USA > Iowa > Marion County > The History of Marion County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & C. > Part 55
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"Yours in the cause of freedom,
" W. P. CLARK, Chairman. "C. W. HOBART, Secretary.
"H. D. DOWNEY, Treasurer.
"I. N. JEROME.
" LYMAN ALLEN.
" J. TEESDALE.
" M. L. MORRIS.
" Iowa City, June 10, 1856."
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
As before remarked, Mr. Woodin in particular was active and diligent in transacting the business delegated to him. He made a complete tour of the counties lying in the proposed route of the " emigrants " and estab- lished committees. He succeeded in enlisting in this enterprise the most active and reliable men in the various town which he visited who were in sympathy with the movement. Most of the men are still living and many of them have since achieved a national reputation. The following are the names of the individuals composing the committees at the various points along the ronte:
Wassonville-Isaac Farley, Myron Frisbee, N. G. Field.
Sigourney-N. H. Keath, A. T. Page, T. S. Byers, A. C. Price.
Oskaloosa-William H. Seevers, A. M. Cassady, James A. Young, Louis Reinhart, S. A. Rice.
Knowville-J. M. Bayley, James Mathews, Hiram W. Curtis, William M. Stone, James Sample, Joseph Brobst.
Indianola-B. S. Noble, George W. Jones, Lewis Todhunter, J. T. Lacy, G. W. Clark, H. W. Maxwell.
Osceola-J. D. Howard, G. W. Thompson, A. F. Sprague, Jno. Butcher, J. G. Miller, G. L. Christie.
Quincy -R. B. Lockwood, T. W. Stanley, H. B. Clark, E. G. Bengen, D. Ritchey.
Winterset-H. J. B. Cummings, W. L. McPherson, D .. F. Arnold, W. W. McKnight, J. J. Hutchins.
Des Moines-A. J. Stevens, T. H. Sypher, W. W. Williamson, B. S. Chrystal.
Newton-H. Welker, William Skiff, William Springer, E. Hammer, H. J. Skiff.
It was necessary to observe great caution and secrecy, as the administra- tion at that time was in sympathy with the pro-slavery party, and United States Marshals were on their way to Kansas from the North. The under- ground railroad having been put into good running order, Superintendent Woodin and his station agents did quite a business in forwarding "emi- grants" during the fall, winter and following spring and summer.
One incident connected with the working of the underground railroad especially deserves mention, it was the first meeting of Gen. Jim Lane and John Brown.
Late in the summer of 1856 the people of Sigourney were considerably interested in an unusually large number of emigrants who came through the town late in the afternoon, and encamped for the night near by. Per- sons who had no connection with the " Emigration Society " noticed that Dr. Price and other members of the committee soon became very intimate with the leading men among the " emigrants." In fact so intimate were Price and his conferees with the chief emigrants that they held a conference in a back parlor of the Clinton House, then the leading hotel of Sigourney. After the conference had lasted some time the emigrants returned to their camp to look after some business while the committee remained in the room at the hotel awaiting their return. In the meantime there was a knock on the door, which being opened admitted a healthy, robust man, dressed in the garb of a frontiersman, who announced himself as Captain 'Moore, from Kansas, and desiring to see one Jim Lane, whom he expected to find at the place. He was informed by the committee that Jim Lane, for such one of the " emigrants" proved to be, had just retired, but would
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
return shortly. Upon the invitation of the committee the stranger took s seat, but upon being questioned by the committee with regard to Kanaus affairs manifested considerable reticence, not caring apparently to discuss those matters. Presently Lane returned, and npon being introduced, the stranger looking him steadily in the face, and taking, as it were, an esti- mate of the man from head to foot, said: "You are Jim Lane, are you ! Well, I am John Brown. I guess we have heard of one another before." John Brown, now satisfied that he was in the company of friends, and that his cause in Kansas would not suffer by a narration of events then trans piring in that Territory, threw off his former reserve and talked freely and passionately. It is said by persons who were in the room that they never heard such eloquent and impassioned words fall from the tongue of living man as those uttered by Brown when speaking of the Kansas troubles. He first spoke of the country; of the beautiful prairies, its rich soil, and its beautiful rivers, and while doing so his countenance lit up with an almost superhuman light and cheerfulness; pausing for a moment he seemed to be deeply moved, his countenance underwent an entire change, and from being an angel Brown now resembled a fiend. At length he broke forth in the most vehement language; he spoke of the blighting curse of slavery, and of the overbearing conduct of the pro-slavery men in their efforts to extend the accursed system; of the atrocities of the border ruffians from Missouri. When at length he conteniplated the possibility of this fair land becoming blasted by the curse of slavery, its beautiful prairies turned into slave plan- tations, its fertile soil pressed by the foot of the bondman, and its beautiful streams flowing past slave-pene, he was unable to control himself; he strode through the room, he stamped on the floor, and tore his hair with his sun- burnt hands. Jim Lane became inspired by the words of his new made acquaintance, and it was arranged that he should make a speech that night in Sigourney. The speech was made from a dry goods box in front of Page's stone block, which stood where now is McCauley's hardware store.
The "emigrants" had in their train a queer looking vehicle which they said was a prairie plow; it was covered with a tarpaulin and some of the cu- rious' citizens, after the " emigrants" had fallen asleep, became anxious to see what kind of an agricultural implement these tillers of the soil had, any- way; a slight investigation convinced these inquisitive ones that it would plow up the ground in spots if it once got to work on the soil of " bleeding Kansas," but that it would be too noisy and dangerous for the fallow ground of Iowa. That prairie plow proved to be an eight-pound cannon, and was heard from inside of thirty days thereafter. The emigrants, num- bering some seventy-five, left the next morning accompanied by Jim Lane.
In the course of a day or two the Kansas emigrants in charge of Lane arrived at Knoxville. Lane stopped at the hotel and the company passed on west of town and encamped on Whitebreast Creek. The following day there was a celebration in Knoxville and Lane was invited to deliver an ad- dress. Great excitement prevailed throughout the town and surrounding country and as there were many who opposed the colonization scheme of the friends of free Kansas serious trouble was apprehended should Lane at- tempt to speak. The celebration was held east of the present site of the Tremont Honse within the corporate limits of the city. Lane accepted the invitation to address the crowd and made a very impassioned speech; ex- citement ran high but there was no serions disturbance. Lane was never
...
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
daunted by threats of disturbance, in fact he was never so much in his ele- ment as when excitement ran high.
We are reminded of another event in the career of Jim Lane. It was during the late war when he, in command of a small force. was guarding's town in Missouri. Some disloyal people threatened to tear down the flag. The threat was reported to the commander, when he turned to his inform- ant and said:
"Tell those men who threaten the flag, that whenever that flag comes down this town goes up."
It is unnecessary to state that the flag was not disturbed.
After making his speech at the celebration at Knoxville, Lane proceeded with his emigrants to Kansas, where they acted an active part in the bloody affrays then being perpetrated.
Bleeding Kansas, after bleeding for some four years, boasting for part of the time in two rival Territorial governments, was admitted into the Union as a free State in 1861. Jim Lane's pathetic end, falling a victim to his own vices and his own hands, and Brown's misguided but noble and heroic campaign at Harper's Ferry are subjects of fireside conversation in almost every household in the land, and it is hoped that' the narration of the fore- going incidents, trifling in themselves, but momentons as passing circum- stances attending great national events, will not arouse any slum bering ani- mosities nor engender any new strifes.
SUDDEN DEATH.
Major H. D. Gibson for many years a highly respected citizen of Marion county, but at the time Indian agent for the- Puyallup, Nisqually and Chehalis Reservations, Washington Territory, died very suddenly on Thurs- day, August 12, 1875, between the hours of 9 and 10 o'clock A. M., in his buggy, while returning from a hunting excursion. The following account of his death is given by a man who was with him at the time:
" I left home in the morning in company with Mr. Gibson, about 8 o'clock, in a buggy, on a hunting tour. On our way we stopped at Mr. Rundell's and asked Mr. Rundell abont some papers concerning some gov- ernment property. Just at the edge of a prairie, a pheasant flew up and Mr. Gibson got out of the buggy with his gun to shoot the bird. Mr. Gib- son shortly returned to the buggy and took off his coat, remarking that be was very warm. He got into the buggy and said 'drive on.' While I was turn- ing the buggy I heard a noise-a gasp and a choking sound. I said 'what is the matter Mr. Gibson?' No answer. I then shook him and found that he was dying. I laid his head on my shoulder and drove home as fast as I could. In the morning before starting he ate a very hearty breakfast, after which he said he felt very unwell; he never complained before."
Mr. Gibson doubtless died of heart disease.
ASSASSINATION OF JOSIAH M. WOODRUFF, OF KNOXVILLE.
In the draft of 1864, certain men drafted from Sugar Creek township, Poweshiek county, failed to report themselves in obedience to orders and under the law they became deserters. On Saturday, October 1st, the Pro- vost Marshal of the Fourth district of Iowa, with headquarters at Grin- nell, sent out two officers with orders for the arrest of these deserters.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
These officers were Capt. John L. Bashore, of Appanoose county, and Jo- siah M. Woodruff, of Knoxville.
These men entered Sugar Creek township before noon, and meeting with & certain Mike Gleason made some inquiries as to the men of whom they were in search. After leaving Gleason they went to the house of one Cra- ver, where they took dinner. After dinner they proceeded in the prosecu- tion of their business and soon met three men, one of whom was the man Gleason, whom they had previously met, and two brothers named Fleenor. The conduct of these men convinced the officers that they meant mis- chief and Bashore sprang from the buggy, and with revolver in hand be- gan to remonstrate with the inen, telling them to go about their business as they were not the persons whom they were after. Woodruff remained in the buggy. It was not long until the men commenced to fire upon the officers. Woodruff was shot through the head and killed instantly. Bash- ore was also shot and mortally wounded. Gleason was shot in the hip and so seriously wounded that he could not escape. The Fleenors escaped.
Upon hearing of the tragedy, Provost Marshal Mathews, of Grinnell, ordered out two companies of militia to assist in making arrests, and on Sunday evening Gleason and seven others were sent to Oskaloosa under guard. As there was no evidence to convict the seven they were afterward released.
On Monday following the bodies of the dead officers were taken to Oaks- loosa, and at the sight of them the people were roused to such frenzy. that nothing but the strong walls of the jail saved Gleason from vengeance. The following day the body of Bashore was sent to Centerville and that of Woodruff was brought to Knoxville. The funeral of the latter, which oc- curred soon after, was one of the most imposing affairs which ever took place in Knoxville.
All efforts to find the Fleenors were unavailing. They immediately left the country and have never been publicly seen in these parts.
Gleason lay in jail at Oskaloosa for a number of months waiting for his wounds to heal. He was finally arraigned before the United States Dis- trigt Court at Des Moines, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. This sentence was afterward commuted to imprisonment in the penitentiary for
The father of Josiah M. Woodruff, who at the time of his son's death lived just north of Knoxville, afterward removed to Kansas, where he still resides. A short time since he brought suit against the estate of Joseph Fleedor, five years absence of the latter raising the presumption of his death, claiming damages in the sum of twenty thousand dollars for the kill- ing of his son. This suit is now pending in the District Court of Powe- shiek county.
TWO PERSONS DROWNED.
On Saturday, June 8, 1872, Byron Whitehead and his wife left their home near Gosport, in a two-horse wagon to go to Wheeling, expecting to be gone till the Thursday following. Hugh Thompson saw them passing along the road and this is the last that was seen of them alive.
Nothing further was seen or heard of them till the Thursday following when two boys who were fishing along Whitebreast Creek saw the horses in the stream, and upon further search the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. White- head were found lodged in the creek some distance below the ford.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
A coroner's inquest was held and the verdict was that death had been cansed on the morning of the 8th between nine and ten o'clock by acci- dental drowning while attempting to cross Whitebreast Creek at Mulkey's Ford.
A FATAL RUNAWAY.
On the 24th of December. 1870, Dr. William Covington, of Pleasant- ville, started from home in a buggy driving a pair of spirited horses, to visit a patient in the family of Mr. Hunter, north of Pleasantville. About a half mile from home he met with an accident which cost him his life.
It appears that the team run against a fence and threw the doctor out with such violence as to produce fatal injuries. When found he was lying across some rails of the fence which had been partially demolished, and two or three rails lay across his body. When found he was still alive but un- conscious. He was taken home and that night died. One of the horses was severely injured in the runaway and the vehicle was totally demolished.
TREASURY ROBBERY.
On Saturday night, February 7, 1867, the office of the county treasurer at the court-house, was entered and robbed of all the money in it, which amounted to over forty thousand dollars. The burglars in the first place broke into Mr. Reed's blacksmith shop and helped themselves to all the tools they required. They entered the treasurer's office through a window which was very insecurely fastened. By the side of the door of the vault they removed a few bricks which enabled them with the aid of a chisel to reach the bolt and drive it back. The safe in the vault was purchased in 1866 at a cost of sixteen hundred dollars. The burglars broke the knob from the door of the safe, cut into the lock, opened the door and took the funds. The most that was taken belonged to the school fund of the county. Mr. Dan. Smick, of Knoxville, lost over $1,600 which he had placed there for safety. A portion of the funds was owned by the State.
The robbery was discovered about eight o'clock Sunday morning and caused a great deal of excitement among the citizens all day long, hundreds visiting the court-honse. Prompt action was taken to find the robbers. Different persons were sent out to spread the news and put the officers of the law on the watch.
The board of supervisors of the county were called together immediately. Lake Prairie township had been paid her share of the school fund, and Mr. Kruck drew out 8600 Saturday evening for Liberty township. In Mr. Cunningham's absence some two or three thousand dollars were wrapped up and placed in a pigeon hole in the vault, and that the burglars failed to get. The following in round numbers are the losses to school fund, State, county and city: State, $3,000; connty, $1,000; Knoxville, $200, Knox- ville school fund, $3,500; whole loss of school fund, $35,000. The reasons the loss to the city was so small was because so few had paid their taxes.
The loss fell heaviest upom Mr. Smick, for his $1,600 he got by hard knocks at the anvil.
The knob was first broken off and then a portion of chilled iron under it cut out. Heavy blows were next struck exactly in the right place to loosen the bolts or break the fastenings, so heavy as to break the steel face of the sledge used. Both of these operations which we have imperfectly described
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HISTORY' OF MARION COUNTY.
had the effect to loosen the bolts; chisels were then used to pry open the doors, which unfortunately was accomplished. The burglar or burglars seemed to know just exactly what was requisite to do in order to accomplish their object. The one who made the safe could not have gone to work any more scientifically or with more complete understanding of what was neces- sary to be done.
DEATH BY DROWNING.
Mr. Gibson Shook, of the vicinity of Wheeling, Marion county, lost his life by accidental drowning in the Des Moines River near Bennington on Saturday night, April 11, 1868.
He was returning home with his team, and at a place where the road runs near the edge of a steep bank of the river, he missed the track, owing to the darkness, and the horses, wagon and driver were all precipitated into the deep current of the river, some fifteen feet below.
The body of the drowned man was recovered the following Monday . short distance below the place where the accident occurred, and pieces of the wagon were scattered down the river for a distance of two miles.
Mr. Shook was a man of about 28 years of age, the father of a family, . man of good character and habits and well respected in the community where he lived.
FATAL ACCIDENT
On Monday, February 22, 1869, Mr. Frank Buckley, who lived near Coalport, went out into the woods to cut some timber. He did not come home at night as was expected, and. his wife after waiting some time be- carne alarıned, and having secured the services of some of the neighbors went in search of him. At about ten o'clock they found him lying dead in the woods about a mile from his home.
It seems that he had cut a tree which, in falling, struck another tree and knocked off a limb which fell on his head and killed him.
Mr. Buckley was a man about forty years old and left a wife and. five small children.
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
Some time in the year 1867, George W. Shafer, of Red Rock township, was married to Sarah Yearns, daughter of J. B. Yearns, who resided some three miles north of the village of Red Rock. During the year 1869 they separated; the trouble being that Shafer was a trifling fellow and not sup- porting his wife properly, she left him and returned to live with her father.
On Saturday evening, February 6th, while Mr. Yearns was at Knoxville on business, Shafer went to the house of the former with the apparent pur- pose of inducing his wife to live with him again. This she refused to do. It appears that a dispute ensued between Shafer and the family and that Shafer struck Mrs. Yearns on the head with a club and drove all the folks out of the house except his wife and child.
Shafer then asked his wife again if she would live with him. She an- swered: "Never!" Then drawing a revolver he declared that she should never live with another man; and, after saying this, he placed the revolver to her head and fired, killing her instantly.
He then took a blanket from the bed, spread it on the floor, drew np the
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
dead and bleeding form of his murdered wife and placed it on the blanket; he then placed the baby beside her and then laid down himself beside the two and ent his own throat with a knife.
It would seem that he had planned the whole matter before going to the house and intended to give the whole affair a romantic appearance of trag- edy. This was indeed a case of madness and there was a horrible coolness and method in it.
At the time of the tragedy Mr. Yearns was a member of the board of su- pervisors and was at the county seat attending to some official bus- iness.
TWO VICTIMS OF PASSION.
Two persons living in Knoxville township, west of the city of Knoxville, got into a difficulty some ten years ago. One was named Samuel Brown and the other one was an Irishman named Daniel Maloney. Maloney finally grasped a neck-yoke and struck Brown on the head inflicting inju- ries from the effects of which he died.
Maloney was indicted and his case came up before the District Court in November, 1869. A continuance was granted and when it came up again in the following March the defendant was granted a change of venue to Jasper county.
Maloney was afterward convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a term of five years in the State prison. This sentence he has long since served out and has been released.
MURDER-TWO MEN SHOT.
A brutal murder was committed Monday evening, September 15, 1873, at the house of Mr. Keeton, about two miles west of Red Rock.
A feud of long duration existed between one party consisting of two dis- reputable persons by the name of Williams and another party consisting of William Eutsler and Mr. Keeton. The origin of the feud was some ecan- dal about the wives of Keeton and Horry Williams.
On the day of the altercation the Williamses in company with one An- derson went in a wagon to the house of Eutsler and requested the latter to go with them to Keeton's house, pretending that the old difficulty was set- tled and wanting to talk the matter over together.
When the three arrived at Keeton's house, Eutsler went in and invited the latter out into the road. Keeton went out and Horry Williams imme- mediately began to quarrel with him, calling Keeton a liar, using insulting language with reference to his wife and flourishing a revolver. Keeton told Williams if he would lay down his revolver he would whip him and with this remark returned to the house. Just as he reached the door Horry Williams fired at him, the shot taking effect and Keeton fell dead. One of the Williamses then fired at Eutsler, wounding the latter in the hip.
After the shooting the ruffians drove rapidly away. They were pursued and arrested, and upon examination Williams was released on bail of $8,000. He was afterward tried and sentenced to a term of twenty years imprison- ment, but before being taken to Ft. Madison escaped from the officers.
FRATRICIDE.
Two brothers named Robert and James McKay lived near Bussey in Lib- erty township.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY.
On Saturday, October 9, 1875, the two brothers had a quarrel and James, the younger, inflicted a wound upon the person of his brother from the d. fects of which he died in a few hours.
The accounts which were given at the time and are still given of the af. fray are very conflicting and unsatisfactory. One story is to the effect that Robert Mckay was pursuing his brother with intent to commit bodily in- jury, while another story is to the effect that James was too intimate with his brother's wife.
James McKay was arrested by the proper authorities and held for trid.
ANOTHER MURDER AT RED ROCK.
What is said to have been the tenth murder at Red Rock was committed on Sunday, August 12, 1877. The victim was Marv. Williams, brother of Horry Williams, who, prior to his incarceration in the State prison, had figured so extensively in the criminal courts of the county. The person who committed the deed was T. R. Buttery. It seems that the two had come into the possession of a saloon and there was a dispute as to the ownership. Williams claimed that he was a full partner while Buttery asserted that he was simply a clerk. After having vainly tried to settle the matter by res. son they met on the fatal Sunday afternoon and proceeded to adjudicats the matter with revolvers. Buttery got in his argument first with the re- sult as before stated. Williams was shot in the region of the heart and died immediately.
DROWNED.
On Sunday Morning, June 11, 1876, Charles Hannan of Knoxville town- ship, was drowned in the Des Moines River near Amsterdam. He, with two others, were bathing in the river about one mile below Horn's Ferry. While trying to wade across the river he became cramped and called for assistance. Frank Horn went to his assistance and endeavored to help him but was grasped about the body by the drowning man in such a way he could render no help. Both men were carried down the stream into deep water and sank together. In order to save his own life Horn was compelled to unfasten the grip of the drowning man and leave him to his fate. Han- nan was a young man twenty-one years old, the son of Mr. Richard Han- nan of the east part of Knoxville township.
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