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 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Unassigned recruit .- Hamilton Canada, enlisted Jan. 18, 1865.
SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Company I .- Andrew Shaw, private, enlisted May 24, 1861.
FORTY-NINTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Company B .- Abram Tewilligar, private, enlisted Oct. 15, 1861.
517
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
SIXTY-FIRST ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Company I .- John Shay, private, enlisted March 28, 1862.
SIXTY-SIXTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Company I-Privates: Robert G. Andrews, enlisted Oct. 2, 1861; Wm. Bellmore, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; Lawrence Convey, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; Henry Convers, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; John Convey, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; Henry Case, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; John W. Dawson, enlisted Oct. 2, 1861; Jason W. Darwart, enlisted Oct. 1, 1861; David Feighner, enlisted Sept. 16, 1861; Howard Ferson, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; Henry B. Foster, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; Richard M. Jelly, enlisted Oct. 26, 1861; Lyon Casson, enlisted Oct. 2, 1861; Wm. F. Nichols, enlisted Oct. 1, 1861; Ambrose Rankin, enlisted Sept. 29, 1861; James Stanard, enlisted Sept. 26, 1861; Geo. W. Steobold, enlisted Sept. 27, 1861; Martin Watts, enlisted Oct. 2, 1861.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.
Company H .- Samuel C. Davis, private, enlisted Aug. 10, 1862; Geo. W. Davis, private, enlisted Aug. 20, 1861.
FIFTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY.
Company G .- John Myers, private, enlisted Sept. 6, 1864.
CHAPTER VIII .- PART 2.
WAR MATTERS AT HOME.
Soldiers' Bounty and Relief Funds .- List of Soldiers' Wives aided .- The Military Draft .- Reception of Returned Regiment .- List of Johnson County Men in the Mexican War .- Johnson County's "Mormon War."
SOLDIERS' BOUNTY AND RELIEF FUNDS.
All through the years 1861, '62, '63, '64, the county board struggled with difficulties in the matter of encouraging enlistments in the Union army and providing relief for the families of the men who went to the battle front. Various rules and orders were made, and afterward changed, modified or rescinded. The board was often divided on the matter; and change of members brought change of policy. Appropriations were made at differ- ent times, the highest sum at one time being $12,000. But as the records are not indexed, it was found impossible for the purposes of this history to hunt out and schedule or tabulate all of the county's doings in this regard. However, some of the more important transactions have been noted, in order to show to the rising generation something of the condition of things existing in that memorable war time. 33
518
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
On June 5, 1862, the committee on war fund reported that the total amount expended to aid soldiers' families up to that time was $2,541.38; and that sixty-eight families, numbering in all 227 persons, had been so aided. James Remley, John Reed, John Parrott, G. E. DeForrest, and Wm. Wolfe were the committee.
At a special meeting, August 4, 1862, a series of patriotic resolutions were adopted which gave no uncertain sound. President Lincoln had called for 300,000 more men to put down the rebellion; and Johnson county came square and promptly up to the mark. $12,000 was appro- priated as a "relief and bounty fund," and a levy of four mills made to raise the money. $50 bounty was offered to each man who enlisted before August 20; and $30 to each one from August 20 to September 10. These sums were not intended to hire men to go, but to guarantee assist- ance and care for their families, in addition to their army wages.
June 2, 1863, J. T. Turner, who had been acting as relief agent, reported that he had paid out since the January meeting $3,335.68, to 222 soldiers' families, numbering in all 830 persons.
March 2, 1864, a special meeting was held, in view of the President's call for 500,000 more men. And it was ordered that $100 bounty should be paid to each man who enlisted on and after February 22, 1864; and that a tax should be levied in each township to pay this bounty to every man so credited on its quota of the whole number to be raised in the county.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVI- SORS OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA, MARCH 3, 1864.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1864.
Board met in pursuance to the call of the clerk. Members all present. The following resolution was introduced by Fairall:
Resolved, That this board vote a bounty to raise recruits under the Federal call for troops.
The yeas and nays being called for, the resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Those voting yea were: Carroll, Carwin, Fairall, Green, Huskins, Har- ris, Meacham, Miller, Stevenson, Shaver, Smith and Zeller-12 Nays- Cook, Dudley, Felkner, Moreton, Paul, Sanders, White and Shuey-8.
The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That there be and hereby is appropriated the sum of one hundred dollars per man for each recruit accepted and credited since February 22, 1864, or that may be accepted and credited to the quota of Johnson county, under the late 500,000 call made by the President of the United States; and to pay said sum appropriated at the September meet- ing of this board, there shall be levied on the taxable property in each township in this county which has furnished recruits under said call, on and since February 22, 1864, a tax, sufficient to pay for each recruit so furnished for said call by said townships under said call, or since February 22, 1864.
519
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
The intent of this resolution being that each township shall be taxed to pay its bounties to the men by it furnished, and where any money has been furnished by private subscription to pay said bounty for the benefit of any township, such money shall be refunded from the tax of the said township to the individual who paid the same, provided the sum so refunded shall not exceed one hundred dollars per man.
Resolved, The county judge be appointed a commissioner to determine who is entitled to said bounty, and on his order the clerk of this board shall issue a warrant on the county treasurer for the sum due each recruit, which warrants shall draw interest the same as other county war- rants, and to be paid out of the fund raised by said tax and from no other fund.
The committee on per diem and mileage reported $65.44 due the mem- bers.
On motion the board adjourned. J. G. CARWIN, President.
T. J. Cox, Clerk.
From county supervisors' proceedings of June 6, 1864, the following points are taken :
On motion -
Resolved, That the clerk be authorized to correspond with each recruit who has been accredited to each township, and who are reported to have received bounty, under the order of the board, March 2, 1864, and inqure what amount of bounty each received and from whom received.
Report of Committee on Relief Fund .- Your committee appointed to examine the account of the disbursing agent of the relief fund, and report as to the further distribution of said fund, ask leave to report as follows, to-wit:
We have made a partial examination of the accounts and vouchers of said officer, and we are of the opinion that the whole report of said agent is correct. As to the further distribution of said fund, your commit- tee feel a hesitancy or delicacy in making any recommendation in refer- ence to the matter. We have found for some time past that it is an impossibility to discriminate in these matters as to who is really entitled to aid from said fund, and believe that the present system costs the county much more than the old system when we had an agent in Iowa City for all applicants to come to.
We are of the opinion that this board should appoint an agent residing in Iowa City to take charge of the whole matter of determining who is entitled to relief, and pay over to them such amounts as in his judgment their necessities require; that said agent be instructed to require all claim- ing aid to subscribe to an oath as to their effects and abilities of living without aid from said fund. The board has never contemplated paying indiscriminately, but only to persons who are actually in need, and liable to suffer if nothing is given.
We are of opinion that many persons are drawing from said fund who could live without, and under the present system members are imposed upon.
In some townships remote from the county seat, where it would be inconvenient and expensive for applicants to come to Iowa City to see the agent, we would recommend that the supervisors govern the matter as they deem best, either give orders on the agent, or send said applicants to the agent.
520
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
We would also recommend that not more than four dollars per month be paid to any wife or widow of any soldier or commissioned officer and only to those having families, and not more than one dollar per month for each child under twelve years in such families, and such amounts to be paid only when their actual necessities require it, and we would further instruct said agent to make no allowance to any one drawing a pension from the general government, and that he be required to make a receipt for each and every payment, and give bonds in the sum of $2,000.
Your committee would further recommend that Gen. Fesler be appointed said agent, as he has become acquainted with most of such applicants and with their necessities.
JOHN COOK, N. ZELLER, J. P. HUSKINS, E. CARROLL,
Committee.
A LIST OF SOLDIERS' WIVES RECEIVING AID FROM RELIEF FUND FROM JUNE, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER, 1864, AND THE AMOUNT RECEIVED BY EACH.
Iowa City Township .- M. Anderson, $19.50; Margaret Ater, 21.00; Harriet Allen, 21.25; M. J. Arthur, 13.25; Mary J. Ayres, 12.00; M. J. Amlong, 21.00; Grace Bell, 22.00; Joanna Burns, 15.00; Jane Barrett, 25.75; Madelia Berry, 38.75; Harriet Ball, 25.00; Maria Barker, 25.00; Elizabeth Boisted, 7.00; Susan Brown, 21.00; Anna Brown, 5.00; Lucy C. Chamberlain, 22.00; Catharine Clark, 21.25; Bridget Conners, 27.00; Mary Cannon, 35.00; Clarissa Chamberlain, 20.00; J. A. E. Carson, 28.75; Rebecca Cooper, 24.00; Lucinda Coventry, 15.00; Louisa Cashia, 15.00; Mary Chapman, 12.00; Catharine Carson, 1.00; Elizabeth Cahill, 26.00; Serrapta Douglas, 1.50; Bridget Dulan, 24.25; Mary Dewolf, 18.00; J. Dick, 14.00; Mrs. Dunwoody, 1.25; Ann Elleman, 26.00; Sarah Emmerson, 26.00; Mrs. Elsworth, 1.25; Maria Farnsworth, 33.50; Mar- garet Fitzgerald, 35.50; P. P. Finefield, 20.50; M. C. Fowle, 35.50; Lucy Foster, 8.00; H. W. Fosberry, 19.50; M. A. Fisher, 29.25; Mrs. C. Fow- ler, 16.25; Clarinda Gilliland, 29.25; Mrs. C. Gossenberger, 15.00; Paul- ine Goody, 22.50; Mary L. Graham, 22.50; Catharine Group, 23.25; J. O. Gower & Co., 3.10; Minerva Haddock, 9.00; M. B. Huff, 23.00; Mary Hills, 14.25; E. J. Hill, 30.00; M. A. Hanly, 29.00; Mary Hergen- satter, 32.25; Eliza Hubbard, 33.00; Dorinda Harrington, 19.25; Sarah Henry, 1.25; M. E. Jones, 26.50; Anna Jones, 16.25; Anna Joveskey, 15.25; Maria Johnson, 25.00; Henrietta Kruger, 26.25; Barbara Krell, 28.75; Elizabeth Kehn, 16.50; Mrs. Klingerman, 7.50; Sarah Lindsey, 15.50; Mrs. Perry Lake, 5.00; Mary Metzinger, 16.00; Eunice McCart, 30.50; Helen Margus, 30.00; S. A. Mathews, 35.70; Nancy Moore, 28.00; Ursula Mehrlein, 24.75; Margaret Moffit, 26.00; Samantha McConnell, 22.75; Drusilla More, 24.00; Marietta Miller, 19.25; Susanna Mash, 5.00; Mary Miller, 3.75; C. A. Mooney, 9.00; G. A. McCann, 6.00; Lizzie Nichols, 11.00; S. A. Overstreet, 21.25; H. M. Payne, 29.75; Anna Purdy, 26.75; Helen Poland, 14.25; Malissa Poland, 16.25; Minerva
521
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Paskett, 32.00; M. A. Plum, 7.50; Catharine Poor, 14.50; Lucinda Rians, 15.00; R. L. Ross, 19.25; Mrs. A. Reever, 3.00; N. J. Rolstan, 27.00; Mrs. Mike Ruppert, 27.50; Charlotta Roomeis, 25.50; Elizabeth Roberts, 26.00; Elizabeth Richmond, 20.25; M. J. Stroud, 38.00; Sintha Shearer, 36.00; Mary Snyder, 13.75; Margaret Sliker, 27.00; Ann Schwearer, 13.75; Martha E. Smith, 26.00; Mary E. Schell, 21.75; Louisa Shaup, 29.00; Barbara Straehl, 8.00; Catharine Stapler, 22.75; R. C. Tumbull, 16.50; N. J. Timberlake, 15.25; Sarah Tallman, 23.00; N. V. Tanner, 8.75; R. A. Vandyke, 10.50; Ellen Worthington, 30.75; V. M. Wolf, 22.50; Mary Warren, 23.00; Adeline Wheeler, 11.50; Rebecca Wheeler, 10.50; Catharine Wheeler, 11.75; Emma Witcher, 16.25; Margaret Ward, 17.00; S. A. Warner, 14.00; Caroline Weineke, 18.00; Margaret Wood, 25.75; Sarah Winston, 19.50.
Madison Township .- Leah Alexander, 4.00; E. J. Eberly, 9.00; Deli- lah Hamlin, 11.00; Sarah Nichols, 5.00; Rosanna Stonebraker, 5.00; Elizabeth Woodling, 2.00.
Oxford Township .- Mary Barker, 9.00; M. J. Lewis, 25.00; Elizabeth Whetstone, 13.00.
Pleasant Valley Township .- Elizabeth Brooks, 25.00; Susan Batcheller, 16.00; Mrs. C. Duke, 9.00; Mrs. David Fowler, 5.00; Mrs. Bradley Harrington, 9.00; Hester Poland, 11.00; Sarah Rafter, 8.00; Hester Weed, 17.00; Francis Garbaugh, 20.00.
Washington Township .- Mary Taylor, 12.00; Nancy Gillam, 37.00.
Fremont Township .- Mary C. Brophy, 17.00; Mary Burdick, 24.00; Louisa Craig, 11.00; Cath. Hamilton, 10.00; Amand Hyler, 10.00; Cath- arine Scott, 9.00.
Penn Township .- Mary Cooney, 31.00; M. M. Direly, 6.00; Mary Gillett, 11.00; Matilda Hileman, 21.00; M. A. Lane, 18.00; G. T. May- nard, 16.00; M. V. Powell, 19.00; Catharine Volstine, 18.00; Elizabeth Yutz, 3.00; E. P. Yeanck, 21.00.
Clear Creek Township .- Eunice Brim, 11.00; Emily U. Clark, 5.00; Martha Kepford, 24.00; Jane Wilson, 21.00.
Jefferson Township .- C. M. Bryan, 13.00; Mary Fordice, 11.00; Mrs. John Hill, 8.00; Mary Maybee, 10.00; Mrs. Robertson, 5.50; Ellanor Robinson, 20.00; Mrs. Wm. Smart, 10.00; Mrs. C. C. Wyatt, 20.00; Betsy Zykey, 15.75.
Liberty Township .- M. J. Loan, 18.75; Elizabeth Myers, 5.00; Hannah Switzer, 12.00.
Newport Township .- Margaret Bloom, 10.00; Francis Barker, 12.00; Emma Boyers, 5.00; Elizabeth Eister, 6.00; Nancy Evans, 23.00; S. C. Geary, 15.00; Rachel Flatters, 16.00; L. A. Geary, 5.00; Nancy Kim- ball, 8.00; N. J. Lentz, 28.00; Elizabeth Sillians, 14.00; M. A. Speelman, 15.00; Louisa Tarbox, 12.00; Sarah Tippennaur, 29.00; Adelia Williams,
-
522
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
20.00; Caroline Doat, 7.00; M. M. Dennis, 10.00; Mrs. L. Huss, 5.00; Elizabeth Niger, 23.00; Mrs. Poiper, 9.00; Mrs. E. B. Bunnyon, 5.00.
Scott Township .- Sarah Maynard, 5.00.
Graham Township .-- Christian Dix, 18.00; M. E. Moore, 8.00.
Monroe Township .- Mary Cloud, 20.00; Mrs. Henry Ellsworth, 5.00. Hardin Township .- Mary Feighner, 15.00.
June 1, 1866, the soldier's bounty fund stood at $3,235.90. The relief fund $4,045.21. The soldiers' orphans fund $196.09-but there remained uncollected of the levy of 1866 for this fund $2,175.50; and of the relief fund uncollected, $4,358.78.
January 5, 1867, S. C. Trowbridge reported that from Sept. 3, 1866, to date, he had disbursed as relief agent, $1,236.37, and had $173.96 of the fund still on hand.
THE MILITARY DRAFT.
In the fall of 1863, when President Lincoln had called for 600,000 more troops, and they seemed not to be forthcoming, a draft was ordered to take place on Tuesday, January 5, 1864. The enrollment for Johnson county in 1863 stood thus-
FIRST CLASS. White. Colored.
SECOND CLASS. White. Colored.
Johnson County
1549 12 1021 1
Iowa claimed to have already furnished her full quota without any draft; and Adjutant General Baker kept up a dispute with the War Department in regard to the matter, by which means the draft was delayed or postponed from time to time; but it finally came, October -, 1864. The following list shows who among Johnson county men drew prizes in this war-time lottery; and the Iowa City Press, which was rabidly hostile to the war administration and all its moves and measures, made this concession in its issue of Oct. 19, 1864:
We were present at the Provost Marshal's office, during the time that the draft for this county was being made. The officers one and all appeared to enter upon their duties with the utmost concientiousness and care.
Every opportunity was given those present to examine into each step of the drafting process. We cheerfully accord to the marshal, commis- sioner and deputies, the credit of conducting the matter in the fairest manner possible, and of treating all who desired to investigate it, in the kindest and most gentlemanly manner.
LIST OF MEN DRAFTED IN JOHNSON COUNTY.
Graham Township .- Drafted: E. Hawley, Jr., P. Hennessee, Gotleib Miller. Alternates: John Oatout, John W. Barnes, E. Oatout.
Scott Township .- Drafted: Jonathan Ham, John Stevenson. Alter- nates: G. A. Chandler, Abram Hemsworth.
Cedar Township .- Drafted: Benj. Hemmingway, Samuel Spurrier, Pat. Larkin, M. Horty, T. Palmer, N. Walter. Alternates: W. Dixon, E. C. Trester, I. K. Dennis, A. Mali, M. Henik, R. Jordan.
523
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Big Grove Township .- Drafted: Warren Pratt, C. C. Painter, Wm. Hogg, M. Kashener. Alternates: L. Blum, John Hurd, John Hide, R. Russel.
Sharon Township .- Drafted: John P. Miller, F. Barclay, Fred Cais- ter, H. Schultz. Alternates: William Johns, William Evans, William R. Patton, M. J. Kaufman.
Liberty Township .- Drafted: L. Mckenzie, P. Close, H. Street. Alternates: A. Arnish, F. Rummelhard, J. Marks.
Fremont Township .- Drafted: Thomas Reed. Alternate: Geo. W. Haskell.
Pleasant Valley Township .- Drafted: Samuel Jones, L. Freeman, C. Neal, John Green, W. Chapman. Alternates: Samuel Pursel, J. Farley, James Murry, W. E. Moon, E. C. Furnow.
Monroc Township .- Drafted: Henry Mannon, John Wilkins, Charles Prope, D. A. Boget. Alternates: Jo. T. Brown, William E. Hartley, Geo. Goss, A. E. Boget.
Jefferson Township .- Drafted: Jo. Barnes, A. Scolomana, Simon Anderson. Alternates: Jo. Nowatany, E. Febious, Van. Rigall.
Madison Township .- Drafted: A. Snyder, Silas Roup, Wm. Wark, James Gould. Alternates: James Dutcher, Wes. Guttschall, Ben. Woodling, David Hoover.
Washington Township .- Drafted: J. Garverson, Jo. Gingrich, Al. P. Brown, F. Williams, Joel Anderson, J. Brenneman. Alternates: Jacob Fry, Sr., P. Everhard, John Patterson, David Bender, Jo. Haines, J. Swart- zendruber.
The Iowa City Press, of date Oct. 26, 1864, the next week after the above draft took place, contained the following editorial allusion to the men:
Most of the drafted men from this county have gone to be marched off in chain-gangs, galley slave fashion, vive la Liberte! The loyal leaguers- have succeeded in interposing niggers between their precious carcasses and the rebel bullets, by making use probably, of some of the campaign funds, while democrats, less favored, are compelled to bear the burden of the strife, which the loyal leaguers with death and hell have invoked.
PROCEEDINGS OF A MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE 22D IOWA VOLUNTEERS. [August, 1865.]
On motion the following programme was adopted:
1. All persons are requested to be at the depot on the arrival of the train.
2. The brass band and the martial music will be in readiness to play at the head of the procession.
3. As soon after the arrival of the train as the regiment can be formed, they will proceed to Metropolitan Hall, where they will rest a moment, during which a brief reception speech will be made.
4. Immediately after the reception the regiment will march to dinner.
524
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
On motion of Mrs. M'Connel, Mr. Brainerd was requested to give notice by small bills delivered at the residences of the citizens in the city, that contributions of edibles will be received and that they be delivered at the hall (not later than eleven o'clock.)
On motion the following committees were appointed :-
Finances .- Hon. S. J. Kirkwood, Dr. Murry and T. Hess.
Treasurer .- Henry Murry.
To Deliver Soldiers' Baggage Free from Depot .- Jos. M'Connel.
Committee on Music .- S. J. Hess, S. P. McCaddon and R. Huchinson.
Committee on Commissary Department .- M. W. Davis, E. Shepard and S. J. Hess.
On motion of Mr. Ealy, that Friday, August 11, be the day set for a general celebration or barbecue, to be held at the fair grounds, and that all returned soldiers of the county be requested to be present.
On motion of Col. Williams, that an ox be procured and roasted for the occasion, and that J. N. Clark and E. Clark be appointed as committee to superintend the roasting of the same.
The citizens of the city and county are requested to contribute provis- ions for the dinner, and all cooked provisions be delivered at the fair grounds by nine o'clock.
On motion, the same committees to be continued until after the 11th.
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FARMERS.
The committee on commissary stores call upon the farmers of old John- son for the following articles for the dinner of our soldier boys, on Friday, August 11:
Pigs, turkeys, chickens, hams, butter, eggs, potatoes, cabbage, beets, pickles, cucumbers, corn, beans, cheese, bread, biscuits, pies, cakes, &c.
All the above articles, unless cooked and ready for the table, must be sent in by Wednesday, the 9th inst., and all articles that are prepared for the table must be delivered on the fair grounds by 9 o'clock on Friday. Any surplus articles will be given to the families of soldiers who were killed, or died in the service. All contributions will be acknowledged in the city papers.
Articles may be left at Fink's or Davis' drug store.
M. W. DAVIS, E. SHEPARD, Com. Committee. S. J. HESS,
The following from the local columns of the Iowa City State Press, of date August 16, 1865, shows that the foregoing programme was well and nobly carried out:
The grand dinner to the soldiers on last Friday was a complete suc- cess, marred only by the heat and dust of the day, which did not at all interfere with the "vets." The soldiers of all companies that have left this county, who were home were present in their organized capacity; the whole being led oy the 22d, under Major Gearkee.
The crowd was pretty large and seemed in a very good humor. There was no fighting, quarreling, nor in fact any of the slight disorders so often seen when crowds assemble-everybody felt too good for that.
The ox, contributed by E. T. Seymour, Esq., was barbecued in a very satisfactory manner, and together with the mutton, game, and chicken fixins, made a very complete meal for the soldiers and families.
525
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Speeches were made by Capt. Geo. W. Clark, Gov. Kirkwood, J. B. Grinnell, and others. The only speeches to which we paid any attention were those of Capt. Clark and Grinnell.
The captain, it will be remembered, was with the regiment when it left the state, and accompanied it in all its tortuous course, until a painful and almost fatal wound compelled him to resign his position a few months since.
The following from his speech will tell better than we can the feeling down in Dixie concerning the Twenty-second:
" It may not seem becoming in me to speak of what our boys have done, but it seems to me that I may say with propriety that we have traveled as far as many others, and at the same time had our share of fighting. We have never known a defeat, but we have had occasion many times to be told by the enemy that 'we did not scare worth a cent.' This is doubtless true of all the Iowa regiments. They have all done nobly, and let me say that wherever I have been, over the length and breadth of this land, the best introduction I could get was to be presented as an lowa soldier. Her name is written among the stars in letters that will shine brighter and brighter while time shall endure."
Much more might we quote from this and other speeches, did space permit, but must desist. Suffice it to say, that the day and the occasion which called it forth will long live in the history of Johnson county.
JOHNSON COUNTY MEN IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
In 1846, during the administration of President James K. Polk, occurred the war with Mexico. A number of citizens of Johnson county enlisted in the army at that time, some of them serving in Mexico, while others were on duty elsewhere to take the place of "regulars" that had been sent to the front. A company of cavalry was made up mostly at Iowa City, who fully expected to go to Mexico when they enlisted, but instead were sent to Fort Atkinson on the Minnesota frontier, to watch the hos- tile Indians, in place of the regular army troops that had been sent from there to Mexico. The following are the names of the Johnson county men, as far as learned, who were members of that company:
Capt. Philip Shafer, now of Washington township.
J. R. Kimball, now of Iowa City.
Ebenezer Sangster, now of Lucas township.
W. Dollarhide, gone away.
A. J. Beason.
Elisha Ricord, now of Dallas, Texas.
M. Frye, gone to California.
Joseph M. Clemmens, deceased.
Phineas Harris, deceased.
W. F. Buck, now of Union township.
John Shaff, gone.
George W. Hess, deceased.
H. Harless, gone to California.
J. Milton Seydel, now of Scott township.
526
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Other Iowa City men who were Mexican war soldiers, but not in the above company, are:
A. R. Sausman, afterwards lived in Linn county, and now lives in Illi- nois. Served in Company K, Fifteenth U. S. Infantry.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.