USA > Iowa > Early settlement and growth of western Iowa; or, Reminiscences > Part 9
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members of the company could receive back at the appraised value lands and lots to the amount of stock they had paid in. In this way they hoped to enlist many in the enterprise-to speedily form a good settlement-and to secure an endowment in land for an institution of learning. In 1854 or 1855 a locating committee, consisting of B. F. Haskins, W. J. Wood, John Cross, B. F. Atkin- son and one more (name unknown), came into Page county and selected a large tract of unentered land for the object contemplated. It was not a denominational movement, although the movers in the matter were Christians, and did not hide their light. Almost all the orthodox denominations were represented in the company, and at first all aided in maintaining religious worship. They were as a body active in reforms, warm advocates of tem- perance, anti-slavery and anti-secret societies. As soon as a place could be furnished for a school, a school was opened. Christian ministers were mem- bers of the company, and Sabbath services were regularly observed. About the year 1858, in the autumn of the year, the parson accompanied B. F. Gardner and wife to Amity. Though the particu- lar year cannot be fixed with certainty, it was the one when a most splendid comet decked the heav- ens, the tail of which reached from the horizon to the zenith-a sight which many among us never beheld. The nights were cool, and the mornings
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frosty. The people of Amity were very busy pre- paring for winter. There were many new comers, and many hastily and poorly constructed dwellings, as is common in new settlements. Some were even living in tents, but " necessity knows no law." Not- withstanding the urgency of business, religious meetings were held every evening, and the parson remained most of the week, visiting through the day and attending meeting in the evening, where was manifested unusual religious interest.
There for the first time I fell in with one, a brief sketch of whose history I will venture to re- late, for the lessons it contains :
Albert V. House, of respectable parentage, like too many youths chafing under wholesome home restraint, left home early to learn the shoemaking trade. Next he enlisted in the United States army, and served through the Seminole Indian war in Florida. There he acquired a strong appetite for intoxicants, which, though kept in subjection, at- tended him through all subsequent life. He was at Amity at this time, with a young and interest- ing family, and was working at his trade. He possessed an unusual gift for public speaking-had exercised it as an exhorter in the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he was a member, and had been active in Christian work in Amity. A few days before I saw him, he had set out for St. Joe to replenish his stock in business, taking his own
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conveyance, as there were then no railroads. He reached Marysville the first evening as daylight was fading from the western sky. It was a cold evening, and he, to use his own words, "was chilled to the heart." Just opposite the hotel where he stopped was a saloon brilliantly lighted, warm, and very attractive. The temptation was too strong to be resisted. He was brought back from Marysville prostrate and penniless. I found him profoundly penitent, greatly humbled, and deeply depressed. His Christian friends gathered around him and encouraged him to return to the Lord heartily and renew his trust in Him. Conscious of his weakness and aware of the temptation to which itinerancy would expose him, he united with the Council Bluffs Congregational Association in April, 1860, and afterward preached at Hawleyville, Glenwood, Nevinville, Otho, Parkersburg, Man- son and Lawler, at which last place he died in May, 1875. While laboring at Glenwood he was invited to a celebration of a wedding occasion, where wine was passed. It offended him greatly. He spoke of it as a very narrow escape on his part from a ruinous fall, and ignorance alone could excuse the act, in his estimation. At the meet- ing of the Iowa State Congregational Asso- ciation at Sioux City in 1872, the Lord's Supper was observed on Sunday afternoon, and a temper- ance meeting was held elsewhere in the city at the
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same hour. Fermented wine was used. As I put the cup to my lips I wondered if Brother House was present. Afterward on meeting him I asked if he were there. He said, "No, I was called upon to speak at the temperance meeting. Why?" I replied, " They used fermented wine." " Oh!" he exclaimed, " I am so glad I was not there. I wouldn't have been there for ten thou- sand dollars."
The history of Amity affords an example of the inutility of pushing organic union, where there is not intelligent union of heart. At first all wor- shiped together, but as numbers increased, the preferences of the different denominations, while attracting those who were of the same mind to each other, at the same time drew them away from the common multitude, until Amity has become noted for the number of its churches in proportion to its population.
The college movement at Amity was originally undenominational, but even a Christian college seems to flourish best under the patronage and sup- port of some particular denomination. The ma- jority of the trustees of Amity college has for many years been United Presbyterians, and they, therefore, hold the control of it.
CHAPTER XIII EVANGELISTIC AND TEMPERANCE WORK
I HAVE already spoken of a protracted meet- ing, held in the vicinity of Percival, by the aid of Rev. Wm. Simpson of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the winter of 1851-2. Tabor settlement was begun in the spring of 1852 and religious meetings were held in the grove under a basswood or linden tree two miles southwest of Tabor, near the pastor's log cabin, through the summer, and when the autumn breezes began to blow Brother G. B. Gaston's house, on the south- east corner of Park and Orange streets (now Mr. Starrett's), became the place of meeting. Here Mr. and Mrs. Laird, who had recently come from Erie county, Pa., to reside, where F. M. Laird has since succeeded them, first attended our meet- ing. When in 1854 the school house was built on the northeast corner of Center and Elm streets, that proved the resort for all public gatherings in our community until better accommodations were provided as the village grew. For many years it was customary to hold a series of religious meet- ings at some time during the winter season, which
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were uniformly attended with more or less quicken- ing of religious interest and conversion of sinners. As at first ministers were few and far away, these meetings were for a number of years conducted by the pastor of the church, efficiently aided by the deacons. On one of these occasions every indi- vidual in the community was reached and all of intelligent age except one cherished a hope in Christ. In the autumn of 1856 the parson held a protracted meeting in Glenwood, which resulted in the organization of the Congregational church of that place. In 1857 he aided Brother H. D. King, of Magnolia, in holding meetings, and in 1858 assisted Brother G. B. Hitchcock at Lewis, where Deacons Cummings of Tabor and Bush of Exira also attended. A deep interest was awak- ened and seventeen were added to the church on confession. In one of the meetings a father arose and, with tearful eyes and faltering voice, con- fessed that he had wickedly broken his vow made to God when in distress, for when on his way from England to America, a violent storm overtook them, and when in imminent peril of his life he cried to God. He promised his Maker that if He would but deliver and enable him and his to reach their destination in safety he would serve Him the rest of his days. But he had not kept his vow, and now God had called his sin to remembrance. He turned to God and began a prayerful life, his
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wife and several children going with him, and there was joy in that household. In February, 1859, the parson assisted Brother H. Penfield at Quincy in Adams county. In 1860 he helped Brother King, of Magnolia again. God worked with us and eighteen were added to the church on confession. In 1861 meetings were held at Percival, attended with a good degree of interest, and which resulted in the organization of the present Congregational church there.
During the war of the rebellion attention was very much diverted from matters of religion. The public mind was absorbingly eager to get the latest news from the seat of war. The news of the stampede of Bull Run came late in the week and furnished a theme for sermons and conversation on the following Sunday. True patriots were very much cast down, while rebels secretly, and some openly, rejoiced. Men grouped together at the street corners and gathered about the hotels and postoffices and bulletin boards, pouring over the latest despatches and eagerly attempting to pry into the future. So many had gone at the call of their country that a burden rested on the remnant in order to keep home business moving.
About January 1, 1868, the parson aided Brother J. H. Morley, of Magnolia, in a few days' meetings. Brother H. S. DeForest, during his ministry at Council Bluffs, conducted a series
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of religious meetings in Tabor twice, with good results. Father Orson Parker, a veteran evangel- ist, labored with us in 1870 with much success. Elder Balcom, of the Baptist denomination, and Brother Lang, of the Methodist Episcopal church, also conducted evangelistic meetings successfully among us. Efforts of this kind for the past fifteen years have been too numerous to mention in de- tail.
TEMPERANCE
Forty years ago as has been before said, all the people in this region of country were accustomed to use intoxicants as a beverage. Liquor was freely used at the polls on election day. The several can- didates furnished it for their friends, and it was not uncommon to see men drunk, fighting drunk and noisy, before the polls closed. Here and there at the boat landings along the river, whisky was kept for sale, and the imbibers thereof were wont to frequent these places for social merrymaking. Broils and fights, and reckless smash-ups, were not uncommon. Whisky used to be termed a good creature of God, but time has shown the fallacy of such a statement. For if Satan has any one tool more pliant, skilful, Satanic, and more destructive of all good than any or all others, it is Alcohol. It blunts conscience, and prompts to the commission of crime; it beats 12
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mothers and beggars families; it ruins character and destroys souls; it poisons the body and crazes the mind; it drags down the talented and noble and plunges them into the ditch. Murder, robbery, theft, adultery, anger, malice, blasphemy and the whole catalogue of crimes are incited and warmed into life by this fell destroyer. But much has been done to curtail this evil. It is made unchris- tian to use it, make it or sell it. It has disappeared from the public gaze. It finds no place in the most genteel families. Many hotels are run successfully without it. Elections are conducted quietly and honestly and honorably without it. In no case is it indispensable. In most it is decidedly hurtful. Temperance has made decided advances. Great changes have occurred for the better in the past fifty years. May we not hope that intemperance will yet be banished from the land ?
CHAPTER XIV INDIANS IN IOWA
T HERE are no adults among us, and few children, who have not heard of Indians as dangerous creatures-a strange people to be greatly feared; but many children have never seen an Indian. Some years ago a Pawnee Indian boy named " Ralph " attended school here in Tabor. He dressed, and played, and talked, and studied, and recited his lessons just like other boys. The United States government removed the Paw- nee tribe years ago to the Indian Territory, and Ralph went with the rest of them. Geo. B. Gas- ton and wife lived several years among the Paw- nees in Nebraska, and became deeply interested in them, so that some of them visited in Tabor more than once. When we first came to Iowa, forty years ago, Indians lived just across the Missouri river from us, and when the river became frozen across in the winter they frequently came over on the ice. Some unprincipled white men, who kept whisky and drank of it themselves, would give it to the Indians, and sometimes they got drunk, and then it crazed them and made them dangerous, just as it does white men. Drunken Indians came to a
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house in California City in Mills county once, more than thirty years ago, when the men hap- pened to be away from home, and the women shut the door against them. When they could not get in, one of them attempted to shoot in through the open chinks at the side of the door with his bow and arrow; but no sooner was the arrow-point in- serted between the logs than Mrs. Cordelia Clark Martin, with great decision and prompt presence of mind, seized it and snatched it out of his hand. Mrs. Cordelia C. Hinton probably retains that arrow to this day as a souvenir of the perils of the past. Baffled in their endeavor to enter that house, they went to other houses, and made themselves so disagreeable generally that some of the party were killed before they recrossed the river into Nebraska. So Alcohol proves to be the apt tool of Satan for the destruction of mankind, whether he be white, or red, black, brown, or yellow.
Many still live in Fremont county to whom the Indian trails or paths, that wound over the hills and through the vales, from grove to grove and from stream to stream, were as familiar, if not as numerous, as are the roads that accommodate the traveling public now. Indeed their camp fires were still burning when some among us first came to Fremont county. The forks and poles which formed the frames of their dwellings, and the
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bark which covered them, reminded us often of the singular race that had so recently disappeared. No history, then, of the county would be com- plete without some account of the native tribes which preceded the white man on this soil.
A feeling of sadness involuntarily steals over us as we contemplate the waning glory of the nations that once with elastic step, proud mien and brave hearts chased over these beautiful prairies herds of innumerable buffaloes, stealthily pursued the bounding deer and graceful antelope, or more lei- surely fished in the rivers, streams and lakes, or waylaid the numberless birds of passage that vi- brated between their summer and winter homes- nations that displayed their military prowess in sanguinary tribal conflicts on the field of battle. Strong nations have dwindled to insignificant bands in their retreat before the influx of the Anglo- Saxon race, until they may fittingly adopt the poet's sad strain :
" They waste us! Aye, like April snow In the warm noon we shrink away; And fast they follow as we go Toward the setting day."
The aboriginal tribes of America are so related to each other that a proper idea of one tribe can no more be given without referring to other tribes than can the geology of Fremont county be given
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without referring to the region around it. Indeed, the very existence of Indians on this continent pre- sents a problem not easy to solve. Its difficulty appears in the variety of answers which have been given. Since the human family was created and cradled in the interior of Asia, the aborigines of America must have reached the western continent in the same way that the islands of the Pacific were reached-that is, by some kind of ocean craft. In- dians lined the Atlantic coast from Maine to Georgia when the Pilgrims anchored the May- flower in Plymouth bay. Four great families of tribes, according to the languages spoken, were then found in the country-the Iroquois, the Al- gonquin, the Mobilian and the Dakotas. While there were some exceptions, the mass of the In- dians would naturally range under one or other of these families. Their manners, customs, policy and regulations were such, that alliances and con- federations at some times seemed almost to blend in one the different tribes; and again hostilities would break out and not only separate confeder- acies into the original tribes, but often would di- vide tribes into bands or clans which, in some in- stances, seem to have grown into distinct tribes.
The westward march of European emigration and the exploration of new regions of country have brought to light new tribes of Indians, until the Indian commissioner's report for 1874 mentions
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one hundred and fifty or more different tribes and bands within the United States, numbering in all, excluding those of Alaska, 261,851 as reported by the secretary of the interior in 1882.
The Indian tribes seem to have acted over in America, on a small scale, the incursions, invasions, conflicts and changes which were produced in Eu- rope by the Vandals, the Huns, the Heruli, the Goths and Gauls, and other nations in their irrup- tions and migrations.
The tribes that have roamed and hunted and fought over the fair fields of Iowa are the Sioux, Winnebagoes, Iowas, Illinois, Sacs and Foxes, and Pottawattamies.
The Sioux or Dakotas, numbering 53,000, are the most numerous and powerful tribe of Indians within the United States and have long been the terror of all the savage hordes, from Spirit Lake to the mouth of the Mississippi. They shared with the Illinois, and afterward with the Sacs and Foxes, the lovely lands of Iowa as their hunting grounds. They are a very warlike nation and have been the long-time mortal enemies of the Ojibways, Sacs and Foxes, and Pawnees. Sitting Bull and Spotted Tail, who fought for their rights and homes in the Black Hills, are prominent chiefs in this nation.
The Winnebagoes were found by Captain Jona- than Carver in 1766, located around Winnebago lake in Wisconsin. They were warm friends of
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the Sioux, not a numerous tribe, and could then raise two hundred warriors. From their tradi- tions, language and customs he judged " that the Winnebagoes originally resided in New Mexico and, being driven from their native country either by intestine divisions or by the extension of the Spanish conquests, they took refuge in these more northern parts, about a century before." This tribe seems to have affiliated with the Iowas, and Sacs and Foxes, and part of it found its way with them into Iowa. From the commissioner's report of 1882 we learn that the Winnebagoes on their reservation in eastern Nebraska, adjoining the Omaha reservation on the north, number 1,422, which are all of the tribe, except about 400 vagabonds, who have returned to Wisconsin, and a few who have joined the Sacs and Foxes in Tama county, Iowa.
The Iowas, from whom our state takes its name, were at one time identified with the Sacs of Rock river, but for some reason separated from them and assumed to be a band by themselves. For a time the Iowas occupied the same hunting grounds with the Sacs and Foxes, and seem to have come with them into Iowa. In the beginning of the present century they had two villages in the state, one on the right bank of the Iowa river, about ten miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, and the other, which was their principal village, on the
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Des Moines river on the site of Iowaville in Van Buren county. Here the last great battle was fought between the Iowas and the Sacs and Foxes, in which the latter were the assailants. The Iowas were taken altogether by surprise and unarmed. The attack resulted in the burning and complete destruction of the village and slaughter of great numbers of the lowas, men, women and children. In this fight, which was more of a massacre than a battle, Black Hawk, then a young man, led a detachment of the aggressors.
In 1881 this tribe, numbering one hundred and thirty, is reported as occupying sixteen thousand acres of a reservation in southeastern Nebraska, known as the Great Nemaha Reservation, which is shared by them and the Sacs and Foxes. Though greatly reduced in numbers, they are said to be making commendable progress in husbandry, learn- ing and civilization. They have adopted a code of laws, employ a tribal police, and fine every man who gets drunk five dollars. Sixty-three of the Sacs and Foxes of Missouri share the civil regula- tions and educational advantages with them. They are industrious, thrifty and provident.
At a grand council, held at the great Ojibway village on the shores of Lake Superior in 1665, we learned that the Illionis tribe was represented. This tribe, from which the river and state took their name, was at one time numerous and power-
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ful. Their hunting ground extended from Rock river to the Ohio, and westward to the Des Moines. Marquette and Joliet, French explorers, and the first Europeans that ever set foot in Iowa, in June, 1673, visited three Illinois villages on the bank of a river, supposed to be the Des Moines. They were cordially received, smoked the calumet with their new found friends, and remained with them six days perfecting their acquaintance.
Though the Illinois were at one time a formid- able nation, and roamed over ample hunting grounds, pursuing the buffalo and the deer on the vast plains, fishing in the majestic rivers, or glid- ing over the lakes and streams in their light canoes, yet their pride, cruelty and vengeful spirit trans- formed friends to foes, and produced a harvest like the sowing of the fabled dragon's teeth, so that enemies beset them round. When the Sacs and Foxes crowded them on the north, the Miamis on the east, Osages and Shawnees on the south and Sioux on the west, they became straitened and cut off on every side. They had a populous village of 6,000 or 7,000 inhabitants on the Illi- nois river, near the present town of Utica, in La Salle county, where Joliet and Marquette found friendly entertainment on their return from the lower Mississippi in 1673. Tonti, the lieutenant of LaSalle, spent the winter of 1679 and '80, and the following summer, at this large Illinois town.
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In September of this year (1680) a bloody battle was fought between the Iroquois and Illinois, on the prairie skirting the timber along the Vermil- ion river southeast of this village. The Iroquois were victors, and, after the fight, crossed the river and laid the Illinois town in ashes. Soon after, Tonti, being deserted by his men, and attacked by the Indians, took refuge among the Pottawatta- mies on Lake Michigan. Two years later he, with LaSalle, returned and fortified an almost inacces- sible rock on the south bank of the river opposite the site of this village, and named it Fort St. Louis. This place, which Tonti held till 1688, is now known as "Starved Rock;" it rises perpendic- ularly from the water on the river side to the height of two hundred feet, is level on the top, and can be scaled only on the land side, and at a single point, which is easily defended. It ac- quired its name and notoriety from the following incident: The Illinois tribe, beset with enemies on every side, wasted by predatory incursions, and slaughtered in sanguinary strife, had become re- duced to a mere remnant of its former greatness. The death of the great chieftain, leader and favor- ite, Pontiac, at Cahokia in 1769, by the hand of an Illinois assassin, caused the long gathering cloud of Indian wrath to burst in fury on that. devoted nation. Seven cities claimed the nativity of Ho- mer; more than one tribe claimed Pontiac. Park-
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man writes him an Ottawa chief, Carver a Miami, and others a Sac. His was an eventful life. Born in 1712-as an ally of the French, he defended Detroit in 1746-led several hundred Ottawas at Braddock's defeat in 1755-escorted the English to Detroit in 1760-conspired against the English settlers in America in 1762-besieged Detroit for five months in 1763-submitted to the English in 1766, and was killed in 1769.
The " Conspiracy of Pontiac " is the theme of an interesting volume by Parkman. He was a chief of broad views, great courage and daring, and very extensive influence. He never liked the English, and conceived the idea of destroying all the English on the continent. To accomplish this fondly cherished object he succeeded in enlisting nearly all the prominent tribes in the eastern half of the North American continent. He was artful in diplomacy, skilled in treachery, and cunning, en- ergetic and brave in battle. To effect his object, a simultaneous attack was made on all the frontier settlements from the lakes to the gulf. Many were slain, and more were compelled to flee for their lives. Whole families were massacred, houses burned and happy homes laid waste. No one felt safe to go abroad, and many trembled in their homes. Every one who could went armed. The minister, and all the men of his congregation, went to church armed on Sunday. The pastor stood
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