USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 33
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Samuel J. Kirkwood. * *
* There does not live a man in Iowa so rich in lucre and with such an utter poverty of character as the blustering, sweltering and doubtless cowardly governor of Iowa. He is a pitiful partisan without a redeeming trait." -- (Herald, October 3, 1863.)
In September, 1863, the Herald favored the organization here of a lodge of the Knights of the Golden Circle to oppose the action of the Union Leagues ; but Bishop Smyth opposed this step by ad- vising all Irish-Catholics not to join the proposed organization. At this time there was great suffering here among the families of soldiers. The following resolution introduced by Mr. Cort was passed by the county board: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to examine into the propriety of this board making the necessary provisions by the issuing of bonds or otherwise by the county for the payment of $300, either in whole or in part, for the relief of such persons who are not able to pay the amount re- quired by the conscription act if drafted." Carried, 14 to 4.
A large sum for their relief was raised by a gymnastic parade of 100 ladies and gentlemen under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society ; it was held at City Hall; 25 cents was the price of ad- mission and a large crowd attended.
"The Dubuque Times says that the resolution of the county board of supervisors to exempt poor men from the draft is a weak scheme to make the county pay their exemption fee for them. That is just what the board meant to do and no poor man who knows his interest will fail to support the board at the polls. Mr. Knoll, Mr. Cort and Mr. O'Brien, who are running on the Democratic ticket, voted for it, while Mr. Miller and Mr. Bonson, who voted against it, are running on the Republican ticket. Every man in Dubuque county who votes the Republican ticket votes for the draft and against the exempting of drafted men by a tax. Every man who votes the Democratic ticket votes for the conscription to be paid by property and not by blood. Now, which ticket will the poor man vote? Which ticket should he vote?"-(Herald, Octo- ber II, 1863. )
In September, 1863, Dr. N. B. Mathews, of Peosta, was captain of a Union League company or lodge. The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society netted at the State Fair here in September $503.90. The Herald denounced and derided the colored regiment that was at this time being formed in Iowa. The old ferry-boat Peosta be-
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302
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
came Gunboat 36 in 1863. A home for soldiers was established in the fall of 1863 at a meeting held in the Congregational church, of which George L. Mathews was chairman and D. N. Cooley secretary. Doctor Guilbert, from a committee previously appointed, reported a plan, which was adopted. The board of control were Mrs. D. N. Cooley, Mrs. Solon Langworthy. Mrs. J. W. Robinson, Mrs. F. W. H. Sheffield, Mrs. L. D. Mckenzie, Mr. J. H. Thedinga. Mr. H. L. Stout, George L. Mathews and L. A. Thomas. Mrs. Hancock was one of the vice-presidents of the Woman's State Sanitary Society. A large quantity of supplies was sent to the Chicago Sanitary Fair. His friends here presented Colonel Dorr with a fine horse. The west storeroom of the Tremont House was converted into the Soldiers' Home; the hotel furnished the meals, which were paid for by the society. When D. A. Mahony under- took to lecture to the Teachers' Institute at Epworth in October. opposition was encountered and he was informed by a strong dele- gation that he was not wanted. The society asked the county board for $200 down and $100 per month for the soldiers and their fami- lies. Mr. Bonson, of the board, moved that $190 be paid at once and $90 a month thereafter as requested; on this motion the vote stood as follows: Yeas-Bonson, Hetherington, Metcalf and Miller ; nays-Bucknam, Cort, Donovan, Duggan, Heber, Kile, Macomber, McAleer, McCarron, Moore, O'Brien, Squires, Sweeney, Wilder and chairman. Later the amount was fixed at $100.
"This the board has been compelled to refuse, because if the county should once commence giving aid to associations formed for the dispensation of charity, there would be no end to the ap- plications made to them. They have therefore wisely abstained from making special appropriations, but at the same time have given the superintendent of the county poor additional instructions for relieving the wants of those in need wherever such cases are found, and the charity will be dispensed to soldiers as freely as to others."-(Herald, October 23, 1863. )
"Whereas, The board of supervisors of Dubuque county at their last session were respectfully solicited to make an appropriation of money for the use and benefit of the Soldiers' Home in this city, by a petition signed by the officers of such association, which peti- tion clearly stated the objects and aims of the enterprise, and
"Whereas, This board with only four dissenting votes refused all aid, except upon the conditions that it be expended in the sup- port of paupers and under the direction of the county officers having in charge this duty, thus compelling our sick, suffering and destitute soldiers to receive such aid as common paupers, or be denied it entirely; now, therefore, believing as we do that this action of the board of supervisors is ungenerous, ungrateful and unjust and justly merits the scorn and contempt of all patriotic men and also demonstrates more clearly than language can the real
303
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
intentions of the board, which we believe to have been the proscrip- tion of our patriot soldiers who have suffered and endured so much to transmit to us the inheritance bought by the blood of our fathers, that we take this opportunity to tender to all our soldiers our warmest gratitude for what they have done and are doing to crush this wicked rebellion and make the flag of our country honored and respected at home and abroad, and we pledge them our constant aid and sympathy in sickness and health, and we also pledge them that the Soldiers' Home in this city shall fur- nish all reasonable comfort to those sick, suffering and destitute soldiers as long as there is one dollar in the treasury subject to our control ; therefore,
"Resolved, That an order be drawn on the city expense fund for $100 for the support of the Soldiers' Home in this city and that the same be delivered to the mayor of this city, who is the president of said board, to be used in such manner as in his judg- ment may become necessary."
These resolutions of the city council of Dubuque were de- nounced by Aldermen Mulkern, Quigley and Kiene, the former of whom moved that all the preamble be struck out. Those voting vea were Christman, Kiene, Mulkern, Quigley and Treanor ; nays- Cummings, Mathews, Russ, Schmidt and Stout. There being a tie. Mayor Thedinga voted so that the whole series was adopted.
"The Hypocrites .- The Copperhead farmers of this county, who bring their grain and other products here to sell, heap the foulest abuse on the administration and all connected with it, as only ignorance can abuse that which it doesn't understand. When they receive their pay they won't take anything but the "Dirty Greenbacks," as they call them, to carry home. This a fair sample of the shameless hypocrisy of the party which controls the politics of the county."- (Times, October 30, 1863. )
"About two thousand hard-fisted, hard-working honest men who helped to make Dubuque just what she is and without whom her merchants could not live a month, who clog her granaries with grain and her markets with produce, are the subjects of this petty slanderer's abuse. The very life and trade of Dubuque city is ihus attempted to be rendered contemptible and driven from her. We ask the merchants of Dubuque what they think of it. We know some of them whose advertisements appear in the Times regularly, who depend entirely on this 'ignorant class' of 'shame- less hypocrites' for their trade."-(Herald, October 31, 1863. )
Late in October J. H. Scanlan called for volunteers to serve on government gunboats. The Teachers' Institute at Epworth re- solved that the government should be supported in its efforts to crush the rebellion. Dr. E. A. Guilbert was prominent among the Union Leaguers; he became colonel of the Tenth cavalry. The Methodist and Presbyterian congregations at Epworth refused to
304
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
permit Mr. Mahony to speak in their churches; he addressed the citizens in the Christian church. Stephen Hempstead had two sons in the Confederate army. About November the officials pre- pared the following statement of the number of troops furnished by Dubuque county, as follows: Second regiment, 187; Third, 71 ; Fifth, 2; Ninth, 67; Twelfth, 78; Fourteenth, 1; Sixteenth, 79; Eighteenth, 3; Twenty-first, 484; Twenty-sixth, I ; Twenty-seventh, 7; Thirty-second, I; Thirty-seventh, 83; Thirty-eighth, 8; Fifty- first, 1; First cavalry, 81; Second, 24; Fourth, 6; Fifth, 109; Sixth, 77; Eleventh Pennsylvania, 6; regular army, estimated, 500 ; total infantry, 1,063 ; cavalry, 303 ; artillery, 80; regulars, 500; grand total, 1,946.
"There has probably no paper suffered so much for its bold- ness, its independence, as the Herald. For daring to be free we have paid all the penalties which proscription, intolerance and unreason could suggest or inflict. We have been ceaselessly fol- lowed by enemies; our patrons have been threatened and cajoled, to induce them, if possible, to withdraw all pecuniary assistance or support. In many places persons who would gladly take and read the Herald have been the victims of an organized persecution until they are glad, for their own peace, to discontinue its coming. Merchants in this city and Chicago have withdrawn their adver- tising favors until we could name them by scores. In some towns in Iowa we have large amounts due us, which it is impossible to collect, because whoever attempts their collection is most certain to be set upon by some bully or mob. Despite all this the Herald has lived. We need, however, the assistance of every man of whose opinions we are the exponents."-(Herald, November 17, 1863. )
Late in October a splendid reception was given to General Her- ron by the loyal citizens regardless of party. William B. Allison was president of the occasion. D. N. Cooley delivered the address of welcome. J. M. Harrison was marshal. He was received with imposing ceremony. Under the new call 1,754 men were required from this congressional district. Twelve lots in Linwood cemetery were set apart for the soldiers. Prior to November 15 thirty soldiers were assisted at the Home. In November it was claimed that there were in Dubuque county seven branches of the Union League, with a membership of about 2,000; of these about 1,000 were in the city of Dubuque. An enrollment of November, 1863, showed that 443 men were required from this county under the late call. On November 29 the Union Leaguers paraded the streets ; halted in front of Bishop Smyth's residence and when he came out gave him three cheers ; presented arms when he delivered them a short, loyal and eloquent speech, ending with the statement that his elec- tion as an honorary member of the League was the highest military honor he had ever received.
"Whereas, It is rumored and appears to be a fact that there
305
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
are recruiting officers in this county of Dubuque enlisting persons in this county for the military service of the United States to be placed to the credit of other counties in Iowa; and that it is the design to leave in this county the families of such recruited and enlisted persons to be supported by and at the expense of the county of Dubuque ; and
"Whereas, It appears that families and parts of families of persons enlisted from other counties in Iowa come or are sent here at the expense of this county ; and
"Whereas, It appears to this board that Dubuque county is sufficiently burdened with its own poor, with the destitute families of soldiers who have enlisted or may hereafter enlist, and to its credit ; be it therefore and it is hereby
"Resolved, That the superintendent of the poor and of the poorhouse be directed to give the aid and relief provided by this board for the families of soldiers to such families of soldiers only as have enlisted for this county and are placed in its quota of vol- unteers or conscripts." Adopted January 8, 1864.
The county board, which had voted in favor of the desired aid for the Soldiers' Home, voted another $100 in its favor for No- vember ; Mulkern and Quigley voted against it. Captain O'Neill recruited here in December. During 1863 Mr. Kyne, superintend- ent of the poor, assisted 113 soldiers' families; they were given provisions in summer and provisions and wood in winter. The draft, it was announced, would take place January 5, 1864. At the November election, 1873, Mr. Mahony was chosen county slieriff. Of the 122 persons who were put in jail in 1863 thirty were deserters. By January 14 there were here 225 recruits under the recent calls. The provost marshal's office was the liveliest place in town, but the recruits came forward slowly. When the Ladies' Aid Society, in January, 1864, proposed a sanitary fair liere, like the one held in Chicago, the Herald objected unless help were furnished to all county poor alike; for this and other reasons the plans were abandoned ; but the ladies continued their regular relief work. Many recruits passed through Dubuque at this time, bound for the front.
The large call for volunteers in January, 1864, staggered Du- buque county, which was already behind in raising its quota. The case of Gen. George W. Jones against Secretary Seward was argued in the United States Supreme Court in February. The majority of the citizens objected to negro children in the public schools. The draft was postponed to March 10. By February I the recruits required from this county under the former calls were 435; there had been raised fifty. The county enrollment was 4,932. In March serious trouble between the soldiers of the Ninth regiment and the Copperheads here was narrowly averted.
306
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
They threatened to destroy the Herald office, made hostile dem- onstrations, but were finally dissuaded from such intentions largely through the influence of Adams, Conger, MeSweeney and others. One man was arrested, but George W. Cummins went his bail and in the end he was released. Many old soldiers returned singly and in groups during the summer of 1864 on veteran furlough and were royally welcomed. In March the plan to hold a sanitary fair was revived and the movement progressed rapidly. The draft was again postponed to April I.
Nearly all of the churches had their own soldiers aid societies in 1863-4. In April Governor Stone called for 100-day men. It had been decided to hold the sanitary fair beginning May 24, but it was finally postponed to June 21. It had progressed to such large dimensions that it was seen about June Ist that the City Hall and Turner Hall would be wholly inadequate; whereupon it was proposed to enclose all of Washington Square and hold the fair there. Great efforts to fill the quota were made early in 1864; a dozen officers were recruiting at the same time in April and May. By May 12 the Governor's Greys had sixty-seven men for the 100-day service; they filled their ranks and left about May 17. The Union Guards were filled the same time and also departed. About half a dozen lawyers enlisted at this time. H. Markell was captain of the Greys and Dr. E. A. Guilbert captain of the Guards. News of the battle of the Wilderness caused much excitement here ; all admired the way General Grant hung to the conflict. M. B. Mulkern was United States commissioner for this district. The county Democracy in June, 1864, opposed the prose- ention of the war.
Actively connected with the Sanitary Fair were the following ladies : Booth, Langworthy, Stout, Williams, Mackenzie, Markell, Robinson, Cooley, Clement, Dorr, Horr, Mobley, Vandever, Feni- more, Davis, Fellows, Tredway, Cummings, Scott, Wemott, Wood- worth, Edsall, Gilman, Whitaker, Birden, Shiras, Holmes, Falierty, MeBride, O'Brien, Hayden, Cornwell, Shankland, Wilson, Hill and many others. Among the men most active were H. A. Wiltse, the president ; F. E. Bissell, George L. Mathews, Austin Adams, O. P. Shiras, William B. Allison, J. K. Graves, H. W. Sanford, William Westphall, J. T. Hancock, Richard Bonson, William Larrabee and Mr. Wood. In June Messrs, Wiltse and Wood raised in the East $5,000 for the fair. Mrs. Booth and Mrs. Bissell collected a thou- sand dollars in a single day. Every institution and industry in the city and many throughout the county and state contributed to the success of the fair. Long excursion trains brought immense crowds from abroad ; even the postoffice had a fair department. The whole state had become interested and valuable contributions came from scores of counties. All the available halls in the city were called into use. The display was immense and magnificent. The elabo-
307
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
rate decorations clothed the whole city in flowers, evergreens and holiday attire generally ; floral hall in the courtroom was made beautiful in the extreme. Even the steamers on the river were decorated. Boats, theaters, races, concerts, societies, organizations, officials, artists, stores, manufactories, relics, lectures, boat contests, lotteries, auctions, prizes, contributed valuable gifts and donations and everywhere were emblazoned banners rich with loyal phrases and mottoes, such as, "We Welcome You," "Our Hearts Are With Our Soldiers," "Buy and Help Our Brave Boys," "Grant and the Army Forever," etc. The season ticket cost $2 and single admis- sion 50 cents. Over 10,000 donated articles were disposed of at auction ; the fair was extended well into the second week. In fact it was many months before the last articles were disposed of. By the middle of November the net proceeds amounted to over $86,000. This sum exceeded the proceeds of the Chicago fair of 1864. It was called "Northern Iowa Sanitary Fair"; sixty-one counties of Iowa made donations varying from a few hundred dollars to as high as over $7,000. Clayton county made the largest donations next to Dubuque county ; Mitchell county the largest in propor- tion to wealth, and Kossuth county the largest in proportion to population. Over $25,000 worth of hospital stores was turned over to the United States sanitary commission. All conflicting interests were united in the one grand object of assisting the sol- diers. The results reflect the highest credit on the citizens of this city, county and state, and should stand forever in history as a monument to the generous impulses of all the people.
No. in first enroll-
Total dropped
maining subject first enroll- ject to
July, 1864-
ment.
from list. to draft.
ment.
draft.
Julien
274
62
212
91
303
First ward.
445
63
382
89
471
Second ward
317
149
168
I47
315
Third ward.
629
87
542
76
608
Fourth ward
674
224
450
167
617
Fifth ward.
391
80
3II
I66
477
Peru
I34
32
102
24
123
Jefferson
159
35
124
21
145
Concord
I36
22
II4
26
140
Liberty
179
38
14I
56
210
New Wine
251
67
184
43
227
Iowa
III
24
87
9
96
Center
172
70
102
36
I38
Dodge
107
37
70
27
97
Taylor
156
33
123
26
149
Cascade
148
24
124
41
165
No. re- No. added Total
since No. sub-
Dubuque County,
308
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
White Water
160
51
109
23
I32
Vernon
202
43
I59
I3
172
Table Mound
162
97
65
36
IOI
Mosalem
124
22
I02
29
I3I
Prairie Creek
178
103
75
5I
I26
Washington
226
152
74
32
IO6
Totals
5,335
1,515
3,820
1,229
5,049
In July, 1864, Governor Stone ordered that all militia of the state should be organized into companies. In August Shubael P. Adams was provost marshal; J. H. Powers, draft commissioner ; Allen Phillips, surgeon. Substitute brokers did a large business in 1864; all sorts of schemes were practiced. It was stated on August 17 that persons here had offered as high as $300 for one- year substitutes, but could find none at that figure. The Herald stated that William B. Allison secured a substitute for $150. It was said August 29 that $500 liad just been paid here for a sub- stitute.
The following was the quota, credits and deficits of Dubuque county from February, 1864, to August 15, 1864:
August, 1864-
Quota.
Credit.
Deficit.
Julien township
102
64
38
First ward
162
IOI
61
Second ward
II2
78
34
Third ward
220
I52
68
Fourth ward
232
I71
61
Fifth ward
150
118
32
Peru ...
46
24
22
Jefferson
55
38
I7
Concord
48
35
I3
New Wine
86
58
28
Iowa
38
20
18
Center
56
38
18
Dodge
36
26
IO
Taylor
54
46
8
Cascade
55
37
18
Whitewater
53
29
24
Vernon
68
43
25
Table Mound
49
33
I6
Mosalem
46
28
IS
Prairie Creek
56
34
22
Washington
63
44
19
Liberty
68
33
35
Total
1,855
1,250
605
309
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
"The Draft .- Tomorrow is the day appointed for as shameful an outrage as was ever perpetrated upon a free people in any age or in any clime. It is the day appointed by Lincoln for a draft of men with whom to prosecute a partisan war for partisan purposes-a war not for the restoration of the Union but, as the President him- self declares, to compel an abandonment of slavery-a war that is liable to be turned at any time against the freemen of the North. We have not the least doubt that many of these conscripts who are now to be torn from their homes will be employed sooner or later in a warfare upon their neighbors and friends at home; if not, why all this preparation by the Administration for war at the North ?" --- (Herald, September 1, 1864. )
"Some of them (wives of soldiers ) were melted to tears as they told their sufferings, of want and famine, staring their families in the face. Their husbands are in the army and many of them have received no pay in seven months and consequently can send no means home for the support of their families. Their wants were relieved by Mr. Kyne, who is authorized to grant their request in cases where want is known to exist."-(Herald, September 16, 1864.)
Under the new State militia law the Germans of Dubuque organ- ized a company in September, 1864, with Frederick Gottschalk as captain; they called themselves German National Guards. The 100-day men returned in September. Mr. Adams notified the county that the draft would commence in this district on the 22d of September, and that on that day the first drawings would be commenced in Julien township outside of the city; 23 were to be drafted in that township and 23 more for alternates. The enroll- ment in this township was 265 ; a boy named Monroe Amsden was blindfolded and required to draw the names one at a time from the wheel or box; the first slip drawn bore the name. Michael Carney. Further drafting was temporarily stopped at the request of many citizens until the county board should meet to act on the question of bounty.
At the draft meeting in the court house September 23, 1864, the largest crowd ever convened in the county assembled to hear the report of Messrs. Mahony and Bates, who had been previously ap- pointed to investigate. Mr. Mahony explained that the object was to adopt proper measures for the relief of such persons as were subject to draft, and then asked whether the citizens were in favor of voting a tax to be borne equally by all, or of each man drafted to hire his own substitute or go. He stated that he and Colonel Bates had seen a majority of the county supervisors and had learned that they would, on October I, meet and take steps to relieve the county from the consequences of the draft. Colonel Bates stated to the meeting that it seemed that the people of the county were willing to subscribe a sufficient amount of money to
310
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
procure substitutes if volunteers were not forthcoming. Upon re- quest Provost Marshal Adams attended the meeting and explained the situation and stated what his duty was. The following resolu- tions were thereupon adopted :
Resolved, That this meeting take measures to have committees appointed in each ward and township in the county to solicit sub- scriptions to raise a fund to be added to the proposed bounty to be offered by the County of Dubuque to fill the quota of this county, the fund received in each ward and township to be used in favor of volunteers for each ward or township.
Resolved, That the board of supervisors of Dubuque County be requested to take such action as they may think proper to relieve the people of the county from the pending draft.
The necessary committees were thereupon appointed. Franklin Hinds was asked to serve as chairman of this meeting, but declined on the ground that he did not understand the nature of the as- semblage. Patrick Quigley served as chairman, and J. J. E. Nor- man as secretary.
On September 23 the draft was carried to Delaware county. In this county it was postponed until the county board could meet and act. The number of men required from Dubuque City on Septem- ber 23. 1864, was as follows: First ward 28, Second 16, Third 33, Fourth II, Fifth 16.
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