CHAPTER XVIII. DISCOURAGING CIRCUMSTANCES APPREHENSIONS TOWNSHIPS-COUNTY GOVERNMENT-THE FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVIS- ENLISTMENTS-RE NEWED APPREHENSIONS OF INDIAN TROUBLES- TO LOOK AFTER FRONTIER DEFENSE ONE IN- HE disastrous effects of the panic of 1857 upon emigration and settlement were felt with increasing severity. As has before been stated, emigration almost entirely ceased and the few that did come during the year and a half preceding the breaking out of the war seemed to be of that class who came to the frontier because they could find nothing else to do. They lacked the intelligence, energy and enterprise that characterized the first settlers. The population was now shifting, as many of the first who had come here yielded to the discouragements and difficulties by which they were surrounded, or had become disgusted at seeing those who had assumed to be leaders in the different enterprises which had been projected spent their means and energy in futile attempts to crush each other, rather than in the legitimate business of building up and carrying forward the enterprises they had in hand. The result was that many left who had previously thought favorably of making their permanent residence here, while those who remained were more or less discouraged and disheartened. The spring and summer of 1860 were uneventful. Apprehensions of difficulties with the Indians were continually felt by the more timid, and as the sequel proved, two years later, these apprehensions were well founded. Governor Kirkwood had always manifested a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of the frontier settlements, and no man realized better than he the dangers to which they were exposed or the necessity of more adequate protection for them. This question of frontier defense was a serious one for the state authorities. While the soldiers were at their posts and on duty, but very few Indians were to be seen, and the few that were met with were profuse in their protestations of friendship. No outrages were committed and no indignities offered to the settlers, thus seeming to justify the criticisms. so often made on the state authorities for such an extravagant use of the public funds as keeping an armed force on the frontier simply to gratify the vanity of a few favorites who were ambitious to wear soldier straps. But no sooner were the forces withdrawn than the annoyances began again. For about a year after Captain Martin's command was withdrawn the frontier was left without any pretense of protection by the state whatever. In March, 1860, at the regular session of the Eighth General Assembly, the following bill was passed: "SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the northwestern portion of the state and enabling them to defend themselves against the threatened depredations of marauding bands of hostile Indians, the Governor be and is hereby authorized to furnish to said settlers such arms and ammunition as he may deem necessary for the purposes aforesaid. "SEC. 2. That the Governor be and hereby is authorized to cause to be enrolled a company of minute-men in number not exceeding twelve, at the Governor's discretion, who shall at all times, hold themselves in readiness to meet any threatened invasion of hostile Indians as aforesaid. The said minute-men only to be paid for the time actually employed in the services herein contemplated. "SEC. 3. That the said minute-men, under the orders of the Governor at his discretion, and under such regulations as he may prescribe, a number of not exceeding four may be employed as an active police for such time and to perform such services as may be demanded of them, who shall be paid only for the period during which they shall be actively employed as aforesaid. "SEC. 4. There is hereby appropriated from the state treasury the sum of five hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for carrying into effect the provisions of this act." This act was approved March 9th, 1860. Thus we see that the state of Iowa was put on a war footing of four men in active service and a reserve of eight to fall back on in case of an emergency, and the whole backed by an appropriation of five hundred dollars, and this, too, for the defense of two hundred miles of exposed frontier. The minute-men were enlisted and stationed on the frontier, with headquarters at Cherokee. Prominent among them were two brothers from Alden, in Hardin County in this state, by the name of Purcell. Sam, the older of the two, was appointed leader. At that time they were well known along the border for their skill and courage as trappers and frontiersmen. Another member who was well known to the people here was George W. Lebaurvoux, of Cherokee. Whether there is any record in existence giving the names of the parties in full, how long they were kept in service, what they were paid, when they were discharged or any other facts in relation to them, is not now known. They were on duty from a year to a year and a half and they did splendid service. They were vigilant, active and alert, and attended strictly to their business, which was to carry dispatches from one point to another, to investigate and get at the truth of all reports regarding the movements of the Indians, and, in short, to make themselves generally useful. They did it faithfully and well. It is much to be regretted that no official record of their existence has been preserved. They were in all probability the only legally authorized company of minute-men ever raised in the state of Iowa, and it would be interesting to know more of them. It may be interesting to note here as a historical incident that the last hostile Indian killed in Iowa was by these scouts. The circumstances, as related by the men themselves and afterwards written up by Mr. Jareb Palmer for the Spirit Lake Beacon, and published in February, 1893, were substantially as follows: "About the first of September, 1861, they were out scouting near the headwaters of Mill Creek and did not return until quite late at night. At this time they were making their headquarters at Cherokee and boarding with Lieutenant Lebaurvoux. Not caring to disturb Lebaurvaux and his family, who had already retired, they put their horses in the stable, which was simply a frame of crotches and poles covered with hay. After caring for their horses, they clambered upon the top of the stable, wrapped themselves in their blankets and were soon sleeping the sleep of the weary. But ere long the alert ear of one of the scouts detected an unusual noise in the stable below. Quietly waking his brother, they listened and became convinced that Indians were attempting to steal their horses. "The night was moonless but starlight. How many savages were in the stable, they did not know, yet fearlessly grasping their rifles, they prepared to kill each his red man. Soon two of them appeared, each leading a horse, one of which belonged to the Lieutenant and the other one to the scouts. Each THE LAST INDIAN KILLED IN IOWA 229 selected his Indian and fired, when the one leading the horse belonging to the Lieutenant fell dead in his tracks. The other one, though badly wounded, succeeded in making his escape. A party followed the trail next day and ascertained that the horse had dragged the Indian several miles before he was able to mount. It was afterwards learned that this Indian, though badly wounded, succeeded in reaching the agency, that he finally recovered, and what is more, he kept the stolen horse." Politically, the first settlers of this county were republicans, and for years there was not a democratic vote cast. At the first organization of the county, there were no township organizations effected and no township officers elected. This state of affairs remained in force until 1859, when the county was divided into two civil townships, Spirit Lake and Okoboji. The bridge at the narrows between East and West Okoboji Lakes was the division line. The next year, or in 1860, a change was made and the town of East Okoboji was organized. The name of this town was subsequently changed to Tusculum. This arrangement for the civil township remained in force for several years, or until 1866, when a new deal was made by the addition of Center Grove and Lakeville. A new adjustment of boundaries was also nade at this time. This arrangement remained in force until 1872, when the congressional townships were all organized as civil townships with the exceptions of Westport and Excelsior, which were together as one township until 1875. The reader will bear in mind that at the time of the organization of this county, the county judge system was in force and remained in force until 1860. The older residents of the state will remember that under the old county judge system of government, the judges had almost absolute control of all matters connected with county government, and the system proved good or bad just as good or bad men were placed in |