History of Taylor County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Taylor County, Constitution of the United States, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Des Moines : State Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 868


USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Taylor County, Constitution of the United States, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 1


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89



HAROLD B. LES LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH


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977,779 H629


HISTORY


OF


TAYLOR COUNTY,


IOWA,


CONTAINING


A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, ITS CITIES, TOWNS, ETC.,


A BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF MANY OF ITS LEADING CITIZENS, WAR RECORD OF ITS VOLUNTEERS IN THE LATE REBELLION, GENERAL AND LOCAL STATIS- TICS, PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT MEN, HISTORY OF IOWA AND THE NORTHWEST, MAP OF TAYLOR COUNTY, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, REMINISCENCES, MISCELLANE- OUS MATTERS, ETC.


ILLUSTRATED.


DES MOINES : STATE HISTORICAL COMPANY. 1881.


.


THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITT PROVO, UTAH


PREFACE.


THERE is no proper place in history for the element of fiction. In the correct delineation of the landscape the artist judiciously employs both lights and shades; so the historian must need contrast the true and the false, that the eternal beauty and symmetry of truth appear, but draw upon the imagination, he may never. As in the landscape, the true outline of objects is obscured in the shadows, requiring the full blaze of day to bring them into proper view, so history brings out the facts partially ob- scured in the haze of tradition-itself never history.


The history of the growth of any branch of knowledge has a double interest; that which comes to it from the knowledge itself, and that which comes from its relations to the history of the operation of the human mind. Men think under the limitation of their times; they reason on such material as they have; they form their estimate of changes from the facts immediately known to them. What Matthew Arnold has written of man's thoughts, as he floats adown the "River of Time," is most true. Says he:


"As in the world on the banks, So is the mind of man. Only the track where he sails He wots of: only the thoughts Raised by the objects he passes, are his."


Impressions thus received, the mind will modify and work upon, trans- mitting the products to other minds in shapes that often seem new, strange and arbitrary, but which yet result from processes familiar to our experi- ence, and to be found at work in our own individual consciousness. And this is the necessity that renders history, as entirely distinct from tradition, imperative. Here the province of the historian begins. It is imperative on him that he record facts as they are, freed from the gloss given them by verbal transmissions.


4


PREFACE.


Taylor county ranks among the first in political influence, and is not behind in the intelligence of its people and its jealous regard for education; its material resources are practically unlimited, and the promise for its future ever brightening. Now, to clearly understand this happy present, its glories and its greatness, its opportunities and its wonders, it is our duty to look back to their sources. We shall find that the seeds which have so auspiciously borne fruit in this present generation were sown by men tried and true; men who deserve to be remembered, not merely as historic names, but as men in whose broad breasts beat the noblest hearts, and within whose rustic homes were to be found the very bone and sinew of this Western world; men whose sterling worth and integrity have contributed very largely to its present high positon.


The whole history of this county is one of surpassing interest, and the more it is studied the clearer does it become that underlying its records are certain truths, which afford a clew to the causes that have contributed so powerfully to bring it to its present marked prominence. They will be found identical with those which have influenced the history of the na- tions during many centuries. To narrate these facts is the object of these pages; with what success this has been done, we do not presume to say. It has been our aim to learn and present the truth, without favor or preju- dice.


It has heretofore been possible for the scholar, with leisure and compre- hensive library, to trace out the written history of his county by patient research among voluminous government documents and dusty records, sometimes old and scarce; but these sources of information, and the time to study them are not at the command of most of those who afe intelli- gently interested in local history; and there are many unpublished facts to be rescued from the failing memories of the oldest residents, who would soon have carried their information with them to the grave; and others to be obtained from the citizens best informed in regard to the various present interests and institutions of the county, which should be treated of in giving its history. This service of research and record, which very few could have undertaken for themselves, the publishers of this work have performed. While a few unimportant mistakes may, perhaps, be found in such a multi- tude of details, in spite of the care exercised in the production of the vol- ume, they still confidently present this result of many weeks' labor as a true and orderly narration of all the events in the history of the county which were of sufficient interest and value to merit such a record.


4


Authenticity is always difficult in history. Much passes for history which is mere anecdote, and that domain is always doubtful. Other facts,


5


PREFACE.


again, come to us through the prejudice and colors of personal narration. Great care has, therefore, been necessary to prevent publishing misconcep- tions as history. There has been admitted no statement of fact without ample authority, and mentioned not even the slightest incident without the support of creditable testimony. Attention is called to one feature, consid- ered of special value-the introduction of the original records for all trans- actions directly affecting the interests of the county. Concerning the first records and the facts they teach, little or nothing need be said. Of this period in the county's history there have been explored for evidence every known early document, and, where not mutilated, they have been presented in full. If, among the pages devoted to early settlers and settlements, the sentences seem short and broken, and the method of treatment faulty, it should be borne in mind that the nature of the data renders any other method of presentment impossible. Accuracy, rather than finish, has been the object held steadily in view.


In the preparation of this volume, the oldest residents and others have cheerfully volunteered their services in the undertaking, adding largely to the value of the results obtained. Special thanks are due to the following named persons, who have not only aided us by placing at our disposition much valuable matter, but have themselves devoted much time to searching records, and afforded every opportunity in their power to perfect the chro- nological sequence and accuracy of the data used: All the several officers of Taylor county, together with the Argus, the Taylor County Republican, the Iowa South- West, and the Taylor County Democrat, of Bedford; the Time Table, of Lenox; the Champion, of Conway, and the old settlers in the various townships of the county. Throughont the county are many im- possible to name here, who have freely given what of history they had. The clergy and other church officers, and those of civic associations, have been universally obliging in placing at our command the needed statistics of their several societies.


Under the sway of cause and effect, historic events cannot stand alone; they form an unbroken chain. This history of so limited a territory as a county in Iowa, has its roots not only in remote times, but in distant lands, and cannot be justly written, out without consulting the influence of such a foreign element; nor can such a county history be understood in all its re- lations, without a historic review of at least the State of which the county is a part; hence, we feel that in giving such an outline we have been more faithful to the main purpose of the work, while we have added an element of independent interest and value. We little doubt that this book will be a welcome one to the inhabitants of the county, for all take a just pride


6


PREFACE.


in whatever calls to mind the scenes and incidents of other days. It is pre- sented in the belief that the work done will meet with the heartiest ap- proval of our readers; and if through that commendation it awakens an earnest spirit of enterprise and emulation among the younger citizens of the county, it will be a source of just pleasure and congratulation to


THE PUBLISHERS.


1



CONTENTS.


PAGE.


PAGR.


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY . 19


Geographical position


19


Early explorations


20


Spanish grants. . 163


Discovery of the Ohio.


32


The half-breed Tract. 164


Early settlements. 166


American settlements. 59


65


The boundary question 177


Black Hawk, and the Black Hawk War ...


73


The Agricultural College and Farm. 186


Present condition of the Northwest.


79


The State University. 187


88


State Historical Society 193 194 The Penitentiary .


First French occupation


91


Additional Penitentiary 195


195


Early settlements.


94


Iowa College for the Blind ..


197


The "Compact of 1787"


99


Soldiers' Orphans' Homes


199 201


MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE Coal is king.


103


The religion and morals


106


Fish Hatching Establishment.


203 204


THE STATE OF IOWA.


109


The public schools


218 223


Geographical situation


109


Topography .


109


War record.


229


Drainage system.


110


Infantry


233 244


Rivers .


111


Lakes. 118


Springs


119


Origin of the prairies .


120


Geology 120


The Azoic system .


121


Lower Silurian system.


122


Upper Silurian system


Number of troops furnished by the State of Iowa, etc.


254 255 257


Subcarboniferous system


Illinois


Indiana


259 260 263


Wisconsin


264


Minor deposits of Sulphate of Lime. Sulphate of Strontia.


136


Sulphate of Baryta.


137


Sulphate of Magnesia 137 Climatology. 137 139


HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.


Discovery and occupation


139


Vote for congressmen, 1876.


283


Practical rules for every day use. 284


Pike's Expedition.


151


U. S. Government land measure ... 287


Surveyor's measure 288


The Black Hawk War


157


How to keep accounts. 288


247 248


Miscellaneous


Casualties among officers of Iowa regi- ments during the war .. 250


Casualties among enlisted men of Iowa regiments during the war. 252


Devonian system.


Carboniferous system .


Population of Iowa.


The Coal-measure group.


Cretaceous system. .


Peat.


Gypsum


131


135


Minnesota. 266 Nebraska . 267


Constitution of the United States and its Amendments.


269


Vote for governor, 1879, and president, 1876.


283


The original owners 147


Indian Wars .. 152


69


State organization. 181


Growth and progress 185


THE EARLY HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. . Early discoveries.


88


Genius of La Salle


92


Iowa Hospital for the Insane.


95


Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. . 199


Physical features of prairie States. . Progress of development.


101 102


State Normal School


201 Asylum for Feeble-minded Children The Reform School .. 202


Education .


107


The public lands.


Political record.


Cavalry


Artillery


123 123 124 124 127 129 130


Iowa ..


Michigan


Indian purchases, reserves, and trea- ties. . 159


English explorations and settlement 34


Territorial history. 173


Division of the Northwest Territory Tecumseh, and the War of 1812. ...


8


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Names of the States of the Union,


and their significations .. .


290


Weights and measures. 305


291


Definitions of commercial terms. 305


291


Notes


306


Orders


306


292


Receipts. 306


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS .. 293


Bills of exchange and notes.


293


Confession of judgment. 306


Interest.


293


Articles of agreement. 307


Descent.


293


Bills of sale ..


308


Wills and estates.


294


Notice to quit.


309


Taxes. .


295


Form of will


309 -


Jurisdiction of courts


297


Codicil.


310


Limitation of actions.


297


Satisfaction of mortgage.


310


Jurors .. .


297


Forms of mortgage.


311


Capital punishment.


298


Form of lease.


312


Married women ..


298


Form of note.


313


Exemptions from execution.


298


Chattel mortgage.


314


Wolf-scalps.


300


Quitclaim deed.


315


Marks and Brands.


300


Bond for deed.


315


Damages from trespass


300


Charitable, scientific and religious associations . 316


Mechanics' liens. 301


Intoxicating liquors. 317


Roads and bridges


302


Adoption of children


303


Surveyors and surveys. 303


Support of poor.


303


Statistics of agriculture of Iowa (census of 1875). 320


HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Introduction


321


First land entries. 389


Name and position.


323


Statement of Adam Vinnedge. 391


Surface, features and drainage. 324


Location of county seat. .. 392


Streams


325


Some early legal documents 394


Timber


327


First marriage record.


394


Soil .


328


Climate


332


Second deed of record


Quitclaim deeds. 396


Loess


336


First mortgage of real estate. 396


Drift.


338


First chattel mortgage 398


398


Mineral resources.


341


Legal history ..


399


Natural history


342


County, district and circuit courts. .


399


Avidæ-birds


343


Letters of administration


400


Notes. .


354


An incident . 409


411


General flora. ..


367


Township boundaries on organiza-


412


Orders concerning.


413


Ophidia


370


415


Batrachia


371


Mollusca


373


Election of 1853.


418


Land mollusks.


375


Complete returns since 1866. 421


431


Court-house -- action concerning


431


County organization


County jail


433


Organizing election


386


Poor-farnı .


434


First commissioner's court.


386


Bridges and roads . 436


First session of commissioner's court. First tax-list.


387


Population and finance. . 437


387


Abstract of assessment, 1880. ....


438


Judge Sears' charge


406


Injurious, indifferent and beneficial. Plantæ. ..


365


The circuit court .


Medicinal plants


369


Reptilia.


370


Election returns and official canvasses. First election.


416 418


Fresh-water mollusks.


374


Second election for representative .. . Records not preserved . 419


Mammalia


375 377


Indian affairs


County buildings and institutions.


395


First deed. 395


Geology


335


Coal-measures


339


Ordination of John Lambert


314


Estrays.


299


Warranty deed.


Fences. 300


Suggestions to those purchasing books by subscription. . 319


364


tion.


The Rocky Mountain locust 380 384


Landlord and tenant. 304


Population of the United States .... Population of fifty principal cities. . Population of principal countries of the world . .


Bills of purchase 30€


9


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


Live stock ...


439


Incorporations. 562


Valuation and tax report, 1880 439


Valuation and assessments by town- ships. . 440


The swamp lands and American emi- grant company.


442


The timber act ..


457


Benton township


567


Tax levies for 1881


458


Its history.


567


School report


569


Officers 460


Privates .


461


Pioneer reminiscences


569


Church organization


572


county.


461 463


Agricultural interests


School matters.


573


Reflections .


463


Dallas township.


573


Taylor county agricultural society,


Early settlement


574 575


from its beginning down to the present time ..


490


Normal school.


576


Appointment of "' central com- mittee".


491


Incidents.


577


First fair, 1857.


491


Gay township


579


First settlers.


579 580


Additional meetings, 1860


495


Religious


580


Educational


581


Meeting of October 31, 1863.


Grant township


581


Meetings in 1864.


497


Clearfield. .


583


First things


583


Fair of 1865. .


498


Death of first society


499


Reorganization in 1874.


499


Grove township


Organization .


585


Meetings and fair in 1876.


503


Transactions in 1877.


503


An incident.


586


Holt township.


587 588 591


Jackson township . Boundary in 1851.


592 592


Admission of Missouri.


510


Pioneers. .


592


Kansas-Nebraska bill .


511


Primitive school and school-houses. 592


593


The Fourth infantry


515


The Twenty-ninth infantry


520


The Forty-sixth infantry


526


Fourth cavalry, Missouri State mili- tia


528


Ninth Iowa cavalry


531


Mormontown


Platteville .. 599


600


Lexington .


600


Matters of interest.


601


Conway. ..


602


The Taylor County Republican


542


The Conway mill.


603


Creamery


604


Officers . 605


Masonic.


605


Mason township.


606


Old settlers .


606


School history


607


Nodaway township 607


Professor Jeffrey's report. 608


Churches . 609


Platte township. 609


Boundary prior to 1866. ...


609


Churches 555


PAGE.


Manufactories . 564


Grain business. 565


Horticultural


566


Buildings


566


Hotels . 566


Fifth regiment, I. N. G., Co. I. 460


The Methodist church in Taylor


Religious.


Superintendent's report. 577


Reorganization in 1859 492


Regular meeting, 1860 494


Soil.


Period of dormancy 496 497


Membership in 1864.


497


School statistics 583 584 585


Meetings in 1875.


499


Proceedings during the year 1878. The year 1879.


505 506


The last exhibition.


507 508


Post-offices. ..


591


Taylor county and the civil war Beginnings of the struggle.


508


President Lincoln's proclamation .. . . Proclamation of Governor Kirkwood.


513


Methodist Church. 593 594 594 594


School affairs. .


Names of some early settlers 596


Religious.


597 597


Southern border brigade. 536


The press of Taylor county. 539 Present papers . .. 539 Oldest paper, The South- West. 539 541


Taylor County Democrat


542


A nameless child. 542


The Conway Champion 543


Lenox Time Table .. 543


Mormontown's paper. 543 543 544 544


Early matters


Schools . 550


Benevolent organizations 553


Townships, towns and their growth . ..


Bedford township


504


Educational progress


Annual fair of 1880.


In the beginning


512


Later settlers ..


Report of county superintendent. . Jefferson Township


Marshall township


The Bedford Argus ...


School statistics 585


Churches


Clayton township 569


Accident and crime. 572


10


CONTENTS.


PAGE.


PAGE.


First election.


610


Geography


612


First post-office


610


Buchanan


621


Winter of 1855 -- 6.


610


Schools and post-office.


622


Value of land.


611


Civic societies.


623


Schools


Miscellaneous matters


623


Lenox


613


Ross township.


626


Platted.


613


First seat of justice.


626


School affairs.


614


Location.


628


Flouring-mills


615


Churches.


631


Paper. .


615


School Report.


631


Business men.


615


Washington township


631


Civic societies


617


Earliest settlers


632


Churches ..


618


Religious. .


633


Polk township


621


Schools and school-houses.


633


Name .


621


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Explanatory


634


Jefferson township.


724


Bedford township.


635


Marshall township


740


Benton township


665


Mason township . 754


Clayton township


671


Nodaway township


763


Dallas township


676


Platte township.


772


Grant towhship.


689


Polk township


796


Grove township.


695


Ross township.


801


Holt township.


707


Washington township


807


Jackson township


719


PORTRAITS.


PAGE.


PAGE.


Lyman Evans


Front.


P C. King.


· opposite


512


N. S. Hornaday


227


J. A Hudson


560


Daniel Leonard.


261


J. T. Wherry


608


E. L. Osborn


279


N. P. Nelson


6 6


656


Capt. L. S. Brooks.


opposite


320


J. W. Barnes


66


704


M. A. Lunn.


368


Geo. Beach .....


752


H. H. White.


416


J. W. Combs.


66


800,


Geo. Van Houten .


66


464


..


.. .....


612


MAP OF TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA.


D


M


S


2


3


2


5


3


12


11


12


11


10


=


RIVER


16


15


13


16


15


13


18


13


1+


1,3


17


16


15


D


A W


E


20


22


19


20


2 +


19


23


2+


NORWAY


28


27


26


30


29


28


26


25


T


32


3.3


36


3.5


31


32


2 CLEARFIELD


S


10


11


18


17


16


16


1,3


MARS


HALL


(22


*


20


23


3 GRAVITTY


S


CON WAY


30


29


28


30


29


28


27


26


JELLIOTTS


MEMORY,


31


31


2.3


.36


3


35


36


31


22


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MEMORY' PD


O


2


1


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6


15


6


5


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N


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O


RIVER


8


11


12


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13


13


STORK


C


L


N


G


21


SILAS


10


29


28


30


29


STREEKSE


26


27


FOR


20136


WEST


PLATTEVILLE


2


HON ET


12


SIAM P.O.


BUCHANAN


10


H


RS


S


16


15


14


I


0


K


15


15


1+


FFERSON


19


20


22


2


2.


27


2 1


2.5


30


28


27


29


21


26


28


26


35


36


R.XXXIIIW.


R.XXXII W.


R.XXXIV W


STATE


OF


MIS


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R I NT68N.G


3.7


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35 8


36


32


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26


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9


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MORMONTOWN PO


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48.30


2


26


29


35


0: 36


R.XXXV W.


13


18


16


WASHINGTON


19


12


27


19


₹ 19


&1


26


30


26


25


.30


2.8


27


26


25


2.9


20


29


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2638


25


1


HOLT P.Q.


35


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18


LENOX


9


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19


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20


Sip


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.


When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the "New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old "Northwestern Territory."


In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of the entire population of the United States.


Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe.


For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States.


(19)


20


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


EARLY EXPLORATIONS.


In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advantage of these discoveries.


In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the' Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac.


During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied -as all others did then-that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a


21


THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.


request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- dition, prepared for the undertaking.


On the 13th of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said : " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of the Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of




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