Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-22
RECOLLECTIONS OF PIONEER
Historical Have Been Crowded Re-
markable A. c.

/
by the claim jumper, Big Bill, of
Michigan, to obtain his quarter sec
tion of land, and his log house with
split log floors and split clapboard
doors and one four-light window; a
domicile prepared for his spouse. a
worthy farmers daughter, near Du-
| buque.
Amongst the newcomers of 1912
was the counterfeit Johnson, who
claimed to be the far-famed Canadian
patriot johnson. He brought with
him young and intelligent French
woman, who was born and raised on
one of the Thousand Islands of the
st. Lawrence, and was known on the
islands and in Buchanan county,
Iowa. as the Wild Girl of the Thous-
and Islands. She was married to
johnson on the island by converted
Indian, whom the Catholic mission
aries ordained with authority 10 unite
members of his tribe in marriage.
johnson was wanted in Canada and
in northern New York to answer to
many crimes. He stole some of mypart-
ner Benefits cattle and sold them
in Dubuque. Mr.. Bennett went a gun
ming for johnson and laid him up,
and to escape the Dubuque prison Mr.
Bennett fled to his once home in the
tall timber of Michigan. We were at
that time judicially united with Du-
buque county.
The government on the 18th of
March, 1S43, put up the buchanan
lands at auction in the town of
Marion, in Linn county. and many
contentious for possession of land
took place there. My genuine front
Ter partner, Mr. Bennett who was
the first settler in Delaware county.
and the first in Buchanan county.
was fugitive, and the whole commu-
nifty censured him for furnishing the
patriot johnson. | attended the gov
eminent land sale at Marion to find
that IL combination was formed to
purchase our land, buildings, water
power and our town of Quasqueton.
This combination consisted of Rol-
son Green, the patriot Johnson, and
the monied man of the combine was
Surveyor General George W. Jones.
of Dubuque, who had represented the
territories of Michigan, Wisconsin
and Iowa in congress, and was a
rebel in 1861. and the only man in
Iowa arrested as such.
On the first days sale our Quasque-
ton land was reached and knocked
down to the hero johnson at 80 per
acre. Mr.. Jones was not willing to
pay that large price. The govern
ment officials felt that they had been
tritled with and that portion was laid
over until the next days sale.
In the interval, / compromised with
J Johnson and Green. Il lawyer. a Mr..
Green. who i'm time became Iowa's
Judge Green. of Cedar Rapids Law
yer Green drew up an ironclad bond
that bound me to pay johnson money, |
and to deed RolsCn Green one-eighth |
of the mill and waterpower. and GER
tain town lots. if l became the pur-
chaser of the land. ] soon found | !
had been taken in by both Green and |
Johnson. After the sale and ! was |
not the purchaser. but my younger |
brother. L. Il. Fulton. of Pennsylva- |
MIA, was. they talked powder and dag
gers. but used none. l had been there
before.
L. Il. Fulton's power of attorney to
corded in Book IL. page 200. and ~
.. Fulton. at the request of Mr.. Ben
nett decided to William w. Hadding |
he land and town of Quasqueton for
mere bagatelle. This deed was exc
.uted on Feb. ;. 1914, and recorded
II Book II, page POI, Buchanan coun-
v records.
In the winter of 1913. word reached |
luasqueton that johnson was an i'm
poster and a fugitive from justice.
lis late friends became his indignant
enemies, and ordered him to depart
rom the county. No longer the para
ron Of greatness, he departed in the
light, and took up his quarters in a
deserted woodman's hut in the bot
ON timber of Skunk river. He had
,een i'm his new quarters but ii short
line when a hunter by the name of
'eck. the terror of Skunk river, in
he dark of the evening shot him to
eath whilst seated before log fire
n his cabin smoking a corn cob pipe.
nd the wild girl. who had swayed the
of Buchanan county, as
Ioes the moon sway the tide, passed
long and dreary night, far from any
labitation. in a cabin with corpse.
owa had her Black Hills and her
oklahoma days.
In the winter of 1912, the Sax and
FOX Indians were camped just over
he Indian line of 1897, some five miles
northwest of our mill. On one of my
ourneys to Davenport, | concluded to
isit the Indian camp and purchase
heir furs. After leaving their camp
rear night, snow storm set in and
hen soon followed far below zero
Weather. l lost my bearings, no sun
~ day or stars by night to guide my
curse. | drifted over vast prairie
'cean, without rations during two
lights and near three DAYS. l dare
lot make Roadway at night. and my
'oor horses browsed on bushes that
hn die /,