HONEY WAR

HONEY WAR. Dispute arising from a 1839 boundary dispute between Iowa and Missouri. Arguments concerning the boundary line between the state of Missouri and Territory of Iowa led to flaring tempers as a Missouri sheriff attempted to collect taxes from settlers who believed they lived in Iowa. This was followed by an unknown person, presumed to be a Missouri settler, vandalizing several trees in the region in which bees had built honeycombs. Honey, used as a sweetener on the frontier, was a valuable commodity. When a Missouri sheriff again attempted to collect taxes, he was arrested by an Iowa sheriff and the "war" began. Missouri militiamen rushed into service. Governor Lucas of Iowa found himself with twelve hundred Iowa farmers and businessmen eager for battle.

Believing that the governor was acting in haste, Iowa legislators, with their Missouri counterparts, arranged for the United States Supreme Court to settle the matter. Missouri then disbanded its troops.

Iowa troops, including some from Dubuque, marched off to war not realizing it had been stopped. Confused and angry, the troops milled around southern Iowa until they received word to disband. One report stated several troops "executed" a cow so that they could at least return home with their guns fired. Another group, organized north of Dubuque, stormed south only to become hopelessly lost. After several days of seeking directions, they quietly returned home. In its decision, the Supreme Court upheld Iowa’s claim to the contested region.