USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > Burlington > The semi-centennial of Iowa. A record of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Iowa held at Burlington, June 1, 1883 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
Ladies and Gentlemen :- It is true, as said by our worthy chair- man, who was my school mate in childhood and as mature years have come upon us, is still my friend, that I was not born in Iowa, but came here, however, before the scalpers left. (In the generosity of my nature I will pardon the inference.)
It is good for us to be here to-day, for the oid, the middle-aged and the young to hear narrated the incidents attending the early set- tling of our State. When I came to Iowa, forty-three years ago, a child of four years, civilization extended but fifty-six miles west of here. The remainder of what now comprises the State was the prop- erty and home of the red man. There are more people attending this celebration than were in the entire Territory of Iowa forty-three years ago. Iowa is one of the grandest States in the Union; noted all over the land for her brave men and patriotic women. God bless the women of Iowa, especially the pioneer mothers! I cannot find words to express my gratitude to them, who endured the trials and privations of pioneer life, and nerved and encouraged their husbands in the work of making Iowa what she is. Do you not remember when our flag was being trailed in the dust that these noble women urged their husbands sons and brothers to go and help save our coun- try, and like the Spartan mother, bade them return "with their shields, or upon them". In this celebration and in all others that may follow, let us not forget to render unto the women of Iowa, the credit due them for making us what weare, not ceasing to regret that they had not better material to work upon. To-day Iowa has more churches and school-houses and less ignorance and vice according to population than any other state in the Union. Standing upon the banks of the mighty Mississippi, in the bright and beautiful sunlight, I say to you that Iowa does not owe her greatness and prosperity to any particular church or political party, but to the noble women and men who had the nerve, pluck and energy to come here, clear up the wilds, and make our land blossom as the rose.
In conclusion, permit me to make reference to the overwhelming debt of gratitude under which we shall ever remain to the pioneer M. E. preacher. But for them this fair land would now be overrun with the traditional yellow legged chicken. All thanks to the mar- tyr Methodist preacher! You have received a sermon from one of the preachers, you have heard and endured a plea from a lawyer, and it is but meet that you should give your kindly attention to the doc- tor. The thought presents itself to me forcibly of the proximity the
57
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
three professions have toward each other; the doctor kills, the preach- er gives the sermon, the lawyer settles the estate, but rarely upon the heirs.
Henry Moore was introduced as the Patriarch of Burlington, a Mayor of the city, 1842 3, a pioneer of April, 1834, a continuous res- ident from that time.
REMARKS OF HENRY MOORE, ESQ.
Ladies' and . Gentlemen :- Called on to say something concerning my first settlement in Burlington, I respond with pleasure, and will mention, certainly in no spirit of boasting, that I came in April 1834, and found but two families residing here, and they were living in what were called "claim cabins".
As I was a carpenter, I assisted in the erection of the first frame building in this city; and anxious to promote our ferry interests, I al- so aided, in July or August of '34, in laying off and marking out a road through the bottom on the opposite side of the Mississippi, an important improvement at that day.
The work we accomplished by hitching two yoke of oxen to a log and hauling it across the bottom, and by blazing trees so as to make a trail to intersect the road leading from Rock Island to "Monte- bello", below Nauvoo, on the Rapids. It is now a dead town but was then the county seat of Hancock county.
I resided here before either the city or county was organized, and in my humble way, assisted in the work of both.
I mentioned in some remarks that I made two years ago at the "Old Settlers" meeting, in Fort Madison, that I also assisted to build the first framed building in that town. I brought to Madison and Bur- lington I am sure, the first complete set or box of carpenter's tools ever used in either of these cities, and I have generally kept them bright.
In common with all who came when I did, I have witnessed with pride and gratification the marvelous growth of our City and State; and I hope they may continue to grow and prosper.
ADDRESS OF HON. JOHN VAN VALKENBURG, OF FORT MADISON.
My Fellow Citizens :- My feet first pressed the soil of Iowa, just as its name was being entered on the roll of states and before the ter . ritorial garb had been thrown off.
Being impelled westward by that spirit of restless adventure so characteristic of the American people, on October 18, 1846, my eyes for the first time beheld the site of your magnificent city, then a town of less than three thousand inhabitants, nestling on the western shore of the Mississippi; now a city of over twenty-five thousand people and hourly growing into more colossal proportions.
58
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
Those pioneers relying on their strong arms and brave hearts to earn an honest livelihood and overcome all obstructions to a higher and nobler type of civilization laid here, the foundation strong and deep of a great city and a great state. Those noble men and women builded better than they knew, and to-day, whilst we cele- brate the golden anniversary of a new commonwealth in the valley of the Mississippi, let us not forget those heroes and heroines of history, who were the architects of Iowa's greatness and grandeur. Their ashes are mingled with Mother Earth, but their heroic spirits we trust and believe, are with the redeemed in Heaven hard by the throne of the Eternal, where sorrow and death dare not enter: Their grand mission is achieved and they sleep in honored graves.
-
"The storm that wrecks the wintry sky No more disturbs their sweet repose, Than Summer evening's latest sigh, That shuts the rose.""
It has been my precious privilege to be an eye witness of some of these terrible struggles, privations and sacrifices incident to the set- tlement of a new country and to day in all this vast multitude of peo- ple who are surging through your streets and enjoying your lavish · hospitality, none more fully appreciates the luscious fruits and gold- en results of our half century's progress, than your speaker.
As their successors and representatives we are here to mingle our songs of rejoicing, over the glorious event that opened these broad and fertile acres to civilization and progress, and where myriads of happy homes have been carved out; and from hill and dale, from val- ley and prairies we have come to-day to recount the triumphs and trials of a half century and to prophecy concerning the wonderful changes that may be wrought in the oncoming fifty years.
With our thirty-five millions of broad and fruitful acres, a salubri- ous climate, schools, academies, colleges, universities, newspapers, secret societies, churches, charities, mines and railways without num- ber, who can predict our manifest destiny!
But greater still is Iowa in the sterling character of her almost two millions of people. Upon the integrity, patriotism, virtue and intel- ligence of the people, she bases her solid claims to true greatness.
What constitutes a state?"
X *
X
*
* * *
Men who their duties know, but know their rights, and know- ing, dare maintain.
*
*
"And sovereign law, that states collected will, O'er thrones and globes elate,
Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill."
Our population from every quarter of the globe, are characterized by their industry, energy, wisdom and monuments of their skill, taste and genius, are all around and about us.
59
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
Your own city has had a wonderful growth and its future greatness is now well assured.
These palatial residences, these splendid temples, dedicated to the worship of the living God, your beautiful Opera House, expensive public buildings, public library, street railways, Union depot, water works, great business blocks, railways, public school buildings, and University-all, all attest its greatness and reveal a mythical growth. No wonder you feel an honest pride in this your adopted city.
Here too, was the home of the lamented Grimes and is the home of the Peerless Dodge, two names so intimately connected with the na- tional and political interests of the commonwealth. Their influence discreet counsel and broad statesmanship largely conduced in mould- ing and shaping our destiny and in placing us in the front rank of the North-western states. Their names are indissolubly linked with those of Curtis, Crocker, Rice and Warren, and a host of others, whose deeds of valor on the tented field, are now known and read of all men; and whose names are written in fadeless lustre upon the hearts of their fellow countrymen.
ADDRESS OF HON. WESLEY C. HOBBS, OF ST. LOUIS.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :- In a public career of a number of years I have many times addressed the people of Iowa, but I want to say to-day at the outset of my brief talk, that on no occas- ion heretofore have I felt the honor as I do now. To be present, and look into the faces of this vast audience, on the fiftieth anniversary of the State, in which I first saw the light of day, is a privil- ege and honor, the equal of which will hardly occur while I live. I am not old enough to tell you of 1833, but I do remember the pioneer days of Iowa. I do remember when the red men were still here and white people few. I do remember when the breezes came to us across a vast unbroken stretch of prairie laden only with the perfume of wild flowers, and musical only with the hum of the wild bee as he winged his flight toward the woods that bordered our streams. I do remember the sound of the settlers ax which rose like an echo of the sturdy shout from the vanguard of civilization. I do remember when the blue smoke curled up from the pioneer's cabin, and barefooted boys, dinner basket in hand, started cheerily off for the university of the back woods.
This institution of learning did not rear an imposing front of æs- thetic propotions to challenge the admiration of the young learner of that day. The materials were cut from the surrounding forest, notch- ed together and raised into the unpretentious log school house. Up- on either side was ranged a row of wooden benches from which the feet of the smaller boys hung and swung a foot from the floor. At the end opposite the door was the immense fire place in which blazed huge hickory logs and in the hot ashes of which whole pockets full of yellow crab apples were roasted, dexterously placed there when the
60
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
teacher's back was turned. "Teacher" did I say-no, no, I am com- mingling that modern with the olden. We had no "teacher" then -- he was the "master", and the master had no "pupils"; we were "scholars". The master's ever present badge of authority I must not forget-indeed, there is little danger of that for I am sure the flight of years can never banish the vivid tingling memories of that tough, young hickory wand.
But old times have passed away. The log school house with its horizontal window and wide fire-place has given place to the elegant city edifice and the neatly painted country school house. Time in its unceasing flight has taken away the log school-house, and him who taught therein, and keeping abreast with the march of the century, we may not say we wish them back. And yet we cannot bid them fare- well without the tear of regret and a word of respect.
We will not claim for you, old friend, that your unhewn logs and clap-board roof were specimens of architectural beauty, nor that the master who within your humble walls mended our quill pens was the equal of the professor, who in slippers, gown and glasses occupies the richly endowed chair of the modern college; but this we say, grand was your mission, and grandly has it been fulfilled! Is it true that the people of America are the most patriotic under the sun? The log school house of forty years ago was the temple where the young wor- shiper knelt at the shrine of liberty. On every field where the arm- ies of the Republic have struck for right, the voices which command- ed victory to our banners had once echoed in boyish shouts from the rafters of the log school house. The boy who sat upon its rude seat now adorns the judicial bench of the highest court of his country. The lad who under that clap board roof repeated the immortal words of Patrick Henry, has since made the arches of our national Capitol ring with impassioned eloquence, that Cicero's self could scarce have equalled. The youth who doffed his hat and made his awkward bow to the master in that log school house door has since stood in the grand reception hall as Chief Magistrate of the Nation, and acknowl- edged the salutations of the representatives of the kings and queens of the earth. No, no, old friend, you shall not be forgotten! Hereaf- ter, let him who would paint a picture of our national greatness and our country's glory, while he shall show upon the canvas spires of grand cathedrals, busy marts of trade, observatories of science and monuments of patriotism; while these appear, let him not forget to paint in the foreground, embowered under native forest trees, the humble log school house of pioneer America.
Permit me to indulge in a prophecy. The one hundredth anniver- sary will be celebrated, as is the fiftieth, and in Burlington. We of middle life will all have passed away, but there are lads here now who will be there. There are boys and girls who will remember what the brilliant and eloquent Craig has said and how he looked. Copies of the Burlington papers, yellow with age and carefully handled, will be here to gratify the curiosity of the young. I feel no fear in predicting that Iowa will then contain a population greater
61
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
than that of the thirteen colonies when they shook off the yoke of England. I do fear, however, to speak of the hundred thousand in- habitants of Burlington, for fear these lads, safely surrounded by a quarter of a million people, should smile at the smallness of the num- bers. However this may be, these boys will say: "If those old fel- lows were here to-day wouldn't they open their eyes and keep their tongues still ! Could they come from their graves to-day they would think they had awakened in another world."
In closing, let me say to the young men I see before me: Fifty years ago there were young men here as you are. Their future stretched away before them as does yours. I have one of them in mind now, and for your encouragement let me tell you of him. With that laudable ambition to excel, which all should possess, he found himself here amid the "Flint Hills," surrounded by hardy pio- neers. Placed where he could assist and benefit the early settler, he did it. With natural gifts far above the ordinary, which he could not help knowing, he was so American that he grasped the hard hand of the wood chopper with as hearty a pressure as he gave to the soft palm of the aristocrat. Unyielding, unbending integrity was his rule of life. The voters of those days of purity and incorruptibility appreciated the abilities and integrity of this manly young man, and honors came thick upon him. Serving his State and the Republic on both sides of the Atlantic, he made for himself a name which is safely embalmed among the archives of America's temple of fame. It was when he had reached the topmost round of the ladder, at a time when many men forget their youthful struggles, that this noble man took kindly by the hand a college student who was struggling both through ill-health and poverty for an education. His words of cheer and encouragement through those days of youthful trial, are, and ev- er will be remembered; for I am myself that struggling student of near a quarter of a century ago.
I need not name the Statesman, the citizen, the MAN to whom I re- fer. He is presiding to-day over this great Semi-Centennial Celebra- tion; his voice still ringing out in tones of eloquence and love in his proud review of the history of the grand State which owes so much of its greatness to the work of his hands. Young men! were I con- scious that these were my last words to you, I would point to the life and labors of A. C. Dodge, and would say, "Go ye and do likewise."
The remarks of Prof. Parvin appear below not having been receiv- ed in time for insertion in their proper order.
REMARKS OF T. S. PARVIN, OF IOWA CITY.
Prof. T. S. Parvin, of Iowa City, was invited to the stand and in- troduced by his old friend Gen. Dodge, as the private Secretary to the first Governor, Robert Lucas. The General said Prof. Parvin had seen the quick progress Iowa has made during these years, and in her 5
62
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
political, educational and religious history, had been an active par- ticipant, and he would address the people.
Prof. Parvin came forward and remarked that he had had no thought of speaking upon this occasion; that he had listened with the greatest interest to the very able address of his friend, the eloquent or- ator of the day (Mr. Craig), that he hau enjoyed beyond expression, the pleasure of meeting so many of his old friends, old set- tlers of the long ago, many of whom he had not seen since 1840. It was a pleasure indeed, he said, such as falls to but few only once in a life time, to grasp the friendly hand and look into the eyes of those who with him had at that early day helped to lay the corner stone upon which Iowa's fair and beautiful temple had been built.
At an early day he had journeyed by stage from the Atlantic to the Mississippi river, and from Iowa, the Indians fairest hunting grounds, but recently rescued from their grasp and a narrow strip bordering the great river open to settlement. During the months just passed he had journeyed in palace cars pulled by iron steeds from Boston to San Francisco, and found that Iowa rather than the form- er city was indeed "the hub of the universe". Situated in the heart of the Mississippi, the greatest and richest valley on earth; Iowa was the garden spot of an earthly Eden. But more than this she has be- come by the intelligent activity of her patriotic and industrious peo- ple, one of the most advanced and advancing civilizations of the age. Her educational and moral progress has kept pace, in advance, in- deed, of her physical development and progress. The school- house crowned every hillside, the church is found in every valley, and the busy hum of industry is heard in every town and city, while the call bell sounded most pleasantly at every farm house summon- ing the sons of industry from the broad acres of cultivated fields to the homely meal of the busy house wife. The language of the Bible had been realized and now we find thousands of cattle feeding upon our hills.
It seems but yesterday, said the speaker, so rapid is time in its flight, since Iowa was born, so young is she to-day-half a century, so short in the meausurement of the worlds history, is yet long, be- cause the full measure of the time in the reckoning of ours. Iowa has a name only of fifty Suns, as the Indians would count; its 'territorial existence runs back to a period, so many of us recall to-day, of only half a century less five years, while our state organization is shorter by almost a decade. Not a building of all those in which a million and three quarters of free and happy people dwell to-day, dates back over a limit of forty-five years within a month. Prof. Parvin remark- ed he had stood with bared head and reverential awe in the Cathe- dral of New Mexico at Sante Fe, dating back centuries. And yet the progress of the people there could be measured by days. Iowa be- came a state and entered into the most holy union of wedlock with her sister states of this great nation in her fifteenth year of age. Now Mexico with her three and one third centuries seeks not yet to enter upon the new life which marks an era in political progress. It is the
63
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
people which under God's guidance marks the difference. The An - glo Saxon yankeeized by New England and Eastern habits and modes of life, with the training their schools and churches gave her sons and daughters, came to Iowa and possessed the land, and gave her the good name she bears whenever the language is spoken. This land is ours, the speaker said, many of us came and took possession at an early day; others still have come upon our invitation, and now it is ours with all its rich heritage, to pass Iowa along the lines to our children and others that preserving the memories of the past, they may in the blindness of the future recall the hour, the day, and the place, in which we do say join hand in hand in recounting these things.
HON. GEORGE W. JONES.
The sub-joined remarks of ex-Senator Jones were not received in time for insertion in their proper place, and are therefore given be- low.
Ladies' and Gentlemen :- The kind and complimentary manner in which your President has been pleased to present me to you, is most embarrassing-the more so, because I am not a trained speaker, and am wholly unaccustomed to addressing large masses of my fel- low citizens.
It is my misfortune also to follow the Orator of the day in his truly Demosthenic address-one of the most beautiful and eloquent to which it has ever been my good fortune to listen.
But if ever so fluent a speaker, the time so delightfully passed in the exercises of the day, including the magnificent procession, and the soul stirring music which accompanied us through your beautiful and flourishing city, admonish me that I must be brief. I came here not to speak, but to participate in this glorious celebration, confident in the hope and expectation of commingling with old friends and former constituents, and of shaking hands and conversing with them and their descendants. I have done so and with feelings of pleasure beyond anything that I can command words to express.
In the exuberance of his kindly feeling for me, the President referr- ed in terms too flattering to my services as your delegate in procuring a division of Michigan, and the establishment of Wisconsin Territory the 4th of July 1836; of the division of Wisconsin two years thereaf- ter and the creation of a separate Territorial government for Iowa; of . my being the foster father of the two Territories. He also alluded to the 640 acre grant which I procured for your original town site, and to my successful labors in effecting the passage of laws granting lands to our State to aid in the construction of railways across it.
As the matter of my humble stewardship has been introduced, cer- tainly without any such expectation on my part, I hope I may be ex- cused for referring to a few measures of a beneficial nature accomplish- ed by me, not mentioned by your Chairman, but in which I feel some pride. I allude to my success in procuring appropriations for the ex-
64
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF IOWA.
tinguishment of the title to lands owned by the Winnebago's, Chip- pewa's, Sacs, Foxes and other tribes residing within the two Territo- ries, and for the construction of wagon roads in the same.
I also had the good fortune to secure the first appropriation for the removal of obstructions to the navigation of the Mississippi, at the Des Moines and Rock River Rapids. To accomplish which work I had the since greatly distinguished Gen. Robt. E. Lee designated, (he then being a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army.) He was appointed by the head of the engineer corps, the ever to be lamented Gen. Charles Gratiot [than whom there never was a better friend to the infant West, or a more capable, accomplished, honest and efficient public officer, ] to make the survey of those Rapids, and expend the money appropriated for their removal. I also had the first Land Offices cre- ated in your Territory, and the office of Surveyor General for Wis- consin, Iowa, and Minnesota organized, and the office located at Du- buque, when I was a citizen of Wisconsin. Besides the donation to Burlington of 640 acres of land, I secured like grants to each of the towns of Fort Madison, Bellevue, Dubuque, Peru and Mineral Point. For all of which, however, I have been more than compensated by the plaudit "well done good and faithful servant." The most pleas- ing sound that ever rang in the ears of a representative.
Of course my dear old friend and companion, in the Black Hawk War, and colleague for two terms in the Senate, would fail to tell you that I am indebted chiefly to his deceased, generous, heroic father, (the late Henry Dodge, who died in this, his favorite city, in 1867,) who struck terrror into the hearts of the red men of the forest in the wars of 1812, 1827, and 1832, for having extended to me, in early life, the hand of friendship, and made me his aid de camp in the Black Hawk War, and helped me to attain the places of Col. and Gen. of the Militia of Michigan and Wisconsin; also that of County Judge (as his successor), and delegate to Congress. If modesty had not prevented, he could have told of his own services when under fif- teen years of age, in the Winnebago War of 1827, with his only brother, Henry L. Dodge; how he and I campaigned together in the regiment led by his gallant father; of how we slept and sweetly, too, o'er nights, with our saddles for pillows, and resting upon the under saddle blanket, with no other cover than the upper saddle blanket, save the starry heavens; of how frequently we swam rivers together, drawing over them the hastily constructed rafts, laden with men who could not swim; and when at one time for several days our only rations were fresh beef killed and butchered upon the ground, the hard cooked and burnt part being used as bread, we having none of the staff of life, and being without flour to make it. He might have informed you how as brother Sena- tors, we worked by day and sometimes by night, drawing up and pre- paring Bills for pre-emption and homestead rights, apppropriations for the Rapids, and to secure grants of land for the four railroads which traverse our State, from the Mississippi to the Missouri, and also for the Union Pacific railroad for which we spoke and voted, not mentioning private bills and acts of service for our constituents.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.