USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens > Part 9
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The stranger who comes into the county with none of the informa- tion which those possess who have resided here for years, works at a great disadvantage in many respects. He does not at first know whom to interview, or where to find the custodians of important records. However, he possesses one great advantage which more than makes up for this : he enters upon his work with an unbiased mind ; he has no friends to reward, and no enemies to punish ; his mind is not preoc- cupied and prejudged by reports which may have incidentally come into his possession while transacting the ordinary affairs of business ; and when in addition to this, he is a person whose business it is to collect statements and weigh facts of history, he is much better qualified for the task, and to discriminate between statements, seemingly of equal weight, than those who either immediately or remotely are interested parties, and whose regular employment lies in other fields of industry: This is true, even though the former be a total stranger and the latter have become familiar with men and things by many years of inter- course and acquaintanceship. He is best judge and best juror who is totally unacquainted with both plaintiff and defendant, and he is best qualified to arbitrate between conflicting facts of history who comes to the task without that bias which is the price one must pay for acquaint- anceship and familiarity. The best history of France was written by an Englishman, and the most authentic account of American institutions was written by a Frenchman, and it remained for an American to write the only authentic history of the Dutch Republic.
The American people are much given to reading, but the character of the matter read is such, that, with regard to a large proportion of
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them, it may truthfully be said that "truth is stranger than fiction." Especially is this the case in respect to those facts of local history belonging to their own immediate county and neighborhood. This is, perhaps, not so much the fault of the people as a neglect on the part of the book publishers. Books, as a rule, are made to sell, and in order that a book may have a large sale its matter must be of such a general character as to be applicable to general rather than special conditions- to the nation and state rather than to county and township. Thus it is that no histories heretofore published pertain to matters relating to county and neighborhood affairs, for such books, in order to have a sale over a large section of country, must necessarily be very voluminous and contain much matter of no interest to the reader. After having given a synopsis of the history of the state, which is as brief as could well be, we shall then enter upon the history of the county. The physi- cal features of the county and its geology, will first engage our atten- tion ; then the act under which the county was organized and the location of the county seat. We shall then speak of the first settle- ments. Pioneer times will then be described, and incidents related showing the trials and triumphs of the pioneer settler. Then the settle- ment of the townships. The county organization, courts and first records, the early bench and bar, crimes and trials, California emigrants, old settlers' reunions, the political history and finances, etc. Then we shall speak of agriculture, the growth and prosperity of the county, manufactures, newspapers, schools, churches, railroads, public buildings, enterprises, citizens, etc. We shall give a biographical directory, the value of which will increase with years, and conclude with a chapter of facts and miscellaneous matter.
The compiler of a history of a county has a task which may seem to be comparatively easy, and the facts which come within the legiti- mate scope of the work may appear commonplace when compared with national events ; the narration of the peaceful events attending the con- quests of industry as
" Westward the course of empire takes its way,"
may seem tame when compared with accounts of battles and sieges. Nevertheless, the faithful gathering, and the truthful narration of facts bearing upon the early settlement of this county, and the dangers, hardships and privations encountered by the early pioneers, engaged in advancing the standards of civilization, is a work of no small magni- tude, and the facts thus narrated are such as may challenge the admira- tion and arouse the sympathy of the reader, though they have nothing to do with the feats of arms.
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HISTORY OF NOPAWAY COUNTY.
THE NAME.
It has been intimated by one, that there is nothing in a name, but a name sometimes means a great deal. In many instances it indicates, in a measure, the character of the people who settle the country, and have given to it its distinctive characteristics. Names are sometimes given to towns and countries by accident ; sometimes they originate in the childish caprice of some one individual, whose dictate, by reason of some real or imaginary superiority, is law. However, in this instance, the county was not named by accident, but the christening took place after mature deliberation. At the period (1841) when the first act, naming and defining the county, was passed by the legislature, the territory now called Nodaway County, had been inhabited by the Indians for a number of years-at least since the treaty of Prairie du Chien, in 1830. The principal tribes, located by the government here, were the Ioways, Sacs and Foxes, and a small band of the Pottawatomies. Many of the streams, which flow through this portion of the state, were named by these Indians ; for instance, White Cloud, Kihoga, Tarquio, Nishna- botna, Nodaway, etc. Nodaway County takes its name from the river Nodaway, which is an Indian name, signifying placid. It is a beautiful, placid little stream, which flows south, through the western portion of the county ; its banks, fringed as yet with a native growth of timber, including all the varieties known to this latitude. The stream itself, is not only gentle and tranquil upon its surface, but the entire face of the country, through which it winds its sinuous way, presents a charming picture of quiet, pastoral beauty, fascinating the beholder with its ever varying scenes and topographical attractions.
CHAPTER II.
PLATTE PURCHASE.
THE PLATTE COUNTRY-CORRESPONDENCE IN REFERENCE THERETO-MEETING AT LIBERTY, MISSOURI-IT'S OBJECT- MEMORIAI -EFFORTS OF BENTON AND LINN- TREATY WITH THE IOWAYS, SACS AND FOX INDIANS.
Nodaway County being a portion of the territory originally included in the Platte Purchase, a short history, detailing how, when, and through whom, the purchase of this territory was accomplished, will doubtless be of interest to the citizens of the county.
For several years, prior to the acquisition of the Platte Purchase by the United States Government, the people of Missouri desired its annexation. By moving the Indians, and possessing this territory now constituting the counties of Platte, Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Nodaway and Atchison, some of the richest, best timbered, and best watered lands in the state, would be opened for settlement. The state would then have a natural boundary line, (the Missouri River) between the whites and the Indians, and the people having already located in the counties contiguous to this territory on the east, could avail themselves of the transportation facilities afforded by the Missouri River, without being compelled to cross Indian territory. In pursuance of these objects, the Hon. L. F. Linn, then a United States Senator, from Mis- souri, in January, 1835, addressed H. Ellsworth, Esq., the following com- munication :
WASHINGTON, January 23, 1835.
SIR: It has long been desired by the people of Missouri to have annexed to the state that portion of territory lying between her western boundary and the great river, Missouri, for the purpose of preventing the location of an annoying Indian population, and for the purpose of having points on the river to receive their supplies and ship their pro- ductions, within a moderate distance from the homes of those inhabitants residing along that line of the frontier.
The location of the Pottawatomies, by the treaty of Chicago, on this territory, interposes a barrier to the attainment of these objects, so important to the welfare and tranquility of the inhabitants of the north- ern and western counties. Will you be so good as to furnish me your opinion as to the propriety of ratifying that treaty, and the danger of collision between the two races, from placing the Indians between the white population and the river Missouri.
Very respectfully,
L. F. LINN.
H. ELLSWORTH, ESQ.
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IIISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
The following is the answer of Mr. Ellsworth :
WASHINGTON, January 27, 1835.
SIR: Yours of the 23d instant, requesting my opinion as to the propriety of ratifying the Chicago treaty, and the danger of collision that will probably arise from placing the Indians between the white population and the river Missouri, at the northwest section of the state, was received this morning. In reply, I hasten to observe that the small strip of land lying between the Missouri River and the State of Missouri, is, compared with the country lying north of the state line, an unfavor- able location for the Indian tribes.
In the fall of 1833 I held a council with the Ioways and the little band of Sacs and Foxes living on this strip, who complained of the great difficulty attending their present situation, on account of the contiguity and encroachments of white men in the state, and all the chiefs desired me to make a treaty for their removal to land lying north of the state line. Not being authorized to make this treaty, I did not attempt it, but have recommended the subject to the favorable consideration of the government.
I have understood that the Pottawatomies are willing to receive other land, in equal amount, for that lying south of the north line of Mis- souri extended. If this can be done I have no doubt it would be advan- tageous to all the parties concerned. The government would realize the value of land, but more especially the Pottawatomies would have an excellent location, one far less likely to be interrupted by the encroach- ment of white neighbors. The State of Missouri might hereafter be accommodated with a good natural boundary, several excellent water privileges, and additional landings on the navigable waters of Missouri for one hundred and forty miles. The ratification of the Chicago treaty will prevent the future disposal of this narrow strip to Missouri. Hence I conceive it highly important that the Pottawatomies should make an exchange of part of the lands embraced within the original treaty. It may be proper to state that, from the concurrent testimony of all per- sons residing on the Missouri, as well as from a personal view from the opposite side of the river, the location of the Pottawatomies north of the land in question, will give them a rich and fertile tract, equal to that of any tribe already migrated.
It ought to be noticed that the general expectation that the Chicago treaty would be modified, has emboldened many squatters to enter upon the lands in question, in hopes of fixing their future residence. I have, therefore, no hesitation in giving an opinion as to the expediency of altering the Chicago treaty, so as to confine the Pottawatomies north of the little strip now wanted by the State of Missouri.
Having given this opinion, permit me to say that I believe it prac- ticable, with little expense or delay, to remove the Indians now on this strip of land, and to extinguish any remaining right in the red men for hunting or other privileges, and this removal and extinguishment I would respectfully recommend before the state jurisdiction is extended to the waters of the Missouri.
Yours, most respectfully,
HENRY ELLSWORTH. HON. L. F. LINN, Senator.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
At the same time the Hon. L. F. Linn wrote to Maj. John Dough- erty, Indian Agent, for information concerning the geography and topo- graphy of the country embraced in the "Platte Purchase," and in three days thereafter received the following answer :
WASHINGTON, January 26, 1835.
SIR: Your communication of the 23d instant, containing certain queries touching the slip of land lying between the western boundary line of the State of Missouri and the Missouri River has been received. I assure you it will afford me great pleasure to furnish the answers called for, and in the order in which you have proposed the questions.
Ist. The length of the strip of land referred to is, on its east line, one hundred miles long ; the west line, following the meanders of the Missouri River, is about one hundred and fifty miles in length, to a point on said river due west from the northwest corner of the state, the aver- age breadth being about fifteen miles.
2d. I feel no hesitation in stating (and this without the fear of con- tradiction) that the location of Indians upon this territory would be attended with the most ruinous effects ; it would alike be injurious to the Indians and whites ; take, for example, the Ioways, who now reside upon the upper end of this strip-they are a poor, drunken, miserable set of beings, dwindling away to nothing, quarreling among themselves, killing each other, and in constant broils with their white neighbors. Those evils would be greatly increased were the Indians located all the way down this strip of land, between the white settlements and the Mis- souri River to the mouth of the Kansas River, where it becomes narrow and the white population more dense.
3d. The inconvenience to our citizens would be incalculable, if those along the western line of the state were compelled to transport their productions to the mouth of the Kansas River for shipment ; some of them residing within eight or ten miles of steamboats passing every day, would be obliged to haul everything for market over a new country one hundred miles.
4th. There is a great deficiency of water power and springs in the northern counties of the State of Missouri, whilst the strip of land you have reference to abounds with numerous flush running springs and creeks, with great falls, well calculated for mills or other water works.
5th. The country north of the State of Missouri, reaching from the Mississippi to the Missouri River, and extending north between four and five hundred miles, is well timbered, interspersed with fine rich prairies, and abounds with numerous large, bold running streams, coming in from the high lands between these two great rivers ; in short, the whole country is well adapted to agricultural purposes, with a fine climate, and exceedingly healthy.
In reply to your 6th question, I deem it sufficient to refer to the answer under the second query. The peace and tranquility of both whites and Indians require that this long strip of land should be attached to the State of Missouri ; and I cannot suppose that any gentlemen as
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
well acquainted with its locality as I am, would entertain a different opinion, or dissent from the views herein expressed.
With great respect, I have the honor to be Your obedient servant,
HON. L. F. LINN, Senate U. S.
JNO. DOUGHERTY, Indian Agent.
As early as 1834-5, two years before the removal of the Indians, the narrow strip of land between the western boundary of the state and the Missouri River began to be settled by white men. So numerous were these settlers that the United States Government sent a military force from Fort Leavenworth to remove them. What proportion of these daring frontiersmen had located in this territory we cannot determine, but the number must have been considerable, as will be seen from the following letter from Hon. L. F. Linn to Hon. John Forsyth, Secretary of State :
SAINT GENEVIEVE, August 10, 1835.
SIR: I take the liberty of enclosing you a copy (perhaps imperfect, from having mislaid the original), of a letter dated May 14, to the Sec- retary of War, on a subject of much interest to the people of this state. To this communication no answer has been received. May I tax your kindness by asking that you will read the letter, and give the subject your friendly attention in any way you may deem advisable. I feel that there is a propriety in endeavoring to obtain your assistance, knowing the state you so long represented in Congress, with such distinguished credit, has been greatly annoyed by an Indian population. I hear an order has come from the War Department to remove the families who have settled on the Indian lands lying between our western boundary and the Missouri River, by military force.
You know the independent and daring character of our frontier population, and knowing, you will easily believe that this step is not to be accomplished without violence and much distress, as the families are two or three hundred in number. The accompanying diagram will at a glance show you what we want, and at the same time the utter useless- ness of this portion of country for Indian purposes.
The long absence of Governor Cass, and multiplicity of business since his return, may have caused him to lose sight of my letter. His order has caused much sensation in the northern part of the state, and for the present ought to be suspended. Yours truly,
HON. JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretary of State.
L. F. LINN.
In the summer of 1835, there was held a regimental militia muster at Dale's farm, three miles from the town of Liberty, in Clay County. After the morning parade, and during the recess for dinner, a mass meeting of the citizens present was addressed, among others, by General Andrew S. Hughes, who came to Clay from Montgomery County, Ken- tucky, in 1828, and who soon afterward was appointed Indian agent by
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
President John Quincy Adams. At this meeting he proposed the acqui- sition of the Platte Country, and the measure met with such hearty approval that a committee was at once appointed to make an effort to accomplish it. The committee was composed of William T. Wood, now judge of the Lexington Circuit; David R. Atchison, ex-United States Senator ; A. W. Doniphan, a distinguished lawyer and hero of the Mex- ican War; Peter H. Burnett, afterward one of the supreme judges of Cal- ifornia, and Edward M. Samuel, afterward president of the Commercial Bank in St. Loius-all of them at that time residents of Clay County. Subsequently an able memorial to Congress was drafted by Judge Wood, embracing the facts and considerations in behalf of the measure, which, after being signed by the committee, was forwarded to the senators and representatives at Washington from Missouri.
Following the prayer of this memorial, in 1836, a bill was introduced in Congress by Thomas H. Benton, and zealously supported by his col- league, Senator Linn, which provided for the extension of the then existing boundary of the state, so as to include the triangle between the existing line and the Missouri River, then a part of the Indian Territory, now comprising the counties of Atchison, Andrew, Buchanan, Holt, Nod- away and Platte. The difficulties encountered were three fold: I. To make still larger a state which was already one of the largest in the Union. 2. To remove Indians from a possession which had just been assigned to them in perpetuity. 3. To alter the Missouri Compromise line in relation to slave territory, and thereby convert free soil into slave soil. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the two first mentioned serious and the last formidable, the act was passed and the treaties negotiated, and in 1837, the Indians removed west of the Missouri River, thus adding to the state a large body of the richest land in the world.
During the fall of 1835, after the meeting held at the regimental muster above referred to, General Andrew S. Hughes wrote to Hon. L. F. Linn in reference to a treaty with the Ioways and Sacs of his agency. His letter is as follows :
IOWAY SUB-AGENCY, September 3, 1835.
SIR: I have written a hasty scrawl to you. It might be well to publish your letter to show to the people what you are doing. I send this to St. Genevieve, not exactly knowing where to find you. I give you liberty to do just as you may think proper with my letter.
All letters addressed to me, I wish directed to the " Elm Grove Post Office, Clay County, Missouri." This is most convenient to me. When I hear from you I will write again. I desire to see you before you go east.
A treaty can be made with the Ioways of my agency and Sacs, with- out expense to the government, or any other unnecessary pomp and parade, as has heretofore been the case. Colonel Dodge could make
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
treaty with the Indians as a part of his official duty. They are near his post, and I should have no objections to render any assistance that might be asked of me. Believe me, your sincere friend,
ANDREW S. HUGHES.
To HON. LEWIS F. LINN.
The treaty which was negotiated with the Sacs and Fox Indians, whereby Missouri extended her western boundary line, is as follows :
ARTICLES OF A TREATY
made and concluded at Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri River, between William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on the part of the United States, of the one part, and the undersigned chiefs, warriors and counsellors of the Ioway tribe, and the band of Sacs and Foxes of the Missouri (residing west of the State of Missouri) in behalf of their respective tribes, of the other part.
ARTICLE I. By the first article of the treaty af Prairie du Chien, held the 15th of July, 1830, with the confederate tribes of the Sacs and Foxes, Ioways, Omahaws, Missourias, Ottoes and Sioux, the country ceded to the United States by that treaty is to be " assigned and allotted, under the President of the United States, to the tribes living thereon, or to such other tribes as the President may locate thereon for hunting and other purposes." And whereas, it is further represented to us, the chiefs, warriors and counsellors of the Ioways and Sacs and Fox band afore- said, to be desirable that the lands lying between the State of Missouri and the Missouri River should be attached to and become a part of the said state, and the Indian title thereto should be extinguished; but that, notwithstanding, as these lands compose a part of the country embraced by the provision of said first article of the treaty aforesaid, the stipula- tions thereof will be strictly observed, until the assent of the Indians interested is given to the proposed measure.
Now we, the chiefs, warriors and counsellors of the Ioways and Mis- souri bands of Sacs and Foxes, fully understanding the subject, and well satisfied from the local position of the lands in question, that they can never be made available for Indian purposes, and that an attempt to place an Indian population on them must inevitably lead to collision with the citizens of the United States; and further, believing that the extension of the state line in the direction indicated, would have a happy effect, by presenting a natural boundary between the whites and the Indians; and willing, moreover, to give the United States a renewed evidence of our attachment and friendship, do hereby, for ourselves and on behalf of our respective tribes (having full power and authority to this effect) forever cede, relinquish and quit-claim to the United States, all our right, title and interest, of whatever nature, in and to the land lying between the State of Missouri and the Missouri River, and do freely and fully exonerate the United States from any guarantee, condition or lim- itation, expressed or implied, under the treaty of Prairie du Chien, afore- said or otherwise, as to the entire and absolute disposition of the said lands ; fully authorizing the United States to do with the same whatever shall seem expedient or necessary.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
As a proof of the continued friendship and liberality of the United States towards the Ioways and band of Sacs and Foxes of the Missourias, and as an evidence of the same entertained for the good will manifested by said tribes to the citizens and Government of the United States, as evinced in the preceding cession or relinquishment, the undersigned, William Clark, agrees, on behalf of the United States, to pay as a pres- ent to the said Ioways and band of Sacs and Foxes $7,500 in money, the receipt of which they hereby acknowledge.
ARTICLE 2. As the said tribes of Ioways and Sacs and Foxes have applied for a small piece of land south of the Missouri for a permanent home, on which they can settle, and request the assistance of the Gov- ernment of the United States to place them on the land, in a situation at least equal to that they now enjoy on the lands ceded by them. Therefore, I, William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, do further agree on behalf of the United States, to assign to the Ioway tribes and Missouri band of Sacs and Foxes, the small strip of land on the south side of the Missouri River, lying between the Kickapoo northern boun- dary line and the Grand Nemaha River, and extending from the Mis- souri back and westwardly with the said Kickapoo line and the Grand Nemaha, making four hundred sections, to be divided between the said Ioways and the Missouri band of Sacs and Foxes, the lower half to the Sacs and Foxes, the upper half to the Ioways.
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