Historical
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 586

Indian Occupancy.

As the eye wanders over the beautiful landscape, and rests upon the many evidences of civilization exhisting in what is now the county of Muscatine, it is impossible to realize that this fair land was once the abode of the red men; that here they hunted, fished, and engaged in war. But such is the case. When the red men seek a place for a home, they always select the most beautiful locations. Living themselves in a state of nature, they have an eye for the beautiful, and therefore dwell where nature is at its best. It is not to be wondered that the region of county now comprising the county of Muscatine was for many years their home, and that when the time came for them to take up their line of march toward the setting sun they were loth to go.

The principle tribes inhabiting this region were the Sacs and Foxes. The following account of these tribes is from an old volume published about the close of the Black Hawk War:

"The Sacs and Foxes have been among the most powerful and warlike tribes of the Northwest. History finds them fighting their way from the shores of the Northern lakes, gradually, toward the Mississippi, sometimes warring with the Winnebagoes, and at other times with the Chippewas, often instigated by the French. At an early period they inhabited the region of country bordering upon the Wisconsin River, and planted large quantities of corn. The whole history of their wars and migrations show them to have been a restless and spirited people; a people erratic in their pursuits, having a great contempt for agriculture, and a predominant passion for war. By these ruling traits they have been constantly changing, suffering, and diminishing. Still they retain their ancient chivalry, ever ready for war, regardless of the superiority of their foes. Thus at the present time ( 1841 ), 400 or 500 of their warriors are out to fight the Sioux of the North, with whom there exists a most deadly hostility, originating from old feuds, the origin of which they scarcely know themselves. Their numbers, of late years, have been somewhat augmented by the policy they have pursued of adopting their prisoners of war and receiving seceders from other tribes, and at the present time they number about 7,000 souls.

" The Sacs and Foxes speak the Algonquin language. The language is still spoken by the Chippewas,Pottawatomies, Ottawas, and some other tribes. It is soft and musical in comparison with the harsh, guttural Narcoutah of the Sioux, which is peculiar to themselves, having but little affinity to the Algonquin tongues. Their ideas of futurity are somewhat vague and indefinite. They believe in the existence of a Supreme Manitou, or good spirit, and a Malcha Manitou, or evil spirit. They often invoke the favor of the good Manitou for success in war and the hunt, by various sacrifices and offerings. Storm and thunder they view as manifestations of his wrath; and success in war, the hunt, or in deliverance from enemies, of his favor and love. Everything of great power or efficiency, or what is inexplicable, is a " great medicine", and the medicine men and prophets are next in consideration to chiefs. At the decease of their friends they paint their faces black, and the time of mourning is governed by the affinity of the kindred. Their ideas of the condition of departed spirits and the ceremony of burial may be deemed interesting. Often, in perambulating their deserted villages, has my attention been arrested in gazing through the bleached and mutilated slabs made to protect the moldering dust of a noted chief or "brave", who is frequently placed in a sitting posture, his gun and his war club placed by his side, moccasins upon his feet, his blanket (or the remnants thereof) wrapped about his body, his beads and wampum suspended from his neck, where he sits 'like a warrior taking his rest,' in the silent sleep of death.

"The situations of their villages are sometimes extremely beautiful and picturesque. The rude architecture of their lodges: the droves of Indian ponies galloping over the prairies, and snorting at the approach of white men; the sqauws busily engaged in preparing food, or perhaps 'toting' a backload of faggots that would frighten a New York porter, while their 'lazy lords' sit smoking upon the grass, or quietly sleeping in their lodges; the young papooses swarming the river bank, and with bow and arrow exercising their infant archery upon every prairie-flower or luckless bird; or, perchance, the gaily painted warrior, mounted upon his prancing steed, his feathers streaming to the breeze, as he gallops from village to village with the fleetness of the wind---are objects which, to the traveler unaccustomed to Indian habits and character, are full of intense interest and novelty.

"Sometimes midway between two villages, or, perhaps, off in the prairie, may be seen 100 young warriors of each clan, 'picked men', who have won laurels on the battle-field. They have met (per agreement) to exercise their feats in the race of the ancient games, the prize being, perhaps, two or three horses, a rifle, or a war club; the old warriors or chiefs of each village looking on as judges. Great interest is manifested on these occasions, and the same ambitious emulation for rivalry is exhibited in these children of nature as among those who play their part beneath the gilded domes of the city.

The dress of the males generally consists of leggins, fitting closely from the loins to the ankles, usually of smoke-tanned deerskin, and often of blue and sometimes red cloth, trimmed with fringe and beads in a variety of fantastic forms. They wear a white, and frequently a scarlet-colored, blanket thrown over the shoulders. Their moccasins are of deerskin, often trimmed, with extreme taste, with beads and porcupine quills. Their head-dress is of various fashions, oftentimes indescribable. A chief or warrior's head-dress consists of a profusion of scarlet-colored hair, and long, beards of the wild turkey connected to the scalplock, and not infrequently a silver band or a richly beaded turban. Their ears are strung with rings and trinkets; their arms with bracelets of brass, tin,silver and steel; and their necks are often strung with a profusion of wampum. A tolerably correct idea may be formed of the riches and taste of a young Indian by the number of strings of wampum around his neck. This may be considered their legal tender; as no treaty was ever formed, or pipe of friendship smoked, betwixt different Indian tribes without an exchange of wampum.

"No Indians exult more than the Sacs and Foxes in a triumphant skirmish with their enemies, and none more proudly exhibit their bloody trophies. They frequently have several scalps suspended on a spear or connected with their dress. As an evidence of the value they place upon these emblems of merciless victory, I will relate an incident of my attempt to get one of a veteran Sac brave. I had witnessed him for several days passing my window on a little pony, proudly waving his boquet of scalps, connected with beads, ribbons and eagle's feathers, tied with a rattle-snake skin upon a spear. Having a desire to obtain one, after three days' unsuccessful negotiation, during which time I offered him money, beads, powder and tobacco, he finallt consented to part with it for "one box," i.e. $1,000." They place great reliance in dreams, and the intrepid warrior who awakes in the morning from a night of troublesome dreams is dejected and melancholy. Sometimes they imagine that an evil spirit or sorcerer has inflicted a spell, after the manner of witches of former times. Keokuk had an aged squaw killed because she had inflicted a spell upon some of his children."

(From the 1879 history book)In corroboration of the last statement, we append the account of that summary act given us by James Jordan, whose acquaintance with the Indians began at a very early day. He said: "In 1837, the chief's son was prostrated with fever. Keokuk was absent at the time, but there chanced to be in the camp an old squaw, who was alleged to be invested with supernatural powers. When Keokuk returned, his valiant heir informed him that the witch had cast an evil spirit into the settlement, which had increased the fever and rendered it impossible to overcome disease while she lived. Thereupon, Keokuk took the old woman without the settlement and deliberately cut off her head with a cleaver. This summary act was witnessed by Mrs. Phelps, wife of Billy Phelps, one of the original locators of that section."

(From the 1879 history book)The scene of this sacrifice was near Independent, Van Buren Co., adjacent to Jordan's farm. Mr. Newhall was mistaken as to the date of the tragedy.

The black Hawk War of 1831 and 1832 hastened the departure of the red men from this region. By a treaty made in September, 1832, the greater portion of what is now the State of Iowa was ceded to the whites, possession to be given June 1, 1833. On that day the whites crossed the Mississippi, settlements were made, and the red men were no longer in control of the beautiful land.


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