Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-09-12

when they returned to the cabin
they found that the Sioux were gone
and the wife who was in delicate
health almost dead from fright and
exposure. Although the Indians
had not molested her in any way
they had entered the home and
plnndered it and left Mrs. Lott to
perish from cold and hunger. Their
presence had so frightened her that
she was not able to leave her bed
and her death soon followed on jan
uary s, 1S49.
The soul of Henry Lott must have
been poetic. He chose this beauti-
full spot for the resting place of his
wife. On this high point overlook
ing the valleys of the Boone and Des
Moines rivers he made the grave of
his wife.
None of the settlers who came
latter in 1S49 knew Mrs. Lott. Many
knew the husband and all agree he
was a cultured man, kindly in man
ner, generous in disposition, care
full in dress, quick-tempered, slow to
forgive and never doing things by
halves. The proof is strong that
sometime afterward he did cause the
death of Sedomondotah and his en-
tire family, an ect that we today
who cannot understand the hatred
between the white man and the
savage can hardly reconcile as a
deed worthy of appreciation. 1t is
an historical fact that the massacre
at Spirit Lake by Inkpadutah and
his band was in retaliation for the
death of his brother Sedomondotah.
1t is known Nthat Mrs. Lott was
the daughter of former governor
of Pennsylvania. Her early life was
no doubt one of luxury and high So
cial position. She was undoubtedly
woman of culture and refinement.
1t is related that Sedomondotah car
ried away the silverware the wife
had carried with her from her east
ern home. Later, when Lott visited
the chief and the Indian not know
| ing the identity of his visitor, he
showed to Lott the stolen silverware
and went over the entire events OF
the raid. And it was then that the
husband was confident that he had
found the proper victim upon whom
to wreak his vengeance. No doubt
! this woman carried from her Penn
sylvania home many things that
brought to her memory days that
were spent in a more civilized and
cultured environment; yet she brav-
ed hardships, the fear of Indian at
tacks, and finally death, to make a
home on the very frontier of Iowa's
civilization.
For sixty-two years her body has
lain in an unmarked grave. A
grapevine planted by the husband
grew from the spot and he pointed
out the place to the settlers of '49
and so. The oldest settlers have
always known that this spot has
marked the grave of that first white
woman who came to Risley county
now containing the two counties OF
Hamilton and Webster. Today you
who have braved the hardships OF
pioneer life have come here &c
dedicate the monument which your
contributions have caused to be
erected Here are friends who are
interested in the movement. With
us we have son of Henry Lot;
who, with his family, has come tc
witness this event held in the mem
DRY of his family. Others have
come from distances because they
hold in greatful memory the deed:
of the pioneer. Here stands the
shaft. It may be seen for mile:
along the ridges that mark the val
leys of the two rivers. From ,hi!
spot it overlooks two beautiful val
leys and the hills beyond. From
here broad expanse Of land ma!
be seen--a part Of a state tina
ranks among the foremost in tn;
Union-yet within the memor!
of man wilderness. Below 1t /.
Bellville, the settlement OF 40
Across the valley and little below
is Hooks Point. Hamilton county
prehistoric settlement and stage sta
rion. Across the Boone is section 3,
the land entered by Preston Bel
and the first to be settled in Hamil
ton county. Above 1t on the De
Moines river Is Mcguire Bend. an
other early and historic settlement
At the foot of the hill Nathan
Boone ended his survey and foun,
the mouth of the river, which bear
his name and here the U. S. dra
goons ended their wearisome marcl
} of exploration aud turned to tn
. eastward. On the ridge to the mort