USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 9
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 9
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
SOUTHIERN BORDER BRIGADE.
The General Assembly, at the extra ses- sion of 1862, with almost entire unanimity directed the organization of the Northern and Southern border brigades. The for- mer, numbering 250, was a precaution against Indian disturbances, and the latter, numbering 794, was raised to protect the State from incursions from lawless citizens of Missouri. Company C, Third Battalion, was a Ringgold County organization, Nathan Miller being Captain, and Harvey Waugh, First Lieutenant. Ten men were kept on duty patrolling the southern bor- der of the county, and these were relieved every ten days. This was kept up for three months. No disturbances worthy of rec- ord occurred. Many of the membersafter- ward entered the active military service.
EIGHTH IOWA CAVALRY.
This regiment was raised in Southern lowa in the summer of 1863. and Company D included the following from Ringgold County : Lovena Hopkins (formerly First Lieutenant and subsequently Captain of Company G, Fourth Infantry). John H. Huff, Thomas M. Gregory, William V. Culver, William S. Smith, Ross McKendrec,
John Mordecai, Henry C. Andrews, Will- iam R. Abarr, John Bear, James A. Benson, John Boyer, Elijah Conley, William Con- ley, John C. Hunter, Orlando Kirkham, Rodolphus Kirkham, Benjamin Keller, G. M. D. Morrison, William A. McMullen, Giles J. Nobles, B. F. Ruby, Addison S. Ruby, Thomas Shey, T. P. Trask, Corne- lius B. Trask, Jesse H. Thompson, Benja- min A. Wiley and Peter Weeks.
The Eighth Cavalry was organized at Davenport, and October 17, 1863, left the State by railroad for Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, to report to Major-General Rose- crans. Before reaching there, however, Major-General Thomas had succeeded Rosecrans, and the regiment was assigned to duty on the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. For some time it was busicd in clearing that region of the guerrillas under Colonel Hawkins, in which it met with- gratifying success. During the first part of 1864 the Eighth Cavalry was engaged in the usual duties of cavalry organizations- in scattered guard duty, in minor raids, and in police duty. During the summer and autumn, however, it joined in the extensive operations around Atlanta, in which it saw about as hard and continuous service as fell to the lot of any command in the same time. Besides skirmishes, it took part in fifteen engagements, the casualties amount- ing to 168, not including over 200 men and officers taken prisoners. Similar duty oc- cupied the regiment during the first half of 1865, and the Eighth was mustercd out at Macon, Georgia, August 13, 1865.
FORTY-SIXTH IOWA INFANTRY.
This was a 100-days regiment, raised in May, 1864. Company E, which was made up principally of Linn County vol- unteers, contained the following from Ringgold :
William Calvin, Benjamin H. Rush, William White, George W. Myers, Will-
THE CIVIL WAR.
435
iam Q. Lucas, James Andrews, Adam Beal, Ira M. Cooper, Henry F. Jacoby, William T. Laughlin. Joseph F. Ledger- wood, Samuel McFarland, Samuel McCord, James B. Nobles, Christopher Platner, Valentine G. Ruby, Joseph H. Ruby, Isaiah Skinner, John Schlapia, David Thompson and Joseph Whitmer.
1
The following history of the Forty-sixth is from the pen of its Colonel, D. B. Hen- derson, now a member of Congress from Iowa:
"The Forty-Sixth lowa Infantry was or- ganized at Davenport, lowa, and mustered into the United States service on the 10th day of June, 1864, to serve for the term of one hundred days.
"On the 11th of June, the regiment was armed and clothed, and on the 14th we took the cars for Cairo, Illinois, at which place we arrived on the 15th. Immediate- ly upon my arrival in Cairo, I dispatched a letter to Major-General Washburn, con- manding at Memphis, and on the morning of the 17th of June, I received orders from General Washburn to report with my regi- ment at Memphis.
" On the evening of the 17th of June, I embarked the regiment upon the John D. Perry, and arrived in Memphis on the morning of the 20th, when I was ordered into camp two miles east of the city. We remained in camp at Memphis until the 27th, performing heavy picket duty during that time. On the morning of the 27th of June, } was ordered to move my regiment to Col- liersville, Tennessee, take command of that post, and throw out detachments east and west on the railroad, and was also ordered to guard the railroad against the interfer- ence of the rebels who had recently been firing upon the trains in the vicinity of Colliersville.
" On the 28th of June, I sent Lieutenant- Colonel L. D. Durbin, with two compa- nies -- A and 1. Captains Guilbert and Wolf, 32
to Camp Look Out. a post three miles west of Colliersville, and situated on the Mem- phis & Charleston Railroad. On the same day, Major George L. Torbert, with Com- panies E and K. Captains Harrison and Palmer, moved to Camp Henderson, two and a half miles cast of Colliersville. Both of these detachments performed their duties faithfully, and not another train was disturbed while they guarded these posts. While the regiment was stationed at Col- liersville 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 Colliersville. The event 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 Cav- alry 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 volley. the Captain and one man serious- ly wounded ; the others slightly. The men returned the fire, killing one and wounding three of the rebels. The Cap- tain having been shot and supposed to be killed, and being outnumbered two to one the men retreated to camp.
"On the ist of September we were or- dered to Memphis, where we remained tin- til the ioth, when we were ordered to embark on the Golden Era for Cairo, at which place we arrived on the 14th of September. Taking the cars the same day, we started for Davenport, lowa.
" On the evening of the 16th of Septem- ber we reached Davenport, at which place
436
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
we were mustered out and paid off, on the 23d of September, 1 86"
THE VETERANS.
For four years and more the notes of the fife and drum and bugle and the tramp of armed hosts were continually heard, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf of Mexico to British North America, and the clash of arms was borne north- ward on every breeze from the sunny but blood-drenched plains of the south. For four years and more " grim-visaged war" had waved its crimson banners over the fair fabric the fathers had erected, in a vain endeavor to hurl it from its founda- tions. In this terrible and gigantic struggle, Ringgold County had borne its full part, and many a brave volunteer from its beautiful prairies had lain down his life on the battle-field, or starved to death in the rebel slaughter pens of Ander- sonville and Macon.
But now Sherman and his " brave boys in blue" had made their memorable and historic march to the sea, Lee had sur- rendered to the victorious Army of the Union under Grant, the war was ended, peace restored, the Union preserved in its integrity, and the patriotic sons of Ring gold County who were spared to witness the final victory of the armies of the Union returned to their homes to receive grand ovations and tributes of honor from friends and neighbors who had cagerly and jeal- ously and anxiously watched and followed them wherever the varying fortunes of war had called them.
!
Exchanging their soldiers' uniforms for citizens' dress, most of them fell back to their old vocations. on the farm, in the mines, at the forge, the bench, in the shop. in the office, or at whatever else their hands found to do. Their noble deeds in the hour of their country's peril are now, and always will be, dear to the hearts of the people whom they so faithfully served. Brave men are always honored, and no class of citizens are entitled to greater re- spect than the brave volunteers of Ring- gold County, not simply because they were soldiers, but because, in their association with their fellow men, their walk is upright, and their character and honesty without. reproach.
" Their country first, their glory and their pride ; Land of their hopes-land where their fathers died; When in the right, they'll keep their honor bright; When in the wrong, they'll die to set it right."
The wondrous deeds of daring and glorious achievements of the Army of the Union during the war of the Rebellion will always be cherished by all patriotic hearts. But there are scenes, incidents and accidents the memory of which will shade with sadness the bright reflections engen- dered by the contemplation of a heroism, devotion and sacrifice the like of which the world never saw before. But the memory of those who fell in the stupen- dous struggle is still familiar to the present people of Ringgold County : and fifty years hence, when the fathers and mothers of to- day shall have passed on to their cternal home, they will be remembered by poster- ity more as matters of tradition than as ab- [ solute written history.
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137
THE PRESS.
..
THE PRESS.
1
s ITH the exception of the public schools, there is no agency so educational as the local press. Journal- ism itself has passed through several stages of development, and has but recently found its true position. A paper of the style of those publish- ed thirty years ago would now have but few admirers. Local news was then not thought worthy of being printed, and the county press, was filled with learned dis- quisitions on national politics and foreign wars. Now these things are wisely left to the more widely circulated city papers. which are by fast mail trains distributed throughout the West on the same day with their publication. Ringgold County takes many hundred papers each week from Chi- cago, DesMoines, St. Joseph and other cities, and also supports four weekly papers of its own. These are all edited with more than average ability, and all have a good circulation.
The first newspaper published in the county was the
MOUNT AYR REPUBLICAN,
which was established in the spring of 1861, by P. O. James, as publisher, and
George Burton as editor. It was continued only about six months, when both publisher and editor entered the military service, the former as a private : the latter as a Captain.
Ringgold County was then without a local paper until April, 1865, when the
RINGGOLD RECORD :
was established, with Warren R. Turk as publisher, and Ith S. Beall as editor. They were succeeded about the first of June, 1866, by George HI. Roby, as editor and publisher, by whom it was sold to D. D. Pratt, in June, 1870. In 1876 it was bought by George R. Stephens, the present owner and editor. The Record is a newsy, enter- prising Republican sheet of four pages, eight columns to the page, published weekly, and enjoys a prosperous and liberal patronage. It is published on Thurs- days.
THE MOUNT AYR JOURNAAL
was founded in 1873, by C. C. Bartruff, from Creston. This was the first attempt at Democratic journalism in Ringgold County. Bartruff published the paper for ten years, changing its name to the Free Press, in the meantime. In 1883 the office passed into the hands of J. W. Burly. who restored the former name. In November, 1885, J. S. Shepherd. the present proprie- tor and editor took charge. The Journal
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HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
1 is published on Thursdays, and is a paper ' editor and owner, and 1885 the date. In a of considerable influence, being the organ of the Democracy of Ringgold County.
THE HEADLIGHT
was established in 1877 by a stock com- pany, and published for a year or so, chiefly to arouse interest in the north and south narrow-gauge railroad which was then proposed. The Headlight was suc- ceeded by
ONWARD,
in 1878, and this paper was published for seven years, as a Republican sheet. It changed hands very often, and died in De- cember, 1884.
TIIE RINGGOLD COUNTY REPUBLICAN
t
was established July 16, 1885, by Messrs. Wisdom & Williams. The former retired at the close of the first volume, and Rev. J. Il. Tedford became a partner. The firm is now Williams & Tedford. The Republi- can has a good following among the people of Ringgold and adjoining counties. It is an eight-column folio, published on Thurs- days, at $1.00 per year.
THE KELLERTON MENTOR
was established in ISS1, by Kendall Broth- ers, as a Republican paper, six-column folio in size. In 1882, George R. Stephens, of the Ringgold County Record, became pro- prietor, and a year later he suspended its publication. Soon after, B. W. and F. W. Richards came here from Lucas, Lucas County, and started the
KELLERTON INDEPENDENT.
This was independent in politics, and lived nearly two years before going the way of its predecessor. Kellerton is now without a paper.
THE REDDING REPORTER
was the first journalistic venture at the vil- lage of Redding. F. M. Wisdom was the
few months the Reporter was discontinued. In December of the same year Burrell & Noble issued the first number of the
REDDING INDEPENDENT.
S: G. Burrell was afterward sole pro- prietor, and Clayburg Brothers were the owners when publication was sus- pended, in the summer of 1886. The Inde- pendent was true to its name, in politics, and was published on Thursdays, at the rate of $1.50 per year. The
TINGLEY TIMES
was started by J. Gettinger, in 1882. He sold to L. O. McKinley, and he to Ray Brothers. In the meantime the name was changed to the
NEWS.
Then one Noah became owner, and moved the office to Wirt. Tingley was then with- out a paper until July, 1885, when the
BATTLE AXE
was swung over the heads of the inhabi- tants, by E. B. Garretson, of Lenox. The Axe ceased to swing in December follow- ing. J. J. Clark, of Gravity, published the
INDEPENDENT
for six months, in 1886, and then this paper went the way of its predecessors. The In- dependent was a six-column paper, $1.50 per year, and was a valuable factor in the busi- ness of the place. Mr. Noah, above men- tioned, issued the
WIRT WASP
regularly for six months, and then went to Nebraska. He sold to John Abrams, who changed the name to the
NEWS.
This afterward passed into the hands of John Thrall, who suspended publication in 1884, and Wirt now depends upon Chicago for its news.
439
PROFESSIONAL.
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THE BAR.
HE biographies of the present members of the bar are given in the biographical portion of this work, and in this place it is only de- signed to mention them, and also those attor- neys who have died or re- moved. Most of these, of course, were residents of
MOUNT AYR.
A man by the name of Marsh came here from Ohio in 1858, and remained two years. He was taken sick, and returned to Ohio, where he died.
John A. Miller came about the same time, from Indiana. He practiced until IS62, and then enlisted in Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was killed at Terranoir Creek, Arkan- sas. In political inclination he was a Dem- ocrat.
Ezra C. Miller, his brother, also came here in 1858. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry. He was promoted to First Lieu- tenant, and while holding that rank was killed at Chickasaw Bayou, near Vicks- burg, in 1863. In politics he was a Repub- lican.
Thomas M. Bowen came to this point in 1857, from Corydon, and remained about three years. Though married. he was quite a young man. Cory- don was his first location as a lawyer. Hc was recognized as a shrewd man, and in Isaac W. Keller came to the county in 1855, but did not commence the practice of law for five years. He enlisted in 1862 and served three years, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant. Ile served as county judge one term before and one af- ter his military service. He was then elected Senator for one term of four years. From 1870 to 1873 he was engaged in farm- four-years' term as Senator. In 1884 he fice he now holds. With these numerous some degree gave promise of the reputa- tion for the " scheming " ability that he now possesses. He went from here to Ne- braska. There he entered the volunteer army, in which he became a Brigadier- General. After the war he located at Lit- tle Rock, Arkansas, where he became a supreme judge. Thence he went to Col- orado, from which State he was elected to , ing near Eugene. and in 1879 began another the United States Senate, in 1883. He is reputed to have made great wealth out of | was chosen justice of the peace, which of silver. In politics he is a Republican.
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440
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
exceptions, he has practiced law since 1860. He is a Republican.
W. T. Laughlin has now been in contin- nous practice for twenty-five years, at Mt. Ayr, and stands high in the profession. He was district attorney one term, but re- signed before the expiration of the same. He was a Republican until recently, and now is a Democrat.
R. C. Henry located here after the war, and has been in continuous practice since, except three years, while district judge. Previous to this, he was for a time recorder, by appointment. He is at this writing candidate on the Republican ticket for dis- trict judge.
Robert F. Askren has been in practice for eleven years. He has been county su- perintendent two terms, auditor one terin, and is now Republican candidate for coun- ty attorney.
John W. Warner came here from Leon about IS70, and farmed and practiced law for two or three years. He then returned to Leon, and afterward moved to Coloardo.
C. D. Morris came here from Decatur County, in 1872, and was engaged in the real-estate business and the practice of law until the summer of 1886, when he removed to Denver, Colorado. He was a Republi- can.
Jacob F. Mount came from Indiana in 1868, and after teaching school a year or two began the practice of law, which he has since followed. He served one term on the Board of Supervisors, under the old system. He was at that time a Republi- can, but now votes the Democratic ticket.
R. H. Spence took a course of law at the State University, and commenced practice with R. F. Askren. He was successively in partnership with Ezra C. McMasters, Isaac W. Keller and R. C. Henry, with whom he is now associated.
Ezra C. McMasters read law with Ask- ren and Spence, and was admitted here.
His business is principally loaning and note- brokering.
M. A. Campbell read law with W. T. Laughlin, and has now been in practice ten years. John Scott, the present mayor of Mt. Ayr, has been 'in practice since 1876: J. W. Brockett since 1879. and F. F. Leathers since ISSO.
OTHER VILLAGES.
W. K. Brown located at Kellerton in 1880, and has been in practice since. He has been a resident of Ringgold County for seventeen years, and read law at Leon.
George Spence was at Redding for two or three years, and in 1884 moved to Da- kota.
J. E. Ray located at Tingley in IS83, and practiced a year or so, then went to the western part of the State.
L. O. McKinley, of Tingley, practices in justices' courts.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The members of the profession of medi- cine who are now practicing are given full biographical mention in the main por- tion of this work, and in this chapter it is proposed to make some record of those who were once well known as physicians in Ringgold County, but are dead or living in other localities. The first physician of the county was Alexander McCartney, who lived three miles southwest of where Mt. Ayr is, as early as 1853. He farmed, and did what little doctoring was required by the sparsely-settled community of that period.
MOUNT AVR.
The first physician here was E. Keith, who came in 1856. He was a good doctor. He was here ten years, and then removed to Mason County, Missouri, where he died. Dr. Pressley came in 1857 or 1858, and left during the war.
PROFESSIONAL.
4.4t
Alexander Z. Huggins came to Mt. Avr shortly before the war. He enlisted in the , with Dr. Horne ran a drug store for three Twenty-ninth lowa Volunteer Infantry, years. lle then resumed the exclusive practice of his profession. . In the autumn of 1886 he removed to Ottumwa, intending to make a specialty of the eye. and became Captain of Company G. His health failed him, however, and he resigned and returned home. where he resumed his practice. He was a representative to the General Assembly, in 1864. In 1866 he died. Dr. Kackley was here a year and a halt during the war, after which he settled in Missouri. Dr. Stephenson was here one year during the war.
The oldest physician at Mt. Ayr is John T. Merrill, but he has retired from prac- tice. He located at Ringgold City, on the State line, ten miles south of Mt. Ayr, in IS56, and came to Mt. Avr in 1866, prac- ticing here until 18So. Much of his time, however, was given to banking. He is now a druggist.
D. F. Sellards graduated at Rush Medi- cal College, in Chicago, in February, 1866, having previously studied with Dr. Hug- gins, and then located permanently at Mt. Ayr, where he practiced until his death, in 1879. He was a good physician. His widow and three sons live at Mt. Ayr.
William Horne, from Monmouth, Illinois, came to this place in February, 1869, and has practiced continuously since. Bird Ilagans, a son of Judge James C. Hagans, the first county judge, studied with Dr. Merrill, wasadmitted in 1871, and practiced a few years. He labored under the serious disadvantage of poor health, however, and died at Mt. Ayr. He had no diploma, having attended but one course of lectures. Had health permitted, he would have com- pleted his professional training and made a most useful member of the fraternity. His widow lives ten miles south of MIt. Ayr. J. W. Campbell came to this place in the spring of 1871, originally from Florida, but directly from Missouri. Ilis family had preceded him here several years. Ile practiced with Dr. Horne three years, spent
one summer in Nebraska, returned, and
A physician named Calkins came from Illinois in the spring of 1871 and practiced until his death, a few years later. A. J. Willey came here from Osceola in 1872. He had been Surgeon of the Tenth lowa Volunteer Infantry during the war. He practiced here until 1882 since which date he has been in Nebraska. Frank Cornwall was here several years, and is now in San Francisco. J. Il. White, C. B. White and S. Bailey have located at MIt. Ayr in the last few years, and are now in practice.
AT OTHER PLACES.
At Kellerton L. P. Thayer was the first physician. He remained three years and then went to Davis County. Dr. Jewett was here one year and then went to Mis- souri. A. and M. Camp, brothers, have been here since 188o. R. Tripp was here several years and is now in Jasper County. W. L. Gleason has been here since 1884.
Thomas Kenworthy lived on the site of Redding before a village was proposed at that point. He moved to Oregon in ISSI. II. C. Dukes was here a year and moved to Clarke County. Dr. McLean was here a year and then moved to Missouri. The pres- ent practitioners are A. E. King, Thomas H. Humphrey and W. E. Lawhead.
L. E. St. John was the first physician at Tingley. He remained two years and then went West. James Nichols and R. W. Sel- by are now in practice at this point.
The first physician at Wirt was named Lloyd. He remained a year or so, and then went to Dakota. Rev. F. S. Lock came in 1882, and practices medicine and preaches the gospel. J. P. Maxwell is also in practice. He succeeded Lloyd.
442
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
MISCELLANEOUS?
NDER this not very specific heading will be treated the subjects of education, agriculture, public buildings, rail- roads and statistics of population.
EDUCATIONAL.
The pioneers of Ringgold County brought with them an abiding faith in free schools. Each settlement, as soon as pop- ulous enough to support one, built a house and established a neighborhood school. and in time organized districts of suitable size. These were larger when the county was sparsely settled, but now are generally four square miles in size, the school-house being in the center, or at the corner of the four sections. The public schools were under the supervision of the school-fund commissioners until 1858, which office was superseded under the new Constitution by thatof county superintendent of schools.
No college. academy, or select school has ever existed in the county. the school sys- tem consisting simply of the common dis- trict school in the country, and the graded school in the villages.
The best idea of the progress that has been made, and the present condition of the schools of the county, may be obtained from the following summary of the last pub- lished report, for 1884:
There are in the county thirteen district townships; thirty-three independent dis- tricts, and 100 sub-districts. The ungraded schools number 133, and there are nine rooms in the graded schools. The average duration of school is 6.7 months in each year, which is a little less than the average for the whole State. Sixty-seven male teachers and 162 female teachers are em- ployed, at average compensations of $34.45, and $26.35 per month respectively.
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