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From: Karen Stouthammer <>
Subject: [IASCOTT] STUBBS, James R. Bio
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2001 07:45:07 -0800

Posted on: Scott County Biographies
Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/ScottBios/1206

Surname: Tyrrel, Swaim, Molesworth, Dicks, Stufflebeam
-------------------------

Annals of Iowa 1863, County of Scott

James R. Stubbs

This place is called Stubbs Eddy, having been the residence for many
years of James
R. Stubbs, Esq., an eccentric genius who built a cave in 1857, on the south
side of a
beautiful mound that stands at the mouth of this little valley, a part
of which still remains.
Captain Stubbs, as he was generally called, was educated at West Point,
where he
graduated with high honors. In 1822, he was stationed at Fort Armstrong,
on Rock Island,
where he remained for four years. During his stay upon this beautiful Island,
at this early
day, away from the crowded city, he formed an attachment for this wild
and enchanting
country, that terminated only with his life. He was a brother-in-law to
Judge McLean;
and in 1826, he returned East and served under him in the Post Office Department,
and
from there went to Cincinatti, where he was clerk in the Post Office Department.
But in
1833 he gratified his long pent up desire to return to the West. On his
return to Rock
Island, however, there seemed to have come over him a great change. He
seemed to have
lost all that vivacity of life and spirit so natural to his character.
Deep melancholy at times
brooded over him. His bright and keen intellect seemed at once to give
way. Various
were the causes attributed to his state of mind. Some surmised it was a
matter of love, but
none knew. The secret was buried in his own bosom. He sought relief, like
thousands, in
the inebriating bowl. His talents were bright, his education liberal, and
his honesty beyond
all question. He sought retirement from the world, and selected the secluded
spot in the
East Davenport and dug his cave in Stubbs Mound, where from its mouth
he could
look out upon the beautiful Mississippi, as its rippled course moved on
its endless journey
to the sunny south. Here he lived a hermits life for nearly eight years.
His only
companions were a pet pig and a cat, with sometimes a dog. This was his
family, and
many a lecture did these mute listeners get from their eccentric master.
All quarrels
among these were settled by the Captain in a judicial manner, and the guilty
one punished.
In his morning and evening rambles upon the banks of the Mississippi, his
entire family
would be seen with him, marching behind in military file with all proper
decorum, and
often in his visits to the village, he was accompanied by his pig and cat.

A. C. Fulton, Esq., tells this anecdote of his first visit to the Cave,
in the summer of
1842. He had wandered up the banks of the river looking at the country
for the first time,
and when he reached the Eddy and crossing the little creek below the present
site of Mr.
Dallams store, he hastened towards the top of the mound in order to obtain
a more
extensive view of the little plateau of ground to which he had arrived.
In passing up the
side of the mound, he caught the sound of a human voice, but could not
determine from
whence it came, as he could see no one near him. The noise increased, and
seemed to be a
very earnest dispute, mingled with not a few hard words, when suddenly
Mr. Fulton
discovered the place from which issued the sound. He was near the top of
the chimney or
hole from which the light, smoke and heat of Captain Stubbs residence
escaped, and not
dreaming that he was in the vicinity of habitation, he was somewhat startled,
but cried out
at the top of his voice, as he looked down the cavity, Hello! What are
you doing down
there? To which the answer came back in quick response, What are you
doing up
there? Get off of my house, sir! This was his first introduction to Captain
Stubbs, who,
in after years, received many kind tokens of regard from the hand of Mr.
Fulton. The only
cause of the disturbance in the Captains domicile was, that the pet pig
had probably
without malice aforethought, undertaken to assist his master in the culinary
department,
and accidentally, or for want of better training, partially destroyed a
pone of corn bread
which the Captain had been preparing for the first table. Captain Stubbs
was a surveyor,
and run out many of the first settlers claims, and often drew up deeds
and contracts
between parties at that early day. In 1846, he was induced to come forth
from his
hermitage and settle in Davenport, where he was elected Justice of the
Peace, which office
he filled to the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1848.

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• [IASCOTT] STUBBS, James R. Bio by Karen Stouthammer <>