USA > Iowa > Warren County > History of Warren County, Iowa : from its earliest settlement to 1908; with biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 1
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ented to L. Jose phine MeCleary on her birthday 663-9
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HISTORY
OF
WARREN COUNTY, IOWA
FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1908
BY REV. W. C. MARTIN, D. D.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS AND VIEWS
With Biographical Sketches of some Prominent Citizens of the County.
CHICAGO! THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO. 1908
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DEDICATED TO THE WARREN COUNTY PIONEERS.
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MAY 1 A 1946
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FoiEwa TM 38
W25 M37 1908
PREFACE.
It has been the constant effort of the writer in the following pages to give a fair and impartial presentation of every item mentioned. If anything has Iwen omitted or overlooked that is entitled to a place in this volume, it has been unintentional. Every available assistance has been appealed to and carefully used, among which are the following books, and for which cheerful acknowledg- ment is here made, to-wit: Fisk's History of the U. S., also Bancroft's, Ridpath's and Lossing's; The History of Warren County, lowa; History of Bureau County, Ill .; Gue's History of Iowa, Johnson's, American and Britannica Encyclopedias; Shambaugh's History of the Constitution of Iowa, Sabin's Making of Iowa, Iowa Official Register, Geology of Warren County by J. L. Tilton.
From a careful study of the following pages a reliable conception of the physical conditions of Warren county may be formed. It is an agricultural district, there being no large manufactories nor extensive mines within its borders.
The public school system of the county, and therefore of the state, is fully presented. A detailed account of Simpson College is given. The school statistics of Warren will compare favorably with any other county in the state.
The large number of church buildings, the membership of the societies, and the liberality of the people in erecting church edifices and maintaining the societies, are indisputable evidences of the moral and religious status of the inhabitants. On this point according to numbers the county is not excelled anywhere in the west. The social trend of the public mind is seen in the numerous lodges and clubs. Large space is given to the soldier-record of Warren county. A man was sent to Des Moines to copy from the Adjutant General's records the name of each Warren county soldier. Possibly some mistakes will appear, but correctness was the object from beginning to end.
For data in regard to churches and lodges the respective officials of these institutions were relied upon, and in most cases they responded cheerfully and promptly, though in a few instances there was no reply. If any church or lodge is not properly represented it is because the information given by the officials was incomplete or inaccurate, and that no other reliable data was accessible.
W. C. MARTIN.
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WARREN COUNTY COURT HOUSE
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY, IOWA
ABORIGINES.
The history of any county in the United States would be incomplete without reckoning with the aborigines of the country. When the term aborigines is used, reference is usually made to the Indians, yet, they were preceded by a populous race of which little is known. From whence they came, and how, or when, is wrapped in absolute obscurity. The archaeologist has wrestled with these prob- lems, but without any satisfactory results. These ancient peoples have left their record mostly in mounds and walls of earth, (hence have been called Mound Builders, ) which in many cases have been overgrown by forests, indicating that the builders did their work more than a thousand years ago. Their work of mound building extends over the entire Mississippi valley, from the Alleghany to the Rocky Mountains, giving proof of their numerical strength. They lie along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, extending from Florida to Texas. They are found in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, but are most numerous in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Just what they were built for is largely a matter of conjecture, possibly for defense, yet, the general conclusion is that they were not a war-like people, but effeminate and of sedentary habits. Many of these immense constructions doubtless are sepulchral, for in them have been found Innan skeletons in an advanced state of decay. Numerous implements and ornaments have been hid away in these ancient works of man for many, many centuries. They are now exhumed by the archaeologist and whet his appetite for more knowledge of the men who ocenpied this region in the depths of the far-away past. The implements and ornaments are mostly stone, but sometimes copper, shell or bone. It is commonly believed that the Mound Builders worked the copper mines of Lake Superior, but the copper specimens found are unalloyed. Some specimens of pottery have been found showing considerable skill. No inscription or other evidence of a written lan- guage has been found, but students have concluded that they were considerably advanced in civilization and were an agricultural people. The supposition is that the Indians came upon them from the north and being a more savage and war-like race, drove them south and finally exterminated them. It may be that some of them became incorporated with southern tribes of Indians and lost their identity. The Pueblo Indians seem to have had a passion for erecting large edifices, and exhibited other traits that belonged to the Mound Builders. How few the words that express all we know of this extinet race, whose land we now enjoy !
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
The origin of the Indian is as absolutely enveloped in mystery as the origin of the Mound Builders. Men have indulged in much speculation upon this prob. lem, but without any sign of solution. Indian tongues np to this date have failed to develop any affinity for old world languages. There may yet be some light thrown upon this mysterions question that has never ceased to puzzle and perplex the students of archaeology since the discovery of America. In habits and customs, in likes and dislikes, the American Indian has no counterpart among the children of men ; nothing in his manner of life, nor in his character, moral or religions, to identify him with any known peoples, but he stands apart. by himself, unique, as separate and distinct from all others as the African is dissimilar from the Mongolian. He has left his impress upon his conqueror, his long-time foe, by imparting his habits and products. Much of his history is written in names of states, counties, cities, towns, villages and rivers. He will never be forgotten while Amerienn civilization and history remain. It is said of him that he never forgets a favor nor forgives an injury. The proverb is not true, he does forget and ignore favors. His memory is good when it is to his advantage to recall favors. A notable instance was that of Chief Keokuk in the Agency treaty made in 1842. Governor Chambers acting for the government. General Street was much beloved by the Indians, died and was buried near where the village of Agency City, Wapello county, Iowa, now stands. The Indians sought to reserve a half section of land for Street's widow, and a half section for each of her children. Governor Chambers refused to grant any reservations. claiming that the government had so instructed him. whereupon, old Keokuk arose and addressed the conneil thus: "There lies, (pointing to the grave of General Street.) the grave of our father, the best white friend we ever had, and without the reservation, this land shall never, never, be sold while a single one of our tribe remains." Such was the emphasis with which he uttered these words that the statement was accepted as law. Indians love to get eredit, but they love as well to pay their debts. In eloquence many of them were richly gifted. Some of the finest specimens of oratory on record have fallen from Indian lips. Senator Owen, from the new state of Oklahoma, has recently amazed the august body by not only his oratory, but also by his ready grasp of the financial prob- lems of today. His mother is a full-blooded member of the ill-fated race of American Indians. The Indian has an unconquerable disposition; he may be overpowered, but not subdued. In the early history of this country, Europeans tried to make slaves of Indians, but that was a vain effort. The Indian would rather die than to work at the dietnm of any other man, white or black. The Indian can hold the African in slavery. The very fact that he cannot be redneed to servitude sets aside the far-fetched theory that he is a descendant of the lost tribes of Israel, for the Hebrews made profitable slaves both in Egypt and Babylon. The Indians exhibit some good qualities in social life. The red man everywhere cultivates a profound respect for the aged. The old man among them is esteemed for his counsels. They were not advocates of the Osler theory of chloroforming men at sixty. Among most of the tribes the old men constituted their courts and when a decision was reached and announced, it was irrevocable, it became unalterable like the laws of the Medes and Persians.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
The Indian believes that masculine excellence consists alone in bravery. Ile expects his squaw to be timid and cowardly, but every man must be ready at any moment to fare death without a tremor. Nothing but daring acts elevate a red man in the esteem of his fellows. Among these peoples it is regarded a great privilege to enter into severe conflicts with man or beast. Hairbreadth escapes are evidences of the favor of the Great Spirit, so young men, especially. seek for opportunities to distinguish themselves in battle with both man and beast. He further believes that the chase is the most manly of all vocations, hence he loves to pitch his tent in dense forests and along the banks of streams. He was as loth to give up his home-his hunting ground, as any man among the Adamic family, therefore, he contested every inch with the aggressive white man. When all the circumstances of the white man's occupation of this continent are taken into consideration, it is not strange that there were wars and rumors of wars between the aggressive white man and the receding Indian, and that these conflicts were severe and brutal in the extreme. A blush ought to flash across the face of every white man as he peruses the history of the European's occupa- tion of this continent. This same Indian who has been so backward in accepting the white man's civilization, gave to the world that prince of all cereals-corn. which today forms one of the most important products of this country. Its value is world-wide. The potato, the most valuable of all vegetables, that goes on the white man's table, was first found by civilization in South America. Tobacco and its use the civilized world received from "Lo the poor Indian." As an article of commerce it stands in the first class of American products. The world would be better off without it, but mention is here made of it to show Indian influence upon the nations of the earth. One other characteristic of the red man is, he is habitually morose and melancholy. A cheerful Indian is as rare among that race as a melancholy man is among the French.
The first meeting that took place between white men and Indians on Iowa soil is a good illustration of Indian character when in his better moods. The historian gives it in the language of Marquette. It was on June the 7th, 1673 near where the village of Montrose is situated. The two French explorers, of whom we shall have more to say hereafter, Marquette and Joliet, were making the first trip down the Mississippi ever made by white men; they landed at the place above mentioned, left their five companions with the canoes. They strolled abont until they came upon the tracks of men in the sand. Going about six miles they came in sight of an Indian village. Approaching the wigwams they were met by some of the men who received them kindly. They appointed a committee of four old men to receive the wanderers. The reception was hearty. Marquette could speak their language. He explained the object of their visit and told them about the God that white men worshiped, and how He was the same as the Great Spirit whom they worshiped. They were delighted and a chief arose and addressed them in the following eloquent words: "I thank the Black Gown Chief (Marquette) and the Frenchman (Joliet) for taking so much pains to come and visit us; never has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright as now; never has the river been so calm, nor so free from rocks, which your canoes have removed as they passed; never has our tobacco had so fine a
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
flavor, nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we behold it today. Ask the Great Spirit to give us life and health, and come and dwell with us." Then the Indians feasted their guests in royal Indian style, except the cultured French- man declined the favorite dish of dog meat. Longfellow has beautifully ex- pressed this incident in verse :
"Came a people from the distant land of Wabno;
From the farthest realms of morning
Came the Black Robe Chief, the Prophet,
He the Priest of prayer, the pale face, With his guides and his companions.
And the noble Hiawatha, With his hand aloft extended,
Held aloft in sign of welcome,
Cried aloud and spoke in this wise :
Beautiful is the sun, O strangers, When yon come, so far to see ns; All our town in peace awaits you ; All our doors stand open for you; You shall enter all our wigwams;
For the heart's right hand we give you.
Never bloomed the earth so gayly,
Never shone the sun so brightly,
As today they shine and blossom,
When you came so far to see us.
And the Black Robe Chief made answer,
Stammered in his speech a little,
Speaking words yet unfamiliar; Peace be with you, Hiawatha,
Peace be with you and your people,
Peace of prayer and peace of pardon,
Peace of Christ, and joy of Mary.
Then the generous Hiawatha, Led the strangers to his wigwam,
Seated them on skins of bison,
Seated them on skins of ermine,
Brought them food in bowls of bass-wood,
Water brought in birchen dippers,
And the calumet, the peace-pipe,
Filled and lighted for their smoking.
All the warriors of the nation,
Came to bid the strangers welcome;
It is well, they said, O brother, That you came so far to see us."
After a six days' visit the explorers were escorted by a great body of warriors to their canoes and they glided down the great river. This beautiful
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
incident stands to the red man's credit-a noble specimen of hospitality. His treachery is too well known to be discussed here. The ruthless betrayal of General Custer and his men is still fresh in the mind of the reading public. The Indian often displayed great skill and ingenuity in evolving and carrying forward his dastardly plans of treachery.
Of all the races of men the Indian is the worst when under the influence of strong drink, and he soon becomes exceedingly fond of alcohol and its effects. It has been an awful curse to him, and had much to do with his ruin. It may be truthfully said: "White man's whiskey, and white man's diseases, have played a great part in the work of the red man's extermination." The government has assumed the guardianship of the unfortunate aborigines, called them wards, and provided bread for them, and in many ways songht to sustain them, but the vast multitude that roamed through the hills and valleys, from ocean to ocean a few years ago. is redneed to a very few comparatively. Whether the wrongs done. by our fathers to their fathers, can ever he righted is a doubtful proposition. Many of the largest and most flourishing tribes of four centuries ago are now extinct, they have left no descendants to whom the debt can be paid. The few who are left deserve to be well provided for. Possibly their identity may be preserved for centuries to come.
From the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock to the present time. the relations of the white people and the Indians have been troublons. The two races have been unable to occupy the same territory in peace. The effort to do so has resulted in a series of conflicts that has no parallel for brutality. These conflicts began on the shores of the Atlantic and extended to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the extreme north. But the final overthrow of the Indians has been largely due to their own tribal conflicts. When the white people have become involved in wars on this continent, the Indians have always been ready to take sides and enter into the war.
In the early history of this country the French and English became involved in war. the Indians joined in the conflict and introduced their savage modes of warfare. In the war of the Revolution they did the same thing. By this means, the Revolutionary war was protracted and made more severe and bitter.
In a military sense it is a source of weakness for any nation to have an alien race residing in its territory. Under such circumstances race prejudices and race antagonisms will be enltivated. The great weakness of the south in the war of the Rebellion, was the presence of the Negro race, and no doubt would be today in case of a war with a foreign nation. It is not the object of this work to even review the Indian wars of the past. but there are a few men who ought to be mentioned. Tecumseh was one of the most noted warriors of all the aborig- ines. He was born about 1770. near Chillicothe, Ohio. Tradition says he was a triplet. One of them died early : the other was named Elskwatawa : he became a prophet and was believed to hold communion with the Great Spirit. He was an inspiration to, and an efficient helper of his brother Teemusch. but did not possess the military genius of the noted warrior. About 1810 Terimsch conceived the idea of uniting all the tribes of the Mississippi valley, and rollerting an immense army with which to resist the whites. While Terumsch was away
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
from home engaged in this scheme. General Harrison was camped on Tippe- canoe river in northern Indiana with a force of eight hundred men, partly volunteers and partly regulars. The Prophet rallied his forces and on the 6th of March, 1811, attacked Harrison's camp, being unsuccessful. He renewed the attack the next morning. when he was repulsed with great loss. Harrison's loss was 200 men, but the Indians were utterly defeated. This practically ruined Teenmseh's plan of unification. President Madison in a special message to Congress of December the 12th. 1811. speaking of this engagement says : "While it is deeply lamented that so many valnable lives have been lost in the action which took place on the 7th ultimo. Congress will see with satisfaction the dauntless spirit and fortitude vietorionsly displayed by every description of the troops engaged, as well as the collected firmness which distinguished their com- mander on an occasion requiring the utmost exertions of valor and discipline. It may be reasonably expected that the good effects of this critical defeat and dispersion of a combination of savages, which appears to have been spreading to a greater extent, will be experienced. not only in the cessation of murders and depredations committed on onr frontier, but in the prevention of any hostile excursions otherwise to have been apprehended." On learning of the Prophet's disaster. Tecumseh was much discouraged. Many of his warriors would gladly have sued for peace, but Teemnsch was stubborn and determined to sacrifice his life in what he considered the defense of his country. About this time the war of 1812 began between England and the United States. Teeinsch was diplomatie enongh to go to Canada and form an alliance with the English. He proved his bravery in the battles of Raisin river and Maguaga, where he was wounded. The British then made him a brigadier general and placed him in command of all the Indian forces; and he did splendid service at the siege of Fort Meigs. He was wounded again at the battle of Lake Erie, and commanded the right wing at the battle near the Moravian towns on the Thames. Tradition tells that he felt that the end was at hand so he laid aside his sword and military equipments. put on his hunting garb, and plunged into the thickest of the fight. in which he was killed, October 5th, 1813. Colonel Richard M. Johnson, afterward vice president of the United States, from 1837 to 1841. claimed the honor of having killed Tecumseh, but others elaimed it also. The foregoing items in the career of the great Indian warrior were in part taken from Johnson's Encyclopedia. and are doubtless reliable. Thus ended the life of the most distinguished Indian of the Mississippi valley. After the close of the war with England the west settled with a rapidity hitherto unknown.
Another noted Indian warrior was Black Hawk, a chief of the Sae tribe. He was born in 1767. In his early manhood he had fought by the side of Teeumsch. His home was between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. He refused to accede to the sale of lands made to the government by some chiefs, and began a war in 1832, known as the Black Hawk war, the history of which. although of recent date, is quite confusing. The historian of Burean county. Illinois, says : "Yet when you sum up all the facts and incidents of this short and decisive struggle you will. if of a reflective turn of mind. wonder why it was necessary to call out eight thousand volunteers to assist fifteen hundred regular troops to
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IIISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
drive from our state about four hundred poorly equipped and scantily fed Indians, who were also incumbered by being obliged to look after the comfort and safety of about one thousand sqnaws and papooses. Yet such seems to be the fact. and in this short campaign of a little over three months. millions of dollars were spent and more than one thousand lives were sacrificed. Probably the real cause of the war grew ont of the fact that the white man. especially the early pioneer, despised the Indian and said, 'he must go.' They also said that 'all good Indians were dead Indians.' The prime canse, however, grew out of the interpretation of the treaty of 1804, between the general government and the Sae and Fox Indians, who were at that time living in the northwestern corner of the state, their territory coming down as far south as Rock river. The government agreed to pay these two confederated tribes the sum of one thousand dollars annually. and for this annuity the Indians ceded to the government all the territory lying between the Wisconsin river, the Fox river, the Illinois river and the Mississippi, and abont one-third of the state of Missonri." Black Hawk was overpowered by superior forces and betrayed by Keokuk, his long time enemy. A man of sterling qualities ; he prided himself upon being a man of integrity.
A marvelons incident occurred in the beginning of the Black Hawk war, which is enrrent in western Illinois to this day. It is recorded by Moses in his history of Illinois, as follows: "A story is related of Old Zach, as he afterward came to be called, that upon ordering an advance movement, in which he did not feel certain of the condnet of the volunteers, some of whom seemed to hesi- tate. he rode ont in front of them and made them a little speech. 'Yon are citizen soldiers. the order you have just heard must be promptly obeyed. The safety of all depends upon the obedience and courage of all. You are citizen soldiers, some of you may fill high offices or even be president some day, but nof if you refuse to do your duty. Forward march!'" There are other versions of this story. but the same facts are substantially contained in each. It does seem strange that on the very outskirts of civilization in May, 1832. there should be congregated under the sound of a human voice, three men who were destined to perform such a prominent part in the affairs of this nation within a third of a century. First the speaker, Zachary Taylor. elected President of the United States in 1848; Jefferson Davis, who afterward became Taylor's son-in-law. subsequently turned traitor, and was elected President of the Southern Con- federaey, and Abraham Lincoln, who because of his wisdom and charity. wronght for himself a place in the history of the nations equal to that of any man living or dead. Notwithstanding Black Hawk's chivalry and splendid genins as a commander of men. he was soon overpowered by superior numbers and munitions of war. Bad Axe was the last battle of the Black Hawk war, which war lasted only three months, and cost the government over two million dollars. Black Hawk had taken shelter with the Winnebagoes. Word was sent to him that if he would return and surrender to General Street he would be set free. He claimed to disbelieve the report, yet. he said for the sake of his starving family he would test it. On the 27th day of August. 1832, he surrendered to General Street at Prairie du Chien. The History of Bureau county records a speech he made on that occasion as follows: "My warriors fell around me. It began to look dismal.
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