SBr9 / 7^ \M35 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DATE DUE ^^J^jri m-^ % ary Loai F CAVLORO PRINTED IN U S A. F 627W25'' He?""'"""" '""'"'^ "'*VlliyiliiiiiiVMii[i«iMiii«",'^^ '°"3, contain! olin 3 1924 028 872 830 The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028872830 Office of BIRDSALL, WILLIAMS & COMPANY, PROPRIETORS UNION HISTORICAL COMPANY, THE ^HISTORY or WARREN COUNTY. lOV^A, CONTAINING A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, 8:c., A Biographical Directory of its Citizens, "War Kecord of its Volunteers in the late Eebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Promi- nent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Warren County, Constitution of the United States, Constitution of the State of Iowa, Miscellaneous Matters, &c. IXiIi"CrSTI?,.A.TE3D. DES MOINES: UNION HISTORICAL COMPANY. 1879. Entered, according to Act of CongresB, in the year 1879, by THE UITIOI^ HISTOEIOAL OOMPAI^Y, In the Oflace of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, J). O. A MILLS A OOMPANT, FBINTEBS AND STEBEOTYFSBS, DBS MOINBB, IOWA. PREFACE, This work is a merely local one; it relates to the settlement, organization, growth, devel- opment and present position of Warren County. Bach county, as each individual or State, has a histoiy. That history may not represent grand ideas, or verify in and of itself the conclusions of wisdom, but it is as purely individual as the life of a person, and shows results which could not have been attained elsewhere or under different conditions. We have undertaken to introduce the public to some of those conditions which have made Warren County a distinct element in the progress of Iowa, with what success we will not presume to say, as that must be left to the judgment of each individual reader to determine for himself. We have studied to learn the truth, and to present it to the reader without favor or prejudice. It has, of course, depended more on others than ourselves, because it is in the memory of men yet living in the county that the events connected with it exist, and if we have rescued it from that oblivion into which it would of necessity fall, we shall have accomplished all that can be done, for a few years more would have obliterated much of it, and it would have been buried in the grave of those who have made it and know it. Little more than a generation has passed since the first white man set foot in Warren County, but even in that time many events have become dim in the minds of its actors. It is this which we have endeavored to catch, before it is too late. It is an accumulation of the materials for history in the future. It contains the record of events which have interested or instructed or saddened the people of a generation now leaving the stage of action. It is not without mistakes or omissions, and its readers wiU need to exercise that indulgence and charity to them for which they are noted. It is the first effort ever made in the county to link together the record of its events into a connected narrative, and its facts have been drawn from all the sources which could contrib- ute to it. Mf.ny difficulties have existed, but on the other hand we have been afforded many advantages. The county officers-have been obliging in rendering assistance by way of fur- nishing all the information in their power, as well as giving much time to the search for facts in the public records. The old settlers have contributed to its pages and have also been forward in furnishing all the information in their power, and have submitted in good humor to the interviewer. Without their help, the results here presented in book form must have been very meagre. Special acknowledgment is due to Col. P. P. Henderson, Judge John D. Ingalls, Mr. James H. Knox, of the Herald, Mr. John H. Henderson, Mr. Edd. R. MoKee, Mrs. G. A. Perley of Polk County, Mr. H. M. Moore, Senator Dashiell, Mr. E. W. Hartman, Mr. John S. McKimmy, Prof. C. M. Grumbling, and many others, for matter furnished and suggested. Also, to all the county officers for their kindness, and to a great number of the citizens of the county who have volunteered or given us generous aid. Much is also due to the editors of all the newspapers, Mr. John E. Clarey, of the Tribune, Mr. A. J. Graham, of the Herald, and Mr. Frank B. Taylor, of the Advocate, for the use of files and for cour- tesies extended. As introductory to the history of the county proper, we give a careful review of the history of the great Northwest and of the State. It was prepared by Mr. A. R. Pulton, of Des Moines, and is, we think, a valuable feature of the work, as it gives in a condensed form a full historry of all this great region, and recites the facts which go to form a story of almost marvelous growth and prosperity. IV PEEFAOE. In our "War Record," prepared by one of the most careful men in the State, we have en- deavored to give, in an epitomized form, the part taken by individual soldiers of Warren County with a full record of those who engaged in the service during the late war. There , are at present in the county many men who served in regiments from other States and counties, whose names, of course, do not appear in here; to such it will give pleasure, we hope, for though a soldier be jealous of his achievements and fame, he will ever indulge in pride at the recital of the dangers, trials and successes of his comrades and companions in victory, peril and defeat. We have also given some attention to the campaigns in which the regiments participated, and the men who arose to distinction in their ranks. We little doubt that the book will be a welcome one to the people of Warren County, re- oalhng to the old their struggles and reminding the young how much they owe to their fore- runners in this now rich and prosperous section of a great State. Whatever pleasure they may take in reading its pages will be a source of gratification to aU who have been concerned in its compilation, and to The Publishers. CONTENTS. HI!$TOBICAI>. 66 67 96 PAGE. The Northwest Territory : Early French Explorations in the Mississippi Valley.. 7 Early Settlements in the Northwest 14 The Northwestern Territory, 22 The Louisiana Purchase 28 Indian Wars in the Northwest 34 Sketches of Black Hawk and other Chiefs 42 Early Navigation of Western Eivers ArchiBOlogy of the Northwest 69 Sketches of Western and Northwestern States Expedition of Lewis and Clarke Sketch of Chicago History of Iowa : Descriptive and Geographical Sketch 105 Geology of Iowa 117 Economic Geology 126 How the Title to Iowa Lands is Derived 130 Early Settlements and Terri- torial Organization 141 Territory of Iowa 153 State Organization 158 Educational 162 State Institutions 169 Bailroads 172 Official Record 174 The Judiciary 176 Congressional Representation 177 State Agricultural Society . . 178 Centennial Awards 191 History of Warren County : The Name 257 Indian Affairs 268 Geography — Descriptive and Physical 266 Geology 274 Early Settlement and Settlers. 280 The First Settler 281 Claim Clubs 304 Pioneer Life 306 The Chase in Early Days 318 PAGE. Trading Points 323 Growth of the County 327 Organization 331 The First Township 337 The First Court 338 The First Land Transfers 340 The First Delinquent Tax List 841 The First School Record 341 The First County Roads 341 The First Marriage License.. 342 Tax List for 1849 342 The First Ulaims Allowed 346 The Old Court-house 347 The Jail 349 First Ferry License 349 Early Eecords 349 Gold Excitement 350 The "Strip" 352 Western Stage Company 354 Political 355 Officers and Elections 357 Contested Elections 367 Judges and Judicial Districts 372 County Court-house 374 Poor Farm 381 Railways 384 County Finances 890 Educational 394 Simpson Centenary College.. 406 Newspapers 10 Temperance 423 Agi'icultuxal Society 426 The Grange 428 The Great Storm 429 County Medical Society, 438 Early Settlers' Meetings 439 Departed Pioneers 441 The "Code" in Warren Coimty 447 Deeds of Violence 448 Cities and Towns : Indianola 475 Hartford 496 OarUsle 498 Summerset 601 Spring Hill 501 Norwalk 602 Churchville 504 Lothrop 504 PAGE Bevington 504 St. Mary's S06 Palmyra 605 Ackworth 506 Madora 508 New Virginia 608 Lilierty Centre 609 Sandyville 510 Milo 510 Lacona 511 Townships : Organization 512 Richland 516 Allen 618 Greenfield 519 Linn 619 Jefferson 520 Washington 522 Palmyra 523 Union. 523 Belmont 624 Otter 626 White Oak 626 Jackson 526 Virginia 527 Squaw 527 Liberty 627 Whitebreast 528 Township Officers in 1880 ... 529 War History: Warren Co. War Record 531 Meeting at Carlisle 633 Third Infantry 634 Fourth luf antry 638 Tenth Infantry 640 Fifteenth Infantry 646 Eighteenth Infantry 648 Thirty-fourth Infantry 650 Thirty-fourth Infantry (con- solidated with Thirty-eighth) 658 Thirty-eighth Infantry 562 Miscellaneous Infantry 564 Fkst Cavalry 667 Second Cavalry 571 Miscellaneous Regiments 571 Recapitulation 572 Decoration Day, 1878 574 Sherman's March to the Sea . . 583 IIili1T8TBATIO»rS. PAGE. Westward the Star of Empire Takes its Way 17 AnIndianCamp 33 Indians Trying a Prisoner 49 A Pioneer Winter 65 PAGE. Lincoln Monument, Springfield, Illinois 72 Chicago in 1820 97 Present Site Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, 1833 97 PAGE. Old Fort Dearborn, 1830 103 The "Old Kinzie House" 103 A Prairie Home 129 Breaking Prairie 145 MTHOftKAPHIC POKTKAITS. FAGS. Buxton, Wm *16 Davis, Dr. 0. W 326 Henderson, P. P 289 Henderson, John 397 PAGE. IngaUs, John D 307 Jacoby, JoeL.v. 379 B^ndleman, M. G 348 PAGE. Randleman, Will 433 Seevers, Geo. W 361 Shook, M.G 461 VI CONTENTS. BIOGKAPKICAr. TOWMSHIP I>IBECT©RY. FAGS. AUen 714 Belmont 633 East Washington 682 Greenfield 725 Indianola (East and West Wash- ington Townships) 684 Jackson 657 FAQE. Jefferson 664 Linn 734 Liberty 619 Otter 644 Palmyra 708 Richland 700 PAOB. Squaw 613 Union 692 Virginia 608 West Washington 674 Whitebreast 626 White Oak 650 ABSTRACT OF lOlTA STATE liAlVS. PAGE. Adoption of Children 203 Bills of Exchange aod Promis- sory Notes 195 Capital Punishment 199 Commercial Terms. 208 Damages from Trespass 201 Descent 195 Estrays 201 Exemption from Executions.... 200 Fences , . ., 202 Forms : Article of Agreement 209 BiUsof Sale 210 Bond for Deed 217 Bills of Purchase 207 Chattel Mortgage 215 iPAGE. Forms : Confession of Judgment 208 Lease 214 Mortgages 212,213 NnticetoQuit 210 Nores 207, 215 Orders 207 Quit- claim Deed 216 Receipts 208 . Wills and CodicUs 211, 212 Warranty Deed 216 Game Laws : Birds and Quadrupeds 217 Pish and Fish Ways 218 Interest 195 Jurisdiction of Courts 198 PAGE. Jurors 199 Landlord and Tenant 206- Limitation of Actions 199 Married Women 200 Marks and Brands 201 Mechauics' Liens 204 Purchasing Books by Subtcrip- tiou 219 Roads and Bridges 204 Surveyors and Surveys 204 Support of Poor 205 Taxes 197 Wills and Estates 196 Weights aud Measures 207 WolfScalps 201 «4 mSCELiliAIVEOIJS. PAGE. Map of Warren County Front. Statistics 183 Constitutiou of the State of Iowa 230 PAGE. Constitution of the United States 240 Practical Rules for every-day use -. 252 PAGE. Population of Iowa Cities 265 The Pioneer... 256 MAP OF WARREN COUNTY, lOY/A. O l^ K c , o - P OF WARREN COUNTY, lOV/A / 1 .£•/;> c o. ! The Northwest Territory. EAELY FEENCH EXPLOEATIOlSrS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. De Soto — Le Caron — Samuel de Champlain — Frencli Adventurers — Jamea Marquette — Louis Joliet — Embarkation to Explore New Countries — Lake Michigan and Green Bay — The ' ' Ouisconsin ' ' — Indian Accounts of the Country — Discovering the Great River — Indian Name of the River — Joy of the Explorers — Interview with Indians on Iowa Soil — Feast — Speech of an Indian Chief — The Des Moines River — " Muddy Water " — The Arkansas — Return — Indian Nations — Marquette's Record — His Subsequent Voyage — La Vantum — Marquette's Death— Removal of His Remains — Joliet's Subsequent Explorations — Robert La Salle — Louis Hennepin — Chevalier de Tonti — De La Motte — Fort Crevecoeur — Henne- pin's Voyage — Falls of St. Anthony — Seur de Luth — Hennepin's Claims as an Explorer — Colonization of Louisiana — Dissensions — Murder of La Salle. The three great colonizing powers of the Old World first to raise the standard of civilization within the limits of North America were France, England, and Spain. The French made their earliest settlements in the- cold and inhospitable regions of Quebec; the English at Jamestown, Vir- ginia, and at Plymouth, Massachusetts; and the Spaniards on the barren sands of Florida. To the French belongs the honor of discovering and colo- nizing that portion of our country known as the Yalley of the Mississippi, including all that magnificent region watered by the 'tributaries of the Grea, Eiver. It is true that more than one hundred years earlier (1538-41) tht Spanish explorer, De Soto, had landed on the coast of Florida, penetrated the everglades and unbroken forests of the south, finally reaching the banks of the Grreat Eiver, probably near where the city of Memphis now stands. Crossing the river, he and his companions pursued their journey for some distance along the west bank, thence to the Ozark Mountains and the Hot Sprino-s of Arkansas, and returning to the place of his death on the banks of the Mississippi. It was a perilous expedition indeed, characterized by all the splendor, romance and valor which usually attended Spanish adventiirers of that age. De Soto and his companions were the first Europeans to behold the waters of the Mississippi, biit the expedition was a failure so far as related to colonization. The requiem chanted by his companions as his remains were committed to the waters of the great river he had discovered, died away with the solemn murmurs of the stream, and the white man's voice was not heard again in the valley for more than a hundred years. De Soto had landed at Tampa Bay, on the coast of Florida, with a fleet of nine ves- sels and seven hundred men. More than half of them died, and the remainder made their way to Cuba, and finally back to Spain. Four years before the pilgrims "moored their bark on the wild New Eng- ; *»4 shore," a French Franciscan, named Le Caron, penetrated the region of 8 THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. the great lakes of tlie north, then the home of the Iroquois and the Hurons, but a French settlement had been established at Quebec by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. This was followed by the establishment of various colonies in Canada, and the hardy French adventurers penetrated the coun- try by the way of the St. Lawrence and the lakes. In 1625 a number of missionaries of the Society of Jesus arrived in Canada from France, and during the succeeding forty years extended their missions all along the shores of Lake Superior. In 1637 a child was born at the little city of Laon, in France, whose destiny it was in the fullness of time to be instrumental in the hands of Providence in giving to the world a definite knowledge of the grandest and most fertile region ever opened up to civilization. That child was James Marquette, the descendant of a family of Celtic nobles. lie entered the Society of Jesus when seventeen years of age, and soon conceived a desire to engage in the labors of a missionary among the Indians. He sailed for Quebec in 1666, and two years later founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary. The winter of 1669-70 he spent at Point St. Ignatius, where he established another mission. Here the old town of ]!iichilliinackinac, afterward called Mackinaw, was founded. It was from • Indians of the difl'erent tribes who came to this mission that he received some vague intimations of the great river — the father of all the rivers. He at once conceived a desire to penetrate to the banks of the wonderful river, and carry his missionary work to the tribes which he had learned inhabited its borders. Lie applied to his Superior, Claude Dablon, for permission to "seek new nations toward the Southern sea." The authorities at Quebec were equally desirous of having new regions explored, and therefore appointed Louis Joliet to embark upon a voyage of discovery. Joliet was a native of Quebec and had been educated in a Jesuit College. He had at the age of eighteen taken minor orders, but had abandoned all thoughts of the priest- hood and engaged in the fur trade. He was now twenty- seven years of age, with a mind ripe for adventure. He left Quebec, and arriving at Mackinaw found Father Marquette highly delighted with the information that they were to be companions in a voyage which was to extend the domain of the King of France, as well as to carry the Gospel to new nations of people. The explorers, accompanied by five assistants, who were French Canadians, started on their journey, May 13, 1673. Marquette has himself recorded in the fol- lowing simple language their feelings on this occasion: "We were embark- ing on a ^'oyage the character of wliich we could not foresee. Indian corn, with some dried meat, was our whole stock of provisions. With this we set out in two bark canoes, M. Joliet, myself and five men, firmly resolved to do all and suffer all for so glorious an enterprise." They coasted along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, entered G-reen Bay, and passed up the Fox river, carrying their canoes across the Portage to the " Ouisconsin," now called Wisconsin. At Lake Winnebago, before crossing the Portage, they stopped at an Indian village, which was the furthest outpost to which Dab- lon and Allouez had extended their missionary work. liere they assembled the chiefs and old men of the village and told them of the objects of the voyage. Pointing to Joliet, Father Marquette said : " My friend is an envoy of France to discover new countries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." The Indians furnished two fuides to conduct them to the Wisconsin river. It is related that a tribe of ndians endeavored to dissuade them from pursuing their perilous journey THE N'OETUWEST TEEEITOET. 9 by telling of desperate and savage tribes that they would meet; that the forests and the rivers were infested with frightful monsters; that there were great flsh in the rivers that would swallow up men and canoes together, and of a demon who could be heard from a great distance, and who desti-oyed all who approached. Unmoved by these frightful stories, Marquette, Joliet, and their five brave assistants, launched their little canoes on the waters of the "Wisconsin, and moved slowly down the current. After a lapse of seven days, June 17th, 1673, they reached the mouth of the Wisconsin and glided into the current of the Mississippi, a few miles below the place now known as Prairie du Ohien. Here, and on this day, the eye of the white man for the first time looked upon the waters of the Upper Mississippi. Marquette called the river " The Broad River of the Conception." The Indian name is derived from the Algonquin language, one of the original tongues of the continent. It is a compound of the words Missi, signifying great, and Sepe, a river. The explorers felt the most intense joy on beholding the scene presented to their enraptured vision. Here was the great river whose waters somewhere thousands of miles away flowed into a Southern sea, and whose broad valley was the fairest and richest in the world, but unknown to civilized man, save as an almost forgotten dream or a vague romance. They had solved one of the great mysteries of the age in which they lived. As they glided down the stream the bold bluffs reminded Marquette of the "castled shores of his own beautiful rivers in France." The far stretching prairies alternating with forests, on either side, were adorned in all the wild glories of June. Birds sang the same notes that they had sung for ages amid those " forests prime- val," while herds of buffalo, deer and elk were alarmed and fled to the dense retreats of the forest or the broad prairies beyond. Not until the 25th June did they discover any signs of human habitation. Then, about sixty leagues, as they thought, below the mouth of the Wisconsin, at a place where they landed on the west bank of the river, they found in the sand the foot-prints of man. Marquette and Joliet left their five companions in charge of the canoes and journeyed away from the river, Icnowing that they must be near the habitation of men. They followed a trail leading across a prairie clothed in the wild luxuriance of summer for a distance of about six miles, when they beheld another river and on its banks an Indian village, with other vil- lages on higher land a mile and a half from the first. The Indians greeted the two white strangers, as far as their ability permitted, with a splendid ovation. They appointed four of their old men to nqeet the strangers in council. Marqiiette could speak their language. They informed him that they were "lUini" (meaning "we are men"), and presenting the calumet of peace, invited them to share the hospitalities of their village. Marquette told them of the object of their visit, and that they had been sent by the French, who were their friends. He told them of the great God that the white man worshiped who was the sarne Great Spirit that they adored. In answer, one of the chiefs addressed them as follows: " I thank the Black Gown Chief (Marquette) and the Frenchman (Joliet) for taking so much pains to come and visit us; never has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright as now; never has the river been so calm, nor so free from rocks, whish your canoes have removed as they passed; never has our tobacco had so fine a flavor, nor our com appeared so beautiful as we behold it to-day. Ask the Great Spirit to give us life and health, and come ye and dwell with us." After these ceremonies the strangers were invited to a feast, an account of 30 TflE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. whicli is given by Marquette. It consisted of four courses. First, there was a large wooden bowel filled with tagamity, or Indian meal, boiled in water and seasoned with oil. The master of ceremonies, with a wooden spoon, fed the tagamity to their guests as children are fed. The second course con- sisted of fish, which, after the bones were taken out, was presented to the mouths of the strangers as food may be fed to a bird. The third course was a preparation of dog meat, but learning that the strangers did not eat that it was at once removed. The fourth and final course was a piece of buffalo meat, the fattest portions of which were put into the mouths of the guests. The stream on whose banks took place this first interview between the explorers and the untutored Indians, after parting with their guides, was the Des Moines river, and the place of their landing was probably about where the town of Montrose is now located, in Lee county, Iowa. One of our sweetest American poets has rendered Marquette's narrative in verse, as follows: " Came a people From the distant land of Wabun; From the farthest realms of momingf Came the Black Robe Chief, the Prophet, He the Priest of Prayer, the Pale-face, With his ffuides and his companions. And the noble Hiawatha, With his hand aloft extended, Held aloft in sign of 'welcome. Cried aloud and spoke in this wise: ' Beautiful is the sun, strangers. When you come so far to see us; AU our town in peace awaits you; All our doors stand open for you; Tou shall enter aU our wigwams; For the heart's right hand we give you. Never bloomed the earth so gayly. Never shone the sun so brightly, As to-day they shine and blossom When you came so far to see us.' And the Black Robe Chief made answer, Stammered in his speech a little. Speaking words yet unfamiliar: ' Peace be with you, Hiawatha, Peace be with you and your people, Peace of prayer, and peace of pardon, Peace of Christ, and joy of Mary I ' Then the generous Hiawatha, Led the strangers to his wigwam. Seated them on skins of bison, Seated them on skins of ermine. Brought them food in bowls of bass-wood, Water brought in birchen dippers. And the calumet, the peace-pipe. Filled and lighted for their smoking. AU the warriors of the nation, Came to bid the strangers welcome; ' It is well,' they said, brother, That you came so far to see us.' " Marquette and Joliet remained at the Indian villages six days, and were then accompanied to their canoes by an escort of six hundred Indians. In- , vitations were extended to the strangers to renew their visit, after which the ■ explorers embarked in their boats and floated on down the stream, passing the sites of future great cities of the valley, and passing the mouths of the Missouri and Ohio "rivers, and as far down as the mouth of the Arkansas. THE KOETHWEST TEEEITOEY. 11 Marquette named the Missouri river Pekitanoui, or " Muddy "Water," on account of the now well-known character of that stream. After extending their voyage to the mouth of the Arkansas, where they found a village of the Arkansas tribe, they ascended the Mississippi to' the mouth of the Illinois. They ascended the latter river to its source. Along this stream they found many villages of the Illinois, or Illvni, a large and powerful tribe, who were subdivided into five smaller tribes — the Tamaroas, Michigamies, Kahokias, Kaskaskias, and Peorias. The country between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was inhabited by the three last named tribes. The Michigamies resided in the country bordering on Lake Michigan, and the Tamaroas occupied the territoiy now included in the counties of Jersey, Madison and St. Clair, Illinois. KaskasMa — also designated by the early explorers as " La Yantum " and " Great Illinois Town " — was the largest of the villages, containing, according to Marquette, seventy-five lodges. With- out the loss of a man, or any serious accident, the party reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discoveries. Marquette made a faithful record of what they had seen and the incidents of the voyage. That record has been preserved. The report of Joliet was unfortunately lost by the upsetting of his canoe while on the way to Quebec. At the request of the Illinois Indians, Marquette soon returned and es- tablished the mission of the Immaculate Conception at La Yantum. In the spring of 1675, on account of failing health, he started to return to Green Bay. While passing along the shore of Lake Michigan, conscious that he was nearing the end of his earthly labors, he observed an elevated place near the mouth of a small river. He told his companions that the place was suitable fo!r his burial, and requested them to land. On that lonely and desolate coast. May 18, 1675, at the age of thirty-eight, James Marquette ended his last earthly voyage, and received burial at. the hands of his devoted companions. Two years later some Indians of the mission at Kaskaskia disinterred his remains, and conveyed them in a box made of birch bark, with a convoy of over twenty canoes, to Mackinaw, where they were reinterred at the mission church. The post was abandoned in 1706, and the church burned. The place of burial was finally lost, and remained lost for two hundred years. In. May, 1876, the foundations of the old Jesuit Mission were accidentally discovered on the farm of one David Murray, with a number of church relics, the mouldering remains of the great missionary and explorer, and a cross with his name inscribed upon it. Joliet, after his return to Quebec, became again a trader with the Indians. His services were rewarded by the French government oj the gift of the island of Anticosta, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Little after this is known of him. He died about 1730. The reports given of the discoveries of Marquette and Joliet, served to encourage other adventurers to engage in the efliort to extend their explora- tions. Kobert La SaUe, a French navigator, who was bom at Eouen about the year 1635, had long cherished a project of seeking a route to China by way of the Great Lakes. Before the return of Marquette and Joliet, he had explored Lake Ontario and visited the different Indian tribes. In 1675 he went to France and obtained from the government a grant to a large tract of land about Fort Frontenac, the exclusive right of traffic with the Five Nations, and also a patent of nobility. He laid before his government his desire to explore the Mississippi to its mouth, and take possession of all the regions he might visit in the name of the King of France. His plans were 12 THE NOETHWEST TEKBITORT- warmly approved, and lie was provided with tli6 means for carrying them into execution. In July^ 16T8, he returned to Fort Frontenac, soon after established a trading house at JKiagara, and visited the neighboring Indian tribes for the purpose of collecting furs. He engaged the services of thirty mechanics and mariners and built the first ship for the navigation of the lakes. It was called the Griffin, and was a bark of sixty tons. Having been joined by Louis Hennepin and Chevalier de Tonti, the latter an Indian veteran, on the Tth of August, 1679, they launched the Griffin on Niagara river, and embarked for the valley of the Mississippi. They crossed Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, reaching Green Bajr, September 2d. For the pur- pose of relieving himself of some pressing hnancial obligations at Montreal, La Salle here engaged for a time in collecting furs with which he loaded the Griifin, and sent it in the care of a pilot and fourteen siailors on its return trip, with orders to return immediately; but the vessel was never heard of afterward. He waited until all hope had vanished, and then, with Father Hennepin, Chevalier de Tonti, the Sieur de la Motte, and about thirty fol- lowers, began again the voyage. They ascended the St. Joseph in canoes to the portage, and carried their barks to the Kankakee, a distance of six miles, descended the Kankakee and the Illinois until they reached an Indian vil- lage on the latter stream, at the expansion of the same, known as Lake Peoria. The village was situated on the west baUk of the lake, and must have been passed by Marquette and Joliet on their voyage up the river in 1673, although no mention is made of it by them. La Salle, Hennepin, Tonti and their followers landed at Lake Peoria, January 3d, 1H80. The Indians received them hospitably, and they remained with them for several days. Here a spirit of discontent began to manifest itself among the followers of La Salle, and fearing trouble between his men and the Indians, they crossed the river and moved down about three miles, where they erected a fort, which La Salle named Fort Orevecoewr (heart-break) a name expressive of La Salle's sorrow at the loss of his fortiine by the disaster to the Griffin, and also his feelings in the fear of mutiny among his men. The party remained here until in 1 ebruary, when Tonti was placed in command of the post, and Hennipin charged with a voyage of discovery to the sources of the Missis- sippi. La Salle returned on foot with three companions to Fort Fixmtenac for 8Uppli«8. On his arrival he learned of the certainty of the loss of the Griffin, and also of the wreck of another vessel which had been sent with resources for him from France. Father Hennepin, with two companions, Picard du Gay and Michel Ako, on the 29th of February, 1680, embarked from Fort Crevecoeur in a canoe down the Illinois to its mouth, which they reached in a few days. They then turned up the Mississippi, reaching tile mouth of the "Wisconsin, April 11th. Above this point no European had ever ascended. They continued the voyage, reaching the Falls of St. Anthony, April 30, 1680. Hennepin so named the falls in honor of his patron Saint. When they arrived at the mouth of St. Francis river, in what is now the State of Minnesota, they traveled along its banks a distance of 180 miles, visiting the Sioux Indians, who inhabited that region. The river, Hennepin so named in honor of the founder of his order. In his account of this voyage, Hennepin claims that they were held in captivity by the Indians for about three months, although- they were treated kindly by them. At the end of this time a band of Frenchmen, under the leadership of Seur de Luth, in pursuit of furs, had penetrated to this part of the country by the way of Lake Superior. The THE NORTHWEST TSatElTOEt. 13 Indians allowed Hennepin and his companions to return with the traders. They descended the Mississippi to the mouth of the Wisconsin, passing up that stream and down the Fox river, and so on through Green Bay to Lake Michigan. Hennepin went to Quebec, and thence to France, where, in 1683, he published an account of his explorations and a description of the region of the Upper Mississippi. In 1697 (two years after La Salle's death) he published an enlarged work, in which he claimed that he had descended the Mississippi to its mouth. His faithful description of the valley for a time gave him credit for veracity, but the impossibility of reconciling his dates, and other circumstances, are by the best authorities regarded as stamping his claim false. Before the time this work was published, as we shall see. La Salle had descended the Mississippi to its mouth. Hennepin explained his long silence as to his exploration to the mouth of the Mississippi, by claiming that he had feared the enmity of La Salle, who had ordered him to follow a diiferent course, and had also prided himself upon his own claims as being the first European to descend the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mex- ico. Father Hennepin died in Holland, about the year 1699. We now return to the further adventures of the brave and intrepid La Salle. He returned to Fort Crevecoeur in the latter part of the year 1680, to find that Tonti had been abandoned by his men, and obliged to take refuge. among the Pottawattamies. He spent another year in collecting his scattered followers, finally succeeded, and on the 6th of February, 1682, he had reached the mouth of the Illinois. As they passed down the Mississippi La Salle noted the diiferent streams tributary thereto. They erected a tort near the mouth of the Ohio, and a cabin at the first Chickasaw bluff. On the 9th of April they entered the Gulf of Mexico. They reascended the river a short distance, foimded the Fort of St. Louis, took possession of the whole valley in the name of France, and called it by the name of Louisiana, in honor of the king. La Salle, having accomplished much for the glory of France, now retraced his steps northward. After spendina; one year about the great lakes, actively engaged in laying the tbnndations ot French settlements in the new regions he liad discovered, in November, 1683, he reached Quebec, and soon after embarked for France. The government, with marks of great esteem, be- stowed tipon him a commission placing under his authority all the French and natives of the country, from Fort St. Louis to New Biscay. An expe- dition, with four vessels and 280 persons, was fitted out for the colonization of Lousiana; it sailed August 1, 1684. Associated with La Salle, in this expedition, was Beaujeu, as naval commander. The mouth of the Missis- sippi was the objective point, but by mistake the fleet passed on northward. When the error was discovered La Salle desired to return, but Beaujeu per- sisted In advancing. Dissensions arose, and La Salle, with 230 colonistu, disembarked. Thie was in February, 1685. A fortified post, which was called Fort St. Louis, was established, and attempts made at agriculture, but without success. Attempts were made to reach the Mississippi, which they thought near, but failed. La Salle and his followers traversed the wilderness toward New Mexico, and in Januarv, 1687, by sickness and disaster, his party was reduced to thirty-seven. Some of these, following. Beaujeu 's ex- ample, revolted. La Salle, with sixteen men, then determined to reach the country of the Illinois. Two men, who had embarked their capital in the enterprise, were bitter in malignity toward the leader of this unsuccessful expedition. 'Hieir feelings found some gratification in the murder of a li THE NOETHWEST TEKEITOET. nepliew of La Salle. The latter sought t6 investigate as to the death of his relative, but only shared' his fate, as one of them fired upon him from ambush, and the heroic La Salle fell, the victim of quarrels and dissensions among his own followers. This event happened after he had passed the basin of the Colorado and reached a branch of Trinity river, in Texas. "We have thus briefly outlined the part taken by this energetic and ad- venturous ex:plorer, in giving to civilization a knowledge of a region that was destined to constitute the richest and most productive portion of the American continent, if not indeed, of the world. EAELT SETTLEMENTS IE THE NOKTHWEST. Early French Settlements — Indian Tribes — Mission atKaskaskia — KahoMa — Vincennes — Fort Ponchartrain — Fort Charfcrea — La Belle Riviere — La Salle — ^The English Claim ' ' From Sea to Sea" — Treatywith Indians in 1684 — English Grants — French and Indians Attack Pick- awiUa,ny — ^Treaty with the Six Nations — French and English Claims — George Washington — ^French and Indian War — Fall of Montreal — Treaty of Paris — Pontiac's Conspiracy — Detroit — Pontiac's Promissory Notes — Pontiac's Death — France Cedes Louisiana to Spain — Washington Explores the Ohio Valley — Emigration — Land Companies — ^The Revolution — Colonel Clark— Surrender of French Posts in Illinois— Surrender of Vincennes — Gov. Hamilton Taken Prisone:>-^Daniel Boone — Simon Girtyr— Virginia's " Land Laws." As THE French were the first to explore the region known as the North- west, so they were the first to improve the opening thus made. The earliest settlements were in that part of the country east of the Mississippi and south of the Great Lakes, occupied chiefly by the'lUinois tribes of the Great Algon- quin familj of Indians. The Illinois were divided into the Tamaroas, Mich- igamies, Kakokias, Kaskaskias, and Peorias, and were sometimes designated as the Five Nations. The three last-named tribes occupied the country between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; the Michigamies the region bor- dering on Lake Michigan, and the Tamaroas, a small tribe, in the same region occupied by the Kahokias, and now embraced in the counties of Jersey, Madi- son, and St. Clair, in the state of Illinois. The French opened the way for colonization by the establishment of missions among these tribes, their efforts in this direction having been attended with great success in Canada. A mission was founded at Kaskaskia by Father Gravier about the year 1698. This at the time of the visit of Marquette and Joliet, in 1673, was the largest and most important of the Illinois villages, and contained seventy- four lodges, or about fifteen hundred inhabitants. By the early explorers it was called by the several names of " Kaskaskia," "La Yantum," and "Great Illinois Town." Here, in 1675, Father Marquette had attempted to cliristian- ize the Indians by establishing the mission of the Immaculate Conception. For years it was nothing more than a missionary station, occupied only by the Nations and the missionary. About the year 1700 missions were also established at Kahokia and Peoria, the latter being near the site of old Fort Crevecoeur. Another of the early French settlements was at Yincennes on the Oubache (Waba, now "Wabash) river. Authorities disagree as to the date of this settlement, but it was probably about 1702. For many years this was an isolated colony of French emigrants from Canada, and several fenerations of their descendants lived and passed away in these vast solitudes, efore either they or their savage neighbors were disturbed by the encroach- ments of an expanding civilization. During all this time they had maintained friendly relations with the natives. In July, 1701, a station was established THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 15 by De la Motte on the Detroit river, called Fort Poncliartrain. "WTiile these attempts to colonize the Northwest were in progress, similar eflPorts were being made by France in the Southwest, but without maintaining like friendly relations with the natives, for in a conflict with the Chickasaws, an entire colony at Natchez was cut off. As these settlements in the North- west were isolated bat little is known of their history prior to 1750. In this year Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, near Fort Ohartres, writes of five French villages, with a population of eleven hundred whites, three hun- dred blacks, and sixty red slaves or savages. He says there were whites, negroes and Indians, to say nothing of half-breeds. They then raised wheat, cattle, swine and horses, and sent pork, grain and flour to New Orleans. On the 7th of November, 1750, the same priest writes: " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwell- ings, the ground being too low to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans the lands are only partially occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease; and above all, pork and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans plantations are again met with; the most considerable is a colony of Germans some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-flve leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues further up is the Natchez ■ post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee they raise excellent tobacco. An- other hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river traders. From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the English can reach the Mississippi. In the Illinois country are number- less mines, but no one to work them as they deserve." The fame of Robert Oavelier de La Salle was not achieved alone by his explorations of the Valley of the Mississippi, for, in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Marquette and Joliet, La Salle discovered the Ohio river, or Za Belle Miviere (Beautiful Eiver), as the French called it. Being conversant with several Indian dialects, he had learned from some Senecas of a river called Ohio which rose in their country and fiowed a long distance to the sea. La Salle then held the belief that the river fiowing to the west emptied into the Sea of California, and longed to engage in the enter- prise of discovering a route across the continent. He obtained the approval of the government at Quebec, but no allowance to defray the expense. He sold his property in Canada for two thousand eight hundred dollars, and with the proceeds purchased canoes and the necessary supplies. "With a party of twenty-four persons he embarked in seven canoes on the St. Law- rence, July 6th, 1669. Crossing over Lake Ontario, they were conducted by Indian guides to the Genesee, about where the city of Rochester, New York, is now located. The enterprise did not receive the approbation of the Indians, at the Seneca village then situated on the bank of tne Genesee at this point, and they refused tb furnish him guides to conduct him further. Alter a month's delay he met an Indian belonging to the Iroquois tribe on Lake On- tario, who conducted them to their village, where they received a more friendly welcome. From the chief of the Iroquois at Onondaga he obtained- 16 THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOBT. guides who conducted the party to a river south of Lake Erig. This proved to be a tributary of the Ohio. They descended it, and thence down the Ohio to the great falls where Louisville now stands. By virtue of this dis- covery the French claimed the country along the Ohio, and many j^ears after established military and trading poets at different j)oints. One of thes^was Fort Du Quesne, erected in 1654, which was taken from them by the English a few years later and called Pittsburg, in honor of William Pitt, then priipe minister of England. Notwithstanding the discovery of the Ohio by the French under La Salle as early as 1669, the English claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific on the ground that her sea-coast discoveries entitled her to the sovereignty of all the country from "sea to sea." In 1684, Lord Howard, Governor of Yir- ginia, held, a treaty with Indian tribes known as the Northern Confederacy, to- wit: the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas. The Tus- caroras being subsequently taken in, these tribes became known as the Six Nations, and the English assumed their protection. They purchased from them larae tracts of land and aimed to obtain a monopoly of the Indian, trade. "Hie English government made grants of land west of the AUeghafnies, and companies were formed for their settlement. France, seeing the Eng- lish obtaining a foothold by planting trading posts in the Northwest, m .1749 sent Louis Celeron with a small force of soldiers to plant in mounds at the mouths of the principal tributaries of the Ohio, plates of lead with the claims of France inscribed thereon. The English, however, still continued to make explorations and establish trading posts. One of these grants of England was to a company known as the " Ohio Company," and embraced a tract of land on the Great Miami, described as being one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. Christopher Gist was sent by this company in 1750 to inspect thier lands and to establish a trading post. In 1752 a small party of French soldiers, assisted by Ottawas and Ohippewas, attacked this post and captured the traders after a severe battle. The English called this post Pickawillany — the name being subsequently contracted to Pickaway or Piqua. The location of this post was doubtless near that of the present town of Piqua, on the Great Miami, about seventy-eight miles north of Cincinnati. Thus on the soil of what became a part of the state of Ohio was shed the first blood between the French and English for the possession of the Northwest. In 1744 the English had entered into a. trea,ty with th& Six Nations at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by which they acquired certain lands described as being within the "Colony of Virginia." The Indiana subsequently com- plained of bad faith on the part of the English in failing to comply with some of the stipulations of the treaty. ' The Governor of Virginia appointed commissioners to hear the grievances of the Indians. They met at Logs- town, on the north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the present city of Pittsburg, in the spring of 1752. Notwithstanding the complaint of the Indians that the English had failed to supply them with arms and am- munition as they had agreed, they succeeded in obtaining a confirmation of the treaty of Lancaster. In the meantime the French were quietly preparing to maintain tlieir claims to the country in dispute. They provided cannon and military stores in anticipation of the coming conflict, The French were notified to give up their posts, but they failed to comply. Governor Dinwiddle finally deter- mined to learn definitely their intentions, and for this purpose selected Major THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. 17 18 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. George "Washington, then twenty-two years of age, as a messenger. "With Christopher Gist as guide, and four attendants or servants, Washington set out through the wilderness on his perilous journey. He held a conference with the chiefs of the Six Nations at Logstown in November, 1753. He learned something of the condition of the French, but the Indians desired to remain neutral and were disposed to be non-committal. Washington pro- ceeded to Venango, where there was a French post called Fort Machault. Here he delivered to the French governor Dinwiddie's letter, and received the answer of St. Pierre, the commander of the fort, declining to give up without a struggle. Preparations for war were made in all the English col- onies while the French continued to strengthen their lines of fortifications. It will thus be seen that what is known as the French and Indian war had its origin in this dispute about the possession of what is now one of the fairest and richest portions of our Kepublic. It resulted, not only in Eng- land maintaining her right to the territory in dispute, but in wresting Can- ada from France. It was a war of eight years duration, commencing with the attack of the French and Indians on the English post at Piqua in 1752, find virtually ending with the fall of the city of Montreal in April, 1760. Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara, and Quebec had all previously surren- dered to the English, the first two without resistance. After the fall of Montreal the Governor of Canada signed ia capitulation surrendering the whole of Canada to the English. One post, however, that of Detroit, still remained in possession of the French. Major Kogers was sent from Mon- treal to demand its surrender. Beletre, the commander of the post, at first refused, but on the 29th of November, having heard of the defeat of the French arms in Canada, he also surrendered. September 29th, 1760, the treaty of peace between France and England, Imown as the treaty of Paris, was made, but not ratified until February 10th, 1763. Meantime theNorthwest territory was entirely under English rule and settlements began to extend. The Indians who had been the friends and allies of the French during the war were not reconciled to the English, claiming that they had not carried out their promises. Under the famous Ottawa chief, Pontiac, they united in a general conspiracy to cut off all the English posts on the frontier. The Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, Miamis, Shawnese, Delawares and Mingoes, buried the hatchet in their local quarrels, and united to exterminate the English. Owing to treachery on the part of some of Pontiac's followers, he failed in the complete execution of his plans, but in May, 1763, several British posts fell, and many whites were victims of the merciless tomahawk. In the arrangementamong the Indians it was agreed that Pontiac's own imme- diate field of action was to be the garrison at Detroit. He laid siege to the post May 12th, and continued it until October 12th. To obtain food for his warriors during this time, he issued promissory notes, drawn upon birch bark and signed with the figure of an otter. All these notes were faithfully redeemed. Being unsuccessful in reducing the garrison, the tribes generally sued for peace, but Pontiac remained as yet unsubdued. To Alexander Henry, an Englishman who visited Missillimacinac the next spring, he said: " Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not yet conquered us. We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods, these mountain8,_were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Tour nation supposes that we, like the white people, cannot live without bread, and pork and beef ; but you ouo-ht to THE NOETHAVEST TEEEITOET. 19 know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." Pontiac still entertained the hope that the French would renew the war, and finally conquer the English, and endeavored to incite the Indians on the Miami, and in other parts of the "W^est, to continue hostilities. He applied, but unsuccessfully, to the French commander at New Orleans. Being un- able to unite again those who entered so eagerly into his original conspiracy for destroying the English settlements, he went to the Illinois country, where he made a stand, and had for a time the sympathy and co-operation of the French fur traders in that region. Soon, however, all but his immediate followers deserted his cause, and be then reluctantly accepted peace on the terms offered by the English. From this time he had but little influence with the tribes. He was killed by an Illinois Indian, while drunk, at Ka- hokia, in 1769. At the time of his death he was about fifty-seven years of age. Great Britain now held sovereignty over the entire Northwest, and to pre- vent Louisiana from also falling into the hands of the English, France by secret treaty, in 1762, ceded it to Spain. The next year the treaty of Paris formally gave to England possession of the Northwestern Territory. The English now began to prepare for settlement and occupation of the country. In 1770 persons from Virginia and other British provinces took up the valuable lands on the Monongahela and along the Ohio to the mouth of the Little Kanawa. In October of the same year George Washington with a party descended the Ohio from Pittsburg to the Kenawa, which last named stream they ascended about fourteen miles, and marked out several large tracts of land. Buffalo were then abundant in the Ohio valley, and several of them were shot by Washington's party. Pittsburg was then a village of twenty houses, the inhabitants being mostly Indian traders. The British government was inclined to observe a liberal policy toward the French settlers in the West. In 1763 the king, by royal proclamation, had forbidden his subjects from making settlements bej'ond the sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic ; but his subjects in the colonies were little disposed to observe this restriction. Finally, in 1774, Governor Dun- more, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the West. A number of settlements were made in the Ohio valley, the settlers often coming in conflict with the Indians. Several battles were fought, ending in the battle of Kenawa, in July, when the Indians were defeated and driven across the Ohio. During the years following, up to 177G, several land companies were formed, and engaged in extensive operations. One, called the "Illinois Land Company," obtained from the Indians large tracts of land on the Mis- sissippi river, south of the Illinois. An association, styling itself the "Wa- bash Land Company," obtained a deed from eleven chiefs to 37,4:97,600,acres of land. The War of the Revolution interfered with these and many other similar schemes of speculation. The parties interested subsequently made efforts to have these land grants sanctioned by Congress, but did not succeed. In 1771, according to the best information we have, Kaskaskia contained eighty houses, and nearly one thousand inhabitants, white and black. Ka- holda contained fifty houses, with three hundred white inhabitants, and eighty negroes. There were a few families at Prairie du Eocher, on the Mississippi river, opposite St. Louis. At Detroit, there were in 1766, about one hundred houses. This place was founded by Antoine de la Motte Ca- dillac, in 1701, and is the oldest town in the Northwest. 20 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOEY. "When the "War of the Revolution commenced tlie British held Kaskaskia, Kahokia, Yincennes, Detroit, and other important posts in the "West. Col. George Kogers Clark, a master spirit of the frontier, who was familiar with all the important movements of the British in the West, and also witli the disposition of the Indians, formed a plan unequalled in boldness, for subju- gating these posts. He repaired to the capital of Virginia, Patrick Henry being then Gfovemor, and presented to the authorities his plan of operations, whidi was approved by Governor Henry. He was accordingly furnished with two sets of instructions — one secret and the other open. His open in- structions authorized him to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, sub- ject to his orders, and serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm and equip his troops at Pittsburg, and proceed to subjugate the country. Col. Clark succeeded in raising but three companies, but with these and a few private volunteers, he descended the Ohio as far as the falls, in the spring of 1777. Here he fortified a small island, known as Com Island, and then announced to his men their real des- tination. Leaving a small garrison, on the 24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, he moved down the river. Under a burning July sun, with his chosen band, he marched to Kaskaskia, reaching that post on the evening of July 4th. Without the loss of a man on either side the fort and village were captured. He easily induced the Indians to give their allegi- ance to the American cause. They accompanied him to JS^ahokia on the 6th, and through their influence the inhabitants of that place surrendered without resistance. The priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, hastily joined in rendering all the aid he could to forward the purposes of Clark. He estab- lished a government for the colonies he had taken, and then made ready to march upon St. Vincent, or Vincennes, as it is more commonly known. But Gibault offered to go alone and induce the post on the " Oubache " to throw off the authority of England. Clark accepted the offer, and on the 14th of July Gibault started on his mission. On the 1st of August he re- turned, with intelligence of entire success, the garrison at Vincennes having taken the oath of allegiance to Virginia. Col. Clark placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Kahokia, and sent orders for the erection of a fort at the Falls of the Ohio, where the City of Louisville now stands. He also sent Eoche- blave, the former commander of Kaskaskia, a prisoner of war to Eichmond. The county of 'Illinois was established in October of the same year, by the Legislature of Virginia. John Todd was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and acting governor. Courts were established, and the colony was provided with a government complete. The Indians acknowledged allegiance to the new government. While Col. Clark was arranging for the government of the Illinois colo- nies, the British Governor, Hamilton, was planning an expedition to move from Detroit down the Wabash to Vincennes, intending to recapture the posts which had surrendered to Clark, and thence extend his operations to Kentucky. He knew nothing of the capitulation of Vincennes until his arrival, when he found the fort in command of Capt. Helm, who had been sent by Col. Clark to take charge of the garrison. Hamilton demanded the surrender of the fort, and being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, Capt. Helm surrendered to a superior force. On the 29th of January, 1879, Clark received intelligence of what had transpired at Vincennes, and of the in- tended operations of Hamilton. Having sufficiently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Kahokia, and dispatched a force down the Mississippi to ascend the Ohio THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. 21 and operate with the land forces in that direction, on the 5th of February he set out himself with one hundred and twenty men on his hard march to Vincennes. He reached the tort on the 22d, and was joined by the re- mainder of his command, which had come by water. He immediately com- menced his attack on the fort, and on the 25th Gov. Hamilton surrendered. He was sent as a prisoner of war to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement, and thus failed to accomplish his purpose of uniting the In- dian tribes against the Americans. All the important posts in the North- west, except Detroit, were now in the hands of the Americans. Had Clark received reinforcements, which had been promised, he would doubtless have captured Detroit also ; but Virginia and the other colonial governments at this time doubtless had all they could do to attend to the operations of the war east of the AUeghariies. The Legislature of Virginia passed resolutions complimenting Col. Clark and his men, and in 1781 he was promoted to the rank of general. Previous to this he had taken part with Steuben against Arnold, when the latter invaded Virginia, in 1780. Subsequently, Virginia gave to Gen. Clark and his men one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, wherever they might choose to locate it, north of the Ohio. They made selection of a tract opposite the Falls of the Ohio, between New Albany and Jeffersonville, Indiana. Gen. Clark died near Louisville, Ken- tucky, February 13th, 1808. The years 1781 and 1782 were dark years in the history of the infant set- tlements of the Northwest, in consequence of the many outrages practiced by the Indians. Many deeds of cruelty were committed under the leader- ship of the outlaw, Simon Girty, occurring chiefly in the Ohio Valley. Sev- eral battles between the Indians and frontiersmen occurred north of the Ohio, while in Kentucky the famous Daniel Boone and his companions were engaged in protecting the frontier outposts. In 1783 the treaty of peace, which ended the Revolutionary struggle, was concluded, and by its terms the boundaries of the West were defined as fol- lows ; On the north, to extend along the center of the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi river, down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude ; thence on that line east to the head of Appa- lachicola river, down its center to the junction with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's river ; and thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. For some time after the cessation of hostilities. General Haldimand, the British commander at Detroit, refused to evacuate, on the ground, as he claimed, that his king had not ordered him to do so. It shortly, however, passed under the control of the United States, and so remained, except when held by the British, through the surrender of Gen. HuU, for a few weeks in August and September, 1812. 'file war of independence had been fought and gained, and England, as we have seen, had renounced her claim to the Northwest, but the Indian title was not yet extinguished. From 1783 to 1786 various treaties were made, by which the Indians relinquished their title to extensive tracts of territory. The individual States also held claims to the territory surrendered by Great Britain, and acts of cession were necessary to vest the title to the soil in United States ; but of this we shall treat more fully in another place. In 1779 Virginia had passed her " land laws," by which grants made to set- tlers were confirmed, and providing for selling the rest at forty cents per 22 TUE NOETHWEST TEEEITOEY. acre. Kentucky was included in the territory of Virginia until 1792. It was originally explored by Daniel Boone and his compeers about the year 1769. Harrodsburg was founded in 1774, and Lexington a year or two later, when the news of the battle of Lexington was fresh in the minds of its founders. THE NOETHWESTERN TEEEITOEY. Territory held by States— Articles of Confederation— Objections of certain States— Delaware Resolutions— Action of Congress— Maryland— New York— Cession of Territory by Stales- Ordinance of 1787— Territorial Organization of tie Northwest— Fort Washington— Wm. H. Harrison. Arthur St. Clair— Early American Settlements— New England Company- Gen. Rufus Putnam— John Cleves Symmes— Cincinnati Founded— Treaty with Spain- Division of the Northwestern Territory— Organization of the Territory of Indiana- Division of Indiana Territory— Territory of Michigan— Gov. Wm. Hull— Destruction of Detroit by Fire. At the time the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were pend- ing a number of the States held, or claimed, large tracts of territory not now included in those States. New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, all held such territory. Vir- finia claimed all that vast region which now embraces the States of Ohio, ndiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi river. That State had made provision, by legislative enactment, ' to dispose of her lands to settlers. Certain States, claiming that the unoccu- pied western lands were rightfully the common property of all the States, in- sisted on limiting the area of those States claiming western territory. This was a subject of warm and protracted discussion in the adoption of the Arti- cles of Confederation. The delegates from Maryland, under instructions from the General Assembly of that iState, declined, in the Congress of the Confed- eration, to sign the Articles of Confederation until provision was made for restricting the boundaries of the States, and vesting the soil of the western territories in the Confederation for the common benefit of all the settlers. Virginia had remonstrated against this course. On the 25th of November, 1778, the act of New Jersey for ratifying the Articles of Confederation was presented in the Congress. Her delegates were directed to sign the arti- cles " in the firrd reliance that the candour and justice of the several States will, in due time, remove as far as possible the inequality which now sub- sists." The delegation from Delaware, after having signed the articles, on the 23d of February, 1779, presented sundry resolutions passed by the legislature of that State, among which were the following: '■'■Resolved, That this State thinks it necessary, for the peace and safety of the States to be included in the Union, that a moderate extent of limits should be assigned for such of those States as claim to the Mississippi or South Sea; and that the United States in Congress assembled, should, and ought to, have the power of fixing the western limits. '^Resolved, That this State consider themselves justly entitled to a right in common ■with the members of the Union, to that extensive tract of country which lies westward of the frontier of the United States, the property of which was not vested in, or granted to, private individuals at the com- mencement of the present war. That the same hath been, or may be, gained from the King of Great Britain, or the native Indians, by the "blood and treasure of aU, and ought, therefore, to be a common estate, to be granted out on terms beneficial to the United States." THE NOETIIWEST TEEEITOEY. 23 The same day, after the presentation of these resolutions, Congress passed the following: "Resolved, That the paper laid before Congress by the delegates from Delaware, and read, be filed; provided, that it shall never be considered as admitting any claim by the same set up, or intended to be set up." Eight States voted in favor of this resolution, and three against it. The State of Maryland still persisting in her refusal to ratify the Articles of Confederation, on the 30th of October, 1779, Congress, by a vote of eight States to three, and one being divided, passed the following: " Whereas, The appropriation of vacant lands by the several States, during the continuance of the war, will, in the opinion of Congress, be attended with great mischiefs: Therefore, '^Hesol/oed, That it be earnestly recommended to the State of Virginia, to reconsider their late act of Assembly for opening their land office; and that it be recommended to the said State, and all other States similarly circum- stanced, to forbear settling or issuing warrants for unappropriated lands, or granting the same during the continuance of the present war." On the 19th of February, 1780, the Legislature of New York passed an act authorizing her delegates in Congress, for and on behalf of that State, by proper and authentic acts or instruments, "to limit and restrict the boundaries of the State in the western parts thereof, by such line or lines, and in such manner and form, as they shall judge to be expedient," and providing for the cession to the United States of certain " waste and uncul- tivated" territory. This act was fully carried into effect by her delegates on the 1st of March, 1781. On the 6th of September, 1780, Congress passed a resolution earnestly recommending the States having " claims to the western country, to pass such laws, and give their delegates in Congress such powers " as niight effectually remove the only obstacle to a final ratification of the Articles of Confederation, and requesting the Legislature of Maryland to authorize her delegates in Congress to subscribe to the articles. On the 10th ot October, 1780, a further resolution on this subject was passed by the Congress of the Confederation, as follows: "ResoLved, That the unappropriated lands that may be ceded or relin- quished to the United States, by any particular State, pursuant to the recom- mendation of Congress of the 6th day of September last, shall be disposed of for the common benefit of the United States, and be settled and formed into distinct republican States, which shall become members of the Federal Union, and have the same rights of sovereignty, freedom and independence as the other States; that each State which shall be so formed shall contain a suitable extent of territory, not less than one hundred, nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square, or as near thereto as circumstances will admit; that the necessaiy and reasonable expenses which any particular State - shall have incurred since the commencement of the present war, in subduing any British posts, or in maintaining forts or garrisons within and for the defense, or in acquiring any part of the territory that may be ceded or relinqnished to the United States, shall be re-imbursed; that the said lands shall be granted or settled at such times, and under such regulations, as shall here- after be agreed on by the United States, in Congress assembled, or any nine or more of them." In pursuance of the recommendation of Congress, of September 6th, 1780, several States made cessions of territory to me United States. Virginia 24: THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. ceded her nortliwesteni territory MarcK 1st, 1784, and by an act of lier Legislature of December 30th, 1788, agreed to change the conditions of the act of cession of 1784, so far as to ratify the 5th article ,of the ordinance of 1787, passed by Congress for the government of the territory. The dele- gates in Congress from Maryland signed the Articles of Confederation at the date of the cession of territory by New York, March 1st, 1781, thus completing the confederation. On the 23d of April, 1784, Congress passed a resolution for the govern- ment of the territory ceded by V irginia, which was superceded by the famous ordinance of July 13th, 1787, entitled "An ordinance for the govern- ment of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio." The first part of this important enactment provides for the temporary gov- ernment of the territory, and concludes with six "articles of compact between the original States and the people and States in the said territory, and forever to remain unalterable, unless by common consent." The provisions of these six articles are of such importance as to justify their insertion here in full: "Aetiole 1. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory. "Aet. 2. The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury ; of a proportionate repre- sentation of the people in the legislature, and of judicial proceedings accord- ing to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offenses, when the proof shall be evident, or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate, and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted. No person shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or the law of the land, and should the public exigencies make it necessary for the common preservation to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And, in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the said territory, that should, in any manner whatever, in- terfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, hoTiafide, and with- out fraud previously formed. "Aet. 3. Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good gov- ernment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity shall, from time to time, be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with tnera. "Aet. 4. The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein, shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of Amer- ica, subject to the Articles of Confederation, and to such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made; and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States, in Congress assembled, conformable thereto. The inhabitants and settlers in the said territory shall be subject to pay a part of the federal debts, contracted or to be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government, to be apportioned on them by Congress, according to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall bo THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. 26 made on the other States; and the taxes for paying then* proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the dis- trict or districts, or new States, as in the original States, within the time agreed upon by the United States, in Congress assembled. The legislatures ot those districts, or new States, shall never interfere with the primary dis- posal of the soil of the United States, in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary, for securing the title in such soil, to the honafide purchasers. No tax shall-be imposed on lands the property of the United States; and in no case shall non-resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be com- mon highways and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of said territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other States that may be admitted into the Confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor. "Aet. 5. There shall be formed in the said territory not less than three, nor more than five States; and the boundaries of the States, as soon as Vir- finia shall alter her act of cession, and consent to the same, shall become xed and established as follows, to-wit: the "Western States in the said terri- tory shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio and Wabash rivers ; a direct line drawn from the "Wabash and J?ost Yincents due north to the ter- ritorial line between the United States and Canada, and by the said territorial line to the Lake of the "Woods and Mississippi. The Middle States shall be bounded by the said direct line, the "Wabash, from Post Yincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio, by a direct line drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami to the said territorial line and by the said territorial line. The Eastern State shall be bounded by the last-mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the said territorial line; provided, however, and it is further understood and declared that the boundaries of these tliree States shall be subject so far to be altered that if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have, authority to form one or two States in that part of the said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. And whenever any of the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States on an equal footing with the original States, in all respects whatever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State government, provided the constitution and government so to be formed shall be republi- can, and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles, and so far as can be consistent with the general interests of the Confederacy, such admission shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less number of free inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand. "Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall be duly convicted; provided, always, that any person escaping into" the same from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, snch fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or services as aforesaid." These articles, sometimes known as the "Compact of 1787," form the basis of the organization of the l^orthwestern Territory and of the several States into which it was subsequently divided. Although the original act of cession was adopted by Yirginia in 1784, it will be seen that it was three years later before Congress agreed upon a plan of government. The 26 THE NOETHWEST TEBEITOET. subject was one of serious and earnest discussion at various times. At one time a motion prevailed to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery. Another proposition was agreed to by which the territory was to be divided into States by parallels and meridian lines, making ten States which were to be named as follows: Sylvania, Michigania, Chersonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, lUenoia, Saratoga, "Washington, Polypotamia and Pelisipia. "When this plan was submitted to the legislatures of the States there were serious objections made, especially by Massachusetts and "y"ir- ginia. There were objections to the category of names, but the chief diffi- culty was the resolution of Congress of October 10th, 1780, which fixed the extent of each State at not less than one hundred nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square, or as near thereto as circumstances might admit. So the subject was again taken up in 1786, and discussed during that year and until July 12th, 1787, when the ordinance finally passed, as stated above. An act of territorial organization was approved August 7th, 1789. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor, and "William H. Harrison Secre- tary. In 1788 a town had been laid out by John Cleves Symmes at Fort Washington, and was named Losantiville, but afterward Cincinnati. The place was settled by persons from the New England "States and from New Jersey, but did not extensively improve until after Gen. "Wayne's defeat of the Indians in 1794. This became the seat of the new territorial govern- ment. The election of representatives for the territory was held February ■ith, 1799. As required by the ordinance of 1787, these representatives met at the seat of -the territorial government to nominate ten persons, out of which Congress was to appoint five to serve as the territorial council. The following persons were commissioned: Henry Vandenburg, of Yincennes; Eobert Oliver, of Marietta; James Findlay and Jacob Burnett, of Cincin- nati, and David Vance, of Yanceville. The first Territorial Legislature met September 16th, 1799, and on the 24:th both houses were duly organized, Henry Yandenburg being elected president of the council. On the 13th of October the legislature elected "Wm. Henry Harrison as delegate to Congress. He received eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of the Governor. At this session thirty-seven acts were passed and approved. Eleven other acts were passed which the Governor vetoed. The greater part of the legislation of the ses- sion related to the organization of the militia and to revenue matters. The session closed December 19th, 1799. President Adams appointed Charles Willing Bryd as secretary of the territory to succeed "Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to Congress, and the senate confirmed the nomination. James N. Yarnum, S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong were appointed to the judicial bencli of the territory in October, 1787. Having briefly outlined the legislation which resulted in the formation of a Territorial government, we return to notice some of the earlier American settlements in the Territory. As elsewhere stated, a few French settlements had been made by emigrants from Canada and Louisiana, on the Ohio river « and in the region laiown as the Illinois country, but it was not until after the Yirginia cession that any permanent American settlements were made. Then several treaties were made with the Indians, in which they relinquished their title to large portions of the territory. The government made several large grants to companies and individuals, for the purpose of colonizing the country. One of these was to a company from Massachusetts and Connecti- cut, called the New England Company, of a tract lying along the Ohio and THE NOETHWBST TEEEITOET. 27 Muskingum rivers, embracing 1,500,000 acres. Here the town of Marietta was laid out, in August, 178Y,at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers. Fort Harmar was built on the opposite, or west bank of the Mus- kingum, the year before. The New England Company sent its first party of settlers in the spring of 1788. They consisted of eight families, and some other persons, and all under the superintendency of Gen. Kufus Put- nam. The party, after a long and weary journey over the Alleghanies, and down the Ohio, arrived at Marietta on the 7th of April, 1788. This little band had the honor of being the pioneers of Ohio, unless the Moravian missionaries may be so regarded. The settlement was first known as the " Muskingum," but on the 2d of July, 1788, at a meeting of the directors and agents of the company, the name was changed to Marietta, in honor ot Marie Antoinette. In 1786, John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, visited the country be- tween the Miamies, and being pleased with its appearance, made application to the government for the purchase of a large tract of land, to be settled on similar conditions with those of the New England Company. The grant was made to Symmes and his associates the following year. Associated with Symmes, was Matthias Denman, also of New Jersey, who located, among other tracts in the Symmes purchase, the section upon which Cincinnati was laid out. Denman sold to Kobert Patterson and John Filson,each one- third of his location, retaining the other third himself. In August, 1788, they laid out the first portion of what, in a few years, became one of the great cities of the West. Fort "Washington was erected here in 1790, and was for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military govern- ments of the Northwestern Territory. There were but few settlers here until after 1794, when settlers began to arrive rapidly. In July, 1815, the population was 6,500. In October, 1796, the treaty was signed between the United States and Spain, which secured to the former the free navigation of the Mississippi. After this the Northwest began to settle rapidly. During the next year settlements were made at various points along the Miami and Scioto rivers, including those at Piqua and Chillicothe. In September, of the same year, the city of Cleveland was laid out. The great extent of the Northwestern Territory, and the rapid increase of population at the beginning of the new century, be^an to render the effi- cient action of the courts impossible ; and to remedy this evil a division of the Territory was proposed. A committee in Congress, to whom the mat- ter had been referred, on the 3d of March, 1800, reported in favor of two distinct territorial governments, and that the division be made by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami river, and running directly to the boimdary line between the United States and Canada. The report was accepted, and an act passed, which was approved May 7th, of the same year, making the division. It provided, among other things, that from and after the next 4th day of July, " all that part of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, which lies to the northward of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky river, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory." The same act provided, that until the Leg- islatures of the Territories, respectively, otherwise ordered, Chillicothe, on 28 THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. the Scioto river, should be the . seat of government of the Territory east of the line of division; and that Yincennes, on the Wabash river, should be the seat of government of the Indiana Territory. On the 3d of !N"ovember, of that year, the Territorial Legislature met at Chillicothe. William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of Indiana Territory, and entered upon his duties in 1801. The new Territory then embraced all that region now comprising the States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and that part of Minnesota east of the Mississippi river. Nearly^ the whole of it was at that time in the possession of the Indians. Soon after the arrival of Governor Harrison at Yincennes, he concluded several treaties with the In- dians, whereby large grants of land were obtained from the various tribes. By a treaty made at St. Louis, August 18th, 1804, he obtained a relinquish- ment of Indian title to over 51,000,000 of acres. The year before the gov- ernment had obtained Louisiana from France, by purchase, and that being divided, the "District of Louisiana" (the "New Korthwest") was annexed to Indiana Territory, thus extending Gov. Harrison's authority over a vast domain, occupied chiefly by savage tribes. By an act of Congress, of January 11th, 1805, Indiana Territory was di- vided into two separate governments, and the new Territory of Michigan formed. William Hull was appointed Governor of the new Territory, and Detroit was designated as the seat of government. On the 30th of June the Territorial government of Michigan was to go into operation. When Gov. Hull, and the other Territorial officers, reached Detroit, they found the place in ruins and the inhabitants scattered. On the 1 1th of that month a fire had destroyed almost every building in the place. Gov. Hull adopted a new plan for rebuilding the town, .and in population and importance it soon regained all it had lost by the fire. Other changes were subsequently made in the boundaries of the Western Territories, as new States were from time to time admitted into the Union, until finally, all that vast domain originally designated as the "Northwestern Territory" became sovereign States. THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. Discovery of the Mouth of the Mississippi — ^Foundinpf of New Orleans — ^French Grant — John Law — The "Mississippi Bubble" — Territory West of the Mississippi — France Cedes to Spain — Spain Cedes iBack to France — France Cedes to the United States — Right to Navigate the Mississippi — Particulars of the Negotiations With France — Extent of the Territory — Possession Taken by the United States — Division of the Territory. That vast region of territory once known as Louisiana, came under the jurisdiction of civilized men by the right of discovery — a right which has long been known and recognized among civilized nations, though often necessarily followed by conquest to render it effective. For two centuries the Spaniards had navigated the Gulf of Mexico, so far as we know, ignorant of the fact that it received the waters of one of the largest rivers of the world. About the year 1660 the French, who had re-established themselves in Canada, received some information of this great river, but did not discover its mouth until 1691, when, according to some authorities. La Sallo succeeded in reaching it. Iberville founded his first colony in 1699, but it did not assume importance until 171t, when the city of I^ew Orleans was founded. In 1712 Louis XIV of France granted to M. Crozart a charter to the whole territory of Louisiana, which was so named in honor of the king. Under THE NOETnWEST TEEEITOET. 29 the leadership of John Law, in 1716, a company was formed at Paris and incorporated as the "Mississippi Company," which purchased Louisiana from the crown. The financial disasters in France caused by Law brought about the failure of his Mississippi scheme, and the explosion of what is known in history as the "Mississippi bubble." Louisiana was then resumed by the crown, and the commerce of the Mississippi was declared free. The French retained possession until 1762, when they ceded it to Spain, includ- ing the whole country to the head waters of the great river and west to the Eocky Mountains. The jurisdiction of France, which had continued for nearly a century, thus ended, until in 1800 Bonaparte, then first consul, induced the Spanish government to cede it back to France. During the tinie that Louisiana remained a Spanish dependency, that government claimed the exclusive right of navigating the Mississippi river. The free navigation of that river was essential to the prosperity and commerce of the United States. Spain then having jurisdiction also over the Floridas east of the great river, and that river for several hundred miles flowing wholly through the Spanish dominions, the question of its navigation south of the southern boundary of the United States became a serious one to our govern- ment and people. The people in the western part of the United States especially demanded the free navigation of the river as a right. But Spanish military posts enforced the collection of duties on imports by way of the river for the upper region. Boats descending were forced to submit to reve- nue exactions by Spanish authorities. These exactions were a constant source of trouble and disaffection, and led to a threatening state of affairs between the United States and Spain. Spain, however, by the treaty of Madrid, October 20, 1795, conceded to the United States the free navigation ot the river from its source to the Gulf, and also the free use of the port of 'New Orleans for three years as a port of deposit. The treaty of Madrid, however, did not quiet all troubles between the United States and Spain. In 1802, during the administration of President Jefferson, there was some apprehension of a war growing out of the continued disputes respecting the southwestern boundary. These disputes had led to many difiiculties between the people of the United States and the Spanish authorities. These affairs, however, assumed a new aspect, when in the spring of 1802 the government of the United States received intelligence that, by a secret treaty made in October, 1800, Spain had ceded Louisiana to France. At this time Mr. Livingston was the United States Minister to France, and President Jefferson, soon after learning of the Spanish cession to France, wrote to Mr. Livingston in reference to acquiring the right to deposit at the port of New Orleans, and other matters which had been in dispute between the United States and Spain. In his annual message to Congress, in December of the same year, the President alluded to the subject of the Spanish cession to France. Congress passed resolutions asserting the right of navigating the Mississippi, and insisting upon the right to the use of a port or place of deposit. At that time it was understood in the United States that the Spanish cession to France included the Floridas, which, however, was not the case. The policy of the President was to enter into a treaty with France for the purchase of New Orleans and the Floridas, and with this view, on the 10th of January, 1803, he appointed James Monroe minister plenipotentiary to France to act in conjunction with Mr. Livingston. Mr. Monroe's nomination was confirmed by the senate. The instructions to the American ministers only asked for the cession of the city of New Orleans 30 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. and tlie Floridas, together -witli the free navigation of the Mississippi.^ The cession at this time of the entire Territory of Louisiana was not a subject of discussion. Mr. Monroe sailed from New York, March 8, 1803, and arrived in Paris April 1. Bonaparte was then first consul, and France was on the eve of a war with England. He supposed the American ministers were authorized to enter into more extended stipulations than they really were. Marquis de Marbois was directed to negotiate with the American ministers. Said the first con- sul to his minister, as recorded by the latter: "Irresolution and deliberation are no longer in season. I renounce Louisiana. It is not only New Orleans that I will cede; it is the whole col- ony, without any reservation. I know the price of what I abandon, and I have sufficiently proved the importance that I attach to this province, since my first diplomatic act with Spain had for its object the recovery of it. I renounce it with the greatest regret. To attempt to retain it would be folly. I direct you to negotiate this affair with the envoys of the United States. Do not even await the arrival of Mr. Monroe; have an interview this day with Mr. Livingston. But I require a great deal of money for this war, and I would not like to commence with new contributions. If I should regulate my terms, according to the value of these vast regions to the United States, the indemnity would have no limits. I will be moderate, in consideration of the necessity in which I am of making a sale. 'But keep this to yourself. I want fifty millions francs, and for less than that sum I will not treat; I would rather make a desperate attempt to keep those fine countries. To- morrow you shall have full powers. Mr. Monroe is on the point of arriving. To this minister the President must have given secret instructions, more extensive than the ostensible authorization of Congress, for the stipulation of the payments to be made. Neither this minister nor his colleague is prepared for a decision which goes infinitely beyond anything that they are about to ask of us. Begin by making them the overture without any sub- terfuge. You will acquaint me, day by day, hour by hour, of your progress. The cabinet of London is informed of the tneasures adopted at "Washington, but it can have no suspicion of those which I am now taking. Observe the greatest secrecy, and recommend it to the American ministers; they have not a less interest than yourself in conforming to this counsel. You will correspond with M. de Talleyrand, who alone knows my intentions. If I g.ttended to his advice, France would confine her ambition to the loft 'bank of the Rhine, and would only make war to protect any dismembei-ment of her possessions. But he also admits that the cession of Louisiana is not a dismemberment of France. Keep him informed of the progress of this affair." On the same day that Napoleon thus confided to Marbois his determina- tion, conferences began between the latter and Mr. Livingston. The Amer- ican minister had been in Paris about two years, endeavoring to obtain in- demnities claimed by American citizens for prizes made by the French during peace, but so far, without result further than vague answers. Mr. Livingston had become distrustful of the French government, and feared the Louisiana overtures were but an artifice to gain still further time. Soon after these preliminary discussions were entered upon, Mr. Monroe arrived in Paris, and the next day began his conferences with Marbois. Eapid pro- gress was made in the negotiations, for both sides had an interest in hasten- ing the matter. Mr. Monroe was surprised to hear the first overtures made THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 31 BO frankly by the Frencli minister, when he proposed to cede to the United States so vast a region of country, with the largest rivers of the world, in- stead of merely a town and an inconsiderable extent of territory. The offer embraced infinitely more than the American ministers were empowered to ask for, or accept. Their powers only extended to an arrangement respect- ing the left bank of the Mississippi, including New Orleans. But the mo- ment was a critical one with France, hostilities being about to commence with England. There was not time for further instructions from the gov- ernment of the United States before the opportunity would pass, perhaps forever. The American ministers therefore assumed the responsibility of treating for the purchase of the entire colony, or territory of Louisiana — an extent of country sufficient in itself for an empire. The terms were soon agreed upon. The United States was to pay tor this vast acquisition the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. In the treaty of October 1, 1800, be- tween France and Spain, the latter had reserved the right of preference in Base France should cede this territory to another power ; but here again France could not afford to wait. The treaty was concluded and subsequently submitted to the Spanish cabinet. They complained that no regard had been paid to their reserved right, and for almost a year that court delayed its approbation of the treaty. On the 10th of February, 1804, however, Don Pedro Cavallos, the Spanish minister, wrote to Mr. Pinckney, the American minister, that "His Catholic Majesty had thought fit to renounce his oppo- sition to the alienation of Louisiana made by France, notwithstanding the solid reasons on which it is founded, thereby giving a new proof of his be- Qcvolence and friendship to the United States." The important treaty that gave to the United States this vast region, with all its wonderful resources, was concluded on the 30th of April, 1803, and four days later the instru- ments, in French and English, were signed by the ministers. After affixing their signatures, the ministers rose and shook hands, each expressing his sat- isfaction with the result. Mr. Livingston said: "We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our whole lives. The treaty which we have just signed has not been obtained by art, or dictated by force ; equally advanta- geous to the two contracting parties, it will change vast solitudes into flour- ishing districts. From this day the United States take their place among the powers of the first rank ; the English lose all exclusive influence in the affairs of America." The first consul, who had followed the negotiation with a lively interest, acquiesced in the result, and said to Marbois : "It is true, the negotiation does not leave me anything to desire. Sixty millions [francs] for an occupa-- tion that will not, perhaps, last for a day ! I would that France should en- joy this unexpected capital, and that it may be employed in works beneficial to the marine. This accession of territory strengtnens forever the power of the United States ; and I have just given to England a maratime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride." On the 22d day of May, 1803, England commenced hostilities against France by the capture of some of her merchant vessels, and on the same day Bonaparte gave his formal ratification of the Louisiana treaty of cession. In July, the treaty was received in the United States, and on the 20th of October, 1803, it was ratified by the Senate, by twenty-four against seven votes. The country ceded by this treaty, as estimated at that time, exceeded a million of square miles, all occupied by savages, except a few sparse settle- ments, aggregating from 80,000 to 90,000 inhabitants, about 40,000 of whom were slaves. The whites were chiefly French, or descendants of French* 32 THE NORTHWEST TEEKITOKT. Congress, a few days after the ratification of tlie treaty by the Senate, passed an act making provision for the occupation and temporary government of the territory acquired. Eleven millions of dollars were appropriated as payment for the purchase— the remaining four millions being reserved, ac- cording to a stipulation in the treaty, to indemnify citizens of the United States who had sustained losses at the hands of the French. The resolution for carrying the treaty into effect was sustained by the House of Represen- tatives by a vote of ninety to twenty-five. Even before the acquisition of Louisiana, it had been a favorite object of President Jefferson to have an exploring expedition sent across the continent to the Pacific Ocean, and in January, 1803, he had recommended an appro- priation for that purpose. The appropriation was made, and the enterprise was placed under the direction of Captains Lewis and Clarke. The treaty with France, however, was ratified before the exploring expedition was ready to start. On the lith of May, 1804, Captains Lewis and Clarke, with their companions, consisting in all of thirty persons, left the banks of the Missis- sippi on their long and perilous voyage of two years and three months, to seek out and give to their country and the world some more accurate knowl- edge respecting this vast region of country, of which civilization at that time knew so little. The expedition was in every way successful, and the report made by Captains Lewis and Clarke enabled the government and peo- ple of the United States to form a better judgment of the immense value of the country acquired. It will be seen that the region acquired by the Louisiana purchase, com- Erehended not only the present State of Louisiana, but all the vast region etween the Mississippi river and the Pacific Ocean, and as far north as the British possessions. The great States of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Ne- braska, Kansas, the greater part of Minnesota, and several of our great Ter- ritories, are but parts of this purchase. On the 20th of December, 1803, in pursuance of authority given by act of Congress, Gov. Claiborne and Gen. Wilkinson took possession of the Loui- siana purchase, and raised the American flag at New Orleans. The Span- ish authorities there objected to the transfer, but early in 1804 they acqui- esced and withdrew. The newly acquired territory, by authority of Con- gress, was, on the first of October, 1804, divided as follows : All south of the 33d parallel of north latitude, was called the Territory of Orleans, and all north of that parallel became the District of Louisiana, and was placed under the authority of the officers of the then Indiana Territory. It so re- . mained until July 4, 1805, when the District of Louisiana was given a ter- ritorial government of its own. . In 1812, the Territory of New Orleans be- came the State of Louisiana, and the Territory of Louisiana become the Territory of Missouri. On the 4th of July, 1814, Missouri Territory was divided— that part comprising the present State of Arkansas, and the coun- try west, being organized as the Territory of Arkansas. In March, 1821, a part of Missouri Territory was organized as the State of Missouri, and ad- mitted into the Union. On the 28th of June, 1834, the territory west of the Mississippi river and north of Missouri, was made a part of the Terri- tory of Michigan, so remaining until July 4th, 1836, when Wisconsin Ter- ritory was organized. This embraced -^^rithin its limits the present States of Iowa, Wisconsi'- , and Minnesota. An act of Congress, approved June 12, 1838, created the Territory of Iowa, ambracing not only the present State of Iowa, but the greater part of the present State of Minnesota, and extending northward to the British Possessions. THE NORTHWEST TEBBITOBT. 33 34 THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOEY. INDIAN "WAES IN THE NOETHWEST. Gen. Harmar's Defeat— Gen. St. Clair— His Defeat— Gen. Warae—His Victory— His Treaties Witi the Indians— British Posts Surrendered — Death of Wayne — Gen. Harrison— Tecum- seh — The Prophet — Battle of Tippecanoe — ^Tecumseh's Alliance With the British — Harri- son Appointed Brigadier-General— Perry's Victory— Gen. McArthur — Battle of the Thames — Tecumseh KiUed— Peace With the Indians — Indian Titles Extinguished — Military Posts Established at Belle Point, Council Bluffs, and St. Peters— The Eicarees— Gen. Cass— Treaty at Fort Dearborn — Fort Atkinson — Grand Council at Prairie du Chien — Indian Outrages — The Militia Called Out— Gen. Atkinson — ^Policy of Removing the Indians West — Treaty With the Sacs and Poxes — ^Black Hawk — He Refuses to Comply With Treaties —Black Hawk War— Battle of Bad Axe— Gen. Henry Dodge— Black Hawk Captured- Taken to Washington — Keokuk — ^Black Hawk Purchase— Gen. Winfield Scott — Treaties at Davenport — Antoine Le Claire — Removal of Sacs and Foxes to Iowa — Gen. Street — Wapello— Maj. Beach — Sac and Fox Villages on the Des Moines — Gov. Lucas — Gov. Chambers— Visit of Hard-Fish to Burlington — An Incident — Speech of Keokuk. Almost every advance of civilization on the American continent has been made at the expense of more or less conflict and bloodshed at the hands of the savage tribes who were the occupants and owners of the soil prior to the advent of the white man. Passing over the conflicts of the colonists in the early settlements of the East, the later struggles of the pioneers of the " Dark and Bloody Ground," and the Indian wars of the South, we shall briefly refer to some of the troubles with the aborigines in the Northwest. "With the opening of the new country to white settlers it was necessary to establish military posts for the protection of the pioneers against the attacks of the Indians. In 1790, aU pacific means having failed with the tribes north of the Ohio, President Washington sent Gen. Harmar with a military force against them. After destroying several of their villages, he was defeated in two battles near the confliaence of the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers, and not far from the present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1781 Gen. Arthur St. Clair was promoted to the rank of major general, and was entrusted with a command against the hostile Miamis. On assuming his command, the last admonition of Washington was, " Beware of surprise." Gen. St. Clair marched with his troops to the vicinity of the Miami villages on the Mau- mee. On the 4th of November, 1791, he was surprised in camp on the St. Mary's river, and his force of 1400 ill disciplined men was cut to pieces. He soon after resigned his commission. In this defeat St. Clair's loss was about 600 men. The savages were greatly emboldened by their successes, and it was soon found that more vigorous measures were necessary. The Indians continued to commit outrages against the infant settlements. In some cases, doubtless, the whites were the aggressors, for Washington in his annual mes- sage of November 6, 1792, recommended more adequate measures "for re- straining the cominission of outrages upon the Indians, without which all facific plans must prove nugatory." Attempts were made to treat with the ndians, but the attempted negotiations proved unsuccessful. After the unsuccessful and disastrous campaigns of Generals Harmar and St. Clair, General Anthony Wayne, who had won distinguished laurels in the war of the Eevolution, was, in April, 1792, promoted to the rank of major General, and made commander-in-chief in the war against the western Indians, n August, 1794, he gained a signal victory over the Miamis, near the rapids of the Maumee, and compelled them to sue for peace. In the same year a fort was erected by his order on the site of the old "Twightwee Village" of the Miami tribe, where the city of Fort Wayne is now located. It continued to be a military post until 1819. THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 35 After Ms successful campaign of 1794, Gen. "Wayne was appointed sole commissioner to treat with the Indians, and also to take possession of the forts still held by the British in the Northwest. He negotiated the treaty of Greenville which was signed by all the principal chiefs of the Northwest. By this treaty the Indians relinquished their title to a large tract of country. That characteristic determination which, duiing the war of the Eevolution, had gained him the sobriquet of "Mad Anthony," impressed the hostile tribes with a dread of him which operated as a wholesome restraint. Gen. Wayne also took possession of the British posts in the Northwest, which were peaceably surrendered, in accordance with Jay's treaty, and from this time there was assurance of peace on the frontier. He died in the garrison at Presque Isle (Erie), Pa., December 14, 1796. From the date of Wayne's victory up to 1809 the whites maintained com- paratively peaceable relations with the Indians. During this year, Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory, entered into a treaty with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawattamies, Miamis, Eel River Indians and Weas, in which these tribes relinquished their title to certain lands on the Wabash river. About this time the noted chief Tecumseh comes into prom- inence as the bitter opponent of any more grants of land being made to the whites. Tecumseh was a chief of the Shawnees, bom on the Scioto river near Chillicothe, about the year 1770. It was said that he was one of three brothers who were triplets. The other two brothers were named Kum- shaka and Elskwatawa. Kumshaka is believed to have died while young, but Elskwatawa became the Prophet who co-operated with the chief in ^1 his plans. His father, Puckeshinwa, had risen to the rank of chief, but was killed at the battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. In 1795 Tecumseh was de- clared chief at or near where Urbana, Ohio, is now located. In 1798 he went to White river, Indiana, and his brother, the Prophet, to a tract of land on the Wabash. Tecumseh, by reason of his oratory, had great influ- ence over the savage tribes, and his plan was to unite all of them against the whites in a conspiracy, similar to that of Pontiac nearly half a century before. For this purpose he visited all the tribes west to the Mississippi, and upon Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. At the same time his brother, the Prophet, pretended to be directed by the Great Spirit to preach against the influence and encroachments of the white men. Their efibrts to incite the Indians to hostilities were successful, and they gathered a large force of war- riors, maldng their headquarters at a stream they called Tippecanoe, near the Wabash river. Meantime Gov. Harrison was watching the movements of the Indians, and being convinced of the existence of Tecumseh's grand conspiracy, had prepared to defend the settlements. In August, 1810, Tecumseh went to V incennes to confer with the Governor in relation to the grievances of the Indians, but demeaned himself in such an angry manner that he was dis- missed from the village. He returned to complete his plans for the conflict. Tecumseh delayed his intended attack, but in the meantime he was gather- ing strength to his cause, and by the autumn of 1811 had a force of several hundred warriors at his encampment on the little river called by the Indians Keth-tip-pe-ce-nunk, or Tippecanoe. Harrison, with a force of eight hun- dred men, partly regulars and partly volunteers, determined to move upon the Prophet's town, as it was called. He encamped near the village early in October, and on the night of the 5th of November his camp was furiously 36 THE NOETn\VEST TEEEITOET. but unsuccessfully attacked. On the morning of the 7th he was again attacked by a large body of the Indians, but Tecumseh's warriors were completely routed, but not without a severe and hotly contested battle, and the loss of about 200 of Harrison's men. President Madison, in a special message to Congress of December 12, 1811, speaking of this engagement, says: "While it is deeply lamented that so many valuable lives have been lost in the action which took place on the seventh ultimo. Congress will see with satisfaction the dauntless spirit and fortitude victoriously displayed by every description of the troops engaged, as well as the collected firmness which distinguished their commander on an occasion requiring the utmost exer- tions of valor and discipline. It may reasonably be expected that the good effects of this critical defeat and dispersion of a combination of savages, which appears to have been spreading to a greater extent, will be experi- enced, not only in the cessation of murders and depredations committed on our frontier, but in the prevention of any hostile excursions otherwise to have been apprehended." The result of the battle of Tippecanoe utterly ruined the plans of Tecum- seh, for his arrangements with the different tribes were not yet matured. He was greatly exasperated toward the Prophet for precipitating the war. Had Tecumseh himself been present it is likely the attack would not have been made. The defeated Indians were at first inclined to sue for peace, but Tecumseh was not yet conquered. The breaking out of the war with Great Britain at this time inspired hira with new hope, and his next endeavor was to form an alliance with the English. In this he succeeded, and was ap- fointed a brigadier general. He was entrusted with the command of all the udians who co-operated with the English in the campaigns of 1812-13, and was in several important engagements. After the surrender of Detroit by Gen. Hull, August 18, 1812, Har- rison was appointed to the commana of the Northwestern frontier, with a commission as brigadier general. As this was in Septenlber, too late in the season for a campaign, he did not assume active operations until the next year, by which time he was promoted to the rank of major general. After Commodore Perry won his signal victory on Lake Erie in September, 1813, Harrison hastened with his command to capture Maiden. On arriving there •, late in September he found that Proctor, the British general, had retreated. About the same time Gen. McArthur. took possession of Detroit and the Territory of Michigan. Pursuing the British army into the interior of Can- ada "West, Harrison overtook Proctor at the Moravian settlements, on the river Thames, on the 5th of October. The British general had an auxiliary force of two thousand Indians under the command ot Tecumseh. The battle was opened by the American cavalry under the command of Col. Eichard i[. Johnson, afterward vice-president of the United States. Early in the engagement Tecumseh was killed at the head of his column of Indians, who, no longer hearing the voice of their chief, fled in confusion. It has been claimed by some authorities that this celebrated chief was killed by Col. Johnson, who fired at him with a pistol. This, however, will remain one of the unsolved problems of history. The result of the battle was a com- plete victory for the Americans, with the capture of 600 prisoners, six pieces of cannon, and a large quantity of army stores. This decisive victory over the combined forces of the British and Indians practically closed the war in the Northwest, and as a consequence peace THE XOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 37 with the Indian tribes soon followed. Other treaties were negotiated with the Indians by which they gave up their title to additional large tracts of territory. The settlement of the country progressed rapidly, and again an era of apparent good wiU prevailed between the whites and Indians. By the end of the year 1817, the Indian title, with some moderate reservations, had been extinguished to the whole of the land within the State of Ohio, to a great part of that in Michigan Territory, and in the State of Indiana. In 1817 Gov. Oass, of Michigan, in conjunction with Gov. McArthur, of Ohio, obtained a cession of most of the remaining lands in Ohio with some adjoin- ing tracts in Indiana and Michigan, amounting in all to about 4,000,000 of acres, and in 1819 Gov. Oass met the Ohippewas at Saginaw and obtained a cession of lands in the peninsula of Michigan to the extent of about 6,000,000 of acres. The next year a treaty was made at Chicago, then nothing but a military post, called Fort Dearborn, with the Ohippewas, Ottawas and Potta- wattamies, by which a large additional tract was obtained, which completed the extinguishment of the Indian title to the peninsula of Michigan south of the Grand river. By 1820 a number of military posts were established far in the interior, and among them was one at Belle Point on the Arkansas, at Council Bluffs on the Missouri, at St. Peters on the Mississippi, and at Green Bay on the upper lakes. During the month of June, 1823, Gen. Ashley and his party, who were trading under a license from the government, were attacked by the Eicarees while trading with the Indians at their request. Several of the party were killed and wounded, and their property taken or destroyed. Col. Leaven- worth, who commanded Fort Atkinson at Council Bluffs, then the most western post, took immediate measures to check this hostile spirit of the Kicarees, fearing that it might extend to other tribes in that quarter and endanger the lives of traders on the Missouri. With a detachment of the regiment stationed at Council Bluffs, he successfully attacked the Eica- ree village. The hostile spirit, however, still continued and extended to the tribes on the upper Mississippi and the upper lakes. Several parties of citizens were plundered and murdered by those tribes during the year 1824. An act of Congress of May 25th of this year, made an appropriation to de- fray the expenses of making treaties of trade and friendship with the tribes west of the Mississippi, and another act of March 3, 1825, provided for the expense of treaties with the Sioux, Ohippewas, Menomonees, JSacs and Foxes, and other tribes, and also for establishing boundaries and promoting peace between them. These objects were in the main accomplished, and by the treaties made the government secured large acquisitions of territory. Gov. Cass, in conjunction with Gov. Clark, of Missouri, attended a grand council of the tribes this year at Prairie du Chien to carry out the purposes of the act of Congress last mentioned. During his continuance in office as Gov- ernor of Michigan Territory, Gov. Cass made, or participated in the making of nineteen treaties with the Indians, and by them acquired lands in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, to an amount equal to one-fourth of the entire area of those States, During the summer of 1827, when the commissioners appointed to carry into execution certain provisions of a treaty, made August 19th, 1825, with various northwestern tribes, were about to arrive at the appointed place of meeting, several citizens were murdered, and other acts of hostility jvere com- mitted, especially against the miners at Fever river, near Galena, by a party 38 THE NOETHWEST TEBEITOET. of the Winnebago tribe, which tribe was one of those associated in the trea^. To quell these outrages the , governors of the State of Illinois and the Territory of Michigan, made levies of militia. These forces, with a corps of seven hundred TJnited States troops, under the command of General Atkinson, repaired to the scene of danger. The Indians, overawed by the ap- pearance of the military, surrendered the perpetrators of the murders, and gave assurances of future good behavior. For many years it had been the policy of the government to obtain a re- linquishment of the title of the Indians to all lands within the limits of the States, and as rapidly as possible cause the removal of the tribes to territory beyond the Mississippi. In 1830 the Chickasaws and Choctaws, occupying portions of the -States of Alabama and Mississippi, agreed to remove, and in due time carried out their agreement in good faith. The same year a treaty was made with the Sacs and Foxes, by which they agreed to cede their lands to the TJnited States, and remove beyond the Mississippi. The prin- cipal village of these united tribes was located at the mouth of Eock river, on the east side of the Mississippi, near where the city of Rock Island now stands. Here had been an Indian village, according to tradition, for one hundred and fifty years. These tribes had owned and occupied the country bordering on the Mississippi, to an extent of seven hundred miles, from the mouth ot the Wisconsin almost to the mouth of the Missouri. The Indians did not seem disposed to comply promptly with the terms of the treaty, and one band, under the noted chief Black Hawk {Ma-Jca-tcd-me-sThe-Tcia-Mdlc), evinced a determination to keep possession of their old village. John Rey- nolds, Governor of Illinois, construed their continued residence in the ceded territory as an invasion of the State, and under his authority to protect the State from invasion, ordered out seven hundred militia to force their re- moval, according to the treaty. This interference of the governor of Illi- nois with the duties belonging to the Federal Government, obliged the com- mander of United States troops in that quarter to co-operate with him, in order to prevent a collision between the State militia and the Indians. Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, had been established as early as 1816, and when the Black Hawk trouble commenced, was in command of Gen. Atkinson. The Indians were overawed by this imposing military force, and yielding to necessity, crossed the Mississippi. Black Hawk, feeling exasperated at the harsh treatment his people had received, resolved to prosecute a predatory war against the white settlements. He united his band of Sacs and Foxes with the Winnebagoes, under the command of the Prophet Wabo-ki-e-shiek (White Cloud), and in March, 1832, recrossed to the east side of the Missis- sippi. They murdered a number of defenseless families, and committed many outrages upon the settlers. The whole frontier became alarmed, and many of the settlers fled for safety. The governor of Illinois ordered out the State militia, which being joined by four hundred regular troops, con- stituted a force of about one thousand, under the command of Gen. Atkin- son. They pursued the Indians, and after a campaign of about two months, during which two engagements were fought, the war was brought to an end. The last, and the decisive battle of the war, is known in history as the bat- tle of Bad Axe, being fought on a small tritjutary of the Wisconsin of that name. This battle took place August 2d, 1832, and the force against Black Hawk was commanded by Gen. Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin. Tlie Indians lost forty of their braves, and Gen. Dodge one. The Indians made but little THE NOETIIWEST TEEKITOEr. 39 further resistance, and Black Hawk's "Britisli Band," as it was styled, be- came demoralized aiid fled. They reached the Mississippi and were making preparations for crossing when they were checked by the captain of the, steamboat " "Warrior," who discharged a six-pounder at them, although they had displayed a flag of truce. The next morning Gen. Atkinson arrived with his army, and made an attack, which the Indians were now powerless to resist. Black Hawk escaped, but was taken by some treacherous Winne- bagoes, and delivered along with the Prophet, on the 27th of August, to Gen. Street, at Prairie du Ohien. Two of Black Hawk's sons, the Prophet and other leaders, were also taken, and by order of the government were con- veyed through the principal cities and towns on the seaboard, in order that thsy might be impressed with the greatness and power of the United States. For some time Black Hawk was held as a captive, and then through the in- tercession of Keokuk, who had been opposed to the war, and had not par- ticipated in the hostilities, he was allowed to return to Kock Island, and per- mitted to join his people. Treaties were made with the offending tribes by which they agreed to compensate for the expense of the war, by ceding a valuable part of their territory on the west side of the Mississippi, and to immediately remove from the east side. The United States stipulated to pay to the three tribes annually, thirty thousand dollars for twenty-seven years, and also to make other provisions for their improvement. By this treaty the United States acquired the first territory in Iowa which was opened to settlement. It is what is known as the " Black Hawk Purchase," and embraced a strip of territory extending from the northern boundary of Missouri to the mouth of the Upper Iowa river, about fifty miles in width, and embracing an area of about six millions of acres. This treaty was made on the 21st day df September, 1832, at a council held on the west bank of the Mississippi river, where the city of Davenport now stands. Gen. Win- field Scott and Gov. John Reynolds, of Illinois, represented the United States, and on the part of the Indians there were present Keokuk, Pashe- paho, and about thirty other chiefs and warriors of the Sac and Fox nation. Within the limits of this purchase was reserved a tract of 400 square miles, situated on Iowa river, and including Keokuk's village. This tract was known as "Keokuk's Eeserve," and was occupied by the Indians until 1836. when it was ceded to the United States. This treaty was negotiated by Gov. Henry Dodge, of Wisconsin Territory, and oa the part of the Indians Keo- kuk was the leading spirit. This council was also held on the banks of the Mississippi, near the site of the present city of Davenport. The treaty stip- ulated for the removal of the Indians to another reservation on the Des Moines river. On this an agency was established, where the present town of Agency City, in Wapello county, is located. Out of the " Black Hawk Purchase " was conveyed to Antoine Le Claire, who wras interpreter, and whose wife was an Indian, one section of land opposite Rock Island, and another at the head of the first rapids above the Island. General Joseph M. Street, the agent with the Winnebagoes at Prairie du Chien, was transferred to the Sac and Fox agency on the Des Moines river, and in 1838 took measures for building and- making the necessary improve- ments. In April, of the next year, he removed with his family from Prairie du Ohieh. His health soon began to fail, and on the 5th of May, 1840, Gen. Street died. Wapello, a prominent chief of the Sac and Fox nation, died in 1842. His remains were interred near those of Gen. Steeet. The .stone slabs placed over their graves soon after, are inscribed as follows: 40 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOKT. In Memoet of GEN. JOSEPH M. STEEET, Son of Anthony and Molly Street. Born Oct. 18th, 178%, m Yirgvrda; Died at the Sao and Fox Agency, MoAj 5th, 181)0. In Memoet oe WA-PEL-LO, Bom at PraJvrie du Chien, 1787 : Died near the Forks of Skunk, Ma/roh 15th, 181)2 — Sac and Fox Nation. Wapello had requested that at his death his remains be interred near those of Gen. Street. After the death of Gen. Street, Maj. John Beach, his son-in-law, received the appointment as agent for the Sacs and Foxes, and filled the position to the satisfaction of the government. Major Beach was bom at Gloucester, Massachusetts, Feb. 23d, 1812. After a course of study at Portsmouth Academy, in l^ew Hampshire, he' received at the age of sixteen, the appoint- ment of cadet at the West Point Military Academy, graduating in the class of 1832. Eeceiving his commission as Second Lieutenant by brevet in the First U. S. Infantry, of which Zachary Taylor was then colonel, he was or- dered to duty on the frontier, and was alternately stationed at Fort Arm- strong, Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, and Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis. His hearing having partially failed, in 1838, he resigned his com- mission in the army, and was, at the time of his appointment as Indian agent, engaged in the U. S. Land Office at Dubuque. He remained at Agency City, engaged in mercantile and literary pursuits until his death which occurred August 31st, 1874. ' At the time of Gen. Street's death, the Indians were occupying their res- ervation with their permanent, or spring and summer villages, as follows : Upon the banks of the Des Moines, opposite the mouth of Sugar Creek, was the village of Keokuk, and above were those of Wapello and Appa- noose. The village of Hardfish, or Wish-e-co-me-que, as it is in the Indian tongue, was located in what is now the heart of Eddyville, where J. P. Eddy was licensed by Maj. Beach, the agent, in the summer of 1840, to establish a ti-ading post. Not far from the " Forks of Skunk " was a small village presided over by Eish-ke-kosh, who, though not a chief, was a man of con- siderable influence. Poweshiek, a Fox chief of equal rank with Wapello, still had a village on the bank of Iowa river. It has been remarked above that Keokuk, who was the chief next in au- thority and influence to Black Hawk, was opposed to the war against the whites, and persistently refused to take part in the hostilities. When Black Hawk's attempt to defy the power of the United States resulted so disas- trously to the Indians, and they were obliged to cede still more territory, his influence among his people declined, and that of Keolcuk increased. Black Hawk, however, retained a party of adherents, and for some time a THE KOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 41 sort of rivalry existed between the two cMefs, and tliis feeling was shared to some extent by their respective friends in the tribes. An incident is rela- ted by Maj. Beach to show how the traders were ready to take advantage of this state of things for their own mercenary purposes. When Gen.B[arrison became President in 1841, John Chambers, an ex- congressman of Kentucky, was appointed Governor of the Territory, suc- ceeding Gov. Robert Lucas. The governor was ex-officio superintendent over the Indians and their agencies. Gov. Lucas had favored the Black Hawk band, whose chief was Hardfish. Accordingly when the new gov- ernor was appointed, both Keokuk and Hardfish felt that it would be some- thing of an object to gain his favor. The latter desired the new governor to pursue the policy of his predecessor, while Keokuk wished at least an impartial course. Keokuk requested the consent of the agent for him and his principal men to visit the governor at Burlington. As it was the policy of the government to discountenance such pilgrimages of the Indians, Maj. Beach suggested that Gov. Chambers might see proper to visit them at the agency. With this expectation Keokuk chose to wait. The Hardfish band, under the influence of some of the traders, were less patient. They hast- ened to Burlington in a large body, and on their arrival encamped near the town, sending to the governor a written notice of their presence, and a request for supplies. The governor answered, declining to accede to their request, or to hold a council with them. Hardfish and his men returned over their weary journey of seventy miles to the agency, very much dis- appointed. In the meantime the governor communicated with Major Beach, informing him that he would visit the agency soon, and requesting him to use his influence to prevent the Indians from making incursions through the white settlements. "When the governor fixed his time to be present, the bands were all informed, and it was arranged that a grand coun- cil should be held. "When the day arrived all the Indians, except the Pow- eshiek band of Foxes, who were so far away on the Iowa river, were en- camped within a convenient distance from the agency. Long before the hour fixed for the meeting, the Hardfish party, arrayed in all their toggery, and displaying their richest ornaments, came in grand procession upon the ground. Having dismounted from their ponies, they formed in file on foot and marched into the agency headquarters, where the governor was to receive them. Hardfish and some of his principal men shook hands with the gov- ernor and then sat down. The reader will remember that at this time the nation was in mourning for the sudden loss of a President by death, and that Gov. Chambers had been one of the warmest and most devoted friends of Gen. Harrison, a fact of which Keokuk was fully advised. Chambers had been aid-de-camp to Gen. Harrison in the war of 1812, and they had ever after been as father and son. Keokuk was shrewd enough to make the most of this. The appointed hour for the meeting had passed, and the governor began to become impatient for the appearance of Keokuk. At last the sounds of the approaching bands were heard faintly floating upon the breeze. After a time the procession marched with slow and solemn tread into view, not ar- rayed in gaudy feathers, ribbons and trinkets, like the Hardfish band, but with lances and staves wrapped around with wilted grass. No sound of bells responded to the tramp of their ponies, and instead of being painted in Vermillion, their faces presented the sombre hues produced by a kind of clay they were wont to use on occasions of solemnity or mourning. Their 42 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. appearace betokened sadness and affliction. Mr. Josiah Smart, the interpre- ter, informed Gov. Chambers that this was a funeral march, and that some one of their principal men must have died during the night. Even Hard- fish and his men were at a loss to account for what they saw, and wondered who could have died. At last Keokuk and his men dismounted and filed slowly and solemnly into the presence of the governor. Keokuk signed to the interpreter, and said : " Say to our new father that before I take his hand, I wiU explain to him what all this means. We were told not long ago that our Great Father was dead. We had heard of him as a great war chief, who had passed much of his life among the red men and knew their wants, and we believed that we would always have friendship and justice at his hands. His death has made us very sad, and as this is our first opportunity, we thought it would be wrong if we did not use it, to show that the hearts of his red children, as well as his white, know how to mourn over their great loss; and we had to keep our father waiting while we performed that part of our mourning that we must always attend to before we leave our lodges with our dead." At the conclusion of this speech, Keokuk steppped forward and extended his hand. The hearty grasp of the governor showed that the wily chief had touched the proper cord. The result was, that the Hardfish band received no special favors after that, at the expense of the other bands. SKETCHES OF BLACK HAWK Al^D OTHER CHIEFS. Black Hawk— Treaty of 1804— Black Hawk's account of the Treaty— Lieut. Pike— Ft. Ed- wards — Ft. Madison — Black Hawk and the British — Keokuk recog^nized as Chief— Ft. Armstrong— Sac and Fox Villages — Black Hawk's " British Band " — Black HawkWar— Black Hawk's old age— His death in Iowa— His remains carried away, but recovered— Keokuk — Appanoose — Wapello — Poweshiek — Pash-e-pa-ho — Wish-e-co-ma-que — Chas- chun-ca — Mau-haw-gaw— Ma-has-kah — Si-dom-i-na-do-tah — Henry Lott — A Tragedy in Humboldt County— Ink-pa-du-tah — Spirit Lake Massacre — Expedition from Ft. Dodge- Death of Capt. Johnston and WiQiam Burkholder. BLACK HAWK. Tuis renowned chief, the "noblest Eoman of them all," was born at the Sac village on Eock river, about the year 1767. His first introduction to the notice of the whites seems to have been in 1804, when William Henry Harrison, then the Governor of Indiana Territory, concluded his treaty with the Sac and Fox nation for the lands bordering on Eock river. Black Hawk was then simply a chief, though not by election or inheritance, of his own band of Sac warriors, but from that time he was the most prominent man in the Sac and Fox nation. He considered the action of the four chiefs who represented the Indians in making this treaty as unjust and refused to con- sider it binding. The territory ceded embraced over fifty-one millions of acres, extending almost from opposite St. Louis to the Wisconsin river. He claimed that the chiefs or braves who made the treaty had no authority to make it, and that they had been sent to St. Louis, where the treaty was negotiated, for quite a difierent purpose, namely: to procure the release of one of their people who was held there as a prisoner on charge of killing a white man. The United States regarded this treaty as a bona fide transac- tion, claiming that the lands were sold by responsible men of the tribes, and that it was further ratified by a part of the tribes with Gov. Edwards and THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 43 Augusts Choteau, in September, 1815, and again with tliQ same commis- sioners in 1816. They claimed that the Indians were only to occupy the lands at the Sac village on Rock river until they were surveyed and sold by the government, when they were to vacate them. The treaty of St. Louis was signed by five chiefs instead of four, although Black Hawk claimed that the latter number only were sent to St. Louis for a different puipose. One of these was Pash-e-pa-ho, a head chief among the Sacs. Black Hawk him- self thus describes the return of the chiefs to Kock Island after the treaty: " Quash-qua-me and party remained a long time absent. They at length returned, and encamped a short distance below the village, but did not come up that day, nor did any person approach their camp. They appeared to be dressed in fine coats, and had medals. From these circumstances we were in hopes that they had brought good news. Early the next morning the council lodge was crowded. Quash-qua-me came up and said that on their arrival in St. Louis they met their American father, and explained to him their business, and urged the release of their friend. The American chief told them he wanted land, and that they had agreed to give him some on the west side of the Mississippi, and some on the Illinois side, opposite the Jeffreon; that when the business was all arranged, they expected their friend released to come home with them. But about the time they were ready to start, their friend was let out of prison, who ran a short distance, cmd was shot dead! This was all myself or nation knew of the treaty of 1804. It has been explained to me since. I find, by that treaty, that all our country east of the Mississippi, and south of the Jeffreon, was ceded to the United States for one thousand dollars a year!" The treaty was doubtless made in good faith on the part of the commis- sioners, and with the full conviction that it was by authority of the tribes. From this time forward Black Hawk seems to have entertained a distrust of the Americans. Although Spain had ceded the country west of the Mississippi to France in 1801, the former power still held possession until its transfer to the United States by France. Black Hawk and his band were at St. Louis at this time, and he was invited to be present at the ceremonies connected with the change of authorities. He refused the invitation; and in giving an account of the transaction, said: " I found many sad and gloomy faces, because the United States were about to take possession of the town and country. Soon after the Americans came, I took my band and went to take leave of our Spanish father. The Americans came to see him also. Seeing them approach, we passed out of one door as they entered another, and immediately started in our canoes for our village on Eock river, not liking the change any more than our friends appeared to at St. Louis. On arriving at our village, we gave the news that strange people had arrived at St. Louis, and that we should never see our Spanish father again. The information made all our people sorry." In August, 1805, Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike ascended the river from St. Louis, for the purpose of holding councils with the Indians, and selecting sites for military posts within the country recently acquired from France. At the mouth of Eock river he had a personal interview with Black Hawk, the latter being favorably impressed with the young lieutenant. Speaking of this interview. Black Hawk himself said: "A boat came up the river with a young American chief, and a small party of soldiers. We heard of them soon after they passed Salt river. 44 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. Some of our young braves watched them every day, to see what sort of peo- ple he had on board. The boat at length arrived at Kock Island, and the young chief came on shore with his interpreter, and made a speech, and gave us some presents. We, in turn, presented them with meat and such other provisions as we had to spare. We were well pleased with the young chief. He gave us good advice, and said our American father would treat us well." Lieut. Pike's expedition was soon followed by the erection of Fort Ed- wards and Fort Madison, the former on the site of the present town of Warsaw, Illinois, and the. latter on the site of the present town of Fort Madison, Iowa. When these forts were being erected, the Indians sent down delegations, headed by some of their chiefs, to have an interview with the Americans. Those who visited Fort Edwards returned apparently satisfied with what was being done. The erection of Fort Madison they claimed was a violation of the treaty of 1804. In that treaty the United States had agreed that if "any white persons should form a settlement on their lands, such intruders should forthwith be removed," Fort Madison was erected within the territory reserved for the Indians, and this they considered an intru- sion. Some time afterward a party under the leadership of Black Hawk and Pash-e-pa-ho attempted its destruction. They sent spies to watch the movements of the garrison. Five soldiers who came out \yere fired upon by the Indians, and two of the soldiers were killed. They kept up the attack for several days. Their efforts to destroy the fort being unsuccessful, they retiirned to Pock river. When the war of 1812 broke out, Black Hawk and his band allied them- selves with the British, which was the origin of his party, at a later date, being known as the "British Band." In narrating the circumstances which induced him to join the British, he says: " Several of the chiefs and head men of the Sacs and Foxes were called upon to go to Washington to see the Great Father. On their return they rdated what had been said and done. They said the Great Father wished them, in the event of a war taking place with England, not to interfere on either side, but to remain neutral. He did not want our help, but wished us to hunt and support our families and live in peace. He said that British traders would not be permitted to come on the Mississippi to furnish us with goods, but that we should be supplied by an American trader. Our chiefs then told him that the British traders always gave them credit in the fall for guns, powder and goods to' enable us to hunt and clothe our families. He replied that the trader at Fort Madison would have plenty of goods ; that we should go there in the fall, and he would supply us on credit, as the British traders had done." According to Black Hawk, this proposition pleased his people, and they went to Fort Madison to receive their promised outfit for the winter's hunt, but notwithstanding the promise of the Great Father, at Washington, the trader would not give them credit. In reference to their disappointment. Black Hawk says: "Few of us slept that night; all was gloom and discontent. In the morn- ing a canoe was seen descending the river; it soon arrived, bearing an ex- press, who brought intelligence that a British trader had landed at Pock Island, with two boats loaded with goods, and requested us to come up im- mediately, because he had good news for us, and a variety of presents. The express presented us with tobacco, pipes and wampum. The news ran THE NORTHWEST TEEBITOKT. 45 tliroTigh onr ieamp like fire on a prairie. Our lodges were soon taken down, and all started for Eock Island. Here ended all hopes of our remaining at peace, having been forced into the war by being deceived." Black Hawk and his band then espoused the cause of the British, who, as in the case of Tecnmseh, gave him the title of " Gen. Black Hawk." But a large portion of the Sacs and Foxes, at the head of whom was Keokuk, chose to remain neutral, as weU as to abide by the treaiy of 1804. Of this party Keokuk was the recognized chief. The nation was divided into the "war party" and " peace party." Black Hawk maintained his fidelity to the British until the end of the war, and was the- intimate friend and sup- porter of Tecumseh, until the death of the latter at the battle of the Thames. At the close of the war of 1812, Black Hawk returned to his village on Eock river, to find Keokuk still the friend of the Americans, and the recog- nized war chief of that portion of the Sac and Fox nation which had re- mained neutral. As stated elsewhere, a new treaty was concluded in Sep- tember, 1815, in which, among other matters, the treaty of St. Louis was rati- fied. This treaty was not signed by Black Hawk, or any one representing his band, but was signed by chiefs of both the Sacs and Foxes, who were fully author- ized to do so. This treaty was held at Portage des Sioux,and was a result of the war of 1812, with England. In May, 1816, another treaty was held at St. Louis, in which the St. Louis treaty of 1804 was recognized. This treaty was signed by Black Hawk and twenty other chiefs and braves. The same year Fort Armstrong was erected upon Eock Island, a proceeding very dis- tasteful to the Indians. Of this Black Hawk says: " We did not, however, object to their building the fort on the island, but we were very sorry, as this was the best island on the Mississippi, and had long been the resort of our young people during the summer. It was our gar- den, like the white people have near their big villages, which supplied us with strawberries, blackberries, plums, apples and nuts of various kinds; .and its waters supplied us with pure fish, being situated in the rapids of the river. In my early life, I spent many happy days on this island. A good spirit had care of it, who lived in a cave in the rocks, immediately under the place where the fort now stands, and has often been seen by our people. He was white, with large wings like a swan's, but ten times larger. We were particular not to make much noise in that part of the island which he inhabited, for fear of disturbing him. But the noise of the fort has since driven him away, and no doubt a bad spirit has since taken his place." The expedition which was sent up the river to erect a fort at or near Eock Island, consisted at first of the Eighth United States Infantry, and started from St. Louis in September, 1815, under the command Col. E. C. Nichols. They reached the mouth of the Des Moines, where they wintered. In April, 1816, Gen. Thomas A. Smith arrived and took command of the expedition. They reached Eock Island on the 10th of May, and, after a careful exami- nation, the site for the fort was selected. The regiment being left under the command of Col. Lawrence, the work on the fort immediately commenced. It was named in honor of John Armstrong of New York, who had recently been Secretary of War. After the establishment of the fort and garrison at Eock Island settlements began to be made at and near the mouth of Eock river, on the east side of the Mississippi. Keokuk, as the head chief of the Foxes, with his tribe, in accord- ance with the treaties they had made with the United States, left in 1828 and established themselves on Iowa river, but Black Hawk and his "British 46 THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET, Band" of about 500 warriors remained in their village and persistently refiised to leave. The settlers began to complain of frequent depredations at the hands of Black Hawk's people, and feared that the neighboring tribes of Kickapoos, Pottawattamies, and Winnebagoes, might be induced to join Black Hawk in a war of extermination. Finally, in the spring of 1831, Black Hawk warned the settlers to leave. These troubles culminated in the " Black Hawk "War," and the final capture of the chief and some of his prin- cipal men, as related elsewhere. The Black Hawk "War ended hostilities with the Indians at or near Rock Island. A garrison, however, was main- tained there until 1836, when the troops were sent to Fort Snelling. The fort was left in charge of Lieut. John Beach, with a few men to take care of the property. After his capture. Black Hawk and several of his principal men were taken to Jefferson Barracks, where they were kept until the the spring of 1838. They were then sent to Washington, where they arrived on the 22d of April, and on the 26th were confined in Fortress Monroe. On the 4th of June, 1833, they were set at liberty by order of the government and per- mitted to return to their own country. In the fall of 1837 Black Hawk, accompanied by Keokuk, "Wapello, Powe- shiek, and some forty of the principal chiefs and braves of the Sac and Fox nations, again visited "Washington, in charge of Col. George Davenport, who by his influence with the Indians assisted the government in making another large purchase of territory in Iowa. This tract adjoined the " Black Hawk Purchase," and embraced 1,250,000 acres. After Black Hawk's release from captivity in 1833, he seemed unwilling to reside in any of the villages of the tribe. His band was broken up and dispersed, as stipulated in the treaty of peace, and he seemed to seek seclu- sion from his people. While the garrison remained at Pock Island, he usually lived near it, and often put up his wigwam close to the fort, where his vision could take in the beautiful country on the east bank of the Missis- sippi, which had been his home for more than half a century. But the time came when he must go with his people to the new reservation on the banks of the Des Moines. He was then in the waning years of his life, and the other chiefs of the nation seemed disposed to pay him but little attention. His family consisted of his wife, two sons and one daughter. He established his lodge on the east bank of the Des Moines, about three miles below the site of the present town of Eldon. Gen. Street presented the family witli a cow, which was a piece of property which exacted much solicitude and care at the hands of Madame Black Hawk. His lodge was near the trading post of Wharton McPherson; and James Jordan, who was also at that time con- nected with the post, had his cabin within a few rods of Black Hawk's lodge. This was in the summer of 1838, and the old chief who had defied the power of the United States and caused the expenditure of millions of treasure to subdue him, was nearing his departure for a final remove beyond the power of earthly governments. Near his lodge, on the bank of the river, stood a large elm tree, with its spreading branches overhanging the stream, and flowing from its roots was a crystal spring of pure water. Here during the sultry summer days of that year Black Hawk was wont to repose and dream over the years of his former greatness and the wrongs that his people had suffered. At last, on the 3d of October, 1838, death came to his relief, and, according to the Indian idea, his spirit passed away to the happy hunt- ing grounds. THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 47 The remains of Black Hawk were interred by his family and friends near his cabin on the prairie, a short distance above the old town of lowaville. The body was placed on a board, or slab, set up in an inclining position, with the feet extending into the ground some fifteen inches and the head elevated above the surface some three feet or more. This was enclosed by placing slabs around it with the ends resting on the ground and meeting at the top, forming a kind of vault. The whole was then covered with dirt and neatly sodded. At the head of the grave was placed a flag-staff thirty feet high, from which floated the American flag until it was worn out by the wind. Interred with the body were a number of his prized and long-treasured relics, including a military suit presented by Jackson's cabinet; a sword pre- sented by Jackson himself; a cane presented by Henry Olay, and another by a British officer ; and three silver medals — one presented by Jackson, one by John Quincy Adams, and the other by citizens of Boston. !N"ear the grave a large post was set in the ground, on which were inscribed in Indian characters, emblems commemorating many of his heroic deeds. The Save and flag-staff were enclosed by a rude picket fence in circular form, ere the body remained until July, 1839, when it disappeared. On com- plaint being made by Black Hawk's family, the matter was investigated, and it was finally traced to one Dr. Turner, who then resided at a place called Lex- ington, in Van Buren county. The remains had been taken to Illinois, but at the earnest request of Black Hawk's relatives. Gov. Lucas interposed and had them sent to Burlington. The sons were informed that the remains were in Burlington and went to that place to obtain them. While there it was suggested to them that if taken away they would only be stolen again, and they concluded to leave them where they thought they might be more safely preserved. They were finally placed in a museum in that city, and years after, with a large collection of other valuable relics, were destroyed by the burning of the building. In the meantime the relatives of the renowned chief removed westward with the rest of the tribe, and were finally lost to all knowledge of the white man. KEOKUK. Keokuk ("Watchful Fox) belonged to the Sac branch of the nation, and was bom on Eock river, in 1780. He was an orator, but was also entitled to rank as a warrior, for he possessed courage and energy, but at the same time a cool judgment. He had an intelligent appreciation of the power and greatness of the United States, and saw the futility of Black Hawk's hope to contend successfully against the government. In his first battle, while young, he had killed a Sioux, and for this he was honored with a feast hj his tribe. At the beginning of the Black Hawk "War an affair transpired which was dignified by the name of the "Battle of StiUman's Eun," in which some three hundred volunteers under Maj. Stillman took prisoners five of Black Hawk's men who were approaching with a flag of truce. One of the prisoners was shot by StiUman's men. Black Hawk had also sent five other men to follow the bearers of the flag. The troops came upon these and killed two of them. The other three reaSied their camp and gave the alarm. ' Black Hawk's warriors then charged upon StiUman's advancing troops and completely routed them. This failure to respect the flag of truce so exasperated the Indians that it was vdth great difficulty that Keokuk could restrain his war- riors from espousing the cause of Black Hawk. StiUman's defeat was fol- 48 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. lowed by a war-dance, in which Keokuk took part. After the dance he called a council of war, and made a speech in which he admitted the justice of their complaints. The hlood of their brethren slain by the white men, while bearing a flag of truce, called loudly for vengeance. Said he: " I am your chief, and it is my duty to lead you to battle, if, after fully con- sidering the matter, you are determined to go. But before you decide on taldng this important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances of success. But if you do determine to go upon the war path, I will agree to lead you on one condition, viz.: that before we go we wiU kill all our old men and our wives and our children, to save them from a lingering death of starvation, and that every one of us determine to leave our homes on the other side of the Mississippi." Keokuk so forcibly portrayed in other parts of this speech the great Eower of the United States, and of the hopeless prospect before them, that is warriors at once abandoned all thought of joining Black Hawk. The name Keokuk signified "Watchful Fox. As we have seen, he eventu- ally superseded Black Hawk, and was recognized by the United States as the principal chief of the Sac and Fox nation, which, indeed, had much to do in stinging the pride of the imperious Black Hawk. In person he was strong, gaceful and commanding, with fine features and an intelligent countenance, e excelled in horsemanship, dancing, and all athletic exercises. He was courageous and skillful in war, but mild and politic in peace. He had a son, a fine featured, promising boy, who died at Keokuk's village On the Des Moines. Keokuk himself became somewhat dissipated during the later years of his life in Iowa. It was reported that after his removal with nis people to the Indian Territory west of the Mississippi, he died of deHrmm tremens. Iowa has honored his memory in the name of one of her counties, and one of her principal cities. APPANOOSE. Appanoose was a chief who presided over a band of the Sacs. His name, in the language of that tribe, signified "A Chief When a Child," indicating that he inherited his position. It was said he was equal in rank with Keo- kuk, biit he did not possess the infiuence of the latter. He was one of the " peace chiefs " during the Black Hawk "War. Buring the last occupation of Iowa soil by the Sacs and Foxes, Appanoose had his village near the site of the present city of Ottumwa. His people cultivated a portion of the ground on which that city is located. He was one of the delegation sent to Washing- ton in 1837, at which time he visited with the other chiefs the city of Boston, where they were invited to a meeting in Fanueil Hall. . On that occasion he made the most animated speech, both in manner and matter, that was deliv- ered by the chiefs. After Keokuk had spoken, Appanoose arose and said:, "Tou have heard just now what my chief has to say. All our chiefs and warriors are very much gratified by our visit to this town. Last Saturday they were invited to a great house, and now they are in the great council- house. They are very much pleased with so much attention. This we can- not reward you for now, but shall not forget it, and hope the Great Spirit will reward you for it. This is the place which our forefathers once inhabi- ted. I have often heard my father and grandfather say they lived near the sea-coast where the white man first came. I am glad to hear all this from you. I suppose it is put in a book, where you learn aU these things. As far as I can understand the language of the white people, it appears to me THE K0KTHWE8T TEEEITOKT. 49 IKDIAm TETIITG A PEISOIfEE. 50 THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. that the Americans have attained a very high rank among the white people. It is the same with us, though I say it myself. Where we live beyond the Mississippi, I am respected by all people, and they consider me the tallest among them. 1 am happy that two great men meet and shake hands with each other." As Appanoose concluded his speech, he suited the action to the word by extending his hand to Gov. Everett, amid the shouts of applause from the audience, who were not a little amused at the self-complacency of the orator. But few of the incidents in the life of this chief have passed into history. His name has been perpetuated in that of one of the Iowa counties. WAPELLO. "Wapello, or "Waupellow, was one of the minor chiefs of the Sac and Fox Nation. He was born at Prairie du Ohien, in 1787. At the time of the erection of Fort Armstrong (1816) he presided over one of the three prin- cipal villages in that vicinity. His village there was on the east side of the Imssissippi, near the foot of Kock Island, and about three miles north of the famous Black Hawk village. In 1829 he removed his village to Musca- tine Slough, and then to a place at or near where the town of Wapello, in Louisa county, is now located. Like Keokuk, he was in favor of abiding by the requirements of the treaty of 1804, and opposed the hostilities in which Black Hawk engaged against the whites. He was one of the chiefs that visited Washington in 1837, and his name appears to several treaties relinquishing lands to the United States. He appears to have been a warm personal friend of Gen. Jos. M. Street, of the Sac and Fox agency, and made a request that at his death his remains be interred along side of those of Gen. Street, which request was complied with. He died near the Forks of Skunk river, March 15th, 1842, at the age of 55 years. His remains, with those of Gen. Street, repose near Agency City, in the county which honors bis memory with its name. The two graves and the monuments have re- cently been repaired by parties connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Kailroad, whose line passes within a few rods of them. POWESHIEK. Poweshiek was a chief of the same rank with Wapello, and near the same age. He also was one of the chiefs who visited Washington in 1837. When the greater portion of the Sac and Fox nation removed to the Des Moines river, he retained his village on the Iowa river, where he presided over what was known as the Musquawkie band of the Sacs and Foxes. In May, 1838, when Gen. Street organized a party to examine the new purchase made the fall before, with a view of selecting a site for the agency, the expedition was accompanied by about thirty braves, under the command of Poweshiek. At that time the Sacs and Foxes were at war with the Sioux, and after leav- ing their reservation these men were very fearful that they might be sur- prised and cut off by the Sioux. A small remnant of his band make their homo on Iowa river, in Tama county, at this time. He also remained the friend of the whites during the Black Hawk war, and the people of Iowa have honored his memory by giving his name to one of their counties. THE NOETHWEST TEERITOET. 51 PASH-E-PA-HO. Pash-e-pa-ho, called also the Stabbing Obief, at the time of the treaty of 1804, and until after the Black Hawk war, was head chief among the Sacs. He was also present in St. Louis at the making of that treaty, and was even then well advanced in years. It has been related that he laid a plan to at- tack Fort Madison, not long after its erection. His plan was to gain an entrance to the fort with concealed arms under their blankets, under a pre- tense of holding a council. A squaw, however, had secretly conveyed intel- ligence to the commandant of the garrison of the intended attack, so that the troops were in readiness for them. When Pash-e-pa-ho and his warriors ad- vanced in a body toward the closed gate, it suddenly opened, revealing to the astonished savages a cannon in the passage-way, and the gunner stand- ing with lighted torch in hand ready to fire. Pash-e-pa-ho deemed " discre- tion the better part of valor ", and retreated. Some time after the plot against Fort Madison, Pash-e-pa-ho made an at- tempt to obtain a lodgement in Fort Armstrong, though in quite a different way. Several of his braves had the year before, while out hunting, fell in with a party of their enemies, the Sioux, and had lifted several of their scalps. The Sioux complained of this outrage to the Department at Washington, and orders were issued demanding the surrender of the culprits. They were accordingly brought and retained as prisoners in Fort Armstrong, where they had comfortable quarters and plenty to eat during the winter. Having fared sumptuously fo;r several months, without effort on their part, they were re- leased on the payment of a small amount out of the annuities of their tribes, to the Sioux. The next fall Pash-e-pa-ho thought he might avoid the trouble of stocldng his larder for the winter. So he voluntarily called on the com- mandant of Fort Armstrong, and informed him that while on a recent hunt he had unfortunately met a Sioux, and had yielded to the temptation to get his scalp. He confessed that he had done a very wrongful act, and wished to save the Great Father at Washington the trouble ot sending a letter or- dering his arrest; therefore he would surrender himself as a prisoner. The commandant saw through his scheme to obtain comfortable quarters and good boarding for the winter, and so told him he was an honorable Indian, and that his voluntary offer to surrender himself was a suflScient guarantee that he would appear when sent for. That was the last that was heard of the matter. Pash-e-pa-ho was never sent for. During the first quarter of the present century the Sacs and Foxes were frequently at war with the lowas. The latter had one of their principal villa- ges on the Des Moines river, near where Black Hawk died many years af- terward. It was here that the last great battle was fought between these tribes. Pash-e-pa-ho was chief in command of the Sacs and Foxes. Black Hawk was also a prominent actor in this engagement, but was subject to his senior, Pash-e-pa-ho. Accounts conflict as to the date, but the eviden- ces of the conflict were plainly visible as late as 1824. The Sacs and Foxes surprised the lowas while the latter were engaged in running their horses on the prairie, and therefore unprepared to defend themselves. The result was that Pash-e-pa-ho achieved a decisive victory over the lowas. Pash-e-pa-ho was among the chiefs present at the making of the treaty of 1832, when the " Black Hawk Purchase " was made. He was very much given to intemperate habits whenever he could obtain liquor, and it is prob- ble that, like Keokuk, he died a drunkard. 62 THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. WISH-E-CO-MA-QTJE. Quite prominent among the Sacs and Foxes, after their removal to Iowa, was a man known by the name of Hardfish, or Wish-e-co-ma-que, as it is in the Indian tongue. He was not a chief, but a brave who rose al- most to the prominence of a chief. He adhered to Black Hawk in his hos- tility toward the whites, and when Black Hawk died, Hardfish became the leader of his band, composed mostly of those who had participated in the Black Hawk war. When the Sacs and Foxes occupied their reservation on the Des Moines river, Hardfish had his village where Eddyville is now lo- cated. It was quite as respectable in size as any of the other villages of the Sacs and Foxes. Hardfish's band was composed of people from the Sac branch of the Sac and Fox nation. One John Goodell was the interpreter for this band. The name of Hardfish was quite familiar to the frontier settlers of Southeastern Iowa. CHOS-OHTJN-CA. "When, in 1834, Gen. Henry Dodge made a treaty with the Winnebagoes for the country occupied by them- in "Wisconsin, they were transferred to a strip of land extending west from the Mississippi, opposite Prairie du Ohien, to the Des Moines river, being a tract forty miles in width. The chief of the Winnebagoes at that time was Chos-chun-ca, or Big "Wave. Soon after their removal to this reservation they were visited by Willai'd Barrows, one of the pioneers of Davenport, who had an interview with Chos-chun-ca. He found him clothed in a buffalo overcoat, and wearing a high crowned hat. His nose was surmounted by a pair of green spectacles. Mr. Barrows held his interview with the chief just south of the lower boundary of the reservation. Chos-chun-ca was quite reticent as to the affairs of his people, and refused permission to Mr. Barrows to explore the Winnebago reserva- tion, being impressed with the idea that the whites had sent him to seek out all the fine country, and that if their lands were found desirable, then the Indians would be compelled to remove again. Mr. Barrows, however, with- out the chief's permission, passed safely through their territory. MAU-HAW-GAAV. The greater portion .of the territory embraced within the limits of Iowa, was once occupied by a tribe, or nation of Indians, known in history as the lowas (or loways), who for many years maintained an almost constant war- fare with the Sioux, a powerful rival who lived to the north of them. The lowas were oi-iginally the Pau-hoo-chee tribe, and lived in tlie region of the lakes, to the northeast, but about the year 1700 they followed their chief, Mau-haw-gaw, to the banks of the Mississippi, and crossing over, settled on the west bank of Iowa river, near its mouth, and there established a village. They called the river on which they established their empire, Ne-o-ho-nee, or " Master of Elvers." For some years they prospered and multiplied, but the Sioux began to envy them the prosperity which they enjoyed, and with no good intentions came down to visit them. Sending to "Mau-haw-gaw the pipe of peace, with an invitation to join them in a dog feast, they made great professions of friendship. The Iowa chief, having confidence in their protestations of good feeling, accepted the invitation. In the midst of the THE NOETHWEST TEEEITOET. 53 feast the perfidious Sioux suddenly attacked and killed the unsuspecting Mau-haw-gaw. This outrage was never forgiven by the lowas. MA-HAS-KAH. One of the most noted chiefs of the lowas was Ma-has-kah (White Cloud), a descendent of Mau-haw-gaw. He led his warriors in eighteen battles against the Sioux on the north, and the Osages on the south, but never failed to achieve a victory. He made his home on the Des Moines river, about one hundred miles above the mouth, and must have been some- thing of a Mormon, for it is said he had seven wives. In 1824 he was one of a party of chiefs who visited Washington. He left his home on the Des Moines to go down the river on his way to join his party, and when near where the city of Keokuk is now located, he stopped to prepare and eat his venison. He had just commenced his meal when some one struck him on the back. Turning round, he was surprised to see one of his wives, Kant- che-wai-me (Female Flying Pigeon), standing with an uplifted tomahawk in her hand. She accosted him with—" Am I your wife ? Are you my hus- band ? If so, I will go with you to Maw-he-hum -ne-che (the American big house), and see and shake the hand of In-co-ho-nee ", meaning the Great Father, as they called the President. Ma-has-kah answered: " les, you are my wife ; I am your husband ; I have been a long time from you ; I am glad to see you ; you are my pretty wife, and a brave man always loves to see a pretty woman." Ma-has-kah went on to Washington accompanied by his " pretty wife ", Eant-che-wai-mie, who received many presents, but saw many things of which she disapproved. When she returned, she called to- gether the matrons and maidens of the tribe, and warned them against the vices and follies of their white sisters. This good Indian woman was killed by being thrown from her horse, some time after her return from Washing- ton. In 1834 Ma-has-kah was also killed about sixty miles from his home, on the Nodaway, hj an enemy who took a cowardly advantage of him. At the time of his death he was fifty years of age. After his death all his sur- viving wives went into mourning and poverty, according to the custom oi the tribe, except one named Mis-so-rah-tar-ra-haw (Female Deer that bounds over the prairie), who refused to the end of her life to be comforted, saying that her husband " was a great brave, and was killed by dogs ", meaning low, vulgar fellows. Soon after the death of Ma-has-kah, his son of the same name, at the age of twenty-four, became the chief of the lowas. His mother was Eant-che- wai-me, whose tragic death is mentioned above. He also visited Washing ton in the winter of 1836-7, for the purpose of obtaining redress for injus- tice, which he claimed had been done to his people by the government, in failing to keep intruders from their lands, and in disregarding other stipu- lations of the treaty made with his father in 1825. SI-DOM-I-NA-DO-TAH. When the whites began to make settlements on the upper Des Moines, the region about Fort Dodge and Spirit Lake was inhabited by Sioux In- dians, made up principally of that division of the great Sioux or Dacotah nation known by the name of Sisiton Sioux. When, in 1848, the govern- ment surveys ol the lands purchased north of the Eaccoon Forks were in pro- gress, Mr. Marsh, of Dubuque, set out with his party to run the correction 54: THE NOKTHWEST TEREITOET. line from a point on the Mississippi, near Dubuque, to the Missouri I'iver. In this work he was not molested until he crossed the Des Moines, when on the west bank of the river, he was met by a party of Sioux, under the lead- ership of their chief, Si-dom-i-na-do-tah, who notified Mr. Marsh and his farty that they should proceed no farther, ' as the country belonged to the ndians. The Sioux then left, and Mr. Marsh concluded to continue his work. He had not proceeded more than a mile when Si-dom-i-na-do-tah and his band returned and surrounded the party, robbing them of every- thing. They took their horses, destroyed their wagons and surveying instru- ments, destroyed the land-marks, and drove the surveying party back to the east side of the river. This, and other outrages committed on families who, in the fall of 1849, ventured to make claims on the upper Des Moines, led to the establishment of a military post at Fort Dodge in 1850. In the winter of 1846-7 one Henry Lott, an adventurous border char- acter, had, with his family, taken up his residence at the mouth of Boone river, in what is now Webster county, and within the range of Si-dom-i-na- do-tah's band. Lott had provided himself with some goods and a barrel of whisky, expecting to trade with the Indians, and obtain their furs and robes. In a short time he was waited upon by the chief and six of his braves and informed that he was an intruder and that he must leave within a certain time. The time having expired, and Lott still remaining, the Indians destroyed his property, shooting his stock and robbing his bee-hives. Lott and his step-son made their way to the nearest settlement, at Pea's Point, about 16 miles south, and reported that his family had been murdered by the Indians, as he doubtless thought they would be after he left. John Pea and half a dozen other white men, accompanied by some friendly Indians of another tribe, who happened to be in that vicinity, set out with Lott for the mouth of Boone river. "When they arrived they found that the family had not been tomahawked, as he had reported. One little boy, however, aged about twelve years, had attempted to follow his father in his flight, by going down the Des Moines river on the ice. Being thinly clad, the little fellow froze to death after traveling on the ice a distance of about twenty miles. The body of the child was suhsequently found. The sequel shows that Lott was de- termined on revenge. In November, 1853, Lott ventured about thirty miles north of Fort Dodge, where he pretended to make a claim, in what is now Humboldt county. He took with him several barrels of whisky and some goods, and he and his step-son built a cabin near what is now known as Lott's creek in that county. Si-dom-i-na-do-tah had his cabin on the creek about a mile west of Lott's. In January, 1854, Lott and his step-son went to the cabin of the old chief and told him that they had seen, on their way over, a drove of elk feeding on the bottom lands, and induced the old man to mount his pony, with gun in hand, to go in pursuit of the elk. Lott and liis step-son fol- lowed, and when they had proceeded some distance they shot and killed Si- dom-i-na-do-tah. That same night they attacked and killed six of the chief's family, including his wife and two children, his aged mother, and two young children she had m charge — including with the chief, seven victims in all. Two children, a boy of twelve, and a girl of ten years of age, escaped by hiding themselves. Some days after, the Indians reported the murders at Fort Dodge, thinking at first that the slaughter had been perpetrated by some of their Indian enemies. Investigation soon revealed the fact that Lott and his step-son had committed the deed. Their cabin was found burned down, and THE NORTHWEST TEEEITOET. . 55 a slight snow on tlie ground showed the track of their wagon in a circuitous route southward, avoiding Fort Dodge. Intelligence of them was received at various points where they had been trjdng to sell furs and other articles, and where the chief's pony was noticed to be in their possession. Having several days start, they made their way across the Missouri and took the plains for California, where, it was subsequently learned, Lott was killed in a quarrel. It is believed by many of the old settlers of Northern Iowa that this outrage of Henry Lott was the cause of that other tragedy, or rather series of tragedies, in the history of Northern Iowa, known as the " Spirit Lake Massacre." INK-PA-DU-TAH. Ink-pa-du-tah, it is said, was the brother, and became the successor, of the chief who was murdered by Henry Lott. He is known to the whites chiefly in connection with the horrible outrages committed at Spirit and Okoboji Lakes in Northern Iowa, and at Springfield in Southern Minnesota. He, in connection with U-tan-ka-sa-pa (Black Buflalo), headed a band of about eighteen lodges of Sioux, who, in the spring of 1857, robbed the settlers and committed the most inhuman outrages, culminating in the massacres of the 8th and 9th of March of that year. During the year 1856 a dozen or more families had settled' about the lakes, while along the valley of the Little Sioux rirer at Smithland, Cherokee, and Rock Eapids there were settlements. Ink-pa-du-tah and his band commenced their depredations at Smithland, and passing up the Little Sioux made hostile demonstrati