Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-06-28
Fer the Gazette.

Burlington, June 20, 1S45.
Fer The Gazette.
A Chapter from Che-MO-ko-MOn.
The Des MOinrs country KeosauqHa- Bona
parte-Meck'S Mill--Farminston--E -EnigrantS
---Bateman's old gray Horse.
Mr.. ED1roR:-Since my return from my
Transatlantic wanderings, still find myself
leading somewhat the life Of cosmopolite;
and as my old friends have given me a
unanimous and cordial welcome back again,
l cannot refrain from telling them, through
the columns of your s'Gazette," that my
devotion to Iowa still remains unabated,
and my faith in her future destinies un-
changed. 1t is now nearly five years since
published my "Sketches ofIowa." Some
accused me Of tinging my embellishments
rather too much colcour de rose. Since that
period, however, l have again travelled
over great part of the United States, and
considerable portion of Europe. And
see no reason to retract one iota of what l
have previously written, but rather that
the descriptions were far short of the real
ity. But / sat down this morning to write
you an article upon my recent journeyings,
and not a homily of my past deeds. Think
! promised you, some weeks since, an oc-
casional paragraph touching these matters.
Since my return l have visited and lee
tured, | believe, in every county seat south
Of the Iowa river, excepting the New Pur-
chase; and have been astonished as well
as gratifed to witness the rapid advances
made, and the spirit Of enterprise that per-
vades both town and country wherever I
have journeyed.
/ have just now returned from the Des
Moines country. Every body eulogizes
the Des Moines country and / have done
my part at it. have once more returned
and beheld il after having Gin the interim
gazed upon the Thames, the Dee, the
Severn, the Trent and the "soft flowing
Avon" And I will hazard the assertion
that if the Des Moines river meandered
any portion of the continent Of Europe,
adorned with its beautiful scenery that we
can every day look upon and admire, be-
lieve that half the population Of Europe
would annually make pilgrimage to its
sylvan banks-( don't sneer distant reader,
] know Of what ! speak.) My engage
ment was especially at Keosauqua, to ad.
dress the citizens upon my recent travels.
The object Of my visit brought me neces-
sarily in contact with many Of the citizens,
both Individually and collectively; and a
more enterprising, intelligent and affable
community, do not believe can be found
in this or any other Territory. keosau-
qua is steady increasing, and being the
seat Of justice Of Van Buren, county, gives
it a pre-eminence over most other towns
on the Des Moines. It contains fine
brick court house, situated on command
ing eminence, which not only overlooks
the town but likewise embraces an extern
sive view of the valley of the Des Moines.
Keosauqua carries on an extensive traffic
with the Indian country for furs and pei
tries. 1t contains several mercantile es-
tablishments, which appeared 10 be well
filled with good stocks Of merchandise.
The town also supports two weekly news
papers.
From Keosauqua proceeded down the
Des Moines, through Columbus and Ben
tensport, to Bonapartc, formerly Meek's
Mill. Here Doct. Cressup kindly convert
ed one of his spacious rooms into Lecture
Hall, and on Thursday Evening address
sed highly respectable audience. The
next morning Judge Meek's waited upon
me, and in the kindest manner conducted
me over his spacious mill. If were to
say this is great mill for new country,
the story would be but half told. It would
be noble structure in any country, and
is not only creditable to Iowa but to the
valley of the Mississippi. The new mill
is six stories high, painted white. The
solidity and excellence Of the frame ex-
ceeds amy thing Of the kind that have
ever met with before. The boiling chest.
are all finished in pannel work, in as goot
taste as any private residence. The cast
ings were all made in the Territory Of Iowa
on the most improved principles, whicllre
|, fleets no little credit upon the entupriz,
and ingenuity Of the Iowa mechanics Al
, tached TO this mill are extensive cardinl
and fulIing mills, where I saw few spe
!, cimens Of sattinetts and broad cloths ths