USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
The day of election came and with it came also the importation of voters by the "Bellows express." They were from Dubuque and Snake Diggings, eleven sleigh loads of the most wretched looking rowdies and vagabonds that had ever appeared in the streets of Davenport. They were the dregs of the mining district of that early day ; filled with impudence and profanity, soaked in whiskey and done up in rags. Illinois contributed largely by vote for Davenport. There was no use in challenging such a crowd of corruption, for they hardly knew the meaning of the word perjury, so they were permitted to vote, unmolested. Rock- ingham at this election, whatever she may have done afterwards, observed a strict, honest and impartial method of voting. There was no necessity for a re- sort to intrigue. She knew her strength and had it within herself. The election being over, the Dubuque delegation of miners returned home having drunk ten barrels of whiskey and cost the contracting parties over $3,000 in cash !
Davenport polled a majority of votes. The rejoicing was most enthusiastic. Bonfires and illuminations were exhibited and the result was considered a great and final triumph. But while these rejoicings were going on in Davenport, Dr. E. S. Barrows and John C. Higginson were on their way to Mineral Point, Wis., to see Gov. Dodge with documents sufficient to prove the frauds that had been perpetrated at Davenport. Upon this exposure the governor refused to issue his certificate of election.
Thus things remained until the legislature met in June at Burlington, at which time they passed an act for another election for the county seat between Daven- port and Rockingham to be held in the following August. This act more par- ticularly defined the manner in which the election should be carried on and voters were required to have a residence of sixty days. The returns of this election were to be made by County Commissioners' Clerk E. Cook, Esq. to the sheriff of Du-
126
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
buque county, and he was to count the votes in the presence of the county com- missioners of that county. The place having the greatest number of votes was to be entered upon the books of the commissioners and such place to become the seat of justice.
At this election Rockingham feeling rather sore under the treatment of the last election, laid aside all conscientious scruples in relation to the whole matter, and chose to fight the enemy in their own way, well knowing that act by its word- ing did not require legal votes. The campaign opened with vigor. The note of preparation was sounded and contending parties summoned to the field. The county was canvassed and the unstable and wavering were brought into the ranks on one or the other side. Building lots were proffered and accepted for in- fluence and for votes in both places. Col. Sullivan employed many extra hands around his mill, just about that time. The struggle was harder than before and the corruption much greater, though carried on in a different manner. The day of election came. The officers appointed to attend the polls were either not sworn at all or sworn illegally, so that in case of defeat a plea might be set up for a new election. The ballot box was stuffed. Illegal voting in various ways was permitted. Non-residents of Scott county swore that they were "old settlers," while the poll books and ballot box showed a list of names that no human tongue was ever found to answer to.
A great mystery seemed to hang over the Rockingham polls. They had been watched by the Davenport party, and yet when the ballot box was emptied of its contents, it showed most astonishing results. The committee sent down from Davenport to watch the polls could never explain where all the votes came from. The names in the box and on the poll books agreed, but the great difficulty seemed to be, that the settlement did not warrant such a tremendous vote. This, how- ever, was afterwards explained as being in strict conformity with the oath taken by some of the judges or clerks of the election which was that they should "to the best of their ability see that votes enough were polled to elect Rockingham the county seat."
The election being over, the returns were made to the sheriff of Dubuque county and counted in the presence of the commissioners as provided in the act, when a majority was found for Rockingham. The commissioners, for some cause, failed to make the entry upon their records as required by the act, but during the week took the liberty of "purging the polls," throwing out a sufficient num- ber of votes to give Davenport the majority by two votes. One of the votes thus thrown out was that of John W. Brown, who settled on Black Hawk creek in 1835 and was still living there.
By this proceeding Davenport was declared the county seat. Whereupon the Rockingham party made application to the supreme court for a mandamus di- rected to the county commissioners of Dubuque county, requiring them to make the proper entry upon their records of the election in Scott county in accordance with the act of the legislature.
On the final hearing of the case the court decided that they had no original jurisdiction over the case, but at the request of the parties the case having been fully argued upon its merits, the court examined the whole question and gave an opinion, the effect of which was that Rockingham was the county seat.
127
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
The legislature being then in session at Burlington passed an act for an- other election. At this election there were two other points added to Davenport and Rockingham as aspirants for the county seat. One was "the geographical center," now Sloperville, and the other was a quarter section of land at the' mouth of Duck creek called "Winfield." Before the election the geographical center was dropped. Davenport and Rockingham then commenced offering town lots and money for the use of the county in case the county seat should be located upon their ground. Thousands of dollars and donations of lots and lands were made and bonds given to secure it to the county in case of the selection of the point desired by either party. But at length Rockingham withdrew her claims upon condition that Davenport would build, free of expense to the county, a courthouse and jail similar to those in Rock Island, which she entered into bonds to do and the election was left for decision between Davenport and the "Duck creek corn field," as it was called.
The commissioners elected by the Rockingham party issued an order for a contract to build a jail in Rockingham, as will be seen by the following notice published in the Iowa Sun of May 12, 1840:
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS.
Sealed proposals will be received by the board of commissioners of Scott county for building a jail in the town of Rockingham until the first day of July next, on which day the proposals will be opened and the contract let.
A plan and specifications may be seen by calling on John H. Sullivan, Esq., commissioner to superintend the erection.
Proposals to be endorsed: "Proposals for erecting a jail in Scott county" and directed to "John H. Sullivan, Esq., commissioner to superintend the erec- tion of a jail in Rockingham."
By order of the board of commissioners of Scott county, Rockingham, May 12, 1840.
EBENEZER COOK, Clark.
Davenport gained the election, built the public buildings free of all cost to the county, according to her contract, and thus terminated one of the most ex- citing questions that had ever disturbed the quiet of our peaceful community.
The battle was long and spirited. The contending parties withdrew from the bloodless field with happy triumph, each having outgeneraled the other, and found that even when a victory was won, the laurels are not always sure. A peace treaty was held at the Rockingham hotel in the winter of 1840, where the most prominent actors in the past scenes met as mutual friends and buried the hatchet forever, ratifying the treaty, as it was called, by a grand ball, where more than forty couples mingled in the dance and seemed to forget at once all the strife and bickerings of the past, and seal their friendship anew with earnest and willing hearts.
During the whole of this controversy, singular as it may appear, the utmost good feeling and gentlemanly conduct prevailed. No personal feuds grew out of it, and to this day it is often the source of much merriment among the old settlers ; and is looked upon only as the freaks and follies of a frontier life.
128
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
Rockingham was settled by a class of people noted for their social and friendly virtues. Nowhere in the west was there a more open-hearted and gen- erous people. In sickness, of which there was much at an early day, all had sympathy and attention and the most cordial good feeling prevailed throughout the whole community. They were united in every good work and enterprise and always ready to kindly act.
A ferry was established across the Mississippi river in the spring of 1837 con- necting with the State road up the south side of Rock river, which brought much travel on that route.
In 1845 the town began to decline. Many of the inhabitants left and settled in other parts of the country, some in the city of Davenport. At present Rock- ingham is a deserted village, having but three or four families left in it, the build- ings having been moved into the country for farm houses or to Davenport for dwellings.
ALONG THE DRIVEWAY IN FEJERVARY PARK
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
CHAPTER IV.
DAVENPORT TOWNSHIP.
This township like Rockingham has bluff lands that are somewhat broken near the river until we reach a point three miles above the city of Davenport where it opens out into a beautiful prairie called Pleasant Valley. The bluff or timber line between the river and prairie is from one to two miles wide, and was for- merly well wooded.
By the "bluffs" of the Mississippi river we do not mean here that they are an abrupt or perpendicular ascent, but a gentle rise from the river or bottom lands, not so steep but roads may be constructed up almost any part of them. The general elevation of these bluffs or high lands is about 100 feet above the waters of the Mississippi, and in many places of very gentle ascent and covered with cultivated fields and gardens to their tops.
But Davenport township differs from all others upon the river in the beau- tiful, rolling prairies immediately back from the river after passing the bluffs. These prairies are not broken, as is common with those that approach so near the river, but are susceptible of the highest state of cultivation. Back of the city of Davenport the slope from the top of the bluff to Duck creek, covered as it is with gardens and fields, is one of uncommon beauty and richness, and the farms that now cover the prairie for seven or eight miles back cannot be excelled in any country.
Duck creek, which passes through the whole length of this township, rises in Blue Grass, some ten miles west of Davenport, and running east empties into the Mississippi, five miles above the city, its course being up stream, parallel with the Mississippi and only one or two miles distant from it. It affords an ample supply of water for stock, and is never dry in summer, being fed by numerous springs along its course. Its Indian name is Si-ka-ma-que Sepo, or Gar creek, instead of Duck creek.
But before entering in detail upon the settlement of this township, there is much to interest and engage the attention of those who may desire a knowledge of its more remote history which although but little known is interesting and important. As has already been observed the locality of Davenport and its sur- roundings have been the camping ground of the Indian from time immemorial. Marquette and Joliet the first discoverers of the country, 189 years ago, found
132
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
the tribes of the Illini here (See Discoveries and Explorations of Mississippi River, by Shea, vol. I, page 30; also Annals of the West, p. 31). There were three villages or towns ; the main one at which they landed was called "Pewaria" where we suppose Davenport now stands, as it is laid down upon Marquette's original map on the west side of the "River Conception," as he named the Mis- sissippi. This map is a fac-simile of the autograph one by Father Marquette, at the time of his voyage down the river in June, 1673, and was taken from the origi- nal, preserved at St. Mary's college, Montreal, (See Explorations of the Missis- sippi River, by Shea, p. 280.)
Of the tribes found here by Father Marquette, and among whom he estab- lished a mission, little is known, except his first account of them, as they have become extinct. The tribes of the "Illini" aboriginal, (Hall's Sketches of the West, vol. I, part ii, p. 142) seem to have been very numerous at that time, being scattered over the vast country lying between Lake Superior and the Missis- sippi, for we find that Marquette in his second voyage here to found the Mis- sion (Shea, vol. I, p. 53) was accompanied part of the way by some "Illinois and Pottawattamies," "and we find them settled at that day upon the Illinois river at Peoria and LaSalle's trading post, and also on the Kankakee, and as low down on the Mississippi river as Cape Girardeau. They seemed to be less war- like than the Iroquois and the Wyandots, and roamed at pleasure unmolested over all lands and among all tribes.
The Sacs and Foxes came from the northern lakes, but at what date it is difficult to ascertain. The Foxes were originally called Outagamies, Schoolcraft, (vol. VI, p. 193). From what tribe they descended is not known. About the seventeenth century we find them with the Iroquois committing depredations upon the whites among the great lakes of the north.
"It has been inferred," says Schoolcraft, (vol. VI, p. 193) "from their language that they belonged to the Algonquin tribes, but at an early day were ejected from and forsaken by them." We find them in 1712 with the Iroquois making an at- tempt to destroy Detroit; being routed, they retired to a peninsula in Lake St. Claire where they were attacked by the French and Indians and driven out of the country. We next find them on Fox river at Green bay. Their character seems to be perfidious. They were a constant annoyance to the trapper and the trader, ever creating difficulty and disturbance among the other tribes. "Having been defeated at the battle of 'Butte des Mortes,' or 'Hill of the Dead,' with great slaughter the remnants of the tribe fled to the banks of the Wisconsin." ( Schoolcraft, vol. VI, p. 191.) We have no further notice of them until their settlement upon the Mississippi and its tributaries.
"The Sacs and Foxes took possession of the lands belonging to the Iowas, (Annals of the West, p. 713) whom they partly subjugated." "The Foxes had their principal village on the west side of the Mississippi at Davenport." "A small Sauk village was on the west side of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Des Moines river." This was between 1785 and 1800. The Sauks were the original occupants of Saginaw on Lake Michigan, and were allies of the Foxes in 1712, in an attempt to drive the French out of Michigan.
Thus far in our history are we able to trace the immediate occupants of our soil prior to possession by the United States. The early French traders found
133
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
a village of Foxes at Dubuque with the chief "Piea-Maskie," and another at the mouth of the Wabesse-pinecon river, a Sauk village, with "No-No" as chief. But a still larger village of Foxes was where the city of Rock Island now stands, called "Wa-pello's village," while the main Sauk village, "Black Hawk's town," was on Rock river between Camden and Rock Island. The traffic with the In- dians was carried on by the Canadian French in Mackinaw boats. There were no established trading posts. The constant wars among the tribes continued to di- minish their numbers. The Sioux, the Chippewas, the Winnebagoes and the Menomenies were the bitter enemies of the Sauks and Foxes. They were ever lurking upon each other's trail, and never letting slip an opportunity of gathering a few scalps in revenge for some fancied wrong.
In the spring of 1828 the Indian agent at Prairie du Chien by request of the Sioux, Winnebagoes and Menomenies, then allied in their petty wars, sent an invitation to the chiefs and braves of the Fox village at Dubuque to meet their enemies in council and forever bury the tomahawk, and settle all differences existing between the several tribes. The Sacs and Foxes were becoming re- duced in numbers. Their faithless, perfidious and treacherous course of life among all the nations through which they had traveled, from the great lakes of the north to the valley of the Mississippi had followed them. Their warriors had been slain, and they felt their strength fading away. They were willing now to live on terms of peace with their neighbors and very readily accepted the in- vitation. Piea-Maskie was their chief. Not suspecting the treachery of their enemies, all the principal chiefs and braves of their band left their village at Du- buque, for the treaty at Prairie du Chien.
The Sioux and Winnebagoes had deceived their agent and only laid a plot to draw the Foxes from their village for the purpose of entrapping them. They therefore sent spies down the river, just before the appointed time for the treaty, to watch the movements of the unsuspecting Foxes. On the second night after leaving Dubuque the party made an encampment a little below the mouth of the Wisconsin river on the eastern shore and while cooking their evening meal and smoking around their campfires without the least suspicion of danger, they were fired upon by more than 100 of their enemies; a war party that had been sent down for that purpose. But two of the whole number escaped. In the general massacre that followed these jumped into the river and swam to the western shore, carrying the sad news of the murder to their village. This produced con- sternation and alarm. Such treachery, even in Indian warfare, was startling. The chiefs and brave men had been slaughtered without mercy and an attack upon their village might be expected. Their leaders were dead, and dismay and confusion reigned throughout the camp.
The surviving warriors were assembled in council to select another chief. A half-breed of Scotch descent of much daring and bravery named Morgan was elected and named Ma-que-pra-um. A war party was soon formed under their new leader to march on the faithless Sioux and avenge the death of their chief and brave men. The preparations were soon completed. The plot was laid. All was ready. The council fire was again lighted and the warrior band, headed by their new chief sat around in sullen silence, painted and hung in all the parapher- nalia of an Indian warrior. The wail and lamentation for the dead were changed
134
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
to the deep, piercing yell of the savage. All the dark hatred of the Indian nature was depicted on the countenances of this revengeful group, and there went up a shout, the war cry of their tribe, such as the rugged cliffs and hills of Dubuque had never heard before or since. With blackened faces, chanting the death song, they entered their canoes and started on their mission of blood.
Arriving in the vicinity of Prairie du Chien, from the opposite bluffs the spies of the party discovered the encampment of the foe, almost directly under the guns of the fort. The setting sun was just gilding the walls of Fort Crawford and the sentinel on its ramparts had just been roused from his listlessness by the beat of the "tattoo;" the Indians lay indolently in their camp, little dreaming of the fate that awaited them. On seeing the position of the enemy the plan of at- tack was soon formed. The Foxes lay in ambush until the darkness of the night should shield them from observation. A sufficient number was left with the ca- noes with instructions to be a short distance below the fort. The warriors then stripped themselves of every incumbrance but the girdle containing the tomahawk and scalping knife, and went up the river some little distance, when, about mid- night, they swam the Mississippi and stealthily crawled down upon the encamp- ment.
All was darkness and silence! No sentinel watched the doomed camp! The smouldering fire of the first wigwam they reached revealed to them, as they threw aside the curtained door an Indian smoking his pipe in meditative silence. The leader chief seized him and without noise carried him outside the lodge and slew him without alarming the camp. The work of death went on from lodge to lodge in stillness and silence until the knife and hatchet had done their bloody work, severing not only the scalp but many of the heads of their chieftains.
The work was done and with one loud, wild whoop of satisfaction and re- venge the fort was awakened, the sentry sent forth his note of alarm, while the assailants took to the canoes belonging to the enemy, rejoined the party, and with a yell of triumph were far down the Mississippi before the officers of the fort were in readiness to march. With the trophies of victory they soon reached their village, dancing the "scalp dance." Packing up their valuables the whole tribe deserted their town at Dubuque, descending the river and settled where the city of Davenport now stands.
This massacre took place within the memory of some now living here who related these facts to the author, and they still have a most vivid recollection of see- ing the returning band as they came down past Rock Island with their canoes lashed side by side, the heads and scalps of their slaughtered enemies set upon poles still reeking with the blood of their victims. They landed amid the most deafening shouts of savage triumph and celebrated their victory with the Sacs, singing their war songs and exhibiting with savage ferocity the clotted scalps and ghastly faces of the treacherous Sioux. Winnebagoes and Menomenies, of whom they had killed seventeen of their best chiefs and warriors, besides other men, women and children of the tribe. From that event until the removal of the Sacs and Foxes this village was called "Morgan," after their chieftain.
This brief sketch of the history of our immediate vicinity before the dawn of civilization must suffice. The Indian who possessed the soil was here in his own right by whatever means he possessed it. The early missionaries had taught him
135
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY.
the first principles of Christianity. He believed in the Great Spirit. He wor- shipped no idols, nor bowed to any superior but the great "Manito." They had their seers and prophets, and believed in a tutelar spirit. They made no sacrifice of human life to appease the wrath of an offended deity. They observed their fasts and holy days with blackened faces and with midnight lamentations. They believed in a future of rewards but not of punishments, and were ever ready and proud to sing the death song even at the stake, that they might enter the elysian fields of the good hunting ground. They never blasphemed. There is no word in their language by which to express it.
The Indian's home is wherever the finger of destiny points; yet his sym- pathies often cluster deeply around the place of his nativity and the scenes of his earlier life. Thus was it with them when they came to leave their home upon As-sin-ne-Mee-ness, (Rock island) and the As-sin-ne-Se-po, (Rock river). In all their wanderings from the great lakes on the north to the Ohio river on the south and the Mississippi on the west they had never found a home like this. The bluffs and the islands furnished them animals for the chase, while the clear waters of the As-sin-ne-Se-po gave them the finest fish. The fields yielded them an abundance of the maize, the potato, beans, melons and pumpkins. and they were as happy as the roving spirit of their nature would allow, when in the spring of 1814 the white man came and with the din of preparation for work, the soli- tude was broken and the first sounds of civilization broke upon their ears.
Attempts were made at that time to plant forts along the Upper Mississippi. (Annals of the West, p. 743.) The only means of transportation was by armed boats. Maj. Zachary Taylor, (president of the United States in 1850) was in command of one of these boats. He left Cap au Gris (Cap au Grey) in August of this year with 334 men for the Indian towns at Rock island with instructions to destroy their villages and cornfields. (Annals, p. 744.) The Indians were located on both sides of the river "above and below the rapids." But in this at- tempt he was frustrated by the Indians receiving aid from neighboring tribes and some British allies then at Prairie du Chien. The battle was severe and lasted some three hours, commencing on the rapids above at Campbell's island (p. 745).
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.