History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 120

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 120

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alarm and consternation was again felt in the region of Spirit Lake and Sioux River settlements, produced by the appearance of large numbers of Indians on the border, whose bearing was insolent and menacing, and who were charged with clan- destinely running off the stock of the settlers. The most urgent appeals came from these settlers, invoking again the protection of the State. From representations made of the imminence of their danger and the losses already sustained, the Gov- ernor summoned into the field once more the frontier guards. After a service of four or five months they were again discharged, and paid in the manner prescribed in the act under which they were called out."

Gov. Lowc was beaten for the renomination by Hon. S. J. Kirkwood, who was considered much the stronger man. To compensate him for his defeat for the second term, Gov. Lowe was appointed one of the three Judges under the new Constitution. He drew the short term, which expired in 1861, but was returned and served, all told, eight years. He then returned to the prac- tice of law, gradually working into a claim busi- ness at Washington, to which city he removed. about 1874. In that city he died, on Saturday, Dec. 22, 1883. He had a large family. Carleton, one of his sons, was an officer in the Third Iowa Cavalry during the war.

Gov. Lowe was a man of detail, accurate and industrious. In private and public life he was pure, upright and honest. In religions faith he was inclined to be a Spiritualist.

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Samme Ochrany

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GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

Samuel . Kirkwood

HE fifth Governor of Iowa ................. G was Samuel J. Kirkwood. He was born in Hartford County, Md., on his father's farm, Dec. 20, 1813. His father was twice married, first to a lady named Coulson, who became the mother of two sons. After the death of this companion, the elder Kirkwood was united in marriage with Mary Alexander, who bore him three children, all of whom were sons. Of this little family Samuel was the youngest, and when ten years of age was sent to Washington City to at- tend a school taught by John McLeod, a relative of the family. Here he remained for four years, giv- ing diligent attention to his studies, at the close of which time he entered a drug store at Washington as clerk. In this capacity he continued with the exception of eighteen months, until he reached his majority. During the interval referred to, young Kirkwood was living the life of a pedagogue in York County, Pa.

In the year 1835, Samuel quit Washington and came westward to Richland County, Ohio. His father and brother had preceded him from Mary- land. locating upon a timbered farm in the Buckeye Statc. Here Samuel lent them valuable assistance in clearing the farm. He was ambitions to enter the legal profession, and in the year 1841, an oppor-

tunity was afforded him to enter the office of Thomas W. Bartley, afterward Governor of Ohio. The following two years he gave diligent applica- tion to his books, and in 1843, was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He was then fortunate enough to form an association in the practice of his profession with his former pre- ceptor, which relations continued for eight years,

From 1845 to 1849 he served as Prosecuting Attorney of his county. In 1849 he was elected as a Democrat to represent his county and district in the Constitutional Convention. In 1851 Mr. Bartley, his partner, having been elected to. the Supreme Judiciary of the State, Kirkwood formed a partnership with Barnabas Barns, with whom he continued to practice until the spring of 1855, when he removed to the West.

Up to 1854 Mr. Kirkwood had acted with the Democratic party. But the measures proposed and sustained that year by the Democracy in Congress. concentrated in what was known as the Kansas- Nebraska Act, drove him with hosts of anti-slavery Democrats out of the party. He was besought by the opposition in the "Richland District" to be- come their candidate for Congress, but declined In 1855 he came to Iowa and settled two miles northwest of Iowa City, entering into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Ezekiel Clark, in the mill- ing business, and kept aloof from public affairs. IIe could not long conceal his record and abilities from his neighbors, however, and in 1856 he was elected to the State Senate from the district com-

128

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.

posed of the counties of Iowa and Johnson, and served in the last session of the Legislature held at Iowa City and the first one held at Des Moines.

In 1859 Mr. Kirkwood was made the standard- bearer of the Republicans of Iowa, and though he had as able and popular a competitor as Gen. A. C. Dodge, he was elected Governor of Iowa by a majority of over 3,000. He was inaugurated Jan. 11. 1860. Before the expiration of his first term came the great Civil War. As Governor, during the darkest days of the Rebellion, he performed an exceedingly important dnty. He secured a prompt response by volunteers to all requisitions by the Federal Government on the State for troops, so that during his Governorship no "draft" took place in Iowa, and no regiment, except the first, enlisted for less than three years. At the same time he maintained the State's financial credit. The Legislature, at its extra session in 1861, authorized the sale of $800,000 in bonds, to assist in arming and equipping troops. So frugally was this work done, that but $300,000 of the bonds were sold, and the remaining $500,000 not having been required, the bonds representing this amount were destroyed by order of the succeeding Legis- lature.

In October, 1861, Gov. Kirkwood was, with com- paratively little opposition, re-elected-an honor accorded for the first time in the history of the State. His majority was about 18,000. During his second term he was appointed by President Lincoln to be Minister to Denmark, but he declined to enter upon his diplomatic duties until the expir- ation of his term as Governor. The position was kept open for him until that time, but. when it came, pressing private business compelled a declin- ation of the office altogether.

In January, 1866, he was a prominent candidate before the Legislature for United States Senator. Senator Harlan had resigned the Senatorship upon

his appointment to the office of Secretary of the Interior by President Lincoln, just before his death, but had withdrawn from the cabinet soon after the accession of Mr. Johnson to the Presi- dency. In this way it happened that the Legisla- ture had two terms of United States Senator to fill. a short term of two years, to fill Harlan's unexpired term, and a long term of six years to immediately succeed this; and Harlan had now become a candi-

date for his own successorship, to which Kirkwood also aspired. Ultimately, Kirkwood was elected for the first and Harlan for the second term. Dur- ing his brief Senatorial service, Kirkwood did not hesitate to measure swords with Senator Sumner, whose natural egotism had begotten in him an ar- rogant and dietatorial manner, borne with humbly until then by his colleagues, in deference to l: s long experience and eminent ability, but unpalata- ble to an independent Western Senator like Kirk- wood.

At the close of his Senatorial term, March 4. 1867, he resumed the practice of law, which a few years later he relinquished to accept the Presidency of the Iowa City Savings Bank. In 1875 he was again elected Governor, and was inaugurated Jai. 13, 1876. He served but little over a year, as early in 1877 he was chosen United States Senator. He filled this position four years, resigning to be- come Secretary of the Interior in President Gar- field's Cabinet. In this office he was succeeded, April 17, 1882, by Henry M. Teller, of Colorado.

Gov. Kirkwood returned to Iowa City, his home, where he still resides, being now advanced in years. He was married in 1843, to Miss Jane Clark, a na- tive of Ohio.

In 1886 Mr. Kirkwood was nominated for Con- gress by the Republicans of his district. Consider- able interest was manifested in the contest, as both the Labor and Democratie parties had popular can- didates in the field.

A. M. Stone

GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

131

illiam

Ha .. Etone®

ILLIAM M. STONE, the sixth Governor of Iowa, was WAS born Oct. 14, 1827. His parents, Truman and La- vina (Northi) Stone, who were of English ancestry, moved to Lewis County, N. Y., when William was but a year old. William's grandfather, Aaron Stone, was in the second war with En- gland. When our subject was six years of age his parents moved into Ohio, lo- cating in Coshocton County. Like many other self-made men, William M. had few advantages. He never attended a school of any kind more than twelve months. In boyhood he was for two seasons a team-driver on the Ohio Canal. At seventeen he was appren- ticed to the chairmaker's trade, and he followed that business until he was twenty-three years of age, reading law meantime during his spare hours, wherever he happened to be. He commenced at Coshocton, with James Mathews, who afterward became his father-in-law; continued his reading with Gen. Lucius V. Pierce, of Akron, and finished with Ezra B. Taylor, of Ravenna. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1851, by Peter Hitchcock and Rufus P. Raney, Supreme Judges, holding a. term of court at Ravenna.

After practicing three years at Coshocton with his old preceptor, James Mathews, he, in November, 1854, settled in Knoxville, which has remained his home since. The year after locating here Mr. Stone purchased the Knoxville Journal, and was one of the prime movers in forming the Republican party in Iowa, being the first editor to suggest :' State Convention, which met Feb. 22, 1856, and .completed the organization. In the autumn of the same ycar he was a Presidential elector on the Re- publican ticket.

In April, 1857, Mr. Stone was chosen Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District. He was elected Judge of the Sixth Judicial District when the new Constitution went into operation in 1858, and was serving on the bench when the American flag was stricken down at Fort Sumter. At that time, April, 1861, he was holding court in Fairfield, Jefferson County, and when the news came of the insult to the old flag he immediately adjourned court and prepared for what he believed to be more important duties-duties to his country.

In May he enlisted as a private; was made Cap tain of Co. B, Third Iowa Inf., and was subse quently promoted to Major. With that regiment, he was at the battle of Blue Mill, Mo., in Septem- ber, 1861, where he was wounded. At Shiloh, the following spring, he commanded the regiment and was taken prisoner. By order of Jefferson Davis

132

WILLIAM M. STONE.

he was paroled for the time of forty days, with orders to repair to Washington, and if possible sccure an agreement for a cartel for a general ex- change of prisoners, and to return as a prisoner if he did not succeed. Failing to secure that result within the period specified. he returned to Rich- mond and had his parole extended fifteen days; re- pairing again to Washington. he effected his pur- pose and was exchanged.

In August, 1862. he was appointed by Gov. Kirkwood Colonel of the Twenty-second Iowa Infantry, which rendezvoused and organized at Camp Pope, Iowa City, the same month. The regiment was occupied for several months in guard- ing supply stores and the railroad, and escorting supply trains to the Army of the Southcast Mis- souri until Jan. 27, 1863, when it received orders to join the army under Gen. Davidson, at West Plains, Mo. After a march of five days it reached its destination, and was brigaded with the Twenty- first and Twenty-third Iowa regiments, Col. Stone commanding, and was designated the First Brigade, First Division, Army of Southeast Missouri. April 1 found Col. Stone at Milliken's Bend, La .. to assist Grant in the capture of Vicksburg. He was now in immediate command of his regiment, which formed a part of a brigade under Col. C. L. Harris. of the Eleventh Wisconsin. In the advance upon Port Gibson Col. Harris was taken sick, and Col. Stone was again in charge of a brigade. In the battle of Port Gibson the Colonel and his com- mand distinguished themselves, and were successful.

The brigade was in the reserve at Champion Hills, and in active skirmish at Black River.

On the evening of May 21 Col. Stone received Gen. Grant's order for a general assault on the enemy's lines at 10 A. M. on the 22d. In this charge, which was unsuccessful, Col. Stone was again wounded. receiving a gunshot in the left forcarm. Col. Stone commanded a brigade until the last of Angust. when, being ordered to the Gulf Department. he resigned. He had become very popular with the people of Iowa.

He was nominated in a Republican convention, held at Des Moines in June, 1863, and was elected by a very large majority. He was breveted Brig- adier-General in 1864, during his first year as Gov- ernor. He was inaugurated Jan. 14, 1864, and was re-elected in 1865, his four years in office closing Jan. 16, 1868. His majority in 1863 was nearly 30,000, and in 1865 about 16,500. His diminished vote in 1865 was due to the fact that he was very strongly committed in favor of negro suffrage.

Gov. Stone made a very energetic and efficient. Executive. Since the expiration of his gubernatoria. term he has sought to escape the public notice, and has given his time to his private business interests. He is in partnership with Hon. O. B. Ayres. of Knoxville, in legal practice.

He was elected to the General Assembly in 1877 and served one term.

In May, 1857, he married Miss Carioaet Mathews, a native of Ohio, then residing in Knoxville. They have one son-William A.

135

GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

amuel

Merrill

AMUEL MERRILL, Governor from 1868 to 1872, was born in Oxford County, Maine, Aug. 7, 1822. Ile is a de- scendant on his mother's side of Peter Hill, who came from England and settled in Maine in 1653. From this ancestry have sprung most of the Hills in Ameri- ca. On his father's side lie is a de- cendant of Nathaniel Merrill, who came from England in 1636, and lo- cated in Massachusetts. Nathaniel had a son, Daniel, who in turn had a son named John, and he in turn begat a son called Thomas. The latter was born Dee. 18, 1708. On the 4th of Ang- ust, 1728, was born to him a son, Samuel, who was married and had a family of twelve children, one of whom, Abel, was taken by his father to Boston in 1750. Abel was married to Elizabeth Page, who had five children, one of whom, Abel, Jr., was tlie father of our subject. He married Abigail Hill June 25, 1809, and to them were born eight chil- dren, Samuel being the youngest but one. At the age of sixteen Samuel moved with his parents to Buxton, Maine, the native place of his mother, where his time was employed in turns in teaching and attending school until he attained his majority. Having determined to make teaching a profession, and feeling that the South offered better opportu- nities. he immediately set out for that section. He

remamed, however, but a short time, as he says " he was born too far North." Suspicion having been raised as to his abolition principles and finding the element not altogether congenial, he soon abandoned the sunny South and went to the old Granite State. where the next several years were spent in farming. In 1847 he moved to Tamworth, N. II., where he engaged in the mercantile business in company withi a brother, in which he was quite successful. Not being satisfied with the limited resources of North- ern New England hc determined to try his good fortune on the broad prairies of the fertile West.

It was in the year 1856 that Mr. Merrill turned his face toward the setting sun, finding a desirable location near McGregor, Iowa, where he established a braneh house of the old firm. The population in- ereased, as also did their trade, and their house be- came one of the most extensive wholesale establish- ments on the Upper Mississippi. During all these years of business Mr. Merrill took an active part in polities. In 1854 he was chosen on the abolition ticket to the Legislature of New Hampshire. The following year he was again returned to the Legis- lature, and doubtless had he remained in that State would have risen still higher. In coming to Iowa his experience and ability were demanded by his neighbors, and he was here called into public serv- ice. IIe was sent to the Legislature, and though assembled with the most distinguished men of his time, took a leading part in the important services demanded of that body. The Legislature was con- vened in an extra session of 1861, to provide for

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SAMUEL MERRILL.

the exigencies of the Rebellion. and in its deliber- ations Mr. Merrill took an active part.

In the summer of 1862. Mr. Merrill was eonmis- sioned Colonel of the 21st Iowa Infantry, and im- mediately went to the front. At the time Marma- (nke was menacing the Union forces in Missouri, which called for prompt action on the part .of the Union Generals. Col. Merrill was placed in com- mand, with detachments of the 21st Iowa and 99th Illinois, a portion of the 3d Iowa Cavalry and two pieces of artillery. with orders to make a foreed march to Springfield. he being at the time eighty miles distant. On the morning of Jan. 11, 1863, he came across a body of Confederates who were advancing in heavy force. Immediate preparations for battle were made by Col. Merrill, and after brisk- ly firing for an hour. the enemy fell back. Merrill then moved in the direction of Hartville. where he found the enemy in force under Marmaduke. being about eight thousand strong. while Merrill had but one-tenth of that number. A hot struggle ensued in which the Twenty-first distinguished itself. The Confederate loss was several officers and three hun- dred men killed and wounded, while the Union loss was but seven killed and sixty-four wounded. The Following winter the regiment performed active serviee. taking part in the campaign of Vicksburg. It fought under MeClernand at Port Gibson, and while making the famous charge of Black River Bridge. Col. Merrill was severely wounded through the hip. Ile was laid np from the 17th of May to January, when he again joined his regiment in Texas, and in June. 1864. on account of suffering from his wound, resigned and returned to Mc- Gregor. In 1867 Mr. Merrill was chosen Gov- ernor of the State. being elected upon the Repub- liean ticket. He served with such satisfaction, that in 1869 he was re-nominated and accordingly elected.

Under the administration of Gov. Merrill. the movement for the erection of the new State House was inangnrated. The Thirteenth General Assembly provided for the building at a cost of $1.500.000, and made an appropriation with which to begin the work of $150.000. With this sum the work was begun, and Nov. 23. 1871, the corner stone was laid in the presence of citizens from all

parts of the State. On this occasion the Governor delivered the address. It was an historical view of the incidents culminating in the labors of the day It was replete with historical facts, showed patient research, was logical and argumentative, and at times cloquent with the fire and genius of American pa- triotism. It is a paper worthy of the occasion. and does justice to the head and heart that con- eeived it.

During the gubernatorial career of Gov. Mer- rill, extending through two terms, from Janu- ary, 1868, to January, 1872, he was actively enl- gaged in the discharge of his official duties, and probably no incumbent of that office ever devoted himself more carnestly to the public good, stand- ing by the side of Gov. Fairehild, of Wiseonsin. The two were instrumental in plaeing the slack- water navigation between the Mississippi and the Lakes in the way of ultimate and certain suecess. The Governor treated this subject to great lengthi and with marked ability in his message to the Thir- teenth General Assembly, and so earnest was he in behalf of this improvement, that he again discussed it in his message to the Fourteenth General Assem- bly. In the instigation of the work the Governors of the different States interested, called conventions. and through the deliberations of these assemblies the aid of the General Government was secured.

Samuel Merrill was first married to Catherine Thomas, who died in 1847, fourteen months after their marriage. In January, 1851, he was united in marriage with a Miss Hill, of Buxton, Maine. She became the mother of four children, three of whom died young, the eldest living to be only two and a half years old.

After the expiration of his publie service he re- turned to McGregor, but shortly afterward removed to Des Moines, where he is now residing, and is President of the Citizens' National Bank.

Thus briefly have been pointed out the leading features in the life of one of Iowa's most promi- nent citizens, and one who has made an honorable record both in public positions and private enter- prises. He is highly cstccmed in the city where he resides and is regarded as one of the faithful rep- resentatives of the sons of New England. In stat- ure he is fully six feet high and finely proportioned.

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139

GOVERNORS OF IOWA.

Cyrus Clay Carpenter,

YRUS CLAY CARPENTER, Governor of Iowa from 1872 Co. to 1875, inclusive, was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., Nov. 24, 1829. He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was at the age of ten years, and his father two years later. He was left in destitute circumstances, and went first to learn the trade of a clothier, which, however, he abandoned after a few months, and engaged with a farmer, giving a term in the winter, however, to attendance upon the district school. When eightcen he began teaching school, and the fol- lowing four years divided his time between teach- ing and attending the academy at Hartford. At the conclusion of this period he went to Ohio, where he engaged as a teacher for a year and a half, spending the summer at farm work.

In the year 1854 Mr. Carpenter came further westward, visiting many points in Illinois and Iowa, arriving at Des Moines, then a village of some 1,200 inhabitants. This place, however, not offering a favorable location, he proceeded on his journey, arriving in Fort Dodge June 28, 1854. Owing to his being without funds he was compelled to travel on foot, in which way the journey to Fort Dodge was made, with his entire worldly posses- sions in a carpet-sack which he carried in his hand. He soon found employment at Fort Dodge, as as- sistant to a Government surveyor. This work be-

ing completed, young Carpenter assisted his land- lord in cutting hay, but soon secured another position as a surveyor's assistant. In the early part of the following January he engaged in teach- ing school at Fort Dodge, but in the spring was employed to take charge of a set of surveyors in surveying the counties of Emmet and Kossuth.

On his return to Fort Dodge he found the land- office, which had been established at that place, was about to open for the sale of land. Being familiar with the country and the location of the best land, he opened a private land-office, and found constant and profitable employment for the following three years, in platting and surveying lands for those seeking homes. During this period he became extensively known, and, being an active Republican, he was chosen as a standard-bearer for his section of the State. He was elected to the Legislature in the autumn of 1857. In 1861, on the breaking out of the Rebellion, he volunteered and was assigned to duty as Commissary of Sub- sistence, much of the time being Chief Commissary of the left wing of the 16th Army Corps. In 1864 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. Logan, as Chief Com- missary of the 15th Army Corps. He continued in the service until the close of the war, and in August, 1865, was mustered out.

Upon the close of his service to his country he returned to his home at Fort Dodge, but, owing to so many changes which had taken place, and such an influx of enterprising men into the city, he found his once prosperous business in the hands of

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CYRUS CLAY CARPENTER.

others. Hle turned his attention to the improve- ment of a piece of land, where he remained until his election, in the autumn of 1866, as Register of the State Land-Office. IIe was re-elected in 1868, and refused the nomination in 1870. This position took him to Des Moines, but in 1870 he returned to Fort Dodge. During the summer of the follow- ing year he was nominated by the Republican party for Governor. He was elceted, and inaugurated as Chief Executive of Iowa Jan. 11, 1872. In 1873 he was renominated by his party, and October 14 of that year was re-elected, his inauguration taking place Jan. 27, 1874. Gov. Carpenter was an able, popular and faithful Executive, and was regarded as one of the most honest, prominent and .unselfish officials the State ever had. Plain, unassuming, nodest, he won his publie position more through he enthusiasm of his friends than by any personal effort or desire of his own. Everywhere, at all times and upon all occasions, he demonstrated that the confidence of his friends was justified. He took an active part in the great question of monopolies and transportation evils, which during his adminis- tration were so prominent, doing much to secure wise legislation in these respeets.

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History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 120

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1150

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150