The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-04-04
Marker at Burial Place of Illinois
Pioneer Uncovered.
One Present at Ceremony Tells OF
Weird Rites of Fox Indians in
Placing Memorial Over Grave
Of Col. George Davenport.

Rock Island, Ill.-An old cedar post
placed at the head of the grave Of a
murdered Illinois pioneer by friendly
Fox Indians, who mourned the set
tiers death, has been uncovered in a
heap of musty legal papers in the Of
fee Of an attorney here. Though
'worn-eaten and partially-decayed at
Che ends, the unique grave marker
still shows weird traces that once
were crude sketches symbolical Of
grief and battlefield achievements
A band of prairie brigands swooped
down upon the home of Col. George
Davenport, a wealthy settler who own
ed the island in the Mississippi on
which the government arsenal is now
built. and murdered him. The crime
committed July. 4, 1845, is recalled by
old residents in Rock Island and
Davenport, Iowa. which town, by the
way. is named after the victim. About
the same time that one of the murder
ers was hanged for the bloody deed
some Fox Indians who. through their
dealings with Davenport. had come to
have deep friendship for him. fash
toned this old cedar grave post and
erected it at the head of his grave.
For some years the post marked the
grave of Colonel Davenport. Then his
body was removed to family lot in
Chippianocl1 cemetery, south Of Rock
Island. and for years the old grave
post of the Indians was thought to be
lost. Recently it was discovered when
the musty contents Of an old law Of
fee were moved into modern quar-
ters. The founder of the firm had
been Dayenport's attorney.
The weird rites with which the IN
dians planted the grave plot are mar
rated by one who was present at the
ceremony and to whom. according to
his statement the facts stand out in
his memory as clearly as ever
1T was on Friday afternoon.
about Tho middle Of the year 1S45,
that | went to the island where the
Davenport homestead was and where
Col George HAD been buried. Arrived
there, I behold band of Fox Indians
with whom he he'd always been very
friendly. lying in q circle about his
grave. In the center Of the ring OF
prostrate Indians the head of the
grave rose a new white cedar post
"The ceremony began when two Of
the braves arose aud drew weird fig
urts upon the post Others did the
same in pairs and III turn. A third
Indian. carrying {, war club. advanced
and drank to the health of the dece.
dent, then walked three times around
the grave. delivering himself of most
earnest exhortations. This was re-
peated until each Indian had taken
part in the ceremony. The pictures
that were drawn upon the post were
to represent the browning achieve
nents Of him who drew them and at
the. same time were meant to display
the grief of the Indians at the loss OF
their friend.
Following the ceremony of planting
tie post a huge feast was set upon
the grass. A health was drunk invok.
ing the Great Spirit to open the doors
to admit their friend Colonel Daven.
port. Then meat of various kinds
was brought upon the table. After
the dinner several Indian dances were
jndulged in. I left the braves as
nightfali came, gathered about camp
fire. preparing further to do honor &C
their murdered friend"