The Banditti
One of the more intriguing periods in the rise and development of
Lee County was during the period from 1843 to 1850. It was a time
when crime was rampant and perhaps any creations of the romance of
this area were little more than feeble imitations of what actually
took place. The operations of the gang embraced the whole Mississippi
valley, but its depredations in this region were sufficiently
startling to awaken among the people and keep in constant activity
the liveliest apprehensions.
The Banditti was so successful in captivating into its toils an
equal number of confederates who were distributed over the land and
scattered through every neighborhood. Operations were so inventive
and connections so skillfully concealed that stolen property,
counterfeited money and red handed criminals often went unnoticed.
The Green River bottoms provided concealment in places which were
gloomy, tangled, and unknown swamps where even the most curious and
adventuresome hunters had not explored. The immense Inlet swamp and
the larger Green River swamp in the southwest corner of the county
and the northern part of Bureau County, were rendezvous places for
the outlaws.
Deep forests and rank vegetation covered these areas with the
Green River swamp often being referred to as, a den of horrors. The
swamps which were skirted by low and rambling hills whose winding
ravines were passes in all directions. The sparseness of population
was also favorable to the commission of crime and the escape of
criminals. Hiding places were convenient and numerous. A man found no
difficulty in hiding himself in the tall grass in low places.
The rider who penetrated the groves and marshes could elude
pursuit and friends unknown as accomplices, except to the robbers
themselves, kept watch for their companions, communicated information
to them, hid and protected, fed and warned them and shared in their
plunder. The Banditti, through a period of long-standing danger and
excitement were able to defy detection by the people, who were
paralyzed with wonder and alarm at the boldness and frequency of the
crimes that were committed
Horse stealing was but a recreation. Counterfeiting served well
the purpose to absorb idle hours. Atrocious murder was committed
without a sign of regret by these hardened men. People would lock
their stables, barricaded their doors and placed their weapons within
reach for instant use, not knowing what dreadful tragedy they might
have to endure before the morning hours.
Public helplessness to ferret out and bring to punishment the
ruffians destroyed all sense of security. Suspicions were often
directed against some individuals and whispered about others, with
information so vague that no one dared more than entertain them. As
the settlers became more numerous it was found that many of them, in
fact a greater part of them, were connected with a band of
desperadoes, who at that time spread terror over all of northern
Illinois by their deeds of thievery and murder.
One of the early settlers, who resided near Inlet Grove, allowed
his dwelling to be used as a place for the concealment of stolen
goods and for fugitives to hide from justice. It was believed by the
early settlers that this man's home was the headquarters of the gang,
as those who passed the dwelling after night frequently saw groups of
horses hitched in a grove near the house. From inside the home, could
be heard boisterous laughter and "sounds of revelry by night," and in
the early morning dawn the horses and riders would mysteriously
disappear.
At one time, every township officer was reportedly to have been a
member of the Banditti; being in the majority they could, of course,
elect their own men to office. A person only has to imagine the
chaotic condition of society at the time, with each man suspicious of
his neighbor.
Acts of thievery were carried on with impunity and the
authorities were outwardly defied. If some citizen attempted to gain
redress for his wrongs an anonymous letter was left at his door
threatening his life in case he persisted in his efforts. Law-abiding
citizens were entirely at the mercy of an enemy as cruel as the blood
thirsty savage who long years before, on the western frontier, sent
terror to the hearts of the pioneers.
Houses were plundered, cattle and horses were stolen or driven
off, stages were robbed and for years these acts against the citizens
held undisputed domination. A point was finally reached where honest
men driven to desperation at the alarming and unceasing frequency of
these occurrences, saw that speedy measures had to be taken to
protect their homes against the midnight marauders.
A vigilance committee was organized, composed of resolute men in
all parts of the county. Among the residents of Lee Center township
who took an active part in the suppression of this band of outlaws
were C. F. Ingalls, Rev. Luke Hitchcock, Dr. Adams, Moses Crombie,
Sherman Shaw, Lewis Clapp, Benjamin Whittaker and some whose full
names were never determined.
It was through this group of individuals with their shrewd
manipulations and persistent efforts that their organization
succeeded in either capturing or driving from the country most of the
prominent members of the gang. By 1845 the citizens of Lee Center, as
well as elsewhere in the county, finally experienced a feeling of
security.
All pictures and articles found on this page are copyrighted by
the Lee County Historical Society. They are not to be reproduced,
redistributed, sold, or otherwise altered. These pictures and
articles are for the sole private, non-commercial use for research
and education. These pictures may not be used without the expressed
written permission of the Lee County Historical Society.