HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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pointed, who, in the early part of 1826, selected the present site of the city of Rushville, some five miles west of the point originally chosen. The new seat of justice was first called Roshton, in honor of Dr. Benjamin Rush, but the name was afterwards changed to Rushville. Ephraim Eggleston was the pioneer of Rushville. The surface of the county is rolling, and the region contains excellent farming land, which is well watered by the Illinois River and numerous creeks. Population (1890), 16,013; (1900), 16,129.
SCHWATKA, Frederick, Arctic explorer, was born at Galena, Ill., Sept. 29, 1849; graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1871, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Third Cavalry, serving on the frontier until 1877, meantime studying law and medicine, being admitted to the bar in 1875, and graduating in medicine in 1876. Having his interest excited by reports of traces of Sir John Franklin's expedition, found by the Esquimaux, he obtained leave of absence in 1878, and, with Wm. H. Gilder as second in command, sailed from New York in the "Eothen," June 19, for King William's Land. The party returned, Sept. 22, 1880, having found and buried the skeletons of many of Franklin's party, besides discovering relics which tended to clear up the mystery of their fate. During this period he made a sledge journey of 3,251 miles. Again, in 1883, he headed an exploring expedition up the Yukon River. After a brief return to army duty he tendered his resignation in 1885, and the next year led a special expedition to Alaska, under the auspices of "The New York Times," later making a voyage of discovery among the Aleutian Islands. In 1889 he conducted an expedition to Northern Mexico, where he found many interesting relics of Aztec civilization and of the cliff and cave-dwellers. He received the Roquette Arctic Medal from the Geographical Society of Paris, and a medal from the Imperial Geographical Society of Russia; also published several volumes relating to his researches, under the titles, "Along Alaska's Great River"; "The Franklin Search Under Lieutenant Schwatka" ; "Nimrod of the North" ; and "Children of the Cold." Died, at Port
