Father Walker moved from Chicago in the fall of 1833 ten miles west, where he bought a lot of land. It as near what was then known as the Aux Plaines River, now called the Desplaines [now Des Plaines]. He had land on both sides of the river, and as there was no bridge, Father Walker built himself one. It was but a rough affair, but it answered the purpose. It was at least two hundred feet long. When the government put the first road through to Galena it was built through Father Walker's land. Before the bridge was built Father Walker used to ferry people, horses and vehicles across the river by using two Indian canoes, on which he built a rude platform, which answered the purpose very well. Father Walker died in 1835 at the age of 68 years. He was buried at Plainfield and the ministers of the Rock River conference erected a monument over his grave. He was known as "The Pioneer Preacher of the West." Intended to Found Sionilli". "It was the purpose of Father Walker before he died to establish a town at his home place. He had selected a name for it, Illinois spelt backwards "Sionilli", and the night he died a kiln of 100,000 bricks had been burned for him by a man named Josiah Blodgett. He had planned to build a large hotel with the brick. A few years ago I tried to find the location of my old home. It is somewhere near Oak Park, and in company with Mrs. I. E. Brown, who resides at Oak Park, I drove to where I thought was the old ground. I tried in vain to locate the point where the old bridge had been built, but fifty years had wrought so manychanges that I was really lost at my old home. "Father Walker helped lay off some of the streets of Chicago early in the spring of 834. They sent for him to assist in the work. I remember when he came home he told us that most of the streets were named for Presidents and that one was named Dearborn after the fort. How well I remember old 'Fort Dearborn.' After the treaty the soldiers were sent to Green Bay, Wis. We did not need them any more at Chicago. There were eightly soldiers and I remember they went right past our house. The old bridge shook when they marched across it. "There were any amount of Indians in and around Chicago. I remember that on one occasion I saw over 500 in one body. They came to Chicago to have a dance on the dancing ground, which was about half a mile west of the lake shore. The white people went out to see them dance and to give them presents. We got word about the approach of the Indians, but when they came we were nearly frightened into fits. They came to our house expecting to see Father Walker, but he had gone away 40 miles distant with mother to get a load of provisions. They were much disappointed because he was not at home. We had just finished getting dinner when the Indians came. We all ran away, and when we came back we found that the Indians had eaten every bit of our dinner, and even took the pendulum off the clock. It was brass, and bright things always attract an Indian.I shall never forget that. They took some of the knives and spoons and left the forks; it was so strange, for they have no use for forks. Father Walker said, when he returned, that if he had been thee he would have killed an ox and given then a barbecue. "We had a little Indian girl with us, half Indian and half French, named Monique Muller. When the old Indian, Robinson, her uncle, gave her to Dather Walker he requested him to rear her as a white child. When the Indians came she was as frightened as we were, but the invaders were quiet people and did not injury to anyone. They made the journey every fall and always took everything before them. Newspapers Were Scarce. "Newspapers were not as plentiful then as now, nor were there as many scholars and schools. The first physicians were Dr Meecham, Dr. Minor, Dr. Eldridge, Dr Underwood, who was the first phrenologist?, and Dr. Goodrich. There were two lawyers, Mr. Peck and Mr. Collins. Father Walker was the only Protestant minister there in 1833. There was no church, but one was built soon after we came to Chicago. The Rev. John S. Barger and the Rev. Colston were ministers who came after Father Walker. "The Pottawatomie Indians were the original owers of the land where Chicago now stands. They were friendly Indians and made no trouble. I remember quite wellwhen the agent of the government made payment to the Indians for the land and when the treaty was ratified. Billy Cullwell was the Indian Agent at Chicago. At no time was there any trouble with the Pottawatomies. It was old Black Hawk andthe Indians of the Sac Nation who caused the trouble and brought on this war. Era of Puffed Sleeves. "They say the fashion now in dress is the 1830 style. It was 1838 before the present big puffs in dresses came out. Then we wore padded puff's inside our sleeves. We took two yards of material and folded it cornerwise and cut off the --- to make it the right shape and put it all in the puff. Afterwards the fashion changed from big puffs to ruffles. It was told by the Indians that Lake Michigan would rise seven years and fall seven years. When we came away in 1838 the lake was rising and they had to use stepping blocks on Lake street. I don't remember whether the people were frightened or not, but the water washed away the mud-bar on which George E. Walker and Jim Kinzie had houses. The rise of the water ruined both men financially. Walker was a nephew of Father Walker's. I well remember that all throught what is now known as the Wise Side - it was swampy. I do not think I will ever visit Chicago again, but if Ido it willbe a time when the old settlers meet again." The End! The article also has a pencil drawing of Eleanor and if anyone is interested in seeing it, I will scan it and send it to you privately - rootsweb doesn't allow attachments. Hope you enjoyed this! Sandi