History of Chouteau Township, Madison County, Illinois
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
Chouteau Township (Township 4, Range 9)
lies wholly in the American Bottom, and was once covered with
heavy timbers of oak, elm walnut, hickory, and ash. Long Lake
enters the township in section 4, and extends southward through
the territory. In the History of Madison County, 1882, it is
stated that it is a theory that Long Lake was once the original
bed of the Wood River, and that it emptied its waters into the
Mississippi further down.
Chouteau Island
Chouteau
Island lies at the southwest, and comprises about 4 sections -
one half of which extends into Venice Township. The island was
formed by the Chouteau slough, or swamp, on the east, and the
Mississippi River on the west. The passage from the mainland to
the island was by a dike built across the slough.
The
French established a small settlement on Chouteau Island, in
Chouteau Township, as early as 1750. This was the first white
settlement in Madison County.
Amos Atkins was born in
about 1821 on Chouteau Island. When he was a boy, he remembered
apple and pear orchards where the trees were so large that they
must have been planted many years before. One pear tree was at
least a foot and a half in diameter. It was near this orchard
that the French settlers buried their dead. When the river
flooded and water reached the cemetery, many skeletons were
washed from their burial place. The citizens of the island
gathered up the remains as best they could, and re-buried them
in what was later a corner of Amos Atkins’ pasture in section
19.
The only French name recorded in history that lived
on the island was that of La Croix, who later moved to Cahokia,
where he died. Many years ago, the island was known as Big
Island, but was later called Chouteau, in honor of Pierre
Chouteau. It is from this island that the township received its
name.
The First Settlements
The first settlement made
in Chouteau Township by Americans was by the Gillhams, in about
1802. Thomas, a native of Ireland, immigrated to American prior
to the Revolutionary War. He and his sons served during the war
for the independence of the Colonies. His family consisted of
five sons and two daughters. Thomas, the eldest, was never a
citizen of Illinois, but his sons all moved to this state and
settled in the American Bottom. The sons were: Thomas, James,
William, John and Isaac.
James, the second son, was born
in South Carolina, where he married and then moved to Kentucky.
He and his wife had three sons and one daughter. In the summer
of 1790, while James Gillham and his son, Isaac, were at work in
the field, a band of Kickapoo Indians from Illinois came to
their cabin, and took the mother and children captive. Mrs.
Gillham was so traumatized, that she could remember nothing of
the capture, until her son, Samuel, exclaimed, “Mother, we are
all prisoners!” Mrs. Gillham and her children were marched
through the wilderness, until they reached the Kickapoo village
in Logan County, Illinois. James Gillham, upon discovering his
wife and children missing, understood that they were taken
captive and still unharmed, as there was no blood about the
premises. He sold his farm and placed his son, Isaac, in the
family of a friend, and began the long, almost hopeless search.
He traveled through the Western frontier, visiting Vincennes,
Kaskaskia, and later Fort Washington, Cincinnati, to talk with
General St. Clair – then Governor of the Northwest Territory.
Here he learned that the Indians were about to go on warpath
against the white settlement. The General persuaded James not to
venture further into Indian territory alone. Five years passed,
and then Mr. Gillham learned from some French traders that the
Chief of the Kickapoos had promised to give up all American
captives for a ransom. Gillham took two guides with him and
proceeded to the Indian village on Salt Creek. He found his
family alive and well. The youngest son, Clement, was unable to
speak a word of English, nor did he recognize his father. Later,
settlers stated Clement always acted, and had more the general
appearance of an Indian than that of a white man. The family
returned to Kentucky where they lived about two years, but Mr.
Gillham couldn’t forget the beautiful prairies of Illinois. In
1797, he and his family moved to Illinois, and located in the
American Bottom, not far from Kaskaskia. He remained there until
about 1802, when he moved to Chouteau Township. Three children
were born after the reunion of the family – James H., David, and
Nancy. The family remained in the township and multiplied. By
1824, it was said this family could poll over 500 votes.
Andrew Emert was one of the early settlers. He was born in
Pennsylvania, and came to the American Bottom in about 1807. He
located on section 33, near the southern boundary of the
township. His children were: Elizabeth, Andrew, Sarah, Henry,
Polly, and Rose A. He was married twice. From the second
marriage, Rachel, Eliza, William, and James were born.
Other early settlers include the Hickles, Bridges, Ribolds,
Pettingills, and the Days.
By an act of Congress, one
hundred acres of land were given to each militiaman enrolled and
serving in the Illinois Territory of August 1, 1790, within the
district of Kaskaskia, Chouteau Township. Claimants include:
Jean Brugier, Nicholas Jarrott, Charles Hebert (alias Cadien),
Baptiste Lecompete, Louis Menard, Joseph Ives, David Waddle, and
Alexander Waddle.
The first land entry was made by David
Stockton on September 13, 1814. He settled on several acres in
section 4. James Gillham entered 75-100 acres in section 1.
Samuel Gillham entered 37-100 acres in section 17, on September
17, 1814. John McTaggon entered several acres in section 3 on
September 20, 1814. On September 29, 1814, James Gillham entered
160 acres in section 15.
In 1812 the Indians became
hostile. They had already murdered one of the settlers, and
wounded another near Hunter’s Spring near Alton. This caused
great excitement among the settlers, and they erected a
blockhouse on section 1 in Chouteau Township. The settlers knew
that if there was any sign of Indian hostility, the news was to
be spread throughout, and the settlers were to flee to the fort.
In later years the blockhouse was used as a school. No sign of
the old fort now exists.
The first marriage in Chouteau
Township was probably that of James Gillham and Polly Good, in
January of 1809. One of the oldest places of interment was in a
neighborhood burial ground, located on the property of Samuel
Gillham. It was at his home that church services were held in an
early day, and his land was also the campground for the militia
when they were called to muster.
The First Schools
The first school was taught in the summer of 1813 by Vaitch
Clark. The schoolhouse was the little for or blockhouse, located
in section 1. The second teacher was M. C. Cox, who taught in
the summer of 1814. It seems that there was an interruption of
school until the winter of 1817-18, when it was revived again.
Mr. Campbell taught in the same old fort for nearly two years.
The First Churches
There were several pioneer
preachers who met with their congregation frequently – usually
in the homes of the settlers. The earthquake of 1811 caused many
to join the church, as many felt the world was about to end.
Near the store of Moses Job the first church was built in
about 1840 by the Baptists. It was a small frame building.
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This township was so sparsely settled, that
Justices of the Peace were unknown. Those having business before
a magistrate would take their cases before Samuel Squiers in
Nameoki. Those in the Gillham settlement would go to Alton, and
those in the northeast of the township would go to Edwardsville.
Among the early physicians were Doctors Tiffin,
Claypole, and White.
The first post office was
established at “Old Madison,” in 1839. Moses Job was the
postmaster. At that time a stage line extended from Galena to
St. Louis, and Madison was on the route.
The first mill
was built by Mr. Dare, in about 1819 or 1820, and located on
section 32. It was propelled by oxen, and a small distillery was
connected with it. In about 1837, the property was purchased by
Samuel Kinder, who ran it only for a short time.
Moses
Job kept the first store at Old Madison in 1839. He also handled
the mail for the people in that vicinity.
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Mitchell Station
Mitchell Station was laid out by the C. & A.
Railroad, and was located in section 33. The history of this
small village can be read here.
Salem – Gillham - Wanda
Salem another hamlet, was located in section 1. It received its
name from the old Salem Church, just across the line in Wood
River Township. The place was subsequently named Gillham, and
later, Wanda. The history of this village can be found here.
Bush Corner
Bush Corner is located in section 16, and
contained two grocery stores – one kept by Mrs. H. Marsh, and
the other by Henry Oldenburg. Saloons were conducted in
connection with the stores.