USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 35
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ANTOINE LE CLAIRE
CHAPTER XI.
DAVENPORT'S FIRST CITIZEN.
ANTOINE LE CLAIRE PROMINENTLY IDENTIFIED WITH THE CITY, TERRITORY AND STATE-THE OWNER OF A HALF-DOZEN SECTIONS OF LAND GIVEN HIM BY INDIAN FRIENDS-GENEROUS TO ALL-MARGUERITE LECLAIRE, HIS WIFE WHO SHARED HIS PLEASURE IN MAKING OTHERS HAPPY-A TRIBUTE BY PERE PELAMOURGUES -LECLAIRE AND DAVENPORT-NAMES INSEPARABLE.
ANTOINE LECLAIRE.
Scattered throughout these pages, here and there, the name of Antoine LeClaire appears. He was a man so prominently identified with the territory, state and city of Davenport in their early stages of development, was so broad-minded, lib- eral in his views, enterprising, generous to friends and enthusiastic and helpful in the promotion of the city's advancement, and always at the head of and a liberal contributor to every public enterprise of his day, that necessarily his name was more frequently and respectfully used than any other man of this community. Many incidents of his life are noted herein by those who knew him intimately, which leave the writer of this sketch naught to do but give a general outline of the life of that great pioneer.
Antoine LeClaire was born December 15, 1797, at St. Josephs, Michigan. He was the son of Francois LeClaire, who immigrated from France to Canada and eventually took up his residence in Detroit. Francois LeClaire married the grand- daughter of a Pottawattamie chief, who became the mother of Antoine. At this time the territory of the northwest, out of which a half dozen mighty states have been formed, was peopled almost solely by the redmen, with here and there one of a different race, fearless enough to brave the perils of the frontier life among the dusky denizens of the wilderness. Francois LeClaire was one of these. In 1808 he established a trading post at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, exchanging manufactured articles for various kinds of furs. In 1809 he engaged to some extent in the business in connection with John Kinzie, at Fort Dearborn, now Chicago, Illinois. In 1812, though surrounded with the Indian tribes with whom he was trading and
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who through the influence of British emissaries were generally hostile to the United States, Francois LeClaire espoused the American cause, engaging actively in the service, and was in the contest at Peoria, where with others he was taken prisoner. The prisoners were confined at Alton, Illinois, but were released during the same year.
ENTERS GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
About this period, at the solicitation of Governor Clark of Missouri, Antoine . LeClaire entered the service of the government and was placed at school that he might acquire a proper knowledge of the English language. At that time he could speak French and Spanish fluently. In 1818 he was sent to Fort Armstrong and there acted as interpreter under Captain Davenport, and the same year returned to Peoria, where in 1820 he married the granddaughter of Acoqua (The Kettle), a Sac chief. The same year he was sent to Arkansas to watch the movements of Indians in that locality. He was returned to Fort Armstrong in 1827 and was present as interpreter in 1832 when the treaty was made by which the United States purchased of the Sac and Fox tribes the territory west of the Mississippi river. The treaty, on account of the presence of cholera among the soldiers at Fort Arm- strong, was entered into on the Iowa shore opposite to the island. Here the great chief of the Sacs, Keokuk, whose admiration for LeClaire could never be con- cealed, made a reserve of a section of land which he donated to Mr. LeClaire's wife, requiring as the only condition that Mr. LeClaire should build his house on the section and on the spot then occupied by the marquee of General Scott in making the treaty, which condition Mr. LeClaire afterward fulfilled to the letter. The Sacs and Foxes also, gave him another section of land at the head of the rapids, where the village of LeClaire now stands. The Pottawattamies in the treaty of Prairie du Chien reserved two sections on the Illinois side which they presented to Mr. LeClaire. On this reservation now stands the thriving city of Moline. The treaty was ratified by congress the following winter. In the spring of 1833 Mr. LeClaire erected a small building in the then Fox village, "Morgan," which had occupied this ground for years previous. Of the tribe having this as their headquarters Ma-que-pra-um was the head warrior and Poweshiek the head chief. In the fall of 1834 the Sacs and Foxes left here for the Cedar river.
In 1833 Mr. LeClaire was appointed postmaster of Davenport, the first one to occupy that position in the town, and also justice of the peace, to settle all matters of difference between the whites and Indians. His jurisdiction extended over all the territory purchased of the Sacs and Foxes west of the Mississippi from Dubuque on the north to Burlington on the south. The population of Bur- lington at that time was about 200-that of Dubuque, about 250. An- toine LeClaire was an accomplished linguist. As has been stated, he spoke French and Spanish, understood thoroughly and conversed in fourteen In- dian dialects, and by reason of this mainly was present as interpreter at many other treaties, that of the Great and Little Osages, in St. Louis in 1825; that of the Kansas at St. Louis, in 1825; of the Chippewas at Prairie du Chien in 1829; the Winnebagos at the same place in August, 1829; at the same place with the Sacs and Foxes in 1826; also at Prairie du Chien with the Winnebagos in 1832; at the treaty of Fort Armstrong held on the Iowa side with the Sacs
ANTOINE LECLAIRE'S TREATY SITE HOME AS IT NOW LOOKS AT 420 WEST FIFTH STREET
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
and Foxes at Davenport in 1836; at Washington with the Sacs and Foxes in 1837; and with the Sacs and Fox tribes at Agency, now Wapello county, Iowa, in 1842.
FOUNDER OF DAVENPORT.
A's stated elsewhere in this work, Mr. LeClaire assisted in the formation of a land company that laid out the town of Davenport, and he became one of its most active, progressive and influential business men. On this spot where Daven- port now stands there was once an Indian village, of which no data is now at hand whereby it can be described. Doubtless it was the camping place or village of the Indians centuries before this continent was discovered by Columbus, and it is said also, although it is a matter of dispute among historians, that here, too, Father Marquette landed in June, 1673, and that he was the first white man whose foot ever touched the soil of Iowa. When Keokuk so generously presented to Marguerite LeClaire the section of land whereon Davenport now stands he little dreamed that a thriving, prosperous city would be built upon it. The first house having been built by Antoine LeClaire, and he having been so closely associated with all movements that led up to the city's existence, it is easy to feel that it should have received his name. But being of a generous and modest mind, he named the city in honor of his friend, Colonel George Davenport.
Antoine LeClaire became possessed of great wealth for a man of his day. His every desire seemed to be centered in the future and welfare of Davenport. Everything that would advance the city in any way appealed to his generous spirit and by a liberal expenditure of money and by gifts, churches, schoolhouses, hotels and other public buildings came into existence at his expense. The first cathedral of the Sacred Heart (St. Marguerite's) was built and furnished with bell, organ, paintings, statuary and fonts complete, with eighty acres of ground for a cemetery, by his munificence. The church and cemetery were named St. Marguerite's in honor of his wife, with its imposing appearance and lofty spires standing on a large city block of ground, crowning the hilltop overlooking the majestic Mississippi. In early days he also gave a block of ground between Fourth and Fifth, on Brady and Main streets, and erected thereon St. Anthony's church, school house and rectory complete. This block is now partially occupied by business buildings which bring a large revenue to the diocese. Mr. LeClaire was a devout Catholic, and as the word implies, was broad in his views, as he not only gave of his substance to his own church but also as well to the Protestant churches of that time, donating grounds and contributing liberally to the buildings erected thereon.
FROM BLOCK HOUSE TO MANSION.
His first home was a small log house soon replaced by a more pretentious structure from which he eventually removed into a splendid mansion on the bluffs, which commanded a beautiful view of the Mississippi and the three cities. After the death of Mrs. LeClaire it passed into the possession of the Catholic diocese and was used as a residence for Bishop McMullen, and at his death it was the residence of his successor, Bishop Cosgrove, who also died there. Then
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came Bishop Davis, who disposed of the residence, which still stands on its original site.
As Mr. LeClaire grew older his avoirdupois increased materially from his former small frame to a portly embodiment which made his physique noticeable wherever he appeared. In fact, his weight was something over 300 pounds. He died September 25, 1861, suddenly from a third attack of paralysis. His funeral was attended on the 26th of September by a multitudinous proces- sion of citizens and old settlers of the county, on foot, walking mournfully to the church and the grave, attended by Rev. Pelamourgues and two other priests. The funeral sermon was subsequently preached by Rev. John Donlan. The body was interred in the yard close to St. Marguerite's church, a costly monument was placed at the grave by his widow, and when she died, her body was interred beside that of her husband. Subsequently when the costlier monument to the memory and generosity of Antoine LeClaire, St. Marguerite's church, was razed to the ground, to give way to the Sacred Heart cathedral, the bodies of these noted pioneers were disinterred and found their last resting place in St. Mar- guerite's cemetery, where the monument purchased by Mrs. LeClaire was also removed.
MARGUERITE LECLAIRE.
Mrs. Marguerite LeClaire, wife of Antoine LeClaire, died at the family resi- dence, in Davenport, October 18, 1876.
Mrs. LeClaire was born at Portage des Sioux, St. Charles county, Missouri, October 16, 1802. She was the daughter of Antoine LePage, a Canadian, and the granddaughter of the Sac chief, Acoqua (The Kettle), the leading chief of his nation. Her early life was spent in her native village where her education was superintended by one of the orders of nuns, under whom she studied French and English. In 1820 she was married to Antoine LeClaire in Peoria, who was then acting as interpreter between the Indians and the government, and frequently accompanied her husband on his excursions among the Indians in Arkansas, whom he was sent to watch, when acting as scout or interpreter for the govern- ment, during seven years. During her residence in Davenport and before and since the death of her husband, delegations of the Sac and Fox Indians visited her place every year, where they were always made welcome, entertained as long as they wished to remain, and when leaving, always carried away as a free gift what necessaries they required-corn, flour, etc.
Being an earnest and devout Catholic, her own church and sect were recipi- ents of her charity to a very large degree; but as said before, when called upon for aid to any public or philanthropic enterprise, she never stopped to inquire as to creed or sect, all alike being partakers of her bounty. She died about nine in the morning, after receiving at the hands of Father Cosgrove the solemn rites of the church of which she was a devout and consistent member. The funeral sermon was preached by Father Cosgrove, in St. Marguerite's church, of which she was a member and which was built and furnished by her husband during his lifetime. Her remains were deposited in the burial lot beside her husband at the entrance of the church.
MARGUERITE LE CLAIRE
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
A PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY.
"One of the picturesque personalities that will lend charm to the history of Davenport," said the Democrat in its issue of June 17, 1899, "will be Antoine Le- Claire, the Indian's friend, companion, protector, incorporator of Davenport and for a quarter of a century one of its most public-spirited citizens, esteemed and loved by redmen and white till the day of his death. The banished tribesmen no longer make their annual pilgrimage here to seek his counsel and companionship, his activity no longer contributes to our civic life or his benevolence to the good works that others are carrying on in his stead, but his memory continues fresh in the minds of those who knew him. That his name lingers all over our city map in addition after addition, attaches to one of our streets and to a city at the head of the rapids is because he faithfully served the friends of his childhood, the Indians, who years ago made their abode in this vicinity, counted by them, as it may still lay claim to be, the garden spot of the west. In connection it may be noted that the removal of the Indians from this neighborhood onto a reserva- tion further west did not prevent them from showing, their affection for and remembrance of LeClaire in after life. For years large delegations of the tribes- men came here every fall, whole villages at a time, and camped near his house and enjoyed the hospitality of the family. When Colonel Davenport was mur- dered on the island here Indians came back from interior Iowa to guard the LeClaire home. Yearly the delegations grew smaller as the lines of civilization drew tighter about the Indian reservations, pushing the redmen farther west, while death thinned the ranks of those whose hunting grounds had been here and who owned to having a friend in the government interpreter of former days. Their pilgrimages hither continued, however, up to the time of LeClaire's death, and his widow received visits from many of the Indians afterwards. Before Antoine's death it had been agreed that the surviving relatives of himself and wife should take their property in equal shares and fifty-seven of their kindred therefore shared equally under his will after the decease of his widow."
A TRIBUTE BY FATHER PELAMOURGUES.
Father Pelamourgues spoke at the third banquet of the Scott County Pioneer Settlers association to the toast: "Antoine LeClaire-the pioneer of pioneers in this county, and the first president of the pioneers' association-identified with our city and county by almost every old-time memory, and by every association of feeling and interest-may he live long to bless the festive occasions with his great presence, and to witness the full rearing of these corporate structures, Da- venport and Scott county, whose corner stones his hands laid."
"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am afraid that in responding to this toast I shall do injustice to Mr. LeClaire, and to the Old Settlers associa- tion, before which I have the honor to speak, and I am sorry that a more competent person than myself was not selected to stand in my place. It is true a country- man of the great Lafayette is always welcome in an American gathering, let his merits be ever so little. I have so often, since my residence among you, experi- enced the kindness of our first president and of the old settlers, who always
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tendered me the hand of friendship, that I am encouraged to say a few words. My task is rendered light from the fact that all of you are well acquainted with Antoine LeClaire, all of you having been like myself welcomed to the home of your choice by the pioneer of pioneers of Scott county. Many of you found, perhaps, a shelter under his roof-for it is a well-known fact that he tendered always to the stranger that benevolent hospitality which was rendered especi- ally pleasant by the unaffected kindness of her who presided over his log cabin, who encouraged him in his hours of trial, and who more than any one else has pointed to him the good that was to be done.
"LeClaire and Davenport! Those two names are and will be for a long time to come, inseparable. Davenport, though destined to be a city, might have lan- guished if it had not been for the enterprising genius and liberal mind of An- toine LeClaire. He is not a man of one idea; he seems to be made on purpose for being the founder of a city. Liberal in his views, he never inquired of a man from what country he was coming, or to what creed he belonged. He was kind to all and encouraged all; he tried to be a benefactor to all; he encouraged the mechanic and the professional man; he was the friend of the poor as well as the rich. He always knew how to accommodate himself to circumstances and he was as cheerful trying his musical skill on a three stringed fiddle, and amusing some of those old settlers-who perhaps now listen to me-as he is now in his elegant mansion surrounded by all those comforts that can render a man happy if happiness can be found upon earth.
"Davenport and LeClaire! Names inseparable. He built the first log cabin, and in it every newcomer became his guest; he built the first church, in which he continued for many years to lead in singing the praises of God till his means permitted him to rear an edifice more suitable for the worship of the Almighty. He erected that hotel which for many years attracted the attention of all who passed in front of our village. He was instrumental in building the first foundry, helped that great benefactor of our town and county, A. C. Fulton, to erect the first mill, and passing over many other good deeds, he was the first man who worked on a railroad west of the Mississippi river.
"I will close, Mr. President, by saying: May he long live to bless these festive occasions with his great presence and witness the full rearing of those corporate structures, Davenport and Scott county, whose corner stones his hands laid."
ANTOINE LE CLAIRE'S OLD RESIDENCE First Railroad Depot west of the Mississippi River
THIRD HOME OF ANTOINE LE CLAIRE
CHAPTER XII.
PIONEER LIFE.
THE LOG CABIN WAS THE PALACE OF THE PIONEER-CHINKED LOGS, COVERED WITH CLAPBOARDS-RIFLE AND SPINNING WHEEL-ALMOST ANYTHING WAS A BED- ROOM-COOKING WAS PRIMITIVE FOR SHARP APPETITES-WELCOME FOR THE WAYFARER-PRAIRIE FIRES AND WOLF HUNTS-AMUSEMENTS FOR THE FRON- TIER PEOPLE WERE NOT LACKING-WHAT UNREMITTING TOIL HAS ACCOM- PLISHED.
. PIONEER LIFE.
Most of the early settlers of Iowa came from older states, as Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, where their prospects for even a competency were very poor. They found those states good-to emigrate from. Their entire stock of furniture, implements and family necessities were easily stored in one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only vehicle.
THE LOG CABIN.
After arriving and selecting a suitable location, the next thing to do was to build a log cabin, a description of which may be interesting to many of the younger readers, as in some sections these old time structures are no more to be seen. Trees of uniform size were chosen and cut into logs of the desired length, generally twelve by fifteen feet, and hauled to the spot selected for the future dwelling. On an appointed day the few neighbors who were available would assemble and have a "house-raising." Each end of every log was saddled and notched so that they would lie as close down as possible; the next day the proprietor would proceed to "chink" and "daub" the cabin, to keep out the rain, wind and cold. The house had to be redaubed every fall, as the rains of the intervening time would wash out the greater part of the mortar. The usual height of the house was seven or eight feet. The gables were formed by shortening the logs gradually at each end of the building near the top. The roof was made by laying very straight small logs or stout poles suitable distances apart, and on these were laid the clapboards, somewhat like shingling, generally about two and
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a half feet to the weather. These clapboards were fastened to their place by "weight poles" corresponding in place with the joists just described, and these again were held in their place by "runs" or "knees" which were chunks of wood about eighteen or twenty inches long fitted between them near the ends. Clap- boards were made from the nicest oaks in the vicinity, by chopping or sawing them into four foot blocks and riving these with a frow, which was a simple blade fixed at right angles to its handles. This was driven into the blocks of wood by a mallet. As the frow was wrenched down through the wood, the latter was turned alternately over from side to side, one end being held by a forked piece of timber.
The chimney to the western pioneer's cabin was made by leaving in the original building a large open place in one wall, or by cutting one after the structure was up, and by building on the outside from the ground up, a stone column, or a column of sticks and mud, the sticks being laid up cob house fashion. The fireplace thus made was often large enough to receive fire wood six to eight feet long. Sometimes this wood, especially the "back-log," would be nearly as large as a saw log. The more rapidly the pioneer could burn up the wood in his vicinity the sooner he had his little farm cleared and ready for cultivation. For a window, a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes by glass, but generally with greased paper. Even greased deer hide was sometimes used. A doorway was cut through one of the walls if a saw was to be had, otherwise the door would be left by shortened logs in the original building. The door was made by pinning clapboards to two or three wood bars and was hung upon wooden hinges. A wooden latch, with catch, then finished the door, the latch was raised by any one on the outside by pulling a leather string. For security at night this latch string was drawn in, but for friends and neighbors, and even strangers, the "latch string was always hanging out," as a welcome. In the interior over the fireplace would be a shelf, called the "mantel," on which stood the candlestick or lamp, some cooking and table ware, possibly an old clock, and other articles. In the fireplace would be the crane, sometimes of iron, sometimes of wood. On it the pots were hung for cooking. Over the door, in forked cleats, hung the ever trustful rifle and pow- der horn. In one corner stood the larger bed for the "old folks," and under it the trundle bed for the children. In another stood the old fashioned spinning wheel, with a smaller one by its side, in another the heavy table, the only table, of course, there was in the house. In the remaining was a rude clapboard hold- ing the table ware, which consisted of a few cups and saucers and blue edged plates standing singly on their edges against the back, to make the display of table furniture more conspicuous, while around the room were scattered a few splint bottom or Windsor chairs and two or three stools. These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind and true hearted people. They were strangers to mock modesty and the traveler seeking lodging for the night, or desirous of spending a few days in the community, if willing to accept the rude offering, was always welcome, although how they were disposed of at night the reader might not easily imagine, for, as described, a single room was made to answer for the kitchen, dining room, sitting room, bedroom and parlor, and many families consisted of six or eight members.
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SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS.
The bed was very often made by fixing a post in the floor about six feet from one wall and four feet from the adjoining wall, and fastening a stick to this post about two feet above the floor on each of two sides, so that the other end of each of the two sticks could be fastened in the opposite wall. Clapboards were laid across these, and thus the bed made complete. Guests were given this bed, while the family disposed of themselves in another corner of the room, or in the "loft." When several guests were on hand at once they were some- times kept over night in the following manner: When bedtime came the men were requested to step out of doors while the women spread out a broad bed upon the mid-floor and put themselves to bed in the center. The signal was given and the men came in and each took his place in bed next his own wife, and the single men outside beyond them again.
COOKING.
To witness the various processes of cooking in those days would alike sur- prise and amuse those who have grown up since cooking stoves and ranges came into use. Kettles were hung over the large fire, suspended with pot hooks, iron or wooden, on the crane, or on poles, one end of which would rest upon a chain. The long handled frying pan was used for cooking meat. It was either held over the blaze by hand or set down upon coals drawn out upon the hearth. This pan was also used for baking pancakes, also called "flap-jacks," batter cakes, etc. A better article for this, however, was the cast iron spider, or Dutch skillet. The best thing for baking bread those days, and possible even in these latter days, was the flat bottomed bake kettle, of greater depth, with closely fitting cast iron cover, and commonly known as the Dutch oven. With coals over and under it bread and biscuit would quickly and nicely bake. Turkey and spare-ribs were sometimes roasted before the fire, suspended by a string, a dish being placed underneath to catch the drippings.
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