USA > Iowa > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882 > Part 14
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98
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
to maintain school at least three months in every year; and later, laws were enacted providing for county school taxes for the payment of teachers, and that whatever additional sum might be required should be assessed upon the parents sending, in proportion to the length of time sent.
When Iowa Territory became a State, in 1846, with a population of 100,- 000, and with 20,000 scholars within its limits, about four hundred school dis- tricts had been organized. In 1850, there were 1,200, and in 1857, the number had increased to 3,265.
In March, 1858, upon the recommendation of Hon. M. L. Fisher, then Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, the Seventh General Assembly enacted that " each eivil township is declared a school district," and provided that these should be divided into sub-districts. This law went into force March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of school districts from about 3,500 to less than 900.
This change of school organization resulted in a very material reduction of the expenditures for the compensation of District Secretaries and Treasurers. An effort was made for several years, from 1867 to 1872, to abolish the sub- district system. Mr. Kissell, Superintendent, recommended, in his report of January 1, 1872, and Governor Merrill forcibly endorsed his views in his annual message. But the Legislature of that year provided for the formation of inde- pendent districts from the sub-districts of district townships.
The system of graded schools was inaugurated in 1849; and new schools, in which more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded.
The first official mention of Teachers' Institutes in the educational records of Iowa occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850, who said, " An institution of this character was organized a few years ago, composed of the teachers of the mineral regions of Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. An association of teachers has, also, been formed in the county of Henry, and an effort was made in October last to organize a regular institute in the county of Jones." At that time-although the beneficial influence of these institutes was admitted, it was urged that the expenses of attending them was greater than teachers with limited compensation were able to bear. To obviate this objection, Mr. Benton recommended that "the sum of $150 should be appropriated annually for three years, to be drawn in install- ments of $50 each by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and expended for these institutions." He proposed that three institutes should be held annu- ally at points to be designated by the Superintendent.
No legislation in this direction, however, was had until March, 1858, when an act was passed authorizing the holding of teachers' institutes for periods not less than six working days, whenever not less than thirty teachers should desire. The Superintendent was authorized to expend not exceeding $100 for any one institute, to be paid out by the County Superintendent as the institute might direct for teachers and lecturers, and one thousand dollars was appropriated to defray the expenses of these institutes.
December 6, 1858, Mr. Fisher reported to the Board of Education that institutes had been appointed in twenty counties within the preceding six months, and more would have been, but the appropriation had been exhausted.
The Board of Education at its first session, commencing December 6, 1858, enacted a code of school laws which retained the existing provisions for teachers' institutes.
In March, 1860, the General Assembly amended the act of the Board by appropriating " a sum not exceeding fifty dollars annually for one such institute, held as provided by law in each county."
99
IHISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
In 1865, Mr. Faville reported that "the provision made by the State for the benefit of teachers' institutes has never been so fully appreciated, both by the people and the teachers, as during the last two years.
By act approved March 19, 1874, Normal Institutes were established in each county, to be held annually by the County Superintendent. This was regarded as a very decided step in advance by Mr. Abernethy, and in 1876 the Sixteenth General Assembly established the first permanent State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, appropriating the building and property of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place for that purpose. This school is now " in the full tide of successful experiment."
The public school system of Iowa is admirably organized, and if the various officers who are entrusted with the educational interests of the commonwealth are faithful and competent, should and will constantly improve.
" The public schools are supported by funds arising from several sources. The sixteenth section of every Congressional Township was set apart by the General Government for school purposes, being one-thirty-sixth part of all the lands of the State. The minimum price of these lands was fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to the State of five hundred thousand acres, and an appropriation of five per cent. on all the sales of public lands to the school fund. The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all lands which escheat to it; the proceeds of all fines for the violation of the liquor and criminal laws. The money derived from these sources constitutes the permanent school fund of the State, which cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The penalties collected by the courts for fines and forfeitures go to the school fund in the counties where collected. The proceeds of the sale of lands and the five per cent. fund go into the State Treasury, and the State distributes these proceeds to the several counties accord- ing to their request, and the counties loan the money to individuals for long terms at eight per cent. interest, on security of land valued at three times the amount of the loan, exclusive of all buildings and improvements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid into the State Treasury, and becomes the avail- able school fund of the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all money so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to the school fund for all moneys transferred to the counties. The interest on these loans is apportioned by the State Auditor semi-annually to the several counties of the State, in pro- portion to the number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The counties also levy an annual tax for school purposes, which is apportioned to the several district townships in the same way. A district tax is also levied for the same purpose. The money arising from these several sources constitutes the support of the public schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the State to afford from six to nine months' school each year."
The taxes levied for the support of schools are self-imposed. Under the admirable school laws of the State, no taxes can be legally assessed or collected for the erection of school houses until they have been ordered by the election of the district at a school meeting legally called. The school houses of Iowa are the pride of the State and an honor to the people. If they have been some- times built at a prodigal expense, the tax payers have no one to blame but themselves. The teachers' and contingent funds are determined by the Board of Directors under certain legal restrictions. These boards are elected annually, except in the independent districts, in which the board may be entirely changed every three years.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
POLITICAL RECORD.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
Governors-Robert Lucas, 1838-41; John Chambers, 1841-45 ; James Clarke, 1845.
Secretaries-William B. Conway, 1838, died 1839; James Clarke, 1839; O. H. W. Stull, 1841 ; Samuel J. Burr, 1843 ; Jesse Williams, 1845.
Auditors-Jesse Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843 . Robert M. Secrest, 1845.
Treasurers-Thornton Bayliss, 1839 ; Morgan Reno, 1840.
Judges-Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams, 1838 ; Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.
Presidents of Council-Jesse B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hempstead, 1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker, 1841-2; John D. Elbert, 1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843-4 ; S. Clinton Hastings, 1845 ; Stephen Hempstead, 1845-6.
Speakers of the House-William H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward Johnston, 1839-40; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner Lewis, 1841-2; James M. Morgan, 1842-3; James P. Carleton, 1843-4 ; James M. Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary, 1845-6.
First Constitutional Convention, 1844-Shepherd Leffler, President; Geo. S. Hampton, Secretary.
Second Constitutional Convention, 1846-Enos Lowe, President; William Thompson, Secretary.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
Governors-Ansel Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to 1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858; Ralph P. Lowe, 1858 to 1860; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William M. Stone, 1864 to 1868; Sam- uel Morrill, 1868 to 1872; Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872 to 1876; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876 to 1877; Joshua G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878; John H. Gear, 1878 to 1882; Buren R. Sherman, 1882 to -
Lieutenant Governor-Office created by the new constitution Septem- ber 3, 1857-Oran Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-1; John R. Needham, 1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5; Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7; John Scott, 1868-9; M. M. Walden, 1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872 -- 3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5; Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-9; O. H. Manning, 1880-82.
Secretaries of State-Elisha Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 4, 1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec. 2, 1850; George W. McCleary, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 1, 1856; Elijah Sells, Dec. 1, 1856, to Jan. 5, 1863; James Wright, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Ed. Wright, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan. 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young, Jan. 6, 1873, to Jan. 6, 1879; J. A. T. Hull, 1879, to-
Auditors of State-Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; Will- iam Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens, Dec. 4, 1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee, Sept. 22, 1855, to Jan. 3, 1859; Jona- than W. Cattell, 1859 to 1865; John A. Elliot, 1865 to 1871; John Russell, 1871 to 1875; Buren R. Sherman, 1875 to 1881; Wm. V. Lucas, 1881 to 1883.
101
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Treasurers of State-Morgan Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; Israel Kister, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1852; Martin L. Morris, Dec. 4, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones, 1859 to 1863; William H. Holmes, 1863 to 1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to 1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877; George W. Bemis, 1877 to 1881; E. H. Conger, 1881 to-
Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office created in 1847-James Harlan, June 5, 1845 (Supreme Court decided election void); Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May 23, 1844, to June 7, 1854; James D. Eads, 1854-7; Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857; Maturin L. Fisher, 1857 to Dec., 1858, when the office was abolished and the duties of the office devolved upon the Secretary of the Board of Education.
Secretarics of the Board of Education-Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 1859 to 1863; Oran Faville, Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March 23, 1864.
Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office re-created March 23, 1864-Oran Faville, March 28, 1864, resigned March 1, 1867; D. Franklin Wells, March 4, 1867, to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissell, 1870 to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1877; Carl W. Von Coelln, 1877 to 1882; John W. Akers, 1882 to-
State Binders-Office created February 21, 1855-William M. Coles, May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859; Frank M. Mills, 1859 to 1867; James S. Carter, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to 1874; H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1875; James J. Smart, 1875 to 1876; H. A. Perkins, 1876 to 1880; Matt Parrott, 1880 to-
Registers of the State Land Office-Anson Hart, May 5, 1855, to May 13, 1857; Theodore S. Parvin, May 13, 1857, to Jan. 3, 1859; Amos B. Miller, Jan. 3, 1859, to Oct., 1862; Edwin Mitchell, Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan. 5, 1863; Josiah A. Harvey, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Cyrus C. Car- penter, Jan. 7, 1867, to January, 1871; Aaron Brown, Jan., 1871, to Jan., 1875; David Secor, Jan. 1875, to 1881; J. K. Powers, 1881 to-
State Printers-Office created Jan. 3, 1840-Garret D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; William A. Horn- ish, 1853 (resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney & Dorr, 1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857 to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869; Frank M. Mills, 1869 to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to 1880; F. M. Mills, 1880 to 1882.
Adjutants General-Daniel S. Lee, 1851-55; George W. McCleary, 1855-7; Elijah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Baker, 1861 to 1877; John H. Looby, 1877 to 1881; W. L. Alexander, 1881 to ---
Attorneys General-David C. Cloud, 1853-56; Samuel A. Rice, 1856- 60; Charles C. Nourse, 1861-64; Isaac L. Allen, 1865 (resigned January, 1866); Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 (died June 12, 1867; Henry O'Connor, 1867-72; Marsena E. Cutts, 1872-76; John F. McJunkin, 1877-81; Smith McPherson, 1881 to-
Presidents of the Senate-Thomas Baker, 1846-47; Thomas Hughes, 1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9; Enos Lowe, 1850-51; William E. Leffing- well, 1852-53; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-55; William W. Hamilton, 1856-57. Under the new Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor is Presi- dent of the Senate.
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102
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Speakers of the House-Jesse B. Brown, 1847-48, Smiley H. Bonhan, 1849-50; George Temple, 1851-52; James Grant, 1853-54; Reuben Noble, 1855-56; Samuel McFarland, 1856-57; Stephen B. Sheledy, 1858-59; John Edwards, 1860-61; Rush Clark, 1862-63; Jacob Butler, 1864-65; Ed. Wright, 1866-67; John Russell, 1868-69; Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-71; James Wilson, 1872-73; John H. Gear, 1874-77; John Y. Stone, 1878; Lore Alford, 1880; Geo. R. Struble, 1882.
New Constitutional Convention, 1859-Francis Springer, President; Thos. J. Saunders, Secretary.
THE JUDICIARY .- SUPREME COURT OF IOWA.
Chief Justices .- Charles Mason, resigned in June, 1847; Joseph Wil- liams, Jan., 1847, to Jan., 1848; S. Clinton Hastings, Jan., 1848, to Jan., 1849; Joseph Williams, Jan., 1849, to Jan. 11, 1855; Geo. G. Wright, Jan. 11, 1855, to Jan., 1860; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1860, to Jan. 1, 1862; Caleb Baldwin, Jan., 1862, to Jan., 1864; Geo. G. Wright, Jan., 1864, to Jan., 1866; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1866, to Jan., 1868; John F. Dillon, Jan., 1868, to Jan., 1870; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1870, to Jan. 1, 1871; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to Jan. 1, 1872; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1874; W. E. Miller, Jan. 1, 1874, to Jan. 1, 1876; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1877; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1877, to Jan. 1, 1878; James H. Rothrock, Jan. 1, 1878-79; Austin Adams, 1880-81; Wm. H. Seevers, 1882-83.
Associate Fudges .- Joseph Williams; Thomas S. Wilson, resigned Oct., 1847; John F. Kinney, June 12, 1847, resigned Feb. 15, 1854; George Greene, Nov. 1, 1847, to Jan. 9, 1855; Jonathan C. Hall, Feb. 15, 1854, to succeed Kinney, resigned, to Jan., 1855; William G. Woodward, Jan. 9, 1855; Norman W. Isbell, Jan. 16, 1855, resigned 1856; Lacen D. Stock- ton, June 3, 1856, to succeed Isbell, resigned, died June 9, 1860; Caleb Baldwin, Jan. 11, 1860, to 1864; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan. 12, 1860; George G. Wright, June 26, 1860, to succeed Stockton, deceased; elected U. S. Senator, 1870; John F. Dillon, Jan. 1, 1864, to succeed Baldwin, resigned, 1870; Chester C. Cole, March 1, 1864, to 1877; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1868; . W. E. Miller, Oct. 11, 1864, to succeed Dillon, resigned; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to succeed Wright; Austin Adams, to 1886; James H. Rothrock, 1884.
SUPREME COURT.
William H. Seevers, Mahaska county, Chief Justice; James H. Roth- rock, Cedar county, Associate Justice ; Joseph M. Beck, Lee county, Asso- ciate Justice; Austin Adams, Dubuque county, Associate Justice; James G. Day, Fremont county, Associate Justice.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION. UNITED STATES SENATORS.
(The first General Assembly failed to elect Senators.)
George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-1858 ; Augustus C. Dodge, Bur- lington, Dec. 7, 1848-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 6, 1855-1865; James W. Grimes, Burlington, Jan. 26, 1858-died 1870; Samuel J. Kirkwood, Jowa City, elected Jan. 13, 1866, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of James
103
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Harlan ; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, March 4, 1866-1872 ; James B. Howell, Keokuk, elected Jan. 20, 1870, to fill vacancy caused by the death of J. W. Grimes-term expired March 3d; George G. Wright, Des Moines, March 4, 1871-1877; William B. Allison, Dubuque, March 4, 1872; Samuel J. Kirk- wood, March 4, 1877.
MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Twenty-ninth Congress-1846 to 1847 .- S. Clinton Hastings ; Shepherd Leffler.
Thirtieth Congress-1847 to 1849 .- First District, William Thompson ; Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-first Congress-1849 to 1851 .- First District, First Session, Wm. Thompson; unseated by the House of Representatives on a contest, and election remanded to the people. First District, Second Session, Daniel F. Miller. Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-second Congress-1851 to 1853 .- First District, Bernhart Henn. Second District, Lincoln Clark.
Thirty-third Congress-1853 to 1855 .- First District, Bernhart Henn. Second District, John P. Cook.
Thirty-fourth Congress-1855 to 1857 .- First District, Augustus Hall. Second District, James Thorington.
Thirty-fifth Congress-1857 to 1859 .- First District, Samuel R. Curtis. Second District, Timothy Davis.
Thirty-sixth Congress-1859 to 1861 .- First District, Samuel R. Curtis. Second District, William Vandever.
Thirty-seventh Congress-1861 to 1863 .- First District, First Session, Samuel R. Curtis .* First District, Second and Third Sessions, James F. Wil- son. Second District, William Vandever.
Thirty-eighth Congress-1863 to 1865 .- First District, James F. Wilson. Second District, Hiram Price. Third District, William B. Allison. Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell. Fifth District, John A. Kasson. Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard."
Thirty-ninth Congress-1865 to 1867 .- First District, James F. Wilson ; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William B. Allison ; Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell ; Fifth District, John A. Kasson ; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.
Fortieth Congress-1867 to 1869 .- First District, James F. Wiison ; Sec- ond District, Hiram Price ; Third District, William B. Allison, Fourth District, William Longhridge; Fifth District, Grenville M. Dodge; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.
Forty-first Congress-1869 to 1871 .- First District, George W. McCrary ; Second District, William Smyth; Third District, William B. Allison ; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth Dis- trict, Charles Pomeroy.
Forty-second Congress-1871 to 1873 .- First District, George W. Mc- Crary ; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton ; Third District, W. G. Donnan ; Fourth District, Madison M. Waldon ; Fifth District, Frank W. Palmer ; Sixth District, Jackson Orr.
Forty-third Congress-1873 to 1875 .- First District, George W. McCrary; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton ; Third District, William Y. Donnan ; Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth District, James Wilson ; Sixth District,
* Vacated seat by acceptance of commission as Brigadier General, and J. F. Wilson chosen his successor.
104
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
William Loughridge; Seventh District, John A, Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; Ninth District, Jackson Orr.
Forty-fourth Congress-1875 to 1877 .- First District, George W. Mc- Crary ; Second District, John Q. Tufts ; Third District, L. L. Ainsworth; Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt ; Fifth District, James Wilson ; Sixth District, Ezekiel S. Sampson ; Seventh District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill ; Fifth District, Addison Oliver.
Forty-fifth Congress-1877 to 1879 .- First District, J. C. Stone; Second District, Hiram Price ; Third District, T. W. Burdick; Fourth District, H. C. Deering ; Fifth District, Rush Clark; Sixth District, E. S. Sampson ; Seventh District, H. J. B. Cummings ; Eighth District, W. F. Sapp; Ninth District, Addison Oliver.
WAR RECORD.
The State of Iowa may well be proud of her record during the War of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865. The following brief but comprehensive sketch of the history she made during that trying period is largely from the pen of Col. A. P. Wood, of Dubuque, the author of " The History of Iowa and the War," one of the best works of the kind yet written.
> " Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the General Government, in the courage and constancy of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the War of the Rebellion, Iowa proved herself the peer of any loyal State. The proclamation of her Governor, responsive to that of the President, calling for volunteers to compose her First Regiment, was issued on the fourth day after the fall of Sumter. At the end of only a single week, men enough were reported to be in quarters (mostly in the vicinity of their own homes) to fill the regiment. These, however, were hardly more than a tithe of the number who had been offered by company com- manders for acceptance under the President's call. So urgent were these offers that the Governor requested (on the 24th of April) permission to organize an additional regiment. While awaiting an answer to this request, he conditionally accepted a sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regiments. In a short time, he was notified that both of these would be accepted. Soon after the completion of the Second and Third Regiments (which was near the close of May), the Adjutant General of the State reported that upward of one hundred and seventy companies had been tendered to the Governor to serve against the enemies of the Union.
" Much difficulty and considerable delay occured in, fitting these regiments for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit (not uniform) of clothing was extemporized-principally by the volunteered labor of loyal women in the different towns-from material of various colors and qualities, obtained within the limits of the State. The same was done in part for the Second Infantry. Meantime, an extra session of the General Assembly had been called by the Governor, to convene on the 15th of May. With but little delay, that body authorized a loan of $800,000, to meet the extraordinary expenses incurred, and to be incurred, by the Executive Department, in consequence of the new emer- gency. A wealthy merchant of the State (Ex-Governor Merrill, then a resident of McGregor) immediately took from the Governor a contract to supply a com- plete outfit of clothing for the three regiments organized, agreeing to receive, should the Governor so elect, his pay therefor in State bonds at.par. This con-
105
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
tract he executed to the letter, and a portion of the clothing (which was manu- factured in Boston, to his order) was delivered at Keokuk, the place at which the troops had rendezvoused, in exactly one month from the day on which the contract had been entered into. The remainder arrived only a few days later. This clothing was delivered to the regiment, but was subsequently condemned by the Government, for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been adopted as the color to be worn by the national troops.'
Other States also clothed their troops, sent forward under the first call of President Lincoln, with gray uniforms, but it was soon found that the con- federate forces were also clothed in gray, and that color was at once abandoned by the Union troops. If both armies were clothed alike, annoying if not fatal mistakes were liable to be made.
But while engaged in these efforts to discharge her whole duty in common with all the other Union-loving States in the great emergency, Iowa was compelled to make immediate. and ample provision for the protection of her own borders, from threatened invasion on the south by the Secessionists of Missouri, and from danger of incursions from the west and northwest by bands of hostile Indians, who were freed from the usual restraint imposed upon them by the presence of regular troops stationed at the frontier posts. These troops were withdrawn to meet the greater and more pressing danger threatening the life of the nation at its very heart.
To provide for the adequate defense of her borders from the ravages of both rebels in arms against the Government and of the more irresistible foes from the Western plains, the Governor of the State was authorized to raise and equip two regiments of infantry, a squadron of cavalry (not less than five companies) and a battalion of artillery (not less than three companies.) Only cavalry were enlisted for home defense, however, "but," says Col. Wood, "in times of special danger, or when calls were made by the Unionists of Northern Missouri for assistance against their disloyal enemies, large numbers of militia on foot often turned out, and remained in the field until the necessity for their services had passed.
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