USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 14
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at Champion Hills; with Reid at Shiloh. They were with Grant at the surrender of Vicksburg. They fought above the clouds with Hooker at Lookout Mountain. They were with Sherman in his march to the sea, and were ready for battle when Johnston surrendered. They were with Sheridan in the valley of the Shenandoah, and were in the veteran ranks of the nation's deliverers that stacked their arms in the national cap- itol at the close of the war.
The State furnished to the armies of the republic, during the war, over 70,000 men, and 20,000 of these perished in battle or from diseases contracted in the service.
We append here a brief notice of each regiment :
The First Regiment was organized under the President's first call for three-months volunteers, with John Francis Bates, of Du- buque, as Colonel. It comprised various independent military companies that had been organized before the war, who ten- dered their services even before the break- ing out of hostilities. They were mustered in May 14, and first saw service under General Lyon in Missouri.
Second Infantry; Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk, Colonel. This was the first three- years regiment, and made a most distin- guished record throughout the South, go- ing with Sherman to the sea, returning through the Carolinas, etc. After the battle at Fort Donelson, the unenthusiastic General Halleck pronounced this reganent " the bravest of the brave."
Third Infantry; Nelson G. Williams, of Dubuque County, Colorcl. Veteranized in 1864, but before the new officers received their commissions the regiment fousi tisch out of existence at the battle of Atlanta !
Fourth Infantry : G. M. Dodge, of Coun- cil Bluffs Colonel. Engaged in the min- cipal bate !!- of the South.
Fifth Infantry : WilBain H. Worthington, of Kooka!, Colonel; 185 veteraninal in
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1954 and were transferred to the Fifth Cavalry.
Sixth Infantry; John A. McDowell, of Keokuk. Colonel. Engaged faithfully in many of the prominent battles.
Seventh Infantry ; J. G. Lauman, of Bur- lington, Colonel. It lost 227 at the single battle of Belmont.
Eighth Infantry ; Frederick Stecle, of the regular army, Colonel. Most of this com- mand suffered in rebel prisons for eight months. Was on duty in Alabama nearly a year after the collapse of the Rebellion.
Ninth Infantry ; William Vandever, of Dubuque, Colonel. Was in almost every Southern State, traveling altogether 10,000 miles ; marched more than 4,000 miles !
Tenth Infantry; Nicholas Persczel, of Davenport, Colonel. Fought mainly in Mississippi ; losing half its number at the battle of Champion Hills alone !
Eleventh Infantry ; A. M. Hare, of Mus- catine, Colonel. Served mainly in the in- terior of the South, doing as valiant service as any other regiment.
Twelfth Infantry ; J. J. Wood, of Maquo- keta, Colonel. In rebel prisons eight months. Veteranized January 4, 1864, a larger proportion of the men re-enlisting than from any other Jowa regiment. Served for several months after the close of the war.
Thirteenth Infantry ; M. M. Crocker, of Des Moines, Colonel. Fought in the South- ern interie and made the famous round with Sheraver to the sea, being the first to enter Columbia, South Carolina, where se. I by the han i, so great was his emotion. cession had its rise.
Fourteenth Infantry ; William T. Shay .. of Amamma, Colonel. Nearly all captured at Shiloh but were released after a few " months. Engaged in some of the severest contents.
Uiteenth Infantry: Hugh T. Reid, of Kebank, Colonel. Serveliler an la bah years in the heart of the Rebellion.
Sixteenth Infantry: Alex. Chambers, of the regular army, Colonel. Bravely served throughout the South.
Seventeenth Infantry; John W. Rankin, of Keokuk. Colonel. Served in the in- terior of the South.
Eighteenth Infantry; John Edwards, of Chariton, Colonel. Much of its time was spent in garrison duty.
Nineteenth Infantry : Benjamin Crabb, of Washington, Colonel. Served mainly in Mississippi. Were prisoners of war about ten months.
Twentieth Infantry, comprising five com- panies each from Scott and Linn counties, who vied with each other in patriotism; William M. Dve, of Marion, Colonel. En- gaged mainly on the Gulf coast.
Twenty-first Infantry ; ex-Governor Sam- ucl Merrill, Colonel. Distinguished in val- iant service throughout the South. See Twenty-third Regiment.
Twenty-second Infantry: William M. Stone, of Knoxville, since Governor of the State, was Colonel. Did excellent service, all the way from Mississippi to old Virginia.
Twenty-third Infantry ; William Dewey, of Fremont County, Colonel. Its services were mainly in Mississippi. At Black River but a few minutes were required in carry- ing the rebel works, bet those few minutes were fought with fearful loss to the troops. The Twenty-first also participated in this diving assault, and immediately after the victory was gained Goferal Lavler passed down the line and jovaly seized every man
Twenty-fourth Inf atry : the .lowp Temperance Regiment." was raised by Eber C. Byam, of Ling County. Engaged! mainly in the Lower Mi sieppi Vidler. Twenty Ath Infantry: George 1. Som of Mt. Pleasant, Col ... 1. " To the sea"
Twentysixth Infantry: Mile Smith. . Clinton, Colonel. To the part in Hillary Tout Laitles.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Twenty-seventh Infantry : James I. Gil- bert, of Lansing. Colonel. On duty all the way from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
Twenty eighth Infantry : William E. Miller, of Jowa City, Colonel. Service, in the region of the Lower Mississippi.
Twenty-ninth Infantry ; Thomas H. Ben- ton, Jr., of Council Bluffs, Colonel. Sta- tioned in Arkansas.
Thirtieth Infantry ; Charles B. Abbott, of Louisa County, Colonel. In the thickest of the war, coming home loaded with honors.
Thirty-first Infantry ; William Smyth, of Marion, Colonel. Returned from its many hard-fought battles in the interior of the South with only 370 men out of 1,000 en- listed.
Thirty-second Infantry; John Scott, of Nevada, Colonel. Engaged in a number of battles.
Thirty-third Infantry ; Sammel A. Rice, a popular politician of Central Iowa, Colo- nel. Served from Arkansas to Alabama.
Thirty-fourth Infantry; George W.Clark, of Indianola, Colonel. Traveled 15,000 miles in its service !
Thirty-fifth Infantry ; S. G. Hill, of Mus- catine, Colonel. Served bravely in a dozen battles, and traveled 10,000 miles.
Thirty-sixth Infantry ; Charles W. Kitt- redge, of Ottumwa, Colonel. Suffered a great deal from sickness --- small-pox, measles, malaria, etc.
Thirty-seventh Infantry, the "Gray- Beard Regiment," being composed of men over forty-five years of age, and was the only one of its kind in the war. Garrison and post duty.
Thirty-eighth Infantry; D. 11. Hughes, of Decoach, Colonel. Most unfortunate of all in respect of sickness, 300 dying during the first two years.
Fortieth Infantry : John A. Garrett, of Newton, Colonel.
Forty-first Infantry was not completed, and the three companies raised for it were attached to the Seventh Cavalry.
There were no regiments numbered Forty-second or Forty-third.
Forty-fourth Infantry for 100 days; Stephen H. Henderson, Colonel. Garrison duty in Tennessee.
Forty-fifth Infantry, for 100 days; A. H. Bereman, of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. Garri- son duty in Tennessee.
Forty-sixth Infantry, for 100 days; D. B. llenderson, of Clermont, Colonel. Garri- son duty in Tennessee.
Forty-seventh Infantry, for 100 days; James P. Sanford, of Oskaloosa, Colonel. Stationed at the sickly place of Helena, Arkansas.
Forty-eighth Infantry (battalion), for 100 days; O. H. P. Scott, of Farmington, Lieu- tenant-Colonel. Guarded prisoners on Rock Island.
First Cavalry ; Fitz Henry Warren, of Burlington, Colonel. Served for three years, mainly along the Lower Mississippi.
Second Cavalry; W. L. Elliott, a Cap- tain in the Third Cavalry of the regular army, Colonel. Fought faithfully in many important battles in Tennessee and Missis- sippi.
Third Cavalry : Cyrus Bussey, of Broom- field, Colonel. Distinguished in war.
Fourth Cavalry; A. B. Porter, of Mt. Pleasant, Colonel. Participated with zeal and judgment in the hottest of battles in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Fifth Cavalry, only in part an lowa regi- ment; William W. Lowe, of the regular army, Colonel. Distinguished in the hotly contested littles of Tenne. see and vicinity.
Sixth Cavalry : P. S. Wilson, of Du- Thirty-ninth Infantry; H. J. B. Cum- buque. Colonel. Served against the In- ming of Winterset, Colond. One of the dians. most distinguished regiments in the field.
Seventh Cavalry: S. W. Summers, of
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Ottumwa, Colonel. Served against the
Indians.
Eighth Cavalry ; Joseph B. Dorr, of Du- , rick and W. W. Lowe.
buque, Colonel. Served faithfully in guard- ing Sherman's communications, etc.
Ninth Cavalry; M. M. Trumbull, of Cedar Falls, Colonel. Scouting, guard and garrison duties in Arkansas.
First Battery of Light Artillery ; C. H. Fletcher, of Burlington, Captain. Served in Arkansas and Tennessee.
Second Battery; Nelson 1. Spoor, of Council Bluffs, Captain. Engaged at Farin- ington. Corinth and other places.
Third Battery ; M. M. Hayden, of Du- buque, Captain. Engaged at Pea Ridge, and in other important battles.
Fourth Battery; on duty most of the time in Louisiana.
lowa Regiment of Colored Troops; John G. Hudson, of Missouri, Colonel. Garrison duty at St. Louis and elsewhere.
The following promotions were made by the United States Government from lowa regiments: To the rank of Major-General -- Samuel R.Curtis, Frederick Steele, Frank J. Herron and Grenville M. Dodge; tothat of Brigadier General-Jacob G. Lauman, Warren, Charles L. Matthies, William Van- dever, M. M. Crocker, Hugh T. Reid, Sammel A. Rice, John M. Corse, Cyrus Bussey, Edward Hatch, Elliott W. Rice, William W. Belknap, John Edwards, James A. Williamson, James I. Gilbert and Thomas J. MeKean ; Corse, Hatch, Belknap, Elliott and Vandever were brevetted Major- Generals; brevetted Brigadier-Generals- William T. Clark, Edward F. Winslow, S. G. IJill, Thomas H. Benton, S. S. Glasgow, Clark R. Weaver, Framis M. Drake,
George A. Stone, Datus E. Coon, George W. Clark, Heron H. Heath. J. M. Iled-
IOWA SINCE THE WAR.
The two principal events of political in- terest in this State since the war have been the popular contests concerning woman suffrage and the liquor traffic. In the popular elections the people gave a ma- jority against the former measure, but in favor of prohibiting the sale or manufact- ure of intoxicating liquors.
A list of State officers to date is given on a subsequent page. The last vote for Governor, October 9, 1883. stood as fol- lows: For Buren R. Sherman. Republican, 164,1441; L. G. Kinne, Democrat, 1.40,032, and James B. Weaver, National Green- back, 23,093.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
Northern Border Brigade; James A. Sawyer, of Sioux City, Colonel. Protected the Northwestern frontier. The present capitol building is a beauti- ful specimen of modern architecture. Its dimensions are, in general, 246 x 3644 feet, Southern Border Brigade ; protected the southern border of the State. with a dome and spire extending up to a height of 275 feet. In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation, and pro- vided for the appointment of a board of com- missioners to commence the work of build- ing. They were duly appointed and pro- ceeded to work, laying the corner-stone with appropriate ceremonies, November 23. 1871. James M. Tuttle, W. L. Elliott, Fitz Henry | The structure is not yet completed. When finished it will have cost about $3.500.000.
The State University, at lowa City, was established there in 1858, immediately after the removal of the capital to Des Moines. As had already been planned, it occupied the old capitol building. As earlyas Janu- ary, 1849, two branches of the university were established- me at Fairfield and one at Dabaque. At Fairfield, the board of directors organized and created a building at a cost of $2,5 5. This was nearly de stroyed by a hur icene the following year,
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HISTORY OF IOWAA.
but was rebuilt more substantially by the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State, and Janu- ary 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
By act of Congress, approved July 20, IS40, two entire townships of land were set apart in this State for the support of a university. The Legislature of this State placed the management of this institution in the hands of a board of fifteen trustees, five to be chosen (by the Legislature) every two years, the superintendent of public instruction to be president of the board. This board was also to appoint seven trus- tees for cach of the three normal schools, to be simultaneously established ---- one each at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mt. Pleasant. One was never started at the last-named place, and after a feeble existence for a short time the other two were discontin- ued. The university itself was closed dur- ing 1859-'60, for want of funds.
The law department was established in June, 1868, and soon afterward the lowa Law School at Des Moines, which had been in successful operation for three years, was transferred to lowa City and merged in the department. The medical department was established in 1869: and in 1874 a chair of military instruction was added.
Since April 11, 1870, the government of the university has been in the hands of a board of regents. The present faculty comprises forty-two professors, and the attendance 56o students.
The State Normal School is located at Cedar Falls, and was opened in 1876. It has now a faculty of nine members, with an attendance of 301 pupils.
The State Agricultural College is located at Amnes, in Story County, being established by the legislative act of March 23. 1855. In 1862 Congress granted to lowa 240,055
acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The main building was completed in 1868, and the institution opened the following year. Tution is free to pupils from the State over sixteen years of age. The college farm comprises 860 acres, of which a major portion is in cultivation. Professors, twen- ty-two; scholars, 319.
The Deaf and Dumb Institute was estab- lished in 1855, at lowa City, but was after- ward removed to Council Bluffs, to a tract of ninety acres of land two miles south of that city. In October, 1870. the main build- ing and one wing were completed and occupied. In February, 1877, fire destroyed the main building and east wing, and dur- ing the summer following a tornado par- tially demolished the west wing. It is at present (1885) manned with fifteen teachers, and attended by 292 pupils.
The College for the Blind has been at Vin- ton since 1862. Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, a fine scholar, who had founded the Institution for the Blind, at Jacksonville, Illinois, commenced as early as 1852 a school of instruction at Keokuk. The next year the institution was adopted by the State and moved to Iowa City, with Prof. Bacon as principal. It was moved thence, in 1862, to Vinton. The building was erected and the college manned at vast expenditure of money. It is said that 8282,000 were cx- pended upon the building alone, and that it required an outlay of 85.000 a year to heat it, while it had accommodations for 130 in- mates. At present, however, they have accommodations for more pupils, with an attendance of 132. There are eleven teach- ers. The annual legislative appropriation is $8,000. besides $128 per year for cach pupil.
The first Jowa Hospital for the losane was established by an act of the Legislature approved January 24. 1855. It is located at Mt. Pleasant, where the building was com-
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
plated in 1861, at a cost of 8258.555. Within the first three months 100 patients were ad- mitted, and before the close of October, 1877, an aggregate of 3.684 had been ad- mitted. In April, 18;6, a portion of the building was destroyed by fire. At this in- stitution there are now ninety-four superin- tendents and assistants, in charge of 472 patients.
Another Hospital for the Insane, at Inde- pendence, was opened May 1, 1873, in a building which cost $88, 114. The present number of inmates is 580, in the care of III superintendents and employes.
The Soldiers' Orphans' Home is located at Davenport. It was origmated by Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, during the late war, who called a convention for the purpose at. Mus- catine, September 7, 1863, and uly 13 fol- lowing the institution was opened m a brick building at Lawrence, Van Buren County. It was sustained by voluntary contributions until 1865, when the State took charge of it. The Legislature provided at first for three "homes." The one in Cedar Falls was organized in 1865, an old hotel build- ing being fitted up for it, and by the follow- ing January there were ninety-six inmates. In October, 1869, the Home was removed to a large brick building about two miles west of Cedar Falls, and was very prosper- ous for several years ; but in 1876 the Leg- islature devoted this building to the State Normal School, and the buildings and grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Glenwood, Mills County, to an institution for the support of feeble-min led children, and also provided for the removal of the soldiers' orphans at the Glenwood and Cedar Falls homes to the institution at Davenport. The latter has now in charge 1Gy orphans.
The Asylum for Feeble Minded Children referred to above, is at Glenwo, i, estab- lished by the Legislature in March, 1976. The institution was opened September 1.
following, with a few pupils ; but now the attendance is 215, in the care of four teach- ers. This asylum is managed by three trus- tees, one of whom must be a resident of that county, Mills.
The first penitentiary was established in 1841, near Fort Madison, its present loca- tion. The cost of the original building was 855.934, and its capacity was sufficient for 138 convicts. At present there are at this prison 364 convicts, in charge of forty-three employes.
The penitentiary at Anamosa was estab- lished in 1872-'3. It now has 239 convicts and thirty-four employes.
The boys' reform school was permanently located at Eldora, Hardin County, in 1872. For the three years previous it was kept at the building of the lowa Manual Labor In- stitute at Salem, Henry County. Only boys between seven and sixteen years of age are admitted. Credit of time for good conduct is given, so that occasionally one is discharged before he is of age. There are now (1885) 201 pupils here.
The "girls' department" is at Mitchell- ville, similarly managed. Inmates, cighty- three.
The State Historical Society is in part supported by the State, the Governor ap- pointing nine of the eighteen curators. This society was provided tor in connection with the University, by legislative act of January 28, 1857, and it has published a series of valuable collections, and a large number of finely engraved portraits of prominent and carly settlers.
The State Agricultural Society is con- ducted under the auspices of the State, andl is one of the greate t promoters of the welfare of the people among all the State organizations. It holds an annual fair ... Des Moines, and its proceedings are als > published annaally, at the expense of the State.
The Fish- Hatching House has been suc-
.9 ....
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
cessfully carrying on its good work since its establishment in 1874, near Anamosa. Three fish commissioners are appointed, one for each of the three districts into which the State is for the purpose divided.
The State Board of Health, established in isSo, has an advisory supervision, and to a limited extent also a police supervision, over the health of the people, --- especially with reference to the abatement of those nuisances that are most calculated to pro- mulgate dangerous and contagious diseases. Their publications, which are made at the expense of the State, should be studied by every citizen
EDUCATIONAL.
The germ of the free public school sys- tem of Iowa, which now ranks second to none in the United States, was planted by the first settlers, and in no other public measure have the people ever since taken so deep an interest. They have expanded and improved their original system until now it is justly considered one of the most complete, comprehensive and liberal in the country.
Nor is this to be wondered at when it is remembered that humble log school-houses were built almost as soon as the log cabins of the earliest settlers were occupied, and school teachers were among the first im- migrants to lowa. Schools, therefore, the people have had everywhere from the start, and the school-houses, in their character and accommodations, have kept fully abreast with the times.
The first school-houte within the limits of Iowa was a log cabin at Debugue, built by J. L. Langworthy and a few other miners, in the autumn of 1833. When it was coml- plated George Cabbage was employed as teacher during the winter of 1833 -'4, thirty- five pupils attending his school. Barrett Whitemore taught the next school terin, with av ents -five pupils in attendance. Mrs. Caroline Dexter commenced teaching in ul W. Caldwell, in IS ;.
Dabuque in March, 1836. She was the first female teacher there, and probably the first in Iowa. In 1839 Thomas Il. Benton, Jr., afterward for ten years Superintendent of Public Instruction, opened an English and classical school in Dubuque. The first tax for the support of schools at Dubuque: was levied in 1840.
At Barlington a commodious leg school- house, built in 1834, was among the first buildings erected. A Mr. Johnson taught the first school in the winter of 1834-'5.
In Muscatine County, the first school was taught by George Bumgardner, in the spring of 1837. In 1832 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 Sawyer, James F. Chambers and Mrs. Reed taught school in 1839.
Johnson County was an entire wilderness when lowa City was located as the capital of the Territory of Iowa, in May, 1850. 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 Jesse Berry 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, William V. Beedle, C. Renfro, Joseph MeMuilen and Willoughby Randolph. anl the first school was opened by Mis Uran'a Adams. The building was occupied for school pu - Des for nearly ten years.
About a year after the first cabin w. built at O. kaloo a, a log school-house was boilt, in which school sos opthe I by St .-
155
HISTORY OF IOWA1.
' At Fort Des Moines, now the capital of the State, the first school was taught by Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the District Cant, 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 Gor- ernor of the State. In Crawford County the first school-house was built in Mason's Grove, in 1856, and Morris MeHeury first occupied it as teacher.
During the first twenty years of the his- tory of Iowa, the log school-house pre- vailed, and in IS61 there were 893 of these ' and Iowa. An association of teachers has primitive structures in use for school pur- 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." poses in the State. Since that time they have been gradually disappearing. In 1865 there were 796; in 1870, 336; and in 1875, 121.
In 1846, the year of Iowa's admission as a State, there were 20,000 scholars out of 100,050 inhabitants. About 400 school dis- tricts had been organized. In 1850 there were 1,200, and in 1857 the number had in- creased 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 " cach civil township is declared a school district," and provided that these should be divided into sub-distijets. This law went into force March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of school districts from about 3.505 to less than 900. This change of school organization resulted in a very material reduction of the expenditures for the compensation of dis. trict secretaries and treasurers. An effort was made for several years, from 186; 10 IS-2, to abolish the sub-district system. Mr. Kissell, Superintendent, recommendel
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