HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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forest trees could be seen in close proximity, besides very many species of rare and beautiful swamp and woodland shrubs, plants, ferns, flowers and grasses. Copious springs of clear, cold water bubbled up from the depths of boggy hillsides, over which you could pick your cautious way on slimy, moss-covered logs, and into whose oozy depths one could easily thrust a pole amid submerged decaying logs ten or fifteen feet. Mr. Burgess Truesdell, an educated gentleman and student, and a close observer of nature, declared that, on no other so restricted space, had he ever seen or read of an equal variety and beauty of plant life. A half-dozen sparkling streams hurried to the near-by river, and in their pure, cold water the fastidious brook trout were successfully propagated in later years. Until despoiled by the greedy hand of man, it was indeed a scene of rare forest beauty.
Each of the townships lying away from the river had woodland amply sufficient for the buildings and fences of the early days, and for domestic use as fuel. It is doubtful if a fertile area equal to Kane County could be found in which prairie, woodland and water were more equally and favorably distributed.
Beside these trees of larger growth, were found the smaller varieties-ironwoods, willows, wild cherries, crab-apples, thorn-apples, wild plums and the like, in great abundance. Hazel, blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry and black currant bushes grew in great profusion; and wild grape vines made luxuriant growth along the borders of the streams. The nuts and mast, and the wild fruits of the forest furnished, in early times, quite abundant, and always palatable and wholesome, food for man, beast and bird. The open prairies were thickly covered with rich verdure from the nutritious upland grass to the coarse wire and the rank broad-leaved grasses, and the rushes and lilies of the sloughs and ponds. Over both woodland and prairie, from early spring until the sharp frosts of near-by winter, there passed a constant procession of bloom and beauty. How delightful to recall, even in fleeting visions and happy memories of those early days, the lovely panorama of the spring, summer and autumn time. First, the springing grasses, the pussy willows and hazel tassels, the opening buds of the young hickories and the shy blooming of the wind flower; then the snowy white of the fragrant hawthorn and wild plum, the immense bouquet of the crab-apple in bloom, the wild rose and eglantine, the beautiful beds of phlox, the great swaying lilies, the brilliant cardinal flower ("green knight with a scarlet plume," the children called it) ; the wonderfully delicate tinted lady-slipper, and all the bright and lovely procession of wild flower and fruit that swept on through the glowing summer, until the chill winds of autumn ushered in the golden Indian summer, with its soft air and mellow haze. Upon the broad canvas of green verdure, nature painted pictures of exquisite color and charming loveliness.
Though now nearing life's radiant sunset, what man or woman is there who lived in this favored land in the pioneer days, who does not still recall, with a thrill of pleasure, the delicious wild-strawberries and the yellow ground-cherries, that bloomed and ripened on the sunny slope of some familiar hillside; the deep blue of the indigo plant ("horse-fiddle"); the tall sunflower-like rosin weed, whose broken stems exuded such delicious white gum; the swaying golden-rod and innumerable daisies and asters; the wood anemones and mandrakes or "May apples;" and, with greater or less distinctness, dear memories of his or her chosen favorites among the countless varieties of lovely wild flowers that, in rich profusion, decked with beauty and fragrance this home of their childhood? Many, very many, of these are lost and gone; yet J. H. Becker, Esq., an ardent lover of nature, furnishes this list of blossoming shrubs and plants that still may be found in quiet nooks undisturbed by cultivation: Blood-root; rue; wood anemone; star-flower; mandrake; spring beauty; Dutchman's breeches; white trillium; wild sarsaparilla; Solomon's seal; false Solomon's seal; dogwood; red-berried elder; white and yellow wood-sorrel; poison ivy; Virginia creeper; ox-eyed daisy; Indian pipe; field chickweed; white and yellow water-lily; poke-weed; wild carrot; yarrow; water-parsnip; arrow-head; jimson weed; white, blue and purple asters; boneset; marsh marigold; dog-tooth; yellow, white and purple violets; celandine; yellow and white lady-slipper; small yellow and white lady-slipper; meadow lily; wood lily; pond lily; yellow star-grass; butter and eggs; St. John's wort; mullen; jewel weed; evening primrose; black-eyed Susan; golden-rod; elecampane; wild and swamp sunflower; stick tight; tansy;
