Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-04-05
PIONEERS IN ILLINOIS.
The Struggles and Enter prise Of M0Rxi1
Itirkbeck and George Flower.

The Struggles and Enter prise OF Morris
Isirkbech and George Flower.
1t seems strange TO recall that, with
In the present century. the great
West, including the region whers
Chicago now stands, had its intrepid
explorers, whose journeys were as dan
Serous as those Of Livingstone and Of
Stanley. The Historical Society OF
Chicago has lately published an ac-
sount OF the adventures Of two English
pioneers In Illinois. Morris Birkbeck
and George Flower. In 1916, when
these two young EngIishrnen set out
for the new world, a great part Of lii
noi5 was 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 Ia as interesting as a nar-
rative Of African exploration On the
way he had to ford deep river. the
directions for getting across which
Illustrate the difficulties OF travel in a
cpuntry where there are plenty OF riv-
cr5. but no ferries nor bridges.
Wade straight In" he @as told,
"four times the length Of your horse;
then turn sharp to your right; 60 on
two lengths OF the horse; then bend a
little to the left, and then push on to
the other shore. slanting of a little
with the current as you gor
| Even with such explicit directions
as these, one had 10 have a pretty
coed memory to escape drowning
Flower said that the fordsng ad
ventures which he had On this triE
Impressed themselves 50 wildly on his
senses that he continued to ford rivers
in his dreams as long a. he lived
which was more than fifty years after
| ward.
/ Both Flower and Birkbeck wer;
men of property. Birkbeck, who wa
a widower, brought with him his tw,
| daughters, their companion, Mis-
Andrews, and few servants FIowe
was bachelor; but on the way the
encountered minister at q settlement
and Flower and Miss Andrews wer
married It was strange romance
since Birkpeck was also . sutton TO
Miss Andrews band; but the youn
woman having decided in favor @
Flower, Birkbeck gave her hand a
the Wedding to him, taking the plac
of parent to the woman whom he coul
not rake his wife.
Flower pitched his camp perms
nentIy. and with much sagacity. al
fertile and beautiful spot in sontf
eastern Illinois, which he named A
; bion, in honor Of his native countr!
He established sa English colony /;
; this point; and Albion became til
: county seat Of Edwards County, and
place Of local Importance. Flowe
built an elegant house at his ne
home. and used his wealth to develo
aud improve agriculture in h
; adopted land
He did more than this; when.
: 1873, il was sought to make Illinois
: slave State, he resisted the pr0pos
ton with all his influence. which ~
: very considerable in the new commo
Z wealth. and was instrumental in secu
ing the defeat OF the scheme. He ecu
= not have done a greater service to b
, State or his country.
Flower lived until the year 1862.
; the meantime he had lost his lar
! fortune. but ne remained highly 4
u teeme1 TO the last. and died in t
n State which he had helped TO fouu
Youth : Companion