The Milton Lott Story
The First White Settler to Die in Boone County, Iowa
In the winter of 1846, Henry Lott traded extensively with the Sioux Indians. Over the course of their trading, a disagreement developed between Henry Lott and the Sioux concerning whiskey and stolen horses. In December of 1846, this disagreement came to a bitter end when the Sioux went to the Henry Lott home. Upon seeing their approach, Henry traveled south to seek help. This left Milton, age 12, and his ailing mother alone. The Indians then allegedly burned buildings, killed livestock and retrieved what they considered their horses. Milton ran away to get help and followed the frozen Des Moines River more than 20 miles south where he was overcome by the cold and died. When Henry returned, he found the wreckage of their homestead and Mrs. Lott more dead than alive. With the assistance of some of the settlers, Henry then followed his son's trail left in the snow, to the place of his death. Because the ground was frozen, they could not bury Milton, so they placed him in a hollow log and covered it with limbs to keep the animals from disturbing the body until they returned a month later to bury it. Milton Lott is buried in a lone grave across the river from my ranch. In the pages that follow, we will follow the course of Henry Lott's vengeance that would culminate in one of the bloodiest events in Iowa history: The Spirit Lake Massacre. Is this area haunted?? Oh, you bet it is!Picture taken at Mrs. Lott's grave in Vegors Cemetery (Click thumbnail to view full pic)
The Gardner Cabin at Spirit Lake Massacre Site
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