William Abbe
Encyclopedia
William Abbe was an Iowa state senator
and is believed to have been the first white settler in Linn County, Iowa
. Originally from Ohio
, he traveled west in search of land in 1836. Little is known about Abbe until this time. Abbe Creek, on which he established his homestead, still bears his name today. A one-room school house was established on the homestead site in 1856 and still stands today bearing the name of Abbe Creek School
. He died in 1854 in California and was buried in Sacramento
.
, in the summer of 1836. He followed the Red Cedar River to the site of the present town of Mt. Vernon, Iowa and staked a claim of 400 acres (1.6 km²) on what is now known as Abbe Creek.
He returned to his home in Lorain County, Ohio
, to collect his family and they returned to Iowa in the winter of 1837. The Abbe family crossed the Mississippi River
on the ice near Davenport
in February to avoid the high tariff charged by Col. Davenport and other river ferrymen. Ferry charges were as high as $25 for a man and his horse. Abbe reached his staked claim in April and immediately cleared the land around the creek with a team of oxen and a breaking plow to cut the prairie sod. Then, Abbe built a floorless cabin 12 by 14 feet (4.3 m). He covered the cabin with birch bark. Later that fall he built a large double log house with three rooms and an upstairs sleeping loft reached by an inside ladder.
Two years after Abbe and his wife, Olive, homesteaded the land, Olive died. She was buried in an unmarked grave near their farm. This area later became Sugar Grove cemetery. In 1840 Abbe married Mary Wolcott.
In 1838 Abbe sent two other early settlers, Robert Ellis and Philip Hull, to Muscatine for provisions with his last $15. Muscatine, Davenport and Rockingham
were the closest trading posts and provisions were expensive.
The first two years Abbe hunted and traded with the Indians and spoke the Winnebago
language. Later he acted as interpreter for them in dealings with white settlers and trappers. Abbe's children also played with the Winnebagos and spoke the language as well as the Indians.
William Abbe's cabin was a popular gathering place for the settlers and immigrants of early Linn County
. It was the major stop between Iowa City and Dubuque
on the old Military Road. Strangers could always find a good meal and a place to stay with William and Mary Abbe. Mrs. Abbe was known for her good cooking and many people would travel out of their way to stop at their cabin. Their daughter, Susan Abbe, became the first teacher in Cedar Rapids. Telling of their pioneer life, she recalled: "Of course we had men come in such as horse thieves, and my father had some of them chained up in one of our rooms for safekeeping until they could be tried, as there was no jail for some time in Linn County."
and served as state senator representing Cedar, Linn and Jones counties in the 7th and 8th legislatures of Iowa City. He was a Justice of the Peace
and later served a short time as sheriff of the county. He helped build the first jail in Marion
.
Abbe also held the government contracts for the delivery of meat and provisions to the Winnebago Agency at Fort Atkinson
and to the troops at Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin. For many years, he was the only person in the county who had a ready supply of money and he loaned it freely to his friends for them to purchase claims.
was discovered in California
, Abbe left his family in 1849 for the gold fields where he was a land speculator and teamster
. He came back to Iowa in 1851, but left again for California with his son the next year. In 1854, before he could return to Iowa to bring his family to California, Abbe died at age 54. He was buried in Sacramento
. His widow, Mary, continued to live in Marion until her death in 1861.
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
and is believed to have been the first white settler in Linn County, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. Originally from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he traveled west in search of land in 1836. Little is known about Abbe until this time. Abbe Creek, on which he established his homestead, still bears his name today. A one-room school house was established on the homestead site in 1856 and still stands today bearing the name of Abbe Creek School
Abbe Creek School
The historic Abbe Creek School is a one-room schoolhouse museum located one mile west of Mt. Vernon, Iowa on E48. It is believed to be the oldest standing one room brick schoolhouse in Iowa...
. He died in 1854 in California and was buried in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
.
Settlement and homesteading
Abbe came to eastern Iowa by way of Rock Island, IllinoisRock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, in the summer of 1836. He followed the Red Cedar River to the site of the present town of Mt. Vernon, Iowa and staked a claim of 400 acres (1.6 km²) on what is now known as Abbe Creek.
He returned to his home in Lorain County, Ohio
Lorain County, Ohio
Lorain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio, and is considered to be a part of what is locally referred to as Greater Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, its population was 301,356. an increase from 284,664 in 2000...
, to collect his family and they returned to Iowa in the winter of 1837. The Abbe family crossed 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...
on the ice near Davenport
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...
in February to avoid the high tariff charged by Col. Davenport and other river ferrymen. Ferry charges were as high as $25 for a man and his horse. Abbe reached his staked claim in April and immediately cleared the land around the creek with a team of oxen and a breaking plow to cut the prairie sod. Then, Abbe built a floorless cabin 12 by 14 feet (4.3 m). He covered the cabin with birch bark. Later that fall he built a large double log house with three rooms and an upstairs sleeping loft reached by an inside ladder.
Two years after Abbe and his wife, Olive, homesteaded the land, Olive died. She was buried in an unmarked grave near their farm. This area later became Sugar Grove cemetery. In 1840 Abbe married Mary Wolcott.
In 1838 Abbe sent two other early settlers, Robert Ellis and Philip Hull, to Muscatine for provisions with his last $15. Muscatine, Davenport and Rockingham
Rockingham
-People:* Marquess of Rockingham, a British title of nobility whose holders included:** Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, who was the eighth Prime Minister of the United Kingdom* Cllr...
were the closest trading posts and provisions were expensive.
The first two years Abbe hunted and traded with the Indians and spoke 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....
language. Later he acted as interpreter for them in dealings with white settlers and trappers. Abbe's children also played with the Winnebagos and spoke the language as well as the Indians.
Social life
Physically, Abbe was a big man who stood more than six feet tall. He was slender and stood straight as an arrow. According to his son, "I never saw a horse he could not mount and ride anytime without the least effort." He was very active and often walked 50 miles (80.5 km) in one day through the unbroken prairies and forests.William Abbe's cabin was a popular gathering place for the settlers and immigrants of early Linn County
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. It was the major stop between Iowa City and Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
on the old Military Road. Strangers could always find a good meal and a place to stay with William and Mary Abbe. Mrs. Abbe was known for her good cooking and many people would travel out of their way to stop at their cabin. Their daughter, Susan Abbe, became the first teacher in Cedar Rapids. Telling of their pioneer life, she recalled: "Of course we had men come in such as horse thieves, and my father had some of them chained up in one of our rooms for safekeeping until they could be tried, as there was no jail for some time in Linn County."
Politics
Abbe was one of the best known and educated men in the county. He was an old time DemocratIowa Democratic Party
The Iowa Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Iowa.-Current elected officials:Iowa Democrats are in control of the Iowa Senate, one of the state's United States Senate seats, and three out of the state's five United States House of Representatives seats. ...
and served as state senator representing Cedar, Linn and Jones counties in the 7th and 8th legislatures of Iowa City. He was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and later served a short time as sheriff of the county. He helped build the first jail in Marion
Marion
-People:Surname*Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox", American Revolutionary War general*J. Paul Marion, Canadian politician*Jean-Luc Marion, a continental philosopher*Marty Marion, American baseball player, nicknamed "Mr...
.
Abbe also held the government contracts for the delivery of meat and provisions to the Winnebago Agency at Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson is the name of several locations in the United States:*Fort Atkinson, Iowa, a town named after General Atkinson*Fort Atkinson State Preserve, 1840s U.S. Army post in Fort Atkinson, Iowa*Fort Atkinson , 1820s U.S. Army post...
and to the troops at Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin. For many years, he was the only person in the county who had a ready supply of money and he loaned it freely to his friends for them to purchase claims.
Goldrush
When goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
was discovered in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Abbe left his family in 1849 for the gold fields where he was a land speculator and teamster
Teamster
A teamster, in modern American English, is a truck driver. The trade union named after them is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , one of the largest unions in the United States....
. He came back to Iowa in 1851, but left again for California with his son the next year. In 1854, before he could return to Iowa to bring his family to California, Abbe died at age 54. He was buried in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
. His widow, Mary, continued to live in Marion until her death in 1861.