CHAPTER 2.
Pioneers and Pioneer Living
In hearing stories of pioneer life, one may ask, "Why did they come? Why did they leave comfortable homes in much older and more settled places?" The answer is to know something of the climate, geology and history of our wonderful state and to learn more of the story of mankind in his ceaseless endeavor, regardless of comfort or cost, to find a more rewarding life. Man has ever sought better opportunities, if not for himself, then for his children and even his children's children. Pioneers came with a matchless courage, a vision of the future, and a faith that had been building for generations. It was with these inherent qualities that they were able to develop a new locality, a new county, and a new state. In 1954 El Paso celebrated its centennial, but settlements in the woods of Greene and Kansas Townships, then unformed, began 126 years ago.
The Illinois River is wholly within our state boundary, navigable for over 200 miles. There are many lesser rivers, creeks and swamps, the smallest of which the pioneers called sloughs, all tending to keep the soil moist and rich, especially in the spring of the year. The rivers were the early highways, and overland travel was then very difficult. At times the matted turf would seem to rise and fall when stepped upon or passed over with a vehicle. The pioneers called this trembling ground.
This ground moisture was primarily the cause of much illness, particularly chills and fevers; one of these was called the ague, an intermittent fever with seeming cold and hot fits which made the early settlers miserable. In their determination to minimize their personal discomforts, they had a saying, "He ain't sick, he's just got the ager." In the fall after the rains lessened they were often distressed with more serious fevers. In addition they were plagued by flies, mosquitoes and other insects, not to mention reptiles and the possibly impure water. They were without adequate means to combat these many trying conditions of pioneer life.
Settled first by the French and British at key posts, the Indian tribes found the influence of the two very different. The French had their religion and a gentle manner which won the friendship of the tribes for a hundred years. The English came for conquest, were successful, and the result was turbulence and suspicion. French
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