USA > Iowa > Report of the organization and first reunion of the Tri-State Old Settlers' Association of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, 1884 > Part 11
USA > Illinois > Report of the organization and first reunion of the Tri-State Old Settlers' Association of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, 1884 > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Report of the organization and first reunion of the Tri-State Old Settlers' Association of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, 1884 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
My Indian name was Meowe Shinaway, ( the son of the Trail. )
-
---
38
Niennessema, Sankie Musquakie Wicheup, Masshaway Nepaway, Wisconsin Sepo, Schocho Sepo, Massaseepo, Pickatoleka Sepo. Molla Sankie, Musquakie, Trawanasee Muscotach Sepo.
The home of my brothers, the Sacs and Foxes, was from the Great Lakes and Wisconsin river down Rock river and from the Mississippi to Missouri rivers. Many Sacs and Foxes were on the beautiful prairies and rivers.
Muck-e-tah-mish-e-kai-kaik, Kitcha Ogamah kien wichup, Schocho Sepo, kitcha mogorman scoti wicheup, nochatochesha kewisseenee, tomenoch, nishenaba molla bucatah, kisseewah malla, waubokieshick nien enemee napo, kitcha ogama wapeska puckachee nien meowe; napo shinaway kemena squaw, pappoose kitbhee coosalah Keokuk kitchie agemah sankie Missquakie-uch.
Black Hawk was our head chief, his village was at the mouth of Rock river. In 1831 the white soldiers burned his village and their horses, destroyed the corn and drove his people west of the Mississippi. That winter they almost starved. Next spring, (1832) the prophet (Waubokieshick) called him over to Rock river to plant corn. He went, and the White Beaver, (Gen'l Atkinson) followed his trail, killed the young men aud took women and chrildren prisoners. Black Hawk was no longer chief. our great FATHER at Washington made Keokuk HEAD CHIEF, There were four village or principal chiefs, but only Keokuk was HEAD CHIEF.
Keokuk nepo kien wickaup nien mullatto atchimo atchati kien.
Keokuk is buried in your city. I hope his spirit will whisper good words in your ears and make you do that justice and kindness to the remnant of his people which your fathers denied to the nations who owned these broad prairies and beautiful streams. When you were a very small people we were kind to you. Marquette La Salle, Joliett were received kindly; to Dubuque Antoine LeClaire and many others homes were given.
Interpretation or Indian pronunciation of a few words and the speaker ended with a war-whoop, answered by Van Ausdal and the two gave a war dance.
The following is inserted here as somewhat of the history of Iowa.
39
IOWA.
KEOKUK, Nov. 5th, 1885.
The following interview was had with William B. Street of Omaha, Nebraska, who was in attendance at the Second Annual Tri-State Old Settlers Meeting held in Keokuk, Iowa, Sept. 30th, 1885.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME.
The following, contributed by a Des Moines correspondent, is taken from a recent issue of the Chicago POST:
"Old Uncle Billy, now of Omaha, was here a few days ago. He was a trader with the Indians in this section long before the white people came. He lived with them for many years and was familiar with their language and customs. In conversation with him, he was asked what name the Indians gave to the river now called 'Des Moines,' to which he replied, "Keosauqua," which means dark, rolling. The Indians usually came northward along the river in the spring to fish and hunt, when the water was high. The washing from the prairies burned over in the previous fall, gave the water an inky, dark color. Hence the name. The spot where Des Moines stands was called Ketuck Keosauqua, which means big space, the broad plate on the river. The Indians en- tirely rejected the French name 'Des Moines' and would not use it . Iowa, said Mr. Street, is a corruption of the Indian word 'Kiowa,' which means the place where a crossing is made, going over, and was the name given a tribe who lived over the river. The river was called 'Kiowa.' The word always signified going over, or a place where a crossing was made, and it was this word which was used to signify the place where Black Hawk crossed the Mississippi or the crossing over, and the land beyond the cross- ing. The river and the State took their name from this tribe of Indians, who crossed over and lived beyond the river. The In- dian does not indulge in any such æesthetic term as Beautiful Land. Mr. Street fully confirms the explanation of these terms given by your correspondent several years ago."
Response of Hon. S. T. Marshall to the toast: "The Pioneer Women."
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES AND CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF THE THREE STATES, ILLINOIS, MISSOURI AND IOWA.
This is propitious. We were entitled to a fair day, but the gods have sent us rain and thunder and lightning, and we must submit to the inevitable.
40
I am scared and know not what to say. This Indian war dance leaves me in doubt whether I am to prepare for war or peace. But seeing you all with smiling faces and expecting and looking for fun, I will try to be peacable and tell something I know. I have a good grip on many things which occurred in early times, 43 years ago, in Lee County, Iowa.
The governor of Illinois and governor of Missouri and governor of Iowa are quite gushing about the troubles and. trials and long noted things which the first settlers endured when they came to this new land. I must differ with them in this. First settlers are to be envied; they were young, they were full of vim, they were full of grand hopes and prospects for the future. They worked hard and enjoyed sound sleep; they loved one another and their hospitality was unbounded. They had from ten to fourteen children each; this developed that great wealth of domestic affec- tion which makes the state a power and the government a success. But who can but pity the present generation, count the family one and a half or two children in the household.
Old settler mothers practiced better than they preached. I want them to teach their sons and daughters how to rear great families and secure that wealth of affection which goes to make up true happiness; the rearing of many children widens the soul, increases the affections and tends greatly to make christian fathers and mothers and make much better children and statesmen and citizens.
Old settlers got but little for what they had to sell. They sold smoked hams at one cent per pound and corn meal at 5 cts. per bushel and flour at $2.00 per barrel, but they lived rich and well. They traded all their produce for clothing and did without groceries. They parched rye for coffee and tapped trees to make sugar; in the timber and in the prairie they exchanged work for sugar.
Then the grand, good feelings, the joy of these old settlers on con- vivial meetings knew no bounds. The girls and boys grew up to man and womanhood with clear heads and sound bodies, ready for every duty of life, either in peace or war.
All I wish is that the present generation were as able, as inno- cent and healthy and as wise as were the old settlers of these rich acres.
God bless the founders of our States, and God bless the
·
41
founders of great families; rather would I be the founder of a great family than the founder of a State.
Gov. Standard then read the following telegram :
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., SEPT. 30TH. MR. EDWARD JOHNSTONE,
President Tri-State Old Settlers' Association,
KEOKUK, IOWA.
It is a great regret to me that I cannot be with the old settlers' of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa in their meeting in your city today,- official duties prevent me. There today will be gathered the sons and daughters, the grand-sons and grand-daughters of the men and women of the Revolution, the sovereigns of this land. Their's is an ancestry of honor, virtue, truth and courage,-they scaled the mountains, felled the forests, crossed the rivers, subdued the savage and wild beasts, and in the dark forests and broad prairies made castles of their own humble cabins, and in the awe inspiring stillness of nature's solitude consecrated themselves and theirs to God and their country. I give to these old settlers my hearty good wishes, and to you and your associates, my thanks for the honor of the invitation.
JOHN S. MARMADUKE.
Response of Hon. P. G. Ballingall to the toast: "The State Militia."
FREMR. PRESIDENT, LADIES & GENTLEMEN: The first duty of the militia is to obey orders. As your committee has limited the re- sponses to ten minutes, I will obey orders and be brief. Some people seem to think that the militia are a lot of dress parade soldiers, made to wear fine clothes, brass buttons, shoulder straps, &c., but the facts show a different conclusion. The militia are always first in peace and, first in the hearts and affections of their mothers, sisters, sweethearts, wives and children; bravest in war and will live longest in the hearts of their countrymen.
They are the first called upon in the hour of danger for the pro- tection of life, property and the defense of law. They are generally good citizens whose ruling thoughts are for the good of their county, state or nation.
I have no hesitation in saying that the six regiments of the I. N. G. if their services should ever be required ( which we hope will never occur) would make as courageous and heroic a record as their sires and grand sires have done in the past.
42
Our militia do not get the support or encouragement from the state or citizens they deserve. We should remember the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure." If we had more armories and drill rooms in our cities and towns where the school of the soldiers with its healthful, moral and patriotic lessons are taught, it would tend to draw our young men from the club-rooms which are often but cloaks for the worst species of gambling SHEOLS.
Response of Gen'l WM. W. BELKNAP to the toast: "The Volunteer Soldiers." .
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND. FELLOW SOLDIERS :- I know there are but few soldiers here, but there are some. Not very many, possibly, in comparison with the whole number of soldiers, who were in the army, were pioneers, although some of them were old settlers; but there was one of them who but a short time ago passed away from earth, who was a soldier in the Mexican war, who was a soldier in the war of the rebellion, and who at the age of 41 commanded the armies of the U. S. the largest army the world ever saw. We have heard many solemn things said about him lately and very properly said, but the noise of the Band this morning reminded me of a humorous incident. I believe it occurred in Boston at the time of the Centennial of Lexington and Concord. where he was called upon to review the Knights Templar. Now if there ever was anything that Grant shuddered at, at all, it was a brass band. He has often told me that the oniy airs he knew any- thing about were the army calls and these he liked with the exception of revellie which woke him up too early. At the time named we were riding together, and with each commandery was a brass band and as we passed along the line, each band played successively, "Hail to the Chief." After hearing three or four of the bands he said to me 'that seems to be a very monotonous tune.' I said, yes general, it is "Hail to the Chief." And it will gratify them very much if you will raise your hat as we pass them, as they are playing in your honor. He said, "Certainly" and did so. When the line was finally passed he said he was glad that was all over. But as we approached the hotel, I saw by the red coats upon the balcony that Gilmore's great band was waiting to receive him, and as we came up thev commenced, "Hail to the Chief." Well, says he, there is some consolation for us, as they are playing another tune."
The memories of war are pleasant to all soldiers. We are carried back to the days when the Aag was first .fired on; back to
.
43
the time when the whole nation was aroused, when the citizens of the State became the soldiers of the nation; back to the evening parades; to the labor of military movements; to the skirmish line; to the crack of the rifle which told that the enemy was near; to the lines of battle quickly formed; to the sudden attack ; to the ready re- pulse; to the advance; to the roll of musketry and the sound of shell ; to the cries of the wounded and the pallid faces of the dead; to the noise and the dust, and the heat and the smoke and the sweat of battle, and to the gradual dying of the day, as the sun sinks slowly, as if loving to linger on the field, and the air is filled with our loud shouts of victory. We no more stand before the fire of Shiloh. We no more hear the guns of Vicksburg; no more go down into the valley of the shadow of death at Kennesaw; we no more stand in the tornado of fire at Atlanta, where McPherson rode to the front, saluted the enemy, wheeled his horse and died. Those are memories of the past. The bugle call at Riverside gave a fitting requiem to our great leader as he crossed the river to join his com- rades on the other side. Guileless in language, tender in his affec- tions, loyal to his country, dutiful to his God, in his friendships immovable as the everlasting hills, brave in the hour of battle, heroic in the time of death. "We shall not look upon his like again." The flag that was ours in victory and defeat, is now everywhere triumphant. The memories of the war will always be the soldiers best memories and cherished in his heart forever.
On motion of C. F. Davis, Esq., the following addresses were ordered printed as time did not permit their delivery :
ADDRESS OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM HILLHOUSE, OF BURLINGTON.
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PIONEERS AND OLD SETTLERS :- Your kind invitation to attend the second annual reunion of old settlers of Illinois, Missouri and lowa to be held at Keokuk, was received and I now respond to that invitation in per- son, and will make a few remarks, giving my experience, observation and reminiscences of my carly settlement in lowa. Forty-five years ago this present fall, was my first visit to your city. It was but a small-sized village then, strung along under the bluffs and climbing up the hillside, as though you were crowded for room. At last you have reached the top and spread all over this magnifi- cent bluff, overlooking the Father of Waters as it glides swiftly by , and in sight of the grave where lie the bones of the once famous
44
old chieftain from whom this city has derived its name. He was chief of the Sac and Fox tribe, which once owned and controlled the land lying between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. It was he and the confederate tribe of Sac and Foxes that ceded to the United States by treaty, October 11, 1842, this garden spot of the world, the great State of Iowa. Yes, Mr. President, just forty-five years ago, I left my native State of Ohio, and came into Iowa ter- ritory, then called the Black Hawk purchase. I settled in the vil. lage of Burlington, which then contained a population of less than two thousand. Now she has almost twenty-five thousand inhabi-
tants and feels herself of great importance to the State. The terri- tory had a population at that time of only forty-three thousand and to-day the State contains nearly two millions. My first year of pioneer life was spent in and around Burlington. I well recollect the times were very hard in Iowa, then. The postage on a letter from Ohio was twenty-five cents, and the great trouble was to get the quarter before you could get the letter. In 1841 I went out to the Indian agency, now Agency City. The United States commission- ers and Governor Chambers, of the territory, were then negotiating a treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians, for the balance of their lands, extending west of the Black Hawk purchase to the Missouri river. The United States commissioners first made a proposition to the Indians, as coming from their great chief at Washington, for the pur- chase of their lands. Then Governor Chambers addressed the chiefs and braves of the confederated tribes of Sac and Fox Indi- ans, endorsing the proposition made by the commissioners, saying : "My friends, you have listened to what your friends here have said from the chief at Washington. I approve of everything you have heard from him. I am sent here to remain as your superintend- ent. It is my duty to watch over you and see that no injustice is done to you by anyone, either by our traders or by the government. The propositions made by the commissioners who speak for the great chief in Washington are to give you other lands further north, and one million of dollars, and money enough to pay your debts and build out of that million of dollars comfortable houses, mills, blacksmith shops, school-houses, etc. Now, in deciding upon the acceptance of our proposals, we wish you to use your own judg- ment."
Keokuk, the chief whose bones now lay at rest on your beautiful bluff, arose in his majesty and addressed the Governor and commis- signers as follows: " All of our chiefs and braves have heard what
45
you have said, and understand your desires. We are glad you have told us to reflect on it and not decide immediately. Our chiefs, and then our braves, will have to counsel together before we can give you an answer. We have to take more time among us in matters of this kind, than the whites. When the sun is half gone to-morrow we will give you an answer." The counsel then adjourned. The Indians met at noon next day, but stated they had not come to any conclusion, and requested additional explanations, which were made. They then separated, promising to give a final answer the next day. According to agreement the council met. The head chiefs and braves made their appearance in fine style, all dressed up in the wildest of fashions with painted faces, necklaces of bear claws around their neck, eagle feathers waving through the scalping lock, bells tinkling on the buckskin leggings, moccasins worked with beads and porcupine quills, and wampum in profusion. They were an interesting sight to look upon as they came marching along in single file to the council room, with the two head chiefs, Keokuk and Mish-e-qua-mah-quet, in the lead. After taking their seats in the circle Keokuk arose and addressed the council as follows: "Day before yesterday we did not understand the terms on which you wish to buy our land. . We have since then had a council, and have come to one mind. We have never heard so hard a proposal as you have made us. The country where you wish to send us, we are well ac- quainted with. It looks like distress. It is the poorest in every respect I have ever seen. We hope you will not think hard of our refusal to sell." Heobjected to each and every proposition as to the sale of their land and famous hunting ground.
Mish-e-qua-mah-quet. the Fox chief, spoke in the same manner, calling on the Great Spirit, earth and trees, to bear favorable wit- ness to their answer and did not want to hear any new proposals. Quite a number of the old braves made speeches in about the same manner, viz: Pow-e-sheke, Wap-pel-lo, Ap-pa-noose, Kish-ke- kosh, and others. The most interesting and able argument made in the council why they should not sell, was made by Wap-pel-lo, and as I have it in full I will repeat it. He spoke as follows:
"You said you were sent by our Great Father to treat with us and bny our land. We have had a council, and are of one opinion. You have learned that opinion from our chiefs and braves who have spoken. You told us to be candid, and we are. It is impossible for us to subsist where you wish us to go. We own this country by occupancy and inheritance. It is the only good country, and the
46
only one suitable for us to live on this side of the Mississippi river, and you must not think hard of us because we do not wish to sell it. We were once powerful, but are now a small nation. When the white people first crossed the big water and landed on this island they were small as we now are. I remember when Wisconsin was . ours; and it now bears our name. We sold it to you. Dubuque was once ours, -- we sold that to you. And to-day they are occu- pied by white men, who live happily. Rock river was the only place where we lived happily, and we sold that to you. This is all the country we have left, and we are so few now we cannot con- quer other countries. You now see me and all my people; have pity on us; we are fast melting away. If the other Indians have been treated as we have been, there would have been none left. This land is all we have,-it is our only fortune. When it is gone we shall have nothing left. The Great Spirit has been un- kind to us in not giving us the knowledge of white men, for we would then be on an equal footing. But we hope He will take pity on us."
This treaty proving a failure, the council adjourned. The Indi- ans disbanded and left for their villages, so as to prepare for the winter trapping expedition. In October, 1842, the agent notified the chiefs of the Sac and Fox tribe to meet at the agency and re- ceive their payment that was due them. The Indians seemed in much better humor than they did the fall before. After the pay- ment was over, Governor Chambers convened the council of chiefs and braves, and closed a treaty with them for the remaining por- tion of lands lying west of the Black Hawk purchase. The treaty provided that the Indians should retain possession of all the lands ceded until May 1st, 1843. At that time Keokuk's village was near where Ottumwa is situated. In the spring of 1843, the Indi- ans, according to the treaty made the fall before, gave up posses- sion of part of the purchase made and began preparations to move, bag and baggage, to their new home near the Raccoon forks of the Des Moines river. The Indian trading houses with which 1 was employed, were located on the east bank of the Des Moines river, where the State capitol now stands. .
In the fall of 1844, I became tired of the uncivilized life I was liv- ing in the Indian country and returned to Burlington, where I have lived to the present time. All the wonderful changes from the wild Indian and his wigwam to the great and busy marts of trade and wealth, have been wrought by the magic touch of Saxon civili-
47
zation within our easy recollection. What changes will the next forty-five years produce ?
Response of Dr. GEORGE W. FOOTE, of Galesburg, Ills., to the toast: " The Pioneer Doctors."
The Pioneer Doctor; his like we shall never see again. In his time he was an important personage, perhaps the most important of the settlement. Now his protype would be a fault, a ridicule. He was hardy, faithful, big-hearted, even if a trifle boastful and pompous. When joy and gladness reigned he was, a welcome guest. When his arduous duties swept down upon the humble yeoman, there was the doctor, the center of all thought, the coun- selor and comforter, as well as the minister to the physical suffering. His wisdom and learning were doubtless based upon many false promises, but his faith therein was unassuming and strong; his methods were certainly heroic, but pursued with the best of honest purpose. His boluses were nauseous yet often, doubtless, blest with healing, saving virtues. His lancet constantly dipped with the precious life-blood of his patients yet with merciful not murder- ous intent.
His library was perhaps meager, but its contents familiar. He was, indeed, most often the embodiment of rude but noble manhood.
He was a doctor because he loved the study of the wonders of nature and of life, and desired to alleviate human ills quite as much because he sought thereby to win his daily bread Riding on horse- back with saddle-bags behind, it might be twenty, thirty miles day after day, or into the dark hours of lonely night through mud and storm, as well as in pleasant paths and bright sunshine; his was not a sluggard's or a shirker's life; it was one of toil and hard- ship, no less trying than that of the most hardy laborer to whom he ministered and whose wordly store he shared in return for ser- vices rendered in the most moderate portion.
With all his faults, with all his short measure of what is now medical science, he must ever be honored and revered for the good he did and the noble end he ever sought to accomplish.
We cannot well, with all our respect, desire to bring back to ac- tual present life the Pioneer Doctor, but we may well consider wherein he might profitably be imitated by his more cultured suc. cessor.
48
The long rides of thirty miles on horseback, are now but five or six in elegant coupe over roads of brick and macadam, then unknown and undreamed of.
The nauseous dose is the sugar-coated and skilfully diagnosed remedy. The dripping lancet has long since been cast aside; pains devoted to investigation in the field of nature's wonderful processes have given better light to guide the intellects of men and libraries of many volumes concentrate the teeming truth thus gained within the scope of individualized ability .
All these things tell of progress, of better, brighter things in medical pursuits, both for the welfare of patient and of physician. Let us beware lest seductive influences debase the noble purposes of the Pioneer Doctor.
Hon. EDWIN MANNING gave the following reminiscenses of early life in Iowa:
In the autumn of 1836 I left New York for the great west via railroad and canal to Pittsburg, thence by Ohio river navigation to St. Louis. The city of St. Louis at that time had a population of about 9,000. I was highly pleased with the general aspect of the city. My means being limited and my associates being land opera- tors, we spent a week only in the city. Here we procured horses and explored the Missouri Valley as far up as Lexington, being de- lighted with the country. We soon put all our spare funds into lands. When this was done we turned our course for the "Black Hawk" purchase, arriving at St. Francisville in December. Here we found a log cabin hotel full of sojourners and speculators in "Half Breed Claims."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.