USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 39
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The winter of 1874-75 was early and soft at first. January was the coldest one on record, there being twenty-two days the thermometer was below zero. One day 19 degrees below. The mean temperature was only 8.07 degrees, being 11.02 degrees colder than the average. February was as cold as Jan- uary. Fifteen days to zero. March milder. Ice went out the 29th. First boat appeared April 5. May 20, apples in bloom. Light frost the 21st. June, July and August quite cold, but two days up to 90 degrees. There was a heavy frost in some parts of Iowa on the 23d of August, but none here until September 18. Killing frost October 12. An excellent fall. River closed November 30.
In the winter of 1875-76, December was very open. Ice broke up the 5th. Ferry-boat started the 6th, and ran ten days. The ice closed up the second time the 18th, and went out the 21st. Steamboat up January 7. Ferry-boat laid up the second time January 10. The river closed the third time February 3. February 10, ice broke up. Winter gone and not enough snow to start a sleigh. The ice-dealers had to go to Northern Iowa for ice. March muddy and backward. Wheat all sown by April 30, and cherries in bloom. Light frost May 9. Light frost June 19. July warm and wet. A flood the 15th, that did considerable damage; 3.64 inches rain. August 11, a beautiful meteoric display. Fifty meteors in forty-five minutes. The fall a good one. Winter commenced November 21. Ice in the river the 30th. It closed Decem- ber 5.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
The winter of 1876-77 began early, and was cold with but little snow. December cold. January very cold. Eighteen days down to zero. February very moderate. Ice in the river went out the 19th. Considerable wheat sown by February 20. Corn about half planted by May 19. The spring backward. June 35, a storm of wind and hail visited this county, blowing down several buildings and completely destroying by hail one-fourth of the crops of the county. The summer was moderately warm. The fall very rainy and disagreeable. A light frost September 18. A killing frost November 1. The corn ripened middling well. Winter came in November 27. Ice in the river the 29th.
The winter of 1877-78 was a remarkably soft winter. Mud all winter. Only two or three days of good roads. Ice not more than six inches thick and that in still ponds. Dealers went north for ice. The season opened with a good spring. A hot July, eleven days above 90 degrees. On the 12th. 100 degrees. A light frost September 11, and not a killing frost until October 19. which made and ripened one of the best corn crops Iowa has ever had.
The winter of 1878-79 commenced December 6. The river closed the 19th. Teams crossed on the 22d. The last team crossed March 4. Seventy days' crossing the ice. The ice went out the 7th. March cold and backward. Ten inches of snow fell during the month. Wheat sown, but no grass.
The extreme range of thermometer at Muscatine is 135 degrees, from 32 degrees below to 103 degrees above.
INDIAN OCCUPANCY.
The Indian history of this State is interesting, principally because of the presence here of two of the most noted characters of modern tribes. The nature of this work precludes the introduction of an exhaustive treatise on the rise and decline of the Indian races of this region, and enables us merely to gather from reliable sources the fragments of incident, anecdote and analysis which have floated loosely about for years. In fact, our province is purely that of a compiler ; but sufficient care has been taken with the work to make it valuable in the generations which are to follow. The actual historian who shall inves- tigate the ample field of aboriginal existence may peruse these pages with a feeling of security in their correctness, if the associates of Keokuk and Black Hawk themselves are to be believed ; for much of the information here pre- served was obtained in direct line of recital, either to the writer or to the party duly accredited with the extract.
There still live many persons who witnessed the strange sight of a remnant of a race of men departing forever from their early homes, and such will, doubt- less, be disposed to sneer at the pen which finds a source of melancholy in the contemplation of this event. But worthy hands have written lines of living power upon the theme; nor can the harsh character of fact denude the subject of a glamour which poetry and romance have cast around the dusky victim and his fate. There is a grandeur in the record of the race which the stern force of truth is powerless to dispel.
Human improvement, rushing through civilization, crushes in its march all who cannot grapple to its car. This law is as inexorable as fate. "You colo- nize the land of the savage with the Anglo-Saxon," says Stephen Montague, "you civilize that portion of the earth ; but is the savage civilized ? He is exterminated ! You accumulate machinery, you increase the total of wealth, but what becomes of the labor you displace ? One generation is sacrificed to
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the next. You diffuse knowledge, and the world seems to grow brighter : but Discontent at Poverty replaces Ignorance happy with its crust. Every improvement, every advancement of civilization, injures some to benefit others, and either cherishes the want of to-day or prepares the revolution of to-mor- row."
This portion of Iowa was once the home of the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians. From a little work entitled "Sketches of Iowa," prepared in 1841 by John B. Newhall, of Burlington, the following summary of their general character is taken :
"The Sacs and Foxes have been among the most powerful and warlike tribes of the Northwest. History finds them fighting their way from the shores of the northern lakes, gradually, toward the Mississippi, sometimes warring with the Winnebagoes, and at other times with the Chippewas, often instigated by the French. At an early period, they inhabited the region of country bordering upon the Wisconsin River, and planted large quantities of corn. The whole history of their wars and migrations shows them to have been a restless and spirited people, a people erratic in their pursuits, having a great contempt for agriculture and a predominant passion for war. By these ruling traits they have been constantly changing, suffering and diminishing. Still they retain their ancient chivalry, ever ready for war, regardless of the superi- ority of their foes. Thus, at the present time (1841), four or five hundred of their warriors are out to fight the Sioux of the North, with whom there exists a most deadly hostility, originating from old feuds, the origin of which they scarcely know themselves. Their numbers, of late years, have been somewhat augmented by the policy they have pursued of adopting their prisoners of war and receiving seceders from other tribes, and, at the present time, they number about seven thousand souls.
" The Sacs and Foxes speak the Algonquin language. This language is still spoken by the Chippewas, Pottawatomies, Ottawas, and several other tribes. It is soft and musical in comparison with the harsh, guttural Narcoutah of the Sioux, which is peculiar to themselves, having but little affinity to the Algon- quin tongue. Their ideas of futurity are somewhat vague and indefinite. They believe in the existence of a Supreme Manitou, or good spirit, and a Malcha Manitou, or evil spirit. They often invoke the favor of the good Manitou for success in war and the hunt, by various sacrifices and offerings. Storm and thunder they view as manifestations of His wrath ; and success in war, the hunt or in the deliverance from enemies, of His favor and love. Everything of great power or efficiency, or what is inexplicable, is a 'great medicine,' and the med- cine-men and prophets are next in consideration to chiefs. At the decease of their friends, they paint their faces black, and the time of mourning is gov- erned by the affinity of the kindred. Their ideas of the condition of departed spirits and the ceremony of burial may be deemed interesting. Often, in per- ambulating their deserted villages, has my attention been arrested, in gazing through the bleached and mutilated slabs made to protect the moldering dust of a noted chief or 'brave,' who is frequently placed in a sitting posture, his gun and war-club placed by his side, moccasins upon his feet, his blanket (or the remnants thereof) wrapped about his body, his beads and wampum suspended to his neck, where he sits 'like a warrior taking his rest,' in the silent sleep of death.
"The situations of their villages are, oftentimes, extremely beautiful and picturesque. The rude architecture of their lodges; the droves of Indian ponies galloping over the prairies, and snorting at the approach of white men ;
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the squaws busily engaged in preparing food, or, perhaps, . toting' a back-load of fagots that would frighten a New York porter, while their . lazy lords' sit smoking upon the grass or quietly sleeping in their lodges; the young papooses swarming the river-bank, and, with bow and arrow, exercising their infant archery upon every prairie flower or luckless bird ; or, perchance, the gayly-painted warrior, mounted upon his prancing steed, his feathers streaming to the breeze as he gallops from village to village with the fleetness of the wind, are objects which, to the traveler unaccustomed to Indian habits and character, are full of intense interest and novelty.
"Sometimes, midway between two villages, or, perhaps, off' in the prairie, may be seen a hundred young 'warriors' from each clan-'picked men,' who have won laurels on the battle-field. They have met (per agreement) to exer- cise their feats in the race or the ancient games, the prize being, perhaps, two or three horses, a rifle or a war-club; the old warriors or chiefs of each village looking on as judges. Great interest is manifested on these occasions. and the same ambitious emulation for rivalry is exhibited in these 'children of nature' as among those who play their part beneath the gilded domes of the city.
" The Sacs and Foxes frequently visit the towns on the river-Burlington. Madison, Muscatine, etc. The dress of the males generally consists of leggings, fitting closely from the loins to the ankles, usually of smoke-tanned deerskin, and often of blue and sometimes of red cloth, trimmed with fringe and beads, in a variety of fantastic forms. They wear a white, and, frequently, a scarlet- colored blanket thrown over the shoulders. Their moccasins are of deerskin. often trimmed, with extreme taste, with beads and porcupine-quills. Their head- dress is of various fashions, and ofttimes indescribable. A chief or warrior's head dress consists of a profusion of scarlet-colored hair, and long, black beards of the wild turkey connected to the scalp-lock, and not unfrequently a silver band or a richly-beaded turban. Their ears are strung with rings and trinkets, their arms with bracelets of brass, tin, silver and steel, and their necks are often strung with a profusion of wampum. A tolerably correct idea may be formed of the riches and taste of a young Indian by the number of strings of wampum around his neck. This may be considered their legal tender, as no treaty was ever formed or pipe of friendship smoked betwixt different Indian tribes without an exchange of wampum.
"No Indians exult more than the Sacs and Foxes in a triumphant skirmish with their enemies, and none more proudly exhibit their bloody trophies. They frequently have several scalps suspended on a spear or connected with their dress. As an evidence of the value they place upon these emblems of merci- less victory, I will relate an incident of my attempt to get one of a veteran Sac brave. I had witnessed him. for several days, passing my window on a little pony, proudly waving his bouquet of scalps, connected with beads, ribbons and eagle's feathers, and tied with a rattlesnake-skin upon a spear. Having a desire to obtain one, after three days' unsuccessful negotiation, during which time I offered him money, calico, beads, powder and tobacco, he finally con- sented to part with it for one box (i. e., $1,000).
" They place great reliance in dreams, and the intrepid warrior who awakes in the morning from a night of troublesome dreams is dejected and melancholy. Sometimes they imagine that an evil spirit or sorcerer has inflicted a spell, after the manner of the witches of former times. I think it was last year that Keokuk had an aged squaw killed because she had inflicted a spell upon some of his children."
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.
In corroboration of the last statement, we append the account of that sum- mary act given us by James Jordan, whose acquaintance with the Indians began at a very early day. He said : "In 1837, the chief's son was prostrated with fever. Keokuk was absent at the time, but there chanced to be in the camp an old squaw, who was alleged to be invested with supernatural powers. When Keokuk returned, his valiant heir informed him that the witch had cast an evil spirit into the settlement, which had increased the fever and rendered it impos- sible to overcome disease while she lived. Thereupon, Keokuk took the old woman without the settlement and deliberately cut off her head with a cleaver. This summary act was witnessed by Mrs. Phelps, wife of Billy Phelps, one of the original locators of that section."
The scene of this sacrifice was near Independent, Van Buren Co., adjac- ent to Jordan's farm. Mr. Newhall was mistaken as to the date of the tragedy.
KEOKUK, THE ORATOR CHIEFTAIN.
Among the noted chiefs of later years, Keokuk, or "Cunning Fox," held a foremost place. He was the grand sachem of the Sacs and Foxes, the chief pre-eminent over all the tribes. He was of commanding presence, but given rather to the pleasures of the chase than the dangers of the battle-field. Still, he was not deficient in personal bravery, and held his place with firmness, both by reason of his ability to lead on all occasions and his wonderful eloquence as a speaker.
From a sketch of Keokuk, published in the Annals of Iowa, 1865, by Uriah Biggs, one of the pioneers of Van Buren, the following interesting extracts are made :
" Keokuk is deserving of a prominent page in the records of the country,. and a truthful history of his life would be read and cherished as a memento of one of nature's noblemen. As an orator, he was called to rank with the most gifted of his race. In person, he was tall and of portly bearing, and in his public speeches he displayed a commanding attitude and graceful gestures. He spoke rapidly, but his enunciation was clear and distinct and very forcible, culling his figures from the stores of nature, and basing his arguments in skill- ful logic. He maintained in good faith the stipulations of treaties with the United States and with the neighboring tribes. He loved peace and the social amenities of life, and was fond of displaying those agreeable traits of character in ceremonious visits to neighboring chiefs, in which he observed the most punctilious etiquette and dignified decorum. He possessed a ready insight into the motives of others, and was not easily misled by sophistry or beguiled by flattery ; and in the field of wit, he was no mean champion. It is not my purpose to write a history of his life, but I will give one anecdote in illustration of these traits of his character.
" While residing near Ottumwah-noc, he received a message from the Mor- mon Prophet, Jo Smith, inviting Keokuk, as King of the Sacs and Foxes, to a royal conference at his palace at Nauvoo, on matters of the highest impor- tance to their respective people. The invitation was readily accepted, and a train of ponies was soon wending its way to the Mormon city, bearing Keokuk and suite in stately procession and savage pomp.
" Notice had circulated through the country of this diplomatic interview, and a number of spectators attended to witness the denouement. The audience was given publicly, in the Mormon Temple, and the respective chiefs were attended by their suites, the Prophet by the dignitaries of the Mormon Church,
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and the Indian potentate by the high civil and military functionaries of his tribes, and the gentiles were comfortably seated as auditors.
" The Prophet opened the conference in a set speech of considerable length, giving Keokuk a brief history of the children of Israel, as detailed in the Bible, and dwelt forcibly upon the story of the lost tribes, and of the direct revelation he had received from a divine source, that the North American Indians were these identical lost tribes, and that he, the Prophet of God, held a divine commission to gather them together and to lead them to a land 'flowing with milk and honey.' After the Prophet closed his harangue, Keokuk ‘ waited for the words of his pale-faced brother to sink deep into his mind,' and in making his reply, assumed the gravest attitude and most dignified demeanor. He would not controvert anything his brother had said about the lost and scat- tered condition of his race and people, and if his brother was commissioned by the Great Spirit to collect them together and lead them to a new country, it was his duty to do so. But he wished to inquire about some particulars his brother had not named, that were of the highest importance to him and his people. The red men were not much used to milk, and he thought they would prefer streams of water, and in the country where they now were there was a good supply of honey. The points that they wished to inquire into were whether the new government would pay large annuities, and whether there was plenty of whisky. Jo Smith saw at once that he had met his match, and that Keo- kuk was not the proper material with which to increase his army of dupes, and closed the conference in as amiable a manner as possible.
" He was gifted by nature with the elements of an orator in an eminent degree, and as such is entitled to rank with Logan, Red Jacket and Tecumseh ; but, unfortunately for his fame among the white people and with posterity, he was never able to obtain an interpreter who could claim even a slight acquaint- ance with philosophy. With one exception only, his interpreters were unac- quainted even with the elements of their mother-tongue. Of this serious hindrance to his fame Keokuk was well aware, and retained Frank Labashure, who had received a rudimental education in the French and English languages, until the latter broke down by dissipation and died. But during the meridian of his career among the white people, he was compelled to submit his speeches for translation to uneducated men, whose range of thought fell below the flights of a gifted mind, and the fine imagery, drawn from nature, was beyond their powers of reproduction. He had sufficient knowledge of the English tongue to make him sensible of this bad rendering of his thought, and often a feeling of mortification at the bungling efforts was depicted upon his countenance while he was speaking. The proper place to form a due estimate of his ability as an orator was in the Indian council, where he addressed himself exclusively to those who understood his language, and where the electric effects of his elo- quence could be plainly noted upon his audience. It was credibly asserted that by the force of his logic he had changed the vote of a council against the strongly predetermined opinions of its members. A striking instance of the influence of his eloquence is related as occurring while the forces under Black Hawk were invading Illinois, in 1832.
"Keokuk knew from the first that this reckless war would result in great disaster to the tribe, and used all diligence to dissuade warriors from following Black Hawk, and succeeded in retaining a majority with him at his town on the Iowa River. But, after Stillman's defeat, the war spirit raged with such ardor that a war-dance was held, and Keokuk took part in it, seeming to be moved with the current of the rising storm, and when the dance was over; he called a
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council to prepare for war. In his address, he admitted the justice of his complaints against the white man, and to seek redress was a noble aspiration of their natures. The blood of their brethren had been shed by the white man, and the spirits of their braves slain in battle called loudly for vengeance. 'I am your chief,' he said, 'and it is my duty to lead you to battle if, after fully considering the matter, you are determined to go. But, before you take this important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances for success.' He then represented to them the great power of the United States, against whom they would have to contend-that their chances for success were utterly hopeless. ' But if you now determine to go upon the war-path, I will agree to lead you upon one condition-that before we go we kill all our old men and our wives and children, to save them from a lingering death by starvation, and that every one of us determine to leave his bones on the other side of the Missis- sippi."
" This was a strong and truthful picture of the project before them, and was presented in sich a forcible light as to cool their ardor and to cause them to abandon their rash undertaking. Many other incidents are related of his elo- quence and tact in allaying a rising storm, fraught with war and bloodshed, not only in his own tribe, but also among neighboring tribes, where his people had been the aggressors. Some of these incidents have been preserved by writers on Indian research, but many will be lost to history. He delivered a eulogy upon Gen. Harrison at the Sac and Fox Agency, which was interpreted by Antoine Le Claire, and considered by many who heard its delivery as one of his best efforts. This speech, however, was not written down, and is lost to history ; but enough of the incidents of his career as an orator have been saved from the wreck of time to stamp his reputation for natural abilities of the high- est order, and furnish another positive refutation of Buffon's theory on the deterioration of men and animals on the American Continent."
The occasion referred to by Mr. Biggs, in the foregoing paragraph, when Keokuk delivered so remarkable a speech, is one of the most entertaining anec- dotes we have been able to secure. That it may be given in connection with this mention of the scene, we interrupt the order of the paper now being quoted, and insert it here. The story was preserved by Maj. Beach, who succeeded Gen. Street, upon the latter's death, as Agent of the Sacs and Foxes. The Agency was located about six miles east of the present site of Ottumwa, near what is now known as Agency City. Maj. Beach published a series of hastily- written papers on the subject of his experience with the Indians, and from those articles (which are given in the Western Historical Company's History of Wapello County, 1878), is taken the following sketch :
" When Gen. Harrison became President of the United States, in March, 1840, Hon. John Chambers, ex-Congressman of Kentucky, was appointed to replace Gov. Lucas as Governor of Iowa Territory. The office then included within its commission that of Superintendent over the Indians and their agen- cies. For several months previous to this date, feelings of antagonism had existed between the old Black Hawk party, whose chief was Hardfish, and the other bands, which spirit was mainly excited and kept alive by the traders, who were influenced by their rival interests. Gov. Lucas was characteristically obstinate, and leaned decidedly toward the Hardfish side of the controversy. Upon the arrival of Gov. Chambers at Burlington, it was, of course, an object with Keokuk to gain his favor, or, at least, to have him committed to a strictly impartial course ; while Hardfish's efforts would be put forth to induce him to follow in the track of his predecessor. . Keokuk at once requested the Agent
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to obtain the Governor's consent for him and his chief men to visit the Gov- ernor at Burlington.
" It was the wish, however, of the Indian Department to discountenance and prevent such pilgrimages of Indians through the settlements, and the Agent promised Keokuk that he would inform the new Governor of his desire. Maj. Beach told Keokuk that, owing to the wishes of the Department, the Governor might prefer to have the meeting take place at the Agency, in Wapello County.
" The Hardfish band-or rather their instigators, Eddy and his satellites- less patient, and ignoring their proper channel of communication with the Superintendent through the Agent, hastened to Burlington in a large body, and, having encamped a short way from town, sent in a written notice of their arrival and the purpose of their visit, with the request that the Governor would cause the needed supplies of food, etc., to be provided for them. Under the Lucas regime, an order on Eddy's Burlington store would have soon satisfied the demand ; but Gov. Chambers forwarded word that when he wanted to see any of them, he would, of course be prepared to have them fed ; that he had no intention of converting his executive headquarters at Burlington into a council-ground for his red children, and that it was his purpose to visit them in their own country at a very early day. Hardfish went home with a new idea in his mind concerning Governors.
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