West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
LOG CABIN HISTORY

Chapter III

WAPSINONOC CREEK

The Wapsinonoc, or in the Indian dialect the " Waupisieknownoc," meaning " White Creek or stream," of insignificant proportions at its ordinary stage of water, was yet of great importance to the early settlers, for it was bordered on either side by a belt of timber, varying from a few rods to a mile in breadth, and extending from its confluence with the Cedar River in Sec. 19-77-3 to in Sec. 28-79-4, and timber was of prime importance to the settlers, as it was their only resources for material for buildings, fences and fuel. The Wapsinonoc has its source in the high lands dividing the Cedar and Iowa rivers in townships 79 and 80, R.4, and the main stream has a length of about fifteen miles, as the crow flies, but as it winds and doubles on itself, has a channel length of perhaps twice or thrice that distance. It is fed along its entire course by sloughs and swamps and rarely by springs, and in its upper course is divided into many channels, which are the outlets of the sloughs heading in the high lands. Flowing through a comparatively level country, it is sluggish in its movements, and has worn a deep channel in the alluvial soil. Its banks are precipitous and its bed miry.

It is along this belt of timber that the first settlements were made, and it determined their extent for many years. Those were the days of the log cabin and the place of which we write. Following the peace with the Indians and the purchase of large tracts of land on the west side of the Mississippi, adventurous hunters and trappers pushed into the country and carried back to the settlements marvelous accounts of the richness of soil, luxuriance of vegetation, abundance of game and variety of wild fruits in the region beyond the Cedar River, and fired many a heart with a desire to possess a moiety of that wealth spread out so lavishly toward the setting sun. This region was in all its native wilderness. The surveyor's chain had never been trailed over its hills and across its valleys, and they who ventured there were protected by, and amenable to, no law but squatter sovereignty. It required a stout heart to attempt the task. It was the tearing up of the tree and transplanting it in new and untried soil. The most of these pioneers were from Ohio and farther east and the long journey had to be made by boat down the Ohio to its confluence with the Mississippi at Cairo, and up that broad stream to their place of debarkation, and then across the country by wagon, or as was more often done, the entire distance was traversed by wagons, and they often drawn by oxen. To add to this the fact the streams and sloughs were unbridged, and an idea can be formed of toil and weariness of the way. Often the wagon contained the pioneer's family and all his earthly possessions. When they parted with their friends in the east, it was like the severing of the ties of life, for so long seemed the journey and so distant and visionary the land of promise that the hope of ever looking on the faces of the friends left behind, or the homes of their childhood, seemed very small. Thus they began their toilsome journey. All day the pioneer would walk by the side of his patient teams, guiding them along the uneven way, while the family would ride, or walk to rest their weary frames. On the approach of night, a spot would be sought affording grass and water, and wood if possible. When found, the team would be stopped; the oxen unyoked and turned out to graze; a fire kindled over which to cook their frugal supper, when the man would shoulder his rifle and seek for game to eke out their meager repast. After supper they would prepare to pass the night, either on the ground or in the shelter of the wagon, if room permitted. Oftentimes their wagon covers would prove inadequate to shut out the beating storms, and to their other discomforts would be added drenched bedding and garments. Thus passed days, weeks and sometimes months, as they toiled over the hills of Ohio, the interminable forests and swamps of Indiana, and the prairies of Illinois, till the Father of Waters was reached and safely crossed; and soon the land of promise reached and a location selected near or in a body of timber; for they must have timber first of all. Then a permanent camp would be made, and the felling of trees for a house begun. The pioneer brought with him the necessary tools for his work, which kit of tools when completed, consisted of an ax, broad ax, adz, frow and auger. With these he could build his house and manufacture all necessary furniture.

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