Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-11-11
PIONEERS IN ILLINOIS.

E'ho Struggles and Enter prise OF Nor Il
BirISbeck and George Flower.
1t seems strange to recall that, with
in the present century. the great
West, including the region where
Chicago now stands, had it's intrepid
explorers, whose journeys were as dan
gerous as those of Livingstone and of
Stanley. The Historical Society of
Chicago has lately published an ac-
count of the adventures of two English
pioneers in Illinois. Morris Birisbec
and George Flower. In 1916, when
these two young Englishmen set out
for the new world, n great part of Illi-
nois was q savage wilderness. In
1912 the Indians had murdered the
garrison of Fort Dearborn, at the
mouth of the Chicago river, where Chi
cago now stands, and nearly all the
settlers in the vicinity.
The story which George Flower left
behind him of his journey into the
great West is rs interesting as u nar-
rative of African exploration. On the
way he had to ford q deep river, the
directions for getting across which
illustrate the difficulties of travel in Il
country where there are plenty of riv-
ers, but no ferries nor bridges.
"Wade straight in," he was told,
"four times tho length of your horse;
then turn sharp to your right; go on
two lengths of the horse; then bend &
little to the left, and then push on to
the other shore, slanting off little
with the current as you goT'
Even with such explicit directions
as these, one had to have q pretty
good memory to escape drowning.
Flower said that the fording adj
ventures which he had on this trip
impressed themselves 80 wildly on his
senses that he continued to ford rivers
in his dreams as long as he lived,
which was more than fifty years after
ward.
Both Flower and Birkbeck wero
men OF property. Birkbeck, who was
Il widower, brought with him his two
daughters, their companion, Miss
andrews, and few servants. Flower
was bachelor; but on the way they
encountered u minister at q settlement,
married. 1t was strange romance,
since Birkpeck was also sutton for
Miss Andrews hand; but the young
woman having decided in favor OF
Flower, Birkbccl1 gave hor hand ut
tho wedding to him, taking tho place
of parent to the woman whom he could
not make his wife.
Flower pitched his camp" perma-
nently, and with much sagacity, ut O
fertile and beautiful spot in South
eastern Illinois, which he named Al
bion, in honor Of his native country.
He established an English colony at
this point; and Albion became the
county seat of Edwards County, and O
place OF local Importance Flower
built an elegant house at his new
home, and used his wealth to develop
and improve agriculture in his
adopted land.
he did more than this; when, II
1928, it was sought to make Illinois 6
slave State, he resisted the PROPOSE
ton with all his influence. which wa!
very considerable in the new common
wealth, and was instrumental in socLr
ing the defeat Of the scheme. He coult
not have done greater service to hi
Slate or his country.
Flower lived until the year 1862. II
the meantime he had lost his large
fortune, but he remained highly es
teemed to the last, and died in tn,
State which he had helped to found
Youths Companion.