Reminiscences of Early Peoria
by Odillon B. Slane
Chapter 13
pages 27-30
STORY OF
FORT CLARK
IT is, at the
earnest request of an old friend and neighbor, William R. Sandham of Wyoming,
Illinois, that I attempt to write the story of Fort Clark, Peoria.
About the year 1778 Hypolite Maillett moved to the
north side of Peoria Lake and commenced the building of this ville which took
the name of Fort Clark. This fort took its name from Colonel George Rogers
Clark, veteran of 1778, and hero of Vincennes.
Charles Balance's history of Peoria gives the
description, location and the story of the destruction of old Fort Clark, the
ruins of which were seen by the Slane and Nixon families in 1831. One writer
says that John B. Maillett built the first house at Fort Clark in 1761. May I
say that the name Fort Clark was given to this spot some years before the Fort
was built. Report of Governor Edward Cole says the house was built in what was
called La Ville de Maillett.
Fort Clark was located at the intersection of Water and
Liberty streets. Timbers and other materials were obtained from the East side of
the Illinois river, and rafted down on the west side.
The fort was a simple stockade constructed by planting
two rows of logs firmly in the ground and filling the space between with earth.
It was not intended as a defense against artillery as the Indians did not use
artillery. The fort was about 100 feet square with a ditch on each side. The
fort did not stand with a side to the Lake, but with a corner to it. The corner
farthest from the lake was on the upper side of Water street near the
intersection of Water and Liberty streets. There were a few houses built within
the enclosures.
General Benjamin Howard arrived at Fort Clark, Peoria,
September, 1813, with about 1400 men. After a fight they took possession of, and
built the fort. The fort was garrisoned by both rangers and U.S. troops. It
successfully sustained one Indian attack.
It is said that Peoria was never wholly deserted by the
Americans after the erection of Fort Clark in 1813. One historian tells us that
this fort was burned in 1814 by the Indians. In 1832, it was ordered re-built
when the Black Hawk War broke out. This second Fort Clark was located at the
intersection of Water and Second streets.
G. S. Hubbard, in a letter to Charles Balance, dated
Dec. 30, 1867, says: ---that he found the fort on fire in 1818, but Josiah
Fulton and William Blanchard who first came here in 1819, are positive they
found it on fire and put out the flames. Both may be right. It is the opinion of
the writer that only a part of the west side burned in 1818. Earth having been
filled in between the pickets, the fire would burn slowly and would be easily
extinguished.
It is stated that Abner Eads arrived at Peoria April
17, 1819, and pitched tents against the remaining timbers of Fort Clark. When
Charles Balance came to this place in 1831, he found the west side completely
destroyed by fire. There were some burnt posts standing on the west side, a
square of about 10 or 12 feet at the south corner.
Enough of one of the posts was left for a hitching
post, and a blacksmith, Isaac Evans, put some hooks in it for that purpose. This
hitching post remained here till May 1884, when Mr. S. Dewitt Drown took it down
and sawed it up into walking canes which sold for 50 cents each. It is said that
there were six (6) forts built in the vicinity of Peoria.
American state papers of Public Lands, Vol. III page
422, gives as a reason why the village of Fort Clark was located one and
one-half miles below the old village, was on account of the water being better
at the lowest outlet of the lake. In consequence, it was healthier.
We have already mentioned the re-building of Fort Clark
in 1832, at the intersection of Water and Second streets. During the Black Hawk
War (1832) many of the early settlers from northern and western sections, came
to Fort Clark for protection. A company of 25 persons was organized and called
the Peoria guards. It is uncertain whether or not this fort was occupied during
the Black Hawk War. Students of history will note that there were two Fort
Clarks; one built in 1813, the other in 1832.
The story is told that in the Fall of 1816 a party of
hunters from St. Clair County came to Fort Clark and found 20 deer in the fort,
the gate having been left open. Floors of the block houses were covered with
manure. The hunters cleaned out the buildings and occupied them 10 days or so
while hunting deer in this vicinity. The Central Illinois Light Company has a
building now located on a part of the land that was once the site of Fort Clark.
An early historian says that the founding and
settlement of Peoria dates from the 19th day of April in the 19th year of the
19th century.
The 19th of April is a prominent date in American
history.
In 1826 when the County Commissioners had the town site
surveyed they called it Peoria. However, it was spoken of as Fort Clark and
sometimes Peoria, but the name Peoria became legally established in 1835 when
the town, Peoria, was incorporated. Peoria is an Indian word meaning "fat
lands."
Many scattered events relating to Fort Clark or Peoria
might be related. N. Matson says that General Benjamin Howard with 900 men
encamped near La Ville De Mailette, (1812). He marched to Gomo village at the
head of Lake Peoria, found the village deserted, and after burning it, returned
to Peoria.
It was after this that he decided to build Fort Clark.
In 1820 Hypolite Mailett in a sworn statement before
Edward Cole, registrar at land office, said he was 45 years old and that he was
born in a stockade fort near Peoria Lake. Another event worth remembering is
this: In 1778 when Colonel George Rogers Clark took possession of the Illinois
country, he sent three soldiers and two Frenchmen to Peoria to notify the people
that they were no longer under British rule, but were citizens of the United
States.
I am indebted to the following for help, suggestions
and kindly criticisms: ---
Anna L. Archer, Reference Librarian, Dallas R. Sweney, Assistant Librarian of
the Peoria Public Library. George E. Johnson, editor, Peoria Daily Record,
Percival G. Rennick, writer and lecturer, and to my father and other early
pioneers who have actually seen Fort Clark.
I call my home "The Lookout"--
And in my dreams I see
A mighty nation's commerce
On the river to the sea.
The Indian Mother's lullaby
Is hushed forevermore;
But the song of Marching Progress
Is swelling more and more.
Any contributions, corrections, or suggestions would be deeply appreciated!
Copyright © Janine Crandell
All rights reserved
Updated September 20, 2005