The whole section can be seen on the Iowa History Site. THE PALIMPSEST EDITED BY JOHN ELY BRIGGS _______________________________________________________________________ VOL. VI ISSUED IN JANUARY 1925 NO. 1 _______________________________________________________________________ COPYRIGHT 1925 BY THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fur Trade in Early Iowa By George F. Robeson The dream of the founders of New France in America to establish "a chain of well-garrisoned forts along the St. Lawarence River to the Ohio and thence down to the Gulf of Mexico" was but a part of their scheme "to retain the trade monopoly in the furs and minerals of the West" and thus "check the encroachments of their aggressive neighbors and enemies" the British and the Spanish. This dream was in some degree translated into action, for at an early date their rude "forts" - in reality merely "traders" huts surrounded perhaps with high fences of pickets or split logs" - began to appear on river banks in the Mississippi Valley. That the Iowa country soon came to be included within the boundaries of this dream realm is not surprising, Teeming with wild animals, the streams and forests of Iowa made an ideal hunting ground for the Indians. But it was not until about 1690 that facilities for bartering the products of the chase were available. Such opportunities were afforded when Nicholas Perrot erected two or three forts or trading posts along the Mississippi River above the mouth of the Wisconsin. Here came the Indians of northern Iowa to exchange peltries for trinkets. Later Perrot built a "fort" opposite the lead mines - probably "near the site of Dunleith on the Illinois side" of the river - thus bringing his wares within easy reach of the customers. Other Frenchmen engaged in considerable trade with the Indians. Posts were established at various places in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, many of t hem at no great distance from the present borders of Iowa. The French dream of an American empire came to an end, however, when the English defeated the French in their struggle for North America - the Iowa country passing into the hands of Spain. During the period of Spanish control a bitter contest was waged with the English over the Indian trade. The Spaniards complained that the Sioux and the Ioways were unfaithful, giving to the English the fruits of their hunting, but the liberal presents of the British were not able to win over the Sauk and Fox tribes. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County _http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/_ (http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/) IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: _http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/_ (http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/)