Pioneer History by Richard C. Schmal

A headline in the Lowell Tribune of August 28, 1952, read: " Pine Tree Treaty," Below is the old story reprinted by the editor during Lowell's Centennial year (1952), with today's (2006) comments in red:

Family history handed down from grandfather to father, and father to son, reveals colorful details of life in Lowell a century ago.

Edward Algenon Ashton, father of "Jack," Ceylon R., was born in Lowell more than 100 years ago, in a cabin built by his father where the Frank Kohlsheens now reside. His land stretched out to include that block and the wooded knoll which is now the site of Lowell High School [now the Middle School]. In the 1909 Lake County Directory Mrs. Carrie Wagin and her daughter Margaret were living at the site of the cabin west of Parkview St. on Commercial Ave.

Edward often recalled stories of their thieving neighbors, the Potawatomi Indians and recounted tales of Indian roundups to his young son, Jack who was born in the same house. The vivid stories were ever a source of thrilling entertainment to the adventurous youth and today he displays with pride a peace pipe, by which means his tactful grandfather brought peace to the white settlers of Lowell. The clay pipe of peace is still owned with pride by the family. It was displayed in the window of the Davis Store during the 1952 Lowell Centennial.

The truth is: The Indians rode into the settlement and stole horses, cows, sheep, grain, in fact, anything they could find, and hid their loot in the marshlands of the Kankakee. A favorite spot was a densely wooded knoll where later English nobility built Cumberland Lodge [near the present home of Barbara (Schneider) and Bill Peterson of Oak Grove, north of the Town of Schneider].

The white settlers formed posses and hunted the Indians down, never failing to retrieve their stolen property.

Grandfather Ashton cornered the tribal Chief one day, and this patient, tactful man struck a note of understanding in the savage mind. Beneath two great giant pines before the Ashton cabin, the chief fashioned a peace pipe of clay, and while young Edward observed, the elder Ashton, the chief, the settlers, and the Indians smoked the pipe of peace. Vows were never broken and true peace reigned. The two great giant pine trees were gone long ago, though two tall, younger pines of another century now stand at the site of the Ashton cabin.

Ashton gave the Chief a mechanical grind stone upon which to shape their arrows. The peace pipe was exhibited in the Lowell Library Museum for about 15 years and can now [1952] be seen among the treasured antiques on display in the window of the Ashton business house -- the Davis Store, established here 68 years ago. (1884) The original business was established at a site on the north side of Commercial Ave. in downtown Lowell; the building was destroyed in the big fire of 1898. The store reopened on the south side soon after the fire. An old photo taken after that big fire shows a sign on the building "FIRE SALE." According to old newspaper columns in the Old Timer's scrapbook, the museum in the basement of the Lowell Carnegie Library at "Olde Town Square" opened in 1933, but closed in 1944.

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A story in a Lake County history volume of 1904 told about another problem with Indians in the 1830's: -- Pioneer David Pulver (1795-1843) and his wife Mercy (Tobias) Pulver (1805-1881) came to West Creek township in 1841 when the area was still a wilderness. About 1837 a band of Indians came into their log home and stole the baby out of her cradle, though she was rescued by the settlers after a few hours. The little baby, only 6 months old when the Indians came, was Eunice Pulver, who became the bride of Edward B.Ashton (1825-1907). He was born in England, came to America with his parents when a baby, and came to the Lowell area at age 26. Mrs. Eunice Pulver Ashton was born at Door Prairie, Indiana in 1836 and diedin 1915. Her obituary states that "she was an educated and highly respected lady." Their burials were at the Pine Grove cemetery, which is now called the Sander's Cemetery, on 205th Ave in West Creek Township.

The Ashton pioneers and early settlers in these stories are ancestors of Mrs. Margery (Ashton) Beiers , owner of the well known Davis Store in downtown Lowell. "Marge" added important information for these interesting and unusual stories about the early days in the Town of Lowell.

In the 1909 Directory of Lake County, Mrs. Eunice Ashton's address was 121 North Liberty Street in Lowell.