1 Under the iron door is an escape for the lead With this notice of the mines we naturally and "black slag." In front of this escape and pass to Galena; which, from its earliest settlebelow it is the slag-pot. It is an oblong iron ment, was the great centre of the mining interbasin about a foot in depth, with one-third of est. The "River of the Mines" of La Seuer, its length partitioned off to receive the lead which afterward "La Rivière de Fève" of the French sinks as it escapes; while the slag, being lighter, settlers, and still later the "Fever River" of flows in a flame-colored stream forward, and the universal Yanke, became in 1854, by an falls into a reservoir that is partly filled with Act of the Legislature of Illinois, the "Galena water, which cools the slag as it is plunged River." It rises a few miles above the present therein. As the reservoir fills a workman shov-city of the same name, and is in itself a small els the scoriæ into a hand-barrow and wheels stream. It becomes navigable by receiving the it off. This scoria is black slag and worth- "back water" of the Mississippi River. The less, the lead having now been entirely ex- "Father of Waters" is well named such; and tracted. The smelter now and then throws a he is peculiarly the Father of Galena River, shovelful of gray slag into the furnace, which which has always been navigable for any class casts up beautiful parti-colored flames; while of steamboats that can ascend the rapids of the the strong sulphurous odor, the red-hot stream Mississippi. The water of the main river sets of slag, with the vapor arising from the tub up to Galena, and the rise and fall in the Gawherein the hissing slag is plunged, the sooty lena River is governed by the Mississippi. smelters, and the hot air of the furnace-room, suggest a thought of the infernal regions. Outside, the wealth of "pigs," not in the least porcine, gives one a sort of covetous desire that, if indulged, we are taught, leads directly to said regions. The Scotch Hearth requires less fuel than any other furnace. It "blows out" in from six to twelve hours, while the Drummond furnace was kept in operation night and day. Four millions of pounds are smelted annually at Hughlett's furnace. In 1819 the first house was built within the limits of the present city of Galena, that locality being then known as "La Pointe," or "Frederick's Point." In 1827 a village was laid off by Lieutenant Thomas, of whom mention has been made. The village was very appropriately named Galena, that being the name used to designate the sulphuret of lead which abounds in the region. It is an interesting fact that the first regular store or trading-house built at Galena was erected and occupied in 1824 by Frederick Dent, of St. Louis, Missouri, the fatherin-law of Lieutenant-General Grant. Mr. Dent was at that time the largest trader to the upper Mississippi, and supplied all the United States military posts above St. Louis. Thirty-five years afterward his son-in-law made that town his residence, and went out from there to save The total amount of lead shipped from the UNITED STATES CUSTOM-HOUSE AND POST-OFFICE, GALENA. The Agent of the Lead Mines granted "permits" for individuals to occupy and improve lots on condition of their being surrendered to the United States on one month's notice. This was the only title citizens had to their lots until 1838. In 1829 Congress passed an Act authorizing the SurveyorGenerals of Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas to "lay off a town on Bean River, embracing 640 acres," and to sell the lots at auction, reserving to actual occupants a pre-emption right to purchase their lots at the rate of from $10 to $25 per acre, according to location. This Act was not complied with, and in 1836 another act was passed, and Commission ers appointed to perform what the Surveyors | many of which are very handsome, dispute poshad failed to do. On the 4th of June, 1826, the first post-office was established there, and was called "Fever River, Crawford County, Illinois." Fever River was then regarded in the same jurisdiction as Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, one hundred miles north by the Mississippi River. The first postmaster was Ebenezer Lockwood, from Prairie du Chien, and his sureties were two Frenchmen residing at that place. Wisconsin was not even a Territory then, but was within the jurisdiction of Michigan Territory. On the 19th day of December, 1829, the name of the post-office was changed to "Galena, Jo-Daviess County, Illinois." The county bearing this singular name was organized by the Illinois Legislature in its session of 1826-7, and embraced an immense territory in the northwestern part of the State, including the mining region, and Galena was its county seat. The name Daviess was proposed in the General Assembly by John Reynolds, afterward Governor of the State. It was in honor of Joseph Hamilton Daviess, of Kentucky, an eccentric man, a distinguished lawyer, a profound scholar, and a great natural orator, second only to Henry Clay. He was killed at Tippecanoe in 1811, charging the enemy at the head of his troops. The "Kentucky influence" was at that time strong in the Illinois State Legislature, and John M'Lean, who was the first Member of Congress from Illinois, and afterward United States Senator, and at that time a member of the Legislature from Shawneetown, with much Kentucky enthusiasm, moved to prefix Jo to Daviess, in order to indicate more distinctly for whom the county was named. Efforts were afterward made to amend the bill by striking off the "Jo," but they failed. session of the hills with the trees, and the varied, beautiful character of the view possesses new charms with every fresh beholding. There are only three streets running at right angles with the river, the precipitous rise of the bluffs making intermediate streets impossible. The other highways of the city ramble round among the hills, leap over layers of rock or ore hidden among the cliffs; yet if the observer stand near the highest point of the city, on Washington Street, he will obtain a very fair view of the most populous portion of the city almost beneath his feet. Galena has lost much of its former importance by the decrease of the mining interest, and by its trade having been cut off by the extension of new railroads; yet a large local business is carried on there at present. In but few towns of the country of the same population has there been more wealth accumulated. There are many elegant private residences, and many gentlemen of large wealth reside in the city. By way of illustrating the prevalent styles of architecture, we have given views of a few of these private residences. In no place in the West is there dispensed a more refined and generous hospitality. Government has built a large and commodious Marine Hospital in the city, and also a beautiful and chaste Custom-house and Postoffice, views of which are given in this article. These, with the Court-house-a handsome edifice of the Corinthian order of architecturethe City Hall, the Dépôts of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, the Gas Works, and Hotels, comprise the public buildings of the city. ver River was from ten to twenty feet higher than usual. Main Street was then submerged, and has been twice since overflowed. The first steamboat that ascended the Fever River was the Virginia, on her way to Fort Snelling with supplies, in 1822. The summer In 1828 the first newspaper was established of 1826 was remarkable for being a period of in Galena, and called the Miner's Journal. The high-water in the Mississippi without any apgrowth of Galena was not rapid or "mush-parent cause to produce it. The water in Feroom" in its character. It is situated on both sides of Galena River, and is built on five different hills and a narrow strip of bottom land near the river on each side. The hills ascend abruptly, retiring only a little from the river as they rise, until they attain a height of somewhat more than two hundred feet. Ravines here and there lead up through the bluffs into the open country beyond. At the southern end of the city there are only two streets between the river and the summit of the bluff -Main and Bench streets. The second of these, Bench Street, is reached from the first by flights of wooden steps, instead of the intersecting streets common to ordinary towns. Viewed from the east side of the river the hills on the west side form a crescent, and contain so much variety in their scenery that the eye need never weary gazing at them. From the same point are visible six church spires, which indicate half the number of church edifices the city boasts. It must always be an attractive picture. The buildings of the town, The town was incorporated as a city by an Act of Legislature of February 13, 1839. The city government was organized on the 29th of May, 1841. Galena was considered the base of military operations during the Black Hawk War, in 1832. General Scott marched his troops from Chicago to Galena, and had his head-quarters there in a little frame building that was standing until within three or four years. General Atkinson was in the place, on his way to chastise Black Hawk, whom he afterward so completely defeated at the battle of Bad Axe, Wisconsin. He had with him, as his Adjutant, Lieutenant Albert Sidney Johnson, United States Army, who afterward betrayed his country, and was one of the most distinguished of the rebel leaders, and who was killed at Shiloh. Jeff Davis, while stationed at Fort Winnebago and Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, UNITED STATES MARINE HOSPITAL, GALENA. then a Lieutenant in the regular army, spent much of his time in Galena, and is well known to many of the old citizens. Hoge, Representative in Congress from 1843 to 1847, since a citizen of San Francisco. Another is Hon. Joseph B. Wells, elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State in 1846. Hon. E. D. Baker, who was killed at Ball's Bluff, Colonel of a volunteer regiment, resided in Galena and represented that district in Congress from 1849 to 1851, and was afterward United States Senator from Oregon. Hon. Thompson Campbell, successor of Colonel Baker, represented the district from 1851 to 1853. Hon. E. B. Washburne, who succeeded Campbell, has represented the district ever since, for seven consecutive terms, and is now the oldest member of the House of Representatives of the United States in consecutive service. Hon. William H. Hooper, the present delegate in Congress from Utah Territory, long resided in Galena, and was at one time head of one of the largest mercantile houses in the lead mines. Colonel, afterward President, Taylor, General Brooke, General Twiggs, General Brady, and Colonel Davenport, at different times in command at Fort Crawford, were much in Galena in the earlier times, that town being then the principal settlement of the Upper Missis-long a Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois; sippi. The conflicting claims to certain mineral lodes and the litigious character of the people were productive of numerous lawsuits, and lawyers of ability from the already settled portions of the State went to Galena to practice, some of whom became more or less eminent in after-life. Thomas Ford, afterward Governor of Illinois, was of the number. Jesse B. Thomas, subsequently a Judge of the Supreme Court, resided there at an early day. Benjamin Mills, one of the most gifted and eloquent men ever in the State, and an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1832, practiced law there at that time. William Smith, Esq, a ripe and accomplished scholar, was also of the number. The oldest lawyer of Galena, Charles S. Hempstead, Esq., now retired from practice, was the first Mayor of the city. Of Galena men who have occupied judicial stations are the late Hon. Thomas C. Browne, the late Hon. Dan Stone, once Judge of the Circuit Court; and the present Judge of the Circuit Court, Hon. B. R. Sheldon. The Hon. Thomas Drummond, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, commenced practice at the Galena bar. He lived in that city fourteen years. Hon. Van H. Higgins, Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago, was for many years a Galena lawyer, and his law partner there was Hon. O. C. Pratt, afterward United States District Judge for Oregon, and now Judge of the District Court of San Francisco. John M. Douglass, President of the Illinois Central Railroad, commenced the practice of law in Galena, where he resided many years. Among military men that Galena gave to the country in her great peril are BrigadierGeneral Jasper A. Maltby, Major-General Augustus L. Chetlain, Major - General John E. Smith, Major-General John A. Rawlins, chief of staff to the Lieutenant-General, and Lieu There is probably no town of its size in the country that can boast as large a number of men, citizens at one time or another, who have distinguished themselves in legal, polit-tenant-General Ulysses S. Grant. ical, and military life as Galena. Among the men, members of the Galena bar, who have become men of distinction, is Hon. Joseph P. Once the glittering masses of the valuable ore that abounds there in such lavish profusion attracted thousands of people to Galena, its hills and mines. RESIDENCE OF HON. E. B. WASHBURNE, GALENA. The country still yields to no other the palm of mineral wealth; but now the Northwest, and especially the little corner containing the city of Galena, boasts something immeasurably more valuable, prouder, and of more enduring fame than even the wealth of her hills confers upon her. We have given a cut of the unpretending residence of Captain Grant before the war. Captain Grant removed from St. Louis County, Missouri, to Galena, with his family in 1859. His father, Jesse R. Grant, had for many years previously carried on in the city a large leatherfinding establishment. On the death of a son, who had charge of the business, he sent another son, Ulysses S., who had been a Captain in the regular army but who had resigned, to take his place. Unobtrusive to an unprecedented degree, devoting himself diligently to his business, he was known to few in the city outside of his business acquaintances. Public attention was first turned toward him at a meeting held at the Court-house for the purpose of raising troops, after the firing upon Sumter. This was one of the most remarkable meetings of that character held throughout the country, and the impression made upon those present is ineffaceable. The court-room was crowded to suffocation. The meeting was called to order by John E. Smith, Esq., now a Major-General in the volunteer service, a well-known and highly-respected citizen. On his motion Captain Grant was chosen chairman. There emerged from the crowd a man of medium size in a dilapidated military over-coat; and as he approached the Judge's Bench, he who has since fixed upon himself the eyes of the world, there for the first time made himself known even by sight to more than half his fellow-citizens then present. Assuming the duties of the chair, he stated in few and direct words the object of the meeting. Brief speeches were made by Hon. E. B. Washburne, John A. Rawlins, Esq., a young lawyer of Galena, Democratic candidate for elector at the Presidential election of the preceding autumn, and Captain B. B. Howard, an officer of the Mexican war, who was afterward Captain in the Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was killed by a railway accident. Among those who participated actively in that meeting may be mentioned the chairman thereof, now LieutenantGeneral Grant; Major-General Rawlins, Grant's chief of staff; Major-General John E. Smith, who called the meeting to order, Major-General A. L. Chetlain, who that evening volunteered as the first private soldier, and Brigadier-General J. A. Maltby. It is needless to say that all these gentlemen have since distinguished themselves in the service. General Grant entered the service in April of 1861 as Colonel of the Twenty-first regiment of Illinois Infantry. His subsequent career need not be dwelt upon in this article. His ineffaceable record is written highest on America's roll of military fame. After leaving his home to enter the army he did not return to it till August, 1865. The reception given him when he reached Galena was one of the most brilliant ovations ever given to any man in this country. Nothing was left undone by the citizens of Galena to give their world-renowned townsman a fitting welcome after an absence of more than an American flag in welcome, and each hav four years, and after having rendered a service ing a bouquet to fling to the Lieutenant-Gento his country unsurpassed in its results by serv-eral as he passed under the arch. It is reportices ever rendered by mortal man to any na-ed that in a conversation during the early part tion or people. Immense numbers of people of the war General Grant said he should never were present not only from all parts of Illinois, be a candidate for civil office, saving, perhaps, but from the adjoining States of Iowa and Wis- that of Mayor of Galena, as that might enable consin. The enthusiasm was unbounded. The him to have a sidewalk built from his house to welcoming speech was made by Hon. E. B. the dépôt. The hint was taken, and before Washburne. The modest Lieutenant-Gen- his arrival home last summer some public-spireral, as unobtrusive and retiring in his high ited citizens laid down a splendid sidewalk from rank as he was when he left his home, respond- his residence to the Illinois Central Railroad ed through his friend, the Rev. J. H. Vincent. Dépôt, and at the time of his reception an arch Mr. Vincent spoke of the pleasure the General was thrown over the street, with a brief infelt in returning to his home, and his gratitude scription calling the General's attention to the for the cordial reception given him by his old fact. neighbors and friends who had stood by him with unfaltering fidelity and unwavering faith through good and ill report. He said that as long as the General should hold his present official position he should be obliged to spend most of his time in the city of Washington, but that he considered Galena his legal home and voting-place, and should spend as much time there as possible. The photographer has given us the view at the head of this paper showing the triumphal arch erected across Main Street. Over the arch was a platform on which stood thirty-six beautiful young ladies, dressed uniformly in white, each waving The present residence of the LieutenantGeneral at Galena, and which was occupied by himself and family during their stay at home last summer, is a modest though a beautiful and commodious dwelling, occupying one of the most picturesque and charming situations in the "Crescent City of the Northwest." The house itself, so unpretending, so neat and chaste, its furniture, and all the surroundings, illustrate the unostentatious and simple character of its world-renowned occupant. A view of this is given on a previous page, and also a view of the humble residence of "Captain U. S. Grant," before the war. |