From the Iowaville site, I drove a mile north to Highway No. 16, turned downstream through Selma to Douds/Leando, then from Douds down along the north side of the Des Moines on gravel as far as I could go before being forced by abandoned roads and dead-ends to come back to Highway No. 1. A short trip from there down through Keosauqua, across the river, then four or so miles south of Keosauqua to the intersection of Highways 1 and 2, then west on No. 2 toward Cantril and the Dutchman’s Store.
Actually, there was a brief detour here. Mormon pioneer Nathaniel Ashby died very near here during 1846 not long after fleeing Nauvoo. An account written by his son many years after the fact states that the family was camped six miles west of Bonaparte when the death occurred and that he returned to Bonaparte to buy enough lumber to build a coffin for his father, who then was buried in a nearby grove next to the grave of another family's child who had been buried there shortly before. These graves, of course, are lost. But I drove around the sections northeast and northwest of the Highway 1/2 intersection, trying to go back 160 years in my head and figure out where in the vicinity of Indian Creek that camp might have been. Interesting country, but no luck.
A few miles west of Keosauqua on Highway No. 2, I turned south on a stub of the original Highway 2 paving (turned over to Van Buren County when the highway was straightened a good many years ago) to a wonderful old house --- now in grave danger.
I know nothing whatsoever about it, other than the fact it closely resembles the Isaiah Meek house at Bonaparte, generally dated 1848-1853. The curved widows are identical as are the roofline and the general layout. Although the Meek House appears to be somewhat larger, they are astonishingly alike and I’d be willing to bet were designed and constructed by the same hands.
Obviously, the house is derelict. On a positive note, the superb brickwork above a solid limestone basement is as sound as the day both basement and walls were put into place. And the roof is solid. Unfortunately, extensive vandalism has taken place. I glanced inside the front door (missing), but went no farther. The stair rail has been stolen. Many of the windows have been broken. It’s a a mess, and I fear for its future. But here it is as it stands during late October in this year of grace 2005.
The old pavement continues on for a ways before rejoining No. 2, but is in awful, bone-jarring condition. If you drive it, don't plan on traveling much faster than 35 mph. Around the corner and a ways onward to the west is another of Van Buren County's architectural treasures --- a spectacular turn-of-the-century brick and tile circular show barn. It's in good shape, although on private land --- a "for sale" sign out front --- and so vulnerable.
I didn't stop to photograph it (should have), but continued on to stock up at the Dutchman's, then high tail it for home before dusk brought every deer in southern Iowa out, daring motorists to hit them.
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