The settlement of Illinois, 1778-1830 by Arthur Clinton Boggess

(3 User reviews)   1795
By Abil Kile Posted on Nov 15, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Boggess, Arthur Clinton, 1874-1955 Boggess, Arthur Clinton, 1874-1955
English
Hey, I just finished this book about how Illinois went from wilderness to statehood, and it’s way more dramatic than it sounds. Forget dusty dates and boring treaties. This is the story of a messy, violent, and totally chaotic land grab. The main conflict isn't just settlers vs. nature—it's a three-way fight between the US government, Native American nations who've lived there for generations, and the flood of pioneers who just want a piece of land to call their own. The book shows how the rules kept changing, promises were broken, and the entire social fabric of the region was ripped apart and rewoven in just fifty years. It’s the raw, unvarnished origin story of a state.
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II. Government Succeeding the Period of Anarchy, 1790 to 1809. III. Obstacles to Immigration. 1790 to 1809. Chapter IV. Illinois During Its Territorial Period. 1809 to 1818. I. The Land and Indian Questions. II. Territorial Government of Illinois. 1809 to 1818. IV. Transportation and Settlement, 1809 to 1818. IV. Life of the Settlers. Chapter V. The First Years of Statehood, 1818 to 1830. The Indian and Land Questions. The Government and Its Representatives, 1818 to 1830. Transportation. Life of the People. Chapter VI. Slavery in Illinois As Affecting Settlement. Chapter VII. Successful Frontiersmen. Works Consulted. Index. Footnotes PREFACE. In the work here presented, an attempt has been made to apply in the field of history, the study of types so long in use in biological science. If the settlement of Illinois had been an isolated historical fact, its narration would have been too provincial to be seriously considered, but in many respects, the history of this settlement is typical of that of other regions. The Indian question, the land question, the transportation problem, the problem of local government; these are a few of the classes of questions wherein the experience of Illinois was not unique. This work was prepared while the writer was a student in the University of Wisconsin. The first draft was critically and carefully read by Prof. Frederick Jackson Turner, of that University, and the second draft was read by Prof. John Bach McMaster, of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to suggestions received from my teachers, valuable aid has been rendered by Miss Caroline M. McIlvaine, the librarian of the Chicago Historical Society, who placed at my disposal her wide knowledge of the sources of Illinois history. The omission of any reference in this work to the French manuscripts, found by Clarence W. Alvord, is due to the fact that at the time they were found, my work was so nearly completed that it was loaned to Mr. Alvord to use in the preparation of his article on the County of Illinois, while the press of professional duties has been such that a subsequent use of the manuscripts has been impracticable. ARTHUR C. BOGGESS. Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon. September 14, 1907. CHAPTER I. THE COUNTY OF ILLINOIS. An Act for establishing the County of Illinois, and for the more effectual protection and defence thereof, passed both houses of the Virginia legislature on December 9, 1778.(1) The new county was to include the inhabitants of Virginia, north of the Ohio River, but its location was not more definitely prescribed.(2) The words “for the more effectual protection and defence thereof” in the title of the Act were thoroughly appropriate. The Indians were in almost undisputed possession of the land in Illinois, save the inconsiderable holdings of the French. Some grants and sales of large tracts of land had been made. In 1769, John Wilkins, British commandant in Illinois, granted to the trading-firm of Baynton, Wharton and Morgan, a great tract of land lying between the Kaskaskia and the Mississippi rivers. The claim to the land descended to John Edgar, who shared it with John Murray St. Clair, son of Gov. Arthur St. Clair. The claim was filed for 13,986 acres, but was found on survey to contain 23,000 acres, and was confirmed by Gov. St. Clair. At a later examination of titles, this claim was rejected because the grant was made in the first instance counter to the king’s proclamation of 1763, and because the confirmation by Gov. St. Clair was made after his authority ceased and was not signed by the Secretary of the Northwest Territory.(3)...

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The Story

The Settlement of Illinois, 1778-1830 isn't a novel with a single hero. Instead, it tracks the explosive transformation of the Illinois country. It starts when the region is a distant frontier, governed by a young United States still figuring things out. The narrative follows the waves of people who came: soldiers, traders, squatters, and families lured by cheap land. Arthur Clinton Boggess lays out how laws like the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance tried to bring order, but often clashed with the chaotic reality on the ground.

The heart of the story is the collision of cultures and ambitions. It details the slow, then rapid, push of American settlement into Native American territories, the conflicts that arose, and the eventual removal of indigenous peoples. It's a clear-eyed look at how treaties were made and broken, how towns sprouted almost overnight, and how Illinois shed its frontier skin to become a state.

Why You Should Read It

This book changed how I see my own backyard. If you've ever driven through the Midwest and wondered, "How did all these towns get here?" this book has the answers. Boggess doesn't romanticize the pioneers or vilify anyone; he shows the complicated machinery of expansion. You see the government's good intentions bump against greed and desperation. You get a real sense of the uncertainty those early settlers lived with—the shaky legal claims, the threat of conflict, and the sheer hard work of building a life from nothing. It makes history feel immediate and human.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone with roots in Illinois or the Midwest, or for readers who love deep-dive American history that focuses on the "how" rather than just the "who." It's not a light read—it's packed with detail—but it's written with clarity. If you enjoy books that explain the foundational dramas behind modern maps and communities, this is a fascinating and essential pick.



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Christopher Brown
9 months ago

This book was worth my time since the atmosphere created is totally immersive. Definitely a 5-star read.

Susan Hernandez
1 year ago

Surprisingly enough, it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. One of the best books I've read this year.

Kimberly Harris
11 months ago

Perfect.

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5 out of 5 (3 User reviews )

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