Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1890-09-17
PIONEERS IN ILLINOIS.

The Struggles and Enter prise Of Morris
:, Birkbeck and George Flower.
It seems strange to recall that, with
in the present century, the great
West, including the region where
Chicago now stands, had its intrepid
explorers, whose journeys were as dam
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 BirkbeclS
and George Flower. In 1916, when
these two young Englishmen set out
for the new world, great part of lii
nois was a savage wilderness. In
1912 tho indiana 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 tho
great West Is as interesting as mar
rative OF African exploration. On the
way he had to ford o deep river. the
directions for getting across which
illustrate the difficulties OF travel in a
country where there are plenty OF riv-
ers. but no ferries nor bridges.
"Wade straight in" he was told,
flour 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 go!''
Even with such explicit directions
as these, one had to have q pretty
good memory TO escape drowning
Flower said that the fording ad-
ventures which he had on this trip
impressed themselves SO wildly on his
senses that he continued to ford rivers
in his dreams as long as he lived.
which was moro than fifty years after
ward.
Both Flower and Birkbeck were
men OF property. BirkbecL. who was
n widower, brought with him his two
daughters, their com paniou, Miss
Andrews, and few servants. Flower
was bachelor; but on the way they
encountered minister at a settlement,
and Flower and Miss Andrews were
married. 1t vas strange romance,
since Birkbeck was also sutton for
Miss Andrews hand; but the young
woman having decided in favor of
Flower, Birkbeck gave her hand at
the wedding to him, taking the place
OF parent to the woman whom he could
not mako his wife.
Flower pitched his camp perma-
nently. and with much sagacity, at
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
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 moro than this; when. in
1928. it was sought to make Illinois
slave State. he resisted the PROPOSE
ton with all his influence. which vas
very considerable in the new common
wealth, ana was instrumental in secur-
ing the defeat of the scheme. He could
not have done II greater service to his
State or his country.
Flower lived until tie year 1862 In
the meantime he had lost his large
fortune, but he remained highly es-
,eemed to the last. and died in the
State which he had helped to found.
Youths Companion.