History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/1/Table of Contents

by Benjamin F. Gue

Chapter	Contents	Pages
I	How Science Reveals the History of the Past—Geology Unfolds the Mysteries of Earth’s Formation—Comparative Antiquity of the Continents—Animal Life Evolved—Submerged Iowa—Slow Formation of Rocks—Ancient Rivers, Lakes, Forests and Animals—Once a Tropical Climate—Coming of the Ice Age—Return of Heat and Life—How Soils Were Formed—Theories as to the Origin of the Prairies	1-14
II	The First Inhabitants of Iowa—The “Mound Builders”—Spanish Adventurers in America—Narvaez’ Disastrous Expedition—Fernando De Soto’s Army of Freebooters—Attempts to Enslave and Subdue the Indians—Fierce Resistance—Wanderings of the Army of Invasion—Retribution Visited Upon the Freebooters—Discovery of the Mississippi River—Crossing the Prairie Regions of Arkansas and Kansas—Retreat, Sickness and Death—De Soto Finds a Grave in the Mississippi—Fate of the Survivors	15-27
III	Father Jacques Marquette, The French Missionary—Louis Joliet, the French Explorer—Their Expedition to the Far West—Discover the Upper Mississippi and Iowa—Voyage Down the Unexplored River—Along the Eastern Boundary of Iowa—Land and Discover the Des Moines River—Iowa as it Was in 1673—The Indians of that Period—Exploring the Lower Mississippi River—The Return Voyage—Records Lost by Wreck	29-38
IV	Cavalier de La Salle—Exploration of the Mississippi Valley—Louis Hennepin’s Voyages in 1679-80—Names the Country Louisiana—La Salle’s Voyage in 1682—Naming the River—Fate of the Explorer and his Colony—De Iberville’s Colony in 1699—Lesueur Expedition—Governor Bienville Founds the City of New Orleans—Slavery Introduced into the Colony—English Conquests in America—Early Trappers and Fur Traders—Founding of St. Louis in 1764—Colonel George Rogers Clark Expels the British	39-49
V	Spanish Rule in Louisiana—Free Navigation Act—The Territory Ceded to France—Louisiana Purchased by the United States—The Northwest Territory—System of Land Surveying—Provision for School System—Slavery Prohibited	51-61
VI	The Indians of North America—Wars Waged Against Them by Europeans—The Tribes First Found in Iowa—The Illinois Indians Driven Westward—The Mascoutines in 1670—Battle with Sacs and Foxes—Disappearance of the Mascoutines—The Iowa Indians—Meaning of the Name “Iowa”—Migration of the Iowas—Fate of Mahaska the Iowa Chief—The Removal from Iowa	63-71
VII	The Fox Indians-Their Early Wars—“Hill of the Dead”—Union with the Sacs—The United Tribes Move West—Treaties with the Whites—Found in Iowa in 1805—Sac Village on Rock River—The Disputed Treaty of 1804—Sacs and Foxes in the War of 1812—Treaties of 1824 and 1825—Massacre of Foxes in 1828—Retaliation—The Black Hawk War of 1831-2—“Stillman’s Run”—Battle of the Wisconsin River—Black Hawk’s Masterly Retreat—The Massacre of Women and Children at Bad Axe—Black Hawk a Prisoner—His Rival, Keokuk, Made Chief—Pathetic Address of the Deposed Chieftain—Death of Black Hawk	73-86
VIII	Treaties of 1832, 1836 and 1842—Sacs and Foxes Surrender Their Iowa Homes—Keokuk, the “Watchful Fox”—The Old Chief Pashepaho—Poweshiek, the “Roused Bear”—Kishkekosh, Warrior and Orator—Appanoose, a Sac Chief—The Musquakies—Their Iowa Reservation—The Winnebagoes, a Dakota Tribe—Fight with the British in the War of 1812—Occupy the “Neutral Lands” in Iowa—Winneshiek and Waukon-Decorah—Winnebago Characteristics	87-98
IX	The Pottawattamie Indians—Allies of the British in the Wars of the Revolution and 1812—Treaties of 1816, 1825, 1829 and 1835—Colonel Peter Sarpy—The Old Block House—Pottawattamies Move to Kansas in 1846—The Dakota Indians—Their Country in Early Times—The Sioux in the Seventeenth Century—Come to Iowa in 1804—Give names to Iowa Lakes—The Chief Waneta—Battle of the Raccoon River—Battle in Kossuth County Between Sioux and Musquakies—Sioux Massacres in 1857 and 1862—Removal to Indian Territory—Fort Established at Raccoon Forks	99-108
X	First White Settlements in Iowa—Early Discoveries of Lead Ore—Julien Dubuque’s Colony in 1788—His Grant of Mineral Lands from Fox Indians—Opens Trade in St. Louis—Secures a Grant from the Spanish Governor—Death of Dubuque in 1810—His Colony Driven Out by the Indians—Litigation Over the Title—Schoolcraft Visits the Mines in 1820—Grant to Basil Giard in 1795—Settlement by Louis Honore Tesson in 1799—First Orchard in Iowa—American Rule in Louisiana—Exploring Expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804-5—Passes Along the Western Boundary of Iowa—Description of that Region	109-124
XI	Exploring Expedition of Zebulon M. Pike in 1805—Examines the Eastern Boundary of Iowa—Conference with Julien Dubuque—Site Selected for a Fort—Explores the Upper Mississippi Valley—Missionaries and Fur Traders—Benton’s Opinion of the Prairies in 1819—First Newspaper West of the Mississippi River—The Burr Conspiracy of 1806—First Fort on Iowa Soil—Encroachment on Indian Lands—Fort Attacked by Sacs and Foxes and Destroyed—Fort Armstrong Established on Rock Island in 1816—Rock Island Becomes a Government Reservation—Arsenal Established on the Island	125-139
XII	Illinois Territory Established in 1809—Earthquake of 1811 in the Mississippi Valley—First Steamboat on Western Rivers—British Attempt to Alienate the People of the Mississippi Valley—Treaties with Indian Tribes of the West—First Steamboat on the Upper Mississippi—Beginning of the Conflict Over Slavery in the West—The “Missouri Compromise”—The Long Exploring Expedition—First Steamboat Ascends the Missouri River in 1819—Winter Camp at Council Bluffs—A Council Held with Indian Tribes—Return Through Southwestern Iowa	141-149
XIII	A French Nobleman Settles in Iowa in 1812—An Early Fur Trader at the Flint Hills—Dr. Muier Settles at Keokuk in 1820—Pioneer Traders and Settlers—Dr. Isaac Galland Projects a City—Other Pioneer Settlements—Naming of Keokuk—Attempts to Settle at the Dubuque Lead Mines—First Iowa Lawmakers—Settlers Driven Out by the Soldiers—The Black Hawk Purchase of 1832—Rush of Settlers into the “Beautiful Land”—Iowa in its Virgin Wildness—Mines of Spain Reoccupied—The New City of Dubuque—Fort Madison Laid Out—First Settlers at the Flint Hills—Burlington Platted—Settlement at the Mouth of Skunk River—Buffalo, Rockingham and Davenport	151—160
XIV	Captain Nathan Boone Explores the Des Moines and Boone Valleys—Albert M. Lea Names and Describes the “Iowa District”—Glowing Predictions for the Future State—Lea’s Map of Iowa—How Iowa was Named—Catlin’s Description of Iowa in 1835—Early Courts of Claims and Claim Laws—The Half-Breed Lands—History of the Controversy—Conflicting Legislation and Prolonged Litigation	161-172
XV	Iowa, When a Part of Michigan Territory—First Officers and Representatives in the Legislature—Later Included in Wisconsin Territory—First Bank on Iowa Soil—First Railroad Legislation—First Iowa Newspaper and a Notable Press—More Pioneer Newspapers—How the Name “Hawkeye” Originated—The Legislature of 1837—First Movement for Division of Wisconsin Territory—Action of a Delegate Convention—Memorial for the Creation of Iowa Territory—First Legislature Within the Limits of Iowa—New Counties Established—More Territory Acquired from Sac, Fox and Sioux Indians	173-184
XVI	First Census of Wisconsin in 1836—Iowa Territory Established in 1838—Provisions of the Territorial Government—Governor and Other Officers Appointed—First Iowa Legislature—Brilliant Young Members—First Message of Governor Lucas—Controversy Between the Legislature and Governor—Attempt to Secure the Governor’s Removal—Missouri Boundary Controversy—Hostile Armies Sent to the Border—The Dispute Referred to Congress—Location of the Capital at Iowa City—Building a City in the Wilderness—The Young Pioneers—A Famous Supreme Court Decision	185-199
XVII	Congressional Legislation Concerning Iowa—The Second Legislative Assembly—William P. Chapman Elected Delegate to Congress—First Movement for Admission as a State—Hard Times—The Presidential Election of 1840—First Democratic Convention—How the Early Settlers Lived—Third Legislative Assembly—Removal of Governor Lucas by President Harrison—His Able and Excellent Administration—John Chambers Appointed Governor—Fourth Legislative Assembly Meets at Iowa City—Another Movement for State Government Defeated—Indian Treaty of 1842—Fort Sanford Established—Great Financial Depression and a Hard Winter—Third Movement for Statehood Defeated—Census of 1844—First Constitutional Convention	201-214
XVIII	Congress Changes the State Boundaries—A. C. Dodge Issues an Address on the Subject—A Bitter Controversy Arises—Protest of Three Young Democrats—The Constitution Rejected by the People—The Seventh Legislative Assembly—The Rejected Constitution Again Submitted—Again Rejected—Governor Chambers Removed by President Polk—James Clarke Appointed Governor—The Eight Legislative Assembly—Another Constitutional Convention Called—Newhall’s Sketches of Iowa in 1846—Iowa in the War with Mexico	215-226
XIX	The Second Constitutional Convention—The Principal Provisions of the Constitution Framed by it—Accepted by the People—Nominations for State Officers—Democrats and Whigs Hold Their First State Conventions—All of the Officers Chosen Were Democrats—Iowa Becomes a State on the 28th of December, 1846—The Mormons Driven from Missouri and Illinois—Exodus Through Iowa—Sufferings on the March—Settlements at Garden Grove and Grand River—The Mount Pisgah Refuge—Hundreds Perish on the Prairies—Settlements Along the Missouri Valley—The Des Moines River Land Grant—First State Legislature—Failure to Elect United States Senators—Many Important Acts Passed	227-241
XX	The Election of 1847—Contest over the Election of Superintendent of Public Instruction—Governor Briggs Calls an Extra Session of the Legislature—Another Attempt to Elect United States Senators Fails—Attempt to Locate the Capital on a Wild Prairie—Rise and Fall of Monroe City—Land Grants and Railroad Projects—Census of 1847—Election of 1848—The Mormon Vote and Congressional Contest—The Legislature of 1848—Financial Condition of the State—Attempt to Make the Des Moines River Navigable	243-255
XXI	Plat of Monroe City Vacated—Affairs in 1848—The First Homestead Law—A. C. Dodge Reëlected to the Senate—Political Conventions of 1849—Success of the Democratic Ticket—Gold Discoveries in California—Thousands of Iowa People Go to the Gold Regions—Conflict Over Slavery—Election of 1850—Governor Hempstead Inaugurated—Forty-nine New Counties Established—Revision of the Laws and Code of 1851—Iowa Teachers in 1850—Wet Season of 1851—The Cholera in Iowa—Establishment of Fort Dodge	257-267
XXII	Election of 1851—The Fourth General Assembly—Des Moines River Improvement—Political Conventions and Election of 1852—George W. Jones Reëlected to the Senate—The First Railroad Approaches Iowa—Great Increase in Population from 1852 to 1854—First Defeat of the Democratic Party in Iowa—James W. Grimes Elected Governor—Governor Hempstead Defeated for Congress—Fifth General Assembly—Hempstead’s Last Message—Governor Grimes’ Inaugural—Contest for United States Senator—James Harlan Elected by a Union of the Antislavery Members—Beginning of a Political Revolution—Enactment of the Prohibitory Liquor Law—Election of 1855—Disintegration of the Whig Party—Organization of the Republican Party	269-282
XXIII	Land Grants for Iowa Railroads—Extra Session of 1856—State and Presidential Elections—Census of 1856—Convention to Frame a New Constitution—The Sixth General Assembly—The Eads Defalcation—James Harlan Reëlected to the Senate—Sioux Indians in Northwestern Iowa—Massacre of the Chief Sidominadotah by Henry Lott—Flight, Pursuit and Escape of Lott—Inkpadutah, a Brother of the Murdered Chief—His Secret Plans for Vengeance—Isolated Settlements in Northwestern Iowa—Severe Winter of 1856-7—Inkpadutah Invades the Little Sioux Valley—Outrages Perpetrated Upon the Settlers	283-294
XXIV	The Home of Rowland Gardner—Massacre of the Family by the Sioux—Abbie Alone Spared—Heroic Defense at the Mattocks Cabin—Major Williams’ Report of the Hand to Hand Fight—Massacre of the Howe Family—Luce and Clark, Noble, Ryan and the Children the Next Victims—Two More Women Captives—William Marble Slain and his Wife Spared—Morris Markham Discovers the Fate of His Neighbors—Warns the Springfield Settlement—Heroic Defense at the Thomas House—Mrs. Church Shoots an Indian—Criminal Folly and Fate of the Wood Brothers—Refugees Escape from the Thomas House—Conduct of Dr. Strong—Unparalleled Sufferings of the Refugees—Heroice Endurance and Final Rescue	295-310
XXV	Tidings of the Massacre Reach Fort Dodge—A Relief Expedition Organized—Three Companies Under Command of Major Williams—A March Through Deep Snow, Piercing Gales and Severe Cold—Nine Men Turn Back—Expedition Reaches the Irish Colony—A Scouting Party Sent Forward—Finds the Refugees—Detachment Sent to Bury the Dead—Return March—Caught in a Fearful Blizzard—Intense Suffering and Struggle for Life—Captain Johnson and W. E. Burkholder Perish—Main Body Reach Cylinder Creek—Vain Attempts to Cross the Flood—In the Snow Without Fire or Shelter, 34 Degrees Below Zero—They Struggle Home Freezing and Starving	311-320
XXVI	Four Young Women Captives—Sufferings of Mrs. Thatcher—Pursuit of the Indians—Lieutenant Murray Deceived by Treacherous Guides—Cruel Fate of Elizabeth Thatcher—Major Flandreau’s Expedition for the Rescue of the Captives—Release of Margaret A. Marble—Murder of Lydia Noble—Despair of Abbie Gardner—She is Rescued Through Major Flandreau’s Untiring Efforts—The Murderer of Mrs. Noble Slain—Two Families of Settlers Warned of the Danger Escape—Inkpadutah Never Captured—Major Williams’ Report—Governor Grimes’ Message	321-329
XXVII	The Banditti of the Mississippi Valley—Brown’s Michigan Colony at Bellevue—The Beginning of Their Depredations—Battle at the Headquarters Where Their Leader is Slain—Capture and Death of Outlaws and Summary Punishment of Prisoners—Murder of Colonel Davenport, Capture and Execution of Murderers—John Ingle Murdered, Lynching of the Assassins—Murder of Mrs. Barger, Lynching of the Murderer—Proclamation of Vigilance Committee—Seven Hundred Members Bound by Secret Oaths—Young Man and Wife Murdered—Summary Fate of the Assassin—“Regulators” Organize at Big Rock—Killing of Alonzo Page in Cedar County—Peter Conklin of Johnson County Slain—Lynching of Charles Clute—Hanging of Bennett Warren of Clinton County—Crimes and Lynching of Alonzo Gleason and Edward Soper in Cedar County—Lynching of Hiram Roberts in Jones County—Citizens Condemn Lawless Acts of Regulators—Brave Canada McCollough Defies the Regulators—Their Lawless Acast Cease	331-350
XXVIII	Failure of Des Moines River Improvements—Removal of State Officers to Des Moines—Election in 1857—The New Constitution Adopted—Great Financial Depression—Legislature of 1858—Financial Condition of the State—Acts for State Banking System and State Agricultural College—Des Moines River Land Grant Diverted to Aid a Railroad—The Code Commission—Lathrop’s Estimate of the Seventh General Assembly—Governor Grimes Elected United States Senator—Crop Failure and Financial Distress in 1858—Indian Troubles in the Northwest—Growing Conflict Over American Slavery—Political Conventions of 1859—Samuel J. Kirkwood Elected Governor	351—371
XXIX	The “Underground Railroad” in Iowa—John Brown in the Kansas War—Young Men of Iowa Become His Followers—Pardee Butler of Iowa Assailed by “Border Ruffians”—Iowa “Free State” Men Imprisoned in Kansas—John Brown at Springdale—There Plans His Assault upon Slavery—Headquarters at Springdale—Remarkable Young Men who Enlisted in the Expedition—Winter Drill Among the Quakers—A Desperate Undertaking—The Canada Conference—Brown Liberates Missouri Slaves—Conducts Them Through Iowa—Eludes the Slave Catchers—Reaches party in Canada	373-383
XXX	Closing Years of the Pioneer Period—The Causes Which Brought Many West—Pioneer Life from 1832 to 1860—Choosing Homes in Unsettled Regions—Hard Life of Pioneer Women—Compensations and Entertainments—The Bleak Northwestern Prairies—Sod Houses and Muskrats—Perilous Winter Journeys—Dangers from Prairie Fires—Corn and Hay for Fuel—The Early School System—How it was Supported—Statistics of 1859—Gradual Improvement of Conditions—Pike’s Peak Gold Discoveries	385-397