The Wolf River Crossing
Before reaching the Iowa, Sac and Fox Mission wagon trains crossed the Wolf River. Travelers often encountered members of local Indian nations. Native Americans thought that some payment should be made to them for the use of their land. Travelers used wood and let their animals graze on native grass.
Crossing rivers and streams was hazardous. In some places Native Americans operated ferries or built bridges. A toll bridge was operated by Iowas on the Wolf River. Being asked to pay a toll made some travelers angry.
Our progress was stopped today by a small stream spanned by a small bridge...a large Indian sat at the receipt of customs demanding $1 per wagon for the privilege of crossing over....The Indian was making a 'good' thing not less than 1,500 wagons passing over today.
John Hawkins Clark
1852
Courtesy hmdb.org
