USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa : its people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 4
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U'ncle Jacob T. Searn, of LaGrange township, later of Logan, wrote on these animals, in 1888, as follows :
"A quarter of a century ago the beavers were very numerous along Harris Grove creek, and gave the supervisors great annoyance. the public road being flooded by the dams overflowing on John Reed's land. If the dams were cut away in daytime the beaver would build them at night. Arnold Devilbess and Tom Reed were two ambitious boys at that time. They volunteered to help the supervisors out of their beaver-dam trouble. They constructed a hiding place on the creek and proposed to sit up with the beaver family one night. With rifles in hand they kept quiet, but no beavers were seen that night. Then the supervisors had some old trappers come and give them attention. They made it pay well, and soon cleaned out the beavers. These beavers had cut down over one hundred willow trees at that time on the creek, some of the trees being ten inches in diameter. I picked up a willow stick four feet long, something longer than a walking stick, to show the children the clear cut marks of the beaver teeth. It was thrown aside and after a month or two it was sprouted. and was stuck in the ground near the old well. In'a few years it grew to be a tree of large proportions, measuring five feet in circumference around the butt. It was
(4)
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to be seen in 1890 at Linnwood Farm. The beaver is not apt to cut down very large trees or try to dam very large streams. However, a wonderful story is told of their cutting down a cottonwood tree on the banks of the Boyer, on the Longman farm, the same being about twenty inches in dia- meter, and it fell right across the deep river, and was used by neighbors as a foot-bridge for some time, it being three or four miles up or down the stream to a bridge. It was supposed the beavers intended to try and dam the Boyer, but found the water too deep."
CHAPTER III.
INDIAN OCCUPANCY, TERRITORIAL AND STATE ORGANIZATION.
Of what is termed the pre-historic race that once inhabited this portion of the world, there is but little known. The only history of this extinct race is the mounds and the contents of the same. These mounds are scattered here and there in this and other states, a goodly number having been dis- covered and examined as near this as Cherokee county, Iowa. Whether these "Mound Buiklers" were a different race from the North American Indian or not is still an unsettled question and probably can never be definitely known, but the preponderance of evidence goes to show that they originated in Asia. One seemingly good explanation is that this settlement from the Orient came about either by ship-wrecked sailors or by the true immigration from Asia, crossing at Behring strait. There is every evidence that tends to show that the Mound Builders were well up in art and science, as then under- stood in the world, and that copper was mined and worked in a fashion now unknown to the most skilled artisan. They made implements of war and had elaborate houses, practiced domestic economy and were probably the ances- tors of the North American Indian.
For more than one hundred years after the navigators. Marquette and Joliet, trod the sod of Iowa and admired its fertile plains, not a single settle- ment was made or even attempted : not even a trading post was established. During this time the Illinois Indians, once a powerful tribe, gave up the entire possession of this "Beautiful Land" (as its name, Iowa, really signi- fies). to the Sacs and Foxes. In 1803, when Louisiana was purchased by the United States, these two tribes, with the Iowas, possessed the entire domain now within the state of Iowa. The Sacs and Foxes occupied also most of the present state of Illinois. The four most important towns of the Sacs were along the Mississippi, two on the east side, one near the mouth of the Upper Iowa, and one at the head of the Des Moines rapids, near the present town of Montrose. Those of the Foxes were one on the west side of the Mississippi just above Davenport, one about twelve miles from the river, back of the Dubuque lead mines, and one on Turkey river. The princi- pal village of the Jowas was on the Des Moines river, in Van Buren county,
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where lowaville now stands. Here the last great battle between the Sacs and Foxes and the lowas was fought, in which Black Hawk, then a young man, commanded the attacking forces.
The Sioux had the northern portion of the state and southern Minne- sota. They were a fierce and warlike nation, who always disputed posses- sions of their rivals in savage and bloody warfare, but finally a boundary line was established between them by the government of the United States, in a treaty held at Prairie DuChien, in 1825. This, however, became the source of an increased number of quarrels between the tribes, as each tres- passed or was thought to trespass on the rights of the other side of the line. In 1830. therefore, the government created a forty mile strip of neutral grounds between them, which policy proved to be more successful in the in- terests of peace.
Soon after the United States acquired Louisiana from foreign powers, measures were adopted for the exploration of the new territory, having in consideration the conciliation of the numerous tribes of Indians by whom it was then possessed and also the selection of proper sites for military posts and trading stations. This was accordingly accomplished. But before the country could be opened up for settlement by the whites, it was necessary that the Indian titles should be extinguished and that people removed. When the government assumed control of the country by the purchase of the Louis- iana territory, nearly all lowa was in possession of the Sacs and Foxes, at whose head stood the rising. daring and intelligent Black Hawk. Novem- ber 3, 1804. a treaty was concluded with these tribes, by which they ceded to the United States the Illinois side of the river Mississippi. in consideration of $2.33.1 worth of goods then delivered and an annuity of a thousand dol- lars to be paid in goods at cost; but Black Hawk always maintained that the chiefs who entered into that compact acted without authority and therefore the treaty was not binding.
The first fort on lowa soil was that built at Fort Madison. A short time before a military post was fixed at what is now Warsaw, Illinois, and named Fort Edwards, These enterprises caused mistrust among the Indian tribes. Indeed, Fort Madison was located in violation of the treaty of 1804. The Indians sent delegations to the whites at these forts to learn what they were doing and what they intended. On being "informed" that those structures were merely trading post -. they were incredulous and became more and more suspicious. Black Hawk, therefore, led a party to the vicinity of Fort Madi- son and attempted its destruction, but a premature attack by him caused his failure.
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In 1812, when war was declared between this country and Great Britain, Black Hawk and his band allied himself with the British, partly because they were dazzled by specious promises, but mostly, perhaps, because they had been deceived by the Americans. Black Hawk said plainly that the latter fact was the cause. A portion of the Sacs and Foxes, however, headed by Keokuk ("Watchful Fox"), could not be persuaded into hostilities against the United States, they being disposed to stand by the treaty of 1804. The Indians were, therefore, divided into the "war" and "peace" factions. On Black Hawk's return from the British army, he says that he was introduced to Keokuk. then in the village, as the war chief of the braves. On inquiry as to how he became chief, there were given him the particulars of his having killed a Sioux in battle, which fact placed himn among the warriors, and of his having headed an expedition in defense of their village at Peoria. In person. Keokuk was tall and of stately bearing, and in speech he was a genuine, though uneducated, orator. He never mastered the English Jan- gnage. hence his biographers have never been able to do his character justice. lle was a friend of the United States government, and ever tried to persuade the Indians that it was useless to attack a nation so powerful as that of the United States.
The treaty of 1804 was renewed in 1816, and Black Hawk himself signed it. but he afterward held that he was deceived and that the treaty was not even yet binding. But there was no further serious trouble with the Indians until the noted "Black Hawk War" of 1832, all of which took place in Illinois and Wisconsin, with the expected result-the defeat and capture of old Black Hawk and the final repulsion of all hostile Indians to the west of the Mississippi river. Black Hawk died October 3, 1838, at his home in this state, and was buried there, but his romains were afterward placed in a museum of the historical society at Iowa City, where they were accidentally destroyed by fire.
More or less affecting the territory now included within the state of Iowa, fifteen treaties have been made, an outline of which is here given. In 1804, when the whites agreed not to settle west of the Mississippi river on Indian lands. In 1815. with the Sioux ratifying peace with Great Britain and the United States; with the Sacs a treaty of similar nature and also ratifying that of ISO4. the Indians agreeing to not join their brethren, who, under Black Hawk, had aided the British; with the Foxes ratifying the treaty of 1804. the Indians agreeing to deliver up all their prisoners; and with the Iowas a treaty of friendship. In 1816, with the Sacs of Rock river, ratifying the treaty of 1804. In 1824, with the Sacs and Foxes, the
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latter relinquishing all their lands in Missouri, while that portion of the southeast corner of lowa known as the "Half-Breed Tract" was set off to the half-breeds. In 1825, creating a boundary line between the Sacs and Foxes on the south and the Sioux on the north. In 1830, when the line was widened to forty miles. Also, in the same year, with the several tribes, who ceded a large portion of their possessions in the western part of the state. In 1832, with the Winnebagoes, exchanging lands with them and pro- viding a school, etc., for them. Also, in that year, the "Black Hawk Pur- chase" was made of about six million acres, also along the west side of the Mississippi from the southern line of lowa to the mouth of the Iowa river. In 1836. with the Sacs and Foxes, ceding Keokuk's reserve to the United States. In 1837, with the same, when another slice of territory comprising one million and two hundred and fifty thousand acres, joining west of the foregoing tract. was obtained. . Also. in the same year, when these Indians gave up all the lands allowed them under former treaties ; and finally, in 1842, when they relinquished their title to all their lands west of the Mississippi river.
TERRITORY OF IOWA.
In 1834 this state was incorporated into the "Territory of Michigan," and thus became subject to the Ordinance of 1787; and two years later it became a part of "Wisconsin Territory." and two years later still it became the "Territory of Iowa." It had sixteen counties and a population of twenty- three thousand. The first legislature was held at Belmont, Wisconsin, in October. 1836: the second at Burlington, Iowa, November, 1837; and the third also at the last name place in 1838.
Early in 1837 the people of Towa began to petition Congress for a sepa- rate territorial organization, which was granted June 12 of that year. Ex-Governor Lucas. of Ohio, was appointed by President Van Buren to be the first governor of the newly created territory. About this time there occurred what is known as the
STATE LINE WAR.
This was a difficulty between the territories of Missouri and Iowa over where the line between the two should be established. The strip in question was from eight to ten miles in width nearly across the domain between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Both territories claimed this valuable strip of land. Missouri officers attempted to collect taxes within this disputed
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territory, and were at once arrested and confined in jail by. Jowa sheriffs, and the respective governors called out the militia preparing for bloodshed. About twelve hundred Towa men enlisted, and five hundred were actually armed and encamped in Van Buren county, ready to defend their territory, when three prominent and able men were sent to Missouri as envoys, to effect. if possible. a peaccable adjustment of the difficulty. Upon their arrival, they found that the county commissioners of Clark county, Missouri, had rescinded their order for the collection of taxes, and that Governor Boggs had dispatched messengers to the supreme court of the United States for the settlement of the boundary line question. This proposition was declined, but afterward, upon petition of Jowa and Missouri, congress authorized a suit to settle the controversy. The suit was duly instituted. and resulted in the decision that lowa had asserted "the truth in history," and she knew where the Rapids of the Des Moines river were located (this being the point from which the boundary line west was to take its place of beginning). This ended the matter of the Iowa-Missouri war. Many years later, Judge C. C. Nourse stated that if "Missourians did not know where the Rapids of the river were located. that was no sufficient reason for killing them off with powder and lead ; and if we did know a little more of the history and geography than they did, we ought not to be shot for our learning. We commend our mutual forbearance to older and greater people."
IOWA MADE A STATE.
In 1844 the population of Iowa territory had reached a sufficient num- ber to justify it being organized into a state, and the territorial Legislature passed an act February 12th, that year, submitting to the people the question of the formation of a state constitution and providing for the election of delegates to a convention to be held together for that purpose. The people voted on this at their township elections in the following April, giving the measure a large majority. The elected delegates assembled in convention at Jowa City. October 7. 1844, and finished their work November I. Hon. Shepherd Leffler, the president of the convention, was instructed to transmit a certified copy of the proposed constitution, to be submitted by him to that body at the earliest practicable day. It also provided that it should be sub- mitted. together with any changes that might be made by congress, to the people of the territory, for their approval or rejection, at the township elec- tions of April, 1815.
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The constitution, as thus prepared, fixed the boundaries of the state very differently from what were finally agreed upon.
On May 4. 1846, a second convention met at lowa City, and on the eighteenth of the same month and year another constitution, prescribing the boundaries as they now are, was adopted. This was accepted by the people August 3. by a vote of 9.492 to 9.036. The new constitution was approved by congress and lowa was admitted as a sovereign state in the American Union. December 28. 1846.
The act of Congress that admitted Iowa gave her the 16th section in every township of land in the state, or its equivalent, for the support of schools ; also seventy-two sections of land for the purpose of a university ; also five sections of land for the completion of her public buildings: also the salt springs within her limits, not exceeding twelve in number, with sections of land adjoining each: also, in consideration that her public lands should be exempt from taxation by the state, she gave to the state five per cent. of the net proceeds of the sale of public lands within the state. Thus provided for, as a bride with her marriage portion. Jowa commenced "housekeeping" upon her own account.
A majority of the constitutional convention were of the Democratic party ; and the instrument contains some peculiar tenets of the party at that day. All banks of issue were prohibited within the state. The commonwealth was prohibited from becoming a stockholder in any corporation for pecuniary profit, and the General Assembly could only provide for private corporations by general statutes. The constitution also limited the state's indebtedness to one hundred thousand dollars. It required the General Assembly to provide public schools throughout the state for at least three months in the year. Six months previous residence of any white male citizen of the United States con- stituted him an elector.
At the date of the state's organization its population was 116,651. as appears from the census of 1847. There were twenty-seven organized coun- ties in the state, and the settlements were rapidly pushing on toward the Missouri river.
The first General Assembly was composed of nineteen senators and forty representatives. It assembled at Towa City, November 30, 1846, about a month before the state had been admitted to the Union.
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INITIATING LEGISLATION.
The most important business transacted was the passage of the bill Authorizing a loan of fifty thousand dollars for means to run the state gov- ernment and pay the expenses of the constitutional conventions. The great ( witement of the session, however, was the attempt to choose the United States senators. The Whigs had a majority of two in the House, and the . Democrats one majority in the Senate. After repeated attempts to control these majorities for cancus nominees, and frequent sessions of a joint con- vention for purposes of election, the attempt was abandoned. A school law was passed at this session for the organization of public schools in the state.
The first session also was obliged to handle the question of the relocation of the state capital. The western boundary of the state, as now determined, left Iowa City too far to the eastern portion of the state. This was conceded. Congress had appropriated five sections of land for the erection of public buildings, and toward the close of the session a bill was introduced providing for the re- location of the seat of government. involving to some extent, the location of the state university, which had already been discussed. This bill gave rise to much discussion and parliamentary tactics. It was almost purely sectional in its character. It provided for three commissioners, who were authorized to make a location as near the geographical center of the state as a healthy and eligible site would permit; to select five sections of land, donated by Congress to survey and plat into town lots, not exceeding one section of land so selected, etc. Soon after, by an "Act to locate and estab- lish a State University" approved February 25. 1847, the unfinished public buildings at Iowa City, together with ten acres of land on which they were situated, were granted for the use of the university, reserving their use, however, by the General Assembly and the state officers, until other pro- visions were made by law.
When the report of the commissioners, showing their final operations, had been read in the House of Representatives, at the next session and while it was under consideration, an indignant member, later known as the eccentric Judge MeFarland, moved to refer the report to a select committee of five, with instructions to report "how much of said city of Monroe (the place named for the new State capital, in Jasper county ) was under water, and how much was burned."
This report was referred without the instructions, but Monroe City never became the seat of justice for Iowa.
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By an act approved January 15. 18449. the law by which the location had been made was repealed and the new town was vacated, the money paid by the purchasers of lots being refunded to them. This, of course, retained the seat of government in Iowa at Iowa City, and precluded for the time the occupation of the buildings by the state university. The question of a per- manent seat of government was not yet settled, and in 1851 bills were in- troduced for the removal of the capital to Pella and Fort Des Moines. The latter appeared to have the support of the majority, but was finally lost in the House on the question of ordering to its third reading.
At the next session, that of 1853. a bill was introduced in the Senate for the removal of the seat of government to Des Moines, and on the first vote was just harcly defeated. At the next session, however, the effort was more successful, and, January 15, 1855, a bill re-locating the capital within two miles of the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines river, and for the appoint- ment of commissioners, was approved by Governor Grimes. The site was selected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act. The land was donated to the state by citizens or property holders of Des Moines. An as- sociation of citizens erected a building for a temporary capitol, and leased it to the state at a nominal rent.
PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY.
The passage by Congress of the act authorizing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and the provisions it contained abrogated that portion of the Missouri Bill that prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude north of thirty-six degrees, thirty minutes, was the beginning of a political revolution in the northern states, and in none was it more marked than in the state of Iowa. Jowa was the "first free child born of the Missouri Compromise," and has always resented the destruction of her foster parent.
UNDER A SECOND CONSTITUTION.
In January, 1857, another constitutional convention assembled at Iowa City, which framed the second constitution. One of the most pressing de- mands for this convention grew out of the prohibition of banks under the old constitution. The practical results of this prohibition was to flood the state with every species of "wild-cat" money.
The new constitution made ample provisions for home banks under the supervision of our own laws. The limitation of the state debt was enlarged
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to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the corporate indebtedness of the cities and counties was limited to five per cent. upon the valuation of their taxable property.
October 9. 1857, Governor Grimes issued a proclamation declaring the city of Des Moines to be the capital of the state of Iowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and continued through the fall. It was an undertaking of no small magnitude: there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the season was unusually disagrecable. Rain. snow and other accompaniments increased the difficulties: and it was not until December that the last of the effects, the safe of the state treasurer, loaded on two bob-sleds and drawn by ten yokes of oxen, was deposited in the new capitol. It should be added in this connection that during the passage over the hills and prairies, across rivers, through bottom lands and timber. the safes belonging to the several departments contained large sins of money, mostly individual funds, however. Thus lowa City ceased to be the capital of Iowa.
Nearly all of the actors in that great pioneer drama of state capital removal, as well as the delegates to the first and second constitutional con- ventions, have long since passed from earth's shining circle, and their places have been filled by another set of men and law-makers.
LEWIS AND CLARK, EXPLORERS, IIERE.
It has not been known, until recent research, that Lewis and Clark, the great northwestern explorers sent out by the United States government, in 1803, visited one portion of Harrison county in 1804-one hundred and ten years ago. Such is the historic fact. We prove this by quoting from "Epi- sodes in the Early History of the Western Iowa Country." published in 1913, by authority of the Historical Society of Iowa, at Iowa City, which has the following concerning that famous expedition and its bearing on Har- rison and adjoming counties-Pottawattamie and Monona :
"Beginning with the year 1803 the United States government seriously turned its attention to the West by fitting out an expedition under Lewis and Clark to explore the new trans-Mississippi purchase. Starting from St. Louis in that memorable year in two pirogues and a keel-boat fifty-five feet long, equipped with a large square sail and twenty-two oars, the party of forty-five men slowly journeyed northwestward up the muddy Missouri. At one place they met five pirogues loaded with furs and peltries from the Sioux country,
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stopped the little trading fleet, and engaged an old Frenchman, Dorion. to act as Indian interpreter.
"What is now western lowa came under the observation of the exploring party from July 18 to August 21. 1804, and of the twenty-one camping places selected during that time, eleven were upon the lowa shore. On the 22d of July they pitched their camp at a point somewhere near the present boundary between Mills and Pottawattamie counties. Here the leaders intended to send to the neighboring tribes to tell them of the recent change of govern- ment and the wish of the United States to cultivate their friendship. Here upon Iowa soil Lewis and Clark remained five days; provisions were dried, new oars made, and despatches and maps prepared for the President. The men also hunted and fished, crossed the river to search for the Otoes and the Pawnees, and returned without success.
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