USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Page County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 55
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
ing, after which a cavalry fight occurred. It was a dashing affair, in which the rebel flag was captured amid such shouts of triumph as made the welkin ring. This was followed by dress parade, and drumming out of camp and 'rogue's march.' The fair ground presented a sea of hu- man heads, and the people came pouring in from all directions until Cla- rinda literally palpitated with patriotic hearts. After dinner the following general order was observed:
GENERAL ORDER NO. 2.
The observance of Decoration Day will be held at the cemetery at 2:30 this P. M. The line of march will be in the following order:
1. Committee on Decoration.
2. Keller Cornet Band.
3. Flower Girls.
4. Schools.
5. Martial Band.
6. Clarinda Cornet Band.
7. Veterans, with bands belongingto each organization.
8. Cavalry Veterans, mounted.
9. Citizens on foot.
10. Citizens in carriages.
The command will form division on the right at the cemetery, the right resting on the entrance to the grounds. After the command is formed prayer will be offered by the chaplain, to be followed by a poem by Lu. B. Cake, after which the column will be reformed, the cavalry dismounted, and proceed to the decoration of graves. By order of
W. P. HEPBURN,
Colonel Commanding.
W. H. VANCE, Adjutant.
At the appointed time the procession was formed at the grounds and moved onward in excellent order to the cemetery. It was vastly larger than was expected, and the number of citizens on foot, on horseback and in conveyances was simply marvelous. Not less than ten thousand people were present. Never before were there so many people assembled at one place in Page county. The order was most excellent. We believe not a drunken man was on the ground, and no accident occurred. Col. Hepburn ascended the stand, and after calling the assemblage to order prayer was offered by the chaplain. After this Mr. Lu. B. Cake read the following beautiful, patriotic and stirring poem, written for the occasion, and at its close received many hearty cheers:
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
POEM READ AT THE DECORATION OF THE SOLDIERS' GRAVES, AT CLARINDA, IOWA, MAY 30, 1878, BY LU. B. CAKE.
As some coy maiden, rich in beauty's dow'r, Who seeks, with fawn-like step, the trysting place, And brings her choicest sweets to deck the hour For one who claims the blush upon her face,- So glides fair Spring from out the twilight shades That dim the future to our mortal ken. Her coquette smiles she with her garlands braids, And steals, all blooming to the hearts of men.
Not all thine own, sweet virgin of the years, These love-twined off'rings of the flowery May ;- Our praises thine; our garlands and our tears Are for our dead, this Decoration Day.
Not with the songs of victors, Bearing the spoils of war; Not with our captive foemen Chained to a conq'ror's car; Not with triumphal banners; Not with a blood-stained sword; Not with the shouts of conquest By maddened throngs encored; Not to recall the mem'ries That ne'er can fade away- Not to re-crown our heroes . We gather here to-day.
Ah, no! We come as patriots to the altar of the free, With incense for the sacrifice we've made for liberty. We come as gray-haired fathers to the sepulchers of sons; We come as weeping mothers to the graves of darling ones; We come as mourning widows to the love that earth consumes; We come as sons of heroes to our fathers' honored tombs. We come, a grateful people, to pay tribute to the brave Who purchased Union for us with the precious lives they gave.
Alas! not all are here; some loved ones sleep Far from the tears which fall from those who weep. Upon the fields once crimson with their blood; 'Neath waves that colored with life's purple flood; L
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Or fill the pits near some old prison pen, Where ling'ring death made martyrs of our men; Or on the picket line, in some dark wood, Unwarned they fell, and lie near where they stood. We strew with flow'rs the graves of these alone; Of pray'rs and tears we give to those-unknown.
From out the silence of the slumb'ring past There comes a sound like murm'rings of the sea, When o'er its sky the storm clouds, flying fast, Arouse the waves to answer sullenly.
Ah, listen! As the echoes fuller flow They seem a sigh and then the voice of woe. A nation's voice entreating with her sons,- The children quar'ling on the mother's breast; Her pleas unheeded by the wayward ones, Till passion reigns and riots unrepressed. The voices of the years from out the past Are heard more near and clear and audibly.
Oh, listen! Ah! it is the bugle's blast, --- The tramp of armies-charging cavalry! The beat of drums comes throbbing on the ear- The roar of battle swelling full and clear; Its shouts, its groans, and thunder-crash we hear Of bursting shells and grand artillery! The nation struggles in the throes of war;
From North, from South, and from the East and West The armies rush like waves that sweep afar, Storm-sped, the sea; mid-ocean, crest to crest,
They meet and break, fall tempest-spent to rest, And Wreck and Death the reigning conquerors are.
With drums unsnared and bugles all unslung, The arms are stacked, the columns melt away. The nation lives, bathed in the blood of sons, Her grievous wounds slow healing day by day, And Peace enfolds us in her downy wings. The husbandman about his labor sings, The sound of civic arts in all our valleys rings, The wheels of Progress roll upon their way.
Within our hearts some glowing memories burn Of crucial days, when Union strength was tried; And Shiloh, Corinth, Gettysburg return,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
With Vicksburg and Winchester's glorious ride. And some are here who won immortal fame At Pea Ridge, Missionary, and Ringgold. Whom Grant re-christened with the prouder name, "The first at Chickasaw Bayou,"-were told
To write it on the banners which were borne Atop old Lookout, where, above the cloud It followed Hooker, blood-stained, battle torn, And o'er our heroes floated, conquest-proud, Along the march with Sherman to the sea : Oh ! brave, heroic men ! Oh ! fadeless memory ! Oh, countrymen, all who hold Union dear, How low we prize this boon of liberty ! We count its cost in dollars, year by year,- Forget the priceless blood paid lavishly. We boast a government like heaven's where All rights are equal with the rich and poor ; We build our homes and bring our treasures there, Nor pause to think what makes our own secure. Yet ev'ry blessing we enjoy to-day Was born of death, -with blood is sanctified. Our hearth-stones rest upon our father's clay, And we inherit all for which they died.
The cost of Union ! Oh, behold the dead, Her ransom paid in fratricidal war ; And count the blood-drops, each a ruby red, In value more than India's jewels are ! And name the toils her worshipers have borne On land and sea, all wrought with bleeding hands, And tell the woes of all the hearts that mourn,
And count, their tears, unnumbered as the sands,- And when in poor, cold calculation lost To this return-Her price is 'bove all cost.
Yea, Union! rarest, best gift of the gods, The prize of life when 'tis compared with Thee. Becomes a choice ignoble as the clods Which brutish beasts do spurn disdainfully, Yet base-borns choose 'gainst bliss eternally. Not so with these, thine own true worshipers; They choose Thee first, above all earthly good,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
And made for Thee, these brave idolaters, The sacrificial offering of their blood.
" Sleep on, now, and take your rest;"*
The marchings and conflicts are o'er; No alert, stealthy foe shall your fortress invest,
Nor a fear of surprise shall your slumber molest, No battle-cry waken you more.
We know that your sleep must be sweet From service so loyal and true; While your country's proud honors are laid at your feet,
And the blessings of millions fall on you replete, And their tears on your graves like the dew.
Here, brightest the golden beams fall, . With lingering kiss for each grave;
And the moonbeams just here seem the softest of all,
And the stars gather nightly on Heaven's high wall And watch o'er the sleep of the brave.
Here, flowers in red, white, and blue, Of the " Old Flag " wave overhead;
And the wild birds sing sweetest, and saddest, here, too
And the breezes sigh softly and drop the bright dew, Like tears, on the graves of the dead.
And the pale autumn leaves fall, and fold All your forms like the blankets of gray; And the winter's snow wraps you secure from its cold, While the winds pipe the martial airs stepped brave and bold When you marched to the front of the fray.
And Liberty, throned in the skies, With the angels, a fond vigil keeps; And they hallow the spot where each soldier son lies, And they watch o'er them ever with unweary eyes- For their love neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Do ye dream, oh! ye brave, of the fair, While ye wait in the chambers of death? And are visions of glory alluring ye there
*Matt. xxvi .- 45.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
As they did on the field when ye fell, leading where Ye sought and won Fame's fading wreath?
Do the blessings we breathe in our pray'r Float down through the gates of the tomb? Do the words of the brave and the tears of the fair And the fragrance of flowers, perfuming the air, Reach all ye who rest in its gloom?
Oh! out of the silence ye speak With a fervor no mortal can tell. Oh! rest, REST, Boys in Blue! Our poor words are weak; With a pray'r on the lip and a tear on the cheek, We bless ye, oh! brave hearts, that fell.
Far away, in that peace reigning Land, May your columns unbroken unite; May your names on the roster of Heaven all stand, And the Army in Blue there, a spirit-throng grand, Form and march a great army in white.
1
Bear hither, now, the brightest flow'rs of spring, And wreathe the colors which they loved so dear, And lay them down, and incense offering, Upon their graves ; and give a grateful tear, Warm from your heart, unto their memory.
Oh ! pass with reverent steps the soldier's couch, Where hallowed dust is resting peacefully, And wind your garlands with a holy touch, As though you crowned the Cross of Cavalry. To save us Heaven, there He was crucified ; To save us Union, all unselfishly,
These offered up their lives and died.
Oh ! may we pause and o'er their ashes bow, And let the dead plead with us silently, That enmities be all forgotten now- Our flowers, pray'rs and tears fraternally Unite, while we renew the solemn, sacred vow : To live as they have died, that Union now And Union henceforth and forever be.
After this, thirty-eight little girls, designated for the purpose, with beau- tiful wreathes bearing the names of the states, proceeded to the graves of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
the fallen heroes and adorned them with flowers. This was a most beau- tiful and touching scene, and never will be forgotten by those who were permitted to witness it. Take it all together, doubtless, it was the grand- est gathering ever known in southwestern Iowa.
The people of no county in Iowa rallied with more alacrity to the call for defenders of the nation's unity than did the patriotic sons of Page, and in the bright annals of Iowa's proud history of the eventful struggle, her name is enrolled in characters of undying luster. This fact being patent, it was extremely fitting that Clarinda, the enterprising and beautiful capi- tal of that corporate territory should be the place for the noble "boys in blue," who survived the dangers and vicissitudes of that patriotic strug- gle to meet and mingle in a grand reunion to commemorate the great conflict in which they marched shoulder to shoulder in defense of the flag and the fortunes they inherited from the fathers of the republic, and recount the eventful scenes which form impressive episodes in that bloody path of their life-journey, and strew with an affection born of true patriotism, fragrant flowers on the graves of their comrades, who sealed with their life-blood their devotion to the unity of the states and sover- eignty of the nation.
THE PRESS OF PAGE COUNTY.
There is no power that deserves to take so prominent a position in a community or country as the press. It occupies a position far above that of any other-the clergy not excepted. This circumstance arises, not from any deterioration of the clergy themselves, but chiefly from the gen- eral diffusion of knowledge among all classes. We do not look to the clergy for superiority of erudition; the scientist, the philologist, the his- torian, all come in for a share of respect for their learning. Once the dis- tinction between the clergy and the laity meant something; it means very little to-day. When only those who could read or write belonged to the church, each member was called a clerk, or clericus, or clergyman. But the clergy of to-day are not those only who preach from the pulpit once a week, but those, as well, who preach from the editor's chair. As James Freeman Clark remarks, the editor has as much right to put "rev- erend " before his name as the preacher has. The editor wields a mightier weapon than any clergyman can. He influences the public mind for good or evil daily, and the Sunday paper has snatched from the pulpit its ancient power, its traditional prerogative. Instead of dealing in questions, the very nature of which render them unknowable, and therefore inpractica-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
ble, the editor comes to our door with the live issues of to-day. The latest, the best, the most valuable of the thoughts and doings of the globe reaches us every morning to sway our passions, enlist our sympathy, or arouse us to duty. Nor is this the sole prerogative of the city dailies, but that of the country weekly paper. These latter come to homes of toil, homes where the busy cares of life absorb so great a portion of the time that all but the weekly visitant remains necessarily unread. The power of the type is felt in such hours, felt as no minister's sermons ever are. What was it that first took the news of war and its attendant horrors into the homes of our land? The weekly press. What was it that fanned into flames the embers of patriotism long dormant in human hearts? The weekly press. What. is it that to-day so moulds the lines and character of those who live far from the city's noisy hum? Is it not the press? Then to it let its meed of praise be given; to it let a cheerful, hearty sup- port be rendered, for it is the power that adds value to our toil, that gives pleasure and culture to our firesides.
The first paper published in Page county was issued in Clarinda on the 24th of May, 1859, C. B. Shoemaker & Co., proprietors. For one year previous they had been publishing a paper in Sidney, Fremont county, and at the close of volume one they removed to Clarinda and commenced the publication of the Page County Herald. It was a six column folio, all published at home-the "patent " system having then not been devised- and was republican in politics. We have been enabled, through the kind- ness of Mrs. C. B. Shoemaker, to peruse the first three volumes of the paper, and find that it was, considering the sparseness of the county, a very creditable representative, thoroughly alive to the interests of the town and county in which it was published, and never stooping to the low bil- lingsgate too frequently found in the country press of to-day. The paper, when it was first established, had less than four columns of home adver- tisements, and as the county then contained but 3,674 inhabitants, the sub- scription list was of necessity very meagre. The reader will observe from this that it must have taken a great deal of hard work and an un- usual amount of pluck to establish and maintain a paper, even of the di- mensions above mentioned, in the county at that early day. April 5, 1861, C. B. Shoemaker purchased his brother's interest in the Herald, and became sole proprietor, and as such continued to publish the paper until he entered the service of his country in September, 1862, as major of the Twenty-ninth Iowa infantry.
At the close of volume three Mr. Shoemaker took occasion to con- gratulate himself as follows in regard to the success of the paper in the past:
"It has been three years since we commenced the publication of the Herald in Clarinda, and those three years have been through the most
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
wretched times, financially, that this generation has ever known. And no class of business men have suffered more severely from the financial and political disasters of our country than publishers. Fully one-half of the papers of this state have failed to make their regular issues, while at least one-fourth have failed entirely. During the three years that we have labored here this judicial district has had fifteen papers published in it; it now has but seven. And it affords us not a little pleasure to reflect that we have been able to keep afloat amidst such a general wreck. It has cost us an effort-a great effort-to do so; and if the appreciating public, who have been our patrons in the past, continue to use the same efforts and contribute the same aid in the future, we expect to keep the Herald afloat, without even a temporary suspension. We have lived to see Page county furnish more men for the present war than any other county in the state, in proportion to population. We have lived to see her become one of the most prosperous and highly respected counties in the state; and we have lived to see her entitled to and receive an independent member in the state legislature. We think we have aided in the accom- plishment of all these objects, and shall continue to use the influence of our paper in the accomplishment of other objects of equal importance with these, if enabled to continue the publication of the Herald."
Three months after writing the above Mr. Shoemaker entered the army, leaving T. R. Stockton in charge of his paper, who conducted it until 1864, when Mr. Shoemaker sold the office to W. T. Smith, who changed the name of the paper to Southwestern Observer, and published it as such about one year, when the paper became the property of Horn- dobler & Aldrich. They were connected with the paper about one year, when it passed into the hands of Irad Richardson, who changed it back to the Page County Herald. November 7, 1866, Mr. George H. Powers bought a half interest in the paper, and the first of January following he purchased Richardson's half of the office and conducted the paper alone until the third of July, 1867, when he sold a half interest to Col. W. P. Hepburn. In March, 1868, Colonel Hepburn leased his interest in the paper to W. E. Loy, for the term of one year. In June, 1869, Mr. Pow- ers purchased Col. Hepburn's interest in the paper, remaining in charge of the same, and conducting it with marked ability until April, 1871, when he leased the office to Lowry & McIntire, who consolidated the paper with the Republican. [The latter part of January, 1871, Lowry & McIn- tire established a paper called the Republican, several of the leaders of the party having become dissatisfied with the management of the Herald.] The new paper was christened the Republican and Herald, James Lowry, editor. Mr. Lowry was rather above the average as a local editor, and under his control the paper soon took rank as one of the live papers of southwestern Iowa. He remained in charge of the paper until February,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
1872, when George H. Powers again resumed control of the paper, drop- ping the Republican part of its name. On the night of May 12, 1874, the office, together with its entire contents was consumed by fire, causing to its proprietor a very serious loss. The paper was soon re-established, however, and the office was, in a comparatively short time, better than ever prepared to meet the wants of its patrons. In February, 1875, Mr. Powers sold the office to Ralph Robinson, who conducted the paper until the latter part of October, 1876, when Mr. C. B. Shoemaker, its founder, returned and purchased the office. He remained as editor and proprietor of the paper until the time of his demise, October 23, 1877. From that time until the middle of March, 1878, the Herald was ably edited by Mr. T. E. Clark. In March, 1878, Mr. J. W. Chaffin purchased the office and at once assumed control of the paper, enlarging it to its present size, nine column folio, and changing its name to the Clarinda Herald. Since he has owned the office it has been greatly improved, and to-day, it is without doubt, one of the best equipped country offices in southwestern Iowa. Mr. Chaffin, as an editor, is the same as he is in the private walks of life, a thorough gentleman, treating all subjects of the day in a manner that commands respect from all. His editorial articles are thoughtful views of public questions and are entirely devoid of those personalities which are often adopted by the political press.
Thus have we traced the Herald from the time it was established as a six column folio, when it was struggling hard for an existence, and when its proprietor was striving hard to put it on a sound footing and make it one of the permanent institutions of the county, up to the present time, when we view it as a nine column folio, equipped with a fine office and receiving a patronage sufficient to enable it to cope with any and all ob- stacles. It is true we have not traced it through the many vicissitudes and troubles of the past, neither intended we to; they are of and belong to the things that can afford to be forgotten. The paper in its pioneer days was of inestimable value to both the town of Clarinda and the county of Page. It helped to mould public opinion that has worked for the good and welfare of the county, and helped to give to Page county a name abroad that it would have been impossible for it to have gained without the aid of its columns. A first-class pioneer paper is like a first-class, stirring pioneer citizen, of value to any county. The Herald in the past, taken on the whole, has been a lever for good, and that it will so con- tinue in the future and will grow in influence as it advances in years, we doubt not.
The Page County Democrat was established in August, 1868, by James Arrick, who conducted it until December following, when Mr. N. C. Ridenour purchased the office and assumed the editorship of the paper. At first it was but a seven column folio, but it has been enlarged and is to-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
day an eight column paper. It was the first and the only democratic paper ever published in the county, and as such has always been a staunch advocate of democratic principles. Running a democratic paper in an overwhelming republican county is not one of the easiest things in the world, especially if the paper takes a bold stand in advocacy of the inter- ests of its party, and this the Democrat has always done. We have been permitted to examine the files of the paper from the time it was first es- tablished to the present, and find that it has been a creditable representa- tive of democracy, as well as a valuable representative of the interests of the county. If there is one thing more than another in which the paper has taken a lead in advocacy of and for the good and welfare of the town of Clarinda, that one thing has been in the interest of railroad building. Clarinda and Page county certainly owe much to the Democrat and its editor for the position the town and county occupies in this regard, as the paper has worked indefatigably to bring about this one much coveted en- terprise. And not only in this, but in all other enterprises that go to make a flourishing and prosperous town, we find that the paper has always la- bored assiduously. Taking the stand it has in all the various enterprises that redound to the benefit of a town and county, the paper has, as a nat- ural consequence, made staunch friends and supporters among those who oppose it politically, and those who have done so have manifested good sense and shown a desire to aid and benefit one who has certainly done much to make the town of Clarinda what it now is. The paper in its first years had to struggle against large odds, and it is indeed a wonder, when we take into consideration the fact that its editor had no public teat from which to draw sustenance, that it ever grew to the proportions it has. Most any other man than Mr. Ridenour would have become dis- couraged and abandoned the idea of permanently establishing a democratic paper in so strong a republican county as Page. But not he. Every year his political opponents have found him on hands ready for the conflict, and as regularly after elections has he found himself on the side of defeat; but he always recovered in time for the next conflict, and entered the arena fresh and vigorous, and ready for the fray. His persistency, or rather his indomitable energy, has resulted in placing the Democrat on a solid foot- ing, and to-day it occupies a front rank among the democratic country papers of the state, is ensconsed in an office of its own, well equipped with material, and equal to any emergency.
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