USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 15
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The first pine lumber for building purposes was brought to Audubon county in 1866 for erection of the school house near Bradley Beers (Old Hamlin). In December, 1868, the Rock Island railroad was continued from Des Moines to Council Bluffs. In December, 1878, the branch rail- road came from Atlantic to Brayton, Exira and Audubon. In 1882 the Northwestern railroad came from Carroll, by way of Manning, to Gray and Audubon. The Atlantic Northern railroad was built from Atlantic to Elk Horn and Kimballton in 1907.
HACK LINES, STAGES AND MAIL LINES.
John M. Donnel, called "Milt," came to Audubon county with Nathaniel Hamlin in September, 1851, and at first lived about Hamlin's Grove. Soon afterward, at least as early as 1853, he carried the mail from Adel to Hamlin's Grove, using some kind of wheeled conveyance. We are unable to learn how long it continued. At an early day the Western Stage Company established a line of coaches through Iowa by way of Des Moines to Council Bluffs. As early as 1857 the route was from Des Moines, by way of Adel, Redfield, Dalmanutha, Morrisons (Anita), Grove City and Lewis, to Council Bluffs. The exact date when the route was first changed from Morrison's to Hamlin's is uncertain. In June, 1865, it was running by way of Morrison's. Charles How, who now lives at Exira, drove the first coach from Bear Grove to Hamlin's Grove, July 18, 1865, when that change was made. It is not certain if the route had previously run to Ham- lin's.
In October, 1865, the writer was a passenger in the Western Stage Company's coaches from Kellogg to Hamlin's Grove. The route then rau from Des Moines, by way of Adel, Panora, Guthrie Center, Bear Grove, to Hamlin's Grove; thence to Grove City, etc. Those coaches were the old- fashioned Concord, closed stages, with leather thorough braces (for
163
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
springs), and were drawn by four powerful horses. The drivers were veterans in their business and expert whips. With their long, graceful lashes, they could fleck a fly from the ears of their lead horses without touching the horse, and could perform all other expert stunts peculiar to their calling. The coaches went out of use when the railroad reached Atlantic in 1868-9. While the stages went by way of Morrison's, mail was carried from that point to Hamlin's on horseback.
Before the town of Exira was founded, and as early as 1856, a man named Adams carried the mail, some times horseback and at other times with a buckboard, from Adel, by way of Exira, to Magnolia, giving service once a week each way. About 1860, E. B. Newton, of Guthrie Center, car- ried the mail by hackline, from Adel to Magnolia; but he changed the route by going from Bear Grove to Bradley Beers' (Old Hamlin) ; thence to Bowman's Grove, leaving Exira six miles to the south, and the mail was supplied to Exira from Beers.' In 1864, Newton was succeeded by John Crane, who carried the mail from Bear Grove, by way of Exira, to Mag- nolia, twice a week. This line was discontinued when the railroad reached Atlantic in 1868-9. In 1868 a hackline was established by David L. An- derson from Exira to Atlantic, with service twice a week. In 1875, he was succeeded by William P. Hamlin, who conducted a hack line over the same route until the railroad reached Exira in 1878.
About 1868 another mail line was established by William Thompson from Anita, by way of Hamlin's, to Exira, which was discontinued in 1878. A line was established in 1871, by John McFadden from Exira, by way of Leroyville, Irwin, Thompson and Elba, to Carroll. He was succeeded by William Thompson, he by John Robinson, and he by Sylvester K. Landis. This line was discontinued about 1880-2. Another line was established by William Gransberry, from Exira, by way of Leroyville, Irwin and Viola Center, to Coon Rapids, during the period last above named.
CHAPTER X.
AUDUBON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The population of Audubon county averaged less than five hundred during the War of the Rebellion. It had five hundred and ten inhabitants by the census of 1865. There were about one hundred men subject to mili- tary duty in the county during the war, thirty-one of whom served in the army during that period. About fifteen unmarried men did not go to the war, several of whom were not able-bodied and were unfit for military duty.
AUDUBON COUNTY UNION SOLDIERS.
David L. Anderson, private, Company D, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, enlisted March 6, 1863; discharged January 10, 1866.
John A. Anderson, private, Company D, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, enlisted February 13, 1863; discharged May 17, 1866.
William S. Anderson, private, Company B, Fifth Iowa Infantry, enlisted December 18, 1862; killed July 22, 1864.
William P. Beck, First Sergeant, Company C, Fourth Iowa Infantry, enlisted May 26, 1861 ; discharged December 10, 1862.
Silas D. Burns, private, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted August 26, 1861; killed June 19, 1863.
John W. Davis, sergeant, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, enlisted November 25, 1861 ; deserted December 22, 1863.
Henry T. Eagan.
James Eagan.
Richard S. Hallock, surgeon, United States Colored Infantry.
George W. Hardy, private, Company I, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, enlisted August 15, 1862 ; died October 19, 1862.
James Howlett, private, Company D, Second Iowa Infantry, drafted, 1864.
Samuel Howlett, private, Company D, Second Iowa Infantry, drafted, 1864.
Lyman Jardine, private, Company I, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, enlisted August 14, 1862; died June 27, 1865.
165
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
John T. Jenkins, corporal, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted August 18, 1861; discharged August 30, 1864.
James M. Jones, private, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted March 30, 1864; discharged August 7, 1865.
Orlin E. Jones, private, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted August 18, 1861 ; killed June 20, 1863.
John W. Montgomery, corporal, Company E, Third Iowa Infantry, enlisted May 21, 1861 ; wounded April 6, 1862; discharged June 17, 1864.
William M. Nelson, private, Company D, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, enlisted August 13, 1862; discharged August 10, 1865.
Charles H. Norton, corporal, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted August 18, 1861 ; discharged August 30, 1864.
Robert A. Oliphant, corporal, Company B, Fourth Iowa Infantry, enlisted July 10, 1861 ; discharged August 30, 1864.
James A. Robinson, private, Company D, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, enlisted August 15, 1862; discharged August 10, 1865.
W. Scott Rice, sergeant, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted August 26, 1861; discharged August 7, 1865.
Harry D. Shelley, sergeant, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted August 26, 1861 ; discharged April 3, 1863.
James Smith, private, Company I, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, enlisted August 8, 1862; discharged July 26, 1868.
John F. Smith.
William F. Smith, bugler, Company L, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, enlisted October 7, 1861 ; discharged August 8, 1865.
William F. E. Smith, private, Company D, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, enlisted February 13, 1863; discharged May 17, 1866.
George R. Stephenson, private, Second Iowa Battery, enlisted March 30, 1864; discharged August 7, 1865.
Charles Van Gorder, captain, Company B, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, enlisted August 22, 1862 ; wounded October 5, 1864; discharged June 5, 1865.
Nathaniel Wiggin, drafted.
John M. Wilcox, private, Company D, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, enlisted April 10, 1864; discharged May 17, 1866.
Of these soldiers, three were killed, two wounded, two died of disease and one deserted.
John Crane, Richard Gault and James A. Poage were drafted and fur- nished substitutes.
I66
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
An incident of the early recruiting in the county for the war is the circumstance of the enlistment of John T. Jenkins, who still lives at Brayton, Iowa, being the last survivor of the little company of settlers who first came to Audubon county on May 6, 1851.
Several young men about Oakfield, in August, 1861, had agreed to enlist in Captain Spoor's Second Iowa Battery. "Uncle" Johnny Jenkins, who was a Kentuckian, a Democrat and opposed to the war, having heard that his son had so enlisted, spoke to him on the subject. "John," said he, "did you sign that paper to go to the war," or words to that effect. "Yes, sir, I did," said John. "Well, John, I don't want you to ever show yourself here with a hole in your back." Which ended the interview.
By the year 1864 the war was realized forcibly by the people of Audubon county. Many of its young men were in the army, and some had been killed or had died there; many at home felt that duty required their presence there to support their families, and some were violently opposed to the war. Party spirit was at extreme tension and people were hopelessly divided in political opinions. Volunteering had almost ceased; a draft for soldiers was ordered and actual strife at home was imminent. Some men said that if they had to fight, they would fight at home-or, in other words, resist the draft. It was a time that "tried men's souls." Some of the patriotic citizens organized the Loyal Legion, to try to influence public opinion and to enforce the law. The spot where they met, in an obscure ravine on section 21. Exira township, was many years ago shown to the writer by Howard J. Green, Esq., who then pointed out a tree under which he stood sentinel while good old Deacon Bush prayed for the Union cause. At the same time others were plotting and lay- ing plans to defeat the Union cause. The Democrats then in the county were in the majority. while Republicans were in the Union army. We recall a story about a "secesh" in Exira, who became elated because he believed that Price's raid might reach Iowa, and he said that he would go to Missouri and meet Price's army and guide it here. Darius Barlow, who then lived in Exira, told him to go, and that he would see to it that he should never reach Price or his army.
The draft was peaceably enforced. John Crane, Richard Gault, James A. Poage, Urbane Herrick, George W. Sharp, Nathaniel Wiggin, James and Samuel Howlett were drafted; Herrick and Sharp were exempted; Crane, Gault and Poage furnished substitutes, and the others served their terms in the army.
The draft was conducted by John A. Hallock, then clerk of the district court, who was accused of making a false return of men who were drafted.
167
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Those drafted were all Democrats, except two, Sharp and Wiggin, and one was his brother-in-law, John Crane.
About the same time, Governor Kirkwood ordered the organization of the militia. John T. Jenkins and Charles H. Norton had recently returned from the war; Horatio P. Smith, who had previously lived in the county, but had served in the Seventh Iowa Infantry, Benjamin F. Thomas and John S. Wright, who had both served in the army, also came to the county in 1864, all of whom were looked upon as suitable candidates for offices in the inilitia. There appears to have been a rivalry to secure the organization of the militia on a political basis, as if there was an advantage to be so obtained. An old man, J. Lyman Frost, a strong Republican and zealous partisan, took a hand and was a leader in the affair. He had been a Democrat in his day, accord- ing to Doctor Ballard, and, as if to emphasize his loyalty and patriotism, became vastly obnoxious to the Democrats in turn. He had ousted "Uncle" Natty Hamlin, first postmaster in the county, appointed by President Taylor in 1853, from the postoffice at Hamlin's Grove, on political grounds, Hamlin being a Kentuckian, and a strong pro-slavery man and Democrat, and had secured the postoffice for himself. Frost was a disagreeable man and had a penchant for getting into hot water with his neighbors, loving nothing better than to be in trouble with them. It is said that he was once a preacher. But he took part in the organization of the militia in favor of Smith and against Thomas, as appears from the records of the adjutant-general of Iowa. The following record shows the details of the organization of this military company :
"At a meeting of the citizens of Exira, Oakfield and Audubon townships, ' in the County of Audubon, State of Iowa, to form a military Company under Chapter 84, Laws of Ioth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, the Fol- lowing was the result of the election for Commissioned Officers of the Com- pany.
Captain Horatio P. Smith Ist Lieut. Xerxes Knox 2d Lieut. John T. Jenkins
"Name of company adopted by meeting "AUDUBON MOUNTED INFANTRY.
"J. LYMAN FROST, President.
"CARLOS E. FROST, Secretary."
I68
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
"MUSTER ROLL.
"Of the Mounted Infantry Company of Audubon County, organized under Chapter 84, Laws of the Regular Session of Tenth General Assembly of the
State of Iowa.
"We, the undersigned do hereby acknowledge to have entered the service of the State of Iowa, as provided in the afore-mentioned law and hereby subject ourselves to all the rules, regulations, provisions and disciplen as therein set forth, and all rules and regulations which may be hereafter promulgated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Militia of Iowa.
Name.
Rank.
Age.
Postoffice.
Residence.
Nativity.
Horatio P. Smith
Captain
.31
Oakfield
Oakfield
-Ohio.
Xerxes Knox_
First lieutenant.
.30
Exira
Exira
Ohio.
John T. Jenkins
_Second lieutenant
25
Oakfield
Oakfield
Kentucky.
Charles H. Norton
First sergeant
.27
Oakfield.
Oakfield
New York.
Dawson Glasgow
-Second sergeant
40
Hamlin's Grove
_Hamlin's Grove
Kentucky.
Benjamin F. Jenkins
Third sergeant
27
Oakfield
Oakfield
Kentucky.
George H. Simmons
First
corporal
22
Exira
Exira
England.
Andrew J. Linn
Second
corporal
30
Exira
Exira
Ohio.
Howard J. Green
Third
corporal
33
Exira
Exira
New York.
Andrew Leffingwell
Fourth
corporal
37
Exira
Exira
Massachusetts.
Anderson, Lesanthers
Private
18
Exira
Exira
Ohio.
Batcham, Vincent.
Private
Barlow, Darius
Private
33
Exira.
Exira
New York.
Bartlett, Washington
Private
43
Oakfield
Oakfield
Virginia.
Blackmar, James
Private
Bush, Jolın D.
Private
Oakfield
Oakfield
Ohio.
Deeds, Cornelius W.
Private
27
Hamlin's Grove.
Ilamlin's Grove.
Ohio.
Dodge, Boynton G.
Private
35
Exira
Exira
New Hampshire.
Donnel, John M.
Private
38
Hamlin's Grove
Hamlin's Grove.
Ohio.
Edgerton, David
Private
37
Exira
Exira
Indiana.
Frost, Martin.
Private
41
Frost, Carlos E.
Private
.37
Hamlin's Grove.
Hamlin's Grove.
- Ohio.
Goodale, Almon.
Private
.36
Oakfield.
Oakfield
Ohio.
Hardy, Andrew N.
Private
44
Hamlin's Grove.
Ilamlin's Grove
-. New York.
Hallock, Richard S.
Private
32
Oakfield
Oakfield
Illinois.
Hallock, John A.
Private
29.
Exira.
Exira
Illinois.
Hallock, Isaac P.
Private
26.
Oakfield
Oakfield
Illinois.
lIeath, Mark.
Private
Oakfield
Oakfield
Ohio.
Hyatt, William
Private
18
Oakfield.
Oakfield
Kentucky.
Lewis, Richard M.
Private
43
Oakfield
Oakfield
Indiana.
Montgomery, Joel.
Private
18
Exira.
Exira
Illinois.
Norton, John
Private
27
Oakfield
Oakfield
New York.
Pearl, Wallace E.
Private
35
Oakfield
Oakfield
New York.
Pearl, Joshua A.
Private
34
Oakfield.
Oakfield
New York.
Porter, Joseph
Private
Oakfield
Oakfield
Canada.
Sharp, George W.
Private
31
Exira
Exira
Kentucky.
Tingle, John.
Private
18
Oakfield
Oakfield
Iowa.
Tyler, Oliver P.
Private
25
Exira
Exira
England.
Wilcox, Whitman.
Private
40
Exira
Exira
Pennsylvania.
Wiggin, Nathaniel
Private
28.
Exira.
Exira
New York.
Walker, William
Private
30
Hamlin's Grove _.
Hamlin's Grove.
Ohio.
Men over age who have joined the company, and if furnished arms will do as good service as they can :
Bush, Lyman
Private
50
Exira.
Exira
Massachusette.
Beck, Hiram M.
Private
Hamlin's Grove ___ Hamlin's Grove ___ Ohio.
Frost, J. Lyman.
Private
.70
Hamlin's Grove ___ Hamlin's Grove ..
- Connecticut.
Hallock, Isaac, Sr.
Private
62 Oakfield
Oakfield
New York.
Lynn, John, Sr.
Private
50
Exira
Exira
Ohio.
Montgomery, Levi B.
Private
55
Extra Exira
Ohio.
Norton, William C.
Private
50
Oakfield
Oakfield
New York.
Wilson, James
Private
Hamlin's Grove. Hamlin's Grove.
Kentucky.
36
Exira.
Exira
Massachusette.
Davidson, Levi B.
Private
37
Exira
Exira
New York.
Donnel, James N.
Private
34
Hamlin's Grove_
Hamlin's Grove. Ohio.
Oakfield.
Oakfield
Ohio.
Exira.
Exira
Indiana.
27
169
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Capt. Horatio P. Smith, sworn in, November 19, 1864.
First Lieut. Xerxes Knox, sworn in, December 17, 1864. Second Lieut. John T. Jenkins, sworn in, December 3, 1864.
It further appears from the records of the adjutant-general of Iowa that another company of militia was attempted to be organized in Audubon county about November 8, 1864.
"MUSTER ROLL.
"Of Audubon County Riflemen, Organized in the County of Audubon under Chapter 84, Laws of the Regular Session of Tenth General Assembly of the State of lowa.
"We the undersigned, do hereby acknowledge to have entered the service of the State of Iowa, as provided in the afore-mentioned law, and hereby subject ourselves to all the rules, regulations, and discipline as therein set forth, and all rules and regulations which may be hereafter promulgated by the commander-in-chief of the militia of Iowa.
Name.
Rank.
Age. 22
Postoffice.
Residence.
Nativity.
B. F. Thomas
Captain
Hamlin's Grove ...
Audubon Township Ohio.
John S. Wright.
First lieutenant 21
Hamlin's Grove _.
Audubon Township Indiana.
Isaac Thomas
Second lieutenant 27
llamlin's Grove _.
Audubon Township Ohio.
John Crane
-First
sergeant. 30
Exira
Exira.
Ohio.
James Poage
Second sergeant
Hamlin's Grove
lIamlin's Grove
- Illinois.
Isaac V. D. Lewis.
Third sergeant.
33
llamlin's Grove _.
Audubon Township Indiana.
Richard Gault.
-Fourth sergeant.
31
Exira.
Exira
Pennsylvania.
William P. Hamlin
-First corporal.
42
Exira.
Exira.
Kentucky.
Amherst Heath.
-Second corporal
39
Oakfield
Oakfield
John M. Donnel.
Third
corporal
34
Audubon
Kentucky.
Peoria I. Whitted.
-Fourth
corporal
35
Exira _.
Exira.
New York.
Samuel G. Haywood
Fifth
corporal.
33
Hamlin's Grove
Audubon
Ohio.
Beers, Bradley
Private
40
Ballard, O. R.
Private
25
Oakfield
Birge, James
Private
25
Brainard, A. I.
Private
38
Bartlett, Washington
Private
13
Blackmer, J. M.
Private
Beers, David B.
Private
25
Barlow. Darius
Private
33
Bush, John D.
Private
36
Calder, George H.
Private
.36
Carley, Lehman
- Private
39
Carpenter, William
Private
32
Dodge, Boynton G.
Private
Davidson, L. B.
Private
41
Eagan, Samuel.
. Private
Edgerton, David.
Private
36
Early, Leonard
Private
44
Eagan, James.
Private
Frost, Martin. Private
41
Frost, Carlos E.
-Private
37
Green, Howard J.
Private
36
Goodale, Almond
Private
36
Herrick,
Edson
Private
11
Herrick, Urbane.
Private
40
Herrick, J. D.
Private
Hubbard. Julius M.
Private
33
Hiatt, William H.
Private
Heath, Mark Private
10
Howlett, Samuel, Jr.
Private
20
Howlett, Samuel, Sr. Private
30
Heath, A.
Private
39
Houston, A. B.
Private
40
t
1
L
34
28
-
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Hallock, Isaac P., Jr.
Private
24
Hallock, John A.
Private
28
Hardy, Andrew M.
Private
11
Howlett, James.
Private
10
Jenkins, Benjamin F.
Private
26
Johnson, Samuel
-Private
29
Jones, Giles N.
Private
33
Jenkins, Isaac H.
-Private
21
Jardine, Walter J.
Private
Lewis, Richard M.
I'rivate
Leffingwell. A. J.
Private
Lewis, Thomas S.
Private
Milliman, Bryant_
Private
Mullinger, William R.
Private
Norton, John C.
Private
Poage, George T.
Private
Parmley, Richard F.
Private
23
Pnllam, R. F.
Private
33
Pearl, E. W.
Private
35
Pearl, Joshua A.
Private
Paige. J. A ..
Private
21
Scharff, Michael.
Private
27
I
1
Sharp, George W.
Private
Smith, Oliver _.
Private
_30
30.
Wiggins, Nathaniel.
Private
Walker, William.
Private
38 .30
The names of this roll show that all the officers of Captain Thomas's company, except one, and fifty of the privates were Democrats, some of them emphatic anti-war men. It appears that the commissions of the officers were sent by the adjutant-general to J. Lyman Frost, the then postmaster at Hamlin's Grove, a rigid Republican, to act as mustering officer, and to deliver them to the company officers-elect upon taking their proper oaths of office; but that he declined to muster them or to deliver the commissions, presumably because he knew many members of the company to be anti-war men, and of questionable loyalty or patriotism to the country.
Captain Thomas, who is now living, says that his commission was not delivered to him, but was found on the prairie, having evidently been thrown away. And he further says that arms were not issued to his men, as it was considered dangerous to do so, fearing that the men would fight among themselves, as the excitement was intense between the Union and anti-war men. He wrote recently that he was nominated for captain by John A. Hal- lock, and further says that one of the members of his company waylaid for John A. Hallock in the Big Grove, but failed to meet him. "Some things I would scarcely dare to write. It will take generations to blot out the evil that was sown in those days. When the draft was riot, started for 'Uncle Natty's' by night to organize against it, but got lost in the darkness and returned. One night I had a dream that my company were rebels, dressed in butternut uniforms, -- so I resigned." It has been stated that arms and ammu- nition were sent to the county and were secreted in the chamber of the house of Howard J. Green, to be used by the Union men if necessary; but this is doubtful.
34
Ward, Chauncey E.
Private
19
12
37
36
.33
1
170
IZI
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
An old settler, who is a Christian gentleman and a lifelong Democrat, recently told the writer that at the time President Lincoln was assassinated he met a man in the timber on the road from Troublesome to the steam mill (at Louisville), and, in conversation, asked him if he had heard the news. The man asked to what he referred, and he then informed him that it was reported that Lincoln had been assassinated. "Thank God for that," he fervently responded. The gentleman reproved him and said that he should not make such remarks.
The same gentleman also said that another prominent man on the same occasion set out free whiskey all day at his residence to any one who would drink it, in approval of the event, and was apparently rejoiced that Lincoln was gone.
The writer recalls that in 1865 it was currently rumored and believed that the anti-war party in Audubon county were elated at Lincoln's death. But in later years that fact has been disclaimed.
During war times Judge Daniel M. Harris published a violent anti-war paper, the Guthrie County Ledger, which was generally circulated and read in Audubon county. It was the Democratic organ in this part of Iowa. At a political meeting in the old school house in Exira in 1866, the Judge said that two things should be found in every family, the Bible and the Guthrie County Ledger. The latter part of the statement was literally observed by his followers.
The Judge once told the writer that, as a member of the Iowa Legisla- ture, he supported every war measure passed by that body in 1861. He cer- tainly changed his political sentiments soon afterwards. In later years his political utterances were greatly modified. Not long before his death he wrote and published in his paper, the Missouri Valley Times, on the occasion of the anniversary of Lincoln's birth, an encomium of Lincoln not surpassed for patriotism by anything then published.
The following letters from the adjutant-general of Iowa, confirm the statements of Captain Thomas, relative to the action of J. Lyman Frost and the militia.
"State of Iowa, "Adjutant-General's Office, "Davenport, October 15, 1864.
"Benjamin F. Thomas,
"Sir: Your letter to the Governor has been referred to me for answer.
"Your muster roll has not been received from Frost as yet. Get
172
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
proper blanks, make out your roll and certificate of election and forward direct to me, and your commission will be forthcoming in due time.
"They will be sent you through J. L. Frost, who will deliver them to you upon your taking the required oath.
"Yours etc., "N. B. BAKER, "Adj .- Genl., Iowa." "State of Iowa, "Adjutant-General's Office, "Davenport, December 5, 1864.
"B. F. Thomas,
"Hamlin's Grove,
"Dr. Sir: I have given J. L. Frost a peremptory order to issue your commissions after you have taken the oath-which may be done before any notary public or justice of the peace. Enclosed find blanks for the purpose. Write me if further delay is experienced.
"Yours etc., "N. B. Baker, "A. G."
The records of the office of the adjutant-general show that commissions issued for the officers of Captain Thomas's company on November 19, 1864, but it does not appear that they were delivered to them. Captain Thomas now says that he and his commissioned officers were sworn in.
Notwithstanding the unhappy events related, which transpired locally at home during that period of hardships and distress, the soldiers who went to war and gave their lives and services to perpetuate the government, estab- lished a proud record and inheritance for the people of this county which is most estimable and should ever be profoundly cherished and never forgotten. They are richly entitled, as always has been the custom of the country, to have erected to their memories, elaborately carved in stone, at some con- venient place, a monument, consecrated to their fidelity, patriotism and loyalty to the cause of the Union, and for which they served, fought. bled and died. Some of the people, who, in their short-sightedness, at that period opposed the war, some of whom are now alive, lived to witness their folly and to observe the great value and prosperity of this great undivided country, the best on earth; the home of teeming millions of prosperous, happy, intelligent, liberty-loving people : and great and powerful enough, and willing, to protect its citizens anywhere on earth. From such small beginning, the county reached its present, happy, prosperous position in the galaxy of sister counties in the great, proud state of Iowa.
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