Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-24

of wealth., ana 10 - llaW1cye VIII yct
become Is proud an appsllatlon among
the States Of tho Union, . that of Amer
can citizens among the nations OF the
earth.
But am wandering away from this,
the garden spot Of Iowa, to the entire
State, and calling in tho aid Of imagine
ton to look down the vista OF coming
time q few years when We shall rank
among the leading divisions OF the Re
public. Then Scott will be to othcr
counties what Iowa is TO other states,
and Davenport will be the metropolis OF
the West. The past, however, not the
future, 10 my theme, and though the Incl
d.n,x connected with the early history
of our county have been nearly all mar
rated by those who have preceded me,
and more recently by my portly friend,
who la. ransacked every niche and
corner OF Old Settlers memories to
bring to light some new event with
which from week to week to regalc US,
vet even his industry, indefatigable as 1t
is, has not entirely exhausted the sub
ject.
Thirty-three years ago, and l have
my information from gentleman who
then resided in this vicinity, the spot OF
ground on which this spacious building
Glands, as we'll as that which surrounds
it WAS a prairie, untitled even by savage
hand. On the opposite side of the river
was a town Of more than ten thousand
inhabitants. The Sac, Fox, Pottowsta-
tne and Winnebago Indians there con-
rregated. Rock Island itself swarmed
With them. For white man used to
civlizc society, it was no desirable place
of residence, as it was the custom OF the
Indians to deposite their dead above
ground, some in rude boxes dependent
from trees, and Others in sitting pos
ture partly projecting from the earth and
covered with bark, thus forming con-
ical grave which the squaws sscredly
watched day and night to protect from
the ravages of wolves aud dogs. OF
this latter animal the village aboundsd.
hundreds and thousands being reared,
not only ~ an article of food, but for
sacri6cialpurposesto propitiate the Great
Spirit, or IS thank offerings for blessings
received. Before each tent or wickcup
was erected post about four feet high,
on which was tied dead dog with his
face towards the South, and there he
was left to purify in the atmosphere, as
a sacrifice to the Great Spirit. My in
formant says he has seen as many as two
thousand Of these bodies thus suspend
cd at one time in tho village to which l
have referred. Add those to the human
bodle. alike decaying and you can i'm
agins whether Davenport At that time
would have boon very desirable place
of residence, during the prevalence OF .
southerly wind in summer.
Occasionally our worthy predecessors
would make \ foray upon the tribes Of
Sioux Indians that inhabited the North,
and when the warriors returned with the
ecalps of the slain, from the silken tress-
es Of the infant to the crisp locks of the
grey haired sire fastened upon their
blankets, enthusiastic rejoicing was had
over these trophies Of war.
But let US leave these olden times and
come down to a later period, when the
Indian had forsaken his home on the
east of the great Mississippi and taken
up his line of march to tho Missouri riv-
er, when Davenport had begun to be
known abroad and strangers were press
ing hither to claim homes.
The debut Of many of our citizens,
viewed in the light Of prosperity that has
since rolled in upon us, is ludicrsus in
the extreme. A lady, the wife Of one of
our prominent Citizens perhaps she is
present, if SO she will understand l do
not sllude to her-made her appearance
on our levec, bsreheaded and barefooted
with an ox-goad in her hand, preceded
by some of those animals that Vireibisns
say, carry powder horns on their heads !!
In those days, however, we we're not
particular how we came so that We got
here aud we were all in hurry to get
here ere somebody else shoold arrive
before US and we shouldn't find ROOM
Some of US came on horseback, some in
wagons and some on foot, while few
of the more favored ones we're brought
hither on those little steamers that semi
occasionly ruffied the waters Of our
smooth flowing river.
But a. you oil have "Reminiscences Of
that kind ofyour own to narrate, may
only ment on mine: When | reached
st. Louis with my press, l found the Up
per Mississippi river dried up; it being
= time ofamost unprecedented low water.
Fortunately l found boat of such un-
pretending dimensions that the Captain
swore emphstically that he could run her
on a heavy dew /! and l have no doubt
he did run her on many q heavy due
We tloated along on the surface of the
water our little craft heavily laden with
q printing press, causing scarcely 4 rips
pie upon the placid bosom of the river,
until We came to the foot OF tho lover
Rapids, where Keokuk now stands
Here the faith Of the Captain in the
proves Of his craft began to waver.-
We tied up to the shore in order to give
our little vessel some rest. preparatory
to the grand struggle for supremacy
with the old Father Of Waters. At
length all was ready, the rope that
held us to the shore was untied, the word
ofcommand given, and the boat pushed
of. We got along admirably until we
reached the reef Of rocks forming the
first Rapids here contest between
our plucky little vessel and the majestic