The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-10-21
(From the Burlington Hawk-Eyel
n DAY In PELLi.'
DY CIIE.Mo.KO- MON.

10 Pclla2" Not the ancient city Of Mace
donia, but foroshadowing Of that famous
H0llond Settlement which has recently
bsen located upon our beautiful Prnirics oi'
tho New Purchase. To tell you how sud
denly the inhabitants have been transferred
from the low lands Of Holland to the wide
spread Prairies Of America, would be
like telling you fiction. Just about two
months ago, halted about sunset, at u
lone cabin on the .'ridgc" road midway be-
tween Oskaloosa and tho Raccoon forks,
and where one Absalom Peters informed
mo twas just seven miles to "Black Oak
Grove" My Indian ponev was compelled
to quicken his pace to reach tho nearest
neighbor, ere the darkness of storm,
night entirely cncotnpasscd me. Again
to-day. (thc 18th If ScW..) about noon.
find myself da>hing along this beautiful
road. did not dream. neither wis ! in a.
trnnce, Tor INV ewes bcheld the -amn benuii-
Gal earth clothed in its rich g,rni,ar. al
green. Yet discovered u new race of he
ing-. Tho men in blankc, coat aud jcnns
were gone! And u broad shoudcrrd race
in velvet Jacket and wooden -I,ncs were
there. Aud this j. Pclla nf nearly 1000
soil>! aud rejoicing in the antiquity ei
NEARLY N month. NJ - &c the iml, ,hitsnt-
live IN camps, tho tips covered with tent
cloth, some with grass AMI bushes. The
sides barricadcd with countless numbers e
trunks, hnxcs and chests I'll the "ddc-i aud
mnei graacsquc description that Yankees az
Ilawkcvcs ever hcirld. s., Ear as nv in
formation extends. | will enhcnvor 4" give
you brief and s'lccinci description of this
interesting settlement, its origin, c,c.
This settlement j. composed ola c"lon,
from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in
other words from Holland; they are ali
Professionals VII, have lc'i their nntivc
land on account of religious and pnlitictl
intolerance and persecution. Their pres
ent population numbers something like 7
TO 500 souls with the expectation al n nu-
merous accession tho ensuing SPRING
They appear 10 be intelligent and respect
able, quite above the average class Of En-
ropoan immigrants. having nnqncstionably
brought with thcr, more wealth. according
90 their numbers. than any other nsricul-
turnl immi. -,s that have ever landed IN
our shore .sir. Sehau!;er, tho President
of the association. together with several
other Of the leading men 81 the colony, are
men of education. refinement aud high or
der u intelligence. Mr.. s.. their Pres-
dent, was student OF the University Of
I.cyden at the time Of tho Belgian insur-
rection and took n conspicuous part with
that patriolic body of Young men ia vindi-
eating the rights and homer II his country.
lie is the author al several works character
lied BY nm untlinching advncac, =, popular
right end more recent, ~ the Eii,ur ut II
Periodical published at Uirecih. (ilolland.)
where he suffered persecution and even i'm
prisonmcnt for the fcarlcssncss and zeal
with which he espouscd the cause Of re-
ligious nnd political freedom. Sach is
faint outline Of the character Of the presi-
dent the 'llolnnd Settlement"
On the day Of my arrival, il was my
good fortune 10 witness most interesting
proceeding. Most Of the male adults wen,
through the cerem ms nf declaring their in
tentions Of becoming citizens Of the United
States. Il WINS altogether an impressive
sccne,' to behold some 300 men with their
brawny arms appraised to heaven nhiaring
eli allegiance TO foreign powers, Pmcn.
tales, &c. And rs they all responded, in
their native tongue, 10 tho last words Of the
oath $50 help me Cod" 10 ono could re-
sist tho heartfelt. response $50 help them
Ged to'keep their solemn vow.' All mp
psarsd 70 feel the weight Of responsibility
they were about to assume. No tribute
could b more complimentary to our ins,i-
tulions than 10 behold the men "f ''Pells"
coming up 10 their strength, on the Pra.
ries Il America, md there cschewing for
ever all allegiance % the tyranny Of king
cSsh.
Their purchase or settlement occupies
10 entire townships siiuntsd in the north
- coeper Of Marion county and extends