USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 14
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The work had gone on but a short time when the contractors represented to Judge Maxwell that they would be unable to proceed unless bonds which they could negotiate, could be issued to them in advance, as they were without means to purchase material and pay the laborers. They had given bonds for the faithful performance of their contract, and as complaints were becoming loud and per- sistent from the workmen that they were not being paid, a pressure was brought to bear on the judge to issue $6,000 in bonds, of $10 each. With this act, at the
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time, nobody found fault. It must be remembered, however, that the bonds were drawn upon the express condition that the proceeds should be deposited in the judge's hands and paid out by him on warrants given for work and material upon the court house. Mr. Hyde took $2,000 of the bonds to Des Moines and traded them off, but deposited no money with the judge, nor did he pay their hands as promised. Sumler Willson took the other $4,000 of bonds to Chicago, but was unable to sell them at any price and returned with them. Now Hyde and Hos- kins, the contractors kept away from Webster City, but left a Mr. Killian as fore- man in charge of the work, but without authority to bind them as their agent except as to the work done, but as he was unable to pay his hands and work was about to be suspended, Judge Maxwell agreed that if the $4,000 in bonds in Mr. Willson's hands were surrendered, he would issue $1,ooo in warrants. Mr. Killian procured and surrendered these bonds and received warrants for $1,000, upon which money was realized and part of the indebtedness incurred on account of the work was paid.
And now Hyde and lloskins began to clamor for the issuance to them of bonds for $10,000 or $15,000, saying they could now sell them, and would put the money in the judge's hands to be paid out on the work, but the judge refused flatly to do anything of the kind for now the work had stopped, and fault was being found with him because he had before issued bonds as requested. He was severely censured by many who were very anxious to see the work go on and was attacked and abused in a most shameful manner in the Freeman by Gran- ville Burkley. Judge Maxwell replied in a very frank and gentlemanly way stat- ing the whole matter connected with the court house just as it existed. Still there were many who believed that if the bonds were issued the work would go on and the house be finished. As those who find fault or have a grievance always do the most talking, the judge came in for rounds of abuse on every street corner. Now that the $3,000 in bonds that were out were likely to be a dead loss, many began to find fault with the judge for issuing any bonds at all and yet took care not to commend him for his refusal to issue more. Added to the hub-hub raised about the court house bonds, the Freeman began to accuse him of a lavish prodigal and unlawful expenditure of the county funds in the way of paying high salaries. to which the judge answered defending his course. The salaries of $400, to the judge, treasurer, etc., and certain payments for deputies were complained of and a fierce newspaper controversy resulted, and Judge Maxwell became the most talked about, and "best abused" man in the county. But he held firm and work on the court house was not resumed.
Though Judge Maxwell had been in favor of a cheap court house in the be- ginning. after a basement had been excavated and walled up and the county had expended $3,000 upon it, he became in favor of going on with the work, that the money expended should not be lost. There seemed to be a general opinion in favor of having the house finished if any one could be found who would take the contract and receive as pay therefor, Hamilton county's interest in the swamp lands. But the old contract of Hyde and Hoskins stood in the way. They had done no work during the year 1859 and all attempts at a settlement with them had failed. Mr. Maxwell had not been a candidate for re-election and it was strongly suspected that the judge elect, Dr. Corbin, of Homer, would oppose any further progress towards completion of the court house. The friends of that pro-
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ject, therefore, were anxious that something decisive should be done before Mr. Maxwell retired from office. E. R. Salsbury, B. Millard and S. B. Rosencrans were willing to take the contract to build the court house that should cost $50,000 and take the county's swamp land as pay therefor, but to prevent difficulty every effort was made to get rid of the former contract. But as that could not be done Judge Maxwell entered into a contract with these gentlemen, by which they were to build a $50,000 court house. They were to have the benefit of the work al- ready done. and all of the materials on hand, and were to have a quit claim deed from the county for all its swamp lands, and all the interest of the county in the swamp land grant. This contract was signed on the last day of Judge Maxwell's term of office.
AN INDIGNATION MEETING
Sometime afterward, a meeting was held at the school house in Webster City. denominated " An Indignation Meeting" at which resolutions strongly condemning the action of Judge Maxwell in letting the contract and recommending that the then county judge refuse to recognize it in any way, were pasted. The most scathing resolution and the one which showed malice and meanness to the utmost degree, was drawn and presented by Granville Burkley, who had so severely criti- cised Judge Maxwell, through the newspaper, because he refused to issue $10,000 or $15,000 in bonds to aid in the completion of the building, and it was passed in the excitement of the meeting.
As the new administration of county affairs refused to do anything further about the building, nothing more was ever done. The stone was taken piecemeal from the foundation and within the last few years the stones were all taken out. the ground leveled down and now no trace of it remains. The site of that build- ing was near the center of the city park opposite the Park House.
JUDGE MAXWELL
From what we had been told of the controversies and actions in relation to' the court house, we had formed the opinion that Judge Maxwell, while perfectly honest and conscientious, was too easily persuaded into doing injudicious acts. and that he was rather weak and vacillating in character. A thorough investiga- tion into all the matters connected with his acts as a public officer and a careful reading of all the controversies, between him and his enemies has caused us to reform that opinion, and we believe that no more honest and capable man ever held office in this county. It is perfectly plain that every effort of the man was put forth for what he believed honestly to be for the best interest of the people. Ile made some mistakes-what man has not-but no man was more ready than he to rectify a mistake or to acknowledge it. In all his controversies through the press, he exhibited an honesty, fairness and openness that in contrast with his opponents, was marked indeed, and which ought to have put them to shame.
He was charged with being parsimonious and again with being lavish with the public funds. He was in fact neither, but a just and honorable man who aimed at simple right always. Ile has been severely blamed for making the con- tract on his last day in office and it may not have been the most expedient thing
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to do, and yet from his view of matters, he could scarcely refuse to do it because he thought it right and indeed we are not sure that, had he been sustained and the court house built, the town and county would not have been greatly benefited thereby.
MORE RAILROAD TALK
During the year 1859, there was much talk of a railroad. The line had been surveyed through Webster City and the great object of interest was the location of the depot. In this matter no one took a more active part than W. C. Willson. who desired to have the depot located on the Brewer farm, the present intersec- tion of Third and Grove streets, in the west part of town. The business men generally wanted it located at the head of Seneca street and that point seems to have been fixed at one time for the location. But as the war was coming on and all present prospects of the road vanished, talk to a considerable degree died out and when the matter was again renewed, everything was done over again.
PIONEER POLITICS
In nothing did the average citizen take more interest than in politics, which was carried on with much more heat and venom than is exhibited at the present day. Then the two parties were very nearly equal in strength and a nomination did not mean certain election. There was no Democratic paper in this county, but the Fort Dodge Sentinel was Democratic and was taken generally by the Demo- crats, while the Freeman did equal service for the Webster county Republicans. We have never seen a full copy of the Sentinel, but in reading its opponent, the Freeman, we conclude that it was a paper of pretty good editorial ability as it kept Mr. Aldrich in considerable of a fever. Personalities took the place of logic, and John F. Duncombe, one of the editors of the Sentinel, was called Ridiculous Pomposity, while the other editor was called Jackass White. The Sentinel called Mr. Aldrich, "Jakey." Of course all this personality and nicknaming among the rival editors was highly entertaining to the people, who laughed and were will- ing to be bottle holders if the editors would put their vaunted valor and bloody threats into execution and punch each other's heads. But it was always noticed that the lion roared loudest, when twenty good American miles divided them, and that the lamb element predominated when they were brought near together. It is suspected that there are editors of similar dispositions even at the present day and it has even been doubted by some whether the race will ever become extinct.
Now in the midst of this political fight, and newspaper wrangle, a poem en- titled "Spring Cometh" was sent from Webster City to the Sentinel for publica- tion. The following clipped from the Freeman will explain the whole matter.
"SOLD AND GOT THE TIN"
A short time since the following notice appeared in the Fort Dodge Sentinel : "Spring Cometh."-We have received a good piece of poetry with the above title from Webster City, but unaccompanied by the author's real name, though we readily divine who she is. The sentiment is good and the style promising.
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We will publish her lines when she complies with a rule from which it would be dangerous for us to deviate-"no communication inserted unless accompanied by the author's real name."
Time passed on and the "quid nunes" of our town had well dropped the sub- ject of the authorship of "Spring Cometh." until last Saturday when the "good piece of poetry from Webster City" appeared conspicuously in the Sentinel. Ida, it seems, either passed in her name or the sagacious editors trusted to their well known power of "divination"-and we can't tell which. Here it is, a very pretty poem, covering up a villainous acrostic on the editors of that able journel, as will be seen by reading the first letter of each line downwards. But "the sentiment is good and the style promising."
FOR THE SENTINEL-BY IDA FAIRFIELD
Robed in her emerald vesture, In her jewelry of bloom, Deftly spreading her verdure Is spring the maiden, comes. Caressed by the clasping sunshine, Upland, valley and wood Lift up their humble flower buds, Opening their eyes of gold.
Under the spell of her presence Soft and silvery rills Prattle and tinkle in gladness, On all the sunny hills ; Moved by the vernal impulse. Parting its walls of shell, Open leaved may a floweret Sunneth itself in the dell.
Impelled by the heart of nature, Thrilled by her pulse's beat Young leaflets darken in greenness And spread to the coming heat. Nourished by earth's rich life-blood, Dried by the sunshine warm, Joyful and blest in their plenty, Are the flowers which smile to charm.
Coldness, and storm cloud, and darkness, Keep to your hills of snow ! Away to your country of icebergs- Spring tosseth her garlands now. She biddeth us wake from our dreaming When voices of duty call,
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Hopefully waiting and working. In our own sphere, though small ; The labor of none is wasted. E'en a sparrow may not fall.
We believe it was never confessed who wrote the above acrostic, but think it perfectly safe to guess that the editor of the Freeman procured it if he did not write it himself. He was first to discover it and made much of the sell on the Sentinel editors.
COUNTY ELECTION
At the October election of 1859 there was an unusually spirited contest over county officers resulting in the election of the following persons by small majorities, viz :
County Judge-Dr. H. Corbin of Homer.
Recorder and Treasurer-George Shipp of Webster City.
Sheriff-Dan A. Underdown of Webster City.
Superintendent of Schools-E. H. Blair of Webster City.
Drainage Commissioner-l'eter Lyon of Boone township.
Surveyor-James Faught of Webster township.
Coroner-Luther Lakin of Cedar Lake township.
Hon. S. B. Rosencrans was elected member of the legislature from this district and Col. Scott, of Story county, was elected senator.
The board of supervisors were I. S. Wilcox, of Webster, D. Averell, of Cass, E. Renner, of Hamilton, Benjamin Bell, of Marion, A. Turner, of Boone.
A NEW SCHOOL HOUSE
In June, 1859, a contract was let to W. S. Worthington to build a new school house in Webster City. The structure was to be of brick-32x54 feet, two stories high with a front projection sixteen feet square and three stories high. In the beginning, only two school rooms were fitted up on the first floor and the second floor was fitted up for an assembly room and here town meetings were held until the need of more room brought that room into use as a school room. That building stood upon the site of the present three story, twelve-room school building. Wlien finished, it presented a very imposing appearance and was perhaps as good a school house as was to be found in any town west of the Mississippi, of twice the population of Webster City.
In November, 1859, Judge Porter held his first term of court in this county. H. C. Henderson acted as district attorney. There were a large number of cases on the calendar. A number were for trespass brought by the River land Company, against settlers and since that time, for many years, no term of court passed that did not present one or more of these River land cases.
POLITICS IN 1860
The winter of '59-60 was but an ordinary one and the season of 1860 a toler- ably fair one for crops of all kinds. Settlements were being made in all parts of
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the county but nowhere in groups so that while a goodly number of people came during the year. they scattered out over the county and did not seem to materially increase the population.
As we have noted before, politics in the county had always brought out a good deal of enthusiasm and a good deal of heat and this was particularly true of the campaign of 1860. The democrats, mostly of the Breckenridge wing. charged the republicans with being abolitionists in disguise, intending to free the negroes if they got into power. The republicans replied that they had no intention of inter- fering with slavery where it then existed but were opposed to any further exten- sion of it. Epithets were applied and abuse freely indulged in and it caused such an enmity to exist between the members of the parties, that afterwards, when the war broke ont, the feeling of ill-will towards the party in power rather than a lack of loyalty prevented, for a time, many democrats from enlisting. But when the war became serious, these feelings were swallowed up by a more loyal sentiment and enlistments went on without regard to past party affiliations.
STATISTICS
In December, 1860. J. M. Jones, clerk of the board of supervisors prepared and had published the following "abstract of the late census of this county."
Population 1860, 1710.
Total valuation of county. $1.306.744.00.
Value of live stock. $53.365.00.
Number of acres of improved land. 8,207.
Improved farms, 138.
Bushels of wheat raised in 1859. 10.590.
Bushels of corn. 45.505.
Bushels of oats. 8,209.
Bushels of potatoes, 10,209.
Pounds of butter made. 40,810.
Mills run by water. 7.
Mills run by steam, 4.
Flouring Mills, 2.
Population of Webster City. 464.
THREE NEW BRIDGES
Up to the fall of 1860, only one bridge had been built across Boone river. and that had been built by private subscription. Now an earnest demand was being made for three other bridges. But as the finances of the county would not admit of appropriations for the purpose it was determined to appropriate eight thousand acres of the swamp land to raising of sufficient funds with which to build bridges. Before the swamp lands could be appropriated, it became necessary to submit the proposition to a vote of the people, and accordingly on the 2nd day of October. 1860, Judge Corbin issued a proclamation setting forth the need of three bridges. "One at, or near the Olmstead mill ford, just west of Saratoga, one at "Fish Trap Ford" and one north of Webster City (near the site of the present North bridge) and also urged the need of a jail, submitting the question of appropri-
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ating for the building of the same, the proceeds of eight thousand acres of the swamp lands. The proposition carried at the election by only 66 majority, out of a total vote of 337.
On December 17. Judge Corbin issued a notice to builders asking bids for the building of three bridges and a jail in separate contracts ; bids to be opened Jan. 3. 1861. Payments to be made in swamp land, or the proceeds of the sale thereof. when the work was completed. But a new order of things was ushered in at the beginning of the year 1861. The last legislature had passed a law creating the board of supervisors, consisting of one from each township, and lodged with that body the financial management of the county. Up to that time, the county judge had been autocrat of the county with almost unlimited power and discretion as to the management of the county's business. He allowed all claims against the county, made all contracts and performed, generally in his own single person, all the acts now performed by the board of supervisors. In the election of the board, the judge found himself stripped of almost all his authority and occupation. Judge Corbin found so little in his office to do that in the spring of 1861 he moved back onto his farm, and set apart two days in each month when he would be at his office for official duty. His proclamation for bids on the bridges and jail went by default and the board of supervisors assumed control of the matter. At the April session, they advertised for bids upon the three bridges and the jail and at the June session rejected all bids, changed the condition under which bids would be received and appointed a committee to let the contract in accordance with a resolution passed by them, provided the resolution received the endorsement of more than one-half the voters of the county. One person in each township was appointed to circulate a paper in his township for signatures for or against resolution.
Here the more exciting matters connected with the breaking out of the Civil war intervened. and the matter of the building of these bridges was passed over for more than a year. We therefore follow the course of events and pass them too.
Vol. I-S
CHAPTER VII
THE CIVIL WAR-LOCAL EVENTS OCCURRING DURING THE . GREAT STRUGGLE
By F. Q. Lec
THE FIRST MAN TO ENLIST-COMPANY F ORGANIZED-ROSTER OF CO. F-POLITICS DURING TIIE WAR-GROVE TOWNSHIP CREATED-THE COUNTY OFFERS BOUNTIES- BOUNTIES INCREASED-TRAGEDY AT FISHI TRAP FORD-CO "\ 32ND INFANTRY- SWAMP LANDS-CLERK J. M. JONES RESIGNS-THE FREEMAN RESUMES PUB- LICATION-D. D. MIRACLE ARRIVES-HORSE TIHIEF EXCITEMENT-THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN-THE SHEEP INDUSTRY-DRAFTING SOLDIERS-STATE MILITIA- TIIE FIRST TEACHERS INSTITUTE-SOLDIERS AS GUESTS-THE FIRST CEMETERY AS- SOCIATION-A DRAFT AVOIDED-TIIE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN-A TRAGEDY AMONG THE SOLDIERS-THE SORGHUM AGE.
And now the mutterings of a civil war began to be heard through the land. Citizens became wild to procure the latest news .. It seemed hardly possible that the south would have the hardihood to precipitate a war with the north upon so small a pretext as they claimed to have. But when ABRAHAM LINCOLN was inaugurated president of the United States, on the 4th of March, 1861, many of the southern states had already passed the Ordinance of Secession, and when but a short time after LINCOLN's inauguration, Forts Sumter and Pickens were attacked and the Federal garrison forced to surrender, and evacuate while other acts of violence and treason were daily occurring, an intense feeling and excite- ment in the north was aroused. When LINCOLN issued his proclamation calling for 75,000 troops, the country was at once ablaze with patriotism. James Buchanan approved LINCOLN's course and gave $5,000 to equip troops. Stephen A. Douglas threw the weight of his influence in favor of the union, and in Web- ster City, we find a public meeting called at which a "Liberty Pole" was raised with the greatest enthusiasm. Speeches were made by Judge Porter. Peter Hep- burn. John A. Hull, Granville Burkley. John F. Duncombe, Jacob Skinner and many others, all breathing the highest patriotism. Five months before these men had been nearly equally divided, and engaged in a political canvass of great car- nestness and bitterness. Now that the country was in danger, they stood like brothers, determined that treason should die. In a neighboring county, the repub- lican and democratic flag poles were taken down, spliced together and raised again amid the wildest enthusiasm. How grand that act. How suggestive of the purposes then in view. Iowa was called on for only one regiment, but five were raised and offered, and as the news flashed over the country of the disastrous
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defeat at Bull Run. enthusiasm and patriotism burned still more fiercely and the grand refrain. "We're coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more." was more than a reality. From every avenue in life. the citizen came forth and became the soldier, and the civilized world stood aghast at the marvelous rapidity with which the armies formed, and how they fought like veterans though only a few weeks or months in the service. Without an army, one rose up as if by magic, and the endurance, bravery and skill it showed was something new in the history of war.
Hamilton county people shared in the excitement, patriotism and enthusiasm. The Board of Supervisors at the June session, 1861, appropriated $1.000 to be used in expenses of volunteers and caring for the families of all who enlisted or might enlist.
THE FIRST MAN TO ENLIST
Perhaps the very first Hamilton county man to enlist was Captain II. B. Martin of the Frontier Guard, who, it seems, was visiting in the east, and joined a Kentucky Company of which he was made First Lieutenant. He was shot through the leg at the battle of Barbersville. Va., one of the first conflicts of the war, and did not recover until the three months' term for which he enlisted had expired. While convalescing, he went on a furlough to visit friends in Ohio and all traces of him seem to have been lost.
The second man most probably was George Grechoneke, who became Captain of a company in Gen. Sickles' Brigade. So far as we have been able to learn. he never returned to this county, and nothing more was heard of him.
The next two to enlist were Harris Hoover and Isaac Soule, who went to Eldora and joined Capt. Thompson's Cavalry. Company G, First Iowa Cavalry. which was to be attached to the regiment being raised by Col. Fitz Henry Warren.
COMPANY F ORGANIZED
In the meantime, an earnest effort was being made to organize a company in this county, G. Burkley, Lieutenant W. L. Church and others leading in the matter. It was not until about the 20th of August, 1861. that a sufficient number of men were collected to muster a company, and they were drawn up in line in front of the town hall and sworn into service by J. M. Jones, clerk of the district court. The company numbered about 60 men and were ordered into camp at Davenport during the month of September, where they were organized as Com- pany F, 2nd lowa Cavalry.
The following is a roster of the company :
.
G. Burkley,. Captain, Webster City.
W. L. Church, First Lieutenant, Homer.
G. R. Ammond, Second Lieutenant, Webster City.
J. Faught, Quartermaster Sergeant. Webster City.
1'. Riley, Orderly Sergeant. Homer.
.A. Patterson, First Sergeant. Belmond.
1. V. Ballou, Second Sergeant, Webster City.
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