USA > California > Siskiyou County > History of Siskiyou County, California > Part 46
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RESIDENCE OF R H CAMPBELL MAIN STREET, ETNA, SISKIYOU CO. CALIFORNIA.
169
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
The club purchased two cannon at an expense of $100 and an elegant flag, which have bel- lowed forth their congratulations and fluttered proudly in the breeze upon every occasion of public rejoicing since that day, the fourth of July, 1861, when they first gave expression to the deep spirit of patriotism that animated the hearts of the people of Siskiyou county. That was a grand celebration, and was participated in by Union Clubs and organ- izations of those who loved their country for miles around. After this the society, as an active organiza- tion, ceased to exist, but its spirit has never died and has since been manifested in a hundred ways.
The following names were borne upon the roll of the club :- John S. Peck, George C. Furber, Charles E. Burrows, E. Wadsworth, William Martin, John Eldridge, Joseph Miller, W. I. Mayfield, J. A. Gias- cock, J. R. Curry, J. S. Fellows, D. A. Jencks, J. S. Cleland, J. T. Stout, E. C. Farmer, D. Field. D. S. Kenyon, H. Solaro, George W. Chase, E. C. Gra- ham, James Clarkson, J. Read, William Morton, C. E. Bowin, Willia'n Dain, William Thomp-on, Benjamin Needham, W. S. R Tavlor, Robert Baird, H. D. Van Wyck, J. W. Ridley, H. T. Shepard, William S. Moses, N. C. Mayhew, E. Steele, H. Wadsworth, A. E. Raynes, W. W. Farmer, John D. Cosby, Thomas P. Greene, A. J. Lyon, W. P, Melindy, E. W. Potter, W. W. Beman, George W. Jackson, John C. Emmons, Charles Boehm, David Carrick, A. V. Burns, A. E. Paine, Thomas Smith, E. D. Guniger, A. S. Clark, A. Kenner, G. Lan- phier, J. P. Farmer, A. D. Crooks. L. M. Ketcham, J. W. Brown, Charles Herzog, J. Martin, C. H. Pollard, J. M. Woodworth, John Murray, J. J. Goff, L. Weymire, George B. Hill, E. Cress, John Kennedy, M. Stoker, John Culbert, F. J. Owen, W. Pitts, L. Tosh, C. Able. F. J. King, 1. Anderson, J. Lamb, W. T. Carson, J. Gelwick, William Thomas, P. White, L. D. Witherill, William P Nicholas, L. Lamb, Louis Deter, F. Dingman, G. F. West, J. Upham, R. Alcott, N. B. Webster, N. A. Handy, H. M. Bowman, R. G. French, H. F. Tardy, J. T Skin- ner, Charles A. Reed, S. MeNeil, Will am H. Hakl, William R. Kenny, J. W. Carpenter, William Short, B. Simpson, H. E. Lowrey, C. Gazkey, R. R. Gates, N. B. Woolley, T. W. Randall, M. L. Hemy, H. J. Underhill, R. Wicks, H. B. Warren, S. Wetzel, Peter La Gueval, J. MeLaughlin, J. Rammers, S. Weeks, E. Engleman, A. G. Houghton, J. Curhart, J. D). Root, S. Maurer, D. Farrington, E. Avers, J. Grav, William E. Johnson, T. J. Trimble, L. D. Ladd, H. Erickson, C. Stall, R. G. Strickland, W. D. Kellogg, William Corcoran, Orloff Norman, B. B. Handy, William McMurren, A. Peterson, Leon Marneisse, Joseph Deming, Charles Le Beau, S. H. Crary, W. F. Price, H. K. White, George Miller, George F. Price, Jonas W. Brown, H. G. Field, D. E. English.
THE UNION LEAGUE.
During the years 1863-64, when treason was ram- pant in the Northern States, and those who sympa- thized with rebels, sought by every means in their power to cripple and hamper the government in its efforts to put down the rebellion, were organ- ized such treason-breeding associations as the " Knights of the Golden Circle," "Sons of Liberty," and others. A movement was made in a counter direction by the loyal citizens of every State, and
Union Leagues sprang up on every hand, ready to counteract the insidious efforts of the plotters, and, if necessary, to meet force with force. In California the Union League was regularly organized, and had branches in nearly every town of importance in the State. Having procured the work of the league, E. Steele called a meeting of those interested in form- ing a branch league in Yreka, at his office, Saturday night, April 25, 1863. E. W. Potter, was chosen chairman, and H. B. Warren and A. P. McCarton, secretaries. On the ninth of May, at an adjourned meeting, the league was regularly organized, with the objects above set forth. The officers were :- William Grow, president; E. W. Potter and Lonis Autenrieth, vice-presidents; H. B. Warren and A. P. MeCarton, secretaries. The members all took the following pledge: " We pledge ourselves to an uncon- dlitional loyalty to the government of the United States, to an unswerving support of the adminis- tration in its efforts to suppress the rebellion, and to spare no endeavor to maintain unimpaired the national unity, both in principle and territorial boundary." For a time the league flourished and fulfilled the object of its being, but later it began to be used for political purposes, and its days of us ful- ness were then passed, and many of its former worthy members became estranged.
THIE SANITARY RELIEF FUND.
It is impossible to paint with words a truthful picture of the work accomplished during the great rebellion by the United States Sanitary Commission, and the blessings that flowed from it on every hand. Many a soldier, as his life-blood slowly oozed away in the hospital, died while asking God to bless the kind hands and loving hearts that had smoothed his passage to a patriotic grave. Many a mother, sister, wife or betrothed thought of the loved one far away on the battle field, or lying sick or wounded in the hot or crowded hospital, as she industriously scraped lint or rolled bandages that were destined to relieve the pain an I save the lives of thousands of loyal s Idiers. Generous-hearted citizens all through the land, unable themselves to shoulder the musket in defense of their country, went down deep into their pockets and provided the means to alleviate the suf- ferings of those who had devoted their lives to the service of their country. At first these efforts were feeble and undirected. Delicacies and clothing were sent by thoughtful and kind-hearted people to the regiments to which their friends belonged, but such were the uncertainties of war, and such eager crowds of unscrupulous rascals hang upon the skirts of an army and fatten upon the necessities of the soldiers, that these kind gifts were frequently directe !! from their proper course and were entirely inade- quate to meet the urgent demand for relief. One case of this kind is known to the writer, where a sokhier in an Illinois regiment actually bought his own mother's butter from the camp sutler at a high price. Wines, jellies, delicacies and clothing sent to the hospitals fell into the hands of unscrupu- lous surgeons and nurses with a speculative turn of mind, and the poor, fevered sufferers on the hard cots profited but little by them. This state of affairs soon become known. Letters from every tent on the field of battle disclosed the doings of these cor- mnorants, and there was a loud cry through the land
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170
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
for some action to be taken to remedy the evil and facilitate the good work so many desired to do. This resulted in the organization of the United States Sanitary Commission, with headquarters in the city of New York. Of this society Rev. Henry W. Bellows was chosen chairman, and proved to be the right man in the right place. An eloquent appeal for aid was sent out, and organizations were formed in all the chief cities that soon spread into the surrounding towns, until a little root sank deep into every community and gathered nourishment for the parent stem. Within two weeks from the time the call went out San Francisco sent $160,000, while in less than a month over $6,000 went from the county of Siskiyou. The contributions in this county were made in the following manner :- A call was issued for a sanitary meeting at the court house in Yreka, Wednesday night, September 1, 1862, which was responded to by a large concourse of people. Dr. E. Wadsworth was chosen chairman, and H. B. Warren, secretary. After a statement of the object of the gathering and a discussion of the best means to carry it into effect, it was decided to appoint a central committee to receive contribu- tions. The gentlemen charged with this trust were Dr. E. Wadsworth, William Irwin, M. Sleeper, C. E. Burrows, Jerome Churchill, Jolm Colby, and Henry Fried. This committee organized by elect- ing William Irwin, president, and E. Wadsworth, secretary and treasurer. An appeal to the loyal and generous of Siskiyou county was published, accompanied by the following list of sub-committecs, authorized to receive and forward subscriptions :-
Callahan's Ranch-James Crossen.
South Fork-O. Norman, M. McGreavy.
French Flat-E. H. Hall.
Center Precinct-John McConaughy.
Etna Mills-N. S. Warren.
Rough and Ready-Abisha Swain.
Oro Fino-Dr. J. E. Mooers, Jonathan Green, F. Campbell.
Pinery and Mugginsville-George Oulton.
Fort Jones-A. B. Carlock, R. S. Green, Diggles & Bro.
McAdam's Creek-A. Bowers, M. Rosenberg.
Indian Creek-F. M. Hooper, C. N. Thornbury.
Scott Bar-Chas. W. Prindle, Chas. Jost, C. H. Frink.
Johnson's Bar-W. H. Swift.
French Bar-D. F. Finley.
Sciad-Wm. B. Reeves.
Beaver and Hungry Creeks-A. D. Sloan.
Virginia Bar-James Coffnian, F. Hillert.
Lower Humbug-E. B. Lovelace, W. D. Walker. Mowry's Flat-L. P. Mickleson.
North Fork of Humbug-W. G. Rider, D. Merrick. Cottonwood-A. Haserick, J. V. Brown, Wm. Sharp.
Willow Creek-James Bradley.
Little Shasta-Cornelius Haight, Thomas Ster- ling.
Soda Springs-Isaac Fry. Sulloway's-J. H. Sisson.
Butteville-R. A. Gordon, D. C. Stevens, E. Car- rick.
Lower Greenhorn-A. E. Schwatka.
Upper Greenhorn-David Watson,
Canal Gulch-John Justice.
Hawkinsville-Henry Sells, J. H. Bull.
Within a month over $6,000 were sent in by these gentlemen, and forwarded to the committee at San Francisco. All money and contributions of clothing, lint, bandages, etc., were forwarded by Wells, Fargo & Co., free of charge. By a report made February 16, 1863, the contributions are found to be distrib- uted as follows :- Butteville, $31; Cottonwood, $160; Deadwood, $150; Etna Mills, $184; Fort Jones, $169.50; French Bar, $63.50; Greenhorn, $285.75; Hungry Creek, $208.75; Hawkinsville, $64; Humbug, $457; Indian Creek, $70; Johnson's Bar, $137; Little Shasta, $150; Long Gulch, $50; McAdams Creek, $286; Mugginsville, $61.75; Ohio House, $20; Oro Fino, $150; Pinery, $61.75; Soda Springs, $50; Sullaway's $24.25; Sawyer's Bar, $207.25; South Fork, $124; Scott. Bar, $416; Simonville, $125; Sciad, $162.50; Virginia Bar $22; Willow Springs, $13.50; Yreka, $2,471, Total, $6,385.50.
In addition to this effort the Ladies' Yreka Lint Association was organized October 22, 1862, with Mrs. S. M. Farren, president; Mrs. J. S. Fellows and Mrs. M. J. Bradley, vice-presidents; Frederick Wadsworth, treasurer; and Mrs. Jerome Churchill, secretary. Weekly meetings were held for the pur- pose of preparing rolls of bandages and scraping lint. while contributions of material and assistance came from the ladies throughout the whole county.
The first fever having abated, sanitary matters lay in a dormant state, until a thrilling appeal was received from Dr. Bellows, in October, 1863, calling for a monthly contribution of $25,000 from the Pacific coast. The East had contributed $3,000,000,. principally in goods, and this coast was looked to for one-half of the ready money necessary to defray expenses, which then amounted to $50,000 per month. The Siskiyou central committee met and re-organized November 30,1863, appointing sub-com- mittees, and issuing an add: ess to the people of the county. Up to this time $7,000 had been forwarded. The action took the form of local sanitary relief asso- ciations, in which the members paid a monthly due of fifty cents, which was collected and sent in at the beginning of each month. The first to organize was Deadwood, November 28, 1863, with sixty-three members; Scott Bar, on the same day, with one hun- dred members, and W. H. Frink, president: G. Bowdish, secretary; O. Goodale, treasurer. Oro Fino organized December 4th, with seventy-eight members, Dr. J. E. Mooers, president ; D. Gingher, secretary. Humbug started with twenty-five mem- bers; Fort Jones with seventy-one ; and Little Shasta with a good number. Crystal Creek organized December 17th, with seventy nine members, Rev. Warner Oliver, president; David H. Shaw, vice- president; John P. Wilson, secretary; A. P. Van Duzer, corresponding secretary ; John T. Moxley, treasurer. These associations continued in active existence until their usefulness came to an end, in the summer of 1865, a few months after the sup- pression of the rebellion.
A similar association was not formed in Yreka, but contributions were made to the committee, gen- erally in the form of a certain sum to be paid each month till the close of the war. On the twenty-fifth
171
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
of January, 1864, a meeting was held in Yreka for the purpose of arranging for a series of public enter- tainments for the benefit of the sanitary fund. The committee that was appointed, A. P. McCarton, T. N. Stone, A. E. Raynes, H. B. Warren, C. H. Pollard, F. E. Ensign, F. J. French, Mrs. George W. Chase, Mrs. W. S. Moses, Mrs. F. A. Rogers, Mrs. Jerome Churchill, Miss A. Belden, and Miss Anna Price, arranged a musical and literary entertainment, which was given in Metropolitan Hall. This was followed by similar entertainments, under the name of " Ladies' Relief Soirees." In the fall of 1864, a series of dramatic representations was inaugurated, and given at intervals, until July 4, 1865, resulting in the addition of over $800 to the fund. The ladies throughout the county, also worked industriously for many weeks preparing for a sanitary fair, which was held in Yreka, December 22-3, 1864, and real- ized $1,045.
By such means as this did the county of Siskiyou respond nobly to the call of duty, and to this patri- otic charity contribute in all about $12,000, besides lint, bandages, and clothing. It is a bright page in her history, and one which every citizen should feel proud to gaze upon.
MEXICAN VETERANS.
There are a number of veterans of the Mexican war in Siskiyou county, some of whom served in the army, and some in the navy :- W. A. Hovey, Yreka; F. G. Hearn, Yreka; M. Sleeper, Yreka; F. J. King, Yreka; B. F. Wayne, Yreka; E. W. Conner, Edgewood; Charles Gaemlick, Willow Creek; James T. Jones, Willow Creek; J. M. Smith, Little Shasta; P. A. Heartstrand, Etna; Robert S. Green, Fort Jones; Frederick Koester, Hawkinsville; John D. Cosby, deceased; Charles McDermit, deceased; James L. Freaner, deceased.
There is also one veteran of the war of 1812, Jesse Barber, eighty-four years of age; and Duncan Cameron, of the Florida Seminole war. No asso- ciation has ever been formed among these survivors of that contest that added California to the United States.
SISKIYOU IN THE REBELLION.
Three companies from this county were mustered into the United States service during the progress of the great rebellion, all of whom were used on the frontier, or in the Indian wars on the coast.
COMPANY M., SECOND CAVALRY, C. V.
This company was recruited in the summer of 1861, and met at Fort Jones, September 12, 1861, to elect officers. Those chosen were :- Charles McDermit, captain; George F. Price, first lieu- tenant; Joseph M. Woodworth, second lieutenant; Robert L. Tilden, brevet second lieutenant; R. L. Westbrook, orderly; John Madison, A. Stevens, M. M. Sloan, and F. M. Bishop, sergeants. The company was mustered in at Camp Alert, San Francisco, eighty-three strong.
They were placed on the overland trail in Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, and bore an honorable part in that constant struggle to keep the trail open for travel. The command had a constant and severe cam- paign from the time it enlisted till it was mustered
out in 1865, having veteranized in 1863. MeDermit was promoted to be major, November 13, 1861, and George F. Price became captain, and it was under him that the company served through the campaign. In 1865 Price became a captain in the regular army, in the forty-second cavalry, and in 1866 major and then colonel of the same regiment.
CHARLES MCDERMIT
Was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1820. He was educated at Ebensburg in the same State, and learned the cabinet trade. In 1846 he enlisted as second lieutenant in Company D, Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Col. John W. Geary. He served through the Mexican war, was promoted to first lieutenant, and received his discharge in 1848. The next year he came to Cali- fornia via Vera Cruz and Mexico, superintended the building of the United States barracks at Benicia, built and operated a saw-mill at Bodega, and went to Trinidad in the spring of 1850. He prospected and mined through this region for two years, and in 1852 was elected the first sheriff of Siskiyou county. The same year he was engage l in expeditions to found Crescent City and to protect emigrants in the Modoc country. In 1853 he was in the cattle trade on the plains, and in 1854 went into saw and grist mill business at Etna, where he also had a cabinet shop. In 1859 he was elected to the Assembly, and again in 1860, and in 1861 offered his services to his country. He was chosen captain of Company M. Second Cavalry, C. V., and was promoted to major November 13, 1861. He was placed in command of Fort Churchill, Nevada, and May 1, 1865, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of that department. August 8, 1865, he was killed in an Indian battle in Green River valley, near Owyhee, Nevada. He was married in 1855 to a sister of William, James, and Jeremiah Davidson, who is now living in Fort Jones with her three children.
COMPANY A, FIFTH INFANTRY, C. V.
In the summer of 1863 a company was recruited in Siskiyou county for the cavalry service, chose its officers and went at its own expense to Camp Alert, eighty strong, to be mustered in. There the author- ities would not receive them as a distinct organiza- ton, but wanted to distribute them among other com- panies whose ranks were not yet full. They would not consent to this, and sixty of them went to Sac- ramento and enlisted in Company A, Fifth Infantry. Their officers were :- Joseph Smith, captain; Thomas P. Cunningham, first lieutenant; William H. Hig- don, second lieutenant: William Oman, orderly; Thomas B. Sitton, David C. Warner, Calvin Dotson and Henry C. Foljambe, sergeants. The company was stationed in Arizona,-New Mexico and Texas, and passed with honor through the trials of a fron- tier campaign.
SISKIYOU MOUNTAINEERS, COMPANY F.
In the fall of 1863 a company was raised with headquarters at Fort Jones, for the purpose of fight- ing the hostile Indians of Humboldt county. They were mustered in with sixty-seven men in January, 1864, Robert Baird, captain; A. W. Randall, first lieutenant; H. B. Mathewson, second lieutenant.
172
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
They served actively in the Indian wars of northern California until mustered out in June, 1865.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Pursuant to a call by citizens, a meeting was held in engine house, No. 1, on the evening of January 8, 1876, to consider the question of celebrating in a fitting manner the fourth of the coming July, the one-hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. J. S. Cleland was called to the chair, and William Duenkel chosen sec- retary. A committee on programine was appointed, consisting of Doctor Daniel Ream, P. G. Strickland, James Vance, John Pashburg, J. W. Bird, E. H. Autenrieth, R. O. De Witt, Samuel Magoffey, Robert Nixon, Calvin Edgerton, Maurice Renner, Charles Peters, W. I. Nichols, J. S. Cleland, and William Duenkel. The meeting then adjourned, and again assembled on the twenty-second of the same month at Turner Hall, where the report of the committee was accepted, and the same gentlemen were appointed a permanent executive committee. The Committee organized by choosing P. G. Strickland, chairman ; E. H. Autenrieth, secretary, and Charles C. Peters, treasurer.
Subscriptions to the amount of $2,600 were received, of which the city of Yreka gave $1,000. Great interest was taken all over the county, and when the time arrived there were 4,000 people present to witness the celebration. Decora- tions of arches, evergreens, flags, and bunting were made in profusion, especially on Miner street.
On the evening of the third a grand torch-light procession was formed, composed of a large portion of the procession arranged for the following day, all brilliantly illuminated with torches, Chinese lanterns, etc. At midnight a salute of one hundred guns was fired from the hill just east of town, and at sun- rise a national salute of thirty-seven guns, accol .- panied with music.
At ten o'clock the procession formed as follows :-
Grand Marshal, William McConnell. Chief of Staff, James Vance.
AIDS. David Horne, Antone Foster, H. A. Morse, Dennis Merrick, Matthew Fultz, J. B. Haislip. Etna Brass Band. I. O. O. F. Lodges. CONTINENTAL CAR,
Drawn by four horses; John Magoffey and Minnie De Witt as George and Martha Washington. Henry Wadsworth, Eddie Wetzel, Alex. Rosborough, Godfrey Peters, John Stim- mel, Cole Skinner, Frank King, Sarah Stine, Mary Wetzel, Ida Stimmel, Mary Uerlings, Amelia Huseman, Lizzie Nixon, Gussie Ringe, Mattie Pyle, Helen Martin, and Annie McCarton, in Continental costume. CLIPPER SHIP,
Full-rigged, seventeen feet long, by Portuguese miners of Haw- kinsville.
TURNERS' CAR,
Drawn by six mules; representation of gymnasium. CARRIAGE.
Jesse Barber and Merrit Searcy, veterans of the war of 1812, and Rev. J. T. Baldwin, eighty years of age. CAR.
Columbus, by Arthur Scheld; and the thirteen original States by little girls.
Yreka Brass Band. Chief Engineer, - - - A. E. Raynes. Assistant Engineer, Theobald Young. Yreka Engine No. 1. Klamath Engine No. 2. Siskiyou H. &. L. No. 1, drawn by four horses; representation of quartz mining on truck. Ashland Brass Band. Carriage containing officials. Mexican Veterans. CAR OF THE UNION, Drawn by four horses; Bessie Martin as Goddess of Liberty; Lena Burrows as Angel of Peace; and thirty- seven little girls as the States. CONTINENTAL CAR, Drawn by four horses ; Addie Skinner and Matilda Lemay in costume of 1776; Mrs. Charl s Munro, Belle Skinner, and Etta Sleeper, in cos- tume of 1876, singing patriotic songs.
Carriages and Horsemen.
After parading the principal streets, the proces- sion moved to the grove just south of town, accom- panied by the crowd of spectators, where the exer- cises of the day were held. They were conducted by Hon. A. M. Rosborough, president of the day, who opened with a few words of welcome. They consisted of a prayer by Rev. E. L. Greene, frequent pieces of vocal and instrumental music, and reading of the Declaration of Independence by J. M. Wal- bridge. The poet of the day, W. I. Nichols, then read an original poem entitled, The Century's Triumphs, ending with the following beautiful stanza :-
Our fathers in their honored graves lie low; A century's triumphs crown their labors now; Their toil is o'er, their strife forever done, Aud ours the heritage their valor won. O, sons of freedom! favored, chosen race, In might rise up to take their honored place; With justice girded and with right m de strong, Our country's honor and her fame prolong. No lust of office and no > po Is of war Her name must t. raish or her beauty mar. Be ours, with care, to guard the sacred trust; Put none but trusted watchmen at the post. A century finished, let our watch word be, Our Flag, our Country, and our Liberty.
The reading of the poem was followed by a most eloquent and patriotic address by the gifted orator, Calvin Edgerton, which was received with enthu- siasm and hearty applause.
A grand barbecue was then had in the grove, under the management of R. O. De Witt. In the evening a grand display of fire-works was made, and a ball held in a mammoth pavilion erected on the corner of Center and Fourth streets, supper being served in Turner Hall. The celebration was continued with diminished enthusiasm for several days.
CHAPTER XXII.
SOCIETIES, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND MILITIA.
IN the following pages it is undertaken to give a brief history of all existing societies, as well as a register of those whose vital spark was long since extinguished.
.
VAN
H.J. Nichols
WASHINGTON IRVING NICHOLS,
Son of Ezra and Lorina (Jeffords) Nichols, was born in Monroe county, New York, November 3, 1837. His father was a carpenter and joiner, and in early boyhood young Nichols worked at that trade, but at the age of fifteen years entered the academy at Otseo, and later received his preparation for a college course at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York. He entered Syracuse Uni- versity in 1858, and graduated from there in 1862, in full classical course. At that time it was known as Genesee College, and owing to the pressure on the school they were compelled to change to a university with all the branches of science. After graduating he became professor of ancient languages at the Lewiston Academy. At the end of his first term there he was elected principal. At the close of the first year the reverses of our army seemed to demand the service of every true and loyal son of New York, and he took all the boys in the institu- tion who were willing to go, with the consent of their parents, and joined Company F, Twenty-second Regiment, New York Cavalry, going through the campaigns of the Shenandoah Valley, etc. Mr. Nichols was mustered out at Winchester, Virginia, in July or August, 1865. After the close of the war he was appointed agent of the Freedman's Bureau, lecturing through western New York, and
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