History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 77

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 990

USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 77
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 77

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PROJECTED RAILROADS.

Since the building of the B., C. R & N., at various times there has been agitation over new railroad schemes and projects. Several times taxes have been voted to aid in proposed roads running northwest and southwest from Mason City. They have all fallen through, up to this time. But the day cannot be far distant when the. projects for railways branching northwest and southwest will assume tangible form, and Mason City will be the railway center and metropolis of all northern Iowa.

CHAPTER XVII.

OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

One of the most enjoyable affairs is a re-union of the pioneers of any given locality. For the purpose of providing for stated re-unions, associations of old settlers are formed in almost every county throughout the length and breadth of the land; especially is this true in all the States west of the Allegheny mountains- States that have been settled during the present century. These associations have done and are doing much for the preserva- tion of historical events, and as such are surely commendable. The lessons of the past teach us of the duties pertaining to the future. The fires of patriotism, the love of country or of home, is strength- ened by a narration of such important

events as tend to stir the blood or quicken to life those divine affections in man. Many a youth has chosen the life of a soldier from reading the accounts of the great battles and glorious deeds of an Alexander, a Hannibal, a Napoleon, a Wellington, or our own brave and noble Washington. The lists of statesmen have been augmented by the example of a Pitt, a Webster, a Clay, or Calhoun. Patriotism and love of country have been awakened by reading the sublime ntter- ances of Patrick Henry, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Donglas. The love of home, love of parents and kindred have been strengthened by oft-told tales of aged

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

fathers or mothers, especially of that pioneer father or mother, who toiled early and late, hard and long, in order to give their descendants the priceless boon of a home of plenty and of peace, of refine- ment and love for God and humanity.

The pioneers, in gathering together in these annual, re-unions, seem to live over again those early days. Their eyes spar- kle and they grow young as the fading reminiscences of other days are recalled. As well stated by a speaker-himself a pioneer-at a meeting in a neighboring county :

" Yon come together with varied emo- tions. Some of you, almost at the foot of life's hill, look back and upward at the path you have trod, while others, who have just reached life's summit, gaze down into the valley of tears, with many a hope and fear. You, gray-headed fathers, have done your work ; you have done it well ; and now, as the sunset of life is closing around you, you are given the rare boon of enjoying the fruits of your own labor. You can see the land won by your own right arm from its wilderness state, and from a savage foe, pass to your children, and your children's children-literally 'a land flowing with milk and honey, a land over which hovers white-robed angels of religion and peace; a land fairer and brighter and more glorious than any other land beneath the blue arch of heaven. You have done your work well, and when the time of rest shall come, you will sink to the dreamless repose with the calm con- sciousness of duty done.

"In this hour let memory assert her strongest sway ; tear aside the thin veil that shrouds in gloom the misty past; call

up before you the long-forgotten scenes of years ago ; live over once again the toils, the struggles, the hopes and fears of other days. Let this day be a day sacred to the memory of the olden time. In that olden time there are, no doubt, scenes of sadness, as well as of joy. Perhaps you remember standing by the bedside of a loved and cherished, but dying wife- one who, in the days of her youth and beauty, when you proposed to her to seek a home in a new, wild land, took your hand and spoke to you in words like this : ' Whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God. my God; where thou diest, I will die, and the e will I be buried ; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part me and thee.' Or, perhaps, some brave boy, stricken down in the pride of his strength ; or some gentle daughter, fading away in her glorious beauty ; or some little prat- tling babe, folding its weary eyes in ·dreamless sleep.' If so, if there are memories like these, and the unbidden tear wells up to the eye, let it come, and to-day one and all shed a tear or two to the memory of the ' loved and lost.'"

OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY OF CERRO GORDO AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

At a meeting of the old settlers of Clear Lake and vicinity, held at the old school house on the 30th of June, 1875, J. Dick- irson was chosen chairman and S. M. Richardson, secretary, after which a gen- eral consideration of forming an old set- tlers' association was entered into, and on motion they resolved to issue the follow- ing invitation :

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

"The undersigned, old settlers of Clear Lake and vicinity, would respectfully in- vite all persons who resided in Cerro Gor- do and adjoining counties previous to and including 1860, to meet at Clear Lake on Wednesday, July 21, 1875, for the purpose of organizing an old settlers' association, having for its object a renewal of old ac- quaintance and social enjoyment. Also to collect and record a full list of the early settlers of this vicinity, as far as possible, with their present location.

"We would recommend that the meet- ing be held on the picnic plan, in regular old-fashioned free and easy style, without set speeches or programme, and that each one present do his part to entertain the party as the occasion suggests. Also, that during the meeting a permanent organiza- tion be effe ted by electing officers, record- ing members, and appointing of commit- tees to carry out its objects.

GEO. E. FROST, MARCUS TUTTLE, C. S. GOODWIN.

Committee of Invitation. The invitation was signed by James Diekirson, C. S. Goodwin, George E. Frost, J. S. Sirrine, Mrs. B. H. Speers, Jo- seph Wood, J. B. Wood, C. A. Medaugh, Charles Callanan, Oscar Stevens, J. Chil- son, William Wilson, Joseph Barth, Har- rison Hayden, Ed Nicholas, Mark Dexter, O. V. Thompson, Gabriel Pence, William Dean, John Pence, Jerome Chelson, R. O. Sirrine, Jr., Marcus Tuttle, Thomas S. Gardner, S. M. Richardson, Alford Taylor, Samuel Ward, George Gilmore, W. C. To npkins, Jacob Ward, E. A. Tuttle, M. P. Rosecrans, J. M. Elder, William Mc- Gowen, M. Callanan, Jr., E. Crowell, C.

H. Day, John Van Patter, Willard Dart, L. E. Crowell, A. S. Felt, R. O. Sirrine, William B. Stilson, William Ellis, Dr. A. M. l'uttle and many ladies.

FIRST MEETING.

Pursuant to the above call, a large number of old settlers of Cerro Gordo and adjoin- ing counties assembled in the park at Clear Lake, on the 21st of July, 1875, for the purpose of renewing acquaintances, talk- ing over old times and organizing the Old Settlers' Society. A constitution and by- laws were adopted,of which the following ing is a part:

"This organization shall be known as the 'Old Settlers' Association of Cerro Gordo and surrounding counties.'

"MEMBERSHIP .- Any person who was a resident of northern Iowa, in or before the year 1860, and is now a resident of Cerro Gordo, or any surrounding county, may become a member of this association by giving his or her name to the secretary.

"The annual meetings shall be held, during the summer season, at such time and place as the executive committee shall direct."

The following were the first officers of the society: President, Marcus Tuttle, of Cerro Gordo county; vice-presidents, H. G. Parker, of Cerro Gordo county, William Rhodes, Worth county, W. P. Gaylord, Floyd county, Mrs. John Mabin, Hancock county, and Mrs. Robert C ark, of Winnebago county; secretary, C. M. Adams, of Cerro Gordo county; treasurer, Mrs. H I. Smith, of Cerro Gordo county. A record book was opened and over 300 names were enrolled, showing that there was a large attendance, and that the ob-

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

ject of the meeting was highly apprecia- ted.

Everything at this first meeting passed off pleasantly, and all present pronounced it an enjoyable affair.

SECOND MEETING.

On the 1st of September, 1876, was held the second annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of Cerro Gordo and surrounding counties. The meeting was held in the park at Clear Lake. At 1 o'clock a large company assembled in the park and were called to order by the president, Marcus Tuttle, who made some appropriate remarks, after which all the company joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne." Mrs. Pollard, of Keokuk, better known as Kate Harrington, the Iowa poetess, then read an original poem that displayed much talent and thought in its preparation.

Among the speakers who addressed the society were Mrs. Greene, H. G. Parker, James Dickirson, Capt. G. R. Miller, Charles McNany, George E. Frost, Mrs. Thompson, G. B. Rockwell, William Rhodes, Horace Green, A. B. Tuttle and A. S. Felt. The general char- acter of the speeches was to review the early days and experiences of each, and as the tale of hardships and difficulties, of toil and weariness was re-told, the in- terest deepened and became intense in the hearts and minds of many upon whom had been visited all the scenes to which the speaker referred.

The re-unions of the association have been held annually since its organization; the interest has increased with the growth

of years, making each new meeting a time long to be remembered. A very in- teresting meeting was held June 11, 1880, the account of which is taken from the Mason City Express of June 16, 1880.

"Last Friday morning, though the weather was rather unpromising, the old settlers, and new ones too, began to gather in by the hundreds, and when the old set- tlers' band arrived at the picnic ground a large number were present. After the opening exercises the president, George E. Frost, delivered a very appropriate ad- dress of welcome. On account of the absence of Hon. Jarvis S. Church, the re- sponse by Capt. Lucas, on behalf of the old settlers, was made the leading address of the day. Though many were disap- pointed in the absence of Mr. Church, they had the pleasure of listening to the able speech of Capt. Lucas. The afternoon was spent in attending to the business of the association and making short speeches. There were about 2,000 people on the ground, and the many happy greetings, hearty hand-shakings, and the general good feeling which prevailed, all showed the interest of the people in these annual re-unions."

The officers in 1883 were: President, I. W. Card, of Cerro Gordo county; vice- presidents, 'James Dickirson, Hancock county; David Secor, Winnebago county; J. P. Taylor, Floyd county; George Watson, Worth county; and W. A. Bur- nap, of Cerro Gordo county; historian, G. R. Miller, of Cerro Gordo county; secre- ary, T. G. Emsley, of Cerro Gordo county; and treasurer, Alonzo Willson, of Cerro Gordo county.

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE WAR-ITS CAUSES.

From the commencement of govern- ment there have been two antagonistic principles contending for mastery, slavery and freedom. Sometimes smoldering and even invincible ; but the seeds were there and ever and anon would burst into flames carrying destruction, death aad desolation with it. A repetition of that great con- flict which, for ages, has agitated our globe -the conflict between aristocratic usurpa- tion and popular rights. History is crowded with descriptions and scenes of this irrepressible conflict. Two thousand years ago, when the aristocracy of Rome was headed by Cneius Pompey, Julius Cæsar, espousing the cause of the people, unfurled the banner of equal rights, and striding through oceans of flood which tossed their surges over every portion of the habitable globe, overthrew the aristo- cratic commonwealth, and reared over the ruins the imperial commonwealth. Again on the field of Pharsalia, the aristocratic banner was trailed in the dust, and democ- racy, although exceedingly imperfect, became victor. It was aristocracy trying to deep its heel on the head of democracy which has deluged the Roman Empire in blood.

But the nobles regained foothold, and regardless of these lessons, renewed their oppression. Again they commenced sow-

ing the seed which must surely bring forth terrible fruit. Over 200 years ago the aristocracy of France, housed in magnificent palaces, mounted on war horses, with pampered men at arms ready to ride rough shod on every embassage of violence, trampled upon the suffering serfs, until humanity could no longer endure it. The masses of the people were deprived of every privilege, save that of toiling for their masters. The aristocracy so deprived the people whose wives and daughters through their brutality were forced to go to the field bare-headed and bare-footed, and be yoked to the plow with the donkey, that they never dreamed that the wretched boors would dare even to look in defiance towards the massive and stately castles whose noblemen proudly strode along the batttlements in measureless contempt for the helpless peasantry below. But the pent-up vials of vengeance of ages at last burst forth. These boors, these jacks rose, and, like maddened hyenas, rushed upon their foes. Imbruted men, who for ages had been subjected to the most outrageous wrongs, rose by millions against their oppressors, and wreaked upon them every atrocity which fiend like ingenuity could devise. All the brutal and demon passions of human nature held high carnival, and it can truly be said France ran red with

HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

739

blood. But at length disciplined valor pre- vailed. After onehalf of the peasantry of France had perished, the knighted noble- men, the aristocrats, resumed their sway, and the hellish bondage, worse than slavery, was again placed upon the people. This war of the jacks, or as it is called in history, Jacqueri, is one of the most inter- esting and warning events of the past ; and yet it was all unheeded.

The oppression went on, growing more and more outrageous ; the people were kept ignorant that they might not know of their wrongs ; poor that they might not resent them. That the lords might live in castles, and be clothed in purple and fare sumptuously, the people were doomed to hovels, rags and black bread. The peas- ant must not place the bit of dough in the ashes by his fireside-he was compelled to have it baked at the bakery of his lord, and there pay heavy toll. He dare not scrape together the few crumbs of salt ¿ from the rocks of the ocean shore, he must buy every particle from his lord at an exorbitant price. "Servants obey your masters," was interpreted to apply to all save of noble birth ; and religion was con- verted into a method for subjecting the masses. Bibles were not allowed to be read by these "boors," lest they learn what the Savior really taught, and a peas- ant detected with one in his hand, was deemed as guilty as if caught with the tools of a burglar, or the dies of a counter- feiter. As associates for lords-the idea would have been considered contrary to nature or reason. Thus Louis XV., sur- rounded by courtesans, debauchees and the whoredom of his castle, once said : "I can give money to Voltaire, Montesqieu,

Fontinelle, but I cannot dine and sup with these people." If the peasant, with his wife and child toiling in the field, in cul tivation of a few acres of land, managed. to raise $640 worth of crops during the year, 8600 of it went to the King, the Lord and the Church, while the remain- ing $40 was left to clothe and feed the emaciate family. Thomas Jefferson, in the year 1785, wrote from Paris to a friend in Philadelphia :

"Of twenty millions of people supposed to be in France, I am of the opinion that there are nineteen millions more wretched more accursed in every circumstance of human existence, than the most conspicu ously wretched individual in the whole United States."

It was this state of affairs which brought on the war of the French Revolution, inaugurating the most terrific of all Time's battles. Such combats earth never saw before, probably never will see again. Two worlds, as it were, came elashing together. Twenty millions of people, trampled in the mire, rose ghastly and frenzied, and the flames of feudal castles, and the shrieks of haughty oppressors, appalled the world. All the combined aristocracy of Europe were on the other side to crush the demand of the people for the equality of man. Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria, England, Spain-all the kings rallied their armies to the assistance of France in subduing the oppressed masses who, believing they were right, marched heroically to the victories of Marengo, Wagram and Austerlitz. But in the final victories of the despots, aristo- cratie privilege again triumphed in Europe. In the meantime a simi ar though less

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

bloody and terrific battle had taken place in England ; the same ever rising conflict between the united courtiers and cavliers under Charles I., and the Puritans under Cromwell. With prayer, fasting and hymn, the common people, who had for ages been under the yoke of servitude, took to arms in defense of their rights, and many cavaliers bit the dust through their sturdy blows. But Charles II re- turned to the throne and again aristocracy triumphed. The oppressed were our Puritan fathers; again they were trodden under foot. Then it was that the heroic resolution was adopted to cross the ocean, 3,000 miles, and there in exile establish and found a republic where all men in the eye of the law should be equal. The result is too well known to need rehearsal. How they fought their way through all the dangers of the savage new world and succeeded in the object. How the aris- tocracy of England made the despera e effort to again bring thé yoke to bear ; to tax us without allowing us to be repre- sented in parliament-to place the ap_ pointment to all important offices in the hands of the king, who would send over the sons of England's noblemen to be our governors and our judges, and who would fill all the posts of wealth, dignity and power with the children of the lords.

Hence the war of the Revolution. We, the people, conquered, and established our government independent of all the world, placing as corner stone of the edifice, that "all men are born free and equal, and are alike entitled to life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness."

Then coming down to the great conflict of America, the Rebellion, it was a con-

tinuance of that irrepressible conflict which has shaken the world to its utter- most depths for ages. It was based upon slavery, that which has caused the shed- ding of oceans of blood, and making mil- lions of widows and orphans.

The Constitution, under which we are bound together, is, in its spirit and legiti- mate utterance, doubtless one of the most noble documents ever produced by the mind of man, and even now, when the ad- vancement of a century has dawned upon its use, not a paragraph requires changing to make it true to humanity. But yet, in- gloriously and gui tily, we consented to use one phrase susceptible of a double meaning, "held to labor." So small and apparently so insignificant were the seeds sown from which such a harvest of misery has been reaped. In the North these hon- est words meant a hired man or an appren- tice. In the South they were taken to mean slavery, the degradation and feudal bondage of a race. A privileged class assumed that the Constitution recognized it, and the right of property in human be- ings. This class endeavored to strengthen and extend their aristocratic institution, which was dooming ever increasing mil lions to life-long servitude and degrada- tion. All wealth was rapidly accumulating in the hands of these few who owned their fellow man as property. The poor whites, unable to buy slaves, and considering labor which was performed by them degrading, were rapidly sinking into a state of fright- ful misery. The sparse population which slavery allowed, excluded churches, schools and villages. Immense plantations of thousands of acres, tilled by, as many slaves, driven to work by overseers, con-

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

signed the whole land to apparent solitude. The region of the southern country gener- ally presented an aspect of desolation which Christendom nowhere else could parallel. The slaveholders, acting as one man, claimed the right of extending this all over the free territory of the United States. Free labor and slave labor cannot exist together. The admission of slavery effectually excluded free men from them. It was impossible for those men, cherish- ing the sentiment of republican equality, to settle there with the privileged class who were to own vast realms and live in luxury upon the unpaid labor of the masses. It was on this point that the con- fliet, in its fierceness, commenced.

From the year 1790 the strife grew hot- ter and hotter every year The questions arising kept Congress, both the Senate and the House, in one incessant scene of warfare. There could be no peace in the land until this aristocratic element was ef- fectually banished.

The Hon. Mr .. Iverson, of Georgia, speaking of the antagonism of the two systems, aristocracy and freedom, said, in the Senate of the United States, on Dec. 5, 1860:

"Sir, disguise the fact as yon will, there is enmity between the Northern and Southern people, which is deep and endur- ing, and you can never eradicate it-never. Look at the spectacle exhibited on this floor. How is it? There are the North- ern Senators on that side; here are the Southern Senators on this side You sit upon your side silent and gloomy. We sit upon. our side with knit brows and portentious scowls. Here are two hostile bodies on this floor, and it is but a type of

the feeling which exists between the two sections. We are enemies as much as if we were hostile States. We have not lived in peace. We are not now living in peace. It is not expected that we shall ever live in peace."

Hon. Mr. Mason, of Virginia, in contin- uation of the same debate said:

"This is a war of sentiment and opin- ion, by one form of society against an- other form of society."

The remarks of the Hon. Garrett Davis, a Senator from Kentucky, are to the point: "The cotton States by their slave labor, have become wealthy, and many of their planters have princely revenues-from $50,000 to $100,000 per year. This wealth has begot a pride and insolence and am- bition, and these points of the Southern character have been displayed most in- sultingly in the halls of Congress As a class, the wealthy cotton growers are in- solent, they are proud, they are domineer- ing, they are ambitious. They have mon- opolized the government in its honors for forty or fifty years with few interruptions. When they saw the sceptre about to de- part from them, in the election of Lincoln, sooner than give up office and the spoils of office, in their mad and wicked ambi- tion they determined to disrupt the old confederation, and erect a new one, wherein they would have undisputed power."

Thus the feeling continued growing stronger. One incessant cry became:

"Abjure your democratic constitution, which favors equal rights to all men, and give us in its place an aristocratic con- stitution, which will secure the rights of a privileged class."

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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.

They insisted that the domestic slave trade should be nurtured, and the foreign slave trade opened; saying, in the coarse and vulgar language of one of the most earnest advocates of slavery:

"The North can import jackasses from Malta let the South, then, import niggers from Africa."

The reply of the overwhelming majority of the people of the United States was de- eisive. Lincoln was elected and inaugu- rated despite the conspiracy to prevent it. Volumes could be and have been written upon these actions, but they are well known. We will merely mention the most prominent features transpiring, until the havoc of war actually set in.

On the 7th of November, 1860, it was known that Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, and was to enter upon his duties on the 4th day of the following March. In the meantime the executive government was virtually in the hands of the slave power. James Buchanan, the President, had been elected to the office openly pledged to pursue the general policy the slave holders enjoyed. The cabinet were all slave-holders and slave-masters. The United States navy was scattered all over the face of the earth, leaving only two vessels for the de- fense of the country; the treasury was left barren; the army was scattered in remote fortresses in the far west, as to leave all the forts where they would be needed, de- fenseless; the United States arsenals were emptied, the Secretary of war sending their guns to the slave States; where bands of rebels were organized and drill- ing, prepared to receive them One hun- dred and fifteen thousand arms, of the

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History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 77

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company Number of Pages: 990

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 990