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Decorah History
George W. Kingsley makes the following statements:
"There was a White Snake also, but he was not a chief, although a very prominent
Indian. He died in Houston county, Minnesota, about the time the Decorahs lived
in Iowa, his remains were left in a sitting position on the point of a hill
about one mile north of the village of Houston. White Snake lost a part of his
family in a massacre on the Wapsipinicon river, Iowa, a few years after the
Black Hawk war while on an elk hunt, by a band of Sauk and Fox Indians by
mistake. White Snake was part Sauk."
The speech referred to and partly quoted in W. E. Alexander's History of
Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 1882, and credited to Waukon Decorah, is
obviously connected with this incident. Evidently the speech was made by White
Snake. He complained that his tribe had been firm friends of the whites, had
aided them in the Black Hawk war, and because of this had incurred the enmity of
the Sauks and Foxes, who first struck at his own family. He desired some token
of remembrance for his services.
It is claimed by Alexander27
that, "The name `Wachon Decorah' is found translated in some places as the
`White Crow' ; this is an error. There was a White Crow whose Indian name was
Wa-haw-ska-kaw, also given as Kau-kich-ka-ka. He was a prominent Winnebago civil
chief and orator and died about the year 1834 in Wisconsin, and was buried
there. Spoon Decorah, a son of Old Gray-headed Decorah, stated that White Crow
was a one-eyed chief.
Waa-Kaun_See_Kaa
Eliphalet Price took the census of 1850 and is credited by the Day family (who
were some of the first white settlers in Winneshiek county) with suggesting
Decorah as a very proper name for the town site that they had in mind to plat.28
In the act of organizing the county (1851) Decorah is herein first named, two
and a half years before the town plat was recorded. The district represented by
Hon. Eliphalet Price consisted of Clayton, Fayette, Allamakee, and Winneshiek
counties. John Day made the remark29
that Decorah "was a small Indian about five feet in height."
Mr. Price and Mr. Day were probably mislead in their identification of this
chief, as there were other Winnebagoes whose names began with Waukon.
Apparently, they were familiar with the name Waukon Decorah, and had this in
mind when it came to selecting a name for the new town. Mr. Price in his article
relates that, "Soon after the removal of the Winnebagoes from the Wisconsin to
the Neutral Ground in Iowa, Decorah and his band took up their residence on the
Iowa river near the present site of the town that bears his name, in the county
of Winneshiek." Antoine Grignon states: "Wakunha-ga [Waukon Decorah] was camped
on the Iowa river [Upper Iowa] when I knew him. He did not remain in that
section long." Mr. Saunders says, "Wakun-ha-ga, and his band, also had a village
at or near Waukon, Ia., where they went in the summer, and raised corn and
squash, and picked berries for winter use."
In a statement made by Col. C. A. Clark in "Annals of Iowa," 1903, he remarks
that, "The name of the city of Decorah evidently comes from Little Decorah."
This is very improbable, as there is nothing which corroborates it. Old Waukon
lived a generation or two before Little Decorah, and was a distinguished chief,
while it appears that the latter was of lesser note.
It is evident, therefore, that our county seat is named in honor of the
venerable Waukon Decorah. Alexander state, "Our neighboring town of Waukon
gained its name from the first half." Oliver Lamere confirms this in the
following account: "Waukon and Waukon junction have derived their names from
Waukon Decorah. A very prominent chief lived at the time the Winnebagoes were
there [Iowa] called `Ah-la-me-ga.' It is thought that the name Allamakee is
taken from him, and therefore it is a Winnebago name."
Waukon Decorah was noted for his large and imposing stature and is said to have
been a fine-looking man. Col. Brisbois of Prairie du Chien, who knew him well,
speaks particularly of his stature. Antoine Grignon states that, "he was a large
man over six feet tall and very powerful;" he further states, "Mr. Price is
mistaken, Waukon Decorah was not blind." He is said to have had a family of
several children while here in Iowa, but the number is not known. Wakun-ha-ga
was a member of the Snake clan and belonged to the Lower phratry. It is said
that his sons had eagle clan names and claimed to be of the eagle clan.
What are said to be the remains of Waukon Decorah, which have been twice
re-interred, now repose in the Court House Square, near the northeast corner.
These are, however, the bones of some other Indian. The first grave supposed to
be that of Decorah was on ground now occupied by Winnebago street, just below
Main, almost at their intersection. The opening of the street to travel made it
desirable that the remains be removed to another spot. This was done by a formal
meeting of prominent citizens August 4, 1859. When the grave was opened the
remains were found to consist of human bones, a blanket, a tomahawk, a pipe, and
a great number of beads. These were taken out and buried under Ellsworth and
Landers' store, the place now occupied by John C. Hexom & Son, where they
remained for about six months. When the stone wall in front of the Court House
was completed, the remains were re-entered. They were placed in the Court House
Square, where they lay undisturbed for about seventeen years. But the grading
and terracing of these grounds and the building of the new stone wall compelled
another re-interrment in the summer of 1876. The bones were taken out and placed
in a box to be buried again inside the new stone wall.
Footnotes:
27 In his History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties.
28 From a paper prepared by A. K. Bailey for deposit in the
corner stone of the new Court House.
29 In Alexander's History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties.
Notes About the Book:
Source: History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties Iowa, by W. E. Alexander,
Sioux City, Iowa, Western Publishing company, 1882
Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing
has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual
output.
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