Waukon, part 1 (history)

Waukon, Iowa is located in the heart of scenic Allamakee County in northeast Iowa. It sits 17 miles from the Wisconsin border, 18 miles from the Minnesota border and 15 miles from the Mississippi River.


During my research on the history of Waukon, I discovered some discrepancies between information from different websites. I always thought the town was named after Winnebago Indian Chief John Waukon-Decorah. (1780-1868) I confirmed that but also one website noted that John Waukon was a Ho-Chunk leader and grandson of Glory in the Morning, a famous Ho-Chunk. (I don't think I ever learned about that in school.) This is making me think there are two different people. Chief Waukon-Decorah cooperated with whites during the Black Hawk War but his compliance was not rewarded. His people were forced across the Mississippi River into Northesast Iowa and eventually toward Blue Earth, MN. So today, there is Waukon and the town of Decorah, a few miles away, both named in his honor. The mascot for the Waukon school is---guess what?--the Indians!!!


I added this picture on 7-28-10 so I guess this is the proof that his name was John Waukon and he was a Winnebago Indian Chief...and his nickname was "Thunder"!!

The town of Waukon actually began in 1849 when George Shattuck built his family a hay shanty to shelter his family until he could build a log cabin. Wasn't that nice?
The towns of Lansing (a few miles away and on the Mississippi) and Waukon were always fighting to be the county seat. The honor went back and forth several times until Waukon finally thought they won out. The courthouse was built between 1861 and 1863 and cost about $13,000 but Lansing took over again. The building sat empty for many years. The Iowa Supreme Court had to get involved and ruled in 1867 that Waukon was indeed the county seat. Can you imagine all of this mess 150 years ago? Anyway, Waukon has a population of about 4,000 people. There are alot of empty store fronts but alot of friendly people. A nice place to grow up!


This is my mom and dads house, which was built 100 years ago this year. We moved here in 1959, when I was in 5th grade. The tree on the far left and the far right were both in place when the house was built, so says one of the builders who stopped by several years ago!

Here's the three angels!!!


The front steps.

One big honking pine branch!

Here comes 3 troubles!..but they kind of stood still for a few pics.

The HUGE garage, which makes JB very envious. You know...."He does not have a garage"!
This is over 1000 square feet. That is bigger than our first house in Rapid City and it was 3 bedrooms.

Gram's flower garden.

This is the house next door.

So there is your Waukon history lesson.