But in spite of all that was said the stream still
poured westward. The people went in great covered wagons drawn by
teams of horses, carrying with them all their household goods, or
they rode on horseback taking nothing with them but a few clothes
tied up in a handkerchief, while some even trudged the long hundreds
of miles on foot.
The rivers, too, were crowded with boats of all sorts, many people
going part of the way by river, and the rest on foot. In the East
fields were left desolate, houses and churches fell to ruins, while
in the West towns and villages sprang up as if by magic, and the
untrodden wilderness was turned to fertile fields.
So, as the great prairies of the West became settled, the settlers
became eager to join the Union. Thus new states were formed.
Mississippi became a state in 1817, the first year of Monroe's
presidency. Illinois followed in 1818, Alabama in 1819, and Missouri
in 1821. Mississippi, Illinois and Alabama were framed out of
original territory but Missouri was framed out of the Louisiana
Purchase. All four names are Indian. Mississippi and Missouri are
named after the rivers which flow through them, Mississippi meaning
Father of Waters and Missouri Great Muddy. For the Missouri is
full of yellow mud. Illinois is named after the tribe of Indians
who lived there. Their name was really Iliniwok meaning "Men" but
white people pronounced it badly and it became changed to Illinois.
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