History of Kaskaskia, (Randolph County) Illinois United States of America

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Biographies:

Shadrach Bond, governor of Illinois, was born in Maryland. He removed to the territory of Illinois, settling at Kaskaskia, where he served in the legislature of the territory, and in 1812 was sent as a delegate to the house of representatives, where he remained two years. In 1814 he was elected receiver of public moneys. In 1818, on the admission of Illinois into the Union as a state, he was elected its first governor and held the office by re-election until 1822. He died at Kaskaskia, Ill., April 13, 1832.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Berenice Chouteau, pioneer, was born in Kaskaskia, Ill., in 1801, daughter of Col. Peter Menard, first territorial governor of Illinois. The official position of her father afforded her educational and social advantages beyond those of the average young women of her locality and time. She was married when eighteen years old to Francis F., son of Pierre Chouteau, Jr., and partner in the firm of P. Chouteau, Jr., & Co., fur traders. The newly married couple decided to make their home at a point on the Missouri river near Black Snake Hills, which location became the site of the city of St. Joseph, Mo. The journey was made on a flat-boat, and after living there two years they removed to the present site of Kansas City, Mo., where they established the first trading post and built in the woods the first log house erected in that section. Here her husband acquired title to large tracts of land and extended his domain to the mouth of the Kansas river, making it to include all the valuable farming land in the vicinity. The city of Kansas City was subsequently built upon a portion of this property, and squatters located on other sections and gave title to new settlers. The question of ownership in this way became much involved, and long and expensive litigation ensued, in which Mrs. Chouteau after her husband's death sought to recover possession, her claims amounting to over $5,000,000. The statutes of limitation operated to deprive her of her rights, the decision being made by the highest courts, in November, 1888, but two weeks before her death. She was a lib-oral benefactress and distributed her large fortune in promoting the interests of the Roman Catholic church, of which she was a devout member. She built in Kansas City the first church edifice, and her liberality during her fife expanded with the growth of the church and its institutions in that locality. She lived to witness Kansas City created a diocesan see, and a cathedral take the place of her first little chapel. She died in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 20, 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Duncan, soldier, was born in Kaskaskia, Ill., April 14, 1819; son of Joseph Duncan, afterward governor of Illinois. He served in the Black Hawk war in the Illinois mounted infantry, 1832, and subsequently in various military expeditions, and in 1846 was promoted 1st lieutenant in the U.S. mounted rifles. He served in the Mexican war and was a participant in the siege and capture of Vera Cruz. He was then on recruiting duty and was promoted captain in 1848. He was stationed in New Mexico, 1856-62, were he commanded the forts and took part in the Navajo expedition of 1858, and against the Comanche Indians in 1861, being promoted major in June of that year. He commanded Fort Craig, N.M., led the cavalry at Valverde and his regiment at Albuquerque, where he was wounded by a spent cannon ball, losing a piece of his skull. He was on provost duty in Iowa, 1863-66, was made lieutenant-colonel of the 5th U.S. cavalry in July, 1866, and commanded the district of Nashville, 1866-68, when he was ordered to the department of the Platte. He was on sick leave, 1871-73, and was retired in January, 1873. He received brevets for gallantry in the civil war, including that of brigadier-general, March 13, 1865. He died in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 1887.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Indian chief Black hawk, was born at Kaskaskia, Ill., in 1767. He was chief of the Sac and Fox Indians, and while quite young led several parties of warriors in successful raids on the Osage and Cherokee tribes. He was made grand chieftain of the Sacs when he was about twenty-one years old; in 1804 he vigorously opposed the contract made between the Sacs and Foxes and the United States, whereby, for an annual stipend of one thousand dollars, the Indians were to relinquish their rights to about seven hundred miles of territory along the Mississippi river. For a short time during the war of 1812, Black Hawk, with five hundred warriors, fought on the British side, but he soon withdrew from the war because of many disheartening defeats. In 1823, when, led by Keokuk, the greater part of the Sacs and Foxes emigrated to the reservation beyond the Mississippi, Black Hawk and a few followers would not go, although the land on which they were living had been signed away to the whites by several of the Indian chiefs. They remained on the eastern side of the Mississippi, planting their crops and living peaceably until the white men declared that they must leave, and emphasized the command by confiscating their crops. The Indians at once took measures to secure revenge and were driven back by the militia to the west of the Mississippi, they, meanwhile, destroying every white settlement that came in their way. Finally the small remaining forces of the red men were captured by the whites, and Black Hawk himself and his two sons were imprisoned in Fort Monroe. In 1833 they were liberated, but Back Hawk was no longer chief of the Sacs and Foxes, Keokuk having been given his place. A "Life of Black Hawk," dictated by him to J. B. Patterson, was published in 1834. W.J. Snelling and Benjamin Drake have also written accounts of his life. He died while encamped on the Des Moines river, Oct. 3, 1838.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor