USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 12
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 12
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The bed was very often made by fixing a post in the floor about six feet from one wall and four feet from the adjoining wall, and fastening a stick to this post about two feet above the fixor, on each of two sides, so that the other end of each of the two sticks could be Lastened in the oppo- site wall; clapboard- were l. id across these. and thus the ben was made complete. Guests were given this bed, while the fam- the fire-place would be a shell called . the , ily disposed of themselves in another ( 1- mantel," on which stood a candle stick or ner of the room or in the loft. When lamp, some cooking and table ware, nos i. several guests were on hand at once they bly an old clock, and other articies; in the were som time kept over night in the f !- losing mamer: When bedtime cone the Men were requested to step out of dans while the women spread out & broad well fire-place would be the crane, sometin es of iron, somethings on wood; on it thejut vere hung for cooking; over the door, httpfied
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HISTORY OF IOW.1.
upon the mid floor, and put themselves to bed in the center; the signal was given, and the men came in and each husband took his place in bed next his own wife, and single men outside beyond them again. They were generally so crowded that they had to lie "spoon " fashion, and whenever anyone wished to turn over he would say "spoon," and the whole company of sleep- ers would turn over at once. This was the only way they could all keep in bed.
To witness the various processes of cook- ing in those days would alike surprise and amuse those who have grown up since cooking stoves and ranges came into use. Kettles were hung over the large fire, sus- pended with pot-hooks, iron or wooden, on the crane, or on poles, one end of which would rest upon a chain. The long-hand- led frying pan was used for cooking meat. It was either held over the blaze by hand or set down upon coals drawn out upon the hearth. This pan was also used for baking pancakes, also call flapjacks, batter- cakes, etc. A better article for this, how- ever, was the cast-iron spider, or Dutch skillet. The best thing for baking bread in those days, and possibly even in these latter days, was the flat-bottomed bake kettle, of greater depth, with closely fitting cast-iron cover, and commonly known as the Dutch oven. With coals over and under it. bread and biscuits would be quickly and nicely baked. Turkey and spareribs were sometimes roasted before the fire, sus- Je nded by a string, a dish being placed underneath to catch the drippings.
stump, in the shape of a mortar, and pound- ing the corn in this by a maul or beetle suspended by a swing pole like a well- sweep. This and the wellsweep consisted of a pole twenty to thirty feet long fixed in an upright fork so that it could be worked " tecter " fashion. It was a rapid and sin- ple way of drawing water. When the samp was sufficiently pounded it was taken out, the bran floated off, and the delicious grain boiled like rice.
The chief articles of diet in an carly day were corn bread, hominy or samp, venison, pork, honey, pumpkin (dried pumpkin for more than half the year), turkey, prairie chicken, squirrel and some other game, with a few additional vegetables a portion of the year. Wheat bread, tea, coffee and fruit were luxuries not to be indulged in except on special occasions, as when visit- ors were present.
Besides cooking in the manner described, the women had many other ardnous duties to perforin, one of the chief of which was spinning. The big wheel was used for spinning yarn and the little wheel for spin- ning flax. These stringed instruments fur. nished the principal music for the fan ily, and were operated by our mothers and grandmothers with great skill, attained without pecuniary expense, and with far less practice than is necessary for the girls of our period to acquire a skillful use of their costly and elegant instruments. But those wheels, indie enable a few years ago, are all nav superseded by the mighty for- tori's which overs read the country, for- making cloth of all Kinds at an expense ion titnes less than would be incurred now by the old system.
I lominy and samp were very much used. The hominy, however, was get tally bulied corn-boiled com from which the bull or Fran had been taken by hot Ine, hence The traveler always found a welcome at the pioneer's choin. It was never for. Although there might be already a que for every punched. there was still . com for one more, and a wider dedi . nogle sometimes called lye hominy. True kom- iny and samp were mix of grande corn. A popular metla Lol making this is acht as read me ! for bread, was to cut out of burn a linge hop in the top of a huge made for the north terat to Byer.
HISTORY OF JOWI
the stranger was in search of land, he was doubly welcome, and his host would vol- unteer to show him all the " first rate claims in this neck of the woods," going with him for days, showing the corners and advan- tages of every "Congress tract " within a dozen miles of his own cabin.
To his neighbors the pioneer was equally liberal. If a deer was killed, the choicest bits were sent to his nearest neighbor, a half-dozen miles away perhaps. When a pig was butchered, the same custom pre- vailed. If a new-comer came in too late for " cropping," the neighbors would sup- ply his table with just the same luxurics they themselves enjoyed, and in as liberal quantity, until a crop could be raised. When a new-comer had located his claim, the neighbors for miles around would assemble at the site of the proposed cabin and aid himin " gitti " it up. One party with axes would cut down the trees and how the logs; another with teams would haul the logs to the ground; another party would "raise" the cabin; while several of the old men would rive the clap-boards for the roof. By night the little forest domicile would be up and ready for a " house-warming," which was the dedica- tory occupation of the house, when music and dancing and festivity would be enjoyed at full height. The next day the new-comer would be as well situated as his neighbors.
An instance of primitive hospitable man- ners will be in plice here. A traveling Methodist preacher arrived in a distant neighborhood to fill an appointment. The house where services were to be held did not belong toa church member, but no matter for that. Boards were collected from all marters with which to make tengomary sais one of the neighbors volunteering; to kad of in the work, while the man at the low. with the f. ithiol riffe on his shout ler. schied toute in quest of med. for this trung Visa "Ermail hogy" out the pitched
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coming and no meat in the house. The host ceased not to chase until he found the meat, in the shape of a deer; returning he sent a boy out after it, with directions on what " pint" to find it. After services, which had been listened to with rapt atten- tion by all the audience, mine host said to his wife, "Old woman, I reckon this 'ere preacher is pretty hungry and you must git him a bite to eat." " What shall I get him?" asked the wife, who had not seen the deer, " thar's nuthen in the house to cat." " Why, look thar," returned he, " thar's a deer, and thar's plenty of corn in the field: you git some corn and grate it while I skin the deer, and we'll have a good supper for him." It is needless to add that venison and corn bread made a sup- per fit for any pioneer preacher, and was thankfully eaten.
Fires set out by Indians or settlers some- times purposely and sometimes permitted through carelessness, would visit the prai- rie every autumn, and sometimes the for- ests, either in autumn or spring, and settlers could not always succeed in defending themselves against the destroying element. Many interesting incidents are related. Often a fire was started to bewilder game, or to bare a piece of ground for the early grazing of stock the ensuing spring, and it would get away under a wind and soon be beyond control. Violent winds would offen arise and drive the flames with such rapidity that riders on the fleetest steals could scarcely escape. On the approach of a prairie fire the larmer woald ima ately set about " cutting off supplies " for the devouring chemy by a " back fire." Thus by starting a smallfire near the bac ground about his premises, and keepit, it under control rest his property, he would bern off a strip around him auf !; revent !" attack of the on-coming fames. Item !urrossera ht hh around the form for- in some degrees a prote tion.
¥37
HISTORY OF
An original prairie of tall and exuberant . grass on fire, especially at night, was a mag. nificent spectacle, enjoyed only by the pioneer. Here is an instance where the frontiersman, proverbially deprived of the sights and pleasures of an old community, is privileged far beyond the people of the present day in this country. One could scarcely tire of beholding the scene, as its awc-inspiring features seemed constantly to increase, and the whole panorama unceas- ingly changed like the dissolving views of a magic lantern, or like the aurora borealis. Language cannot convey, words cannot express, the faintest idea of the splendor and grandeur of such a conflagration at night. It was as if the pale queen of night, disdaining to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched myriads upon myriads of messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun until all had flashed into one long and continuous blaze. One instance has been described as follows:
TOR'.1.
LOUISIANA TERRITORY.
As before mentioned, although De Soto, a Spaniard, first took possession of the Mis- sissippi Valley for his Government, Spain did not establish her title to it by following up the proclamation with immediate settle- ments, and the country fell into the hands of France, by whose agent it was named " Louisiana."
By the treaty of Utrecht, France ceded to England her possessions in Hudson's Bav, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, but retained Canada and Louisiana, In 1711 this province was placed in the hands of a - governor-general, with headquarters at Mobile, for the purpose of applying a new policy for the settlement and development of the country. The very next year ano- ther change was made, placing all this ter- ritory in the hands of Anthony Crozat, a wealthy merchant of Paris, but this scheme also failed, as Spain continued to obstruct the efforts of any Frenchman to establish " Soon the fires began to kindle wider - and rise higher from the long grass; the gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, and soon formed the small, flickering blaze into fierce torrent flames, which curled up and leaped along in resistless splendor; and like quickly raising the dark curtain from the luminous stage, the scenes before me were sud lenly changed, as if by a magi- cian's wond, into one boundless amphithea- ter. blazing from earth to heaven and trade, by closing the ports against him. In 1717 John Law appeared on the scene with his famous " Mississippi Company," as the Louisiana branch of the Bank of France ; and as his roscate scheme promised to do much in raising crippled France upon a surer footing, extended powers and privi- leges were granted him. He was to be practically a viceroy, and the life of his charter was fixed at twenty-five years. But in 1720, when the " Mississippi bubble " was sweeping the horizon round, -columns of ' at the height of its splendor, it suddenly luri? dans sportively mounting up to the collapsed, leaving the mother country in a z. : 1, 8: 1 dark cloud; of crimson soloke far worse condition than before. curling a vay and aloft till they nearly ob- Heretofore Louisiana had been a sub- ordinate dependence. under the jurisdiction of the Governor General of Canada. Early in 1723 the province of Louisiana was erected into an in lependent Government. and it was divi led into nine districts, for civil and military porpones. scorelstars and me a, while the rushing. crashing rounds, like roaring cataracts, mingled with distant thunders, were almost deoferitits danger, death, glared all around; it Characterist of human nature, the p )- ; ple were mode casited with prospecte of 135 HISTORY OF JOIEA. finding enormous wealth ready at han i. if they should continue to scour the country. which they did in places as far west as the Rocky Mountains, to the neglect of their agricultural and domestic interests. A habit of roaming became fixed. At the same time their exposed condition was a constant temptation to Indian rapine, and the Nat- chez tribe in 1723 made a general assault upon the whites. At first they were re- pulsed, but about five years afterward, aided by the Chickasaws and others, they fell upon the French village of St. Catha- rine and massacred the whole male popu- lation. Two soldiers, who happened to be in the woods, alone escaped to New Or- leans, to bear the news. The colonies on the Yazoo and the Washita suffered the same fate. Maddened by these outrages, the whites turned upon the Natchez and in the course of three years exterminated them. They were probably the most in- telligent tribe of Indians north of Mexico. the seventy years of French control the province of Louisiana increased in popula- tion from a few destitute fishermen to a flourishing colony of 13.540. St. Louis, Missouri, was started in 1704. Don O'Reilly, the new Governor of Loui. siana in 1764, ruled with a despotic hand, yet for the general advantage of the pen- ple. His successor, Don Antonio Maria Bucarelly, was mild, and he was succeeded January 1, 1777, by Don Bernard do Gal. vez, who was the last Governor. He sym- pathized with American independence. The British, with 140 troops and 1.400 In lians, invaded Upper Louisiana fron the north by way of the Straits of Mackinaw, and in- vested St. Louis, Missouri, in 1780, but were driven off. When the Indians saw that they were led to fight " Americans" as well as Spaniards, they found that they had been deceived, and withdrew from the British army, and thus General George R. Clark, in behalf of the Americans, easily defended St. Louis, and also all the now settlements in this western country. During the fifteen years from 1717 to 1732 the province increased in population from 700 10 5,000, and in prosperity to a After the Revolutionary war the country began again to prosper. Governor Galvez, by a census, ascertained that Louisiana had in 1785 a population of about 33,000, exclu- sive of Indians. wonderful degree. It remained under royal governors until 1764, the end of the French dominion. Most of this time the Indians were troublesome, and in 1754 began the long "French and Indian war" with Eng- In the summer of the latter vear Don Estavan Miro became Governor pro tat. of the Spanish possessions in this country, and was afterward confirmed as such by the king. During hi ath indratim a voi attempt was made by the Catholics to establish the inquisition at New Orleans. He was succeeded in ige by Barn de Cuandolet, and during I tookthe Search colonies grew so rapidly that their Gwen .- and sought to eachilest interference from this direction verre cent in 1205 be de land, which resulted in favor of the latter, that Government obtaining all of New France, Canada, and the castern half of Louisiana. This province did not suffer by being the scene of battle, but did sufler a great deal from a flood of irredeemable paper money. In the meantime the western portion, or residue, of this province we secretly promised to Spain; but before either of the foreign power - had opport- nity to rejoice long in their western ; . sions, a new power on earth, the United States, took independent possession of all the country except Louisiana and Flotila, trong of M.d. R. 000 M. and Jag Gar which it has maintained ever since. Darin, and trouble. W. Ama carri dettin 1. 179 Under the leadership of Livingstom an 1 Monroe, the United States Government, after various propositions had been dis. cussed by the respective powers, succeeded in effecting, in 1863, a purchase of the whole of Louisiana from France for $11,250.000, and all this country west of the great river consisted of the "Territory of Orleans" (now the State of Louisiana) and the " Dis- trict of Louisiana" (now the States of Ar- kansas, Missouri and Iowa, and westward indefinitely). The latter was annexed to the Territory of Indiana for one year, and in 1805 it was erected into a separate Terri- tory, of the second class, the legislative power being vested in the Governor and judges. Before the close of the year it was made a Territory of the first class, under the name of the "Territory of Louisiana," the Government being administered by the Governor and judges. The first Governor was James Wilkinson, and he was succeeded near the close of 1806 by Colonel Meri- weather Lewis, the seat of Government be- ing at St. Louis; and during his adminis- tration the Territory was divided into six judicial districts or large counties - St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Capo Girardeau, Now Madrid and Arkansas. In ISto the population of Louisiana Territory was 21,000, five-sevenths of whom were in Arkansas. In 1812 the State of Louisiana was ad- mitted into the Union, and then it was deemed expedient to change the name of the Territory. It was accordingly given the name of " Missouri Territory," which it retained until the admission of the State of Missouri in 1821. JOWA TERRITORY. Although the " Northwestern Territory" -carved out of Virginia an I now didier into the States of Ohio, In Happy, INGS, Michigan and Wisconsin- never porladid Lowa this Site was in 1034 incorporatel into the " Territory of Michigan," and thus E crane subject to the ordinance of 178; ; and two years later it was made a part of " Wisconsin Territory." and two years still later, in 18,8. the "Territory of Iowa" was formed independently, with sixto.n counties and a population of 23.000. In 1833, at Dubuque, a postoffice war established, and some time prior to 1834 one or two justices of the peace had been appointed. In 1834 the Territorial Logis- "lature of Michigan created two counties west of the Mississippi- Dobuque and Des Moines-separated by a line drawn west- ward from the foot of Rock Island. These counties were partially organized. John King was appointed " Chief Justice" of Du- buque County, and Isaac Leffer, of Bur- lington, of Des Moines County. Two associate justices in cach county were ap- pointed by the Governor. In October, 1835, General George W. Jones, of Du- buque, was elected a delegate to Congress, April 20, 1836, through the eforts of Gen- cral Jones, Congress passed a bill creating the Territory of Wisconsin, which went into operation July 4, that year. Jowa was then included in that Territory, of which General Henry Dodge was appointed Gov. ernor. The census of 1825 showed a popu- lation in lowa of 10,331, of which 6.257 were in Des Moines County and 4.271 in Dubuque Courty. The first Legislature assembled at Pl. mont, Wisconsin, October 25, 1836: 1.5 second at Burlington, lowa. November 9, 1237; and the third. . Isound the latter place. June 1, 18,8. As early as 183; the people of lower- 1.A.Governor Indre.m Ohio, wasagg Steder Pordent Van- rey to by the list Govener Gi i'm ser 140 HISTONE OF IOWA members of the first Territorial Legislature. to take place September 10. The following were elected : Council .- Jesse B. Brown, J. Keith, E. A. M. Swazey, Arthur Ingram, Robert Ralston, George Hepner. Jesse J. Payne, D. B. Hughes, James M. Clark, Charles Whittlesey, Jonathan W. Parker, Warner Lewis, Stephen Hempstead. House .-- Wm. Patterson, Hawkins Tay- lor, Calvin J. Price, James Brierly, Jaines Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel Parker. James W. Grimes, George Temple, Van B. Delashmutt, Thomas Blair, George 11. Beeler, W'm. G. Coop, Wm. H. Wallace. Asbury B. Porter, John Frierson, Wmn. L. Toole, Levi Thornton, S. C. Hastings, Robert G. Roberts, Laurel Summers, Jabez A. Burchard, Jr., Chauncey Swan. Andrew Bankson, Thomas Cox and Har- din Nowlin. At the session of the above Legislature Wm. W. Chapman was elected delegate to Congress. As the latter body had given the Governor unlimited veto power, and as Governor Lucas was disposed to exer- cise it arbitrarily, the independent " Hawk- eyes " grew impatient under his administra- tion, and, after having a stormy session for a time, they had Congress to limit the veto power. Great excitement also prevailed, both in the Legislature and among the people, concerning the question of the bica- tion of the seat of Government for the State. As they knew nothing concerning the great future development and extert of the State, they had no correct idea where the geographical center would or should be. The Black Hawk purchase, which was that strip of land next the Mississippi, io the southeastern part of the State, was th. full extent and horizon of their idea of the nos commonwealth. Hence they thought nest only of Burlington or Mount Pleasant the capital. Indeed, at that time , the India had possession of the re tot lows. Bat a few of the more shrewd foresaw that a more central location would soon be further to the north at least, if not west, and a point in Johnson County was ulti- inately decided upon. Commissioners, appointed by the Gov- ernor, selected the exact site, laid out a sec- tion of land into a town, sold lots and proceeded to erect the public buildings. The capitol was commenced in 1840 and Iowa City became thenceforward the capi- tal of the State. The fourth Legislative Assembly met at this place December 6, 1841, but not in the new capitol building, as it was not yet ready. Being somewhat difficult to raise the necessary funds, the building was not completed for several years. The carly Territorial Legislatures of lowa laid the foundation for a very just and liberal Government, far in advance of what had ever been done before by any State. About this time a conflict arose between this Territory and Missouri concerning the boundary line between them. There was a difference of a strip eight or ten miles wide, extending from the Mississippi to the Missouri rivers, which cach claimed. Mis- souri officers, attempting to collect taxes within the disputed territory, were arrested and confined in jail by lowa sheriffs, and the respective Governes called out the militia, preparing for Loodshed. Await 1,200 lowa men enlisted, and geo were act- ually armed tall encamped in Van Buren County. ready to defend their Territory, when three per minuut and glide men were sent to Mi souri as envoyé pod mipotentialy to effect. if possible. . po elle .dies meat of the difficulty. Uwe their arrival, ties found that the county & mand-siperson 141 HISTORY OF 1O1SL Court of the United States for the settle ment of the bourdary question. This prop- osition was declined; but afterward, upon petition of lowa and Missouri, Congres auth orized a suit to settle the controversy. The suit was duly instituted, and resulted in the decision that lowa had only asserted " the truth of history," and she knew where the rapids of the Des Moines River were located. Thus ended the Missouri war. " There was much good sense," says Hon. C. C. Nourse, " in the basis upon which peace was secured. to-wit: If Missourians did not know where the rapids of the river Des Moines were located, that was no suffi- cient reason for killing them off with powder and lead: and if we did know a little more of history and geography than they did we ought not to be shot for our learning. We commend our mutual forbearance to older and greater people."" Under an order from the Supreme Court of the United States commissioners surveyed and estab- lished the boundary. The expenses of the war, on the part of Iowa, were never paid, cither by the United States or the Territo- rial Government. STATE ORGANIZATION AND SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. The population having become, by the year 1844, sufficient to justify the formation of a State Government, the Territorial Leg- islature of lowa passed an act, approved February 12, that year, submitting to the people the question of the formation of a State Chastitution and providing for the election i delegates to a convention to be called together for that purpose. The people voted ir this at their township elections in the following April, giving the measure a large majority. The elected : in convention at low: City. Octb . 7 .: and compl tel their was instructed to transact a certified copy of the proposed Constitution to the Dele- gate in Congress, to be submitted by him to the t body at the earliest practicable day. It also provided that it should be submitted, together with any conditions or changes that might be made by Congress, to the people of the Territory, for their approval or rejection, at the township election in April, 18.45. Need help finding more records? 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