Untitled Document

OWNERSHIP OF LAND

Up to this time there had been persistent efforts on the part of many persons to acquire ownership or other rights on the island as preemptors, railroad constructors, manufacturers, water power promoters, tenants or plain squatters, but these efforts were vigorously opposed by the ordnance department and government officials generally. It was held that before the reservation for military purposes in 1825, the whole island had been withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the land department, had so continued and therefore was not open to settlement as were other government lands. Not withstanding that this position was consistently maintained by the officials, two claims were acted upon by Congress, and through such action David B. Sears and George Davenport had their asserted title to land on the island confirmed.

Regarding the latter claim Colonel Davenport in 1833 entered a plea with the war department stating that his son, George Davenport, had a trading post on the island, also a dwelling and other improvements, that he had been located there since 1810, and asking that he be allowed to acquire the fractional quarter section on which he lived under the preemption law at the regular price of $1.25 per acre. Under orders issued by the general land office, his claim could not be admitted, but on April 2, 1844, with the assistance of Senator Douglas, Judge Knox and Judge Drury, an act of Congress was passed which permitted him to acquire title, and the lands were held by him and his family until they were repurchased by the government in 1867, the price paid being .$40,740.000

Immediately after the troops were withdrawn from the island, in 1S30, squatters took possession, hoping that in time their claims would be recognized, and they would be able to acquire ownership of the land. These squatters cleared and cultivated some of the land, used much of the timber, and sold logs and wood so recklessly that most of the original timber growth was destroyed. Finally, David J. Baker, a United States attorney, located at Kaskaskia, Ill., notified .J R. Poinsett. secretary of war, of the conditions existing on the island, and asked permission to eject the squatters. The matter was submitted to President Van Buren, who issued orders for their removal. This order, however, did not prove.effectual either in removing the squatters or in stopping their depredations.

Historic Encyclopedia of Illinois

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Illinois Ancestors

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