USA > Iowa > Polk County > The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 37
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În 1845 Keokuk led his tribe west of the Missouri river, and located upon a reservation now comprised in the boundaries of the State of Kan- sas. What must have been the emotions which swelled the heart of this renowned savage when he turned his back for the last time on the bark- covered huts of his Iowa village. To him it was not going West to grow up with the country, but to lose himself and his tribe in oblivion and na- tional annihilation. The fact that no remnant of this once powerful and populous tribe remains is sad to contemplate. Keokuk returned no more;
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he lived but three years after leaving the Territory of Iowa, and we have no facts at our command in reference to his career at the new home west of the Missouri. The Keokuk Register of June 15th, 1848, contained the following notice of his death, together with some additional sketches of his life:
" The St. Louis New Era announces the death of this celebrated Indian chief. Poison was administered to him by one of his tribe, from the effects of which he died. The Indian was apprehended, confessd his guilt, and was shot.
" Keokuk leaves a son of some prominence, but there is little probability of his succeeding to the same station, as he is not looked upon by the tribe as inheriting the disposition and principles of his father."
We close this sketch by appending an extract from a letter recently writ- ten by Judge J. M. Casey, of Fort Madison, to Hon. S. A. James, of Sigourney :
" While Keokuk was not a Lee county man, I have often seen him here. He was an individual of distinguished mark; once seen would always be remembered. It was not necessary to be told that he was a chief, you would at once recognize him as such, and stop to admire his grand deport- ment. I was quite young when I last saw him, but I yet remember his appearance and every lineament of his face as well as if it had been yester- day, and this impression was left upon every person who saw him, whether old or young. It is hard for us to realize that an Indian could be so great a man. But it is a candid fact, admitted by all the early settlers who know him, that Keokuk possessed, in a prominent degree, the elements of great- ness."
Poweshiek, the chief of the Fox Indians, who, as before mentioned, lived on Skunk river, is described as tall, heavily built, of rough cast of features and a disposition full of exaction and arrogance. When he left Fort Des Moines for the last time he went south and encamped temporarily in the southern part of the State. His village, which consisted of about forty lodges, was located on Grand River, not far from the settlements of northern Missouri. A difficulty soon arose between the Missourians and the Indians, and there was every reason to suppose that the trouble would terminate in bloodshed. When the report of the difficulty came to Fort Des Moines, three persons, Dr. Campbell, J. B. Scott and Hamilton Thrift, who had been intimately acquainted with Poweshiek, desirous of preventing bloodshed, mounted their horses and proceeded to the Indian encampment. This was during the winter of 1845 and 1846. Everything in and about the Indian village had a warlike appearance.
Mr. Scott sought an early interview with Poweshiek, and spoke to him as follows:
" My friends and myself have traveled through the snow a long distance to help you out of this trouble. We are your friends. If you persist in your purpose of making war on the whites, many of your squaws and pap- pooses, as well as your braves, will be butchered. The remainder will be driven out into the cold and the snow to perish on the prairies. It would be better now for you to break up your lodges and go in peace to your res- ervation in Kansas, which the government has provided for you."
The old chief was at first unwilling to accept this advice, and his princi- ple reason in not doing so was that his conduct would be construed into an
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exhibition of cowardice. He, however, finally concluded to accept the prof- fered advice, and in a short time removed beyond the Missouri river.
Reference has already been made to the fact that for time immemorial a deadly feud existed between the Sac and Fox Indians on the one part and the Sioux on the other part. These were the two principal tribes inhabit- ing the State in early days, and the hatred they had for one another fre- quently embroiled them as well as numerous lesser tribes in long and bloody wars.
In order to put an end to these sanguinary contests, and stop the effusion of blood, the United States government tendered its services as a mediator between the two hostile tribes. As a result of the first negotiations, it was agreed, in August, 1825, that the government should run a line between the two tribes, and thus erect an imaginary barrier between the respective territory of the hostile tribes. After a trial of nearly five years, it was found that the untutored mind of the red man was unable to discern an imaginary boundary. The Sacs and Foxes from the south in pursuing game northward were frequently borne beyond the boundary line and they were sure to have a fight with their jealous neighbors before they returned. The same was often true of the Sioux. The idea was then conceived by the agents of the government of setting aside a strip of neutral territory, between the two tribes, of sufficient width to effectually separate the com- batants, on which neither tribe should be allowed to hunt or encamp.
A treaty was accordingly made with the Sac and Fox Indians in July, 1830, whereby the latter ceded to the government a strip of country twenty miles in width, lying immediately south of the line designated in the treaty of August, 1825, and extending from the Mississippi to the Des Moines rivers. At the same time a treaty was made with the Sioux, whereby the latter ceded the government a strip of country twenty miles in width lying immediately north of the line designated in the treaty of August, 1825, and extending from the Mississippi to the Des Moines river. By the provisions of these treaties the United States came into possession of a strip of country forty miles wide and extending from the Mississippi to the Des Moines rivers, upon which it was unlawful for either Sac and Fox or Sioux to hunt. This strip was known as the "Neutral Ground." Certain of the inferior and peaceable tribes, as the Pottawattamies for in- stance, were permitted to remain on the Neutral Ground.
This neutral strip extended south nearly as far as the north line of Polk county, and a beautiful section of country bordering on the Des Moines river north of Polk county was a favorite resort of the Pottawattamie In- dians, where the early settlers found them in great numbers.
Mr. Benjamin Williams, one of the pioneers of this region, found them in great numbers in the vicinity of Elk Rapids, when he came to the county in 1846. They had been accustomed to make maple sugar in a large grove located upon the claim which Mr. Williams first took. After the Indians were gone, he used their appliances for catching and hoarding the sap in continuing the business. The sugar troughs were made of the bark of elm trees, and so well were they constructed that they lasted for a number of years. A large walnut trough, which the Indians had used for hoarding the sap, Mr. Williams continued to use for some five or six years after they were gone. During the winter of 1846-47 some five hundred of these Pot- tawattamie Indians were encamped in the vicinity of Elk Rapids, and, al- though several white men had settled in that vicinity at that time, none of
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them were molested by the Indians. Their chief was an old man by the . name of Chemisne; by the early settlers, however, he was known by the name of Johnny Greene.
It was not only at Elk Rapids that Johnny Greene and his band were known, but throughout the whole of Central Iowa. They were peaceable Indians, and apparently on good terms with the Sac and Fox Indians as well as the whites. Not so with the Sioux, who lived further north; they were treacherous, cruel and relentless.
During the winter of 1846-47 an incident occurred in Webster county which threw all the settlers of the Des Moines valley as far south as Fort Des Moines into a fever of excitement.
A man named Henry Lott had settled at the mouth of Boone river, in what is now Webster county. His house was in range of the Sioux Indi- ans, whose chief's name was Sim-au-e-dotah. By some accident, or from wounds received in battle, or on account of some natural deformity, we know not, he had no thumb or forefinger on his right hand; on account of this deformity he was known as Old Chief Three Fingers. Lott had pro- vided himself with a small quantity of goods and a barrel of whisky, ex- pecting to drive a prosperous trade with the old chief and his band, and buy their robes and furs for little or nothing. The first visit the chief made him he was accompanied by six braves of his band, all painted and armed for the war-path. He informed Lott that he was an intruder; that he had settled on the Sioux hunting grounds, and warned him to leave be- fore a certain time. The time having arrived, the Indians appeared, and, finding Lott still remaining, they commenced an indiscriminate destruction of property. They robbed his beehives, shot his horses, cattle and hogs full of arrows, so that many of them died; threatened and abused his family, and drove him and his son from the house more scared than hurt. Two small girls, daughters of Lott, fled to the timber, and Mrs. Lott covered a small child, the youngest of the family, under a feather bed, and then, after contending with the savages till her strength was exhausted, was compelled to submit to all the indignities which they chose to heap upon her.
One of the most remarkable circumstances of the whole affair is the fact that, although the Indians were in and around the house for nearly an en- tire day, the little fellow hidden under the feather bed not once moved or uttered a cry.
When Lott and his son reached the Boone River Bluffs they looked back at the house, which was plainly in view, and as they thought they saw the Indians tomahawking the family, and heard the screams of the wife and children, the two having no arms concluded to make their way rapidly to the settlements and sometime the same night reached Pea's Point, spread- ing a horrible story, alarming the women and children and astounding everybody.
John Pea, one of the earliest settlers of Boone county, and for whom Pea's Point was named, proposed an immediate expedition to take ven- geance on Sim-au-e-do-tah, but some of the more prudent of the people thought best to dispatch a messenger to Elk Rapids, near the border of Polk county for the purpose of securing more reinforcements. Lott him- self proceeded on this mission and when he arrived there he found Chemisne, the Pottawattamie chief, with whom he was acquainted. This Indian was known to the early white settlers by the name of Johnny Greene, and was encamped there with several hundred of his tribe. Upon hearing Lott's
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story he immediately called a council of his braves, wherein it was deter- mined that the chief should accompany the white men with twenty-six of his warriors. After several pow-wows they painted themselves in the most hideous manner and mounting their ponies set off for P'ea's point to join the expedition.
The settlers around Pea's Point fearing that the Sioux might follow Lott and his son and fall upon the settlement and murder all, had assembled at the house of John M. Crooks for better safety and defense, and were on the lookout for Indians.
Lott, with several white men and the Pottawattamies, were rapidly ad- vancing across the prairie toward Crook's house, the Indians in the front yelling, as is their custom when starting on the war-path and not in the vicinity of danger. The settlers supposing them to be Sioux coming to at- tack them, prepared for action, each singling out his Indian, and were upon the point of firing when they recognized Lott and other white men, and were happily disappointed to find them all friends.
John Pea and six other white men accompanied Lott and the Pottawat- tamies to the mouth of Boone river and found that the family had not been tomahawked as Lott had represented, but one of his boys, a lad about twelve years old, in order to escape from the Indians, had undertaken to reach the settlements by following down the river on the ice, and across the bottoms, a distance of twenty miles. The Sioux had robbed the family of nearly everything they had except the barrel of whisky, which Lott had se- curely hidden, and the family was found in a very destitute condition.
After making an unsuccessful scout the Pottawattamies returned to camp. Lott gave them all the whisky they could carry with them, as they would not drink any until they arrived safely home from the expedition. They filled their cups and powder horns and carried it in that way back to Elk Rapids, where, on their arrival, they had a rousing spree.
This incident, while it resulted in no actual harm to the settlers of the Des Moines valley, except the Lott family, nevertheless it had the effect to deter many from settling in the county the ensuing spring and summer.
Lott was much overcome when he found in what condition the savages had left his family. His wife died a short time afterward from the effects of the treatment she had received from the Indians. The boy, who started down the river in order to reach the settlement, perished from the effects of the cold, and his dead body was found on the ice. The two little girls were found some time afterward in a sorry plight, exhausted by the cold and hunger. After burying his wife and boy, Lott secured homes for the other children among the settlers of this county, and it is but proper to state, in this connection, that the little boy, now grown into manhood, re- cently made a visit to this locality. The two girls, having grown to be young women, were married and became the wives of two of the leading citizens of an adjoining county.
Having thus arranged his affairs, Lott directed his attention to wreaking vengeance upon the savages who had despoiled his home. The saddest part of the story remains to be told.
He does not seem to have been long engaged in meditating and planning and the plan of operations having been determined on he lost no time in carrying it out. He procured an ox team and drove to Fort Des Moines, where he purchased two barrels; in one of these barrels he put pork and
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in the other whisky. What other ingredient he mixed with the pork and whisky can be imagined from its effects upon those who partook of it.
Having thus laid in his stock of goods, he set out from Des Moines to the hunting grounds of the Sioux. After driving around for some time he learned that the old chief, Sim-au-e-do-tah, with a hunting party, was en -. camped near a stream in the present bounds of Webster county. He pro- ceeded stealthily into the timber near by and hastily erected a temporary shelter, where he stored his pork and whisky. During the following night he kindled a large fire, and having heaped upon it a sufficient quantity of fuel, to keep it burning for a day or two, he arranged his wagon, team-and cooking utensils in such a manner as to indicate sudden flight. After Lott had thus fixed up matters to suit his mind he quietly left the country. How the camp, with its team, wagon, pork and whisky was discovered by Sim- au-e-do-tah's band next morning, and just what became of the provisions, will probably never be known. However, the fact did become public that during the following summer the Indians in that vicinity were greatly ter- rified by the ravages of a peculiar and unknown epidemic, against which the skill of the medicine men, and the most importunate appeals to the Great Spirit, were of no avail. It is said that over seventy-five of the most robust and bravest of the warriors perished in a short time, and a feeling of melancholy and sadness took possession of the whole tribe of savages. Notwithstanding the sad havoc among the Sioux, following Lott's last visit to their hunting grounds the old chief, Sim-au-e-do-tah and his sons, es- caped and continued to prosper. Upon hearing that the chief with his family still survived, Lott determined on a braver, as well as a more manly plan of revenge. Having disguised himself so that the old chief could not recognize him, and armed with a trusty rifle, whose unerring aim usually brought down his game, Lott mounted a horse and rode into the Sioux country. He entered the camp where Sim-au-e-do-tah was encamped and sought an interview with the old chief. After having put the wary savage off his guard by the presentation of gifts and the utterance of the most ex- pressive words of friendship, Lott informed Sim-au-e-do-tah that a certain prairie, through which he had recently come abounded in game of the choicest kind, and thus having aroused the old man's natural propensity for the chase succeeded in prevailing upon him and his three sons to ac- company him on a hunting excursion. When Lott and the Indians arrived at the place where the game was reported to be, it was decided, upon the suggestion of the former, that they surround the prairie in which the game was concealed. The three young Indians were sent in opposite directions, and as soon as Lott and the old Indian were left alone, the former soon dis- patched the unsuspecting old chief; he then started on the track of the young Indians and killed all three of them in detail. It is further reported that after killing the old Indian and his three sons Lott dragged their dead bodies together, on an elevation near the Des Moines river, and having built a log heap placed them on it, and having set it on fire returned to Boone county.
In the course of time reports of Lott's doings began to be whispered about and at length became a subject for the investigation of the grand jury. All the region of country north and west of Polk county at that time was attached to the latter for revenue, election, and judicial purposes, and the jury which considered the case, was in session at Fort Des Moines.
Among the members of the grand jury was a gentleman residing at 20
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Boonesboro. Lott's case was the last one disposed of, and in the evening, just before the jury was discharged, a true bill was found against Lott and he was indicted for murder in the first degree. It is not positively known when the Boonesboro juror left Des Moines, nor when he arrived at the for. mer place; all that is known is the fact that his horse was in the stable at Des Moines at dark on the evening of the day that the indictment was found, and that the same horse was in a stable at Boonesboro the following morning. It is also known that Lott left the country the same night, and the sheriff who went up from Des Moines to arrest him the next day failed to find him. Lott was never again seen in this region of the country, and nothing has been definitely known as to his whereabouts. It was rumored at one time that he made his way to the Pacific slope, and after having been engaged in barter and mining for a number of years, was finally lynched for some alleged misdemeanor. Whether or not such was the tragic end of his eventful life is not positively known, but the incidents as above related bearing upon his career in these parts are vouched for by some of the early settlers then residing in the vicinity of his operations, and they can be relied on as substantially true in all the particulars.
It is a peculiar characteristic of the American Indians that they never forget nor forgive an injury, and although a wrong, either real or imagin- ary, inflicted upon them, is seemingly forgotten or forgiven, it is neverthe- less treasured up in the mind, and in cases where no favorable opportunity occurs for the aggrieved generation to avenge the wrong, it is transmitted down to the next generation, and the wreaking of vengeance is bequeathed as a sacred legacy to those who come after.
The Sioux were greatly exasperated when they found that their chief and his sons had been decoyed and slain, and they preferred complaint to the government agents, through whose influence doubtless Lott's indictment was procured. After Lott's escape it finally became whispered about among the savages that Lott was not only responsible for the death of their chief and his sons, but that his pork and whisky had had something to do with the epidemic which previously had carried off some seventy-five of their braves. They nursed their grievances, and their desire for revenge increased until it finally found vent in the Spirit Lake massacre, which created so great a sensation at the time, and which did much to retard emigration to this section.
In the spring of 1857, alinost ten years after the killing of Sim-au-e-do-tah and his sons, Ink-pa-du-tah, chief among the Sioux Indians, and cousin to the chief killed by Lott, led a band of Indians to a small settlement, near Spirit Lake, in Dickinson county. They murdered many of the settlers and carried away some of the women and children into captivity. They plun- dered the settlement of all the stock and provisions and then retreated into Minnesota. Although the scene of this massacre was over one hundred miles away, it caused a thrill of fear and excitement in this county. Especially was this the case among the scattered settlements in the north part of Polk county, and the recently organized counties farther north. Reports were spread abroad to the effect that the Sioux were on their way south, down the valley of the Des Moines, and that the merciless savages were depopulating the settlements through which they passed. All kinds of work were abandoned, and the settlers confederated together for their defense. At the county seat of Boone county excitement was at fever heat, and after taking the proper steps to defend their own homes, the citizens
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organized a company for the purpose of going to the rescue of the settlers nearer the scenes of the massacre. The following account of that expedition was published some time since in one of the Boone county papers:
News of the massacre was brought to Fort Dodge about the first of April, and to Boonesboro the next day or so. Following the news came fleeing settlers going south, and a day or two afterward, about the sixth day of April, came the news that Ink-pa-du-ta, after murdering all the settlers north of Fort Dodge and Webster City, had surrounded those town, and the people could not long keep them off.
This last news came to Boonesboro about two o'clock. A meeting was at once called at the court-house, and a company one hundred strong organ- ized to go to the relief of the besieged towns. Judge McFarland was chosen superior officer, Samuel B. McCall was elected captain, George B. Redman first Lieutenant, Jonas H. Upton second lieutenant, James Wright wagon-master, Dr. DeTarr surgeon, and John A. Hull commissary. Hon. C. Beal locked his house, took his wife behind him on his pony to her father on the west side of the river, where he left her, and started north on his own hook, recruiting wherever he could find a man who could leave home. There were hurried but tearful partings at Boonesboro of husbands and wives, and their uncles, cousins, and aunts. After regularly confiscating a ton of flour that belonged to John Grether, the same quantity of bacon belonging to Clark Luther, all the oats that William Pilcher had, and all the powder and " fire water" in town, the company was ready to march at half past four o'clock.
An eye witness describes the departure as "grand, gloomy, and peculiar." Old men and boys, too weak to endure the hardships of the march, had to be driven back to prevent their going to the front, and a rear guard was put out to keep such stragglers back; yet many old men and boys escaped the guard, and by going cross lots came into camp that night at Hook's Point, where the commissary had four big log fires and a whole barrel of whisky. But those men did not drink. It was there for strictly medical purposes, and dealt out only on the surgeon's requisition. No one slept that night, as the constantly passing wagons, filled with fleeing settlers who confirmed the reports of the day before, kept the company under arms all night. About daybreak an alarm was sounded. The pickets came in, and for a time they were sure the Indians were coming. A cow that had been left at home, some distance off, had got hungry and came trotting down the road, followed by some others of her family, making a terrible din with au old cracked bell about her neck, and created the alarm. She escaped unhurt, unless the damning she got hurt her.
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