The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-26
MORE ABOUT
THE ICARIANS
Interesting Facts of French Commun-
ity at Nauvoo Taken from Old
Hancock History.

The story of the 1carian community
at Nauvoo, which was printed in the
Nauvoo section of The Gate City few
nights ago and taken from the Chicago
Tribune Of recent date, was read with
interest by many Keokuk residents.
The story was written by Henry M.
Hyde. Someone has brought to light
some further historical facts concern
ing the lcarians which are contained
in a history of Hancock county publish
ed in 1880 and written by Thomas
Gregg, a. pioneer who moved to Han
cock county in 1885 and was for nearly
hfty years identified with the news
papers Of the county:
He says, page 957 History Of Han
cock County:
In the year 1s4s NJ. Etienne CADET.
distinguished French communist
conceived the idea of establishing in
America an experimental colony or
their sect. Accordingly number or
them were landed at New Orleans, who
proceeded to establish in Texas what
he termed an carian community. But
Texas not being deemed suitable, 1t
was decided to remove to and settle at
Nauvoo. In the spring of 1S49, COM
pany of them, to the number or Is or
100, settled in that city, and during the
ten years that followed, continued
their organization there, under the
presidency and management Of their
eminent leader. During their stay IN
that city they increased by accesslons
to between 500 and 600.
Without undertaking to state cor
rectlv the principles of their organiza-
Iticn, we may say that their chief tenet
seemed to be a community of property
and interests. While their family re-
llations were kept up, each maintaining
a separate household, all were requir-
ed to eat at the same table, and to con-
tribute of his or her labor to the COM
mon fund. The children were regard
ed rather as the wards of the commu-
nifty than Of the parents. and were re-
ouired to be taught in the same
school and with the same care and at
tention.
They purchased the Temple block
(relic OF Mormon days. and the re-
mains Of the structure, and were about
to repair It, so as to make it habit
able, when a storm blew it down. At
forwards. from it's ruins. they con-
structed a long. low stone building,
which was used for school. The
Community is said to have been com.
posed mainly of intelligent. moral and
industrious men and women. and were
well esteemed by their neighbors. They
carried on many branches Of business,
such as farming. the manufacture ut
flour and lumber. and the various me
chanical trades. They also ran dis
tillery for a period.
Soon after establishing. they issued
a weekly newspaper called the Popu.
lar Tribune. under the editorshlp or
Mr. CADET This was afterwards chang
ed to the Revue Icarienne, and was
printed partly in French and partly
in English. While President CADET was
in Europe, the paper was left in charge
of NJ. Piquenard, young man who
has since been conspicuous as archi-
ttect of the new state house at Spying
field.
But the community could not hold
together. dissatis faction arose: and in
mr. about 1857 a considerable body left
In 1859 the concern broke up, most OF
the members leaving; but remnant
consisting of less than one hundred
persons. held together and re-estah'
lished in Adams county, Iowa, where
the colony still exists t1SSOl.