Houston County, Minnesota - Chapter 3: Aboriginal Remains, 1919

That Houston county has been the home of man through countless generations is shown by its numerous earthworks. These earthworks extend along the high lands overlooking the Mississippi River, and back along the bluffs of the Root River and its tributaries. Notable among the remains of a departed people in Houston county are the La Crescent group, with human remains and copper implements; the Hogback group with rock burials, the mounds at Jefferson, in the upper part of one of which was found a skeleton of a warrior with gun and hatchet, while in the lower part was found a stone box grave of small dimensions containing the flexed bones of an adult skeleton deposited after the flesh had been removed, while in one adjacent was a stone vault six feet in diameter, which contained charcoal, ashes and split bones of animals and two chipped scrapers. In other groups are found efligy mounds, in the shape of birds of large dimensions.

The evidences are many that these mounds were not built by a race distinct from the Indians, but that the Mound Builders were in fact no other than the more or less immediate ancestors of the Indians found here by the whites. The relics found in them indicate a state of society and mode of life in every way identical to that of the Indian.

Much interesting material has been written on the subject and N. H. Winchell's "Aborigines of Minnesota" contains aside from a general discussion of aboriginal inhabitants of Minnesota, a detailed description of some of the remains found in Houston county. The following survey is reproduced from that work.

The La Crescent Group (northern part), S. W. N. E. J4; S. E. >4» N. W. J4 ; and E. S. W. J4, Sec. 10, T. 104-4. Many mounds were destroyed by the railroad and many others have been plowed down and dug away. These are in part on a terrace about twenty feet above a lower plateau, which is about thirty feet above the Mississippi River, and the rest are on the lower plateau.

The northern part of the La Crescent group embraces fifty-two mounds^ which are all circular except two, which are elongated mounds. Of these one is 62 feet by 44 feet, and 4 feet high, and the other tapers from 33 feet in width to 12 feet near the narrow end. Its greatest height is at its widest point, viz: V/i feet. Its ends have the form of semi-circles, one with a radius of 12 feet, and the other with one of 6 feet. One, which is partly removed, furnished an aboriginal pipe.

"When opened they have been found to contain human remains of men of large stature, and it is said that in grading for the railroad, a copper skillet and other trinkets were found at a depth of eighteen feet below the

La Crescent Group (southern part). This contains ten mounds, of which three are effigies. The circular mounds are small and somewhat scattered. They are all situated on the two plateaus mentioned, one about thirty feet, and the other about fifty feet above the river. The effigy wnich is on the lower terrace represents nothing so much as a cross, but it doubtless belongs to that class which is named bird effigies. Mr. Lewis, in "Science," No. 6, 1885, has designated another of these effigies a frog, and taken by itself it has the form of a frog more than that of any other animal, but it may rather be composed of two imperfect bird effigies,* one directly in advance of the other, and so near together that they are in one mound. This idea is rather favored by the fact that a third effigy, like a bird with spread wings, is very close to the rear, and by a little enlargement, either of the frog or of this third bird, the three would be brought into union. The spread of the wings, the size and length of the body and the direction of flight are almost identical in the trio.

Mounds near Pine Creek, south of La Crescent, on S. E. j^, N. W. J4, Sec 15, T. 104-4, located on a spur from a plateau, about fifty feet above the river. This group consists of two, an elongated mound and a bird efngy, with the remains of an animal effigy on plowed land. The form which is caUed a bird effigy is hardly susceptible of that designation, as its wings are more like short, small, elongated mounds, crossing that of the wings nearly at a right angle. The body, however, is wider than the head. Surveyed July 18, 1884.

Pine Creek Group, south of La Crescent, S. E. N. W. >4, and N. E. S. W. Sec. 15, T. 104-4. On a plateau about fifty feet above the flood plain of the Mississippi. This group of twenty-two mounds embraces four bird effigies, all of which, with straight broad wings, appear more like simple Greek crosses, with one arm too long and the opposite one too short. As they are all headed, however, in the same direction, they appear to be a small flock of birds, and can hardly be separated .from numerous others, which are more evidently intended to represent birds in flight. One of the tumuli is egg-shaped, and they are all small, the' largest being thirtytwo feet in diameter. Surveyed July 18, 1884.

A lone mound is in Root River valley one mile northeast of Hokah, on N. W. J4, Sec. 32, T. 104-4, on a plateau about sixty feet above the river, twenty-two feet by twelve feet.

Another lone mound is near the center of Section 27, T. 104-5, on a terrace about sixty feet above the river, in the woods, twenty-two feet by three feet.

Silver Creek Mounds, W. J^, N. E. J4, Sec. 25, T. 104-6, on a terrace about thirty-five feet above the river bottomland. Here are three tumuli, the largest, separated from the others, being forty-six feet by three feet. One has been said to be the grave of the celebrated chief Black Hawk but this is untrue. It is now plowed. Surveyed July 14, 1884.

Circular enclosure two miles west of Hokah, S. E. J4, N. E. Sec. 2, T. 103-5, about sixty feet above the bottom land of the creek. The average depth inside is about two feet. The width of the embankment is fourteen feet. The opening at the south side is nine feet. The diameter from the center of the embankment on the east side to the same on the west side is forty feet. Surveyed July 9, 1884.

Mounds on Hokah townsite, N. N. E. Sec. 6, T. 103-4. There are three mounds on the public square, one being a bird effigy, seventy feet above the river, its height being one and one-half feet. Length of body is eighty-seven feet, span of the wings is 225 feet. The wings of this effigy are slightly flexed backward. The body is rounded at its extremity. A smaller bird effigy, sixty feet above the river, a little N. of E. of this, on block K, has no flexture in its wings and has a rectangular termination of its body. Another animal effigy is on lot 1, block 17, at ninety-five feet above the river. Mr. Lewis says, in "Science," No. 106, 1885, "From the extremity of the snout to the tip of the tail its length in a right line is just sixty-two and one-half feet, and the body is one and one-half feet in height. . . . Formerly there existed several other effigies, and thirty or forty mounds and embankments, on the same terrace with the birds, which have been removed in grading streets and lots." In this number was one turtle effigy.

Mounds two miles above Brownsville, W. 3/2, S. E. J4, N. E. Sec. 14, T. 103-4, on a plateau about thirty feet above the bottomland. This group consists of a thickly set cluster of fifty-eight tumuli, mostly less than twenty-eight feet in diameter, the largest being forty-four feet by three feet. Surveyed July 2, 1884.

A lone tumulus is at Brownsville on S. E. }4, S. W. }i, Sec. 26, T. 103-4, on a spur of the bluff about 480 feet above the flood plain. It is composed of stone covered with dirt, and is thirty-five feet by three feet, and about 600 feet from the Mississippi River. The bluff at De Sota can be seen plainly from this mound, and also the bluffs above La Crosse. Surveyed July 1, 1884.

Mounds near Fairy Rock on the Mississippi River, N. E. N. E. Sec. 26, T. 102-4. These three tumuli are about 150 feet above the river, of less than medium size and about 200 feet south of Fairy Rock. Surveyed May 16, 1889.

Mounds two miles north of Jefferson, on N. E. >4, N. E. Sec. 23, T. 101-4, about twenty-six feet above the slough. Across the line of Sec. 14 were formerly a number of round mounds, now almost obliterated. The group consists of thirty-three ordinary tumuli of moderate dimensions, the largest being forty feet in diameter, and the rest about thirty feet. Surveyed June 30, 1884.

Mounds at Jefferson, N. E. J4, Sec. 35, T. 101-4, on a narrow rocky ridge about 500 feet above the Mississippi, group of three mounds. The only information obtainable respecting this group is that published in the Twelfth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, p. 45, for 1890-91, imprint 1894, by Cyrus Thomas, as follows: conical form, on the summit of the cliff, had already been opened sufficiently to remove therefrom the skeleton of an Indian warrior, together with his gun, hatchet, etc. The excavation which had been made was still partly open, and extending downward only about half the depth of the mound. Digging about a foot further into the hard, light-colored earth, apparently a mixture of clay and ashes, a stone slab was encountered something over two feet long, something less in width, and five inches thick, of the same kind of rock as that found in the cliff. This was lying flat upon others of various sizes, which were placed edgewise so as to form an oblong cist or cofllin, but so small that its contents, the decayed bones of an adult, were nearly in a heap, as though the skeleton had been folded and deposited after the flesh was removed. No implements or vestiges of art were found.

"No. 2. This interesting mound, situated about fifty feet south and somewhat down the slope from No. 1, is circular, about twenty-five feet in diameter and six feet high. An excavation had been made in the top of the covering of top slabs of a stone vault or chamber, which further exploration showed the mound to contain. The form of this vault is shown in the accompanying figure. It was about six feet in diameter throughout, and before it was disturbed probably reached neariy or quite to the top of the mound. Some of the top rocks had been thrown down, and, with some small human bones, were lying on the slope of the mound. The floor of the inner area was filled to the depth of about two feet with charcoal, ashes and split bones of animals, among which were found two roughly chipped scrapers or skinners. This accumulation had not been disturbed by those who had made the first partial opening above, and who, as was learned, had unearthed the skeleton of an Indian child, with some modem beads and other trinkets.

**No. 3 is situated about 100 feet north but much below No. 1, and is about twenty feet in diameter and four feet high. Nothing whatever of interest was found in it.

**Nothing was observed in relation to these works differing from the usual conical mounds in this region except the peculiar commanding position which they occupy, and the walled structure of No. 2. Of the numerous bluffs in this region no other affords such a clear and extensive view of the surrounding country as this. An unobstructed view of the Mississippi for a considerable distance above and below, also up the Little Iowa, Winnebago and other streams, is here obtained. From this position can be seen the mouth of Root River on the west, and on the east the deep-gorged Bad Axe, and the last battle-field on which Black Hawk fought. It must, therefore, have always been a favorite outlook point or station.

'Ttfound No. 2 seems to have been purposely built upon the sunny slope of the cliff just below the summit, so as to be sheltered from the cold northwest winds, and partly also from observation, while its occupants had a nearly unobstructed field for observation and signals. Unlike the other mounds near it which were opened, it was composed wholly of the rock and soil taken from around it. Possibly it may have been used as a sentry post or signal station. The charcoal, ashes and split bones of animals were doubtless the remains of the feasts and fires of the watchmen ; the burial of a child in the mound was intrusive and by modern Indians. Not a fragment of pottery was found at this locality, although within ten miles of the pottery circle in Iowa, which will be noticed hereafter."

It appears from this, and from the cairns at Red Wing, as well as from the stone-box graves of Dayton's bluff, in Ramsey county, that the mound builders resorted to stone for the construction of their burial cists when suitable stone slabs were available.

Ruined fort, N. W. >4, Sec. 33, T. 101-4. The outlines of this fort are only just traceable. They are on a high ridge. The fort was about 600 feet by 500 feet. Surveyed April 22, 1892.

Winnebago Creek mounds, W. S. W. J4, Sec. 35, T. 101-4, on a plateau about twenty-two feet above the creek. This group embraces forty circular mounds, of rather less than average size. They are scattered promiscuously over the platform.

Hogback mounds near Jefferson, N. W. J4, N. E. Sec. 35, T. 101-4. These are tumuli of good size, and three have been opened. The largest of fifty feet by seven and one-half feet, and is about 350 feet above the river. Those opened have rock burials. The smallest is an elongated mound.

New Albion group, S. W. J4> S. E. J4, Sec. 5, T. 101-4, and continuing into Allamakee county, Iowa. On a plateau about fourteen feet above the marsh. This group embraces eleven tumuli, situated between the railroad and the marsh to the east. But two of these are north of the State line. One is fifty-five feet by three feet, and the other is flat-topped with a top diameter of twenty feet. ' The series extending south westwardly, comes to the "sandpit" and has lost a portion of two. Four have been excavated. Surveyed June 24, 1884.

There are also numerous other groups of mounds in the county, notably in Yucatan townships, which have not as yet been scientifically surveyed or examined, but which have been dug into and searched at various times by curiosity seekers.

An example of Indian pictographs and carvings is found in the Reno cave on the northwest quarter of section 35, township 102, range 4. This carve is 150 feet above Minnesota slough. It is twelve feet long and five feet wide at the bottom. The main portion is twelve feet high. The floor is five feet above the ground at the entrance. On the walls are numerous crude outlines of various animals, including man, fish and birds. An 8-rayed star has been interpreted sometimes to represent the four main points of the compass yith intermediate divisions.

Many relics found in Houston county are in the hands of private collectors. In the museum of the Minnesota Historical Society are to be found the following specimens from this county: 15 arrow heads, 8 war points, 3 spear heads, 6 awls, 4 clay vessels (from mounds), 1 clay disk, 1 hematite celt, 1 piece of hematite, 2 chipped implements, 2 scrapers, 1 celt, 1 stone pipe (from a mound), 2 stone hoes, 3 shell beads (from a mound). 1 discoidal stone, 1 pendant, 1 perforated stone, 1 grooved ax, 1 ceremoniaL 1 shell pin.