USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 27
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At night I resumed my journey. I was compelled to travel but slowly because of physical exhaustion from want of food and frightful condition of my nervous system. Just about daylight I observed a negro passing near an old field. I hailed him and he awaited my approach. He told me I was but a mile from Fayette and not over three or four hundred yards from the federal pickets. He pointed out the location of the nearest sentinel to us and I, thanking him kindly, hastened forward again. This was good news for me-the goal was nearly won ! Liberty ! Friends ! Home! No man but those who may have had such an experience as mine can form an ade- quate or just conception of the emotion then moving my soul. I cried- cried like a child. Strong man as I thought myself, I felt that in the hands
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of Providence that had so far preserved and guided me, I was but as the merest babe !
I paused for a few moments to calm my feelings and collect my senses before I presented myself before the guard and when I again advanced such was my zeal to meet my friends and feel assured of safety I had almost for- gotten that my guerrilla dress would make me an object of suspicion even to them. I was soon assured of this, however, for at a sudden turn in the road, "Halt there!" greeted me and looking up I stood face to face about twenty paces removed from a cavalryman, dressed in the "bonnie blue" of my loved country's uniform. I instantly halted, awaiting his further chal- lenge. The formula of "the service" over, the sentinel was convinced I meant no harm and allowed me to approach sufficiently near him so as to hear my story, and when at last it was received by him, calling his corporal, the intelligence was instantly dispatched to post headquarters. In about half an hour I was conducted there in person and received very kindly by Captain Eaton of the Ninth Cavalry, commanding the post, who seemed to sympathize deeply with me in the relation of my sufferings and he at once dispatched intelligence of my escape to general headquarters at St. Louis. I also communicated what intelligence I possessed with regard to Ander- son's and Shelby's commands.
The command at the post belonged to the Ninth Missouri Cavalry. I feel greatly indebted to their generosity and kindness extended to me and I need no better assurance than their humane and Christian sympathy for the distress of a fellow-being to indite here they were honorable and brave boys in the field of action. I shall ever remember those boys with the kindliest of feelings and lasting gratitude. The little garrison was thrown into an unusual excitement the day following my arrival by the sudden advent of a scout with the information that Shelby and Anderson had united, crossed the river at Booneville and designed marching against Fayette. My account of the horrible affair at Centralia and of Johnson's unfortunate defeat tended perhaps to increase the excitement in anticipation of an attack from the perpetrators of such barbarities and for a while the report of the scout caused the command undue anxiety. There is one thing, however, that should be stated here perhaps, and that is, this mere handful of men, sixty all told, were to a man opposed to an evacuation of the post, as was proposed in case the scout's information should prove correct. It certainly would have been an inexcusable blunder or an event ending in horrible murder on the part of Captain Eaton to have abandoned his post on unreliable informa- tion or to have attempted its defense if assured beyond a doubt that it would be attacked by such an overwhelming force as would leave the "defenders defenseless," and but the victims to guerrilla hatred and outrage. He therefore dispatched a trusty Union man-a citizen-in quest of the desired information.
Ile returned to us in a very brief time, stating we had barely time to save ourselves, much less any of the few military supplies accumulated at the post. Shelby was said to be within eight hours' march and we were ordered to abandon the place as speedily as possible and march for Macon
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City on the St. Joe & Hannibal Railroad. We accomplished this without much delay and at Macon I bade adien to all my kind friends of the Ninth. I took the cars here for St. Joseph, at which city I gave the editor of one of the papers, a very brief statement of such facts as I have recorded in detail here. I reached my home in safety. Of what transpired there, I shall not write. You have many of you felt perhaps that such meetings as these are sacred to the participants and not to be held up for the scrutiny of the world.
To the Almighty Ruler of Heaven and Earth we owe our existence and the blessing of life today and though it is a seeming mystery to us why His beneficence should single me from the great number slain on that mem- orable occasion as a living example of the sacredness of His promise in the Word, yet in truth and honor of soul and spirit, to His name and His Prov- idence be all the honor and praise.
To our comrades of the gallant old Twenty-fifth Regiment and to the boys in blue of the corps to which the First Missouri Engineers were at- tached, one word more ere I bid you adieu. I have endeavored in this little volume to as faithfully perform as my abilities would admit. the oft-repeated promises made to you in years bygone. I have written for you the "story" so often told by the campfire, and on the picket. Thomas Goodman returned to Hawleyville and remained there for some time. He then removed to Clar- inda, where he plied his trade of blacksmithing for a number of years. He finally went to California and died there some seven or eight years ago.
PAGE COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
At the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Spain, on account of the atrocities practiced by the Spanish government in Cuba, a call for troops was inevitable. Iowa at that time had four regiments of the national guard awaiting an opportunity to take the field and of these the Third Regiment formed the nucleus of the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer In- fantry. On March 14, 1898, John C. Loper, then lieutenant colonel, was appointed colonel of the regiment and continued in command until the regi- ment was mustered out of the United States service. The other field and staff officers of the regiment were: Marcellus Miller, lieutenant colonel; W. J. Dugan, major ; Sterling P. Moon, major ; William C. Mentzer, captain and adjutant ; David S. Fairchild, major and surgcon; Donald McCrae, Jr., lieutenant and assistant surgeon; Wilbur S. Conklin, first lieutenant; J. D. Cady. first lieutenant and quartermaster ; George A. Reed, first lieutenant and battalion adjutant ; Frank M. Compton, first lieutenant and battalion adjutant ; H. C. Lann, first lieutenant and adjutant ; and Herman P. Wil- liams, chaplain. This regiment concentrated in Des Moines and went into Camp Mckinley on the 26th of April, 1898, in response to President Wil- liam Mckinley's call for one hundred and twenty-five thousand troops. Drills were at once established on the 27th, and the four regiments alluded to marched through the streets of Des Moines and were given a splendid wel- come. This march was followed by others for practice purposes and were
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rather fatiguing to the unseasoned soldier boys but they soon got toughened to the work. Regular rations of "sowbelly" and hardtack were issued. Each company was brought up to its full strength, and health precautions were at once taken in the camp. A beautiful regiment flag was presented to the Fifty-first by the Des Moines Union of King's Daughters of the Revolution. The Elks gave them a brilliant entertainment. The railroads brought in heavily loaded trains of excursionists every Sunday and all was excitement and bustle in Camp William McKinley.
May Ist Dewey startled the world and sent a thrill of satisfaction through- out the United States by his brilliant naval victory at Manila bay. This had the effect of soothing the disappointment of the Fifty-first in not being sent to Tampa, Florida, where a camp had been organized. The boys now turned their eyes and thoughts toward the Philippine Islands. Late on Thursday, June 2d, Colonel Loper received orders to report without delay to the com- manding general at San Francisco. The news went through the camp at midnight with thrilling force. There was no more sleep that night. Groups of officers and men spent the rest of the night discussing the momentous order. Sunday, June 5th, the day of departure, came and the regiment was loaded on the cars of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, the Chicago. Bur- lington & Quincy and the Northwestern railroads. In a pouring rain the troops marched to their respective depots and amid a great crowd of loya! and cheering people they started for the Pacific coast. June 10th found the regiment in Camp Merritt. Throughout its stay on the coast the regiment received marked favor from the people of San Francisco. The Iowa troops became a part of the Second Brigade, commanded by General Charles King, the gifted author of military novels. With it were brigaded the famous Twentieth Kansas and the First Tennessee. Soon on account of the un- sanitary condition of Camp Merritt, the boys were removed to the Presidio, the government military reservation, at San Francisco. This was a vast im- provement over the former camp and the health of the troops became excel- lent.
August 11th the troops were notified that the entire brigade was destined for the Philippines. The effect of this announcement was electrifying. September 19 orders came transferring the Iowa, Kansas, Tennessee and Washington (state) troops to the Department of the Philippines At this time the Second Brigade was commanded by Colonel Funston, of the Twen- tieth Kansas.
Thursday morning, November 3d, the regiment, one thousand and fifty strong, was placed on board the transport Pennsylvania and sailed out into San Francisco bay and thence through the Golden Gate on its way to the far east.
The voyage to Manila was uneventful. There were few responses to the "sick call." December 7th Manila bay was entered and a journey of six thousand nine hundred and ninety miles was finished.
The regiment remained on board the Pennsylvania at Manila in the har- bor until the 26th of the month. In the meantime the men were given shore leave parts of two days. On the evening of the 26th the vessel got up steam
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and started on an expedition to Iloilo with other transports and convoys. They arrived at their destination on the 28th but did not land, remaining on the transport in front of Iloilo until January 26, when they were ordered to Cavite and steamed into the harbor at Manila on the morning of January 31st. The Pennsylvania came to anchor off Cavite in the midst of Admiral Dewey's warships. As the transport passed the flagship Olympia, all hands of that famous vessel were called to quarters and three rousing cheers were given for the Fifty-first Iowa. The cheers were returned in kind. February 2d the First Battalion went ashore and Companies C and L were the last to disembark on February 5th. This was one of the most remarkable ex- periences of the regiment, a confinement to their transport for ninety-three days. And the health of the regiment, most strange to relate, was of the best which was a marvel to the medical staff of the army at that time. Space will not permit a relation of all the interesting details concerning the Fifty- first while in the Philippines. 1.et it be known, however, that the record of the Fifty-first is a glorious one. Their work was praised by the officers in command and upon leaving for the United States on their return home, General McArthur in a short speech to the regiment said, "God bless the lowa boys, and may you have a safe voyage. We will endeavor to com- plete the work which you have so well begun." The thinned ranks of veterans who marched into Manila September 6th, attested more than words the hard and meritorious service of the Fifty-first Iowa in the Philippines. From this on its time was taken up in making preparations to return home, and on September 22, 1899, the depleted regiment sailed on the transport Senator for San Francisco and was the last regiment to leave Luzon of that mag- nificent volunteer army that, in 1898 and 1899, upheld the honor and integ- rity of this country in its new possessions in the antipodes.
The regiment returned to the United States by way of Nagasaki. Japan, where it stopped three days, and through the Inland sca to Yokohama, where it had twenty-four hours' shore leave to visit Yokohama and Tokio. The voyage home was a pleasant one and San Francisco was reached on Octo- ber 22d. The regiment then went into camp at the Presidio, where it was finally mustered out and the boys took their various ways for home. Fol- lowing is a list of the members of the Fifty-first Iowa from this county :
SHENANDOAH.
Company E :- Captain, C. V. Mount, a veteran of the Civil war ; first lieutenant, Lamont A. Williams ; second lieutenant, Forrest E. Overholser. Louis I .. Hunter, first sergeant ; George Heffner, sergeant ; Roy Davis. ser- geant ; Carl Coloneus, sergeant ; Lincoln A. Cary, corporal; Orlando R. Shafer, John B. Smith, Silas W. Coulter, Charles G. Haynes, Henry A. Sim- mons, Albin Tornquist, Oliver N. Woods, Nathan N. Golden, hospital corps ; Charles Fulton, band ; Fred A. Barchus, Frank L. Cole, Howard W. Ross, Guy Williams, George II. Coleman, Charles L. Cline, Albert M. Smith, Lewis W. Nye, Clark Coulter, Alex W. Eskew, John L. McPeek. Buel O. Patterson, George Wilfong, George E. Mariner.
Company B :- Guy Clinton, Edward M. Duke.
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Company C :- A. H. McRoberts, second lieutenant, resigned September 26, 1898.
CLARINDA.
Company E :- E Whitney Martin, band; James T. Stuart, band; Charles Fulton, band; Fred S. Pennington, Fred A. Barchus, Clark Wilson.
Company M :- Omar Duncan, Donald J. Enfield, John Behm. John B. Enfield, Lewis E. Nelson, Harry W. Stattler, Edward J. Stattler, Harry L. Chamberlain. Ward McPherrin, Lloyd Watson.
Company B :- Harry Elrick, quartermaster sergeant; Fred Middaugh. COLLEGE SPRINGS.
Company B :- Hollis M. Johnson, Charles C. Bagnall, Porter M. Case, Charles P. McDonald, William A. McLean, Frank Powers.
COIN.
Company E :- Pearl R. Hart, William R. Sloane, Marion R. McPher- rin, John J. Monzingo.
ESSEX.
Company E :- Sidney T. Biddle and Ross A. Gilmore.
YORKTOWN.
Company E :- Orson R. Patterson.
COMPANY E.
Under the management of Captain Mount this company had been re- garded at all times as one of the best organizations of the kind in the coun- try. The company had won many prizes for the superiority of its drill and the marksmanship of its sharpshooters. Only twice was the company called out for actual service up to 1808, once the night of the Gallup tragedy in 1888, when one of its number, B. O. Rice, was slain by the bullet of a des- perado. The other time was when Coxy's army was making its famous tour and it was feared by the governor that there would be rioting at Council Bluffs.
In 1808 when war was declared with Spain, Company E quickly re- sponded to the call for troops. The young men came in from the farms, they left the workshops and the stores and the schools and colleges, buckled on their uniforms, bade their mothers, sweethearts and friends good bye and one April day took up the journey for camp. All Shenandoah assembled around the waiting train and Mayor Conway, on behalf of the assembled mul- titude, wished them God-speed and bade them go and do their duty Then followed the silent hand-clasps, the kisses, the broken words of parting and the train bore the boys away. For weeks they camped in Des Moines and then for months more upon the cold sands of San Francisco, where many were taken ill and where many comrades of other companions died; and then they sailed away across the Pacific to the shores of Luzon and thence through the jungles and swamps, where death seemed to lurk on every hand. They suffered from sickness and privations and wounds but their lives were wonderfully preserved and in November, 1899, the veterans returned to their homes, amid the plaudits and acclamations of their friends and a multitude of people from the surrounding country.
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GROWTH OF THE COUNTY IN POPULATION.
The early growth of the county was very slow. From 1840 up to 1848 there was scarcely thirty families in Page county. For the next ten years, while the growth was not rapid, it kept up a steady increase. The early set- tlers were nearly all native born Americans, coming from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. They made a splendid class of settlers both in brawn, intelligence and character. The following table has been taken from the census of 1865, 1900 and 1905. At a glance the reader will readily compute the changes and increase in population from the first census taken of the county, and the last one.
1865.
Total
Townships
Population
Nodaway
. 1374
Buchanan
859
Fremont
107
Tarkio 366
583
Nebraska
422
Valley
270
Douglas
106
Washington
200
Pierce
106
Clarinda
427
Hawleyville
160
Amity
193
Total
. 5.202
1900.
Total
Townships
Population
Valley
885
Douglas
700
Fremont
954
Pierce 629
Grant
763
Tarkio
928
Nodaway
2404
Nebraska
701
East River 960
Harlan
1113
Lincoln
646
Morton
624
Washington
806
Colfax
671
Amity
704
Buchanan
829
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Amity
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Hepburn
Towns
118
Essex
710
Shenandoah
Ward I
Ward 2
Ward 3
.3573
Yorktown
170
Clarinda
Ward
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4 .3276
Shambaugh
Coin
574.
Northboro
520
College Springs
693
Braddyville
236
Difference between assessors returns in townships and Census Bulletin
Total
. 24,187
1905.
Total
Townships
Population
Valley
765
Douglas
669
Fremont
850
Pierce 608
732
Tarkio
838
Nodaway
1242
Nebraska
626
East River
851
Harlan
850
Lincoln
600
Morton
533
Washington
575
Colfax
604
Amity
634
Buchanan
761
Towns
Hepburn
127
Essex
779
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Grant
Blanchard
i
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Shenandoah
Ward 1,
1235
Ward 2, 1432
Ward 3, 1575 4242
Yorktown
184
Clarinda
Ward I,
1232
Ward 2,
963
Ward 3.
1112
Ward 4,
713 4020
Shambaugh
242
Coin
546
Northboro
205
Blanchard
453
College Springs 667
Braddyville
308
Difference between assessors returns in townships
and Census Bulletin
95
Total
23.606
IMPORTANT TO TAXPAYERS.
Board of Supervisors meet second secular day in January, first Monday in April and June, second Monday in September and the Monday following the general election in November.
County Superintendent's office days, Mondays and Saturdays.
Examination of Teachers on the last Friday, Wednesday and Thursday preceding, in the months of January, June, July and October.
Taxes become due the first Monday in January and are payable in two installments.
First installment is delinquent March Ist, and second installment is de- linquent September 1st.
If first installnent is not paid before April Ist, a penalty of one per cent per month is added to the total tax.
First installment being paid before April ist, penalty does not attach to second installment until October 1st.
Tax sale first Monday in December.
Prior to tax sale an advertising fee of 20 cents attaches, if sold 35 cents for each certificate is added.
For redemption under tax sale 8 per cent penalty is added to sum paid by tax purchaser at tax sale, and all subsequent taxes paid by him under the sale.
Also 8 per cent interest from time of payment until redeemed. together with costs of redemption certificate.
Tax sale runs three years before purchasers will be entitled to tax deed.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Recovery from the county cannot be had for aid furnished, before ap- plication is made to the trustees and the furnishing of such aid is authorized by them.
All aid for the poor of the several townships must be obtained through the township trustees.
The Board of Supervisors shall levy a tax upon city, town or township, for all expenses incurred by the local Board of Health in establishing, main- taining or raising a quarantine, including fumigation and for the building and providing any pest house, detention or other hospital.
Also the Board of Supervisors shall levy a tax upon city, town or town- ship, for one-third of the expense paid by the county, for supplies, nurses and medical attendance for the care of any one sick or infected with con- tagious disease within said city, town or township.
GRATIFYING COMPARISONS.
In 1860 there were only ten organized townships in Page county and a total population of seven thousand, eight hundred and forty-three. The real and personal property in the townships at that time was valued as follows : Nodaway township, $729,851 ; Buchanan, $256,828; Amity, $250,747; Ne- braska, $239,040; Tarkio, $113,070; Valley, $139.705 ; Douglas, $57,700; Pierce, $34,865 ; Fremont, $26,760; Washington $79,315, making a grand total of $1,926,680, and covering every description of property owned in the county and assessed for taxation at that time.
As an interesting study these figures are commended to the reader for comparison with the valuation of real and personal property in the county for the years 1880 and 1908. The statement of 1880 shows a remarkable in- crease in values and property in the twenty years intervening between that date and 1860, but a more remarkable and almost incredible prosperity is shown in the years following 1880, and the real and personal values of Page county for 1908 show that county to be one of the wealthiest commonwealths in the state. Below is given the valuation of the taxable property in the county for the years above mentioned :
VALUATION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PAGE COUNTY FOR 1880.
Total
Township
Realty
Personalty Actual Value
Valley
$191.797
$ 61,215
$255.707
Douglas
208,561
59,494
268,055
Fremont
208,316
60,244
268,558
Pierce
162,040
43,474
205,692
Essex
11.286
56,610
128,229
Grant
216,624
55,857
272,481
Shenandoah
11,568
120,010
251,235
Tarkio
187,852
62,413
250,265
Nodaway
349,192
105.000
468,151
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Clarinda
7,719
164,814
446.769
Nebraska
89,599
39,850
138.745
East River
182,180
47,861
230,291
Harlan
187,991
49,419
237.791
Lincoln
1 80,006
57,940
237,399
Morton
183,670
45.457
220,127
Washington
161,898
67,635
229,986
Colfax
159,888
73,131
233,019
Amity
183.219
55.940
239.165
College Springs
420
30,737
73.606
Buchanan
178,685
64.527
246,798
Grand Total
$3,062,511
$1,318,385
$4,911.096
VALUATION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PAGE COUNTY IN 1908.
Township
Realty
Personalty
Total Actual Value
Valley
$ 1,128,176
$ 203.900
$ 1,332,076
Douglas
1,366,320
304,036
1,670,356
Fremont
1,378,504
270,724
1,649,228
Pierce
1,117,820
177,504
1,295,324
Grant
1,553,152
207,960
1.761,112
Tarkio
1,315,640
307,100
1,622.740
Nodaway
2,049,988
414,280
2,464,268
Nebraska
543,748
117,116
660,864
East River
915,676
150,544
1,066,220
Harlan
1,144,928
240,664
1,385,592
Lincoln
1,120,608
198,116
1.318,724
Morton
1,239,960
228.796
1.468.756
Washington
1,298,544
237.472
1,536,016
Colfax
1.032,084
184,136
1,216,220
Amity
979-388
157.196
1,136.584
Buchanan
911.748
146,128
1.057,876
Hepburn
53.820
26,820
80,640
Essex
600,548
301.848
902,396
Shenandoah
2,558,072
1,018.216
3.576,288
Yorktown
155,080
151.732
306,812
Clarinda
2,417.724
1,000,349
3-487,073
Shambaugh
134.440
71,728
206,168
Coin
374.408
209.584
583.992
Northboro
140,272
93,956
234.228
Blanchard
272,012
1,161,200
1.433.212
College Springs
287.924
146,948
434.872
Braddyville
280,632
153.572
434,204
Grand Total
$26.371,316
$7,950,085
$34,321,841
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
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LIVE STOCK A GREAT INDUSTRY.
Page county is noted for its breeding and shipping of cattle, hogs, sheep, horses and mules. The Page county farmer readily appreciates the virtue of keeping the best strain of animals and sees in the raising of them for his own use and the market a large profit and a pleasure in the care of them. .Below is given the assessor's returns of live stock in the county for the year 1908:
Value
1750 colts
$ 71,521
8884 horses, three years old and over 695,574
III stallions 33,108
1266 mules
97,536
4102 heifers one year old
52,014
2406 heifers two years old 40,487
12703 cows .
272,149
8056 steers, one year old 173,599
3143 steers, two years old 90,061
55 steers, three years old
1,580
729 bulls 22,586
6485 cattle in feeding 240.753
8038 swine over six months old 393,030
7855 sheep and goats over six months old
29,229
Total
$2,213,227
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS FOR 1908-9. VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
Office
Name
Term Expires Address
Justice of Peace .. .G. L. Dunn
January, 1909 . . Clarinda
Justice of Peace. T. H. Beavers
January, 1909 .. Hepburn
Constable J. W. Thomas January, 1909 . . Hepburn
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