USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 12
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
that these should be divided into sub-districts. This law went into force March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of school districts from about 3,500 to less than 900.
This change of school organization resulted in a very material reduction of the expenditures for the compensation of District Secretaries and Treasurers. An effort was made for several years, from 1867 to 1872, to abolish the sub-district system. The Legis- lature of 1870, provided for the formation of independent districts from the sub-districts of district townships. The system of graded schools was inaugurated in 1849; and new schools, in which more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded.
The first official mention of Teachers' Institutes in the educa- tional records of Iowa, occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850.
In March, 1858, an act was passed authorizing the holding of Teachers' Institutes for periods not less than six working days, whenever not less than thirty teachers should desire. The Super- intendent was authorized to expend not exceeding $100 for any one Institute, to be paid out by the County Superintendent as the In- stitute might direct for teachers and lecturers, and one thousand dollars was appropriated to defray the expenses of these Institutes.
The Board of Education at its first session, commencing Decem- ber 6, 1858, enacted a code of school laws which retained the ex- isting provisions for Teachers' Institutes. In March, 1860, the General Assembly amended the act of the Board by appropriating "a sum not exceeding fifty dollars annually for one such Institute, held as provided by law in each county."
By act approved March 19, 1874, Normal Institutes were estab- lished in each county, to be held annually by the County Superin- tendent, and in 1876 the Sixteenth General Assembly established the first permanent State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, appropriating the building and property of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place for that purpose.
The public school system of Iowa is admirably organized, and if the various officers who are entrusted with the educational interests of the commonwealth are faithful and competent, should and will constantly improve.
"The public schools are supported by funds arising from several sources. The sixteenth section of every Congressional Township was set apart by the General Government for school purposes, be- ing one-thirty-sixth part of all the lands of the State. The mini- mum price of these lands was fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to the State of five hundred thousand acres, and an appropriation of five per cent. on all the sales of public lands to the school fund. The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all lands which escheat to it; the proceeds of all fines for the violation of the liquor and criminal laws. The money derived from these sources
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
constitutes the permanent school fund of the State, which cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The penalties collected by the courts for fines and forfeits go to the school fund in the counties where collected. The proceeds of the sale of lands and the five per cent. fund go into the State Treasury, and. the State distrib- utes these proceeds to the several counties according to their re- quest, and the counties loan the money to individuals for long terms at eight per cent. interest, on security of land valued at three times the amount of the loan, exclusive of all buildings and im- provements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid into the State Treasury, and becomes the available school fund of the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all money so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to the school fund for all moneys transferred to the counties. The interest on these loans is apportioned by the State Auditor semi-annually to the several counties of the State, in proportion to the number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The counties also levy an annual tax for school purposes, which is apportioned to the several district townships in the same way. A district tax is also levied for the same purpose. The money arising from these several sources constitutes the support of the public schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the State to afford from six to nine months' school each year."
The taxes levied for the support of schools are self-imposed. Under the admirable school laws of the State, no taxes can be le- gally assessed or collected for the erection of school houses until they have been ordered by the election of the district at a school meeting legally called. The school houses of Iowa are the pride of the State and an honor to the people. If they have been some- times built at a prodigal expense, the tax payers have no one to blame but themselves. The teachers' and contingent funds are determined by the Directors, under certain legal restrictions. These boards are elected annually, except in the independent dis- tricts, in which the board may be entirely changed every three years. The only exception to this mode of levying taxes for sup- port of schools is the county school tax, which is determined by the County Board of Supervisors. The tax is from one to three mills on the dollar; usually, however, but one.
In his admirable message to the General Assembly, just previous to retiring from the Gubernatorial chair, Gov. Gear has the follow- ing to say concerning the public schools of Iowa:
"The number of school children reported is 594,750. Of this number 384,192 are, by approximation, between the ages of six and sixteen years. The number of all ages enrolled in the schools is 431,513, which shows that much the greater proportion of chil- dren of school age avail themselves of the benefits of our educa- tional system. The average attendance is 254,088. The schools of the State have been in session, on an average, 148 days.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
"There is, doubtless, quite a percentage of children who attend schools other than those of a public character. Yet the figures I have quoted show clearly that very many children, through the negligence or unwillingness of parents, do not attend school at all, but are in a fair way to grow up in ignorance. I, therefore, earn- estly suggest that you consider the expediency of enacting a com- pulsory educational law, which should require attendance upon schools of some kind, either public or private. To me it does seem as if the State shall not have done her full duty by the chil- dren, until she shall have completed her educational system by some such enactment.
"The interest in the normal institutes is maintained, and, beyond doubt, they render great aid in training the teachers who attend them.
"The receipts for all school purposes throughout the State were $5,006,023.60, and the expenditures $5,129,279.49; but of these re- ceipts and expenditures about $400,000 was of money borrowed to refund outstanding bonds at lower rates of interest.
"The amount on hand aggregated, at the end of the fiscal year, $2,653,356.55. This sum is, in my judgment, much larger than the necessities of the schools require, and it would be well to im- pose some check to prevent an excessive or unnecessary levy of taxes for school purposes."
The significance of such facts as these is unmistakable. Such lavish expenditures can only be accounted for by the liberality and public spirit of the people, all of whom manifest their love of popular education and their faith in the public schools by the an- nual dedication to their support of more than one per cent. of their entire taxable property; this too, uninterruptedly through a series of years, commencing in the midst of a war which taxed their en- ergies and resources to the extreme, and continuing through years of general depression in business-years of moderate yield of pro- duce, of discouragingly low prices, and even amid the scanty sur- roundings and privations of pioneer life. Few human enterprises have a grander significance or give evidence of a more noble pur- pose than the generous contributions from the scanty resources of the pioneer for the purposes of public education.
POLITICAL RECORD.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
Governors-Robert Lucas, 1838-41; John Chambers, 1841-45; James Clarke, 1845.
Secretaries -- William B. Conway, 1838, died 1839; James Clarke, 1839; O. H. W. Stull, 1841; Samuel J. Burr, 1843; Jesse Wil- liams, 1845.
Auditors- Jesse Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843; Robert M. Secrest, 1845.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Treasurers-Thornton Bayliss, 1839; Morgan Reno, 1840. Judges-Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams, 1838, Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.
Presidents of Council-Jesse B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hempstead, 1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker, 1841-2; John D. Elbert, 1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843-4; S. Clinton Hastings, 1845; Stephen Hempstead, 1845-6.
Speakers of the House-William H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward Johnston, 1839-40; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner Lewis, 1841-2; James M. Morgan, 1842-3; James P. Carleton, 1843-4; James M. Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary, 1845-6.
First Constitutional Convention, 1844-Shepherd Leffler, Presi- dent; Geo. S. Hampton, Secretary.
Second Constitutional Convention, 1846-Enos Lowe, President; William Thompson, Secretary.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
Governors-Ansel Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to 1834; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858; Ralph P. Lowe, 1858 to 1860; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William M. Stone, 1864 to 1868; Samuel Morrill, 1268 to 1872; Cyrus C. Car- penter, 1872 to 1876; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876 to 1877; Joshua G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878; John H. Gear, 1878 to 1882; Buren R. Sherman, 1882 to -
Lieutenant Governors-Office created by the new Constitution September 3, 1857-Oran Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-1; John R. Needham, 1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5; Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7; John Scott, 1868-9; M. M. Walden, 1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5; Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-82; O. H. Manning, 1882 to
Secretaries of State-Elisha Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 4, 1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec. 2, 1850: George W. McCleary, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 1, 1856; Elijah Sells, Dec. 1, 1856, to Jan. 5, 1863; James Wright, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Ed. Wright, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan. 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young. Jan. 6, 1873, to 1879; J. A. T. Hull, 1879 to -. "
Auditors of State-Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; William Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens, Dec. 4, 1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee, Sept. 22, 1855, to Jan. 3, 1859; Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859, to 1865; John A. Elliot, 1865 to 1871; John Russell, 1871 to 1875; Buren R. Sherman, 1875 to 1881; W. V. Lucas, 1881 to -
Treasurers of State-Morgan Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; Israel Kister, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4. 1852, Martin L. Mor- ris, Dec. 4, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones, 1859 to 1863; William H. Holmes, 1863 to 1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877; George W. Bemis, 1877 to 1881; Edwin G. Conger, 1881 to
Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office created in 1847- James Harlan, June 5, 1845 (Supreme Court decided election void); Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May 23, 1844, to June 7, 1854; James D. Eads, 1854-7; Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857; Maturin L. Fisher, 1857 to Dec. 1858, when the office was abolished and the duties of the office devolved upon the Secretary of the Board of Education.
Secretaries of the Board of Education-Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 1859-1863; Oran Faville, Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March 23, 1864.
Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office re-created March 23, 1864-Oran Faville, March 28, 1864, resigned March 1, 1867; D. Franklin Wells, March 4, 1867, to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissell, 1870 to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1877; Carl W. von Coelln, 1877 to 1882; J. W. Akers, 1882 to -
State Binders-Office created February 21, 1855-William M. Coles, May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859: Frank M. Mills, 1859 to 1867; James S. Carter, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to 1874; H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1878; Matt Parrott, 1878 to -
Registers of the State Land Office-Anson Hart, May 5, 1855, to May 13, 1857; Theodore S. Parvin, May 13, 1857, to Jan. 3, 1859; Amos B. Miller, Jan. 3, 1859, to October, 1862; Edwin Mitchell. Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan. 5, 1863; Josiah A. Harvey, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Cyrus C. Carpenter, Jan. 7, 1867, to January, 1871; Aaron Brown, January, 1871, to January, 1875; David Secor, Jan- uary, 1875, to 1879; J. K. Powers, 1879 to
State Printers-Office created Jan. 3, 1840-Garrett D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; Wil- liam A. Hornish, 1853 (resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney & Dorr, 1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857 to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869; Frank M. Mills, 1869 to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to 1878; Frank M. Mills, 1878 to
Adjutants General-Daniel S. Lee, 1851-5; Geo. W. McCleary, 1855-7; Elijah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Ba- ker, 1861 to 1877; John H. Looby, 1877 to 1879; W. L. Alexan- der, 1879 to
Attorneys General-David C. Cloud, 1853-56; Samuel A. Rice, 1856-60; Charles C. Nourse, 1861-4; Isaac L. Allen, 1865 (resigned January, 1866); Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 (died June 12, 1867); Henry O'Connor, 1867-72; Marsena E. Cutts, 1872-6; John F. McJunkin, 1877 to 1881; Smith McPherson, 1881 to
Presidents of the Senate-Thomas Baker, 1846-7; Thomas Hughes, 1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9: Enos Lowe, 1850-1; Wil- liam E. Leffingwell, 1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5; William
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
W. Hamilton, 1856-7. Under the New Constitution, the Lieuten- ant Governor is President of the Senate.
Speakers of the House-Jesse B. Brown, 1847-8; Smiley H. Bonhan, 1849-50; George Temple, 1851-2; James Grant, 1853-4; Reuben Noble, 1855-6; Samuel McFarland, 1856-7; Stephen B. Sheledy, 1858-9; John Edwards, 1860-1; Rush Clark, 1862-3; Ja- cob Butler, 1864-5; Ed. Wright, 1866-7; John Russell, 1868-9; Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-1; James Wilson, 1872-3; John H. Gear, 1874-7; John Y. Stone, 1878-9; Lore Alford, 1880-1; G. R. Stru- ble, 1882 to -
New Constitutional Convention, 1859-Francis Springer. Presi- dent; Thos. J. Saunders. Secretary.
STATE OFFICERS, 1882.
Buren R. Sherman, Governor; O. H. Manning, Lieutenant Gov- ernor; John A. T. Hull, Secretary of State; William V. Lucas, Au- ditor of State; Edwin H. Conger, Treasurer of State: James K. Powers, Register of State Land Office; W. L. Alexander. Adjutant General: Smith McPherson, Attorney General; Edward J. Holmes, Clerk of the Supreme Court; Jno. S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme Court; J. W. Akers, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Frank M. Mills, State Printer; Matt. Parrott, State Binder; Prof. Nathan R. Leonard, Superintendent of Weights and Measures; Mrs. S. B. Maxwell, State Librarian.
THE JUDICIARY.
SUPREME COURT OF IOWA, 18S2.
Chief Justice, Austin Adams, Dubuque; Associate Judges, Wil- lian H. Seevers, Oskaloosa; James G. Dav, Sidney; James H. Roth- rock. Tipton; Joseph M. Beck, Fort Madison.
DISTRICT COURTS, 1882.
First Judicial District, Abraham H. Stutsman, Burlington; Sec- ond Judicial District, Edward L. Burton, Ottumwa; Third Judicial District, R. C. Henry, Mount Ayr; Fourth Judicial District, Charles H. Lewis, Cherokee: Fifth Judicial District, William H. McHenry, Des Moines; Sixth Judicial District, John C. Cook, Newton; Sev- enth Judicial District, Walter I. Hayes, Clinton; Eighth Judicial District, John Shane, Vinton; Ninth Judicial District, Sylvester Bagg, Waterloo; Tenth Judicial District, Ezekiel E. Cooley, De- corah; Eleventh Judicial District. James W. Mckenzie, Hampton; Twelfth Judicial District, Geo. W. Ruddick, Waverly; Thirteenth Judicial District, Joseph R. Reed, Council Bluffs; Fourteenth Ju- dicial District, Ed. R. Duffie, Sac City.
CIRCUIT COURTS. 1882.
First Judicial Circuit, First District, William J. Jeffries, Mt. Pleasant; Second Judicial Circuit, First District, Charles Phelps,
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Burlington: Second Judicial Circuit, H. C. Traverse, Bloomfield; Third Judicial Circuit. D. D. Gregory, Afton; Fourth Judicial Circuit, J. R. Zuver, Sioux City; First Judicial Circuit, Fifth District, Josiah Given, Des Moines; Second Judicial Circuit, Fifth District, Stephen A. Callvert, Adel; Sixth Judicial Circuit. W. R. Lewis, Montezuma; First Judicial Circuit, Seventh District, Charles W. Chase, Clinton; Second Judicial Circuit, Seventh Dis- trict, De Witt C. Richman, Muscatine; Eighth Judicial Circuit, Christian Hedges, Marengo; Ninth Judicial Circuit, Benjamin W. Lacy, Dubuque; Tenth Judicial Circuit, Charles T. Granger, Wau- kon; Eleventh Judicial Circuit, D. D. Miracle, Webster City; Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Robert G. Reineger, Charles City; Thir- teenth Judicial Circuit, C. F. Loofbourrow, Atlantic; Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, John N. Weaver, Algona.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
(The first General Assembly failed to elect Senators.)
George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-1858; Augustus C. Dodge, Burlington, Dec. 7, 1848-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleas- ant, Jan. 6, 1855-1865; James W. Grimes, Burlington, Jan. 26, 1858-died 1870; Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City, elected Jan. 13, 1866, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of James Harlan ; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, March 4, 1866-1872; James B. Howell, Keokuk, elected Jan. 20, 1870, to fill vacancy caused by the death of J. W. Grimes-term expired March 3d; George G. Wright, Des Moines, March 4, 1871-1877; William B. Allison, Dubuque, March 4, 1872: Samuel J. Kirkwood, March 4, 1877; James W. McDill, appointed to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of S. J. Kirkwood, in 1881, and elected Jan. 1882, to fill the unexpired term; James F. Wilson, elected Jan. 1882, for the full term, be- ginning March 4, 1883.
MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Twenty-ninth Congress-1846 to 1847 .- S. Clinton Hastings; Shepherd Leffler.
Thirtieth Congress-1847 to 1849 .- First District, William Thompson; Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-first Congress-1849 to 1851 .- First District, First Ses- sion, Wm. Thompson; unseated by the House of Representatives on a contest, and election remanded to the people. First District, Second Session, Daniel F. Miller. Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-second Congress-1851 to 1853 .- First District, Bern- hart Henn. Second District, Lincoln Clark.
Thirty-third Congress-1853 to 1855 .- First District, Bernhart Henn. Second District, John P. Cook.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Thirty-fourth Congress-1855 to 1857 .- First District, Augustus Hall. Second District, James Thorington.
Thirty-fifth Congress-1857 to 1859 .- First District, Samuel R. Curtis. Second District, Timothy Davis.
Thirty-sixth Congress-1859 to 1861 .- First District, Samuel R. Curtis. Second District, William Vandever.
Thirty-serenth Congress-1861 to 1863 .- First District, First Session, Samuel R. Curtis .* First District, Second and Third Ses- sions, James F. Wilson. Second District, William Vandever.
Thirty-eighth Congress-1863 to 1865 .- First District, James F. Wilson. Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William B. Allison; Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell; Fifth District, John A. Kasson; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.
Thirty-ninth Congress-1865 to 1867 .- First District, James F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William B. Allison; Fourth District, Josiah B. Grinnell, Fifth District, John A. Kasson; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.
Fortieth Congress-1867 to 1869 .- First District, James F. Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, William B. Allison; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth District, Grenville M. Dodge; Sixth District, Asahel W. Hubbard.
Forty-first Congress-1869 to 1871 .- First District, George W. Mccrary; Second District, William Smyth; Third District, William B. Allison; Fourth District, William Loughridge; Fifth District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Charles Pomeroy.
Forty-second Congress-1871 to 1873 .- First District, George W. Mccrary; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District, W. G. Donnan; Fourth District, Madison M. Waldon; Fifth Dis- trict, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District, Jackson Orr.
Forty-third Congress-1873 to 1875 .- First District, George W. McCrary; Second District, Aylett R. Cotton; Third District, William G. Donnan; Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth Dis- trict, James Wilson; Sixth District, William Loughridge; Seventh District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; Ninth District, Jackson Orr.
Forty-fourth Congress-1875 to 1877 .- First District, George W. Mccrary; Second District, John Q. Tufts; Third District, L. L. Ainsworth; Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth District, James Wilson; Sixth District, Ezekiel S. Sampson; Seventh Dis- trict, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, James W. McDill; Ninth District, Addison Oliver.
Forty-fifth Congress-1877 to 1879 .- First District, J. C. Stone; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, T. W. Bur- dick; Fourth District, H. C. Deering; Fifth District, Rush Clark; Sixth District, E. S. Sampson; Seventh District, H. J. B. Cum- mings; Eighth District, W. F. Sapp; Ninth District, A. Oliver.
*Vacated seat by acceptance of commission as Brigadier General, and J. F. Wilson chosen his successor.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Forty-sixth Congress .- 1879 to 1881 .- First District, Moses A. McCoid; Second District, Hiram Price; Third District, Thomas Updegraff ; Fourth District, Nathaniel C. Deering; Firth District, W. G. Thompson; Sixth District, James B. Weaver; Seventh Dis- ttict, Edward H. Gillette; Eighth District, William F. Sapp; Ninth District, Cyrus C. Carpenter.
Forty-Seventh Congress-1881 to 1883 .- First District, Moses A. McCoid; Second District, Sewall S. Farwell; Third District, Thomas Updegraff ; Fourth District, Nathaniel C. Deering; Fifth District, W. G. Thompson; Sixth District, Madison E. Cutts; Seventh District, John A. Kasson; Eighth District, William P. Hepburn; Ninth District, Cyrus C. Carpenter.
WAR RECORD.
The State of Iowa may well be proud of her record during the War of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865. The following brief but comprehensive sketch of the history she made during that try- ing period, is largely from the pen of Col. A. P. Wood, of Du- buque, the author of "The History of Iowa and the War," one of the best works of the kind yet written.
" Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the General Government, in the courage and constancy of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the War of the Rebellion, Iowa proved herself the peer of any loyal State. The proclamation of her Governor, responsive to that of the President, calling for volunteers to com- pose her First Regiment, was issued on the fourth day after the fall of Sumter. At the end of only a single week, men enough were reported to be in quarters (mostly in the vicinity of their own homes) to fill the regiment. These, however, were hardly more than a tithe of the number who had been offered by com- pany commanders for acceptance under the President's call. So urgent were these offers that the Governor requested (on the 24th of April) permission to organize an additional regiment. While awaiting an answer to this request, he conditionally accepted a sufficient number of companies to compose two additional regi- ments. In a short time, he was notified that both of these would be accepted. Soon after the completion of the Second and Third Regiments (which was near the close of May), the Adjutant Gen- eral of the State reported that upwards of one hundred and seventy companies had been tendered to the Governor to serve against the enemies of the Union.
" Much difficulty and considerable delay occurred in fitting these regiments for the field. For the First Infantry a complete outfit (not uniform) of clothing was extemporized- principally by the volunteered labor of loyal women in the different towns -- from
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
material of various colors and qualities, obtained within the limits of the State. The same was done in part for the Second Infantry. Meantime, an extra session of the General Assembly had been called by the Governor, to convene on the 15th of May. With but little delay, that body authorized a loan of $800,000, to meet the extraordinary expenses incurred, and to be incurred, by the Executive Department, in consequence of the new emergency. A wealthy merchant of the State (Ex-Governor Merrill, then a resi- dent of McGregor) immediately took from the Governor a con- tract to supply a complete outfit of clothing for the three regi- ments organized, agreeing to receive, should the Governor so elect, his pay therefor in State bonds at par. This contract he executed to the letter, and a portion of the clothing (which was manufac- tured in Boston, to his order) was delivered at Keokuk, the place at which the troops had rendezvoused, in exactly one month from the day on which the contract had been entered into. The re- mainder arrived only a few days later. This clothing was deliver- ed to the regiment, but was subsequently condemned by the Gov- ernment, for the reason that its color was gray, and blue had been adopted as the color to be worn by the national troops."
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