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OR
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POWE SHILK COUNTY.
1880
LIBRARY Brigham Young University
FROM
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Do Not Circulate1996
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NOV 2 8 1959
1900
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Brigham Young University
https://archive.org/details/historyofpoweshi00desm
IOWA COLLEGE, GRINNELL.
977.7 H62po
THE
HISTORY
OF
POWESHIEK COUNTY,
IOWA,
CONTAINING
A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c.,
Biographical Sketches of its Citizens, War Record of its Volunteers in the late Re- bellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prom- inent Men. History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Poweshiek County, Constitution of Iowa, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c.
ILLUSTRATED.
221996
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DES MOINES:
UNION HISTORICAL COMPANY BIRDSALL, WILLIAMS & CO. 1880. BRARY
..
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by
THE UNION HISTORICAL COMPANY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
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MILLf & COMPANY,' PRINTERS, AND) STEREOTYPERS, DES MOINES, IOWA. 1 1
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PREFACE.
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AFTER months of persevering effort we have at last completed the History of Pow- eshiek County. The result proves that the work was a laborious and difficult one. The difficulties and unusually hard work we have had to encounter have arisen from the lack of reliable data, and the suspicion with which some of the people of the county viewed the enterprise in its first stages. The lack of data was in a measure overcome by a systematic canvass of the whole county, whereby we were enabled to gather up, glean and compile into comprehensible and permanent shape what, until now, has floated about in the changing mists of tradition. The reader will readily realize how laborious has been the task, and how important that it has been done at this comparatively early date. The first settlers, who acted so important a part in the history of the county, and who heretofore have been the sole custodians of much of the material essential to this work, are rapidly disappearing, and those who remain become less reliable as year by year the memory of early times grows indistinct. The multitude of agents and canvassers who, during the past few years, have swarmed through the country working up enterprises, some of which have been of a questionable character, having created a prejudice in the minds of the people against a work of this kind, not unfrequently has it been the case that persons who were the best qualified to aid us have been inaccessible. This prejudice has risen like an almost insurmountable obstacle, which has been overcome only by the greatest difficulty.
The publication of such a book as this for a patronage limited to a single county, viewed from a business standpoint, was a hazardous undertaking. Much solicitude was felt on this account during the first stages of the work; but any misgivings we may have had have been dispelled by the generous patronage extended to us by the people of the county, and we have been so far encouraged and assured that the work has been extended beyond the limits at first contemplated. The solicitude we felt for the success of the work, on a business basis, was natural, but it was not our only solicitude: we have also intensely desired to make the book reliable, full and at- tractive, and thereby to merit the public favor which has been so generously ex- tended to us.
In presenting this work to our patrons we have the satisfaction of knowing that they are of sufficient intelligence to appreciate merit when found, and of further be- lieving that errors when found will be criticised with the understanding that book- making, like all other kinds of labor, has its peculiar vicissitudes.
We have been materially aided in the preparation of the work by many persons in the county who claimed no compensation, and who expect no reward, except that which comes of a consciousness of having aided a worthy enterprise. Such per- sons deserve the thanks of their fellow-citizens in the county and various towns and
iv
PREFACE.
townships where they reside. As for us, we avail ourselves of this opportunity to thank all who have aided us in the preparation of the work. Whatever of merit the History of Poweshiek County may possess is due in a large measure to their assist- ance. Without their friendly words of encouragement the work would not have been entered upon, and could not have been completed without their assistance.
To each and all of our patrons we come with the satisfaction of knowing that we bring what we guaranteed in our prospectus, and in the belief that the book will grow in value with age, and improve in the estimation of the owner as the years roll by.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL.
PAGE.
The Northwest Territory :
Early French Explorations in the Mississippi Valley. 7
Early Settlements in the North- west. . 14 The Northwestern Territory .. 22 The Louisiana Purchase. 28 Indian Wars in the Northwest 34 Sketches of Black Hawk and other Chiefs. . 42
Early Navigation of Western
How the Title to Iowa Lands is derived. 130 Rivers. 56
PAGE.
Archæology of the Northwest. 59
Sketches of Western and
Northwestern States . .
67 Expedition of Lewis and Clarke 86 Sketch of Chicago .. 96 History of Iowa:
Descriptive and Geographical
Sketch.
.105
Official Record
174
Geology of Iowa.
.117
The Judiciary .
176
Economic Geology 125
Congressional Representation . 177 State Agricultural Society ..... 178 Centennial Awards. 191
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I .- PREFATORY. The
Plan and Scope of this Work -- The County -- its Location and Name .. .. 241-250
CHAPTER II .- PHYSICAL FEA- TURES. Situation-Extent- Surface -- Rivers -- Timber -- Cli- mate-Prairies-Soils -- Geolo- gy -- Economic Geology-Coal- Building Stone-Clays -- Spring and Well water ..... . . . . .. 251-267
CHAPTER III .-- INDIAN AF- FAIRS. Indian Policy of the Gov- ment -- Treaties -- Annuities- Sac and Fox Indians - Keokuk -Wapello -- Poweshiek-Indian Incidents and Reminiscences- The Neutral Strip -- The Potta- wattamies -- Johnny Greene and his Band -- The Tama County Reservation-The Sioux -- The Lott Atrocity -- The Revenge and the Retaliation .. .. . ... 268-301
CHAPTER IV .- EARLY SETTLE- MENTS. Importance of First Beginnings -- Character of First Settlers-Localities where Set- tlements were First Made-The Veritable First Settler-Evi- dences of Prehistoric Civiliza- tion .... 301-315
-
PAGE.
CHAPTER V .-- PIONEER LIFE. The Pioneer's Peculiarities- Conveniences and Inconven- iences -- The Historical Log Cabin-Agricultural Imple- ments-Household Furniture -- Pioneer Corn - bread -Hand Mills and Hominy Blocks- Going to Mill-Trading Points- The Pioneer Stock Dealer- Hunting and Trapping-The California Gold Excitement- The Western Stage Company --- Claim Clubs and Club Laws-A Border Sketch -- Surveys and Land Sales-The First Rec- ords-Growth of the County- Table of Events ..... .315-371 CHAPTER VI .- ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY. Origin of County and Township Organization- Condition of Territory before Organization-Legislative Act for Organization of Poweshiek County-First Election -- Board of County Commissioners -- County Judge System-Town- ship System-Board of Super- visors -- First Courts -- Public Buildings. ..... 371-407
CHAPTER VII .-- ADDITIONAL
PAGE.
COUNTY AFFAIRS. Finances- Political --- Official Directo- ry. 407-436
CHAPTER VIII .- SCHOOLS -- 437-449 CHAPTER IX .--- CRIMES. The Fox and Long Gang -- Adven- tures of Jonas Carsner-The Cumquick Case-The Murder of Claiborne Showers -- Other Crimes .. .449-474
CHAPTER X .- POWESHIEK COUNTY IN THE WAR .... 474-506
CHAPTER XI .- TOWNSHIPS, CITIES AND TOWNS. Jackson Township-Montezuma-Grin- nell Township-City of Grin- nell-Bear Creek Township .- Brooklyn-Chester Township- Union Township -- Sheridan Township-Ottawa City-Wash- ington Township -- Sugar Creek Township-Searsboro -- Madi- son Township-Deep River Township -- Lincoln Town- ship-Warren Township-Mal- com Township-Town of Mal- com -- Jefferson Township- Pleasant Township -- Town of Ewart-Scott Township .. 506-638
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Westward the Star of Empire
takes its Way ... 17
An Indian Camp. 33
Indians Trying a Prisoner. .. ... 49
A Pioneer Winter.
65
PAGE.
PAGE.
Lincoln Mon., Springfield, Ill ... 72
Chicago, in 1820 97
Present Site Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, 1833 .. 97
The "Old Kinzie House "
103
A Prairie Home 129
Breaking Prairie.
145
A Pioneer Home out West.
.. 631
Old Fort Dearborn, 1830 ...
103
Iowa College.
Front
Early Settlements and Territo-
rial Organization. 141
Territory of Iowa 153 State Organization 158 Educational 162
State Institutions
169
Railroads 172
PAGE.
vi
CONTENTS.
LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Thomas Holyoke.
. 291 John Conway .427
L. C. Phelps
J. W. H. Vest. .359
John Hall. .495
J. B. Grinnell. .393
P. D. Burton ..
529
BIOGRAPHICAL TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
PAGE.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Jackson .. . 639
Sugar Creek 671
Washington 788
Sheridan.
.939
Union.
.698
Warren ... 795
Deep River. 707
Bear Creek. . 821
Jefferson
. . 961
Lincoln
752
Malcom
855
Scott.
764
Grinnell. 881
ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Adoption of Children .. .203
Forms:
Confession of Judgment ... 208
Lease
.214
Limitation of Actions. 199
Married Women. 200
Marks and Brands
201
Mechanics' Liens. 204
Furchasing Books by Subscrip-
tion . 219
Roads and Bridges 204
Surveyors and Surveys 204
Support of Poor 205
Taxes
197
Bills of Sale .. .210
Bond for Deed 217
Bills of Purchase. 207
Chattel Mortgage.
215
Jurisdiction of Courts
198
MISCELLANEOUS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Map of Poweshiek County
.... Front
Constitution of State of Iowa .. 220
Addendum
.975
Statistics
.183
The Pioneer .256
Jurors.
199
Bills of Exchange and Promis- sory Notes 195
Capital Punishment. .199
Commercial Terms. .208
Notice to Quit. 210
Damages from Trespass 201
Notes.
207-215
Orders 207
Estrays .201
Exemption from Executions .200
Fences.
202
Forms : Article of Agreement 209
Game Laws:
Birds and Quadrupeds .217
Wills and Estates.
196
Fish and Fish Ways 218
Weights and Measures
207
Interest
.195
Wolf Scalps
201
Descent. 195
Quitelaim Deed .. 216
Receipts . 208
Willa and Codicils 211, 212
Warranty Deed 216
Landlord and Tenant
.206
Mortgages .
.212, 213
Chester. .933
Pleasant 771
PAGE.
D. K. Sargent. ...... . 563
325 W. R. Lewis. .461
Charles Adams. ........ ... 595
Madison ... 951
PAGE.
PAGE.
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MAP OF POWESHIEK COUNTY, IOWA.
26
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
EARLY FRENCH EXPLORATIONS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
De Soto-Le Caron-Samuel de Champlain-French Adventurers-James Marquette-Louis Joliet - Embarkation to Explore New Countries - Lake Michigan and Green Bay -The "Quisconsin "- Indian Accounts of the Country - Discovering the Great River - Indian Name of the River -- Joy of the Explorers-Interview with Indians on Iowa Soil-Feast- Speech of an Indian Chief-The Des Moines River-" Muddy Water " - The Arkansas- Return-Indian Nations - Marquette's Record - His Subsequent Voyage-La Vantum- Marquette's Death -- Removal of His Remains-Joliet's Subsequent Explorations-Robert La Salle-Louis Hennepin-Chevalier de Tonti-De La Motte-Fort Crevecoeur-Henne- pin's Voyage-Falls of St. Anthony-Seur de Luth-Hennepin's Claims as an Explorer- Colonization of Louisiana-Dissensions-Murder of La Salle.
THE three great colonizing powers of the Old World first to raise the standard of civilization within the limits of North America were France, England, and Spain. The French made their earliest settlements in the cold and inhospitable regions of Quebec; the English at Jamestown, Vir- ginia, and at Plymouth, Massachusetts; and the Spaniards on the barren sands of Florida. To the French belongs the honor of discovering and colo- nizing that portion of our country known as the Valley of the Mississippi, including all that magnificent region watered by the tributaries of the Grea, River. It is true that more than one hundred years earlier (1538-41) tht Spanish explorer, De Soto, had landed on the coast of Florida, penetrated the everglades and unbroken forests of the south, finally reaching the banks of the Great River, probably near where the city of Memphis now stands. Crossing the river, he and his companions pursued their journey for some distance along the west bank, thence to the Ozark Mountains and the Hot Springs of Arkansas, and returning to the place of his death on the banks of the Mississippi. It was a perilous expedition indeed, characterized by all the splendor, romance and valor which usually attended Spanish adventurers of that age. De Soto and his companions were the first Europeans to behold the waters of the Mississippi, but the expedition was a failure so far as related to colonization. The requiem chanted by his companions as his remains were committed to the waters of the great river he had discovered, died away with the solemn murmurs of the stream, and the white man's voice was not heard again in the valley for more than ahundred years. De Soto had landed at Tampa Bay, on the coast of Florida, with a fleet of nine ves- sels and seven hundred men. More than half of them died, and the remainder made their way to Cuba, and finally back to Spain.
Four years before the pilgrims "moored their bark on the wild New Eng- land shore," a French Franciscan, named Le Caron, penetrated the region of
8
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
the great lakes of the north, then the home of the Iroquois and the Hurons, but a French settlement had been established at Quebec by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. This was followed by the establishment of various colonies in Canada, and the hardy French adventurers penetrated the coun- try by the way of the St. Lawrence and the lakes. In 1625 a number of missionaries of the Society of Jesus arrived in Canada from France, and during the succeeding forty years extended their missions all along the shores of Lake Superior.
In 1637 a child was born at the little city of Laon, in France, whose destiny it was in the fullness of time to be instrumental in the hands of Providence in giving to the world a definite knowledge of the grandest and most fertile region ever opened up to civilization. That child was James Marquette, the descendant of a family of Celtic nobles. He entered the Society of Jesus when seventeen years of age, and soon conceived a desire to engage in the labors of a missionary among the Indians. He sailed for Quebec in 1666, and two years later founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary. The winter of 1669-70 he spent at Point St. Ignatius, where he established another mission. Here the old town of Michillimackinac, afterward called Mackinaw, was founded. It was from Indians of the different tribes who came to this mission that he received some vague intimations of the great river-the father of all the rivers. He at once conceived a desire to penetrate to the banks of the wonderful river, and carry his missionary work to the tribes which he had learned inhabited its borders. He applied to his Superior, Claude Dablon, for permission to "seek new nations toward the Southern sea." The authorities at Quebec were equally desirous of having new regions explored, and therefore appointed Louis Joliet to embark upon a voyage of discovery. Joliet was a native of Quebec and had been educated in a Jesuit College. He had at the age of eighteen taken minor orders, but had abandoned all thoughts of the priest- hood and engaged in the fur trade. He was now twenty-seven years of age, with a mind ripe for adventure. He left Quebec, and arriving at Mackinaw found Father Marquette highly delighted with the information that they were to be companions in a voyage which was to extend the domain of the King of France, as well as to carry the Gospel to new nations of people. The explorers, accompanied by five assistants, who were French Canadians, started on their journey, May 13, 1673. Marquette has himself recorded in the fol- lowing simple language their feelings on this occasion: "We were embark- ing on a voyage the character of which we could not foresee. Indian corn, with some dried meat, was our whole stock of provisions. With this we set out in two bark canoes, M. Joliet, myself and five men, firmly resolved to do all and suffer all for so glorious an enterprise." They coasted along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, entered Green Bay, and passed up the Fox river, carrying their canoes across the Portage to the "Ouisconsin," now called Wisconsin. At Lake Winnebago, before crossing the Portage, they stopped at an Indian village, which was the furthest outpost to which Dab- lon and Allouez had extended their missionary work. Here they assembled the chiefs and old men of the village and told them of the objects of the voyage. Pointing to Joliet, Father Marquette said: "My friend is an envoy of France to discover new countries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." The Indians furnished two guides to conduct them to the Wisconsin river. It is related that a tribe of Indians endeavored to dissuade them from pursuing their perilous journey
9
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
by telling of desperate and savage tribes that they would meet; that the forests and the rivers were infested with frightful monsters; that there were great fish in the rivers that would swallow up men and canoes together, and of a demon who could be heard from a great distance, and who destroyed all who approached. Unmoved by these frightful stories, Marquette, Joliet, and their five brave assistants, launched their little canoes on the waters of the Wisconsin, and moved slowly down the current. After a lapse of seven days, June 17th, 1673, they reached the mouth of the Wisconsin and glided into the current of the Mississippi, a few miles below the place now known as Prairie du Chien. Here, and on this day, the eye of the white man for the first time looked upon the waters of the Upper Mississippi. Marquette called the river "The Broad River of the Conception." The Indian name is derived from the Algonquin language, one of the original tongues of the continent. It is a compound of the words Missi, signifying great, and Sepe, a river.
The explorers felt the most intense joy on beholding the scene presented to their enraptured vision. Here was the great river whose waters somewhere thousands of miles away flowed into a Southern sea, and whose broad valley was the fairest and richest in the world, but unknown to civilized man, save as an almost forgotten dream or a vague romance. They had solved one of the great mysteries of the age in which they lived. As they glided down the stream the bold bluffs reminded Marquette of the "castled shores of his own beautiful rivers in France." The far stretching prairies alternating with forests, on either side, were adorned in all the wild glories of June. Birds sang the same notes that they had sung for ages amid those "forests prime- val," while herds of buffalo, deer and elk were alarmed and fled to the dense retreats of the forest or the broad prairies beyond. Not until the 25th June did they discover any signs of human habitation. Then, about sixty leagues, as they thought, below the mouth of the Wisconsin, at a place where they landed on the west bank of the river, they found in the sand the foot-prints of man. Marquette and Joliet left their five companions in charge of the canoes and journeyed away from the river, knowing that they must be near the habitation of men. They followed a trail leading across a prairie clothed in the wild luxuriance of summer for a distance of about six miles, when they beheld another river and on its banks an Indian village, with other vil- lages on higher land a mile and a half from the first. The Indians greeted the two white strangers, as far as their ability permitted, with a splendid ovation. They appointed four of their old men to meet the strangers in council. Marquette could speak their language. They informed him that they were "Illini" (meaning "we are men "), and presenting the calumet of peace, invited them to share the hospitalities of their village. Marquette told them of the object of their visit, and that they had been sent by the French, who were their friends. IIe told them of the great God that the white man worshiped who was the same Great Spirit that they adored. In answer, one of the chiefs addressed them as follows:
"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 flavor, nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we behold it to-day. Ask the Great Spirit to give us life and health, and come ye and dwell with us."
After these ceremonies the strangers were invited to a feast, an account of
10
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
which is given by Marquette. It consisted of four courses. First, there was a large wooden bowel filled with tagamity, or Indian meal, boiled in water and seasoned with oil. The master of ceremonies, with a wooden spoon, fed the tagamity to their guests as children are fed. The second course con- sisted of fish, which, after the bones were taken out, was presented to the mouths of the strangers as food may be fed to a bird. The third course was a preparation of dog meat, but learning that the strangers did not eat that it was at once removed. The fourth and final course was a piece of buffalo meat, the fattest portions of which were put into the mouths of the guests.
The stream on whose banks took place this first interview between the explorers and the untutored Indians, after parting with their guides, was the Des Moines river, and the place of their landing was probably about where the town of Montrose is now located, in Lee county, Iowa. One of our sweetest American poets has rendered Marquette's narrative in verse, as follows:
" Came a people From the distant land of Wabun; 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 you come so far to see us; 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 to-day 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.'"
Marquette and Joliet remained at the Indian villages six days, and were then accompanied to their canoes by an escort of six hundred Indians. In- vitations were extended to the strangers to renew their visit, after which the explorers embarked in their boats and floated on down the stream, passing the sites of future great cities of the valley, and passing the mouths of the Missouri and Ohio rivers, and as far down as the mouth of the Arkansas.
11
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
Marquette named the Missouri river Pekitanoui, or "Muddy Water," on account of the now well-known character of that stream.
After extending their voyage to the mouth of the Arkansas, where they found a village of the Arkansas tribe, they ascended the Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois. They ascended the latter river to its source. Along this stream they found many villages of the Illinois, or Illini, a large and powerful tribe, who were subdivided into five smaller tribes-the Tamaroas, Michigamies, Kahokias, Kaskaskias, and Peorias. The country between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was inhabited by the three last named tribes. The Michigamies resided in the country bordering on Lake Michigan, and the Tamaroas occupied the territory now included in the counties of Jersey, Madison and St. Clair, Illinois. Kaskaskia-also designated by the early explorers as "La Vantum " and "Great Illinois Town "-was the largest of the villages, containing, according to Marquette, seventy-five lodges. With- out the loss of a man, or any serious accident, the party reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discoveries. Marquette made a faithful record of what they had seen and the incidents of the voyage. That record has been preserved. The report of Joliet was unfortunately lost by the upsetting of his canoe while on the way to Quebec.
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