Page 45 - DesMoinesRiver

a branch of Coxey’s Army. These were unemployed veterans of the Civil
War who traveled to Washington D.C. in the 1890s to protest their unem-
ployment and the lack of government support. The men were considered
rowdy and were not allowed to get off the boats at Keosauqua, so local
merchants supplied them food which they delivered to the boats (Ander-
son 2004:17).

Pearson House

This fine brick house was built by Benjamin Franklin Pearson between 1845
and 1847. Pearson (1815–1883) was a master stone mason from Maryland
who came to Iowa about 1835, shortly after the first land was open to
settlement. He lived for a time near Pittsburg and in Eldon, before settling
in Keosauqua. Pearson was a devout Methodist and opened the second
floor of his house for community church services. He was also a staunch
abolitionist, and his home became a station on the Underground Railroad
of the 1850s. Runaway slaves were hidden in a safe room under the floor
entered through a trap door (Woodruff 1978:3).

Ely Ford Franklin Pearson House, Keosauqua, Iowa from Woodruff 1978.

Not far from the town of Keosauqua, on the edge of Lacey-Keosauqua
State Park, is Ely Ford. This river crossing was named for John Ely, an
early settler in the area who built a cabin at this location in the 1830s.
This stretch of the Des Moines River runs over bedrock and can be easily
forded in low water conditions. Contrary to some local lore, this ford was
apparently not a major crossing point for the Mormons on their trek to
Salt Lake City. The Mormon trail went straight west from the Sugar Creek
Camp to Farmington rather than following the river around the big bend.
The trail crossed the river near Bonaparte (Garvin 2004:26–27). Ely Ford
was, however, well used by local travelers and others moving westward.
Ely Ford lies just north of the confluence of Ely Creek, Duckworth Creek,
and the Des Moines River. Duckworth Creek is named for the Duckworth
Sawmill located on the creek.

Des Moines River at Ely Ford, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. Photographed by John Wenck. 45
The University of Iowa Off ice of the State Archaeologist