USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek county with biographical sketches of its eminent men > Part 7
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The third company raised in the county was the one that became Company G, Twelfth Iowa. It was enrolled at Decorah in September, 1861, ordered into quarters at Dubuque, September 30, and mustered into the United States service November 5, 1861. It was officered as follows :
Captain-C. C. Tupper.
First Lieutenant-L. D. Townsley.
Second Lieutenant-J. F. Nickerson.
Orderly Sergeant-J. E. Simpson.
The company became a portion of the regiment from the date of its muster in, and from that time on until disbanded always acted well its part. Company G was noted in its regiment for its excellent moral status and soldierly efficiency. It saw hard service, and took an active part in the following hotly-contested battles : Fort Henry, Fort Don- aldson, Shiloh, seige of Corinth, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg, Jackson seige and capture, Brandon, Tupelo, Nashville, and Brentwood Hill. Besides these battles, the company did excellent service as skirmishers. The company early met with a severe loss in the death of its first cap- tain, C. C. Tupper.
Capt. C. C. Tupper was born at Auburn, New York, December 24,
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
1832, and came to Decorah in May, 1857. He had received a liberal education, and prior to taking a residence in Iowa had served as agent of the Associated Press and local manager of the telegraph offices at Buffalo and St. Louis. He was admitted to the bar soon after his arrival, but for a brief time edited the Decorah Fournal, a Democratic newspaper. When the war broke out he took an active and intensely patriotic interest in every movement. Military life was always attractive to him, and he was unusually well versed in the manual of arms. He assisted in organizing the two companies from Winneshiek County that found place in the Third and Ninth regiments, and helped prepare them for the field. When it became evident that a third company must be drawn from the county, all eyes turned toward Capt. Tupper to take its lead. Although of a frail constitution, and physically unfitted for the severe trials of army life, his patriotism overrode ali prudence, and he consented. The company was rapidly recruited, and assigned to the Twelfth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. But Capt. Tupper's associa- tion with the company was only a brief one. He was idolized by his men, beloved by all his associate officers, and thoroughly respected by his superiors. But these could not protect and defend him from disease and death. While going from Dubuque to St. Louis with the regiment he caught a severe cold, and in six weeks died at Benton Barracks, in St. Louis, a victim of capilliary bronchitis. In this death the terrible evils of war were first brought directly home to the community of which he had been a member. He had been the leader in its best social circles, the active abettor of every public enterprise, and his death carried sadness and mourning to almost every household in the county. Of friends who mourned his death there were scores upon scores ; of enemies, none.
The sad event narrated above necessitated the promotion of Lieut. L. D. Townsley to the captaincy of the company, which office he held until mustered out of the service, November 25, 1864. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, in which engagement he sustained a severe wound in the left arm, and suffered with the rest of his brother officers the hardships of prison life. After his exchange he was often employed in important detached duties, which he always filled with credit to himself and country. He served out his entire term of service, and is now residing in Chicago.
Lieut. J. F. Nickerson was made First Lieutenant, and was stunned at the battle of Fort Donelson with what was supposed to be a solid shot from the enemy's batteries. From this he never recovered, was
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sick and ill the morning of the Shiloh fight, but persisted in going out with his company to the front, was taken prisoner, and died in rebel prison at Montgomery, Ala., May 31, 1862. Kind but firm, a noble, brave man, beloved by his friends and all who knew him, a martyr to the cause.
Orderly Sergeant J. E. Simpson was promoted to be Second Lieu- tenant, but resigned on account of ill-health in 1862, and is now living in Decorah.
A. A. Burdick, Second Sergeant, was made Orderly and then First Lieutenant, and was killed at the battle of Tupelo, July 14, 1864. He was the Quartermaster of the regiment, and had been ordered to the rear with his train ; but after seeing his wagons properly " parked " he came to the front, and volunteered to assist in bringing forward ammuni- tion. While thus engaged he was struck by a shell and instantly killed. He died as a soldier would wish to die, with his face to the enemy and in the heat of battle. Lamented and mourned by all who knew him, no better man or braver soldier ever offered up his life that his country might be saved.
Anton E. Anderson, Third Sergeant, became Second Lieutenant, served with credit to himself until mustered out, at expiration of term of service, December, 1864, and died at his farm, some years after the war, near Eldorado, Iowa.
Robert A. Gibson, Fifth Sergeant, became Orderly Sergeant March 27, 1863, was promoted to First Lieutenant December 2, 1864, became Captain of his company January 23, 1865, and for a time was Captain and Provost Marshal at Selma, Ala., and served with great credit to himself to the end of the war. He was then appointed Second Lieu- tenant in the regular army, and was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol at Fort Randall in 1867.
Jacob H. Womeldorf, First Corporal, became Fifth Sergeant, was taken prisoner with his company at Shiloh; was held prisoner for some time, and suffered great hardships that so broke down his health as to compel him to return home in 1863. He is now Sheriff of Winneshiek County.
Nelson B. Burdick was Eighth Corporal, and but a youth at school when he went into the service. He contracted the measles at Benton Barracks, and was never well afterwards. He took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson and Shiloh. Warm-hearted, generous to- wards all, he became a universal favorite. The hardships endured in
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rebel prisons were too much for his impaired frame. He reached home and died among his friends.
" He has fought his last battle ; No sound can awake him to glory again."
John Steen, private, became Quartermaster Sergeant in 1864, and his whole term of service to the end was marked with ability and efficiency. Since the war he has held several positions of responsibility and trust, and is now living at Fremont, Neb.
The regiment was ordered to Davenport for final pay and discharge January 25, 1866.
In 1863 Winneshiek County again came to the front and contributed, for the suppression of the rebellion, three companies in addition to the brave men she had before sent. These companies were, respectively, D, K, and E, and formed a part of the Thirty-Eighth Regiment. Henry A. Cleghorn was Captain of Company E.
Company K was officered as follows :
Captain-Samuel B. Califf.
First Lieutenant-Levi Freeman.
The officers of Company D were :
Captain-George R. Humphreys.
First Lieutenant-Newton Richards.
Second Lieutenant-E. J. Barker.
These companies were mustered into service at Camp Randall, Du- buque, Iowa. From here they were transferred to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., where they spent Christmas and New Years, 1863-4. They were next transferred to Fort Thompson, which they retained charge of nearly six months.
The Thirty-Eighth Regiment was next transferred to the main forces then besieging Vicksburg. In this siege the Thirty-Eighth, including the three companies from Winneshiek County, formed the extreme left of the Union line. Their position was in the very heart of a malarious swamp, and here was contracted the germ of a disease which after- wards carried off these brave men by the hundreds. Within ten days after the surrender of Vicksburg the Thirty-Eighth were ordered to Yazoo City, on the Yazoo River. At Yazoo City the regiment remained about a week. While there the disease bred in the swamp opposite Vicksburg began to break out, and many men died. The regiment returned to Vicksburg. They were next ordered to Port Hudson to aid in the subjugation of that place, but did not reach the scene of action until the stronghold had fallen. The Thirty-Eighth remained at Port
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Hudson about a month, and while here the disease contracted in the swamps broke out in all its virulence. So universal was the prostration of the soldiers, that during the month, there were on an average from three to fifteen only in the whole regiment that reported able for duty. Almost hourly the death of a companion in arms was announced to his sick and dying comrades. It was while lying here that the regiment met with its severest losses. Here it was that they lost their beloved Colonel.
D. H. Hughes was commissioned Colonel of the Thirty-Eighth Regi- ment by Gov. Samuel Kirkwood. He was born in Jefferson County, New York, September, 1831, and died August 7, 1863. He died from the disease which carried almost universal death to his entire regiment. Col. Hughes graduated at the Albany Normal Institute in 1853. In 1854 he was employed on the Prairie Farmer, Chicago. He married Adaliza Matteson, in Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y., in March, 1855, and immediately thereafter came to Decorah, engaging in the practice of law. Col. Hughes was a man of commanding stature, fine presence, the soul of honor, and became a lawyer of considerable repute. He was a Democrat in politics, but was elected County Judge of Win- neshiek County in the fall of 1859, notwithstanding the county then, as now, was of strong Republican complexion. He was the candidate of his party for State Senator in the fall of 1861, and only failed of an election by nine votes. The Colonel was a War Democrat from the outset, and pending the consideration of a petition of prominent Re- publicans and Democrats to become an independent candidate for Judge of the District Court of the Tenth Judicial District, hearing the cry of his country for more troops, Judge Hughes promptly cast aside his political opportunity to enter upon a patriotic duty ; and, warmly espousing her cause, made a stirring canvass of the county in that behalf, and thus drifted into the army.
Col. Hughes, while stationed at New Madrid, was called to St. Louis as Judge Advocate in some trials then pending, and from his bearing on that occasion, and the ability he displayed, upon the conclusion of the trials the Court (and it was a Court of strangers to him, too) unani- mously recommended his promotion to Brigadier-General, which docu- ment, however, he would not allow to go forward, alleging as a reason his brief experience as a military commander, and that there were already lives enough under his charge. Such was his modesty and noble character. Col. Hughes died respected and beloved by all his soldiers, and not more universal was the mourning in camp over the
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death of their commander than that of his host of friends at home.
The Thirty-Eighth took their departure from Port Hudson for New Orleans, where they remained about three months. It was next trans- ferred to Point Isabel, on the Rio Grande River. After leaving Port Hudson Company E was without a commissioned officer for nearly a year. The regiment was next sent to Brownsville, Texas. While here Quartermaster T. R. Crandall was made Captain of Company E, and Walter Green was made its First Lieutenant.
August, 1864, again found the regiment in New Orleans. From here it was sent to Morganzie Bend. While at Morganzie Bend the Thirty-Fourth and Thirty-Eighth were consolidated, and afterwards known as the Thirty-Fourth. The new regiment numbered 1056 men. Company E, of Winneshiek, and Company F, of Fayette, were like- wise consolidated, and afterward known as Company K. Capt. Rogers, of Company F, and Lieut. Green, were relieved of duty, and T. R. Crandall made Captain. H. T. Shumaker, of the original Company F, was made First Lieutenant, and O. J. Clark made Second Lieuten- ant. Company D and K were likewise consolidated. The Thirty- Fourth participated in the siege of Fort Gains and Fort Morgan, on Mobile Bay, and here it remained until these forts capitulated. The Thirty-Fourth was also present at the charge on Fort Fisher. The regi- ment was engaged in the last battle of the war, which was the taking of Fort Blakesly, the day before Lee's surrender. In this engagement, in just eighteen minutes, over 1,500 Union soldiers were slain and wounded. The regiment was mustered out of the service at Houston, Texas, but did not disband until it reached Davenport.
Company D, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, was the last company donated to the Union cause by Winneshiek County. Although the men compos- ing this company enlisted with the intention and expectation of fighting rebels, they were transferred to other fields of duty-which was even more undesirable-that of fighting Indians. The company was mus- tered into the United States service in February, 1863, with the follow- ing officers :
Captain-T. W. Burdick.
First Lieutenant-Sherman Page.
Second Lieutenant-Timothy Finn.
Orderly Sergeant-W. H. Fannon.
The United States forces, in which was Company K, had several engagements with the Indians, each time coming out victorious, with great loss to the Indians and small loss to themselves. Company D
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
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was engaged in the battle of Whitestone Hills on the 3d of September, 1863. In 1864 the company was engaged in five different battles with the Indians. The company was mustered out of the service in October, 1865.
The brave who died in the mountains of Arkansas, the marshes of Louisiana, the rocky fastnesses of Georgia, and the swamps of Caro- lina, are remembered less vividly by their old comrades as year by year passes away, and when this generation has gone there will be none to recall the names of the youthful heroes of Winneshiek County who faced fatigue and sickness, steel and ball, and died in the fierce front of battle, facing the foe, or fell victims to malarious diseases. But while their individual memories will have perished, the cause for which they died, the cause for which they perished, the cause of liberty and human- ity will remain, and future generations will derive fresh courage to struggle for the right from the glorious example of the citizen-soldiers who crushed the " Great Rebellion."
"THE IOWA BOYS."
I.
The bugles of war sound through the land, From ocean to ocean, o'er prairie and town, Who is so pase as to tamely stand While traitors tear "Old Glory " down ? What though fortune may sometimes frown, And battles be lost, we will never yield ; Victory yet will our banners crown
When "The Iowa Boys " are in the field.
II.
Answered the State that never had failed Once in its duty to freedom and right :
" Here are my children, when law is assailed, Freely I give them to aid in the fight ; When treason is conquered by loyalty's might, Home let them come with no stain on their shield." We marched, and the stars on the flag grew bright,
For "The Iowa Boys" were in the field.
9
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
III.
Up from the battle where Lyon died Rose the notes of our proud refrain ; Donelson's victory quick replied, Pea Ridge echoed it back again ; Vicksburg swelled the triumphant strain, As in base surrender the rebels kneeled, And California called to Maine: " 'The Iowa Boys ' are in the field!" IV.
Lookout Mountain re echoed our tread As we marched embattled upon his brow, While the sun of victory crowned his head, And the clouds rolled dark in the vale below. Back to Atlanta we hurled the foe, Shattered and beaten his columns reeled ; And our colors, all blood-stained and shot-torn, show That "The Iowa Boys" were in the field.
V.
With Sherman we marched to the waiting sea That thundered a welcome upon the strand ; And as sweeps the whirlwind so swept we Through the length and breadth of the Southron's land. At last, in the " Grand Review " we stand, The battle is won, and no stain on our shield, While praise to the victors rose full and grand, And "The Iowa Boys " marched home from the field.
VI.
Ah, not all ! Full many a heart Mourns to-day in the soldier's home ; And the eyes that saw him through tears depart Will weep for aye, though he never come. When we marched in pride past the Capitol's dome, When thousands shouted and bugles pealed In the " Grand Review," we all missed some Of "The Iowa Boys" who had died on the field. VII.
Died on the field of their honor and fame, Whose blood-drenched sod is their fittest pall, With never a blot on their soldier name, Dying that liberty might not fall. Dying to break the slaves' dark thrall, Whose charter of freedom their life blood sealed ; Comrades, this toast in silence all : " To ' The Iowa Boys' who have died on the field."
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
CONCLUSION OF COUNTY HISTORY.
The Flush Times of 1856-First Railroad Organization-The North- western Railroad-First Successful Railroad Company-The Deco- rah Branch- Jubilee over its Completion-Decorah a Station of which the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company are Proud- Statistics Showing the Railroad Business Transacted at Decorah- The Educational Interests of Winneshiek County -- Statistics that Indi- cate the Progress of Our People-Three Celebrated Murder Trials- Telyea, Mc Clintock and Stickles -Old Settler s' Association-Conclu- sion of County History.
In 1856 everything was booming. The abundant resources of a new country had reached a high state of development, money was plenty, and the prospects for the future bright. One thing alone seemed lack- ing to make the people perfectly satisfied with their condition-better facilities for transportation. The time had passed when the products of the county could be transported sixty miles to market by ox-teams without suffering much inconvenience and loss. The time had come when a railroad was a necessity. The railroad fever was raging through- out the West, and far-seeing ones realized the immense value that would sweep in on iron rails drawn by the iron horse. After a due amount of talk and agitation, the Northwestern Railroad Company was formed. Decorah was its headquarters, but they took in prominent citizens of Clinton. John Thompson, of Clermont, became President ; O. C. Lee, a banker at McGregor, Secretary ; W. F. Kimball, of Decorah, Treas- urer ; Eb. Baldwin, Chief Engineer; and E. E. Cooley, Attorney. With a mighty faith in the future, business men put down their names for stock by the thousand dollars' worth, and $80,000 of the capi-
tal was actually subscribed. Whether it could all have been paid for is another matter. With such a start as this, the Company felt it could appeal to the public spirit of the people, and the county was asked to bond itself to the amount of $100,000. Strange as it may seem to later comers, who worked and toiled to gather together the few thousands which the railroad actually cost when it did come, the people enthusiastically came forward and voted aye. The bonds were printed, after some delay, and were all ready to be formally signed, sealed and delivered, when the Supreme Court stamped the law under
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
which the bonds were being put out, with the word "unconstitu- tional." The scheme collapsed, and the county was saved a burden of debt, which might have retarded its progress for all the years past, as well as scores to come. It is worthy of note that when the railroad did come to us it followed the line marked out by those pioneers, and proved that their plans were wise and far-sighted, if they were a dozen years ahead of the times.
Several attempts were made before a railroad was finally built. The Company to succeed was the McGregor Western. This company was organized January 19, 1863. The commencement of the road was at North McGregor. Work was commenced in March, 1863, and in one year the road was in running order to Monona, fourteen and one-half miles. The work was completed to Postville in September, 1864, to Castalia in October, 1864, and to Conover in August, 1865.
Decorah, at this date, had become a thriving inland city, well sup- ported with newly-started manufactories. Her citizens looked upon the road that was to pass them by with a covetous eye. Railroad connec- tion, with river and lake transportation, was necessary to the future prosperity of the place. This was readily comprehended, and every effort was put forth by an energetic people to secure better transporta- tion facilities. As a result, proposals were made to the managers of the McGregor Western Railway to build a branch line from Conover to Decorah, nine miles. The citizens of Decorah pledged themselves to furnish $40,000, as a bonus, provided the Company would build the nine miles of road, which the managers agreed to do. Nearly $18,000 was paid in by the people of Decorah, and, on the other hand, the road was graded and bridged, ready for the superstructure. But the main line having been leased to the Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien Company, work on the branch was suspended in September, 1865.
The road is now operated under the management of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, by which name it is known. The branch was completed to Decorah in September, 1869, in accordance with the agreement made by the Company with the citizens of De- corah. The event was one of great importance to the capital city of the county. A day of celebration and rejoicing was given in honor of the event. Large crowds of people thronged to the city, and many availed themselves of the opportunity offered and made excursion trips to Conover and back.
Hon. E. E. Cooley delivered an address, in which he ably set forth the great value the new railroad would be to Decorah and the sur-
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
rounding country. At the time, his predictions seemed to many to be extravagant ; yet as the years have come and gone, even greater advantages than were foretold by the eminent orator, have been real- ized as the natural result of this intercourse established with the outer commercial world. .
Authentic information conclusively affirms that the nine miles of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad known as " the branch," and connect- ing Decorah with the main line, pays more (by double) to the mile than any other nine miles of the entire road.
That the above may not seem as an empty assertion, herewith are given the figures of freights received and shipped, and other reliable data, from which the reader may form his own conclusions. The books of the Company for 1875 show that there were 23,824,000 pounds of freight received at Decorah, and the amount paid on the same to be $68,873.58. The freight forwarded for 1875 amounted to 45,643,015 pounds, on which was paid $138,317.50.
The above amounts received for freights are exclusive of advance charges.
The sale of passenger tickets at this station was as follows:
Tickets $13,940.65
Coupons 2,980.80
Total
$16,921.45
These total amounts give as the total earnings of the Branch for the year 1875 $224,112.53, which is a good index to the wealth and pros- perity of the county, the immediate result of an energetic people.
The citizens of Winneshiek County were not engaged in work all these years that alone improved the material features of the county- work that resulted pecuniarily advantageous, such as agriculture. build- ing, etc .- but found time and money to devote to the mental advance- ment of the young and growing population. The people of Winne- shiek County are peculiarly an educational people. It seems to be the chief aim of nearly every parent to give his children an education, and all measures tending to this result have been heartily encouraged. So strong has the popular will been in this direction that educational inter- ests seem to have outstripped all others. County Superintendent Kes- sey's report for 1876 makes the following showing: The number of graded schools are 9; the number of ungraded, 125. The number of teachers employed during the year was 190, of which number 72 were
-
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HISTORY OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
males and 118 females. The compensation paid to male teachers averaged $39.74 ; females, $27.28. The muster-roll of Winneshiek County's school children shows the small army of 9,332, of which number there are 4,939 males and 4,393 females. This army of youths is marshaled in 134 school-houses, where they receive their educa- tional training, and these school-houses are kept in repair at an average cost of $10,162.67, and the teachers who drill this small army are employed by the county at a cost of $37,294.98 annually.
The foregoing statistics regarding shipments and receipts at the chief railroad station in the county furnishes every reader with the facts from which can be deducted the wonderful material growth and prosperity of Winneshiek County. The educational statistics likewise furnish reliable data from which correct conclusions can be drawn regarding the educa- tional interests of the county and its wonderful growth.
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