Des Moines County IA Archives History - Books .....Chapter V Indian Occupation 1915
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Book Title: History Of Des Moines County Iowa

CHAPTER V
INDIAN OCCUPATION

   In the preceding chapters we omitted to write concerning the Indian
occupation of that part of the territory which composes Des Moines County, for
the reason we want to keep distinct and separate certain principal events from
others, although having taken place at the same time.

   At the place where Joliet and Father Marquette landed they found three Indian
villages occupied by a part of the Illini. They were the first Indians seen by
them after they left the village of the Miamis and Winnebagos on Fox River. When
Lieutenant Pike ascended the Mississippi in 1805, he found where the Town of
Montrose is now located four Sac villages, and on the Iowa River, were located
some Sac villages. He found three Fox villages, one on the Iowa side of the
Mississippi River above Rock Rapids, and one twelve miles west of the present
site of the City of Dubuque, and another at the mouth of Turkey River. The
largest Sac village, and the oldest one, was on Rock River. This was the
birthplace of Black Hawk, and where his father Py-a-sa lived, who was a Sac
chief. By some authorities it is claimed Black Hawk was not a chief (sachem). If
he was, he must have been made chief, as there did not exist at the time among
the Sacs, the law of descent of chieftainship, for by this law it was confined
to the female line. If Black Hawk was chief of the Sacs it was because his
mother was one, and his father belonged to some other tribe. Since Black Hawk's
father was a Sac, and he a Sac, he was not chief by descent. The tribe called by
the whites Sacs; in their speech was called Sau-kies which in their language
means "men with a yellow badge." The tribe called the Foxes, in their dialect,
was called "Mus-qua-kies," meaning "Men with a red badge." The French called
them "Reynoes," Reynard being the proper name of the Fox ("Roman de Renart").
According to the report of Lieutenant Pike, the population of the two tribes in
Iowa was 2,800, including men, women and children. Whence they came is not
known. They belonged to the Algonquin family and spoke their dialect with some
modification. In 1671, both tribes dwelt east of Lake Michigan and not far from
the Mississippi. They were known at this time among traders in pelts, as the
"Far away Indians." The letters of Father Marquette state, that at this time
(1670) "the Illinois lived beyond the Mississippi thirty days' journey from
LaPointe; whither they had been driven by the Iroquois, from their former abode
near Lake Michigan."

   There existed among the North American Indians, although it may not have been
so with all the tribes, a social institution which may be called "totemism," and
its existence was very great in determining their political conditions.
Independent of their tribal relation, there existed among them distinct clans.
Each member of a clan wore an emblem, which told of what clan the wearer was a
member. There was the clan of the Wolf, the Hawk, the Eagle. These emblems were
known as totems. The emblem always consisted of some animal, bird or reptile.
Some members of a clan would have the emblem signifying the clan to which he
belonged, tattooed on his body, some would have the image suspended around their
neck by a string of deer skin. According to this social institution, a member of
one clan was forbidden to marry a member of the same clan. A Wolf could not
marry a Wolf, but could a Hawk. And a peculiar characteristic of this custom
was, the children belonged to the clan of which the mother was a member. If a
Wolf married an Eagle their children were Eagles. This custom was strictly
adhered to among the Iroquois. There existed among the Iroquois eight totem
clans, and it was by this means they became the most powerful of all the
confederations of Indians in North America. The members of the same clan, though
they spoke different dialects, and lived far apart, and did not know each other,
were bound together in the closest bonds. If a member of a clan had been killed,
the clan was bound to avenge his death. Whether totemship existed among the Sacs
and Foxes I do not know, but would say it did not.

   Just what time the Sac and Fox Indians came here is unknown. In 1820 Tamea
(Tama), "The man who makes the rocks tremble," had a village where Burlington
now stands. Subsequently he and his band had moved about nine miles further
north on what is known as Tama Town Prairie. His village when located on the
present site of Burlington was called "Shock-o-con." Lietuenant Pike in his
report says: "Ten miles up the Iowa from its mouth is a village of the Iowa
Indians." In the treaty made with the Indians on the 9th of July, 1789, at Fort
Harmon, the Indian tribes represented in that treaty were the Wyandots,
Chippewas, Delawares, Ottawas and Sacs, and the territory in which Iowa is
situated was represented by two Sac chiefs. The Sacs and Foxes by virtue of a
confederation entered into between them became practically one tribe.

   In 1690 the Iowa Indians dwelt in the northern section of the country near
the Great Lakes. They migrated westward, but at what time is unknown. When first
found in Iowa, they were living on the Iowa River. Lewis and Clark refer to them
as the Ayouways. It was from their name the word "Iowa" came. They were the same
as the Kiowas. Much discussion has been had as to the meaning of the word
"Iowa." Antoine Le Claire, a half-breed Frenchman, who knew the Algonquin
dialect, says: "It signified 'This is the place.' " Mr. Parvin, an early
settler, and one who was well acquainted with Indian traditions, says: "These
tribes separated from the Sacs and Foxes and in their wanderings crossed the
Mississippi and in their journey southward reached a high bluff near the mouth
of the Iowa River. Looking out on the beautiful valley spread out before them,
they halted, exclaiming 'Iowa,' or, 'This is the place.' " That such meaning can
be given to the word "Iowa" is very improbable. It will do for romance, but for
history on investigation it will not bear the stamp of truth. If the word "Iowa"
is derived from the name of the tribe "Aoway," which is indicated by the
spelling, it is no proof that the meaning of the word "Iowa" is "This is the
place." for long before they came to Iowa they bore that name. It is more
reasonable that the name was given to this section of territory by the whites
who first explored it, at which time the "Aoways" or "Attoways" lived here.

   As we have stated, the Sacs and Foxes occupied this section of the country
just prior to its first settlement by the whites. In 1832 and 1833, Black
Hawk-was a Sac chief, and here he dwelt with his tribe. He was a most remarkable
man in many respects. Historians have thrown around his name the glamour of
romance, which tends to make him an object of hero worship. He cannot be
compared with Pontiac and other Indian chiefs known in history, but for the time
and the conditions surrounding him he was a great chief. The date of his birth
is not accurately known. It is generally conceded from the best authority, that
he was born in 1767 in a Sac village situated about three miles from where the
Rock River empties into the Mississippi. He was the son of a Sac chief called
Py-a-sa. Black Hawk had certain heroic elements that appeal to the mind and
heart. He clearly saw what would be the destiny of his race, and with almost
unequaled heroism, contended against the decrees of fate. It was this which
makes him spectacular. Fie was the implacable foe of the whites, and so remained
to the time of his death. He was closely attached to the country of his birth
and with veneration looked upon the graves of his fathers. He saw the Indian
could and would not assimilate with white men, adopt their customs, habits and
laws. It was not in their nature. He could not do it himself. Stung with
resentment, he was bold and fearless in all the ways of the Indians. On June 27,
1804, William Henry Harrison negotiated a treaty with the Sacs and Foxes by
which was granted to the United States 51,000,000 acres on the east side of the
Mississippi, extending from a point opposite St. Louis to the mouth of the
Wisconsin, for the small sum of $2,234.00 worth of goods, consisting mostly of
trinkets, and an annuity of $1,000 for five years. They had agreed to convey
away the homes of his and their fathers. His pride was stung by the transaction,
and with other chiefs, he repudiated the treaty, and refused to be bound by its
terms. While it is claimed he afterwards ratified this treaty, he always
insisted its ratification by him was procured by deception and fraud. This
treaty in terms provided that the Indians could remain in occupation of their
lands until surveyed and sold to the settlers. Before they were surveyed the
whites came and began to stake out claims. The Indians insisted this was a
violation of the treaty and young Black Hawk at the head of a party of Sacs and
Foxes made an attack on Fort Jefferson which had been built on the west side of
the river as a means of protection to the whites; which assault was repulsed. In
1814 Maj. Zachary Taylor with 300 soldiers was given orders to destroy the corn
fields of the Sacs and Foxes, and burn their towns on Rock River. The Indians
were joined by some British soldiers then located at Prairie du Chien. In the
engagement Black Hawk displayed great prowess. The hero of Buena Vista was
repulsed and compelled to retreat. Black Hawk had become an ally of Great
Britain at this opportune time, when the United States was at war with that
country. What is known as the Black Hawk war has no place in this history, but
properly belongs to that of Illinois, and we have to pass over that important
period in the life of Black-Hawk. What we say concerning this war is to
illustrate the character of this Sac chief. Black Hawk always felt his people
had been wronged by the treaty of 1804. The white settlers had come in and taken
possession of their homes and fields when his people were away on their annual
hunting expedition. This aroused his indignation. He drove them out and took
possession. It was this which precipitated the Black Hawk war. In time the
Indians were driven out and compelled to move to the west side of the
Mississippi, By the terms of treaty made on the 30th of June, 1831, Black Hawk
and his Indians were forbidden to return to the east side of the river, but in
April, 1832, Black Hawk with those Indians whom he could persuade, with their
wives and children, crossed to the east side of the Mississippi at the mouth of
Rock River. He was warned by General Atkinson, then stationed at Fort Armstrong,
to immediately return. This he refused to do. He said his purpose was not to
make war on the whites, that their mission was a peaceable one to the
Winnebagoes, who had invited them to come to help in raising their crop of corn.
Whether his mission was peaceful or not, Black Hawk must have known war would be
the result. When he and his warriors were near Dixons Ferry, General Whiteside
sent Major Stillman with a small force to see what Black Hawk was about, Black
Hawk hearing of Stillman's approach, met these young men with a flag of truce
and asked Major Stillman to come into his camp. Black Hawk's messengers were
taken prisoners and one of them shot. War was then commenced which ended in the
battle of "Bad Axe,'" where more than three hundred Indians were slaughtered.
Men, women and children were murdered while they sought to escape by swimming
the Mississippi River. Black Hawk was an Indian Spartacus, proud and defiant to
the last. He attributed his downfall to Keokuk ("The Watchful Fox"), a Sac chief
who was his junior by three years. He was more cunning than Black Hawk, the
better politician. His ambition was to supplant Black Hawk and in this he
succeeded. Keokuk was the leader of what was known as the peace party. He
foresaw the result of Black Hawk's movement in re-crossing the Mississippi in
violation of the treaty he had made, and used every endeavor to thwart his
plans. He called his warriors together and said to them, "As their chief it was
his duty to lead them to war if they were determined to go. That the United
States was a great nation, and unless it was conquered they must all perish. He
would lead them, but only on one condition, that they would put to death all
their women and children, and having done so, cross the river not to return, but
to perish among the graves of their fathers rather than yield to the white men."
Through his persuasive powers of eloquence he succeeded in dividing the Sacs, so
Black Hawk was left with a small following to undertake his perilous adventure.
After Black Hawk's overthrow. Keokuk was installed chief in his stead. This was
the piosoned arrow that entered Black Hawk's heart, and he and his followers
ever afterwards were the implacable enemies of Keokuk. They said he did not have
the soul of an Indian. Keokuk delighted in gaudy dress and to be noticed. He was
the proud husband of four squaws. Became a confirmed inebriate, and in 1848 was
poisoned by a member of his tribe.

   It cannot be denied that the treaty of 1804 was an infamous one. At that time
Pasheha-ho ("The Stabber") was head chief of the Sacs. It is charged he and
other chiefs with him were made drunk and compelled for a pitiful sum to convey
to the United States 51,000,000 acres of the best land on this continent. This
was done by a people called civilized and enlightened. Draw a parallel between
Black Hawk, the savage, and the white man who stole the land of Black Hawk and
his fathers. It was said in a time long ago, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law."
When measured by this Divine command, who violated it, the savage. Black Hawk,
or the white man?


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY IOWA AND ITS PEOPLE

By AUGUSTINE M. ANTROBUS

ILLUSTRATED
 VOLUME I
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1915 

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