USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 11
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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
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WILLIAM M. STONE.
he was paroled for the time of forty days, with orders to repair to Washington. and if possible secure an agreement for a cartel for a general ex- change of prisoners, and to return as a prisoner if lie 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, lowa 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 Southeast 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. lle 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 forearm. Col. Stone commanded a brigade until the last of August, when, being ordered to the Gulf Department, he resigned. He had become very popular with the people of Iowa.
Ile 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, 1861, 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. Ilis 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 gubernatorial term he has sought to escape the public notice, and has given his time to his private business interests. IIe is in partnership with HIon. O. B. Ayres, of Knoxville, in legal practice.
lle was elected to the General Assembly in 1877. and served one term.
In May, 1857, he married Miss Carloaet Mathews, a native of Ohio, then residing in Knoxville. They have one son-William A
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135
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Samuel Merrill
AMUEL MERRILL, Governor from 1868 to 1872, was born in Oxford County, Maine. Aug. 7, 1822. He is a de- seendant on his mother's side of Peter Hill, who came from England and settled in Maine in 1653. From this aneestry have sprung most of the Hills in Ameri- ca. On his father's side he 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 Dec. 18, 1708. On the 4th of Aug- 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, Ir., was the 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. Ilaving determined to make teaching a profession, and feeling that the South offered better opportu- uities, Le 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 Stato, where the next several years were spent in farming. In 1847 he moved to Tamworth, N. H., where he engaged in the mercantile business in company with a brother, in which he was quite successful. Not being satisfied with the limited resources of North- ern New England he 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 MeGregor, Iowa, where he established a branch house of the old firm. The population in- creased, as also did their trade, and their house he- 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 politics. 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 Ingher. In coming to Iowa his experience and ability were demanded by his neighbors, and he was here called into public serv- ice. He 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 commis- sioned Colonel of the 21st lowa Infantry, and im- mediately went to the front. At the time Marma- duke 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 lowa and 99th Illinois, a portion of the 3d lowa Cavalry and two pieces of artillery, with orders to make a forced 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 service, 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 up 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 Me- Gregor. In 1867 Mr. Merrill was chosen Gov- ernor of the State, being elected upon the Repub- lican ticket. Ile 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 inaugurated. The Thirteenth General Assembly provided for the building at a cost of 81,500,000, 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 eloquent 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- ceived it.
During the gubernatorial career of Gov. Mer- rill, extending through two terms, from Janu- ary, 1868, to January, 1872, he was actively en- gaged in the discharge of his official duties, and probably no incumbent of that office ever devoted himself more earnestly to the public good, stand- ing by the side of Gov. Fairchild, of Wisconsin. The two were instrumental in placing the slack- water navigation between the Mississippi and the Lakes in the way of ultimate and certain success. The Governor treated this subject to great length 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 public service he re- turned to MeGregor, 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 lowa's most promi- nent citizens, and one who has made an honorable record both in public positions and private enter- prises. He is highly esteemed 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.
E NEW YORK MALIC LIBRARY
ST, LENOX AND T. . . YOU. DATIONS.
C.C.berpentru
139
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
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Cyrus Clay Carpenter
YRUS CLAY CARPENTER, Governor of lowa from 1872 to 1875, inclusive, was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., Nov. 24, 1829. lle 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 eighteen 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 lowa, 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 fond 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. Hle 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 1861 he was promoted Lientenant-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 Angust, 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 suck an influx of enterprising men into the city, he found his once prosperous business in the hands of
110
CIRUS CLAY CARPENTER.
others. Ile turned his attention to the improve- ment of a piece of land, where he remained until nis election, in the autumn of 1866, as Register of the State Land-Office. Ile 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 elected, and inaugurated as Chief Executive of lowa 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, modest, 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. lle 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 respects,
Gov. Carpenter has been regarded as- a public speaker of more than ordinary ability, and has apon many occasions been the orator, and always appreciated by the people.
At the expiration of his second term as Governor Mr. Carpenter was appointed Second Comptroller of the United States Treasury, which position he resigned after a service of fifteen months. This step was an evidence of his unselfishness, as it was taken because another Bureau officer was to be dis- missed, as it was held that lowa had more heads of Bureaus than she was entitled to, and his resigning an office of the higher grade saved the position to mother. In 1881 he was elected to Congress, and served with ability, and in the Twentieth General 1 .- sembly of lowa he represented Webster County.
Gov. Carpenter was married, in March, 1864, to Miss Susan Burkholder, of Fort Dodge. No chil- dren have been born to them, but they have reared a niece of Mrs. Carpenter's.
During his entire life Mr. Carpenter has been de- voted to the principles of Reform and the best
interests of all classes of citizens who, by adoption or by birth-right, are entitled to a home upon our soil and the protection of our laws, under the great charter of " Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Hap- piness." In an address in 1852 he took advanced views upon the leading subjects of public interest. Ile had already laid the foundation for that love of freedom which afterwards found an ample field of labor with the Republican party. There was noth- ing chimerical in his views. IL looked at every strata of human society, and, from the wants of the masses, wisely devined duty and prophesied destiny. lle would have the people of a free Republie edu- cated in the spirit of the civilization of the age. Instead of cultivating a taste for a species of liter. ature tending directly to degrade the mind and deprave the heart, thereby leading back to a state of superstition and consequent barbarism, he would cultivate principles of temperance, industry and economy in every youthful mind, as the indispens- able ingredients of good citizens, or subjects upon whose banner will be inscribed Liberty, Equality. Fraternity.
Thus early in life Mr. Carpenter saw the destined tendency of our American institutions, and the ad- vaneing civilization of the age. lle saw it in the peace congress, whose deliberations have made the Rhine thrice immortal. lle saw it in the prospeet- ive railway, which he believed would one day unite the shores of the Atlantic with those of the Pacific-a fact realized by the construction of the great continental railway.
It was thus early that he began to study the wants of the world, and with what clearness and direetness may be seen by the correctness of his vision and the accomplishment of what he eonsid- ered an inevitable necessity.
Thus, growing up into manhood, and passing on- ward in the rugged pathway of time, disciplined in political economy and civil ethics in the stern school of experience, he was prepared to meet every emergency with a steady hand; to bring order out of discord, and insure harmony and prosperity.
Gov. Carpenter is now engaged in the quiet pur- snits of farm life, residing at Fort Dodge, where he is highly esteemed as one of her purest minded and most upright citizens.
D.G. Kanbolo
143
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Joshua
Newbold.
OSHUA G. NEWBOLD, the ninth Governor of lowa, is a native of Pennsylvania. He comes from that excellent stock known as the Friends, who very early settled in New Jersey. JJoshua G. is the son of Barzilla and Catherine (House) Newbokl, and was born in Fayette County, May 12, 1830. Ile was born a farmer's boy and was reared in the vigor- ous employment of farm work. When he was eight years of age the family moved to Westmoreland County, Pa., where, in the common schools and in a select school or academy, young Newbold received his education. When sixteen years of age he accompanied the family on their re- turn to Fayette County. Here for the following eight years he assisted his father in running a flour- ing-mill as well as devoting much of his time to teaching school. When about nineteen years of age our subjeet began the study of medicine, de- voting much of his time while teaching to his med- cal books. IIe, however, abandoned the idea of becoming a physician and turned his attention to different walks in life.
In the month of Marel, 1854, Mr. Newbold re- moved to lowa, locating on a farm, now partly in the corporation of Mount Pleasant, Henry County.
At the end of one year he removed to Cedar Township, Van Buren County, there merchandising and farming till about 1860, when he removed to Hillsboro, Henry County, and pursued the same callings.
In 1862, when the call was made for 600,000 men to finish the work of erushing the Rebellion, Mr. Newbold left his farm in the hands of his family and his store in charge of his partner, and went into the army as Captain of Company C, 25th Regiment of Iowa Infantry. He served nearly three years, resigning just before the war closed, on account of disability. During the last two or three months he served at the South he filled the position of Judge Advocate, with headquarters at Woodville, Ala.
Ilis regiment was one of those that made Iowa troops famous. It arrived at IIelena, Ark., in November, 1862, and sailed in December following on the expedition against Vicksburg by way of Chickasaw Bayon. At the latter place was its first engagement. Its second was at Arkansas Post, and there it suffered severely, losing in killed and wounded more than sixty.
After Lookout Mountain it joined in the pursuit of Bragg's flying forces to Ringgold, where it en- gaged the enemy in their strong works, November 27, losing twenty-nine wounded. The following year it joined Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign, then on the famous march to the sea and through the Carolinas.
On returning to Iowa he continued in the mer-
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JOSHUA G. NEWBOLD.
rantile trade at Hillsboro for three or four years, and then sold out, giving thereafter his whole at- tention to agriculture, stock -raising and stock-deal- ing, making the stock department an important factor in his business for several years. Mr. New- bold was a member of the 13th, 14th and 15th Gen- eral Assemblies, representing Henry County, and was Chairman of the School Committee in the 14th, and of the committee on appropriations in the 15th General Assembly. In the 15th (1874) he was tem- porary Speaker during the deadlock in organizing the Ilouse. In 1875 he was elected Lieutenant Governor on the Republican ticket with Samuel .J. Kirkwood.
Ilis Democratie competitor was E. D. Woodward, who received 93,060 votes, Mr. Newbokl received 134,166, or a majority of 31,106. Governor Kirk- wood being elected United States Senator during that session, Mr. Newboll became Governor, taking the chair Feb. 1, 1877, and vacating it for Gov. Gear in January, 1878.
Gov. Newbokl's message to the Legislature in 1878, shows painstaking care and a clear, busi- ness-like view of the interests of the State. His recommendations were carefully considered and largely adopted. The State's finances were then in a less creditable condition than ever before or since, as there was an increasing floating debt, then amounting to $340,826.56, more than $90,000 in excess of the Constitutional limitation. Said Gov. Newbokl in his message: "The commonwealth ought not to set an example of dilatoriness in meeting its obligations. Of all forms of indebt- eilness, that of a floating character is the most ob- jectionable. The uncertainty as to its amount will
invariably enter into any computation made by per- sons contracting with the State for supplies. mater- ial or labor. To remove the present difficulty, and to avert its recurrence, I look upon as the most im- portant work that will demand your attention."
One of the greatest problems before statesmen is that of equal and just taxation. The following recommendation shows that Gov. Newbokl was abreast with foremost thinkers, for it proposes a step which yearly finds more favor with the people: " The inequalities of the personal-property valu- ations of the several counties suggest to my mind the propriety of so adjusting the State's levy as to require the counties to pay into the State treasury only the tax on realty, leaving the corresponding tax on personalty in the county treasury. This would rest with each county the adjustment of its own personal property valuations, without fear that they might be so high as to work injustice to itself in comparison with other counties."
Gov. Newboll has always affiliated with the Republican party, and hokls to its great cardinal doctrines, having once embraced them, with the same sincerity and honesty that he cherishes his re- ligious sentiments. Ile has been a Christian for something like twenty-five years, his connection be- ing with the Free-Will Baptist Church. He found his wife, Rachel Farquhar, in Fayette County, Pa., their union taking place on the 2d of May, 1850. They have had five children and lost two. The names of the living are Mary Allene, Emma Irene and (feorge C.
The Governor is not yet an old man, and may serve his State or county in other capacities in the coming years.
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ASTA TILVENT .DATIONS.
130
northern
147
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
John
, 6 rear.
OHN H. GEAR, the tenth gentleman to occupy the Executive Chair of Iowa, is still a resident of Burlington. He is a native of the Empire State, where in the city of Ithica, April 7, 1825, he was born. Rev. E. G. Gear, his father, was born in New London, Conn., in 1792, and became a distinguished clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His family had removed with him, while he was still young, to Pittsfield, Mass., and in the year 1816, after his ordina- tion as a clergyman of the Episco- pal Church, he went to New York and located at Onondaga Ilill near the city of Syracuse. Shortly after this settlement, the young minister was united in marriage with Miss Miranda E. Cook. After serving various congregations in Western New York for many years, he de- termined to become a pioneer in Northern Illinois, which at the time, in the year 1836, was being rapidly settled up. lle found a desirable location at Galena where he remained un- til 1838, when he received the appointment as Chaplain in the United States army while located at Fort Snelling, Minn. Ile lived a long and act. ive life, doing much good, quitting his labors in
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