THE WINNEBAGO "WAR" OF 1827. By Wm. Thomas. [The writer of the following communication to the Jacksonville Journal of Aug. 21st, 1871, Hon. William Thomas, was born in Allen (then Warren) county, Kentucky, on the 22d of Nov. 1802, and there received the rudiments of an English education at the county schools. When about grown he served as deputy for his father who was sheriff of the county. He was then appointed deputy county clerk, and later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1823. In 1826 he came to Illinois locating at Jacksonville where he remained the rest of his life. The first winter there he taught school, and the next summer he volunteered as a private in the militia called out by Gov. Edwards to repel the Winnebago uprising in Jo Daviess county, and was appointed quartermaster sergeant. He attended the Legislature of 1828-29 at Vandalia, and reported its proceedings for the Intelligencer of that place. At that session he was elected by the Legislature States Attorney of a new circuit created north of the Illinois river. On March 25th, 1830, he married Miss Catherine Scott of Morgan county. The next year he was appointed school commissioner of that county. He served as quartermaster general in the two campaigns against Black Hawk, 1831-32. In 1834 he was elected State Senator. Near the close of his term of four years the Deaf and Dumb Institution was established at Jacksonville of which he was made one of the trustees, and served in that capacity for thirty years. In March, 1839, he was elected circuit judge. In 1846 he was elected to the Legislature, and in 1847 was chosen as delegate from Morgan county to the Constitutional Convention. He was again elected to the Legislature in 1850. In 1861 he was appointed by the Governor a member of the Board of Army Auditors, and in 1869 a member of the State Board of Charities. His wife died July 26, 1875, their only child, Underwood Thomas, having died some years before. In old age he married Mrs. Leanna Orear, who survived him, his death occurring at Jacksonville, August 22d, 1889, at the age of 86 years, 9 months.-J. F. S.]* But few of the actors in that war remain among us. In 1827 Governor Edwards received information on which he relied, that the Winnebago Indians had attacked some keel boats which had been employed conveying army supplies to Prairie du Chien on their return down the river, and that settlers and miners on Fever river were in imminent danger from the same and other Indians. The Governor ordered the commanders of the different regiments and odd battalions of General Harrison's brigade on the eastern side of the Illinois river (except the 20th regiment) to take immediate steps for detaching into service, according to law, one-fourth of their respective commands. And should any part of the frontier south of Rock river be invaded by the savages, the Colonel entitled by law to command the detachment, was ordered to march it, with the least delay, to the support of the point of attack without waiting for further orders. * J. F. Snyder. |