USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 18
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In the distribution of public offices it is not too much to say that Fayette county has not been overburdened with state and national offices, when the
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ability and high character of her prominent politicians are considered. We have never had but one state officer, if we except a few minor appointments. Hon. William Larrabee, Sr., after serving nine consecutive sessions in the State Senate, was elected to the office of governor, November 3, 1885, and served four years.
CONGRESSMEN.
Representatives in Congress from this county ( fourth congressional dis- trict) have been as follows : Hon. L. L. Ainsworth, 1875 to 1877, anti-mono- poly Democrat ; Hon. William E. Fuller, 1885 to 1889, Republican ; Hon. W. H. Butler, 1891 to 1893, Democrat. Hon. Gilbert N. Haugen, of North- wood, Worth county, Republican, has been the representative in Congress from the fourth district continuously since 1899.
The following lists of names represent the legislative and county officers from the organization of the county to the present time, as nearly correct as a careful examination of the records justifies :
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
In 1850, when Fayette county was organized, it was, as a legislative dis- trict, combined with other counties. In 1850-51 it was represented in the Senate by John G. Shields and Warner Lewis, of Dubuque, and in the House by Eliphalet Price, of Clayton county. In 1852 it was part of the territory represented in the Senate by John G. Shields, Warner Lewis and Maturin L. Fisher, and in the House by Edwin Montgomery and John Garber. In 1854-5 it was one of fifteen counties represented in the Senate by William W. Hamil- ton, Maturin L. Fisher, and John G. Shields, and was one of the twelve counties represented in the House by Jacob W. Rogers, of West Union. The following are the members of the Legislature for Fayette county :
Senate-Aaron Brown, 1856-57, 1858-59, two terms; Lucien L. Ains- worth, 1860-63, two terms; Harvey S. Brunson, 1864-65; William B. Lakin, 1866-67; William Larrabee, 1868-86 (forty-third district); W. C. Earle (fortieth district), 1886-8; L. B. Mattoon, 1888-96; James H. Trewin, 1896- 1904; A. C. Wilson, 1904-8; Henry L. Adams, 1909-present incumbent.
House-Edwin Montgomery, 1852-53; Jacob W. Rogers, 1854-55 : Rob- ert A. Richardson, 1856-59 ; Leander C. Noble, 1860-61 ; WV. B. Lakin, 1862- 63; Levi Fuller, 1862-63; Phineas F. Sturgis, 1864-65; Alonzo Abernathy. 1866-67; D. G. Goodrich, 1866-67; Aaron Brown, 1868-71; Curtis R. Bent,
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1868-69; Joseph Hobson, 1870-71; L. L. Ainsworth, 1872-73; William R. Morley, 1874-75; William E. Fuller, 1876-77; Henry Rickel, 1878-80; Dr. Abner Lewis, 1880-82; William Taylor, 1882-84; Ed. Rice, 1884-6; (sixty- third district) J. K. Montgomery, 1886-8; (seventy-first district) Dr. G. D. Darnall, 1888-90; Andrew Addie, 1890-4; Dr. I. Pattison, 1894-6; John A. Thompson, 1896-8; Christian Miller, 1898-1902; William Larrabee, Jr., 1902-4; John D. Shaffer, 1904; William Larrabee, Jr., 1909-pres- ent incumbent.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONER.
It would seem that these were "experimental" offices, in that there was never but one set of incumbents elected. The office of county commissioner was abolished in 1851, and that of school fund commissioner in 1858.
William Wells, Jared Taylor and Charles Sawyer were the first and only county commissioners. They were elected in 1850, with Charles M. Jones as their clerk. Their term expired with the abolition of the office in 1851.
School Fund Commissioner Joseph W. Foster was elected in 1850, and served until 1858, when the office of superintendent of schools was cre- ated, and the duties of this office were divided between the superintendent of schools and other officers, and the office of school fund commissioner was abolished. (For a more complete history of these offices, see chapter on County Organization.)
COUNTY JUDGES.
The office of county judge was created with the organization of the county, and abolished in 1860, the office of county supervisor being then established, and the duties of county judge were merged into those of the newly created office.
The names of the county judges follow: Thomas Woodle, 1851, died in office May 12, 1854; M. V. Burdick, acting, May to August, 1854; Ga- briel Long, 1854, ceased to act April, 1855; C. A. Newcomb, April 1855-7; Jacob W. Rogers, 1857, resigned January, 1861 (confined to probate powers when the county board of supervisors was created) ; H. N. Hawkins, 1861-6; John Ecker, 1866-7; H. N. Hawkins, 1868, resigned January 8, 1869; Jason L. Paine, January to October, 1869; Hiram Hoagland, 1869, the last county judge and the first county auditor.
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COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
In 1860 the county judge system of county government was abolished, and a board consisting of one supervisor from each civil township was constituted. One-half of the first board served one year, and the other half two years, after which ten members were elected annually.
For 1861, Samuel Crawford, chairman; H. W. Earll, Matthew Arm- strong, Charles Sawyer, H. B. Hoyt, George Burnside, C. D. Shambaugh, H. W. Zimmerman, J. B. Kingsbury, William Morras, Henry Gibson, O. C. Kent, J. B. Stephenson, J. L. Bruce, Ira Burbank, S. C. Crosby. E. DeMott, C. A. Newcomb (resigned, L. Fuller appointed to fill vacancy ), Clark New- comb, William Holliday.
For 1862, Thomas Douglas, chairman; Matthew Armstrong, George Burnside, Samuel Crawford, E. DeMott, William Holliday, O. C. Kent, William Morras, C. D. Shambaugh, H. W. Zimmerman, A. H. Fox, H. W. Earll, H. B. Hoyt, J. B. Stephenson, Ira Burbank, William Blackett, S. C. Crosby, J. B. Kingsbury, Thomas Douglas, W. F. Lackey, Henry Gibson.
For 1863, Thomas Douglas, chairman; Hiram Hoagland, H. B. Hoyt, J. B. Kingsbury, Henry Gibson, W. F. Lackey, Ira Burbank, S. C. Crosby, (resigned, vacancy filled by E. R. Miller), William Holliday, Andrew Ains- worth, H. S. Brunson, Philander Davis, Philip Dowse, A. B. Dickey, D. G. Goodrich, D. B. Herriman, John W. Hobson, Daniel Perrin, J. H. Ross, E. Z. Stowe.
For 1864, Thomas Douglas, chairman ; A. Ainsworth, H. Augir, F. H. Chapman, M. D. Clark, P. Davis, E. Elwell, P. M. Freeman, D. G. Good- rich, H. Hoagland, J. W. Hobson, William Holliday, William C. Marr, James Mettlin, D. Perrin, J. H. Ross, E. T. Stowe, William Taylor, Orson Ward, A. B. Dickey.
For 1865, Aaron Brown, chairman; H. Augir, J. E. Budd, C. R. Bent, M. D. Clark, William Colby, L. P. Finch, P. M. Freeman, D. B. Herriman, Daniel Hills, Hiram Hoagland, Asahel Hancock, B. Hough, Ruel Parker, C. D. Shambaugh, N. W. Spears, E. Stedman, J. W. Sidman, William Taylor, Orson Ward.
For 1866, N. W. Spears, chairman; Harrison Augir, C. R. Bent, J. E. Budd, T. J. Butcher, William Colby, G. E. Champlin, R. Earle, L. P. Finch, A. J. Felt, C. B. Gardinier, D. B. Herriman, B. Hough, B. F. Little, H. Maynard, W. S. Phillips, B. H. Ropes, J. W. Sidman, E. Stedman, Orson Ward.
For 1867, N. W. Spears, chairman; J. C. Williams, J. W. Sidman,
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John Webb, G. A. Appelman, B. H. Ropes, L. P. Finch, Adam Becker, Henry Maynard, D. B. Herriman, G. E. Champlin, B. E. Hough, T. J. Butcher, William S. Phillips, Orson Ward, C. B. Gardinier, Charles Hoyt, Richard Earle, William Ash, G. W. McCreery.
For 1868, N. W. Spears, chairman; H. Hoagland, J. W. Sidman, John Webb, G. A. Appelman, B. H. Ropes, L. P. Finch, A. Becker,, D. B. Her- riman, A. Spear, L. D. Wellman, T. J. Butcher, W. S. Phillips, R. F. Rogers, C. B. Gardinier, Charles Hoyt, G. W. McCreery, R. Earle, William Taylor, S. B. Zeigler.
For 1869, N. W. Spears, chairman; H. Hoagland, William F. Wade, John Webb, D. G. Goodrich, B. H. Ropes, L. P. Finch, A. Becker, William Taylor, Ed Elwell, A. Spear, B. E. Hough, T. J. Butcher, F. Kidder, Ira Utter, C. B. Gardinier, J. E. Budd, William Colby, R. Earle, S. B. Zeigler.
For 1870, N. W. Spears, chairman; I. S. Lame, W. T. Wade, S. Craw- ford. D. G. Goodrich, B. H. Ropes, E. H. Gray, A. Becker, William Taylor, E. Elwell, A. Spear, B. E. Hough, J. Patterson, W. S. Phillips, G. W. Chamberlain, C. B. Gardinier, J. E. Budd, William Colby, H. S. Brunson, C. R. Bent.
The township system was abolished April 4, 1870, and was succeeded by a board of three elected by the county. The successive boards have been constituted as follows :
For 1871, H. S. Brunson, chairman ; Alden Spear, Edwin Stedman. For 1872, same.
For 1873, H. S. Brunson, chairman; Edwin Stedman, F. Snedigar. For 1874, H. S. Brunson, chairman ; F. Snedigar, Hiram Hoagland. For 1875, F. Snedigar, chairman; Hiram Hoagland, P. L. Champlin. For 1876, Hiram Hoagland, chairman ; P. L. Champlin, A. Probasco. For 1877, P. L. Champlin, chairman ; A. Probasco, Samuel Johnson. For 1878, A. Probasco, chairman ; Samuel Johnson, J. A. Stevens. For 1879, J. A. Stevens, chairman ; O. B. Dodd, T. H. Whiting. For 1880, J. A. Stevens, chairman ; O. B. Dodd, T. H. Whiting. For 1881, T. H. Whiting, chairman ; O. B. Dodd, J. A. Stevens. For 1882, J. A. Stevens, chairman ; T. H. Whiting, V. W. Johnson. For 1883, J. A. Stevens, chairman ; V. W. Johnson, T. H. Whiting. For 1884, V. W. Johnson, chairman ; J. A. Stevens, T. H. Whiting. For 1885, V. W. Johnson, chairman; J. A. Stevens, J. A. Thompson. For 1886, J. A. Thompson, chairman; J. A. Stevens, A. E. Gunderson. For 1887, J. A. Thompson, chairman ; A. E. Gunderson, John D. Dooley. For 1888, A. E. Gunderson, chairman ; J. A. Thompson, John D. Dooley.
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For 1889, J. D. Dooley, chairman ; J. A. Thompson, W. L. Wells. For 1890, J. D. Dooley, chairman; J. A. Thompson, W. L. Wells. For 1891, W. L. Wells, chairman ; J. D. Dooley, J. A. Thompson. For 1892, J. D. Dooley, chairman; J. A. Thompson, W. L. Wells. For 1893, J. A. Thompson, chairman ; W. L. Wells, H. M. Wing. For 1894, H. M. Wing, chairman ; J. M. Burnside, J. D. Shaffer. For 1895, J. B. Burnside, chairman ; H. M. Wing, J. D. Shaffer. For 1896, J. D. Shaffer, chairman; H. M. Wing, J. M. Burnside. For 1897, H. M. Wing, chairman ; J. M. Burnside, J. D. Shaffer. For 1898, J. M. Burnside, chairman ; J. D. Shaffer, H. M. Wing. For 1899, J. D. Shaffer, chairman ; J. M. Burnside, M. C. Lawrence. For 1900, M. C. Lawrence, chairman ; J. M. Burnside, J. W. Dwyer. For 1901, M. C. Lawrence, chairman ; J. W. Dwyer, C. H. Bruihler. For 1902, J. W. Dwyer, chairman; C. H. Bruihler, J. K. Montgomery. For 1903, C. H. Bruihler, chairman ; J. K. Montgomery, W. H. Walrath. For 1904, J. K. Montgomery, chairman; C. H. Bruihler, W. H. Wal- rath.
For 1905, W. H. Walrath, chairman; C. H. Bruihler, J. W. Dwyer. For 1906, W. H. Walrath, chairman; C. H. Bruihler, J. W. Dwyer. For 1907, J. W. Dwyer, chairman; W. H. Walrath, S. G. Wayman. For 1908, W. H. Walrath, chairman; S. G. Wayman, Gus Gunderson. For 1909, S. G. Wayman, chairman; Gus Gunderson, W. H. Walrath. For 1910, Gus Gunderson, chairman ; W. H. Walrath, S. G. Wayman.
CLERKS OF COURT.
Jacob W. Rogers, 1850-2; John Webb, 1852-4; S. S. Seeley, 1854-8; Joseph Hobson, 1858-68; W. B. Lakin, 1869-74; Benjamin Morse, 1875-81; J. D. Neff, 1881-4 (died in 1884; July 11, 1884, H. M. Neff appointed to fill vacancy) ; Homer M. Neff, 1885-9; Z. D. Scobey, 1889-91; R. R. Pem- ber, 1891-3; H. R. Palmer, 1893-9; W. G. Walrath, 1899-1905; J. W. Winston, 1905-present incumbent.
For judges of the district court, see chapter on Fayette County Lawyers.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
For several years, beginning in 1851, there was an officer designated a prosecuting attorney elected by the county ; this was followed by prosecuting
(12)
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attorney for the district, and this in 1886 by the present system. The first prosecuting attorney for Fayette county was William McClintock (1851), who was succeeded by Francis Skelton (1852), M. V. Burdick, C. A. New- comb, Milo McGlathery. These served until the district attorney law became operative. Milo McGlathery was the only district attorney elected from this county during the continuance of that office.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
This office was created by the twenty-first General Assembly, the county attorney to be elected at the general election in 1886, and commence his duties the first Monday in January following. The office has been filled as follows : W. A. Hoyt, 1887-9; D. W. Clements, 1889-95; H. P. Hancock, 1895-1901; W. B. Clements, 1901-1905 ; R. G. Anderson, 1905-7 ; James Cooney, 1907-9; W. C. Lewis, 1909-present incumbent.
AUDITORS OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
H. H. Hawkins, county judge and ex-officio county auditor from January I, 1869, to January 8, 1869, when he resigned.
J. L. Paign, appointed county judge and ex-officio county auditor Jan- uary 8, 1869. Served to October 12, 1870.
Hiram Hoagland elected first county auditor, served from October 12, 1870, to January 5, 1871, when he resigned.
Albert Sutherland, his deputy, appointed January 5, 1871, and was twice elected, serving to January 1, 1876.
James H. Lakin, from January 1, 1876, to January 1, 1882.
F. M. Spears, from January 1, 1882, to January 13, 1886. Resigned January 13, 1886.
James H. Lakin, appointed January 13, 1886. Served to November 23, 1886.
D. Schoonmaker served from November 23, 1886, to December 1, 1890, when he resigned.
Ed. A. Kreamer, appointed December 1, 1890, and was three times elected to the office, serving to January 1, 1897.
J. E. Dempster, from January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1901.
J. L. Scallan, from January 1, 1901, to present time.
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RECORDERS AND TREASURERS.
Until 1865 but one officer was elected to discharge the duties of treasurer and recorder, but in that year a new law became operative, creating the office of county recorder, and separating his duties from those of the county treasurer.
Recorder and Treasurer- George A. Cook, 1850, resigned in March, 1853; H. C. Lacy, March 21, to August, 1853; E. C. Byam, 1853, resigned in October, 1853; P. L. Hinkley, October, 1854-7; Jacob Conkey, 1857-9; F. G. Walbridge, 1860-65.
County Recorders-E. H. Kinyon, 1865-74; Robert W. McFarland, 1875-7; R. W. McFarland, 1877-9; John Hutchison (contest), 1879-81; Frank Gates, 1881-89; Henry J. Grannis, 1889-91 ; J. G. McMasters, 1891-5; C. F. Chambers, 1895-1901 ; W. M. Peek, 1901-present incumbent.
Treasurers-H. B. Fox, 1865; James Stewart, 1866-75; Frank Y. Whit- more, 1876-82; E. R. Carpenter, 1882-4 ; Elisha R. Carpenter, 1884-6; James S. Wright, 1886-8; J. S. Wright, 1888-90; J. W. Guin, 1890-6; Frank Camp, 1896 to January 6, 1903, resigned; O. C. Nuss, appointed January 6, 1903; O. C. Nuss, 1904-7 ; A. B. Blunt, 1907-present incumbent.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
S. W. Cole, 1858-65; A. M. Felts, 1866-8; M. M. House, 1869-73; W. W. Quivey, 1874-5 ; G. A. Matthews, 1876-7; J. C. Burch served from Octo- ber, 1877, until January, 1878, being appointed on resignation of G. A. Matthews; G. W. Fitch, 1878-86; F. D. Merritt, 1886-8; A. L. Colgrove, 1888-92; F. D. Merritt, 1892-4; F. H. Bloodgood, 1894, to September 6, 1899, when he resigned; Henry L. Adams was appointed September 6, 1899; Henry L. Adams elected in 1900 and served to October 1, 1905, when he resigned; R. H. Belknap was appointed September 8, 1905, to take office October 1, 1895, and served under this appointment until elected at the suc- ceeding general election, and has been continued in the office until the present.
COUNTY SHERIFFS.
George W. Neff, 1850-52; Henry C. Lacy, 1852, resigned in March, 1853; Hiram W. Earll, 1853-5; Jerome Boswell, 1855-9; J. J. Welsh, 1860- 61; Charles Sawyer, 1862-3; James F. Babcock, 1864-7; Jacob Swank, 1868-71; C. A. Dorland, 1872-3; Hiram B. Capwell, 1874-5; J. J. Welsh,
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1876-7; L. L. Farr, 1878-84; Orric E. Taylor, 1884-8; Henry O'Neil, 1888-90; H. R. O'Neil, 1890-6; A. L. Hockings, 1896-1900; J. D. Finch, 1900-4 ; C. L. Culver, 1904-9 ; Ed. R. Clark, 1909, present incumbent.
SURVEYORS.
Ebenezer Piper, 1850-1; M. V. Burdick, 1851-2; Winslow Stearns, 1852-4; Henry Jones, 1854-8; F. S. Palmer, 1859; Winslow Stearns, 1862-3; Luke Camp, 1864; Winslow Stearns, 1864; E. D. Garley, 1864-7; H. J. Ingersoll, 1868-70; Charles Hoyt, 1871-5; F. S. Palmer, 1876-7; Charles Hoyt, 1878-80; F. S. Palmer, January 1, 1880, to September 6, 1880, re- signed, and Charles Hoyt appointed September 6, 1880; P. S. Brown, ap- pointed November 2, 1880, to fill vacancy; P. S. Brown, 1881-2; Charles Hoyt, 1882, failed to qualify ; Frank McClintock appointed January 17, 1882, and resigned January 2, 1883 (no appointment) ; B. F. Little, 1884-6; Charles Hoyt, 1886-1887, died; B. F. Little appointed September 6, 1887, and elected to fill vacancy November 14, 1887; J. W. Dickman, 1888-90; B. F. Little, 1890-4; H. M. Neff, 1894-6; W. A. Montgomery, 1896-8; J. R. Gardner, 1898-1900 ; J. R. Gardner, elected 1900, failed to qualify ; H. M. Neff appointed to fill vacancy November 12, 1900; H. M. Neff, elected 1902, died in office ; R. H. Belknap appointed April 7, 1902; R. H. Belknap elected November 10, 1902-4; R. H. Belknap, 1904-October I, 1905, resigned; B. F. Little appointed November 16, 1905, and served to November 12, 1906; B. F. Simonson elected November 12, 1906, present incumbent.
COUNTY CORONER.
C. B. Lake, 1862-6; S. E. Robinson, 1866-70; Lewis Armstrong, 1870- 72; J. P. Marsh, 1872-4; Lewis Armstrong, 1874-6; L. Armstrong, 1876-8; C. C. Parker, elected October, 1877, failed to qualify; S. H. Drake, appointed January 17, 1878; L. Armstrong, 1880-82; S. E. Rob- inson, 1882-4 ; G. D. Darnall, 1884-6; J. W. McLean, 1886-8; J. W. McLean, 1888-90; I. Pattison, 1890-2; William Jones, 1892-4; R. P. Berry, 1894-6; Frank B. Dodd, 1896-8; W. E. Robinson, 1898-1900; R. C. Baker, 1900-1902; H. C. Woods, 1902, failed to qualify ; appointed April II, 1902; J. F. Cole, November 10, 1902, present incumbent.
CHAPTER XIII.
WAR OF THE REBELLION-INTRODUCTORY.
The mutterings of internal strife, which had engaged the attention of statesmen for some years prior to 1860, in that year began to take tangible shape, and the people came to realize that the questions of state rights, slavery extension, and the secession of the slave-holding states portended national disaster. In exactly what form the trouble should come, was not realized, even by national leaders, nor was the enormity of the civil strife fully com- prehended until the national defeat at Bull's Run. But the public press began to take sides in the controversy, and to educate the people in the doctrines of non-coercion or war for the union, according to the views of editors and writers. All were not of one mind. Certain prominent dailies in the North (and surviving at the present day) were opponents of the war, and to that extent gave aid and encouragement to the seceding states. Such publications were smuggled through the lines to the Confederate army, and were there welcomed with all the enthusiasm aroused by the Richmond Enquirer! The only paper published in Fayette county at the beginning of the Civil war threw its influence very decidedly against the preservation of the Union, obstructed the enlistments, and discouraged the weaklings in every way pos- sible. But this was no half-way proposition. Popular sentiment was keved to the highest pitch, and deeds of violence and bloodshed often accompanied animated discussions of the all-absorbing theme. The coming war over- shadowed everything else. In this frame of mind the people came down to the period of the Baltimore riot and the firing on Fort Sumter. The national treasury had been robbed by the friends of secession ; the govern- ment arsenals had been plundered and arms and equipments seized, with the double purpose of weakening the strength of their prospective opponents and equipping the Confederate army. Men highly schooled in the arts of war, at government expense, turned their backs upon "Old Glory" and chose the "Stars and Bars" as their country's emblem. These things fanned the flame of patriotism among loyal people of the North, until it burst into an unquenchable sea of patriotic fire and every man was required to declare himself. Secession sentiments would not be tolerated, and violence or ban- ishment followed such a declaration.
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The news of the firing on Fort Sumter was followed in a few days by the announcement of the President's call for seventy-five thousand men for three months' service. The isolation of this section of Iowa from tele- graph lines interfered with the distribution of the startling news, and the Eastern states superseded us in the matter of hurrying men to the front, but not in the matter of patriotic response. The last word had scarcely been taken from the electric wires when President Lincoln's call was filled, and many more men than asked in the first call were offered. The purse of the nation was opened, and men and money were tendered with unstinted hand. Patriotism thrilled and pulsated through every heart. Political party lines were for the time ignored and national unity seemed assured. The few representatives of secession interests working clandestinely through the North met with a cool reception, even among those who secretly espoused the cause ; but aggressions of this sort grew more flagrant as the war progressed and there appeared a possibility of Confederate success.
But the best blood of the nation-the young men of that day-was offered in defense of the government's honor and unity, and the farm, the shop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the school houses and the col- leges-all contributed at once and with surprising liberality to the needs of the common cause.
Fayette county was not behind, but rather in the lead of other localities so situated, and "war meetings" were called and spontaneously attended in every town and in most of the school houses throughout the county. The first of these, of which we have record, was held at the village of Eldorado, a little hamlet in Dover township. This meeting was held on the 23d of April, 1861, with Benjamin Iliff in the chair and William C. Marr was chosen sec- retary. Patriotic resolutions were adopted sustaining the administration ; commending the efforts then being put forth for the suppression of treasona- ble acts; declaring it the duty of every good citizen to stand by the govern- ment and to defend the American flag, wherever it waved. The raising of the flag was provided for by resolution, and the act was declared to be a "mark of devotion to our country, and our determination to stand by it through every emergency." The meeting adjourned with three cheers for the flag, three for Major Anderson, three cheers for the administration and three for the Union.
FIRST MEETING FOR ENLISTMENTS.
On Wednesday evening, April 24th, was held the first meeting for the enlistment of volunteers in Fayette county. This was convened at University Chapel, in Fayette, with Leroy Templeton as chairman. Hon. W. B. Lakin
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was the first speaker, and he was followed by Professor Brush (then president of the Upper Iowa University), Rev. J. Webb, Leroy Templeton, J. Mc- Kenzie, D. B. Henderson (late speaker of the United States House of Rep- resentatives), G. E. Dibble, Rev. J. L. Paine and M. P. Mills. With such an array of talent, it may readily be inferred that this was an inspiring and enthusiastic meeting.
When enlistments were called for, there were eighteen volunteers eager to enroll their names, and each anxious to be the first on the list. It was therefore decided that the names should be enrolled in alphabetical order, against which arrangement there could be no reasonable objection. In this manner Jacob Abernathy became the first volunteer from Fayette county, though there were seventeen others in the same meeting equally entitled to this honor. (Col. Jacob Abernathy lost his life in the service.) According to this alphabetical arrangement, he was followed by Aaron Brown (later colonel of the regiment), S. T. Betts, Charles L. Clark, M. W. Chapman, J. R. Davis, J. A. Downing, J. J. Earle, D. D. Finch, J. W. Hawn, P. S. Hulbert, E. H. Kinyon, James H. Lakin, H. D. Norton, J. P. Patrick, Jacob Swank, Leroy Templeton, Frederick Whiteley. It is said that one or two names were enrolled for which there was no appearance afterwards.
The men here enlisted became the nucleus of Company F of the Third Iowa Regiment, though all did not join that organization. H. D. Norton, one of the first to enlist, was also the first from Fayette county to surrender his life in the cause of the Union. He was killed at the battle of Blue Mills, Missouri. E. H. Kinyon, whose name appears in the enlistments above . re- corded, did not enlist at the critical moment, but added his name soon after- ward, as did D. B. Henderson and others of the college boys, nearly all of whom served in the Third, Ninth and Twelfth Iowa regiments.
When the first Fayette company was called to the front, the patriotic ladies of the county made a beautiful flag which they presented to the com- pany on the Public Square at West Union, amid imposing, if solemn, cere- monies. The presentation address was made by Miss Mellie Washburn, of the Upper Iowa University. The response was made by Capt. C. A. New- comb. Both addresses portrayed the interest of the speakers and of those whom they represented, with the feeling which only such an occasion could inspire. It was an affecting scene, participated in by the fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, who had come from every section of the county to bid adieu to friends and relatives, among whom were only sons and only brothers. Ninety-four names were on the list when the company left West Union in
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