spailand on the Illinois river, and 9th
ers less preentlous.
North Of u.s. in Putnam county, are the very
ancient cities of Magnolia, and farther on in
the same direction, on the southern bank OF
the Illinois river, is Iennepin, named from
jesuit missionary who some generations ago
padded up and down the Illinois river and
taught the Indians religion and morally, IN
elusive of some other less beneficial accom-
plishments, such as the use of tobacco and
more expert way of exterminating each other,
as well as some lessons in treachery and cum
ming, which the hitherto untuto:ed savage
had not dreamt of in his philosophy. PEI
haps, in more perfect truth, it should be said
that Father Henne2ins mission was pure
and holy, while his followers were TO blame
for the evils with which they counteracted,
in some measure, the good that he intended
The Oldest living pioneer of this region is
Capt. VIM. Haas of Magnolia, who is now
near the close of seventy-six years Of his
earthly pilgrimage. He has been fifty gears
resident of Putnam county. He was &C
quainted with many of the first settlers of
La Sale county, and with many of their de.
scendantS.
When the writer visited the old veteran
a few days ago he was still hale and hearty,
a little dim Of sight, and hearing somewhat
obstructed, but he walks with a firm step,
laughs heartily and speaks with a firm voice,
and has about him the air and manner Of
sound health and strength, and promises to
become a full centennaran ere he shall be
called hence.
This entire region abounds IN relics OF long
gone centuries Fossils Of other periods are
numerous among the rocks and bluffs every
where around US. Collections of these an
cient geological curioslties-leaves from the
book Of nature, are found in libraries and
cabinets of many gentlemen here, who have by
q little industry secured very large and beau:
tlful assortmcnts, such as delight the anti.
quarian and would be admired and coveted
by our friends Ebersol and David Walker of
your city. AS coal is abundant along the II.
linois river its entire length through Putnam
and Marshall counties, ferns and other
specimens of fossils peculiar to regions of
coal deposits are found IN abundance. Be.
sides these, relics of the stone age are plenti.
full, and this once being the region of Indian
villages and burial grounds, all sorts of uten.
sils and trinkets which aboriginal tribes
used in war, for domestic purposes or person.
al ornamentation aie found in unlimited
quantity and endless variety
Leaving the remote history of this section
we come to the present.
Lacon ard vicinity, much like Ottawa and
Its surroundings, is on the western bank of
the Illinois river, which runs from north to
south, and here are found inexhaustibe sup
plies of coal around the city, good building-
lone, and back from either line of bluff S
farming lands, covered with
corn fields and dotted here and there with
elegant farm houses surrounded by orchards
now overloaded with fruit of all sorts pecu. |
liar to this latitude, even peaches, and orna-
mental shrubberry and long lines of hedges,
make picture of beauty wealth and luxury
seldom met with and hard to excel
Some improvements are being made in
his Anticipated city.
Mr.. Eb Barber, of Marselles, in your
county, has been engaged here with force
If hands for three weeks, and has now com.
, leted q tram rail way, from u large elevator
It the inner or high-water levee, in front of
he city, to the outer banks of the river, at
ow water mark. The distance is about one
thousand feet The railway is placed upon
,oles driven in the bed of the river, starting
rom six to ten feet above high water mark,
IN a gradual inclined plane from the ware.
ouse to the place where the haLd-caps con.
aiming 100 bushels each, will discharge the
rain into boats. The job is pronounced an
xcellent piece of work.
MIR. Barber goes next to MIllinglon, on the
J. b. & Q. road where he has the contract to
uld wagon bridge over Fox river, the old
ridge at that point having been swept away
list winter. BEEMus.
The Champion Water Drinker.