USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 40
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We were here but a few days when two Indians came-the first we had seen. One of them commenced talking in a loud voice in the Indian language, of which we could not understand a word. By pointing to the wigwam, saying "Saukie wigeop," then pointing to the ground, saying "Saukie aukie," and re- peating this many times, we understood he claimed the land and the wigwam be- longed to the Indians. This man proved to be Black Hawk. We had never heard there was such a chief. He had heard, way out at his winter hunting grounds, that the white man had taken possession of their lands and their wigwams; and he, with the Indian who accompanied him, had walked in all the way, to find the report too true. He first went to his own wigwam, which he found occupied by Judge Pence. This wigwam stood about 100 yards in front of Rinnah Wells' house, at Rock river. Black Hawk seemed to be very much plagued to find his wigwam occupied, and showed Judge Pence where the fire had burned the posts of the wigwam and gave them to understand that if they were to have such great fires they ought to protect the posts. Coming from his own wigwam over to where we lived it is not to be wondered at that the old man was somewhat
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excited. About six weeks after Black Hawk's visit here he, with the rest of the Indians, returned, and by this time Judge Pence was living in his own cabin, in their village. They were very much displeased to find white settlers so near them, and about two hundred of their young men mounted their horses and rode around Judge Pence's house several times. Mrs. Pence and the children, being alone, were very much alarmed, having never seen so many Indians before. She succeeded in sending one of the children to the fort on the island for help. The Indian agent being absent, Captain Nelson, in command, sent down the interpreter, Antoine LeClaire, who told the Indians they must behave or they would be visited by the soldiers. They soon became quiet, and we got along pretty well during the season, except a little trouble between the Indians and Rinnah Wells.
The Indians planted their corn in the same hill for many years. They scraped off the outside with a hoe, then dug up the hill thoroughly, and placed the corn in the hill with the hand. They cultivated it altogether with a hoe, going over it three or four times, making the hills very large. After forty years they are now plainly to be seen in the old fields. They raised a good many beans of a fine quality ; also squashes and a few melons. This was their entire crop. This work was done mostly by the squaws. I have seen some old men, and some boys of twelve or fifteen years, working in the field, but only one young one or middle- aged man, and he was making a fence. Their cultivated grounds were fenced by sticking stakes in the ground and tying poles to them, making a very weak fence, that would not turn cattle or hogs.
One day a party of three or four of us called upon Keokuk, feeling that he was friendly to us, and offered to plow his field. He accepted our proposition and came out frequently and treated us to sweetened water, which was made by putting maple sugar in the water, and was considered by the Indians a very nice drink. In the spring of 1829, when the corn was about knee-high, Keokuk called on all the white settlers and proposed that they should put up their cattle at night, on ac- count of the Indians' poor fences, and said the Indians would watch them in the daytime, and the cattle should not be hurt. All the settlers agreed to this prop- osition except Mr. Rinnah Wells, who thought it too much trouble. When the corn got in good order for roasting ears Mr. Wells' cattle came out one night to near Mr. Corker's old place and ate up the corn of several Indian families. Mr. Wells had corn on the opposite side of the road-the road running about as it does now. The next night, when the cattle returned for another meal, the Indians turned them into Mr. Wells' own field. After that Mr. Wells took care of his cattle.
I became very well acquainted with Black Hawk, living one summer less than a quarter of a mile from him. He was a man of medium size, and about sixty years of age-a very quiet, peaceable neighbor. Black Hawk was a strong tem- perance man. In all my acquaintance with him I never knew him to have but one spree. The first summer I lived here Black Hawk accompanied by a few of his braves, made a visit to a man selling whiskey to Indians. He rolled the barrels out doors and with his tomahawk knocked in the heads and let the whiskey out. For this he was called to account by the Indian agent who told him such conduct would not be allowed, and that it would bring him in conflict with the government. After leaving the council house I heard him tell the interpreter, Mr. LeClaire, that he
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believed he would not get himself into any more trouble of this kind, as by the effort to keep his young men from drinking he had made himself a great deal of trouble. As for himself he said he would not drink and would wear wampum, but the young men might drink and wear swansdown-meaning he would. save his property and they might drink and spend theirs. After he was deposed by the government he never tried to influence the Indians or take any part in their busi- ness. Before the war I never knew him to wear any part of a white man's garb, but after it he wore a coat, hat and pants.
It was the practice of our Indians to leave here for their fall and winter hunting grounds about the middle of September, and return about the middle of April. They all left on the same day, if not the same hour. In order to move in this way it was arranged that a man with a strong voice, several days before leaving, went through the village telling them on such a day they would leave for their winter hunting grounds.
Our Indians consisted of the Sauks and Foxes, these two tribes owning their lands jointly. I noticed that when they traveled they camped separately. The Foxes, while living here, lived on Jonah Case's old place up as far as William Brooks'. The Foxes had mostly left previous to my coming here, except a few who had intermarried with the Sauks and had made villages at Princeton, Belle- vue and Dubuque.
Our Indians, in starting for their hunting grounds, went down the river with the help of their horses, of which they had five or six hundred, and their canoes, which numbered about two hundred. Before starting it was understood by the two tribes where each should go, so as to avoid confusion. In hunting the Sauks occupied southern and Middle Iowa, the Foxes northern Iowa. Our Indians ascended the Iowa, Skunk, Des Moines and all smaller streams that would admit of a canoe. After the fall hunt they had a rendezvous appointed, where they as- sembled for winter quarters. This selection was made in a large timbered bot- tom, on account of their horses and security from the Sioux. They sometimes made temporary forts as a protection against the enemy. After making their maple sugar in the spring they were now ready to start for the old village. As soon as possible they would gather on the Mississippi, those that went to the more northern streams would wait for those who went farther south. They would all gather together about the Iowa river and move up the river, waiting for bad weather, making at best not more than eight or ten miles a day. They had a leader, who permitted no straggling, having it understood in the morn- ing where they would camp at night. So in the greatest order, keeping the canoes and horses as near together as possible, they would arrive here the same hour.
They brought home little besides the sugar just made and dried meat. their skins and furs having been disposed of to the Indian traders where they had been. Now they commenced looking for their corn, beans and dried squashes they had cached in the fall. This was done by good hiding. The most common way was to select a dry piece of ground where there was a blue grass sod. They then cut out a circular sod about eighteen inches in circumference, or as large as would admit a person's body. This sod was laid aside and then a large hole dug, enlarging as they went down, to the depth of five or six feet, so as to make it of sufficient size to hold the corn, beans, squashes and sometime crab apples
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of one family. These were put in sacks of their own making. They then put in bark on the bottom and sides and inside of this they put these sacks of provisions, for the next spring's use. Then they were covered with bark and filled with dirt, and the sod was carefully replaced, so as to make it look perfectly natural. They then cleaned up all the surplus dirt and hid it away, so there was nothing to indicate that anything had been buried there, or the earth disturbed at all. It de- pended on the hiding whether there would be any corn in the spring, for as soon as they were gone the Winnebagoes and other Indians came here hunting for their treasure. These Indians, by the aid of their muskrat spears, feeling in the ground, often succeeded in finding, and would take the supplies of several families. One family with whom I was acquainted, buried their supplies in the center of their wigwam, where they had their fire. After burying their treasure they had made a large fire to make it look all right. But the Winnebagoes hunted around and stuck their spears in the ground and finally discovered the place and took it all. The old squaw to whom it belonged wept bitterly.
When a family had been robbed in this way of all they had, it was the custom to send some of the young men around the village, from one wigwam to another, and collect a small quantity of each one for the sufferers. This robbery made no disturbance between the different tribes. A large part of the corn had been boiled and cut from the cob, and dried when green, making very nice eating, which they enjoyed very much, eating nearly all the time for several days, being deprived of this kind of food for some time before they came home. The Indians made one buffalo hunt each year, leaving home the first of July. This required a good deal of preparation, as they went a long distance and into the Sioux country, their deadly enemy. Each man was armed with a gun, bow, and large bundle of arrows. They expected fighting and generally brought home scalps, dried meat and tallow, but no robes, on account of the hot weather. There happened this year a circum- stance of some note. Our Indians, in an attack on the Sioux camp on Turkey river, near where Dubuque now stands, killed several Sioux and among the rest a Winnebago squaw and a Menominee boy. They hastened to the Winnebagoes and settled their mistake by giving them some horses. This seems to be the currency of the Indians. They always seemed to wish to avoid a rupture with the Winne- bagoes, who were 8,000 strong. The Menominees spoke the same language and were particular friends, and being a long distance away, they put off settling with them until the next spring, when nine of the principal men of the Foxes, of the Dubuque village, started in a canoe for Prairie du Chien to make the settlement for killing the boy. When a little below the Wisconsin river they were attacked by the Menominees and all killed. This stirred up the spirit of revenge and in August our Indians surprised the Menominees within 300 yards of Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, and killed forty-six of them, men, women and children. Our government called our Indians to an account for this, as they had the right to do by a former treaty, which was to the effect that all differences between these tribes should be submitted to it for settlement. On being called up, Keokuk took a stick and balanced it on his hand and said: "Put these nine principal men of the Foxes on one end, and the forty-six women and children of the Menominees on the other end, and I think it will be a fair settlement." And that was the settlement.
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The possessions of the Sauks and Foxes in Illinois commenced at the mouth of the Illinois river, keeping along that stream as far as Peoria, then moving north so as to strike the Wisconsin river seventy or eighty miles from its mouth, down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi, and down the Mississippi to the place of begin- ning. On the west side of the Mississippi they owned the whole of what is now the state of Iowa. Colonel Davenport informed me, as nearly as he could ascertain, our Indians originally occupied the country about Montreal, Canada; from there they removed to Green Bay, possibly about 200 years ago; and as nearly as he could ascertain, they had been living here about sixty years when I came here. From the growth of timber, from their cornfields and from every indication by which a frontier man judges at the age of a settlement, I have no doubt but his information was correct. Now they had at last reached the great "father of waters," the most beautiful country their eyes had ever seen. The rivers abounded in fish, and the country was alive with game, and they were not willing to be driven so unjustly from these their fruitful hunting grounds.
There is an old legend, said to be believed by the Indians, in regard to the island, and this was another reason why they so much disliked to give up that beautiful spot to be made a military post. They had been taught to believe that a good spirit had the care of it, who lived in a cave in the rocks immediately under the place where the fort was built. He is said to have been often seen by the Indians, and was white, with wings like a swan, but ten times larger. The island was much frequented by them in summer, but they were always careful to make no noise in the part of the island which he inhabited. They believed the noise and confusion incident to building and maintaining the fort drove him away.
The Indians were governed by two sets of chiefs-peace or civil chiefs, and war chiefs. The duties of the peace chiefs were to settle all troubles between their tribes and other tribes, and also between them and the whites; while the war chiefs never interfered in any particular, in the business of the village. The two promi- nent war chiefs, when I came here, were Black Hawk and Keokuk. In times of trouble the prominent war and peace chiefs consulted together and there was the most perfect understanding as to the management of affairs.
When we consider that these tribes were only about 2,000 strong, and held their lands by their prowess as warriors, it gives us some idea of their fighting qualities. In 1804 one of our Indians killed a man in St. Louis and was put in jail. 'A deputation of five principal men from here went to St. Louis, expecting to get him released by giving horses for him, as was the custom among the Indians. While these men were in St. Louis they sold all of their lands on the east side of the Mississippi river, the government agreeing to pay them $2,000 a year forever. Old General Clark, the partner of Lewis in crossing the Rocky Mountains, was the general superintendent of the western Indians at that time, acting for the gov- ernment.
Colonel Davenport told me that he did not believe Black Hawk ever took a pipeful of tobacco bought with that money. He and a large part of the Indians were bitterly opposed to this sale. Out of this sale grew the Black Hawk war; Black Hawk and his party contending that the lands were not sold, as the men who made the sale were not authorized to sell, but went to St. Louis on other business. There was a clause in the sale that the Indians might occupy the land while it be-
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longed to the government. The land had been surveyed several years before I came here and before the Indians left in the fall there was a notice given that the lands would be offered for sale in October, and the Indian agent told them they must not come back. It was hoped by the settlers that the Indians would not re- turn, but in this they were disappointed, for they came as usual, though not as many as before. Keokuk and his followers did not return. He was opposed to their coming back and commenced a village on the Iowa river, about twenty miles from its mouth. Keokuk was the head or chief of what was called the American party. He was not the son of a chief, but attained his rank by his ability and tal- ent, being a remarkable orator. Black Hawk was a born chief, belonging to a royal family, and was the head of what was known as the British party.
The year of 1830 passed off very well, considering the situation of the whites and Indians. During the summer our Indians received a visit from sixteen young men of the Kickapoos. They were from twenty to twenty-five years of age. This summer I lived at the old village, having good opportunity to see all that transpired between the Indians. The Kickapoos spoke the same language as our Indians, as well as several other tribes. They entertained their guests right royally, keeping them all at one large wigwam, making it very pleasant for them. I wondered how so many could be entertained at one place, knowing that the Indians' supplies were quite limited. Nathan Smith, who lived with the Indians, explained it to me in this way. He said that they were the guests of the entire village and that two of the young men would go through the village and collect provisions from the differ- ent wigwams for their entertainment, this being repeated as often as necessary, while they remained. These young men stayed about a month, having a splendid time. About the last of their stay they took one day to visit each wigwam in the village, at which they danced and were treated to something to eat, and generally some sweetened water to drink. When these young Indians came they were on foot, but our Indians, after entertaining them so handsomely, gave each one a horse when they left for home.
In 1831 came a new era in our history. The Indians returned in large num- bers, perhaps as many as in 1829, and with quite a different spirit towards the whites. Black Hawk gave the settlers to understand that after this season they must go south of Rock river, or above Pleasant Valley. He said this district be- tween the rivers should be occupied exclusively by the Indians, giving several rea- sons why they could not afford to give up these pleasant hunting grounds. One reason was that on this side of the Mississippi they were comparatively safe from their enemies and another that the region abounded with game and fish and was suited to their mode of living, and they would not give it up. Black Hawk said we could all stay this season, except Joshua Vandruff and Rinnah Wells, who lived in the midst of their village and had a large stock of cattle, which troubled the In- dians a great deal. Mr. Vandruff showed Black Hawk that it would be very hard for him to leave on so short a notice, as he was a poor man and had twelve chil- dren. Black Hawk finally consented that he could stay another season, but Mr. Wells must go, and he would give him until the next day to make his choice whether he would go willingly or be put off. Mr. Wells consulted with his friends, and finally consented to leave in thirty days. This move on the part of the Indians made it necessary for the settlers to look about and see what they could do for their
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protection. We had petitioned the governor of the state in the summer of 1829 without his taking any notice, but now we concluded to try it again. We made a statement of our grievances, and of the order of Black Hawk for our removal and forwarded it with all possible haste to the governor. This had the desired effect. The governor moved immediately, going first to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where he found "Old General Gaines." He told the General that if he would not or could not go, he would do it himself. The General concluded to undertake the business, and, taking the Sixth Regiment, which was then lying at Jefferson Bar- racks, he proceeded at once to Rock island. When here he commenced firing morning and evening guns, which had not been the practice, also target shooting with his cannon. He had all the white settlers come into the fort, bringing all their horses and cattle onto the island as expeditiously as possible. When this was done he sent for Black Hawk for a talk with him about the village and a day was fixed for a meeting. Keokuk and some of his friends came up from their village on the Iowa river and came on to the island. General Gaines, the officers of the Sixth Regiment, the officers of the garrison, with the citizens, and Keokuk and his friends, met in the council house. Black Hawk, with seventy-five to 100 war- riors, nicely dressed and painted, drew near. When within about 100 yards of the council house they commenced singing in a very loud voice, which seemed to alarm Keokuk and party so much that they left in great haste. Those who understood the Indians best thought, from the singing and the manner of the Indians, that there would be a general massacre. A man that always accompanied Black Hawk as they entered the council house commenced to sing in a very boisterous manner, and gesticulated as though he was very angry, speaking very rapidly. General Gaines spoke to him very quietly of the sale of their lands. The Indian said the land had never been sold. General Gaines then called for the reading of the treaty, which seemed to enrage him still more. He said, "The white people speak from a paper ; but," he added, striking his hand upon his breast, "the Indians al- ways speak from the heart."
After the purchase of these lands from the Indians, in 1804, the government had exchanged all the lands north of the old Indian boundary line (ranging from the most southern bend of Lake Michigan due west to the Mississippi, striking the river about where the boat-yard now is, in the lower end of the town), with the Chippewas, Pottawattamies and Ottawas, for land lying about Chicago. In 1829 the government repurchased these lands of the Indians, giving them $16.000 a year forever (that is the way the treaty reads), and allowing them to select a quar- ter section for each of their half-breeds. These selections amounted to a great deal of very valuable land. Antoine LeClaire and brother selected theirs on the Mississippi river, commencing at Moline and running up as far as Henry McNeil's old place.
The first point Black Hawk tried to make when he spoke was that "the land had not been sold, as the men who went to St. Louis had no authority to sell, having been sent on other business." By this time we began to think Black Hawk was pretty nearly right. The second point he made was, "if it was sold, they had got nothing for it." He said, over and over again, "if a small part of the land was worth $16,000 a year forever, all of it must be worth more than $2,000." When the General pressed an answer about his leaving, he said all the time, "he would not
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fight, and he would not leave, but if our people came to drive him off he would sit down in his wigwam and they might do what they pleased with him; for him- self he would do nothing." General Gaines interpreted his talk to mean that he would fight. The General's force was very small-only about 500 men in all- consisting of the Sixth Regiment, not full, and two companies that belonged at the garrison. The men and boys of the settlement were all at the fort, away from their homes, doing nothing. I went with another citizen and called on the General and proposed that the men and boys of the settlement be formed into a company, which was accordingly done. The company numbered fifty-eight men, and was called the "Rock River Rangers." We were mustered into service on the 5th of June, 1831. An election of officers was held, which resulted in the election of Ben- jamin J. Pike as captain ; John W. Spencer, first lieutenant ; Griffith Aubery, sec- ond lieutenant ; James Haskill, Leonard Bryant, and Edward Corbin, sergeants ; Charles French, Charles Case, Benjamin Goble and Henry Benson corporals. The members of the company were: Archibald Allen, William T. Brashar, John Bane, Michael Bartlett, Joseph Been, Jonah H. Case, Joseph Danforth, Thomas Davis, Russell Dance, Isaiah Frith, Thomas Gardner, George W. Harlan, Uriah S. Hultz, Thomas Hubbard, Goodridge Hubbard, Cyrus Henderson, Moses Johnson, John W. Kinney, Samuel Kinney, Conrad Leek, Thomas Levit, Henry McNeil, George Miller, Gentry McGee, Amos C. Noble, Thomas Syms, Robert Syms, William F. Sams, Martin W. Smith, Sevier Springfield, Joel Thompson, Joshua Vandruff, Henry Vandruff, Samuel Vandruff, Benjamin Vannetta. Gorham Vannetta, Ed- ward Varner, Levi Wells, George Wells, Joel Wells, Sr., Joel Wells, Jr., Hunting- ton Wells, John Wells, John Wells, Samuel Wells, Rinnah Wells, Asaph Wells, Eri Wells, Ira Wells. General Gaines now called on the governor for help, and he collected about 1600 mounted men, with a rendezvous at Beardstown.
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