The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-08-10
kfSs 9srlcal Sketches and Remints-
cences OF Lee County.
No. z.
From THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE
UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

uPPEk MISSISSIPPI.
The foot OF the lower rapids was looked
upon ~ the most important point on the
Mississippi above St. Louis; and but for ito
sitsstion on the "Half-breed Tract" ii
would have taken the lead OF all other
towns above. The uncertainty Of titles,
however, kept OF settlers, but such ~ were
engaged IN lighting over the rapids, selling
whisky, wrscking, TO-, with the exception
OF VAlancourt vanorsdall, who i still here,
and Mrs. Ssillwsll, his sister, and her fani-
livery worthy, honest and excellent pso-
pie. Most Of the settlers were hard lot up
TO the year 1857. II the spring Of thu. year
Or. Galland laid out the Oity Of Keokuk,
Zone mile and quarter on it, present plan,
with three fne Public Squares, that, bu, for
the Tapacisy and greed Of the parties who
got up the Decree of ls4l, would now be-
long and be an ornament and credit to our
city. Ii was not the faal. Of the DIR. that
they are Lost to the city.
Some time in the Spring of 1887, the New
York Co., Dr.. oakland, and some twenty
ave or thirty other parties claiming interest
10 the 'Half-Breed Lands', advertised that
they had effected . mutual arrangement by
which they could give perfect title to lands
on tho "Half Breed Tract''; and at the same
time advertised q sale OF lots in the City of
Keokuk, for June l4th, in the same year.
The sale came OF, and there probably never
had bsen 90 much wealth represented at any
sale in the western country "a there WAS u
that one. A steamboat Was chartered at 81.
Louis expressly for the occasion, and two
more made it point 70 be there on the day
OF sale Every large land Spectator in the
country was either there in person, or BY rep.
ressntative. There we're not less than two
or three hundred people present, and nearly
oil expected to buy property IL the title was
| right; but, unfortunately, the parties in
terested in Keokuk lots at that day, were too
much a. they are now, after twenty. three
years. experience. There sosys tsoo pariis,
lone headed by Gamble, Of St. Louis, the
New York Co., DIR. Gallsnd, and others
who we're managing the sale, and who de-
olared the sale perfect and title good ;
another - the Sqaasser party = headed b,
Peter A. Labaume, Bill Price, Alexander
Hood, Bill Mcbride, and others OF that
stripe, who declared the whole proposition
to sell lots one grand fraud. While the for
mer party was by far the most numerous and
respectable, the latter was as much the most
noisy snd striking. Labaume, the leader, was
~ good q specimen Of q out throat as could
we'll DO found. Bill PRICE was the bully and
terror Of the Rapids, and on this ossssior
his uniform was : rife and game bag 6lisd
with Bowie-knifs and two or three horse.
pistols. Hood and Mcbride were in very
similar sniforms, with several less conspicu.
ous aiders and abetters, ell OF them mani.
Testing On anxious desire for war, and with
suihcient amount Of red-sye aboard to make
them patriotic and self. sacrificing. DR.. Gal.
land also gave evidence Of war but his party
chose peace, and outsiders concluded to pu,
of buying of lots until the title was a little
more quiet and settled. There was but one
lot sold, which was bought BY DR.. GalIand.
Thus ended the first attempt TO 'ssetsls'' the
title TO Ksokuk. The Squsttsrs gained tie
victory, and there was little charge In ehe
character Of the citisens until l840--a fev
good citisens coming 10 10 the meantime.
| John Gains was the nrst Justice OF the
Peace; be was appointed by Gov. Henr,
Dodge, 10 the winter of 1897, and held biz
appointment for his natural life. Gaines
Was an honest, intelligent gentleman. Save
snd except his profanity, be could truly b
said to fear neither God nor man was never
drunk, and never sober during she term Of
bis Office. 10 bis Official capacity, he admin
istered what he honestly believed to be Jus
tce, without reference to law, which be nsv-
er read and for which he had soversiga
contempt. lie kept no docket, holding that,
when writ was served, il We then dead
and useless. lie closed the term Of bic ofRcs
ON the 2lst day Of April, 1889, and nov lies
on the hill near the old Catholic church.
Let his stern honesty and justice be nov re-
menbsred, and his faults forgotten.
B. W. Gillosk vas Sheriff Of Lee county
from the Fall Of 1888 70 the Fall Of 1890.
diilook vas good, liberal, kind, jovial,
registering sort Of fellow, regardless OF con-
sequences, always ready for fun, and sure to
raise the wind in some way when short Of
funds. A an evidence Of this fact onos
while q ST. Louis, being short, DO saw IN
Ohio river steamb ,at that Was full OF deck
passengers, and about to leave; taking . lite
tie tar book, about the sise Of deek-pass-
soger book, he vent amongst tho passengers
and collected SsT for POCKET oosnge. lie
is now keeping station at ----, Tor the
Overland California Mail 90. At the AlAc.