Decatur County Journal
Thursday, June l2, l9l9

S.L. COX, one of Decatur County's prominent farmers and pioneer citizens, who died recently, never took a drink, cussed or smoked. The following, under a Leon date line, appeared in the Des Moines Register, Monday, concerning MR. COX:

There are reminders of the Grand River canyon down along the Grand River in Decatur County. The stream, not as fierce or as large as the Columbia, but more sparkling and delightful, winds about at the foot of high clifts and through densely wooded tracts, amid which the Indians for centuries roamed in search of game and redskin enemy. Of all the picturesque handiwork of mother nature found along the banks of the Grand, the most interesting is a miniature Garden of Eden, located near the town of Davis City, soon to be converted into a state park, selected because of its natural scenery and the wonderful legends associated therewith left us by the red man.

When the Indians knew nothing of palefaces and their inevitable firewater, they had many camps up and down the Grand River. The Fox and Sac Tribes lived among the bluffs up the river from the site of the town of Davis City, which at first was only a sawmill propelled by water power, the town not being laid out until l855.

At the base of the bluffs lies the burying ground of these Indians. Potto, the old chief, is buried on the highest peak, nearly 300 feet high, amid a typical scene of the mountain side of the Rockies, where the winding trail leads to the grave of the famous Helen Hunt Jackson. A rocky ledge overhangs this bluff, from which flows a spring of pure drinking water as cold as any mountain stream.

Slipp bluff, rising to a height of 250 feet, extends farther down the River, or about a mile from Davis City, and adjoining a tract of 200 acres adorned with native sugar maple trees--hence the name Old Indian Sugar Camp. To the north of this lies a vast stretch of valley dotted with two small lakes, the largest one being a perfect image of a horseshoe, while the smaller one forms the shape of a half moon.

From the very earliest day white settlers built their log cabins in the wilderness and settled down to make for themselves a home, the Indians being of the very peaceful and agreeable kind, mingled and traded with them.

Their most intimate friend was S.L. COX, familiarly known as "SQUIRE", who passed away only a few days ago, being 88 years old. He immigrated to Iowa in l85l and established a permanent home not far from the Indian camp, where he remained until his death. His mode of life probably accounted for his friendliness toward these Indians, as he believed in friendship with all mankind, and it was said he never made an enemy.

The most extraordinary thing, that he never drank a cup of tea or coffee, was a total abstainer of all liquors, never used tobacco in any of its forms, never indulged in a game of cards and never used profane language. He attended all the funerals of the Indians and knew where every grave was located in these bluffs.

Grand River has always furnished the best fishing, trapping and hunting this side of the Mississippi. The park will comprise about 600 acres, including for the entrance, the old Davis City Park, which has been for the past thirty years, a popular place for old soldiers' and settlers' reunion.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
April l9, 2002