Keokuk, Iowa

“ Plat of Keokuk, in the county of Lee, Territory of Iowa, upon the half-breed tract, the outlines of which were designated and marked by Jenefer T. Spring in his survey as town reservation, . . . Water Street is of unequal and irregular width at the points where the dotted lines pass across the same. ”

“ At that day the old chief, Keokuk, boasted of having the handsomest site for a big village that could be found on the river, and since that day it has grown to be a large and elegant city, with wide streets, fine public buildings, nice churches, school-houses, elegant residences, extensive business houses, wholesale and retail stores, manufactories, and a flourishing Medical University with elegant buildings, which has been in successful operation for more than twenty years. The United States District Court for Southern Iowa is also located here. The city is well provided with good hotels. ”

“ He was educated at Miami university, Ohio, and at Yale, where he was graduated in 1851, studied law, and was city attorney of Keokuk, Iowa, in 1859-'60. He became 1st lieutenant and adjutant in the 3d Iowa cavalry in August, 1861, and took part in the battle of Athens, Mo., as a private before he was mustered into service. ”

“ George Catlin, who became a famous Indian painter and historian, spent several months in Iowa during his tours among the Indians. He made a trip up the Des Moines Valley about this time and thus describes it:
“The whole country that we passed over was like a garden, wanting only cultivation, being mostly prairie. Keokuk's village is beautifully situated on a large prairie on the bank of the Des Moines River. Dubuque is a small town of about two hundred inhabitants, all built within two years. It is located in the midst of the richest country on the continent. ”

“ I will lead you against the whites on one condition, that is that we shall first put all our women and children to death, and then resolve that when we cross the Mississippi we will never retreat, but perish among the graves of our fathers rather than yield to the white men.”
His warriors after listening to the desperate proposal, hesitated and finally determined to yield to the greatly superior power of the whites. When the war of 1832 was ended and Black Hawk was defeated and a prisoner, Keokuk's day of triumph came. ”

“ While the warriors of the united tribes were disposed to fight for their homes under Black Hawk, Keokuk by shrewd diplomacy won a majority to his peace policy. Upon one occasion when the war spirit was running high he called his followers together and addressed them thus:
“Warriors: I am your chief. It is my duty to lead you to war if you are determined to go. The United States is a great nation and unless we conquer them us must perish. ”

“ Up to this time none of the land had been put on the market by the United States. But the Indian agent was trying to persuade the Sacs to move across the Mississippi, into Iowa. That was for their own good. The white settlers were using whiskey and every other means, to get the upper hand.
Chief Keokuk agreed with the agent. He was not of the rank of Black-hawk and the Thunder clan, but he had fought the Sioux, and was of great courage and keen mind and silver tongue. He was an orator; Black-hawk was a warrior. ”

“ The north tier of townships was from December 31st, 1837, to July 30, 1840, embraced in the old county of Keokuk as first established. The county was named for General John Adair a distinguished officer of the War of 1812 and afterwards the sixth Governor of Kentucky.
Thomas N. Johnson is the first white man known to have made a home within the limits of the county. He made a claim and built a log cabin in 1849 on section four in Washington township where, in 1850, he built a mill on a stream running through his farm. ”

“ In payment for this cession the United States agreed "to pay an annuity of $20,000 for thirty years; to support a blacksmith and gunsmith in addition to those then employed; to pay the debts of the tribes; to supply provisions; and, as a reward for the fidelity of Keokuk and the friendly band, to allow a reservation to be made for them of forty square miles, on the Iowa River, to include Keokuk's principal village." ”

“ He was accompanied by Kiskukosh, Appenoose and about one hundred chiefs and braves of the Sac and Fox tribes, together with their families. They were brought over from the Iowa side on the ferry and two large flat boats. The band and a detachment of the Legion met them at the landing, but as soon as Keokuk failed to recognize Joseph among those who had come to bid him welcome, he refused to land or allow any of his party to go ashore until Joseph made his appearance. ”

“ Buchanan extended west to the Missouri River, embracing territory which has since been divided into ten Iowa counties. Benton embraced all of the territory in that range west of Linn County, to the western boundary of the State, including in its limits nine future counties. Keokuk embraced all of that range west of Johnson County to the Missouri River, taking in territory afterward contained in nine counties, but embracing only the northern tier of townhips in Keokuk County as now bounded. ”

“ From a boy he was a fearless advocate of emancipation of the slaves, but realizing that it could not be accomplished he determined to make his home in a free State. He therefore removed to Iowa in May, 1850, locating at Keokuk, where he entered upon the practice of law. He had been a Whig in politics but when the Republican party was organized united with it. Mr. Miller was a member of the law firm of Rankin & Miller and in a few years became one of the leading lawyers in the State. ”

“ Long after the diversion of the remaining lands of this grant to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company, the Iowa Homestead Company, grantee of the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company brought suit for a portion of these lands embraced in the river grant above the Raccoon fork, and attempted to disturb the title. In the meantime the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company had mortgaged these lands for the purpose of continuing their road from Des Moines to Fort Dodge. ”

“ GREULACH, WILLIAM J., Pvt., Council Bluffs, Iowa. HALLEN, ARTHUR E., Pvt., 16 Phillipsburg, Dublin, Ireland. HAMILTON, WILLIAM D., Pvt., 1534 26th St., Rock Island, Ill. HAMRICK, JOHN L., Pvt., New Windsor, Ill. HANCOCK, CHARLES F., Pvt., Pleasant and Wall St., Keokuk, Iowa. HANSEN, THORWALD, Pvt., 344 Lincoln Ave., Council Bluffs, Iowa. HAZARD, SAMUEL, Pvt., Atlantic, Iowa. HEAD, CLARENCE D., Pvt., Council Bluffs, Iowa. HEEVNER, WILLIAM, Pvt., 427 So. 19th St., Keokuk, Iowa. HENDERSON, HENRY, Sgt., Council Bluffs, Iowa. HENNINGTON, ALBERT L., Corp., Calumet, Iowa. ”

“ And now the Third Iowa were the only military occupants of Keokuk. Our quarters were in commodious and comfortable buildings. We were provided with blankets, warm enough, but of a very inferior quality, and plenty of clean hay to sleep on. For subsistence, we were turned over to the tender mercies of contractors whom Government paid for boarding men at the rate of two dollars and ten cents per week. ”

“ THE THIRTY-SIXTH IOWA INFANTRY
This regiment was made up largely of companies recruited in the counties of Monroe, Wapello, Appanoose, Marion, Lucas and Van Buren, and was organized at Camp Lincoln near Keokuk in September, 1862. While there a great amount of sickness from small-pox and measles prevailed, resulting in loss to the regiment of more than a hundred men. This was a gloomy beginning and had a depressing effect upon the troops from which they did not soon recover. From Keokuk they were sent to the malarious swamps of the Yazoo River and from there to the deadly region about Helena. ”

“ The Iowa River flows through the county from the northwest in a southeasterly direction furnishing water power and along its banks are found borders of woods and excellent stone quarries. The first settlement was made by Greenbury Haggins who came with his family from Keokuk County in 1849 and made a claim on the Iowa River and in the southeast corner of the county. During the next season Samuel Smith, James A. Dawdey, William Robinson and Abraham Grimsley came with their families and settled in the same vicinity. In the fall of 1850 Jacob Kidwiler made a claim about ten miles above Eldora. ”

“ These raids continued with exasperating frequency and regularity all winter and spring. He even brought himself to believe that he could easily create dissension among the followers of Keokuk and overthrow his power entirely.
Emissaries from the camp of Black Hawk had been busy in Keokuk’s village on the Iowa River, [92] and, by insidious industry, murmurs began arising upon all sides. ”

“ In 1860 he removed to Keokuk where he was engaged in business when the war began. In August, 1861, he was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Kirkwood, serving until March, 1862, when he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry. In August, 1862, he was promoted to colonel of the regiment and resigned during the siege of Vicksburg, after having distinguished himself at the battles of Jackson and Champion's Hill. He died at Keokuk on the 9th of September, 1900. ”

“ Iowa had been organized as a territory in 1838. The settlers in Shelby County, Missouri, were dissatisfied, and, having heard of the natural resources of the Territory of Iowa, immediately to the north, and that good land with a near market [159] could be had in the southeastern part of the territory, they decided to move to Iowa. Going north into Lee County, Iowa, they located at a place six miles northwest of Keokuk, known as Sugar Creek. Andrew Simonsen and most of the settlers in Shelby County came at that time; but Peerson remained in Missouri. ”

“ After the close of the Civil War he went to Dartmouth College where he graduated in the class of 1867. He came with his father's family to Iowa, making his home in Keokuk where they engaged in mercantile business. At seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Union army. In 1875 he was elected Representative in the House of the Sixteenth General Assembly, serving one term. In 1883 Mr. Irwin was appointed by President Arthur, Governor of Idaho Territory. After returning to Keokuk he was elected mayor. ”

“ The Legislature, in 1844, memorialized Congress to make a grant of public lands to the State to aid in the construction of a railroad from Dubuque to Keokuk; the grant to consist of alternate sections, extending five miles in width on each side of the road, or its equivalent in adjacent government lands. During the following winter a convention was held at Iowa City, representing various sections of the State, for the purpose of procuring grants of public land to aid in building other lines of railroad east and west. ”

“ He settled quietly down and for some time made his home near Keokuk’s village, on Iowa River. [275]
CHAPTER XXXIX. Second Trip East–A Quiet Life–July Fourth Toast at Fort Madison–Interview with Iowas–Death–Burial–His Grave Robbed–Bones Recovered–Consumed by Fire–Death of Madam Black Hawk.
In 1837 it became necessary for a delegation of Sacs and Foxes to go to Washington. Keokuk, who was at its head, prudently took Black Hawk along, fearing perhaps that during his absence he might create some new disturbance. ”

“ The success of the Union armies would almost certainly bring emancipation to the slaves. As soon as our Government determined to enlist colored soldiers the negroes of Iowa hastened to volunteer their services. The Sixtieth regiment of United States colored troops was largely made up of Iowa men. Six companies of this regiment went into camp at Keokuk, where they were mustered into the service of the United States on the 13th of October, 1863. The four companies which completed the regiment, entered the service at St. ”

“ Van Buren John F. Sanford, George G. Wright. Davis and Appanoose John J. Selman. Wapello and Monroe Barney Royston. Marion, Polk, Dallas and Jasper Phineas M. Casady. Des Moines Milton D. Browning, Alfred S. Fear. Henry Evan Jay. Jefferson John Howell. Louisa and Washington Francis Springer. Keokuk and Mahaska R. R. Harbour. Muscatine, Johnson and Iowa Freeman Alger. Scott and Clinton Loring Wheeler. Cedar, Linn and Benton John P. Cook. Jackson and Jones Philip B. Bradley. Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Fayette, Buchanan and Black Hawk Theophilus Crawford, John G. Shields. ”

“ The city was named after Keokuk, a chief of the Sauk and Foxes (1780–1848) , whose name meant “the watchful” or “he who moves alertly.” In spite of Black Hawk’s war policy in 1832 Keokuk was passive and neutral, and with a portion of his nation remained peaceful while Black Hawk and his warriors fought. His grave, surmounted by a monument, is in Rand Park. The first house on the site of the city was built about 1820, but further settlement did not begin until 1836. ”

“ The advantages of its location are so great, as to force it forward against difficulties, which, with other points, would be insurmountable--and, that Keokuk must continue to "go ahead," is manifest to the most casual observer. Although not much of a prophet ourself, we can find those who predict for Keokuk, in ten years from this date, a population and importance, second to no town between St. ”

“ There is nothing like pie to bring a fellow to his home senses.
Those who have visited all the camps on the Kowak, say that ours is the largest and most comfortable house on the river. I think this is the case but we are not the only ones who enjoy its comforts and hospitality.
I do not expect we shall have so large an attendance again at Sunday services, for to-morrow ten of the Iowa boys, our nearest neighbors, start with heavily loaded sleds to get as far as possible toward the Koyukuk before the snow comes. ”