The Jews of Iowa

Front matter

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Class F ■" \- '

COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr.

Chapter I

Discovery of the Mississippi Valleys. — DeSoto— Discovery of the Mississippi. — Jesuitic and Franciscan Discoveries — Marquette and Joliet in Iowa— Indian Toast— Savage Menu— La Salle— His Adventures—Rediscovery of the Mississippi— Father Hennepin Passes Through Iowa— Death of LaSalle— First Colony— Slavery— Colonization— English Predomination i — 13

Chapter II

Progress Prior to Civil War — Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon — Louisiana Purchase— Iowa Indians— Their Heroes — Taylor, Davis and, Lincoln in Iowa— Iowa Ceded to the United States— Julien Dubuque — Early Settlements— Iowa Becomes a Territory — Political Strength of Pioneers— Constitution Adopted— Des Moines Becomes Capitol City— Prosperity of Young Iowa 14— 19

Chapter III

Iowa in Struggle for Preservation of the Union— Washington and Lincoln— Champions of Liberty — Governor Kirkwood— Iowa in War Time— Civil War Opens— Potomac Army— MacClellan's Failure —General Grant— Iowa Soldiers— General Rosecrans— General Lee — General Meade Redeems Potomac Army— Copperheads in Iowa — Tally Army— General Hooker— Surrender of Richmond— Assassination of Lincoln -20— 35

XII CONTENTS

Chapter IV

Iowa's Period of Evolution — Constitution Amended — President Johnson— Iowa's Congressmen on His Impeachment — Rapid Reconstruction in Iowa - Grasshoppers— State Politics— Grant's Administrat on— Iowa Gypsum— Growth of Population— Horace Greely— Woman's Suffrage— Grange Law— Hayes and Tilden— Prosperity in Iowa — Assassination of Garfield 36— 49

Chapter V

Golden Age of Iowa— Rapid Progress in Iowa — Issues— Liquor Problem— Governor Boies — Iowa Legislation— Cleveland and Hard Times— Iowa Statistics — Iowa Statesmen— Senator Allison — Triumph of Republicans— Governor Cummins Ardent Friend of Isreal 50— 61

Chapter VI

Jews in Modern Times-1492-1600— Expulsion of Spain — Navarre, Genoa, Naples, Rome, Fez, Portugal and Northern Africa— Fate of Refugees — Brabauel — Turkey, Palestine and Poland — Germany — The Talmud and The Dominicans— Luther's Reform and the Jews — Jewish Learning— Kabalah—Sulchan Aruch— Beginning of Spain's Ruin 62—74

Chapter VII

Jew Pioneers in America— Tidings In the Old World-1600-1700 — Jews With Columbus— Brazil— Mexico— Peru — Portugese Jews in America — Fate of Pioneers— Amsterdam— M'nasseh ben Israel and Cromwell— Pseudo—Messianism— Sabbatal Zebi— Jews in Europe —Dutch in Brazill— Exodus of the World— Scholars of the Seventeenth Century— First Jews in New Amsterdam— Levi and de Lucean — Jews in Newport 75 — 87

Chapter VIII

Ante-Indepedence Period in America and Pre-Emancipation Years in Europe Among the Jews- 170071776— Conditions in Europe Kabalah and the Rabbi's— Judah Chassid— Querid Zbi— Chayim Malach — Moses Chayim Luzzato — Jews in New York, Newport, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New England, South Carolina — Three Stars in Europe— Reconstruction of Judaism— The Frankists. . 88 —99

CONTENTS XIII

Chapter IX

Israel's Naturalization Amongthe Nations-1776-1825— Declaration of Independence and the Jews— George Washington, Israel's Friend— His Letters— European Jews— Their Emancipation in Austria- Equalization in France— Germany— Napoleon and Synhedrion— Judaism in America— The War of 1812— Mardecia Emanual Noah. .100— 113

Chapter X

Days of Regeneration and Activity in Israel-i825-i885 — Causes of Anti-Semitism— Judaism in England, France,Germany and Austria — Rushian Hashkalah and Political Conditions Among the Jews of the Czardom- Transition of Judaism in America — The Philadelphia Platform — A Reply 113— 130

Chapter XI

Exodus of Russia and Immigration to America-1880-1900— Progress in Russia— May Laws— Anti-Semitism— Progress of Russian Jews in America— Yiddish Journalism. Poetry, Drama and Preaching —Judaism in America— Orthodoxy and Reform 131— 151

Chapter XII

Jews in the Days of Territorial Organization-1833-1846— A Jew Among the Founders of the First White Settlement in Iowa— First Jewish Farmers — Pioneers on Jewish Women — Appearance of Peddlers— First Jewish Office-Holder in this State— Pioneers Admire the People of Israel— First Naturalized Citizen in Iowa is a Jew- Intermarriage in the Early Days 152— 1 70

Chapter XIII

Jews During Early Days of Statehood-1846-1855— The Peddler — Mr. Levi of Dubuque — A Jew Among the Founders of Des Moines — William Krause's Story of Early Days— Jews in Keokuk, Burlington, Fort Madison, Muscatine, Davenport and Sioux City— Foundation for Future Jewish Organizations— List of Pioneers 171— 185

XIV CONTENTS

Chapter XIV

Struggles of First Jewish Organization in Iowa, 1855-58— First Passover observed in Iowa — Benevolent Cliildren oi Jerusalem — Tiie Keokuk Gentiles Contribute to Jews Society — First Mynion in Iowa — Congregation B'nai Israel Founded — Chassidien and MisnagdiKi — Disagreement— Temporary Dissolution of B'nai Israel Congregation'i86— 195

Chapter XV

Jews Become Potent Factors in Iowa Prior to Civil War, 1854- 1861— Signs of Prosperity Among Jewish Pioneers— Peddling a School of Experience— Early Settlers of Davenport— Arrival of Mo^es Bloom to Iowa — Burlington Center of Peddlers— List of Jewish Merchants, Artisans and Professional Men in Iowa Prior to 1861.. .,196—208

Chapter XVI

The Jews of Iowa in War Time, 1861-1865- The Jew in War- Jewish Patriotism Displayed During Civil War— List of Iowa Jewish Soldiers— Davenport Jews Establish a Congregation— B'nai Israel of Keokuk Revives — Inaugurate Novel Orthodox Custom — Services for Lincoln 209—224

CHAPTER XVll

Events Among Iowa Jews During and After the War Prior to the Establishment of Permanent Organizations, 1860-1873 — McGregor, "Newport of Iowa"— Isaiah Frankel— Jews Begin to Settle in Des Moines— Germans and Russians— How First Peddlers of Amon? the Russian Jews Came to Des Moines— List of Prominent Men— First Mynion in Des Moines— Keokuk Advancing— Burlington Awakens 225 — 239

Chapter XVIII

Adventures of the Jews in Iowa's Metropolis, 1873-1885— Life Among the Ghettoites— Religious Spirit Predominative Power of Pioneers— Social Life During Early Days— West Des Moines Jewry — Struggle at the Departure of Orthodoxy- Splendid Work of Jewish Ladies— Congregation Bnai Yeshurun — Congregation Bnai Israel— Progress of Both Divisions— Charity on the East Side — Synagogues Planned for on Both Sides 239—254

CONTENTS XV

Chapter XIX

Growth of the Des Moines Jewry and Its Present Condition- 1885-1903— Re-enforcement of the Des Moines Jewry— Gentiles Assist Religious Efforts of the Jews— Remari<able Record Held by the Des Moines Jewry— Jewish Charities— Absence of Criminology Among Des Moines Jews — Sensational Events Stir Jewish Hearts. . .254—270

Chapter XX

The Davenport Jewry-1874- 1903— Transition of Judaism— Reorganization of the Davenport Congregation— Initiative Step Toward Reform — Spirited Opposition — Temple Emanuel Erected— Davenport Ladies— Equalization of Women in Judaism— Cloud Shadowing Glory of Davenport Jewry— Final Triumph— Rock Island Ghetto. . .271—288

Chapter XXI

The Sioux City Jewry-1869-1903— Sioux City— Classification of the Jews— Cemetery was First Thought of Pioneers — Godfrey Hattenbach— Founder of Cities— The Ger Zedek of Iowa— Second Rally of Religious Nature— Disinterment— Arrival of Persecuted Jews- Adventures of Orthodoxy— Ladies Inaugurate Movement to Build a Temple — Sioux City Jewry Starts on a Golden Career 289—302

Chapter XXII

Keokuk, Burlington, Dubuque and Other Organizied and Semi- Organized Jewries in Iowa-1873-1903— Decline of Oldest Congregation Judaism Suffers in Burlington— Cradle of Iowa Jewry Holding Its Own— Muscatine— Centerville— Cedar Rapids — Oskaloosa— Ottumwa — Council Bluffs — Unorganized Mynionim — Religious Statistics of all Iowa Jewries 303—317

Chapter XXIII

Jewish Citizenship in Iowa— The Jew in Politics— Peer of Iowa Jewry— Career of Senator Bloom— Jewish Commissioner of Emigration— D. L. Heinsheimer— Other Jewish Office Holders in Iowa- First Orthodox Jewish Male Child of Des Moines Gains Prominence — The Only Jewish Captain of Iowa 318—333

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Chapter XXIV

Philanthropy in the Iowa Jewries— Charity versus Z'dakah— Scientific Charity— Peer of Northwestern Philanthropists— Ladies' Societies— Zionism— Statistics 334—347

Chapter XXV

Educational and Intellectual Progress in the Iowa Jewries- Ghetto Education— Products of Russian Hashkolah— Career of a Bard Ends in Iowa— Young Israel of America Pillar of Jews and Judaism— Jewish School Children in Iowa— Friendliness of the Press to Iowa Jews 348—359

Chapter I. Discovery Of The Mississippi Valleys

De Soto — Discovery of the Mississippi — Jesuitic and Franciscan Discoveries- — Marquette and Joliet in Iowa — Indian Toast — Savage Menu — La Salle — His Adventures — Rediscovery of the Mississippi — Father Hennepin passes through Iowa— Death of La Salle^ — First Colony — Slavery — Colonization — English Predomination.

Providence destined a son of the inquisitionary Spain, the country of blood and flame, to die searching lands for the free iand homes for the poor. Spain which dyed her rivers with Israel's blood, filled her valleys with groans of Jacob's martyrs, and fattened her soil with brains arid limbs of Judah's innocent babes in 1492, brought forth a son, eight years later, who discovered a picturesque river, a fertile valley, and a beautiful land where now nearly a million of Jews find comfortable homes, plenty of bread and personal liberty.

It was a delightful morning in the spring of 1542, when the fearless De Soto and his indefatigable crew amazedly beheld sunbeams embracing the willows of a hitherto unknown Great River and astonishingly heard the echo of a newly-discovered valley resounding their own joyful shouts. All hazardous impediments, perilous hindrances and dangerous obstructions which fate poured upon the great explorer during three years of fruitless penetration across mount and dale., prairie and everglade, vanished frorq his memory when his canoes finally reached the embouchure of the Washita river and the "Father of all Rivers" was visible.

Ferdinand De Soto was born at Badjes, Estremadura, Spain, about 1500, and, at an early age, displayed a burning zeal for discovery and conquest ; his ambition was wholly realized; he conquered Florida and discovered the Mississippi, but he lived not to partake of the glory of his achievements — a few days after the famous discovery was made he sickened and died. Spain, by virtue of his discovery, claimed the entire territory embracing both of the Valleys to the Gulf of Mexico; but its title to the soil proved to be contrary to the European policy relating tO' land discovered on this continent; it was held by all nations concerned in the New World that any power exploring new land shall hold title to the soil provided it was consummated by possession and, Spain, having abandoned the country unpossessed, it was left to be rediscovered and taken possession of by the French in a much later period. And, after the shallow hills re-echoed the mournful chants of De Soto's faithful followers as they consecrated the oozy bed of the ''Father of all Rivers" by depositing what was left of their master in its current, no civilized voice was heard throughout the valley for over a century.

The interval between De Soto and La Salle was eventful indeed, worthy of linking together the two great explorers; it was marked with daring expeditions conducted by zealous Franciscan and Jesuitic missionaries and by enterprising

PIONEER PERIOD OF IOWA traders, who contributed largely to advance civilization in the savage regions and to obtain sufficient information which served as a key to the Mississippi valley.

La Caron in 1611, Brebeuf and Daniel in 1634, Father Raymbault and Picard in 1640, and Claud AUouez and Dab- Ion in 1655-61, successively gained entrance into the mysterious regions and discovered the lakes Michigan, Superior, Ontario and the Niagara Falls, as well as many Indian nations such as the Hurons, Sacs, Foxes, Illinois, Pottawattamies and oioux. But the most conspicuous explorers prior to La Salle were Marquette and Joliet, having had the distinction of being the first Europeans who ever trod upon Iowa soil. In 1632, after New France was formally established under the charter of Louis XII, Quebec became the center of activity for missionaries and other adventurers. The task of extending the Canadian boundaries was now in the hands of the Jesuits and the government was watching their progress closely. When Marquette disclosed his plan of penetrating the Wild West to teach the savage wisdom, Joliet, on the part of the government, was ready to follow him and instruct the Indians in European loyalty. On the 13th of May, 1670, an astonished host of Indians gathered at St. Ignatus to witness the departure of Marquette and Joliet and, with wild superstition, labored to dishearten the travelers saying; 'The natives living about the Great River are ready to kill and eat any approaching stranger, and the river itself is full of formidable monsters and evil spirits ;" but their conception of the Mississippi, monstrous as it was, could not alter the determination of the valiant voyagers and, amidst prayers and Indian chants, the two departed on their journey which resulted in the discovery of Iowa.

They had httle hardship in reaching the extreme point of French explorations in the West ; for, the country south of St. Ignatus had been fully explored by Allouez and Dablon, who carried the gospel through western Wisconsin and northern Illinois visiting the Musquotines and Kickapoos on the Milwaukee and the Maimis at the head of Lake Michigan, even to the Foxes on the Fox river, an account of which was in their possession. On the 25th day of June the adventurers noticed human footsteps and a narrow path apparently leading to some habitation; they left the canoes in charge of their five Frenchmen and, after proceeding on the west bank of the river, a distance of about two miles, they beheld a village situated near the Mon-in-go-na (Des Moines) river. The strangers were cordially greeted and the calumet-peace-pipe — was freely offered them. One of the chiefs addressed them as follows ;

'T thank the Black Gown Chief (Marquette) and his friend (Joliet) for taking so much pains as to come and visit us. Never before has the earth been so beautiful nor the sun so bright as now ; never has the river been so calm or free of rocks which your canoes have removed as they passed down ; never has the tobacco had so fine a flavor nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we believe it now. Ask the Great Spirit to give us life and health, and come ye and dwell with us."

"The guests were then escorted to a feast prepared in their fionor which consisted of cornmeal seasoned with oil, cooked fish, a roasted dog (this dish was at once removed, learning

PIONEER PERIOD OF IOWA that the guests were not fond of it) and roasted buffalo; every dish being passed in turn into the mouths of all present bymeans of large wooden spoons. Remarkable indeed, the spirit of hospitality was part of Iowa's climate long before civilization was known to it. Marquette and Joliet remained with their newly made friends six days and, after a hearty farewell, proceeded in their pursuits to discover other regions, which is not the purpose of this work to follow.

The time now was drawing near for La Salle to appear on the list of the world's greatest explorers. Robert Cavelier, or La Salle, as he was named after one of his father's estates, was born at Rouen, France, about 1643, ^"d, after being connected with the Jesuits for a short time, he concluded to seek his fortune in Canada where his brother had charge of a parish; arriving at Montreal, a tract of land was granted to him and he established himself as a fur trader. A band of Indians chanced to his fort and, according to their description of the Ohio river. La Salle came to the conclusion that that stream must empty into the Gulf of California and he was at once seized with a burning enthusiasm to become the Columbus of the Pacific coast. He collected a crew of fourteen men, raised the necessary funds by selling his fort near the St. Lawrence, obtained a patent from the governor to conduct the expedition in the name of the French government and, on July 10, 1669, started up the St. Lawrence. In thirty days Ontario was reached and coasting westward they heard the tremendous roaring of the gigantic cataract Niargara, finally striking the western end of the Lake.

Here a famous meeting took place between La Salle and

Joliet who was returning from a fruitless expedition to Lake Superior in search of copper mlines. The latter, learning that La Salle aimed westward, supplied him with his maps of the entire territory, and proceeded on his way to Quebec. La Salle, as it appears, discovered his error about the Pacific coast and, instead, he embarked on the head stream of the Alleghany, east of Lake Erie, following it down to the Ohio which he continued to explore as far as the rapids of Louisville, Ky. There he was told by the natives that far beyond, (Meaning Cairo, 111.) this stream joins the b^d of that Great River which lost itself in the vast lowlands of the Sunny South. Fortune, howlever, refused to sanction his further movements on that perilous journey; all his men deserted him in a body and he was compelled to return to Canada, a distance of four hundred "lieues", across formidable marshes and solitary antres, on foot. Despite such disheartening experiences, he was elated with joy when his friend, governor Frontenac, ordered him to go to France and obtain a charter to explore the lowlands adjacent to the Mississippi in the name of Louis XIV.

La Salle visited France in 1674 and in recognition of his previous expedition, he was created an untitled noble, governor of the new Fort Frontenac, and received his seigniorial grant around the Fort. Six days after La Salle has been thus exalted by the French court, Marquette, the discoverer of Iowa, still on his duty, carrying the gospel among the savages, ordered his crew to carry him ashore so that he might yield his soul in a hut; for, the great Father knew that his end would come before the canoes could reach their destination. And

PIONEER PERIOD OF IOWA it was so; he died on the 19th day of May 1675. Thus was one great light ecHpsed when another begun to shine. La Salle, however, deferred his projected expedition and in 1677 revisited France and laid his plans before the famous Colbert who, in turn, presented the matter to Court and soon King Louis ordered La Salle to set sail for Canada and carry out his project at the speediest possible time. On the i8th day of November, 1678, the first French expedition headed by I^a Salle set out southward, but it was repulsed by fierce attacks of the elements and the navigators were forced to retreat.

On August 7th, the year following. La Salle and his followers re-embarked and successfully reached Green Bay, thence to the Illinois and, proceeding on that river about sixty miles they erected a fort which served them as temporary headquarters till March 1680. Father Hennepin accompanied by six members of the crew sailed down the Illinois and explored the Upper valley, passing through some parts of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota — a distance of 800 miles — even to the falls above St. Paul, which they named St. Anthony. As soon as Hennepin returned and reported his success, La Salle started on his long cherished for expedition which was to perpetuate his name alongside with the others whom the world will never forget. The Gulf of Mexico was discovered and the entire Lower Valley round about the Mississippi was taken possession of by La Salle in the name of Louis XIV, on the 9th day of April 1682. The territory was namted Louisiana in honor of King Louis and the river, Colbert, in honor of the French minister who helped La Salle considerably while looking for a charter at Court. La Salle's activity did not cease, his task wias completed, but bis work not yet ended; be returned to Quebec and immediately sailed for France where garlands of honor and* tributes of heroism awaited him.

He now turned his attention wholly to the South and his chief ambition was to see a colony established in its fair lowland and, to give his word action, he collected a crew of two hundred and fifty eager homeseekers and, without further delay, started for the mouth of the Mississippi. Here La Salle reached the summit of his career, and fate begun to lead him downward. He never again reached the spot so dear to him ; four months of fruitless search for the mouth of the Mississippi convinced him that his ambition was checked. He left most of his disappointed and angry followers in Texas and, seeing that his hope faded to nothingness, he concluded to return home afoot and on the I2th day of January 1687, he started out toward Illinois. But his followers proved treacherous to himi and, on March 20th of that year, three of them assassinated him. Thus was a glorious career ended, and a perfect man cut off in the prime of his life, by the cruel hands of reckless assassins !

At the close of the 17th century, notwithstanding the reverses of war sustained at the hands of the English, France directed its attention to the mysterious lowlands of the Sunny South. Ambitious navigators and thrifty homeseekers grasped the opportunity offered to them by the government and eagerly went to hunt their fortunes in the country of almost fabulous resources. On March 2nd, 1699, D'Iberville, a brave navigator with several hundred men reached the mouth of the Mississippi and, through his untiring effort, the first colony of Europeans was established at Biloxi Bay which served as the groundwork for the future Commonwealth of Mississippi. In 1702, a certain Frenchman attempted to establish a permanent settlement in the Upper Valley and to take formal possession of the entire country now embracing the states of Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, but his efforts were without consequence; the fort which he had erected at Blue Earth was isolated and colonization was deferred for decades to come. Meantime the populating of the Lower Valley was prosecuted vigorously, and, in order to encourage immigration and to obtain cheap labor, African negroes were imported and slavery had its initial appearance in Louisiana.

In 1 712, the French government became financially entangled and was, therefore, unable to take advance measures in colonizing the Valley at its own expense; a charter assigning the control of commerce w^as accordingly granted to a Parisian merchant named Anthony Crozart. Thus went the southern pioneers from evil to misfortune — from slavery to monopoly — in but a short while. But the ambitious individual was overwhelmed by the English competition, and repulsed by the Spanish government which closed all its harbors against his vessels, and after five years of fighting against disadvantages, he was doomed to defeat, and in August 171 7, he yielded up the charter. The territory was then transferred to a Company which was to operate all its affairs, for a period of twenty-five years, according to its own discretion — even to the selection of a governor and conducting wars. Bienville was chosen governor, and the scheme went from strength to

Strength for a short time. Hundreds of Europeans as well as slaves were brought to the Valley and an educational institution under the management of the Jesuits was established at Kaskaskia. New Orleans was founded about that period and the Valley became the enchantment of France, Spain and England. Some of the new-comers betook themselves to tilling the ground and establishing permanent homes, while others paid little attention to the soil and wasted their time in searching for its precious metals and hidden treasures. The apparent success of the Company took a sudden change and it ended disastrously; bankruptcy became imminent after existing four years in an assumed flourishing condition. The failure was due to a certain currency system fathered by a certain John Law who for a few years was the idol of France. The downfall of the Mississippi company was a severe blow to French predomination on this continent ; it wrested from the hands of France even Canada.

In 1756-62 England overpowered France on the battlefield and Canada together with all the territories east of the Mississippi was annexed to English dominion on this hemisphere. Spain claimed the Upper Valley and a tract of land east of New Orleans as having been ceded to her by the French King. This left France without a foot of territory^ in both Valleys. The change of governments proved helpful to the struggling inhabitants of the Lower Valley; some of the Frenchmen who belonged to the speculative class now became productive, and, since their home country lost control over the Valley, patriotism compelled themi to migrate to the Upper Valley to till the ground and build homes. Life on the

PIONEER PERIOD OF IOWA 13

Mississippi assumed a newi form; children were given the benefit of reading, writing and a little arithmetic, ministers preached religion to their flock and domestc happiness begun to prevail throughout the vast lowland. Meantim.e Iowa rose from its obscurity; it begun to shine together with the century of electricity.

THE JEWS OF IOWA.

Chapter II. Progress Prior To Civil War

Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon— Louisiana Purchase- Iowa Indians— Their Heroes— Taylor, Davis and Lincoln in Iowa— Iowa Ceded to the United States— Julien Dubuque—Early Settlements— Iowa Becomes a Territory- Political Strength of Pioneers— Constitution Adopted— Des Moines Becomes Capital City— Prosperity of Young Iowa.

When the very foundations of Europe were trembling before the fiery ambition of Napoleon Bonaparte, Spain yieleed back to France her possessions on this hemisphere and for awhile it seemed that the Dictator of Europe would have dominion over a territory now comprising the States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, both of the Dakotas, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho. Wyoming, Washington, Montana and Iowa, and the Oklahoma and Arizona territories— an area of 1,171,931 square miles, exceeding the original thirteen States by 344^087 square miles—; but when the mighty soldier became thirsty for America's cold cash, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, was ready to negotiate with him and, on the 30th day of April 1803. the Louisiana purchase was made for the paltry consideration of $15,000,000.

Thus, not until America belonged to Americans did the soil of this magnificent country unfold its hidden treasures, and not until the flag of the Union floated over Louisiana did the resourceful Valleys shower prosperity upon the toilers.

England yoked the country with unbearable taxation, France, with unendurable schemes and Spain, with undescribable inhumanity; it was therefore left for the Fathers of this Republic to wrest the golden land from the hands of tyrants and shield it with the wings of the American Eagle.

What is now lowla was anciently inhabited by two predon> inating branches of the Indian race; the Dakotas, and the Algonquins. The former, consisting o^f the tribe of Otoes, Missouris, Winnebagoes, Sissesstans, Oniahas, Osages and lowas, occupied the northern section of the state, and the latter, consisting of the families of Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawattamies, Illinois, Sioux, Sacs and Foxes, lived in southern Iowa. Great heroes and cunning warriors rose up from time to time to resist the invasion of the whites ; chief amongst them were, Mohaska of the lowias, Black Hawk, Appanoose and Keokuk of the Sacs, Wanata of the Sioux, and Wapella and Kishkekosh of the Foxes. But their heroism faded into insignificance before the tide of the sublimest kind of progress ever attained by mankind which is called — Americanism.

At the dawn of the 19th century little more than vague intimation and incredulous tales were current about the mysterious West and, when the United States concluded to solve its enigma, it was found to be up against disadvantageous labors requiring men, money and many years for the conquest thereof. The savage enemy was fierce, determined and cunning, whereas the prospects of the "land of prairie and reindeer" could not be forecasted to justify decisive measures for the accomplishment of the difficult task. The mildest possible methods were adopted in subjugating the natives; war was waged only in cases when friendliness failed and bloodshed became inevitable.

The first expedition to the West under the guidance of the Stars and Stripes was conducted by Zebulun M. Pike in 1804; a year later he selected a site for a fort, and in 1808, Fort Madison was built upon that site. About the same time the Sacs and Foxes, who were then the tribes in power, ceded to the United States a large tract of land on both sides of the Mississippi River including a part of Iowa. Many more great and illustrious men assisted in clearing Iowa from thorns and thistles, chief among them were, Zachary Taylor, afterwards president of the United States, (1848) his lieutenant Jefferson Davis, afterwards president of the Confederate States, and Abraham Lincoln afterwards president during the Civil War. In 1832, the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a part of Wisconsin and the whole territory now embracing Iowa, reserving for their chieftain Keokuk, only 47 square miles; but even that reserve was bought by United States two years later, at the mean price of seventy-five cents per acre. Thus fell the wall of savagery' flat before the mighty shouts of the trumpets of civilization.

The first European to come into the favor of the Iowa natives, and incidentally to become the first settler in the state, was Julieun Dubuque, a French-Canadian trader. He landed in Iowa about 1788, and at a council held in Prairie du Chien, was granted a tract of 140,000 acres of land, and perrnissioii to work lead mines, which were discovered in 1780, by the wife of a Fox warrior named Peosta, at the site wihere now flourishes the city bearing the Frenchman's name.

But settlement grew very slowly during the first quarter of the 19th century; it was mainly due to the fact that Iowa was pronounced a fruitless and resourceless prairie, incapable of producing either provender for stock or provisions for men. This state might justly apply to herself the Psalmodic maxim ; "The stone which the builders refused, is become the headstone of the corner." Soon, however, villages sprang forth, farms were laid out, comlmunities organized, charters obtained, deeds granted and rules established. Burlington, Fort Madison, Dubuque, Davenport, Salem — the first Quaker settlement — Muscatine, Keokuk, Iowa City and Nashville on the lower rapids, were founded before Iowa became an independent territory.

The process of changes in the newly-acquired territory leading to the development of Iowa and to its admissibility to the Union, sum up as foUow^s : In 1804, the Louisiana Territory was divided into the Orleans Territory, south of the thirty-third parallel of north latitude, and the District of Louisiana, which was to be governed by the officials of Indian Territory. In 1805, the District of Louisiana was organized into a self governing Territory; and the Orleans Territory joined the - Union under the name of Louisiana in 18 12. In the same year Louisiana Territory changed its name to that of Missouri Territory. In 18 19, the Arkansas Territory was formed, and in 1 82 1, the State of Missouri, being part of the Territory of that name, was formed and added to the Union. In 1834, the country bounded to the east by the Mississippi River and to the south by the State of Missouri, was taken from that of Michigan Territory and organized into a separate Territory under the name of Wisconsin. In 1838, the Territory of Iowa was organized and, in addition to its present area, it included the greater part of the present Minnesota and the Dakotas, extending its Hne to Canada.