USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 43
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The village school was then taught in the courthouse. A Mr. Hull was the teacher about that time. Thomas Bigham, a prominent lawyer, father of the Bigham boys, still residing here, was also a teacher. County Judge Flint was a noted character at that time. A little fun was made when the judge and a widow eloped and were gone a few days. Some one put a notice on the door of the courthouse, "Closed for repairs."
CHAPTER XL
KELLEY AND HIS MOTLEY ARMY
Twenty years ago, Charles T. Kelley, assumed the title of "General," gathered together the riff-raff in Nebraska and other western states, and with his "army" of unemployed and n'er-do-wells, began a desultory and disastrous march on the capital of the nation. In this, the year 1914, "Gen- eral" Jacob S. Coxey, of Ohio, is making plans to raise an army of the un- employed, and give Pres. Woodrow Wilson not only a call, but a political shock. He will endeavor to duplicate his escapade of 1894, when "Coxey's army" marched on to Washington. "General" Kelley attempted to arouse sympathy for his dupes in the same way and this is how Capt. S. B. Evans treated the incident in his history of Wapello County, published in 1901;
In the spring of 1894 an "army" of discontented men, tramps and ad- venturers, gathered in Nebraska and other western states, and at last en- tered Iowa at Council Bluffs, marching on foot and in wagons until they reached Des Moines. They terrorized communities, not by actual acts of violence, but by their numbers and threats, and in this way secured sub- sistence from towns, cities and the farmers. By the time the "army" reached Des Moines it numbered about one thousand men, all under the command of Charles T. Kelley, who assumed the title of "General." He was a shrewd kind of adventurer and had great power over his lot of rag- amuffins. The state and municipal officers at Des Moines entered into nego- tiations with the "army," and the city authorities and citizens contributed to a fund to feed the "army." After vainly importuning the railroads to give the men transportation, all hands set about to build flat boats, which were to be embarked at Des Moines and float down the Des Moines River. After a delay of several days at Des Moines the boats were built, and the Kelleyites, about one thousand in number, embarked on over one hundred boats. In the course of time the "fleet" arrived within the borders of Mahaska County and Col. A. W. Swalm met the "army" with provisions he had gathered at Oskaloosa. The "fleet" arrived at Eddyville about May 12th, halted and received Eddyville's donation of groceries.
Here General Kelley and his staff were met by Mayor La Force and a delegation of citizens and aldermen of Ottumwa. It was thereupon agreed that when Kelley and his "navy" arrived at Ottumwa the city would con- tribute. General Kelley had prior to this sent the following message: "To the citizens of Ottumwa: Desiring to give my men a day in which to rest
427
428
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
and clean up a bit, and desiring also not to appear improvident, I have re- quested Mr. Harry Leason, of the Courier, to ask for 75 pounds of coffee and a quantity more of meat. Also to ask the tobacconists for such smoking and chewing tobacco as you can consistently give.
"Yours, Chas. T. Kelley."
The Kelley "fleet" arrived at Ottumwa on May 14th, at the dam west of the city, and an army of workingmen were there to assist the boats in mak- ing the plunge. The work of getting the boats over the dam was expedi- tious ; a sluce of lumber had been constructed from the level of the dam above to the water below, the sluice being constructed of heavy timbers. The boats were placed in the sluice and a rope attached to them; the men then all disembarked and stood in the water to their waists to prevent the boats from capsizing. All the boats passed over the dam without material injury.
Then was presented the spectacle of a special committee appointed by the city council meeting with Kelley to arrange terms. It was determined by these high contracting parties that the flotilla should land near Garrison Rock, about four miles below the center of the city, and the city would guarantee subsistence to the tramps for two or three days. Kelley agreed that he would prevent his men from going to the city for begging purposes and would maintain an orderly camp. Scores of extra policemen were sworn in to prevent depredations. Before the "army" left town, however, Kelley demanded and the authorities granted that the camp should be es- tablished at Baker's Grove, on the south side, and adjacent to South Ot- tumwa, and there the camp was established. The city council then appro- priated a sum of money sufficient to purchase 1,500 loaves of bread, 1,500 pounds of bacon, 125 pounds of coffee and 25 bushels of potatoes. Citizens, following the example of the city authorities, gave as much more, and the adventurers proceeded to have a good time. They secured the little park in front of the courthouse, and each night they delegated one of their "statesmen" to speak at the park and instruct citizens as to their duties. Meanwhile, every day they lingered, stragglers from the camp roamed through the city and country, demanding contributions of flour, meat, cloth- ing and anything else that they thought they could obtain. It was a lesson to citizens as to what an irresponsible band of vagabonds cost the country in actual contributions, and as an example to the rising generation.
At last the Kelley flotilla moved down the river, finally reaching the Mississippi, but the "army" did not hold together ; it broke up into detach- ments, some of which joined Coxey's "army" and reached the City of Washington. That "army" arrived there, heralded as the "big petition in boots," and there were many worthy but unwise people who imagined that the "army" would start a revolution, but sturdy Grover Cleveland, who was then president, paid no further attention to them than to compel them to "keep off the grass" of the national lawns, and the movement collapsed.
INDEX
Academy and Convent, Ottumwa. 169
Adams Township 323
Early Settlers of. 323
A. F. & A. M .-
Eddyville Lodge, No. 74 303
Eldon Lodge 288
Empire Lodge, No. 269 .. 247
Olive Branch Lodge, No. 21. 312
Ottumwa Lodge, No. 16 .. 247
Chouteau, P., Jr., & Co.
32
Agency
308
Christian Church-
Davis Street 181
Press of
311
Eddyville 300
Agency Bank, The
312
Eldon 987
Agency Township 305
Finley Ave. 180
179
American Mining Tool Co., The. 152
Christian Science Church --
288
Address of, at Boston, Mass.
First
181
Ottumwa
Appanoose Rapids Company, The.
Arrest of M'Comb.
416
Art Club
251
Ashland, Old
281
Author Takes Exception to Former
Ver-
sions of the M'Comb Affair
12.2
B
Ballingall, Peter G. 130
Baptist Church-
Eddyville 299
Finley Ave. 178
First
177
Second (African) 178
Bench and Bar. 199
Beach, Maj. John 23
Succeeds Gen. Street as Indian Agent. . 30
Big Four Fair Association. 259
Black Hawk, Chiel. 23
B. P. O. E .-
Ottumwa Lodge, No. 347. 24.8
Brick Buildings, The First. 412
Blakesburg
In the Civil War .. 320
Blakesburg Savings Bank.
325
C
Call for Troops, The. 355
Caldwell, Henry Clay. 219
Cass Township 351 Early Settlers of. 351
Casler, Dr. Paul.
236
Catholic Church-
Sacred Heart 168
St. Aloysius'
St. Mary's 168
St. Mary's (Eddyville) 301
St. Patrick's 169
Cement Structural Works, The x.
154
Center Township . 267
Early Settlers of. 268
First Election in. 267
Later Arrivals in 273
Chambers, Gov. John ..
Chillicothe 352
Chillicothe Savings Bank 35-1
182
Church of the Brethren
Church of Christ-
Eddyville 300
Ward Street 181
Church of the Latter Day Saints. 184
Church, The First. 165
Churches, Eddyville 208
Churches, Eldon 286
Churches, Ottumwa
165
Citizens Savings Bank of Ottumwa.
146
City Hall, Eddyville
296
City Hall, Eldon
284
City Hall, Ottumwa
120
City Savings Bank of Ottumwa.
146
Clio Club 250
01-94
Coal, Mining of.
Coal Palace, The.
201
Commercial Association, Ottumwa
251
Commercial Ottumwa
Competine Township
335
Early settlers of ... 335
Congregational Church-
165
Eddyville
209
Eldon
287
Plymouth 184
The First in Ottumwa. 49
Contents
5
Copperhead, The 227
County Judge System, The. 109
County Officials from 1844 to 1914. 112-115
County Seat, Selection of Ottumwa as .... 60
Court, Probate
205
Courier, The Ottumwa. 925
Courthouse, The First 64-103
Courthouse, The Present 106
Courthouse, The Second 104
Crisman Co., The L. T. 153
Crookham, Judge
218
Cummings, W. W., Ice Manufacturer.
150
429
Vul. 1-29
First
.
Early Settlers of
30G
Appanoose, Chief
26-42-43
Eldon
12
Portrait of
42
178
Columbia Township Early Settlers of. 201
150
Incorporation of 311
430
INDEX
D
Dahlonega Township 313
Early Settlers of. 313
Dahlonega, Village of .. 315
Dahlonega War, The. 58
D. A. R., Elizabeth Claypool Ross Chapter 251 Dain Manufacturing Co., The. 152
Davenport, Col. George. 24-32
Davenport, Col. William. 24
Dean, Henry Clay. 215
Democrat and Times, The. 227
Democrat, The Ottumwa 227
Democratic Mercury, The 227
Democratic Statesman, The
Democratic Union, The Ottumwa. 227
Des Moines River, Improvement of. 255
District Court, First Term of
Ditch, Mary B 241
Drainage
Fifty-seventh Infantry 385
Company E 385
Company I 386
Financial, Eddyville 301
Financial, Eldon
Financial, Ottumwa 143
Fire Department of Ottumwa.
First Battery Light Artillery 405
First Cavalry 388
Company A 388
Company H 388
Company I 388
Company L 300
First Commissioners' Court.
101
First Election --
Judges of 100
Results of
I01
First Infantry 402
First Iowa Infantry (A. D.).
406
First License Granted in County
First National Bank of Eldon, The 285
First National Bank, of Ottumwa, The. 143
First Reformed Church, Eddyville. 301
First Sermon Preached in Ottumwa. 49
First Settlers, Names of. 56
Fortnightly Club, Eddy ville. 302
Fortnightly Club, Ottumwa 250
Forum, The Eldon.
Forty-eighth Infantry 404
Forty-fifth Infantry 104
Forty-fourth Infantry 404
Forty-seventh Infantry 386
Company C 3.86
Company H 387
Company K 387
Fourth Battery 406
Fourth Cavalry 392
Company B 392
Company C 392
392
Company G 393
Company L 393
Company M. 393
Fourth Infantry 402
Fourteenth Infantry 403
Fraternities and Societies. 245
Fraternal Societies, Eddyville 303
Fraternal Societies, Eldon 289
250
Free Methodist Church-
Ottumwa
174
Eldon
287
G
G. A. R .-
Cloutman Post, No. 69. 249
John Wilcox Post, No. 138. 303
Reno Post
249
Tutle Post, No. 497. 249
Vorhies Post 289
Garner, J. W., Wholesale Dry Goods 158
Gas Lights, Ottumwa. 127
Geology
83
Alluvium and Terraces. 90
Coal
90
Des Moines Stage (Coal Measures)
89
Early Surveys 83
Elevation, Table of .. 86
St. Louis Stage (Surface Rocks) 88
Stratigraphy
87
Topography
Governmental
109
Grand Jury, The First. 201
F
Farson
337
Fecht, Julius, Cigar Manufacturer 155
Federal Building, Erection of. 139
Ferguson, W. & Son. 153
Fifteenth Infantry 364
Company C 364
Company D 364
Company 1 367
Company K 367
Fifth Cavalry 405
Fiftieth Iowa Infantry, Company G. 407
Fifty-fourth Regiment Band. 410
Fifty-fourth Regiment, N. G. I .. Company
G 407
373
Eldon 983
Churches of
286
Schools of 285
Eldon Savings Bank.
285
Electric Lights, Ottumwa.
128
Electric Light Plant, Eldon.
281
Eleventh Infantry
403
Emery, E. H. & Co. 160
Episcopal Church, Trinity 179
Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Mark's English 183
399
Company L
399
Company M
400
Eighth Infantry
403
Eighteenth Infantry
371
Company D
372
Company F
372
Company K
302
Edgerly, J. W. & Co .. 158
Educational
187
Eighth Cavalry
398
Company B
398
Company H
217
Eddyville 294
Incorporation of 206
Eddyville Bridge 295
Eddyville Commercial Club
302
Eddy ville Savings Bank
E
Early Immigration 13
Early Settlement 55
Eastman, Enoch
Company F
Fraternal Societies, Ottumwa
-
431
INDEX
Graves, F. J. & Son.
155
Green Township 339
Early Settlers of. 339
H
Hall, Walter T. & Co. 156
Hamlet of Log Houses. 419
Hamilton, A. H. 210
HIardfish, Chiel.
52
Hardsocg Manufacturing Co., The.
152
Hardsocg Wonder Drill Co., The. 152
Harper & MeIntire Co., The. 158
Ilaw Hardware Co., The ..
159
Hemstead, Stephen
1-
Hendershott, Henry B. 220
Highwater of 1851.
Highland, Township.
Early Settlers of ..
347
llome Finding Association, The.
238
Home Guard Company, Blakesburg 326
Ilome Milling Co., The .. 153
Hutchison, J. G. & Co. 159
I
Imperfect Boundary Lines.
100
Indian Agency in Wapello County.
Indian Traders. 32
Indian Tribes 9
Indians, Removal of. .
20
Indians, Treaties with
17
Industrial, Ottumwa
149
Infirmary, The County 107
Introductory
9
I. O. O. F .-
Chillicothe Lodge, No. 115. 353
Eddyville Lodge
303
Laramie Lodge, No. 230. 245
Magnolia Lodge, No. 24. 312
Ottumwa Lodge, No. 9. 988
Pickwick Lodge, No. 129. 245
Pulaski Lodge, No. 28 288
"Jowa Band," The .. 49
lowa, Creation of Territory , of. 13
Iowa, Discovery and Early Exploration of. 9
lowa, Early History of.
0
Iowa, Later Explorations of .. 13
lowa National Bank of Ottumwa 144
Iowa, Origin of Name of.
J
Jails, The County,
102-107
Jamison, Rev .- Preaches First Sermon in
Ottumwa
49
Johnston Ruffler Company, The. .
149
Johnston & Sharp Manufacturing Company, The 150
Jones, Mass 215
Journal, The (German) 997
Judges Who Have Presided ITere.
202
K
Kelley and his Motley Army. 427
Keokuk, Chief 20-31-36-40-41-42-49-50-51 Keokuk Township 345 Early Settlers of .. 345
Keokuk's Village. Description of .. 50
Kerr, Richard
20
Keyhoe, Mrs. IT. P.
Kirkville 320
Kirkville Savings Bank 321
K. P .-
Advance Lodge, No. 97. 289
Ottumwa Lodge, No. 12 ... 248
L
Labor News, The.
228
Lawyers, Early .202-204-208
Lawyers, The Old and the New 207
Legislature, First Territorial. . 13
Leighton, Alvin C .- Reminiscences of Early Ottumwa 63
Linsay Manufacturing Co., The.
156
Lodges, Agency
312
Lodges, Eddyville
Lodges, Eldon
302
288
"Louisville," now Ottumwa.
.62-101-118
Lucas, Robert
First Governor of Iowa Territory
13
Lutheran Church-
German
183
Swedish
182
Lynching
Attempted
417
Lynching Prevented
418
M
McCarroll Manufacturing Co., The ... 154
Manning & Epperson State Bank of Eddy-
ville
309
Manufacturing Industries, Early
149
Marriages, Early
207
Marriage License, The First. 206
Mayors and Clerks of Ottumwa from 1851 to 1915 118-120
Medical Profession
193
Merrill, J. II. & Co ..
150
Methodist Episcopal Church-
African
174
Eddy ville
208
Eldon
286
First
170
Main Street
172
Swedish
173
Willard Street
178
Midland Metal Co., The .. 1.54
Militia Called Out.
418
Militia Guards Jail.
419
Millions From Whisky
70
Missionaries, "Iowa Band" of. 49
Mob Violence 417
Morey Clay Products Company, The.
150
Morrell. John & Company.
151
Morrell Packing Company, The.
151
Municipal Light Plant, Eddyville 200
M. W. A .-
Eldon Camp, No. 553. 989
Glenwood Camp, No. 1740.
GiFo
Woodland Camp, No. 103.
249
N
"New Purchase," The.
17
"New Purchase," The Opening of to Settle- mien(
Newspapers of the Past. 226
News, The South Ottumwa.
Nicholls Manufacturing Co., The.
152
Niemeyer Bros.
15-4
40
347
Knapp, Joseph C ..
214
432
INDEX
Ninth Cavalry 400
Company B 400
Company C .. 400
Company 1. 400
Company K. 401
401
Postmasters that Followed 137-139
Postoffices-
Agency 311
Blakesburg
325
Chillicothe 353
Eddyville
Eldon
297
283
Ottumwa 137-139
Presbyterian Church-
Benton Street 175
First
174
West End 175
295
Press, The Ottumwa.
228
Probate Court, First Case Before. 205
Public Improvement
that Failed.
255
Public Institutions
231
Public Libraries- Eddy ville
Eldon
284
Ottumwa
241
Platting of
Police Department
Ottumwa Artesian Well Company
INtumwa Boiler Works, The ... 150
Ottumwa Box Car Loader Company, The .. 151
Ottumwa Bridge Company, The. 151
Ottumwa Cigar Box Factory, The.
153
Ottumwa
Concrete Block Co., The.
155
Ottumwa
Country Club
253
Ottumwa
Hospital, The.
197-233
Ottumwa Hospital Association 197-233
Ottumwa Iron Works, The. 149
Ottumwa
Mercantile Co., The.
155
Ottumwa Mill & Construction Co., The .. 152
Ottumwa. Moline Pump Manufacturing Co .. The 15G
Ottumwa National Bank. The. of Ottumwa 145
(Htumwa Oarsman's Club. 254
Ottumwa
Pure Ice Co. The.
156
Ottumwa
Rug Works, The.
154
Oftumwa Savings Bank. The, of Ottumwa 146
Ottumwa Stamp Works, The .. 156
Ottumwa Supply & Construction Co., The 155
P
Pallister Bros. 155
Parks of Ottumwa 129
P. E. O., Chapter G. 251
Phelps, S. S .. 32-34-35
Phelps, Capt. William.
32
Physicians, Early 193-411
Physicians, Later Day 195
Pioner: Life
The Log ('abin. 71
Sleeping Accommodations 72
( ouking 73
Women's Work 74
Company 1.
339
Hospitality
Company K.
359
Prairie Fires
Wolf Hunts 76
Spelling Schools 77
The Bright Side. 78
What The Pioners Have Done. 79
Pioneer Merchant. .. 424 ยท
Pioneers, The .55-422-423
Pleasant Township 331
Early Settlers of. 331
Polk Township 343
Early Settlers of 343
Postal Statistics
Postmaster, The First 139-141
137
Company M ..
O
Ogg, Seth 50
"Old Boys," The. . 328
Organization of Wapollo County. ..
Ouiduk. H. B. Brick Manufacturer 150
117
Early Merchants of .. 69
First Business Houses in. G4
First C'alled "Louisville".
62-101-118
First Murder
415
First Newspapers
421
First Residences in.
63-65-66
First Residents of.
Growth of
In 1:53
120
Othcial Adoption as Name for County Seat
11-102
Organization of 421
R
Railroads
162
Rebekahs-
Dorcas Lodge, No. 1848 240
Evening Star Lodge 312
Rachel Lodge 288
Register, The Ottumwa 299
Religious
165
Reminiscences of the Author. 411
Renz Wagon Shops, The John 133
Republic, The Des Moines.
220
Republican, The Daily
Reveille, The
2227
Review, The Ottumwa
Richland Township
317
Early Events in.
319
Early Settlers of. 317
Rorer, David
219
S
St. Joseph's Hospital. 197-236 Salter. Rev. William, Address of 9
Schools-
Early Day 187
Catholic
168
Eddyville
Eldon
298
Ottumwa
285
190
Rural
191
Second Cavalry
405
Second Cavalry, M. S. M ...
400
359 Second Consolidated Veteran Infantry Company A. 359
Company F 359
Second Infantry 350
356
Company K
356
Second Veteran Infantry
358
Company
A
359
Company C.
358
Company
G.
358
Company
K.
358
Company G.
Press, The, of Ottumwa.
433
INDEX
Seventeenth Infantry
368
Company C. 368
Company D. 368
Company E.
369
Company F.
371
Company B.
376
Company D.
378
Company E.
380
Company F 383
Company G. 383
Company C 395
Company H.
383
Company D 39G
Company I.
385
Company K. 385
Thirty-third Infantry 404
Tower-Mayors Candy Co., The 155
Townships, Creation of
101
Transportation
161
229
Tribute to Former Editors of the Courier .. 421 Twenty-eighth Infantry 404
Twenty-first Infantry 403
Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry. 406
Twenty-fifth Missouri Infantry 406
Twenty-ninth Infantry
404
Twenty-second Infantry
373
Company E. 373
Twenty-third Infantry 404
U
Union Cigar Co., The. 155
Union Trust & Savings Bank, The, of
Ottumwa
144
W
Wapello, Chief 19
Death of 51
Wapello Club 253
The Old House. 69
Wapello County Bar, Members of. 203
Wapello County in the Civil War. 355
Wapello County Medical Association. 196
Wapello County Savings Bank of Ottumwa 145
Washington Township
277
Early Settlers of. 277
Wholesale and Retail Establishments in
Ottumwa
160
Williams, Col. Jesse. 34
Williams, Morris J .. 209
Ware, Dr. J. C .- The First Physician. 193
Waterworks-
Eddyville 297
Eldon
284
Ottumwa
123-127
Women's Clubs-
Eldon
289
Ottumwa
250
Woman's Civic Improvement Club, Eddy- ville 302
Woman's Relief Corps-
Cloutman
251
No. 43
289
Woman's Suffrage Society.
250
Y
Thirteenth Infantry
403
Thirtieth Infantry 404
Thirty -fifth Illinois Infantry, 406
Thirty-sixth Infantry 375
Company A. 376
Company 1.
371
Seventh Cavalry 393
Company A 394
Company B. 395
Company E. 390
Company F 397
Company G.
397
Company H 397
Company L 397
Company-Unknown
397
Seventh Infantry 300
Company C. 360
Company D 360
Company
E.
360
Company F
360
362
Seventh Day Adventist Church-
Eddyville
300
Ottumwa
184
Sewer System of Ottumwa. 121
Shakespeare Club
250
Sinnamon, Tay and the Common Law 413
Sixth Infantry
402
Smith, Rev. U. B 238
Snook & Sons.
150
Societies and Clubs-
Agency 312
Eddyville 302
Eldon
288
Ottumwa
250
Sonth Ottumwa 133-136
South Ottumwa Savings Bank. 147
S. O. V., Donelson Camp, No. 32.
249
Spanish-American War
407
Spaulding, Rev. B. A. 49-165
Spirit of the Times
227
Steamboat Days
413
Stiles, Edward H.
207
Street, Gen. Joseph M. . . . 19-24-28-42-49-52-305 Death of
29
Burial of 50
Street, William B 30
Street Paving in Ottumwa 120
Street Railway, Ottumwa 163
Stuart, Albion Wesley
191
Sun, The Ottumwa.
227
Supervisor System
112
Supreme Court, First Session of.
15
Swedish Mission Church
167
T
Tenth Infantry
403
Cavalry.
40G
Tenth Illinois
Third Cavalry 390
Company
D.
390
Company K 391
Company L.
391
Company M
391
Third Infantry
402
Young Men's Christian Association. .. ... 231 Young Women's Christian Association.
Company I.
Tribune, The Eddyville
.
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