64 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



DOUDS-LEANDO Hyphenated rival towns with the most interesting 

 early history and traditions. Douds was formerly Alexandra, lies to the 

 north; Leando formerly Portland, to the south. 



SELMA Took the trade from lowaville, immediately above, when the 

 railroad superseded the river and stage coach. Formerly Independent. 

 Site of Saylor Cabin. 



IOWAVILLE Town upon site of famous Indian battle; stood against 

 the west boundary of the Black Hawk Purchase. Extensive trade with 

 the Indians. Only one of its houses remains. 



BLACK HAWK Founded and promoted by Andrew J. Davis, later the 

 Butte, Montana, millionaire, lies south of lowaville; site of the Davis 

 distillery and of his residence, the latter still standing. A steamboat was 

 built here in 1843. 



IOWAVILLE--DITCH Constructed from Avery Spring to Des Moines 

 River across the Indian battle field. Hundreds of Indian bones were 

 thrown up when the ditch was dug. 



AVERY SPRING Is a limitless water supply from the hillside, for- 

 merly beautifully environed. 



THE INDIAN BONES Have been noticed in the soil of the battle- 

 field. Northeast of the place, on a rise toward the hills, are the burial 

 grounds of the pioneer families of Jordans, Nelsons, Hinkles and their 

 compeers. Also the grave of "Patriarch" Ashael, brother of Joseph 

 Smith, founder of Mormonism. On the hill, almost immediately beyond 

 the cemetery and crowning the hill are some half dozen conspicuous 

 mounds of the earliest era of human life in this region. 



THE JORDAN HOMESTEAD Near the grave site of Black Hawk and 

 the Stump House, half a mile north of Selma, are notable houses. 



THE MOUND Where the Indian racers encountered defeat. It is the 

 last point of interest before reaching EMon. South of the river between 

 Eldon and Selma is of superbly wild beauty. 



ELDON At the upper end of Indian bottom and end of present pro- 

 posed section of proposed park. 



Returning to Selma and looking up the river, the whole field of battle 

 between the Iowa tribe and the Sacs and Foxes which took place in 1822, 

 is to be seen. It was the ancient home of the Iowa tribe. The Sacs and 

 Foxes came from their ancient home on Rock River, Illinois, crept to the 

 hill-tops bounding the Iowa prairie on the north, waited for the Iowa men 

 to go to the mound near Eldon, to race horses, then rushed between the 

 latter and their camp of women and children. Black Hawk second in 

 command, directed the assault on the camp of women and children, who, 

 like the men, were nearly all exterminated. Black Hawk enjoyed good 

 fortune until he was defeated by the U. S. soldiers in the Blackha-'k 

 War and at "Bad Axe" was thrown "forty miles west" of the Mississippi. 

 He chose this site of his earlier triumph as his last home. Here he 

 lived until 1838, died and was buried. His grave-site is in a cultivated 

 field some distance from the river, but his body was stolen, the skeleton 

 mounted by a phrenologist for exhibition purposes, but was later sur- 



The novelty. of this proposed park area, extending some fifty miles and 

 the land features amounting to mere threads occasionally widened for 



