USA > Iowa > Marion County > Pioneers of Marion county, consisting of a general history of the county from its early settlement to the present date. Also, the geography and history of each township, including brief biographical sketches of some of the more prominent early settlers > Part 16
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At the time referred to by Pasishamone in his speeh to the squaws, mentioned in the preceding chapter, he had together with the party over whom he held immediate command, also left the most of their goods in the care of Mr. Mikesell for the summer, whilst they occupied a temporary camp on Skunk river, in what is now Jasper county. In the meantime Pasish- amone, with his suite of braves, had gone to Old Agency on a visit.
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After spending the summer on Skunk, hunting, fishing and raising a little corn, the band moved to Four Mile creek, four miles below Fort Des Moines, where they took up their winter quarters, and awaited the arrival of their chief and goods. So, on his way up Pasishamone called on Mr. Mikesell for assistance in moving them. For this purpose he took two wagons, one drawn by an ox and the other by a horse team, and got as far as Timber creek the first day, and camped near where Mr. Prunty now lives.
Here our informant witnessed a feat of speed and power of endurance on foot, that we think would be hard to surpass by any of the boasted pedestrians of the present day, who walk for a wager. Just at sundown, when the movers were prepar- ing their supper, a strange Indian entered the camp and asked for food and permission to rest there for the night, saying that he was very tired and hungry. His request being granted, he sat down by the fire to await his supper, and in reply to Mr. M.'s inquiries, stated that he was on his way to the Fort to get the dragoons to help recover some stolen horses; that he had started from a place ten miles below Brighton that morning, distance about seventy-five or eighty miles. He was asked how he had managed to travel so far in one day, and only answered that in the morning he would show how it was done.
In due time the weary footman was supplied with corn and meat, of which he ate like a hungry Indian, ravenously and abundantly, till sleep gradually overcame him, and he sank back upon the ground and remained motionless as a log till morning. Then, no sooner was he awake than astir, with limbs not the least stiffened by the previous day's exercise, and ready to renew the journey. When ready to start he told Mr. M. that he might now see how it was done, and immediately set off on a run, making long, easy strides, which speed he kept up with no apparent variation till out of sight, and per- haps, till he reached the Fort. He was afterwards heard from,
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that he was quite successful in his mission, as he undoubtedly deserved to be.
At the close of the second day the party reached their des- tination, and camped on the east side of the creek, some distance from the village. Soon after dark a great noise was heard in the village. It somewhat resembled singing, interspersed with shouts and other loud voices, making a commingling of sounds strange and weird-like. And this uproar continued with very little intermission till morning.
Mr. M. was much surprised at this, and early in the evening signified to the chief his intention to go over and see what was the matter. But Pasish, who had just arrived from the scene of the mysterious noise, shook his head gravely, and added, " White man better not go-Indian drunk-hurt white man."
This explanation satisfied " white man" for the time being. He thought it quite probable that the whole village was on a grand spree, and it would not be advisable for him to get in their way. But he noticed that Pasishamone and his braves were astir all night, going and coming at all hours, without showing any signs of drunkenness, but rather demeaning them- selves with more than usual sobriety.
All this lent a doubt as to the truth of Pasishamone's state- ment, and tended to deepen mystery. So in the morning our informant endeavored to risk an attempt to solve it at all events. Seeing the chief come over from the village, and stealthily put a couple of wooden bowls under his blanket, with which he immediately set out on his return, Mr. M. concluded to follow
him unobserved. On reaching the village he saw a long wickeup, which appeared to be the place of meeting, from the number of persons about it and going in and out. Seeing no evidences of drunkenness or carousal, he ventured to the door of the hut to see what was going on within. In the centre was a row of kettles hung over a fire, and in each kettle was corn soup and a piece of meat, some of the pieces consisting of the
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ribs and back-bone of what proved to be a couple of fat dogs. The animals had been skinned except the heads and feet, and these had been scalded or singed to remove the hair, and then nicely roasted or baked to a beautiful brown, emitting a savory odor. They occupied a wooden bowl at each end of the row of kettles, and were reserved for the old men, who regarded them as the choice part of the feast.
The food now seemed to be ready and in waiting for those who were to partake of it; but the preparatory ceremony which seemed to be of a religious character, was not yet quite completed. Around on each side of the wickeup were seated rows of men, singing a jargon that sounded like some of the senseless fal-da-ral that serves as the chorus of a comic song, most of the time keeping their eyes turned upward with a de- vout expression. At length the singing ceased, and an old man rose to his feet, and in a low, solemn tone, made what appeared to be a prayer. No sooner was it concluded than every Indian was on his feet, having their bowls in readiness, and began an indiscriminate dipping into the soup and dog, and to feast like men who had been undergoing a fast.
This was evidently a thanksgiving feast, made partly as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit, in whom all unchristianized Indians entertain a crude belief, and partly as a feast of welcome to their chief, who had been some time absent from his people. The slaughtering and dressing of the dogs and other prepara- tions were performed during the night, attended by the noise that was heard. During the ceremony no one seemed to notice the presence of the white man, but after it was all over Pasish- amone approached Mr. M. with an apology for having lied to him the evening before:
"White man no like dog. Tell white man Indian drunk; he stay away.".
Before closing this chapter we shall take occasion to relate an incident to show further that these people were far from being
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devoid of a religious sentiment; that they believed in the pres- ence, power and mercy of God, and in the immortality of the soul, though their ideas about these matters were not according to the revealed Word.
The incident relates to the death of a child belonging to one of Keokuk's braves. The child had been severely scalded, and the party stopped at Mikesell's to nurse it; but it was evident that it was even then in a dying condition, and the Indians made preparations to hold such religious services over it as they supposed would secure its happy admission into the spirit land. For this purpose they set up a large tent at the foot of the hill, near the house, in the center of which they placed the little sufferer, on a bed. Seeing there was no hope of its recovery, and that it must soon die, Keokuk and a number of his braves seated themselves on the ground in a circle about the death bed, where they performed with appropriate solemnity a series of religious exercises till the child died. These exercises seemed to be principally singing and prayer. The singing was somewhat monotonous in tone, and a constant repetition of certain words or notes like "la, ha, ha, la, la, ha," and was accompanied byt he rattling of a gourd of beans over the head of the child by one appointed to that duty. This was said to have been intended to soothe the spirit in its exit from the body, and waft it happily away. When the singing ceased the worshipers bowed themselves forward, their heads between their knees, covering their faces with their hands, and thus remained for some minutes in silent prayer, audible only in an occasional sigh or groan ; but the rattling was continued without intermission. At the proper time the chief would resume the chant, and the others would rise to a sitting posture and join in it. Thus they continued to do for several hours, with great earnestness and patience, and until the spirit of the little one had taken its departure. So intent were they in their devo- tions that they appeared to take no notice of visitors, several of
12
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whom came to the door of the tent to witness the strange per- formance.
Who will say that such sincerity, such faith, though unat- tended by the light of Christianity, will not be rewarded by Him who knows the heart, and who, we have reason to believe, will make due allowance for the errors of unavoidable igno- rance ?
After the child was dead immediate preparations were made for the funeral. It was the intention of the friends of the deceased to dispose of the body after the singular custom fre- quently practiced by the people in the burial of their dead, that is by tying it in the top of a tree. Observing that this was their intention, Mr. Mikesell interfered, and finally induced them to put it in the ground. He told them that the crows and buzzards would find it, and it would eventually fall down and its bones would get scattered. So they concluded to take his advice and give it a white people's burial. For this purpose Mr. David Worth, who lived in the neighborhood, furnished a coffin, and the few toys that belonged to the little fellow were put in with him, and he was buried a short distance north of the house where Mr. M.'s orchard now is.
When all that remained of his child was hid away from him the grief stricken father gave vent to the sorrow of his heart in a prayer of faith that might well become a Christian in behalf of a living child. Though uttered in the Indian lan- guage, it was well enough understood by our informant to war- rant him in giving at least the substance. He asked the Great Spirit to take good care of the little one. He was very sorry to give him up, " but," said he, "you, God, know best, and I know he'll be happy with you."
It was the custom of the Indians to regard such articles of food and drink as they were particularly fond of themselves as worthy articles to sacrifice to the Great Spirit, and to offer to the spirits of their departed friends. "Whisky, in spite of the
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baneful effects its use had upon them, was regarded as a very acceptable offering .*
On one occasion the noted chief Keokuk obtained a quart of whisky from Mr. Mikesell, expressly to make an offering of it to the Great Spirit, and a treat to the souls of some of his friends who had been very fond of the beverage during their life-time. Having received the liquor in a bottle, he sat down by the fire and mumbled a prayer, which may have been a formal dedication of it to the sacred purpose intended, and an invitation to the Great Spirit to accept the offering. Pretend- ing to have received a favorable answer, he poured a quantity of the whisky into the fire and the blue blaze flashed up the chimney. He then asked the Great Spirit if he might treat some of his spirit friends. Permission being granted, he turned out about enough for a dram, naming the person for whom it was intended; then another, and another, till the whole quart of bad spirits was consumed in a succession of blue blazes, and a pretty large company of good spirits had each enjoyed a drink.
To some readers this story may seem highly improbable, and even blasphemous, but when we take into account the fact that these ignorant creatures, like some of their more enlightened white brothers, regarded whisky as one of God's blessings, they deemed it their duty to make burnt offerings of it, as the Israelites of old did of their cattle. Tobacco, much valued by the Indians, was frequently offered in the same way.
* The fondness of the Indians for strong drinks was so universal, and in some instances so intense, as to lead to the belief that it was more natural than acquired. Such was the intensity of their appetite for this stimulant that they would sacrifice almost any thing to obtain it. We give an instance:
An Indian came to Mikesell's and begged for a drink of whisky. He said if he could get one more drink he would be willing to die. Mr. M. thought he would test the sincerity of this statement, and told the suffering applicant that he would give him a drink if he would let him hang him. With the utmost coolne-s the poor fellow agreed to the proposition, and a rope was looped on his neck, and passed over a joist ready for the execution. He then received his liquor, drank it with great satisfaction, and closed his eyes in confident expec- tation of dying. Mr. M then pulled on the rope till the poor wretch was nearly choked; still he showed no opposition to the painful process, and when let down and sufficiently recovered to speak, expressed surprise that the bargain had not been fully carried out on the part of the hangman. He said he sup- posed it was the last drink of whisky he should need in this world.
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CHAPTER XII.
Red Rock Township continued-Claiborn Hall-Elias Prunty-An Adventure-A Difficulty Overcome-A Milling Trip-Killing Wolves-Another Indian Thanks- giving.
Among the very earliest permanent settlers in this township was Claiborn Hall, still remembered as a somewhat prominent personage in political and religious circles, being an active and efficient member of the democratic party, the editor and pro- prietor of the first paper issued in the county in support of that party, and a minister of the Gospel in the Christian denomi- nation.
Mr. Hall was born in Virginia in 1819; moved with his parents to Boone county, Mo., in '29; and in the autumn of the same year moved to Menard county, Ill., where his parents still reside. In the spring of '43 he came to Iowa and settled four miles north of the present site of Red Rock village. Hav- ing secured his claim, Mr. Hall cleared about thirteen acres, and got it planted about the 31st of May. After harvesting this crop he sowed the ground in wheat in the fall, having brought the seed from Illinois, and harvested from it a remark- ably heavy yield in the summer following. A load of this wheat he got floured at Keosauqua, distant about a hundred miles.
In the spring of '45 he returned to Illinois and secured the co-partnership of Miss Susan T. Duncan, a former acquain- tance, with whom he immediately repaired to his western home, and converted his "bachelor's hall" into a country resi- dence; and, it may be equally important to state that during his
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residence here he organized and superintended the first Sabbath school in the northern part of the county.
In '46 he was elected county surveyor, held the office one year and then succeeded to that of probate judge, which he held two years. In '49 he was elected sheriff, moved to Knox- ville and held that office two years. In November, '50, his wife died, whereupon he put his official business into the hands of his deputy, Isaac H. Walters, and went to Illinois, where he spent the winter at the residence of his father. In the spring he returned and resumed the duties of his office; and at the expiration of the term was elected to the triple office of recorder, collector and treasurer; held it two years, and then voluntarily retired from the field as an office seeker.
Some time during the term of his last named office he formed a co-partnership with L. D. Jackson, (now deceased), in the inercantile business, and purchased an old stock of goods from L. W. Babbitt, to begin with. This business he continued only two years, when he sold out, purchased a farm near Knox- ville, to which he retired with his second wife, whom he had married shortly before.
But again, in '56, he brought himself into public notice by becoming the editor and proprietor of the first Democratic newspaper published in the county. Being a warm politician, and somewhat enthusiastic in the interests of his party, he purchased the press and type for a paper to be devoted to the support and dissemination of its principles in Marion county, and in June of the year above mentioned, the " Democratic Standard " made its appearance. But being entirely without experience in this line of business, he succeeded but poorly, and after a short time disposed of the concern to a company.
Soon after his retirement from the publishing business Mr. Hall was elected to the office of county superintendent of schools for two years, and with the close of this term he finally retired from the political arena as an office seeker, and has
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since divided his time and talents as a farmer and a minister of the gospel In '64 he returned to Illinois for permanent resi- dence, where, in December of that year, his second wife died.
The next person that succeeded Mr. Hall as a settler in the same neighborhood, was Elias Prunty. He was born in Scott Co., Ky., in 1809, moved to Morgan Co., Ill., in the fall of '33, and in the fall of '43 to Red Rock township, three miles north of the village.
On reaching the residence of Thomas Tuttle, where Pella now stands, Mr. Prunty began his search for a claim, and con- tinued it in the direction of the river till they reached Red Rock village, then consisting of one or two small cabins. Here they found Claiborn Hall, who was camped on his claim, and proceeded at once to secure a location in the immediate neighborhood, and put up a cabin.
Mr. Prunty's family consisted of his wife and four children, and his stock of domestic animals were two horses and two cows that he brought with him. But, like most of the early settlers, he was without a supply of provisions for the winter; and was obliged to repair to the Old Purchase for such articles of consumption as were indispensable to life. He obtained his supply of corn and meat from Round Grove, Jefferson county, and to this place he made four trips during that first winter, leaving his family exposed to whatever inconveniences might be incidental to their entire separation from neighbors, and to the annoying visits of the Indians, who made them a call every few days. They were, however, kindly treated by Mrs. Prunty and the children, and manifested no disposition to be uncivil in return.
On these trips Mr. P. went prepared to " camp out," for there were but few cabins on the trail he had to follow, till he reached the Old Purchase. On one occasion, having camped n Cedar creek, he awoke in the morning under a covering of snow ten inches thick. On getting up he found the weather
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extremely cold, the fire extinguished, and his horses apparently nearly frozen. After feeding his team he hastily kindled a fire and prepared a drink of warm coffee, then renewed his journey with what speed he could make through the deep, unbroken snow, intending to reach home that day. But when within three miles of the place, night overtook him and he found it extremely difficult, if not quite impossible, to keep in the right direction, to say nothing of following the obscure, snow-covered path that was his only dependence for a road. But being much chilled, and comparatively anxious to reach home, he drove on until he was compelled to admit the unpleasant sus- picion that he was lost. At length, not knowing exactly in what direction he was traveling, he quite despaired of reaching home that night, and proceeded to split up his wagon bed for fuel. Pretty soon he heard the barking of a dog, and, imme- diately setting out in direction of the sound, soon found himself at home once more. The dog had heard the noise, and gave the signal that probably saved his master's life.
In the spring Mr. Prunty found it necessary to get a team suitable for breaking prairie, and traded his horses for oxen. Still he had no plow, and what was worse, had no money to buy one with. A breaking team would be of little use without that indispensable tool; and the difficulty had to be overcome in some way. The only thing of considerable value that could be spared, was a feather-bed; and this Mr. P. sold to Adam Goal, (many years since a resident of Monroe, Jasper county,) got the cash, went to Fairfield, purchased the plow, commenced breaking the sod in April, and succeeded in breaking, planting in corn, and fencing thirty acres that season.
In June, after getting the ground fenced, Mr. Prunty, in company with Joel Worth, made one of those long, laborious and adventurous, but not less indispensable milling expeditions that seemed inseparable from pioneer life at that early period. They had to go eight miles south of Brighton to get corn, pay-
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ing twenty-five cents per bushel for twenty-seven bushels in the ear. This they had to shell, which delayed them several days at that place; and when they reached Cedar creek they found it bank full, and fording impossible. Here they remained a week awaiting the abatement of the flood, or for a chance to get ferried over, and at length obtained canoe transportation in the manner described in the fourth chapter of this work. For this service they paid the ferryman two bushels of meal after they could get it ground.
Being disappointed in getting any grinding done at the mill to which they first intended to go, they went down Skunk river some distance, to another called Sugar Creek Mill. Here they encountered another raging stream called Lick Run. It was narrow, but seemed almost too threatening to ford. But the attempt could not well be avoided; so in they plunged, and succeeded in getting through with no greater loss than a slight damage to one sack of corn by getting it wet.
After two days longer delay they obtained their meal and started on their return trip. To add to their discomfort, it had rained almost incessantly from the time of leaving home, was still raining, and the roads were in an almost impassable con- dition. Their progress was therefore slow and exceedingly toilsome; and at length their cattle finally failed, six miles below Oskaloosa, rendering it impossible to get further without help. Help could not be obtained short of home, a distance of at least thirty-five miles; but Mr. Prunty concluded to try and get there that day on foot. He traveled as rapidly as he could but night overtook him when he was yet four miles from home, exhausted with weariness and want of food, not having had anything to eat that day. Mr. P., however still thought he could reach home, and trudged on as well as the darkness and his exhausted condition would permit. But at length he lost the trail, and commenced wandering about in search of it, and became completely bewildered. Thus he continued to do till
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he fell over the abrupt bank of a small creek. This unpleasant interruption completely discouraged him from further efforts to find the way home that night. So he gathered up a bed of grass, upon which he stretched himself to rest, and, notwith- standing the loneliness of his exhausted situation, in a country infested with wolves and other wild animals, and his necessa- rily anxious state of mind, his over-exhausted physical energies gave way to repose, and he slept soundly till day-light. On rousing up and looking about, he recognized his locality, found himself only two miles from home, and was soon there, after an absence of just twenty-one days.
So soon as possible Thomas Black was sent with a yoke of cattle to the assistance of Worth, and the provisions were finally got home without any further serious difficulty, though it was found that some of the meal was materially damaged by the dampness and heat of the weather.
During the absence of Mr. Worth on this occasion his family became reduced to short rations in the way of food;' and the rain and flooded state of the streams rendered commu- nication with the neighbors difficult. The nearest neighbors to the Worths was a German family named Metz, living a short distance across a narrow stream. This stream was ยท sometimes filled to overflowing, rendering it dangerous if not quite impossible for the ladies of either house to pass and re-pass, no matter how urgent the need; and borrowing, if it ever was excusable, was then. The pouring rain would extinguish the fire on the ground hearth during the night, and there was no such a thing as a friction match about the house to re-light it with. And what was worse than this, Mrs. Worth had neither bread nor meal, and between her and her neighbor was the impassable gulf. She, however, could com- municate a knowledge of her needs; then the two women would wade in on each side of the stream so far as they dared, and Mrs. Metz would throw a loaf bread or a fire-brand into the extended apron of her neighbor.
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