USA > Iowa > Clarke County > Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa > Part 50
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troops on the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. It was for some mouths stu- tioned in a disloyal part of Tennessee, and actively engaged in the preservation of good order. During the summer and fall of 1864. it took part in the Georgia cam- paign. It saw about as hard and contin- uous service as fell to the lot of any command in the same time. It was re- tained in the service of the United States until August, 1865, on the 13th of which month it was mustered out, and on the 27th it was paid off at Clinton, Iowa, by Major E. S. Bailey.
In the summer of 1861, about twenty-five men from Clarke County went into Com- pany HI, Forty-sixth Infantry (100 days). Aaron S. Johnson was Erst Lieutenant. The following account of this regiment's brief operations was written by Colonel D. B. Henderson. of Dubuque:
" The Forty-sixth Regiment, lowa In- fantry, was organized at Davenport, Iowa, and mustered into the United States service on the ioth day of June, 1864. 10 serve for the term of 100 days. On the utth of June, the regiment was armed and clothed, and on the 14th we took the cars for Cairo, Ilinois, at which place we ar- rived on the 15th. Immediately upon my
arrival in Cairo, I dispatched a letter to Major-General Washburn, commanding at Memphis, and on the morning of the 17th of June, I received orders from General Washburn to report with my regiment at Memphis.
"On the evening of the 17th of June, } embarked the regiment upon the John !). Perry, and arrived in Memphis on the gan City and Indianapolis. November 4 : morning of the both, when I was ordered it commenced its march to Nashville, into camp, two miles east of the city. We remained in cup at Memphis until the , that time. On the morning of the ezth o Tennessee, making the 200 miles in less, than two weeks. Here it reported to Ma- : 27th, performing heavy picket duty during jor-General Thomas and received orders to report to General Gillen, commanding ; Jone I was ordered to move my regimen. under Governor Andrew Johnson, the | t Collierville, Tennessee. take command
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THY CIVIL. I'MA.
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of that post, and throw out detachments east and west on the railroad, and was also ordered to guard the railroad against the interference of the rebels who had re- cently been firing upon the trains in the vicinity of Collierville.
"On the 28th of June, I sent Lieutenant- Colonel L. D. Durbin with two companies, A and 1, Captains Guilbert and Wolf, to Camp Look Out, a post three miles west of Collierville, and situated on the Mem- phis & Charleston Railroad. On the same day Major George L. Torbert, with Com- panies E and K, Captams Harrison and Palmer, moved to Camp Henderson, two and a half miles cast of Collierville. Both of these detachments performed their du- ties faithfully, and not another train was disturbed while they guarded these posts. While the regiment was stationed at Coll- ierville and outposts the men performed very heavy picket duty, being upon guard each alternate day. I partly compensated the men for this by inaugurating a gener- ous system of foraging.
" The enemy did not disturb us but once during the two months that we were stationed at Collierville. The cvent that I allude to occurred about the middle of August. Lieutenant-Colonel Durbin was informed that a band of guerrillas had cap- tured two men of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry near his camp. He promptly sent out Captain Wolf with sixteen men to relieve the prisoners if possible. When about a mile from camp the party was fired upon by some thirty guerrillas lying in ambus- cade, and Captain Wolf and three of His men were brought down at the first volky, the Captain and one man seriously wounded, the others slightly. The men returned the fire, killing one and wounding three of the rebels. The Captain having been shot and supposed to be killed, and being outnum- bered two to one the men retreated to C 2
"On the ist of September we were or- dered to Memphis, where we remained until the ioth. when we were ordered to embark on the Golden Era for Cairo, at which place we arrived on the 14th of Sep- tember. Taking the cars the same day we started for Davenport, lowa. On the evening of the 16th of September we reached Davenport, at which place we were mustered out and paid off on the 23d of September, 1864."
Besides the regiments above enumerated there were a few representatives of Clarke County in other commands, and in some belonging to other States. The Ninth Iowa Cavalry had a few in Company H, and a half-dozen went into the Sixth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia.
In 1861, the first year of the war, the General Assembly ordered an enumeration made the following year of the militia, or able-bodied male population between eight- cen and forty-five years of age. in the dif- ferent counties of the State. This was done, and, January 1, 1863, the total num- ber for Clarke County was reported as SSS. One year later this number was re- duced to 708. In December, 1864, the Clarke County Regiment was organized, with the following general officers: Colonel, Calvin Minton; Lieutenant-Colonel, Thon- as J. Lowe; Major, Freeborn W. Johnson; Adjutant, A. II. Burrows; Quartermaster, Thomas C. Funston: Surgeon, E. M. Laws; Assitant Surgeon, J. P. Wood. The com- manding officers of the eleven companies were: Captain A. C. Rarick, Captain Alonzo Williams, Lieutenant Thomas i'. Bonar, Captain Samuel P. Glenn, Lieuten- ant Thomas P. Johnson, Captain Jacob Broadfoot, Captain Solomon De Long. Captain John M. Lowry, Captain Abraham Mckeever, Captain John McDonough and Capinin George Weaver.
The county board of supervisors took appropriate action from time to time
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
toward relieving the families of volunteers. The expenditures on this head increased rapidly at the close of the war, and a special two-mill tax was levied in 1804 and 1865. yielding over $5,oco, all of which was expended. Including the amounts ex- pended in the previous years the total paid out by the county was not far from $6,000. The county paid no bounties to volun- teers, but several of the townships offered various bounties in order to complete their quotas, and the citizens gave liber- ally out of their private means to the same end. These efforts were so effective that the draft was put in force in but one township -Green Bay -- and there but one man was drawn.
The ladies and church people organized numerous societies for assisting soldiers and soldiers' families, and deserve lasting praise for their energy. The volunteers !
themselves sent home such amounts fron. their pay as they could spare. Company F. of the Sixth, started a company bakery in the field, and drew rations of four instead of bread. More bread was made than needed, and the surplus was regularly sold. Thus a fund of $75 to $100 per month was accumulated, which was sent home for use where most needed. This was kept up until the latter part of the war, when the bakery was discontinued.
When the war was over and the regi- ments mustered out Clarke County's 500 volunteers quietly returned to their homes and resumed their avocations. Many have moved away, and some have closed their earthly accounts. There are now residing in the county over 390 ex-soldiers, more than half of whom, however, enlisted from other States or counties, and have since the war moved here.
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2 : 4.
UF PRESS
457
THE PRESS
V the development of lished, and the large number of outside papers that are taken here, afford the best possible evidence that the people are intel- ligent, enterprising and progressive. In Osceola aloue 100 copies of outside daily papers are distributed every day by the newsdealer, and many come by mail direct to subscribers. modern civilization there is no more po- tent factor than the newspaper, and, at the same time, there has been no greater progress in anything for fifty years past than in American Although many able writers have been employed upon the county press in former years, without disparagement to any ol them it can safely be asserted, that the journals of the county, taken as a whole. were never better conducted than at pres .. ent. The editors are gentlemen who un- derstand their business thoroughly, and do their utmost to give their patrons good, clean, reliable newspapers. journalism. Fifty years ago the country had few newspapers that could be considered paying property. The metropolitan journals devoted about as much space to foreign as to domestic news, while country wecklies seemed to consider that which happened at home as of no importance whatever, and imitated the larger papers The oldest paper published in Clarke County is the in style and contents. The telegraph and railroads, assisted by that enterprising OSCEOLA SENTINEL. spirit which is inseparably connected with successful journalistic management, have . This was established July 30, 1859, the pre- wrought most gratifying results. Local . cise date not being ascertainable, by Pike & news has become the main feature of | weekly country newspapers, and all jour- nals of the better class are foremost in al- vancing the best interests of the localities from which then support comes.
Oldham. They called it then the Courier. After they had been in control nearly three years. they sold the office to J. H. Caverly. who published the Courier for a year or two longer, and then, January 1, 1863, changed its name to the Umon Sentinel, thereby to accord more fully with the
In Clarke County, journalism has kept pace in the march of improvement with other professions and industries. The wide patriotic ideas of the community. The circulation of these papers at present pub- civil war was then in progress, and its in-
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MINHAVY OF WARKE COUNTY.
fluence pervaded the commonest events of daily life. The name, Ci ba Sentir. ", was appropriate, for its voice was strong and . clear for the Union, and in support of the administration of President Lincoln. Some three years after the close of the war the name was changed to Clark County Sen- tinel, and a few years later the present title, Osceola Sentinel, was adopted.
Mr. Caverly sold out in 1867 to J. B. Dague, who soon after received J. C. Stockton in partnership. There have been numerous changes of proprietorship since. Mi. Stockton disposed of his interest to Milo A. Thompson, and he in turn sold to R. A. Dagnc. The firm of Dague Brothers continued until 1872, and then sold to HJunter Brothers, whose proprietorship was of short duration. The next owner was J. J. Steadman, now of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. He sold a one-half in- terest to S. M. Leach, who is now a banker of Adel, Dallas County. When Mr. Steadman retired, R. A. Dague suc- ceeded to his place, and the firm became Leach & Dague. The latter's share was next the property of B. L. Harding, and the paper was issued under the name of S. M. Leach & Co. R. A. Dague's name next appeared in place of that of Mr. Loach, and be afterward sold to Pierce & Lucas. Mr. Harding sold his interest to Henry Stivers, and in November, 1885, the latter became sole proprietor.
The Sentinel's existence dates back to an early period in the history of the Republi- can party, to whose interests it has always been truc. It has been the official paper of the county ever since its establishment. The paper and its appurtenances were once valued at SI, 500, but the last transfer of the paper to Mr. Stivers' hands, was made of a valuation of 8, 200. The paper is issued on Thursdays, an lis an ght-colima folio. Its subscription price is $1.50 per year. The circulation i. 1,300, and still increasing.
OSCEOLA DEMOCRAT.
J. M. Estes established the New Era i: 18;3. and poiblished it as a Democratic weekly until the spring of is;8. when G. C. Miller took charge and changed the name to that now used. The present pro. prictors, J. W. & J. 11. Sherman, succeeded Mr. Miller in November, 1879. It is at present the only Democratic paper in the county. The Democrat was originally a seven-column folio, but under the present management has been made a five-column quarto. It goes to press on Wednesday, and is distributed and dated Thursday. The subscription price is $1.50 per year. It is due to Sherman Brothers to say that when they undertook the management of the Democrat it was in a bad condition finan- cially, and unpopular among the people ; but they have made it more than self- sustaining, raised its circulation to 900 in this county alone, and in every way im- proved its character. Sherman Brothers have been connected with four papers ---- Leon Reporter, Newton Independent, Bona- parte Journal and the Osceola Democrat.
THE SATURDAY MAIL
was established March 27, 1886, by J. Y. Stier, and is consequently the youngest of the four papers now published in Clarke County. It is in politics independent, and has made a very favorable start, having an increasing subscription list. It is a five- column quarto, and is published on Satur- days, at $1.25 per year.
MURRAY NEWS.
The first paper at Murray was the Record, established by J. E. Wick, and by him run for a short time. This was succeeded by the News, the first number of which was issued about April 1, 1876, by B. L. Hard- ing. He was followed, in a year or so, by J. F. Bishop, who lived at Afton, and per-
THA PRESS.
formed las editorial work at that place. The next proprietors were the Bird Broth. ers, who, in 1870, sold to 11. D. Crawford. He afterward received into partnership William Farner. In 18SE Crawford dis- posed of his interest to J. D. Martindale. and Farner sold his share to E. T. Pufur. The firm of Martindale & Dufur existed one year, and then Mr. Martindale became sole proprietor. The News is politically a Republican paper. It is a seven-column folio, issued on Wednesdays, at $1.50 per year.
THIE WOODBURN ARGUS
was the only attempt at journalism at the village of Woodburn. Stier & Mills were the publishers, and the first number ap- peared January 15, 1885. It was a six-col- umn folio, issued on Thursdays, at St a year, and independent in politics. It was discontinued May 1, 1886, the subscribers whose time had not expired being put on the books of the Saturday Mail, which, as
before stated, was sintel at Osceola in March, 1986, by Mr. Stici.
OTHER JOURNALS.
Several others have been established at Osccola, but none succeeded in winning sufficient support to warrant their perma- neney. The first of these, and the longest- lived. was the Republican. founded by a stock company in 1868, and edited by Allen IT. Burrows. now deceased, for two years and one month, until suspended. Then the Democrat, founded about iSzo, was pub- lished two years by G. N. Udell, now of Leon. The Osceola Beacon was afterward established by Ayres & Miller, who pub- lished it a year or so The material was then purchased by Rev. Robbins and George Bumgartner, who started the Java Baptist. This was finally removed to Des Moines. The Demeerat .Advocate wasstarted in 1880, and lived less than a year. lis edi- tor was D. M. Lyons, who had been con- nected with the Des Moines press.
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
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THE
BARA
IIE law is a profession which ever attracts a certain percentage of our brightest minds into its ranks. It is how rather more crowded than the oth- er avocations, but this is in itself a proof of the advan- tages it offers. Of late years it has become curiously common for people to dis- parage lawyers, applying every sort of epithet, and making them the excuses for hundreds of jokes and stories ; vet these same cit- izens who proless to have a contempt for lawyers will, when in any kind of difficulty, run promptly to one of the profession, place themselves and their property entire- ly in his guidance, and cagerly follow his suggestions in the weightiest affairs.
Clarke, having always been a small coun- 1}, has never possessed a large body of at- torneys, an I those who have practiced here have furnished from their number few who ; would be considered brilliant in a large city; yet they have been as a rule able, weil-read, conscientious and painstaking men, and at the present time, as well as in the past, the county may be truthfully con-
sidered surprisingly free from " shysters." One testimony to their ability is the fact that attorneys are seldom imported from other counties to attend to important cases. During the early years of the county's his- tory, lawyers frequently came from Indian- ola, Afton and Leon. but now the twelve attorneys residing at Osceola have no com- petition from outside.
The first lawyer to fix his residence at Osceola was P. J. Goss, who came in 1852, directly from Ottumwa, but originally from east central Illinois. He practiced con- tinuously at Osceola until 1885, when he went to Oberlin, Kansas. His residence here lasted a third of a century, and of course, was longer than any others who have located here. He was a good lawyer. by long experience and close reading, and enjoyed a good practice. He is now about sixty-seven years old, and has a wife and several children. He is a democrat, and during his residence in Clarke County was interested somewhat in local politics.
During the year 1855 three lawyers lo- cated at Osecola. D. W. Scoville, the first, was a native of New York, and removed from here to California during the war. lle commenced practice in the Golden State, and continued for three or four vear-, when he died. He stood well in his profession, and also entered politics to some
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BAR.
extent. Ile was a Democrat, and while here served a term in the House of Repre- sentatives, of the General _Assembly. llc was a middle-aged man, and had a wife but no children.
R. B. Parrott was a native of Ohio. He practiced in Clarke County about ten years, and was then taken with the West- i ern fever. He was gone to the mountains | three or four years, and then returned to Osceola, where he remained till 18;6. Since that date he has resided and prac- ticed law at Indianola. Warren County. He is spoken well of here, and was un- doubtedly an able member of the Clarke County Bar. He held the office of district attorney one term, when the judicial dis- trict extended as far as the Missouri River west. Politically he is a Democrat. He has a wife and four children.
A. L. Sprague, the third of those who caine in 1855, located here in the last part of that year. He was originally from Ohio. Hle remained in Clarke County but three years, and then removed to Plattsmouth. Nebraska, to live. Ile is still practicing law in Saunders County, Nebraska. He made a good reputation during his brief residence at Osceola. He was a Republi- can, but held no political aspirations here.
served a term in the General Assembly of the State.
John Clark stu lied with Mr. Scovill. and in 1858 commenced the practice of law. Tle was married while residing here, and removed with Mr. Scoville to Cali- fornia.
J. J. Hider came here from Sigourney, Iowa, in 1859 or 'Go. He was a German by nationality. After about two years' resi- dence here he removed to Burlington, where he now resides.
Charles C. Millard located here in 1860, removing from Indian dla, and after some four years' residence made another change of home, to Glenwood, Mills County, in the western part of the State. He was a Republican in politics, and stood well in his profession. From here he went to Texas. returned to Osceola, then made another trip to Texas, and finally returned once more to this place, where he died. He was paralytic to a disabling extent for some time before his death, which was the only one that has occurred at Osceola of an at- torney in practice.
M. B. Reese studied faw in 1864. with Judge Rice, and in 186; was admitted to the bar. He was a partner of the judge for the next two years. This rela- tion was then discontinued, and he re- mained three or four years more, before removing to Nebraska, of which State he is now a supreme judge. He is a Re-
James Rice, commonly known as " Judge Rice," came to this county in 1857, and has practice'l law continuously since. Ilsheld the position of county judge from 1861 to publican, and has a family. In so far as 1868, when the office was abolished, but . the workl can estimate success and failure, Judge Reese has achieved perhaps a higher position than any other member of
his official duties did not prevent his performing the regalar legal business that came to him. He has become as thorough- ' the Clarke County bar.
ly acquainted with Clarke County during pecially during his incumbency as comny ju lge. as any man that has ever resi led in it. He has an excellent memory of men and things, and is a representative "old citizen." He is o Republican, sont has E. F. Riley came to Osceola in the latter his twente-nine years of residence, and ess. part of 1864, and has practiced more or less since. He has, however, been princi- pally engaged in the land business, and for some years has also been a banker. In both these lines he has been very successful. R. A. Dague came with Mr. Riley, and
HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
was for two or three years a partier. Since then he has been " coming and go. " to Nebraska, where he engaged in reales ing," and is hardly considered a per a- nent resident of any place. Of late be haus hold an interest in the Ind perdent . bater can, published at Creston, but he has sold that, and is now unsettled.
Philip Likes, a native of Ohio, became a resident of Clarke County some thirty years ago, and during the war, or about it. close, commenced the practice of law, remaining in it at Osceola, until 188 :. He then re- moved to Nebraska, where he now resides. He is a man of family, and politically a Republican.
John Chaney's residence at Osccola dates from 1867, and he followed his pro- fession continuously until 1884, when the people recognized the reputation he had earned, by electing him circuit judge of the Third Judicial District, including the counties of Clarke, Union, Adams, Mont- gomery, Page, Taylor, Ringgold and De- catur. Judge Chaney is politically a Re- publican.
H. L. Karr became a resident in 1868, and is still in the practice of his profession. Hle has given considerable attention to real estate and financial matters, and has been unusually successful thereat. He is one of the most substantial, as well as re. spected citizens of Osceola.
J. V. Banta came here in ISOS, directly from Vinton, this State, but originally from Indiana. He is still a resident. but has given less attention to the law as a profes- sion, than to land and money matters. Ile is now president of the Clarke County Bank.
S. P. Agros came to the county scat in the winter of 1867'8, and remained until 1882. Ile is now at Knoxville, running a newspaper. He was politica"y a Repub- lican.
H. S. Kalev, an Ohioin, located here at the same time, and entered into a partner-
ship with Mr. Avres. In 1822 he removed
tate dealing, and made money rapidly in- til his death. a few years since. He left a family in comfortable circumstances. In politics he was a Republican.
C. C. MeIntire is among the oldest of the Clarke County bar, actively devoted to the legal profession. He commenced practice here in 18;1, and has acquired an extensive practice, and an excellent repu- tation.
I. C. Ayres preceded Mr. Molntire about three years, and shortly after the latter's arrival, entered into partnership relations with him. This continued three or four years, when Mr. Ayres became con- nected with a newspaper at Osceola. 1Ie afterward removed to lastings, lowa, and still later to Dakota, where he is now. He was a Republican in politics, and held the office of county superintendent of schools one term. He is remembered as a good lawyer and an upright citizen.
J. J. Molntire came about eight years ago, and has since been in partnership with his brother, C. C. McIntire.
Dell Stuart, of the firm of Stuart Bros., came to Osceola about 1870, from Chari. ton, and after a time T. B Stuart followed. Another brother, Frank, came still later. About 1878 they left, Dell going back to Chariton, and the other two to Denver, Colorado.
Heury Stivers was admitted to the bar at Osceola in I870; and practiced for about ten years, when he became connected with the Des Moines. Osceola & Southern Railrond, as superintendent. Since April, 1885, he has devoted himself to journalist, being editor and owner of the Oscoda Sentinel.
James A. Woodbury and Charles W. White purchased the interests of Sin ot Bros., in 1883, and have since been in part- nership in the practice of law.
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W. M. Wilson has boun in practice in Clarke County more than fifteen years, and has taken a prominent position at the bar of Southern lowa. Ile is a Republican and has served a term in the State Senate.
space in the biographical department of this work. Some are not mentioned in His chapter, but they are those who re- mained in the county too briof a time to entitle them to a place in this record. The M. L. Temple, from West Virginia. has roll of resident attorneys at Osceola in been a resident practitioner about ten 1386 includes: James Rice, E. F. Riley, years. J. N. Estes and W. B. Talman are , H. L. Karr. J. V. Banta, C. C. McIntire, among the later recruits to the Clarke County bar.
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