06/18/2026
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Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some cherished moments from our community's history! Each week, on Thursday, we are going to "throw it back" and share a piece of our community history with you.
During the early years of Clear Lake’s existence our first settlers often needed to deal with conflicts that involved Native Americans who had lived around the lake for centuries. The Winnebago and Dakota Sioux were the dominant tribal communities around the lake. There were villages of Sac and Fox Native Americans as well. Joseph Hewitt, one of the first settlers in Clear Lake, was a trader with the Winnebago and spoke their language. The Winnebago were willing to live alongside the new settlers that were coming to the beautiful lake in 1851. However, the Dakota Sioux were not as willing to cooperate with the new white settlers in the area.
James Dickirson, another one of Clear Lake’s founders, had a grindstone near his cabin. A grindstone is a thick, revolving stone wheel used for sharpening, smoothing, or shaping hard objects like knives and tools. Two undamaged grindstones from Clear Lake’s early days of using the water power from the outlet can be seen just to the south of City Beach.
In 1854, a group of Dakota Sioux visited the Dickirson family cabin and an argument took place. The Dakota Sioux were accused of breaking Dickirson’s grindstone during the argument and even killing one of his roosters. This led to what was called the “Grindstone War.” This conflict, “war” was a bloodless event except for the death of the rooster. Mr. Dickirson became especially upset when one of the Sioux picked up part of the grindstone and made off with it. Dickirson followed with a large rock in his hand. Ultimately Dickirson caught up to the Sioux who had taken part of Dickirson’s grindstone. Dickirson grabbed the part of the grindstone and in so doing, threw the young Native American man to the ground. The Sioux could not let that stand and Dickirson was struck on the head with a large club. Mr. Dickirson once again picked up part of the grindstone and struck the Sioux causing him to fall to the ground wounded. Because of this injury to the young Sioux, the tribal leaders demanded that Mr. Dickirson pay them $100.00 or allow them to take one of his horses. Naturally Mr. Dickirson refused the demand which greatly worried his wife. Mrs. Dickirson retrieved about 5 dollars in silver and gave it to the Sioux and they left the Dickirson home, returning to their camp near Lime Springs.
Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson rallied 25 men in the area around Clear Lake including men from the new town of Masonic Grove. Hewitt and Dickirson wanted to make it clear to the Dakota Sioux that their behavior was unacceptable. After a period of negotiations between the Sioux and the settlers, which included the return of Mrs. Dickirson’s silver, and a promise to leave the settlers alone, the men all smoked a peace pipe, and the Sioux agreed to move farther west, away from Clear Lake. Some of the Sioux involved in the “Grindstone War” of 1854 ultimately were involved in the Spirit Lake Massacre in 1857. The clash of cultures ultimately led to increased racial conflicts between the Native Americans and the white settlers.
You might wonder what happened to Dickirson’s broken grindstone. It can be found buried in the ground on the southwest corner of D.A.R. Park in the old Clear Lake Chautauqua Camp Meeting grounds.
