I happened the other day upon what may be the earliest published account of a visit to Lucas County, found on the front page of the Weekly Miners' Express, Dubuque, of Sept. 15, 1847. Both Lucas County, created on Jan. 13, 1846, as an act of Iowa's last territorial Legislature, and Iowa, which achieved statehood on Dec. 28, 1846, were less than a year old at the time.
As noted here several months ago, 2021 was the 175th anniversary year for both the county and the state, as well as for the Mormon Trail.
The name of the author, who used the nom de plume Much-e-ki-e-nok, is unknown. That's a variant spelling of Muchakinock, the name of a Mahaska County creek that enters the Des Moines River near Eddyville and gave its name much later to a coal mining operation and camp recognized as a predecessor to Buxton because of the biracial mix of its population.
The Weekly Miners' Express article, published under the headline "The New Purchase," contains some misinformation, which isn't surprising when you consider that few Iowans knew anything at all about the new territory at the time. I've corrected his misspelling of Wapello (Wappello).
I'm transcribing only the introduction and the paragraph related specifically to Lucas County this morning, but plan to come back for the rest another day.
The top map, dated 1845, shows Iowa before all of the counties mentioned had been created. Our neighbor to the east, Monroe, is shown under its original name, Kishkekosh, a minor Meskwaki (Fox) chief. The western boundary of counties is the Red Rock Line, where settlement ended until October of 1845. The second map, dated 1847, shows the counties that the author visited, among others. Both are from the Library of Congress collection. Right click and open in a new window to enlarge.
Here's the introduction and the paragraph related to Lucas County. Lucas County was not organized until 1849 and Chariton did not exist when this was written.
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That portion of our State, known as the "New Purchase," is a body of land occupying the western portion of our State, and contains some 15 or 16 millions of acre of land. It is watered by some of our noblest rivers, among which may be included the Des Moines, Skunk, Iowa, Cedar, White Breast, Chariton, English, and what is known as the Three Rivers, besides many inferior streams and branches.
It should be remembered that a portion of this country was occupied by Indians as late as the 11th of October, 1845 --- the stipulated time for the white man to take possession of, and the red man to bid adieu to the land of his home and his sires --- he has gone and ere his native hills and dales faded from his view, the white man had staked out his claim and reared his log cabin.
Up to the period of which I speak (October 1845), the whites were not allowed to go farther than Red Rock on the Des Moines; from which point, beginning at the rock, a line was drawn due south to the Missouri river, and due north to the neutral grounds of the Winnebagoes. In 1842, Gov. Chambers affected a treaty, and for the sum of one million of dollars, obtained that valuable tract of country, of which I wish to give the reader some idea.
The New Purchase embraces within its limits the counties of Wapello, Marion, Mahaska, Polk, Dallas, Lucas, Keokuk, Davis, Appanoose, Warren, Wayne, Marshall, Story, Clark(e), Decatur, Boone, Benton, Madison, Monroe, Iowa, Poweshiek, Tama, and Black Hawk; the greater number of which may be classed among the best counties of our State.
I should have stated, that although the whole of the New Purchase was bought in 1842, permission to occupy the whole of it was not allowed at the same time. On the 1st of May 1843, permission was given to settlers to occupy the land east of Red Rock; and on the 11th of October 1845, that portion lying west of the Rock.
It was my good fortune but a short time ago to have the pleasure of an extensive tour through the counties of Wapello, Marion, Mahaska, Warren, and Lucas, and although I had a specific object in view, I at least made a few pencillings on the way.
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LUCAS COUNTY may be classed amongst the best for agricultural purposes, the prairie and timber are well divided, and the soil first-rate. The face of the country is high and rolling, and it is watered by numerous streams and rivulets. On the north it is watered by English, and on the south by the South Fork of the White Breast, and in the northwest by the North Fork of White Breast. The North Fork of Cedar heads in Lucas and meanders through the entire county. Chariton river flows through the southwest part of the county. Most of these streams are capable of propelling either mills or machinery. The Mormon Trace passed through Lucas. Mr. John Ballard and a Mr. Davis are the only settlers in Lucas; but several families from Ohio are expected to move there this ensuing. Mr. Ballard is one of the most successful bee hunters in the Purchase, having found at different times more than 500 bee trees. Were I locating in the "Purchase," my choice would fall upon Lucas, inasmuch as claims of all descriptions are easily obtained, and because springs are more abundant than in the adjoining counties; besides, there is an abundance of excellent coal. Lucas was formerly the favorite hunting grounds of the Pottowatamies. It is attached to Marion (actually Monroe) for judicial purposes.
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