The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 7

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

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deserted their camp. Their tepees, or wigwams, were made of tamarack poles covered with dried buffalo hides. Co. F., in the forehead, killing him Most beautiful robes were found here instantly. Wm. Fitzgerald, who and many other desirable and valu- stood next to him in the ranks, re- able things, but no soldier was per- ceived at the same time a severe mitted to take anything away with wound in the side.

him. Explicit orders were given that

At a signal given by their chief, the everything must be destroyed or Indians rushed forth from the ravine burned, and when after two days they shouting, "Get away! get away!" and departed, every wagon was searched throwing their buffalo robes over their and all contraband goods found con- heads, stampeded the horses of the cealed, were destroyed. Thence they battalion. By this means, and under moved northwest to Fort Berthold, the cover of night, many of the war- on the north bank of the Missouri, riors made their escape, leaving the within thirty miles of British Amer- old men, the squaws, pappooses and ica, and later westward to Fort Union, dogs, all of whom, including fifty at the junction of the Yellowstone warriors, were captured and taken to and Missouri rivers. Fort Sully.

From Fort Union they returned to This defeat was severely felt by the Crow creek, a tributary of the Mis- Indians, since they had made this souri, and began the erection of a fort camp to catch and cure their winter's and winter quarters, afterwards known meat, and the season being pretty as Fort Wardworth, where there well advanced they had a large quan- seemed to be no materials at hand tity on hand, all of which was de- suited to their needs. They began by stroyed. digging a three-foot trench and throw-

Charles Whitney, residing at that ing up an embankment around a time in Moore county, Minnesota, square that was about thirty rods in at Fort Snelling, near the Falls of St. length on each side, and when that Anthony, enlisted December 28, 1862, was completed the men built sod in Co. B., 2d Minnesota. He passed shanties for themselves, covering first to Fort Ripley, Minnesota, where them over with brush and earth. In they spent the first winter, and thence these sod shanties six companies of in the spring of 1863 to Fort Rice, the 2d Minnesota regiment spent the where, under the command of Gen. winter of 1863 and 1864. In these Sully, they tarried until the arrival of rude winter quarters, Charles Whit- the 6th Iowa cavalry. Then they ney experienced the severest blizzard crossed the Missouri river and went of his life; one that prevented the through the nameless regions beyond, soldiers from going out of their shan- until they arrived at the large Indian ties for food during its continuance, camp in the Bad Lands, (White Stone and caused the loss of seventeen

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

mules and thirty horses belonging to Lake region, in July and August.

the command at the Fort.

Hon. James Mercer, of Cedar town-

Henry Hayward, formerly of Des ship, on October 28, 1864, in Dubuque Moines township, now a resident of county, became a member of Co. M., Rolfe, in September, 1864, became a 6th Iowa cavalry, and spent the en- member of Co. G., 6th Iowa cavalry, suing winter at Fort Randall, Dakota under Captain . A. B. Moreland, and territory, and accompanied the com- spent the ensuing winter at Fort mand under Gen. Sully in the expedi- Berthold, within thirty miles of Brit- tion to the Devil's Lake region, during ish - America. In June, 1865, &this the summer of 1865. Later, he spent company returned to Fort Rice where, some time at Fort Berthold and together with four companies of the Yankton, and on October 17th, follow- First and three companies of the ing, at Sioux City, was mustered out Fourth U. S. V. infantry, it was left with his regiment, having spent one to guard the Fort during the months year in the service.

Col. John B. Kent, of Rolfe, in 1879, mand under Gen. Sully was at Devil's in Minnesota, enlisted in the regular Lake.

On July 28, (1865) the Indians in on the frontier, and spent the first that vicinity undertook to destroy the Fort and plunder the premises. St. Paul. As a member of the 7th Their plan of battle covered a field two miles in extent from right to left, and the attack was made simul- taneously at all points, indicating tions in the northwest, traversing the preconcerted action, and preventing the troops in one part from knowing what was transpiring in another. The

states of Minnesota and Wisconsin and the territories of Colorado and Wyoming. At the time of his dis- operations on the field were directed charge, March 10, 1884, at Fort Lara- by Lieut. Col. Pattee, of the 7th cav- mie, Wyoming, he held the rank of alry. Company G., of the 6th Iowa First Sergeant.

On February 1, 1894, by Gov. Frank

cavalry, occupied the left wing, and twelve Indians were found dead in D. Jackson, he was appointed an aid- that part of the field. The Indians de-camp to the commander-in-chief of were repulsed with fatal effect at all the Iowa National Guard, with the points of the line, and it was said rank of Lieut. Colonel.

"There is many a squaw that will be- wail the brave killed on the 28th of

SITTING BULL.

Little Crow, (Tah-o-ah-ta-du-ta) the July, 1865." A large number were Sioux chief who directed the Minne- killed and wounded. After one year's sota Massacre of 1862, met his richly service on the frontier, Henry Hay- merited death while making a raid ward was mustered out with the 6th with a small party in 1863, and his Iowa cavalry, October 17, 1865, at successor, Sitting Bull, the Bad, (Ta- Sioux City.

tun-ka E-yo-tun-ka) became one of

A. F. Burdick, of Dover township, the most famous of the warrior chiefs on October 11, 1864, became a member of the Indians of this country, taking of Co. K., 6th Iowa cavalry, under rank with Te-cum-seh and Black Captain John Logan, and spent the Hawk. ensuing winter at Fort Sully, Dakota In 1864, when Red Cloud and Spot- territory, and accompanied the com- ted Tail accepted terms of peace, mand under Gen. Sully, to the Devil's Sitting Bull refused to meet the

of July and August, while the com-

army of the United States for service two years in the military school at U. S. infantry, he served three years, 1881 to 1884, under Gen. John Gibbon, and participated in several expedi-

LAST INDIAN TROUBLES IN IOWA.

peace commissioners and, making war Big Horn river, where there was an on the steamboats and commerce of Indian village or encampment of 2,000 the upper Missouri, massacred several lodges, and immediately attacked it. boatloads of returning miners and With five companies he made a charge captured large quantities of gold-dust into the camp, and in a very short that he traded with the northern time every man was killed. Nothing half-breeds for arms and ammunition. is known of the operations of this

In 1867 he threatened the Gallatin battalion except that which was in- Valley, in Montana, and in 1868 at- dicated by their dead bodies. The In- tacked the settlement of Muscleshell, dians received them with a murder- but suffered defeat and the loss of ous fire from all directions, while the thirty-six warriors. In 1869 and 1870, greater portion of them fought on he devoted his attention to the horseback. Custer, his two brothers, slaughter of the Crows, Shoshones a nephew and brother-in-law were all and other tribes that were friendly killed, and not one of his detachment to the whites. In 1872, one of his of 200 escaped. Major Reno, who bands made a raid through the Galla- commanded the other seven compa- tin Valley, massacreing a number of nies of his army, attacked another

farmers and capturing 500 horses. portion of the camp and when the In- In 1873, he made a night attack on dians retreated, the battle-field which Col. Baker, and the year following was a narrow ravine, looked like a drove the Crows from their agency slaughter pen. Three hundred and and reservation. In 1875, he captured fifteen of the troops had fallen, and fully twice the number of Indians.

a government wagon train on the Carroll road, and killed a number of recruits who were on their way to the Montana military posts.

He defied the government and in- dulged the hope he could get the en- tire Sioux nation to join him and he would then drive the whites back into the sea, out of which they came.

GEN. CUSTER'S SAD FATE.

On June 25, 1876, Gen. Custer's ex- followers, disheartened and greatly pedition against him was literally an- nihilated. Gen. Custer marched up the military authorities of the United the Rosebud and thence to the Little States.

No opportunity presented itself for chastising the Indians until in May, 1877, when Gen. Miles met a force under Sitting Bull, routed them and killed fourteen of their number. Aft- er this battle, Sitting Bull and his warriors crossed to the British pos- sessions where they remained until the summer of 1881, when he and his reduced in numbers, surrendered to

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

VI.

SPANISH GRANTS AND IOWA INDIAN TREATIES,

"The better part of valor is-discretion. " THE LOUISIANA PROVINCE.

HE treaty of peace Spain, and in that year French power between France and disappeared from North America. England at the close Added to her other North American of the Seven Years' Colonies, this Province gave to Spain war, which was iden- control of more than half the conti- tical in time with nent at that time. Spain held the the French and Indian war in Amer- Sovereignty of the Province of Louisi- ica, was signed at Paris, February 10, ana until Oct. 1, 1800, when it was 1763. By this treaty France relin- ceded back to France. In 1803 it was quished her claim to the territory east sold to the United States by Napoleon of the Mississippi, and that river be- for 60,000,000 francs, to prevent it came the western boundary of the from falling into the hands of Great British Colonial possessions. When Britain. this treaty had been signed, England During the thirty-seven years that Spain held possession of it, several grants of land within the limits of the present state of Iowa were made. assigned the valley of the Ohio and the adjacent region as Indian domain, and by proclamation dated October 7, 1763, prohibited the intrusion of white settlers upon these lands. This meas- DUBUQUE'S TREATY. ure, however, came too late, for a few September 22, 1788, at Prairie du Chien, the chiefs of the Fox tribe of Indians, who had a village on the west city of Dubuque is now located, sign- settlements had already been made and the tide of emigration was mov- ing rapidly to that part of the front- side of the Mississippi, near where the ier.

The territory within the limits of ed an article by which they conveyed Iowa prior to 1763 was claimed by to Dubuque, who was called by them France by virtue of the right of dis- "Little Knight," a tract described in covery, but in that year, with a vast the conveyance as "147,176 acres of extent of other territory known as the land situated at a place called the Province of Louisiana, and which in- Spanish Mines on the river Mississippi cluded all the country from the Gulf at a distance of 440 miles from St. of Mexico on the south to the British Louis, forming in superficies about possessions on the north and from the twenty-one leagues, beginning at the Mississippi river on the east to the heights of the little Maquoketa to Sabine river and range of the Rocky the heights of the Mesquatic Manque, Mountains on the west, was ceded to being in front of said river seven

SPANISH GRANTS AND IOWA INDIAN TREATIES.

leagues, by depth three leagues; the States. In consideration of this occu- whole forming the said tract of the pancy, the United States, July 3, 1814, the Spanish Mines." issued a patent for the land to Girard in his own right. His heirs subse- title to Iowa soil by the Indians to quently sold the entire tract for $300. The present city of McGregor is situ-

This was the first conveyance of any the whites, and here Julien Dubuque became the founder of the white ated on the "Girard Tract." man's first settlement in Iowa. The conveyance, however, comprehended only the right to occupy and work the mines within the limits specified.

THE HONORI GRANT.

On March 20th, 1799, the lieutenant- governor of Upper Louisiana granted Louis Honori-Tesson a tract of land one

Dubuque was regarded by the neigh- league square where the present town boring Indian tribes with great favor, of Montrose, in Lee county, is situa- and especially by the Sacs and Foxes, ted. On this claim apple trees had he having taken as a wife a maiden of been planted by a half-breed Indian the latter tribe, named Po-to-a. named Red Bird, as early as 1798.

DUBUQUE GRANT.

ST. LOUIS TREATY.

On November, 3, 1804, at St. Louis,

Julien Dubuque, having in 1788 ob- tained from the Fox tribe of Indians, four Indian chiefs and head men who permission to work the lead mines were, as Black Hawk affirmed, with- where the present city that bears his out authority to act for their nation, name is situated, found his claim so entered into a treaty with the United valuable that he began to desire a States, by which they sold all the more complete title. Therefore, in claim of the united nations of the 1796, he filed a petition with Coronde- Sacs and Foxes to the immense tract let, the Spanish Governor of Louisiana of country lying between the Missis- and received a grant of a tract that sippi, Illinois, Fox river of Illinois embraced more than 20,000 acres on and Wisconsin . rivers, comprising which the lead mines were located, about 50,000,000 acres. The consider- and which he continued to work until

ation given was the protection of the his death in 1810, when they reverted United States and goods delivered to again to the Indians. The latter con- the value of $2,234.50 and an annuity tinued to hold possession of the coun- of $1,000 ($600 to the Sacs and $400 to try in this part of Iowa until 1832, the Foxes) forever. An article in when the "Black Hawk Purchase,"

this treaty provided that as long as which included the "Dubuque Claim" the United States remained the own- with their "Mines of Spain," was er of the land, "the Indians belonging made by the United States govern- ment.

GIRARD GRANT.

In 1795, the lieutenant-governor of Louisiana granted to Basil Girard, a tract of 5, 760 acres situated within the limits of the present county of Clay- ton. Girard was a French trader, and had been the companion of Dubuque at, Prairie du Chien. He continued to occupy the land so granted during the time the country passed from Spain, and later from France to the United

to the said tribes shall enjoy the priv- ilege of living and hunting" on said land.

This treaty it was alleged, was vio- lated by those tribes who, in the war of 1814, took sides with the Brit- ish, and on May 13, 1816, it was re- newed and re-enacted with the chiefs and warriors of the Sacs of Rock river and the adjacent country.

IOWA INDIAN TREATIES. *

1. With the Sioux, 1815 .- This * Red Men of Iowa, 412.

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

treaty, made at Portage, Minnesota, ularly delegated chiefs and head men July 19, 1815, by William Clark and of the Sac and Fox tribes. By this Ninian Edwards, commissioners, with treaty the latter for a valuable con- the chiefs and head men of the Sioux sideration sold all their title to lands Indians, occupying northern Iowa and in Missouri, which consisted of the Minnesota, was ratified December 26, northern portion of the state, extend- following. It was made at the close ing from the Mississippi to its west- of the war of 1812, and was merely a ern boundary. By this treaty, 119,000 treaty of peace and friendship on the acres were reserved in southeastern part of these Indians toward the Iowa, for the use of the half-breeds of United States.

the Sac and Fox nation, and was

2. With the Sacs, 1815 .- This treaty called the "Half Breed Tract." This was made September 12, 1815, at Port- tract occupied the strip of country be- age, by Messrs. Clark, Edwards and tween the Mississippi and Des Moines Auguste Choteau, commissioners, and rivers, south of a line drawn from a the chiefs and head men of the Sac point on the Des Moines river, about tribe. This was a treaty of peace one mile below Farmington, east to the and friendship, and included a re- Mississippi river, at the lower end of affirmation of the general treaty made Fort Madison; including Keokuk and at St. Louis in 1804. all the land between said line and the

3. With the Foxes, 1815 .- The same junction of the rivers. This reserva- commissioners, at Portage, September tion was suggested and urged in the 14, 1815, concluded a separate treaty council by a half-breed orator of the with the chiefs and head men of the Fox tribe, named Morgan. This Fox tribe, of similar import to the treaty was ratified January 18, 1825. one made with the Sac tribe. In this treaty the Foxes agreed to deliver all prisoners held by them, to the of- ficer in command at Fort Clark,-now Peoria, Illinois.

4. With the Iowas, 1815 .- The same commissioners at the same place, on September 16, 1815, concluded a treaty of peace and good-will with the Iowa tribe of Indians, that was ratified December 26, following.

5. With the Sacs of Rock River, 1816 .- This treaty was concluded by the same commissioners at St. Louis, May 13, 1816, and was ratified Decem- ber 30th, following. In it the St. Louis treaty of November 3, 1804, was re-affirmed by twenty-two chiefs and head men of the Sacs of Rock River. Black Hawk attached to it his signa- ture, or, as he said, "touched the goose-quill."

7. With Various Tribes, 1825 .- On August 19, 1825, a treaty was conclud- ed at Prairie du Chien, by William Clark and Lewis Cass, commissioners on the part of the United States, and representatives from the Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, Menemonies, Winne- bagoes and a portion of the Ottawas and Pottawattamies. The principal object of this treaty was to make and preserve peace between certain con- tending tribes as to the limits of their respective hunting-grounds in Iowa. It was agreed that the United States should run a boundary line between the Sioux on the north, and -the Sacs and Foxes on the south, as follows: Commencing at the mouth of the Up- per Iowa river, on the west bank of the Mississippi and ascending said Iowa river to its west fork; thence up the fork to its source; thence crossing

6. With the Sacs and Foxes, 1824 .- the fork of Red Cedar river in a di- This treaty was concluded at Wash- rect line to the second or upper fork ington city, August 4, 1824, by Will- of the Des Moines river; thence in a iam Clark, commissioner, and ten reg- direct line to the lower fork of the

SPANISH GRANTS AND IOWA INDIAN TREATIES.

Calumet (Big Sioux) river, and down held, that portion of Iowa known as that to its junction with the Missouri. the "Neutral Ground," the exchange 8. With the Sacs and Foxes and to take place June 1, 1833. The Unit- Sioux .- On July 12, 1830, the Sacs and ed States was also to give the Winne- Foxes in a council at Prairie du Chien, bagoes, beginning in September, 1833, ceded to the United States a strip of and continuing for twenty-seven suc- country twenty miles in width, lying cessive years, $10,000 in specie, estab- south of the line established in the lish a school among them with a farm treaty of August 19, 1825, and extend- and garden and to provide other fa- ing along on the south side of said cilities for the education of their line from the Mississippi to the Des children, not to exceed in cost $3,000 a Moines. In the same treaty the year, for twenty-seven successive years. Sioux, whose possessions were north 11. With the Sacs and Foxes, 1832. of this line, also ceded to the United -By this treaty, concluded Septem- States a similar strip twenty miles ber 21,1832, the United States came wide, extending along the north side into possession of that portion of Iowa of said line from the Mississippi to known as the "Black Hawk Purchase. " the Des Moines. At the ratification The commissioners on the part of the of this treaty, February 24, 1831, the United States were General Scott and United States came into possession of Governor Reynolds, and the council a portion of Iowa, forty miles in was held on the west bank of the Mis- width, extending along the Clark sissippi, where Davenport is now sit- and Cass line of 1825, from the Miss- uated. Keokuk, Powesheik, Pashepa- issippi to the Des Moines. This was ho and some thirty other chiefs and the tract that was known as the head men of the Sac and Fox tribes, "Neutral Ground, " and the tribes on were in the council, the treaty was either side of the line were allowed ratified February 13, 1833, and took to fish and hunt on it unmolested, effect June 1st, following.

until it was made a Winnebago reser-

Although this treaty was not the vation, and the Winnebagoes moved first by which the Indians relinquished to it.

9. With Various Tribes in 1830 .- in Iowa, it was the first that opened At the same time and place the treaty was made respecting the "Neutral by the whites. The limits of the ter- Ground, " July 15, 1830, the Sacs and ritory ceded in this treaty are thus Foxes and other tribes ceded to the described: "Beginning on the Missis- United States a portion of the west- sippi river at a point where the Sac ern slope of Iowa, the description of and Fox northern boundary line, as which appears on the 26th page of established by the second article of this volume.

to the United States their title to lands up any portion of Iowa for settlement

the treaty of Prairie du Chien, July,

10. With the Winnebagoes, 1832. - 1830, strikes the river; thence up said This treaty was concluded at Fort boundary line to a point fifty miles Armstrong, on Rock Island, Septem- from the Mississippi, measured on ber 15, 1832, by General Winfield Scott said line; thence in a right line to the and Governor John Reynolds, of Illi- nearest point on the Red Cedar, of nois. The Winnebagoes ceded to the Iowa, forty miles from the Mississippi; United States all their lands on the thence in a right line to a point in east side of the Mississippi, and in the northern boundary of the state of part consideration therefor, the Unit- Missouri, fifty miles from the Missis- ed States granted to the Winnebagoes, sippi river; thence by the last men- to be held as other Indian lands were tioned boundary to the Mississippi

. 52

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

river, and by the western shore of said treaty of August 19, 1825, and between river to the place of beginning." the Mississippi and Missouri rivers,

Out of this purchase a reservation the United States paying for the of 400 square miles on Iowa river was same $160,000.

made for the Sacs and Foxes, includ- 14. With Sacs and Foxes, 1842 .- ing Keokuk's village on itsright bank, This treaty was concluded at the Sac and it was known as "Keokuk's Re- and Fox Agency (now Agency City) serve." Under this treaty, and in October 11, 1842, John Chambers, gov- consideration of the lands ceded, the ernor of the territory of Iowa, acting United States agreed to pay the Sacs as commissioner, and it was ratified and Foxes annually, for thirty consec- March 23, 1843. In this treaty the utive years, the sum of $20,000 in spe- Sacs and Foxes ceded all of their lands cie, and to pay the debts of the Indians west of the Mississippi, to which they at Rock Island, amounting to $40,000, had any claim or title, and were to be the accumulations of seventeen years. removed from the state at the expira-

12. With the Sac and Foxes, 1836 .- tion of three years from October 11, This was the treaty by which the Sacs 1842. A part of them were removed and Foxes ceded to the United States to Kansas in the fall of 1845 and the "Keokuk's Reserve, " being 400 square rest in the spring of 1846. The site of miles on Iowa river. In consideration the city of Des Moines was included of this relinquishment, the govern- in this treaty.

ment stipulated to pay $30,000 and an annuity of $10,000 for ten consecutive years, together with some indebted- ness of the Indians. This treaty was negotiated by General Henry Dodge, as commissioner, at a council held on the site of the present city of Davenport.

15. With the Sioux, 1851 .- In 1851, a treaty was made with the Sioux, by which they relinquished to the Unit- ed States their title to all lands with- in the limits of the state of Iowa, that were not included in previous treaties. Under this treaty were comprised all the lands north of the Neutral Ground, east of the Des Moines river, and west of it all lands not included in the Western Slope treaty of July 15, 1830. That part of Webster county, that is west of the Des Moines river, Pocahontas and other counties of northwest Iowa con- tinued to belong to the Sioux In- dians until this treaty of July 23, 1851, when the last Indian title to lands in Iowa was extinguished and possession given two years later.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 7

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