SE Iowa?= MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Greetings Roberta, Looked in the 1978 History of Lucas Co. IA [LCGS] .for a few more Native American history clues. There were a couple of more references about the various Indian Nations in Iowa in the 1820's to 1850's time period in the Michigan>Wisconsin>Iowa Territory, then Iowa state. Some Native Americans of various Nations remained to live along the rivers in the area. This would fit with the earlier discussion via the Lucas CO. , IA Listers, regarding Indians who would gather at the river near Chariton to honor their dead. Had you noticed that dialogue going one? Let me know if you want that info. What surnames might you be looking for? Lee County is a couple of counties away from Lucas Co. and on the westward migration along the "Red Rock Line" to OK, NE, Kansas [see article below] where Native Americans were removed to in separation from the settlers. But as written, many stayed and hid in the country side and along the rivers befriending the pioneer settlers. Note also the segment from the time line regardin the Mesqaukie. Also, you will find additonal explanatory info and a great time line of events as relates to Indian land & removals in Wisconsin>Iowa at: http://www.iowahistory.org/education/heritage_curriculum/timeline/iowa__timeline_page2.html "1824: A treaty signed in St. Louis with the "Sac and Fox tribe" relinquished their claim to 119.000 acres in what would be Lee County. The land was set aside for the children of racially-mixed parentage and was known as the "Half Breed Tract". Guardians of these children were also allowed to move into the area, and many white settlers took advantage of the situation and made claims to land. A United States Supreme Court decision in 1850 held that the legal claims to land rested with the descendants of the children of racially-mixed parentage. More information can be found in an article by Jacob Van der Zee, "The Half-breed Tract", The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, 13:2 (April 1915), pp. 151-164. and The Goldfinch, Volume 13, # 4 (February 1993)." . . . "1840: The land that became Iowa was counted in the 1836 and 1838 Wisconsin territorial censuses. Iowa had 10,531 people in 1836 and 22,859 in 1838. Doubling population every two years..." "1842: Additional land was opened to white settlement, and Native American Indians were forced farther and farther west. "1843: Additional land was opened to white settlement, and Native American Indians were forced farther and farther west. With this purchase a line of demarcation was established between Indian land and land open for white settlement. It was call the "Red Rock Line" and extended from the Neutral Ground to the Missouri border running through Marion, Lucas, and Wayne counties." . . . 1856: Many Mesquakie (now sometimes spelled Meskwaki) never left Iowa when they were ordered to do so in 1845, and those that did move were unhappy on their Kansas reservation. In January 1856 the General Assembly passed an act permitting the Native American Indians still in the state to remain here, particularly in Tama County. A census was to be taken and the exemption applied only to them. More came back from Kansas that year, and they attempted to purchase land. Because they wished to own the land as a tribal group, rather than as individuals, they petitioned Governor James W. Grimes to act as their trustee for this purpose. He agreed, and in 1857 they purchased their first 80 acres. Over the next few decades they acquired about 3,800 acres along the Iowa River in Tama County, creating a "Settlement", not a reservation. Several hundred descendants of these Mesquakies and others live on the Settlement near Tama today, and are famous for their Pow Wow and their casino. For more information see The Palimpsest, 48:7 (July 1967), pp. 289-320." . . . I hope some of the excerpts are useful and offer some clues as to where some of your ancestors came and went to over their years in Iowa. If you feel any may be in Lucas Co., I have some resources to check for you. Also, you wish to visit the Lucas Co. website and it's links: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialucas/Main.htm Happy hunting, Mary Beth in Wisconsin On 21.05.2005 at 20:00:31, Roberta Hammer <kdhx6@swbell.net> wrote: > Thank you very much for your information on the 'half breed tract' in Iowa. I had a great great grandfather and great great uncle born in the tract and could never find anyone who could tell me where it was. This is a great detail to add to my story of my ancestors. Thank you again. Roberta Hammer >