USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 79
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JAMES M. WEIR, dealer in imported and domestic wines and liquors, also ale, beer, and best brands of cigars; Mr. W. was born in Williamson Co., Tenn., in 1842; was educated at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio; in 1865, he went to La Fayette, Ind .; in 1866, he came to Muscatine. Married Miss Annie Pickett, of this city ; they have seven children - Narcissa, Katy, Lizzie, Annie, Joseph, James and. Lorle. Mr.
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W. is a Democrat. For his genial manners and liberality, he is highly regarded by his fellow-citizens, is deservedly popular, and, as a citizen, is full of energy and enterprise ; he is giving much attention to the improvement of horse stock, and is owner of the celebrated Hambletonian stallion, Shakespeare.
ROBERT WELSH, proprietor of billiard hall ; also dealer in choice wines and liquors, and best brands of cigars ; Mr. W. was born in Ireland in 1844 ; emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, with his parents in 1850. During the war, he enlisted in Co. H, 147th Regiment Ill. V. I .; was enrolled at Chicago, Ill .; served until the war was over ; was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill. In 1865, he married Miss Ella Brant in Peoria, Ill .; they have four children-Mary Ann, Clara, Nellie and Robert. Mr. W. is a " War Democrat." He is unassuming in manner, affable and courteous to all, and has a high appreciation of the humorous, inherited from his native Emerald Isle ; has many warm friends.
JOHN WELTZ, proprietor of wagon and blacksmith shop, South Musca- tine; was born in Germany in 1826; emigrated to Indiana in 1853; came to Musca- tine in 1854. Maiden name of Mr. Weltz's wife was Barbara Heffler; they were married in this city (Muscatine); have four children-Charles, Sophia, Annie and George. Mr. Weltz and wife are members of the Lutheran Church ; he is a Repub- liean in politics ; is a member of the society Knights of Honor.
S. E. WHICHER, agent and dealer in real estate; was born in Dayton, Ohio, May 8, 1836; when 3 years of age, his parents came to Iowa and located in this county, where he was brought up and received his education ; after reaching man- hood, he engaged in the land business, and has continued in it since ; he has been a resident of this county forty years. He has held office of Assistant U. S. Assessor for this district. He married Miss Anna H. Mason, a native of Uniontown, Penn., May 20, 1857 ; they have four children - Mary E, George M., Alice B., Frank P. Mr. Whicher's father was known as Judge Whicher, one of the oldest and best known members of the bar. He died Feb. 13, 1856.
C. C. WINSLOW, dealer in all kinds of sewing machines and attachments, Second street ; was born in Somerset Co., Me., in 1834; in 1853, went to California ; in 1850, returned to his native State; came to Iowa in 1869; lived in Washington Co. until 1873, then removed to Muscatine. He married in Kennebec Co., Me., Miss Susan Frye, a native of that county ; they have two children - Edith Leonora and Walter E. Mr. W. is a member of the Society of Friends ; he was a Whig, but adopted the principles of the Republican party on its organization.
R. E. WILLIAMS, Pastor of the U. P. Church ; is a native of Virginia, and was born Feb. 6, 1849 ; his parents came to Iowa when he was 7 years of age ; he was brought up in this State, attending the common schools, then entered Western Col- lege, where he graduated in the Class of 1872; after graduating, he engaged in teach- ing, and was Principal of the West Side School in Cedar Rapids for two years, and then resigned to accept the position of President of Philomath College, Oregon ; he remained at the head of this institution three years, but was obliged to resign on
account of the ill-health of his wife; he returned to Iowa, and was Professor of Mathe- matics in Western College, and, for a time, he took the place of President Kephart in the Chair of Mental and Moral Science; since then, he has been engaged in the min- istry ; he came to Muscatine and became Pastor of the Church here in November, 1878. He married Miss Lucy D. Strother, a native of Findlay, Ohio; she had such a desire and purpose to obtain an education that she did so entirely by her own efforts, attending school and teaching alternately ; she entered Western College and graduated in the same class with her husband ; they have two children - Olive May and Blanche Edna.
ROBERT WILLIAMS, City Recorder and Police Judge of the City of Muscatine, was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Jan. 26, 1809; he is a brother of Judge Joseph Williams, formerly Chief Justice of Iowa ; Robert was brought up in Pennsylvania; he and Hou. Jere Black, who studied law in his brother's office, were boys together ; after reaching manhood, he engaged in the mercantile trade, the firm
T
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being Williams, Bingham & Co .; Hon. Hiram Price, Member of Congress, used to clerk in his store. He was appointed and served as Foreman of the first grand jury ever impaneled in Blair Co., Penn .; in April, 1855, he came to Iowa and located in Muscatine ; he was appointed by Gov. Lucas Deputy Recorder of this county ; in 1860, he was appointed Postmaster of Muscatine under President Buchanan ; he was elected Police Judge of this city in 1871 ; has held that office every year since; he was appointed City Recorder in 1872, and since then he has filled that office. July 7, 1840, in Philadelphia, he married Miss Julia A. Lincoln ; she is a native of the city of Phila- delphia, and is a step-daughter of Richard Penn Smith; they have three children- Elinor M., Robert B. and Sarah B .; they have lost two children - William L. and Richard C.
AUGUST P. WITTEMANN, proprietor of the Western Brewery, located on Eighth st., near Lucas Grove road. Mr. Wittemenn was born in Germany in 1836 ; emigrated to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1855, where he remained until 1862, in which year he came to Muscatine ; in 1864, he married Miss Annie Mary Schaefer of this city ; they have five children-Amelia, Alfred, Ida. Otto and Rosa. Mr. W. is a Democrat ; members of the Catholic Church. Mr. W. has ever been noted for his liberality and the fairness which has characterized all his dealings; is one of the leading brewers of the State.
PROF. F. M. WITTER, Principal of the High School ; is a native of St. Joseph Co., Ind., and was born near South Bend Aug. 15, 1838; when only 11 years of age. his father removed to Iowa in 1849, and settled in Delaware Co .; after living there four years, his parents came to Decatur Co .; he attended the common schools, and afterward entered the State University, where he graduated in 1861 ; he engaged in teaching in Johnson Co. for five months ; then went to Davenport, and was Princi- pal of one of the schools for two years; he came to Muscatine in 1864, and took the principalship of School No. 2; the following year, he became Superintendent of the city schools, and he afterward organized the High School; he was the first Principal of the High School, and has held that position ever since, over thirteen years, probably a greater length of time than any Superintendent in the State; he was President of the Superintendents' and Principals' Association in Southwestern Iowa, and organized the Academy of Science in this city; he is the author of the chapter on Geology in this work. Prof. Witter married Miss Hattie H. Cook, a native of Norwich, Conn., in July, 1868; they have two children-Anna and Nellie.
WERNER WITTICH, undertaker, Second st. ; a native of Germany ; born in 1830 ; emigrated to this city in 1852. In 1857, married Miss Annie Quantz ; they have five children-Katie E., Elizabeth K., George M., Werner and Susanna. Mr. Wittich is liberal, voting for whoever he thinks will best serve the interests of the whole country ; religiously, himself and wife are Protestant ; he is an active man and an enter- prising citizen.
WILHELM YOUNG, contractor and builder ; was born in Germany, Jan. 8, 1841 ; he there learned the trade of carpenter and joiner ; he emigrated to America in 1868; he lived in New York State and in Michigan ; came to Iowa in 1876 and engaged in building ; he has the contract and is building the new public school-one of the finest in the State; he was awarded the contract for building the new Opera House in Marshalltown, and he also has the contract for building two stores there. He married Miss Susie Lambert, from Germany, Nov. 12, 1870; they have two children- Alice and Fred.
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BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP. (P. O. MUSCATINE.)
WILLIAM B. ATKINS, far., Sec. 20; was born in Montrose, Mich., in 1837; in 1840, removed with his parents to Niagara Co., N. Y .; remained several years ; removed thence to Pennsylvania, thence to Wisconsin, and engaged as river . pilot, which occupation he followed for several years on the lakes and rivers of the Northwest ; in 1861, while at Memphis, seized with the spirit of adventure, and determined to cross the plains, for that purpose returned to Wisconsin, and there joined a party then preparing to go West ; on the way, they were attacked several times by the Indians, and Mr. A. was wounded twice. They traveled through several of the Territories, which satisfied Mr. A.'s adventurous spirit, and he returned to civ- ilization and married Miss Malinda Purcell of this county ; has two children-Loretta and Cora. Indeperdent in politics.
JOHN BARNARD, horticulturist, Sec. 28; was born in Wheeling, Va., June 6, 1826 ; in 1844, went to Zanesville, Ohio, and engaged in fruit-raising and nurs- ery business ; he removed to this county and settled where he now resides. He mar- ried, in Zanesville, Ohio, in October, 1847, Miss Rebecca Rupp; they have six children -William, Thomas, Edward, Albert, Lilly Mary, John C. E. V. Mr. Barnard owns 280 acres of land on Sec. 28, Town 77, located on the Iowa City Road, and within five minutes' drive of Muscatine ; it is finely improved-40 acres of orchard, 8 acres of small fruits. Mr. Barnard acted with the old Whig party ; on its decline became a Repub- lican ; members of the Baptist Church.
ALBERT BARROWS, far., Sec. 15; P. O. Muscatine; was born in Meigs Co., Ohio, Aug. 1, 1833, where he resided until 1855, then came to Muscatine Co., and settled on Muscatine Island. In 1855, he married Miss Mary Heselton, of Meigs Co., Ohio, daughter of Frederick Heselton. Mr. B. has a farm of thirty acres, which he has finely improved, located in Sec. 15, two and one-half miles south of the city of Muscatine ; he is a ship-carpenter, which trade he followed previous to coming West, and carried on that business at Murraysville, W. Va. Mr. B.'s father and brothers live and own quite a tract of land joining him. Independent.
THOMAS H. BARTLETT, far., Sec. 21; was born in Kentucky, in 1828 ; came to Muscatine Co. in 1852; married Miss Sarah Kinsley of this county ; she was born in Pennsylvania ; they have one child, Charles H. Member of the M. E. Church ; he is a Democrat. Mr. Bartlett's occupation is that of farmer ; he owns a farm well improved.
C. S. BIRD, far., Sec. 33 ; P. O. Muscatine; was born in Bath Co., Va., Jan. 27, 1842; in 1844, his parents emigrated to Illinois; in 1868, Mr. B. located in Muscatine Co. In 1862, he married Miss Marietta Foster, in McHenry Co., Ill. ; they have two children, Julia May and Marietta. March 11, 1879, Mrs. B. was taken from her family to the land of bliss and eternal sunshine. Mr. B. is a farmer. He enlisted in the Eighth Ill. Cav., Co. H; served three years. Is a Democrat.
HENRY BLANCHARD, farmer and dealer in stock, Summit Ridge, Sec. 1; was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1836. In 1838, his parents, Hinens and Mary Blanchard, nee St. John, came West, and settled in Muscatine. In 1859, Mr. Blanchard married Miss Mary V. Connor, a native of Orange Co., N. Y. They have two children-Frank and Bessie. Is a Republican ; owns 160 acres of land, is extensively engaged in stock-dealing ; is one of the largest dealers in Muscatine County.
S. N. CANDEE, far., Sec. 10; was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1812 ; in 1836, he went to Licking Co., Ohio, where he married Miss Lucy A. Star, a native of Granville, Ohio; they were married in 1837, and, two years after, removed to Muscatine Co., Iowa, where they have since resided, with the exception of a short time on a claim near lowa City, Iowa. They have had twelve children, six still living-Frederick (who served in an Iowa regiment during the war), Helen (now Mrs. Charles Davis), Julia (now Mrs. C. Star),
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Frank, Horace and Lucy. In early life, Mr. C. was a Whig; on the organization of the Republican party, he joined its ranks ; has always been a firm and uncompromising enemy to human bondage ; Mr. Candee and wife are members of the Congregational Church. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Iowa, and, by industry and perseverance, he has made himself a comfortable home, in which he can pass his declining years in peace and plenty.
REV. MOSES G. CASS, Presbyterian minister, Sec. 21.
HERVEY CORWIN, was born in Orange Co., N. Y., May 5, 1816, where he resided till 1854, when he removed to Iowa and located in Muscatine Co .; Mr. C. received his education and learned the trade of wagon-making prior to leaving New
York. Ele married Miss Sarah M. Prime, of Orange Co., N. Y., prior to coming West ; they have had eight children, five still living-Julia A. Loy, Alice (now Mrs. McDermont), George H., Caroline and Ida Corwin. Members of the M. E. Church ; he was one of the first Trustees of the Island M. E. Church, which office he still holds. His present occupation is that of farm gardener. He was formerly a Whig; at the organization of the Republican party, joined it, and has ever since coincided with its actions and principles.
W. P. CRAWFORD, farmer, See. 10; was born in Orange Co., N. Y., in 1825 ; came to Muscatine Co. in 1851. In November, 1853, he married Miss Sarah A. Terry, a native of Orange Co., N. Y .; they have had four children, three still liv- ing-Emily, Oliver and Nellie. Mr. Crawford and wife are members of the Presby- terian Church ; he acts with the Republican party. Has held various local offices; at present, is the inenmbent of the offices of Secretary of the School Board, member of the Board of School Directors and School Treasurer. He owns 155 acres of land, which is well improved.
T. H. DRAKE, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Muscatine; was born in Mt. Hope, Orange Co, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1817; in 1846, he emigrated to Wisconsin, and for several years traveled considerably, visiting Florida and several of the Southern States ; In 1856 he came West again, and settled in Muscatine Co., where he still remains. Mr. D. married, Jan. 13, 1858, Mi-s Louisa Davis, daughter of Phillip Davis, of Orange Co., N. Y. ; they have three children-Frederick, Louis P. and Theophilus. Mrs. D. is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Muscatine. Mr. D. is a carpen- ter ; worked at that trade before coming West; his occupation now is that of farmer ; he owns a fine farm of ninety-five aeres, where he now resides, six miles southwest of the city of Muscatine. A stanch Republican ; before the organization of that party, acted with the Whig party.
GEORGE FITZSIMMONS, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Muscatine; was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1829; emigrated with his parents to this country in 1846, and located in what was then known as Bloomington, now Muscatine. In 1854, Mr. F. married Miss Mary Leonard, of Muscatine; Mrs. F. was born in County Wicklow, twelve miles from Dublin, Ireland, and came to this country in 1848; they have seven children-Thomas J., Alfred, William J., George L., Charles Edward, Mary Jane and Clara Bell. Mr. F. and wife are members of the M. E. Church of the Island. Mr. F. has a fine farm of 300 acres, situated eight miles southwest of Musca- tine, where he now resides. He is a very energetic farmer, and highly esteemed among his neighbors. Acts with the Republican party.
C. H. GARNES, farmer, Sec. 21 ; was born in this county March 13, 1847. Married Miss Mary J. Cooley Aug. 22, 1876; have one child-Henry H. Mr. G. is a Republican.
HENRY H. GARNES (deceased ) ; was born in Harrisburg, Penn., Feb. 24, 1815. Married Miss Catharine Nisly, of Dauphin Co., Penn .; they removed to this county in 1844 and settled in this township, on See. 21, where she now resides ; he died Aug. 1, 1878; their children are C. H .; Irene now Mrs. George A. Neish ; Katie N., now Mrs. Charles H. Rowland; Mary H .; Elizabeth N., born January, 1843, died 1844; Catharine N., born January, 1845, died 18th June, 1853; Muscatine N., born November, 1849, died August, 1855.
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HIRAM GILBERT, farmer, Sec. 24; Mr. Gilbert was born in Breckinridge Co., Ohio, May 27, 1817 ; in 1837, he came to Muscatine Co. Married Miss Eliza Beunifiel, of Louisa Co., Iowa ; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind. ; they were married Feb. 13. 1842 ; their children are Austin V., who served in Co. A, 11th Regiment I. V. I; married Miss Lucy A. Daly and resides in Poweshiek Co .; Esther G., now Mrs. Edwin Coates, of Keokuk Co .; Winfield S., married Amanda C. Bunford, and resides at Nichols, Muscatine Co .; Mary M., now Mrs. I. Kniffen ; Millard W., mar- ried Ella Roberts ; Martha II., married William Longstreth ; William H., married Miss J. Dallas ; Nancy, Ida, Amanda E. Mr. Gilbert and wife are members of the M. E. Church ; he is Republican in politics. Has held various local offices; owns 294 acres of land well improved.
JEREMIAH GREINER, farmer, See. 3; Mr. Greiner is a native of Dauphin Co., Penn .; born Sept. 12, 1818. Oct. 26, 1843, he married Elizabeth Hershe, a native of Lancaster Co., Penn .; born Oct. 13, 1823; in 1854, they emigrated to Muscatine, where they resided one year, then moved on the farm where they now reside; their children are Benjamin F., born Dec. 7, 1844, married Miss S. Brown William P., born Aug. 27, 1846, married Miss Bretz ; Christian, born Aug. 25, 1848 Abraham J., born Jan. 31, 1851 ; Elizabeth A., born Feb. 8, 1861; Anna Maria, born Feb. 18, 1866, died April 18, 1866. Mr. Greiner and wife are members of United Brethren Church ; he was a Whig, but adopted the principles of the Republican party at its organization ; he has held various local offices ; he owns a finely-improved farm of 622 acres, and is one of the enterprising men of Bloomington Township.
MRS. ADELINE HOLCOMB, nee Shener, Sec 15 ; P. O. Muscatine ; was born in Hartford Co., Conn., in 1818 ; when in her 9th year, her parents removed to Portage Co., Ohio, where she married Chester R. Holcomb, also a native of Hartford Co., Conn., born in 1811 ; they removed to Muscatine Co., Iowa, in 1846; he resided in Muscatine Co. until his death, July 19, 1874; he was an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church; in the early history of Museatine Co., he held various important offices of trust, and was ever a public-spirited citizen ; they had three children, two still living-Frank and Adeline (now Mrs. George F. Jarvis, of Bloom- ington Tp.) Mrs. Holcomb is a member of the M. E. Church, and is an estimable lady. She owns sixty-six acres of land near the city limits, and very valuable.
P. W. HOWELL, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. O. Muscatine ; was born in Orange Co., N. Y., in 1811 ; emigrated, in 1858, to Muscatine Co., where he has since resided. Mr. H. married, in Orange Co., N. Y., in 1839, Miss Jane Dunning; they have two children living-Eleanor and Fannie; all members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Howell has held several offices of honor and trust in New York prior to coming West ; Mr. Howell's father served through the Revolutionary war, and was also in the war of 1812. Mr. Howell has a small farm of eight acres, well improved, and his occupation is that of farm-gardener. He was a Jackson Democrat till the war ; since, has acted with the Republican party.
JOHN C. HUNTER, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Muscatine; was born in War- ren Co., Ill., February, 1843; lived in several different counties of the State ; after the war, came to Muscatine Co., Iowa, where he now resides. Mr. Hunter married Miss Susan A. Hogan, of Muscatine Co., in 1877 ; they have one child-Salem W. Mr. Hunter enlisted in the 35th I. V. I., Co. B, and served through the war. Is a stanch Republican.
SAMUEL HUNTER, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Muscatine ; born in Clarence, Erie Co., Penn., in 1823; in 1839, he emigrated to Fulton Co., Ill., and, in 1858, came to Muscatine Co., where he has since remained. He married Miss Cornelia E. Woods, a daughter of Larkin Woods, of Warren Co., III., Sept. 1, 1841 ; they have six children -Amanda Ann, Salem Woods, Flora A., Valdora A., Samuel H. and John C. Mr. HI.'s mother was a member of the Baptist Church for over seventy years, and died in December, 1878, at the ripe old age of 82 years. Mr. H. was a Democrat; he acted with that party till 1864, when he united with the Republican party, and has acted with it since ; he is a very energetic and well-posted man, lending his influence to every
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literary work of any note that offers itself to him ; Mr. H. has a farm of 120 acres where he resides ; also one of 108 acres in Louisa Co., Iowa. Mr. H.'s son John C. served three years in the Union army during the war.
JOHN HUSTON, farmer, Sec. 6; was born in the county of Antrim, North of Ireland, in 1818, where he resided for thirty years, and married Miss Eliza Cerni- han, of the same county, in 1838; they have had ten children, four still living-Mar- tha, Nancy, Maggie and Anna; Martha and Nancy were born in Ireland in January, 1847. Mr. H. and family emigrated to the United States; landed in Philadelphia, Penn., and remained for one year, working at his trade of stone-mason ; removed thence to Pittsburgh and remained six years; in 1855, he came to Muscatine Co., and com- menced farming, which he has since followed ; has a fine farm of 170 acres, upon which he has made the principal improvements. Members of the Presbyterian Church ; Mr. H. is an uncompromising Republican. He is an carnest, enterprising and public-spirited ciizen. GEO. F. JARVIS, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. O. Muscatine ; was born in Ashta- bula Co., Ohio, in 1836 ; he emigrated to Fulton Co., Ill., with his parents in 1837, thence to La Salle Co., and, in the fall of 1865, Mr. J. settled in Muscatine Co., where he still remains. Mr. J. married Miss Adeline B. Holcomb in 1867 ; they have one child-Albert Nelson. Members of the M. E. Church of the Island. Mr. J. has a fine farm of eighty acres. Democrat.
MRS. LAVISA S. KINCAID (nee Steenbergen), farmer, Sec. 5; daugh- ter of Charles Steenbergen; born in Pike Co., Ohio, in 1819; niece of Hon. Robert Lucas, ex- Governor of Ohio, subsequently Governor of Iowa, and Brigadier General in the war of 1812. Both of her grandfathers fought through the Revolutionary war. On the 16th of January, 1838, she married Mr. George W. Kincaid, a native of Ohio ; born at West Union, Adams Co., April 24, 1811; son of Thomas Kincaid and Margaret ( nee Hanna ), natives of Pennsylvania and Martinsburg, Va., and descendants of Rev- olutionary stock ; both of his grandfathers fought through the war of Independence ; his father, Thomas Kincaid, was aide de-camp to Gen. Ludwick in the war of 1812-15, and took part in the battle of the Thames about the date of the birth of his son. George W. spent most of his boyhood in West Union ; his father having been Sheriff of the county for twelve years, where he attended the public schools, and at the age of 14, was apprenticed to learn the tanning business at Piketon, Ohio, where, after serving his time, he engaged in business for some years ; in 1838, shortly after his marringe, he moved to La Fayette, Ind., where he was engaged as a contractor on the public works for a year ; in 1839, removed to Iowa, settling in Muscatine Co., which was his home dur- ing the rest of his life; here he engaged in farming. Notwithstanding the educational disadvantages under which he labored, he was a man of great intelligence and sound judgment, and soon took a leading position in the community. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Iowa, and also the first Commissioner of the State school fund, and was one of the Trustees, having charge of the erection of the Iowa Insane Asylum at Mount Pleasant during 1860-62, and held many other offices of trust and responsibility during his long and eventful career. He was not only a pioneer
citizen of Muscatine, to whose interests he was always devoted, but he was emphatically a patriot, and loved his whole country ; in polities, he had been a Whig; was a radical Republican, and ever an uncompromising foe to human slavery ; he espoused the Union cause with all his heart, and on every suitable occasion, spoke out with the fervor of a deep devotion to the cause of his country. An incident published in the local papers at the time, shows how he seized, every opportunity to inspire enthusiasm and good humor in his patriotic work. A public meeting was held, at which a number of speeches were made, expressing the strongest allegiance to the " old flag." One polished orator, with glowing and rounded periods, said he "was born under the 'stars and stripes,' and expected to die under them." Col. Kincaid followed this speaker, and said, "I, too, was born under the stars and stripes; I was born in a little log cabin in Ohio; the stars shone on me through the chinks between the logs, and there was a striped quilt over me." This speech "brought down the house" in uproarious applause, and tended to add to his popularity and influence. But he was
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