USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Oelwein > The Telegraph-herald's abridged history of the state of Iowa and directory of Fayette County, including the city of Oelwein, with a complete classified business directory; > Part 8
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165
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Under these conditions the Sixth Legislature met at Iowa City, December 4th, 1843. The census of 1844 showed a population of the twenty-one counties organized of 75,150. An attempt was made to repeal the charter of the Miners' Bank, the only one in the Territory, because it had suspended specie payments and being badly managed. The Territory had borrowed $5,500 of the bank, which it was unable to pay, and under these circumstances a majority of the members refused to drive it out of business.
At the election held in April, for a convention to frame a constitution, the vote stood 6,719 for and 3,974 against. Governor Chambers called an election for seventy-two delegates. Among the number chosen to frame a constitution were: Ex-Gov. Lucas, S.Loeffler, J. C. Hall, J. Grant, S. Hempstead and F. Gehon, Democrats; R. Low, E. Sells, E. Cook and S. S. Selledy, Whigs. The convention met at Iowa City, October 7th, 1844, framed a constitution and fixed the bountdary of the proposed State to include a large proportion of Southern Minnesota, as follows: The South line as it now stands; the West line the middle of the Missouri River; North to the mouth of the Big Sioux, thence in a direct line Northwest to the middle of the St. Peter's River, where the Blue Earth enters the same, then down that river to th Mississippi River, then down the Mississippi to the North Missouri line. This boundary excluding the County of Lyon, part of Sioux and Osceola, about half of Plymouth and a small frac- tion of O'Brien and Dickinson, and it took from Minnesota about seventeen counties. The growing conflict between the pro and anti-slavery parties was renewed with bitterness when the application was made for the admission of Iowa. Finally it was agreed that Iowa be admitted a free and Florida a slave State, March 3rd, 1845. The Capitol Building at Iowa City cost $123,000, and was not completed until 1855, a little over fifteen years having been occupied in its construction. And in 1857 on the removal of the Capitol to Des Moines, it was given to the State University.
The Iowa boundary fixed by Congress, would have taken eleven Counties from South Minnesota, but the Western boundary cut off thirty-one counties on the Missouri River slope and the Des Moines Valley. It brought the Western boundary of the State within forty miles of Des Moines. It made the State alone one hundred and eighty miles wide and two hundred and fifty miles long. This would have made Cedar Falls the geographical center. The Iowa delegates in Congress, Hon. A. C. Dodge, opposed the change, but in vain. However, after Congress had approved it, thinking it was the best that could be done, he ap- proved its adoption and issued an address to his constituents, in which he said:
CHAPTER XXI.
ADDRESS OF HON. A. C. DODGE.
"A majority of the Committee on Terrintories was composed of members from the slave-holding portion of the Union. The delegate from Florida, sup- ported by the members from the South, brought forward a proposition for a division of that State, although its whole territory was three thousand square miles less than that embraced within the Constitutional boundaries of Iowa. The object of this move being to increase the number of slave states, and the weight of slave representatives in Congress. It met with warm opposition from the non-slave holding states, and as a counter movement they came forward with a similar proposition in regard to Iowa. After being fully, freely and even angrily discussed at various meetings of the Committee, the propo- sition to divide Florida was carried, and that to divide Iowa was rejected by
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
a strictly sectional vote. When the bill came into the House, where the rela- tive strength of the sectional parties was reversed, the action of the Committee was overruled by a large majority. The clause for the division of Florida was stricken out, and the boundaries of Iowa, in opposition to my earnest protest, were subjected to considerable curtailment.
"This was effected by votes of members from North, East and West, irrespective of party divisions. The amendment to reduce was opposed by Mr. Duncan (Democrat) from Ohio, and supported by Mr. Vinton (Whig), who in a lucid and cogent manner represented the injury which the creation of large states would inflict upon the Western country. He forcibly exhibited the great wrong done to the West in times past, by Congress in dividing its territory in overgrown states, thereby enabling the Atlantic portion of the Union to retain supremacy in the United States Senate. He showed that it was the true interest of the people of the Valley of the Mississippi that new states should be of reasonable size, and he appealed to Western members to check that legislation which had heretofore deprived the Western country of its due representation in the Senate. I advert to the rmarks of Mr. Vinton, because their irresistible force was admitted by all except the delegates from the South. The House had a few days previous to this discussion passed a law for the annexation of Texas, by which five new states may be added to the Union. This furnished an additional reason why my protest was disre- garded, inasmuch as our fellow citizens from the non-slave holding states were desirous by moderate division of remaining free territory of the Union to give to the free states a counterbalancing influence."
On the question of admission, the Territory soon divided into two parties. The Democrats as a rule favored the admission under the boundary fixed by Congress, and the Whigs opposed it. At this juncture E. W. Eastman, T. S. Parrins, and F. D. Mills, all young men and Democrats, seeing the mistake of dividing the State in that manner, commenced an agressive campaign against admission. Leffler and Wood joined them and a thorough canvass was made. The Constitution was rejected by a majority of nine hundred and ninety-six. Those young public-spirited men deserve all honor and praise, as but for them our Western boundary would not now be the Missouri River. The new Legis- lature met May 5, 1845. An act was passed providing for the submission of the rejected constitution. The Governor vetoed it but it was carried over his veto by a two-thirds vote, and it became a law. Among the important acts of this legislation was the repeal of the charter of the Miners' Bank of Dubuque; abo- lition of the office of Territorial Agent conferring his duties on the Incorpora- tion of a University at Iowa City; changing the name of Louisville to Ottumwa; the organization of Iowa and Marion Counties.
Dodge in his canvass for re-election advocated the adoption of the rejected Constitution of 1844. The result was 7,235 for and 7,656 against it. Thus it was rejected a second time by a majority of 421. Gen. Dodge was elected over his Whig opponent, R. P. Lowe, by a majority of 831. In 1846 the prevailing prices were: Horses from $50 to $60; Oxen, $40 to $60 per pair; Wagons, $75; Plows $8 to $20; Sugar 10c; Coffee 10c; Tea 75c to $1.50 per pound; Flour $4 per barrel; Unbleached cotton sheet 18c; calicoes 10c to 20c per yard; Good board was furnished from $1.50 to $2.00 per week; the wage of common labor- ers was from 75c to $1.00 per day; Government land sold at $1.25 per acre, and an ordinary log cabin cost from $50 to $75. The State Government was organized with a population of 96,088. The total votes polled at the first election was 15,005; the Governor's salary was $1,000; Secretary of State $500; the Treasurer $400; and the State Librarian $150 per annum. The annexation of Texas in 1846 brought on a war with Mexico. Iowa was called on to furnish a regiment, and soon twelve companies of volunteers were organized. The Iowa
167
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Volunteers gave a good account of themselves in the Mexican War. Many of . the brave boys were laid to rest there, while many are still alive, at this writ- ing (1906). The thirty-two delegates chosen at the election in 1846, to frame a State Constitution, met at Iowa City on the first Monday of May, and by the 19th of the same month had concluded their labors. The boundaries of the State were fixed as they now exist. With that exception it was almost an exact copy of the rejected one. The only important change was the prohibition of the es- tablishment of a bank. On August 3rd it was adopted by a vote of 9,492 to 9,036. The prohibition of the bank aroused a strong opposition to it, which came near defeating it. The Democrats nominated A. Briggs for Governor. The platform adopted by the first Democratic State Convention was as follows:
1. Endorsed the administration of James K. Polk.
2. Approved the independent Treasury bill and settlement of the Oregon boundary.
3. Endorsed the repeal of the tariff of 1842 and approved tariff for revenue only.
4. Pronounced unalterable opposition to all banking institutions of what- ever name, nature or description.
5. Favored unlimited suffrage to free men without property qualifica- tion or religious tests; opposed the grant of exclusive privileges to corpora- tions.
6. Declared in favor of less legislation, fewer laws, strict obedience, short sessions, light taxes and no State debt.
The following day the first Whig Convention met at the same place and nominated Thomas Mcknight for Governor. The platform adopted decide in favor of:
1. A sound currency.
2. A tariff for revenue and protection to American labor.
3. Restraint of the Executive from exercise of the veto.
4. Distribution of proceeds of the sale of public lands among the States.
5. Improvement of rivers and harbors by the general Government.
7. Condemned the administration of James K. Polk.
8. Condemned the State Constitution recently adopted, with pledge to labor for its speedy amendment.
S. C. Hartings and S. Leffler, Democrats, were elected to Congress. De- cember 15, 1846, A. C. Dodge, delegate from Iowa, presented to the House of Representatives, the Constitution of the State of Iowa. It was referred to the Committee on Terirtory, and on the 17th S. A. Douglas of Illinois, reported a bill for the admission of Iowa into the Union. On the 21st the bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate. On the 24th it was taken up in the Senate, having been approved by the Judiciary Committee. After an attempt to amend it had failed, the bill passed the Senate. On the 28th of December, 1846, the President signed the bill and Iowa became a state. Congress granted every 16th section to the new State, for the support of its schools. It amounted to 1,013,- 614 acres. June 5, 1846, the Pottawattamies ceded their lands in Iowa to the United States.
The Mormons or Latter Day Saints who were driven out of Missouri in 1846, with great heartlessness, and in fact almost unparalleled barbarity, found shel- ter in Iowa, and many of them made it their permanent home. The sufferings of those people were almost beyond description and as the details are interesting we will relate them as follows:
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
CHAPTER XXII.
The first attempt to found a Mormon colony was made at Kirkland, Ohio, where Sidney Rigdon lived. Rigdon had been an eloquent minister of the Christian church in Kirkland, and was converted to Mormonism soon after Joseph Smith claimed to have found the plates on which a revelation was in- scribed, and from which the Mormon Bible was produced. Rigdon assisted Smith in procuring the printing of the Bible and on the 6th of April, 1830, they organized the "Church of the Latter Day Saints." Rigdon's eloquent preaching made converts rapidly, and on the first of January, 1831, they, had secured more than one thousand members and believers in the new religion. Smith claimed to have a second revelation commanding him to found a colony of the saints in the far West and build a temple in the New Jerusalem. A location was chosen in the vicinity of Independence, Missouri, where a large tract of land was se- cured, houses built, farms opened and the foundation laid for the temple. The Mormons from all quarters gathered at the New Jerusalem until several hun- dred were assembled. But the Missourians were intensely hostile to the new sect and finally a large mob attacked the Mormon colony, destroyed their print- ing office and other buildings and flogged some of the saints. Governor Boggs called out nearly five thousand of the State militia, under General J. B. Clark, with instructions "to exterminate the Mormons, or drive them beyond the bor- ders of the State." Gen. Clark proceeded to execute the orders. A large num- br of the leaders were arrested, their families driven from their homes at the point of the bayonet and the entire colony sent destitute out upon the bleak prairie late in November, without even tents to protect them from the driving storms. The rivers and creeks were unbridged and filled with floating ice; the snow was deep, impeding their progress; many were killed, others wounded, familics separated, women and children sick and dying for want of food, shel- ter and proper care. The oxen, which were their only teams, died of starva- tion. Disease and death claimed victims daily.
Mothers carried their starving children, themselves weak with fatigue and hunger. The dead were thrust into rude bark coffins and sunk in the rivers. At least 1,200 emaciated people in all stages of disease and starvation reached the banks of the Mississippi River where the strongest crossed. The people of Iowa and Illinois treated them kindly, furnished food and such shelter as was available. Their leaders had been captured, such as were not killed, and pa- raded from one jail to another, tormented in a manner that stamps their ene- mies as more cruel and barbarous than Indians. At Howe's Mills twenty pris- oners were confined in a log building, the door fastened and the mob, joining the State militia, fired upon the helpless prisoners through the crevices between the logs until all were killed or wounded. One little boy, nine years of age, was dragged out and murdered in cold blood, while the savage white men cheered and danced around the dying boy and the nineteen other victims.
The "Border Ruffians" who, a quarter of a century later, invaded the Ter- ritory of Kansas and slaughtered her citizens in a war waged to spread human slavery; and the Civil War, under the lead of Quantrell, murdered more than a hundred defenseless citizens of Lawrence in the presence of their families. were the progeny of those barbarous wretches. The authorities finally grew sick of the atrocities perpetrated by the militia that they were unable to con- trol and permitted the escape of the survivors of the Mormon leaders, who finally reached the refugees who were finding shelter in Iowa and Illinois
169
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
The Mormons were expelled from Missouri in the fall of 1838. They cross- ud the Mississippi and erected temporary shelter for the winter. Dr. Isaac Galland, a Mormon elder, was the owner of a large tract of land on both sides of the river and sold it to the refugees on liberal terms. In February, 1839, Dr. Galland wrote to Governor Robert Lucas of Iowa, inquiring whether their peo- ple would be permitted to purchase land and settle in the Territory of Iowa. The Governor replied that he knew of no authority that could deprive them of that right; that as citizens of the United States they were entitled to the same rights and legal protection as other citizens.
With this assurance a few Mormon families settled in the southeast corner of the Territory in 1839 and 1840. Bishop Knight bought for his church a part of the town sites of Keokuk, Nashville and Montrose, in Lee County. In 1840 there were over one hundred Mormon families living in that County.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Across the river from Montrose was the little town of Commerce, started by New York speculators; this the Mormons purchased, changing its name to Nauvoo. Joseph Smith, their Prophet, came from imprisonment in Missouri and pronounced Nauvoo the seat of the church. As the Mormons gathered into it from all sides, it soon grew to be a large city and the foundation of a large temple was laid. Great numbers of converts came from England and joined the Nauvoo colony.
A revelation in July, 1843, permitting a plurality of wives, raised a storm of indignation in the surrounding settlements, and it was charged that the Mormons harbored criminals. Joseph Smith was arrested in June, 1844, with other leaders. The arrests had been made by a company of soldiers on order of Governor Ford, of Illinois. The Mormon leaders were lodged in jail at Carth- age and charged with riot. On the 27th a mob numbering about two hundred inen, disguised as Indians, attacked the guards at the jail, overpowered them, broke down the door, killing Joseph Smith and his brother, Hiram, and severely wounding several others. Conificts frequently arose between the citizens and and the Mormons, some of whom had purchased claims and settled on the half- breed lands in Iowa. Although the Mormons had built a city of nearly 20,000 . at Nauvoo and erected a temple for public worship and had become the owners of valuable farms in the vicinity, their lives and property were almost con- tinually in jeopardy. Their religion and peculiar social practces were so obnox- ious to their neighbors, that they realized the necessity of colonizing their people in distant, unsettled regions, if they would secure religious liberty.
In 1845 they began to dispose of their property and prepared to emigrate Westward into Iowa. Brigham Young, who had succeeded Smith, led the main body across the river, beginning the journey in February, 1846. A large num- ber, including many sick, aged and poor, had to be left behind until a new hoine could be provided. The transfer of 16,000 into Iowa was finally completed. The line of 3,000 wagons, 30,000 head of cattle, horses and mules, large herds of sheep, and the thousands of men, women and children made up such a car- avan as had never before been seen in America.
Heavy cold rains fell and the rich black soil was converted into deep mud. But two or three miles could be made some days before the weaker gave out, and a camp had to be made on the wet ground where death came often to end the suffering of the sick. The burials were pathetic. In place of a coffin the
170
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
body was enclosed in bark stripped from green logs and buried in a hollow trench and the grave was marked by a post.
In April, 1846, the first party stopped in what is now Decatur County and built rude log houses for shelter, while breaking up the prairie to raise crops upon which to subsist when they should resume their march. This settlement they named Garden Grove, and here several hundred made a temporary home for such as were too weak to travel. When the high bluffs of Grand River were reached, in what is now Union County, on the 17th day of June, seven hundred of the Mormons determined to stop and raise crops to supply provisions for themselves and those who were to follow them. They selected a ridge on the East side of Grand River. Here they built log cabins and dug caves in each side of the long street on the summit of the ridge.
A mill was built by their mechanics; native boulders were dressed into mill stones and the machinery run by horse power. They erected a tabernacle in the grove and provided a cemetery in which their numerous dead were bur- ied. A great spring on the East slope of the ridge furnished an abundance of pure water for the entire population of "Mount Pisgah," the name they gace to the place.
During the two and a half years the Mormons occupied this place, thou- sands of their brethren found it a most welcome resting place on their jour- ney Westward. The remnant left at Nauvoo were persecuted beyond endur- ance by the people who had flocked into the city after the main body of the Mormons had left, and on the 17th of September they were driven out. Cross- ing the rive under the lead of Heber C. Kimball, wagons and hand carts were procured and in October they started West.
The women and children suffered from insufficient clothing and food. Trav- cling over the prairie, fording swollen streams, amid floating ice and fierce snow storms, camping nights on the snow-covered ground, protected only by tents, their sufferings were fearful. Sickness from exposure prevailed to an alarming extent, and death by the wayide ended the misery of hundreds.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Their route was made conspicuous by the graves that marked their journey through Van Buren, Davis, Appanoose, Decatur and Union Counties. No such scenes have ever been witnessed in Iowa as maked the winter march of the Mormon refugees over its unsettled prairis. When Mount Pisgah was reached they found rest and shelter and kind hands to minister to their want. More than four hundred men, women and children who died from the effects of ex- posure and hardships of the exodus of 1846-7 were buried in the Mormon ceme- tery at that place.
The Mormon authorities at Salt Lake caused a monument to be erected here in 1888 to the memory of the dead, who for the most part sleep in un- marked graves in this inclosure. On the monument are inscribed the names of William Huntington, the First Presiding Elder of Mount Pisgah, and sixty- seven others. The cemetery has long been in charge of C. A. White. It is often visited by high officials of the Latter Day Saints and surviving friends of those who perished during the exodus of 1846-7. A number of the Mormon families remained at Garden Grove, Mount Pisgah, Lost Grove, Sargent's Grove and Indiantown. Others made claims along the line of march, built cabins and opened farms. But the main body pushed on to the Missoudi River, where
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
a village was built in the Southwest corner of Mills County. The greater num- ber. however, went Northward and located on Indian Creek and built a town mcar where Council Bluffs now stands, which they named Kanesville.
In the persecution which the Mormons endured in the early years of their r. sidence in the Western States and Territories, Iowa never joined. Our peo- ple and State officials have respected the right of American citizen to hold such religious opinions as they chose and to enjoy the protection of our laws. Nar- rowness and bigotry has never flourished in Iowa. Her citizens claim the ut- most freedom of religious opinion for themselves, and accord the same rights to others. The kind treatment of the Mormons by Governor Lucas is in marked contrast with that of the officials and citizens of Missouri and Illinois.
In 1847 Brigham Young led an expedition over the plains to Salt Lake, where he selected a location for the future home of the Mormons. In June, 1848, the second expedition, consisting of six hundred and twenty-three wagons and nearly two thousand persons, joined the colony at Salt Lake. Elder Orso Hyde was their leader. A large tabernacle of logs was erected for their relig- ious meetings and another for school purposes. The farmers among them set- tled along the creeks and in the groves, and opened farms to supply provisions for the colony. During the year 1849 cholera of a deadly type was brought into their settlements and prevailed for nearly two years. The people, who had neither experienced physicians nor suitable medicines, living in poor cabins, were but illy prepared to encounter this terrible pestlenc. Hundreds died with- out medical attention. The bluffs were thickly dotted with newly made graves. Each year large parties of Mormons left the Iowa settlement to join the Salt Lake colony.
An imperative order was issued in 1852 for all to emigrate to Utah, and, disposing of their houses and farms, and under the lead of Elder Orson Hyde, they crossed the great plains. Some, however, who were opposed to polygamy, remained in Iowa and reorganized the "Church of the Latter Day Saints," and finally established headquarters at Lamoni, in Decatur County, under the lead of Joseph Smith, Jr., son of the founder of the Mormon church.
The first State Legislature convened at Iowa City on the 30th of November, 1846. The Senate consisted of nineteen members and elected Thomas Baker, of Polk County, President. The House consisted of forty members and elected Jesse R. Browne, of Lee County, Speaker. The Democrats had a majority in the Senate and the Whigs a majority in the House. But local issues had, in Lee County. overshadowed party considerations to such an extent that it was doubtful whether the Democrats would be able to command a majority on joint ballot for their candidates for Supreme Judges and United States Senators.
The salaries were fixed as follows: Governor, $1,000; Auditor, $600; Sec- retary of State, $500; Treasurer, $400; Judges of the Supreme and District Courts, $1,000 each. For the purpose of defraying the expenses of the State government an act was passed authorizing the issue and sale of bonds to the amount of $55,000, bearing interest at ten per cent and payable in ten years.
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