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Show 1836- 1837J Flagg's Far West 203 probably originated their present peculiar form, give proof conclusive that such diluvial action to some extent has long been going on. As is usually found to be the case, the present race of Indians have availed themselves of these elevated summits for the burial- spots of their chiefs. I myself scraped up a few decaying fragments of bones, which lay just beneath the surface. At sunrise of the morning succeeding my visit to the bluffs I was in the saddle, and clambering up those intolerably steep hills on the road leading to the village of Upper Alton, a few miles distant. The place is well situated upon an elevated prairie; and, to my own taste, is preferable far for private residence to any spot within the precincts of its rival namesake. The society is polished, and a fine- toned morality is said to characterize the inhabitants. The town was originally incorporated many years ago, and was then a place of more note than it has ever since been; but, owing to intestine broils and conflicting claims to its site, it gradually and steadily dwindled away, until, a dozen years since, it numbered only seven families. A suit in chancery has happily settled these difficulties, and the village is now thriving well. A seminary of some note, under jurisdiction of the Baptist persuasion, has within a few years been established here, and now comprises a very respectable body of students. 1* 9 It originated in a seminary [ 182] formerly estab-m Upper Alton, two and a half miles from Alton, was laid out in 1817 by Joseph Mrarham, of Vermont, who came to Illinois in 1811; see History o] Madison ComOy, p. 396. The origin of Shurtkff College was the " Theological and High School" commonly known as the Rock Spring Seminary, established ( 1897) by John M. Peck, D. D. The latter was closed in 1831, and opened again the following year at Alton, under the name of Alton Seminary. In March, 183a, the state legislature incorporated the institution as " Alton College of Illinois." For religious reasons the charter was not accepted until 1835, when the terms of incorporation had been made more favorable. In January, 1836, the charter was amended, changing its title to Shurtleff College, in honor of Benjamin Shurtkff, M. D., who had donated ten thousand dollars to the institution. Although |