Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 30 March 2003 Vol 2 Issue: #13 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, My Father and several generations of his ancestry were native to Southern Illinois. When I enter Little Egypt from the north, from the prairie lands, I feel rather than note or observe the distinct change in topography. The gentle rolling prairie transforms to woods, hills, streams and creeks in valleys. It "feels" like home. In the prairies from northern Ohio to western Nebraska, the largeness of farms gives way to the smaller farms of the narrow vlleys with decidious timber blanketing the hillsides. The forests thick and with much underbrush make it a major task to stroll through them. Just as drastically as the land changes, so the language. Here the southern and Ozark drawls predominate. I grew to near manhood believing Grandma lived near <by-en-nie> [Vienna]. And, <kay-row> [Cairo] was the most southern Illinois city. When I finally used maps to locate these places, I was astonished to note these places were the same as the places my Uncle Sam gave me free transportation to during the early 1950s. You know, Vienna <vee-en-na> and <ki-ro> Cairo! I say "krick" and you say "creek". I know where I am when I hear "hollers" and "y'all". This southern Illinois country is an extension of the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee, so I learned to look for my Dad's earlier ancestors in those states. I am Yankee born with a foot on either side of the Ohio River. Not only is the countryside and the language different from the neighboring northern prairieland, but also in much of living. For example, I am well used to metal detectors of metropolitan area airports, courthouses, large chain stories, and even libraries. When I encounter them in smaller county courthouses it does not surprise me. What does take me by surprise is the fact that certain folks, well known, are never challenged by the deputy stationed at the entrance at the detector. Or, the local farmer or baker who regularly supplies courthouse employees with fresh vegetables and eggs, or baked goods, hive fresh honey, hickory-cured hams, and/or smoked Mississippi cat. In Little Egypt folks still make furniture, mold candles, throw pots, quilts, and even dulcimers. Spring brings out forest color with the early blossoming of the red-bud [Judas] trees and dogwoods. This hill country is good for orchards, so apple and peach trees show their color above the wildflower carpets. There are now commercial growers of daffodils, dahlias and gladiolis to brighten the fields in season. Earlier, mention of having one foot on either side of the Ohio River is reminiscent that Civil War sympathies pitted relative against relative causing deep rifts and wounds in families. John A Logan was southern Illinoisian with deep southern sympathies, yet weighed to the philosophy of preservation of the union of the states. Another side of my heritage, was ancestry of the German speaking section of Switzerland, where they grazed cattle among the cherry orchards on the hillsides. They made Kirsch, a brandy, from the fruit. Now in Illinois, just west of Alto Pass are vineyards. Southern Illinois now produces wines from Concord to Villard Blanc. My southern Illinois ancestors witnessed the more tragic events involving our First Nations "Trail of Tears". The Trail of Tears State Forest is locate in the area at the junction of Highways 127 and 3. There on Dutch Creek, back in the timber, the Cherokee camped during the winter because the Mississippi River had moving ice. When the United States began its westward expansion in the years between the Revolution and the War of 1812, the "Interstate Highways" were the rivers. Particularly the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers played such large parts in the history of southern Illinois. The travelor could begin a river journey in Pittsburgh and float to New Orleans [or Saint Louis]. Thus, Gallatin County and its seat, Shawneetown, became a river port, and an entry point for immagrants into the new frontier. The Shawnee lived in this area during the mid-1700s. Euros bean arriving in force in this area about 1800. By 1810 the Federal Government platted Shawneetown on the river. It quickly became a commercial center and was the first incorporated town in Illinois. Today, one of the longest span cantilever bridges connects Ohio and Kentucky at Shawneetown. In frontier days ferry service served the two states. By 1818, the Shawneetown US Land Office began its functions. Many of my ancestors of Little Egypt obtained land through this office. Convenient to the area were the salt deposits. These were known to the early inhabitants and though owned by the Federal Government, the salt deposits were leased by individuals, including one of the brothers to an ancestor. The salt industry added to the economic growth of the area by supplying an important commodity and fostering a financial center at Shawneetown. A member of George Washington's Revolutionary War staff, General Thomas Posey, was an early resident, and John Marshall began and operated the first Bank in his home. Today the home and bank, which is now operated by the local historical society, has been reconstructed and opened, by appointment, for tours. Eastern Sandstone Quaries furnished the material for the First State Bank built in 1834. This building is Greek Revival with its Doric columns supporting a portico. The stone was floated down the Ohio River by flatboat. A story perpetuated by locals is about the businessmen who traveled to this financial center for a loan to build Chicago. The loan was refused on the grounds that Chicago would never be a prosperous town because it was too far away from anything. Floods destroyed Shawneetown in 1884, 1898, 1913 and 1937. Finally in 1937, the residents rebuilt it in the hills three miles distance ... inland. The Marquis de Lafayette visited Shawneetown in 1825. Governor Edward Coles greeted him and had a reception at the Rawlings Hotel. Though the hotel burned in 1904, it has been rebuilt. Andrew Jackson once applied for a lease of the salt springs in Equality about a dozen miles west of Shawneetown. However, the most prominent salt producer was John Hart Crenshaw. In 1834 he built Hickory Hill House, about a mile north of the salt springs he was leasing. One of the unique things about this house, I'm told, is that the original home had a carriage opening through the middle of the first floor so that folks, especially the ladies, could step directly form their carriage into the house. Jonathan Boone, brother of Daniel, operated a mill at New Haven. He died there in 1808. Hidden near Cave-in-Rock is Pounds Hollow. Pounds Wall is located here. It is said that the wall is seven thousand years old. Some have suggested that it was a fortification. However, since it is near a buffalo wallow, others think more likely it was used to round up buffalo against the wall for slaughtering. Back to the salt mines, for an addendum comment. Salt and the buffalo attracted the first Euros. As said, in 1702, some French began a slaughter of the buffalo, taking only the hides and tongues. After killing an estimated 13,000 buffalos, the Indians killed the hunters, but the herds never again attained their ealier size. West of Gallatin county is Saline county. In the tricounty area of Saline, Gallatin and Hardin counties is the Garden of the Gods, a 200 million year old geological uplifting. Wind and water then formed spectacular rock formations. Many of the formation have inspired unique names, such as "fat man's squeeze", "Noah's Ark", "Mushroom Rock", "Babel's Tower", "Anvil Rock", Devil's Smokestack", "Camel Rock", and even the ever common, "Table Rock". Could "Babel's Tower" be named for my ancestor Babel Benson??? Naw, Babel never got this far north. Shucks. Back to the salt mines again. When the new comers took over the salt springs, they did so for commercial purposes. They would take water from the springs in large kiln-baked pans. These made from clay and crushed shells. They heated these pans over fires or heated stones. They also just allowed the water to evaporate, but with competition this was not very practical. I'll mention just one more wonder of southern Illinois this week. South of the Garden of the Gods is Hicks Dome. This is the remains of an extinct volcano. Wado, Bill -=- http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html