'"'< 'l i * *c ■a? %<- 4 O / *? 2". ^ ^** .'^& \/ /^fe'v V : • i^^S..,.' o 4 O V^ 1 ":.% X-afc-.V -. v -^-i:.X ^ f ,«fc--> A y.:w%V ^ v.^ y^i^ v ^ ^ .A* Wa'- *^ .^* oJ* Smote*: % c vs$S ^ s* V S Ws /% f?# /V- ,* % A< 0* * « **-* °0, '^fT ' ,0° *f> o p 1 ■M HISTORY OF KOSSUTH, HANCOCK # WINNEBAGO COUNTIES, IOWA, TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF THEIR CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL, CIVIL, MILITARY AND POLITICAL HISTORY; PORTRAITS OF PROM- INENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. LIUHARJ . STORY OF IOWA, EMBRACING ACCODNTS OF THE PRE-HISTORIC RACES, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY. ILLU STRATED. T" SPRINGFIELD, ILL. ONION PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1884. r -V << ^ U> k TO THE PIONEERS OF KOSSUTH, HANCOCK AND WINNEBAGO COUNTIES THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, WITH THE HOPE THAT TOUR VIRTUES MAY BE EMULATED AND YOUR TOILS AND SACRIFICES DULY APPRECIATED COMING GENERATIONS. IILS i f 1396 n JUL 8 1953 ip^ * PREF AC E. This work was commenced, and has been carried forward to completion, with a specific object in view, which was, to place upon record in a reliable manner and in permanent form, whatever incidents of importance have transpired within what are now the limits of Kossuth, Hancock and Winnebago counties, since their first settle- ment. As preliminary to the narrative proper, it was thought best to give a succinct history of the State at large. In the general history of the three counties, as well as in those of their cities, townships and villages, the reader will fi id that incidents, reminiscences and anec- dotes are recorded with a variety and completeness commensurate with their impor- tance. Herein is furnished (and this is said with confidence) to the present genera- tion and to those which follow it, a valuable reflex of the times and deeds of the pioneers. It has been truly said that "a people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." It is believed that, in the following pages, there is erected to the pioneer men and women of Kossuth, Hancock and Winneba- go counties a lasting monument. The resolutions passed by Congress in 1876 in reference to the preparation and preservation of local history, and the proclamation from the President recommend- ing that those resolutions be carefully observed, have met with the very general and hearty approval of the people. Indeed, so acceptable has seemed this advice from our law-makers, that steps have already been taken in almost every thoroughly organ- ized community throughout the land to chronicle and place in permanent form the annals of each neighborhood, thus rescuing from oblivion much interesting and valu- - T iv PREFACE. able information that is irretrievably lost each year through the death of old settlers, and the decay and ravages of time. It was thought there could be no good reason why the history of Kossuth, Hancock and Winnebago counties should not be placed upon as enduring a foundation as those of surrounding counties; and, to this end, no expense or pains has been spared to render it worthy the patronage of its citizens. A number of experienced writers upon local history have had the work in charge from its inception to its close; and, upon completion of their labor, before any portion of the manuscript was sent to the press, the whole was submitted to committees of citizens for revision, thus insuring correctness and adding materially to the value of the book. The labors of all engaged in this enterprise have been cheered by the cordial as- sistance and good-will of many friends; so many, indeed, that, to attempt to name them, wou-ld, in this connection, be impracticable; to all of whom, grateful acknowl- edgments are tendered. The press of each of the three counties is entitled to special mention for their help and encouragements so generously tendered. UNION PUBLISHING COMPANY. June, 1S84. -olv A. TABLE OF CONTENTS. HISTORY OF IOWA. CHAPTER I. PAGE INTRODUCTORY 17 Original Inhabitants 17 Mound Builders 18 The Red Men 18 Discovery of the Mississippi 19 Marquette 19 LaSalle 20 Purchase of Louisiana 20 CHAPTER II. INDIANS AND INDIAN WARS 21 The Illinois, Sacs and Foxes 21 Thelowas 22 War Between Sacs and Foxes and Iowas 22 The Sioux 24 Black Hawk War 31 Battle of Bad Ax 33 CHAPTER III. INDIAN TREATIES 36 Black Hawk Treaty 36 Sacs and Fox Treaty 38 Treaty with the Sioux 39 Treaty with the Sacs 39 Treaty with the Foxes 39 Treaty with thelowas 40 Treaty with the Sacs of Roek River 40 Treatvof 1834 40 Treaty of 1830 - 40 Treaty with Sacs, Foxes and other Tribes 4 1 Treaty with the Winnebagoes 41 Treaty of 1836, with Sacs and Foxes 42 Treaty of 1837 42 Treaty of Relinquishment 42 Treaty of 1842 42 CHAPTER IV. EARLY SETTLEMENTS 43 The Dubuque Settlement •• 43 The Giard Settlement 43 The Montrose Settlement 43 The Burlington Settlement 43 The Keokuk Settlement 43 Rules for the Government of Dubuque 45 PAGE. Military Interference with Settlements 45 Extinguishment of Indian Titles 46 The Fort Madison Settlement 47 Flint Hills *1 The Davenport Settlement 48 Clayton County Settlement 48 Council Bluffs 48 Des Moines *9 CHAPTER V. TERRITORIAL AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS 50 Territory of Wisconsin 50 Territorial Council 50 Organization of Counties 51 Territory of Iowa 51 First Territorial Officers • 51 First Iowa Territorial Legislature 52 First Session of the Legislature 52 A Stormy Session 52 Selection of the Capital 52 Iowa City • 53 Loan for the Completion of the State House . 53 Woman's Rights 54 The Missouri War 55 Attempt at State Organzation 56 Constitutional Convention 56 Second Constitutional Convention 57 Election of State Officers 57 Salaries of State Officers - 58 CHAPTER VI. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE. 58 State School Superintendent, 58 Public Buildings 59 Location of State University 59 Appointment of Supreme Judges 60 Railroad Buildings 62 Organization of the Republican Party -. 63 Constitutional Convention.. 64 Des Moines Chosen the State Capital 64 Census by Counties 67 CHAPTER VII. GEOLOGY— TOPOGRAPHY— WATER COURSES. 69 Azoic System .. 70 Lower Silurian System 70 Upper Silurian System •' 71 :l£ VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Devonian System 71 Carboniferous System 71 Cretaeious System 75 Peat 7B Gypsum 76 Minor Deposits Sulphate of Lime 78 Sulphateof Stronita 78 Sulphate of Baryta "8 Sulphate of Magnesia 78 Climate 70 Topography 79 Lakes and Streams 80 CHAPTER VIII. IOWA AND THE REBELLION 89 Response to the Nation's Call 90 First Infantry »° Second Infantry *J7 Third Infantry 97 Fourth Infantry "•> Fifth Infantry w Sixth Infantry "o Seventh Infantry 9S Eighth Infantry y 9 Ninth Infantry 90 Tenth Infantry au Eleventh Infantry lllu Twelfth Infantry 100 Thirteenth Infantry iul Fourteenth Infantry lol Fifteenth Infantry lol Sixteenth Infantry 102 Seventeenth Infantry 102 Eighteenth Infantry J03 Nineteenth Infantry - 103 Twentieth Infantry lu;i Twenty-flrst Infantry 103 Twenty-second Infantry lot Twenty-third Infantry 104 Twenty-fourth Infantry 105 Twenty-fifth Infantry 105 Twenty-sixth Infantry 105 Twenty-seventh Infantry 105 Twenty-eighth Infantry 108 Twenty-ninth Infantry 106 Thirtieth Infantry 100 Thirty-first Infantry 1U 1 Thirty-second Infantry 107 Thirty-third Infantry 107 Thirty-fourth Infantry 107 Thirty-fifth Infantry 108 Thirty-sixth Infantry 108 Thirty-seventh Infantry 108 Thirty-eighth Infantry 100 Thirty-ninth Infantry 109 Fortieth Infantry HO Forty-first Infantry Ho Forty-fourth Infantry HO Forty-iif th I nfautry HI Forty-sixth Infantry HI Forty-seventh Infantry In Forty-eighth Infantry HI First Cavalry HI Second Cavalry H- Third Cavalry 112 Fourth Cavalry 112 Fifth Cavah'v . Ha Sixth Cavalry 113 Seventh Cavalry 113 Eighth Cavalry." HI Ninth Cavalry 11* First Battery 114 Second Battery 11* Third Battery 115 Fourth Battery 115 Iowa Regiment of Colored Troops H5 Northern Border Brigade 115 Southern Border Brigade 115 Promotions 115 CHAPTER IX PAGE EDUCATIONAL— STATE INSTITUTIONS 117 The First School House 117 Act for the Establishment of Common Schools. 118 The State University 121 State Normal School 123 State Agricultural College 12* Other Colleges and Universities 12* Deaf and Dumb Institute 126 College for the Blind 120 Iowa Hospital for the Insane 127 Hospital tor the Insane at Independence 128 Soldiers' Orphans' Home 128 Asylum for Feeble Minded Children 120 Penal Institutions 120 Anamosa Penitentiary 130 Boys' Reform School 13U State 11 istorical Society 131 State Agricultural Society 131 Fish-Hatching House 131 CHAPTER X POLITICAL.. 132 First Election la- Cam paign of 18*0 132 Campaign of 18*1. 132 Campaign of 18*2 132 Campaign of 18*3. 134 ( umpaigu of 1844 134 Constitutional Convention i<>6 Campaign of 1846 136 Cauipuigu or 1847 136 Campaign of ls-ts 140 Campaign of 1840 143 Campaign of 1850 145 Campaign of 1851 147 Campaign of 185a 147 Campaign of 1853 HO Campaign of 1854 150 Campaign of 1855 152 Campaign of 1S56 153 Campaign of 1857 154 Campaign of 1858 157 Campaign of 1859 159 Campaign of 1860 163 Campaign of 1861 165 . Campaign nf 1862 167 Campaign of 1863 170 Campaign of 1864 173 Cam paign of 1865 173 Campaign of 1866. 170 Campaign of 1867 179 Campaign of 1868 180 Campaign of 1860 182 Campaign of 1870 183 Campaign of 1871 JS4 Campaign of 1872. 186 • am paign of 1873 ls'.i campaign fit 1ST* 191 Campaign of 1875 194 Campaign of 1876 pit: Campaign of i877 198 Campaign of 1878 20] Campaign of 1879 „'06 Campaign of 1880 210 Campaign of 1881 212 CHAPTER XI. TERRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS— Robert Lucas 215 John Chambers 220 JamesClarke 223 Other Territorial Officers .. 227 State Officers. 227 it JjJ" — '- ±=&* TABLE OF COFTENTS. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER I. PAGE INTRODUCTION 231 CHAPTER II. EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT 234 County's Name 242 Historical Items 244 CHAPTER III. COUNTY GOVERNMENT 246 CHAPTER IV. OFFICIAL MATTERS 253 CHAPTER V. POLITICAL 260 CHAPTER VI. JUDICIAL 273 CHAPTER VII. THE BAR OF KOSSUTH COUNTY 276 CHAPTER VIII. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 283 CHAPTER IX. THEPRESS 290 Algona Pioneer Press 291 Upper Des Moines .... 293 The Bee 296 Algomi Times 297 Algona Republican 299 Kossuth County Review 300 The Bancroft Register 301 CHAPTER X. EDUCATIONAL 302 School Commissioners 304 County Superintendents 304 Normal Institutes 308 Teachers' Association 311 CHAPTER XI. THE WAR FOR THE UNION 312 Experience of Lieut. -Col. Spencer 319 CHAPTER XII. REMINISCENCES AND EVENTS OF INTEREST 345 CHAPTER XIII. PAGE TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND AGRICUL- TURE 352 CHAPTER XIV. NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESEN- TATION 355 CHAPTER XV. ALGONA TOWNSHIP 370 City of Algona 372 CHAPTER XVI. BURT TOWNSHIP 437 CHAPTER XVII. CRESCO TOWNSHIP 446 CHAPTER XVIII. FENTON TOWNSHIP 468 CHAPTER XIX. GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP 472 Town of Bancroft 479 CHAPTER XX. IRVINGTON TOWNSHIP 489 Village of Irvington 493 CHAPTER XXI. LOTT'S CREEK TOWNSHIP 498 Village of Whittemore 501 CHAPTER XXII. LU VERNE TOWNSHIP 507 CHAPTER XXIII. PORTLAND TOWNSHIP 512 CHAPTER XXIV. PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP 531 CHAPTER XXV. RAMSEY TOWNSHIP 533 CHAPTER XXVI. SHERMAN TOWNSHIP 539 CHAPTER XXVII. WESLEY TOWNSHIP 542 1T^ MU- TABLE OF CONTENTS. BIOGRAPHICAL PAGE Ackley, DeWittC 389 Alcorn, W. W 476 Allen, George C 520 Altwegg, Jacob 5i4 Amos, William M 456 Andruss, Zebina C. .. 49 1 " Austin, George 473 Austin, Oscar 473 liaehman, E. W Bagley, Edward S Baker, George J Harslow, Peter M Barr, James liattersou, Abijali Bell, Henry Bell, Christian Benschoter, Oliver Benschoter, Grant Herringhauser, Rudolf. Birge, Charles Blauchard, M. D Blossom, C. H Blunt, James L B.ihn, Gotleb. : Bougey, Alfred Bonnstetter, Michael.. Bonnstetter, Martin... Brayton, Kobertl Btonson, A. A Bronson, Peter L. S — Brown, John Brown, Kobbins Brown, Jr., Alexander. Brunson, A. A Budach, Richard P Buell, Dumont A Burt, Thomas Burtis, G. C Bush, A.J .. Butler, Hyman B Butts, F. M By son, C Cain, Jesse W. Call, Ambrose A Call, AsaF Call, AsaC Call, George C Carlon, Kinsey Carter, William Caulkins, Elijah Chapin, Morris B — Chapin, John Cbipman, Willie A. Chubb, C.C Clarke, George E — Clarke, E. F Clark, ElhaneuW... Clark, Thomas M Colfen, Warren Coffin, C. S Cogley, R Collar, Norman Comstock, J. M Crandall, Levi P — Creed, Charles D. .. Crose, Philip 28' 455 648 444 286 478 467 467 517 526 459 3N ] 363 40U 468 529 405 451 45: 170 306 391 437 463 447 388 51: 390 426 509 471 46: 549 399 503 402 278 359 399 368 492 526 425 521 530 358 282 486 458 470 488 5! 283 534 386 511 504 490 PAGE Cunningham, Joseph A. 554 Curran, Henry 541 Danson, Robert J... 280 Dau, Christian 432 Davis, JohnT 472 Davison, Ras6elas 527 Davison r Daniel 527 Davison, Jesse D 525 DeGraw, Jonas 503 Devine, Barnet 448 Dickman, George. Dinger, August — Dorland, Chester P. Dorweiler, Philip 450 Dorweiler, Paul 45i Dorweiler, Henry 451 Duitmau, David A 538 Earley, Thomas 387 Eddy, George W 551 Edwards, John G 482 Ellis, David A 301 Ellis, Verne S 301 Emmons, O.J 546 Evans, Alfred 466 Ferguson, P. T 528 Ferris, Eli 430 Fill, J. K 392 Finuegan, Jerome 464 Fish, Charles 476 Fisher, Addison 448 Forbush, B. G 289 Fraser, Alexander 466 PAGE Hoflus, H. F 424 Honus, J. B 436 Huhn, Leonard 523 tlollenbeck, Henry C. 546 Holloway, George F... 554 rioluiau, Abbie A 523 Holtz, Joachim 469 Hopkins, J. W 553 Hudson. A. L 2' Hudson, M. H 289 __ Hudson, Matthew H... 496 554iHulburt, Elijah 440 549 Hume, Frank W 550 380 Hunt, It. J 524 Hutchius, D. H.t 403 Hutchinson, John B 439 Ingham, W . H 366 Ingham, Harvey 295 Frink, Albert B .... 428 Gahr, Eberhard .... 532 Gallagher, J. S 551 Gallion, Thomas 520 Gardner, Alexander S. 524 Garfield, L. K 284 Gilbert. Hollis J 529 Gilbride, Thomas 518 Gilbride, John 528 Gilmore, David 466 Gilmour, Arthur J 42." Goddard, U. W 481 Godden, Moses L 518 Graham. J. G 488 Gray, James P 554 Gray, Mark 4.T Green, Jesse W 496 Grove, Isaac 394 Grover, J. H 522 Haggard, D. A. Hale, Oscar F. 365 367 Harsh, William 444 43: 428 389 Jacobs, Henry H 456 Jain, Rodolph 518 Jensen, John W 399 Johnson, A. M 393 Johnson, William 460 Jones, C. G Jones, John B 279 Jones, William 457 Jordau, W. E 483 Jordan, J. F 485 Joslyu.W. L 281 Kain, Patrick 520 Kargledcr, John . 435 Keith, Edgar P 530 Kennedy, Alexander K. 542 King, D. W 42:' Knapp, E. F 485 Kopke, Fred 432 Kriethe, Peter. Krurger, Ernest . Kuhn, N. C Kyes, Calvin F... 443 435 430 28 Luke, C.B 480 Lane, Elijah 491 Lange, Fred 461 Lautry, Thomas H 429 Lathrop, M. C 284 Lawson, George J 549 Leslie, James 444 Litlletield, 477 Lochtu, John 525 Lund, Christian L 39t McA rthur, Thomas 426 McCaffrey, Dennis F... 431 Met Irian, Samuel B.... 461 McCoy, Franklin 284 Hartman, Rocuus. Hartwell, Norman .. Hawkins, Jasper H.. Heckart, J. C Heckart, John Henderson, Sr., James. 424 Mc\\ Sorter, Ellis... Henderson, Robert H.. 464 Maass, C.F.W. Henderson, J. B 467 Martin, Peter. McDonald, John. McDonald, Joseph D. McDonald, Hugh McFarland, R.M. J.... 39i McKay, John. Herman, Conrad. 435 44:. 52J 451 460 530 501 42' 435lMurble,Geoige E 442 PAGE Mason, Amos S 283 Matson, Hiram A 461 Mayne, Samuel 281 Mein/.er, GeoryeM .... 445 Millen, Stephen W 447 Millis, John A 518 Minger, Frederick 45' Minkler, B. 495 Minkler, Orange 422 Munch, Henry 502 Murray, John 440 Nicoulin, J. F 394 Norton, Hiram 439 Oleson, CarlE 548 Oliver, Charles N 506 Olson, Ole 479 Osterbauer, Joseph 432 Owen, Martin A 529 Palmer, O. E 429 Patterson, D 382 Patterson, Henry H.. . 458 Pearce, Caleb 534 I'earce, Willet F 534 Peck, William 470 Peterson, Swen P 436 Phillips, Albert H .. .. 521 Pine, N. A 496 Pinkerton. John M 365 Pompe, Frank 506 Potter, Loron E 288 Potter, Shermans . . . 464 Pride, John M 287 Hanney, Francis L 471 Raney, Joseph 539 Raney, Walter W 465 Raymond, J C 281 Read.S. G. A 285 Heed, John 363 Reed, Benjamin F 278 Rice, Daniel 519 Richmond, R. M 487 Kiebhoff, Michael 371 ttingstorf, William .... 526 Hist. Luther 361 Rist, S. s 363 Robbins, Jr., Marcus.. 276 Kobe. William 461 Uobinson, J W 391 Robinson, Obed 544 Etobteon, Thomas 490 Roth, David P 465 Roth, Francis E 465 Roth, Marshall L 465 Rourke, Michael 457 Sample, D. W 492 Sands, Samuel — ..... 474 Sawvel, Adam 505 Sehenek, Horace 423 Schmidt, Frederick.... 536 Schneider, Peter G.. .. 537 Schryver. Israel G 425 Seely, Andrew L 513 Sharp, Stephen 497 s> \J- TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX PAGE Sheetz, L. A 285 Siefert, Alonzo A 462 Siefert, William E 462 Sinipkins, George 430 Slagle, P. L 392 Smith, B. F 537 Smith, Benjamin 522 Smith, Charles C 429 Smith, G. W 484 Smith, Henry A 519 Smith, J. A 394 Smith, John G 38: Smith, J. G 38' Smith, Lewis H 360 Solomon, George 388 Spear, S. C 386 Spencer, Robert H 414 Stacy, J.B 361 PAGE| PA(5E| Starr, Milton 2ft!l Tietz, Ferdinand 506 Stewart, George 459 Tinker, Thomas W 538 Stockwell, Lemuel 528 Try on, A. L 552 Stow, C. A 428 Turner, Lafayette... . 460 Stow, Comfort P 442 Slough, M. W 362 Strucker, Hermann 46:! Wadsworth, Joseph W. 401 Sutton, G. T 281iWalker, HeterJ 505 Swanson, John 435 Wallace, John 364 Sweet, George W 443iWalston, Rufus 425 I Walters, Milton R 392 Tallman, Ellas 4&3'Ward, E. L 482 Taylor, Marcellus 550 Warren, James H 427 Taylor, F. M 382 Warren, R. B 295 Taylor, Chauncey 304' Wartman, S. S 510 Thompson, John 547 ' Weaver, John N 280 Thompson, Joseph... 424 Weaver, E. N 382 Thruceker, William... 462 ( Wilkinson, J. J.... 307 PAGE Winkie, B. H 529 Winter. William P 523 Wiltse, Case 534 Wilson, JohnJ 358 Wilson, John 438 Wood, Francis A 445 Woodworth, G. R 385 Wood worth, Charles... 482 Wooster, Helen 306 Wooster, Abel 459 Younie, A 404 Zahlten, August 423 Zanke, Joseph 430 Zigrang, J.B 454 Zimmerman, David 465 Zoelle, Valentine ... 507 PORTRAITS page! Carlon, Kinsey 396| Carlon, Henrietta 307'Minkler, B. C page .. 376 PAGE Minkler, Mrs. Katie.. 377 Zahlten, A. PAGE . . 415 -4r V J g — ^- k+ TABLE OF CONTENTS. HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. PAGE . . 555 CHAPTER II. EARLY SETTLEMENT 557 Organization 56U Reminiscence by Hon. J . M . Elder 562 CHAPTER III. COUNTY GOVERNMENT 5H5 CHAPTER IV. OFFICIAL MATTERS 57a Population : 572 Civil Townships 572 Marriage Record 573 Financial 574 Registry of Deeds 575 CHAPTER V. THE COURTS OF HANCOCK COUNTY 578 District Court 576 Circuit Court 578 County Court 579 CHAPTER VI. POLITICAL 579 CHAPTER VII. THE BAH OF HANCOCK COUNTY 591 CHAPTER VIII. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 599 CHAPTER IX. THE WAR FOR THE UNION 602 CHAPTER X. NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRE- SENTATION Congressional Members of the General Assembly Circuit Judge County Judge County Auditor Treasurer and Recorder, . . County Treasurer County Recorder Clerk of the Courts : Sheriff County Surveyor Coroner Drainage Commissioner CHAPTER XI. EDUCATIONAL 622 CHAPTER XII. PAGE THE PRESS 627 Hancock Sentine! 628 The Independent 628 Hancock County Autograph 628 Hancock Signal 629 The Independent 630 Northwestern Advertiser 631 Hancock County Tribune 631 CHAPTER XIII. GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY AND MISCEL- LANEOUS 632 CHAPTER XIV. AMSTERDAM TOWNSHIP 639 CHAPTER XV. AVERY TOWNSHIP 611 CHAPTER XVI. BINGHAM TOWNSHIP 651 CHAPTER XVII. BOONE TOWNSHIP 651 CHAPTER XVIII. BRITT TOWNSHIP 656 The Town of Britt 658 CHAPTER XIX. CONCORD TOWNSHIP 673 Town of Garner 675 CHAPTER XX. CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP 681 CHAPTER XXI ELL TOWNSHIP 690 CHAPTER XXII. ELLINGTON TOWNSHIP 691 CHAPTER XXIII. ERIN TOWNSHIP 701 CHAPTER XXIV. GARFIELD TOWNSHIP 707 CHAPTER XXV. GERMAN TOWNSHIP 709 CHAPTER XXVI. MADISON TOWNSHIP 710 CHAPTER XXVII. MAGOR TOWNSHIP 715 CORWITH 717 CHAPTER XXVIII. ORTHEL TOWNSHIP 721 CHAPTER XXIX. TWIN LAKE TOWNSHIP 727 r -d 23 fe. TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI BIOGRAPHICAL. PAGE PAGE PAGE PAGE Abbey, M. J . 702 ... 693 Hoyt, O. K . 598 Pritchard, CD . 595 Adams, Edwin ... Aldrieh, Isaac N . 631 . . 700 ... 6^0 Hunt. D. F Huntlv, Levi . 647 668 Rasmusson, Rasmus . 657 ... 596 Allen, A. S .. 674 . 662 Reed, Edgar F . 649 .. 643 Daliman, Herman, . . li;).. Hymer, Thomas . 616 Ripley, A. C . 596 Devenpeck, Garret ... 704 Roberts, E. A . 701 Day, s. B . . . 691 Jenson, Jorgen 657 Bobbins, John B . 648 Bailey, John A . . 728 Day lor, Thomas. . . .. 664 Johnson, James ... , lis", Ifodman, William G. . 688 Bailey, John D . . 728 67ii Rogers, Frank B . 663 Bailey, RollaE . 728 Doolittle, C. c ... 618 . 669 Bailey, L B 61? ... 651 692 Kosecrans, M. P . 595 . 624 Kinsey, William . 596 Russell, Harrison P.. «50 Bates, Henry A . . 714 Elder, James J? ... 646 Koerner, William F... . 6S1 Beadle, J. H . 619 Elder, J. M ... 620 Schoonorer, Norman . 694 Beadle, G. W .. 699 Elder, Robert ... 616 Laokore, James 711 Scott, Byron F . 596 Beadle, J.Q.... : .. 699 700 Shaw, Farner . 718 Bennett, John E. 0. .. 669 Ell. Sebastian .. 690 Larsen, Lawrenteus.. . 689, Smith, Silas R 713 Bingham, John G. .. . 652 Ennor, William F.. ... 664 Larson, Marten . 687 Smith, H. W . 600 Bollinger, Bernard.. 692 . 619 . 721ISt. John, Benjamin.. 671 . 661 Latham. F. H lioimr, James (J . . 696 Fehly, Frederick... ... 676 . 665J Stanley, Dr . 600 Borman, William . 677 Fenninger, Fred... ... 683 Steiff, Frederick . 713 Bowers, .Myron . 683 Fiegenbaum, H. R . . 681 MoGraw, Elbert I.... . 666 Stilson, O. H . 719 Bradford, William E. . . 597 Fish, Frank L .. .. ... 671 McNutt, K. A 647'Stoddart, John . 660 Find, Charles 6112 Maben, John .. . 693 Brooks, D. E 648 Fort, Homer F ... 600 Maben, G. R 696 Strong, Joseph G.. .. 597 Brown, Thomas M . . . 669 . 625 Brummuud, William . . 722 Glidden, Fremont li ... 706 716 Brnmmnnd, Ernest.. 722 600 Melcher, Eben F 708,Thiel, J. B . 693 Button, Charles L .. 599 Gries, Anton . .715 Miller E. C . 703 Bullis, Joseph F . . 667 ... 7U6 Moak, W. C 619 Treganza, Joseph A. . 671 Burdick, John H. . . . . 658 Morrison, H. B . 601 Burdick, Frank T .. 706 Hales, Edwin . .. 663 Moseback, Frederick . 691 Carlson, Godfrey .. 7111 Hamilton, R. G 6111 ... 714 Nelson, Peter S 703 , 615 . 695 Carpenter, Harry A.. .. 649 . . . 699 Nisbet, William 708 Warner, D. T . 648 Chase, Andrew J . 689 Heal, Frank . . 726 Norlhup, F. S 701 Way, Chandler C . 62i 1 Chase. L. W. . 7112 .. 659 Wernet, Joseph . 714 Cha-e, Daniel . 6o8 Healy, Smith A 667 Osborne, Joseph 598 Westphall, Samuel A. . 683 Christie, William . 646 Hennenhofer, J. H 712 White, Albeit D.... 650-670 ( hristie, Sr., John.. . . 647 Beskett, Hartley... 703 Wiles, M. L 647 Christie, Jr., John... . . 614 Heskett, Frank P... . 726 Paulson, John 672 Wilson, James . 730 Christie, George . 730 Hill, Henry E. K.... ... 667 Petersen, Otto C 706 Willsou, S. D . 7i m Clark, Charles A . 703 Hoeslev, J. M ... 70H Porter, William.! ... 701 . 619 Clemens, John J... . Col burn, Francis N.. . . 670 . 695 . . 701 Pritchard, William H.. 725 . 640 Yoter, William 677 Howland, S. N.. 702 IV --©Iv* XII TABLE OF CONTENTS. HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE CHANGE 731 Organization of the County 732 Location, Topography and Geology 732 Railroads 734 CHAPTER II. EARLY SETTLEMENT. First Settlers First Things CHAPTER III. IN EARLY DATS Reminiscence by David Secor. Early Adventures Indians CHAPTER IV. COUNTY GOVERNMENT CHAPTER V. NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRE- SENTATION CHAPTER VI. THE PRESS Winnebago Press Northern Iowa Gazette Winnebago Summit The Winnebago Chief Winnebago Weekly Review. North Star Independent Herald CHAPTER VII. JUDICIAL District Court . Circuit Court. County Court.. 743 745 7.50 751 753 760 775 776 778 779 7S1 781 783 783 CHAPTER VIII. FINANCIAL AND OTHER MATTERS. . CHAPTER IX. POLITICAL CHAPTER X. THE BAR OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. 790 CHAPTER XI. PAGE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 807 Reminiscence of Early Practice 809 CHAPTER XII. AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND DAI- RYING 817 CHAPTER XIII EDUCATIONAL 822 CHAPTER XIV. THE WAR— ITS CAUSES 830 CHAPTER XV. WINNEBAGO COUNTY IN THE WAR 836 CHAPTER XVI. MISCELLANEOUS 852 CHAPTER XVII. CENTER TOWNSHIP 854 Lake Mills 861 CHAPTER XVIII. v FOREST CITY AND FOREST TOWNSHIP S71 CHAPTER XIX. LINDEN TOWNSHIP 903 CHAPTER XX. LOGAN TOWNSHIP 907 CHAPTER XXI. MOUNT VALLEY TOWNSHIP 909 CHAPTER XXII. NEWTON TOWNSHIP 923 CHAPTER XXIII. XORWAY TOWNSHIP ... 928 MU- TABLE OF CONTENTS. XIII BIOGRAPHICAL PAGE Aas, DavidC 816 Alexander, Elwood 903 Ambroson, Ole 903 Ambrose, J. H. T 769 Anderson, John A 868 Anderson, A 867 Anderson, J. E 804 Aulman, John B 856' Banner, R H 89l| Bailey, John 935. Bakke, O. P 923; Blennerhassett, A 879| Blowers, George R 898 Blowers, F. P 898 Bovd, J. K 800 Brackey, Mrs. T. ..868 Brackey, T. A 868 Braekey, Ole 868 Brokke, Sigur C 920 Brandstad, AndruE... 902 Brones, A. N 773 Burnap, W. A 801 Burleson, John 867 Butcher, Thomas J ... 891 Chase, A. H 780 Chapman, W. A 806 ( hristianson, John 926 Clark, Robert 787 Cole, A. T 738 Conley, J . B 863 Dabl, I. M 858 David, J. W 814 Day, Charles H 767 Denzei, John 921 Drogsvold, Ole J 901 Falken, T. J 908 Fisher, James W 893 Fisher, William H 804 Foss, John 930 Franklin, W. R 815 PAGE Franklin, George A... 806 Gannett, Philip 926 Gibson, D. T 803 Grasley, Oley 913 Gudmanson, Ole 918 Gulliekson, Erick 908 Halvorson, Erel 870 Halvoreen, John 936 Hanson, Peter 910 Hanson, W. 770 Harang, Aaron 870 Haugland, R. 869 Hayes, DeWitt C 801 Hermonson, Bendick.. 931 Higinbotham, William. 910 Hill, Jonathan B 926 Holstead, Michael J.... 931 Holtan, Hans 914 Honsey, S. G 933 Honsey, T. G 932 Howard, J. E 806 Hull, Justin M 815 Irish, Harry R 815 Isaacs, Charles 767 Isaacson, John 876 JeukB, Charles F 897 Jensen, R. p 881 Johnson, Peter H 921 Johnson, H. T 870 Johnson, George 903 Joice, E. J 883 Jones, P. C 814 Jones William H 813 Keeler, C. E 816 Kiland, K. K 871 Landru, Hiram K 766 Larson, William 861 Lattimore, J. T 806 Law, John 885 Lepper, Frank 862 PAGE Levoid. G. H 930 Lunsett, Hans 881 McGreevey, Edward... 927 Mahoney, J. W 874 Martinson, Christian... 904 Mattocks, Eli 901 Merrick, C.Eugene 893 Mikkelson, Eli N 861 Moe, H. P 90' Moen, Ole Knudson. . 919 Munson, NelsM 818 M urphy , Jerry ... . 800 Nelson, S. T Nelson, Mikkel Nelson, C. L 803 Nerby, L. B Nilson, Alf Odden, Andrew J 870 Olson, HansP 92T Olson, Sandel 930 Olson, Harres 9ir Olson, Peter 901 Olson, John S 876 Onstab, KnudE 918 Otis, James J Paulson, Halvor 911 Pederson, Bertus 91' Pederson, P. P 91' Person, Andrew 914 Peterson, Harold 901 Phelps, J. A Pinckney, James 879 Plummer, J. A 891 Poulson, Jens 88: Price, James 932 Ragan, M. V 927 Ransom, T. C " Rasmuson, Christian.. 900 Revland, P. K 914 PAGE Rowland, Horace J . . . 864 Rusley, T. K 912 Rygmyr, H. H 911 Saiie, G. 917 Secor, Eugene 766 Secor, David 763 Seibert, Peter 921 Severs, O. T 768 Sharp, J.J 927 Simon, John A 931 Simmons Solomon 898 Skinner, E. D 908 Smith, N. A 865 Smith, C. D 855 Sogard, T. A 919 Sogard, Simon 919 Sogard, Arne T 919 Sornsen, Ole 869 Strike, Thomas B 900 Styve. N. 864 Sunderland, Ole H 926 Syverson, Syver 919 Taylor, William 900 Tennis, William 929 Tennis, Samuel 788 Thomas, George W 855 Thomson, Thomas 856 Thompson, J. F 804 Thompson, Clement. . . 917 Thompson, N. B 927 Thompson, John 868 Turveson, Martin 901 Twito, Jacob H 771 Ulve, 0. 928 Van Duien, William... 814 Wadsworth, S. D 866 Wambheim, Peder H.. 922 Welsh, Charles E 898 Wilson, J. B 862 Winslow, Henry W.... 863 PORTRAITS PAGE Anderson, J. E 877 Dahl, I. M. PAGE .. 859 Hanson, W. O. Hull, J. M PAGE .. 915 .. 811 PAGE Mahoney, J. W 895 I >F^ IS k_ -I 9 Certificates of Committees. "We the undersigned, committee appointed for the purpose of examining and correcting the manuscript of the History of Kossuth County, written and compiled tiy the Union Publishing Company, of Springfield, Illinois, do hereby certify that the said manuscript was submitted to us, and thatwe madeall the changes and additions that we, in our judgment, deemed necessary, and as so corrected, we approve the same. W. H. Ingham, Ambrose A. Call, Mrs. C. A. Ingham, Mrs. H. E. Stacy, J. E. Stacy, Lewis H. Smith, B. F. Reed. y Committee. We the undersigned, a committee appointed by the old settlers and prominent men of the county, to over- sec anil revise the history of Hancock County, written and compiled by the Union Publishing Company, of Springfield. Illinois, do hereby certify that the said manuscript was submitted to us, and that we madeall the corrections and additions, thatwe, in our judgment, deemed necessary, and as so corrected, we approve the same. John Maben, 1 J. M. Elder, | L. B. Bailey, (■ Committee. John Christie, Jr. I Anson Avery. J We the undersigned, members of the general committee, appointed to correct and revise the manuscript of the History of Winnebago County, written and compiled by the Union Publishing Company, of Spring- field, Illinois,' do hereby certify that said manuscript has been submitted to us, and that we have made all the additions and corrections, that we, in our judgment and to the best of our recollection, deem necessary, and as corrected, approve the same. David Secor, ~| J. S. Blowers, J. E. Anderson, A. T. Cole. y Committee. Solomon Simmons, I William Tennis, Peter Hanson. J M 1 - HISTORY OF IOWA. CHAPTER I. THE traveler, in wending his way across the fair State of Iowa, with its evidences of civilization upon every hand; its magnificent churches with spires pointing heavenward; its school-houses almost upon every hill; palatial residences evincing wealth and refinement, cannot realize-that, less than a half century ago, this "beautiful land" was the home only of the red man, who roamed at will over the fair and fertile prairies, hunting in the woods and fishing in its streams. The change would seem too great for him to realize. But it is indeed true. These churches, these school-houses, these pala- tial residences, tlv se railroads, these tele- graph and telephone wires, all have been erected or placed here within the space of a half century. Before the advent of the Ked Men, who were found in possession by the Europeans, who inhabited this country, is a subject yet unsolved, and is shrouded in mystery. That there were human beings of a distinct rate from the red men of later days, is gen- erally conceded, but scientists fail as yet to agree as to their nature and origin. That this continent is co-existent with the world of the ancients cannot be questioned. Every investigation instituted under the auspices of modern civilization confirms this fact. It is thought by many that the first inhabitants came from Asia, by way of Behring's Strait, and in large numbers. Magnificent cities and mouuments were raised at the biddiug of tribal leaders, and populous settlements centered with thriv- ing villages sprang up everywhere in man- ifestation of the progress of the people. For the last four hundred years the colo- nizing Caucasian has trodden on the ruins of a civilization whose greatness he could only surmise. Among these ruins are pyramids similar to those which have ren- dered Egypt famous. The pyramid of Chalula is square, each side of its base being 1,335 feet, and its height 172 feet. Another pyramid north of Vera Cruz is formed of large blocks of highly polished porphyry, and bears upon its front hiero- HISTORY OF IOWA. *\ glyphic inscriptions and curious sculpture. It is 82 feet square, and a flight of 57 steps conducts to its summit, which is 65 feet high. The ruins of Palenque are said to extend 20 miles along the ridge of a moun- tain, and the remains of an Aztec city, near the banks of the Gila, are spread over more than a square league. The principal feature of the Aztec civilization which has come down to us was its religion, which we are told was of a dark and gloomy character. Each new god created by their priesthood, instead of arousing new life in the people, brought death to thousands; and their grotesque idols exposed to drown the senses of the beholders in fear, wrought wretchedness rather than spiritual happi- ness. In fact, fear was the great animating principal, the motive power which sustained this terrible religion. Their altars were sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies in large quantities, and on them thousands of human victims were sacri- ficed in honor of the demons whom they worshipped. The head and heart of every captive taken in war were offered up as a sacrifice to the god of battles, while the victorious legions feasted on the remaining portions of the bodies. It is said that during the ceremonies attendant on the consecration of two of their tem- I les, the number of prisoners offered up in sacrifice was 12,210, while they them- selves contributed large numbers of volun- tary victims to the terrible belief. The race known as the Mound-Builders next attracts the attention of the ethnolo- gists. Throughout the Mississippi Valley, including many portions of Iowa, are found mounds and walls of earth or stone, which can only have a human origin. These mounds vary in size from a few feet to hundreds of feet in diameter. In them are often found stone axes, pestles, arrow- heads, spear-points, pieces of flint, and other articles. Pottery of various de- signs is very common in them, and from the material of which they are made geol- ogists have attempted to assign their age. Some have thought that the Mound- Builders were a rage quite distinct from the modern Indians, and that they were in an advanced state of civilization. The best authorities now agree that while the comparatively civilized people called the Aztecs built the cities whose ruins are occasionally found, the Mound-Builders were the immediate ancestors of the In- dians De Soto first saw, and little different from the Indians of to-day. The origin of the Red Men, or Ameri- can Indians, is a subject which interests as well as instructs. It is a favorite topic with the ethnologist, even as it is one of deep concern to the ordinary reader. A review of two works lately published on the origin of the Indians, treats the matter in a peculiarly reasonable light. It says : "Recently a German writer has put for- ward one theory on the subject, and an English writer has put forward another and directly opposite theory. The differ- ence in opinion concerning our aboriginals among authors who have made a profound study of races, is at once curious and in- teresting. Blumenbach treats them in his classifications as a distinct variety of the human family; but, in the three-fold divi- sion of Dr. Latham, they are ranked among the Monarolidae. Other writers on races teu HISTORY OF IOWA. 19 regard them as a branch of the great Mon- golian family, which at a distant period found its way from Asia to this continent, and remained here for centuries separate from the rest of mankind, passing, mean- while, through divers phases of barbarism and civilization. Morton, our eminent ethnologist, and his followers, Nott and Gliddon, claim for our native Red Men an origin as distinct as the flora and fauna of this continent. Prichard, whose views are apt to differ from Morton's, finds reason to believe, on comparing the American tribes together, that they must have formed a separate department of nations from the earliest period of the world. The era of their existence as a distinct and isolated people must probably be dated back to the time which separated into nations the in- habitants of the Old World, and gave to each its individuality and primitive lan- guage. Dr. Robert Brown, the latest authority, attributes, in his 'Races of Man- kind,' an Asiatic origin to our aboriginals. He says that the Western Indians not only personally resemble their nearest neighbors — the Northeastern Asiatics — but they re- semble them in language and tradition. The Esquimaux on the American and the Tohuktcis on the Asiatic side understand one another perfectly. Modern anthro- pologists, indeed, are disposed to think that Japan, the Kuriles, and neighboring regions, may be regarded as the original home of the greater part of the native American race. It is also admitted by them that between the tribes scattered from the Arctic sea to Cape Horn theie is more uniformity of physical feature than is seen in any other quarter of the globe. The weight of evidence and au- thority is altogether in favor of the opin- ion that our so-called Indians are a branch of the Mongolian family, and all additional researches strengthen the opinion. The tribes of both North and South America are unquestionably homogeneous, and, in all likelihood, had their origin in Asia, though they have been altered and modi- fied by thousands of years of total separa- tion from the present stock." If the conclusions arrived at by the reviewer is correct, how can one account for the vast difference in manner and form between the Red Man as he is now known, or even as he appeared to Columbus and his successors in the field of discovery, and the comparatively civilized inhabitants of Mexico, as seen in 1521 by Cortez, and of Peru, as witnessed by Pizarro in 1532 ? The subject is worthy of investigation. In the year 1541, Ferdinand DeSoto, a Spaniarl, discovered the Mississippi river, at the mouth of the Washita. He, how- ever, penetrated no further north than the 35th parallel of latitude, his death ter- minating the expedition. It was thus left for a later discoverer to first view the "beautiful land." In a grand council of Indians on the shores of Lake Superior, they told the Frenchmen glowing stories of the "great river" and the countries near it. Mar- quette, a Jesuit father, became inspired with the idea of discovering this noble river. He was delayed in this great un- dertaking, however, and spent the interval in studying the language and habits of the Illinois Indians, among whom he expected to travel. In 1673 he completed his pre- parations for the journey, in which he was to be accompanied by Joliet, an agent of \ « -J — ► 20 HISTOET OF IOWA. the French Government. The Indians, who had gathered in large numbers to wit- ness his departure, tried to dissuade him from the undertaking, representing that the Indians of the Mississippi Valley were cruel and blood-thirsty, and would resent the intrusion of strangers upon their do- main. The great river itself, they said, was the abode of terrible monsters, who could swallow both canoes and men. But .Marquette was not diverted from his pur- pose by these reports, and set out on his adventurous trip May 13; he reached, first, an Indian village where once had been a mission, and where he was treated hospit- ably; thence, with the aid of two Miami guides, he proceeded to the Wisconsin, down which he sailed to the great Missis- si) pi, which had so long been anxiously looked for; floating down its unknown waters, the explorer discovered, on the 25th of June, traces of Indians on the west bank of the river, and landed a little above the river now known as the Des Moines. For the first time Europeans trod the soil of Iowa. Marquette remained here a short time, becoming acquainted with the In- dians, and then proceeded on his explora- tions. He descended the Mississippi to the Illinois, by which and Lake Michigan he returned to French settlements. Nine years later, in 1682, La Salle de- scended the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, and, in the name of the king of France, took formal posession of all the immense region watered by the great river and its tributaries from its source to its mouth, and named it Louisiana, in honor of his master, Louis XIV. The river he called " Colbert," in honor of the French Minister, and at its mouth erected a column and a cross bearing the inscription, in French: ' 'LOUIS THE GREAT, KJXG OF FEANCB AND NAVAEKB, KEIG.XING APEIL 9, 1682." France then claimed by right of dis- covery and occupancy the whole valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries, includ- ing Texas. Spain at the same time laid claim to all the region about the Gulf of Mexico, and thus these two great nations were brought into collision. But the country was actually held and occupied by the native Indians, especially the great Miami Confederacy, the Miamis proper (anciently the Twightwees) being the east- ern and most powerful tribe. Spain having failed to make any settle- ment in the newly-discovered country, it was left for France to occupy the land, and that government, soon after the dis- covery of the mouth of the Mississippi by La Salle, in 1682, began to encourage the policy of establishing a line of trading posts aud missionary stations, extending through the west from Canada to Louis- iana. In '1762, France, in a time of extreme weakness, ceded all the territory west of the Mississippi, including what is now Iowa, to Spain, which power retained pos- session until October 1, 1800, when it retroceded it to France. This latter power ceded it to the United States in 1803, for the sum of $15,000,000. On assuming control, the United States organized all that region west of the Mis- sissippi and north of the Territory of Orleans as the District of Louisiana. In 1805 the District of Louisiana was organ- ized into the Territory of Louisiana. Fp r y HISTORY OF IOWA. 21 This Territory was subsequently divided, and now forms seven great States — Louis- iana, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska. CHAPTER II. INDIANS AND INDIAN WAKS. For more than one hundred years after Marquette and Joliet trod the virgin soil of Iowa, and admired its fertile plains, not a single settlement had been made or attempted, nor even a trading post estab- lished. The whole country remained in the undisputed possession of the native tribes, who often poured out their life blood in obstinate contest for supremacy. That this State, so aptly styled "The Beautiful Land," had been the theatre of numerous fierce and bloody struggles be- tween the rival nations for possession of the favored region long before its settle- ment by civilized man, there is no room for doubt. In these savage wars the weaker party, whether aggressive or de- fensive, was either exterminated or driven from its ancient hunting grounds. When Marquette visited this country in 1673, the Illini were a very powerful people, occupying a large portion of the State ; but when the country was again visited by the whites, not a remnant of that once powerful tribe remained on the west side of the Mississippi, and Iowa was principally in the possession of the Sacs and Foxes, a warlike tribe which, originally two distinct nations, residing in New York and on the waters of the St. Lawrence, had gradually fought their way westward, and united, probably a f'.er the Foxes had been driven out of the Fox River country in 1846, and crossed the Mississippi. The death of Pontiac, a famous Sac chieftain, was made the text for war against the Illini, and a fiei ce and bloody struggle ensued, which con- tinued until the Illini were nearly de- stroyed, and their hunting grounds pos- sessed by their victorious foes. The low as also occupied a portion of the State, for a time, in common with the Sacs, but they, too, were nearly destroyed by the Sacs and Foxes, and in " The Beautiful Land " these natives met their equally warlike foes, the northern Sioux, with whom the} maintained a constant warfare for the pos- session of the country for many years. In 1803, when Louisiana was purchased by the United States, the Sacs, Foxes and Iowas possessed the entire State of Iowa, and the two former tribes, also, occupied most of Illinois. > i '> d*=±z 22 HISTORY OF IOWA. The Sacs had four principal villages, where most of them resided. Their largest and most important town — if an Indian village may be called such — and from which emanated most of the ob- stacles encountered by the Government in the extinguishment of Indian titles to land in this region, was on Eock river, near Rock Island ; another was on the east bank of the Mississippi, near the mouth of Henderson river ; the third was at the head of the Des Moines Rap- ids, near the present site of Montrose ; and the fourth was near the mouth of the upper Iowa. The Foxes had three principal villages. One was on the west side of the Missis- sippi, six miles above the rapids of Rock river; another was about twelve miles from the river, in the rear of the Dubuque lead mines ; and the third was on Turkey river. The Iowas, at one time identified with the Sacs of Rock river, had withdrawn from them and become a separate tribe. Their principal village was on the Des Moines river, in Van 6 ure n county, on the site where Iowaville now stands. Here the last great battle between the Sacs and Foxes and the Iowas was fought, in which Black Hawk, then a young man, com- manded one division of the attacking f rces. The following account of the bat- tle has been given: "Contrary to long established custom of Indian attack, this battle was commenced in the day-time, the attending circum- stances justifying this departure from the well-settled usages of Indian warfare The battle field was a level river bottom, about four miles in length, and- two miles wide near the middle, narrowing to a point at either end. The main area of this bottom rises perhaps twenty feet above the river, leaving a narrow strip of low bottom along the shore, covered with trees that belted the prairie on the river side with a thick forest, and the immediate bank of the river was fringed with a dense growth of wil- low. Near the lower end of this prairie, near the river bank, was situated the Iowa village. About two miles above it and near the middle of the prairie is a mound, covered at the time with a tuft of small trees and underbrush growing on its sum- mit. In the rear of this little elevation or mound lay a belt of wet prairie, covered, at that time, with a dense growth of rank, coarse grass. Bordering this wet prairie on the north, the country rises abruptly into elevated broken river bluffs, covered with a heavy forest for many miles in ex- tent, and in places thickly clustered with undergrowth, affording convenient shelter for the stealthy approach of the foe. "Through this forest the Sac and Fox war party made their way in the night, and secreted themselves in the tall grass spoken of above, intending to remain in ambush during the day and make such observa- tions as this near proximity to their in- tended victims might afford, to aid them in their contemplated attack on the town during the following night. From this situation their spies could take a full sur- vey of the village, and watch every move- ment of the inhabitants, by which means they were soon convinced that the Iowas had no suspicion of their presence. "At the foot of the mound above men- tioned the Iowas had their race course, where they diverted themselves with the T — 13 HISTORY OF IOWA. 23 excitement of horse-racing, and schooled their young warriors in cavalry evolutions. In these exercises mock battles were fought, and the Indian tactics of attack and defense carefully inculcated, by which means a skill in horsemanship was acquired that is rarely excelled. Unfortunately for them this day was selected for their equestrian sports, and, wholly unconscious of the proximity of their foes, the warriors re- paired to the race-ground, leaving most of their arms in the village, and their old men, women and children unprotected. "Pash-a-po-po, who was chief in com- maud of the Sacs and Foxes, perceived at once the advantage this state of things afforded for a complete surprise of his now doomed victims, and ordered Black Hawk to file off with his young warriors through the tall grass and gain the cover of the timber along the river bank, and with the utmost speed reach the village and com- mence the battle, while he remained with his division in the ambush to make a sim- ultaneous assault on the unarmed men whose attention was engrossed with the excitement of the races. The plan was skillfully laid and most dexterously exe- cuted. Black Hawk with his forces reached the village undiscovered, and made a furious onslaught upon the de- fenseless inhabitants by firing one general volley into their midst, and completing the slaughter with the tomahawk and scalping- knife, aided by the devouring flames with which they enveloped the village as soon as the fire-brand could be spread from lodge to lodge. "On the instant of the report of fire-arms at the village, the forces under Pash-a-po-po leaped from their couchant position in the grass, and sprang, tiger-like, upon the un- armed Iowas in the midst of their racing sports. The first impulse of the latter natur- ally led them to make the utmost speed to- ward their arms in the village, and protect, if possible, their wives and children from the attack of their merciless assailants. The distance from the place of attack on the prairie was two miles, and a great number fell in their flight by the bullets and tomahawks of their enemies, who pressed them closely with a running fire the whole way, and the survivors only reached their town in time to witness the horrors of its destruction. Their whole village was in flames, and the dearest objects of their lives lay in slaughtered heaps amidst the devouring element, and the agonizing groans of the dying, mingled with the exulting shouts of the victorious foe, filled their hearts with maddening despair. Their wives and children who had been spared the general massacre were prisoners, and together with their arms in the hands of their victors; and all that could now be done was to draw off their shattered and defenseless forces, and save as many lives as possible by a retreat across the Des Moines river, which they effected in the best possible manner, and took a position among the Soap Creek hills." Previous to the settlement of their vil- lage on Rock river, the Sacs and Foxes had a fierce conflict with the Winnebagos, subdued them and took possession of their lands. At one time this village contained upward of 60 lodges, and was among the largest Indian villages on the continent. The number of Sacs and Foxes in 1825 was estimated by the Secretary of War to 7]<£ 24 HISTORY OF IOWA. be 4,600. Their village was situated in the immediate vicinity of the upper rapids of the Mississippi, where the flourishing towns of Rock Island and Davenport are now situated. The extensive prairies dotted over with groves, the beautiful scenery, the picturesque bluffs along the river banks, the rich and fertile soil pro- ducing large crops of corn, squash and other vegetables with little labor, the abundance of wild fruit, game, fish, and almost every- thing calculated to make it a delightful spot for an Indian village, which was found there, had made this place a favorite home of the Sacs, and secured for it the strong attachment and veneration of the whole nation. The Sioux located their hunting grounds north of the Sacs and Foxes They were a fierce and warlike nation, who often dis- puted possessions with their rivals in savage and bloody warfare. The possessions of these tribes were mostly located in Minne- sota, but extended over a portion of Northern and Western Iowa to the Mis- souri river. Their descent from the north upon the hunting grounds of Iowa fre- quently brought them into collision with the Sacs and Foxes, and after many a con- flict and bloody struggle, a boundary line was established between them by the Government of the United States, in a treaty held at Prairie du Chien in 1825. Instead of settling the difficulties, this caused them to quarrel all the more, in consequence of alleged trespasses upon each other's side of the line. So bitter and unre'enting became these contests, that,in lS30,the Government purchased of the respective tribes of the Sacs and Foxes, and the Sioux, a strip of land twenty miles wide on both sides of the line, thus throw- ing them forty miles apart by creating a "neutral ground," and commanded them to cease their hostilities. They were, however, allowed to fish and hunt on the ground unmolested, provided they did not interfere with each other on United States territory. Soon after the acquisition of Louisiana, the United States Government adopted measures for the exploration of the new Territory, having in view the conciliation of the numerous tribes of Indians by whom it was possessed, and a' so the se- lection of proper sites for the establish- ment of military posts and trading sta- tions. The Army of the West, Gen. Wil- kinson commanding, had its headquarters at St. Louis. From this post Captains Lewis and Clarke, with a sufficient force, were detailed to explore the unknown sources of the Missouri, and Lieut. Zebu- Ion M. Tike to ascend to the head waters of the Mississippi. Lieut. Pike, with one sergeant, two corporals and seven- teen privates, left the military camp, near St. Louis, in a keel boat, with four months' rations, August 9ih, 1805. On the 201 h of the same month the expedition arrived within the present limits of Iowa, at the foot of the Des Moines Rapids, where Pike met William Ewing, who had just been appointed Indian Agent at this point, a French interpreter, four chiefs, fifteen Sacs and Fox warriors. At the head of the rapids, where Montrose is now situated, Pike held a council with ihe Indians, in which he addres.-ed them sub- stantially as follows: "Your great father, the President of the United States, wishes to be more intimately 3~, 'A HISTORY OF IOWA. 25 acquainted with the situation and wants of the different nations of Red people in our newly acquired Territory of Louis- iana, and has ordered the General to send a number of his warriors in different directions to take them by the hand and make such inquiries as might afford the satisfaction required." At the close of the council he presented the Red Men with some knives, tobacco and whisky. On the 23d of August he arrived at what is supposed, from his de- scription, to be the site of the present city of Burlington, which he selected as the location of a military post. He describes the place as "being on a hill, about forty miles above the River de Moyne Rapids, on the west side of the river, in latitude about 40 deg. 21 min. north. The channel of the river runs on that shore. The hill in front is about 60 feet perpendicular, and nearly level at the top. About 400 yards in the rear is a small prairie, fit for gardening, and immediately under the hill is a limestone spring, sufficient for the consumption of a whole regiment." In addition to this description, which corres- ponds to Burlington, the spot is laid down on his map at a bend in the river a short distance below the mouth of the Hender- son, which p mrs its waters into the Mis- sissippi from Illinois. The fort was built at Fort Madison, but from the distance, latitude, description and map furnished by Pike, it could not have been the place se- lected by him, while all the circumstances corroborate the opinion that the place he selected was the spot where Burlington is now located, called by the early voyagers on the Mississippi " Flint Hills " In c. m- pany with one of his men, Tike went on shore on a hunting expedition, and follow- ing a stream which they supposed to be a part of the Mississippi, they were led away from their course. Owing to the intense heat and tall grass, his two favorite dogs, which he had taken with him, became ex- hausted, and he left them on the prairie, supposing that they would follow him as soon as they should get rested, and went on to overtake his boat. After reaching the river he waited some time for his canine friends, but they did not come, and as he deemed it inexpedient to detain the boat longer, two of his men volunteered to go in pursuit of them, and he continued on his way up the river, expecting that the two men would soon overtake him They lost their way, however, and for six days were without food, except a few morsels gathered from the stream, and might have perished had they not accidentally met a trader from St. Louis, who induced two Indians to take them up the river, and they overtook the boat at Dubuque. At he latter place Pike was cordially received by Julien Dubuque, a Frenchman, who held a mining claim under a grant from Spain. He had an old Geld piece, and fired a salute in honor of the advent of the first Amer- ican who had visited that part of the Ter- ritory. He was not, however, disposed to publish the wealth of his mines, and the youug and evidently inquisitive officer obtained but little information from him. Upon leaving this place, Pike pursued his way up the river, but as he pas-ed beyond the limits of the present State of Iowa, a detailed history of his explora- tions does not proprrly belong to this vol- ume. It is sufficient to say that, on the site of Fort Spelling, Mimics ita, he lu 1 ! a 26 HISTORY OF IOWA. council with the Sioux, Sept. 23, and ob- tained from them a grant of 100,000 acres of land. Jan. 8, 1806, he arrived at a trad- ing post belonging to the Northwest Com- pany, on Lake De Sable, in latitude 47 °. This company at that time carried on their immense operations from Hudson's Bay to the St. Lawrence ; up that river, on both sides along the great lakes, to the head of Lake Superior, thence to the sources of the Red River of the North, and west to the Rocky Mountains, embracing within the scope of their operations what was subse- quently the State of Iowa. After suc- cessfully accomplishing his mission and performing a valuable service to the whole Northwest, Pike returned to St. Louis, ar- riving there April 30, 1806. Before the Territory of Iowa could be open to settlement by the whites, it was necessary that the Indian title should be extinguished and the original owners re- moved. The Territory had been pur- chased by the United States, but was still occupied by the Indians, who claimed title to the soil by right of possession. In order to accomplish this purpose, large sums of money were expended, besides the frontier being disturbed by Indian wars, terminated repeatedly by treaty, only to be renewed by some act of oppression on the part of the whites, or some violation of treaty stipulation. When the United States assumed con- trol of the country, by virtue of the Louis- iana purchase, nearly the whole State was in possession of the Sacs and Foxes, a powerful and warlike nation, who were not disposed to submit without a struggle to what they considered the encroachment of the pale faces. Among the most noted chiefs, and one whose restlessness and hatred of the Americans occasioned more trouble to the Government than any other of his tribe, was Black Hawk, who was born at the Sac Village, on Rock river, in 1767. He was simply the chief of his own band of Sac warriors; but by his energy and ambition he became the leading spirit of the united nation of Sacs and Foxes, and one of the prominent figures in the history of the country from 1804 till his death. In early manhood he attained distinc- tion as a fighting chief, having led cam- paigns against the Osages and other neigh- boring tribes. About the beginning of the present century he began to appear prominent in affairs on Ihe Mississippi. His life was a marvel. He is said by some to have been the victim of a narrow prejudice and bitter ill-will against the Americans. Upon the cession of Spain to France, in 1801, it did not give up possession of the country, but retained it, and by the au- thority of France transferred it to the United States in 1804. At that time Black Hawk and his band were in St. Louis, and were invited to be present and witness the transfer; but he refused the invitation, and it is but just to say that this refusal was caused probably more from regret that the Indians were to be transferred from the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities than from any special hatred toward the Americans. In his life he says: "I found many sad and gloomy faces because the United States were about to take possession of the town and country. Soon after the Americans came I took my bind and went to take leave of my Spanish it* HISTORY OF IOWA. 27 father. The Americans came to see him also. Seeing them approach, we passed out of one door as they entered an- other, and immediately started in our canoes for our village on Rock river, not liking the change any better than our friends appeared to at St. Louis. On arriving at our village, we gave the news that strange people had arrived at St. Louis, and that we should never see our Spanish father again. The information made all our people sorry." November 3, 1804, a treaty was con- cluded between William Henry Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory, on behalf of the United States, and five chief's of the Sac and Fox nation, by which the latter, in consideration of $2,234 worth of goods then delivered, and a yearly annuity of $1,000 to be paid in goods at just cost, ceded to the United States all that land on the east side' of the Mississippi, extending from a point opposite the Jefferson, in Missouri, to the Wisconsin river, embra- cing an area of over 51,000,000 of acres. To this treaty Black Hawk always objected, and always refused to consider it binding upon his people. He asserted that the chiefs or braves who made it had no au- thority to relinquish the title of the nation to any of the lands they held or occu- pied, and, moreover, that they had been sent to St. Louis on quite a different errand, namely: to get one of their people released, who had been imprisoned at St. Louis for killing a white man. In 1805 Lieutenant Pike came up the river for the purpose of holding friendly councils with the Indians and selecting sites for forts within the territory recently acquired from France by the United States. Lieut. Pike seems to have been the first American whom Black Hawk ever met or had a personal interview with, and he seemed very much prepossessed in his favor. He gives the following account of his visit to Rock Island: "A boat came up the river with a young American chief and a small party of soldiers. We heard of them soon after we passed Salt river. Some of our young braves watched them every day to see what sort of people he had on board. The boat at length arrived at Rock river, and the young chief came on shore with his interpreter, made a speech and gave us some presents We in turn presented him with meat and such other provisions as we had to spare. We were well pleased with the young chief; ' he gave us good advice, and said our American father would treat us well." Fort Edwards was erected soon after Pike's expedition, at what is now Warsaw, Illinois, also Fort Madison, on the site of the present town of that name, the latter being the first fort erected in Iowa. These movements occasioned great u;. easiness among the Indians. When work was commenced on Fort Edwards, a delegation from their nation, headed by some of their chiefs, went down to see what the Ameri- cans were doing, and had an interview with the commander, after which they returned home and were apparently satis- fied. In like manner, when Fort Madison was being erected, they sent down another delegation from a council of^the nation held at Rock river. According to Black Hawk's account, the American chief told them that he was building a house for a trader, who was coming to sell them goods cheap, and that the soldiers were cominir "?U 28 HISTORY OF IOWA. to keep him company — a statement which Black Hawk says they distrusted at the time, believing that the fort was an en- croachment upon their rights, and designed to aid it getting their lands away from them. It is claimed, by good authority, that the building of Fort Madison was a violation of the treaty of 1804. By the 11th article of that treaty, the United States had a right to build a fort near the mouth of the Wisconsin river, and by article 6 they had bound themselves "that if any citizen of the United States or any other white persons should form a settle- ment upon their lands, such intruders should forthwith be removed." Probably the authorities of the United States did not regard the establishment of military posts as coming properly within the meaning of the term "settlement" as used in the treaty. At all events, they erected Fort Madison within the territory reserved to the Indi- ans, who became very indignant. Very soon after the fort was built, a party led by Black Hawk attempted its destruction. They sent spies to watch the movements of the garrison, who ascer- tained tbat the soldiers were in the habit of marching out of the fort every morning and evening for parade, and the plan of the party was to conceal themselves near the fort, and attack and surprise them when they were outside. On the morning of the proposed day of the attack, five soldiers came out and were fired upon by the Indians, two of them being killed. The Indians were too hasty in their move- ment, for the parade had not commenced. However, they kept up the attack several days, attempting the old Fox strategy of setting fire to the fort with blazing arrows; but finding their efforts unavailing, they soon gave up and returned to Rock river. In 181 2, when war was declared between this country and Great Britain, Black Hawk and his band allied themselves with the British, partly because he was dazzled by their specious promises, but more prob- ably because they were deceived by the Americans. Black Hawk himself declared that they were forced into war by being deceived. He narrates the circumstances as follows: "Several of the head men and chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes were called upon to go to Washingt .n to see their Great Father. On their return they re- lated what had been said and done. They said the Great Father wished them, in the event of a war taking place with England, not to interfere on either side, but to re- main neutral. He did not want our help, but wished us to bunt and suppoit our families, and live in peace. He said that British traders would not be permitted to come on the Mississippi to furnish us with goods, but that we should be supplied with an' American trader. Our chiefs then told him that the British traders always gave them credit in the fall for guns, powder and goods, to enable us to hunt and clothe our families. He repeated that the traders at Fort Madison would have plenty of goods; that we should go there in the fall and he would supply us on credit, as the British traders had done." Black Hawk seems to have accepted the proposition, and he and his people were very much pleased. Act- ing in good faith, they fitted out for their winter's hunt, and went to Fort Madi m in high spirits to receive from the trader their outfit of supplies; but after waiting some time, they were told by the trader **T<2 »- +J2i =iK: HISTORY OF IOWA. 29 that he would not trust them. In vain they pleailed the promise of their Great Father at Washington; the trader was inexorable. Disappointed and crest fallen, the Indians turned sadly to their own vil- lage. Says Black Hawk: "Few of us slept that night. All was gloom and discon- tent. In the morning a canoe was seen ascending the river; it soon arrived bear- ing an express, who brought intelligence that a British trader had landed at Rock Island with two boats filled with goods, and requested us to come up immediately, be- cause he had good news for us, and a variety of presents. The express presented us with tobacco, pipes and wampum. The news ran through our camp like fire on a prairie. Our lodges were soon taken down and all started for Rock Island. Here ended all our hopes of remaining at peace, having been forced into the war by being deceived." He joined the British, who flattered him, and styled him "Gen. Black Hawk," decked him with medals, excited his jealousy against the Americans, and armed his band; but he met with defeat and disappointment, and soon abandoned the service and came home. There was a portion of the Sacs and Foxes, whom Black Hawk, with all his skill and cunning, could not lead into hos- tilities to the United States. With Keokuk ("The Watchful Fox") at their head, they were disposed to abide by the treaty of 1804, and to cultivate friendly relations with the American people. So, when Black Hawk and his band joined the fortunes of Great Britain, the rest of the nation remained neutral, and, for protec- tion, organized with Keokuk for their chief. Thus, the nation was divided into the "War and Peace party." Black Hawk says he was informed, after he had gone to the war, that the nation, which had been reduced to so small a body of fighting men, were unable to defend themselves in case the Americans should attack them, and, having all the old men, women and children belonging to the warriors who had joined the British, on their hands to provide for, a council was held, and it was agreed that Quash-qua-me (The Lance) and other chiefs, together with the old men, women and children, and such others as chose to accompany them, should go to St. Louis and place themselves und» r the American Chief stationed there. Accord- ingly they went down, and were received as the "friendly band" of Sacs and Foxes, and were provided for and sent up the Missouri river. On Black Hawk's return from the British army, he says Keokuk was intro- duced to him as the war chief of the braves then in the village. He iuquired how he had become chief; and was in- formed that their spies had seeu a large armed force going toward Peoria, and fears were entertained of an attack upon the village; whereupon a council was held, which concluded to leave the village, and cross over to the other side of the Mis- sissippi. Keokuk had been standing at the door of the lodge when the council was held, not being allowed to enter on account of never having killed an enemy, where he remained until Wa-co-me came out. Keokuk asked permission to speak to the council, which Wa-co-me obtained for him. He then addressed the chiefs. He remonstrated against the desertion of their village, their own homes, and the 30 HISTORY OF IOWA. graves of their fathers, and offered to defend the village. The council consented that he should be their war chief. He marshaled his braves, sent out spies, and advanced on the lead- ing trail to Peoria, but returned without seeing the enemy. The Americans did not disturb the village, and all were satis- fied with the appointment of Keokuk. Like Black Hawk, he was a descendant of the Sac branch of the nation, and was born on Rock river in 1780. He was of a pacific disposition, but possessed the elements of true courage, and could fi ..'lit when occa- sion required with cool judgment and heroic energy. In his first bailie he en- countered and killed a Sioux, which placed him in the rank of warriors, and he was honored with a public feast by his tribe in commemoration of the event. In person, Keokuk was tall and of portly bearing. In his public speeches he dis- played a commanding attitude and grace- ful gestures. He has been described as an orator, entitled to rank with the most gifted of his race. He spoke rapidly, but his enunciation was clear, distinct and forcible; he culled his figures from the stores of nature, and based his arguments on skillful logic. Unfortunately for his reputation as an oratoramong white people, he was never able to obtain an interpreter who could claim even a slight acquaint- ance with philosophy. With one excep- tion only, his interpreters were unac- quainted with the elements of their mother tongue. Of this serious hindrance to his fame he was well aware, and re- tained Frank Labershure, who had re- ceived a rudimental education in the French and English languages, until the latter broke down by dissipation and died. Keokuk was thus compelled to submit his speeches for translation to uneducated men, whose range of thought fell far below the flights of a gifted mind, and the fine imagery drawn from nature was be- yond their power of reproduction. Keokuk had sufficient knowledge of the English language to make him sensible of this bad rendering of his thoughts, and often a feeling of mortification at the bungling efforts was depicted on his coun- tenance while speaking. The proper place to form a correct estimate of his ability as an orator was in the Indian council, where he addressed himself ex- clusively to those who understood his lan- guage, and witnessed the electrical effect of his eloquence upon his council. He seems to have possessed a more sober judgment, and to have had a more intelli- gent view of the great strength and re- sources of the United States, than his noted and restless cotemporary, Black Hawk. He knew from the first that the reckless war which Black Hawk and his band had determined to carry on could result in nothing but disaster and defeat, and he used every argument against it. The large- number of warriors whom he had dissuaded from following Black Hawk became, however, greatly excited with the war spirit after Stillman's defeat, and but for the signal tact displayed by Keokuk on that occasion, would have forced him to submit to their wishes in joining the rest of the warriors in the field. A war dance was held, and Keokuk took part in it, seeming to be moved with the current of the rising storm. When the dance was over, he called the council together to pre- HISTORY OF IOWA. 31 pare for war. He made a speech, in which be admitted the justice of their complaints against the Americans. To seek redress was a nohle aspiration of their nature. The blood of their brethren had been shed by the white man, and the spirits of their braves, slain in battle, called loudly for vengeance. " I am your chief," said he, " and it is my duty to lead you to battle, if after fully considering the matteryou are determined to go; but before you decide to take this important step, it is wise to inquire into the chances of success." He then portrayed to them the great power of the United States, against whom they would have to contend, and thought their chances of success was utterly hope- less. l: But," said he, "if you do deter- mine to go upon the warpath, I will agree to lead you on one condition — that before we go we kill our old men and our wives and children, to save them from a linger- ing death of starvation, and that every one of us determine to leave our homes on the other side of the Mississippi." This was a strong but truthful picture of the pros- pect before them, and was presented in such a forcible light as to cool their ardor and cause them to abandon their rash undertaking. From this time there was no serious trouble with the Indians until the Black Hawk war. The treaty of 1804, between the United States and the chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations was never acknowledged by Black Hawk, and, in 183], he established him- self with a chosen band of warriors upon the disputed territory, ordering the whites to leave the country at once. The settlers complaining, Governor Reynolds, of Illi- nois, dispatched General Gaines with a company of regulars and 1,500 volunteers to the scene of action. Taking the Indians by surprise, the troops burnt their village, and forced them to conclude a treaty, by which they ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi, and agreed to remain on the west side of the river. Necessity forced the proud spirit of Black Hawk into submission, which made him more than ever determined to be avenged upon his enemies-. Having ral- lied around him the warlike braves of the Sac and Fox nations, he recrossed the Mis- sissippi in the spring of 1832. Upon hearing of the invasion, Governor Rey- nolds hastily collected a body of 1,800 volunteers, placing them under command of Brig.-Gen. Samuel Whiteside. The army marched to the Mississippi, and, having reduced to ashes the Indian village known as " Prophet's Town," pro- ceeded several miles up Rock river, to Dixon, to join the regular forces under Gen. Atkinson. They formed, at Dixon, two companies of volunteers, who, sighing for glory, were dispatched to reconnoiter the enemy. They advanced, under com- mand of Major Stillman, to a creek after- wards called "Stillman's run," and, while encamping there, saw a party of mounted Indians at a distance of a mile. Several of Stillman's party mounted their horses and charged the Indians, killing three of them; but, "attacked by the main body, under Black Hawk, they were routed, and, by their precipitate flight, spread such a panic through the camp that the vhole company ran off to Dixon as fast as their legs could carry them. On their arrival it was found that there had been eleven killed. The -t •r 32 HISTORY OF IOWA. party came straggling into camp all night long, four or five at a time, each squad positive that all who were left behind were massacred . It is said that a big, tall Kontuckian, with a loud voice, who was a Colonel of the militia, upon his arrival in camp gave to Gen. Whiteside and the wondering multi- tude the following glowing and bombastic account of the battle: "Sirs," said he, "our detachment was encamped among some scattering timber on the north side of Old Man's creek, with the prairie from the north gently sloping down to our encampment. It was just after twilight, in the gloaming of the even- ing, when we discovered Black Hawk's army coming down upon us in solid column; they displayed in the form of a crescent upon the brow of the prairie, and such accuracy and precision of military move- ments were never witnessed by man ; they were i qual to the best troops of Wellington in Spain. I have said that the Indians came down in solid columns, and displayed in the form of a crescent; and, what was most wonderful, there were large squares of cavalry resting upon the points of the curve, which squares were supported again by other columns fifteen deep, extending back through the woods and over a swamp three-quarters of a mile, which again rested on the main body of Black llawk's army, bivouacked upon the banks of the Kish- wakee. It was a terrible and a glorious sight to see the tawny warriors as they rode along our flanks attempting to out- flank us, with the glittering moonbeams glistening from their polished blades and burning spears. It was a sight well calcu- lated to strike consternation in the stoutest and boldest heart; and, accordingly, < ur men soon began to break, in small squads, for tall timber. "In a very little time the rout became general, the Indiana were soon upon our flanks, and threatened the destiuction of our entire detachment. About this time Maj. Stillman, Col. Stephenson, Maj. Per- kins, Capt. Adams, Mr. Hackelton and my- self, with some others, threw ourselves into the rear to rally the fugitives and protect the retreat. But in a short time all my companions fell bravely fighting hand-to- hand with the savage euemy, and I alone was left upon the field of battle About this time I discovered not far to the left a corps of horsemen, which seemed to be in tolt rable order. I immediately deployed to the left, when, leaning down and placing my body in a recumbent posture upon the mane of my horse, so as to bring the heads of the horsemen between my eye and the horizon, I discovered, by the light of the moon, that they were gentlemen who did not wear hats, by which token I knew they were no friends of mine. I therefore made a retrograde movement, and recovered my position, where I remained some time, in thinking what further I could do for my country, when a random ball came whist- ling by my ear, and plainly whispered to me, 'Stranger, you have no further busi- ness here.' Upon hearing this, I followed the example of my companions-in-arms, and broke for tall timber, and the way I ran was not a little." For a long time afterward Maj. Stillman and his men were subjects of ridicule and merriment, which was as undeserving as their expedition was disastrous. Still- man's defeat spread consternation through- ^fc 2l HISTORY OF IOWA. 33 out the State and nation. The number of Indians was greatly exaggerated, and the name of Black Hawk carried with it asso- ciations of great military talent, savage cunning and cruelty. A regiment sent to spy out the country between Galena and Rock Island, was sur- prised by a party of seventy Indians, and was on the point of being thrown into dis- order, when Gen. Whiteside, then serving as a private, shouted out that he would shoot the first man who turned his back on the enemy. Order being restored, the bat- tle began. At its very outset Gen. White- side shot the leader of the Indians, who thereupon commenced a hasty retreat. In June, 1832, Black Hawk, with a band of one hundred and fifty warriors, attacked the Apple River Port, near Galena, de- fended by twenty-five men. This fort, a mere palisade of logs, was erected to afford protection to the miners. For fifteen con- secutive hours the garrison had to sustain the assault of the savage enemy; but, knowing very well that no quarter would be given them, they fought with such fury and desperation that the Indians, after losing many of their warriors, were com- pelled to retreat. Another party of eleven Indians mur- dered two men near Fort Hamilton. They were afterward overtaken by a company of twenty men, and every one of them killed. A new regimert, nuder the command of Gen. Atkinson, assembled on the banks of the Illinois, in the latter part of June. Major Dement, with a small party, was sent out to reconnoiter the movements of a large body of Indians, whose endeavors to surround him made it advisable for him to retire. Upon hearing of this engage- ment, Gen Atkinson sent a detachment to intercept the Indians, while he with the main body of his army, moved north to meet the Indians under B'ack Hawk. They moved slowly and cautiously through the country, passed through Turtle Vil- lage, and marched up along R'>ck river. On their arrival news was brought of the disc ivery of the main trail of the Indians. Considerable search was made, but they were unable to discover any vestige of In- dians, save two, who had shot two soldiers the day previous. Hearing that Black Hawk was encamped on Roi-k River, at the Manitou village, they resolved at once to advance upon the enemy, but in the execution of their de- sign they met with opposition from their officers and men. The officers of Gen. Henry handed to him a written protest; but he, a man equal to any emergency, ordered the officers to be arrested and escorted to Gen. Atkinson. Within a few minutes after the stern order was given, the officers all collected around the Gen- eral's quarters, many of them with tears in their eyes, pledging themselves that if for- given they would return to duty and never do the like again. The General rescinded the order, and they at once resumed duty. THE BATTLE OP BAD-AXE. Gen. Henry marched, on the 15th of July, in pursuit of the Indians, reaching Rock river after three days' journey, where he learned Black Hawk was encamped further up the river. On July 19 the tro ips were ordered to commence their march. Alter having made 50 miles, they ^ 34 HISTORY OF IOWA. were overtaken by a terrible thunder storm, which lasted all night. Nothing c )oled, however, in their courage and zeal, they marched again 50 miles the next day, encamping near the place where the In- dians encamped the night before. Hurrying along as fast as they could, the infantry keeping up an equal pace with the mounted force, the troops, on the morning of the 2 1 st, crossed the river connecting two of the four lakes, by which the Indians had been endeavoring to escape. They found, on their way, the ground strewn with ket- tles and articles of baggage, which, in the haste of retreat, the Indians were obliged to throw away. The troops, inspired with new ardor, advanced so rapidly that at noon they fell in with the rear guard of the Indians. Those who closely pursued them were saluted by a sudden fire of musketry from a body of Indians who had concealed them elves in the high grass of the prairie. A most desperate charge was made upon the Indians, who, unable to resist, retreated obliquely in order to out- flank the volunteers on the right; but the latter charged the Indians in their ambush and expelled them from their thickets at the point of the bayonet, and dispersed them. Night set in and the battle ended, having cost the Indians sixty-eight of their bravest men, while the loss of the Illinois- ans amounted to but one killed and eight wounded. Soon after this battle, Gens. Atkinson and Henry joined their forces and pursued the Indians. Gen. Henry struck the main trail, left his horses behind, formed an advance guard of eight men, and marched forward upon their trail. When these eight men came within sight of the river, they were suddenly fired upon, and five of them killed, the remaining three maintain- ing their ground till Gen. Henry came up. Then the Indians, charged upon with the bayonet, fell back upon their main force; the battle now became general; the In- dians fought with desperate valor, but were furiously assailed by the volunteers with their bayonets, cutting many of the Indians to pieces and driving the rest into the river. Those who escaped from being drowned found refuge on an island. On hearing the frequent discharge of mus- ketry, indicating a general engagement, Gen. Atkinson abandoned the pursuit of the twenty Indians under Black Hawk himself, and hurried to the scene of action, where he arrived too late to take part in the battle. He immediately forded the river with his troops, the water reaching up to their necks, and landed on the island where the Indians had secreted them- selves. The soldiers rushed upon the Indians, killed several of them, took the others prisoners, and chased the rest into the river, where they were either drowned or shot before reaching the opposite shore. Thus ended the battle, the Indians losing three hundred, besides fifty prisoners; the whites, but seventeen killed and twelve wounded. Black Hawk, with his twenty braves, retreated up the Wisconsin river. The Wiunebagos, desirous of securing the friendship of the whites, went in pursuit and captured and delivered them to Gen. Street, the United States Indian Agent. Among the prisoners were the son of Black Hawk and the prophet of the tribe. These, with Black Hawk, were taken to »17 4, - 1 — »• HISTORY OF IOWA. 35 Washington, D. C, and soon consigne 1 as prisoners at Fortress Monroe. At the interview Black Hawk had with the President, he closed his speech deliv- ered on the occasion in the following words: "We did not expect to conquer the whites. They have too many houses, too many men. I took up the hatchet, for my part, to revenge injuries which my people could no longer endure. Had I borne them longer without striking, my people would have said: 'Black Hawk is a woman; he is too old to be a chief; he is no Sac' These reflections caused me to raise the war-whoop. I say no more. It is known to you. Keokuk once was here; you took him by the hand, and when he wished to return to his home, you were willing. Black Hawk expects, like Keo- kuk, he shall be permitted to return, too." By order of the President, Black Hawk and his companions, who were in confine- ment at Fortress Monroe, were set free on the 4th day of June, 1833. After their release from prison they were conducted in charge of Major Gar- land, through some of the principal cities, that they might witness the power of the United States and learn their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multi- tudes flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention paid thera rendered their progress through the couu- try a triumphal procession, instead of the transportation of prisoners by an officer. At Rock Island the prisoners were given their liberty amid great and impressive ceremony. In 1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des Moines, this State, and furnished it after the manner of the whites, ai'd engaged in agricultural pur- suits and hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he passeil the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be said that Black Hawk remained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her upward of forty years. At all times when Black Hawk visited the whites he was received with marked attention. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee county, Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received marked tokens of esteem. In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold, which resulted in a severe attack of bilious fever, and terminated his life Oct. 3. After his death he was dressed in the uniform presented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. The body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting position upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side the cane given him by Henry Clay was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. His remains were afterwards stolen and car- ried away, but they were recovered by the Governor of Iowa, and placed in the museum of the Historical Society at Bur- lington, where they were finally destroyed by tire. *>\ ■ * • 36 HISTORY OF IOWA. CHAPTER III. INDIAN TREATIES. As has already been stated, all Iowa was in actual possession of the Indians when purchased by the United States Govern- ment, and for purposes of settlement by the whites, could only be obtained by forcible ejectment or re-purchase from those inhabiting the country. This was effected in a series of treaties and pur- chases, of which a synopsis is given: The territory known as the "Black Hawk Purchase," although not the first p ition of Iowa ceded to the United States by the Sacs and Foxes, was the first opened to actual settlement by the tide of emi- gration which flowed across the Missis- sippi as soon as the Indian title was extinguished. The treaty which provided for this cession was made at a council held on the west bank of the Mississippi, where now stands the thriving city of Davenport, on ground now occupied by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. Co , Sept. 21, 1832. This was just after the "Black Hawk War," and the defeated savages had retired from east of the Mississippi. At the council the Government was repre- sented by Gen. Winfield Scott and Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois. Keokuk, Pashapaho and some thirty other chiefs and warriors were present. By this treaty the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a strip of land on the eastern border of Iowa, fifty miles wide, from the northern boundary of Missouri to the mouth of the Upper Iowa river, containing about 6,000,000 acres. The western line of the purchase was parallel with the Mississippi. In consider- ation of this cession, the United States Government stipulated to pay annually to the confederated tribes, for thirty con- secutive years, $20,000 in specie, and to pay the debts of the Indians at Rock Island, which had been accumulating for seventeen years, and amounted to $50,000, due to Davenport & Farnham, Indian traders. The Government also generously donated to the Sac and Fox women and children whose husbands and fathers had fallen in the Black Hawk War, 35 beef cattle, 12 bushels of salt, 30 barrels of pork, 50 barrels of flour, aud 6,000 bushels of corn. The treaty was ratified February 13, 1833, and took effect on the 1st of June following, when the Indians quietly re- moved from the ceded territory, and this fertile and beautiful region was opened to white settlers. By terms of the treaty, out of the Black Hawk purchase was reserved for the Sacs and Foxes 400 square miles of land, sit- uated on the Iowa River, and including within its limits Keokuk village, on the right bank of that river. This tract was known as Keokuk's reserve, and was occu- pied by the Indians until 1836, when, by \k — j^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 37 a treaty made in September between them and Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin Territory, it was ceded to the United States. The council was held on the banks of the Mis- sissippi, above Davenport, and was the largest assemblage of the kind ever held by the Sacs and Foxes to treat for the sale of lands. About one thousand of their chiefs and braves were present, and Keokuk was the leading spirit of the occasion, and their principal speaker. By the terms of this treaty, the Sacs and Foxes were removed to another reser- vation on the Des Moines river, where an agency was established at what is now the town of Agency City. The Government also gave out of the Black Hawk purchase to Antoine LeClare, interpreter, in fee simple, one section of land opposite Rock Island, and another at the head of the first rapids above the island on the Iowa side. This was the first land title granted by the United States to an individual in Iowa. Gen. Joseph M. Street established an agency among the Sacs and Foxes very soon after the removal of the latter to their new reservation. He was transferred from the agency of the Winnebagos for this purpose. A larm was selected, upon which the necessary buildings were erected, in- cluding a comfortable farm house for the agent and his family, at the expense of the Indian fund. A salaried agent was em- ployed to superintend the farm and dispose of the crops. Two mills were erected — one on Soap creek, and the other on Sugar creek. The latter was soon swept away by a flood, but the former remained and did good service for many years. Connected with the agency were Joseph Smart and John Goodell, interpreters. The latter was interpreter for Hard Fishes' band. Three of the Indian chiefs — Keo- kuk, Wapello and Appanoose — had each a large field improved, the two former on the right bank of the Des Moines, back from the river, in what is now " Keokuk's Prairie," and the latter on the present site of the city of Ottumwa. Among the traders connected with their agency were the Messrs. Ewing, from Ohio, and Phelps & Co , from Illinois, and also J. P. Eddy, who established his post at what is now the site of Eddyville. The Indians at this agency became idle and listless in the ab- sence of their natural and wonted excite- ments, and many of them plunged into dissipation. Keokuk himself became dis- sipated in the latter years of his life, and it has been reported that he died of de- lirium tremens after his removal with his tribe to Kansas. On May, 1S43, most of the Indians were removed up the Des Moines river, above the temporary line of Red Rock, having ceded the remnant of their lands in Iowa to the United States, Sept. 21, 1837, and Oct. 11, 1842. By the terms of the latter treaty, they held pos- session of the "New Purchase" till the autumn of 1845, when most of them were removed to their reservation in Kansas, the balance being removed in 1846. Before any permanent settlement was made in the Territory of Iowa, white ad- venturers, trappers and traders, many of whom were scattered along the Mississippi and its tributaries, as agents and employes of the American Fur Company, intermar- ried with the females of the Sac and Fox Indians, producing a race of half-breeds, whose number was never definitely ascer- tained. There were some respectable and jU r r -i i__ 38 III&TORY OF IOWA. excellent people among them, children of some refinement and education. For in- stance: Dr. Muir, a gentleman educated at Edinburg, Scotland, a Surgeon in the United States Army, stationed at a mili- tary post located on the present site of Warsaw, married an Indian woman, and reared his family of three daughters in the city of Keokuk. Other examples might be cited, but they are probably exceptions to the general rule, and the race is now nearly or quite extinct in Iowa. August 4, 1824, a treaty was made be- tween the United States and the Sacs and Foxes, by which that portion c.f Lee county was reserved to the half-breeds of those tribes, and which was afterward known as the " half-breed tract." This reservation is the triangular piece of land containing about 119,000 acres, lying between the Mississippi and the Des Moines rivers. It is bounded on the north by the prolonga- tion of the northern line of Missouri. This line was intended to be a straight one, run- ning due east, which would have caused it to strike the Mississippi river at or below Montrose; but the surveyor who run it took no notice of the change in the variation of the needle, as he proceeded eastward, and, in consequence, the line he run was bent, deviating more and more to the northward of a direct line as he approached the Mis- sissippi river, so that it struck that river at the lower edge of the town of Fort Madi- son. "This erroneous line," says Judge Mason, "has been acquiesced in as well in fixing the northern limit of the half-breed tract as in determining the northern boundary line of the State of Missouri." The line thus run included in the reserva- tion a portion of the lower part of the city of Fort Madison, and all of the present townships of Van Buren, Charleston, Jef- ferson, Des Moines, Montrose and Jackson. Under the treaty of 1824, the half-breeds had the right to occupy the soil, but could not convey it, the reversion being reserved to the United States. But January 30th, 1843, by act of Congress, this reversionary right was relinquished, and the half-breeds acquired the Ian Is in fee simple. This no sooner done than a horde of speculators rushed in to buy land of the half-breed owners, and, in many instances, a gun, blanket, a pony or a few quarts of whisky was sufficient for the purchase of large estates. There was a deal of sharp prac- tice on both sides. Indians would often claim ownership of land by virtue of being half-breeds, and had no difficulty in prov- ing their mixed blood by the Indians, and they would cheat the speculators by selling land to which they had no rightful title. On the other hand, speculators often claimed land in which they had no owner- ship. It was diamond cut diamond, until at last things became badly mixed. There were no authorized surveys, and no boun dary lines to claim, and, as a natural result, numerous conflicts and quarrels ensued. January 16, 1838, Edward Johnstone, Thomas S. Wilson and David Brigham were appointed commissioners by the Wis- consin Legislature, clothed with power to settle their difficulties, and to decide up in the validity of claims, or sell them for the benefit of the real owners. The act pro- vided that these commissioners should be paid six dollars a day each. The commis- sion entered upon its duties, and continued until the next session of the Legislature, HISTORY OF IOWA. 39 when the act creating it was repealed, in- validating all that had been done, and depriving the commissioners of their pay. The repealing act, however, authorized the commissioners to commence action against the owners of the half-breed tract, to re- ceive pay for their services in the District of Lee county. Two judgements were obtained, and on execution the whole tract was sold to Hugh T. Reid, the sheriff exe- cuting the deed. Mr. Reid sold portions of it to various parties; but his own title was questioned, and he became involved in litigation. Decisions in favor of Reid and those holding under him were made by both District and Supreme Courts; but in December, 1850, these decisions were finally reversed by the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of Joseph Webster, plaintiff in error, vs. Hugh T. Reid, and judgement titles failed. About nine years before the judgement titles were finally abrogated as above, another class of titles were brought into competition with them, and, in the conflict between the two, the final decision was obtained. These were the titles based on the " decree of partition " issued by the United States District Court for the Ter- ritory of Iowa, May 8, 1841, and certified to by the clerk on the 2d day of June of the same year. Edward Johnstone and Hugh T. Reid, then law partners at Fort Madison, filed the petition for the decree in behalf of the St. Louis claimants of half-breed lands. Francis S. Key, author of the Star-Spangled Banner, who was then attorney for the New York Land Company, which held heavy interests in these lands, took a leading part in the measure, and drew up the documents in which it was presented to the court. Judge Charles Mason, of Burlington, pre- sided. The plan of partition divided the the tract into 101 shares, and arranged that each claimant should draw his proportion by lot, and should abide the result, what- ever it might be. The arrangement was entered into, the lots drawn, and the jilat of the same filed in the Recorder's office, October 6, 1S41. Upon this basis the titles to the land in the Half-Breed Tract are now held. We subjoin a synopsis of the different treaties made with the Indians of Iowa: 1. Treaty with the Sioux. — Made July 15,1815; ratified December 16, 1815, This treaty was made at Portage des Sioux of Minnesota and Upper Iowa, and the United States, by William Clark and Ninian Ed- wards, Commissioners, and was merely a treatise of peace and friendship on the part of these Indians toward the United States at the close of the war of 1812. 2. Treaty with the Sacs. — A similar treaty of peace was made at Portage des Sioux, between the United States and the Sacs, by William Clark, Ninian Edwards and Auguste Choteau, on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1815, and ratified at the same date as the above. In this the treaty of 1804 was re-affirmed, and the Sacs here repre- sented promised for themselves and their bands to keep entirely separate from the Sacs of Rock river, who, under Black Hawk, had joined the British in the war just then closed. 3. Treaty with the Foxes. — A separate treaty of peace was made with the Foxes at Portage des Sioux, by the same commis- sioners, on the 14th of September, 1815, and ratified the same as the above, wherein nv 40 HISTORY OF IOWA. the Foxes re-affirmed the treaty of St. Louis, of November 3d, 1804, and agreed to de- liver up ali their prisoners to the officer in command at Fort Clark, now Peoria, Illi- nois. 4. Treaty with the lotcas. — A treaty of peace and mutual good-will was made between the United States and the Iowa tribe of Indiana, at Portage des Sioux, by the same commissioners as above, on the lGth of September, 1815, at the close of the war with Great Britain, and ratified at the same date as the others. 5. Treaty with the Sacs of Hock River. — Made at St. Louis, on the 13th of May, 1810, between the United States and the Sacs of Rock river, by the Commis- sioners, Willian Clark, Ninian Edwards and Augu-,te Choteau, and ratified Dec. 30, 1816. In this treaty that of 1804 was re- established and enforced by the chiefs and head men of the Sacs of Rock river, and Black Hawk himself attached to it his sig- nature, or, as he said, "touched the goose- quill." 6. Treaty of 1824.— On the 4th of August, 1824, a treaty was made between the United States and the Sacs and Foxes, in the city of Washington, by William Clark, Commissioner, wherein the Sac and Fox nations relinquished their title to all lands in Missouri, and that portion of the south- east corner of Iowa known as the "half- breed tract" was set off and reserved for the use of the half breeds of the Sacs and Foxes, they holding title in the same man- ner as Indians. Ratified Jan. 18, 1825. 7. Treaty of August 19, 1825.— At this date a treaty was made by Willi ira ' lark and Lewis Cass, at Prairie du Chien, be- tween the United States and the Chippe- was, Sacs and Foxes, Menominees, Winne- bagos, and a portion of the Ottawas and Pottawatomies. In this treaty, in order make peace between the contending tribes as to the limits of their respective hunting grounds in Iowa, it was agreed that the United States Government should run a boundary line between the Sioux, on the north, and the Sacs and Foxes on the south, as follows: Commencing at the mouth of the Upper Iowa river, on the west bank of the Mis- sissippi, and ascending said Iowa river to its west fork; thence up the fork to its source; thence crossing the fork of Red Cedar river in a direct line to the lower fork of the Calumet river, and down that fork to its junction with the Missouri river. 8. Treaty of 1830.— On the loth of July, 1830, the confederate tribes of the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a strip of country lying south of the above line, twenty miles in width, and extending along the line aforesaid from the Missis- sippi to the Des Moines river. The Sioux also, whose possessions were north of the line, ceded to the Government, in the same treaty, a strip on the north side of the boundary. Thus the United States, at the ratification of this treaty, February 24, 1831, came into possession of a portion of Iowa forty miles wide, extending along the Clarke and Cass line of 1825, from the Mississippi to the Des Moines river. This territory was then known as the "Neutr.il Ground," and the tribes on either side of the line were allowed to fish and hunt on it unmolested until it was made a Winne- bago reservation, and the Winnebagos were removed to it in 1841. HISTORY OF IOWA. 41 9. Treaty with the Sacs and Foxes and other tribes. — At the same time of the above treaty respecting the "Neutral Ground" (July 15, 1830), the Sacs and Foxes, Western Sioux, Omahas, Iowas and Missouris ceded to the United States a por- tion of the western slope of Iowa, the boundaries of which were defined as fol- lows: Beginning at the upper fork of the Des Moines river, and passing the sources of the Little Sioux and Floyd rivers, to the bank of the first creek that falls into ihe Big Sioux, or Calumet, on the east side; thence down said creek and the Calumet river to the Missouri river; thence down said Missouri river to the Missouri State line above the Kansas; thence along said line to the northwest corner of said State; thence to the high lands between the waters falling into the Missouri and Des Moines, passing to said high lands along the dividing ridge between the forks of the Grand river; thence along said high lands or ridge separating the waters of the Missouri from those of the Des Moines, to a point opposite the source of the Boyer river, and thence in a direct line to the upper fork of the Des Moines, the place of beginning It was understood that the lands ceded and relinquished by this treaty were to be assigned and allotted, under the direction of the President of the United States, to the tribes then living thereon, or to such other tribes as the President might locate thereon for hunting and other purposes. In consideration of three tracts of land ceded in this treaty, the United States agreed to pay to the Sacs $3,000; to the Foxes, $3,000; to the Sioux, $2,000; to the Yankton and Santee bands of Sioux, $3,000; to the Omahas, $1,500; and to the Ottoes and Missouris, $2,500— to be paid annually for ten successive years. In addition to these annuities, the Government agreed to furnish some of the tribes with b'ack- smiths and agricultural implements to the amount of $200, at the expense of the United States, and to set apart $3,000 an- nually for the education of the children of these tribes. It does not appear that any fort was erected in this territory prior to the erection of Fort Atkinson on the Neu- tral Ground in 184u-'41. This treaty was made by William Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and Col. Willoughby Morgan, of the United States First Infantry, and came into effect by proclamation, February 24, 1831. 10. Treaty with the Winnebagos. — Made at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, September 15th, 1832, by General Winfie d Scott and Hon. John R ynolds, Governor of Illinois In this treaty the Winne- bagos ceded to the United States all their ' land lying on the east side of the Missis- sippi, and in part consideration therefor the United States granted to the Winne- bagos, to be held as other Indian lands are held, that portion of Iowa known as the Neutral Grounds. The exchange of the two tracts of country was to take place on or before the 1st day of June, 1833. In addition to the Neutral Grounds, it was stipulated that the United States should give the Winnebagos, beginning in Sep- tember, 1833, and continuing for twenty- seven successive years, $10,000 in specie, and establish a school among them with a farm and garden, and provide other facili- ties for the education of their chi dren, not to exceed in cost $3,000 a year, and to con- f TV 42 HISTOEY OF IOWA. tinue the same twenty-seven successive years. Six agriculturists, twelve yoke of oxen, and plows and other farming tools were to be supplied by the Government. 11. Treaty o/1832 with the Sacs and Foxes. — Already mentioned as the Black Hawk purchase. 12. Treaty of 1836 with the Sacs and Foxes. — Ceding Keokuk's reserve to the United States, for which the Government stipulated to pay $30,000, and an annuity of $10,000 for ten successive years, to- gether with other sums and debts of the Indians to various parties. 13. Treaty of 183V.— On the 21st of October, 1837, a treaty was made at the city of Washington, between Carey A. Harris, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the confederate tribes of Sacs and Foxes, ratified February 21, 1838, wherein another slice of the soil of Iowa was ob- tained, described in the treaty as follows: "A tract of country containing 1,250,000 acres, lying west and adjoining the tract conveyed by them to the United States in the treaty of September 21, 1832. It is understood that the points of termination for the present cession shall be the north- ern and southern points of tract as fixed by the survey made under the authority of the United States, and that a line shall be drawn between them so as to intersect a line extended westwardly from the angle of said tract nearly opposite to Rock Island, as laid down in the above survey, so far as may be necessary to include the number of acres hereby ceded, which last mentioned line, it is estimated, will be about twenty- five miles." This piece of land was about twenty-five miles in the middle, and ran off to a poitit at both ends, lying directly back to the Black Hawk purchase, and of the same length. 14. Treaty of Relinquishment. — At the same date as the above treaty, in the city of Washington, Carey A. Harris, Commis- sioner, the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States all their right and interest in the country lying south of the boundary line between the Sacs, Foxes and Sioux, as described in the treaty of August 19, 1825, and between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, the United Slates paying fur the same $160,000. The Indians also gave up all claims and interests under the treaties previously made with them, for the satis- faction of which no appropriations had been made. 15. Treati/ of 1842.— The last tr aty was made with the Sacs and Foxes October 11, 1842; ratified March 23, 1843. It was made at the Sac and Fox agency (Agency City), by John Chambers, Commissioner on behalf of the United States. In this treaty the Sac and Fox Indians ceded to the United States all their lands west of the Mississippi to which they had any claim or title By the terms of this treaty they were to be removed from the country at the expiration of three years, and all who remained after that were to move at their own expense. Part of them were removed to Kansas in the fall of 1845, and the rest the spring following. HISTORY OF IOWA. 43 CHAPTER IV. EAELY SETTLEMENTS. The first permanent settlement made by whites within the limits of Iowa, was by Julien Dubuque, in 1788, when, with a small party of miners, he settled on the site of the city that now bears his name, where he lived until his death, in 1810. What was known as the Girard settlement, in Clayton county, was made by some parties prior to the commencement of the present century. It consisted of three cabins, in 1805. Louis Honori settled on the site of the present town of Montrose, probably in 1799, and resided thereuntil 1805, when his property passed into other hands. Indian traders had established themselves at various points at an early date. Mr. Johnson, an agent of the American Fur Company, had a trading post below Burlington, where he carried on traffic with the Indians some- time before the United States purchased Louisiana. In 1820, LeMoliese, a French trader, had a station at what is now San- dusky, six miles above Keokuk, in Lee county. The same year, a cabin was built where the city of Keokuk now stands, by Ur. Samuel C. Muir, a surgeon in the United States Army. His marriage and subsequent life were very romantic. While stationed at a military post on the Upper Mississippi, the post was visited by a beau- tiful Indian maiden — whose native name, unfortunately, has not been preserved — who, in her dreams, had seen a white brave unmoor his canoe, paddle it across the river, and come directly to her lodge. She felt assured, according to the superstitious belief of her race, that in her dreams she had seen her future husband, and had come to the fort to find him. Meeting Dr. Muir, she instantly recognized him as the hero of her dream, which, with childlike innocence and simplicity, she related to him. Her dream was indeed prophetic. Charmed with Sophia's beauty, innocence and devo- tion, the doctor honorably married her; but after awhile the sneers and gibes of his brother officers — less honorable than he, perhaps — made him feel ashamed of his dark-skinned wife, and when his regiment was ordered down the river to Bellefon- taine, it is said he embraced the opportu- nity to rid himself of her, never expecting to see her again, and little dreaming that she would have the courage to follow him. But, with her infant child, this intrepid wife and mother started alone in her canoe, and after many days of weary labor and a lonely journey of 900 miles, she at last reached him. She afterward remarked, when speaking of this toilsome journey down the river in search of her husband: "When I got there I was all perished away — so thin !" The doctor, touched by such unexampled devotion, took her to his heart, and ever after, until his death, treat- ed her with marked respect. She always ^[ g I 44 HISTORY OF IOWA. presided at his table with grace and dig- nity, but nrver abandoned her native style of dress. In 181 9-'20 be was stationed at Fort Edward, now Warsaw, but the sense- less ridicule of some of his brother officers on account of his Indian wife induced him to resign his commission. He then built a cabin, as above stated, where Keokuk is now situat'ed, and made a claim to some land. This claim he leased to Otis Rey- nolds and John Culver, of St. Louis, and went to La Pointe (afterward Galena), where he practiced his profession for ten years, when he returned to Keokuk. His Indian wife bore to him four children — Louise, James, Mary and Sophia. Dr. Muir died suddenly of cholera, in 1832, but left his property in such a condition that it was soon wasted in vexatious liti- gation, and his brave and faithful wife, left friendless and penniless, became discour- aged, and, with her two younger children, disappeared. It is said she returned to her people, on the Upper Missouri. The gentleman who had leased Dr. Muir's claim at Keokuk, subsequently em- ployed as their agent Moses Stillwell, who arrived with his family in 1828, and took possession. His brothers-in-law, Amos and Valencourt Van Ansdal, came with him and settled near. Mr. Stillwell's daughter Margaret (afterward Mrs. Ford), was born in 1831 at the foot of the rapids, called by the Indians Puckashetuck. She was prob- ably the first white American child born in Iowa. In 1829 Dr. Isaac Gallaud made a set- tlement on the Lower Rapids, at what is now Nashville. The same year James S. Langworthy, who had been engaged in lead mining at Galena since 1824, resolved to visit the Dubuque mines The lead mines in the Dubuque region were an object of great interest to the miners about Galena, for they were known to be rich in lead ore. To explore these mines, and to obtain permission to work them was there- fore eminently desirable. Crossing the Mississippi at a point now known as Dun- leith, in a canoe, and swimming his horse by his side, he landed on the spot known as the Jones Street Levee. Before him was spread out a beautiful prairie, on which the city of Dubuque now stands. Two miles south, at the mouth of Catfish creek, was a village of Sacs and Foxes. Thither Mr, Langworthy proceeded, and was well received by the natives. He endeavored to obtain permission from them to mine in their hills; but this they refused. He, however, succeeded in gain- ing the confidence of the chief to such an extent as to be allowed to travel in the interior for three weeks, and explore the country. He employed two young Indians as guides, and traversed in different direc- tions the whole region lying between the Maquoketa and Turkey rivers. He re- turned to the village, secured the good will of the Indians, and, returning to Galena, formed plans for future operations, to be executed as soon as the circumstances would permit. In the following year, with his brother, Lucius H, and others, having obtained the consent of the Indiaus, Mr. Langworthy crossed the Mississippi and commenced mining in the vicinity around Dubuque. Although these lands had been pur- chased from France, they were not in the actual posession of the United States. The Indian titles had not been ex- t9 ** <2 i^. !?■ HISTORY OF IOWA. 45 ~?u tinguished, and these adventurous persons were beyond the limits of any State or Territorial government. The first settlers were therefore obliged to be their own law-makers, and to agree to such regula- tions as the exegencies of the case de- manded. The first act resembling civil legislation in Iowa was done by the miners at this point, in June, 1830. They met on the bank of the river, by the side of an old cottonwood drift log, at what is now the Jones Street Leevee, Dubuque, and elected a committee, consisting of J. C. Lang- worthy, H. F. Lander, James McPhetres, Samuel Scales and E. M. Wren. This may be called the first Legislature in Iowa, the • members of which gathered around that old cottonwood log, and agreed to and re- ported the following, written by Mr. Lang- worthy, on a half sheet of coarse, unruled paper, the old log being the writing desk: "We, a committee, having been chosen to draft certain rules and regulations (laws), by which we, as miners, will be governed, and, having duly considered the subject, do unanimously agree that we will be governed by the regulations on the east side of the Mississippi river, with the fol- lowing exceptions, to-wit: Article I. That each and every man shall hold two hundred yards square of ground by working said ground one day in six." "Article II. We further agree that there shall be chosen by the majority of the miners present, a person who shall hold this article, and who shall grant letters of arbitration on application having been made, and that said letters of arbitration shall be obligatory on the parties so apply- The report was accepted by the miners present, who elected Dr Jarote in accord- ance with article second. Here, then, we have, in 1830, a primitive Legislature elected by the people, the law drafted by it being submitted to the people for ap- proval, and under it Dr. Jarote was elected first Governor. And the laws thus enacted were as promptly obeyed as any have been since. After this, the miners, who had thus erected an independent government of their own on the west side of the Missis- sippi river, continued to work successfully for a long time, and the new settlement attracted considerable attention. But the west side of the Mississippi belonged to the Sac and Fox Indians, and the Govern- ment, in order to preserve peace on the frontier, as well as to protect the Indians in their rights under the treaty, ordered the settlers not only to stop mining, but to remove from the Indian Territory. They were simply intruders. The execution of this order was intrusted to Col. Zachary Taylor, then in command of the military post at Prairie du Chien, who, early in July, sent an officer to the miners to forbid settlement, and to command the miners to remove, within ten days, to the east side of the Mississippi, or they would be driven off by armed force. The miners, how- ever, were reluctant about leaving the rich "leads" they had already discovered and opened, and were not disposed to obey the order to remove with any considerable degree of alacrity. In due time Colonel Taylor dispatched a detachment of troops to enforce his order. The miners, anticipating their arrival, had, excepting three, recrossed the •y <2 k^ 46 HISTORY OF IOWA. river, and from the eaat bank saw the troops land on the western shore. The three who had lingered a little too loDg were, however, permitted to make their escape unmolested. From this time a mil- itary force was stationed at Dubuque to prevent the settlers from returning, until June, 1832. The Indians returned, and were encouraged to operate the rich mines opened by the late white occupants. In June, 1832, the troops were ordered to the east side of the Mississippi to assist in the annihilation of the very Indians whose rights they had been protecting on the west side. Immediately after the close of the Black Hawk war, and the negotia- tions of the treaty in September, 1832, by which the Sacs and Foxes ceded the tract known as the "Black Hawk Purchase," the settlers, supposing that now they had a right to re-enter the territory, returned and took possession of their claims, built cab- ins, erected furnaces and prepared large quantities of lead for market. But the prospects of the hardy and enterprising settlers and miners were again ruthlessly interferred with by the Government, on the ground that the treaty with the Indians would not go into force until June 1st, 1833, although they had withdrawn from the vicinity of the settlement. Col. Taylor was again ordered by the War Department to remove the miners, and, in January, 1833, troops were again sent from Prairie du Chien to Dubuque, for that purpose. This was a serious and perhaps unneces- sary hardship imposed upon the miners. They were compelled to abandon their cabins and homes in mid-winter. This, too, was only out of respect for forms, for the purchase had been made, and the In- dians had retired. After the lapse of fifty years, no very satisfactory reason for this rigorous action of the Government can be given. Hut the orders had been given, and there was no alternative but to obey. Many of the settlers re-crossed the river, and did not return; a few, however, re- moved to an island near the east bank of the river, built rude cabins of poles, in which to store their lead until spring, when they could float the fruits of their labors to St. Louis for sale, and where they could remain until the treaty went into force, when they could return. Among these were the Langworthy brothers, who had on hand about 300,000 pounds of lead. No sooner had the miners left than Lieu- tenant Covington, who had been placed in command at Dubuque, by Colonel Taylor, ordered some of the cabins of the settlers to be torn down, and wagons and other property to be destroyed. This wanton and inexcusable action on the part of a subordinate, clothed with a little brief authority, was sternly rebuked by Col. Taylor, and Covington was superseded by Lieut. George Wilson, who pursued a just and friendly course with the p oneers, who were only waiting for the time when they could repossess their claims. The treaty went formally into effitct June, 1833; the troops were withdrawn, and the Langworthy brothers and a few others at once returned and resumed pos- session of their homes and claims. From this time must date the first permanent set- tlement of this portion of Iowa. Mr. John P. Sheldon was appointed superintendent of the mines, by the Government, and a system of permits to miners and licenses to smelters was adopted, similar to that 4* HISTORY OF IOWA. 47 which had been in operation at Galena since 1825, under Lieut. Martin Thomas and Capt. Thomas C. Legate. Substan- tially the primitive law enacted by the miners assembled around that old cotton- wood drift log in 1830, was adopted and enforced by the United States Govern- ment, except that miners were required to sell their mineral to licensed smelters, and the smelter was required to give bonds for the payment of six per cent, of all lead manufactured, to the Government. The rule in the United States mines, on Fever river, in Illinois, had been, until 1830, that the miners must pay a ten per cent. tax. This tax upon the miners created much dissatisfaction among the miners on the west side, as it had on the east side of the Mississippi. They thought they had suffered hardships and privations enough in opening the way for civilization, without being subjected to the imposition of an odious Government tax upon their means of subsistence, when the Federal Government could better afford to aid than to extort from them. The measure soon became very unpopular. It was difficult to collect the taxes, and the whole system was abolished in about ten years. About five hundred people arrived in the mining district in 1833, after the In- dian title was fully extinguished, of whom one hundred and fifty were from Galena. In the same year Mr. Langworthy assisted in building the first school-house in Iowa, and thus was formed the nucleus of the populous and thriving city of Dubuque. Mr. Langworthy lived to see the naked prairie on which he first settled become the site of a city of 15,000 inhabitants; the small school-house which he aided in con- structing replaced by three substantial ed- ifices, wherein 2,000 children were being trained; churches erected in every part of the city, and railroads connecting the wil- derness, which he first explored, with all the eastern world. He died suddenly, on the 13th of March, 1865, while on a trip over the Dubuque & Southern railroad, at Monticello, and the evening train brought the news of his death, and his remains. Lucius H. Langworthy, his brother, was one of the most worthy, gifted and influ- ential of the old settlers of this section of Iowa. He died greatly lamented by many friends, in June, 1865. The name "Dubuque" was given to the settlement by the miners, at a meeting held in 1834. Soon after the close of the Black Hawk war, in 1832, Zachariah Hawkins, Benja- min Jennings, Aaron White, Augustine Horton, Samuel Gooch, Daniel Thompson and Peter Williams made claims at Fort Madison. In 1833, Gen. John H Knapp and Col. Nathaniel Knapp purchased these claims, and, in the summer of 1835, they laid out the town of "Fort Madison," and lots were exposed for sale early in 1836. The town was subsequently re-surveyed and platted by the United States Govern- ment. The population rapidly increased, and in less than two years the beautiful location was covered by a flourishing town containing nearly 600 inhabitants, with a large proportion of enterprising merchants, mechanics and manufacturers. In the fall of 1832, Simpson S. White erected a cabin on the site of Burlington, 79 miles below Rock Island. During the war, parties had looked longingly upon the "Flint Hills" from the opposite side of the 43 HISTORY OF IOWA. river, and White was soon followed by others. David Tothers made a claim on the prairie, about three miles back from the river, at a place since known as the farm of Judge Morgan. The following winter the settlers were driven off by the military from Rock Island, as intruders upon the rights of the Indians. White's cabin was burned by the soldiers. He returned to Illinois, where he remained during the winter, and, in the following summer, as soon as the Indian title was extinguished, returned and re-built his cabin. White was joined by his brother- in-law, Doolittle, and they laid out the town of Burlington in 1834, on a beautiful area of sloping eminences and gentle de- clevities, enclosed within a natural amphi- theater formed by the surrounding hills, which were covered with luxuriant forests, and presented the most picturesque scenery. The same autumn witnessed the opening of the first dry goods stores, by Dr. W. R. Boss and Major Jeremiah Smith, each well supplied with Western merchandise. Such was the beginning of Burlington, which, in less than four years, became the seat of .government for the territory of Wisconsin, and, in three years more, contained a pop- ulation of 1,400 persons. Immediately after the treaty with the Sacs and Foxes, in September, 1832, Col. George Davenport made the first claim on the site of the present thriving city of Davenport. As early as 1827, Col. Daven- port had established a flat-boat ferry, which ran between the island and the main shore of Iowa, by which he carried on a trade with the Indians west of the Mississippi. In 1833 Capt. Benjamin W. Clark moved from Illinois, and laid the foundation of the town of Buffalo, in Scott county, which was the first actual settlement within the limits of that county. The first settlers of Davenport were Antoine LeClaire, Col. George Davenport, Major Thomas Smith, Major Wm. Gordon, Philip Hambough, Alex. W. McGregor, Levi S. Colton, Captain James May, and others. A settlement was made in Clayton county in the spring of 1832, on Turkey river, by Robert Hatfield and Wm. W. Wayman. No further settlement was made in this part of the State until 1836. The first settlers of Muscatine county were Benjamin Nye, John Vanater and G. W. Kasey, all of whom came in 1834. E. E. Fay, Wm. St. John, N. Fullington, II. Reece, JonaPettibone, R.P.Lowe, Stephen Whicher, Abijah Whitney, J. E. Fletcher, W. D. Abernethy and Alexis Smith were also early settlers of Muscatine. As early as 1824 a French trader named Hart had established a trading post, and built a cabin on the bluffs above the large spring now known as "Mynster Spring," within the limits of the present city of Council Bluffs, and had probably been there some time, as the post was known to the employes of the American Fur Com- pany as "La Cote de Hart," or "Hart's Bluff." In 18 27 an agent of the American Fur Company, Francis Guitar, with others, en- camped in the timber at the foot of the bluffs, about on the present location of Broadway, and afterward settled there. In 1839 a block house was built on the bluff in the east part of the city. The Pottawatomie Indians occupied this part of the State until 1846 7, when they re- ^J « »»_ •feu HISTORY OF IOWA. 49 Iinquished the territory and removed to Kansas. Billy Caldwell was then princi- pal chief. There were no white settlers in that part of the State except Indian traders, until the arrival of the Mormons under the lead of Brigbam Young. These people, on their way westward, halted for the win- ter of 1846-7 on the west bank of the Mis- souri river, about five miles above Omaha, at a place now called Florence. Some of them had reached the eastern bank of the river the spring before, in season to plant a crop. In the spring of 1847 Young and a portion of the colony pursued their jour- ney to Salt Lake, but a large portion of them returned to the Iowa side and settled mainly within the present limits of Potta- watomie county. The principal settlement of this strange community was at a place first called ''Miller's Hollow," on Indian creek, and afterward named Kanesville, in honor of Col. Kane, of Pennsylvania, who visited them soon afterward. The Mor- mon settlement extended over the county and into neighboring counties, wherever timber and water furnished desirable loca- tions. Orson Hyde, priest, lawyer and editor, was installed as President of the Quorum of Twelve, and all that part of the State lemained under Mormon control for several years. In 1847 they raised a bat- talion, numbering 500 men, for the Mexi- can war. In 1848 Hyde started a paper, called the Frontier Guardian, at Kanes- ville. In 1849, after many of the faithful had left to join Brigham Young, at Salt Lake, the Mormons in this section of Iowa num- bered 0,552, and, in 1850, 7,828, but they were not all within the limits of Pottawat- omie county. This couuty was organized in 1848, all the first officials being Mor- mons. In 1852 the order was promulgated that all the true believers should gather together at Salt Lake. Genti'es flocked in, and in a few years nearly all the first settlers were gone. May 9, 1 843, Capt. James Allen, with a small detachment of troops, on board the steamer "lone," arrived at the present site of the capital of the State, DesMoines. This was the first steamer to ascend the DesMoines river to this point. 1 he troops and stores were landed at what is now the foot of Court Avenue, DesMoines, and Capt. Allen returned in the steamer to Fort Sanford, to arrange for bringing up more soldiers and supplies. In due time they, too, arrived, and a fort was built near the mouth of Raccoon Fork, at its conlluence with the DesMoines, and named Fort DesMoines. Soon after the arrival of the troops, a trading post was established on the east side of the river, by two noted Indian traders, named Ewing, from Ohio. Among the first settlers in this part of Iowa were Benjamin Bryant, J. B. Scott, James Drake (gunsmith), John Sturtevant, Robert Kinzie, Alexander Turner, Peter Newcomer, and others. T ^T M*-= 50 HISTOEY OF IOWA. CHAPTER V. TERRITORIAL AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS. The immigration to Iowa after the Black Hawk purchase was so rapid and steady- that some provision for civil government became necessary. Accordingly, in 1834, all the territory comprising the present States of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota was made subject to the jurisdiction of Michigan Territory. Up to this time there had been no county or other organization in what is now the State of Iowa, although one or two justices of the peace had been appointed, and a postoftice was established at Dubuque in 1833. In September of 1834, therefore, the Territorial Legislature of Michigan created two counties on the west side of the Mississippi river — Du- buque and DesMoines — separated by a line drawn westward from the foot of Rock Island. These counties were partially or- ganized. John King was appointed Chief Justice of Dubuque county, and Isaac Lef- fler (of Burlington) of DesMoines county. Two associate justices, in each county, were appointed by the Governor. In October, 1835, Gen. George W. Jones, now a citizen of Dubuque, was elected a delegate to Congress. April 20, 1830, through the efforts of Gen. Jones, Con- gress passed a bill creating the Territory of Wisconsin, which went into operation July 4, of the same year. Iowa was then included in the Territory of Wisconsin, of which Gen. Henry Dodge was appointed Governor; John S. Horner, Secretary; Charles Dunn, Chief Justice; David Irwin and William C. Frazer, Associate Justices. Sept. 9, 1836, Governor Dodge ordered a census of the new Territory to be taken. This census showed a population of 10,531, of which DesMoines county contained 6,257, and Dubuque 4,274. Under the apportionment, the two above named counties were entitled to six members of the Council and thirteen of the House of Representatives. The Governor issued his proclamation for an election to be held on the first Monday of October, 1836, on which day the following members of the first Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin were elected from the two counties in the Black Hawk purchase : Dubuque — Council: John Fally, Thos. McKnight, Thos. McCraney. House: Lor- ing Wheeler, Iialdin Whelan, Peter Hill Engl e, Patrick Quigly , Hosea F. Camp. DesMoines — Council: Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Joseph B. Teas, Arthur B. Ingram. House: Isaac Lefiier, Thos. Blair, Warren L. Jenkins, John Box, George W. Teas, Eli Reynolds, David R Chance. The Legislature assembled at Belmont, in the present State of Wisconsin, October 25th, 1836, and organized by electing Henry Baird President of the Council, and Peter Hill Engle (of Dubuque) Speaker of the House. - ± _ 4? HISTORY OF IOWA. 51 At this session the county of DesMoines was divided into DesMoines, Lee, VanBu- ren, Henry, Muscatine and Cook. This last is now called Scott county. The first Legislature adjourned December 9th, 1836. The second Legislature assembled at Burlington, November 9, 1837. It divided Dubuque into the counties of Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette, Delaware, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Benton, Clinton and Cedar, and adjourned January 20th, 1S38. A third session was held at Burlington, commencing June 1st, and ending June 12th, lb38. Most of the new counties were not organized until several years afterward. The question of the organization of the Territory of Iowa now began to be agi- tated, and the desires of the people found expression in a convention held Nov. 1st, which memoralized Congress to organize a Territory west of the Mississippi, and to settle the boundary line between Wiscon- sin Territory and Missouri. The Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin, then in session at Burlington, joined in the petition. Gen. George W. Jones, of Dubuque, then re- siding at Linsinawa Mound, in what is now Wisconsin, was delegate to Congress from Wisconsin Territory, and labored so earn- estly that the act was passed dividing the Territory of Wisconsin, and providing for the territorial government of Iowa. This was approved June 12, 1838, to take effect and be in force on and after July 3, 1838. The new Territory embraced "all that part of the pr sent Territory of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi river, and west of a line drawn due north from the head- waters or sources of the Mississippi to the Territorial line." The organic act pro- vided for a Governor, whose term of office should be three years; and for a Secretary, Chief Justice, two Associate Justices, and Attorney and Marshal, who should serve four years, to be appointed by the Pr, si- dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The act also provided for the election, by the white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States, over 21 years of age, of a House of Representatives, consisting of 26 members, and a council, to consist of 13 members. It also appropriated $5,000 for a public library, and $20,000 for the erec- tion of public buildings. In accordance with this act, President Van Buren appointed ex-Governor Robert Lucas, of Ohio, to be the first Governer of the new Territory. Wm. B. Conway, of Pittsburg, was appointed Secretary of the Tenitory; Charles Mason, of Burlington, Chief Justice, and Thomas S. Wilson, of Dubuque, and Joseph Williams, of Penn- sylvania, Associate Judges of the Supreme and District Courts; Mr. Van Allen, of New York, Attorney; Francis Gehon, of Dubuque, Marshal; Augustus C. Dodge, Register of the Land Office at Burlington, and Thos. McKnight, Receiver of the Land Office at Dubuque. Mr. Van Allen, the District Attorney, died at Rockingham soon after his appointment, and Col. Chas Weston was appointed to fill his vacancy. Mr. Conway, the Secretary, also died at Burlington during the second session of the Legislature, and James Clarke, editor of the Gazette,wa.$ appointed to succeed him. Governor Lucas, immediately after his arrival, issued a proclamation for the elec- tion of members of the first Territorial Legislature, to be held on the 10th of Sep- ihL: 52 HISTORY OF IOWA. tember, dividing the Territory into election districts for that purpose, and appointing the 12th of November for the meeting of the Legislature to be elected at Burlington. The members were elected in accordance with this proclamation, and assembled at the appointed time and place. The fol- lowing are their names : Council — Jesse B. Brown, J. Keith, E. A. M. Swazey, Arthur Ingram, Robert Ralston, George Hepner, Jesse J. Payne, D. B. Hughes, James M. Clark, Charles Whittlesey, Jonathan W. Parker, Warner Lewis, Stephen Hempstead. House — Wm. Patterson, Hawkins Tay- lor, Calvin J. Price, James Brierly, James Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel Parker, James W. Grimes, George Temple, Van B. Delashmutt, Thomas Blair, George H. Beeler, Wm. G. Coop, Wm. H. Wallace, Asbury B. Porter, John Frierson, Wm. L. Toole, Levi Thornton, S. C. Hastings, Robert G. Roberts, Laurel Summers, Ja- bez A. Burchard, Jr., Chauncey Swan, An- drew Bankson, Thomas Cox and Hardin Nowlin. Although a large majority of both branches of the Legislature were Demo- ocrats, Gen. Jesse B. Brown (Whig), of Lee county, was elected President of the Council, and Hon. Wm. H.Wallace (Whig), of Henry county, Speaker of the House of Representatives — the former unanimously and the latter with but little opposition At that time national politics were little heeded by the people of the new Territory, but in 1840, during the Presidential cam- paign, party lines were strongly drawn. At the same time with this Legislature, a Congressional delegate was also elected. Out of four candidates, William W. Chap- man was elected. The first session of the Iowa Territorial Legislature was a stormy and exciting one. By the organic law the Governor was clothed with almost unlimited veto power. Governor Lucus seemed disposed to make free use of it, and the independent Hawk- eyes could not quietly submit to arbitrary and absolute rule, and the result was an unpleasant controversy between the execu- tive and legislative departments; Congress, however, by act approved March 3d, 1839, amended the organic law by restricting the veto power of the Governor to the two- thirds rule, and took from him the power to appoint sheriffs aud magistrates. Among the first important matters demanding at- tention was the location of the seat of government, and provision for the erection of publio buildings, for which Congress had appropriated $20,000. Gov. Lucas, in his message, had recommended the ap- pointment of commissioners with a view to selecting a central location. The extent of the future State of Iowa was not known or thought of. Only a strip of land fifty miles wide, bordering on the Mississippi river, was the Indian title extinguished, aud a central location meant some central point in the Black Hawk Purchase. The friends of a central location sup- ported the Governor's suggestion. The Southern members were divided between Burlington and Mount Pleasant, but finally united on the latter as the proper location for the seat of government. The central and southern parties were very nearly equal, and, in consequence, much excitement pre- vailed. The central party at last tri- umphed, and, on January 21st, 1839, an act to HISTORY OF IOWA. 53 was passed appointing Chauncey Swan, of Dubuque county, John Ronalds, of Louisa county, and Robert Ralston, of DesMoines county, Commissioners to select a site for a permanent seat of government within the limits of Johnson county. The first settlement within the limits of Johnson county was made in 1837. The county was created by act of the Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin, approved Dec. 21, 183V, and organized by act passed at the special session at Burlington, in June, 1838, the organization to date from July 4, following. Napoleon, on the Iowa river, a few miles below the future Iowa City, was designated as the temporary county seat. All things considered, the location of the capital in Johnson county was a wise act. The Territory was bounded on the north by the British possessions; east, by the Mississippi river to its source; thence by a line drawn due north to the northern boundary of the United States; south, by the State of Missouri, and west by the Missouri and White Earth rivers. But this immense territory was in undisputed possession of the Indians, except a strip on the Mississippi, known as the Black Hawk Purchase. Johnson county was, from north to south, in the geographical center of this purchase, and as near the east and west geographical center of the future State of Iowa as could then be made, as the boundary line between the lauds of the United States and the Indians estab- lished by the treaty of Oct. 21, 1837, was immediately west of the county limits. After selecting the site, the Commission- ers were directed to lay out 640 acres into a town, to be called Iowa City, and to pro- ceed to sell lots and erect public buildings thereon, Congress having granted a section of land to be selected by the Territory for this purpose. The Commissioners met at Napoleon, Johnson county, May 1, 1839, selected for a site section 10, in township 79 north, of range 6 west of the fifth prin- cipal meridian, and immediately surveyed it and laid off the town. The first sale of lots took place Aug. 16, 1839. The site selected for the public buildings was a little west of the center of the section, where a square of 10 acres, on the elevated grounds overlooking the river, was reserved for the purpose. The capitol is located in the center of this square. The second Ter- ritorial Legislature, which assembled in November, 1839, passed an act requiring the Commissioners to adopt such plan for the building that the aggregate cost, when complete, should not exceed $51,000, and if they had already adopted a plan involv- ing a greater expenditure, they were direct- ed to abandon it. Plans for the buildiug were designed and drawn by Mr. John F. Rague, of Springfield, Ills., and July 4, 1840, the corner-stone of the edifice was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Samuel C. Trowbridge was marshal of the day, and Governor Lucas delivered the address on that occasion. On July 13, 1840, Governor Lucas an- nounced to the Legislature then as- sembled in special session, that on the 4th of that month he had visited Iowa City, and found the basement of the cap- itol nearly completed. A bill authorizing a loan of $20,000 for the building was passed January 15, 1841, the unsold lots of Iowa City being the security offered, but only $5,500 was obtained under the act. \ 54 HISTORY OF IOWA. Monday,' December 6, 1841, the fourth Legislative Assembly met at the new cap- ital, Iowa City, but the capitol building could not be used, and the Legislature oc- cupied a temporary frame house, that had been erected for that purpose during the session of 1841-2. At this session, the Superintendent of Public Buildings (who, with the Territorial Agent, had superseded the Commissioners first appointed,) esti- mated the expense of completing the build- ing at $33,330, and of completing rooms for the use of the Legislature at $15,600. During the following year the Superin- tendent commenced obtaining stone from a new quarry about ten miles northeast of the city. This is now known as the "Old Cap- itol Quarry," and is thought to contain an immense quantity of excellent building stone. Here all the stone for completing the building was obtained, and it was so far completed that, on the 5th day of De- cember, 1842, the Legislature assembled in the new Capitol. At this session the Su- perintendent estimated that it would cost $39,143 to finish the building. This was nearly $6,000 higher than the estimate of the previous year, notwithstanding a large sum had been expended in the meantime. This rather discouraging discrepancy was accounted for by the fact that the officers in charge of the work were constantly short of funds. Except the Congressional appropriation of $20,000, and the loan of $5,500 obtained from the Miners' Bank of Dubuque, all the funds for the prosecution of the work were derived from the sale of the city lots (which did not sell very rap- idly), from certificates of indebtedness, and from scrip, based upon unsold lots, which was to be received in payment for such lots when they were sold. At one time the Sup' -rintendent nndea requisition for bills of iron and glass, which could not be obtained nearer than St. Louis. To meet this, the agent sold some lots for a draft payable at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for which he was compelled to pay 25 per cent, exchange. This draft amounted to $507, which that officer reported to be more than one-half the cash actually handled by him during the entire season, when the dis- bursements amounted to very nearly $24,- 000. With such uncertainty, it could not be expected that the estimate could be very accurate. With all these disadvan- tages, however, the work appears to have been prudently prosecuted, and as rapidly as circumstances would permit. In 1841, John Chambers succeded Robert Lucas as Territorial Governor. The office was held by him until 1845, when it was filled by James Clarke. The first Legislative Assembly laid the broad foundation of civil equality, on which has been constructed one of the most lib- eral governments in the Union. Its first act was to recognize the equality of woman with man, before the law, by providing that " no action commenced by a single woman, who marries during the pendency thereof, shall abate on account of such marriage." This principle has been adopted in all subsequent legislation in Iowa, and to-day woman has full and equal rights with man, excepting only the right of the ballot. Religious toleration was also secured to all, personal liberty strictly guarded the rights and privileges of citizenship ex- tended to all white persons, and the purity of elections secured by heavy penalties ? t ■v fe * * ,u HISTORY OF IOWA. 55 against bribery and corruption. The judiciary power was vested in a Supreme Court, District Court, Probate Court and justices of the peace. Real estate was made divisible by will, and intestate pro- perty divided equitably among heirs. Murder was made punishable by death, and proportionate penalties fixed for lesser crimes. A system of free schools, open for every class of white citizens, was estab- lished. Provision was made for a system of roads and highways. Thus, under the Territorial organization, the country began to emerge from a savage wilderness, and take on the forms of civil government. The Territorial Legislature held its eighth and last session at Iowa City, com- mencing December 1, 1845. James Clark was the same year appointed the successor of Governor Chambers, and was the third and last Territorial Governor. In 1843 the Territorial Legislature compiled and pub- lished a code of general statutes, making a volume of 800 pages, that continued in force until July, 1851. THE MISSOURI WAR. In defining the boundaries of the coun- ties bordering on Missouri, the Iowa authorities had fixed a line which has since been established as the boundary between Iowa and Missouri. The consti- tution of Missouri defined her northern boundary to be the parallel of latitude which passes through the rapids of Des Moines river. The lower rapids of the Mississippi immediately above the mouth of the Des M ines river had always been known as the Des Moines Rapids, or the "rapids of the Des Moines river." The Missourians (evidently not well versed in history or geography), insisted on running the northern boundary line from the rapids in the Des Moines river, just telow Keosau- qua, thus taking from Iowa a strip of ter- ritory eight or ten miles wide. Assuming this as her northern boundary line, Missouri attempted to exercise jurisdiction over the disputed territory by assessing taxes, and sending her sheriffs to collect them by distraining the personal property of the settlers. The Iowans, however, were not disposed to submit, and the Missouri offi- cials were arrested by the sheriffs of Davis and Van Buren counties and confined in jail. Governor Boggs, of Missouri, called out his milita to enforce the claim and sustain the officers of Missouri. Governor Lucas called out the militia of Iowa. About 1,200 men were enlisted, and 500 were actually armed and encamped in Van Buren county, ready to defend the integrity of the Territory. Subsequently, Gen. A. C. Dodge, of Burlington, General Churchman, of Dubuque, and Dr. Clark, of Fort Madison, were sent to Missouri as envoys plenipotentiary, to effect, if possi- ble, a peaceable adjustment of the diffi- culty. Upon their arrival, they found that the county commissioners of Clark county, Missouri, had rescinded their order for the collection of taxes, and that Governor Boggs had dispatched messengers to the Governor of Iowa proposing to submit an agreed case to the Supreme Court of the United States for the settlement of the boundary question. This proposition was declined; but afterward, upon petition of Iowa and Missouri, Congress authorized a suit to settle the controversy. The suit was duly instituted, and resulted in the decision that Iowa had only asserted "the ^ rotit by the settlers' labors in improving the country. Statesmen should have taken a broader and more comprehensive view of national economy, and a view more in harmony with the divine economy that had prepared these vast ftrtile plains of the West for the "homes of men and the seats of empire." It was here that new States were to be builded up that si onld be the future strength of the nation against for- eign invasion or home revolt. A single regiment of Iowa soldiers during the dark days of the Rebellion was worth more to the nation than all the money she ever ex- acted from the toil and sweat of Iowa's early settlers. Could the statesmen of forty years ago have looked forward to this day, when Iowa pays her $1,000,000 annu- ally into the treasury of the nation for the extinction of the national debt, they would have realized that the founding of new States was a greater enterprise than the retailing of public lands. In January, 1857, another Constitutional Convention assembled at Iowa City, which framed the present State constitution. One of the most pressing demands for this con- vention grew out of the prohibition of banks under the old constitution. The practical result of this prohibition was to flood the State with every species of "wild-cat" currency. Our circulating medium was made up in part of the free-bank paper of Illinois and Indiana. In addition to this, we had paper issued by Iowa brokers, who had obtained bank charters from the Ter- ritorial Legislature of Nebraska, and had their pretended headquarters at Omaha and Florence. Our currency was also well assorted with the bills from other States, generally such as had the best reputation where they were least known. This paper was all at 2, and some of it from 10 to 15 per cent, discount. Every man who was not an expert in detecting counterfeit bills, and who was not posted in the history of all manner of banking institutions, did business at his peril. The new constitution made ample provisions for house banks under the supervision of our own laws. The limitation of our State debt was en- larged to $.'50,000, and the corporate in- debtedness of the cities and counties were also limited to five per cent, upon the valu- ation of their taxable property. The Judges of the Supreme Court were to be elected by the popular vote. The permanent seat of government was fixed at DesMoines, and the Statt Uni- versity located at Iowa City. The qualifi- cations of electors remained the same as under the old constitution, but the schedule provided for a vote of the people upon a separate proposition to strike the word "white" out of the suffrage clause, which, had it prevailed, would have re.-ulted in conferring the right of suffrage without distinction of color. Since the early or- ganization of Iowa there had been upon the statute books a law providing that no negro, mulatto or Indian should be a com- petent witness in any suit or proceeding to which a white man was a party. The Gen- eral Assembly of 1856-'7 repealed this law, and the new constitution contained a clause forbidding such disqualification in the future. It also provided for the education of "all youth of the State" through a sys- tem of common schools. This constitution was adopted at the ensuing election by a vote of 40,311 to 38,681. HISTORY OF IOWA. 65 October 19, 1857, Gov. Grimes issued a proclamation declaring the City of Des- Moines to be the capital of the State of Iowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and con- tinued through the fall. It was an under- taking of no small magitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the season was unusually dis- agreeable. Rain, snow and other accom- paniments increased the difficulties, and it was not until December that the last of the effects, — the safe of the State Treasurer, loaded on two large "bob-sleds," drawn by ten yokes of oxen, — was deposited in the new capitol. Thus Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the State after four Territo- rial Legislatures, six State Legislatures and three Constitutional Conventions had held their sessions there. In 1856 and 1858 large appropriations were made for the erection of public build- ings and the support of the unfortunate classes, and a loan of $200,000 was author- ized. During the years 1 858-60, the Sioux In- dians became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. They made frequent raids for the purpose of plunder, and on several occasions murdered whole families of settlers. In 1861 several com- panies of militia were ordered to that por- tion of the State to hunt down and expel the thieves. No battles were fought, the Indians fleeing as soon as they ascertained systematical measures had been adopted for their punishment. In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation and provided for the appoint- ment of a Board of Commissioners to commence the work of building a new cap- itol. The corner-stone was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies November 23, 1871. The building is a beautiful specimen of modern architecture. When Wisconsin Territory was organ- ized, in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa, was 10,531. The Terri- tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and DesMoines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. Since then, the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory: Tear. Population 1838 22,589 1840 43,1 1 5 1844 75,152 1846 97,588 1847 116,651 1849 1 52,988 1850 191,982 1851 204,774 1852 230,7 13 1854 326,013 1856 5 19,055 1859 638,775 1860 674,913 1863 701,732 1865 750,699 1867 902,040 1869 1,040,819 1870 1,191,727 1873 1,251,333 1875 1,366,000 1880 1,624,463 The most populous county is Dubuque, 42.1197. Polk county has 41,395, and Scott 41,270. Not only in population, but in w 66 HISTOEY OF IOWA. everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth, embra- cing all the elements of progress which characterize the older States. The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1861. The completion of three others soon followed. In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and put in successful operation. The present value of buildings for State institutions, including the estimated cost of the capitol, is as follows : State Capitol $2,500,000 State University 400,000 Agricultural College and Farm. 300,000 Institution for the Blind 150,000 Institution for the Deaf and Dumb 225,000 Institutions for the Insane 1,149,000 Orphans' Home 62,000 Penitentiaries 408,000 Normal School 50,000 R form School 90,000 The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the dollar for State tax, and this is at present the consti- tutional limit. The State has no debt. No other influence has contributed so much to the progress and development of Iowa as the newspapers of the State. No class of men have labored more assiduously and disinterestedly for the development of the State and the advancement of her ma- terial interests, than her editors. There are now published in Iowa 25 daily papers, 364 weekly papers, and 13 monthly publi- cations. These are as a rule vvell supported by the people. Such is briefly a summary of the history and resources of Iowa. There is perhaps no other country on earth where so few people are either rich or poor as in Iowa; where there is such an equaiity of condi- tion, and where so many enjoy a compe- tence. The law exempts from execution a homestead to every head of a family. Every sober, industrious man can in a short time acquire a home Iowa is the home for the immigrant. The children of the laboring man have no prejudice of caste to overcome in the effort they may choose to make for the improvement of their condi- tion in life. Here all men enjoy the alien- able blessings of "life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness," not only unfettered by legal disabilities, but also untrammeled by those fixed conditions of social and busi- ness life that elsewhere result from accu- mulated wealth in the possession of the few. As education is free, so also the ave- nues of success are open in every pursuit and calling. The highest incentives exist to exertion. Labor and effort, whether manual or mental, are held alike honorable; and idleness and crime are alone consid- ered disreputable. Thriving cities and towns dot the land; an iron net-work of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its troad acres; 10,000 school-houses, in which more than 500,000 children are being taught the rudi- ments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, colleges and universities, are generously endowed by the State; manufactories are r HISTORY OF IOWA. 67 busy on all her water-courses, and in most of her cities and towns. We quote from Judge Nourse: "The great ultimate fact that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of attaining and preserving a su- perior civilization, with a government self- imposed, self-administered and self-perpet- uated. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the world of mankind more wonderful or more glo- rious, than her new States — young empires, born of her own enterprise, and tutored at her own political hearth-stone. Well may she say to the monarchies of the old world, who look for evidence of her regal grandeur and state: 'Behold, these are my jewels !' And may she never blush to add: 'This one in the center of the diadem is called Iowa!"* The following is the census of Iowa by counties, as taken by the National Gov- ernment at each decade: CENSUS OF IOWA. COUNTIES. 1840. 1850. 1860. 1870. 1880. 984 1,533 12, 237 11,931 451 8,496 8,244 4, 232 4 915 7,906 57 3,724 147 281 1,612 12,949 940 58 4,336 5, 427 52 20, 728 18, 938 383 5,544 13,764 8,677 11, 024 19,611 180 31, 164 105 12, 073 3,744 1,309 5, 074 i,;iT4 T93 3, 058 3, 982 4,614 17,868 16, 456 1,212 22, 454 21,708 14, 584 12,528 17, 034 1,585 9, 951 1,602 2,451 5.464 19, 731 4,722 1,967 10, 180 8,735 1,523 27,771 35, 357 2,530 12,019 15, 565 12 018 17, 432 27, 256 1,389 38, 969 1, 392 16; 973 10, 768 4, 738 11, 174 4, 627 6, 399 7,061 11, 199 11,188 777 3, 131 19,791 16.636 7,448 672 135 735 24,888 23,913 20, 838 14,0-1 517 18, 547 7,537 14. 293 5, .'.95 12 351 16,943 Ceiiar 1,253 3,941 18, 937 11,461 8, 240 14,534 Clarke 709 11,512 4,248 1,101 821 3,873 2, 822 28,829 36, 764 12,413 854 7,264 965 1,759 12, 988 18, 746 16. 468 15, 336 168 S, 577 17, 9. 2 33, 099 1,901 3,059 10, 841 42, 997 1,550 625 22, 258 14,677 10,248 1,244 17,653 12,725 12, 63 1 14,e63 X' J> \ HISTORY OF IOWA. 85 its boundary near the northern boundary of the State, and runs most of its course upon drift deposit alone, entering the region of the bluff deposit in the southern part of Cherokee county. The two prin- cipal upper branches near their source in Dickinson and Osceola counties are small prairie creeks within distinct valleys. On entering Clay county the valley deepens, and at their confluence has a depth of 200 feet. Just as the valley enters Cherokee county it turns to the southward, and be- comes much widened, with its sides gently sloping to the uplands. When the valley enters the region of the bluff deposit, it assumes the billowy appearance. No ex- posures of strata of any kind have been found in the valley of the Little Sioux or any of its branches. Floyd river. — This river rises upon the drift in O'Brien county, and flowing south- ward enters the region of the bluff deposit a little north of the centre of Plymouth county. Almost from its source to its mouth it is a prairie stream, with slightly sloping valley sides, which blend gradually with the uplands. A single slight exposure of sandstone of cretaceous age occurs in the valley near Sioux City, and which is the only known exposure of rock of any kind along its whole length. Near this exposure is a mill-site, but farther up the stream it is not valuable for such purposes. Rock river. — This stream passes through Lyon and Sioux counties. It was, evi- dently, so named from the fact that con- siderable exposures of the red Sioux quartzite occur along the main branches of the stream in Minnesota, a few miles north of the State boundary. Within the State the main stream and its branches are drift streams and strata are exposed. The beds and banks of the streams are usually sandy and gravelly, with occasionally boulders intermixed. Big Sioux River. — The valley of this river, from the northwest corner of the State to its mouth, possesses much the same character as all the streams of the surface deposits. At Sioux Falls, a few miles above the northwest corner of the State, the streams meet with remarkable obstructions from, the presence of Sioux quartzite, which outcrops directly across the stream, and causes a fall of about 60 feet within a distance of half a mile, pro- ducing a series of cascades. For the first 25 miles above its mouth, the valley is very broad, with a broad, flat flood-plain, with gentle slopes, occasionally showing indistinctly defined terraces. These ter- races and valley bottoms constitute some of the finest agricultural land of the re- gion. On the Iowa side of the valley the upland presents abrupt bluffs, steep as the materials of which they are composed will stand, and from 100 to nearly 200 feet high above the stream. At rare intervals, about 15 miles from its mouth, the creta- ceous strata are exposed in the face of the bluffs of the Iowa side. No other strata are exposed along that part of the valley which borders our State, with the single exception of Sioux quartzite at its extreme northwestern corner. Some good mill- sites may be secured along that portion of this river which borders Lyon county, but below this the fall will probably be found insufficient and the locations for dams in- secure. >PT **k ^ 86 HIS 10 11 Y OF IOWA. Missouri River. — This is one of the muddiest streams on the globe, and its waters are known to be very turbid far toward its source. The chief peculiarity of this river is its broad flood-plains, and its adjacent bluff deposits. Much the greater part of the flood-plain of this river is upon the Iowa side, and continues from the south boundary line of the State to Sioux City, a distance of more than 100 miles in length, varying from three to five miles in width. This alluvial plain is esti- mated to contain more than half a million of acres of land within the State, upward of 400,000 of which are now tillable. The rivers of the eastern system of drainage have quite a different character from those of the western system. They are larger, longer and have their valleys modified to a much greater extent by the underlying strata. For the latter reason, water-power is much more abundant upon them than upon the streams of the western system. DesMoines River. — This river has its source in Minnesota, but it enters Iowa before it has attained any size, and flows almost centrally through it from northwest to southeast, emptying into the Mississippi at the extreme southeastern corner of the State. It drains a greater area than any river within the State. The upper portion of it is divided into two branches, known as the east and west forks These unite in Humboldt county. The valleys of these branches above their confluence are drift valleys, except a few small exposures of subcarbouiferous limestone about five miles above their confluence. These ex- posures produce several small mill-sites. The valleys vary from a few hundred yards to half mile in width, and are the finest agricultural lands. In the northern part of Webster county the character of the main valley is modified by the presence of ledges and low cliffs of the subcarbonifer- ous limestone and gyps;m. From a point a little below Fort Dodge to near Amster- dam, in Marion county, the river runs all the way through and upon the lower Coal Measure strata. Along this part of the course the flood-plain varies from an eighth to a mile or more in width. From Amsterdam to Ottumwa the subcarbonifer- ous rocks pass beneath the river again, bringing down the Coal Measure strata into its bed; they rise from it in the ex- treme northwestern part of VanBuren county, and subcarboniferous strata re- sume and keep their place along the valley to the north of the river. From Fort Dodge to the northern part of Lee county the strata of the Lower Coal Measures are present in the valley. Its flood-plain is frequently sar.dy from the debris of the sandstone and sandy shales of the Coal Measures produced by their removal in the process of the forma- tion of the valley. The principal tributaries of the Des Moines are upon the western side. These are the Raccoon and the three rivers, viz: South, Middle and North rivers. The three latter have their sources in the re- gion occupied by the Upper Coal Measure limestone formation, flow eastward over the Middle Coal Measures, and enter the valley of the DesMoines upon the Lower Coal Measures. These streams, especially South and Middle rivers, are frequently bordered by high, rocky cliffs. Raccoon ^ >?*. HISTORY OF IOWA. 87 river has its source upon the heavy surface deposits of the middle region of Western Iowa, and along the greater part of its course it has excavated its valley out of those deposits and the Middle Coal Measure alone. The valley of the Des Moines and its branches are destined to become the seat of extensive manufac- turies, in consequence of the numerous mill-sites of immense power, and the fact that the main valley traverses the entire length of the Iowa coal fields. Sku?ik river. — This has its source in Hamilton county, and runs almost its en- tire course upon the border of the outcrop of the Lower Coal Measures, or, more prop- erly speaking, upon the subcarboniferous limestone, just where it begins to pass be- neath the Coal Measures by its southerly and westerly dip. Its general course is southeast. From the western part of Henry county, up as far as Story county, the broad, flat flood-plain is covered with a rich, deep clay soil, which, in time of long- continued rains and overflows of the river, has made the valley of Skunk river a ter- ror to travelers from the earliest settlement of the country. There are some excellent mill-sites on the lower half of this river, but they are not so numerous or valuable as on other rivers of the eastern system. Iowa river. — This river rises in Han- cock county, in the midst of a broad, slightly undulating drift region. The first rock exposure is that of subcarboniferous limestone, in the southwestern corner of Franklin county. It enters the region of the Devonian strata near the southwestern corner of Benton county, and in this it continues to its confluence with the Cedar in Louisa county. Below the junction with the Cedar, and for some miles above that point, its valley is broad, and especi- ally on the northern side, with a well- marked flood-plain. Its borders gradually blend with the uplands as they slope away in the distance from the river. The Iowa furnishes numerous and valuable mill-sites. Cedar river. — This stream is usually understood to be a branch of the Iowa, but it ought, really, to be regarded as the main stream. It rises by numerous branches in the northern part of the State, and flows the entire length of the State, through the region occupied by the Devonian strata and along the trend occupied by that formation. The valley of this river, in the upper part of its course, is narrow, and the sides slope so gently as to scarcely show where the lowlands end and the uplands begin. Be- low the confluence with the Shell Rock, the flood-plain is more distinctly marked, and the valley broad and shallow. The valley of the Cedar is one of the finest re- gions in the State, and both the main stream and its branches afford abundant and reliable mill-sites. Wapsipinnicon river. — This river has its source near the source of the Cedar, and runs parallel and near it almost its en- tire course, the upper half upon the same formation — the Devonian. In the north- eastern part of Linn county it enters the region of the Niagara limestone, upon which it continues to the Mississippi. It is 100 miles long, and yet the area of its drainage is only from 12 to 20 miles in width. Hence, its numerous mill-sites are unusually secure. a ^. 88 HISTORY -OF IOWA. Turkey river — This river and the Upper Iowa are, in many respects, unlike other Iowa rivers. The difference is due to the great depth to which they have eroded their valleys and the different character of the material through which they have worked. Turkey river rises in Howard county, and in Winneshiek county, a few miles from its source, its valley has attained a depth of more than 200 feet, and in Fay- ette and Clayton counties its depth is in- creased to 300 and 400 feet. The summit of the uplands, bordering nearly the whole length of the valley, is capped by the Ma- quoketa shales. These shales are under- laid by the Galena limestone, between 200 and 300 feet thick. The valley has been eroded through these, and runs upon the Trenton limestone. Thus all the forma- tions along and within this valley are Lower Silurian. The valley is usually narrow, and without a well-marked flood-plain. Water-power is abundant, but in most places inaccessible. Upper Iowa river.— This river rises in Minnesota, just beyond the northern boun- dary line, and enters our State in Howard county before it has attained any consider- able size. Its course is nearly eastward until it reaches the Mississippi. It rises in the region of the Devonian rocks, and flows across the outcrops, respectively, of the Niagara, Galena and Trenton lime- stone, the lower magnesian limestone, and Potsdam sandstone, into and through all of which, except the last, it has cut its val- ley, which is the deepest of any in Iowa. The valley sides are almost everywhere high and steep, and cliffs of lower magne- sian and Trenton limestone give thi'm a wild and ruggod aspect. In the lower part of the valley the flood-plain reaches a width sufficient for the location of small farms, but usually it is too narrow for such purposes. On the higher surface, however, as soon as you leave the valley you come immediately upon a cultivated country. This stream has the greatest slope per mile of any in Iowa, and consequently it fur- nishes immense water-power. In some places where creeks come into it, the valley widens and affords good locations for farms. The town of Decorah, in Winne- shiek county, is located in one of these spots, which makes it a lovely location; and the power of the river and the small spring streams around it offer fine facilities for manufacturing. This river and its tributaries are the only trout streams in Iowa. Mississippi river. — This river may be described, in general terms, as a broad canal cut out of the general level of the country through which the river flows. It is bordered by abrupt hills or bluffs. The bottom of the valley ranges from one to eight miles in width. The whole space between the bluffs is occupied by the river and its bottom, or flood-plain only, if we except the occasional terraces or remains of ancient flood-plains, which are not now reached by the highest floods of the river. The river itself is from half a mile to nearly a mile in width. There are but four points along the whole length of the State where the bluffs approach the stream on both sides. The Lower Silurian formations compose the bluffs in the northern part of the State, but they gradually disappear by a southerly dip, and the bluffs are con- -- »b?\ HISTORY OF IOWA. 89 tinued successively by the Upper Silurian, Devonian and Subcarboniferous rocks which are reached near the southeastern corner of the State. Considered in their relation to the pres- ent general surface of the State, the rela- tive ages of the river valley of Iowa date back only to the close of the glacial epoih; but that the Mississippi and all the rivers of Northeastern Iowa, if no others, had at least a large part of the rocky portions of their valleys eroded by pro-glacial, or, per- haps, by palseogoic rivers, can scarcely be doubted. CHAPTER VIII. IOWA AND THK REBELLION'. By her record in the war of the rebellion Iowa proved herself a truly loyal State. The Presidential campaign of 1860 was an exciting one, and the fact that civil war might be inaugurated in case Abraham Lincoln was elected, was well understood and duly considered. The people of Iowa indulged in no hatred or ill-will toward any section of the country, but were deter- mined to hold such opinions upon questions of public interests, and vote for such men as to them seemed for the general good, uninfluenced by any threat of violence or civil war. The General Assembly of the State of Iowa, as early as 1851, had by joint resolu- tion declared that the State of Iowa was " bound to maintain the union of these States by all the means in her power." The same year the State furnished a block of marble for the Washington Monument at the national capitol, and by order of the General Assembly there was inscribed upon its enduring surface the following: "Iowa — Her affections, like the rivers of her borders, 'flow to an inseparable Union." The time was now approaching in her his- tory when these declarations of attachment and fidelity to the nation were to be put to a practical test. Certainly the people of no State in the nation could be more vitally interested in the question of our national unity than the people of Iowa. The older States of the Union, both North and South, were repre- sented in its population. Iowans were nearly all immigrants, bound to those older communities by the most sacred ties of blood, and most endearing recollections of early days. In addition to these consider- >» fr 90 HISTORY OF IOWA. ations of a personal character, there were others of the gravest political importance. Iowa's geographical position as a State made the dismemberment of the Union a matter of serious concern. The Missis- sippi had been for years its highway to the markets of the world. The people could not entertain the thought that its navigation should pass under the control of a foreign government. But more than this was to be feared the consequence of introducing and recognizing in our national system the principal of secession or disin- tegration. If this should be recognized as a right, what security had the States of the interior against their entire isolation from the com- merce of the world, by the future secession of the Atlantic and Pacific States? And the fact also remained, that secession or separation removed none of the causes of war. Whatever there was in the peculiar institution that created differences of sen- timent or feeling, or caused irritation, still existed after the separation, with no court or constitution as the arbiter of rights, and with the one resort, only, of the sword to settle differences. In secession and its logical and necessary results, we saw nothing but dire confusion and anarchy, and the utter destruction of that nation- ality through which alone we felt that our civil liberties as a people could be pre- served, and the hopes of our civilization prepetuated. The declaration of Mr. Buchanan's last annual message, that the nation posssesed no constitutional power to coerce a seced- ing State, was received by the great majority of our citizens with humiliation and distrust. Anxiously they awaited the expiring hours of his administration, and looked to the incoming President as to an expected deliverer that should rescue the nation from the hands of traitors, and the control of those whose non-resistance in- T*8"k} her destruction. The firing upon the national flag at Sumter aroused a burning indignation throughout the loyal States of the Republic, and nowhere was it more intense than in Iowa. And when the proclamation of the President was pub- lished, April 15, 1861, calling for 75,000 citizen soldiers to "maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our national Union, and the perpetuity of pop- ular government," they were more than willing to respond to the call. Party lines gave way, and for a while, at least, party spirit was hushed, and the cause of our common country was supreme in the affec- tions of the people. Peculiarly fortunate were the people of Iowa at this crisis, in having a truly representative man as ex- ecutive of the State. Thoroughly honest and thoroughly earnest, wholly imbued with the enthusiasm of the hour, fully aroused to the importance of the crises, and the magnitude of the struggle upon which *~ were entering, with an indomit- able rt'ill under the control of a strung common sense, Samuel J. Kirkwood, was, indeed, a worthy chief to organize and direct the energies of the people. Within thirty days after the date of the President's call for troops, the First Iowa Regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, a second regiment was in camp ready for the service, and the Gen- eral Assembly of the State was convened in special session, and had by joint resolu- spy HISTORY OF IOWA. 91 tion solemnly pledged every resource of men and money to the national cause. So urgent were the offers of companies, that the Governor conditionally accepted enough additional companies to compose two additional regiments. These were soon accepted by the Secretary of War. Near the close of May, the Adjutant Gen- eral of the State reported that 170 compa- nies had been tendered the Governor to serve against the enemies of the Union. The question was eagerly asked, " Which of us will be allowed to go? " It seemed as if Iowa was monopolizing the honors of the period, and would send the larger part of the 75,000 wanted from the whole North. There were much difficulty and consid- erable delay experienced in fitting the first three regiments for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit (not uni- form) of clothing was extemporized, prin- cipally by the volunteered labor of loyal women in the different towns — from mate- rial -of various colors and qualities, ob- tained within the limits of the State. The same was done in part for the Second Infantry. Meantime, an extra session of the General Assembly had been called by the Governor, to convene on the 15th of May. With but little delay, that body authorized a loan of $800,000, to meet the extraordinary expenses incurred, and to be incurred, by the Executive Department, in consequence of the new emergency. A wealthy merchant of the State (ex-Gov. Merrell, then a resident of McGregor) immediately took from the Governor a contract to supply a complete outfit of clothing for three regiments organized, agreeing to receive, should the Governor so elect, his pay therefor in the State bonds at par. This contract he executed to the letter, and a portion of the clothing (which was manufactured in Boston, at his order) was delivered at Keokuk, the place at which the troops had rendezvoused, in ex- actly one month from the day in which the contract had been entered into. The re- mainder arrived only a few days later. This clothing was delivered to the soldiers, but was subsequently condemned by the Gov- ernment, for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been adopted as the color to be worn by the National troops Other States had also clothed their troops, sent forward under the first call of Presi- dent Lincoln, with gray uniforms, but it was soon found that the Conf< derate forces were also clothed in gray, and that color was at once abandoned by the Union troops. If both armies were clothed alike, annoying, if not fatal, mistakes were liable to be rna<1e. While engaged in these efforts to dis- charge her whole duty in common with all the other Union-loving States in the great emergency, Iowa was compelled to make immediate and ample provision for the protection of her own borders from threat- ened invasions on the si uth by the seces- sionists of Missouri, and from danger of incursions from the west and northwest by bands of hostile Indians, who were freed from the usual restraint imposed up^n them by the presence of regular troops stationed at the frontier posts. These troops were withdrawn to meet the greater and more pressing danger threatening the life of the Nation at its very heart. The Governor of the State, in order to provide for the adequate defense of Iowa's •CJS a i_ 92 HISTORY OF IOWA. borders from the ravages of both rebels in arms against the Government and of the more irresistible foes from the Western plains, was authorized to raise and equip two regiments of infantry, a squadron of cavalry (not less than five companies) and a battalion of artillery (not less than three companies). Only cavalry were enlisted for home defense, however, but in times of special danger, or when calls were made by the Unionists of Northern Missouri for assistance against their disloyal enemies, large numbers of militia on foot often turned out, and remained in the field until the necessity for their services had passed. June 13th, Gen. Lyon, then command- ing the United States forces in Missouri, issued the first order for the Iowa volun- teers to move to the field. The First and Second Infantry immediately embarktd in steamboats and proceeded to Ilannibal. Two weeks later the Third Infantry was ordered to the same point. These three, together with many other of the earlier organized Iowa regiments, rendered their first field service in Missouri. The First Infantry formed a part of the little army with which Gen. Lyon moved on Spring- field, and fought the bloody battle of Wil- son's creek. It received unqualified praise for its gallant bearing on the field. In the following month (September), the Third Iowa, with but very slight support, fought with honor the sanguinary engagement of Blue Mills Landing; and in November the Seventh Iowa, as a part of the force com- manded by Gen. Grant, greatly distin- guished itself in the battle of Belmont, where it poured out its blood like water — losing more than half of the men it took into action. The initial operations in which the bat- tles referred to took place were followed by the more important movements led by Gen. Grant, Gen. Curtis, of this State, and other commanders, which resulted in de- feating the armies defending the chief strategic lines held by the Confederates in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkan- sas, compelling their withdrawal from much of the territory previously controlled by them in those States. In these and other movements, down to the grand cul- minating campaign by which Vicksburg was captured and the Confederacy perma- nently severed on the line of the Missis- sippi river, Iowa troops took part in steadily inc easing numbers. In the in- vestment and siege of Vicksburg, the State was represented by thirty regiments and two batteries, in addition to which eight regiments and one battery were employed on the outposts of the besieg- ing army. The brilliancy of their exploits on the many fields where they served, won for them the highest meed of praise, both in military and civil circles. Mul- tiplied were the terms in which expres- sion was given to this sent meut, but these words of the journals of a neighboring State: '"The Iowa troops have been heroes among heroes," embody the spirit of all. In the veteran re-enlistment that dis- tinguished the closing month of 1863, above all other periods in the history of re-enlistment for the National armies, the Iowa three-years' men (who were rela- tively more numerous than those of any other State), were prompt to set the ex- ample of volunteering for another term of equal length, thereby adding mai.y thousands to the great army of those who -»p HISTORY OF IOWA. 93 give this renewed and practical assurance that the cause of the Union should not be left without defenders. In all the important movements of 1864 and '65, by w hieh the confederacy was pen- etrated in every quarter, and its military power finally overthrown, the Iowa troops took pait. Their drum-beat was heard on the banks of every great river of the South, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and everywhere they rendered the same faithful devoted service, maintaining on all occasions their wonted reputation for valor in the field, and endurance on the march. Two Iowa 3-year cavaliy regiments were employed during their whole term of ser- vice in the operations that were in progress from 1863 to 1866 against the hostile In- dians of the Western plains. A portion of these men were among the last of the volunteer troops to be mustered out of ser- vice. The State also supplied a consider- able number of men to the navy, who took part in most of the naval operations pros- ecuted against the Confederate power on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and the riv- ers of the West. The people of Iowa were early and con- stant workers in the sanitary field, and by their liberal gifts and personal efforts for the benefit of the soldiery, placed their State in the front rank of those who be- came distinguished for their exhibitions of patriotic beuevolence during the period covered by the war. Agents appointed by the governor were stationed at points con- venient for rendering assistance to the sick and needy soldiers of the State, while oth- ers were employed in visiting, from time to time, hospitals, camps and armies in the field, and doing whatever the circumstances rendered possible for the health and com- fort of such of the Iowa soldiery as might be found there. Charitable enterprises also found a ready support in Iowa. Some of the benevolent people of the State early conceived the idea of establishing a home for such of the children of deceased soldiers as might be left in destitute circumstances. This idea first took form in 1S63, and in the follow- ing year a home was opened at Farming- ton, VanBuren county, in a building leased for that purpose, and which soon became filled to its utmost capacity. The institu- tion received liberal donations from the general public, and also from the soldiers in the field. In 1865 it became necessary to provide increased accommodations for the large number of children who were seeking the benefits of its care. This was done by establishing a branch at Cedar Falls, in Black Hawk county, and by secur- ing, during the same year, for the use of the parent home, Camp Kinsman, near the city of Davenport This property, by act of Congress, was soon afterward donated to the institution. In 1866, in pursuance of a law enacted for that purpose, the Sol- diers' Orphans' Home (which then con- tained about 450 inmates), became a State institution, and thereafter the sums neces- sary for its support were appropriated from the State treasury. A second branch was established at Glenwood, Mills county. Convenient tracks were secured, and valu- able improvements made at all the different points. Schools were also established, and employments provided for such of the children as were of suitable age. In every way the provision made for these wards 94 HISTORY OF IOWA. of the State has been such as to challenge the approval of every benevolent mind. The number of children who have been inmates of the home from its foundation to the present time is considerably more than 2,000. No bounty was paid by the State on account of the men she placed in the field. In some instances, toward the close of the war, bounty, to a comparatively small amount, was paid by cities and towns On only ore occasion, that of the call of July 18, 1804, was a draft made in Iowa. This did not occur on account of her proper lia- bility, as established by previous rulings of the War Department, to supply men under that call, but grew out of the great necessity that there existed for raising men. The Government insisted on tem- porarily setting aside, in part, the former rule of settlements, and enforcing a draft in all cases where sub-districts in any of the States should be found deficient in their supply of men. In no instance was Iowa, as a whole, found to be indebted to the General Government for men, on a settlement of her quota accounts. Not satisfied with merely doing her duty under the law, Iowa, of her patriotic gen- erosity, did more than was required. The 17th, 18th and 37th regiments of infantry, the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th regiments of cav- alry were all enrolled, not to meet any call from the General Government, but to enable citizens of the State to enlist un- der the banners of the Union, in excess of all demands which could lawfully be made. The State also contributed a large num- ber of men and many officers to regiments in Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and out of a population of less than 2,000 arms-bearing colored citizens, raised nearly a whole reg- iment of African troops. But besides the troops thus regularly enrolled within the State, and those who formed part of regi- ments in neighboring States, there were not a few of Iowa's citizens in the regular army, in the different staff departments of the volunteer army, and in commands to far distant States. Those, also, should be noticed who were called upon to protect the State and adjoin- ing States from raids, to preserve the inter- nal peace of the State, etc., in 1861, when Northern Missouri was overrun by preda- tory bands, and the loyal citizens were being driven from their homes by hun- dreds, and suffering in life, person and estate, the border Iowa yeomanry, unskilled in anything pertaining to war, responded to the Macedonian cry of their neighbors and speeded across the line to help them to the number of 1,500; they were armed with old fowling pieces and antiquated militia gear, but they proved effective, nevertheless, their hearts being in the right place. In the same year three expeditions were sent out to beat back the Jackson bushwhackers who were advancing on Iowa, driving out the Union people on their way. These expeditions numbered about 1,300 men, and performed valuable service in Missouri. On the northern border, during the same year, the Sioux City cavalry, ninety- three men, and Captain Tripp's company, about fifty men, were employed to protect the borders against the Indians. In 1862, under authority of the General Assembly, the Northern and Southern Border Brigades were organized — the one HISTORY OF IOWA. 95 for the protection of the State against guerilla bands on the south along the entire border, the other to keep in check the dis- affected Indians intent on mischief in the northwest. There were five companies of the Northern Border Brigade, two hun- dred and fifty men, and ten companies of the Southern Border Brigade, seven hun- dred and ninety-four men, judiciously stationed at exposed points. For two years the State, at her own expense, sup- ported these organizations. There can be no doubt that this was a wise expenditure, considering the service done — that of stay- ing murder, rapine and arson, which were threatening to stalk through the State. Subsequently eight hundred militia in eleven companies were called out to sup- press the celebrated Talley treason in Keokuk county, and five hundred on ac- count of the disturbances in Poweshiek and Davies counties. At the beginning of the war, the popu- lation of Iowa included about 150,000 men presumably liable to render military ser vice. The State raised for general service thirty-nine regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and four companies of artillery, composed of three years' men; one regiment of infantry, composed of three months' men, and four regiments and one batallion of infantry, composed of 100 days' men. The original enlistments in these various organizations, including 1,72V men raised by draft, numbered a little more than 69,000. The re-enlist- ments, including upward of 7,000 vete- rans, numbered very nearly 8,000. The enlistments in the regular army and navy, and organizations of other States, will, if added, raise the total to upward of 80,000. The number of men who, under special enlistments, and as militia, took part at different times in the operations on the exposed borders of the State, was probably as many as 5,000. As an inevitable result of war, many became prisoners, and suffered the cruel- ties of Libby, Audersonville and other "pens" in the South, which have become famous the world over, solely because of the incredible barbarities practiced in them. Considerable portions of the 8th, 12th and 14th Regiments were captured, after hard fighting, at Sliiloh; the 16th was nearly all surrendered at Atlanta; the 17th atTilton; the 19th at Sterling farm; the 36th at Mark's Mill. Many escaped heroically from rebel imprisonment, and the narratives of their sufferings would make many interesting volumes. Every loyal State of the Union had many women who devoted much time and great labor toward relieving the wants of our sick and wounded soldiery, but for Iowa can be claimed the honor of inaugu- rating the great charitable movement which was so successfully supported b/ the noble women of the North. Mrs. Harlan, wife of Hon. James Harlan, United States Senator, was the first woman of our country among those moving in high circles of society who personally visited the army and ministered to the wants of the suffering soldiery. In many of her visits to the army, Mrs. Harlan was accompanied by Mrs Joseph T. Fales, wife of the first State Auditor of Iowa. No words can describe the good done, the lives saved, and the deaths made easy by the host of noble women of Iowa, whose names it would take a volume to print. % 9G HISTORY OF IOWA. Every county, every town, every neighbor- hood in the State had these true heroines, ■whose praise can never be fully known, till the final rendering of all accounts of deeds done in the body. The contributions of the State to "sanitary fairs" during the war were enormous, amounting to many hundred thousand dollars. Highly suc- cessful fairs were held at Dubuque, Mus- catine, Burlington and Marshalltown, while all the towns contributed most gen- erously to fairs of a less general nature. All this must be added to the work of the many "Florence Nightingales" of Iowa, whose heroic sacrifices have won for them the undying gratitude of the nation. It is said, to the honor and credit of Iowa, that while many of the loyal States, o'der and larger in population and wealth, incurred heavy State debts for the purpose of fulfilling their obligations to the Gene- ral Government, Iowa, while she was fore- most in duty, while she promptly discharged all her obligations to her sister States aud the Union, found herself at the close of the war without any material additions to her pecuniary liabilities incurred before the war commenced. Upon final settle- ment after restoration of peace, her claims upon the Federal Government were found to be fully equal to the amount of her bond issued and sold during the war to provide the means for raising and equip- ping her troops sent into the field, and to meet the inevitable demands upon her treasury in consequence of the war. It was in view of these facts that Iowa had done more than her duty during the war, and that without incurring any con- siderable indebtedness, and that her troops had fought most gallantly on nearly every battle-field of the war, that the Newark Advertiser and other prominent Eastern journals called Iowa the "Model State of the Republic." In the following pages a brief account is given of each regiment, which was cred- ited to Iowa during the war. The First Regiment was organized under the President's first proclamation for volunteers for three months, with John Francis Bates, of Dubuque, as Colonel; William H. Merritt, of Cedar Rapids, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and A. B. Porter, of Mt. Pleasant, as Major. The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States May 14th, 1861, at Keokuk. The different compa- nies were independent military organiza- tions before the war; and tendered their service before the breaking out of hostili- ties. The regiment was in quarters in Keokuk for two weeks, During this time they became proficient in the use of arms, and they learned something of practical camp life. June 13th, the regiment re- ceived orders to join General Lyon in Missouri. They immediately embarked on board a steamer, and by midnight were at Hannibal, Mo., where they slept on the floor of a large warehouse. They pro- ceeded without delay to the interior of the Suite, where Gen. Lyon had just defeated Gov. Jackson with his so-called State troops. Joining Lyon, they were soon given a taste of active service. For two months they were almost constantly on the march, and occasionally skirmished with the enemy. August 10th, a sharp battle was fought with the enemy at Wilson's Creek, when the gallant and ^ - J, t> > HISTORY OF IOWA. 97 noble Gen. Lyon was killed, and the regi- ment lost 10 killed and 50 wounded. After the battle the regiment proceeded to St. Louis, and their three months having expired, were mustered out August 25th, 1861. The number of officers and men in this regiment were 959. Of these 13 were killed, 13 died, 141 were wounded, and three were missing. The Second Infantry was organized soon after the commencement of the war, with Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk, as Colonel; James M. Tuttle, of Keosauqua, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and M. M. Crocker, of DesMoines, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States, at Keokuk, in May, 1861. It participated in the following engagements: Fort Donel- son, Shiloh, advance on Corinth, Corinth, Little Bear Creek, Ala., Resaca, Ga., Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, in front of Atlanta, Jan- uary 22, 1804, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Eden Station, Little Ogeechee, Savannah, Columbia, Lynch's Creek and Bentonville; went with Sherman on his march to the sea, and through the Carolinas, home. This regiment was one of Iowa's most distinguished commands in the war. It was the first three years' regiment, and it left for the theatre of war even before the First Regiment, by a few hours. Its companies were enrolled during that first splendid enthusiasm which followed the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and they contained many men of talent and reputation. The regiment especially dis- tinguished itself in the capture of Fort Donelson, in entering which it was awarded the post of honor It was then that the unenthusiastic Gen. llalleck pro- nounced the Iowa Second the " bravest of the brave." The Second Veteran Infantry was formed by the consolidation of the battalions of the Second and Tbird Vet- eran Infantry, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1865. The total number of officers and men who inlisted in this regiment was 1,247. Of this num- ber during the war 65 were kil'ed, 134 died, 330 were discharged, 268 were wounded, 14 were missing and 24 were captured. The Third Infantry was organized at about the same time as the Second, with Nelson G. Williams, of Dubuque county, as Colonel; John Scott, of Story county, Lieutenant-Colonel; William N. Stone, of Marian county, as Major, and was mustered into the United States service in June, 1861, at Keokuk. The regiment was en- gaged at Blue Mills, Mo., Shiloh, Hatchie river, Matamoras, Vicksburg, Johnson, Miss., in the Meridian expedition at At- lanta, in Sherman's march to the sea, and through the Carolinas to Richmond and Washington. The regiment was veteran- ized and organized as a battalion in 1864, but before the officers received their com- missions the battalion bravely fought itself out of existence at the battle of Atlanta. The remnant was consolidated with the veterans of the Second, and the regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1864. The total number of officers and men in the regiment was 1,074. Of this number, during the war, 57 were killed, 133 died, 231 were discharged, 269 were wounded, 10 were missing, 93 were captured a:id 19 were transferred. © i — My 98 HISTORY OF IOWA. The Fourth Infantry was organized with G. M. Dodge, of Council Bluffs, as Colonel; John Galligan, of Davenport, as Lieutenant-Colonel; Wm. R. English, of Glenwood, as Major. The regiment was engaged at Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ring- gold, Resaca and Taylor's Ridge. It came home on veteran furlough February 26, ]864; returned in April; was in the cam- paign against Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, and thence through the Carolinas to Washington, and home; was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 24, 1865. The total number of officers and men in this regiment was 1,184, of whom 01 were killed, 205 died, 299 were discharged, 338 were wounded, 5 were missing, 44 were captured and 37 were transferred. The Fifth Infantry was organized with Wm. H. Worthington, of Keokuk, as Colonel; C. Z. Mathias, of Burlington, as Lieutenant-Colonel; W. S. Robertson, of Columbus City, as Major, and was mus- tered into the service of the United States, at Burlington, July 15, 1861. The regi- ment was engaged at New Madrid, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Corinth, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg and Chickamauga. Went home on veteran furlough in April, 1 864, the non-veterans went home in July, 1 864, leaving 180 veterans, who were trans- ferred to the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. The Fifth Cavalry was mustered out at Nash- ville, Tenn., August 11, 1865. The regi- ment had done brave service, and amply deserves the high encomium passed upon it by the generals of the army. The total number of officers and men in the regi- ment was 1,037, of whom 65 were killed, 126 died, 244 were discharged, 288 were wounded, 103 were oaptured, and 60 were transferred. The Sixth Infantry was organized with John A. McDowell, of Keokuk, as Colonel; Markoe Cummins, of Muscatine, as Lieutenant-Colonel; John M. Corse, of Burlington, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States July 6, 1861, at Burlington. It was engaged at Shiloh, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Jackson, Black River Bridge, Jones' Ford, in Sher- man's march, then returned through the Carolinas. The regiment served with dis- tinction at the siege of Jackson, winning high praise from General Smith, command- ing. It marched through most of the Southern States, thousands of miles, and bore its share of fatigue with unflinching devotion to duty. The total number of officers and men in the regiment was 1,013, of vhom 109 were killed, 157 died, 265 wer*. discharged, 355 were wounded, 3 were missing, and 8 were transferred. Thk Seventh Infantry was organized with J. G. Lauman, of Burlington, as Col- onel; Augustus Wentz, of Davenport, as Lieut.-Colouel; E. M. Rice, of Oskaloosa, as Major; and was mustered into the United States service at Burlington, July 24, 1861. The regiment was engaged in the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Cor- inth, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, siege of Atlanta, July 22d in front of Atlanta, Sherman's campaign co the ocean, through the Carolinas to Richmond, and thence to Louisville. Was mustered 1^ Al a ^ ?k*. HISTORY OF IOWA. 99 out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1865. The battle in which the Seventh did the most service was that of Belmont, in which it lost 227 in killed, wounded and missing. The regiment, by four years of faithful service, earned as honorable a name as can be found anywhere in the annals of our volunteer soldiery. The Seventh contained altogether 1,138 officers and men, and of these, during the war, 98 were killed, 178 died, 291 discharged, 354 were wounded, and 29 were transferred. The Eighth Infantry was organized with Frederick Steel, of the regular army, as Colonel; James L. Gedds, of Vinton, as Lieutenant-Colonel; J. C. Ferguson, of Knoxville, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States Sep- tember 12, 1861, at Davenport, Iowa. The regiment was engaged in the following battles: Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jack- son and Spanish Fort. Was mustered out at Selma, Ala., April 20,1866. The Eighth fought nobly at Shiloh for ten hours, but was finally forced to surrender. Most of the command then suffered in rebel prisons for eight months, when they were paroled or released. A portion of the regiment was not surrendered, and it went into the famous "Union Brigade." The regiment was re-organized in 1863, and performed faithful service until mustered out in 1866. It was on duty in Alabama nearly a year after the collapse of the Re- bellion, and by the "Campaign of Mobile" earned as warm a reception as Iowa gave to any of her returning heroes. Of 1,027 (fficers and men, 53 were killed, 187 died, 314 were discharged, 288 were wounded, 8 were missing, 394 were captured, and 38 were transferred. The Ninth Infantry was organized with Wm. Vandever, of Dubuque, as Colo- nel; Frank G. Herron, of Dubuque, as Lieutenant-Colonel; Wm. H. Coyle, of Decorah, as Major. The regiment was in the following engagements: Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg, Ringgold, Dallas and Lookout Mountain. It also participated in the Atlanta campaign, Sherman's march to the sea, and the return home through North and South Carolina to Richmond. Was mustered out at Louisville, July 18, 1865. The Ninth Iowa was recruited and organ- ized by its first colonel, Wm. Vandever, who was, in 1862, made a Brigadier-Gene- ral. The regiment performed most bril- liant service during the whole war, and took a prominent part in the battle of Pea Ridge. It had marched more than 4,000 miles, been transported by rail and steamer more than 6,000, and traversed every State by the Confederacy except Florida and Texas. The regiment brought home four flags, of which two were de- posited with the AdjutantrGeneral, one given to the State Historical Society, and one was kept by the regimental associa- tion, formed by them on being mustered out. Of 1,090 men and officers, 84 were killed, 275 died, 274 were discharged, 385 were wounded, 1 was missing, 32 were captured, and 30 were transferred. The Tenth Infantry was organized with Nicholas Perczel, of Davenport, as Colonel; W. E. Small, of Iowa City, as Lieutenant-Colonel; John C. Bennett, of v> 100 HISTORY OF IOWA. Polk county, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States at Iowa City, September 6, 1861. The regi- ment participated in the following engage- ments: Siege of Corinth, Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Cham- pion Hills, Vicksburg and Mission Ridge. Was mustered out August 15, 1865. The bloodiest battle in which the Tenth took a prominent part was that of Cham- pion Hills, in which it lost half its number in killed, wounded and missing. Many regiments, on coming home, gave to the State banners with the names on them of the principal battles in which they had been engaged. The Tenth gave up its colors with the simple inscription, "Tenth Iowa Veteran Volunteers;" and when a visitor to the State Department looks at this banner, torn and bloody with four years of hard service, he will think that "Tenth Iowa Veteran Volunteers" is as proud an inscription as flag ever unfurled to the breeze of heaven. Of 1,027 officers and men, 63 were killed, 170 died, 256 were discharged, 277 were wounded, 17 were captured, and 49 were transferred. The Eleventh Infantry was organ- izrd with A. M. Hare, of Muscatine, as Colonel; John C. Abercrombie as Lieu- l ;n ant-Colonel; Wm. Hall, of Davenport, a.s Major; and was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States, at Davenport, in September and October, 1861. The regiment was engaged in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battles of Cor- inth, Vicksburg, Atlanta campaign, and baltle of Atlanta. Was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 15, 1865. No regi- ment did better service in the war, and no regiment met with heartier welcome on its return home. Of 1,022 men, 58 were killed, 178 died, 158 were discharged, 234 were wounded, 4 were missing, 63 were captured, and 42 were transferred. The Twelfth Infantry was recruited soon after the disaster at Bull Run, under a proclamation by President Lincoln call- ing for more volunteers. It was organized with J. J. Wood, of Maquoketa, as Colonel; John P. Coulter, of Cedar Rapids, as Lieu- tenant-Colonel; Samuel D. Brodtbeck, of Dubuque, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States in October and November, 1861, the last company November 25. The regiment was engaged at Shiloh, Fort Donelson, siege of Vicks- burg, Tupelo, Mississippi, White River, Nashville and Spanish Fort. Was mus- tered out at Memphis, January 20, 1866. In the battle of Shiloh the Twelfth fought gallantly all day in company with the Eighth and Fourteenth, and at sunset sur- rendered. They endured a loathsome captivity in rebel prisons for eight months, when they were exchanged, and the regi- ment was re-organized. A few who were not captured at Shiloh performed ac ive service in the " Union Brigade," during these eight months. The newly equipped regiment immediately joined the army be- fore Vicksburg, and served actively the rest of the war. When the regiment vet- eranized, January 4, 1864, a larger propor- tion of men re-enlisted than in any other regiment from Iowa The following spring the regiment was home for a few weeks on veteran furlough After Lee's surrender the regiment was continued in the service in Alabama, on guard and gar- _rf 9 HISTORY OF IOWA. 101 rison duty for several months. Of 9SI officers and men, 33 were killed, 285 died, 258 were discharged, 222 were wounded, 404 were captured, and 23 were trans- ferred. The Thirteenth Infantry was or- ganized with M. M. Crocker, of DesMoines, as Colonel; M. M. Price, of Davenport, as Lieutenant-Colonel; John Shane, of Vin- ton, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States, November 1, 1861. The regiment was in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Corinth, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Vicksburg, campaign against Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, and through the Carolinas, home. Was mustered out at Louisville, July 21, 1865. This regiment was especially fortu- nate in having such a commander as Col. Crocker. The men at first objected to drilling five or six hours every day, and other severe discipline; but afterward, in the battle of Shiloh and elsewhere, they had ample reason to be grateful for their drill under Col. Crocker. The Thirteenth did noble service in many important affairs of the war, and had the honor of being the first Union troops to enter Columbia, S. C, where the secession movement first began. Of a total of 989 officers and men, 68 were killed, 224 died, 270 were discharged, 313 were wounded, 6 were missing, 88 were captured, and 34 were transferred. The Fourteenth Infantry was or- ganized in the fall of 1861, under the call of October 3. Before the regiment was organized, the first three companies raised, A, B and C, were ordered on garrison duty at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory, and re- mained ever afterward detached from the regiment. So that, although in form they were a part of the Fourteenth Iowa for some time, they were never under its com- manding officer. Afterward, these com- panies for a time were called the First Battalion of the 41st Infantry; but this regiment never being organized, they finally were attached to a cavalry regi- ment. The Fourteenth, therefore, had at first but seven companies. In June, 1863, the number of companies was raised to 10, and thus constituted for the first time a full regiment. The regiment was first organized with Wm.T. Shaw, of Anamosa, as Colonel; Edward W. Lucas, of Iowa City, as Lieutenant-Colonel; Hiram Leon- ard, of DesMoines county, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States at Davenport, in October, 1861. The regiment was in the battle of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Pleasant Hill, Meridian, Fort De Russey, Tupelo, Town Creek, Tallahatchie, Pilot Knob, Old Town, Yellow Bayou, and others. Was mustered out, except veterans and recruits, at Davenport, November 16, 1864. The regiment was nearly all captured at the battle of Shiloh, but was after a few months exchanged and reorganized. The Fourteenth did some of the hardest fight- ing that was done in the war. Of 840 officers and men, 31 were killed, 148 died, 191 were discharged, 186 were wounded, 1 was missing, 269 were captured, and 23 were transferred. The Fifteenth Infantry was organ- ized in the winter of 1861-2, with Hugh T. Reid, of Keokuk, as Colonel; William Dewey, of Freemont county, as Lieutenant- a ^. 102 HISTORY OF IOWA. Colonel; W. W. Belnap, of Keokuk, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States at Keokuk, March 19, 1862. The regiment participated in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battles of Corinth, Vicksburg, campaign against At- lanta, battle in front of Atlanta, in Sher- man's march to the sea, and through the Carolinas to Richmond, Washington and Louisville, where it was mustered out August 1, 1864. The regiment was most actively engaged at the siege of Atlanta, where it was under fire from the rebels for 81 days. The gallant Fifteenth will long be honored by the grateful people of Iowa for its faithful service of three years and a half in the heart of the rebellion. Of 1,196 men, 58 were killed, 277 died, 306 were discharged, 416 were wounded, 7 were missing, 83 were captured, and 27 were transferred. The Sixteenth Infantry was organ- ized under the first call of 1861, and was at that time supposed to be the last Iowa would be called upon to furnish. But the war was only begun, and Iowa was des- tined to furnish more troops after the Sixteenth than before. As organized, the Sixteenth had Alexander Chambers for Colonel; A. H. Sanders, of Davenport, for Lieutenant-Colonel; and William Purcell, of Muscatine, for Major. It was mus- tered into the service of the United States at Davenport, December 10, 1861. The Sixteenth was in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Corinth, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, and the various battles around Atlanta; in Sherman's campaigns, and those in the Carolinas. Its first battle was the bloodiest of the war — Shiloh; and that they behaved so well under their first fire, showed that they were good men. After the battle of Shiloh, the "Iowa Brigade" was formed, of which the Sixteenth ever after formed a part. This "Iowa Brigade" was most highly praised by the Inspector-General of the Seventeenth Army Corps, who de- clared in his official report that he had never seen a finer looking body of men, in any respect. In the battle before Atlanta, the greater part of the regiment was cap- tured, and remained in captivity two months. The Sixteenth was mustered out July 19, 1865, at Louisville. Of its 819 officers and men, 62 were killed, 255 died, 211 were discharged, 311 were wounded, 14 were missing, 257 were captured, and 29 were transferred The Seventeenth Infantry was raised during the spring of 1862, and organized with John W. Rankin, of Keokuk, as Colonel; D. B. Hillis, of Keokuk, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and Samuel M. Wise, of Mt. Pleasant, as Major. It was mus- tered into the service of the United States at Keokuk, April 16, 1862. The Seventeenth was in the siege of Corinth, the battles of Iuka, Corinth, Jack- son, Champion Hills, Fort Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, and Tilton, Ga., where most of the regiment were made prisoners of war, October 13, 1804. The regiment won special commendation at the battle of Coriuth. Of its 956 mem- bers, 45 were killed, 121 died, 222 were discharged, 245 were wounded, 8 were missing, 278 were captured, and 28 were transferred. o]« i HISTORY OF IOWA. 103 The Eighteenth Infantry, as well as the Seventeenth, was not recruited in re- sponse to any call of the President, but was a free gift from the people of Iowa. It was raised in the early summer of 1862, and was mustered into the service of the United States at Clinton, August 5, 6 and 7, 1862, with John Edwards, of Chariton, as Colonel; T. Z. Cook, of Cedar Rapids, as Lieutenant-Colonel; Hugh J. Campbell, of Muscatine, as Major. It was engaged in the battles of Springfield, Moscow, Poison Spring, Ark., and others. Much of its time was spent in garrison duty, west of the Mississippi, and therefore it did not share in the brilliant honors of the great battles east of that river. Had oppor- tunity offered, no doubt they would have assaulted Vicksburg, or fought above the clouds on Lookout Mountain, as bravely as any troops in the Union. It was mus- tered out July 20, 1865, at Little Rock, Arkansas. Of 875 officers and men, 28 were killed, 122 died, 233 were discharged, 79 were wounded, 63 were captured, and 15 were transferred. The Nineteenth Infantry was the first regiment organized under President Lincoln's call of July 2, 1862, made when the cause of the Union looked most gloomy. It was mustered into the United States service August 17, 186-, at Keokuk, with Benjamin Crabb, of Washington, as Colonel; Samuel McFarland, of Mt. Pleas- ant, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and Daniel Kent, of Ohio, as Major. The regiment served faithfully at Prai- rie Grove, Vicksburg, in the Tazoo river expedition, at Sterling Farm, and at Span- ish Fort. At Sterling Farm, September 29, 1863, most of the regiment surrend- ered, after a hard fight. They were ex- changed July 22d of the following year, when they rejoined their regiment at New Orleans. The Nineteenth was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., July 18, 1865. Of 985 men and officers, 58 were killed, 133 died, 191 were discharged, 198 were wounded, 216 were captured, and 43 were transferred. The Twentieth Infantry was the sec- ond of the twenty-two regiments raised in Iowa under the call of July 2, 1862. The regiment was raised within two counties, Linn and Scott, each of which contributed five companies, and which vied with each other in patriotism. Wm. McE. Dye, of Marion, Linn county, was commissioned Colonel; J. B. Leek, of Davenport, Lieut. - Colouel; and Wm. G. Thompson, of Ma- rion, Major. The muster-in took place at Clinton, August 25, 1862. The Twentieth fought at Prairie Grove and at Ft. Blakely. Though not engaged in prominent battles, it performed valuable garrison duties on the southern coast. It was on Mustang Island, off the coast of Texas, seven months. Was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., July 8, 1865, arid on its return home received a royal welcome from Iowa's citizens. Of 925 officers and men in the Twentieth, 9 were killed, 144 died, 166 were discharged, 52 were wounded, 13 were captured and 39 were transferred. The Twenty- First Infantry was raised in August, 1862, with Samuel Merrill (ex- Governor of Iowa) as Colonel; Cornelius W. Dunlap, of Mitchell, as Lieut-Colonel; S. F. Van Anda, of Delhi, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the ^ 104 HISTORY OF IOWA. United States August '8, 20,22 and 23, except one company, which had been mus- tered in June The Twenty-first was en- gaged at Hartsville, Mo., Black River Bridge, Fort Beauregard, siege of Vicks- burg, and battles of Mobile and Fort Blakely. For nearly a year the regiment served in Missouri, where it distinguished itself by the well-fought battle of Harts- ville. Then it fought in Mississippi, in Louisiana, in Texas, in Louisiana again, in Arkansas, in Tennessee, in Louisiana once more, and in Alabama. In the battle of Fort Gib on, this and several other Iowa regiments were prominent. The TV enty- first was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., July 15, 1865. Of its 980 officers and men, 39 were killed, 192 died, 159 were dis- charged, 161 were wounded, 2 were miss- ing, 21 were captured, and 56 were trans- ferred. The Twenty-Second Infantry was or- ganized in August, 1862, with Wm. M. Stone, of Knoxville (formerly Major of the Third Infantry, and since Governor of Iowa), as Colonel; John A. Garrett, of Newton, as Lieut. Colonel; Harvey Gra- ham, of Iowa City, as Major; and was mus- tered into the United States service at Iowa City, September 10, 1862. The Twenty-second served in many of the Southern States, and was engaged at Vicksburg, Tompson's Hills, in Sherman's campaign to Jackson, at Winchester, Fish- er's Hill, and Cedar Creek. The regiment particularly distinguished itself in an as- sault upon the enemy's works at Vicks- burg, and in the battle of Winchester, in the Shenandoah Valley, where it lost 109 men. In the Vicksbnrg a=sault, the regi- ment lost 164 men. General Grant says in that assault, only Sergeant Griffith and 11 privates (of the Twenty-second,) suc- ceeded in entering the fort. Of these, only the Sergeant and one man returned. Altogether, there were 30 Iowa regiments concerned in the siege of Vicksbuig. The regiment was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., July ?5, 1S05. Of 1,008 members, 58 were killed, 182 died, 161 were discharged, 267 were wounded, 84 were captured, and 42 were transferred. Toe Twenty-Third Infantry was or- ganized with William Dewey, of Fremont county, as Colonel; W. H. Kinsman, of Council Bluffs, as Lieut.-Colonel; S. L. Glasgow, of Corydon, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States at DesMoines, September 19, 1862. The regiment was engaged at Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Black River, Champion Hills, Jackson, Milliken's Bend, and Ft. Blakely. The Twenty-third are the acknowledged heroes of the battle of Black River Bridge, and the equal sharers with other troops of the honors of many battle-fields At Black River but a few minutes were i sod in as- saulting and carrying the rebel works, but those few were fought with fearful loss to the Twenty-third Iowa. After the success- ful fight, in which the Twenty-first also took part, Gen. Lawler passed down the line and shook every man's hand, so great was his emotion. Gen. Grant called it a brilliant and daring movement. It was mustered out at Harrisburg, Texas. July 26, 1865. Of its 961 officers and men, 41 were killed, 233 died, 181 were discharged, 135 were wounded, 3 were captured, and 42 transferred. 7|s HISTORY OF IOWA. 10d The Twenty-Fourth Infantry, called " The Iowa Temperance regiment," was raised by Eber C. Byarn, of Linn county, and consisted of men who were pledged to abstain from the use of liquor in any shape. Ebei C. Byarn, of Mt. Vernon, was Colonel; John Q. Wilds, of Mt Vernon, Lieutenant- Colonel; Ed. Wright, of Springdale, as Major. The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States at Muscatine, September 18, 1862. The regi- ment was engaged at Fort Gibson, Cham- pion Hills, General Banks' Red river ex- pedition, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. The battles in which the Twenty-fourth took the most prominent part were those of Sabine Cross Roads (in the Red river expedition) and Fisher's Hill. Of 979 men and officers, 56 were killed, 259 died, 205 were discharged, 260 were wounded, 2 were missing, 76 were captured and 55 w T ere transferred. The Twenty-Fifth Infantry was or- ganized near the beautiful little city of Mt. Pleasant, with George A. Stone, of Mt. Pleasant, as Colonel; Fabian Bry- dolph as Lieutenant-Colonel; and Calom Taylor, of Bloomfield, as Major. Was mustered into the United States service, at Mt. Pleasant, September 27, 1862. The regiment was engaged at Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Walnut Bluff, Chattanooga, Campain, Ringgold, Resaca, Dallas, Kena- saw Mountain, battles around Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro, Ships Gap, Bentonville and was with Sherman on his march through Georgia and the Carolinas, to Richmond and Washington. The cap- ture of Columbia, the capital of the chief disloyal State, was effected by Iowa troops, among which were those of the Twenty- fifth. The regiment was muster d out at Washington, D. C , June 6, 1805. Of 995 men and officers, 39 were k lied, 223 died, 140 were discharged, 183 were wounded, 4 were missing, 18 were captured and 71 were transferred. The Twenty-Sixth Infantry was or- ganized near the city of Clinton. Milo Smith, of Clinton, was Colonel; S. G. Magill, of Lyons, was Lieutenant-Colonel; Samuel Clark, of De Witt, was Major; and the regiment was mustered in at Clinton, in August of 1862. The regiment was engaged at Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Snake Creek Gap, Ga., Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur, siege of At- lanta, Ezra Church, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Ship's Gap, in Sherman's cam- paign to Savannah and home through the Carolinas. The regiment took part in many great battles, and did faithful service all through the war, after winning com- mendations from its Generals. On the re- turn home, the regimental flag was depos- ited with the State archives, inscribed in golden colors with the names of the battles and victories in which they had shared. It was mustered out of the service at Washington, D. C, June 6, 1865. Of 9 . 9 men and officers, 44 were killed, 244 died, 147 were discharged, 165 were wounded, 27 were captured and 70 were transferred. The Twenty-Seventh Infantry was recruited in the northern part of Iowa, and was organized with James I. Gilbert, of Lansing, as Colonel; Jed. Lake, of Inde- pendence, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and G W. Howard, of Bradford, as Major. It t 1 Is" ^ \ 106 HISTORY OF IOWA. was mustered into the service of the Uni' ed States at Dubuque, October 3, 1862. 'I he Twenty-seventh was engaged at Little Rock, Ark., the battles of the Red river expedition, Fort De Russey, Pleasant Ili'l, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Old Town Creek and Fort Blakely. This regiment had varied experience in the matter of climate; for their first active service was in Minne- sota, while before the war was over they made a voyage on the gulf, from the Balize to Mobile Bay. After faithful ser- vice through the rest of the war, the regi- ment was mustered out August 8, 1865, at Clinton, Iowa. Of 940 officers and men, 9 were killed, 183 died, 207 were dis- charged, 142 wounded, 6 were missing, 32 were captured and 47 were transferred. The Twenty-Eighth Infantry was organized during the autumn of 1862, with the following officers: Wm. E. Miller, of Iowa City, Colon-el; John Connell, of To- ledo, Lieutenant-Colonel; and H.B Lynch, of Millersburg, as Major. The regiment was engaged at Port Gibson, Jackson and siege of Vicksburg; was in Bank's Red river expedition, and fought at Sabine Cross Roads, in the Shenandoah Valley, at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. In this last the regiment was most prominently engaged. During its service it fought a dozen battles, and traveled well- nigh the entire circuit of the Confederacy. The Twenty-eighth was mustered out of the service at Savannah, Ga., July 31, 1865. Of its 956 officers and men, 56 were killed, 111 died, 187 were discharged, 262 were wounded, 10 were missing, 93 were cap- tured and 44 were transferred. The Twenty -Ninth Infantry was or- ganized at Council Bluffs, and mustered into the service of the United States, December 1, 1862, with Thomas H. Ben- ton, Jr., of Council Bluffs, as Colonel; R. F. Patterson, of Keokuk, as Lieutenantr Colonel; and Charles B Shoemaker, of Clarinda, as Major. The Twenty-ninth was engaged at Helena, Arkansas Post, Terre Noir, and Spanish Fort. Though it was one of the best disciplined and bravest regiments in the war, it was long kept from participa- tion in active service by being stationed in Arkansas The regiment was mustered out at New Orleans, August 15, 1865. Of a total of 1,005 officers and men, 21 were killed, 268 died, 132 were discharged, 107 were wounded, 1 was missing, 55 were captured and 37 were transferred. The Thirtieth Infantry was organ- ized in the summer of 1862, with Charles B. Abbott, of Louisa county, as Colonel; William M. G. Torrence, of Keokuk, as Lieut. -Colonel; Lauren Dewey,of Mt. Pleas- ant, as Major; was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States at Keokuk, Sep- tember 23, 1862. The regiment was engaged at Arkansas Post, Yazoo City, Vicksburg, Cherokee, Ala., Chattanooga, Ringgold, Resacka, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro and Taylor's Ridge; accompanied Sherman in his campaign to Savannah and through the Carolinas to Richmond, and was in the grand review at Washington, D. C. The Thirtieth was in the thickest of the war, and came home loaded with honors, leav- ing its honored dead on a score of battle- fields. It was mustered out June 5, 1865. ±=Az+ HISTORY OF IOWA. 107 Of 978 officers and men in this regiment, 44 were killed, 264 died, 145 were dis- charged, 222 were wounded, 2 were miss- ing, 19 were captured, and 48 were trans- ferred. The Thirty-First Infantry was or- ganized in the summer of 1862, with William Smyth, of Marion, as Colonel; J. W. Jenkins, of Maquoketa, as Lieuten- ant-Colonel; and Ezekiel Cutler, of Ana- niosa, as Major. It was mustered into the service of the United States at Davenport, October 13, 1862. The Thirty-first was engaged at Chicka- saw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Raymond, Jackson, Black River, Vicksburg, Chero- kee, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Taylor's Hills, Snake Creek Gap, Eesaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro; was in Sherman's cam- paign through Georgia and the Carolinas, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., June 27, 1865. The regiment always did its part nob!y. It was received home with speeches, feasting, etc., but the people's joy was tempered with sadness, as the regiment had gone forth 1,000 strong, and returned with 370. But had not so many regiments returned with thinned ranks, the Rebellion had not been conquered — the Union had not been saved. Of 977 officers and men, 13 were killed, 279 died, 176 were discharged, 85 were wounded, 13 were captured, and 72 were transferred. The Thirty-Second Infantry was or- ganized in the fall of 1862, with John Scott, of Nevada, as Colonel; E. H. Mix, of Shell Rock, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and G. A Eberhart, of Waterloo, as Major. The regiment was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States at Dubuque, October 5, 1862. The regiment was en- gaged at Fort De Russey, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, Old Tower Creek, Nashville and other battles. For some time the regi- ment was separated, and the detachments in different fields, but at last they were all united, and the regiment served as a unit, It was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa- August 24, 1865. Of 925 officers and men 59 were killed, 242 died, 174 were dis charged, 142 were wounded, 98 were cap tured, and 35 were transferred. The Thirty-Third Infantry was or- ganized in the fall of 1862, with Samuel A. Rice, a popular politician of Central Iowa, as Colonel; Cyrus H. Maskey, of Sigourney, as Lieutenant-Colonel; Hiram D. Gibson, of Knoxville, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States at Oskaloosa, October 1, 1862 The regiment was engaged at Little Rock, Helena, Saline River, Spanish Fort and Yazoo Pass. The regiment worked to best advantage at the brilliant victory of Helena. It remained in Arkansas till the early part of 1865, when it moved south to take part in the closing scenes in Alabama. The Thirty-third was mustered out of service at New Orleans, July 17, 1865. Of 985 men and officers, 26 we;e killed, 241 died, 145 were discharged, 177 were wounded, 7 were mis-ing, 74 were captured, and 32 were transferred. The Thirty- Fourth Infantry was organized in the fall of 1862, with Ge rgu W. Clarke, of Indianola, as Colonel; W. 1 - 108 HISTORY OF IOWA. S. Dungan, of Chariton, as Lieutenant- Colonel; R. D. Kellogg, of Decatur, as Major; and was mustered into the service of the United States at Burlington, Octo- ber 15, 1862. The regiment was engaged at Ark insas Post, Fort Gaines and other places in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala- bama. January 1, 1865, the regiment was consolidaUd with the Thirty-eighth. Re- cruits from the Twenty-first and Twenty- third had been, on the muster-out of those regiments, transferred to the Thirty-fourth, and this regiment had a total of 1,131 offi- cers and men at its muster-out at Houston, [ Texas, August 15, 1865. Of 953 properly belonging to this regiment, 4 were killed, 234 died, 314 were discharged, 16 were wounded, 4 were captured and 22 were transferred. The regiment traveled over 15,000 miles in its service. The Thirty-Fifth Infantet was re- cruited in the summer of 1862, and mus- tered into the service of the United States, at Muscatine, September 18, with S. G. Hill, of Muscatine, as Colonel; James S. Rothrock, of Muscatine, as Lieutenant- Colonel, and Henry O'Conner, of Musca- tine, as Major. The regiment participated in the battles of Jackson, siege of Vicksburg, Bayou Rapids, Bayou de Glaze, Pleasant Hill, Old River Lake, Tupelo, Nashville and the Mobile campaign. The Thirty-fifth served bravely in a dozen battles, and traveled 10,000 miles. On its return home, it was greeted with a most hearty recep- tion, and a reunion of old soldiers. The regiment was mustered out at Davenport, August 10, 1865, and paid and disbanded at Muscatine six days later. Of 984 offi- cers and men, 38 were killed, 208 died, 192 were discharged, 95 were wounded, 3 were missing, 15 were captured and 65 were transferred. The Thirty-Sixth Infantry was or- ganized in the summer of 1862, with Charles W. Kittredge, of Ottumwa, as Colonel; F. M. Drake, of Union ville, Appanoose county, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and T. C. Woodward, of Ottumwa, as Major. The regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, at Keo- kuk, October 4, 1862. The Thirty-sixth was engaged at Mark's Mills Ark., Elkins' Ford, Camden, Helena, Jenkins' Ferry and other places during the "Little Rock expedition." The regiment suffered greatly from sickness Before it was fully organized, even, small-pox and measels attacked the men, and the com- mand lost 100 men. Then it was obliged to encounter the malarial fiuences of Yazoo river and Helena. Before they recovered their vigor fully, more of them were forced to surrender to the rebels. The regiment was mustered out at Duvall's Bluff, Ark., August 24, 1865. Of 986 officers and men, 35 were killed, 258 died, 191 were dis charged, 166 were wounded, 460 were cap- tured and 24 were transferred The Thirty-Seventh Infantry was generally known as the "Gray-beard Reg- iment." It was composed of men over 45 years of age, and hence not subject to military service, but their patriotism in- duced them to enlist, and the services of the regiment were accepted by the Secre- tary of War. for post and garrison service. f HISTORY OF IOWA. 109 It was organized with George W. Kincaid, of Mu catine, as Colonel; Geo. R. West, of Dubuque, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lyman Allen, of Iowa City, as Major. The muster-in took place at Muscatine, Decem- ber 15, 1!^G2. The regiment served at St. Louis in guard of military prisons, then on the line of the Pacific railway, then at Alton, 111. Here they remained guarding the rebel prisoners till January, 1864, when they moved to Rock Island to perform similar duties until June 5. Theyseived the next three months, in very hot weather, at Mimphis. Thence the command moved to Indianapolis. From here five companies went to Cincinnati, three to Columbus and two to Gallipolis, Ohio. At these posts they remained till May, 1865. This "Gray- b ard Regiment" was the only one of its kind in the war, and it received many favorable expressions from commanding officers under whom it served. It was mustered out Vay 24, lS6o, the day of the grand review at Washington. The Thirty- seven' h was the first Iowa three-years' regiment to come home, and was mustered out thus early by special request of General Willich, in whose brigade they were, in or er that they might save their crops, most of them being farmers. Of 914 officers and men, 3 were killed, 145 died, 359 were discharged, 2 were wounded, none were missing and none captured. TriK Thirty-Eighth Infantry was re- cruited in August, 86 , and mustered into the service of the United States at Du- buque, November 4, with D. II. Hughes, of Decorah, as Colonel; J O. Iludmitt, of W'aveily, as L'ent -Colonel; and Charles Chadwick, of West Union, as Major. The regiment participated in the siege of Vicksburg and Banks' Red River expe- dition, and was consolidated with the Thirty-fourth Infantry, January 1, 1865. Of all Iowa's regiments, the Thirty-eighth was most unfortunate in regard to sick- ness. It had not been in the service two years when more than 300 enlisted men and a cumber of officers had died of disease. Dining the same period 100 had been discharged for inability. There were long weary weeks when there were not enough well men to take care of the sick — not even enough to bury the dead. It was at last obliged to give up its own existence. Though the regiment had not had an op- portunity to achieve brilliant renown in the field, it did fulfill a no less honored destiny than many whose banners were covered with the names of battles. It did all that men could do — it gave itself up for the good of the service. Of its 910 men, 1 was killed, 314 died, 120 were dis- charged, 2 were wounded and 14 were transferred. The Thirty-Ninth Intantry was or- ganized with H. J. B. Cummings, of Win- terset, as Colonel; James Redfield, of Redfield, Dallas county, as Lieutenant- Colonel; and J. M. Griffiths, of DesMoines, as Major. The regiment was engaged at Parker's Cross Roads, Tenn., Corinth, Allatoona Ga., Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and was in Sherman's march to the sea and through the Carolinas to Richmond The regiment was one of the most distin guished in the field, and met with a royal welcome from the warm-hearted people H^ 3 ^ no HISTORY OF IOWA. of Iowa, on its return home. It had pre- viously taken part in the grand review at Washington. It was mustered out at Washington, June 5, 1S65, and was dis- banded at Clinton, Iowa. Of its 933 officers and men, 41 were killed, 143 died, 123 were discharged, 113 were wounded, 206 were captured and 16 were transferred. The Fortieth Infantry was the high- est in numerical order of Iowa's three- year's regiments, but not the last to leave the State. Three or four other regimental organizations, too, were commenced, but not completed. Some 300 men were enlisted for the Forty-first, who united with the three companies of the Four- teenth, stationed at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory; another regiment, to be called the Forth-second, was attempted, with camp at Dubuque; and still another, at Ottumwa, was to be called the Forty- third. These attempts were unsuccessful in so far as the complete formation of an infantry regiment after the Fortieth was concerned. The Fortieth was organized at Iowa City, November 15, 1862, with John A. Garrett, of Newton, as Colonel; S. F. Cooper, of Grinnell, as Lieutenant- Colonel; and S. G. Smith, of Newton, as Major. The regiment participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Steele's expedition, Bank's Red River expedition, and the battle of Jenkins' Ferry. It was called the "Cop- perhead Regiment," by political partisans, but it bore its share of the fatigues of war in a patriotic way that might have been emulated by some of their political ene- mies The fact is, moreover, the regiment always gave a small Republican majority, though the contrary was believed for a time. The Fortieth was mustered out at Port Gibson, August 2, 1865. Of 900 offi- cers and men, 5 were killed, 196 dud, 134 were discharged, 43 were wounded, 3 were captured, and 26 were transferred. The Forty-First Infantry was never completed as an infantry regiment. It con- tained three companies Its infantry or- ganization was under the command of John Pattee, of Iowa City. Under authority from the War Department, these three companies became K, L and M of the Sev- enth Cavalry. The Forty - Fourth Infantry was raised in the summer of 1864. Generals Grant and Sherman being actively en- gaged with large armies against the enemy, the Governors of the Northwestern States proposed to the authorities of the War Department to send into the field a consid- erable number of troops for a short term of service, who might relieve others on guard and garrison duty at the rear, and thus be the means of adding largely to the force of drilled and disciplined men at the front. This proposition was, after a time, accepted, and the term of service was es- tablished at lcO days. Gov. Stone accord- ingly issued his proclamation calling for such troops, and the citizens responded with four regiments and one battalion. Because commissions had been issued to persons designated as officers of the Forty- first, Forty-second and Forty-third Regi- ments, which were never organized, how- ever, although considerable was done in the way of their formation, the number of the regiments of 100 days' men commenced " H 1 U HISTORY OF IOWA. Ill with Forty-four. This regiment was under the command of Colonel Stephen H Hen- derson, and was mustered in at Davenport, June 1, 1864. The regiment did garrison duty at Memphis and La Grange, Tenn., and was mustered out at Davenport, Sepl ember 15, 1864 Of 867 officers and men in the Forty fourth, 1 was killed and 18 died There were no other casualties. The FoRTY-FiFTn Infantry was mus- tered in at Keokuk, May 25, 1864, with A.J. Bereman,of Mt. Pleasant, as Colonel; S. A. Moore, of Bloomfield, as Lieutenant- Colonel; and J. B. Hope, of Washington, as Major. This was the first of the regiments of 100 days' men organized; it even preceded the Forty-fourth. It performed garrison duty in Tennessee, and was mustered out at Keokuk, Septem- ber 16, 1864 Of 912 officers and men, 2 were killed, 19 died, 1 wounded, and 2 were transferred. The Forty-Sixth Infantry was organ- ized with D. B. Henderson, of Clermont, as Colonel; L. D. Duibin, of Tipton, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and G. L. Tarbet as Major It was mustered in at Dubuque, June 10, 1864. The Forty-sixth performed garrison duty in Tennessee, and was mustered out at Davenport, September 23, 1864. Of its 892 officers and men, 2 were killed, 24 died, 1 was wounded, and 3 were captured. TnE Forty Seventh Tnfantry was mustered into the service of the United States at Davenport, June 1, 1864, with James P. Sanford, of Oskaloosa, as Colo- nel; John Williams, of Iowa City, as L ; eutenant-Colonel; and G. J. Wright, of Di s Moines, as Major. This regiment was stationed at the sickly place of Helena, Arkansas, where many succumbed to disease. Of 884 officers and men, 1 was killed, 46 died, and 1 was transferred. The Forty Eighth Infantry (Bat- talion) was mustered into the United States service at D.ivenport, July 13, 1864, with O. H. P. Scott, of Farmington, as Lieutenant-Colonel. The battalion served its time guarding rebel prisoners on Rock Island, in the Mississippi river, opposite Davenport. It was mustered out at Rock Island barracks, October 21, 1864. Of 340 officers and men, 4 died and 4 were trans- ferred The services of these 100-days' men were of great value to the national cause. They were acknowledged by the President of the United States, in a special execu- tive order, returning his hearty thanks to officers and men. The First Cavalry* was organized in the spring of 1861, with Fritz Henry War- ren, of Burlington, as Colonel; Charles E. Mi SB of Keokuk, as Lieutenant-Colonel; E. W. Chamberlain, of Burlington, James O. Gower, of Iowa City, and W. M. G. Torrence, of Keokuk, as Majors. The regiment was engaged at Pleasant Hill, Mo, Rolla, New Lexington, Elkin's Ford, Little Rock, Bayou Metoe, Warrens- burg, Big Creek Bluffs, Antwineville, and Clear Creek. The regiment veteranized in the spring of 1864. It did not take the usual 30 days' furlough until May, for their services were needed in the field, and they -®pr ,M * — - •k 112 HISTORY OF IOWA. gillantly volunteered to remain. After tlie war was closed the First served in Texas, with Gen. Custer, until its muster- out, February 15, 1866. Of 1,478 officers and men, 43 were killed, 215 died, 207 were discharged, 88 were wounded, 2 were missing, 22 were captured, and 39 were transferred. The Second Cavalry was organized with W. L. Elliott, a Captain in the third cavalry of the regular army, as Colonel; Edward Hatch, of Muscatine, as Lieuten- ant-Colonel; and N. P. Hepburn, of Mar- shalltown, D. E. Coon, of Mason City, and H. W. Love, of Iowa City, as Majors. The regiment was mustered in at Daven- port, September 1, 1861. The Second participated in the siege ol Corinth, the battles of Farmington, Boone- ville, Rienzi, luka, Corinth, Coffeeville, Palo Alto, Birmingham, Jac' son, Grenada, Colliervi'le, Moscow, Pontotoc. Tupelo, Old Town, Oxford and Nashville. The reiriment uerformed active and arduous service all through the war, and so often distinguished itself 'as to become well known throughout the nation. It was mustered out at Selma, Ala., September 19, 1865. Of its 1,394 officers and men, 41 were killed, 224 died, 147 were dis- charged, 173 were wounded, 10 were missing, 74 were captured and 42 were transferred. The Third Cavai ry was mustered in at Keokuk, August and September, 1861, with Cyrus Russey, of Bloomfield, as Colonel; H. H. Trimble, of Bloomfield, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and C. H. Perry, II . C. Caldwell and W. C. Drake, of Cory- don, as Majors. The Third was engaged at Pea Ridge, La Grange, Sycamore, near Little Rock, Columbus, Pole's Farm, Big Blue, Ripley, Cold water, Osage, Talla- hatchie, Moore's Mill, near Montevallo, near Independence, Pine Bluff, Bott's Farm, Gun Town, White's Station, Tupelo and Village Creek. The regiment was raised by Hon. Cyrus Bussey, who, in his call for volunteers, requested each man to bring with him a good cavalry horse to sell to the Government. In two weeks he had a thousand men well mounted, in the rendesvous at Keokuk. In order to still further hasten matters, Colonel Bussey personally contracted in Chicago for equipments. In this way the delay exper- ienced by other regiments in preparing for the field was entirely avoided. The regi- ment took an active part in many battles and raids, and always behaved with dis- tinguished gallantry. Was mustered oir at Atlanta, Ga., August 9, 1865. Of 1,360 officers and men, 65 were killed, 251 died, 311 were discharged, 166 were wounded 1 was missing, 146 were captured and 34 were transferred. The Fourth Cavalry was organized and mustered into the service of the United States at Mt. Pleasant, November 21, 1861, with Asbury B. Porter, of Mt Pleasant, as Colonel; Thomas Drummond, of Vinton, as Lieutenant-Colonel; and S. D. Swan, of Mt. Pleasant, J. E. Jewett, of DesMoines, and G. A. Stone, of Mt. Pleasant, as Majors. The Fourth fought bravely, and lost men at every one of the following engagements: Gun Town, Miss., Helena, Bear Creek, Memphis, Town Creek, Columbus, Mechanicsburg, Little JL HISTORY OF IOWA. 113 Blue river, Brownsville, Ripley, Black River Bridge, Grenada, Tupelo, Yazoo River, White River, Osage, Lock Creek, Okalona, and St. Francis River. The Fourth was one of the bravest and most successful regiments in the field, and its services were of the utmost value to the Union arms. It was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga,. August 10, 1865. Of 1,227 officers and men, 44 were killed, 207 died, 241 were discharged, 119 were wounded, 3 were missing, 94 were cap- tured, and 35 were transferred. The Fifth Cavalby was but in part an Iowa regiment. The States of Minnesota and Missouri and the Territory of Ne- braska were largely represented; but as Iowa had the most, it was designated as an Iowa regiment. It was organized and mustered into the service at Omaha, with Wm. W. Lowe, of the regular army, as Colonel; M. T. Patrick, of Omaha, as Lieu- tenant-Colonel; and Carl Schaefferde Bern- stein, a German baron, Wm. Kelsay and Alfred B. Brackett as Majors. This regi- ment was engaged at the second battle of Fort Donelson, Wartrace, Duck River Bridge, Sugar Creek, Newman, Camp Creek, Cumberland works, Tenn., Jonesboro, Ebe- nezer Church, Lockbridge's Mills, Pulaski and Cheraw. The gallant Fifth was in many situations requiring the greatest coolnes and courage, and always acquitted itself with high honor. At one time the regiment was surrounded by rebels, and the Colonel in charge of the brigade had escaped with two other regiments to the Union lines, reporting the Fifth all killed or captured. But the result was far from that. At the critical time the brave Major Young, afterward the Colonel of the regi- ment, thundered out in the still night air, "The Fifth Iowa is going straight through; let the brave follow!" Then came the single word of command, "Forward ! " and when they reached the rebel lines, "Charge 1 " Fifteen hundred troopers dashed at full speed over the bodies of the surprised rebels, and escaped to the Union lines with the loss of but 15 men. The regiment was finally mustered out at Nashville, Tenn, August 11, 1865. Of its 1,245 officers and men, 47 were killed, 141 died, 224 were discharged, 56 were wounded, 217 were captured and 17 were transferred. The Sixth Cavalry was organized and mustered in at Davenport, January 31, 1863, with D. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, as Colonel; S. M. Pollock, of Dubuque, as LieutenantrColonel, and T. H. Shepherd, of Iowa City, E. P. TenBroeck, of Clin- ton, and A. E. House, of Delhi, as Majors This regiment was employed on the frontier against the Indians, and did excel- lent service. Their principal engagement was the battle of White Stone Hill, in which they severely punished a band of hostiles. The Sixth was mustered out at Sioux City, October 17, 1865. Of 1,125 officers and men, 19 were killed, 72 died, 89 were discharged, 19 were wounded and 7 were transferred. The Seventh Cavalbt was organized and mustered into the service at Daven- port, April 27, 1863, with S. W. Summers, of Otturawa, as Colonel; John Pattee, of Iowa City, as Lieutenant-Colonel, and H. H. Heath and G. M. O'Brien, of Dubuque, and John S. Wood, of Ottumwa, as Majors *F 114 HISTORY OF IOWA. This regiment also served against the Indians in the West. It fought bravely in many battles, and won the lasting grati- tude of the people of the West. It was mustered out at Leavenworth, Kan., May 17, 1866, except Companies K, L and M, which were mustered out at, Sioux City, June 22, 1866. Of its 562 officers and men, 47 were killed, 101 died, 252 were discharged, 8 were wounded and 9 were transferred. The Eighth Cavalry was recruited by Lieutenant Dorr, of the Twelfth Infantry. As tlie result of his energy, 2,000 were soon enlisted for the Eighth. Some 300 were rejected, 450 were turned over to the Ninth Cavalry and about 75 to the Fourth Battery. The Eighth was organized with Joseph B. Dorr, of Dubuque, as Colonel; H. G. Barner, of Sidney, as Lieutenant- Colonel; John J. Bowen, of Hopkinton; J. D. Thompson, of Eldora, and A. J. Price, of Guttenberg, as Majors; and was mustered into the United States service, at Davenport, September 30, 1863. This regiment served gallantly in guard- ing Sherman's communications, and at the battles of Lost Mountain, Lovejoy's Sta- tion, Newman and Nashville. It partici- pated in Stoneman's cavalry raid round Atlanta, and Wilson's raid through Ala- bama. After the close of hostilities and before the muster-out, Col. Dorr died of disease. He was much beloved by his command, and highly respected at home, where he had been an able editor. The Eighth was mustered out at Macon, Ga., August 13, 1865. Of its 1,234 officers and men, 30 were killed, 106 died, 67 were dis- charged, 87 were wounded, 2 were missing, 259 were captured and 22 were transferred. The Ninth Cavalry was the last three years' regiment recruited in Iowa. It was organized and mustered into the service of the United States, at Davenport, Novem- ber 30, 1863, with M. M. Trumbull, of Cedar Falls, as Colonel; J. P. Knight, of Mitchell, as Lieutenant-Colonel; E. T. Ensign, of DesMoines, Willis Drummond, of McGregor, and William Haddock, of Waterloo, as Majors. The regiment performed heavy scoutr ing, guard and garrison duties in Ar- kansas, for the small part of the war after it was organized. It was mustered out at Little Eock, Ark., February 28, 1866. Of its 1,178 officers and men, 6 were killed, 178 died, 64 were discharged, 15 were wounded, 1 was captured and 11 were transferred. The Fi-rst Battery of Light Artil- lery was enrolled in the counties of Wa- pello, DesMoines, Dubuque, Jefferson, Black Hawk and others, and was mustered into the service at Burlington, August 17, 1861, with C. H. Fletcher, of Burlington, as Captain ; was engaged at Pea Ridge, Port Gibson, in the Atlanta campaign, at Chickasaw Bayou, Lookout Mountain, etc.; was mustered out at Davenport, July 5, 1865. Of 149 members, 7 were killed, 55 died, 35 were discharged, 31 were wounded and 3 transferred. The Second Battery was enrolled in the counties of Dallas, Polk, Harrison, Fremont and Pottawatamie, and mustered in at Council Bluffs, and at St. Louis, Aug- -•J? At+ HISTORY OF IOWA. 115 ust 8 and 31, 1861, with Nelson I. Spoor, of Council Bluffs, as Captain. The bat- tery was engaged at Farmington, Corinth, and other places Was mustered out at Davenport, August 7, 1865. Of a total of 123 officers and men, 1 was killed, 30 died, 16 were discharged, 15 were wounded, 1 was captured, and 6 were transferred. The Third Battery was enrolled in the counties of Dubuque, Black Hawk, Butler and Floyd, and was mustered into the service at Dubuque, in September, 1861, with M. M. Hayden, of Dubuque, as Captain. The battery was engaged at Pea Ridge and other important battles. Was mustered out at Davenport, October 23, 1865. Of 142 officers and men, 3 were killed, 34 died, 28 were discharged, and 18 were wounded. The Fourth Battery was enrolled in Mahaska, Henry, Mills and Fremont coun- ties, and was mustered in at Davenport, November 23, 1863. This battery was on duty most of the time in Louisiana, but did not serve in any important battles. Was mustered out at Davenport, July 14, 1865. Of 162 officers and men, 6 died, 11 were discharged, and 1 was transferred. The Iowa Regiment of Colored Troops was organized and mustered into the ser- vice of the United States, October 23, 1863. John G. Hudson, Captain Company B, Thirty-third Missouri, was Colonel; M. F. Collins, of Keokuk, was Lieut.-Colonel; and J. L. Murphy, of Keokuk, was Major. This regiment was afterward the Sixtieth Regiment of United States Colored Troops. It was not called upon to fight, but it per- formed valuable guard and garrison duties at St. Louis and elsewhere South. The Northern Border Brigade was organized by the State of Iowa to protect the Northwestern frontier. James A. Saw- yer, of Sioux City, was elected Colonel. It consisted of five companies, all enlisted from the northwestern counties. The Southern Border Brigade was organized by the State for the purpose of protecting the southern border of the State, and was organized in the counties on the border of Missouri. It consisted of seven companies in three battalions. PROMOTIONS. The following promotions were made by the United States Government from Iowa regiments : major-generals. Samuel R. Curtis, Brigadier-General, ftv m March 21, 1862. Frederick Steele, Brigadier-General, from No- vember 29, 1862. Frank J. Herron, Brigadier-General, from No- vember 29, 1862. Grenvillo M. Dodge, Brigadier-General, from June 7, 1864. BRTGADrER-GENERALS. Samuel R. Curtis, Colonel 2d Infantry, from May 17, 1861. Frederick Steele, Colonel 8th Infantry, from February 6, 1862. Jacob G. Lanman, Colonel 7th Infantry, from March 81, 1862. Grenville M. Dodge, Colonel 4th Infantry, from Much 3t, 18S2. James M. Tuttle, Colonel 2d Infantry, from June 9, 1862. ^ -** A O 4. j o- . 1 ^ le* " SI 1 ^ 1 1 1 6 HISTORY OF IOWA. Washington L. Elliot, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from June 11, 1862. Edward Hatch, Brigadier- General, from De- cember 15, 1864. Fitz Henry Warren, Colonel 1st Cavalry, from July 6, 1862. William W. Belknap, Brigadier-General, from March 13, 1865. Frank J. Herron, Lieut. -Colonel 9th Infantry, W. L. Elliott, Brigadier General, from March from July 30, 1962. 13, 1865. Charles L. Matthies, Colonel 5th Infantry, from November 29, 1862. Wm. Vandever, Brigadier-General, from June 7, 1865. William Vandever, Colonel 9th Infantry, from November 29, 1862. Marcellus M. Crocker, Colonel 13th Infantry, BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERALS. from November 29, 1862. Hugh T. Reid, Colonel 15th Infantry, from Wm. T. Clark, A.A.G., late of 13th Infantry, from July 22, 1864. March 13, 1863. Samuel A. Rice, Colonel 33d Infantry, from Edward F. Winslow, Colonel 4th Cavalry, from December 12, 1864. August 4, 1863. John M. Corse, Colonel 6th Infantry, from August 11, 1863. Cyrus Bussey, Colonel 3d Cavalry, from Jan- S. G. Hill, Colonel 35th Infantry, from Decem- ber 15, 1864. Thos. H. Benton, Colonel 29th Infantry, from December 15, 1864. uary 5, 1864. Edward Hatch, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from April Samuel S. Glasgow, Colonel 23d Infantry, from December 19, 1864. 27, 1864. Elliott W. Rice, Colonel 7th Infantry, from Clark R. Weaver, Colonel 17th Infantry, from February 9, 1865. June 20, 1864. Wm. W. Belknap, Colonel 5th Infantry, from Geo. A. Stone, Colonel 25th Infantry, from March 13, 1865. July 30, 1864. J ,hn Edwards, Colonel 18th Infantry, from September 26, 1864. James A. Williamson, Colonel 4th Infantry, Francis M. Drake, Lieut-Colonel 36th Infant- ry, from February 22, 1865. Datus E. Coon, Colonel 2d Cavalry, from March 8, 1865. from January 13, 1864. James I. Gilbert, Colonel 27th Infantry, from George W. Clark, Colonel 34th Infantry, from March 13, 1865. February 9, 1865. Thomas J. McKean, from November 21, 1861. Herman H. Heath, Colonel 7th Cavalry, from March 13, 1865. BREVET MAJOR-GENERALS. J. M. Hedrick, Colonel 15th Infantry, from March 13, 1865. J John M. Corse, Brigadier-General, from Octo- ber 5, 1864. W. W. Lowe, Colonel 5th Cavalry, from March 3, 1865. L w ^ ■a r' "1 Q) At HISTORY OF IOWA. 117 CHAPTER IX, BDTTCATIONAX STATE nTSTTTOTTOTTS. The people of Iowa have ever taken a deep interest in education, and in this direction no State in the Union can show a better record. The system of free pub- lic schools was planted by the early set- tlers, and it has expanded and improved until now it is one of the most complete, comprehensive and liberal in the country. In the lead-mining regions of the State, the first to be settled by the whites, the hardy pioneers provided the means for the education of their children even before they had comfortable dwellings for them- selves. School teachers were among the first immigrants to Iowa. Wherever a little settlement was made, the school house was the first thing undertaken by the settlers in a body, and the rude, primi- tive structures of the early time only dis- appeared when the communities increased in population and wealth, and were able to replace them with more commodious and comfortable buildings. Perhaps in no single instance has the magnificent pro- gress of the State of Iowa been more marked and rapid than in her common school system and in her school houses. Today the school houses which every- where dot the broad and fertile prairies of Iowa are unsurpassed by those of any other State in this great Union. More especially is this true in all her cities and villages, where liberal and lavish appro- priations have been voted by a generous people for the erection of large, commid-i- ous and elegant buildings, furnished with all the modern improvements, and costing from $10,000 to $60,000 each. The people of the State have expended more than $10,000,000 for the erection of public school buildings. The first school house within the limits of Iowa was a log cabin at Dubuque, built by J. L. Langworthy, and a few other miners, in the autumn of 1833. When it was completed, George Cabbage was em- ployed as teacher during the winter of 1833-4, and thirty-five pupils attended his school. Barrett Whittemore taught the school term, with twenty-five pupils in at- tendance. Mrs. Caroline Dexter com- menced teaching in Dubuque in March, 1836. She was the first female teacher there, and probably the first in Iowa. In 1839, Thomas H. Benton, Jr., afterward for ten years Superintendent of Public Instruction, opened an English and classi- cal school in Dubuque. The first tax for the support of schools at Dubuque was levied in 1840. At Burlington, a commodious log school house, built in 1834, was among the first buildings erected. A Mr. Johnson taught the first school in the winter of 1834-5. tt a *^_ ,* 118 HISTORY OF IOWA. In Scott county, in the winter of 1835-6, Simon Crazin taught a four-months term of school in the house of J. B. Chaniberlin; In Muscatine county, the first school was taught by George Bumgardner, in the spring of 1837. In 1839 a log school house was erected in Muscatine, which served for a long time as school house, church and public hall. The first school in Davenport was taught in 1838. In Fairfield, Miss Clarissa Saw- yer, James F. Chambers and Mrs. Reed taught school in 1839. Johnson county was an entire wilder- ness when Iowa City was located as the capital of the Territory of Iowa, in May, 1839. The first sale of lots took place August 18, 1839, and before January 1, 1840, about twenty families had settled within the limits of the town. During the same year Mr. Jesse Beny opened a school in a small frame building he had erected on what is now College street. In Monroe county, the first settlement was made in 1843, by Mr. John R. Gray, about two miles from the present site of Eddyville; and in the summer of 1844 a log school house was built by Gray, Wm. V. Beedle, C. Renfro, Joseph McMullen and Willoughby Randolph, and the first school was opened by Miss Urania Adams. The building was occupied for school purposes for nearly ten years. About a year after the first cabin was built at Oskaloosa, a log school house was built, in which school was opened by Samuel W. Caldwell, in 1844. At Fort DesMoines, now the capital of the State, the first school was taught by Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the District Court, in the winter of 1846-'7, in one of the rooms on "Coon Row," built for barracks. The first school in Pottawattamie county was opened by George Green, a Mormon, at Council Point, prior to 1849; and until about 1854 nearly all the teachers in that vicinity were Mormons. The first school in Decorah was taught in 1855, by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since Gov- ernor of the State. In Crawford county the first school house was built in Mason's Grove, in 1856, and Morris McHenry first occupied it as teacher. During the first twenty years of the his- tory of Iowa, the log school house pre- vailed, and in 1861 there were 893 of these primitive structures in use for school pur- poses in the State. Since that time they have been gradually disappearing. In 1865 there were 796; in 1870, 336; and in 1875, 121. January 1, 1839, the Territorial Legisla- ture passed an act providing that " there shall be established a common school, or schools, in each of the counties in this Territory; which shall be open and free for ever£ class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one years." The second section of the act provided that "the County Board shall, from time to time, form school districts in their respec- tive counties, whenever a petition may be presented for the purpose by a majority of the voters resident within such contem- plated district." These districts were governed by boards of trustees, usually of three persons; each district was required to maintain school at least three months in every year; and later, laws were enacted providing for county school taxes for the payment of teachers, and that whatever -* © M a i- -< e >?•. HISTORY OF IOWA. 119 additional sum might be required should be assessed upon the parents sending, in proportion to the length of time sent. In 1846, the year of Iowa's admission as a State, there were 20,000 scholars, out of 100,000 inhabitants. About 400 school districts had been organized. In 1850 there was 1,200, and in 1857 the number had increased to 3,265. In March, 1858, upon the recommenda- tion of Hon. M. L. Fisher, then Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, the Seventh General Assembly enacted that " each civil township is declared a school dis- trict," and provided that these should be divided into sub-districts. This law went into force March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of school districts from about 3,500 to less than 900. This change of school organization resulted in a very material reduction of the expenditures for the compensation of district secretaries and treasurers. An effort was made for several years, from 1867 to 1872, to abolish the sub-district system. Mr. Kissell, Superintendent, recommended this in his report of January 1, 1872, and Governor Merrill forcibly endorsed his views in his annual message. But the Legislature of that year provided for the formation of independent districts from the sub-districts of district townships. The system of graded schools was inaugurated in 1849, and new schools, in whi'ch more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded. Teachers' institutes were organized early in the history of the State. The first official mention of them occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850, who said : "An institution of this character was organized a few years ago, composed of the teachers of the mineral regions of Illinois, Wiscon- sin and Iowa. An association of teachers has also been formed in the county of Henry, and an effort was made in October last to organize a regular institute in the county of Jones." At that time, although the beneficial influence of these institutes was. admitted, it was urged that the ex- penses of attending them was greater than teachers with limited compensation were able to bear. To obviate this objection, Mr. Benton recommended that " the sum of $150 should be appropriated annually for three years, to be drawn in installments of $50 by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and expended for these insti- tutions." He proposed that three institutes should be held annually at points to be designated by the superintendent. The expense of this would be trifling, and all recognized the benefits to be derived; and yet no legislation was had until March, 1858, when an act was passed authorizing the holding of teachers' insti- tutes for periods not less than six working days, whenever not less than 30 teachers should desire. The superintendent was authorized to expend not exceeding $100 for any one institute, to be paid out by the county superintendent, as the institute might direct, for teachers and lecturers, and $1,000 was appropriated to defray the expenses of these institutes. Mr. Fisher at once pushed the matter of holding institutes, and December 6, 1858, he reported to the Board of Education that institutes had been appointed in 20 counties within the preceding six months, and more would have been held but the *J - » 4 ^ 120 HISTORY OF IOWA. appropriation had been exhausted. At the first session of the Board of Education, commencing December 6, 1858, a code of school laws was enacted, which retained the existing provisions for teachers' insti- tutes. In March, 1860, the General Assembly amended the act of the Board by appro- priating "a sum not exceeding $50 annually for one such institute, held as provided by law in each county." In 1865, the super- intendent, Mr. Faville, reported that "the provision made by the State for the benefit of teachers' institutes had never been so fully appreciated, both by the people and the teachers, as during the last two years." By an act approved March 19, 1874, normal institutes were established in each county, to be held annually by the county superintendents. This was regarded a very decided step in advance by Mr. Abernethy, and in 1876 the General Assembly estab- lished the first permanent State Normal School, at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk county, appropriating the building and property of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place for that purpose. This school is now "in the full tide of successful experiment." The present public school system is ad- mirably organized, and if the various offi- cers who are entrusted with educational interests of the commonwealth continue faithful and competent, should and will constantly improve. Funds for the support of public schools are derived in several ways. The 16th section of every congressional township was set apart by the General Government for school purposes, being one-thirty-sixth part of all the lands in the State. The minimum price of these lands was fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to the State of 500,000 acres, and an ap- propriation of five per cent, on all the sales of public lands to the school fund. The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all lands which escheat to it; the proceeds of all fines for the viola- tion of the liquor and criminal laws. The money derived from these sources consti- tutes the permanent school fund of the State, which cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The penalties collected by the courts for fines and forfeitures go to the school fund in the counties where col- lected. The proceeds of the sale of these lands and the five per cent, fund go into the State treasury, and the State distributes these proceeds to the several counties accord- ing to their request, and the counties loan the money to individuals, for long terms, at eight per cent, interest, on security of land valued at three times the amount of the loan, exclusive of all buildings and im- provements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid into the State treasury, and becomes the available school fund of the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all money so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to the school fund for all moneys transferred to the counties. The interest on these loans is apportioned by the State Auditor semi- annually to the several counties of the State, in proportion to the number of per- sons between the ages of five and twenty- one years. The counties also levy an annual tax for school purposes, which is apportioned to the several district townships in the same way. A district tax is also levied for the same purpose. The money ,k HISTORY OF IOWA. 121 arising from these several sources consti- tutes the support of the public schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the State to afford from six to nine months' school each year. The burden of direct taxation is thus lightened, and the efficiency of the schools increased. The taxes levied for the sup- port of the schools are self-imposed. Un- der the admirable school laws of the State, no taxes can be legally assessed or col- lected for the erection of school houses until they have been ordered by the elec- tion of a district at a school meeting legally called. The school houses of Iowa are the pride of the State and an honor to the people. If they have been built some- times at a prodigal expense, the tax-payers have no one to blame but themselves. The teachers' and contingent funds are determined by the Board of Directors, under certain legal instructions. These Boards are elected annually, except in the independent districts, in which the Board may be entirely changed every three years. The only exception to this mode of levy- ing taxes for support of schools is the county school tax, which is determined by the County Board of Supervisors. The tax is from one to three mills on the dol- lar; usually, however, but one. In 1881 there were in the State 4,339 school districts, containing 11,244 schools, and employing 21,776 teachers. The average monthly pay of male teachers was $32.50, and of female teachers $27.25. There were 594,730 persons of school age, of whom 431,513 were enrolled in the public schools. The average cost of tuition for each pupil per month was $1.62. The expenditures for all school purposes was $5,129,819.49. The permanent school fund is now $3,547,123.82, on which the income for 1881 was $234,622.40. In each county a teachers' institute is held annu- ally, under the direction of the county superintendent, the State contributing annually $50 to each of these institutes. THE STATE TTNIVERSITY. By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to "set apart and reserve from sale, out of any of the public lands within the Territory of Iowa not otherwise claimed or appropriated, a quantity of land not ex- ceeding two entire townships, for the use and support of a University within said Territory when it becomes a State." The first General Assembly, therefore, by act approved February 25, 1847, established the "State University of Iowa," at Iowa City, then the Capital of the State. The public buildings and other property at Iowa City, were appropriated to the University, but the legislative sessions and State offices were to be held in them until a permanent location for a Capital was made. The control and management of the University were committed to a board of fifteen trustees, to be appointed by the Legislature, and five were to be chosen every two years. The Superintendent of Public Instruction was made President of this Board. The organic act provided that the University should never he under the control of any religious denomination whatever; and that as soon as the revenue from the grant and donations should amount to $2,000 a year, the University should commence and continue the instruc- tion, free of charge, of fifty students annu- el — JJ£ 122 HISTORY OF IOWA. ally. Of course the organization of the University at Iowa City was impracticable, so long as the seat of government was re- tained there. In January, 1849, two branches of the University anil three normal schools were established. The branches were located at Fairfield and Dubuque, and were placed upon an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with the University at Iowa City. At Fairfield, the Board of Directors organized and erected a building at a cost of $2,500. This was nearly de- stroyed by a hurricane the following year, but was rebuilt more substantially by the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State, and, Jan- uary 24, 1853, at the request of the Board, the General Assembly terminated its rela- tion to the State. The branch at Dubuque had only a nominal existence. The normal schools were located at An- drew, Oskaloosa and Mt. Pleasant. Each was to be governed by a Board of seven Trustees, to be appointed by the Trustees of the University. Each was to receive $500 annually from the income of the Uni- versity fund, upon condition that they should educate eight common-school teach- ers, free of charge for tuition, and that the citizens should contribute an equal sum for the erection of the requisite buildings. The school at Andrew was organized No- vember 21, 1849, with Samuel Ray as Principal. A building was commenced, and over $1,000 expended on it, but it was never completed. The school at Oskaloosa was started in the court house, September 13, 1852, under the charge of Prof G. M. Drake and wife. A two-story brick build- ing was completed in 1853, costing $2,473. The school at Mt. Pleasant was never or- ganized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the University fund, but in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 for each of the two schools, and repealed the laws authorizing the payment to them of money from the University fund. From that time they made no further effort to continue in operation. From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trus- tees was kept full by regular elections by the Legislature, and the trustees held fre- quent meetings, but there was no actual organization of the University. In March, 1855, it was partially opened for a term of 16 weeks. July 16, 1855, Amos Dean, of Albany, N. Y , was elected President, but he never entered fully upon its duties. The University was again opened in Sep- tember, 1855, and continued in operation until June, 1856, under Professors John- son, Welton, Van Valkei burg and Griffin. The faculty was then re-organized, with some changes, and the University was again opened on the third Wednesday of September, 1856. There were 124 students (83 males and 41 females) in attendance during the years 1856-7, and the first regu- lar catalogue was published At a special meeting of the Board, Sep- tember 22, 1857, the honorary degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred on D. Franklin Wells. This was the first degree conferred by the University. The new constitution, adopted in 1857, defi nitely fixed the Capital at DesMoines, the State University at Iowa City, and pro- vided that it should have no branches. In December of that year, the old capitol building was turned over to the Trustees of the University. In 1858, $10,000 were A i HISTORY OF IOWA. 123 appropriated for the erection of a board- ing hall. The Board closed the University April 27, 1858, on account of insufficient funds, and dismissed all the faculty except Chancellor Dean. At the same time a res- olution was passed excluding females. This was soon after reversed by the General Assembly. The University was re-opened Septem- ber 19, 1860, and from this date the real existence of the University dates. Mr. Dean had resigned before this, and Silas Totten, D.D.,LL.D., was elected President, at a salary of $2,000. August 19, 1862, he resigned, and was succeeded by Prof. Oli- ver M. Spencer. President Spencer was granted leave of absence for fifteen months to visit Europe. Prof. Nathan R. Leonard was elected President pro tern. President Spencer resigning, James Black, D. D., Vice-President of Washington and Jeffer- son College, Penn., was elected President. He entered upon his duties in September, 1868. The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and, soon after, the Iowa Law School, at DesMoines, which had been in successful operation for three years, was transferred to Iowa City and merged in tbe department. The Medical Department was established in 1869. Since April 11, 1870, the gov- ernment of the University has been in the hands of a Board of Regents. Dr. Black resigned in 1870, to take effect December 1; and March 1, 1871, Rev. George Thatcher was elected Presi- dent. In June, 1874, the chair of military instruction was established, and Lieuten- ant A. D. Schenk, Second Artillery, U. S. A., was detailed by the President of the United States as Professor of Military Science and Tactics. In June, 1877, Dr. Thatcher's connection with the University was terminated, and C. W. Slagle was elected President.. He was succeeded in 1878 by J. L. Pickard, LL. D., who is the present incumbent. The University has gained a reputation as one of the leading institutions of the West, and this position will doubtless be maintained. The present educational corps consists of the following, besides President Pickard: in the Collegiate De- partment, nine professors and six in- structors, including the Professor of Mili- tary Science; in the Law Department, a chancellor, two professors and four lec- turers; in the Medical Department, eight professors and ten assistant professors and lecturers. No preparatory work is done in the University, but different high schools in the State, with approved courses of study, are admitted as preparatory departments of the University, whose graduates are ad- mitted without examination. Common schools, high schools and university are thus made one connected system. The present number of students in the Collegiate Department is: males, 163; females, 69; total, 232; in Law Depart- ment, 140; in Medical Department, 195. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. This is located at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk county, and was opened in 1876. The institution trains teachers for our schools, and is doing excellent, though limited, work. What is wanted is more ajV J^l <= c 124 4. HISTORY OF IOWA. room and increased facilities of every kind. Other institutions of a similar kind should also be established throughout the State. STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. The State Agricultural College and Farm were established by act of the Gen- eral Assembly, approved March 23, 1858. The farm was located in Story county, at Ames. In 1862 Congress granted to Iowa 240,000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechani- cal arts. In 1864 the Assembly voted $20,000 for the erection of the college building. In 1866 $91,000 more were appropriated for the same purpose. The building was completed in 1868, and the institution was opened in the following year. The college is modeled to some extent after Michigan Agricultural Col- lege. Tuition is free to pupils from the State over sixteen years of age. Students are required to work on the model farm two and a half hours each day. The faculty is of a very high character, and the institu- tion one of the best of its kind. Sale of spirits, wine and beer as a beverage is for- bidden by law within three miles of the college. The current expenses of this institution are paid by the income from the permanent endowment. A. S. Welch, LL. D., is President, and is assisted by twelve professors and eight instructors. Whole number of students admitted, 2,600; present number, 240. The college farm consists of 860 acres, of which 400 are under cultivation. Besides the State University, State Agricultural College and State Normal School, ample provision for higher edu- cation has been made by the different religious denominations, assisted by local and individual munificence. There are, exclusive of State institutions, 23 universi- ties and colleges, 111 academies and other private schools. All these are in active operation, and most of them stand high. A list of the universities and colleges, and a brief notice of each, is herewith given: Amity College is located at College Springs, Page county. S. C. Marshall is President. There are 6 instructors and 225 students. Burlington University is located at Bur- lington, Des Moines county. E. F Stearns is President of the faculty. There are 5 instructors and 63 students. Gallanan College is located at Des Moines, Polk county. There are 14 in the faculty, of which C. R. Pomeroy is Presi- dent, and 183 students are enrolled. Central University is located at Pella, Marian county. It is an institution of the Baptist denomination. Rev. G. W. Gard- ner is President of the faculty, which numbers 7. There are 196 students. Coe College is located at Cedar Rapids, Linn county. S. Phelps is President. There are 10 in the faculty and 100 students. Corvell College is located at Mt. Vernon, Linn county, and is un 126 HISTORY OF IOWA. DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE. By an act of the Legislature of Iowa, approved January 24, 18.35, the Iowa Insti- tute for the Deaf and Dumb was estab- lished at Iowa City. In 1866 a great effort was made to re- move the Institute to DesMoines; but it was finally permanently located at Council Bluffs, and the school opened in a rented building. In 1868 Commissioners were to locate a site, and superintend the erection of new building, for which the Legisla- ture appropriated $125,000. The Com- missioners selected 90 acres of land two miles south of the city. In October, 1870, the main building and one wing were completed and occupied. In February, 1877, fire destroyed the main building and east wing, and during the summer following a tornado blew off the roof of the new west wing and the walls were partially demolished. About 150 pupils were in attendance at the time of the fire. After that, half of the class were dismissed, and the number of pupils re- duced to 70. The present officers are: B. F. Clayton, President, Macedonia, term expires in 1886; A Rogers, Secretary, term expires 1884; John H. Stubenranch, term expires in 1884. The county superintendent of schools annually reports all persons of school age that are deaf and dumb; also those too deaf to acquire learning in the common schools. The cost per pupil is $28 per quarter, and is paid by the parents or guardian; but when unable to do so, the expense is borne by the respective county. The regular appropriation is $11,000 per annum, drawn quarterly. Parents and guardians are allowed to clothe their children. The whole number admitted to the Institution is 621. Present number, 221. Last biennial appropriation, $27,839. COLLEGE FOE THE BLIND. The first person to agitate the subject of an Institute for the Blind was Prof. Sam- uel Bacon, himself blind, who, in 1852, established a school of instruction at Keokuk. The next year the Institute was adopted by the State, and moved to Iowa City, by act of the Legislature, approved January 18, 1853, and opened for the re- ception of pupils, April 4, 1853 During the first term 23 pupils were admitted. Prof. Bacon, the Principal, made bis first report in 1854, and suggested that the name be changed from "Asylum for the Blind " (which was the name first adopted) to that of " Institution for the Instruction of the Blind." This change was made in 1855, and the Legislature made an annual appropriation of $55 per quarter for each pupil; afterward this appropriation was changed to $3,000 per annum. Prof. Bacon was a fine scholar, an eco- nomical manager, and in every way adapted to his position. During his administration the institution was, in a great measure, self-supporting by the sale of articles manufactured by the blind pupils. There was also a charge of $25 as an admission fee for each pupil. Prof. Bacon founded the Blind Asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois. In 1858 the citizens of Vinton, Benton eounty, donated a quarter section of land and $5,000 for the establishment of the asylum at that place. On the 8th of May, >.£L HISTORY OF IOWA. 127 that same year, the trustees met at Vinton and made arrangements for securing the donation, and adopted a plan for the erec- tion of a suitable building. In 1860 the contract for enclosing was let to Messrs. Finkbine and Lovelace, for $10,420. In August, 1862, the goods and furniture were removed from Iowa City to Vinton, and in the fall of the same year the school was opened with 24 pupils. The institution has been built at a vast expenditure of money, much greater than it seemed to require for the number of occupants. The Legislative Committee, who visited the college in 1878, expressed their astonishment at this utter disregard of the fitness of things. They could not understand why $282,000 should have been expended for a massive building for the accommodation of only 130 people, costing the State over $5,000 a year to heat it, and about $500 a year for each pupil. The present officers are: Robert Car- others, Superintendent; T. F. McCune, Assistant Superintendent; Trustees: Jacob Springer, President; M. H. Westbrook, J. F. White, C. O. Harrington, W. H. Leavitt, S. H. Watson. Whole number of occupants, 436. Present number, males, 36; females, 50, Salary of superintendent, $1,200; assistant, $700; trustees, $4.00 per day and mileage. Annual appropriation, $8,000, and $128 per year allowed for each pupil. Annual meeting of trustees in June. Biennial appropriation in 1880, $3,000. IOWA HOSPITAL FOB THB INSANB. The Iowa Hospital for the Insane was established by an act of the Legislature, approved January 24, 1855. Gov. Grimes, Edward Johnson, of Lee county, and Chas. S.Blake, of Henry county, were appointed to locate the institution and superintend the erection of the building; $4,425 were appropriated by the Legislature for the site, and $500,000 for the building. The commissioners located the institution at Mount Pleasant, Henry county, and a plan of the building was drawn by Dr. Bell, of Massachusetts. The building was designed to accommodate 300 patients, and in Octo- ber work commenced, superintended by Henry Winslow. The Legislature had appropriated $258,555.67 before it was completed. One hundred patients were admitted within three months. In April, 1876, a portion of the building was de- stroyed by fire From the opening of the Hospital to the close of October, 1877, there were admitted 8,684 patients. Of these, 1,141 recovered, 505 were improved, 589 were discharged unimproved, and 1 died. During this period 1,384 of the pa- tients were females. The trustees are elected by the Legisla- ture, and all officers are chosen by the trustees. Superintendents are chosen for six years. Dr. Ranney was first chosen in 1865; salary, $2,000 annual. Whole number of patients admitted, 4,598; present num- ber males, 298; present number females, 235. Trustees paid $5 per day and mile- age, not to exceed 80 days each year. Annual meeting, first Wednesday in Octo- ber; quarterly, January, April and Sep- tember. Present officers are: Mark Ranney, M. D, Superintendent; H.M.Bassett, M.D., J. P. Brubaker, M.D., and Max Witte, M.D., assistant physicians. T B-y ! S !£* 128 HISTOEY OF IOWA. HOSPITAL. FOB THE INSANE, AT INDEPEND- ENCE. The Legislature of 1867-8 adopted meas- ures providing for an additional hospital for the insane, and an appropriation of $125,- 000 was made for that purpose. Maturin L. Fisher, of Clayton county, E. G. Mor- gan, of Webster county, and Albert Clark, of Buchanan county, were appointed com- missioners to locate and superintend the erection of a building. These commis- sioners commenced their labors June 8, 1 868, at Independence. They were author- ized to select the most desirable location, of not less than 320 acres, within two miles of the city of Independence, that might be offered by the citizens free of charge. They finally selected a site on the west side of the Wapsipinicon river, about a mile from its banks, and about the same distance from Independence. The contract for building was awarded to David Arm strong, of Dubuque, for $88,114. It was signed November 7, 1868, and work was immediately commenced. George Josse- lyn was appointed superintendent of the work. The first meeting of the trustees was called in July, 1872. At the Septem- ber meeting, Albert Reynolds, M. D., was elected Superintendent of the Hospital; George Josselyn, Steward, and Mrs. Anna B. Josselyn, Matron. The Hospital opened May 1,1873. Whole number of patients admitted, 2,000; pres- ent number (1882), 533; males, 290; fe- males, 243. Biennial appropriation (1880), $35,300. The present officers are: G. H. Hill, Superintendent; term expires in 1882; salary, $1,600. H. G. Brainard, M. D., Assistant Superintendent; salary, $1,000. Noyes Appleman, Steward; salary, $900. Mrs. Lucy M. Gray, Matron; salary, $600. soldiers' orphans' bomb. This institution is located at Davenport, Scott county, and was originated by Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, during the late rebel- lion. This noble woman called a conven- tion at Muscatine, September 7, 1863, for the purpose of devising means for the education and support of the orphan chil- dren of Iowa, whose fathers lost their lives in defending their country's honor. The public interest in the movement was so great that all parts of the State were largely represented, and an association was organized, called the Iowa State Orphan Asylum. The first meeting of the trus- tees was held February 14, 1864, at Des Moines, when Gov. Kirkwood suggested that a home for disabled soldiers should be connected with the Asylum, and arrange- ments were made for raising funds. At the next meeting, in Davenport, the fol- lowing month, a committee was appointed, of which Mr. Howell, of Keokuk, was chairman, to lease a suitable building, solicit donations, and procure suitable furniture. This committee secured a large brick building in Lawrence, VanBuren county, and engaged Mr. Fuller, of Mount Pleasant, as Steward. The work of prepa- ration was conducted so vigorously that July 13, following, the executive commit- tee announced that they were ready to receive children. Within three weeks 21 were admitted, and in a little more than six months the soldiers' orphans admitted numbered 70. ■ * 4 * HISTORY OF IOWA. 129 Miss M. Elliott, of Washington, was appointed the first Matron, but she resigned the following February, and was succeeded by Mrs. E G Piatt, of Fremont county. The Home was sustained by voluntary contributions, until 1866, when it was taken charge of by the State. The Leg- islature appropriated $10 per month for each orphan actually supported, and pro- vided for the establishment of three homes. The one in Cedar Falls was organ- ized in 1865; an old hotel building was fitted up for it, and by the following Jan- uary there were 96 inmates. In October, 1869, the Home was removed to a large brick building about two miles west of Cedar Falls, and was very prosperous for several years; but in 1876 the Legislature devoted this building to the State Normal School. The same year the Legislature also devoted the buildings and grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at Glenwood, Mills county, to an Institution for the Sup- port of Feeble-Minded Children. It also provided for the removal of the soldiers' orphans at Glenwood and Cedar Falls Homes to the institution located at Daven- port. The present officers are: S. W. Pierce, Superintendent; Mrs. F.W.Pierce, Matron. Whole number admitted, 1,525; present number, males, 79; females, 90. The 18th Grand Army Corps appropriated $2,000 to build eight cottager school house and other buildings; these have been completed, and the home will, when finished, accommo- date 200 children. Superintendent's sal- ary, $1,200 per annum. Trustees are elected for two vears. ASYLUM FOE FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN. An act of the General Assembly, ap- proved March 17, 1878, provided for the establishment of an asylum for feeble- minded children at Glenwood, Mills county; and the buildings and grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place were taken for this purpose. The asylum was placed under the management of three trustees, one of whom should be a resident of Mills County. The grounds to be used were found to be in a very dilapidated condition, and thorough changes were deemed necessary. The institution was opened September 1, 1876, and the first pupil admitted Septem- ber 4. By November, 1877, the number of pupils had increased to 87. The whole number admitted has been 257. Present inmates number 200. PENAL INSTITUTIONS. The first penal institution • was estab- lished by an act of the Territorial Legisla- ture, approved January 25, 1839. This act authorized the Governor to draw the sum of $20,000, appropriated by an act of Congress in 1838, for public buildings in the Territory of Iowa. It provided for a Board of Directors, consisting of three persons, to be elected by the Legislature, who should superintend the building of' a penitentiary to be located within a mile of the public square, in the town of Fort Madison, county of Lee, provided that the latter deeded a suitable tract of land for the purpose, alao a spring or stream of water for the use of the penitentiary. The first directors were John S. David and John Claypole. They were given the power of appointing the warden, the latter <3 )L_ d=^. 130 HISTORY OF IOWA. to appoint his own assistants. The citizens of Fort Madison executed a deed of 10 acres of land for the building, and Amos Ladd was appointed superintendent June 5, 1839. The work was soon entered upon, and the main building and warden's house were completed in the fall of 1841. It continued to meet with additions and im- provements until the arrangements were all completed according to the design of the directors. The estimated cost of the building was $55,933.90, and was designed of sufficient capacity to accommodate 138 convicts. Iowa has adopted the enlightened policy of humane treatment of prisoners, and utilizes their labor for their own support. Their labor is let out to contractors, who pay the State a stipulated sum therefor, the latter furnishing shops, tools, ma- chinery, etc., and the supervision of the convicts. The present officers of the prison are: E. C. McMillen, Warden, elected 1878 and 1880; Hiel Hale, Deputy Warden; W. C. Gunn, Chaplain; A. W. Hoffmeister, Physician; M. T. Butterfield, Clerk. The whole number of convicts admitted up to the present time (1882) is 3,387. Number of males in 1881, 350; females, 3; number of guards, 33. The Warden is chosen biennially by the Legislature, and receives a salary of $2,000 per annum. ANAMOSA PENITENTIARY. In 1872 the first steps toward the erec- tion of a prison at Anamosa, Jones county, were taken, and by an act of the General Assembly, approved April 23, this year, William Ure, Foster L. Downing and Mar- tin Heisey were appointed commissioners to construct and control prison buildings. They met on the 4th of June, following, and selected a site donated by the citizens of Anamosa. The plan, drawings and specifications were furnished by L. W. Foster & Co., of DesMoines, and work on the building was commenced September 28, 1872.. In 1873, 20 convicts were trans- ferred from the Fort Madison prison to Anamosa. The officers of the Anamosa prison are: A. E. Martin, Warden; L. B. Peet, Deputy Warden; Mrs. A. C. Merrill, Chaplain; L. J. Adair, Physician; T. P. Parsons, Clerk. The whole number admitted since it was opened is 816. Number of males in 1882, 133; females, 2. Salaries of officers the same as those of the Fort Madison peni- tentiary. boys' reform school. By act approved March 31, 1868, the General Assembly established a reform school at Salem, Henry county, and pro- vided for a Board of Trustees, to consist of one person from each Congressional District. The trustees immediately leased the property of the Iowa Manual Labor Institute, and October 1 following, the school received its first inmate. The law at first provided for the admission of children of both sexes under 18 years of age. The trustees were directed to organ- ize a separate school for girls. In 1872 the school was permanently located at Eldora, Hardin county, and $45,000 were appropriated for the neces- sary buildings. In 1876 the law was so amended that only children over 7 and under 16 years of age were admitted. «l[j *?[* ^ *A s n^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 131 The children are taught the elements of education, in particular the useful branches, and are also trained in some regular course of labor, as is best suited to their age, dis- position and capacity. They are kept until they arrive at majority, unless bound out to some responsible party, which relieves the State of their care. Occasion- ally they are discharged before the age of 21, for good conduct. The institution is managed by five trus- tees, elected by the Legislature. Whole number of boys admitted, 818. There are 204 inmates at present, and also 63 in the girls' department, at Michellville. The biennial appropriation for 1880 was $16,900. STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. By act of the General Assembly ap- proved January 28, 1857, a State Historical Society was provided for in connection with the University. At the commence- ment, an appropriation of $250 was made, to be expended in collecting and preserv- ing a library of books, pamphlets, papers, paintings and other materials illustrative of the history of Iowa. There was appro- priated the sum of $500 per annum to maintain this Society. The management consists of a board of 18 curators, nine appointed by the Governor and nine elected by vote of the Society. The State Historical Society has pub- lished a series of very valuable collections, including history, biography, sketches, reminiscences, etc., with quite a large number of finely engraved portraits of prominent and early settlers, under the title of "Annals of Iowa." STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. This Society is conducted under the auspices of the State, and is one of the greatest promoters of the welfare of the people under the management of the State government. It should receive more pe- cuniary assistance than it does. The Society holds an annual fair, which has occurred at Des Moines since 1878. At its meetings subjects are discussed of the highest interest and value, and these pro- ceedings are published at the expense of the State. The officers are a President, Vice-Presi- dent, Secretary, and Treasurer and five Directors. The last hold office for two years, and the other officers one year. FISH HATCHING-HOUSE. This was established in 1874, and has for its object the supplying of rivers and lakes with valuable fish. The General Assembly first appropriated the sum of $3,000. Three fish commissioners were appointed, and the State is divided into three districts, one for each commissioner. The Hatching-House was erected near Anamosa, Jones county, and is conducted in the same manner as similar houses in other States. Since 1876 there has been but one commissioner, B. F. Shaw. Mr. Shaw is enthusiastic in his work, and has distributed hundreds of thousands of small fish of various kinds in the rivers and lakes of Iowa. The 16th General Assembly passed an act in 1878 prohibiting the catching of any kind of fish except brook trout from March until June of each year. ^ ¥ 132 HISTORY OF IOWA. CHAPTER X. POLITICAL. The Territory of Iowa was organized in 1838, and the following Territorial officers were appointed by President VanBuren: Governor, Robert Lucas, of Ohio; Secre- tary of the Territory, William B. Conway; Chief Justice, Charles Mason, of Burling- ton; Associate Justices, Thomas S. Wilson, of Dubuque, and Joseph Williams, of Pennsylvania; Attorney-General, M. Van Allen, of New York; Marshal, Francis Gehon, of Dubuque. The first election was for members of the Territorial Legislature and a delegate to Congress. The Democracy controlled the Legislature by a large majority. The vote on Delegate was as follows : Wm. W. Chapman, Dem 1,490 Peter H. Engle, Dem 1,454 B. F. Wallace, Whig 913 David Rorer, De:r. 605 Mr. Talliafero 30 The election of 1839 was for members of the Second Territorial Legislature, and created little interest. In 1840, the year of the "hard cider campaign," the interest was awakened, and both parties put in nomination candidates for Delegate to Congress. There was also an election for Constitutional Convention, which was defeated. The vote on Dele- gate was as follows: A. C. Dodge, Dem 4,009—515 Alfred Rich, Whig 3,494 Mr. Churchman 92 The Whigs held a convention in 1841, at Davenport, on the 5th day of May, and adopted the following platform : Whereas, It has pleased the Governor of the Universe, by one of those inscruinble acts the righteousness of which no man may question, to take from the American people their beloved Chief Magistrate, William Henry Harrison, and transfer him from this to another, and, we trust, to a better world; therefore, Resolved, That we sincerely mourn over and deplort the loss of one whose services in every di-partment of society have been so pre-emi- nently useful. As a citizen, he was beloved for his rectitude and benevolence; as a soldier, dis- tinguished for his bravery and success; as a statesman, his ability, purity and patriotism were remarkable; as a Christian, he was humble and pious. In short, his whole character was made up of traits seldom to be found in men occupying the place in society he filled, and is worthy f imitation by all those who love their country. Retained, As a token of our sorrow on this providential bereavement, we will wear the usual badge of mourning thirty days; and that we concur with President Tyler on recommend- ing to the people of the United States that the 14th of May be observed as a day of fastiug and prayer. Resolved, That we have full confidence in the ability and current political sentiments of John 0- ^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 133 Tyler, who, by the voice of the people and the Providence of God, now fills the Executivo Chair of the United States. Resolved, That we recognize in John Cham- bers, the gentleman lately appointed to the Ex- ecutive Chair of Iowa, a sterling Democratic Whig; one whose early life is honorably identi- fied with the history of our late war with Great Britain; and whose uniform devotion U> the best interests of our country affords us a sure guar- anty of his usefulness in this Territory. Alfred Rich was again nominated for Delegate to Congress. The Democrats held their convention June 7, at Iowa City, and passed the fol- lowing resolutions : Whereas, The Federalists, or self-styled Whigs of Iowa, flushed with their recent victory in the Presidential contest, and secure in the enjoyment of power, are laboring zealously and perseveringly to effect a revolution in the polit- ical character of the Territory, to accomplish which all their united energies wiil be brought into action at the next general election; and, Whereas, The Democracy here, as well as elsewhere, believing the principles of their party to be based upon the immutable and eternal doc- trines of right and justice, feel it to be their duty to maintain and assert them upon all prop- er occasions — in the hoiir of defeat as when tri- umphant; and, Whereas, By union and harmony, exertion and activity, we can administer a rebuke to the arrogant spirit of Federalism, at our next gen- eral election, which, while it will exhibit Iowa to the Democracy of the Union in the most en- viable light, will also demonstrate to the enemies of our principles the futility and hopelessness of their efforts to obtain the ascendency; there- fore, Resolved, That it is the duty of every Democrat of Iowa, no matter what may be his station in life, to be watchful, vigilant and active in main- taining the ascendency of his party in the Ter- ritory; and it is earnestly urged upon all that they lay aside local questions and sectional fc cl- ings, and unite heart and hand in exterminating their common enemy, Federalism, from the Territory. Resolved, That Iowa, In defiance of the efforts of the National administration to throw around her the shackles of Federalism, is, and will con- tinue to be, Democratic to the core; and she spurns, with a proper indignation, the attempt of those in power to enslave her, by sending her rulers freni abroad, whose chief recom- mendation is, that they have not only been noisy, but brawling, clamorous politicians. Resolved, That in the appointment of David Webster to be Secretary of the State, we see the destinies of our beloved country committed to the hands of a man who, during the late war with Great Britain, pursued a course to which the epithet oi "moral treason" was justly ap- plied at the time. In the gloomiest period of the war, Mr. Webster was found acting, upon all occasions, in opposition to every war meas- ure brought forward by the friends of the country, and the journals of Congress and speeches of Mr. Webster clearly established the fact that, though not a member, he connived at and leagued in with the traitorous Hartford Con- vention. Resolved, That the recent astounding and extraordinary disclosures made by the stock- holders of the United States Bank, with regard to the mismanagement, fraud and corruption of that wholesale swindling institution, prove the correctness of the course of the Democracy of the Nation in refusing to grant it a new charter, and redounds greatly to the sagacity, honesty and Roman firmness of our late venerable and iron-nerved President, Andrew Jackson. Resolved. That the distribution of the public lands is a measure not only fraught with evil, on the grounds of its illegality, but that, were it carried into effect, would greatly prejudice the rights and interests of the new States and Ter- ritories. Resolved, That a permanent prospective pre- emption law is the only effectual means of securing to the hardy pioneer his home, — the f 134 HISTORY OF IOWA. result of his enterprise and toil, which alone has brought our lovely and cultivated plains from the rude hand of nature to their present high state of cultivation. Resolved, That in Thomas H. Benton, the bold and fearless leader of the Democracy of our country, on this as well as all the matters of western policy, we behold the poor man's true and firmest friend, in whom, as the advocate of their interests and rights, they have the highest confidence, and on whom they can rely for sup- port and protection in the enjoyment of rights and privileges which it has ever been the policy of the Federalists to divest them of. Resolved, That Democracy is based upon the principles of equal rights and justice to all men; that to deprive man of the privileges bestowed upon him by the laws of nature and his country, without yielding him a just equivalent, is to take from him all that renders lite worthy his possession — independence of action; such we believe to be the effect of the recent order of the present Chief Magistrate. Resolved, That we respect all, of whatever station, who boldly and fearlessly advocate our rights and secure us in the free enjoyment of the same, while we heartily despise and con- demn those, come from whence they may, who are leagued with our enemies in their efforts to wrest from us our homes and sacred altars. Resolved, That it is the characteristic doctrine of Democracy to secure to all the enjoyment of rights and privileges inalienable to freemen, and that the proscription of foreigners by the Federalists is a contracted effort to secure to themselves the inestimable privileges of free- dom and free government, and thus cut jff a large portion of the human family from rights which the charter of our liberties declare are granted to all. Gen. A. C. Dodge was placed in nom- ination, and elected by the following vote: A. C. Dodge, Dem 4,828—513 Alfred Kich, Whig 4,315 No platforms were adopted by the par- ties in 1842; neither was there in 1843. William H. Wallace was nominated by the Whigs and A. C. Dodge by the Dem- ocrats for Delegate to Congress. The vote stood: A. C. Dodge, Dem 6,084—1,272 William Wallace, Whig 4,812 On the 9th day of January, 1844, the Whigs met in convention, at Iowa City, and without making nominations adopted the following platform: Resolved, That ublic meetings for the free in- terchange of feelings and opinions on the part of the American people, in regard to important measures, are interwoven with our political insti- tutions, and necessary to the perpetuity of our national liberty. Resolaed, That it is the duty of all patriots to keep a watchful eye upon their rulers, and to resist at the threshold every inroad to cor- ruption; that we deprecate the prostitution of the patronage of the President and of the dif- ferent officers of the Government to the services of a party and the practice of offering the offices of honor and profit as a reward for political treachery; that we believe this exercise of; ower to be eminently dangerous to the political integ- rity and patriotism of the < ountry, and that a limitation to one Presidential term would, in a great degree, arrest the progress of corruption and political profligacy. Resolved, That inasmuch as the States, in the formation of the constitution, surrendered to tl e General Government exclusive control of all the sources of incidental revenue and reserved to themselves the right of taxation alone as a source of revenue to meet their individual wants; justice, reason, and common honesty require that the General Government should X>rovide an incidental revenue equal to all the wants of the Government, without resorting to the proceeds of the public lands or the odious and oppressive measure of direct taxation as contended for by the so-called Democratic party. HISTORY OF IOWA. 135 Resolved, That we regard the proceeds of the sales of public lands as the legitimate property of the States, and as only a trust fund in the hands of the General Government, and that the trust should te executed without further delay by a distribution of the same among the States and Territories; that this measure is especially a debt of justice at this time, when many of the States are groaning with taxation and almost driven to bankruptcy by an accumulation of debts, which have resulted in a great measure from the ruinous policy of the so-called Demo- cratic party. Resolved, That we deprecate experiments in legislation where the result is uncertain and un- ascertainable, and that while we should avoid the errors of the past, we should cling with unflinching tenacity to those institutions which have successfully stood the test of experiment, and have received the sanction and support of the framers of the constitution. Resolved, That we deem the establishment of a national currency of certain value and every- where received, as indispensably necessary to the greatest degree of national prosperity; that the international commerce of this widely ex- tended country is greatly retarded and heavily burdened with taxation by the want of a com- mon medium of exchange, and that it is the constitutional duty of the General Government to removo all impediments to its successful pros- ecution, and to foster and encourage the internal commerce and enterprise, the interchange of commodities among the States, not only by a reasonable system of internal improvements of a general character, but also by furnishing to the nation a currency of equal value in all parts of its wide-spread domain, and that the exper- ience of the past fully proves that this end has been accomplished by a national bank, can be again accomplished by a national bank, and in no way so safely and so certainly as by the agency of a well regulated national bank. Resolved, That a tariff which will afford a rev- enue adequate to all the wants of the General Government, and at the same time protect the agricultural and mechanical industry of the American people, is a measure necessary to secure the prosperity of the country, and warmly advocated by the Whig party of thi3 Territory. Resolved, That although we have no right to vote at the approaching Presidential election, yet we look forward to the exertions of our friends of the States for the elevation of Henry Clay to the Chief Magistracy of the Union with intense interest and assurance of our most ardent wishes for their success. Resolved, That governments should be admin- istered so as to produce the greatest good to the greatest number, and that this is true Democracy; that the self-styled Democratic party, by the policy they have pursued for the last ten years in their efforts to destroy the prosperity of our farmers and mechanics by rejecting a tariff for revenue and protection, by destroying the best currency ever possessed in any nation, by seek- ing to deprive us of all currency except gold and silver, in refusing to the indebted States relief by paying to them their proportion of the proceeds of the public lands, in their continued uniform and violent opposition to all measures calculated to advance the national and individ- ual prosperity, by means of the encouragement of commerce and internal improvements, by a narrow and selfish policy in converting the ex- ecutive power into an engine of party, by their federal and aristocratic exertions to maintain the veto power, and consolidate all the powers of Government in one leader, thereby rendering the administration of the Government a mere machine of party, in their repeated efforts to undermine and destroy the constitution and laws of Congress, by openly disregarding the rights secured by those laws, in their demoraliz- ing efforts to induce the States to disregard their honor and repudiate their debts, in their open violation of private rights, by repealing charters and violating the obligation of contract; in short, by their whole policy and principles which, in a time of peace, and abundant crops, and with the smiles of heaven, have reduced this wealthy, proud and prosperous nation to actual bank- ruptcy, national and individual, they have for- feited the name of Democrats, and as a party are no longer to be trusted with the reins of power. 19 *J« i^. 136 HISTORY OF IOWA. The Democrats adopted no platform in 1844. The Legislature on the 12th of February, 1844, passed another act submitting the question of a constitutional convention to the people, which was carried. A consti- tution was framed by this convention, and Congress passed an act providing for the admission of Iowa as a State; but curtail- ing the northern and western boundaries. At an election held in April, 1845, the people rejected the constitution. The August election, 1845, was for Delegate to Congress. Ralph P. Lowe secured the Whig nomination, while A. C. Dodge was nominated for re-election by the Demo- crats. The vote stood: A.C.Dodge, Dcm 7,513—831 R. P. Lowe, Whig, 6,681 In April, 1876, delegates were chosen to a second constitutional convention, which met at Iowa City, May 4, 1846. The con- stitution framed by this body was accepted by the people in August, Congress having repealed the obnoxious features respecting boundaries, giving Iowa the territory to which it was justly entitled. After the adoption of this constitution, the Whigs met in convention at Iowa City, September 25, and nominated the following State ticket: Governor, Thos. McKnight; Secretary of State, James H. Cowles; Auditor of State, Eastiu Morris; Treasurer of State, Egbert T. Smith. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That, considering it our duty, as Whigs, to effect a thorough organization of our party, and, by use of all honorable means, faith- fully and diligently strive to ensure the success of our political principles in the State of Iowa. Resolved, That we, as Whigs, do proudly and unhesitatingly proclaim to the world the follow- ing distinctive and leading principles; that we, as a party, avow and advocate, and which, if carried out, we honestly believe will restore our beloved country to its prosperity, and its insti- tutions to their pristine purity: 1. A sound national currency, regulated by the will and authority of the people. 2. A tariff that shall afford sufficient revenue to the national treasury and just protection to American labor. 8. More perfect restraints upi'n executive power, especially upon the exercise of the vet<.. 4. An equitable distribution of the proceeds of the sales of the pullic lands among all the States. 5. One Presidential term. 6. Expenditure of the surplus revenue in national improvements that will embrace the great rivers, lakes, and main arteries of com- munication throughout our country, thus secur- ing the most efficient means of defense in war and commercial intercourse in peace. Resolved, That the re-enactment of the thrice condemned sub-treasury, which will have the effect of drawing all coin from circulation and locking it up in the vaults and safes of the Gen- eral Government, the passage of McKay's Br-tish tariff bill discriminating in favor of foreign and against American labor, and striking a blow, intended to be fatal, to home market for Ameri- can agricultural productions, and the executive veto of the river and harbor bill which paralyzes the western farmer's hope of just facilities for transporting his surr-lus products to a market, and cripples the enegies of commerce in every division of the Union, should consign the present administration to a condemnation so deep that the hand of political resurrection could never reach it. Resolved, That we hold these truths to be self- evident, that the fortv-ninth degree of north lntitude is not fifty-four degrees, forty minutes; that James K. Polk's late letter was a deception and falsehood of a character so base as none but the most dishonorable mind would have resorted to; that McKay's tariff is not a judicious revenue T - 6 A HISTORY OF IOWA. 137 tariff affording incidental protect to American industry; that the annexation of Texas is not a peaceful acquisition; that lamp-black and rags, though called treasury notes and drawn on a bankrupt treasury, are not the constitutional currency, and that locofocoism is not Democ- racy. Resolved, That we believe the American sys- tem of Henry Clay, as exemplified in the tariff of 1842, is essential to the independence and happiness of the producing classes of the United States; that in its protection of home protec- tions it nerves the arm of the farmer and makes glad the hearts of the mechanic and manufac- turer by ensuring them a constant and satisfac- tory remuneration for their toils, and that it is found by the test of experience to be the only permanent check on the excessive importations of former years, which have been the principal cause of hard times, repudiation, bankruptcy, and dishonor. Resolved, That we regard the adoption of the constitution at the recent election, by reason of the highly illiberal character of some of its pro- visions, as an event not calculated to promote the future welfare and prosperity of the State of Iowa, aud that it is our imperative duty to pro- cure its speedy amendment. Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to use our utmost exertions to keep up a thorough organi- zation of the Whig party in Iowa; and although our opponents claim erronerusly, as we believe, to possess an advantage in numbers and depend upon ignorance, prejudice and credulty for suc- cess, yet, having a superiority in the principles we profess, we have implicit confidence in the dawning of a brighter day, when the clouds and darkness of locofocoism will be dispelled by the cheering rays and invigorating influence of truth and knowledge. On motion, it was Resolved, That we recommend to the support of the people of Iowa, at the coming election, the ticket nominated by this convention; that we believe the candidates to be good men, and that the members of this convention, in behalf of those for whom they act, pledge to them a cordial and zealous support. The Democratic Convention was held September 24, which nominated the fol- lowing ticket: Governor, Ansel Briggs; Secretary of State, E. Cutler, Jr.; Auditor of State, J. T. Fales; Treasurer, Morgan Reno. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That the conduct of James K. Polk, since he has been President of the United States, and particularly during the last session of Con- gress, has been that of an unwavering and un- flinching Democrat; that Young Hickory has proved himself to be a true scion of Old Hick- ory; and we tender to him and his coadjutors in the executive department the gratitude of the people of the State of Iowa. Resolved, That the recent session of Congress has been one of the greatest importance to the people of these United States, since the time of Mr. Jefferson, and we confidently regard the acts passed by it, particularly the passage of the Independent Treasury Bill, the settlement of the Oregon question (though the people of Iowa would have preferred 54, 40), and the re- peal of the odious tariff act of 1842, as destined to advance the welfare, promote the interest, and add to the peace and harmony not only of our people, but of the civilized world. Resolved, That the repeal of the unjust, un- equal and fraudulent tariff act of 1842, at the recent session of Congress, deserves the highest praise from the people of Iowa, and entitles those members of Congress who voted for it to the lasting gratitude of all good citizens; that by its minimum and specific duties — by its unequal and unjust protection of the captaiists and moneyed institutions, and by its casting the burden of taxation upon the laboring masses, and exempting the uper ten thousand, it was absolutely a federal tariff, based on the doc- trines of the great God-like Belshazzer of Massa- chusetts, viz' "Let the Government take care of the rich, and the rich take care of the poor"; that the conduct of the Vice-President of the United States, upon that great question of the age, entitles him to the highest place in the con- fidence of the Democracy of the United States. "via Ify *J@ c_ 138 HISTORY OF IOWA. Resolved, That all modes of raising revenue for the support of Government are taxes upon the capital, labor and industry of the country; and that it is the duty of a good government to impose its taxes in such a manner as to bear equally on all classes of society; and that any government which, in levying duties for raising revenue, impresses burdens on any one class of society, to build up others, though republican in form, is tyrauical in deed, ceases to be a just government, and is unworthy of the confidence or support of a free people. Resolved, That the separation of the public moneys from the banking institutions of the country, in the passage of the Independent Treasury Bill, meets the approbation of this Convention, and the recent vote of the people of this Slate, adopting the Constitution, is a de- cisive indication of public sentiment against all bunking institutions of whatever name, nature or description. Resolved, That the repeated unjust aggression of the Mexican people and Mexican Government have long since called for redress, and the spirit which has discouraged, opposed and denounced the war which our Government is now carrying on against Mexico, is the same spirit which op- posed the formation of a Republican Govern- ment, opposed Jefferson and denounced the last war with Great Britain, and now, as they did then, from a federal fountain. Resolved, That General Taylor and our little army have won for themselves the everlasting gratitude of the country, for which they will never, like Scott, he exposed to a shot in their rear from Washington or any other part of the country. Resolved, That we repudiate the idea of party without principles; that Democracy has certain fixed and unalterable principles, among which are equal rights and equal protection to all, un- limited rights of suffnige to every freeman, no property qualifications or religious tests, sov- ereignty of the people, subjection of the Legis- lature to the will of the people, obedience to the instructions of constituents, or resignation, and restriction of all exclusive privileges to corpo- rations to a level with individual rights. Resolved, That henceforth, as a political party, we are determined to know nothing but Democ- racy, and that we will support men only for their principles. Our motto will be: Less leg- islation, few laws, strict obedience, short ses- sions, light taxes, and no State debt. The vote on Governor was as follows: Ansel Briggs, Dem 7,626—247 Thomas McKnight, Whig 7,379 The office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction having been vacated, it was provided in the act that an election should be held the first Monday in April, 1847, for the purpose of filling the office. The Whigs placed James Harlan in nomi- nation, and the Democrats, Charles Mason. Harlan was elected by a majority of 413 out of a total vote of 15,663. By act approved February 24, 1847, the Legislature created a Board of Public Works for the improvement of DesMoines river, and provided for the election of a President, Secretary and Treasurer of such on the first Monday in August. The Democrats in State convention at Iowa City, June 11, placed the following ticket in the field: President of Board, H. W. Sample; Secretary, Charles Corkery; Treas- urer, Paul Bratton. The following plat- form was adopted: Whereas, Our country is at present engaged in an expensive and sanguinary war, forced upon her against her will, and canied on to repel aggravated and repeated instances of in- sult and injustice; and, Whereas, There are those among us, native- born Americans, who maintain that Mexico is in the right and the United States in the wrong in this war; and, Whereas, The public mind is, at the present time, agitated by other great questions of na- tional policy, in relation to which it is proper that the Democracy of Iowa should speak out HISTORY OF IOWA. 139 through their representatives here assembled; therefore, Resolved, That we indignantly repel the charge made by the Whig press and the Whig leaders, that the war is one of aggression and conquest. The United States, we fearlessly assert, have for years submitted to treatment at the hands of Mexico which, by any European government, would have been regarded as a good cause of war, and which our own government would have made cause of quarrel with any transat- lantic power. Resolved, That we triumphantly point to the repeated efforts made by our government, since the commencement of the war, to re-open nego- tiations with Mexico with a view of putting an end to hostilities as evidence of the pacific motives by which it is actuated, and we rely upon this testimony for the justification of our government in the eyes of the civilized world. We also point, with the highest satisfaction, to the humane and Christian like manner in which the war has been conductod on our part, show- ing, as it does, that the United States have throughout acted upon principle in every respect worthy of the enlightened and civilized age in which we live. Resolved, That we have the most unlimited confidence in the ability and statesman-like qualities of President Polk; that the measures of his administration, standing, as they have done, the test of time, have our most, cordial approbation;- that in the prosecution of the war with Mexico, he and the several members of his cabinet have evinced the most signal energy and capacity; that the brilliant success of our arms at every point, and the fact that in the short space of one year more than one-half of Mexico has been overcome by our troops, and is now in our possession, furnishes a refutation of the assertion sometimes heard from the Whigs, that the war has been inefficiently conducted, and that the country has the amplest cause to con- gratulate itself that, great and important as the crisis is, it has men at the head of affairs fully equal to the emergency. Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to Major-Generals Scott and Taylor, their officers and men, for their courage, bravery and endurance; that in the victories they have achieved, they have shed imperishable honor upon their country's flag at the same time that they have won for themselves, one and all, chaplets of imperishable renown. Resolved, That in the demand which now ex- ists in the countries of the old world for Ameri- can provisions, we have an illustration of the incalculable benefits which are sure to result to the United Stales, and particularly to the great West, from reciprocal interchange of commo- dities; that the agriculturists of Iowa have sen- sibly partaken of the benefits resulting from this liberal system of policy, and in the name of the Democratic party of Iowa, we tender to President Polk and the Democratic members of Congress our thanks for the enactment of a tariff, which is likely to have the effect of caus- ing foreign countries to still further abolish their restrictions upon American grain and American provisions. Resolved, That the evidence to be found in the fact that, within the last three months, the enor- mous sum of fifty-five millions of dollars has been offered to be loaned to the Government at a premium, is a pruud vindication of the finan- cial ability of the Government, at the same time that it rebukes with merited severity the croak- ing of those who, at the commencement of the war, predicted that the treasury would be beg- gared in less than a year, with no means of re- plenishing it. Resolved, That we approve of the conduct of the Democratic members of our first State Legis- lature. Under the peculiar circumstances by which they were surrounded, their conduct was such as became them, and is sustained by the entire Democracy of the State. Resolved, That the Democratic party have ever regarded education as the only means of pre- serving and perpetuating our republican institu- tions; that it is now and ever has been solicitous for its extension throughout the whole length and breadth of our land; and that it is one of the chief objects of the Democratic party of this State to establish such a system of free schools as will enable every child within its borders to a k_ 140 HISTORY OF IOWA. qualify himself to perform all the duties devolv- ing upon a citizen of this favored country. Resolved, That we pledge ourselves collectively to support the nominees of this convention; that in our respective counties we will spare no efforts to promote their success; that we will permit no selfish consideration, no sectional feel- ings, to influence us, but, rallying under the banner of the good old cause, the cause of De- mocracy, we will march on to victory, triumph- ant victory t The Whigs nominated for President of the Board, Geo. Wilson; Secretary, Madi- son Dagger; Treasurer, Pierre B Fagan. Sample was elected over Wilson by 510 majority, out of a total vote of 16,250. The Whigs of Iowa were first in the field in 1848, meeting in convention May 11th, at Iowa City. They nominated for Secretary of State J.M. Coleman; Auditor, M. Morley; Treasurer, Robert Holmes. The following platform was adopted : The Government of the United States is based upon and exists only by the consent of the peo- ple; and, Whereas, It is the duty as well as the rights of the citizens of the United States to meet in their primary capacity, whenever their judg- ment may dictate, to examine into the affairs of the Government; and, Whereas, This right carries with it the power to approve the conduct of their public servants, whenever approval is merited by faithfulness and integrity, so it equally confers the duty of exposing imbecility, selfishness and corruption, when they exist in the administration of the Re- public, and of denouncing those who, disregard- ing the example and admonitions of the Fathers of the Republic, are abandoning the true prin- ciples on which our civil institutions are found- ed, and proclaiming and carrying out measures that cannot but prove detrimental to the har- mony and best interests of the Union, and may eventuate in the overthrow of our present Re- publican form of government; therefore, Resolved, By the Whigs of Iowa, through their Representatives in State Convention assembled, that the Government of the United States is a limited Government, divided into three depart- ments, each having its appr. liate sphere, and separate and* well-defined duties to perform; that it is necessary to the stability and perpetu- ity of our institutions, that the Executive, Leg- islative and Judicial Departments should be kept distinct, and confined to their legitimate duties; and that any encroach) ient, by one de- partment, upon either of the others, is a viola- tion of the spirit and letter of the constitution, and should call down the severest reprehension of the American people. Resolced, That the admonition of a late Presi- dent of the United States, "Keep your eye upon the President," should especially recommend itself to all the people in times like the present; tnat the Government can only be kept pure by the constant watchfulness of the people and the expression of their loudest censure, when spec- ulation and corruptk n is detected. Resolved, That entertaining these opinions, we have no hesitation in declaring that the eleva- tion of James K. Polk to the Presidential office was a sad mishap to the American Government; and that his administration, by its total aban- donment of the principles of true Republican- ism, as taught by Washington, Jefferson and Madison; by its encroachments on the national constitution, and its entire disregard of the will of the people, as expressed through their Rep- resentatives in Congress; by its denunciations of its own constituents, its futile attempt to misrepresent facts and conceal the truth, its endeavors to prostrate the industrial energies of the people and discriminate iu favor of the man- ufactures and machinery of Europe, its violation of its own much lauded system of finance, the sub treasury, thereby furnishing the people with promise to pay its officers with gold and silver; by its war, commenced without the assent of the war-making power, against a weak and dis- tracted sister Republic, while at the same time, it ignobly and cowardly crouched before the lion of England, and took back its own asser- tions; its public debt of one hundred millions ffe*. HISTORY OF IOWA. 141 rind its sacrifice of human life; its veto of meas- ures lhat met the approval of every former Pres- ident; and, worse than all, by its infamous at- tempt to rob of their well-earned laurels, won on the tented field, in the heart of the enemy's country, those who commanded the armies of the Republic, and bring them into unmerited disgrace before the American people, — by this aggregation of misdeeds, has signalized itself as the worst, most selfish and corrupt adminis- tration the United States ever had. Resolved, That, while we concede that it is the duty of every citizen to support his country when engant d in a conflict with a foreign power, yet we equally insist that it is the duty of the people to bold their public servants to a strict accountability, and honestly to condemn what- ever their judgment cannot approve; that we indiguantly hurl back the imputation of James K. Polk and his parasites, that the Whig party of the Unk n are wanting in love of country, and deficient in its defense, and in evidence of the patriotism of the Whig party, we proudly point to the commanding generals, the distin- guished officers and the brave soldiers who, in our army in Mexico, have shed luster upon them- se'ves and renown upon the flag of their country. Resolved, That, believing the war terminated, our convictions require us to declare that the war with Mexico was a war brought on by the Executive, wiihoutthe approbation of the war- iiiaking power, that had the same prudence which governed the administration in its inter- course with Great Britain, relative to the settle- ment of the Oregon question, exercised toward Mexico, a nation whose internal dissensions and weakness demanded our forbearance, the war wjuld have been averted, and the boundaries between the two nations amicably and satisfac- torily settled. Resolved, That we are in favor of the applica- tion of the principle contained in the Wilmot proviso (so called), to all territory to be incor- porated iuto this Union, and are utterly opposed to the further extension of slave territory. ■Resolved, That our opposition to the sub-treas- uiy and the tariff of 1845 has not been dimin- ished by the evidence furnished us of their oper- ations; that they are twin measures, calculated and designed to depress the free labor of the country, for the benefit of a minority of the people— the oie operating to lessen the price of labor, and bring down the wages of freemen, and the other throwing open our ports for the introduction of the productions of the pauper labor of Europe, thereby crippling our own man- ufacturers and compelling them either to sacri- fice their laborers or close their business; that the one has failed as a disturbing system of the Government, the administration having been compelled to resort to banks and paper in making their payments, and the other, as a rev- enue measure, has proved entirely inadequate to the support of the ordinary expenses of the Gov- ernment; that the one, by withdrawing from circulation, and shutting up in its vaults a large amount of specie, and the other, by overstock- ing the market with foreign goods, have largely contributed towards, if they have not entirely produced, the present financial difficulties; and that we cannot but foresee that the country will soon be visited, if these measures are continued, with a commercial revulsion as great and disas- trous as that of 1837. Resolved, That the profession of the adminis- tration of James K. Polk, that it is in favor of, and devoted to, an exclusively metallic currency, while it is issuing millions u. on millions of paper money, in shape of treasury notes, irre- deemable in specie, is an insult to the American people, and deserves the unqualified denuncia- tion of every lover of truth and honesty. Resolved, That the great West, whose popula- tion and commerce are rapidly increasing, bear- ing, as it does, its full proportion of the public burdens, is entitled to some consideration at the hands of the General Government, and to some participation in the Union; that the Mississippi river is to the whole Mississippi Valley what the Atlantic is to the Eastern and the lakes are to the Northern States; that if it is constitutional to clear and improve any harbors in the latter, it is equally constitutional to do the same in the former; that the River and Harbor Bill of the last session of Congress contained only appro- i_ -* gl 142 HISTORY OF IOWA. priations for work that had met the approval of Jackson and VanQurrn; that the veto of that measure by the Executive was a high-handed usurpation upon the rights of the people and their representatives, uncalled for and unneces- sary, and that, by that act, James K. Polk proved himself false to the principles of his pre- decessors, and hostile to the future growth and best interests of the West. Resolved, That in view of the misrule, venality and infractions of the Constitution which have characterized the present administration, we deem the approaching Presidential election one of the most important that Las occurred since the organization of the Government; that it is necessary to the preservation of the institutions bequeathed to us by our fathers, that there should be a change of rulers as well as a change of measures; that, animated by a sincere desire to promote the welfare and honor of our coun- try, we have determined to buckle on our armor and enlist for the war; and, in the language of one who never faltered in his devotion to his country, we call upon every Whig in Iowa to "Arouse ! Awake ! Shake off the dew-drops that glitter on your garments !" and, in company with your brethren throughout the Union, "Once more march forth to battle and to victory I" Resolved, That, although the Whig party of Iowa has expressed a preference for General Taylor as the Whig candidate for President, yet they deem it due to themselves to declare that they commit the whole subject into the hands of the Whig National Convention, and whoever may be the nominee of that body for President, the Whigs of Iowa will give him a cordial sup- port. Resolved, That locofocoism in Iowa has proved itself a faction, "held together by the coercive power of public plunder," and devoid alike of generosity and principle; that, under cover of an assumed love of law and order, it has under- taken and cast from office a citizen chosen by a large majority of the popular voice, while, at the same time, it is represented in Congress by men elected without the shadow of law; that in foist- ing into the halls of Legislature, men who had no right there, for the purpose of carrying out their own selfish designs, they were guilty of a clear violation of constitutional law, and of usurpation upon the rights of the people; and that the Whig members of the Legislature, by refusing to go into the election of Senators and Supreme Judges, while those individuals exer- cised the functions of Representatives, truly reflected the will of their constituents, and de- serve the thanks of every friend of good gov- ernment. Resolved, That we most cordially commend to the support of the people of Iowa the ticket placed in nomination by this convention, of State officers a:.d electors of President and Vice President; that they are citizens distinguished for their ability, integrity, patriotism and cor- rect moral deportment; and that we pledge to this ticket a full, hearty and zealous co-opera- tion in the ensuing canvass, with the confident assurance that if every Whig does his "duty, his .whole duty, and nothing short of his duty," at the ballot-box, they will receive from the people of Iowa a majority of their suffrages. Resolved, That we are watching with deep in- terest the recent movements in Europe, indica- ting as they do, the spread of popular liberty, and the determination on the part of the masses to throw off the fetters of despotism and kingly rule; that we joyfully admit into the brother- hood of republicanism the new republic of France, trusting that an all-wise Providence will guide and watch over the destinies of the new government and establish it on a permanent basis; and that to the masses of the other na- tions of Europe, who are now struggling to be free, we tender our warmest sympathies, and bid them a heartfelt God-speed in their efforts to obtain a recognition of their rights and liberties. The Democrats placed the following ticket in nomination at a State convention held June 1st, at Iowa City: Secretary of State, Josiah H. Bonney; Auditor, Joseph T. Fales; Treasurer, Morgan Reno. The official vote showed Bonney to be elected Secretary of State by 1,212 majority, out of a total of 23,522. ^Py A fk HISTORY OF IOWA. 143 The campaign of 1849 was opened by the Democrats, who met in convention at Iowa City, and nominated William Patter- son, President of Board of Public Works; for Secretary, Jesse Williams; Treasurer, George Gillaspie. The platform adopted by the convention was as follows: Resolved, That, in view of the large interest at stake in the judicious and vigorous prosecution of the public works on the DesMoines river, and in view also of the efforts on foot by the Whig party to obtain the control and direction of the same, by means of a .Whig Board of Public Works, it is important that the Democracy of the State should take immediate and energetic steps toward a thorough and complete organiza- tion of the party, and be ready on the day of the election to secure to themselves, by a tri- umphant majority, the choice of the officers; and that, while we cordially and unreservedly recommend the nominees of this convention to the confidence and support of the people, we should also take occasion to admonish our friends, that in union there is strength, and in vigilance, success. Resolved, That this convention has received, with feelings of profound grief, the intelligence of the death of that pure patriot and able states- man, James K. Polk, late President of the United States; and that for his eminent and distinguished services to his country, for his faithfulness to principle, and for his purity of private life, his memory will ever live in the cherished recollec- tions of the Democracy of the nation, by none more honored than the people of this State. Resolved, That we recur with pride to the tri- umphant success, the splendid achievements, and the imperishable renown of the late admin- istration; and that, while we point to these as the glorious results of past labors, we should re- member that, as they were gained by a strict adherence to honest principles and the adoption of an honest policy, they can be sullied or im- paiied only by a base abandonment of them upon the altar of expediency, or by a disgrace- ful surrender in the form of coward silence. Resolved, That we still adhere as firmly as ever to the principles and measures which dic- tated and governed the course of the late admin- istration; and that we derive a high pleasure from the fact that a Democratic Senate is vouch- safed to us as an impassable barrier between the federal high tariff, bank and paper policy, hopes and designs of the present dynasty, and the gold and silver currency, and low tariff and inde- pendent treasury policy of the people. Resolved. That the administration of Gen. Taylor, a's far as it has proceeded npon its mis- sion, has unblushingiy falsified every promise and grossly violated every pledge given before the election by its nominal chief; that a party which can go before the country upon one set of issues, and immediately after its installation into power enter upon the practice of'auother set, is more than ever deserving of the reproba- tion of the world, and of the continued and uncompromising hostility of the Democratic party. Resolved, That General Taylor, for the part which he has played, or has been made to play in this d ; sgraceful game of deception, has dis- played a want of honest principle or weakness of mind and character, which equally disquali- fies him for the place he holds, and fully justi- fies the worst predictions ever made agains' his fitness for the Presidency; and that, although we may once have admired the soldier in the tented field, we are now reluctantly brought to condemn and to repudiate the cipher in the cabinet of the country. Resolved, That the removals in this State have been made without cause and in direct violation of the professions of General Taylor, before the election; and that the appointments which have followed have been made in equal violation of the same professions. Resolved, That the appointment of a bureau officer from this State, in the person of Fitz Henry Warren, is an act deserving the censure and undistinguished condemnation which it is receiving from a large majority of the Whigs of Iowa; and that his" retention in office, in the face of these open and emphatic expressions of .L 144 HISTORY OF IOWA. public disgust, is well calculated to prepare the mind of every one to be surprised at nothing, in the way of moral turpitude, which may mark the future character of General Taylor's admin- istration. Resolved, That the Democrats who have been removed from office in this State by the federal and proscriptive administration now in power, retire from their respective posts without re- proach from government, and with the unim- paired confidence and respect of the Democracy of the State. Resolved, That we deprecate any separate and sectional organizations, in any portion of the country, having for their object the advocacy of an isolated point involving feeling, and not fact — pride, and not principle, as destructive to the peace and happiness of the people and dan- gerous to the stability of the Union. Resolved, That inasmuch as the Territories of New Mexico and California come to us free, and aio free now by law, it is our desire that they should remain forever free; but that until it is proposed to repeal the laws making the country free, and to erect others in their stead for the extension of slavery, we deem it inexpedient and improper to add to the further distraction of the public mind by demanding, in the name of the Wilmot Proviso, what is already amply secured by the laws of the land. The Whigs met in convention June 30, at Iowa City, where they nominated the following ticket: President of Board, Thomas J. McKean; Secretary, William M. Allison; Treasurer, Henry G. Stewart. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That this convention has unlimited confidence in the integrity, ability and patriotism of the people's President, General Zachary Tay- lor. The illustrious services he has rendered his country in fortv years' devotion to her in- terests and her glory in the field, and the abun- dant evidence he has given since his inaugura- tion as Chief Magistrate of the Republic, of the possession of eminent administrative talents, afford a sure guaranty that his administration will be devoted to the highest and best interests of the country, the whole country, and nothing but the country. With such a leader, one who has successfully encountered every danger, whether in front, rear or rank, we may look with confidence to the speedy restoration of the country to her true Republican destiny. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meet- ing, the recent demonstration of public senti- ment inscribes on the list of executive duties, in characters too legible to be overlooked, the task of reform, and the correction of those abuses which have brought the patronage of the Federal Government into conflict with the freedom of election; and that as vacancies by death are few, by resignation none, the task of reform and the correction of those abuses can be accom- plished only by removal; and we regard the wail- ings of the locofoco press at the salutary and essential changes which the administration has seen proper to make, as involving a disregard of the important truth here referred to, and a contempt of the first principles of Democracy. Resolved, That the welfare and interests of the people of Iowa imperatively require an amend- ment to the State Constitution, by which the incubus, imposed in some of its provisions upon their resources and prosperity, shall be removed. Resolved, That the people have a right to demand that this question shall be submitted to them for their action, and in the judgment of this convention they will be recreant to their interests if they do not visit their condemnation upon a party that, with professions of Democ- racy perpetually upon its lips, has shown itself in practice to be destitute of the true principles of Democracy. Resolved, That the course of the dominant party of this State, in the late General Assem'ily, in its daring assaults upon the most sacred pro- vision of the constitution; in the outrage which it commit!, d against the great principles of civil and religious liberty, in depriving one of the counties of the State, as a punishment for the free exercise by its voters of the elective fran- chise of the rights of representation, in ex- cluding it from all the judicial distrieis of the if. HISTORY OF IOWA. 145 State, and in its flagitious attempt to destroy its organization altogether, and to excommunicate its inhabitants, indiscriminately, from the pro- tection of civil society; in its contemptuous refusal to allow the people of the State the priv- ilege of expressing their opinion on the subject of a convention to amend the State constitution; in its refusal to instruct the Senators in Con- gress from this State to favor the policy of the Wilmot Proviso, by excluding the institution of slavery from our newly acquired Territory; in its attempt to create new offices, not demanded by the public interest, as a sort of pension to partisan favorites — offices which would have im- posed new burdens in the shape of increased taxation without any corresponding benefit, — and in its reckless prodigality of the public money, should consign it to the perpetual con- demnation of a free people. Resolved, That we are opposed to the exten- sion of slavery into territory now free, and that we believe it to be the duty of the Federal Gov- ernment to relieve itself of the responsibility of that institution, wherever it has the constitu- tional authority so to do; and that the legislation necessary to effect those objects should be adopted. Resolved, That for the compliment paid to our State, in the appointment of one of our fellow- ciiizeus to the important office of Assistant Postmaster, the President is entitled to our thanks. Resolved, That we commend the ticket pre- sented by this convention to the people of this State for their cordial support. Patterson was elected President over McKean by a majority of 712 out of a total vote of 22,632. The Whigs met in convention May 15, 1800, at Iowa City, and made the follow- ing nominations: Governor, James L Thompson; Secretary of State, Isaac Cook; Auditor of State, William H. Seevers; Treasurer of State, Evan Jay; Treasurer of Board of Public Works, James Nosier. The resolutions adopted were as follows: Resolved, That every day's experience vindi- cates the sentiment proclaimed by the Whig State Convention last year, that the welfare and interests of the people of Iowa imperatively require an amendment to the State constitution, by which the incubus imported in some of its provisions upon their resources and prosperity shall be removed. Resolved, That the people have a right to de- mand that this question shall be submitted to them for their action, and in the judgment of this convention they will be recreant to their interests if they do not so determine by their votes at the approaching election. Resolved, That we have undiminished confi- dence in the integrity, ability and patriotism of the people's President, General Z. Taylor, and in the wisdom of the policy by him recom- mended to Congress. Resolved, That the Whigs of the country owe it to themselves and the great principles they profess to cherish, to give the President a Con- gress disposed to co-operate with him in his patriotic purposes to serve the country, instead of pursuing a factious opposition to the bitter end. Resolved, That we cherish an ardent attach- ment to the union of the States, and a firm de- termination to adhere to it at all hazards and to the last extremity. Resolved, That we hail with the highest grati- fication the rising of a new State upon the borders of the Pacific, and that we are in favor of its immediate admission into the family of States upon no other conditions than those im- posed by the constitution of the United States, and untrammelled by any question of Territorial legislation. Resolved, That while we hold it to be the duty of all to be ready and willing to stand to and abide by the provisions of the constitution of the United States, we are nevertheless free to re- affirm, as we now do, the opinion heretofore ex- pressed by the Whig party in Iowa, that we are in favor of free men, free territory, and free States. 9 V 146 HISTOEY OF IOWA. Resolved, That the Surveyor General's office of Wisconsin and Iowa, under the control of the Democratic party, has been, and is, an engine of vast political power, and that its extensive patronage has been used to subserve the interest of that party. We, therefore, re- spectively and earnestly request of the President of Ihe United States the immediate removal of C:H. Booth, Esq. , the present incumbent, and the appointment of one who will not use the patronage of this office for political ends. Resolved, That we cordially recomnend the candidates nominated by this convention, for the various Slate offices to be filled at the next August election, to the confidence and support of the people of Iowa. The Democrats met at Iowa City June 12, 1850, and nominated the following ticket: Governor, Stephen Hempstead; Secretary of Si ate, G. W. McCleary; Auditor, Wm. Pattee; Treasurer, Israel Keister; Treasurer Board Public Works, George Gillaspie. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That the events of the past year, having served to demonstrate the soundness and wisdom of the resolutions adopted by the last Democratic State Convention, we re-assert and re-adopt them, as follows: Resolved, That we recur with pride to the tri- umphant success, the splendid achievements and the imperishable renown of the late admin- istration; and that, while we point to these as the glorious results of past labors, we should remember that, as they were gained by a strict adhcience to honest principles, and the adoption of an honest policy, they can be sullied or im- paired only by a base abandonment of them upon the altar of expediency, or by a disgrace- ful surrender in the form of a cowardly silence. Resolved, That we still adhere, as firmly as ever, to the principles and measures which dic- t itcd and governed the course of the late admin- istration; and that we derive a high pleasure from ihe fact that a Democratic Senate is vouch- tafed to us as an impassable barrier between the Federal high-tariff, bank and paper policy, hopes and designs of the present dynasty, and the gold and silver currency, low tariff and independent treasury policy of the people. Resolved, That the administration of General Taylor, as far as it has proceeded upon its mis- sion, has unblushiugly falsified every promise and grossly violated every pledge given before the election by its nominal chief; and that a party which can go before the country upon one set of issues, and immediately after its installation into power enter upon the practice of another set, is more than ever deserving of the reproba- tion of the world, and of the continued and un- compromising hostility of the Democratic party. Resolved, That General Taylor, for the part which he has played, or has been made to play, in this disgraceful game of deception, has dis- played a want of honest principle, or a weakness of mind and character, which equally disquali- fies him for the place he holds, and fully justifies the worst predictions ever made against his fit- ness for the Presidency; and that, although we may have once admired the soldier in the tented field, we are now reluctantly brought to con- demn and to repudiate the cipher in the Cabinet of the country. Resolved, That the removals in this State have been made without cause and in direct violation of the professions of General Taylor before the election; and that the appointments which have followed have been made in equal violation of the same professions. Resolved, That it is as gratifying to the pride as it is creditable to the patriotism of the Dem- ocrats of Iowa, that prominent statesmen of all parties, in seeking for a satisfactory adjustment of the difficulties which unfortunately exist be- tween the slave and non-slaveholding States, are found uniting, in main, on the policy of non- intervention; and while they arrogate to them- selves no right to question the course of other States on this subject, they point to the fact, with feelings of unmingled satisfaction, and they, in co-operating with those who are striving 1 1 preserve the Union, are required to "tread no steps backward." e Vis T ■ ^ < >]{ HISTORY OF IOWA. 147 Resolved, That, regarding the preservation of our happy form of government as paramount to all other considerations, and believing that the threatened danger may be averted, we approve of the bill recently introduced into the United Stales Senate by the Committee of Thirteen, generally known as the "Compromise Bill." Resolved, That, as this bill authorizes the im- mediate admission of California, organizes the Territories of New Mexico and Utah, provides for the settlement of the Texan boundary ques- tion, enforces the provisions of the constitution with regard to the reclamation of persons escaping from service, and abolishes the slave trade in the District of Columbia, we believe its adoption, as a whole, would be hailed as a peace- offering by an overwhelming majority of the people; nor is our confidence in the wisdom of the measure diminished by the fact that the ultraists of both extremes are found united in opposition to it, but rather increased. Resolved, That the late decision of Secretary Ewing, by which the State of Iowa has been robbed of nearly a million of acres of valuable land, and the improvement of her principal interior river, retarded, if not wholly destroyed, is an act which finds no justification in the pre- cedent or usages of the government; that it is a derogation of both the letter and spirit of the act of Congress making the donation, and that, in the name of the people of Iowa, we feel called upon to denounce it as illegal and unjust. Resolved, That this decision, taking away from the State, by a Whig administration, the greater portion of a valuable grant, made to it under a Democratic rule, the people of Iowa have suf- fered a wrong which, while they have no alterna- tive but submission, they cannot but feel most deeply and sensibly that the administration at Washington is not less responsible for the deci- sion than those who defend it; and that it is the duty of the Democracy to arraign them at the bar of public opinion at the approaching election for aiding and abetting in crippling the energies of our young and expanding commonwealth. Resolved, that President Taylor's Cabinet have, in the recent Galphtn swindle and other specula- tions of the same kind, proven to the world that their promises of retrenchments and reform in the administration of the government were made to deceive the people, and not with the intention of being kept. Resolved, That the present Governor, Secre- tary of State, Auditor and Treasurer, whose terms of office are about to expire, each and all of them, by the honest, efficient and imparti tl discharge of their duties, deserve the cordial approbation of the people of the State of Iowa. Resolved, That we confidently present the nominees of the convention to the voters of the State of Iowa for their support; and that we, ourselves, will individually use all honorable means to secure theii election. The official vote on Governor was as fol- lows: Stephen Hempstead, Dem 13,133 2,083 James L. Thompson, Whig 11,403 William Penn Clark 575 In 1851, for Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Democrats nominated Thomas II. Benton, while the Whigs sup- ported William G. Woodward, an Inde- pendent candidate. Benton was elected by a majority of 1,351. In 1852 the Whigs were early in the field, meeting in convention at Iowa City, February 26, and placing in nomination the following ticket: Secretary of State, J. W. Jenkins; Auditor of State, Asbury Porter; Treasurer of State, Hosea B. Horn. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That we most cordially approve of the administration of President Fillmore, and have the fullest confidence in the executive officers of our government, and that the admin- istration of our foreign and domestic affairs deseives our highest admiration and firmest support; and we have the assurance that under such an administration our republic will always be safe. ^ } & 143 HISTORY OF IOWA. Resolved, That our warmest gratitude is due to those of whatsoever political party, who have, for the last two years, battled for the union of these States, and that we now regard the question out of which our apprehension of disunion arose as settled now and forever. Resolved, That we rejoice to see our Demo- cratic fellow-citizens in the Western States occupying a part of our political platform, es- pecially that relating to currency, to the im- provement of rivers and harbors by appropria- tions from the national treasury, and a revision of the tariff of 18-16. Resolved, That, as by alone following the advice of the illustrious Father of our Country for three-quarters of a century, our nation is 1 rosperous and happy, we are still for adhering to that which teaches us to be at peace with all nations, and to form entangling alliances with none. Resolved, That the delegates to the National Convention be left free to act according to their own judgment, when they meet their brethren in the Natiocal Convention, to nominate candi- dates for President and Vice-President of the United States, according to the lights that there may be presented, and so to act as to harmonize conflicliug claims and interests, and to maintain the integrity of the Whig party and the ascend- ancy of Whig principles. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this con- vention that, a convention to revise the constitu- tion of the States should be called at as early a day as is practicable; and, with a view to the advancement of this object, it is hereby recom- mended to State and local candidates in every part of the State to make this issue distinctly and strongly before the people. Resolved, That this convention request the executive committee of the State, and of each county and of each district composed of several counties, to effect a complete and efficient or- ganization of the Whig party in their respective counties and districts. The Democratic convention met May 28tb, at Iowa city, and nominated the fol- lowing ticket: Secretary of State, Geo. W. McCleary; Auditor, William Pattee; Treasurer, M. L. Morris. The following platform was adopted: Resolved, That paramount to all questions of a party or sectional nature, we are in favor of "The Union now and forever." Resolved, That to carefully regard the rights of States, is the only possible way to strengthen and perpetuate our glorious confederacy. Resolved, That a strict construction of the Constitution of the United States is the only safeguard for the rights of the States, and that we fully recognize the doctrine of the Virginia and Kentui ky resolutions of 1798 and 1799 and the Baltimore platform of 1844. Resolved, That we are opposed to a national bank, a high protective tariff and all measures and monopolies of a like nature, and are in favor of the independent treasury and tariff of 1836. Resolved, That we are opposed to a wasteful, extravagant and corrupt system of internal im- provements; but hold that improvements of a national character may properly be made with the nation's money, and that, in justice, the general government, as a great landholder in the States, should contribute of her large domain to those public enterprises by which her interests are secured and promoted and the value of that domain enhanced. Resolved, That we are in favor of the " com- promise" as a final settlement of the question which has so long agitated the country upon the subject of domestic slavery. Resolved, That we are opposed to " nullifica- tion" of every kind, whether in the legislature of Vermont, 'ir in the latitude of South Carolina, and are in favor of a faithful execution of laws of Congress until they are repealed, or declared inoperative by the proper tribunals of the country. Resolved, That our adopted citizens well deserve the political blessings which are now extended to them by the existing natural iza- @ i- HISTORY OF IOWA. 149 tion laws passed by our Democratic forefathers, and we are opposed to any alteration of them sought for by native "Americanism." Resolved, That we are opposed to the nomi- nation of a candidate for the Presidency upon the naked idea i if availability, but are in favor of a candidate whose principles are known to be national and in conformity to the time-honored tenets of the Democratic party. Resolved, That we are in favor of the nominee of the Baltimore convention, as our candidate for the Presidency, and to such nominee we pledge our hearty and individual support. In regard to State policy — Resolved, That we heartily concur in the great principles of judicial and financial reform which are agitating the civilized world, and which have to some extent been recognized by the adoption of our revised code; but at the same time repro- bate many of the provisions as destructive of the great ends sought after, and earnestly recom- mend a thorough revision of all obnoxious fea- tures. The official vote for Secretary of State was as follows: George G.HcCleary, Dem 16,884—1,857 J.W. Kenkins, Whig 15,027 In 1853 the Democrats inaugurated the campaign by nominating David C. Cloud for Attorney General, and adopting the following resolutions: Resolved, That the delegates this day in con- vention assembled, congratulate the Democracy of the Union, upon the emphatic verdict of the people in favor of Democratic principles, as ex- pressed in the election of Franklin Pierce and Wm. R. King, to the Presidency and Vice-Pres- idency of this Republic. Resolved, That we recognize as principles car- dinal in the Democratic faith: "The election of all officers by the people." "The limits of State indebtedness." "Equal taxation" — compelling the property of the rich, invested in stock, to bear its proportion of the public burthen of con- tribution to the taxes of the State. The restraint of the legislutive power — confining it to the legitimate subject of general legislation, and the crowning glory of repeal, which secures the people sovereign from ever becoming slaves to any law or charter passed by their servants. Resolved, That a wise political economy de- mands a more liberal system of disposing of the public lands, and that the prosperity of the country, and the happiness of individuals would be eminently promoted by the passage of a law giving the public domain in limited quantities to actual settlers at a price covering the cost of survey and other necessary expenses. Resolved, That no species of industry should be fostered to the injury of another, that no class of men should be taxed directly or indi- rectly for the benefit of another; that every de- scription of industry should stand or fall on its own merits, and that commerce should be unfet- tered, and, like the air, free. Resolved, That the Democracy of Iowa adhere to the known and long-established doctrines of the party relative to the currency. Resolved, That to the Democratic, Republican, State and federal institutions, resting on univer- sal suffrage and universal eligibility to office, do these United States owe their unexampled pros- perity among nations, and that it is our duty to sympathize with every.people struggling against tyrants for freedom. Mr. Walker introduced the following resolutions, which, on motion, were adopt- ed : Resolved, That the present Commissioner of the DesMoines Improvement, General V. P. Van Antwerp, by the fidelity, energy and ability with which he has discharged the duties of his respon- sible position, is entitled to the highest esteem and gratitude of the people of this State. Resolved, That to his faithful and judicious eflorts we are indebted to the final grant by the general government of the fund for the Des Moines River Improvement, sufficient and ample to ensure a completion of the work, and develop the resources of the DesMoines Valley. ^ 150 HISTORY OF IOWA. Resolved, That in prosecuting the negotiations for the State, he has displayed unsurpassed per- severance, industry and discretion against the most trying discouiagements and embarassments, and that he has not only faithfully improved every opportunity to advance the interests of his trust, but has signalized his term of service by measures which will identify his name with the successful completion of the public works. Resolved, Therefore, that in his voluntary re- tirement from the office which he has so ably filled, we hereby tender to him, in convention of the Democracy of the State, the endorsement, "Well done, good and faithful servant." The Whigs made no nomination, but supported Samuel A. Rice for the office of Attorney-General. Cloud was elected over Rice by 7,564. In 1854 the Democrats convened on the 9th of January, at Iowa City, placed the following ticket in the field, and adopted a platform: Governor, Curtis Bates; Secre- tary of State, Geo. W. McCleary; Auditor of State, Joseph L. Sharp; Treasurer of State, Martin L. Morris; Attorney-General, David C. Cloud; Supt. of Public Instruc- tion, Jas. D. Eads. The following is the platform : Resolved, That we, the delegates of the various counties of Iowa, in State Democratic Conven- tion assembled, do hereby reaffirm and pledge ourselves to the principles of the Baltimore Na- tional Convention of 1852, and that we hold and cons der them as constituting the true platform of the Democratic platform, and as fundamental and essential with all true Democrats. Resolved, That we look upon ourselves as members of the real National Democratic party, a party radically identical in all parts of the Union; and that we have no sectional views to gratify, no selfish designs to accomplish, but are wholly devoted to the Union, harmony and success of the cause; we therefore repudiate all disaffection on sectional or personal grounds, and denounce all bickering among ourselves and most earnestly recommend "union, har- mony, concession and compromise," as a nucleus for universal observance. Resolved, That we have increased confidence in the talents, and in the integrity and patriotism of Eranklin Pierce, that his administration of the government have been distinguished by wisdom, firmness and unwavering adherence to its sound Democratic principles; that he has fully redeemed the pledges given to the Ameri- can people, previous to his election. Resolved, That we regard the right of instruc- tion as the sheet anchor, the main pillar oi our freedom; and that we are determined never to surrender it, but to the last stand by and defend it, convinced, as we thoroughly are, that it is only by frequent and rigid exercise of this in- valuable privilege that the Democratic character of this government can be preserved, and we believe the agent who disobeys to be unworthy the confidence of his constituents, and that he ought to resign his seat. Resolved, That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration c f Independence, and sanctioned in the constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty and the asylum of the oppressed of every nation, have ever been cardi- nal principles in the Democratic faith, and every attempt to abridge the privilege of becom- ing citizens and the owners of soil among us, ought to be resisted with the same spirit which swept the alien and sedition laws from our statute books. Resolved, That in the recent development of the grand political truth of the sovereignty of the people, and their capacity and power of self-government, we feel that a high and sacred duty is devolved with increased responsibility upon the Democratic party of this country as the party of the people, to sustain and advance among us constitutional "liberty, equality and fraternity," by continuing to resist all monopo- lies and exclusive legislation for the benefit of the few, at the expense of the many, and by vigilant and constant adherence to those prin- ciples and compromises and strong to uphold the Union as it was, the Union as it is, and the *; [< ? V HISTORY OF IOWA. 151 Union as it should be, in the full expansion of the energies and capacity of this great and pro- gressive people. Resolved, That we look upon the speedy or- ganization of Nebraska Territory as a highly important object, and that its northern boundary should coincide, or nearly so, with the latitude of the northern boundary of Iowa. Resolved, That we hereby pledge ourselves to abide the decision of this convention, and to use all honorable means to secure the election of the nominees. Resolved, That the proceedings of this con- vention be published in all the Democratic papers in the State, and copies be sent to the President, heads of departments, and to our Representatives in Congress. The Whigs met at Iowa City, February 22, and nominated the following ticket: Governor, James W. Grimes; Secretary of State, Simeon Winters; Auditor of State, Andrew Jackson Stephens; Treasurer, Eliphalet Price; Attorney-General, James W. Sennett. The following is the plat- form: Resolved, That an experience of seven years under our present constitution has demonstrated that that instrument is not suited to the politi- cal, the agricultural and commercial wants of the State or the Spirit of the age; that the wants of the people demand a constitution making liberal provisions for the promotion of works of internal improvement, and providing, also, for a well regulated system of banking, which will relieve the people of this State from the onerous and oppressive burden they now suffer in the shape of indirect taxation paid to the banks of others States, whose money is in circulation among us. Resolved, That, in common with the Whig party throughout the Union, we recognize the binding force and obligation of the act of Con- gress of 1820, known as the Missouri Compro- mise, and we view the same as a compact between the North and South, mutually binding and obligatory, and as a final settlement of the question of slavery within the geographical limits to which it applies. Resolved, That we most unqualifiedly and emphatically disapprove of the efforts now being made in Congress to legislate slavery into the free Territory of Nebraska, and we do most heartily recommend to our Senators and Repre- sentatives in Congress to oppose by all honor- able means the passage of the Nebraska Bill, as reported by Senator Douglas, of Illinois; and that we cannot otherwise look upon the pretense by Mr. Douglas and his aiders and abettors, that "the 8th section of the Missouri Compromise is suppressed by the acts of 1850," than as a propo- sition totally unreasonable and absurd on its face, conceived it bad faith and prompted by an ignoble ana most unworthy ambition for party and personal political preferment; and that we do, as citizens of the West and the free State of Iowa, most earnestly desire to see an immediate organization of Nebraska Territory, without any infringement of the solemn compact of 1820, commonly called the Missouri Compro- mise. Resolved, That, as Whigs and citizens of the great valley of the Mississippi, we are heartily in favor of that well regulated Whig policy of liberal appropriations by the general govern- ment, for works of internal improvement of a national character, and that we view all navi- gable waters in the country, whether rivers or inland seas, as eminently national in their char- acter, and recommend to our Senators and Representatives in Congress to endeavor, by all honorable means, to procure appropriations for such purposes, and especially for the removal of obstructions to navigation in the Mississippi river. Resolved, That we view the proposition of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, to effect an improvement by the levying of tonnage du- ties on the internal commerce of the country, as entirely inadequate to the accomplishment of such a purpose, and only calculated to impose heavy and unjust burdens on the people of the West, in the shape of indirect taxation, without ^ s- 5 V jja- 152 HISTORY OF IOWA. securing to them any of the proposed advan- tages. Resolved, That we unreservedly and cordially approve of the course and conduct of the Hon. John P. Cook, our Representative in Congress from the Second Congressional District, and we hereby pledge ourselves to sustain him in his able and independent course. WnEREAS, The object of our educational sys- tem was to place the means of a common school education within the reach of all; and Whereas, Under its present management more than one third of the proceeds of the fund set apart to cherish ani maintain that sys- tem is annually absorbed by its constitutional guardians, subjecting it to a loss, in the year 1851, of $10,751.40 to pay the salaries and ex- penses of the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion and Commissioners of the School Fund, and leaving only the sum of $20,600.11 to be dis- tributed among the public schools; and Whereas, The duties of said officers may all be discharged by other State and county officers, without any or with but a trifling expense to said fund; therefore, Resolved, That sound policy and enlightened philanthropy demand such legislation and amendment to our constitution as will preserve this fund inviolate to the purposes originally intended as an inheritance to our children and their posterity. Resolved, That we are in favor of a donation, by Congress, of public lands, in limited quanti- ties, to actual settlers. Resolved, That we believe the people of this State are prepared for, and their interests re- quire, the passage of a law prohibiting the man- ufacture and sale of ardent spirits within the State as a beverage. The official vote on Governor was as fol- lows: Jimes W. Grimes, Whig 23,025-1,823 Curtis Bates, Dem 21,202 The election of 1855 was for minor offi- cers. The Democrats met in convention, January 24, at the Capitol, and nominated the following ticket: Commissioner Des Moines River Improvement, O. D. Tisdale; Register DesMoines River Improvement, Wm. Dewey; Register Land Office, Stark H. Samuels. The following is the plat- form adopted: Whereas, It is in accordance with the Dem- ocratic party, to declare, from time to time, its views upon the various political principles that occupy the attention of the country; therefore, Resolved, That there has been a period in the history of our country, when we could with more confidence proclaim to the world our entire adherence to and approval of the old landmarks of the Democratic party. 2. That the temporary success of our foes being a result of an abandonment of principles on their part, and of the aggression of discordant elements, brought together for mercenary ends, affords no grounds for alarm; but confident of the correctness of our principles, and of the in- tegrity of the masses, we appeal to the sober, second thought of the people with no fears as to the verdict they may render. 8. That we declare our firm determination to sustain the principles recognized as correct, in reference to slavery agitation, to support the constitution faithfully, to carry out its provis- ions, and discountenance all incendiary move- ments that tend to the overthrow of our govern- ment, from whatever source they may originate. 4. That the efforts being made to colonize free negroes in their native land, is a measure that commends itself to every philanthropist as being the only favorable plan for the ultimate accomplishment of the first wish of every friend of freedom. 5. That we endorse, to the fullest extent, the compromise measure of 1850, believing those measures to be constitutional, just, and proper. 6. That in changing his domicile from one portion of a republican government to another, man does not divest himself of his political, moral or natural rights, nor can he be deprived © - * HISTORY OF IOWA. 153 of them otherwise than as he has consented to constitutionally. 7. That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, and sanctioned in the constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty and the asylum of the op- pressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal principles in the Democratic faith, and every at- tempt to abridge the right of becoming citizens and the owners of soil among us ought to be re- sisted with the same spirit that swept the alien and sedition laws from the statute books. 8. That we adhere to the doctrine of an un- restrained religious liberty, as established by the constitution of the United States, and sustained by all Democratic administrations. The Whigs held their last State conven- tion at Iowa City, January 25, 1855, and, without resolutions, made the following nominations: Commissioner on DesMoines River Improvement, Wm. McKay; Regis- ter DesMoines River Improvement, J. C. Lock wood; Register Land Office, Anson Hart. The official vote for Commissioners was as follows: William McKay, Whig 24,743—4,737 O. D. Tisdale, Dem , 20,006 A vote was taken this year on the pro- hibition liquor law, with the following re- sult: For the law 25,555—2,910 Against the law 22,645 While the Whig party in this State ap- parently was in a well organized condition, throughout the Union it was undergoing a process of disintegration. In the South it was being absorbed by the American or Know Nothing party, and in the North by the newly organized Republican party, born out of the issues growing out of the slavery question. Representatives of the Republican party met in convention at Iowa City, February 22, 1856, and selected the following ticket: Secretary of State, Elijah Sells; Auditor, John Patten; Treas- urer, M. L. Morris; Attorney-General, S. A. Rice. The following platform was adopted at the same time and place. United in a common resolve to maintain right against wrong, and believing in the determina- tion of a virtuous and intelligent people to sus- tain justice, we declare — 1. That governments are instituted among men to secure the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 2. That the mission of the Republican party is to maintain the liberty of the press, the sov- ereignty of the State, and the perpetuity of the Union. 3. That under the constitution, and by right, freedom is alone national. 4. That the federal government, being one of limited powers, derived wholly from the consti- tution, its agents should construe these powers strictly, and never exercise a doubtful authority — always inexpedient and dangerous. 5. If the plan is Jeffersonian, and the early policy of the government is carried out, the fed- eral government would relieve itself of all re- sponsibility for the existence of slavery, which Republicanism insists it should and means it shall do, and that regarding slavery in the State as a local institution, beyond our reach and above our authority, but recognizing it as of vital con- cern to every citizen in its relation to the nation, we well oppose its spread, and demand that all national territory shall be free. 6. That the repeal of the Missouri Compro- mise, and the refusal of the slave power to abide by the principles on which that repeal was pro- fessedly based, make the national domain the battle ground between freedom and slavery; and while Republicans stand on a national basis, and will ever manifest and maintain a national spirit, they will shrink from no conflict and shirk no responsibility on this issue. 7. That the slave power, the present national administration and its adherents, having violated '4* v 154 HISTOEY OF IOWA. this policy, and the principles on which it is based, by a disregard of the law and its own profession, by encroachments upon the State and personal rights, and by breaking solemn covenants of the country, make the issue whether freedom shall be limited to the tree States, or slavery to the slave States, and make that issue absorbing and paramount. Resolved, That the firm, consistent, and patriotic course pursued by the Republican members of the present Congress, during the arduous protracted struggle for the speakership, meets with our cordial approval, and we recog- nize in Hon. N. P. Banks a statesman of mature abilities, a Republican of reliable character; and we hail his election as a proud triumph of those great principles of human liberty upon which the American government was founded. The Democratic convention met at Iowa City, June 26, 1856, and adopted a plat- form and made the following nominations: Secretary of State, Geo. Snyder; Auditor, Jas. Pollard; Treasurer, George Paul; At- torney-General, James Baker. The follow- ing is the platform: Resolved, That the Democracy of Iowa receive with joy, and ratify with confidence, the nom- inations of James Buchanan and John G. Breck- enridge. 2. That the platform of Democratic principles laid down by the Cincinnati convention meets our hearty concurrence, and that it is such a one as is worthy of the only National party in exist- ence. On motion of Col. Martin, of Scott, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That freedom and equal rights are the basis of Democracy, and that no measure or principle not embracing or recognizing these is any part or parcel of the Democratic creed; that Democracy is equality against privilege, freedom against aristocracy, liberty against licentious- ness, strict construction against latitudinanan inter-relations of the constitution, law and order against anarchy and violence, and the peace, har- mony, prosperity and perpetuity of our glorious Union to the end of time. The entire Republican ticket was elected. Sells, for Secretary of State, received 40,- 687 votes and Snyder 32,920. There were three elections in 1857 — the first in April, for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Register of Land Office and DesMoines River Commissioner; the sec- ond in August, for the purpose of a vote on the new constitution; the third in Octo- ber, for Governor and Lieutenant Gov- ernor. The Democrats nominated the following ticket: Superintendent Public Instruction, Maturin L. Fisher; Register, Theodore S. Parvin; DesMoines River Commissioner, Gideon Bailey; Governor, Benj. M. Samuels; LieutenantrGovernor, Geo. Gillaspie. The Republicans nominated the follow- ing ticket: Superintendent Public In- struction, L. A. Bugbee; Register, W. H. Holmes; DesMoines River Commissioner, H. F. Manning; Governor, Ralph P.Lowe; Lieutenant-Governor, Oran Faville. The following Republican platform was adopted: United in a common resolve to maintain right against wrong, and believing in the determina- tion of a virtuous and intelligent people to sus- tain justice, we declare: 1. That governments are instituted among men to secure the inalienable rights of life, lib- erty and the pursuit of happiness. i. That the mission of the Republican party is to maintain the liberties of the people, the sovereignty of the States and the perpetuity of the Union. 3. That under the constitution, and by right, freedom alone is national. 4. That the Federal Government being one of limited powers, derived wholly from the con- V ^ 9 HISTORY OF IOWA. 155 stitution, its agents should construe those powers strictly, and never exercise a doubtful authority, always inexpedient and dangerous. 5. That if this Jeffersonism and early policy were carried out, the Federal Government would relieve itself of all responsibility for the exist- ence of slavery, which Republicanism insists it should, and means it shall do, and that regard- ing slavery in the States as a local institution, beyond our reach, and above our authority, but recognizing it as of vital concern to the nation, we still oppose its spread, and demand that all national territory shall be free. 6. That the repeal of the Missouri compro- mise, and the refusal of the slave power to abide by the principle on which that repeal was pro- fessedly based, made the national domain the battle ground between freedom and slavery, and while Republicans stand on a national basis, and maintain a national spirit, they will shirk no responsibility on this issue. 7. That the slave power — the present national administration and its adherents having violated this policy, and the principles on which it is based, by a disregard of law and its own pro- fessions, by an invasion of the State and per- sonal rights, and by breaking solemn covenants, has forced upon the country the issue whether freedom shall be limited to the free States or slavery to the slave States, and makes that issue absorbing and paramount. Resolved, That the recent opinion of the Su- preme Court of the United States, in the Dred Scott case, is the most alarming of those bold innovations upon the rights of the free States which have marked the administration of the government for years past, as sectional and disloyal to the spirit of our free institutions. We regard it as virtually revolutionizing the judicial action of the government, if tolerated; by giving to s'avery a national instead of a local character; opening free States and free Terri- tories for its diffusion; reducing to the condi- tion of chattels those who are recognized by the constitution as men, belying the sentiments of the Declaration of Independence, and casting reproach upon the action of those who, amid toil and peril, laid deep the formation of the Union. 2. That the National Administration has brought disgrace upon the country by so long tolerating the demoralizing and heaven-defying practices of Brigham Young and his followers in Utah. The embarrassment experienced by the present administration in reaching and cor- recting the evil, is mainly attributed to the doc- trine embodied in the Kansas Nebraska Bill, and the retention of the U. S- soldiery in Kansas to overawe unoffending men, instead of sending them to Utah, where the authority of the gen- eral government is brazenly defied, is humili- ating evidence of perversion of the powers of the national government. 3. That we invite the affiliation and co-opera- tion of freemen of all parties, however differing from us in other respects, in support of the principles herein declared, and believing that the spirit of our institutions as well as the con- stitution of our country, guarantee liberty of conscience and equality of rights among citi- zens, we oppose all legislation impairing their security. 4. That we congratulate the people of Iowa upon the new constitution, for many reasons, but most of all in view of the fact that it enables them to provide for themselves a sound currency, and places the annual election in October instead of August, thus consulting the convenience of an agricultural population. 5. That it is a deliberate conviction of this convention, that the next Legislature should provide a system of banking that will secure to the State a circulating medium, redeemable at all times, within its limits, in gold and silver; and we will support for State officers and the Legis- lature such, and such only, as are avowedly qualified favorable to this result. 6. That the administration of Governor Grimes deserves and receives our warmest en- dorsement, and that the thanks of all who love the character and prosperity of the State, are due to him, as well as to the Legislature, for their efforts to bring to justice a dishonorable public servant, defeat speculation, and prevent ? G ^ a i— 158 HISTORY OF IOWA. 7. That we look forward hopefully to that good time, not far distant, when it shall be doomed legitimate, proper and constitutional for this government to extend its protecting care ovor free labor, the commerce and industrial interests of all the country, instead of bending its whole energies and treasure for the aggrand- izement of a slaveholding aristocracy in one section of the Union. 8. That the corruption which stalks abroad at noonday, pervading every department of the National Government, the gross and shameless use of Presidential power and patronage to in- fluence the action of Congress, the astounding increase in national expenditures in a time of peace and universal financial embarrassment (involving, as it does, a debt of forty-five mil- lions of dollars, and an expenditure of nearly one hundred millions of dollars during a single financial year), bringing upon the government the burning disgrace of bankruptcy and threat- ening the onerous burthens of direct taxation, demand a solemn, earnest protest from us in behalf of the people of Iowa. 9. That the mismanagement and reckless squandering of the school fund of the State by the late Seperintendent of Public Instruction, and the manner in which this sacred fund has been dealt with in many counties in the State, as developed by the investigation already insti- tuted, under a Republican State administration, demonstrates the wisdom of that thorough ac- countability and scrutiny provided for by the State Legislature. 10. That we, as Republicans, pledge our- selves to use all honorable efforts to promote the administration of the State and general government with strict economy and a just regard to the growing interests of our State and Union. 11. That our State should have that consider- ation from the general government to which her resources, power and future prospects entitle her, and that we will demand from the general government five per cent, of the proceeds of those lands hitherto entered with land warrants wiihin the State; the improvement of the navi- gation of our great inland seas, and such addi- tional grants of lands to aid the building of railroads through unoccupied portions of Iowa as will upbuild the population and wealth of our State and the general welfare of our common country. 12. That the members of this convention heartily endorse the candidates nominated to- day for the various offices, and promise their united and zealous support in the ensuing cam- paign, and, if their labors can achieve it, a triumphant election. 13. That the entire Republican- delegation in Congress are entitled to the gratitude of the nation for their able and zealous advocacy of true Republican principles; and that our imme- diate Representatives, Messrs. Harlan, Curtis and Davis, have the unqualified approbation of their constituents for the talented and efficient manner in which they have represented the State of Iowa, and especially for the earnest ".ud uncompromising opposition waged by them against the Lecompton English Bill bribe and other tyrannical abuses of the present adminis- tration. The following ticket was then nomi- nated: Secretary of State, Elijah Sells; Auditor of State, J. W. Cattell; State Treasurer, John W. Jones; Attorney-Gen- eral, S. A. Rice; Register of State Land Office, A. B. Miller; Com. of DesMoinea River Improvement, Wm. C. Drake. The Democrats met June 23 at Des Moines, nominated the following ticket and adopted a platform: Secretary of State, Samuel Douglas; Auditor of State, Theodore S. Parvin; Treasurer of State, Samuel H. Lorah; Attorney-General, Jas. S. Elwood; Commissioner DesMoines River Improvement, Charles Baldwin; Register of Land Office, James M. Reid. The following is the platform: The Democrats of Iowa, through representa- tives in State Convention assembled, proclaim their unalterable devotion and adhesion to the principles embodied in the resolutions following: HISTORY OF IOWA. 159 Resolved, That we adopt, abide by, and will cherish and defend the platform of principles promulgated by the representatives of the De- mocracy of the nation, when assembled in national convention, at Cincinnati, in June, 1856, believing, as we do, that the platform there laid down is broad and strong enough to uphold and sustain every true patriot, and with such only do we desire compinionship. 2. That all attempts to engender sectional prejudice and animosities are pregnant with mischief, tend to hinder the progress and devel- opment of our country, and must, if persisted in, lead to the dismemberment of the union of the States and the destruction of the only free government of the world. 3. That the rights of the people should be maintained alike against the encroachment of federal power, the zeal of blind partisanism and wiles of unscrupulous and demagogue politi- cians, and that the office of the Democratic party is to see these cardinal principals main- tained in their party. 4. That the agitation of the slavery question tends to weaken the bonds of our union by de- stroying that confidence which should exist between the different States, and begetting sec- tional animosities, and that it is the duty of all true patriots to frown upon such attempts, and secure, by all honorable means, the discredit alike of the extremists of the South and North. 5. That the decision of the judicial tribunals of the State and Federal Government should be respected, must be submitted to, obeyed and carried into effect; and that any attempt to set them at defiance is a step toward anarchy and confusion, tends to impair respect for the gov- ernment, and merits the unmeasured condensa- tion of all law abiding aud peaceably disposed citizens. 6. That the outrages recently committed ou our shipping by officers of the British Govern- ment demands an immediate and unequivocal denial and apology; that now is an appropriate time to settle finally the question of the rights to visit and search vessels >n the seas, and in the event an apology is refused, the arrogant pre- tensions of European powers should try the "last resort" of nations, the cannon's mouth, and the world taught the lesson that our flag cannot be degraded, nor our nation insulted with impunity. V. That the administration of State affairs in Iowa for the last four years, under Republican rule, is of a character to warrant the most rigid investigation by the people, and that the expo- sure thus far of their speculations, fraud and extravagance calls for the denunciation of all honest men. 8. That an empty treasury, extravagant ex- penditures, and the stifling of investigation into corruption, by Republican officials of Iowa, should be sufficient to arouse t-ix-payers to the enormous outrages perpetrated upon the people's treasury, and absolutely demand a change in the administration, that the guilty may be brought to punishment, and our State preserved from utter bankruptcy. 9. That the Democracy of Iowa pledge to the people their earnest, persistent and unalterable purpose to reform the State government, and to bring to condign punishment whoever may be found guilty of criminal default in any of its departments. The Republicans carried the State by an average majority of 3,000. The Republicans were again first in the field for the State campaign of 1859. They met in convention, June 22, at Des Moines, and nominated the ■ following ticket: Governor, S. J. Kirkwood; Lieu- tenant-Governor, Nicholas J. Rusch; Su- preme Judges, Ralph P. Lowe, L. J. Stockton, Caleb Baldwin. The platform adopted was as follows: Possessing an abiding confidence in the intel- ligence and patriotism of the American people, an unwavering faith in their devotion to the eternal principles of liberty, as they came from the hand and heart of the fathers of the Repub- lic, and invoking the blessing of heaven upon our efforts to maintain them in their purity, we a fc^ ^ 160 HISTORY OF IOWA. commend them most cordially to the sympathy and support of the Republicans of Iowa and of the Nation. Resolved, That we entertain an abiding confi- dence in the cardinal doctrines contained in the Republican National platform of 1856, and re- affirming the same, we commend them anew to the discriminating consideration of the people. 2. That the sum of nearly one hundred mil- lion dollars, supposed to be necessary to support the government under rule of the Africanized Democracy, is incompatible with just ideas of a simple, economical Republican government, and the issue of National shinplasters to meet such demand shows the hopeless financial degrada- tion of the present administration. 3. That we condemn the principles advocated by the Democratic party — no prohibition of slavery in the Territories — and proclaim as our principles, no interference with liberty by the President, by Congress or by the federal court. 4. We claim for citizens, native and natural- ized, liberty and conscience, equality of rights and the free exercise of the right of suffrage. We favor whatever legislation and administra- tive reform that may be necessary to protect these rights, and guard against their infringe- ment or abuse, and opp- se any abridgment whatever of the rights of naturalization now secured to emigrants, and all discrimination between naturalized citizens whatever, by the amendment of the State constitution or other- wise. And we cordially approve of the action taken by the Republican State Central Commit- tee in regard to the amendment proposed by the Massachusetts Legislature to its constitution. 5. That the Republican party will forever oppose the demand of the Southern Democracy for the enactment of a slave code for the Terri- tories. 6. That we look with horror upon the revival of the slave trade, and view with alarm the apathy and abortive attempts of administration and judiciary in arresting and bringing to trial and justice those who have recently been guilty of open infractions of those laws of our country which declare it piracy, and in sending such as have been arrested to places of trial where in- dictment was doubtful and acquittal certain; and while we will oppose, by every just means, the repeal of those laws, we will also insist upon their being hereafter faithfully executed and enforced, even though it involve the exercise of the full power of the federal government. 7. That we are in favor of granting to actual settlers suitable portions of the public lands free of charge; and we do most unqualifiedly con- demn the course of the present slavery Democ- racy in Congress, in opposing and defeating, in the United States Senate, the Homestead bill, which was designed to secure free homes for free people, whether of native or of foreign birth. 8. That the rights of citizens are equal, and they are equally entitled to protection at home and abroad, without regard to nativity or dura- tion of domicile; and that the late refusal by the federal government, as expressed in the late official communication of Lewis Cass, Secretary of State, to guarantee against arrest and deten- tion, abroad, of naturalized citizens, on the ground of their allegiance to foreign power, is a cowardly abandonment of the true and noble position hitherto occupied by our government. 9. That we re-assert, as cardinal principles of Republicanism, the maintenance of a strict economy in public expenditures, and the prompt and faithful discharge by public officers of their public duties; and we congratulate the people of Iowa that the present State officers are honest and enjoy their confidence in the execution of their official duties. 10. That while our State tax has been largely reduced, being less in 1858 than the preceding year, and less the present year than in 1858, the increasing county taxation is becoming so bur- densome as to call imperatively for reform in the system of county administration. The Democrats met at DesMoines, June 23, adopted a platform, and placed the fol- lowing ticket in the field: Governor, A. C. Dodge; Lieutenant-Governor, L. W. Bar- hitt; Supreme Judges, Charles Mason, T. HISTORY OF IOWA. 161 S. Wilson, C.C. Cole. The following is the platform, as to National policy: WnEREAS, In view of the double relation in wh cb we stand toward the federal government on the one hand, and our own State on the other, we deem it expedient and proper, before enter- ing upon a contest which may, in no small de- gree, influence the character and destinies of both governments, to adopt and promulgate the following declaration of principles for the gov- ernment of our conduct: Resolved, That wc affirm the principles of the national Democratic platform of 1856, and re- assert the doctrines of non-intervention therein contained, as the ground upon which a national party can be maintained in these confederate States. 2. That the organized Territories of the United States are only held in their Territorial condition until they attain a sufficient number of inhabitants to authorize their admission into the Union as States, and are justly entitled to self-government and the undisturbed regulation of their own domestic or local affairs, subject only to the constitution of the United States. 3. That, inasmuch as the legislative power of the Territories extends undeniably to all right- ful subjects of legislation, no power can prevent them from passing such laws upon the subject of slavery as to them may seem proper, and whether such laws, when passed, be constitu- tional or not, can be finally determined, not by Congress, but by the Supreme Court ou appeal, from the decisions of the Territorial courts. 4. That the Supreme Court of the United States, being under the constitulion, and an independent co-ordinate branch of the govern- ment, with a tenure of office which cannot be changed by the action of parties, through the instrumentality of Congress, we hold the Democ- racy entirely irresponsible for its doctrines, and in no case conclusively bound by the same, except so far as to inculcate obedience to its decisions while they continue in force. 5. That without courts of justice, both State and national, respected by the people, and sus- tained in their proper functions by popular sen- timent, anarchy and violence become inevitable, and all rights of both person and property be- come insecure and worthless. 6. That the action of the public authorities in some of the States, in attempting to set at defiance by State authority, decisions of the Suprmie Court and acts of Congress passed in accordance with the constitution, is, the very essence of nullification. 7. That a tariff for revenue alone is the true policy of this country, but an incidental protec- tion is one of its legitimate consequences. The amount of duties levied should be limited to the necessary wants of the government, and they should be so apportioned as to fall as lightly as possible upon the people, by whom they are eventually to be paid. 8. That it is a doctrine of the Democratic party that all naturalized citizens are entitled to the same protection, both at home and abroad, that is extended to the native born citizens, and that even a voluntary return of such citizens to the land of their birth, for a temporary purpose, does not place them beyond the range of that protection, but that our government is bound to shield them from injury and insult while there, at every hazard. 9. That the expansion of our national domain is desirable whenever it shall be necessary for the safety, happiness and prosperity of the Re- public, and we will hail with pleasure the acqui- sition of the island of Cuba, whenever it can be effected with justice and in accordance with the wishes of the people thereof , and as a nation we can never assent to its appropriation by any of the powers of Europe, and will incur all the hazards of war to avert such a result. 10. That the building of a railroad connecting our Atlantic and Pacific coasts, by grants of the public lands along the line thereof, or by any other constitutional means, will meet with the hearty approval of the Democracy of Iowa. 11. That we are in favor of granting a home- stead of 160 acres of land by Congress to actual settlers, subject only to such restrictions as will exclude speculators from the benefits of such acts. • 102 HISTOEY OF IOWA. 12. That we are in favor of an economical ail ministration of the federal government, and will lend our best efforts to those who advocate reform and retrenchmeiit in our national expen- ditures. 13. That we are unconditionally opposed to the reopening of the African slave trade; that its revival would not only renew those cruelties which once provoked the indignation of the civ- il. zed world, but would entail a foul blot on our country's fair escutcheon. 14. That we cordially tender to the Democ- racy of the Union an invitation to unite with us in maintaining our organization on principles indicated in the foregoing resolutions, and that we earnestly appeal to them to drop past differ- ences, and assemble again as a band of brothers underthe panoply of the constitution and Union. As to State policy — Resolved, That the burdens of taxation have increased and are increasing under the present administration of State affairs, and that a com- plete and thorough reform of existing abuses and expenditures is demanded by the highest interests of the people. 2. That the Democracy cordially and sincerely invite emigrants to settle in the State, promising them all the protection and right they have en- joyed under the laws of Congress since the days of Jefferson; and that we earnestly deplore the acts of the Republican party in Massachusetts, and their attempts in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, to confer upon the uncouth, semi-barbarian negro from the South the right of suffrage and office in one year, and requiriug for the same purpose of the naturalized citizens a residence of two years after naturalization, equivalent to an extension of the period fornat- uralizition to seven years, thus degrading the foreign white man below the negro and mulatto. 3. That we are opposed to the policy inaugu- rated in this State by the Republican party, by which the immigration to this State of the Afri- can race is encouraged and promoted, thus bringing cheap negro labor into direct competi- tion with the labor of the white m;m, and rilling • our State with a class of population that can never become citizens thereof; and we are in favor of a change which shall discourage and prevent the settlement of that race among us. 4 That, since the border States of Ohio, In- diana and Illinois exclude the free negroes of the South from their limits by stringent laws, Iowa will become the great receptacle of the worthless population of the slave-holding States, to the exclusion of an equal number of free white laborers, if the present Republican policy be persisted in. 5. That such a policy leads necessaiily to the intermixing of black and white children in the common schools, or the necessity of dividing the common school fund to maintain separate and independent schools in every locality where free negroes reside. 6. That the Democracy demand a total repeal of the provisions of our State constitution, and the law made in pursuance thereof, requiring negro children to be admitted into our common schools, or separate schools, to be supported out of the common school fund for their education. 7 That the Maine liquor law is inconsistent with the spirit of a free people, and unjust and burdensome in its operations; it has vexed and harrassed the citizen, burdened thecouDties with expense and litigation, and proven wholly use- less in the suppression of intemperance. 8. That we favor a total change in the present common school system, so as to give the people the full benefits of a common school education without the cumbersome machinery and enor- mous expense which the present system requires. The vote for Governor was as follows: L. J. Kirkwood, Rep. 56,506—2,964 A. C. Dodge, Dem 53,542 The campaign of 1860 was the most ex- citing one in the history of the State, and, next to that of 1840, the most exciting campaign in the history of the Govern- ment. Abraham Lincoln had been nomi- nated by the Republicans for the Presi- dency; Stephen A. Douglas by the North- ern wing of the Democracy; John C. :Lt HISTORY OF IOWA. 163 Breckenridge by the Southern wing, and John Bell by the Union party. The Re- publicans of Iowa met in convention at Iowa City, May 23d, and selected the fol- lowing named candidates : Secretary of State, Elijah Sells; Auditor of State, J. W. Cattell; State Treasurer, Charles C. Nourse; Register of State Land Office, A. B. Miller. The platform adopted was short, and as follows : Resolved, That this convention approve and endorse the platform of principles laid down by the late Republican convention at Chicago, as the true and sound exposition of Republican doctrine, which we are prepared to advocate and defend. 2. That, in reference to State policy, the Re- publican party of the State of Iowa are in favor of a rigid economy in the expenditures of the public money, and the holding of all public offi- cers to a strict accountability. 3. That the Republicans of the State of Iowa in convention assembled, do hereby endorse the nominations made at the Chicago convention, of Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, for President, and Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, for Vice-President, and pledge to them the undivided support of the party of the State. 4. That this convention have full confidence in the nominations made by it to-day, both for State and national officers, and we recommend them with entire unanimity to the support and confidence of the people of Iowa. The Democrats held their convention July 12, at DesMoines. Their ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, James M. Corse; Auditor of State, Geo. W. Max- field; Treasurer of State, John W. Ellis; Attorney-General, Wm McClintock; Reg- ister of Land Office, Patrick Robb. Their platform was as follows: Resolved, That the Democracy of Iowa, by their delegates in the State convention assem- bled, do hereby most cordially endorse and approve of the Democratic National Convention, which convened at Charleston on the 23d day of April, and which concluded its labors at its adjourned session, in the city of Baltimore, on the 33d day of June, by the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas for the Presidency. 2. That this convention heartily endorses and approves the platform enumerated by said convention; and that we will give that platform and the nominees of the national Democracy for the Presidency and Vice-Presidencj', Douglas and Johnson, our most zealous and energetic support. 3. That retaining unabated confidence in the intelligence, integrity and patriotism of the people, the Democracy of Iowa firmly adhere to the doctrine of non-intervention and popular sovereignty, laid down in the said platform, as presenting the only just and practicable solution of the question of domestic slavery. 4. That the Iowa delegates to the National Democratic Convention are entitled to the thanks of their constituency for the able and faithful manner in which they discharged the duty entrusted to them, and that this convention heartily approves of their action in said body. 5. That in view of the fact that efforts are being made in some of the States to form so- called union electoral tickets, pledged to vote for this or that candidate for the Presidency, as circumstances may subsequently determine, the Democracy of Iowa totally disapprove of all attempts to compromise the integrity of the Democratic party organization, by putting Dem- ocratic candidates for electors upon the same ticket with candidates who are not pledged to vote, if elected, for Douglas and Johnson, and for no other persons whomsoever. 6. That we approve of a homestead law, giv- ing to every citizen of the United States a home for himself and family; and that this convention recommend to our Representatives in Congress to use their best efforts to procure the passage of a law for that purpose. 7. That we cordially invite all conservative national men to fall into the Democratic ranks and help to crush the hydra-headed monster, Congressional Intervention. *Pv jy« 164 HISTORY OF IOWA. 8. That the dominant party, called Rcpubli can, during the brief period it has been in power, inflicted upon the people of Iowa a con- stitution and laws, the result of which has been the constant perplexity of the people, the crea- tion of an enormous, unconstitutional debt, and the imposition of taxes too grievous to be borne, thereby exhausting and using up the hard earn- ings of the industrious and the prudent — all of which call loudly for reform at the hands of the people. 9. That it is high time there should be a change of men in power and policy in govern- ment; that the Legislature should pass more wholesome and stringent laws, by which men in official station occupying a .judicial capacity, either as directors and offiVers of banks or rail- road companies, shall be made personally liable for an improper use of the moneys of the people entrusted to their care and custody. 10. That the Democratic party of the State of Iowa is committed to and pledges itself to carry out, so soon as it obtains the administra- tion of the affairs of the State, the following measures of State policy: 1. A reduction of the enormous and unneces- sary expenses of the government, which have grown up under the administration, and through the corrupt partisan management of the so-called Republican party. 2. A reduction of the appropriations of money for extraordinary purposes. 3. A reduction of appropriations for chari- table institutions and purposes, to the neeessary requests of those classes of the unfortunate, for which it is the duty of the State to fully and liberally provide 4 To reduce the excessive taxation which now burdens the people and consumes the hard eartiugs of the industiious and frugal. 5. The construction of buildings for the use of our charitable institutions upon plans com- mensurate with the wants of those institutions and the ability of the State, without attempting to imitate the grandeur or magnificence of the public buildings erected for similar purposes in old and wealthy States or Governments. 6. The early revision of the State constitu- tion, so as to free it from those features which render it justly obnoxious to the people. 7. The amendment of our banking laws so as to throw reasonable restrictions upon the operations of the banks, and to secure the peo- ple against the frauds and swindling which, un- der existing laws, enacted by Republican legis- lators, in the interests of the banks, may be practiced by bank officers, of which the system has already furnished its fruits in two important cases. 8. That we are in favor of removing the stocks or other securities, pledged for the prompt redemption of the issues of the banks, from the the custody and control of the Stale Bank to the custody of the Treasurer of the State. 9. The increase of these securities to such an extent as will furnish ample protection to the people in using the issue of the banks, which is imperatively demanded, as the officers of the State Bank themselves admit that at the present time there is no real security for the redemption of the notes of the banks. 10. The entire separation of the finances of the State from the banks, and a repeal of all laws authorizing either State or county officers to deposit public money with the branches of the State Bank, save at their own risk. Resolved, further, That the Democratic party is opposed to any and all attempts to create an enormous State debt, in violation of the consti- tution, for the purpose of promoting the schemes of plunder, of railroads or other speculators. 2. That the system inaugurated by the Re- publican party of erecting unnecessary and use- less offices for the purpose of providing for the politically lame, halt or blind, and that we hold the revenues of the Government should be ap- plied strictly and economically to the legitimate wants of the Government. 3. That while we are in favor of fostering popular education, until the means of liberal education be placed within the reach of every child in the State; that while we are in favoi of providing liberally and justly for all the benev olent institutions of the State, and for all classes -4 S HISTORY OF IOWA. 165 of the unfortunate, which humanity demands shall be ; rotected and cared for, — we are op- posed to enormous appropriations of public money for uncalled-for purposes, or placing large sums of money in the hands of men, poli- ticians or unscrupulous persons, to be wasted in promoting private and political interests, instead of applying the same to the purpose for which the appropriations were made. « For Secretary of State the official vote was as follows : Elijah Sells, Rep 70,706—13,670 J. M. Corse, Dem 67,036 When the campaign of 1861 was inau- gurated the war for the Union was in progress. The Republicans met in con- vention, and placed in nomination Samuel J. Kirkwood for Governor; John R. Needham, for Lieutenant-Governor; Ralph P. Lowe, for Supreme Judge. The fol- lowing platform was adopted: 1. Renewing our declarations of unalterable devotion to the constitution and Union of the States, to the doctrine of the Declaration of In- dt. ipendence, and to the law of submission to the will of the majority, constitutionally expressed, we again commend each and all of these corner- stones of our government to the unchanging affection of the people of Iowa. 2. That this convention, in behalf of its own immediate constituency, of all patriotic citizens, acknowledges, with profound gratitude, the prompt dedication of life and fortune by our gallant volunteers, in response to the appeal made to a loyal people by a patriotic President, and in this action, creditable alike to the admin- istration and to the people, we witness a return of the noble spirit of the revolution. 3. That the new doctrine of secession is a wicked abomination, as abhorrent to patriotism, as it is alien to the constitution, demoralizing in its principle, and destructive in its action, a dis- guise to treason, and an apology for traitors, the ruin of commerce, and the dissolution of political society, the mother of all political crimes and the sum of all villainies, and as such we utterly re- ject and hold it in absolute detestation. 4. That government always means coercion when its lawful authority is resisted, and those who oppose " coercion," necessarily oppose gov- ernment itself, and deny to it the o: ly power by which it can be maintained. Anti-coere'on, therefore, is only another of their disguises of treason, by which they hope so to weaken the government at present as to overthrow it in ihe future, and we brand it as hypocrisy and repu- diate it. 5. Having, by our first war of 1776, won our independence and established our glorious con- stitution and Union, and having, by our second war of 1812, maintained our national integiity against the most formidable of foreign foes, it now remains for us to establish that integiity for all years to come against internal foes, and in this third and last great trial of our country's history, in its struggle to maintain that system of government which has been the admiration of the world, whoever hesitates or falters should receive the execration of mankind, as he surely will the reproaches of posterity. 6. The value of the constitution and the Union cannot be measured by dollars and cents, nor by the span of a human life, and there should be no limit to appropriations of men and money for their preservation, except the amount requi- site for certain success. We therefore cordially approve both the action of the President in call- ing for men and money, and the action of Con- gress in placing at his disposal more of both than he demanded, thus giviug assurance to the world of the unalterable determination of this government to perpetuate its existence as estab- lished by our fathers, to crush out the foulest rebellion known to history, and liberate the loyal people of the rebellious States from the odious despotism and terrorism which have wrenched from them the bk-ssings of peace and prosperity in the Union of the States, and we demand the prosecution of the war until the insults to our national llag and authority are avenged by the restoration everywhere of law and order, aDd the supremacy acknowledged on its own terms. 166 HISTORY OF IOWA. 7. In the State affairs we demand all the economy consistent with the public safety, and all the liberality required for the comfort and efficiency of our volunteers, and for the protec- tion of the State against invasion. To that end we approve the action of the General Assembly, at its special session, in making appropriations for war purposes. 8. We heartily invite co-operation with us of men of all parties, whatever their former politi- cal ties, who adhere to these sentiments, and who unite in the patriotic support of the present loyal administration of the government. The Democrats nominated William H. Merritt for Governor; Maturia L Fisher, for Lieut.-Governor; James L. Elwood, for Supreme Judge. Their platform was as follows: The people of the State of Iowa who regard the constitution of the United States in its judi- cial relation to the States and people as inter- preted by the Supreme Court, and its political principles as enunciated from time to time by the Democratic party, and as applied by several successive administrations in carrying on the government of the United States, beiusc assem- bled by their delegates in convention, in the Capitol at DesMoines, on the 24th day of July, 1861, do make and proclaim to their fellow citi- zens of the sister States of the Union, the follow- ing declaration: Whereas, In the vicissitudes which are inci- dent t all governments, to human safety, and to civiliza ion, the government and the people of the United States have become involved in a civil war, which threatens alike to be disastrous to the form of government which experience has proved to be the most conducive to the happi- ness of mankind, and to result in imposing upon the present and future generations onerous burdens, which it should be the duty of a gov- ernment having any regard for the well being of the people to avoid, it becomes the incumbent dutv upon the people for whose benefit alone government is instituted, and who, having the right to either alter or abolish it when it ceases to be administered for their happiness and pros- perity, have also the right to determine and direct how it shall be administered when they ficd it departing from the principles upon which it was founded, and to be precipitating into waste and ruin the fabric of civil society, instead of preserving the people in peace, promoting their prosperity, and securing their rights. Viewing, therefore, dispassionately, the present condition of our distracted country, and with the single purpose of making an effort to avert impending and other threatened calamities, and of restoring peace, founded upon that fraternal patriotism which gave birth to the American Union, and which preserved its integrity till the election of a President upon a principle which was hostile to the constitution of the United States and antagonistic to the vested right of the people of nearly half the States of the Union, do declare — 1. That we regard the present condition of the country, the civil war in which the people are engaged, the effort to dismember the Union and all the concomitant evils which afflict us as a nation, as the legitimate result of the success- ful teaching of the doctrine and policy of the ''irrepressible conflict;" a doctrine and a policy which arrayed northern sentiment in antagonism to the constitutional rights of the people of the slave States, and which proclaim an "irrepres- sible" and unceasing hostility to the domestic institutions of our brethren of the South. 2. That, notwithstanding the provocation given to the people of the South by the mani- festation of hostility toward their institutions, by a majority of the people of the Norih, we unequivocally condemn the course they have pursued to obtain a redress of their grievances, believing, as we do, that, aided by the conserva- tive people of the Northern States, their griev- ances would have been redressed, and their rights and interests respected and secured in a constitutional manner and by constitutional means. 3. That we are heartily opposed to the doc- trine of secession, a political heresy, unwar- ranted by the constitution, detrimental to the a *^_ HISTORY OF IOWA. 167 best interests of the whole country, and destruc- tive of the Union and that glorious heritage of liberty bequeathed to us by our fathers. 4. That our obligations to the government, the duty we owe to posterity and the advance- ment of political freedom throughout the world, alike, command of us the preservation and per- petuity of our federal Union, and we hereby pledge the whole power of the Democratic party to every just and constitutional means to main- tain the same, whether its destruction be at- tempted bv the insidious teachings of the higher law doctrine of the Abolition Republican party, or by the open attacks of men in armed rebellion against it. 5. That, as we were taught and admonished by the experience of every free people whose political existence was extinguished by the assumption of arbitrary power and the violation of fundamental principles, to resist the encroach- ment of executive prerogatives, we therefore emphatically and unequivocally condemn the assumption of unauthorized power by the Ex- ecutive of the United States, or by any other officers of the government. 6. That our Union was formed in peace, and can never be perpetuated by force of arms, and that a republican government held together by the sword becomes a military despotism. 7. That the Democratic party are in favor of a convention of the different States of the entire Union, as soon as the same can be properly hud, for such legislation as may secure equal and full rights to all sections of this Union, and a full representation of all the States, and a removal of the agitation of the question of slavery from the halls of Congress and the States of the Union. 8. That we repudiate the modern heresy that the States of this confederacy never had an independent existence distinct from the federal government, and are indebted for their present position in the Union to that government, as a gross insult to the common sense of the country, and a shameless falsification of historical facts, unworthy of the source from whence it emin- ated, and unless promptly met with a stern re- buke on the part of the people, fraught with consequences fatal to the liberties of the country. 9. That we are irreconcilably opposed to all paper money banking, as being a system of legalized swindliug, to be indulged in only by the designing capitalist, and are oppos d to every species of paper, except commercial pa- rser, for the transaction of business and trade, and in favor of a speedy return to a specie cur- rency; and, if for a time we must submit to the banking system, we recommend that the bank law be so amended as to make each stockholder individually liable (to t\e fill extent of his property not exempt from execution) for the debts of the bank, and to subject their corpora- tions to such restraints as to make them amen- able to law. 10. That we are opposed to a tariff of duties upon imports, for the purpose of protection, as creating monopolies, and that, in the present crisis of affairs, when the laborer is poorly paid and the products of agriculture are almost worthless, it is the interest of the people that the present burdens imposed upon these articles which enter into the consumption of the poorer classes of our citizens be at once removed. The official vote for Governor was as follows: S. J. Kirkwook, Rep 69,853-16,608 William H. Merritt, Dem 43,245 The Democratic convention was held at the Capitol in 1862, and the following ticket nominated: Secretary of State, Richard H. Sylvester; Auditor, John Browne; Treasurer, Samuel H. Lorah; Attorney-General, Benton J. Hall; Regis- ter of Land Office, Fred. Gottschalk. The following is the platform adopted: 1. That the constitution and the Union and the laws must be preserved and maintained in all their rightful supremacy, and that rebellion against them must be suppressed and put down; and that we are in favor of the employment of all constitutional means for that purpose, not merely by force of arms, but by such other r y • a «^_ 168 HISTORY OF IOWA. measures as common sense, reason and patriot- ism will readily suggest to the governing powers. 2. That the true interests of the country, as well as the dictates of humanity, require no more war or acts of war should be prosecuted or done than are necessary and proper for the prompt and complete suppression of the rebel- lion. 3. That the present war, as avowed by the President and Congress, and understood by the people, was commenced and prosecuted for the purpose of suppressing the rebellion, and pre- serving and vindicating the constitution of the Union and the laws, and for that purpose only. 4. That the doctrines of the secessionists and of the abolitionists, as the latter are now repre- sented in Congress, are alike false to the consti- tution and irreconcilable with the unity and peace of the country, the first have already involved us in a cruel civil war, and the others (the abolitionists) will leave the country but little hope of the speedy restoration of Union or peace, unless the schemes of confiscation, eman- cipation, and other unconstitutional measures, which have been lately carried and attempted to be carried through Congress, be revoked by the people. 5. That the doctrine of State necessity is unknown to our government or laws, but the constitution and the laws are sufficient for any emergency, and that the suppression of the free- dom of speech and the press, and the unlawful arrest of citizens, and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, in violation of the constitution in States where the civil authorities are unim- peded, is most dangerous to civil liberty, and should be resisted at the ballot-box by every freeman of the land. 6. That this is a government of white men, and was established exclusively for the white race; that the negroes are not entitled to and ought not to be admitted to political or social equality with the white race, but that it is our duty to treat them with kindness and considera- tion, as an inferior and dependent race; that the right of the several States to determine the position and duties of the race is a sovereign right, and the pledges of the constitution require us, as loyal citizens, not to interfere therewith. That the party fanaticism or the crime, which- ever it may be called, that seeks to turn the slaves of the Southern States loose to overrun the North, and into competition with the white laboring classes, thus degrading their manhood by placing them on an equality with negroes in their occupation, is insulting to our race and meets our emphatic and unqualified condemna- tion. 7. That the purchase of the slaves by the government, as proposed by the President, will impose an enormous and unendurable burden upon the present generation, and entail upon posterity grievous exactions. 8. That Congress, in the enactment of the late tariff and tax bills, and the President by his avowal, have imposed unfair and unjust enact- ments upon the people at large, by discriminat- ing in these acts in favor of the comparatively wealthy, and against those who are least able to bear the burdens of taxation. 9. That we recur with patriotic pride to the bravery and valor of the officers and soldiers of all the Iowa regiments exhibited in the struggle upon the many bloody fields in which they have been engaged; and that this convention, in be- half of the Democracy of this State, tenders to them a united testimony to their valor, and devotion to the constitution and the Union, and offer to the friends and families of those who have fallen upon the field, its sincere sympathy and condolence. 10. That viewing the glories of the past and contemplating the realities of the present, we believe there is no hope in the future for the perpetuity of our government, but by preserving the constitution inviolate and in respecting it by both government and people as a sacred deposit of individual and State rights; in an economical and systematic administration of the govern- ment by which corruption will be prevented, extravagance restrained, expenditures reduced, and heavy taxation rendered unnecessary; in cultivating among the people that spirit of American fraternity which once knew no North, e >Pv* HISTORY OF IOWA. 169 no South, do East, no West, except as parts of one unbroken Union; in submitting questions which might arise hereafter, effecting the legal rights of States to the judicial tribunals and not to the executive or legislative branch of the government. And firmly believing in the efficiency of the principles herein enunciated, we implore the blessing of God upon our efforts to have them applied to the administration of the government, and we appeal to our fellow citizens who love the constitution and Union as it was before its harmony was disturbed by abolition fanaticism, and its bonds broken by rebellion. The Republicans met at DesMoines and nominated as follows: Secretary of State, James Wright; Auditor of State, Jona- than W. Cattell; Treasurer of State, Wm. H. Holmes; Attorney-General, Charles C. Nourse; Register of the State Land Office, Josiah A. Harvey. The platform adopted lead as follows: We, the delegates of the Republican party of Iowa, assembled to declare anew our political belief, and to select candidates for important official positions, present to the people the fol- lowing as our articles of faith: 1 . That the constitution of the United States is the fundamental law of the land; that it was adopted by our fathers to establish justice and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity; that in accordance with the forms prescribed by that instrument, and by the laws of Congress, Abraham Lincoln was elected by the voluntary suffrages of the people as the Chief Magistrate of the United States for the term of four years; that before he had taken the oath of office or exercised any of the powers with which he had been clothed, certain States of the Union passed ordinances of secession, assuming thereby to be no longer a part of, nor subject to the laws of, the United States; that soon afterward they organized a separate con- federation, proclaimed their independence of and hostility to the federal government, and from that time to the present have waged cause- less, merciless and barbarious warfare against the republic, to which they owe perpetual grati- tude and allegiance. 2. That for the maintenance of the govern- ment, in this the hour of its peril, it is the duty of every citizen to devote time, labor, property, life; that we, as the representatives of an organ- ized association of citizens, publicly pledge all our energies and substance, should they be needed, for the governmental defense. 3. That we have undiminished confidence in the President of the United States, that he is faithful to his pledges, is honest and determined in his purposes to crush the rebellion and main- tain the union of the States, and that we earn- estly endorse the action of our Representatives in Congress in aiding to pass laws for the aboli- tion of slavery in the District of Columbia; for the perpetuation of freedom in all the Territo- ries of the republic; for the confiscation of the property of rebels, and clothing the President with authority to use the slaves of traitors for all military purposes. 4. That we abhor all sympathizers with seces- sion, who, to cover their treasonable sentiments, raise the cry of abolitionism; but that, on the contrary, we will honor any loyal citizen, what- ever may have been his former political associa- tions, who will sustain, with all his power, the struggle of Democratic Republicanism against traitorous aristocracy, North or South. 5. That, extending a hearty welcome to those who are present with us in this convention who have left the so-called Democratic party, we in- vite all loyal citizens, regardless of former political associations, and who are in favor of giving the national administration their honest support, to co-operate with us, and we commend to all of such the patriotic words of the lamented Douglas, who said: "There is only two sides to this question. Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrality in this war — only patriots or traitors." 6. That we reiterate the demand for an eco- nomical administration of our national and State government, and for a punishment of fraudu- lent contractors and plunderers of the public treasury. re! '- a C 170 HISTORY OF IOWA. 7. That the valor of our soldiers and sailors, and especially those of our own State, on every battlefield to which they have been called, has earned for them a lasting gratitude, and com- mended themselves and their families to our practical sympathy and aid. 8. That the State of Iowa will promptly fur- nish her quota of troops called for by the recent proclamation of the President, and any addi- tional number which the public service may require. 9. That the voluntary enlistment of our adopted citizens in the army and navy, and their tried valor on our battle-fields, have demon- strated the warmth of their patriotism and an appreciation of liberty and good government which have earned for them the proud name of American citizens and soldiers. 10. That as citizens of a loyal State, whose patriotism, ' oth at home and upon foreign battle-fields, has spoken for itself, we earnestly appeal to the incumbents of the legislative and executive departments of the government, to use every legitimate means in their possession to crush the rebellion, and if, as a last measure for the preservation of the republic, it shall become necessary to blot out the institution of slavery from the soil of every State, we will say Amen, letting the consequences fall upon the wicked authurs of the war, and leaving the final issue with God. The official vote on Secretary of State was as follows: James Wright, Rep 66,014—15,205 Richard H Sylvester, Dem 50,809 In 1863 the Democrats met in conven- tion at DesMoines, and nominated Malurin L. Fisher for Governor. Mr. Fisher sub- sequently declining, Gen. James M. Tuttle was substituted; John F. Lumcombe was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor, and Charles Mason for Supreme Judge. The following was the platform adopted: In view of the circumstances that have brought us together, we hereby resolve: 1. That the will of the people is the founda- tion of all free government. That to give effect to this will, free thought, free speech and free press are absolutely indispensable. Without free discussion there is no certainty of sound judgment; without sound judgment there can be no wise government. 2. That it is an inherent and constitutional right of the people to discuss all measures of their government, and to approve or disapprove as to their best judgment seems right. That they have a like right to propose and advocate that policy which, in their judgment, is best, and to argue and vote against whatever policy seems to them to violate the constitution, to imperil their literties, or to be detrimental to their welfare. 3. That these and all other rights guaranteed to them by the constitution are their rights in war as well as in times of peace, and of far more value and necessity in war than in peace: for in peace, liberty, security and property are seldom endangered; in war they are ever in peril. 4. That we now say to all whom it may con- cern, not by way of threat, but calmly and firmly, that we will not surrender these rights, nor submit to their forcible violation. Wc will obey laws ourselves, and all others must obey them 5. That there is a manifest difference between the administration of the government and the government itself. The government consists of the civic and political institutions created by the constitution, and to the people owe allegi- ance. That administrations are but agents of the people, subject to their approval or con- demnation, according to the merit or demerit of their acts. 6. That we are opposed to the war for the purpose of carrying out the emancipation procla- mation of the President of the United States; and if the Federal administration expect a united North to attend its efforts to suppress a rebellion, it must not only come back to its object of the war, as set forth in the Crittenden resolution adopted by the House of Representa- tives in July, 1861, but it must, in its dealings *C <5~ HISTORY OF IOWA. 1 V l with the people of the States, infringe upon no one single right guaranteed to the people by either the federal or State constitutions. 7. That we declare our determined opposition to a system of emancipation by the State upon compensation to be made out of the treasury of the United States, as burdensome upon the people, unjust in its very n iture, and wholly without warrant of the constitution. 8. That we declare that the power which has recently been assumed by the President, where- in, under the guise of military necessity, he has proclaimed and extended, or asserts the right to proclaim or extend, martial law over States where war does not exist, and has suspended the writ of habeas corpus, is unwarranted by the constitution, and its tendency is to subordinate the civil to the military authority, and subvert our free government. 9. Tha: we deem it proper further to declare, that we, together with the loyal people of the State, would hail with delight any manifestation of a desire on the part of the seceded States to return to their allegiance to the government of the Union; and, in such event, we would cor- dially and earnestly co-operate with them in the restoration of peace and the procurement of su :h proper guarantees as would give security to all their interests and rights. 10. That the soldiers composing our armies merit the warmest thanks of the nation. The country called, and nobly did they respond. Living, they shall know a nation's gratitude; wounded, a nation's care; and, dying, they shall live in our memory, and monuments shall be raised to teach posterity to honor the patriots and heroes who offered their lives at their country's altar. The widows and orphans shall be adopted by the nation, to be watched over and cared for as objects fully worthy of the nation's guardianship. 11. That we will adhere to the constitution and the Union as the best, it may be the last, hope of popular freedom, and for all wrongs which may exist, will seek redress under the constitution and within the Union by the peace- ful but powerful agency of the suffrages of a free people. 12. That we hail with pleasure and hope, manifestations of conservative sentiment among the people of the Northern States in their elec- tions, and regard the same as the earnest of a good purpose upon their part to co-operate with all citizens in giving security to the rights of every section, and maintaining the Union and constitution as they were ordained by the foun- ders of the republic. 13. That we will earnestly support every constitutional measure tending to preserve the union of the States. No men have a greater interest in its preservation than we have. None desire it more; none who will make greater sacrifices or endure more than we will to accom- plish that end. We are, as we have ever been, the devoted friends of the constitution and the Union, and have no sympathy with the enemies of either. 14. That the establishment of military gov- ernment over loyal States where war does not exist, to supersede the civil authorities and sup- press the freedom of speech and of the press, and to interfere with the elective franchise, is not only subversive of the constitution and the sovereignty of the States, but the actual inaugu- ration of revolution. 15. That we denounce as libelers of the Democratic party and enemies of the country, the men who are engaged in representing the Democracy as wanting in sympathy with our gallant defenders. 16. That we earnestly denounce the authors of those heresies, secessionism and abolitionism, which have culminated in an armed rebellion, desolated our country and brought sorrow to the heart of every person in this broad land. The Republicans met at DesMoines, June 1 7th, and adopted the following platform : We, a convention of representatives of the loyal people of the State of Iowa, assembled under the call of the Republican organization of the State, as an expiession of the views which shall govern our political action, do declare: 1. That when our fathers formed our consti- tution, and founded thereon a republican form r Y A* 5 - 172 HISTOEY OF IOWA. of government, they intended to and did grant to that government full power to sustain its natural existence. 2. That whenever the life of the Republic is endangered, either by invasion or rebellion, the constitution justifies the use of all necessary means known to civilized warfare in resisting invasion or suppressing rebellion. 3. That we fully and heartily endorse the policy of the administration, and we will to the utmost continue to sustain the government in suppressing the rebellion, and to effect that object we pledge our fortunes and our lives. 4. That the gratitude of a free people is due to our soldiers in the field, both native and foreign born, for that heroic valor by which they have honored us and sustained the flag of our country, and we "guarantee to them con- tinued encouragement and support. 5. That we have witnessed with pride and admiration the bravery and heroism of Iowa soldiers, and we recognize in their brilliant ca- reer a history for the State of Iowa, second to that of no other State in the Union. 6. That we approve of the action of the Gen- eral Assembly of the State, in enacting a law giving to our brave soldiers in the field an opportunity to vote at our elections, and we earnestly hope that no technicality may deprive them of their right. 7. That this convention hereby tenders to Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood the cordial thanks of the loyal people of Iowa for the able, fearless, and patriotic discharge of his duties, during the two terms he held the office of Governor of the State. 8. Finally, we declare that the preservation of the constitution and the Union is above and beyond all other interests, and that all questions of party, of life, and of properly, must be sub- ordinate thereto. At that convention the following ticket was nominated: Governor, William M. Stone; Lieutenant-Governor, Enoch W. Eastman; Judge of the Supreme Court, John F. Dillon. The official vote on Governor was as follows : W. M. Stone, Rep., 86,123—88, 174 J. M. Tuttle, Dem 47,948 The year 1864 brought with it another Presidential campaign. The Republicans placed in the field for re-election Abraham Lincoln, while the Democrats nominated General George B. McClellan. In Iowa the Democrats met in convention at Des Moines, June 16th, and placed in nomina- tion the following named, without adopt- ing resolutions: Secretary of State, John H. Wallace; Attorney-General, Charles A. Dunbar; Treasurer, J. B. Lash; Auditor, H. B. Hendershott; Register State Land Office, B. D. Holbrook; Supreme Jadge, Thomas M. Monroe. The Republicans held their convention July 7th, at DesMoines, when they nomi- nated the following ticket: Supreme Judge, C. C. Cole; Secretary of State, James Wright; Auditor of State, John A. Elliott; Treasurer, Wm. H. Holmes; Attorney- General, Isaac L. Allen; Register Land Office, J. A. Harvey. The platform adopted was as follows: Resolved, That we hereby ratify the nomina- tion of Abraham Lincoln for President, and Andrew Johnson for Vice - President of the United States, for the next term, and we pledge for them the electoral vote of Iowa, 2. That we cordially approve and adopt the platform of resolutions presented by the National Union Convention at its recent session in Balti- more, and that we most heartily endorse the action of Congress in repealing all laws for the return of fugitive slaves and abolishing the inter-State coastwise slave trade. 3. That the brave sons of Iowa who have gone forth to defend the cause of liberty and Union on the battle-fields of the South, and "FT fe^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 173 whose heroic achievements have shed imperish- able glory on our State and nation, we offer our highest praises and our most fervent gratitude, and that our State government should continue to make liberal provisions for the protection and support of their families. 4. That to the women of Iowa, whose patriotic labors have contributed so much moral and material aid and comfort to our sick and wounded soldiers, we tender our heartfelt thanks. A Peace Convention was held at Iowa City, August 24th, when the following res- olutions were adopted : Whereas, We believe that there is indispu- table evidence existing that the Union may be restored on the basis of the federal constitution; and, Whereas, We further believe that a vigorous prosecution of this abolition war means the speedy bringing about of a division of the Re- public; and being ourselves in favor of a restored Union, and against the acknowledgment of a Southern Confederacy, therefore, be it Resolved, That the war uow being prosecuted by the Lincoln administration is unconstitutional and oppressive, and is the prolific source of a multitude of usurpations, tyrannies and corrup- tions, to which no people can long submit, with- out becoming permanently enslaved. a. That we are opposed to the further prose- cution of the war, believing that the Union can be preserved in its integrity by the President agreeing to an armistice, and by calling a national convention of sovereign States, to con- sider the terms upon which all the people may again live together in peace and harmony. 3. That believing war to be disunion, and desiring to stop the further flow of precious blood for a purpose so wicked as disunion, we respectfully urge the President to postpone the draft loroOO.OOO men "to be driven like bullocks to the slaughter," until the result of an armistice and national convention of States is known. 4. That in the coming election we will have a free ballot or a free figlu 5. That should Abraham Lincoln owe his re- election to the electoral votes of the seceded States, under the application of the President's "one-tenth" system and military dictation, and should he attempt to execute the duties of the President by virtue of such an election, it will become the solemn mission of the people to depose the usurper, or else be worthy the slavish degradation, which submission under such cir- cumstances, would seem to be their just desert. 6. That if the nominee of the Chicago con- vention is fairly elected, he must be inaugurated, let it cost what it may. 7. That, in respect to the general relations which do and ought to exist between the federal and State governments, we approve and will ad- here to the principles in the Virginia and Ken- tucky resolutions of '98— to the interpretations thereof by Jefferson, Madison and Jackson — and to the resolutions passed by every Democratic' convention held in this country — to all of which special reference is here made, in utter condem- nation of the war, and of it3 incidents. 8. That in respect to the new and disturbing elemeut of our times — negro equality — we shall maintain that the status of the inhabitants (black, white and mixed) of the States, wiihin their respective States (now souaht to be con- trolled by federal bayonets), is, and ought to be, an exclusively State regulation; that the African negro is not our equal in a political or social sense; and that every usurping attempt, by fed- eral force, so to declare him, will meet with our determined resistance. 9. That the foregoing preamble and resolu- tions be tubmitted to our delegation to the Chi- cago convention, for their consideration. The official vote at the November elec- tion, on Secretary of State, was as follows: James Wright, Rep 90,033-40,090 John H. Wallace, Dem 49,943 The Republicans were the firstto meet in convention in 1865. They met at Des Moines June 14th, and selected the follow- ing ticket : Governor, Wm. M. Stone; Lieutenant-Governor, Benjamin F. Gue; r y >kv 174 HISTORY OF IOWA. Supt. of Public Instruction, Oran Fay ville; Supreme Judge, Geo. G. Wright. The platform adopted was as follows : Resolved, That the perpetuation of the federal Union, with all guarantees of Republican liberty which its founders contemplated, is the most sacred political duty of American citizenship. 3. That, during the four years of war, inau- gurated by pro-slavery traitors, the great truth has been demonstrated, in devastation and death, that the nation cannot exist half 6lave and half free, and believing that political and religious freedom is the natural right of man- kind everywhere, we do most fervently pray, and shall most earnestly labor, for the ratifica- tion of that amendment to the fundamental law which provides for the abolition of slavery throughout all the States and Territories of the federal Union. 3. That, to the end that the consequences of treason may be made so appalling that never again shall it be inaugurated upon the United States soil, we recommend the permanent dis- franchisement of leaders of the rebellion, civil and military; and that the late President of the so-called Confederate States of America, as the deepest embodiment of criminal barbarity, be brought to the speediest trial and swiftest execu- tion, regardless of the habiliments, under the immunities of which be sought, in the day of his calamity, to take refuge. 4. That, with proper safeguards to the purity of the ballot-box, the elective franchise should be based upon loyalty to the constitution of the Union, recognizing and affirming equality of all men before the law. "Therefore, we are in favor of amending the constitution of our State by striking out the word 'white' in the article of refuge." 5. That we extend to Andrew Johnson, in his assumption of Presidential responsibilities, our confidence and support, pledging for the patri- otic masses of Iowa a continuance of the same devotion to The federal flag which was promptly extended to his predecessors. 6. That now the war is practically ended, and our brave citizen soldiery of Iowa may return to their homes and avocations of peace, we extend to them the grateful thanks of the people, and a welcome, such as only the patriotic and the brave are entitled to receive. 7. That every man who voluntarily left his home in this State, before or during the rebellion, with a view to serve the cause of treason in the rebel army or navy, and also every man who left his State to avoid military service, due from him to the government, should be forever debarred by constitutional provision, from holding public office, and from the exercise of the rights of suf- frage in this State. 8. That we approve the actions of our State executive in his hearty support of the general government, and we tender the thanks of this convention for the faithful administration oi his office. 9. That we humbly return thanks to Almighty God for the deliverance of our State and nation from the further perils of war, and that we de- voutly recognize His hand in the great work which has been wrought in the last four years, for our people and for humanity. The next convention held this year was a "Soldiers' Convention," or, as the body termed itself, "The Union Anti-Negro Suf- frage Party," which convened at the Cap- itol August 23d, and adopted a platform and selected candidates for the various offices to be filled, as follows : Governor, Gen. Thos. H. Benton; Lieut.-Governor, Col. S. G. VanAuda; Supreme Judge, II. H. Trimble; Supt of Public Instruction, Capt J. W. Senate. The platform read as follows : We, the delegated representatives of the sol- diers and loyal citizens of Iowa, feeling pro- foundly grateful for the restoration of peace after four years of bloody war, have met to- gether, as free American citizens, to adopt such measures as in our judgment will most certainly tend to perpetuate our glorious union of States, and with the blessings of free institutions and HISTORY OF IOWA. 175 the peace so happily restored, hereby adopt the following platform of principles, viz: 1. We are in favor of the Monroe doctrine. 2. We sustain the administration of Presi- dent Johnson, and especially endorse his recon- struction policy, and we pledge him our earnest and unqualified support. 3. We are opposed to negro suffrage or to the striking of the word "white" out of the article on suffrage in our State constitution, and will support no candidate for office, either State or national, who is in favor of negro suffrage or of the equality of the white and black races. 4. We are in favor of the amendment of the constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery and the ratification of the same by our next Legislature. 5. That, inasmuch as we do not sufficiently know the sentiment of the people of the State in regard to the prohibitory liquor law, we deem it expedient to refer this matter to the different county conventions to take such action in the matter as by them is deemed proper, and to instruct their Senators and Representatives accordingly. 6. We are in favor of the brave soldiers and marines who have faithfully served their coun- try in the army and navy of the United States, and especially of the crippled or disabled sol- diers, having the preference for all offices of profit, honor or trust, either by appointment or otherwise, where they are equally competent and qualified to discharge the duties of the office or the trust reposed. 7. That we cherish with grateful remem- brance the memory of our dead soldiers, and ever will be ready and willing to lend ouraid, sympathy and protection to the crippled and disabled soldiers, and the widows and orphans of the war. The Democrats also held a convention, made no nominations, but adopted the fol- lowing platform: 1. That we heartily rejoice in the suppres- sion of the great rebellion and the preservation of the Union, and give unfeigned thanks to Almighty God for the restoration of peace. 2. In order that this peace may be permanent and its effects speedily and widely felt, we be- lieve it is the duty of every patriot to sustain cordially the present policy of President John- son in reconstructing the States recently in rebellion. 8. That the establishment of a monarchy on the soil of this continent is in direct defiance of the Monroe doctrine — a doctrine accepted aud recognized by all true Americans; and it is the duty of the Government of the United States to see that the people of Mexico are freed from the oppression of foreign bayonets, and the republic restored. 4. That we favor rigid economy in the national and State expenditures, and will insist on the reduction of the numberless horde of useless office-holders who feed like locusts on the hard earnings of the people. 5. That we earnestly condemn the trial of American citizens for civil offenses by courts- martial and military courts, in States and dis- tricts where civil law is unimpeded in its opera- tions and in full force. 6. That we are radically opposed to negro equality in all its phases, and accept the issue tendered by the late Republican convention of the 14th of June in making that doctrine the chief plank in its platform by proposing to strike the word "white" out of the article on suffrage in the constitution of Iowa. 7. That the attacks on General Sherman, originating in the War Department at Washing- ton, and servilely copied and endorsed by many of the leading Republican papers of the State, are the offspring of envy and fanatacism, and will recoil with crushing force on the heads of his calumniators. 8. That we feel a just pride in the progress of our army aud navy, and especially of the soldiers of Iowa, who, under Grant and Sher- man, have made a lasting and glorious record of their patient endurance of suffering, their ad- mirable discipline and indomitable valor. 9. That we hail with joy the return of these brave men from the battlefield, and extend to them our grateful thanks for their services and *j? a 176 HISTORY OF IOWA. a hearty welcome to their homes, and believe that it is the duty, as it will be the pleasure, of their fellow-citizens to see that a due proportion of the civil honors and offices of the State shall be distributed among them, and the fostering care of the public extended to the widows and orphans of those who died in the service of their country. 10. That the assassinatian of President Lin- coln was an act of unmitigated barbarism, and one that should be held in utter abhorance by every good citizen. The official vote for Governor is as fol- lows: "William M. Stone, Rep 70,445—16,375 Thos. H. Benton, Anti-Negro Suf.54,070 Questions growing out of reconstruction of Southern States afforded the issues for I860. The first convention in this State was held by the Republicans at the Capi- tol, June 20, where the following ticket was nominated: Secretary of State, Col. Ed. Wright; Treasurer, Maj. S. E. Rankin; Auditor, J. A. Elliott; Register of State Land Office, Col. C. C. Carpenter; Attor- ney-General, F. E. Russell; Reporter of Supreme Court, E. H. Stiles; Clerk of Supreme Court, Lieut. C. Linderman. A platform was adopted, which reads as follows: Resolved, That the first and highest duty of our free government is to secure to all its citi- zens, regardless of race, religion or color, equality before the law, equal protection from it, equal responsibility to it, and to all that have proved their loyalty by their acts, an equal voice in making it. 2. That the reconstruction of the States lately in the rebellion belongs, through their representatives in Congress, to the people who have subdued the rebellion and preserved the nation, and not to the executive alone. 3. That we heartily approve of the joint resolution lately passed by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, pro- posing to the Legislature of the several States an additional article by way of amendment to the federal constitution, and we pledge the rati fication of that amendment by the Legislature of Iowa. 4. That in the firm and manly adherence of the Union party in Congress to the above prin- ciples, we recognize new guarantys to the safety of the nation, and we pledge to Congress our continued and earnest support. 5. That we are in favor of the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine, and that we extend to all people struggling to preserve nationality or to achieve liberty, our warmest support 6. That we are in favor of the equalization of the bounties of soldiers who faithfully served their country in the war for the suppression of the rebellion. 7. That we are in favor of the nomination and election to office of such persons as are known to possess honesty and capacity, and we unqualifiedly condemn dishonesty and careless- ness in every department of the public service. A conservative convention was called, which convened at DesMoines June 27, and nominated the following ticket: Sec- retary of State, Col. S. G. Van Anda; Treasurer, Gen. Poe A. Slone; Auditor of State, Capt. R. W. Cross; Attorney-Gen- eral, Capt. Webster Balinger; Supreme Court Reporter, Capt. J. W. Senate; Clerk, Lewis Kinney. The following platform was adopted: 1. We hold that the constitution of the United States is the paladium of our liberties, and that any departure from its requirements by the legislative, executive or judicial departments of the government is subversive of the funda- mental principles of our republican institutions. 2. Repudiating the radical doctrine of State rights and secession on the one hand, and the centralization and consolidation of federal authority on the other, as equally dangerous; and believing that no State can secede, and the B t^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 177 war having been prosecuted on our part, as ex- pressly declared by Congress itself, to defend and maintain the supremacy of the constitution, and to preserve the Union inviolate, with all the dignity, equality and rights of the States unim- paired, the federal arms having been victorious, we hold that all the States are still in the Union, and entitled to equal rights under the constitu- tion, and that Congress has no power to exclude a State from the Union, to govern it as a terri- tory, or to deprive it of representation in the councils of the nation, when its representatives have been elected and qualified in accordance with the constitution and laws of tl.e land. 3. While we fully concede to the federal government the power to enforce obedience to the constitution and laws enacted in conformity with it, and to punish those who resent its legiti- mate authority in the several States, we believe in the maintenance, inviolable, of the rights of the States, and especially of the right of each State to order and control its own domestic insti- tutions according to its own judgment, exclu- sively, as essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political institutions depend. 4. We hold that each State has the right to prescribe the qualifications of its electors, and we are opposed to any alteration ef the State constitutions on the subject of suffrage. 5. We consider the national debt a sacred obligation, and the honor and reservation of the government as irrevocably pledged for its liqui- dation; no obligation, incurred in any manner whatever in aid of the rebellion, should ever be assumed or paid. 6. The nation owes a lasting debt of gratitude to our soldiers and sailors of the late war for the suppression of the rebellion; and in the bestowal of public patronage by election or appointment, preference should be given to those competent to perform duties required, and as a positive reward for their services, the government should give to each of those who have fallen in the ser- vice, or have been honorably discharged, or their legal representatives, one hundred and sixty acres of land; and justice to those who entered the service in the early port of the war demands that immediate provision should be made for the equalization of bounties. 7. We cordially endorse the restoration policy of President Johnson as wise, patriotic, consti- tutional, and in harmony wiih the loyal senti- ment and purpose of the people in the suppres- sion of the rebellion, with the platform upon which he was elected, with the declared policy of the late President Lincoln, the action of Congress, and the pledges given during the war. 8. We regard the action of Congress, in refus- ing to admit loyal representatives from the States recently in rebellion, as unwarranted by the constitution, and calculated to embarrass and complicate, rather than adjust, our national trouble. 9. The ratification by the legislatures of ihe several States of the amendment, to the consti- tution of the United States, for the abolition of slavery, settles that question virtually, and meets our hearty approval. 10. We are opposed to any further amend- ments to the constitution of the United States until all the States are represented in Congress, and have a vote in making the same. 11. We are in favor of a strict adherence to the Monroe doctrine, and extend to all people struggling to preserve nationality and liberty our warmest sympathy. 12. All officers entrusted with the manage- ment of funds should be held to a strict account- ability for the faithful application of the same, and in case of the defalcation or misuse of such funds, they should not be permitted to evade responsibility by implicating irresponsible agents selected by themselves. Any party that counte- nances such evasion becomes accessory to the crime. The Democratic convention assembled July 11th at DesMoines. No Democratic candidates were selected, save for two offices, the committee on nominations recommending that the convention nomi- nate candidates for Clerk and Reporter of f . * « y 173 HISTOEY OF IOWA. the Supreme Court, and "that we recom- mend and will co-operate with the conser- vative element of the Republican party in their efforts to restore the Union and de- feat radical disunion ism, and for that purpose hereby agree to support their candidates." The convention named Capt. Albert Stoddard for Clerk of the Supreme Court, and Capt. Fred. Gottschalk for Reporter. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That the Democracy of Iowa will adhere in the present and the future, as in the past, with unfaltering fidelity and firmness to the organization of the Democratic party, and to its ancient and well settled principles, as enunci- ated by Thomas Jefferson, the great apostle of American Democracy, and as acknowledged and accepted by the party from, the foundation of the government, and especially of equal taxa- tion and representation of all the States subject to taxation. 8. That the one great question of the day is the immediate and unconditional restoration of all the States to the exercise of their rights within the federal Union under the constitution, and that we will cordially and actively support Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, in all necessary and proper means to carry out his policy as directed to that end, and especially in securing immediate representation in the Senate and House of Representatives, to the eleven States from which it is now unconsti- tutionally aud arbitrarily withheld. 3. That for the purposes above set forth we will co-operate in public meeting, conventions and at the polls with all men without reference to past party position, who honestly, and by their acts and votes as well as by their profes- sion, support the President in his policy of res- toration as declared. 4. That the exemption of United States bonds from tax is nothing else than exemption of rich men from tax, because they are rich, and they tax the poor man because he is poor. Hence, justice and equality require that said bonds should be taxed. 5. That strict and impartial justice demands that the expenses of the general government as well as the State governments should be paid by the people according to their ability and not ac- cording to their necessities. Hence we are opposed now, as in the past, to the high tariff which tends to burden the producer for the ben- efit of the manufacturer. 6. That the so-called Maine liquor law is in- consistent with the genius of a free people, and unjust and burdensome in its operations. It has vexed and harrassed the citizens, burdened the counties with expenses, and proved wholly useless in the suppression of intemperance. The opinion of this convention is that the same ought to be repealed. 7. That the plunder of the State treasury, by Governor Stone and accomplices, calls for the condemnation of every honest man in the State, and if the radicals of the last Legislature had been true to the interests of the people, they would not have labored to save the criminals, hut would have piosecuted them to a speedy and condign punishment. 8. That we are in favor of a prompt and effective enforcement of the Monroe doctrine, and we heartily sympathize with the people of every country struggling for their liberties. 9. That we approve of the National Union Convention to be held at Philadelphia on the 14th of next month; that we approve of the principles and policy set forth in the address of the Democratic members of Congress, urging the Democracy of the nation to unite with the objects of that convention. 10. That the memory of the brave officers aud soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the Union during the recent rebellion, is embalmed in the hearts of the American people, ami that justice, as well as humanity, demands at the hands of the American people that the widows and orphans of those who died in the Union service shall be duly provided for by liberal pensions; that there shall be an equalization of bounty so that those who breasted the war at J hr ■^T -■— -4^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 179 the start shall share the equal pecuniary mu- nificence of those who entered the uriny at a later date. 11. That we most cordially sympathize with the movement now being made by the friends of Ireland to obtain the independence of that glorious country from under the yoke of English tyranny, and that we bid them God speed in the noble work, and hope that the subject of the independence of Inland will continue to be agi- tated until the Emerald Isle shall stand out in full and bold relief on the map of the world as one of the independent nations of the earth. On Secretary of State the official vote was as follows: Ed. Wright, Rep 91,227—35,373 G. G VanAnda, Dern 55,854 In 1867 the Republicans met in conven- tion at DesMoines, June 19th. They nominated for Governor, Col. Saml. Mer- rill; Lieutenant-Governor, Col. Jno. Scott; Judge of Supreme Court, Hon. J. M. Beck; Attorney-General, Maj. Henry O'Connor; Superintendent Public Instruction, Prof. 1). Franklin Wells. The following is the platform adopted by the convention: 1. That we again proclaim it as a cardinal principle of our political faith that all men are equal before the law, and we are in favor of such amendments to the constitution of the State of Iowa as will secure the rights of the ballot, the protection of the law and equal rights to all men, irrespective of color, race or religion. 2. That we approve of the military recon- struction acts passed by the 39th and 40th Con- gress. The illiberal construction by unfriendly officials depriving these acts of their energy and vitality, we demand that Congress assemble in July to carry out by additional enactments the true and original intent of said acts, the restora- tion of the rebel States upon a sure and loyal basis. 3. That the promt trial and punishment, according to law, of the head of the late rebel- lion, for his infamous crimes, is imperatively demanded for the vindication of the constitu- tion and the laws, and for the proper punish- ment of the highest crimes, it is demanded by justice, honor and a proper regard for the pro- tection of American citizenship, and by a due regard for the welfare and future safety of the republic, and it is due not only to the dignity of the nation, but in justice to the loyal people who have been so heroic in tbcir devotion to the cause of the constitution, the Union and liberty, and to the soldiers of the Union who survive and the memory of the heroic dead. 4. That we are in favor of the strictest economy in the expenditures of public money, and that we demand at the hands of all officials, both State and national, a faithful and rigidly honest administration of public affairs. 5. That the Republican members of the Con- gress of the United States are entitled to the thanks of the nation for their firmness in resist- ing the conspiracy to turn over the control of the government to the hands of traitors and their allies, and defeating the purpose of a cor- rupt Executive, and thus sustaining the interests of liberty, in a great and dangerous crisis in our history. The Democracy were in convention July 26th, and nominated the following ticket: Governor, Charles MaBon ; Lieutenant- Governor, D. M. Harris; Supreme Judge, J. H. Craig; Attorney-General, W. T. Baker; Superintendent Public Instruction, M. L. Fisher. The platform adopted by the convention was as follows: Resolved, That the maintenance, inviolate, of the rights of the States, especially the rights of each State to order and control its own institu- tions according to its own judgment exclusively, is esseutial to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depends. 2. That we believe each State has the right to regulate the elective franchises for itself, and, as citizens of the State of Iowa, are opposed to striking the word "white" out of our State con- stitution. •JT 180 HISTORY OF IOWA. 3. That the existing tariff laws are unjust and heavily burdensome to the agricultural Stales, without being of a corresponding benefit to the government, and only of advantage to a few manufacturing States, and should be re- pealed or greatly modified. 4 That all classes of property should pay a proportionate rate toward defraying the ex- penses of the government. We are therefore in favor of taxing government bonds the same as other property. 5. That we are in favor of repealing the pres- ent liquor law of this State, and Iu favor of enacting a well regulated license law in lieu thereof. 6. That we are in favor of an amendment to the constitution of our State giving to foreigners the elective franchise after they have declared their intention of becoming citizens of the United States, and have resided in the State one year. 7. That we demand of our public officers in the State of Iowa and in the United States the strictest economy in order to reduce the present burdensome taxation, and we denounce in the severest terms the profligacy, corruption and knavery of our State officers and Congressmen. 8. That the denial of representation to ten States in the Union, through odious military reconstruction, in violation to the constitution, should meet the unqualified oppostion of every good citizen. On Governor the official vote was as fol- lows: Samuel Merrill, Rep 90,200—27,240 Charles Mason, Dem 62,960 The year 1868 brought with it another Presidential campaign. Ulysses S. Grant wasthe Republican nominee for President, and Horatio Seymour that of the Demo- crats. In Iowa the campaign was opened by the Republicans, who nominated the following ticket : Secretary of State, Ed. Wright; Auditor of State, John A. Elli- ott; Treasurer of State, Maj. Samuel E. Rankin; Register of State Land Office, Col. C. C. Carpenter; Attorney-General, Major Henry O'Connor. The following platform was adopted : We, the delegates and representatives of the Republican party of Iowa, in convention assem- bled, do, for ourselves and party, resolve — 1. That it is as important that the principles of the Republican party should control, in the administration of the State and nation now, and for the future, as at any time since that party's organization; and that the restoration to power, under any pretext or any form of party organi- zation of the men who would again apply the principles and policy of the pro-slavery party before and during the war, to the present and future administration of State and national affairs, would be an evil of the greatest magni- tude, and full of danger to the country. 2. That, while we recognize the fact that the electors of Iowa are to act individually and directly upon the proposed amendment to the constitution of the State; and while we recog- nize that the principles embodied in said amend- ment are more sacred than party ties, and above all consideration of mere party policy, never- theless we deem it proper to again proclaim it as a cardinal principle of our political faith, that all men are equal before the law, and we are in favor of the proposed amendment of the consti- tution of the State of Iowa, which will secure the rights of the ballot, the protection of the law, and equal justice to all men irrespective of color, race or religion 8. That we demand the strictest economy in the administration ot our State and national government. 4. That we are in favor of the nomination of U. S. Grant as our candidate for President, and as a guarantee of his life and safety as well as that of the nation, our delegates are especially enjoined to secure, as our candidate for Vice- President, a Republican of unswerving fidelity and unimpeachable integrity. 5. That the views, purposes and principles of the Republican organization of Iowa has ever <9 L tf£ HISTORY OF IOWA. 181 been well defined, understood and sustained, arid we are resolved that the Republican standard shall never be lowered or compromised; that on the battle-field, at the polls, and in the councils of the nation, Iowa has ever been radically in earnest in fighting for and maintaining our lib erty, our Union, the rights of man and the honor and integrity of the nation; and that we expect and demand of the national convention to as- semble at Chicago on the 20th inst., an unequiv- ocal avowal of our principles, and upon such platform we propose to meet and overwhelm our political opponents. The Democracy met at DesMoines and made nominations as follows : Secretary of State, David Hammer, Register of Land Office, A. D. Anderson; Treasurer of State, L. McCarty; Auditor of State, H. Dun- lavey; Attorney-General, J. E. William- son. They also adopted the following res- olutions : Resolved, By the Democracy of Iowa, in con- vention assembled, that the reconstruction policy of Congress is unconstitutional and destructive of the spirit of American liberty, and, if carried out, will inevitably result in a permanent mili- tary despotism. 2. That the present depressed condition of the country, with its prostrated business, para- lyzed industry, oppressive taxation and political anarchy, are the direct results of the unwise and unconstitutional legislation of the dominant party in Congress. 8. That it is the avowed object of the Con- gressional policy to continue in power the most venal and corrupt political party that ever dis- honored any civilization; a policy vindictively enacted and mercilessly prosecuted, with the unconstitutional purpose of centralizing and perpetuating all the political power of the gov- ernment in the dominant radical party in Con- gress. 4. That for the maintenance of the national credit, we pledge the honor of the Democracy of Iowa; but that we will unalterably oppose that policy which opposes to pay the rich man in gold and the poor man in depreciated currency; and that we believe that the currency which is good enough to pay the soldier, the widow and the orphan, is good enough for the bondholder; and that the bonds of the government, which are made payable on their face in "lawful money," popularly known as greenbacks, having been purchased with that kind of money, may be justly and honorably redeemed with the same; and it is the duty of the government to pay them off as rapidly as they become due, or the financial safety of the couDtry will permit. 5. That the national bank system, organized in the interest of the bondholders, ought to be abolished, and the United States notes substi- tuted in lieu of a national bank currency, thus saving to the people, in interest alone, more than $18,000,000 annually; and until such system of banks shall be abolished, we demand that the shares of such banks in Iowa shall be subject to the same taxes, State and municipal, as other property of the State. 6. That it is the duty of the United States to protect all citizens, whether native or natural- ized, in every right, at home and abroad, without the pretended claim of foreign nations to per- petuate allegiance. 7. That we are in favor of the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law, and of the enactment of a judicious license law in its stead. 8. That we are opposed to conferring the right of suffrage upon the negroes in Iowa, and we deny the right of the general government to interfere with the question of suffrage in any of the States of the Union. 9. That the soldiers of Iowa, in the recent great revolution, exhibited a spirit of patriotism, courage and endurance, under great privation and sufferings, that have won for them the ad- miration of the nation, and entitle them to the kind recollection of their countrymen and the aid of a graceful government. 10. That Hon. Geo. H. Pendleton, of Ohio, is the first choice of the Democracy of Iowa for President of the United States. On Secretary of State, the official vote stood as follows: T>PV 182 HISTORY OF IOWA. Ed. Wright, Rep 120,265-45,801 David Hammer, Dem 74,464 The Republicans, in 1869, re-nominated Samuel Merrill for Governor; . — Waldon for Lieutenant-Governor; John F. Dillon for Supreme Judge; A. S. Kissell for Superintendent of Public Instruction. They adopted the following resolutions: Resolved, That we heartily endorse the admin- istration of Governor Merrill as economical and honest, and that it deserves, as it has received, the hearty approval of the people of Iowa. 2. That we unite upon a continuance of strict and close economy in all departments of our State government in behalf of the maintenance of the happy financial condition to which our State has attained under Republican rule. 3. That the means now in the State treasury, and which may become available, ought to be issued for the purpose of defraying the neces- sary expenditures of the State government, economically administered, and for no other purpose; and no State taxes, or only the mini- mum absolutely required, should be levied or collected until such means are exhausted, to the end that the burden of taxation may be made as light as possible. 4. That we rejoice in the glorious national victory of 1868, which has brought peace, happi- ness and prosperity to our nation; and we heartily endorse the administration of General Grant. 6. That the public expenditures of the na- tional government should be reduced to the lowest sum which can be reached by a system of the most rigid economy; that no money should be taken from the national treasury for any work of internal improvements, or for the erec- tion of any public buildings not clearly neces- sary to be made or erected, until the national debt is paid or greatly reduced. That all the money that can be saved from the national revenue, honestly collected, should be applied to the reduction of the national debt, to the end that the people may be relieved of the burthen of taxation :;s rapidly as practicable. 6. That we endorse and approve the policy which the present Secretary of the Treasury of the United States has pursued. The Democrats placed in nomination the following ticket: Governor, George Gillespie; Lieutenant-Governor, A. P. Richardson; Judge of the Supreme Court, W.F. Brannan; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Edward Jaeger. They, also, adopted as a platform the following: Whereas, Upon the eve of a political canvass, the time-honored usage of our party requires that a platform of principles be announced for the government of those who may be elected to of- fice; therefore, be it Resolved, That the Democratic party view with alarm the action of an unscrupulous majority in Congress, in its attempt to absorb the powers of the executive and judicial departments of the government, and to annihilate the rights and functions reserved to the State governments. 2. That we favor a reform in the national banking system, looking to an ultimate abolition of that pernicious plan for the aggrandizement of the few at the expense of the many. 3. That now, as in time past, we are opposed to a high protective tariff, and that we will use every effort to prevent and defeat that system of national legislation which will enrich a small class of manufacturers, at the expense of the great mass of producers and consumers, and that we are in favor of such reforms in our tariff system as shall promote commerce with every nation of the world. 4. That the pretended trial, conviction and execution of persons not in the military or naval service of the United States, by military commis- sion, is in direct conflict with the constitution, and we denounce the same as unworthy of a free people, and disgraceful to the American govern- ment. 5. That we demand no more, and will submit to nothing less than the settlement of the Ala- bama claims according to the recognized rules of international law, and that we declare it to be S k_ ^ 9 A HISTORY OF IOWA. 183 the duty of the government to protect every cit- izen, whether naturalized or native, in every right of liberty and property throughout the world, without the pretended claims of foreign nations to their allegiance. 6. That we are in favor of, and insist on, an economical administration of the national and State governments, that the people may be as speedily as possible relieved from the load of taxation with which they are now oppressed, and that public officers should be held to a strict accountability to the people for their official acts. 7. That a national debt is a national curse, and that while we favor the payment of the present indebtedness according to the strict let- ter of the contract, we would rather repudiate the same than see it made the means for the establishment of an empire upon the ruins of constitutional law and liberty. 8. That in the opinion of this convention the so-called Maine liquor law, which now disgraces the statute books of the State of Iowa, ought to be repealed at the earliest possible moment. The campaign of 1870 was short, the first convention being held by the Demo crats at DesMoines, August 10. The nominations made were as follows: Sec- retary of State, Charles Doerr; Auditor of State, Wesley W. Garner; Treasurer of State, William C. James; Attorney-Gen- eral, H. M. Martin; Register of State Land Office, D. F. Ellsworth; Reporter of the Supreme Court, C. H. Bane; Clerk of the Supreme Court, William McLenan; Judge of the Supreme Court, long term, J. C. Knapp; Judge of the Supreme Court, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resig- nation of Judge Dillon, P. Henry Smythe; Judge of the Supreme Court to fill the va- cancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Wright, Reuben Noble. They adopted the following platform: The representatives of the Democracy of Iowa, coming together in a spirit of toleration and de- votion to the doctrines of representative govern- ment, and relying for final success upon public discussion and the intelligence and patriotism of the people, deem the present convention a fitting occasion to proclaim the following as the prin- ciples of the Democratic party of Iowa: Resolved, That the internal revenue system of the United States is unendurable in its oppres- sive exactions; that to impose burdens upon one class of citizens, or upon one branch of industry, to build up another, and to support an army of office-holders to enforce their collection, is an abuse of the taxing power, and that we are in favor of the collection of all taxes through State government. 2. That we are opposed to the present unjust and unequal tariff system, and in favor of one which, while adapted to the purpose of raising the necessary revenue to provide for the liquida- tion of our national indebtedness, to meet the expenditures of an economical administration, will not oppress labor and build up monopolies. 3. That we are in favor of such disposition of our public lands as will secure their occupa- tion by actual settlers, and prevent their absorp- tion by mammoth corporations. 4. That we assert the right of the people by legislative enactment, to tax, regulate, and con- trol all moneyed corporations upon which extra- ordinary rights are conferred by charters. 5. That we are opposed to any attempt to abridge the most full and free enjoyment of civil and religious liberty. 6. That we cordially invite the electors of Iowa to co-operate with us in the support of the principles herein enunciated. The Republicans met one week later than the Democrats, and nominated for Supreme Judge, full term, C. C. Cole; Su- preme Judge, Dillon vacancy, W. E. Mil- ler; Supreme Judge, Wright vacancy, Jas. G. Day; Secretary of State, Ed. Wright; Auditor, John Russell; Treasurer, S. E. Kaiikin; Register of Land Office, Aaron Brown; Attorney-General, Henry O'Con- ner; Reporter of the Supreme Court, E. a i- 184 HISTORY OF IOWA. H. Stiles; Clerk of Supreme Court, Chas. Linderman. The following are the reso- lutions adopted by the Republican conven- tion : Resolved, That we refer with pride to the his- tory of the Republican party, and congratulate the country upon its successful career. It has given to the poor man a homestead; it has abol- ished slavery, and established manhood suffrage; crushed treason, and given to us the Pacific rail- road; settled the doctrine of the right of expa- triation, maintained the honor, integrity and credit of our nation. It has vindicated the Monroe doctrine by preventing foreign powers from interfering with the government on this continent; and to perpetuate it in power is the only safe guaranty for peace and prosperity in the future. 2. That we heartily endorse the honest, faith- ful, and economical adrninstration of General Grant, by which our national debt has become so largely reduced, and our national credit and honor so firmly maintained. 3. That a tariff for revenue is indispensable, and should be so adjusted as not to become pre- judicial to the industrial interests of any class or section of the country, while securing to our home products fair competition with foreign capital and labor. 4. That we are opposed to any system or plan of granting public lands to railroad or other corporations without ample provision being made to secure their speedy sale at moderate prices, and occupancy upon fair and liberal terms by any and all who desire to pur- chase and settle upon them. 5. That we are in favor of an economical and judicious management of the affairs of the State, and with this view we endorse the present administration of the State government, and commend it to the favorable consideration of the people and to future adminstrations. 6. That we are in favor of such legislation as will protect the people from the oppression of monopolies controlled by and in the interest of corporations. 7. That while, as Americans, we feel in duty bound to preserve a strict neutrality in the con- test now waging in Europe, yet we cannot forget that in our late war the sympathies and material aid of the German states were freely given us, and we do not hesitate to declare our unqualified sympathy with the earnest efforts of the Germans to maintain and defend their national unity; and we condemn the course which the Democratic press of the country has been and is now pursu- ing in the support of a despotic, imperial dynasty, and a causeless war against a people desiring peace, and aspiring to perfect liberty. 8. That the Republican party of Iowa wel- come to our shores all human beings of every nation, irrespective of race or color, voluntarily seeking a home in our midst; and all the rights and privileges which we, as citizens, demand for ourselves, we will freely accord to them. 9. That we are in favor of amending our naturalization laws by striking out the word "white" from the same, wherever it occurs. The official vote on Secretary of State was as follows: Ed. Wright, Rep 101,938—11,433 Charles Dorr, Dem..... 60,505 In 1871 the Democrats were again first in the field, assembling in convention at DesMoines, June 14th, and nominated for Governor, J. C. Kuapp; Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, M. M. Ham; Supreme Judge, John F. Duncombe; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Edward M. Munn. They adopted the following platform: Resolved, That we recognize our binding obli- gation to the constitution of the United Slates, as it now exists, without reference to the means by which the same became the supreme law of the land. 2. That we will faithfully support the consti- tution of the United States, as it now exists, and that we demand for it a strict construction so as to protect equally the rights of States and indi- viduals. 3. That we cherish the American system of State and local governments, and that we Tv ££■ HISTORY OF IOWA. is;. will forever defend the same against the central- ized federal power. 4. That universal suffrage, having been estab- lished, should now be coupled with its twin measure, universal amnesty. 5. That we denounce all riotous combinations aud conspiracies against law, and demand that the same be suppressed by the proper State authorities, and that the federal power ought not to intervene unless such intervention is de- manded by the State authorities. 6. That the proposed annexation of the Do- minican republic meets with our earnest oppo- sition, partly on account of the character of the mongrel population, and that of their unfitness to become American citizens, but more especially on account of the corrupt motives in which that measure had its inception, and of the reprehen- sible meaus by which it was sought to be con- summated. 7. That while we have a tariff on imports, it must be regulated with an eye single to revenue, and not with a view to what is called protection, •which is only another name for the legalized plundering of one industry to bestow favors upon another; and that the recent election to the United States Senate, by the Legislature of Iowa, of a man wholly and openly committed to a protective tariff, demonstrates that the party in power are in antagonism to the great agricul- tural interests of the State. 8. That the profligate corruption and wanton extravagance which pervade every department of the federal government, the sacrifice of the inter- est of the laborer to aggrandize a handful of aris- tocrats, the wicked deprivation of the people of their rightful heritage to public lands, which have been made a gift to railroad and other monopo- lists, the payment of more than $20,000,000 prem- ium during the administration of President Grant on government bonds, payable at par, the maintenance, at an annual cost to the people of nearly $30,000,000, of an unconstitutional, op- pressive and extortionate system of banking, whereby money is made scarce and interest high, are abuses which call for wise and thor- ough remedies. 9. That we are in favor of strict economy, of a large reduction in the expenditures of the federal and State governments, of civil service reform, of the collection of the internal revenue by State authorities and return to honest labor the myriads of tax-gatherers who inflict our land and eat up its substance, and of the speedy trial, conviction and punishment of the thieves who have stolen the taxes paid by the people. 10. That it is a flagrant outrage on the rights of the free laborers and mechanics of Iowa, that the labor of penitentiary convicts should be brought into conflict with theirs, and that it is the duty of the next Legislature to enact such laws as will certainly and effectually protect them from such unjust and ruinous competition. 11. That section 2, article 8, of the constitu tion of Iowa, which declares that "the property of all corporations for pecuniary profit shall be subject to taxation the same as that of individ- uals," should be rigidly and strictly enforced, and that by virtue thereof we demand that rail- roads and railroad property shall be taxed the same as the farmer and the mechanic ate taxed, and we affirm the right of the people, by legis- lative enactment, to regulate and control all cor- porations doing business within the borders of the State. 12. That with the watchword of reform we confidently go to the country; that we believe the interests of the great body of the people are thesame; that without regard to the past political associations they are the friends of free govern- ment; that they are equally honest, brave and patriotic, and we appeal to them, as to our brothers and countrymen, to aid us to obtain relief from the grievous abuses which wrong and oppress every one except the wrong doers and oppressors themselves. The Republicans met at DesMoines, June 21st, and placed the following ticket in nomination: Governor, C. C. Carpen- ter; Lieutenant-Governor, H. C. Bulis; Judge of Supreme Court, J. G. Day; Su- perintendent Public Instruction, Alonzo > "^V 1 186 HISTOEY OF IOWA. Abernethy. The platform adopted by the convention was as follows: Resolved, That we refer with pride to the his- tory of the Republican party, and congratulate the people of the country upon its successful career. It has given to the poor man a home- stead; it has abolished slavery aud established manhood suffrage; crushed treason, and given us a continental railway; settled the doctrine of the right of expatriation; maintained the honor, integrity and credit of the nation; has vindi- cated the Monroe doctrine by preventing foreign powers from interfering with the governments of this continent, and to perpetuate it in power is the only guaranty for peace and prosperity in the future. 2. That we heartily congratulate the country upon the settlement of our vexed and dangerous controversies with the government of Great Brit- ain, and especially upon the just aud Christian spirit and manner in which these controversies have been settled. 3. That while we favor a just and reasonable degree of protection to all branches of American industry against foreign competition, we are unalterably opposed to any system of legislation which favors one section of the country or de- partment of industrial enterprise at the expense of another, and therefore advocate such protec- tion only as a fairly adjusted revenue tariff will afford. 4. That we are in favor of a uniform system of taxation, so that all property within the limits of the States, whether of individuals or corpo- rations, for pecuniary profit, shall bear its just share of the public burdens. 5. That, believing that all corporations doing business within the limits of this State are right- fully subject to the control of the people, we are in favor of so providing, by proper legislative enactment, as to effectually prevent monopoly and extortion on the part of railroads and other corporations. 6. That we are in favor of extending the blessings of civil and religious liberty to the human race everywhere, and therefore, when- ever it shall be made manifest that the people of San Domingo so desire annexation to the United States, for the purpose of enjoying the benefits which such relation would afford them, we shall favor the earnest and intelligent con- sideration of this question by the treaty-making power of the government. 7. That, as agriculture is the basis of pros- perity of this State, we recognize its pre-emi- nent claims for support, by legislation or other- wise, as may be necessary to secure full devel- opment of our highly-favored State. 8. That we are for such a modification of our revenue system as will, at as early a day as pos- sible, relieve the pressure of our internal reve- nue laws, and reduce, as far as praticable, the expenses of collecting the taxes. 9. That we cordially approve and earnestly endorse the eminently wise, patriotic, and eco- nomical administration of President Grant, and heartily commend it to the favorable considera- tion of the country. 10. That we are opposed to any system or plan of granting public lauds to railroads or other corporations without ample provision be- ing made for securing their speedy sale at a moderate price, and occupancy, upon fair and liberal terms, to any and all who desire to pur- chase and settle upon them. 11. That we are in favor of an economical and judicious management of the affairs of the State, and, with this view, we endorse the present administration of the State govern- ment. The official vote on Governor was as follows: C. C. Carpenter, Rep 109,223-^1,029 J. C. Knapp, Dem 68,199 During Grant's first administration new issues were formed, and a new movement sprung up, known as the Leberal Republi- cans. This party placed in nomination Horace Greeley for President and B. Gratz Brown for Vice President. The Demo- crats, meeting in convention shortly after W -®Ub HISTORY OF IOWA. 187 the nomination of Greeley, ratified the nomination and adopted the Liberal Re- publican platform. The disaffection was so great among Democrats that Charles O'Connor was placed in nomination, as a regular Democrat, for the office of Presi- dent. Gen. Grant was re-nominated by the Republicans, with Henry Wilson for Vice-President. In Iowa the Democrats and Liberal Republicans met in convention August 1, 1872, at DesMoines, and agreed upon the following ticket, of which two candidates were Democrats and three Republicans: Secretary of State, Dr. E. A. Guilbert; Treasurer, M. S. Rohlfs; Auditor, J. P. Cassady; Attorney-General, A. G. Case; Register of State Land Office, Jacob Butler. The two conventions also adopted the following platform: Resolved, That we approve of and endorse the action of the late Democratic convention at Baltimore, in placing in nomination Horace Greeley for President and B. Gratz Brown for Vice-President, and we adopt its platform and principles. 2. Th:it in the State ticket this day presented by the joint action of the Democratic and Liberal Slate conventions, we recognize citizens of in- tegrity, worth and ability, whose election would best subserve the interests of the State, and to whom we pledge our undivided and cordial support. The Republican convention met August 21 and nominated, for Secretary of State, Josiah T.Young; Auditor, John Russell; Treasurer, Wm. Christy; Register of State Land Office, Aaron Brown; Attorney-Gen- eral, M. E. Cutts. The following platform was also adopted r The representatives of the Republican party of the State of Iowa, assembled in State conven tion on the 21st day of August, A. D. 1872, declare their unceasing faith in the principles and platform adopted by the National Republi- can convention at Philadelphia, on the 6th day of June. 1872, and with honest pride refer to the history of the party in this State and nation, and announces an abiding faith in its present integ- rity and future supremacy. Under the control of this organization, a gigantic rebellion has been crushed, four millions of slaves not only released from bondage, but elevated to all the rights and duties of citizenship; freedom of speech has been secured, the national credit sustained; the taxes reduced, and the commer- cial interests of the whole country nurtured and protected, producing a condition of individual and national prosperity heretofore unequaled. So marked, decisive and unmistakable has been the judgment of the people of this country that the maintenance of the principles of the Repub- lican party are the only true guaranty of national prosperity and national security throughout the country; that at last the Democratic party have nominally abandoned the principles which they have . heretofore maintained, and announced their adhesion to the principles of the Republi- can party, and are endeavoring to steal into power by nominating recent Republicans. But with full confidence of our glorious triumph in the present campaign, both in this State and the nation, we hereby reiterate and re affirm the great principles that have governed and controlled the Republican party in the past, and pledge to the people their maintenance in the future. Resolved, That the nomination of our present able, earnest and incorruptible Chief Magistrate, Ulysses S. Grant, for re-election to the Piesl- dency of the United States, and of Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President, meets our unqualified and hearty approval. 2. That we are in favor of the most rigid economy in the administration of the affairs of this State and the nation. 3. That we are opposed to any legislation, State or national, that tends to unjustly dis- criminate between individual interest and that of corporations, believing that property, whether held by individuals or corporations, should b( ar their equal and just portion of the public bur- dens. HISTORY OF IOWA. 189 districts, that Democrats in favor of the Louis- ville nominations be substituted in their stead by the several Congressional districts. The following State ticket was nomi- nated by the convention: Secretary of State, L. S. Parvin, who subsequently de- clined and Charles Baker was substituted; Treasurer, D. B. Beers; Auditor, J. P. Cassady; Attorney-General, A. G. Case; Register of Land Office, Dave Sheward. The following is the official vote on Sec- retary of State: J. T. Young, Rep 132,859—67,862 E. A. Guilbert, Lib. andDem 74,497 D. B. Beers, straight Dem 1,323 The Republican State Convention for 1873 met at DesMoines, June 25, and nominated, for Governor, C. C. Carpenter; Lieutenant - Governor, Joseph Dysart; Judge of Supreme Court, J. M. Beck; Supt. of Public Instruction, Alonzo Aber- nethy. The following platform was adopted: The Republicans of Iowa, in mass convention assembled, make this declaration of principles: We hold the Republican party to be a political organization of those American citizens who are opposed to slavery in all its forms; who believe that all men are entitled to the same political and civil rights; who believe that all laws, State and national, should be made and administered so as to secure to all citizens, wherever born or whatever their color, creed, condition or occu- pation, the same rights before the law; who believe in free schools, free opinion and universal education; who believe that American society and the American people should all be raised to the highest possible plane of liberty, honesty, purity, intelligence and morality, and that all laws should be made and the government con- stantly administered with this aim in view, and that no party has a right to support of the people which is not inspired with this purpose. Believ ing that the Republican party is still controlled by these principles, and that it is now, as it has been from its beginning, an organization of the best and purest political sentiment of the country, we, as Republicans, renew the expres- sion of our devotion to it, and our belief that we can secure through it the political reform and the just and necessary measures of legislation, and of relief from monopolies and other abuses of power which the country so much needs; therefore, Resolved, That, proud as we are of most of the past record of the Republican party, we yet insist that it shall not rely upon its past achieve- ments; it must be a party of the present and of progress; and as it has preserved the Union, freed the slave and protected him from the oppression of the slave-master, it will now be direlict to its spirit and its duty if it does not protect all our people from all forms of oppres- sion, whether of monopolies, centralized capital, or whatsoever kind the oppression may be. 2. That we insist upon the right and duty of the State to control every franchise of whatever kind it grants; and while we do not wish that any injustice shall be done to the individual or corporation who invest capital in enterprises of this kind, we yet demand that no franchise shall be granted which is prejudicial to the public interests, or in which the rights and interests of the State and the people are not carefully and fully guarded. 3. That the producing, commercial and in- dustrial interests of the country should have the best and cheapest modes of transportation possible; and while actual capital invested in such means of transit, whether by railroad or otherwise, should be permitted the right of reasonable remuneration, an abuse in their man- agement, excessive rates, oppressive discrimina- tions against localities, persons or interests, should be corrected by law, and we demand con- gressional and legislative enactments that will control and regulate the railroads of the coun- try, and give to the people fair rates of trans- portation, and protect them against existing abuses. 4. That we heartily applaud the active meas- ures of the late Congress, in ferreting out and A& — — ► 190 HISTORY OF IOWA. exposing corruption. We have seen, with pro- found regret, in the developments made thereby, evidences of political and official corruption, and the abuse of responsible positions by men of all political parties, to further personal ends, and we demand pure official conduct and the punishment of unfaithful public men, who, having betrayed the confidence freely extended to them, shall not be shielded from the disgrace of their acts by any partisanship of ours, and we denounce all credit mobilier transactions and all official misconduct of whatever form. 5 That we believe that whenever a person holding any position of trust given him by the people, is guilty of fraud or embezzlement, he should be convicted and punished uuder the criminal laws of our land, in addition to the re- covery from him or his bondsmen of the amount so embezzled. 6 That the act of the majority of the mem- bers of the last Congress, in passing what is known as the back-pay steal, by which they voted into their pockets thousands of dollars which did not belong to them, as well as the act of those who voted against the same and yet re- ceived the money, is most flagrantly improper and infamous, and should secure the political condemnation of all who were party to it; and we demand that the provisions of the said act by which the salaries were increased, shall be promptly and unconditionally repealed. 7. That we sympathize with every movement to secure for agriculture and labor their due in- fluence, interests and rights, and the Republican party will be their ally in every just effort to at- tain that end. 8. That we are desirous of political reform, and for honesty, economy an -' purity in all offi cial administration; that to secure this is the duty f every citizen; that to this end every good man should feel bound to participate in politics, and to make an end to bad men forcing their election by securing a party nomination, we declare it the duty of every Republican to oppose the election of a bad and incompetent candidate, whether he be a candidate upon our own or upon any other ticket. The question of monopolies began to agitate the people to a great extent at this time and the opposition to Republicans united under the name of anti-monopolists. An Anti-Molopolist convention was held at Des Moines, August 12th, and the follow- ing ticket nominated. Governor, Jacob G. Vale; Lieutenant-Governor, Fred. O'Donnell; Supreme Judge, B. J. Hall; Supt. of Public Instruction, D. M. Prindle. The following platform was adopted at this convention: Whereas, Political parties are formed to meet public emergencies; and when they have discharged the duty which called them into being, they may become the means of abuse as gross as those they were organized to reform; and, WnEttEAS, Both of the old political parties have discharged the obligations assumed at I heir organization, and being no longer potent as instruments for the reform of abuses which have grown up in them, therefore we deem it incon- sistent to attempt to accomplish a political reform by acting with and in such organization; there- fore, Resolved, That we, in free convention, do declare, as the basis of our future political action, — 2. That all corporations are subject to legisla- tive control; that those created by Congress should be restricted and controlled by Congress, and that those under State laws should be sub- ject to the control respectively of the State creating them; that such legislative control should be in expressed abrogation of the theory of the inalienable nature of chartered rights, and that it should be at all times so used as to prevent the moneyed corporations from becom ing engines of oppression; that the properly of all corporations should be assessed by the same officers, and taxed at the same rate as the pro- perty of individuals; that the Legislature of Iowa should, by law, fix maximum rates of freight to be charged by the railroads of the State, leaving them free to compete below the rates. HISTORY OF IOWA. 191 3. That we favor such modification of our banking system as will extend its benefits to the whole people, and thus destroying all monopoly now enjoyed by a favored few. 4. That we demand a general revision of the present tariff laws that shall give us free salt, iron, lumber, and cotton and woolen fabrics, and reduce the whole systemto a revenue basis only. 5. That we will not knowingly nominate any bad man to office, nor give place to persistent seekers therefor, but will freely seek for our- selves competent officers — as heretofore, politi- cal leaders have sought office for themselves — and that we will nominate only those known to be faithful and in sympathy with these declara- tions, and will, at the polls, repudiate any candi- date known to be unfit or incompetent. G. Thai we demand the repeal of the back salary law, and the return to the United States treasury of all money received thereunder by members of the last Congress and of members of the present Congress. We demand a repeal of the law increasing salaries, and the fixing of a lower and more reasonable compensation for public officers, believing that until the public debt is paid and the public burden lightened, the salaries of our public servants should be more in proportion to the awards of labor in private life. 7. That we are opposed to all future grants of land to railroads or other corporations, and ' elieve that the public domain should beheld sacred to actual settlers; and are in favor of a law by which each honorably discharged soldier or his heirs may use such discharge in any government land-office in full payment for a quarter-section of unappropriated public lands. 8. That public officers who betray their pledges or trust are unworthy of renewed con- fidence, and those who criminally trifle with the public funds must be punished as criminals, regardless of their previous influence or the political importance of their bondsmeu. 9. That we are in favor of a strict construc- tion of our constitution by our Supreme and other courts, and are opposed to the exercise of the doubtful powers by judicial or other officers. 10. That in the corrupt Tammany steal, the credit mobilier fraud, the congressional salary swindle and official embezzelements, and the hundreds of other combinations, steals, frauds, and swindles, by which Democratic and Repub- lican legislators, congressmen, and office-holders have enriched themselves, and defrauded the country and impoverished the people, we find the necessity' of independent action and the importance of united effort, and cordially invite men, of whatever calling, business, trade, or vocation, regardless of past political views, to join us in removing the evils that so seriously affect us all. The vote was light, and on Governor was as follows: C. C. Carpenter, Rep 105,132—24,112 J. G. Vale, Anti-M 81,030 An Anti-Monopoly convention was held at DesMoines, June 23, 1874, which nom- inated the following ticket and adopted the following platform: Secretary, David Morgan; Auditor, J. M. King; Treasurer, J. W. Basner; Attorney-General, J. H. Keatley; Clerk of Supreme Court, Geo.W. Ball; Reporter of Supreme Court, J. M. Weart. The following is the platform: Resolved, That we, the delegated representa- tives of the people of Iowa, favorable to the organization of an independent political party, laying aside past differences of opinion, and earnestly uniting in a common purpose to secure needful reforms in the administration of public affairs, cordially unite in submitting these decla- rations: 1. That all political power is inherent in the people; that no government is worthy of pre- iou or should be upheld which does not derive its power from the consent of the gov- erned, by equal and just laws; that the inesti- mable right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should be secured to all men, without distinction of race, color or nativity; that the maintenance of these principles is essential to the prosperity of our republican institutions ing at variance with the principles of a sound financial policy, the circulating medium should be based upon its redemption in specie at the earliest practicable day, and its convertibility into a specie equivalent at the will of the holder, and that, subject to these restrictions, it is the duty of Congress to so provide, by appropriate legislation, that the volume of our government currency shall at all times be adequate to the general business and commerce of the country, and equitably distributed among the several States. 5. That tariffs and all other modes of taxa- tion should be imposed upon the basis of rev- enue alone, and be so adjusted as to yield the minimum amount required for the legitimate expenditure of the government, faithfully and economically administered, and that taxation to an extent necessary to the accumulation of a surplus revenue in the treasury, subjects the people to needless burdens and affords a temp- tation to extravagance and official corruption. 6. That railroads and all other corporations for pecuniary profit should be rendered subser- vient to the public good; that we demand such constitutional and necessary legislation upon this subject, both State and national, as will effectually secure the industrial and producing interests of the country against all forms of corporate monopoly and extortion, and that the existing railroad legislation of this State should faithfully be enforced, until experience may have demonstrated the propriety and justice of its modification. 7. That while demanding that railroads be subject to legislative control, we shall discoun- tenance any action on this subject calculated to retard the progress of railroad enterprise, or work injustice to those invaluable auxiliaries to comme'ce and civilization. 8. That the limitation of the Presidency to one term, and the election of President, Vice President and United States Senators by a direct popular vote, and a thorough reform of our civil service to the end that capacity and fidelity be made theessential qualifications for election and appointment to office, are proposed reforms which meet our hearty endorsement. 9. That we demand such a modification of the patent laws of the United States as shall 4x HISTORY OF IOWA. 193 destroy the monopoly now enjoyed by the man- ufacture of agricultural and other implements of industry. 10. That the personal liberty and social rights of the citizens should not be abridged or con- trolled by legislative enactment, except in so far as may be necessary to promote the peace and welfare of society. 11. That holding in grateful remembrance the soldiers and sailors who fought our- battles, and by whose heroism the nation was preserved, we insist that Congress shall equalize the boun- ties and grant to each one of them, or to his widow and children, a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land from the unappro- priated domain of the couutry. 12. That we desire hereafter to be known as the Independent party of Iowa, and recognizing the individual conscience of the voter as para- mount to the claims of the . party, ask the co- operation of those only to whom this declaration of principles and the candidates nominated by this convention may commend themselves worthy. The Republican convention, which con- vened July 1st, at DesMoines, put in nom- ination for Secretary of State, Josiah T. Young; Treasurer of State, Wm. Christy; Auditor of State, Buren R. Sherman; Reg- ister of State Land Office, David Secoi; Attorney-General, M. C. Cutts; Judge of Supreme Court, E. J. Holmes; Reporter of Supreme Court, John S. Runnells. The following is the Republican platform: We, the representatives of the Republican parly of the State of Iowa, in convention assem- bled, do adopt the following platform of princi- ples: liesoloed. That as the policy of the Republi- can party in relation to finance, has afforded the people not only a safe, sound and popular cur- rency, of equal and uniform worth in every portion of our common country, but has like- wise greatly improved the credit of the country at home and abroad, we point, with pride to its record and accomplishments in this regard. And while re-affirming the policy announced by the party in the national conventions of 1868 and 1872, and triumphantly endorsed by the people at the polls — a policy which, while contributing to the public credit has also enhanced the indi- vidual and collective prosperity of the American people — we favor such legislation as shall make national banking free to all, under just and equal laws, based upon the policy of specie re- sumption at such time as is consistent with the mat. rial and industrial interests of the country, to the end that the volume of currency may be regulated by the national laws of trade. 2. That we re-affirm the declaration of the Republican national platform of 1872, in favor of the payment by the government of the United States of all its obligations in accordance with both the letter and the spirit of the laws under which such obligations were issued, and we de- clare that in the absence of any express provis- ion to the contrary, the obligations of the gov- ernment when issued and placed upon the mar- kets of the world, are payable in the world's currency, towit, specie. 3. That under the constitution of the United States, Congress has power to regulate all "com- merce among the several States," whether carried on by railroads or other means, and in the exer- cise of that power Congress may, and should, so legis'ate as to prohibit, under suitable penalties, extortion, unjust discrimination, and other wrong and unjust conduct on the part of per- sons or corporations engaged in such commerce; and, by virtue of the same constitutional power, Congress may and should provide for the im- provement of our great natural water-ways. 4. That the State has the power, and it is its duty, to provide by law for the regulation and control of railway transportation within its own limits, and we demand that the law of this State passed for this purpose at the last session of the General Assembly shall be upheld and enforced until it shall be superseded by other legislation, or held unconstitutional by the proper judicial tribunal. 5. That we feel bound to provide all appro- priate legislation for the full and equal piotec- < * ^ j y* 194 HISTORY OF IOWA. tion of all citizens, white or black, native or foreign born, iu the enjoyment of all the rights guaranteed by the constitution of the United States and the amendments thereto. 6. That the $37,000,000 reduction in the estimated general government expenses for the coming fiscal year meets our hearty commenda- tion, and shows that the Republican party on questions of retrenchment and economy is carry- ing out in good faith its oft repeated pledges to the people. 7. That we are in favor of an amendment to the constitution of the United States, providing for the election of President and Vice-President bv a direct vote of the people. 8. That while inventors should be protected in their just riahts of property in their inven- tions, we demand such modifications of our patent laws as shall render the same more fair and equitable to consumers. 9. That the faith of the Republican party is pledged to promote the best good of the civil service of the country, and that we, as Republi- cans of Iowa, demand that only honest and capable men be elected or appointed to office, and that we commend the position of the party in instituting investigations of corruption in office, sparing therein neither friends nor foes. 10. That since the people may be intrusted with all questions of govermental reform, we favor the final submission to the people of the question of amending the constitution so as to extend the rights of suffrage to women, pursuant to action of 15th General Assembly. On Secretary of State the vote stood: J. T. Young, Rep 107,243—28,183 David Morgan, Dem 79,060 For the campaign of 1875 the Democrats, Liberal Republicans and Anti-Monopolists met at Des Moines, June 24th, and nom- inated a State ticket headed by Shepherd Lefler for Governor; Lieutenant-Governor, E. B. Woodward; Judge of Supreme Court, W. J. Knight; Supt. of Public Instruction, Isaiah Donane. The following platforn was then adopted: The Democrats, Liberal Republicans, and Anti Monopolists of the Stateof Iowa, in delegate convention assembled, declare, as a basis of per- manent organization and united action, the following principles: 1. A firm adherence to the doctrine of politi- cal government, as taught by Jefferson, Madison, and other fathers of the republic. 2. A strict adherence to the constitution in all measures involving constitutional power. 3. The supremacy of the Republican govern- ment within the sphere and reservation of the local authority of the constitution as opposed to the concentration of all powers in a strong cen- tralized government. 4. Absolute prohibition of military interfer- ence with the local State elections, and the peaceful assembling and organization of the State Legislatures, except in the manner clearly defined in the Constitution. 5. Honesty in the administration of the public officers, and strict economy in the public expenditures. 6. All officers to be held to a strict accounta- bility for the misuse of the public funds or for the prostitution of their powers for private use. 7. The preservation of all the rights of every citizen, without regard to race or color. 8. The reservation of the public lands for the benefit of actual settlers, and opposition to any further grants to corporate monopolies for any purpose. 9. The restoration of the Presidential salary to $25,000. No third term. 10. That we are in favor of the resumption of specie payment as soon as the same can be done without injury to the business interests of the country, and maintain a sufficient supply of national currency for business purposes; opposi- tion to present national banking law. 11. A tariff on imports that will produce the largest amount of revenue, with the smallest amount of tax, and no imposition of duties for *4r X HISTORY OF IOWA. i95 the beiiefit of manufactures at the expense of agricultural interests. 12. We are in favor of the repeal of the present prohibitory liquor law, and the enactment, of a practical license law, sirictly enforced, as the best guard against, and the safest solution of, the evils of intemperance, 13. That we are opposed to all legislation that restricts any citizen in his individual or social rights and privileges. With this declaration of principle and policy, in the language of our brethren of Ohio, we arraign the leaders of the Republican party for their extravagant expenditure and profligate waste of the people's money, for their oppressive, unjust, aud defective system of finance and taxa- tion; for their continued tyranny and cruelty to the Southern States of the Union, and their squandering of public lands; their continuance of incompetent and corrupt men in the offices at home and abroad, and for their general mismanagement of the government, and we cor- di.dly invite all men, without regard to past party association, to co-operate with us in removing them from power, and in securing such an administration of public affairs as char- acterized the purer and better days of the republic. The Republican convention at Des- Moines placed in nomination for Governor, S. J. Kirkwood ; Lieutenant-Governor, Joshua G. Newbold; Judge of Supreme Court, Austin Adams ; Superintendent Public Instruction, Alonzo Abernethy. The convention also adopted the follow- ing platform: Resolved, That we declare it a cardinal prin- ciple of tbe Republican faith that the republic is a nation, one and indissoluble, within which the constitutional rights of the Slates and of the people to local self-government must be faith- lully maintained. 2. That we favor the early attainment of cur- rency convertible with coin, and therefore advocate the gradual resumption of specie pay- ments by continuous and steady steps. 3. That we favor a tariff for revenue, so adjusted as to encourage home industry. 4. That the earnest efforts of the government to collect the revenue, prevent and punish frauds, have our unqualified approval. 5. We are opposed to further grants of land to railroads or other corporations, but we de- mand a reservation of public domain for settle- meni under the homestead laws, and for other bona fide settlers. 6 We demand such a revision of the patent laws as will relieve industry from the oppression of monopolies in their administration. 7. That we cordially approve the policy of the present administration in the settlement of difficulties between our.-elves and other nations, by arbitration, instead of appealing to arms. 8. The Republican party of Iowa is opposed to a third term. 9. We demand that all railway and other cor- porations shall be held in fair and just subjection to the law-making power. 10. We stand by free education, our public school system, taxation of all for its support, and no division of the school fund. 11. That our national and State administra- tion of public affairs have our hearty support. 12. We cordially invite all who are opposed to the restoration of the Democratic party to power, to forget all past political differences, and unite with the Republican party in maintaining the cause of true reform. 13. The persistent and tyrannical efforts of the enemies of the Union, by murder and intim- idation of the enfranchised citizens, and the ostracisms and proscriptions of the white Repub- licans of the South, for the purpose of rendering null and void this amendment, merits the con- demnation of every honest man. 14 That we heartily endorse the action of President Grant in enforcing the laws when called upon to do so by the proper authorities of the State. The Prohibitionists <>f the State met and nominated for Governor, Rev. John H. 196 HISTORY OF IOWA. Lozier, and adopted the following plat- form : Whereas, The traffic in and use of intoxi- cating liquors as a beverage, is the greatest evil of the present age; and, Whereas, The legal prohibition of said traffic and use of liquors is the prime duty of those who frame and execute laws for the public wel- fare; and, Whereas, The existing political parties, in their State platforms, have either ignored or re- pudiated the foregoing principles, the one de- claring for license, the other refusing to pass a resolution opposed to the repeal of the existing prohibitory law of our State; therefore, Resolved, That the temperance people of Iowa are, by this action of these political parties, forced to seek the promotion of their objects by such organizations and combinations as may prove most effective for the success of the tem- perance cause, without reference to previous political affiliation. 2. That we most cordially approve the policy of the present administration in the settlement of difficulties between ourselves and other na- tions, by arbitration, instead of appealing to arms; and also the efforts now being made to codify the international laws so that a World's Peace Congress may be established before which all international difficulties may be adjusted, and thus "nations learn war no more." 3. That the desecration of the Christian Sab- bath by public amusement, such as target-shoot- ing, dancing, theatrical performance, and kin- dad practices, together with ordinary business traffic, except by persons conscientiously ob- serving the seventh day of the week as a Sab- bath aay, augurs evil to the public morals, and that the laws of our State, touching Sabbath desecrations, should be rigidly enforced. 4. That we are in favor of maintaining our free school system at the expense of the whole people, and without the division of our school fund with any sectarian organization whatever, and is favor of such legislation as will secure the education of all children within our Slate in the elementary branches of common school edu- cation. 5. That the doctrine of professed political parties ought to be, is, and shall continue to be, powerless to control men bound by their convic- tions to the mountain of great moral principles, and we call upon all concerned in the promotion of public morals to promptly and earnestly re- buke the policy now inaugurated by such pro- fessed leaders, and to seek its overthrow. 6. That we earnestly recommend that the temperance people of the several counties promptly form county organizations, looking to the election of such Representatives in our Leg- islature, and such officers as will enact and en- force laws for the promotion of the foregoing principles, leaving the question of calling a con- vention for the nomination of State officers and of furlher organizing to an executive committee to be elected by this convention. The vote on Governor was officially an- nounced as follows : S. J. Kirkwood, Rep 124,8r.5— 31,576 S. Lefler, Bern 93,279 J. H. Lozier, Pro 1,397 The financial depression during the sec- ond administration of Grant was such as to influence the formation of a new party, known as the Greenback party, or, as it was styled in national convention, the Na- tional Greenback Labor party. Peter Cooper was the candidate of this party for the Presidency, while the Republicans nominated Rutherford B. Hayes, and the Democrats Samuel J. Tilden. The Green- back men of Iowa held a convention May 10th, at DesMoines, and adopted the fol- lowing resolutions : Whereas, Labor is the basis of all our wealth, and capital cannot be accumulated except as the product of industry, or human life, given out in the daily labor of the toiling millions; and, Whereas, Money is, in essence, only a certi- ficate of service rendered, and hence the solution HISTORY OF IOWA. 197 of the financial question lies at the bottom of all true government, and is the paramount issue of the present campaign, in which the Democratic and Republican leaders have failed to take the side of the people; therefore, we, the citizens of Iowa, in mass convention assembled, do thus organize the Independent party of Iowa, and declare our faith in the following principles: 1. That it is the duty of the government to establish a monetary system, based upon the faith and resources of the nation, in harmony with the genius of this government, and adapted to the demands of legitimate business. 2. That we demand the immediate repeal of the specie resumption act of January 14, 1875, and that the circulating notes of our national and State banks, as well as tht local currency, be withdrawn from circulation, and their place supplied by a uniform national currency, issued direct from the government, the same to be made a legal tender for all public and private debts, duties on imports not excepted, and inter- changeable at the option of the holder for bonds bearing a rate of interest not to exceed 3.65 per cent, per annum. 3. We demand that the present bonded debt of the country be refunded as speedily as pos- sible into registered interchangeable bonds that shall bear interest at a low rate, not exceeding 3 65 per cent, per annum. 4 We are in favor of the repeal of the act of March 18, 1869, making greenbacks payable in coin, and making 5-20 bonds perpetual or pay- able only in coin, and thus unjustly discrimin- ating in favor of the money interest. A Greenback State ticket was nominated at a convention held September 20th, and these additional resolutions were adopted: 1. We are in favor of the adoption of the platform of the Indianapolis National Conven- tion. 2. We recognize the rights of capital and its just protection; we condemn all special legisla- tion in its favor. 3. We demand a reduction of official salaries, proportionate to the reduction of the profits on labor. 4. We demand a remonetization of silver. 5. We demand the equality of the soldiers' bounties. 6. Wi' approve and endorse the nomination of Peter Cooper for President, and Samuel F. Cary for Vice President of the United States. The followiug is the ticket nominated: Secretary of State, A. Macready; Auditor of State, Leonard Brown; Treasurer of State, Geo. C Fry; Register State Land Office, Geo. M. Walker; Superintendent Pub. Instruction, Rev. J A.Nash; Supreme Judges, Charles Negus, Oliver R. Jones. The Republicans placed in nominal ion the following, at a convention held in Des Moines: Stcretary of State, Josiah T. Young; Auditor, Bur en R. Sherman, Treasurer, Geo. W. Bemis; Register of Land Office, David Seeor; Supreme Judges, W. II. Seevers, J. H. Rothrock; Attorney- General, J. F McJunkin; Superintendent Public Instruction, C. W. VonCoelln. At the same time they adopted as a platform the following: 1. We are for maintaining the unity of the nation sacred and inviolable; for the just and equa'. rights of all men; for peace, harmony and brotl erhood throughout the nation; for men of unsullied honesly, and purity of character and public trust, and for the swift pursuit and un- aparing punishment of all dishonest officials, high or low. 2. That we are in faver of, and we demand, a rigid economy in the administration of the government, both State and national. 3. That we favor a currency convertible with coin, and therefore u'lvucate the gradual resump- tion of specie payment by continuous and speedy steps in that direction. 4. That we demand that all railway and other corporations shall beheld in fair and just sub- jection to the lawmaking power. 5. That we stand by free education, our school system, taxation of all for its support. f the traffic in intoxicating liquors is the only sound legislative theory upon w hich this vexed ques- tion can be solved and the nation saved from bankruptcy and demoralization. Therefore, we insist upon the maintenance and enforcement of our prohibitory law, and upon such amendments thereto as will place ale, wine, and beer under the same condemnation as other intoxicating liquors. 6. That this great evil has long since assumed apolitical form, and can never be eliminated from politics until our legislatures and courts accomplish its entire overthrow and destruction. 7. We hereby declare that, since we believe prohibition to be the only sound legislative policy, and since law is only brought to bear upon society through its officers, legislative, judicial, and executive, we therefore can and will support only those men who are known to be tried and true temperance prohibitory men. 8. We believe that in the security of home rests the security of State; that women is by her very nature the acknowledged guardian of this sacred shrine; that intemperance is its greatest enemy; therefore we claim that the daughters of this commonwealth, as well as her sons, ought to be allowed to-say by their votes, what laws shall be made for the suppression of this evil, and what person shall execute the same. 9. We believe the importation of intoxicat- ing liquors from foreign lands, and their protec- tion by the United States government, while in the hands of the importer, and inter-state com- merce in the same, cripple the power of State governments in enacting and enforcing such legislation as is and may be demanded by the people. The vote on Governor was as follows: JohnH. Gear, Rep 121,546 D. P. Stubbs, Gr 38,228 John P. Irish. Dem 79,353 Elias Jessup, Temp 10,639 Gear had a majority over Irish of 23,193, but the combined opposition vote was greater by 674. In 878 the Greenbackers held the first State convention, assembling at Des Moines April 10th, and nominated for Secretary of State, E. M. Farnsworth; w 202 HISTORY OF IOWA. Treasurer, M. L. Devlin; Auditor, G. V. Swearenger; Treasurer, M. Farrington; Attorney-General, General C. H. Jackson; Judge of Supreme Court, J.G. Knapp; Clerk of Supreme Court, Alex. Runyon; Reporter Supreme Court, Geo. W. Rutherford. They adopted the following platform: Whereas, Throughout our entire counlry the value of real estate is depreciated, industry para- lized, trade depressed, business income and wages reduced, unparalleled distress inflicted upon the poorer and middle ranks of our people, the land rilled with fraud, embezzlement, bank- rupcy, crime, suffering, pauperism, and starva- tion; and Whereas, This state of things has been brought about by legislation in the interest of and dictated by money lenders, bankers, and bondholders; and, Whereas, The limiting of the legal tender quality of greenbacks, the changing of currency bonds into coin bonds, the demonetizing of the silver dollar, the exempting X>f bonds from taxa- tion, the contraction of the circulating medium, the proposed forced resumption of specie pay- ments, and the prodigal waste of the public lands, were crimes against the people, and so far as possible the results of these criminal acts must be counteracted by judicious legislation. 1. We demand the unconditional repeal of the specie resumption act of January 14th, 1875, and the abandonment of the present suicidal and destructive policy of contraction. 2. We demand the abolition of national banks and the issue of a full legal tender paper money by the government, and receivable for all dues, public and private. 3. We demand the remonetization of the silver dollar, making it a full legal tender for the payment of all coin bonds of the government, and for all other debts, public and private, and that the coinage of silver shall be placed on the same footing as that of the gold. 4. Congress shall provide said money ade- quate to the full employment of labor, the equit- able distribution of its products and the require- ments of business. 5. We demand that Congress shall not, under any circumstances, authorize the issuance of in- terest-bearing bonds of any kind or class. 6. The adoption of an American monetary system, as proposed herein, will harmonize all differences in regard to tariff and federal taxa- tion, distribute equitably the joint earnings of capital and labor, secure to the producers of wealth the results of their labor and skill, mus- ter out of service the vast army of idlers, who, under the existing system, grow rich upon the earnings of others, that every man and woman may, by their own efforts, secure a competence, so that the overgrown fortunes and extreme poverty will be seldom found within the limits of our Republic. 7. The Government should, by general enact- ment, encourage the development of our agri- cultural, mineral, mechanical, manufacturing and commercial resources, to the end that labor may be fully and profitably employed, but no monopolies should be legalized. 8. The public lands are the common property of the whole people, and should not be sold to speculators, nor granted to railroads or other corporations, but should be donated to actual settlers in limited quantities. 9. It is inconsistent with the genius and spirit of popular government that any species of private or corporate property should be ex- empt from bearing its just share of the public burdens. 10. That, while the interests of the labor and producing classes throughout the nation are identical, North, South, East and West, and while it is an historic fact that the war of the rebellion was inaugurated in the interests of a class kindred to that which oppresses us, there- fore we declare that the Government of the United States shall never pay any part or por- tion of what is known as the confederate or rebel debt. 11. We demand a constitutional amendment fixing the compensation of all State officers, in- & - r HISTORY OF IOWA. 203 s eluding members and employes of the General Assembly. 12. We demand a general reduction of all county and court expenses, with a reduction of offices, to lessen oppressive taxes. 13. We demand that all just and legal means shall be used for the evils of intemperance. 14. We invite the considerate judgment of our fellow-citizens of all political parties upon these, our principles and purposes, and solicit the co-operation of all men in the furtherance of them, as we do believe that upon their accept- ance or rejection by the' people, the weal or woe of our beloved country depends. The Democrats assembled in convention June 7th, and nominated the following ticket . Secretary of State, T. O. Walker; Auditor, Col. Eiboeck; Treasurer, E. D. Fenn; Register of State Land Office, T. S. Bard well; Judge of Supreme Court, Judge J. C. Knapp; Clerk of Supreme Court, M. V. Gannon; Reporter of Supreme Court, J. B. Elliott; Attorney-General, John Gib- bons. The convention adopted the fol- lowing platform : We, the Democracy of Iowa, in convention assembled, congratulate the country upon the restoration of home rule to the South and the era of peace brought about in response to the demands of the national Democracy, and make this declaration of principles: 1. In favor of a tariff for revenue only; honest and economical home rule; the supremacy of civil over military power; the separation of the church and State; the equality of all citizens before the law; opposition to granting by the general government of subsidies to any corpora- tion whatever. 2. We believe the financial system of the Republican party has been one of favor to the moneyed monopolies, of unequal taxation, of exemptions of class, and of a remorseless con- traction that has destroyed every enterprise which gave employment to l.ibor, and therefore we denounce it, its measures and its men, as responsible for the financial distress, misery and want which now afflict the nation. 3. Labor and capital have an equal demand upon and equal responsibility to the law. 4. Public officials should be held to strict accountability, defaulters should be severely punished, and riot and disorder promptly sup- pressed. 5. We deprecate the funding of our non-in- terest bearing debt, and insist that our bonded debt be refunded at a rate of interest not ex- ceeding four per cent. 6. We favor an equal recognition of gold, silver and United States notes in the discharge ol public and private obligations, except where otherwise provided by contract, and to the end that the same be secured, we favor the uncon- ditional repeal of the resumption act, and the coinage of silver on equal conditions with gold. We oppose any further retirement of the United States notes now in circulation, and favor the substitution of United States treasury notes for national bank bills. 7. We declare it as our opinion that it is the duty of the government to take immediate steps to improve our great Western rivers, and that the means provided should be commensurate with the importance and magnitude of the work. 8. Thorough investigation into the election frauds of 1876 should be made, the frauds should be exposed, the truth vindicated, and the crimi- nals punished in accordance with law, wherever found. 9 The management of our State institutions by Republican officials has been and is notori- ously corrupt, and a disgrace to the people; we therefore demand a thorough investigation of the same, and the punishment of all parties who have betrayed their trust. Resolved, That we accept and re-affirm the doc- trine of Mr. Tilden upon the war claims as a proper adjustment of the national policy con- cerning that class of claims upon the public treasury. The Republicans held their convention June 19, and nominated the following 7k IV iLi 204 HISTORY OF IOWA. ticket: Secretary of State, Capt. John A. T. Hull; Auditor, Maj. Buren R. Sherman; Treasurer, George W. Bemis; Register State Land Office, Lieut. James K. Powers; Judge of Supreme Court, Col. J. H. Rothrock. They also adopted the following platform: 1. That the United States of America is a nation, not a league. By the combined work- ings of the national and State governments, under their respective constitutions, the right of every citizen should be secured at home and abroad, and the common welfare promoted. Any failure on the part of either the national or State governments to use every possible consti- tutional power to afford ample protection to their citizens, both at home and abroad, is a neglect of their highest duty. 2. Against the assaults of traitors and rebels, the Republican party has preserved these gov- ernments, and they represent the great truths spoken to the world by the Declaration of Inde- pendence, that "all men are created equal;" that they "are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that for the attainment of these ends, governments have been instituted among men, deriving just powers from the consent of the governed," which con- sent is evinced by a majority of the lawful suffrages of the citizens.determined in pursuance of law; and in order that this end may be justly and fully reached, the Republican party of Iowa demands that every qualified elector in every State, North and South, Democrat or Republi- can, white or black, shall be permitted, un lis- turbed by force and uuawed by fear, to vote at all elections at the place prescribed by law, and nowhere else, just once, and no more thau once; and that every vote so cast shall be honestly counted, and that every person chosen by such votes to any office shall be freely inducted into it, and effectively supported in the discharge of his duties; and every well informed person knows that with such freedom of elective action and honest administration as are herein de- manded, at least five of the Southern States are Republican by a large majority, and that they are now in the hands of the Democratic party, solely through force, fraud, intimidation, and failure to enforce the principles herein set forth. 3. The permanent pacification of the southern section of the Union, and the complete protec- tion of all its citizens in all their civil, political, personal and property rights, is a duty to which the Republican party stands sacredly pledged. In order to redeem this pledge, it placed the recent amendments in the constitution of the United States, and upon the righteous basis of said amendments it will go forward in the work of pacification until peace shall come through right doing, and contentment through justice. 4. The Democratic^ dogma of "home rule," which seeks to shut out from participation in the political affairs of the southern States all citizens who oppose the Democratic party and are not natives of said States, and i:. obedience to the spirit to which every man from the north, of republican sentiments, is termed a "carpet- bagger," is hereby denounced as the worst phase of State rights yet developed, and we demand for the people of Iowa absolute freedom to go whithersoever they may please within the limits of the nation, to utter their sentiments by speech or by press upon all subjects touching their interests, and all matters of public concern. 5. That the armed conflict between the traitors and the rebels who sought to destroy the republic, and the patriots who defended it, was more than a trial of physical force between Greeks. It was astruggle of right against wrong, of a true civilization against a false one, of a good government against anarchy, of patriots against traitors, wherein the Republican party was the defender of right, the champion of a true civilization, the promoter of good govern- ment, and in whose ranks patriots marched against traitors; and who ever fails to regard the Republican party from this standpoint and in this light, fails to comprehend its character, its achievements, its purposes, and its duties, and whoever treats with the Democratic party from any other standpoint, manifests incapacity HISTORY OF IOWA. 205 to understand palpable facts, and will be ober- whelmed with disaster. 6. That the soldiers who fought the battles of the republic are entitled to special credit for the heroism which they displayed, for their unselfish devotion to liberty and order, and for the great fact that the war "turned out as it did;" and discredit, in like degree, attaches to the traitors and rebels who fought to destroy the nation. Whoever fails to appreciate these facts, is derelict in the duty he owes to the party. 7. That the Republican parly is the party of order as opposed to all lawlessness in whatever quarter the same may arise, or in whatever form it may appear. 8. That the wisdom of the financial policy of the Republican party is made manifest by its results. It has brought specie and paper practi- cally together months before the date fixed by law for t!.e resumption of specie payment by the government; it has given to all classes money of the same value; it has placed our nation on an equal footing with the other great nations of the world in all matters of financial concern; it has promoted the refunding of the national debt at a low rate of interest; it has maintained the national credit; and any change in this policy which tends to obstruct it in its work of reslor ing specie payment, whereby paper currency becomes absolutely as valuable as gold and silver standard coin; of reviving business, pro- moting industry, and maintaining the public credit, is hereby denounced as w'holly evil and injurious to the best interest of the country. 9. That the oiganized raid on the treasury by the Southern Democratic members of Congress, for payment of hundreds of millions of dollars of rebel war claims, is an unparalleled impu- dence, and a present danger against the success of which the triumph of the Republican party is our only security. 10. That we favor a wisely adjused tariff for revenue. 11. In the matter of the faithful administra tiou of the public funds, the Republican parly challenges the closest scrutiny, and invites corn- pa lison with any and all other ageucies in pub- lic or private affairs. Notwithstanding the vast sums, amounting to thousands of millions of dollars, collected and distributed by Republican administration, the percentage of loss is less than can be shown by any other political party that lias ever been entiusled with the control of public affairs, or by individuals in their own private business. This shows that the charge of corruption made against the Republican party is as groundlessly impudent as was the attempt of the Southern Democracy to destroy the Union wantonly wicked and atrociously cruel. 12. The title to the Presidential term was definitely and finally settled by the forty-fourth Congress, and any attempt to open it is danger- ous, illegal, and unconstitutional, and the Republican party of Iowa will resist all efforts not founded on the constitution and the existing laws to displace the present possessor of said title, and it is a source of sincere congratulation that the firm attitude assumed by the Republi- can party of the country in this regard forced a majority of the House of Representatives to disavow the real but covert purposes of the so- called Potter investigation. 13. That the effotrs of the Democratic party in Congress to cripple and render inefficient the army and navy of the United States is most earnestly condemned, and all eflorts looking to a permanent reduction of the same, with a view to a future reorganization, whereby the offi. ial stations may be in whole or in part supplied by officers who engaged in rebellion against the nation, who hold to the doctrine of secession, and who acknowledge primary allegiance to a State, are hereby denounce** as dangerous to the peace of the country and »o the permanence of the Union. 14. That it is not only the right, but the duty, of every good citizen at party caucus, in the party conventions, and at the polls, to use his best efforts to secure the nomination and elec- tion of good men to places of official trust, and we disapprove of all interference with the peifect freedom of action of any citizen in the exercise of said right and in the discharge of said dutv. 206 HISTORY OF IOWA. 15. That personal temperance is a most com- mendable virtue in a people, and the practical popular movement now active througout the State, for the promotion of temperance, has our most profound respect, sympathy, and approval. 16. That we demand the most rigid economy in all departments of the public service, and rigid retrenchment in all public expenses in all possible directions, and the reduction of taxa- tion to the lowest limits consistent with efficient public service. In the direction of such economy and retrenchment, we heartly commend the action of the Republican legislature in reducing the expenses of the State in the sum of four hun- dred thousand dollars, and this example set by the State, should be followed in all other depart- ments of our government. 17. That the Republican party of Iowa de- mands an honest, faithful and efficient discharge of duty by all officers, whether federal. State, county or municipal, and requires a full, fair, and impartial and searching investigation into the official conduct of all officials and the busi- ness of all officers, without regard to party or personal association, and whenever or wherever fraud and dishonesty are discovered, the Repub- licans of Iowa demand the prompt punishment of the guilty parlies. "Let no guilty man es- cape." A fusion ticket, composed of Green- backers and Democrats, was agreed on September 29th, as follows : Secretary of State, E. M. Farnsworth (Greenback er); Auditor, Jos. Eiboeck (Democrat); Treas- urer, M L. Devin (Greenbacker); Register of Land Office, M. Farrington (Green- backer); Judge of Supreme Court, Joseph C. Knapp (Democrat); Attorney-Geueral, John Gibbons (Democrat); Clerk of Su- preme Court, Alex. Runyon (Greenback- er); Reporter of Supreme Court, John B. Elliott (Democrat). On Secretary of State the vote was as follows : J. A. T. Hull, Rep 134,544 E. M. Farnsworth, Fusion 125,087 T. O. Walker, Dem 1,302 Hull, overall 8,055 The Democrats held a convention May 21, 1879, at Council Bluffs, and nominated the following State ticket: Governor, H. H. Trimble; Lieutenant-Governor, J. Y. Yeoman s; Judge of Supreme Court, Reu- ben Noble; Supt. of Public Instruction, Erwin Baker. The platform adopted by the convention is here given : Resolved, That the Democratic party now, as in the past, insists that our liberties depend upon the strict construction and observance of the constitution of the United States and all its amendments. 2. That the States and the general govern- ment should be sternly restrained to their respec- tive spheres, and to the exercise only of the powers granted and reserved by the constitution. 3. That the policy of the Republican party, by which it inflates the importance of the States when necessary to cover the theft of the Presi dency, and in turn magnifies the functions of the general government to cover the coercion of the States iuto the endorsement of the partisan will of the fraudulent executive, is full of evil and fruitful of danger. 4. That such a policy is intended to array section against section, the States against the general government, and it against the States in turn, for the purpose of destfoying the freedom of both, and teaching the people to look to a strong government as a shelter from the anarchy its advocates have planned. 5. That evidences of these nefarious pur- poses is furnished by the present attitude of the Republican party, which is arrayed against a free ballot, on which depend all the liberties se- cured to us by the constitution. 6. That we view with alarm the determina- tion of the Republican party, through the fraud- ulent executive, to deprive this republic of its army, so necessary to the defence of its froutier, and its protection from foreign and domestic enemies, by vetoing appropriations for the pny HISTORY OF IOWA. 207 and support of our soldiers, unless they can be used to force voters to record the mere will of the executive. 7. That we hail the Democratic Senators and Representatives in Congress as worthy the hero- ic lineage of American citizens, for standing firmly for the American idea in government as against the despotic theory from which our rev- olutionary fathers revolted, and we ask all lovers of liberty to join us and them in a protest against the change in our form of government proposed hy the Republican party, which will substitute the will of one man for that of the majority of all the people. 8. That we are in favor of the substitution of United States treasury notes for national bank notes, and of the abolition of national banks as banks of issue; that the government of the United States issue the money for the people; and, further, that we favor a reduction of the bonded debt of the United States as fast as prac- ticable, and the application of the idle money in the treasury to that purpose. 9. That we favor the free and unlimited coin- age of the silver dollar of 412>£ grains, and pro- viding certificates for silver bullion which may be deposited in the United Stales treasury, the same to be legal tender for all purposes. 10. That we favor a tariff for revenue only. 11. That we are in favor of economy in pub- lic expenditures, including reduction of salaries local and general, wherever they maybe deemed excessive; and also a reduction in the number of officials. 12. That the Democratic party of Iowa is de- sirous of promoting temperance, and, being op- posed to free whisky, it is in f av ^r of a judicious license law. 13. That we favor holding all public servants to a strict accountability, and their prompt and severe punishment for all thefts of public money and maladministration of public office. A Temperance convention was held at dar Rapids June 16th, and adopted the following platform : ffesi h-ed, "We recognize the traffic in intoxicat- ing liquors as the great moral, financial, social, and political evil of the present age; that it is one of the worst relics of barbarism; that it has always been the moving cause of crime, and is, therefore, subversive of our republican form of government, and should be overthrown. 2. We believe that the prohibition of the traffic of intoxicating liquors is the only sound legislative theory upon which this vexed ques- tion can be solved and the nation saved from bankrupcy and demoralization; therefore, we insist upon the maintenance and enforcement of our prohibitory liquor law, and upon such amendments by the next Legislature of the State of Iowa as will place ale, wine, and beer under the same condemnation as other intoxicating liquors. 3. We believe that in the security of home rests the security of the State; that woman is by her very nature the acknowledged guardian of this sacred shrine, and that intemperance is its greatest enemy, therefore we claim that the daughters of this commonwealth, as well as her sous, be allowed to say.jby their vote, what laws should be made for the suppression of this evil, and what persons shall execute the same. 4. That the present movement inaugurated by the temperance organizations of the State to prohibit the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors, except for mechanical and medical pur- poses, including malt and wine liquors, meets our active support. 5. That we, as the Prohibitionists of the State of Iowa, in view of the great questions of public interest effecting the perpetuity of our general government, which are now absorbing the thought and action of all our people, deem it inexpedient and unwise to nominate a State prohibitory ticket at the present time. A portion of the convention in favor of the nomination of a State ticket seceded, and nominated a State ticket, headed by G. T. Carpenter for Governor. Mr. Car- penter declining, D. R. Dungan was .substi- tuted. The rest of the ticket was composed ^ - 13 **fc •tu. 208 HISTORY OF IOWA. as follows: Lieutenant-Governor, Ffank T. Campbell; Judge of the Supreme Court, J. M. Beck; Supt. of Public Instruction, J. A. Nash. The Greenbackers assembled at Des Moines May 28th, and nominated a ticket as follows: Governor, Daniel Campbell; Lieutenant-Governor, M. M. Moore; 'Su- preme Judge, M. H. Jones; Supt. of Pub- lic Instruciion, J. A.Nash. The follow- ing platform was adopted: Whereas, The sovereign and supreme power of the American Union is vested in the free will of the citizens thereof, who have an equal and unquestionable light to express that will as to them seems best adapted to secure the peace, perpetuate the liberty, and promote the pros- perity of each individual, as well as to enhance and protect the common welfare of our country; and, Whereas, This power has been delegated to unworthy servants, who have diverted it from its original purpose, whereby grievous wrongs have been perpetrated on the masses of the people, subjecting them to gross injustice, widespread poverty, untold privations, and business paralyzation; and, Whereas, These grievances have been greatly augumented by limiting the legal-tender quality of the greenbacks; by loaning the credit of the government to national bank corporations; by changing tiovernmenl bonds into coin bonds, and making the same exclusively payable in gold, by the conversion of a non-interest bearing circulating medium into an interest bearing government debt; by defrauding labor of employ- ment; by the ruinous shrinkage in the value of property; by the depression of business; by the willful restrictions placed upon the remonetiza- tion of the silver dollar; by the exemption of capital from its just share of the burden of taxa- tion; by the contraction of the greenback cur- rency; by the furced resumption of specie pay- ment; by the increase in the purchasing power of money, and its attendant hardshi, s on the debtor class; by declaring poverty a crime, and providing punishment therefor; by the criminal waste of the public domain, through enormous grants of land to railroad corporations; by oppressive taxation; by high rates of interest for the use of money; by exorbitant salaries and fees to public officers; by official corruption in the administration of public affairs; and, Whereas, A moneyed despotism has grown up in our land out of this state of affairs, which con trols the law-making power of our country, dictates judicial decisions, wields an undue influence over the chief executive of the nation — in the consideration of the laws passed for the benefit of the people, thus enabling the money power to carry on its schemes of public plunder, under and by which colossal fortunes have been gathered in the hands of the ambitious and un- crupulous men whose interests are at war with the interests of the people, hostile to popular government, and deaf to the demands of honest toil; therefore, we, the representatives of the Union Greenback Labor Party of Iowa, adopt the following as our platform of principles: 1. The general government alone to issue money; the amount in circulation to be fixed by. a constitutional amendment upon a per capita basis; calling in of all United States bonds, and the payment of them in full legal-tender money. 2. That the national banks, as banks of issue, must be abolished by law, and the legal tender greenback money of the government of the United States shall be substituted for their cir- culation. 3. That we demand the unlimited coinage of the silver dollar of the present standard weight and fineness. 4. That the American people owe a debt of gratitude to the Union soldiers that can never be fully paid, and in recognition of their patri- otic services we endorse the arrearages of pen- sions, and favor the passage of a bill providing for the equalization of bounties similar to the one vetoed by ex-President Grant. 5. That we view with grave apprehension the continued oppression of the people by cor- porate powers; and while we execrate the inhu- man treatment of the Union soldiers in prison *¥ HISTORY OF IOWA. 209 pens of the South during the rebellion, we con- demn the violence of partisan spirit in the legisla- tive halls of Congress, which seeks to revive the dead issue of the past while conspiring against and deliberately refusing to provide measures of relief adequate to the living necessities of the present. 6. That it is the right and duty of all qualified electors of any State in the Union to vote accord- ing to their conscientious convictions, and to have that vote honestly and fairly counted; and that any attempt to interfere with that right, either by threats of bands of armed men or the use of troops at the polls, or by fraud in con- ducting the election, or bribery in making out the returns, or by threats to dismiss from service, or any other means by which that right is abridged, is a crime that should be severely punished. 7. That the office-holders of our country are the servants and not the masters of the people, and that these officers should be removed and punished to the full extent of the law whenever they betray the public trust confided to them; and we demand that all official fees and salaries, commencing with the President, should be re- duced from twenty-five to fifty per cent.; and we further demand the strictest economy in the administration of our courts of justice, and in all other federal and State officers. 8. That we highly commend the moral re- form of men and the elevation of families by agencies of the temperance cause, and demand the use of all just and legal means for the sup- pression of the evils of intemperance. 9. That all real estate be assessed to the owner, and the tax thereon be paid by him, pro- vided, that in case there is a mortgage or ven- dor's lien upon the land, and he pays the whole tax, that he may deduct, as payment on said lien, the pro rata share of the tax. 10. That the revenue law of the State shall be amended so that the penalty or interest on the sale of delinquent taxes should not exceed the sum of ten per cent, per annum, and that the time of redemption shall be extended to a teim of five years. 11. We favor the- repeal of the present rail- road commissioners' law, and the adoption of a suitable legislative action to reduce and equalize freight 12. That the prison convict labor shall never come in competition with free labor, by the contract system, under any name. Resolved, That we approve the bold and inde- pendent stand taken by our Greenback repre- sentatives in Congress; and we especially endorse the conduct of Messrs. Weaver and Gillette in their conduct with the combined opposition of both old parties. 2. That the nominees of this convention are the candidates of the Greenback party of Iowa, and in no case will we recognize the right of any person or persons to alter or change the ticket here nominated, except to fill vacancies occa- sioned by death, in which case the central com- mittee shall not place on the ticket the names of any person or persons who are identified with either of the old parties. The Republicans assembled at Des Moines, June 11, and nominated the fol- lowing ticket: Governor, John H. Gear; Lieutenant-Governor, Frank T. Campbell; Supreme Judge, J. M. Beck; Supt. of Public Instruction, C. W. Von Coelln. A platform was adopted as follows: 1. That the United States of America is a nation, not a league. This is the doctrine of the constitution, confirmed by the result of the war of the rebellion. The Democratic party denies this, and opposes to it the doctrine of State rights, which includes the power of a State to dissolve its connection with the Union, therefore it is dangerous to the national life to trust it to the Democratic party. 2. Upon the foregoing doctrine of nationality depends the power of the republic to protect its citizens in all other rights, both at home and abroad, and from its denial by the Democratic party have resulted the barbarous outrages per- petrated on citizens in all of the disturbed sec- tions of the Southern States, and redress can be 210 HISTOEY OF IOWA. had alone through the administration of public affairs in the several departments of the govern- ment by the Republican party. 3. We denounce the attempt of the Demo- cratic party in Congress to render the federal elections insecure by the repeal of the election laws ef the United States as dangerous to a free and pure expression of the voice of the people through the ballot-box, and as tending to subject said elections to the dominations of the bull- dozing elements of the Southern States, and of repeaters and promoters of fraud in the city of New York and elsewhere, and the resistence made to the accomplishment of this result by the Republican Senators and Representotives in Congress, and by President Hayes in his veto messages, is accorded our profound commenda- tion. 4. That we approve ol the financial policy of the Republican party, and refer with pride to its results. The Southern Democratic rebellion for the perpetuation of slavery and the enforcement of State rights forced an enormous interest- bearing debt upon the people, which, in August, 1865, reached its highest point, and then amounted to $2,381,530,294.96, requiring an an- nual interest payment of $150,977,697.87. On the 1st of August next, when the Republican refunding operations will be completed, this Democratic debt will be reduced to $1,797,643,- 700.00, with an annual interest charge of but $83,778,777.50, showing a reduction in the prin- cipal of $583,886,594.96, and of the annual interest charge of $57,203,619.37; and we declare this debt shall be honestly paid in honest money, and to this end are in favor of keeping our coin circulation at its largest practicable volume, and of maintaining our paper currency where the Republican party has placed it — at par with coin; and to the further end that the dollar earned by labor shall be worth as much as the dollar earned by capital. 5. Concerning further financial legislation, we say, let us have peace, undisturbed by Con- gressional tinkering, that our business interests may ievive, investments of more idle capital be encouraged, commercial interests fostered, and the general welfape promoted. 6. The profit arising from the coinage of gold and silver should inure to the benefits of the government, and not to the advantage of private owners of bullion, as this tends to diminish the burdens of the tax-payers, and no part of the tax-paying currency should be converted into the new tax-paying list. 7. We favor a wisely-adjusted tariff for rev- enue. 8. We demand a strict economy in the impo- sition of public taxes and expenditures of pub- lic money, and such just reduction and equali- zation of the salaries and fees of public officers as shall place them on an equality with like po- sitions in private employment. 9. That we renew our expression of profound gratitude to the soldiers and sailors of the Union, and denounce the removal of employees of this class by the Democrats in Congress, and the ap- pointment, in their stead, of members of the Confederate army. 10. That we re-affirm the position of the Re- publican party heretofore expressed upon the subject of temperance and prohibition. The vote on Governor was as follows : John H. Gear, Rep 157,571 H. H. Trimble, Dem 85,056 F. T. Campbell, Gr 45,438 D. R. Dungan, Temp 3,258 Gear.over all 23,828 The campaign of 1880 was an exciting one. James A. Garfield was the Repub- lican candidate for the Presidency; Win- field S. Hancock, the Democratic; James B. Weaver, the Greenback; Neal Dow, the Prohibition. The Republicans of Iowa were first in the field this year, meeting in convention at DesMoines April 7*i, and nominating for Secretary of State, J. A. T. Hull; Treasurer, E. H. Conger; Auditor, W. V. Lucas; Attorney-General, Smith McPherson; Register of State Land Office, J. K. Powers. They also resolved — 1. That we insist on the nomination of well- known Republicans of national reputation for 4^ HISTORY OF IOWA. 211 ability, purity and experience in public affairs, and adhesion to Republican princij les, for Pres- ident and Vice-President of the United States, by the National Republican Convention. 2. That, as Republicans of Iowa, recognizing in the Hon. James Q. Blaine a man of tried in- tegrity, of uncompromising loyalty and patriot- ism, of commanding ability both as a leader and statesman, and a fearless advocate of the prin- ciples which have preserved the Union and given undying luster to the party of which he is the admired representative, we take pleasure in re- cording the fact that he is the preference of the Republicans of Iowa for the office of President of the United States. And while we pledge our- selves to support the nominee of the Chicago convention, we nevertheless declare it is our conviction that no other candidate will develop the enthusiasm or call out the number of votes that would be polled by the American people for James G. Blaine, as the standard-bearer of the Republican party in the national contest of 1880. 3. That the delegation of this convention to Chicago be instructed to cast the vote of Iowa as a unit; and that the delegation be further in- structed to use all honorable means to secure the nomination for President of the Hon. James G. Blaine. The Greenback party assembled in con- vention May 19th, at Des Moines and nominated Secretary of State, G. M. Wal- ker; Treasurer of State, Matthew FarriDg- ton; Auditor of State, G. V. Swearengen; Attorney-General, W. A. Spurrier; Register of State Land-Office, Thos. Hooker. The following is the platform adopted : We, the National Greenback Labor Party of Iowa, decide, as our first broad principle of f:uth, that that which is created is subservient to the power that created it. Resolved, That all currency, whether metallic or paper, necessary for use and convenience of the people, should be issued and controlled by the government, and not by or through the bank corporations of the country; and when so issued shall be a full legal tender for the payments of all debts, public and private. 2. That so much of the interest bearing debt of the United States as shall become redeemable in the year 1881, or prior thereto, being in amonnt $782,000,000, shall not be refunded beyond the power of the government to call in said obligations and pay them at any time, but shall be paid as rapidly as possible, and accord- ing to contract. To enable the government to meet these obligations, the mints of the United States should be operated to their full capacity in the coinage of standard silver dollars, and such other coinage as the business of the country may require. 3. That as the producing classes are now enslaved by interest-bearing debt, therefore we are unalterably opposed to all bonded indebted- ness. 4. That the payment of the bond in coin, originally payable in lawful money, was a gift to the bond-holder, and the payment of the soldiers in paper, when by contract payable in coin, was and is an unjust discrimination in favor of the bondholder; therefore, we demand, in justice to the soldier, that he be paid accord- ing to contract. 5. That we are opposed to the importation of Chinese semi-barbarous labor, regarding it as a paralyzing and degrading system, that will, unless checked, undermine American free labor 6. That we demand the immediate passage by Congress of a law for the equalization of soldiers' bounties similar to the one vetoed by President Grant. 7. That the right of suffrage, free press and speech, are the inalienable rights of every citi- zen of the United States. 8. That we denounce the discrimination between government clerks and government laborers, the clerks working six hours and the laborers ten hours. 9. That we are opposed to a large standing army, either national or State, in times of pro- found peace, eating out the substance of the people. \h- :k 212 HISTORY OF IOWA. 10. That we will continue to agitate the sub- ject of reform in this State, until official salaries shall bear a just proportion to the incomes of the people who pay them. 11 . That the last Legislature of our State, in ' failing to pass the innocent purchaser bill, the bill to reduce court expenses, the bill to protect the destruction of sheep from the ravages of dogs, the bill to cut down our tax penalties, the bill to reduce the rate of interest, have neglected the best interests of the State, and ought to be turned out of power. 12. That the State should not sell contract labor to compete with free labor. 13. That as citizens of Iowa we feel proud of, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to Messrs. Weaver anu Gillette, for their noble and untir- ing efforts in the halls of Congress to secure the rights of the worthy toiling millions. 14. That we, as the National Greenback Labor Party, know no North, no South, no East, no West. 15. That all banks of issue and all monopolies must go, The Democrats met at Des Moines; Sep- tember 2d, and nominated a ticket as fol- lows : For Secretary of State, A. B. Keith; Treasurer, Martin Blim ; Auditor, Chas. I. Barker ; Attorney-General, C. A. Clark ; Register of State Land Office, C. A. Dougherty. They also resolved : 1. We, the Democracy of Iowa, in delegate convention assembled, endorse the platform of the party adopted at Cincinnati, and pledge our earnest efforts in its behalf. 2. The Democracy of Iowa are heartily in favor of the National nominees, Hancock and English, as they give a decided assurance of p-..re and more thoroughly careful administration of national affairs. 3. We are in favor of a judicious license law, and condemn all efforts to legislate against those natural rights which do not trespass upon those belonging to the whole community, and we applaud the action of our representatives at DesMoines in the Eighteenth General Assembly for their manly and able opposition to the at- tempt at sumptuary legislation made by a Re- publican legislature. The vote for Secretary of State stood as follows: J. A. T. Hull, Rep 184, 166 A. B. Keith, Dem 105,760 G.M. Walker, Gr 32,780 Scattering 422 Hull over all 45, 204 In the campaign of 1881, the first con- vention held was by the Democrats, at DesMoines, June 16. They nominated for Governor, L. G. Kinne; Lieutenant- Governor, J. M. Walker; Judge of Su- preme Court, H. B. Hendershott; Supt. of Public Instruction, W. H. Butler. The convention adopted the following plat- form: The Democratic party of Iowa, in convention assembled, re-affirm the national platforms of 1876 and 1880, demand strict economy in all public expenditures, a strict accountability of all public servants, and declares — 1. For tariff reform, ultimating in simpler revenue s3'stem, with commercial freedom as its issue. 2. That we oppose all sumptuary laws, and the proposed prohibitory amendment to the constitution in all its steps and stages as the most offensive form of sumptuary regulation. 3. That the great agricultural and producing interests of the country should be emancipated from the burdens of monopoly put upon them by Republican rule, and as a feature of such relief, for the cheapening of transportation by government appropriations for improvement of the Mississippi river, its navigable tributaries and other water-ways. 4. That we execrate the constant official cor- ruption grown into Republican practice, and that the demand of our national platform for civil service reform is freshly emphasized by the immoral spectacle of Republican tactions dis- . g. _ k HISTORY OF IOWA. 213 turbing the public peace, not by the agitation of great measures of statesmanship, but by a vulgar quarrel over the partition of public spoils, and a squabble for the opportunities of official theft. The Greenback convention was held at Marshalltown, June 2, and the following ticket nominated: Governor, D. M. Clark; Lieutenant-Governor, James M. Holland ; Supt. of Public Instruction, Mrs. A. M. Swain; Supreme Judge, W. W. William- son. The following platform was adopted by the convention : 1. The right to make and issue money is a sovereign constitutional power to be maintained by the people for the common benefit. We de- mand the abolition of all banks of issue, and the substitution of full legal tender greenbacks in lieu of their notes. 2. We oppose the refunding of the national debt or the issue of interest-bearing non-payable bonds upon any pretext, and demand the pay- ment and destruction of those outstanding at the earliest possible moment. 3. We demand a gradual income tax, where- by capital shall bear a just share of the public burden. 4. We regard the act substituting a railroad commission for laws governing freight rates in the State as a fraud secured by the railroad companies through a Republican legislature, and demand its repeal. While we favor liberal na- tional appropriations for the creation and im- provement of water-ways, we demand laws protecting the people of Iowa from discrimina- tion, pooling, watering of stock, drawbacks or rebates, and all unjust charges on the part of railroads, until such time as the people, who built most of these roads with land grants, taxes and subsidies, shall own and operate or fully control them. 5. We demand a revision of our patent right laws, placing a fair limit upon the royalties of inventors, and protecting the people from injus- tice. 6. We demand that all land grants forfeited by reason of the non-f ulflllment of conditions by railroad companies shall be at once reclaimed by the government, and henceforth that the public domain be reserved exclusively for homesteaders or actual settlers. 7. We demand absolutely Democratic rules for the government of Congress and State legis- latures, placing all representatives of the people upon an equal footing, and taking from all com- mittees a veto power upon proposed legislation 8. We denounce as most dangerous the re- strictions of the right of suffrage in mauy States, and its abolition in the District of Col- umbia, and demand equal political rights for all men and women. 9. Believing that all questions affecting the public interest should be decided by the people, we favor the submission of the proposed consti- tutional amendment to the popular vote. 10. We demand that all ballots in this State shall be of uniform size, color and material, and that each party having a State organization shall have one member on the election board of each township precinct. 11. We favor the abolition of the electoral college, and the election of President, Vice- President and Senators of the United States by a direct vote of the people. 12. In the furtherance of these ends, we ask the cooperation of all men and women, without regard to previous party affiliation or prejudice. The Republicans met at DesMoines, June 1, and nominated the following ticket: Governor, Buren R. Sherman; LieutenantrGovernor, Orlando H. Man- ning; Supt. of Public Instruction, John W. Akers; Judge of Supreme Court, Austin Adams. The convention also adopted the following platform: We, the representatives of the Republican party of Iowa, demand anew of the people of the State their fullest confidence and support, because of the faithfulness of the party, in the State and in the nation, to party pledges; be- cause of the marvelous devotion it has shown in support of the Union; because of its abhorrence r Y •*,T-2_ 214 HISTORY OF IOWA. of slavery and polygamy, and of its successful efforts to crush the one, and of Its persistent struggle to get rid of the other, sure to go on to its final extirpation; because of its active inter- est in the relief of struggling and oppressed humanity everywhere; because of its determin- ation to abolish all inequalities of citizenship, to give all men of all races and nationalities in this land equality of civil and political rights; be- cause of its efforts to establish temperance, to educate the people and build up all moral forces; because it has been earnest in its efforts toward honest and economical government, and has been swift to correct abuses when it has discov- ered them; because it has steadily maintained the financial honor of the nation, is rapidly dis- charging its great war debt, and has made the recent financial history of the government the marvel of naticins; because it has protected the labor of the country, and built up its agricultu- ral and manufacturing interests, and promoted the means of internal commerce by judicial leg- islation; because it is positive and progressive, and will, in the future, as in the past, prove its capacity to grapple promptly and successfully with every emergency of the nation, and with every question affecting the people's interests; and, finally, because it will secure a complete and lasting unification of the country, entire peace and concord, upon the statute basis of free schools, free speech, a free press and a free ballot. In the spirit of the purpose that has redeemed former pledges and produced these results, the Republican party of Iowa resolves — 1. We re-affirm the Republican national plat- form of 1880, and insist upon its enforcement in its relation to the several affairs of the nation, the States and the Territories, in order that sound policies shall prevail in the nation, and ample protection be afforded to its citizens in all of their rights of citizenship in the several States; and that the territories be made as abso- lutely free from the debasing presence and per- nicious influences of polygamy as the States now are of slavery. 2. We congratulate this country upon the election of James A. Garfield, and the national adminstration upon the vigorous manner in which it has undertaken'to ferret out fraud and suppress extravagance in public expenditures, to secure the personal and commercial rights of our people abroad, to deal justly with the Indian wards of the government, and upon the con- spicuous success of its financial policy. 8. That we are in hearty sympathy with the spirit of recent conventions for supplementing and improving the great water routes of the nation, and cordially endorse all measures which look toward a practical and judicious improve- ment of the magnificent water-ways which nature has afforded us for cheaply transporting the immense commerce of the States, and therefore developing the immense resources of the interior of our national domain. 4. That we recognize railways as one of the most potent agencies in our national progress, but one which by reason of its relation to the people, must be kept subordinate to the interests of the people, and within the legislative control of Congress and the State. That in the spirit of its usefulness, it must be dealt with in fairness and without injustice. But we are in accord with the popular demand, that the unquestion- able legislative power shall be used to protect the people from any abuse and unjust exactions. 5. That the plenary power of Congress over the subjectof patent, should be so exercised as to protect the people against the wrongs and abuses which have been developed and are practiced under the present system of laws relating to patent rights, and we ask our senators and repre- sentatives in Congress, to lend their best efforts to the accomplishment of this end. 6. That the position attained in our com- merce by American meats and live animals, demand the enactment of effective legislation by both the nation and the States, for the sup- pression of such diseases as are calculated to interfere with this important feature of our foreign trade. 7. That in pursuance of the uniform justice of the Republican party to observe the pledges and perform the promises made and given in its platform, we declare that the provisions in the : v a k^ lkt+ HISTORY OF IOWA. 215 platform of 1879, for the submission of the so-ealled prohibitory amendment of the con- stitution of Iowa, to a vote of the people at a special and non-partisan election should be enforced, in order that the good faith of the party may be maintained, and that the people in this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, may have an opportunity to express their wishes concerning the pending amendment, regardless of party affiliations, and with perfect freedom from all party restraint and influences. CHAPTER XI, TERRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS A RETROSPECT. In the limited space of this State his- tory, sketches of the various Territorial and State officers cannot be given, though they would be of great interest. It is thought best, however, to insert sketches of the three Territorial Governors. These have been prepared by Hon. Samuel Mur- dock, of Clayton county, a gentleman than -whom none are better qualified for the task. Robert Lucas. In the spring of 1832 the celebrated Inilian Chief, Black Hawk, in violation of the treaty of St. Louis in 1804, which he himself had ratified in 1816, and again partially ratified in 1831, started with his band, composing a part of the Sac and Fox Indians, ascended Rock River to a considerable distance, where he took up a strong military position. Gen. Atkinson, with a large number of United States troops and volunteers from the surrounding country, immediately pur- sued him, with the intention of forcing the cunning chief either to retire or give him battle. And in compliance with this reso- lution, he dispatched forward Major Still- man, with three or four hundred volunteers, to reconoitre the position of Black Hawk. But Stillman had before him a "Warrior tried;" a man who had been born and cradled upon the battle-field; one who had followed his father through many a hard- fought battle with the Cherokees; one who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Tecumseh at Brownstown and the Thames; one who, by experience, understood both the tactics of the white man and the Indian; one who had mingled in the strife and carnage of every desperate and bloody battle along the whole western border for nearly half a century before. As soon as he heard that Stillman was approaching his camp, he made preparations to meet him, and in doing this he planned and accomplished one of the greatest and most hj( (i -® Vr y 216 HISTORY OF IOWA. skillful military stratagems known to modern times. Stillman, underrating the character of the man before him, rushed, with his whole force, into the very jaws of death; his troops were thrown into the worst kind of disorder, and fell around him dead and dying over the field. Bravely did Stillman attempt to rally his men and bring them into order, which he came very near doing; but the eagle eye of an old warrior was looking over that field, and just at the moment when the tide of battle seemed to hang in a balance, this brave old warrior puts him- self at the head of a chosen number of his gallant braves, and with a yell that sent a thrill through many a bold and daring heart, rushed to the charge, dealing death and destruction in his way. Stillman ordered his men to fall back, but all was now utter confusion, and the retreat became a perfect rout. Thus, sir, commenced the short and bloody "Black Hawk War," a war in which few laurels were won, and nothing found to admire save the daring bravery of the savage commander. It is not my purpose to fol- low it further; its history is a history of the most disgraceful outrages and vile treacheries on the part of the Americans; and but for the noble conduct of the gal- lant Dodge connected with it, ought to be blotted forever from the recollections of American history. The wa.r ended by the capture of "Black Hawk" through the treachery of the Win- nebagos; and a treaty was concluded with him on the 21st of September, 1832, at Rock Island, by which he ceded to the United States a large tr act of la nd, west of the Mississippi, which became known as the "Black Hawk Purchase." This war had its important effects in the his- tory of the Great West; it brought into notice the rich valley of the Rock river; it laid open to view the wealth and treas- ures locked up for past ages in the lead mines of Wisconsin; it opened to the view of the emigrant a rich and fertile valley, lying between the Mississippi on one side and the Missouri on the other; and long before the stipulations of the treaty of 1832 could be carried out, thousands rushed pell mell into the new land, ming- ling savage and civilized life together. The National Legislature has never yet been able to keep up in making the neces- sary laws for their protection, with the great tide of civilization, as it rolls on- ward, year after year, upon the heels of retreating savages. On the 20th of April, 1836, Congress passed a law for the organization of the Territory of Wisconsin, by the provisions of which the northern boundary of Wis- consin extended west in a zigzag direction from a point opposite the main channel of Green Bay through Lake Superior, touch- ing the White Earth river, thence down said river to the main channel of the Mis- souri, thence down the Missouri to a point due west from the northwest corner of the State of Missouri, etc.; thus, you see, in- cluding within the bounds of Wisconsin all the lands and territory which now compose the great States of Iowa and Minnesota. It was soon evident that this arrangement could not last long; Young America had crossed the Mississippi, and had left a natural boundary behind him; stretching his eyes three hundred miles L> HISTORY OF IOWA. 217 west, his vision rested upon another, and with this in view, he demanded a separa- tion, whicn no Congress at that time dared to refuse. On the 13th day of June, 1838, Congress passed an act organizing the Territory of Iowa into a separate and distinct govern- ment. This was the era of many a dar- ling project on the part of Young Amer- ica, which he has since carried out to per- fection and success; while at the same time it became the era of many a "bubble bursted" in the shape of fallen cities and deserted capitols. Cassville, below you, was once, in expectancy, a proud metropo- lis, and the seat of a more than Chinese Empire. The act took effect from and after the 3d day of July of that year, with all the requisites of a separate and inde- pendent existence. Robert Lucas, of Ohio, the person whose name heads this article, was appointed by Mr. VanBuren, her first Governor, in con- nection with Willian B. Conway, of Penn- sylvania, Secretary. Governor Lucas, at the time of his appointment, was quite an old man, and far advanced in the decline of life; he had spent his best days in the service of his country. His youth was spent amid the strife and storms of a cruel and desperate border war. He was engaged in almost every battle from the Huron to the Thames. He had mingled personally in almost every skirmish on the frontier during the war of 1812, and his history was full of romantic adventures, hair-breadth escapes, and bold and daring encounters. He had seen the Great West territory pass from a howling wilderness, and become the abode of millions of freemen who could cultivate their own vine and fig tree, wor- ship at their own shrine, with none to fear or make them afraid. He had seen Ohio a despondency, a tittle colony, struggling for existence, with almost her entire male population drafted for a border war, and he left her for Iowa, the third among a confederation of States, the greatest, the most powerful, and at the same time the most proud and glorious republic the world ever saw. He commenced his public career in Ohio in her infancy; he assisted, by his valor and courage, to drive back the mur- derous foe who hung upon the borders to glut his vengeance on the innocent child at its mother's breast. And not until the Indian had buried the tomahawk, and England had ceased to desolate her fron- tiers, did he quit his post and return to enjoy himself in the peaceful avocations of private life. He mingled in her halls and in her councils, and his name con- nected with almost every public act of that great State, which gave her prosperity and greatness; and as a tribute to his worth and a reward for his services, she conferred upon him, in his declining years, the office of Governor. It was soon after his term of office ex- pired in Ohio that he received from the President the Governorship of Iowa. It was during his term of office as Gov- ernor of Ohio that the dispute arose between that State and the territory of Michigan, in relation to their respective boundaries, which came very near plung- ing both of them into a cruel, desperate and fratricidal war. The matter was set- tled, finally, by giving Ohio all she claimed; and in order to keep the youngest child of s> "'y 218 HISTORY OF IOWA. the Republic in these days from being naughty, she was given a strip of poor territory, two hundred and fifty miles from her, and north and west of the main channel of Green Bay. He commenced his career in Iowa with all the bouyancy of youth and better days, and looked forward with a great deal of interest to the day when he should see her a proud and noble State. Scarcely had he time to look around him and gather information, in his new field of labor, before he found himself involved in another question of boundry, between Iowa and the State of Missouri. Missouri had set up a claim to a strip of country about six miles wide extending along the south line of our whole State; and on this strip of land she had several times attempted to collect taxes and en- force her laws. The settlers resisted these claims of Missouri, and appealed to the Governor for protection. No sooner was their case made known to him than he resolved to call forth all the military force he could procure, and for this purpose he issued his proclamation. Hundreds responded to his call, and in a short time he had col- lected here and there through the territory a set of men who only wanted a nod from their commander, and they would have thrown themselves against odds into the very heart of Missouri. Gov. Boggs, of Missouri, had also called on his State for assistance, and he, too, was on his march with a desperate set of men to assert his claim. Had those two forces have met, nothing could have prevented a dreadful and fatal encounter. But wise councils prevailed, and the legislature of Iowa, to its everlasting credit, drew up and passed a preamble and resolutions requesting both Governors to suspend hostilities until the first day of July thereafter. These resolutions had the desired effect; military preparations were suspended by both parties, and an- other cruel and fratricidal war averted. The matter was afterwards submitted to Congress, where, through the influence of A. C. Dodge, with his uncle, Dr. Linn, who was at that time a Senator in Congress from Missouri; the matter was finally settled by giving to Iowa all she ever claimed. Thus ended the celebrated "Missouri war," a war whose history is full of fun and anecdote, a war which has since fur- nished the theme for many an idle, but interesting romance; and a war which will only be remembered in machine verse and burlesque song; for "Missouri shall many a day" "Tell of the bloody fray" "When the Hawbeyes and Pukies" "First met on her border." Governor Lucas never forgot the inci- dents of this war during his life; and long after the difficulties had passed away, he never could talk about it without flying into a passion at the conduct of Missouri. He cherished a holy hatred for the land of "Pukes" during his lifetime. Not long after the difficulties with Mis- souri were settled, he got into a desperate quarrel with the legislature, and for a time, everything about the capital wore a bel- ligerant aspect. It will be recollected that at that time the legislature was filled exclusively by young men; "mere boys," e> - iu HISTORY OF IOWA. 219 a^ it was said of them at the time, and a higher set of fellows than they were, could scarcely be found. They looked upon Iowa as their own and each of them looked himself as the future Senator, Governor, or chief justice of a future State, which he himself was at that time laboring to bring about; and the history of occurring events will show, that with a large number of them, their early antici- pations turned out to be true; and with those who are still in obscurity, but yet in the prime of life, a bright and happy future is still before them. The Governor was an old man, and, as they thought, tinctured somewhat with "Foggyism," and they did not hesitate to declare that he was here for the office, and for the office alone, and that as soon as his term expired, he would return again to Ohio, as all Governors of new Territories have generally done. What wonder, then, that between such elements, there should, in the course of events spring up a collision. The Governor attempted from time to time, to check these young law-makers in their public expenditures, and did not hesitate to call them a set of profiligates. In retaliation for these acts on the part of the Governor, the legislature appointed a committee, consistingof James W. Grimes, since United States Senator, Chauncy Swam who subsequently died at sea on his return from California, and Laurel Summers, afterwards United States Marshal for Iowa, to inquire into his power, and define his duties. This committee after due delibera- tion, gravely reported to the legislature, that the Governor had full power and authority to vote all acts of the legislature, of every kind, name and description, except acts for the appropriation of money, and then asked to be discharged from the fur- ther consideration of the subject. But the matter did not end here, for the legis- lature on the 16th of January, 1840, instructed their delegate to Congress, W. W. Chapman to use his influence in procuring a law, allowing the people to elect their own Governor, and provided in this resolution, that the Governor himself should circulate it. This resolution he took good care to approve, and actually sent copies of it to Washington city. He was removed from the office of Governor, after the 4th of March, 1831, and John Chambers, of Kentucky was appointed to succeed him. After his removal he returned to private life, and resided at Bloomington for a number of years. He returned to Ohio and ran for Con- gress, but was defeated, after which he again returned to Iowa, and if I mistake not, was a member of the first constitu- tional convention. Old age crept upon him at last, and he died a number of years ago, at Muscatine. He was always a Democrat of the Jack- sonian school, and throughout a long public life he was strictly and religiously honest. He was not a man of much talent, but his long public life had made him familiar with the whole routine of public affairs. With his intimate aquaintance with public men and public affairs, he could have written an admirable history of the Great Wests. But he has left nothiug behind him save his own acts. «<* I® 220 HISTORY OF IOWA. In person, he was tall and slender, and in his younger days, capable of enduring great hardships. As her first Governor, and one of her truest and best friends, he will live on the pages of Iowa's history, when statues of marble and brass, shall have crumbled into dust. John Chambers. On the 4th day of March, 1841, William Henry Harrison was inaugurated President of the United States. He was carried into office through one of the most renowned and exciting political campaigns our coun- try has ever witnessed. During the administration" of Mr. Van Buren, his immediate predecessor, our country, and indeed the whole civilized world, was visited by one of those great commercial revulsions which seems peri- odically to take place in the affairs of man. Never before had our country witnessed and felt such a universal depression of all kinds of business, nor could the most gifted seer in commercial pursuits tell how or when this great commercial calamity would end, or be remedied. The people thought they could look back into the administration of General Jack- son, when the deposits were removed, as the primary cause of all the distress in every ramification of trade which followed during the administration of his successor, and in order, as they supposed, to apply a remedy, and restore confidence and secu- rity again to the country, demanded a change in the affairs of the government. For twelve years previous to 1840, the government had been in the hands of a party calling themselves "Jackson Demo- crats," and from their long tenure in office, many of them had come to the conclusion that they owned them in their own right, and that almost every office in the gift of the President was a life tenure. Acting upon this principle, many of these incumbents had become notoriously cor- rupt, and appropriated the money belong- ing to their respective offices to their own private and pecuniary profit. These things, added to the commercial distress I have mentioned, increased the popular clamor for a change, and General Harrison was triumphantly elected Presi- dent. And although the writer of this article heard him declare in a public speech that he would suffer his right hand to be cut off before he would remove a public officer for opinion sake alone, yet one of the first acts of his administration was the. removal of Robert Lucas from the Governorship of Iowa, and the appoint- ment of John Chambers, of Kentucky, to succeed him. He arrived in Iowa a short time after he had received his appointment, and imme- diately took possession of his office. He was a Whig, and of that Kentucky school of politics, in his day, which took rather a conservative view of public affairs. He was an old man, and had seen some service in his day. He was among the Kentucky volunteers on the frontier during the war of 1812, and distinguished him- self in several skirmishes with the Indians, and was looked upon as one of Kentucky's bravest men. Everything in Iowa was in the hands of the Democrats; they had, since the formation of the Territory, filled every office; they had controlled and di- ^ »r** <2 k_ HISTORY OP IOWA. 221 rected its whole legislation; they had carved and cut every act to suit them- selves. So that when the new Governor arrived he found Iowa in the hands of a joint stock company, with the shares above par, and none to dispose of at any price. These same stockholders had been for several years accustomed to look upon his predecessor, although one of their own faith, with considerable distrust; and need we wonder that when a new man made his appearance among them, of opposite faith, that, for a time at least, he should receive the cold shoulder? He had been appointed for four years, and in all probability would remain his time out; but four years was an age, at that time, to those who in fact controlled the destinies of a future republic. A plan was therefore set on foot by those who owned the largest shares in the com- pany, to bring about a revolution, to change the form of government, to establish a State; and, in obedience to this plan, the legislature, on the 16th day of February, 1842, provided that at the August election following, a vote should be taken for or against a convention to form a constitution for the State of Iowa. At this time the general government had paid all the ex- penses of the Territory, in hard money. At every session of eve/}' court, in every county throughout the whole Territory, the Judge, the District Attorney, and last, though not least, the United States Mar- shal, or one of his deputies, always ap- peared together. As soon as the court was over, and justice had been meted out with unsparing hand, the Marshal called up the Grand and Petit Juries, and the witnesses upon all criminal trials, cashed all their accounts in half dollars, and they went their own way over the broad prairies, whistling or singing that good old tune, "Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a farm." Taxes they did not feel, for there was no occasion to gather them, and I know of no happier State on earth than where man can live and enjoy all the sweets of unre- strained liberty, be assured of protection from aggression and wrong, his fields and gardens yielding a bounteous return for the slightest touch of the hoe and the spade, upon his own soil, with a cabin reared by his own hands, and "children who cluster like grapes at the door," with a table covered by the choicest viands, the latch-string never pulled in, and at the same time a government scattering broad- cast around him annually thousands of dol- lars in hard money, and asking nothing in return but good behavior. Such was the state of things in the Territory, at this time; and when the August election came, the people voted against a convention, and wisely concluded to remain a few years longer in a state of dependency, in order to enjoy, as long as possible, the benefits showered upon them by the general gov- ernment. During all this time the new Governor had Dot been idle. He had, previous to this, collected all the information he could in relation to the country. He had held a treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians, and had succeeded in making a purchase of all their lands lying west of the Blackhawk Purchase and extending west to the Mis- souri, and north to the "Neutral Ground." By this treaty Io.wa acquired jurisdiction to the Missouri on the west, and by an act iku 222 HISTORY OF IOWA. of Congress a criminal jurisdiction to the British possessions on the north. Long before this treaty could be ratified at Washington, tens of thousands rushed pell-mell upon the "New Purchase," deter- mined to make themselves "claims," and stand by them to the last. Troops were sent to drive them off until the stipulations of the treaty could be carried out, and in order to give time to the Indians to re- move. But before the troops had time to re- move a few squatters in one portion, "claims" were made in their rear, adjoin- ing one another, at the rate of fifty miles a day. So great was the rush for "claims" that it was no uncommon thing for the in- habitants of an Indian village to wake up in the morning, and to their utter conster- nation and surprise, find a log cabin or "claim shanty" which had been erected in their town during the night, while upon the door, perhaps, with chalk or coal, the unmistakable pictures of the bowie-knife and revolver, indicating, as the Indians well knew, the desperate character of him who sleeps within, upon that pallet of leaves and grass. No troops could restrain them, and the officers gave up in despair, thus in a short time the Territory had received a large addition to her population. The friends of a State government thought they could now, after so large an increase of population as this new pur- chase had brought about, venture again upon their darling scheme. On the 12th day of February, 1844, the Legislature again provided that at the April election following a poll should be opened, and each elector interrogated "for or against a convention?" This time it was made a party measure, and to be "for a convention" was a true test of a man's Democracy. The plan succeeded admirably, even beyond the expectations of the "share-holders," and upon counting there was a small majority in favor of a convention. The delegates were elected at the Aug- ust election following, and the convention, consisting of seventy members, assembled at Iowa City on the first Monday in Octo- ber, 1844, and proceeded to'form a consti- tution. After a few weeks deliberation, they produced what they called a constitu- tion, but, upon inspection, it was found to be rather a rickety affair; it was, however, in accordance with the doctrine of "Popu- lar Sovereignty," submitted to the people for their rejection or approval, at the April election, in 1845. At the time of its form- ation, the convention, in defining the boun- daries of the future State, had included on the north nearly the whole of what is now the State of Minnesota. Congress had, however, in anticipation of our coming, and in order to meet us half way, passed an act admitting us into the Union, but at the same time curtailing our boundaries, both on the north and west, cutting us off from the Missouri entirely. This act ot Congress became known only a short time before the April election, and this fact, in connection with the unpopularity of the instrument itself, caused its defeat at the election which followed. The legislature had wisely provided, at the session which provided for a conven- tion, that in the event the constitution should be defeated, there should be an election for members of the legislature in 24! u e> HISTORY OF IOWA. 223 April, and that such legislature should assemble on the first Monday in May, 1845. The election was held accordingly, and the Legislature assembled at Iowa City at the time designated. Immediately after the organization, the Democrats called together a caucus, in which it was resolved to submit again the same constitution to another test; and, agreeable to this resolution, Shepard Leffler, of DeMoines, introduced into the Senate a bill for that purpose. This bill passed both Houses, and was submitted to Mr. Chambers for his approval. But he differed with the legislature in regard to their power to pass an act of that kind, and he returned it with his veto. The legislature, however, was too strong for him, and they passed the bill over his veto, and again submitted the constitution at the August election following. But the people by this time had got tired of the old thing. Copies of it had been handed from one to another until they were worn out; they believed the Governor was right in his veto; and the old man had the grand satisfaction in seeing his last public act in the territory triumphantly sustained by the people. It was again rejected by a large majority, and came very near defeat- ing General Dodge for Congress, who undertook to pack it and run against R. P. Lowe, the present Chief Justice of the State. Mr. Polk was inaugurated President of the United States on the 4th of March, 1845, and a short time after the close of the session of May, 1845, he removed Mr. Chambers, and appointed James Clarke, of Burlington, to succeed him. This closed the publio career of John Chambers, second Governor of Iowa. A short time after his .removal by Mr. Polk, he returned to his home in Kentucky, where he soon after died. He was a large, heavy man, round shouldered, and had rather a stooping gait. His manners were reserved, and at first sight you would not care about ap- proaching him, but a little familiar ac- quaintance with him would make him a favorite. A half hour's conversation with him, and he was as pleasing as a child; and take him all in all, he was about the most perfect specimen of Kentucky gentleman that was ever my lot to fall in with. The longer he remained in Iowa, the more the people loved him. I bid him farewell for the last time on the steps of the Capitol at Iowa City, when he wept like a child. When he left Iowa for his own bright and sunny land, he left no enemies behind him. A noble hearted man, he fixed his name forever on the pages of our history, and he left us to mingle his dust in that land which gave him birth. So far as my acquaintance with him is concerned, I can truly say with Burns: "An honest man now lies at rest, One who on earth was truly blest; If there's another world, he lies in bliss, And if there's none, he's made the best of this." Jambs Clarke. Sometime in the antumn of the year 1837, when the trees were in the yellow leaf, a printer boy of slender form and gentle appearance might have been seen -EpT" * r- —T 5> • <8 W- i> 228 HISTORY OF IOWA. Samuel J. Kirk wood, 1860-64. John W. Jones, 1859-63. William M. Stone, 1864-68. William H. Holmes, 1863-67. Samuel Morrill, 1868-72. Samuel E. Rankin. 1867-73. Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872-76. William Christy, 1873-77. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876-77. George W. Bemis, 1877-81. J. Q. Newbolck 1877-78. Edwin H. Conger, 1881. John H. Gear, 1878-83. Buren R. Sherman, 1882. Attorney- General*. Lieutenant- Governor*. David C. Cloud, 1853-56. Samuel A. Rice, 1856-60. Oran Faville, 1858-60. Charles C. Nourse, 1860-64. Nicholas J. RuSch, 1860-62. Isaac L. Allen, 1865-66. John R. Needham. 1862-04. Frederick E. Bissell, 1866-67. Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-66. Henry O'Connor, 1867-72. Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-68. Marcena E. Cutts, 1872-76. John Scott, 1868-70. John F. McJunkin, 1877-81. M. M. Walden, 1870-72. Smith MePherson, 1881. H. C. Bulis, 1872-74. Joseph Dysart, 1874-76. Adjutant- General*. Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-78. Daniel S. Lee, 1851-55. Frank T. Campbell, 1878-82. Orlando H. Manning, 1882. George W. McLeary, 1855-57. Elijah Sells, 1857. This office was created by the new constitu- Jesse Bowen, 1857-61 tion, September 8, 1859. Nathaniel Baker, 1861-77. Secretaries of State. John H. Luby, 1877-78. W. L. Alexander, 1878. Elisha Cutter, Jr., 1846-48. Joseph H. Bonney, 1848-50. Registers of the State Land Offic* George W. MeCleary, 1850-56. Anison Hart, 1855-57. Elijah Sells, 1856-63. Theodore S. Parvin, 1857-59. James Wright, 1863-67. Amos B. Miller, 1859-62. Ed. Wright, 1867-73. Edwin Mitchell, 1862-63. Josiah T. Young, 1873-79. Josiah A. Harvey, 1863-67. J. A. T. Hull, 1869. Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1867-71. Auditors of Stats. Joseph T. Fales, 1846-50. William Pattee, 1850-54. Aaron Brown, 1871-75. David Secor, 1875-79. J. K. Powers, 1879. Andrew J. Stephens, 1855-59. Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859-65. John A. Elliott, 1865-71. John Russell, 1871-75. Ruen R. Sherman, 1875-81. William V. Lucas, 1881. Superintendents of Public Instruction. James Harlan, 1847-48. Thos. H. Benton, Jr., 1848-54. James D. Eads, 1854-57. Joseph C. Stone, 1857. Maturin L. Fisher, 1857-58. Treasurers of Stat*. Oran Faville, 1864-67. Morgan Reno. 1846-50. D. Franklin Wells, 1867-68. Israel Kister, 1850-52. A. S. Kissell, 1868-72. Martin L. Morris, 185-3-59. Alonzo Abernethy, 1872-76. L ■V 8 Wj; j in w* "♦„ HISTORY OF IOWA. 229 r Carl W. Van Ooelen, 1876-83. James Grant, 1852-54. John W. Akers, 1882. Reuben Noble, 1854-56. This office was created in 1847 and abolished Samuel McFarland, 1856-57. in 1858, and the duties then developed upon the Stephen B. Sheledy, 1857-59. secretary of the Board of Education; it was re- John Edwards, 1859-61. created March 23, 1864. Rush Clark, 1861-63. Jacob Butler, 1863-65. State Printers. Ed. Wright, 1865-S7. Garrett D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849-61 John Russell, 1867-69. "William H. Merritt, 1851-33. Aylett R. Cotton, 1869-71. William A. Hornish, 1853. James Wilson, 1871-73. Den. A. Mahoney and Jos. B. Dorr, 1853-55. John H. Gear, 1873-77. Peter Moriarty, 1855-57. John Y. Stone, 1877-79. John Teesdale, 1857-61. Lore Alford, 1880-81. Francis W. Palmer, 1861-69. G. R. Struble, 1882. Frank M. Mills, 1869-71. G. W. Edwards, 1871-73. Chief Justices of the Supreme Court. Rich. P. Clarkson, 1873-79. Charles Mason, 1847. Frank M. Mills, 1879. Joseph Williams, 1847-48. 8. Clinton Hastings. 1848-49. State Binder*. Joseph Williams, 1849-55. "William M. Coles, 1855-58. Frank M. Mills, 1858-67. James S. Carter, 1867-71. J. J. Smart, 1871-75. H. A. Perkins, 1875-79. Matt. Parrott, 1879. George G. Wright, 1855-60. Ralph P. Lowe, 1860-62. Caleb Baldwin, 1862-64. George G. Wright, 1864-66. Ralph T. Lowe, 1866-68. John F. Dillon, 1868-70. Chester C. Cole, 1870-71. Secretaries of Board of Education. T. H. Benton, jr., 1859-63. OraD Faville, 1863-64. This office waa abolished March 23, 1864. James G. Day, 1871-72. Joseph M. Beck, 1872-74. W. E. Miller, 1874-76. Chester C. Cole, 1876. "William H. Seevers, 1876-77. Presidents of the Senate. Thomas Baker, 1846-47. Thomas Hughes, 184748. John J. Selman, 1848-49. EnosLowe, 1849-51. James G. Day, 1877-78. James H. Rothroek, 1878-79. Joseph M. Beck, 1879-80. Austin Adams, 1880-82. William H. Seevers, 1882. W. E. Leffingwel!, 1851-53. Associate Justices. Maluriu L. Fisher, 1853-55. Joseph "Williams, held over from territorial W. W. Hamilton, 1855-57. government until a successor was appointed. Under the new constitution the Lieut. -Gover- Thomas S. Wilson, 1847. nor is President of the Senate. John F. Kinney, 1817-54. Speakers of the House. George Greene, 1847-55. Jonathan C. Hall, 1854-55. Jesse B. Brown, 1846-48. "William G. Woodward, 1855. \ Smiley H. Bonham, 1848-50. Norman W. Isbell, 1855-57. L ) George Temple, 1850-52, Lacon D. Stockton, 1856-60. _5> 4 i 6 r- •c 1 a r r ' • 230 HISTORY OF IOWA. Caleb Baldwin, 1860-64. Ralph P. Lowe, 1860. George G. Wright, 1860. John P. Dillion, 1864-70. Chester O. Cole, 1864-77. Joseph M. Beck, 1868. W. E. Miller, 1870. James G. Day, 1870. United States Senator*. Augustus C. Dodge, 1848-55. George W. Jones, 1848-59. James B. Howell, 1870. George G. Wright, 1871-77. James Harlan, 1855-65. James W. Grimes, 1859-69. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1866. James Harlan, 1867-73. William B. Allison, 1873-79. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1877-81. William B. Allison, 1879. James W. McDill, 1881. Members op House op Representatives. 1846-47— S.Clinton Hastings, Shepherd Leffler. 1847-49— Wm. Thompson, Shepherd Leffler. 1849-51— Wm. Thompson, Dan. P. Miller, Shepherd Leffler. 1851-53— B. Henn, Lincoln Clark. 1853-55— Bernhart Henn, John P. Cook. 1855-57— Aug. Hall, Jas. Thorington. 1857-59— Samuel R. Curtis, Timothy Davis. 1859-61— Samuel R. Curtis, Wm. Vandever. 1861-63— Samuel R. Curtis, J. P. Wilson, Wm. Vandever. 1803-65— James F. Wilson, Hiram Price, Wm. B. Allison, J. B. Grinnell, John A Kasson, Asahel W. Hubbard. 1865-67— James P Wilson, Hiram Price, Wil- liam B. Allison, Josiah B. Grinnell, John A. Kasson, Asahel W. Hubbard. 1867-69— James P. Wilson, Hiram Price, Wil- liam B. Allison, William Loughbridge, Grenville M. Dodge, Asahel W. Hubbard. 1869-71— George W. McCrary, William Smyth (died September 80, 1870, and succeeded by Wm. P. Wolf), William B. Allison, William Loughbridge, Frank W. Palmer, Charles Pome- roy. 1871-73— Geo. W. McCrary, Aylett R. Cotton, W. G. Donnan, Madison M. Walden, Frank W. Palmer, Jackson Orr. 1873-75— Geo. W. McCrary, Aylett R. Cotton, W. G. Donnan, Henry O. Pratt, James Wilson, William Loughbridge, John A. Kasson. James W. McDill, Jackson Orr. 1875-77— Geo. W. McCrary, John Q. Tufts, L. L. Ainsworth, Henry O. Pratt, James Wilson, Ezekiel S. Sampson, John A. Kasson, James W. McDill, Addison Oliver. 1877-79— J. C. Stone, Hiram Price, T. W. Bur- dick, N. C. Deering, Rush Clark, E. S. Samp- son, H. J. B. Cummings, W. F. Sapp, Addison Oliver. 1879-81— Moses A. McCoid, Hiram Price, Thomas Updegraff, N. C. Deering, Rush Clark (died in May, 1878, and succeeded by Wm. G. Thompson), J. B. Weaver, E. H. Gillette, W. F. Sapp, Cyrus C. Carpenter. 1881-83— M. A. McCoid, S. S. Farwell, Thos. Updegraff, N. C. Deering, W. G. Thompson, M. E. Cutts, John A. Kasson, W. P. Hepburn, C. C. Carpenter. Present State Officers. Governor, Buren R. Sherman. Secretary, John A. T. Hull. Deputy Secretary, Wm. T. Hammond. Auditor, Wm. V. Lucas. Deputy Auditor, Rufus L Chase. Bookkeeper, L. E. Ayres. Treasurer, Edwin H. Conger. Deputy Treasurer, C. R. Chase. Register Land-office, Jas. K. Power*. Deputy Register, John M. Davis. Sup't Pub. Inst , John W. Akers. Printer, Frank M. Mills. Binder, Matt. Parrott. Adjutant- General, W. L. Alexander. Superintendent Weights and Measures, Prof. N. R. Leonard. Librarian, Mrs. S. B. Maxwell. Assistant Librarian, Jessie Maxwell. Stjphkue Court. Chief Justice— Wm. H. Seevers, Oskaloosa. Judges— James G. Day, Sidney. James H. Rothrock, Tipton. Joseph M. Beck, Fort Madison. Austin Adams, Dubuque. AtCy Gen.— Smith McPherson, Red Oak. Clerk — E. J. Homes, Des Moines. Reporter — John S. Qunnclls, Des Moines. IV fe^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY, IOWA. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION. THE study of the annals of the past has, at all times and in all climes, claimed a large shave of the attention of the more intelligent of men. To the sage and scholar, poring over some vast and ponderous tome, dusty with age, and in an almost forgotten tongue, the new be- ginner with his short and comprehensive compilation, suited to his early years, each draw much pleasure from its peru- sal. Men, eminent in the domain of let- ters, have, however, divided history into several classes, the most prominent of which are, first, that which treats only of events; and the second, that which treats ■ of men, the living actors in the world's great drama. The first of these is but the dry bones of a fossil age, reft of all life, and is at best but a synopsis of the more important actions that have crowded upon the stage of the past, a list of kings, rulers, dynasties, and their acts, to which the people play but a secondary part. The second treats of the people, of men in their broad humanity, and is an ever liv- ing reality, clothed in the flesh, and the story of their deeds, has, in its relation, all the fascination of romance, enchaining the reader to its pages until the volume is finished and laid down with a sigh. This form of history, warm and palpi- tating, as it is, with the busy lives of men, who, like ourselves, have lived and moved upon the world's broad surface, is the vl< 232 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. model after which it has been the en- deavor to compile these pages. No nar- row attempt to paint with partisan pen, the workings or machinations of any party or creed, but setting out in broad and comprehensive detail the actions of those brave men and heroic women who, in the early stages of this county's exist- ence, played so well "their parts upon the mimic stage." Brave, hardy pioneers, who, departing from their parent roof -tree, plunged into the great wilderness west of the "Father of Waters," there' to carve out for themselves homes upon the prai- ries. Heroic women who, leaving the home and association of childhood, where surrounded with ease and comfort they had passed their youthful days, followed their husbands to this then desert spot, and cheered their weary hours and shared their joys and sorrows. Men and women who lived true lives while here on earth, and "departing left foot-prints in the sands of time" that cannot help but make the world brighter, richer and truer. The times move on apace, and these, the pioneers of Kossuth county, are al- ready passing away to their reward be- yond the "dark river," and it behooves the historian to hasten in his task that he may note down from the lips of those who remain the account of the trials, the labors, the joys of those early days, to preserve within the pages of history their deeds, so that when they have "gone before to that bright and better land," the annals of their times may be preserved. Here let us raise the monument of everlasting fame, and let History with her adaman- tine pen engrave their lives and actions upon her tablets, monuments that shall long outlast the bronze or stone that must ere long mark the resting places of them all. In casting a backward glance adown the "misty corridors of time," the think- ing mind cannot but wonder at the short- ness of the time that has elapsed since these now fruitful fields and busy towns were but the waste and grassy desert, roamed over only by savage beast or the Indian. Where now rises the beautiful town or village, then stood, perhaps, the lonely teepee of the savage; where is heard the hum of busy industry or the whir of machinery, then re-echoed only to the howl of prowling wolf, the hoot of night seeking owl, or the horrid whoop of fiendish savage. But man came, civil- ized man, and with the characteristic en- ergy of the Anglo Saxon race, made these waste places to blossom as the rose. The savage gave place to industry and thrift, and villages and farms began to dot the virgin surface of the county. But thirty years have passed since first the pristine sod was pressed by the foot of white settlers, and one can hardly help but look around and contrast the differ- ence between the then and now. The early pioneer, to reach this locality, was forced to make long journeys in his wagon or on horseback, over undulating prairie, through swamp and slough, with no road to guide nor make his way smooth. No bridges spanned the streams, and his only alternative was to make a long detour to find a ford, or swim the creek or river. Then when he had reached his destina- tion, he had his humble cot to raise by the unaided efforts of his own hands, that he and his, might be sheltered from the A HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 233 elements. He was cut off, to a certain extent, from mail communication with the outside world; and when he had by infinite toil succeeded in raising his little crop, he had no handy means of disposing of it except by hauling to a far distant market. But now neat frame cottages adorn the land, and he sits in his easy chair surrounded by every comfort and luxury that he knew in his old home in the older States; the iron horse snorts at his front door, and he can receive his daily paper, yet damp from the press, and learn the current events in far off climes of a day ago. Then, when he came here the imple- ments of husbandry were rude and simple, and the helps to domestic labor almost entirely wanting; and now the self-binder and mower have taken the place of the scythe and cradle, the thresher that of the flail; and all kinds of machinery have supplanted the expenditure of manual strength. Enter the house and the sew- ing machine, the patent churn, the newly invented home creamery, and thousands of appliances are found to help the busy housewife do away with much of the drudgery of earlier days. The children of this generation, looking around them, can little realize the trials, the toils, the penury and pinching want endured by their parents in their pioneer days, and it is the pleasing task of the historian to draw the veil, that they may look back into the past, and view the noble deeds of their fathers and mothers in those pristine days. Some one has justly said that "a price- less boon would have been conferred upon posterity, had some kind hand sketched down in living letters the pictures and the daily lives of the hardy pioneers, led by that noble Winthrop, who settled on New England's rocky shore. Their per- sonal history, their every day customs, their principal characteristics, that we could know them as if we had lived among them." In this spirit these pages have been compiled, and the personal sketches of the old settlers, living or dead, so per- meate the whole mass as to give it the semblance of a living reality, that could not be attained under any other mode of treatment. J, 234 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. -£* CHAPTER II EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT. Usually the task of finding out the first settlers of a county, that has passed its second decade, is a more difficult task than it looks to be upon the surface, but in the case of Kossuth county the com- piler has been saved great trouble. Much of the facts contained in this chapter have been gleaned from a series of sketches written by Hon. Ambrose A. Call, the pi- oneer par-excellence of the county, and from which we freely quote, by kind per- mission. A habit this gentleman has fol- lowed of jotting down the events of the day in a diary, makes any contribution he may make to a historical work doubly val- uable, and no better account of the early settlement of the county could be written. The territory embraced by Kossuth county was formerly occupied by the Sioux Indians, although there is no evidence of their having had any villages or cultivat- ing any land on the East Fork. The Winnebagoes occupied the country as far west as Clear Lake and Pilot Mound (in Hancock county) and the Sacs and Foxes, from the south as far up as the mouth of Boone river. The proximity of those tribes with whom the Sioux were con- stantly at war, doubtless made this locality an undesirable place for a permanent res- idence. It seems to have been their cus- tom to make annual raids in strong force | on the frontier settlers, robbing and pil- laging as they went. Before the post was established at Fort Dodge, they frequently went down as far as the rapids, and as far- east as Iowa river, and if they happened to meet a band of Winnebagoes or Sacs and Foxes, or a surveying party of whites in their territory, there was sure to be a mas- sacre, a fight or a foot race. To prevent these raids on the settlers, and also to keep peace between the three tribes of Indians, was the object of the government in es- tablishing a military post at Fort Dodge. Before the settlement of the county, there were no roads or trails passing through its territory. There were three trails running north and south, west of the Cedar, well known to the frontier settlers and trap- pers, one up the Boone river by Buffalo Grove to Mankato, Minnesota; one from Boonesboro by the way of Fort Dodge up the east side of the river^ crossing just above the forks and up the West Fork to Fort Ridgely; one from Sioux City up the Floyd, crossing to the East Fork of the Rock, to the Minnesota river. Prior to 1854 two cabins had been built north of Fort Dodge in Iowa, one by Henry Lott near the mouth of Lott's creek, in Hum- boldt county, and the other by William Miller, six miles north of Fort Dodge, on the east side of the river. They were J£ HISTORY OP KOSSUTH COUNTY. 235 botli built and used for trading posts, while the soldiers were stationed at Fort Dodge. In March, 1853, Lott was robbed and driven out by the Indians, but be subse- quently returned with a fresh supply of whisky and tobacco, watched his oppor- tunity to get the perpetrators all drunk at once, when he succeeded in tomahawking six of their number, including the chief of the band. The bodies were carted four or five miles and dumped into Bloody Run, whence its name, after which exploit he packed up his goods, burned his cabin and left the country. Miller, on learning of this last enterprise of his rival and fearing a retaliation, abandoned his claim and fortified himself in the old barracks at Fort Dodge. On July 3, 1854, when Ambrose A. Call reached Homer, one of the most conspicuous objects of the town was the bead of the old chief stuck on a pole, which an enterprising trapper had fished out of the creek and brought down as a trophy. The part of Kossuth county south of the north line of township 95, was mostly surveyed in 1853-4. Col. Ellis and Capt. Leach were engaged in survey- ing the north part of 95, about the 1st of July, 1854, when their camp was robbed by the Indians and they were compelled to abandon the work. The camp was lo- cated on the northeast quarter of section 15, township 95, l-ange 29, two miles south of Algona, near what is known as the Os- good House. From these parties the Call brothers at Fort Dodge,July 5, heard a des- cription of the country and an estimate of the amount of timber in what they called the big grove, and at once decided to make up a party and explore that locality. But this party was not a success. One man volunteered, William F. Smith, a school- master, with a rusty rifle, a covered wagon, a balky horse to put with the old pack horse, made up the outfit,with a small stock of provisions and a large amount of good advice. The party left Fort Dodge July 1, and kept up the river on. the east side. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon the driv- er discovered Indians, dead ahead, two, yes, three, four, five, eight of them alto- gether, several miles away. A consulta- tion was held, a vote taken, and the de- cision announced that the party should go right ahead and interview them, but they had disappeared — probably laid down in the grass, possibly gone back over the hill. Every member of the party was on the alert, revolvers examined, powder picked into the tube of the old gun, and prepara- tion made for war, when the advance guard shouted back that he could "lick a whole tribe of them Injuns," which was literally true, for at the sound of his voice they took flight. The second night out, July 9, camp was made on the southeast quarter of section 12, township 95, range 29, near D. W. King's residence. A very remarkable phenomenon was witnessed by this party, the evening of the 1st of July, one that seldom occurs except on the arid plains in the center of the great continent. A most beautiful mirage — proper — appeared in the north- west just at sunset. The day had been very warm, with scarcely abreath of wind. A few cumulus clouds were visible above the horizon, when they noticed a peculiar appearance of the sky in the northwest, as of a shadow. A few minutes, however, brought to their view an exact duplicate 230 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. of the bluffs and groves as defined against the horizon, inverted, and seemingly sus- pended in the air. At first the outlines were dim, but as the sun sank lower be- hind the bluffs, the picture developed un- til the lower edge was as perfect as the groves and hills themselves. They watched the phenomenon with intense in- terest until the picture faded in the twi- light. The next morning a careful reconnois- sance satisfied them that the Sioux who robbed the surveying party had gone in an easterly direction. They found one of their encampments, near where the Col- lege building now stands. Their fires had apparently just gone out. A few "teepee" poles were left, and three or four rude racks, upon which they had "jerked" their buffalo and elk meat. Says Mr. Call: "There had been a large band of them; we estimated their number at 100 men, but* we afterward learned that our estimate was too low, as they went as far east as Lime creek, and created a great panic among the settlers as far south as Cedar Falls and Waterloo. The settlers first heard of their proximity from his dem- ocratic excellency, Gov. Hempstead, who was out beyond the settlements selecting a few choice pieces of land, and who only by hard running escaped capture. The governor promptly ordered out the State militia, to drive them back. Carriers were sent out, and volunteers to the num- ber of some 200 gathered and confronted the Indians on Lime creek. Both parties fortified and made faces at each other for several days. Finally an old trader by the name of Hewett volunteered to take a flag of truce into the Indian camp, and try to find out what they wanted of our governor. The Sioux, after becoming satisfied that there were no Winnebagoes in the ranks of the whites, agreed to turn back. In their retreat towards the upper Missouri, they crossed the Des Moines near the mouth of Buffalo Fork about the 10th of August, fortunately not discover- ing our cabin. Our party, the 10th of July, passed over the town site of Algona, crossed the river just above Blackford's grove, and took dinner on section 15, at the camp where the surveyors were robbed. We then went down the river on the west side, crossing Four Mile creek, and striking well out on the prairie, struck the old trail at the ford above the forks, and reached Fort Dodge the second night. We had not yet decided whether there was anything in Kossuth county worth claiming, but on reaching Boons- boro, the writer hereof decided to return. A. C. Call was to return to Iowa City, and come back in four weeks. W. T. Smith had accompanied us as far as Coons- boro, on his way home to southern Ohio, but was persuaded to remain with me two months for $14 per month. I succeeded in purchasing, in that vicinity, a yoke of oxen and wagon, a few implements and tools, and a stock of provisions; also a a large-bored rifle. This last I bought of Judge McFarland, who afterwards be- came quite well-known through the me- dium of Harper's Drawer. "The Judge was a great buffalo hunter; in fact every kind of game suffered at his hands — especially poker. In returning from Hoonsboro, after leaving the old trail this side of Fort Dodge, the best natural route was selected for a road, as V HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 237 this was our only outlet to settlements. The fords where we crossed the streams were worked so as to make them pass- able, and a small log hitched under the hind axle of the wagon, which dragged down the grass, made a trail which could be easily followed. We reached our camping ground on section 14, near the present residence of C. C. Chubb, July 26. The weather was very unfavorable, raining almost constant- ly for several days. We also suffered great annoyance from the mosquitoes. The first few days were spent in making out claims, after which we went to work building a cabin, 14x16 feet, but which was raised twelve logs high August 8. This cabin stood about twenty rods south- west of C. C. Chubb's house in Cresco." This was the first dwelling raised in the county of Kossuth. Early in the year 1854, Asa C. Call, wishing to make some investments in western lands and to lay out a town plat somewhere, began to look around for a suitable locality. It was his idea to get somewhere upon navigable waters, but a trip along the banks of the Mississippi demonstrated that the territory was al- ready occupied, and a visit to the upper lake region produced a similar impres- sion. He therefore determined to go north from Des Moines, along the river of that name, into the unexplored region of this State. In July, in company with his brother, Ambrose, he started out and came to Kossuth county. After a thor- ough looking over the territory, they went back, but with the intention of returning. Ambrose A. Call was the first to do so. Making his second and final visit to this county the same month, and on July 26, 1854, camped on section 14, and raised their cabin as already mentioned. Thus the Call brothers are justly en- titled to the honor of being the first pio- neers of Kossuth county, and are yet the most prominent figures around which cluster the halo of many reminiscences of the past. During the fall of that same year, 1854, Malachi and W. G. Clark, William Hill and Levi Maxwell, settled in what is now Cresco. In this connection it would be well to mention that the wife of Asa C. Call was the first of that cour- ageous band of noble women who fol- lowed their husbands into this great wilderness, and was the first white woman whose feet trod the prairies of Kossuth county. In November, William II. Ingham, with D. E. Stein, came to Kossuth county, al though he did not make a claim until later. But on the arrival of A. L. Seeley in the latter part of January, they in com pauy built a cabin on Mr. Ingham's claim near the present residence of Mr. Rieb- hoff, in Portland township. During the winter, Richard Parrott and Lyman Craw took claims on the east side of the river, about three miles above Algona; also Henry Liuder, a live young Hoosier, claimed ''Linder's Grove," now "Paine's Grove," in Portland township. The creek took its name from him. About the latter part of the year 1854, there came to this locality, Charles Eas- ton, an Englishman, a man of years and well informed but curious in his ways, and to this day spoken of as an oddity. Christian Hackman also took a claim in what is now Cresco township. He, with a JZ e^— — K+ 238 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. party by the name of Daniel Hill, seem to close the number of the pioneers of that year. Mr. Call, in his sketcbes of the early settlement says : "The first winter was very mild and favorable for the settlers, who were fre- quently obliged to make long journeys with ox teams after supplies, camping out by the way. The coldest day of the win- ter was January 13, when the mercury weflt eighteen degrees below zero ; Janu- ary 22 it got down to twelve below ; on the 26th to nine below; and February 24 to ten below, with but little snow." Early in the spring of 1855, Asa C. Call built a block house, (logs hewn on each side) near his present residence. This was the first house on the town site of Algona. Here he brought his young wife, and from this humble dwelling and this couple has grown the large and thriv- ing city of Algona, with its 2,000 inhabi- tants and teeming industries. Early in the spring of 1855, Solomon Hand and a Mr. Benson made claims in the county. The 1st of May, 1855, the pioneers of the Whitinsville colony arrived. These were James L. Paine, Francis C. Rist, Al- exander Brown, Sr., Alexander Brown, Jr., Barney Holland and Robert Brown. Paine and Rist took claims on section 12, Al- gona township. Mr. Brown bought out old Daniel Hill and took other lands adjoining, in Cresco, and Barney Holland and Robert Brown took up claims in the same vicinity. Both of these latter left the county after but a short stay, going back to Massachusetts. In March, J. W. Moore, accompanied by Jacob C. Cummins, arrived. Mr. Moore was a man of considerable means, and bought several timber claims, as well as an interest in the town site. These I believe were the first claims transferred for a consideration, although Mr. Cham- bers, a brother of ex-Gov. Chambers, of Muscatine, had previously offered Am- brose A. Call a yoke of oxen for his and his brother's claim on the town site, includ- ing the grove north of the town. Among the other settlers of 1 855 may be found the names of Jacob C. Wright, Reuben Purcell, Thomas and John Rob- inson, Benjamin Hensley, George Smith, August Zalten, L. L. Treat, Kendall Young, D. W. King, Lewis H. Smith, Corydon Craw, E. Lane and Hiram Wilt- fong. These all came in the spring and summer of that year. Mr. Wright bought out Solomon Hand ; Robinson and Hens- ley tookclaims adjoining; Purcell claimed what is known as Purcell Point ; Craw claimed on section 17, township 95, range 28. The lower end of the county also received some settlers in 1855. The first after Michael and John Johnson were Harlow Miner, Solomon and G. W. Hand and Mr. Mayberry. Eber Stone settled near S. Bellows' present residence, the same year. In May, 1855, Mr. Carter, father of A. B. Carter, settled where he now lives on the West Fork, and was the first settler on that stream. In June, Dr. R. Cogley and John John- son bought claims, Cogley of Maxwell, (the Huntley place,) and Johnson of C. Easton, (the Fred Wilson place). Dr. Cogley was the first physician, a man of a *y J<- & HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 239 fine presence and good abilities, although a little eccentric in his habits. A. Zahlten sold out his claim near Da- kota, and bought the grove where he now lives. The 4th of July Lewis II. Smith struck the settlement ; he, with C. C. Car- penter, was finishing up the survey aban- doned by Leach and Ellis the previous summer. In July a large band of Indians came into the settlement ; they were jmpudent and troublesome, taking everything they could lay their hands on when they found a cabin with the occupant absent, or whenever they could intimidate by threats. In one or two instances a collision seemed inevitable, but was avoided by the In- dians backing down. A number of the settlers finally armed themselves and went into their camp, and ordered them off ; they promised to go at sunrise the next morning, which promise they faithfully kept, making a straight trail in a north- westerly direction. About 200 acres of prairie was broken in the county this summer, and sixty acres of sod corn raised by Asa C. Call, that produced about fifty bushels per acre of sound corn. E. Moll took claims in September, at the mouth of Buffalo Fork. In the fall of this year J. E. Blackford arrived and settled near the town of Al- gona. Richard Hodges, who came about the same date, located on the 8th of De- cember, on section 5, in what is now Sherman township. These parties were followed by a num- ber of others from Whitinsville, Mass.. among whom were Jason Richmond, Charles Osgood, Stephen Millen, Theodore Smith, John Hutchinson and Mr. Wood, Richmond and Holland bought out the Clarks, wdio moved to Irvington and be- came the owners of Benson's claim. Mr. Call, in speaking of these old settler's says: " Osgood bought out old Billy Hill, and this relieved us of his presence. About the middle of May, D. W. King, Preston, Smock, and Edward Putnam, struck the settlement. Mr. King took the claim where he now lives ; Putnam remained several years, making his home with W. II. Ingham, and officiating as chief cook. He is now cashier of the Merchant's Na- tional Bank, at Cedar Rapids. Smock and Preston left this locality soon after their settlement and their present where- abouts is unknown." James Hall and Thomas C. Covill were also arrivals of this year. Hall worked on the saw-mill put up by Judge Call, and is now engaged in cabinet making in Des Moines. Covill went away from the county shortly after his advent here and has passed out of view. During the summer of 1856, the popu- lation of the county nearly quadrupled. Among the more prominent arrivals were: Barnet and John Devine, Joseph Raney, Levi Parsons, L. Fox, Kinsey Carlon, G. C. Carlon, William Carter, D. W. and Matthew Sample, George Wheeler, Charles Harvey, Luther Bullis, G. S. Jones and his sons, George Blottenberger, John, Charles II., and Jesse Magoon, J. E. Stacy, Rev. Chauncy Taylor, John Heckart, Michael Reibhoff, J. G. Green, H. A. Hen- derson, Frank Harrison, Thomas White- head, Roderick M. Bessie, Robert Moore, William Carey, Horace Schenck, James Roan, Rev. D. S. McComb, Luther and T J 240 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Sylvester S. Rist, Orange Winkler, C. Gray, Oliver Benschoter, George E. Lowe, Havens F. Watson, Joseph Thomp- son, William Green, O. W. Robinson, Jonathan Callender, George D. Wheeler, Eli Ferris, William B. Moore, Amos S. Collins, E. J. Rice, Gilbert W. Skinner, Amos Otes, George P. Taylor, James Cur- ran, and others. In this year of 1856, Mrs. Francis C. Rist, now the wife of Judge Smith, made the journey from Dubuque to Algona, to meet her husband. The roads were truly awful, the way long and dreary ; but sus- tained by warm affection she dared the trial. Truly such women as these deserve this place in history, among the pioneers of the new country. There were many of the trials that the men escaped, and in the person of this lady, history honors the noble wome*n pioneers of Kossuth county. The most of these pioneers thus briefly mentioned, and many who have been omitted, receive more lengthy notices fur- ther on, in the chapter of township history. The pioneer days of the county may by this time be said to be over, as many now flocked to this vicinity and the county settled up rapidly until the stringent times of 1857, and the breaking out of the rebel- lion stopped for a while the flow of emi- gration to Kossuth county, as it did all over the Union. Mr. Call, in his sketch of the first set- tlement, to which we are indebted for so much of this chapter, gives the following epitome of events as they looked to an eye-witness. We quote the article almost in its entirety, as it is the valuable contri- bution to historical research by one of the principal actors in the events of the time. He says: "The first formal meeting ever held in the county was for the purpose of organ- izing a claim club. This was held at the house of J. W. Moore early in the sum- mer of 1855. The meeting was organized by the election of Robert Cogley presi- dent, and Corydon Craw, secretary, who were also elected first officers of the club. A fee of $2 was charged for membership, with power to assess members as occasion might require. Each member was allowed to record a claim of 320 acres, the same being plainly marked out, in the peaceable possession of which the club undertook to protect him. Meetings were held monthly and new officers elected quarterly. The club was never called upon to use violence in protecting the claims of its members, and I believe but one case came before it for arbitration; but there is no doubt but the organization did much good as a prevention of trouble. It was kept up until the lands became subject to pre- emption under the United States law. "Prior to 1859 the elections for State and county officers were held in August, and township officers were elected in April. The settlers had determined to organize at the general election in August, and with that object in view got together and made up a county ticket which seemed to give general satisfaction. Up to this time there had been no town ri- valry, in fact no other town but Algona had been spoken of, and so far as the writer knows there had been no itching for political preferment. Speculation throughout the west was running high at that time, and Iowa had more than her cr f u «£, B HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 241 share of it. Gold was abundant, and as is usually the case when money is plenty interest was high; 3 per cent, a month be- ing considered reasonable for short time accommodations, but 4 per cent, was more common. Uusually from 36 to 40 per cent, was charged by the year, and at these high figures fortunes were made by borrowing money and entering lands. Men who had no capital whatever could, by making judicious selections of govern- ment land, borrow money to enter it, giv- ing the land itself for security, and before the end of the year more than double their money by selling. "Land and town lots was all the talk in the older portions of the State. Com- panies were organized and rings formed for the purpose of building up cities and making fortunes for the sanguine stock- holders. In this way Des Moines, Sioux City, Fort Dodge, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Charles City, and other large towns were started, besides hundreds of others that proved failures and were abandoned by those who projected them. Of course large fish took the largest bait, the smaller ones having to content themselves with what was left and look out sharp that they themselves were not made bait of. Kossuth county and Calls' settlement had gained considerable notoriety, and was considered a good field for speculative operation. Consequently, just before the August election, a company was formed, with headquarters at Webster City, for the purpose of capturing the offices, get- ting the county seat and building a rival town. The active men in the company were: George and Cyrus Smith, Kendall Young and L. L. Treat, all good and dis- crete men with plenty of capital to back them. They came quietly into the settle- ment, selected their own site at Irvington named their town Irvington, after Wash- ington Irving. "Securing the friendship of the family of Clarkes, thus giving them five votes, made up their ticket by giving the best offices to men who might otherwise go with Algona, agreed to divide their lots liberally with those who worked with them, and as the writer was afterward told by one of the parties, received pledges from four more than a majority of all the voters of the county to vote the Irvington ticket. "With the assurance of success they re- tired, leaving the election in the hands of the people. So quietly was this work done that the Algona party were taken by surprise. They had not expected a contest and had made no preparation for it. A number of voters were out of the county, but feeling that the prestige of our town depended upon our electing an Algona ticket, every exertion was made to win the election. One man (Jacob Cum- mins) who had started for Cedar Falls was overtaken sixty miles away and brought back to vote. The writer sjjent two days in what is now Humboldt county chasing after voters who were out on the prairie elk hunting, and finally brought in two, Solomon Hand and Harlow Miner. The judges of election were sworn by John F. Duncombe, who came up from Fort Dodge on purpose. The election was hotly contested and won by the Algona party by a few votes. The officers elected were: Judge, Asa C. Call; county clerk, Robert Cogley; treasurer and recorder, -»Iv A< ^ 242 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. J. W. Moore; county surveyor, Lewis H. Smith. The vote was canvassed at Homer, the county seat of Webster county. "The weather remained very mild until about the 1 st of December, when con- siderable snow fell, followed by other storms and very cold weather; snow ac- cumulated to the depth of nearly two feet. Game of all kinds were very abund- ant, being driven into the timber by the severity of the weather. At the head of some of the small streams, where the old grass was unburned, buffalo and elk were corralled by the snow and remained nearly all winter living on the old grass. The timber was full of deer and wolves, a great many of which were killed. Bea- ver, otter, fisher and mink were numerous, but as we were not skillful trappers we got but few of them." At the time of the incoming of the first settlers but little, if anything, was known of the topography of that portion of Iowa lying west of the Cedar river and its afflu- ents, and north of Fort Dodge. But for all that, the Legislature of 1852 set off, bounded and named this tract of country, with the name, but not the same bound- aries it now bears. It then comprised sixteen townships and was twenty-four miles square. That part then lying north of Kossuth, was christened Bancroft county, after the great' historian of that name. In the Legislature of 1854-5, an organic act was passed, whereby, Kossuth, Bancroft and the north half of Humboldt counties were placed together and organ- ized under the name of Kossuth county, and temporarily attached to that of Web- ster county for judicial purposes. During the month of August, 1855, an election was held to perfect the organiza- tion and elect the first officers, as related by Mr. Call, and resulted in the choice of Asa C. Call for county judge; Robert Cogley, county clerk; J. W. Moore, treas- urer and recorder; Lewis H. Smith, coun- ty surveyor. These were the first officers of the new county of Kossuth. In 1857, the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, passed an act, chapter 147 of the session ordinances of that Assembly, whereby, that part of Humboldt county, heretofore a part and parcel of Kossuth county, was detached and the latter was made the size that it at present has. At this same session, an act was passed which prohibited the constitution of any new county "having less area than 432 square miles, nor shall the territory of any organ- ized county be reduced below such limit, except the county of Worth and the coun- ties west of it along the northern border." In later years an abortive attempt was made to organize the twelve northern townships into a separate county, under the name of Crocker, an account of which may be found elsewhere. county's name. Kossuth county was named after Louis Kossuth, who has long been known as one of the world's most famous agitators, ora- tors and patriots. His learning and elo- quence have been admired on both sides of the ocean, and his heroic struggles for Hungary's independence has stirred the heart and called forth the sympathy of every lover of freedom. Four score years have rarely been allotted to public men who have worked so vigorously, suffered so many hardships, and lived as intensely t vT ,fv ^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 243 as has Kossuth. He was emphatically the product of his times. Possessed of intel- lectual genius of a high order, and endowed with an indomitable energy, he would have been a man of mark in any country, but the sublimity of his patriotic devo- tion, the inspiration of his eloquence, and the rugged bravery of his character, could only have been developed and called out by the troubled times of his Nation's his- tory. Hungary made Kossuth. Kossuth spent his life in trying to make Hungary. No effort he could put forth, no sacrifice he could make, was too great for her, but he had no word or work for any other cause. Wendell Phillips, in his lecture on Toussant L'Overture, graphically appeals to "the eloquent Son of the Maygar" for some word of sympathy with the down- trodden negro, but is forced to the con- clusion that however much he may love freedom, Kossuth is deaf to all cries but those of Hungary. Louis Kossuth was born in Monok, Hun- gary, April 27, 1803. His family was of Slavic descent and noble rank, and his father gave him the advantages of a lib- eral education, including a course in law and philosophy, at the University of Pa- tak. He excelled as a scholar, particu- larly in his knowledge of history and the languages, speaking fluently the Maygar, Slavak, German, French and Latin, and later in life, the Italian and English. Af- ter leaving college Kossuth was'appointed an assessor of the Assembly of his native country, and joining the liberals in poli- tics he became very popular with the com- mon people. During 1832-6 Kossuth be- came, by proxy, a member of the Upper House of the Diet, and though its debates, of so much interest to Hungarian patriots, were forbidden publication, yet by Kos- suth's efforts they were circulated by means of manuscript newspapers. At the close of the Diet, Kossuth endeavored to publish a lithographic paper, but the gov- ernment prohibited its publication, and for persisting in his work he was seized in the night, tried for treason and sen- tenced to four years imprisonment. Gen- eral public indignation, and the prospect of foreign intervention, procured his re- lease before the time appointed. He then became editor of the Pesth Journal, en- tered the Legislature as leader.of the lib- erals, and kept up a vigorous agitation for local self-government. During the war for liberty, he was for some months gov- ernor of Hungary, but on the failure of the struggle he escaped to Turkey where he was protected by the Porte. In 1851 he sailed from Turkey on the United States war vessel Mississippi, as the guest of our government. While in this coun- try Kossuth spoke in many of our leading citaes, enlisting sympathy for Hungary and urging the United States to join with England in preventing European inter- ference with her struggles for liberty. Returning to Europe, he engaged in lit- erary and scientific work, but all the time watching for any political complications that might justify Hungary in striking another blow for liberty. In 1867, on the reorganization of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was allowed to return to his native land, but he preferred to remain in Turin, condemning the compromise that had been made by his countrymen. Kos- suth in many respects resembled Gam- betta. Of like fiery disposition and im- 244 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. passioned eloquence, they were equally effective on the platform or wielding the pen The latter lived to see the consum- mation of his hopes, in republican France; i • j> ,* _ ■_ ^C V* n.vs\ii» oar- .1 14, in township 95, range 29, now in Cresco, and was finished in August, 1854. The first board building was erected by J. W. Moore, in Algona, for a store room r xnation of his hopes, in republican in am e, »• • buiu the former, after a lifetime of heroic ser- Th was f tlie iormci, «»» - vice, has seen Hungary liberahzed,but not enfranchized. HISTORICAL ITEMS. The first marriage in the county was that of William Moore to Sarah Wright, April 22,18.= 7. The license for this event was issued by Judge Call, and the knot matrimonial was tied by George D. Wheeler, justice of the peace. The first death in the county was that of a party by the name of Mahuren. This man, a minister or elder of the Christian Church, in the fall of 1854, came to the cabin of Ambrose A. Call, andbeingsick, staid there about two weeks, and at the end of that period died. The first birth in Kossuth was that of James and Joseph Crose, twin sons of Philip and Mary Crose, which occurred Aug. 28, 1855, in Irvington township. James is teaching school in Bancroft, and his brother is engaged in farming in Cresco township. Some dispute seems to have arrisen as to this fact; some claiming that Irving Clark, son of William G. Clark, was the first party born m this county, but upon investigation it appears that the latter party was born at Fort Dodge. The first saw-mill was raised at Irving- ton and commenced operations early in the summer of 1856. Judge Call started his mill at Algona a few weeks later. The first log house was built by Am- brose A. Call and W. T. Smith, on section boards. The first goods sold in the limits of Kossuth county are believed to have been a small stock of powder, whisky and like commodities peddled out by Charles Easton in 1854 or 1855. He had no store building but inhabited a tent from which he sold the goods. The first store and stock of goods was es- tablished at Algona, by Maj. W. W Wil- liams who was the guttler at Fort Dodge. During the summer of 1856, he sent up a small assortment of such goods as would retail well in a new country. These goods were in charge of William Koons, but he did not stay long as he was superceded by H F. Watson, who immediately built a new building for Hie accommodation of the stock. The first frame building erected _ in Al- gona was one built by Lewis H. Smith,dur- incr that eventful summer of 1856. The first citizen of the county to be- come naturalized was Christian Hackman who received his final papers upon the 10th day of October, 1856. The first order or warrant for the pay- ment of money by the county, bore the date of April 22, 1857, and was issued to Lewis H. Smith for locating a road. The first newspaper, in the county of Kossuth, was the Algona Pioneer Press established in that town by Ambrose A. Call in September, 1861. This paper had an existence only of about two years, when it suspended. 1 °T* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 245 The first frame school house in the county was erected in the year I860, on section 24, in township 96 north, range 29 west. The first white woman whose feet trod the soil of Kossuth county was Mrs. Asa C. Call, in July, 1854. The first kerosene ever used in this county was brought here by Lewis H. Smith in 1859. A great deal of sport en- sued in the first attempt to use this oil, as he thought that the wick must be above the cone. The first bread made in the county, from wheat raised therein, was made by Mrs. H. A. Henderson in 1859. As this wheat was raised by her husband and was the first of Kossuth county growth, a fes- tive time was made of it and the neigh- bors were invited in to partake of the bread. The first sewing machine was brought to Kossuth county in January, i860, by Lewis H. Smith of Algona. The first threshing in Kossuth county was done by some parties from Boone river, for W. H. Ingham i n the fall of 1859. This was done on section 20, town- ship 96, range 20. The pioneer piano of the county was brought to Algona, by Lewis H. Smitb.dur- ing the winter of 1865-6. The first bank in the county was opened by W. H. Ingham in January, 1867, at Algona, and the first draft or bill of ex- change was drawn on the 11th of January of that year. It was for $100 from James L. Paine to a minister of the gospel in Missouri. ^ The first bank sign, that of Ingham & Smith, was painted by the junior partner, and is yet preserved among the relics of by-gone days. This was lettered in 1870 Lewis H. Smith, besides being the first lawyer in the county, was the first to hang out a sign as notary public in 1857. The first window blinds ever placed upon a house in Kossuth county were the property of Capt. W. II. Ingham, who put them on his dwelling in 1860. The last elk seen in this county was killed during the month of November, 1867, by a party of gentlemen in the Boone river near the east line of the county. The party consisted of the fol- lowing members: A. L. Seeley, A. Ken- nedy, Abraham Hill and J. G. Smith. The horns that ornamented this historic'ani- mal's head now decorate the court room in Algona. 246 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER III COUNTY GOVERNMENT. As has been already mentioned, the territory now comprising the county of Kossuth, was attached, with the nor half of Humboldt, to Webster county, but in 1855 an organization was effected, ami at the August election of that year, (foi prior to 1859 the general election was Lid in August,) the necessary officers were elected, and Kossuth county entered upon a separate existence. These firs officers were: Asa C. Call, county pdge, Robert Cogley, clerk of the court ; J.W. Moore, treasurer and recorder, and Lewis H. Smith, snrveyor. The records of this election have per- ished in the lapse of years, and no account exists that preserves in official form the num ber of votes polled. At the next election, however, whic* .occurred upon the 7th of April, 1856, George W. Hand deceived forty-two votes, all that were polled, for the office of school fund com- missioner ; Eber Stone, thirty-seven for the office of prosecuting attorney and Francis Brown thirty-seven for that ot CO in n t e hese early days the mode of govern ment of the county differed widely from what it is at the present. The execu Uve powers were vested in what was called Ihe "county court," which had the sam jurisdiction and powers as are now held by the county board of supervisors, the county auditor, the judge of the circuit court, especially those matters that relate to the probating of wills, etc., and of mar- riage licenses'. This court consisted of the judge, sheriff and clerk, but in the former resided all authority, and when the two latter acted at all, it was simply as assist- ants. As may be seen by this, the posi- tion of county judge was of primal im- P °The C first entry upon the minute book of the county judge bears date of March 1, 1856, and is as follows : "Ordered by the county court of Kos- suth county, this day, That swine and sheep shall not be permitted to run at large, within said county, after the 1st of June A. D. 1856, and any such animals found so running at large after that date, ma y be taken up as trespassing animals The above regulation will be submitted to the voters of Kossuth county at the en- suing April election. Those in favor of the law to write on their ballot, For the hog law.' Those opposed, will write, 'Against the hog law.' " The record then says that there were twenty-six votes in favor of, and eleven against the above proposed law. At this same term of court the county f Kossuth was divided into townships -. " 1>> HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 247 as follows : All that part of the county lying south of the north line of congres- sional township 93, be denominated Hum- boldt township. (This is now part of the county of the same name.) And all that part of the county lying north of the same line to be called Algona towntehip. At the March term of the county court, 1857, the county was re-divided into town- ships. At this time, that part of the county, now a part of Humboldt, was sep- arated from this, and the remaining ter- ritory was divided as follows: A town- ship with the following boundaries was formed, "beginning at the quarter post on the east line of section 7, township 95 north, of range 27 west, of the 5th prin- cipal meridian, and running from thence due west along the center of sections 13, 14, etc., to the middle of the channel of the east fork of the Des Moines river, and thence down the middle of said channel to the south line of township 94, and thence east along said line to the east line of the county, and thence along said county line to the place of beginning." This town- ship was christened Irvington. "All that part of the county lying north of a line beginning at the quarter post on the east line of section 13, township 95, range 27 west, and running due west to the quarter post on the west side of sec- tion 18, township 95, range 30," was set off into a civil township, and the name Al- gona given to it. The third township was called Cresco, and comprised all that part of the county lying west of the middle of the channel of the east fork of the Des Moines river, and south of the south line of Algona township. On the 15th of October, 1857, the county court made the first levy of taxes, which is recorded to be as follows : County fund, six mills on a dollar ; State fund, three mills ; school, one and one-half mills ; road, one and one-half mills ; poll tax, fifty cents; road poll, $2. But little of any general interest oc- curs in these earlier records, as most of the time of the court was taken up in auditing and paying the bills against the county, and other routine business. At the October term of the county court held in 1858, the first naturalization papers were issued to the foreign born residents of Kossuth county. 'J he first man to take the necessary oath, and re- ceive his papers, was John Hutchinson, a native of Ireland, and a subject of the Queen of England. The date of the record of this event is October 7. That ami the following days of the same term, papersof an equivalent nature were issued to August Zahlten, a native of Prussia; James Roan, of Scotland; Barnet Devine, James H. Thompson, Michael Fox and Joseph Thompson, natives of the Emerald Isle; George Frederick Scha'ad and Chris- tian Hackman, from Besse Darmstadt; and Michael Schmidt, a Hollander. All these are now remembered as among the "old settlers," and the day of their en- franchisement should be remembered as a bright era of their lives. On the 1st of January, 1861, a change took place in the mode of government of the county, in accordance with the laws of" the 8th General Assembly. The coun- ty judge, by that act, became of secondary consideration, and the board of county supervisors, consisting at that time of one 2 fkv 248 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. member from each township, was created, and to which was delegated nearly all of the powers and functions of the county judge. The latter only retained jurisdic- tion in probate, and some other minor matters. The first board of supervisors of Kossuth county met at the office of the county judge, in Algona, on the 7th day of January, 1861. The following gentle- men presented themselves as the choice of their respective town ships for the office of supervisor, and presented their creden- tials: Ambrose A. Call, Algona; M. C. Lathrop, Cresco, and J. R. Armstrong, Irvington. After having qualified they took their seats and proceeded to perfect their or- ganization by the election of a chairman, and en a ballot being taken the choice fell upon Ambrose A. Call, who was conducted to the chair. 1 he first business brought before the new board was the settling of the amount of the bond to be given by the clerk of the board, which was placed at $500. The members then drew lots to determine the length of the term for which each should hold his seat; M. C. Lathrop drew the ballot entitling him to his place for the "long term," or two years. There being no court house nor county offices, the board rented the office of L. H. Smith for use of the clerk of the board, and at the same time authorized the treasurer and recorder and probate judge to rent another office. Much of the regular routine business came up before this board in the way of paying claims and locating of roads, but nothing seems to have occurred of any historical impor- tance or of general interest, although a great deal of necessary business was trans- acted by the honorable board. The new board for the year 1862 met on the 6th of January, and consisted of the following gentlemen: Ambrose A. Call, Algona; J. R. Armstrong, Irving- ton, and Abiathar Hull, Cresco. Mr. Arm- strong was chosen chairman for the ensu- ing year. At the February session this board en- tered into a contract with Asa C. Call, a resident of the county, by which he agreed to act as the agent of Kossuth county in procuring for the said county the swamp and overflowed lands to which the said county was entitled, under certain acts of Congress and of the Genera! As- sembly of the State of Iowa. By this contract Mr. Call was made the duly ac- credited agent for the whole negotiation of the matter, and was to receive as com- pensation for his services one-fourth of all such lands recovered to the county. At the May term a resolution was passed to submit to the legal voters of the county an important question, as follows: "The undersigned makes to the county of Kossuth the following proposition, to wit: If the said county will give to the undersigned as a bonus 8,000 acres of the swamp lands of an average quality in said county, the undersigned will build within one mile of Algona, in said county, a grist-mill, to be propelled by water; which mill shall be built in a substantial manner, and shall have two run of bulirs, and all the fixtures necessary to make •rood flour. And the undersigned further agrees, if said county shall accept this proposition, to enter into an obligation, with good and ample security to said r l> HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 249 county, that said mill shall be in opera- tion within twelve months, and that it shall be run at the place designated for five years, and that the rate of toll to be taken at said mill shall not exceed one- seventh. [Signed] Samuel Reed. Abiather Hull." But owing to the withdrawal of Mr. Reed's name from the proposition, the board decided to annul the whole pro- ceeding, and, on the 9th day of June, did revoke the order for the special election, and the scheme died into obscurity. The county having made other use of the lands, Asa Call could not comply with the terms of the contract made by him, so did not procure the necessary patents endowing the county with the so-called swamp lands, but as the matter was other- wise settled the claim was made good and he was settled with by a committee, con- sisting of Lewis II. Smith and W. H. Ingham, appointed for that purpose. At the general election of 1862, a majority of the qualified electors of the county, voted in favor of the county entering into a contract with the American Emigration Company, whereby they turned all these swamp lands over to that corporation, in lieu of improvements that they would make and the aid it would give to emi- gration to this section of the State and various minor considerations. All deeds to be given by the company, to enclose a clause, binding the purchaser to make a bona fide settlement thereon within a limited period, which should be stipulated in the conveyance. The new board for 1863 met, for their first session, on the 5th of January, and consisted of the following gentlemen, who were all present and took their seats: Ambrose A. Call, Algona; J. R. Arm- strong, Irvington, and Benjamin Clark, Cresco. They immediately proceeded to effect an organization by electing Am- brose Call chairman for the ensuing year. A great mass of business was transacted during the year but none of it of general interest at this time except the various resolutions in favor of bounties to volun- teers, which may be found at length in the chapter devoted to "The War for the Union." The board of supervisors for the year 1864 met, on the 4th of January, and the following gentlemen appeared and an- swered to their names: Addison Fisher, Irvington township; D. W. King, Algona township; Benjamin Clark, Cresco town- ship. After being duly sworn and inducted into office, Benjamin Clark was elected chairman for the year, and the organiza- tion was completed. A resolution was then introduced and adopted empowering the clerk to procure a plan and specifica- tions for building a court house, and sub- mit the same to the board at their next meeting. Nothing seems to have grown out of this at the time, but the seed thus early planted bore rich fruit in the full- ness of days, as a glance at the beautiful edifice of the county will prove. On the 3d of January, 1865, the new board met in regular session, and after taking the usual oath of office, the fol- lowing members took their seats: Addi- son Fisher, Irvington; D. W. King, Al- cona; and C. Hackman, Cresco. After electing Mr. Fisher as chairman for the D V iJ?= **Jl 250 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. year, they proceeded to the transaction of the usual routine business. The board of supervisors for the year 1866 was made up of the same members as the previous year. After the usual formalities, Mr. Fisher was again elected chairman. But little business was trans- acted by this board, except the usual rou- tine of auditing claims and road and bridge matters. However, during their administration, a contract was let to Samuel Reed to build a structure for the use of the county as a court house, which he erected in compliance with the terms of the contract, for the sum of $775. Upon the 15th of October, this same year, the following resolution was adopted by the board: Resolved, That, as the American Emi- grant Company have passed a resolution donating the sum of $5,000 to this county for school house purposes, that said sum of money, when received, shall be used for the erection of a seminary in the town of Algona, and for no other purpose. This seminary to be under the control of the board of supervisors, and to be con- sidered a county building. The board of supervisors for the admin- istration of the business of the county, for the year 1867, met on the 7th of Jan- uary, and consisted of the following mem- bers: Addison Fisher, Irvington; D. W. King, Algona; and Benjamin Clarke,- Cresco. After a proper qualification, the board proceeded to organize by the election of Addison Fisher as chairman for the year, and proceeded to the auditing of claims and locating of county roads. The board in 1868 was made up of Addison Fisher, Irvington; Benjamin Clarke, Cresco; and Abram Hill, Algona. Immediately after meeting, on the 6th of January, the new members were dis- qualified and taking their places, organ- ized for the year by the election of Addi- son Fisher as chairman. One of the first measures adopted was a resolution au- thorizing the board of supervisors to act as a committee of the whole in selecting a site and purchasing land for a poor farm for the use of the county. The board, for the year 1869, met for the first time on the 4th of January, of that year, and the following gentlemen appeared and were duly qualified: Addi- son Fisher, Irvington; Abram Hill, Al- gona; G. W. Olmsted, Cresco. Mr. Fisher was re-elected to fill the chair, and the board proceeded to assume the reins of government. Lewis H. Smith, late county judge and ex-officio county auditor, having handed in his resignation, the board appointed Marcus Robbins to fill the vacancy. It was also Resolved, That the territory embraced in the following congressional town- ships, to-wit: Townships 98, 99 and 100^ in range 29 west, of the fifth principal meridian, and townships 98, 99 and 100, in range 30 west, of the same meridian be formed into a new township called Green- wood, and that its boundaries shall be as above described. Also, at the October session, that portion of Kossuth county embraced in townships 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100, range 28, were formed into a new civil township under the name of Port- land. That portion of the county em- braced in congressional townships 96 and ^ - 9 A ■£>. J- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 251 97, ranges 29 and 30, was formed into a new township to be known as Darien. This latter township, however, never was organized under this name, as it did not seem to meet the views of all concerned. Jan. 3, 1870, was the day upon which met the new board of supervisors of the county. The following gentlemen pre- sented themselves, and after the usual formalities, took their seats: Daniel Rice, Algona; Albe Fife, Irvington; L. K. Garfield, Greenwood; and O. F. Hale, Cresco. After organizing by the election of Daniel Rice as chairman, the board pro- ceeded to the transaction of business. At the July session of this board the action taken in the creation of Darien township was rescinded, in answer to the petition of seventy-six of the legal voters thereof. The following year, 1871, Daniel Rice, D. H. Hutehins and Charles C. Chubb, constituted the board of supervisors, and after taking the usual oath and seating themselves, elected Mr. Rice chairman. This was at their first meeting, on the 2d of January. At the April session the county auditor was authorized, by resolu- tion of the board, to purchase fifty cords of building stone for the building of the basement of the new court house to be erected. About this time the north part of the county was organized into a sep- arate county and called Crocker county, but as it was contrary to law it was after- wards abandoned. But at the time, in April, 1871, a pretended board of super- visors, to quote the records of Kossuth county, made a demand that this county cease to assess, levy and collect taxes within their territory, but the government of Kossuth county paid no attention whatsoever, except to say that when they were satisfied that there was such a county as Crocker, with a de facto govern- ment, then they would listen to the re- monstrance. In June the honorable board passed a resolution, submitting to the qualified voters of the county the proposition that the bonds of the county be issued in the sum of -$25,000, upon which to borrow money to build a court house. These bonds were to bear an in- terest of ten per cent., payable annually, and the principal to be paid in install- ments of $3,000 each year, beginning with that of 1874. Also that a tax of five per cent, should be levied as a special tax upon the assessed property of the county to meet these bonds as they ma- tured. On the 5th of September, being then in session, the board appointed D. H. Hutehins and J. E. Blackford a com- mittee to draft plans and specifications for a county poor house, and to advertise for proposals to build the same. The board of supervisors, for the year 1872, met for the first time at the court house in Algona, January 0, and consisted of Daniel Rice, who had been re-elected, D. H. Hutehins and C. C. Chubb. Mr. Rice was elected the presiding officer, after qualification. In 1873 the board consisted of D. Rice, D. H. Hutehins and R. I. Brayton, the latter the newly elected member, who, after being duly sworn, took his seat with his colleagues. Mr. Brayton was then called to the chair, temporarily, Mr. Hutehins, the third member, being absent at the time, and the board being organ- ized proceeded to the transaction of the f ;pr HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. -4+ business before them, which consisted mostly of locating roads, hearing petitions and paying claims against the county. At a later session Mr. Hutchins being present, was made chairman of the board for the ensuing year. The usual business coming up for settlement, the board proceeded to its consideration. At the June session the auditor was in- structed to sell the old court house to the highest bidder, and have it removed from its present site. The board for the year 1874 met upon the 5th of January, and consisted of the following gentlemen: D. Rice, R. I. Brayton, H.F.Watson, Leonard Ayers and M. Taylor. After having entered upon the duties of their positions by subscrib- ing to the usual formula, they completed their organization by the election of Mr. Rice as chairman for the concurrent year. The board of supervisors for the year 1SV5 was composed as follows: H. F. Watson, R. I. Brayton, M. Taylor, D. Rice and L. Ayers. Mr. Taylor was elected chairman. The members of the board for the suc- ceeding years were as follows: 1876.— H. F. Watson, chairman; M. Taylor, D. Rice, R. I. Brayton and Philip Dorweiler. 1877. — D. Rice, chairman; R. I. Bray- ton, Philip Dorweiler, M. L. Bush and II. Schenck. 1878. — R. I. Brayton, chairman; Philip Dorweiler, II. Schenck, M. L. Bush and E. S. Streater. 1879. — Philip Dorweiler, chairman; M. L. Bush, H. Schenck, E. S. Streater and A. Rutherford. 1880.— E. S. Streater, chairman; Philip Dorweiler, A. Rutherford, C. D. Pettibone and Isaac Sweigard. 1881. — C. D. Pettibone, chairman; I. Sweigard, A. Rutherford, Philip Dorweiler and J. D. McDonald. 1882.— C. D. Pettibone, chairman; J. D. McDonald, H. B. Butler, J. B. John- son and I. Sweigard. 1883.— H. B. Butler, chairman; J. D. McDonald, J. B.Johnson, Norman Collar and George Boyle. r '5 W_ * 4 £ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 253 CHAPTER IV OFFICIAL MATTERS. Grouped together in this chapter will be found the various matters gathered from the county records and other sources, and that fill no special place in history, but which left untold would mar the com- pleteness of the annals. POPULATION. In 1856, the first year that this county was mentioned in the census returns of the State, there were some 377 inhabitants credited to the whole county, as then con- stituted. In I860, with a less area, the population was 416. The number of in- habitants for the succeeding years are herewith presented, as compiled from the State census returns: 1870 3.351 1873 4,252 1875 3,765 1863 365 1865 694 1867 1,573 1869 1,949 By the census of 1880, the population was shown to be 6,178, of which 3, '238 were males and 2,940 were females. A large portion of the settlers of the county are American born, those of that nativity numbering 4,883, where the foreign ele- ment only foots up 1,295. MARRIAGE RECORD. Licenses have always been required in the State of Iowa before the nuptial knot could be tied, and the clerk of the court has always been the custodian of the hooks and has authority to issue the said permits, under certain restrictions. These records therefore have proved an invalu- able source from which to draw the ma- jority of the facts found here. The first license on the record books of Kossuth county was issued by Judge Call, under date of April 22, 1857, and author- ized the proper person to unite in the bonds of matrimony, William Moore and Sarah Wright. The ceremony was per- formed the same day, apparently, by George D. Wheeler, a justice of the peace. This was the first marriage within the limits of Kossuth county. The second license was issued on July 21, 1857, by Judge Call, to Hurlbut W. Lake and Rachel W. Eggers. This couple were married the same day by "his honor the judge." Licenses were issued the same year to the following parties: Charles I. Harvey and Minerva Wright, October 15. They were married by Judge Lewis H. Smith, the same day. Thomas J. Foster and Jane Lane, Octo- ber 15, who were also united in mar- riage by the county judge. Lewis H. Smith and Abbie M. Rist, October 24. This couple were united un- der the sanction of the Church, in the per- son of Rev. Chauncey Taylor, and was the ^ 254 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. first rite matrimonial to be so solemnized by a clergyman in the county. Theodore J. Smith and Roxa Fleming, November 10. Roderick M. Bessie and Mary E. Lane, November 20. William D. Eaton and Nancy H. Kel- logg, December 20. The last three couples were all married on the day of the issuance of the licenses by the Rev. ( 'liauncey Taylor. This comprises all the marriages for that year, nor did the number increase very materially the next year. In 1858 there were the following candidates for matrimonial honors: August Zahlten and Mary Reibhoff, January 6. Married, the same day, by Lewis II. Smith, county judge. Amos Otis, Jr., and Almira E. Heck- art, March 24. Married the following day by J. E. Blackford, justice of the peace. William A. Wilson and Chloe S. Law- rence, May 16. Married, the same day, by Rev. D. S. McComb, a Presbyterian cler- gyman. James E. Hall and Susan Hall, July 1. Married at the same time by Judge Smith. George M. Wiltfong and Martha A. Clarke July IV. Married the same day by W. B. Moore, a justice of the peace. Sylvester S. Rist and Mary Ann Millen, August 31. Married by L. II. Smith, the county judge. Marcena Harriet and Caroline Latti- more, September 14; also united the same day, by Judge Smith. Swan Linquest and Hannah Peterson, Jan. 15, 1859. Married the same date by L. L. Treat, justice of the peace. J. R. Armstrong and Jane Fife, Jan. 27, 1859. Married by Rev. O. A. Holmes. G. W. Mann and Laura M. Bellows, Aug. 25, 1859. Married by Rev. C. Taylor. J. E. Stacy and Harriet E. Taylor, April 12, 1860. United in wedlock by the Reverend father of the bride, Chaun- cey Taylor. George P. Steele and Mary S. Clark, April 12, 1860. Married by Rev. C. Taylor. Oscar Stevens and Jane Magoon, May 28, 1860. Christian Hackman and Elizabeth Clark, May 24, I860. Andrew L. Seeley and Alice Benscho- ter, May 30, 1861. Richard Colburn and Elmira Heckart, May V, 1861. Elias N. Weaver and Polly Benschoter, Dec. 18, 1861. But this is sufficient. Many of the names will be recognized as those of early settlers, and of the parties who have been most prominently identified with the prog- ress and development of Kossuth county. Herewith is appended a table showing the number of marriages of each year, and calling the attention to the curious variation in their number, as the times were hard or easy. 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 COURT HOUSE. Some sort of offices were provided for the county officials at the county seat of 1870 1871 . 26 32 1873 32 1874 35 1876 36 1877 1878 1879 46 47 54 1880 1881 1882 65 71 67 ar- jfc 4*- , HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 255 Kossuth county, from the date of its or- ganization, but no regular courthouse was built for the use of the county until 1860. On the 26th of March of that year, a con- tract was entered into by and between the honorable board of supervisors and Samuel Reed, of Irvington, whereby the latter agreed to erect a building to be used by the county as a courthouse. This was a small frame building which an- swered its purpose but indifferently well until 1872, when the present building was erected. The building cost the county something like $800, and after the erec- tion of the new court house, was sold by order of the county board ; August Zahl- ten being the purchaser. This old court house becoming totally inadequate to the conveniences of the county, and besides offering no sort of protection to the records from fire, in 1871, the board of county supervisors submitted the proposi- tion to the qualified electors of Kossuth county, that they should issue the bonds of the county to raise the necessary money to erect a court house. At the Oc- tober election the people of the county, by a handsome majority, assented to bur- den themselves with the debt, and pro- ceedings were at once commenced, look- ing toward the erection of the present magnificent structure that beautifies the town. The members of the board of su- pervisors, thinking, no doubt, it was for the best interests of the county, did not let the whole contract for the building to some contractor who would have slighted the work, having no particular interest in it, but raised the edifice themselves, giv- ing work to home mechanics and labor- ers. The operation was commenced by letting a contract to C. F. Kyes for the excavation of the cellar. This contract was signed upon the £7th of April, 1872, and the price agreed upon was twelve and one-half cents per cubic yard, and the same was to be finished in twelve days from the date of the signing of the con- tract. Mr. Kyes completed the work in accordance with his terms of agreement. The next was to build the foundation and basement, and this was done out of native stone. There being no stratified rock nor quarry within the limits of this county, good building material was found by dig- ging through the soil into the underlying drift and taking out the boulders, and dressing them into shape. These are nearly all quartzose in make up, being in many cases, Lauren tian granite and gneiss, brought from the primeval beds, of which there exists none nearer than the north shore of Lake Huron, and being of a vol- canic nature, are comparatively indestruc- tible, make a firm foundation. On this was reared a beautiful and stately edifice in the Anglicized Tuscan style of architect- ure, that every inhabitant of the county feels a just pride in. The building is constructed of Milwau- kee brick and trimmed with cut stone, with a square roof, and a balcony or open belvedere in the center of it. On the northeast corner rises the beautiful square tower, characteristic of this style of archi- tecture, and a small ornamental one fin- ishes the opposite corner. Within, the building is finished in most excellent style, and with its high ceilings, perfect ventilation and commodious quar- ters, make it a pleasure to call upon the obliging servants of the people who have ■*7|e ilit 256 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. their offices therein. In the second story is the room used for the various courts that meet here for the administration of justice and law. This is one of the most magnificent rooms in proportion, in north- ern Iowa, and the whole building pro- claims to every one the cultured taste that dictated its erection. No wonder that all the citizens of the county are proud of it when it calls forth the highest encomiums of every casual visitor to the town. The cost of this superb structure was about $38,000, of which the following gives some of the most prominent items : Rough Stone $1,557.24 Dressed Stone 1,621.74 Red Brick 3.830.07 White Brick 2,017.56 Mason Work 5,21295 Lumber 3, 987.76 John Hiles' bills of doors and Bash, etc. 2, 576.56 Teaming and common labor 1, 018 48 Painting 62148 Carpenter Work 2, 799.42 Wages of foreman Booth 1, 226 00 Tin Roofing 1,179.55 Freight 1,327.48 Hardware 1,237.65 Blacksmithing 231.75 Paid to architect M Mix 625, 00 Lime, glass, etc 834.96 Sand 130.00 Miscellaneous 586.50 Total $32,622.14 Other items carried the amount up to the figures mentioned above. When the building was done charges of fraud were of course circulated, and it was claimed that D. II. Hatching, agent of the building committee of the board, had diverted funds, and other claims of like nature. They were wholly without foundation, as the following extract from — r- the minutes of the board will show. This was passed at the session held in July, 1873 : "The majority report of the committee appointed to investigate court house mat- ters was presented, accepted and ordered to be spread upon the minutes of the pro- ceedings of the board of supervisors, which is accordingly done, and is in words and figures following, to-wit : To the Honorable, the Board of Super- pervisors : "The committee appointed by you to in- vestigate certain frauds alleged to have been perpetrated by certain individuals in connection with the building of the court house and certain bridges beg leave to submit the following report : "It is the opinion of your committee that the charges or rather insinuations were based seemingly upon a partial and superficial examination of the books and papers on file, and that the committee, after a careful examination of the same, can find no evidence of moneys misapplied or unaccounted for, and the tenor of the evidence taken has shown no disposition on the part of the board of supervisors or their agent, D. II. Ilutchins, to divert the funds of the county. "The cost of the building up to the present time is about $34,000. "The items let by contract to the low- est bidder were: The largest portion of the rough stone ; the dressed stone was let to the lowest bidder, and at twenty-five pet- cent, less than had formerly been paid in in the same town ; the red brick ; the mason work ; painting, with the excep- tion of some outside work, was let to the lowest bidder, and at about one-hall" the •&'- k. HISTORY OP KOSSUTH COUNTY. 257 common rates ; tin roofing to the lowest bidder. "The remaining items were not con- tracted for, some from their very nature, and others on account of other circum- stances involving a supposed loss to the county. After taking all the testimony produced before the committee, which is quite voluminous, and has occupied your committee for many days, we have care- fully examined the same and find nothing therein tending to the implication of the board of supervisors as a body, or D. II. Hutching, their agent, in any frauds or misapplication of the county funds. Samuel Reed, Ch'n, John Wallace, Albert Bush." civil townships. The thirteen civil townships into which Kossuth county is divided were organized upon the following dates: Algona, June, 1856; Irvington, March, 1857; Cresco, March, 1S57; Greenwood, Jan. 5, 1869; Portland, October 1869; Wesley, June, 1871; Lotts Creek, Feb. 3, 1873; Fenton, April 7, 1873; Ramsey, June 3,1879; Burt; Luverne, Sept. 4, 1882; Prairie, Sept. 27, 1882; Sherman, Feb. 19, 1883. ITEMS OP INTEREST. Lands exclusive of town property in acres 553,568 Total exemptions for trees planted. . . $134, 146 Valuation after deducting exemptions 1,451,638 The value of realty in the towns, cities and villages of the county according to the assessment of 1882, is as follows: Algona incorporated town $80,785 Algona township 765 Greenwood " 8,148 Portland " 467 Wesley " 1,979 Lotts Creek " 3,911 Irvington " 667 Aggregate value in towns $96,722 Total value of railroad property $199,476 Total value of personal property 260,823 Total valuation of the county. . $2,008,662 LIVE STOCK. No. valuation Cattle assessed in the county. ..10,723 $82,524 Horses " " 3,545 70,313 Mules " " 113 2,926 Sheep " " 1,592 1,522 Swine *' " 3,969 4,297 Total valuation of live stock $161,581 The total tax levied in the county, in 1882, was $76,087.70 FINANCIAL. The following items show the growth in wealth and valuation in the county during the last decade. A full report of the valuation by years was not accessible, neither is it of much general interest. These are simply given to show the in- crease, as exhibited by the tax books of Kossuth county. 1872. Value of land In county $1. 527, 237 Value of personal property 118,996 Value of railroad property 57. 600 Total value $1,703,833 1874. Value of lands $1,775,475 Value of town property 131.651 Value of personal property 73, 734 Value of railroad property 42, 000 Total value $2, 022, 850 1877. Value of lands $1,633,577 Value of lots 76,381 Value of railroad property 44, 065 Value of personal property. 152,715 Total value $1,906,738 1878. Total value of lands $1, 500, 361 Value of town property 72,480 Personal propeity 155,321 Valuation of railroad property 41, 250 Total value of county $1, 769. 412 258 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 1879. Value of land in the county $1,366,255 Value of town lots 78,228 Value of railroad property 80, 652 Personal property valued at 170, 873 Total valuation of county $1, 696, 008 1881. Value of lands $1,533,246 Value of lots 88,596 "Value of railroad property 183, 621 Value of personalty 113,340 Total valuation of county $1, 918, 803 1882. Value of lands $1,590,608 Value of town lots 96, 976 Value of railroad property 261, 175 Value of personal property 202, 740 Total value of county $2, 151. 499 treasurer's report. The last report of the county treasurer, S. S. Rist, made June 1, 1883, shows the following summary of cash on hand at that date in eacli several fund of the county treasury : State Fund $ 789.04 County ' ' 5, 130.88 Poor ■' 67.16 Bridge " 3,963.47 County School fund 287.40 War and defense bond fund 1.02 Court house bond fund 74 .47 Insane fund 1,175.61 Algona township funds 1,092.52 Irvington " " 1,218 64 Cresco " " 504.86 Portland " " 677.25 Greenwood " " 707.36 Wei-ley " " 450.54 Penton " " 249.74 Lott's Creek " " 580.17 AlgonaCity " " 1,213.11 Ind. districtof Algona 764.16 Ramsey township fund 303.92 REGISTRY OF DEEDS. On consulting the records in the office of the county recorder, it is found that the first deed upon record is that of the dedication of the town plat of Irvington, and bears date of Sept. 19, 1856, and is signed by George Smith, Lyman L. Treat, and Kendall Young. The deed is ac- knowledged before L. II. Smith, a notary public, in and for Kossuth county, and by order of Asa C.'Call, county judge, was filed for record on the 27th day of Sep- tember 1856, at 9 o'clock a. m., by Chauncey Taylor, deputy recorder. There are now in use some twenty-five books of deed records, nineteen of real estate, and six of town lots. The first mortgage on record bears date of Aug. 27, 1855, and was given by the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Com- pany, to secure the payment of bonds of that corporation. The first mortgage, however, given by a resident and citizen of Kossuth county was one signed by Asa C. Call, the same date, and in favor of Morrison & Drakes, of Sturgis, Mich., and was on certain material and machinery for a saw-mill purchased by the judge of that firm. The consideration was $750, and was satisfied at the maturity of the notes. There are now eleven books of mortgages of real estate in use by the recorder, run- ning from A to N, which latter letter des- ignates the volume in use at present. The chattel mortgages are recorded in some twelve books, in addition to this. A list is herewith given of the various town plats that have been recorded from time to time in the books of the county, with the date of the filing of each, and names of original proprietors : \ <2- ^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 259 Irvington, filed for record, Sept. 27, 1856, by George Smith, L. L. Treat and Kendall Young. Algona, filed Dec. 2, 1856, by Asa C. Call. Ashuelot, filed July 30, 1858, by George Brizee. Cresco, filed September, 1S58, by Henry Kellogg. Call's addition to the town of Algona, filed Sept. 11, 187 1, by Asa C. and Am- brose A. Call, Henry and Anthony H. Durant, and John Heckart. Wesley, filed Oct. 10, 1873, by J. II. Merrill, of Clayton couuty. Whittemore, filed April 12, 1879, by W. II. Ingham and L. H. Smith. Whitman, filed Feb. 1, 1881, by West- ern Town Lot Company, owners. Luverne, filed March 23, 1881, by G. W. Hanna and B. B. Bliss, original pro- prietors. Burt, filed Sept. 19, 1881, by A. A. Call, D. A. Buell and the Western Town Lot Company. Bancroft, filed Sept. 3, 1881, by A. A Call and Western Town Lot Company. Irvington Station, filed Sept. 24, 18S1, by Western Town Lot Company. Ingham's addition to Algona, filed Nov. 22, 1881, by W. H. Ingham. Call & Smarts addition to same, filed by A. C. Call, S. L. Witter and J. J. Smart, Aug. 4, 1882. Western Town Lot Company's addition to Bancroft, filed for record by that cor- poration Oct. 5, 1882. Call's third addition to Algona, filed Nov. 1, 1883, by Asa C. Call. Full details of each of these appear in their proper places in this volume. The whole number of record books in this office at the present is seventy-nine. VMa — i V t 4l «- ^ 260 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER V . POLITICAL. Herewith is given the official canvass of the entire vote of the county, from the date of its organization until the present moment, with the exception of that of August, 1855, which is missing from the record books of the county. ELECTION. APRIL 7. 1856. School Fund Commissioner . George W. Hand 42 Prosecuting Attorney. Eber Stone W Coroner. Francis Brown 37 ELECTION, AUGUST 4. 1886. Secretary of State. Elijah Sells 31— 18 George Snyder 13 State Auditor. John Pattie 30— 16 James Pollard 13 M. L. Morris 1 State Treasurer. M.L.Morris 30— 17 George Paul 13 Attorney-General. SamuelA. Rice 30— 17 James Baker 13 Represent at iix in Congress. Timothy Davis 32— 19 Shepherd Leffler 13 Representative in Legislature. E. K. Gillett 30— 17 W. C.Wilson 13 State Senator. George A. Kellogg 13 Clerk of the District Court. J.E. Stacy 43 Prosecuting Attorney. Charles Osgood 43 Coroner. Alexander Brown 43 ELECTION, APRIL, 1857. State Superintendent of Public Instruction. L. H. Bugbee 82— 72 M. L. Fisher 10 Commissioner of the Des Moines River Improvement. Edwin Manning 82— 72 G.S.Bailey 10 Register State Land. Office. William J. Holmes 82— 72 Theodores. Parvin 10 Sheriff . H.F.Watson 83— 75 F. K. Davis .. 6 Jacob Cummins 1 H . A . Henderson 1 Assessor. R.C.Shaw 88- 85 Robert Moore 2 C . Easton 1 Drainage Commissioner. Joseph P. Sharp 86— 84 Amos Otis 1 •"Scattering" 1 Coroner. Joseph Thompson 43— 3 LutherBullis 38 William Skinner 2 SPECIAL ELECTION, JUNE 20, 1857. For an east and west railroad 75— 16 Against an east and west railroad 59 Against a north and south railroad 57— 13 For a north and south railroad 44 AUGUST ELECTION, 1857. County Judge . Lewis H.Smith 100— 95 Charles Easton 2 Charles Osgood 1 G. P. Taylor 1 Jacob Cummins 1 > "V -£+ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 2G1 Treasurer and Recorder. H.F.Watson 89— 74 C.Taylor 15 Sheriff. O.W.Hobinson 97— 93 G. C. Carlon 1 F. K. Davis 1 Jacob Cummins 1 N.Cleveland 1 County Surveyor. William H. Ingham 59— 21 Jerome Bleakman 30 George Smith 1 L. H.Smith 1 ■ Coroner. Luther Bullis 101 School Fund Commissioner. William B. Moore. 106 On the New Constitution. For the new constitution 61— 40 Against the new constitution 21 On the proposition; "Shall the word white be stricken out of the article on the right of suffrage'/" "No" 51— 11 "Yes" 40 On the proposition to aid north and south railroad. For 75_ 55 Against 20 ELECTION, OCTOBER 13, 1857. Governor. Ralph P. Lowe 70— 25 Benjamin M. Samuels 45 Lieutenant-Governor. Oran Faville 70— 25 George Gillaspy 45 Representative 13th Legislative District. C. C. Carpenter 65— 15 John F. Duncombe 50 ELECTION, APRIL, 1858. Superintendent of Common Schools. Rev. C. Taylor 48— 2 D . W. Sample 43 Badger Easton 3 Against increase of salaries 56— 4 For increase of salaries 52 SPECIAL ELECTION, JUNE, 1858. For a general Banking law 70— 42 Against a general Banking law 24 For a State Bank of Iowa 101— 99 Against a State Bank of Iowa 2 For an increase of salaries 72— 39 Against an increase of salaries 33 ^ ELECTION OCTOBER 12, 1858. Secretary of State. Elijah Sells 72— 40 Samuel Douglas 31 E.Blackford 1 State Auditor. J. W.Cattell 68— 31 T. S. Parvin 36 Dr. McCoy 1 State Treasurer. J. W. Jones 73_ n Samuel L. Lorah 31 O. Minkler x Attorney-General. Samuel A. Rice 72 29 James L. Ellwood " 42 Cummins i Register of State Land Office. A.B.Miller 69- 33 James M. Reid 35 M.Jones 1 1 Commissioner Des Moines River Improvement. W.C.Drake 72— 39 Charles Baldwin 32 Ambrose Call 1 Member of Congress, 2d District. William Vandever 72 39 W. E. Lefflngwell 32 A. Call 1 Judge District Court, Mh Judicial District. Asbael W. Hubbard, 77— 50 W. G. Wyatt 26 Gottenburg 1 District Attorney, ith District. Orlando C. Howe 83_ gg E. D. Thompson 20 C. Gray 1 Member Board of Education. Daniel E. Brainard 72— 40 J.S.Cole 31 Samuel Nixon 1 Clerk of the District Court . J. E. Stacy 88— 80 Charles Easton s Coroner . K. Carton 35— 24 F. R. Jewell. 11 County Surveyor. A. F. Willoughby 3 SPECIAL ELECTION, APRIL 25, 1859. On the question of issuing Bonds. Against the bonds so 55 For the bonds 25 »M* 262 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ELECTION, OCTOBER 11, 1859. Governor. Samuel J. Kirkwooa 75 — 38 Augustus C. Dodge 37 Lieutenant-Governor. Nicholas J. Rusch 76— 40 Lysander W. Babbitt 36 Judges of Supreme Court. Ralph P. Lowe 75— 38 L.D.Stockton 74— 36 Caleb Baldwin 76— 40 Charles Mason 37 Thomas 8. Wilson 38 C.C.Cole 36 State Senator, 32ci District. Luther L. Pease 68— 34 J. F. Duncombe 44 Representative from 61st Legislative District. John E. Blackford 96— 80 F.M. Corey 16 County Judge. J.E.Stacy 59— 10 Lewis H. Smith 49 Treasurer and Recorder. L.L. Treat 54— 4 H.F. Watson 50 Sheriff. O. Iiensehoter 87— 77 G. W. Blottenberg 10 County Superintendent. J. R. Armstrong- 72— 71 H. Kellogg- 1 Drainage Commissioner. H. Kellogg 102 Surveyor. William L. Miller 80— 70 C. Easton 5 A. F. Willoughby 4 W. H. Ingham 1 Coroner. Luther Bullis 87— 86 Judson Mason 1 ELECTION, NOVEMBER 6, 1860. For President. Abraham Lincoln, Republican 64— 44 Stephen A Douglas, Democrat .-. 20 Secretary of State. Elijah Sells, Republican 63— 42 John M. Corse, Democrat , 21 State Auditor. J. W. Cattell, Republican 63— 42 George W. Maxfield, Democrat 21 State Treasurer. John W. Jones, Republican 63 — 42 John W. Ellis, Democrat 21 Judge of Supreme Court. George G. Wright, Republican 63— 42 J. M. Ellwood, Democrat 21 Representative in Congress— 2d District. William Vandever, Republican 61— 39 B. M. Samuels, Democrat 22 Clerk of District Court. F. McCoy 53— 21 H.F. Watson 32 Surveyor. L.H.Smith .. . 42— 38 John Brown 3 H. Kellogg 1 Coroner. A.B.Mason 28— 5 John W. Summers SI F. McCoy 3 Calvin Heckart 3 County Supervisors. A. A. Call, of Algona township 44— 43 A. C. Call, of Algona township 1 J. R. Armstrong, of Irvington township. . . 28 M. C. Lathrop, of Cresco township 8— 7 Henry Kellogg, of Cresco township 1 SPECIAL ELECTION, MAY 6, 1861. On Proposition in Regard to Bridges. For bridges 57— 30 Against bridges 27 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 8, 1861. Governor. Samuel J. Kirkwood, Republican 71— 66 William H. Merritt, Democrat 3 Benjamin M. Samuels, Democrat 2 Lieutenant-Governor. John R. Needham, Republican. 72— 68 J. W. Williams 2 Lauren Dewey 2 Judge, Supreme Court. Ralph P. Lowe 72— 68 J. M. Elwood .... 3 Kinsey Carlon 1 Representative from 56th Legislative District . J.E.Blackford 72— 65 H.N. Broekway 7 Treasure?- and, Recorder. J.E.Stacy 72— 71 M.Fox 1 County Judge . D. S. McComb 70— 69 E. Easton 1 Drainage Commissioner. Horace Schenck 61— 59 H. Kellogg 1 A.Davidson 1 A, HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 263 County Superintendent. C.Taylor A.B.Mason 3 J.R.Armstrong 1 Sheriff. Oliver Benschoter 51— William Hofliens 36 Coroner. John Summers 54— KinseyCarlon O. Minkler 1 B. Divine 1 Surveyor. L.H.Smith 57— E.W.Clark 1 Supervisors . Ambrose A. Call, of Algona township 24— W.H.Ingham, of Algona township 17 J. R. Armstrong, of Irvington township, .. 25— Ambrose Call, of Irvington township 1 A. Hull, of Cresco township 9 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 14, 1862. Secretary of State. James Wright, Republican 50- Richard H. Sylvester, Democrat 19 ■ State Auditor. John W . Cattell, Republican 50- John Brown, Democrat 18 State Treasurer. William H. Holmes, Republican 50 Samuel L. Lirah, Democrat 16 Attorney-General. Charles C. Nourse, Republican 51 Benton J. Hall, Democrat 17 Register State Land Office. Josiah H. Harvey, Republican 51. Frederick Gottschalk, Democrat 17 Representative, Congress, 6th District. A. W. Hubbard, Republican 62 John W. Duncombe, Democrat 6 Judge District Court, Uh Judicial District . Isaac Pendleton 49 John Currier 20 Member Board of Education. William J. Wagoner 50- J.S.Cole 1 Clerk of the District Court. James L. Paine 65 County Judge. C.Taylor 5 Kinsey Carlou 1 J.E.Blackford 1 Swamp Land Contract. For the contract 47 Against the contract 9 '— 65 25 13 56 I— 31 '— 32 '— 34 :ii — 56 — 3 38 Special Tax Levy. Against the levy For the levy County Supervisor, Cresco. Benjamin Clark 10 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 13, 1863. Governor. William Stone, Republican James M . Tuttle, Democrat Lieutencmt-Goueraor. Enoch W. Eastman, Republican John F. Duncombe, Democrat Judge of Supreme Court . John F. Dillon, Republican Charles Mason, Democrat State Senator, 43d. District. George W. Bassett C. E. Whiting Representative, 58th Legislative District 62— 61 1 54— 39 15 55— 43 12 54— 39 15 57— 45 12 L. H. Smith Edward McKnight Treasurer and Recorder. J . E . Stacy Sheriff. Oliver Benschoter County Judge. Luther Rist Kinsey Carlon J. Carlon County Superintendent. M. D. Blanchard C. Taylor J . R Armstrong Surveyor. Jason Dunton L. H. Smith Benjamin Clark L.Smith Coroner. Luther Bullis Franklin McCoy Kinsey Carlon Horace Schenck . Drainage Commissioner. Horace Schenck Kinsey Carlon Rone Supervisor, Algona Township. D. W. King Supervisor, Irvington Township. Addison Fisher Samuel Reed SOLDIERS' VOTE. Treasurer and Recorder. J. E. Stacy 39— 13 27 50- 5 1 43- 14 2 44 27 33— 21 1 1 12 12 1 37 12— 7 d«z Aj- 264 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Sheriff. O. Benschoter 3 SPECIAL ELECTION, APKIL 25, 1864. On the Proposition to Build a Bridge in Irvington Township. For the bridge 41— 32 Against the bridge 9 GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 8, 1864. For President. Abraham Lincoln, Republican 74— 60 George B . McClcIlan, Democrat 14 Judge Supreme Court. Chester Cole, Republican 74— 60 Thomas M. Monroe, Democrat 14 Secretary of State. John A. Elliott, Republican 74— 60 E. C. Hendershott, Democrat 14 State Treasurer. William H. Holmes, Republican 74— 60 J. B. Lash, Democrat 1* Attorney-General. Isaac L. Allen, Republican 74 — 60 Charles M. Dunbar, Democrat 14 Register State Land Office. J. H. Harvey, Republican. 74— 60 B. D. Holbrook, Democrat 14 Representative in Congress, 6th District. A. W. Hubbard. Republican 74— 60 L. Chapman, Democrat 14 Clerk of District Court. James L. Paine 63 Surveyor. Jason Dunton 14 W. H. Ingham 12 L.H.Smith 2 Recorder. Jerome E. Stacy 61— 60 Franklin McCoy ,. 1 Supervisor, Cresco Township. C.Hackman 10— 5 B.Clark 5 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 10, 1865. Governor. William M. Stone, Republican 138—126 Thomas H. Benton, Jr., Democrat 12 Lieutenant-Governor. Benjamin F. Gue, Republican 139—127 W. W.Hamilton, Democrat 12 Judge Supreme Court. George C. Wright, Republican 40— 37 George G. Wright 44 George W. Wright 19 H. H. Trimble, Democrat 12 Oran Faville 26 State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Oran Faville, Republican 110— 98 I. W. Sennett, Democrat .' 12 George C. Wright ■■ 26 Representative, 58th Legislative District . Lemuel Dwelle, Republican 130 County Judge. LutherRist 144—142 JohnS. Love 2 Treasurer. JeromeE. Stacy 91— 35 W.H.Ingham 56 Sheriff. Samuel Reed 74— 10 Orange Minkler 64 Surveyor. L.H.Smith 112- 96 Jason Dunton 16 Superintendent of Schools . C.Taylor 139-138 John Reed 1 Coroner. A. C. Call 26— 2 Jerry Abbott 24 Scattering 10 Drainage Commissioner. KinseyCarlon 36— 22 G. W. Paine 13 J. Dunton 1 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 9, 1866. Secretary of State. Ed. Wright, Republican 149—144 S. G. Van Anda, Democrat 6 State Auditor. John A . Elliott, Republican 149— 144 Robert W. Cross, Democrat 5 State Treasurer. E.Rankin, Republican 149—144 George A . Stone, Democrat 5 Register, State Land Office . C. C. Carpenter, Republican 149-144 Levi P. McKinne, Democrat 5 Attorney General. F. E. Bissell, Republican 140— 144 W. Ballinger, Democrat 5 Clerk of Supreme Court. C. Linderman, Republican 119— 144 Fred C.ottschalk, Democrat 5 Reporter of Supreme Court. E. H. Stiles, Republican 140—144 Albert Stoddard, Democrat 5 Representative in Congress, 6th District . A. W. Hubbard, Republican 140—144 J . D. Thompson, Democrat 5 I 9 r HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 265 Judge of District Court, Uh Judicial District. Henry Ford, Republican 149—144 O. C. Treadway, Democrat 5 District Attorney. Orson Rice, Republican 149—144 P. D. Mickel, Democrat 5 Clerk of the District Court. James L . Paine 89— 25 L. M. Mack 47 Marcus Robbing 17 Recorder. Harvey M. Taft 83— 22 John Reed 25 Charles C. Chubb 35 L. H. Smith 1 County Judge. L.H.Smith 70— 47 E. Crawford 20 L.E.Smith 1 Albert Calkins 1 John Reed 1 Surveyor. O.F.Hale 142 Supervisor, Creseo Township. Benjamin Clarke 19 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 8, 1867. Governor. Samuel Merrill. Republican 217—204 Charles Mason, Demoorat... . 13 Lieutenant-GoV: rnor. John Scott. Republican 217—204 D. M. Harris, Democrat 13 Judge of Supreme Court. J. M. Beck, Republican 217—204 J . H . Craig, Democrat 13 Attorney-General. Henry O'Conner, Republican. 217—204 W. T. Barker, Democrat 13 Superintendent of Public Instruction. D. F. Wells, Republican 217—204 Maturiu L. Fisher, Democrat 13 Senator, 46th District. Theodore Hawley, Republican 213— 199 C. C . Smeltzere, Democrat 14 Representative, 59th Legislative District. C. W. Ten ny. Republican 183—145 W. P. Rosecrans, Democrat 38 County Judge. L.H.Smith 82 James H . Warren 55 J.C. Chapen 47 H. F. Watson 7 H. Durant 1 Treasurer. J.E.Stacy 202—186 A.S.Gardner 11 A. D. Clarke 5 Sheriff. John Pinkerton 215—211 A. Hill 1 Samuel Reed 1 Ruf us Watson 1 O. Minkler 1 Superintendent of Schools. John Reed 215—209 C. Taylor 3 Scattering 3 Surveyor. Henry Durant 174 — 132 Jason Dunton 42 GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 1868. President. V. S. Grant, Republican 332^302 Horatio Seymour, Democrat 30 Representative in Congress, 0th District. Charles Pomeroy, Republican 333— 303 Charles A. Russell, Democrat 30 On the First Amendment. For 347—317 Against 30 On the Second Amendment. For 348—318 Again6t 29 On the Third Amendment. For 348—318 Against 29 On the Fourth Amendment. For 348—318 Against 29 On the Fifth Amendment. For 348—318 Against 29 Secretary of State. Ed. Wright, Republican 333— 303 David Hammer, Democrat 30 State Treasurer. S. E. Rankin, Republican 333— 303 L. McCarty, Democrat 30 State Auditor. John A. Elliott, Republican 333—303 H. Dunlevy, Democrat 30 Register of State Land Office. O. C. Carpenter 333—303 A.D.Anderson 30 Attorney General. Henry O'Conner, Republican 333— 303 J. E. Williamson, Democrat 30 <"jo~" 2t)6 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 249- 1&3 211 285— 1 2 21 20 Judge of Circuit Court, 2d Circuit Marcus Bobbins J. M. Snyder 69 J. P. White 9 James White 8 James B. White 1 Clerk of the District Court. A. E. Wheelock 277 S. G. A. Read 62 A. Wheelock i Recorder. H.M. Taft Charles C. Chubb Scattering Surveyor. William H. Ingham Jason Dunton Scattering 2 Stocfe Act. For 175— Against 21 Supervisor of Cresco Township. G. W. Olmsted 26— Albert Bush 19 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 14, 1869. Governor. Samuel Merrill, Republican 353— George Gillaspy, Democrat 1 LieutenantrOovernor . M. W. Walden, Republican 352— A.P.Richardson, Democrat 1 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Abraham Kissell 353 Judge of Supreme Court. JohnP. Dillon, Republican 353— W. F. Brannan, Democrat 1 Representative from 66th Legislative District . James H. Todd. Republican 326— H.G.Day 9 Scattering 11 Treasurer. J.E.Blackford 253— 282 154 James L. Paine Blackford Auditor. A. E. Wheelock Marcus Robbins, Jr. Sheriff. John M. Pinkerton O. Minkler Superintendent. A. W. Osborne II. H. Grant... Dr. Read Scattering 100 1 232- 120 220- 130 188- 31 352 351 352 liini 152 U2 153 Surveyor. J.B.Jones ... 290 Coroner. L. A.Sheetz 62— 30 James Barr 31 E.A. Crawford 1 On Bridge Bond Question. Against 251— 243 For 8 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 11, 1870. Judge of Supreme Court, full term. Chester C. Cole 375— 334 Joseph C. Knapp, Democrat 38 Reuben Noble, Democrat 3 Judge of the Supreme Court., to fill vacancy caused by the declension of J. F. Dillon. William E. Miller, Republican 383— 345 Reuben Noble, Democrat 38 Judge Supreme Court, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of George G. Wright. James G. Day, Republican 383— 345 P. Henry Smith, Democrat 38 Secretary of State. E. Wright, Republican 440— 393 Charles Doerr, Democrat 47 State Auditor . John Russell, Republican 443— 396 W. W. Garner, Democrat 47 State Treasurer. Samuel E. Rankin, Republican 443— 396 William C. James, Democrat 47 Register State Land Office. Aaron Brown 443—397 D.F.Ellsworth 46 Attorney-General . Henry O'Connor 443—396 H.M.Martin 47 Reporter Supreme Court. E. H. Stiles 443— 396 C. H. Bane 47 Clerk Supreme Court . Charles Linderman 443— 396 William McLenan 47 Representative in Congress, 6th District. Jackson Orr, Republican 443—396 C. C. Smeltzer, Democrat 47 Judge of District Court, tth Judicial District. Henry Ford 443— 439 H. E. J. Boardman 4 District Attorney. Charles H. Lewis 443—430 John A. Hull 13 Constitutional Convention . For a convention 59— 37 Against a convention 22 ™^T h M* k. -S> .> HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT V. 267 Clerk of the Courts . A. E. Wheelock. J Recorder. 468 232- 202 24 120 H.M. Taft F.M.Taylor J. M. Cowan Supervisors, D.H.Hutchins 377 Daniel hice 220 C. C. Chubb 204 O.F.Hale 72 Addison Fisher ". 116 Abram Hill 66 J . It. Armstrong - 4 AlbeFife 23 Thomas Robinson 1 Thayer Lumber 49 G.W.Mann 3 Benjamin Clark 1 Edwin Sparks.. 1 On the Question of Restraining Stock. For the restraint uf stock from running at large 272- Agalnst the restraint of stock from run- ning at large 152 On the Question of Prohibition. For prohibition 371—328 Against prohibition 46 On the Stock Act. For the stock act 280—240 Against stock act 40 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 10, 1871. Governor. Cyrus C. Carpenter, Republican 517— 454 J.C. Knapp, Democrat 63 Lieutenant-Governor. H. C.Bullis, Republican 518—455 M. M. Ham, Democrat 63 Judge Supreme Court. James G. Day, Republican 518—455 John F. Duncombe, Democrat 63 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Alouzo Abernathy, Republican 519—456 Edward Munn, Democrat 63 State Senator, lUh District. E.A.Holland 518 Representative, With Legislative District. Robert Stouthers 519 Treasurer. M. W. Stough 315— 46 J. E. Blackford 269 Auditor. A. E. Wheelock. 569 Sheriff. J. M. Pinkerton 430—274 J.B.Robinson 156 Superintendent of Schools. M. Holen Wooster 543— 542 J. R. Armstrong 1 Surveyor. J. B.Jones 250— 218 O. F.Hale 20 J. P. Colby 11 Addison Fisher 1 Coroner. L.A.Sheetz 130— 67 James Barr 23 R. Vanbolt 16 S.G.A.Read 13 Scattering 12 County Super-visor. Daniel Rice 393— 382 Addison Fisher 10 Abram Hill 1 On the Proposition to Issue Bonds to Build a Court Bouse. For court house bonds 305— 68 Against court house bonds 237 GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 5, 1872. President . V. S. Grant, Republican 519—398 Horace Greeley, Democrat'and LiberalRe- publican 119 Charles O'Conner, Straight Democrat 2 Seeretai-y of State. Josiah T. Young, Republican 527—407 E. A. Guilbert, Democrat 105 Charles Baker 3 Auditor of State. John Russell, Republican 526— 415 J. P. Cassady, Democrat Ill Treasurer of State. William Christy, Republican 527—416 M. J. Rolilfs, Democrat 109 D. B. Beers 2 Register State Land Office. Aaron Brown, Republican 526—416 Jacob Butler, Democrat 109 Attorney-General, to fill vacancy. M. E. Cutts, Republican 363 Attorney-General, full teim. M. E. Cutts, Republican 526—413 A. G. Case, Democrat 113 Representative in Congress, 9th District. Jackson Orr, Republican 499— 360 John F. Duncombe, Democrat 139 Judge of Circuit Court, ith District. Addison Olliver 630 t 268 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Clerk of the Courts. A. E. Wheelock 621,- 404 A.D.Clarke 117 Recorder. A. M. Horton 290 H. M.Taft 220 Charles Birge 83 John Reed 24 A. E. Wheelock 1 Supervisor. R. I. Brayton 380— 120 Addison Fisher 213 R. Brayton 26 Charles Chubb 1 On the Proposition, "Shall the Board of Supervisors Be Increased to Fire?" For the increase 436— 387 Against the increase 49 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 20, 1873. Governor. C. C. Carpenter, Republican 642— 6.39 Jacob Vail, Democrat 3 Lieuteitant-Governor. Joseph Dysart, Republican 644— 642 Judge Whiting, Democrat 2 Judge of Supreme Court. J. M. Beck, Republican 644— 643 B. J. Hale, Democrat 1 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Alonzo Abernathy, Republican 643—641 D. W. Prindle, Democrat 2 Representative, 69f ft Assembly District. David Secor, Republican 657— 656 L. A. Sheetz, Democrat 1 Treasurer. Milo W. Stough 509— 357 H.P. Hatch 128 E. Woodworth 24 Auditor. H.S.Vaughn 366— 65 Z. C. Andruss. 102 John Reed 197 P. Burlingame 1 J. M. Pinkerton 1 Sheriff. John M. Pinkerton 405—146 R.J. Hunt 249 D.J.Long 8 J. Henderson 2 Superintendent of Schools. A. A. Bronson 411— 153 M. P. Hartford 246 H. M. Taft 10 M. Heien Wooster 2 Surveyor. A.D.Clarke 524—385 L. C. Dunton 127 O.F.Hale 6 C. B. Hutchins 3 J. Dunton 2 D. Long 1 Coroner. L. A. Sheetz 526—516 H. Vanbolt 6 M. H. Wooster 2 Scattering 2 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 13, 1874. Secretary of State. JosiahT. Young, Republican 429—318 David Morgan, Democrat Ill State Auditor. Buren R. Sherman, Republican 428—316 J. M. King, Democrat , 112 State Treasurer. William Christy, Republican 429—318 Henry Harges, Democrat 109 J. W. Barnes 2 Register State Land Office. David Secor, Republican 430- 320 R. H. Rodarmel, Democrat 110 Attorney-General. M. E. Cutts, Republican 419— 308 J. H. Keatly, Democrat HI Clerk of the Supreme Court. E. J. Holmes, Republican 430—319 S. W. Ball, Democrat Ill Reporter of Supreme Court. John S . Runnells, Republican . 420— 308 J. M. West, Democrat 112 Representative in Congress. Addison Olliver, Republican 425— 310 C. E. Whiting, Democrat 115 Judge of District Court, 4tft District. CharlesH. Lewis 401— 266 P.D.Mickel 135 Judge of Circuit Court. J. R. Zonver 429 Frank E. Chamberlain Ill Disti~kt Attorney. George B. MeCarty 470—404 M. Wakefield 66 Clerk of the CouHs. John Wallace... 266— 6 A. E. Wheelock .' 260 296— 47 249 Recorder. A. M. Horton. William Ward.. *J3 » HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 260 Supervisor. Daniel Rice 318— 181 Addison Fisher 114 Scattering 23 On the Question, "Shall Stock be Restrained from Run- ning at Large?" For restraint 430—391 Against restraint 36 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 12, 1875. Governor. Samuel J. Kirkwood, Republican 582— 510 Shepherd Leftler, Democrat 71 J . H . Lozier 1 Lieutenant-Governor. Joshua G.Newbold, Republican 589—521 Emmet B. Woodward, Democrat 68 Judge of Supreme Court. Austin Adams, Republican 589— 521 W.J. Knight, Democrat 68 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Alonzo Abernathy, Republican 588— 520 Isaiah Doaue, Democrat 68 State Senator, iSth District. Lemuel Dwelle, Republican 584—512 James M. Elder, Democrat 25 James Eider 7 J.M.Elder 37 R. H. Spencer 3 Representative, 69th Assembly District. Henry H. Bush, Republican 566—480 Charles Berge, Democrat 85 James M. Elder 1 Auditor. Victor M. Stough 405—158 H. S.Vaughn 247 Treasurer. M.D. Blauehard 229 D.S.Ford 206 W. H. Nycum 169 E.W.Clarke 11 Sheriff. J. M. Pinkerton 359— 56 P.L.Slagle 201 C. D. Pettibone 97 D.J.Long 5 Superintendent of Sclu>ols. A. A. Brunson 461—281 H. B. Butler 180 Coroner. H.C. McCoy 155_ 5 L. A. Sheets 121 R. E. Glover 28 A. L. Seeley 1 Supervisor. Philip Dorweiler 446 Robert I. Brayton 297 Addison Fisher 139 Anthony Hinton 134 L. Ayers 77 A. B.Sheldon 9 J. E.Webster 19 Scattering 30 GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 13, 1876. President. Rutherford B . Hayes, Republican 638— 409 Samuel J . Tilden, Democrat 227 Peter Cooper, Greenback 2 Representative m Congress, 9th District. Addison Olliver, Republican 627— 402 Samuel Rees, Democrat 215 John N. Weaver, Greenback 10 Secretary of State. J. T. Young, Republican 640— 413 John H. Stubenraueh, Democrat 227 Stale Treasurer. George W . Bemis, Republican . 640— 413 Wesley Jones, Democrat 227 Register State Land Office. David Secor, Republican 640—413 N. C. Ridenour, Democrat 227 Attorney-General. John F. McJunkin, Republican 639— 411 I.C.Cook, Democrat 228 Judge of Supreme Court, to fill vacancy . William H. Seevers, Republican 639—412 Walter I. Hayes, Democrat 197 Judge of Supreme Court, fuUterm. W.«H. Seevers, Republican 639—413 Walter I. Hayes, Democrat 226 Judge of Supreme Court, to fill vacancy. James II. Rothrock, Republican 639— 421 William Graham, Democrat 218 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Carl Von Coelln, Republican 640 Judge of District Court, Uth District. E. R. Duffle 852 Judge of Circuit Court. JohnN. Weaver 584— 364 LotThomas 220 District Attorney . J. M. Tolliver 852 Clerk of the Courts. John Wallace 853 Recorder. John Reed 342 JohnK. Fill, Jr 99 A.D.Clarke 216 George L. Galbraith 193 i> \ •1 ■» > 270 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. On the Special Levy of a One Mill Tax. Against the tax 85— 58 For the tax 27 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 9, 1877. Governor. John H. Gear, Republican 463—125 John P. Irish, Democrat 236 Elias Jessup, Prohibition 89 D. P. Stubbs, Greenback 13 Lieutenant-Governor . Frank T. Campbell, Republican 561— 320 W. C. James, Democrat 234 A.M. Cready, Greenback 7 Judge of Supreme Court. James G. Day, Republican 561— 321 M. E. J. Boardman, Democrat 233 Johu Porter 7 Superintendent of Public Inttruction. Carl Von Coelln, Republican 571-332 G. D. Cullison, Democrat 232 S. F.Ballard 7 Representative, 16th Assembly District. John J . Wilson, Democrat 405— 7 L. H. Smith, Republican 398 Auditor. V. H. Stough 664—526 J. W. Kenyon 138 Treasurer. M. D. Blanchard 791 Sheriff. J. M. Pinkerton 405— 11 C. D. Pettibone 200 D. A. Haggard 194 Superintendent of Schools. A.A.Crose 418— 36 A. A. Brunson ■- 383 Coroner. S. G.A. Read 559— 320 H. C. McCoy 239 Surveyor. J. B. Jones 801 Supervisor. E. S. Streeter 451—105 A.Rutherford 346 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 8, 1878. Secretary of State. J. A. T. Hull, Republican 582— 174 E. M. Farnsworth, Democrat 408 State Auditor. Buren R. Sherman, Republican 482— 68 Joseph Eibceck, Democrat 414 State Treasurer. George W. Bemis, Republican 483— 65 M. L. Devin, Democrat 408 Register State Land Office. J . K. Powers, Republican 485— 67 M. Farring'ton, Democrat 408 Attorney-General . John F. McJunkin, Republican 484— 73 JohnGibbon, Democrat 411 Judge Supreme Court. James H. Rothrock, Republican 493— 89 Joseph P. Knapp, Democrat 404 Clerk of Supreme Court. E. J. Holmes, Republican 486- 79 Alexander Runyon, Democrat 407 Representative in Congress, 9th District. C . C . Carpenter, Republican 505— 112 L. D. Hoggart, Democrat 393 Clerk of the Courts. N. B. Benham 475— 33 W. H. Nycum 441 W. C. Nycum 1 Recorder. John Reed 918 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 20, 1879. Governor. John H. Gear, Republican 700—305 D. Campbell, Greenback 150 H.H.Trimble, Democrat 245 Lieutcnant-Giiccrnor. F.F.Campbell, Republican 699—295 W. H. Moore, Greenback 153 J.O. A. Yeomans, Democrat 251 Judge of Supreme Court. J. M. Beck, Republican 606— 289 M.H. Jones, Greenback 152 Reuben Noble, Democrat 255 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Carl Von Coelln, Republican 707— 311 J. A. Nash, Greenback 151 E. Baker, Republican 245 State Senator, 49(h District . E.J. Hartshorn, Republican 696—288 John Wallace, Greenback 166 P. O. Cassady, Democrat 242 Representative, 16th Aesembly District. A. D. Bicknell, Republican 685—271 George W. McCauley, Democrat 413 W.H.Brown 1 Auditor. R. W. McGetchie, Peoples '. 307 V. H. Stough, Independent 277 H. L. Goodrich, Independent 156 M. De L. Parsons, Greenback 209 J. Q. A. Hudson, Republican 153 "517==" K* 'l^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 271 Treasurer, S. S. Rist.... H. P. Hatch. M. L. ISush.. Sheriff. J. M. Pinkerton. A. B. Frink Superintendent of Schools . A. A. Crose J. H. Saunders O. H. Wilbridge , Surveyor. C. B. Hutchins A. D.Clarke 509 340 243 587— 79 504 571— 40 441 84 970— 955 15 Coroner. L. K.Garfleld 539 H. A. McCoy 447— 28 W. F. Browne 04 GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBEK2, 1880. President. James A . Garfield, Republican 758— 417 Winfleld S. Hancock, Democrat 254 James A . Weaver, Greenback 87 Secretary of State. J. A. T. Hull, Republican 755—412 A. B. Keith, Democrat 253 G M . Walker, Greenback 90 State Auditor. W. V. Lucas, Republican 750—413 Charles I. Barker. Democrat 254 G. V. Swearingen, Greenback 89 State Treasurer. E. H. Conger, Republican 754— 409 Martin Bliun, Democrat 255 Mathew Farrington, Greenback 90 Register of State Land Office . J . K . Powers, Republican 750— 4 13 Daniel Daugherty, Democrat 254 Thomas Hooker, Greenback 89 Attorney-General. S. McPherson, Republican 766—413 Charles A. Clark, Democrat 254 W. A. Spurrier, Greenback 89 Representative in Congress, 9th District. C. C. Carpenter, Republican 759— 440 PH. Guthrie, Democrat 2-16 D. Campbell, Greenback 67 Judge of District Court, Uth District. E. It. Duffle 1097 Judge of Circuit Court. J.N. Weaver t087 District Attorney. J. M. Tolliver. 1097 Clerk of the Courts . N. B. Benham 1096 Recorder- John Ueed 1097 On the question ' 'Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution, and amend the same'/" "No" 463—355 "Yes" 108 On the proposition to strike out the word ''white" inthe State constitution. For 470—343 Against 127 GENERAL ELECTION. OCTOBER 11, 1881. Governor. Buren R. Sherman, Republican 371—319 L. G. Kinne, Democrat 231 D. M. Clark, Greenback 19 William Johnson, Prohibition ' 2 Lieutenant-Governor. Orlando H. Manning, Republican 573—321 J . M. Walker, Democrat 230 James M. Holland, Greenback 19 John Kent, Prohibition 3 Judae of Supreme Court. Austin Adams, Republican 572—321 H. B. Hendershott, Democrat 231 W. W. Williamson, Greenback 18 J. W. Rodgers, Prohibition 2 Superintendent of Public Instruction. John W. Akers, Republican 573 — 330 Walter H. Butler, Democrat 227 Mrs. A. M. Swain, Greenback 14 J.Hammond, Prohibition 2 Representative, 16th Assembly District . L. A. Sheetz 547— 075 John J. Wilson Scattering , Treasurer. S. S. Rist Scattering, Auditor. R. W. McGetchie, Peoples M . De L . Parsons A. E. Wheelock Sheriff. D . A . Haggard Edson Williams 342 Scattering 2 Superintendent of Schools . J.J.Wilkinson 447. W.M.Colby 379 Coroner. L.K. Garfield 422 George A. Jackson 393 269 3 820— 818 506— 197 308 1 469— 125 -•Tv M<2_ ,- 9 272 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Surveyor. D.P.Mayer 413- 8 D.T.Mayer 14 O. F. Hale 391 SPECIAL ELECTION, JUNE 27, 1882. On the question of adopting the prohibition amendment to the State constitution. For the adoption of the amendment 706—. 81 Against the adoption of the amendment. . . 625 GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1882. Secretary of State. J. A. Hull, Republican 815—399 T. 0. Walker, Democrat 384 William Gaston, Greenback 31 O. W. Hall, Prohibition 1 State Auditor. John L. Brown, Republican 809— 384 William Thompson, Democrat 392 C. A. Wyant, Greenback 31 William Elliott, Prohibition 1 John Foley 1 State Treasurer. E. H. Conger, Republican 810—382 John Foley, Democrat 393 George Deer, Greenback 33 W. Stringstead, Prohibition 1 W. Thompson 1 Attorney-General. Smith McPhorson, Republican 810—385 J. H. Ilrcmerman, Democrat 393 A.J. Reed, Greenback 31 Jacob Rogers, Prohibition 1 Judge of Supreme Court. William H. Seevers. Republican 809— 384 Charles E. Bronson, Democrat 393 M. A. Jones, Greenback 31 J. P. Ferguson, Prohibition 1 Clerk of Supreme Court. G.B. Pray, Republican 811—387 H. F. Bonorden, Democrat 392 F. H. Clark, Greenback 31 W. P. Nourse, Prohibition 1 Reporter of Supreme Court. E. C. Ebersole, Republican 810—386 F. A. Palmer, Democrat 393 J. H. Williamson, Greenback 31 Representative in Congress, 10th District. A. J. Holmes, Republican 900— 394 John Cliggett, Democrat 372 Isaac Dane, Greenback 32 Clerk of the Courts. N. B. Benham 758—292 Isaac Sweigard . . 464 Scattering ., 2 Recorder. John Reed 811—432 E. V. Sweeting 379 GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 9, 1883. Governor. Buren R. Sherman, Republican 910—298 L. G. Kinnie, Democrat 570 JamesB. Weaver, Greenback 42 Lieutenant-Governor . O.H. Manning, Republican 912—306 Justus Clark, Democrat 564 S. Kirkpatrick, Greenback 42 Judge of Supreme Court. Joseph R . Reed, Republican . 910— 303 Walter I. Hayes, Democrat 565 Daniel W. Church, Greenback 42 Superintendent of Public Instruction. J. W. Akers, Republican 912— 300 E. P. Farr, Democrat 568 Abbie O.Canfleld, Greenback 44 State Senator, i'th District. C. C. Chubb, Republican 933— 376 Alexander Mitchell, Democrat 556 John J . Wilson 1 Representative, 840i Assembly District. T. W. Harrison, Republican 861— 411 John J. Wilson ... 450 Auditor. C. B. Hutchins, Republican 798— 85 R. W. McGetcuie, Peoples 713 Treasurer. S. S. Rist 779— 42 C. Rickard 737 Sheriff. D. A. Haggard 1498-1493 Scattering 5 Superintendent of Schools. J.J. Wilkinson 1312—1306 Scattering 6 Surveyor. O. F.Hale 1514—1512 Scattering 2 Coroner. A.Richmond 1515—1515 dL HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 273 CHAPTER VI JUDICIAL. For some reason Kossuth county for several years after its organization was not honored by the presence of the dis- trict court, all the legal business being transacted at the bar of the county court. However, in 1858, Kossuth county was placed in the 4th judicial district, but no cases being on file, no term of the court was held until in 18G0. The first regular term of the district court in Kossuth county was held in May, 18(50, and convened for the first time on the 21st of that month at Algona. There were present the following members: Hon. Asahel W. Hubbard, judge; O. Howe, district attorney; J. W. Moore, clerk; and O. Benschoter, sheriff. Immediately upon the assembling of the court the following gentlemen were impaneled and sworn in as the grand jury: S. P. Martin, Luther Bullis, G. W. Blottenberger, Henry Kellogg, John Hutchinson, Frederick P. Schaad, Wil- liam II. Ingham, W. B. Carey, Malichi Clark, Andrew L. Seeley, Asa C. Call, Albe Fife, John Heckart, Thomas Robin- son and Alexander Davidson, who retired for deliberation. The first case that came up before the court was one entitled H. A. Henderson vs. Albert McKinney, and was a suit on attachment. The record states that "whereas this case having been compro- mised and settled out of court, and it being shown that the costs in the same have been paid," the case was dismissed. Lewis II. Smith, presenting himself then, before the court, and asking to be admitted to practice at the bar of that court, the petition was granted and Mr. Smith enrolled among the legal frater- nity. Hon. A. VV. Hubbard, the judge who presided over this court, was a resident of Sioux City, and afterwards was elected member of Congress from this district, and is noted at more length under that head in the chapter on "National, State and County Representation." The next judge, Isaac Pendleton, was elected in 1862, and presided for the first time in Kossuth county at the May term in 1863. He was a good judge and deeply read in the law, and occupied the bench for one full term of four years. At the May term of court, 1863, while Judge Pendleton was on the bench, the first jury trials came off and the first petit jury was impaneled. It consisted of the following well-known citizens: Kinsey Carlon, foreman; Francis Harrison, Rob- ert Braden, David Haggarty, Charles Hubbard, W. P. Keyes, W. P. Winter, *fi* A v 274 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. John Wallace, G. O. Austin, Abel Woos- ter, Charles Struljel anil J. E. Blackford. The cases seem to have been some trifling misdemeanor committed by three parties, but the jury in every case brought in a verdict of acquittal, and the prisoners were discharged by the court. Ihe succeeding judge, who donned the ermine in this, the 4th district, was Hen- ry Ford, who was elected in 1866, and held his first term of court, in Kossuth county, in May, 1807. He was considered a fair, impartial judge, courteous to all who labored at the bar, and of fair legal ability. Orson Rice was the district attorney of this court. In 1870 Judge Ford was re-elected and served, in all, eight years upon the bench of this dis- trict. At the time of his re-election, C. H. Lewis was chosen to fill the position of district attorney.' In 1874, C. H. Lewis, who had held the position of district attorney during the four years previous, as mentioned, was called upon by his fellow citizens to assume the higher duties of judge of the district court, which he did to the satis- faction of all. He, however, held it for but two years, when E. R. Duffle was elected to the ermine. He was re-elected in 1880, this county having at that time become a part of the new 14th judi- cial district, and still occupies the bench. Judge Duffie is a resident of Sac City, and is a native of Lewis county, State of New York. He came to Iowa in 1867, and is counted as one of the finest lawyers in this district. Shrewd, well posted on all law, he seldom errs in judgment, and is quoted as a model jurist. CIRCUIT COURT. The business requiring the attention of the district court having grown too oner- ous, in April, 1868, the General Assembly established a circuit court having the same general jurisdiction as the district court in all civil actions, and having con- trol of all probate matters, and exclusive jurisdiction on all writs of appeals from inferior tribunals. This law went into effect the first Monday of January, 1869, and the first judge to grace the bench in this circuit was a Mr. Snyder, who had been elected the previous fall. Mr. Sny- der was a resident of Humboldt county. He held the office for four years with credit, and the approbation of the bar, although not a lawyer, when elected. Addison Olliver was elected to fill the position of judge of the circuit court in 1872, and occupied the bench for one term of four years. J. R. Zonver was elected to fill this position in 1874, and held it four years, when he stepped aside to make room for a successor. In 1876 J. N. Weaver, one of the orna- ments of the bar of Kossuth county, was called upon to assume the judicial robes and ascend the bench, which he did. He was re-elected at the general election, in the fall of 1880, and is the present incum- bent of the office. COUNTY COURT. This, as has been stated, was the gov- ernment of the county at an early day, and combined the powers and authority now delegated to the board of supervi- sors, county auditor and circuit court. The first county judge was Asa C. Call, one of the pioneers of the county, upon f 31: *k* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 275 whom devolved the difficult task of or- ganizing the county, then in its infancy. Judge Call's successors were: Lewis H. Smith, Jerome E. Stacy, D. S. McComb, Chauncey Taylor and Luther Rist. Dur- ing 1861 the board of supervisors came into being, thus cutting off some of the authority and business of the county judge, and in 1869, on the creation of the county auditor and circuit court, the office having no further business, was abolished. These officers may be found treated in greater detail, in the chapter entitled, "National, State and County Representa- tion," to which the reader is respectfully referred. ■■■F\a r- te*. 276 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER VII THE BAR OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. A faithful record ot the bar of any county should be of more general interest than perhaps any other part of its annals. No men are more widely known, or are more public property than the members of this honorable profession. Upon them depend so much that is of vital interest to the lives and property of every indi- vidual in the community, for it must be borne in mind that upon the judicious framing, and the wise interpreting of the laws, depend, in a large measure, the pros- perity of the country. Therefore it must be that anything relating to these gen- tlemen must form a very important por- tion of the history of the county. The bar of Kossuth county, has in no respect, been behind any other portion of this broad land of ours, as some of the best legal minds, fairest logicians and finest orators in the State have practiced at its bar, and have been proud to claim a resi- dence in the county. Many of them have been honored with political preferment, and have represented their constituents in the councils of the State and sat upon the woolsack, as judges. Perhaps no business requires a severer code of morality than does that of the profession of the law, and any swerving from a straight line causes a large falling off in practice. But the members of the bar of Kossuth county have been, with few exceptions, an honor to their county and State. So far as the material would permit, personal sketches are given in this connection of all who have practiced before the bar of courts in this county. Intentionally, none have been omitted, and much would have gladly been said of many of them were the data accessible. Judge Lewis H. Smith was the first lawyer in the county, having been admit- ted to the bar in 1860, but never practiced to any extent except in the earlier years of the county's history. The first to enter the county and make a business of practicing law was Marcus Robbins, Jr. This gentleman came to Algona during the year 1865, and opened an office. He had been admitted to the bar in Minnesota and had been engaged in practice there. He had a fair library and was a well read lawyer; an excellent office worker and a good debator. He worked up considerable practice and in 1868 was nominated for the office of judge of this circuit, which had just been cre- ated. He is now a resident of Washing- ton Territory, where he is engaged in the the practice of his profession. Judge A. C. Call was admitted to the bar about the time that L. H. Smith was, but never practiced to any extent. ■ ■v p — - HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Having thus defined the position of the first lawyers in the county, it will he in order to give a full account of the other memhers of the bar, in this connection. Among those who have practiced at the bar of Kossuth county, and who have been resident lawyers, but who have either died, removed hence or quit practice, were the following: J. H. Hawkins, Mr. Doran, G. G Ames, A. D. Clarke, J. B. Loomis, Mr. Herron, C. G. Jones, A. L. Hudson, Pitt Cravatl), Charles Birge and John Gates. Jasper H. Hawkins practiced law in Algona, from 187-2 until May, 1883. He came to Kossuth county from Jessup, Buchanan county, and while here acquired a large and lucrative practice. He was a well-read lawyer, posted on all questions of jurisprudence, subtle in argument and forcible in logic. He removed to Des- Moines, where he has worked up an ex- tensive business, although bis advent in the capital city has been of recent date. Mr. Doran located at Algona in 1875, but staying but a short time was hardly identified with the bar of Kossuth. G. G. Ames, a member of the bar at Algona, located in that city in 1880, and remained about one year. He is now in Oregon, engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Herron came to Algona about 1870, and remained for several years. He was a man of more than average ability and excellently educated. He did not give much attention to his law practice, al- though he did to some degree, but was much engaged in teaching foreign lan- guages, especially German, a tongue in which he was a proficient. C. G. Jones came to Algona in 1871 and was admitted to the bar, while a resident of that place, in 187G. A more able law- yer, or office-worker, never was in the county, except that when he came to plead, the least little opposition set him off, and he swept down upon his adversary with a torrent of words and violent ges- ticulations. He was intensely nervous, and this taken in connection with the fierce onslaught he made upon any and every opponent, gained for him the nick-name of 'Blizzard" Jones. Several years ago he left this county and is now located in Milwaukee, where he has a large practice. A. L. Hudson, a brilliant young man, who gave evidence of a rich intellect, well-stored, located in this county, at Al- gona, in 1876. He acquired considerable practice, and was for some time the editor the Upper Des Moines, and his keen pen- notes in that paper are models of cutting sarcasm and scintillating wit. In 1882 he removed to Sioux City, where he is making quite a success in the line of his legal profession. Pitt Cravath, at one time the editor of the Ux)j>er Des Moines, was also a practic- ing lawyer at the bar of this county. He is now at Whitewater, Wis., engaged in the newspaper business for which he has natural abilities. John Gates, an attorney of the Floyd county bar, came to Algona and entered into practice during the year 1876, but remained but a short time when he re- turned to Nora Springs, where he at pres- ent resides. Charles Birge was one of the legal pro- fession of Kossuth county, who came to Algona in April, 1870. A more extended ~7\ .£+ 282 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. George E. Clarke, one of the most prominent attorneys of the Kossuth coun- ty bar, was born March 19, 1845, in San- gerville, Piscataquis Co., Maine. He re- ceived his education at Foxcroft Academy. In August, 1865, he removed to Illinois, remaining there until 1866, when he re- moved to Red Oak, Iowa, where he taught school several years. He also taught school in Saint Charles, 111. Mr. Clarke commenced the practice of law in Algona in the winter of 1869-70. Very few men have been more successful in the practice of their profession than has Mr. Clarke. He soon built up a large and lucrative practice not only in Kossuth, but in the counties adjoining as well. In 1877 he became employed iii" various cases for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. His business with this com- pany has grown so extensive that for three years past it has occupied his entire atten- tion and time. In fact, he makes that business a specialty, hence does not devote any time to general practice as formerly. Mr. Clarke has'charge of the legal busi- ness of over 700 miles of the C, M. & St. P. R. R. lines. Mr. Clarke's reputation in his profession is co-extensive with the State, as be is largely engaged in both t lio federal and supreme courts of the State. Mr. Clarke was married July 7, 1869, at Saint Charles, 111., to Lou E. Hawkins. She died July 5, 1875. On the 21st of June, 1876, he was united in marriage with Carrie A. Straw, of Guilford, Maine. Mrs. Clarke is very highly educated and accomplished. She was a graduate of Kents Hill Seminary, in Maine, and re- ceived an excellent musical education at the Boston Conservatory of Music. This marriage was a happy one, and has been blessed with a pleasant home. Mr. Clarke has three daughters — Gertie E., born June 25, 1871; Lulu M., born June 24, 1875; and Nellie Straw, born Oct. 28, 1882. Mr. Clarke's parents are of English descent. His paternal ancestor, Hugh Clarke, came from England to the colony in Massachu- setts in 1624. Willliam G. Clarke, father of the subject of this sketch, was a promi- nent lawyer in Piscataquis Co., Maine. He stood at the head of the bar in that county. F HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 283 CHAPTER VIII THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. There is probably no profession or busi- ness in existence among civilized commu- nities, in which the members are called on to make more daily self-sacrifices and undergo more privations than the medi- cal profession. No more thankless mis- sion can a man enter upon, in the arena of the world's activity, than that of healing sick and suffering humanity. Much more than their share of the unpleasantness of this must necessarily be the lot of those conscientious and bold pilots of the guild, who pushed out among the early pioneers in former days. Called on, at all hours of the day or night, to mount his horse, and answer the call of duty, oftimes to face the fearful "blizzard," the summer's rain or mud and wet, the doctor of those days had a lot that none could envy. Money in all new countries is a scarce commodity, and the pioneer physician's hope of reward was but a slender chance, but notwithstanding this, be it spoken to the eternal honor of the profession, never did the cry of distress and suffering reach their ear, but what it was answered. The doctor did what he could to relieve, and if the fee was not forthcoming, the service was cheerfully given for the sake of the brotherhood of man. More real moral courage was required to adopt this profession and labor upon the verge of civilization in pioneer times, than it does to lead armies or storm death-dealing batteries, and yet the grand heroes of these conflicts with disease and the grim king of terrors, has no wreath of victory, no grand song of fame to herald their actions. Let it then be the pleasant task of the historian to here write down the acts and lives of these, the real heroes of pioneer days, that when the present gen- eration have passed away, the children of a coming age shall do honor to their mem- ories. The first disciple of the healing art that came into Kossuth county, to practice his profession, was Dr. R. Cogley, who was one of the pioneers of the county. He located on what is now the Huntly place, in June, 1855. This farm was a part of section 13, in Cresco township. Dr. Cog- ley was the graduate of a medical college of some note in Ohio, and was a very pro- ficient physician. He, after some years spent in this county, left and went to Os- kaloosa, Iowa, where he enjoyed the fruits of a large and remunerative practice. Dr. Amos S. Mason, one of the argo- nauts of 1856, located at Algona, and en- tered into the practice of medicine. He was a graduate of the Pennsylvania Uni- versity, at Philadelphia, and a fine scholar and physician. He remained in the county 1* » ,?■ 284 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. until the breaking out of the Rebellion, wlun listening to the call of duty, he en- listed and received a commission as cap- tain. After the close of the war, his health not proving very good, he moved to New Orleans, where he lived for some years. He died quite recently at Cin- cinnati, while on a trip from Washington to New Orleans. At the time of his death he was part owner of the Times-Democrat^ at the Crescent City, one of the best pa- pers of the State of Louisiana. Dr. Franklin McCoy came to Kossuth county in 1857, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession. He was a thor- oughly energetic man, and a successful practitioner. Coming to a new country without money, lie was compelled to meet many obstacles,but by labor and energy, he overcame them and acquired a fair share of real estate. Early in the year I860, he left Algona and went to Columbia City, Ind., where he grew into a large practice and became quite wealthy. He died at that place, on the 9th of January, 1874, of heart disease, mourned by a large circle of friends, acquaintances and patients. Dr. Davidson, a follower of the old school of medicine, came into the county and took up some land. He came here from Waterloo, and practiced to a con- siderable extent and acquired some local reputation, and went back to Pennsyl- vania. Dr. M. C. Lathrop was also one of the early disciples of Esculapiusin the county. In July, 1858, he first landed at Algona, and entered into practice. In the spring of 1S59, liking the place, he went back to Cedar Falls, and brought his family to this point. He remained until the begin- ning of the Civil war, when he went to Cedar Rapids and entered the service as surgeon. After the cessation of hostili- ties, he went east, and at present is at Dover, N. H., where he has a most lucra- tive practice. Dr. Andrew Mason was also at one time a practicing physician at Algona. Dr. Whitney located at Algona, for a short time being engaged, during 1870, in the drug business with II. C. McCoy. One of the most eminent men in the pro- fession, he has never seemed to get ahead, but rather to retrograde in all respects. He went from here to Emmetsburg, but is at present located at Pierre, Dakota. Dr. J. II. Leavitt came with Dr. James Barr and remained in partnership with him some time. He is now located some- where in Wisconsin. Dr. Jackson came to Algona in 188], but made quite a short stay, and now re- sides at Fergus Falls, Minn., where he is working up a fine practice. Among the physicians now resident in Kossuth county are: Dr. L. A. Sheetz, Dr. L. K. Garfield, Dr. S. G. A. Read, Dr. James Barr, Dr. M. II. Hudson, Dr. L. E- Potter, Dr. A. Richmond, Dr. H. C. Mc- Coy, Dr. J. M. Pride, Dr. II. Alleyne,Dr. L. R. Baker, Dr. G. T. West, Dr. A. W. Berryman, Dr. E. W. Bachman and Dr. G. B. Forbush. L. K. Garfield, M. D., the oldest prac- ticing physician in this county, was born May 6, 1820, in Langdon, Sullivan Co., N. IT. He was reared and educated in his native State. When twenty-one years of age he entered the office of Dr. Graves of Langdon, and commenced the reading of medicine. Two years later he at- 1F f I HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 2S5 tended the Vermont Medical College, his last course in that college being in 1846. He afterward attended the Missouri Med- ical College; the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, and the Rush Medical College of Chicago. Soon after his last term at the Vermont Medical Col- lege he emigrated to Tioga Co., Penn., where he commenced the practice of med- icine in partnership with Dr. Krouse, which he continued eight years. He then moved to Schuyler Co., N. Y., and con- tinued his practice until 1865, when he emigrated to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he still follows his profession. At this time the county was sparsely settled and his rides were long and dreary, his only guide being the sun and w T ind by day and the stars by night. Dr. Garfield has been continuously engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery for over thirty- seven years; yet he is well preserved for a man of over sixty-four years. He is a very positive man, and when he makes up his mind no power on earth can move him from his purpose, and in most in- stances it will be found that he is correct. By his high social endowments and his skill and success in his profession, he has gained many warm and ardent friends, and by his positive character he has made some bitter enemies. Much of his suc- cess in life may be attributed to his high professional attainments, skill and suc- cess in practice. S. G. A. Read, M. D., A. M., one of the prominent physicians of Algona, was born in January, 1817, in Washington Co., Vt., where he lived until fifteen years old, when his parents emigrated to St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., where they remained two years, then emigrated to Medina county, on the Western Reserve of Ohio, being among the early settlers of that county. He was educated in Oberlin College, after which he took a medical course at the Cleveland Medical College, and was graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D. This was in 1852-53. He immediately commenced the prac- tice of his profession at Wooster Wayne Co., Ohio, and in 1854, removed to Columbia City, Whitley Co., Ind. The doctor was married in Ohio to Beulah E. Smith. They had three children — Mary J., wife of J. P. Hawkes; Julia A., widow of Samuel Hill; and Martha, wife of A. S. Hawkes. In March, 1860, Mrs. Read died in Columbia City. In March, 1S63, Mr. Read married Elizabeth Bunnell a daughter of Edmond II. and Betsey (Ashley) Bunnell. On the 4th of July, 1865, Dr. Read reached Algona, coming by railroad to Cedar Falls, (then the ter- minus) thence by stage to Algona. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Knight Templar. Himself and wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The doctor is an active student, not laying aside even the classics. The Greek New Testament is his intimate companion in all his travels. He is now studying the Hebrew language. L. A. Sheetz, M. D., one of the promi- nent business men of Algona, was born in Stephenson Co., 111., in 1844. His par- ents were Jared and Magdalena Mennig, who emigrated to Stephenson Co., 111., in 1 840, being among the early settlers of the county. The doctor was reared and educated in his native county. He en- tered the medical department of the Uni- ■«y Q- \iL 286 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. versity of Michigan, at Aim Arbor, in 1862, and finished the studies of the sophomore class in 1863. In 1864 he en- listed in the Sth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, was made adjutant of the regi- ment. The regiment led in the charge at Fort Blakely and was the first to plant their colors on the walls. In 1866 he ,vas mustered out at Baton Rouge. Re- turning from the war he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. B. T. Buckley, at Freeport, 111., and during the winter of 1867-8, attended medical lectures at Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, 111. In the winter of 1868-69 he attended lectures atBellevue Hospital Med- ical College, New York, graduating in the spring of 1869. In May of the same year he came to Algona, where he embarked in the drug business in company with Du- rant brothers, and at the same time fol- lowed the practice of medicine. In 1872 the firm was dissolved, the stock being divided, and he started his present place of business. In 1870 he was married to Dona Langdon, a daughter of Henry D. Langdon, of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Dr. James Barr was born July 25, 1S36, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. At nine years of age he was apprenticed to the weaver trade. His health failing, at the end of three years, he was placed on a farm. When seventeen years old he came with the family to this country, working in a coal mine a short time near Sharon, Penn. In 1854 he went to Trumbull Co., Ohio, and worked on a large dairy farm till the spring of 1856, when he moved to Iowa, locating in Fayette county, and spending two seasons on a farm. When twenty- two he attended the district school, up to that time not having had more than one year's schooling and was notable to do the most simple example in multiplication or division, being principally self-educated. In a short time he entered Upper Iowa University, then recently located at Fay- ette, and dilligently pursued his studies till the Civil war commenced. During this time he had no means of support ex- cept the earnings of his own hand. In September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 12th Iowa Infantry, and soon after the battle of Shiloh was appointed hospital steward, in which capacity he served three years. During the year 1865 the surgeon of the 12th regiment was absent most of the time on detached duty, when he had charge of the regiment, and in September of that year was commis- sioned assistant surgeon, serving until mus- tered out in February, 1866. Returning to Fayette, he read medicine with Dr. C. C. Parker, surgeon of the 12th Infantry, and attended lectures at Rush Medical Col- lege, graduating in February 1S68. After spending a short time in Mindoro, Wis., Dr. Barr located in Clermont, Iowa, prac- ticed there till May, 1869, when he settled in Algona, where he has a large and lu- crative practice. He is a modest, quiet, unassuming gentleman, attending to the duties of his profession with the utmost assiduity. In 1871 Dr. Barr was ap- pointed United States examining surgeon for pensions, and still holds that office. In February, 1876, he became a volunteer weather reporter for this immediate sec- tion of the State, and still makes his daily observations, reporting to Prof. Herrick of Iowa City. In March, 1880, he gradu- ated in the Hahnemann Medical College ' *V HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 287 of Chicago, after attending lectures dur- ing the winter. Dr. Barr has always voted the republican ticket and is a staunch supporter of the temperance cause. He is a Master Mason. He mar- ried, June 15, 1S71, Selina M. Bradshaw of Davenport, Iowa. They have four children — Bertram J., Arthur E., Emma N. and Mary A. Mrs. Barr is a graduate of the high school and training school of Davenport, was a teacher there for sev- eral years, and is a woman of no small degree of intellectual polish. They are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in the Sab- bath school. Dr.'Barr's experience in the army hospital as steward and as- sistant surgeon was an excellent school to him, and aided him in laying a good foundation on which to build in medical science, of which he is a very close stu- dent. When he entered the army he took some books with him, and at first pursued his studies when not busy in the hospital. He fitted himself for a sur- geon's duties by studying two hours before any one else was astir. Industry in so noble a direction has been amply rewarded. Dr. E. W. Bacbman was born in Green Co., Wis. His father was a Methodist minister, being on the circuit twenty-six years, so that during Mr. Bachman's early life he was in schools in Baraboo, Maus- ton and Lodi, these being the places where his father preached at different times. His education was finished at Kllbourn City Institute. At the age of twenty, he was engaged as clerk in Eau Claire, Wis. for one year. When twenty-three years old, he went into business for himself in Mazo Manie, sold out, and moved to Fayette, Wis., where he commenced studying medicine with Dr. Arahm. After studying two years, he went to Iowa City, to attend the lectures in the State University, from there he went to the Insane Hospital at Mt. Pleasant, for the study of nervous diseases with Dr. Ranney. He then came to West Bend, where he has since practiced, having a range of ten miles in each direction. He owns a nice residence in West Bend, which he bought a short time since of E. S. Bagley. He has displayed considera- ble taste in fitting it up, having good grounds. In the fall of 1883, Dr. Bach- man was elected county superintendent by the largest majority ever received by any officer in the county. He was mar- ried Oct. 18, 1883, to Jennie Forest, of Emmetsburg. He is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a republican, and belongs to the order of Odd Fellows. Dr. John M. Pride was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, May 3, 1849. His father, John Pride, was a native of New York, and his mother, Esther (Reed) Pride, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania. They wore early settlers in Seneca county. When John was eighteen years of age he went with his parents to Franklin Co., Iowa. In 1875 he began the study of medicine with Dr. O. B. Harriman of Hampton, Iowa, being a student with him until the spring of 1878. During that time, however, he attended the winter terms of 1875-6 and 1877-8, of school at the State Univer- sity of Iowa, graduating at the close of the latter terra. He then returned to Hamilton, and practiced under his former ^ \£» 288 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. preceptor until June, 1879, when he came to Whittemore. He was the first and only physician in practice here. Dr. Pride was married April 5, 1880, to Mary Brown, a native of Wisconsin. Dr. Loron E. Potter, homeopathic phy- sician and surgeon, was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., April 27, 1 823. When eigh- teen months old he went with his parents, Sheldon and Wealthy (Baldwin) Potter, to Genesee county and thence to Erie county, his father being engaged in the lumber business. In the fall of 1839 they removed to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where Dr. Potter led a frontier life with his parents until twenty-one years of age. His chance for an education being very limited, he might be termed a self-made man. The most of his education was gotten with the help of his mother, in the chimney corner, after his days, work was done and his companions were pleasure seeking. When twenty-two years of age he began the study of medicine with Dr. Horace Eaton, at Sheffield, Ashtahula Co., Ohio. He continued to study with him three years, then attended lectures at the Kingsville Institute. He then re- moved to Knox Co., 111., where he resided five years, then went to Henry county re- maining ten years, engaged in farming and practicing medicine. Pefore he had been in Henry Co., 111., one year, there were no less than nine physicians settled around him, who had come west to seek a field of labor. In the fall of 1865 Dr. Potter removed to Marengo, Iowa, spend- ing the winter, and in, the spring of 1866 going to Greencastle township, Marshall Co., Iowa. He resided here eighteen years, having a large practice, and at times employing three teams and drivers, and getting the most of his sleep in the wagons, and sometimes riding a circuit of twenty-five miles. He at first practiced the regular system, but in eight years adopted the homeopathic, which he deems far superior. In May, 1883, on account of failing health, Dr. Potter retired from active practice, and moved on a farm in Cresco township, Kossuth county. He owns eighty acres of land on section 18, township 95, range 29, eighty acres on section 19, township 95, range 29, and eighty acres on section 26, township 95, range 30, where he now resides. He lias elected some substantial buildings, a house 18x24 feet, a barn 26x36 feet and a sheep barn 26x64 feet. Dr. Potter is not al- lowed to rest, however, for he is frequently called to see his old patrons in severe cases, even to Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Dakota, and being compelled to at- tend on his immediate neighbors, he is kept so busy that he is obliged to neglect his farming interest. Dr. Potter has been unfortunate in the way of accidents. Soon after moving to Marshall county, while hauling a load of lumber, his team ran away and the doctor was thrown from the wagon, breaking three of his ribs, and injuring his spine so badly that his lower limbs were paralyzed for some time. Two years later he lost his right hand in a broom corn machine. Mr. Potter was married Dec. 31, 1843, to Thankful Kick- aid, of Sheffield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. They have had eight children, five of whom are living — Orange A., a veterinary sur- geon, living in Cresco township, this county; Albert O, homeopathic physician and surgeon at Clifton, Kan.; Caroline ■f <1 ** k- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 289 C, residing in Tama Co., Iowa; Lawrence E., residing in Cresco township, ami Hor- ace E., attending lectures at the Homeopa- thic Medical College in Missouri. Dr. Potter is a republican in politics. He is a radical temperance man, and in religion is liberal. He owns the only Cassimere goats in the county, has a fine flock of sheep, some fine high grade Shorthorns, and some very fine horses for driving pur- poses. Dr. B. G. Forbush was born March 20, 1821, in Cayuga Co., N. Y. His father died when he was quite young. When seven years of age his mother moved to Erie Co., N. Y., where he grew to man- hood, receiving a common school educa- tion. When twenty-eight years of age he commenced reading medicine in Buf- falo, N. Y., under Dr. J. B. Pride, at- tended lectures at Buffalo Medical Univer- sity, and graduated in 1852. He began the practice of medicine in Buffalo, where he remained three years. He married Sophrona P. Mann, of Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y". She died in 1851. He then mar- ried Louisa Holbrook, in 1853, who died in 1866, leaving two children — Charles G. ami Endora L. In 1853 he removed to Chautauqua Co., N. Y. In 1856 he went to Grant Co., Wis., where he followed his profession till the spring of 1872, when he came to Algona, and is now engaged in the drug business. Dr. Forbush is a member of Prudence Lodge, No. 205, and is an upright man and a gentleman of the old school. In 1868 he attended the Ec- lectic College at Cincinnati, where he graduated. In 1875 he was married to Viola Bellows, his present wife, M. II. Hudson, M. D„ graduated at the Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass., in the year 1844. He commenced the practice of his profession in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. After praticing sev- eral years in Brooklyn, he took a trip to California for his health. He went in a sailing packet around Cape Horn, being four months on the water. He remained in San Francisco for two years. On re- turning home he decided to locate in the west; consequently removed with his family to Paw Paw, 111., where he prac- ticed some eight years, while he experi- enced many of the hardships incident to tlic practitioner in a new and thinly set- tled country. He came to Kossuth witli his family in the spring of 1864, and set- tled on the farm where he now resides. Dr. Harban Alleyne, was a natiye of the West Indies, and a graduate of Edinburgh University, Scotland, of 1871. He came to Wesley in 1880, where he established himself in practice. He has the reputa- tion of being a most excellent physician. Dr. L. R. Baker, a homeopathic physi- cian, a graduate of the Michigan Univer- sity, at Ann Arbor, located at the village of Luverne in May, 1883, and is engaged in practice at that point. Dr. G. T. West, allopathic physician, located at Bancroft on the 1st of March, 1883. He is a graduate of the St. Louis Medical College, of the class of 1876. Dr. A. W. Berryman, an allopathic physician, settled at Bancroft in April, 1 882, and is one of the resident physicians of the county. He is a graduate of the medical department of the State Univer- sity, at Iowa City. He practiced for about two years at Montour, Iowa, before coming to this place. =51?* A fe+ 290 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER IX THE PRESS. There is no instrumentality, not even ex- cepting the pulpit and bar, which exerts such an influence upon society as the press of the land. It is the Archimedian lever that moves the world. The talented minister of the Gospel on the Sabbath day preaches to a few hundred people; on the follow- ing morning his thoughts are re-produced more than a thousand fold, and are read and discussed throughout the length and breadth of the land. The attorney at the bar, in thrilling tones, pleads either for or against the criminal arraigned for trial, often causing the jury to bring in a verdict against the law and the testi- mony in the case. His words are re-pro- duced in every daily that, is reached by the telegraphic wire, and his arguments are calmly weighed by unprejudiced men and accepted for what they are worth. The politician takes the stand and ad- dresses a handful of men upon the political questions of the day; his speech is re- ported, and read by a thousand men for every one who heard the address. Sud- denly the waters of one of our mighty rivers rise, overflowing the land for miles and miles, rendering thousands of people homeless and without the means to secure their daily bread. The news is flashed over the wire, taken up by. the press, and known and read by all men. No time is lost in sending to their relief; the press has made known their wants, and they are instantly supplied. "Chicago is on tire! Two hundred millions worth of property destroyed! Fifty thousand people rendered homeless!" Such is the dread intelligence proclaimed by the press. Food and cloth- ing are hastily gathered, trains are char- tered, and the immediate wants of the sufferers are in a measure relieved. The power for good or evil, of the press, is to-day unlimited. The short- comings of the politician are made known through its columns; the dark deeds of the wicked are exposed, and each fear it alike. The controlling influence of a Nation, State or county is its press; and the press of Kossuth county is no excep- tion to the rule. The local press is justly considered among the most important institutions of every city, town and village. The people of every community regard their particu- lar newspaper or newspapers as of pecu- liar value, and this not merely on account of the fact already alluded to, hut because these papers are the repositories wherein are stored the facts and the events, the deeds and the sayings, the undertakings and the achievements that go to make up local history. One by one these things are gathered and placed in type; one by »fV A fe. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 291 one the papers are issued; one by one these papers are gathered together and bound, and another volume of local, gen- eral and individual history is laid away imperishable. The volumes thus collected are sifted by the historian, and the book for the library is ready. The people of each city or town naturally have a pride in their home paper. The local press, as a rule, reflects the business enterprise of a place. Judging from this stand-point, Kossuth county need not fear the closest scrutiny. Its papers are well filled each week with advertisements of home merchants, and of its numerous business ventures. No paper can exist without these adver- tisements, and no community can flourish that does not use the advertising columns of its local press. Each must sustain the other. The first paper in the county was the Algona Pioneer Press, and was established by Ambrose A. Call, in the early part of 1861. The material for this journalistic ven- ture was bought by the proprietors at Fort Des Moines, as it was then called, and brought to Algona in an ox-cart, .by O. Minkler. The press was set up, and with Ambrose A. Call in the editorial chair, the infant journal embarked upon its career. The initial number was issued on the 13th of April, 1861, and in defer- ence to the way of the craft, Mr. Call thus indulges in a salutation: We this week give to the public the first number of the Algona Pioneer Press, and in doing so we would say to our friends and the public generally, that we do not mount the tripod for any particu- lar love we have for the profession of an editor, for, so far as we may learn, they are the hardest worked and poorest paid fellows in Christendom. Neither do we assume this responsibility as a labor of love, for however much we might love the people of Kossuth and the adjoining counties, it is obvious that something more material is necessary to satisfy the cupidity of our compositor, and stop the whimperings of our devil. But we have been led to believe that such a paper as we intend to make the Press can be sus- tained in Algona and made to pay — not the proprietor alone, but the whole com- munity. We do not ask a gratuity, and have no desire to live on charity. All we expect is the co-operation of our friends, and the support of the. people so far as our paper merits it, and they think it compatible with their interests to give it. One principal object of the Press will be to bring to the attention of those looking westward for homes, and a remunerative field for the in vestment of their capital, the vast extent and productiveness of our unoc- cupied and unsold lands. While Kansas has been over-run with emigrants, and Minne- sota rapidly filled up, northern Iowa has remained in statu qicd. A man may travel through the counties west of us, border- ing the Sioux river, for a hundred miles without seeing a single sign of civiliza- tion, the buffalo and elk unscared by the pioneer. And what is the reason of this? We believe that as northwestern Iowa holds out as many inducements to the emigrant as any other portion of the United States, the reason is this, those wishing to come west have been deceived; they have been made to believe that the lands of Iowa are already all occupied; ^ •!£ 292 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ' they have been coaxed on to the sterile plains of western Kansas by political or- ganizations for the purpose of accom- plishing certain political ends, without any regard whatever to the resources of the country; and during the past winter, if we can credit the reports coming from there, many have died from actual starva- tion. We believe a reaction is about to take place. The unsettled condition of the country, and the small demand for labor and capital in the eastern States, will create a demand for western lands, and cause a heavy emigration to the west the coming summer, and it is for the in- terest of northwestern Iowa, in order to develop her resources and to secure the speedy completion of her railroads, that she should receive her fair proportion. And we believe that to. secure this, it is only necessary that the people should be enlightened in regard to our resources and prospects. To our acquaintances,it is not necessary to say anything in relation to the politics of the Press, but to those with whom we are not acquainted, we would say that the editor has worked with and for the repub- lican party ever since its organization, and has no desire to forsake it now. We expect to support the administration of Lincoln, having faith in his integrity and statesmanship, and believing that he will stand firm to the principals enunciated in the Chicago platform, and endorsed by the people on the Oth of November. Upon new questions, as they arise for the consideration of the American people, the Press will take the liberty of deciding for itself, without asking the permission of political leaders, or having its opinions forestalled by the actions of others. The paper contains the proceedings of the first board of county supervisors, and a few foreign advertisements. The only home advertisements are the cards of Dr. Franklin McCoy as physician and sur- geon, Lewis H. Smith as attorney at law, and John Ileckart as turner and painter. The sheet was a six column folio, and quite neatly made up and printed. The editorials were far above the average of the nsual effusions to be met with in the country newspapers of that date, and, taken altogether, the Pioneer Press was a model paper. The second number con- tains an account of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in Charleston bay, and the subsequent ones teem with war news, and overflow with the loyalty and patriotism of the editor. In those days, a newspaper received ad- vantages that none at the present day can boast of. The printing of the tax-lists was a "fat take" and the Algona Pioneer Press, not only enjoyed the official patron- age of this county,but several of the adjoin- ing counties, not being yet honored with the great civilizer, a local press, had their legal printing done here. All these things combined to make this a lucrative under- taking. In 1863, Mr. Call rented the office, material and business to George Ingersoll, of the Fort Dodge Messenger, who sent Col. Page, the present post- master of that town, to Algona, to manage the paper. Under this administration the Pioneer Press was continued until the lat- ter part of 1864, when the paper was sus- pended. &, HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 293 After the lapse of a year or two, the material was purchased by Mrs. Lizzie B. Read, and the paper commenced a new life under the name of the Upper Des Moines, a name it has retained until the present. This was engineered by Mrs. Read, and is said to have been a very read- able paper. The editorial and literary columns teemed with good things well said. In November, 1866, J. H. Warren be- came the owner of the Upper Des Moines, and assumed the editorial chair. Mr. Warren had never before acted in this capacity, or had experience in the printing business, but great natural abilities united with a mind well stored gave him. the advantage of circumstances, and he soon gave evidence of his fitness for the posi- tion. As a writer he was pungent and to the point, wasting no long space or time in long winded editorials, bnt going straight to the point and in a few words disposing of the subject under discussion. Upon assuming the helm of the good ship Upper Des Moines, lie addressed his readers in the following words by way of saluta- tion: "In assuming the responsibility of publishing a weekly journal, we do so with a full knowledge of the magnitude of the undertaking. To publish a journal that will please every one is a task that we do not expect to' perform ; as such a task has never yet been accomplished by any power, either .human or Divine. But if careful attention to business, persever- ance and hard labor can make the Upper Des Moines a welcome visitor to all our patrons, we shall perform the task cheer- fully. We are aware that during the past three months complaints have arisen against the former publishers ; but whether such complaints have been just, well grounded, or false and unreasonable, it would be neither wisdom nor policy in us now to decide ; for, peradventure, we might be pronouncing sentence against one whom we would not wish to censure. For, in taking the place of the former publishers, we are subjecting ourself to a like criticism. "The political complexion of the Upper Des Moines will continue, as heretofore, Union republican. The principles advo- cated by the two great political parties of the present day, are too well understood by every one to require any explanation here. But, like Col. Crockett, shall en- deavor first, to be sure we are right, and then go ahead. "The advancement of the interests of Kossuth and adjoining counties will claim particular attention. And to this end we hope for and shall expect the aid and co- operation of all who desire to see this portion of our Slate still further improved; our vast prairies more thickly dotted with improved farms, farm houses, school- houses and churches,'the natural results of honest industry and intelligence com- bined. "Our columns will at all times be opened for the full and free discussion of all topics of general interest, but it cannot be used for the gratification of personal ill- will, under any circumstances, as such things always have a bad effect upon the moral and social condition of society, and will never be tolerated by any publisher desirous of maintaining the respectability of his journal. ,[* 294 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT V. "With these remarks we leave the Upper Des Moines to speak for itself, and our readers to judge of its merit." After nine years of strenuous work in placing the paper on a proper footing, and raising it from a small six column affair to a large, handsome and well con- ducted journal of nine columns to the page; graduating from the printing of it upon the old fashion hand press to the much more speedy steam press, Mr. Warren disposed of the office and busi- ness to Pitt Cravath. This was upon the 20th day of September, 1875. In stepping out from the sanctum, Mr. Warren said a few words at parting, that have the right ring about them. He said: "To say good-by to friends has always been to me one of the most unpleasant tasks of life. And at this time it is with feelings of deep regret that I say it to those with whom I have for the past few years maintained business and friendly relations. A trifle less than nine years ago I quietly and unostentatiously stepped into the editorial harness, and now I as quietly and unostentatiously lay it by and resume a place in the peaceful walks of private life. During the years of my man- agement of the Upper Des Moines I have assiduously labored for what I deemed the best good of the town and county in particular, and the whole State in gen- eral. If at times I have erred, which lean- not deny has often been the case, it was an error in judgment, without evil intent. "The bold, uncompromising course I have at all times pursued when combat- ting the powers of evil, in attempting to expose corruption or to thwart the de- signs of unscrupulous schemers, has made enemies of such, but has also made friends of honest men who always pursue a policy that shall result in the greatest good to the greatest number. "Of my success in bringing the Upper Des Moines to the enviable position it now occupies in journalism, I scarcely need speak. Starting from a small twenty-four column sheet, it has steadily advanced with the growth of the county, until it has reached a size of thirty-six columns, with a large and constantly increasing circulation, and a good, paying patron- age. "A word to my former patrons in rela- tion to my successor will here be appro- priate. Something more than a years' residence in Algona, during which time his deportment has been that of a gentle- man and a ripe scholar, has drawn around him the best elements of society and has made him universally admired and esteemed for his good qualities. I cheer- fully recommend him to my friends and former patrons, and trust they will con- tinue unbroken the friendly relations so long existing between themselves and the former publisher. The future policy of the new proprietor will be fully set forth in his salutatory, and I have not the shadow of a doubt but it will be rigidly adhered to. "And now, in the full belief that my friends who have so long stood shoulder to shoulder with me in every good work, will always have in their hearts a warm place tor me, I say to them, good-by. To my enemies who have so relentlessly pur- sued me in the vain hope of tearing down whatever I had builded, I say I can for- ;n? *lu HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 295 get and forgive, but shall always remem- ber them." Pitt Cravath continued sole proprietor of this flourishing paper until Feb. 20, 1879, when he sold out to A. L. Hudson Mr. Cravath was a bold, fearless writer, with a keen, sarcastic pen that pricked the evil-doer or political enemy until they writhed. Mr. Hudson, who was alone in the con- trol of the Upper Des Moines for one year, was a prominent member of the bar of Kossuth county, and was of a most aggressive disposition. Like Paul Jones, of yore, he sailed through the seas of life, with the ominous motto, "Don't tread on me," displayed at his masthead, and woe betide the unfortunate wretch that dared to meet him in the tilt. Keen, scathing and scholarly, his attacks were so fierce that all dreaded his pen. Yet gentle- manly in all that he said and did he was- a great favorite in all circles, except thai of the few political enemies he must have of a necessity made. On the 20th of February, 1880, R. B. Warren acquired a half interest in this paper and the firm became Hudson & Warren. The latter partnership contin- ued until Nov. 20, 1882, when Harvey Ingham purchased the interest of Mr. Hudson, and the present firm of Ingham & Warren came into existence. Throughout all these years, the paper has gone through manifold changes in shape, size and make up. Commencing as a six column folio, under the manage- ment of Mr. Warren, it arose to the dig- nity of a nine column, having been en- larged successively to seven, eight and nine, as the years rolled on. After it passed into the hands of Mr. Hudson, it became a six column quarto, and later a seven column, of the same form. The present paper is a nine column folio, on the "flexible plan." On weeks when there is an abundance of matter, it is issued with six pages, and when material runs short, but four pages. Messrs. Ingham & War- ren are both young men, and understand all the branches of the art of printing. The paper is a model of neatness besides being well edited. Harvey Ingham was born in Portland township, Kossuth county, Sept. 8, 1858, and is a son of W. H. and 0. A. (Rice) Ingham. In 1876 he entered the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, and grad- uated from the literary department in 1880. He immediately entered the law department of the same institution, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881. Soon after leaving college, he ob- tained a situation as county historian for Capt. A. T. Andreas, of Chicago, 111., and was one of the assistants in compiling and editing the history of Nebraska. When that volume was completed, and ready for publication (1882), Mr. Ingham purchased a half-interest in the Ujjper Des Moines, and in connection with R. B. Warren, has been fairly successful in the publishing business. R. B. Warren was born at Horicon, Dodge Co., Wis., Dec. 1, 1849, and is a son of J. H. and A. B. (Horton) Warren. He passed his earlier life in Trempealeau and Eau Claire counties, Wis., and attended school until thirteen years of age. In September, 1865, he entered the office of the Eau Claire Argus, R. H. Copeland publisher, to learn the printer's trade, and *t" ~a> V ^t 1^ 296 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. remained with him until June, 1866. In November, of the same year, his father, who had removed to Iowa in June, pur- chased the office of the Upper Des Moines, and good will of the paper, and our sub- ject assisted him in the management of the paper for nine years. In July, 1875, he went to Chicago, 111., and secured a position as compositor on the Daily Times, holding a case for fifteen months. Leav- ing Chicago, he was employed, for nine months, as a traveling salesman through Kansas, Missouri and southern Iowa, and in the fall of 1877, accepted the fore- mauship of the Upper Des Moines, then under the management of Pitt Cravath. He remained in charge of the office for fifteen months, and continued with the new proprietor, A. L. Hudson, a year longer. He then purchased a half inter- est in the business, and Feb. 20, 1880, as- sumed the management of the business, which position he has since continued to hold. In 1882 Harvey Ingham purchased Mr. Hudson's interest, and the firm name was changed to Ingham & Warren. Although it has been written that the Pioneer Press was the first paper in the county of Kossuth, still a strict regard for historical accuracy impels the statement that this is only true so far as regards printed papers. A manuscript paper, call- ed ThePee,wa.s in existence several years prior to the appearance of the above-men- tioned periodical. This was an eight-page paper, written on letter paper, and was edited by Harriet E. Taylor, now Mrs. J. E. Stacy. The first number of this paper was issued upon the 27th of December, 1857. The fair editress, in this initial sheet, makes an opening address to the readers of The Pee, in the following words: "We are happy to present to our friends this first number of The Pee as the first paper published in this 'little world of Algona,' and though now small and may be insignificant in the eyes of many, still we have sanguine hopes that it will thrive, and before many years stand the first and oldest among our village papers. A per- son when first starting in an enterprise like this, feels rather delicately. Many fears arise whether the paper will suit the readers. Knowing there are as many minds as persons, and also knowing that unless all these minds are satisfied, we are the loser, we feel still more anxious than we would otherwise. "The Pee is intended to be strictly a neutral paper. We shall strive to please all by offending none. It will abound in wit and humor, be graced with sound, in- tellectual studies and pleasing stories, have all the news of the day, we hope none of the gossip. We have able corres- pondents for The Bee who will favor it with their productions from time to time. A few advertisements will be inserted just to help pay expenses. We have tried to tell you imperfectly, however, what we shall strive to make The Pee, and we hum- bly beg our friends to stand by us and not allow it to sink into obscurity, as the papers in our neighboring towns have done." Miss Taylor sometimes was assisted in her arduous labor by junior editors and a corps of contributors, but still the labor of writing the paper every week, must have proved irksome. The paper ran for two or three years, and filled the niche 9 ^. -I 35 >^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 297 that it was intended to. Some numbers betray a literary excellence far in advance of later and more pretentious sheets. In the fall of 1S71 Bryan J. Castle, who had been a member of the Chickasaw county bar, and the ex-editor of the Law- ler Times, established a paper at Algona. This sheet, which was a seven-column folio, was called the Algona Times, and was democatic in politics. The initial number of this paper was issued upon Friday, Sept. 15, 1871, and Mr. Castle thus addressed his readers, in a plain prac- tical talk : "With this number commences our new paper, and as custom requires us to make known our principles in the beginning, and let the people know what kind of a paper we intend to publish, we proceed to perform that duty. The Times will be, emphatically, a people's paper, devoted to the local interests of our town and sur- roundings. It will be our aim to advance the best interests of all classes — mercan- tile, mechanical and agricultural — and do all in our power to develop the resources of the country. "In politics we are democratic, and as a democrat, we intend to discuss freely all the issues before the country, and show up and expose the short-comings of all our public functionaries, no matter of what political complexion. . We will not frame our views with reference to latitude or longitude ; but will feel free to express ourselves on all subjects affecting the wel- fare of the country. "The prosperity of Algona will be to us of paramount importance, and we will ever work for its growth and development in preference to anything else. We will discuss freely and candidly all those ques- tions in which the people are interested ; as free trade, tariff, protection, etc., and will be found at our post at all times ready to stand up for 'the right;' to ad- vocate economy, encourage industry, and add to the general welfare of the people. Upon the 14th of March, 1872, the Times appeared under the management of the new firm, who had just purchased the interest of Mr. Castle — Messrs. Horton, Jones & Co. This firm was composed of the following parties: A. M. Horton, J. B. Jones and Milton Starr. The editor, Mr. Horton, in assuming the tripod, thus addressed the patrons of the paper, and the public in general: "In appearing before the people of Kos- suth county in the capacity of caterers to the public appetite for news, the present proprietors of the Times fully realize the magnitude of the task to which they have set themselves. In a community like our own, where the great eastern dailies are taken and read by a large number of in- habitants, it is no light undertaking to attempt the publishing of a weekly which shall be at once interesting as a news pa- per and an organ for the dissemination of sound and wholesome views on subjects of general and local importance. Indeed we could not hope to exist in competition with these great organs were it not for the fact that we will be able to furnish our patrons with what in the nature of the case it is impossible for foreign publica- tions to supply them — local news, and an opportunity to discuss through our columns matters of local interest, and read the opinions of others on those sub- jects. These advantages it shall be our ?U t 298 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. chief aim to furnish to the Kossuth coun- ty public, and it is our ambition to be- come par excellence the organ of the peo- ple. "While we shall hold decided opinions upon all questions of either general or local public policy, we will endeavor to discuss them in a dispassionate manner, and be willing to accord to our opponents that courteous treatment which we ask for ourselves. We will not stultify our manhood by cringing to power, be the same considered respectable or disreput- able. We shall make it a point to assail principles, rather than men. "When found in the ranks of the major- ity, it will be because we believe them to be right, and we will when compelled, patiently if not cheerfully bear defeat with the minority, believing it better to be right than to be successful, and that, "Though the mills of God grind slowly. Yet they grind exceedingly small; Though with patience he stands waiting, With exactness grinds he all. " "Believing intemperance to have been and still to be the cause of more human misery than any other evil, or all other evils combined, we will ever stand ready to second all well directed efforts for its suppression. "Having always been found in the ranks of the republican party, and firmly be- lieving that the accession to power at this time of the so-called democratic party would be a National calamity, we shall continue to identify ourselves with that party for whose principles we have con- tended as well on southern battle fields as in the more congenial but not less earnest contests of civil life. "Our principal reason for adhering to the republican party is that we consider the administration of affairs to be safer in the hands of those who preserved the Nation from distraction than in the hands of those who either attempted to destroy it or sympathized with those who did so attempt. "We speak of the democratic party as an organization ; with individual mem- bers we have no controversy. Good men and patriotic can be found in the ranks of the democrats, but the record of the party, as an organization, during the darkest period of our existence as a Nation, must ever remain a source of humiliation to every true American. "Gen. Grant is our first choice for the next Presidential term. Not that we do not believe many others to be just as capa- ble of discharging the duties of chief ex- ecutive as he ; but we believe Grant, in the main, to have administered the affairs pertaining to his office with an eye single to the public weal, and in a manner satis- factory to all who are not either blinded by party prejudice or warped by disap- pointed ambition. "In county, town and village affairs, we shall advocate that course which we deem to be most beneficial to all concerned, knowing no north nor south, but whole sections. Of our predecessor, B. J. Castle, Esq., who bowed himself out in last weeks' issue, it is unnecessary to speak at length. To his reputation as a journalist, no words of ours can add. His public career in Algona, although not of long duration, has certainly not been devoid of interest. He has not failed to strike at whatever in I 9 •M<2_ _9. J- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 290 his opinion had the appearance of evil, nor has he heen found wanting when any laudable enterprise needed encouragement. We will gladly hail his decision to settle permanently in Algona; hut if he con- cludes to locate elsewhere, we bespeak for him a cordial reception, and prophesy for him a successful career, and hosts of friends among those whose friendship it is an honor to possess. "In concluding this, our salutatory, we respectfully solicit your patronage, when, after strict trial, we shall be found deserv- ing it, and your indulgence when, as is very likely to be the case, being human, we make mistakes." Respectfully, Hokton, Jones & Co. This new firm, as will be seen, changed the politics of the paper, and upon the 16th of May, 1872, altered the make-up of the sheet to an eight column folio, and the name to that of Algona Republican, a name it still retains. The paper continued under the manage- ment of this co-partnership until April 12, 1S75, when Mr. Starr purchased the interest of J. B. Junes, and the style of the firm was changed to that of Horton & Starr. Ably edited and neatly gotten up in the mechanical department, the Re- publican now succeeded to a liberal pat- ronage. Upon the 22d of February, 1881, Mr. Horton disposed of his share in the enterprise to his partner, Milton Starr. On the 1st of July, 1883, Mr. Cowles was admitted as a partner in the Republi- can, and the style of the firm at present is Starr & Cowles. The paper is a well edited, and in the general make-up, most creditable. Local columns teeminsr with items and a large display of advertise- ments, proclaim the healthy state of this weekly. Mr. Starr is an easy, fluent writer, and by strict attention to business and the wants and wishes of the commu- nity, has built up one of the best papers in northern Iowa. Milton Starr, son of Jesse and Lucinda Starr, was born in Whitley, Canada, Feb. 1 7, 1840. His grandparents on his father's side were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a carpenter, but became part proprietor in a flouring mill, in which he retained his interest until removing to Wisconsin and settling on a farm in Dane county. The family remained at this place until the summer of 1861, when they removed to Jones Co., Iowa. In 1866 he entered Cornell College, graduating from that institution in 1870. In Octo- ber, 1871, he came to Algona, and entered the office of the Algona Times, then just established by B. J. Castle, and assisted in the printing of the second number of the paper. He was a member of the firm of Horton, Jones & Co., who bought out the Times March 4, 1872, changing the name to the Algona Republican. In April, 1875, Mr. Starr bought the interest of J. B. Jones, thus acquiring a half in- terest in the paper. In February, 1881, he became sole proprietor by the purchase of the interest of A. M. Horton. Mr. Starr immediately put a power press in the office, and many improvements were made. In 1882 Mr. Starr erected a build- ing 22x72 feet in dimensions, and twenty- four feet in height, which is intended for the permanent home of the Republican. The lower story is used for printing and editorial rooms, and the second floor for a ■fls liL 300 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. public hall. In July, 1883, he admitted Gardner Cowles as a partner. The paper has always been uncompromising in its advocacy of republicanism and prohibi- tion. Mr. Starr was a charter member of the lodge of Good Templars organized at Algona in 1876, and has since main- tained his connection with the institution. In 1879 he was elected grand secretary of the order in Iowa, a position which he held four years. Mr. Starr is a member of the Congregational Church. He was married Oct. 1, 1879, to Kate Krater, born in Clayton Co., Iowa, July 23, 1852, her parents being natives of Lorraine. Mrs. Starr was educated at the Iowa Agricul- tural College, graduating in 1873. From that time until her marriage her attention was given almost wholly to art studies, three years being spent in the studio of Helen M. Knowlton, in Boston, a pupil of the late William M. Hunt. Mr. and Mrs. Starr have two children — Helen, born July 30, 1880, and Robert, born March 15, 1882. Mr. Starr's mother died Feb. 17, 1852. His father resides in Palo Alto Co., Iowa, being upwards of eighty years of age. The Kossuth County Review, a new ven- ture in the newspaper world, first saw the light in the spring of 1883. On the 16th of March, the first number was issued by its present editor and proprietor, V. S. Ellis, at Luverne. The editor in honor to the time-honored custom of the craft, made his bow to the people of this locali- ty in the following words: "With this, the first issue of The Kos- suth County Review, we make our bow, and to the general public and future read- ers of the Review, would say: good morn- ing. "Of course a live and generous public will allow us to say a few words; however, we do not call your attention to this move to gratify any personal pride that we might entertain, but we intend to make the Review a live paper, published in the interests of Luverne and surrounding country. Our motto shall be, 'home first, then the outside world.' We shall ever endeavor to set forth at all times that which will be for the upbuilding of our town. "While this is yet anew undertaking in this young but prosperous burg, we are sure that we can make it a success. Hav- ing been in the newspaper business for several years we are aware of the price that it costs to run a paper, and a partial canvass of the business firms of this place has convinced us that we shall have a hearty support, which we need to make the paper a success financially. "We shall treat subjects that we deem worthy of mention in our own way and according to our own views. However, in the great political field we shall be in- dependent. When we say independent we do not mean that we will entirely ig- nore all political questions, but that we will not ally our paper to party, clique or ring. If we are on the fence, we reserve the right to strike either way, and if we should strike more on one side than the other, it will be because our convictions outweigh our caution, for the political history of our country proves that parties, like individuals, are liable to make grave errors. ^ ,4* — ^ ■ * » ! >?• HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 301 "With these few remarks and hoping the Review will find a hearty welcome in every household in southern Kossuth and northern Humboldt counties, we again say to you, one and all, 'good morning.'" The paper is a seven column folio, neatly printed and with a liberal show of advertising patronage. Although the editor is a young man, still the leaders show more than average ability. The first issue has an interesting account of the rise of the town and the resources of the surrounding country, and three and a half columns of local items. Verne S. Ellis, son of Smitzer and Charlotte Ellis, was born Jan. 16, 1864, in Geauga Co., Ohio. When five years of age his parents moved to Iowa, locating in Montour, Tama county, where his father erected a building for a meat mar- ket, but soon sold out and went to work at his trade, being a painter. Mr. Ellis received his education in Montour. In 1879 he went into the office of the Mon- tour Review, to learn the printing busi- ness under A. A. Blackman. The paper was discontinued in 1880, when in about two months, Mr. Ellis and brother, Da- vid A., started it again, and issued it un- til September, 1882. They then discon- tinued its publication and moved the office to Bancroft, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where they were running a paper called the Bancroft Register, which was estab- lished April previous. In March, 1883, they started a paper in Luverne, called the Kossuth County Review. Getting the material here Monday morning, they sent out the first issue on Saturday evening dated March 16. The paper has been published regularly since then, both pa- pers being owned and published by Mr. Ellis and brother. The Bancroft Register, a neat little seven column folio, was established in the town of Bancroft, Kossuth county, in 1882, by D. A. Ellis and brother. The first sheet was issued upon Friday, April 14, and is now in a good healthy condition. David A. Ellis, the senior editor, handles a pen to some purpose and the local col- umn is quite creditable. Mr. Ellis, al- though a young man, has had some jour- nalistic experience, having published the Review in the town of Montour, Tama county, previous to coming to this county. David A. Ellis, editor of the Bancroft Register, was born in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1861. When eight years of age he moved with his parents, S. and Char- lotte L. (Frazer) Ellis, to Tama Co., Iowa, locating in Montour. In 1878 Mr. Ellis entered the office of the Montour Re wit : »', edited by Mr. Blackmail, to learn the print- ers' trade. After working there two months the office was closed, and it being in debt to Mr. Ellis for his work, he took charge of it, operating it for six months. In 1879 Mr. Ellis purchased new material and started the paper anew. He publish- ed the paper until Sept. 29, 1882, when it was discontinued, Mr. Ellis having six months previous to this time started the Register in Bancroft. He still has con- trol of the Register, and makes it a very lively and spicy little sheet. Mr. Ellis is a republican in politics. *Jq 302 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER X EDUCATIONAL. When upon that cold and stormy day in December, 1620, the noble band of Pil- grims landed upon the bleak and desolate shore of New England, their first thought was of religious duty, the second of schools and academies. They came, flee- ing from the religious intolerance of the old world, to found a Utopian country of their own in the wilds of America. Scarce were they landed when all were assem- bled and prayers and religious services were held, the echoes of which yet rever- berate around the world ; for in their prayers they sought the Divine assistance to found a colony, where freedom and education could go hand in hand, and if in after years, their stern creed of morals and religious asceticism led them into intolerant acts towards their neighbors, still the general movement was toward the light of liberty and education. There, on the stony soil of Massachu- setts, these stern and rigid moralists first planted the seed of our grand system of educational facilities. There they origi- nated the district school that has outlasted them and their other institutions, seen governments wax old and pass away, and survived the throes of revolution, when these colonies revolted from the galling yoke of Britannia. In that land of its birth, the system of district schools, with its board of select men, still survives, with but little change from that of the original system that was planted two cen- turies and a half ago. The sons and daughters of New England, in their journey toward a home in the west, car- ried the precious seed, and planting it in the fruitful soil, it flourished and grew until it far overshadowed the parent tree. In Iowa, such has been the fostering hand of our State government, it has reached the very acme of perfection. According to the report of the census of the United States government, the ratio of illiteracy in this State is less than in any other of the States of the Union, and the citizen of our noble young commonweath can well hold up his head and say, "although we are among the youngest in the sover- eignties of the world, none can exceed us in intelligence or knowledge, or in our system of education." One of the county school superintend- ents of Kossuth county, and one of its best educators, M. Helen Wooster, says of the subject of education and teaching as follows : "History is one long record of the rise, supremacy and downfall of theories, in- stitutions and governments. The long- ing for true theories, lasting institutions and safe governments has caused to be HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 303 recognized the fact, that the common per- ception of many individuals is safer and presumably more nearly correct than the perceptions of a few; as the rays collected and converged by the microscope produce a more legible representation than can be produced directly upon the eye. If, how- ever, the lens be defective, the eye is the truer interpreter. "Democratic institutions must be based upon the strong common sense of the masses. If it be an educated common sense, no concern need be felt for the effect of time or the loss of individuals, for the elements of life are within and not applied. "To accomplish a general dissemination of knowledge, method after method was advocated, tried and modified, until the present public school system was adopted and established. Soon interested observa- tion detected that the end obtained was not the end desired, and as quickly dis- covered that one cause of the partial fail- ure lay in the misapplied energies of the teachers. Perhaps no one better under- stood the duties and, therefore, the quali- fication of a teacher than Horace Mann. He says: 'One requisite is a knowledge of com- mon school studies. Teachers should have a perfect knowledge of the rudimental branches which are required by law to be taught in our schools. They should under- stand, not only the rules which have been prepared as guides to the unlearned, but also the principals on which the rules are founded, those principles which lie be- neath the rules, and supercede them in practice, and from which, should the ru'es be lost, they could be framed anew. Teachers should be able to teach subjects, not manuals merely. The knowledge should not only be thorough and critical, but it should be always ready at command for every emergency, familiar like the alphabet, so that as occasion requires, it will rise up in the mind instantaneously and not need to be studied out with labor and delay * * * The next principal qualification is the art of teaching. This is happily expressed in the common phrase, aptness to teach. The ability to acquire and the ability to impart are wholly different talents. The former may exist in the most liberal measure without the latter.' "The necessity for such trained talent in the school room has involved the Normal School, and, for the benefit of those teachers who cannot take a Normal course, the Teachers'" Institute. Probably there are many teachers who receive their first and only true ideas of teaching through them. There is nothing of arrogance in the assertion. Until the teachers' profes- sion shall have taken its proper position in public opinion and none be allowed to enter it without special training, numbers will for a few months in the year assume the place of teacher to the child. They cannot be expected to understand the art of instructing others. To help this class of teachers and prepare them for their duties is the object of the Teachers' In- stitute. There the methods that have been wrought out by educators who have made it their life's study, are explained and illustrated. Surely nothing but a censurable indifference on the part of the teacher to his duties toward the pupil, or the equally censurable willingness to re- »1V 304 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ceive compensation from the public treas- ury without having rendered an equiva- lent, could permit one to neglect the means for improvement so offered them." SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. When the county of Kossuth was or- ganized, the office of school superintend- ent was not yet created, and the only officer in the educational department of the county was the school fund commis- sioner, and he only had charge of the school fund, only so far as it is in the hands of the board of supervisors at pres- ent. He could loan the surplus funds to private parties upon first-class securities. So far as educational matters were con- cerned, he had little or no authority. The directors hiring the teachers, made the necessary examination into their requisite qualifications for the position, and public examinations were totally unknown. The first party to hold the position of school fund commissioner, in Kossuth county, was George W. Hand, who was elected to fill the position, in April, 1857. Mr. Hand did not hold it very long, as his time of office expired with that year. Some years since, he left the county, going to the State of Kansas, where he is believed to be at present. W. B. Moore was his successor, but only held it for a short time, as this office ex- pired in the latter part of the year 1858. Mr. Moore has been dead some time, and nothing can be gathered in regard to him, of an interesting nature. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. This office was created during the year 1858, and the duties of the office were the same as at present, but the official put in much less time, and in several instances the semi-annual appropriation of the county court and, subsequently, of the board of supervisors, for the salary of county superintendent, reached the mu- nificent sum of $20 for six months ser- vices. The first to occupy this respon- sible position was the Rev. Chauncey Taylor; who was elected in April, 1*58, and served one year. Mr. Taylor was a member of the Congregational Church, and was one of the first to con- duct Divine service in the county. He died on the 29th of February, 1876, at Algona,and the following obituary of him, written by the hand of one who knew and loved him, gives a better sketch of him than can be penned by the hand of a stranger, no matter how much he may ad- mire the man and the record of his work. The item in question goes on to relate the fact of his death, and then says: "Sorrow at his departure is not alone confined to those who knew him well, and knowing, learned to love and admire his many virtues, his unflagging zeal in pros- ecuting his life work of doing good, his broad charity towards his fellow-men, for all recognized in him the true, honest Christian minister, and as such mourn his loss. Father Taylor had filled the allotted three score years and ten, and had filled them with blessings for others, and eter- nal blessings for himself. He commenced his ministerial labors in Iowa in 1856, though for twenty years previous he had possessed the design of one day coming to our western prairies, and here found- ing a Church and lending his efforts to es- tablishing an institution of learning. "In 1856 he was appointed an agent of the Home Missionary Society, and leav- & 4^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 305 ing his family in New York, came hither to the scene of his future labors, crossing the Mississippi on foot, stopping at Des Moines a short time, and then taking up his route to this then almost solitary re- gion. He at once went to work to advance the moral and mental well-being of his fellows, and mainly through his exertions, was erected a town hall, during the first years of his stay, and which, enlarged, is now the Congregational church. For six- teen years he was the presiding genius, the spirit of the Congregational Society, and in great measure the parent of most of the religious interests in the county. During the time of his ministry here he assisted in consigning to their last resting place eighty-eight of his parishioners, among them, the old and young, withered and fair, and poured the balm of relig- ious consolation into the aching hearts of the mourning friends. During that time also, lie solemnized sixty-three marriages and lived to christen the pledges of many of those happy unions and to give them their early instruction of reverence and love for the Great Parent of all. "He also established the first reading club, devoted to the intellectual improve- ment of its members and of the citizens of the county generally. The first sing- ing class in the county was inaugurated by him, and for many years he was the sole musical instructor. For the greater portion of his twenty years ministry among us he filled appointments at various places throughout the county, until his kindly features and gentle words were known to almost every inhabitant of the county. In 1858 he attended the State Congregational Association at Dubuque, and in reply to the astonishment of his admiring friends, that a man of his abilities should bury himself in the northwestern solitudes, in- sisted that Algona was in the centre of the world, that the difficulty was, the world was one sided. "He was one of the three ministers who organized the Northwestern Congrega- tional Society, then including but three Churches, and now representing no less than twenty-three Churches, with a mem- bership of 932. When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he sent, with tears of sorrow but the glow of patriotism, his youngest son to do battle for his country, soon to mourn him a victim offered upon the alter of his country. A few years later and he was called upon to grieve the loss of his only remaining son, his sorrow doubled from the fact that they each died surrounded by strangers, and far from the loving embrace of parents and kindred. "The formal organization of the Church here was made in August, 1 858, and for over fifteen years he filled the position of pastor, gaining the love, not only of his parishioners but of the whole community, by his eminent piety, and broad charity and tolerance, and to-day young and old throughout the county, mourn with sin- cerest sorrow the departure of Father TayloT." What more could be added, when it is well known that the above is the verdict of every one in the county. Admiration for his many virtues, and for his truly Christian life shall never cease while any who knew him shall exist upon earth. In 1859 J. R. Armstrong was elected to fill tli i s office and served for two years in ^ Jk 306 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. L— . that capacity. He is still one of the prom- inent residents of the county. The Reverend Ohauncey Taylor was again chosen superintendent of schools of the county at the general election in 1861, and served a term of two years from the 1st of January, 1862, when he again retired to the shades of private life and his ministerial duties. M. D. Blanchard was the immediate successor of Mr. Taylor, entering upon the duties of the office with the first of the year, 1864, and fulfilling its functions for the space of two years. Mr. Blanch- ard, at a later date, filled the office of county treasurer, under which head the reader may find a more extended sketch of the gentleman. His term of office ex- pired the last of December, 1865. The Reverend Chauncey Taylor was again called to superintend the school system of Kossuth county, entering the office the 1st of January, 1866, and again serving, as such, for a term of two years. John Reed, the present recorder of the county, was elected county super- intendent of common schools, in 1867, and entering upon the function of the office with the year 1868 served until September, 1869, when he resigned. Mr. Reed is noticed in fuller detail under the head of recorder, in the chapter de- voted to the representation of the Nation, State and county. On the resignation of Mr. Reed the board appointed A. W. Osborne to this office, and at the election of that year, 1869, he was elected to be his own suc- cessor, and held the office until October, 1870, when he too, resigned the office. Mr. Osborne shortly afterward left this county, emigrating to Spirit Lake, Dickin- son county, where he has since been prom- inently identified with the official man- agement of county matters, having been county treasurer of that county for seven or eight years. He has always been spoken of as a man of excellent business habits and quite methodical in all the affairs of life. On the acceptance of the resignation of Mr. Osborne, the board appointed M. Helen Wooster to fill the vacancy, and at the general election of 1871, the people of the county endorsed the selection by electing the lady to the office by a hand- some majority. Miss .Wooster, the only lady official the county has ever elected to fill an office, was a native of Massa- chusetts and came west for the purpose of engaging in educational pursuits, es- pecially in the higher branches. Her peculiar ability fitted her well for the arduous duties of superintendent and un- der her able management the schools of the county took a great step forward in the march of progress. Miss Wooster is now in California, where she went several years ago. A. A. Bronson was elected county su- perintendent of schools in 1873. Was re- elected in 1875 and 1877, and held the office for six years. Having fulfilled the duties devolving upon him in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to the people of the county, he retired from official position covered with laurels. lie is still one of Kossuth county's influential citizens. A. A. Crose, another of the present resi- dents of the county was chosen by his *J of primary normal schools. These would be preparatory and tributary to the central normal school, the grade of the latter answering to the higher department of our graded school system, and prepar- ing teachers more expressly for these; whereas the organization and course of studies in the former would prepare teach- ers for the mixed schools of our rural districts and the lower department of our graded school system. The article is too long to quote entire, but the above extract has been given sim- ply to show the purposes for which the normal institute was created. The act of Legislature which instituted them was passed in the fall of 1873, and in the spring of 1874 the first of them was held at Algona, in Kossuth county. This com- menced the 30th day of March, and lasted for several days. The following is a re- port of this meeting, taken from the newspapers of the county published at the time: HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 31) At 9 a. m. Prof. Eldridge and about forty teachers met at the high school de- partment in Algona. The Professor, af- ter exchanging salutations with some of his numerous friends, ascended the plat- form and called the school to order, then read an appropriate lesson from the Bible and opened the session by prayer. lie than addressed a few words of greeting to the school, and stated that the princi- pal business of the day would consist in organization and classification. While the teachers were handing in their names and postoffice address, Superintendent Branson put in an appearance and intro- duced to the school Prof. P. Ritner, of Columbus, Louisa county, stating that he would assist Prof. Eldridge in instructing the school, and that he "trusted we should get our money's worth from both gentle- men." Prof. Eldridge then stated that the or- der of exercises in the afternoon would be a classification of the sciences and ex- ercises in grammar, physiology and arith- metic. In the afternoon the number in attend- ance was increased to forty-eight. * * The programme as announced in the morning was carried out, and at 4 p. m. the session closed. The indications are all favorable for a large, profitable and in- teresting school. Tuesday, March 31. The number of pupils arrived since yesterday is twelve, making sixty now present, and more are expected. Among the arrivals from other counties I notice John Bennett and Mr. Prouty, from Ern- metsburg; Miss O'Brien, from Hancock, and Mr. Hudson, from Minnesota. The school is classified in three divisions, and as our superintendent conducts some of the classes, there are three teachers. The school is already an assured success, and I hear the highest terms of gratification expressed by those in attendance. One teacher said, and the language found a cordial response from all, "This is just the opportunity I have long wished for." Since this time an institute has been held each year, with increasing interest and success, demonstrating beyond a doubt the usefulness of the system. Each year they have grown in attendance, and the effect is plainly visible in the in- creased efficiency of the teachers of the county. TEACIIERS' ASSOCIATION. This association was organized in the latter days of the year 1875. In a report of the first meeting of the society held on Thursday and Friday evenings, December 30 and 31, it is said that there was no dif- ficulty in carrying out the programme which was arranged several weeks previ- ous to the meeting. Several questions of great interest to both teacher and parents, were brought before the association for discussion. The discussion of each ques- tion was opened by some one, previously appointed, after which each one present was invited to present his views on the subject. The following are the questions: "Should corporal punishment be re- sorted to in governing a school?" — dis- cussion opened by Prof. Btishnell. "Should vocal music be taught in our public schools?" — Emma Heckart. "Should we have compulsory educa- tion?" — John Reed. ' ~ ' V J&* 312 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. £ "What can be done to secure more per- manent employment, better pay and longer engagements for teachers?"— Super- intendent Brunson. "Should we give rewards and prizes for excellence in scholarship and deport- ment?" — Eunice Knapp. "How can we secure the co-operation of the parents?"— B. P. Reed, Esq. "When and in what order shall the brandies taught in our common schools be taken up?" — Prof. Saunders. Great interest was manifested in' the discussion of each of these questions, but more especially in those of "corporal punishment" and "compulsory education." Thursday evening President Barclay delivered a very entertaining and instruc- tive lecture on "The art of securing atten- tion," which was listened to with attention and marked appreciation. Mrs. Coltou read an excellent essay entitled "Gather up the fragments." The audience was favored with several pieces of good music rendered by some of the best musical tal- ent of the city. The music was under the direction of Prof. Saunders, assisted by P. M. Taylor and wife, Cora Setchel, Mrs. J. R. Jones, Mrs. Buff um and Leroy Setchel, with Minnie Billington at the organ. On Friday evening the exercises consisted of music, a discussion, a question-box, a socia- ble and several toasts. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: A. A. Brunson, presi- dent; Emma Ueckart, secretary; Prof. Saunders, treasurer; John Reed, President Barclay and Francis Moore executive com- mittee. This meeting was held at the college chapel, and was largely attended by teachers and others interested in educa- tional progress. CHAPTER XI. THE WAR FOR THE UNION. The institution of slavery was always a source of trouble between the free and slave-holding States. The latter were al- ways troubled with the thought that the former would encroach on their rights, and nothing could be done to shake this belief. Compromise measures were adopted from time to time to settle the vexed ques- tion of slavery, but the fears of the slave- holders were only allayed for a short time. Threats of secession were o ten made by the slave-holding States, but as some measures of a conciliatory charac- ter were passed, no attempts were made to carry their threats into execution. Fi- nally came the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the adoption of a meas- ure known as the Kansas-Nebraska bill. -o K *l]p -*- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 313 This bill opened certain territory to sla- very, which, under the former act, was forever to be free. About the time of the passage of this act, the whig party was in a state of dissolution, and the great body of that party, together with certain democrats who were opposed to the Kan- sas-Nebraska bill, united, thus forming a new party, to which was given the name of republican, having for its object the prevention of the further extension of slavery. The people of the South imag- ined they saw in this new party, not only an organized effort to prevent the exten- sion of slavery, but one that would event- ually be used to destroy slavery in those States in which it already existed. In 1800 four Presidential tickets were in the field. Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the republicans, Stephen A Douglas of the national democrats, John C. Brecken ridge of the pro-slavery inter- ests, and John Bell of the Union. Tin Union party was composed principally o,' those who had previously affiliated with the American or know-nothing party. Early in the campaign there were threats of secession and disunion in case of the election of Abraham Lincoln, but the people were so accustomed to Southern bravado that little heed was given to the bluster. On the 20th of December, 1860, South Carolina, by a convention of delegates, declared, "That the Union now existing between South Carolina and the other States of North America is dissolved, and that the State of South Carolina has re- sumed her position among the Nations of the earth, as a free, sovereign and inde- pendent State, with full power to levy war and conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent States may of right, do." On the 2Kb, Gov. Pickens issued a proc- lamation declaring that "South Carolina is, and has a right to be a free and inde- pendent State, and as such has a right to levy war, conclude peace, and do all acts whatever that rightfully appertain to a free and independent State." On the 26th, Major Anderson evacuated Fort Moultrie and occupied Fort Sumter. Two days previously he wrote President Buchanan's Secretary of War, John B. Floyd, as follows: "When I inform you that my garrison consists of only sixty effective men, and that we are in very indifferent works, the walls of which are only foutreen feet high; and that we have, within 100 yards of our walls, sand hills which command our works, and which afford admirable sites for batteries and the finest coverts for sharp-shooters; and that besides this there are numerous houses, some of them within pistol shot, and you will at once see that, it' attacked in force, headed by any one but a simpleton, there is scarcely a posi-i- bility of our being able to bold out long enough for our friends to come to our sue. cor." His appeal for re-inforcements were seconded by Geu. Scott, but unheeded by President Buchanan, and entirely ignored by John B. Floyd, Secretary of War. On the 28th, South Carolina troops oc- cupied Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinck- ney, and hoisted the palmetto flag on the ramparts. On the 29th John B. Floyd re- signed his place in Buchanan's cabinet, > V « V- 314 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. charging that the President, in refusing to remove Major Anderson from Charles- ton Harbor, designed to plunge the coun- try into civil war, and added: "I cannot consent to be the agent of such a calam- ity." On the same day the South Caro- lina commissioners presented their official credentials at Washington, which, on the next day, were declined. On the second day of January, 1861, Georgia declared for secession, and Geor- gia troops took possession of the United States arsenal in Augusta, and Forts Pu- laski and Jackson. Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, seized the forts at Beaufort and Wilmington and the arsenal at Fayetteville. On the even- ing of the 4th, the Alabama and Missis- sippi delegations in Congress telegraphed the conventions of their respective States to secede, telling them there was no pros- pect of a satisfactory adjustment. On the 7th, the conventions of Alabama, Missis- sippi and Tennessee met in secret con- clave. On the 9th, Secretary Thompson resigned his seat in the Cabinet on the ground that, contrary to promises, troops had been sent to Major Anderson. On the 9th, the Star of the West, carrying supplies and re-inforcements to Major Anderson, was fired into from Morris Island, and turned homeward, leaving Fort Sumter and its gallant little band, to the mercy of the rebels. On the same day, the ordinance of secession passed the Mississippi Convention. Florida adopted an ordinance of secession on the 10th, and Alabama on the 11th. The same day (the llth) Thomas, Secretary of the Treasury, resigned, and the rebels seized the arsenal at Baton Rouge, and Forts Jackson and St. Philip, at the mouth of the Mississippi river, and Fort Pike at the entrance of Lake Pontchartrain. Pensacola navy yard and Fort Barrancas were surrendered to rebel troops by Col. Armstrong on the 13th. Lieut. Slemmer, who had withdrawn his com- mand from Fort McRae to Fort Pick- ens, defied Armstrong's orders, and an- nounced his intention to "hold the fort" at all hazards. The Georgia Convention adopted an ordinance of secession on the 19th. On the 20th, Lieut. Slemmer was besieged by a thousand "allied troops" at Fort Pickens. Louisiana adopted an ordinance of secession on the 25th. On the 1st of February the rebels seized the United States Mint and custom house at New Orleans. The Peace Convention as- sembled at Washington on the 4th, but adjourned without doing anything to (piiet the disturbed elements. On the 9th, a provisional constitution was adopted at Montgomery, Ala., it being the Con- stitution of the United States "re-con- structed" to suit their purpose. Jeffer- son Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen President, and Alexander II. Stevens, of Georgia, Vice-President of the "Confed- erate States of North America " Jeff. Davis was inaugurated on the 18th, and on the 25th it was learned that General Twiggs, commanding the Department of Texas, had basely betrayed his trust, and that he had surrendered all the military posts, munitions and arms to the authorities of Texas. Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated March 4, 1861, in front of the capitol, the inaugu- ration ceremonies being witnessed by a vast concourse of people. Before taking M> 4 I- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 315 the oatb, Mr. Lincoln pronounced in a clear, ringing voice, his inaugural address, to hear which, there was an almost pain- ful solicitude, to read which the whole American people and the civilized world awaited with irrepressible anxiety. With that address, and the administration of the oath of office, the people were assured. All doubt, if any had previously existed, was removed. In the hands of Abraham Lincoln, the people's President, and him- self of the people the government was safe. Traitors were still busy, plotting and planning. Troops were mustering in all the seceded States. On Friday, April 12, the surrender of Fort Sumter, with its garrison of sixty effective men, was de- manded and bravely refused by the gal- lant Major Anderson. Fire was at once opened on the helpless garrison by the rebel forces, numbered by thousands. Re- sistance was useless, and at last the Na- tional colors wers hauled down, and by traitor hands were trailed in the dust. Ou Sunday morning, the 14th, the news of the surrender was received in all the principal cities of the Union. That was all, but that was enough. A day later, when the news was confirmed and spread through the country, the patriotic people of the North were startled from their dreams of the future — from undertakings half completed — and made to realize that behind that mob there was a dark, deep, and well organized purpose to destroy the government, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins erect a slave oligarchy, wherein no one would dare question their right to hold in bondage the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black. Their dreams of the future — their plans for the establishment of an independent confederacy — were doomed from their in- ception to sad and bitter disappointment. Everywhere north of Mason and Dixon's line, the voice of Providence was heard: ' 'Draw forth your million blades as one; Complete the battle now begun; God fights with ye, and overhead Floats the dear banner of your dead. They, and the glories of the past. The future, dawning- dim and vast, And all the holiest hopes of man, Are beaming- triumphant in your van." ' 'Slow to resolve, be swift to do ! Teach ye the False, how lights the True! How buckled Perfidy shall feel. In her black heart the Patriot's steel, How sure the bolt that Justice wings; How weak the arm a traitor brings; How mighty they who steadfast stand, For Freedom's dag and Freedom's land." President Lincoln, on the 15th of April, issued the following proclamation : ' 'Whereas, The laws of the United States have for some time past, and are now, opposed, and the exe- cution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Car- olina, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be sup- pressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceed- ings, or by the powers vested in the marshals; now therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought to call forth, and hereby do call lorth, the militia of the several States of the Union, to the number of "5,000, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. The details for this subject will be immediately communicated to the State authorities through the War Department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and to aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long endured . I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to re- possess the forts, places and property which have been seized 'from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the object aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any de- struction of, or interference with property, or any dis- turbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country; and I hereby command the persons com- +4?=z ■k 316 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY posing the combinations aforesaid, to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days from this date. Deeming that the present condition of public af- fairs presents, an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitu- tion, convene both Houses of Congress. The Sena- tors and Representatives are therefore summoned to assemble at their respective chambers at 12 o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as in their wisdom the public safety and interest may seem to demand. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, on the fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independ- ence of the United States the eighty-fifth. By the President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. William H. Seward, Secretary of State." The last word of this proclamation had scarcely been taken from the electric wire before the call was filled. Men and money were counted out by hundreds and thou- sands. The people who loved their whole country, could not give enough. Patriot- ism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the work- shop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school house — every calling offered its best men, their lives and fortunes, in defense of the Government's honor and unity. Party lines were for a time ignored. Bitter words, spoken in moments of political heat, were forgotten and forgiven, and, joining hands in a com- mon cause, they repeated the oath of America's soldier statesman: "By the Great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved!" Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the Rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on, and call followed call, until it seemed as if there were not men enough in all the free States to crush out the Re- bellion. But to every call for either men or money, there was a willing and ready response. The gauntlet thrown down by the traitors of the South was accepted; not, however, in the spirit which insolence meets insolence, but with a firm, deter- mined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The duty of the President was plain under the constitution and laws, and, above and beyond all, the people, from whom all political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the Rebel- lion, and stood ready to sustain the author- ity of their representative and executive officers, to the utmost extremity. While all the country was springing to arms, Kossuth county, which was in- tensely loyal, did not stand back, but men flocked to the standard of the republic from all parts of the county. Of course but few men represented this precinct in the front of lurid battle, for in I860 the whole population of the county only num- bered 410, but her qnota was ever kept full. In this connection is given first the actions of the various boards of county supervisors, in relation to the war and its prosecution, in regard to bounties and support of the families of the "brave boys in blue" who represented this people in the service of the United States. At a special session of the board of supervisors held in April, 1862, the follow- ing preamble and resolution was passed: Whereas — The governor has asked for 5,000 volunteers, as a part of the quota of this State, under the late call of the President for 300,000 men, and \vr HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 317 Whebeas — Thie whole compensation of- fered, by our governor, is less than labor is now worth in this county, therefore, Resolved, That to enable patriotic citi- zens to enlist without great pecuniary loss, the county of Kossuth will pay to each volunteer from this county, in addition to the pay and bounty offered by the State and general government, the sum of $10 bounty at the time of enlistment, and the further sum of $5 per month during the time such volunteer shall be in the service of the country, under such enlistment, which sum shall be paid monthly to such person as said volunteer may designate. In case of the death of such volunteer, said sum shall be so paid to his widow or minor children until the expiration of his term of enlistment, and the clerk is hereby ordered to issue to any bona fide resident of Kossuth county, who may so volunteer, warrants on the county fund of the amount; and at the times above des- ignated." This resolution was shortly afterwards revoked and a substitute for it passed by which the bounty was made $25, instead of $10, and the monthly compensation increased to $10. Jan. 5, 1863, the board also passed the following resolution : Whereas — Kossuth county has furnished more than her full quota of volunteers un- der the different calls of the President of the United States, therefore, Resolved, That the resolution of the board of supervisors which was passed in July, 1862, in regard to bounties to vol- unteers, be so amended. That no person who is mustered into the United States service after the date of the passage of this resolution shall be entitled to said bounty or monthly pay, or any part thereof. But as the war progressed and call suc- ceeded call, and men grew scarcer, or were loth to leave their homes and loved ones to mingle in the fatal fray, it became necessary for the board to take some steps to induce enlistments. On the 28th of December, 1803, therefore, they passed a series of resolutions, of which the fol- lowing is an abstract : The preamble goes on to recite the circumstances, and the resolution, says, that, "to induce per- sons to enlist to fill the quota of this county, under the recent call for 300,- 000 men, the county of Kossuth will pay a bounty of $500, and authorize the clerk to issue the necessary warrants, with the proviso that this was only to be paid to those who enlisted before the date of the proposed draft on the 5th of January, 1864. This provision was inserted that the men receiving the bounty would en- list in ample time, to be credited to the county, and avert the impending draft. To meet these war debts, the board, at the same time, ordered the levy of a special tax to make a separate fund for the re- demption of the warrants issued to tlLe volunteers. The first warrant issued to a volunteer under this resolution was for $500, drawn in favor of Henry M. Johns- ton, and bore the number twenty-three, and dateof Jan. 12, 1864. Nearly one year later, in August, 1864, it became again necessary to furnish more volunteers as food for powder. At an extra session of the board a resolu- tion was passed whereby it was, Resolved, "That the clerk of the board of supervisors ,t. 318 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. bo instructed to issue Kossuth county bonds to the amount of $1,000, payable ten years from date, with ten per cent, interest, pay- able annually, to each volunteer who shall enlist to fill the present quota of Kossuth county, on their presenting the proper evidence that they have enlisted and been accepted." This was afterward amended so that the volunteers could by election have either warrants or bonds. Under the call of the President for 300,000 more men, dated December, 1864, the board of supervisors resolved, that each member thereof should act as agent in his own .township to procure men to fill the quota necessary from that town- ship, on the best terms that they could procure men for, not to exceed in amount $1,000 per man. These were, also, to re- ceive pay in the bonds of the county, as under the last call. This was passed at a session held Jan. 16, 1865. THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY. COMPANY A. John Reed. Abiather Hull. William Moore. C. E. Orcutt. Charles Gray. M. J. Sample. John Stockham. William Thayer. William T. Crockett. George W. Barnes. Johu Talbot. Rufus Sanderson. George Benschoter. W.T.Hecsley. Thomas Miller. O. B. Wilson. A full and complete history of this fa- mous regiment, their trials, marches and contests may be found in the history of Hancock county. It would be needless to reiterate it here, and the reader is referred to the chapter on this subject in its proper place in the annals of that county. SECOND CAVALRY REGIMENT. COMPANY F. Henry M. Patterson. Charles Moll William B. Carey. John K. Fill. Horace Schenck. Simon Helpmen. J Calvin Heckart. Elias Kellogg. Levi Carey. John Ehingher. Edward P. Crockett. Thomas J. Clarke. John Henderson. A M. Johnson. Charles Kellogg. James Taylor. John ReibhoJf. David Holcombe. Nothing is more difficult to do than to write the history of a cavalry regiment. Separated in companies, on detailed ser- vice, scouting in knots and squads, sel- dom, if ever, preserving its regimental formation. A sketch of it as a unit would be an almost impossible task. Thesecond was organized with W. L. Elliott, of the regular army, as colonel, and was mus- tered into the active service of the United States at Davenport, the 1st of Septem- ber, 1861. Besides its endless duties as scouting parties, videttes and train-guards, it participated in the siege of Corinth, battles of Booneville, Rienzi, Iuka, Cor- inth, Coffeeville, Palo Alto, Birmingham, Jackson, Grenada, Colliersville, Moscow, Pontotoc, Tupelo, Oldtown, Oxford and Nashville. After a severe and dangerous campaigning of over four years, it was mustered out at Selma, Ala., Sept. 19, 1865, and officers and men returned to their homes. NORTHERN BORDER BRIGADE. COMPANY A. Captain, William H. Ingham. 1st Lieutenant, Edward E McKnight. 2d Lieutenant, Jesse Coverdale. Privates and non-commissioned officers. II. C. Watson. J. R. Armstrong. Addison Fisher. August Zahlten. Christian Haekniau. William Crook. "^k- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 325 of desperation to which we were wrought up but a moment before, or whether our first sensations combined more of the horrid than the ridiculous. The fact is we were too frightened to laugh, and alto- gether too much relieved to be angry. But a moment was lost in contempla- tion of our situation. I gave the signal to move forward, and started. I heard my companions following, and safely passing the fire that had first alarmed us, soon regained the road. I may as well say right here that we never found out what that fire did mean, or for what purpose it was kindled. We only know that, be the purpose for which it was built what it may, it resulted dis- astrously for our little party, as the sequel will show. Upon reaching the road it was dis- covered that two of the party were miss- ing. Vliet and Gongh were absent. What could it mean? Had they been intercepted and taken prisoners? Could it be that they had. voluntarily cast loose from us, and taking this course to do it? There was one circumstance that squinted that way. Early in the evening Vliet had both compass and map. Just after we discovered that fire, he had re- turned them to me, witli the remark that, should we get separated, he could get along better without the compass than I could; but, in justice to my companions and to myself, let me say that that thought found no lasting resting place in our minds. We knew both Vliet and Gough too well to believe that they would pur- sue such a course, if they had for any reason concluded to divide the party, they would have told us of their plan, man- fully, and not have deserted us. It was decided at once to institute a search. We dared not halloo, nor make, any unusual noise to attract their atten- tion. It must be a still hunt. So, leaving one to watch the road, the other two took the back track, and retraced our steps to where we had discovered the swine. We searched bushes and thickets thoroughly, but without being able to discover them. After spending at least two hours of precious time, we were compelled to abandon the pursuit as hopeless, and re- turned to our companion in the road. He had watched closely, but had failed to discover anything, and we were com- pelled to feel the thought that our party was broken in two, that we were sepa- rated. Shall we ever meet again? If we do, will it be under the stars and stripes, or within the walls of a prison pen? With saddened hearts our party of three, Spencer, Hatcher and myself, again started on our lonely journey, doubly lonely now. Ruminations upon our un- fortuuate separation so occupied our minds that we became less watchful of our own immediate surroundings than had been our custom, or as safety required. The result of this state of mind might- have proved disastrously had we not been rudely aroused from our useless re- grets by the sudden need to exercise all our faculties for our protection. An abrupt angle in the road had con- cealed from us the approach of a man, until suddenly, without warning, we were standing before him face to face. He halted immediately. So did we. There was no time for concert of action, and *?i; -i>\\ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 32^ We had as yet selected no particular point in Sherman's lines as our goal, as we were, in fact, at a loss to know what place to select. When we lastheard from our forces, Sherman had taken Atlanta, Hood had succeeded Johnston in command of the rebel army, and had commenced Ills celebrated movement to flank Sherman out of Atlanta, in fact out of Georgia; and we were left to conjecture to what the effect of the movement would be. Atlanta was the nearest point, but we were not by any means sure that Sherman still occupied that place. We finally concluded to make for the nearest practicable point on the line held by Sherman between Atlanta and Chatta- nooga, and our approach to what was Sherman's 'ines on the 2d of October to gather such information as we could from the negroes, and be governed accordingly. We had thus far been moving in a northwesterly course, and were, as nearly as we could calculate, about twenty or twenty-five miles southwest from Colum- bia. We now concluded to make our course a little north of west, so as to head off some of the streams running into the Sa- luda river, until we should strike the Sa- vannah river: On the approach of darkness we again started on our third night's march. Nothing unusual occurred until about two o'clock in the morning. We had traveled on a turnpike road, part of the time through a cultivated country, and part of the time through a forest of stunted pine, the second growth of timber upon abandoned plantations. We had just passed a large plantation when we suddenly came upon a pedestrian, wend- ing his way in a direction opposite to our own. We were too close before seeing to avoid him and boldly approached him. To our great joy he proved to be a negro. By this time we were both hungry and faint. The last crumbs of our rations had been eaten hours before. When and how we were to procure more, was a problem difficult of solution. We had tried several corn fields, but had been unable to find anything but perfectly hard corn. We had gathered some of this, and had de- termined to boil it and do the best we could. Naturally, then, when we discov- ered our new aecpiaintancc to be a negro, our first thought was to ascertain if there was any prospect of supplying our larder with something more palatable than hard corn, always providing he should upon further acquaintance, prove our friend. Notwithstanding our desperate situation as to the matter of food, and the fact that we had deliberately determined to trust the first negro we should meet, our inter- course to a looker on, would have been strangely cautious on both sides. Our conversation, as nearly as my recol- lection serves me, was substantially as follows : Yankee-"Well, boy, where are you trav- eling so late at night?" Negro — " Been ober to see my wife, massa." Yankee — "Where does your wife live?" Negro — "Down about a mile from nine- ty-six." Yankee — "Ninety-six. Let's see ; that's on the railroad, isn't it?" Negro — "Yes ; reckon it is." 1* « 328 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Yankee — "Whose boy are you?" Negro — "Massa Gen. Haygood's." Yankee — "That's his plantation about a mile down this road, is it not?" Negro— "Yes ; dat's massa's plantation whar de big house is." Yankee — "Well, boy, what do you think of the war now going on ? Your master is in the army, I suppose ?" Negro — "Yas, massa, in de army. I (Immo jes wot I does tink bout it." Yankee — "Well, you know that the Yan kees are trying to make you blacks all free, don't you?" Negro — "Wall, I bab heard dat dey war." Yankee — -"Do you want to be free, or had you rather be as you now are, a slave?" Negro — "Well, massa, I don't 'zactly know. 'Spect every man likes to own bis- self." Yankee — " Well, now, supposing you found a man on his road toward liberty, that had been a slave or a prisoner, would you help him, or would you betray him?" Negro — "Who is you, massa? What- for you asksiuh queer questions?'' Yankee — " Suppose we tell you — sup- pose we put our lives in your hand, will you betray us ?" Negro — "No, I reckon not ; but who is you?" Yaukee — "We are Yankee officers, and have been in prison. We are now trying to get through to our lines, and want you to help us." Negro — "'Fore God, massa, is dat so?" Yankee — "Yes, that is so. We have started for the Yankee lines in Georgia. Now you won't betray us, will you, when you know we are trying to help you and your people, and to give them their lib- erty ?" Negro — "'Fore God, massa, if you is what you say you is, I will do every ting for you. Tell me, massa; wot ken I do?" Yankee — " The first thing is something to eat, and next, we want to know whether you have heard that any Yankees escaped from the train, when we were being taken from Charleston to Columbia." Negro— "Yas sir, I hab heard all 'bout dat, and dey has been huntin' de country all ober for you, and (taking a tin-pan from his head) my wife hab made some biled bacon and greens for me to take home wid me, and you's welcome to dat, if you want it." We stood upon no ceremonies, but seat- ing ourselves upon the ground, we greedily devoured the poor negro's boiled bacon and greens, with a relish that an epicure might envy. It was astonishing the ra- pidity with which we stowed away six quarts of greens and bacon, and yet truth to tell, the supply was not equal to the demand, and if there had been another panful, I venture to say it would have fol. lowed the same downward road traveled by its predecessor, without any extra effort on our part. So having swallowed the man's dinner, and obtaining from him all the information that it was in his power to impart, with thankful hearts, and with courage and physical vigor renewed, we again started on our way. But the night was not to pass away with- out our experiencing a reverse almost commensurate with our former ffood fortune. Hatcher, as the reader will remember, was when we left the cars, almost destitute of boots. The old . — _. ■ — ;rv" £=£ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 329 I pair he started with had become almost useless ; the soles were nearly or quite gone. Still they were vastly better than iione, when traveling through brush, but when in the smooth road he could do bet- ter barefoot, and when we met the negro, he was carrying his boots in his hand. Strange to say, when we again started on our journey, he left them lying beside the road where we had eaten our nocturnal dinner, and had failed to discover his loss until many miles stretched their weary length between us and the forgotten prop- erty. It was so near daylight when the loss was discovered, that we did not dare to retrace our steps for fear of being dis- covered. Poor Hatcher was discouraged. To attempt to travel across two States barefooted, looked like an impossibility. If we only had Vliet's long boot legs, the problem would not be so difficult of solu- tion. The hard disagreeable fact stared us iii the face Hatcher must be supplied with something to cover his feet. To attempt to obtain it from the negroes, we knew it to be a hopeless task. A pair of shoes was, to the best, treated of them, something to be hoped for, prayed for and and when obtained, preserved with the greatest care. Even the whites were driven to extremities for clothing of every description, and shoes were more espe- cially hard to obtain at any price. There was no hope of obtaining them in that way. What should we do? I say we, because we had started out with the agreement that we would, under any and all circum- stances, keep together. If one fell sick, the others were to remain with him, giv- ing him the best care we could until he was able to travel, or died ; but that we would, under no circumstances, give our- selves up, or voluntarily abandon the at- tempt ; so that the misfortune of one, was the misfortune of all. Something must be done. An inventory of stock was taken. I had a pair of badly worn shoes; Spencer had a boot and a shoe; we had a kettle made from the paint keg, and the new linen sack. Here were the materials from which a pair of shoes was to be constructed, and we ac- complished the feat. An inventory of tools, one needle and a jack knife. A close inspection of the sack showed that it was strong, new, and that the ravelings could easily be converted into stout thread. There was leather enough in Spencer's one boot leg to furnish the soles, and material enough in the sack to make the uppers. It was amusing to see the rapidity with which Hatcher's face short- ened up, as one difficulty after the other was overcome. It took the combined mechanical skill of the party to fashion and fit them; before night we had accom- plished the feat. Hatcher had by far the best shoes in the party ; and, if we had only been supplied with rations,we should have started out that night in better con- dition for a night's march than when we jumped from the train. But the fact was, we were hungry, and we found after an hour's march, that we were getting faint. Provisions must be had in some way; so leaving the road, we struck into a plantation in hopes of find- ing either corn or sweet potatoes. We were fortunate enough to secure some hard corn, and a quantity of a species of bean, the like of which I never saw at the ~f 330 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. north. They are called peas, by the natives, but there is nothing about them, either in growth or appearance, that re- sembles a pea, and they don't taste like a bean; but, be they what they may, they are nutritious, if not palatable. Build- ing a fire in a hollow, and then making a screen of our blankets and coats, to pre- vent the light from being seen, we pro- ceeded to cook our corn and beans. We soon discovered, however, that while it was an easy matter to cook the beans in this way, hard corn has a perverse dis- position to remain hard corn, however much you may boil it, and while our sup- per served a very useful purpose, it was nothing to boast of in point of palata- bleness. In fact it was what would be deemed by people generally, a very poor supper, and made our jaws ache in the effort to masticate it. We lost at least three hours in finding, cooking and eating our supper ; so that daylight found us only about eighteen or twenty miles from our shoe shop of the day before. We knew that the people had been notified of our escape, and that in all probability there were parties even then, searching for us.' We knew also that they had not as yet been able to get upon our trail. Every consideration of prudence would demand that we should remain con- cealed in the day-time, and we fully in- tended to do so, but as the long day slowly dragged to a close, we became im- patient and concluded to risk a start be- fore dark, traveling outside of any road, and thus make up for lost time. We were anxious also to find a negro, if pos- sible, and procure something to eat, more palatable than boiled corn. So taking our course by the sun, we left the road and plunged into the woods. After traveling perhaps four or five miles in this way, we were somewhat astonished' at hearing voices not far from us, and hastily concealed ourselves in a thicket. What was our astonishment to see two white men pass us not more than a rod from our place of concealment. After they had passed on, we discovered that we had been traveling nearly on a par- allel line with a well traveled road, and probably had not been out of sight of it for a mile back, judging from the direc- tion of the road as far back as we could see, and comparing the direction with the one we had been traveling. Here was a dilemma. Had they discovered us, and gone on, making no sign, with a view of getting arms and returning for us, or had we been fortunate enough to escape ob- servation ? It was evident that in case they had discovered us, our only safety lay in im- mediate flight. So taking an entirely new direction, we came to an open cul- tivated country. Beyond a field in our front we could see a wood; we determined to risk crossing the field, and then change our course again. Skulking behind thick- ets, we at length succeeded in reaching the friendly shelter of the woods once more, but not without being seen. At the corner of the field, near the woods, was a cross-roads, and near by, a church. We could see neither roads nor church until reaching the ferry, and then it was too late to return. The first inti- mation that we had of the existence of either, we were in full view of the church, situated to the left of our line of march, *jf ^r* 332 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. never! But little was said by either of us, but our thoughts were mirrored in our faces. About an hour after dark we heard foot-steps stealthily approaching our hid- ing place. Oh, how anxiously we listened! Was there more than one footstep? Yes, there are two of them — we can hear them talking together — what shall we do? Run now, while we have a chance, or wait and fight? If they are after us they will be armed of course. Now, they are coming again! We can hear them breathe! "Say, Joe, I tell ye dey was de patroles jest follerin' ye, boy; dey wan't no Yan- kees, deys jes tryin' to see wot you'd do if dey was Yankees, and dey'll gib you de debbil!" "I know better'n dat. Didn't I talk wid 'em, and didn't dey talk Yankee? 'Sides two of dem had on blue coats. Tell ye I know dey was Yankees, and I'se goin' to find 'em an' gib 'em somethin' to eat." Our fears were gone; our unjust sus- picion removed. We would have been ashamed to have had that faithful fellow know how unjustly we had dealt by him in our thoughts. We left our lair and joined them at once. A hearty clasp of the band, and fervent thanks from all of us in turn, soon convinced them that we were indeed Yankees. A generous loaf of corn-bread and some sweet potatoes, nicely baked in quantities to suit the demand, soon filled our empty stomachs — and it was wonderful how much brighter our prospects immediately became. Say what we may, there is a very close affinity between one's stomach and state of mind we call courage. Poorly fed and over-worked troops will not and cannot fight with the courage of fresh troops with well rilled stomachs. Our prospects, that a few moments be- fore locked so dark, were now rose colored. It was not altogether that we had satis- tied the cravings of hunger, and thereby invigorated our physical powers, that re- newed our courage to endure the hard- ships before us; we now had evidence of the fidelity of the negroes to us as the representatives of the great element of freedom, then in combat with slavery. It was evident to us that we could trust the negroes as a class — not because of any sympathy they had for us personally, but because they appreciated the vital neces- sity of their race in the struggle. The difficulties of the long and dangerous road before us seemed vastly lessened, and to a great extent shorn of their terrors. The majority of the inhabitants along our route were friends; ignorant, it is true; prisoners at large, so to speak, but nevertheless our friends, who would shield us so far as lay in their power; would feed and shelter us from our enemies; and to the best of their abili- ty, would aid us on our journey. These faithful fellows also told us how our first friend had managed to mislead the persons our unfortunate exposure at the church had put on our track. He managed to meet them on the road, with his load of brush, and upon their inquir- ing if he had seen any strangers pass along, replied that he had, and that they had crossed the field and gone off in a di- rection opposite to our place of conceal- .\s,r- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. :i:s:: raent. They, believing his statement, had followed the direction indicated by him. We were warned, however, that they would probably get the dogs and put them on our track, and as the reader can easily imagine, this did not serve to make us feel any the more secure. We determined to make our greatest efforts in the way of traveling that night; so, securing the rem- nant of our supper, and an old coverlet furnished by our friends, we again start- ed on. As ill luck would have it, early in the evening we were unfortunate enough to again incur the risk of capture, by rea- son of — as it seemed tons — extraordinary religious excitement among the inhabi- tants. We were traveling along the road, using, as we thought, all due care, when suddenly we came upon a private house, situated near the road, where there was another gathering for religious services. The door was open, and several gathered around it on the outside. We passed along the road, without attracting any particular notice, as we thought then, but taken in connection with our appearance at church the day before, it might serve to put the hounds on our track. We pushed on, however, with accelerated speed and beating hearts. We made a good night's march — traveling at least twenty-five miles, as near as we could judge. At daylight we again sought the cover of a thicket, and throwing ourselves upon the ground, were soon soundly sleeping. It would seem, that after our experience of the day before, we would have been sat- isfied to have remained quiet during that day; and so probably we would, had it not been that about noon we heard the bay- ing of hounds! Were they after us? We listened. They were certainly in the direction of our trail! What should we do? Remain and test the question as to whether the dogs were after us or other game, or should we again risk traveling by daylight? and if after us, give the dogs a long race, even if we should be captured in the end? We decided on the latter course; so, taking our direction from the compass, we started on through the forest —running where the ground would admit of it; and again plunging through the most inaccessible thickets, to delay horse- men if they should attempt to follow us. About four o'clock in the afternoon we came into an open, cultivated country. Here, great caution was necessary. We were beside a fence — on one side a corn, field, in front and on the other side, an open, uncultivated space. Skulking so as to keep our heads below the top of the fence, we started. We had nearly reached the end of the field, when on our right, in the corn-field, in a hollow that had concealed them from our sight, were about twenty negroes of both sexes, two white men and one white woman, engaged in husking corn. They saw us about the same time we did them. There was but one way to do; so straight- ening ourselves up, we walked by them, trying to look as unconcerned as possible. We passed the field, and on into the woods beyond; then, at the first opportu- nity, we halted, and one of our number skulked back to see what effect our sud- den appearance had upon the natives in the corn-field. It took but a moment to satisfy ourselves on that score. They had joints stiffened by cold and exposure to the rain; yet we hailed the friendly dark- ness that closed around us, shielding us from observation, with feelings of grati- tude to the Great Giver of all Good. We could endure hunger and fatigue vastly belter than we could our enforced inaction. At the earliest practicable moment, therefore, we were again on the road. Our greatest need, just then, was food. We were becoming weak, and we knew that unless we could get relief soon, our strength would entirely fail. We knew also that it would not do for us to attempt to visit the negro quarters to procure supplies — that the country was surrounded, and that we were un- doubtedly watched for. The negro quar- ters would, of course, be placed under surveilance. We therefore concluded to depend upon our own resources, or rather upon our ability to forage upon the resources of the enemy, to supply our pressing need. It was late, however, nearly, or quite 12 o'clock at night before we reached the plantations. Immediately on discerning one, reconnoisance was made and the location of the dwelling house and negro quarters ascertained. Avoiding the~e, we commenced a search for food. Sweet potatoes are usually abundant on the southern plantations at this season of the year, but we were not able to find any. We found plenty of corn, however, but hard as flint. We also found a quantity of black peas or beans,bef ore described; and this was all we could accomplish in the way of providing a supper. Skirting the plantation we finally reached again the highway be- yond it, and a consultation was had and all the pros and cons of the situation were discussed. After due deliberation it was decided that it would not be safe to build a fire — the light would betray us. We must do the best we could with the raw material. So dividing it between us, we munched the hard, dry corn as we walked. We were now near the Savannah river, about two miles south of Abbeville, in the parish of Abbeville, S. C. Since our adventure at the church, detailed m a former chapter, we had been obliged to devote all our energies to saving ourselves from a recapture, and had necessarily made many divergencies from our line of march, so that while we had traveled a long distance we had gained but little so far as reaching Sherman's lines was con- cerned. But now we again took up our regular line of march, as there was but one obstacle in our way that caused us much uneasiness. The Savannah river, a deep and rapid stream, was to be crossed, and but two of the party could swim — Spencer and myself. Hatcher must be got over the river in some way, but how? We had studied on this difficulty for sev- eral days, and had concluded that if we could do no better, to make a raft and float him across, provided we could find the materials with which to construct one. We did not dare to take a boat, because if we left it on the opposite shore from which we took it, the enemy would cer- tainly get on our track. If we turned it adrift after crossing, the missing boat would serve the same purpose, and after our success in getting rid of the hounds in one case, we were determined not to f HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 337 have them again on our track if we could avoid it. Slowly the long night passed away. I say slowly, for we were becoming wretch- edly tired and faint. Long exposure and excitement was beginning to tell upon us. It was only by the exercise of tmtfthatwe were enabled to move at all. Under or- dinary circumstances neither of us would have believed himself capable of marching an hour. Daylight at length admonished us that we must seek shelter again for an- other twelve hours. It so happened that on this morning daylight overtook us in an open, cultivated part of the country, and the best we could do was to crawl into a thicket in the midst of an open field, where we lay all day, dozing and munch- ing corn alternately. At length darkness again closed around us, and exhausted, footsore and almostdisheartened, we again started on our tedious journey. A road not very well traveled, evidently not a turnpike or public highway, running in the direction we desired to travel, be- ing discovered, we concluded to follow it. This road, unfortunately, as we then thought, led us to a plantation, and di- rectly through the negro quarters. It was early in the evening. The house was sit- uated but a short distance from the quar- ters. It seemed a fearful risk to run, to attempt to pass at so short a distance from the house, and through the quarters so early in the evening. If we had not been so nearly exhausted, we certainly should not have attempted it, but to make a de- tour would involve extra travel, through the forest and woods, and we were Justin that state of mind that rather than incur any extra travel and the bruises and "?; scratches to our already blistered feet and lacerated limbs, we would rather take the extra risk, so we boldly pushed on. It was Sunday evening. The cabins of the negroes were all, with one exception, closed, and no one stirring. In passing the last cabin I discovered, through the only open door of the row, an old negro apparently alone, sitting before the fire. I instantly determined to apply to him for help, and whispered to my comrades my thought. They hid in an angle of a fence while I boldly entered the cabin, closed the door and barred it. * * * * By this time our provisions were again exhausted. We were casting about in our minds as to where and how they were to be procured, when beside the road, not more than a dozen rods ahead of us, we saw a bright fire. We determined to re- connoiter the ground carefully, and if we found negroes in charge of it, to make ourselves known, and if possible to pro- cure provisions. So using the greatest care to preventbeing seen, we approached near enough to see that a negro, appar- ently alone, was engaged in boiling some- thing in a large iron kettle suspended over the fire. We at once advanced and engaged him in conversation. We told him who we were, and made known our wants. He called his wife, who immediately set about baking a corn pone for us. We found that he was stealing from his hours of rest, after his daily toil, to make for himself a little sorghum molasses — the material for which had been furnished by his master, upon condition that he should make it after working hours. The corn *K 4. 338 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. pone and molasses, which he liberally fur- nished to us, was taken from his meagre allowance, and no doubt at the expense of actual hunger to himself and his wife. Nothing hut the direst necessity would have induced us to accept food from him under such circumstances. As it was, we took just sufficient to allay the cravings of hunger, and were about to leave him, hut mistrusting that we refrained for fear of impoverishing him, he stopped us. "Eat all you want, ruassa's," he said, "de Lord will provide moe for dis chile. Dar is plenty of it; don't ye be afeard; 'taint as good as it might be, but de Lord bress ye, dar's plenty of it." The generous fellows importunities so far overcame our scru- ples that we accepted from him, in addi- tion to what we had already eaten, a good sized corn cake and about half a pint of sorghum molasses. With thankful hearts we bade our friends good-bye, and again started on. By daylight we had reached the Etowa river. This is a much smaller stream than the Chattahoochee, and quite shallow. It now being daylight, we again found a thicket, and throwing ourselves upon the ground, were soon soundly sleeping. At the approach of darkness, we plunged into the river and crossed it without dif- ficulty or danger; but, shortly after cross- ing the stream, the road we were travel- ing led us into a small village. I have been unable to find any record of it on any map — a place where three roads diverged. There was one building, evidently used as a store; there were two or three dwelling houses, and a blacksmith shop. The trouble was for us to select one of the three roads. Near the center of the vil- lage was a guide-post; upon it were nailed three guide-boards. The village appeared to be buried in slumber. One or two curs welcomed us with noisy barking; otherwise we were unable to discover any signs of life. It seemed dangerous for us to travel through a village, and yet it was most important that we should be able to select the correct road. We had determined to make Calhoun the point at which to strike Sherman's lines. After consultation, it was determined to risk an examination of the guide-board. So, boldly inarching up to it, I mounted Spencer's shoulders, and being elevated by him to the proper height, I struck a match and read the dif- ferent directions, from which we learned that one of the roads lead to Dalorgia, distant twenty miles, one to Cassville, forty miles, and the other to Jasper, ten miles. The road leading to Jasper was selected. This place, we learned from the map, was the county seat of Pickens county, only forty miles from Calhouu. We deter- mined to make one-half the distance that night, so as to be able to reach our lines the following night. Unfortunately, about midnight, Hatcher became sick and faint. We had partaken of but one scanty meal of corn cake within the past twenty-four hours. Our long journey, and the hardships through which we had passed, were beginning to tell upon us. Hatcher and Spencer were older prisoners than myself. They had suffered imprisonment at Libby prior to being confined at Macon, and there were very few of those old Libby prisoners who retained sufficient physical stamina ;i- £. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 339 to endure the hardships incident to such a trip. Spencer, however, was and is a man of iron constitution, and his indomi- table will kept him up. Hatcher, a noble, high-minded young man, had evidently concealed from us how nearly exhausted he was, until unable to conceal it longer. Spencer, who, unknown to us, had pre- served a little flour, perhaps half a pint for an emergency, now concluded that the time for using it had arrived. So halting, we kindled a fire, and, in the iron kettle before mentioned, we made gruel out of the flour. A generous proportion was dealt out to Hatcher, and the balance divided between Spencer and myself. Revived by the nourishment and a couple of hours' rest, Hatcher announced himself so far recovered as to be able to travel again, and we pushed on. But we had lost a greater part of the night by our delay at the village and the subse- quent sickness of Hatcher, so that day- light found us only about twelve miles nearer Calhoun than when we set out the evening before. So anxious were we to push ahead far enough so as to be able to reach our lines by the following morning, that we decided to risk a few hours' travel by daylight, as the country through which we were then passing was heavily tim- bered, and there were but few signs of travel upon the road. Using more than ordinary caution, we pushed on. We had ascended a steep hill and just commenced the descent, when, not a rod from us, standing partially concealed by a large tree, stood a man armed with a long rifle. There was no chance to escape. True, we might plunge into the brush and fly, but it would be with a certainty of being followed. Men, under such exciting cir- cumstances, think quickly. It so hap- pened that I was in advance. Without hesitating an instant, I walked up to him and asked what he was doing there. To our astonishment his reply developed a fact that we should not have mistrusted from his complexion or general appear- ance. He was a slave. "I's been down to Massa C4orman's plantation, and old massa let me take de gun along." "Are you a — " I hesitated. The man was rather dark complexioned, to be sure, but not more so than hundreds I have seen that would feel insulted if thought to have a drop of negro blood in their veins. "Where do you live?" I blurted out at last. "De plantation is 'bout a mile from heah; just ober dar by de claim." "Who do you belong to?" I finally mustered up courage to ask. "I belong to Massa Jackson," he re- plied. During this conversation he was trying to make up his mind who we were and wondering what our business was. Becoming convinced at last that his statement with regard to himself was true, I told him who we were, and asked him to assist us in procuring food. He listened attentively to all we said, was perfectly respectful, yet his manner showed that he did not believe a word we had told him. Noticing this, we com- menced talking over our adventures be- tween ourselves, paying no attention to him but all was in vain ; the man be- lieved that we were lying to him. 340 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. We were nonplussed. Tt wis absolutely necessary to our safely that this man should be our friend, and we were thor- oughly convinced that all that was re- quired to accomplish this desirable result, was to secure his confidence to the extent of believing that we were really Yankee soldiers. At length Spencer drew aletter from his pocket, written by his father and received by flag of truce just, before leav- ing Charleston, and, addressing himself to the slave, said: "I see you do not believe our statements; can you read?" "No dis chile has no larnin." "Well, this letter I received from my father who lives in the north ; I will read it to you." He at once rapidly read the contents, which was of family affairs, condoling with him upon his imprisonment, among other things. The man listened to this attentively, thought it over for a moment or two, looked us over again carefully, and finally said: "Well, marsa, I believe now you is what you said you is. You could'nt make dat. up as fast as dat; and if you is Union men, (looking again at us sharply, to notice the effect of his words ) "If you is Yankees, you'ns is all right. 'Dar is a ramji <>f linine (/nurds rii/ht close by." 1 could feel cold chills run up my back, and that peculiar feeling of the scalp, as if the hair was raising. "Home guards!" I exclaimed. "Can't we avoid them? We have suffered too much, and are too near our lines to be captured, now, we would rather die. Can't you help us? "Why, Lor' bress you, massa, ye don't want to void dem ; dey is Union men, dey will help you." "Yon don't pretend that there is an organization of Union men here in Geor- gia?" "Yes sah ; de strongest kind of Union men. Dey is fightin' eb'ry day. Tell ye, marsa, 'you is all right.' " The tables were now turned on us with a vengeance. It was as hard for the slave to make us believe his statement as it had been for us to convince him that we were Yankees. After an hour's conversation, and after questioning and cross-questioning him, we at length became convinced that he was telling the truth. It was finally agreed that he should accompany us to the house of a Union man, which he in- formed us was located on the road, only about a quarter of a mile distant. One of the party was to take the gun, and one a club. We were to walk side by side, and at the first intimation that he had de- ceived us, we were to kill him. In this order we arrived at a log house, situated a few rods from the road. The' contraband knocked at the door. It was opened by a woman who seemed anything but self-possessed. Our friend inquired for the man of the house. The woman replied that her husband was not at home, in a voice trembling with excitement and fear. The contraband saw at once her state of mind ; he told her that she need not be afraid, that we were Union men and were going into the camp, and asked her to provide us with a breakfast, and told her to send for her husband. This, after some hesitation, she conclud- ed to do, and dispatched her little son upon the errand. In the meanwhile she prepared us a good breakfast which we T fc HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 341 dispatched. with a relish seldom excelled. We waited a few minutes after breakfast for the return of the husband ; but no husband appeared. At length the woman finally told us that it, was extremely doubt- ful about her husband's returning while we were there. We then thought it very strange that our appearance should have caused him to desert his house because of our entering it, the woman having frankly admitted that he ran from the back door when we ^entered the front, but we were too much excited at the novelty of our own position to be very much surprised at anything. She also informed us that if we were Union men the best thing that we could do would be to go to the camp of the Home Guards. This advice we acted upon at once, and taking our con- traband friend as a guide, started for the camp. We had proceeded but a few rods from the house, when we discovered, in the road ahead of us, a mounted picket, dressed in Confederate gray. To describe our feelings at the sight is simply impossible. My first impulse was to "turn and fly. I grasped my club with fierce energy, with the mental vow that if that negro had betrayed us into the hands of our enemies, to send him to his long home, if my life should be the forfeit. Not a word was spoken until the sentinel challenged : "Who goes there ?" Spencer replied : "Friends." "Advance, friends, and give the coun- tersign.''' "We have no countersign," I replied. "Who are you?" My voice trembled as I replied : "Es- caped Union prisoners." "All right; come in." "Wait a moment; are you a Union man ?" "I just am that ; I belong to the Home Guards." "Well, who are the Home Guards ?" "Union men, belonging around here. Come along, and we will take care of you?" "AH right," we replied, and under his guidance we moved forward. We soon reached the camp, or rather rendezvous of the command. We found perhaps a dozen men, all armed, in and around a small but comfortable log house." They were all safe now and here we will lake leave of them. Col. Spencer was honorably discharged from the serv- ice at the close of the war, after gallant service, and refusing a position in the regular army, which was tendered him, returned, like Cincinnatus, to private life. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES of WARTIMES. The following reminiscence of the War of the Rebellion isrelatedbyD.il. Hutch- ins, late lieutenant of company E, 27th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The lieutenant is at present one of the most prominent citizens of Algona, where he is engaged in the banking business. "Our division was camped near Jeff erson barracks, St. Louis, waiting orders, in Sep- tember, 1864, at the time of Price's last raid; when, on the 25th of the month, the division was ordered down the Iron Moun- tain railroad toward Pilot Knob, to watch the movements of the enemy, as it was probable that Price was moving his forces toward St. Louis as his objective point. -l — »h - — ■ • « w. t\ 342 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTS. Gen. A. J. Smith, with most of the divis- ion, halted at a town named De Soto, while the 14th and 27th regiments, Iowa troops, went on to Mineral Point, at which place we went into camp. The next morning, quite early, a countryman came into cam]). The officer in command was notified by some of the citizens that he had the reputation of being a bad man, and a guerrilla. He was at once placed under guard to prevent him from carry- ing information to the enemy, as it was believed that he was a spy. He was guarded that day and the next night. On the morning of the 27th he requested per- mission of the sergeant of the guard to go to the house or a citizen and get some breakfast, to which Sergeant Treat con- sented. Taking an armed private as guard, the three went forty or fifty rods to the house, where the prisoner got what he wanted to eat. On the return to the guard-house the three were going along together, when suddenly the prisoner grasped the gun from the guard, cocked and snapped it at the sergeant, but not being loaded, the prisoner was disap- pointed in not killing him. He then threw off his coat and hat and ran for the timber, which was close by, but was stopped by the pickets and brought back to camp, where the command remained until evening, when we were ordered to fall back to protect a high bridge over the Merrimac river. As soon as the train halted the troops were ordered to get off on the right of the train, which consisted of box and platform cars. The prisoners, of whom there were several, were on a platform car under guard. Company K occupied a box car, next in front of that was occupied by my company, E, most of whom were on the top of the car, as was company K behind us. As soon as the order to get off was given, it was a per- fect bedlam; those on the box cars had to descend by the ladder attached to it, and could not get down with their accou- trements, so there were many shouting at the same time, "hand down my gun, my cartridge box,'' and some one thing and some another; so there was much noise and confusion. Sergeant Penny, of com- pany K, and myself sat opposite, he on the front left hand corner, and I on the left rear corner of the car in front, which brought us close together, and there be- ing such a crowd and so much confusion in getting off on the right, he suggested that we get off on the left side, which we did, he being in advance, both going down on the same ladder. As soon as we reached the ground he started to the rear, some ten feet in advance of me, when I heard the cry, "catch him, catch him," which caused me to hurry up to where I saw two men, one apparently on the back of the other trying to hold him. As it was dark I could not tell who the meji were, but concluded one ivas Penny, and that he was trying to hold the other from behind. I threw down a sword in its scab- bard, and thought to hold the one trying to get away by seizing hold of his coat collar, believing I could hold him until help would come, as the men were so near, but I found he wore no coat. I then felt for his hair for a hold of him, and I found that as short as though just out of prison. I then stepped in front, and as I did so, Penny, as it was lie, let go and stepped back, and the other man straight- w •M«- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 343 ened up. As he did so I threw my arms around his, reaching clear around him and pulled him on to me. As I struck the ground, he being upon me, I felt a hurt near my right shoulder blade. I could feel a motion and a pricking as though my man was trying to get something into me. I immediately shouted, "Help! help!" and squeezed him with all my might, and still I could feel that motion of his hand and the pricking. I shouted again, "Help! help!!' I could not discover any attempt to get away from me, or any motion even, except that continued motion and prick- ing at my back as though he was trying, as it afterward proved, to get some in- strument into me so as to disable me thinking that he could then get away. I once more shouted, "Help! help!" feel- ing that my safety and perhaps my life depended on my holding him so he could not use his arms. His weight and my own pressing on his hand, he could do nothing unless he could get his arms loose. I began to feel somewhat exhausted by the effort to hold him tightly, and it seemed, as I lay there with him alone on that side of the train, in a dark cut five or six feet deep, as though it was a very long time from the first shout to the last. Very soon after the third calling for help, Jake Shannon, of company G, came from the front where I had got off the car, and immediately belabored my man over the head, and, I think, broke his gun at the small of the stock at the first blow. He then took out his bayonet and pounded him on the head until he seemed to wilt, as it were. His head dropped by the side of mine, and thinking him used up, I re- laxed my hold and he slid off and got up and walked back toward the rear of the train, appearing to stagger as he walked. When he had got about fifteen feet a man of company H jumped off the platform car on which the prisoner had been, and was going up the side of the cut, when the prisoner turned out of his way and struck him in the side; and as he turned to defend himself the prisoner struck him a second time, cutting out the right eye. He then crawled under the train, and found himself right in the crowd on the opposite side, who took a jack-knife from him, tied his arms behind him, doubled his guard and placed him on a platform car, which ended the picnic for the night. 13ut the sequel must be told to make out the story. It seems the prisoner never re- covered his coat or hat when he attempted to get away in the morning, and as it was quite cold, Sergeant Treat had taken off his own overcoat and let the prisoner have it to wear, although this same prisoner had attempted to take his life in the morning. The sergeant had also divided his rations with him, and the prisoner was just done eating. As he got up from a sitting posture he turned to the sergeant and said, "Here, take your coat." "No, no," said Treat, "you keep it, you need it more than I." "I'll not have it," said the prisoner, and at the same time threw it on to the sergeant, and at the same time struck him with a jack-knife that had been loaned him to eat with, cutting one of the large arteries in the neck, killing him almost instantly. Then he jumped from the car, was caught by Penny, whom he struck in the neck with the knife, cut- ting a fearful wound between the jugular vein and wind-pipe, cutting from just be- 8 344 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. low the chin to the collar bone. At this time I put my arms around him and he his around me, and I, falling to the ground, fell on the point of the knife, cutting a gash two and a half inches long from the edge of the shoulder blade to- ward the backbone. Besides the main cut, he had pricked my back in numerous places, but could not get force enough to do damage. Besides, when I fell on the knife it shut on his forefinger, cutting it half off, but he managed to open it some way, so that when he got up he struck me twice — once in the left arm, and again on the left breast; the first went to the bone, while the force of the other was stopped by a row of pins across which his knife passed, making a very small hole above the pins and one three or four inches long below, not going through the lining of the coat. He also stabbed Shannon in the back, killing one sergeant and wounding two others, and wounding two privates, neither of whom knew he had a weapon until he felt it. The dead sergeant and the wounded were put on the cars, and the train moved on to De Soto. The next morning I found the prisoner, whose name we had found to be Shelby Cole, lying on the ground near the dead sergeant, sur- rounded by a crowd of soldiers, while standing not more than two feet from hi* feet a soldier came up to the head of the prisoner with his gun at order arms, and looking down into the prisoner's face, said to him, "Why did you kill that man? He treated you like a brother; he divided his rations with you, and took off his coat and suffered with the cold that you might be comfortable. To pay him for his kind- ness you killed him. \\ hy did you do it?" The prisoner answered, "I thought he meant to impose upon me." The soldier ground out a fearful oath from between his teeth and at the same time raised his gun two feet or more and brought it down with great force across the prisoner's fore- head, causing the blood to spurt from the nose several feet. Immediately after, Gen. Smith was informed what had happened, that the prisoner had killed one man and wounded four others, and was asked what they should do with him. His answer was characteristic of the general, who answered "bury him." "But general the man is not dead." "Damn the difference, bury him " The soldiers understood the order, and immediately brought a long rope and putting it around his ankles, dragged him about ten rods when they took the rope off his feet and put it around his neck, threw it over the limb of a tree and drew him up. During these different operations he boasted that he had killed thirty Union men and was sorry he could not kill as many more. If he could he would then be willing to die. Hanging by the neck did not seem to hurt him. After dangling some time one of the men walked up and taking his feet under his arms ran out one side as far as he could raising his own feet he swung his whole weight on the neck of the prisoner, back and forth, but even this did not seem to affect the prisoner. Then two men, one at each leg, raised him up, then jerked down on him andthisended the life of Shelby Cole. Then the general's order was car- ried out and he was buried. In the after- noon his wife and sister came to town to find that the husband and brother was dead. The wife shed some tears, but the sister said she was glad he was dead as he was an awful man. ^ >V <5 W_ •tt HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 345 CHAPTER XII REMINISCENCES AND EVENTS OF INTEREST. Ambrose A. Call, to whom we are in- debted for so many items in this history, gives the following account of the Spirit Lake massacre, and the consequent panic that followed, throughout all this part of the State. Mr. Call says : "In the spring of 1857 the massacre of the settlement at Spirit Lake occurred. A small settlement of six or seven families had claimed the timber and built cabins around the lakes. The snow was so deep that they had been unable to get out dur- ing the latter part of the winter, and con- sequently their provisions had run low. One family, Robert Ridley, lived on the Des Moines river, fourteen miles east, near the present site of Estherville (the town took its name from his wife, Esther Ridley), and four families at a settlement called Springfield, in Minnesota, on the west fork, near the present site of Jack- son. A small band of Indians known as "Inkpadutah's Band," had alsogotsnowed in at the lakes, and were subsisting on fish. There is no doubt but these Indians had, for the three years that had elapsed since the massacre of a part of Five Fingers' band, by Lott," been watching an opportunity of revenge. Blood for blood, is the sum of an Indian's religion. No Indian would ever reach the happy hunting-ground of his fathers if his string did not number the scalp of an enemy for every kinsman slain. The small stock of provisions and the few animals, owned by the settlers, had doubtless aroused their cupidity, also. There is no doubt but the attack was premeditated and pre-arranged. The sequel is well known ; the whole set- tlement with the exception of the women, who were taken prisoners, and a small boy who escaped by concealment, were massacred, and one of these women be- coming foot-sore and stubborn, was killed and thrown into the Big Sioux river ; the other two were ransomed by traders on the Upper Missouri river,and returned to their friends in the eastern part of the State. These women stated that the Indians pro- fessed friendship up to the day previous to the massacre, when a difficulty had oc- curred about some hay which the Indians took for their ponies. The settlers were doubtless surprised, as there is no evidence of any resistance except on the part of one Granger, a well known frontiersman, who fought desperately, as evinced by the numerous wounds he received before he fell, and the bullet and toma- hawk marks in his clothing and on the tree, at the foot of which his body was found. He carried two heavy navy re- volvers, ami was fought from his cabin to a tree, one side of which had been burned •f — - — ■ ■ ■ ~^~ ij?: ■!, 346 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. out hollow. Two dead Indians were sub- sequently found stuck up in a tree about thirty miles northwest of the scene of the conflict, supposed to have been killed by Granger. After the massacre at the lake a part of the band attacked the settlement at Springfield, but the settlers, having had their suspicions aroused by the actions of the Indians, had gathered at the houses of Messrs. Thomas and Church and success- fully repelled their attack. Here is where Mrs. Church, a woman of muscle and nerve, distinguished herself in the defense of her cabin. "Many versions are given of the Spirit Lake massacre, but the above is believed to be the correct one. Persons living at Spirit Lake, the scene of the massacre, all of whom have come in since it oc- curred, know less about it than those who were near at the time of its occurrence. The people of this settlement got the first news of the massacre from the Fort Dodge mail carrier some two weeks after its occurrence; immediately following came reports of a general Indian war, the mar proximity of large bands of Indians, other massacres and fights on different parts of the frontier. The snow was mostly gone, the streams and sloughs all bank full of water, with no bridges or boats, wh'ich made travel almost impossi- ble, and added to the fear and panic of the settlers. Placards were posted up in the older parts of the State, callingfor volunteers and stating that Algona and Fort Dodge had been laid in ashes, and a company was actually raised at Des Moines and another in Boone county to march to the relief of Webster City. The settlers north and west of us had all fled, and some for ]00 miles south and east. The air was filled with rumors, every stranger was viewed with suspicion, and if seen on the prairie was run down and captured as an Indian spy. Cranes were magnified into Indians, prairie fires were mistaken for Indian camp fires, and the very howling of the April winds seat a chill of horror to the hearts of mothers as they clung closer to their babes and strained every nerve to catch the stealthy tread of a savage. Under these circum- stances it is not strange that a large num- ber of the settlers, who had families, fled, and some never returned. Those who re- mained got together and decided to forti- fy and fight it out. A stockade was de- cided upon to be built under the direction of Judge Call and H. A. Henderson, both of whom had seen service in the Indian country. Couriers volunteered to go be- low for a supply of ammunition; these were Abe Hill, H. F. Watson and \V. Skinner. Experienced frontiersmen on fleet horses were sent out beyond the settlements, as scouts, to warn the settlers of the ap- proach of Indians. Some of our best scouts and frontiersmen, including W. H. Ingham and A. L. Seely,were absent when the news first reached our settlement. "The settlers' living in the southern end of the county also built a stockade at Irvington. This was built of two inch oak plank, doubled, the end set in a trench. This stockade was about fifty feet square, with port holes and bastions. The sup- position was, that the building of these stockades would give to the settlers a feeling of security, and keep many in the country, who otherwise would leave, and in case of a threatened attack upon theseltle- cjI V *,Tq_ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 341 ment, could be readily occupied, and easily defended by the settlers. The Algona stockade was six rods square, built of two inch plank doubled, and small logs split in halves, the flat sides lapped to- gether and set in a trench two feet deep, which left the wall eight feet high above the ground. Port holes were made every four feet, and bastions on the northwest and southeast corners, a secure double gate in the north end, and a well near the center. The Algona stockade was built around the site of the Town Hall (Congre- gational church). Its building occupied nearly the whole population about two weeks. The mill was kept running night and day sawing plank, and a large force was also employed in the woods splitting timber. The settlers were kept in a con- stant state of alarm by rumors of the near approach of Indians, which proved a suf- ficient incentive to keep them at work. A report was started in Huinboldt county that a large band of Indians was seen at the upper timber on Lott's creek. The couriers who went to Fort Dodge for am- munition, as they returned, met nearly the whole population of Humboldt 'running from Indians.' The writer, at this time, was 'baching' south of the river, in the timber, with three companions. The boys worked on the stockade in the day time, and boiled sugar, nights. The river was bank full, and the only means of crossing was a 'dugout' which frequently resented the familiarity of strangers by rolling over and dropping them into the water. About ten o'clock one night we heard fearful hallooing at the river, and on going down were interviewed by 'Big Burright' from the other side who had verbal dispatches from head quarters. He said he had been sent down to tell us that there was a large number of Indians on Lott's creek. That it was believed up town they would attack the settlement before morning. That the news had come in since dark, and the people had all gathered at Judge Call's and Mr. Henderson's. This news was of too much importance to go unheeded; we, unfortunately, happening to be on the same side of the river the Indians were supposed to be on, the writer and Sam Nixon at once started to notify the settlers and gather them in at Mr. Brown's. They needed but little urging, and by midnight were all housed and ready to defend their castle. At old Dr. Cogley's, after a deal of hallooing, a faint response came from the neighborhood of the stock-yard. 'Hal- loo, doctor, what are you doing out there this time of night?' says the interviewer. 'The Indians haven't been here have they V 'No,' says the doctor 'and I don't propose to have them find me if they do come. You see I have my family buried in the hay out there, and if the Indians come and attack the house, I can tire on them from the rear, and they will think I have re- ceived i-einforcements, and run. Do you see?' Of course we saw the point; but the doctor never had an opportunity to test his strategy, the Indians having failed to put in an appearance. Early the next morning, Mr. Maxwell and the writer rode down to Lott's creek to see if there existed any grounds for the rumors which had alarmed us. Of course we found no In- dians and no signs of any having been in the country. The settlers had all left in great haste — some even leaving their stock tied and penned up without food. av o ^ 348 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUMY. After this scare the settlers began to lose faith in Indian stories, and returned to their homes. When the condition of the streams and sloughs would permit travel we found there were no Indians in the country, those committing the massacre at Spirit Lake, having fled to the west- ward. The stockade remained as built several years, and was finally pulled do >. n and used for road plank." The following reminiscences of early days, was written by Mrs. C. A. Ingham, and published in the columns of the Up- per Des Moines, several years ago. The compiler of these annals deemed it of suf- ficient interest to the people of the county, to preserve, in this volume, this picture of pioneer life in Kossuth. "The great events of the world's his- tory are usually chronicled with a pen of fire on the grand scroll of time, that the eyes of the multitude may see them, and catch the glow of their sublimity as they pass by. We do not know that any great event has been buried in oblivion. We incline to the opinion that however genu- ine may have been the dreamy rhapsody of the poet, when he inhaled the aroma of flowers, 'That were born to blush unseen, and waste their sweetness on the desert air,' yet it was only a poet's rhapsody af- ter all, and the tendency is very strong — in this practical, utilitarian age — to hustle rudely past it, and find out to a certainty the true beauty and worth of the world. "Progress! that rallying watchword of to-day, is no myth, no will-o-the-wisp to entice us astray, as some would have us believe. Through its grand leadings we stand to-day upon the high table-land from whence we can view the flowers that shall nevermore blush unseen, and breathe the fragrance that has found a purer atmos- phere than the desert air. "But I was to tell you of our first grand party. It was in September of the year 1859, a birthday occasion. The judge had built a large handsome residence, and be- ing of generous turn of mind, as well as his good lady, they determined to call in their friends and make them welcome on this joyous occasion. It was not to be an exclusive affair, just our set and no more — in fact we knew but little about sets in those days — but everybody in the county was to be welcomed. It had been whis- pered that the judge's lady was quite proud of her new house, and we could hardly wonder, for coming into the county at so early a day, with both youth and beauty to recommend her, she had cheerfully made of her log cabin, a not only pleasant but hospitable home. The new home was not, at the time spoken of, complete, but rumor said it was to be very grandly fitted up. It was a rather imposing edifice; if not suggestive of marble and space, which is characteristic of Italian palaces, it was at least suggestive of generous home com- fort and social good cheer. There were whispers of lace curtains, and mirrors that should reach to the floor, and tapestry- carpets, all of which made the ears of the listeners tingle with delightful expecta- tion. Well, the night of the party ar- rived, and as early as the hour of seven the guests began to assemble. There were the old, the middle-aged, and the young, and not a few mothers with their babies in their arms — for what mother could forego so much pleasure, even had it been considered unfashionable to present her- 8> *V .Mi \*U HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 349 self with a child in her arms, which in those days luckily it was not. More than this, the judge's lady had carefully pro- vided for this, and had a room in com- plete readiness where the little ones could receive every comfort. By 8 o'clock the guests had all assembled and- were mingling in the full pleasure of the occa- sion. The judge and his lady were the most hospitable of entertainers, greeting each new-comer with a cheerful warmth which put him at once thoroughly at his ease. "The judge was a man of marked char- acter. Being the founder of the town and foremost in every enterprise to en- hance its value, people naturally looked to him as a leader and counselor. He was rather tall than otherwise, with a strong, muscular frame, a broad compre- hensive brow, over-arching his eyebrows, from beneath which he looked forth with hardly the earnestness and zeal of one who is quick to speak his convictions, but rather with that thoughtful, calculating look which marks those who weigh mat- ters and deliberate coolly. His whole ap- pearance impressed you as a man of sagacity and comprehension. You would hardly feel that he was made of the metal which constitutes martyrs, and in things spiritual you would be inclined to think his faith rested rather in the things that are seen, than those which are invisible. "His wife was one of those good-hearted, good-natured, good-looking women whom you always like to meet; who, if they have ills and woes and aches, keep them out of sight, and give you the impression that life is a joy to them rather than a burden, consequently impart joy in their intercourse with others. Principal among the guests were the Rev. Seignior and his handsome daughter, the prima donna. Then there was the physician, a good- natured son of Esctilapius, who might have had a fault of looking upon mor- tality a little too lightly at times, he hav- ing been heard to remark in one of these happy moods, 'Nero danced while Rome was burning! Why should I mourn when a patient dies!' There was the grave and somewhat reserved representative and his family, a gentleman of candor and worth — some said a little slow — but all felt, honorable and trustworthy. "There was the young and aspiring law- yer — our quondam chief of the literary band, and his young wife, a fair blonde with a look of confiding trust on her in- nocent girlish face that told you how will- ingly and proudly she rested upon the arm of the young lawyer by her side. There were scores of young ladies and gentlemen, all very gay and evidently very happy on this festive occasion. In almost direct contrast to the poetical gen- tleman was another, whose dark eyes ar- rested my attention. He was a tall, slen- der gentleman, who evidently in a quiet way enjoyed the scene very much. He had the air somewhat of the man of society and somewhat of the recluse, was a great admirer of the judge, and especially this grand entertainment seemed just to his liking. He was said to be very fond of the heroic, and was inclined to become a little restive under the restraints and pri- vations of frontier life; so this occasion was to him a sincere joy, which, no doubt, helped to make many future days bright and hopeful. At ten, supper was an- i >V 350 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. nounced. The doors of the large supper room were thrown open and the company ushered in. The tables were fully equal to the occasion, and every guest found sufficient room. To say the supper was bountiful would hardly be significant of my true meaning. "You must remember,in those days,many things which had once been comforts had to be considered luxuries, conse- quently it was no small matter to be comfortably placed at a table loaded with all that the most fastidious taste could de- sire. The Rev. Seignior was invited to pronounce a blessing, after which each guest was free to dispose of the dainties and viands nearest him; and right well was this accomplished. We do not be- lieve the judge and his lady ever had oc- casion to feel that this supper was not fully appreciated. After supper there was music ami dancing. The young lawyer schottished with one of the fair belles of the evening. While her father — a gentle- man of sixty summers perhaps — recalled, with a nimbleness of youth, the jig of which was the delight of his early days. "The Rev. Seignior, with thejproma donna leaning upon his arm, withdrew at the commencement of the dancing, but most of the guests remained until the festivities were brought to a close near the small hours of morning. "And so this first grand party was ended. It was a joy to many, who still find joy in recalling it. The light has faded from the eyes of some happy faces that graced the occasion. 'I he physician answers no longer to the roll call of his patients, and the fair young wife of the lawyer — like a fragrant rose fully ripe — bowed her head to the storm and passed to the other side. The young gentleman with the dark eyes heard his country call for men in the great struggle for freedom, and the heroic leaped to the surface, and he marched away to the battle-field with a light in his eye which lingers still — though he numbers one among the mar- tyred heroes. The poetical gentleman — so joyous, so open hearted and brave, on a blight spring morning turned his eager face toward the great plains of the west, and found ere long in their broad bosom a quiet resting place, where he now peace- fully sleeps, far removed from the tearful lament of kith and kin. "The great events of time we say do not die! And the flowers that blush an seen to-day will raise their heads in the sunlight to-morrow. So we cherish faith in every event that tends to make life beautiful, and love to keep bright the hal- lowed spot where memory links it with the imperishable. And thus step by step and deed by deed we too join in the pro- longed chorus which forms the world's grand symphony. 'And tread in the paths of the bygone years, Mid the ghosts of dead generations; Life is sweet with theirsongs and salt with their tears, And rich with their souls' oblations. We enter to-day and we go out no more. Till on through the gloom and the glory. We pass to the realms of the gone before. And tell them our own sweet story.' " A history of Kossuth county wou'd hardly be complete without the mention of the terrible plague of grasshoppers that fell upon this section in past years, and devastated the entire county. The first of these came as earlyas the 16th of June, 1867. These, although numerous as the sands of the seashore, were but the ad- J" — - HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 351 vance guard of the myriads that came in after years. They, this year, destroyed whole fields of grain, especially in the west side of the county. Algona and Lott's Creek township suffered probably the most, as these had the most grain standing of any of the townships in their path. In 1873, the countless hosts of the grass- hopper army descended upon this fair land, and while destroying about half of the crops in the county, deposited unnum- bered billions of eggs in the soil. These hatched out by the warm sun of the sum- mer of 1874, and the ground seemed to be literally alive, and give forth clouds of jumping, leaping, struggling, flying ver- min. Field after field, green in the morn- ing with the rich, growing crops, before . noon was eaten as bare as the sands of Sahara. What they seemed to go over in the morning, they returned to in the evening and made a supper of. The en- tire crops of the county were absolutely and completely destroyed, and the cry of distress went up throughout the land. A committee was appointed to go out into the more favored portions of the State and gather together the contributions of the charitably inclined, in the shape of food and raiment, for it is said some of the best and wealthiest farmers of the county were among those who had no food nor the wherewithal to purchase any. All over our fair State notices were put in the papers asking for these donations, and committees were appointed. The follow- ing, cut from a North Iowa Times, of Mc- Gregor, Clayton county, will give some idea of the strong appeal made to the generosity of the people, for these suf- ferers : "The following named persons are desig- nated to receive contributions for the grasshopper sufferers of Kossuth Co., Iowa : E. S. Fitch, Clayton ; Fleck Bros., Guttenberg ; R. Meuth, Buena Vista; John Garber, Elkport ; Henry White, Volga City ; S. J. Carrier, Strawberry Point ; C. F. Stearns, Elkader; William Thoma, Garnavillo; C. C. Lang, National; C. A. Dean, Monona; T. C. Peterson, St Olaf ; Ralph Knight, Windsor ; Adam Schneider, Froelick Station ; George L. Bass, McGregor. Ship to George L. Bass, McGregor, or D. H. Ilutchins, Algona. '•D. II. Ilutchins, agent of the Kossuth county relief committee, a former well known resident of Clayton county, has called on us in person, and informs us that the entire crop of ten townships of his county was destroyed, and that it was partially destroyed in the other town- ships of the county. That there are over 2,000 persons in that county needing aid this winter. They need clothing, boots and shoes, (any old clothing for men, wo- men and children) bedding, provisions, and money. We earnestly call upon the people of Clayton county to organize a relief committee in each township to so- licit contributions to aid the sufferers. E. R. Barron, Frank Larrabee, State Committee." This set-back, although it caused much destitution and suffering, and was the cause of many selling out and emigrating to other quarters, still it was the making of this county, turning the attention of rrV fe+ 352 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. the farming community to the raising and growing of stock, and mixed farming, until to-day Kossuth county can hold u\> her head amoii" the banner stock counties of the State. The rich, luscious, native grasses that cover her prairies afford rich food for the numerous herds of cattle, owned by her citizens. CHAPTER XIII TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. The county of Kossuth lies in the north- ern portion of the State of Iowa, nearly the center of the State on the Minnesota line. It is bounded on the east by Win- nebago and Hancock counties, on the south by Humboldt, and on the west by Palo Alto and Emmett counties. It is the larg- est county in the State, embracing twen- ty-eight congressional townships. The territory comprised is townships 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100 north, of ranges 27, 25, 29 and 30, west of the fifth principal me- ridian. Thus it is forty-one miles across from north to south line, the northern ownships lacking about a section in width, and twenty-four miles from east to west. This vast expanse of territory is divided into the following civil townships: Al- gona, Irvington, Cresco, Greenwood, Port- land, Sherman, Luverne, Prairie, Wesley, Lott's Creek, Fenton, Burt and Ramsey. The surface of Kossuth county is a most beautiful and rolling prairie. It is gener- ally level with the graceful undulations common to the northwestern Stales. This, of course, is somewhat different in the vicinity of the streams, where the rolling tendency is increased to such an extent as to be almost termed hilly. Very few places can be found, however, in the county, where the breaks are abrupt enough to debar the use of the land for agricultural pursuits. This whole region of the valley of the Upper Des Moines, has long borne the reputation of being the finest stock raising locality in the State. Commonly spoken of as the Upper Des Moines, this upland vale, has no peer in the State as a grazing ground, and it is no misnomer to call it the "garden spot of northern Iowa." As to the soil and geo- logical formation of this region, an allu- vial deposit, averaging some four or more feet deep, resting upon the vast beds of drift that underly all this upper plateau, and that in this locality is said to reach almost to incalculable depths. The soil being of rich, black, adhesive loam, the deposit of countless ages of decomposed vegetable matter, the fertility is almost inexhaustible. A slight trace of sand in the earth makes this portion of the State very desirable, as it makes the soil more porous and a plow will scour in it readily. K 1 " A< HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 35.3 No stratified rock is found within the county,'but .sufficient stone for foundations and work of that description is readily procured by digging through the soil into the drift beneath, which is found full of the granite and porphyritic boulders, which when dressed make the most dur- able building material. The county is well watered, and in all parts of it excellent well water can be ob- tained in abundance at various depths, ranging from fifteen to thirty feet. Sev- eral streams intersect the county. The East Fork of the DesMoines, the principal stream, rises just across the line in Em- raett county, and enters this county on the west side of Greenwood township, and traversing that township and those of Burt, Portland and Algona, serving as a boundary line between Irvington and Sherman and Cresco, makes its exit at the center of the south line of Kossuth county. This stream, whose pure, limpid waters flow between high, almost bluffy banks, furnishes sufficient power to propel a con- siderable amount of machinery, and which does not fail. The Blue Earth river rises in the north- ern part of township 98 north, of range 27 west, and flowing in easy current north, passes out of the county into Minnesota at about the center line of township 100 north, range 28 west. Many smaller af- fluents of the DesMoines, also stretch out through the county, and no township in the southern part but what is well watered with their life-giving streams. Along the banks of the principal of these rivers and creeks, timber is seen in considerable quantities, the principal growth being bun- oak, white maple, sugar maple, bass and Cottonwood. Artificial groves and hedges are being raised and cultivated in various parts of the county to a considerable ex- tent, also. These various belts and knots of trees break the monotony of the prairie, and, while adding beauty to the landscape, serve as a screen from the high winds and supply the settler with fuel. As to the products of the county, corn and oats are the great staples varying rel- atively from year to year. Corn, how- ever, being generally in the ascendency, this being pre-eminently a stock raising country. Barley, hay and potatoes rank next as important productions. The cut- ting and baling of the wild native grass, in the form of hay, is a large and impor- tant industry of Kossuth county, hay presses being located in every town, vil- lage and hamlet within its limit. This business has grown in a few years to an almost incredible extent and thousands of tons of this product of the Iowa prairie are shipped east to feed the cattle of that locality. As mentioned above, the prin- cipal business of the agricultural portion of the community is stock and the pro- ducts arising therefrom. Iowa took the first premium for butter at the centennial exhibition, and Kossuth county butter brings as much, and sometimes more, in the New York markets than the butter of New York State creameries, and the farm- er gets the same price at his own door for his cream on these $10 lands as he does on the $100 lands further east. For the dairy business the wild lands which are selling from $6 to $12 are in fact worth $25 to-day. In 1882 the two creameries in Algona sent out daily, forty-one double teams twenty miles in XT 354 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. every direction to the farmer's floors to gather cream, and in the month of June they made 4,200 pounds of butter per day. No county in the State, with possi- bly one exception, produces a larger quan- tity of first-class butter, than does Kos- suth. The vast ranges of wild lands cov- ered with natural, "blue-joint," similar to that of Kentucky, and which rich and well-flavored, conduces to a large yield of high grade butter. Timothy and clover also grow luxuriantly with very little care. It is a matter, also, of historical fact, that the county has never been troubled with a drouth. In such a locality, of course the raising of all kinds of stock could not help but be a success, and there are few counties in the northern part of Iowa that can boast of so large an amount of blood- ed stock that Kossuth can. On the whole this county ranks high among its sister counties of the great State of Iowa, and as all of its resources have not been de- veloped, its promise is indeed flattering. KOSSUTH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. As long ago as 1857, a society under the above name was organized in this county. No record exists of it in its earlier years, but in the first issues of the Pioneer Press in 1861, there is a call for a business meeting for the purpose of elect- ing officers and other business. This is signed by Ambrose A. Call, secretary of the association. At this meeting, held upon the 3d day of June, 1861, the first of which any record can be found, Kinsey Carlon, vice-president, was in the chair. The election resulted in the choice of the following officers for the ensuing year : D. W. Sample, of Irvington, president; L. T. Martin, of Cresco, vice-president ; Ambrose A. Call, of Algona, secretary; Lewis H. Smith, treasurer. The'board of managers was elected at the same time and consisted of: Asa C. Call, Dr. Mason, Horace Schenck, M. C. Lathrop and J. E. Stacy. The fair, which was the fourth annual one, was held in Algona on the 18th day of September, 1861. The pre- mium list was a long one and complete in its way. Among them was a prize for the best tilled farm in the county, which was awarded to W. B. Carey. The ladies, of course, were not forgotten ; Mesdames T. D. Stacy, W. II. Ingham, H. Schenck, Charles Gray and John Heckart, carry off prizes for culinary excellence, and Mies- dames II. P*. Watson, J. E. Stacy, G. W. Blottenberger and II. Schenck, in the de- partment of needle work. Miss N. II. Rice, Mrs. J. E. Stacy, Mrs. C. Taylor, Mrs. H. F. Watson and Mrs. L. Rist, each were awarded premiums for excellence in ornamental work. These are but a tithe of the list, but space forbids a fuller mention. Most of these premiums were paid in cash. Fairs were held for several years, when the matter was allowed to drop and the society ceased to exist. In 1872, how- ever, a new association was formed, and the following were elected to fill official positions: D. II. Hutchins, president ; George W. Mann, vice-president; F. M. Taylor, secretary ; J. E. Stacy, treasurer. The first annual fair held under the auspices of this organization, took place on the 3d and 4th of October, 1872. Owing somewhat to the apathy of those who should have been the most interested this first fair was not a complete success, but with the succeeding years, all have T *J o l£* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 355 awakened to the fact of the great benefit conferred upon all classes of the commu- nity by these annual exhibits of the pro- duce of farm, garden and home, and more interest is taken in the matter. The pres- ent officers of the association are as fol- lows: C. Rickard, president ; S. Reed, vice- president; J. R. Davis, secretary ; H. P. Hatch, treasurer; D. A. Haggard, marshal. Directors— William Ward, C. N. Oli- ver, William Ormiston, G. W. Mann, N. W. Monroe, William Peck, R. J. Hunt, N. Collar, L. Witham and F. M. Taylor. The Kossuth County Dairymen and Stock-growers Association was organized on the 16th of February, 1878, by about fifty of the most prominent farmers in the county. The object of the society, is for the mutual advantage and advance- ment of the interests of those engaged in stock-raising and dairying. The first officers elected at the date of organiza- tion, were the following: J. B. Jones, of Cresco, president; George Boyle, of Lott's Creek; C. C. Chubb, of Cresco ; William Ward, Wesley; W. B. Carey, Portland; L. M. Bush, Fenton; G. W. Mann, Irvington; John Wallace, Algona; R. I. Brayton, Greenwood, vice-presi- dents ; A. M. Horton, secretary ; Pitt Cravath, corresponding secretary ; D. II. Hutching, treasurer. The present officers of this association are: William Ward, president ; C. C. Chubb, secretary; D. .S. Ford, treasurer; C. B. Hutchins, of Algona township ; Z. C. Andruss, Irvington ; C. L. Harris, Wesley ; N. Collar, Ramsey ; D. Rice, Portland ; R. I. Brayton, Greenwood; P. M Barslan, Burt; J. R. Davis, Fenton; A. Hinton, Lott's Creek, and J. B. Jones, of Cresco, vice-presidents. CHAPTER XIV. NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION. In all countries the men who hold the public offices are to be looked upon as merely the representatives of the masses: this truism applies equally to the despotic monarchies of the old world as well as to free America, for when they cease to truly represent the people they cease to exist. In our day and land, where the office-holder is merely the servant of the will of the people", who will dispute the right, the term, representative, to such as figure in an official capacity. As a people we must give him the respect, in his official relations, that we owe to the will of the people, for he stands there the liv- ing embodiment of their will. While in this connection it has been attempted to give some slight pen pictures of the many parties who have represented Kossuth county in official positions, many of them s>\\ J* 356 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. fall short of doing full justice to the sub- jects, but owing to numerous causes, in- accessibility of material being chief, it was unavoidable, and the fault should not be laid at the door of the compiler. CONGRESSIONAL. When Kossuth county was first organ- ized it was placed in the then 2d district and was first represented in the halls of the Congress of the United States by Timothy Davis, of Clayton county, who was elected in 185V and filled his place throughout the sessions of the 35th Con- gress. He was succeeded by William Vande- ver, who was elected at the general elec- tion of 1358, and served during the years 1859-60-61-62, and gave infinite satisfac- tion to a numerous constituency. In 1862Asahel W. Hubbard was elected as representative from the newly formed 6th district, and of which Kossuth county formed a part. Mr. Hubbard was a resident of Sioux City. He was a na- tive of Connecticut, born in 1817. In 1836 he first came west and located in the State of Indiana, and in 1857 he came to Iowa and made a final settlement at Sioux City. Mr. Hubbard was succeeded by Charles Pomeroy, of Fort Dodge, who was elected in 1868, as a member of the 41st Congress, serving one term. Jackson Orr, of Boonesboro, succeeded Mr. Pomeroy in 1871, and served in the 42d Congress as the representative from the 6th district. When, in 1870, the State was re-districted, Kossuth county became a part of the 9th district and was again represented by Mr. Orr, who was re-elected and served his second term in the 43d Congress, as the representative of the new district. Addison Olliver was elected to fill the position of representative in the 44th Congress from the 9th district and was re-elected in 1876 as his own successor to that office, serving until the beginning of 1879. C. C. Carpenter was elected in 1878 and again re-elected in 1880 to fulfill the duties of congressman from the 9th dis- trict of Iowa, and ably did he represent the people who put their faith in him. The present member of the House of Representatives of the United States from the 9th Iowa district is A J. Holmes, of Boonesboro, Boone county, who was elected in 1882. An able, fluent speaker and logical debater, he bids fair to take a foremost part in the counsels of the Nation. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. When this county was first organized it was placed in the 48th assembly dis- trict and was represented by Edwin R. Gillett. The senatorial district was rep- resented by G. A. Kellogg. The latter was elected in 1856 and held the place for three years. Mr. Gillett was a farmer from Chickasaw county. On the 11th of January, 1858, the 7th General Assembly met at Des Moines and adjourned on the 22d of March following. G. A. Kellogg was still in the Senate, but this locality was represented by C. C. Carpenter, the senatorial district being known as number 32. The 8th General Assembly on its meet- ing in January, 1860, found this district represented in the Senate by Luther L. Pease, and in the Lower House by J. E. t, r^T -s> & HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 35 1 ; Blackford, one of this county's most prominent early settlers. The constant growth of this part of the State making a new districting of tlie State necessary, Kossuth county, with Dickinson, Sac, Buena Vista, Emmett. Clay and Palo Alto made the 61st legislative district. The 9th General Assembly met at Des Moines, Jan. 18, 1862, and adjourned April 5, the same year. It also was convened in extra session from Sept. 3 to Sept. 11, 1S62. Luther L. Pease still represented this the 32d district, in the Senate, and Harvey N. Brockway, the 56th legislative district in the Lower House. A sketch of Mr. Brockway ap- pears in the history of Hancock county, of which he is a resident, and may be found in this volume. G. W. Bassett in the Senate and E. McKnight were the representatives of this county in the 10th General Assembly, that met at the State capital Jan. 11, 1864, and adjourned March 29. On the 8th of January, 1866, the 11th General Assembly met at UesMoines, and G. W .Bassett was still in the Senate. In the Lower House, this, the 58th district, was ably represented by Lemuel Dwelle, ofNorthwood, Worth county. Mr.Dwelle was one of the founders of that town and is to-day one of the sterling men of the community. His able management of the affairs entrusted to him encouraged his friends to ask him to take a higher place in the counsels of the State, as will be seen further along. The 12th General Assembly, which con- vened in January, 1 868, found Theodore Hawley representing the 46th district in the Senate and C. W. Tenny, the 67th in the Chamber of Representatives. The month of January, 1870, witnessed the assembling at DesMoines, of the 13th General Assembly, and J. H. Todd repre- sented this district in the Lower House The number of the district had by this time' crept up|until it was 66. Mr. Hawley was still in the Senate. In the 14th General Assembly, in 1872, the 46th senatorial district, of which Kos- suth county is a part, was represented by E. A. Howland, and the 67th representa- tive district by Robert Struthers. This Legislature convened at DesMoines, in January, of the year above mentioned. The 15th General Assembly met in Jan- uary, 1874, at the State capital, and Mr. Howland occupied the place in the sena- torial chamber. In the Lower House, this, the 69th representative district, was represented by David Secor, of Forest City, one of the ablest men in the district. A sketch of Mr. Secor will be found on referring to the proper place in the his- tory of Winnebago county, in this volume. In January, 1876, the 16th General As- sembly of the State of Iowa met at Des Moines, and Kossuth county was repre- sented in the Senate by Lemuel Dwelle, of Northwood, Worth county, who was the choice of the 46th senatorial district. Mr. Dwelle, as has been mentioned, is one of nature's noblemen. Solid in intellect, upright, and of excellent judg- ment, he made a model legislator. In the Lower Chamber this district was rep- resented by Henry H Bush, of Garner, Han- cock county. A sketch of this gentlemen may be seen on reference to the annals of that county. i£ 358 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. The 1 7th General Assembly, which met in Jan nary, ISIS, contained among its august body of senators, Lemuel Dwelle, whose term of office had not expired. In the House, L. II. Smith was the member who represented this, the 76th district. In the Senate of the 18th General As- sembly, which met in January, 1880, E. J. Hartshorn, represented the 49th sena- torial district of which Kossuth county is a part. A. D. Bicknell represented this, the 76th assembly district, in the Lower House. The 19th General Assembly convened at the capitol in January, 1882, and Kos- suth county was served in the Senate still by E. J. Hartshorn. J. J. Wilson, one of Algona's most in- fluential citizens, filled the position of representative in the Lower House, and did it with credit to himself and honor to his constituency. John J. Wilson was born in Onondago Co., N. Y., May 5, 1828. His father, Andrew Wilson, was a native of Penn- sylvana, and for many years was a prom- inent salt manufacturer in Syracuse, N. Y. His mother, Sophia (Lee) Wilson, was a native of Connecticut. They reared eight children, of whom John was the youngest. In 1831 Mr. Wilson went with his parents to Erie Co., Penn., where they resided until 1837, when they removed to La Porte, Ind. In 1843 Mr. Wilson removed to Walworth Co., Wis., where he was engaged in farming un- til 1859, when he engaged in the grain and stock business. In 1865 he went west, being engaged in freighting through the territories until the close of 1869. In the spring of 1870 he came to Algona, en- gaging in the lumber business. Since that time he has gradually increased his business, until now he carries on the largest business, carried on by any one man in Algona. He combines the coal, lumber, milling and elevator business. He has a grain and lumber house in Whittemore and is interested in the lum- ber business at Emmetsburg, Iowa. Mr. Wilson was married Jan. 16, 1856, to Clara M. Uovee, a native of New York. They have two children — Lenette E and Harry J. Mr. Wilson was mayor of Al- gona for three terms and was a member of that city's first board of aldermen. He was a member of the Legislature from Kossuth county for the sessions of 1878-9 and 1882-3. In 18S3-4 this district was represented in the Lower House by Hon. C. C. Chubb, one of the most highly respected citizens of this county. C. C. Chubb, one of the enterprising business men of Kossuth county, was born Oct.2,1840,in Waukesha Co., Wis. His par- ents, Newnian and Cynthia (Pars) Chubb, were natives of Vermont. They emigra- ted to Waukesha county at a very early day, being among its earliest settlers. They took land, opened up, and improved a farm. In 1844 Mrs. Chubb died. Mr. Chubb then married Betsey Russell. In 18G7, he died in Waukesha county. C. C. Chubb was reared and educated in Wisconsin, In April, 1861, he enlisted in company E, 3d Wisconsin Infantry, and participated in the battles of Winchester, South Moun- tain and Antietam, where he was wound- ed in the little finger of his left kand. He was also with Gen. Hooker at Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg and Lookout Mountain. *=£ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 359 In the winter of 1863 the regiment was stationed between Murfreesboro and Nash- ville during which time Mr. Chubb was detailed in recruiting service. In the spring of 1864 he joined his regiment at Big Shanty, from there was sent to Ma- rietta, where July 4, 1864, he received his discharge for expiration of three years 1 service. Soon after, he re-enlisted in the 2d New York Heavy Artillery, serving till the close of the war. He then came to Kossuth county, purchasing land on sections 14 and 15, township 95, range 29, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. Jan. 1, 1809, he married Hattie Taylor. They had two children — Coleman T. and Charlie. Mr. Chubb is an ardent sup- porter of the republican party. In 1872 he was elected county supervisor, and in 1883 was sent to the Legislature from his district. lie is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Algona, and also a member oi Prudence Chapter, No. 75. COUNTY JUDGE. This most important office was created by an act of the 3d General Assembly, in 1851, and was at the time the most impor- tant part of the county government, in fact, was ex-officio, the government. The first county judge was Asa C. Call, who was elected in 1855, after a hard con- test, the gist of which was the ascendancy of Irvington or Algona, and the right of each to be considered the seat of county government. The Irvington faction put up Corydon C. Craw, and by working what politicians call a "still hunt," nearly succeeded in capturing the county seat. However, like a clap of thunder in a clear sky, the matter came before the Algona people, and when they had recovered from their first astonishment, they went to work with a will. Many of the partizans of Algona were out of the county, on business, or engaged in hunting, but mounted couriers scoured the country in search of them, and they were nearly all brought back in time to deposit their bal- lots. After a hard and bitter fight the Algona faction succeeded in electing their ticket by a small majority and secured the county seat for theirtown, and Asa C. Call was raised to the dignity of county judge. This was in August, 1855. The judge held the office for two years only, having a large private business to look after, which claimed his whole attention Judge Asa C. Call was born Sept. 26, 1825, in Lake Co., Ohio, and was edu cated at Oberlin in that State. His father died when he was yet a child and his mother returned, with the family, to west- ern New York. In 1840 he went to South Bend, Ind., and in 1850, drove a herd of cattle across the plains to California, where he spent four years, being appointed Indian commissioner, to treat with some tribes of Indians, in what is now Wash- ington and Idaho territories. While on the Pacific coast, he was a correspondent of the National Era, and many of his let- ters were copied in the New York Tribune and other eastern papers. In 1854 he mar- ried Sarah Heckart, and settled in Iowa City, which was then the capital of the State, but he regarded this location as temporary as he had decided to select some eligible site for a new town. After exploring the Upper Mississippi, where every available site was already occupied, and the western shores of Lake Superior, where he found good harbors but no land, 9 -» 5) p^ +±} 7 he, with others, organ- ized the McGregor Railroad Company, which he ultimately brought through the county. He was also identified with the Northwestern road, of which he secured a branch. His history, since he located at Algona, is the history of the county, as he has been identified with every enter- prise looking to the interests of northern Iowa. He has a large family, three sons and four daughters — Asa Frank is a law- yer at Algona; Joseph Harry, a member of Gov. Sherman's staff, is a lawyer at Des Moines; George C, dealer in real es- tate at Algona. The daughters are — Mary E., Sarah Stella, Nina Vesta and ZadaC. Lewis H. Smith was the second who held this office, being elected to that dig- nity by a vote of ninety-five, in a total of 105 cast, in August, 1857, and also served in this capacity, for two years. Lewis H. Smith, cashier of the Kossuth County Bank, and one of the pioneers of the county, was born March 21, 1835, in Middlesex Co., Mass. He was reared in his native State, receiving a liberal educa- tion. His first work after leaving home was clerking in Boston. In 1852 he went to Illinois, where he was employed as civil engineer on the Chicago & Rock Islaud railroad, between Chicago and Rock Island. In the spring of 1854 he was employed on the same road, between Davenport and Grinnell. On the 4th day of July, 1854, he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and has ever since taken an active part in the interests of the county. The first summer he was employed by the government in surveying, and in 1855 was elected first county surveyor of Kos- suth county. In 1857 he was made county judge. In I860 he was appointed deputy county treasurer, at the same time reading law, he was admitted to the bar, being the first attorney admitted in the county, and the first to hang out his shingle. He bought and brought the first sewing- machine into the county, also the first piano, and was the first to use carbon oil. In 1860 and 1861 he was en- rolling clerk in the Legislature. In 1862, being commissioned quartermas- ter of the northern brigade, he took a lively interest in raising and equip- ping the companies for that campaign. In 1865 he crossed the plains to Mon- tana as engineer in charge on the Saw- yers wagon road. In 1806 he started in mercantile business in Algona as the firm of Smith Brothers, continuing so with his brother and brother-in-law, T. C. Rist, until 1870, when he engaged in banking with W. H. Ingham. They were suc- ceeded, in 1873, by the Kossuth County Bank, of which he is still cashier. Mr. Smith was married in 1857; his wife died in 1866, repected' by all who knew her, leaving four children— Mary A., Nellie E., Fannie S. and Edward L. He afterwards married Mrs. Eugenia Rist, widow of Francis C. Rist, who had three children by her former marriage. They have three children — Mabel F., Ruby E. and Hor- ~b\'v *, ra „_ i _5> .> HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 301 tense M. Mr. Smith is now trustee of the State insane hospital at Independence, was elected in 1878 and re-elected in 1882. For over a quarter of a century he has been identified with this county, and no man has done more than he to build up Algona and the surrounding country. In 1859 J. E. Stacy was honored by his fellow-citizens with this office, and at the time was filling an unexpired term as clerk of the courts, which position he resigned to qualify for the more important office. On the 1st of January, 1800, he entered upon the duties of his office and held it for one year, when he gave it up for the more lucrative one of treasurer and re- corder. Jerome E. Stacy was born Oct. 14, 1829, in Allegheny Co., N. Y., where he was reared and educated. In 1853 he removed to Rock Co., Wis., where he was engaged in the insurance business and school teacl ing about two years. In 1856 he came U- Algona and took a pre-emption near thai place, which he improved with other lands, since which his time has been divided between farming and various other occupations. In 1864 he engaged in the real estate business. In 1868-9 he built the first flouring mill in the county. In 1874 he established the Algona Nurs- ery. There are few men in Kossuth county who have been more closely iden- tified with the interests of the county than Mr. Stacy. He has held the office of county clerk and county judge, and for eight years was treasurer of the county. He was twice mayor of Algona, and a member of her city council several terms. Mr. Stacy married Harriet E. Taylor, a native of Vermont. They have six living children — N. Marion, Kate Doake, Ellen Winifred, James C, Willie S. and Lute A. T. George Warren, their first son, died in 1864, at two years of age. In I860 D. S. McComb was elevated to the position of county judge, and held it for two years. Mr. McComb was one of the settlers of 1856, and was a Presby- terian clergyman. Shortly after the ex- piration of his term of office he moved to Palo Alto county, where he at present resides. The Rev. Chauncey Taylor, one of Kos- suth county's purest and best men, was elected to fill this office in 1862, and held it for a term of one year. Luther Rist was the next incumbent of this important office, and was elected in 1863, and re-elected in 1805. In March, 1866, however, he resigned the office and retired to the shades of private life. Luther Rist, a native of Worcester Co., Mass., was born in 1808. He married Betsy Sibley, by whom he had seven children. In the spring of 1856 he came to Kossuth county, where he engaged in farming. He was elected county judge and highly re- spected in the community where he lived. After Mr. Rist's resignation the board of supervisors appointed L. II. Smith to fill the vacancy. He was elected to fill the office by the people in the fall of I860, and re-elected in 1807. With him ended the system of county courts, the duties of the county judge devolving upon the cir- cuit court and other offices ; principal among which was the one of which the county judge was made ex-officio, the first incumbent. COUNTY AUDITOR. Lewis II. Smith would therefore have been the first to hold this office, but on its JLT -*_(£. 362 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. creation in 1869, he resigned and A. E. Wheelock was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Wheelock at this time held the office of clerk of the courts, but was allowed to hold both offices for several terras. He was re-elected auditor in 1871, and held the office for four years. He is at pres- ent a resident of Algona, the county seat of Kossuth, where he is engaged in real estate transactions. H. S. Vaughn was elected in the fall of 1873, as the successor of Mr. Wheelock, and served in that capacity for a term of two years. In the fall of 1875, at the general elec- tion,Victor H. Stough was elected auditor, and was re-elected in 1877, serving in all four years. The present anditor, R. W. McGetchie, was elected to the office first in 1879, and was re-elected in 1881. TREASURER AND RECORDER. At the date of the organization of this county, these two offices were united in one, and so continued for several years. J. W. Moore was the first incumbent of the dual office, being elected at the time of the first election in the county, in 1855. He held the position until the 1st of Janu- ary, 1 858, when he stepped aside for a successor. H. F. Watson was the next to be elect- ed to this office, or offices, qualifying and entering upon the duties of the same with the beginning of the year 1858. He served one term of two years, and is at present a resident of the county. L. L. Treat was elected the successor of Mr. Watson, entering upon the duties of the office on the 1st of January, 1859, and serving two years. He was an excellent business man, keen, sharp and astute. Soon after his retirement from the office he removed to Webster City, where he is reported to have accumulated consider- able wealth, and is prominent among the influential citizens of that place. J. E. Stacy was first elected to fill this position in the fall of 1861, was re-elected in 1863. During his latter term the Leg- islature enacted a law separating the two offices. The most responsible of these was that of COUNTY TREASURER. J. E. Stacy, on the divorce of the two offices, held to that of treasurer (although he had been elected, at the last election, recorder, and held both offices) and was thus the first to serve as county treasurer exclusively. He was re-elected treasurer in 1865, and again in 1867, thus holding the office of custodian of the county's funds for eight years consecutively. J. E. Blackford, one of the prominent pioneers of the county, was elected in 1869 to fill this responsible position, and held it for two years. M. W. Stough was the immediate suc- cessor of Mr. Blackford, entering upon the duties of the office with the begin- ning of the year 1872, and served four years, having been re-elected in 1873. Mr. Stough is yet among the most prominent and influencial men in the county. M. W. Stough was born May 31, 1815, in Portage Co., Ohio. His parents, Jacob and Margaret (Ward) Stough, were among the early settlers of Portage county. Mr. Stough was an active and industrious man, always taking a prominent part in anything that was beneficial to the inter- ests of the county. M. W. Stough was fr* tj* 4— J — t: HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY 363 reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the pioneer log cabins of his native State. In October, 1844, he mar- ried Mabel Hine, of Summit county. In October, 1855, he emigrated to Fayette Co., Iowa, Clermont township, and en- gaged in mercantile business as the firm of Stedman & Stough. In June, 1869, he came to Kossuth county, locating in Al- gona and engaging in the machine trade, as the firm of Stough & Ilutchins. In 1871 he was elected county treasurer, and held the office four years, since which time he has been engaged in the harness and boot and shoe trade. M. D. Blanchard was elected to the office of treasurer in 1875, and re-elected in 1877, serving in that capacity four years. M. D. Blanchard is a native of Canada, born Nov. 22, 18S7. He lived there until 1856, at which time he emigrated to Iowa, stopping at Waterloo during the winter of 1856-57. In July, 1857, he came to Kossuth county, having moved across the prairies, from Waterloo, with an ox team, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 26, township 96, range 29, Algona township, where he now resides. He has 160 acres of land, seventy-five of which is under cultivation. He combines stock raising with regular fanning. Mr. Blanch- ard was married Feb. 27, 1851, at Green- bush, Canada West, to Garfelia Waite, born Jan. 12, 1828, in Genesee Co., N. Y. They have had six children, five of whom are living — Adelbert W. married Milcah Williams; Edward C. married Hattie E. Miller; Charles S. married Mary Math- ers; Helen E., wife of Andrew Barr; Edith C. and Ida L. Ida L. died June 9, 1876. Mrs. Blanchard is a member of the Con- gregational Church. Mr. Blanchard lias held the offices of county treasurer and county superintendent. Sylvester S. Rist, the present treasurer, was elected for his first term at the gen- eral election of 1879, and re-elected in 1881. S. S. Rist, the present county treasurer, was born in Worcester Co., Mass., Dec. 18, 1833. He is a machinist by trade. In 1856 he came to Kossuth county with his parents. He married Mary A. Milieu, Aug. 31, 1858. They have six children. In 1879, he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and re-elected in 1881 and 1883. COUNTY RECORDER. As before mentioned, J. E. Stacy was the first to occupy this office after its separation from that of treasurer, and served two years, when he was succeeded by H. M. Taft, who was elected in 1866. He was re-elected in 1868 and 1870 and made a most efficient officer. A. M. Horton was the successor of Mr. Taft, entering upon the duties of the of- fice the 1st of January, 1873. lie was re-elected in 1874, and occupied the place for four years. Mr. Horton, is at the pres- ent writing, in Washington territory, al- though he is still a resident of this county. John Reed, the present recorder, was elected in 1876 and has made such an ex- emplary officer that he has been reelected at each succeeding election, in 1876, 1878, 1880 and 1882. John Reed, county recorder and one of the early settlers of the county, was born in Logan Co., 111., Oct. 18, 1842, where his parents settled in 1832. They were na- 364 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY tives of Kentucky. In 1853 the family removed to Marshall Co., Iowa, and in 1858 to Kossuth county. John, the sub- ject of this sketch, was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, enlisting in the 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, company A, participating in all the engagements of the company. In 1867 he was elected county superintendent of schools. In 1868 he was married to Hattie M. Parsons. Three children blessed this union, one son and two daughters. In the fall of 1876 he was elected recorder, which office he holds at the present time, 1884. CLERK OF THE COURTS. Robert Cogley was the first clerk of the courts, being elected at the date of the or- ganization of the county, in August, 1855. He served one year when he gave way to a successor. J. E. Stacy was elected to fill this office, in 1856, and re-elected in 1858, and when in January, 1860, he qualified for the office of county judge, he appointed T. D. Stacy to till the vacancy. The latter did not hold it very long as it is recorded that upon the 9th day of May, i860, J. W. Moore was appointed to till the office. Mr. Moore held the position until the 1st of January, 1861. At the general election of 1860, Dr. Francis McCoy was elected to the office of clerk of the court, and occupied the position for two years. James L. Paine was the next incumbent of this office and was elected in 1862. He was re-elected twice, once in 1864 and again in 1866, holding the office for six years. In 1S68, A. E. Wheelock was elected to fill the office and re-elected in 1870 and 1872. During his term of office, Mr. Wheelock managed to hold both this and the office of county auditor. John Wallace was the immediate suc- cessor of Mr. Wheelock, and was elected in 1874, re-elected in 1876, holding the office for four years. Mr. Wallace is still a resident of Kossuth county. John Wallace, of the firm of J. Wal- lace T> 370 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER XV ALGONA TOWNSHIP. When the county of Kossuth was or- ganized, in 1855, the township of Algona comprised the whole of what is now Kos- suth county. Successive boards of super- visors have cut off from it first one town- ship and then another, until it consists at present of township 96 north, range 29 west, and all of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and the north half of sections 1, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of township 95 north, range 29 west. It is bounded on the north by Burt, on the south by Cresco, on the east by Portland and Irvington, and on the west by Lott's Creek township. The East Fork of the Des Moines enters this township on the east line of section 24, and flowing in a general southwesterly course, traverses sections 24, 25, 36 and 35, in township 96, range 29, and sec- tions 2, 3, 10 and 11, in township 95, range 29. This stream, the principal one in the county, forms a beautiful loop or bend in the lower part of its course in this township, and in this loop lies the large and thriving city of Algona, the seat of county government. The surface is beautifully rolling, the swales growing more abrupt as they near the river. The township, however, contains some of the finest agricultural land in the county, and is pretty well settled up by a thrifty class of American and German settlers. Some of the finest buildings are seen in the neighborhood of Algona, on farms that are found in northern Iowa. Algona township appears to have been organized at the time that the county was, in 1855, but no record exists of the officers elected at that time. At the election of Aug. 4, 1856, however, D. W. King was chosen township clerk; Benjamin Hens- ley, assessor; J. E. Blackford, justice of the peace; W. A. Wilson and O. J. Smith, constables. At this election but thirty- one ballots were cast, although the town- ship at that time comprised all of what is now Kossuth county. The earliest settlement of this town- ship, and the events connected with it, are, in a great measure, identical with those of the town of Algona, and will be found in connection with the history of that place further on. Before speaking of the settlement of it, therefore, it be- comes necessary to relate all the history of the agricultural and rural portion of the township first. Horace Schenck is said to have been one of the first settlers north of Algona who had his family with him. On the 4th of June, U56, he located on section 23, and proceeded to open up a farm. Be- tween him and the Minnesota line there — *|V HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 371 was no settler, and nothing but a vast wilderness of grass and weeds. Shortly after this, Joseph Thompson, in the year 1856, built a log cabin on the prairie east of the village. Here he con- tinued to reside until the following Christ- mas, when he removed to town. Capt. W. H. Ingham had a claim upon which he lived before either of the above located there, but as they remained, and he removed into Portland, the credit be- longs to them. Another of these early settlers in the township, outside of the village limits, was Michael Riebhoff. He erected a cabin of the trunks of the trees of the grove, 16x18 feet in dimension. The ceiling was so low that a man of ordinary height could scarcely stand upright in it. He made the floor out of puncheons split from basswood logs. Michael Riebhoff was born June 15, 1807, in Hanover, Germany. He emi- grated to America in 1833, locating in Westmoreland Co., Penn., and worked in the salt works for five years. In 1838 he came to Iowa and rented a small farm five miles from Dubuque, remaining two years, then took a claim in Dubuque county where he lived ten years and en- tered 220 acres more land. In 1856 he sold out and came to Kossuth county, set- tling on the north half of section 24, Al- gona township, where he now resides, and has thirty acres under cultivation, the rest being covered with native timber. He also owns 160 acres in Portland town- ship, on section 18. Mr. Riebhoff was married June 30, 1830, to Mary Jobman, who died Dec. 2, 1845, leaving six chil- dren—Henry, Margaret, Peter, John, Mary and Michael; four of these are mar- ried. John and Henry died in the Civil War of 1861. John died and was buried at St. Louis, Mo. Henry at Vicksburg, Term. Mr. Riebhoff was again married Feb. 22, 1842, to Amelia Roan, born April 9, 1830, in New Galloway, Scotland. They had fourteen children, twelve of whom are living — Elizabeth C, Agnes G., James F. and Jane,twins, Matthew N. and Martha A., twins, Susan A., Grace, John II., Grace J., Frank, Henry and Garfelia, twins, and Capitola. Grace and Capitola are deceased and buried in Algona. Eight of the chil- dren are married. Mr. Riebhoff is one of the oldest settlers in the county. He is upright and honest, worthy of great respect, and beloved by all who know him. William Carey was another of the early settlers of this township. He located in 1856, on section 14, but has since re- moved into Portland township. Around the first school house in this locality lingers many interesting reminis- cences. During the summer of 1856, this building was erected, if such a struct- ure could be said to have been erected, by digging into the side of a hill and the sides walled up with logs. That portion that projected from the ground was also covered with earth. This was called the "Gopher College" by the settlers in the vicinity, and by this name is it remem- bered to this day. The first teacher was Jonathan Callender. He was succeeded by Martha Clarke and Mrs. Carnish. Long since the building was destroyed by fire, but the memory of this primitive hall of learning will not perish for ages to come. v-,a -f — * 372 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. The first frame school house was built in 1860, on section 24, and was the first frame one in the county. The first school house in sub-district No. 8, was built of sod by the neighbors, on sections 17, 96 and 29, during the year 1866. The first teacher was Joseph Mar- tin, who presided over the destinies of this primitive academy three terms. For seats, teacher and scholars had slabs from the saw-mill, and desks were con- spicuous by their entire absence. The first year there were but the children of two families that attended, the Burts and McArthur's. The school house in district No. 4 was erected in 1883, at a cost of $643. That in district No. 11 was erected about three years prior to this, in 1880, and cost about $450. The first sub-direc- tor, of this sub-district was Thomas Han- nah. The present township officers are as fol- lows: F. C. Wilson, W. F. Hofius and C. Rickard, trustees; B. F. Reed, clerk; G. N. Ames, assessor; A. E. Wheelock and E. H. Clarke, justices. CITY OP ALGONA. This beautiful and enterprising city originated less than thirty years ago, when the beautiful country around the head waters of the Upper Des Moines river was just beginning to attract the attention of those in search of homes, and the surroundings were as free and wild as the time when the stars of the morning sang anthems of joy at nature's dawn. The changes from the primitive to the developed state have been constant and rapid. It has been one continual change from the moment of its projec- tion, until Algona of to-day stands forth one of the bright jewels in the diadem of a noble State. While there may have been nothing really remarkable in the. de- velopment of the past, or nothing pecu- liarly striking in the present, still there is much that cannot fail to be of interest to those who have been closely connected and identified with the city in all the various changes that have occurred from year to year. To those who have watched its progress from its earliest origin — when Kossuth county was a wilderness — until the present time, the accomplishment of by-gone days would seem now like a her- culean task, but are in reality the sure and legitimate results of an advanced state of civilization. Endowed with many natural advantages, aided by the strong arm of enterprising husbandry, Kossuth county has assumed a position among the best and wealthier of her sister counties throughout the State; and Algona, as the first town within her boundaries, has kept pace with the improvements and advance- ment. Algona is situated in a beautiful loop or bend of the East Fork of the Des Moines river, in the northeastern corner of township 95 north, range 29 west, and is about 160 miles from the Mississppi river at the nearest point of landing. Two lines of railroad pass it, connecting it with the markets of the world. These are the Chicago, Milwaukee HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 379 with an addition 12x16 feet in size, one and a half stones high. The doors and sash for the windows were brought here by teams from Iowa City. The floor was of puncheons hewn from the native tim- ber and even the casings of doors and windows were of the same primitive manufacture. Other cottages of like fron- tier architecture soon gathered around. Settlers now kept coming in, slowly at first, but more rapidly as time progressed. In the spring of 1856, Major William W. Williams, of Fort Dodge, sent up a small stock of goods in charge of a man by the name of W. M. Koons, but almost immediately after his arrival, the stock was put in charge of Henry F. Watson, who thus kept the first store in the county. Prior to this Charles Easton, an eccentric Englishman, who had come herein 1854, and put up a tent the other side of the woods to the south of the town, sold whisky and powder to the inhabitants, who wanted that kind of groceries. These two "merchants" and the itinerant- ped- dlers, who first made their appearance in 1856, supplied all the simple wants of the pioneers. One of the old settlers says that "an odd genius visited us peddling groceries, bacon and cats. He warranted his cats good mousers or no pay. He sold 'he-cats' for $1, and 'she-cats' at $1.50." In 1856, a hotel was also erected, by Hezekiah A. Henderson. This was a hewed log building, without any windows in the front, and was, to use the words of an early settler, "a most forlorn place." The hotel was known as the St. Nicholas Hotel, stood northeast of the court house. The hotel was afterwards bought by J. E. Stacy, who ran it for about four years. The settlers having brought their patri- otism along with them resolved to cele- brate the 4th of July, 1856, in an appro- priate manner. A flag was improvised, a hickory pole raised on the public square, a pic-nic dinner in the grove back of Mr. Heckart's residence, speeches, toasts,songs and all accompaniments necessary for a well conducted celebration. About eighty persons were present at this celebration including nine young ladies, some of them just out of their bibs and tucks — "a fine sprinkling," as Lewis H. Smith had it in a gallant response to a toast. About this time Jesse Magoon set up the first blacksmith shop in Algona, but only operated it for a short time, when, the same year, he was succeeded by Oli- ver Benschotter one of the prominent men of the county at a later date, and at present one of its residents. In December, 1855, Judge A. C. Call raised his mill. This was a substantial building, 37x45 feet, two stories high, lo- cated just south of Blackford's grove. It is thought that every man in the county attended the raising and lifted every pound that was in him. This mill was not started until the next summer. The engine was hauled from Warren, Ste- phenson Co., 111. by Ambrose A. Call, with ten yoke of oxen. The mill was a fine edifice, much better than the country de- manded at the time. This was operated for several years and a great deal of lum- ber was sawed thereat. It was, however, destroyed by fire, years ago. In the spring of 1856 a town hall was built in Algona. This was used for school and Church purposes, and for dances and other festal occasions. Speak- J7J*- 10 ♦3 « _^_ Kt. 380 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ing of it, Ambrose A. Call relates the fol- lowing: "Rev. Chauncey Taylor, in his interesting articles published in The Up- per Des Moines some time since, stated the way in which the town hall was built — by shares of stock, and controlled by a stock vote. If Father Taylor was not the prime mover, (he said he was not) he was the most active member of the company, being its secretary and general business manager, and always carrying the key. Af- ter the district built a school house, Fa- ther Taylor bought in the stock of the company, and converted the building into a Congregational Church; thus not only giving his time and best energies, but also his money in building up the Church of which he was pastor. But I set out to tell how it happened that the boys dedicated the building with a dance. In those early days, when our facilities for social amusement were limited, and the crude and uncertain condition of our mail service failed to supply the current news and more solid reading, dances, hops, balls, and cotillion parties, and the like were indulged in whenever oppor- tunity offered. None were too aristo- cratic or dignified, and all 'took a hand' (or rather foot) unless, indeed, religious training or awkwardness forbid. The young people of Irvington had dedicated their new hall with a ball in which we all participated, the night of the 3d of July. The next day they all turned out to our celebration, and when they saw our new hall were anxious to try the floor. But knowing our man, we considered it a risky business try ing to beguile the key from Father Taylor. 'I will tell you,' says George, his son, 'I heard father telling the minister who stopped at our house about the hall at breakfast, and am sure he will take him over to see it, I will watch and tell you when he unlocks the door." And so it happened, that as Fa- ther Taylor was explaining the conven- ience of certain arrangements to the stranger, the room was filled, and not un- til Uncle Bullus struck up the 'Arkansas Traveler,' and shouted 'Manners your partners!' did he fully comprehend the situation. 'Well,' says Father Taylor, 'I think I have engagements that will call me away, and I would like to lock the door now.' 'Never mind Mr. Taylor,' re- plied some one 'just leave the key, and we will lock the door when we go out,' and he left the key. It may not be out of place in justification of this procedure, to tell some tales out of school; how, when Uncle Bullus changed the music, Deacon Zahlten seized the daughter of our Baptist minister by the waist, and struck a gait that threatened destruction to our new ceiling; or how he was followed by brother Hackman with another comely daughter of a prominent Church member, in a style that would do credit to Fred- erick Willheim; but it must be remem- bered these things occurred years ago." To quote again from Mr. Call's con- tribution to the historic annals of the county: "The settlers were favored with stated preaching by Elder Marks as early as the winter of 1855-6. The elder was a gen- erous, big-hearted apostle, who, like Peter and Paul, went out to lead sinners to re- pentance, without money and without price. He made no pretentions to a classical education, or oratorical powers, ►rr -* — 4>? HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 381 but simple physical endurance, a strong pair of lungs, and earnestness of purpose. He tried to practice what he preached. He chopped wood, turned grindstone, carried water, tended baby, und tried to make himself useful wherever he went. He distributed tracts and prayed with private families when desired. With the mercury twenty or thirty degrees below zero one enjoyed one of his hell-fire ser- mons as much as he would to read of Dr. Kane's exploits in the frozen seas in dog days. He talked right to the point. He prayed for the old bachelors who had to bake their own slap-jacks and mend their own garments, 'for,' says he, 'God knows their cabins are desolate enough. And for Judge Call, may the Lord put something else into his head besides building steam-mills and making timber claims; 'for,' says be, 'my dear hearers, when yon are wriggling over the mouth of hell you will think of what old Marks told you.' He was of a scientific turn, and sometimes startled us with the con- clusions of his investigations. At one time, while earnestly trying to impress some of his arguments upon his hearers, he said: 'Why, just a few days ago I read of the body of a woman whom her friends undertook to remove several years after death. Why, my hearers, they couldn't dew it; it had become ver battum, it had pulrified, in plain English, my dear hearers, it had turned to stun, and weighed 600 pounds." Nearly all of the historic items in relation to the first happenings in Algona, being the first in the county, have been treated of elsewhere, and it would be un- necessary to repeat them in this connec- tion. Algona was incorporated in 1872, and the first election for city officers was held upon the first Monday in March of that year. The primal officers were: Charles Birge, mayor; F. M. Ta,\ lor, recorder; W. H. Ingham, E. N. Weaver, D. Patter- son, J. G.Smith and J.J. Wilson, trustees; W. Stebbins, street commissioner; H. W. Walston, assessor; G. L. Galbraith, treasurer. A slight sketch of each of the more prominent of these officials is here- with appended: Charles Birge was born in Whitewater, Wis., in 1845. Entered Wisconsin Uni- versity in 18(50. Went into the army in 1864, before finishing his col leg" ate course. After leaving the army he entered a law school at Albany, N. Y., from whence he graduated, in the spring of 1866, at twenty years of age. Read law in Janesville, Wis., in the office of J. B. Cassidy, until 1867, when he cut loose from all extrane- ous assistance and began in earnest the serious task of "paddling his own canoe." Mr. Birge commenced the practice of law in St. Louis, where he remained until 1870. He was married in December, 1868. Failing health warning him that a too close application to business, coupled with life in the crowded city, would in- evitably shorten his life, he reluctantly relinquished a lucrative practice in the Missouri metropolis, and sought a more bracing atmosphere in Iowa. This he found in Algona, where he arrived in April, 1870. In 1877 his health still failed him, and taking to his bed, he was compelled, although reluctantly, to render > *y 9 ^ 382 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. up his soul and be buried in the cold ground. F. M. Taylor is a native of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. Was born in 1839. He re- moved to Illinois and taught school in that State; afterwards moved to Ocono- mowoc, Wis., where he studied law with E. Hurlburt, Esq. After completing his studies he came to Algona, Iowa, and drove his stake in this village in May, 1869. W. H. Ingham is a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y. Is forty-four years of age. Mr. Ingham came into Kossuth county in 1854, and was, as all know, one of the pioneers in the settlement of northwest- ern Iowa. Very naturally, he is greatly interested in witnessing the growth and prosperity of this, the home of his early choice. Mr. Ingham is now in the bank- ing business, and is well and widely known for his business qualifications. E. N. Weaver is a native of Summit Co., Ohio, where he was born in 1834. Is a carpenter by trade, and has the reputa- tion of being one of our most skillful artificers. He came to Algona in 1856, since which time he has been a resident of Kossuth county, with the exception of one year, when he resided in Waterloo. John G. Smith was born in Boston, Mass., in 1840. Was well known as the proprietor of a garden near that city. He left Boston a number of years ago, for Algona, where his brother, Lewis H. Smith, had preceded him, and was then in the land business. Mr. Smith, with his brother, embarked in the mercantile trade in our village, and has become an indispensable fixture here. His straightforward business habits are well known. J. J. Wilson is a native of Onondago Co., N. Y. Was born in 1828. Has been in business in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Wisconsin. He came to Algona in Janu- ary, 1870, since which time he has carrred on a very extensive lumber trade. Mr. Wil- son is a wide awake, public spirited man, and is known through this and neighbor- ing counties for his fair and upright deal- ing as a business man. D. Patterson is a native of Liverpool, England, where he was born in 1837. His parents were Scotch people, and had resided in Liverpool but a short lime prior to his birth. He came to this coun- try when but ten years of age and resided in the "land of steady habits" until his majority, when he came "out west" to Rock Co., Wis., whence he removed to Keokuk Co., Iowa, and from thence to Washington county. Was postmaster in Dutch Creek,- Washington county, and afterwards in Cresswell, Keokuk county, in which latter place he was the pioneer merchant. He came into Algona in the fall of 1870, since which time he has been in the mercantile trade. The first council meeting was held at the council chamber in Algona, on the 22d of April, and the following resolution was passed: Resolved., By the town council of the in- corporated town of Algona, that a side- walk be and is hereby ordered built along the following streets : Commencing at the southwest comer of State and Moore streets, running thence south on the west side of Moore street to the northwest corner of Moore and Mc- Gregor streets, thence east along the north side of MeGresfor street to the northwest <° V- P HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 383 corner of McGregor and Jones streets, thence south along the west side of Jones street to the southwest corner of Jones and Kennedy streets, thence west along the south side of Kennedy street to the northeast corner of Kennedy and Harlan streets, thence south along the east side of Harlan street to the south side of South street, also from east line of lot three (3) in block twenty-eight (28), run- ning east along the south side of State street to the southwest corner of State and Harlan streets, thence south along the west side of Harlan street to northwest corner of Harlan and McGregor streets, also from northwest corner of Moore and McGregor streets, running thence south along west side of Moore street to south- west corner of Kennedy and Moore streets, thence east along south side of Kennedy street to the southeast corner of Kennedy and Harlan streets. Said sidewalk to be eight feet in width from east line of lot three (3) in block twenty-eight (28), on south side of State street, to the southeast corner of State and Harlan streets and built adjoining line of lots. The balance of said walk to be four feet wide, all to be constructed of two inch plank or oak one and a half inches thick, each plank not to exceed eight inches in width, with suitable sup- ports, and to be completed within sixty days after the 1st day of May, 1872, in accordance with the instructions of the street commissioner not inconsistent with this resolution. At the same meeting the first ordinances of the city government were adopted, and are as follows: Ordinance No. 1. Be it ordained b] the council of the In- corporated town of Algona, that the sub- ordinate officers of the council shall be a Treasurer, Marshal, Assessor and Street Commissioner. That said officers be elected by the council and hold their re- spective offices until their successors are elected and qualified, and hereafter, said officers shall be elected at the regular an- nual election for municipal officers for said town. Sec. 2. The duty of the Treasurer shall be to receive all moneys belonging to said incorporated town, and shall pay the same out upon vote of the council, upon orders signed by the Mayor and attested by the Recorder,with the corporate seal attached. Said Treasurer shall take and subscribe the same oath required of other officers of the corporation, and shall give bond with good security, to be approved by the council, in the sum of $2,000 for the faithful discharge of his duties. Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Street Commissioner to take and subscribe the same oath and in the same respects qualify the same as required of Road Su- pervisors in unincorporated townships, to perform the same duties within the limits of said incorporated town as is required of Road Supervisors, for which he shall receive the same fee for his services as Road Supervisors, and said commissioner shall perform such other duties consistent with the nature of his office as said coun- cil may from time to time require. Council Room, April 22d, 1872. Attest: Cha's Birge, Mayor. F. M. Tayloe, Recorder. . HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 389 sent to West Virginia, where he spent the winter of 1862-63. The following May lie participated in the battle of Mar- tinsburg, battle of the Wilderness, South Anna River, Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor. He was then promoted to first lieutenant, and took command of company I. At the battle of Winchester he was wounded in the right hip, and in 1*65 discharged at Indianapolis. He came west in April, 1865, settling in Clay- ton Co., Iowa, and engaging in mercantile business. In 1870 he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead. In 1873 he was elected superintendent of schools, and in 1875 re-elected. He was after- wards appointed mail agent on the Chica- go, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad for two years. In 1806 he married Dora Ben- jamin, of Clayton Co., Iowa. They have two sons — Willis and Glenford. He is a Master Mason of Prudence Lodge, No. 205, of Algona; also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. J. C. Heckart was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Dec. 2, 1838, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Heckart. When fourteen years of age, he removed with his parents to Elkhart, Ind , remaining there until 1856, when they cameto Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa. In 1861 Mr. Heckart enlisted . in ompany F, id Iowa Cavalry, remain- ing with this command until the follow- ing February. In August, 1862, he again enlisted in the 32d regiment, Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, company A, and partici- pated in the following engagements — Fort DeRussy, Pleasant Hill. Lake Chicot and Fort Blakely. He also tO'»k part in the capture of two rebel transports, on Little Red river, Ark, while detailed on board the gunboat Lexington, in 1863. After the close of the war, he returned to Kos- suth county and engaged in farming. In 1871 he went into the mercantile trade, which business he has since followed. In 1866 Mr. Heckart married Amelia M. Phelps, of Fond du Lac, Wis., by whom he has had three children — Grant W., Jessie and Hattie. Mr. Heckart is a Mas- ter Mason, a member of Prudence Lodge, No. 205. He is also quartermaster of James C. Taylor Post, G. A. R. De Witt Clinton Ackley, grocer and confectioner, was born in Pomfert, Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 1831. When two years of age, the family removed to Bristol, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Mr. Ackley resided there until nineteen years of age, during which time he learned the black- smith trade; he then removed to Sheboy- gan Co., Wis., there working at his trade until 1852. He then returned to Ohio, remaining until 1853, when heagain went to Wisconsin, and after a short residence in Sheboygan county, removed to Keno- sha county, where he resided until April, 1857; then removed to Kansas, stopping for a short time in Leavenworth and then moving to Hickory Point, Jefferson county, taking an active part in the strug- gle then in progress which made Kansas a free State. In May, 1859, Mr. Ackley went to Denver, Col., where he remained until July of that year, then returned to Ohio, and in July, 1861, enlisted in the 14th Ohio Battery of mounted artillery, serving until January, 1863. At the bat- tle of Pittsburg Landing, Mr. Ackley was wounded in the right leg and discharged on account of physical disability. He returned to Ohio,' where he remained J§* 390 HISTORY OF KOS&UTH COUNTY. until March, 1863, at which time he re- turned to Kenosha Co., Wis. In October, 1863, he came to Iowa, first locating at Waverly, and in March, 1864, removed to Freeborn Co., Minn. In November, 1865, lie removed to Mitchell, Iowa, and in August, 1870, came to Algona, working at the blacksmith trade until 1883, when he engaged in the grocery business Mr. Ackley was married April 30, 1854, to Clarissa Wooiworth, a native of New York. They have four children — Mary A., Olive A., Delia O. and Buel C. Mrs. Ackley is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Ackley is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Booth & Buell, who are the successors to Phillips Bros., entered into business partnership in 1883, and enjoy a fair share of the patronage of the people of this locality. Dumont A. Buell, of the firm of Booth tfc Buell, grocers, was born in April, 1840, in Monroe Co., N. Y. When thirteen years of age he removed with his parents to Ottawa, 111., where he was reared and educated. He engaged in farming at Ot- tawa until 1880, when he came to Algona and entered into land speculations, at which he is still engaged. In April, 1883, he went into the grocery business with Mr. Booth. Mr. Buell was married Oct. 17, 1867, to Emma Hardy. They had two children — Hardy and Emma. Mrs. Buell died in March, 1877. Mr. Buell married, in 1879, Pamelia Thurber, a native of Illinois. They have two children — Ella L. and Julia T. Mr. and Mrs. Buell are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Buell is a member of the Masonic order. The Grange store is under the general management of J. E. Blackford, and car- ries a stock of about $4,000 in various lines. The growth of the furniture trade lias been interesting to watch. In 1856 John Heckart opened a cabinet shop for the repair of disabled and maimed furniture, and in connection ran a turning lathe and did odd jobs at painting. This lathe of Mr. Heckart's was in a small building, which hung upon a pivot. The lathe was driven by a wind-mill, and as the wind varied the building was moved around to the proper position for sails of the mill to catch the wind. Mr. Heckart for many years made and repaired almost all the furniture in the county, and is at present one of Algona's prominent citizens, hav- ing retired from active pursuits and en- joying the fruits of his former industry. John Heckart, the pioneer cabinet maker of Algona, was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., May 14, 1805. In 1832 he was married to Elizabeth Fisher, and they have lived happily together for more than half a century. In 1836 he left his na- tive State and moved to Wayne Co., Ohio, where he resided until 1854, when he re- moved to Elkhart, Ind. In 1856 he came to Algona, then a place with two log cabins. Here he embarked in the cabinet business, being the first cabinet maker in the county. He made chairs and bed- steads, many of which are now in use. From the humble beginning made in this line, has grown the present tine busi- ness of Bronson Bros. Starting July 12, 1881, they have succeeded in building up a fine trade and carry a heavy stock of goods in their line. ^ 9 W. -/ S> £* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 391 The first hardware store was opened by James Mclntyre, who came from Illi- nois. He afterward died here, and the business passed into other hands. In 1869, Dammon, Griffin & Robinson estab- lished themselved in the hardware busi- ness at this point, but after running about a year, the interest of the senior partners was purchased by J. W. Robinson, and the firm, under the name of Robinson Brothers, has continued one of the insti- tutions of the town ever since. They carry a full line of shelf and heavy hard- ware, stoves and everything usually hand- led in that business. J. W. Robinson, one of the prominent business men of Algona, was born Aug. 7, 1841, in New Hampshire. His parents, Frederick and Philena Robinson, were natives of New Hampshire. J. W. Rob- inson grew to manhood in his native State, receiving an academical education, also graduated at a business college in Boston. In 1862, he enlisted in company A, 11th New Hampshire Volunteer Infan- try, and was wounded in the right arm at the battle of Fredericksburg, sent to a hos- pital at Washington, from there to Ports- mouth Grove, R. I., where he staid five months. He then joined his regiment at Knoxville and was soon after sent to the army of the Potomac under Gen. Grant, participating in all the engagements, till the surrender of Gen. Lee; he was also at the Grand Review in Washington. After his discharge from the service, he re- turned to New Hampshire. In 1870 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and has since followed the hardware business. In 1874 he married Antoinette Veazey. They have three children — Howard V., Abra L. and Norman W. Mr. Robinson is an honorable member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Prudence Lodge, No. 205. His wife died Nov. 10, 1882. P. L. S. Bronson and L. M. B. Smith are also prominent and representative merchants in this line. Peter L. S. Bronson, dealer in hardware, stoves, etc., is a native of Norway, born April 29, 1850. When six years of age he emigrated with his parents to the United States, settling in Chicago, 111., where Peter was reared and learned the tinner's trade. In 1872 he went to Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where he remained four years, then came to Algona, working for L. M. B. Smith. In August, 1878, he en- gaged in business for himself, and is now one of the successful business men of Algona. Mr. Bronson was married Jan. 27, 1875, to Thorena Thoreson, also a na- tive of Norway. They have four children — Adolph, Secegwart, Fred and Clara. Mr. Bronson is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In the spring of 1870, J. J. Wilson opened a lumber yard at Algona, which is claimed to have been the first in the town, although lumber had been sold here previ- ously, but by no regular established dealer. The business is at present in the hands of J. J. Wilson, W. W. Johnson and John J. Queal. D. S. Ford, it is claimed, is the pioneer agricultural implement dealer. He was the first to erect a warehouse and engage in it as a specialty. To Mr. Ford is Kos- suth county indebted for the introduction of flax seed. This business is represented at present by the following firms : D. S. >Pv* 392 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. f *[• Ford, J. It. Jones & Co., Robinson Bros., and Mathew Richardson. J. R. Jones & Co., established by Mr. Jones, in the fall of 1870, when he put up the present building he occupies. In the spring of 1872, he admitted, as a partner, Thomas Hamson, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Jones & Hamson. This lasted but about a year when Mr. Jones became the purchaser of his partner's interest. In 1882, G. H. Lampson purchased a half interest therein and the style of the firm name changed to its present one of J. R. Jones & Co. The first harness shop was started by F. W. Hawes, in the spring of 1870. He came here from Nashua, Chickasaw Co., Iowa, and opened in a small building on the north side of State street where the drug store of B. G. Forbush now stands. In 1871, he moved into his present quar- ters This store room is 22x70 feet in size and is filled with a fine stock of har- ness and everything in that line, besides a stock of clothing, boots and shoes and trunks. Besides Mr. Hawes, this line of trade is worthily represented by M. W. Stough and Walters & Co. Milton R. Walters, harness maker, was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 19, 1850. He is a son of Reuben and J. Mitchell Walters, natives of New York, who emi- grated to Indiana in an early day. Mr. Walters was a soldier in the Union army, where he contracted a disease of which he lost his life. The subject of this sketch went to Humboldt Co., Iowa, in 1861. Here he turned over the first sod where Humbo'dt now stands. Also helped to haul the first lumber to build the first house. He was married in Humboldt -P- county to Clara Penny, by whom he has had four children — George, Jennie, Ella and Edna. In 1874 he came to Al- gona, where he has followed his trade ever since. Mr. Walters is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge of Algona. In politics he is a staunch republican, and has held several local offices of trust. P. L. Slagle was born June 6, 1845, in Greene Co., Ohio. His parents were George W. and Martha (Long) Slagle. His mother was from Philadelphia, Penn. His father was a Virginian and came to Ohio at an early day. In 1843 they moved to Wheatly county, where they still reside. P. L. Slagle was reared in Ohio and In- diana. When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of saddler and harness maker. In 1864 he enlisted in company D, 11th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and other engage- ments. He served till the close of the war. In 1858 he married Sarah Crabb. They have five children — Charles II., Elmer II., Frank II., George H. and Walden H. In 1868 he came to Algona, where he lias followed his trade. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge and Chapter, also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. The first merchant tailor in Algona was J. K. Fill, who established that business on the 26th day of March, 1860, when he came here. He came from Ogle Co., 111., where he had been engaged in the same line of business. He is regarded as one of the first business men of the city. J. K. Fill, merchant tailor, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Jan. 22, 181). Here IV •k HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 393 he learned the trade of tailor in the shop of his father, at the age of fourteen years, serving three years' apprenticeship. In 1838 he emigrated to America, locating in Baltimore. He remained in Baltimore a few years, and then removed to Dauphin Co., Penn. In 1853 he removed to Ogle Co., 111., remaining there until 1860, when he came to Kossuth eounty and settled on a farm in Irvington township. While run- ning his farm he again engaged in his pres- ent business. In 1 873 he removed his family to Algona, where they have since resided. He was united in marriage, in 1843, in Dauphin Co., Penn., with Eliza J. Price. By this union there were eight children. Mr. Fill is a republican politically. He enlisted in company F, 2d Iowa Cavalry, and participated in many engagements. For many years the repairing of wagons had been done by the blacksmiths, who were alo workers in wood to that extent, but in 1876, Bradley & Nicoulin em- barked in the business of manufacturing wagons, carriages, etc., and repairing the same. They have a large establishment, employing twelve men, and turn out 300 wagons and carriages per year. The Al- gona lumber wagon made by them has an excellent reputation, not only local, but as far west as Chamberlain, Dak., to which point and intervening ones they are shipped. A. M. Johnson & Son are also an enter- prising wagon making firm. They opened a shop in 1882 and are doing quite an ex- tensive business. The Johnson wagon is deservedly popular. A. M. Johnson rs a native of Delaware Co., N. Y. When eighteen years of age he learned the blacksmith's trade. He was married in 1844 to Elizabeth Fish, they having four children — George, Lafay- ette, Edward and Augusta. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company F, 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and took part in Sher- man's raid on Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Young's Point, siege and capture of Vicks- burg; here he was taken sick and sent to Logging's hospital, from there to Quiney, 111., when in February, 1864, he was dis- charged. He then returned to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he had settled in 1856. In 1865 he located in Irvington township, now Sherman township, on section 5, where he engaged in farming, and in the spring of 1879 came to Algona. In the spring of 1882 he opened up a wagon shop in company with his son, where they turn out some excellent work, and are known far and wide as the Johnson wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Watch repairing was first done by J. H. Warren, and the business, as well as stocks of jewelry kept by F. M. Bronson and E. G. Bowyer, at the present. William Cordingley was the first to deal exclusively in the shoe business, and manufacture and repair the foot gear of this community. He started in it about fifteen years ago, in 1868, and is still the most important merchant in that line, where it is handled exclusively. The meat market business is well rep- resented by three stands, those of Frank Winkel, Mrs. Schweigs and J. Winkel. It is claimed that the first photographer to locate here, was a party by the name of Thompson. This line is represented at this time by Saunders & Fuller and NtVII YORK. N. Y -*%— : :~* -J± 394 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT Y. J. F. Nicoulin, who enjoy a large and lucrative business. J. F. Nicoulin was born Feb. 24, 1847, in Massachusetts. His parents were Xa- vier and Paulina (Parset) Nicoulin, his father a native of Switzerland, and his mother of France. When young people they came to America, and were married in Pittsfield, Mass. In 1849 they went to Vermont, and in 1 854 emigrated to Dodge Co., Wis. Mr. Nicoulin was drowned in ISr.9, in Rock river, while constructing a bridge over the stream. Mrs. Nicoulin was afterwards married to Frank Bernard. They are living at Appleton, Wis. J. F. Nicoulin went to Appleton when four- teen years of age, and was employed for nine years as clerk in a store. In 1870 he came to Algona, and in 1873 opened a photograph gallery. In 1880 he married Isabella Gilbraith, a daughter of Williim Gilbraith, of Kossuth county. Mr. Nicou- lin is a member of the I. O. O. F. Dr. Parker was the first dentist to lo- cate in Algona. At the present C. B. Cole, E. S. Ensign and L. K. Garfield, M. D., are the representatives of this branch of business. In 1868 E. S. Lamb commenced the first livery business, and followed it for several years in connection with the hotel. Several parties have engaged in it since then, but Grove & Co., and Smith & Ring are the live liverymen of Algona, at the present writing. Isaac Grove, liveryman, Algona, was born June 13, 1818, in Union Co., Penn. He there learned the shoemaker's trade, continuing to work at the same until 1844. He then went to Rockford, 111., being engaged in teaming between that city and Chicago for many years. He also engaged in farming near Rock- ford. In 1864 he moved to Charles City, Iowa, being engaged in farming and other occupations until 1873. He then located near Nora Springs, farming in that neigh- borhood until 1875, then coming to Kos- suth county, and settling on section 4, Algona township. He engaged in farm- ing until 1879, when he went into the liv- ery business in Algona Mr. Grove was married, Jan. 1, 1842, to Annie E. Ziebach. He has five children living — Marion, Emily J., Samuel, John and Jacob F. Mrs. Grove died Feb. 17, 1864. Mr. Grove married in August, 1864, Mrs. Laura (Tennant) Lynch, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Grove is a member of the Congregational Church. J. A. Smith was born Sept. 27, 1847, in Prussia. In June, 1870, he emigrated to America, settling in Clinton Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming. After one year he went on a farm in Calhoun county In 1880 he disposed of this farm and pur- chased another. In 1882 he removed to Pomeroy, where he engaged in the livery business. In June of the same year lie was burnt out. In 1883 he came to Algona, and is still in the livery business. He still owns the farm in Calhoun county. In all new counties the real estate busi- ness has always taken a prominence, and the town of Algona, in this respect, has at all times been particularly favored. The first party to engage in this line was Asa C. Call, who came to Algona in 1855, with that intention. The first mention of any transfer of property in the town of Algona, is the sale of a town lot by him to Lyman L. Treat, for the consideration -3T. ■FT ^^y%^e4^ (^£sxJkrt^- jjgp&6#'™KVffrl>; ■*&. ■}* ^OAA^lJ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 399 of $1. There are many parties in the city, at present, engaged in this business, prominent among whom are: George C. Call, who is the successor to his father, A. C. Call; J. W. Jensen, the representa- tive of Fredericksen, Hansen & Drum- mond; C. Byson, J. E. Stacy, the agent of the American Emigrant Society; C. L. Lund, J. B. Jones, W. H. Nycum and O. E. Palmer. Ambrose A. Call, W. II. Ing- ham and L. H. Smith are also interested in this business, in connection with their general banking business. George C. Call, real estate, abstract and loan agent, is a son of Asa C. Call, and is successor to his father in the oldest estab- lished real estate business in Algona, his father having established the same in 1854. Mr. Call became interested in the business in 1879, and Dec. 5, 1882, hesuc- ceeded the firm in his present business. He is a native of Algona, and was born Sept. 24, 1 860. He was here reared and educated. From his youth he has been engaged in the land business, and though a young man has been unusually success- ful. Mr. Call is a member of Algona Lodge, No. 236, I. O. O. F. of this city. John W. Jensen is a native of Norway, born May 31, 1854. He was there reared on a farm. In August, 1872, he emigra- ted to the United States, locating in Kos- suth Co., Iowa. He here engaged in funning and various lines of business un- ^ til the spring of 1883, when he accepted his present position as agent for Freder- icksen, Hansen & Drummond. Mr. Jensen was married June 8, 1878, to Mary Jacob- son, also a native of Norway. They have three children — Emma Julie, Ida Maria and William Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Jen- sen are members of the Lutheran Church. C. Byson, real estate agent, was born in Denmark, Feb. 22, 1842, being there reared on a farm. In April, 1869, he emigrated to America, settling in Warren Co., Penn He divided his time between Jefferson and Clarion counties, Penn., un- til 1882. He then came to Algona, tak- ing charge of the real estate business of A. Boysen until October, 1883, when he established his present business. When Mr. Byson arrived at Castle Garden, N. Y., he had but $1 in his pocket, and his success may be judged from the fact that he is now quite a large property owner in the city of Algona. In June, 1870, Mr. Byson was married to Anna M. Peterson, also a native of Denmark. They have three children— John R., Kinnie E. and Anthony. Christian L. Lund, real estate agent, wag born in Denmark, Aug. 3, 1850. He was there reared to manhood, receiving his education at the Royal University of Copenhagen, at which institution his father, Miller Lund, has for many years been professor of theology. When twenty- one years of age he entered the regular army of Denmark, according to custom, and served one year. In 1873 he came to the United States, going directly to Chi- cago, 111., where he resided one year, then removed to Saline Co., Neb., where he re- mained one year. He then went to Kear- ney Co., Neb., where he resided three years, engaging in real estate business and stock raising. He then went to Colo- rado, residing in Leadville and Denver for one year, after which he returned to Chicago, where he again remained one Via 11 i&+ 400 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. year. He then removed to Algoiia, Iowa, engaging in the real estate business. He owns large farms in Kossuth and Emmett counties, and is extensively engaged in stock raising in the southeastern part of Emmett county. In the line of insurance, the business is well represented by H. Hoxie, A. D. Clark, F. M. Taylor, J. J. Wilkinson, L. H. Smith, Jonathan B. Winkle, C. F. Calkins and J. B. Jones. J. Wallace & Co., the proprietors of the creamery and cheese factories, are among the most prominent business men of the community. They commenced operations in Kossuth county in 1874, building that year a cheese factory about three miles east of Algona. Early the next year they erected one six miles east of the city. Later they built two more, one in Irvington and another three miles north of Algona. In 1876 four factories were erected by them, one in the south- west part of the county, one in Lott's Creek township, one in Fenton, and the fourth in the northwestern part of Hum- boldt county. They continued their busi- ness until 1877, when the style of the firm was changed to Wallace, White & Reed, but only remained this way for one year, when it was changed back to the original name of J. Wallace & Co. In 1878 they reduced their business, discontinuing all but four factories. They engaged in the creamery business in the fall of 1879, and wen' the first in Kossuth county, and the second in the State to adopt the new sys- tem. During their first year of the creamery business they made 2,500 pounds of butter daily. In the spring of 1883 they engaged in the same line of business at the rising town of Bancroft, in this county, and are among the heaviest deal- ers in this line in northern Iowa. They also buy all kinds of produce and grain, and are live, energetic, business men. Blossom Bros, began business in Algona in May, 1878, in the line of buying and shipping all kinds of produce, butter, eggs, poultry, etc. They are also propri- etors of a creamery at East Algona, and occupy two store rooms, 22x60 feet, and the upper stories of the same building also. They manufacture during the proper season about 3,000 pounds of butter daily, and handle three car loads of poultry, and 200,000 pounds of dairy butter per year. C. H. Blossom, of the firm of Blossom Bros., produce merchants, was born in Cook Co., 111., Aug. 19, 1853. He came to Waverly, Iowa, in 1861, and has been in the produce business since 1872. He located in Algona in 1878. The firm is doing a large business in dairy butter, poultry, eggs, and the manufacture of creamery butter. The flax mill and hay press of B. Mor- ris & son, is one of the foremost busi- ness enterprises of the town. This was erected in July, 1880, and is somewhat of a success, and will doubtless improve as more and more flax is grown by the agri- culturists of the county. They press and bale about 1,000 tons of hay per year, also, and have $8,000 invested in their business. The steam grist mill and grain elevator located at the depot of the C. M. & St. P. railroad are the property of J. J. Wilson, one of Algona's most prominent, enter- prising and energetic business men. In 1871 he engaged here in the lumber busi fe* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 401 ness, and in that same summer built the ele- vator, to handle the grain he was buying. This structure is 20x52 feet, with an ad- dition, since erected, of 24x32 feet in size. The mill, which is one of the best in this section of the State, was built by O. J. Hack, in 1872, but came into the posses- sion of Mr. Wilson in 1874. This build- ing is 36x56 feet in dimension, and is thoroughly equipped with the most mod- ern machinery on the roller system, and has a capacity of turning out sixty bar- rels of flour daily. Mr. Wilson is also engaged in t e coal, lumber, grain and stock business at this point, and at Whittemore, this county, and Emmets- burg, Palo Alto county, and employs a capital of $40,000 in his various businesses. The first steps toward the banking busi- ness were taken on the 1st of January, lf-67, by \V. II. Ingham, who opened an account with Austin Corbin, of New York city, to draw hills of exchange against. The first draft was made upon the 11th of January, and was for $100 from James L. Paine, of Algona, to a clergyman in Missouri. On the 1st of January, 1 870, just three years later, Mr Ingham and Lewis H. Smith formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Ingham & Smith, for the transaction of a regular banking business. Mr. Smith painted the sign for the pioneer bank, which is yet among the archives of the institution. Dining the year 1871 they built the fine edifice now occupied by the Kossuth County Bank, which is one of the finest buildings in the city. Erected of Milwaukee brick, two stories high, the upper story being occupied as offices, fine French plate glass windows, and fitted up in a superb manner inside, it is a structure that would not be out of place among the palatial piles of Chicago or Milwaukee. On the 16th of May, 1873, the Kossuth County Bank, was organized and incor- porated upon the foundation land by Messrs. Ingham & Smith. This was a stock company and the officers chosen at that date have continued to be re-elected their own successors, to the present moment. They are as follows: W. H. Ingham, president; J. B. Jones, vice- president; L. H. Smith, cashier; J. W. Wadsworth, teller. The board of direc- tors is composed of the following gentle- men: W. H. Ingham, L. II. Smith, J. B. Jones, B. W. Devine, John G. Smith, Theodore Chrischilles and J. W. Wads- worth. This institution has a capital of $50,000 and is incorporated under the general banking laws of the State. The gentlemen who are the head of the con- cern are widely and extensively known, 1> ing among the first settlers in this part of the State, and for reliability, integrity and probity, as well as for being men of wealth and business experience none en- joy a better reputation. Briefly, this in- stitution is regarded as one of the staunch and reliable fixtures of Kossuth's business interests and entitled to the unlimited confidence of the public. Joseph W. Wadsworth, teller of the Kossuth County Bank, was born in Keno- sha Co., Wis., Nov. 13, 1853. His parents, John and Rebecca (Whitley) Wadsworth, were natives of England, and emigrated to the United States, in 1847. Mr. Wads- worth was reared and educated in Keno- sha county. In 1870 he attended Spen- cer's Commercial College, at Milwaukee, *L 402 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. graduating with honors. In May, 1873, he was appointed teller of the Kossuth County Bank, which position he still holds. In October, 1875, Mr. Wadsworth was married to Eraeline A. Watkins, a daugh- ter of John Watkins, of Mower Co., Minn. Two children have blessed this union — Alice R. and Harvey J. Mr. Wadsworth is an active member of the Masonic fra- ternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge Chapter and Commandery. The Bank of Algona was established un- der the existing State laws, on the 18th of November, 1880, and at once assumed, and still maintains a permanent place in the banking interest of this section, and is a most valuable adjunct to commercial inter ests. The faculties for transacting all busi- ness pertaining to the banking system are unsurpassed, and in its construction and organization, everything has been consid- ered calculated to enhance the interestand security of those so fortunate as to be numbered among its patrons. The official management of the institution is vested as follows: AmbroseA. Call, president; D. H. Hutchins, vice-president; V. H. Stough, cashier. The board of directors is made up of some of the best men in the com- munity, and add solidity, were that neces- sary, to the above named official heads. It is composed of the following gentle- men: D. H. Hutchins, Joseph Thompson, G. N. Hancock, Philip Dorweiler, A. A. Call, William Carey and V. H. Stough. The bank draws drafts on all foreign countries, through Oilman, Son & Co., of New York, and on Chicago, through the First National Bank of that city. For the security of the funds entrusted to them, they have aDiebold fire and burglar-proof safe, fitted with a Sargent & Greenleaf time lock. Ambrose A. Call, the pioneer of Kos- suth county, and one of the figures around which cluster much of the historic annate of the past, was born in Huron Co., Ohio, upon the 9th of June, 1833. He is theson of Asa and Mary (Metcalf) Call, and comes of good stock. His grandfather was one of the noble band of patriots that achieved jour National Independence in the Revo- lution, and his father served in the army that preserved it during the War of 1812-15. When the subject of this sketch was but a few months old, his father died and his widowed mother removed to Cat- taraugus Co., N. Y., where she had friends. Five years later, however, she returned to the west, going beyond her old home in Ohio, and locating at South Bend, Ind., where she remained many years. Ambrose left home at the age of fifteen, he having received a common school education in the meanwhile. The summor of 1850, the subject of our sketch established a news depot at Dayton, Ohio, delivering the Cin- cinnati dailies ahead of the mails. The fall and winter of the same year, he at- tended commercial college in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the spring of 1854 he turned his steps westward and brought up in Iowa; at this time he was but twenty-one years of age, and in company with his elder brother, who had just returned from the gold fields of California, he came north from Fort Des Moines, as it was then called, into what is now Kossuth county, arriving here the 9th of July, 1854. In 1861 he established the first newspaper in the county, the Algona Pioneer Press, an account of which, see elsewhere. This he olV *Js_ Su HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 403 continued to edit for several years. For the last twenty years, Mr. Call has been a government mail contractor, and at the present time controlls a large number of routes throughout the northwest. He was united in marriage with Nancy E. Hen- derson, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, in October, 1859, a lady whose ancestors have a his- toric record in the settlement of Ken- tucky. Their.unionTias been blessed with seven living children— Florence M., Edith, Etta L., Bertha A., Chester C. and Roscoe and Myrtle, twins. In politics Mr. Call has ever affiliated with the republican party, and has taken great interest in the success of the measures advocated in the platforms of that party. Although fre- quently solicited, Mr. Call has persist- ently refused political preferment, and has never been an office seeker or holder. A prominent Mason, he carries into every day life the teachings of the craft, and deals with his fellow man as he would be dealt with. With his brother he founded the city of Algona, and was also the founder of Bancroft, the Second town of importance in the county. Ask him his occupation, and his reply will be, a farmer, which is in fact, true, as he has over 1,000 acres of this rich Iowa prairie, brought under subjection' to the plough. Conservative in business, Mr. Call has had the good fortune to accumulate an easy competence by shrewd investments, and as the result of his mail business. He is at present, president of the Bank of Algona, and one of Kossuth county's most prominent representative citizens. D H. Hutchins was born Sept. 20, 1823, in Franklin Co., N. Y. He was raised a "farmer boy," and received his education in the district schools and Franklin Academy, where he attended three terms. He went to Indiana in the spriugof 1S45; resided there two years, then returned to Franklin county, where for five years he worked on a farm summers and taught school winters. He went to California in the spring of 1852, in company with his brother; was engaged in mining and other pursuits for two years, and returned home in the spring of 1854. A year later he moved to Clayton Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted as a pri- vate in company E, 27th regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry; was elected orderly sergeant by the company in the spring of 1863, and promoted to second lieutenant in the fall of 1864, participating in the battles of Little Rock, Fort De Russy, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Fish Bayou, Tupelo and Nashville; was discharged May 15, 1865, while in hospital at Natchez, Miss. He returned to Clayton county, re- maining there until March, 1869, when he settled in Algona, and engaged in the im- plement trade. He has 250 acres of land under cultivation, and is now assistant cashier in the Bank of Algona. He mar- ried Helen M. Whitney, of Franklin Co., N. Y. They have had four children, three now living — Clayton B., auditor of Kos- suth county; Lucina M., wife of A. F. Call, of Algona, and Celia V. Mr. Hutchins was commissioned captain of uniformed militia by Gov. Seymour, of New York, and of Home Guards, by Gov. Stone, of Iowa; was elected four times justice of the peace, and served one term as supervisor of Kossuth county. The first hotel in the county was the hewn log building reared and kept by II. » \ \ e_. -* s> 't»» 404 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. A. Henderson, in 1856, as is stated else- where. This was known as the Wiscon- sin House, and was for several years the only place of entertainment for the wean- traveler. In 1864 a Mr. Harrison built a frame structure on east State street, which lie called the Kossuth County Hotel. This building is yet standing and is used for the same business, although overshad- owed by later built and more pretentious rivals. This hotel is at present under the management of A. Rutherford, who has a large patronage among the farming com- munity. The Cliff House, afterwards known as the Commercial House, was for some years the principal stopping place in Al- gona, but it is now closed. McGraw was the last landlord whometthe guests at the door and made them welcome. In 1 8*70 a brick hotel, which went under the name of the Russell House, was erected opposite the court house. It was under the management and direction of several landlords until 1879, when G. N. Hancock became the proprietor. In Feb- ruary, 1883, Alexander Younie became owner and proprietor. The building was 66x90 feet in area, two stories high, and well constructed of brick. The ceilings were twelve feet high, and the house con- tained twenty-five good rooms, well fur- nished, comfortable and good accommoda- tions, and an affable landlord. What more could the tired guest ask? Mr. Younie is considerable of a capitalist and real estate owner, and is one of the solid men "f the community. This hotel burned down late in the winter of 1883. A. Younie, formerly owner of the Han- cock House, is a native of Quebec, Canada, born Feb. 22, 1841. He was there reared and educated. His parents, Alexander and Isabella (Lang) Younie, were natives of Scotland. His father was an old sol- dier, and was in the British service during the Napoleon Wars. He died in 1857. Alexander is the eighth of a family of nine children. In the spring of IS6oMr. Younie went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and after a short residence there, went to Montana territory. In December, 1865, he returned to Fort Dodge, spending the summer of 1866 in Kansas and Missouri. In the fall of that year he engaged in farming in Humboldt Co., Iowa, and in the spring of 1870 he went to Palo Alto county, being engaged in farming and stock raising. In February, 1883, he be- came proprietor of the Hancock House at Algona, Iowa. Mr. Younie was married Jan. 26, 1870, to Laura E. Elliott, a native of New York. They have three chil- dren — Nettie, Isabella and William A. Mr. Younie was a justice of the peace, a notary public, and a member of the board of supervisors while a resident of Palo Alto county. He was admitted to the bar in Humboldt county, and in 1876 prac- ticed at Roth, Iowa. The present hotel known since its in- ception as the Bongey House started from a small beginning. In 1872 Alfred Bon- gey, the present proprietor, built a small building, which is part of the present hotel, and commenced the business of taking care of travelers. This is said to have been the first structure built of pine lumber in Algona. The material was hauled from Fort Dodge by team. As ** V Jl* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 405 the years rolled on, these quarters grow- ing too confined for his ever increasing business, Mr. Bongey built the present commodious edifice. This now contains some forty-five rooms, and the presence of the genial host, draws a large share of the commercial travelers to the house. Alfred Bongey, proprietor of the Bon- gey House, was born March 17, 1833, in York Co., Perm. In 1839 he removed with his parents to Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he lived until 1861. He then went to St. Joseph Co., Mich., remaining until 1869, then he came to Algona, and en- gaged in contracting and building. He was thus employed about four years, his first contract being the college building. He also during that time worked on the court house. In \S72 Mr. Bongey erected a small building, being now a portion of his present hotel building, and engaged in the restaurant and boarding house business two years, then commenced keep- ing hotel. He has since that time made several additions to his hotel, until now he has one of the best equipped houses in the city. Mr. Bongey was married March 20, 1869, to Mary A Hutchinson, a native of Michigan. They have four children — Clifford W., Naomi B., Jacob S. and Fred. Mr. Bongey has been a member of the city council and is an influential citizen. Among the various businesses and pro- fessions carried on in Algona, but which are treated of in detail in the general county history, under their proper head, are two newspapers, the Upper Des Moines, under the management of Ing- ham & Warren, and the Republican, owned by Starr & Cowles; the following list of lawyers: George E. Clarke, C. P. Doiland, J. B. Jones, W. L Joslyn, R. J. Hanson, Quarton & Sutton, H. £. Vaughn, E. H. Clarke, B. F. Reed, F. M. Taylor, G. C. Wright, A. F. Call, J. N. Weaver, W. P. Coolbaugh; and doctors: L. A. Sheetz, L. K. Garfield, S. G. A. Read, James Barr, L. E. Potter and A. Richmond. No better history of the early Churches of Algona and Kossuth county could be prepared than is given'Jjyl.tbe Rev. W. H. Burnard, of the Congregational So- ciety, in a sermon delivered Aug. 15, 1883. The care and trouble exercised by this worthy divine in the compilation of these annals has been duly appreciated by the historian and the article is inserted in its entirety: "Interest is always attached to the be- ginning of institutions; for the manner of their origin, and the reason for it, will usually account for what is peculiar to them afterwards; and then, the beginning itself is likely to have had a cause or at- tending circumstance, and to have sug- gested certain measures and expedients united to the time and place, that could not have occurred in other conditions, while the subsequent growth, with fewer limitations, falls into a conventional method and becomes commonplace. This is particularly true of Churches. The majority of them have about the same experience. The history of one is the history of many, with slight variations. But though their mission and the need of them is always and forever the same, the conditions in which they are born differ with the difference of city and country, age and size of communities, traits of their founders, and life in old settlements TP FT -J*. 406 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT Y. and on the frontier. For these reasons I shall give more time to the early than to the later history of the Church. "A Church is usually a thought, a wish, a prayer, before it is an institution. And sometimes the thought not only begins to live a long while before the Church does, but it is born a long distance from the place where the Church is established and before the future site is selected. God, who gives the thought, knows where, when and how its prophecy will be ful- filled. This Church, on an Iowa prairie, was a thought floating in a good man's brain among the Green mountains of Ver- mont twenty years before it was organ- ized. For it was in 1838 that the Rev. Chauncey Taylor's attention wasfirstcalled to Iowa, and he feltthen the missionary in- stinct to come here and organize Churches. Eighteen years later he started with a commission from the A. M. S. in his pocket, to labor in Iowa ; like Abraham, 'not knowing whither he went,' but, doubtless, with God's voice sayingtohim: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father's house, into a land that I will show thee.' 'And, al- though his attention had been called to Fort Dodge, which place he visited on his way, God showed him Algona, which the surveyors were just laying out, as he walked, about 3 o'clock p.m., April 19, 1856, into the town. "As Father Taylor's name will be for- ever associated with the organization and early history of this Church, and as the more recent comers among us never saw him, and yet have often heard him spoken of, I will try to bring him more dis- tinctly before you. He was born on a farm in Williamsburg, Vt., Feb. 17, 1805, and was one of five brothers who became Congregational ministers. One other brother had the ministry in view but died before he reached that goal. One of his first religious impressions was upon hearing his parents talk about the heathen, at the time of the departure of the first mission- aries from this country, and he formed a resolution, which, through all his years of vanity and sin, as he tells us, he ever kept before him, to go to them with the glad tidings of salvation. He was converted at the age of seventeen and at once de- cided to become a minister. To be the better prepared to obtain an education, for which he depended on his own exer- tions, he learned the trade of clothier, and by working at this and teaching school and singing school, and working in the bible and Sabbath school cause,- with alternate periods of study, he passed through acad- emy and college, graduating at the Uni- versity of Vermont in August, 1831. He was licensed to preach Dec. 11, 1833, by the Rutland Association, having held meetings some months previously, and studying theology, as he himself said, in the chimney corner. On the 17th of the same month he was married. Before coming west, he labored in Vermont for twenty years ; James Island, South Car- olina, one year ; and in New Hampshire two years ; in all about twenty-three years. So when he came to this place to do harder work, doubtless, than he had ever done before, with more exposure, and a call for new and original methods, at the age of fifty-one, he was ripe in experience and in the maturity of his powers. The older residents present remember his per- ►afc HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 407 sonal appearance as though he were be- fore them. Here is a description of him which the Rev. Dr. Whiting, of Dubuque, wrote to an eastern paper under the head- ing of 'The Patriarch of the Prairies,' eleven years later: 'His head is white as the almond blossoms. The mild gray eye, gentle voice, alert motion and unbent form are yet his. This man who was not rugged, but who was strong of purpose, industrious, methodical and capable of deriving much happiness from humble sources, was the right person to step on the site of a new town, in a new country, even while the surveyor was still at work, to hunt and mess with the young men who had come west to make their for- tunes, and rear his home near theirs and live among them. The true pioneer must be able to dispense with luxuries and ele- gance, and in lieu of the established ways and ample resources of older communi- ties, he must be fertile of expedients and know how to make rude contrivances do efficient work. Yet he is not the man to mould the habits of new society and lay the foundation of future empire unless his innate taste and sterling moral earnestness are conspicuous.' Happily, the pioneers of recent times were not men of the Dan- iel Boone type, hardy and adventurous, but hostile to refinement and wanting elbow room. The frontier is now being occupied by educated and religious men and women who carry the elements of civilization with them and welcome the gospel and the missionary. Father Taylor received as cordial a greeting from the young men who were here at the time as he would have had if he had come with a belt of money on his person to buy land. Some who do not seem now to care much for religion or the Church then dispensed a generous hospitality to the self-invited missionary and encouraged him to stay. They would do just so again. The next day was Sunday, and the missionary preached to an audience of about twenty- five persons, which he said seemed like baptizing the town in its infancy, because it was so new. This was not the first ser- mon that was preached in Algona, for Rev. T. N. Skinner, then of Otho, had preached in Judge Call's house once in the preceding November, and somebody else had preached here before that, but it was the beginning of the first stated ser- vices by the first minister of any denomi- nation who came here to stay. "The meeting was held in a little log house belonging to J. W. Moore, which was situated under the oaks near the pres- ent residence of Mr. Vaughn, and occu- pied as a bachelor's hall by several young men. And here the meetings continued to be held during the summer, or until Father Taylor's own house was ready and his family had joined him, when the min- ister's house became his study and the place of worship until the town hall was built. Occasionally, however, that sum- mer he preached in other houses, and he preached also statedly in Irvington, then the rival of Algona, and in other parts of the county. The seats then in style in these extemporized meeting houses were made of slabs, without backs, and were favorable to wakefulness and close atten- tion. A bed also was usually in the room. The first meeting in the town hall was held May 21, 1857— forty present. s] *y 9 W_ fe* 408 HISTORY OF KOSsUTH COUNTY. "The materials for a Church organiza- tion at this time were very scarce. Few of the early settlers professed religion, and none of those who came first belonged to Congregational Churches. Still many people seemed to have faith for Algona, small as it was, first, that it would become a place of importance, and second, that the Church which could get the first start might become strong and influential. Ministers of other denominations soon followed Father Taylor, looking up lost sheep, and having a truly apostate zeal to organize Churches. Rev. Mr. McComb, a Presbyterian minister, came sometime that summer, and a missionary agent named Wells made a visit here soon after and organized a Presbyterian Church, the first in the county I believe. It is now extinct. The Congregational Church was next in order of time, but it was not or- ganized until more than two years after the missionary came. For the minister to come first and call for a Church, rather than to wait for a Church to call him, is the true way for a new country. This Church might never have come into being if the minister had waited for the few Congregationalists, who came here in an early day, to form a Church and invite some one to preach to them. As it was, only five persons were found who were ready to enter into it when the Church was organized, Aug. 15, 1858, which was the Sabbath. These were: Rev. C. Tay- lor, George D. Wheeler and wife, Mrs. Maria T. Wheeler, Eugenia Rist, now Mrs. L. II. Smith, and Harriet E. Taylor, daughter of the minister, now Mrs. J. E. Stacy. Mrs. Taylor died Oct. 12, 1837, too soon to join. T. N. Skinner, already spoken of, was present and assisted in the work. Let us try to see all the scene. The town hall was the nucleus of this, our present house of worship. Meetings of various kinds had been held in it since May 16, 1857; religious meetings of all the denominations in the town, political meetings, club meetings, dances, shows, and the like. It stood on the lot, corner of State and Moore streets, east of Mr. Ford's warehouse, smaller of course than it is now. Cut off twenty feet of the rear of the house, and the entry, with the cupola and bell, bring the ceiling down to eleven feet, with no arch, let the wains- coting and doors be bare, unoiled black walnut, the walls lathed with thin split boards but not plastered, the seats of slab, and you have the scene inside. Outside of the house, inclosing quite a large space, perhaps the entire lot, was a stockade of perpendicular logs with the flat sides close together, with another log outside to cover each crack, making almost a double row of standing logs, put there at the time of the 'Indian scare' and mas- sacre at Spirit Lake, in March, 1857, and left standing until persons who wanted such logs had helped themselves to them all. It was feared at one time that th% people would all have to crowd in there for safety. When the needless scare was over, as the people sat and worshipped in their snug retreat, they could have sung: "With salvation's walls surrounded Thou may'st smile at all thy foes." "Such was the place of meeting when the five persons above named, all of whom came from other Churches, stood up be- fore God and entered into covenant with Ilim and each other and became a Church 4. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 409 of Christ, and a branch of the universal Church. We do not know where Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are now. The organizer lias joined the Church triumphant above. The other two are with us. One of this number soon went back east, taking a letter — though she returned again — reduc- ing the number to four. But James L. Paine united on profession March 10, 1859, making the original number good. On Feb. 20, 1800, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler took letters, and the little band was re- duced to three. A Church of only three members after four years of hard mission- ary labor! Was not that discouraging? Who would have thought it strange if they had disbanded and the minister had sought a more promising field? Certainly few Churches have had a more feeble be- ginning and a more cheerless outlook soon after, even in a new country. The other Churches in the place, starting a little later, must have done better. I cannot find out when the Methodist Church was organized. The records which are at hand only run back to 1862. Perhaps the Church never had a distinct beginning but came by evolution. According to Father Taylor, a Methodist minister by the name of Lawton, from Fort Dodge, commenced preaching here early in No- vember, 1857, and he held a protracted meeting in December with good results. The Baptist Church was organized on the 18th of May, 1861, with sixteen members, one year after the discouraging period for this Church referred to. "Providentially the time of gloom did not last long. The little band held to- gether and slowly their number increased. One person was added to them by profes- sion in 1861, and another in 1862, and then the next year the pastor held a pro- tracted meeting, assisted by Rev. Mr. Os- borne, of Webster City, the result of which four were added to the Church on profession of their faith and one by letter, thus doubling the original number. From this time on the records show that the Church had a slow but steady growth. "On the 16th of December, 1865, the Church voted to take steps to organize as a corporate body. This resulted in the organization, Feb. 6, 18G6, of the Con- gregational Society, which is distinct from the Church, and holds its property. No deacons were appointed for the Chinch until Jan. 27, 1866, over seven years after the Church was formed, when Matthew Hudson, M. D. and August Zahlten were chosen, and they have been our deacons ever since, with the addition of David Paterson, who was first elected in March, 1877. The Church and minister engaged in Sabbath school work almost, perhaps quite, from the beginning, but I give no account of our present flourishing Sab- bath school because that will be given in a separate paper. The deaths, too, will receive fitting mention by another, so I will not need to speak on that sad theme. The baptisms in the Church, infant and adult, interesting parts as they are, will have to go unchronicled. I find in the minutes the first mention made of the ladies' sewing circle, under date of Aug. 31, 1867, when they presented a beautiful communion set to the Church, the same that we now use A separate paper will tell of the ceaseless and beneficent activi- ties of that society from its beginning, and of how much the present prosperity af" 410 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. of the Church is due to its always timely help. "This Church was one of five which en- tered into the organization of the North- western Association at Webster City, Feb. 10, 1859. Its minister was one of the three who were present and took part on that occasion. This act brought the Church into formal fellowship with the other Congregational Churches of the State. In the year 1876 the Church with- drew from this connection and united with the Mitchell Association, along with the minister, for the better convenience of attending the annual meetings. "Up to 1867 Father Taylor had only been the stated supply, or acting pastor of the Church. That year he was installed by a unanimous vote of the Church, the society concurring. This was the first in- stallation in northwestern Iowa, and one of the very few that have ever taken place here. The Church then had over thirty members, and felt sure of its exis- tence and hopeful for the future. This marriage after a nine years courtship took place on the 8th of September, 1867, which was the Sabbath. The council called by the Church, consisting of the Churches of the Northwestern Association and their ministers, and other Churches and minis- ters, had convened on the 6th, had exam- ined the candidate and sustained all the action of the Church and pastor elect. It must have been a very interesting event to the Church, and a rich treat for the com- munity. A crowded house witnessed the services. Dr. Whiting, of Dubuque, preached the sermon. Dr. Guernsey, then superintendent of the American Home Missionary Society for Iowa, moderator of the council, a giant in stature and in- tellect, with a heart correspondingly big, gave the charge to the pastor. Other parts were by Revs. J. C. Strong, W. F. Harvey, H. T. Thompson and C. F. Boyn- ton. This new and closer relation to the Church made the pastor very happy. "But up to this time the Church had no house of worship of its own, butcontrived to hold its meetings in the town hall. This building, with the lot, belonged to a joint stock company and was held by shares of $10 each. There were twenty of these shares. Why the society chose to buy this property rather to build anew, I have not been informed. Neither do I know how much money, if any, was given by the Church and congregation for this purpose. The American Congregational mission made the society a present of $250, and Deacon Field, of Arlington, Mass., gave $50 more. And with the money raised the house was purchased, as the record says, extended, remodeled and repaired, and was dedicated on the 20th of September, 1868, to the service of the Triune God. "The sermon was by Rev. E. C. Miles, of Belmond. When the lot on which the church stood was sold in 1878, it was found that two shares had never been bought in by the society. They were held by a Mr. Gilbert, then living in Waterloo. He relinquished them for $20, their origi- nal value. They were then worth, accord- ing to the price received for the lot, $75, and would be worth double that now. "Two years after the dedication of the house, the question of building a new meeting house was again agitated and a meeting was appointed for the considera- te r \ <2- <•» ^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 411 tion of the matter, but nothing came of it. Improvements have been made on the building since then and the bell which calls us together was procured in 1876. The house was found to be too small for the growing congregation, and the Church occupied the Baptist meeting house for over a year and the court house all of one summer (1878), during which time the house was moved to its present site and enlarged by the addition of twenty feet, the ceiling raised and arched, these chairs procured, and other improvements made. "Father Taylor continued to be the pas- tor of the Church until the year 1873, giv- ing Algona seventeen years of labor. He labored as a missionary at large in the county about three years after that. He first offered his resignation in November, 1872. This was not accepted. A council called after this to consider the matter again, advised that he retain his place and that a junior pastor be employed. Very judicious advice for a weak Church! He was finally dismissed by another council on the 25th of June, 1873. He had done agood work. A Church had- been founded and instructed in God's immutable truth, and souls had been converted. He had identified himself with about every good public movement of his time and place. All parts of the county witness to his faithful and self-denying labor. He in- terested himself in education. He taught the first singing school in the county, and he either originated or encouraged all the associations formed in the early day for the instruction and improvement of the people. On his seventieth birthday peo- ple from all parts of the county came to- gether to show their respect and pay the debt of gratitude to one who had done so much for them. We buried him with the tears and honors due to a fallen Christian soldier, on the 3d of March, 1876. The period of his ministry here was, in the main, that of hardship and privation, when people lived in log cabins and sod houses and traveled in stages, or more frequently with oxen, in canoes and on foot, the most independent and rapid way of all. It was the period of insecurity and ex- citement ; a formation period with change and loss attending it; the period of In- dian scares ; of the war and reconstruc- tion, and at last, I believe, the grasshop- pers. . "Rev. H. R. Underwood became the minister of this Church in August after the retirement of Father Taylor. In the fol- lowing winter he held a protracted meet- ing in the church which was well attended and very solemn. There were several conversions. Fourteen persons united with the Church, on the profession of their faith in Christ, at the communion season in March, and four by letter. Five were united by letter the following May. Mr. Underwood served as pastor of the Church about two years. The Church came to self-support during his ministry. How fast this result was gradually reached — as I suppose it was reached gradually — I cannot tell. Mr. Underwood was a son of the well known evangelist, Rev. A. Uuderwood, of Irvington, N. Y. His brother, younger, Rev. Rufus Underwood, is also a successful evangelist. Be had had a few years experience in the ministry both east and west, I believe, before he came here. Early in June, 1875, he went to the State association on his way east. *4- « w_ -J 9 VL 412 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. On the 8th of July he was married to Emily Rich, of East Boston, who came with him to his western parish, full of enthusiasm for what she thought would be her life work. They reached here early in August, when he was almost im- mediately taken sick with typhoid fever, which ran its wasting course of four weeks, when he died, Sept. 2, 1875, at the age of nearly thirty-six, just seven weeks from the day of his marriage, which was on a Thursday, as was his funeral both here and in the east. Judging from his photograph and what I have heard of him from his father and others, I should say that his was an ardent, courageous spirit, and that he was a man of great energy, quick movement, social and genial, and full of strong desire to save souls. The years of his earthly toil were not many, but he gathered precious fruit for a time, and garnered many a sheaf in glory. "The present pastorate began that same year, the first Sabbath in November, 1875. Some future historian will have to tell about it if it is ever told. The Church has had a steady but not rapid growth from that time to this. The church building lias been removed and enlarged and a par- sonage has been built. Several protracted meetings, in connection always with the week of prayer, have been held, some alone and some union meetings, and invariably there have been some conversions and considerable religious interest. But there has never been a powerful revival in Al- gona, and this Church has never had a large accession of members at one time. The largest, sixteen or seventeen, was during Mr. Underwood's ministry. The Church reported in May last 152 members. Some of these are absentees. And more have been dismissed than have been re- ceived since that date, but there are others here ready to join who will more than make the number good. About eighty-two were received during Father Taylor's ministry, twenty-five during Mr. Underwood's and sixty-eight during the present pastorate. It is evident that the Church has had a small percentage of loss compared with its gains. In other words, it has retained a large proportion of the members it has received. For this we are devoutly thankful, i should like to make many other observations, suggested by this history, and to gather up its lessons. But there is not time." Among the various clergymen who have had charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Algona, or preached to the congregation, were the following named: Revs. Mallory, Billings, King, Holbrook, Snyder, Todd, Thorpe, Potter, Hammond, Woodworth, Webster, Mitchell, Brown, Hobbs, and the present incumbent, Eigh- mey. The Baptist Church dates from the spring of 1861. On the 18th of May, of that year, the people of that denomination in and around Algona gathered together and formed the present society. The meeting was called to order by Rev. O. W. Holmes, of Webster City, who acted as moderator, and after some preliminary ex- ercises the following members enrolled their names as the pioneers of the new Church : Riley E. Mason, Cecil D. Mason, A. B. Mason, Luther Rist, Sallie M. Ma- son, Susan Payne, Nancy C: Mason, Betsy Rist, Sylvester S Rist, William Hofius, M. C. Lathrop, J. R. Armstrong, Eliza ^ »J^ l£ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 413 Maxwell, Mary A. Hofius, Elizabeth Lathrop and Electa Henderson. After the formation of the society, A. B. Mason was elected clerk, and S. S. Rist, deacon. The first member to join this Church was "buried with Christ in baptism" upon this auspicious day, and was Mary A. Rist. The meeting then adjourned. On the following day, which was Sun- day, the first services were held and the Church formally organized and recognized. Rev. O. A. Holmes preached the recog- nition sermon, the hand of Church fel- lowship was s^iven by the Rev. William J. Sparks, of North Union, and the charge delivered by the Rev. L. L. Frisk, of Mineral Ridge. This weak Church con- ducted meetings, renewing their covenant of faith quite frequently, but had no reg- ular pastor until in May, 1860, Kev. J. A. Cain was invited to, and accepted the pas- torate. Life now seemed to animate the whole Church, and steps were taken look- ing toward the building of a place of worship. Brother Cain labored hard and faithfully until April 4, 1869, when he resigned his charge here on account of ill health. lie was succeeded by the Rev. James Jeffers on the first of the following August. About this time the church building was being pushed to completion, and on the 2d of April, 1870, the first meeting was held therein. In February, 1878, Rev. C. Brooks took charge of this little flock as pastor. He, in turn was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Mountain in June, 1880. On the 1st of November, 1883, Mr. Mountain resigned and wassuc- ceded by Rev. G. W. Robinson, of Bloom- ingdale, 111. The present officers of the Church are the following named gentle- men: Z. C. Audness, clerk; S. S. Rist and W. F. Hofius, deacons. The society have a neat substantial church edifice in which to worship. The Sunday school is in a most prosperous condition under the superintendency of Jerome Walker, and peace, harmony, and good feeling pervades the whole society. The Free Methodist Church society was organized in February, 1882, and the first services were held by the Rev. R. C. Glass, but the first pastor was the Rev. W. L. King. His successors have been Revs. J. C. Jones and ILL. Smith, the lat- ter of whom has charge of this little flock. The Methodist Episcopal Congrega- tion have a beautiful edifice of worship, built in the Elizabethan English style, which is one of the chief ornaments of the city. This branch of the Lord's vine- yard is under the direction of Rev. P. II. Eighmey. The Seventh Day Adventist Church so- ciety was organized April 10, 1S81, by J. II. Durland assisted by a Mr. Washburn. At that time there were but seven mem- bers, as follows: Olaf Johnson and wife, Mrs. James Archibald, Hattie Steb- bins, May t'tebbins, Belle Mickelson and William Sammer. Three trustees were appointed soon after the organization, who were as follows: William Carey, Olaf Johnson and William Sammer. These gentlemen still retain this office in the Church. William Carey is still dea- con. The society at the present has thirty-two members in regular standing and is in a good healthy condition. In the fall and winter of 1883, they erected a church building, 26x50 feet in size, at a cost of about $1,500. This V ^ s 414 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. edifice, which is of frame, is a neat and tasty building, and is an addition to the looks of Algona. In connection with the Church, of which E. G. Olson is the pres- ent elder, there is a Sabbath school with an average attendance of about thirty. The first superintendent was Olaf John- son, and the present one William Carey. This "nursery of the Church" is in a most excellent condition and great interest is manifested by the people, both young and old, in its exercises. The postoffice at Algona was established in the winter of 1856, and J. W. Moore was commissioned the first postmaster. He held it however but a short time, for during the following year he was suc- ceeded by Amos S. Collins. H. F. Wat- son, Lewis IT. Smith and J. II. Warren have each in turn occupied the berth, the latter of whom was succeeded by the present incumbent, Lieut.-Col. R. II . Spencer. The postoffice has been moved, at various times, to different places about town, as it has changed from hand to hand. The office is a money order one, and considerable funds pass through the mails in this shape. Col. Robert II. Spencer, postmaster at Algona, was born Sept. 20, 1840, in Perry Co., Ohio. His parents, Eli A. and Ann M. (Chilcote) Spencer, were also natives of Ohio. Col. Spencer is the oldest of a family of four boys. He was raised in Perry county on a farm adjoining the vil- lage of Somerset, receiving a common school education and working on the farm until 1858, when the family removed to Madison, Wis. Here he was engaged in farming on his father's farm in the town of Windsor, Dane county, until the open- ing of the war. In November, 1861, he enlisted as second lieutenant in company II, 10th Wisconsin regiment, serving with that regiment until mustered out in Novem- ber, 1804. He re-enlisted in the 47th Wisconsin regiment, as lieutenant-col- onel, and served as such until the close of the war. For the experiences of Col. Spencer while a prisoner, his es- cape, etc., see another portion of this work. After his discharge he returned to Dane Co., Wis., where he remained one year, then removed to Sheboygan Co., Wis., being engaged in business at Sheboygan Falls until 186S. He then returned to Dane county, and in 1870 came to Algona, engaging in the mer- cantile business until December, 1871. In April, 1872, he received his commission as postmaster of Algona, which office he now holds. Col. Spencer is also largely interested in farming in this county, and has quite a tract of land in Portland and Greenwood townships. He was married July 19, 1866, to Josephine M. Rowley, a native of New York. They have one child — Miss Marion. Col. Spencer is a member of the Masonic fraternity. The first school is believed to have been taught in a dwelling house in Algona, dur- ing the year 1856, by Flavia Fleming. In the winter of that year the town hall was erected and school was taught there for some years. Miss Fleming w T as also the first teacher in this building. The pres- ent main school house was built in 1867, under the supervision of the boaid of township directors, of which W. H. Ing- ham was at that time president. The first teachers in the new school house were Elam C. Miles and wife. This was *fc= >£ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 417 while Algona was a sub-district of the district township. The independent school district of Al- gona was organized in 1872. A petition was handed into the board of township directors upon the 4th of March of that year, asking that an independent school district be organized in Algona. This bears the following names: William Leg- gett, T. P. Bender, W. J. Wildey, J. W. Renyon, Joseph Taylor, S. G. A. Read, H. M. Taft, J. B. Jones, A. E. Wheelock, L. N. Ferguson, D. P. Russell, P. D. Ramsey, William Cordingley, J. H. War- ren, J. B. Wimbel, M. W. Stough, J. E. Blackford and Adam Baker. In accord- ance with this, the board ordered that an election be held on Saturday, March 16, 1872, to decide the question as to its in- corporation. On that day and date, the qualified electors met at the school house, in Algona, and there decided that the town of Algona should constitute an independ- ent district by a unanimous vote. Twe,nty- five ballots were cast. On the 30th of March, 1872, an elec- tion was held at the court house for the choice of directors. J. E. Blackford was elected president of the board of election, and A. W. Patterson, clerk. After the oath had been duly administered by A. E. Wheelock, clerk of the courts, the polls were opened in accordance with law. One hundred and eighty-three ballots were cast, which resulted in the election of the following board of directors of the independent school district of Algona: J. E. Stacy, J. G. Smith, J. G. Winbell, J. L. Paine, F. C. Wilson and II. M. Taft. On the organization of the board, II. M. Taft was chosen president, and J. E. Stacy, secretary and R. H. Spencer, treasurer. At the time of the organiza- tion of this district as independent from the township, the teachers were: A. M. Ilorton, principal; Lizzie M. Read, Em- ma S. Paine and S. A. Blair. The suc- cessive principals of these schools have been as follows: Clayton B. Hutchins, J. P. Colby, J. H. Saunders, C. P. Dorland, A. S. Benedict, A. Heys and G. Cowles. The present corps of teachers that preside over this fine school are: Gardner Cowles principal; Lettie Hutchins, assistant prin- cipal; Mrs. M. J. G. Colby, Nellie E. Smith, Ada Smith, Lonisa Patterson, Josie Pettibone and Emma Henderson. There are enrolled here some 622 scholars, many of whom are in the higher branches. Prudence Lodge, No. 205, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation Feb. 4, 1867, and received a charter the 6th of the following June. The charter mem- bers were: Lewis H.Smith, Enoch Wood, Marcus Robbins, Jr., Asa C. Call, G. M. Parsons, Albert Calkins and John G. Smith. The first officers were elected and appointed as follows: Samuel B. Caleb, W. M.; Albert Calkins, S. W.; J. G. Smith, J. W.; A. C. Call, treasurer; Marcus Robbins, Jr., secretary; Lewis II. Smith, S. D.; G. M. Parsons, J. D.; II. M. Hatch, tyler. This lodge made but little headway during its earlier years, and during 1867, made but one master Mason, and raised two apprentices. But being composed of the best men in the commu- nity, it lias not encountered the difficul- ties of some new lodges. The following named- have served as masters since its organization: S. B. Caleb, 1858; L. II. Smith, 1S69, 1870, 1871; D. S.Ford, ^« 12 *Ai £ tu 418 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 1872, 1873, 1874; H. B. Smith, 1875, 1876; D. S. Ford, 1877; J. R. Jones, 1878; C. D. Pettibone, 1879; J. R. Jones, 1880, 1881,1882. The present officers are: E. S. Johnson, W. M.; J. N. Weaver, S. W.; G. H. Lampson, J. W.; P. L. Slagle, treasurer; J. W. Wadsworth, secretary; W. P. Coolbaugh, S. D.; D. W. C. Ack. ley, J. D.; E. N. Weaver, tyler. There are now eighty-seven members in good standing and the lodge is numbered among the best in the State. It is entirely out of debt and has some $300 in its treasury. There is also a nourishing chapter in connection with this lodge at Algona, Prudence Chapter, No. 70. It was organ- ized Sept. 25, 1874, under a dispensation in answer to a petition dated Jan. 23, 1874, and signed by Robert F. Bowers, high priest. The first officers were as follows: J. R. Jones, high priest; H. B. But- ler, king; H. B. Smith, scribe; C. E. Church, secretary. The charter was received Nov. 9, 1874, and the following named were duly elected, the first officers under the charter: J. R. Jones, high priest; H. B. Butler, king; J. G. Smith, scribe; G. R. Woodworth, treasurer; P. L. Slagle, sec- retary. In 1875 the officers were: J. R. Jones, high priest; H. B. Butler, king; P. L. Slagle, scribe; J. W. Wadsworth, treasurer; F. M. Taylor, secretary. 1876 — C. C. Chubb, high priest; S. G. A. Read, king; H. C. McCoy, scribe; H. B. Butler, treasurer; F.M. Taylor, secretary. 1877 — J. R. Jones, high priest: S. G. A. Read, king; O. H. Marvin, scribe; J. W. Wadsworth, treasurer; H. J. Wyman, secretary. 1878; — J. R. Jones, high priest; W. II. Ingham, king; S. G. A. Read, scribe; J. W. Wadsworth, treasurer; H. J. Wyman, secretary. 1879— J. R. Jones, high priest; S. G. A. Read, king; W. H. Ingham, scribe; J. W. Wadsworth, treasurer; H. J. Wyman, secretary. 1880— J. R. Jones, high priest; S. G. A. Read, king; W. II. Ingham, scribe; J. W. Wadsworth, treasurer and secretary. 1881_0. E. Palmer, high priest; S. G. A. Read, king; H. F. Watson, scribe; Lewis H. Smith, treasurer; J. W. Wads- worth, secretary. 1882 — O. E. Palmer, high priest; J. R. Jones, king; J. N. Weaver, scribe; O. H. Marvin, treasurer; J. W. Wadsworth, sec- retary. The present officers are as follows: O. E. Palmer, high priest; D. A. Buell, king; J. N. Weaver, scribe; O. H. Mar- vin, treasurer; J. W. Wadsworth, secre- tary. The chapter numbers fifty-five mem- bers in good standing, and since the or- ganization there has only been one death in the brotherhood, that of O. E. Minkler. The fraternity occupy the spacious hall on the second floor of Robinson Brothers' new hardware store, which was fitted up expressly for and leased to the Masonic lodge for a term of years. The hall is 20x4S feet, thirteen feet in height and finished in the most approved style. The wood work was done by Messrs. Richard & Shadle, the plastering by S. B. Califf, and the painting by P. A. Gustafson, and each will bear the test of a close comparison with any work to be seen anywhere in the west. This hall is fitted up in good style and the craft are not ashamed to have the visiting brethren view its beauties. *F? A,jra_ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 419 Algona Lodge, No. 236, I. O. O. F., was organized on tie 30th of April, 1872, by Orlauda McCraney of McGregor, Grand Master of the State, with the following charter members? George E. Clarke, F. W. Butterfield, J. F. Nicoulin, J. W. Kenyon, A. D. White and J. R. Jones. The following were elected the first offi- cers of the lodge: George E. Clarke, N. G.; F. W. Butterfield, V. G.; J. F. Nicou- lin, secretary; J. W. Kenyon, treasurer. The subordinate offices were, also, filled by the following named: A. J. Bletso, R. S.N. G.; P. D. Rumsey, L. S. N. G.; William Quick, W.; J. R. Jones, C; J. M. Pinkerlon, R. S. S.; C. T. Williams, L. S. S.; J.F. Nicoulin.O. S. G.; A. E.Whee- look, I. S. G.; E. H. Woodward, R. V. G; C. W. Townley, L. V. G. The lodge has a membership of about sixty, and is in a most excellent condition financially, hav- ing about $600 in the hands of the treas- urer. Algona Lodge meets every Monday- evening, at their hall, over Durant Bros' drug store. The present officers are: Dr. L. K. Garfield, N. G.; O. C. Fill, V. G.; George C. Call, secretary; E. H. Clarke, P. secretary; T. Earley, treasurer. James C. Taylor Post, No. 165, G. A. R., was organized on the 4th of May, 1883, by Col. Bnrrell, mustering officer. The officers elected and appointed at that time are as follows: L. A. Sheatz, post com- mander; John Wallace, St., vice-com- mander; A. E. Wheelock, Jr., vice-com- mander; J. C. Heckart, Q. M.; A. H. Du- rant, surgeon ; L. M. B. Smith, chaplain; R. H. Spencer, O. of D.; H. Waterhouse, O. of G.; John Reed, adjutant; A. A. Brunson, S. major; G. H. Lampson, Q. M. S. The following is the roster of the post, with the rank, regiment and date of dis- charge from active service: Le Roy D. Setchell, 33d New York Infantry, sergeant, discharged Aug. 28, 1866. L. M. B. Smith, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, cap tain, discharged Feb. 21, 1865. P. L. Slagle, 11th Minnesota Infantry, cor- poral, discharged July 21, 1865. R H Spencer, 10th Wisconsin Infantry, lieu- tenant-colonel. Charles Wilkins, 27th Iowa Infantry, private, discharged Aug. 8, 1865. A. M. Horton, 6th New York Cavalry, ordeily seigeaut, discharged Aug. 26, 1865. A. E. Wheelock, 3d Wisconsin Infantry, pri- vate, discharged July 10, 1865. J. C. Heckart, 32d Iowa Infantry, corporal, discharged Aug. 24, 1865. O. H. Hutcuins, 27th, Iowa Infan'ry, 2d lieu tenant, discharged May 15, 1865. G. H. Lamson, 21st Massachusetts Infantry, private, discharged Jan. 20, 1863. Samuel Benjamin, 27th Iowa Iufantiy, 2d lieutenant, discharged May, 1863. John Wallace, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, dis- charged September, 1864. A. H Durant, 1st Wisconsin Infantry, lieuten- ant, discharged March 12, 1864. E. Williams, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, 1st lieu- tenant, discharged April 4, 1862. L. A. Sheetz, 8th Iowa Infantry, lieutenant and adjutant, discharged May, 1866. John Reed, 32d Iowa Infantry, private, dis- charged Aug. 24, 1865. John M. Weaver, 12th Iowa Infantry, private, discharged Jan. 20, 1866 Hugh Waterhouse, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, pri- vate, discharged Nov. 15, 1865. A. A. Brunson, 106th New York Volunteer Infantry, sergeant, discharged February, 1865. H. C. McCoy, 31st Wisconsin Infantry, assist- ant surgeon, discharged June, 1865. D. O. Ackley, 14th Ohio Battery, sergeant, discharged June, 1865. J. W. Robinson, 11th New York Infantry, ser- geant, discharged June 4, 1865. Charles C. Chubb, 3d Wisconsin Infantry, ser- geant, discharged July 4, 1864. •<- — I 420 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Edwin P. Crockett, 2d Iowa Cavalry, private, discharged May 8, 1865. L. F. Robinson, 16th Wisconsin Infantry, pri- vate, discharged August, 1862. P. A. McGuire, 19th Wisconsin Infantry, pri- vate, discharged June 15, 1865. T. W. Gilbert, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, private, discharged, 1865. D. B. Avery, 7th Dlini 'is Cavalry, corporal, discharged Nov. 4, 1865. A. M. Johnson, 31st Iowa Infantry, private, discharged Feb. 28, J864. E. Loomis, 2nd Iowa Cavalry, private, dis charged Aug. 9, 1861. C. C. Chubb, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, private, discharged, 1862. F. C. Doomy, 75th Illinois Infantry, private, discharged June 13, 1865. O. H. Marvin, 4th Iowa Cavalry, sergeant, dis- charged May 25, 1865. James Barr, 12th Iowa Infantry, assistant sur- geon, discharged Jan. 20, 1866. J B. Jones, 39th Wisconsin Infantry, private, discharged Sept. 22, 1864. D. Q. Haggard, 21st Iowa Infantry, sergeant, discharged July 26, 1865. Rufus Walston, 16th New York Infantry, cor- poral, discharged May 22, lt>G3. Paul Tromlee, 27th Iowa Infantry, private, discharged Jan. 20, 18U4. James McConkey, 1st Wisconsin Infantry, private, discharged Oct. 8, 1864. Henry Brewster, 24th Wisconsin Infantry, pri- vate, discharged June 10, 1865. J. M. Comstock, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, cap- tain, discharged Oct. 31, 1864. Algona Lodge, No. 136, Independent Order of Good Templars, was organized under a charter, July 6, 1876, with the following members: Rev. H. 13. Butler, Mrs. H. B. Butler, J. E. Blackford, Mrs. J. E. Blackford, C. Blackford, F. W. Barkley, Milton Starr, L. D. Setchell, Cora Setchell, Mrs. Winton, Belle Win- ton, Ada Smith, Annie Ingham, Minnie Ingham, Efne Hawkins, Addie Hawkins, Edith Blanchard, J. M. Comstock, Mrs. J. M. Comstock, E. II. Clarke, G. L. Adams, P. L. Slagle, F. McCall, J. II. Mathers, T. Leggett, Harvey Ingham, D. W.Bnrlingame, Belle Adams, N. A. Bush- nell and A. M. Horton. The first officers chosen to preside over the deliberations of the lodge were the following named: J. M. Comstock, W. C. T.; Mrs J. M. Comstock, W. V. T.; Rev. H. B. Butler, W. Chap.; Prof. N. A. Bushnell, W. S.; Addie Hawkins, W. A. S.; James Patter- son, W. F. S.; Annie Ingham, W. T.; L. D. Setchell, W. M.; Belle Winton, W. D. M.; Ada Smith, W. G.; Eugene Clark, W. O. G.; Mrs. Winton, W. R. H. S.- Bella Adams, W. L. H. S.; Prof. Barclay, P. W. C. T. The lodge has a prosperous career, and has done excellent work in the community. It has never suspended nor missed a meeting, on account of lack of interest, and has had a membership at times of 200. The outside tem- perance movement has detracted some- what from the interest and the member- ship has fallen off lately, but is again on the increase. The lodge meets at Starr's hall, and has as fine a meeting place as any in the State. The membership at the beginning of the last quarter, Nov 1, 1883, was eighty-seven. The present offi- cers are as follows: J. M. Comstock, W. V. T.; Mrs. J. M. Comstock, W. V. T.; Josie Pettibone, W. R. S.; Edward Rist, W. A. S.; Wallace Nichols, W. F. S.; Lutie Wallace, W. T.; w'ill Hart. W. M.; I). H. Hutchins, W. Chap.; Josie Corn- stock, guard; Bert Ward, sentinel; Helen Weaver, W. D. M.; Jennie Pettibone, R. H. S.; Jessie Smith, L. H. S.; D. S. Ford and Kate Burnard, censors. i* .fc •!/■ -— ^> HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT V. 421 During the summer of 1876, six ladies met together and organized a reading club under the name of the Monday club. These ladies were the following named: Mrs. G. II. Woodworth, Mrs. M. W. Stough, Mrs. J. J. Wilson, Mrs. Dr. Colby, Mrs. H. Kenyon and Miss M. L. Leggett. In the fall of that same year, this was re- organized as a literary club under the same name, and under the present consti- tution. The first officers were: Mrs. M. W. Stough, president; Miss M. L. Leg- gett, secretary; Mrs. G. H. Woodworth, treasurer; Miss C. T. Dodd, librarian. It now received new accessions to its list of membership, and instituted the present circulating library. The first books pur- chased as a foundation to the library, was at an expenditure of $7.65, and was com- posed of the following volumes: Ten great Religions, Harriet Martineau and Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. The society has now some fifteen members en- rolled and is at present officered as fol- lows: Mrs. G. H. Woodworth, president; Mrs. J. R. Jones,, secretary; Mrs. II. C. McCoy, treasurer, and Miss C. T. Dodd, librarian. The following is an abstract from the report of the librarian for the term commencing Feb. 1, 1882, and end- ing Aug. 81, 1883: Number of volumes received from former librarian 254 Number added during term 176 Number lost 1 Total number in library at present, 429 Number of volumes taken out during term 2, 363 Of which were works of fiction 2. 120 History 51 Biography 46 Science 42 Travels 19 Miscellaneous 85 Amount received from rental of books. .$138 96 Algona shared in the general excite- ment which spread so generally over this section of the State, in reference to the so-called "disadvantage" under which the farmers were placed. The plan proposed seemed feasible; a great saving was prom- ised, by enabling the farmers to pocket the earnings of the "middle men," and consequently realize better prices for their products. Amid considerable en- thusiasm, Algona Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in June, 1873, with the following charter members: H. P. Hatch and wife, C. E. Holmes and wife, O. C. Burtis and wife, W. A. Love, Philip Crose, H. Schenck and wife, V. S. Thompson and wife, J. Dun ton and wife, E. W. Dunton, Joseph Mathers and wife, A. A. Call and wife, J. E. Blackford and wife, 0. W. Goddard and wife, H. Robe, A. J. Jones and wife, J. J. Stentz, S. C. Dunton, J. Wallace, S. Reed, A. A. Bran- son and wife, Stephen Sherwood and A. Hinton. The following were elected the first of- ficers of the lodge: J. E. Blackford, master; Horace Schenck, overseer; H. P. Hatch, lecture; J. Dunton, steward; A. A. Brunson, assistant steward; S. C. Dunton, treasurer; William Love, gate keeper. The farmers now congratulated them- selves on having perfected an organiza- tion, which would meet their wants and save them money. This Grange was suc- cessfully managed for years, and proved quite a saving in many instances to many of its patrons. A store building was erected and is yet in existence, under the management of J. E. Blackford. The or- *4? M* 422 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT!'. ganization numbered, at one time, over 100 persons, but it lias ceased to exist. ALGONA COLLEGE. This now abandoned enterprise, originat- ed at a meeting held at the Bank of Ingham & Smith, on the 31st day of December, 1870. At that time an organization was formed, subscriptions started and officers elected, and the college initiated. The first officers were as follows: Or. S. G. A. Head, president; J. E. Stacy vice- president; Lewis H.Smith, treasurer; W. H. Ingham, secretary. An executive committee consisting of J. E. Stacy and D. II. Hutching was also chosen. The subscriptions on the day of the meeting amounted to §3,110. Steps were imme- diately taken and the building put up and a corps of instructors placed in charge, and the college started with every hope of success. But, alas! Contentions arose and the matter, after running for some years, was allowed to die out and thus passed away from Algona one of her brightest and best institutions. A strong effort was made at one time to place this educa- tional enterprise under the fostering wing of the M. E. conference, but local and other jealousies, defeated the measure. The building was, and is, a frame edifice, 40x06 feet in size, and is yet in a good state of repair. This was erected at a cost of $4,497, and on the opening of the same, some ninety scholars were enrolled. The first professor who had charge of the college was L. C. Woodford, who came to Kossuth county some time previous to initiate a religious revival, and was called to the principal chair in the newly created college. Helen M. Wooster was his assis- tant. A sketch of this estimable lady will be found in the chapter devoted to the educational interests of the county, under the head of county superintendents of common schools, a position she so ably filled at one period. In July, 1872, Prof. O. II. Baker became the principal of the college, with Miss Wooster and Mrs. Baker as assistants. In 1874,A. L. Day was one of the assistants and N. A. Bushnell in 1875. W. F. Barclay was the next president of the faculty, taking his place in 1875, and in 1876 Miss E. M. Ray was made assistant tutor. He was succeeded by D. W. Ford and he by A. G. Neff, in 1879. In 1880, Miss L. S. Tallman had charge. With this year closed the career of what might have been one of the lead- ing educational institutions of the State. D. W. King was born Aug. 31, 1830, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. In the fall of 1854 he moved to Polk Co., Iowa, and the fol- lowing spring came to Kossuth county, when he bought the claim on which he has since lived, paying a man by the name of Yetchel $100 for a cpiarter section of section 13, township 95, range 29. He now owns 490 acres of land in a high state of cultivation, raising grain, and deal- ing in all kinds of stock except sheep. He was married in December, 1859, to Lydia Hall, born in New York. They have eight children— William Hall, Uelle, Grant, David P., Lydia May, Arthur A., Walter S., and Fred M. Mrs King and Belle are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. King has held the offices of town- ship clerk and county supervisor. In pol- itics he is a republican. Orange Minkler was born Dec. 27, 1818, in Lake Co., Ohio, and reared on his fa- ther's farm, receiving his early education •Urv Jfe. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 4.31 ington, Penn., and followed that business until the year 1856, when he moved to Prairie City, McDonough Co., 111., where he remained nine years, making building and contracting his business. In 1864 he removed to Galesburg, 111., where he worked at his trade for the next nine years, and in 1866 he bought eighty acres of land in Kossuth Co., Iowa. In 1872 he removed to Algona, and followed his trade until the spring of 1873, when he commenced breaking and improving his farm on section 35, township 96, range 29, and for the next two successive years the grasshoppers destroyed his crops en- tirely. He was married March 16, 1852, to N. A. Bivens, who also was a native of Pennsylvania. Her parents still reside in Illinois. They have had nine children, of whom seven are living — O. B., Charlie O, William, Joseph E., George, Fred T. and Nellie. Jennie and Mary J. are de- ceased. William is married to Sarah Bowls. Mr. Kuhn at present follows car- pentering and farming. He has eighty acres under cultivation. He belongs to the M. E. Church. In politics he is a re- publican. Rev. Dennis F. McCaffrey was born in Leitrim, Ireland, toward the close of the fall of 1846; and there, amid all the pleasures of childhood, were passed some five summers, the fond remembrances of which are still alive in memory. The loss of a father, kind but stern, together with the painful effects of those years of want, necessitated a final change of home. The change came, and came, too, for the better. And here it might be remarked that the family was the second of the race to settle in Providence, R. I. The seventh summer finds him attending the village school, while the next spring shows the lad of not yet eight years taking early lessons in gardening from Capt. Smith, who was, perhaps, more widely known for the oddity of humanity than for the length of years. The seven or eight years that followed only speak of long summers of labor and a few months of school in the winter. During the few years that follow, he filled a position of some importance in one of the mills of Valley Falls. While thus engaged he saw the necessity of a night school for the youths who labored all day in the fac- tory. About this time an opening to at- tend the Lonsdale high school offered itself, and was readily embraced. Some nine months at this institute prepared the way for entering Holy Cross College, situated at Worcester, Mass., in Septem- ber, 1864, in company with Rev.W. Ilines, pastor at East Greenwich, R. I. Six years of college life — years of hope and anxiety, were not slow to pass, leaving footprints of the happiest nature. The fall after graduating he entered tl.e Grand Semi- nary at Montreal, Canada, and in the third year after, December, 1872, he seeks rest from study, as his health was much im- paired by the severe routine of the Grand Seminary. He spent a year and a half with his sister in Pennsylvania. In Sep- tember, 1873, he was requested to teach a class in his Alma Mater. This position he held for two years, during which time he gave his spare hours to books of no light nature. When strong again, and with the necessary means to complete his studies, he entered the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Suspension Bridge, N. •k 432 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Y., and there received ordination from the hands of Bishop Ryan, Dec. 23, 1873. Iowa then became his field of labor, and for about a year and a half he acted in the capacity of assistant in Ottumwa, Des Moines and Fort Dodge. Fairfax, Linn county, was his first mission, where he spent two years, when he was changed to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he now resides. Fred Kopke, a native of Prussia, came to this country in 1866, and located in Janesville, Wis., remaining there two and a half years. He then removed to Sauk Prairie and remained there about four and a half years. In 187.3 he came to Kossuth county, purchasing the northwest quarter of section 3, township 96, range 29, where he now resides. He has since bought the southeast quarter of section 33, in Burt township. He has about 125 acres under cultivation. Mr. Kopke was united in marriage in November, 1862, in the old country, with Henrietta Bailey, born in August, 1840. They have eight children —Amelia, Bertha, Mary, Frank, Willie, Minnie, Otto and Katie. Amelia is mar- ried to August Darring. Mr. and Mrs. Kopke are members of the M. E Church. He is a republican, politically. Rochus Hartman was born March 17, 1839, in Austria. He came to America in 1865, stopped awhile in Illinois, working by the day, then removed to Clayton Co., Iowa, and in 1875, bought eighty acres on section 17, township 96, range 29, where he now resides. He was married May 22, 1865, to Mary Herman, also a native of Germany. They hav'e three children — Herman, Kresenzia and John. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members of the Catho- lic Church. In politics, he is a democrat. Joseph Osterbauer is a native of Aus- tria, born Aug. 12, 1855. When seven years of age he came to America with his mother, who was a widow. She died soon after landing in this country, and he was left an orphan. He lived around and worked on a farm until twenty-four years of age. In 1875 he came to Kossuth county, and stopped for a short time in Algona. In 1877 he purchased eighty acres of land in Algona township, section 7, and moved thereon. He after wards purchased another eighty acres on the same section. Mr. Osterbauer was mar- ried to Kate Walters. This union has been blessed with three children — Mary, Tracy and Annie. It can truly be said that Mr. Osterbauer is one of the most energetic and enterprising young farmers in the county. Christian Dau is a native of Meckl en- berg, Schwerien, Germany, born May 21, 1834. In 1866 he came to America, locat- ing in Whitewater, Wis., where he worked at wagon-making ten years. In 1876 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased 120 acres of land on section 23, Algona township. He afterwards added 160 acres, now owning 280 acres of land, 160 acres of which is under cultivation. Mr. Dau has erected some good buildings on his place. He married, in November, 1860, Fredericke Gease, also a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Dau have eight children — Mary, August, Herman, Frank, Max, Willie, Amanda and George. Mr. and Mrs. Dau are members of the Evan- gelical Church. ♦i, — ■*- 0^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTS. 435 Conrad Herman was born Nov. 16, 1833, in Austria. He came to America in 1864, locating in Clayton Co , Iowa, where he remained eleven years. In 1875 he bought eighty acres in this county on section 15, township 96, range 29, where he moved his family in 1876. He has since bought another eighty acres, having 130 acres of it under cultivation. He was married in the old country, Oct. 18, 1859, to Cath- rina Herman. They have eight children — Alexander II., Conrad, Agatha M., Lena M., John, Ernest, Hugh and Katie. Al- exander and Lena are married. All are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Herman was admitted as a citizen of the United States, Oct. 16, 1873, in the Du- buque circuit court. In politics he is a democrat. John Kargleder, a native of Bavaria, was born March 26, 1826. He was a brewer by trade. In 1862 he came to America, locating in Milwaukee, Wis, where he remained ten years. He then went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he lived two years, then moved to St. Paul, where he resided four years. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased 320 acres of land in Algona township. He now has a farm of 480 acres, 225 of which are under cultivation. Mr. Kargleder was married, in 1868, to Selma Haas. They have five children — Charles, May, Ella, Arthur and Emma. John Swanson was born Sept. 21, 1813, in Sweden. In 1869 he came with his wife Sarah (Neilson) Swanson to America, landed in Boston, went to New York city, to Tomkins' Cove, where he remained eight years, then moved to Iowa. After stopping in Algona a few weeks he rented a farm, lived on it one year, and in 1878 bought forty acres on the northwest quar- ter of the northeast quarter of section 25, township 96, range 29, where he now re- sides. About half his farm is under cul- tivation, the rest in native timber. He was married in 1852, and has five children — Christina, wife of Nels Peterson, who resides in Red Wing, Minn.; John J., Mary C, who has taught school five terms, and also taught the first term in the new school house; Ida S, also a teacher, and Esther L. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. John McDonald was born in Dundee, Huntington Co., Canada, May 1, 1850. His parents died when he was a child. In 1869 he went to Illinois, remained there one year, then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased sixty-seven acres of land, which he afterwards sold. In 1879 he bought the south half of section 8, and afterwards eighty acres on section 1, Al- gona township. He is a very successful farmer. Mr. McDonald was married April 20, 1880, to Anna Hay, a native of Ohio. They have one child — Mary Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are members of the Catholic Church. Ernest Krueger is a native of Germany. When nineteen years of age he was drafted in the Prussian army, serving three years. He and his brother was in Prince Freder- ick's Army Corps, participating in nine battles. He was at the battle of Metz on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of August, 1870. He was also in the battle at Paris for four days. After he left the army he followed his parents, who had preceded him in 1869, to America. His parents settled in Ozaukee Co., Wis., where they now re- 13 a _U- 436 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. side. He stopped in Wisconsin three years, then went to Carroll Co., Ill , re- maining there three years. In February, 1879, he removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa. On Oct. 31, 1879, he was united in mar- riage with Louisa Steinbach, a native of Stephenson Co., 111., born Oct. 24, 1858. Her parents are natives of Germany. The result of this union was three children — Emma M., Minnie E. and Clara A. Mrs. Krueger is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Krueger is a democrat, politically. He is an enterprising farmer, and enjoys the respect of his fellow men. J. B. Hofius was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Feb. 28, 1854. His father, a native of Mercer county, was born March 16, 1801. His mother was a native of New York, born July 23, 1823. His father was married twice. First, to Mary Du gan, Sept. 23, 1828 ; and the second time to Maria Bearss, Feb. 17, 1846. The subject of this sketch lived with his par- ents until of age. He has traveled quite extensively throughoui the west. In 1870 he came to Iowa on a visit. In 1877 he was married to Mary Thompson. He re- turned to Pennsylvania, where he resided about five years. In May, 1882, he re- turned to Iowa and bought 160 acres of land on section 35, Algona township. He erected a good house and barn on his farm. He is a member of the Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Hofius is a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hofius have two children — Henry, born Oct. 14, 1878, and died Dec. 2, 1831; Frank, born Nov. 2, 1882. By industry and hard work Mr. Hofius has succeeded in amassing a nice competence, and will in his old age be able to enjoy life comfortably. He is one of the most highly respected and influen- tial men in the county. Swen P. Peterson was born Dec. 5, 1837, in Sweden. Coining to America in 1854, he landed in Boston, Mass., and went at once to Galesburg, Knox Co., 111., where he remained four years. From here he went to California and worked in the mines six years, after which time he returned to Galesburg. After living there two years, he moved to Henry Co., 111., and followed farming seventeen years, owning eighty acres of land, which he sold for $3,600, and then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he bought 160 acres of good land on section 36, township 96, range 28, of James Roan, for which he paid $40 per acre. He cultivates grain of all kinds, and makes a specialty of thor- oughbred Poland China hogs. Mr. Peter- son was one of Illinois' best farmers, and Iowa may well be proud of his coming in her midst. He owns forty or fifty acres of fine timber, lying on the East Fork of the Des Moines river, and he can get from $5 to $6 a cord for all the wood he chooses to bring into Algona, a distance of a mile and a half. He was married Aug. 26, 1866, to Emma Christina Run- beck, born in Sweden. They have five living children— Edah R., Ella A., Esther L., Edwin P. and Alfred L. He and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a republican. -■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ - — fk, HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 437 CHAPTER -XV I BURT TOWNSHIP. t This township is contained within the limits of what is known as township 9V north, range 29 west, and is bounded on the north by Greenwood, on the south by Algona, west by Fenton, and east by Portland. The surface is, as a whole, comparatively level, the slight swells or undulations being just sufficient, as a rule, to drain the land. The East Fork of Des- Moines river flows across sections 1 and t2 in the northeast corner, while sections 29, 32 and 33 are traversed by a branch of the Black Cat creek. The township is comparatively new, only a small portion being under cultivation, the principal business of the inhabitants being stock raising, as the prairie is covered with a most luxuriant growth of native grass. This grows exceedingly thick and fine and affords a magnificent range for large herds of cattle, whose plump appearance and sleek hides show plainly its nourishing qualities. But little, if any, native tim- ber is found in this locality, but where the old settler is found, may be seen fine groves of elm, ash, cottonwood and other trees, set out and protected by their hands. The first settler in the township was John Brown, who located here in 18G4, and is still a resident of his original claim on section 36. ■y John Brown, son of Robert and Anna (Quin) Brown, was born in Westmore- land, Aug. 12, 1830. When twelve years of age he left home and worked for a farm- er until sixteen years of age, for $0 a month. He then worked on the Lancas- ter & Carlisle railroad, within sixteen miles of his father's home. He also car- ried picks to a blacksmith shop to be sharpened, making a little more than board. When seventeen years of age, the man for whom he was working was about to move away, f 50 miles, and want- ed Mr. Brown to go with him. He went home on a visit and informed his parents of his intentions. His father did not ob- ject, but his mother being very much op- posed to his going, came out and said; "John, we will never see you again." John answered, "Mother, in one year I will be brick." He never saw them again. He was once within thirty miles of home, but being poor and having neither money nor good clothes, he was ashamed to go home, for John was sometimes in rather straightened circumstances. About this time Mr. Brown decided to come to Amer- ica, telling his employer that he would be back in a year. A singular coincidence happened. The vessel was twenty-two days making the trip, but Mr. Brown got over in twenty-one days. The examin- 4 4«- u—^£± 438 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ing physician came out to meet the boat, and Mr. Brown went in with him, thus arriving one day ahead of the vessel. Be- ing sick when he arrived, he remained in the hospital for six weeks, then hired to work on a railroad again, but worked only one and a half days. He went to New York, forty miles distant, and came across a Yankee, who gave him $6 a month during the winter. He then hired to A. Lanson Hubard, of Cortland Co., N. Y., for one year at $100. Mr. Hubard was a Church member, and with him Mr. Brown acquired steady habits He staid with Mr. Hubard three years, the last year receiving $160 dollars. Mr. Brown then married Susan Cordon, and moved to El- mira, Dodge Co., Wis., purchasing forty acres of timber land. Failing to pay for this land he sold it and removed on a farm belonging to Col. John Cochran, on which he lived one year. While on this farm they lost three sons with diphtheria. Mr. Brown lived in various localities near there one year, then moved to the pineries of Wisconsin, and, in 1862, enlisted in the 3d Wisconsin Volunteers. He was taken to Camp Randall, and failing to pass inspection returned home. Mr. Brown and his wife parted after living together eight years. They had one daughter — Emma Jane, eighteen months old, whom the mother claimed. He saw her six months after their separation, but not again for many years. His wife, however, gave Emma Jane away, as he learned afterwards, she having married again. She instructed Emma to find her father, and having C"ine to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, and hearing of a man in Kos- suth county of her father's name, wrote to him and received answer that he was really her father. In 1881 she made her father a visit, and they were re-united. She now lives with her husband, Francis A. Wood, five miles north of Mr. Brown's place. When Mr. Brown first came to Kossuth county, in 1864, he took as a homestead eighty acres of land on section 36, township 97, range 29, Burt township. He now owns a quarter section. He put up the first sod house in the county. He married, in 1868, Adelia C. Coles. She died in 1880. In 1881 he married Olive R. Anderson. They have two children — Emma Jane and Effie Rosa May. In 1883 Mr. Brown erected a neat frame house on his place, in which he now lives. He had a stable struck by lightning, killing his team, and has suffered severely by grass- hoppers. But he has surmounted all diffi- culties and now stands among Kossuth county's best farmers and most respected citizens. He is a republican and is sub- director of the township. Mr. Brown is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The next to locate in the township was John Wilson, who on the 21st of April, 1866, found the place he wanted and made a claim on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24. He re- mained here until his death, which took place upon the 28th of December, 1869. John Wilson was a native of Ireland, born in the county Derry, in. 1813, but was of English descent. He emigrated to the United States in 1840, residing in Philadelphia, Penn., until 1861, when he enlisted in company B, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves, being discharged in 1864. He re-enlisted in company H, 91st Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, serving until Lincoln's -iUr K+ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 439 assassination. He participated in the battles of Meclianicsville, South Moun- tain, Wilderness, Richmond, Petersburg, Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg, and was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., July 3, 1865. He came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, July 27, 1865, and took a homestead of eighty acres on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 97, range 29, Burt township. He lived in Algona and worked the farm until 1869, when he moved on the farm. On Dec. 18, 1869, he engaged to work for a rail- road company, and on the 28th of the same month was killed by a bank falling where he was excavating. Mr. Wilson was married before coming to this country to Ann Eliza Brown, of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had eleven children, eight of whom are living — Margaret J., John B., married and living in Phila- delphia; Eliza M., wife of James Faunce, of Philadelphia; Samuel J., married and living in Portland township; William C, a sailor; Robert J., clerking for an establishment in Algona; Edward and Thomas A. Four of the family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John B. Hutchinson located, in 1865, on the south half of the northeast quarter of section 8, upon which he still resides. John B. Hutchinson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fifeshire, Scot- land, Aug. 21, 1839. He is a son of John and Agnes (Reed) Hutchinson, both of whom died and are buried in Scotland Mr.. Hutchinson came to America in 1856. He worked on a railroad in the State of New York for eighteen months after his arrival. He then removed to Illinois, lo- cating in Will county. He followed farming four year;; then engaged in min- ing coal for four years, when he removed to Boone Co., Iowa, locating in Moingona. He followed coal mining in that place about two years, then removed to Kossuth county, settling in Burt township, on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 95, range 29. He has sixty-five acres un- der cultivation, and carries on mixed farming. One of the nicest groves in the township is growing on his farm. Mr. Hutchinson was married in November, 1872, to Margaret Bradon, a native of Germany. Her people live in the State of Nebraska. The result of this union was six children — Emma L., Frederick J., Margaret J., Albert H., Noma A. and Clara A. Politically Mr. Hutchinson is a republican. He has been township super- visor for seven years. James and Edward Mario w located upon sections 32 and 33, during the year 1865, also, and are still residents of their original claims. George Atdell, who is still a resident of the township, settled here in 1866. The same year section 24 received a settler, in the person of Hiram Norton, who took up a homestead on the south half of the northeast quarter of section 24, where he still lives. Hiram Norton, son of Hiram and Betsy (Matson) Norton, was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1839. When nineteen years of age he went to Bureau Co., 111., and worked on a farm. In the winter of 1863-4 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling in Algona, and working on the farm of W. H. Ingham. In the fall of 1864 he removed to Cresco township, where he lived until the summer of 1866. A. 4-tO HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. He then took a homestead on the south half of the northeast quarter of section 24, township 97, range 29, Burt township, and built a sod house, 12x24 feet, in which he lived five years. In 1883 he erected their present residence, a neat frame building. He has a fine grave of four acres, a half acre planted in orchard, and makes a specialty of stock raising. Mr. Norton was married March 4, 186D, to Ellen, daughter of John and Jane (Gilmour) Piercy. Her mother is deceased. Her father is living with Mr. Norton. In politics Mr. Norton is a republican. He was elected trustee of Burt township for the year 1884. Elijah Hulburt was the pioneer of the year 1867, and settled down upon a home- stead on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 32, where he has re- mained ever since. Elijah Hulburt, son of Alonzo and Credulia (Sumner) Hulburt, was born in Erie Co., N. Y. When four years of age he removed to Stephenson Co., 111., where he lived on a farm for thirty years. He then removed to Kossuth county, locating in Burt township. He built a sod house, which burned down. In 1873 he built, the house he now lives in. He has nice and comfortable buildings in the midst of a beautiful grove of four acres. Mr. Hulburt was united in marriage with Margaret Marlow, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Judge) Marlow, Dec. 6, 1862. They have four children — Mary O, Ellen, John J. and Jonathan O, twins. Mary is engaged in teaching school. Mr. Hul- burt is a republican, politically. He has been school director for three years. Mrs. Hulburt's parents are dead; being buried in the Catholic cemetery in Algona. John Murray, another resident of his original homestead, came to Burt town- ship, with his three sons, and all took homesteads. The elder Mr. Murray on the south half of the southwest quarter of section 8. John Murray, son of William and Janet (Glass) Murray, was born in Janaury 1824, in Kinrosshire, Scotland. When thirty- one years of age, he went to Mahoning Co., Ohio, and worked in furnaces and rolling mills eight years He then went to Illi- nois and worked for eight years in the coal mines of Grundy county. From there he removed to Boone Co., Iowa, settling in Moingona, where he lived four years, mining coal. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on the southwest quar- ter of the south half of section 8, town- ship 97, range 29, where he owns 320 acres. In connection with his sons, each took a homestead of eighty acres, and have since bought eighty acres, making 400 acres, 200 of which are under cultiva- tion, eight acres are in fine grove, be- sides having a good orchard. He was married Dec. 31, 1846, to Jean Jackson. They have three sons — William, David and John. William married Isabella Burt, and lives on section 8, Burt town- ship. David is at home. John married Margaret Burt, sister of William's wife, and lives on section 17. He is a republi- can, and member of the Presbyterian Church. He has been school director, and is now town trustee. The first regular services were held by the Rev. R. A. Paden, a Presbyterian >iv [«. -*k HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 441 minister, at the house of Henry McDon- ald, in August, 1882. The first frame house was built by Hiram Norton in 1870. The first school taught in the township of Burt, was in what was district No. 1 1, Algona district. This was initiated upon the 23d day of September, 1872, with Joseph M. Martin as teacher. A log house which had formerly been occupied as a dwelling house was used as the school house. The term ended upon the 20th of December, 1872. The following is a list of the scholars of this pioneer school, as taken from the record bookof the teacher: Adelaide R. Apel, Edward L. Apel, Min- erva A. Apel, Juliana L. Apel, William Apel and John A. Apel. The first sub- director of this district was Fletcher Ilofius, who was succeeded by Charles Brooks. Mr. Brooks resigning, J. J. Apel was appointed to fill the vacancy. The first school in district No. 10 was taught in a dwelling house formerly oc- cupied by Mr. Merten's family. This made a most comfortable house. The first term commenced the 2d of Novem" ber, 1874, and continued until the follow- ing February. L. Hutchinson was the first teacher. The first school taught in district No. 9 began May 18, 1875. A frame house had been built for the purpose of a school house. This was the first frame school house in the township. The school term lasted until the 24th of September, and was conducted by Minnie Colby. Burt contains three sub-districts of the the district township of Algona known as Nos. 9, 10 and 12. ^U Districts Nos. 10 and 12 were re-organ- ized out of the original one, and a new school house built in each, at a cost of about $400 each. The school house of sub-district No. 9 was erected in the vil- lage o Burt, in 1882, and cost $700. This is a neat, tasty building, 22x38 feet, and twelve feet to the ceiling, and affords ed- ucational facilities to quite a number of pupils. The suit-directors for these three districts are the following gentlemen: P. M. Barslow, Frederick Schultz and C. Hierstadt. The first child born in the township was John, son of Hiram Norton, whose birth occurred in November, 1867. The first death was that of John Wil- son, who was killed Dec. 28, 1869, and is buried in the cemetery at Algona. The first ground was broken by John Brown, in the fall of 1864, and he sowed the first wheat that same time. In the fol- lowing spring he planted corn, the first, also, in the township. The township was organized in 1883, and the first election was held at the October election, when the following offiers were chosen: Hiram Norton, John Murray, Sr., and Thomas Hanna, trustees; George E. Marble, clerk; A. D. Blanch- ard, assessor; P. M. Barslow and Isaac Ames, justices; Arthur Stow and John Douglas, constables. The village of Burt was laid out, sur- veyed and platted by the Western Town Lot Company, in connection with Am- brose A. Call and D. A. Buell, in Septem- ber, 1881. The plat was filed for record, at the court house in Algona, on the 19th of September, of the same year. The streets run north and south and the ave- •fr \ <3U. ±L 442 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. nues east and west. The village has but about thirty inhabitants at present, who are nearly all Americans of a most intelli- gent and enterprising class The Chicago & Northwestern railroad passes through the village and the company have put up at this point a very nice and cozy depot. In the fall of 1881, George E. Marble came to the incipient village of Burt and commenced the erection of the first store building. This structure is 20x24 feet, two stories high, and 14x16 feet, one story. In this building he opened a gen- eral merchandise store, which he is yet operating. George E. Marble was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., June 17, 1850. When four years of age he went with his parents to Madison, Dane Co., Wis., where he re sided for thirteen years on a farm. He then went to Franklin Co., Iowa, settling on a farm there. In 1881 he came to Burt and erected the first store building in town. This building was two stories in height, the first floor being 20x24 feet in dimensions, with additions in rear, 14x16 feet, and the second floor 20x24 feet. In 1882 he started a hay press, in a building 40x42 feet, which he operated during 1882-3. He still continues in the general merchandise business. Mr. Marble was married Nov. 29, 1 Si"7, to Ella V. White, of Franklin county. They have two children — Arthur E. and Cressie E. Mr. Marble is a republican and holds the office of town clerk. He has also been postmaster since 1882. About the same time Joseph D. McDonald opened a lumber yard in Burt, which he yet is running. He handles, also, hardware, lime, salt, coal, and buys grain and stock. He is the owner of a hay press which he is operating, which has a capacity of eight tons per day. Joseph D. McDonald, son of William and Mary (Shanor) McDonald, was born in Butler Co., Penn. When ten years of age he went with his parents to Grundy Co., 111., where his father was engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in company B, 129th Illinois Infantry, being mustered in at Pontiac. He participated in the battles of Pensacola, Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, July 20, 21 and 22, with Sherman on his march to the sea and back to Washington, where he was mustered out in June, 1865. He then went to Dwight, Livingston Co., III., where he engaged in fanning, in the spring of 1S06 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on a homestead of eighty acres in Portland township. In 1881 he moved to Burt and engaged in the lumber business. He owns one acre of land and a good house. Mr. McDonald was married March 9, 1871, to Nancy I. Y r oung, of Dwight, 111. They have five children — William E., Eugene M., Everett E., Lulu O. and Henry J., all liv- ing at home. Mr. McDonald has been .trustee of Portland township for ten years, and is now one of the supervisors of Kos- suth county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church In politics he is a democrat. Comfort P. Stow came to Burt in 1881, also, and began blacksmithing, and put up the first hotel, which was 16x32 feet, with a wing 11x16 feet. This he con- tinued to operate until the summer of 1883, and, although he has quit it as a rv k+ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 443 business, still lie will keep the weary trav- eler rather than turn him away. Comfort P. Stow was born in Geneva Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Feb. 25, 1848. When one year old his parents moved to Paw Paw Grove, Lee Co., 111., where Comfort lived until eighteen years of age. In 1864 he enlisted in company E, 140th Illinois Volunteers, being mus- tered in at Camp Butler, near Springfield. He was sent to guard railroads, and was mustered out in the same year. In 1866 Mr. Stow moved to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he lived until the fall of 1880. When Burt was organized, in 1881, he he moved there, and engaged in work at the blacksmith trade. He built the first hotel in Burt. In 1882, in connection with his brother, Mr. Stow started a hay press. He was married May 11, 1872, to Eliza Godden, of Algona township. They have five children— James P., Mary A., Fred O., Laura E. and Caroline, all living at home. In politics Mr. Stow is a republi- can. Religious services were held first, in the town, in August, 1882, and on the 6th of June, 1883, an organization was affected and a Church started with the following officers: Rev. R. A. Paden, minister; I. G. Schryver and William Bailey, elders. The Sunday school is also in a nourish- ing condition under the superintend ency of Mrs. Rebecca McDonald. George W. Sweet was born Aug. 1 4, 1830, in Crawford Co., Penn. When thirty-four years of age, he went to Ver- non Co., Wis., near Ilillsboro, and engaged in farming. After five years, he came to Kossuth county and settled in Fenton township, where he took a homestead. In 1871 he sold, but remained there four years, then moved east of Algona, staying one year. He then bought the place where he now lives, on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 7, town- ship 97, range 29. He owns forty acres of good land, has good farm buildings, and everything looks prosperous. Mr. Sweet was assessor one year. He was married Jan. 5, 1868, to Eliza A. Hayden, of Hillsboro, Vernon Co., Wis. Mis. Sweet had been married before, and has fonrchildren — Hattie, Mary J., Nancy and Frank. Mr. Sweet enlisted Aug. 14, 1861, in company B, 83d •Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served sixteen and a half months, participating in the battles of Hanover, and second Bull Run. He was wounded at Bull Run, being shot in the right arm, and confined in hospital three months. He is a Free Will Baptist. In politics, a republican. Peter Kriethe was born June 26, 1846, in Hanover, Germany. He is a son of Peter and Mary Kriethe. His father died when he was two years, and his mother when he was eighteen years of age. In 1866 he left Germany. In 1869 he went to California. In September, 1871, he removed to Clayton Co., Iowa, remained- one week, and came to Kossuth county. He rented a farm east of Algona, of Mr. Hutchins. Mr. Kriethe was united in mar- riage May 19, 1878, with Anna Bearacle, daughter of Frank and Catharine Beara- cle, of Bohemia. The result of this happy union, was two children — Frances Annette ami Emma Florence. Mrs. Kriethe took their present place as a homestead — the southwest quarter of section 22. They also own the southwest quarter of section 444 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 23. About 175 acres is under cultivation. Mr. Krietlie is engaged in both farming and stock raising. In the summer of 1883 he erected a good frame house on his farm. He has a nice grove and orchard. Mrs. Kriethe's parents are dead. They are buried in Bohemia. Peter M. Barslow is a native of Canada, born near Montreal, Aug. 18, 1836. When eighteen years of age he went to Kanka- kee, 111., where he lived two years and a half, working at the blacksmith trade. From there he removed to Batavia, Kane Co., 111., where he resided one year, then spent one year in Oswego, Kendall Co., 111. He then spent three years in Newark, Kendall county, going from there to Adell, Livingston Co., 111., where he resided thirteen years, working at the blacksmith trade. He was connected with a hardware and drug store for a short time while in Livingston county, and was also deputy sheriff for some time. In 1875 Mr. Bars- low came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on section 20, Portland township, where he resided three years. He then pur- chased land on the north half of the north- east quarter of section 24, Burt township, and eighty acres on the north half of the • northwest quarter of section 19, township 97, range 28, Portland township. He is engaged in general farming. Mr. Barslow was married, Oct. 20, 1 860, to Laura A. Fosgate, of Newark, 111. They have eight children — George F., Leon A., Clara B., Erne M., Laura A., Nellie L., Emma M. and Edna M. They are all living at home. Mr. Barslow has been school director in Kossuth county for five years. William Harsh, son of Charles and Car- oline Harsh, was born Oct. 24. 1858, in Prussia, Germany. At six months of age he emigrated to America, locating in Illi- nois, near Freeport, where he lived ten years. From that place he removed to Waterloo, Iowa. After remaining there two years, he removed to Fort Dodge. He lived in Fort Dodge until he came to Kossuth county. Upon coming to this county he located on the northwest quar- ter of section 2, Burt township. Mr. Harsh deals in live stock as well as rais- ing grain. He is a single man. His mother and two sisters live with him. In politics Mr. Harsh supports the demo- cratic ticket. Mr. Harsh is a member of the Lutheran Church. His mother and sisters are members of the same Church. James Leslie was born Feb. 16, 1819, in Allegheny Co., Penn. Here he grew to manhood, and was engaged in running a coal boat on the Allegheny canal. lie also made several trips to New Orleans by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. When twenty-three years of age he was married to Maria Boyd, of Taunton, Penn. He lived in the home of his birth until thirty-one years old, when he removed to Scott Co., Iowa, locating on a farm. His wife soon afterward died, leaving one child— Mary Jane. On Nov. 28, 1854, Mr. Leslie was married to Mary A. Stub- elfield, of Princeton, Iowa. This union was blessed with six children, four of whom are living — William B. C. F. C, Emeline, Jessie B. and James McBride. In 1859 Mr. Leslie went to Pike's Peak, remaining there one year, during which time he was foreman in a quartz mill. After returning from the west he purchased a hotel which he run for five years ; also dealt in stock during this time. In 1872 •* : F ya_ ■_f\* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 445 he went to Tama Co., Iowa, where he was engaged in fanning for six years, near La Porte City. He then moved to Black Hawk county, and followed farming for three years, thence to Kossuth county in 1881. He bought the southwest quar- ter of section 32, township 98, range 29, of which he has seventy-five acres broken. He has an artificial grove of four acres, and fruit of all kinds. Francis A. Wood, son of Edward and Elizabeth ( Shimer ) Wood, was born in Black Hawk Co., Iowa, March 8, 1859. When twenty-three years of age he came to Kossuth county and purchased the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2, Burt township. He has forty acres under cultivation, and is interested largely in grain and stock raising. In 1881 Mr. Wood was married to Susan E. J., daughter of John and Susan (Corton) Brown, the oldest settler in Burt town- ship. Mrs. Wood is the daughter spoken of in John Brown's biography, as being the child who had not seen her father since two years of age, until 1881. She was born Oct 10, 1862, in Wisconsin. When twi years of age her parents sepa- rated, Mrs. Brown taking Emma and going to live with a brother. Her mother two years afterwards married again, and Emma, after living at home five years, went to live with John Tennant, of Black Hawk Co., Iowa. She lived with Mr. Tennant until eighteen years of age, being educated while living there. She thinks as much of Mr. Tennant's family as she would of her own parents. Mrs. Wood hearing of a Mr. Brown in Kossuth county, and supposing him to be her father, wrote to him, and finding her hopes realized, came to visit him in 1881. Mr. Brown then prevailed on his new son-in-law to buy a place near him, and all are happy. George M. Meinzer, deceased, was born in Baden, Germany, June 28, 1812. In 1849 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Racine, Wis., where he re- sided ten yeirs. He then went to Free- port, III., where he lived three years, after which he lived near Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa, for two years. He then removed to Tama county, residing there until his death, which was very sudden. On the morning of Sept. 12, 1874, he was as well as usual, but at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon he was stricken witli heart disease, dying instantly. Mrs. Meinzer resided on the farm until Sept. 6, 1879, when she removed to Waterloo, remain- ing there two years, sold her farm and re- moved to Kossuth county. In 1883 she bought her present farm, the northwest quarter of section 12, Burt township. Mr. Meinzer was married Feb. 6, If 40, to Eva R. Yaumorthal, of Baden. Mr. and Mrs. Meinzer had nine children — Charles W., Gustavus, Christena, Charles A., Caroline, Edward, Leo, John and Ellon. Mrs. Meinzer is sixty-three years of age, and lives with her daughter, Ellen, on the farm. >Pv k* 446 HISTORY OF KOS&UTII COUNTY. CHAPTER XVII CRESCO TOWNSHIP. This township, which lies in the south- western part of the county of Kossuth, contains all of congressional township 94 north, ranges 29 and 30, and all of town- ship 95, ranges 29 and 30, except a tier and a half of sections cut off of the north part, and attached to the civil townships of Lott's Creek and Algona. It contains about 120 square miles, or 80,640 acres of the best land in the county. The surface is nearly flat except in the vicinity of the streams, where it breaks into gentle rolls. The soil of rich, warm, dark loam holds the promise of unlimited fecundity and fer- tility. The East Fork of the Des Moines river runs through the eastern part of the township, watering the land, and with its affluents draining it. In the western part, Lott's creek affords the necessary water, entering Cresco from the north, on sec- tion 11, and flowing in a southeasterly course makes its exit on section 31, town- ship 94, range 29. Along the margin of the streams, the Des Moines in particular, quite a heavy growth of timber is found, made up of the various deciduous trees of this latitude, among which ash, soft maple, basswood, poplar and burr oak take the lead. These belts of timber, together with the groves of soft wood trees that cluster around the habitations of the older set- tlers and residents, add beauty and pic- turesqueness to the landscape. The older settlements lie along the river and are made up of nearly all nationalities, Eng- lish, Irish, German, Swedish, Scotch and American. In the western partis a large German settlement, known as the Dor- weiler settlement. The first attempt at a settlement in Cresco was made by William Hill and Levi Maxwell, in the fall of 1854. The former of these parties was a decidedly hard character and always had around him a tough crowd, and as the settlers gathered into the county he was crowded out, Charles Osgood buying his claim. He drifted away, no one knows where. Levi Maxwell did not remain very long either, but removed to some other locality in the State. Christian Hackman and Daniel Hill lo- cated in this township in the latter part of the year 1854. Daniel Hill sold out his claim to Alexander Brown in the May following and left the county. Christian Hackman is still a resident on the origi- nal claim he made, and is one of the county's most influential men. Alexander Brown, Sr., and hisr son of the same name, were the next settlers in Cresco township, coming in May, 1855, and locating on section 14. Both are still residents of the county. rr^ @ W- -« »!>?■ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 44 V Alexander Brown, Jr., was born June 19, 1838, in the north part of Ireland, near the coast of Scotland. When four years of age he came with his parents to America, landing at St Johns, New Bruns- wick. After living there three years they went to Massachusetts, making it their home eleven years. He then came to Kossuth county and staid one year, after which he went to Massachusetts and worked for the government as a ma- chinist. All through the war, and before the war broke out, he worked in the navy yards, or anywhere the government saw fit to send him, being at different times in Springfield, Mass.; Trenton, N. J.; New- ark; Fort Warren; Boston Harbor; Port- land, Maine, and other points. In 1865 he came back to Kossuth county, and has worked since on his farm on section 14, township 95, range 29, engaging exten- sively in stock raising, of which he keeps good blooded Durham "thoroughbreds." He also owns a quarter section on sections 22 and 23. He was married March 25, 1868, to Margaret Burt, of Algona. His father, who is eighty-seven years of age, lives with him. Mr. Brown is one of the successful farmers of Kossuth county, and a good neighbor and citizen. He and his family belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a republican. Robert Brown and Barney Holland both came to Kossuth county in May, 1875, and were a portion of a colony from Whitinsville, Mass. Some located in what is now Algona township; these two settled, however, in Cresco, on sec- tion 24. Mr. Holland made but a short stay, when, not liking the idea of pioneer- ing, he departed the country, going back to Massachusetts. Robert Brown remained some two or three years, and he, too, re- turned to the "Old Bay State," where he now resides. In June, 1855, Dr. Robert Cogley made his appearance and bought the claim of Levi Maxwell, on section 13, now known as the Huntley place. He was the pio- neer physician of the county. Stephen Millen was also a pioneer of 1855, and is yet a resident of the town- ship. Stephen W. Millen was born in Nor- wich, Windham Co., Conn., Oct. 4, 1818. He remained there until 1833, then went to Massachusetts, being employed for ten years in the woolen factory. In 1837 he went to Grafton, Vt., and engaged in farming. In 1845 he returned to Massa- chusetts and worked in the mills. In 1855 he came to Kossuth county and pur- chased land on section 16, township 95, range 29, having 120 acres, fifty of which are under cultivation. He has good build- ings and a fine orchard on his place, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. In the fall of 1858 he went to Albion, Marshall Co., Iowa. In the spring of 1860 Mr. Millen went across the country to Denver, Col., and California, returning the following fall. Mr. Millen was mar- ried Oct. 7, 1836, to Irene Amsden, daugh- ter of Jonas and Hannah Amsden, of Grafton, Vt. Mrs. Millen died Aug. 14, 1871, leaving five children — George W.; Mary, wife of S. S. Rist, county treasurer of Kossuth county; William H, married to Lucinda Sawyer, living on section 16, township 95, range 29; Loan'ha, wife of George Humlong, of Marshalltown, Iowa; ® > ■)£. 448 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. and Louis, married to Carrie Higley. Mr. Milieu is a republican John Hutchinson was among the early settlers of the year 1855. He endeavored to jump the claim of Dr. Cogley's, but was foiled, and after drifting around for a few months, moved up into Algona township and made a claim. He lived there until 1882, when he died. Henry Kellogg arrived in this township in 1856 and settled on sections 34 and 36, township 95, range 29. He lived on this place until the day of his death, in 1859 or 1860. Grishington Jones, with his family, came in the spring of 1856. Mr. Jones was a Virginian of high family preten- sions and well educated — but somewhat cynical in manner. He left the county some years ago, but came back every little while to renew old friendships. He died about two years ago. W. D. Eaton settled on the northeast quarter of section 34, in 1856. Mr. Eaton was subsequently married to Nettie Kel- logg, daughter of Henry Kellogg. He is now running a paper in the southern part of the State. George W. Blottenberger, Howard, Mrs. Betsy Norton and Benjamin Clark, came during the summer of 1856. Among other prominent settlers of 1856, may be mentioned Barnet and John De- vine, who made their first settlement in the bend of the river, on section 24. They are both among the most prominent and influential citizens of the county. Barnet Devine was born July 11, 1823, in Ireland. At the age of thirteen or four- teen he emigrated to Quebec, in a sail- ing vessel, being three months on the passage, on account of storms. He lived three years at Three Rivers, then went to Chicago and lived five years. From there he went to California, and stayed six years, working in tl e gold mines three years, digging gold. Returning to Illi- nois, he soon moved to where he now lives, on section 24, township 94, range 29, where he lived in a wagon-bed three months, building his first house twenty- seven years ago. He now owns 2,300 acres of land, all joining, sixty acres of which is in timber. The Upper Des Moines river bounds him on the west. He was married in April, 1856, to Abig.iil Batterson. They have nine children — Mary, Sarah, Ellen, De ia, Clara, George, Charles, William and Nellie. Mr. Devine is the most extensive dealer in stock in the county. He is a member of the Catho- lic Church, and has been school director. In politics, he is a democrat. Addison Fisber was also a settler in what is now Cresco township in 1856. Addison Fisher was born Sept. 21, 1821, in Denham, Norfolk Co., Mass. When he was seventeen years of age, he re- moved to Medfield, iVass., and remained over ten years, learning the cabinet makers' trade with Mr. Robins. After working at this trade two years, he went to Newton, and stayed two years, work- ing at wagon making. He then went to Framingham and worked at his trade, and from there to Natick, where he still followed the wagon business, and also en gaged in the express business. In 1855 .Mr. Fisher went to Delhi, Iowa, and lived there one year, when he moved to Har- din county, opened a farm and sold it, then moved, in 1856, where he now lives 1- -fee HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 4411 on 'ots 4, 5 and 6, which contains 140 acres. He now owns 700 acres in one body, and 180 acres adjacent. Being a heavy dealer in stock, his grade of Short horns is of considerable note, besides he has 180 acres under cultivation. He was married at Framingliam to Martha Mol- ton. They had seven children, four of whom are living — George A., who mar- ried Fredonia Rickle; Mary, wife of Joseph Raney, of Irvington; Cora, wife of Walter Raney, and Martha. Mrs. Fisher died in 1869. Mr. Fisher after- wards married Caroline Meeker, of De Kalb Co., Ill In politics he is a republi- can, and belongs to the Order of Free Masons, of the Chapter Lodge. Jesse, Charles H. and John Magoon, were also among the pioneers that located in the county in 1856. Jesse, after look- ing around some little time, went to Al- gona, where he engaged in the blacksmith- ing business, but gave it up after a few month's trial and drifted back to the New England States, from which he had come. Charles took up a claim but never "proved up" on it, and after a stay of a year or so, went to Massachusetts, where he is engaged in the practice of dentistry and writes himself Dr. Charles H. Ma- goon. John took up a claim on section 21, on which he lived for several years, but he, too, left the county, and is now a resident of Honalulu, on the Sandwich Islands. The first building erected in the county was the log cabin put up by Ambrose A. Call and W. T. Smith, on section 14, in August, 1854. This building stood on the Chubb place, in township 95, range 29. The first child born was Lizzie Hutch- inson, daughter of John Hutchinson, the date of whose birth was Feb. 4, 1856. The first marriage was that which united the destinies of W. D. Eaton and Miss N. H. Kellogg, on the 20th of Decem- ber, 185?. Rev. Chauncey Taylor per- formed the ceremony. The first death that occurred in Cresco township was that of a party by the name of Mahuren, a Christian preacher, who died at the cabin of Ambrose Call, on section 14, in the fall of 1854. Malachi Clark, of Irvington, made a coffin for the corpse out of puncheons split from bass- wood logs, with his ax. The first wheat was raised by Alexan- der Brown in the summer of 1855. The first school taught in the township was presided over by Mrs. Hale, now Mrs. Steele, in the summer of 1857. This was held at the house of G. S. Jones, on sec- tion 10. The township of Cresco was ordered to organize March, 1857, by order of the county court, and at that time comprised "all that part of the county lying west of the middle of the channel of the East Fork of the Des Moines river, and south of the south line of Algona township." But for some reason the township failed to comply with the requirements of the law, and the organization was deferred. On the 18th of March, 1858, L. H.- Smith, then county judge, issued a new order that Cresco organize itself into a civil township, and to hold their first elec- tion for township officers on the first Mon- day in April, 1858. This was accordingly done, the election being held at the house of Robert Brown. -i — -* 450 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. The first officers chosen were the fol- lowing named: James Robertson, Henry Kellogg and Levi Maxwell, trustees; W. D. Eaton, clerk, and Benjamin Clark, assessor. The school house in sub-district No. 1 was built about 1858, and cost about $500. In this building M. Collins taught the first term. The settlers of Cresco, like many other portions of our fair land, suffered many pri- vations during the years of 1857 and 1858, consequent upon the financial crisis that swept the country, and partially on account of the newness of the settlement around them. When they had to go to mill fifty, sixty, or more miles, across the country, to have a little flour or meal ground, life could not be a bed of roses to them. Happy was he that had the grist to grind, for all were not so fortunate as to raise a crop the first season, as the labor of opening up a new farm was considera- ble, and necessitated an early start. When the hard times struck this portion of the county, many grew discouraged and packing up their few traps left for other quarters. As many as sixteen families are said to have left in one day. But now the township is settling up fast. In the western part of Cresco, settle- ments were not made until quite late, com- pared with the eastern portion. The Dorweiler settlement was about the first to spring up in that part of the township. The pioneers of this were: Philip, Henry and Paul Dorweiler, who located here in 1865. In the following year they were followed by H. Buttgenbaeh and M. Bonnstetter. 1867 saw the arrival of Wil- liam and Jol n Andrig. Within a few years others joined the colony, prominent among whom are the following named: J. Bonwort, H. Rhinhart and F. Minger. Philip Dorweiler, oldest son of J. J., and Margaret (Seiler) Dorweiler, was born Nov. 2, 1831, in Lommersum, near Co- logne in Rhenish Prussia. In April, 1852, he came with his parents to America and settled in Clayton Co., Iowa. His father is dead, but his mother, at the advanced age of eighty years, is living with her youngest son, Henry, near Philip's home. He was married Feb. 2, 1861, to Anna Kann, a daughter of Geoffrey and Cath- arine (Jones) Kann, of Clayton Co., Iowa. His wife died Aug. 25, 1882, leaving seven children — Joseph, Alexander, Mar- garet, Catharine, Charles, Mary and Jose- phine. Cilly Kann, his niece, also makes her home at Mr. Doriveiler's. Mrs. Dor- weiler was buried in the Dorweiler ceme- tery, near her old home. In 1866, Mr. Dorweiler in company with his father and brothers Henry and Paul, came to Kossuth county, and settled in township 94, range 30, being the first settlers in the township. He located on the north half of section 6, and also owns 560 acres of other land nearby. He has eight acres of as fine grove as can be found in the county, ash, cottonwood and maple trees, also a fine bearing orchard of one acre. Two hun- dred acres of his land is under cultiva- tion, where he raises an abundance of grain, and keeps fine stock, having twenty cows, eight horses, and nice wells of water twenty feet deep. His buildings are all neat and substantial, sheltered from all directions. Mr. Dorweiler is one of the most prominent men in this township is a well educated man, having received his » y .* oL HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 451 education in Rhenish Prussia, and since coming to this country, has continued to to study the English language, so that he is quite proficient. In 1874 he was elected to justice of the peace, served four years. In 1875 was elected supervisor, and served six years. He is now school director of district No. 5. He and his family are Catholics. In politics, Mr. Dorweiler is an independent, and is one of the direc- tors of the Hank of Algona. Henry Dorweiler, youngest son of J. J. and Margaret (Seiler) Dorweiler, was born in Rhenish Prussia, Nov. 22, 184G. When six years of age he came with his parents to this country, settling on a farm five miles west of Guttenberg, Clayton Co., Iowa. Henry worked on the farm for fourteen years, receiving a good education in the country schools. When twenty years of age he came to Kossuth county and settled on the northwest quarter of section 4, township 94," range 30, Cresco township. He now owns 240 acres of college lands in addition to his original farm, two and a half acres of which is in a fine grove. He has 100 acres under cul- tivation, and is engaged in general farm and stock business. He has fifty head of stock. Mr. Dorweiler was married Oct. 31, 1876, to Mary Marnach, a native of Dubuque county. Her parents are now living in St. Joseph, Cresco township. They have two children — Margaret S. and Philip H. Mr. Dorweiler's mother, now eighty years of age, resides with him. She is still quite active and is beloved by the children. He is a republican, and has been assessor three terms and town- ship trustee two terms. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Paul Dorweiler, second son of J. J. and Margaret Dorweiler, was born in Lom- mersum, Rhenish Prussia, Oct. 28, 1838. When twelve years of age he came with his parents to this country, settling in Clayton Co., Iowa, where he resided until 1861. In October of that year*he enlisted in company K, 17th Missouri Infantry Vol- unteers. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, second attack on Jack- son, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, where his brother, Christian, was killed, and Sherman's march to the sea. He was sent back and mustered out at St. Louis, Dec. 16, 1864. He returned to Clayton county and worked on his father's farm one year, then removed to the southwest quarter of section 4, township 94, range 30, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he now resides. He has two and a half acres planted in grove, a half acre in orchard, and the rest is devo- ted to general farming. He has good buildings on his place. Mr. Dorweiler was married Sept. 25, 1873, to Mary Jus- tine Barth, of Guttenberg, Iowa. Her parents are living in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Dorweiler have five children — Mar- garet J., Catharine L., Louis, Paul and Henry J. Mr. Dorweiler is independent in politics, and has been township trustee for three terms. He has taught school eighteen terms in America. Michael Bonnstetter was born June 29, 1826, in Baden. In 1848 he came to America, landing in New Orleans and go- ing from there to St. Louis, where he worked in a distillery for four years. From there he went to Downville, Sierra Co., Cal., where he Worked in the mines six years. In 1858 he went to Gutten- berg, Clayton Co., Iowa, and bought a TTa w 14 A_^ ^ 452 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. farm. In 1865 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he bought 720 acres of land. He has 250 acres under cultivation, and raises stock and grain extensively. He has from sixty-five to seventy head of stock ; also from ten to twelve head of horses. His farm buildings and barns are in good order. He also has a large num- ber of fruit trees and a nice grove. Mr. Bonnstetter was united in marriage Sept. 14, 185S. to Catharine Dorweiler. The result of this union is ten children — Mar- garetha, Martin, Paul, Josephine, Chris- tian, Helena, Pauline, Justine, Henry, and Joseph. All are members of the Catholic Church. In politics he is a democrat. Martin Bonnstetter was born Feb. 11, 1832, in Baden. In 1852 he came to America, landing at New Orleans, and going from there to St. Louis, where he worked for two years at his trade, that of shoemaker, then moved to Waterloo, Mon- roe Co., 111., where he still carried on his shoe-making ten years. He next went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, ami worked at his trade eight years. In 1874 he came to Kossuth county, and settled on section 22, taking as a homestead, eighty acres, and afterwards buying forty acres. He was married in December, 1873, to Elizabeth Schaller, of Kossuth county, by birth an Austrian. They have no children, but Mary Faulkner lives with them. In poli- tics he is a democrat, and is a member of the Catholic Church. Frederick Minger was born Aug. 15, 1833, in canton Bern, Switzerland. He emigrated to the United States, with his parents, John and Mary (Hoffer) Minger, in 1846. He went directly to Ohio, where he lived three years, then steamboated on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers until 1854, at which time he returned to Ohio, where he lived one year. In 1855 he removed to Guttenburg, Clayton Co., Iowa, and kept a wood-yard until 1860, then moved to Elkader, where he purchased a farm. He enlisted, in 1862, in company II, 38th Iowa Volunteers, being mustered in at Dubuque, and serving three years and two months. He was disabled at Vicksburg, and was mustered out at Houston, Texas. He then returned to Elkader, and engaged in farming. In 1869 Mr. Minger came to Kossuth county, purchasing the west half of the southwest quarter, and the north- east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9, township 94, range 30. Also, the northwest of the northeast quarter of the same section. He has 140 acres un- der cultivation, fifty acres in grove and one and a half acres planted in orchard. He has 200 grape vines, and intends to make grape culture a specialty. He has good buildings on his place, also a house for renters. Mr. Minger was married Nov. 28, 1856, to Mary Beer. Mr. and Mrs. Minger have five children living — Franklin A., Adolph P., Amelia S., Mary A. and Alfred. They lost four children, in 1880, within eight days of each other, with diphtheria. Mr. Minger is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a republican. The Upper Des3foines, in speaking of this settlement, as early as 1871, says: "This portion of Cresco township is set- tled chiefly by men from Guttenburg, in Clayton county, the pioneers being Philip, Henry and Paul Dorweiler. They now number about twenty or thirty families, all in a prosperous condition. All have if J5sfe iv HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COITNTY. 453 large farms opened and in a fine state of cultivation. On inquiry as to the yield of grain this season, we were informed that the yield of wheat would average fifteen or sixteen bushels, barley about forty, oats sixty and corn was beyond computation. These men attend to their own business and in a few years will stand at the head of the list in point of wealth and intelligence. They have good schools, and as large a number of papers, both German and English, are taken and read, as in any other place of the same number of persons, within our acquaint- ance. This colony is located along the rich bottom lands on Lott's creek, about ten miles southwest from Algona." A congregation, calling themselves the Apostolic Church, have an organization in Cresco township. Like the Dunkards in many points, they mix but very little with the world's people and have nothing to say about themselves as they practice ' humility. When the society was organ- ized, who were the officers, or what were the peculiar features of their belief, could not be found out. A plain, unpretending church, 20x32 feet, is erected on section 7, township 94, range 30, where they hold services. This was built in 1882. John Anliker was the first as he is their pres- ent pastor or elder. On section 35, in township 94, range 29, is located the thriving little village of St. Joseph, or "St. Joe" as it is familiarly called. This was formerly known as Hale's post office, sometimes Hale, in honor of Oscar Hale, of Algona, who was a land owner in the vicinity. The town never was laid out, as far as the records show, but grew by evolution. The first building was erected in 1865, by Hiram Howard, but it stood alone for some time. This was used as a hotel or general stopping place. In 1870, George Hollenbeck, from Wis- consin, came here and started a general store, which he run for about five years, and then rented the building, having closed out the stock to George Soevensky, of Milwaukee, who put in a new stock of goods, and "kept store" for two years. George Hollenbeck again took charge of the business and continued in this line until 1879, when he placed it under the charge of John Waldbillig, of Dubuque, and who managed it for two years longer. Joseph Schreiber came from Dubuque about this time and Mr. Hollenbeck dis- posed of the whole business to him. Schreiber ran it and a saloon in connec- tion with it for about a year when he sold out to Michael Smith, the present owner, ivho does not run the saloon part, how- ever. Caspar Waldbillig came to the neigh- borhood of "St. Joe," from Dubuque in 1870, and located on a farm, but in 187s, he came into the village and started a store for the sale of general merchandise. In deference to the custom among his fel- low countrymen, he has opened a beer hall in connection therewith, and is doing a good business. The hotel is now kept by Hollenbeck & Waldbillig, who are prospering as such good men must. O. F. Hale, now the county surveyor, was the first postmaster at this place, but was succeeded by G. Hollenbeck. Cas- par Waldbillig is the present incumbent, and has the office in his store. t *Ah ^ 454 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. The Roman Catholic Church, at this village, grew out of a series of meetings held by Rev. Father Butler, in 1869 and 1870, at the houses of John Mahahe and John Devine. The Church, however, was not organized until 1871, when Rev- Father Lenihan came here from Fort Dodge, as the successor af Father Butler, and at once set about the erection of a church edifice. He obtained the ground and got the subscription under way, and work was commenced on the church. He only stayed with this congregation one year, but in that time was happy in seeing his labors crowned by the comple- tion of the building. He was succeeded by Rev. Father J. J. Smith, of Emmets- burg, who was the spiritual director of the little flock until 1876. Father Theodore Weyman was the next incumbent, but held it for only thirteen months, when he gave place to the present pastor, the Rev. Father James B. Zigrang, late of St. Don- atus, Jackson Co., Iowa. The church is a beautiful building, 24x60 feet, with a belfry 10x10 and forty-six feet high and cost about $1,800. A line, large, comfort- able parsonage was also built in 1876 at a a cost of about $1,400. The first mem- bers of this Church were: George Hollen- beck, John Devine, Nicholas Brass, John Goedes, Peter Forman, John, Peter and Mi- chael Expelding, Nicholas and Peter Thil- ges, Barney Crowan, Michael Dunfrey, Mi- chael Melaven, Patrick, Michael and John O'Neill and John Murphy. There are now about fifty or sixty families in the Church, including both nationalities, Irish and German. In 1882 the greater part of the Irish portion of the Church seceded and erected a church of their own at Liver- more, in the north part of Humboldt county. Father J. B. Zigrang, son of Henry and Ann Zigrang, was born Oct. 18, 1850, in Luxemberg, Germany. When quite young he came with his parents to America. Landing at New York, they immediately came to Iowa, locating in Jackson county. In 1867 Mr. Zigrang attended St. Law- rence College, in Cavalry, Wis., remain- ing there until 1872. He next went for one year to St. Francis College in Mil- waukee. After this he went to Minnesota, and took a two years' course in St. John College in that State. Having now fin- ished his school studies, in 1877, he was ordained as a German Catholic priest. His first charge was the Church organiza- tions at St. Joseph, Algona and the Dor- weiler settlement, in Kossuth county, Livermore and Humboldt, in Humboldt county, and Mallard in Palo Alto county. Father Zigrang built the Catholic church at Britt, also the one in Liver- more. He is beloved by all the members of his congregation, and hosts of friends greet him wherever he goes. When he came to St. Joseph he found the Church deeply in debt, but by hard work and per- severance, he has paid off all indebted- ness, enlarged the Church, and has a neat little sum in the treasury. Just over the line, in Palo Alto county, lies the thriving little town of West Bend, which was laid out on the 16th of Septem- ber, 1881, by the Cedar Rapids & Iowa Falls Northwestern Town Lot Company, and contained, originally, forty acres. Since that time an addition of forty acres more has been laid out by William S. Admanson, of Scotland. The streets are •Ma- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 455 laid out to run east and west, and broad beautiful avenues north and south. The the town is located upon the line of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad which is interested in the prosper- ity of the beautiful village. They have erected a depot that is architecturally one of the best in northern Iowa. So close does the town lie to the line of Kossuth county, that many of the dwelling houses are in the latter county, while the business places are in Palo Alto. Thus the interest of West Bend is in common with that of Kossuth county. The town is about eight miles south from Whitte- more,and southwest from Algona, eighteen miles, and is surrounded by some of the finest agricultural land in the State. The inhabitants are mostly Americans and are of an enterprising, thrifty class and valu- able citizens. The first store building was erected on the laying out of the town, in 1881, by E. S. Bagley, and in it he opened the pioneer hardware store of the town. He has a large and new stock of all kinds of heavy and shelf hardware, and is the agent for the celebrated Bradley & Nicoulin wagon, made in Algona. The following business directory will give some idea of the prosperity of this new town, and convey the impression of its importance as a business center. Amos & Gray, heavy dealers in lum- ber, grain and stock, also handle salt,lime, coal, builders' materials, etc., are live, energetic men, who by their industry and integrity have won the confidence of the community among which they live. McFarland & Son are engaged in the general merchandise line and give evi- dence, by their close attention to the wants of their numerous patrons, that they are thorough business men. They carry a large and complete stock and are doing a large and profitable trade. H. H. Jacobs is also a heavy dealer in particular lines of dry goods, groceries and provisions, and deals out to his many customers and friends the wares that they are in need of. His pleasant affable man- ner is winning him hosts of friem Benjamin Franklin deals in drugs, paints, oils and is the postmaster of the little "burg." There is also in the town one harness shop, one wagon and paint shop, a livery stable, the latter run by Herbert LeClaire, a barber shop, butcher shop, millinery establishment and two saloons. Dr. E. W. Bachman, the practicing phy- sician, has a ride of ten miles in every direction and is a very popular man. The doctor was elected county superintendent of schools of Palo Alto county in 1883. This town will eventually be a rival of no mean pretentions to her sister towns that surround her. A beautiful new school house has just been erected at a cost of $1,750, by Amos & Gray, contractors. It is two stories high and surmounted with a neat belfry and makes a most presentable appearance. Edward S. Bagley was born in London- derry, Vt. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Windham, Vt., and engaged in farming. They remained there one year, then removed to White River Junotion, same State. After two years they removed to Lyme, N. H. Re- maining three years in that place, they removed to Palmyra, Wis. They lived in that place two years, thence removed O r - ■- 456 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUr>TY. to Whitewater, where they remained nine years. While here the subject of our sketch learned the trade of tinner. He then removed to Whittemore, Kossuth county, and engaged in business for eigh- teen months. He then removed to West Bend, where he now resides. He erected a store building here, 18x28 feet, one story in height. He carries a stock of goods valued at about $2,500, and is doing a good business. He was united in mar- riage July 17, 1881, with Martha Vigren, of Hampton, 111. In politics Mr. Bagley is a republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. R. M. J. McFarland, son of John S. and Nancy (Wilson) McFarland, is a native of New York city. When in his twenty- first year he went to Wisconsin, and worked at different occupations three years, then went to Palo Alto Co., Iowa, in 1857. After traveling in Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa, in the springof 1859 lie returned to Palo Alto, West Bend township, remained till fall of same year, then went back to Wisconsin and lived five years, working in a lumber yard in Avocp, Iowa county. In the fall of 1864 he moved his family on section 28, township 94, range 31, in Palo Alto county, and carried on farming until March 1, 1883. when he commenced busi- ness in West Bend, where he still lives. He was married April 17, 1861, to Jane Franklin, of Wyoming, Iowa Co., Wis., and has five children — Benjamin F., Arthur W., R. M. J., Jr., Jennie C. and Sophro- nia N., all living at home. He is well liked in Palo Alto, and lias been super- visor six years. In politics he is a demo- crat; also belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows. William M., son of William and Louise Amos, was born Nov. 20, 1856. When eight years of age he moved with his parents to Beaver Dam, Wis., remaining three years. He then went to Winnebago Co., Wis., where he lived ten years, after which he removed to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa, and worked three years for J. J. Wilson in lumber, grain and stock business. He then went to Whittemore, where he had control of the same gentle- man's business for four years, after which he opened a general store in Whitte- more and continued in business for him- self at that place for eighteen months. Mr. Amos then moved to West Bend, and, taking Mark Gray into partnership, he opened an extensive lumber yard at this place. They also deal in grain and stuck. Mr. Amos was married Feb. I, 1880, to Cora E. Heathman, daughter of George and Catharine II. Heathman, now living in Pocahontas Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Amos have two children — William G. and Ethel C. Although Mr. Amos has been in this place but two years, he has won the confidence and esteem of his fel- low citizens. He is a republican in politics. Henry H. Jacobs, son of George and Almira (Warren) Jacobs, was born June 12, 1853, in Dane Co., Wis. When ten years of age his parents went to Palo Alto county and settled on section 22, township 94, range 31 , in West Bend town- ship. While in Wisconsin they lived on a farm; were also on a farm in Palo Alto till Jan. 1, 1882, when Henry went to West Bend and built the store which he now occupies for a general stock. The fr 'Vl 9 — *- ii 9 \f. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 457 building is 20x62 feet, and two stories high, the upper part being used as living rooms. Mr. Jacobs is well liked by all who know him. He was married April 31, 1882, to Jennie Brown, of West Bend township. He is now township trustee and school director. In politics he is a republican, and belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows. Mark Gray, son of Anson and Roxana (Cleveland) Gray, was born Sept. 10,1832, near Dorset, Bennington Co., Vt. When seventeen years old he went to Milwau- kee, Wis., and learned the mill wrighttrade, working at it in Milwaukee until 1810, when he went to Colorado. He was one of the discoverers of what is known as the Smith & Gray mines, they being named for him. He remained there min- ing till 1881, then came to Kossuth county, settling on the north half of section 30, township 94, range 30, Cresco township; he also owns the northwest quarter of the west half of section 29. He has a good house, one and a half stories high, and other buildings, besides being in business in West Bend (having built the first house there), and One of the most prominent citizens. He was married Sept. 4, 1855, to Mehitable Maby, of Stevens' Point, Wis. They have three children — Anson, Byron and Roxie, wife of George L. Smith, of Monarch, Chaffee Co., Col. In politics he is a republican. William Jones, son of Enos and Mary (Bingham) Jones, was born in Berks Co., Penn., June 20,1833. In 1851 he went to Du Page Co., 111., where he learned the mason's trade, and was engaged as a plasterer in that county until 1876. He then removed to Humboldt Co., Iowa, where he was engaged in farming for f our years. In 1883 he came to West Bend, Kossuth county, where he owns a house and lot and works at his trade. In 1861 Mr. Jones enlisted in company E, 8th Illi- nois Cavalry. He participated in the bat- tles of Bull Run, Manassas Junction, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Richmond, in 1862 and 1863. He was at Mechanics- ville, and drove t< • Gaines Mill, thence to James River, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Fair Oaks Court House, Fred- ericksburg to South Mountain and Boones- boro, thence to Antietam, where he was wounded. On Sept. 15, 1862, he went to the hospital, staid six weeks, then ob- tained a fifteen days furlough home. He went into the recruiting service and re- mained home three months, after which he was discharged. He re-enlisted, in 1863, in company C, 12th Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, taking part in a number of battles. Mr. Jones was married Sept. 5, 1858, to Mary M. Heidman, of Du Page Co., 111. They have five children — Ella L., Emma A., Dora M., William and Sumner. Michael Rourke is a native of Ireland. In 1840 he came to America in the sailing vessel, Virginia; the voyage lasting ten weeks and three days. He landed at New York city, went directly to Poughkeepsie, where he remained one winter. He was engaged in railroading in New York State until 1852, when he moved to Manchester, Iowa, where he remained five years. In 1862 he enlisted in company H, 2 1st Iowa Infantry, being mustered in at Dubuque. He participated in the battles of Harts- ville, Mo., Grand Gulf, Vicksburg and Mobile. He served three years and three ^ A A-r, 458 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. days, and was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa. Out of 900 in his regiment, he was one of 330 who returned from the war. Mr. Rourke was married Feb. 10, 1866, in Fort Dodge, Webster Co., Iowa, by Father Butler, to Ellen, daughter of David and Ellen O'Brien. They have seven children — Lizzie, Bartholomew, James, Michael, Mary, Edward and Ellen, all living at home. Mr. Rourke's present farm, of 000 acres, is located on sections 2 and 11, township 94, range 29, Cresco township. He has 500 acres under cultivation, the remainder being timber and grass. In 1883 he erected his present beautiful res- idence, at a cost of $7,000. It has all the modern improvements, and is one of the best houses in the county. Mr. Rourke has 35 mules, 300 head of cattle, 12?> hogs and 35 cows. The Des Moines river bounds his entire farm on the west. His entire family are Catholics. In politics he is a republican. Elhanan Winchester Clark was born in Penobscott Co., Maine, thirty miles north- west of Bangor, Dec. 22, 1822. He was an overseer in the Lancaster gingham factory in Massachusetts, three years. He became, as it appeared, a victim to that fell disease, consumption. He traveled in the south for his health, one year, without avail. He then came to Iowa in 1857, where, in a measure, he regained his health. He pre- empted 143^ acres of land in the then township of Irvington, but has since been set off into Cresco township, Kossuth county. He still lives on the original claim, in a comfortable vine clad cottage, 24x33 feet in size, built largely from tim- ber of his own planting — one tree of which made 250 feet of lumber in fourteen years growth. He has a good barn; a well dug and bored fifty feet deep, supplying an abundance of water. Mr. Clark purchased eighty acres more of land in a few years, and Mrs. Clark came into possession of a 135 acre homestead, through her parents, thus making quite a large farm. They have 230 acres under improvement, the remainder being in grass and timber land. He recently set off 100 acres to his son, Elhanan C'.esson Clark. Mr. Clark was married March 15, 1846, to Susan C. Tidd. They have five children — Ernest Eugene, Edward Prentiss, Elhanan Clesson, Wil- liam Albert and Charles Elmer. Mr. Clark and family are Universalists in re" ligion, strong republicans and advocates of the Maine liquor law, he being one of its founders. Henry H. Patterson was born in Lon- donderry .Windham Co.,Vt.,May 15, 1840. When two years of age he went with his parents, John M. and Sarah (Calef) Pat- terson, to Rochester, Kacine Co., Wis. After residing there four years, they went to Dodge county, where his father was engaged in wagon making and farming. Mr. Patterson then removed to Menomo- nee, (or Indian tract as it was then called) where he was engaged for two years in farming. In May, 1852, Mr. Patterson and family started for California with ox teams. They went as far as Salt Lake, and spent the winter of 1852-3 among the Mormons. They left there in the spring of 1853, took the southern route to Cali- fornia and arrived at San Diego, on the Pacific coast, some time during the month of June, 1853. They remained there two or three months. It being too warm to be agreeable, they went farther north ifT - — 4 ^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 459 to Santa Clara valley, where he was engaged in farming two years. In the fall of 1855 he went on the Yuba river to seek his fortune in the gold mines, remaining there until the fall of 1856, when he returned to San Francisco, where he and family embarked on board the Golden Gate, for New York, where they took passage on the cars for Portage Co., Wis., arriving there in October, 1856. He remained in that place two years, working at his trade. He then went to Columbia county and worked on a farm two years. In the fall of 1860 Mr. Pat- terson removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on section 1, township 94, range 29, Cresco township, where he now owns 375 acres of land. He went into the bor- der warfare in 1862 and was there protect- ing the frontier for fourteen months. He then returned to his farm, and there re- mained until Jan. 5, 1864, when he en- listed in company F, 2d Iowa Cavalry, being in the 2d Cavalry corps. He par- ticipated in the engagement of Tupelo, and many others. Mr. Patterson was married April 5, 1877, to Mary C. Burtis, of Irvington township. They have two children— Jewell M. and Pearl P. In politics, Mr. Patterson is a republican. He has served as township trustee, town- ship clerk and school director. He is a Master Mason. Abel Wooster was born March 8, 1820, in Cheshire Co., N. II. In 1861 he moved to Jones Co., Iowa, remaining four years, and coming to Cresco township in 1866, when he bought 130 acres of land on sec- tion 14, township 94, range 29, and still makes it his home. He also owns a half section on section 12, same township. He was married Sept. 22, 1845, to Harriet Beels, of Chesterfield, N. II. They have six children — Carrie H.,who married An- thony Durant, a druggist in Algona ; Charles H., Edward B., Lyilia A., Law- rence M. and Merton E. He and his wife are both Church members. In politics, he is a republican. Rudolf Berringhauser, son of Gustave and Christian Berringhauser, is a native of Prussia, born Nov. 28, 1843. In 1856 he emigrated to the United States, locat- ing in New York. He then removed to Wisconsin. Remaining there a few months, he came to Kossuth county, locat- ing on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 94, range 30, this township. He has eighty acres under cultivation. He also has a good orchard and a nice grove. He was married Aug. 21, 1881, to Mar- garet Bonnstetter, daughter of Michael and Catharine Bonnstetter. They have two children — Willie B. and Otto. He was educated at the Agricultural Insti- tute in Bonn. Mr. Berringhauser belongs to the Lutheran Church. His wife be- longs to the Catholic Church. George Stewart was born in Scotland, Nov. 8, 1826. He lived there until twenty- two years of age, when he emigrated to Quebec. The trip took eight weeks and eight days. He lived in«Quebec twelve years, when he started west. In 1862 he came to Iowa and settled on sections 14 and 23. He has as fine land as there is in the county. He has a grove of five acres of willow, maple and cottonwood. Mr. Stewart has been married twice. First, to Jane Richmond. They had three children — George, Anna and James R. The two oldest children are married. ' -f\& ^ V kv 460 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. He was married the second time, Jan. 25, 1866, to Mary, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Liversage) Clark. This union has been blessed with five children — Lizzie O., Robert, Margaret, William C. and Amanda L. Mr. Clark has held the offices of school director and township trustee, the latter for nine years. In politics he is a democrat. Lafayette Turner was born near Elgin, Kane Co., 111., May 27, 1S50. When ten years of age he went to Benton Co., Iowa. His father owned a farm ten miles west of Vinton, in that county. He afterwards came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased the north half of the southeast quarter of section 13, township 95, range 30, Cresco township, where he now resides. Mr. Turner cultivates forty acres of land, has four acres in grove and orchard; the re- mainder of his land is unbroken. He also lias good buildings on his place. He devotes more time to his trade, that of carpenter, than to farming. Mr. Turner was married Dec. 25, 1879, to Emma Mil- ler, of Cresco township. Her parents reside in Kansas. Two children have blessed this union — Miriam and Honor. In politics Mr. Turner is a republican. His father is deceased. His mother makes her home with him on the farm. John McKay, son of George and Janet (Morrison) McKay, was born in Callais, Washington Co., Maine, Aug. 12, 1814. He remained at the home of his birth until thirty-six years old, when lie re- moved to Manitowoc Co., Wis., and en- gaged in farming. In Maine, he worked at lumbering on the St. Croix river and on Grand lake. He was a contractor. On July 27, 1865, he came to Kossuth county and located in Algona. In the fall or winter he removed to a farm on section 14, remaining there until 1874, when he removed to the southwest quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 18. Mr. McKay was married Oct. 26, 1836, to Margaret, daughter of Moses and Eliza ( Hamilton) Taft, of Callais, Washington Co., Maine. The result of this union was three children — William H., married to Jane Hollenbeck, of Mani- towoc, now living in Algona; George A., married to Christiana Ilonima, living on section 14, Cresco township, and MaryE., married to P. C. Phillips, of Cresco township. Mr. McKay is a republican, and has been school director. William Johnson was born in New Brunswick, June 26,1815. He received his education in the common schools of New Brunswick, by his own exertions, and taught school there for some time. In 1847 he moved to Canada, where he taught school and engaged in farming. He af- terwards moved to Iowa City, thence to Washington county, where he purchased forty acres of land, living on that place three years. In 1866 he came to Kossuth county, and settled on section 18, town- ship 95, range 29, where he owns ninety- six and one-third acres of good land. He has sixty acres under cultivation. Since coming here he has taught school five or six terms. Mr. Johnson was married Jan. 1, 1851, to Harriet Shiek, of New Bruns- wick. They have eight children — Ada, wife of Mina Willis of Algona; Augus- tus B., M. C, Ella, wife of Frank Potter, of Cresco township; Bertha, Maggie, Nathaniel and Lizzie. In politics Mr. Johnson is a greenback republican. He ;V »k HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 461 lias been clerk of Cresco township for two years, and is also secretary of the school board. Samuel B. McClelan was born in Put- nam Co., Ind., March 26, 1829. In 1844 he removed to Illinois, locating in Henry county. In 1849 he was united in mar- riage with Sarah Rouse, of Clay Co., Ind. He came to Kossuth Co., Iowa and loca- ted on section 5. He has eighty acres of land on section 5, and forty acres on sec- tion 7, township 94, range 29. He has sixty acres under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs McClelan have five children — John Wesley, Edward, Dexter, Samuel B. and Amelia E. The three eldest of whom are married. Mr. McClelan is a republi- can in politics. In October, 1861, he en- listed in company E, 9th Illinois Cavalry, 16th Army Corps, as blacksmith. He was in the battles of Tupelovand Corinth. He was principally engaged in keeping com- munications open, and was mustered out at Springfield, 111., Oct. 2V, 1864. William Robe, son of Dydrich and Martha (Fisher) Robe, was born in Hano- ver, Germany, June 15, 1840. In 1853 he emigrated to Clayton Co., Iowa, and en- gaged in farming near Guttenberg. He remained there about three years, and re- moved to Kossuth county, locating on the northwest quarter of section 15. He now owns 200 acres of good land. He was united in marriage with Augusta, daugh- ter of Charles and Caroline Harsh, who live two miles north of Algona. The re- sult of this union is five children — Anna, John, Minnie, William and Emma. Mr. Robe is a republican. Hiram A. Matson was born Jan. 4, 1826, in Rochester, N. Y. His father, John Matson, was a large contractor on the Erie canal, and run caftal boats a num- ber of years. He built the first log house in Rochester. His mother, Mrs. Mary Matson, was a woman of excellent quali- ties. When six years old, he went with his parents to Dearborn, Wayne Co., Mich., where they lived ten years, and then moved to Henry Co., 111., twenty-six miles east of Rock Island. At the end of sixteen years, he moved to the north- ern part of Illinois, Jo Daviess county, making it his home twelve years. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he has since lived. He owns 160 acres of land on section 7, township 94, range 29, having 110 acres of it under cultivation, besides raising good Durham stock. His buildings cost probably $1,500. He was married Nov. 3, 1853, to Eveline McClel- an, of Indiana. They have five children — Clarence B., who has been for three years attending the Iowa State Universi- ty, with the intention of graduating. He is highly spoken of as a very nice and tal- ented young man; Henry O., Francis A., Selestia A. and Hannah F. The family are all Methodists. In politics he is a republican, and has been school director in district No. 6, also superintendent of Sunday schools a long time, at one time being superintendent of three different schools. Fred Lange was born Feb. 27, 1836, in Mecklenburg. When nine years old, he went to Chicago, remaining two years and a half. While here, his parents came over. He went from Chicago to Clayton county, then to Farmersburg township, where he lived eight years working on a farm. In 1870, he came to Kossuth 462 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. county, settling on section 5, township 94, range 30, where lie has 125 acres under cultivation, good improvements, and four acres of trees around him. He also keeps Poland China and Berkshire hogs, besides milking twelve' cows. One acre he devotes to a fine orchard. He was married in March, 1860, to Minnie Strucker of Clayton county. They have one child. In politics he is a republican, and belongs to the Lutheran Church. Alonzo A. Sifert was born May 31, 1860, in Crawford Co., Wis. When ten years of age he came wkh his parents to Kossuth county, and has lived in different parts of the county, working for dif- ferent men. He has taught school in Ne- braska. In 1880 he returned from Ne- braska to Kossuth county and taught school one term, also taught one year in Humboldt county and three terms in St. Joseph, this county, being a very success- ful teacher. He is how running the farm of IS. Clark. He is a firm believer in Christianity, but not associated with any sect. In politics he is a democrat. William E. Sifert was born April 26, 1855, in Vernon Co., Wis. When fifteen years of age he came to Kossuth county, and has lived in different parts of the county working for different men the most of the time since, except in grass- hopper times when he went to Floyd Co., Iowa, and engaged in working for A. W. Cook and Capt. Humphrey, returning in the fall to teach. In 1878 he spent the. summer in Wright county, breaking land for A. Overbaugh. He has been a suc- cessful farmer and has taught thirteen terms of school in Kossuth county. He was elected assessor of Algona township, in the fall of 1879, and served one term. He is a firm believer in Christianity, but not associated with any sect. In politics he is a republican. William Thruceker, son of Dederich and Mary (Shultz) Thruceker, was born in Prussia, Dec. 5, 1847. When ten years of age his parents emigrated to America, locating in Clayton Co., Iowa, where they purchased a farm. In 1871 the sub- ject of this sketch came to Kossuth coun- ty, and engaged in farming. In 1876 he purchased the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and the northeast quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 32, township 95, range 30. He has since bought the northwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section 32. He has a good house 24x34 feet, one and a half stories high. He has a fine grove of six acres and a good bearing orchard. About 100 acres of his land is under cultivation. He has held the office of school director. He was united in marriage July 11, 1870, with Mary Louck Dau, daughter of John and Dora (Louck) Dau, of Clayton county. This union has been blessed with five children— Alvina W. F., Maria W. L., Frederick W. H., Martha M. D. and Wil- li el ini M. L. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a republi- can, politically. Hyman B. Butler, son of Moody and Lydia (Burt) Butler, was born in Green- field, N. H., Jan. 1, 1827. He was reared on a farm, having such educational ad- vantages as the district school afforded, with the opportunity of reciting latin for a time to the village physician. At sev- enteen years of age, he was sent to the Lebanon Liberal Institute at Lebanon, N. • "» B iL HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY 463 H., and for the next four years was at school most of the time, either here or at Mount Caesar Seminary, at Swansey, N. H., with one term at a Military Academy, estab- lished by Gen. Pierce, at Marlow, N. II. When grown to manhood, he was for a time in the paper manufacturing estab- lishment of his brother and brother-in- law, at Bennington, N. H. He was, in the meantime, married to Milliscent K., daughter of Caleb C. and Lydia (Sim- mons) Daggett. Mr. Butler now com- menced studying for the Universalist ministry which he had been for sometime contemplating. In 1852 he began preach- ing as an occasional supply for othercler- gyman, and in April of the next year (1853), became pastor of the Universalist parish at Bernardston, Mass., being or- dained in September of the same year, at a meeting of the Cheshire County Associ- ation at Marlboro, N. H. He was pastor in Bernardston until the fall of 1867, a period of nearly fifteen years, when he removed to Monroe, Wis., and became pastor of the Universalist parish. While residing there, he purchased land in Kos- suth Co., Iowa, and in 1872, sent two of his sons to occupy it and open up a farm. The next year (1873), he removed his fam- ily to Algona, Kossuth county, organizing and becoming pastor of a Universalist Church at this place. After preaching here four years, he went to Owatonna, Minn., and was pastor of the Universalist Church there for three years, his wife and children remaining on the farm. Becom- ing weary of this separation from his family, he came back to Iowa to live on the farm, where he at present remains with his sons. Their farm comprises section 17, township 94, range 29, Cresco town- ship. They are engaged in stock raising and dairying, chiefly, having the only Holstein cattle in this part of the State — keeping from thirty to forty head of milch cows, and from eighty to 100 head of cattle in all. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have five children — H. W., a railroad conductor; Frank P. and Fred K. (twins), proprietors of "Prairie Stock Farm;" Edgar B., a graduate of the Iowa State University, in the class of 1878, and Minnetta, wife of G. M. Annis. Mr. Butler is a republican, and is now chairman of the board of su- pervisors. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a strong temperance man. Hermann Struckeris a native of Prussia, Germany, born March 19, 1850. When eight years of age he emigrated with his parents to the United States, settling on a farm near Clayton Center, Clayton Co., Iowa, on which they resided fourteen years. Mr. Strucker then came to Kos- suth county, locating on the southwest quarter of section 17, township 94, range 30, Cresco township. He has 120 acres in general farming, five acres in grove and one-half an acre in orchard. He has thirty-one head of cattle, and good build- ings on his place. Mr. Strucker was mar- ried Nov. 2, 1876, to Anna Gayer. They have had six children, four of whom are living. Mr. Strucker is a republican, and is one of the road supervisors of the town- ship. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. Robbins Brown was born May 11, 1818, in Oxford Co., Maine. When seventeen years of age he went to Rome, N. Y., where he spent two years farming and lumbering about eight miles from the « w_ 464 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. city. He then moved to Potter Co., Perm., where he was engaged in the blacksmith business, and also in running rafts, for thirty-five years, on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Mr. Brown was married Feb. 14, 1844, to Polly Curtis, of Frank- linville, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. He now owns 160 acres of land, on section 26, township 95, range 29. Eighty acres of his land is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Brown has been township trustee for three years, and school director for ten years. He is a Master Mason, and was formerly a member of the Odd Fellows's lodge, but has never become a member of the lodge in this township. In politics he is a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one son — Edgar C, born Nov. 14, 1836, and married in 1875. He has three children — Ethel, Elsie G. and Ralph. Sherman S. Potter, son of Sheldon and "Wealthy (Baldwin) Potter, was born in Erie Co., N. Y. When six years old his parents moved to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where they lived eleven years on a farm. He then went to Knox Co., 111., remaining twenty-six years, farming all the time ex- cept eight years, when he run a grocery store at Altona. From there he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on section 30, township 95, range 29, where he owns eighty acres, and also eighty acres on sec- tion 25, township 95, range 30. He now has fifty acres under cultivation, raises stock and grain. He was married Aug. 9, 1854, to Salome A. Fowler, at Knoxville, Knox Co., 111. They have four children — Celia A., wife of Charles Rist, of Algona; Frank E., who married Ella Johnson, and lives on section 18, Cresco; Martha M. and Will S. Mr. Potter is a republican. In 1876 he was elected township trustee, has been a justice of the peace four years and is now township assessor. Robert II. Henderson was born May 6, 1840, in Delaware Co., N. Y. After four years he went with his parents to Orleans Co., N. Y. In 1848 they moved to Trum- bull Co., Ohio, and remained till the fall of 1854, then moved to Jackson Co., Iowa, and lived there till the spring of 1857. He then came to Algona, Kossuth count}', and enlisted at Spirit Lake,being musteri d in at Sioux City. He served in the army three years. He was in Gen. Zellar's ex- pedition in 1803 and 1864, but not wounded. Having been mustered out Nov. 23, 1864, he returned to Kossuth county, remaining at Algona until 1867, when he removed to Story Co., Iowa. From there he went to Nevada, and lived till the spring of 1869, then going to Boone Co., Iowa, he made it his home until Feb. 18, 1878, and again came to Kossuth county, where he has since lived on his wife's mother's farm on section 11, township 94, range 29, he having married Dec. 26, 1864, Nancy Martin, whose mother lives with them. They have four children — Cora, Williamll., Emma G. and Mary E. Mrs. Martin is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Henderson is director of district No. 8, and in politics a republican. Jerome Finnegan was born May 24, 1853, in New York, and went to Winne- shiek Co., Iowa, with his parents when two years of age. He lived there about twenty years, then moved on section 7, Kossuth county, where he owns 160 acres of land, 100 acres of which is under cul- tivation. He has lived here eight years, "3T. aN HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 465 and is a prosperous young farmer. He married Ida Jones, of Kossuth county) and they have two children — Mildred N. and Nellie M. In politics he is a repub- lican. David Zimmerman, son of John and Sarah (Capp) Zimmerman, was born Dec. 29, 1856, in Woodford Co., 111. When twenty-three years of age he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on the northeast quarter of the west half of section 15, which he owns. He was mar- ried Dec. 18, 1879, to Lena Falb, born in Switzerland. They have three children — Delia, Lydia and Louisa. He is inde- pendent in politics, and attends the Apostolic Church, though not a member. Walter W. Raney was born Sept. 6, 1849, in Martin Co., Ind., and went with his parents to Muscatine, Iowa, where they lived two years, then moved three and a half miles south of Algona, and afterwards nine miles south of Algona. After remaining there twenty-two years, he went to California and staid two years, working in the lumber woods in the win- ter and on a farm in summer. He then came back and bought the place where he now lives, on section 3, township 94, range 29, owning 106 acres, seven acres of which is timber. Mr. Raney pays considerable attention to the raising of live stock. In politics he is a republican, and was elected township trustee in 1879, but went to California before having time to do any service. He was married Feb. 1 1 , 1882, to Cora M. Fisher. They have one child — Hugh. Marshall Leonard Roth was born in Clarion, Bureau Co., 111., April 23, 1854. He lived in the home of his birth until twelve years of age, when he removed to DuPage Co., 111., living there thirteen years. Thence to Buchanan county for one year; thence to Iowa in 1879. During his early days he followed farming; then learned the tinsmith's trade, which he worked at for several years. It can truly be said that Mr. Roth is one of the best farmers in this part of the State. He was united in marriage Oct. 18, 1874, with Ellen E., daughter of Edwin C. and Ade- line (Kenyon) Fuller. They have one child living — Myrtle. A child was born to them Sept. 5, 1876, and on Feb. 2, 1881, it departed from this earthly sphere and passed away to its home prepared in Heaven, where trouble and sorrow will ne'er be known. Mr. Roth lives on sec- tion 28, township 95, range 29. In poli- tics he is a greenbacker. Mr. Roth's parent's live at Hinsdale, 111. Francis E. Roth was born in Bureau Co., 111., Jan. 22, 1862. He lived in that county until 1865, when he removed to Du Page county. He lived in that county for thirteen years, when he removed to Iowa, locating on section 20, where he owns a quarter section of land. He has a good house, with pleasant surroundings. He was married June 6, 1883, to Estella, daughter of Sumner and Louise (Kimball) Nelson. Mr. Roth's parents live in Hins- dale, 111. Politically Mr. Roth favors the greenbackers. David Porter Roth was born Feb. 5, 1851, in Clarion, Bureau Co., 111. When fourteen years of age he went to Du Page county and worked ten years on a farm. He then went to Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa, and lived four years, and in 1879 came to this township and located :fe* 466 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. on his father's farm, which comprises the southeast quarter of section 21, where he still lives, farming and stock raising. He was married Dec. 14, 1870, to Cassie Dunroy, of Indiana. They have one child — Charles Eugene. In politics he is a greenbacker. Alexander Fraser was born Dec. 5, 1827, in Nova Scotia, where he lived till twenty- one years of age, engaged in farming, and working at his trade, carpentering. From there he went to Massachusetts, re- mained two months, then went to Maine and lived two years, and afterwards re- moved to Canada, where he made his home twenty-six years, farming and work- ing at the carpenter's trade. He spent the year 1866 in Minnesota, then returned to Canada, remaining until 1880, when he removed to Livermore, Iowa, and lived four months. He then bought the place where he now lives, being 110 acres on section 7, fifteen acres of which is in tim- ber. While living in Canada, he was a man of some prominence, having been councilman, returning officer for county and town, assessor several times, and school director. He carries a good letter of address from these, was also given a very nice secretary on his departure for his new home. Mr. Fraser was married May 31, 1854, to Ellen R. Anderson, and has seven children — John R., who married Caroline Raney; Henry A., Donald R., Walter, Isabelle, Mary J. and Duncan. In politics, he is a republican. A member of the Episcopal Church. Alfred Evans was born May 25, 1841, in Chenango Co., N. Y. When he was fourteen years old, he went to Tazewell Co., 111., and lived fifteen years. After this he went to Boonesboro, Boone Co., Iowa, and lived two years, then went to New York. At the end of one year and a half he returned to Boonesboro, Iowa, making it his home eight years, then came to Kossuth county, and settled on section 8, township 94, range 29, and has tilled all but ten acres, which he uses for pasture. He has four acres of nice trees set out on the farm, north of the house, soft maple, ash and willow. Mr. Evans is a wheelwright by trade, which he worked at fifteen years, and is also a blacksmith, but has turned his attention mostly to farming. He married Martha J. Sher- man, of Washington, Tazewell Co., 111., and they have three children — Lester C> Cora A. and Arthur B. In politics, he is a republican. In August, 1861, Mr. Evans enlisted in company B, 47th Illinois Vol- unteers, and was honorably discharged in January, 1863, on account of disease con- tracted while in the service. David Gilmore was born twenty miles from Detroit, Mich., in 1833, and went with his parents to Lee Co., 111., where his father was one of the first settlers. In 1881 he moved to Kossuth county, settling on section 18, township 94, range 29, where he owns all of the section, it being splendid land, and his buildings are worth $vi,000, all in good repair, being new and nicely painted. He has been twice married, first in 1855 to Mary Bar- rett of Lee county, who died, leaving four children — Lillie M., Frank J., Edwin J. and Raymond D. Lillie married James Nicol, and is now living in Minneapolis, Minn. Frank married Fannie Foster, and is now living in Kossuth county. Oct. 9, 1877, Mr. Gilmore married Eunice Foster, « k. _»tj? HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 467 of Mendota, 111., and they have one child five years old — Mabel A. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church. In politics, he is a democrat. J. B. Henderson, a native of Ohio, was born July 27, 1849. In 1852 his parents removed to Jackson Co., Iowa. They re- mained there five years; thence to Algo- na, Kossuth county, and lived there twenty- one years. They then removed to Hum- boldt county, remaining there four years, then came back to Kossuth county, locat- ing on the southeast quarter of section 7, township 9-t, range 29. Mr. Henderson was married Sept. 28, 1874, to Lillie Berk- shire, of Muscatine, Iowa. They have three children — Bertram B., Eugene T. and EstellaL. Mr. Henderson has always followed farming, with the exception of four years that he carried the mail be- tween Algona and Dakota City, He is a democrat. Christian Bell, son of John and Dora Bell, was born in Balderbach, Mecklen- burg, Germany, June 22, 1837. When twenty-eight years of age he emigrated to the United States, going first to Buf- falo, N. Y., where he worked six months in a saw-mill. He then went to Elmhurst, 111., where he lived sixteen years, being a part of the time engaged in farming, and afterward in keeping hotel. In 1882 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on section 33, where he owns 240 acres of land, 200 of which is cultivated. He also owns eighty acres on section 29. Mr. Bell has a new house on his place, 16x32 feet, and a barn, 24x50 feet. He has eleven and a half acres planted in grove, and one-half of an acre in orchard. He deals largely in stock. Mr. Bell was married in Mecklenburg to Maria Bass, daughter of John and Mary Bass. They have had eleven children, ten of whom are living— Christian, Sophia, Charles, Anna, Henry, Minnie, John, Emma, Etta and Mary. William died at Elmhurst, 111. Mr. Bell is a republican in politics. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. Henry Bell, son of John and Dora (Warkentien) Bell, was born Jan. 18, 1842, in Mecklenburg. When he was twenty-six years old he came to Chicago, settling on a farm sixteen miles west of the city. In the fall of 1882 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and bought 248 acres of land on section 5, 140 acres of which is under cultivation, where he raises grain and stock. He has just built a new stock barn, 28x74 feet, and his buildings are all in good repair, looking neat and clean. Lott's creek runs through the farm near the house. He was married Nov. 4, 1868, to Anna Kroger, of Ilolstein. They have two children — Ferdinand and Ada Wil- helmina Maria. The family all attend the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a republican. 15 ** JL — ?Tj 468 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER XVIII. FENTON TOWNSHIP. The territory in the western part of the county of Kossuth, comprised in con- gressional township 97 north, range 30 west, is known as Fen ton. The surface of the land is of the same general charac- ter as that of Burt, and is watered by the stream known as the Black Oat creek. This stream rises on section 21 and flow- ing through 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and '36, makes its exit on the southeast quarter of the latter. Lyman Hawkins enjoys the credit of having been the pioneer of this township, making a claim on section 23, in the fall of 1868. Next came John L. Davis who made a claim upon section 22, in the spring of 1869, taking up eighty acres under the homestead law. Here he broke land and put in the first seed and grain in the town- ship, consisting of wheat, oats and corn, and raised a good crop, although the sea- son was very dry. He built the first frame house in the township, hauling the lumber for the same from Mankato, M inn., a distance of 100 miles. About the same time the Waterhouses settled in this township, on section 26, and took up claims H. Waterhouse now lives in Algona. Edward Bailey, together with C. and II. Bailey, located upon section 10, in June, 1869, and were the next pioneers of this section. Edward now lives in Minnesota but the others are still residents of their original claims. W. E. Ranney and James L. Blunt were also settlers of 1869. James L. Blunt is the son of John L. and Louisa Blunt, natives of New York. He was born Oct. 16, 1850, in Walworth Co., Wis., where he lived with his parents until the spring of 1870, when he came with his family to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and took up a homestead of forty acres, on section 26, township 97, range 30, in Fen- ton township, and has since bought eighty acres on section 25. He has fifty acres under cultivation, and has a good frame house and barn on the same. He makes farming and stock raising his main pur- suit. He was married to Susie E., daugh- ter of Henry H. and Harriet R. Pbcenix. Her father was a native of New York, and lier mother of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Blunt was born Nov. 5. 1852, in Wal- worth Co., Wis. They had one child — Harry L., who died Aug. 17, 1879, at the age of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Blunt are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Blunt votes the republican ticket. S. M. Clark settled on section 22, in the summer of 1869, and is still a resi- dent of the township. ~71a - v" 1 .* e k HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 469 James E. Webster, in March, 1870, took up a claim on the southwest quarter of section 14. Joachim Holtz settled in this township in November, 1869, and was the pioneer of the German settlement known as the "Holtz." With him came S. Bars and William Dow. In the spring of 1S70 these received ac- cessions to their number by the coming of Henry Wilson, Fred Mulso and F. Kluse. These are all still residents of their orig- inal claims. Of this knot of farmers, the Upper Des Moines, in 187 '2, has the following, which is as true of them to-day, as then: "The 'Holtz Settlement' is located on the head waters of the 'Black Cat' creek, and about the same distance northwest from Algona. The leading man in th< commencement of this flourishing colony, was and still is, Joachim Holtz, a thoroug farmer and stock grower, as any one cai see by lookingover his improvements an< examining his fine blooded stock. "The first settlement, was made about three years ago and now numbers over fifty families. Large and well tilled farms are seen in every direction, where three years ago nothing but the bare, unbroken prairie met the eye. The quantity of grain raised in this neighborhood the past sea- son, is enormous. Hundreds of acres of the dark, rich soil have been broken and made to yield bread stuff to feed the laborers in eastern factories. Good schools have been established, the children and many of the older people speak and read the English language with wonderful facility. Pa- pers, both German and English, find a liberal patronage with these people." Joachim Holtz, one of the oldest set- tlers of Fenton township, was born in Germany on the 19th of March, 1825. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and followed that vocation in Germany until 1858, when he concluded to cast his lot with the citizens of the United States; consequently, he emigrated to this country, locating in McHenry Co., 111., where he remained until the fall of 1869. At that time he came to Kossuth county and purchased a large tract of land, for he brought with him a colony of his countrymen, and he was instrumental in procuring homes for them. Mr. Holtz is located on section 20, where he has 160 acres of good land, and is quite exten- sively engaged in raising sheep. Mr. Holtz was united in marriage with Wilhelnia Vierck, a native of Germany, on the 1st day of March, 1846. They have one child living — Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. Holtz are members of the Lutheran Church. He was one of the first township trustees of Fenton, and holds the same position at the present time. The first marriage occurred in 1876, and was between James L. Marlow and Lina E. Algiers. The first grain sown was by John L. Davis in the spring of 1869. The first justice of the peace was L. Hawkins. The first school was taught by Jose- phine Winters, in the fall of 1870, in the school house on section 1 1. The postoffice was established in 1870 and James L. Blunt received the com- mission as posttaaster, but he refusing to accept it, it was handed over to W. E. Ranney who kept it for about two years, \ &- 470 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. when he was succeeded by J. L. Edmund who, after three years service, was, in turn, succeeded by Frank Pomp, the pres- ent incumbent. This office has always been held at the dwelling of the post- master, and bas had no other abiding place. Feiiton township was organized on the 7th of April, 1873, and the first election for township officers was held at the school house on section 12, tbe October following, when the following were elected: T. M. Clark, M. L. Bush and Joachim Holtz, trustees; F. L. Ranney, clerk. The present board of trustees is com- posed of the following named: H. Chris- tianson, J. Holtz and S. Wilcox. John E. Webster, is clerk. What is known as the Webster school house was built, in the fall of 1870, on section 11. This was a sod building, and Josephine Winters was installed the first teacher. This was the pioneer school of the district. The present building stands on section 14, and was erected in the fall of 1873, and is a good, neat structure, 10x26 feet, and cost about $750. The first teacher here was Elmer Caulkins, the present, (fall of 1883) Maggie McArthur. The Field school house, on section 35, was built in the winter of 1871, and cost $750. Thomas M. Clark was born Oct. 18, 1828, in Oneida Co., N. Y. His parents, Thomas and Rebecca (Watson ) Clark, were natives of England, coming to this country in 1825, and settling in New York. Thomas was reared in his native county, being there engaged in farming and blacksmitbing until 1851. He then removed to Walworth Co., Wis., being one of the oldest settlers in that county. In 1869 Mr. Clark settled on his -present place, and engaged in farming for about six years, then went to Adair county. After remaining there one year he went west, locating near Portland, Oregon, but not being satisfied, he returned to Adair county. In the spring of 1883 he re- moved to his old farm in this county, where he has eighty acres of good land. Mr. Clark was married in October, 1849, to Marietta Orcutt, a native of New York. Two children blessed this union — Esther A. and Edward F. Mrs. Clark died in 1852, and in May, 1866, Mr. Clark mar- ried Harriet Noyes. In 1878 he lost his second wife. In October, 1879, Mr. Clark was again married, to Amelia Noyes. William Peck, one of the most thriving and prosperous farmers of Fenton town- ship, is the sou of Joseph and Elenor Peck, natives of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. He was born Oct. 21, 1S40, and came to Dane Co., Wis., with his parents in 1845. In 1849 his father went by team to California and returned in 1852, hav- ing heard from his family but once dur- ing that time. In 1860 Mr. Peck started out in the world for himself, and worked on a farm for $13 per month. He en- listed Aug. 11, 1862, in company K, 2d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. His company was sent to Washington, and transferred to battery A, 1st Wiscon- sin Artillery, and were stationed during the winter of 1862, in Fort Cass, on Gen. Lee's farm. In the spring of 1863 they removed to Fort Ellsworth, Va., and re- mained there five months, then went to Fort Worth ( near Fairfax cemetery), ?|«r ^Ja v. ik. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 471 thence to Alexandria, Va. In the fall of 1864 they were on a march in the Shen- andoah Valley, with Gen. Sheridan; they then returned to Alexandria. Mr. Peck was wounded in this march, by the recoil of a gun, which broke three of his ribs. He was discharged from service April 27, 1865, and returned to his home in Jeffer- son Co., Wis. In 1S66 he went to Dane Co., Wis., and remained there until 1872, when he removed with his family to Kos- suth Co., Iowa, and took up a homestead on section 26, township 97, range 30, Fen- ton township. His present farm has 130 acres under cultivation. He has a good house and barn on the same. He was twice married. His first wife was Louis Tubbs, to whom he was married Oct. 23, 1861, and by whom he had three children —Ella, Alma and Edith. Mr. Peck mar- ried Hannah Moore, Feb. 8, 1870, daugh- ter of John and Loretta Moore, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Peck was born Oct. 21, 1852. They have four children — Alida T., Stella, Mabel and William J. Mr. Peck is a member of the Algona Lodge of I. O. O. F., also of the Grange, No. 19. He votes the republican ticket, and is en- gaged to some extent in stock raising. Francis L. Ranney is the son of Philo and Sally Ranney, natives of New York. He was born Dec. 16, 1846, and lived with his parents until his eighteenth year. On Feb. 21, 1865, he enlisted in company G, 49th Wisconsin Volunteers, for one year. His regiment was stationed in Rolla, Mo., where they did provost duty for five months. They then removed to Schofield Barracks, No. 1, in St. Louis, and did provost duty there until Nov. 8, 1865, when he was discharged and sent *^; home. He was married Jan. 1, 1868, to Hannah, daughter of Joseph and Elenor Peck. Mrs. Ranney was born Aug. 19, 1849. In the fall of 1872, he came with his family to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and set- tled on section 35, township 97, range 30, in Fenton township, C'jllege land grant. He paid $5.40 per acre, cash. Since then he has bought eighty acres in Lott's Creek township. He has about 100 acres under plow, with good house and im- provements on the same. They have eight children — Frank E., Mary Jane, John W., Orvis J., Hulda E., Joseph P., Josephine E. and Daniel E. Mr. Ranney was a member of the Grange for a num- ber of years. They are both members of the M. E. Church. He votes the repub- lican ticket, and is a strong prohibitionist. A. J. Bush, an energetic farmer of Fenton township, was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., July 18, 1829. He is the son of Luther and Unice Bush, natives of the eastern States. He remained at home with his parents until the spring of 1S52, when he went to California, overland, with four yoke of oxen. He left home May 1, and got to his journey's end the last of August. While there he worked in the mines, and in 1857 he returned to New York city on the steamboat Arrazebee from San Francisco to the Isthmus, thence on the Tennessee to New York city, where he landed in December, 1857, where he took the train and came to Sterling, 111., and worked at his trade, as mason and plasterer, until the spring of 1864. He then went to Montana with a team with some other emigrants, and while crossing Powder river valley, they were attacked by the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, and ^ +A q . Jl 472 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTS. had to fight for one whole day, losing five men (killed); the Indians lost thirteen. While in Montana he worked in the mines. In 1868 he returned to Sterling, 111., where he followed raising and moving build- ings until 187-2, when he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased the southeast quarter of section 35, township 97 range 27, college land grant in Fenton township, for which he paid $5.40 per acre, cash. He has eighty acres under cultivation. He has a good two story frame building on the same, also a good barn He has a grove of nine acres of timber around his house and barn. Mr. Bush is a single man, never having been married. Politi- cally he is a greenbacker. John T. Davis is a son of Charles and Martha Davis, natives of Westchester Co., N. Y. He was born Jan. 9, 1813. At the age of eighteen he learned the car- penter trade and followed it in New York city until 1854, when he went to Califor- nia. There he worked at his trade and followed mining until 1860. He returned to New York city in 1861, and enlisted as carpenter's mate on the bark Arthur, Uni- ted States Navy, stationed in Corpus Christi bay, Texas, where he remained until some time after the capture of New Orleans. He was sent by steamboat to Boston, on account of sore eyes to a hos- pital. He was discharged from the United States service Oct. 16, 1862. He worked in the quartermaster department in Hil- ton Head, thence to Charleston, S. C, thence to New York, where he followed his trade until the fall of 1878, when he came with his family to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa. In the spring of 1S79 he lo- cated on his homestead of eighty acres on section 22, township 97, range 30, in Fenton township and has it all cultivated, and a good house and barn on same. He has been twice married. His first mar- riage was in 1841. His second and pres- ent wife is Anna, daughter of John C. and Lucy Burgess, natives of England. They were married Aug. 21, 1868. Mrs. Davis was born in England, Aug. 17, 1840. He had five children by his first- wife, who are all dead except Charles A., who is married. He is a member of the Grange, No. 17, Fenton township. Mrs. Davis belongs to the Episcopal Church. Mr. Davis is a republican. CHAPTER XIX. e' _ GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP. This is the largest township in Kos- j river traverses the two lower townships suth county, containing six congressional in a southeasterly direction, and along townships in the northwest corner of the this stream is nearly all the settlement in county. The East Fork of the DesMoines Greenwood. The land is rich and fertile, JL HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 473 however, and the country has a great fu- ture before it. The first attempt at any settlement was made in March, 1865, by D. D. Wadsworth and L. K. Garfield. Capt. Wadsworth, on receiving his dis- charge from the army, where he had been doing valiant service, came to this place and took up a claim of 160 acres, eighty on section 22 and eighty on section 27. He was a native of Wisconsin, from which State he had volunteered. He remained here about six years and a half when be removed to Grand Island, Neb. Dr. L. K. Garfield located upon 160 acres on section 21, in township 98, range 29, and remained about five and a half years, and is now a practicing physician at Algona. In April, 1865, A. P. Buker made his appearance and made a settlement on sec- tion 20. Here he built him a sod house, and commenced to open up a farm. Mr. Buker still occupies the old homestead and is the oldest resident of the town- ship. With Mr. Buker, came John Hawkes, who settled down upon a farm of 160 acres, on section 20. He remained for about ten or twelve years, when he re- moved to Dakota. James Dundas and his family became settlers, at what is called Armstrong's grove, in 1865, where they are living at the present time. Section 21 received a settler in May, 1865, in the person of George O. Austin, a native of New York State. He imme- diately took up a homestead on which he is living yet. George O. Austin was born in Dela- ware Co., N. Y., March 13, 1827. He lived in his childhood's home until twen- ty-six years of age. In 1854 he removed to Illinois, locating on a farm in Buffalo Grove, Ogle county. In 1865 he came to Kossuth county and took a homestead of 1 00 acres on section 21, Greenwood town- ship. He purchased a half section of col- lege land in the fall of 1865, but after- wards sold it. Mr. Austin has been mar- ried twice. In November, 1852, he was united in marriage with Bertha, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Buck) Sands, Of Hancock, Delaware Co., N. Y. The re- sult of this union was six children, four of whom are living — Hathaway, Oscar, Louise and Audell. Mrs. Austin died in July, 1875. She was a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Austin was man ied on the 29th of January, 1881, to Lucy D. Shield, daughter of S. S. N. and Clarissa A. (Day) Fuller, of New York. They have one child — George. Mr. Austin is a republican. He has held many local offices of trust in this township. Oscar Austin, son of George O. and Bertha A. Austin, was born in Ogle Co., 111., Dec. 16, 1857. In 1865 he came with his parents to Iowa, locating in Green- wood township, Kossuth county. In 1879 he went to Dakota, remaining there until 1883. He then returned to his home in Iowa, where he raises cattle, hogs and horses for market. Mr. Austin was mar- ried March 2, 1879, to Adelaide, daughter of Nun and Diadama Carpenter, of Kos- suth county. About the 1st of June Joseph Burt, a Mr. Hallett and G. W. Kinney came to the township and made settlements. \ '1 » s> 474 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Joseph Burt located in the western part of the township, where he now lives. Mr. Hallett remained in this vicinity until 1873, when he left the county, going to Minnesota. G. W. Kinney located on section 15, where he took up a homestead of 160 acres. He is now a resident of the grow- ing town of Bancroft. Samuel Sands was another settler of 1S65. He located on section 35, where he took a homestead of 160 acres. He is still a resident of the township. Samuel Sands, son of Samuel and Arte- mesia Sands, was born in Hancock, Dela- ware Co., N. Y., Aug. 30, 1830. When seven years of age he removed with his parents to Broome Co., N. Y. In 1842 they removed to Illinois and purchased a farm in Boone county, where Mr. Sands engaged in farming until 1863, also study- ing veterinary surgery and training horses. He then removed to Mitchell Co., Iowa, where he practiced his profession. In 1865 he came to Kossuth county, taking a homestead of 160 acres on section 35, township 98, range 29, Greenwood town- ship. He has since purchased forty acres on section 35, adjoining his original farm on the south. Mr. Sands was married Dec. 10, 1857, to Harriet Tyler, daughter of John and Parmelia Tyler, of Delaware Co., N. Y. They have had eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living — Wallace B., Paul, Clausen, Mark, Ruth, Ezra and John. Mr. Sands is a republican in poli- tics. During the winter of 1868 Samuel Sands, one of the residents of Green- wood, was employed in Algona. He re- ceived a letter from his family that they were out of provisions, but a terrible "blizzard" having just commenced that day, it was impossible for him to get to them with anything. In the meantime his wife at home, watching for the coming of her husband, espied a deer in the gath- ering gloom of the winter's twilight, hud- dling in the door yard, where it had sought shelter from the chilling blast. Knowing that she must do something, and looking on the animal as a providential deliverance from the pangs of hunger, soon unloosed two powerful bull-dogs that she had, and urged them on to the chase. They soon overtook the poor, be- numbed deer, and while they held it. she ran out into the night and storm, and with a common butcher knife cut its throat. She then, assisted by her chil- dren, took the carcass to the house on a hand-sled, and for the balance of the time during which the storm lasted feasted royally on venison. In September, 1865, Thorn Connell,'a native of Vermont, took a claim of 160 acres on section 24, where the town of Bancroft now stands. He lived here about twelve years, when he emigrated to Oregon. John Carroll came to this township in the fall of 1865. He camped here until he could get his house built, and here, while the family were living out of doors, as one might say, was born the first child that saw the light of day, in the town- ship. Mr. Carroll died a few years ago, but his family are still residents of the old homestead. William Gibbon was a settler of July, 1865. He was an Englishman and settled upon section 27. About twelve years ago 'i IV " »f >? HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 475 he sold out and removed to the Pacific slope, and is now a resident of Oregon. His son, Joseph Gibbon, at the same time took up a homestead on section 26, on which he lived until the departure of his father, when he packed up and went with him. Greenwood township was organized Jan. 4, 1869, and the first election was held in the October following. As to who were the first officers, the records are silent, and the proper data for getting them is inaccessible. The present officers are as follows: R. I. Brayton, Nils Martin and George O. Austin, trustees; J. B. Johnson, clerk ; W. W. Alcorn, assessor; George O. Aus- tin, G. V. Davis and Charles A. Molinder, justices; William Ormiston, E. Tallman, Charles Olson and M. Olson, road super- visors, and S. P. Haglund, constable. The two other constables elected failed to qualify. The first death was that of Abner, son of Abel and Mary Buker, who died in November, 1867, and was buried in a private burial place. The second death was that of Cyrus O., son of Cyrus and Mary Hawks, on the 12th of January, 1871. He, also, was buried on a private burying ground, there being no cemetery in the township at that time. The first marriage was that which united the destinies of John Dundas and Jane R., daughter of William and Jane Gibbon. Seymour Snyder performed the ceremony, which took place upon the 7th of April, 1868. The first birth was that of a son of John Carroll, born in the fall of 1865. The first grist mill was a plantation mill run by hand, and was taken into the township by Dr. L. K. Garfield, when he went there in 1865. This he run for a while, and then purchased a larger and better one, with a windmill attachment. This was in use largely by the settlers during the famine year of 1868. Dr. Garfield also enjoys the credit of having built the first frame building in the township, a neat dwelling for his family, erected in 1869. The first school in the township was taught by Abel P. Buker, in the winter of 1865. This was in a sod house, built on the side of a hill at Greenwood Cen- ter. The house, which was about 12x16 feet inside, was furnished with blocks and slabs for seats, where some fourteen scholars found resting places. There was no money on hand to build a school house, so the citizens made a bee and put up this place, that the educational interests of the growing generation might not be neglected. It was mainly through the instrumentality of Dr. L. K. Garfield, Abel Buker and George O. Austin that this school was established, and to them be- longs the credit. The second school house was built on section 36, in 1866. This was also a sod house, and the first teacher was Manila Oonnell. It is told for a fact that the door was used for a blackboard. The postoffice at Seneca was established about 1870, and E. Woodworth was com- missioned as first postmaster. He was succeeded by Mr. Califf, William Ormiston and Charles Gray. The latter had charge of it for about six years, when in Febru- 1 7 T 476 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ary, 1882, he handed it over to W. W. Alcorn, who is the present incumbent. W. W. Alcorn was born in Warren Co., Penn., Dec. 10, 1645. He lived there until he was twenty-one years old, then he went to Elkhart Co., Ind. He was there engaged in farming for twelve years, with the exception of one year spent in Missouri. In 1879 he came to Iowa, and in 1882 purchased 160 acres of land on section 17, township 98, range 30, in Greenwood township, Kossuth county. Mr. Alcorn was married Dec. 10, 1868, to Lydia, daughter of F. D. Maxon, of Jack- son, Mich. They had four children, three of whom are living — Edith M., Minnie G. and Hubert Roy. Mrs. Alcorn died Nov. 16, 1879. Mr. Alcorn was married Oct. 2, 1880, to Ida, daughter of C. H. and F. A. Gray. They are the parents of two children — Florence F. and Harry E. Mr. Alcorn is engaged in raising sheep and farming. He is assessor of the township, also postmaster at Seneca, having received his appointment Feb. 2, 1831. He is a republican in politics. A Good Templars' lodge was organized in January, 1880, and meetings were held for a time at the Carroll school house at Seneca, but the members lived too far apart and the charter was suspended and the lodge died out. Seneca Cemetery was established by the township in October, 1876. It is lo- cated near the school house in sub-district No. 7. Robert I. Brayton, son of William and Elizabeth Brayton, was born, in 1836, in Winnebago Co., 111. When quite young his parents moved to La Porte Co., Ind. He lived there until twenty-three years of age, then went to Kankakee Co., 111., purchasing a farm and remaining one year. In 1861 he enlisted in company K, 4th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served three years. He participated in the bat- tles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Pitts- burg Landing, Shiloh, siege of Corinth and many others of minor note. He was wounded in the hand while out scouting. He was discharged at Springfield, 111., Nov. 3, 1864, and returned to his home in La Porte, Ind., in time to vote for Abra- ham Lincoln the second time. In 1865 Mr. Brayton returned to Illinois and shortly after came to Iowa, locating on section 8, Greenwood township, Kossuth county, where he now has 360 acres of land. He was married Sept. 3, 1857, to Abigail, daughter of Aaron and Phrebe, Foster, of LaPorte Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Brayton have had ten children, six of whom are living — Walter E., Phoebe E., Effie F., Cora, Alta and Ray Irwin. Mr. and Mrs. Brayton are members of the Bap- tist Church. Mr. Brayton is a republican in politics. He was county supervisor six years ; he has also been justice of the peace, township trustee, school director and road supervisor. Charles O. Fish, son of Thomas J. and Lavina Fish, was born in Essex Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1840. In 1866 he went to Olm- sted Co., Minn., where he remained six months. He then moved to Chicago, 111., accepting the position of overseer on a farm sixteen miles out of Chicago. In 1868 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, tak- ing a homestead of 160 acres on section 8, in Greenwood township. He has since purchased eighty additional acres on sec- tion 8, and eighty acres on section 16. tfv* A HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 477 When Mr. Fish moved on his farm he built a sod house. This was done by cut- ting timber with a crotch in the top for corner posts, then laying poles across and up and down from the cornice to the cones, for rafters. Covering this with willow brush and hay, then with alternate layers of clay and sod. The floors were made, of boards and the walls plastered. This made a very warm and comfortable house. Mr. Fish was married in 1864, to Lucy M. Hare, of Essex Co., N. Y. They have seven children — Meldrid, Sa- rah and Sylvia, twins; Edith, Willie, Wal- ter and Emma Isadore. Mr. Fish is a dem- ocrat, and has held the office of township trustee. Rev. O. Littlefield, the youngest of nine children, was born Dec. 23, 1802, at Cole- rain, Mass. His parents were of Eng- lish descent, his father being a Baptist minister. The family removed to Ellis- burg, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where his fa- ther died, Aug. 28, 1805, leaving his in- fant son to the care of a good mother. He always spoke of his mother as being a very pious woman, and felt himself greatly indebted to her for her prayers, pious instruction and godly example. His whole life showed that his moral charac- ter had been well laid in his early years. His boyhood life was spent on a farm in manual labor. He entered Belleville Acad- emy, New York, in 1828, and passed his collegiate course at Union College, Sche- nectady, N. Y., in 1832. He began his Christian life in 1829, advocating Univer- salism, but still felt it his duty to love and serve God. It was after one of those great revivals that swept through New York, led by C. G. Finney, Burchard and others, that he visited his home at Ellis- burg, which was being visited by a power- ful revival. It was seeing the great change in his old companions that led him to consider his own condition as a sinner and yield his heart to Christ with a fixed resolution to serve the Lord. He started west in 1832 on the Erie canal, but was stopped at Rochester by the freez- ing of the canal. Here he spent the win- ter in teaching, and here, after along and thorough study of the subject of baptism, he joined the Presbyterian Church, in care of Dr. Wisner. In the spring of 1833 he resumed his journey west to Steubenville, Ohio, where, like many other young men before entering a profession, he spent some years in teaching. He thus strength- ened what he had acquired, and fitted himself for a more noble work. In 1835 he entered the Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, Penn. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery in 1837. In 1837 he visited his brother in Greenfield, La Grange Co.,Ind., and spent five weeks, then he proceeded on his journey west to Galena, 111., where he spent a year preach- ing at Sand Prairie, Apple River and Craig's Point. In 183S he returned to In- diana, and was ordained and set apart to the Gospel ministry by the St. Joseph Presbytery, April 4, 1839,at White Pigeon, Mich. Then he preached at Algansee, Sturgis Prairie, Mich.; Pretty Prairie and Angola, Ind. Here he suffered a year and a half with inflammation of the eyes and was three months blind. Though sight was at length restored he never fully recovered. In 1841 he visited Steu- benville, Ohio, traveled and preached in various places, assisting in protracted Vis — t J. ] 478 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. meetings. During this time he preached or attended meetings nearly every night, and frequently during the day. On the 3d of March, 1843, he bade adieu to his friends in Indiana and went west with a view of settling there. In November, 1843, he visited Jackson Co., Iowa, spending two weeks. For the next six years he preached in Daviess Co., Ind.; Apple River, Elizabeth and Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis. His last field in Wis- consin was at Blake Prairie, Beetown and Patch Grove. In the fall of 1849 he visited friends in Indiana, . and returned in November and removed to Garnavillo, Clayton Co., Iowa. In Garnavillo he preached to a Congregational Church and joined that Church. In November, 1851, he visited Indiana and was married to Sarah A. Watkins, of Orange, Noble Co., Ind. After visiting a few days they re- turned west, arriving in Garnavillo, De- cember 5. He preached in Garnavillo, Elkader and Farmersburg three years. In 1854 he was colporteur for the American Tract Society. In May, 1855, he removed to Bradford, Chickasaw Co., Iowa, where he organized a Church, and preached at Charles City and Floyd Center, in Floyd county. He afterwards removed to Van Buren, Jackson county, preaching in Van Buren, Fairfield, and in Charlotte, Clinton county, one year. The next year he preached at Big Rock and New Liberty, Scott county. In 1864 he removed west and spent one year in Linn county, preach- ing at Troy Mills, Valley Farm and Cen- tral City. From thence he removed, in 1865, to Bristol, Worth county, preaching at Bristol and Forest City for three years. In 1869 he removed to Seneca, Kossuth county. Here, assisted by Father Taylor, of Algona, he organized a Congregational Church, to which he ministered, in all, four years. For the last few years of his life he labored on a farm, preaching only on funeral occasions, the last being the funeral sermon of the death of the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Canon, in Em- mett county. Mr. Littlefield lived a roam- ing life, and no one will ever be able to tell the amount of good he has done. He had but little sickness, and his last was very short. He died as he had lived — a very devoted and good man, and his work shall certainly follow him. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. R. A. Paden. He bade adieu to earthly scenes Dec. 23, 1883, leaving a loving wife and adopted daughter to mourn his loss. Abijah Batterson was born in Scioto Co., Ohio, March 6, 1822. He was reared on a farm. In 1851 he went to Washing- ton Co., Iowa, and purchased two farms of 172 acres. In October, 1875, he came to Kossuth county, purchasing 137 acres of improved land on section 14, township 98, range 30, Greenwood township. Mr. Batterson was married Nov. 7, 1858, to Miss N. A. Morgan, daughter of William and N. A. Morgan, of Washington Co. Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Batterson have had seven children, five of whom are living — Eleanor, Abijah, Mary A., Laura R. and Sally. Mr. Batterson is a member of the Congregational Church, Mrs. Batterson of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Batterson is an old ironsides democrat. Swea postoffice, in the north part of township 99, range 30, was established in October, 1872, and J. B. Johnson commis- sioned postmaster. He held the office 4 :r j±=?kc HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 479 until the 1st of October, 1882, when he was superseded by 01 e Olson, the present incumbent. Ole Olson was born in Norway in 1860. When eight years of age he came with his parents to the United States, locating in Winneshiek Co., Iowa. After remaining there two years, they removed to Algona, and two years afterward came to Swea, Greenwood township, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 4, township 99, range 30. He is still living here with his father and now holds the position of postmaster. Mr. Olson is a member of the Augustan a Lutheran Church. In pol- itics he is a republican. Mr. 01 son's father is a native of Sweden, his mother of Nor- way. They also belong to the Lutheran Church. The first settler in what is called the Swea settlement was J. E. Hadin, a native of Sweden, who located here in the fall of 1871 and is yet a resident. J. B. Johnson came next. He, too, was a Swede, like all of the balance of the settle- ment, and located here in the fall of 1871. Mr.Johnson built the first house here, in the spring of 1872. He is quite a prominent citizen of the township now, and lives at Bancroft. H. E. Anderson made a settlement where»he now lives, in 1871. With him came Carl Anderson, who is also a resident of his original claim. These are the pioneers of a settlement that is daily increasing in numbers, and will eventually form quite a community of their own. On the 17th of September, 1875, the Rev. B. M. Holland organized a Church at this point, under the name of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church. The pioneer members were: S. Anderson and. wife, A. Erickson and wife, Carl Anderson and wife, Anders Anderson and wife, Peter Olson and wife, C. Person and wife, Carl Moeller and wife, P. Monson and wife, Olef Anderson and wife, M. Olson and wife, J. Martin and wife,.Gustaf An- derson and wife, C. Larson and wife, Bengt Kronliolm and wife, Olaf Molin, C.J.Anderson, A. Bengtson, A A. Hale, A. Molin, C. L. Erickson, Annie Larson, J. Wilson, Cecilia Akerson and N. Monson. The first officers were as follows: deacons: A. A. Hale, Olaf Molin and Sol Anderson; trustees : P. Monson, Gustaf Anderson and Anders Erickson. The Church pulpit has been vacant most of the time until the spring of 1881, when the Rev. S. J. Lilje- gren took charge and is the present incum- bent. The present officers are : C. L. Erikson, Carl A. Niord and Anders Bengtson, deacons; John Bengtson, S. P. Hagland and A. Niord, trustees. There is a neat parsonage provided for the min- ister, which was built in 1881, at a cost of $500. There are about forty-nine com- municants. TOWN OF BANCROFT. In September, 1881, the Western Town Lot Company and Ambrose A. Call, laid out a town site upon section 24, in town- ship 98, range 29, in Greenwood, which they called Bancroft, after the great his- torian of that name. The pioneer build- ing was erected by that enterprising mer- chant, C. B. Lake. In December, 1881, he came here from Indianola, Iowa,and put up a building, 20x40 feet, and one story in height. This he proceeded to fill with goods of all kinds and description, and on >:' <. »& 480 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. the 20th of December, opened his doors. He has since built an addition to his building to accommodate his increasing business, making his store room some fifty- six feet long. The first conveyance of land on the new town plat was the deed of the lot upon which his store now stands, this bears date of September, 1881. The build- ing was constructed before any regular trains came here, the lumber being brought up by construction trains. Dr. C. 15. Lake was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1826. In Decem- ber, 1832, his father, Daniel Lake, died. In 1836 his mother, Mrs. Polly (Brown) Lake, moved to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and three weeks afterward died, and was buried in Westfield. In about a year the subject of this sketch removed to McHenry Co., 111., with his eldest brother, Henry Lake. He com- menced farming, and followed it up until 1846 when he commenced studying medi- cine under Dr. Lewis N. Wood, of Wal- worth Co., Wis. His last year of study was under his brother, L. L. Lake, M. D., of McHenry Co., 111. He also began to practice medicine in Decatur, Green Co., Wis., that year. In 1849 he graduated from Rush Medical College of Chicago, having attended two full terms. He is of the allopath school. After he graduated he went back to Green Co., Wis., and re- sumed his practice for one year. In June, 1S49, he was married to Clarissa M. Wood, daughter of Dr. Lewis N. Wood. His wife being troubled with lung disease, he gave up business, and for the next four years they traveled. But all to no avail, for that dread disease, consumption, had taken fast hold on her and she departed this life in September, 1853. She was buried on Big Foot Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Lake started on an overland trip to Cali- fornia. He located at Horse Town, near Shasta, where he followed the practice of medicine until the fall of 1856, then he returned to his old home in Illinois. In April, 1857, he was married to Mary B. Kennedy, of Aurora, Portage Co., Ohio. They have had two children — Harry and Otis K. He then removed to Iowa, locat- ing in West Union, Fayette county, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In March, 1862, he was examined by the State board of examiners and commis- sioned as surgeon in the 7th Iowa Infan- try. He was in the service until October, 1863, when he was discharged by order of Gen. Grant, on account of physical disa- bility. He returned to his home in Fay- ette county, remaining there until the fall of 1866, when he removed to Indian- ola, Warren Co., Iowa. He followed his profession in that place for several years, but was finally forced to quit on account of ill health. He owned 200 acres of land which he rented out. In 1878 he purchased the Indianola Republican, a republican paper in Indianola, which had been closed up a short time before. He christened it the People's Advocate, and run it in the interest of the greenback party. He retained possession of the pa- per for about a year and a half, and then sold it to F. B. Taylor, of Indianola. In May, 1880, Mr. Lake went to Colorado, remaining there all summer. He then re- turned to his home and bought a grocery store, which he r,»n for a short time, and in the fall of 1881 he removed his stock Sis A >> HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 481 of goods to Bancroft, Kossuth Co., Iowa. He opened his store in Bancroft, Nov. 20, 1881, having erected the first building in the town. Mr. Lake is equally as good a business man as he was a physician, and is now doing a very successful business. Mr. and Mrs. Lake are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a greenbacker. He owns his store building and a very nice residence prop- erty in the village of Bancroft. A small building, about 8x10, feet had been moved up from Greenwood Center, before this building of Mr. Lake's was finished, by Nathan Hawkes. In this he kept a small stock of general merchandise. In December he too erected a store build- ing and put in a larger stock of goods. This building was 22x24 feet in size. In December, 1882, he sold out the entire establishment to John Henry, by whom the business was run until C. W. Goddard bought him out in April, 1883. C. W. Goddard, son of Robert and Maria M. (Bailey) Goddard, was born in Rutland, Vt., April 8, 1833. When seven years of age his parents moved to Ro- chester, Windsor Co., Vt., his father en- gaging in fanning. Mr. Goddard here received a good common school education. In 1854 he removed with his parents to Monona, Clayton Co., Iowa., where he was engaged in farming for sixteen years, with the exception of one year spent on the plains while taking a trip across the western States. In May, 1870, he came to Kossuth county, taking a homestead of eighty acres on section 6, Lott's Creek township. After living on this farm three years he moved to Algona. In 1875 he took charge of the Grange store in that place, which he ran for two years. He then formed a partnership with his son, R. E. Goddard, in the hay business, deal- ing in baled hay. They had the first hay press in this part of the State. In 1882 they dissolved partnership, and Mr. God- dard came to Bancroft and engaged in the mercantile business. He was married in July, 1855, to Mary E. Bent, daughter of Earl and Leafy (Clark) Bent, of Wells, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Goddard have had four children, three of whom are living — Robert E., Lora E. and Dell M. In poli- tics Mr. Goddard is a greenbacker. The next building was put up by John- son Brothers, in December, 1881. On Jan. lj 1882, they opened the new store. The building is 22x32 feet, and cost about $1,200 when complete. In this they kept a large stock of the merchandise usually known as general. In July, 1882, they rented the room adjoining and divided the stock, putting the grocery department in the new room. This they continued until in October, 1883, when their quarters proving still too confined they were com- pelled to rent still another building. These gentlemen have also a large ware- house where they handle all kinds of agricultural machinery. This latter branch of their business was established in 1882. The hardware store of Woodworth & Bush was the next to be erected, which was finished in December, 1881. On the 18th of June, 1883, M. L. Bush sold his interest in the store to O. A. Searles, and returned to Sterling, 111. The new firm of Woodworth & Searles are winning golden opinions and are among the most prominent men in the business community. 5 3 iy * 482 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. They carry a large stock of all kinds of hardware as well as an extensive line of stoves. Charles Woodwortk, son of L. D. and Melinda (Silvernail) Wood worth, was horn in Ohio, near Cleveland, Nov. 20, 1846. When about a year old his parents removed to Kenosha Co., Wis., where his father followed farming. Mr. Wood- worth, the subject of this sketch, lived there twenty-one years, when lie took Horace Greeley's advice and came west. He located in Fenton township, section 30, in Kossuth Co., Iowa, taking a home- stead of eighty acres. He followed the threshing business for about six years, traveling through Minnesoto and southern Iowa in the meantime. He then came back and settled on his farm, remaining there until January, 1882. In November, previous, he had formed a partnership with M. L. Bush, of Sterling, 111., and started a hardware store at Bancroft, selling the first hardware ever sold in that village. In January, J 882, Mr. Woodworth removed to Bancroft. In June, 1883, Mr. Bush sold his interest in the store to O. A. Searles, of Greenwood township, this county. The firm name then being Woodworth & Searles. Mr. Woodworth was married in March, 1875, to Mary Gilmore, daughter of Arthur and Mary Gilmore, of New York. They have four children — Jane, Theren, Alice and an infant. Mr. Woodworth is republican in politics, but in local elections votes for whom he thinks the best man, regardless of party. The lumber business was initiated by McGregor Brothers, Oct. 4,1882, and they are doing a most excellent trade. Brner Brothers are also extensively en- gaged in the lumber trade, and receive a large share of the public patronage. The drug business of Berryman Bros., was established in April, 1882, and was the pioneer in that line of trade. A fine large stock of first class drugs, etc., are carried by them, as well as a line of books, stationery and notions. E. F. Clark deals in sewing machines and farm machinery. E. L. Ward represents the furniture business, which he established in May, 188-3. This business was initiated by N. L. Caulkins, in the spring of 1882. Mr. Caulkins, however, sold out to the pres- ent proprietor in May, 1883, and removed to Dakota. E. L. Ward, son of Horace and Eliza- beth Ward, was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 1854. He received a good educa- tion, after which he engaged with his father in the saw-mill and lumber busi- ness. In September, L881, he came to Iowa, locating at Algona, Kossuth county, and working at the carpenter trade. In November, 1881, he came to Bancroft, working at the carpenter and joiner trade until May, 1883, when he bought out N. L. Caulkins' furniture business, also pur- chasing the store building. When not being in the store, he works at his trade. Mr. Ward was married Jan. 4, 1883, to Adelia C, daughter of S. S. N. and Clarissa A. Fuller, of Bancroft. John G. Edwards has a good sale, livery and boarding stable, which he es- tablished in April, 1882. John G. Edwards is a native of England, born in London Jan. 3, 1848. When sev- enteen years of age he came to the United -afT A HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 483 States, locating in Waukegan, Lake Co., 111. After a seven years residence there, he went to Kenosha Co., Wis., where he was engaged, for five years, in farming. In 1877 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and took charge of the Algona House, at Al- gona, for T. II. Langtry. He then came to Bancroft and bought out IT. Smith's saloon and livery business, in which busi- ness he has continued since. His father, John G. Edwards, died in London in 1S57. His mother died in 1858. Mr. Edwards is the proprietor of the best livery, feed and sale stable in Bancroft, and has the best driving teams in the city. He makes a specialty of buying, selling and trading horses. Samuel Hutchinson, meat market, estab- lished by Higley & McDonald, in June, 1882. Wickwire & Wood are also engaged in the general merchandise line, which busi- ness they commenced in Bancroft, on the 25th of November, 1882. Morton & Coan are engaged in the hay press business, and are doing a most ex- cellent business. II. L. Walters is also established in the business of baling hay, and handles a large quantity of that article. W. E. Jordan is the most prominent grain dealer in the community, and stands as high in the estimation of his fellow townsmen as is possible. He has done much to develop the resources of this village, and is liked and respected by all. He commenced the purchase of grain in the spring of 1883, having purchased the warehouse of P. A. McGuire, at that time. W. E. Jordan, son of Frederick and Adeline Jordan, was born in Linn county, near Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Aug. 17, 1848. Mr. Jordan was engaged in farming until 1881, when he came to Bancroft, Kossuth county, and engaged in the lumber business, also handling coal and wood. This was the first lumber yard started in Bancroft. In October, 1882, he sold out to McGregor Bros., of Chicago, 111., and purchased grain interests of P. A. McGuire, which busi- ness he still follows. Mr. Jordan was married in 1870, to Mary Kepler, daugh- ter of Henry and Emirine Kepler, of Mt.. Vernon, Iowa. They have five children — Edith V., Floeta S., Maggie I)., Fred 11. and Leo P. Mr. Jordan owns 240 acres of land in Greenwood township, 100 acres within four miles of Bancroft. He also owns fine residence property. He also owns the Phoenix Hotel, which is the sec- ond hotel built by him in Bancroft, the first one being burned, when nearly com- pleted, in October, 1882. Mr. Jordan was one of the first men to come to Bancroft, ind has been largely instrumental in build- ing up the town, for which he deserves great credit. One of the institutions of the town is the establishment of Tallman & Son, where is manufactured both sulky plows and ditching machines. Elias Tallman was born in Castile, Wy- oming Co., N. Y., June 1, 1-829. When fourteen years of age he removed with bis parents to Racine Co., Wis. After living there two years they removed to Dodge county, remaining eight years. They then lived two years in Sauk county, and from there went to Columbia county. In 1867 Mr. Tallman came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, taking a homestead claim on Buffalo Forks, Portland township, where he was a r- 16 ♦2- -* — »l> 484 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. one of the pioneer settlers. Mr. Tallman was postmaster at Buffalo Forks for seven years. In June, 1881, Mr. Tallman, with his son, F. D. Tallman, took a contract for grading the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, commencing work that summer. In 1882 he built the Globe House at Ban- croft, being now proprietor of the same. Politically Mr. Tallman is a greenbacker. He was married, in 1855, to Harriet J., daughter of Samuel and Louisa Stahl, of Wisconsin. They have three children — Firman D., Willis B. and Frank G. His eldest son, Firman D., was born in Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., in 1 857. He removed to Iowa with his father, and lived with him until 1881, when he came to Ban- croft and engaged with his father in grad- ing the road. He afterwards ran a livery stable for six months, and then engaged in farming, during which time he invented a sulky plow and a ditching machine. Both are patented. He formed a partner- ship with his father for the manufacture of the implements and erected a factory, 20x32 feet, where they are engaged in making plows and ditching machines. In 1876 he married Mary Stockwell, daugh- ter of William Stockwell. They have two children — Afton C. and Bertha. He is a republican in politics. S. Andrene put uf> the first forge in Bancroft, in September, 1 881, and is I he first blacksmith of that town. B. Stenson is also a worthy representa- tive of the Vulcan ian craft, who yet pre- sides at the anvil, in Bancroft. John A. Johnson, has a good shoe shop for the manufacture and repair of these parts of apparel. G. W. Smith is the general agent of the Crystal Well Cement Curb, and is also carpenter and well-digger. G. W. Smith was born in Yorkshire, near Leeds, England, June 14, 1844. When thirteen months of age his parents, Benjamin and Emma (Winterbtirn) Smith, moved to Kent county, province of On- tario, Canada. In 1S68 Mr. Smith went to Floyd Co., Iowa, purchased a farm and lived there five years. He then sold out and came to Kossuth county, locating in Greenwood township, and purchasing a farm on section 26, township 98, range 29. He lived on this farm five years then re- moved to Algona, where he took charge of the Harrison House, now called the Kos- suth County Hotel. After running this one year, he engaged in carpenter work. In 1880 Mr. Smith took the general agency for the Crystal Well, a cement wall or tubing, buying the right for the State of Illinois and ten counties in Iowa. In 1882 he came to Bancroft. Mr. Smith was married April 1, 1867, to Margaret, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Cull) Lee, of Kent Co., Canada. They have seven children — Henry, Benjamin F., Emma H., Ella M., George A., Frederick A. and William O. Mr. Smith is a repub- lican in politics. The bank of Bancroft was established in November, 1882, by Zachariah Roberts, and of which that gentleman is president and J. C.Jones, cashier. The harness making business is ably represented by H.L. Walters, who opened the present shop in December, 1883. A hotel, which cost some $5,000, was erected by W. E. Jordan, in the summer of 1882, which was 36x36 feet in size, HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 485 with a mansard roof, making it three stories high. To this was attached a wing 16x24 feet, and only two stories high. It had hardly been completed, and was, as yet, unoccupied, when the flame of the incendiary was touched to it and it was totally destroyed. This occurred on the 13th of October, 1882. With his charac- teristic energy, Mr. Jordan at once set about the erection of the present struc- ture, which is the same size and shape as the old one, except that the third story is not a mansard roof. On its being com- pleted, Mr. Jordon called it the Phoenix, for it had risen from its own ashes, and rented it to J. F. Jordan, who makes one of the most accommodating and affable of hosts. J. F. Jordan, son of John and Bridget Jordan, was born Nov. 3, 1850, in White- hall, Vt. When three years old his par- ents moved to Sheboygan Co., Wis., where his father engaged in farming. In 1875 Mr. Jordan began to learn tele- graphy under J. C. Frazier, of Waldo, Wis. Six months afterwards he was given charge of Fredonia station, on the Wisconsin Central railroad, which posi- tion he held three years, going from there to De Pere, Wis. In 1882 he came to Bancroft, taking charge of the station on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, and being express, station and freight agent and telegraph operator. In April, 1883, Mr. Jordan rented the Phoenix House at Bancroft, of which he is now pro- prietor. He was married July 25, 1879, to Mary Magrave, daughter of Patrick and Alice Magrave, of Sheboygan Co., Wis. They have two children — Wil- liam Henry and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are members of the Catholic Church. Politically Mr. Jordan is a greenbacker. The Clark House was established by E. F. Clark, in February, 1882, and is one of the institutions of the town. The Globe House was opened by the present proprietor, Elias Tallman, in Jan- uary, 1882. City Restaurant was first thrown open to the public Nov. 10, 1882, by E. F. Knapp, who also does a large business in insurance. E. F. Knapp, son of Stephen A. and Maria Knapp, was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., March 27, 1825. In 1840 his par- ents moved to Rockford, III., where they engaged in farming. The father of the subject of this sketch was in the War of 1812, and was at the burning of Danbury, Conn. He was married at Southeaston, N. Y., Nov. 2:i, 1815, to Maria Fowler. They bad live children. He died in Rockford, [11., June 7, 1880, aged eighty-seven years. His wife died June 18, 1862. The subject of this sketch followed farming a few years after moving to Rockford, then he took contracts for grading the Galena & Chicago Union railroad (the first road built west of Chicago), and the Illinois Central railroad, which business he fol- lowed for seven years. In 1855 he went to Freeport, 111., and engaged in the gro- cery business. In 1862 went to Mechan- icsburg, 111., engaging in grocery business there. In 1866 he went to Clinton, 111., where he engaged in the hotel business, running the Barnett House for one year. He then went into the grocery business, following it until 1876, when he removed to Webster City, Iowa, where he took ^C « — *~ - 9 lk_ _rf 9 A 480 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. charge of the Hamilton House, running it for five years. He then engaged in the in- surance business. On Nov. 8, 1882, he re- moved to Bancroft, Kossuth county, and engaged in the insurance business there. He also runs the City Restaurant. He was married Aug. 10, 1854, to Maria Hol- lenbeck, of Freeport, 111. They have one child — Merton H. Mrs. Knapp's father, W. H. Holleubeck, was born April 20, 1809, in Great Barrington, Mass. He was a farmer, and was also engaged in the grocery business. He was married to Harriet Stevens, Oct. 26, 1831. She was born April 22, 1811, at Yates, Ontario Co., N. Y. Mrs. Knapp was the first white child born in Macon Co., 111. Her sister, Mrs. Sarah J. (Ilollenbeck) Graham, was the first white child born in Stephenson Co., HI. Mr. Knapp is engaged in the insurance business in Bancroft. George V. Davis is also the proprietor of a hotel, which he put up in December, 1881, and is numbered among the pioneers of the town. The first school was taught by Miss Audell Austin, in the building owned by Mr. Richmond, during the winter of 1SS2. The school house at the village of Ban- croft was erected during the year 1882. It is a good, substantial building, 28x40 feet, and cost about -$2,000, to put up. It is two stories high and has one department in the first and another on the second floor. The first teachers were Laura Bush and Mrs. .1. F. Jordan. The present ones are James Crose and Emma Anderson. The postoffice * as established on the 1st of January, 1882, with E. F. Clark as post master, who is also the present incumbent. This was made a money order office last July. E. F. Clark was born in Batavia, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1833. In 1855 he removed to Pepin, Wis., teaching writing school at that place for eighteen months. He then spent a year and a half at St. Croix Falls, being clerk in the United States land office. He then went to Hudson, Wis., where he obtained a position as book- keeper in a steamboat warehouse. In 1865 he started for New Orleans, reached Hannibal, Mo., made a short stay, and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, obtaining a situation as clerk in a store. He came that winter to Burlington, Iowa, being employed as shipping clerk in the Bur- lington & Missouri Riverrailway office for a few months. In March, 1866, he took charge of Ogden & Copp's books, on a steamboat line, with whom he remained six months. He then went to Boonesville, Mo., operating the Boonesville House for one year, after which he quit the hotel business and removed to Omaha, Neb., remaining there eighteen months as ship- ping clerk in the Union Pacific railroad office. He then took a homestead in Washington Co., Neb., where he remained five years, then sold out and went to Laramie City, Wyoming territory. Af- ter remaining there one winter he went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and clerked for Boyn- ton & Plum and W. B. Siirdam, dry goods merchants, for three years. In 1878 Mr. Clark came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, purchasing 160 acres of land on sections 22 and 27. Greenwood township. He re- sided on this farm until Jan. 1, 1882, when lie removed to Bancroft to take charge of the postoffice, having been ap- HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 4S"i pointed postmaster while living on the farm. He lias held that position five years. He also runs the Clark House at Bancroft. Mr. Clark still retains his farm, and has forty acres in Portland township. He was married Nov. 21,1802, to Mary Fuller, of Hudson, Wis. They have had eight children, six of whom are living — Agnes, Arthur, Lucie C, Cecelia E., Willis H. and Ernest R. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Congrega- tional Church. In politics Mr. Clark is a republican. While at St. Croix Falls he was town treasurer and deputy sheriff. He has held the office of school director, and has been clerk of the board for four years. Bancroft Literary and Library Associa- tion was organized Sept. 4, 1883, having for its object the care, development and use of the library by the association. The following named were elected the first officers pro tern: James Crose, chair- man; J. C. Jones, .secretary; Mrs. W. E. Jordan, Mrs. M. H. Knapp and Mrs. L. H. Walters, committee on finance; Mrs. M. II. Knapp, librarian. At the regular meeting held Oct. 2, 1883, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: E. F. Clark, president; Z. Roberts, vice- president; J. C. Jones, secretary; Mrs. L. II. Walters, treasurer; Mrs. M. H. Knapp, librarian; Z. Roberts, Mrs. W. E. Jordan and A. J. Berryman, trustees. The asso- ciation has a membership of about fifty, and quite the nucleus for a good library; some 110 volumes were included in the first purchase, and Bancroft, the historian, after whom the town has been named, has donated $1,000 worth of books to the new library. In kindly recognition of his liberal gift, the association has made him au honorary life member of the society. The religious interests of the commu- nity are by no means neglected, as there are divine services held by the Rev. R. A. Paden, a Presbyterian clergyman, who first made his appearance here, and preached the initial sermon, during the summer of 1882. There is as yet no church nor society, but services are held at the Phcenix Hotel. The first religious services in the town were held in the building owned by R. M. Richmond. This was conducted by Rev. William Spell, a Congregational minister, in January, 1882. R. M. Richmond, son of Rufus and Ann Richmond, was born in Walworth, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 4, 1852. When three years of age, his parents moved to Dallas Co., Iowa, his father engaging in business near Dallas Centre, where he has lived ever since, except three years, which he served in the late Rebellion. Mr. Rich- mond lost his two oldest brothers in this Rebellion. He has two brothers and a sister living in Dallas county, and his father, at the age of seventy years, enjoy- ing good health. His mother died in 18(57. In 1869 Mr. Richmond returned to Colum- bia Co., N. Y., where he lived with an uncle six years, spending his school days in the Ciaverack College and Hudson River Institute, near Hudson City, be- tween New York and Albany. He then spent one year in New York city. In 1870 he returned to Dallas Co., Iowa, en- gaging in farming and speculating, for two years. He then engaged in the mer- cantile business until 1881, at which time +*\ *r 488 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. he moved to Kossuth Co., Iowa, since which he has been engaged in the real es- tate business in the town of Bancroft. Mr. Richmond erected one of the first buildings in this village. He now has two business houses, which he rents; also has several farms and tracts of wild land in this county. Warren Coffen was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1833. When two years of age, his parents, John and Cla- rissa (Nelson) Coffen, removed to St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., where they engaged in farming. When about sixteen years of age, he went to Worcester, Mass., and engaged in the stock business. In 1854 he removed to Rockford, III., engaging in the stock business there for two years. He then went to Huntsville, Ala., and engaged in raising cotton. He went from there to New Orleans and shortly afterward the war broke out. He returned to his home in Ogle Co., 111. lie enlisted in company B, 7th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served until he was disabled, when he was discharged. In about a year he again en- Listed. This time in company L, same regiment. He was in the battles of Cor- inth, Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, Iuka and several other hard fought battles. He re- ceived his discharge at Nashville, Tenn., and returned to Ogle Co., 111., remaining there until he got well. In 1864 he had taken a claim of 160 acres of land on sec- tion 9, township 98, range 30, in Green- wood township, Kossuth Co., Iowa. In July, 1866, he came out and took posses- sion. He raises cattle, horses and hogs, and is one of the most systematic farmers in this county. He was married Oct. 26, 1868, to Ellen De Rusha, daughter of Eli and Caroline De Rusha, of Fairibault Co., Minn. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living — Ella, Albert, Minnie I., Julia, Ellen, Electa, Rosanna and Warren. Mrs. Coffen is a member of the Catholic Church. Her parents live in Fairibault Co., Minn. They are of French descent. Mr. Coffen's father died in March, 18*75, and is buried in Ogle Co., 111. His mother lives in Ogle county, on the old homestead. Mr. Coffen is a republi- can, politically. J. G. Graham, son of John and Hannah J. Graham, was born in Hastings Co., Canada, June 6, 1859. In 1876 he went to Lapeer Co., Mich., engaging in the lum- ber business until 1879. He then came to Iowa, and worked for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. He helped to build the road into Bancroft, and in December, 1881, located in that city. In 1882 he began to clerk for John- son Bros., with whom lie still remains. Mi-. Graham was married Dec. 25, 1881, to Artie M. Coffen, daughter of C. S. and Aurilla Coffen, of Portland township, her parents being among the first settlers in that township. Mr. Graham's father is a native of Ireland. He now lives in Can- ada, being engaged in farming. His mother died in 1876. Mr. Graham is a democrat, in politics. ~T % ft" :e HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 489 CHAPTER XX IRVINGTON TOWNSHIP. This territory lies in the second tier of townships, from the south line of the coun- ty and the second from the east line. It consists of all of congressional township 95 north, range 28 west, and contains about 23,000 acres, and is abundantly wa- tered by numerous small creeks and runs, affluents of the East Fork of the Des Moines river, which flows along the western border of the township. The surface of the ground is most beautifully diversified, gently undulating in some localities, it becomes quite rolling in others; prairie interspersed with timber and in some parts, especially the western sections, heavy groves make up a picture of great natural beauty. Along the river, the strip of forest extends sometimes a mile in width. In this the woodman's ax lias seemed at times to make sad havoc, but other trees sprung up in their place, rapid- ly assume goodly proportions, as if in de- fiance of man's puny attempt at extermin- ation. The population of Irvington is to a great extent, of American birth, and are an enterprising, thrifty people, and some of the finest farms in the county are to be found in this township. Considerable em- ulation seems to exist among the farming community, to see who can have the best tilled land, the finest crops, or the choicest herd. The first settlement made in this town- ship was made by Malachi Clark and his son, William G.Clark, in the spring of 1855- William Clark settled upon the north- west quarter of section 19, and in August he built a house here. This was the sec- ond house raised in the township. Mal- achi Clark continued to reside here for some years and then removed to Oska- loosa, where he died. His son, William, removed from Kossuth county in 1859 or 1860, and is now living in Keokuk county, this State. Almost at the same time that the Clarks made their settlement, Hiram Wiltfong, Reuben Purcell, Philip Crose, Thomas and John Robison, selected land in this town- ship and settled down as pioneers and prospective farmers of Irvington town- ship. Reuben Purcell, settled upon a portion of section 20 at a place since called Pur- cell's point. Here he built a log cabin, the first in the township, and lived for some little time. This farm, upon which lie settled, is now a portion of the Albe Fife land. Hiram Wiltfong located near the Clarks, on section 19. The house he built here, and resided in was the third house erected in the township and is yet standing on the farm of William Carter, a^~- 490 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. where it is used as a granary or barn. Wiltfong was a queer genius, and is chiefly noted for his selling the settlers seed corn, which, by the way, he would take out of his crib, of corn just gathered perhaps. He did not stay here long but strayed away after selling his claim. Philip Crose at first located upon the southwest quarter of section 19, in Au- gust, 1855, and here he erected his hum- ble cabin of logs. This historic building, having outlasted the days of its useful- ness, has been torn down and the mate- rial of which it was built, used for fire wood. Mr. Crose sold out his claim a short time after his settlement, to James Parnell, of Indiana, who had some idea of coming here to locate. In the spring of 1856, he (Mr. Crose,) took another claim on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 18, where he is living to this day. Philip Crose, son of Solomon and Fan- nie (Campbell) Crose, was born Nov. 18, 1812, in Ohio. When quite young, he left Ohio, and went with his father to Shawneetown, 111., where he lived five years, and then removed to Vigo Co., Ind., near Terre Haute. After living here a while, he moved to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., and lived with his father until he died in 1845. He was married Jan. 22, 1834, to Mary Crouch, born in Ross Co., Ohio. They had seventeen children, eleven of whom are living — John, Syntha, Sarah, Abram, Thompson, James, Joseph, George, Louisa, Frank and Philip. Mr. Crose owns 163 acres of fine land on sec- tions 13 and 18, having his residence on section 18, Irvington township. Politi- cally he is a democrat. Mrs. Crose is a member of the M. E. Church. Thomas Robison remains upon his original claim. Thomas Robison, son of William and Sa- rah (Lane) Robison, was born Jan. 8,1824, near Shawneetown, Gallatin Co. ,111. When quite young he moved with his parents to Tippecanoe Co.,Ind., living at home until the time of his marriage, which took place June 15, 1844, he taking to wife, Mary Martin, born in Ohio. There are six children living — J. !>., F. E., T. W., S. M., A.J. and M. A. Mr. Robison came to Iowa in July, 1855, and settled on sec- tion 31, township 95, range 28, what is now Irvington, Kossuth county, and where he still lives, owning 205 acres of good land, and raising grain and stock. He has been township assessor several times, also has served as school director, and town- ship trustee several terms. Politically, he is a Jackson democrat. John Robison settled upon the north- east quarter of section 1, where he re- mained until during the year 1858, when he left this section, going to Johnson county. He afterwards removed to Brook- lyn, Poweshiek county, where he died. During that same year, 1855, O. J. Smith. L. L. Treat, Benjamin Ilensley Jacob C. Wright, Kendall Young, Elijah Lane and George Smith came to the township. Lyman L. Treat, a keen, shrewd busi- ness man, came to this locality to speculate and manipulate the county seat location, and had a principal hand in the contest over that question as detailed in the gen- eral county history. He afterwards kept the store at Irvington, the first in that vil- ;? it 4 ^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 491 lage. He is now a wealthy and influen- tial merchant of Webster City. Jacob C. Wright continued a resident of the township of Irvington until the day of his death, Feb. 17, 1875. Kendall Young has removed to Web- ster City, where he has acquired consid- erable of this world's goods, and is at present the president of the First National Bank at that place. Benjamin Hensley settled upon section 31, but did not remain any length of time. In 1857 he drifted away, and his after movements have been entirely lost sight of. Jason Richmond and Charles Osgood, also made a settlement in this locality during the year 1855. They were Massa- chusetts men, who came here from Whit- insville, in that State, to found a settle- ment. Mr. Richmond remained several years and then removed back to his native hills. Mr. Osgood made a short stay also, and went east again. He was prosecuting attorney of the county court in an early day. Elijah Lane is still a resident of the original claim he made at that time, but has recently been cut off and is now a res- ident of Sherman township. Elijah Lane, a native of Ohio, was born June 21, 1832. When he was six years of age his parents removed to Tippeca- noe Co., Ind. When he was fifteen years of age he went to Will Co., 111., and re- mained there one year, when he returned to his home in Indiana. In about three years he went back to Illinois. This lime he located in McIIenry county, and en- gaged in farming with Thomas Robison as partner. He next engaged in farming about twelve miles south of Bloomington, 111. On the 22d of October, 1S55, he came to Kossuth county, locating on sec- tion 6, township 95, range 28, Irvington township. In 1859 he removed to Wash- ington Co., Iowa, and followed farming until in the fall of 1863, when lie returned to Kossuth county. He settled on his old farm, where he resided until 1881. At that time he removed to section 31, town- ship 95, range 28. He has eighty-five acres of good land, well improved. He was married April 14, 1853, to Martha A. Wright, born in McLean Co., 111., Jan. 7, 1835. This union has been blessed with three children — Carrie F., Sarah A. and Chloe A. Mr. Lane belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Prudence Lodge, No. 205, Algona. Mrs. Lane is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a repub- lican in politics, and has held the offices of township trustee and supervisor in Irvington township. Coryden Craw also was among the set- tlers of Irvington, during the year 1855, and at the election held in August, that year, he received the nomination for county judgeship, from the Irvington fac- tion, but was defeated by a few votes, and Judge Asa C. Call elected in his stead. Among the most prominent arrivals of the years 1856-7, were: D. W. Sample, Kinsey Carlon, Richard Hodge, William Carter, Addison Fisher, O. W. Robinson, B. Howard, who was familiarly known as "Bing," Barnet Devine, George Wheeler and others. Most of these parties are at present residents of the county. O. W. Robinson, who was a man of some means, bought a farm here, but in 1861 or 1862, he returned to his native State, Vermont, -. » 492 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. where he remained some time, but is now living in the copper region of Michigan, where he has acquired considerable wealth. D. VV. Sample was born April 17, 1822, in Pennsylvania. He lived there until 1856, and then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, locating on section 32, township 95, range 28, where he has 470 acres of good land, under a high state of cultivation, raising grain of various kinds, but makes a specialty of stock. He was married in May, 1859, to Josephine Austin, born in Jackson Co., Iowa. They had ten chil- dren, eight of whom are living — -Charles B., Margaret E., Anna, Miss Franc, William G., Henrietta, Addie M. and Leota R. Mr. Sample is a member of the Order of Free Masons, Prudence Lodge, No. 205, Algona. In politics he is a republican. William Carter was born June 2, 1831, in Lawrence Co., Penn., where he lived until 1853, and then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa. In 1857 he bought 160 acres of good land on section 30, township 95, range 28, where he has since lived and carried on a general farming business. He has held the offices of township trus- tee and justice of the peace, also is a member of the Order of Free Masons, Prudence Lodge, No. 205, Algona. He was married in June, 1864, to Martha ('rose, born in Indiana. She died April 2, 1882, leaving five children — Mary E., George, Henrietta, Lucy and Abram. Luther Bulbs was a pioneer of 1856, in Irvington township. He located on what is now the King place, where he remained until the fall of 1859, when he traded his land for cattle which he drove off. He is now a resident of Montana territory. It is told of him that he had caught a young beaver, which he kept in the house, and one night down came the bedstead; the pet had gnawed off one leg of that piece of furniture. John Ramsey settled in this township in 1856, where he remained until 1868. His present location is unknown, or whether he is alive or not. R. Parmenter was another of the set- tlers of this year. He located in the vil- lage of Irvington, and after a time was engaged as a merchant in that place. He left the county, going to Pike's Peak, from which he returned, but for a short time, when he left the country for good, and his present whereabouts are unknown. The first cabin was erected in Irv- ington township by Reuben Purcell, on section 20, during the spring and summer of 1855. The second was built by Mala- chi and William G. Clark, the same Aug- ust; the third by Hiram Wiltfong. The first birth in the township was that of the twin sons of Philip and Mary Crose, James and Joseph, who were born upon the 28th day of August, 1855. These are the first children born in Kossuth county. The first marriage was that which united the destinies of William Moore and Sarah Wright. This occurred upon the 22d of April, 1857, at the house of the bride's father, Jacob C. Wright. By whom performed seems to be hard to de- termine; parties who were present think- ing that Rev. Chauncey Taylor solem- nized the rite, while the record in the office of the clerk of the court says that George Wheeler performed it. Both par- ties are now dead, the husband dying -» — »pT 8 fk_ * A .» v* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 493 while a soldier in the service of his country. His body was brought back to his home and now reposes in the cemetery of Irvington. The first death was that of Ambrose Craw, in June, 1855. He was buried about a mile and a half west of Algona. At that time his friends had no lumber with which to make a coffin, so they, with the help of some neighbors, split out puncheons from bass-wood logs, and nailed them together, that they might bury him, at least, decently. The first land broken for the purpose of agriculture was by Malachi and Wil- liam Clark, in the spring of 1855, on sec- tion 19. On this piece of land the follow- ing year Clark secured a small crop of corn, the first raised in the township. The first wheat was raised by Jacob C. Wright, in 1856. The first religious services were held in November, 1855, at the cabin of William G. Clark. A Rev. Mr. Skinner, a Con- gregational minister from Polk county, preaching the sermon. The second ser- mon was preached by that good man, Father Taylor, in August, 1856. The first school was taught in the town hall at Irvington, in the summer of 1857, by Andalusia Cogley. Irvington township was organized at the March term of the county court, 1857, with the following described boundaries: "beginning at the quarter post on the east line of section 7, township 95 north, of range 27 west, of the 5th principal meridian, and running from thence due west, along the center of sections 13, 14, etc., to the middle of the channel of the East Fork of the DesMoines river, and thence down the middle of said channel to the south line of township 94, and thence east along said line to the east line of the county, and thence along said county line to the place of beginning." The following is a list of the first officers of the township, the election taking place at the house of R. Parmenter: S. W. Parsons, W. T. Crockett and T. O. Came- ron, trustees; William Moore, clerk; John G. Allison and Elijah Lane, constables; William Carter and John Robison, road supervisors. In this connection is given a list of the present officers of the township: Nathan Gates, M. Stephen and D. W. Sample, trustees; Z. C. Andruss, clerk; J. W. Bates, assessor; B. C. Minkler, justice of the peace and David Blythe, constable. The village of Irvington was the first laid out in Kossuth county, being filed for record upon the 27th day of September, 1856, by George Smith, Lyman L. Treat and Kendall Young. The town was start- ed by these parties with an eye to captur- ing the county government, but were de- feated as detailed elsewhere. The first merchant in the village was Lyman L. Treat, who opened a general merchandise store in the fall of 1855. This he contin- ued to operate until about 1861, when he disposed of the stock and business to J. A. Armstrong, who was the merchant until 1878, when he closed out the stock and discontinued the store. The first blacksmith was "Bing" How- ard, who started a shop in 1856. He was succeeded shortly after by a man by the name of Louppe. Both of these parties have left the county. Howard going to Webster City, where he is engaged in the ¥ ^L 494 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. hardware business. Louppe drifted back to Indiana and lias been lost sight of. The school district of Irvington was organized in 1856. At a meeting of the qualified electors held upon thellthof August of that year, at the village of Ir- vington J. C. Wright was made president and L. L. Treat, secretary. Ballots were then prepared and voting commenced- For sub-director, Rev. Gills received nine votes and was declared elected; for sec- retary, William Moore received ten votes, defeating Leicester Fox, who polled but one; L L. Treat was elected treasurer, having ten votes, while his opponent, H. A. Davidson, had but one. The present board of the school dis- trict township is composed of the follow- ing named: President, C. J. Harvey; secretary, Z. C. Andruss; treasurer, Perry Burlingame; sub-directors, Perry Purlin- game, A. Lambke, R. Hodges, Michael Smith, Henry Curran, John Connors, Addison Fisher, C J. Harvey and Nelson Swizzer. The first school in the township was taught by Andalusia Cogley, in the sum- mer of 1857, in the town hall at Irving- ton, then just finished. This school only lasted for two weeks. In 1858 William P. Davidson opened a school in the same place, and taught a lull term. The first regular school house built here was erected for a dwelling house, but in 1860 it was purchased and moved on to section 19, where it at present stands. This is called No. 2, the one called No. 1 was built in Irvington and hauled to its present location on sec- tion 28. There are at present five school houses in all, in the township, all of them fine buildings. Three of them are 20x36 feet, the others 18x30 feet and they were erect- ed at a total cost of $600 a piece. Be it said to the credit of Irvington township, that the educational interests are the best managed of any locality in this section of country, employing only the best class of teachers and paying good salaries to the right people. This bears its fruit in a more intelligent class of young people, that are growing up in Irvington, and in the better condition of the schools gener- ally. During the year 1883 the folio wing- named were among the teachers in the township: Emma Johnson, A. A. Crose, Cora E. Morford, May Halgerson, Letitia Hodges, Dora Barker, Joseph Crose, Hattie Parsons, Ida M. Miller, Celestia Reed and James B. Reed. In November, 1855, the little knot of settlers gathered together at the cabin of William Clark, to hold the first religious services ever held in Irvington. A Con- gregational divine by the name of Skin- ner, from the neighborhood of Des Moines, had come up here for that pur- pose and the service was held. No other meeting, for the same object in view, was held until in August, 1856, Rev. Chaun- cey Taylor, one of the most indefatigable laborers in the Lord's vineyard, came to Irvington from Algona, and preached several times. In 1859 services were held several times by Rev. Mr. Lawton, a Meth- odist Episcopal divine. He was followed by a Rev. Mr. Mallory, also a Method- ist, as this place had been made a point in a circuit of that Church. He was suc- ceeded by a Rev. Mr. Billings, who lived b y J*l« MA HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 495 at Irvington. Mr. Billings removed from here about 1860 or 1861, going to Boones- boro, Boone county. Irvington after this had regular religious services until 1881, when they were discontinued, aud the people go to Algona to attend Church. The old town hall of Irvington, around whose hallowed walls cluster so many pleasing associations of by-gone days, and which so many in the community recall in the glamour that memory throws around their youth, was built in 1857. Being in want of a suitable place for public meet- ings, a joint stock subscription was raised, and with the proceeds the edifice was built. This was opened with a dance, and as that was the principal enjoyment of the period, many an old settler tells with infinite glee, how that the mini-ter who held forth to them had to hurry his sermon, that the young folks might enjoy an innocent dance. This building was for many years the general rendezvous for the whole township, and stood until 1881, then having become decrepid with age, it tumbled to the ground. The Irvington Juvenile Band was or- ganized by the young people of that town, in 1868, and was the first cornet band within the limits of Kossuth county. The members were the sons of old ami promi- nent citizens of that part of the county. The following is a list of the organizers as far as could be gathered from the memories of those concerned, and is be- lieved to be complete: B. F. Reed, leader; J. O. Holden, A. T. Reed, C. B. Holden, E. P. Crockett, Rolla Bush, Fulton Fill, J. W. Green and 'George Fisher. The baud existed for several years, but as the members drifted away from their homes to seek new ones farther west or south, the organization dissolved and has not been revived to this day. The present village of Irvington is of late origin, the railroad going near but not touching the old town site, hence the springing up of a new place. The Wes- tern Town Lot Company, laid out and platted this village in the fall of 1881, on the southeast quarter of section 29, and the northeast quarter of section 31. On this site, B. C. Minkler erected the first building, having it ready for occupancy by the 27th of May, 1S82. In this he opened the first stock of goods and is to- day the most prominent merchant, dealing in general merchandise. The store build- ing that he erected was 18x28 feet, two stories high, and built of frame. He has since added a dwelling addition to it of the same size. B. C. Minkler was born OcJ. 4, 1855, in Delaware Co., Iowa. When twelve years of age he removed with his father's fam- ily to Edgewood, Clayton Co., Iowa, where he lived until 1882. While at Edgewood he spent the most of his time educating himself for the actual duties of life. He graduated Jan. 13, 1875, at Bay- lies Commercial College, at Dubuque, Iowa. He was married July 4, 1876, to Katie Gilcrist, born at Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have one child — Pearl, born Jan. 30, 1878. In May, 1882, Mr. Minkler moved to Irvington, Kossuth Co., Iowa, and engaged in a general mercantile trade. He first erected a good store building two stories high, which he filled with a stock of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots and shoes. He is now post- master in Irvington, justice of the peace, ^ 496 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. and a notary public. Politically, Mr. Minkler is a republican. David Blythe opened the first black- smith shop in the new town on the 20th of May, 1882, and is the present represent- ative of that craft. J. Jacobs established the hardware busi- ness here on the 4th of June, 1883, and carries a good line of building hardware, barbed fence wire. In addition to this he deals in groceries and wooden-ware and wagon material. There is also at this point one elevator owned and built by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, and operated by Butler, Molstre, & Co. The first postoffice at Irvington was es- tablished during the year 185V. The next to the last postmaster was Dr. J. R. Armstrong, who gave up his com- mission and the office was run fora while by D. Chapman, and was finally discon- tinued in 1875. The present postoffice was established in July, 1882, and B. C, Minkler was the first, as he is the present postmaster. Mr. Minkler is a native of Delaware Co., Iowa, but passed most of his life in Clayton county, coming to Kossuth county but a short time before his appointment. Prairie fires were very destructive to the new settlers previous to 1860, owing partially to the tall grass that surrounded them, and partially to their inexperience in protecting against it. It was no un- common thing for a settler to lose house, fence and grain by its ravages. But as the country gradually settled up, and the the pioneers learned the lesson of experi- rience, these became less and less danger- ous. Matthew H. Hudson, M. D., was born in the town of Southold, Suffolk Co., L. I., in 1818. He studied medicine and grad- uated from the Berkshire Medical College, in 1844, immediately commencing to practice in Brooklyn, N. Y. In the spring of 1846 he was married to Esther P. Hal- lock, of Southold. They have five chil- dren— J. Q. A., Stella E., Henry H., George C. and Josie E. Dr. Hudson re- tired from practice eighteen years ago, and settled on a farm east of Algona, and turns his attention more especially, of late years, to stock raising and dairying. This farm has one of the oldest and finest cultivated groves in the county. Mrs. Hudson's ancestors, on both sides, were in the colony that made the first settle- ment in Southold, that being one of the first settled towns in New York. Jesse W. Green was born in Mercer Co., Penn, Dec. 16,1849. In the spring of 1856 he came to Kossuth county, and located on section 32, township 95, range 28, Irvington township. After residing on that place five years, he removed to Marshall Co., Iowa, remaining there one year he came back to Irvington township, and located on section 29, where he now resides. He was united in marriage Jan. 13, 1872, with Laura E. Crammend, a na- tive of New York State, born Oct. 3, 1852. This union has been blessed with-four children — Eva, Francis, Rosa and Jose- phine. Mr. Green has 200 acres of land. Politically he is a republican. N. A. Pine, a well known farmer of Irv- ington township, was born Feb. 4, 1831, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. In 1835 his parents removed to Ashtabula Co., Ohio. His parents afterwards removed to Paw -dt 9 l£* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 497 Paw Grove, Lee Co., 111. In 1866 the subject of our sketch came to Kossuth county, and located on section 2, town- ship 95, range 28, Irvington township. He has 160 acres of good land, and is one of the substantial farmers of the township. He was married Sept. 16, 1850, to Susan Gleason, born in New York, and they have had four children, two of whom are living — Myron W. and Carrie B. Ella L. and Eddie W. are deceased. Mr. Pine and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He enlisted in March, 1865, in company K, 15th Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and served eight months. After being mustered in at Dixon, he went to Chicago, and from there to New York city, where he took a steamer to More- head City, N. C. Going from there on foot through the swamps to Raleigh, N. C, he went from there to Richmond, Va., and then to Washington City, where he witnessed the grand review. He then went by rail to Parkersburg, where he took a boat for Leavenworth, Kan., and remained two months, when he went to Springfield, 111., received his discharge and came back to Paw Paw Grove. Zebina C. Andruss was born Feb. 7, 1843, in Ontario Co., N. Y. In the spring of 1864, he moved to Michigan, where he lived until the summer of 1867, when he returned to New York. In the fall of 1868 he came to Iowa, arriving at Irving- I ton in September of that year. In the fall of 1869, he settled on the southwest quarter of section 20, township 95, range 28, Irvington township, where he owns 180 acres of well improved land and is engaged in dairying and stock rais- ing. He was married March 24, 1863, to Amanda S. Armstrong, born June 27, 1837, in Steuben Co., N. Y. They have one child — S. Luella. Mr. Andruss and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at Algona. He has been town- ship clerk eight years, and was re-elected to fill the term for 1884. He has also been secretary of the district township of Irvington twelve years. Stephen Sharp, a native of Wisconsin, was born Sept. 30, 1842. He resided in the home of his birth until he removed to Irvington, Kossuth county. He has re- sided in Irvington township ever since, with the exception of oneyear when he followed farming in Cresco township. He now re- sides on section 6, township 95, range 28. On Nov. 5, 1870, he was united in mar- riage with Josephine Hill, born in Ver- mont, Nov. 10, 1848. They have three children — Dora, Stephen J. and George A. Mr. Sharp enlisted in March, 1865, in com pany K, 45th Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, and served about six months. He participated in the battle of Nashville. He was discharged from service in Au- gust, 1865. Politically he is a republican. IF? 498 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT V. CHAPTER XXI LOTT'S CREEK TOWNSHIP. This township comprises all of con- gressional township 96 north, range 30 west, and all of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, and the north half of sections 13, 14, 15, 16,17 and 18, of town- ship 95, range 30. It contains, therefore, fifty-one square miles, or 32,640 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Fenton, on the east by Algona, on the south by Cresco townships, and on the west by Palo Alto county. The surface is nearly level, except in some places, where it takes on a more rolling character. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail- road crosses its most southern range of sections, and the important station of Whittemore is located within the limits of Lett's Creek. The first settler in this portion of the county was G. Smith, who located upon the northeast quarter of section 10, Sept. 1, 1865. In the spring of 1866 several other families moved in, among whom were: II P. Hatch, S. B. Hatch, B. F. Peasley, M. Leach and A. Ilinton. II. P. Hatch located a claim on section 32, as did M. Leach. S. B. Hatch settled upon a portion of section 9, and commenced to open up a farm. I}. F. Peasley made the choice of some land on section 5. A. Ilinton located upon section 29, where he lived some years, but is now a resident of Whittemore. Charles Wilkins, in the spring of 1866, also made a settlement on section 22, in what is now called "Sod town." At the same time P. Wilkins, Mrs. Taylor and her sons located upon the same section. The first marriage in the township took place in October, 1869, and united II. L. Goodrich and Maria Wilkins. At the time of this marriage, however, this town- ship was a part of Algona. The school district township of Lott's Creek was organized in 1874; and at the first election, held in March of that year, the following were elected the first board of directors: A. Hinton, pfesident; ILL. Goodrich, secretary; John Wallace, treas- urer; A. Hinton, A. Tintinger, Charles Wilkins and J. Brown, directors. At the present the school matters are in the hands of a board, who were elected in March, 1883, and which is composed of the following named: R. R. Chapman, president; A. Hinton, secretary; H. P.' Hatch, treasurer; John Gcetsch, S. L. Scott, R. Stevenson, A. Sawvel, J. Chris- chilles, A. Margraf and R. R. Chapman, directors. D *y ^Js 3L HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 499 When the township was set off from Algona, the schools in most instances were found to be organized and in run- ning order. These, under the old order of things, were known as districts 4, 5, 6 and 7, of Algona, but have been changed as follows: The school known before as No. 5 is now called the Hatch school, or No. 2, and was taught the summer of 1883 by Mrs. Edna Love; what was before No. 4, is now No. I, or Gcetseh school, and was last taught, by Nettie Mattison; No. 6 has become No. 3. or "Sod town" school, and was last presided over by Hattie Chase. No. 7 having become No. 4, is known as the Sawvel school house, and is presided over by Helen Weaver. No. 6 school being in Whittemore it will be found mentioned in the account of that village further on. The school house in district No. 6, called the Pomp school, was erected during the summer of 1881, at a cost ol $700. This school was first taught that same fall by Alice Sherwood. The pres- ent teacher is Hattie Chase. Sub-district No. 7 has a school called the Archer, the edifice of which was erected in the summer of 1882, and was taught for the first term by Hattie Acres. School had been held in this place before this, however, by Fannie Calkins, but that was before the erection of any school house. This building cost about $700, and is at present underthe charge of Vina Acres. A branch school is also taught at the house of J. Rawson, by Rena Thomp- son. The township was organized Feb. 3, 1873, and the first election was held at the school house in what was then district No. C. At that time there were elected the following named: II. L. Goodrich, clerk; A. A. Brunson, justice; Peter J. Walker and S. L. Scott, trustees; and J. DeGraw, constable. At present the board of trus- tees is composed of these gentlemen : J. M. Farley, F. Tietz and Adam Sawvel. James Archer is the township clerk. In 1 870, the Hatch postoffice was estab- lished, at the house of S. L. Scott, on sec- tion 32, that gentleman having been ap- pointed postmaster. After about three years, Mrs. H. P. Hatch was commissioned postmistress and she kept it for two years, until 1875, when the office was discon- tinued. The following account of the organiza- tion and building up of the German Lutheran Church, on section 2, has been prepared for this history by the pastor, Rev. C. F. W. Maass. UERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN IMMAN- UEL CHURCH. A number of German Lutheran Chris- tians, who, in the course of time, settled themselves as farmers in Kossuth county, and for a number of years were served by the Rev. T. Merteus, located at Fort Dodge, and belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States, in the year 1 875 organized themselves into an Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and tendered Mr. E. II. Scheips, from the Theological Seminary at St. Louis, Mo., a call, and adopted the following constitution on the 6th of May of that year : Resolved, That this congregation shall be called and known as The German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Congregation of the Unal- tered Augsburg Confession, in the county of Kossuth, State of Iowa. 17 +±.1 *k+ 500 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Resolved, That this congregation recognizes all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the revealed word of God; and therefore, also, as the only rule and canon of our faith and life, and that it furthermore re- cognizes all the symbolical books of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, contained in the so- called "Books of Concord" of the year 1580, as that form and rule derived from the word of God according to which (because it is derived from the word of God), not only the doctrine to be preached and promulgated in this congregation, shall be examined, but also all doctrined and religious controversies, that may arise in this congregation, shall be decided and adjudicated. The Symbolic Books herein referred are the fol- lowing: The three chief Symbols, the Apostoli- cal, Nicene and Athanasian,the Unaltered Augs- burg Confession of the year A. D., 1530, the Apologie of the same, the Schmalkald Articles, Luther's Smaller and Larger Catechism and the Formula of Concord. Resolved, That the foregoing confession of faith shall be forever unchangeable and unal- terable. Resolved, That if a schisma for doctrines sake should arise in this congregation (which God may mercifully prevent!, the property of the congregation and all benefices thereof shall be- long to those members, who adhere to the doc- trines laid down in the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, and who accordingly require that the minister of this congregation be pledged to adhere to the doctrines of all the Symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, above enumerated, and thereby adjudicated; and furthermore, that if a member of said con- gregation should be excommunicated out of this society after ineffective application of ad- hortation, as commanded in the word of God, St. Matthew 18, 15-20, where the same are pos- sible, such a member shall forfeit all the rights as a member of said congregation, as well as all claims on all property belonging to said congre- gation, as long as said member is not reinstated into said society, the same shall apply to those members of congregation, who voluntarily retire from said Bociety or effect their retirement by removal and cease to act with said Society. This article and resolution shall also be unchangeable and unalterable forever. N. B. — The above is only a part of the constitution. The first members of the congregation were: Ferdinand Tietz, William Schmidt, John Schmidt, Frank Pompe, Christian Bierstedt, Christoph Bierstedt, William Meyer, Fred Stamer, William Dau, Fred Meyer, Henry Rambath, Henry Behreus, Henry Legenhausen, August Zumach, Fred Pompe, Oottlib ISohn and E. H. Scheips, minister. On Sept. 20, 1875, ihe congregation re- solved to build a church, 24x36 feet, on section 2, and Sept. 9, 1877, they resolved to build a parsonage on the same place, 14x22 feet, one and a half stories high, with a ten foot addition. On Jan. 19, 1879, the congregation resolved to becon e a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Sy- nod of Missouri, Ohio and other States, and for this purpose, in the month of Au- gust, sent a deputy to the district Synod of Iowa, in session at Fort Dodge. In November, 1879, the pastor of the congregation received a call from Ohio, which he accepted. On March 8, 1880, in a brief session, the congregation resolved to send a call to Rev. C. F. W. Maass of Spirit Lake, Iowa. He accepted the call as a divine one. On Sunday, May 4, 1880, he was installed by Rev. E. Wiegner, pas- tor of St. Ansgar, Iowa. On April 3, 1881, the congregation determined to be- come incorporated as the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Congregation, by having their aforesaid constitution record- ed at Algona, the county seat. On June 24, 1882, the congregation met with a i* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 501 great loss in the destruction of their church by a tornado. For the course of one and a quarter years services were now held in a public school house. During this time the congregation resolved to build a new church, 32x50 feet. The steeple to be eighty feet high. The church was to have an addition of 16x20 feet for a school room, the whole to cost #2,500. The plan was drawn by Rev. M. Stephan, of Waverly, Iowa. The contractors were Fred Wegener & Bro., members of the congregation. The foundation was laid on the 6th of May, 1883, Rev. H. W. Rabe, of Webster City, preaching, and Mr. II. F. Eggert, student of theology, reading the documents to be placed in the foundation stone. The pastor of the con- gregation laid the foundation in the name of the Holy Trinity. The dedication of the new church took place Sept. 23, 1883. The Rev. E. Wieg- ner preaching in the German and Rev. C. Weber in the English language. Service is held ev^ery Sunday in the new church in the German language; and the pastor of the congregation also teaches a parochial school, in which English and German are taught. Average of scholar- ship twenty-five. At present, Dec. 1, 1888, fifty families attend services. The parish consists of the congregations of Lott's Creek township, of Estherville, Emmett county, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto county, Whittemore, West Bend and Luverne, Kossuth county, Livermore and Humboldt, Humboldt county. The latter three con- gregations have lately, Nov. 18, 1883, re- ceived their own pastor, in the person of Rev. R. P. Budach, who has his residence at Whitman, Kossuth county. This con- y gregation consists of about twenty-five families, the majority of them coming from Bloomington and Geneseo, 111. In the whole former parochie, from the year 1875 to November, 1883, 263 children were baptized, eighteen couple were mar- ried and thirty-two persons buried. Rev. C. F. W. Maass, pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Fenton, was born in Mecklenburg Strelits, Ger- many, July 2, 1854. His parents, Fred and Minnie (Hirchert) Maass, were also natives of Germany. His mother died Oct. 4, 1875. His father makes his home with him. Mr. Maass was reared in his native land, and when seventeen years <>f age emigrated to America. He located, first, at Detroit, Mich., residing there un- til 1873. He then entered Concordia Col- lege, at Fort Wayne, Ind., being a student there until 1*75. He then entered the Cheological Seminary at Springfield, 111., graduating therefrom, in 1878. Mr. Maass then took a trip to his native land, re- maining two mouths, then returning and taking a charge at Spirit Lake, Iowa. Re ministered to the people there, of his faith, until May, 1880, when he took charge of his present congregation at Fenton. He was united in marriage April 24, 1879, with Anna Harte, a native of Watertown, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Maass have two chil- dren—Rosa W. H. and Dora M. A. WHITTEMORE. The village of Whittemore was laid out and platted by W. H. Ingham and Lewis II. Smith, of Algona, in the fall of 1878, when f'e railroad reached thatpoint. The plat was not filed for record, however, un- til the 12th of April, 1879. M' j?u- 502 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. The first settler upon the town site was J. C. Foster, who located thereon in the fall of 1878, closely followed by Charles Camp and William Amos. William Amos came to buy grain and manage the lumber business of J. J. Wil- son, of Algona, by whom he was employed. The first building erected upon the site of the town of Whittemore, was the depot of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. This was built in the fall of 1878, being completed during the month of October. The first grain warehouse was erected in the fall of 1878, by J. J. Wilson, of Al- gona, and who was and is yet engaged largely in the purchase of the great cereals of this vicinity. The pioneer store, in the line of general merchandise, was opened ou the 22d of February, 1879, by H. Munch, in a build- ing that he had just built. He is still en- gaged in the same business, and carries a large and complete stock of all kinds of goods, that will invoice about $7,000. His store room. 20x62 feet, is well fitted up and attractive, and his trade is respectably large and remunerative. He may be justly entitled one of the solid representative business men of the place. Henry Munch is a native of Germany, born March 17, 1840. He lived in Ger- many thirteen years when he came to America and located in Astoria, N. Y., where he lived two years. He then re- moved to Grant Co., Wis., where he re- mained until 1861. He enlisted in com- pany E, 9th Wisconsin regiment, and served two years. He was taken prisoner at Newtonia,Mo.,and remained a prisoner till November, 1862, when he was paroled and afterward discharged in March, 1863. He re-enlisted in company H, 44th Wisconsin regiment, and served tillJune, 1865. Re- turning to Wisconsin he engaged in hotel business for one year in Cassville. At the close of the year he removed to Ben- ton Co., Iowa, and was in the grocery business for three years. Removing to Luzerne, Iowa, he remained until 1869 when he removed to Emmetsburg, Iowa, where he remained until coming to Whitte- more. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Mary B. Trottman, of Grant Co., Wis. Five children blessed this union — Susie K., Frederick E., John H., Sadie and George E. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and while at Emmetsburg was chairman of the board of supervisors and was also one of the first aldermen of that place. C. D. Creed established the first drug store in the village in February, 1878, but in June, 1879, having found a pur- chaser for the same, disposed of the busi- ness to Dr. J. M. Pride, who has con- tinued it to the present. The doctor car- ries a good stock and by close attention to business and a desire to please his numer- ous patrons, he has worked up an excel- lent trade, and has become one of the leading merchants of the place. E. Chrischilles came to Whittemore in March, 1*79, and established a saloon, which he ran until the following fall. He then opened a general merchandise store in the building he had just completed, and which he occupies at present. This edifice is 22x40 feet, and is well filled with goods of all descriptions and kinds, and the trade he does is large and lucra- tive. T Va_ ti HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 503 In February, 1879, Jacob Strandberg came to Whittemore and built part of the Grand Central Hotel, which he still runs. In 1881, William Amos established a store for the sale of general merchandise at this point, but as he had a store at West Bend, Palo Alto county, to which he gave his personal attention, he looked around for a manager. He employed Mr. Strand- berg, after giving him a trial, from May, 1882, a position which he yet fills. The National House was rebuilt from a store building into a hotel, in the spring of 1880, and was run by C. D. Creed until June, 1883, when he closed out to Dr. A. F. Dailey, the enterprising dentist of the community, who makes a good landlord. The hardware trade was initiated by J. M. Farley, in April, 1879, a business he follows at present. The first harness making business was started by D. J. Cain, in May, 1881. He continued this trade only about six months, when his father, J. W. Cain, took it and has monopolized the business ever since. Rev. Jesse W. Cain was born in Mont- gomery Co., Ind., Dec. 26, 182S. When six years of age he removed with his par- ents to Putnam Co., 111. After a resi- dence there of nearly two years they re- moved to Bureau county, where Jesse was reared and learned the harness making trade. In 1869 Mr. Cain became a min- ister in the Free Methodist Church, being for the year following assigned to the Churches of Amboy and Ashton, 111. He was then given a charge at De Witt, Clinton Co., Iowa, where he remained one year. For the following two years he had charge of a circuit near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In the fall of 1S73 he took charge of the New Diggings circuit, Grant Co., Wis., remaining one year. He then went to Rock Co., Wis., being there engaged in farming for two years, and the two years following having charge of the Church at Sharon, Wis. He then re- moved to Piersville, Wis., where he preached six months. He then went to Whitewater, Wis., following his profes- sion and his trade, that of harness maker, for four years. In July, 1881, he came to Whittemore, where he has since been en- gaged in the harness business, and also preaching the word of God as occasion offers. Mr. Cain was married Feb. 24, 1853, to Maria McElvain, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cain have five chil- dren — David J., Clara, Louisa, Mary and Isabella. The first shoe maker was A. Doering, who yet attends to that branch of the business interests of the town. The first physician to locate in Whitte- more was J. M. Pride, now the druggist of the village. The pioneer blacksmith was L. M. Moosaw, who located here in 1878. The business is now represented by J. De Graw, who made his advent in the village in July, 1881. Jonas De Graw was born in Canada West, Aug. 29, 1848. When an infant his parents removed to Clayton Co., Iowa, where Jonas was reared and educated. He there learned the blacksmith trade. In 1871 Mr. De Graw came to Kossuth county, engaging for one year at work at his trade in Algona. He then engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until 1882, in which year he came to \ 504 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Whittemore and established his present business, that of practical blacksmith. Mr. De Graw was married Oct. 21, 1S7T, to Emma E. Rice, a native of Vermont. They have two children — Lucius J. and George E. Mr. De Graw is a member of the Masonic fraternity. The livery business is well represented by C. D. Creed, who established this busi- ness in November, 1831, and has con- tinued to operate it ever since. He is lo- cated in the rear of the National House. The postoffice was established in Octo- ber, 1879, and William Amos was ap- pointed postmaster. This office remained in his possession until January, 1882, when he was succeeded by C. D. Creed, the present incumbent. Charles D. Creed was born June 21, 1844, in Lucas Co., Ohio. When twelve years old he went to Chicago, 111., re- maining till 1861, when he enlisted for three months with the Chicago Zouaves. After that time he returned to Chicago, and in August enlisted in company A, 4th Illinois Cavalry, serving till 1865, and having charge of Gen. Grant's Orderlies. Coming again to Chicago, he clerked in the postoffice for nine years. In 1876 he removed to Havana, 111., remained there till 1878, then removed to Humboldt, Iowa, and engaged in the drug business. In February, 1879, he removed to Whitte- more, erected a building and opened a drug store. After remaining a few months he sold out and returned to Chi- cago, 111., remaining there one year, then came to Kossuth county and engaged in the hotel business as proprietor of the Na- tional House. In 1882 he was appointed postmaster, has also been justice of the peace and school director of the town- ship. Nov. 15, 1866, he married Carrie J. Judd, of Ohio. They have one child — Austin W. The school house in the village was completed in January, 1880, at a cost of $800. Hattie Acres was the first, as she is the present teacher. In the spring of 1881 many of the best people in Whittemore and the surround- ing country gathered together and organ- ized what is called the Whittemore Cem- etery Association, with the following officers: II. B. Hatch, president; J. M. Farley, secretary; William Amos, treas- urer. This society purchased ten acres of ground on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 7. This is a private enterprise, but most of the best people in the community are interested in it. The first marriage in the village of Whittemore took place upon the 2d of February, 1879, and united William Amos and Cora Heath man. The following is a complete directory of the business men of Whittemore, and will serve as a recapitulation of the histo- ry of the town: Amos, William, general store. Or tyton, John, agricultural implements. Chrischilles, E., general store. Corlish, S. H., furniture. Cain, J. W., harness maker. Cady <& Chapman, hay press. Dailey, A. F., National House and den- tist. UeGraw, J., blacksmith. Doering, A., shoemaker. Farley, J. M., hardware, grain and lum- ber. Munch, H., general store. s ^y \iu HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 505 Pride, J. M., M. D. and druggist. Reilings, H., hay press. Scottish-American Land Co., hay press. Smith, A., hay press. Solomons, hay press. Strandberg, J., Grand Central Hotel. Wilson, J. J., lumber and grain. Waggoner, N., meat market. Adam Sawvel was born March 5, 1832, in Harrison Co., Ohio, being there reared and educated. He there followed the oc- cupation of a farmer until the spring of 1S55, when he removed to Clayton Co., Iowa, being one of the early settlers in that county. He resided in that county until 1809, then came to Kossuth county, locating on his present place on section 6, Lott's Creek township. His farm con- tains 240 acres of good land. Mr. Sawvel was married Sept. 13, 1853, to Lydia Hahn, a native of Pennsylvania. They have five children — Simon A., James I., Mary E., Ida A. and Leslie E. Mr. and Mrs Sawvel are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Saw- vel was trustee of Lott's Creek township for two years, beginning with the first af- ter its organization. He was justice of the peace from 1876 to 1880, and has been school director of his district for the past six years. He served three years in the war as a member of company I, 27th Iowa Volunteers. Peter J. Walker, son of James and Dorothy A. Walker, was born in Askrigg, Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England, Nov. 23, 1832. He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was one and a half years old, and his father died when he was nine years old. After the death of his father he was sent to Loudon to live with a brother. From that time until he emigrated to the United States, in 1849, he had a wide and varied experience. In 1849 he located in New Diggings, Wis., and engaged to clerk for G. W. Adams. In June, 1852, he went to Chicago, 111. Remaining in that place for a short time, he returned to Wiscon- sin. In 1853 he removed to Big Patch, Wis., and engaged in business. In 1855 he commenced farming, which he fol- lowed until 1869. He removed from Grant Co., Wis., in 1869, to Kossuth Co., Iowa, locating in Lott's Creek town- ship, where he purchased 320 acres of land. He now owns 480 acres of good land, with good comfortable buildings, nice groves, orchards, etc. He deals ex- tensively in live stock. He was married in 1855 to Jane Clayton, of Wisconsin. By this union there were two children — Mary A. and Saidonia. Mrs. Walker died in March, 1861. He was again mar- ried, in July, 1863, to Sarah A. Hunting- ton, daughter of William Robinson, of Platteville, Wis. The result of this union was nine children — Ella I., Robert M. and James E., born in Wisconsin; Emma R., Sarah J., William F., Albert S., Archie B. and Leslie R., born in Lott's Creek township. Mr. Walker has held several township offices of trust. In religion he is free and outspoken. In politics he favors the republican party, but abhors corruption, and is a man who is not afraid to stand up and speak out his convictions. Mr. Walker is one of the best farmers and stock raisers in northern Iowa, and can truly be said to have made life a suc- cess. There are few men, left orphans at an early age, and compelled to work up +?i ^ JL 506 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. step by step, that can show as clear a record or as successful a business career as Mr. Walker. Ferdinand Tietz is a native of Germany, born July 26, 1833. He was there reared on a farm and followed farming for a livelihood in his native country until 1859. In June of that year he emigrated to America, settling in Dodge Co., Wis. There he engaged in farming until the spring of 1860. He then for two years resided in Janesville, Wis., after which time he returned to Dodge Co., Wis., where he resided until 1873, when he re- moved to Kossuth county, settling on his present farm. He was married Nov. 13, 1802, to Minnie Kroening, also a native of Germany. They have seven children liv- ing — Martha, Mary, Bertha, Otto, Eddie, Frank and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Tietz are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Tietz is at present one of the trustees of Fenton township. Frank Pompe, the present postmaster of Fenton postoffice, is the son of Fred- erick and Johanna Pompe, natives of Pomern, Germany. He was born Oct. 4, 1836. In 1856 he camt to America, and the following year, 1857, he sent for his parents, in Germany, and located in Dodge Co., Wis., where they bought a farm on which they remained until the fall of 1873, when with his family he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on section 3, Lott's Creek township. He now owns 480 acres of good land, of which 300 acres are under cultivation. He has a good house and barn on same. He was married May 1, 1863, to Bertha, daughter of Karl and Caroline Schuma- cher, natives of Pomern, Germany. Mrs. Pompe was born Aug. 7, 1844. They have five children — Charles F. W., Ame- lia S., Robert F., Bertha J. and Albert J. The youngest child died when an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Pompe are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Pompe is neutral in politics. Charles N. Oliver was born in Wash- ington Co., Ohio, Dec. 8, 1846. When fifteen years of age he removed with his parents to Fayette Co., 111., where he en- gaged in farming. On Jan. 1, 1S64, he en- listed in company F, 14th Illinois Cav- alry regiment, and served in that com- pany until the close of the war. In June, 1865, he returned to Illinois, where he lived until 186S and then removed to Martin Co., Minn. After a four years residence there he returned to Illinois, and in 1874 removed to Kansas. After remaining there four months, he came to Iowa, locating in Polk county. Then in 1878 he came to Kossuth county, and the following year located on his present place, on section 32, Lott's Creek township. Mr. Oliver is one of the progressive and successful farmers of the county. He was married Oct. 14, 1880, to Ellen, daugh- ter of A. Sawvel, of this county- to Js HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 50"! CHAPTER XXII. LUVERNE TOWNSHIP. The first settler in township 94 north, range 27 west, now known as Luverne, was Joseph Walker, a native of Illinois, who came here and located upon section 20, in 1870. During the fall of that year, he, and a cousin that lived with him, broke the first ground in the township. He was also the builder of the first frame house, and sower of the first grain. He moved back to Illinois, sometime since, being dissatisfied with his surroundings. The next settler was Valentine Zoelle, who settled upon section 31, during the year 1873, where he at present resides. Valentine Zoelle, the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany, Feb. 10, 1843. When nine years of age his parents emigrated to America, locating in Jeffer- son Co., Wis., where he worked at the carpenter trade. When fifteen years of age, he left home and commenced work on a farm. He followed farming for about four years. In 1862 he enlisted in com- pany K, 3d regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry. He served until the close of the war, when he returned to his home in Wisconsin. He commenced farming again. In the spring of 1866, he came to Iowa, locating near Fort Dodge. Iu a short time he came up to Kossuth county, locating in Irvington township. He worked for Samuel Reed, one and a half years. He purchased 175 acres of land in Irvington township, (now called Luverne township) section 31. Tie then went back to Wisconsin, and worked in the pineries, near Wolf river, for one winter. From there he went to Illinois, where he farmed for a year. Then he went back to Wisconsin, locating in Jef- ferson county. He remained in Wiscon- sin until 1873, when he came back to Kos- suth Co., Iowa, and settled on his farm in Luverne township. Mr. Zoelle was mar- ried, in 1870, to Mary L. Friday, of Jeffer- son Co., Wis. Mrs. Zoelle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is independent in politics. Mr. Zoelle deals considerably in live stock. These seem to be all the settlers, until the building up of the embryo city of Luverne, a sketch of which is herewith given, taken mainly from the columns of that sprightly little sheet, the Revieiv, published at the village in question: ''Luverne is a thriving young town of nearly 400 inhabitants and is situated at the junction of the Minneapolis & St. Louis, and the Toledo branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railways. It is not a station on either of these roads, but is situated between Vernon station, on the M. & St. L , and Whitman, on the C. &N. W. R. R. 508 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. "Luverne has had an almost unparal- leled growth among the towns of Iowa. When the Minneapolis & St. Louis Kail- way ran through this section of the coun- try, no town was laid out between Cor- wiih and Liverinore, but in the fall when the Chicago & Northwestern Company were building their road through here, the officials of the former road, saw it was necessary to survey a town near the cross- ing. Accordingly they laid out a town on the farm of L. D. Lovell, across the line in Humboldt county, who was offered a reasonable amount for the plat, or a half interest in the same. He chose the latter and was appointed sale proprietor of the lots in the town, which was named Vernon. In October, 1880, Messrs. George W. llanna and B. B. Bliss came to Vernon with the intention of buying a lot and erecting a building in which to carry on a general mercantile business, but not being suited with the location and lay-out of the streets, they bought fifteen acres of land of Valentine Zoelle, and on October 20, had it surveyed and platted. The sale of lots was slow at first, as the competing town, Vernon, had gained quite a busi- ness. But these gentlemen were deter- mined to succeed, and immediately began the erection of their present building on the corner, where they opened their store for business on the 15th day of Decem- ber following. They treated all incomers with liberality, and soon created agreater demand for lots in Luverne than they had in Vernon. Lots were sold at reasonable prices, ranging from $50 to $75 according to location. The town was given the name of Luverne, by ex-Governor Carpen- ter. "Although the town of Vernon was laid out several months previous to the pur- chase of the land for this town site, the postoffice was established at Luverne about three months after the town was started, and George W. Hanna was appointed postmaster, who now holds the office. "The second business building was the one now occupied by S. Pearson, for his drug store, and was built by Dr. Dunlap about a month after Hanna & Bliss began business. W. J. McNally, of Cedar Falls, erected the third building, which is now occupied by C. F. Fisher for his store. Other buildings were added at short in- tervals apart. "In April, 18S2, Valentine Zoelle made an addition to the town on the north and has sold several lots." The following historical account of the business development of the village may not be without interest in this connection. As has been mentioned, the first build- ing erected upon the present town site was put up by Hanna & Bliss, in Decem- ber, 1880, and in which they carry a large stock of general merchandise, principally dry goods. This firm, although composed of young men, has a reputation not con- fined to the town and township, but of wider range, of being wide-awake, up- right, business men. They are doing an extensive business, as the reward for their enterprise and business tact. The next mercantile pursuit opened, was the drug store of Dr. Dunlap, who came here in the early part of 1881, from Delaware county. In August, of the same year, he disposed of it to Samuel Pearson, a farmer of Humboldt oounty, who placed it in the hands of A. J. McLean, a native s> ^V **>. T« — v. -< — nf t HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. .-.(19 of Illinois, who ran it until the day of his death, in July, 1883. His widow, Mrs. McLean, has charge at present. About the same time a general mer- chandise store was opened by W. G. Mc- Nally. C. E. Fisher came from Geneseo, 111., to this place in September, 1881, and also established a store for the sale of general merchandise. In July, 1S83, he closed out the entire stock and quit business, although he still resides in the village. G. C. Burtis established the pioneer lumber yard at Luverne. In March, 1881, he had delivered to him the first carload of lumber, and from that time he has always taken the lead in this line. He formerly sold hoes, spades, forks and other farming implements in connection with his lumber yard, but has given that up in order to devote his whole attention to his specialty in building materials. He carries quite a large stock of hard and pine lumber, sash, doors, lime, brick, etc. He has also the agency for the most ap- proved modern farming machinery, and being a wide awake, enterprising business man, does a large and profitable business. Gay lord C. Burtis, son of John and Lu- cina Burtis, was born at White's Corners, Potter Co., Penn., May 29, 1847. When fifteen years of age his parents removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., where his father purchased a farm. They lived there three years, when they came to Iowa, lo- cating in Irvington township, Kossuth county, where his father bought 160 acres of land near Algona. Mr. Burtis, the subject of this sketch, received a good education. In 1866 he commenced teach- ing school, and has taught eighteen terms in this county. About 1868 he bought 160 acres of land on section 31, Irvington township. In \S1:i he sold out and bought eighty acres on section 23, same township, where he lived until 1881, when he re- moved to Luverne, being one of the first settlers in the town. He retains his old farm, also owns eighty acres on section 25, and 160 acres on section 26, same township. He has eighty acres of land in Humboldt county, an eighty acre tree claim in Irvington township, and six acres of timber in same township. He also (.whs considerable property in Luverne. When he came to Luverne he engaged in the lumber business, which business he is engaged in at present. In 1872 he was married to Martha E. Reed, daughter of Samuel and Fay Reed, of Irvington town- ship, this county. They have one child — Cole C. Mr. Burtis is a republican. The meat market was established in July, 1882, by John Oscarscheler, a native of the German Empire, and is under his control at the present. L. D. Lovell, who came to Luverne, from Livermore, Humboldt county, estab- lished the first harness shop, in 1881. He shortly afterwards bought out the stock of groceries owned by M. B. Luchsinger, and ran the business in connection. In June, 1883, he disposed of the harness making part of his establishment to Thomas Daughton, and is devoting his entire energies to the grocery and provis- ion branch. D. Park is engaged in the lumber and building material trade. He commenced the business in May, 1881, and carries a good stock of all kinds of lumber, brick, lime, paints, sash, door, and all the various r 510 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. commodities in use by the architect and builder. A coal yard is also run in con- nection. S. Finley also established a general store in August, 1881, and divides the trade in that line with his competitors in trade. The hardware business is in the hands of Hanna Brothers, who commenced ope- rations in October, 1881. The general merchandise establishment of Wartman Brothers commenced opera- tions in November, 1882, with S. S. and C. II. Wartman at the helm. These gentle- men came from Indiana, and carry most excellent stocks in the various lines rep- resented. Dry goods, boots, shoes, hats, caps, groceries and notions, are disposed of by them in large quantities and their trade is increasing fast. Mrs. S. S. Wart- man has a most excellent and complete stock of millinery goods, which she runs in connection with the store. S. S. Wartman was born April 8,1835, in western Canada, where he lived until 1865, being engaged since 1851 in a general merchandise business. Three years pre- vious to his coming to the States, he pur- chased a tannery in Yarker, Canada. Af- ter coming west, he located in Illinois, and lived there two years, when he moved t > Newton Co., Ind., engaging in farming, and raising stock. In 1880, he came to Iowa, locating in Vernon, Humboldt coun- ty, where he rented a farm. In February, 1882, he came to Luverne, and engaged in the grocery and shoe business, afterwards purchasing a store building, and forming a partnership with his brother, C. H. Wartman, engaged in the general mer- chandise. Mr. Wartman was married Dec. 25, 1861, to Maggie Claney, of Can- ada. They have had five children, of whom four are living — Minnie E., Luella B., Susan E. and Frank A. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a successful business man, one well liked by his neigh- bors, who speak his highest praises. In politics, he is a republican. Werner Eggerth,. a contractor and builder, controls the furniture business which he established in 1881. The Godfrey House, owned and operated by W. II. Godfrey, is the only first class hotel. It stands just across the line in Humboldt county, but is apart and parcel of the business interests of Luverne. This house was erected in May, 1881, by W. J. Godfrey, father of the present proprietor, who, however, died on the 4th of October, 18S2, when it passed into the hands of the son. The Luverne House, restaurant, was established by F. D. Williams in March, 1883, and already enjoys a good patronage. The first blacksmith shop was built in 1881, and was the second building in Lu- verne. This was put up by Fred Legler. J. M. Preston is also engaged in the business of blacksmithing, having opened a forge for the purpose in 1881. Mrs. Barbara Patton, a native of Ohio, has, also, a good stock of millinery, and has a large amount of patronage from the ladies of the neighborhood. F. C. Needham, of Wesley, started a creamery in Luverne in the spring of 1882. In about a year he left and now is at Ren- wick, Humboldt county. The Luverne school house, which is the only one in the township, is a beautiful 5 V ■My way of Clear lake to what was then 'neutral ground.' At Clear lake they re- ceived information that the Sioux were encamped on the west side of the East Fork of the Des Moines river; Ko-Ko-wah, with sixty of his warrors, determined to attack them. They arrived in the night, and concealed themselves in the grove on the east side of the river about one mile above the Sioux encampment, where, im per- ceived, they learned the exact position of the enemy. "In the morning, after many of the Sioux warriors had gone away to hunt, Ko-Ko-wah and his men crossed over the river and attacked the Sioux, before they were prepared to make a successful resist ance. For a short time the conflict wa> desperate, but the advantage was all 01 the side of the attacking party, and tin Sioux were completely vanquished. Six- teen of them were killed, including some of their women and children. A numhi i of their horses were also killed, and a bo_\ fourteen years of age taken prisoner. The Musquakas lost four braves, among whom were Kear-Kurk and Pa-tak-a-py, both distinguished warriors. As the Mus- quakas rushed into the camp of the Sioux a squaw shot Pa-tak a-py in the breast. He started to run away, and the same squaw, at a distance of twenty rods, shot him through the body with an arrow, when he fell and expired. But few of the Sioux made their escape, and all their dead were left on the ground unbiiried. The Musquakas hastily buried their own dead, and with their prisoner, returned as rapidly as possible to their home in Tama county, and when they arrived spent six or seven days and nights fortifying their village, and in the meantime burned their young Sioux prisoner." BIOGRAPHICAL. Among the most enterprising, live, wide-awake farmers of Kossuth county, are the following, who reside in Portland township. Oliver Benschoter was born Oct. 21,1816. In the latter part of 1817 his father removed to what is now Erie Co., Ohio, where he resided until death called him away to a better land. Oliver continued to live with his mother until 1833, when she too passed away into a better world. The subject of our sketch remained in Erie county until 1856, when lie started west. He stopped in Delaware Co., Iowa, that winter, and in the spring of 185V came to Kossuth county and located in Algona. lie immediately started a black- smith shop, being the pioneer blacksmith of the county, lie run his shop in Al- gona for several years. In 1861 he pre- empted the farm in Portland township, where he now lives, section 32, township 96, range 28. He has 160 acres of land, he also has twenty-four acres of timber on his place. lie held the office of sheriff of Kossuth county from 1^60 to 1866. In 1836 he was united in marriage with Martha Kemp, of Ohio. She was born in Vermont, in 1819. She died in 1 859, leaving six children — William, Alice, Polly, George, Grant and Evaline. On Dec. 11, 1362, Mr. Benschoter was mar- ried to Sarah Crose, born in Indiana, June 30, 1841. By this union there were ten children — Frank, Nel and Nellie, twins, ■<»r HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 519 grated to America in 1852, settling in Will Co., 111. They remained there about two years, when they removed to Iowa, locating in Monona, Clayton county. Af- ter remaining in the latter place twelve years, the subject of this sketch removed to Kossuth county, locating on the south- west quarter of section 6, township 96, range 28, then Algona township, now Portland, where he still resides. Mr. Godden was married, May 21, 1S70, to Charlotte Hudson, a native of Ohio. They have six children — David, Carrie, Clark, Ida, Jacob and Charlotte. Mr. Godden is an enterprising young farmer and deals extensively in stock. Henry A. Smith, sou of William H. and Esther J. Smith, was born July 21, 1829, in Milford township, Knox Co., Ohio. He lived with his parents until Jan. 12, 1846, when he went to Pennsylvania, liv- ing two years in Crawford and Mercer counties, and learning the trade of a black- smith. He started home, and while at Wooster, Ohio, he enlisted in the loth United States Infantry, and was sent im- mediately to Newport Barracks, Ky., to drill. The war with Mexico closing at this time his services were not needed, so he was discharged on Feb. 11, 1848, and arrived at his home on the 13th. He lived with his parents until Oct. 19, 1852, when he was married to Dorcas A., daugh- ter of David and Abigail L. Ash. He afterwards removed to Linn Co., Iowa ; remained there about one year, and re- moved to Dane Co., Wis., arriving there in April, 1855. He located in Primrose township, and lived there until May, 1861. He enlisted in the State service at Madi- son, Wis., and on June 11th, enlisted for three years, in company H, 2d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was immediately sent to Washington, D. C. Fie participated in the battles of Black- burn's Ford, July 18, 1861; Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and the battles of the Rappa- hannock, on Aug. 21 to 27, inclusive, in 1862. Having contracted granulation of the eyelids, he was unfitted for active field duty, and was detailed on light duty un- til he received his discharge, June 14, 1864. He arrived home on the 2d of July, remaining only a few days, when he came to Iowa to look up a location. In August, 1864, he entered as a homestead, the north- east quarter of section 27, township 97, range 28, Portland township. He imme- diately removed his family to their new home and where they have since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children — William H., married and living in Hum- boldt, Iowa ; Walter H. and Esther O. Mr. Smith was a democrat before the war, was a republican after the war, and is now a greenbacker. He has been a member of the Grange ever since its organization in Portland township. Mr. Smith draws a pension of $30 per month. He has served four terms as township clerk, and one term as assessor. While living in Wisconsin, he was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church, but has not identified himself with any Church since coming to Iowa. Daniel Rice was born Oct. 25, 1837, in Herkimer Co., N. Y., where he lived until 1857, and then started for California in June, by way of the Isthmus, being four weeks on the journey. He remained in California six years, farming and lum- bering, then returned by the same route -=sr TV' «_d Q Al* 520 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY to New York, and stayed one year at home. In January, 1664, lie came west ; sealing on section 20, township 96, range 28, where he has since lived, owning 15. r i acres of tine land, raising grain and caring for all kinds of stock. Mr. Rice was county supervisor ten years, and is now township treasurer. He was married Sept. 19, 186:3, to Sylvania Griffin, born in Herkimer Co., N. Y. They have five children — Clark, Lora, Forest, Minnie and Caroline. In politics, he is a republican. Patrick Kain was born, in 184.'), in lie- land. At the age of twenty years he came to America, landing in New York. From there he went to Massachusetts, and re- mained a short time, then went to Phila- delphia, and worked for two years on a farm six miles from the city. He then removed to DeKalb Co., III., and after working six years for James Byers, he purchased a farm of his own, on which he lived one year. From 1862 to 1864 he was hired by the government as a laborer at $40 a month. In 1864 became to Iowa, settling in Portland township, on section 14, township 96, range 2^, where he owns 675 acres of good land, well cultivated. He makes a specialty of raising, buying and selling stock, from eighty to 100 head yearly. His residence is on section 14. Mr. Kain had the first pine shingles on his house ever used in the township. He built a house of native lumber, 14x22 feet, cut the logs, had them sawed into lumber, then went to Cedar Falls for shingles and sash with a yoke of cattle. In 1880 he added a fine two story frame to his home, 16x24 feet, so that he now has eight good rooms and is prepared to enjoy the fruits of his labor. In 1861 he married Ann Wall, a native of Ireland. They have ten children — Thomas, Robert, John, Mary, Patrick, James, Ann, William, Christo- pher and Martin. The family all belong to the Catholic Church in Algona. Thomas Gallion is a native of Scotland, born near Edinburgh. "When twenty years of age he came to America and en- gaged in the fur trade in the Hudson Bay Company for seven years, lie then re- turnid to Scotland, remaining there one year; thence to Canada, where he followed farming ten years near Montreal. In 1865 he removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on section :',6, township 96, range 28. In 18-10 Mr. Gallion was united in marriage with Jane Reed, of Scotland. The result of this union was six children — Thomas, John, Margaret, James, William J. and Robert R. Thomas married Alva Sproat and lives in Illinois. Margaret married J. C. Sthall and lives in Columbia Co., Wis., near Lodi. James married Nettie Smith. The other children live at home with their mother. Mr. Gallion died in 1881, and is buried in Portland cemetery. William J. owns a threshing m chine, which he has run for thirteen years in succession. He is a blacksmith by trade. George C. Alien was born near Plattes- burg, Clinton Co., N. Y., in 1832. When two years of age he went to La Salle Co., III., with his parents, Ethan Z. and Lydia S. Allen. His parents still reside in Freedom, La Salle county. He enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, in company G, 129th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in the service three years and participated in the following battles : Resaca, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Pumpkin •Jo * HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 521 Vine Creek, Burnt Hickory, Peach Tree Creek, etc. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C, and returned to Illi- nois. Mr. Allen married July 3, 1854, Manlia C. Larkin, of La Salle Co., 111. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living — Frank E., Nora M., Scott M., Grace L., George C, Milfred J. and Milton E. Mr. Allen is a republican, and has been school director of his dis- trict, lie is a Mason, and a member of Blue Lodge. He came to Kossuth county in 1865, settling on the north half of the northwest quarter, and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 36. He has 160 acres' of land. C. S. Coffin was born March 29, 1834, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. When six years of age, he went with his parents to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where his father was engaged in farming. When nineteen years old, he came west, in company with an elder brother, W. D. Coffin, to BooneCo., 111. After he had lived there about three years, his father's family came from St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., to Illinois. They then settled near Polo, Ogle Co. C. S. Coffin went to Denver, Col., in 1862, re- turning home to Polo, Ogle Co., 111., after being absent about eighteen months. In 1865 he removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, taking a homestead, one quarter on sec- tion 32, and one quarter on section 29, Portland township. He now owns eighty acres on the adjoining section, having 400 acres altogether. He makes stock raising a specialty. Mr. Coffin was married Nov. 30, 1864, to Aurilla E. Woodard, of Ogle Co., 111. They have seven children — Artie M., Clara M., George H., Agnes L., Delia S., Clark S. andZellaL. Mr. Coffin is a republican, and was school director in district No. 5, Portland township, for a number of years. John Chapin, son of Thomas and Susan (Lee) Chapin, was born in Buffalo, Erie Co., N. Y., May 19, 1822. When six years of age he moved with his adopted parents, Francis and Abigail (Joslin) Wooley, to Crawford Co., Penn., where he remained engaged in farming till 1842, when at the age of twenty, Mr. Chapin went to St. Catharine's, Lincoln Co., Canada West, where he was engaged in operating a lum- ber yard, the marble business, carpenter work and general collecting agency for different manufacturing companies, until 1857, when he moved to London, Canada West, engaged in collecting and selling agricultural implements, till the winter of 1860, when he removed, with his family, to Dubuque Co., Iowa, where he worked at carpenter work and farming, at Dyers- ville, for three years. Jan. 2, 1864, he enlisted in company C, 21st Iowa Volun- teer Infantry; was mustered in at Du- buque, and served twenty months as a private in the Rebellion. Was mustered out at Houston, Texas, in August, 1865. Was at the storming of Forts Spanish and Blakely. In the fall of 1865, he moved to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 15, township 97, range 28.. His oldest son occupied the southeast quarter of section 15, township 97, range 28. Both are homesteads and are in Portland township. He was mar- ried Aug. 27, 1848, to Rockcena M. Mc- Callister, of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and daughter of Jesse and Polly (Mosier) McCallister, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have had seven children, six of >rr HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. whom are living — Henry J., residing in Kossuth Co., Iowa; Albert J., living in Palo Alto Co., Iowa; Mary, married to W. II. Smith, living in Humboldt, Iowa; Martha, her twin sister, is a teacher; Laure, wife of William 11. Wolf, lives in Ban- croft, Iowa; Ida, resides at home. She is a tine singer and player. The girls are all good singers. Delia died in Canada, and is buried in St. Catharine's. Mr. Chapin is a good citizen, and is interested in all the improvments of the township. He was elected justice of the peace in 1 872, and has continued in the office to the present date. He lias been a sub-director four years, and has been postmaster at Buffalo Forks since 1874. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars. .1. H. Grover was born in Joliet, III., July 27, 1837. When four months old be went with his parents to Chicago, thence to Benton's Port. They afterward moved to Iowaville, where his father died. Mr. Grover then went to Wisconsin and lived with a half brother, James McCloud, until fifteen years of age, then went to Illinois. He worked by the month for a short time in Vermilion county, after which he went to Paxton, where he resided a short time. He then spent a short time in Columbia Co., Wis. He stayed in the Wisconsin pineries the next two winters, working in other localities in the summer. He then went back to Lodi, Columbia county, where he remained until the spring of 1861, when he enlisted in company II, 2d Wisconsin Volunteers. He served three months, then re-enlisted for three years. He went direct to Washington, D. C, serving in Virginia three years. He was with the Army of the Potomac in the battles of Bull Run, Wilderness, Gaines- ville and Chancellorsville. He was wounded at the first day's fight at Bull Run and was laid up for five months. He was mustered out at Washington, went to Lodi, Wis., and remained until Oct. 11, 1864, then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, stopping the first winter with Henry Smith, in Portland township. On Oct. 30, 1864, he took a homestead on the southeast quarter of section 26, built a log house, 16x16 feet, in which he lived until 1869, then built a frame house. In 1883 he erected a new house, two stories high, 18x24 feet and 20x32 feet, respectively, at a cost of $1,200. He now occupies this house. Mr. Grover has also a barn on his place, 36x42 feet, and the longest culti- vated grove in the county, comprising seventeen acres. He deals largely in cattle. He has also 520 acres of land ad- joining his homestead. Mr. Grover was married Oct. 4, 1864, to Mary E. Stall 1, of Lodi, Wis. They have five children — Louesa R., Clara C, William E., Myrtie M. and Raymond J. G. Mr. Grover is a republican, and has been township trustee. Benjamin Smith was born May 15, 1815, in Jefferson Co., Ohio. At three years of age he went to Holmes Co., Ohio, then to Coshocton Co., Ohio; lived there about seventeen years. From Coshoc- ton he went to Allen Co., Ind.; thence to Lagrange Co., Ind., staying two years; thence to Defiance Co., Ohio, where he lived eight years; thence to Lagrange Co., Ind., where he was married to Jane M. Dod. He removed from that place to A ■k HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 523 Grundy Co., 111., where li is wife died. He afterwards married a lady named Ann Duckmanton. He resided about seven- teen years in Illinois. He enlisted in August, 1862, in eompany C, 76th Illinois Infantry, and was mustered in at Kanka- kee. He was discharged for disability. In the spring of 1865 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settliug on section 8, on an eighty acre homestead. He now owns 200 acres of land, 160 of which is under cultivation. Mr. Smith rents his farm; being one of the solid men of the county, he takes life easy, enjoying himself to the fullest extent. Politically, lie is a demo- crat. Leonard Ilohn was born Jan. 24, 1834, in Obenheim, Kreisworms, Germany. He came to America in 1854, landing in New York and going from there to Green Co., Wis., where he lived for two years, and was then married to Elizabeth A. Clark, Dec. 9, 1856. In 1865 he removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on section 16, township 96, range 28, Portland town- ship. After living there nine years, he sold to James llolman, and bought 165 acres on section 20, township 96, range 28, where he still lives and continues farm- ing, raising all kinds of grain ; also pays some attention to the raising of stock. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and belong to the Grange. They have four children living — Daniel W., Elizabeth G, John VV. and George F. Mr. Hohn has held the offices of school director and road supervisor, and is at present one of the township trustees. In politics he is a re- publican. William P. Winter was born Nov. 6, 1822, in Bath, Maine. When twenty-one years -of age he went to sea, trading in cotton two years, between New Orleans and Liverpool. The next four years he spent coasting on the Gulf of Mexico, then went to California, where he busied himself seven years mining, and in the Redwood timber. In 1857 he went to Allamakee Co., Iowa, near Columbus, re- maining four years. He enlisted Sept. 30, 1861, in company B, 12th Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, serving till the spring of 1862. At the battle of Pittsburg Laud- ing, he was captured, and confined in Macon prison, but released Oct. 17, 1862. He then went to St. Louis, taking part in the Vicksburg campaign, in W. T. Sher- man's 15th Corps, and was transferred to the 16th Corps, Smith's Guerrillas, in the fall of 1S63, being mustered in at Dubu- que, and mustered out Jan. 26, 1866, at Memphis. He received no wounds, but had many narrow escapes. Was corporal and sergeant during all his time of ser" vice. In the spring of 1866 he came to Kossuth county, settling on the northeast quarter of section 6, township 97, range 28, and now owns 148 acres of land. He was married Nov. 17, 1866, to Mary A. Schenck, of Algona township. They had four children, three of whom are living — Alden H., Frances W. and Sarah Alice. In politics, he is a republican. Abbie A. Holman, widow of Charles T. llolman, was born in Windham Co., Vt., July 26, 1831. When twenty-three years of age, was married and removed to De Kalb Co., 111., where she resided two years, then went to Rockford, Winnebago Co., 111., and lived there two years. She >lv 524 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. then resided eight years in Ogle Co., 111., after which, in 1866, they came to Kos- suth Co., Iowa. They brought; their goods in a wagon, driving one horse and camping out at night. They were twenty- one days on the roach Mr. and Mrs. IIoI- man settled on section 20, township 96, range 28, Portland township, paying $5 per acre for their land, arriving in May. There being no house on the place, they camped out until fall, then lived in a part of Mr. Kice's house until the spring of 18C7, when they moved to their own place. Mr. Ilolman was a native of Vermont, born in 1830. He died Sept. 30, 1880. Mrs. Ilolman has four children — Zina L. George A., Fred II. and Rosie M. Alexander S. Gardner was born in Ot- sego Co., N. Y., Oct. 28, 1803. When eight years of age his parents moved to Herkimer Co., N. Y., where Mr. Gardner lived until 1866, being engaged in farm- ing. In April, 1866, he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased 1 10 acres of land on section 19, township 96, range 28, Port- land township. He afterwards added fif- teen and a half acres to his possessions. He gave, his son, R. M. Gardner, thirty acres, leaving ninety-five and a half acres on section 19, on which he resides. Mr. Gardner was married in 1828, to Phebe Taloott, born in New York. March 17, 1817. She subsequently died, and in July, 1847, he married Mrs. Ann Hunt, a native of Salisbury, Herkimer Co., N. Y. They hive three children — Myndret W., Kelly M. and Ida A. Mr. and Mrs. Gard- ner are members of the Universalist Church. Mr. Gardner has held the offices of school treasurer and justice of the peace. Albert II. Phillips was born April 2, 1837, in Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y. When twenty-one years of age he went to Bureau Co., 111. where he lived about one year; from there he went to Whiteside Co., 111., where he was married to Ellen A. Nicols Oct. 3, 1860. Th'ey have two children — Cyrus A. and Harry E. He en- listed Aug. 26, 1S61, in the 34th Illinois Infantry and served until 1864, when he was veteranized, serving until July, 1865. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Cor- inth, Claysville, Lavergne, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face, Resaca, Rome, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, siege of At- lanta and Jonesboro, besides marching through Georgia, North anil South Caro- olina, Averysboro, Bentonville, Goldsboro and Raleigh. He was never wounded or missed a single fight. He witnessed the grand review at Washington, D. C, and went from there to Chicago, 111., where he was mustered out. He then returned to Whiteside Co., 111., where he followed farming for one year. He then thought he would try the northwest, coming to Kossuth county Sept. 23, 1866, and renting land for two years. In 1868 he took a homestead claim on section 34, township 96, range 28, where he built a cabin, and in 1879 built the house where he now lives. He owns 160 acres of good land. In politics he votes the greenback ticket. R. J. Hunt was born Oct. 23, 1837, in Wyoming Co., N. Y. When nineteen years old his parents moved to DeKalb Co. 111., where he resided with them until 1861, with exception of one year. On Aug. 26, 1861, he enlisted and served two years and four months; then in Js, HISTORY 'OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 525 December, 1863, lie veteranized, serv- ing until July, 18*15, when lie was mus- tered out with his regiment, 34tli Illinois Volunteer Infantry at Chicago, III., hav- ing participated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Claysville, Lavergne, Triune, Stone River, Liberty Gap, and Missionary Ridge, Term; Rome, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, and Jones- boro, Ga.; march through Georgia and siege of Savannah, campaign of the Car- olinas, Averysboro, Bentonville, Golds- boro and Raleigh, N. C, from there to Richmond, thence to Washington ( ity; be- ing there at the grand army review, from which place he went toParkersburgby way of Harper's Ferry. Afterwards by river to Louisville, Ky. and from thence by rail to Chicago, III. After his discharge he-re- turned to DeKalb Co., Ill, and purchased a herd of young cattle. In the spring of 1866 he drove his stock to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he purchased 573 acres of land. His residence is on section 27, township 96, range 28. Mr. Hunt was married July 5, 1865, to Laura A. Steven-, born in Lake Co., 111. They have four children — M. Elsie, Lewis A., S. Wilbur and .Maggie A. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a republican and is a strong advocate of temperance. Hugh McDonald was born July 15, 1856, near Prospect, Butler Co., Penn. When he was one year old his parents went to Illi- inois, settling near Morris, in Livingstone county, where they lived ten years. In the fall of 1867, they came to Kossuth county, and settled on section 8, township 97, range 28. Hugh owns eighty acres on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 7, but lives with his widowed mother on section 8, his father having died March 3, 1880. In 1883 he raised 5,000 bushels of grain, but intends to make stock raising a specialty. He was married, May 7, 1881, to Mary Alice God- den, of Burt township. They have one child, two years old — Hattie Maud. Mr. McDonald is a democrat. Jesse D. Davison, son of Daniel and Almira (Coon) Davison, was born in Kan- kakee Co., 111. He enlisted Aug. 17, 1861, in company II, 42d Illinois Infantry, and served three years, nine months and twelve days, being mustered in at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and discharged at Jef- ferson Barracks, Missouri, hav.ing taken part in the battles of Stone River, Chick- amauga, Mission. Ridge, Resaca and Ken- esaw Mountain, where, on June 22, 1864, he received a wound in the rightthigh, for which he draws a pens'ion; he was also in the first boat of picked men who run the gauntlet at Island No. 10. After his dis- charge, he went back to Illinois, where he lived until 1868, when he came to Kossuth county and settled on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 12, purchas- ing a homestead, six acres of which is in timber. He was married April 25, 1871, to Elizabeth Piercy, of Kossuth county They have five children— Elwin I., Mary A., Edith E., Grace R. and Ethel J. Mr. Dav- ison is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, his wife of the Baptist. In politics, he is a republican, and was con- stable four years. John Lochtu was born June 15, 1844, in Dontheim, Norway. His father still lives in Norway, having never lived in any house but the one he now occupies, it be- ¥ _*> K> 526 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. ^. ing his borne for eighty years. When twenty-two years of age, John started, on his birthday, for America, landed at Que. beck, and went from there to Red Wing, Minn., where be lived on a farm four years. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on section 32, southeast quarter as a homestead, and cultivates eighty acres. In the fall of 1870, he set out a nice grove of poplar, cottonwoodand willow trees, but makes stock raising a specialty. He was married, Oct. 10, 1868, to Mary Pattengell, of Red Wing. They have four children — Emma L., May, Frank E.and Alice M., all at borne. When Mr. Locbtu came to Kossuth county, be had $40 in money, no house, but he went to work, and built a rough board shanty, liv- ing in it two years. Then the grasshoppers came, but be was compelled to build a sod bouse to-keep warm, many times gather- ing snow off the bed before Mrs. Locbtu could arise. The doctor's bill the first winter was $40. They lived in the sod house five years. During this time there was no settlement north of them, to the State line. In 1877, he built the house where he now lives, and is in good, com- fortable circumstances. In politics, be is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,, also belongs to the Good Templars. Grant Benschoter was born Nov. 12, 1849, in Erie Co., Ohio. When seven years old, he moved with bis parents to Kossuth county, settling in Algona. His father, Oliver Benschoter, was the first blacksmith, and the only one, for a great many years in Algona. When seventeen years of age, he started out to work for himself, and bought eighty acres of land on section 23, Portland township, where he makes a specialty of stock raising. He also rented land from 1873 to 1877, work- ing it for himself, but he now owns 240 acres of good land with a residence on section 23, township 96, range 28. He was married April 13, 1873, to Frances Ferguson, a native of Fulton Co., N. Y. They have three children— George, Eda and Edna. In politics be is a republican. William Ringstorf was born in Nassau, Germany, Oct. 7, 1836. When eighteen years of age he emigrated to the United States, residing in Chatham six months, and in Nassau, New York, for some time, after which he went to Columbia Co., Wis., where he resided two years, work- ing on a farm. He then went to Wal- worth Co., Wis., and in December, 1858, married Elizabeth Buffmier. Mr. and Mrs. Ringstorf now reside on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36, township 97, range 28, which they took as a homestead in 1868. Mr. Ringstorf deals largely in stock and grain. His farm is provided with good substantial buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Ringstorf are members of the Lutheran Church. They have had six children, five of whom are living— John, Frederick, F. Thomas, Mary E.and Lizzie B. Mr. Kingstorf is a republican in politics. Elijah Caulkins was born in New Hamp- shire, July 24, 1836. He lived in the home of his birth until 1856, when he re- moved to Vernon Co., Wis. He remained in that county until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Battery Light Artillery. He served until in October, 1864, when he was discharged. He participated in the battles of Tazewell ft HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 527 and Chickamauga, Term., Chickasaw Bluffs, Port Gibson, Champion Hills and siege of Vieksburg,Miss. He was at Arkan- sas Post, Jan. 11, 1863. He was with Gen. Banks in the Red river expedition, thence to New Orleans, where he remained until discharged. He then returned to New Hampshire, where he' lived until 1867, when he removed to Defiance Co., Ohio. In 1869 he removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and located on section 26, township 96, range 28, Portland township, where he now resides. He has 160 acres of good land, will improved. He was married in March, 1867, to Fannie Hoxey, born in Pennsylvania, Aug. 18, 1838. They have six children— Ella May, Carl E., Ordell H., Harmon L., Estella and John W. Daniel Davison, a native of Canada, was born Feb. 9, 1835. He is a son of Daniel P. and Almira A. (Coon) Davison. The father is dead, being buried in Kan- kakee Co., 111. The subject of this sketch lived in Canada one year, thence to Illi- nois in 1841, where lie resided for twenty- eight years, working at different places. He then came to Kossuth county and set- tled on the southeast quarter of section 34, where he has eighty acres under cul- tivation, lie has a magnificent grove of six acres on the premises, consisting of willow, cottonwood, elm, maple and ash, which he set out himself. He also has a fine orchard of two acres. On Jan. 1, I860, lie was united in marriage with Catharine Hendricks,, of Kankakee Co , 111. She is a daughter of Walter and An- na (Stutton) Hendricks. Her mother is dead, but her father lives in Illinois. This union has been blessed with eight chil- dren — Martha A., married to M. S.Allen; Hattie A., Charles H , John W., Willie J., Luman A., Lydia L. and Bertha A. Mr. Davison is a republican. He has held the office of road supervisor, and made a very efficient officer. Rasselas E. Davison was born Nov. 10, 1840, in Ohio. When one year old his parents removed to Illinois, settling in Momence, Kankakee county. He remained at home till twenty years of age, then went to Wisconsin and settled in Spring Creek, Sauk county. He enlisted April 9, 1861, in company II, 2d Wisconsin In- fantry, and served three years, taking part in the first and second battles of Bull Run, Gainesville, Fredericksburg and South Mountain; was wounded at Antie- tam in the right shoulder by a musket ball; was also seven days in the battle of the Wilderness. After being discharged he went back to Momence, 111., and on February 1, re-enlisted in Chicago, in the 2d regiment, United States Veteran Vol- unteers, serving one year, stationed at Washington. After this he went to El- mira, N. Y., and stayed till some time in the fall, then went to New Haven, Conn., and was discharged at Hartford, Conn. Mr. Davison has a beautiful floral photograph of a flag which was presented by the daughter of Capt. Calwell, of the 2d Wisconsin Volunteers, who was killed at the battle of South Mountain, to the sol- diers belonging to the Iron Brigade, of which he was a member. After his dis- charge he again went to Momence, and from there to Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., where he was married, by Rev. Jesse D. Scarles, to Almira A. Stahl. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living — Ida M., Edwin F., Ada A., Lela A, 528 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. L., II. Glews, Sammy R. and J. Clark. Eva II. and Othello are deceased. Mr. Davison is a greenbacker, ami lias been township trustee and clerk of the school board. Calvin F. Kyes was born near Cleve- land, in Lorain Co., Ohio, Aug. 17, 1830. In 1844 he removed to McHenry Co., 111., and in 1862 to Bremer Co., Iowa. He has always been a farmer, and at present is agent for the Kimball organ, which busi- ness he conducts in addition to farming. He owns the southeast quarter of section 35, Portland township, six acres of which is a fine grove. He has 3,000 evergreens set out on his place for timber and pro- tection. Mr. Kyes is a democrat politi- cally. He is also a Master Mason. He was married May 2, 1850, to Martha A. Smith, of McHenry Co., 111. They have one child— Wilson Alfonso. P. T. Ferguson was born in Broadalbin, Fulton Co., N. Y. When thirty-seven years of age he went to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and remained three years. He then came to Kossuth county, settling on section 0, south half of southeast quarter, where he still lives. He also owns one quarter on section 10, and eighty acres on section 11, besides five acres in grove. He cultivates 125 acres, but makes stock raising a specialty. He was married Feb. 26, 1854, to Emeline Dingman, of Fulton Co., N. Y. They have six children— Frances E., who married Grant Benschoter, of Port- land township, Iowa; Alice A., James H., living in Algona; Melvin W., Adelbert, and Wilbur. Mr. Ferguson is now town- ship trustee, and has held the office some time. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a republican. John Gilbride is a native of Ireland, born in 1836. In 1856 he came to America, landing in New York. After living in Mercer Co., N. Y., two years, he removed to De Kalb Co., 111., making his home there eleven years. In 1870 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, settling on section 32, township 96, range 28, where he now owns 200 acres of good land, well improved, raising grain of all kinds, and also being interested in stock. He was married June 8, 1878, to Anna Gurdett, a native of France. They have three chil- dren—Louis, Charles and Ester. Lemuel Stockwell, son of W. S. and S. A. (Tubbs) Stockwell, was horn in Dela- ware Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1848. He lived in Delaware county until 1868, when he removed to Hancock Co., Iowa, locating in Amsterdam township. He remained there two years, when he came to Kos- suth county and located on the southeast quarter of section 29, township 97, range 28. lie has 100 acres of land under cul- tivation, and is engaged in mixed farm- ing. In 1803 he enlisted in company D, 12th Ohio Cavalry, under Gen. Kilpatrick. He was assigned to Stoneman's 23d Corps. He was mustered in at Cleveland and served almost three years. He par- ticipated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Marietta and siege of Atlanta. Mr. Stock- well was wounded three times, but not seriously. He was united in marriage on the 10th of May, 1870, with Rosetta R.,bins, of Hancock Co., Iowa. He is a republican in politics. -a V z^k^. HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY 529 Gotleb Bohn was born in the province of Brombah, Germany, May 1,1819. His father died when he was but a child. In 1858 Mr. Bohn emigrated to the United States, locating in Washington Co., Wis. He remained in that county until' 1871, when he removed to Iowa, locating in Kossuth county, on the southwest quarter Lowell, Dodge Co., Wis.- This union has been blessed with two children— Lewie M. J. and Nettie V. Mr. Owen is a re- publican. He deals in live stock, and makes that his business as well as farm- ing. Hollis J. Gilbert was born in 1841 in When twelve years of age l.a.l twelve ehildren-A,,.,,., I , Vermont, wbere he lived t»o *«* — m„ .,„ « „„,,„;:„: rs "L":t; 1 - ^'r c settling i„ Algona. After six years he removed on the place where he now lives, on section »9, township 96, range 28,' where he owns 120 acres of well improved land, and carries on general farming. He is now township assessor. He was mar- Wed Oct. 23, 1861, to Lucy J. Ensign, born in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn. They have six children— Susie, Ernest, Louisa Laura, Lee and Clare. Mrs. Gilbert is a member of the Congregational Church In politics, Mr. Gilbert is a republican. B. H. Winkie is a native of Germany, bom March 19, 1855. When qui le young he emigrated to America with his parents locating i„ Dodge Co., Wis. In 1876,' they removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, pur- chasing eighty acres of land on section 7, township 96, range 29, this township. In 1881 they removed to Algona, where they now reside. The subject of (his sketch now owns and resides on the old homestead. On Dec. 25, 1881, he was married to Ida Potter, a native of Ulinoi. born Jan. 8, 1859. Mr. Winkie has sixtv acres of land under cultivation. He is voyage to this country; Paulina V. K William L., Martha T, Bertha M., Clara M., who died when five years old- Her man K; G. and Edward J. Augusta B ■named William Bohn, and lives in Clear Lake, Iowa. The oldest son is contrac- tor on the railroad; the rest are at home The family are all members of the Lu- theran Church. Mr. Bohn is a democrat Martin A. Owen, son of Alvah and Catharme (Christman) Owen, was born Feb. 2, 1838. His father is dead. His mother was born in Oswego Co., N. Y | and now lives at Whitehall, Trempealeau I Co., Wis. When the subject of this sketch was three years old, he went to Sheboygan, Wis., remaining there one and a half years. He then went to Lowell, Dodge Co., Wis., remaining there thirty years. He then came to Kos- suth county, locating on section 4, town- ship 96, range 28, Portland township where he now owns 120 acres of good ia«d. Mr. Owen was united in marriage Feb 17, 1861, with Josephine Tattle,' daughter of Nathan and Jane Tattle, of &j(v"* 530 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. now turning his attention to raising fine stock. He one of the most enterprising young farmers in the county. He is a republican. Edo-ar P Keith was born March 6, 1853, in Johnstown, Rock Co., Wis. In 1881 he came to Kossuth county, settling on sec- tion 9, owning the north half of the north- west quarter of section 9, and the south half. of the southwest quarter of section 4 He also owns another quarter section adjacent, which he intends to make a stock farm, having already a good many Short Horn cattle, brought from Rock county. The Upper Des Moines crosses his farm ; also, Lindner's creek. He was married Dec. '25, 1873, to Louisa M. W ood. They have three children-Lyman Wood, Harry W. and Flora. Mr. Keith is sub- director of the 5th district, and presulent of the board. In politics, he is a repub- lican. Willie A. Chipman was born near Mo- mence, Kankakee Co., 111., Sept. 18, 1845- He enlisted March 21, 1864, in company H 42d Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in at Chicago. He participated in the following battles : Resaca, At- lanta, SpringhUl, Nashville, and also went into the New Orleans and Texas campaign. He was wounded in the side at the siege of Atlanta, but does not draw a pension. Discharged at Port Lavaca, Texas, Dec 16, 1865, reaching his home in Illinois, Tan 12, 1866. Mr. Chipman was married, Dec 17, 1867, to Dorothea Davison, of Momence, 111. They have had live chil- dren, three of whom are living-Myra M., Elmer O. and Chauncy B. They buned their two oldest near Momence, 111. I" April, 1881, Mr. Chipman, came to Kossuth Co Iowa, bringing the best of all recom- mendations, an unsullied character, and a determination to make a home and friends in the grandest State in the Union. He now owns the whole of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 97, range 23 Portland township. He gives special attention to stock and grain raising, and has forty acres under cultivation. Polit- ically he is a republican, and is now a sub- director of district No. 4, Portland town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Chipman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Be- ing class leader, Sunday school superin- tendent and trustee almost continuously.^ Ellis McWhorter was born Feb. 16, 1854 in Franklin Co., Ind. He is a son f Tyler and Rhoda (Ward) McWhorter. When two years old his parents moved to Whiteside Co, 111., where they still re- side. His father is a practical and suc- cessful farmer and stock raiser. He has a well improved farm of over 500 acres, also 640 acres in Portland township, Kos- suth Co.. Iowa. Ellis McWhorter moved to Kossuth Co., Iowa, in March, 1883, where he bought 2S7 acres of land in Portland township. The Des Moines river crosses the southwest corner of his farm. One hundred acres is under culti- vation. He intends making stock rais.ng a specialty. He is a republican, as his father has always been. Aj HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 531 CHAPTER XXIV PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. The territory s known as congressional township 95 north, range 27 west, was taken from the townships of Wesley and Irvington, in 1882, and organized into a separate civil township under the name of Prairie. The election was held in Oc- tober, 1882, at what is known as the Pel- ton school house. At that time the first officers were chosen, and are at present yet in office. They are the following named gentlemen: John Taylor, Martin Rahm, Jr., and August Studer, trustees; Matthew Studer, clerk; David Arbuckle, assessor; A. J. Pelton and George Elfrich,' justices; Joseph Rahm, constable. Prairie township is six miles square and contains 23,040 acres of most excellent land. The surface is rolling to a slight degree, and the soil a rich dark loam, sus- ceptible of high cultivation. It is well watered by Prairie creek, which rises in Wesley township and enters Prairie on the northeast quarter of section 4. Run- ning in a general southerly course, it intersects the entire township and on sec- tion 34 making a confluence with the small creek that rises on section 13, forms the West Fork of the Boone river. David Arbuckle was the first to locate in the township, settling upon the 'north- west quarter of section 30, in ls7i. He is still a resident of this homestead that he has carved out for himself upon the prairies of Kossuth county. A Mr. Burdick also settled in Prairie township in 1871, locating upon the north half of the northeast quarter of section 30. After living here for some time he removed from the county, and his present whereabouts are unknown. The first school in the township was erected in 1876 on section 23. The second was built in 1883 on section 1 8. It is a large, commodious edifice and sost $844. It was put up by George Mc- i?.ae, under contract, and is built in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. The first teacher was Justina Tumach. The school board is composed of John Taylor, George Elfrich and August Studer. School is also held for the present in two private dwellings, the law not allow- ing the directors to build a school house for less than fifteen pupils. The cemetery of Prairie township was purchased of Herman Studer, in 1882, for the sum of $24, and contains about one acre. Before this the people buried their dead on railroad land on section 19, but upon the location of the cemetery, which is upon section 17, it was deter- mined to remove all the bodies to this consecrated ground. This will be done in the near future. The first interments r 19 532 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. here were two Hungarian boys, whose bodies were brought from Algona, but whose names are unknown. The next were children of Meyers and L. Klein- peter. The only church in the township is lo- cated on section 17, and is of the Roman Catholic denomination. This is the Ben- edict Church of the Bavarian settlement. It was built under the supervision of Rev. Father Eberhard Gahr, in 1879, at a cost of $900, besides the large amount of gra- tuitous labor done thereon. The edifice, which is a fine one, is 20x36 feet, and is ornamented with a bell, that rings out the Angelus at noon and eventide, and calls the worshiper to the shrine of devotion. Before the erection of the church, ser- vices were held at the parsonage — a nice, comfortable house, which was built during the summer of 1878, at an expense of $675. The congregation includes some fifty or sixty families, and services, held every Sabbath, are always well attended. Rev. Eberhard Gahr, who is the present pastor of Benedict Church, in Prairie township, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 18, 1833. He was the son of George and Catharine Gahr, natives of Bavaria. Rev. Gahr commenced his studies for the the ministry, in 1846, at the gymnasium in Regensburg, and in 185t, after he had completed his studies he came to Ameri- ca, and went to the Vincent Monastery in Westmoreland Co., Penn., where he re- mained two years. He then went to New- ark, N. J., where he remained almost three years, and in the fall of 1858 he re- moved to Shakopee, Scott Co., Minn., where he took charge of his first Church in that place, and also had charge of all the Churches of faith in Scott, LeSueur and Sibley counties, besides east Minne- apolis and missions in Hennepin county, where he remained for five years. In 1864 he was sent to Castorville, Texas, to take charge of the Church there, and a number of missions in the country. In 1869 he was called to Augusta, Bracken Co., Ky., and remained there until 1872, when lie was removed to Ottawa, 111., on account of poor health in Kentucky. In the fall of 1877 he came to Prairie town- ship to look at lands; his object being to locate a colony, which he did the follow- ing spring, 1S78. He built the parsonage, and the year following, 1879, he built the church. The first service was held in the same, Aug. 15, 1879. His congrega- tion numbers from fifty to sixty families. The first birth in the township was that of a child of M. Studer, born in 1882. The first death, that of a daughter of M. Studer, who died in 188-2, and was buried in the cemetery attached to Ben- edict church. The first marriage was that of August Germar and Francesco Foerstel, in 1879. 3> ±k 536 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. That in district No. 3 was built in 1881 by H. C. Kleist, and cost $600, and is a neat frame structure 16x24 feet. It stands on section 32, township 98, range 27. The first teacher was Alice Ferguson. District No. 4 has a good school house located upon section 4, township 98, range 27, built during the year 1882, by Wil- lard Miles, and cost about $600. Louise Austin taught the first school here during the summer of 1883. The first preaching in the township was done by the Rev. J. Liesveld, during the year 1877. After him came Rev. A. Krebs in 1880, and who remained only one year, to be succeeded by Rev. F. Schmidt, the present pastor of the society. All these were of the Presbyterian de- nomination. Rev. Frederick Schmidt is a native of Prussia. He was born in Saar Bruecken, Rhine province, March 21, 1832, and is the son of Christian and Charlotte Schmidt. He lived with his parents until 1849, when he came to America. He landed in New Orleans, after being forty- nine days in making the trip across the ocean. From there he took passage on a steamboat and went to Cincinnati, where he remained about six months ; thence to Platteville, Wis. In 1850 he went up into the pineries on the Menomonee river and staid there eight months. He then re- turned to Platteville and remained until J 857. While there he joined the Ger- man Congregational Church and after- wards joined the Old School Presbyterian. In 1854-5-6, he went through a the- ological course in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1857 he was licensed to preach. His first appointment was in Clayton City and Mc- Gregor, Iowa, and Wyalusing, Wis. In 1858 he was sent to Lyons. In 1859 he went to Monroe and Beloit, Wis. In 1860 he was called to Muscatine, Iowa, where he remained until 1865, when he went to Mt. Pleasant and Burlington, Iowa, where he remained until 1873. He then went to Riley Center, Kan., and re- mained there until the fall of 1882. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, anil set- tled in the village of Ramsey. He preaches in three different places in Ram- sey township. As they hare no church as yet, he holds service in school houses. He is now (1884) gathering funds to build a church, to be 28x40 feet in size, and cost about $1,200. His congregation numbers from eighteen to twenty fami- lies. Rev. Mr. Schmidt was married June 1, 1857, to Adrianna Vyverberg, a native of Holland, by Rev. A. Van Vliet. This union was blessed with nine children — Charlotte, Augustinus, August, Frederick T., Werner A., Calvin, Hannah, Sophia and William. Augustinus, August and William are dead. Charlotte is married to A. C. McCreary, and resides in Kansas. In politics Rev. Mr. Schmidt is a republi- can. There are two cemeteries located in this township. The one on section 13, town- ship 98, range 27, was donated to the township by D. B. Hutching, and contains some five acres of land. The first person buried therein was a child of William Kleint, in June, 1879. The second was A. Wagner, in 1880. The other cemetery is located on section 32, and was donated by Bernard Meyer, in the spring of 1882. It contains but one acre, now, but it will be enlarged as occa- -4* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 5-. 7 sion requires. It is surrounded by a good substantial board fence. At present there are but two bodies interred in this beauti- ful little "Gott's acre," one a child of A. Wagner, buried in November, 1882, and the other, John Feldraan, buried in Sep- tember, 1883. The first land was broke on the loth of July, 1867, by Norman Collar, on section 19. The first house was one built of sod by Norman Collar, and finished Aug. 25, 1807. The first death was that of Albert, son of John C. and Eliza J. Wolfe, who died during the year 1873. The first marriage was between Frank Pearce and Mary E. Wolfe. Rev. Free- man Franklin performed the ceremony on the 9th of January, 1877. First frame dwelling house was built by Case Wiltse, in the spring of 1873, and in which he at present resides. The first child born in Ramsey town- ship was Effie, daughter of Case and Eliz- abeth Wiltse, the date of whose birth was March 1, 1874. The first school house was built in 1877, on section 13, township 98, range 28, and in this the first school was taught in the summer of that year by Silas Schenck. The small post village of Ramsey is located upon section 14, township 98 north, range 28, and is the only village in the township. The postoffice, the blacksmith shop, and a few dwellings is all there is of it at present, but the future may bring it increase, and it grow to be quite a place. The country surrounding it is of the very best quality and is gradually filling up with an intelligent class of agriculturalists. The postoffice, which bears the same name as the village, was created in 1877, and P. G. Schneider commissioned the first postmaster. After holding this posi- tion for three years, he was succeeded by F. Esebrandt, who held it for two years. John Meinburg was the next incumbent of the office, until in the summer of 1883, B. F. Smith was appointed and is the present postmaster. This office is supplied with its mail by the stage from Algona, semi-weekly. James L. Payne, of that town, was the first mail carrier to this point in 1877, when the office was first established. B. F. Smith, the son of A. D. and Polly Smith, natives of New York, was born in Marquette Co., Wis., June 2, 1852, and lived with his parents until the fall of 1872, when he went into the pineries and worked there until the spring of 1873, when, with two friends, he made a trip by wagon through Minnesota and Dakota. In 1878 he went to Grand Rapids. Re- maining there six months, he removed to Colby, Wis., and in 1879 went to Wau- kesha Co., Wis. In 1880 he went to Durand, and in 1882 removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled in the village of Ramsey, where he now resides. He is the present postmaster, being appointed to that office July 12, 1883. Mr. Smith was married Dec. 2, 1878, to Catharine E. Jones, daughter of James and Eleanor Jones. Mrs. Smith was born Aug. 3, 1857, in Marquette Co., Wis. In politics he is a republican. Peter G. Schneider, one of the promi- nent farmers of Ramsey township, is the son of Peter and Catharine Schneider, natives of Germany. He was born in rpr A GL. ^ v> 538 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUMTY. Galena, Jo Daviess Co., 111., Dec. 7, 1851. At the age of fifteen years be learned the blacksmith trade with his stepfather, George Rittweger, who had a shop at Scales' Mound, and with whom he re- mained until of age. In 1 8V2 lie opened a shop of his own in Scales' Mound. In the spring of 1874 be was married, and removed to Malvern, Mills Co., Iowa, where he worked at bis trade for three years. In 1877 he removed with his family to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on section 13, Ramsey township. He has 200 acres of land on section 18, of which 1G0 acres are under cultivation. Mr. Schneider was married Nov. 9, 1S73, to Johanna G., daughter of Rev. J. and Gesiena Leisveld, natives of Holland. Mrs. Schneider was born July 9, 1855, in Platteville, Grant Co., Wis. They have five children — Herman J., George A., Wil- liam L., Benjamin Peter and Lydia G. K. Mr. Schneider has held the office of town- ship assessor for five years, that of school treasurer two years, road supervisor three years, and school board one year. He was the first postmaster in Ramsey, and held that office for three years; has been a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Al- gona for over nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are members of the Presby- terian Church. He votes the republican ticket. The first house in the village of Ram- sey was erected in 1877, by W. L. Green. The first blacksmith shop in the village of Ramsey was built in 1877, by P. G. Schneider, who ran it for about four years, when he disposed of it to Martin School- man, who is the present representative of that business. David A. Duitman, is a prosperous and thriving farmer of Ramsey township. He is the son of Garret and Johanna Duit- man, natives of Holland. He was born Sept. 3, 1856, in Fond du Lac Co., Wis. He remained with his parents until twen- ty-two years of age, when he was married to Eva, daughter of John Henry and Eva D. Berning. Her father was a native Prussia; her mother of Holland. Mrs. Duitman, was born April 1, 1857, in Fond du Lac Co., Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Duitman were married Feb. 24, 1878. They have two children — Winnie E. and John Henry. In 1878 Mr. Duitman came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled in Ramsey town- ship, on section 19. He owns 160 acres, ami has ninety acres under cultivation, lie has a good house and barn on the same, and makes stock raising his main pursuit. In politics he is a republican. Thomas W. Tinker is the son of Hilton and Emma Tinker, natives of England. He was born Aug. 9, 1848, in Springfield, Dane Co., Wis., and lived with his parents until twenty-two years of age. In 1869 he went to Trempealeau Co., Wis., where he fanned during the summer ; and in the winter he worked in the pineries. In 1871 he went to Winona Co., Minn., and worked on what was then called the Ma- ple Dale farm, one year, and rented the same the next year. In 1874 he bought a farm in the same county. In the spring of 1881 he sold his place and moved with his family to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and set- tled in Ramsey township, on section 13, where he now resides, and makes stock raising bis pursuit. He was married Oct. 10, 1873, to Maggie, daughter of William and Eliza McKnight, natives of Scotland. V -4 S> t^ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUJNT1". 539 Mrs. Tinker was born in Walworth Co.', Wis., Sept. 30, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Tin- ker have five children -Burnie W., Ho- mer II., Myrtle E., Sidney A; and Thomas McKnight. Homer is dead. Mr. Tin- I ker has held the offices of trustee and secretary in Ramsey township. In poli- ties he is neutral. CHAPTER XXVI. SHERMAN TOWNSHIP. This township is the second from the east line of the county on the most south- erly tier, and is known as congressional township 94 north, range 28 west, of the 5th principal meridian. It is bounded on the north by Irvington, on the east by Lu- verne, and on the west hy Cresco township. On the south is Humboldt county. It con- tains just thirty-six sections of land or 23,040 acres. It is crossed diagonally by the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, which enters it on the northeast quar- ter of section 30 and makes its exit about the center of section 5. The surface is gently rolling and the soil dark, alluvial, loam, of uncommon richness. A small creek, an affluent of the West Fork of the Boone river, crosses the northeastern cor- ner, crossing in its course, sections 2, 12 and 13. The first settlement was made on the 8th of December, 1855, by Richard Hodges, locating upon section 8, where he yet lives. Elijah Lane, one of the pioneers of the the county, settled upon section 0, where he pre-empted eighty acres, in 1855. Mr. Lane is a native of Ohio, and one of the present residents of Irvington township. Joseph Raney came to this township in 1856, and pre-empted a claim of 160 acres on section 18, where he now lives. Joseph Raney, son of Joseph and Cic- cla Raney, was horn July 14, 1824, in Mar- tin Co., Ind. In 1854 he came to Iowa, stopping first in Muscatine county, where he engaged in farming for two years. He then came to Kossuth county, and located in Irvington township, pre-empting 160 acres of land on section 18. Irvington township has since been divided, placing Mr. Raney in Sherman township, where he now owns 176 acres of land, all under cultivation, and where he raises a large amount of sheep, horses, hogs, cattle, etc. Mr. Raney has been married twice. First, Jan. 31, 1847, to Polly Gootee, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Gootee. The re- sult of this union was nine children, six of whom are now living — Virginia, wife of William Johnson; they moved to Lower California where he died; she then married A. J. Down; Walter W., who married Cora M. Fisher, and lives in -« — * jf- 540 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Cresco township; Sheldon, who married Isabella (lilmore, and lives in California; John; Caroline, wife of John R. Frazer, living in Cresco township; and Joseph F. Sheldon and Virginia have taught school. Sheldon now teaches in California. Mrs. Raney died in March. 1862. In May, 1863, Mr. Raney married Mary, daughter of Addison and Martha Fisher, of Massa- chusetts. They had twelve children, eleven of whom are living — Mary A., wife of E. C. Clark, living in Cresco town- ship; Phoebe O., William H., Cora M., Charles A., David E., Carrie I., Adol- phus J., Martha E., George S. and Robert F. Mr. Raney at different times has held the offices of school trustee, school direc- tor, township assessor, treasurer and road commissioner. He is now township trus- tee. Politically he is a republican. Henry Wheeler made a claim on section 6, in 1857, and remained about four years. He was a native of New York State and when he left this county went to Min- nesota. A Mr. Sissens made his selection on section 6, also, in the same year. He came here from Illinois, and after a short trial of pioneer life, gave it up and re- moved to eastern Iowa. Abram Knight, a native of England, came to this township from Canada, in 1858, and took a claim of 160 acres on section 5, where he lived until the day of his death in 1861. The first death in the township was that of Abram Knight in September, 1861; 1) is remains were buried on Mis. Crock- ett's farm, in Irvington township. The second death was that of Mrs. Polly R., wife of Joseph Raney, who died in March, 1862. The first birth was that of Caroline, daughter of Joseph and Polly R. Raney, born Oct. 16, 1858. She is now married to John Frazer, and lives in Cresco town- ship. The first marriage occurred upon the 22d of May, 1863, when the Rev. Mr. Billings united in the bonds of wedlock, Joseph and Mary Fisher. The first school was held at the school house built in 1859, but the name of the pioneer teacher has not been preserved. Sherman township w.as organized in February, 1883, and the first election, for township officers, was held in October of that year. The following named were chosen to manage the affairs of the town" ship: John Connors, John Brass and II. C. Parsons, trustees; D. D. Dodge, town- ship clerk ; A. Rutherford, Jr., assessor ; Max Miller and D. D. Dodge, justices ; Joseph Raney and W. G. Beardsley, con- stables ; Nick Marso and A. Lorimer, road supervisors. In the Curran school district,school was first held by Ella Sparks, at the residence of Mr. Curran, in 1866. In 1867, a school building was erected, and Asa Story pre- sided as pedagogue. Of this school, John Reed, the present county recorder, relates, that in 1867, whilst he was county super- intendent, he visited this school in the course of his duties. The building was but an apology for a school house, 8x10 feet, and but loosely put together. Mr. Story lived in and held the school in the same room. He had but about six scholars and he, of course, in the presence of the ^ .1, HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 541 superintendent, wanted them to behave their best, but as usually happens, when children are wanted to do their best, then they behave the worst. One luckless urchin, brimmingover with fun and frolic, could not contain himself, and Mr. Story- turned an empty barrel over him and tak- ing a seat thereon, proceeded to hear the class recite. Literally barrelling up the boy. The school house in sub-district No. 3 was erected, in 1871 , and James Clapp was installed as teacher for the first term. The Connor's school house was built in 1880 and Miss Rutherford was the first teacher. Henry Currarj was born in August, 1831, in the county of Louth, Ireland. His mother died when he was quite a child. In 1850, he came with his father to America, landing in New Orleans. Shortly after their arrival, his father, one brother, and two sisters died, with what is called ship-fever. The next year he removed to St. Louis, Mo., where his sister was married. In a short time, he went to Galena, 111 , and from there to Allamakee Co., Iowa, where he purchased land and built him a house. The following year, he went to St. Louis Co., Mo., and en- gaged in farming. Remaining there two years, lie went to Montgomery county and staid two years. He then went up the Mississippi river on a speculation. He purchased 250 sacks, intending to buy potatoes, but failing 'to find any, he had to give it up. So lie purchased a boat limning it six months. After this, he went to Hampton, Rock Island Co., 111., and bought a cooper shop. The next summer he hauled logs, and in the fol- lowing spring commenced making brick, lie continued in that business until the war broke out in 1861, his men all enlisted, and he was obliged to suspend. In the spring of 1865 he went back on his farm in Allamakee Co., Iowa. In the fall he sold out, and came to Kossuth county, lo- cating on section 22, Sherman township, then call Irvington township. He pur- chased 160 acres of land, and built him a house, which burned down in February, 1872. He then built a house half a mile away from where the old one stood, and that year, he took a contract to make brick for the Algona court house. In 1874 he took a contract to carry mail from Spencer, Clay Co., to Sioux Falls, a dis- tance of 100 miles. He remained on this route one year, then for two years carried mail from Sibley to Algona. He then went back on the farm where he now lives. He was married April 12, 1857, to Jerusha Parker Knights, born in Danville Caledonia Co., Vt. They had ten children, of whom eight are living — Mary M., Henrietta, Helen J., Lillian L., Caroline B., Artemus F., Archibald M. and John P. Politically, Mr. Curran is a republican. rrr a w_ 542 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. CHAPTER XXVII. WESLEk' TOWNSHIP. This township is in the extreme eastern part of the county of Kossuth, and com- prises all of congressional townships 90 and 97, and sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, of township 98 north, all west of range 27, and contains eighty-one square miles, or 51,840 acres of land. The soil is a rich dark loam, with a slight admixture of tjand. The surface is slightly undulating, and in some sections nearly level, and where covered with the indige- nous grasses, presents a beautiful appear- ance. It is well drained and watered by several creeks, the most important of which is the Buffalo fork, that rises in Hancock county on the east, enters Wes- ley township on section 1, township 97, range 27, intersecting its whole breadth from east to west, and makes its exit on section 6. There is one railroad, passing diagonally across the lower corner of Wesley township. This is the Iowa & Dakota division of the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul, entering on the north half of section 36, and making its exit on the south half of 32. There is but one vil- lage in the township, the village of Wes- ley. This is considered an excellent agricultural township, and consists almost entirely of prairie. Although having quite a number of settlers, they are scat- tered over such an immense territory that a great deal of land is as yet unimproved, awaiting the tide of emigration that must turn this way. The first settlement made in this town- ship (as near as we can learn) was by Alexander K. Kennedy, in the fall of 1865. He came alone, but in the spring of 1S66 he moved his family here. This was in May. He took up a homestead of eighty acres on section 22, and also pur- chased 160 acres of agricultural college land on section 28, besides some five acres of timber. Alexander K. Kennedy was born in Stoughton, Mass., Dec. 1, 1837. When two years of age his parents removed to Lake Co., 111. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in the service, but as no more men were needed, he was not called into the Held. He worked on a farm, also do- ing some carpenter work. In 1865 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, taking a homestead of eighty acres on section 22, Wesley township. Healso purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, and five acres of timber land in Cresco township. Mr. Kennedy was married, Feb. 14, 1865, to Anna Thain, of Lake Co., 111. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living — John T., Mary I., Alice E., Wil- liam T., Fannie T., Ralph and Rubie. Mrs. Kennedy is a member of the Disci- v 9 W. -*lx\ HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 543 pie Church. Mr. Kennedy is a republican in politics. He has been school director and trustee, road supervisor, and lias sev- eral times been president of the school board. He is now serving his eighth terra as justice of the peace. In the spring of 1866, Charles, Joseph and George Hubbard came to Wesley from Wisconsin and made a settlement on sections 18 and 20. George remained here about a year, and then removed to Illinois. Joseph emigrated to Kansas af- ter a slay of two years, and Charles, how- ever, stayed until 1878, when he. too, left Kossuth county, going to Kansas. Zenas Sabin, during the summer of lb'66, located in Wesley township. He came from Illinois, and had his home par- tially built, when, becoming disgusted with the looks of things around him, the newness of the country, and suffering, perhaps, with homesickness, he went to- ward Minnesota, but soon journeyed back to Illinois. Edgar Stevens came from DeKalb Co., III., to Wesley township in the spring of 1867, and located upon section 30, where he took up a homestead of eighty acres. • He since then purchased another eighty on the same section and a forty on sec-linn 19, all of which he owns at the present time, although he is no longer a resident of the county, being engaged as a minis ter of the Methodist Episcopal Church at llai'ilcy,in the northwestern part of Iowa. Frederick, Peter and Mary Dorney, from DeKalb Co., 111., also came to this place the same spring, and located cm sec- tion 6. The boys took up a homestead of eighty acres each, and proceeded to open up farms. In 1879 Peter died; Fred got married, and in 1880, he with his wife and sister moved to Algona, where they still reside. In the fall of 1867, Silas Stevens, a cousin of Edgar Stevens, located a home- stead claim on section 6, of eighty acres. He came from DeKalb Co., III., also. He was killed by a threshing machine in 1869. His widow now resides in New York. About the same time Corbin and E. Hyde, came from the same place to Wes- ley township and each took up a home- stead of eighty acres, on section 30. Corbin removed to Algona about 1873, where he still lives. Edward moved out of the county in about 1875. The same autumn, of 1867, Edward Thomas, a native of Massachusetts, left DeKalb Co., 111., where he had been liv- ing, and came to Wesley township, loca- ting upon a homestead of eighty acres on section 30, where he still lives. Wesley township was organized in June, 1871, and the first election was held at the house of A. Ward, on section 8, town- ship 96, range 27, in November, of the same year. The following were the officers chosen: E. Thomas and E. L. Stevens, trustees; Orrin J. Emmons, clerk. The present officers of the township are as follows: George W. Eddy, J. J. Gannon and J. A. Cunningham, trustees; George J. Lawson, clerk; E. W. Gurren, assessor; A. K. Kennedy and Joseph Hartshorn, justices; C. Brisbois, consta- ble; and the following road supervisors : District No. 1, J. P. Gray; No. 2, A. Ward; No. 3, John Dyke; No. i, Frank Hume; No. 5, II. Ward; No. 7, C. Iteibs- *W 544 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. amen; No. 8, John Zumsteg; No. 9, C. Hugi. The first death in the township was that of a son of Edgar and Emeline Stev- ens, who died in November, 1867, but a few hours old. It was buried on his father's farm. This child was also the first birth in the township. The first marriage united in the golden bonds of wedlock. Austin Eastwood and Rebecca McPherson, on the 3d of June, 1872. This couple came to residence of M. Taylor, who was a justice of the peace, and he tied the marital knot. They now live at Coral, Mich. The first school house was built in the fall of 1870, at a cost of $575, on section 6. This school, now called the Ward school, was in district No. 4, and the first teacher was William Ward. The first school, ftowever, was taught by Florence Calkins, at the residence of Samuel Witter, on section 22, in the sum- mer of 1869. Nine scholars are reported to have comprised the list of this pioneer school. The first ground appears to have been broken by Zenas Sabin, in 1866, but A. K. Kennedy planted the first seed and sowed the first grain in the township. The first birth, where the child lived, was that of John T., the son of A. K. and Anna S. Kennedy, who was born Dec. 21, 1868. He still resides with his father in this township. The first divine service was held in Wesley township, in a sod house belong- ing to a man by the name of Mickleson. This was held by the Rev. Mr. Torge- son, a Norwegian Lutheran preacher of Worth county, during the summer of 1870. The first services of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, were held at the house of John Smith, in September, 1872. Mr. Smith lived in a sod house, 16x22 feet in size, about one and a half miles northwest from the village of Wesley. Elder Obed Robinson, at that time a resident of Port- land township, conducted the exercises. He labored in this place, preaching some four or five times before the winter set in. By this time he had organized the Church with the following list of officers: Obed Robinson, John Bennett, Mr. Paine, Corey Currie and T. Gallion, trustees ; C"rey Currie, recording steward ; Obed Robin- son, class leader; Case YViltse and T. Gal- lion, stewards. Services were suspended until in the spring of 1 873, when Elder Rob- inson again commenced his work, preach- ing this time in what is now called the McPherson school house. Here religious services were held until September, 1873, when the little Church was moved to the village of Wesley, a Church having been started there at the same time as this one. Obed Robinson, son of Isaiah and De lilia Robinson, was born in Swanton, Franklin Co., Vt., March 15, 1824. He received a good education in the home of his birth. In 1847 he attended St. Al- ban's Seminary. He was joined in marri- age, in 1849, to Ammyrilla Campbell, daughter of William and Fanny Campbell, of Vermont. They had eleven children, nine of whom are living — Edna, Merrit, Franklin, Fanny, Julia, Elmer, Charley, Clarence and Mayrilla. In 1849 Mr. Rob- inson removed to York State, constantly exhorting, holding meetings and prayer- ir - 19 4« -» u HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 545 meetings. In 1852 he moved to Winne- bago Co., 111., where he worked at the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he had learned sometime before. During that summer he was licensed as local preacher in'the M. E. Church. He worked at his trade for about six years, also preaching during this time on what is now Durand's circuit. In 1859 he took charge of Chain Lake circuit in Martin Co., Minn., and continued on the same until 1869, when he removed to Portland township, Kossuth Co., Iowa. He re- moved, in October, 1873, to the village of Wesley in the same county, and where he now resides, and embarked in the hotel business, which he yet follows. He also took charge of Wesley circuit. During the same year he organized a class of six members in Wesley ; the first ever organ- ized in the village. In 1875 lie took charge of Crystal Lake circuit, leaving the hotel in charge of his wife. In issj Mr. Robinson was appointed deputy sher- iff. In the fall of 1870 the school house in district No. 3, on section 14, was erected at a cost of $600. The first teacher was Jennie Alden. School house in district No. 6 was built in 1874, at a cost of $600. Jennie Groat was the first teacher, and Bertha Carey the last. District No. 9 has two buildings, the first built in 1876, of which Mrs. Mary Hopkins was the first teacher,the other in 1878, in which Amelia Fairbanks handled the ferule. School house in district No. 4 was erected at a cost of $600, in 1871, and William Ward was the pioneer teacher That in district No. 3 was built-in 187), over which Mrs. B. M. McPherson was the first to preside. There are in all some fourteen schools in this district township, all fine buildings and in most excellent repair. The educa- tional interests are generally well cared for and good teachers alone are employed. In the midst of a beautiful plain near the southeast corner of the township, sur- rounded by an intelligent and enterprising class of farmers, lies the village of Wes- ley. Although yet a small place, and the various branches of trade not numerously represented, yet a considerable business is done. It is located on the southeast quarter of section 35, township 96 north, range 27 west, and was platted by J. H. Merrill, of McGregor, Iowa, in 1871, but the plat was not filed for record until the 10th of October, 1873. The depot and the sectiou house were both erected before the town was laid out, and the town was named after the head mechanic who built the depot. The first building erected on the town site after the survey was made, was a granary built by Taylor & Ormsby, during the month of September, 1871. Comstock & Baker built the next edifice in the town in 1873. It was a store build- ing and in it they placed the first stock of goods ever offered for sale at this place. This pioneer store was operated by G. J. Baker, one of the partners, and a good stock of general merchandise was carried. The next building put up was the Wes- ley House, a hotel 20x24 feet, of which O. Robinson was the landlord. This was in 1873. ft? .546 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNT In 1874, G. J. Baker put up a residence for himself, 1(5x24 feet, the first dwelling house in the village. The first blacksmith here was Henry Baker, who put up a shop and residence in Wesley, in 1875. He only run the shop for a few "months, and removed to Boon esboro, Iowa, the following year. S. B. Bassford, now a resident of Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo county, came to Wes ley, from New York State, in 1874, and built a grain warehouse, 30x50 feet, and engaged in the buying of wheat. Christian Olsen was the next settler, whose advent here was in 1S75. He put up a small residence but did not remain long, and now lives at Forest City, Win- nebago county. In 1875, II. C. Hollenbeck put up a res- idence here, and was the next to settle, in point of time. He is still a resident of the place. Henry C. Hollenbeck, son of Isaac and Hannah (Gage) Hollenbeck, was bom in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Oct. 4, 1852. When one year old his parents moved to Manitowoc Co., Wis. He lived at home until sixteen years of age, then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, locating in Algona. He drove a stage and worked on a farm until 1871, when he went to Hancock county. He remained there until 1873, working on a farm and taking care of stock for J. B. Daggett. He then came to the village of Wesley. He soon after- wards took a trip to Kansas and Missouri, being absent several months. He has since that time resided in Wesley, with tin- exception of a year and a half, when he was section foreman on the Chicago, Milwaukee &■ St. Paul railroad, in Palo Alto county. Mr. Hollenbeck was mar- ried in 1874, to Mrs. Edna (Robinson) Hudson, of Wesley. They have had five children, three of whom are living — Ada D.,Enos L. and Harry M. Mr. Hollenbeck is now engaged in the hay business in Wes- ley. He is a republican in politics. Mrs. Hollenbeck is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hollenbeck be- longs to the I. O. G. T., of Wesley. The first death in the village was that of Helen, daughter of Edward and Helen Lloyd, who died in the summer of 1876. Elder F. Franklin preached the funeral oration over the remains, which were afterwards interred in the Wesley ceme- tery. The first birth was that of John Leman Lloyd, son of Edward and Helen Lloyd, who was born Aug. 6, 1871. lie resides with his parents in Hancock county. The first marriage, which took place upon the 7' li of October, 1874, united O. .1. Emmons and Fannie J. Robinson. Elder A. S. R. Groome officiated on the occasion. Mr. Emmons and wife are still residents of the village. O. J. Emmons, son of Benjamin and Rhoda E. (Willis) Emmons, was born in Chateaugay, Franklin Co., N. Y., June 1 , 1842. He lived in that place until 1S61, when he enlisted in company A, 96th New York regiment, served one year and was discharged. lie returned to his home in New York, and in 1863 moved west to Oconto, Wis., where he engaged in the lumber business. In 1864 he again en- listed in the service, this time in com- pany II, 39th Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- try, serving six months. When discharged he returned to his home in Wisconsin T PV _© N* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 547 J- and continued in business until 1867, when he came to Iowa. He took a homestead of eighty acres on section 26, Wesley township, Kossuth county. In November, 1883, on account of ill health, he rented his farm and removed to Wesley village. Mr. Emmons was married in 1874 to Fan- nie J. Robinson, daughter of Obed and Amyrilla Robinson, of Wesley. They have had three children, all of whom are living — Nellie May, Millard O. and Curtis L. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Emmons is a republican. He was the first town clerk of Wesley township. The first school was held in the granary building of Taylor & Ormsby, in 1873, and Mrs. M. J. Colby was the teacher. Her school consisted of just seven sunny- faced urchins, of which the following is a list: Nellie Trowbridge, Becca Smith, Frank, William, Julia, Clarence E. and Charles Robinson. Marcel lus Taylor was elected the first justice of the peace in the village, in 1871, and served in that capacity five years. The pioneer carpenter to locate at Wes- ley and open a place of business was John Thompson, who came here from Al- gona in 1878. Mr. Thompson is noted throughout this country as a contractor and builder of no mean ability, and work entrusted to him will be always well done. John Thompson, son of Norman and Susan Thompson, was born in Hamilton township, Northumberland Co., Canada West, Oct. 12, 1833. His mother died when he was only six months old. He lived in Canada until twenty-one years of age, when he and his father removed to Ogle Co., 111., and purchased a farm. lie lived in Ogle county until September, 1862, when he enlisted in the 8th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry. He served through the war. In 1863 he was out with a scout- ing party, and was severely wounded by his horse falling down a stone quarry and falling upon him. He received his dis- charge in St. Louis in August, 1865. He participated in many hard fought battles, his company or regiment being a part of the army of the Potomac. Among the hardest battles were: Williamstuwn, seven days fight on the peninsula, battle of the Wilderness, Antietam, Gettysburg, Manas- sas, second battle of Bull Run, and Bev- erly Ford, a strictly cavalry battle, which lasted one whole day. He returned to Ogle county after the war, and followed farming. In 1S67 he helped get up a map of Ogle county. In April, 1876, he came to Iowa, locating in Algona, this county. Before coming west, however, he had traded some property for 240 acres of land in this county, 160 acres in Wesley township, and eighty acres in Lott's Creek township. In 1878 he removed from Al- gona to the village of Wesley and en- gaged in carpenter work. Mr. Thompson has been married three times. In IS.,4 he was married to Sarah M. Hardy, of Canada. They had four children — Teresa J., Norman E., Everett W. and Charles W. Mrs. Thompson was a member of the Presbyterian Church. After she died he was again married, but his second wife died in the summer of 1875, and was buried in Byron, Ogle Co., 111. In 1876 he was married to Mrs. Mary (Clemens) Artz, of Ogle Co., 111. Mrs. Thompson had two children bv her first husband — 20 — r— * Jk t. u48 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. Ozzy and Ella. Mr. Thompson is a re- publican. He owns nice residence prop- erty, and also a good carpenter shop, which, by the way, is the building erected by Corastock & Baker, and the first one built in Wesley village. The first load of hay brought to the village of Wesley, was hauled by John Finnemark, in 1870, and was sold to Mr. Clark, at that time section foreman. Carl Oleson is the present gentlemanly agent in charge of the depot of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. having taken charge there- of on the 1st of June, 1881. The first agent here was L. B. Ormsby, appointed in 1*70. He was followed, in succession, by G. J. Baker, Charles Brisbois, C. J. Howard, A. W. Davis and the present in- cumbent. As is usual, at many stations on this road, the agent in charge is also the agent for the express company. Carl E. Oleson, son of Erick and Kath- rine (Jensen ) Oleson, was born in Chris- tiana, Norway, Dec. 16, 1862. When eight years of age he emigrated with his parents to the United States, coming im- mediately to Iowa and locating i:i Calmar. After living there one year they removed to Ionia, Chickasaw county. Mr. Oleson received a fair education, studying hard dming vacations as well as while in school. When sixteen years of age he commenced to learn telegraphy under Theodore Huber, of Chickasaw station. In 1881 he was given charge of Wesley station, which postion he still occupies, being telegraph operator, station agent, express agent and freight agent. He is a careful and energetic business man. In politics Mr. Oleson is a republican. The postorfice was established in the fall of 1871, and S. B. Ormsby was com- missioned postmaster. This position he held until 187-3, when he was succeeded by G. J. Baker. In 1880 another change was made and the present incumbent, G. J. Lawson,was installed, in charge of the mails. At the present this is not yet a money order office, although about to be made one, the order creating it having been issued by the department at Wash- ington. G. J. Baker established the first store, as mentioned before, in 1873, in company with J. M. Comstock, of Algona, and carried quite a heavy line of goods in general merchandise. In 1879 he sold out the stock and business to Mrs. Mary Thompson, who, however, only ran it until March, 1880, when she closed out the whole concern. George J. Baker, son of Henry J. and Ann Baker, was born in Waukesha Co., Wis., Dec. 21, 1847. When about twenty- six years of age he came to Algona, Iowa, and formed a partnership with J. M. Comstock, engaging in a general merchan- dise business. The same year they started" a branch store at Wesley village, Mr. Baker taking charge of it. In 1874 he dissolved partnership with Mr. Comstock and continued the business alone until 1879. He then purchased a farm of 160 acres on section 14, Wesley township, and removed thereto. He was married in June, 1874, to Jennie Groat, of Emmets- burg, Iowa. They have two children — Eunice E. and Ada N. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the M. E. Church. He is a republican and is director and president of the school board of Wesley **y1'2 ©w -^* HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 549 township. He travels for Blossom Bros., creamery, of Algona, gathering up cream. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of Wesley. The Sherman House, one of the model hotels of northwestern Iowa, was built by the present proprietor, August Dinger, in the summer of 1883. The building is thirty-six feet square, and two stories in height, well finished and artistically painted. It is located conveniently near the depot, and is in the enjoyment of con- siderable patronage, although so new an enterprise. Mr. Dinger knows his busi- ness, and with a well furnished house, and a well supplied table, with the rate estab- lished at $1.50 per day, he can not help but draw the patronage of the traveling public, for whom he caters. The house is named after our honored governor, Buren R. Sherman. August Dinger, son of George and Mary Dinger, was born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 30, 1839. When he was eighteen years of age his parents came to America, locating in Monroe Co., Wis. The next year Mr. Dinger went to Grant Co., Wis., and followed farming until 1868, when he went back to Monroe county. He re- mained there until 1870, when he came to Iowa, settling in Wesley township, Kos- suth county. lie purchased 100 acres of good land on sections 15 and 22, in what is now called Prairie township. He fol- lowed farming until 1882, when he re- moved his family to Wesley village, and engaged in the lumber business. In 1883 he built a hotel in Wesley, called the Sherman House. Mr. Dinger is a very genial and accommodating landlord, and is building up a first-class business. He was married in October, 1863, to Catha- rine M. Kielinger, of Pennsylvania. They have had eight children, six of whom are living — Ira, Ida, James, Jessie, Charlie and Mary. Mrs. Dinger was born in Crawford Co., Penn. Her parents, James and Sarah E. Kielinger, removed from that State to Wisconsin when she was quite young, where they live at the present time. Mr. Dinger's mother lives in Monroe Co., Wis. His father died in 1S67. Mr. Din- ger is a republican, politically. The general merchandise merchants, McCutchin & Lawson, commenced busi- ness on the 1st of May, 1881, in a build- ing belonging to M. Taylor, where they remained until the fall of 1883, when they removed into their new store, under the Sherman House. This room is 22x36 feet in size, and finished up in good taste. They keep on hand a large and well se- lected stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, school books, hard and tinware, and the countless other commodities that go to make up the usual village store. Although this is a young firm, they already command a large pat- ronage, which they should do, as they merit the confidence of the community. George J. Lawson, son of John and Mary (Curren) Lawson, was born near Oconomowoc, Dodge Co., Wis., Dec. 9, 1856. When seven years of age, his parents moved to Tama Co., Iowa, where his father purchased a farm. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Lawson came to Wesley, Kossuth county. In 1881 he formed a partnership with II. McCutchin, and went into the general merchandise business, which business he still continues. Mr. Lawson is a republican, in politics. In 1882 he was elected town clerk of Wesley township. Mr. Lawson is a member of the I. O. G. T., of Wesley. He was ap- pointed postmaster of Wesley Feb. 25, 1880, and was still postmaster in 1884. F. M. Butts, one of the representative business men of the village, started in the general merchandise line, in the spring of 1879. At that time he had but a small room, 20x30 feet, but now his business has increased to such an extent that he occupies two rooms, each 20x46 feet. He keeps everything usually for sale in stores of this class, and his stock looks clean and fresh. F. M. Butts was born in Manchester, Boone Co., 111., June 8, 1847. When four- teen years of age, he went to Porter Co, I J. 550 HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTS. Ind., where lie remained one year, then removed to Lake Co., Ind. He resided in Lake county two years, then moved to Falls township, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, and purchased a forty acre farm. In 1 87 1 he moved toW esley township, Kossuth county taking a homestead of eighty acres, on section a4. He afterwards purchased forty acres on section 22. He sold the home- stead in 1877 and bought eighty acres joining his farm on section 22. in J 878 he sold this land and moved into Wesley village, engaging in the general merchan- dise business. Mr. Butts was married Aug. 11, 1808, to Susan McPherson, of Indiana. They have had three children, two of whom are living — Guy and Charles. Mr. Butts owns ninety acres of land in Prairie township, this county, and lou acres in Hancock county. He also owns considerable property in the village of Wesley. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of Wesley. Mr. Butts is a staunch democrat. S. E. Grove handles furniture, farm implements and machinery, flour and feed. This place was established in July, 1S83, and meets a want long felt, as there is no other party in the village engaged in the sale of these goods. During the year 1874, Marcellus Taylor made the first step toward starting the coal business here. At the present he has a good patronage. He handles the Oskaloosa coal, principally, as that seems to give the most satisfaction. His coal yard is managed, for him, by his stepson, F. Hume. Marcellus Taylor was born in William- son, Wayne Co.,N. Y., in December, 1821. When two years of age his parents re- moved to Vermont. When seven years of age they removed to Erie Co., N. Y., where his father was engaged in farming. In 1847, Mr. Taylor removed to Wiscon- sin, residing in Racine county six years. He then removed to Elkport, Clayton Co., Iowa, where he purchased 320 acres of land and engaged in farming. In 1871 he came to Kossuth county, purchasing 160 acres of land on section 35, Wesley township, where he now resides. Mr. Taylor still owns 154 acres in Clayton county. He was married in 1850 to Miss (J. M. Dana, of McHeury Co., 111. They had no children. Mrs. Taylor died in March, 1802. In February, 1804, he was married to Mrs. Delia Hume, of Illinois. Mrs. 1 ay lor has one child by her former husband — Frank Hume. He is married and lives in Wesley. Mr. Taylor is a re- publican, and has held the office of justice of the peace, being the first one elected in Wesley, county supervisor, school director and school trustee. Mr. Taylor deals principally in stock. He controls the coal interests in Wesley village. Frank W. Hume was born in Aurora, Kane Co., 111., July 21, 1852. When one year old his parents moved to Earlvilie, La Salle Co., 111., his father being station agent at that place for the Chicago, iiur- lington & Quincy railroad. In 1803 ;v.r. Hume removed v. ith his mother, (his fa- ther having been killed in the war) to Fine Island, Goodhue Co., Minn. They lived there one year, then went to Clay- ton Co., Iowa, Mr. Hume engaging in farming. In 1870 he came to Kossuth county, purchasing eighty acres of land on section -ia, Wesley township. He lives on the farm, all of which is cultivated, and also tends to the coal and lumber in- terests of M. Taylor in the village of Wesley. Mr. Hume was married, in 1872, to Elizabeth Ilenrich, of Clayton county. They have one child — Delia A. Airs. Hume is a member of the German Luther- an Church. Mr. Hume is a republican, and has held the office of town clerk, and school director. He is one of the pre cut road commissioners of the township. S. B. Ornisby initiated the lumber busi- ness at this point in 1 871, and ran it until two years later, when Comstock & Baker took it. Since that time it has passed through the hands of several parties, prominent among whom were Mr. Taylor, Sweigard it Hacker t and George Huber. In 1882, August Dinger and S. Grove each started a yard, but in the spring of 1883, Dinger bought out his competitor and uni- ajT HISTORY OF KOSSUTH COUNTY. 551 ted the two yards in one. Mr. Dinger continued to operate this business until the finishing of his hotel, when taking charge of that he gave up tlie lumber business for that of landlord. The pioneer hay press of Wesley was brought here by Saxton & McCutchin on the 31st of July, 1880. After operating- it for two years, Mi-. Saxton disposed ot his interest to J. S. Gallagher and retired from the business. The firm name was now changed to that of McCutchin it Gallagher. They own a Dederick perpet- ual press, which was run for the first two years by eight horses, but the last year by steam. This has the capacity of pressing and baling about twenty tons of hay per diem . J. S. Gallagher, son of Robert and Ann Gallagher, was born near Mt. Morris, N. Y., May 23, 1845. When two years old his parents moved to Dane Co., Wis., his father purchasing 100 acres of land with- in seven miles of Madison. Mr. Gallagher attended the State University at Madi- son, Wis., for three years, and took a course in penmanship at the commercial college in Madison. Then taught school fifteen terms in Wisconsin. lie is a re- publican in politics, and held the office of justice of the peace in Blooming Grove, Wis., for eight years, while all the other officials were democrats. In 1875 he helped to incorporate the Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company, of Wisconsin. He was one of the first officers and after- wards was an agent, insuring over $ 1 ,000,- 00)i worth of property. From 1879-81 he was secretary of the Cottage Grove Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. In 1882 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, purchasing a farm of 120 acres on section 33, Wesley township. He located, however, in Wes- ley village, where he formed a partnership with II. McCutchin, dealing in baled hay. Mr. Gallagher was married March 14, l s 73, to Mary A. Anderson, of Iowa Co., Wis. They have had six children, lour of whom are living; — Robert S., Carrie F., Mildred G. and Susan E. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gallagher is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the I. O. G. T., of Wesley. Wesley, lying as it does in one of the best portions of the grass land of the State, has always been noted for being one the great markets for hay. George W. Eddy, quick to see the advantages to arise from such an enterprise, in 1883 erected a hay press. The building is 16x24 feet with an additional wing of 14x16 feet. In this he has a perpetual circle reversible press, and turns out daily a car load of hay baled for market, which is Chicago. George W. Eddy, son of Pel eg and Arvilla Eddy, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 16, 1 841. He received a good common school education and worked on a farm. In September, 1861, he enlisted in company I, 35th New York Volunteer Infantry. He served two years, after which he was discharged at Washington. He re-enlisted Jan. 4, 1864, in company F, 18th New York Volunteer Cavalry, serving until May, 1866. He then re- turned to his home in Jefferson county. In 1871 he moved to Orleans Co., N. Y., where he remained two years, traveling for a photograph firm. In the spring of 1873 he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, set- tling on a homestead of eighty acres in Irvington township. He afterwards home- steaded a soldiers' additional eighty acres, but soon disposed of it. In 1875 Mr. Eddy purchased a farm in Hancock county, on which he lived two years, then sold it and moved to Wesley village. He en- gaged in the livery business in Wesley, and also handled flour and feed and farm implements to a small extent. In Janu- ary, 1883, he purchased a hay press, and commenced buying, pressing and shipping hay. He owns considerable residence property in Wesley, in addition to his hay buildings. In the winter of 1884 he purchased an eighty acre farm in Wesley township. Mr. Eddy was married July 25, 1871, to Florence E., daughter of Asa and Levonia Sprague, of Orleans Co., N. Y. They have had two children, a hoy and girl; the boy, G. W. Eddy, Jr., is liv- V s- -F R 556 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. ^ ward the setting sun. The time was soon to come when all nature must be changed, when the fair prairies, with their beauti- ful flowers, painted by a divine hand, must be broken up by the husbandman, and grain fit for the use of civilized man sown therein. As has been said, thirty years ago the land was all a wilderness, the soil had been unvexed by the plough, and the cabin of the settler, with its smoke curl- ing heavenward, with an air inviting the weary traveler to come and rest, was not to be seen, nor even the faintest trace of civilization, but instead, boundless emer- ald seas and luxuriant grasses. "These, the gardens of the desert — these, The unshorn fields, boundless aud beautiful, And fresh as the young earth ere man had sinned, Lo! they stretch. In airy undulations, far away As though the ocean, in the gentlest swell, Stood still, with all its rounded billows fixed. And motionless forever." The prairies were indeed a grand sight, in the summer, clothed in verdure bright, in the fall, robed in the many-hued garb that tells of the departing year. If a grand sight to see the prairies as the tall grass waved to and fro, it was a magnifi- cent sight in the fall of the year, to see the annual prairie fire as it swept over all. A correspondent of an eastern paper in an early day, in traveling in this west- ern country, witnessed one of these fires, and thus describes it in a communication to his paper: "Whilst enjoying the sublimity of the scene, night threw her mantle o'er the earth, and the sentinel stars set their watch in the skies, when suddenly the -F> scene was lighted by a blaze of light, illu- minating every objeetaround. It was the prairie on fire. Language cannot convey, words cannot express to you the faintest idea of the grandeur and splendor of that mighty conflagration. Methottght that the pale Queen of night disclaiming to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched 10,000 messengers to light their torches at the setting sun, and that now they were speeding on the wings of the wind to their appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagra- tion, my thoughts recurred to you, im- mured in the walls of the city, and I ex- claimed in the fullness of my heart. '0 fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze, As o'er the grass sweeps the magnificent blaze; The world cannot boast so romantic a sight, A continent flaming, 'mid oceans of light." ' Behold, now, how changed the scene! Where the rude wigwam of the red man once stood, the neat, substantial, and of times elegant farm house now is seen; where once these sons of the plain and forest gathered together for the worship of "Gitche Manitou," the good spirit, the stately church edifice now rears its spire, and therein worship another race, praying to the God of their fathers. Change is written upon every hand. How this change was wrought, the various steps by which the wilderness has been trans- formed into habitations for civilized men, is the duty of the historian to show; and in the following pages attempt is made, with the hope that his efforts will be ap- preciated, and that the facts contained therein may be of interest, and the lessons of the past may be instructive to each and every reader. 4 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 557 CHAPTER II. EARLY SETTLEMENT. To the readers of local history, the chapter pertaining to the early settlement of a country is of more than general in- terest. Especially is this true with the pioneers themselves, those who have wit- nessed the changes that have been made, who have seen this trackless wilderness made to blossom as the rose, and filled with an industrious, happy people. He here reads, slowly and critically, ev- ery word recalling memories of the past, which for a generation have lain buried among a host of recollections, which now rise before him like a dream. His old associations, the deeds, the trials and battles against hunger and cold, while the settlers were few and far between, and wolves howled aliout the little cabin, sending a chill to his heart, and-the wind driving the sifting snow through the crevices — all now arise vividly before him. Often it is with pleasure he can re- call these recollections, viewing with satisfaction the thought that he has lived to see a thrifty and happy land, dotted with school houses and churches, villages and towns, where first he planted his stakes and built his humble home. But, perchance it may be that it is with sadness that he recalls these reminiscences of the past, for as the thoughts well up in his heart he sees the dark and pain- ful side of the pioneer days. How a wife, whose virtues, bravery and simplicity will always be remembered, or a child prat- tling in innocence being called from earth to the eternal home, laid away under the cruel sod, in solemn quietude, by the rough but tender hands of hardy pioneers. Time has partially allayed the sling, but the wound is now uncovered by the allu- sion to days gone by, and the cases are not a few where a tear of bitter sadness will course down the cheek in honor of the memory of those who have departed. Notwithstanding the many disadvan- tages, and even sorrows, attendant upon the first steps of civilization, the adversi- ties to be encountered, the pioneers led a happy life. The absence of the aristo- cratic and domineering power of wealth and position must have been a source of comfort and satisfaction. Merit alone in- sured equality, and this could not be sup- pressed by traditions. The brotherhood of man was illustrated in a sincere and practical way, and hospitality was not considered so much a Christian trait as a duty to humanity. Prior to 1853 the territory now com- prising the county of Hancock was a vast and apparently interminable expanse of prairie, with a small amount of timber on the banks of the streams, and v as unin- IT * 558 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY habited save by wild animals and roving bands of Indians. At that time but little civilization had crossed the Mississippi, and the few who had pushed westward from the banks of that great river had not journeyed far inland, and except a nar- row belt of settlers along its shores, this State, in the northern part at least, was an unknown land. A journey through the territory west was a tedious and often a dangerous task. This county, lying as it does at the headwaters of the Iowa, Boone and Des Moines rivers, and traversed by numerous creeks, had no doubt been visited by white men, for these fertile prairies had long been the haunts of trappers and hunters before actual settlers made their appearance. Hancock county, at the time of the pioneers, was a part of the neutral ground that the policy of the government had stretched, some forty or fifty miles wide, between the Sioux on the north and the Winnebagoes on the south. Here they could hunt and fish to their heart's content, but could not stay and raise their villages, nor indulge in savage war. Sav- age bodies of Indians would leave their reservations lying south of this and jour- ney north into Hancock and the adjoining counties, where they would hunt and fish all summer, and return to their villages in the winter. These Indians did not cultivate land, plant corn, or raise vegetables, but lived a life of indolence. Three tribes, or at least portions of them, intermixed, lived in harmony together. They were Winne- bagoes, Musquakees and Pottawattomies. Their most notable chiefs were: Womano- kaker (often spelled Wanoaker), Four Eyes, Pukatuck, Winnesheik, Hanaheta- ker and Beg Way. Womanokaker was the great war chief; and the tradition is handed down that he got his name from the fact that he had at one time stolen the woman of a white man — thus the name, "Womanokaker." Before there were any settlers in this county, however, all these tribes on the south had been removed. Complaints of their thievishness having been made in 1848, the government had them placed on reservations furl her west, and but a few straggling "redskins" were seen in these parts. The first attempt at settlement within the limits of what is now Hancock county, was made by Anson Avery, who, with his wife, came here and located at Upper Grove, in the township since named after him. This was upon the 9th day of Sep- tember, 1854. Mr. Avery built acabin, to shelter him and his from the elements and commenced to open up a farm. He broke the first land and sowed the first grain in the county, on this new breaking, and set- tled down to pass the winter. Mr. Avery is still a resident of the county, and al- though liis hair is silvered with age, still he retains much of the fire of youth, and bids fair to outlast many of the less rug- ged younger generation. In October, 1854, George Nelson, with his family, came to Upper Grove, and set- tled in the neighborhood of Mr. Avery. It is said, on excellent authority, that Mr. Nelson and C. D. Philo, had hunted and trapped over this territory and spent the winter of 1S53-4 at Upper Grove. The beauty of the surroundings induced Mr. Nelson to return and take up his home - i v -6p -< 9 tt HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 559 amid the scenes of Lis former hunting grounds. These two families were all the inhabi- tants that passed the long and dreary winter of 1854-5, in Hancock county. But with the coming of spring, others sought homes in this new country. Among those who located in the southeast part of the .county, at Upper Grove, were Malcolm Magill, Tliomas Magill, Sr., Orick and Reuben Church and Benoni Haskins. Thomas Magill, Sr., a sturdy scot, a veteran of the Mexican War, settled upon a part of section 24, and raising a cabin, opened up a farm, whereon he lived until the day of his death, in the fall of 1883. Malcolm Magill, also remained upon the portion of section 24, where he first settled, until he two was called to cross the dark river, and pass the portals of death. Orick Church, who is still a resident of the place lie originally located upon, in that early day, s. tiled upon a portion of section 33, and at once set to work to open up a farm. Reuben Church, who came with his uncle, Orick, settled also in this vicinity, and entered into the pioneer duty of mak- ing a home. Mr. Church was for many years, at a later date, a prominent mem- ber of the community, and at one time held the position of treasurer and recorder of this county. Some years since, he re- moved from this State and is now a resi- dent of Nebraska. Benoni Haskins was also prominently identified with the official life of the county. Jacob Ward and John Maben, on the 2*7tk of September, 1855, came into this county in search of a home, and settled in the northern part of the county, and were the pioneers of that locality. Jacob Ward, "Uncle Jacob" as he is familiarly called, and affectionately re- membered by his many friends, settled in what is now Ellington township, and built a log cabin. Here he lived on the farm he made in the wilderness, throve exceed- ingly well, until he was killed in the cy- clone that devastated this part of the county, in June, 1881. John Maben made a settlement in what is now known as Madison township. He, also, has been one of the men frequently honored by his fellow-citizens, with official position, and is noticed at length in the chapter on county officers. In December, 1855, Bernard and An- drew Bolsinger appeared upon the scene, and took up land in the present Ellington township. Bernard lived here for many years, but lately moved to Oregon. An- drew is still a resident of this county. The same month, Joseph and Lewis Barth settled in the same locality, and made claim to land. Lewis, some years since, emigrated to Sioux county, in the northwestern part of this State, where he at present resides. Joseph is still a resi- dent of Hancock county. Jacob and Harrison Rice settled upon section 8, in what is now Ellington town- ship, in the fall of 1855. These parties did not long remain citizens of Hancock county, but sold out their claims to John Maben, and removed further south, and out of Hancock county. But little is known of them, and they being of the type of true frontiersmen, always ready i> "V ',?«- -bfe*, ->t 500 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. for a change, they have drifted far out of the sight of the residents of this county. Philip Tennis, in the latter part of 1855, located upon the northeast quarter of sec- tion 7, in Ellington township, and re- mained a short time. A party by the name of Pease, also located on section 23,of the same township, but did not stay very long, selling out and removing to some other part of the State. Thomas Bearas, a trapper and hunter, a mighty nimrod in the county, built him a cabin in what is now Madison township, late in the fall of 1855. Mr. Bearas after- ward^ removed to Winnebago county. Among the other settlers of 1856 and 1857 were : Francis and Richard Col- bum, C. R. and Silas J. Wright, H. A. Stiles, Charles Gillespie, M. P. Rosecrans, Thomas Wheelock, David Hunt, Robert Irwin, George Louppe, C. D. Pritchard and Charles Church and his sons C M. and Cyrus. All these and many others are noticed at greater length, and in fuller detail under their proper head in the histories of the townships wherein they located With these it might be said that the pioneer days of this part of the county closed. But few new settlers came here after this until the close of the War of the Rebellion, when a fresh impetus was given to immigration and Hancock county gained rapidly in population. The first child born in Hancock county was George Avery, the son of Anson and Lavina Avery, whose birth occurred in the month of January, 1855. George is still a resident of the township and county of his nativity. The first death was that of George W. Haskins, who died June 2, 1855, and was buried at Upper Grove. The first marriage was that which united Allen Yonker and Jane Haskins, which occurred in 1856. 'I his county not being yet organized, and having no one authorized to tie the nuptial knot, this pair journeyed to Mason City, in Cerro Gordo county, where the ceremony was performed They did not live to- gether long, but separated. The lady is now in Minnesota; and Yonkers, when last heard from, was in the penitentiary. The first school was taught by C. D. Pritchard, in a dwelling house in Avery township, on section 29, in the spring of 1857. The first religious service in the county was held at the log cabin of Benoni Haskins, at Upper Grove, in the spring of 1858. The Rev. Mr. McNutt being the preacher. The first postoffice established in the county, was located at Upper Grove, and Benoni Haskins commissioned as post- master. This was in 1857. ORGANIZATION. For years prior to any thought of the existence of Hancock county, all this ter- ritory constituted a portion of the reser- vation of the Winnebago Indians, and the neutral ground as stated elsewhere. The settlement began, as we have seen, in 1854, and as soon as there were settlers enough for it to be at all recognized, it was attached to Webster county for judi- cial purposes. Thus it continued until 1857, when it was attached to Winnebago county. During the spring of 1858, there was believed to be enough inhabitants in 'l£. HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 561 tlie county to organize, so application was made to Robert Clark, then the county judge of Winnebago county, for the neces- sary authority. The following is a copy of the original document, conferring the right to the citizens of Hancock county to organize themselves into a separate county and elect officers for their govern- ment : State op Iowa, ( Winnebago Countt. j June 8. 1858. Whereas, A petition of a majority of the legal voters of Hancock county has been pre- sented to me, Robert Clark, county judge of Winnebago county, to which said county of Hancock is, by law, attached; Now, therefore, I, Robert Clark, county judge of Winnebago county, do hereby order an election, by the legal voters of said Hancock county, to be held on Monday, June 28, 1858, for the purpose of electing the following county officers, to- wit: A county judge, a treasurer, a recorder, a clerk of the district court, a sheriff, au assessor, a coroner, a county superintendent of schools, a drainage commissioner, a county surveyi r, and such township officers as are allowed by law. Said election to be held in ac- cordance with the act in relation to new coun- ties, anil said election will be held as follows: All the U'g-il vot r.-s of said county are, under this order, allowed and permitted to vote for or against the. banking laws, and for the couDty and township officers, aud it is further ordered that, congressional township No. 96, ranges 23, 24. 25 an I 26, so township 95, ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26, also township 94, ranges 23, 24, 25 aud 26 comprise one township to be known as Avery township, and an election be held at the house of B Haskins. in said township; and, it is also ordered, that congressional township 97, ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26 shall comprise one township to be known as Madison township, and anileeti'in be held at the house of J. C. Bonar, in said township, and James C. Bonar, J. Ward and M Colburn are hereby appointed judges of said election, and this shall be your order and warrant for the same, and you are further to duly canvass such votes as may be cast, and make due return to me at my office, in Forest City, in seven (7) days from said fourth Monday of June, A. T>. 1858. Given under my hand and the seal of said Winnebago county, this, the 8th day of June, A. D. 1858. [Seal] Robert Clark, County Judge of Winnebago County. In accordance with this, the first election was held on the 28th of June, 1858. There were but twenty-two votes cast, and the following officers were chosen: M. P. Rosecrans, county judge; George Louppe, clerk of the courts; Benoni Haskins, sheriff; Reuben Church, treasurer and recorder; G. R. Maben, superintendent of common schools; C. R. Wright, surveyor; J. C. Bonar, drainage commissioner. This brought Hancock county into official and and legal existence. For some years the county had no county seat, but the busi- ness was transacted either at Upper Grove, Ellington or wherever the county officials happened to reside. On the 4th of November, John I. Popejoy and James Goodwin, having been ap- pointed commissioners for that purpose by the judge of the district court, made the selection for the seat of county gov- ernment. This was the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 96, range 23. The land was donated to the county by Truman Sey- mour, of the State of New York, shortly after this location. The first county buildings owned by Hancock county were two frame edifices erected by them in November, 1865. These offices, for they were only that, were each 16x24 feet and nine feet high. ;rt Ik liL 562 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY On the 5th of December, of that year, the board of supervisors, instructed the clerk that he was to notify the various officers that they must take possession of these and keep their books and papers therein. This was complied with and Hancock county rejoiced in county buildings. These buildings were erected at a cost of $2,000, as will be seen by a glance at the official action of the board, further on. Prior to this, an attempt had been made lo settle the county seat at Amsterdam, and on the 1st day of December, 1860, a contract was entered into, by and between M. P. Rosecrans, county judge, and B. A. Hill, by which the latter party agreed to build, for the county, a courthouse in the village of Amsterdam, Hancock county, for and in consideration of $2,000. All the papers were drawn and signed, and the plans and specifications made, but the county judge ceasing to be the supreme rnler, January the 1st, follow ing.the matter dropped to the ground, as the parties were enjoined from proceeding any further, by writ of injunction of the district court, made on application of many of the citi- zens of tin 1 county. During the year 1867, the board of su- pervisors submitted to the people of the county, a proposition, that they would levy a tax of ten mills on the dollar of tax- able property, in the county, for the pur- pose of building a court house. At the special election, ordered for that purpose, through some misunderstanding in regard to the matter, the proposition was defeated by a vote of thirty-five to nineteen. How ever, at the next meeting of the board, a petition was presented, signed by some forty of the qualified electors of the county asking a re-submittal of the question, and the board granted the same, and ordered the election to take place upon the 23d of the following March. When that day came, the people of the county, walked up to the polls, and with that weapon of free- men, the ballot, voted the necessary ten mill tax. The canvass of the votes showed that fifty-five voted in its favor, while only eighteen were opposed to its adoption. The honorable board at once proceeded to let the contract for the building of the present substantial court house. The for- tunate individual, to whom was awarded the contract, was Grove R. Maben. Dur- ing the summer of 186T, he constructed the edifice, and about the last of the year 1868, turned it over to the county officials. It stands in a most beautiful grove, and is constructed of brick, and by the judi- cious management of the county board, has been well painted, of a brick red color, penciled in white. It is surmounted by a handsome cupola, which adds much to its outward appearance. On the first floor, on each side of a wide corridor, are the offices of the four principal functionaries of the county government, and at the rear, a large, roomy, and safe vault, in which are kept the valuable books and papers. In the second story is the courtroom. The contract with Mr. Maben was for $9,000, but changes in the plan, and necessary al- terations, together with other items, brought the cost of the structure up to $10,000. It is quite creditable to so young a county, that its officers have so commo- dious a housing. REMINISCENCE. (By Hon. J. M. Elder.) Excepting local incidents, the history of the settlement of one northern Iowa i > 4fc -I — » HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 563 county is substantially that of nearly every oilier, and in the fewest words written are those of privation and hard- ship. All historians will find the interro- gated pioneer the hero of the times and the self recognized leader of the brave ones who directed the destinies of his locality to its present prosperity. It was he who suffered and bore the brunt of the battle and in most cases has little but the glory left. Few of the Hancock county pioneers are left, and still fewer have attained position financially or po- litically. The reason is obvious. Many of our first settlers were of the true type of the western man, who only awaited the advance of civilization and advance- ment to move further west and again be- gin anew a life most congenial to their tastes and habits. Others wasted their best days in the fight with inclement seasons and the thousand drawbacks of a new country, to see others who came later, reap the harvest that they had sown dur- ing the long years of fight for mere sub- sistence. The few who limited their wants to their means, and were content to remain as toilers rather than seekers through political and speculative fields, are now in condition with the same man- agement to pass the remainder of their days in comfort and ease. In reviews of the past it is well for the pioneer that "distance lends enchantment to the view," for aside from the many genuine displays of Christian sympathy and assistance, and the more laughable as- pect of life in all its phases, there is really little that any one would care to perpetuate in the early settlement of any county. The incessant fight for livelihood and a degree of comfort is so incessant that the periods of sunshine are transient and seldom. Nevertheless, many of the friend- ships of the olden times will be the brightest at last. In the spring of 1S57, following the Spirit Lake massacre by Inkpodutah's band, the whole northwest portion of the State was thrown into excitement, and even in the then older portions of the State the people were alarmed, and many temporarily left for secure retreats, ex- pecting that the whole State would be over-run by the hundreds of thousands of savages reported advancing from every direction. When escape was impossible, houses were barricaded at night, and many families would congregate in the apparently most secure place for mutual de- fense and protection. To-day can be seen in West Belmond the dim outline of a stockade of vast dimensions, which was designed to shelter the settlers of that vicinity and their stock during the troub- lous times. Fortunately, as the sequel proved, there was little but the outlines thrown up, and if not molested further will in time furnish other evidences of the craft and necessities of the pre-historic man. Each day, for many, brought tid- ings of the massacre of a neighboring set- tlement, and the following night corres- pondingly freighted with fears. One bright spring morning three of the young braves of Belmond, worn by anxi- ety and fears, filled their knapsacks with provisions, and with guns and ammunition started west to learn the truth of the ter- rible reports. They had not proceeded a dozen miles until they met a party who had just come from Spirit Lake, and that £ JW ~* t> 564 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. morning from Johnson's Forks on the Des Moines, who in the most provokingly cool manner imaginable informed the said "braves" he did not believe there was a hostile Indian in Iowa. He gave the first true version of the massacre, and in that neighborhood restored quiet. As the implements of war were suitable and more intended for defensive than aggres- sive warfare, the transformation to plough- shares was speedily accomplished and the beleaguered again resumed their peaceful pursuits. Without doubt the valor of the rising generation depreciated very rap- idly at the close of the war. Some laugh- able incidents occurred in the duties of guards and pickets. It was reported that several challenged cows, who had not the countersign and pass, were shot down, and it is well known from the statements of said guards and pickets that many of the red devils were actually seen at night, notwithstanding the general unbelief that quickly followed the restoration of peace. Among the early settlers at Upper Grove was a thrifty farmer named H — , whose acres were broad and valuable. His family was composed of many sons and daughters, the latter of whom, like the daughters of the rich and influential in all times, were objects of attention and admiration by the young men of the country. Especially was this the case of the eldest whose heart and hand was be- sieged by two of the prominent young men of the place, whether in a spirit of equity or inability to choose, neither for a term was preferred, and as the anxiety b 'came each day more unbearable, their acts became frantic and dangerous. No. 1, in his desperation, attempted suicide in many ways, but as the fates were against him, failed to succeed. At one time he attempted to drown himself in the Iowa, but being mid-winter and the stream fro- zen to the bottom no water could be found and that scheme failed. An attempt to cut his throat with a pin was equally in- efficient owing to the size of the throat in comparison to that of the pin. No more successful was the attempt to choke him- self by cramming a pillow down his throat as the object of death was, in this case, a little too large. These demonstrations of affection were too strong for the father if not the daughter, who one winter day loaded the couple into a sled, placed a golden eagle in the hands of a trusty neighbor and sent them to Mason City, the then nearest point where marriage could be solemnized, where No. 1 was made happy in the possession of the fair Jane. The course of true love, however, ran no more smoothly after, than before. Harmony did not prevail, and we fear the manly form and knightly being of No. 2 grew, rather than diminished in the eyes of the young bride, for certain it is that during the next June the once happy hus- band departed without as much as an adieu ; and in a short time thereafter, without resort to troublesome courts, the young bereft wife married No. 2. We believe thereafter the course of true love ran in its natural channel. The offspring of the last marriage are numerous and we hope creditable to their parents; and that the efforts of the determined pair will be perpetuated in family as well as county history. The last heard of the would be suicide, and first husband, he was revel- ing at the State's expense at Ft. Madison HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 565 for permitting the team of another to carry him to Minnesota. The not least singular part of the affair was his ar- rest within three miles of his early ad- ventures, and yet to that time had never been in Han-cock county since the June day twenty years before. Although substantial settlements were in existence at Ellington and Upper Grove at the time of the location of the county seat at Concord, few points in the county were ever settled under more disadvan- tages. The location was made in Novem- ber and followed at once by the erection of two buildings, each 18x24 feet, for the use of the clerk and treasurer. These were occupied respectively by J. M. Elan, clerk, and H. N. Briking, treasurer in the last days of December and the first of January following. No road or even trail led to the place, and scarcely two reached the buildings by the same route for many montVs. A terribly severe winter fol- lowed, and provision and forage were transported witli difficulty and danger from wherever they could be obtained. At the meetings of the board and on other occasions the buildings were crowded and no shelter for many of the teams. At other times days would pass and not a soul be seen. In July following, the fam- ily of J. M. Elan, consisting of himself, wife and child, were alone for seven days, during which time they saw not the face of another human being. In September, the child sickened and died, and the near- est neighbor lived many miles distant. His body was prepared for burial by the hands of his mother. Yet neighbors were kind and never omitted an opportunity to help, aid and assist when in their power. CHAPTER III COUNTY GOVERNMENT. As stated, in early days, Hancock was attached first to Webster and later to Winnebago county for judicial purposes, but was duly organized, by authority of Judge Clark, of the latter county, in 1858. At this time the powers of the present board of supervisors was vested in the county court. This consisted of a judge, a prosecuting attorney and the sheriff. The judge had entire jurisdiction in all matters that could not properly be brought before the district court, and he was, therefore, to a certain extent, "supreme ruler" in all local matters. The office was the most important one in the gift of the people of the county. The records of the county court com- mence with the organization of the county. The first court consisted of M. P. Rose- crans, county judge ; Benoni Haskins, sheriff; and George Louppe, clerk. No business of any importance seems to have 4 -^ — •XV -4J 566 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. been transacted, except the issuing of county warrants, the first being in favor of Charles Church, and was for lumber furnished for the building of a county office, and was for the sum of $57.85. The second was to Robert L. Irwin and was for 1119.19, for building the above office. No official record exists of any business occupying the attention of the county court until the month of December, I860, when an effort was made to have the vil- lage of Amsterdam made the county seat, and in furtherance of the scheme, a con- tract was let, by the county judge, for the building of a $2,000 court house at that place, but the "best laid plans of men and mice oft gang agley" and the 1st of Janu- ary saw a change of administration, and the plan fell to the ground, the contractors being prevented from going on by a writ of injunction. During these years, the county had consisted of the two original townships of Madison and Avery, and no new ones were organized under the county court system. The court met whenever and wherever it saw fit, as no actual seat of government had been located. During the winter of 1859-60 an act was passed by the General Assembly, which was approved by the governor, changing the mode of local government, and creating the board of supervisors of the county. This board took charge, and had all powers formerly vested in the county court, excepting the issuance of marriage licenses, probate matters and civil cases. The county court still held its sessions and continued to do so until 1869, when it was abolished by law; but nothing of any interest transpired, as the time was all spent in routine matters. THE BOABD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS consisted of one member from each town- ship. The election for members was held at the time of the general election, in November, 1860, and the first meeting of the board of supervisors, of Hancock county, was held at Amsterdam, on the first Monday in January, 1861. This board consisted of the following gentle- men: G. R. Maben, Madison; and B. VV. Culver, Avery. After perfecting the or- ganization of the board by the election of Mr. Maben to the chair, they proceeded to the transaction of business. The princi- pal matters dealt with seem to have been the allowing of claims and ordering their payment. The salary of the clerk of the board was set at $200 per annum, for his services as such, payable quarterly. The board, at this session, also entered into an agreement with W. P. Hepburn, by which he was to go to Washington, D. C, and attend to the business of the county in relation to the swamp and overflowed lands lying within its borders, according to the act of Congress, approved Sept. 28, 1850. For these services Mr. Hepburn was to receive $200 in hand, and if he succeeded in obtaining either the land scrip or the warrants he was to receive $800 more. The first warrant drawn by order of the board was to Edward Thorp, for cutting wood for the office of the clerk of the board, and was for seventy-five cents and bears date of Jan. 7, 1861, and number one. At the June session the board or- dered the division of the township of Madison, and the erection, of the part, cut off, into a new civil township to be known as Ellington. At the same time the t >> y 3i> HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 567 township of Avery was divided and part of that ordered to organize under the name of Amsterdam. The tax levy of this year was laid as follows: For State tax, one and a half mills; for county tax, six mills; for school purposes, one mill ; for bridge fund, one mill. On the 14 th of October, 1861, the board met. There were present G. R. Maben, of Madison township; B. W. Culver, claiming to he from Avery; Charles Church, from Avery, appeared and took the oath of office, claiming that he had a right to take his seat on the board. Jacob Ward also appeared from Ellington, claiming that he had a right to his seat, and was also sworn. B. W. Culver pro- tested against Charles Church and Jacob Ward taking their places on the board, making the point, that they had no right to do so until January following, they having been elected as they were in town- ships set off previous to election, and that he, B. W. Culver, was supervisor for Avery township, as it existed prior to the sub-division, and would remain such until the 1st of January, 1862. To this Messrs. Ward and Church, in turn, protested, giving the following reasons: that said B. W. Culver was not a resident of the present township of Avery; that he had refused to take the oath of office, being elected in Amsterdam, then a newly organized township. The clerk was then ordered to prepare ballots, by which Jacob Ward was to as- certain the length of his term of office. This being done, after an informal ballot, resulted in Mr. Ward drawing the one year term, and B. W. Culver the two year term, and thus matters were amica- bly arranged and the board was organized as follows: G.R. Maben, Madison; Charles Church, Avery; B. W. Culver, Amster- dam; and Jacob Ward, Ellington. And at the organization of the board, in Jan- uary, 1 862, G. R. Maben was elected chair- man. The march of improvement struck the county about this time, for we find, gravely recorded, that the board ordered the pur- chase of five chairs for their use. A special session was held on the 18th day of August, 1862, in response to the request of the governor of the State, that inducements, in the way of bounties, be held out to volunteers; and' that pro- vision might be made for their families. In accordance, the following resolution was adopted: Heso'ved, By the board of supervisors of Hancock county, that each person en- listing in the volunteer force, of this State, as a volunteer of this county, be allowed, out of the treasury of the county, the sum of $100; and the wife of each person, so volunteering, the sum of $1 per week, and to each child under fifteen years of age, fifty cents per week, to be paid to the woman and children, while said volunteer continues in the service of the United States. The warrants to be issued immediately upon being sworn into the service of the State. Monday, Jan. 5, 1863, the new board came into power, consisting of the fol- lowing gentlemen: J. Ward, Ellington; John Maben, Madison; B. W. Culver, Amsterdam; and Charles Church, Avery. After organization, Charles Church was elected chairman for the ensuing year. r 568 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. The first warrant issued to a volunteer, under the resolution above, was ordered at this session of the board. It was drawn to William Church, and was for eight dol- lars. At the session of April, 1863, a petition of M. P. Rosecrans, and others, was pre- sented to the board, asking the board to pur- chase a tract of land, not to exceed a section or 640 acres, within a mile of the ten mile post on the road from Amsterdam to Ell- ington, and to improve the same, by the planting of the same witli timber, for the purpose of establishing the county seat of Hancock county upon the same. "This wild scheme was voted down and rejected byan unanimous vote of the board." This year, in addition to the regular taxes levied, a special war tax of three mills was laid. January, 1864, the new board assem- bled for the transaction of business. It was composed of the following gentle- men: Charles Gillespie, Ellington; John Maben, Madison; B. W. Culver, Amster- dam; and Orick Church, Avery. On the organization of the board, Mr. Culver was elected chairman for the ensuing year. At the April session, 1864, the follow- ing resolution was introduced and passed: Resolved, That the board of supervisors appropriate the sum of $200, or such fur- ther sum as may be necessary, to purchase and fence a suitable piece of ground for a burying ground ; one in each end of the county; and that John Maben and Charles Gillespie be appointed a committee in the north part of the county, and B. W. Cul- ver and Orick Church a committee in the south part of the county, to attend to the matter, and in June, 1864, a proposition having been made to the board that they refund to the citizens of the different townships, the amount paid by them as bounty to volunteers; on motion it was Resolved, That the sum of $200 be ap- propriated to each township to refund to those who have paid bounties, or to be used in procuring volunteers. It was also Resolved, That a sufficient sum be ap- propriated to purchase twelve Colt's navy revolvers, and that said revolvers, when procured, be distributed three to each of the four townships in the county. At the September session of the board, some $300 was appropriated to each end of the county, to finish fencing their re- spective grave yards. At this same ses- sion, it was Resolved, That there be appropriated, out of the special fund levied by the board, the sum of $500 to each man, who may be drafted from Hancock county, into the service of the United States, to fill the quota of said county, under the call of the President of the United States issued in July, 1804, for 500,000 men; and that whenever said men are accepted as such soldiers, the clerk is hereby au- thorized and instructed to issue said war- rants to said men. In January, 1865, the new board as- sembled. There were present the follow- ing gentlemen: John Maben, Madison; Orick Church, Avery ; Charles Robins, Amsterdam, and Parley Colburn, Elling- ton. John Maben was duly elected chair- man for the ensuing year. At a special session, held at the house of Mr. Colburn, in Ellington township, •n 4V fe* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 569 January the 28th, the following resolution was introduced and unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the bounty for volun- teers in Hancock county be raised to $1,000 to fill the quota of said county for the call made by the President of the United States, in December, 1864, and the said bounty of $1,000 be allowed to not more than two from each township, except Ellington, which may enlist three men, provided the county only pays $800 for the third man enlisted. Full and definite arrangements were at the same time made as to how and when this amount was to be made. A petition was at the same time read, that the county extend the same bounty to all who had entered the service from this county, but was rejected by a unanimous vote. In September a petition was received by the board, asking that a division of the county be made, part being attached to the county of Winnebago. The board ordered that the question be submitted to the legal voters of the county at the next general election. (This was voted down at that time). An important meeting of the honorable board of supervisors was held upon the 4th day of November, 1865. On that day, all of the members being present, the following report was presented: "In pursuance to an order issued by the 12th district judge, (W. B. Fairfield) to John I. Popejoy, James Goodwin and S. B. Hewitt, Jr., to locate the county se"at of Hancock Co., Iowa, James Goodwin and J. I. Popejoy, met in pursuance to said order, and located said county seat on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 96, range 23, at a point 16 chains and 50 links north, and 1 chain and 15 links west from the quarter post on the south side of said sec- tion, we believing said site the best loca- tion in said county, taking into considera- tion the present as well as the future prospects of the inhabitants of said county. John I. Popejoy, James Goodwin. Dated Nov. 4, 1865. This report being adopted and accepted, the following resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote: Resolved, That the board of supervisors proceed to build two buildings at the county seat of Hancock, to be occupied by the county officers, to-wit: On the southeast quarter of the southwest quar- ter of section 31, in township 96, range 23; said buildings to be of the following dimensions; each to be 16x24 feet, and nine feet high; to be built of pine plank and battoned on the outside, and ceiled on the inside with good pine flooring; the floors to be of good pine lumber and the sills of oak. Said buildings to be cov- ered with good pine shingles, and each building to contain one door and three windows. James Crow, was at the same time, ap- pointed a committee to procure for the county a title of the land on which the county seat was located, and to survey and lay out a town thereon. An appro- priation of $2,000 was made for the pur- pose of erecting the buildings for the use of the county, and the board made a com- mittee of the whole on building. The county buildings were at once erected, for under date of Dec. 4, 1865, «fc 570 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTS. the board instructed the clerk to notify the various county officers that suitable offices have been prepared and are now in readiness for ther use. At this session, also, a report was made showing that the expense incurred in building the county offices was $1,797.55, but a stable had been erected at the same time and place at an expense of $582.90, making in the aggregate i2,380.45. This amount was swelled by $180, allowed for time em- ployed by John Maben, chairman of the board, in overseeing the work of building and $19.55 for fencing the stable lot, all making a grand total of $2,580 as the entire cost of county buildings. The new board of supervisors met .Ian. 1, 1866, and the following members took their seats: John Maben, Madison; Par- ley Colburn, Ellington; John Christie, Jr., Amsterdam; and Charles Church, Avery. They proceeded to organize by the election of Mr. Colburn, as chairman for the ensuing year. The board fixed the salaries of the various county officers for this year as follows: County judge, $100; sheriff, $120; clerk, $600, besides the necessary fees accruing to each officer. A proposition was made to the qualified electors, that they allow a special levy of nine mills tax, for the purpose of raising the necessary funds to pay off the indebt- edness of the county, and raise the county warrants to par. At a special election held Aug. 28, 1866, it was carried by a majority of six in a total vote of fifty. The board for the year 1867, met, being composed of the following parties: C. Church, Avery; J. Christie, Jr., Amster- dam; P. Colburn, Ellington; and J. Ma- ben, Madison. The latter gentleman was unanimously elected to fill the office of president of the board for the year. The board proceeded to pass a resolution ordering the clerk to post notices of a special election, at which time would be submitted to the qualified electors of the county, the question as to whether the board of supervisors should levy a ten mill tax to be appropriated for the erec- tion of a county court house. On the 11th of February, the board met in special session and on a canvass of the votes cast at the special election, held on the 9th of February, 1867, it was shown that thirty- five ballots were cast against and nineteen for the ten mill tix levy and the measure was declared defeated. A resolution was, however, at once adopted as follows: Resolved, That the board of supervisors take such immediate measures as will in- sure the providing a suitable place for the holding of the next term of the district court, at the county seat of Hancock county. Notwithstanding the vote on the court house tax of the 9th inst., a petition was presented to the board on the 17th of Feb- ruary, for a new election on the same measure. Whereupon the board ordered a second special election to take place on the 23d day of March, following, for the levy of a ten mill tax for the building of a court house. At this election the vote stood fifty-five in favor and eighteen against the tax, so the board declared the measure carried. John Wegands, of Winnebago county, was offered two blocks in Hancock Cen- ter, on condition of his building a hotel at that place, the seat of county govern- -» u HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 571 ment of Hancock county, but did not ac- cept. At an adjourned meeting, held April 8, 1867, bids for the erection of the court house were received, but the plans not being to the notion of the board, all were rejected, and a committee appointed to draft new plans and specifications. In May new bids were received as follows: G. R. Knapp, $9,800; G. \V. Beadle, $8,- 500; J. C. Bonar, $8,900; John Christie, Sr., $8,500; Charles Bice, $8,449; H. N. Brockway, $9,444.44; G. R. Maben, $9,000; J. P. Gardner and Robert Clark, $9,000; A. D. Hiams, $9,000; George Butts, $9,000; David Lean and L. Hill, $9,000. The board after due deliberation, let the contract to G. R. Maben, for the price of $9,000, and the contract with him was finally signed at the June session, 1867. On the Gth of January, 1868, the new board met for their first session, and the following members took their seats: C. Church, Avery; George R. Knapp, Am sterdam; John Maben, Madison; and P. Colburn, Ellington. On organization Charles Church was elected president for the ensuing year. The usual amount of road and bridge business was then trans- acted. The board of county supervisors for the year 1869, were convened the 4th of Jan- uary, of that year, and the following members took their place in that body: G. R. Maben, Madison; G. R. Knapp, Amsterdam; Charles Church, Avery; and John II. Beadle, Ellington Mr. Maben was duly elected as chairman, and having qualified, took his place at the head of the board. It was during this year that the court house was finished and accepted. Concord and Crystal townships were or- ganized. The new board, for 1870, met on the 3d day of January, and the following mem- bers took their places: G. R. Maben, Madison; J. Q. Beadle, Ellington; A. D. Iliams, Amsterdam; Orick Church, Avery ; B. V. Scott, Crystal; and H. H. Bush, Con- curd. A. D. Iliams was duly elected to the position of chairman of the board, for the ensuing year. The new method of electing supervisors, by districts instead of townships, coming into action, the board for the year 1871, was as follows: A. D. Iliams, three years term; G. R. Maben, two years term; and J- M. Elder, one year term. They organized, at their first meeting, held on the id day of January, by the election of A. D. Hiams as chairman, and proceeded to the trans- action of business. The boards succeeding this, were as fol- lows: 1872. — George W. Beadle, chairman; A. D. Hiams and G. R. Maben. 1873. — II. H. Bush, chairman; George W. Beadle and A. D. Hiams. 1874. — H. H. Bush, chairman; George W. Beadle and J. H. Melius. 1875. — H. H. Bush, chairman; J. H. Melins and G. R. Maben. 1876. -G. R. Maben, chairman; J. II. Melins and John Burnside. 1877. — G. R. Maben, chairman; John Burnside and A. D. Hiams. 1878. — A. D. Iliams, chairman; George W. Beadle and John Burnside. 1879. — A. D. Hiams, chairman; H. II. Bush and G. W. Beadle. — v >* 572 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 1880.— H. H. Bush, chairman; G. W. ! 1882.— H. H. Bush, chairman; A. D. Beadle, G. Davenport, A. D. White and White, C. C. Way, E. C. Packard and W. W. Greenup. F. Greenup. 1881.— H. H. Bush, chairman; A. D. ' 1883.— H. U. Bush, chairman; C. C. White, C. C. Way, W. F. Greenup and E. I Way, E. C. Packard, A. D. White and G. C. Packard. W. Gillett. CHAPTER IV OFFICIAL MATTERS. In this chapter are presented the various matters gathered from the county records, and other official sources, and which fill no other niche. POPULATION. In 1860, the first recognition appears of the population of this county. The United States census, of that .year, gives the num- ber of inhabitants as 179. In 1865 this had increased to 292, and in 1869 to 572. In 1870 Hancock county's population numbered 999, and in 1875, 1,482. By the last census, taken in 1880, it had 3,453, which has probably been increased to 4,500, at the present writing. This popu- lation is made up of natives of Germany, Ireland, France, Bohemia and the United States, with a slight sprinkling of Scandi- navians, Scotch and English. The Ameri- can element emigrated mostly from the New England States, New York, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin, and, as a whole, are an enterprising, indus- trious people. The Germans came prin- cipally from the northern part of that Empire. As a class, they came here poor, bought lands at low rates, on long time' making small payments, and by industry and frugality, have since become thrifty and substantial farmers. CIVIL TOWNSHIPS. The sixteen civil townships in the county were organized upon the following dates. Madison township, on the 28th of June, 1858. Avery township, on the 28th of June, 1858. Ellington township, on the 4th of June, 1861. Amsterdam township, on the 4th of June, 1861. Concord township, on the 9th of Octo- ber, 1869. Crystal township, on the 9th of October, 1869. Britt township, on the 14th of October, 1873. Magortownship, on the 14th of October, 1879. Erin township, on the 14th of October, 1879. -« 8> :k* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 573 German township, on the 14th of Oc- tober, 1879. Ell township, on the 1 4th of October, 1879. Twin Lake township, on the 7th of Oc- tober, 1682. Daggett township, on the 14th of Oc- tober, 1879. Bingham township, on the 14th of Oc- tober, 1879. Urthel township, on the 7th of October, 1882. Boone township, on the 2d of Novem- ber, 1880. TOWN PLATS. The plats of the several towns in Han- cock county, were filed for record upon the following dates: Laconia, for record in Webster county, on the 4th of September, 1858. Amsterdam, on the 9th of April, 1859. Concord, on the 18th of July, 1868. Garner, on the 23J of August, 1870. Seymour's addition to Concord, on the 23d of November, 1871. Tallman's addition to Garner, on the 28th of September, 1875. Britt, on the 20th of June, 1878. Anderson's addition to Britt, on the 18th of July, 1878. Anderson's second addition to Britt, on the 14th of January, 1879. Lattimore's addition to Britt, on the 10th of June, 1880. Corwith, on the 1st of September, 1880. MARRIAGE RECORD. Marriage licenses have always been re- quired in this State, and the greater portion of the facts here found were taken from the clerks record of certificates issued. The first license issued in Hancock county bears the date of April 14, 1861, and authorizes Thomas Wheelock to wed Christine Sheaf. This ceremony was solem- nized by M.P. Rosecrans, the county judge. Among the curious items, in regard to marriages in the county, it is a well known fact, that when James Dickinson and Annie Williams were ready to enter into matrimony, they drove up to the court building, or office, where Judge Rosecrans was, and he was called out. The necessary license was soon procured, but all hands seeming to be in a hurry, the judge to go to dinner, Mr. Dickinson and lady to return to some farm work, the august magistrate mounted into the wagon aud while the horses trotted some forty rods, the distance to the judges res- idence, he married the couple. Reaching home he jumped out, and the team, with- out stopping continued right along. One of the old settlers in speaking of it de- fined it as being "married on a trot." The second license was issued on the 15th of April, the next day, to William L. Thatcher and Frances A. Fisk. The county judge preformed the rite. The following is a list of the various licenses issued for the first few years sub- sequent to the organization of the county. James Dickinson and Annie Williams, July 17, 1861; ceremony preformed by M. P. Rosecrans, county judge. Charles Buffon and Hannah Catlin, Nov. 6, 1861; married by J. M. Elder, justice. Bernard Bolsinger and Margaret Gilpin, July 20, 1 86-2; married by the county judge. >\y 4ft. - ,t 574 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Jacob Ward and Catharine Kneadler, Nov. 13, 1862; ceremony by James Crow, justice of the peace. Joseph F. M. Perttenarte and Martha E. McNutt, July 15, 1863. Elias Tompkins and Sarah Gilpin, Dec. 14, 1864. Lewis Colburn and Melissa Ward on the 30th of January, 1865; ceremony per- formed by the Rev. Richard Burge. Joseph S. Bamford to Lucy Barker, Oct. 10, 1865. But this is sufficient. Many of these names will be readily recognized by the settlers of the latter days, as among our most prominent citizens. The following table shows the number of marriages per year, and how the market matrimonial is affected by the State of the market financial. 1861 2 1872 1862. . 2 1 873 1863 1 1874 1864 . . 1 1875 1865 3 1876 1866 9 1877 1867. . . . 1868 1869. .. 3 1 1878 1879 1880 1870 5 1881 1871 10 1882 .12 . 5 .13 .10 .14 .17 . 9 20 .26 .36 .34 ITEMS OF INFORMATION. A number of items are here presented as taken from the books and reports of the auditor. FINANCIAL. The following items show the value of taxable property in the county each year, from 1869 to 1883, with the exception of two years, the abstracts of which have been mislaid. 1869. Value of land in the county $922, 091 ' ' town property 2. 044 " personal property 23, 552 Total assessed value $947, 687 1871. Value of land in the county $919,415 ' ' town properly 6, 355 personal property 32,822 Total assessed value $957, 992 1872. Value of land in the county $911, 586 ' ' town property 7, 355 " personal property 35,947 Total assessed value $953, 888 1873. Value of lands in the county $1, 042. 693 " town property 8,627 " personal property 4*2,182 " railroad property 99,384 Total assessed value $1, 192, 8S6 1874. Value of lands in the county $1,145,960 '' town property 9,489 " personal property 33,228 ' ' railroad property 84, 840 Total assessed value $1,273,517 1875. Value of lands $1, 114,368 town lots 11,330 ' ' personal property. 41, 673 " railroad property 84,840 Total assessed value $1,252,211 1876. Value of land. $1,237,995 town lots 13,552 " personal properly 54,641 11 railroad property 84,840 Total assessed value $1,391,028 1877. Value of land $1,113,006 town lots 22,690 " railroad proper- y 84,840 " personal properly 43,998 Total assessed value $1, 264, 531 1878. Value of lands $1,218,044 town hits 22,420 " railroad property 79,629 " personal property 42,954 Total assessed value $1, 385, 467 1880. Value of lands $1, 082, 881 town lots 30, 530 " railroad property 96,520 ' ' personal properly . 76, 140 Total assessed value $1,286,072 _ a A,lo «^_ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 575 1881. Value of liDd $1,263,614 " to wn lots 43, 673 " railroad property 98, 216 " personal property 98,216 Total assessed value $1,503,749 1882. Value of lands $1, 263, 644 town lots 43,673 " railroad property 151,899 " personal property 115,613 Total value $1, 574, 829 1883. Value of 359,691 acres of land $1,422,105 " town properly 51, 065 " railroad property in county. 151,899 '• personal property 129, 964 Total value $1,755,033 Exemption for trees planted 59,200 Total assessed value $1, 695, 833 LIVE STOCK IK THE COUNTY. KIND. NUMBER. VALUE. Cattle assessed 5,715 $44,636 Horses " 2,227 43,427 Mules " 81 1,910 Slieep " 903 627 Swine " 4,281 4,972 Total value $95,572 TREASURERS' REPORTS. The following is the first treasurer's report, as handed to the county judge for settlement, Jan. 1, 1859: COUNTY TREASURER. DR. To Stale tax collected $2,752 16 To county tax collected 5,506 12 To8Rbool lax collect, d 917 69 To road tax collected 917 69 To Avery school district 3,472 38 To Madison school district 2,253 76 Total $15, 820 70 CONTRA By am't. di>butsed on warrants, etc. . $183 28 By b dance due Si ate 1,182 75 By balance due c mnty fund 5,322 84 By balance due school fund 853 24 By bal ince due road f uud 853 25 By balance on hand 7,425 34 Total $15,820 70 By the last report of the county treas- urer, the following is a summary of the cash on hand for the county, and credited to the various funds: SUMMARY OF CASH ON HAND. State fund $3,044 45 County fund 555 11 County school fund 838 49 Bridt$efund 907 15 Court house fund 716 79 County Insane fund 564 85 Permanent school fund, principal. . . . 264 15 Permanent school fund, interest 691 69 Total $7,883 68 REGISTRY OF DEEDS. As has been stated, before its organiza- - tion Hancock county was attached to Webster county. The first transfers of land, therefore, were recorded in the books of that county, and were afterwards transcribed into Hancock county books. The first warrantee deed was recorded as being filed Jan. 1, 1857, at 6 o'clock p. m., and conveyed from David F. Hunt to Robert L. Irwin, of the county of Han- cock, the northwest quarter of tiie south- east quarter of the southwest quarter and the south seven-tenths of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 32, township 94, range 123, the same containing seventeen acres, more or less, according to the government survey. The consideration named therein was $200, and the instrument acknowledged before L. H. Cutler, notary public, on the 20th day of November, 1856. After Hancock county was organized, books were procured and the records kept at the house of the first recorder, Reuben Church. The first deed entered by him upon the new records was executed by Luke Nichols and his wife, Maria Nichols, to P. E. Goodale, on the 25th of October, 1860. In consideration of $1,500 it con- veyed to the latter party the southeast quarter of section 21, township 9.7, range fc* 57G HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 26, and the southeast quarter of the south- east quarter of section 13, township 96, range 26. It was acknowledged before J. L. Brown, justice of the peace. There are now twenty-eight books of deeds, divided as follows: Warantee deeds of land, town lot deeds, right of way deeds and homestead records. The first mortgage bears the date of April 29, 1859, and was filed for record June 1, of the same year. It appears to have been given by William C. Gilpin, to George Knowles, of Osage, to secure the payment of the sum of $235 one year after date. The land covered by it was the northeast quarter of section 25, in town- ship 94 north, of range 24 west, in the Turkey river land district. There are now sixteen books of mort- gages, being divided as follows: seven real estate, two school fund, one town lots and six chattel. The whole number of record books in the office at present is forty-four. CHAPTER V. THE COURTS OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Man is an imperfect being, and as such requires that laws shall be enacted for his government. When the Almighty placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, he gave laws for their observance, with the penalties attached for their violation. The children of Israel, after leaving the Egyptian land, were given the "ten com- mandments," the principles underlying which have probably been the basis of all laws from that time to the present. The existence of laws necessarily implies the existence of courts wherein all questions of law shall be determined. This fact being set at rest, the framers of the State constitution instituted certain courts of justice, with well-defined powers. Changes have been made in the jurisdiction of these courts from time to time, but the rights of every citizen of high or low degree have ever been maintained. DISTRICT COURT. When Hancock county was organized it was placed in the then newly formed 1 lth judicial district, and of which John Porter was then judge. This was formed in conformity with the new State consti- tution, just adopted, and under which the office of prosecuting attorney for each county was abolished, and a district at- torney for the judicial district was elected. The first term of this court ever held in Hancock county was convened on the 24th of May, 1860, at Upper Grove, Hon. John Porter, judge of the 1 lth judicial district, presiding. There were present besides the judge, Daniel D. Chase, special prose- cuting attorney; Charles M. Church, a ;v A* — - -< 9 A HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 577 sheriff, and C. D. Pritchard, clerk. The first business transacted by this court was the admission of C. D. Pritchard and II. N. Brockway to practice as lawyers. These gentlemen, believing that they could do something toward the settle- ment of the disputes arising in the county, asked the court for permission to attach "Attorney" to their names, which was granted upon the report of the examining committee being favorable thereunto. The first case upon the docket that came up for adjudication was that of J. W. Woods vs. W. C. Gilpin. This was an action on a promissory note, brought up on appeal from a justice's court. H. L. Hoffman and Daniel D. Chase appeared for the plaintiff, and W. C. Stanbery for the defendant. The de- cision of the lower court was reversed and judgment given for the plaintiff. Hut very few cases came up for decision, most of those upon the docket being either settled or continued by consent of the parties. The second term (if the district court was held in May, 1 SO 1 , at the same place, there being present, Hon. John Porter, judge; 1). D. Chase, prosecuting attorney; C. D. Pritchard, clerk, and Charles M. Church, sheriff; together with the usual array of legal talent. The first business transacted was the return of the venire of grand jurors, as follows: Anson Avery, Jacob Ward, Richard Colburn, James C. Bonar, B. F. Oenslow, Joseph Barth, Charles Lntz, George Stoskopf, F. M. Colburn, A. Baker, Douglas Magill, Malcolm Magill, Orick Church, Edward Thorpe and George Savogue. The court appointed Jacob Ward as foreman, and swore in the whole number. With these preliminaries, the jury retired for delib- eration under the eye of C. Church, as bailiff. Some trouble having arisen in a set- tlement with Charles Church, he feel- ing himself wronged, sued the county of Hancock, at this term of court, for the sum of one dollar. Judgment was given in his favor and his wrath was appeased. There was present, of the legal luminaries, at this court, the following well known attorneys: W. C. Stanbery, M. P. Rose- crans, H. N. Brockway, C. D. Pritchard, D. D. Chase, James Crow, James W. Wood, of Hardin county, who has been so long recognized under the nickname of "Old Timber," and Henry L. Huff, also a bright example of the bar of that same county. The regular May term, 1862, was opened upon the 29th day of that month, Judge John Porter presiding. The first crimi- nal case tried in Hancock county, being upon the docket of this court. It was a case against Charles and G. Gilpin and Stephen Gillespie, for aggravated assault upon the person of II. N. Brockway. This case was continued along from term to term, and w-iS settled, according to the record, by a plea of guilty and the pay- ment of a $5 tine. The next term was held in May, 1863, and was presided over by John Porter, judge of the 11th district; C. C. Doolittle was present, as clerk, and John Maben, as sheriff. But little business was transacted and but a short session was held. At the May term of 1864, for only one term was held a year then, Judge Porter was on the bench; Charles C. Doolittle, ^ .fiT „4- 578 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTV clerk; and John Maben, sheriff. A num- ber of minor suits came up at this term, and, with one exception, are without inter- est to the general reader. That exception was the case of Hancock county against William Aldrich. This was an action to recover the amount of a doctor's bill. It seems that a son of Mr. Aldrich had crushed his hand badly in a cane mill, and the old gentleman was endeavoring to he.tl up the broken bones and bruised flesh with raw sorghum molasses, until it was almost in a state of gangrene. The town trustees, becoming cognizant of it, ordered a doctor to attend to it, and out of this, grew the suit. After a trial before a jury, that body could not come to any under- standing, and on reporting the fact of their disagreement to the court, they were discharged and the case allowed to lay over from court to court, until it was taken, by change of venue, to Winnebago county, where judgment was rendered for the county. On the 4th of July, 1864, the 12th judi- cial district wag created, and comprised the counties of Worth, Winn bago, Mitchell, Hancock, Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Butler and Bremer. The counties, however, held to their old districts for court purposes, un- til January, 1865. At the election on the 8th of November, 1864, William B. Fair- field was elected district judge, and John E. Burke, of Waverly, district attorney. Judge Fairfield was re-elected in 1868, and I. W. Card was elected district attor- ney. In 1870 Judge Fairfield resigned, and George W. Ruddick, of Bremer county, was elected to fill the vacancy. Since that time, he has been elected his own successor at the end of each term, and is the present incumbent of the office. He is a native of New York State, where he was born in May, 1835. He graduated . from the Albany Law School, in April, 1856, and was admitted to the bar. Came west in the same year, and entered into the practice of his profession that fall. He is a man of fine legal attainments and has made more than an acceptable judge. CIRCUIT COURT. By an act of the General Assembly, passed and approved April 3, 186S, courts of this discription were established in Iowa, and each judicial district was di- vided into two circuits, in each of which, at the general election, in November, 1 868, and every four years thereafter, it was provided that a circuit judge should be elected. Four terms of court were pro- vided, per year, in each county in the circuit. By this act, the office of county judge was abolished, and all business per- taining to that office, was transferred to the circuit court, which was to have con- current jurisdiction with tl e district court in all civil actions at law, and exclusive jurisdiction of all appeals and writs of error from justice's courts, mayors, courts and all other inferior tribunals, either in civil or criminal cases. Hancock county, together with others, made a circuit of the 12th judicial district. H. N. Brockway was elected the first circuit judge, for this circuit, and served from Jan. 1, 1869, until January, 1873, when he was succeeded by Robert G. Reiniger, who has since been elected his own successor, being the present judge of the circuit court. The first term of circuit court for Han- cock county was held at Concord, com- *L HIbTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 579 mencing Jan. 1 1, 1869. Hon. Harvey N. Brookway presided as judge; J. H. Beadle was sheriff, and L. B. Bailey clerk. The following was the venire of the petit jury summoned, and who all appeared: Joseph M Whitis, Richard Colburn, John Martin, E. H. Foster, John Melius, C. W.Rogers, John Christie, Jr., Daniel Perry, J. J. Barker, Robert Elder, J. Q Beadle, Cephas Church, Andrew Bolsinger, Malcolm Ma- gill and Edward Hughes. No business presenting itself, the court, after organi- zation, adjourned, sine die. COUNTY COURT In 1 Sol, by an act of the General As- sembly, county courts were established and the office of county judge was created. Heretofore, most of the business of that office had been done by the probate judge and the county commissioners, but upon the creation of tbe county court, both these were abolished as sinecures, and their functions devolved upon the newly created court. The first county judge was M. P. Roseerans, one of the early settlers of the county, and one of its oldest attor- neys, if not the first, being admitted to the bar by the district court of Hardin county, in September, 1857. Upon his shoulders devolved tbe task of perfecting tbe organization of the county, doing all that was necessary to complete a system of county government. Judge Rosecran's successors were Phineas Haywood and G. W. Elder. During 1861 the offices of county supervisors were created, which re- lieved the county judge of much of the business which had previously devolved upon him. In the chapter entitled, National, State and County Representation, this office is treated in detail and mention made, at length, of the several occupants of the official honor. CHAPTER VI POLITICAL. The political history of a Nation, State or county is always of great interest. Especially is this true of a free land, where, in the eyes of the law, all are equal, and the most lowly — even the rail splitter, the tailor or the treader of the tow-path — can attain the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an American citizen. It is only a question of merit, and where this exists, it must, sooner or later, push aside tbe chaff and rise to the top, where it will be respected and re- warded. How many instances of this have occurred in the political history of America? The greatest men who have graced the halls of Congress, from the time of Washington to the present, are examples of it, and this must continue through time to come, so long as equality and democratic principles are supported fe+ 580 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. by the masses. The policy of the gov- ernment justly encourages political ambi- tion, and we watch with satisfaction those in the arena, as step by step they pass from the humble walks of life and ascend the ladder of fame. Much as it may be denied, nearly every true citizen lias a political ambition, and even if he does not reach the highest pinnacle, the possibility exists that his children may. There is an excitement about a political campaign which all enjoy, and although personalities are often indulged in, yet, as a general thing, all yield gracefully to the verdict of the people, as represented by the majority vote, and submit to "the power behind the throne." There are al- ways issues which arise, affecting the country, and which often lead to bitter struggles for the supremacy. In this chapter is sketched a synopsis of the issues as far as possible, and the local com- plexion of the various campaigns since the organization of the county is given. Following this is presented the official vote of every general election. Hancock county was organized in 1858, and the first election took place on the 28th of June of that year. In those days there was not, visible in political cam- paigns the excitement or eagerness to win at the expense of others, but it seemed that in those pioneer clays, there was more of the feeling of the brother- hood of man existing, and while contests may have been sharp and pointed, the en- mity and bitterness of to-day was un- known. At this first election there was no ex- citement nor contest, as but one party was nominated for each office, and of course all the candidates were elected. The vote cast numbered only twenty-two in all. Another election was held on the 12th of October, 1858. At this election only one officer seems to have been voted for, the county judge. The candidates were M. P. Rosecrans and G R. Maben, the former receiving eighteen and the latter seventeen votes. At the fall election of 1859 more in- terest seems to have been betrayed, as in most of cases the point was strongly con- tested, and the successful candidate had but a small majority to brag about in the end. Charles D. Pritchard and Reuben Church contesting for the office of treas- urer and recorder, the former received thirteen, the latter twenty-two votes. Three candidates there were for the office of sheriff, B. Haskins, David F. Hunt and Charles M. Hunt, the latter being elected by a plurality of five votes. For superin- tendent Charles Gillespie defeated James C. Bonar by one vote in a total ballot of thirty-seven. For drainage commissioner and surveyor the vote was just as close, resulting in the election of Richard Col- burn and Bernard Bolsinger to those re- spective offices. With the campaign of I860 came many new elements of discord in the political field. Already rampant treason reared its hideous head from southern swamps, and the issue of slavery was seized as the issue upon which to base the war cry of the dissonant parties. The country was deeply moved, and questions stirred the popular heart as never had occurred be- fore. The storm had been gathering in the political sky ever since the repeal of vl* **. a k- •k HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY". 581 the Missouri compromise, and it had not been calmed when "bleeding Kansas" cried out from beneath the ruffian's lash and borderer's pistol and ktiife. The raid of John Brown, that ended so disastrously for him at Harper's Ferry, roused the evil demon in Southern bosoms, and with both sides excited beyond measure, the country entered upon its most memorable cam- paign. The republican convention met at Chicago, for the purpose of placing in the field candidates for the Presidency and vice-Presidency. The names of Sew- ard, Chase, Blair and Ba'es were bandied about from mouth to mouth, but when the name of Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, was produced, the cheers and demonstra- tions of the convention plainly showed him to be the prime favorite. After three ballots he was declared the unanimous choice of the convention, and Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, was chosen to fill the place of second upon the Presidential banner. The Democratic National Convention met at Charleston, S. C, April 23, 1861, but disagreements arising between the sectional parts of that great party, no choice could be effected, and after fifty- seven ineffectual ballots, many southern delegates withdrew and an adjournment was had to Baltimore. Here, upon the 19th of June, the convention again met, and after a stormy meeting Stephen A. Douglas was nominated for Chief Magis- trate of this free people and H. V. John- son for second. That portion of the convention that had seceded, held a meeting of their own, and placed in nomination the then vice- Presi- dent, John C. Breckenridge,for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for vice-Presi- dent. A Union conservative convention also placed in nomination for the same offices the names of John Bell, of Tennes- see and Ed ward Everett, of Massachusetts. These four Presidential candidates in the field, the exciting question of slavery in the political field, together with the threats of secession made by southern leaders, if Lincoln was elected, all com- bined to make this one of the most excit- ing forerunners to what followed; the fierce and fiery orchestral prelude to the bloody drama, war! Large and enthusi- astic meetings were held by all parties, in all the cities, towns and villages through- out the land. The Republican State Convention of Iowa met at Iowa City, May 23, and nomi- nated a State ticket, adopting, at the same time, a platform in harmony with the ac- tion of the National convention, endors- ing its nominations, and favoring rigid economy in State matters. The Democratic Convention met at Des Moines, July 12, nominated a State ticket, and endorsed the choice of Douglas and Johnson. The Union ticket was strongly condemned and denounced as milk and water, skim milk, etc. In Hancock county but little of this bitterness was seen in the choice of officers for the county. All the rancor and animosity in the matter was seem- ingly centered on National and State questions. Charles D. Pritchard was elected clerk of the courts, beating his rival, A. H. Stiles, by a majority of two. Charles Church had also the same ma- jority over Charles Gillespie, for the office of school superintendent. B. Haskins nv 582 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. was elected drainage commissioner by a unanimous vote of forty-four, which were all the ballots cast. The war was in progress during the polit- ical campaign of 1861, and issues growing out of the conduct of the war, were the points of dispute. The republicans were the first to hold their convention, meeting at Des Moines, in July. They placed in nomination a State ticket and adopted a platform heartily endorsing the action of the government in trying to coerce the re- bellious States, denouncing the doctrine of secession, and declared in the warmest terms that the Rebellion must he quelled at any cost. The democratic party, while unequivocally denouncing the secession of the States, condemned the action of the government in trying to maintain the supremacy of the States by arms. The campaign in this county afforded but little interest, the all absorbing topic be- ing the course of the war. A light vote was cast, only forty-eight ballots being deposited. Where any candidate was known to affiliate with any party, it was found, however, that the lines were drawn very closely. M. P. Rosecrans was elected county juifge by a bare majority of two over B. F. Denslow. Reuben Church had thirty-eight votes for treasurer and recorder, and James Crow but twenty- three. Although H. N. Brockway polled a large majority of the votes of this county, for the office of representative at Des Moines, he was not able to overcome the opposition in the other counties that went to make up this district. B. A. Hill was the successful candidate for sheriff and J. M. Elder for superintendent. Four candidates contended for the office of sur- veyor and Bernard Bolsinger was the for- tunate aspirant. Although the office of drainage commissioner was of no ac- count, votes were given for all of the following gentlemen: J. Ward, B. Has- kins, J. M. Elder, Thomas Magill, Wil- liam C. Gilpin and A. Williams. Mr. Ward was duly elected. The reverses met with by the Union Array during the year 1862 had its de- pressing effect upon the campaign. The democrats met in convention in Des Moines and adopted a platform in which was declared that they were in favor of using all constitutional means for the suppression of the Rebellion, but were op- posed to any confiscation or emancipation scheme; were opposed to any suspension of the habeas corpus, and declaring the superiority of the white over the black race, and opposed to the purchase of the slaves. The republicans in their platform, adopted at Des Moines, simply reiterated its former platforms upon the subject of loyalty to the government and a vigorous prosecution of the war. In this county politics do not seem to have entered into the field, but each officer seemed to run upon his own merits and capability to fulfill the duties of the office. C. C. Doo- little was elected clerk of the court over both C. D. Pritchard and G. R. Maben, by a majority of four. John Maben cap- tured the office of sheriff by twenty-eight votes out of a total vote of thirty-four. J. M. Elder, a democrat, however, was elected county superintendent by a ma- jority of fifteen. The democracy of the State met in con vention at Des Moines, July 8, 1863, and *hL HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY 583 nominated a ticket for State officers. Questions growing out of the war still afforded issues betwween parties. The writ of habeas corpus had been suspended in some States not in rebellion, and the Proclamation of Emancipation had been issued. These, the platform of the demo- cratic party opposed, while on the con- trary, the republicans, in convention, favored. In Hancock county, only a fair vote was polled, the general population being too much scattered to get up much enthu- siasm. M. P. Rosecrans, for county judge; John Maben, for sheriff; M. L. Fuller, for superintendent, were the suc- cessful candidates by fair majorities, while Jacob Ward had no opposition for the office of treasurer and recorder. In 1804 Abraham Lincoln was re-nomi- nated by the republicans and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, associated with him. The democrats put in nomination Gen. George B. McClellan, for the Presi- dency, and George H. Pendleton, for the vice-Presidency. The republicans of the State held a convention at Des Moines, July 7, and adopted a platform endorsing the action of the National Convention, and paying just tributes to the soldiers and soldier's wives, who were daily making sacrifices for the Union. The democratic party met, also, in convention, at the same place, July 16, selecting a State ticket, but adopting no platform. in 1865 the republicans were the first to hold their convention, meeting at Des Moines, June 14, nominating a ticket and adopting a platform The "Union Anti-Negro Suffrage party," met at the capital, August 23, nominated a ticket and adopted a platform. The democrats also met in convention the same day, but made no nominations, the party support- ing the "Soldier's Ticket." In this county Phineas Haywood was elected county judge; H. N. Brockway, treasurer; A. Yerington, sheriff; James Crow, surveyor, and S. Whitcombe, coroner, by more than a two thirds majority. C. C. Way, the successful candidate for the office of school superintendent, however, had con- siderable opposition and only winning the battle by a majority of seven votes. The campaign of 1S06 was fought upon the issue of reconstruction in the south. This was the beginning of what was called the "liberal republican"movement. In Hancock county politics had little to do with the election, as J. M. Elder, a democrat, was elected by a majority of fifty-five, to the office of clerk of the courts, and L. B. Bailey, a republican, to that of recorder. The general issues dividing the parties' in 1867 were about the same as in 1866, and in this county the republicans carried the day on State matters, but on the county offices, the best men went into office irrespective of party and without opposition. It may be noted that the people of Hancock county desire capa- bility and integrity in their officers, above politics. The year 1868 brought with it another Presidential campaign. The Republican National Convention met in Chicago, and placed in nomination U. S. Grant, for the office of President, associating with him Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana. The Demo- cratic National Convention nominated , a) 584 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNT Y Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair, Jr., for the same offices. Tlie financial question began to be a leading issue, es- picially in reference to the payment of the bonds in specie or greenbacks, the republicans favoring their payment in coin and the democrats opposing. The campaigns of *1869, 1870 and 1871, were devoid of much interest, and were but repetitions of the results of previous years, as a glance at the official vote in this chapter will show. In 1872 many of the ablest men in the republican party, including Horace Gree- ley, Charles Sumner, Lyman Trumbull, John M. Palmer and others, united in what was called liberal republicanism, which was based upon the idea of oppo- sition of any extreme measures in the re- construction of the southern States, and felt that the time had come to use the words of the leader, Horace Greeley, to "shake hand across the bloody chasm." These met together at Cincinnati and nom- inated Horace Greeley for President, and B. Gratz Brown for vice-President. The republicans placed in nomination U. S. Grant, and associated with him on the ticket, Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts. The democratic party, as a party, did not nominate any candidates, the conven- tion simply endorsing the Greeley ticket. A third party was organized, however, out of the disaffected element of the demo- cratic party who supported Charles O'Conner, of New York, for the office of Chief Magistate. The liberal ticket met with considerable encouragement in Han- cock county, polling 186 votes to 241 cast for the straight republican, a considerable gain over the previous vote. The third party did not receive a single vote in this county. The question of county officers was on the same footing as usual, the best men won. C. C. Doolittle being elected clerk; L. B. Bailey, recorder; J. H. Beadle, coroner; and Luke Nichols, drainage com- missioner, by handsome majorities. In the campaign of l w 73, the vital question of Labor vs. Capital was the prominent issue. The Republican Slate Convention met at Des Moines, June 25, and nominating candidates, adopted a platform declaring against monopolies, and urging that the several States should carefully restrict the powers of railroad companies and other monopolies. Class legislation was also denounced. The democratic party of the State made no regular nomination this year but generally supported the regular anti monopoly ticket. This was nominated by a conven- tion that met at DesMoines, August 12, which also adopted a platform denouncing the old parties as no longer useful, having grown corrupt by long lease of official management. In this county the political complexion was not materially different from the last year's vote. The republicans carrying every thing by an average majority of 211 for Slate officers, in a total vote of 27ft. A convention was called to meet at Des Moines June 24, 1875, to be composed of democrats, anti-monopolists and liberal republicans. Assembling, a ticket was nominated, headed by Sheppard Leffler, for governor, and a platform adopted covering the principal ground of belief of all the parties interested. The republi- cans, in convention, nominated S.J. Kirk- wood for governor. The temperance , & ^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 585 movement was, for the first time, an ele- ment in the politics of the State, as an independent party. A convention was held, and the Rev. John H. Lozier nomi- nated for governor. Prohibition not being a favorite hobby of the inhabitants of Hancock county, although temperance people, Mr. Lozier did not receive a single vote here. The republican majority, on State officers, was slightly cut down at this election, ranging at about 190 in a total vote of 361. But little opposition was made to the regular republican nominees for the various county offices, except in the case of the sheriff. For this office II. M. Bradstreet the nominee polled 178, while his opponent, the independent can- didate, George Lamson, had 147, a hardly contested fight. The election in 1876 was for National, State and county officers. R. B. Hayes and W. A. Wheeler were the republican candidates for President and viee-Presi- dent, while Samuel J. Tilden and T. A. Hendricks received the nomination of the democratic party for the same offices. Peter Cooper was the nominee of the Greenback party, for President. Various causes, the hard times being an important one, had changed the defensive tactics of the democrats to an aggressive one, and uow, under the banner of ''Tilden and reform," put the republican party upon the defensive. On the part of the demo- crats, the campaign was boldly conducted, and the result is well known. The Green- backers held two conventions in Iowa, at the first of which they adopted a platform containing their principal tenets, and nominated a full State ticket. In this county, the republican State ticket was carried by a majority of 182. The Presi- dential candidates received: Hayes 281; Tilden ninety-nine, and Cooper, none. In 1877, State tickets were nominated by democrats, republicans, greenbackers and prohibitionists. Hancock county, as usual, favoring the republican, which was elected by a majority of 245, on an aver- age. J. W. Elder, the sole nominee for the office of county auditor, although a democrat, polled nearly the entire vote of the county. John Maben, republican, was elected treasurer over John Christie, Jr., independent, by but a small majority. W. C. Moak, after a spirited contest cap- tured the office of sheriff from H. M. Bradstreet, by a majority of 101. M. L. Fuller, for superintendent of schools, managed to squeeze into that office by a bare majority of twenty-six over his rival A. R. Barnes. The balance of the regular nominees were elected by fair majorities. Greenbackers, democrats and republi- cans nominated State tickets in 1878. Subsequently a fusion was effected be- tween the democrats and greenbackers, and a portion of the nominees of each of their State tickets were chosen as the candidates of both parties. In the county the republicans kept their ascendency, carrying the State ticket by about 100 majority. In the county matters no op- position was found to the popular incum- bents of the offices of clerk of the courts and recorder, Messrs. Doolittle and Bailey carrying the votes of all parties to the number of 461. At this election the county also voted in favor of increasing the num- ber of supervisors to five instead of three, as formerly. - ftj 586 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. The campaign of 1879 was opened on the 12th of May, by the democrats meet- ing in convention and nominating a State ticket, headed by II. II. Trimble for gov- ernor. A lengthy platform was also adopted. The greenback party were next in the field, their ticket being led by Daniel Campbell for governor. The republican party was marshalled under the banner of John II. Gear, their candidate for guberna- torial honors. Lastly the prohibitionists met and placed in nomination George T. Carpenter, of Mahaska county, for gov- ernor. Mr. Carpenter declining, D. K. Dungan, of Hardin county, was substi- tuted. In Hancock county the vote on the chief office stood as follows: John H. Gear, 480; H. H. Trimble, 167, and D. Campbell, 29. This was the first of the greenback party in the county. The regular nominees of the county republican convention swept the field, although the matter was ably fought and in some cases was a close matter. The total vote was 666. The general campaign for 1880 began quite early among the aspirants for office and their friends. The preliminary can- vass for the nomination grew quite warm, as both republicans and democrats were alike confident that they would succeed in the National struggle. James A. Garfield received the republican nomination for President. Winfield S. Hancock was chosen to lead the democracy. James B. Weaver was nominated by the green- backers. The canvass was pushed with vigor, all parties using their utmost en- deavors to be successful. The first State convention held in Iowa this year was by the republicans, at Des Moines, April 7. The platform adopted consisted of three resolutions: the first demanded that the candidates to be nominated at the coming National Republican Convention, at Chicago, should be of National reputation for ability; second, that James G. Blaine be the choice of the republicans of Iowa; and third, instructing the delegates to the National Convention to vote for Blaine. '1 he greenbackers met at Ues Moines, May 11, and adopted a platform reasserting their demands for the aboli- tion of the National banks, the reduction of the army, the limitation of ( hinese im- migration, and the payment of the Na- tional debt in greenbacks. The democrats met at Des Moines, Sept. 2, nominated a ticket, and adopted a platform endorsing Hancock and English and the National platform adopted at Cincinnati. In this county a total ballot of 679 was polled and the republicans had, as usual, the lion's share, averaging about 518 on all State officers. On county officers the votes seemed to be a close party one, judging from an analysis of the record of the re- turns. The election of 188! was for State and county officers, and the three leading par- ties had tickets in the field. In the campaign of 1882 the republi- cans were successful, but no excitement was visible in this county. The year 1883 brought around another election for State and county officers. The republicans held their convention and placed in nomination a ticket with Buren R. Sherman as the candidate for governor, and adopted a platform en- dorsing the so-called prohibition amend- ment, excluding the sale of all liquor, ale, :l^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 587 wine or beer from the State. This aroused all the animosity of those imme- diately concerned, and when the demo- cratic convention met the friends of license, capturing that body, denounced the amendment, and while adopting a li- cense platform, placed in nomination L. G. Kinne for governor. The green- backers also placed in the field James B. Weaver for the same office. Later in the campaign a fusion was made between the two latter parties, but without avail, as the republicans carried the day by a small majority. All the republican nominees for the various county offices were elected with the exception of T. Hymer for treas- urer; John Maben, independent, carrying off the honors of that position by a large majority. OFFICIAL VOTE. The following is the official vote of Hancock county for nearly every electioii since its organization in 1858. In some instances there is a defect, but it is given just as preserved in the records of the county. It will, no doubt, be appreciated as a means of reference: JUNE 28. USB. County Judge. M. P. Rosecrans 22 Clerk of the District Court. George Louppe 22 Recorder and Treasurer. Reuben Church 22 Sheriff. Benoni Haskins 22 Surveyor. C.R.Wright 22 Superintendent of Schools. G. R. Maben 22 Drainage Commissioner . J. C. Bunar 22 OCTOBER 12, 1858. County Judge. M.P. Rosecrans 18— 1 G. R. Maben 17 OCTOBER 11, 1859. Recorder and Treasurer. Reuben Church Charles D. Pritchard Sheriff. Charles M. Hunt B. Haskins David F.Hunt Superintendent. Charles Gillespie James C . Bonar Drainage Commissioner. H. H. Rice Richard Colburn Surveyor. Bernard Bolsinger AbnerStamp Coroner. Charles Church H. H. Rice NOVEMBER 6, 1860. Clerk of District Court. Charles D. Pritchard A. H. Stiles County Superintendent. Charles Church : Charles Gillespie Drainage Commissioner. B. Haskins SPECIAL ELECTION MAY 28, 1861. For a Special Tax Against Special Tax OCTOBER 8, 1861. Governor. SamuelJ. Kirkwood, Republican W. H. Merritt. Democrat .. Lieutenant-Governor . J. R. Needham. Republican Lorin Dewey, Democrat Judge of the Supreme Court. Ralph P. Lowe, Republican J. M. Ellwood, Democrat District Attorney, 11th Judicial District D. D. Chase JohnH. Hull /teprese7it(itiue, 56(h District. H. N. Brockway J. E. Blackford County Judge M . P. Rosecrans B. F. Denslow Treasurer and Recorder. Reuben Church James Crow Sheriff. B. A. Hill Wesley Hayes A. B. Hill 22— 13 16- 9 11 19— 18 18— 17 18— 17 41 19— 13 20 36— 14 22 36- 22 33- 11 34— 11 26— 24 38— 23 32- 14 1 15 18 23 » V it 588 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Superintendent. George W. Stiles 20— 4 J. M. Elder 16 H.N. Brockway 12 Surveyor. Bernard Bolsinger 23 — 5 J.M.Elder 18 Malcolm Magill . 1 Edward Sharp 1 Drainage Commissioner. J.Ward 23— 16 B. Haskins 7 J. M. Elder 1 Thomas Magill 1 William C. Gilpen 1 A.Williams 1 SPECIAL ELECTION, FEBRUARY 25, 1862. Senator. G. W. Howard 22— 17 Rev. William Aldrieh 5 C. W. Stanberry, Democrat 2 B. W. Culver 1 D. Magill 1 OCTOBER 2, 1862. Clerk of District Court. C. C. Doolittle 28— 7 C. D. Pritchard 21 G. R. Maben 3 Sheriff. Tohn Maben 28— 22 Jacob Ward 3 Charles Robbins 2 J.M. Elder 1 County Superintendent. J.M.Elder 17— 15 Henry Sohn 2 C. M. Church 2 M. P. Rosecraus 1 Coroner. B. Haskins 25— 11 Anson Avery 14 William Lony 1 Drainage Commissioner. C. D. Pritchard 1 Secretary of State. James Wright, Republican 28— 14 R. H. Sylvester, Democrat 14 State Auditor. J. W. Cattell, Republican 29— 16 John Brown, Democrat 13 State Treasurer. William H. Holmes, Republican 28— 14 Samuel L . Lorah, Democrat 14 Attorney-General . Charles C. Nourse, Republican 29— 16 B. J. Hall, Democrat 13 Register State Land Office. Josiah A. Harvey, Republican 28— 14 F . Gottschalk, Democrat 14 Representative in Congress. A. W. Hubbard, Republican J. F. Duncombe, Democrat Judge of the District Court. John Porter, Republican H. E. J. Boardman, Democrat District Attorney. Daniel D. Chase J. S. Frazer OCTOBER 13, 1863. County Judge. M. P. Rosecrans B.W. Culver Recorder and Treasurer. Jacob Ward Sheriff. John Maben S. B. Wells Coroner. Benoni Haskins Charles Bice . Superintendent. M. L. Fuller J.M. Elder Surveyor. James Crow . . Drainage Commissioner. Charles Bice OCTOBER 17, 1865. County Judge. Phineas Haywood J.C. Bonar Treasurer. H. N. Brockway Cephas Church Sheriff. A. Terington Superintendent. C. C. Way R. Burge Surveyor. Jamps Crow M.Walker Coroner. S. Whitcombe .. C Bice OCTOBER ELECTION, 1866. Clerk of District Court. J.M.Elder C. C. Way L. Bailey County Recorder. Lambert Bailey CM. Church OCTOBER 16, 1867. Governor. Samuel Merrill, Republican Charles Mann, Democrat ss- ii 17 30— 19 11 29— 16 13 29- 12 17 35 30— 15 15 36— 34 2S— 10 18 42 42 60— 46 14 61— 48 13 41— 7 34 67— 63 4 63— 59 4 67— 55 12 . 50- IS 35 64- 40 24 *7f< \iL HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 589 Lieutenant-Governor. John Scott, Republican 64— 40 D. M . Harris, Democrat 24 Judge of Supreme Court. J. M. Beck, Republican 64- 40 John H. Craige, Democrat 24 Attorney-General. Henry O'Conner. Republican 63— 39 W. D. Baker, Democrat 24 Superintendent of Public Instruction. D. F. Wells, Republican 64— 40 M. L. Fisher, Democrat 24 Superintendent to fill Vacancy. D.F.Wells 4 Senator, 45th District. Theo. Hawley 63 Representative, 61st District. John B. Hunter 64 County Judge. George W. Elder 82— 81 C. Bougbton 1 Treasurer. H. N. Brockway 87 Sheriff. J.H.Beadle 87 School Superintendent . C. Bough ton. ..-. 86 Surveyor. J. Crow 87 Coroner. S. Whitcombe 87 Drainage Commissioner. John Christie, Sr 86 NOVEMBER 9, 1868. President . D. S. Giant, Republican 82— 58 Horatio Seymour, Democrat 24 Amendment to Constitution. For amendment 75 — 46 Against amendment 29 Secretary of State. E. Wright, Republican 89— 65 David Hammer, Democrat 24 State Auditor. J. A. Elliott, Republican 89— 65 H. Dunlevy, Democrat 24 ■State Treasurer. S.E. Rankin, Republican 89 65 L. McCarthy, Democrat 24 Attorney-General. Henry O'Conner, Republican 89— 65 J. E. Williamson, Democrat 24 Register of State Land Office. C. C. Carpenter, Republican 89— 65 A. D. Anderson, Democrat 24 Judge Circuit Court . H. N. Brockway, Republican 89— 65 Cyrus Foreman, Democrat 24 Representative in Congress. Charles Pomeron, Republican C. A. L. Rozelle, Democrat Judge of District Court. William B. Fairfield, Republican W. C. Stanberry, Democrat Scattering District Attorney. J. W. Card, Republican W. A. Stow, Democrat Cleric of the Courts . L. B.Bailey, Republican J. M. Elder, D emocrat Recorder. John Maben, Republican A. Orvis, Democrat OCTOBER ELECTION, 1869. Governor. Samuel Merrill, Republican George Gillaspy, Democrat Lieutenant-Governor . M . M. Walden, Republican A. P. Richardson, Democrat Judge of Supreme Court. J. F. Dillon, Republican W. F. Brannen, Democrat Superintendent of Public Instruction "A. S.Kissell, Republican E. Jaeger, Democrat A. S.Kissell H. 0. Dayton, Democrat Representative, 65th District. M. P. Hosecrans, Democrat B. F. Hartshorn, Republican County Auditor. John Christie, Jr., Independent M. L. Fuller, Republican Treasurer, fuU Term. John Maben, Republican J.M.Elder, Democrat To fill Vacancy. John Maben, Republican J. M . Elder, Democrat County Superintendent . A. R. Barnes W. C. Moak Surveyor. E.Marshall Sheriff. J. H. Beadle Coroner . S. Whitcombe Drainage Commissioner. John Christie, Sr OCTOBER 11, 1870. Judge of Supreme Court. C.C.Cole, Republican J. C. Knapp, Demo nit . .... 88— 67 21 91— 80 41 2 90- 67 23 90— 49 41 75— 37 136- 101 35 136— 102 34 136- 102 34 13d— 122 14 136— 114 22 93— 34 59 109— 51 58 80 85- 3 82 110— 53 57 168 168 168 111 168— 128 40 « A- 590 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Same to fill Vacancy. William E. Miller, Republican 168— 128 P. M. Smyth, Democrat 40 Same to fill Vacancy. James G. Day, Republican 168—128 Reuben Noble, Democrat 40 Secretary of State. E. Wright, Republican 168—128 Charles Doerr, Democrat 40 State Auditor. John Russell, Republican 168— 128 W. W. Gainer, Democrat 40 State Treasurer. Samuel E. Rankin, Republican 168—128 W. C. James, Democrat 40 Register of State Land Office. Aaron Brown, Republican 168—128 D. F. Ellsworth, Democrat 40 Attorney-General. Henry O'Conner, Republican 168—128 H. M. Martin, Democrat 40 Reporter Supreme Court. E. H. Stiles 168—128 C. H. Bane 40 Clerk of Supreme Court. diaries Linderman, Republican 168— 128 w.lliam McLean, Democrat 40 On the Convention on Revision of Constitution. Against Convention 74— 58 For Convention..... 16 Representative, Congress, 6th District. Jackson Orr, Republican 166—124 Charles Smeltzer, Democrat 42 Judge 12th Judicial District. George W. Ruddick, Republican 168 Clerk of the Courts. C. C. Doolittle 119— 30 James Crow 89 Recorder. L. B. Bailey 166— 124 G. W. Elder 42 On the Proposition to sell Swamp Lands, to B. L. Patch. For 145— 101 Against 44 On the Proposition ' 'Shall the Board of Supervisors be Increased to FiveV* Against the Increase 82 — 7 For the Increase 75 Stock Act. FortheAct 156—116 Against the Act 40 OCTOBER 10, 1871. Governor. C.C. Carpenter, Republican... 206— 159 J. C. Knapp, Democrat 47 Lieutenant-Governor. H. C. Bulis, Republican 206—159 M. M. Ham, Democrat 47 Judge of Supreme Court. J. G. Day, Republican 206—159 J. F. Duncombe, Democrat 47 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Alonzo Abernathy, Republican 205— 158 Edward Muncey, Democrat 47 Senator, 46th District. E. A. Howland, Republican 196—195 Hugh McFarland 1 H.G.Parker 1 Representative, 66th District . David Secor, Republican 215— 214 W. C. Stansberry, Democrat 1 Treasurer. John Maben 148— 40 L. B. Bailey 108 Auditor. John Christie, Jr 244— 243 S. S. Brockway 1 Sheriff. John Veits 134— 14 Herbert Tompkins 120 Superintendent of Schools. B.F. Scott 245 Surveyor. Eugene Marshall 131— 5 James Crow 126 Coroner. J. Muncey 243—237 Hugh McFarland 6 Drainage Commissioner. Wesley Hayes 251 NOVEMBER 5, 1872 President . D. S. Grant, Republican 241— 55 Horace Greeley, Democrat 186 Secretary of State. Josiah T. Young, Republican 188—132 E A. Guilbert, Democrat 56 State Auditor. John Kussell, Republican 188—186 J. P. Cassaday, Democrat 2 State Treasurer. William Christy, Republican 188— 136 J. P. Cassaday, Democrat 52 M. J. Roehls 2 Register State Land Office. Aaron Brown, Republican 188—130 Jacob Butler, Democrat 58 Attorney -General. M.E.Cutts, Kepublican 188—130 H. G. Case, Democrat 58 Attorney-General, to Fill Vacancy. M. E. Cutts, Republican 188 .IV t *JiL =«>• HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 591 132 134 Member of Congress, tth District. H. O.Pratt, Republican 188- A.R. Lush, Democrat 58 S. P. Adams, Greenback 1 W. C.Stanberry 1 Judge, 12W» Judicial District. George W. Ruddick, Republican 188— J. S. Root, Democrat 51 W.A. Lathrop, Greenback 2 Judge Circuit Court. R. G. Reineger, Republican W. C. Stanbery District Attorney. L. S. Butler, Republican James Wood, Democrat Clerk of the Courts. C. C. Doolittle, Republican S. R. Kelly, People Recorder. L. B. Bailey, Republican W.C. Moak Scattering L. Bailey Coroner. J. H Beadle George Christie Drainage Commissioner. Luke Nichols J. Maben OCTOBER 14, 1873. Governor. C. C. Carpenter, Republican 243- J. G. Vaile, Democrat 25 C. E. Vaile, Democrat 7 Lieutenant-Governor. J oseph Dysart, Republican 243—211 C. E. Whiting, Democrat 32 Judge of Supreme Court. J. M. Beck 243- 223 R.J.Hall 20 R.G.Hall 6 J.R.Hall 6 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Alonzo Abernathy 243— 211 D. Prindle, Democrat 32 Representative, 69th District. David Secor 273— 272 Isaac Edwards 1 Treasurer. John Maben, Republican 219— 156 J. H. Beadle, Independent 63 Auditor. John Christie. Jr 229—174 C. M.Church 55 Sheriff. John F. Veits 147— 61 O.K.Pike 86 Alrah Yerington 49 188— 132 56 188- 56 182— 114 124— 1 124 1 1 166— 146 20 191— 190 1 211 Superintendent of Schools. Eugene Marshall 14'.)— 16 A.R.Barnes 133 Surveyor. W. C. Moak 167— 55 J.M.Elder 112 Coroner. R.W.Noble 198—115 J. W. Hayes 83 On the Question of Providing a Poor House. Against 117— 24 For 93 OCTOBER 19, 1874. Secretary of State. JosiahT. Young, Republican 231— 193 David Morgan, Democrat 48 State Auditor. Buren R. Sherman, Republican 231— 193 J. M. King, Democrat 48 State Treasurer. William Christy, Republican 231— 193 H. C. Hargis, Democrat 48 Register State Land Office. David Secor, Republican 236— 196 R. H. Rodermael, Democrat 40 Jacob Seibert 1 Attorney-General. M. E.Cutts, Republican 231—183 J. H. Keating, Democrat 48 Clerk of Supreme Court. E. J. Holmes, Republican 231— 183 G. W. Ball, Democrat. .' 48 Reporter of Supreme Court. John S. Runnells, Republican 231—183 J. M. Weart, Democrat 48 Member of Congress, tth District. H. O. Pratt, Republican 200—133 John Bowman, Democrat 77 CJerfe of the Courts. C. C. Doolittle, Republican 227—171 Warren Scott, Democrat 56 Recorder. L. B. Bailey, Republican 215—149 Walter Elder 66 On Restraining Stock From Running at Large. For restraint 135 — 18 Against restraint 117 On Restraining Stock From Running at Large Between Sunset and Sunrise. Forrestraint 209—191 Against restraint 18 On Question of Increasing Number of Supervisors. Against increase 153— UU For increase 93 OCTOBER 12, 1875. Governor. Samuel J. Kirkwood, Republican 264— 187 Shephard Letfler, Democrat 77 =PT •ah 592 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Lieutenant-Governor . J G Newbold, Republican 265—189 Emmett B Woodward, Democrat 76 Juilge Supreme Court. Austin Adams, Republican 265 — 190 W. J. Knight, Democrat 75 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Alonzo Abernathy 266— 196 Josiah Doane 70 Senator, 46th District. Lemuel Dwelle, Republican 185— 31 James M. Elder, Democrat 154 • Representative, 69th District. H. H Bush, Republican 326—319 M. P. Rosecrans 7 Auditor. John Christie, Jr 336— 335 Joe Clark 1 Treasurer. JohnMaben 309—301 Mrs. Lakumsky 8 Mrs. Hanson 1 Nelson Preston 1 RobertClark 2 A. D. Hiams 3 Sheriff. H M, Bradstreet, Republican 178— 31 George Lamson, Independent 147 County Superintendent. A. R. Barnes 340 Surveyor. W. C. Moak 339— 338 E. C. Blaekman 1 Coroner. Z. C. Green 341 NOVEMBER 7, 1876. President. R. B. Hayes, Republican 281—182 S. J. Tilden, Democrat 99 Judge of Supreme Court, Full Term. W . H. Seerers, Republican 281— 182 William Graham, Democrat 99 Judge of Supreme Court, to Fill Vacancy. James H . Kothrock, Republican 281— 182 Walter I . Hayes, Democrat 99 Judge of Supreme Court, to Fill Vacancy. W. H. Seevers, Republican 281—182 Walter I. Hayes, Democrat 99 Secretary of State. J. T. Young, Republican 281—182 J. H. Stubenrauch, Democrat 99 State Auditor. Buren R. Sherman, Republican 281—182 William Groneneg, Democrat 99 State Treasurer. George W. Bemis, Republican 281—182 Wesley Jones, Democrat 99 Register of State Land Office. David Secor, Republican 281—182 H. C. Ridenour, Democrat 99 Attorney-General . J. McJunkin, Republican 281— 182 John C. Cook, Democrat 99 Superintendent Public Instruction to fill vacancy. Carl Von Coelln, Republican 281 OCTOBER 9, 1877 Governor. John H. Gear, Republican 340— 245 John P. Irish, Democrat 95 Daniel P. Stubbs, Greenback 29 EliasJessup, Prohibitionist 2 Lieu tenant-Governor. Frank T.Campbell, Republican 343—248 W.C.James, Democrat 95 A . McCready, Greenback 29 Jwige of the Supreme Court. James G. Day, Republican 342—247 H.E.J. Boardmau, Democrat 95 John Porter 29 Superintendent of Public Instruction. Carl Von Coelln 345— 250 J. G . Calison 95 S. T. Ballard 27 Representative, lltti District. H. H. Bush 399—342 A.C.Walker 57 C. A. Walker 1 County Auditor. J. W. Elder T 460 County Treasurer. JohnMaben 233— 18 John Christie, Jr 215 John Christie 10 J. Maben 1 Scattering 4 Sheriff. W. C. Moak 277— 101 H. M. Bradstreet 176 Scattering ' 7 Superintendent. • M. L. Fuller 241— 26 A. R. Barnes 215 Scattering ... 7 Surveyor. C. C. Way 452 Surveyor, to fiU vacancy. C. C. Way 1 J. M. Elder 1 Coroner. Z. C. Green 463—462 R. Lowell 1 OCTOBER 10, 1878. Secretary of State . J. A. Hull, Republican 282— 100 E. M. Farnsworth, Democrat 162 *7P aJo HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 593 State Auditor. B. H.Sherman, Republican 283— 110 Joseph Eiboeek, Democrat 173 G. V. Sweariugen 7 State Treasurer. George W. Bemis, Republican 382— 101 M. L. Devine, Democrat 181 Register State Land Office. James B. Powers, Republican 282—100 M. D. Farrington, Democrat 182 Attorney-General. J. F. MeJunkin, Republican 283— 109 John Gibbons, Democrat 174 C. H. Jackson 6 Judge of the Supreme Court. J. H. Rothrock, Republican 293—126 J. C. Knapp, Democrat 167 Reporter of Supreme Court. J. S. Runnells, Republican 273— 91 Alex Runyon, Democrat 182 Representatwe in Congress. Uh District. N. C. Deering, Republican 208—111 L. H. Weller, Greenback 97 W. V . Allen, Democrat 88 Clerk of the Courts. C. O. Doolittle, Republican 463 Recorder. L. B. Bailey, Republican 461 ' 'On Question of Increasing the Number of Supervisors." For increase 162— 40 Against increase 123 OCTOBER ELECTION, 1879. Governor. John H. Gear, Republican 480—313 H. H. Trimble, Democrat 167 D. Campbell, Greenback 39 LieuU)iant-Governor . Frank Campbell, Republican 480—314 J. O. Yeoman, Democrat 166 H. M. Moore, Greenback 29 Judge of Supreme Court. J. M. Beck, Republican 479—310 Reuben Noble, Democrat 169 M. H. Jones, Greenback 29 Superintendent Public Instruction. C. VonCoelln, Republican 480—312 Irwin Baker, Democrat 168 J. A. Nash, Greenback 29 State Senator. F. M. Goodykoontz, Republican 661 Representative Legislature. Dr.J. M. Hull 656— 655 J. M. Elder 1 Auditor. M. L. Fuller 355— 44 J.W.Elder 311 Treasurer. JohnMaben 316— 89 John Christie, Jr 337 A. H. Hiams 133 Sheriff. W. C. Moak 543—414 A. W. Schmalle 129 C.C.Way 1 .*>' uperintendent . A.C. Ripley 263— 20 Eugene Marshall 242 G. P. Mertin 146 Surveyor. C.C.Way 305—106 John Treganza — 199 J.M.Elder 11 E. Marshall 5 Coroner. Z. C. Green 622-620 S. Hart 2 OCTOBER ELECTION, 1880. Clerk of the Courts . C. C. Doolittle 510—341 Robert Elder 169 Recorder. L.B.Bailey 506— 434 C.M.Church 172 Judge of Circuit Court. R. G. Reiniger, Republican 519—355 Cyrus Foreman, Democrat 164 Judge of District Court. G. W . Ruddick, Republican 520— 354 John W. Cleggett, Democrat 166 Scattering 6 District Attorney. John B . Cleland, Republican 514— 346 A. C. Ripley, Democrat ... 168 Representative in Congress. N. C. Deering, Republican 530—366 J. S. Root, Democrat 164 Scattering 6 Secretary of State. J. A.T. Hull, Republican 518—350 A. B. Keith, Democrat 168 Scattering i State Auditor. W . V. Lucas, Republican ... 617— 348 Charles I. Barker, Democrat 169 G. V. Swearingen 4 State Treasurer. C . H . Conger, Republican 518— 350 Martin Blinn, Democrat 168 M. Farrington, Greenback 4 Register of State Land Office. J. H. Powers, Republican 518—350 Daniel Dougherty, Democrat 168 Thomas Hooker, Greenback 4 Attorney-General . Smith McPherson, Republican 519— 351 C. A. Clark, Democrat 168 W. A. Spurrier, Greenback 4 pfV S'- '1 9 * 594 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. OCTOBER ELECTION, 1882. Secretary of State. J. A. T.Hull, Republican 570—352 T. O. Walker, Democrat 218 W. Gaston, Greenback 16 State Auditor. John L. Browne, Republican 571 — 354 William Thompson, Democrat 217 6. A. White, Greenback.. 16 State Treasurer. Edwin H. Conger, Republican 570—353 John Foley, Democrat 217 J. L. Brown, Greenback 16 Attorney-General. Smith McPherson, Republican 571— 354 J. H. Ilremerman. Democrat 217 J. A. Rice. Greenback 16 Judge of Supreme Court. W. H. Seevers, Republican 535—318 C. E. Bronson, Democrat 217 W. L. Seevers 36 W. H. Jones 16 Clerk of Supreme Court . GilbertB. Pray, Republican 571— 354 H. F Boardman, Democrat 217 E. M. Clark, Greenback 16 Reporter Supreme Court. 0. C. Ebersole, Republican 570—353 A. L. Palmer, Democrat 217 J. H. Williamson, Greenback J6 Representative in Congress, lOtft District . A. J. Holmes, Republican 560—334 John Cleggett, Democrat 226 1. Doane, Greenback 16 Recorder. h. B. Bailey, Republican 536—310 C. M. Church 226 Scattering 2 Clerk of the CourU. C. C. Doolittle 539— 279 A. G. Johnson 260 Surveyor. J M. Elder 778— 774 W. C. Moak 4 Coroner. E. H Haskett 784 CHAPTER VII THE BAR OF HANCOCK COUNTY. There is no subject connected with the history of a county that is of more general interest than a complete record of its bar. In reviewing its annals it must be borne in mind, that as the prosperity and well- being of every community depends upon the wise interpretation as well as the judicious framing of its laws, therefore it must follow that a record of the members of the bar must form no unimportant part of the county's history. Upon a few principles of natural justice is erected the whole superstructure of civil laws, tending to meet the desires and relieve the wants of all alike. The business of the lawyer is not to make the laws, but to apply them to the daily affairs of men. But the interests of men are diversified ; and where so many interests and counter in- terests are to be protected and adjusted, to the lawyer and judge are presented many interesting and complex problems. The bar of Hancock county, although not so numerous as in some of the sister counties, has numbered among its mem- bers some who have been an honor both to the county and the profession. So far as material was accessible, sketches are given of each attorney who has practiced before the courts of the county. None e _ ~7u ~'f « fcw •k HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 595 are omitted intentionally, and of some more would gladly have been said if more were known of the parties by those now living in the county. The peculiarities and personalities which form so pleasing and interesting a part of the lives of the members of the bar, and which, indeed, constitute the charm of local history, are in a great measure wanting. Unlike the fair plaintiff in the famous case of Bar- dell vs. Pickwick, we have no painstaking "sergeant" to relate the facts and circum- stances of the case. The first lawyer in Hancock county was M. P. Rosecrans, so long and favora- bly known as the first county judge. Mr. Rosecrans was a native of Ohio, but made this State his home when a young man, locating in Hardin county in 1855, and en- gaged in farming. He was a man of ex- cellent education, and of considerable native ability and studious habits, and is considered one of the finest newspaper writers of this section. He never at- tained to the position of a thorough law- yer, although occupying many prominent positions. He was admitted to the bar while a resident of Hardin county, and shortly afterwards, in the spring of 1858, removed to Hancock county, where, at the June election, 1858, he was elected to the most important local office in the gift of the people — county judge. In 1866 he removed to Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo county, where he at present resides, having engaged, since his advent there, in numerous avocations besides his pro- fession, among them that of editor of a local paper. Among those who have practiced before the bar of the Hancock county courts, ^ and who have been resident lawyers, were: Harvey N. Brockway, Charles D. Pritch- ard, James Crow, Byron F. Scott, William Kiusey, James Barclay, B. F. Westover, Bush & Bush, A. C. Ripley, W. E. Brad- ford, Joseph G. Strong, Taylor & Osborne, O. K. Hoyt and J. M. Elder. II. N. Brockway, of the firm of Brock- way & Elder, was bom in St. Joseph Co., Mich., Dec. 26, 1836. His parents, Syl- vester and Mercy (Stewart) Brockway emigrated to Michigan about 1830, where they remained a few years then moved to Indiana. Here H. N. grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. In 1855 he went to Wright Co., Iowa, and in 185 8 began to read law in the office of G- Berkley, at Webster City, Iowa, being ad- mitted to the bar at Concord, Hancock county, in 1860. In 1862 he enlisted in company B, 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, entering as sergeant and being promoted to the rank of captain. He was married in 1865, to Sarah Mitchell, a native of Franklin Co., Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brock- way have three children living — Iris, Myrtle and Earl. In 1865 Mr. Brockway way was elected treasurer of Hancock county, and re-elected in 1867. He re- signed in 1868 and was elected the same year, judge of the circuit court, and at the expiration of his term of office, he en- gaged with J. M. Elder in the law, real estate and banking business, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Brockway came to Wright county a poor man, but by close attention to business and fair dealing has accumulated a competency. In politics he is a strong republican. C. D. Pritchard was a son of Philo A. and Eliza J. (Woodward) Pritchard, and >P7 A « _fc_ JL 596 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. was born at Lockport, N. Y., Aug. 9, 1830. In 1836 his parents moved to Washtenaw Co., Mich.; here he received an academic education, attending the "Union" schools at Ypsilanti, and afterward began the study of law. In the spring of 1857, he removed to Alden, Hardin county, and during the fall became the proprietor of the "Alden House," which he ran one year. He then removed to Hancock county, where he was admitted to the bar in 1858, and afterward practiced his profession and teaching. In 1860 he was elected clerk of the courts of this county, which office he filled for two years; elected in 1863, and was a member of the State Legislature of 1864; was soon after appointed depart- ment clerk in the interior department at Washington, D. C, but finding a clerk- ship not suited to his taste, and that the chances of promotion were few, he soon after resigned, and returned to Hancock county and continued the practice of his chosen profession. Here he remained until 1871, when he moved back to Al- den, entering into partnership with his brother, in the mercantile business, and where he at present resides. James Crow was a native of Licking Co., Ohio, .and one of the early pioneers of Hancock county. Although admitted to the bar, he was a man of small parts and limited education, and was never en- trusted with the management of any im- portant cases, but contented himself with practicing chiefly in justices' courts. Some eight or nine years ago he removed to Pottawattomie Co., Iowa, but is now liv- ing in the territory of Dakota, engaged in the real estate and land business. Byron F. Scott was admitted to prac- tice at the bar, in this county, at the June term of court, 1871. He was a man of fair average ability, but supersensitive, and keenly felt any joke or jibe of his as- sociates. He has left the county, and been entirely lost sight of. William Kinsey came to Hancock county in the spring of 1870, and taught school during that summer and the suc- ceeding year. In October, 1871, he was admitted as a member of the legal frater- nity and in partnership with James Bar- clay, who had shortly before made his ap- pearance, hung out their shingle, as at- torneys at law, etc., but alas! for their hopes of future gain, no fish came to their net, no case was placed in their hands, and in a short time these briefless lawyers packed up and shaking the dust from off their feet, left. Mr. Kinsey is now at Milton, Muscatine county, engaged in the practice of his chosen profession and has a large and lucrative business, and is one of the rising men of that com- munity. Of Mr. Barclay, little or noth- ing further is known. A legal luminary, by the name of B. F. Westover, cast its light over the town of Britt, in August, 1882, but it shone for but a comparative short time, when it disappeared. Of Mr. Westover but little seems to be known, as his stay was but for a couple of months. A. C. Ripley, a promising young at- torney of Hancock Co., Iowa, was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, on the 1 1th of Feb- ruary, 1849. His parents were Andrew and Eliza J. ( Crossley ) Ripley, who emi- grated to Ohio in an early day. A. C, the youngest of eight children, was IFT A it^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 597 reared on a farm, remaining at home until he was sixteen years old, when he en- listed in the 189th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, company C, and served until the close of the war. Soon after the war he entered Mt. Sterling Seminary, remaining there one yeir. He then attended Har- lan Spring College, where he graduated in 1869. The following fall he entered the law office of Hon. H. H. Parker, remain- ing with him two years, with the excep- tion of time he spent in teaching school. In 1871 he came to Iowa, where he had charge of the Postville graded school. He also taught at Clermont and Rock- ford, Floyd county. In the spring of 1877 he went to Mason City, where he read law. In the fall of the same year he was admitted to the bar. Soon after being admitted, he came to Garner, where he has practiced his profession since. In April, 1873, he was married to Carrie H. Babcock. Two children blessed this union — Cora Maud and Herman Curtis. Mr. Ripley is a Master Mason, a member of Clermont Chapter, No. 62. In 1880 he was superintendent of the schools of Hancock county. William E. Bradford, attorney and no- tary, is a native of Dyer Co., Tenn., and was born Sept. 30, 1857. In 1861 his parents removed to Marshall Co., Iowa, and after a short residence there removed to Tama Co., Iowa, where his father, Theodoric F. Bradford, was a prominent lawyer and at one time was probate judge of that county. William remained in that county until 1877, when he went to Marshalltown, Iowa, and became engaged in teaching school, spending his leisure time in the study of law under H. E. J. Boardman. In 1879 he went to Hampton, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1880. He practiced there under the direction of Kellam, King & Henley until July, 1880, being employed in the mean- while as United States census enumer- ator for the census of 1880. He located in July, 1880, in Britt, where he has a good practice and is considered a promis- ing young lawyer. Joseph G. Strong was born in Erie Co., N. Y., on the 2d of October, 1843. He passed most of his youthful days in the county of his birth and the adjoining one of Cattaraugus. He commenced the study of law while quite a young man with Eli C. Cook, of Buffalo, N. Y., where he re- mained until 1861, when, being seized with the western fever, he emigrated to Johnson Co., Iowa. Here he taught school all that winter and when the spring of 1862 had dawned, he again moved, this time to Mills county. After three months more of teaching, he went to Iowa City, where, in August, 1862, he enlisted in company I, 28th Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and marched to the front. Such was the inherent bravery and daring of this friendless lad, for he was scarcely more, that he soon rose from the ranks to the position of adjutant of the regiment. This position he held for two years, and in August, 1865, was honorably dis- charged from the service with the rank of captain, a title that sticks to him yet. After returning from the war, he entered the law office of Kirkwood & Jewett, of Iowa City, and during the fall of 1865, was admitted to the bar. He now became a partner of Judge W. E. Miller, of Iowa county, but this only continued riV •1' :l£. 59S HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. for six months, when Strong moved to Manchester, where he remained until the following summer, when he finally settled in Tama county, and practiced his pro- fession for fifteen years. In 1877 he established the Argus at Grundy Center, which paper he continued the editor of for two years. He came to Britt in 1880, and has been since engaged in the news- paper business and in the practice of his profession. He was married Aug. 2, 1868, to Delight Vermilyea, a daughter of Judge Vermilyea, of Tama City, and they are blessed with one offspring — Jay V. Joseph Osborne, of the firm of Taylor & Osborne, bankers, attorneys and real estate agents, was born in Lafayette Co., Wis., March 2, 1855. His parents, Rob- ert and Jane (Pascoe) Osborne, were na- tives of England. They emigrated to America in 1848, locating in Wisconsin. Joseph was reared in Iowa Co., Wis., and received his education in the State Nor- mal School at Plattesville, Wis., and the State University of Wisconsin, graduat- ing from the law department. In June, 1881, Mr. Osborne came to Britt and or- ganized the present banking and law business of the firm of Taylor & Osborne. He was married May 9, 1882, to Lucy Stephens, a native of Iowa Co., Wis. Mr. Osborne is one of the township trustees, also a member of the board of aldermen of Britt. He belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity. O. K. Hoyt, a bright and shining light in the profession, although quite a young man, came to Britt in November, 1880. He had formerly been engaged in the practice of law, at New Hampton, the county seat of Chickasaw county. After a stay in the county, of not over ten months, he emigrated to Humboldt coun- ty, where he at present resides. James M. Elder, although admitted to the bar at the first term of the circuit court, never practiced a great deal, still he must be considered in the light of a lawyer. As Mr. Elder has occupied so prominent a part in the official and busi- ness life of the county, a detailed sketch of him may be found elsewhere. ■"■ — • A -* 9 ■£* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 599 CHAPTER VIII THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF HANCOCK COUNTY. In all ages of the world, among civil- ized and savage people, the medical pro- fession has been held in high esteem. Whether it be the learned professor, who has studied the science of medicine in # all its branches, or the "great medicine man" of the untutored savages, who from actual experience has made discoveries of the healing powers of herbs and roots, honor awaits them on every hand, while the life and death of every human being is virtually placed in their keeping. The weary patient lying upon the bed of pain and the no less weary watcher, wait anxiously for the coming of the "good doctor," and on his arrival, note his every movement and every expression of coun- tenance for a ray of hope. The medical fraternity of Hancock county have, nearly without exception, been an honor to their profession. They have ever been ready to respond to the call of duty. The winter's cold, the sum- mer's heat, or the rain and mud of spring and autumn, could not keep them back when the cry of distress reached their ears. They have been compelled to cross trackless prairies, to face the deathly bliz- zard from the north, often with no hope of fee or reward, but only to relieve, if possible, those who plead for help. All this was done, and more too, by the phy- sicians of Hancock county, without com- plaint. If the good deeds of the profes- sion are not now remembered by those who have received aid, a time will come when they will be. When the names of these pioneer doctors are recalled to mind, it is to be hoped that the hearts of the old settlers will be touched, and all will respond, "may God bless them." For many years, no physician settled within the limits of Hancock county, the county being either too thinly settled or too healthy. Such medical attendance as was necessary, however, was furnished by the medical fraternity of Forest City or Belmond. Dr. Charles L. Buffon settled at Up- per drove about 1859, and practiced medicine to a small extent. He was a first class practitioner, a thoroughly edu- cated physician. He had partially aban- doned his profession to engage in farming pursuits, but could not shut his ears to the cry of suffering humanity when in pain. He afterwards entered the United States service, as a surgeon, during the late war, and won an enviable reputation for skill and success. He is at present a resident of Vinton, Benton county, in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice, al- though a man of years. K? Jtih •k- 600 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. In 1869 Dr. Stanley came into the county of Hancock, and located at Con- cord, and announced himself as ready to do what he was able to relieve the wants, necessities and pains of the invalid por- tion of the colony. The doctor was from the State of Wisconsin, where he had been in practice some years. He stayed at this place for about tw T o years, when he removed to Minnesota. He was a fine looking man, of commanding appearance, and was, with all, a sincere, conscientious Christian gentleman. After leaving Con- cord, he went to Clear Lake, but soon after left that place, as before mentioned, for the neighboring State of Wisconsin. Among the physicians who have lived in the county and engaged in the profes- sion of healing the sick, the halt, the blind and diseased of all kinds, were the following, many of them still residents of Hancock county: Z. C. Greene, R. G. Hamilton, H. W. Smith, H. F. Fort, Eugene McNiel, Dr. Keller, Dr. Alleyne, A. M. Tuttle and A. J. Cole. Dr. Z. C. Greene came to the village of Garner in 1875, and entered upon the practice of medicine. He was a young man, from DeWitt, Clinton county, and fresh from his readings. He was elected coroner during the year 1876. His stay in the county was not of long duration, for after a few years service here he departed for other fields, and has been lost sight of. Dr. H. W. Smith, one of the prominent physicians, located at Garner in 1877, •al- though long a resident of the county, and is at present a resident of the town, car- rying on the drug business in connection with his practice of the healing art. Horace Woodbridge Smith, M. D., the oldest physician practicing in Garner, was born in Kenosha Co., Wis., June 6, 1854. When seventeen years of age he com- menced reading medicine in the office of Dr. C. C. Borney, at Nora Springs. Sub- sequently he read with Dr. Chase, of Osage. In 1876 he entered Rush Medi- cal College, of Chicago, graduating with honors at the age of twenty-two years. Dr. Smith was married, Jan. 10, 1879, to Carrie Boeman, daughter of William Boeman, now a resident of Garner. One child blessed this union. The doctor is a young man, with a brilliant prospect, and has by close attention to business worked up a practice he can well be proud of. He is a member of the Northwestern Medical Association. His father, A O. B. Smith, was born in Burlington, Vt. He came west when twenty-one years of age, settling on a farm in Kenosha, Wis., which occupation he has since followed. He is now living in Hancock county. Dr. Smith's mother died in 1860. Dr. H. F. Fort settled at the town of Britt in August, 1878, where he has since remained. Homer F. Fort, M. D., was born in Troy, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1849. His parents John and Julia (Meyers) Fort, were natives of that State also. Homer was reared in his native county and when seventeen years of age, engaged in the study of medicine under Dr. C. H. Bacon, of Lockport, 111., with whom he continued four years. In 1867-8 he attended the Chicago Medical College and was a student of that institu- tion in the spring term of 1869. In 1869- 70 he attended the University of Medi- cine of Philadelphia, Penn., of which he r J, l£* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 601 is a graduate. In 1870 he entered the drug store of J. H. Hessinger, of that city, continuing in his employ until 1874. He then engaged in the practice of medicine at Shannon, 111., where he remained till August, 1878. He then came to Britt, where he was the first practitioner. He is the present local physician for the M. & St. L.R.R. He was married May 22, 1874, to Augusta Brown. They have two children — Frank and Gertie. Dr. R. G. Hamilton located at Garner in the year 1882, there he at present re- sides, in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice, in partnership with his son, Royal Graves Hamilton. R. G. Hamilton, M. D., of Garner, Iowa, was born at Gray, Cumberland Co., Maine, Jan. 24, 1828. His parents were Rufus and Mary (Orne) Hamil- ton. His father was a blacksmith. In 1848, Rufus Hamilton, the doctor's father, left his native State, emigrating to Grand Detour, 111., where he followed the blacksmith trade for a number of years. In 1858 he returned to Maine where he died in 1867. Mrs. Hamilton died in Grand Detour in 1856. Dr. Hamilton commenced reading medicine at Grand Detour, in 1851, in the office of Dr. Mark L. dishing. Two years later he attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, 111. In 1853 he was married to Mary Helen Orne. He graduated from Rush Medical College in 1856. Dr. Hamilton has fol- lowed his profession in various places. In 1882 he was located in Milwaukee, Wis., from whence he came to Garner, and has since practiced in this place. He spent one year in Cook County Hospital and is a graduate from the Ear & Eye Infirmary, of Chicago. He has had a wide field for practice, from which he has de- rived much useful information. He now has a large and extensive practice which calls him over all the northwestern part of Iowa and Minnesota. Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton have two children — Harlus W. and Royal Graves, a practicing physician of Garner, and a graduate of Rush Medi- cal College in 1881. Dr. Hamilton is a Master Mason. He now makes a specialty of chronic diseases and also of the earand eye. Patients come to him from a long distance away for treatment. Dr. Eugene McNiel located at the grow- ing village of Britt some time in July, 1880, but was not long a resident of the county, as he left suddenly in October, that same year. Dr. Keller, during the latter part of the year 1880, came to Britt from Forest City with the intention of making it a perma- nent home, but on looking the field over he concluded that it was already crowded, and went on further west after a stay of but six weeks. Dr. Alleyne, a physician from the West India islands, located at Britt in 1880, but only remained a month, when he also moved westward, stopping at Wesley, Kossuth county, where he now resides. Dr. A. M. Tuttle, a practitioner of medi- cine according to the homeopathic form- ula, made a short stay in the couuty. In 1881 he settled at Britt, where he ac- quired considerable practice, but left this vicinity in June, 1883, for Chamberlain, Dak., where he expected a larger volume of business. The town of Corwith boasts of but one physician, and who is of the allopathic ^ 602 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. school. Dr. Hartley Heskett located at that place in April, 1881, and has worked up a good business. He is a native of Belmont Co., Ohio, being born in that place July 21, 183'J, and is the son of David and Catharine Heskett. The doctor has been considerable of a wanderer in his time, going to Oregon and the Pacific coast when but a young man of twenty- two, where he remained some five years. He afterwards came west, after returning to his native State, living some time at Corydon, Wayne Co., Iowa, and came to this rising young village as above stated. His wife was Belle McCartney, also a native of Ohio, and they have two chil- dren — Nettie and Roland. CHAPTER IX. THE WAR FOR THE UNION. The Presidential election of 1860, re- sulting in the choice of Abraham Lincoln for President, having been thoroughly known, eleven States in the southern por- tion of the Union passed acts of secession in rapid succession, and on coercion being tried, arrayed themselves in general hos- tility to the federal government. On the 12th day of April, 1861, the rebel forces, under the command of Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, late a major in the United States army, opened a destructive fire upon Fort Sumter, in Charleston Bay. For two days and nights this iron hail was poured into the as yet unfinished fort- ress, and at last, starved, scorched, and out of the necessary ammunition, the gar- rison, under Major Robert Anderson, as brave and gallant a soldier as ever drew a blade, were compelled to surrender; lowering the flag of our fathers to the Haunting rag with the palmetto device. When the news of this outrage thrilled across the wires through all the cities, towns, villages and rural districts of this mighty northland, every heart vibrated in unison with the cry for redress, and every soul was seized with the desire for vindicating the honor of our country. When President Lincoln issued his first proclamation, calling for 75,000 volun- teers, he found the people not only ready but eager to press to the front and wipe out the foul stain upon our Nation's ban- ner. To indicate something of the spirit and the feeling of the people as reflected by the newspapers, those mirrors of the public mind, the following extract is taken from one of our western papers, printed only a few days subsequent to the surren- der of Sumter and the issuance of the proclamation of the President: "Like the viper that was warmed to life in the bosom of the countryman, and *§ -. » fe* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 603 then stung him to death, so the cotton States of the Union have raised the parri- cidal hand of bloody war against the government which has long fostered and protected them. History will blush to record the hugeness of the crime. It overtops the ordinary criminality of cause- less, aggressive warfare, as Satan exceed- ed in proportion the other rebel angels. ' He above the reBt In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower; * « * but his face Deep scars of thunder had entrenched, and care Sat on his faded cheek.' "Without a parallel in the history of the world, all other rebellions, all other treasons, will dwindle to insignificance before the enormity and wickedness of the present. The loyal States and the general government have given an exam- ple of patience and forbearance which was fast being regarded as weakness and imbecility. But, thank God, there is a change. The government still haspower. She struggled long to avert a war, but it has at last been forced upon her. Now she will test her power and prove too strong for treason. There are loyal men enough to defend the Union against every foe. The old Jackson spirit still lives, and is intensified seven fold. 'The Union must and shall be preserved.' We love the old Union more and more every day. The star-spangled banner creates sensa- tions never felt before. Men of all par- ties feel that no oilier banner shall ever float over us. The cursed rattlesnake flag has no business on American soil, and, by the blessings of God, it shall be driven back to the hell from which it came. The descendents of the Pilgrims will never disgrace their ancestry. The clouds will scatter, day will dawn, and out of the thick gloom of the present, liberty will come forth arrayed in robes of rejoicing, and enter upon new glories, 'heights unattcmpted, yes, in prose or rhyme.' 'The land Is never lost that has a 6on to right her, And here are troops of sons, and loyal ones. Strong in her children should a mother be; Shall ours be helpless, that has sons like us?'" With feelings like this, and they were not local, but spread throughout all the loyal States, was it any wonder that her able-bodied sons sprang to the defense of their mother country, and interposed their "fortune, life and sacred honor" in her behalf? Hancock county, then a newly settled district with but 179 inhabitants, in 1860, nobly responded to the noble work and contributed a quota that she might well be proud of. In the election in the fall preceding the commencement of hostilities, but forty-four votes were cast, and at the close of the war but seventy-six; yet out of this little band the boys from the county, found in the front of red, lurid battle, numbered twenty-five, a larger percentage than many other districts can show, by a large ma- jority. Very many, in fact, a great majority of the volunteers from this county, hav- ing gone to Belmond, Webster City and other localities, and there entering the service, were credited to those counties, and it makes it difficult to gather all. The historian has been at considerable trouble and pains to complete the list, as the adjutant-general's report credits but thirteen men to the county, while there 24 _v_ 604 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. were, as may be seen hereafter, some thirty-nine or forty. None are omitted intentionally, and it is believed by the committee of revision that all have been named. The following is the roster: SECOND CAVALRY. COMPANY I. Cornelius Baker, Joseph Gilpin, Jacob Waltz, Harrison Wheelock, Thomas Wheelock, Samuel Gilpin. COMPANY L. John S. Prilchard. R. R. White, M. S. Gilman, Joshua Gilman. Alfred Ward, Stephen Ward, Francis Colburn, David Spencer. ELEVENTH INFANTRY. Lewis Barth, unassigned. THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY. COMPANY A. Cephas Church. COMPANY B. Capt. H. N. Brockway, Cyrus Church, John Christie, Jr., John A. Curran, Douglas Magill, Thomas Magill, Jr., Martin B. Parker. Edward Thorp, A. C Long, C. Rosecrans. George R Lanning. COMPANY P. Chandler W. Scott, Simeon B. Wells. THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY - . As many of the boys in blue from Han- cock county were in that regiment an ex- tended account of its history would not be out of place in this connection. The companies forming the 32d In- fantry Iowa Volunteers were recruited in this and the neighboring counties, during the latter part of the summer and early fall of 1862. They rendezvoused at Camp Franklin, near Dubuque. Here, on Octo- ber 6, they were sworn into the service of the United States for three years; John Scott, of Story county, being colonel; E. E. Mix, of Butler, lieutenant-colonel; G. A. Eberhart, of Black Hawk, major; Charles Aldrich, of Hamilton, adjutant. Here it remained under drill, acquiring discipline, until about the middle of the following month. Owing to the insuffici- ency of quarters at the camp, a malignant form of measles broke out, which was fatal in many instances. From the 14th to the 18th of Novem- ber the regiment, numbering about 920 men, embarked by detachments for St. Louis, reporting there on the 21st, and go- ing into- quarters at Benton Barracks. Here it remained a few days, when, under orders from Maj.-Gen. Curtis, six compa- nies under Col. Scott proceeded to New Madrid, Mo., and the remaining four companies, under Major Eberhart, went no further down the river than Cape Girardeau. The separation of the regi- ment thus effected on the last day of the autumn of 1862, continued until the spri.ig of 1864. It was a prolific source of annoyance and labor. The details re- quired of a regiment were frequently de- manded from each of these battalions; stores sent to the regiment would some- times go to the detatchment and some- times to the headquarters, when they should have gone just the other way; the mails were in an interminable tangle. At the headquarters were companies B, C, E, II, I and K; under Major Eberhart, companies A, D, F and G. The history of the regiment during this long period of separation must necessarily be two-fold. It will not be improper to write first an account of the detachment under Major Eberhart. In obedience to the order of Gen. Curtis, they proceeded to Cape Girardeau, ■* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 605 and the major assumed the command of that post on the 1st of December, 1862. The garrison consisted of this detachment and one company of the 2d Missouri Heavy Artillery. Here they remained during the winter doing provost and gar- rison duly. On the 10th of March they were re-inforced by the 1st Nebraska In- fantry, and preparation made for a inarch into the interior. On March 14th Major Eberhart marched his detachment to Bloomfieid, accompanying a regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry, and a battery of Missouri Artillery, where they remained until the 21st of April, when they moved to Dallas, forty-six miles northward. The march was by a circuitous route, requir- ing sixty miles travel. The rebel, Gen. Marmaduke, now threat- ened Cape Girardeau with a considerable army. He himself was at Fredericktown, northwest of Dallas, while another force was coming up the Bloomfieid road. Gen. McNeil, commanding the Union forces, marched at once for Cape Girardeau, by Jackson. The detachment of the 32d, that was guarding the train, marched from Dallas to Jackson, a distance of twenty- two miles, in less than six hours, and reached the Cape on the evening of the 24th. The next day Marmaduke invested the place with some 8,000 men. At 10 o'clock at night he sent a flag of truce, with a demand of unconditional surren- der, giving the Union commander thirty minutes for decision. Gen. McNeil, by Col. Strachan, who received the truce, sent Itack a flat refusal in one minute, and politely requested a credit of twenty-nine minutes by Gen. Marmaduke. The attack was not, however, commenced until Sunday morning, the 26th, at 10 o'clock, when the rebels retired with considerable loss, just as Gen. Vandever came down the river with re-inforcements for the garrison. In this combat, Major Eber- hart's command was posted on the light, in support of a section of Meltfiy's bat- tery. Its loss was but one man captured on picket. On the 28th, our detachment was ordered to Bloomfieid. Leaving Cape Girardeau at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, it marched fifty miles by dark the next evening, and went into camp near Castor river. Completing the bridge over the stream, it returned to the Cape, reaching there May 5. Here it remained on gar- rison duty until the 11th of July, when it again marched to Bloomfieid. Having remained there a few days, at work on the fortifications, it was attached to the Reserve Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Department of the Missouri, and on the I 'Ml: started on the memorable march, which ended with the capture of Little Rock, Ark. The command reached Clarendon on the 8th of August. Early on the morn- ing of the 13th, the detachment started up White river. The expedition lasted three days and was a brilliant success. The fleet went up the White river to the mouth of the Little Red river, and up the latter W> the town of Searcy, where two steamers were captured and a pontoon bridge destroyed. When ten miles from Searcy, on their return, the fleet was at- tacked by 300 rebels, who directed their principal fire on the prize Kaskaska, which was manned by company D, under Lieut. VV. D. Tempi in. The steamer was near the shore from which they were at- *?; tf- 9 W- 606 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNT V. tacked, but made a gallant defense. The rebels were driven off with a loss of more than twenty killed. The loss in company D was one killed and five wounded. Before reaching White river, the fleet was again attacked, but the as- sailants were quickly driven off with loss, and without any casualty on board. Large quantities of public property were destroyed, and a number of prisoners captured during the expedition. In the heavy skirmish at Bayou Metoe, on the 27th, the detachment was engaged, los- ing one killed and two wounded. The day the command reached "Dead- man's Lake," the scorching heat of that day, the parched ground marched over, the air at times filled with flying dust, is one not easily forgotten. The stagnant pond bearing the above name was cov- ered with a green scum, yet the men, burning with thirst, plunged in and drank greedily of the filthy water. The two trips from Duvall's Bluffs to Brownsville, as guard to the cavalry train, were trips of hard marching in hot weather, and of suffering for water for man and i-^ast, and from dust and heat. The sick this march certainly received no extra care' — at first shipped to Helena, and then to Clarendon, on the White river. About the 21st of August a small steamer, a side-wheeler, sailed &up the White river loaded with sick and conva- lescent soldiers. It was one of the hot- test of August days in this climate, when she ran from Clarendon to Duvall's Bluffs, forty-five miles in four hours. Not a spot on that boat, from the border deck to the hurricane deck, but was covered by a sick man. Sick men were piled away on that hurricane deck in the broiling sun, wher- ever a man could be laid. Is it any won- der, on that run of about four hours, twenty-six men died on that boat? — one of them a corporal of company G, (Carter). On the 25th of August another march of twenty-six miles across those prairies of Prairie Co. Ark. About 1 1 o'clock that night we filed into the little court house yard at Brownsville. Just as we filed in, C4en. Davidson stepped to the fence and said, "Boys, lie down quickly and take some rest, for I will need you at an early hour." Then turning to an- other officer he said, "These brave boys have marched 500 miles and kept up with mv cavalry." By three o'clock next morning we were astir, and at four were in line and on the move. A march of nine miles brought us to the rebel out- posts, skirmishing three and a half miles to the brow of the hill, and after maneu- vering, etc., half a mile to the bank of "Bayou Metaire." The whole movement during the day was only a bushwacking affair. In the evening we fell back to the top of the hill to support a battery. There dark found us. The battery and all other troops had left. One detachment alone was on the field, with the rebels closing around us, when we withdrew and fell back tint night to a corn-field near Brownsville; about one o'clock that night, at the word "halt," the boys dropped on the ground, and lay down between corn rows. No alignment encampment was made. The night was dark, as dense black clouds o'erspread the sky, and soon the rain came down in torrents; but there the boys lay — whatelse could they do? About nine a. m. it broke away; but, oh! the rrmd; ^ i **L HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 607 mud I We had no rations; but soon found a patch of sweet potatoes, and had a sweet potato breakfast. The detachment remained two days in camp in the limber near, and then moved to the old cavalry camp north of town, where our sick boys had been kept in a double log house on the edge of the prairie, and at a little grove of a few scattering oaks, and near a pond of stag- nant water. On the 31st of August, 1863, the day was very hot, and hence the train was or- dered to go through to Duvall's Bluffs in the night. All the detachment was or- dered to go as guard. The whole detach- ment able to go was ordered on the trip. We could raise only forty men, and some twelve or fifteen of them were unable to march, but were ordered to go, as they could be piled on the wagons, and could use their guns in case of an attack. This was a serious camp ground to the detachment. A few days and not a well man was in the camp, and not many men able to care for the sick. Every nook and corner of the old house was covered with a sick man, every spot on the porch or in the hall was the receptacle of some invalid. Everything that was possible under the circumstances was done for the sick. But the detachment was in ad- vance of the main army, and of all sup- plies. No sanitary or Battlers' stores had reached them, and much of the ordinary soldiers' fare was unfit for use. Much of the hardtack had too much life. Here the detachment lost several of their men. Many nameless graves on southern soil are all that remain of these gallant spirits who laid down their lives for their country; not in the fierce excitement of battle, but in the pain and anguish of the sick bed. ' ' Their young lives were ended, Their young spirits fled; And now they are sleeping. In peace with the dead." On the removal of the detachment to Little Rock, it was relieved for a time from all guard or other duty, except the care of its own sick, by order of Gen. Davidson, who added that this was all that it was possible for them to do. Here they lost several more of their members, but on the whole the boys found Little Rock a healthy place and they improved rapidly in health. Gen. McPherson, medical director, af- terwards atVicksburg, said that the send- ing of these four companies through on that campaign to keep up with the cav- alry, was a burning shame, one of the outrages of the war, and no wonder the men were used up. They remained at Little Rock until the middle of October, when they moved to Benton, twenty-five miles distant. Returned to Little Rock, where they remained until January, 1864, then it started to Memphis, which place it reached on the 5th of February. Here it was ordered to report to Gen. A. J. Smith, at Vicksburg. It reached that city on the 9th, and remained there until the 27th, when it marched to Black river to await the army on its return from the interior. Meanwhile Col. Scott established his headquarters New Madrid, and assumed command of the post. On the 1 7th of December, 1862, he sent out a detachment of 100 men under Capt. Peeble's, who went as far as St. Francis river, bringing back "1^ it ■»b>. 608 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. several prisoners, much public property and valuable information. On the 28th of December Col. Scott de- stroyed the public property, and evacuated New Madrid, by order of Gen. Davies, af- ter which he proceeded to Fort Pillow. Here he remained six months, the com- panies performing garrison duty. The command embarked for Columbus, Ky., on the 17th and 18th of June, 1863, in detachments, and went into camp there on the 19th, and there regimental head- quarters remained for more than seven months, Col. Scott being most of the time in command of the post. On July 10, Union City, in Tennessee, was captured by the rebels. The com- mand hastened to that place, but arrived too late to find the enemy. After burying the dead and caring for the wounded, they returned. The command was soon afterwards again divided into fractions. Companies B and I, under the command of Capt. Miller, alone remained at regi- mental headquarters. Company C was attached to the 4th Missouri Cavalry ; company E was placed at Fort Quimby, not far from Columbus ; companies H. and K, Capt. Bensen commanding, pro- ceeded down the river to Island No. 10. From this time forth until January, 1864, the history of each of these detachments is devoid of remarkable events. This, with the exception of company C, who were actively employed during most of that period, and the labors of officers and men were arduous in the extreme. They scouted a wide expanse of country infested by guerrillas, marched sometimes a con- siderable distance from Columbus, going out in all weather, by night as often as by day. They braved many perils and en- dured many hardships. In the month of January, 1864, these six companies were brought together, and soon embarked for Vicksburg, where they were assigned to the second brigade. Perhaps there was not a single organiza- tion in the whole army under Gen. Sher- man that so gladly commenced that sin- gular campaign as the one under Col. Scott. If the battalion left Vicksburg joyfully, its return was still more joyful, for here were found Major Eberhart and his four companies, and the regiment was together for the first time since November, 1862. The re-union brought great satis- faction to both officers and men. Shortly after the regiment was ordered to the Department of the Gulf, and there ac companied the disastrous Red river expe- dition. On this expedition the 32d suffered more severely, perhaps, than any other regiment. It formed a part of Gen. A. J. Smith's command, consisting of 10,000 infantry and three batteries of artillery, which left Vicksburg, March 9, on trans- ports, accompanied by gunboats. At the mouth of the Red river this fleet was joined by Admiral D. D. Porter, with a large fleet, including several iron-clads. The fleet entered Red river by the south- ern stream and passed thence into Acha- falaya, proceeding as far as Semmesport, where the troops disembarked on the night of the 13th and immediately com- menced a march on Fort De Russy. No halt was ordered till the army had marched some seven miles. It was twenty-eight miles from here to Fort De Russy. Nevertheless the army marched that dis- »Jv HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 609 tance the next day, constantly harrassed by rebel cavalry; delayed once two hours at a stream over which a bridge had to be made ; attacked the fort and carried it by storm before sundown and before the gunboats had arrived. In this assault the 32d was on the right, and "the men on the right took the fort," said the pris- oners. Col. Shaw, commanding the brig- ade, speaks in unqualified praise of all the officers and men in his command. Tim loss was slight on either side. Oi the 32d, one man was killed and two were wounded. At Fort De Russy they re embarked and proceeded to Alexandria, where the troops again disembarked and remained nearly two weeks. At this point the col- umn under Gen. Smith formed a junction with the column which had marched from New Orleans. The boats could not be taken over the rapids while laden, so the troops marched to Cotile Landing, some twenty-five miles up the river. Here our regiment had its first battalion drill, with all the companies in line, since leav- ing Dubuque, in November, 1862. On the 3d of April, the command again em- barked and reached Grand 'Ecore on the next evening, where it remained till the morning of the 7th, when it marched to the front of the battle of Pleasant Hill, where the brigade to which the 32d be- longed, commanded by Col. Shaw, of the 14th Iowa, stood the brunt of the fight, being the first in the battle, fighting long- er than any other, in the hardest of the contest, the last to leave the field, and losing three times as many officers and men as any brigade engaged. "Of Col. John Scott, 32d Iowa," says the brigade commander, "it is sufficient to say that he showed himself worthy to command the 32d Iowa Infantry — a regi- ment which, after having been entirely surrounded and cut off from the rest of the command, with nearly one-half of its number killed or wounded, among them many of the best and prominent officers, forced its way through the enemy's lines, and was again in line, ready and anxious to meet the foe, in less than thirty minutes." It is certain no regiment ever fought with a sublimer courage than did the 32d, on the battle-field of Pleasant Hill. Its heroism and its sacrifices were worthy of a better fate than a retreat from the scene of its splendid (Taring and its glory. The fame of its gallant con- duct spread all over Iowa, as it would have spread over the whole country h. the commanding general accepted the victory which the troops had given him. But sad losses befell the regiment. Lieut.-Col. Mix was slain on the field, also many of the officers were either slain or wounded. The regiment lost, in all, 210 officers and men, killed, wounded and missing; most of the missing were also wounded — any so reported, no doubt slain. Iowa gloried in the fame of her honored sons, and wept for their dead comrades who fell on the stricken field . The following beautiful lines were writ- ten by Mrs. Caroline A. Soule, upon hear- ing of the sad losses sustained by the 32d at Pleasant Hill: Cold are the sleepers Wrapt in their shrouds- Pale are the weepers The battle has bowed; Softly they slumber, Our soldiers in death — While hearts without number Cry, with hushed breath — O God, are they dead I F Q 610 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Pale are the sleepers, Like marble they lie — Sad are the weepers. Tear-stained their eyes; Quiet they slumber. Soldiers entombed, While hearts without number, All shrouded in gloom, Cry— O, are they g-one! Calm are the sleepers, Taking their rest- Sad are the weepers, Joyless their breasts; Softly they slumber, Our soldiers today. While hearts without number Cry, only this way Can our battles be won! Col. Sliaw's brigade covered the retreat of the army to Grand 'Eeore, when the 32d regiment, after a movement up Red river to aid the fleet in escaping from imminent peril, went into encampment. It joined in the retreat down the Red river on the 21st, and frequently met light bodies of the enemy in skirmish. The retreat from Alexandria to the Mississippi was also harassed by the enemy, and considerable skirmishing took place at Bayou La Morge, Marksville and Bayou de Glaize, in both of which the regiments took part. Col. Shaw, in his report of the latter battle, says: "To Col. Gilbert, 27th Iowa, Major Eberhart, of the 32d Iowa, Capt. Crane, of the 14th Iowa, and their commands, is due the safety of the army. Had they failed to move into the position assigned them (although a difficult one, that of changing front under fire) with less celerity, or failed to hold it steadily after taking it, our left and rear would have been envel- oped by overwhelming numbers, and nothing could have saved us — not even the fighting qualities of the sixteenth army corps." The regiment reached Memphis on the 10th of June, from there the command moved to Moscow, and thence to LaGrange in the latter part of June. From this point it marched with Gen. Smith's forces on the Tupelo campaign. It returned to Memphis, and having encamped there about ten days, joined in the Oxford ex- pedition. The next active campaign in which the 32d took part was in Missouri in the pursuit of Price. It was a cam- paign of severe marching but not of bat- tle. The regiment marched at least 650 miles, averaging twenty miles a day. It marched across the State and back again. Halting a few days at St. Louis, it moved to Cairo by steamer, arriving No- vember 27. From here it moved to Nashville, which was soon after besieged by the rebel gen- eral, Hood. In the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, the 32d, fighting in Gen. Gilbert's brigade, was warmly en- gaged, and won great credit for daring, efficient behavior. It captured a battery of five guns, and many prisoners, and lost about twenty-five killed and wounded. With the pursuit of the defeated rebels, closed the campaigning of the regiment for the year 1864, in face of the enemy. Early in 1865 the regiment marched to Clifton, Tenn., whence it moved by steamer to Eastport, Miss. Tt« next and last campaign was that of Mobile, under Gen. E. R. S. Canby. It remained in Alabama some time after the fall of Mo- bile, and was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 24, 1S65. Returning to Iowa, the 32d was in due time disbanded, the officers and men receiving everywhere along the line of their journey the kind greetings and hearty welcome of a grate- ful people, whose hearts had been with them through all their hardships. TWELFTH U. S. REGULAR INFANTRY. COMPANY C .T. H Beadle, G. A. Stiles. Lorenzo Colburn. Alexander Drcoync, B. F. Denslow. THIRTEENTH U. S. REGULAR INFANTRY. COMPANY H. B. H Haskins, J. M. Haskins. REGIMENT AND COMPANY UNKNOWN. Juines Lachore, Mr. Langley, ~^\ Mat tin Pa - ker. "A htvY YORK, N, Y. ;v « w_ k* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 611 CHAPTER X. NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION. The truly representative citizen of a Nation, State or county, is the public of- fice-holder. He stands in the relation of a representative of the people, and, as such, demands in his individual capacity the respect we owe to the people as a body. In this connection are presented sketches of many who have served Hancock county in official capacity. The sketches in some instances are short, and do not do full justice to those represented, but in no case is this the fault of the historian. The material was not accessible for more ex- tended notices. CONGRESSIONAL. On the organization of Hancock county it became a part of the 2d congressional dis- trict, which then embraced about half the State, and was represented in the Con- gressional Halls by William Vandever, of Dubuque, who being re-elected, served until March, 1862. Mr. Vandever is a native of Maryland, who came west in 1839, locating at Rock Island until 1851, when he went to Dubuque. While serv- ing his second term he abandoned his seat in Congress, and returning home, raised the 9th Iowa Infantry, going to the front as its colonel. He was made brigadier- general, and at the close of the war, bre- veltcd major-general. He is now one of the most prominent and respected men in the city of his adoption — Dubuque. By the census of 1860, Iowa was enti- tled to six representatives in Congress, and Hancock county, on there-districting of the State, in 1862, became a part of the 6th district. Its first representative from this district was Asahel W. Hubbard, of Sioux City. He was elected in the fall of 1862, and served as a member of the 38th Congress. He was re-elected to the 39th and 40th Congresses. He was a native of Connecticut, and was born in 1817. He came to Iowa in 1857, locating at Sioux City. He had been in that place only about a year, when he was elected judge of the 4th judicial district. It is said of him, that he was a man of honor and in- tegrity and was all that his constituents asked. Charles Pomeroy, of Fort Dodge, was the next representative in Congress from the 6th district. He was elected in 1868, and served in the 41 st Congress, one term. Jackson Orr, of Boonesboro, succeeded Mr. Pomeroy, in 1871, who represented this, the 6th district, at Washington, until the change in the district. In 1870, it was found that the popula- tion of this State had so increased as to entitle it to some nine representatives in Congress. In the new re-apportionment, ^ « fi», 612 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Hancock county became a part of the 4th district. It was first represented by Henry O. Pratt, of Charles City, in. the 43d Con- gress. Mr. Pratt was re-elected to the 44th and thus served until March, 1877. Mr. Pratt is a native of the State of Maine. He was admitted to the bar in Mason City, Cerro Gordo county, in June, 1862. During the war he enlisted, as a private, in com- pany B, 32d Iowa Infantry, but being in poor health, lie was discharged in the early part of 1863. The following summer, while recuperating, he taught school in Worth county, this State. He, that fall, commenced the practice of law at Charles City. His record in Congress was credit- able, both to himself and to his constit- uency. In 1878 N. C. Deering, of Osage, Mitch- ell county, was elected to represent the 4th district in the 45th Congress, and was re-elected by a full vote, to continue through the 46th and 47th Congresses. He was a prominent and influential member of the House while there, and retired with laurels, to his home in Osage, where he is engaged in looking after his property and in placing loans for Eastern capitalists. In 1882, on the State being again re- districted, Hancock county was made a part of the new 10th district, and A. J. Holmes, of Boone, was elected its first representative for the 48th Congress, a position he yet holds. Mr. Holmes is noted for being one of the most astute lawyers in the district, and as an orator is fluent, logical and gentlemanly; no angry vituperation or harsh invective escapes him, but his great forte lies in his easy suavitv. MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. The 9th General Assemby convened at DesMoines, Jan. 13, 1862, and adjourned April 5, 1862. It also met in extra ses- sion September 3, and adjourned Sep- tember 11, of the same year. This was the first time that the county of Hancock had a distinctive representation, and was a component part of the 56th representa- tive district with J. E. Blackford as mem- ber of Assembly. At the same time Chauncey Gillett represented the district in the Senate. The 10th General Assembly convened at DesMoines, Jan. 11, 1864, and adjourned March 29th, the same year. G. W. Howard represented this district in the Senate, and Lemuel Dwelle, one of the most prominent men of of Worth county, in the Lower House. Mr. Dwelle is one of the truly representative men of the county; coming west with small means, by industry and economy he has managed to amass considerable property, and an enviable reputation for integrity and ability. The 11th General Assembly met at Des Moines, Jan. 8, 1866, and adjourned the 3d of the following April. G. W. Hart was still in the Senate. Hancock county, still a part of the 56th representative dis- trict, was fully represented by C. D. Pritchard. The 12th General Assembly convened at DesMoines, in January, 1868. Hancock county, then a part of the 45th senatorial district, was represented by Theo. Hawley, who gave eminent satisfaction in that ca- pacity. The county, by the new distribu- tion, became a part of the 61st represent- V, 6 ^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 613 ative district, and was represented by John B. Hunter. Tlie 13th General Assembly met in sol- emn conclave at Des Moines, in January, 1870. Being a part of the 46th senator- ial district, this county was served but in- differently well by E. A. Howland, who could do nothing to please his constituen- cy. In the House, B. F. Hartshorn rep- resented this district, which was then known as the 65th. The 14th General Assembly convened at Des Moines, in January, 1872, and the 46th senatorial district was still represented by E. A. Howland. David Secor, of Forest City, represented the 66th representative district, a part of which was Hancock county. Mr. Secor is a real estate dealer and banker of the capital city of Winnebago county where he still resides. A full sketch of the gen- tleman appears in the history of Winne- bago county, in this volume. The 15th General Assembly convened at Des Moines in January, 1874. Han- cock county, in 46th senatorial district, was still represented by E. Howland. David Secor still serving the 66th repre- sentative district in the Lower House. The 16th General Assembly met at Des Moines in January, 1876, and Hancock, as part of the 69th representative district, was most ably served by one of this county's most capable men, H. H. Bush. In the Senate, Lemuel Dwelle, of Worth county, was the representative of this, the 46th senatorial district. The 17th General Assembly convened in January, 1878. Lemuel Dwelle still represented this district in the Senate and A. C. Walker, also a prominent citi- zen of Worth county, was a member of the House from this, the 77th representa- tive district. Mr. Walker is a large real estate owner and dealer in Northwood, and one of its most respected citizens. He ably fulfilled his duties in the legisla- tive halls and merited the thanks of his constituents. The 18th General Assembly was con- vened at Des Moines, in January, 1880. In the Senate this district was represent- ed by F. M. Goodykoontz, one of the mem- bers of the bar of Cerro Gordo county. He only served out half the term for which he was elected, and then resigned on account of business interests. In the House, John Hill represented this dis- trict. The 19th General Assembly met at DesMoines as usual, in January, 1882, and Hancock county was represented in the Senate by H. G. Parker, who had boen elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Goodykoontz. J. E. Anderson was the representative in the Lower House. CIRCUIT JUDGE. As has been stated, this office was crea- ted by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, April, 1868. The first circuit judge in this district was Harvey N. Brockway, of Concord, Hancock county, one of the first lawyers in the county, both as to point of time and ability. He was elected at the general election of 1868, and served upon the bench until January, 1873, when he was succeeded by R. G. Reiniger, the present incumbent. Mr. Brockway, although re- elected to serve for the four years, from January, 1872, saw fit to resign the ermine *£T 4,1 614 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. to attend to his large business interests, much to the dissatisfaction of many of his friends and well-wishers. COUNTY JUDGE. As stated in connection with the chapter devoted to the "Courts of Hancock Coun- ty," this office was created by an act of the General Assembly, in 1857. It was the most important office in the county, as the judge, in connection with the county court, consisting of himself, the prosecu- ting attorney and the sheriff, transacted almost all the business now devolving upon the board of supervisors, auditor, circuit court and clerk of the courts. Thus it will be seen that this official, in those days, had large opportunity to earn the little pay there was attached to the office. M. P. Rosecrans was the first comity judge, being unanimously elected to fill that position in June, 1858, at the time of the organization of the county. Judge Rosecran's duties began with his election, and he assumed the judicial ermine and proceeded to perfect the organization of the county. He was re-elected twice and served until January, 1866. An able, well meaning and upright man, he con- ferred honor upon the office with which he was dignified. Judge Rosecrans was the first lawyer to locate in this county and has in later days continued in prac- tice in the adjoining county of Cerro Gordo, where he at present resides. Phineas Haywood succeeded Mr. Rose- crans, assuming the official station in January, 1866. He served in this capacity two years. G. W. Elder was the successor of Mr. Haywood. He was elected at the Octo- ber election, 1867, and served until the 1st of January, 1S69, when the' office was abolished, those duties remaining to that office since the creation of the board of supervisors, being delegated to the newly created county auditor, which office he held for one year, ex-officio. Mr. Elder is at present a resident of Hancock coun- ty, at Upper Grove. COUNTY AUDITOR. John Christie, Jr., has the honor of being the first county auditor elected. At the election in October, 1869, he was elected to fill that office, and upon the 1st of January, 1870, he assumed its duties. After serving his term of two years, he was three times re-elected, serving con- secutively eight years, when he stepped down and out to give place to a successor. J. W. Elder was elected to the office next, entering upon the official duties with the beginning of the year 1878. He served two years, going out of office the last of 1879. M. L. Fuller succeeded Mr. Elder, serv- ing from January, 1880, to January, 1882. Mr. Fuller is still a resident of this county. A well educated, capable man, who has filled several official stations with credit to himself, he well merits the re- spect of all. John Christie, Jr., the present county auditor, was again elected to fill this im- portant office at the election in the fall of 1881. He assumed the administration of the office with the incoming year 1882, and has faithfully discharged the duties thereof. At the election of October, 1883, he was re-elected to be his own successor. John Christie, Jr., county auditor, and one of the early settlers of Hancock ;V _J 9 liL HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 615 county, was born in Ontario, Canada, March 5, 1841. His parents, John and Agnes (Craik) Christie, were natives of Scotland, and emigrated to Canada. When seventeen years of age he went with his parents to Iowa Co., Wis.; and on June 10, 1861, he came to Hancock Co., Iowa. On the 18th day of August, 1862, he enlisted in company B, 32d Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry. His regiment was en- gaged at Fort De Russy, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, Old Town Creek, Nashville and other battles ; and he was mustered out at Memphis, Term., in May, 1865. After the close of the war, Mr. Christie re- turned to this county. In 1867 he was married to Polly E. Robbins, a daughter of Daniel Robbins, and a native of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Christie have five children — Florence L., Agnes E., "Su- san, John S. and Mabel. In 1869 Mr. Christie was elected county auditor, hold- ing the office for eight consecutive years. In 1SSI, he was again elected to the office of county auditor, and re-elected in 1883. At the time of building the court house he was a member of the board of super- visors, and took an active interest in it. Mr. Christie is a Master Mason. TREASURER AND RECORDER. At the organization of the county, this was one of the officers chosen, and Reu- ben Church was unanimously elected to fill this dual office. He at once as- sumed the duties thereof, July 1, 1858, and continued to fulfill the position to the eminent satisfaction of all. He was re-elected his own successor at each recurring election until January, 1862, when he stepped aside for a successor. He has since left this State and lives in Nebraska. Jacob Ward was elected to these offices, and entered upon their duties, January, 1864. He served until the first of the year 1866. "Uncle Jake," as he was fa- miliarly called by nearly all, was one of the early settlers of Hancock county, a man of positive character, widely known and universally respected. It is re- ported of him that he was an active par- ticipant in all political and social life. Large hearted, generous and hospitable, he was just the man for a pioneer settlement. In the cyclone that devastated part of this county, in June, 1881, he was the un- happy victim, being killed in his own door- yard. An account of this storm may be found elsewhere, so it is needless to speak of it farther in this connection. Mr. Ward was an honored member of the Clear Lake Masonic Lodge, and under its auspices his funeral was conducted. COUNTY TREASURER. In October, 1865, H. N. Brockway was elected county treasurer, and was the first to serve in that office after its separation from that of recorder. He went into office January, I860. He was re-elected in October, 1867, and served, in all, three years, resigning the office to accept the position of judge of the circuit court, under which head a more extended notice of him may be found. At the election that elevated Judge Brockway to the woolsack, John Maben was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the former. He was re-elected his own successor in 1869, 1871,1873, 1875,1877 and 1 879, serving in this capacity thirteen years. ;** 616 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Thomas Hymer was the next incumbent of the office, assuming the reins of that department of the county government, January, 1882. Thomas Hymer is one of the prominent men of this county who deserves special mention in this work He is a native of Grant Co., Wis., born May 14, 1828. His parents, Adam and Mary (Kendall) Hymer, were old settlers of Grant Co., Wis. He was reared in his native county and when eighteen years of age, engaged in the lead smelting business, which he followed until 1877. He then came to Britt and engaged in the lumber business being the first lumber merchant in thatcity. At the time of his arrival in Britt he purchased a farm and was also engaged in farming. He disposed of his lumber business in 1879, and then turned his entire attention to farming. He has a good farm of 240 acres, and is quite an extensive dealer in Shorthorn cattle. He was elected county treasurer in 1881, which office he held till January 1884. He was married June 15, 1851, to Mary J. Uren ,a native of England. They have five children — Horace, Westly, Frank, Mack and Bessie. Mr. Hymer's father is a native of Scotland, and his mother of Pennsylvania. In 1883 John Maben was again elected to the office of county treasurer and is the present incumbent. John Maben settled in Hancock Co , Iowa, in 1855. He was a son of Benjamin and Diadama (Buell) Maben, and was born June 16, 1824, in Green Co., N. Y. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. John was reared on his father's farm, receiving a limited education. When twenty-one years of age he left the 'parental roof and started out in the world to battle for himself, going to Stephenson Co, III., then a sparsely settled county, and purchasing land from the government, near Yellow creek, and opening up a farm. In 1848 he returned to New York, where he was married to Zurviah Hunt. He then returned to Stephenson county. In April, 1851, Mrs. Maben died, leaving one child — Charles B., now one the enterpris- ing business men of Minneapolis, Minn., where he is engaged in the real estate business. Subsequently Mr. Maben mar- ried Mary A. Curran. Five children blessed this union — Jay D., John O, H. G., Mary I), and W. Eddie. In 1854 Mr. Maben sold his farm in Illinois and moved to Iowa, spending the first winter in Ben- ton county, and in September, 1855, com- ing to Hancock county, where he has since resided. His first settlement in the county was on sections 12 and 13, Madison town- ship. He now resides at Garner, Concord township. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Maben was appointed sheriff to fill a vacancy, and in 1863 he received the election, at the same time being elected county super- visor, which office he held six years. In December, 1868, he was appointed treas- urer and elected recorder, and in 1879 was elected to the office of treasurer, which office he held until 1881, being thirteen consecutive years. In October, 1883, he was again elected treasurer. Mr. Maben has been prominently identified with Hancock county for a quarter of a century, and probably no one is better known by old and young alike than he. Robert Elder, deputy county treasurer, was born in Clearfield Co., Penn., Feb. 23, 1838. In the spring of 1861 he went ;nr &+ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 621 Stephenson Co., 111., now deceased. Three children blessed this union, two of whom are living — Maud R. and Jennie E. In 1861 Mr. Elder came to Hancock county and settled at Upper Grove, where he was engaged in teaching school. In 1865 he was elected to the office of county clerk, and soon after removed to Concord, where some small buildings had been erected for county offices. In 1866 he was re-elected to the same office. He has also held sev- eral local offices of trust. Mrs. Elder died Aug. 7, 1880. Mr. Elder came to this county in limited circumstances, but by fair dealing and judicious manage- ment, he has accumulated a comfortable property, and is now one of the prosper- ous men of the county. CORONER. At the time of the first election, in 1858, for some reason, no coroner wa> elected, nor was it until in October, 1859, that it was thought necessary to elect one Charles Church was then chosen to fill the station, which, while not considered a very exalted one, yet it is a very im- portant part of the machinery of county government. Mr. Church assumed the functions of the station, the beginning of the year 1860, and held it for three years. Benoni Haskins was the immediate suc- cessor of Mr. Church, going into office, January, 186:5, and served two years, until the beginning of the year 1865. S. Whitcombe came next as coroner, being first inducted into office in January, 1866. He was re-elected twice — once in 1867 and again in 1869, serving a contin- uous term of six years. Mr. Whitcombe is still a resident of the county. Dr. J. Muncey was elected coroner and entered upon the duties of that office the fore part of the year 1872. He did not stay in this part of the State long enough to fulfill the duties of the office any length of time. He was a physician who had made a temporary location in the western part of the county. After Dr. Muncey had left, J. H. Beadle was elected to fill the vacancy, assuming the office at the beginning of 1873, and holding it for one year. R. W. Noble was elected to fill this office at the October election, 1873 Serv- ing for two years, he then gave way to his successor. Mr. Noble is still a resi- dent of Garner. Dr. Z. C.Green succeeded Mr. Noble on the 1st of January, 1876, and being re- elected, served the county in this capac- ity four years, fie left the county some time since and now lives in Wright county. Dr. Hartley Hesket was chosen to per- forin the functions of coroner, and en- tered upon the duties of the office Janu- ary 1, 1880, and served two years. Dr. Hesket is at present a resident of the town of Corwith, in this county. In 1881, Dr. H. W. Smith was elected to the office of county coroner, but failed to qualify, hence there is no officer of the kind in the county. DRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS. James C. Bonar, one of the prominent figures in the foreground of our pioneer picture, was at the first election, June 28, 1858, elected to fill this office. He served but about eighteen months, which was the term for which he was elected. Mr. ^ •Msl. 9W" 622 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. Bonar has left the county, and is living at present in the State of Minnesota. January, 1860, H. H. Hice was invested with the dignity of this office, and served one year. He has long since left the county for parts unknown. Benoni Haskins, also, served one year in the office of drainage commissioner, from Jan. 1, 1861. Jacob Ward, too, was the incumbent of "lis office one year commencing with Jan. i, 1862. C. D. Pritchard, was another who held this position. He occupied it from Jan. 1, 1863, one year. Charles Bice was the next incumbent, who, taking the office, Jan. 1, 1864, served three years. Mr. Bice, years ago, de- parted from the precincts of Hancock county, and now lives at Brule City, Uak. John Christie, Sr., also filled the office four years, commencing January, 1868. Wesley Hayes occupied this office one year, that of 1872. He is still a resident of the county. Luke Nichols was the last drainage commissioner, the office being abolished during his term of office. He was elected at the October election of 1872. CHAPTER XI. EDUCATIONAL. Although a new and, as yet, a sparsely settled county, it is in respect to its edu- cational facilities, not far in the rear of many older districts, and is fully up with the average of Iowa's counties. The present mode of government of the pub- lic schools differs much from early days, and is a great improvement, and must be considered as filling all the requirements of the present, although by no means en- tirely perfect. There are, as yet, some weak points in the educational system which prove in many cases, very inconvenient, if not exasperating. The law provides for the organization of what is termed dis- trict townships, which are divided by the local board into sub-districts. The district township, as the name implies, is a town- ship organized for educational purposes. All of the sub-districts are a part of the whole, and the finances and all business matters of one and all are manag< d by the board of directors, made up of one from each sub-district. Thus one district cannot make up their minds to vote a tax and build a school house which may be sadly needed, unless the whole township agrees that the tax can be levied; a school teacher cannot be engaged by the sub- district where he or she is to teach, but 5>|V HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 623 the whole township has a voice in it, and thus one teacher with a hard school to teach, and fifty scholars, must receive the same compensation as the teacher with an easy school and five pupils. To partly rectify this opening for injustice, the law provides for the organization of the sub- districts into independent districts, or in other words, gives them power to choose their own board of directors and officers in whom is vested all the powers held by officers of the district township. It als ■ provides for the erection of school house- by the independent districts, but modifies this by the declaration that there must be fifteen scholars of school age in the dis- trict before this can be dime. Sometimes, much injustice grows out of these com- plications, but human laws are almost always faulty, and the school laws of the State of Iowa, are among the best in the world, or are at least so regarded. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. This office was created by act of Assem- bly during the spring of 1858, and was to supercede the old office of school fund commissioner. The first to fill this re- sponsible position was Grove R. Maben, whose term of office commenced with his election in July, 1858, at the date of the organization of the county. At this same 'time the district townships, which had concurrent boundaries with the civil town- ships of Madison and Avery, were organ- ized. In the following fall, Madison voted a tax of five mills, and Avery a tax of ten mills, on the dollar, of taxable properly, for the purpose of building school houses. Mr. Maben is entitled to the credit for the arduous task he was called upon to per- form in perfecting the organization of the educational matters of the county. He held the office until the 1st of January, 1 860, when he retired to make room for his successor. Charles Gillespie was Mr. Maben's suc- cessor, and entered upon the duties of the office with the year 1860. This he held for one year, when he, in turn, gave place to another. Charles Church was the next county superintendent, entering that office Jan. 1, 1801, and served one year. James M. Elder was elected at the fall election of 1861, but failed to qualify and James Crow was appointed by the board of supervisors, to fill the vacancy. He held the office until relieved by his suc- cessor at the beginning of the year 1863, having served one year, to the satisfac- tion and credit of himself and friends. James M. Elder was again elected, by the suffrages of his fellow electors of the county, in October, 1 862, and entered upon his official functions, upon the 1st day of 1«63, and served in this capacity, in an able manner, for two years. A sketch of Mr. Elder may be found under the head of clerk of the courts, a position he held at a later date. M. L. Fuller was Mr. Elder's immedi- ate successor, and who took up the duties pertaining to the office, at the beginning of the year 1864. A good faithful officer, he did much good to the cause of educa- tion during his term of only two years. The next superintendent of schools was C. C. Way, who served in this official ca- pacity, from January, 1866, until the ex- piration of his term, the last of Decem- ber, 186V. Vis »* » V 024 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUKTY. C. Boughton was elected to the office of superintendent of schools, by a unani- mous vote, at the election of October. 1867, and assumed the official baton, the first of the following year, and served but a por- tion of his term. Jan. 1, 1807, the office of superintend ent being vacant, the hoard of supervi- sors of Hancock county appointed that able and capable officer, Lambert B. Bailey, to fill the vacancy. He served until the year was out for which he was appointed, and then gave way to his suc- cessor. Mr. Bailey for many years filled the position of county recorder. A. R. Barnes was Mr. Bailey's succes- sor. His term of office commencing Jan- uary, 1870, and lasted two years. An able educator, the good effects of his adminis- tration are traceable to this day in the educational interests of this, his adopted county. B. F. Scott was the next to don the offi- cial toga, which he did at the beginning of 1872, serving the people in this capaci- ty for two years. A. R. Barnes was again elected to the office, and again served in this capacity for two years, from January, 1876. A. R. Barnes, cashier of the Hancock County Bank, was born in Carroll Co., Ind., July 22, 1846. His mother died when he was but six years old, and the home being thereby broken up, his father soon moved to Iowa. He located in Washington, and was one of the leading- business men of that place for some four- teen years. He was one of the founders of Washington College, which flourished for a few years and was finally blown down by a tornado, in 1864. Its finan- cial condition was such that it was never rebuilt. Mr. Barnes received his education .in it, and in 1864 en- listed in company B, 45th Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. In I860 he was married to Helen N. Mitchell, with whom he emi- grated to Hancock Co., Iowa, in March, 1868. Four children blessed this union — Mary II., Winnifred E., Anna M. and Helen N. In 1809 he was elected to the office of superintendent of public schools for Hancock county, for the term of two years. To this position he was again elected in 1872. Mr. Barnes was success- fully engaged in the mercantile business in Garner for a period of nine years, end- ing in 1880, in the fall of which year Mrs. Barnes died. She was a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, and died in full hope of a glori- ous immortality beyond the grave. Mr. Barnes was one of the founders of the B. & B. creamery, which did much toward developing the stock interests of the county. He was married, in the fall of 1881, to Olivia M. Sturgeon, of Keota, Washington Co., Iowa. He was twice elected to the office of mayor, town of Garner. Mr. Barnes was continuously identified with the Sabbath school inter- ests of his town and county, and his con- tinued enthusiasm and zeal in this part of the Master's work did much to mould the character of the society of that section. M. L. Fuller was again called on by his fellow citizens to occupy the position of head of the schoolastic interests of the county. Entering upon the duties of the office at the beginning of 1878, he dis- ^ fe HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 625 charged them with fidelity for two years more. A. C. Ripley, one of the legal fraternity of Hancock county, assumed this office with the opening of 1880 and gave infinite satisfaction to all by his intelligent man- agement of the affairs pertaining then m to. An extended sketch of this gentleman may be found in the chapter devoted to the bar of Hancock county, where he properly belongs. Samuel Sturgeon, the present superin- tendent of county schools, was elected at the regular fall election of 1K81, and en- tered upon the function of that office the following January. After serving one term of two years, he was re-elected in October, 1883, for another term. S. Sturgeon, superintendent of public schools of Hancock county, was born in Keokuk Co., Iowa, April 15, 1850. His father, William J. Sturgeon, is a native of New Brunswick. He emigrated to Keokuk Co., Iowa, in 1845, where he mar- ried Mrs. Mary Burnside, widow of James Burnside. He purchased land and en- gaged in farming, in Washington county, where he still lives. S. Sturgeon was reared on his father's farm, receiving an academical education. He was married March 20, 1873, to Flora H. Doty, daugh- ter of Roswell and Esther Doty, of New England. Her parents emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and in 1854 removed to to Clinton Co., Iowa, and in a few years to Keokuk county, where Mr. Doty still resides. Mr. Sturgeon came to Hancock county in 1878, where himself and wife were engaged in teaching. In the fall of 1881 he was elected superintendent and in 18^3 re-elected. Mr. and Mrs. Stur- geon are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have one child — John R. DEVELOPMENT. From the time of the organization of the county, the number of school districts has gradually increased, and educational facilities have become more and more efficient. A marked contrast may be found to exist between the time of the first schools and the present, and a slight sketch of the growth of the schools of the county would not be improper in this connection. As a starting point, the report of the first county superintendent of schools, G. R. Maben, is here inserted. This report was filed with the county judge, M. I'. Rosecrans, upon the 27th of November, 1858, and is as follows: First annual report of the county super- intendent for 1858: Number uf districts in county 2 Number scholars between five and twenty- one years of :ige 47 Number of schools taught the past year Number of volumes in libraries of schools. . Amount of money expended Number of male scholars in Avery district.. . 17 Number of female scholars in Avery district. 12 Number of mule scholars in Madison district 8 Numberof female scholaisiu Madison district 10 I hereby certify that the foregoing statement is correct. G. R. Maben, County Superintendent. In the fall of 1858, as has been stated, the two district townships had voted a tax toward raising a fund with which to erect suitable school buildings. In addi- tion to this the State apportionment was received early in 1859, and amounted to the sum of $371.18. This was divided by the county judge, who was, ex-officio, the -7B K* *4?=^ iu 626 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. head of government, as follows: To Avery district the sum of $228.95; to Madison, $142.1 1. In 1860 there were in the county of Hancock, between the ages of five and twenty-one years, thirty-one males and thirty-three females. In 1862 five dis- tricts are reported to have been organized, having the following number of a legal school age in each: Avery, twenty-eight; Madison, twelve; Amsterdam, fifteen; Ellington, two sub- districts, thirty-one; all making a total of eighty-six scholars. In 1872 there were in the county 527 between the same ages, divided as follows: Avery, district township, twenty-nine; Amsterdam, seventy-nine; Concord, 105; Crystal, thirty -seven; Ellington, 197; Madison, eighty. PRESENT CONDITION. From the last report of the county superintendent, a number of items have been collected which will show conclu- sively the present condition of educational matters in Hancock county: report or 1883. Nnmber of district townships in the county 16 Number of independent districts Number of sub-districts 14 Tot ill number of districts 30 Number of ungraded schools in the county 67 Number of rooms in graded schools ... 6 Average term of school in the county. . ' 7 Number of male teachers engaged 21 Number of female teachers engaged. ... 99 Total number of teachers 120 Total number of children enrolled in the schools 1,078 Total average attendance 743.9 Average cost of tuition per month, per pupil $380 Number of school houses in the county 65 Frame 63 Brick 2 Total value of houses $27, 225 Total value of apparatus $4,063 Total number of certificates issued in 1883 139 First grade'. 48 Second grade 51 Third grade 40 Number of applicants rejected 10 Averag" age of female applicants 21 Average age of male applicants 31 Number of volumes in library 150 ^=^rV* i sjj- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 627 CHAPTER XII THE PRESS. The inception of journalism dates from remote ages. The institution, now known as the newspaper, was preceded nearly a thousand years by manuscript publica- tions, in which the accounts of public oc- currences in the Queen city of the world — Rome, were made known to the public. These were known by the name of "Acta Diurna;" but their issue was irregular and without sequence, and often entirely suspended in times of scarcity of news. The editor, as far as is known, did not en- tirely devote himself to this business, but engaged in some other callingor indulged during leisure hours, in the sports of the day. But little advancement or progress was made from this early prototype of the press, until 1622, the date of the birth of the first publication worthy the name of newspaper. For years prior to this time, the mental appetite of medieval and mod- em Europe had subsisted upon periodical manuscript literature. In England, the written news-letter, furnished only at such fabulous prices that only the rich could afford it, was, for a long time, in vogue. This news pamphlet was the nearest ap- proach to the newspaper that had obtained up to 1622; when, as has been said, the first regular series of newspapers was born. In that year the Weekly News from Italie and Oermanie, made its salutatory to the London public. It was printed upon a mechanical contrivance, perfected by Nathaniel Butler, who might be termed the progenitor of the newspaper proper. This contrivance spoken of by contemparary writers by that name only, is supposed to be the germ from which has grown the present improved web per- fecting and cylinder presses. This first attempt at a newspaper was cru.de and weak and no attention was paid to politi- cal events until 1641, when the parliment- ary reports being inserted in the paper, the career of the modern newspaper, may be said to have commenced. The first advertisement occupied a place in the columns in 1648, and was in verse form, setting forth the manifold virtues of, the then, fashionable tailor of Belgravia. The first daily morning newspaper was the London Courant, published in 1709, and which consisted of only one page of two columns, each about five paragraphs long, being made up from translations from foreign journals, many of them a month old. The press now made giant strides, and had so taken hold of the pop- ular mind, that, before 1760, over 7,000,- 000 papers were sold annually in Eng- land alone. All are familiar with the history of the press in our own country, ^ kt 628 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. from the famous Hoston Newsletter down to the present, and it were needless to go into any lengthy dissertation thereon. The revolutions in journalism during the present century have been of so stu- peidous a type as to be almost beyond comprehension, were we not brought face to face with the fact day by day. Nor has the press failed to increase in power and usefulness. It is an instrument cal- culated to elevate and enlighten the peo- ple as well as to aid in the enforcement of the laws, and the perpetuation of good government. It is its mission to make wrong-doing odious, by airing the mis- deeds of those guilty of crimes against law and society; and to point our admir- ing gaze at the good anil pure deeds of the men of nobility of soul, that should demand our respectful homage. The first newspaper published in Han- cock county was the Hancock /Sentinel. This was a journal published at Elling- ton, by D. E Coon. The initial number was issued during the year 1860. C. C. Doolittle, now the clerk of the courts, be- ing a disciple of "the art preservative of the arts" was in charge of the office. The paper ran with varying fortunes until 1863, when for want of patronage it sus- pended. The material that went to make up the paper was sold, and is partly inclu- ded in the make up of the office of the Winnebago County Summit. Out on a bleak and almost desolate prairie, this office was then established, with scarcely paying patronage enough to pay for the paper upon which it was printed, its only dependence was upon a fat slice of the county printing. But little local news was to be had and no labored editorials were indulged in, and those best informed say that the issue was very irregular. No copy of this paper is supposed to exist within the county, and a more extended notice it were impossible to give without more data of facts. It would be inter- esting, were it in the power of the histor- ian, to give some extracts from its col- umns, but the dead ashes of oblivion cover it from human ken. In 1861, a five column folio paper called The Lid jiendeiit, was started at the vil- lage of Amsterdam, by Brainard and Noyes. It is claimed that the prime ob- ject of the inception of this journal was simply to print the tax list and other county printing. If this was so the scheme failed for the paper,after sailing' for a few months on a stormy sea, grounded on the shoals, and was entirely suspended. The paper was, or professed to be entirely neutral in politics, religion and every- thing else, and exerted little if any in- fluence on the material development of Hancock county. A specimen, as it was, of that ephemeral class of papers, that are started in all new countries, that have a brief existence and then die of pure in- anition, from want of support and nourish- ment. Mr. Brainard, who was ostensibly the head of the concern, is at present pub- lishing a paper at Boonesboro, Boone county, this State. In the spring of 1870, at Concord, the county seat of Hancock county, was born another journalistic infant. This was known as the Hancock county Auto- graph. With this euphonious and high sounding name, given it by its projectors and proprietors, Messrs. Moulton and Hamlin, it entered upon a short-lived i ""V 4l^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 629 career. It was an eight column folio and from all reports, fairly edited. But, alas! the country was too thinly settled up to support so pretentious a child, at that date, so after a short life it "gave up the ghost," about nine or ten months after its initial number was launched. The ma- terial was moved to Mason city and after- wards helped to print the Mason City Express. The Hancock Signal, one of the living representatives of this county's press, was established during the year 1871, by G. R. Lanning. The initial number was issued on the 12tb of March and the paper soon was a recognized factor in the busi- ness interests of this neighborhood. Mr. Lanning did not remain long, but soon after launching his journalistic venture, he sold out to Messrs. Haywood & Ma- ben — W. C. Haywood and C. B. Maben. The latter gentleman was not concerned to any large extent in the editorial or mechanical management of the paper, his interest being merely a financial one. But a short time then elapsed before W. C. Haywood purchased the share in the business held by Mr. Maben and took hold of the helm and tried to guide his bark — the Signal — into the haven of pros- perity, through rough and boisterous seas. That he was successful to a large degree, it boots not to speak, for the well-known prosperity, the influence of the paper, its general reputation in the community speak in louder tones than mere words. However, on the 1st of June, 1883, after a ten years voyage, Mr. Haywood saw fit to dispose of all his right, title and in- terest in the Signal to its present owners, Messrs Bush & Elliott. In closing his editorial career and surrendering up the quill and tripod, Mr. Haywood addressed his friends and patrons, sadly and mourn- fully thus: BUSINESS CHANGES. "In this world of business, changes are always occurring. Since last week the Hancock Signal newspaper and job print- ing establishment has changed hands. We have sold the same to Messrs. Henry II. Bush and Charles Elliott. The former is a well and widely known attorney of of this place, mayor of the city and chair- man of the board of county supervisors. He at one time ably represented this dis- trict in the Iowa Legislature, lias for years been prominently identified with our local interests, is a gentleman of well recognized ability, public spirited, en- terprising and progressive. Charles Elliott has been foreman of the Signal office since last fall, and also assist- ant editor as well as assistant post- master. We have known him for some years and engaged him at the highest salary we ever paid any printer in our em- ploy. He is one of the best printers in the State, a thorough scholar, a fluent and forcible writer, of excellent habits, high character, industrious and persevering. The two are well calculated to make a strong team, and can hardly fail of the full- est success within the circuit to which their business interests extend. We ask for them a continuance of the generous pa- tronage and good-will that we have en- joyed so long, and trust and expect that its circle will be extended rather than diminished. "Seconded by the business men of Gar- ner, the postoffice is allowed to remain ^ V 630 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. with the paper, which needs its help, and we have resigned the office in favor of Mr. Bush, that arrangement being mutually agreeable in a business way to the new proprietors of the paper. "We have been publisher of the Signal and postmaster in Garner over ten years. During this time we have labored honestly for the advancement of our town and county, its citizens, our patrons, and their interests. Willi what effect we leave others to judge. We doubtless hive made occasional mistakes. 'It is human to err.' We have had various little tilts here and there, and engaged, at one time and another, in wordy wars of no very seri- ous results, hut through it all have managed to avoid shipwreck, and for the most part, have sailed through very smooth and tranquil waters. We leave the Sig- nal with many regrets. It was a hard struggle for us to decide to give it up. The business relations and social ties that have existed so long between the paper, its publisher, and his patrons, are not sev- ered without heartfelt regret. There are a thousand ties that bind us to the work we are leaving, and it would be a heart of stone that would not be saddened by the thought that each must be broken. Our relations with the press of the State have existed long and have been friendly to an unusual degree. Each of our exchanges has grown as familiar as the faces of our own household. As we pick up each we see hefore us the friendly face and genial smile of its proprietor, and through the pages scanned each week, for years, have grown an acquaintance and friendship we value beyond all price To all — business patrons, social friends, the craft — we ex- tend good wishes for the future, and a a sadly cordial farewell. For the present we drop the Faber and consign you all to the tender mercies of our worthy success- ors. Sincerely yours, W. C. Haywood." The paper is now, as it has been from its inception, an eight column folio, and well printed. The editorials are above the average of the usual inland paper, and betray the fact that the high encomiums of Mr. Haywood were not all "empty words." The Independent was started at Garner by Messrs. Sargent & Geddes in 1877. The first number was issued December 12, •■ind bore evidence to the brains, abili- ty and mechanical skill that had given it birth. It was a five column quarto, and presented a neat, clean appearance. Mr. Geddes was not long a member of the firm, but sold out his interest therein to John Christie, Jr., the present auditor. Mr. Christie, not being a newspaper man, never had his name placed at the head of the paper, but modestly allowed it to be carried on under the flag of his co-partner. This, also, was of short duration, for on the 12th day of March, 1878, Mr. Christie disposed of his interest in the establish- ment to Walter Elder, and the firm then became Sargent & Elder. Alter more than a year of varied fortunes, Mr. Sar- gent, in turn, closed out his portion of the business, and the firm became Walter Elder & Co. Well written editorials, sharp, spicy locals, a remarkable neatness and ability displayed in the make-up and mechanical appearance of the Independent, were always and at all times its dis- tinguishing features, and which clung to Js_ «£< HISTORY OF HAN-COCK COUNTY. 631 it through all its changes unto the end. In the spring of 1882 the paper was moved to Britt, and there consolidated with the Tribune, published in that place. The Northwestern Advertiser, a sharp, spicy sheet, was instituted by C. B. Ma- ben, in 1880, the initial number being issued upon the 1 7th of October. The paper was "a thorn in the flesh" to all who disagreed with it or antagonized its precepts. Sharp, witty and ably con- ducted, it was one of the institutions of the county. In the latter part of 1882 it was, however, sold to George E. Frost, of Clear Lake, but was suspended that same fall, after but a few weeks of life under the new management. Mr. Maben, its projector, is now located in that rapidly growing metropolis of our neighbor State, Minnesota, Minneapolis. The Hancock County Tribune, one of the leading representatives of the press of this locality, was instituted by E. E. Adams, Dec. 19, 1879, under the name of the Britt Tribune. This was a six column quarto paper, and continued to run in that shape until Oct. 15, 1881, when it was consolidated with the Hancock Inde- pendent, when the name of the paper was changed to its present one, and the pub- lishing firm to Adams & Elder, the latter being Walter Elder, late proprietor of the Independent. This firm was short-lived, being dissolved in February, 1S82, Mr. Adams continuing the business alone. Previous to this, in April, 1881, the size and form of the paper was changed to an eight-column folio. In August, 1882, it underwent a further metamorphosis, being changed into a nine-column folio, which form it kept until January, 1883, when it returned to its former size of eight-column folio, with both sides printed at home, a form it retains at present. On the 15th of October, 1882, Mr. Adams purchased the subscription list of the Northwestern Iowa Advertiser, and the Tribune may be considered as the legitimate successor of that sheet. Edwin Adams was born in Van Buren Co., Iowa, Jan. 12, 1853. In 1860 he went to Council Bluffs, remained four years, then returned to his native county. In December, 1866, he moved to Chickasaw county, entering the Courier office as a compositor and remaining until March, 1870. He then went to Grinnell, Iowa, attending the Iowa College until March, 1875, after which he went to Chicago and worked in the job office of the Inter Ocean for two years, the most of the time being in the proof reading department. He was then in the Park News Room build- ing for two years, after which he went to Hopkinton, Iowa, where lie started the Tribune. After remaining here one year became to Britt where he has since been in the newspaper business. He was ap- pointed postmaster in November, 1880, an office which he still- holds. Mr. Adams was married March 20, 1878, to Jennie McCullon, a native of Ohio. They have one child — Mabel G. Mr. Adams is a member of the Congregational Church. ? 632 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. CHAPTER XIII GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY AND MISCELLANEOUS. The county of Hancock lies in the sec- ond tier from the north line of the State of Iowa, and about half way between the east and west limits of the same. It is surrounded by the counties of Winnebago, Cerro Gordo, Wright and Kossuth, re- spectively on the north, east, south and west. Hancock embraces the regulation sixteen congressional townships and con- tains 576 square miles or 368,640 acres. This territory is divided into civil town- ships as follows: Ellington, Madison, Crystal, Bingham, Ortbel, Britt, Garfield, Concord, Ell, German, Erin, Boone, Magor, •Amsterdam, Twin Lakes and Avery. The surface of Hancock county is beau- tifully diversified by fiat and rolling prai- rie. In the center the land is generally flat, while in the northeast and south the land is more of a rolling nature. No bet- ter stock or grazing country exists than this the northern central part of Iowa. As to the soil and geological formation of this region, an alluvial deposit, of many- feet in depth, overlies a sub-strata of gravel or drift, countless yards in depth. In fact, the under strata has an almost in- calculable extent, as scientific explorers reckon it by hundreds of feet. It is watered by many small streams, that meander through the grassy mead- ows like silver ribbons in an emerald set- ting, the largest being Lime creek, which crosses the northeast corner. Several tributaries of the Iowa river, take their rise within the boundaries of the county. There are several lakes — the largest being Eagle lake, near the center, but the finest of all is Crystal lake, in the township of Crystal. These lakes, generally, abound in fish. An eminence in the northeast corner, partly in Winnebago county, called "Pilot Mound," is the highest point of land in this part of the State. From the summit of this elevation the eye may take in the greater portion of the four counties of Hancock, Winnebago, Worth and Cerro Gordo, with their prairies, groves, lakes, streams, farms and villages. The northeast part of the county has a good supply of timber skirting "Pilot Mound," and the borders of Lime creek. Some fine groves are also found on the Iowa river, in the southeast part, and on the borders of several of the lakes. The county also contains about 4,000 acres of peat deposit, or thereabouts, a fuel resource that may be resorted to if necessary. The deposits are from four to ten feet in depth, and are principally in the central and western portion of the county, but are not utilized at present. ip 9 W- U 5 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 633 There are no exposures of stratified rocks. The only stone to be obtained are the huge drift boulders, which are used for foundations of buildings. Good brick are made in various places. The soil is generally a rich dark loam, adapted to the various cereals, grasses and root crops. The country is well suited for stock raising and dairy purposes. PRODUCTIONS AND STOCKS. The productions are as various and as valuable as can be raised anywhere in the same climate. Of the great grain staples, wheat, for many years, was of primal im- portance, but for the last three or four, a change has taken place and corn lias as- serted its claim to the first place upon the list. Cats, barley, potatoes and hay, are the principal crops besides the two above mentioned. The following table will give an idea of the growth of this favored land, and demonstrate the supremacy of king corn : TABLE OF PRODUCTION OF THE TEAR 1874. Bushels. Wheat.. 70.006 Com 57, 899 Oats 48.816 Potatoes 6,801 Barley 1,564 Buckwheat 240 PRODUCTIONS OF THE TEAR 1879. Bushels. Corn 255, 598 Wheat 108 782 Oats 140,371 Bailey 12,513 Potitoes 26,188 Buckwheat 945 Hay 8,782 Since the time of taking this last cen- sus, the marvelous growth in the produc- tion of two items on the list — potatoes and hay — are almost beyond parallel. In fact, so stupendous that without reliable figures to give as data, the fact would seem incredible. The business of baling hay of wild prairie grass, has grown in the vicinity, to large proportions, and grow- ing with the years. In the way of stock, Hancock county can make as good, if not a better, exhibit than any other in the northern half of the State, taking into consideration the number of inhabitants engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. A list is here presented, showing the comparative numbers of these and the amount of production thereof: 1874. Horses in the county 564 Milch cows in the eountv 805 Pounds of butler produced 39.934 Pounds of cheese produced 16,390 1879. Horses owned in county 1,918 Milch cows owned in county 1,874 Other cattle owned in county 5,732 Swine owni d in county 5, 663 Sheep owned in county 268 Mules owned in county. 55 Pounds of butter produced 116. 065 Pounds of cheese produced 4, 750 Besides these cattle put down as be- longing to the residents of the county, countless myriads of foreign stock are driven to the counties to the south of this, and pastured on the rich ami succu- lent grasses indigenous to this local- ity. Estimates based upon the observa- tion of citizens place this vast herd at not less than 15,000 annually. Of course, in common with most of those por- tions of Iowa where corn is the staple, swine are generally raised by the farmer and are no unimportant factor in making up the yearly income. CLIMATE, ETC. Sunny Italy or France can boast no bluer skies or brighter sunshine than the summers and autumns of Iowa, present. No! no land 'neath the campv of Heaven. If* \L -el*. 634 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. The Land is bright and beautiful and teeming with health. When the cold of winter has wrapped his furry mantle round this country, let the thermometer register hyperborean cold, yet the exceed- ing dryness of the atmosphere renders it not only bearable, but pleasant. The cold, b'eak winds that sometimes roam over these prairies, are alone unpleasant and the source of danger to tile luckless wight exposed to their merciless fury. In point of health, from the best information that can be gathered, this county of Han- cock is no exception to the general charac- ter that the other counties have gained for the State. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Hancock County Agricultural So- ciety was organized at Britt on the 13th of August, 1881, and the following officers chosen for the ensuing year, for the man- agement thereof: President, George Stabbing, Britt; vice- president, Lucien Tuttle, Britt; secretary, F. B. Rogers, Britt; treasurer, Thomas Daylor, Britt; directors, G. W. Beadle and G. R. Maben, Ellington township; James Lackore and L. H. Chase, Madison town- ship; II. C. Potter, Boone township; Her- man Brummund, Magor township; Fred Lentz, German township; Thomas Hymer, Britt township; Joseph Finch, Garfield township; John Burnside, Concord town- ship; A. D. White, Avery township; J. D. Bailey, Amsterdam township; mar- shal, R. B. Pope, Britt. Division superin- tendents, A — horses and mules, John Burnside; B — Shorthorns, James Elder; C — sheep and swine, James Dickirson; D — poultry, S. Howland; E — grain and vegetables, E. C. Packard; F — manufac- tures, J. D. Gillett; G — household manu- factures, Mrs. E. C. Packard; H — fruits, C. C. Doolittle; I — pantry stores, II. C. Potter; J — fancy work, Mrs. C. C. Way. At the same lime, the following articles of incorporation and constitution were adopted : Whereas, It is deemed expedient that an Agricultural Society should be organ- ized in Hancock county in such a manner as to become a body corporate under the general law of the State of Iowa relative to the formation and erection of corpora- tions, therefore it is Resolved, That George Stubbins, Lucien Tuttle, Thomas Daylor, F. B. Rogers, John J. Clemens, Mat Johnson, II. E. R. Hill, with their present and future associ- ates and successors, are hereby constituted a body corporate, to continue forty years, with the right of renewal and perpetual succession under the following CONSTITUTION. Art. I. This association shall be styled The Hancock County Agricultural Socie- ty. Its object shall be to advance the interests of agriculture, and agricultural and mechanical industry, to improve the stock and the mind. Art. II. The principal place of busi- ness shall be at Britt, Hancock Co., Iowa, and no capital is required other than the sum contributed annually by the mem- bers. The amount received from the State, county, donations, and for life memberships, and the proceeds of the an- nual exhibitions which can only be used for the legitimate objects of the society. Art. IV. Any person may become a member of this society by the payment of $1 annually, or $10 for a life membership. IF7 ■^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 635 The privilege secured by membership shall continue as long as the provisions of these articles are complied with. Art. III. The officers of this society shall consist of a president, a vice-presi- dent, secretary and treasurer and thirteen directors. They shall be called the Board of Directors, and five of their number shall constitute a quorum. They shall be chosen annually and hold their offices for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The president, vice-president and secretary shall consti- tute an executive committee, and shall have all power to do all the acts necessary for the prosperity of the society in the intervals of the meetings of the board. The executive committee shall appoint persons to fill vacancies in the awarding committees at the time of the fair. Art. V. The duties of the president shall be to preside at all meetings of the Board and Society, to call special meet- ings of the Board, to attend the January meeting of the State Society if practica- ble, and his expenses for attending such meeting shall be borne by the Society. In the absence of the president the duties appertaining to the office shall be per- formed by the vice-president. Art. VI. The duties of the secretary shall be to keep carefully all records of the Society and all papers relating there- to; respond promptly to all letters and circulars from the State Society; to make annually, before the first day of Decem- ber, a report to the secretary of the State Society which shall embrace such items, statistics and facts concerning the Society as may be desired by the State Board, and- perform all other duties under the direc- tion of the Board that may be necessary for the welfare of the Society, for which service he shall receive annually a com- pensation to be fixed by the Board. Art. VII. The duties of the treasurer shall be to receive all monies due to the Society, and pay them out on the order of the president, countersigned by the secre- tary. He shall collect the dues of de- linquent members by law whenever three yearly payments remain unpaid, and he may collect at any time if he sees fit so to do; where nothing can be collected he shall report the same to the secretary, and the name of such delinquent member shall be struck from the roll of members. He shall report at each annual meeting the condition of the treasury of the Society. His compensation to be fixed by the Board. Art. VIII. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held at Britt, Hancock Co., Iowa, on the last Monday in Novem- ber in each year, at 1 o'clock p. m. After the reports of the officers for the past year are examined, the officers for the en- suing year shall be elected, who shall im- mediately enter upon the duties of their offices. Art. IX. The Board of Directors shall meet at Britt, Hancock Co., Iowa, within thirty days after the annual meet- ing, and shall prepare and publish a list of premiums to be awarded at the next fair. They shall determine the number of days the fair shall be held, and see that suitable preparations are made for the same, and shall appoint committees of three or more persons each to award said premiums. They shall also make all needful rules and regulations for govern- ^|. 646 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. in his native State until July, 1864, when he removed to Hancock Co., Iowa, locating on section 29, Avery township. When twenty-one years of age he worked his father's farm two years on the shares. In the winters of 1875-6-7-8, he taught school. In 1879 he purchased the gen- eral merchandise business he is now en- gaged in, of J. Rogers & Co., in the village of Amsterdam. He is in partnership with O. M. Morley. Mr. Elder is the present postmaster of Upper Grove, being appointed in May, 1882. On the 22d of April, 1878, he was united in marriage with Charlotte Hewitt, at Irvington, Kos- suth county. They have two children — Ethel, born Feb. 8, 1879, and Charlotte, born July 24, 1883. Mr. Elder is a repub- lican. The first blacksmith to establish a shop here was Charles Robbins, who located in 1861. Mr. Robbins died during the year 1871. He was one of the political refugees who were compelled to leave their home in Missouri at the beginning of the war. He was wont to relate many stories of the trials of the anti-rebellion days in that State. Sylvester Stockwell started a boot and shoe store in 1863, but after a time aban- doned it as a business that would not pay. He is still a resident of Avery township. The school house in the village of Am- sterdam is a two-story building, the second story of which is finished as a hall and is used for holding all kinds of meetings, dances, etc. These buildings, with about ten or a dozen dwelling houses, are all that there is of the village. The railroad that built up Garner and Britt, proved the final blow to the future of Amsterdam. That the religious element of this com- munity may be attended to, the Methodist Episcopal society holds meetings in the school house every Sunday afternoon. Rev. Mr. Cole, of Belmond, Wright county, filling the pulpit. The Congregational society also holds meetings occasionally in the school house, and Rev. Mr. Sands, of Belmond, ministers to their spiritual wants. William Christie is a native of Canada, born Oct. 31, 1854. He removed to Wis- consin, where he resided two years, then came to Hancock county and located on section 19, in Avery township. He was married on the 1st of May, 1880, to Mary Carpenter. They have one child — Willie. Mr. Christie is a democrat. His father is a native of Scotland, as is his mother. They came to Hancock county from Can- ada in 1861. His mother died in 1880. James F. Elder was born on the old homestead where he now lives with his father, June 17, 1 865. His father, George W. Elder, is a native of Pennsylvania, bora May 6, 1822. In 1864 he came to Hancock Co., Iowa, and purchased land on section 29. He now owns 230 acres of good land, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married Nov. 2, 1848, to Emily H. Bonsoll, of Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Elder died on the 4th of October, 1857, leaving four children — Walter, Dora, Thomas and Marion. On the 21st of May, 1858, Mr. Elder married Margaret C. McNutt, a native of Pennsyl- vania, born in 1836. They have eight children— George N., William G., Mary E., James, Margaret E., Cora K., Ruth i |V ^4 a *^ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. and Adrian. Mr. Elder is a democrat, politically. He has held the office of county judge, was the first county auditor and has been justice of the peace, town- ship clerk, and president of the school board . R. A. McNutt, one of the well-to-do farmers of Avery township, was born in Indiana Co., Penn., Feb. 2, 1841. When twenty-three years of age, he removed to Hancock Co., Iowa, locating in Upper Grove. He remained there six years, when he removed to Wright Co., Iowa, remaining there three years. In 1872 he returned to Hancock county, where he at present resides. In 1866 he was married to Mary Savozne, born in Wabash Co., Ind., in 1849. They have three children — William F., Mary E. and an infant. He has held the offices of township clerk, road supervisor and assessor. He belongs to I. O. O. F., Belmond Lodge, 265. Politi- cally, he is a democrat. John Christie, Sr., is a native of Scot- land, born April 17, 1817. In 1833 he emigrated from Scotland to Canada, where he remained until 1858, when he removed to Wisconsin. In 1861 became to Hancock county and located on section 29, Avery township. In 1 864 he removed to section 19, where he owns 240 acres of land. He was married to Agnes E. Craig, a native of Scotland, in ls2S. Mrs. Chris- tie died Feb. 7, 1880. They had nine children, seven of whom are living — John, James, George, Jane, Robert, Williamand Jannet. Mr. Christie is a republican. He has been township trustee and school di- rector. One day, in the winter of 1861, Mr. Christie drove to Hampton, Franklin county, a distance of thirty miles. While on his way home, a terrible blizzard blew up. He lost the direction, and there be- ing no house between Hampton and his home, he was compelled to remain on the prairie all night. He arrived home the next day, but was unable to do any work that winter. His son, George, was with him, and had his feet so badly frozen that all his toes came off. M. L. Wiles was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, May 2, 1840. When twenty-six years of age, he removed to Hancock county, locating on section 17, Avery township, where he now has 320 acres of good land. He also has 160 acres in Cerro Gordo county. Mr. Wiles has held the offices of township secretary, clerk, trus- tee and school director. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was united in marriage Feb. 13, 1877, with Jannet Christie, born in Canada. They have three children — Agnes, born May 14, 1878; Jennie, born March 16, 1880; and Clarence, born Sept. 3, 1882. Mr. Wiles' father, Samuel Wiles, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1804, and died in Stark Co., Ohio, in July, 1880. His mother, Mahala McKee Wiles, was born in Ohio. She died while the subject of our sketch was quite small, he being the youngest of seven children. Mrs. Wiles' father, John Christie, was born in Scotland, April 17, 1817. Her mother was a native of Scot- land, born in 1826, and died Feb. 7, 1880. D. F. Hunt is a native of Wapello Co., Iowa, born Jan. 12, 1862. In the fall of 1867 he came to Hancock county. He lives on section 32. His father was born in 1832 and died Nov. 27, 1861. The subject of this sketch was born just one month and fifteen days after the death of ^ •L 648 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. his father. On Jan. 11, 1866, his mother married J. S. Wilson. They live in But- terfield Grove, Twin Lake township, this county. Mr. Hunt owns 170 acres of good land on section 32. He is a republican. John B. Robbins was born June 10, 1841, in Henry Co., Ohio. When eleven years of age he removed with his father to Buchanan Co., Iowa. He enlisted Jan. 27, 1S62, in the 13th United States Infantry, serving three years. He was body-guard for Gen. Sherman and was with him in the first battle at Vicksburg, then to Arkansas Post, in the forty-one days' siege and capture of Vicksburg, in the battle of Jackson, Miss., then back to Vicksburg, from there to Memphis, fighting Gen. Forest at Collinsville, twenty-six miles in the rear of Memphis. He then went to Lookout Mountain, par- ticipating in that battle, then to Knox- ville where they had a fight with Gen. Longstreet, and from there to Huntsville, Ala., where they went into winter quar- ters. In the spring he was put on. provost duty at Nashville, Tenn., and Jan. 27, 1865, he was discharged, having served his time of enlistment. He then returned to Quasqueton, Buchanan Co., Iowa, be- ing engaged in farming for two years, and in 1867 came to Hancock county and settled on section 16, Avery township. He has eighty acres of valuable land and is engaged in grain and stock raising. Mr. Robbins was married in 1867 to Nancy E. Moore, born Nov. 27, 1844, in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. They have four children — Adella M., born Oct. 20, 1869; Asa D., born Nov. 28, 1871; Chester C, born Sept. 4, 1875; Erma E., born June 18, 1878. Mr. Robbins is a member of the Odd Fellow's, Belmond Lodge, No. 265. He held the office of township clerk from 1877 to 1879 and from 1881 to 1882. D. T. Warner is a native of Kendall Co., 111., born Jan. 13, 1845. He resided in Kendall county until 1877, where he was engaged in teaming at Oswego. He came to Hancock Co., Iowa, and purchased ten acres on section 32, Avery township, also fifty-five acres on section 4, Wright county. He traded this for 160 acres on section 27, Avery township, which he still makes his home. He was married June 8, 1871, to Julia Pratt, born Nov. 7, 1851, in Du Page Co., 111. They have four children living — William, born Oct. 6, 1872; Charles, born Sept. 6, 1874; John born June 21, 1880; Maud, born Oct. 1, 1882. Mr. Warner is a democrat. D. E. Brooks, a native of Canada West, was born on the 7th of October, 1847. He lived in Canada until five years of age, when his parents removed to Jackson Co., Iowa. They resided in that county nine years, then removed to Carroll Co., 111. His father died in Carroll county, and he and his mother returned to Canada. He remained in Canada three years, and then removed to Crown Point, Ind. In 1863 he enlisted in company G, 12th Indiana Cavalry, serving two years. He partici- pated in the battle of Murfreesboro and many hard skirmishes. He was discharged at Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 10, 1865. He went to Wisconsin, remaining there until 1871, when he removed to this county, locating in Avery township. He has eighty acres of good land on section 26, where he resides. He was united in mar- riage Dec. 5, 1868, with Susan A. Lash, born in New York. They have four chil- r T f HISTORY OP HANCOCK COUNTY. 6-19 dren — William H., Anna, John S. and Raymond D. Politically, he is a repub- lican. John Lasher is a native of Allegany Co., N. Y., born Jan. '23,1826. At the age of thirteen years he removed to Liv- ingston county. He afterwards went to Albany county, residing there until twenty years of age. He then returned to Allegany county and remained there until 1856, when he removed to Rock Co., Wis., where he resided until 1871. He is a blacksmith by trade. In 1871 he came to Hancock county, locating on sec- tion 26, this township. On the 3d of March, 1847, he was united in marriage with Lorinda Weed, born in Allegany Co., N. Y., in April, 1828. They have five children — Susan, wife of Daniel Brooks; Laura E., wife of Nelson Brown; Mary IL, wife of William Stockwell ; Percy J., wife of Albert Stockwell, and Kittie L. Mr. and Mrs. Lasher are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. Mr. Lasher is a republican, politically. He lost his right leg below the knee, by being caught in a threshing machine. Edgar F. Reed, farmer, was born Sept. 18, 1834, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. When eleven years of age lie removed to Rock Co., Wis., where he resided five years, then to Walworth county, remaining two years, then moved back to Rock county, remaining one year, then resided eight years in Walworth county, lie then re- moved to McIIenry Co., 111., residing there six months with his family. He enlisted in company C, 95th Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, Aug. 5, 1862, and served two years and ton months. lie served in the 17th Army Corps, and was in the battles of Holly Springs, Fort Duneka, Yellow Bayou and at Guntcwn, Miss. He was taken prisoner at the last named battle, stayed at Andersonville, Ga., from June 11, to Sept. 19, 1864, then was removed to Savannah, and kept in prison two months. When he left Anderson- ville, being too weak to walk, he crawled out on his hands and knees. In Novem- ber, 1864, he was paroled. He was sent to the parole camp at Annapolis, thence to Baltimore hospital and received a fur- lough home. Reporting again at Chicago, he was sent to Baltimore. After stand- ing guard one night, he was no longer fit for duty, so he was discharged June 11, 1865, and returned to his home in Mc- IIenry Co., 111. In August, 1865, he went to Iowa, settling in Wright county. In 1875 he came to Hancock county, settling on section 20, Avery township, where lie has since made his home. He has forty- two and a half acres of well improved land, and raises stock and grain of all kinds. Mr. Reed was married Sept. 12, 1858, to Susan Brown, born June 3, 1838, in Rochester, N. Y. They have four chil- dren living — Herbert V., Arthur A., George W. and Burton M. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Reed is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. at Belmond, Wright county. Politically, he is a republican. Harry A. Carpenter is a native of Mon- roe Co., N. Y., born March 21, 1831. When twenty-one years of age he re- moved to Michigan, where he resided twelve years. He then removed to Iowa, thence to southern Michigan, thence to Minnesota, thence back to Michigan, thence to Iowa in 1875, locating in Han- 'Tu 650 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. cock county. He lives on section 18, Avery township, where he has a good farm. He was married in 1853 to Lucinda Crawford, a native of Lawrence Co., N. Y. They have five children — Franklin, Mary, Cora, Delia and Alfred. Mr. Car- penter is a republican. He has practiced veterinary surgery for over thirty years. Harrison P. Russell, farmer, is a native of Harrison Co., Ohio, born March 1, 1834. He resided for seventeen years in Ohio, then removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he resided three years, after which he removed to Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, engaging for twenty years in painting and carpenter work. In 1876 he came to Hancock county, settling near Amsterdam. In 1S82 he purchased an improved farm of sixty acres and ten acres of timber, making in all seventy acres. Mr. Russell was married May 2, 1861, to Sarah Humphrey, also a native of Ohio, born May 26, 1843. They have one adopted child — Ellen, wife of Richard M. Ruggles. She was born Dec. 27, 1864. Politically, Mr. Russell is a republican. A. D. White, farmer, is a native Meigs Co., Ohio, born Dec. 5, 1847, where he re- sided until fourteen years of age. In 1864 he enlisted in company F, 174th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving one year. He participated in^he battles of De- catur, Ala., and Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was discharged at Washington City, in July, 1865, after which he returned to Ohio, being engaged for two years in boring oil wells. In 1872 he came to Hancock Co., Iowa, residing in Garner four years, then locating on his present place, section 6 Avery township. Mr. White has a farm of 240 acres, well improved. He raises stock and grain of all kinds. In politics he is a republican. Mr. White has held the office of township trustee, also school director. He is now one of the county supervisors of Hancock county, an office which he has held for the last four years. He is a member of the G. A. R. at Britt. Mr. White was married Aug. 29, 1876, to Maggie Casick, born in New Jersey, July 3, 1857. They have four children living — Josephine, born Jan. 17, 1877; Albert, born Jan. 29, 1879; Gethie, born March 19, 1882; Mary E.,born Oct. 11, 1883. Bert Farman was born in Wisconsin, Oct. 14, 1861, where he resided until 1879, when he came to Hancock county, locat- ing in Avery township. He was married to Hannabell Stockwell, Sept. 30, 1882. She was born in Wayne Co., 111. They have one child. Mr. Farman's father was born in New York in February, 1832. His mother was born in New York in 1831. They had seven children, Bert being the third child. Mr. Farman is a republican. John Stoddart, farmer, is a native of Wisconsin, born Dec. 17, 1856. In 1879 he came to Avery township, Hancock Co., Iowa, settling on section 21. He has since made this his home with the excep- tion of the summer of 1881, which he spent in Wisconsin. John Stoddart, Sr., is a native of Soottland, born in 1819. In 1850 he emigrated to the United States. He was a surgeon at West Point for several years, after which he went to Wis- consin, settling at Shullsburg, and prac- ticing medicine there for ten years. He entered the ministry about twenty-five years ago and is now preaching in the Congregational Church, being located in ,* HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 651 Dane Co., Wis. His wife, Sophia (Hatt) Stoddart, was born in England in 1830. Tiiey liad ten children, eight of whom are living, John being the third. Mr. Stod- dart married Jan. 8, 1878, Sarah Carson, born in Windsor Co., Wis., Dec. 18, 1857. They have two children living — Jessie, born April 29, 1879; Gertie, born May 13, 1881. Mr. Stoddart votes the republican ticket. He is one of the trustees for Avery township. George Duryea, farmer, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1835. When eighteen years of age he moved to Tomp- kins county, removing from there to Du- buque, Iowa. After a two years residence there he went to Decorah,and from there to St. Paul, Minn., following teaming for a time. He afterwards removed to Mc- Gregor, Iowa, then living two years in Osage, Mitchell county. He then went to Virginia City, Montana, remaining eighteen months. In 1865 he returned to Osage and in the winter engaged in the livery business, in which he continued until 1880. He then came to Hancock Co , Iowa, settling on section 19, Avery township, and having eighty acres of good land, well improved. He is a mem- ber of the OuM Fellows Lodge, No. 195, Osage, also of the Legion of Honor. Mr. Duryea was married in June, 1858, to Jane Kennedy, born in Dubuque, Iowa. They have five children — James, Mary, George, Nine and Francis. Mr. Duryea is a democrat. Mrs. Duryea is a member of the Congregational Church. CHAPTER XVI I5INGHAM TOWNSHIP. The township of Bingham occupies the extreme northwest corner of Hancock county, and comprises all of the congress- ional township 97, range 26. It has Crys- tal fm the east and Orthel upon its south- ern boundary. The soil is a rich, sandy loam, in common with all this region. The prairie here undulates in long swells, like the ocean under a midsummer calm. A branch of the upper waters of the Des Moines river, which rises across the line in Winnebago county, enters the township about the center of the north line of sec- tion 4, and changing its direction, trav- erses, in an almost westerly direction, through sections 5 and 6, Tiiaking its exit on the west line of the southwest quarter of the last. Another branch of the same river rises on section 1, this township, and running in a general southwesterly course, crosses sections 2, 3, 10, 15, 16, 20 and 30, crossing the line into Kossuth county on the latter. A third branch takes its rise in Lake George, on section 14, pursuing r 652 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. also a southwesterly course, makes its exit from the township on section 31, hav- ing traversed in its course, sections 22, 23, 28, 2t>,32 and 31. Boone river also rises in the southeastern part of the township, on sections 28 and 36, and flows west, then south, into Orthel township. This county heing so well furnished with living waters and rich, luxuriant grasses is the ideal paradise of stockmen, and the day is not far distant when its fertile plains will teem with the herds of cattle that will enrich their owners. The low of kine will then be the music that will lull the farmer to his rest, and peace and plenty reign in every home. The first settler in this township was Silas J. Wright, who, in 1868, purchased a portion of the school lands on section 16, broke some prairie and opened up a farm. Here he lived but a short time when he pulled up stakes and returned to Illinois, from which he came, and where he is at present living. John Bingham, who located here, on section 20, in May, 1869, is usually cred- ited with having been the first settler, but through an error, as the records show. Mr. Bingham, after whom the township is named, still resides within its limits. John G. Bingham is a native of "merry England," where he first saw the light of day, April 6, 1831. He was born in Lin- colnshire, and is a son of David and Su- san Bingham. In 1850, he came over to our "land of the free," and first lived for three years in Dodge Co., Wis. He then went to Marion, Olmsted Co., Minn., bought a quarter section of land, and farmed it for eight years. He subse- quently lived in Pleasant Grove township for seven years, and in 1868, came to Hancock Co., Iowa. He first purchased 320 acres of land on sections 20 and 21, and has since disposed of 160 acres lying on the latter section. Mr. Bingham is about the oldest living settler in Bingham township. He is republican in politics. and in lf-tjs enlisted in company II, 1st regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving till the war closed, and suffering the loss of his eyesight. He was married Dec. 26, 1856, to Clarissa, daughter of Moses and Clarissa Huntley, of Chatfield, Fillmore Co., Minn. They have had eight children born to them, six of whom are living — David M., Elethea S., John J., Andy W., George C. and Rocelia May. A family by the name of Ross were the next pioneers, having located on section 34, in 1874. They remained two years and then removed to the State of Kansas. Frank Aiken also came during the year 1874. After living here about four years, he was seized with the Dakota fever and emigrated to that land of rich promises. C. H. Barber was a settler of the year 1875, locating on a part of section 16, where he still lives. M. T. Barber located upon a portion of section 16, also, coming into the township with his brother, C. H.,in 1875. He lives yet on the homestead, one of the most prominent men in the township govern- ment. John Quinn and Isaac Emmons are the next in order of settlement, locating in the township during the year 1877. The growth of the population, in this part of the county, for some reason un- explained, has been retarded, but a steady increase has been noticed within the last *4 -»IV * £ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 653 few years, until now the township con- tains some sixty-six souls. The first birth in the township was that of Elizabeth, daughter of John and Clar- issa Bingham, born July 7, 1869. The first death was the above daughter of John Bingham and wife, who died in February, 1874, and was laid away to rest in Crystal Lake cemetery. The first school in the township was held in the house of Mr. Bingham in 1872. The gentleman's wife, Mrs. Clar- issa Bingham, was the teacher,and presid- ed over the destinies of the little school with grace and dignity. During the same year, 1872, a frame school house was erected, 16x22 feet in size, and at a cost <>t The Lake George school house, a frai edifice, 16x22 feet in size, was erected i 1881, at a cost of $500. Katie Quinn ha the honor of being the first teachei therein. The Shattuck school house was also built during the year 1881. This is a smaller building than either of the others and was put up at a less expense. This school was formerly taught at the house of Frank Aiken and its initiation was in 1877. Mary Aiken was the first teacher. The Barber school house, a fine sub- stantial frame building, erected near the residence of C. II. Barber, in 1883, cost in the neighborhood of 1700, including furniture. Katie Quinn was the first teacher. When Bingham township was set apart from Crystal, in 1878, a township library was organized. This extremely praise- worthy enterprise has grown and pros- pered until now it contains some 500 vol- umes, valued at $425. This is entirely supported by a small tax which the in- habitants of the town have cheerfully burdened themselves with. The exis- tence of such institutions shows the cul- ture of a community, for where literature is eagerly sought after, and arrangements perfected, as they are here, for the easy dissemination of good books, an easy cur- rent of ideas polishes off the rough edges ihat man is apt to gain, when isolated from the society of men or letters. Bingham township was organized by ng set apa't from Crystal township, of < Inch it formed a part, in 1878, although the first election did not occur until the 14th of October, 1879. At this time the following were elected the first officers of the township: J. R. Flack, J. G. Bing- ham and Feank Aiken, trustees; David Bingham, clerk; J. R. Flack, assessor; Frank Aiken, justice; J. R. Flack, consta- ble. The present officers are as follows: John Bingham, M. T. Barber and John Quinn, trustees; M. T. Barber, clerk, as- sessor and justice of the peace. A his- tory of this township of a necessity must be brief, for its tender age makes the re- quisite material short. ^V . It was organized in 1880, but at that time included what is now Orthel township. The latter was set. off, and Boone became its present size in 1882. The land is a beautiful rolling prairie of a rich, black loam, witli some sand now and then, and gravel or drift deposit along the Boone river. The latter flows in a southwesterly di- rection entirely across the township, in- tersecting on its path, sections 3, 10, 15, 16, 21, 20, 29, 30 and 31. The Boone river with several of its affluents and blanches, thus provides a liberal supply of life-giving, flowing water for the ben- efit of the stock and which adds to the fertility of the soil. The. township, also, is traversed by the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, but no station or depot is located within its boundaries at present. But little timber can be found within the township, and all of that is in the artifi- cial groves planted by the foresight and prudence of the inhabitants, and which consist chiefly of willows and cottonwood, but owing to the newness of the settle- ment, these incipient groves are too di- minutive to be Recognized as timber. The first pioneer who located in what is now Boone township, was Maurice Day, who stuck his stakes and settled on section 6, during the year 1S70. Mr. Day was a man of family and his first labor was to erect him and his a house to shelter them from the inclemency of the weather. This, the first house in the township, was a frame building, 16x18 feet in dimension. This done, hi com- menced to break up the sod, plowing and sowing the seed that he might have a harvest when the earth had waxed older. With Maurice, came his younger brother, Stephen, who worked with him in part- nership. Stephen was not married, but lingered in "single blessedness." He only remained here about two years when he removed to Upper Grove, in Avery township. These brothers came from the ''Old Keystone" State, Pennsylvania. The next to locate here was Iver Nis- sen, a native of Denmark, who settled on section 11, during the year 187). Mr. Nissen is still a resident of the township. A Mr. Stanlope, also a Dane, located upon section 11, in 1872. He lived here until about 1875, when he removed to California. J. B. Hill, a native of Black Hawk Co., Iowa, was the next incomer, locating upon section 6 during the year 1876. He is HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 655 still a resident of this place, inhabiting the homestead that he reared at that time. The first birth in tho township was that of a daughter of Maurice Day, born in 1872. This child died while still an infant and was thus the first death in the township. The first Rchool was held at the house of J. B. Hill, in 1879, and Mary Clark was the teacher. This school was kept up and held session as convenient until during the summer of 1881, when a school house was erected on section 5, at a cost of $393. May Halgeson was the first to preside over the destinies of the youth of the dis- trict submitted to her charge, and that attended the "new school house." The school is now known as the Dallman school and Helen Clark is the present preceptress. What is called the Nissen school house was built during the year 1883, on section 11. This structure is 18x30 feet in size, and cost $438. Prior to this time, how- ever, a school was taught at the residence of Peter Madison, of which Andrew Murray was teacher. There is no regularly organized Church society within the limits of Boone town- ship, but the religious education of the people is, by no means, neglected, nor are they left without light on the subject of "The Way, the Truth, and the Life." Religious services are held every alter- nate Sabbath at the Dallman school house, by ministers and disciples of different denominations, among which the Luther- an, Congregational and Methodist, stand out quite prominently. A Sabbath school is held at the same place every week, and is ably conducted and well attended. Young and old, all look forward to Sun- day school as the day to be marked with a white stone in their calendar. On the second day of November, 1880, was held the first election for township officers, the township being at that time organized, but included within its terri- tory all of what is now Orthel, which was set off from it later. This election took place at the Daggett school house, now in Orthel township, and resulted in the election of the following officers: John llolloway, E. Lloyd and T. Pressnel), township trustees; Frank Ileal, clerk; G. W. Flack, assessor; S. Basford and John Hollow-ay, justices; O. li. Flack and Fred Cook, constables; H. C. Potter and E. Lloyd, road supervisors of districts 1 and 2. At the June meeting of the board uf supervisors, 1882, the order was issued ordering the organization of Orthel town- ship, which are thereby cutoff from Boone and entered upon a separate existence. The present officers of Boone township are: Thomas Pressnell, Iver Nissen and W. H. Nowling, trustees; Thomas Duff, clerk; J. B. Sanders, assessor; Alfred Larkins and J. B. Sanders, justices; An- drew Christopher and Elias Long, consta- bles; Edward Lloyd, road supervisor. Herman Dallman, was born in Prussia, Jan. 8, 1855. In the spring of 1869 he came to America, locating at Watertown, Wis. He lived there about one year, then removed to Seymour, Wis. He re- mained there about six years, working in the saw mills and pineries. He then re- moved to this State, locating in Mitchell county. After'remaining in that place two years, he came to this county, locating in Boone township, and purchased ninety- six acres of land on section 5. This land is mostly under cultivation. Mr. Dall- man belongs to the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a republican. His par- ents live in this township. • ft" 656 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. CHAPTER XVI II BRITT TOWNSHIP. This township lies in the second tier from the north line of the county, and the second from the western boundary. It is bounded on the north by Crystal town- ship, on the east by Garfield, west by Or- thel and south by Erin, and contains thirty-six square miles, or 23,040 acres, and is known as congressional township 96, range 25. In common with the most of the county, the land is a level prairie, with just sufficient roll to drain the larger part of it. A rich growth of succulent grasses cover the soil where left in its pris- tine state, but, where plowed and fitted for the bearing of crops for the use of man, it shows the black loamy soil, usually found in all countries whose fertility and productiveness is beyond parallel. The numerous herds of cattle that feed on the indigeous herbage, show by their fat, sleek condition the nutrition to be derived from this natural product, and the really immense amount of hay cut from these prairies demonstrates that this is the stock raising country — par exceUence. No finer or better land lies under the canopy of Heaven, than is found right here. Some of the land, lying in the state of nature as yet, as it has for thousands of years, is wet and sloughy, but as farms are opened up about it, these dry off and return a liberal percentage of profit for the outlay of time and money expended. Partly ly- ing on section 13, is Eagle lake, a consid- erable body of water, containing over 1,000 acres, the larger part of which is however, in the adjoining township of Garfield. Issuing out of the northern end of this is the west branch of the Iowa river, which with many a devious curve and divers crooks, meanders southward through the lower part of the township, on the eastward side. Two small streams in the southwest portion of the township, also, help water that locality. But little timber is seen within the limits of Britt, except artificial groves, and these, owing to the newness of the country, are as yet, in their infancy. The first settler in Britt township, was Thomas Clark. He was what is called a "section boss," and located a section house at what is now the town of Britt, in April, 1873. Following him, came B. McMullen, who built the first frame house in the town- ship, in 1874. Mr. McMullen, however, had been engaged in breaking land and opening up a farm the spring previous, on section 25. The next settler was R. S. Rasmusson, who located on the land where the town of Britt now stands, in March, 1875. A lit- tle later came Peter and J. Jenson. V 6 !fe -s» HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 657 Rasmus Rasmusson, residing on section 14, Britt township, was born in Denmark, May 8, 185] . He was there reared and educated, and there farmed till 1866, when he emigrated to America, locating in Dane Co., Wis., remaining there but two months; thence to St. Croix Co., Wis., where he lived nine years. In May, 1875, he came to this county and was the first actual settler in the flat prairie. He has a well improved farm of 200 acres. He was married March 15, 1871, to Augusta Clauson, a native of Denmark. They have three children — Christina S., Willie J. and Lewis H. They are members of of the Advent Church. Mr. Rasmusson was township trustee of Britt, from 1876 to 1880, and was township treasurer for two and a half years He is a member of the Masonic ordi r. Jorgen Jenson is a native of Denmark, born June 22, 1834. He was reared on a farm. In 1870 he emigrated to the United States, settling in St. Croix Co., Wis., and engaging in fanning. In the fall of 1876 he came to Hancock county, and the following May located on his present place, on section 14, Britt town- ship, where he has 16'-' acres of good land. Mr. Jenson was married April 18, 1859, to Carrie Erickson, a native of Denmark. They have three children — Albert, Celia and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Jenson are members of the Lutheran Church. The first child that was born in the township was Willie Clark, whose day of birth was in June or July, 1874. No record exists of the first marriage in the township, as to the names of the contracting parties, except that the cere- mony was solemnized at the house of E. Marshall, and that the lady was a domes- tic in that gentleman's employ, and the groom was a man who worked for Mr. Devenpeck. The date of this cannot be remembered with sufficient accuracy to merit a place in history. The chronicle of the first death is shrouded in the same mystery, but it is supposed to be that of a sister of B. Mc- Mullen. The first school house within the limits of the territory now comprised in the township of Britt, was built on section 25, in 1875, and was called the Mc Mullen school house. The first school was taught by Dida Draper the same year. This building has lately been moved on to sec- tion 26, and is called the Dickinson school house. This was presided over by Lucy Sloper last year. The next school was established in the town of Britt, for ac- count of which the reader is referred to the history of that "burg" a little further on. In l«81 another school house was erected on the land of J. H. Bu dick, on section 15, and the first teacher was J. Clark. The township of Britt was established Oct. 1, 1873, the first election for officers taking place at the house of Mr. Deven- peck, on the 14th of October. The fol- lowing is the list of the first officers: R. M. Day, J. B. Daggett and B. McMullen, trustees; A. J, Sprague, clerk; R.M.Day, assessor; G. Devenpeck and A. J. Sprague, justices, and William Porter and G. W. Eddy, constables. The Evergreen Cemetery was located and established on the 20th of March, 1877. by the township. The board had appointed a committee, consisting of H. *» Q-~ .- LiL C58 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. C. Potter, J. II. Burdiok and R. S. Ras- musson, for the purpose of selecting the proper spot for the public burial place. They met together and pitched upon a plot of ground containing some five acres, on the southeast quarter of section 28. The first to be laid at rest within its limits was William Wooliscroft, the grandfather of Jesse Wooliscroft, late of this place, who die d the same year. The second was Mrs. Breese, whose body was brought here by her son, William II. Breese, and laid at rest. 'I lie cyclone that devastated other por- tions of the county on the 24th of June, 1882, did considerable damage in Britt township, the most important being the demolishing of the house and buildings of Eli C. Sonthwick, on section 11. BRITT. The town of Britt lies upon parts of sections 28 and 33, on a beautiful flat prairie. "The flowery mead of summer bloom," coming close up all around the village, which stands like some island in an emerald sea, alone, and lost in im- mensity. The town was laid out, and platted, and the plat filed for record on the 20th of June, 1878, by John T. Stone- man and William H. Lorimer. Prior to this a station was located here, and a grain warehouse had been erected, but nothing approaching a town was found here. In a marvellously short time after the town site was laid off, it had grown to be the largest town in the county, and its vigorous growth inspires the confi- dence in its future, a future full of promise. The first building erected in the town of Britt was the depot of the Chicago, Milwaukee Il HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 661 portion of the Lord's vineyard may be found tlie following: E. E. Adams and wife, Smith A. Healey, George Alexan- der, Georginia Way, and William H. Breese and wife. Many others, who were not as yet identified with the Church, assisted in the formation of the society, and in the building of the church edifice. The first services were held in the school house in lieu of a more suitable temple of worship, but dining the summer of 1880, the present house was erected at a cost of $1,500. The Rev. R. R. Woods con- tinued pastor until 1883, in July, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. B. St. John. The first officers of this Church were as follows: Smith A. Healy and George Alexander, deacons; W. H. Breese, clerk; E. E. Adams, treas- urer; and C. C. Way, Edwin Hale and William Breese, trustees. The Rev. Benjamin St. John, the pres- ent pastor of the Congregational Church of Britt, is a native of Delaware Co., N. Y., where he first saw the light on the 10th of December, 1848. He resided in that locality until he was ten years of age, when his parents removed to Howard Co., Iowa, where the subject of this sketch lived until 1870, when he entered the Iowa College, at Grinnell, in this State. Here he was a student for six years, burn- ing the midnight oil, in preparation for his life's duties. In 1877 he matriculated at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., graduating therefrom in 1880. In July of the same year he took charge of the Railroad Congregational Church, at Eldo- ra, Hardin county, where he remained until July, 1883, when lie accepted a call to this charire. A rare scholar and talented gentleman, Mr. St. John is bound to elevate the Church, and win many souls to the service of his Master. He was married May 27, 1880, to Louisa Upson, a native of Connecticut. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in November, 1878, through the instrumentality and labors of the Rev. Z. C. Bradshaw, now of Belmond, Wright county. The following parties were included among the original mem- bers: K. K. Liquin, William Wright, C. Graves, Mrs. R. G. Hill, Mrs. J. H. Bur- dick, William Pritchard, Andrew An- derson, G. Devenpeck and C. C. Way. The first board of trustees was composed of the following gentlemen: K. K. Liquin, William Pritchard, Andrew An- derson, G. Devenpeck and C. C Way. On account of the destruction of the records of the Church society, by fire, much valuable information is of a neces- sity inaccessible, but the names of the various pastors who have ministered !o the spiritual wants of the Church has been obtained by personal memory of the members. These were: Rev. Z. C. Bradshaw, the instigator and originator of the society, who served through 1878; Rev. J. Jeffrey, 1879; Rev. W. II. Drake, 1880 and 1881; Rev. E. Turner, 1882 and 1883, and the present incumbent, newly appointed, Rev. H. J. Huston. The Church edifice was erected in 1881, at a cost probably of $1,500, and is a plain, substantial frame building. The present officers of the society are: K. K. Liquin, W. W. Wright, Carrol Graves, Joseph Osborne, Mrs. R. G. Hill, Mrs. Eliza Liquin, Mrs. Sarah Morrison and W. II. Huston. The membership at the present ■U Al 662 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. writing (1883) is thirty-two, and is in- creasing gradually. The Church is re- ported to the conference as being in a very prosperous condition and with rich promise of future growth and usefulness. A fine Sabbath school is attached to this Church of which William II. Huston is superintendent; Nellie Morrison, treas- urer; Bert Morrison, librarian, and ( harles Brown, secretary. This school lias an average attendance of about sixty scholars and teachers, and is a useful adjunct to the Chinch. Rev. Henry J. Huston, the present in- cumbent of the pastoral charge of the Methodist Church of Britt, was born in Canada, on the 19th of November, 1832. When he was six years of age his parents removed to Freeport, ill., where he grew to manhood. He was educated at the Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis., graduating from thence in 1802. In 1866 he became a member of the Kock River Conference, and was assigned to the charge at Franklin Grove, Lee Co., 111. lie remained in the north part of Illinois, in charge of several Churches, until May, 1881, when leaving the charge at Mount Carroll, which he then occupied, he re- moved to Colorado, for the benefit of his wife's health. He remained in the "silver land" until March, 1883, when he returned eastward, and located upon a portion of section 18, in Britt township, where he owns 400 acres of land. In October, 1883, he took charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the town of Britt, and is the present pastor. He was mar- ried Sept. 8, 1857, to Frances A. Frost, a native of Wisconsin, who died on the 30th of June, 1867, leaving one son, William H. Mr. Huston was again married April 9, 1869, to Almira M. Squier, of Illinois. The first hotel buiit in the town of Britt was the Star Hotel, which was erected by S. F. Benson, in October, 1876. He continued to act the part of jolly host until September, 1882, when he sold it to A. D. White, who became its landlord. Until May, 1883, he enacted this charac- ter, when he disposed of the house, good- will, etc., to J. W. Ball. The present proprietor is F. B. Rogers. Frank B. Rogers, proprietor of the Commercial House, was born in Clayton Co., Iowa, April 27, 1848. His parents, Alvah C. and Maria (Plum) Rogers, were natives, respectively, of Vermont and Pennsylvania. They moved to Clayton Co., Iowa, in 1847, where they still reside. Frank was reared in his native county and was employed on a farm until 1868, when he engaged in the hardware business at (.'lay ton, Iowa. In the spring of 1869 he removed to St. Ansgar, Mitchell county, remaining for eighteen months, after which he went to Osage, Iowa, clerking in a hardware store for four years and a half, and then moving to New Hampton and going into the mercantile business. In March, 1879, he came to Britt and en- gaged in the hardware business, which he continued until 1882. He then moved on a farm near Britt, and Nov. 1, 1883, re- moved to the city and became the propri- etor of the White House. Mr. Rogers was married Dec. 29, 1866, to Anna Mass- ingham, a native of Illinois. They have three children — Ernest L., Frank E. and Mary A. Mr. Rogers held the office of school treasurer of Britt township for 1882 and 1883, and was for three years sec- tf? '&+ HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 663 retary of the Hancock County Agricultu- ral Society and is now president of the society. The Hales House was first started by the present proprietor, Edwin Hales, in the spring of 1880. At that time the building was 20x84 feet in size, but he has since added a wing, 20x40 feet, two stories high. The building has at present some twenty-four sleeping rooms, and affords ample accommodation to the traveling public. Edwin [[ales, proprietor of the [[ales' House, Britt, was born in Shropshire England, June 21, 1843. He there re- mained until 1857 when he cuiie to Amer- ica, locating in Jefferson Co., N. Y., liv- ing there five years He then removed to Berlin, Wis., where he was engaged at Ins trade, milling, having learned the same in New York. He remained in Berlin six ye us. He then removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked one year; thence he went to Raleigh, Mo., where he re- mained two years. He then removed to Jacksonville, 111., where he lived three years. In 1866 he returned to Berlin, Wis., there residing until 1873. He then went to Clear Lake, Iowa, remaining one year; thence to Forest City, Iowa, where he lived four years; then returned to Clear Lake, residing there until October, 1879, when he came to Britt, and in the spring of 1880 engaged in the hotel business. He was married in April, 1875, to Maggie Couper, a native of Iowa, they have one child — Frank E Mr. Hales is a member of the I. O. O. F. Taylor & Osborne, bankers, real estate dealers, attorneys, etc., began their multi- farious business, in Britt, in June, 1881, and have ever since been doing a large and rapidly increasing business. This firm represent a capital of over $30,000. The bank of Messrs. Taylor & Osborne is in reality the pioneer institution of Britt. Jay D. Maben is assistant cashier. Jay D. Maben, of Britt, Iowa, was born in Stephenson Co., 111., Aug. 22, 1853. lie is a son of John and Mary (Curren) Maben, who are old settlers of Hancock county. They remained in Stephenson county until 1854 when they removed to Benton Co., Iowa, there residing one year. They then came to thiscounty. la 1874 Jay engaged witli his brother in the real estate business at Garner, remaining so engaged until the fall of 187 '>, when he became deputy county treasurer under his father, holding that position until 1882, when he came to Britt as assistant cashier of Tay- lor & Osborne's bank, where he is at present engaged. He was united in mar- riage July 4, 1878, to Imogene Matteson, of Illinois. They have two children — Ida M. and Ethel. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was assessor of Garner in 1876, and is the present treas- urer of Britt. The banking house of C. C. Way & Co. was organized in July, 1881, J. E. Anderson and C. C. Way being the co- partners in the firm. Shortly after its in- stitution, however, Mr. Anderson retired from the firm and Mr. Way assumed the sole control, which lie continues to do at the present writing. The bank has a working capital of $30,000, and does a large and lucrative business. Mr. Way also transacts a large real estate business. Thomas A. Way is the cashier of the bank, a position he fills to the satisfaction of all. afl_ 664 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. The first lawyer to locate in the village of Britt was W. E. Bradford, who settled down here, and hung out his shingle, in July, 1880. The profession is now repre- sented by .Mr. Bradford, I. G Strong and Taylor & Osborne. In May, 1878, Thomas Daylor erected the first building for the transaction of the mercantile business. On its comple- tion in August of that year, h,e placed therein a stock of goods, and after arrang- ing them to his satisfaction, opened his doors for business, thus becoming the first merchant in the town of Britt. The first sale made over his counter was twenty- five cents worth of Japan tea, and the customer was J. H. Burdick. Mr. Daylor continued the sole owner of this business until February, 1883, when he admitted Mr. Ennor as a partner. The firm carry a stock of general merchandise that will invoice fully $10,000, and do a large trade, in fact the best in that line transacted in the "burg." During the first year of Mr. Daylor's business life here he was en- gaged in the grain business, but did not continue that branch of trade long. Thomas Daylor, of the firm of Daylor & Ennor, merchants, was born in Ottawa, Canada, May 24, 1849. His father, Frank A. Daylor, was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Mariah McDonald, was of Canada. Her death occurred in 1850. The subject of our sketch, when six years of age, was taken by the family to Du- buque, Iowa, where he entered the employ (when thirteen years of age) of James Levy, with whom he remained for two years. He then clerked with E. S. Stone & Co., dry goods merchants, for some two years. He then engaged in the insurance business, following the same until 1869, when he emigrated to Denver, Col., re- maining in that city and vicinity for one year. He then returned to Dubuque, Iowa, and for four months, was engaged in mining. He then entered the employ of G. H. McDonald & Co., as clerk, and remained with them in that capacity, and as their traveling salesman three years, when he engaged as traveling salesman for John Bell & Co., until July, 1878, when he came to Britt and engaged in merchan- dising. Mr. Daylor was married March 29, 1873, to Annie E. Zaunck, a native of Dubuque, Iowa. They have two children living — Thomas and Frank A. His wife's death occurred Jan. 10, 1882. Mr. Day- lor is a member of the Masonic order and of Commandery No. 43, of Mason City, Iowa, and he is also a member of the A. O. U. W. He is an alderman of Britt and also a member of its school board. William F. Ennor, of Daylor & Ennor, merchants, was born in Grant Co., Wis., Aug. 22, 1856. His father, William T. Ennor, was a native of England as was his mother, Annie (Uren) Ennor. The family located in Wisconsin in 1848. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and there resided till April, 1878, when he came to Britt, Iowa. In the fall of that year he entered the em- ploy of Thomas Daylor, and bought grain and clerked for that gentleman until Feb- ruary, 1883, when he became a partner with Mr. Daylor in their present business. He lias been clerk of Britt township for the past three years. K. K. Liquin was the second merchant in the general merchandising line. In August, 1878, he erected his store room ^V jy « fc» -* 9 ik HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. 665 and in October opened his stock for in- spection and sale. He continued to operate this store until March, 1879, when he disposed of it to Henry Lucas, who sold out shortly after to G. Stubbing. After Mr. Liqnin had sold out his in- terest in his store he entered into a co- partnership with T. Woodford, and the firm thus formed, engaged in the lumber trade. In February, 1879, Mr. Liqnin, looking around for a business to invest his spare capital in, entered into the grain business and later on added to it that of coal dealer. All three of these busi- nesses he is interested in, the two lat- ter alone. He has about $4,000 invested i ti these different trades and realizes a handsome income therefrom. He is the owner of the West elevator and is also the owner of some 200 acres of fine land, lying within this county. Mr. Liquin is considered one of the most prominent business men in the community. Knud K. Liquin, grain and coal dealer, was born in Winneshiek Co., Iowa, Feb. 1, 1854. His parents, Knud K. and Carrie (Williams) Liquin, were natives of Nor- way. They came to Iowa in 1851. Knud was reared in his native count)' and there remained until 1878, when he came to Britt and engaged in merchandising. He has since been identified with the interests of that town. Mr. Liquin was married Dec. 6, 1875, to Eliza Christian, a native of Norway. They have two children — Lotta and Charlie. Mr. Liquin has held the office of justice of the peace of Britt township. He is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Among the representative business houses of Britt is the general merchan- dise store of S. Stubbins. This is the business first established by K. K. Liquin, who sold to N. O. Lucas, who was in turn succeeded by the present proprietor, who has placed it under the supervision and control of George Stubbins. Mr. Stub- bins' management dates from the 10th of November, 1>79, and has been a complete success. Dr. H. F. Fort opened the pioneer drug store of this town, on the 17th day of August, 1878. He continued to carry it on until October, 1879, when he disposed of it to Alexander Moir, who continued to be the sole proprietor of this establishment until May, 1883, when he admitted J. L. Kinyon to a partnership. The firm is known at present as J. I;. Kinyon & Co., and is doing the principal business in their line, carrying a nice, clean stock of about 4iy,000 worth of the various items that go to make up the contents of the usual drug store. The firm has a large local reputation for integrity and relia- bility that wins them a large and lucrative trade. James Temple also opened a drug store in Britt, July 19, 1882, and does a fair share of the business in that line. He carries a stock carefully selected of about $3,000 in a building owned by himself, and is noted as a careful compounder of the various prescriptions submitted to his manipulation. The pioneer hardware store was estab- lished by F. B. Rogers, who came here from New Hampton, Chickasaw county, in 1878. He sold out his stock and good will in February, 1882, to II. B. Morrison, who continues to enjoy a remunerative trade in that line. Mr. Alorrison carries >T? 666 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNT \ r a stock of over $4,000, and by careful at- tention to patrons draws a large custom. Horatio B. Morrison was born Jan. 7, 1831, in Belknap Co., N. H. His parents, Jacob and Hulda (Chapman) Morrison, were also natives of New Hampshire. In 1839 the family removed to Franklin, N. II., where Horatio grew to manhood. When seventeen years of age he engaged in surveying, and when nineteen years of age he became assistant chief engineer of the Connecticut <*