LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Pg 35

THE NEWELL FAMILY

Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, submitted June 13, 2017

        An interesting bit of history was printed in the Des Moines Register, about three men, in connection with a small section of land in the extreme northwest corner of Black Hawk county, just north of Cedar Falls.

       In 1805, Lt. Zebulon Pike was commissioned by the government to explore the upper Mississippi River Valley.

       In description of the trip, Pike mentions a fork in the Cedar River, formed by the junction of the Cedar, West Branch and Shell Rock rivers, and called the “Turkey Foot,” by the local Indians, (simply enough, because they thought the junction resembled a turkey foot).

       About all the recommendation the next explorer needs, is that he was the son of Daniel Boone.

       Nathan Boone spent a number of years in Iowa territory. In 1836, while on an exploration up the Des Moines river valley, Boone ran across the “Turkey Foot”area, and was highly impressed with the beauty and promise of the section.

       Later in 1836, he visited a friend, James Newell, of Muscatine, and related the wonders of “The Turkey Foot.” James Newell isn't as widely known as Pike or Boone, but in his own way, he lived a life, and performed accomplishments, well worth mentioning. Following Boone's lead, he established a farm and home at the Turkey Foot Forks, in 1846, to become the first settler in Black Hawk county's Washington township.

       He also established friendly and pace setting relations with the Indians, which must have taken some smooth diplomacy, for “The Turkey Foot,” was neutral ground for the Sioux, Winnebago, Pottawatomie, Sac and Fox tribes. He became known to them, not only as a friend, but as a council for advice, and was often selected to settle disputes.

       Newell kept a note book, (now in possession of his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Genevieve Woodbridge of Waterloo) in which he recorded all business transactions, family history, and even some of his personal thoughts.

       In putting down his reasons for befriending the Indians, he left a message that could serve as a guiding principle for the modern civilization we know today: They are a part of God's people, and my belief is that God did not put us on this earth to hate each other but to love an assist each other in getting through life.

       The Newell house and barn still stand near the banks of the Turkey Foot, weatherbeaten, and handsome markers, on a site that was a cross road for men who not only left some of their spirit, color and wisdom.

       This James Newell was a brother to Robert F. Newell of this community.

       Their parents were Thomas and Harriet (Flaherty) Newell. The father was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The mother was from Frederick county, Maryland. The parental grandparents, James and Mary...

Pg 36

...Newell, settled in Ohio. The grandfather was a native of Ireland, and the grandmother a native of Maryland.

       The parents went to Ohio in 1787, when they were children, at a time when there were very few settlements, and the town and cities were not yet built up.

       He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and came to Iowa and settled on section 23, Concord township.

       Robert Newell spent his entire life since 1839, in Louisa county. In Wapello county, in an Indian trading post near Eddyville, he was united in marriage to Christiana Newell, December 31, 1843. She was a native of Logan county, Ohio, and a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (McNey) Newell. After their marriage, Robert and Christiana began their domestic life on a farm in Concord township.

       To this union nine children were born: Elizabeth,Cushman, Thomas, Caroline Riley, Hugh , Robert, Mary Curtis, John, William, Harriet C Sidman.

       Mr. and Mrs. Newell gave their children a good education and training such as would fit them for the practical duties of life, respected men and women, an honor to our community.

       They were one of the very earliest settlers in Louisa county, at that time, and it required all of the citizens to raise a log cabin. He was one of those who saw the full development of the country and endured all the trials and privations incident to pioneer life. The weather of 1842-43 was one of severity, but all such hardships were cheerfully borne, and to such men, Louisa county owes its present prosperity and high rank in this great state of Iowa.