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 21
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Sixth Wisconsin Infantry-Company C, privates, Albert L. Fisk, William Kelley and William Winney.
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Seventh Wisconsin Infantry-Company K, private, James M. Crawford. U. S. Colored Infantry-Private, John Anderson.
ROLL OF HONOR
The following is the list of Clayton county soldiers who died dur- ing the course of the war:
Capt. Alvah Bevins, killed in battle at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7, 1862; Lieut. Josiah Wragg, died in prison at Atlanta, Ga., June 9, 1864; Allen, Charles A., died at Vicksburg, Miss., Aug. 14, 1863; Allman, George W., died at Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 7, 1864; Alloway, William H., died on hospital boat, June 8, 1863; Anderson, John, died at Island No. 66, Mississippi river, Feb. 1, 1864; Andrews, Hugh W., died at Camp Ford, Tex., Aug. 3, 1864; Arble, Richard P., died at Farmers- burg, Nov. 25, 1862; Baker, Sylvester, died at Vicksburg, Miss .; Baldwin, James, died at Memphis, Tenn., June 28, 1864; Barber, Sylvester, died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 11, 1862; Barnhouse, James M., killed in action at Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864; Barnhouse, John M., killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Bartholomew, A. J., died at Sperry, Feb. 29, 1864; Batholomew, William, died at Volga City, June 4, 1862 ; Baxter, Cornelius W., died at Moscow, Tenn., Aug. 2, 1863; Beck, George, died at Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 8, 1863; Betteys, Mason D., died at St. Genevieve, Mo., March 19, 1863; Bigler, Martin, died at New Orleans, La., June 25, 1864; Birch, John, died at New Orleans, La., Nov. 7, 1863; Bishop, William, killed at Ringgold, Ga., Nov. 27, 1863; Brown, James D., died near Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 25, 1863; Brown, James W., died at Milliken's Bend, La., July 14, 1863; Brown, Richard W., died in prison at Florence, S. C., Nov. 8, 1864; Brown, Robert P., died at McGregor, March 30, 1864; Brown, William S., died at Washington, D. C., Sept. 4, 1864; Burns, John, died at Rome, Ga., Aug. 21, 1864; Busby, Thomas, died at Rolla, Mo., March 10, 1863; Bush, Peter, died at Memphis, Tenn., June 16, 1864; Camp- bell, Bernard D., killed in action at Corinth, Miss., Oct. 4, 1862; Carr, John H., died at Ft. Sully, March 20, 1864 ; Carrier, Charles, died at Clinton, Mo., Aug. 11, 1862; Cassell, Henry, killed in battle at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Chapman, George W., killed in battle at Beaver Creek, Mo., Nov. 24, 1862 ; Christeman, Nels, died at Vicks- burg, Miss., Aug. 20, 1863; Churnor, Smith, died April 29, 1863; Clark, Avery, killed at White Stone Hills, S. D., Sept. 3, 1863 ; Cooper, Thomas, died at Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1863; Corbin, Levi M., killed at Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864; Crist, Jacob B., died at St. Louis, Mo., June 2, 1862; Crop, John S., died at St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 13, 1863; Crumb, Oscar, killed in action at Montevallo, April 14, 1862; Curtis, James M., died on the steamer "R. C. Wood," July 15, 1863; Dalton, Milo, died at Vicksburg, Miss., Aug. 19, 1863; Daniels, Thomas, died on steamer "R. C. Wood," Aug. 16, 1863; Davis, Ozias M., died at Davenport, March 22, 1862; Dean, George, died May 19, 1863; Dix, Hervey, killed at Kirksville, Mo., Aug. 20, 1861 ; Donaldson, John, died at New Orleans, La., Aug. 14, 1863; Dorland, Clement,
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killed accidentally at Cheran, N. C., March 6, 1865; Eastman, Geo. W. D., died at Memphis, Tenn., April 10, 1864; Engebertson, Gunder J., died at Vicksburg, Miss., June 23, 1863 ; Farrin, William H., killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Fay, George W., died at Warrenton, Miss., June 14, 1863 ; Felter, George W., died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 8, 1862; Fitch, John, died at Jackson, Tenn., April 10, 1863; Flanniken, James M., died at Smithland, Ky., Feb. 15, 1862; Fobes, Warren S., died at Pacific, Mo., Dec. 24, 1861 ; Follion, Orion S., died at Houston, Mo., Dec. 7, 1862; Frazer, John, drowned at Ft. Randall, S. D., May 23, 1863; Fulton, James, died at Macon City, Mo., Sept. 29, 1862; Garretson, William, died on floating hospital at Memphis, Aug. 12, 1863; Garrison, Lowry M., died at Keokuk, Nov. 17, 1862; Gaylord, Alexander, died at Helena, Ark., Oct. 21, 1862; Gaylord, Wm. F., died on steamer "R. C. Wood," Aug. 22, 1863 ; Gibson, James M., died at Woodville, Ala., Feb. 7, 1864; Gifford, W. H. H., died at Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 5, 1865; Goldsmith, Edward, died on Turkey river, Aug. 16, 1863; Goodnough, George A., died in Fayette county; Aug. 31, 1863; Goslin, John L., died at Memphis, Tenn., June 21, 1864; Gray, William H., killed at Julesburg, C., Jan. 7, 1865; Grayson, Thomas, killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Green, Archibald, killed at St. Joseph, Mo., Aug. 27, 1864; Green, George, died at St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 17, 1862 ; Griffin, Reuben H., died at St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 12, 1863 ; Griffith, William H., killed in action at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Guiselman, John, died at New Orleans, La., Nov. 21, 1863; Hall, Alfred E., died at Rolla, Mo., 3, 1862; Hall, Perry, killed in action at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7, 1862 ; Hamer, William A., died at Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 10, 1864; Harding, Henry P., died at Fort Snelling, Minn., Dec. 10, 1863; Hardy, James W., died at St. Louis, Mo., May 25, 1863; Haskill, Leanard, died at Jackson, Tenn., Jan. 12, 1863; Haskell, Parson F., died at Camp Sherman, Sept. 2, 1863; Hastings, Stephen R., died at St. Louis, Mo., June 28, 1862; Hathaway, Lewis H., died at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 23, 1864; Haynes, Thomas, died at Quincy, Ill., July 12, 1862; Hays, Thomas, killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863 ; Henderson, Cyrus M., died at Beaver Creek, Mo., Dec. 28, 1862; Hewlet, Joseph A., died at Rolla, Mo., Oct. 17, 1862 ; Hinds, Charles B., died at Grand Gulf, Miss., May 14, 1863; Hinkle, Thomas, died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 6, 1862; Hood, William, killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Hotinger, Henry, died at Helena, Ark., April 13, 1864; Hughes, Andrew, died at Mem- phis, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1864; Hughs, Francis M., killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 19, 1863 ; Iverson, John B., died at Port Hudson, La., Aug. 8, 1863; Jackson, Freedom, killed in battle at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7, 1862 ; Jones, Webster, died at Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 2, 1863; Kain, John, died at Cairo, Ill., March 29, 1863; Kelley, William H., died on steamer "Burlington," September 4, 1864; King, Levi R., died at Jack- son, Tenn., April 15, 1863; Lackey, Augustus, died at Forsyth, Mo., April 22, 1862; Lampert, Joseph, killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Lawrence, George H., died at Houston, Mo., Jan. 20, 1863; Lazelle, Marshall, died at St. Louis Mo., June 20, 1862 ; Lewis, Harvey, died at Cairo, Ill., Dec. 17, 1862 ; Lewis, Henry L., killed at Old Town Creek, Miss., July 15, 1864; Lewis, Henry T., died at Rolla, Mo., Oct.
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27, 1862; Lewis, Runyon C., died at Jackson, Tenn., Feb. 7, 1863; Linger, Fredrick, died at Memphis, Tenn., July 5, 1864; Lockridge, Daniel P., died at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 21, 1863; Lyons, John, died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 30, 1862 ; Mack, John, died at St. Louis, Mo., May 9, 1862; Malony, Jerry, died near Vicksburg, Miss., June 15, 1863; Maloney, Jeremiah, died at Vicksburg, Miss., Nov. 6, 1863; Mather, John H., died near Vicksburg, Miss., June 10, 1863; McKittrick, Robert H., died on the steamer "City of Memphis," June 27, 1863; McLoon, Barney, killed at Shiloh, Tenn., April 6, 1862; Millholen, Perry, died at Nashville, Tenn., April 6, 1865; Mohlstedt, Henry, died at Memphis, Tenn., July 8, 1864; Moore, Oscar, died at Austin, Texas, Nov. 18, 1865; Moore, Samuel W., killed at Black River Bridge, Miss., May 17, 1863; Mosgrove, Briggs, died at Keokuk, Ia., April 16, 1865; Muller, Theodore, died at Jackson, Tenn., March 13, 1863; Neelings, James W., died at Farmersburg, Nov. 29, 1862; Nelson, C. S., died at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 20, 1863 ; Newton, Calvin, died at Vicksburg, Miss., July 18, 1863; Noble, Dwight, died at St. Genevieve, Mo., March 15, 1863; Oleson, Ammon, died at Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 8, 1864; Oleson, Gunder, died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Sept. 27, 1863; O'Sullivan, Michael, died at Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 24, 1864; Otis, Francis A., died at Moscow, Tenn., June 28, 1863; Parker, William, died near Vicksburg, Miss., June 7, 1863; Penhollow, George W., died at Mallory, Oct. 13, 1862; Penny, Calvin, died at Cairo, Ill., Oct. 24, 1863; Perkins, William, died near Vicksburg, Miss., June 14, 1863; Perry, Edward, died at Camden, Ark., Oct. 30, 1865; Perry, Elijah, died at Memphis, Tenn., April 5, 1864; Pettis, Robert M., died at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 23, 1863; Pitt, Robert, died at Haines Bluff, Miss., June 6, 1863; Polley, Daniel W., died at Keokuk, June 12, 1865; Pool, John C., died on steamer "City of Memphis," July 17, 1863; Poole, Robert J., died at Milliken's Bend, La., April 21, 1863; Powers, Oscar, died at Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 27, 1863; Preschl, Carl, killed at Hartsville, Mo., Jan. 11, 1863; Presho, Alexander, died at Camp Sherman, Miss., Aug. 20, 1863; Preston, James M., killed at Shiloh, Tenn., April 6, 1862; Price, Valma V., died at Mobile, Ala., July 6, 1862; Randall, Samuel, died at Ft. Randall, S. D., July 22, 1863; Rankin, James, died at Brownsville, Ark., Sept. 14, 1863; Reed, Charles H., died at Jackson, Tenn., April 11, 1863; Reichart, John, killed at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7, 1862; Reinhardt, George, died at Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 3, 1863; Renwick, Augustus A., died at Vicks- burg, Miss., June 27, 1863; Reynolds, E., died at Hempstead, Tex., Oct. 30, 1865; Rizer, William W., died at New Orleans, La., April 5, 1865; Robison, David H., died at St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 4, 1863; Russell, Enos M., killed at Memphis, Tenn., April 29, 1865; Sargent, Lyman, died at Pacific, Mo., Nov. 14, 1861 ; Schlake, Gerhard, died at Little Rock, Ark., Nov. 11, 1863; Schlake, Henry, died at Vicksburg, Miss., June 5, 1864 ; Scofield, Norman W., died at Ironton, Mo., Feb. 24, 1863 ; Scoville, Orrin, died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 27, 1862 ; Seeber, Timothy, killed at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 7, 1862; Seimer, John F., died at Pleasant Hill, La., May 5, 1864; Shaw, Samuel P., killed at Florence, Ala., Oct. 30, 1864; Shuck, David M., died at Milliken's Bend, La., April 21, 1863; Shuck, Jacob W., died near Walnut Hills,
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Ark., Dec. 18, 1865 ; Smith, James, killed in action at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863 ; Southworth, William H., died at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 15, 1863; Sprague, Perry C., died at Elkport, Dec. 8, 1864; Squires, Lester, killed in action at Blue Mills, Mo., Sept. 17, 1861 ; Stahl, Joseph, died at St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 9, 1863; Stemgrinson, Jacob, killed at Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863; Stephenson, William C., died at Vicksburg, Miss., July 23, 1863; Stockton, Erasmus D., died at Cairo, Ill., May 23, 1863; Stoughton, Thomas A., died at Highland, Sept. 26, 1863; Tavis, John, killed at Pleasant Hill, La., April 9, 1864; Thompson, August, killed at Nickajack Creek, July 21, 1864 ; Tinkham, William H., died at Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 29, 1863; Thurber, Avery R., died at Iron Mountain, Mo., Feb. 27, 1863; Waggoner, William E., died at Jeffersonville, Ind., June 17, 1864; Wakefield, Lorenzo, died at Vicksburg, Miss., July 25, 1863; Washburn, Francis, died at Morgan- zia, La., Sept. 30, 1864; Weeks, Ralph A., died at New Orleans, La., Aug. 11, 1864; Weseman, Charles, killed in action at Pea Ridge Ark., March 7, 1862; Whipple, Darwin, died at St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 3, 1863; White, Jacob, died at Vicksburg, Miss., July 31, 1863; Whitford, James, killed in action at Montevallo, Mo., April 14, 1862; Wilcox, Hiram, died at Mound City, Ill., Nov. 24, 1862; Wilkie, G. M., died at Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 15, 1863 ; Wilson, Charles W., died at Cairo, Ill., April 10, 1863 ; Wilson, David G., died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 30, 1864; Wing, David B., died at St. Louis, Mo., July 4, 1863.
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CHAPTER VIII
DOMESTIC HISTORY DURING WAR
RAILROAD PUSHED WESTWARD-LAND TITLES DISPUTE-DIAMOND JOE- M'GREROR DURING WAR-RAFTING- EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS - CHURCH ACTIVITIES-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-WARTIME POLITICS- UNION PARTY-DIVISION OF COUNTY PROPOSED -CAMPAIGN OF 1862- PEACE PARTY, 1863-SECOND LINCOLN CAMPAIGN-COUNTY AFFAIRS -REVIEW OF COUNTY IN 1865-SIDELIGHTS ON PROGRESS-DEATH OF R. R. READ-MINOR EVENTS.
GOLDEN DAYS OF M'GREGOR
W HILE the chief interest of the people of Clayton county centered about the war during these years, from 1861 to 1865, it was not their only concern. While there were scores of Union meetings and while the thought of the people was directed to enlistments, to the relief of the soldiers and to the news from the front, they did not neglect the business, social or political life of the county. Despite the heavy taxes imposed by war, times continued to improve from year to year and recovery was made from the depression of the previous administration. The war created an increased demand for products and decreased the labor supply so that wages reached the highest point they had ever known in this country.
In 1861 the shin-plaster was still the greatest curse of business and the Elkader paper states that business is improving, "although not so good as a year ago." The farmers were afraid to exchange their grain for Illinois or Wisconsin money, as they could not tell what it would be worth from one day to the other. R. E. Price tells the story that he worked and saved until he had sufficient to buy a suit of clothes. He walked to McGregor to make the purchase, but, when he got there, he found that his money had so depreciated during the day that he only had enough to buy a vest. Prices were low in 1861, wheat was quoted at 51 cents, corn 20, oats 18, and eggs 4 cents per dozen. Nevertheless, the times improved and, before the close of the war, prices were good. The business of the county was hard hit by fire. The burning of the mill was a great loss to Elkader and although work of rebuilding was soon commenced it was three years before it was again in operation, at which time the citizens of Elkader duly cele-
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brated. At Clayton the large sawmill owned by Frank Smith was burned, together with 550,000 feet of seasoned lumber. This, and the growing importance of McGregor, served to check the growth of Clay- ton. Guttenberg, with its conservative German population, continued to do an ever increasing business. McGregor increased yearly in prosperity until the last years of the war. During these years, how- ever, it was visited by three great fires which wiped out the fragile frame buildings which had been erected because of the uncertainty of the land titles. For the year ending July, 1861, McGregor, according to the Chicago Times, was the largest primary grain-receiving depot in the world. The receipts of wheat were 3,000,000 bu. and, during the winter season, pork to the value of $200,000 and hides and furs to the value of $100,000 were handled. Still later, in January, 1862, the business for the month was reported as wheat, 1,274,748 bu. ; flour, 10,752 barrels ; dressed hogs, 13,502, lard 32,810 barrels, butter 268,940 lbs., eggs, 486 barrels ; hides, green, 178,045 lbs .; dry, 83,530 lbs., and from 600 to 800 teams were said to arrive in McGregor daily during the grain season. A correspondent in the Dubuque Herald, in July, 1862, describes scenes in McGregor during these busy days. He says: "On Sunday evening the teams loaded with wheat, principally, com- menced rolling in through the long, and almost only street of the city. The line of teams became almost continuous through the day and prob- ably through the night on Monday, and by Tuesday, by 10 o'clock a. m. there was a perfect jam of loaded teams at the warehouses along the river front and, as far as the eye could reach along the main street, one line of laden wagons could be seen turned toward the warehouses, while as long a line was turned homeward, on the opposite side, most of them laden with goods purchased at McGregor. A gentleman, a stranger like ourself, who accompanied us to the neighborhood of the grain houses, spoke in Norwegian to one of the teamsters, inquiring how far he had come with his load of grain. The answer was, 150 miles. We inquired farther, and were told that it is a common thing for farmers 200 and more miles distant westward and northwestward to haul their wheat in wagons to McGregor."
Railroad Pushed Westward-During the first days of the war, McGregor was also a primary point of concentration for the volun- teers and this also did much to increase business and to put money into circulation. Seven years prior to the war a railroad was proposed to run west from McGregor. A few miles of road were graded, ties were provided, culverts and bridges constructed, and things looked promis- ing. Times grew hard, money was far from easy and the work was turned over to other parties. These failed, and it was turned to a third company, which was also unable to push it forward. By some legal process the franchise reverted to Judge Brown, one of the most active of the original promoters. Brown sold the interest of the old company to the McGregor Western Rail Road Company, of which George Green was president and James L. Reynolds, vice-president. This company conferred with the officials of the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Company and active work on the new railroad was re-com- menced in September, 1863. The enterprise had been embarrassed by a rival survey commencing 9 miles north of McGregor at the mouth of
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Paint Creek, but this was also adjusted. In March, 1863, a contract for 18 miles of grading was let to Green and Harding, to be com- pleted by July 15. In October, of the same year, the first engine was on the track, three miles of track had been laid and the road was pro- gressing at the rate of one half mile a day. It was then the plan that the road should go to Postville, and branch to the northwest, while the main line went via Clermont and West Union. It was at this time that McGregor awoke to the fact that its interests were not being con- sidered in the railroad company's plans and that, instead of increasing its business, the new line threatened its very existence. The company asked $50,000 to lay a double track from North McGregor to Mc- Gregor. This offer was afterward reduced to $20,000 and was tenta- tively accepted, until the committee found that the railroad would maintain North McGregor as its terminus and that the branch would simply be for the accommodation of McGregor's local business. Mc- Gregor then determined to "confer with Mineral Point Road parties and secure an eastern connection through the Illinois Central." In April, the Times complains that "North McGregor is looking up frightfully."
On May 18, 1864, the railroad had passed Monona and reached Luana, although there were no turn-table facilities and the train was obliged to back down. On August 8, 1864, the first train reached Postville, although it had been delayed by the difficulty in obtaining labor during the harvest. By October, 1865, the road was completed as far as Conover and it steadily pushed its way westward. By the summer of 1864, McGregor had yielded to the inevitable and a Mr. Freeman had established the first bus line from North to South Mc- Gregor. A gang of 150 men were also employed by the railroad to cut a canal through the island between North McGregor and Prairie du Chien.
As a result of the hard times of previous years there were also financial difficulties. Robert Grant was forced to suspend business and, in January, 1862, the Lee & Kinniard bank failed, with liabilities of $57,000 and assets which finally netted considerably less. This was the first bank in Clayton county and at its failure no criticism was made that it had not been honestly conducted, but simply that it had been forced to the wall by the hard times.
Land Titles' Dispute-In December, 1861, James McGregor, Jr., feeling that he was secure in his title, proposed to sell to the citizens the 500 lots, which were then claimed and improved, for the total sum of $190,000. This offer was accepted and a committee appointed to assess the lots. After this was done, Mr. McGregor refused to abide by their assessment and wished to make it himself. At a meeting, over which D. Baugh presided, a committee, consisting of H. W. Bur- lingame, J. B. Benton, William I. Gilchrist, H. Kennedy, Michael O'Brien, Martin Knight and G. H. Hand, was appointed to guard the interests of the city. It was soon after this, that the first of the fires occurred and the McGregor interests forbade any rebuilding until the lots were purchased. An indignation meeting was held Jan. 10, 1862, and an agreement was prepared, not to recognize the claims either of James McGregor, Jr., or of the heirs of Alexander McGregor, and Baugh, Stoneman, Hand and Updegraff were employed as attorneys
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for the citizens. As if these were not troubles enough, change became so scarce that the city of McGregor issued scrip. These were checks upon the McGregor State Bank, issued by McGregor and signed by the city recorder. It was said that they represented cash actually de- posited, nevertheless, this scrip was soon discounted and was later refused by many. To add to its burdens McGregor also suffered a severe epidemic of smallpox in 1864. Despite these discouragements McGregor maintained itself as the largest and busiest town of the county ; many permanent buildings were erected and schools and churches thrived.
In 1861 mention is made of the Union Schools, with E. B. Wake- man at their head, assisted by Miss Updegraff. In 1862 appears the advertisement of Miss Jane's School and, in 1863, McGregor formed a select school with Miss Jane as principal. There were many church activities and Rev. Father Nagle is applauded for his vigorous efforts to make McGregor more orderly. At this time the Catholic congre- gation was planning a larger church and to use the old building for their school which then had 67 pupils. Among the other activities of the time were the formation of a musical union with C. F. Remick as president, and of a board of trade of 40 members, with W. I. Gilbert as president and J. V. D. Benton as secretary. A project for a ship canal from the lakes to the Mississippi agitated the people and dele- gates were appointed to a Ship Canal Convention. A cemetery asso- ciation was also formed, a National Bank was proposed, and the Mc- Gregor and Fort Atkinson Horse Railway was incorporated. In the newspaper world, Willis Drummond bought the Press from Mr. Belfoy. In 1861, P. A. Richardson left the Times and it was pub- lished by Andrick and Tenney. In August, 1863, Richardson went back to the Times and Tenney bought the Tribune, which was then the News.
"Diamond Jo"-In 1862, Joe Reynolds, pork packer, built the front wall of the new establishment of his growing business. Joe Reynolds, better known as "Diamond Jo," was one of the most bizarre figures of the early days along the Mississippi. The "Diamond Jo" packets were known from St. Paul to New Orleans, and many are the stories told of this shrewd and daring business man. At the time when the "Diamond Jo" line finally passed out of Mr. Reynolds' hands the following was written concerning him:
"Those who love the romance of 'Picturesque old river days,' hold in memory the virile men who were a part of its fascinating story. Of these men there is none whose life history is so often re- hearsed, none who is so well-remembered, as Joseph Reynolds, 'Dia- mond Jo,' as he was known in life and is still remembered. He dom- inated early up-river life in a peculiar fashion. His mark, a black dia- mond with 'Jo' in the center, has been a familiar sight to river folks for fifty years. One by one, other steamboat companies sold out after the railroad built along the river, but the 'two long, two short' whistle of the big Diamond Jo packets are still heard. For a long time now, its four steamers have been the only boats to carry through freight and passengers from St. Paul to St. Louis. Whether the new manage- ment will retain the familiar Diamond Jo sign is not known. But,
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however that may be, the romance of it goes with the passing of the boats out of the hands of the Reynolds' estate.
"Diamond Jo for many years made McGregor his headquarters. Mrs. Reynolds lived here until a short time before her death. A foun- tain, the gift of Mr. Reynolds to the town, is in the triangle park. The old residents delight in giving interesting reminiscences of the man in his various capacities of fur trader, grain buyer, steamboat owner and miner. His estate at the time of his death was reported at $7,000,000. The main facts of his life can be chronicled, though the stories, true and untrue, told of him and his big days on the Upper River and later in the mining districts of the Southwest, would fill many pages. He was born in Sylvan county, New York, where he received a common school education. He early engaged in business and for a time man- aged a mill property near the old home. He came to Chicago in the 50's and bought wheat on the streets there, which he shipped to his New York mill to be ground into flour and put upon the market. After a prosperous period in Chicago, he came to McGregor and from this point established a grain line. His business grew to immense propor- tions and for years he was known as the heaviest grain buyer in the Northwest. Later he established a steamboat line and thereby hangs a tale according to the old river men. He had tried in St. Louis to hire a Missouri river boat to bring down a cargo of skins. He and the steamboat people had trouble over the matter and he was refused the services of the boat. To get even, he built the Diamond Jo line of steamers which soon led them all. He built the Hot Springs, Arkansas Railway, because, it is related, he was disgusted with the stage that ran between Malvern and the Springs. The railroad was for some time his individual property and a source of immense income. Mr. Reynolds in later years became interested in mines in Colorado and Arizona. His name became as familiar to western mining men as it long had been to Mississippi and Missouri river farmers and shippers and to Chicago Board of Trade men. It was at his famous Congress, Arizona, mine, attended only by his secretary and doctor, that Joseph Reynolds died, in 1871, at the age of 71."
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