Part 21 (1/2)
SKETCHES OF EACH COUNTY.
ADAMS.--The streams are Bear creek and branches, Cedar, Tyrer, Mill, Fall, and Pigeon creeks, with the Mississippi river on its western border. Timber various, with equal portions of prairie. First rate county.
ALEXANDER.--In the forks of the Ohio and Mississippi, with Cash river through it. All timbered,--half alluvion,--some inundated at high water,--lime and sandstone on the Ohio;--soil, generally rich.
BOND.--Shoal creek and its branches through it, with Hurricane creek on the east side;--proportioned into timber and prairie;--rather level,--second rate. Sandstone, coal, and salt springs.
CALHOUN.--Long and narrow, in the forks of the Illinois and Mississippi;--alluvial and sometimes inundated along the rivers;--broken bluffs and interior table land;--good soil;--prairies at the foot of the bluffs. Coal, lime and sandstone.
CHAMPAIGN.--The streams are the heads of the Kaskaskia, Sangamon, Vermillion of Illinois, Salt Fork of the Vermillion of the Wabash, and the Embarras, all running in opposite directions. Extensive prairies, a little undulating and rich;--timber in groves;--many granite bowlders.
CLARK.--North Fork of Embarras, Mill and Big creeks. Timber and prairie,--second rate soil.
CLAY.--Watered by Little Wabash and tributaries. Two thirds prairie,--of inferior quality,--rather level and wet.
CLINTON.--Kaskaskia river, with its tributaries, Crooked, Shoal, Beaver and Sugar creeks, pa.s.s through it. Equally proportioned into timber and prairie. Soil, second rate; surface, a little undulating.
COLES.--The Kaskaskia, Embarras, and heads of the Little Wabash water it. Much excellent land,--much undulating, rich prairie;--some level and wet land in the southeastern part. Timber in sufficient quant.i.ties.
COOK.--Adjoins Lake Michigan, and has the branches of Chicago, Des Plaines, Du Page, Au Sable and Hickory creeks. Surface, tolerably level; rich soil,--extensive prairies,--timber in groves;--a few swamps.
Plenty of limestone, and the streams run over rocky beds.
CRAWFORD.--The Wabash river on its eastern side, with Lamotte, Hudson, Racc.o.o.n and Sugar creeks. Some level prairies, rather sandy, with a full supply of timber.
EDGAR.--Watered by Big, Clear, and Brulette's creeks on the eastern, and Little Embarras on its western side. Southern and eastern sides timbered; northern and western sides much prairie; some undulating,--some level and rather wet. Grand View is a delightful tract of country.
EDWARDS.--The Little Wabash on its western, and Bon Pas on its eastern border. Several prairies, high, undulating, and bounded by heavy timber. Soil, second quality.
EFFINGHAM.--Watered by the Little Wabash and its tributaries; due proportion of timber and prairie; tolerably level,--second rate.
FAYETTE.--Kaskaskia river, Hurricane, Higgens', Ramsey's and Beck's creeks. The bottom lands on the Kaskaskia low, and inundated at high water; considerable prairie; much heavy timber; soil, second rate.
FRANKLIN.--Watered by the Big Muddy and its branches, and the South Fork of Saline creek. The prairies small, fertile and level,--timber plenty,--soil rather sandy.
FULTON.--The Illinois on the south-eastern side, with Spoon river and several small creeks through it. About half heavily timbered, with rich, undulating prairies; streams flow over a pebbly bed; soil, first rate.
GALLATIN.--Joins the Wabash and Ohio rivers, and has the Saline and branches running through it. Soil, sandy, with sand rock, limestone, quartz crystals, excellent salines, &c. Timber of various kinds; no prairies.
GREENE.--Has the Mississippi south, the Illinois west, with Otter, Macoupen and Apple creeks. Much excellent land, both timber and prairie, in due proportion, with abundance of lime and sandstone, and coal.
HAMILTON.--Watered by branches of the Saline, and Little Wabash; a large proportion timbered land; soil, second and third rate, with some swamp in the northern part. Sandstone and some lime.
HANc.o.c.k.--Besides the Mississippi, it has a part of Bear, Crooked, and Camp creeks; large prairies; timber along the streams; rich, first rate land.
HENRY.--Has Rock river north, with Winnebago swamp, and its outlet on Green river, and one of the heads of Spoon river, and Edwards river interior. Some rich, undulating prairies and groves, with considerable wet, swampy land. Not much population.
IROQUOIS.--Kankakee, Iroquois and Sugar creek. Sand ridges and plains; much rich prairie; some timber, but deficient. It is found chiefly in groves and strips along the water courses.
JACKSON.--Has the Mississippi on the southwest, and Muddy river running diagonally through it, with some of its tributaries. Some prairies in the north-eastern part,--much heavy timber,--some hilly and broken land,--with abundance of coal, saline springs, lime and sandstone.
JASPER.--The Embarras runs through it, and the Muddy Fork of the Little Wabash waters its western side. Much of both the prairie and timbered land is level and rather wet; some fertile tracts.