Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-23
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
As Told. Thirty Years Ago. by Men Who Made
It-E1don as it Was in 1876.

From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
AS the old settlers of this county
are today meeting at Agency, talking
over the times when first they came
to Wapello county, and for some OF
those that yet live, this time was early
enough to allow them to remember
things that to one living in this day
and age must seem not only strange
but almost impossible, it does not
seem out of place to bring to the eyes
of these modern residents Of this sec
ton bit of it's history as told by the
men who made it.
The following history of Washington
township was compiled in 1876 by Pc
ter Mulvany, then a prominent resi-
dent of Eldon, and w. H. Crawford,
who still lives In that city. 1t was
read in that year at the Fourth of July
celebration held at Eldon in honor Of
the one-hundredth anniversary of the
nations independence.
Suggested BY Congress.
The history, as explained in the in
PRODUCTION. was written at the sugges-
ton of congress. Later it was pub
lished in book form together with the
address that Mr. Mulvany made at
the same time that he read the history.
A few of those little booklets are still
extant The one from which the fol-
lowing is taken was furnished to the
Courier by Mr.. Crawford, whom it is
stated, elaborated with Mulvany In
securing the information it contains.
The pages of this interesting little
volume are already stained and worn
with age, yet it is the history of time
long gone by, even when it was writ
ten.
The book throws an interesting side
light upon the progress of Eldon and
Washington township during the last
thirty years. 1t is also of particular
interest as most of the incidents con-
corning the earliest settlers, which are
set forth in the book, were obtained
from the mouths of the very men
about whom they are written.
The following is the history as it
reads On the printed pages Of the ven
cradle little book:
Introductory.
Fellow Citizens: | have here a
proclamation which l received from
the governor of this state two weeks
ago, calling the attention of the people
Of Iowa to the recommendation of
congress that the history of every
state, county, city, town and township
in the United States should be written
by parties who reside in each of these
places, and read to the people on this,
the Fourth of July, In order that the
history may be as nearly correct as
possible, and copy of the same be
filed in the county clerks Office; one
sent to the state library at Des
Moines; one sent to the state literary
society at Iowa City, and, believe, one
to Washington, that true and full
history of the United States may be
compiled Of all the noteworthy events,
etc, up to this, the one hundredth
anniversary of our national independ-
ence Had received this proclamation
two months ago might have collected
a great deal more very valuable infor.
nation from the early settlers Of the
township regarding the scenes and in
cidents of their early recollections,
when the Indians held possession of
this beautiful Des Moines valley.
Time Was Short.
The time was so short, that it was
impossible for me to collect the many
Incidents and "reminiscences which lie
in the rubbish of the past, but which
would be necessary to make up full
true and attractive romantic history of
this place previous to the time the
government took possession of 1t.
have learned, however, that where Ell
OK J. L.
most terrible battle, about forty years
ago, that Indian tradition has handed
down in this state. II was fought by
the old tribe OF Iowa Indians and the
Sac and the Fox races, which resulted
in almost the complete determination
of the Iovas.
Told Trouble to Trader.
Soon after this battle, Janaes H. Jor
dan came to this place in 1928 az a
trader with the Sac and Fox, Winnie
bago and Potawattamie Indians, but
had license to trade with the Sac and
Fox only. Black Hawk. the chief OF
the tribe, informed Mr.. Jordan of his
trouble with the Iowas, which was as
follows: One of the Sac and Foxs
braves killed some Of the Iowa tribe
and the chief of the latter demanded
the "Transgressors" Black Hawk de
livered him up at the place where Ell
don is now built. Black Hawk and
his men bid the "Transgressor" fare
well and left him singing his death
Song" and then proceeded on their
way to Rock Island.
They camped for the>night at Skunk
river, and at midnight were alarmed
by horseman, when the "Transgres
sor" soon rode up to the camp the
Iowas having released him and given
him horse after they held council
Soon after this the two tribes had a
serious difficulty and Black Hawk with
his war chief. Pashapaho, marched
from Rock Island to the Iowaville
Bluffs. and in two divisions, at the
signal of gun, attached the Iowas
cutting them off from their to@n Iowa
vile, and fought terrible battle
which resulted in the fight of the
Iowas into the woods where Eldon now
stands. They fled to Snake Ridge,