USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 31
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Now and then during the session some poor devil was snatched up, arraigned and tried for indiscretely showing his money to some one of its members. But such trials only served to lionize the victims, and it looked to an outsider as if these scamps themselves had purposely committed these offenses in order to bring themselves into notice, and thereby claim themselves to be the victims of a cruel persecution.
In vain did they meet in joint conven- tion for the purpose of electing Judges of the Supreme Court and Senators. Every vote, some anxious aspirant in the "lobby" would brighten up, thinking perhaps this time the lucky card would turn up; but, alas! for human hopes, he lacked just ONE vote of an election.
Your humble servant was an idle and curions looker-on at most of the interest- ing scenes which took place at this seseion, and if it was not for the notes that he took at the time, he could hardly tell at this day whether these scenes were real, or whether they were the productions of an idle and troubled dream.
They finally adjourned without electing either Judges or Senators, and the State toddled along very well, half State, half Territory.
This was the last time, I believe, that Mr. Clarke ever appeared at the legisla- ture. He died soon after, at Burlington, with that horrible scourge, the cholera.
This closed the carthly carcer of a just and noble man, cut off in the prime of life and in the midst of a useful career.
227
HISTORY OF IOWA.
He was married to a sister of General Dodge, and this fact being known at the time of his appointment as Governor, drew upon the Dodge family the title of the "Royal Family." But whatever might have been said in this respect, the appoint- ment was due to Mr. Clarke, nor could it have been bestowed upon a better man, or one more competent to fill it.
He was the third and last Territorial Governor of Iowa, and, like the other two who preceded him, as soon as he had passed the office into the hands of his successor, he gently and calmly laid down and died. He was a tall, slender man, of a mild and amiable disposition, and had quite a femi- nine look. He left a family behind to mourn his sad loss. His history is without a stain or reproach, and throughout his whole life no man ever imputed ought against his character as a man and a citi- zen.
I have thus given you a few random 'sketches of the three Territorial Governors of Iowa, together with a few of the prin- cipal events in the history of Iowa, con- neoted with their administration.
Most of the incidents contained in these sketches I have given from memory alone, having been myself an eye-witness of, and personally cognizant of many of the facts.
By these sketches you not only see the character and noble traits of the three good and wise men, but you see that under their care and protection, a young and thrifty State sprung into existence in the short space of eight years from the time when the whole Territory was the home of the savage.
OTHER TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. Secretaries.
Wm. B. Conway, 1838, died 1839.
James Clark, 1839-41. O. H. W. Stull, 1841-3. Samuel J. Burr, 1843-5. Jesse Williams, 1845.
Auditors.
Jesse Williams, 1840-43. William L. Gilbert, 1843-45. Robert M. Secrest, 1845.
Treasurers.
Thornton Baylie, 1839-40. Morgan Reno, 1840.
Judges.
Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838. Joseph Williams, 1838.
. Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.
Presidents of Council.
Jesse B. Brown, 1838-9. Stephen Hempstead, 1839-40. M. Bainridge, 1840-1. J. W. Parker, 1841-2. John D. Elbert, 1842-3.
Thomas Cox, 1843-4.
S. Clinton Hasting, 1845.
Stephen Hempstead, 1845-6.
Speakers of the House.
William H. Wallace, 1838-9. Edward Johnson, 1839-40. Thomas Cox, 1840-1. Warner Lewis, 1841-2. James M. Morgan, 1842-3.
James P. Carleton, 1843-4. James M. Morgan, 1845.
George W. McLeary, 1845-6.
STATE OFFICERS. Governors.
Ansel Briggs, 1846-50. Stephen Hempstead, 1850-54. James W. Grimes, 1854-58. Ralph P. Lowe, 1858-60.
228
HISTORY OF IOWA.
0
Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860-64. William M. Stone, 1864-68. Samuel Morrill, 1868-72. Cyrus C. Carpenter. 1872-76. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876-77. J. G. Newbold, 1877-78. John H. Gear, 1878-82. Buren R. Sherman, 1882.
Lieutenant-Governors.
Oran Faville, 1858-60. Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-62. John R. Needham. 1862-64. Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-66. Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-68. John Scott, 1868-70. M. M. Walden, 1870-72. H. C. Bulis, 1872-74. Joseph Dysart, 1874-76. Joshua G. Newhold, 1876-78. Frank T. Campbell, 1878-83. Orlando H. Manning, 1882.
This office was created by the new constitu- tion, September 3, 1859.
Secretaries of Stato.
Elisha Cutter, Jr., 1846-48. Joseph H. Bonney, 1848-50. George W. McCleary, 1850-56. Elijah Sells, 1856-63. James Wright, 1863-67. Ed. Wright, 1867-73. Josiah T. Young, 1873-79. J. A. T. Hull, 1869.
Auditors of State.
Joseph T. Fales, 1846-50. William Pattee, 1850-54. Andrew J. Stephens, 1855-59. Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859-65. John A. Elliott, 1865-71. John Russell, 1871-75. Ruen R. Sherman, 1875-81. William V. Lucas, 1881.
Treasurers of State Morgan Reno. 1846-50. Israel Kister, 1850-52. Martin L. Morris, 1852-59.
John W. Jones, 1859-63. William H. Holmes, 1863-67. Samuel. E. Rankin. 1867-73. William Christy, 1873-77. George W. Bemis, 1877-81. Edwin H. Conger, 1881.
Attorney- Generals
David C. Cloud, 1853-56. Samuel A. Rice, 1856-60. Charles C. Nourse, 1860-64.
Isaac L. Allen, 1865-66. Frederick E. Bissell, 1866-67 Henry O'Connor, 1867-72. Marcena E. Cutts, 1872-76. John F. McJunkin, 1877-81. Smith McPherson, 1881.
Adjutant- Generals.
Daniel S. Lee, 1851-55.
George W. McLeary, 1855-57.
Elijah Sells, 1857. Jesse Bowen, 1857-61 Nathaniel Baker, 1861-77.
John H. Luby, 1877-78. W. L. Alexander, 1878.
Registers of the State Land Offics. Anison Hart, 1855-57.
Theodore S. Parvin, 1857-59.
Amos B. Miller, 1859-62. Edwin Mitchell, 1862-63.
Josiah A. Harvey, 1863-67. Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1867-71. Aaron Brown, 1871-75. David Secor, 1875-79. J. K. Powers, 1879.
Superintendents of Publie Instruction.
James Harlan, 1847-48. Thos. H. Benton, Jr., 1848-54. James D. Eads, 1854-57. Joseph C. Stone, 1857. Maturin L. Fisher, 1857-58. Oran Faville, 1864-67. D. Franklin Wells, 1867-68. A. S. Kissell, 1868-72. Alonzo Abernethy, 1872-76.
229
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Carl W. Van Coelen, 1876-82. John W. Akera, 1882.
This office was created in 1847 and abolished in 1858, and the duties then developed npon the secretary of the Board of Education; it waa re- created March 23, 1864.
State Printers.
Garrett D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849-51 William H. Merritt, 1851-53. William A. Hornish, 1853. Den. A. Mahoney and Jos. B. Dorr, 1853-55. Peter Moriarty, 1855-57. John Teesdale, 1857-61. Francia W. Palmer, 1861-69. Frank M. Mills, 1869-71. G. W. Edwards, 1871-73. Rich. P. Clarkson, 1873-79. Frank M. Milla, 1879.
State Binders.
William M. Coles, 1855-58. Frank M. Milla, 1858-67. James S. Carter, 1867-71. J. J. Smart, 1871-75. H. A. Perkins, 1875-79. Matt. Parrott, 1879.
Secretaries of Board of Education. T. H. Benton, jr., 1839-63. Oran Faville, 1863-64. This office waa abolished March 23, 1864.
Presidents of the Senate.
Thomas Baker, 1846-47. Thomas Hughes, 1847-48. John J. Selman, 1848-49. Enos Lowe, 1849-51. W. E. Leffingwell, 1851-53. Maturin L. Fisher, 1853-55. W. W. Hamilton, 1855-57. Under the new constitution the Lieut .- Gover- nor is President of the Senate.
Speakers of the House Jease B. Brown, 1846-48. Smiley H. Bonham, 1848-50. George Temple, 1850-52, ..
James Grant, 1852-54. Reuben Noble, 1854-56. Samuel McFarland, 1856-57. Stephen B. Sheledy, 1857-59. John Edwards, 1859-61.
Rush Clark, 1861-63. Jacob Butler, 1863-65. Ed. Wright, 1865-67. John Russell, 1867-69. Aylett R. Cotton, 1869-71. James Wilson, 1871-73. John H. Gear, 1873-77. John Y. Stone, 1877-79.
Lore Alford, 1880-81.
G. R. Struble, 1882.
Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.
Charles Mason, 1847.
Joseph Williams, 1847-48. S. Clinton Hastings, 1848-49.
Joseph Williams, 1849-55. George G. Wright, 1855-60. Ralph P. Lowe, 1860-62. Caleb Baldwin, 1862-64. George G. Wright, 1864-66. Ralph T. Lowe, 1866-68. John F. Dillon, 1868-70. Chester C. Cole, 1870-71. Jamca G. Day, 1871-72. Joseph M. Beck, 1872-74. W. E. Miller, 1874-76. Chester C. Cole, 1876. William H. Seevers, 1876-77.
James G. Day, 1877-78. James H. Rothrock, 1878-79. Joseph M. Beck, 1879-80. Austin Adams, 1880-82. William H. Seevers, 1882.
Associate Justices.
Joseph Williams, beld over from territorial government until a successor was appointed. Thomas S. Wilson, 1847. John F. Kinney, 1847-54. George Greene, 1847-55. Jonathan C. Hall, 1854-55. William G. Woodward, 1855. Norman W. Isbell, 1855-57. Lacon D. Stockton, 1856-60.
230
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Caleb Baldwin, 1860-64. Ralph P. Lowe, 1860. George G. Wright, 1860. John F. Dillion, 1864-70. Chester O. Cole, 1864-77. Joseph M. Beck, 1868. W. E. Miller, 1870. James G. Day, 1870.
United States Senators.
Augustus C. Dodge, 1848-55. George W. Jones, 1848-59. James B. Howell, 1870. George G. Wright, 1871-77. James Harlan, 1855-65. James W. Grimes, 1859-69. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1866. James Harlan, 1867-73. William B. Allison, 1873-79. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1877-81. William B. Allison, 1879. Jamea W. McDill, 1881.
MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
1846-47-S.Clinton Hastings, Shepherd Leffler. 1847-49 -- Wm. Thompson, Shepherd Leffler. 1849-51-Wm. Thompson, Dan. F. Miller, Shepherd Leffler.
1851-53-B. Henn, Lincoln Clark.
1853-55-Bernhart Henn, John P. Cook. 1855-57-Aug. Hall, Jas. Thorington. 1857-59-Samuel R. Curtis, Timothy Davia. 1859-61-Samuel R. Curtis, Wm. Vandever. 1861-63-Samuel R. Curtis, J. F. Wilson, Wm. Vandever.
1863-65-James F. Wilson, Hiram Price, Wm. B. Allison, J. B. Grinnell, John A. Kasson, Asahel W. Hubbard.
1865-67-James F Wilson, Hiram Price, Wil- liam B. Allison, Josiah B. Grinnell, John A. Kasson, Asahel W. Hubbard.
.1867-69-James F. Wilson, Hiram Price, Wil- liam B. Allison, William Longhbridge, Grenville M. Dodge, Aaahel W. Hubbard.
1869-71-George W. McCrary, William Smyth (died September 80, 1870, and succeeded by Wm. P. Wolf), William B. Allison, William Loughbridge, Frank W. Palmer, Charles Pome- roy.
1871-73-Geo. W. Mccrary, Aylett R. Cotton, W. G. Donnan, Madison M. Walden, Frank W. Palmer, Jackson Orr.
1873-75-Geo. W. Mccrary, Aylett R. Cotton, W. G. Donnan, Henry O. Pratt, James Wilson, William Loughbridge, John A. Kasson. James W. McDill, Jackson Orr.
1875-77-Gco. W. Mccrary, John Q. Tufta, L. L. Ainsworth, Henry O. Pratt, James Wilson, Ezekiel S. Sampson, John A. Kasson, James W. McDill, Addison Oliver.
1877-79-J. C. Stone, Hiram Price, T. W. Bur- dick, N. C. Deering, Rush Clark, E. S. Samp- aon, H. J. B. Cummings, W. F. Sapp, Addison Oliver.
1879-81-Moses A. McCoid, Hiram Price, Thomas Updegraff, N. C. Deering, Rush Clark (died in May, 1878, and succeeded by Wm. G. Thompson), J. B. Weaver, E. H. Gillette, W. F. Sapp, Cyrua C. Carpenter.
1881-83-M. A. McCoid, S. S. Farwell, Thos. Updegraff, N. C. Deering, W. G. Thompson, M. E. Cutta, John A. Kasson, W. P. Hepburn, C. C. Carpenter.
PRESENT STATE OFFICERS.
Governor, Buren R. Sherman. Secretary, John A. T. Hull. Deputy Secretary, Wm. T. Hammond. Auditor, Wm. V. Lucas. Deputy Auditor, Rufus L. Chase. Book-keeper, L. E. Ayres. Treasurer, Edwin H. Conger.
Deputy Treasurer, C. R. Chase. Register Land-office, Jas. K. Powers. Deputy Register, John M. Davia. Sup't Pub. Inst , John W. Akers.
Printer, Frank M. Milla. Binder, Matt. Parrott. Adjutant- Generol, W. L. Alexander.
Superintendent Weights and Measures, Prof.
N. R. Leonard. Librarian, Mra. S. B. Maxwell. Assistant Librarian, Jessie Maxwell.
SUPREME COURT.
Chief Justice-Wm. H. Seevera, Oakaloosa. Judges-James G. Day, Sidney. James H. Rothrock, Tipton. Joseph M. Beck, Fort Madison. Austin Adams, Dubuque. Att'y Gen .- Smith McPherson, Red Oak. Clerk-E. J. Homes, Des Moines. Reporter-John S. Qunnells, Dea Moines.
HISTORY OF
CASS COUNTY,
IOWA.
CHAPTER I.
-
INTRODUCTION.
E ACH year as it rolls its resistless way | along the mighty pathway of time, is fast thinning the ranks of the hardy pio- neer's, who first broke the path way of civil- ization on to what is now known as the prairies of Cass county. The icy hand of the grim King of Terrors, pursuing its re- morseless and unceasing avocation, is cut- ting down, one by one, the hardy and brave men and women who first establish- ed the footmarks of progress and enlighten- ment in this, then, great wilderness, whose only inhabitants were the savage wild beast, and his hardly less wild congener, the cruel red man.
No tongue could tell, no pen portray the hardships and vicissitudes of fortune endured in those early days by these hardy Argonants., who, thirty-five years ago bidding adieu to the home roof-tree, in the old homes, in the older lands of comfort and of convenience, turned their
backs upon all, many of them forever, and wandered away in the broad domain of the mighty west, there to hew out for themselves homes in their vast solitudes.
The weather beaten form, the furrowed brow, the prematurely hoary locks, are sad, yet eloquent evidences that theirs was noholiday task, while weathering the storms and troubles of pioneer life. Pen- ury, hardship and often absolute want were their lot, while trying to couquer Dame Nature, and establish homes for themselves and their families in this boundless wilderness.
Let us hasten then to put down the words, as they fall from their lips, of the grandly heroic deeds, done in those early days, for all heroism is not that surround- ed with blood and smoke, that they may find the niche in history that they so richly deserve. Let their words and deeds form a monument that shall long outlast
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
the stone or bronze which must ere long mark the place of their rest. Let their epitaph be: "They builded better than they knew."
But before we take up the annals of historic times, it is the duty of the com- piler to go back into the dim and misty corridors of time, and detail the history of the earth upon which we stand, the scenes of these events about to be related. Not the history penned by the puny hands of man, but the grand epic writ by the hand of creation. upon rock and field. The broad surface of the earth, spreads out before us, where those who wish to, can read its history prior to the advent of man, on its surface. The boundless prai- rie, stretching away in vanishing lines to meet the sky; the glad earth, robed in emerald green and dotted with a myriad of bright flowers, that for countless ages have lain in quiet and undisturbed repose, has its beauty, and its annals. Now, since the invading foot of the innovating white man has pressed its sod the grassy weed is replaced with fields of golden grain or nodding corn, and both pictures are lovely to the eye.
"These the gardens of the desert-these The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, And fresh as the young earth ere man had sin- ned.
Lo! they stretch,
In airy undulations, far away,
As though the ocean, in the gentlest swell, Stood still, with all its rounded billows fixed, And motionless forever."
The prairies, indeed, were a grand sight -in the summer, "clothed in verdure green," in the fall, in that color that too well tells of the departing years. If a grand sight to see the prairies, as the tall grass waved to and fro, it was a magnifi- cent sight, in the fall of the year, to see the annual prairie fire as it sweeps over all. A correspondent of an Eastern pa- per, in an early day, in traveling West, witnessed one of these fires, and thus de- scribes it in a communication to his paper:
"Whilst enjoying the sublimity of the scene, night threw her mantle o'er the earth, and the sentinel stars set their watch in the skies, when suddenly the scene was lighted by a blaze of light illuminating every object around. It was the prairie on fire. Language cannot con- vey, words cannot express to you the faintestidea of the grandeur and splendor of that mighty conflagration. Methought that the pale Queen of Night, disclaiming to take her accustomed place in the heav- ens, had dispatched ten thousand messen- gers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun, and that now they were speeding on the wings of the wind to their appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagration, my thoughts re- curred to you, immured in the walls of a city, and I exclaimed in the fullness of my heart:
'O fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze, As o'er the grass ' sweeps the magnificent blaze; The world cannot boast so romantic a sight, A continent flaming, 'mid oceans .. of light."
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1
G
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
233
CHAPTER II.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF CASS COUNTY.
Cass county is one of the southwestern sub-divisions of the State of Iowa, being in the third tier north of the Missouri line and the second east of the Missouri river, which here forms the western boundary of of the State. It embraces sixteen con- gressional townships, and is twenty-four miles square, and contains something like 368,640 acres. The entire county is on the "Missouri Slope," or within the area drained by the tributaries, of the "Big Muddy," as the Missouri river is univers- ally called. The numerous streams that thread with silvery wave the emerald prairies of Cass county, completely drain its surface, and diversify the character of the landscape. Among the more important of these streams are the East Nishna- botna and West Nodaway rivers, Indian, Turkey, Troublesome and Seven Mile creeks. The former of these water courses, the Nishnabotna, or as the set- tlers say "the Botna," enters the county on the north line of section one, in Py- mosa township and flows in a general - southwesterly course, traversing, on its way, the townships of Pymosa, Atlantic, Washington and Cass, and makes its exit near the southwest corner of the last named. Indian creek has its head waters just over the line in Shelby county and flows in an almost direct line soutb,
through the townships of Brighton, Wash- ington, and Cass, and makes a confluence with the "Botna" in section 17, in the latter. Turkey creek rises in the north- west corner of Adair county and enters Cass on the northeast line of Grant town- ship, meanders through that township and those of Franklin, Atlantic and Cass, and forms a junction with the Nishna- botua in section two of the latter. Troublesome creek is in the northeastern part of the county, and flows into the "Botna." The west branch of the Nod- away river has its head in the southeast part of Lincoln township, and flows in a general southwesterly course to join the parent river, These streams, together with their numerous affluents, supply an abundance of living water for all stock purposes, until it may be truly said that Cass county has hardly a section that has not a stream of living water on it, mak- ing it a perfect paradise for stock raisers. The northeast corner of the county is about 920 feet above low water mark, in the Mississippi river, at Davenport, or about 1450 above the tide level of the ocean. The surface is generally undu- lating prairie, but there are considerable groves of timber along the streams; in fact, the acreage of timber land in the county is reported to be upward of ten
234
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
thousand, and is pretty well distributed throughout the entire county. The soil : partakes of the general character peculiar to the Missouri slope of Iowa, and is peculiarly rich and productive. In fact, lying as it does in the great corn belt of the State, it has a soil and climate unsur- passed by any, and equalled by but few counties in the United States, and is near- ly always blessed with an abundant crop. The valleys along the principal streams are wide and afford some of the finest farming lands in the State. The valley of the Nishnabotna has a wide reputation for beauty and fertility, and many of those lying along the smaller streams have the same characteristics.
Almost the entire surface of the county is susceptable to the highest cultivation, and is adapted to all of the cereals, grasses, fruits and vegetables common to the latitude.
Cass county is also well adapted for stock purpose and many of the more intel- ligent and progressive agriculturists are turning their attention in that direction, and already many fine herds of short horns and other fine breeds are seen dot- ting its emerald pastures. Many of those who had the necessary foresight, and em- barked in this line at an early day, are
now enjoying the benefit at their ease, in competency and affluence.
Cass county has considerable stone suitable for building purposes, the choco- late sandstone, quarried on the Nishna- botna, near Lewis, having been largely used in this and adjoining counties, for many years, and is a very durable and handsome stone. Limestone, suitable for the manufacture of lime has been, also, found in several localities.
Lying within what is known as the upper coal measures, it would not be sur- prising that at some future day, coal would be found and. developed within almost any part of Cass county, but it can only be by deep mining. This useful mineral is now found only in Edna township, where there are several banks being developed.
SUB-DIVISIONS.
Cass county is divided into sixteen civil townships, each comprising a full con- gressional township. These are named as follows, commencing at the northeast corner: Grant, Benton, Pymosa, Brighton, Washington, Atlantic, Franklin, Lincoln, Massena, Union, Bear Grove, Cass, Pleas- ant, Noble, Edna and Victoria.
235
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
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CHAPTER III.
THE ABORIGINES.
Away back in the dim and misty past this whole State of Iowa, then called the Beautiful Land, was occupied by the sav- age redman, who bunted over its prairies, through its groves and fished in its pel- lucid streams. History tells us that when Pere Marquette visited the eastern part of the State in 1673, he found the country in the possession of a powerful tribe known as the Illini, but when the white men again visited the country, no remnant of. them remained west of the Mississippi river, and the whole State was found to be overrun by the Fox, Sac and Iowa tribes, who claimed it by right of conquest.
Of these, the Foxes and Sacs were, at one time powerful nations, and stood prominent among the aboriginal inhabi- tants of America. They had been, form- erly, two distinct nations, and resided near the waters of the St. Lawrence river. By our government, they have always been treated as one people, although keep- ing up customs calculated to maintain a separate nationality, and in their own government, were separate. The Fox Indians moved to the west, and first set- tled in Wisconsin, near Green Bay, on Lake Michigan, but becoming involved in a war with the French and the neighboring tribes, were so much reduced in number that they were unable to sustain them-
selves against their hostile neighbors. The Sac Indians had been engaged in a war with the Iroquois, or Six Nations, who occupied the country which now comprises the State of New York, and had become so weak that they were forced to leave their hunting ground, and move to the west. They found the Fox tribe, their old neighbors, like themselves, reduced in number by the havoc of war, and, from a matter of necessity, as well as sympathy, they united their fortunes, and became, in the sense of association, one people. The date of their removal from the St. Law- rence is not definetely known. Father Hennepin speaks of the Fox Indians being at Green Bay, then called the Bay of Puants, in 1760. The date of their re- moval from Green Bay is not known, either, as their traditions are not reliable, but they gradually branched out, and oc- enpied large tracts of Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.
When in 1803, the First Consul, of the French Republic, Napoleon Bonaparte, ceded to the United States all this Terri- tory, then a part of the Louisiana pur- chase, these tribes, together with the Iowas, were the dominant people.
Sometime after this, the Foxes and Sacs declaring war against the Iowas, nearly exterminated the latter in one terrible
236
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
campaign, in which the afterwards cele- brated Black Hawk took a prominent part.
When the "Black Hawk purchase" was made, in 1832, a portion of this State was retained by the Indians, consisting of four hundred square miles, and known as "Keokuk's Reserve."
From this date the Indians ceded away by treaty tract after tract of this the most beautiful country the sun ever shown upon, until to-day in this great State of Iowa they hold only a few hundred acres of land in Tama county, and this only in repurchase from the white man.
In accord with the progressive and ag- gressive spirit of the American people, the Government of the United States made the last treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians in the fall of 1842, for the remain- ing portion of their lands in Iowa. The treaty provided that the Indians should retain possession of all the lands thus ceded until the autumn of 1845. These lands laid along the Iowa river, extending southeasterly, and embraced the south- eastern part of the State. Their princi- pal village at this time was Ot-tum-wah- no, where the city of Ottumwa now is. As soon as it became known that the treaty had been concluded there was a rush of emigration to Iowa, and a great number of temporary settlements were made near the boundary of the Indian line, awaiting the day set for the Indians removal. As the day approached hundreds of families encamped along the line, and their tents and wagons gave the scene the appear- ance of a military expedition, but the United States military authorities had prevented any settlement, or even the
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