At the close of the Black Hawk war immigrants from the East began to
settle in northern Illinois. These early settlers came by three different
routes - the Great Lakes route, the Ohio river route, or overland in covered
wagons. When several covered wagons traveled together they were called a
"train." In 1845 a "train" of eight wagons set out from Pennsylvania for
Illinois. In one of the wagons rode Mr. Harmon Nisley (the grandfather of
Mr. Brown Munro), his wife and seven children. Several beautiful, well-bred
horses were led behind the schooners. Bridges were not as well constructed
then as they are now and many times the heavily loaded wagons would break
the bridge. Mr. Nisley had the heaviest wagon, so when he came to a bridge
he would have to wait and cross the bridge last. If he crossed first the
heavy wagon might have broken the bridge and the others would have to wait
until they repaired the bridge.
He settled at Knoxville first, and kept a grocery store. As there was no
prohibition law at that time many of the grocery stores sold liquors, as
well as groceries. In an old day-book, which is in possession of one of his
descendants, there is a record of a sale of whisky at forty cents a gallon.
Another page shows that wheat was sold at four cents a pound, and apples at
twenty-five cents a bushel. A load of pumpkins were sold at four dollars.
After Harmon had explored the country from Knoxville to Peru, he decided to
settle near Peru. As canal boats passed up and down daily, it was a
convenient place from which to ship his grain. The family lived in Peru a
year or so. Then Mr. Nisley bought a farm (now occupied by Mr. George Hahn),
which is three and a half miles north of Peru, in Dimmick township, in 1848,
and about the same time he bought about eighty acres of land in Putnam
county where he installed a saw mill. He milled enough lumber to fence his
farm and to build three houses and barns for his farms. He also cut wood for
other people. The maple grove, which can be seen on that farm, was planted
by Harmon.
Improved land in Dimmick could be purchased at fifteen dollars an acre, and
land that was not improved for as low as a dollar and twenty-five cents an
acre.
For a number of years the Nisley's kept a light burning in an upstairs
window so that any emigrants traveling across the prairie might find
shelter. As the roads were poor, schooners would often become stuck in the
mud. The people would see the light burning in the window and would come
there for help. No one was ever turned away.
One evening a wagon drawn by two beautiful gray horses was seen coming
across the prairie. The driver was a negro. He asked Mr. Nisley if he could
stay all night. Mr. Nisley said he could. Late that night a group of white
men came to the house. They said the negro was a runaway slave and that he
had stolen the wagon and horses. The white men took the negro and the wagon
and drove away. The Nisleys never knew whether the negro was a runaway slave
or whether the white men were rascals who wanted to sell the negro, the
horses, and the wagon.
After the Nisley's had moved to their farm in Dimmick, the "plank road" was
built. This road extended from Peru to Dixon and was made entirely of
planks. Stage coaches drawn by one or more teams of horses passed over this
road, carrying people and mail. Along the road were certain houses where the
driver changed teams. One of those stopping places was about two miles north
of Peru, at Peak's tavern. There the horses were changed and the travelers
found food and lodging.
When the first telegraph line was strung past their house (from Arlington to
Peru), there was only one wire used. At that time there were many prairie
chickens here. They were not accustomed to the telegraph wire and they would
fly up against it and become stunned. The family would hurry out to see how
many prairie chickens they could get for supper.
In those days schools were not so close as they are now. However, there was
a school just back of the Nisley grove. This school was taught by one of
Harmon's sons. Oftentimes religious services were held in the school. One
time it was very difficult to obtain a minister. However, there was a very
well educated man in the community who would have been capable to take
charge of the services, but he had fallen away from his early instructions
and was a little rough, but good at heart. Since he was such a well learned
man he was selected to act as minister. He knew that he was well known by
all the people, so before he began his services he said, "Do not do as I do,
but do as I say."
There was not so much fruit canned then as there is now. There were not many
fruit trees, but when the settlers obtained some fruit, such as apples,
pears and peaches; they dried them for winter use. Meats, too, were often
cured by drying.
The Nisleys were expert tanners, as they tanned and made their own leather.
Their wagon repair work was done by a man who kept a repair shop in La
Salle, named Patrick Manning.
Mr. Nisley was known for his hospitality. Every Sunday people gathered at
his home to visit and enjoy themselves after their week's labor. The younger
folks and children played games, while the older folks talked about the
topics of the day; told about what was written in the last letter from the
East (it took about sixteen days to send a letter from the eastern states to
Illinois), or planned "bees" for the coming week. Everyone enjoyed a
delicious dinner before he left.
It is said that Mr. Nisley's word was above reproach. The other settlers had
so much faith in his honesty and wisdom that when they got into an argument
or had a dispute, they would come to him to have him settle their arguments.
Mr. Munro (Mr. Nisley's grandson) has a board that was a part of Mr.
Nisley's covered wagon, and a candle mold that was used by Mrs. Nisley in
making the tallow candles.
Thus the story comes to an end. As we hear about the hardships and joys of
pioneers, like the Nisleys, we realize how much the early settlers have done
to make our life in La Salle county more enjoyable.
Extracted 06 Jun 2015 by Norma Hass from Stories of Pioneer Days in La Salle County, Illinois, by Grammar Grade Pupils, published in 1932, page 12.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
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Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
