North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-11-20
WHOLE No. 579.

three years before had punished him Sc
verely at Brownstown and the Thames
She remained but short time in Cincin-
natl, for we again find her on the emigrant
wagon threading her way through dark
and tangled forests, amid the swamps and
marshes of the muddy Wabash. Fearless
and undaunted, this matchless woman,
with almost the courage of Boone, trav-
ersed the whole state of Indiana with a
few companions, and "pitched her tent ="
upon the blooming and smiling prairies of
Illinois, ga scout from civilizations on
ward line sent out to inspect the forest
savage camp" Here, at the little settle
ment Of Carlisle, she met for the first time
Robert r. Read, whose memory is still
dear to those who knew him best, and who
will never be forgotten by Clayton County
while her present records last. Their
kindness, their sociability, their common
nativity, their romantic adventures, drew
them closer and closer together until this
friendship and kindness ripened into af-
fection and love, and they We're married
soon after her arrival. Fit companions for
the long journey Of life fit companions
to travel over trackless waters and thread
the windings of an Indian trail fit COM
panions to pioneer together the wilds of a
new country, and dispute with the savage
the land which he had inherited from his
father.
Even death could not separate them and
side by side they sleep their last sleep on
the "prairie's wide breast,' on the soil
they had jointly contributed to rescue from
the grasp of the Red man.
In some of his early adventures about
Vincennes he had found a boon compan-
ion, one as restless and daring as himself
full Of romance, and restless even under
the restraint Of little frontier settlement,
brave, daring, and ready for any enter
prise that promised adventure. A lasting
friendship sprung up between them which
ended only with their lives. They met
and talked together of the excitement of
the chase, of the deer, the elk and the buff
falo. They both longed to tread where
white man never trod before, and no soon
er was the resolution formed than they
placed their little families upon keel
boat, and, with their strong arms at the
setting pole, day after day did they pro-
pei their little craft for more than five
hundred miles up the Mississippi river,
landing at Galena, then collection of q
few huts upon the banks of Fever river.
Not content where even this faint semb,
lance of cizilization appeared, they pushed
onward to the blooming prairies of what
is now called Wisconsin, and here togeth-
er they built their rude cabins resolved to
live and die in their defence. They were
not destined to enjoy even these rude cab
ins in peace, for Black Hawk and his war
riors were upon the war-path resolved to
drive every white man from the country
Already he had desolated the homes OF
the hunters and .trappers, and his braves
were sparing neither age nor sex. A cruel
war was upon them, and like brave men
they resolved to fight it out. They placed
their families in fort which they hurried
ly built, seized the sword and the rifle and
repaired to the field of danger. Side by
side did these two men fight for their
homes, their families, and their country
Nor did they rest until that brave and
naughty Indian was driven from the coun
try.
This companion was none other than the
late Hon. Henry Dodge, who afterwards
became Governor of the land he had con
quered, and for many years filled an hon
orable position in the United States Sen
ate. There is a history connected with
these border wars which will never be
written. No pen can do it justice, and
romance and fiction become stalls and fee.
Bile when compared with truth and reality.
1t was during this war and service, pent
up in a log fort that this fearless woman
showed her courage. She seemed almost
its commander, for in the absence of hel
husband she infused, by her actions, cour.
age and daring into its defenders, and her
lovely and cheerful disposition chased away
the dark hours of more than captivity.
Peace once more dawned over the wilds
of the South and West the Indians were
scattered and humbled, their brave leader
was prisoner, by order Of Gen. jackson,
at Fort Monroe, and the western sun once
again smiled over broad lands soon to be-
come the abodes of cizilized life, convert
ing even the most unpromising spots into
fields of waving grain and fertile gardens.
No sooner had civilization begun to grow
up around them than, we again find, this
restless couple, b,gin to grow uneasy, and
with natural accord they "knock the
prop from out the cabin roof" shoulder
their little all, "push their canoe from
shore,' and with their little family "glide
O er the silent waters out of sight,
In the year 1888, they halted upon the
beautiful prairie about five miles south of
Garnavillo, and here they reared up their
children and made for themselves lovely
home. To their dwelling the weary hun
ter and way-worn traveller repaired to seek
shelter from the storm and appease his
hunger. The latch string was never pull
ed in, and hearty welcome awaited the
adventurer at their ircside. Their social
qualities were such that the author of this,
has often, while enjoying their hospitalities,