The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-08-25
IOWA
PIONEERS
]. w. Cooksey.
NJ. HODGE.

y. W. OookoCys
Mr.. ]. w. Cooksey. crossed the Mis-
sissippi in October, 1870, at Fort Mad
ison, coming from Brookville, Frank
lin county, Indiana, forty miles from
Cincinnati. A friend Of the elder Mr..
Cooksey, Mr. Hosea Alley, had made
the trip to Iowa on horseback earlier
in the year and selected a claim.
When he returned to bring out his
family the Cooksey family accompan-
led them to their western home. The
penitentiary for the territory of Iowa
had just been located at Fort Madi-
son. Mr. Cooksey says in the fall or
1910 he saw the first rock that went
into the penitentiary building hauled
across the Mississippi river on the
ice. The rock was all taken from the
/, Illinois side of the river The family
spent their first winter just above
Fort Madison. They located in the
\ fall of 1S41 eight miles above on the
/ Skunk river, near Augusta, where
were located two Touring mills and
distillery. A bushel Of corn taken to
the distillery was always exchanged
! for gallon of the best whiskey. Mr..
Cooksey says it is quite impossible
4 for the present generation to appreci-
ate how primitive and profuse was
nature to all her children at that ear
lily day. The settlements were usually
made skirting the timber for its
friendly protection. Deer, wild tur-
| key and wild game of all kinds were
so plentiful that the most casual
hunter would come in loaded after a
short search for game.
The dam in the river at Augusta
was the first obstruction to the fish
on their way up the river from the
Mississippi, and furnished a gree
fish market for the whole community.
Those who followed the business OF
fishing and SEEMING made it a rule to-
fill barrel with any variety of fish
that might be wanted, cleaned and
sailed for one dollar One large cat
fish weighing forty pounds was sold
for twelve and one-half cents. Coons
were so plentiful that it was COM
mon task in the fall of the year for
the easy-going farmer to take his
, dogs and make a circuit of the corn
field before retiring at night, to save
: his crop from being destroyed by
these pests. The woods Afforded an
abundant supply of blackberries and
other wild berries. Verify, it was a
p. land of plenty.
D Indians by the hundreds roamed
the prairies and forests and hung
about the streams. Whenever their
means would allow, they went to Fort
Madison for fortnightly spree. They
generally dissipated in large compa
llssSs2l ~ 10y l'4el 49, 20
4 than their white neighbors. One 81
the leading men of the tribe invarf
> ably remained sober, absolutely 10,
never touching the fiery stuff through
; out the prolonged revelry. He held
absolute sway over the whole compa-
ny, keeping them from injuring them.
selves or falling into the hands Of
the federal authority by doing some
rash mischief Most of them belong
ed to the tribes known as the Sacs
and Foxes. They would visit the
homes of the early settlers and talk
for hours, especially If there was a
chance for good square meal. But
they harmed no one and seldom took
what did not belong to them.
Mr.. Cooksey spent seven years in
] Lee county. During these years there
was a marvellous stream of emigra-
ton threading it's way across the Hi,
nois prairies in quest of the rich
lands between the two great rivers.
The Cooksey family sold out their
holdings near the eastern border OF
the state and located in Davis coun-
ty, where they remained fifteen years
and then came to Adams tcwnehip.
Mahaska county, where they lave
made their home until in recent years
the farm was sold and a home was
purchased on North First street in
i this city, where Mr.. and Mrs. Cooksey
are quietly spending their advancing
years.