Prophetstown, not home of the Prophet

[prophetstownjesse]

Hi all, As the name suggests, I'm Jesse from THAT Prophetstown. The load of crap we have been told in this town in regards to the Ho-chunk/Sauk native Wabokieshiek is laughable. The historical society keeps trying to drive tourism by clinging to Paul Hummel's drivel trying to use the origin of Saukenuk to say he was originally known as Poweshiek (the Mesquakie civil Chief after Black Thunder). Then to further the lie, state the Prophet's village was in the State Park. Now if you've ever been there, you would no doubt have noticed that it sits at the bottom of a bowl with the Rock River to the North, and a 25' embankment to the South. Flooding occurs in the park every spring. Winters you have wonderful ice jams.

Now, I've only recently dove into the BHW while researching the original ferry site of the Lewistown Road, that led to the area being settled, for the purpose of metal detecting. The ferry was first granted to Thomas Beard(who owned a successful ferry operation in Beardstown,Il) and Stephen Suminer Phelps(a highly successful fur trader along the Illinois River) in Jan 1829. Neither man's histories show them ever trying to establish said ferry- more on that another time! Then in 1831, a duo of Hyram Saunders and Ammyson Chapman after being denied grant for establishing a ferry at the Rock River by the 7th General Assembly of Illinois, made an attempt to do so anyway (Whitney BHW). Little did the duo realize, the Ho-chunk(Winnebago) had been running the ferry since 1828 (Forythe to Clark, 10 June 1828). More on this bit later but I feel this what led Wabokieshiek to seek out Black Hawk....The eight General Assy granted establishment rights to another duo in 1833, Alexander and Young, but specified that the location is at or near the Winnebago village where the Lewistown Road crosses the Rock River. Also, in the Bent Wilson History of Whiteside County, 1877, it is stated the ferry was located near the mouth of Walkers Slough, which is quite a ways upstream of where the State Park is located. Now Ellsworth Creek empties out of the Slough into the Rock River in a spot that is known for deep water and therefore can not be the spot of the ferry for it doesn't match the description of Ossian M. Ross - who blazed the trail in 1827- that the river can be forded in low water- Illinois Intelligencer Mar. 31, 1827. (Ross happened to have lied about there being Sac [Sauk] at the location to promote his road over the Ft. Clark Road). If you go just down stream of where the old Lyndon Rd bridge is located (near the HEAD of Walkers Slough), I know for a fact you can walk across the Rock River in that location. It's been a local "Right of Passage" for generations. And this is where the the ferry must have been located. There is no other spot on the river in our town's area that this can be done. This area is ideal for wagon crossing for the following reason: The entire south side (P-town) is low and flat (prone to flooding) and the west section sits low across the river (Lyndon). However, the East half of the area rises approx. 20' to a ridge line that extends all the way to the Mississippi River in Fulton. Ideal spot for the village to be located (NO FLODDING!) Also, by wording of the 1816 treaty, the Winnebago lands are bordered to the south along the Rock River with the Western most point being the village 40 miles from the mouth of said river- refer to the 1818 map of Joseph M. Street for visual. Guess where 40 miles up the Rock from the Mississippi lands you, Prophetstown-Lyndon area. 

In conclusion, our fore-fathers miss-named the two towns and my next thread will explain why......

[prophetstownjesse]

Also forgot to mention, in the BHW by Whitney, Keokuk tells Clark that the party wanted for the massacre at Prairie Du Chien had just left for the Prophets Village, marching up the left bank. Neapope wintered with the Prophet on the left bank of the Rock River. Whiteside marched his troops up the left bank.

[prophetstownjesse]

Now, you may be wondering how Prophetstown ended up with being named so if the Winnebago village was across the Rock River in what became Lyndon. The written history suggests the first settlers arrived in 1834. However, while the Prophet was hosting Black Hawk and his followers at the village, there is a documented report of a stage coach driver being turned back at the river crossing and telling a white settler he was denied crossing because he carried too much news. So now we have a settler here 2 years before what is recorded. So who was this person?  

Now look at the Chandler and Lyons maps of 1829. Both maps show a ferry and tavern at the Rock River crossing of the Lewistown Road. An un-published map drawn by Eames in 1833 that exists in the Jo Davies County court house (a copied can be viewed online within "The Shortest Route to the Galena Lead Mines") shows this same crossing as Prophet's Town. In Wayne C. Temple's Indians of the Illinois Country vol II part 2, we are provided with a couple nice clues. On page 192, we find "In the Spring of 1828 the Winnebago Prophet established himself and his relatives at Wittico's (also spelled Weteco) village which was said to be fifty or sixty miles up the Rock River".

After researching Wittico, I came across an account within the History of George Davenport and Scott County: 
"At this time there was a large tribe

of Winnebagoes or, as the French called them. Peons, that inhabited Rock river

country and the Winnebago swamps. This tribe had a very bad name and were

always very hostile and treacherous and they had been in the habit, for several

years before, when a trader came among them with goods, to kill him and take

the goods, as the easiest way of making a short bargain, so that the French

traders had been afraid, for some time, to go among them. Mr. Davenport not

knowing much about the Indians at this time, and hearing that they had large

quantities of furs and that no traders had visited them for some time, concluded







HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY 865



that this would be the best place for him to trade in. As soon as the French

traders (most of whom were in the employ of the American Fur Company)

heard of it, they advised him not to attempt it, as he would be killed and robbed,

but he determined to try it and fitted out five or six pack-horses, loaded them

with goods and taking two Canadians, Gokey and Degree, with him, started up

Rock river. They soon reached the Winnebago encampment. He immediately

got the chiefs and principal men together and made them a "talk." He told

them he had heard that they were in want of many kinds of goods, and that they

had plenty of furs, so he had come up to trade with them, but that before he had

started he had been told that they were a very bad people and was advised not to

go among them, but he did not believe these stories, and that he had come among

them to see for himself. The chiefs shook him by the hand and expressed great

satisfaction at the confidence he had in them and assured him if he would trade

with them he should never have cause to complain. They then sent a cryer through

the different encampments to announce the arrival of a trader, and that they must

treat him well. He now unpacked his horses and placed his goods in one of the

lodges, which was offered him. He commenced to trade and soon sold all his

goods and had received the best kind of furs in payment, and at very good profits.

He now loaded up his horses and started back with Gokey, leaving Degree in

charge of a part of the furs, while he returned to get another supply of goods.

He now visited all the different encampments and met with very good treatment —

his trade soon increased so largely that he established several trading posts on

Rock river and maintained them for many years, making a very profitable

business.



At this early time most of the Indian goods were brought from Mackinac,

through Green bay, then up the Fox river to the Portage, there packed across

to the Wisconsin river, then down the Mississippi in Mackinaw boats. He once

sent an order to Mackinaw for an assortment of Indian goods, camping equip-

age, four hands and a Mackinaw boat, and everything complete was delivered

to them at Rock island. His employes were Canadians, hired for three years,

at $125 per year, and were very faithful hands. Shortly after he had

commenced trading up Rock river he made a very narrow escape. About

this time several war parties had gone to attack the settlements, one of

which had been unfortunate and had lost some of their men, so that, on

their return, the relations of those that were killed felt very hostile and deter-

mined to be revenged at the first opportunity. Not knowing anything of this

state of things Mr. Davenport packed up some goods on four or five horses,

taking Gokey with him, and started up Rock river. They arrived at Prophets-

town and went immediately to their old friend, Wetaico's lodge. The old man

met them but seemed much alarmed. He shook them by the hand and said he

was very sorry they had come at this time ; he was afraid they would be killed

as there was a war party just about to start from the upper end of the village,

headed by the "Crane," who had lost some relatives, but that he would do all he

could to save them. This was said to them in the Chippewa tongue as that was

generally used by the traders. He invited them to sit down, when the yells of an

approaching party of Indians were heard. He told them to keep cool and show

no signs of alarm. In a few minutes a large crowd surrounded the lodge, whoop-







866 HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY



ing and yelling like so many devils. The old man now stepped to the door of his

lodge and inquired what they wanted (in the Winnebago language.) They re-

plied that "they had come to kill the white men." The old man now made them

a long speech, claiming the rights of hospitality and the sacredness of his lodge.

He told them they were fools ! Why be in so great a hurry ? That they had

plenty of time, as the trader was going to encamp just below the village and

would remain three or four days to trade! This seemed reasonable and the

crowd assented to it and retired. The old man returned and said he could save

them, but they must follow strictly his counsed. He then directed them to go

just below the village and pitch their tent near the bank of the river — unpack

their goods, turn out their horses and make every preparation for remaining sev-

eral days, and in the meantime he would place a light canoe and paddles a little

way below their tent and as soon as it was dark to slip away from their camp-

fire, jump into the canoe and float down the river until they were out of hearing

of the village, and then to paddle for their lives, but to lay by in the high grass

in the daytime as they might be pursued and headed off across some of the bends

of the river. They followed his advice strictly, put up their tent, built a fire and

spanceled their horses, arranged their goods and made preparations for cooking.

Some few Indians came to them and desired to trade, but they put them off until

next day on the score^ of fatigue. They did this to throw them off their guard.

The hours seemed very long but darkness came at last and they stole away from

their encampment, reached the canoe and floated quietly down the river, and as

soon as they were out of sight of the camp-fires they began to paddle their canoe

swiftly down Rock river. Several times during the night they saw camp-fires

ahead of them on the bank of the river and were obliged to drift past them on

the opposite side under the shadow of the bank. As soon as it was daylight they

landed, hauled their canoe into the tall grass and concealed themselves during

the day and when it was dark, they started again and paddled all night. Next

morning they found themselves at the mouth of Rock river and soon reached

Rock Island. Sometime afterwards old Wetaico visited Rock Island, when he

gave an account of what occurred. The next morning after the escape, he said,

the whole village turned out — men, women and children, marched down to the

tent, headed by the "Crane" and his war party, armed with their tomahawks,

bows and arrows, and painted — singing their war song and beating their drums.

They advanced, dancing their war dance, and surrounded the tent. But they

soon found "that white man is very uncertain." Owing' to the bad feeling of

this part of the tribe he did not go among them for some time afterward. The

Winnebagoes frequently came down to the island to trade, in small parties, but

they appeared very sullen and shy. They did not like to visit the fort much.

Mr. Davenport felt satisfied that if they got a good opportunity they would

kill some of the whites. "

We also find in Indians of the Illinois country on page 193 report by Russel Farnham and George Davenport to St. Louis Nov. 22 1831 that they kept a trading post about 50 miles up the Rock River where they did business with the Winnebago. I would not doubt that this trading post was built in the same manner of construction as the trading post built by Davenport at Rock Island, a double cabin with a chimney at the middle. It's easy to assume this building was also used as a boarding house for travelers coming up the Lewistown Road on there way to the ferry and is the same building listed as a tavern. After the BHW, Davenport would have abandoned this operation by 1834, having no one to do business with. 

In Bent/Wilson's history of Whiteside County, two early operators of the ferry, Samuel McClure and Asa Crook, are also attached to a large cabin. In the winter of 1834-35, 8 families, most famous of which would have been that of J.W. Stakes, wintered in the "Old McClure cabin". Sam McClure was not known to have brought a family with him, so why would have he had built such a large cabin? Crook had a cabin in which the first school class was held in one of the back rooms. This cabin also became the first post office of Prophetstown in 1836. This also would have served as Crooks boarding house for ferry customers. I firmly believe this cabin was the trading post built by Davenport. The most notable landmark in the area would have been the old Indian village in which the Prophet took up residence in 1828. The building tied to the ferry laid approx. 3 miles south of the river crossing in the first available high ground next to a fresh water source of Coon Creek, was labeled the Prophet's Village Post Office in 1836, later to become the Prophetstown Post office.