History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history, Part 59

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 59

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Rufus H. Frost, who is now holding the responsible position of superintendent of schools of Cass county, is a native of the town of Charleston, Sullivan county, New Hampshire. His grandfather was a native of the State of Maine, but removed to New Hampshire when a young man. In that State he made his permanent home, and there our subject's father, Thomas Frost was born. His mother, Juliana L. (Shurtleff) Frost, was also a native of New Hampshire. Rufus II. was reared in Charleston, New Hampshire, and re- ceived his education there, and at New London and Meriden. He graduated at Kimball Union academy in 1865, but had taught one term of school previously. After graduation, he started west, and lo- cated in Madison county, Illinois. Here he readily obtained employment as teach- er, which engagement continued one year. He then determined to commence the study of law, and went to Charleston for that purpose. While earning his support by teaching in the country, he spent his spare time in preparing himself for the legal profession in Charleston. While there he was appointed to the principalship of the public schools at Whitehall, which position he gave up to take charge of Hamilton seminary. Heremained in con-

trol there one year, and then went to Springfield to accept the position of prin- cipal of the second ward school. The next year he went to Atlanta, Illinois, and re-organized the public schools of that place. But Mr. Frost had by no means laid aside his design of becoming identi- fied with the legal profession, and after one year spent in Atlanta, he returned to Springfield, and resumed his reading, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. Ile practiced his profession up to 1875, when the temptation to resume his old profession of teaching became so strong that he, in 1876, came to Atlantic, and accepted the position of principal of the west side school. This position he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to all, for three years, when he was appoint- ed to the office of superintendent of schools of Cass county. His efforts to- ward the improvement of the schools of the county were justly appreciated, and he has held the office ever since, being repeatedly re-elected to the office by the suffrages of the citizens of the county. There can be no doubt that to Mr. Frost's unceasing efforts the high position which the schools of the county have attained, is largely due. He was united in marri- age in July, 1867, to Miss Julia E. Stan- ard. She is a graduate of the State Nor- mal University, at Normal, Illinois, and is herself an accomplished teacher. Since coming to Atlantic, her services bave been given almost constantly to the pub- lic schools here. Two children have blessed their union-Edwin R. W., and Kathrina J. E. Mr. Frost offered his ser- vices to his country during the civil war,

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

but he was not accepted on account of disability. He, however, had charge of government teams connected with the

burean of yards and docks in South Carolina for eight months. Mr. Frost is a member of the Masonic order.

CHAPTER XVII.

RAILROADS.

No factor in all the world's machinery ] yet her real prosperity and rapid ad- has contributed more to the onward stride vancement dates from that event. of civilization than the building of rail- roads; before the rush of the iron horse Previously the settlers, or those who sold to them, were compelled to haul their goods from points so remote that it seems incredible at the prosent day, when goods are ordered and delivered at our doors from wholesale points within a few short days. And to market the stock and products of the soil required such lengthy drives and long hauling, as often render the small remuneration then received scarcely worth the trouble. on his road of iron and steel, that which was desert wilderness and arid plain be- comes, as if by magic, fertile garden and blooming orchard, the camp of the abori- gine gives way to the city of his more pro- gressive brother; the smoke curling from his wigwam door is replaced by that ris- ing from the tall chimney of the white man's factory; and human toil and drudg- ery becomes less and less necessary to maintain a bare existence, as the railroad, with its long trains winding o'er the prairies, brings to the pioneer who has preceded, it, the welcome machinery which shall thereafter assist in the toil his poor hands have been forced to do unaided.

And though more than a score of years had passed over the heads of Cass coun- ty's first settlers ere the first railroad pierced through her woods and prairies,

In the very early days of the county, the settlers traded at Fort Des Moines and Council Bluffs, spending days on the journey to and from those points, some- times alone, sometimes in company with some of their neighbors; when the latter was the case, the monotony of the journey would in a great measure disappear, mak- ing the trip often one of pleasure, as well as business. And it may be that those pioneers, unaccustomed to railroad facili-

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

ties did not regard them as absolute ne- cessities, as do the present generation.

But the lack of transportation facilities of course made prices lower for the pro- ducer on his own products, as well as making him pay more for what he bought. And as other localities in the West be- came provided with means of rapid tran- sit, the feeling of impatience at being left behind gradually made the people, of Cass county more restless and more eager for like favors.

Other causes, of course, sometimes mod- ified the inconvenience felt from this source. From the time the first crop was raised in the county up to and including 1856, the constant stream of emigration following the great east and west trail through the county, on their way to Cali- fornia, relieved the settlers of their sur- plus produce, and always at good prices Corn sold from seventy-five cents to two dollars per bushel, and hay ranged from ten dollars to fifteen dollars per ton, and indeed, sold as high as twenty dollars. This state of things of course brought prosperity for the time to the county. But as this tide of western emigration slack- ened, and was finally brought to a stop by the civil war, this prosperous state of things took a sudden turn, and produce of all kinds was a drug on the market. The transient demand having ceased, there being no local demand, and means of get- ting to other markets so limited, the peo- ple were glad to dispose of their products for almost any price. Before, they had received their pay in gold ; now, they re- ceived what little remuneration was prof- fered them, mostly in trade. Corn sold in 1862 for eight cents a bushel, and wheat

for twenty-five cents, in merchandise. In the summer of the same year R. D. Mc- Geelion, after hauling wheat to Council Bluffs, was compelled to dispose of it for thirty-five cents per bushel, taking his pay in trade, and among the goods which he received there was one item of one barrel of salt at nine dollars ; nearly twenty-six bushels of wheat hauled sixty miles, for one barrel of salt ! In 1862 stock-dealers paid in the county one and three-fourths and two cents gross, for hogs delivered to them in Lewis ; in 1863 they paid three and a half and fonr cents, and in 1864, from five to six cents. These were driven to Iowa City, and thence shipped by rail to Chicago.

In 1864, coffee sold at Lewis and Grove City at forty five to fifty cents per pound; tea $1.75 to $2; sugar, fifteen to twenty cents; dried apples, thirty to thirty-five cents; dried peaches, the same ; calico, forty to fifty cents per yard ; unbleached cottons, seventy to eighty cents; other art- icles of merchandise sold at proportion- ately high prices. With his other pro- ducts the farmer fared nearly as badly as with his stock. Wheat brought twenty- five cents; corn, fifteen cents; oats, twelve cents; butter eiglit cents per pound; eggs, six cents per dozen, and so on. Thus, everything the farmer had to sell was low, and everything be had to purchase was high; and this condition of things may be attributed in great measurc, if not en- tirely, to lack of railroads.

The war deadened for the time, all hope of the speedy construction of railway lines ; and the people became resigned for the time to their lot; but peace re- sumed, and the country once more coming

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

back to its normal state, the people began to clamor for a railroad in earnest. But, for many reasons, no railroad came through or near Cass county until in 1868, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad company pushed one of their main lines through this part of Iowa, crossing Cass county in the northern part, and the same year witnessed the foundation of Atlantic,

one of the most prosperous and go-ahead towns in southwestern Iowa, and the day that saw its rise, witnessed the downfall of Grove City, then fondly hoped to be the future county seat.

In 1879 a branch road was built from Atlantic southward, and on the 1st of January, 1880, the first train was run over it to Lewis. .

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

The institution of slavery was always a source of trouble between the free and slave-holding States. The latter were always troubled with the thought that the former would encroach upon their riglits, and nothing could be done to shake this belief. Compromise measures from time to time were adopted to settle the vexed question of slavery, but the fears of the slaveholders were only allayed for a short time. Threats of secession, were often made by the slave-holding States, but as soon as measures of a conciliatory charac- ter were passed, no attempt was made to carry their threats into execution. Finally came the repeal of the Missouri Compro- mise and the adoption of a measure known as the Kansas-Nebraska bill. This bill opened certain territory to slavery which,

under the former act, was forever to be free. About the time of the passage of this act, the Whig party was in a state of dissolution, and the great body of that party, together with certain Democrats who were opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska bill, united, thus forming a new party to which was given the name of Republican, having for its object the prevention of the further extension of slavery. The people of the South imagined they saw in this new party not only an organized effort to prevent the extension of slavery, but one that would eventually be used to destroy slavery in those States in which it already existed.

In 1860 four Presidential tickets were in the field. Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the Republicans, Stephen A.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Douglas of the National Democrat, John C. Breckenridge of the Pro-Slavery inter- ests, and John Bell of the Union. The Union party was composed principally of those who had previously affiliated with the American or Know-Nothing party. Early in the campaign there were threats of secession and disunion in case of the election of Abraham Lincoln, but the people were so accustomed to Southern bravado that little heed was given to the bluster.

On the 20th of December, 1860, South Carolina, by a convention of delegates, declared "That the Union now existing between South Carolina and the other States of North America is dissolved, and that the State of South Carolina has re- sumed her position among the nations of the earth as a free, sovereign and inde- pendent State, with full power to levy war and conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent States may of right do."

On the 24th Gov. Pickens issued a pro- clamation declaring that "South Carolina is, and has a right to be, a free and inde- pendent State, and as such has a right to levy war, conclude peace, and do all acts whatever that rightfully appertain to a free and independent State."

On the 26th Major Anderson evacuated Fort Moultrie and occupied Fort Sumter. Two days previously he wrote President Buchanan's secretary of war, John B. Floyd, as follows:

"When I Inform you that my garrison consists of only sixty effective men, and that we are in very indifferent works, the wallsof which are only fourteen feet high;

and that we have within one hundred and sixty yards of our walls, sand hills which command our works and which afford admirable sites for batteries and the finest coverts for sharp-shooters; and that be- sides this there are numerous houses, some of them within pistol shot, and you will at once see that if attacked in force, headed by any one but a simpletion, there is scarcely a possibility of our being able to hold out long enough for our friends to come to our succor."

His appeals for re-inforcements were seconded by General Scott, but unheeded by President Buchanan, and entirely ignored by John B. Floyd, secretary of war.

On the 28th South Carolina troops occu- pied Fort Moultrie and Castle Pinckney, and hoisted the palmetto flag on the ramparts. On the 29th John B. Floyd resigned his place in Buchanan's cabinet, charging that the president in refusing to remove Major Anderson from Charles- ton Harbor, designed to plunge the country into civil war, and added: "I cannot con- sent to be the agent of such a calamity." On the same day the South Carolina com. missioners presented their official creden- tials at Washington, which, on the next day, were declined.

On the second day of January, 1861, Georgia declared for secession, and Geor- gia troops took possession of the United States Arsenal in Augusta, and Forts Pulaski and Jackson.

Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, seized the forts at Beaufort and Wilmington and the arsenal at Fayetteville. On the evening of the 4th, the Alabama and Mississippi delegations in Congress telegraphed the

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conventions of their respective States to secede, telling them there was no prospect of a satisfactory adjustment. On the 7th, the conventions of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee met in secession conclave. On the 8th, Secretary Thompson resigned his seat in the cabinet on the ground that, contrary to promises, troops had been sent to Major Anderson. On the 9th, the "Star of the West," carrying supplies and reinforcements to Major Anderson, was fired into from Morris Istand, and turned homeward, leaving Fort Sumter and its gallant little band to the mercy of the rebels. On the same day, the ordinance of secession passed the Mississippi Con- vention. Florida adopted an ordinance of secession on the 10th, and Alabama on the 11th. The same day (the 11th) Thompson, Secretary of the Treasury, re- signed, and the rebels seized the arsenal at Baton Rouge, and Forts Jackson and St Philip, at the mouth of the Mississippi river, and Fort Pike at the Lake Pont- chartrain entrance. Pessacola navy yard and Fort Barrancas were surrendered to rebel troops by Colonel Armstrong on the 13th. Lieutenant Slemmer, who had drawn his command from Fort McRae to Fort Pickens, defied Armstrong's orders, and announced bis intention to "hold the fort" at all hazards. The Georgia Con- vention adopted an ordinance of secession on the 19th. On the 20th, Lieutenant Slemmer was besieged by a thousand "allied troops" at Fort Pickens. Louisi- ana adopted an ordinance of secession on the 25th. On the 1st of February, the rebels seized the United States mint and custom house at New Orleans. The Peace convention assembly at Washington on

the 4th, but adjourned without doing any- thing to quiet the disturbed elements. On the 9th, a provisional constitution was adopted at Montgomery, Alabama, it being the Constitution of the United States "re-constructed" to suit their pur- pose. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, was chosen president, and Alexander H. Stevens, of Georgia, vice-president of the "Confederated States of North America." Jefferson Davis was inaugurated on the 18th, and on the 25th, it was learned that General Twiggs, commanding the depart- ment of Texas, had basely betrayed his trust, and that he had surrendered all the military posts, munitions and arms to the autliorities of Texas.

Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated March 4, 1861, in front of the capitol, the inaugu- ration ceremonies being witnessed by a vast concourse of people. Before taking the oath, Mr. Lincoln pronounced in a clear, ringing voice, his inaugural address, to hear which there was an almost painful solicitude, to read which the whole Amer- ican people and civilized world awaited with irrepressible anxiety. With that address, and the administration of the oath of office, the people were assured. All doubt, if any had previously existed, was removed. In the hands of Abraham Lincoln, the people's President, and bim- self of the people, the government was safe.

Traitors were still busy plotting and planning. Troops were mustering in all the seceded States. On Friday, April 12, the surrender of Fort Sumter, with ins garrison of sixty effective men, was de- manded and bravely refnsed by the gal- lant Major Anderson. Fire was at once opened on the helpless garrison by the

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

rebel forces, numbered by thousands. Re- sistance was useless, and at last the Na- tional colors were hauled down, and by traitor hands were trailed in the dust. On Sunday morning, the 14th, the news of the surrender was received in all the principal cities of the Union. That was all, but that was enough. A day later, when the news was confirmed and spread through the country, the patriotic people of the North were roused from their dreams of the future-from undertakings half com- pleted-and made to realize that behind that mob there was a dark, deep, and well organized purpose to destroy the govern- ment, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins erect a slave oligarchy, wherein no one would dare question their rights to hold in bondage the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black. Their dreams of the future-their plans for the establishment of an independent confed- eracy-were doomed from their inception to sad and bitter disappointment. Every- where north of Mason and Dixon's line, the voice of Providence was heard:

"Draw forth your million blades as one; Complete the battle now begun; God fights with ye, and overhead Floats the dear banuer of your dead. They, and the glories of the past, The future, dawning dim and vast,

And all the holiest hopes of man, Are beaming triumphant in your van."

"Slow to resolve, be swift to do! Teach ye the False, how fights the True! How buckled Perfidy shall feel, In her black heart the Patriot's steel; How sure the bolt that Justice wings; How weak the arm a traitor brings; How mighty they who steadfast stand, For Freedom's flag and Freedom's land."

On Monday, April, 15th, President Lin- coln issued the following proclamation:

"WHEREAS, The laws of the United States bave for some time past, and are now, opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Caro- lina, Alabama, Florida, Misssissippi, Louis_ iana and Texas, by combinations too pow- erful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals; now there- fore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought to call forth, and here- by do call forth, the militia of the several States of the Union, to the number of 75,000, in order to suppress said combina- tions, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.

"The details for this subject will be im- mediately communicated to the State au- thorities through the War department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facil- itate, and to aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long endured. I deem it proper to say that the first services assigned to the forces hereby called forth will proba- bly be to repossesses the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the object aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country; and I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid, to disperse

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within twenty days from this date.

"Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. The Senators and Representatives are, there- fore summoned to assemble at their re- spective chambers at 12 o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as in their wisdom the pub- lic safety and interest may seem to de- mand.

"In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the scal of the United States to be affixed.

"Done at the city of Washington, the fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States the eighity-fifth.

By the President,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."

The last word of this proclamation had scarcely been taken from the electric wire before the call was filled. Men and money were counted out by hundreds and thou- sands. The people who loved their whole country could not give enough. Patriot- ism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the work- shop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school house- every calling offered its best men, their lives and fortunes, in defense of the gov- ernment's honor and unity. Party lines were for a time ignored. Bitter words,

spoken in moments of political heat, were forgotten and forgiven, and, joining hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's soldier statesman : "By the Great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved!".

Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on, and call followed call, until it seemed as if there were not men enough in all the free States to crush out the re- bellion. But to every call for either men or money there was a willing and ready response. The gauntlet thrown down by traitors of the southi was accepted; not, however, in the spirit which insolence meets insolence, but with a firm, deter- mined spirit of patriotism and love of country. The duty of the president was plain under the constitution and laws, and, above and beyond all, the people, from whom all political power is derived, demanded the suppression of the rebel- lion, and stood ready to sustain thie au- thority of their representative and execu- tive officers to the utmost extremity.

Cass county was behind no county in the State in the exhibition of sublime patriotism. The news did not reach the people of the county in time to be num- bered in the first call of the president for 75,000 men, but in the second, and every succeeding call, it responded with its noblest and best men, some of whom went forth never to return. The record of the county, at home or in the field, is a noble one. By referring to the chapter containing the action of the board of supervisors, it will be seen what was done in an official way. In an unofficial way

HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

481

the people took hold of the work, aided enlistments, and furnished a large amount of sanitary supplies.

In this connection is given a list of the citizens of Cass county, who in that try- ing hour of a nation's need, left wife, children and comfortable homes, and shouldering the musket, went to the front, in discharge of the patriot's duty. These are compiled from the adjutant-general's report, and other official and authentic sources. If there are any inaccuracies of spelling, or omissions the historians hope that they will be pardoned as the rolls have been followed as nearly as possible and none has a higher appreciation of the "boys in blue," than the writers of these annals.

FOURTH INFANTRY.

Gil. B. Kirkpatrick, Q. M. S. John A. Mills, Q. M. S.

COMPANY A.

John Binns, Henry C. Chapman, James W. Whittlesey.

COMPANY B,

Augustus L. Kidder, Second Lieutenant.

Thos. G. Forrester,

Iradel A. Horney,

Gilbert B. Kirkpatrick, W. J. Ferguson,

John Auspaugh, Jasper Berry,

Henry L. Bradshaw,

Elijah H. Brown,

Daniel Bryan, William Bryan, Josiah Coombs,

Nathaniel Curry,

Lloyd B. Forrester,

D. Henry Haymaker,

Fred. W. Humerick, William H. Kirk,

John R. Kirk, Philip Michael,

Alexander Morris,

Orran D. Nelson,

Frederick Seamon, William Seamon,

Benjamin F. Walton,

Victor M. Bradshaw.

Harvey Bradshaw,

COMPANY E.

G. Higden.

COMPANY H.

Coursen J. Straight, First Lieutenant.

Amasa Chapman, Patrick Archer,

John Archer, Wm. J. Coon,

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Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918