THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX ANO
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

L

A BRIEF FOREWORD.

In presenting this work to the public, a page is devoted to those who gen-
erously contributed toward making it as complete as it is and by their invaluable
assistance adding not a little to the various subjects treated. The moment is
taken to especially thank that indefatigable, painstaking fact-ferret, Edward L.
Graham, for his gratuitous services. Much credit is due him. Also Phil J.
Mackey, W. S. Fultz, A. S. Lawrence, the able and courteous county auditor;
Alice Walton Beatty, W. F. Chevalier and Henry Heinz, the latter gentleman
editor Der Herold. His hand penned the article on the early German settlers
and is a valuable and interesting contribution. J. P. Walton, Suel Foster, Judge
J. Scott Richman and Prof. F. M. Witter are gone to their reward, but they are
not forgotten; many of their writings pertaining to the early history of Musca-
tine county, are embodied for preservation in this volume. Last but by no
means least thanks are due that most excellent news-gatherer, the Journal. Its
columns-many of them—have been transferred to the pages herein, owing to
the accuracy and historic worth of the material. The News-Tribune also has
been drawn upon generously.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

HISTORIC IOWA.

Four score years ago—The Red Man, wild game and virgin prairie-Advent

of the white man and his ways—Indian conflicts and Indian treaties-
lowa territory becomes a state-Its topography and public institutions..

CHAPTER II.

A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
Lieutenant Albert M. Lea's description of "Iowa District of Wisconsin Ter-

ritory”—Gives to the state its name of Iowa---His explorations along the
Mississippi in 1835 bring him to "Casey's Landing,” now Muscatine-
Prophetic forecasts for this region more than realized...

41

CHAPTER III.

LAW AND ORDER.

First officials chosen to govern the settlements—This community first under

laws of Michigan Territory—Muscatine County established by Wisconsin
territorial legislature-How "claims” were made-Keokuk's and Powe-
shiek's villages in the county-First settlers.

52

CHAPTER IV.

STORY OF THE ROCKS.

Geographic and geologic features of Muscatine County—Its rocks, rivers and

hills—The clam and mussell shell which furnish the material for pearl
buttons, the manufacture of which has become a great industry of the
county's chief city...

64

CHAPTER V.

THE MISSISSIPPI.

The “Father of Waters” brings to Muscatine its first settlers—Early steam-

boat days and a list of crafts plying up and down the river-Rafting and
Lumbering—Ferry boats—Tale of a famous race—The Dubuque bursts
her boilers and kills twenty-two people near this port.....

CHAPTER VI.

ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.
Muscatine County is organized—The first officials and proceedings-Election

precincts established and county divided into commissioners' districts-
Commissioners' and other courts—First grand and petit juries—County
adopts supervisor system of government-Court houses and jails—County
farm-Some statistics-Population of Muscatine County in 1910..... 88

CHAPTER VII.

PIONEER LIFE.
The log cabin was the palace of the pioneer—Chinked logs, covered with

clapboards—Rifle and spinning wheel-Almost anything was a bedroom
-Cooking was primitive for sharp appetites—Welcome for the way-
farer-Prairie fires and wolf hunts—Amusements for the frontier people
were not lacking—What unremitting toil has accomplished....

..106
CHAPTER VIII.
Iowa's first legislature-Graphic, amusing and interesting pen pictures by a

veteran member of that historic body-Hawkins Taylor's portrayal of the
first Iowa law makers—The members from Muscatine...

..116
CHAPTER IX.

CIVIL WAR.
President Lincoln calls for seventy-five thousand men to put down rebellion

-Muscatine County intensely patriotic-Sends more men to the front
than any county in the state—The soldiers' monument-Shelby Norman
Post Grand Army of the Republic-Company C, 54th Iowa National
Guards

. 123

CHAPTER X.

HONORABLE MENTION.
Men who left the impress of character on the community-First secretary to

Governor Lucas, lawyer, historian, master mason-Eccentric and brilliant
Methodist preacher, a "copperhead"-Historians of Muscatine County and
men of the “right spirit”–Other notable pioneers.

.195
CHAPTER XI.

THE TOWNSHIPS.
Six townships first organized in 1842–First settler in the county locates in

Montpelier-Second settler in Seventy-Six-Fruitland the "baby" town-
ship—Cities, towns and villages...

..209
CHAPTER XII.

THE HUNTSMAN'S PARADISE.
Geneva Island a colony of Hunters' cottages—Many places in the vicinity to

hunt and fish-Mackey writes entertainingly of all of them-The old gun
maker-Boil coffee in a wash basin—Shoot pelicans on the lake—Key-
stone Gun Club...

..258