Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-03
OTTAWA OBSERVES
ILLINOIS CENTENARY
Continued from page -

gent or llllni Chapter oil the Daush- \
tiers of the American Revolution. pre- /
sented the fountain to the state with
the following presentation speech:
Among all those French names con
nected with early Illinois history the
one which looms largest is that OF
Rene Robert Cayelier, Sieur de la
Sale.
America owes him an enduring
memory; Illinois especially should for
ever do honor to his name.
In 1863 he left Fort Frontenac. Can
ada, with thd gigantic plan OF es .ab-
fishing series OF military and trad
ing posts along the whole length Of
the great lakes and upon all the im-
spOrtant points of the Mississippi and
its tributaries. lie would thus, in the
name of the king of France, take mill
tary possession of the whole territory.
One hundred and seventeen days later
on Dec. 3, just 239 years ago today
the party left Fort Miami, Michigan.
in eight canoes to find the head
waters Of the kankakee, which is the
eastern branch of the Illinois River,
and few days later the adyerturers
swept along within less than 400
yards of where We are standing today.
On down the entire length OF the Hi
nois they padded, and their journey
ended only when the mouth of the
Mississippi was reached.
La Sales trip was lnricately en-.
tangled with the earliest history Of
Illinois. As he proceeded down the
Illinois River he established settle
ments and Notifications at many
points, most notable OF these being
Fort st. Louis. on che crest Of
Starved Rock; Fort CrevecOeur. about
three miles below what is now Peoria.
and kaskaskia. which became a city
OF prominence before the first settler
had staked his cleaim on the site OF
Chicago, and which later became the
first capital of Illinois.
y
when We are celebrating the centen.
NAL anniversary of Illinois admission
into the Union, something should be
done to perpetuate the memory of this
intrepid Frenchman who did so much
to give tho state fair start in life, and
for whom our county was named.
This fountain, which we are about
to unveil and to dedicate, was erected
by llhM Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution, as perpetual
reminder of the part played by La
Sale in the making OF Illinois, and
will ba known as the ID. A. r. Cen.
tehnial Memorial to Rene Robert
Caveher, Seur de la Sale"
The foundation of the fund by which
this memorial was erected was raised
for the purpose Of placing fountain
in Washington Park, but for various
reasons this project was necessarily
abandoned.
Early this year the chapter decided
upon La Sale memorial and a com
l.ittee composed OF Miss Lelah Lin
coin, Mrs. Charles f. Hook, Mrs. Clar
ence Grisgs and Mrs. Milton Pope was
appointed by the regent to select q
suitable fountain and supervise it,
emplacement on these grounds, per
mission have been previously secured
from General Frank s. Dickson, ad
jutant general of Illinois, to erect 4
on state property
The splendid results of this commit
tees labors will be apparent in mo
ment.
General Dickson has kindly con
= scented to be here today to accept thi,
memorial on behalf OF the state, and |
representing lllini Chapter, Daughter
OF the American Revolution, now dedi
cate this fountain to the memory o
Rene Robert Caveler, Sieur de Il
Sale, and present it, in perpetuity, t,
the commonwealth Of Illinois
Senator Vending, in very e.c
quent address, accepted the fountain
on behalf OF the stated expressing TN
appreciation on the part Of the stat
with which the fountain was received
The fountain was unveiled by fou
little girls, Frances Clegg, Louise Gil
man, Virginia Glenn and Marion SapI
each carrying flag.
Program at High School.
At the close of these ceremonies tn
formal program was held in the hig
school.
Hentrich's Military Band playe
THE Star-Spangled Banner" and
male quartet composed of Fred Been
Justin Jaeger, j S. Rufiner Jr. an
c. A. Briggs Jr. sang illinois
Attorney Clarence Griggs, presiden
of the Chamber of Commerce. spok
on the development of the centennia
celebration, saying:
Today Illinois stands upon tn
threshold of the second century of it
existence as a state. AS early as o.
tober, 1917, Gov. Frank o. Lowdel
destined in my judgment to be re
corded in the history of our state, a
one of the greatest of all the man
great men who have presided owe
this commonwealth, issued a procl;
nation urging upon the people a
appropriate observance of Illinois
centennial year.
There have been pageants innume1
al ;at,