The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-18

Kaskaskia may possibly have made
transient hunting camps along the
| Mississippi River south OF Thebes
just as hunters from Fort Massac may
nave made brief encampments or
| the banks Of the Ohio below
he mouth OF Cache River
1nt NJ bona ilde white pioneer settler
appeared in Alexander county unit
nor Than century after LaSalle
had claimed It as French territory.
IN the year 1873, Col. George Rog
ers Clark. acting under authority
from the governor and council Of the
state of Virginia raised a little army
Of one hundred and fifty-thres from
tiersmen, as brave and intrepid he
soes as ever invaded any country, and
marched fir m Fort Massac, on the
OHIO near the present city of Metrop-
oils, on his memorable campaign
against the British in possession u
Kaskaskia and the entire Illinois
country.
The daring and billiant campaign
was successful and after the capture
Of Kaskaskia the Illinois country be
CAM a part of the state of Virginia
and by act of the legislature of 177S
II, together with the territory com
prising Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and
Wisconsin was formed into the coun-
ty of Illinois. This celebrated county.
If which our present county OF Alex
ander constituted the most southelly
portion. NO doubt comprised more
square miles of territory within its
5orders than any other county ever
before or afterwards officially Gre
ated. II has gen rally been consil-
cred i'm honor to be able to trace ones
descent from the first families Of Nir
ginia; whatever honor there may be
IN such a pedigree we may certainly
lay claim TO it for our county of Alex
1ndef. 1t may be well enough to
state although a matter Of ordinary
Is part Of the county Cf Illinois
N the state of Virginia, until March
T. 1884 when the said county of Hi
nois was ceded by tn: state of Wiz.
ginia. 10 the general government If
he United Colonies and afterwards
vas formed INFO the states of Ohio,
Indiana. Illinois, Wisconsin and Mich
igan Since its cessicn from Virginia
Alexander county has bsen part Of
our different counties.
From 1890 to 1895 il was part of ST.
lair, then the only county in he
territory of Illinois; from 1895 to
1912 il was part of Randolph then
he only other county in the state
aesdes ST. Clair from 1872 10 1918
i constituted a part of Johnson; for
4 short time. in tn year 1918, 1t was
4 part of Union county, but at the
@cond session of the first General AS
sembly of the state of Illinois. Alex
lnder county was created out of the
youth part Of Union and it included
3 portion of what is now PULASKI
county It. so remained until 18l3
When that part of Alexander county
wing east OF the Cache River was in
'orparated into the present Pulaski
The first settlements were made in
What IS now Alexander county while
t was a part of st. Clair and Ran
lolph COUNTIES s.
This brings us. by chronological SO (
uence, to the consideration of the
act of the frs settlement made by
White settlers in what is now Alex
nder county and the names and idsn
'ty of the first white settlers.
Where and when was the first sell
lement made? BY whom was It
made?
These are questions which as
ounty grows older, become Of in
reasing interest to its citizens and
ne facts of history concerning them
hould If possible, be definitely ascer-
aimed, thoroughly established and
enerally acquiesced in Conceiving
lem to be of first importance in any
if,yt however modest and ciFcum
cribed. to write the early history rf
county, | have addressed myself,
it'll some degree of zeal and inter.
st 10 their satisfactory solg ton.
have. therefore. in he limited
me given me for ths preparation Of
his brief paper, examined such an.
lorlties as have been able to find
close range. and have also made
nc Investigations along what b..
eve TO he new and original lines.
ascertain as accurately as possible
ie date and location of the frs act /,
n white settlement and the nam
III identity Of the first settlers.
The generally accepted history Of
lexander county is the work entitlfd !
History Of Alexander Union aud Pm
ski Counties edited nv Mr.. William ,
enry Perrin and published in 1889
his history states that Abraham
uusaser and George Wolf. who set !,
I'd In Union county n ar the pres ],
It ste of Jonesboro, in 1903 were !
q first white settlers In Union coun- {.
and for two years. in all that re =
on then included in Johnson county. q,
csc were M only settlers The 4,
-ifgf a1gp e4afre that uelfrff,4.. ala,