Untitled Document

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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

the reservation was sold to the Government. Lowry finally resigned to take charge of a mission in Minnesota and, in 1846, Mr. Fletcher was appointed agent for the Winnebagoes by President Polk, and served in that capacity for seven years. During that time he resided at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, Long Prairie, Minnesota, and Blue Earth, Minnesota. Under the careful management of Mr. Fletcher the Winnebagoes attained to considerable proficiency in agriculture, and otherwise improved their condition.

During his service as Indian agent Mr. Fletcher was accompanied by his wife, who engaged earnestly in the work of teaching the Indians. Their eldest son, Frank Fletcher, acquired such command of the language of the Indians that he became his father's interpreter. General Fletcher, while serving as agent, contributed through the publications of Mr. Schoolcraft a vast amount of information concerning the religion, traditions, and customs of the Winnebagoes while at the Turkey river. In 1858 Mr. Fletcher returned to Iowa, where. he died April 6, 1872, on his farm near Muscatine, sixty-six years old.

When the crop, planted under Colonel Thomas' supervision, began to show neglect, a force of garrison men were detailed to cultivate it, and were paid for their labor out of the Indian annuity. Hon. A. Jacobson states:⁵⁵ "Ole Halvorsen Valle, undoubtedly the first Norwegian to visit the county, was engaged in the service of the Government as teamster, hauling provisions from Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, to Fort Atkinson and the Old Mission; he was also employed in breaking up pieces of bottom land on the Upper Iowa river. One of the largest fields thus prepared for the Indians to plant their corn was situated just below the outlet of Trout Run." Mr. Goddard says, "An Indian chief had a farm about one-half mile southwest of Spillville, and a considerable part of the ground was broken up."

An Indian trading post was established two miles southwest of the fort by a Mr. Olmstead and one Joseph Hewitt. It seems that they had a permit from the Government to trade with the Indians. The buildings, all one story high, were constructed of logs. There were five in number, two large dwelling houses, one large store, one storage house, and a blacksmith shop. Capt. Joseph Hewitt's principal occupation was hunting, trapping and fishing. In 1851 he left the country and located at Clear Lake, Iowa, where he experienced no little trouble with the Sioux Indians. In 1849 Josiah Goddard bought the old Indian trading post from Olmstead, and in 1850 moved his family onto the land. Three or four acres of this land had been broken up by the Indians.

FORT ATKINSON

Now, the boys in blue, you bet,
Earn whatever praise they get.

Joseph Mi1ls Hanson, "Frontier Ballads."

In 1840 the Winnebago Indians were removed to their new home on the Neutral Ground. In order to protect them from the incursions of their neighbors, among whom were the Sauk and Fox tribes, as well as from intrusions

^{_________

55}In his article "Reminiscences of Pioneer Norwegians," published in the Historical Atlas of Winneshiek County, 1905, Sec. II, pg. II.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

of the whites, and. in turn to prevent them from trespassing beyond the limits of the reservation, soldiers were stationed among. them. A detachment of the 5th Infantry (Company F) under command of Capt. Isaac Lynde left Fort Crawford with a complement of eighty-two officers and enlisted men, and went into camp, May 31, 1840, in the neighborhood of Spring creek (now known as Goddard's creek) on the Turkey river. The camp was named "Camp Atkinson" in honor of Brig. Gen. Henry Atkinson, U. S. army, the department commander who was so prominent in military operations in the upper Mississippi valley. Barracks and quarters sufficient to accommodate one company were erected, and in March, 1841, the secretary of war ordered that the station be known as Fort Atkinson.

Rumors of the warlike attitude of a portion of the Sauk and Fox Indians, who, it was believed, intended sending out a party against the peaceable Winnebagoes, caused Governor Dodge of Wisconsin, in a letter dated January 23, 1841, and directed to the commissioner of Indian affairs, to urge strongly that, in addition to the garrison there at that time, a mounted force be stationed at Fort Atkinson. The following is an extract from Governor Dodge's letter:

"In compliance with the instructions of your Department the Agency and School have been removed to the new site on Turkey river with about 700 of the Indians of the Winnebago Nation. These Indians, it is confidently expected, will not return, unless another blow should be struck by the Sauks and Foxes. Such an event may not be looked for this winter, but it is the opinion of Mr. Lowry that it may certainly be calculated upon in the ensuing spring unless a mounted force should be stationed at Camp Atkinson.

"Information was received by Mr. Lowry through Governor Lucas, obtained from a portion of the Sauks and Foxes not unfriendly to the Winnebagoes, that a war party was t6 have set out against the latter in November last. A very extraordinary snow storm is believed to have prevented this attack. The war party is now on Red Cedar (fifty miles west of Camp Atkinson); a large body of Sioux are also in that vicinity, and scouts of the former have been fired at by the latter but as yet no blood has been shed. The difficulty of keeping the Winnebagoes at their new homes, under these circumstances, and without an adequate force for their protection, must be readily seen."

This letter was referred to the War Department, where it was in turn referred to General Atkinson with instructions to use every effort t6 prevent any collision between the Indians. General Atkinson responded to these instructions March I, 1841, as follows:

"Sir: I have the honor to report that I have received your letter of instructions of the 15th ultimo, accompanied by an extract of a letter from Governor Dodge of the 23d of January, in reference to establishing a mounted force at Fort Atkinson for the protection of the Winnebago Indians. It is impossible to station a mounted force at that point before the middle of May, as there are no barracks, quarters or stables for their accommodation, nor forage for their horses. I will, however, order the troop at Fort Crawford to make excursions through the country of Turkey and Cedar rivers, till the season opens to enable it to go under tents, at which time the grass will be grown sufficiently to subsist the horses.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

"No time should be lost by the Quartermaster's Department in proceeding to erect quarters, barracks and stables for the troop at the post on Turkey river, or they will not be ready for their accommodation by the coming of the next winter. I request, therefore, that orders to that effect may be given without delay.
"With great respect, Sir, your most obedient servant "
(Signed.)

H. ATKINSON, "Brigadier General U. S. Army,

"Brigadier General Jones,
"Adjutant General U. S. Army, Washington."

On the 24th of the following June, Company B of the 1st Dragoons arrived at the fort and took up their station, and from that time until 1847 the fort was a two-company post. September 11th Captain Lynde's company was relieved by Company K of the 1st Infantry, Capt. J. J. Abercrombie.

In the year following, at various times, on the requisition of Governor Chambers of Iowa Territory, detachments and patrols were sent out from this fort to remove squatters and other intruders from the lands of the Sauk and Fox Indians and to prevent their return. August 7th Company I, 1st Dragoons, under command of Captain James Allen, arriving at the fort, whence they proceeded to the Sauk and Fox Agency, where they established Fort Sanford. From this time until its abandonment Fort Atkinson was successively garrisoned by the following organizations:

Company B, 1st Infantry, Captain Sidney Burbank; Company A, 1st Infantry, Captain Osborne Cross; Company E, 1st Infantry, Captain A. S. Miller; Company A, 1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Captain James M. Morgan; Company A, 1st Iowa Volunteer Dragoons, Captain John Parker; a detachment of Wisconsin Volunteers, Dodge Guards, under command of Lieutenant Benjamin Fox (here was an interim of several months during which the fort was not garrisoned) ; and from September 25, 1848, until the time of its abandonment, Company C, 6th Infantry, Captain F. L. Alexander.⁵⁶

The fort was situated in the northwestern part of Washington township (on the old military road constructed from Fort Snelling to Fort Gibson) and stood on a rock-ribbed hill overlooking the site of the town which now bears its name. This hill is about eighty-four feet above the Turkey river. The fort buildings were two stories high, twenty feet to the eaves. Each building had an upper porch along its entire length, the one on the officers' quarters being screened in with the old fashioned movable wooden blinds. The buildings occupied an acre of ground. The stables, about forty feet wide and about 300 feet long, extended north and south and were about twenty rods east of the street. The bakery, and the blacksmith shop and carpenter shops were north of the fort on the north side of the street.

The main barracks consisted of the commissioned officers' quarters, built of stone, the non-commissioned officers' quarters, built of logs hewn flat, one soldiers' quarters (including hospital rooms), built of stone, and another soldiers'

^{_________

56}'War Department Records of Fort Atkinson in "Annals of Iowa," July, 1900, Vol. IV, No.6.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

quarters (including church and school rooms), built of flat hewn logs. The soldiers' quarters were 250 feet long. These four main buildings enclosed a parade and drill-ground (with a flag-staff at one end), and in turn were enclosed by a stockade twelve feet high and made out of logs hewn flat and set on end in a narrow trench. The top of the stockade consisted of spikes driven into the sharpened ends of the logs. Port holes were cut at about every four feet.

In two corners of the stockade were located cannon-houses; and in the other two corners, the Quartermaster's store house (adjoined by the sutler's store) and the magazine, or powder-house. The guard-house was near the sutler's store, and a sentinel's beat was constructed near the powder-house. The platform of the sentinel's beat was about three feet below the top of one side of the stockade and extended nearly its whole length. At one end, by the magazine house, was constructed a small shelter for the protection of the sentinel during inclement weather. The outer walls of the Quartermaster's store extended somewhat outside the stockade.

Alexander states:⁵⁷"The material of which it was built was prepared at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wis., and the cost of making a wagonroad, the same ever since known as the Old Military road, and transporting the material to its destination, brought the cost of building the fort to $93,000." However, all the material was not prepared at Fort Crawford, as Mr. Goddard says, "The Government had a sawmill at Old Mission, where all the hardwood used in the fort was cut. The stone used was quarried in the immediate vicinity of the fort. The pine lumber and other material was brought from Fort Crawford."

Alexander says: ⁵⁸"The first blacksmith in Winneshiek county was Harmon Snyder. He came from Prairie du Chien with the force (of about 50 mechanics) detailed to build the fort, and was employed, chiefly, in work for the garrison. At the same time he did a great deal of work for the Indians. They would stand around and watch him while at his work, with wonder and admiration."

Antoine Grignon, who aided in the removal of the Winnebagoes in 1848, says, "Fort Atkinson was quite a lively place when I was there; there was a company of cavalry there at that time." Concerning the Indian agency which was established in connection with the fort, Mr. Kingsley relates that, "The Winnebagoes were given food, clothing, gold, and silver. In money they received $46.00 per head, twice a year. The head of the family represented his family by the number of sticks in his hand, and the annuity was disbursed to him accordingly. I have heard my mother say that she was a young girl, about fourteen years old, the time of the Turkey river reservation days; her father, being a sub-chief, drew a portion of the supplies; these were tied up in a buffalo robe and put on a pony that she rode. The cash amounted to between $1,000 and $2,000."

February 24, 1849, the post was finally abandoned. It was turned over to the Secretary of the Interior for disposition January 10, 1851. At the present

^{_________

57}In his history of the county.
⁵⁸Same reference as above.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

time all that is still standing of the fort is the cannon-house of the southwest corner.

"Orders No.9.

"HEADQUARTERS 6TH MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
"ST. LOUIS, Missouri, February 10th, 1849.

"In pursuance of General Orders No.3, of the 23d ultimo; for the abandonment of Fort Atkinson, the Company of the 6th Infantry stationed there will be withdrawn to Fort Crawford, and will form a part of the garrison of that post.

"The public stores at Fort Atkinson will be removed or sold, as may be found expedient under the circumstances.

"By order Bvt. Major General Twiggs:

"D. C. BUELL,
"Asst. Adjt. Gen."

Although the military appearance was no longer kept up, the fort was not entirely abandoned as a post. A discharged soldier of the regular army, named Alexander Faulkner, who held the rank of first sergeant, was appointed by the Government to look after it Josiah Goddard, who, with his family, moved from Wisconsin to this section in 1849, spent the winter of 1849-50 in the old fort when it was in charge of Mr. Faulkner. Soon after, Faulkner was relieved by Geo. Cooney, whom Alexander says,⁵⁹ "was a well-known citizen of the county, who lived in the vicinity of the old fort" The fort became useless as Government property, and was sold at public auction to one J. M. Flowers for $3.521. The reservation is described as containing 1,920 acres. This land was finally disposed of under the provisions of the acts of Congress of July 30, 1856, and June 7, 1860.

Of the officers who served at this post, six, namely: Captain John J. Abercrombie and Lieutenants Schuyler Hamilton, John H. King, and Joseph B. Plummer, of the 1st Infantry, and Captain Edwin V. Sumner and Lieutenant Alfred Pleasanton, of the 1st Dragoons, attained to the rank of general officers in the U. S. Army in the Civil war.

Assistant Surgeon William S. King was retired as an Assistant Surgeon General. Captain Osborne Cross of the 1st Infantry was transferred to the Quartermaster's Department and became Assistant Quartermaster General with the rank of Colonel. Captain Sidney Burbank of the 1st Infantry commanded his regiment, 2d U. S. Infantry, during the Civil war and was breveted for gallantry.

Lieutenants Simon B. Buckner and Henry Heth of the 6th Infantry, and Abraham Buford and Alexander W. Reynolds of the 1St, resigned their commissions at the outbreak of the Civil war and became general officers in the Confederate service. Assistant Surgeon Charles H. Smith served in the medical department of the Confederate army. A. R. Young, father of Frank Young of Decorah, was a soldier at Fort Atkinson, and left with other troops for Mexico, but returned soon after the country was opened to settlers.

The first death of a white man in Winneshiek county was that of a Government teamster named Howard, frozen to death October 4, 1840, near Castalia,

^{________

59}In his history of the county.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

while driving from Fort Crawford to Fort Atkinson. He was buried at the latter place. The first white child born in the county was Miss Mary Jane Tapper, born at the fort January 16, 1841.

REMOVAL OF THE WINNEBAGOES FROM IOWA

October 13, 1846, the Winnebagoes ceded "all claim to land," and especially their rights on the Neutral Ground, and were given a tract of land selected by the chiefs at Long Prairie, Minnesota. The Indians were not satisfied with the location, and most of them remained scattered throughout the country.

Mr. Henry M. Rice secured the contract to remove these to Minnesota, and employed Moses Paquette, Antoine Grignon, and others to assist him. Antoine Grignon, who is now eighty-four years old and a resident of Wisconsin, says,

"I went to school four years with Moses Paquette; he was a Winnebago mixed blood. I have no Indian name, but am part Sioux and Winnebago. I helped locate camps for H. M. Rice, along the river, and we gathered the Indians together in La Crosse, took them by steamboat to St. Paul, then overland by wagon to Long Prairie, Minnesota. I remained at Long Prairie until 1854. They disliked very much to leave Iowa. They were removed in wagons, being guarded by dragoons from Fort Atkinson."

The names of the twenty-four Indian signers of the Treaty of Washington,
negotiated with the Winnebago Indians October 13, 1846, are as follows:

Hoong-ho-no-kaw. Hakh-ee-nee-kaw.
Is-jaw-go-bo-kaw. Waw-kon-chaw-ho-no-kaw.
Co-no-ha-ta-ka w.    Ma w-hee-ko-sha y-naw-zhee-kaw.
Naw-hoo-skaw-kaw.    Wo-gie-qua-kaw.
Shoong-skaw-kaw. Waw-kon-chaw-she-shick-kaw.
Kooz-a-ray-kaw.    Chas-chun-kaw.
Waw-ma-noo-ka-kaw.    Naw-hey-kee-kaw.
Ha-naw-hoong-per-kaw. Ah-hoo-zheb-kaw.
W aw-roo-jaw-hee-kaw. Maw-nee-ho-no-nic.
Baptist-Lasalica.   Maw-ho-kee-wee-kaw.
Waw-kon-chaw-per-kaw. Sho-go-nee-kaw.
Kaw-how-ah-kaw.

Watch-ha-ta-kaw,
(by HenryM. Rice, his delegate.)

Mr. Lamere has translated most of the above names; the translations are as follows: Hoong-ho-no-kaw, or Little Chief (also called Little Priest); he was a member of the Wolf clan.

Co-no-ha-ta-kaw;-"Co-no" is the name of all the first born male children of the Winnebagoes (the word "co-no" does not mean first-born; but is the name of the first born) ; "-ha-ta" means "big." As there were usually two or three families in a lodge and more than one "co-no," they usually called the older one "co-no-ha-ta-kaw," meaning, "older, or big-first-born."

Maw-hoo-skaw-kaw, or White Sturgeon; this is a Fish clan name. Shoong-skaw-kaw, or White Dog; a member of the Wolf clan. Kooz-a-ray-kaw, or the Created; a member of the Bear clan. Waw-ma-noo-ka-kaw, or the Stealer (Thief); this is a self-taken name, a right the warriors had, especially, when they had accomplished anything of im-

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

portance in battle. This particular name signifies that he overcomes his enemies so easily that it is like stealing them.

Ha-naw-hoong-per-kaw;--"Ha-naw" is the name of the second born male child in a family; "hoong-per" signifies "good chief," thus the meaning would be "the second born good chief;" his English name was "White-horse" and he was a member of the Wolf clan.

Wo-gie-qua-kaw, or "Strikes them as he comes." This is a. Buffalo clan name, and is taken from the actions of a bull buffalo running a herd, when he seems to lead or drive them by butting, or striking them about.

Wau-kon-chaw-she-shick-kaw, or Bad Thunder (a Thunder clan name). Chas-chun-kaw, or the Wave (a Fish clan name.)

Naw-hey-kee-kaw, or "He who makes trees dead;" a Thunder clan name taken from the action of the lightning when it strikes trees, so that they dry up and die.

Ah-hoo-zheb-kaw, or Short Wing (Young Winneshiek).
Waw-roo-jaw-hee-kaw, or "Thunders on them" (Thunder clan name).
Waw-kon-chaw-per-kaw, or the Good Thunder (Thunder clan name).
"Waw-kon-chaw-ho-no-kaw, or the Little Thunder (Thunder clan name).
Maw-hee-koo-shay-naw-zhee-kaw, or Little Decorah (One who Stands and Reaches the Skies).
Maw-nee-ho-no-nic, or Little Walker (Eagle clan name).
Maw-ho-kee-wee-kaw, or "He who goes along in the sky;" the word "kaw" on the end of every name means "he" or "the."
Sho-go-nee-kaw, or Little Hill.
Watch-ha-ta-kaw (undoubtedly One-eyed Decorah).

About 1300 were removed to Minnesota at this time, leaving, it was estimated, about 400 still remaining in Iowa and Wisconsin. Others were removed in 1850.

"A place of notoriety that existed in the early history of Winneshiek county was a spot called 'Grab-all' This place was a high bench of timber land, half way between the Iowa trail and Postville. It was given this name because the Government stationed a sergeant's guard there to 'grab all' the Indians passing that way, for removal."⁶⁰

It is easily understood why the Winnebagoes, when later removed to other places, returned in little bands, quite frequently, to visit the scenes they loved so well; they persisted in this until civilization shut them out forever. The Winnebagoes had many favorite camping sites along the rivers of the county. Mr. Lamere says that the Winnebago Indian name for Iowa river, with reference to the Upper Iowa, is "Wax-hochc-ni-la," meaning Iowa river, also called "Waxhochc-ni-sha-nuk-la." The Winnebago Indian name for the Turkey river is "Zee-zee-ke-ni-Ia," meaning Tnrkey river, also called "Zoe-zee-ke-ni-sha-nuk-la." James Smith, a Winnebago, states,⁶¹ "a river south of Lansing, Iowa, is called Yellow Hair river⁶² by the Indians; the Winnebago name for this river is 'Najew-zee-ni-sha-nuk-la.' "

^{________

60}Alexander's "History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties."
⁶¹A statement made to Mr. Oliver Lamere.
⁶²Evidently the Yellow river, which has its source in Winneshiek county.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

REMINISCENCES

When the first homeseekers came to Winneshiek county the remains of several Winnebago Indian villages were still in existence. Numerous Indian trails were in evidence in nearly all parts of the county, many of which led to the site of the present city of Decorah. .

In "Reminiscences of Springfield Township"⁶³ Hon. A. Jacobson states: "The Indians who had inhabited this portion of the country where we settled were removed by Government troops two years previous to our arrival. They had evidently intended to return at some future time as they had made large cellar-like holes in the ground in which were deposited all kinds of goods covered with the bark of trees. Such things as corn, feathers, axes, and kettles were in good preservation when exhumed by the new settlers.

"Quite large parties of Indians traversed the country, but they had their homes in the territory of Minnesota and did not molest us in the least. There were no settlements northwest of us the first year, hence being on the frontier we often felt uneasy, having heard that some traders sold them whiskey.

"Indian trails, well marked, crossed .the country in various directions, and with little deviation continued to be the roads of early settlers, until the fencing in of the fields pushed the roads into the worst places."

Alonzo Bradish, who came to Decorah in 1852, says: ⁶⁴ "One of their trails followed the east bend of Pleasant Hill and left off at a point about where the Catholic church now stands on East Broadway. This trail was well marked by frequent travel, and in places there were considerable depressions below the surface, caused, to a certain extent, by the dragging of tipi poles fastened to the backs of horses [travois].

"In the early days travelers had to ford the stream where the Twin Bridges now span the Upper Iowa. The road leading from here up through the valley, to the district now called Clay Hill, was known as the St. Paul stage road, and the valley was called Cruson's Hollow. This route was very frequently traveled by the Indians. A favorite camping place of the Indians, when traveling through, was on the ground now known as the Courthouse Square.

"They always carried a blanket, and wore leggings that reached up over the thigh, and a clout. Many carried hatchets, of which the most were made of iron. The young Indian boys were expert marksmen with the bow and arrow, hitting pennies and nickels at fifty to sixty feet distance.

"I had opened a hardware and tin shop, and here the Indians occasionally came to have their guns repaired. These guns were the only kind used then and were known as flintlocks, the ammunition being big lead balls. The Indians were supplied with them by the Government.

"A young Indian and his squaw were camped at a spot about where the stockyards are now located at the east end of Water street. The river at this time was very low and he busied himself in making a dugout canoe from the trunk of a large cottonwood which he had felled. When the high water came they put the boat in the stream and getting in were soon on their way down

^{________

63}Sec. II, pg. II, Atlas of Winneshiek County, 1905.
⁶⁴In a personal interview with him.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

stream, headed for Lansing at the mouth of the Upper Iowa, where a part of the tribe were encamped."

Philip Husted, an old settler, relates⁶⁵ that, "Quite often parties of Winnebago Indians would travel through the country; one of their favorite camping places was on the Yellow river near Frankville. They would sell their beadwork, and were very pleasant and peaceable with the whites."

A number of years ago Mr. E. C. Bailey met two Indians at the Methodist church corner, on upper Broadway. One was a very old Indian, and the other middle-aged. Mr. Bailey (who was then about twenty years old), was asked if he knew where a Mr. E. Anderson lived. One of them opened a neat note book in which was written, "These Indians are good Winnebago Indians, and they are to be trusted."

(Signed.)

E. ANDERSON,
Sheriff of Winneshiek county.'

It is not definitely known what year Mr. Anderson was sheriff, but his statement is only another example of the confidence early settlers placed with the Winnebagoes.

Although Iowa was in a manner always neutral ground and escaped many of the worst results of the encounters between the whites and the Indians, the early settlers of Winneshiek county had their Indian scare, and they had good reason to become alarmed. What led to this was the Indian uprising and Sioux massacre in Minnesota in June, 1862.

They had swept Minnesota with bullet and brand
Till her borders lay waste as a desert of sand,
When we in Dakota awakened to find
That the red flood had risen and left us behind.
Then we rallied to fight them,-Sioux, Sissetons, all
Who had ravaged unchecked to the gates of Saint Paul.--

--Joseph Mills Hanson, "Frontier Ballads."

At this time the Winnebagoes were at Blue Earth in Southern Minnesota. Although they took no part in the Sioux massacre, and even though they offered the government their services in punishing the Sioux, the inhabitants of Minnesota demanded their removal. They were hastily removed to South Dakota, where they suffered many hardships.

This Indian scare was general throughout the county and was an occurrence well remembered by the old settlers. A contributor to The Decorah Journal, 1882, states: "As I write the word 'Indians, my memory takes me back to the early days of my childhood in Decorah. Again I see a rider on a foaming steed dash along Broadway, as I did twenty or more years ago, shouting at the top of his voice, 'The Indians are coming!' Again I see the street thronged with blanched faced men and trembling women, running to and fro in wild excitement and gazing with anxious faces off into the west * * * * Again I hear the whispered consultation of the men as to the best means of protecting their loved ones. Again I feel my hand clasped in that of my sainted mother as I toddle

^{________

65}In a personal interview with him.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

along at her side, down Mill street hill, across the old red bridge, and over to West Decorah-a place of imagined safety. It was a false alarm, and probably faded from the memory of many of our readers, and remembered by others only as the dim recollection of a half forgotten dream."

At Decorah, men, women, and children gathered on the Courthouse Square, and prepared to withstand a siege. Settlers left their homes and gathered in Decorah as a place of refuge, many of them camping on the flat now known as Park Addition. Men armed themselves with any kind of weapon that lay handy, and determined to defend their families and homes, but were greatly relieved when the threatened attack proved to be only a rumor.

J. C. Fredenburg, of Canoe township, says,⁶⁶ "I remember the Indian scare. Some one came to our house one night about twelve o'clock and told father the Indians were coming and that they were about twenty miles away, killing people and burning all the houses. Father and mother talked it over and father said, 'I will go to Burr Oak and see what is to be done.' He left mother and me at home, and when he arrived at Burr Oak nearly all the people were there for several miles around, some with their teams and families. They held a council and decided that all should meet there and build a fort for their protection, but no Indians came, so the people settled down again. It was some time, however, before all fear had vanished."

Other similar accounts might be given, but the preceding narratives describe the conditions as they existed, during this scare, throughout the county.

There is no evidence to show that any Indian murders took place within the boundaries of our county. There were, however, several such murders committed in the near neighborhood: that of the Gardner family, in Fayette county; of Riley, near Monona; and of Herchy, near the mouth of the Volga. The contaminating influence of the bootlegger was the direct cause of these murderous deeds. "Firewater" was the curse of the Indian, as it has since been to many a white man.

Taft Jones and Graham Thorn were two bootleggers who infested the neighborhood of the Winnebago reservation. The Government did not allow such characters to come on the reservation, so they came as near to its boundaries as they dared and established so-called trading-posts in the vicinity of Monona, giving them the names of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Indians used to frequent these places and always got badly cheated. Alexander gives⁶⁷ the following account:

"An old Indian visited Taft Jones' den, at Sodom, and traded in all his worldly effects for whiskey, he even sold the blanket from his shoulders. Becoming intoxicated, he was turned out of doors, and on his way to his lodge died from exposure and cold. The next morning his son, a youth of about twenty summers, found the dead body of his father out in the snow, naked and frozen. His revengeful feelings were aroused, and going to the whiskey den at Gomorrah, he shot the first man he saw through the window. Unfortunately it happened to be an inoffensive man named Riley. A detachment of troops under command of Lieut. David S. Wilson was sent out to capture the Indian who committed the murder. He was apprehended, taken to Fort Atkinson, and confined in the

________
⁶⁶Sec. II, pg. 14, Atlas of Winneshiek County.
⁶⁷In his history of the county.

PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY

guardhouse, but by the connivance of a sympathizing white man he escaped and was never recaptured. Jones lived a short time after this occurrence and died from chronic alcoholism."

Thus an attempt has been made to give in brief outline the Indian history of Winneshiek county. The writer soon discovered, after taking up the study of the subject, that nowhere was accurate information in concise form to be had in regard to the aboriginal inhabitants of the county; their occupation of the county seems to have been an obscure period in their history. The writer has regarded it as we1l worth while to gather the data here presented, and has had in view that this article should faithfully preserve the early scenes of our predecessors in the county.

The river, whose peaceful waters reflected the light of their campfires, now furnishes the power that lights the modern structures of the white men, by which their wigwams have been supplanted. But the memory of the red men will never perish from the minds of those who have succeeded them. The names of Winneshiek and Decorah, that are attached to our county and county seat, will be an enduring monument to their former occupation of the soil.

Here still a lofty rock remains,
On which the curious eye may trace
(Now wasted half by wearing rains)
The fancies of a ruder race.

Here still an aged elm aspires,
Beneath whose far projecting shade
(And which the shepherd still admires)
The children of the forest played.

There oft a restless Indian queen
(Pale Sheba with her braid and hair),
And many a barbarous form is seen
To chide the man that lingers there.

By moonlight moons, o'er moistening dews,
In habit for the chase arrayed,
The hunter still the deer pursues,
The hunter and the deer--a shade!

And long shall timorous Fancy see
The painted chief, and pointed spear,
And Reason's self shall bow the knee
To shadows and delusions here.

Closing stanzas of Philip Freneau's "The Indian Burying-ground."

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