History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 12

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1042

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In May, 1816, the Eighth regiment and a company of riflemen in command of Col. Lawrence came up the river in boats and landed at the mouth of Rock river. After some examination the lower end of Rock island was fixed on for a site to build a fort. On the 10th of May they landed on the island. A store house was first put up, which was the first building ever on the island. A bake house was next built, and then Fort Armstrong was commenced. At this time there were about 10,000 Indians in and around the place on both sides of the river. Col. George Davenport, then attached to the army, was general super- intendent. (See biog. Col. D. in Davenport Past and Present.) The Indians were much dissatisfied and complained that the noise made by the white man in building on the island would disturb the Great Spirit whose residence they believed to be in a cave at the foot of the island.

From this date until the Black Hawk war Rock island was only a frontier military post, and although this notice does not come strictly into the history of Scott county, yet so intimately are its early pioneer scenes connected with it, that

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it seems almost indispensable to make some mention of it. Tranquillity had in a measure been restored between the whites and the Indians when the Black Hawk war broke out. A few remarks on the causes of this war may not be uninteresting.

Black Hawk had ever been dissatisfied with the treaty made at St. Louis in 1804 (American State Papers-16-247 and Land Laws, 514) by Gen. Harri- son for their lands on Rock river, and upon a requisition of the United States to surrender these lands to the whites for settlement Black Hawk refused. He had been in the service of Great Britain in the War of 1812 and received pay and presents annually. He openly proclaimed himself and party British subjects. (Annals, p. 649.) At the treaty held at Portage des Sioux in 1814 to recognize and re-establish the treaty of Gen. Harrison which had been broken on the part of some of the Indians, by the part they took in the War of 1812, Black Hawk and his band refused to attend. It appears that he had continued depredations on the whites after peace was declared, and at this treaty, a "talk" at Portage des Sioux, the commissioners on the part of the United States required them to render up and restore all such property as they had plundered or stolen from the whites, and in default thereof to be cut off from their proportion of the annuities, which they were to receive for their lands by the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. This was one of the causes that led to the Black Hawk war. The disaffected portion of the tribe under Black Hawk were for resistance, while Keokuk, the chief of the peace party, had signed the articles of treaty with his principal braves.

There was a general dissatisfaction among all the tribes of the Upper Mis- sissippi at this time. In the transportation of military stores and traders' goods in boats the whites were often attacked and they had to go armed. Col. Taylor had an engagement in person with several hundred Indians among the islands just below this city. Being overpowered by numbers he was obliged to retire with a small loss.

In the treaty which ceded the lands of Rock river to the United States it was stipulated that the Indians should retain possession of them until they were brought into market or sold for actual settlement. This gave to the Indian as much right as a fee simple title until 1829, at which time the lands were sold, and Black Hawk's tower between Camden and Rock Island passed into the hands of the whites. On his return from hunting in the spring of 1830 he was informed for the first time that his home had passed into other hands, and that he must re- move with the rest of his tribe west of the Mississippi. This he refused to do in the strongest terms. He visited Canada to see his British Father, and Gen. Cass at Detroit, who advised him if he owned the land to remain where he was, that he could not be disturbed. (Wilkie's Davenport Past and Present, p. 23.)

All efforts made by Keokuk or his white friends to induce Black Hawk on his return to remove west were unavailing. He is said to have exhibited more at- tachment for his native land at this time than ever before or after. In the spring of 1831 his people commenced planting corn at his village and the whites who had laid claim to it ploughed it up. This aroused all the native fire and in- dignation of Black Hawk. He at once formed his plan of resistance. He threat- ened the whites. They became alarmed. The little fort at Rock island was too weak at such a remote point and Gen. Gaines ordered ten companies of militia to Fort Armstrong. A conference was had with Black Hawk, but he still refused

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DAVENPORT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

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to leave. The troops marched upon his town, and he retired across the river and located his village where the farm of the Hon. E. Cook was formerly, just below the city of Davenport. Another talk was then had, and Black Hawk agreed not to cross the river without permission, but the following spring he is found press- ing his way up Rock river with his whole band of warriors, men, women and children, expecting to be joined by other tribes and his friends the British allies. But in this he was disappointed, and being pursued by General Atkinson with 600 regulars, he fled for the wilds of Wisconsin, committing depredations and mas- sacres along his route. The war was now begun in good earnest.

On the 15th of September, 1832, the Black Hawk war being ended a treaty was held with the Sacs and Foxes by Gen. Scott upon the ground now occupied by the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad company in this city. At this treaty a small strip of land only was ceded to the United States, called the "Black Hawk Purchase." It lay along the Mississippi river, beginning at a point on the boun- dary line between Missouri and Iowa which is now the southeast corner of Davis county, and running thence to a point on Cedar river near the northeast corner of Johnson county, thence in a northwest direction to a point on the south boun- dary of the Neutral Grounds, then occupied by the Winnebagoes, and thence with said line to a point on the Mississippi river a short distance above Prairie du Chien, it being only about sixty miles in the widest place and contained about 6,000,000 acres. The Indians peaceably removed from it on the Ist of June, 1833, and thus gave to the whites free access to this beautiful land.

We now enter into details upon the first settlements in and around the city of Davenport. The beauty of its location has been often descanted upon. It needs no pen of mine to describe its loveliness, nor the rich and varied landscape that surrounds it. But there are thoughts that crowd upon the memory as we gaze upon its unparalleled growth and importance. Let us review for a moment, before we trace its history.

Twenty-seven years ago the first cabin was erected by the white man. The retreating footsteps of the red man were still heard over these bluffs. The poles of his wigwam still stuck along the banks of this noble river. The graves of his people were still fresh upon the brow of our bluffs, and the cornhills and playgrounds of his children have been covered over with the habitations of man !

This mighty river that once bore to our shores the frail bark of a Marquette and Joliet has become the thoroughfare of nations. Where the light canoe of the savage once glided in safety, the Scu-ti-chemon, (fire canoe or steamboat) of the white man now floats with majesty and splendor, and this magnificent river has become the highway of a mighty nation. The Mackinaw trading boat with its French voyageur has left its moorings on As-sin-ne-Man-ess, (Rock island,) and old Fort Armstrong that had stood like a watchful sentinel on the jutting rocks of the island for more than 40 years has been burned down by sacrilegious hands.

In the spring of 1836 John Wilson, or "Wild Cat Wilson," as he was called, who was an old "claim-maker" (he and his boys having made and sold the one where Rockingham was located and one where is now the farm of Judge Wes- ton,) commenced making a claim on the edge of the prairie on the Blue Grass

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road from Davenport, where the farm of Mr. Depro now is, afterwards the Dr. Bardwell place. The Indians who were then living on the Iowa river fre- quently came in here to the trading house of Col. Davenport, on Rock island. The trail passed directly across where Wilson was making his claim. He was cutting trees for logs and had some two or three yoke of oxen hauling them together for the house, when a company of Indians came along on their way to the trading house. They were a part of the disaffected band of Black Hawk and as usual felt cross and bitter toward the white man whom. they looked upon as an intruder. They ordered Wilson to desist from making any improvements ; told him that he should not live there and that he must leave. "Old Wild Cat" who was used to Indians, with whom he often had difficulties and most prob- ably with some of this very band, took very little heed of what they said, but urged on his work without any fear of trouble from them. The Indians after remaining at Davenport and on the island for a few days left for their home full of whiskey and ripe for a quarrel. On arriving at Wilson's they rode up to the spring near which the house was building (the same that now stands there, used as a stable). They got off and turned their ponies loose, laid off their blankets and deliberately prepared for a fight. Wilson and his two sons were all there were of the whites. Wilson was a short distance in the woods, chopping. The attack was made upon James, who was driving the team. He ran for his father and Samuel. On their arrival the old man who never feared Indian or white man, bear or wild cat, pitched in for a general fight. The Indians, some twelve or fourteen in number, soon had "Old Wild Cat" down, when one of the boys not having any weapon, unyoked an ox, and with the bow knocked down two or three of the Indians, which released the father, who springing to his feet, caught his axe which he had dropped in the first onset, and turning upon them, he struck an Indian in the back, splitting him open from the neck nearly to the small of the back. This dampened the ardor of the savages for a moment, when Wilson call- ing on his boys to fight and raising the "Wild Cat" yell he made at them again, when they gathered up the wounded Indian and fled. He soon died, and the next Sunday the Indians gathered in great numbers in the neighborhood of Wil- son's, with threatening aspects.

Wilson with his boys and a few neighbors was forted in John Friday's cabin where the Indians kept them nearly all day. A runner was sent to Mr. LeClaire and Col. Davenport, who settled the matter with the Indians and cautioned them about traveling across the lands of "Old Wild Cat," telling them of his threats, that he would scalp the first "redskin" he caught upon that trail. The Indians made a new trail from Davenport, running farther north through Little's Grove, and were never known to pass Wilson's after that affair.

Wilson, with his son Samuel was hunting and trapping in the autumn of 1840 on the "neutral grounds" belonging to the Winnebagoes when a party of some thirty Indians fell upon him and robbed him of everything he had except a little clothing. Whether he was known by these Indians or whether some of the Sacs and Foxes were present, he never knew ; but they took his team with all his effects and followed him out of their country. Mr. Wilson died a few years since near Moscow on the Cedar river in this state.

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George L. Davenport, Esq .. made the first claim in Davenport township im- mediately after the treaty in 1832, which was before the time expired that the Indians were to give possession to the whites (June 1, 1833). Mr. Davenport has been familiar with the Indians from boyhood, was adopted into the Fox tribe while young and had no playmates in early life but Indian boys. He learned to speak their language and was an expert archer, swimmer and racer, ever ready to join in all their sports, and a general favorite with the whole tribe. This explains why he was permitted to go upon the lands while others were kept off until the next year; for many emigrants took possession in the autumn of 1832 after the treaty, but were driven off and had to await the time specified in the treaty for possession, viz. the Ist of June, 1833.

There is therefore an error in the history of Buffalo township as to the first claim and also the first ferry. Capt. Clark might have established the first public ferry, but Col. Davenport had a flatboat and used it for ferry purposes as early as 1827, running between the island and main shore, carrying pack horses, cattle and goods for the Indian trade. He also kept a wood yard on the island after steamboats began to run here, and brought wood from Maple island and other places.

The claim upon which Davenport now stands was first made in the spring of 1833 by R. H. Spencer and a Mr. McCloud. A difficulty arose between these men in respect to the claim or some portion of it, when to end the dispute An- toine LeClaire purchased from both their entire interest for $100. This was the first transaction in real estate in the city of Davenport, some of which has since been sold as high as $200 a foot. This claim comprised that portion of the city lying west of Harrison street, being outside of LeClaire's reserve. He fenced in and cultivated a portion of it near the bluff embracing the ground now oc- cupied by the courthouse and jail. The early settlers will very readily call to mind the natural state of the ground in that portion of the city lying below West- ern avenue. Where Washington square is now enclosed filled up and beautified there was a quagmire that extended westward between Second and Fourth streets to the limit of the city. This slough that headed in Washington square was caused by springs, forming soft, spongy ground, impassable for man or beast ; and until 1845 there were no streets opened nor crossings from Second to Fourth below Western avenue. Some of the residents of 1837 and 1838 will recollect cattle miring in this slough, and one or two instances in which they died in it. This portion of our city is now largely built up by the Germans who mostly reside in the western portion of our city, and whose industry, energy and taste have turned this lowland into beautiful gardens and covered it with homes and workshops.

In the autumn of 1835 Antoine LeClaire, Maj. Thomas Smith, Maj. Wm. Gor- don, Philip Hambaugh, Alex. W. McGregor. Levi S. Colton, Capt. James May with Col. George Davenport, met at the house of the latter gentleman on Rock island to consult as to the propriety of laying out a town upon Mr. LeClaire's claim on the west bank of the Mississippi river. The arguments offered in favor of such a project were : the unexampled fertility of the soil, the necessity for a town at some future day at the foot of the rapids, the unrivaled beauty of the location. its healthy position, etc. This meeting resulted in the purchase from

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Mr. LeClaire of all the land west of Harrison street running along the bluff as far west as Warren street and thence south to the river at a cost of $2,000. The town was named after Col. George Davenport. It was surveyed by Maj. Gordon in the spring of 1836, who is said to have performed the service in less than a day with his mental vision very much obscured by a certain decoction called by the Indians scuti-appo, the "white man's fire water." From some of the lines which I have had occasion to trace since I have never doubted the assertion.

The first improvements within the present city limits were made by Mr. Le- Claire upon the ground now occupied by the M. & M. R. R. depot, in the spring of 1833. But nothing in the way of farming or the more substantial improve- ments took place till May, 1836, when Dr. James Hall and his two eldest sons took a contract from Mr. LeClaire to break a certain amount of land upon his "reserve" as it was called. This tract for breaking lay east of Brady street, beginning near the present corner of Brady and Second, extending up Second to Rock Island, and as far back as Sixth street. This was contracted for at $5 an acre except a certain portion which the Halls were to have free of rent and $2.50 an acre for breaking, which they planted in potatoes and corn, obtaining the seed from Fort Armstrong, paying $1.25 a bushel for potatoes. The next year this same ground was rented to the Halls for $15 an acre, upon which they sowed some wheat and raised a crop.

The first public house or tavern was built upon the corner of Front and Ripley streets, in 1836 by Messrs. LeClaire and Davenport, and opened by Edward Powers from Stephenson. The next year it passed into the hands of John Mc- Gregor from Kentucky.

In June, 1836 a very important personage arrived, bringing with him all the ingredients of a pioneer whiskey shop, the first introduced upon the soil of Scott county. It was Capt. John Litch, from Newburyport, N. H. He had been a sea-faring man, was far advanced in life, of a jovial disposition, full of anecdotes and ever ready to toss off a glass of grog with anyone who desired to join him. His log shanty stood on Front street below the subsequent site of Burnell, Gillett & Co.'s mill. Being in possession of the captain's account book, or log, as he called it, it may interest some to make a few extracts ; particularly as to the cost of material and labor at that day for building. His cabin was about 16x20 feet. It was afterwards enlarged.

June 30, 1836. Paid Hampton for logs, &c. $112.00

Paid for nails and sundries. 5.00

For raising 8 logs, 6 beams and sleepers 24.50

Lime and hauling rock 12.00

Lumber of Shoals & Eldridge (Capt. Shoals and D. C. Eldridge 14.44

Lumber of Capt. Clark

24.93

Carpenters and joiners 63.50

Nails and liquor 10.00

Shingles, glass, sash and clear stuff 29.47

Underpinning and painting, whitewashing, &c. 11.00

Locks, butts and screws. 3.II

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Horse rack and sawing corners of cabin. 6.00

Digging cellar, planking and timber 19.05

Cost of the first whiskey shop $386.00

Nov. 16.

R. H. Dr. to 4 glasses of whiskey, 25 cents, 4 lbs. salt, 12 cents $ .37

To 2 glasses whiskey, 12 cents, crackers and herring, 13,. .25

Dec. 3.

To 2 mackerel, 25 cents, I pt. whiskey, 121/2 cents. . .. To I qt. whiskey, 25 cents, tobacco, 121/2 cents,. .371/2 .371/2

J. M. Cr. by I bbl. flour. 13.00

By 3 days' work, $1 per day,. $ 3.00

Dr. to 4 bbls. of lime, $1.50 per bbl. 6.00

June 3, 157. Mr. E.

To 73 muskrats at 22 cents, 4 minks, 25 cents, 16.06

To I fisher skin, I wolf, I badger, and I coon skin, 22 cents each, .88

Cr. by 2 bush. corn, at $1.25 per bush .. 2.50

But flour sold as high as $16 per barrel this year ; pork 16 cents a pound and corn $2 a bushel.

The eccentric captain dealt in almost anything and everything that came along, as may be seen by his "log book," from the fine furs of the beaver and the otter down to the wolf and polecat. In the provision line he kept everything that could be had from pork and flour down to pumpkins and turnips, but the great attraction, however, the great leading article was whiskey. The captain, too, had such a nice, peculiar way of making the "critter" palatable by various other ingredients that his punches, cobblers, juleps and cocktails, all made from whiskey were much sought after; and his store became the resort of not only those who wished to purchase the necessaries of life, but the professional man, the politi- cian, the claim speculator, the old discharged soldier and the Indian, all met here' upon one common level, and talked over all matters of interest, under the balmy influence of the captain's good cheer. His was the only store, tavern, saloon or public place of entertainment in the town or county, and was as much, perhaps, to many a resort of necessity as a place to quench thirst. Captain Litch died on the 5th of March, 1841, aged fifty-five years, with the stigma of having planted the first whiskey shop upon the soil of Scott county.

A ferry across the Mississippi was established in the year 1836, by Mr. Le- Claire, who was appointed postmaster and carried the mail in his pocket while ferrying. It is said that his percentage due on his first quarter was 75 cents. The ferry soon passed into the hands of Capt. John Wilson who ran a flatboat with oars until 1841, when it was supplied with a horse ferry, and in 1843 by a steam ferry boat. Capt. John Wilson, who for so many years owned and per- sonally had charge of the ferry, was a native of New Hampshire. He pur- chased the ferry privilege of Mr. LeClaire in the spring of 1837, although he had been engaged in it the year previous as a special partner. The rights and privileges for ferry purposes conveyed to Capt. Wilson by Mr. LeClaire were one mile up and down the river each way from the ferry house, then standing at the

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foot of Main street, for the sum of $1,000. Many will remember the faithful services of the old, experienced ferryman, who in storm or tempest, night or day, was always at his post, in summer on the water, in winter on the ice, ready to do good service, ever meeting you with a smile, and one hand always ex- tended with his fingers playing to receive "that dime." He died of cholera in 1853.

The first white male child born in Davenport was a son of Levi S. Colton, in the autumn of 1836, who died at the Indian village on the Iowa river, in August, 1840. The first female child was a daughter of D. C. Eldridge, still liv- ing. Alexander W. McGregor opened the first law office in 1836. E. M. Gavitt, a Methodist minister, preached the first sermon in the house of Mr. D. C. El- dridge, corner of Front and Ripley streets. There were seven deaths this year, the first being that of Mrs. Tanneyhill. She was buried upon the brow of the bluff where the first Baptist church now stands, on Sixth and Main streets, where a place had been selected as the burial grounds of the town. Others were buried in Mr. LeClaire's private ground, corner of Sixth and LeClaire streets. This spot is now covered with improvements (the graves all having been removed,) and is occupied by the family residence of W. Barrows, Esq. In his garden was buried Dr. Emerson, the owner of the celebrated Dred Scott, who accom- panied his master to this territory while he was in the army at Fort Armstrong, and it was upon this ground that the suit was predicated for Dred's freedom.

In September of this year, 1836, a treaty was held with the Sac and Fox In- dians on the banks of the river above the city where the house of Mrs. Brabrook now stands. Governor Dodge was commissioner on the part of the United States to secure a tract of land upon the Iowa river called "Keokuk's Reserve." There were present at the treaty about 1,000 chiefs, braves and warriors, and it was the last assemblage of the kind ever held here to treat for the sales of their lands. Mr. D. C. Eldridge was present and relates the scenes at this treaty. Keokuk was head chief and principal speaker on this occasion. Black Hawk was present, but was not allowed to participate in the treaty, standing alone outside of the groups with his son. Nau-she-as-kuk and a few other friends were silent spectators. This is the last time the old chief ever visited this vicinity which to him had been one of the dearest spots on earth, and around which his affections had clustered from boyhood. He was dressed on this occasion in the white man's style, having on an old black frock coat, and a drab hat with a cane, the very picture of disap- pointed ambition. Like the withered oak of his native forest, torn and shattered by the lightning's blast, the winter of age upon his brow, and his feeble tottering steps pressing the soil he so much loved, he stood, a representative, a noble relic of his once powerful tribe, in meditative, dismal silence. What thrilling recollections, what heart stirring scenes, must have passed through the mind of the aged pa- triarch of three score years, and what deep emotion must have filled his soul as he reflected upon the past, and desired to unburden his crowded memory of the wrongs of his people toward him. But he was not allowed to speak. He had made a misstep in the great drama of life. He was a fallen chieftain. His proud nature would not allow him to yield and take a lowly seat in the councils of his people, and so he stood, the silent observer of the final contract that tore him from the last foothold on the hunting grounds of his fathers. The saddened

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History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 12

Author: Downer, Harry E Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1042

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1042