Black Hawk Purchase
Encyclopedia
The Black Hawk Purchase, sometimes called the Forty-Mile Strip or Scott's Purchase, was a land acquisition made in what is now Iowa
by the United States federal government. The land, originally owned by the Sauk, Meskwaki
(Fox), and Ho-Chunk
(Winnebago) Native American
people, was acquired by treaty following their defeat by the United States in the Black Hawk War
. The purchase was made for $640,000 on September 21, 1832 and was named for the chief Black Hawk. He was held prisoner at the time the purchase was completed. The Black Hawk Purchase contained an area of some 6 million acres (24,000 km²), and the price was equivalent to 11 cents/acre (26 $/km²).
and the Governor of Illinois
, John Reynolds
, at what is now Davenport, Iowa
, on the west bank of the Mississippi River
. The agreement was ratified February 13, 1833, and officially went into effect on June 1, 1833, when the territory became the first section of what is now Iowa to be opened for settlement by non-Native Americans: United States citizens, or Europeans.
According to The Making of Iowa (1900), "The Black Hawk Purchase extended along the west side of the Mississippi River
from the north boundary of Missouri
north to the Upper Iowa River
. The Upper Iowa River is in the northeast corner of Iowa
, and must not be confounded with the Iowa River
in the southern half of the state. Therefore this tract extended from Missouri
nearly to Minnesota
. It was 50 miles [80 km] wide at the ends, and 40 in the middle."
According to The History of Jefferson County, Iowa (1879), "This was a strip of land on the west bank of the Mississippi River
, the western boundary of which commenced at the southeast corner of the present county of Davis
; thence to a point on Cedar River, near the northeast corner of Johnson County
; thence northwest to the neutral grounds of the Winnebago
es; thence to the Mississippi to a point above Prairie du Chien..." Still another history describes it as extending from the Yellow River
in the north to the Des Moines River
in the south.
Two areas were held back as special awards; one was assigned to the chief Keokuk
and his Sauk people in thanks for their neutrality (later known as Keokuk's Reserve); the other was given to "half-breed
" translator Antoine LeClaire
. (Note: LeClaire's reserve was different from the Half-Breed Tract
, which was designated and set aside west of the Missouri River before the Black Hawk Purchase.)
The land of the purchase was successively governed by the legislatures of the Michigan Territory
, the Wisconsin Territory
, Iowa Territory
and finally Iowa
.
The Black Hawk Purchase was followed by the so-called Second Black Hawk Purchase (1837) and New Purchase (1842).
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
by the United States federal government. The land, originally owned by the Sauk, Meskwaki
Meskwaki
The Meskwaki are a Native American people often known to outsiders as the Fox tribe. They have often been closely linked to the Sauk people. In their own language, the Meskwaki call themselves Meshkwahkihaki, which means "the Red-Earths." Historically their homelands were in the Great Lakes region...
(Fox), and Ho-Chunk
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
(Winnebago) Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
people, was acquired by treaty following their defeat by the United States in the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. The purchase was made for $640,000 on September 21, 1832 and was named for the chief Black Hawk. He was held prisoner at the time the purchase was completed. The Black Hawk Purchase contained an area of some 6 million acres (24,000 km²), and the price was equivalent to 11 cents/acre (26 $/km²).
About
The treaty was made by General Winfield ScottWinfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
and the Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
, John Reynolds
John Reynolds (U.S. politician)
John Reynolds was a United States politician from the state of Illinois. He was one of the original four justices of the Illinois Supreme Court, 1818–1825, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1826–1830, 1846–1848, and 1852–1854 , and the 4th Illinois Governor from 1830–1834...
, at what is now Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, on the west bank of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The agreement was ratified February 13, 1833, and officially went into effect on June 1, 1833, when the territory became the first section of what is now Iowa to be opened for settlement by non-Native Americans: United States citizens, or Europeans.
Description
The land granted was described as follows:- "Beginning on the Mississippi RiverMississippi RiverThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
at a point where the Sac and Fox northern boundary line, as established by the second article of the treaty of Prairie du ChienTreaty of Prairie du ChienThe Treaty of Prairie du Chien may refer to any of several treaties made and signed in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin between the United States, representatives from the Sioux, Sac and Fox, Menominee, Ioway, Winnebago and the Anishinaabeg Native American peoples.-1825:The first treaty of Prairie du...
, July, 1830, strikes said river; thence up said boundary line to a point 50 miles [80 km] from the Mississippi measured on said line; thence in a right line to the nearest point on the Cedar River, of Iowa, 40 miles [60 km] from the Mississippi; thence in a right line to a point in the northern boundary of the State of Missouri, 50 miles [80 km] measured on said boundary from the Mississippi River; thence by the last mentioned boundary to the Mississippi River, and by the western shore of said river to the place of beginning."
According to The Making of Iowa (1900), "The Black Hawk Purchase extended along the west side of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
from the north boundary of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
north to the Upper Iowa River
Upper Iowa River
The Upper Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest of the United States.Its headwaters are in southeastern Minnesota, in Mower County near the border with Iowa. It then flows through the Iowa counties of Howard, Winneshiek, and Allamakee, and finally into the Upper...
. The Upper Iowa River is in the northeast corner of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and must not be confounded with the Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
in the southern half of the state. Therefore this tract extended from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
nearly to Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. It was 50 miles [80 km] wide at the ends, and 40 in the middle."
According to The History of Jefferson County, Iowa (1879), "This was a strip of land on the west bank of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, the western boundary of which commenced at the southeast corner of the present county of Davis
Davis County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,753 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,600 housing units, of which 3,201 were occupied.-2000 census:...
; thence to a point on Cedar River, near the northeast corner of Johnson County
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
; thence northwest to the neutral grounds of the Winnebago
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
es; thence to the Mississippi to a point above Prairie du Chien..." Still another history describes it as extending from the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
in the north to the Des Moines River
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
in the south.
Two areas were held back as special awards; one was assigned to the chief Keokuk
Keokuk
Keokuk may refer to:*Keokuk Places or warships named after Chief Keokuk:*Keokuk, Iowa, USA*Keokuk County, Iowa, USA*Keokuk Airport, USA*Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge, USA*Keokuk Rail Bridge, USA*USS Keokuk, several US Navy ships, including:...
and his Sauk people in thanks for their neutrality (later known as Keokuk's Reserve); the other was given to "half-breed
Half-breed
Half-breed is an historic term used to describe anyone who is mixed Native American and white European parentage...
" translator Antoine LeClaire
Antoine LeClaire
Antoine LeClaire was a US Army interpreter, landowner in Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island County, Illinois, businessman, philanthropist and principal founder of Davenport, Iowa-Early life:...
. (Note: LeClaire's reserve was different from the Half-Breed Tract
Half-Breed Tract
A Half-Breed Tract was a segment of land designated in the western states by the United States government in the 19th century specifically for people of American Indian and European or European-American ancestry, known as mixed bloods. The government set aside such tracts in several U.S...
, which was designated and set aside west of the Missouri River before the Black Hawk Purchase.)
The land of the purchase was successively governed by the legislatures of the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
, the Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
, Iowa Territory
Iowa Territory
The Territory of Iowa was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa.-History:...
and finally Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
The Black Hawk Purchase was followed by the so-called Second Black Hawk Purchase (1837) and New Purchase (1842).
External links
- [ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ia/state/history/andreas/history/399-402.txt A.T. Andreas, Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875: "Indians of Iowa, Black Hawk, The Black Hawk War, The Black Hawk Purchase, Keokuk's Reserve, The Sac and Fox Agency, Indian Treaties"], scanned at Rootsweb
- [ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ia/state/history/andreas/history/402-404.txt A.T. Andreas, Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875: "Territorial Relations, Pike's Expedition, Spanish Grants, The Half-Breed Tract"], scanned at Rootsweb
- "Treaty with the Sauk and Foxes, 1832", Treaty authorizing the Black Hawk Purchase, Digital Library, Oklahoma State University
- "Map of the Black Hawk Purchase"