VAN BUREN COUNTY REGISTER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 B1

This week marks the 100th anniversary of Iowa’s sec-ond state park, Lacey-Keo-sauqua State Park. Original-ly dedicated on October 27, 1920, Lacey-Keosauqua fol-lowed Backbone by just five months in the state’s fledg-ling state park system. Nes-tled along a bend of the Des Moines River in Van Buren County, the park is a beauti-ful combination of natural surprises and historical find-ings. Here’s a few interesting things to discover at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park:

Human history dates back thousands of years. The park is the site of several sacred Native American burial mounds and other archeolog-ical sites from the Woodland period, dating back 2,500 to 1,000 years. When visiting the park, please be respectful of these areas.

The park is named after a

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park is Iowa’s second to celebrate 100 years

nationally renowned conser-vationist. Originally called Big Bend State Park, it was re-named Lacey-Keosauqua in honor of civil war veteran John F. Lacey. While serving in the U.S. House of Repre-sentatives in the late 1800s, Lacey championed numer-ous landmark conservation laws including the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, the Yellowstone Protective Act of 1894, and the Lacey Act of 1900, which was named after him and is considered a cornerstone of today’s wild-life protection laws.

Lacey-Keosauqua was an important spot on the Mor-mon Trek. The park is home to Ely Ford Crossing, a Des Moines River crossing site for Mormons traveling from Illinois through Iowa on their trek out West during the 1800s. The site is commem-orated with a stone placard.

The regular meeting of the American Legion Aux-iliary Unit #494 of Douds was held October 21, 2020, at the Douds Community Center.

The meeting was called to order by President Sandra Gire at 1:32 p.m. Chaplin Jean Birchmier led us in prayer. Irene Kammerer pre-sented the colors and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Sandra Gire leading us in the preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion Auxiliary. The meeting was convened at 1:36 p.m. with the follow-ing members present: Jean Birchmier, Barb Creath, Sandra Gire, Irene Kam-merer, Judy McDonough and Diane Waugh.

Barb Creath read the min-utes of the August 19, 2020, meeting. There were no ad-ditions or corrections and the minutes were approved as read.

Diane Waugh gave the treasurer’s report which was approved as presented.

The membership report shows 10 have yet to renew their 2021 dues. Our goal is 32. We have 17 paid seniors and two paid juniors.

Sandra Gire passed around a thank you card from Van Buren Elementary teachers and staff for serving them lunch on August 20. We served 23 at the luncheon that day. The teachers look forward to this every year and they really appreciate it.

Volunteer hours were turned into Diane Waugh and the sunshine fund was collected.

Old business: Sandra Gire reported this is her last year as president. No county fall meeting is planned. Linda Rutledge has been quilting our valor quilts and she’s working on two right now.

Diane Waugh gave a re-port on the fall district con-ference at Columbus Junc-tion. They had Girls State cords for $20 for graduation and Girls State pillows for $10, $15, and $20. Our de-partment gets back $25.06 for every hour volunteered, so all should be sure to keep track of their time.

Also, there needs to be a revision in the bylaws.

New business: It was de-cided to mail $400 to Girls State before the Decem-ber 31 deadline. Judy Mc-Donough is looking for a girl to represent our unit at Girls State.

The VA and Iowa City need lap robes. To deliver things to the VA at this point, we need to call vol-unteer services and set up a time to take them. When we get there we need to call and they will come out and get everything.

The Spring District Con-ference will be in Mus-catine, on April 20, 2021.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit #494

The department president’s theme is “100 Years of Ser-vice, Not Self”. The symbol is an angel and the colors are red, blue, and gold.

There will be no Veter-ans Day Program at the el-ementary school this year. Diane Waugh will check and see if milk money for kids at school is needed. It was voted to send $50 to the community club for the use of their building.

Diane Waugh also said that the national vice com-mander will be at the Douds Community Center on No-vember 17, 2020, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. All are invited to stop by for coffee and do-nuts.

Karen Clark has complet-ed the audit of our records. Diane ordered 200 small and 15 large poppies. We will wait and do our poppy distribution next year.

Barb Creath reported that she is giving up the secre-tary’s position and the com-mittee should be actively looking for a replacement.

Upcoming birthdays are Beth Holtkamp, October 26 and Larry Lovedy, Novem-ber 4. Kathleen Humble and Marilyn Smith are on the sick list.

Our next meeting will be January 20, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at the Douds Commu-nity Center.

With no further business to come before the commit-tee, Chaplin Jean Birchmier closed in prayer. Irene Kam-merer retired the flag, and the meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

Secretary Barb Creath

The Civilian Conservation Corp built as many as 46 structures in the park. Sev-eral iconic buildings, bridges and even a 30-acre lake were constructed by the CCC in the 1930s and 1940s, many of which are now on the Na-tional Register of Historic Places. The architecture of the stone-and-wood beach house nods to an earlier time, with stone patios and a steep 147-step staircase leading down to a public beach. The original CCC quarry for the park’s stone structures can still be found within the park along Wesley Creek.

Take a hike on more than 13 miles of trails. While the history of the park is com-pelling, the real star of Lac-ey-Keosauqua is the natural beauty found in its forests and scenic landscapes. More than 1,600 acres can be ex-plored on numerous trails throughout the park. Follow the River Trail along the entire length of the park’s boundary with beautiful views of the Des Moines River. Or check out the park’s small waterfall near the quarry.

Enjoy newly renovated camping amenities. Lacey is home to six cabins and a 65-site modern campground that underwent renova-tions in 2018. Visitors will enjoy new camping pads, full-hook-up sites, upgraded electrical and a renovated shower/restroom building. Campsites, cabins, lodges and shelters are available for reservation at the Lacey-Ke-osauqua reservation site.

Lacey-Keosauqua is a fall color destination not to be missed. The park’s white oak forest, with some trees more than 200 years old, is in the heart of the Villages of Van Buren County, a travel des-tination for fall color enthu-siasts. After exploring the park, visit the nearby villag-es featuring charming shops, restaurants and attractions. The region is known for its annual Scenic Drive Festival every October.

By Sandi Dimmitt, Register Reporter

William Clark was a rich man, but not without competi-tion. His rivals in mining were Marcus Daly and Augustus Heinze. Daly was a self-made man as was William Clark. However, Mr. Heinze was born into wealth. The three were named Montana’s “Cop-per Kings”.

Daly and Clark had a despi-cable relationship. There are several theories about why they more than disliked each other. One theory is that Clark had cut off Daly’s water sup-ply for operating his copper smelter.

The two men, each owning newspapers used them to lash out at each other in an edito-rial way.

Clark engaged in politics in 1884 after serving for a state constitutional convention as president. He was a Democrat and desired lower tariffs. He was chosen in 1888 as Mon-tana’s territorial delegate seat in Congress. Daly quickly be-gan interfering with William’s plans. There was not a secret ballot at that time, so Daly required that his employ-ees vote for the man running against Clark. He went as far as inspecting all of the ballots to make certain everyone had complied by his wishes. Due to Daly’s disruption with the election, Clark lost to the Re-publican candidate Thomas Henry Carter.

Montana had attempted to become a state in 1884 but was rejected. After losing his Senate bid, Clark once again presided over the constitu-tional convention. A deadlock occurred and the Montana legislature was politically divided into Democrats and Republicans. Nothing was accomplished during the first session. Each party sent two men to Congress for them to be sorted out. The Democrats

William Clark-The feudincluding Clark were sent home.

Clark and Daly both ran in 1893 but were unable to ac-quire the support in the legis-lature for a majority. Montana ended up not having a senator that session.

William tried again in 1899 and was appointed to a six-year term. Bribery was brought up by a state senator, Fred Whiteside who showed $30,000 that had been ad-vanced to him and others to vote for Clark. Clark vicious-ly attacked Whiteside saying that Daly and his friends were attempting to undermine his senate appointment.

Clark went to Washington and was seated in the senate. However, those who opposed him filed a petition saying that he had won the election by bribery. They also stated that he had gone far above the $2,000.00 cap that was allowed at that time for cam-paign spending. Although he burned his campaign papers it was declared that he had spent more than $340,000 on trying to gain a senate seat.

On April 10 the committee concluded that Clark should not be able to sit in the senate. Even though Clark delivered his grievances he stated that he knew he did not have the support he needed so he im-mediately resigned.

The senate concluded that Daly had spent $40,000 of his own in lawyer fees and paid more to senate members to

assist in Clark’s prosecution. Even though others were des-ignated to fill the seat it was left empty.

Worth $50 million Clark was believed to be one of the richest men in the nation. He supported the campaigns of many legislators and had the favor of miners for introduc-ing an eight-hour workday. To help even more his long-term rival in mining, business and politics, Marcus Daly passed away in November.

Once again in 1901, the leg-islature appointed Clark to the senate, and he was allowed to be seated. His six years were not filled with major events. He favored construction of a canal in Nicaragua rather than Panama. A policy to allow mining companies to cut tim-ber from federal lands with no reimbursement was supported by Clark. Miners, including Clark, benefited from this policy.

Mark Twain wrote an essay in 1907 about Clark which in part is published here.

“He is as rotten a human being as can be found…he is a shame to the American na-tion, and no one has helped to send him to the senate who did not know that his proper place was the penitentiary, with a ball and chain on his legs.” He added, “By this ex-ample he has so excused and so sweetened corruption that in Montana it no longer has an offensive smell.”

Next-Family

William Clark on his train that began the City of Las Vegas.