USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 42
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The society paid out $1,311.47 in its year's work. Of this sum, $100 went to the Iowa State Commission, $30 to the soldiers' fair at Dubuque, $128 to the Southern Iowa soldiers' fair at Burlington, and $212.45 for soldiers' families. The remainder was used in meeting the expenses of Mrs. Woods. The receipts of the society, apart from dues and donations, were $262 from a Fourth of July festival, $49.25 from a collection taken on October 15th on the occasion of a debate between J. F. Wilson and J. K. Hornish, the opposing congressional candidates, $46 from a collection taken on October 27th at a "republican rally," and $779.36 from a Christmas fair.
The winter opened with such vigor that to many "war widows," as the wives of absent soldiers were described, and to their children, it brought serious dis- tress. Wood cost $6 or more per cord, potatoes $1 per bushel, flour $4.50 per hundred pounds. These prices were proportional. A private soldier under favorable circumstances could scarcely save from his pay $10 a month for those dependent upon him. Often this was in arrears and not available. Work, even of menial character and at scant wages, was seldom obtainable. The county, as a corporate body, though authorized by law to render assistance, had made no adequate provision for the emergency. Governor Stone, addressing the people of Iowa upon the subject, requested that December 31st "be set apart as a day for general contributions" and "consecrated by the discharge of a patriotic and Christian duty." In Fairfield on December 16th, a relief association was formed to provide for the necessitous in Fairfield Township. D. P. Stubbs was presi- dent, W. W. Junkin secretary. A committee of five, appointed to solicit and
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distribute contributions, assigned each of its members a district to canvass. The eastern half of Fairfield was allotted to Rev. A. S. Wells, the western half to A. R. Fulton. Without the city limits, the portion south of the Agency Road, was allotted to Capt. W. T. Burgess, the portion between the Agency and the Richland roads to W. S. Lynch, and the remaining portion to A. M. Thomas. On January 1, 1865, the donations in money and supplies amounted to $590, of which $317.25 were secured in the city and $272.75 in the country. Although only faint memories of it remain, similar energetic action certainly . took place in other townships.
Although the machinery for making a draft was provided in 1862 when enlistments lagged, the necessity for its use was then obviated. In the beginning of 1864, in those districts which had failed to make up the quotas assigned to them, its employment seemed imminent. Fearing the lot might be unfavorable, many able-bodied citizens took a hurried departure for the West. This exodus attracting the attention of the state authorities, guards were stationed at the crossings over the Missouri River to stop and return these fugitives from pros- pective military service. The need to resort to it was again overcome. Late in the fall it was set in motion, as was afterward decided, unjustly. In its appli- cation it fell upon the delinquent townships of Jefferson County for a few men. In December came a final call for more troops. It implied a determination to crush speedily by force of numbers the rapidly crumbling Confederacy. That another draft would surely follow and the Government with strong hand seize its own was an irresistible conclusion. January, 1865, beheld a sudden desire on the part of some men to visit friends in distant places or "to go to the gold mines." The expressive name "skedadlers" was given them. Among those who "skedadled" were a number of teachers. R. S. Hughes, the county superin- tendent of schools, reported their conduct to O. Faville, the state superintendent of public instruction. In the opinion rendered there was no uncertainty. "Teachers," he advised, "abandoning their schools before their contract time has expired in order to avoid the draft, should not only lose their certificates but their pay for the time they have taught. I trust we have not many such in Iowa; but unless they can be converted from their errors, the sooner they leave the state the better. Those who are not willing to defend the rights of our country, are not qualified to instruct our children." This was wholesome advice. The certificates of the spiritless offenders were duly revoked. The irony of their position was manifest when the fact was shortly ascertained that Iowa had. already furnished her complement of men.
The end of the war was felt to be drawing near. Sherman was sweeping steadily northward. Grant's deadly grip on Richmond was tightening. On the afternoon of March 4th, the date of President Lincoln's second inauguration, there was a meeting in Wells' Hall publicly to rejoice over "the prospect of an early and permanent peace." In speech and song was the fervor of an exultant religious exercise. The songs were "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "We Are Living in a Grand and Awful Time," "John Brown," and in closing, the doxology. On the evening of April 7th, following close upon the news of the fall of Richmond, came a premature report of the capture of Lee's army. The streets quickly filled with people cheering, singing, shouting in happy mood "over the splendid victories." Houses were illuminated, bonfires built, fireworks set
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off and guns fired. It was an instantaneous and spontaneous outburst. After definite information was received of the surrender of Lee on April 9th at Appo- matox, the event was again celebrated on the evening of the 14th with due formality. All ostentatious rejoicing was terminated by the assassination of Lincoln. On the 19th, the day of the funeral services over the martyred presi- dent at Washington, stores were closed, public and private buildings draped in mourning and appropriate public exercises conducted to express the sorrow of the community. In harmony with an official proclamation by Governor Stone, the 27th was also observed in solemn manner to testify to the national loss and bereavement.
The returning soldiers, their martial duty accomplished, came home un- heralded, without ceremony and without display. Anxious to greet their families and friends, they avoided the receptions which the people gladly would have accorded them. The members of the Thirtieth Infantry arrived in June, of the Second and Seventh Infantry in July, and of the Nineteenth and Seventeenth Infantry and of the Third and Fourth Cavalry in August. Cheerfully they entered the paths of peace and undertook anew the labors from which they had been called.
A deep sincerity pervaded the observance of the Fourth of July. Stores were closed that the day might not be marred by any taint of commercialism. All persons in the county having flags were requested to loan them for the occasion. Arches over the entrances to the park bore these mottoes: "The loyal citizens of Jefferson to her soldiers, greeting;" "Where liberty dwells, there is my country ;" "The only national debt we can never pay is the debt we owe to the Union soldiers and sailors;" "Though many dear ones are absent today. their noble deeds are treasured in our hearts." The names of fifty-four battle fields where western troops were engaged, each one garlanded in evergreen, hung upon the trees. A company of girls represented the several states. The soldiers, their wives, children, mothers and sweethearts were guests. For these a dinner was provided. Contributions for it came from every township. It was prepared under the supervision of the Women's Soldiers' Aid Society and served on long lines of tables in the north half of the park. At it more than fifteen hundred persons were seated and feasted. Thousands of others brought "basket dinners," which they enjoyed in picnic fashion.
Over the program of the afternoon George Acheson presided. Rev. W. Maynard led in prayer. J. F. Wilson read the Declaration of Independence. Miss Emma Passmore of Pleasant Plain recited an original poem entitled "Our Western Soldiers." The sentiments of the time were epitomized in the toasts.
"The Day We Celebrate: Immortalized by the Fathers-endeared to their descendants-its influence is extending with every revolving cycle of time." Rev. S. C. McCune responded.
"Our Guests: The defenders of the Union-the subjugators of traitors ; the work they had to do was well done, and now we welcome them home. Words cannot express our thanks and gratitude. Their bravery has made their names illustrious. From citizens to soldiers, from soldiers again to citizens, beautifully illustrates the genius of our republican form of government. Good citizens of the plough fields are brave soldiers on the battlefield." C. W. Slagle responded.
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"Washington: The Father of his Country; he still lives, and shall forever, in the hearts of his countrymen."
"Thomas Jefferson : His most sublime and enduring monument is his declara- tion of the equality of all men." Capt. W. T. Burgess responded.
"Abraham Lincoln: The emancipator and the martyr; he bound the Union and unbound the slave."
"The Ideas of the Contest: Freedom, equality, justice; we will never cease our efforts to engrave them on the heart of the nation, and stamp them upon all constitutions and laws." George Acheson responded.
"The Private Soldiers: The men who saved the Nation and made the fame of those whom the world applauds; we will never forget the workmen." Capt. M. A. McCoid responded.
"The Colored Soldiers: Who will deny the declaration of General Sherman, that the 'hand which drops the musket should take up the ballot?' " Rev. S. Hest- wood responded.
"The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society : They had a noble object. For this they toiled in silence. In the dark days they wept, but toiled and hoped-when day dawned upon the cause of human liberty they rejoiced, but patiently-and steadily toiled on, without any other hope of reward than that of conscious duty. Blessed is the Ladies' Aid Society." Maj. R. D. Creamer responded.
"American Slavery: The wrath of a just God has washed out the crime with a sea of blood; if we would avoid a repetition of the visitation we must not recommit the crime." R. C. Brown responded.
"The President of the United States."
"Washington and Lincoln: Twin immortals; the one the Father, the other the Saviour, of our beloved country." Rev. Chauncey C. Darby responded.
"John Brown: 'All partial evil, universal good; all discord, harmony not understood.' 'They hung him for a traitor-themselves a traitorous crew.'"
"The Heroic Dead of Jefferson County: A part of the great price paid by the nation for the redemption of the Republic, and for the escurity of liberty, equality and Christian civilization. We will admire their example and fondly, tenderly cherish their memory." J. F. Wilson responded.
The great crowd, up to this time next to the greatest ever assembled in Fair- field, was dismissed with the benediction pronounced by Rev. A. S. Wells.
The Women's Soldiers' Aid Society, at its annual meeting on January 5, 1865, elected Mrs. Thomas D. Evans, president; Mrs. J. Kerr, vice president; Mrs. C. W. Slagle, treasurer; Mrs. D. Acheson, secretary ; Mrs. George Stever and Mrs. J. F. Wilson, the purchasing committee, and Mrs. John Hill, Mrs. W. S. Lynch and Mrs. Thomas D. Evans, the distributing committee. The work of the society was almost ended. The needs of soldiers' families momentarily became the chief concern of its members. As others were providing fuel and provisions, they supplied clothing. They expended $641 in extending this relief. They also gave $200 to the Chicago Sanitary Fair, $50 to the Lincoln monument at Springfield, Illinois, $100 to a monument to the deceased soldiers of Jefferson County, and $25 to the Keokuk Hospital. Their last act was to donate whatever funds remained in their treasury to the Jefferson County Monument Association. On September 12th, the society, having closed up its business, was dissolved, leaving a proud record of devotion, sacrifice and accomplishment.
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In May the erection of a monument to bear the names of those men of Jeffer- son County who had died or had been killed in the service of their country was discussed with favor. On June 8th, the Women's Soldiers' Aid Society offered $100 as the beginning of a subscription to commemorate in this way the lives "so nobly sacrificed" and issued a call for a public meeting on the 13th to form an association to carry out the suggestion. On the 10th, the Jefferson Detective Society of Liberty and Des Moines townships, donated $100 to assist in the undertaking and instructed R. B. Moore of Liberty Township and George C. Fry and A. G. Nye of Des Moines Township to meet with the movers of this work. On the 13th, it was resolved to organize "into a body corporate" and proceed to raise the funds. On the 19th, articles of incorporation of the Jefferson County Monument Association were adopted. Officers were elected as follows: George Acheson, president ; Mrs. T. D. Evans, vice president; George A. Wells, secretary ; Daniel Young, treasurer, and J. A. Ireland, C. D. Skinner and George C. Fry, directors. On the 20th, the City Council of Fairfield voted $100 to the cause. At their regular term in September, the Board of County Supervisors appropriated $500 for the purpose, one-half to be paid out of the tax of 1865 and one-half out of the tax of 1866. From a Christmas festival $435 were realized. So well did the movement progress that on February 8, 1867, plans and proposals for the erection of the monument were advertised for. A design and proposition of E. Champ of Mount Pleasant were approved. The southeast corner of the park was selected for the site. Serious fault was found with this selection. A remonstrance against it was circulated. So much dissension arose that the action was rescinded. Payment of many of the subscriptions was withheld. At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the association on June 3, 1867, it was resolved to refund to all subscribers the amounts they had paid in, if demanded within six months, the residue then to be turned over to the Jefferson County Library Association to be used only in procuring a permanent home for the library and the erection therein of "a memorial to the deceased soldiers of Jeffer- son County." Of $1,700 in the possession of the treasurer, the larger part was reclaimed. In June, 1868, the sum of $564.30 was transferred upon the terms stated to the Jefferson County Library Association. Twenty-four years passed away. In 1892, when the library at last obtained its home, the trust placed in the association was redeemed. A marble tablet on the wall of the reading room car- ries at its base a cartouch in which reposes a volume compiled by J. A. Spielman, containing the names of the volunteers, with dates of birth, enlistment, death and other items of interest. It also bears the inscription :
IN MEMORY of the SOLDIERS AND SAILORS Of Jefferson County, Iowa, Who Fought to Save the Union In the War of the Rebellion. 1861-1865.
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CHAPTER XLII
MORE RAILROADS
When the end of the war was perceived to be near, those who had suffered to maintain the union of the states and those who had sympathized with its enemies put aside the animosities born of their differences of opinion in that struggle and joined hands to improve conditions. Their mutual spirit of forbearance was witnessed in a large way in a united effort to obtain a competing railroad.
On the opening of the year 1865, the Mississippi and Missouri River Rail- road Company was proposing to extend its line westward from Washington. Routes leading to Oskaloosa and to Ottumwa were under consideration. To determine what course to pursue to bring this extension to Fairfield, a number of its citizens, on the evening of February 14th, assembled at the courthouse for consultation. Colonel James Thompson presided over the gathering. A. R. Fulton was secretary. D. P. Stubbs, George Acheson and Charles Negus were chosen to confer with the directory of the railroad company in relation to its plans. W. W. Junkin, M. M. Bleakmore and A. K. Wilson were appointed to solicit funds to provide for necessary expenses. Dr. C. S. Clarke was elected treasurer. A convention of all favoring the enterprise was called to meet on March Ist at Brighton.
What the Fairfield route offered was set out in the papers of Davenport, Muscatine and Washington.
"That region," said the Davenport Daily Democrat, "is now tributary to the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, which runs through Fairfield, but there being no bridge at Burlington there is a considerable portion of the year when the patrons of that line find it impossible to hold any communication whatever with the Burlington and Quincy roads, thus subjecting them to inconvenience and loss. Besides this, all freight has to be transhipped at all times of the year at Burlington, which greatly increases the expense and trouble."
"It will open to us," said the Muscatine Daily Journal, "a new and rich coun- try beyond the Skunk River, besides affording access by railroad to all parts of the Des Moines Valley, and eventually to St. Louis."
"Not the least advantage to our citizens, both of town and country," said the Washington Press, "will be the fact that we shall be brought within an hour's run of the inexhaustible coal fields of Jefferson county. Thousands of dollars would be saved to our citizens every year in the item of fuel, besides making coal cheap enough to be used for manufactures."
The local arguments were presented in an article prepared for publication by Charles Negus. "There is now," he wrote, "a railroad through this county, running east and west, and all property holders in the county have realized a
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benefit from it in the rise in the price of real estate, and by the facility with which they can send their products to market. Corn, which used to sell for ten cents per bushel, since the railroad was completed has been worth from twenty- five cents to one dollar, and the price of everything else has improved in like manner. *
* The road we have is a monopoly and charges the highest price for its transportation; but if the road was extended from Washington to Fairfield we would then have two roads by which we could send our products to Eastern markets, and this would have a great tendency to reduce the price of freights. At Davenport the Mississippi is bridged; by shipping stock and grain by this way the freight would go direct to Chicago without breaking bulk. * * * By geological surveys the whole of Jefferson county is supposed to be underlaid with coal, and in almost every part of the county thick layers of coal have been discovered with little labor and these mines, with the present limited market, yield great profits. Open up a railroad connection with those sections where they have no coal and the coal fields of this county would become a source of great wealth and afford much business to the railroad."
These excerpts portray clearly the existing conditions.
Owing to impassable roads the Brighton Convention was so poorly attended that an adjournment to April 5th was taken. The second session named James F. Wilson as its president and L. F. Parker as its secretary. Its formal action was the adoption of a resolution offered by D. P. Stubbs "That it is the proper time to organize a company for the construction of a railroad from Washington to Fairfield via Brighton." To give this declaration force and effect, D. P. Stubbs" and Dr. C. S. Clarke of Fairfield, J. T. Sales and B. H. Wilder of Brighton, and J. F. McJunkin and James Dawson of Washington were instructed to draw up articles of incorporation. Their report was submitted to a subsequent meeting which assembled on May 24th, but was not acted upon because the citizens of Washington whose cooperation was desired were not represented. This effort made no further progress.
Late in the year, the building of the North Missouri Railroad through Fair- field, Washington and Iowa City to Cedar Rapids was bruited. As D. P. Stubbs, who was a member of a committee from the counties of Johnson, Washington and Jefferson to investigate the prospect, had reported the outlook promising, a public meeting was held on December 5th in the courthouse at Fairfield to devise encouragement for the scheme. C. W. Slagle, David Switzer, Abram Rode- baugh, A. R. Fulton, H. R. Skinner, Colonel James Thompson, Dr. J. C. Ware, S. M. Bickford, W. G. Coop, W. L. Hamilton, Dr. Charles Lewis, James Harvey and James Parshall were appointed to assist the engineer of the road in selecting a route and making a preliminary survey. Other persons were selected to carry on correspondence and to raise means to defray all incidental expenses in pro- moting the work.
On January 17, 1866, a convention met in Washington to consider the location of a railroad to run through the counties of Davis, Jefferson, Washington, John- son and Linn from the southern line of the State to Cedar Rapds. Representa- tives from all of these counties were present. A delegation of fifty-four measured the interest of Jefferson county in the proceedings. A. R. Fulton served as one of the secretaries. The belief that the route contemplated was "the best in every particular that could be found between the terminus of the North Missouri Rail-
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road and Cedar Rapids" was asserted. A pledge to contribute as much to its construction as would be contributed to take it elsewhere was voted. In con- clusion the people in the different counties were requested to demonstrate their earnestness by "holding railroad meetings in the several townships for the pur- pose of raising funds to pay for a survey and agitate the importance of securing an outlet to the Southern market and destroy our present railroad monopoly."
In harmony with this action, the Board of Supervisors of Jefferson County, on the 23d, passed a contingent appropriation to meet one-half the cost of sur- veying across the county, provided the whole did not exceed one thousand dollars.
At Keosauqua, on February 26th, the people of Van Buren County called "the attention of the business men of Macon City, Edina, Memphis, Keosauqua, Birm- ingham, Fairfield and Washington to the importance of having railroad connec- tions" with St. Louis and Chicago "by way of the Rock Island Bridge," stating it was "the most direct and feasable route yet offered on the Missouri and Iowa side of the Mississippi for winter communication," and asking for "their cooperation in pushing forward this enterprise."
Following an examination by Peter A. Dey of the country to be traversed by the proposed continuation of the North Missouri Railroad to Cedar Rapids, a second convention was held on May 15th at Washington. This was organized by delegations from the counties of Linn, Johnson, Washington, Jefferson and Van Buren. Subsequently, delegations arrived from the counties of Henry and Lee. These were seated, but the one from Lee County was denied the privilege of voting. . A pending motion by Charles Negus providing for the preparation of articles of incorporation for a line of railroad from Cedar Rapids to Bloomfield by way of Iowa City, Washington and Fairfield, was then rejected. It received the support only of a few of the delegates of Washington County and of all of the delegates of the counties of Jefferson and Van Buren. A resolution by D. P. Stubbs that "we are in favor of building the St. Louis and Cedar Rapids Rail- road by way of Iowa City, Washington, Brighton and Fairfield," was defeated in like fashion. In resentment at these decisions, the representatives of Jefferson County then withdrew.
A call for a convention at Fairfield on June 6th was promptly issued. It was signed by Charles Negus, Charles David, Ward Lamson, Anson Moore, C. L. Moss, Edwin Manning and Charles Baldwin, and was addressed to the citizens of Van Buren, Jefferson and Washington counties interested in a north and south railroad running from a practical point on the Muscatine branch of the Mississippi and Missouri River Railroad via Brighton, Fairfield, Birmingham and Keosauqua, and connecting with the North Missouri Railroad. Citizens of Davis County, and of Scotland and adjoining counties in Missouri, were invited to attend.
Responding to this invitation, delegates appeared from the counties of Wash- ington, Jefferson and Van Buren, and from Scotland County, Missouri. They selected for president A. H. McCrary of Van Buren County, for vice president Joseph Smith of Washington County, and for secretaries A. R. Fulton of Jeffer- son County and C. S. Baker of Scotland County, Missouri. The intention which brought them together was carried out. They decided "to organize a company to construct a railroad from some point east of Washington on the Mississippi and
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