copal Seminary are flourishing institutions. The city is lighted with gas, is supplied with water, and is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 18,404. Many of the inhabitants are Germans. Dubuque is engaged in a large river trade, and is the shipping point for an extensive grain-growing section. It is connected with St. Paul and St. Louis by regular lines of packets. It is also the great depot for the lead mining region west of the Mississippi. Some of the best mines in the State are either within the corporate limits, or in the immediate vicinity. The annual shipment of lead from Dubuque is in the neighborhood of 10,000,000 pounds. There is railway communication with all parts of the Union.

In 1788, Julien Dubuque, a French trader, built a trading house at this place; but his colony was driven away by the Indians. He instructed the Indians in the manner of working the lead mines. In 1833, the actual permanent settlement of the place began, and, in 1847, it was incorporated as a city. It is one of the most enterprising and prosperous towns in the West, and is growing rapidly.

BURLINGTON,

In Des Moines county, is the third city of the State. It is situated on the right bank of the Mississippi River, 45 miles above Keokuk, 248 miles above St. Louis, and 210 miles southwest of Chicago. It is regularly laid out, and beautifully situated. Part of the city is built on the bluffs, which rise, in some places, 200 feet above the river.

From these heights a magnificent prospect of the broad, clear river, and the beautiful country along its shores, is obtained. The city is well built, the larger number of the houses being of brick or stone. It contains the county buildings, about 13 or 14 churches, several excellent schools, public and private, and several newspaper offices. It is the seat of the Burlington University, conducted by the Baptist Church. It is also actively engaged in manufactures. It is lighted with gas, and is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 15,769.

There is railway communication with Chicago, and all the important points of the State. The river trade is valuable, and is increasing. The country, for sixty miles around Burlington, is sometimes called "the garden of Iowa," and of this fertile region Burlington is the principal market.

Burlington was the home of the famous Indian chief Black Hawk, whose bones lie buried here. It was first settled by the whites in 1833. It was named after Burlington in Vermont, by John Gray, a native of that place, and one of the settlers. In 1836, it was made the capital of Wisconsin Territory. In 1838, when the Territory of Iowa was organized, the seat of government was located at Burlington. In 1839, the capital was removed to Iowa City.

KEOKUK,

in Lee county, is the fourth city of the State. It is situated on the right or western bank of the Mississippi River, at the foot of the Lower Rapids, and just above the mouth of the Des Moines River. From its position in the southeast corner of the State, and its proximity to the great rivers of the State, it has been termed the "Gate City" of Iowa. It is 205 miles above St. Louis, and 136 miles below Davenport.

The city is built on the summit and slopes of a large limestone bluff, around which the river sweeps with a broad curve. The limestone is extensively used in building. The city is regularly laid off, with broad, straight streets, and is substantially built. It contains the county buildings, 10 or 12 churches, the Medical Department of the State University, several public and private schools, and 4 newspaper offices. It is, to a limited extent, engaged in manufactures, flour, iron, and beer being the principal articles. Pork packing is also carried on. The river furnishes excellent water-power. The city is lighted with gas, and is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 12,769.

Keokuk is connected by railway with the principal points of the State and Union. It conducts a large trade along the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers. The Lower Rapids of the Mississippi begin here. They are 12 miles in extent. During this distance, the river falls 24 feet over a rocky bed of limestone, making it difficult for large steamers to pass the rapids. In consequence of this, the cargoes of the larger boats are transferred at Keokuk to other conveyances, and thus a large business is thrown into the hands of the city.

The city derives its name from Keokuk (the Watchful Fox), the famous Sac chieftain, who was distinguished for his friendship for the whites during the Black Hawk War. He was one of the most remarkable Indians mentioned in our history. The town was laid out in 1837. Ten years later, it had a population of 620 inhabitants. After the year 1849, however, a change for the better took place, and Keokuk began to grow with great rapidity.

MISCELLANY.

FRONTIER JUSTICE.

In the year 1836, was organized a band of horse-thieves, counterfeiters, and highway robbers, having their headquarters near Elk Heart, Michigan, and extending their ramifications in all directions from that point many hundred miles. The Rock River Valley, Illinois, and the settled portions of what is now Iowa, were the chief points of their operations, although the band extended through Kentucky, Missouri, and even to the Cherokee Nation.

Their organization was complete. They had their passwords, and other means of recognition. No great master spirit controlled the whole organization, as is usually the case in criminal associations of that nature. The leaders were those whose education rendered them superior to the instincts of the half savage settlers with whom they were associated.

Their method of doing business, and escaping detection, was as follows: B.'s band, in Iowa, would "spot" certain horses and other "plunder," and arrange to make a foray on some particular night. A., in Missouri, having obtained the knowledge of this, would start his band on a marauding expedition the same night. But those who were to do the plundering would make a feint to go north or south on a trading expedition, a day or two before the time fixed upon, and, returning at night, would be carefully concealed until the proper time, when they would sally forth on the expedition in earnest. The two bands then meeting half way, would exchange the stolen property, and returning, dispose of the plunder, perhaps to the very persons whom they had robbed a few nights before.

Those of the band who were merely accomplices, were careful to be visiting some honest neighbor on the night of the robbery, and thus avert suspicion from themselves. By this means, it will be seen that detection was almost impossible, and suspicion unlikely to rest upon the real perpetrators.

The then frontier village of Bellevue was a central point on this route, and

also the headquarters of one of the most numerous and powerful of the bands. Its leader, William Brown, was a man remarkable in many respects. He came to Bellevue in the spring of 1836, and soon after brought out his family and opened a public house, which was destined to become famous in the village history. Brown, physically, was a powerful man, and in education superior to those around him. He possessed a pleasant, kindly address, and was scrupulously honest in his every day's dealings with his neighbors. It is said that none who reposed confidence in him in a business transaction ever regretted it. He was ably seconded by his wife, a woman of about 24 years of age, and of more than ordinary natural capacity. They had but one child, a little girl of some 4 years of age. Ever ready to assist the destitute, the foremost in public improvements, this family soon became idolized by the rude population of that early day, so that nothing but positive proof finally fastened suspicions of dishonesty upon them. Having, by his wiles, seduced a larger part of the young men into his band, and being daily reinforced from other quarters, Brown became more bold in his operations, then threw off the mask, and openly boasted of his power and the inability of the authorities to crush him out. It was no idle boast. Fully twothirds of the able bodied men in the settlement were leagued with him. He never participated in passing counterfeit money, stealing horses, etc., but simply planned.

Any man who incurred the enmity of the "gang," was very certain to wake some morning and find his crops destroyed, his horses stolen, and the marks of his cattle having been slaughtered in his own yard; in all probability the hindquarters of his favorite ox would be offered for sale at his own door a few hours thereafter. If one of his gang was arrested, Brown stood ready to defend him, with an argument not now always attainable by the legal profession-he could, at a moment's notice, prove an alibi. Thus matters went on, until it became apparent to the honest portion of the community that the crisis had arrived.

As an instance of the boldness which they evinced, now the band had become so powerful, we give an incident of the stealing of a plow from a steamboat. In the spring of 1839, a steamboat landed at Bellevue to wood; the boat was crowded with passengers, and the hurricane deck covered with plows. It being a pleasant day, the citizens, old and young, according to custom, had sallied forth to the river-side, as the landing of a steamboat was then by no means a daily occurrence. The writer of this, standing near Brown, heard him remark to a man named Hapgood, and in the presence of numerous citizens, "that as he (Hapgood) had long wanted to join Brown's party, if he would steal one of those plows, and thus prove his qualifications, he should be admitted to full fellowship." Hapgood agreed to make the trial, and thereupon, to our surprise, as we had supposed the conversation to be merely in jest, he went upon the hurricane deck, and, in the presence of the captain, passengers, and citizens on shore, shouldered a plow and marched off the boat and up the levee. When on the boat, Hapgood conversed with the captain for a few minutes, and the captain pointed out to him which plow to take. In a few moments the boat was gone, and Hapgood boasted of the theft. It was supposed that he had bought the plow and paid the captain for it, but the next day, when the boat returned, there was great and anxious inquiry, by the captain, "for the man that took that plow," but he had disappeared, and remained out of sight until the boat was gone. About the same time, another bold robbery occurred near Bellevue, the incidents of which so well illustrate the character of these ruffians, that we cannot forbear recounting them.

One Collins, a farmer, living about 8 miles from town, came in one day and sold Brown a yoke of cattle for $80. Being a poor judge of money, and knowing Brown's character well, he refused to take anything in payment but specie. On his return home that evening, he placed his money in his chest. About midnight, his house was broken open by two men, upon which he sprang from his bed, but was immediately knocked down. His wife, coming to his rescue, was also knocked down, and both were threatened with instant death if any more disturbance was made. The robbers then possessed themselves of Collins' money and watch, and departed. In the morning, he made complaint before a justice of the peace, accusing two men in the employment of Brown with the crime. They were arrested and examined. On the trial, Collins and his wife swore positively to the men, and also identified a watch found with them as the one taken. In their possession was found $80 in gold, the exact amount stolen. A farmer living near Collins, testified that about 11 o'clock, on the night of the robbery, the accused stopped at his house and inquired the way to Collins'. Here the prosecution closed their evidence, and the defence called three witnesses to the stand, among whom was Fox, afterward noted as the murderer of Colonel Davenport, all of whom swore positively that, on the night of the robbery, they and the accused played cards from dark till daylight, in Brown's house, 8 miles from the scene of the robbery. In the face of the overwhelming testimony adduced by the State, the defendants were discharged.

Another laughable instance, displaying the shrewdness and villainy of these fellows, occurred early in the spring of 1838. Godfrey (one of the robbers of Collins) came into town with a fine span of matched horses, with halter ropes around their necks. From the known character of their possessor, the sheriff thought best to take the horses into his custody. Brown's gang remonstrated against the proceedings, but to no effect. Subsequently a writ of replevin was procured, and the horses demanded-the sheriff refused to give them up. A general row ensued. The citizens, being the stronger party at that time, sustained the sheriff, and he maintained the dignity of his office. Handbills, describing the horses accurately, were then sent around the county. A few days afterward, a stranger appeared in town, anxiously inquiring for the sheriff, and, upon meeting him, he announced his business to be the recovery of a fine span of horses, which had been stolen from him a short time before, and then so accurately described those detained by the sheriff, that the latter informed him that he then had them in his stable. Upon examining them, the man was gratified to find that they were his; turning to the crowd, he offered $25 to any one who would produce Godfrey, remarking, that if he met him, he would wreak his vengeance upon him in a summary manner, without the intervention of a jury. Godfrey was not, however, to be found, and the horses were delivered to the stranger.

Imagine the consternation of the sheriff, when, two days later, the true owner of the horses appeared in search of them. The other was an accomplice of Godfrey, and they had taken that method of securing their booty. Similar incidents could be detailed to fill pages, for they were of continual occurrence.

On the 20th of March, 1840, the citizens of Bellevue, not implicated in the plans of the horse-thieves and counterfeiters, held a meeting to consider the wrongs of the community. But one opinion was advanced, that the depredators must leave the place, or summary vengeance would be inflicted upon them all. It was resolved that a warrant should be procured for the arrest of the whole