USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 51
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Dr. A. W. Morgan, born in 1840 in Thorntown, Ind .; came with parents to Iowa in 1846. Commenced the study of medicine in Davenpor 1860; attended one course of lectures at Keokuk in 1863. Entered service as Acting Assistant Surgeon of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry ; becs Assistant Surgeon and was promoted to be Surgeon of the Thirty-seve Illinois Cavalry. Was mustered out at the close of the war, and settled De Witt. Received his degree in medicine from Keokuk in 1868.
Dr. D. C. McNeil, born in Springfield, Ill., in 1825, received his med degree from the Pennsylvania Medical College. was appointed Hospital St ard and promoted to Assistant Surgeon in the Mexican war. He practiced various places, and came to De Witt in 1858, remaining there until 1862, w when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon to the Sixteenth Iowa Regiment ; 1865, was transferred to the Second Regiment United States Volunteers, was discharged at the close of the war ; now resides in Osceola, Mo.
M. R. Waggoner, born in Canada ; received his medical degree fi Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in 1870 ; located in De Witt, 1864.
Dr. W. J. Bonsteel, born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1842; located in Gra Mound in 1875, where he now practices his profession ; one course of med lectures in the Medical College of Ohio.
Dr. R. J. Hart, born in Indiana in 1843; reared in Camanche, low received his medical education in the Medical Department of the State Univers
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versity, graduating in 1876; located in Low Moor, where he is in successful practice.
Dr. A. M. Frost, born in Hinsdale, Mass., in 1807; educated in Woodstock Medical College, Vermont, in 1843; located in Wheatland in 1863. He is the oldest graduate in the county.
Dr. Thomas D. Gamble, born in Delaware in 1832 ; removed to Allegheny County, Penn., in 1836; came to Iowa in 1853; studied medicine and grad- uated at St. Louis Medical College in 1858 ; now in practice in Wheatland.
Dr. M. G. Sloan, born in Lyons in 1849; graduated in Rush Medical Col- lege in 1873 ; located at Charlotte in 1875, where he now resides.
Dr. George W. Van Zant, born in New Hope, N. J., in 1833 ; graduated in medicine at Rush Medical College, in 1864; located in Charlotte in 1865.
Dr. Charles E. Lee, born in Clinton County, N. Y .; graduated in medicine at the Medical Department of the State University in 1873; located in Calmus, where he now practices his profession.
Dr. O. E. Deeds, born in Lyons, lowa, in 1843; received his medical degree from Bellevue Hospital College in 1876; located at Delmar in the practice of his profession.
Dr. William Fitzgerald, born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1853; received his degree in medicine at the Medical Department of the State University in 1876; located at DeWitt.
Dr. P. F. Ryan, born in Wilmington, Del .; came to Iowa with his parents in 1855; received his medical degree from the Iowa State University in 1877, and located in De Witt.
Dr. A. Wetmore, born in - -, N. Y. ; graduated in the Medical Depart- ment of the University of New York in 1848; practices his profession in Clinton.
Dr. A. H. Smith, received his medical degree from Chicago Medical Col- lege in 1872; entered into partnership with Dr. H. McCormack in 1873; still in practice.
ATTORNEYS.
Through the courtesy of A. R. Cotton, the following brief notices of nearly all of the attorneys who have resided in the county, and are still resident here, are given :
Samuel R. Murray located in Camanche in 1840, and died in Dubuque in 1844, while attending the land sales. He was Probate Judge at the time of his death in 1846.
John S. Stowrs located at De Witt in 1844; was elected Probate Judge to succeed Judge Murray. He now resides at Wheatland.
William E. Leffingwell located. at De Witt in 1845. He had resided in the State for several years previous; now resides at Lyons, but practices in Chicago.
William W. Walcott located at De Witt in 1845, and died there in 1846.
Henry P. Haun located at Hauntown in 1846. He went to California in 1849, and there died.
Thomas C. Dyer, admitted to practice in 1847. He resided in Camanche from 1842 until his death, in 1866.
Aylett R. Cotton, admitted to practice May 8, 1848. His residence in De Witt began in June, 1844; his present residence is Clinton.
Stark H. Samuels located at De Witt in 1848, where he died in 1855.
Edward Graham located in De Witt in 1850, and resided there until his death by accidental poisoning in 1860.
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Thomas W. J. Long came from Winchester, Va., to Camanche, in 1 and still resides there.
Roswell B. Millard, located at Camanche in 1851, was admitted to pra in 1853. He now resides at Low Moor.
Thomas S. Briscoe located at Lyons in 1853. He is now resident in Virgi Philip W. Konkle located at Camanche in 1851, was admitted to pra in 1853. He died in the United States military service.
George G. Blodgett located in Camanche in 1854. He went to New Orle where he now resides.
William Ferguson located at De Witt in 1854, and died there.
William W. Jerome was admitted to practice in 1854. He was then a dent at Lyons ; he subsequently removed to Kansas, where he now resides. Daniel W. Ellis was admitted in 1854. He located at Lyons, where he since resided.
Nathaniel A. Merrell was admitted May 5, 1856; had been previo admitted in New York, in 1855. He located at De Witt, and is still in ad practice there.
John C. Polley, admitted in New York in 1854, and in Iowa May 5, 18 located at De Witt. About 1870, removed to Chicago, where he now resid
Lyman A. Ellis, admitted May 5, 1856; was then a resident of Lyons, now resides in Clinton.
E. S. Bailey, admitted May 5, 1856, located at De Witt, but for many y a resident of Clinton.
Isaac Baldwin, admitted in Massachusetts in 1853, and in Iowa, Ma 1856. Located at Clinton, where he still resides.
William B. La Motte, admitted May 5, 1856. Located at Lyons, but sequently removed to St. Louis, where he died.
James Van De Venter, admitted September 5, 1856. Located at Clin where he has since resided.
Eli S. Hart, admitted September 5, 1856. Located at Lyons ; remove Chicago, and returned to Clinton, where he now resides.
Frederick Walliker, admitted September 5, 1856. He located at Ly where he died.
James N. Miles, admitted September 5, 1856. Located at De Witt; su quently removed to Kansas, where he now resides.
George S. Manning, admitted September 15, 1856. Resides at Ringw Joseph H. Flint, admitted in Maine in 1850, and in Iowa in 1856. Loc at Lyons ; subsequently removed to Clinton, where he now resides.
Pitkin C. Wright, admitted in 1857. Located in De Witt; now at N ville, Tenn.
Daniel W. Gray, admitted in New York in 1835, and in Iowa in 18 Located at Clinton, and now resides there.
Frank G. Noyes, admitted in 1857. Located in Clinton, where he res until 1878. Residence not known.
Charles Scott, admitted in 1857. Located at Lyons, where he resided u his death.
William P. Graham, admitted in 1855. Located at De Witt; has remov residence unknown.
Thomas J. Wilson, admitted in 1857. Located at Camanche ; he rem to Marshall County, Iowa, and there died.
William S. Mckenzie was admitted in 1857. Located at Camanche same year ; he died in the U. S. military service.
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Jesse Stein was admitted in 1860. He located at Wheatland and is still a resident there.
Robert T. T. Spence was admitted in 1859. He located at Lyons, and is still a resident of that city.
Charles W. Chase was admitted in New Hampshire in 1862, and in Iowa 1 in 1865. Located at Clinton, and still resides there.
Nathan Corning was admitted in 1863. He located at Lyons, and is still residing there.
A. J. Leffingwell was admitted at Muscatine in 1861. Subsequently located at Lyons, where he still resides.
Walter I. Hayes was admitted in Michigan in 1863, and in Iowa in 1866. He located at Clinton, and is still a resident there.
Kirke W. Wheeler was admitted in New York in 1859, and in Iowa in 1860. He located at De Witt, and is now a resident there.
A. T. Wheeler was admitted in Wisconsin in 1851, and in Iowa in 1860. He located at Lyons, and is still residing there.
H. W. Smith was admitted in Illinois in 1860, and in Iowa in 1865. Located at Camanche, and has been a resident there since.
Judson N. Cross was admitted in 1864. He located in Lyons, where he remained until about 1875, when he removed to Minneapolis, where he now resides.
Wickliffe A. Cotton was admitted in 1867. He has been a resident of De Witt since 1844.
George B. Young was admitted in 1862. He was then a resident of Camanche. He subsequently removed to De Witt, and then to Clinton, where he now resides.
H. S. Hyatt was admitted in 1866. He then resided at Clinton, where he remained until 1872, when he removed to St. Louis.
William W. Stevens was admitted in New Hampshire in 1861, in New York in 1864, and in Iowa in 1866, when he located at Clinton, and is now a resident there.
William H. H. Hart was admitted in 1869. He located at De Witt, where he remained until about 1875, when he removed to California.
J. S. Darling was admitted in Jackson County in 1854. He located at Andrew, and, subsequently, in 1870, removed to Clinton, where he now resides.
Albert L. Levi was admitted in 1866. He located at De Witt, subse- quently removed to Clinton, and, in 1874, went to Minnesota.
John F. McGuire was admitted in Iowa in 1868. Located at Wheatland, came to Clinton in 1869; now resides at Lyons, though keeping his office still at Clinton.
J. W. Brown, admitted in 1867. Located at De Witt, but subsequently removed to Des Moines, and still resides there.
Ivers Monroe, admitted in New York in 1849, and, in 1868, in Iowa. Located in Fremont County in 1868, and, in 1870, removed to Clinton, where he now resides:
Charles M. Nye, admitted in Missouri in 1858. Soon after located at De Witt, where he now resides.
P. B. Wolfe was admitted in 1870. Located at De Witt, and has ever since resided there.
J. C. S. Tate, was admitted in 1871. Located at Charlotte ; subsequently removed to Clinton, and, in 1879, went to Nebraska.
John J. Flournoy was admitted in 1871. Was a resident of Clinton, and still resides there.
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W. C. Grohe was admitted in 1871. Located in Lyons, and still resides there.
R. J. Crouch was admitted in 1871. Located at De Witt, and is now a resident there.
E. C. Foster, admitted in Michigan in 1867, in Iowa in 1869, at which date he located in Clinton, and is still resident there.
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, admitted in 1874. Resident of Clinton. Mrs. F. is the first woman admitted in Iowa or any other State to practice in the Supreme Courts.
C. M. Bice was admitted in Michigan in 1872, and in Iowa same year. Located in Clinton, where he still resides.
Andrew Howat, admitted in 1870. Located at De Witt, and is still a resi- dent there.
A. H. Paddock was admitted in 1875. Resident of Clinton.
I. R. Andrews, admitted in 1872, and a resident of Clinton.
J. H. Walliker, admitted in 1871. Has resided in Clinton from boyhood.
A. R. McCoy, admitted in Illinois in 1869, and in Iowa in 1873. Resided at Fulton until 1875, when he removed to Clinton, where he now resides.
William Lake was admitted in 1871. Was then a resident of Clinton, and still resides there.
1 W. Bruce Leffingwell was admitted in 1872. Located at De Witt ; removed to Clinton in 1874, and now resides there.
Charles A. Smith, admitted in 1874. Was a resident of Clinton, and still resides there.
John I. Mullany, admitted at Dubuque in 1872. Removed to Clinton in 1876, and now resides there.
E. R. Sayles, admitted in 1876. Located at Lyons, where he now resides. E. T. Taubman, admitted in 1878. Located at Delmar.
Aylett L. Pascal, admitted in 1877. Located at De Witt.
Henry F. Bowers, admitted in 1877. Resident of Clinton, and still resides there.
C. C. Van Kuran, admitted in 1877. Resident of Clinton.
PROVISION FOR INSANE AND POOR.
For many years after the settlement of the county, pauperism was practi- cally unknown. None were rich and none were dependent, except in case of especial " bad luck," upon their neighbors for favors freely granted and recip- rocated. Among the real pioneers were none shiftless or "feckless" enough to become a charge upon the community. But as the county began to fill up and the pinch of 1857 began to be felt, it became evident that the inevitable provision of civilized communities for the indigent would have to be promptly made. Accordingly in 1857, a " poor farm" of 200 acres, at $20 per acre. located in Waterford and Washington Townships, besides sixty additional acres of timber were purchased. John McElhatton was appointed Superintendent. and held the position till succeeded four years ago by the present incumbent. John Blessington. At first, for some time, four or five was the average num- ber of inmates of the Poorhouse, and nine were considered an extraordinary crowd. But since the war pauperism has in this county, as elsewhere, rapidly increased, till the average number maintained at the county charge is about thirty, and no less than forty-six have at some times been boarded at the poor-farm. The healthful site, energetic yet considerate management and careful supervision have maintained the institution on a basis, both from a humanitarian and business
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point of view, eminently creditable to Clinton County, especially when compared with the inhuman and unhealthy surroundings of many poorhouses. The increase of insanity has necessitated additional provision for the county's incurable lunatics. They are no longer received at the State Asylum at Mount Pleasant, and in the absence of proper local accommodation, have hitherto been maintained in Mercy Hospital, at Davenport, at a cost much above the actual expense of keeping them in suitable local quarters. Hence, the present Board, Supervisors Ruus, Lake and Svendsen, wisely determined to build an insane asylum suitable for the present and future needs of the county, as a measure of both humanity and economy. It is now under construction and will be completed during 1879. W. W. Sanborn furnished the plans, embody- ing the results of the most recent investigations in both this country and Europe, as to the proper economic and sanitary arrangement of buildings occupied by imbeciles or defectives. The asylum will be three stories high, solidly built of brick and stone, and costing about $5,000. It admirably com- bines the features of a hospital, dwelling and prison. A large yard for the inmates' exercise-ground surrounds it. The rooms and cells contain twenty- five persons, and, at the present rate of increase of such unfortunates, it will probably not be long before it will be crowded to its utmost capacity, as some time ago fifteen incurables were, by the change in the Mount Pleasant system, thrown back upon the county's charge. For some time the pernicious, custom of allowing children to be associated with the idle and depraved at the county house, has been practically abandoned. Those who would formerly have nat- urally been contaminated by association with paupers, are now paternally cared for by Supt. Pierce at the beneficent Orphans' Home, at Davenport, where they are trained to become useful men and women. If, under the charitable spirit of the nineteenth century, a community's civilization is measured by the judicious care taken of its defectives and paupers, Clinton County need not hesitate to invite comparison with any similar commonwealth. The contract system of boarding paupers has been replaced by the better one of paying the Steward a fixed salary. Recently the propriety of adding a needed hospital to the other county buildings has been agitated.
THE PIONEER DETECTIVES.
It would be singular, did it not illustrate the persistence in human nature of the primitive man's instinct to acquire property by plunder, how many men in a new country take to horse-stealing. It seems as if there must have been some fascination about it, aside from its possible profits. For, in a virgin country like Iowa, where it was difficult to avoid naturally and honestly accumulating wealth, one cannot now otherwise understand why so many sought to gain a little pelf at the cost of tranquil existence, and at the hazard of losing liberty and even life at the hands of their justly incensed neighbors. Freebooters never became so troublesome in Clinton County as in the settle- ments above and below on the river and also further West. This was partly due to the prompt and severe repressive measures of the Regulators along the Mississippi and the " Wapsie Rangers " in the western part of Clinton and Scott Counties.
In 1851, horse-thefts in the Camanche and De Witt settlements were brought to an abrupt termination. Previously they had been annoyed by losing good horses in a most mysterious and inexplicable manner. These thefts were cotem- poraneous with the appearance of a family answering to the name of Jacques, who located on the edge of the bluff, about two miles from Camanche, toward
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De Witt. They seemed to be not at all anxious to improve their claim, and, at the same time, kept a sufficient number of horses and cattle to do considerable farming if they had so desired. Adjacent were the places of Robert Welsh, who held the office of Constable, and Capt. R. A. Lyons, now of Elvira, who, after many years plowing the seas, was now making furrows in the more stable prairie. Capt. L., having brought from Mexico a very swift horse that could not be caught except by a lasso, was, one day when sweeping the wide prairie with a powerful marine telescope, somewhat interested by seeing his precious neighbors in the distance endeavoring to catch the horse with a halter, in which they naturally failed. This, together with the frequent absence of the male members of the family and clumsily-explained borrowings of saddles, aroused the suspicions of Messrs. Lyons and Welsh, so that they, it being before the days of detective bureaus, determined to see what they could accomplish them- selves in the way of ascertaining the bottom facts as to whether the horse-trad- ing done by the family came within the domain of legitimate transactions.
They concluded, that by exciting the women. the latter might be led to involuntarily betray the "true inwardness " of their status as to honesty. Accordingly, Welsh repaired to the yard where the women were milking, about sundown, and engaging them in conversation, adroitly and casually introduced the subject of horse-stealing, mentioning, also, that the regulators were on the lookout, and that it would go hard with detected culprits. While this dialogue was going on, Lyons had, unperceived, approached through the tall grass, keeping on the other side of the house, entered it through a window, and snugly ensconced himself under a bed, in quarters, that to most landsmen would have been too contracted for comfort, but an old sailor, who had often slept in a narrow berth or hammock, could endure the position for a few hours without grumbling, though in some respects it was like Falstaff's in the buck-basket. After Welsh had detained the women till dark by his alarming, but seemingly neighborly and friendly discourse, the agitated women sat down without a light in the cabin, and in conversation lasting till midnight, fully disclosed to the keen-eared amateur detective, the dark secrets of the gang, their method of working, accomplices, haunts and routes of travel. As soon as they were asleep, Lyons quietly slipped out, artistically replacing the bar at the door. and, at daybreak, awaking Welsh and telling him to watch the lair, harnessed up and drove toward De Witt. Beyond Brophy Creek, as he expected, he met one of the Jacques, riding a remarkably fine steed, which, in response to Lyons' inquiry, he claimed to have bought at Dubuque. His rascally assur- ance so enraged the Captain as to attract Jacques' notice, and prompt the question : " What makes you so pale ?" Lyons answered that he was not feeling very well that morning, and rode on to Brown's cabin on Ames Creek. where he quickly unharnessed and followed Jacques' trail toward the timber belt upon Brophy Creek. On the way, he notified the Cannons-father and sons --- who at once gave chase (the old man on horseback, and the boys out- stripping him on foot), joining in the pursuit of the common enemy. Lyons succeeded in keeping his quarry in sight, notwithstanding the latter's efforts to elude him as they traversed the timber, and once on the open prairie rode straight at the fugitive, and after a short headlong chase and desperate resist- ance, overhauled and, single-handed, overpowered and tied the desperado before the Cannons, the fleet-footed boys still leading their mounted sire, came up. The culprit was taken to Camanche, and soon after escorted by a numerous and distinguished delegation to Swan Island, just below the city. There, by an inquisitorial process in vogue during those days, in which a rope materially
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assisted the memory, but a process much less harmful than the Spanish inqui- sition, and also less tedious than a Congressional investigation, the prisoner, previously sullen and silent, suddenly concluded to expose all he knew of the gang. Subsequently, he was regularly tried and sent to the penitentiary.
Acting on the information thus extorted, a posse at once set out for Dubuque, where another Jacques was found, enjoying himself in carnal com- pany among wassailers of low degree. They politely waited for him to finish his dance, then brought him via Maquoketa to Clinton County, where, in a convenient grove near Welton, was held a special meeting of the Holy Broth- erhood, which also resulted in the noose procuring a satisfactory confession. That resulted in the trip of a still larger party to Farmersburg, Clayton County, where a regular robber's roost was surrounded and captured, together with a whole caballa of horses and arsenal of weapons. The rascals escaped, but the gang was effectually dispersed. When the Regulators returned to Dubuque, their formidable and disciplined appearance and numerous trophies attracted general attention and approval, and horses were thereafter safer along the lower Wapsie bottom.
THE HANGING OF WARREN.
Among the thrilling episodes connected with the history of this county is the summary taking-off, by the Regulators, of Bennett Warren. Warren, with his family, lived on Section 36, in Liberty Township. He owned a farm there, and also kept a house of entertainment for travelers. During the days of horse- thieving and counterfeit money-issuing, it had become notorious that his house was a stopping-place for those engaged in these unlawful practices. It was also believed that he was aiding and abetting these criminals by secreting them and their stolen horses, and assisting them in running them off. No sufficient evidence could be obtained, however, to convict him of active participation in these crimes. He had been indicted once for stealing the traps and peltry of a trapper who came here from the East, but was acquitted upon the trial. The impossibility, almost, of securing a conviction in consequence of the difficulty in empaneling a jury which had not some friend to the criminal upon it, had incensed the people whose horses were being constantly stolen, beyond forbear- ance.
On the 24th of June, 1857, the vigilantes, to the number of about two hun- dred, left their rendezvous at Big Rock, having with them two prisoners whom they had taken in Cedar County, and crossed over into Clinton County.
Upon reaching Warren's house and finding him at home, they took him with them to a small grove near by, where the tragedy was to take place. There was no riotous proceedings, nor semblance to a mob. Everything was done with a kind of rude decorum and gravity befitting the occasion. No one was masked, or in any manner concealed his identity. Upon their arrival at the place, the "Captain " or "Chairman," whatever his title was, and whose authority was recognized by all, called the meeting to order, a jury of twelve of the number was selected by nomination, and took their places. Witnesses were sworn, and testified. The jury then deliberated and returned into this court their verdict "That Bennett Warren was guilty of harboring horse-thieves, knowing them to be such; of keeping and secreting stolen horses, knowing them to be such; and of habitually passing counterfeit money, knowing it to be such." The jury passed no sentence, but upon the rendition of this verdict, the Captain called for an expression of all upon the following question : "Shall he be pun- ished ?" In taking this vote, those who wished to vote in the affirmative were
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