The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 16

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 16

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How many of the Sioux were killed previous had been the county seat. was never known. But four Indian J. J. Bruce, the correspondent of the graves were found by some of the Pocahontas Times, t wrote as follows early settlers in 1857, on the bank of in regard to them:

Pilot creek, covered with bark and in "Our Winnebago and Pottawatta- mie Indians have moved down the river. Henry M. Rice, the chief of the band, is a very intelligent fellow. a good state of preservation; these were no doubt the resting places of the warriors killed in this fight. The skeletons of three more were discov- Several of the men are intelligent, use ered by W. S. Fegles, when trapping good language and dress in civilized at Swan Lake in the winter of 1858. *J. J. Bruce in Pocahontas Times, Dec. 11, He informed the writer that the skull 1879.

bone of one was very large and nearly

¡Times, of April 15 and 22, 1880.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

style. We should judge that a num- the battle of the Sioux and Winneba- ber of them have white man's blood goes, on the south side of Pilot creek. in their veins.

A few days later this old warrior,

They have in their number a Win- accompanied by several other Indians, nebago warrior who was over this came down the river and passed up ground in 1854, and points out the Pilot creek. As they passed the battlefield between the Sioux and home of his father, A. H. Malcolm, Winnebagoes on Pilot creek, in 1854, Ora and the two other boys being to- and gives the scenes enacted under gether again, followed the Indians to some of the trees in those early days, see them hunting and trapping. pointing out the tree where some When they had proceeded a short dis- warrior lost his scalp.

tance, the old warrior took them to a

The battle referred to above, was place on the south side of the creek described by W. D. McEwen in 1876, and about thirty rods west of his in an article that appeared in The father's residence, where he showed Pocahontas Times and it was consid- them the stump of a large black ered by some as a canard; but in this walnut tree. "Into the top of case it seems that 'truth is stranger this tree," he said, "a Winnebago had than fiction.' "'

On this occasion the Winnebago warrior and some of his friends visited near. at the Des Moines river bridge, met W. Sioux scout, under cover of the smaller D. McEwen, Robert Struthersand oth- timber, stealthily drew near and shot ers to whom he related many incidents him."

This old warrior had a desire to take a last look at the place where his father and one brother were killed, be- fore he should be numbered with the silent dead, and to show to those who came after him the place where the last trial of strength occurred between his people and their ancient enemies, the Sioux.

the old walnut tree was easily recog- several shoots that were already large enough to bear nuts. When the at- tention of the old settlers was direct- ed to it, it was found that this partic- ular tree had been felled by Orlando,

their camp along the west branch of the Des Moines river. They met sawmill erected near Old Rolfe by

about fifty Indians, old and young, and found they had been there about a week. They met the old Winneba- go warrior, who told them that many In 1880, the Chicago and Northwest- years before he had participated in ern railway had not yet passed through

climbed to take a survey of the coun- try and learn if any enemies were While he was up in the tree a

of the battle. Mr. McEwen was at this time treasurer of the county, and, though he appointed a day for him to go with the old Indian to view the battlefield and get his description of the conflict as he remembered it, unexpected business matters prevent- ed him from keeping the engagement. Among other things the old Indian related on this occasion, was that he At the time of this visit in 1880, believed he could yet point out the which was more than twenty-five years spot along the river a short distance after the battle, the large stump of from the outlet of Pilot creek, where the Winnebagoes had buried three of nized, and around it there had grown their fallen braves.

At this time, Ora P. Malcolm, then in his teens, but now deputy treasurer of the county, accompanied by his younger brother Fred Malcolm and his cousin Ralph Horton, went to son of David Slosson, in the winter of 1858-9, that it had been drawn to the John M. Stockdale and had there been sawed into building material, by W. H. Hait.

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BATTLE OF THE INDIANS AT PILOT CREEK.

this section and when it came, a couple Very few resting places of the dead of years later, it crossed the place among the Sioux, who came from the where this black walnut stood and al- northwest and at least for two cen- so the original site of Mr. Malcolm's turies occupied this section of coun- residence.

The battle between the Sioux and Winnebagoes at Pilot creek, was the last contest that occurred between the Indians on the soil of Iowa. It has been suggested that at some time in the near future the romantic spot where this battle was fought should be marked with some appropriate monument, that future generations might know the exact place where the Winnebagoes, friends of the whites, resisted the last cruel onset of the Sioux, under their chiefs Cou-sta- wa (Big Tree) and Ink-pa-du-ta.

INDIAN GRAVES AND RELICS.

try, have been found by the white man; a circumstance, no doubt due to the peculiar method practiced by them in disposing of their dead. The Sioux, instead of burying the bodies of the dead in the ground, often placed them upon elevated scaffolds or rude platforms made of timber. The dead were thus elevated to pre- vent their bodies from being devoured by wolves and other rapacious ani- mals. They were not so scrupulous in regard to depredations that might be committed upon them by birds of prey.

The mode of burial in vogue among the tribes of the Algonquin family, to

Two of the Indian graves of which which the Pottawattamies and Mus- mention has already been made, were quakies (Sac and Fox) belonged, was found by Orlando, son of David Slos- quite different. They buried their . son, in 1857, on the bank of Pilot dead under the ground. Stones and creek, near the present site of Rolfe. even logs were often placed in heaps Other graves were found about the over the graves of their dead to give them better protection.

same time on the plateau of the southwest quarter of section one,

The Winnebagoes, parent stock of Clinton township, now included in the Iowas, were the van-guard of the the farm of John E. Schnug. In 1858, Sioux, when they began to occupy the W. S. Fegles found three skele- valley of the Mississippi. The Win- tons at Swan Lake, the largest of nebagoes originally made use of the which was believed to be that of the scaffold, but later adopted interment, Sioux chief, Cou-sta-wa, or Big Tree. except when the ground was frozen. In 1860, when the workmen were The place selected for interment was making the excavation for the court

usually the summit of a knoll, and the house at Old Rolfe, on the southwest grave was arranged so that the head " quarter of section 26, Des Moines and feet of the body would extend township, they uncovered the remains east and west respectively. Some- of ten bodies, ranging in size from a times they buried the dead in a sit- child to a giant. Their bones were ting posture, and in this case, the placed in a box and reinterred in the body faced the west, while the head southwest corner of the foundation. and chest would extend above the The first court house of Pocahontas natural surface of the ground. If the county was thus erected over the last one buried was a male, some tobacco resting place of several of the primi- and a pipe were usually deposited in tive red men of the forests and plains, the grave; and if he was a warrior a and it was the general belief at the war-club or some other weapon was time that those who were buried at added.

this place were Winnebago warriors.

John B. Jolliffe, a resident of section

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

two, Powhatan township, about the the summit of a high bluff on the year 1866, among some rocks on a west bank of the west branch of the little knoll a short distance west of Des Moines river that is skirted on his home, found a pair of very beauti- the east with a body of tall, heavy ful Indian bracelets. They were

timber. It is located on the farm of made of a material that was of a slate O. F. Avery, one-half mile east of the color and as hard as flint. They were homes of A. H. Malcolm and Senator very artistically carved on the outside Geo. W. Henderson. It is in Hum- and both were exactly alike. The boldt county, a few steps from the carved work represented, in raised county line.

form, many of the animals with which

This mound was circular in form, the Indians were familiar, such as the about twenty feet in diameter at the fox, coyote, beaver and otter. These base and five feet high. It rests on a . interesting relics were lost at the natural elevation sloping gradually time of the prairie fire that consumed to a summit, that overlooks the valley his buildings, in the latter part of Sep- of the Des Moines river northward for tember, 1873.

About the year 1876, A. H. Malcolm, while removing some boulders from the knoll south of his residence on section one, Clinton township, found underneath a large rock, nearly a peck of flinty specimens that were supposed to be Indian arrow heads in an un- finished condition. They were oblong pieces of flint rock, roughly chipped to a blunt point at one end while the other was rounded. They were three to four inches long, half an inch thick and about one and one-half inches wide. Some, who examined these relics, expressed the opinion they were not arrow heads, but some blades made by those who lived in the "stone age" and knew nothing of the work-

The old court house site, where ten bodies were found, is one of the high- est knolls in Des Moines township; ing of metals. Since no tools or im- and it was the removal of three mounds plements, except those of stone, have upon its summit that revealed the been found among their relics, the bodies buried there. mound-builders are supposed to have lived in that age.

INDIAN MOUNDS.

"The Indian passed away, and lo! What is left behind to show

That he drew Ulysses' bow? . He often earned immortal fame; But what perpetuates his name? On the knolls of prairies green Only the Indian mound is seen."

many miles.

In 1883, Ora P. Malcolm, his brother Fred and their cousin Geo. W. Hor- ton, having a desire toknow what was in the mound, made an excavation by digging down through the center of the top of it. They found the skele- tons of three human bodies which they supposed to be the remains of In- dians. They expected to find some relics of value, but in this they were disappointed. When their curiosity had been sufficiently satisfied they re- turned the bones that had been ex- humed, and, covering them, left them as they had found them.

For the account of other mounds and their story the reader is referred to page 16.

INDIANS ALONG THE LIZARD.

In the latter part of December, 1855, when M. T. Collins, of Lizard township, his mother and sister were living in their log cabin on section 18, Jackson township, which was just

On the right hand of the cut illus- across the line in Webster county, trating the battle field at Pilot creek, three Indians armed with guns, sur- page 126, there will be seen an Indian prised and frightened them by com- mound. This mound is situated on ing to their door and begging for

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BATTLE OF THE INDIANS AT PILOT CREEK.

food. They came to their home about vious to the establishment of the fort four o'clock in the afternoon and were at Fort Dodge, they had several vil- the first Indians they had ever seen. lages and encampments along the Des When Mrs. Collins gave them some Moines river in the vicinity of Fort food they seemed to be very content- ed and happy. They sat down by the fire, smoked their pipes and after a

Dodge and along Lizard creek. They were great thieves, constantly roving about in squads, watching trappers little while returned to their camp, who ventured along the Des Moines which they had pitched in the grove river and emigrants who attempted along¿Lizard creek, south of the Liz- to settle in that district.

ard Catholic church, There were about thirteen men who were accom- panied by their wives and children, in this band, and they had several tents. They remained at this place, hunting and trapping, until about the first of April following, when they moved northward to Mulholland's grove. "About the first of May,. (1856) they disappeared as' quietly as _ they had come.

These were a band of Sioux Indians that had come from the southwest, the vicinity of , Twin Lakes. Ti-ton- kaj To-ma-to, a large old man, ! was their chief and he had a son who [was "clear out." also very tall and active. They had a number of ponies and said that their favorite ' hunting' ground was along the Lizard and especially at Lizard lake.

[ During the period of their encamp- ment at this place one or more of the squaws would come every day to the home .of Mr. Collins and: beg for some- thing to eat. [ OnTone occasion when Mr. Collins was cutting wood, a young Indian girl came to his home and, beckoning for the axe by motions; of her hands, he handed it to her and she showed him how she could cut wood, using the axe in a left-handed way.

THE SIOUX.

In 1848, when Mr. Marsh, a govern- ment surveyor of Dubuque, was run- ning the correction line from the Mississippi to the Missouri rivers, he progressed in his work without mo- lestation, until he and his company crossed the Des Moines in what is now Webster county. On the west bank of the river he was met by a party of Sioux, under the lead of a chief named Si-dom-i-na-do-ta, who told him that this section of country still belonged to them, that he should proceed no further, and ordered him to "puc-a-chee" that is "be off" or After they left him, Mr. Marsh and his party concluded to proceed with their work. But before they had advanced a mile from the river, they were surrounded at a point near the head of a large ravine (south of the south line of section 30, town- ship 89, range 28), about 3 miles south- west of Ft. Dodge, by a large force of Indians, who robbed them of every- thing. They took their horses, de- stroyed their wagons and surveying instruments, pulled up their stakes, leveled their mounds and forced them to return to the east side of the river to find their way home as best they could. It was this outrage and simi- lar ones, committed by the Sioux In- dians on families who had ventured

The tribes of the Sioux nation, up the Des Moines and located claims that; occupied ." Pocahontas county north of the Raccoon fork, in the fall just previous to the time of its settle- of 1849, that induced the government ment, consisted of bands, of to establish the military post and sta- tion troops at Fort Dodge. the Sissetons, whose acknowledged chief | was Red Thunder, Yanktons When the government troops ar- and half-breeds from Missouri. Pre- rived, August 23, 1850, the Sioux rez

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

treated westward from the vicinity of supposed to be journeying either to a the Des Moines river, and committed reservation or to one of their favorite no further outrages on the whites in camping grounds along the Des Moines its vicinity, while they remained there. river. While passing through Lin- When, in July, 1853, the troops at coln township they called for provis- Fort Dodge were transferred to Fort ions at the homes of Mr. Saylor and Ridgely, Minnesota, they again be- John Dooley."

came impudent and annoying, and Major William Williams, who re- mained at the fort, was empowered to keep them in check. It will be re- membered that the terrible tragedies enacted at Spirit Lake in 1857, and at New Ulm and Mankato in 1862, were perpetrated by bands of the Sioux.

INDIANS IN LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

INDIANS IN BELLVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Mrs. Wm. Brownlee, of Pomeroy, thinks she never, in all her life, re; ceived any compliment that gave her more real pleàsure than one bestowed by a band of Indians that camped on their farm, on section 18, Bellville township, in the spring of the year during the seventies, to hunt and trap among the ponds in that vicinity. Knowing that the Indians were treach-

About the month of August, 1873, a band of about sixty Indians crossed this county, traveling eastward along erous and , blood-thirsty when on the the line that runs one mile north of war-path, she did not appreciate the the south line of Dover, Grant and idea of having them for her nearest Lincoln townships; of whom the fol- neighbors.

When, however, they lowing account has been furnished by pitched their tents so near them, in C. M. Saylor, of the last named town- the interest of peace and good-will, ship:

she and her husband decided to give

"They made this journey in true In- them about all they might call for. dian style, which was a single file that When the squaws, true to their cus- extended nearly a mile in length, sev- tom, called, day after day, for "more eral rods usually intervening between food," she gave them all the available each member of the procession. About bread and butter in the home, and fre- a dozen members of the band were quently, by special request, some roos- mounted on ponies that were heavily loaded with luggage. Their tepee or

ters, indulging the hope it would be their last call. The Indians must tent poles, tied loosely together at one have enjoyed her hospitality more end with a thong, were hung over the than ordinary, for when the two backs of the ponies in front of the weeks' hunt was ended, the chief of riders, while their loose ends were the band came with the squaws when left to drag on the ground. On these they made their last call, for the pur- poles, at a short distance from the pose of expressing their appreciation rear of the pony, cross-pieces were of the favors received and bid farewell fastened that served as a framework to their benefactors. On this occa -. for carrying their tenting, cooking sion, when they were ready to depart, utensils, trapping outfit and other Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee standing near necessary equipage. Some of their each other in the front yard of their papooses or babies, had been put in home, the Indians thanked them baskets and strapped on these poles heartily and bowed graciously, after that extended from the ponies to the which the chief, addressing Mr. ground. One or two of the squaws, Brownlee but pointing to his wife, sitting on the bundles that rested on with all his native earnestness the poles, were also enjoying the same and gesticulation, exclaimed: "Good kind of transportation: They were s-q-u-a-w! Good s-q-u-a-w!"

BATTLE OF THE INDIANS AT PILOT CREEK.

TIIE POTTAWATTAMIES. The Winnebagoes and Pottawatta- A band of Pottawattamies, under mies were originally from the districts their old chief, Johnnie Green, used west and south of Lake Michigan. In to frequent the Lizard in the hunt- 1836, the latter were settled by the ing and trapping season for many government in southwestern Iowa in- years. They were known as the cluding what is now. Pottawattamie "Johnnie Green tribe," or "Prairie county. By the treaty of June 5, band of Pottawattamies." Their res- 1846, they sold all their lands in Iowa, ervation was in eastern Kansas, but and in 1847 and '48 were removed to during the sixties they became ulti- Kansas Territory, where most of them mately associated with the Mus- remained, but some returned to Iowa, quakies (Sacs and Foxes), and locat- and during the sixties occupied the ed near them in the country along country in the vicinity of Iowa and the Iowa river. They were peace- Tama counties, together with the Mus- able in disposition and always carried quakie (Sac and Fox) tribe. At the with them a written passport. A few present time there are 390 Musquakies of their number, usually the squaws, and about forty Pottawattamies. Winnebagoes and others occupying

would make it a practice to go from house to house in the settlement beg- their own lands in Tama county.

ging clothing and provisions. They usually numbered from twenty-five to fifty persons, including men, women and children, and they roamed consid- erably throughout the north part of the state, traveling some on foot, oth- ers on horseback, and camping at dif- ferent places as they proceeded.

The Collins' grove, on section 13, Lizard township, was one of their fa- vorite places of encampment, and they occupied it every one or two years dur- ing the sixties and seventies and for the last time, about the year 1883. The old chief, Johnnie Green, was about seventy years of age when he made his last visits, about the years 1873 and 1874. The name of the young chief who succeeded him, is not re- membered.

Two other favorite stopping places for the Indians in those days were the the flesh of the rat and mink with large grove on the east side of Lizard great zest, and furs cured by them lake, in Lake township, and a grove brought a better price in the market. south of Dakota City, near the forks

The Indian, upon his small footed of the Des Moines river, where for pony, was an interesting object to the many years there lived an early settler stranger. The ponies were gentle by the name of Miller. The groves of creatures, docile as dogs and had timber at Sac City, at this early peri- beautiful feet. The Indians made od were also visited by bands of In- their own saddles and always of raw- dians who came from southern Ne- hide. braska.

135

The Pottawattamies and Winneba- goes never molested the early settlers; but when some venturesome trader, in exchange for their furs, gave them whiskey, under its influence they, as well as pale faces in a similar condi- tion, sometimes became quarrelsome.

"On his head his eagle feathers, Round his waist his belt of wampum, In his hand his bow of ash-wood, Strung with sinews of the reindeer."

The roving bands of Indians who visited these sections for many years during the period of early settlement, usually spent about three months of the fall or spring of the year catch- ing mink and muskrats for their flesh and fur. They could trap and spear muskrats to better advantage than the whites because, while the latter utilized only the fur, the Indians ate

They dressed comfortably, many showing a decided preference

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

for the red blanket for underwear. women composing these bands of In- Mothers, while on the journey, would dian trappers, whilst they were oddly strap their babies to a board, and dressed, were ordinarily a lot of then carry them in whatever way was hearty, healthy and fine looking people. most convenient, sometimes by They were remnants of the once swinging them over their shoulder. powerful tribes that were in posses- The men, when trading, endeavored sion of all the country from the Lakes to make "shrewd bargains;" before to the Missouri, at the end of the war leaving town, they usually spent all of independence. They presented, they received for furs, and the to- however, but a faint resemblance of bacco and whiskey dealer was pretty their former greatness and renown, or sure to get his share. The men and of their warlike and noble bearing.

137

THE SURVEY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY.

III.

THE SURVEY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY.

"What lovely prospect meets the view: The rolling prairies, like a sea, In vast and wild sublimity, There lie with an unbroken sod, Untilled but by the hand of God: He sows the seeds of grass and flowers,

He moistens them with vernal showers!" -LEONARD BROWN.

THE GOVERNMENT SURVEY.

HE government sur- destroyed many of them, while others vey of Pocahontas have decayed with the lapse of time county was made dur- or have been covered by the grades on ing the years of 1853, the highways. The county surveyor 1854 and 1855, by two of Pocahontas county, (H. W Bissell) , about the year 1890, began to mark the corners of the sections where the stakes used to stand, with a rock nearly buried. These markers are more durable and many of them may now be seen, even upon the grades, in

parties of surveyors who followed each other in their work. The first party located the boundary lines of the several townships, which are six miles square, by driving into the ground an oak stake and raising a mound of earth around it, at the cor- in the center of highways where the ners of each township and of each sec- roads cross each other.

tion on these boundary lines. The The first survey, or that of the town- earth for the mound around the stake ship lines, was made by John W. Ellis, would usually be taken at a distance deputy surveyor, who was assisted in of eight links east or south from the the survey of the three south tiers of corner stake, and the exact location of townships, numbers 90, 91 and. 92, by the pit thus formed would be noted in John Corrick and James A. Holstein, the field notes of the surveyor. The chainmen; Charles Bell, axeman or second party surveyed the townships marker, and W. M. Helms, flagman; severally, dividing them into sections, and in the north tier of townships, each one mile square, and driving a number 93 by Charles Bell and Charles stake at the distance of every half Moran, chainmen; Barnet Dodd, axe- mile as well as at the corners of each man, and William Dodd, flagman. section.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 16

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846 Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058