Last Rev. March 14, 2010
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pdrhistory@htc.netChansons (songs) on this page by La Salle Expedition II (August 11, 1976 - April 9, 1977).
La Salle Expedition II was a 3000 mile re-enactment of La Salle's 1681-82 journey from Montreal to the Gulf of Mexico.
For additional information contact the Elgin Public Museum - Elgin, Illinois: 847-741-6655. Click here to visit their website.
Prairie du Rocher: Historical Timeline
(work in progress)
18th Century
|
Date |
Event |
Reference |
|
1719 |
M. de Boisbriand, Mr. Du Tissent, and others arrive by a convoy of canoes on the east bank of the Mississippi river and begin building a fort and other structures. |
Chicago Tribune - Feb. 21, 1897 |
|
1720 |
The fort is named Fort de Chartres - after the duc de Chartres, son of the regent of France. |
MKB-9 |
|
1721 |
The French begin to settle the country between Fort de Chartres and Kaskaskia |
MKB-115 |
|
1722 |
Founding date of Prairie du Rocher |
MKB-118 |
|
1726 |
Official census: 208 persons living in the area of Fort de Chartres, St. Philippe, and Prairie du Rocher |
MKB-114 |
|
1731 |
St. Joseph's chapel is built at Prairie du Rocher (on site of present day cemetary |
MKB-107, NCN-1997Apr17-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1732 |
St. Anne's church is dedicated |
MKB-108 |
|
1732 |
Official census: 281 persons living in the area of Fort de Chartres, St. Philippe, and Prairie du Rocher |
MKB-114, Note 1 |
|
1733 |
Fort de Chartres' chapel is built or repaired |
MKB-109 |
|
1734 |
Official land grants are made to individuals in Prairie du Rocher |
MKB-117 |
|
1734 |
Three residents receive a land grant for building a water mill between Prairie du Rocher and Fort de Chartres |
MKB-118 |
|
1734 |
Pierre D'Artaguiette is appointed commandant of Fort de Chartres. D'Artaguiette was chosen because he had won signal victories in the Natchez war, and because holding Fort de Chartres required great skill owing to hostilites of the Spaniards and the Chickasaws. |
Chicago Tribune - June 9, 1889 |
|
1736 |
D'Artaguiette's forces attack a small Chickasaw village, but are ambushed by several hundred Indians. About forty frenchmen are killed. The commandant, D'Artaguiette, the officers, Pierre St. Ange, Louis Dutisne, Sieur de Vincennes, and the Jesuit priest, Antoine Senat are burned at the stake. |
MKB-132 |
|
1743 |
Civil Judge Jean Baptiste de Lelore Flancourt ruled that three square miles of land be given to the the people of Prairie du Rocher for common usage |
NCN-1998Feb05-Amy Barbeau |
|
1752 |
Pierre Chaffour de Louviere (later Captain of the Militia during the British period) has 200 arpents of land (170 aces) under cultivation, six slaves, and three hired helpers |
NCN-1997Apr17-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1753 |
The Creole House is built |
NCN-1998Feb05-Amy Barbeau |
|
1754 |
Soldiers from this area help De Villiers capture George Washington at Fort Necessity |
NCN-1998Feb05-Amy Barbeau |
|
1764 |
Jesuits expelled from French settlements. Pierre LaClede stayed at Fort de Chartres during the winter and left his daughter at Prairie du Rocher |
NCN-1998Feb05-Amy Barbeau |
|
1764 |
Flooding removes approximately half of the land between St. Anne and Fort de Chartres |
JHS-401, Note 2 |
|
1765 |
Fort de Chartres is surrendered to the British on Oct. 10 - by order of Saint Louis and Foccault. Captain Sterling and the 42nd Regiment of Foot take possession. |
JHS-397 |
|
1765 |
Captain Sterling describes Fort Kaskaskia as being nearly in ruins, the Indians insolent, and some local villagers as having moved to Missouri. |
JHS-398, Note 3 |
|
1772 |
The Great Flood ... the British leave the area |
NCN-1998Feb05-Amy Barbeau |
|
1779 |
Residents of Prairie du Rocher (male) elect two magistrates: Jean Baptiste Barbeau (the younger) and Antoine Louvier |
NCN-1997Apr10-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1784 |
The winter is severely cold with three feet of snow. Cattle starve and deer are caught alive |
NCN-1997Jun26-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1785 |
The "Year of the High Water" (because of melting snow from the previous year) |
NCN-1997Jun26-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1787 |
The citizens declared that until Congress could provide a plan for a stable government (because of the growing number of Americans coming in), they would only have French magistrates in the court, due to the impossibility of finding interpreters |
NCN-1997Jun05-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1788 |
Congress directs that a donation be given to each of the families living at either of the villages of Kaskaskia, Prairie du Rocher, Cahokia, Fort de Chartres, or St. Philippe |
IHA-22 |
|
1788 |
Congress reserves from occupancy or sale, a tract of about one square mile that includes Fort de Chartres and its buildings |
NCN-1998Feb05-Amy Barbeau |
|
1790 |
Pierre Gibault, the priest at Kaskaskia, and 87 others sign a memorial asking Gov. St. Clair to petition Congress on their behalf (unable to pay mandatory surveying fees) |
IHA-22 |
|
1791 |
Congress directs that 400 acres of land be granted to the head of any family which had made improvements in Illinois prior to 1788. |
IHA-22 |
19th Century
|
Date |
Event |
Reference |
|
1808 |
Illinois country becomes part of the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky |
MKB-207 |
|
1811 |
New Madrid earthquake |
NCN-1997Jun26-Margaret Kimball Brown, also Note 4 |
|
1814 |
A road is opened from the Old Stone House in the commonfields along near the bluff. |
NCN-1997Apr03-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1818 |
Illinois becomes a state
|
|
|
1821 |
By act of state leglislature, Prairie du Rocher becomes a "village". The first trustees are Andre Barbeau, Antoine Louvier, Henry Barbeau, Henry Kerr, and William Drury |
MKB-206 |
|
1827 |
The first English entry occurs in Prairie du Rocher's Church records |
MKB-207 |
|
1829 |
Henry Conner is allowed to keep a public inn or tavern in a house that he occupied |
NCN-1997Jun26-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1830 |
John M. Godaire is licensed to keep a public inn or tavern - commonly called a "grocery" - at his house |
NCN-1997Jun26-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1835 |
Official grants for new lots begin - for moving the village closer to the bluffs to avoid floods |
MKB-207 |
|
1839 |
Census of St. Joseph's parish: 86 households - this includes six free black households. The total population is 526 persons: 475 white and 51 black. No Indians are mentioned. |
MKB-208 |
|
1844 |
Mississippi River flood: water covers part of the cemetary, water is at the old church door. John Reynolds recalls the water being higher than the watermarks left on buildings from the flood of 1785. |
NCN-1997Jun26-Margaret Kimball Brown |
|
1849 |
IHA-54B |
|
|
1855 |
St. Joseph's parochial school built |
MKB-287 |
|
1864 |
Civil War skirmish |
MKB-254 |
|
1867 |
Abraham Lee wins Crosby Opera House in nationwide lottery. He sells his ticket back to Crosby for $200,000. |
MKB-255 |
|
1871 |
Crosby Opera House destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire
|
|
|
1875 |
The Atlas Map of Randolph County is published - contains much information about Prairie du Rocher. |
IHA |
|
1889 |
Mississippi River flood |
MKB-251 (approx. date) |
|
1889 |
Phantom Funeral |
MKB-274 |
20th Century
|
Date |
Event |
Reference |
|
1902 |
Iron Mountain Railroad comes through Prairie du Rocher - passenger trains to St. Louis run 3-4 times daily |
MKB-263 |
|
1911 |
First automobiles in town |
MKB-266 |
|
1913 |
Illinois legislature designates Fort de Chartres a State Park |
MKB-283 |
|
1914 |
Water plant is built |
MKB-263 |
|
1916 |
The first electrc plant is in operation (one-cylinder diesel engine with a cowhide belt) |
MKB-263 |
|
1919 |
Road is built between Prairie du Rocher and Fort de Chartres |
MKB-266 |
|
1920 |
Two-year high school is started in St. Joseph's school |
MKB-287 |
|
1928 |
Royal storehouse is reconstructed as a custodian's quarters and museum at Fort de Chartres |
MKB-283 |
|
1929 |
Road is built between Prairie du Rocher and Ruma |
MKB-266 |
|
1932 |
Airport (emergency landing field) is built south of town near the cemetary |
MKB-268 |
|
1936 |
Guardhouse and Chapel rebuilt at Fort de Chartres |
MKB-284 |
|
1938 |
Common land leases terminate before the 99 year term is due. Land was valued and lease-holders purchased their lots. |
NCN-1998Mar26-Amy Barbeau |
|
1939 |
Golden Jubilee of Msgr. Van Delft: a new altar and organ are installed. |
NCN-1998Mar26-Amy Barbeau |
|
1941 |
King's Ball discontinued (WWII) |
MKB-295 |
|
1941 |
Baseball diamond is built on St. Joseph's Church grounds |
NCN-1998Apr16-Amy Barbeau |
|
1943 |
Mississippi River flood |
MKB-285 |
|
1944 |
Mississippi River flood |
MKB-285 |
|
1948 |
MKB-285 (approx date) |
|
|
1948 |
La Guiannee plays at the National Folk Festival in St. Louis |
Note 5, LaGuiannee photos |
|
1948 |
Last doctor leaves (no doctor in Prairie du Rocher since) |
MKB-288 |
|
1950 |
Airport is dismantled |
MKB-269 |
|
1951 |
School building is built by the Catholic church - is leased to the public school district |
MKB-287 |
|
1956 |
Baptist church built |
MKB-287 |
|
1970 |
First Rendezvous |
MKB-291 |
|
1970 |
Brickey mansion is destroyed by fire |
|
|
1971 |
Public school is built |
MKB-288 |
|
1974 |
French Colonial District created: 22 square miles |
NCN-1998Apr16-Amy Barbeau |
|
1976 |
Village Hall is built |
MKB-290 |
|
1976 |
King's Ball is revived (discontinued since WWII) |
MKB-295 |
|
1979 |
Percy Clerc publishes "Echoes of Old Prairie du Rocher" (book of poetry) |
|
|
1980 |
Percy Clerc's home burns down - Percy perishes in the fire. |
|
|
1993 |
Mississippi River flood |
21st Century
|
Date |
Event |
Reference |
|
2008 |
Chamber of Commerce is formed |
2016 Community Foundation of Pr du Rocher is formed
References
IHA - various contributors "An Illustrated Historical Atlas Map of Randolph County, Ills. - Carefully Compiled from Personal Examinations and Surveys" W. R. Brink and Co. of Illinois, 1875
JHS - Schlarman, J. H. "From Quebec to New Orleans: The Story of the French in America" Buechler Publishing Company, Bellevile, Illinois 1929
MKB - Brown, Margaret K. "History As They Lived It: A Social History of Prairie du Rocher, Ill." The Patrice Press, Tucson, Arizona 2005
NCN - author indicated above North County News Red Bud, Illinois
Notes
Note 1: The 1732 census records 179 French persons plus 102 black and Indian slaves, for a total of 281 persons.
Note 2: Upon taking control of Fort de Chartres in 1765, Captain Sterling writes "I am sending an officer to Cauho (Cahokia), it being the next considerable village, the Prairiech Rocher, and St. Phillip, having only a few inhabitants, the Village of this Place (St. Anne) is quite depopulated, the River having run away with half of it, and every one is of the Opinion that it will carry away the Fort next Spring, it having carry'd off more of the Land betwixt it and the Fort last Year, than what remains, which is a great pity, as it is one of the best constructed Forts against Indians in America, and able to contain 200 men."
Note 3: Captain Sterling writes "The Fort of the Caskakias (Fort Kaskaskia) having been abandoned by the French since the treaty of Peace, it is almost in ruins, one face of it having fallen down, which prevented my sending a Detachment there, and indeed my party is so small and the Indians so Numerous, so easily assembled, and so insolent, that I thought it for His Majesty's Service not to divide my little Force. The Indians have not been accustomed to have Troops among them since the Peace, so that they have been quite Masters here, and treated the Inhabitants as they thought proper, which has drove several of them to the other side of the River, where there is two Villages, One Opposite to Caskaskias Settled about Fourteen Years ago, called St. Genevieve, and has about Twenty five families, the other about Twenty Leagues higher up, called St. Louis, and has Forty Families, it is established since the Cession of this Country to the English, by those who either did not like to be under our Government, or were frightened for the Indians."
Note 4: Fr. Benedict Roux related its effects in Kaskaskia. "In 1811, Kaskaskia underwent one of the most dreadful earthquakes ever felt by mortals - earth waves came several times this year - the steeple of the church bending like a reed, here and there stone and brick chimneys fell down, cattle themselves siezed with fear, were running to and fro. The earth cracked so deeply along one of the streets that they could never sound the bottom of this crevice." There must have been similar effects in Prairie du Rocher. From Wickopedia: "Based on the effects of these earthquakes, it can be estimated that they had a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. As a result of the quakes, large areas sank into the earth, new lakes were formed (notably Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee), and the Mississippi River changed its course, creating numerous geographic exclaves, including Kentucky Bend, along the state boundaries defined by the river. Some sections of the Mississippi River appeared to run backward for a short time. Sandblows were common throughout the area, and their effects can still be seen from the air in cultivated fields. Church bells were reported to ring in Boston, Massachusetts and sidewalks were reported to have been cracked and broken in Washington, D.C. There were also reports it toppled chimneys in Maine."
Note 5: A partial list of participants is Charles Clerc (lead singer), Charles Bise, Frank Coleno, Percy Clerc, William Clerc, and Edward DuFrenne. A 45-RPM phonograph record was produced by Radio Station KSGM: titled "LA GUIGNOLEE (EN FRANCAIS) BY PRAIRIE DUROCHER SINGERS" (record 15871B).
Information compiled by Chamber member, Daryl Clerc
If you have addiitonal information or photos that add to the Historical Time line, contact Daryl at pdrhistory@htc.net
© 2008 Prairie du Rocher Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.