USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Indian history of Winneshiek county > Part 5
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50 in the old fort when it was in charge of Mr. Faulkner. Soon after, Faulkner was relieved by Geo. Cooney, whom Alexander says*, "was a well-known citizen of the county, who lived in the vicinity of the old fort." The fort became useless as govern- ment property, and was sold at public auction to one J. M. Flowers for $3,521. The reservation is described as containing 1,920 acres. This land was finally disposed of under the pro- visions of the acts of Congress of July 30, 1856, and June 7, 1860.
Of the officers who served at this post, six, namely: Cap- tain John J. Abercrombie and Lieutenants Schuyler Hamilton, John H. King, and Joseph B. Plummer, of the Ist Infantry, and Captain Edwin V. Sumner and Lieutenant Alfred Pleasanton, of the Ist Dragoons, attained to the rank of general officers in the U. S. Army in the Civil War.
Assistant Surgeon William S. King was retired as an Assist- ant Surgeon General. Captain Osborne Cross of the Ist In- fantry was transferred to the Quartermaster's Department and became Assistant Quartermaster General with the rank of Col- onel. Captain Sidney Burbank of the Ist Infantry commanded his regiment, 2d U. S. Infantry, during the Civil War and was breveted for gallantry.
Lieutenants Simon B. Buckner and Henry Heth of the 6th Infantry, and Abraham Buford and Alexander W. Reynolds of the Ist, resigned their commissions at the outbreak of the Civil War and became general officers in the Confederate service. Assistant Surgeon Charles H. Smith served in the medical de- partment of the Confederate army. A. R. Young, father of Frank Young of Decorah, was a soldier at Fort Atkinson, and left with other troops for Mexico, but returned soon after the country was opened to settlers.
* In his history of the county.
The first death of a white man in Winneshiek .county was that of a government teamster named Howard, frozen to death October 4, 1840, near Castalia, while driving from Fort Craw- ford to Fort Atkinson. He was buried at the latter place. The first white child born in the county was Miss Mary Jane Tapper, born at the fort January 16, 1841.
C.P. HEXOM ~.
The Old Cannon House.
REMOVAL OF THE WINNEBAGOES FROM IOWA
October 13, 1846, the Winnebagoes ceded "all claim to land," and especially their rights on the Neutral Ground, and were given a tract of land selected by the chiefs at Long Prairie, Minn. The Indians were not satisfied with the location, and most of them remained scattered throughout the country.
Mr. Henry M. Rice secured the contract to remove these to Minnesota, and employed Moses Paquette, Antoine Grignon, and others to assist him. Antoine Grignon, who is now eighty- four years old and a resident of Wisconsin, says, "I went to school four years with Moses Paquette; he was a Winnebago mixed blood. I have no Indian name, but am part Sioux and Winnebago. I helped locate camps for H. M. Rice, along the river, and we gathered the Indians together in La Crosse, took them by steamboat to St. Paul, then overland by wagon to Long Prairie, Minn. I remained at Long Prairie until 1854. They disliked very much to leave Iowa. They were removed in wagons, being guarded by dragoons from Fort Atkinson."
The names of the twenty-four Indian signers of the Treaty of Washington, negotiated with the Winnebago Indians October 13, 1846, are as follows :
Hoong-ho-no-kaw. Is-jaw-go-bo-kaw. Co-no-ha-ta-kaw. Naw-hoo-skaw-kaw. Shoong-skaw-kaw.
Kooz-a-ray-kaw. Waw-ma-noo-ka-kaw. Ha-naw-hoong-per-kaw. Waw-roo-jaw-hee-kaw.
Baptist-Lasalica. Waw-kon-chaw-per-kaw.
Kaw-how-ah-kaw.
Hakh-ee-nee-kaw.
Waw-kon-chaw-ho-no-kaw.
Maw-hee-ko-shay-naw-zhee-kaw. Wo-gie-qua-kaw. Waw-kon-chaw-she-shick-kaw.
Chas-chun-kaw.
Naw-hey-kee-kaw.
Ah-hoo-zheb-kaw.
Maw-nee-ho-no-nic. Maw-ho-kee-wee-kaw. Sho-go-nee-kaw.
Watch-ha-ta-kaw, (by Henry M. Rice, his delegate.)
Mr. Lamere has translated most of the above names; the translations are as follows: Hoong-ho-no-kaw, or Little Chief (also called Little Priest) ; he was a member of the Wolf clan.
Co-no-ha-ta-kaw ;- "Co-no" is the name of all the first born male children of the Winnebagoes (the word "co-no" does not mean first-born, but is the name of the first born) ; "ha-ta" means "big.". As there were usually two or three families in a lodge and more than one "co-no," they usually called the older one "co-no-ha-ta-kaw," meaning, "older, or big-first-born."
Maw-hoo-skaw-kaw, or White Sturgeon; this is a Fish clan name.
Shoong-skaw-kaw, or White Dog; a member of the Wolf clan. :
Kooz-a-ray-kaw, or the Created; a member of the Bear clan.
Waw-ma-noo-ka-kaw, or the Stealer (Thief); this is a self- taken name, a right the warriors had, especially, when they had accomplished anything of importance in battle. This particular name signifies that he overcomes his enemies so easily that it is like stealing them.
Ha-naw-hoong-per-kaw ;- "Ha-naw" is the name of the second born male child in a family ; "hoong-per" signifies "good chief," thus the meaning would be "the second born good chief;" his English name was "White-horse" and he was a member of the Wolf clan.
Wo-gie-qua-kaw, or "Strikes them as he comes." This is a Buffalo clan name, and is taken from the actions of a bull buffalo running a herd, when he seems to lead or drive them by butting, or striking them about.
Wau-kon-chaw-she-shick-kaw, or Bad Thunder (a Thunder clan name).
Chas-chun-kaw, or the Wave (a Fish clan name.)
Naw-hey-kee-kaw, or "He who makes trees dead ;" a Thun- der clan name taken from the action of the lightning when it strikes trees, so that they dry up and die.
Ah-hoo-zheb-kaw, or Short Wing (Young Winneshiek).
Waw-roo-jaw-hee-kaw, or "Thunders on them" (Thunder clan name).
Waw-kon-chaw-per-kaw, or the Good Thunder (Thunder clan name.)
Waw-kon-chaw-ho-no-kaw, or the Little Thunder (Thun- der clan name).
Maw-hee-koo-shay-naw-zhee-kaw, or Little Decorah (One who Stands and Reaches the Skies).
Maw-nee-ho-no-nic, or Little Walker (Eagle clan name).
Maw-ho-kee-wee-kaw, or "He who goes along in the sky ;" the word "kaw" on the end of every name means "he" or "the."
Sho-go-nee-kaw, or Little Hill.
Watch-ha-ta-kaw (undoubtedly One-eyed Decorah).
About 1300 were removed to Minnesota at this time, leav- ing, it was estimated, about 400 still remaining in Iowa and Wis- consin. Others were removed in 1850.
"A place of notoriety that existed in the early history of Winneshiek county was a spot called 'Grab-all.' This place was a high bench of timber land, half way between the Iowa trail and Postville. It was given this name because the Goy- ernment stationed a sergeant's guard there to 'grab all' the Indians passing that way, for removal."*
It is easily understood why the Winnebagoes, when later removed to other places, returned in little bands, quite fre- quently, to visit the scenes they loved so well; they persisted in this until civilization shut them out forever. The Winne- bagoes had many favorite camping sites along the rivers of the county. Mr. Lamere says that the Winnebago Indian name for Iowa river, with reference to the Upper Iowa, is "Wax- hoche-ni-la," meaning Iowa river, also called "Wax-hoche-ni- sha-nuk-la." The Winnebago Indian name for the Turkey river is "Zee-zee-ke-ni-la," meaning Turkey river, also called “Zee- zee-ke-ni-sha-nuk-la." James Smith, a Winnebago, states,t "a river south of Lansing, Ia., is called Yellow Hair river by the Indians; the Winnebago name for this river is 'Na-jew-zee-ni- sha-nuk-la'."
* Alexander's "History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties."
+ A statement made to Mr. Oliver Lamere.
¿ Evidently the Yellow river, which has its source in Winneshiek county.
REMINISCENCES
When the first homeseekers came to Winneshiek county the remains of several Winnebago Indian villages were still in exist- ence. Numerous Indian trails were in evidence in nearly all parts of the county, many of which led to the site of the present city of Decorah.
In " Reminiscences of Springfield Township t " Hon. A. Jacobson states : "The Indians who had inhabited this portion of the country where we settled were removed by government troops two years previous to our arrival .. They had evidently intended to return at some future time as they had made large cellar-like holes in the ground in which were deposited all kinds of goods covered with the bark of trees. Such things as corn, feathers, axes, and kettles were in good preservation when ex- humed by the new settlers.
"Quite large parties of Indians traversed the country, but they had their homes in the territory of Minnesota and did not molest us in the least. There were no settlements northwest of us the first year, hence being on the frontier we often felt un- easy, having heard that some traders sold them whiskey.
"Indian trails, well marked, crossed the country in various directions, and with little deviation continued to be the roads of early settlers, until the fencing in of the fields pushed the roads into the worst places."
Alonzo Bradish, who came to Decorah in 1852, says* : "One of their trails followed the east bend of Pleasant Hill and
t Sec. II, pg. 11, Atlas of Winneshiek County, 1905.
* In a personal interview with him.
left off at a point about where the Catholic church now stands on East Broadway. This trail was well marked by frequent travel, and in places there were considerable depressions below the surface, caused, to a certain extent, by the dragging of tipi poles fastened to the backs of horses [travois].
"In the early days travelers had to ford the stream where the Twin Bridges now span the Upper Iowa. The road leading from here up through the valley, to the district now called Clay Hill, was known as the St. Paul stage road, and the valley was called Cruson's Hollow. This route was very frequently traveled by the Indians. A favorite camping place of the Indians, when traveling through, was on the ground now known as the Court House Square. '
"They always carried a blanket, and wore leggings that reached up over the thigh, and a clout. Many carried hatchets, of which the most were made of iron. The young Indian boys were expert marksmen with the bow and arrow, hitting pennies and nickels at fifty to sixty feet distance.
"I had opened a hardware and tin shop, and here the In- dians occasionally came to have their guns repaired. These guns were the only kind used then and were known as flintlocks, the ammunition being big lead balls. The Indians were supplied with them by the government.
"A young Indian and his squaw were camped at a spot about where the stockyards are now located at the east end of Water street. The river at this time was very low and he busied himself in making a dugout canoe from the trunk of a large cottonwood which he had felled. When the high water came they put the boat in the stream and getting in were soon on their way down stream, headed for Lansing at the mouth of the Upper Iowa, where a part of the tribe were encamped."
Philip Husted, an old settler, relates * that, "Quite often
* In a personal interview with him.
parties of Winnebago Indians would travel through the country ; one of their favorite camping places was on the Yellow river near Frankville. They would sell their beadwork, and were very pleasant and peaceable with the whites."
A number of years ago Mr. E. C. Bailey met two Indians at the Methodist church corner, on upper Broadway. One was a very old Indian, and the other middle-aged. Mr. Bailey (who was then about twenty years old) was asked if he knew where a Mr. E. Anderson lived. One of them opened a neat note book in which was written, "These Indians are good Winnebago Indians, and they are to be trusted."
(Signed.)
E. ANDERSON, Sheriff of Winneshiek county.
It is not definitely known what year Mr. Anderson was sheriff, but his statement is only another example of the confi- dence early settlers placed with the Winnebagoes.
Although Iowa was in a manner always neutral ground and escaped many of the worst results of the encounters between the whites and the Indians, the early settlers of Winneshiek county had their Indian scare, and they had good reason to be- come alarmed. What led to this was the Indian uprising and Sioux massacre in Minnesota in June, 1862.
They had swept Minnesota with bullet and brand Till her borders lay waste as a desert of sand, When we in Dakota awakened to find That the red flood had risen and left us behind. Then we rallied to fight them,-Sioux, Sissetons, all
Who had ravaged unchecked to the gates of Saint Paul .- -Joseph Mills Hanson, "Frontier Ballads."
At this time the Winnebagoes were at Blue Earth in south- ern Minnesota. Although they took no part in the Sioux mas- sacre, and even though they offered the government their serv- ices in punishing the Sioux, the inhabitants of Minnesota de-
manded their removal. They were hastily removed to South Dakota, where they suffered many hardships.
This Indian scare was general throughout the county and was an occurrence well remembered by the old settlers. A con- tributor to The Decorah Journal, 1882, states: "As I write the word 'Indians,' my memory takes me back to the early days of my childhood in Decorah. Again I see a rider on a foaming steed dash along Broadway, as I did twenty or more years ago, shouting at the top of his voice, 'The Indians are coming!' Again I see the street thronged with blanched faced men and trembling women, running to and fro in wild excitement and gazing with anxious faces off into the west Again I hear the whispered consultation of the men as to the best means of protecting their loved ones. Again I feel my hand clasped in that of my sainted mother as I toddle along at her side, down Mill street hill, across the old red bridge, and over to West Decorah-a place of imagined safety. It was a false alarm, and probably faded from the memory of many of our readers, and remembered by others only as the dim recollection of a half forgotten dream."
At Decorah, men, women, and children gathered on the Court House Square, and prepared to withstand a siege. Settlers left their homes and gathered in Decorah as a place of refuge, many of them camping on the flat now known as Park Addition. Men armed themselves with any kind of weapon that lay handy, and determined to defend their families and homes, but were greatly relieved when the threatened attack proved to be only a rumor.
J. C. Fredenburg, of Canoe township, says*, "I remember the Indian scare. Some one came to our house one night about twelve o'clock and told father the Indians were coming and that they were about twenty miles away, killing people and burning
* Sec. II, pg. 14, Atlas of Winneshiek County.
all the houses. Father and mother talked it over and father said, 'I will go to Burr Oak and see what is to be done.' He left mother and me at home, and when he arrived at Burr Oak nearly all the people were there for several miles around, some with their teams and families. They held a council and decided that all should meet there and build a fort for their protection, but no Indians came, so the people settled down again. It was some time, however, before all fear had vanished."
Other similar accounts might be given, but the preceding narratives describe the conditions as they existed, during this scare, throughout the county.
There is no evidence to show that any Indian murders took place within the boundaries of our county. There were, how- ever, several such murders committed in the near neighborhood : that of the Gardner family, in Fayette county; of Riley, near Monona; and of Herchy, near the mouth of the Volga. The contaminating influence of the bootlegger was the direct cause of these murderous deeds. "Firewater" was the curse of the Indian, as it has since been to many a white man.
Taft Jones and Graham Thorn were two bootleggers who infested the neighborhood of the Winnebago reservation. The government did not allow such characters to come on the reser- vation, so they came as near to its boundaries as they dared and established so-called trading-posts in the vicinity of Monona, giving them the names of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Indians used to frequent these places and always got badly cheated. Alexander gives* the following account :-
An old Indian visited Taft Jones' den, at Sodom, and traded in all his worldly effects for whiskey, he even sold the blanket from his shoulders. Becoming intoxicated, he was turned out of doors, and on his way to his lodge died from exposure and cold. The next morning his son, a youth of about twenty sum-
* In his history of the county.
mers, found the dead body of his father out in the snow, naked and frozen. His revengeful feelings were aroused, and going to the whiskey den at Gomorrah, he shot the first man he saw through the window. Unfortunately it happened to be an in- offensive man named Riley. A detachment of troops under command of Lieutenant David S. Wilson was sent out to cap- ture the Indian who committed the murder. He was appre- hended, taken to Fort Atkinson, and confined in the guard- house; but by the connivance of a sympathizing white man he escaped and was never recaptured. Jones lived a short time after this occurrence and died from chronic alcoholism."
Thus an attempt has been made to give in brief outline the Indian history of Winneshiek county. The writer soon discov- ered, after taking up the study of the subject, that nowhere was accurate information in concise form to be had in regard to the aboriginal inhabitants of the county; their occupation of the county seems to have been an obscure period in their history. The writer has regarded it as well worth while to gather the data here presented, and has had in view that this article should faithfully preserve the early scenes of our predecessors in the county.
The river, whose peaceful waters reflected the light of their campfires, now furnishes the power that lights the modern struc- tures of the white men, by which their wigwams have been sup- planted. But the memory of the red men will never perish from the minds of those who have succeeded them. The names of Winneshiek and Decorah, that are attached to our county and county seat, will be an enduring monument to their former occupation of the soil.
Here still a lofty rock remains, On which the curious eye may trace (Now wasted half by wearing rains) The fancies of a ruder race.
Here still an aged elm aspires, Beneath whose far projecting shade (And which the shepherd still admires) The children of the forest played.
There oft a restless Indian queen (Pale Sheba with her braid and hair), And many & barbarous form is seen To chide the man that lingers there.
By moonlight moons, o'er moistening dews, In habit for the chase arrayed, The hunter still the deer pursues, The hunter and the deer-a shade!
And long shall timorous Fancy see The painted chief, and pointed spear, And Reason's self shall bow the knee To shadows and delusions here .- -Closing stanzas of Philip Freneau's "The Indian Burying-ground."
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