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Introductions
In this activity you will have the opportunity to explore two important
historical documents written by Albert M. Lea
describing his travels through eastern Iowa in 1835. From the information
found in these documents you can take your own online expedition to explore
Iowa in 1835.
Directions
- Following the expedition of 1835, Albert M.
Lea wrote a memoir
describing the day-to-day experiences of the summer's 1100- mile adventure
through eastern Iowa. He also wrote in 1836 a more analytical piece
entitled Notes
on the Wisconsin Territory; Particularly with Reference to the Iowa
District, or the Black Hawk
Purchase.
- Start by exploring these documents. They are linked within the page
Who Was Albert M. Lea?
- Here are some sample passages from memoir
to get you started. Because Lea's party was looking for a suitable site
for a new fort, his observations focus on descriptions of the prairie,
the woods and land formations:
…Both wood-land and prairie, thus far, are exceedingly
fertile, the soil being a black loam based upon clay. The trees are
usually oak and hickory, and the woods are free from under-growth;
and no stone is to be found, except siliceous pebbles and granitic
boulders…
…Beyond Lake Hahawa, about 10 miles, we crossed a river, called
by the Indians, Ioway;…and as the name, Ioway, is irrevocably
fixed on that part of the river below the junction, it is proposed
to give that name to the larger branch, and to call the smaller
branch Buffalo river, form the game found upon it. Where we crossed
it, it is about 30 yds wide, 4 ft deep, and clear, though in freshet;
has a gentle current, gravelly bottom covered with moss, low banks,
and but little timber bordering on it. It is probably navigable
for small boats, as far as the mouth of the Otter creek…
…After passing this river, we found an almost continuous succession
of swamps, for 14 miles, the prairie being scarcely interrupted by
a tree. Traversing then a few miles of dryer ground, we came to a
high ridge, where we found a Sioux Fort, made by excavating a series
of holes, large enough to contain several men, and arranged in an
elliptical form, outside of which, when used, skins are stretched
on stakes, fixed in the ground, to intercept the view and the missiles
of the enemy…
…Limestone bluffs present themselves occasionally on either
bank. No falls or rapids, are known in the river;…The trees
are luxuriant, and consist of walnut, ash, elm, oak, maple, &
c. The soil is remarkably fertile, and but little of the timbered
land, except near the mouth, is flooded in times of freshets…
- Here are some examples from Excerpts
from Iowa District of the Wisconsin Territory written by Lea
in 1836. Note that this piece is organized topically and includes information
related to eastern Iowa's climate, soil, plant life, rivers, land formations
and animal life:
…The Climate is such as would be naturally expected
in this latitude. The thermometer does not range more widely here
than in similar latitudes east of the Allegheny mountains; nor perhaps
as much so, as in those districts beyond the influence of the sea-breeze,
from some quarter of our broad prairies almost as refreshing as that
from the ocean. We are exempt, too, from the effects of the easterly
winds, so chilling and so annoying along the Atlantic sea-board; but
in lieu of them, we have frequently could blasts from the prairies,
sufficiently annoying to the traveler, when the mercury is at zero…
 …The
larger GAME will, of course, soon disappear from the settlement;
but at present there is a great deal of deer, some bear, and some
buffalo within reach. Turkies, grouse, and ducks will long be abundant;
and of Fish there can never be any scarcity. Every stream is filled
with them; and among them may be found the pike, the pickerel, the
catfish, the trout, and many other varieties. Immense quantities
are taken about the several Rapids, where they may be easily speared…
Online Student Expeditions
- Albert Lea had a fiancé who lived in Baltimore,
Maryland. Compose a letter from Albert M. Lea to his fiancé Miss Ellen
Shoemaker whom he married on May 5, 1836. What might he have told her
about his trip? How might he have described the Iowa prairie?
- Explore History of
the U.S. Postal Service to identify how his letter would have reached
Miss Shoemaker in Baltimore. What did postage stamps of the day look
like?
- Lea mentions several Indian names while describing eastern Iowa in
1835. Go to the American
Memory collection to further explore and investigate the background
information regarding these Indian names: Opanoose(Appanoose), Keokuk,
Mahaska, Ioway.
- Lea was exploring the area in eastern Iowa acquired by the United
States government following the Black
Hawk War of 1832 and the subsequent Black Hawk purchase. Write a
memoir from the perspective of Chief
Black Hawk or another important Indian leader. How would they have
viewed Lea's prairie expedition of 1835 differently from that of Albert
M. Lea?
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Quick
Facts
