Early Indian Feast In Union Township

The following reminiscences were written by C. A. Rownd, of Cedar Falls:

    "When the earliest settlers came to Black Hawk County, they found the northwestern part, consisting of what is now Union Township and a part of Washington Township, a favored resort of the Indians. No other section of the country supplied such attractions that suited the taste of the adventurer or Indian as this particular locality. The three rivers, the Cedar, the West Fork and the Shell Rock, coming together at this point, with the Beaver Creek a short distance below, together with the lakes, ponds and marshes, and groves that were located all over Union Township, made it an ideal breeding place for all kinds of wild game suited to this climate. Deer, wild turkey, and occasionally bear inhabited this timber, while the lakes, ponds and marshes supplied the hunter with an abundance of aquatic fowl. There being no dams on the river, the streams were well stocked with fish. The Indians, long before the advent of the white settlers, made yearly pilgrimages to this section on account of its attractions.

    "Mr. James Newell, the earliest settler in that section, was a great favorite with the Indians, being of large stature, a man of considerable ability, possessed naturally with many winning ways, always treating the Indians kindly and joining with them in their hunting and sports. They soon not only recognized him as a friend, but went to him for counsel and advice. If there was any difference of opinion among them, which often happened, Mr. Newell was selected to settle the dispute. His decision was final and always seemed to be satisfactory. During their annual gatherings, sports and feasts, Newell invariable joined them and was always a welcome visitor.

    "Isaac Barrick, another settler who built his cabin where the Town of Janesville now stands, accompanied his friend Newell to one of these feasts, a day looked forward to by the Indians as the crowning event of the year. Barrick noticed that one section of the spread seemed to get more abundant supplies than the others, but supposed it was prepared for the chief, but soon learned that it was intended for himself and Newell. Barrick hesitated, making all sorts of excuses, fearing that it was not clean, but after being assured by Newell that it was all right, who said he had eaten with them a great number of times and lived through it and besides the Indians would take it as an insult, Barrick reluctantly consented to joining in the feast. There were two dishes set before them which Barrick thought to be very good. These were the meat and the hominy. Barrick said: 'I tell you, Newell, these squaws can give our white women some ideas about preparing these two dishes.’ The hominy was what was known as lye hominy, prepared the same as we prepare it except after it had boiled a sufficient time in strong lye made from wood ashes, to loosen the hulls, the squaws waded out into the water where there was an unlimited supply and washed it until all of the lye was removed.

    "Barrick was also profuse in expressing his opinion in regard to the extra good quality of the meat, which he ate for young deer. He said he had never before eaten such tender and juicy meat, that his teeth went through it like chewing cheese. In order to put his appreciation of it on exhibition he filled himself up until ‘too full for utterance.’

    "After dinner, in strolling around the camp, Barrick and Newell ran across a pile of refuse, consisting of what seemed to be the heads and feet of a large number of white dogs. Barrick inquired in amazement: ‘What in time does all this mean?’

    " 'It means,’ answered Newell, ‘that these are the parts of the dogs that were discarded at the feast.’

    "’Why, you don’t pretend to say that the meat we ate for dinner was dog meat, do you?’

    "’It undoubtedly was,’ Newell informed Barrick. ‘There is nothing that the Indians prize so highly or would receive the least consideration as a substitute at their annual feasts for the flesh of the white dog. They are bred and raised for these occasions. What we ate for dinner was no doubt the choice young ones.’

    "That was too much for Barrick. His stomach began to nauseate and he soon parted with his dog and hominy. He used to say that from that time on he never could look a dog squarely in the face and always had perfect abhorrence for white dogs.

    "James Newell came to Union Township in 1845."