The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-22

ceeding down the latter to st. Louis, che
passed this point over thirty years ago, when
there was not yet human habitation here,
save perhaps the wigwam Of the Sacs and
Foxes, old Black Hawk, Ksokuk and their
associates long, in fact, ere even the Terri.
tory Of lows was ushered into existence, and
while it siill formed part not OF Wiscon.
sin, but Of Michiganl
Of what now constitutes the Territory Of
Kansas, Mrs. Belknap was perhaps the first
white woman that ever became an nhabitant.
Her husband, then Captain Belknsp, was or
dsred to establish military post on the Mis-
souri,, which he did accordingly, probably in
1857 or '28, with the name Of Fort Leaven-
worth, near where tho present city Of the
same name stands. While the buildings for
this post we're being erected, Mrs. Belknap,
like true sodier's wife, ate and slept under
= tent, until they we're ready to be occupied.
Subsequently she followed her husband to
Florida, where he had been ordered during
the campaign with the Seminoles and, later
still, she accompanied him to the posts on
the Arkansas, Forts Smith and Gibson, where
this devoted and noble wife, always Of a fral
constitution, and never Of robust health, spent
! several years more, far removed from those
thousand comforts and re6nements to which
she had been accustomed in early life. Did
she complain Of thsp Never! but remained
always the same true christian woman, and
devoted wife and mother.
The gallant part acted by Gen. Belknap
during the war Of 1916, with Mexico, in which
he again distinguished himself Mt Palo Alto,
Resaca, and other fields, 10 doubtless fsmi-
iar to the reader. After his death, which
| occurred in 1851, in Texas, where he was on
duty with bis troops, Mrs. Belknap, accom-
panied by her essimable and highly intelli
gent daughters, came here to join her only
son, and make this her home.
Reference has been made above to her
cheerful and happy temperament, and 20 the
fact that il was under her own hospitable
roof that these beautiful traits were mos.
strikingly developed. 1t was there that che
ever appeared . true model for her sex, not
only in all her domestic relations, but in its
aVocations as well. With what admirable
systcm were all of tho latter perform ed; and
what scrupulous ueatness and order reigned,
ever, over the entire premises in door and
out and this without the least apparent bus
tie, confusion, or Inconvenience to either WIS.,
itors or the household; perfection Of house,
keeping--not the least difficult Of arts -
Hoxg--that home where SO much Of the last
few years Of her life were spent-was to her
evidently one Of calm and true rational en-
joyment; while 20 her friends one Of never.
failing attractions.
But it was as sincere and genuine, though
wholly unpretentious, christian, that the
character of Mrs. Belknap shone forth in its
greatest beauty and loneliness. That she
was true christian, if one ever lived, no.
body for moment doubted who knew her
well. IL was clearly mirrored upon her ever
calm and serene countenance, and evid encsd
in the daily acts Of her life; yet she never
obtruded her religion upon others, nor made
public display OF it, to attract the worlds
gaxe--if not to enlist its praise! Nor does
the writer remember to have ever once heard
her condemn, by single harsh or unkind
word, any human being, whose opinions or
creed, be they what they might, were not in
accord with her own. IF, as she thought, |
wrong, it ever seemed With her source Of |
real, nnfeigned regret, rather than of diff |
fsrent feelingso commonly evinced. Oh | |
what reformation will that be, il il ever oc. |
ours, when all processing christians shall act |
thus. How infinitely greater the influence
they will then exercise. CHARITY, no less |
than FArH and HorE, was cardinal and |
practical principle 10 the christianity Of Mrs. |
Bekuap; Charity which, il not, as claimed
by one OF the master spirits Of the world,
s',he essence of chrlst'aaity,'' is at least one
OF It's essential elements--witbout which II |
can have no real existence.
But enough: it is most gratifying to know
that the subject Of this imperfect sketch was
one whose practice in life, no more than her |
svowed principles, were never called 10 ques-
ton. Truly /, may be said, she probably had
not an enemy on earth ; and that,
s'Sone knew her but Ia love her
Nor named her bur 10 praise"
keokuk Dee % fS5s "