retrieving stored iMessages from iCloud

My iMessage are automatically stored in iCloud forever, per all of my settings and my storage usage confirms as much. But I don't have the Messages icon shown with the email icon and others on the iCloud "homepage". How do I find/download/restore/access, whatever it is called, all of my stored messages to make use of them? I need past saved messages from a certain contact. What use is years of automatic cloud backup if I can't access it the first time I need to? Help.