USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume I > Part 7
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The second obstruction is the Rock Island Rapids, very similar in character to those below. But I am not aware that any minute survey has been made of them with a view to their improvement. It is said that by damming the narrow sluice at Rock Island, the difficult bar on these shoals may be overcome.
The river is generally from three-quarters of a mile to one mile in width and is filled with islands of every size. From the flatness of the general bed of the river, the channel runs frequently from one shore to the other, rendering navigation intricate at low water. But there is not perhaps a stream in the world more beautiful in itself, or naturally more free from dangerous obstruc- tions, than is the Upper Mississippi.
The general character of this part of the river is very different from that below the mouth of the Missouri. Here the water is limpid, the current is gentle and the banks are permanent. There the water is muddy, the current impetuous and the banks are continually changing. The annual freshets in this part of the river do not usually rise more than ten feet above low water mark, and in this feature it has generally the advantage of the Ohio, with which it is often compared. Even in the highest freshets the color of its water remains unchanged and its current easy, and there is about the whole river a calmness, a purity and a peacefulness of expression perfectly enchanting. Rocky cliffs sometimes present themselves along the shore, either surmounted with forest trees, or covered with a rich coating of prairie grass. Frequently low and wet prairies skirt along the river and stretch far back to the bluffs, over ground from which the water has gradually receded. And sometimes the highlands slope down to the water's edge, covered with waving grass and clusters of trees, grouped here and there, or set about at intervals, presenting an orchard-like appearance.
From the vicinity of Rock Island downward, the shores are, with few ex- ceptions, either very abrupt and rocky or low and marshy. But thence upward to the highlands above Prairie du Chien, the beautiful sloping shores just men- tioned are almost continuous. Those who have seen this part of the country need no description of it, and those who have not seen it would think me paint- ing from imagination were I to describe it true to life.
DR. F. R. HALSTEAD'S COTTAGE, GENEVA ISLAND
MACKEY'S LANONI
P. J. MACKEY'S COTTAGE, GENEVA ISLAND
E. J. ZEIDLER'S COTTAGE. GENEVA ISLAND
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
The lands bordering on the Mississippi are not generally so productive as those retired from it. The hills are more exposed to have the soil washed from them into the basin of the river, and the low grounds are apt to be too wet or too sandy. Yet the lands lying on the river will always be most valuable, in consequence of their superior advantage of market.
The Muscatine slough is about eighty yards wide, except where it spreads out here and there into small lakes. Its current is gentle and it affords a chan- nel of about four feet in depth. And as the land around the exterior of the curve is exceedingly fertile, boats will probably run along the slough to carry off its rich productions. The island is a continuous marsh and of course must give rise to much malaria, but it is well adapted to the grazing of cattle during the summer and autumn. The point at the head of this slough may be con- sidered the ultima thule of the sickly region of the Mississippi. Above this the atmosphere is as pure and wholesome as that of any other climate in the world.
Pine river. Instead of a large stream and a great forest of pines, as one would expect from this name, there is only a small creek and about twenty trees to be found. Though the creek be small, being fed by springs, it is constant, and having a great fall, it affords good sites for machinery. It has also good land and good timber upon its borders. The bluff, which is to be found all along the Mississippi, either overhanging the water or separate from it by flat grounds, or sloping down to the water's edge, here assumes the latter character. And on one side of the Pine is a fine sloping prairie, while on the other side is an open grove of oaks. In this general slope time has worn a wide and deep ravine, through which Pine river finds its way to the Mississippi. About one mile above the mouth the Pine meets the back water from the Mississippi and grows deeper and wider to the mouth, six hundred yards above which it is fifty yards wide and five and a half feet deep. It affords a most excellent har- bor for boats. The banks are sloping and the landings on either side are con- venient. From the Pine up to the Wabesapinica (Wapsipinicon) there are numerous creeks that empty into the Mississippi. Some of them afford good water power, and all of them have more or less timber among them. As they rise far back into the prairie and interlock with others running into the Iowa and Wabesapinica, there is no part of the large and fertile tract lying between these three rivers that is not conveniently supplied with timber. It is from the mouth of Pine river upward that the beautiful country of the Mississippi begins to show itself. *
In this embryo state, those interested are anxiously looking out for places where are to be the future cities to do the trade and manufacturing of the coun- try. I propose making a few remarks upon places that have attracted most attention.
Kasey's. A gentleman of this name intends laying out a town at the head of the Muscatine slough. The place possesses the advantage of an excellent landing and of a fine back country. But the bluff, probably two hundred feet high, approaches the river very abruptly, allowing little room for building below it and rendering difficult the ascent to the level ground above. The contiguity of the swamps of the Muscatine Island and of Sturgeon Bay, will have a ten- dency to create much disease at this point. Notwithstanding these disadvan- Vol. 1-4
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tages, it must be a place of considerable trade, as it is the first place above Bur- lington where a town can be built on the west bank of the Mississippi, thus leav- ing an interval between these two places of forty miles on the river.
Iowa. This is the name of a town to be laid out at the mouth of Pine river, about three hundred and thirty miles above St. Louis. From its situation at the apex of a great bend in the Mississippi, it is central to a large district of country, and the near approach of the Iowa river just back of it, brings all the settlements along a great part of that stream within a short distance of this place. It possesses the most convenient landing from Burlington to the head of the Upper Rapids, and no place could be better adapted to the erection of buildings. The harbor of Pine river runs through the town, affording good landings on both sides, and boats may land anywhere on the Mississippi shore for a mile and a half above the mouth of Pine. This will be the point of deposit for the trade of the country included between the Iowa, Wabesapinica and Mississippi, and for the disembarkation of emigrants going to that region. But a simple inspection of the map is sufficient to show its general advantages of position. Its local conveniences are its landing, its harbor, its fine sloping grounds, its good water, its water power, its timber and its building stone. As soon as the legislative council of Wisconsin shall be assembled, the district will be redivided into counties, and Madison and Iowa will probably be made county towns. Should the seat of government of the future state of Iowa be located on the Mississippi, it would probably be fixed at Iowa, owing to the central position and commercial advantages of that place, and if it be located in the interior it must be near the Iowa river, as the weight of population will be there and then the town of Iowa will be the nearest port on the Mississippi to the capital of the state. There are some of the most beautiful sites for private residences between this and Rock Island that can be desired. Nature here has made her first display of gay and cheerful beauty.
Throckmorton's Landing. About six miles above Iowa is the next landing, and it is said to be a very convenient one. This point is stated by the surveyor of the boundary line of the purchase, to be just forty miles from the angle of that line on the Iowa river. It is a handsome place and belongs to a worthy man who knows how to prize its value.
Clark's Ferry. This is the most convenient place to cross the Mississippi that I have seen anywhere between the Balize and Prairie du Chien. Nature seems to have designed it for a great crossing place, by arranging good banks just opposite to an opening in the islands, and at a point where a good ferry would naturally be much wanted. All persons coming from the direction of the Illinois river to the great mining region of the Iowa district, or passing toward the capital of the future state of Iowa, would naturally cross the Mississippi at this ferry. Were the landing good on the west side there would certainly be a large town there, instead of the site at the mouth of Pine river. * *
There are many smaller towns and sites for towns in expectation, not men- tioned in these notes. Some of these places deserve a particular description, but it is not in the power of the author to give it, for want of sufficient infor- mation.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
The natural surface of the ground is the only road yet to be found in the Iowa district, and such is the nature of the soil that in dry weather we need no other. The country being so very open and free from mountains, artificial roads are little required. A few trees taken out of the way where the routes much traveled traverse the narrow woods and a few bridges thrown over the deeper creeks, is all the work necessary to give good roads in any direction.
A post route has been established from St. Louis to Dubuque, passing up the west side of the Mississippi, and it is quite probable that by the Ist of Sep- tember next, post coaches, drawn by four horses, will be running regularly through that route.
It may appear to some unacquainted with the character of our western people and not apprised of the rapid growth of this country, that some of my descriptions and predictions are fanciful, but if there be error in them, it is rather that the truth is not fully expressed than that it is transcended.
CHAPTER III.
LAW AND ORDER.
FIRST OFFICIALS CHOSEN TO GOVERN THE SETTLEMENTS- THIS COMMUNITY FIRST UNDER LAWS OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY-MUSCATINE COUNTY ESTABLISHED BY WISCONSIN TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE-HOW "CLAIMS" WERE MADE-KEO- KUK'S AND POWESHIEK'S VILLAGES IN THE COUNTY-FIRST SETTLERS.
At the time the settlers at Burlington began to feel their strength, in the way of growth in population, measures were considered providing for laws gov- erning the colony. The laws of Michigan territory prevailed in 1834, for in the spring of that year this region was attached to Michigan territory for judicial purposes and Des Moines county was organized. In the fall of 1834 an election was held and the following officers chosen: William Morgan, supreme judge; and Henry Walker and Young L. Hughes, assistants; W. R. Ross, clerk; Col- onel W. W. Chapman, district attorney ; Solomon Perkins, sheriff ; John Barker, justice of the peace; W. R. Ross, treasurer and recorder; John Whitaker, pro- bate judge; Leonard Olney, supreme judge; John Barker and Richard Land, justices of the peace. In the fall of 1835, George W. Jones was elected a dele- gate to congress from the territory of Michigan. These were the officials who presided over the destinies of the then unorganized county of Muscatine.
The bill creating the territory of Wisconsin was approved April 20, 1836, and Henry Dodge was appointed by President Andrew Jackson governor. Gov- ernor Dodge issued his first proclamation September 9, 1836, convening the territorial legislature at Belmont on the 25th of October. An election was held on the second Monday in October, at which time a delegate in congress was elected and members of the legislature. At that time there were five counties : Brown, Milwaukee, Iowa, Dubuque and Des Moines, the two latter counties containing a population of 10,521. From Des Moines county were sent to the legislature the following: Council-Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Joseph B. Teas, Arthur B. Inghram; House-Isaac Leffler, Thomas Blair, Warren L. Jenkins, John Box, George W. Teas, Eli Reynolds, David R. Chance. By the second act passed by the legislature, judicial districts were established. Charles Dunn be- came chief justice of the supreme court and presided at the first district ; David Irvin, associate in the second, and William C. Frazier, associate in the third. The permanent seat of government for the territory was fixed upon Madison, and Burlington was selected as the temporary capital.
To recapitulate : On September 21, 1832, this portion of Iowa was ceded by treaty and purchase from the Sac and Fox Indians to the United States and possession was given June 1, 1833. June 30, 1834, the Purchase was attached to Michigan and on July 3, 1836, it came under the laws and jurisdiction of
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Wisconsin. July 4, 1838, it became the territory of Iowa, with a population of 22,859. Robert Lucas, a former governor of Ohio, was appointed governor of Iowa territory.
SUBDIVISION OF OLD DES MOINES.
Act No. 21 was the next important bill (after the one locating the seat of government) passed by the legislature, so far as the county of Des Moines was concerned. It is here given in full. An Act Dividing the County of Des Moines into several new counties :
Section I. Be it enacted by the council and house of representatives of the territory of Wisconsin, That the country included within the following limits, to wit: Beginning at the most southern outlet of Skunk river on the Missis- sippi ; thence a northern direction, passing through the grove on the head of the northern branch of Lost creek; thence to a point corresponding with the range line dividing ranges seven and eight; thence south with said line to the Des Moines river ; thence down the middle of the same to the Mississippi, and thence up the Mississippi to the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Lee.
Section 2. Be it further enacted, That the country included in the follow- ing boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of Lee; thence south with the west line of said county, to the river Des Moines; thence up the same to where the Missouri line strikes the same; thence west with the said Missouri boundary line to the Indian boundary line; thence north with the said boundary line twenty-four miles; thence east to the beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Van Buren.
Section 3. Be it further enacted, That the country included within the fol- lowing limits, to wit: Beginning on the Mississippi river at the northeast corner of Lee; thence up said river to a point fifteen miles above the town of Burling- ton, on the bank of said river; thence on a westerly direction to a point on the dividing ridge between the Iowa river and Flint creek, being twenty miles on a due west line from the Mississippi river; thence a southerly direction so as to intersect the northern line of the county of Lee at a point twenty miles on a straight line from the Mississippi river; thence east with the northerly line of the said county of Lee to the beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Des Moines.
Section 4. Be it further enacted, That the country included within the fol- lowing limits, to wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of Des Moines; thence northwest with the line of said county of Van Buren, to the Indian boundary line; thence north with the boundary line, twenty-four miles; thence southeast to the northwest corner of the county of Des Moines; thence south with the west line of the county of Des Moines to the beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Henry.
Section 5. Be it further enacted, That the country included within the fol- lowing limits, to wit: Beginning at the Mississippi river, at the northeast cor- ner of Des Moines; thence up the said river twelve miles above the mouth of Iowa; thence west to the Indian boundary line; thence with said boundary line to the northwest corner of Henry; and with the line of the same to the north-
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
west corner of the county of Des Moines; thence east with the line of the same county of Des Moines to the beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Louisa.
Section 6. Be it further enacted, That the country included within the fol- lowing boundaries, to wit: Beginning on the Mississippi river at the northeast corner of the county of Louisa; thence up said river twenty-five miles on a straight line; thence west to the Indian boundary line; thence with said boun- dary line south to the northwest corner of the county of Louisa; thence east with the line of said county of Louisa to the beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Musquitine.
Section 7. Be it further enacted, That the country included within the fol- lowing boundaries, to wit: Beginning on the Mississippi river at the northeast corner of the county of Musquitine; thence up said river to the southeast corner of Du Buque ; thence with the line of the said county of Du Buque to the Indian boundary line; thence with said line south to the northwest corner of the county of Musquitine; thence east with the said line of the said county of Musquitine to the beginning, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, by the name of Cook.
Section 8. Be it further enacted, That the district court shall be held at the town of Madison, in the county of Lee, on the last Monday in March and on the last Monday in August in each year; in the town of Farmington, in the county of Van Buren, on the second Monday in April and the second Monday in September of each year; in the town of Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry, on the first Friday after the second Monday in April, and September in each year ; in the town of Wapello, in the county of Louisa, on the first Thurs- day after the third Monday in April and September in each year; in the town of Bloomington, in the county of Musquitine, on the fourth Monday in April and September in each year.
Section 9. Be it further enacted, That the county of Cook be and the same is hereby attached to the county of Musquitine for all judicial purposes.
Section 10. And be it further enacted, That the proper authority of the several counties hereby established, so soon as the said counties shall be or- ganized, shall liquidate and pay so much of the debt now due and unpaid by the present county of Des Moines, as may be their legal and equitable propor- tion of the same, according to the assessment value of the taxable property which shall be made therein.
Section II. This act to be in force from and after its passage, and until the end of the next annual session of the legislative assembly, and no longer. P. H. ENGLE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. HENRY S. BAIRD,
Approved December 7, 1836.
President of the Council. H. DODGE.
REVISION OF THE ORGANIZING ACT.
The second session of the Wisconsin territorial legislature convened at Bur- lington in the winter of 1837-38. At that session a bill was introduced redefin-
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
ing the boundaries of the five counties created out of old Des Moines. It was at this time that Dr. Eli Reynolds attempted to secure the removal of the county seat of Muscatine to Geneva, as is related in the preceding chapter. Hereafter is quoted the bill in full, because of the scarcity of the old records. It may prove of value for reference in days to come (p. 210 Session Laws Wisconsin. Territorial Legislature, Burlington, 1838) :
An act to establish the boundaries of Lee, Van Buren, Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine and Slaughter, to locate the seat of justice in said counties and for other purposes :
Section I. Be it enacted by the council and the house of representatives of the territory of Wisconsin, That the boundaries of Lee county shall be as fol- lows, to wit: Beginning at the main channel of the Mississippi river, due east from the entrance of Skunk river into the same, thence up said river to where the township line dividing townships sixty-eight and sixty-nine north leaves said river ; thence with said line to the range line between ranges four and five west; thence north with said line to the range line between ranges four and five west ; thence north with said line to the township line between townships sixty-nine and seventy north; thence west with said line to the range line between ranges seven and eight west; thence south with said line to the Des Moines river ; thence down said river to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river; thence up the same to the place of beginning, and the seat of justice is hereby established at the town of Fort Madison.
Section 2. The boundaries of the county of Van Buren shall be as follows, to wit : Beginning on the Des Moines river, where the range line between ranges seven and eight intersects said river, thence north with said line to the town- ship line dividing townships seventy and seventy-one north; thence west with said line to the range line between ranges eleven and twelve west; thence south with said line to the northern line of Missouri; thence east with said line to the Des Moines river; thence down said river to the place of beginning; and the seat of justice of said county is hereby retained at the town of Farmington, until it may be changed, as hereinafter provided. For the purpose of perma- nently establishing the seat of justice for the county of Van Buren, the qualified electors of said county shall, at the election of county commissioners, vote by ballot for such places as they may see proper for the seat of justice of said county. The. returns of said election shall, within thirty days thereafter, be made by the sheriff of the county to the governor of the territory, and if, upon examination, the governor shall find that any one point voted for has a majority over all other places voted for, he shall issue a proclamation to that effect, and the place so having a majority of votes shall, from the date of such proclama- tion, be the seat of justice of said county. But if, upon an examination of the votes, the governor shall find that no one place has a majority of the whole number of votes polled on that question and returned to him, he shall issue a proclamation for a new election in said county, and shall state in his proclama- tion the two places which were highest in vote at the preceding election, and votes at the election so ordered shall be confined to the two places thus named. The governor shall, in his proclamation, fix the time of holding said second election, and it shall be conducted in the same manner, and by the same officers
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
as conducted the election for county commissioners; and the sheriff of the county shall, within thirty days thereafter, make return of said second election to the governor, who shall thereupon issue a second proclamation, declaring which of the two places named in first proclamation was the highest in vote at such second election, and declaring said place from that time to be the seat of justice for Van Buren county, provided that the spring term of the district court for said county shall be held at Farmington, the present seat of justice of Van Buren county.
Section 3. The boundaries of Des Moines county shall be as follows, to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of Lee county; thence west with the northern line of said county to the range line between ranges four and five west; thence north with said line to the township line dividing townships seventy-two and seventy-three north; thence east with said line to the middle of the main chan- nel of the Mississippi river; thence down the same to the place of beginning ; and the seat of justice of said county is hereby established at the town of Bur- lington.
Section 4. The boundaries of Henry county shall be as follows, to wit: Be- ginning on the range line between ranges four and five west, where the town- ship line dividing townships seventy-three and seventy-four north intersects said line; thence west with said line to the range line between ranges eight and nine; thence south with said line to the township line dividing townships sev- enty and seventy-one north; thence east with said line to the range line between ranges seven and eight west; thence south with said line to the township line dividing townships sixty-nine and seventy north; thence east with said line to the range line between ranges four and five west; thence north with said line to the place of beginning and the seat of justice of said county is hereby estab- lished at the town of Mount Pleasant; and all the territory west of Henry is hereby attached to the same for judicial purposes.
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