USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 14
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Where, then, are those of our pioneers who answer not our call this day? Why come they not up to meet us? They are gone! But think you yonder cemetery holds them all? No! by far not all.
They came-they looked upon the land-they plucked the wild flower from the prairie-they built them houses and planted fields-they hunted the wild beast from his native cover. With contented hearts and noble hands, in priva- tion they laid the basis of a state, and for this brief time were happy. The country then was new-they never dreamed it would be old to them. But when
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these things were done the freshness of the land was gone-the charm of novelty was broken. Then, seeing the land of promise still ahead, they sickened at the deed which they had done, and were unhappy ; for they were pioneers and still longed to go. In the meantime many are dead-their last "claim" is made-a small green mound by the Father of Waters! And while a few, restrained by local influences, reluctantly remained behind, and are left, like the lost boulders which lie scattered over our prairies, the great mass of them who lived went on. By the rippling waters towards the setting sun they found themselves new homes -and then again found others along Vancouver's shore-or, some diverging to the left, in California's golden sands they stuck their stakes, with restless eye turned toward the sunny South. Some, like Moses, have fallen by the way- side, their graves as little known as his.
On the cold summit of the Nevada ; And on the green sward of Central America ; In the deep gorges of the mountain pass ; And on the battle fields of Mexico; On the lone, Pacific coast,
And all along the route from here, to there, they rest. There unhonored are their lonely graves, or there, unburied, bleach their honored bones-their memory we renew this day. * * *
On the suggestion of the Hon. J. C. Hall, marshal of the day, the whole assembly joined in singing
AULD LANG SYNE.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min'! Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' lang syne?
CHORUS.
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes, And pu'd the gowans fine ; But we've wander'd mony a weary foot, Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, etc.
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We twa hae paidl't i' the burn, Frae mornin' sun til dine ; But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, etc.
And here's a hand, my trusty frien, And gie's a hand o' thine ; And we'll take a right guid-willie waught, For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, etc.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp, As sure as I'll be mine ; And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, etc.
BENEDICTION.
By the Rev. William Salter.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
The large assemblage of old settlers, ladies and gentlemen, preceded by the band, then formed in procession and marched to the Barret House, where, under the direction of a special committee, a most sumptuous and elegant dinner was spread for them upon the ample board of "mine host," R. A. Deming. The chair was occupied by the Hon. David Rorer, president of the association, with the numerous invited guests, on either hand. He was assisted by the vice pres- idents, who presided at the several tables.
GRACE. By the Rev. William Salter.
Our Father, who art in heaven, we give Thee thanks for these bounties. Inspire our hearts with gratitude for peace and plenty, and every mercy, and help us to declare Thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives. Bestow Thy benediction upon the "Old Settlers" and upon their children and the children's children, and fill the State of Iowa with light, and knowledge, and salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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REGULAR TOASTS.
I. IOWA-She claims Michigan as her grandfather, Wisconsin as her father ; and with due respect to her progenitors, she claims to be an improvement upon the breed-not only in natural resources, and moral, social and educational advancement, but in her future prospects.
2. OLD DES MOINES, the Mother of Countics-She welcomes to her maternal board the representatives of her daughters, Lee, Van Buren, Henry, Jefferson, Washington, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott.
The Hon. D. W. Kilbourn, of Lee, responded to this toast. He said : Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :
I return you, Mr. President, and through you, the Hawk-Eye Pioneer Asso- ciation of Des Moines County, my sincere thanks for your invitation, which has given me the privilege of meeting with you here today. I regard this, sir, as no common occasion. It is, I believe, the second meeting of the kind ever held in the state, and your society is the second and last county society of "Old Settlers" yet organized.
I am most happy to be present here today, but not so happy, sir, in attempting to make a speech. I expected our county to be ably represented here today. Gov- ernor Lowe, Mayor Sample, General Van Antwerp, General Bridgeman, of Keokuk, and others from various parts of the county, promised to be on hand. No doubt all of these gentlemen will give good reasons for their absence; but I venture to predict that not one of these "old settlers" will ever admit that the severe rainstorm of this morning had anything to do in preventing their presence here.
I, sir, settled in Des Moines County more than twenty years ago, and it is no fault of mine that I am not now a citizen of your county. I was legislated out of it, as I lived in that part which now forms Lee County, and of which all her citizens are proud, as they are of her mother, Old Des Moines.
My first visit to this spot was in April, 1837. Wonderful is the change since then. Then only a few small frame and log buildings occupied the ground where now appears this beautiful city. Palatial residences and substantial and imposing business houses have taken the places of the unpretending and tem- porary structures of 1836.
Then the only hotel was a small frame house on the bank of the river, named the "Iowa House." The dining room was in the rear, built of rough logs, and just before had been used as a stable. But as this was the best in the town, and the accommodating landlord did the best he could by his guests, everybody was satisfied.
Today we are assembled under different circumstances. This commodious and splendidly kept house, this beautiful and extensive dining room, these tables, loaded with luxuries, and these ladies, surrounded by-I had almost said it- make us realize the change that has taken place in twenty-one years.
Mr. President, I must tell you about the first public speech it was my priv- ilege to listen to in Iowa. It was a "Fourth of July Oration," and was delivered in this place in January, 1838, by "The Starr" of Burlington. Some of you, no doubt, have a vivid recollection of that occasion. Among the reminiscences of early times I often think of it.
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Mr. President, though but two are here today from Keokuk, we claim to make up somewhat in time what we lack in numbers. Valencourt Van Orsdall, Esq., who is here present, is no doubt the oldest settler in Iowa here this day, and most likely the oldest settler at present resident in the state. He came to the site of Keokuk in the year 1827, and is the only person now residing in Keokuk who resided there in 1840. I am glad that he is here present today, and unless a better claim be put in I think our City of Keokuk may boast that one of her citizens is the oldest settler in Iowa.
Mr. Kilbourn having concluded. H. W. Starr, Esq., proposed that three cheers be given to Mr. Van Orsdall, the oldest citizen of Iowa, which were given with heartiness.
The Hon. Charles Foster, of Washington County, being called upon, also responded to the second toast. He said :
Mr. President :-
Children always are indebted to their parents for much of their own peculiar character. The descendants of Romulus and his robber band never lost the predatory character and wolf-like ferocity of the nurse-mother of their great ancestor. And the method taken to supply the new colony with their first wives did not add to their moral character, nor increase the respect of those old repub- licans for woman's rights.
This western world of ours is settled by more diverse elements of national character than any other. The Huguenot of France, the plodding Hollander, the persevering German, the Swede, Finn and Dane, the Irish, Scotch and English, with all the results of their mingled races, were originally scattered along, in separate colonies, from Maine to Georgia. The early Indian wars, and more especially the Revolutionary war, fused these differing colonies into one nation, and from this fusion have already sprung twenty new states. If, as is generally acknowledged, the character of a people is improved by this intermingling of various branches of the race, what may we not expect in this country? In the "Father of His Country," in the united band of revolutionary patriots, in the array of hero settlers-the first "old settlers," from the veritable, original John Smith, of Virginia, to Ethan Allen, of Vermont, we have the promise and germ of our future greatness. The valor, enterprise and integrity of our founders will perpetuate themselves in our institutions forever.
It is not becoming that I should, in their very presence, speak of the first settlers of Des Moines, the mother of Iowa counties. They are here to speak for themselves. Seldom has it been the good fortune of the founders of a state to witness the log cabins of their building, colonizing into a large and populous state, with every accompaniment of wealth and intelligence, while they them- selves are yet in the midsummer of life. It is difficult for us to realize that, within twenty-five years of this time, the first log cabin of the first legal squatter sovereign was, in the profound solitude of a vast wilderness, erected here where now the busy hum of a great city welcomes us to her festal day. In behalf of the invited guests, I thank you for the kind invitation and your cordial wel- come-so freely given. so nobly fulfilled. Yet for certain reasons I wish the ladies here to understand that I am not a very old settler.
In conclusion I beg leave to offer this sentiment :
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THE CHILDREN OF OLD DES MOINES-May their mother ever be able to point them out, as did the mother of the Gracchi, and say with just pride, "behold my jewels."
12. OUR INVITED GUESTS-W'e give you a hearty welcome.
Responded to by Willard Barrows, Esq., of Scott County, who, being intro- duced by the Hon. J. C. Hall, spoke as follows:
I am called upon, Mr. President, as an invited guest. I am no orator. My life has been spent for twenty-five years in camp. For more than twenty years I have rambled over the rich prairies of Iowa as a surveyor. Twenty years ago I visited the lovely spot upon which your prosperous and beautiful city now stands. What changes have taken place! Your green hills have been covered up by the habitations of man. The Indian and the deer have fled alike towards the setting sun, and the last wild footprints of the red man have been covered up by the onward march of civilization.
To those of you who have witnessed the change, how great the contrast ! You stand here today, my pioneer friends, comparative strangers in your own homes. Your log cabins have given place to the most stately mansions. It is not only so in your own city and county, but in every city and village throughout the state. The progress of our adopted state is beyond all precedent. The world has never beheld such rapid strides as we have seen. But this festival today gives abundant evidence that you have not forgotten the past. The happy smile, the familiar greeting, the nod of recognition, all attest the joy of the occasion, and every eye is bright with hope for the future.
We should cherish these feelings, my friends. Let the joy of the cabin in the days of infancy never be forgotten in the pride of your palaces. Let the reminiscences of a pioneer life never be forgotten, or thrown aside for the splendors and magnificence of the present. But tell your early struggles to your children, and hand down to posterity, by the records of your association, the conflicts through which you have passed, that future generations may know the beginning of the mighty West. Perpetuate these reunions. They will strengthen the bonds of unity, and as you annually come to the festive board, and some familiar face is gone, it will but remind us of our pilgrimage to another and better land.
The pioneers of Iowa, like the devoted and self-sacrificing Marquette and Joliet, the first white men who ever trod her soil, led the way to great and glorious results. How little did we think when we built our first cabin that we should so soon celebrate the event with so much magnificence, luxury and beauty. We expected the emigrant to come-sometime ; but who believed that in twenty years this city would contain 18,000 inhabitants, and our adopted state more than six hundred thousand. But the sound of the mighty West has gone forth, and we love to believe that we hear the tramp of the coming millions, and that we can brush away the misty veil that hides the future and behold mighty cities scattered along our beautiful river, and over our rich and exhaustless prairies. I have traversed the length and the breadth of our state, and compared it with all the states of our Union, with Oregon, California and other portions of the world I have visited, and I am here ready to assert, without the fear of contra- diction, that there is not the same number of square miles in America, if there is on the globe, capable of supporting so dense a population as the State of
-
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Iowa. It is most emphatically true that, westward the star of empire takes its way. Why, tell me, Mr. President, what is to become of the starving hordes of Europe if they come not to the new world? Or, I might better ask, how long will the sons of New England cling to those sterile rocks and the three-inch soil which produces only white beans and pumpkins? Why, sir, I hope and expect yet to see in my day all these vast prairies teeming with life and beauty. I hope yet to see the smoke curling from the campfires of 10,000 happy homes, and hear the great anthem of human liberty sung on every hill and in every vale of the mighty West. And I expect yet to see-and my children will, if I do not -the Scu-ti-Na-co-to-co-soc-the fire horse of the Indian, flying across these prairies with lightning speed, leaping the "Big Muddy." and, with its shrill whistle, frightening the bald eagle from her covert in the Rocky Mountains' top, and she be seen soaring away to the Pacific, screaming victory, victory, vic- tory to the Anglo Saxon race.
I conclude, Mr. President, with the following sentiment :
THE HAWKEYE PIONEER ASSOCIATION OF DES MOINES COUNTY-May its members have many happy reunions like this, and enjoy long years of health and prosperity; but in their onward progress to wealth, power and greatness may they never forget the joy and the sorrow of the old log cabin, and always leave the "latch-string hanging out."
VOLUNTEER TOASTS.
The president next read the following toast from his honor, J. P. Wightman, mayor of Burlington :
THE IOWA PIONEERS-Burlington justly claims a larger number pos- sessing more talent than any other city in the state of those who first traversed the vast prairies and mighty rivers to find a home in the far West. These are our old settlers. Honor and respect are due them from those who have fol- lowed in the paths they have made plain.
Judge Ilall, being loudly called for, responded as follows : Ladies and Gentlemen:
As an humble member of the Hawkeye Pioneer Association-having crossed the Father of Waters just in time to entitle me to membership-I am in the rear rank of old settlers; and whilst I should be happy to say a great deal on this occasion, my position as a member, and the waning hours of the day, admonish me that I am here in about the same condition that I was at the very start of my life, a pioneer, yet not all a pioneer-a little behind, yet not entirely out of the synagogue. My father was one of the first settlers in Western New York. He voted at the first election ever held in Buffalo Township. He, with other pioncer settlers, traveled more than forty miles, from what is now Batavia to the point where now stands the great City of Buffalo, to cast his vote. All that part of the State of New York west of the Genesee River was one town- ship. It was bounded on the north by Lake Ontario, east by the Genesee River, south by the Pennsylvania line and on the west by Lake Erie and the Niagara River.
In this almost unbroken wilderness I had my nativity. That country then was a western wilderness, and its early settlers were pioneers. The hardships and vicissitudes of a frontier life were realized and overcome with as much
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energy, zeal and manhood in that wilderness country as ever emigrated to the western bank of the mighty Mississippi. Yet, geographically, the longi- tudinal line of the pioneers of even that carly day was far in the West-Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, with now and then a spot of Illinois, were the pioneers' goal.
In early life I followed the pioneers to Ohio, and again to Iowa-all the while in time, but late. I was a tardy comer, and if I had continued to go, an astrologer might designate my locality.
Here in Burlington, on the Ist of June, 1840, according to the ler loci of our pioneer constitution, all were pioneers and are members of our association. But how many have we retained and how many have we here today who fall within this class? Of the men of 1840 you can scarcely count sixty within our city. It would be curious to inquire the whereabouts of the 700 voters who cast their ballots at Burlington precinct in that year. Many, very many, have passed away. More have taken wings and pressed rapidly towards the setting sun. Westward they have taken their flight, and now we can count scores of our early settlers upon the shores of the great Pacific. They have passed over the whole boundless continent, and, as we hear, are now wistfully looking
"O'er the glad waters of the dark blue sea,"
and sighing that there is no more land in the West; and some few are actually carting dirt and filling up, and extending the North American Continent west- ward into the Pacific Ocean.
In the trail of the valiant pioneers have arisen states, cities and towns. A wilderness continent has been redeemed from the roaming savages, and their retreating footprints have been followed by a speedy introduction of the arts and sciences which characterize and distinguish a high state of civilization.
The pioneers are a distinct people. They have their peculiar character in the great drama of our country's history. They represent the motive power of our country's progress. They are like a compass to the mariner-like the helm to the ship. Every city of the West has had its pioneers. Many, like ourselves, have remained to see that the work so bravely and nobly begun was com- pleted-that states were organized, cities built and free institutions established. Notwithstanding this, the great army that has been moving westward has been constantly recruiting. It has had accessions at every step. The children have taken up the enterprise of their fathers, and we may live to see many, very many, of the bright-eyed boys who run merrily through our streets pioneers and settlers, nay governors, senators and congressmen, in the new states which will spring up in the West, and Mexico will make at least ten of them.
The president then read the following note and the accompanying toast from Gen. James M. Morgan, of Burlington :
Burlington, June 1, 1858.
Hon. D. Rorer, President Hawkeye Pioneer Association :
Dear Sir :- Although prevented, by indisposition, from joining with other "old settlers" in commemorating the anniversary of the day which witnessed the transfer of the "Black-Hawk Purchase" into the hands of the white man, yet my heart is so thoroughly with you all in this most laudable testimonial to "days lang syne" that I feel bound to contribute my mite, however humble, toward the occasion.
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With this view I send you the accompanying sentiment, commemorative of the virtues and good fame of our territorial governors, the lamented LUC.I.S, CHAMBERS and CLARKE.
The relations, personal and official, which I had the honor to bear towards each of these truly excellent men during their several administrations, not only enabled me to justly estimate their merits, but so deeply impressed me with their real worth as to make it with me a sentiment of duty at all times to bear my best tribute to their exalted characters.
These honorable dead were known to you, and to all who knew them, as all that was pure and true, and good, in private life-all that was honest, upright and honorable in public station. We can best enforce their worthy examples by properly perpetuating their memories.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES M. MORGAN.
OUR TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS, LUCAS, CHAMBERS and CLARKE-Simple and unostentatious in private life as they were honest and patriotic in the discharge of public duties, they gave to Iowa the stamp of a pure character, and reared for themselves a monument of fame worthy of the highest and most lasting honor of our whole people.
Drunk standing and in silence.
The following toast, received from his excellency, Gov. Ralph P. Lowe, who was expected to be present, was also read by the president :
THE PIONEER SETTLERS OF IOWA-May it be given to them so to act their part in forming a state government and a system of laws and institu- tions that the work of their hands may be owned and blessed of posterity.
Henry W. Starr, Esq., being loudly called upon, spoke as follows: Mr. President:
The short space of time remaining for our festivities warns me to be brief ; and I should not trespass on your time at all if this occasion did not seem eminently suitable to bring to your recollection and especial notice the memory of the renowned chief, BLACK HAWK. At a meeting of the "Old Settlers" should we not remember the older settlers of a different race, and especially the great chief who seems to form a connection-link between two races, and, more than any other, to symbolize the great transition from the dominion of the Indian to that of the white man?
He died at the ripe age of seventy-two years, and said to me that he was born upon the banks of our great river. A half century ago, when we were just struggling to emerge from our strife for national existence, he roamed the mon- arch of these prairies, and with a renown as universal and terrific to the hostile Kaskaskias and Sioux as was ever to Southern Europe the name of Attila or Alaric. He was an ally of Tecumseh, and spoke of him with enthusiasm. He was identified with all the wars of the frontier Northwest. His last great strug- gle to preserve his home, and that of his people, and transmit the same unini- paired to his posterity, commenced in 1832. He was conquered and overcome by the iron tread of the Anglo Saxon. He yielded to necessity, and ceded to us his country, and without the magnanimity of victors he was degraded from his
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position as chief by our Government, and a worthless and abandoned man (Keo- kuk) appointed to represent the tribe. IIe could cheerfully surrender to the onward stride of the white man-could surrender this beautiful valley and retire to another frontier-but to be disrobed of office, and disgraced with his own tribe by the power and authority of his conquerors, stung his sensitive heart.
In 1837, at the house of Major Smith, where I was boarding, I roomed with Black Hawk for weeks, and observed him carefully and under all circumstances. He was uniformly kind and polite, especially at the table; but often silent, abstracted and melancholy. His appearance and manner realized to me the expression of Cardinal Woolsey in IIenry VIII :
"I am a poor, fallen man, unworthy now To be thy lord and master. I have floated These many summers in a sea of glory, But far beyond my depth."
The vices of the whites had not overtaken him until his habits were formed. He presented the noble spectacle of a warrior chief, conquered and disgraced with his tribe by his conquerors; but, resigned to his fate and covered with the scars of many battles, in the spirit of true heroism, breaking bread with and enjoying the hospitality of his destroyers.
There were noble traits in his character, and he deserved to be called the Washington of the Indian tribes. As an evidence of his love of country and resignation of his fallen state, I wish to read a speech he made at a Fourth of July celebration at Fort Madison in the summer of 1838 (July 4th). He spoke, in response to the toast, "Our Illustrious Guest, Black Hawk," as follows :
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