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Iowa,

A State of the north-central United States, separated on the east by the Mississippi River from Wisconsin and Illinois. Minnesota bounds it on the north, South Dakota and Nebraska on the west —the Missouri River forming the boundary-line of the latter State—and Missouri on the south. It is limited in lat. by 40° 36′ to 43° 30′ N., and in long. by 89° 5′ to 96° 31′ W. Area, 56,025 square miles in ninety-nine counties. Population, 1890, 1,911,896; 1900, 2,231,853. Capital, Des Moines.

Father Marquette and Louis Joliet descend the Wisconsin River, reaching its mouth June 17, 1673; 100 miles below, on the western shore of the Mississippi, they discover an Indian trail, which they follow to an Indian village, where Marquette “publishes to them the one true God” ......June, 1673

Father Louis Hennepin, M. Dugay, and [334] six other Frenchmen ascend the Mississippi from the mouth of the Illinois to the falls of St. Anthony, leaving Fort Crevecoeur, Ill......Feb. 28, 1680

Wife of Peosta, a Fox warrior, discovers lead in Iowa, on the west bank of the Mississippi......1780

At a council at Prairie du Chien, Julien Dubuque, a French-Canadian trader, obtains from Indians permission to work lead-mines at the place now bearing his name and a grant of 140,000 acres of land......1788

Land grant to Julien Dubuque by Indians is confirmed by Baron Carondelet, and a King's title issued......1796

Lands on both sides of the Mississippi, including a large part of Iowa, ceded to United States by Sac and Fox Indians, by treaty at St. Louis......Nov. 3, 1804

Territory of Louisiana, including Iowa, framed by law of......March 3, 1805

Iowa included in Territory of Missouri, erected by act......June 4, 1812

Fort Madison, built in 1808, on the site selected by Lieutenant Pike in 1805, is abandoned by the garrison and burned to prevent its falling into the hands of Indians and British......1813

Sioux annihilate Sac and Fox tribes near Dubuque; whites occupy deserted villages, but are driven out by United States troops under Lieut. Jefferson Davis, by order of Col. Zachary Taylor......1830

David Tothers makes the first settlement in Des Moines county, 3 miles southwest from the site of Burlington......1832

Treaty at Rock Island; the Sacs and Foxes cede to the United States Iowa and a part of Wisconsin, known as the Black Hawk purchase, reserving 40 miles square to Keokuk......Sept. 21, 1832

Zachariah Hawkins, Benjamin Jennings, and others settle a colony at Fort Madison......1832

First permanent settlement in Scott county by Antoine le Claire......1833

Dubuque founded......1833

Iowa included in Territory of Michigan, erected by act approved......June 28, 1834

Aaron Street founds Salem, first Quaker settlement in Iowa......1834

Iowa included in Territory of Wisconsin, erected by act approved. April 20, 1836

Treaty at East Davenport between Governor Dodge, United States commissioner, and the Sacs and Foxes; Indians sell to United States the Keokuk reserve, 256,000 acres, at 75 cents per acre......September, 1836

Burlington, settled in 1833, is incorporated......1837

Treaty with the Sacs and Foxes extends the western boundary of the Black Hawk purchase in lat. 45° 40′ to include the principal sources of the Iowa River......Oct. 21, 1837

Territory of Iowa erected, including all Wisconsin west of the Mississippi......June 12, 1838

Territorial government inaugurated at Burlington......July 4, 1838

Black Hawk, who had settled on the Des Moines River, dies......Oct. 3, 1838

Seat of government removed to Iowa City......1839

Boundary disputes between Missouri and Iowa cause fighting on the border; one Iowan is killed in resisting the Missouri sheriff's collection of taxes......1839

Constitution adopted by a convention which meets at Iowa City Oct. 7, 1844......Nov. 1, 1844

Enabling act for Iowa approved......March 3, 1845

Boundary defined in the enabling act rejected by the people; 7,235 for, and 7,656 against......1845

Mormons remove from Nauvoo, Ill., and settle at Council Bluffs......1846

Constitution framed by a convention which meets at Iowa City May 4, completing its labors May 19, 1846, is ratified by a vote of the people, 9,492 to 9,036......Aug. 3, 1846

Act of Congress, fixing boundaries for Iowa, referring the Missouri boundary to the Supreme Court......Aug. 4. 1846

Iowa admitted into the Union by act approved......Dec. 28. 1846

Antoine le Claire breaks ground at Davenport for the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad, now the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific......Sept. 1, 1853

Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant chartered and opened......1855

Corner-stone of the first railroad bridge over the Mississippi River, between Rock Island and Davenport, lard Sept. 1. 1854; and first locomotive, the “Des Moines,” to cross the Mississippi passes over......April 21, 1856 [335]

Massacre of white settlers at Spirit Lake by a predatory band of Indians under the Sioux chief Ink-pa-duta......March, 1857

Constitutional convention meets at Iowa City Jan. 19, 1857, completes its labors March 6, 1857; constitution ratified by the people, 40,311 to 38,681.Aug. 3, 1857

State capital removed to Des Moines......1857

State University of Iowa at Iowa City, chartered 1847, opened, Silas Totten president......1860

Legislature votes a war loan of $600,000......June, 1861

Upper Iowa University at Fayette, opened 1857, chartered......1862

James Harlan appointed Secretary of the Interior......May 15, 1865

Legislature ratifies Thirteenth Amendment to Constitution......January, 1866

Legislature ratifies Fourteenth Amendment to Constitution......April 3, 1868

An amendment to the State constitution, striking out the word “white” from the qualifications of electors, is adopted by a vote of the people, 105,384 to 81,119......1868

State board of immigration created by act of legislature......1869

Iowa Agricultural College at Ames, chartered 1857, opened......1869

William W. Belknap appointed Secretary of War......Oct. 25, 1869

Legislature ratifies Fifteenth Amendment to Constitution......Feb. 3, 1870

Corner-stone of new capitol laid......Nov. 22, 1871

Law passed restricting sale of liquors and limiting licensees' profit to 33 per cent......1872

Act passed abolishing penalty of death......1872

State convention of Patrons of Husbandry at Des Moines......January, 1873

Governor Kirkwood, elected United States Senator, resigns, and is succeeded by Joshua G. Newbold......January, 1876

Geo. W. McCrary appointed Secretary of War......March 12, 1877

Canal around Des Moines Rapids at Keokuk, 7 12/ miles long, and costing $4,500,000, is formally opened......August, 1877

Bill abolishing capital punishment repealed, and the jury empowered to hang convicted murderers, or imprison for life......1878

State board of health organized......1880

Drake University at Des Moines opened and chartered......1881

Prohibitory liquor law goes into effect......July 4, 1884

State capitol dedicated; cost $3,000,000......1884

Frank Hatton appointed Postmaster-General......Oct. 14, 1884

Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown opened......Nov. 30, 1884

Lower house of legislature assembles, Jan. 13, 1890, having two factions, the Republicans with fifty votes, and the combined Democratic, Union Labor, and Independent with fifty votes; no organization until Jan. 27; by compromise, a Democratic temporary speaker and a Republican clerk are elected; permanent organization with a Democratic speaker and Republican clerk, minor offices divided......Feb. 19, 1890

Horace Boies, Democrat, inaugurated as governor......Feb. 27, 1890

Legal rate of interest reduced from 10 to 8 per cent., and the first Monday in September (Labor Day) made a public holiday......1890

Beer sent in sealed kegs from Peoria, Ill., to Keokuk, Ia., and there sold in “original packages” by agents, being seized under the prohibitory laws of the State, the Supreme Court decides such seizure was in violation of the clause of the Constitution giving to the United States the exclusive right to regulate inter-State commerce......April 28, .1890

Wilson “original package bill,” as amended, making all intoxicating liquors imported into a State subject to its laws, passes Congress and is approved......Aug. 8, 1890

Legislature passes an Australian ballot reform act......1892

Cyclone in the northwest part of the State, Pomeroy destroyed, 900 persons homeless......July 6, 1893

Medical practice act declared constitutional......1893

Torpedo-boat Ericsson launched at Duquesne......May 12. 1894

[This was the first war-ship built on inland waters.] [336]

Memorial (soldiers and sailors) Military College at Mason City, established......1900

[$2,000,000 has been subscribed.] State library commission created......1900 Amendment for a constitutional convention defeated......November, 1900

Kansas

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Iowa (Iowa, United States) (14)
United States (United States) (7)
Iowa City (Iowa, United States) (5)
Wisconsin (Wisconsin, United States) (4)
Des Moines (Iowa, United States) (4)
Rock Island, Ill. (Illinois, United States) (3)
Keokuk, Iowa (Iowa, United States) (3)
Burlington (New Jersey, United States) (3)
Missouri (United States) (2)
Missouri (Missouri, United States) (2)
Mississippi (United States) (2)
Fort Madison (Iowa, United States) (2)
Dubuque (Iowa, United States) (2)
Des Moines River (United States) (2)
Wisconsin (Wisconsin, United States) (1)
South Dakota (South Dakota, United States) (1)
Sioux City (Iowa, United States) (1)
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Nebraska (Nebraska, United States) (1)
Nauvoo (Illinois, United States) (1)
Mount Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa (Iowa, United States) (1)
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Fayette (Iowa, United States) (1)
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