USA > Iowa > Clayton County > History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information, Volume I > Part 17
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Court House-In 1862, steps were taken looking toward the erec-
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tion of a permanent court house at Elkader. In June, it was voted to appropriate $2,000 for a building for the county officers, providing Elkader donated eight lots and $1,000 in cash, $2,000 was also voted for a court room, providing Elkader gave $1,000. Nothing came of it at the time, however, and the county continued to rent the Stone Hall. In June, 1863, a resolution was offered to rescind these appropriations but the motion was lost. Again in 1865, a motion to buy Stone Hall as the court was tabled and, instead, a proposition for a tax for a court house was submitted. This was defeated by nearly 600 majority and, in Jan- uary, 1866, urged by Elkader people, and by the very evident necessity for some permanent county home, the board took the bull by the horns and took the first step toward the erection of a court house by appro- priating $2,000 for a treasurer's office, providing the citizens of Elkader gave a suitable site. Two thousand dollars additional was voted to build a vault for the safe-keeping of the funds and records. The vote on this resolution, stood 13 to 6. According to law, $2,000 was the limit of the appropriations which the board might make without a vote of the people and these piecemeal appropriations were undoubtedly made for the purpose of circumventing the law. However, it would seem, in this instance, that the end justified the means, and no one today regrets the action of the board. Again, in June, 1866, $3,000 was appropriated to build a recorder's and treasurer's office, providing a site was given. In September, the old court house at Garnavillo was sold at auction for $3,000 and at the same session it was moved that the appro- priation voted in June be rescinded and that the site offered by Elkader was not satisfactory. The motion to rescind appropriations was lost by a vote of 9 to 7, and that rejecting the site was lost on a tie vote, the chairman voting in favor of accepting the site. In 1867, an election was held on the county seat question and Elkader defeated Garnavillo by more than 700 and, following the canvass of the vote, the board appropriated $2,000 to finish the clerk and treasurer's office. In the summer of 1867, the site having been accepted, the actual work of con- struction was commenced. The work was well done and this is a part of the court house as it stands today.
Supervision System Changed-The board had much to do with the sale of school lands and the so called swamp lands and, while today, it seems a pity that these were sold at prices ranging from $1.25 to $4.00 per acre, they did no differently than was done by the govern- ment and the state and other counties. This method of county govern- ment by the board of supervisors, one man from each township, was cumbersome and expensive and it was not regretted when, in 1870, the law was changed and the board reduced to three members.
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CHAPTER VI
WAR HISTORY-1861-1865-EVENTS AT HOME
CALL TO ARMS- RESPONSE-GATHERING OF CLAN MC GREGOR-OFF FOR THE FRONT-RELIEF PROVISIONS-RANGERS GO TO WAR-FIRST KILLED -DAY OF PRAYER-DARK DAYS OF 1862-VOLUNTEERS CENOTAPH SOCIETY-MORE ENLISTMENTS-DAYS OF '63-PEACE PARTY-SANI- TARY SOCIETY-WAR TIDE TURNS-IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAFT- ELECTION OF 1864-SANITARY FAIR-DARKEST HOUR-DRAFTING- SUPPLEMENTARY DRAFT-DEATH OF LINCOLN-HOMECOMING.
A S THE days passed between the election of Abraham Lincoln and his inauguration, it became more and more apparent that the south was to secede. Every river packet, bringing the eagerly sought newspapers from the outside world, carried the news of fresh acts of aggression. A confederacy was formed; South Carolina passed acts of secession ; the southern press breathed defiance and rebellion, and this defiance was hurled back by the newspapers of the north. There were great debates in Congress; men of the north and of the south came near to blows, while others temporised, hoping against hope, that some peaceful solution might be found. Men hung upon the words of Lincoln; every step of his journey from Illinois to Wash- ington was followed with breathless interest; every word that he uttered was weighed by an anxious and excited people.
It is a mistaken idea to believe that the abolition of slavery was the moving factor in the minds of northern men. This was not the case. In his inaugural address Lincoln declared, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe that I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." There was a firm conviction in the hearts of many that slavery was wrong and that it should not be extended into free territory. There was, however, strong race preju- dice, and it was only the abolition "cranks" who championed equal civic rights for men, regardless of race or color. This is evident from the fact that, but a short time previous, the people of Iowa refused to strike the word "white" from their constitution. Nevertheless, the conviction grew and solidified, throughout the north, that the Union must and should be preserved. Earnestly, quietly and grimly men were facing the problem, counting the cost, and determining, if need be,
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to die for their country. Events moved swiftly in 1861. Lincoln's eastern journey grew to be a triumphal progress. Back of the cheers of northern enthusiasts was the sullen roar of southern threats, as the sound of distant cannon. There were the repeated acts of secession, the hurrying of government munitions to the south, the threats that Lincoln should never reach Washington alive. Then came the great inaugural address, received with enthusiasm throughout the north and with suspicion and hatred throughout the south. Then came acts of armed rebellion. The seizure of forts and arsenals, the firing upon Fort Sumpter, and then the call of Father Abraham for 75,000 men.
These events following in quick succession, stirred the north to its very center. In Clayton county men thought or talked of but little else. Union meetings were held, fervid orators held forth, party lines broke down and when the call came, Clayton county was ready. All the years of freedom spent in the open, in the woods and on the prairie had hardened their frames and strengthened their love of liberty. All the blood of their forebears, whether from that sturdy New England stock which had twice defeated Britain, or whether from the liberty loving peoples who preferred to face the hardships of a new world, rather than to abide the tyrannies of the old ; all the years of independ- ence and self-government had given them a patriotism and a prepared- ness the equal of which has not been seen in the world before nor since. They were fit physically for any hardship which war might impose and they were burning with patriotic zeal. It is here that the south made its gravest mistake. It did not know the men of Clayton county and of the hundreds of like counties throughout the north. Because they were remote, because they were for the most part silent, the chiv- alry of the south totally underestimated the strength and valor of these northern warriors.
The response to Lincoln's call was swift and immediate. It swept like a fire across the prairie. Hardly was the ink dry upon the message of Governor Kirkwood before the men in Clayton county were in action. "War! War! War! Henceforth only two parties, Patriots and Traitors!" thundered the Republican Journal at Elkader; "To Arms! To Arms! Our much loved country is in danger, the flag is dishonored by those who have heretofore enjoyed its protection. The liberty of every freeman is at stake. Let all those that will stand by the Union and by the right, stand forth," answered the Democratic Times at McGregor. The county became an armed camp within a day. There was a meeting at Farmersburg, where volunteers enlisted and the farmers raised $1,500 for the support of the families of the volunteers. F. Hofer rushes from Littleport to have the Journal print hand bills announcing the great war meeting. Under the leadership of Capt. W. H. Muzzy a delegation of young men, headed by fife and drum, marches through the cheering streets of the little village of Elkader and goes to Littleport to attend the meeting. Dennis Quigley acts as chairman, and it is a wonderful comment upon the spirit of the times that the first work of the meeting, before any speeches were made and before any names were entered upon the enlistment roll, was to spend several hours in drill. Then came the speeches by S. R. Peet, Prof. Kramer, of Elkport, Ben Smith, of Littleport, and A. F. Tipton.
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of Elkader. Then came the call for volunteers, by F. Hofer, and 14 young men stepped forth and declared themselves ready to go at an hour's notice, while 35 others bespoke their willingness to go as soon as they could arrange their home affairs.
At Elkader there was a meeting at the court house. H. B. Carter presided and Douglas Leffingwell, a lieutenant in the rapidly forming company of Clayton county volunteers, made a patriotic speech and was followed by Mr. Remick of McGregor, B. T. Hunt, and James Davis. The minutes of a meeting already held at Farmersburg were read and everybody joined in singing "Hail Columbia," "My Country," and "The Star Spangled Banner". Another meeting was held a few days later. D. D. Hutchins told of the progress of the volunteer com- pany at Farmersburg; M. E. Smith of Volga City proposed a grand county military festival at Elkader on the Fourth. The afternoon session was not sufficient and the patriots adjourned until evening and before the work of the day was done, 30 more Elkader boys had signed the enlistment roll. The river towns were aflame. At Guttenberg John Schroeder took the lead and the sturdy Germans who had fought for liberty in 1848 shouldered the musket and declared their willing- ness to fight again. There was no fear of the hyphenated American in those days and, with the veterans of Europe's wars in its ranks the Guttenberg company soon became known as the best drilled in north- ern Iowa. From Strawberry Point and Volga and Elport and Little- port and Yankee Settlement, from Clayton and Garnavillo and National, from Monona and Giard and Grand Meadow, from every hill and valley in the county men sprang up as though the very soil had been sown with dragon's teeth.
Gathering of Clan McGregor-McGregor, as the most important shipping point in Iowa, north of Dubuque, became the first concen- tration camp for all northeastern Iowa. To this place came the boys from Allamakee and Decorah and Fayette and from all parts of Clayton county. Over the long trails which led to the prairies of the back country, instead of oxen with their creaking loads of grain, came hurrying men on horse back and on foot to serve their country. The city itself was ablaze with patriotism. The president's call was but a few days' old when a meeting of citizens was called at Concert Hall. "McGregors arouse," were the words of the Times. "Let the clans assemble at Concert Hall on Wednesday evening and fill up the ranks of the proposed military organizations instanter. Let every loch and glen send forth its chiel ready for the fray. It is no time for holiday work; the company is designed for business-no less than the preser- vation of our government and all the institutions so dear to every patriotic heart."
Before each business place and residence floated the Stars and Stripes ; the arrival of every boat was greeted by crowds eager for the latest news of war; the flag floating on each river craft was greeted with cheers; to Captain Sherwin of the Packet McGregor, was given the honor of having unfurled the first national flag upon the waters of the Upper Mississippi after the overt treason of Jeff Davis' crew ; within a few hours the business men of McGregor pledged $600 per month for the support of the families of volunteers. The sound of
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the drum and fife was heard at every hour of the day. A visitor at McGregor writing for the Dubuque Times says, "There were thou- sands of American flags displayed at McGregor, there was a ceaseless rataplan of snare drums, and an everlasting booming of the bass and the ear piercing screech of the fife, all the time we sojourned there. It was the last we remembered at night and the first to greet us in the morning." Concert Hall was filled to overflowing at this first Union meeting at McGregor, Democrats and Republicans vied with each other, party spirit was entirely ignored. Mayor Hobart presided and speeches were made by Pass, Hand, Baugh, Drummond, Stoneman, Remick, Leffingwell, Felt, Peck, Barron, Updegraff, Calkins, Douglas and Hobart. It was resolved: "That discarding all political or parti- san consideration in this hour of our country's danger we mutually pledge to each other as American citizens as a common defense our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors."
Off for the Front-The military company, under Capt. S. B. Sladden, which was to be a part of the splendid Third Iowa Infantry, was quickly formed and the Captain returns from a rush trip to Davenport with the glad news that the company will be accepted. R. L. Freeman organizes the first company of cavalry formed in Iowa, spends $200 of his money in a futile attempt to have it included in the First Cavalry Regiment, returns bitterly disappointed but per- sists in his determination and later leads his men to war. In the meantime the men are gathering from all the countryside around. Across the river, at Prairie du Chien, the men of Wisconsin are gath- ering. There are exchange of visits, wild cheers, martial music, speeches that glowed and burned with patriotism. The narrow coulee is filled with marching men and troops of cavalry. The uniforms of grey cloth are ordered, and the busy women, wives, mothers, sweet- hearts, work together to make uniforms for their boys. Every sewing machine in the town is forced into service. By dollar subscriptions the bunting is bought, at a cost of $50, to make the great flag, army regulation size, to fly at the flag pole and go with the company. With proud but trembling fingers the women sew the silken folds of the ban- ner which was to lead the men at Shiloh and at Vicksburg. Miss Francis Boynton made the presentation address and Lieut. Leffingwell responded on behalf of the volunteers. The boats are moored out in the river and here the soldiers sleep at night, drilling by day and await- ing anxiously the word to go to the front. The companies from West Union and Decorah arrive and with them come a great consort of fathers and mothers and wives and children and sweethearts. The word comes to move to the front. It is a busy day at McGregor, the soldiers are hurried with final preparations, bands are playing ; flags flying, crowds cheering and, through it all, there is the undertone of sadness, of stifled sobs and silent tears. The companies from West Union and Decorah fall into line and march up the narrow valley escorting their loved ones as they start to return to saddened, emptied homes; and there, at the top of the coulee, where woods and prairie meet, are said the parting words, which in too many cases were last farewells. And then the boats are filled with the departing volunteers, the decks are thronged with eager faces; crowds, some silent, some
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cheering, line the shores. The crash of music drowns the sound of sobs. The whistle blows, the steamship Canada backs slowly from the shore, the sound of the cheers grows fainter and is stilled by distance; waving handkerchiefs and flags must take the place of loving words; and then, the boat is hidden around the bend of the river and the boys are gone; gone, many of them, out of the lives of Clayton county, for- ever. These scenes were repeated, not only at McGregor, but at every town and hamlet in the county, many times as the war progressed ; call after call came from the president, for men and ever more men, and to every call old Clayton county responded, until at home there remained few but the women and the children, the old and the dis- abled. They responded to the call in the first rush of wild excitement, and they responded in the dark days when the defeat at Bull Run and the delays and blunders of incompetent generals cast gloom and terror throughout the nation; they responded after they had seen the boys return wounded, crippled and broken by disease and hardship; they responded after they had read the long roll of the dead and after the deep sorrow of eternal parting had entered, an hundred homes.
Included with this chapter are the names of those who enlisted from Clayton county in the war for Union and to this list is added the roll of honor of 195 men, who died upon the field of battle, in the hospital or rebel prison pen. In this history there have been recorded the names of many who took prominent part in the political and com- mercial activities of the county, until these names have become fairly familiar. But, in reading the list of the volunteers, there appear hun- dreds of names which have not before been mentioned. This means that it was not the leaders alone, not the prominent men only, but that men, who had been content with the modest part of the ordinary citizen and voter, came, from every rank and every occupation, to take their place in the Union ranks. The vast majority of them were young men, sons of the men who had made the county great. Many of them, in after years, took active part in the affairs of their county and their state, but at this time, they were new and untried, but filled with a patriotism which must forever emblazon their names upon Clayton county's roll of honor.
Relief Provisions-The board of supervisors as the governing body of the county took early and repeated action to support the fami- lies of the volunteers and to encourage enlistment. On June 4, 1861, the board voted that for each company of 100 men, $13 be paid for each man, for the purpose of procuring uniforms. Two days later, the board voted $1 a week for the wife and 50 cents a week for each child of a volunteer where support was needed, This order was extended and enlarged, from time to time, and, by June, 1862, $3,794 had been spent for the relief of the families of volunteers. By its famous "order No. 316" this aid was extended by unanimous vote, to "the widows and children of those who have died or may die in the service of the country." In August, the board voted $60 for each volunteer who should enlist under the call of the president for 300,000 men and this order was, later, made to include all who enlisted between July I and Sept. 1, 1862. A year later, the board widened the scope of its relief to include the families of volunteers, although they might tem-
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porarily reside in other counties. In 1864 this relief was again extended, to include the families of all, except those of commissioned officers, who were accepted in the regular or volunteer service, if accredited to Clayton county, without regard to their place of residence at the time of enlistment. Throughout the entire war the policy of the county government, although not extravagant, was just and liberal and patriotic and the people bore this added taxation, which was heaped on top of increased state taxes and heavy stamp and internal revenue taxes, not only without complaining, but with cheerful generosity, and with urgings, not to do less, but to do more. The period of these war expenditures on the part of the county covered eight years. The highest amount paid for bounties was $30,875.00 paid in 1862, and for relief of soldiers' families, the highest amount in any one year was in 1864 when $33,849.09 was spent. The total paid for bounties by the county government was $43,229.89 and for relief $106,098.52. To this must be added the large amount given by private subscription, not only during the first outburst of enthusiasm at the beginning of the war but throughout the war for the purpose of encouraging enlistment. This amounted to fully as much as was paid by the county, and to this again, must be added the large amount which the women of the county raised in cash and supplies for the relief of the wounded soldiers at the front. In every way Clayton county did its duty.
Rangers Go to War-It was not long until the Rangers, the cav- alry troop organized by Capt. Freeman was ordered to the front and the following graphic description of their leave taking is taken from the Times : "On Thursday evening of last week, the Canada-the same boat which carried off the Clayton county boys-came down to our levee and expressed her willingness to take the Rangers on board. Then there was a hurrying to and fro, mounting in hot haste, gathering up of personal traps, exchanging farewells, and an embarkation. One by one the brave fellows came down through the gathering crowds, and attended their horses on board. Capt. Freeman was in his ele- ment-cheerful, vivacious, omnipresent ; his pet Rangers, after much embarrassment and delay, were now to make a start for the war. A shrill blast from the brass piece above the texas, soon announced that it was nearly time to be off. By common consent the boys scrambled off to exchange farewells; Capt. Freeman spent a moment in the sad yet pleasant leave taking of his interesting family. It was an impres- sive moment and a trial for brave hearts; no tears were shed; indeed, there seemed to be a Spartan cheerfulness in the sacrifice which Mrs. Freeman made for her country. When they had all got on board a few appropriate words of farewell were addressed them by Mr. Hammer and Mr. Noble-the big brass whistle shrieked its impatience -the bell was tapped again-the ponderous wheels commenced their revolution-and the boys were off, amid the cheers of the great crowd which lined the levee. In the silence which ensued as the boat swung down the stream, occasionally would be heard the last sentiment of some brave heart in a loud "Farewell, McGregor !" Of the 95 men in this company of Rangers, but 3 were more than 40 years of age, 12 were in their 30's, 67 between 20 and 30, and 13 were still in their 'teens.
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First Soldier Killed-The first death of one of the Clayton county volunteers was that of Hervey Dix, of Monona, a corporal in the Third Iowa Infantry. The report from the front was as follows: "He was out on a scout with five men. While taking dinner in a secession farm house, they were surrounded by rebels, 18 in number, who demanded a surrender. Dix replied, 'I never surrender.' Upon this the firing commenced. Dix rushed from the house and shot down two of them, wounding two or three of them with his revolver, when he was shot from behind by a concealed rebel. The ball passed through his head, killing him instantly. The remainder of the Union detach- ment escaped. They killed six rebels in the yard, while the seventh lay mortally wounded, perforated with eight bullets. Lieut. Crawford saw the wounded rebel who said, just before his death, 'Corporal Dix is the bravest man I ever saw. If the North has many such we had better give up."" The death of Dix cast a gloom over the whole com- pany, and the news, when received in Clayton county, brought home to the people the grim realities of war.
Day of Prayer-The last day of September, 1861, was set apart as a day of fasting and of prayer by a proclamation of the president, Louis Benton, Jr., acting mayor of McGregor, also issued a proclama- tion, and it may well be believed that it was observed by the people of Clayton county with solemn hearts. As early as October, the wounded began coming back from the front, but the enlistments were not checked by knowledge of fatalities. The Northwestern Rifles was the name of another company organized in the county, and Capt. Charles H. Lewis, of the Sixteenth U. S. Regular Infantry, made McGregor headquarters and recruited 122 men from Clayton and surrounding counties. Col. Eiboeck, editor of the Elkader Journal, laid down his pen and enlisted as a private in the company of Alvah Bevins, fol- lowing the footsteps of William H. Muzzy, of the same paper, who was already at the front with the Rangers. During their absence the paper was edited by A. C. Rogers. The company, under Capt. Bevins, was known as the Volga Rifles. There were 27 men from Sperry township, who were joined at Elkader by 32 men from Guttenberg and together they marched to McGregor and joined the regiment com- manded by William Vandever, the Congressman from this district.
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