Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-01-20


AID. Thorington then called the attention
Of tie Counci. to some changes made by the
last Legislature ~ to the time for which the
next mayor will hold his office, and moved
that the City Assessor be directed to take a
complete census cf the city. We are unable
in consequence Of the great length Of the
report Of the lecture in another column, to
statA the points made by the Alderman, but
will refer to the matter at length tomorrow.
AID Thorington. Hubbell and Washburn
were directed to examine the law.
Alter some future unimrortant business
and the Offering Of a very silly resolution
regarding Pixies Peak. by Aldermsn Hut
ben, the Council adjourned until W ednesdsy
ns.
LAST EvENING's LEcTuRE.-Wm.
Hall. Esq. read in very excellent manner
the Courtship Of Miles Standish. to large
and appreciative audience, after which
came the Lecture Of Willard Barrows ESQ,
on Iowa, which we take pleasure in laying
in part, before our readers this morning:
| Mr.. Barrows Lecture.
Mr.. President, Ladies aud Gentlemen:
have no apology for my appearance be-
fore you this evening, WAS invited, and l
am here-as do not like apologies prefer
to make none unless it become necessary
Ny subject is the past, present and the fu-
ture of Iowa.
The West has always been the great cen
tre Of attraction. 1t began in the restless
heart Of Columbus. The Pilgrim fathers
talked about the West and from the first
days Of Old Plymouth. to the present time
the mighty West has been the constant
theme. Within the recollection Of many
now present, the State Of New York was the
West. and Rochester with her grand wa
ter power and mills were the wonder and
the admiration Of America Then Ohio,
with its beautiful river became the point of
interest and Cincinnati was the "Queen
City, and only rs years ago Chicago
sprang into existence and soon became a
large and populous city. When We. Of the
East heard of the territory of Wisconsin, west
Of the Mississippi River, that was considered
the last place, almost to sun down, and he
that would emigrate to such country was
considered reckless indeed. The watch
word wss always more westward" until
from the land of the Pilgrims to the plains
Of Utah the same magic word is sounded
through the States and Territories and ech-
oes to-day along the base Of the Rocky
Mountains. do not stop here to give Iowa
her latitude and longitude, her boundaries
and her existence as a State. These are
historical facts with which all are acquaint-
ed. would only observe, that we were
once Wisconsin and lived under the laws Of
Michigan, and hence, Wisconsin is some
times called our Father and Michigan our
Grand mother. Why we were called Hawk
eyes cannot say. but the appellation came
from Mr.. Edwards the first, editor Of the
Burlington Harkeye in 1888. We were
separated from the Territory Of Wisconsin
on the 4th of July. 1888. and became q
State in ls4(o 1t will be impossible for me
to enter upon minute description Of Iowa.
and in one evening to present all her inter-
ests and varieties. All can do is only in
general terms. u am an old Surveyor but
cannot chain around Iowa in one night
For nearly twenty-five years have lived
upon the Soil Of Iowa. My profession has
been such as would enable me to gather
much information in respect to the coil, eli
mate, productions and progress Of this beau
tiful State In other hands this subject
might furnish material for much useful
knowledge.
propose first to describe Iowa a. it was
prior to 1887. She had then taken but
one step towards civilization. Her beauti-
full land was but just emerging from the rude
structure of barbarism and faint CLEANS Of
light began to dispel the darkness that for
ages had shrouded her children. 1t was
not until 1888 that the Indian title was ex-
tinguished to any part Of this Territory
In 1882 there were few French settlers at
Dubuque, and in June, 1888, Burlington
began her settlement. This was imme
diately after the Black Hawk war; The
same year few emigrants crossed the Mis-
sissippi from Rock Island and made some
Improvements upon the present site Of our
city, below Harrison street. In lS34-'35
and SO the settlements slowly spread up
and down the river. and - far back as the
Cedar River, which at that time. comprised
all the territory to which the Indian title
had been extinguished. This was the fret
purchase ever made Of the aborigines of
any portion of the soil of Iowa. The
treaty was made by General Sc,tt in 1882
upon the grounds now occupied by the
Railroad Depot in this city. The country
had for centuries been in the possession Of
various tribes Of Indians. contending with
savage brutality for it. ownership. Ito
beautiful plains have been strewn with The
bones Of contsnding foes and its soil freely
nurtured with their blood. The very soil
upon which We now live has been the scene
Of the most bloody conflicts with which the
legends Of the Indians have ever furnish
ed ne.
The traditions Of the race inform % that
for more than 200 years various tribes were
in possession before the white mad came.
and that 100 years ago the spot, upon which
our fair city nav stands, was the site Of .
large and populous Indian village; hare
were their eornfields and their wigwans;
here strode forth the warrior ch:sftsin with