Harrison County, Missouri - Chapter 6: Indian History, 1921

Among the incidents of the early days were some arising from coming in contact with and trading with the Indians. The early settlers were sometimes in quite a strait for ammunition. This was to them a serious matter as they depended in a great measure upon wild meat for the first few years. This want was often partially supplied by the Indians who generally had powder and lead in abundance furnished them by the government. The Indians were then numerous in the southwest portion of Iowa and when their hunting excursions would come near the white settlements, the whites would trade with them to secure ammunition. The Indians soon learned that when the whites needed ammunition they would give good trades to get it ; in this they exhibited their natural shrewdness and in the game of "swap" they often outwitted their pale-face brothers.

An incident occurring in the fall of 1841 illustrating this has been, handed down to us. It was like this: A settler needing ammunition, gathered a lot of turnips and took them to an Indian camp to trade, but being unable to speak in the Indian dialect the Indians held him at a disadvantage, pretending not to understand him. Toward evening a lad about ten or twelve years old offered to trade some powder for turnips ; they effected a trade, the man delivering the turnips and followed the lad into his wigwam to get the powder. It was then dark but the wigwam was lighted up slightly by a stick fire; the lad got the allotted amount in a rag and the settler wanted to take it to the light to examine it but the lad motioned frantically for him not to take it to the light to examine it at the same time saying "tshu tshu" as much as to say it will explode. The man took the alleged powder to his wagon, but fearing the lad was tricking him concluded to test the powder. He tasted it and tried to ex- plode a little of it when he found it was no good. He returned with it to the wigwam but neither the lad nor the turnips could be found. It appeared that the lad had gathered up some charcoal, pounded it up fine and traded it to the unsuspecting settler for pure government powder. He wandered around complaining greatly at the manner in which he had been swindled, but he could not find a member of the Lo family who could understand him sufficiently to sympathize with him in the loss of his turnips and powder.

The Indians would generally trade almost anything they had for "skutipo" (whisky). They would gather large quantities of wild meat, which they would dry and pack away for transportation to their towns. They were also quite skillful at tanning deer skins out of which they made many useful articles or beautiful trinkets. They preferred to trade these to the settlers but soon found that there was not much demand for them. They would exchange their dried venison or anything for "skutipo" and then their men would get drunk and when they were drunk they were not "good Indians" and it was safer to be away from them, though they were quiet when sober and never disturbed the whites or their property, but sometimes would infringe upon the hunting grounds of the whites. It was against the law to trade, sell or give whisky to the Indians, yet the law was in that regard oftener violated than it was vindicated.

In 1843 an order was received to organize the militia in these settlemi-nts. Prior to that time the settlers had not felt any particular need of a mililary organization but they did not know what emergency migh arise and they thought the Giovemor might know more about matters than they did. And they were growing in importance when they attracted enough sufficient notice to be taxed and formed into a military department. There were a great many Indians in the southwest part of Iowa and though they were friendly and peaceable the settlers did not know what might occur to change this pleasant state of affairs, therefore they talked the matter over like good citizens and concluded to meet together and organize the militia. The women were particularly well pleased at the idea of that the militia would be organized and their protection fully secured.

Of course the important consideration was in reference to the proper persons for the officers of their little army. It was agreed that they would need a colonel and a major and they set about the selection of these officers. It was the general opinion that these officers must be men of judgment and courage, especially the colonel must be a man of stamina. At last it was determined that C. L. Jennings was the proper man for colonel. He had come to the county in 1841, reared a large cabin on the farm (later known as the Jacob King farm) some four miles northeast of Bethany. He had shown himself to be a good commander of an ox team and was good looking and the tallest man in the settlement and the squatters being Bible readers knew how Saul was selected for king because "he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders up."

S. C. Allen was elected major. He was not so tall as the colonel but that was not considered so important a matter for the lower officers. No roll or roster of the men enrolled has been preserved. It has been stated that there were two companies but it is not known how many men there were in each company as they were divided according to the convenience of the settlers.

Shortly after the militia were organized they were called into service by the colonel under the following circumstances: A settler on the edge of the prairie a few miles south of where Eagleville now is, by the name of Charles Killyan took a few bushels of corn to Phil Harris' mill on Big Creek west of Bethany. While he was there a heavy rain fell, raising the creek so that it could not be crossed ; there were no bridges or fences on Big Creek at that time. The mill was on the west side of the creek and as it appeared the creek would continue too deep to ford for two or three days, Killyan concluded to go up the creek on the west side until he could cross it. Accordingly he started north to head the creek and go home. As he did not return home for a week and had always been a good, industrious citizen of no bad habits, his family and the neighbors became alarmed at his protracted absence. Neighbors were sent to the mill to see if any tidings could be gained of him. It was learned he had been to the mill, obtained his grinding and started home in due time, but nothing further was known or could be heard of him.

The settlers became aroused, the matter was discussed. It was considered that he had started for home in a northwest direction toward the Indian settlements in southwest Iowa and no doubt was entertained but that he had been captured by the Indians. Was he killed and scalped or

If Killyan was captured by the Indians it was the duty of the settlers to punish the Indians or there would be no safety for any other settler that might be out alone and it was considered a matter of prudence as v.ell as sound statesmanship to show the Indians the strength and courage of the settlement.

The idea of war upon the frontier with the wild and merciless savages excited the liveliest apprehensions. They had often read of Indian warfare and had early been taught that their mode of warfare was the indiscriminate murder of men, women and children and that the Indians were cunning and liable to dash down upon them without any notice or sign of their coming. All such thoughts had a tendency to intensify the situation.

Upon consultation it was decided proper to call out the militia and follow after the trail of Killyan. It was true the Indians had always been peaceable and friendly and had never appeared to show any desire to make trouble with the white settlers but once and that was after the Indians had lost some ponies and thought the whites had taken them, or harbored those who did ; but upon investigation the Indians were convinced that the squatters in this county were not to blame and thereupon friendly relations had been more firmly established than before. There was no telling but what some thief or thieves had again stolen some of their ponies and the Indians might have concluded to take their revenge upon Killyan.

Some of the more timid could almost see poor Killyan tied to a tree or stake with a pile of wood around him ready to have the torch applied. Everybody was excited, especially the women and children. Killyan's poor wife became almost distracted. She would cry and say: "My poor husband has been captured by the Indians. Oh ! I will never get to see him again."

Under these circumstances the colonel of the militia issued his orders to have the settlement placed on a war footing and all the militia were ordered to meet at the house of the colonel the next morning by sunrise to start upon an armed expedition in search of the missing squatter or to discover his murderers. Such a bustle, excitement and hurry had never before been knowm in the territory. Riders were sent in all directions to notify the militia to turn out on the morrow with ten days' provisions.

The militia had been organized under orders but had drawn no arms, ammunition or rations. On such an expedition it was necessary to go as cavalry and each soldier must be supplied with a horse. They were all good hunters and experienced marksmen, having brought down many a deer and felt safe when at the breech of their guns.

The next morning early the militiamen might have been seen riding to the residence of the colonel until the regiment numbered about forty faithful troopers. All things being ready the gallant colonel brought out his war horse and gave the order to mount and they soon dashed off double file for the fray. They stopped to feed and water at noon on Big Creek and shortly after starting again they struck a trail showing that numerous ponies had recently traveled to the north.

After traveling some distance they came to a place where the Indians had evidently camped and they found meal scattered upon the ground and tracks that indicated one large horse among the ponies, all of which they interpreted to mean that the Indians had the horse and meal, but where was Killyan ? Perhaps a poor captive and far removed from family and friends or perhaps worse, left as food for wolves.

Here a few of the army wanted to go back, claiming that further search was useless and that they had enlisted for only one day and their families were not well and their stock required their attention and other similar trivial excuses. The colonel said it was no time to desert the post of duty in the hour of danger and when the country demanded every man to do his duty, but if any of his command would publicly acknowledge that he was a coward and would surrender his gun and ammunition he would be dishonorably mustered out of the service and could return home. No one would do that and the morale of the forces was fully restored. And they boldly pushed forward into the enemy's country.

About three o'clock in the afternoon, when they gained the summit of a ridge and looked far to the north they saw men on horseback. "Indians, boys," said a gallant trooper, as he gazed through a spy-glass. "Indians, by thunder," said the colonel as he gazed through the spy-glass, "and coming this way, but only a small squad." Was it the advance guard, or a decoy to deceive the militia? But our colonel was not to be decoyed. He ordered his men forward to suitable grounds, where they were dis-

"Now, by thunder, let every man stand his ground, and all stick together," said the colonel. With bated breath they awaited the approach of the enemy. They were in an open prairie and could not be ambushed and did not much fear an attack at that place, but it was a good point for observation. Presently two Indians and a white man emerged from the brushy hollow before them. "That is Killyan," said the man with the spyglass. As they came nearer the men saw that it was Killyan and he was received with joy.

He then explained that he had started up the west side of Big Creek to the head of the stream, that he had done so, but the weather being bad and cloudy, he had lost his course and gone too far east and gone down on the east side of Grand River, which he could not cross on account of the high water and had to go back north again. Falling in with some friendly Indians that also were going to Fort Des Moines, two of them were sent to assist him in finding his way home as they understood the country better than Killyan.

The Indians received the thanks of the big warrior and the grateful acknowledgments of Killyan and departed to seek their tribe, and Killyan w^as returned to his family who were almost overwhelmed with joy. The war was declared over, the victory won, the lost restored and the valiant militia dismissed by the colonel with praises for their bravery in turning out in defense of their imperiled country.

The peaceful and happy termination of this campaign gave renewed confidence to the settlers that they need not fear any trouble from the Indians north of them. And it is worthy of remark that there never waa any hostile troubles or scarcely any ill feeling between them. This in a great degree was owing to the good will kept up and fostered at all times by the early settlers.