Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-30
A West Pointer Turned Hermtt..
Sf.,nU.. lsnmiHiSGGNCeS.

A West Pointer Turned Hermit--
Strangn "Reminiscences.
The present site Of East Davenport,
Iowa, was, in 1922, called "Stubbs'
Eddy" after Capt. Stubs Of the U. 8.
Army, who had previously graduated at
West Point, and was stationed at Rock
Island, where he remained four years.
The Captain was an eccentric genius,
and, in 1899, builtla cave in the south
side of q mound standing at the mouth
of ne:ghboring valley.
Barrow, in his ''History Of Scott
County," relates the following remin-
iscences of the Captains peculiarities,
habits, family connection, &C., which
will be new and novel, we doubt not,
to many readers. The historian says
of him
'.During my stay upon this beautiful
island, at this early day, away from
the crowded city, he formed an attach
ment for this wild and enchanting
country, that terminated only with his
life. He was brother-in-law to Judge
Mclean. and in 1927 he returned east
and served under him in the Post Office
Department, and from there went to
Cincinnati, where he was clerk in the
Post Office for some years. Bnt in 1888
he grati6ed his long pent up desire to
return to the West. On his return
to Rock Island, however, there seemed
to have come over him great change.
He seemed to have lost all that vivaci-
ty Of life and spirit SO natural to his
character. Deep melancholy at times
brooded over him. His bright and
keen intellect seemed at once to give
way. Various We're the causes attribu
ted to his state of mind. Some sur
missed it was matter of love, but n one
knew. The secret was ever buried in
his own bosom. Ho sought relief, like
thousands, in the inebriating BOWL
His talents were bright his education
liberal, and his honesty beyond al
question. He sought retirement from
the world, and selected the secluded
spot in East Davenport, and dug his
4 cave in "Stpbbs' Mound" where, from
its mouth, he could look out upon the
beautiful Mississippi, as its rippleo
current moved on in its endless journey
to the sunny South. Here he lived {
hermit's life for nearly eight years.
His only companions were pet pig
and cat, with sometimes dog. Thi'
was his family, and many lecture die
these mute listeners get from their &C.
centric master. All quarrels among
these were settled by the Captain in F.;
judicial manner, and the guilty ont
punished. In his morning or evening
rambles along the bank of the Missis
: sippi, his entire family would be seer
with him, marching behind him in mil
itary file, with all proper decorum, ant
often in his visits to the village, he wa
accompanied by his pig and cat.
A. c. Fulton, Esq, tells this anec
dote of his first visit to the cave in tn
summer of 1912. He had wandered VI
the banks Of the river looking at tn
country for the first time. When h
reached the eddy and crossing the littl
creek below the present site Of MIR
Dalam's store, he fastened toward tn
top of the mound. in order co obtain ;
more extensive view of the little lateal
of ground to which he had arrived. II
assing up the side Of the mound HI
caught the sound Of a human voice, bu
he could not see any one near him. The
noise increased, and seemed to be 6
very earnest dispute, mingled with no
few hard aUords, when suddenly Mr.
Fulton discovered the place from which
issued the sound. He was near the tor
Of the chimney or hole from which the
| light, smoke and heat of Captain
Stubb's residence escaped, and moi
dreaming that he was in the vicinity OF
habitatiou, he was somewhat startled
but cried out at the top Of his voice, as
: he looked down the cavity, "Hallo
What are you doing down there 2" Tc
which the answer came back in quick
response, "WEas are you doing up
there ? Get off my house, STRIP III is
was the first introduction to Captain
stubbs, who: in after years, received
many kind tokens Of regard from the
hand Of Mr. Fulton. The only cause
of the disturbance in the Captains do
micil was that the pet pig had, proba-
bly, without malice qforethought, un-
dertaken to assist his master in the cul-
mary department, and accidentally Ger
for want Of better training) partially
destroyed pone Of corn bread which
the Captain had been preparing for the
frst table. Captain Stubs was sur
veyor, and run out many Of the first
settlers claims, and often drew up deeds
and contracts between parties at that
early day. In 1916 he was induced to
come forth from his hermitage and set
tie in Davenport, where he was elected
Justice Of the peace, which Office he
filed to the time Of his death, which
occurred in May, 1848.
FINDING FAULT WITH MINISTERS -
There are many persons whose religion
consists Of finding fault with ministers.