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January, 1863, Number I
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ARTICLE II.
HIST0RY OF SCOTT COUNTY, IOWA.
BY WILLARD
BARROWS, ESQUIRE, OF DAVENPORT.
MEMOIR BY THE EDITOR. |
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Willard Barrows, Esq., the writer of the following history,
was born at Munson, Massachusetts, in 1806. He received
a thorough education in the Common Schools and Academies of
New England. In 1827, he settled in Elizabethtown, New
Jersey, where he taught school for several years; and
was married in 1832. Selecting the pursuit of engineering
and surveying, he engaged in a contract with the
Government to finish the surveys of the Choctaw Indian
Purchase, in the cypress swamps and cane-brakes on the Yo-zoo
and Sunfiower rivers, in the region where the
North-western army and navy of the United States have
lately operated. By the sudden rise of the Mississippi
river, which overflowed all the country except the ridges,
his party were cut off from all inhabitants and supplies,
during the winter of 1836-7, reducing them to short
allowance, and even to the fruit of the persimmon tree and
the flesh of the opossum for food. All other animals fled,
except that a hawk or an owl was occasionally killed. About
the first of
March, the flood so far subsided, that they
went by canoes to Vicksburg and Natches; and he
proceeded to Jackson, Mississippi, to report there to the
Surveyor General.
In 1837, he was occupied in the first
surveys of Iowa by the Government, and spent the winter
on the Wapsipinicon river. And in July, 1838, he settled
with his family in Rockingham, five miles below Davenport.
In 1840, Mr. Barrows surveyed the Islands of the
Mississippi, from the mouth of the Rock river to Quincy,
Illinois. In 1841-2, the public surveys being
suspended, he engaged in farming, and held the office of
Justice of the Peace, of Postmaster and Notary Public, at
Rockingham, in which he continued till 1843, when he
entered upon the survey of the Kickapoo country, North of
the Wisconsin river. There the Winnebago Indians stole the
provisions of the party, and he was compelled to go to
Prairie Du Chien for
supplies. On his return, his way was
obstructed by prostrate timber hurled in every direction
by a terrific tornado, through which, with the help of
indolent Indians, he was able to cut a passage only two and
a half miles in two days. Forced to send his provisions
up the Kickapoo by the Indians in canoes, he followed on
by land, till they were past the track of the whirlwind.
The supplies were landed and the Indians dismissed. He then
carried the provisions a half mile and concealed them. The
next day, early, he took a
bag of flour and a little pork on a single pack-horse, and
hastened to relieve his men, as fast as he could,
through the wilderness, over the “Sugar loaves of
Wisconsin,” as the region is called, where Col. Atchison,
in 1832, in pursuit of Blackhawk and his Indian warriors,
was obliged to leave his wagons and
baggage with the loss
of many horses. On the fourth day, he came upon one
starving man of his party; and, after refreshing him, he
pressed on to the camp, where the rest, neglecting to
rescue themselves when they were able, and supposing him
to be murdered by the Indians, were sunken in despair. Cheered
by his arrival, and strengthened with food, they all started
for the depot of provisions on the Kickapoo, and reached
the place, to find them all stolen again by the Indians.
The only means of saving their lives, then, was to
ascend the Kickapoo to a ford, and thence go to Prairie Du
Chien. On the third day after, they reached a settlement,
where they stayed a week and recruited; and when
arrived at Prairie Du Chien, they found many articles of
their clothing in the liquor shops, that the Root Indians
had stolen and sold. Their horses had previously been
scattered during the tornado so that the party had been
compelled to eat their two dogs, at the camp, making soup
of the bones and nettles, and boiling part of their harness,
for food, instead of horse-flesh.
Afterwards, Mr.
Barrows traversed Northern Iowa, then in possession of
the Indian tribes, with a view to a knowledge of the region.
He visited the Mission School, then at Fort Atchison,
where he got a passport over that section of the country
from Rev. Mr. Lowrey, then in charge of the Mission.
“Barrows’ New Map of Iowa, with Notes”, was published in
1854, by Doolittle & Munson, Cincinnati;
and
it was considered of so much importance that the
Legislature of Iowa ordered copies of it for the members of
both Houses, and also for the State officers. This work,
together with letters published in the Davenport
Democrat, from California, whither he went in 1850, by
the overland route, enduring almost incredible hardships,
and returning by Mexico and Cuba, and also some
communications for the press
of a scientific character,
constitute, along with the history that hero follows, the
chief literary productions of Mr. Barrows, all descriptive
of new parts of our country.
At intervals, Mr. Barrows
has turned his attention to land business, with success.
His suburban residence and grounds are conspicuous to every
person passing in the cars, South-west of Davenport, where
he enjoys the fruits of his past activity and enterprise.
In person, as is indicated by his portrait in this number,
Mr. Barrows is full and portly. In manners, he is courteous
and genial. As a Christian "the highest style
of man,” he is charitable and discreet. And, to use the
words of the author of “ Davenport, Past and Present,” to
which the reader is referred for fuller particulars, and
from which these are drawn; ‘‘may many years yet
be his portion, as happy and pleasant as his early life has
been laborious and active.”
In compliance with a formal request of the
Curators of the State Historical Society, I have
undertaken the task of writing a full history of Scott
county, Iowa; or more particularly, facts and
incidents connected with its early history. A residence of
twenty-five years in this county has given me an
opportunity for observation, and a knowledge of the proper
sources from which to obtain information.
Much care has
been taken to gather information from the early settlers
of the county; and a hearty response has come up
from some parts. In many instances, difference of opinion
has arisen as to dates and circumstances. In such cases, I
have generally taken the decision of the majority.
It
might be supposed that our existence as a county is so
brief, not twenty-eight years, that the incidents connected
with its settlement and growth would be fresh in the minds
of all. Such may be the case with much of our history, while
some important facts are lost. The early settler seldom
finds time, if he has the ability, to record passing
events, save in the memory. The unparalleled rapidity with which the West
has marched forward to greatness
and power, is a sufficient excuse for the pioneer
historian, when he fails, through want of facts, to give
a full and perfect account of his first struggles. The
early emigrant to a new county finds that all his time
and energies are required to provide even for the
necessaries of life; the rude cabin must be raised, for a
temporary abode at least; the virgin soil must be broken
up and fenced, and numberless little requisites for the
comfort of himself or family, crowd upon his attention,
so that the new beginner is most emphatically his own
“hewer of wood, and drawer of water.”
In collecting
the material for this work, the author has often been
doubly repaid for his labor in the pleasant meetings he has
had with many an “old settler,” from whom the whirl and
bustle of life had separated him for years. Such reunions
are sweet and profitable, and these hardy sons of toil,
meeting after many years of separation, like old soldiers, retire to some
shady nook, there recount the scenes through which they have
passed, and “fight their battles o’er again.” Although the
trials and hardships of the pioneers of Scott county may not
compare with the early settlement of Kentucky, Ohio, or some
other Western States, yet there are many incidents connected
with its early history that are worthy of record, and should
be gathered before they pass beyond our reach.
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| CHAPTER I. |
| GENRAL REMARKS. |
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The County of ’Scott being
situated on the Mississippi River, and having a water
front of some thirty-five miles upon its South and
Eastern boundary, has many natural advantages not found
in more inland counties. Upon the North it is bounded by
the Wau-bessa pinnecon Se-po, which in the Indian
language signifies ‘the place of white potatoes,” The
name is derived from the two Indian words “Waubessa,” white
or swan like, and “ Pinne-ae,” a potato; Se-po being the
Indian name for river. The river was probably so named from
the fact of great quantities of the wild artichoke being
found in that region.
This stream is some ten or
twelve rods wide, with a swift clear current, and its
banks generally skirted with timber. Its bottom lands are
from a half to a mile or two wide, and arc subject to
annual overflow', affording great pasturage for stock,
not being in general dry enough for cultivation. The Western
boundary of the county is upon rich rolling prairie
extending along the fifth principal meridian, separating it
from the counties of Cedar and Muscatine.
There is
much in the early history of this country to Interest and
excite the antiquarian and lover of research. Long before
the discovery of the Great River by Marquette and Joliet, on
the 17th of June, 1673, tradition tells us that the spot of
ground now occupied by the city
of Davenport, was a large and populous Indian village. There
can be but little doubt, from the history of those early
Pioneers, that it was here they first landed in their
voyage down the Mississippi, after they entered it from
the mouth of the Wisconsin, on the 17th of June.
The
first landing made by them on record, was on the 21st,.
four days after they entered the Mississippi, and was upon
the Western bank, where, say they, “We discovered
foot-prints of some fellow mortals, and a little path
(trail) leading into a pleasant meadow.” Following the
trail a short distance, they
heard the savages talking,
and “making their presence known by a loud cry,” they
wore led to a village of the “Illinies.”
There could not
have been sufficient time between the 17th and 21st for the
voyagers to have descended beyond this point, or to
have reached the lower or lies Moines Rapids; which
some historians claim to have been the landing places spoken
of. There having been an Indian village here from time
immemorial according to Indian tradition, fixes the fact
most conclusively, that it was at this place, Davenport,
that the soil of Iowa was first pressed by the foot of a
white man. The legends of the Indians are lull of
historic lore, pertaining to this beautiful spot,
comprising Davenport, Rock Island and their surroundings.
Black Hawk was ever ready to tell of the traditions of his
people, and often dwelt with much interest and excitement
on the traditions of his fathers. he says they came from Gitche Gammee, “ the big water,” Lake Superior, and
Indians that are yet living say that the home of their
fathers was at Saukie Creek, that empties into Lake Superior,
and that as they traveled westward, they encountered
foes whom they fought and conquered, and that in turn
they were conquered by their enemies, and tribe fought
tribe for possession of the land, until they reached the
great river, the Massa-Sepo, which signifies "The Father
of Rivers.”
The tradition of the Saukies who have
always lived upon the prairies is, that their name means “Man
of the Prairie," or prairie Indian.
They also aver that their friends, the
Musquakies, which signifies “Foxes,” were a sly and
cunning people, and united with them for strength to
light their enemies, the tribes of the Kickapoo
and lllini, and that they have ever lived in peace, as
one tribe and one people. These were the Indians in
possession of the country when the United States assumed
jurisdiction over it, and of whom it was purchased.
There were many traces of the aboriginees existing when
the first settlers came to Iowa. Several Indian mounds,
or burial places of quite large dimensions, were still
used by wandering bands of Indians as late as 1835 and
1836, situated on the banks of the river, about two miles
below this city, where was formerly the farm of the lion.
E. Cook. Indian graves have been found in excavations
about this city; and
relics of ancient date
discovered, showing that this spot has been the home of
the red man for centuries, and corroborating the
testimony of Black Hawk and others, as to the traditions
of their lathers.
The scenery presented, in ascending
the Mississippi, taking in the whole view from the point
of the bluff below Rockingham, as far up as Hampton, on
the Illinois shore, is one of unexcelled beauty and loveliness. Its islands dotting the broad expanse of
waters, the scenery of the bluffs upon the Iowa side and
Rock Island with old Fort Armstrong, have been admired,
and more sketches taken of this panoramic
view, by home
and foreign artists, than any other portion of the
Mississippi valley.
Of the early history of Scott
county, we have a most vivid and truthful history,
compiled from living witnesses.
At the close of the Black
Hawk war, in 1832, there were no settlers upon this side
of the river. The purchase from the Sac (or Sankie) and
Fox tribe of Indians, of the soil of Scott county was
made, in common with that of all the river counties, on
the 15th of Sept., 1832, upon the ground now occupied by
the depot buildings of the Miss. & Mo. R.R. Company in
this city. The treaty was held by Gen. Scott.
The cholera was raging among the troops at
Fort Armstrong, at the time, and for prudential reasons
it was thought best to meet the Indians upon this side of
the river.
In this sale, the Indians reserved a section,
(640 acres), and presented it to Antoine Le Clair, Esq.,
their interpreter. This reserve was located upon the
river between Harrison street and Bridge Avenue, in
Fulton’s addition to the city of Davenport, running back
over the bluff to a line due East and West, a few
rod's
this side of Locust street. They also gave Mr. Le Claire
another section of land at the head of the rapids where
the city of Le Clair now stands.
The treaty of Cen.
Scott with the Indians was ratified by Congress at their
session in the winter of 1833. Thus did the United States
come into possession of the soil of Scott county.
Of the
Indians from whom it was purchased, and of the tribes,who had been in possession in earlier days, we should like
to give a mere extended notice than we are permitted, in
this brief history of Scott county.
The Sacs and
Foxes were provided with homes in Kansas, where they now
reside. They are fast dwindling away; and but a
remnant is left of the tribes of the Winnebagoes,
the Chippewas, Pottawattamies, Ottawas, Menominees and other
powerful bands that were in possession of all the country
from the Lakes to the Missouri, at the termination of
the American Revolution. Where the sad remnants of any
of these tribes are found, they present but a faint
resemblance of their former
greatness and renown, or of
their warlike and noble bearing. A few squalid families
may be found loitering about the frontier towns, made
beggars by the low and wasting vices of the white man.
But
their destiny is written. The onward march of the Anglo-Saxon
race tells, with unerring prophecy, the tale of the Red
Man! Already have his haunts been broken up in the
quiet dells of the Rocky Mountains; already have the
plains of Utah drunk the blood of this ill-fated and,
unhappy race and ere long his retreating foot-prints
will be found along the shores of the Pacific, hastening
to the spirit land, the ‘’Great
Hereafter.”
We now enter upon our history more
in detail, considering each township, beginning with
Buffalo. |
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