Historical encyclopedia of Illinois . here give the story as he has told it: When I arrived in Schuyler County, whichwas in the year 1831, there were but a few set-tlers south of Crooked Creek, the whole terri-tory now constituting the populous townships ofRipley and Cooperstown in Brown County, thencontaining only about ten or twelve attention of the settlers had been drawn tothe amazing number of rattle-snakes aboundingin the woods, and also the fact that, at the com-mencement of winter, they congregated at cer-tain localities known as snake dens, where theyhibernated in a state
Historical encyclopedia of Illinois . here give the story as he has told it: When I arrived in Schuyler County, whichwas in the year 1831, there were but a few set-tlers south of Crooked Creek, the whole terri-tory now constituting the populous townships ofRipley and Cooperstown in Brown County, thencontaining only about ten or twelve attention of the settlers had been drawn tothe amazing number of rattle-snakes aboundingin the woods, and also the fact that, at the com-mencement of winter, they congregated at cer-tain localities known as snake dens, where theyhibernated in a state of torpor. One of the mostfamous snake dens was located on Section 15,1 N., 2 W., near the Indian ford on CrookedCreek, and known as the Rocky Branch snakeden. Another was located about one and one-half mile south-east of Ripley, on Section 3, inthe same township, and was called LogansCreek snake den. These dens were situated in cliffs of rocks,and were, from their situation, almost impreg-nable to human force. I say almost, for the. HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY. 635 sequel will show that they were not quite think these dens were discovered by the settlersobserving the snakes entering them iu greatnumber in the fall and leaving again in thespring. The den having been located, it wasresolved to start a war of extermination; and aday in the middle of winter having been agreedupon, and due notice given every man and boyin the neighborhood, they assembled at RockyDen armed with such mining tools as the countyafforded, and very deliberately went to workmining for snakes. After several hours of hard and perseveringlalmi, the mining party succeeded in forcing anentry to the rock chambers where the reptileslay, all twined together in a hideous mass, butin that state of torpor in which they invariablyspend the winter season. Rattlesnakes, blacksnakes, copperheads, and every variety of snakes,all mixed together indiscriminately, but by farthe largest number being rattlesnakes. Ofcour
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