The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 89

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 89

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LYONS TOWNSHIP.

M. H. WESTBROOK, druggist, and dealer in queensware, Main street ; residence on Third street, Lyons; born July 10, 1842, in Corydon, Ind .; when an infant, came with his parents to St. Louis; in 1847, came to Jackson Co .; in 1969, removed to Lyons. He enlisted, in 1864, in Co. E, 134th Ill. V. I .; served in the one hundred days' service; afterward transferred to the commissary department. Married Mary J. Lloyd, in 1868; she was born in Racine, Wis .; they have three children-Henrietta L., Thomas L. and Amy M.

MELVIN J. WILCOX, County Superintendent of Schools, Lyons; born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1849; his father, Jairus Wilcox, came to Deep Creek Town- ship, Clinton Co., in April, 1864, where he still resides ; Mr. Wilcox was a teacher in Clinton Co. for eight years ; was for some time Principal of the South Ward School in Lyons ; was elected County Superintendent in the fall of 1879. His wife was Miss Delia J. Wise, a native of Fredonia, N. Y.

CORP. ALBERT EDWARD WINCHELL, the first of Clinton County's brave soldiers to fall in the great war of the rebellion, was born at Lockport, N. Y., Aug. 22, 1840; he was the son of Reuben Hurlburt and Priscilla Alden Win- chell; of his ancestry, we have been able to glean but little information ; they were New England people, and settled in America at an early date ; his father was an active business man, but died when Albert was quite young; his grandfather, Reuben Win- chell, was at an early day a home missionary of considerable note in Niagara Co., N. Y., and in Canada ; James Manning Winchell, the eminent Baptist divine, was a rela- tive of his grandfather; the name of Winchell has long been associated with literature and theology ; the love of music has also been a characteristic trait of the family. The mother of Corp. Winchell was a Warren, and lays valid claim to illustrious lineage ; in the sad history of her son, we find a marked coincidence in the fall of Joseph Warren, at Bunker Hill-the first man of distinction to fall in the great struggle for American independence; the middle name of Mrs. Winchell is Alden, her mother's maiden name, and one of a direct line descending from the Aldens, who came to our shores in 1620, as members of that sturdy band of Puritans who came in the good ship Mayflower; the Warrens have an honorable record and are noted for their thrift and foresight, being eminently original thinkers and bold to execute their plans, having the powers and bravery which made Joseph Warren the martyr of Bunker Hill and Corp. Win- chell the patriotic volunteer of 1861 ; the father of Mrs. Winchell was a soldier in the war of 1812, so that the Warren family may well be said to be always ready to respond to the call of their country, with their lives if need be, whenever it requires aid for its defense. Corp. Winchell inherited, in a large degree, the fondness for literature and music, and much of the Puritan stamina of character of the Winchells, and a goodly share of the bravery, dash and determination of the Warrens; of the childhood days of our subject but little can be said ; he no doubt, suffered all of the vexations and as many of the joys as usually fall to the lot of the average child ; when he was only 2 years of age, his parents removed to Herkimer Co., N. Y., at which place his father died in 1845, and soon after his mother removed to Sauk City, Wis., and, afterward, to Stevens Point, in the same State, their residence for several years, being changed into Dane, Portage and Sauk Counties; during these years, he was carefully trained and educated in the school of the locality in which his mother resided, until he reached the age of 14, when he attended the academy at Beloit, and afterward completed his course at the high school at Rock Island, Ill .; having a laudable ambition to enter at an early age into the busy activities of life, he pursued a commercial course of study at Davenport, Iowa, where he graduated with credit, and, at the age of 18, joined his mother and sister, who had removed to Lyons, Iowa; this was in 1859; soon after reaching Lyons, he accepted the place of salesman in the dry-goods house of Barber & Stone; as a salesman, he was deservedly popular and a general favorite with the patrons of the store; he won the confidence and esteem of his employers so thoroughly that he was engaged to accompany them to Lane Station, Ill., upon their removal to that point a few months later. In the spring of 1861, Corp. Winchell returned to Lyons and remained until the guns of Sumter sounded the signal for the grand upris- ing of the North to the support of the National Government ; he was one of the first

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to realize the import of this great event and the necessity for every patriotic citizen to rally to our nation's defense in this time of great peril. The stanch Puritan blood of his paternal ancestry, and the proverbial valor of his maternal progenitors were blended and intensified in this worthy scion of the o'd stock ; with a firm hand and a deter- mined purpose, with eyes enkindled with the fire of an ardent enthusiasm, he was one of the first to place his name upon the muster-roll of the first volunteers from this county, known as the Clinton County Guards. This was just four days after the fall of Sumter and only three days after President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 men, April 22, 1861 ; he was only a few months over 20 years of age at the date of his enlistment; before placing his name upon the roll, he solicited his mother's consent to go to his nation's defense; with the natural affection of a mother, she represented to him the dangers and hardships of a soldier's life, and told him that even his life might be the sacrifice required of him upon the battle field of the Republic, but if he thought it his duty to go, " God speed and a mother's blessing are thine." So, with a mother's prayers and blessing, he entered the service with a cheerful heart and looked forward with ambition's hopefulness to a useful career in the army ; at this time, he was a mem- ber of the M. E. Sunday school, and was devoting a portion of his time to the study of music, for which he had a passionate liking; the writer well remembers his pro- ficiency with his guitar and faculty of singing the songs of those days, in the club- room frequented by the young men, who helped to swell the chorus; in personal appearance, he was of medium height, of rather slender physique, dark complexion, dark brown hair and handsome black eyes; he was rather fastidious in his dress, but was free from ostentation, being ready to greet every person, be he "lord or serf," with uniform heartiness and good nature, which made him a general favorite; his com- rades without exception bear this testimony, that he was a true friend, a cheerful comrade, a brave man and a model soldier ; during the preliminary preparations for departure he was very active and useful; the cities of Lyons and Clinton provided the materials for the uniforms of this company ; a large number of ladies volunteered to do the sewing; he will always be remembered by these patriotic ladies as one who seated himself at a sewing-machine and ran it with ease and accuracy, materially hastening the labor in this way; after his enlistment he was " eager for the fray," and frequently expressed the determination to win a name that his mother would be proud of. At about 4 o clock A. M., on Tuesday, May 14, 1861, his company left on the steamer Northerner, for the rendezvous at Keokuk, expecting to enter the service for three months, but upon arrival at Keokuk they were informed that no more men could be mustered in for a less period than three years or during the war; Albert Winchell was appointed Fourth Corporal, and, on May 28, 1861, the Clinton County Guards became Co. I, 2d I. V. I., and passed into the service of the United States; on June 13, 1861, the reg- iment was ordered to Missouri for service; they were detailed for guard duty along the railroads, predatory bands of secessionists being numerously engaged in the destruc- tion of the roads and in driving out Union men from the State; the company pro- ceeded to Hannibal, from thence to Camp Curtis, at St. Joseph, and then to Macon City, Mo .; Corp. Winchell kept his guitar with him during his travels, and wrote ser- eral letters home ; we will make a few extracts from these, and " though dead he spcaketh," and gives us the details of his, alas, too brief experience, on the march and in the actual service of a soldier.

Extracts from a letter to his mother and sister :

KEOKUK, IOWA, May 25, 1861.

We arrived here at 10 o'clock last night ; had a pleasant trip and I am well and satisfied with my lut. *

* We have the best quarters of any company in town, and the best fare. We are highly complimented by the people of this place for our good appearance; they say we are the best company here, our uniforms are better, our deportment and drill better. We have made a favorable impression and intend to keep our credit good. We have drawn up a paper which most of us have signed, pledging ourselves to abstain from liquor and cards.

* * I shall never prove traitor to the cause, and shall endeavor to act honorably and as shall become an American soldier, strictly performing my duty wherever it may be. * + With love to all and the hope that we may all meet on earth again, I am your affectionate son and brother, ALBERT.

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LYONS TOWNSHIP.

From a letter to a friend :

HANNIBAL, Mo., June 13, 1861.

DEAR FRIEND : Since my last to you, we have been thrown from the imaginary movements of war into to the reality. Last night at 12 o'clock we received orders to march immediately for this place. We could hardly realize it at first, but the reality of the matter was soon demon- strated to us quite forcibly by the appearance at the dock of two large steamers for the 2d Reg- iment. However, we were in readiness and with little delay were taken aboard and pushed out for this place. On the way down, we were supplied with cartridges, etc., in fact all the muni- tions of war, and we are now ready-yes, anxious-to meet and subdue the miserable traitors who bave made us this work.

From a letter to his mother and sister:

CAMP CURTIS, TENT NO. 6, ST. JOE, Mo., June 16, 1861.

Here I am, in my tent with my guitar-box for a table. We (that is, Co. I.) have just returned from a skirmishing expedition. Last night Companies I, B and the Washington Guards were sent out on an expedition, as above mentioned. We took the cars here and went to a small place about sixty-five miles distant, surrounded the town and took four secession flags, some ammunition, guns, etc. We arrived just in time to save the bridge, which had been set on fight. * fire We also took twenty prisoners. * * The boys are all very anxious to have a * Just received word that we are to go out again to night. * * Dear Mother and sister, good-bye. Love to all, and you may always expect to find me doing my duty as a soldier. Good-bye, and God bless yours. ALBERT.

From a letter to his mother:

MACON CITY, June 19, 1861.

We left Camp Curtis last Monday to relieve a company that was surrounded by rebels, but they received relief before we reached them, and we came on to the Long Bridge, twelve miles from Hannibal and 200 from Camp Curtis. We remained there until to-day noon, when we were relieved by a company from Quincy, and started on our return to Camp Curtis. At Brookville we received a telegram calling us back to Macon and stating there were 800 rebels marching on this place and would attack it to-night. We are only three hundred, but we feel confident of victory. We will fight to the last. We are making preparations to receive them-let them come. From here we expect to go to Camp Curtis. We are having good times. All well and anxious for a fight. * I never felt better, and hope you are well and happy. We are sure of victory. Good-bye. Your affectionate son, ALBERT.

This was the last letter received by his mother or sister from the ardent and brave soldier boy. The company returned to Macon City. On the night of June 26, 1861, Corp. Winchell retired to rest with his company, who were required to lay on their arms, to be in readiness for immediate duty, should they be attacked during the night. With his happy and hopeful nature, no doubt his thoughts were of home and the loved ones; and the soldier boy's dream must have been of victory and promotion, of wild scenes, and gallant charges, and then the proud return to his home with a name that he could proudly boast worthy of his family history ; but such was not to be the fruition of his dreams. A careless comrade was to send a death-dealing messenger into his body, and his glorified soul was to ascend to his Maker, the first martyr upon the altar of his country from the county of Clinton. At early dawn, just as the sun was edging the hill-tops with a golden shimmer, a member of another company, in stepping over his companions, accidentally hit with his foot the hammer of a musket, the bullet enter- ing the hip of Corp. Winchell. A local doctor was summoned at once, but as this physician had been heard to say, " Let them bring their d-d Yankee soldiers to me, I . will fix them," it is not thought that the sufferer received the gentle treatment required at such a time. For two days, he suffered terrible pain ; his mind wandered at times, when he seemed to think that his mother and sister were near him, ani calling for them in endearing tones, melted the hearts of his nurses detailed from his company, and caused many a tear of sympathy to fall. When conscious, he expressed deep regret that he might not live to help fight his country's battles. He was an enthusiastic soldier to the last, and showed his devotion to the cause in every way. On June 29, 1861, Corp. Winchell breathed his last, and his sacrifice was complete. The remains were sent to Lyons, accompanied by Jesse B. Penniman and George W. Bottesworth, members of his company. The news of his untimely death came upon the people of the county suddenly. The sad realities of war had not before come home to them. The marching away seemed like a pleasure trip, for little did we dream of the desolat- ing war with its horrors of bloodsbed and destruction that was to follow ; and the fall

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of so promising a young man filled many hearts with pain and sorrow. On July 1, 1861, the body of Corp. Winchell was escorted to its last resting-place, in Oakwood Cemetery, at Lyons, by the Firemen, the German and Irish Militia Companies, the Home Guards, Hawk-Eye Rangers and citizens. The county papers contained, at the time, long accounts of the death and burial. The Advocate concluded its account in these words : " After the services at the church were concluded, the procession was again formed and moved to the cemetery, keeping time to the solemn Dead March of the fife and the roll of the muffled drum, and as the sun was almost sinking to rest his body was consigned to the close and narrow tomb, to come forth no more forever on this earth. His was the first death in Co. I, and a better soldier or more esteemed young man could not have been called from the ranks."

PRISCILLA A. WINCHELL, nee Warren, was born in Buckfield, Oxford Co., Me., in 1815. Her parents, Andrew and Polly Warren, were prosperous and ambitious, and, in 1822, they removed to Massachusetts. After remaining in that State about seven years, they permanently located in New York. In May, 1836, Miss Warren married Reuben Hurlbut Winchell, in Stockbridge, Madison Co., N. Y. Through the energy and business capacity of both partners, substantial additions were made to their competency during the nearly ten years of wedded life. They had four children, two died in infancy. The husband and father died in autumn of 1845, leaving two children, one of whom, Albert Edward, born in 1840, was the first from Clinton Co. to be sacrificed in the war of the rebellion; his biography appears elsewhere in this volume. The other child, Maria Louisa, born in 1845, is the wife of Dr. John E. Ennis, the passenger and immigration agent of the International & Great Northern Railroad, of Texas. The year after her husband's death, Mrs. Winchell came West and resided in Wisconsin several years, but in 1857, she located in Lyons, Clinton Co., Iowa, which is still her home, where she has valuable real estate, and is a useful and honorable member of society. She has large landed property in Illinois and Wisconsin as well as in Iowa. She is a lady of practical judgment and excellent executive ability. Mrs. Winchell makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. John E. Ennis, M. D., at the nursery farm in Lyons, and is surrounded with marked evidence of wealth and culture. She is still a strong, capable woman, though in the shadow of sixty-four summers, and is enjoying the serene sunset of life, with the happy companionship of kindred and friends.

H. J. WRIGHT, soap manufacturer, Lyons ; he is a native of England; at the age of 22, he came to New Jersey; in 1847, he came to Chicago; in 1856, he removed to Lyons; has been engaged in pork-packing, wholesale and retail grocery business and oil trade; in 1876, he commenced his present business ; he owns his resi- dence, with about eleven acres adjoining the city, all well improved; he has been Alder- man, Secretary of the Citizens' Association, etc. Married Miss Anna Beckington, in Boone Co., Ill .; they have eight children-Jennie, now Mrs. Patton; Annie, Fannie, Emily, Harry, Samuel, Fred and Silas.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP.

O. C. BAILEY, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Delmar; was born in Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1830. In 1852, married Miss Clarissa Mason, of the same county ; in 1854, they removed to Iowa and settled in Jackson Co., where they remained until 1857; then settled on the farm where they now reside, and improved it; they have six children-Sylvia, now Mrs. Lewis Hurley ; Alice, now Mrs. V. Harrington; Howard, Horace, Frank and Delina. Mr. Bailey and wife are members of the M. E. Church ; he has always acted with the Republican party; has held the offices of Jus- tice of the Peace, Town Clerk and various school offices; owns 160 acres of land, well improved.

WILHELM BETZENDORFER, retired farmer, Delmar. Mr. B. is a native of Germany, born in 1819. In 1843, married, in Germany, Miss Eva Kehn;

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they emigrated to this country in 1848; settled in Wayne Co., Ohio; remained until 1856, then removed to Clinton Co., Iowa, and settled in Bloomfield Township. They have eight children living-Peter, Henry, Elizabeth (now Mrs. J. Leekoff), Mary, Will- iam, John, George and Charlie. Mr. B. and wife are members of the M. E. Church. They own 194 acres of land. Republican.

ORSON BREWSTER, farmer; P. O. Delmar; was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Aug. 6, 1832 ; in 1853, came to Iowa and remained six months in Jack- son Co; returned to New York, and went from there to St. Paul, Minn., where he remained the greater part of the time until 1857, in which year he again went to New York, and, on the 3d of February, 1858, married Miss Sarah A. Bailey, a native of Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y .; they removed to this county in the fall of 1861, and settled one and one-half miles south of Delmar, where he improved and put in a state of cultivation 160 acres of land ; they remained on the farm until March, 1878, then removed to Delmar ; they have one child-Hattie E., now Mrs. J. H. Keeley, of ¡Jackson Co. Mr. Brewster was formerly a Whig; is now a Republican. He owns about two hundred acres of land, all well located and improved, twelve acres of it being n Delmar.

THOMAS H. CANTY, Delmar; was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., in October, 1848; when a child, his parents removed to Sauk Co., Wis., where his early life was passed in attending school and assisting his father on the farm; in 1870, he came to Iowa, and, in 1872, engaged in grocery business in Delmar, of which town he is a prominent citizen. Feb. 6, 1877, Mr. Canty married Miss Susie McGonegle ; they have one child, Thomas E. Mr. C. acts with the Democratic party ; was elected a member of the first City Council of Delmar. Mr. C. is also largely engaged in the grain trade; his reputation as a business man and citizen stands high wherever known, and fair-dealing and strict integrity have marked all his intercourse with his fellow. citizens.

TRUMAN CLARK, retired farmer ; P. O. Delmar; an old resident of Clinton Co .; a native of Ticonderoga, N. Y .; born in 1812. Aug. 14, 1834, he married Miss A. Potter; she was born in New Salem, Mass., Aug. 28, 1815; they emigrated to Iowa in 1841, and settled in Bloomfield Township, then a wild prairie, with scarcely an inhabitant, thus earning the title of a pioneer father of Iowa. They have three children living-George served in Co. I, 24th Regt. I. V. I., performing his duty nobly until discharged; he is married and lives in Delmar ; Bryson served in the 44th Iowa Regt .; was also a gallant soldier ; . now lives in Lincoln, Neb .; Pauline mar- ried Mr. J. Taylor, a native of Yorkshire, England; they reside in Bloomfield Town- ship. Mr. Clark and wife are. members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican, and was elected President of the first City Council in Delmar; has beld various other church and school offices; owns 136 acres of land.

WILLIAM B. CLARK, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Delmar; was born in Wentworth Co., Canada West, Dec. 1, 1837; he removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, with his parents, in 1855, where he married Miss Harriet Cotton April 19, 1865; she was born in Niagara Co., N. Y .; they have five children-Flora Adelle, Lavern B., Archie William, Fred Adelbert and Mr. C. has held the offices of Township Col- lector and Assessor, in both of which he gave general satisfaction to the public ; he owns 120 acres of land, well located and finely improved.

WILLIAM COOK, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Maquoketa ; is a native of Lincolnshire, England, where he married Miss Jane Stutting, a native of the same place. In 1849, they emigrated to Dodge Co .. Wis .; removed thence to Fillmore Co., Minn .; upon leaving there, they came to Clinton Co., Iowa, in 1856. They have had five children, four of whom are living-Thomas C., George A., Mary A. (Mrs. L. Sta- mar) and William H. Mr. Cook owns 160 acres of land. Is a Republican.

LEVI DECKER ; P. O. Delmar ; bas been a resident of Clinton Co. for over forty years; is a mative of Tioga Co., N. Y .; was born July 21, 1808. In 1829, he married Miss Eunice Crowl, in Genesee Co., N. Y .; she was born near Buffalo, N. Digitized by

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Y., in 1812. They removed to Iowa in 1836; to Spring Harbor, Mich .; thence to Clinton Co., Iowa, in 1839, and have since been residents of the county. They have had four children, three now living-Benjamin C., Eunice (now Mrs. George Koons, of this township) and Lydia C. In the early history of the county, Mr. Decker held various offices. He is a Democrat. Feb. 4, 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Decker celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. There were over 135 persons present, and it was a most pleasant occasion.

CALVIN H. DAVIS, farmer ; P. O. Delmar; Mr. Davis was born in Wolcott, Lamoille Co., Vt., Feb. 10, 1822; in 1844, he came to Iowa, and settled in what is now Bloomfield Township. Mr. D.'s first wife was Miss Betsy Clark, of Ticon- deroga, N. Y .; she was born in 1832; married in 1846; died in this township in 1870. Present wife is Mrs. Caroline Sleeper, nee Hatfield ; was born in Cattaraugus Co. in 1832; came to Clinton Co. in 1846. Mr. Davis is a member of the Presby- terian Church, always taking an active interest in the educational and religious interests of Clinton Co .; he was formerly a member of the old 'Whig party, but, upon its decline, united with the Republicans, and has since remained a consistent member of that party. He owns 182 acres of land in this county, and 20 acres in Jackson Co.

O. E. DEEDS, M. D., Delmar, Iowa. His father, Philip Deeds, one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois and Iowa, came to the former State previous to the Black Hawk war, in which he was actively engaged. Married, in Illinois, Miss Pauline Mills ; they moved to Lyons, Iowa, in 1836, where Dr. Deeds was born, Dec. 26, 1841. He received his education at Cornell College, and the Iowa State University ; also attended the Western Union Military College at Fulton, Ill. Dr. Deeds served in the 44th Regt. I. V. I. ; was enrolled June 1, 1864, at Davenport, and mustered out at the same place Sept. 14, 1864. He commenced the study of medicine at Rush College, Chicago, and finished at Bellevue Hospital, where he graduated in 1867. Returning to Lyons, Iowa, he commenced the practice of his profession ; in 1868, he went to Wapello, Lou- isa Co .; while here, he was appointed. U. S. Pension Examiner ; was also Vice Presi- dent of the Medical Society of that county. In 1872, he again returned to Lyons and continued his practice until 1874, when he removed to Delmar, where he has obtained an extensive practice. In 1867, he married at Lyons, Miss Louisa E. Sloan ; they have five children-Grace N., Frederick H., Earnest V., Eva D. and Florence. Dr. Deeds is a member of the Masonic Fraternity at Delmar.

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 89

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 807

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807