USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > The history of Appanoose County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 44
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Only a week or two before, a resident of Van Buren County named Thomp- son, a thoroughly hard case, guilty of both horse-stealing and murder, had been seized by a Monroe County crowd, at the request of citizens of Van Buren County; had been taken to this very spot, and after having been stretched by the neck to a tree three times, in the vain effort to obtain a confession of his crimes, had been finally swung and allowed to hang all night. He was found by some neighbors next day, and buried three or four miles off. The rope was still hanging to the tree, and Foster was led thereunder. It was shown him. and an account of Thompson's unhappy fate was related to him, and John was then informed that he could have till daylight the next morning to arrange and give his confession, or he would be hanged by the same rope. He was then carefully guarded, pickets were placed to prevent the approach of either officers or citizens, and the remainder of the crowd lay down to rest.
About daylight next morning, Foster broke down, and asked that two of his neighbors be sent for. This was done, and he gave a list of all his crimes, together with ample details regarding them. This was written out by one of them, and is still in the custody of its writer. In this document John admitted the theft of the horses, and gave the name of the party who had bought them. He also admitted having been concerned in the theft and sale of the flock of sheep mentioned above, as well as numerous other thefts in the surrounding region.
This was regarded as highly satisfactory to the crowd, most of whom dispersed, but John was detained by the rest till his statements in regard to stealing the
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widow's horses and their subsequent sale were fully verified, when he was regu- larly apprehended and taken to Van Buren County to jail. Had not the crowd detained him till they had verified his statements, it is possible that Foster might have escaped punishment, for he soon after repudiated the confession ; but it was of no avail, for a solid case had been made against him, and he was trans- ferred in due time to Fort Madison.
It is stated that this confession of Foster's practically ended horse-stealing as a business in Appanoose County. The gang seem to have avoided the man- ners and customs of this part of the "Hairy Nation " ever since, believing that their business would prove more lucrative in other localities.
The protective associations soon after disbanded ; but should the same con- dition of affairs again arise, it would doubtless be re-organized in all its former potency. These societies were composed of estimable citizens, many being pro- minent church members. Their object was to protect the property of themselves and neighbors, peaceably if they could, but forcibly if they must.
Foster served out his sentence, and soon after settled in Van Buren County, near the Des Moines River, where he bought forty acres of land, and married again. H. H. Wright, who was Sheriff of this county for several years, had a talk with him, while in that vicinity several years ago. The neighbors spoke well of him as a citizen and neighbor, but had an impression that there was some mystery about him. Soon after this he abandoned his wife and home, and it is believed settled in Missouri, fearing possibly that Wright had informed his neighbors regarding his past record.
ROBERT LOW AND MARION WRIGHT.
Early in November, 1866, while a singing-school was in progress one even- ing, a little way south of where Moulton now stands, two horses which had been ridden to the school, were stolen. One was owned by Elder Jordan, of Orleans, and the other by Mr. Adams.
As soon as the loss was discovered, Elder Jordan and James Pulliam started in pursuit. ' It was a warm trail, but as " a stern chase is a long one," these gentlemen rode to the vicinity of Kirksville, Mo., where they stayed all night, and their host being a resolute, determined fellow, decided in the morning to accompany them. The thieves, who were known as Robert Low and Marion Wright, were overtaken about eleven miles south of Kirksville, but had no intention of giving up either the horses or themselves. An affray occurred, in which a ball struck Jordan sidewise in the stomach, passing just clear of the bowels. Pulliam was struck by a ball near the temple, which raked along his skull for several inches, leaving a bad gash in the scalp, and their Mis- souri companion was badly wounded in the cheek and mouth. Low made his escape, but Wright was captured. The latter scoundrel was taken care of by a crowd of Missourians, who did not consider it worth while to trouble the courts with his case. It is certain that he never stole any more horses.
THE STAGE ROBBERY.
The most audacious piece of scoundrelism ever perpetrated in the county was the robbery of two stages on the Corydon road, near where it crosses Big Walnut Creek in John's Township, in the summer of 1865. As stated by George Pratt, Esq., who was keeping hotel in Centerville, and also acting as Stage Agent at the time, this daring robbery was substantially as follows :
Mr. Mckeever, who was a resident of Centerville, had made a trip to Decatur County, and perhaps further west, with the intention of buying horses.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
He had borrowed a considerable sum of money at Corydon, but had decided not to buy any stock, and made his preparations to return home. He got into the stage at Leon, Decatur County, eastward bound, with E. Johnson as driver. Three strangers in Leon also got on, paying their fare to Corydon, and it is now believed that these men expected to rob Mckeever. This gentleman, however, got off at Corydon, and remained for the purpose of paying back the money he had borrowed. Johnson's three other passengers decided to come on to Centerville, and paid their fare accordingly. They were a very sociable load, and more than once Johnson was supplied by them with cigars and a sup out of their flasks. Arrived near the bridge across Walnut, they took posses- sion of Johnson's outfit. One of them conducted him to a fallen tree, and told him to sit quiet. The others unhitched his horses, took off the harness, and tied them near by, intending to rifle the mail-bags.
About the time this was accomplished, a neighboring farmer drove along, who was also stopped, robbed, and his team unharnessed also.
The stage moving west, which should have left Centerville in the morning, had not started till about 4 o'clock, now appeared on the east side of the river, it then being nearly sundown. The passengers were a returned soldier and two ladies. This stage was stopped on the bridge, the mail-sacks taken and the soldier robbed, but the ladies were not molested. The best horses were unharnessed, when the three dashing brigands selected the three best horses from the whole lot, gathered up the mail-bags, mounted the horses, and after warning their prisoners not to follow them for a specified time, the jolly stage passengers rode off like fox-hunters, having probably secured $600 or $700 booty. They rode west about three miles, when they met a man driving a flock of sheep, whom they robbed of about $300 or $400, and then rode south- west to Promise City. In the neighborhood of that village they " drafted " the services of a boy to guide them several miles. They then let him go, and followed down the Locust about twenty-five miles.
Of course the stage-drivers and the farmer did not care to lose three valu- able horses, and as soon as they dared they started in pursuit, rousing the country as they went. The horses were found in the western part of Putnam County, Missouri, a day or two after, badly used up, but the dashing trio escaped without leaving their cards or post office address behind them.
This whole affair smacks of the daring style and brilliant successes of the Jameses and Youngers, together with the peculiar courtesy and bland demeanor of those daring highwaymen of Hounslow Heath, Claude Duval and Jack Rann. It is but one in the long list of Western stage robberies and train stoppages ; but fortunately there was no bloodshed, for the show of weapons by the party was prudently respected. But it is probable that these dashing high- waymen have years ago been exterminated, or gone West to "grow up with the country."
A FEW ANCIENT ELECTIONS.
Only meager records have been kept of the early elections in Appanoose County, and several of the first years are entirely wanting.
It is said that only thirty-five or thirty-six votes were cast at the organizing election, in August, 1846. No attention was paid to politics till 1848, when the Presidential contest of that year revived the half-forgotten ideas formerly entertained by the people before removing here.
At the general election in August, 1854, Curtis Bates, the Democratic nominee for Governor, had 507 votes, and James W. Grimes, his Republican opponent, 373.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
At the election in August, 1855, James Ewing, for Sheriff, had 600 votes, and his competitor, J. G. Brown, 550. This was the first and only election in the county in which the American, or " Know-Nothing," party figured. A few lodges were established, and those who had "seen Sam' were quite numer-ous. H. Tannehill, though not a member of the or- ganization, accepted the support of its members, and was elected County Judge.
The returns of the August election in 1856 are not recorded, but the sum- mary for 1857 is preserved. In August of that year, James Galbraith, for County Judge, had 969 votes, and his opponent, John L. Bland, 434. It is apparent from a comparison of this vote with that of 1854, that the population of the county had nearly doubled in three years. The vote in 1858 was, how- ever, smaller than in 1856.
At the general election in November, 1860, there were 1,226 votes cast for John M. Corse, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, and 874 for Elijah Sells, the Republican nominee.
THE WILLIAMSON WAR.
This was a serio-comic affair that transpired a mile or so south of Cincin- nati, in 1860. A family named Williamson had settled in the neighborhood, and some of the citizens of Pleasant Township, having conceived a prejudice against the female Williamsons, assembled at night to drive the family out of the county. They besieged the castle with such success that one of the attack- ing party, a man named Patterson, got a bullet through his knee, fired by one of the Williamsons, as a penalty for his illegal act. This ended the attack, for Patterson's friends were willing enough to carry off their wounded and abandon their hazardous enterprise.
THE BOOK OF JUDGES.
The record left by the various County Judges is not now of special importance, those officers having confined themselves closely to the routine duties of the office.
In 1854, Jonathan F. Stratton was appointed agent, to ascertain how much of the surface of the county should be classified as swamp and overflowed land. The rush of settlement was then appropriating, right and left, everything that was open to entry, and it was necessary to have the swamp lands selected with a view to future indemnity.
The orders for the incorporation of Centerville were made from February 26 to March 26, 1855.
In July, 1855, John K. Allen was appointed liquor agent for the county, under the prohibitory law then in force.
March 1, 1858, the boundaries of the townships then existing were modified to create Franklin. September 6, in the same year, a general re-organization of the townships was made, in order to admit of the formation of Douglas, Udell, Sharon and Walnut Townships, all of which held their first election in the following October.
The County Judge system of government ended with the year 1860. It was faulty in some respects, and apparently autocratic ; but, on the whole, the system worked well. In Appanoose, the government by the Judges was very economical, which was a fortunate circumstance, for the last three years of the system, following the crash of 1857, when it was almost impossible to pay even
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the moderate taxes of that period. On the first Monday in January, 1861, the Judge gave way to the
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
At that time, each township was represented by a citizen elected within its own limits. After the first year, one-half of the members were elected annu- ally, each member thus serving two years. In some respects, this system was more objectionable than the former one, for it was assumed by the electors of each township that their Supervisor was elected to represent their own local interests, and on this account members would sometimes lose sight of the county's welfare in their zeal for local affairs, in order to preserve a good record at home as industrious members. Sometimes, too, members who had an ambition to be promoted to the Legislature, would seek to distinguish themselves as orators and leaders of the Board, thereby impairing their usefulness for the time being.
As the records of this body are comparatively recent, elaborately written out, and readily accessible, no attempt is made in this work to present an abstract of its doings, except as bearing on the war record, the construction of the Court House, and the purchase of the Poor Farm.
EVERYBODY SATISFIED.
Along about this time, an old settler, still a resident in the eastern part of the county, who had been rather wild in his younger days, was tried by the church of which he had been endeavoring to be a good member, but with indif- ferent success, for some infraction of discipline, which, by the way, is said to have been venial. He had transgressed more than once, had been labored with each time, but still proved to be a "poor stick " for the church. The last trial resulted in his expulsion, which sentence he heard with becoming meekness. After a moment of silence, he arose, took his hat, walked down the aisle with downcast head, and, reaching the door, made a graceful bow and exclaimed : " Well, good-by, brethren ; I suppose I haven't been much use to you, and I know you haven't done me any good !" It was a clear statement of the case.
A DOUBLE MURDER.
Shelton A. King, a resident of Wayne County, had become embarrassed in circumstances, and, in order to withhold his property from the grasp of impa- tient creditors, had transferred it to his wife. As the sequel proved, his confi- dence was badly abused. King was a tobacconist by trade, and made frequent trips away from home, to dispose of his manufactures. His wife turned out to be a " light-o'-love," and her conduct had become so scandalous that a sep- aration had taken place, the woman retaining the property previously conveyed to her, and lived with her paramour in the neighborhood, in almost open dis- regard of the amenities of law or morals.
The latter part of 1861, King having substantially paid off his debts, was naturally anxious to regain control of his property, but his wife was equally anxious to hold it. Considerable litigation ensued, without finally settling the title, in the course of which his wife found it necessary to come to Appanoose County for the purpose of obtaining evidence in her behalf. Accordingly, about April 1, 1862, accompanied by her paramour, - Frasier, she visited Centerville, and, among others, called upon Hon. Joshua Miller, who describes her as having been quite a handsome little woman. That evening or the next, the couple started toward their home in Wayne County, driving a covered wagon. They stopped for a while at the house of Mr. Gordon, a few miles west of town, where they were invited to stay all night, but declined. Some-
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
thing was said about the risk of being followed by the husband, when one of the pair said they were fully prepared for any such contingency.
The couple drove on westward, on the State Road, and camped on the west side of Walnut Creek. The next morning they were found dead by a passer-by, who described them as lying on their backs, on a bed made up in the wagon, close together. A hatchet and butcher-knife had both been used to accomplish the murder, and it is understood that both had been stunned with the hatchet, and that the murder had been completed by stabs with the knife. The dead bodies were conveyed to Centerville, and the Coroner's view was held at the hotel kept by George Pratt, Esq.
King was arraigned before Judge Galbraith, on the 9th of April, but the examination did not take place till May 5, when he was ordered to be sent to jail on the charge of murder.
The trial began September 30, 1862, before the following jurors: William Harper, John Feers, John Helmick, Emanuel Dahl, Thomas Bailey, John Bayles, T. L. Boswell, J. H. Benson, Daniel Johnson, George W. Wise, J. R. P. Garret- son, Charles McQuire. Amos Harris and T. B. Perry appeared for the State, and J. C. Knapp, Henry Clay Dean and H. Tannehill for the defense. It was probably the best combination for the defense that could have been made. Knapp was recognized as one of the greatest living lawyers, and Tannehill was then coming rapidly forward as an industrious and solid jurist, while the fervid ora- tory of Dean on that occasion is said to have been sublime. The Sickles-Key homicide had occurred two or three years before, creating a profound impression throughout the country, and the argument had been advanced that an injured husband was justifiable in killing the destroyer of his domestic peace. This had served to acquit Sickles, and the popular verdict justified the jury. The trial of King ended October 7, and the doctrine enunciated in the Sickles case had been urged with great brilliancy in King's defense. He was, as everybody expected, triumphantly acquitted, and the hundreds who attended the trial coin- cided in opinion with the jury.
But, in spite of the judicial and popular approval of King's course, he has, for several years past, been altering in appearance toward ill-health and old age. A well-known citizen of Centerville, a few years ago, spoke to him about his melancholy appearance, and suggested that he looked badly out of sorts. He gravely and touchingly answered that he had "never been the same man " since the tragic death of his victims in Johns Township.
THE BUILDING OF THE COURT HOUSE.
It had become apparent to the tax-payers, in 1856, that the log Court House, with its frame additions, would not long serve the needs of the county ; but the hard times of 1857 deferred the agitation of the question for some time.
So insufficient was the size of the Court House in 1858, that the Court in that year was held at the Presbyterian Church.
A special election was held May 19, 1860, to determine whether a Court House should be built at a cost of $15,000 ; there were 906 votes for the measure and 89 votes against it.
Soon after this election, Judge Galbraith made a contract with Callen & Pearson to build the new structure, and the foundation was laid during that year.
In January, 1861, the Board of Supervisors ordered a drain to be con- structed to clear the foundation from an accumulation of water, and to protect it from future damp, and appointed Judge Galbraith Superintendent of the con-
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
struction of the building, he having offered to attend to it for $240, although Thomas Wentworth offered to supervise it for $30.
The payments made by the Board to Callen & Pearson, exclusive of what had been paid for the foundation, were as follows : January, 1862, $5,000; June, 1862, $2,650 ; October, 1862, $1,000; January, 1863, $1,255, and at the same session the report of Galbraith, as Superintendent, was approved, which is the only hint that the work had been completed.
Most of the above payments had been made from the Swamp-Land Fund. The grounds were fenced in 1864.
The Court House is a brick structure, 52x76 feet in size, and two stories high, with a basement. On the first floor are halls crossing each way, and on this floor the county offices and fire-proof vaults are situated. A spacious court- room and jury-rooms occupy the upper story. The walls of the court-room are handsomely frescoed with several appropriate designs, including the goddess of Justice in the rear of the Judge's stand, and the goddess of Liberty on the front wall. The ceiling is frescoed in various figures surrounding the American eagle in the center. The covering of the edifice is fire-proof, and is surmounted by a tower rising ninety-nine and a half feet from the ground. The public square, in the center of which this temple of justice stands, is inclosed and well set with thrifty forest-trees.
" AH, TIM, AVOURNEEN, WHY DID YE DIE."
The last day of December, 1863, one Wilkinson, who kept a whisky " shebang " in Sharon, visited a friend of his, named Jim McCune, who lived two or three miles north of that village. Wilkinson liked his own wares as well as his customers, and was considerably intoxicated while at McCune's, who pressed him to stay all night; but he declined, and started for home. On the way, he stumbled and fell upon the point of a butcher-knife he was carrying in his hand, which severed an artery, from the effects of which he must have died in a few minutes. The snow was falling fast, and he was soon buried out of sight. The bitter storm of New Year's, 1864 (the next day), is vividly remem- bered, and it is not strange that poor Wilkinson's body was not discovered till, perhaps, the 3d or 4th. When found, it was tenderly borne, by Wilkinson's companions and friends, to his residence and place of business at Sharon, and, no priest being near, they resolved to give him a "wake " befitting his means and social standing. It was a scene, it is said, for a painter, and that no pen-pict- ure can possibly do the subject justice. Every time the men took a drink, the bottle and tumbler were taken to Wilkinson, who was invited, in the most persuasive manner, to take a drink himself; and he was invited to drink at least twenty times that night. The mad carouse was kept up all night, with songs, card-playing and whisky-drinking, nor did his friends cease their kind offices till the grave was dug next day and his body placed therein, when a farewell drink was taken to the departed Wilkinson's memory, and he was once more pressed to taste the " mountain-dew." He was as handsomely " waked " and buried as poor " Rosin, the Beau " could have expected. His mortuary request was as follows :
" When I'm dead and laid out on the counter, A voice you will hear from below, Singing out for whisky and water To drink to old Rosin, the Beau.
" Then get four or five jovial young fellows, And let them all staggering go, And dig a deep hole in the meadow, And in it place Rosin, the Beau."
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
THE MURDER OF CAPT. J. L. BASHORE.
During the war, Poweshiek County acquired a bad reputation throughout the State for the disloyalty of many of its citizens, who not only indulged in seditious language, but identified themselves with a secret political organization known as " Knights of the Golden Circle;" and so far did they carry their disloyal and obnoxious behavior that, at one time, Gov. Kirkwood marched to Montezuma with several hundred men to enforce the draft that had been ordered in that county. In short, many of the Poweshiek people were guilty of overt acts of rebellion, and much difficulty was experienced in maintaining order among them.
October 1, 1864, Capt. Bashore, a citizen of Appanoose County, and Capt. Woodruff, then doing duty as Deputy Provost Marshal, went to Union Town- ship, Poweshiek County, for the purpose of arresting three deserters, named Samuel Bryant, Joseph Robertson and Thomas McIntyre. So compact and clear is the address of Judge S. F. Miller, of the United States Supreme Court, who presided at the trial of Michael Gleason, three years later, for the murder of Capts. Bashore and Woodruff, that nothing further needs to be added regard- ing the circumstances of their sad death. It is given herewith :
Michael Gleason, you are charged at this bar and before the country with the crime of mur- der. A jury of honest and faithful men, after a full and fair investigation of your case, have said that you are guilty. You have had three years to prepare for this trial and to secure, at the expense of the Government, all the testimony which you could find in your behalf. You have had the aid of able, experienced, faithful and energetic counsel, who have done all that could be done in your defense. You have had a fair, an impartial and conscientious trial.
I have no doubt, myself, of your moral and legal guilt, and I feel authorized to say that such is the judgment of my associate [Judge Love] who has been with me through this case.
You met these two men, who confided to you their purpose to arrest deserters. You went from them immediately to a place in the neighborhood where these deserters were, with a large crowd of other persons assembled, many of whom, you had no doubt, sympathized with them. On your way, you published to every person you saw the presence of these officers in the neigh- borhood and the object of their visit. You declared on each occasion your hostility to their pur- pose and your readiness to join in resisting, even to death-although you had professed to them you would assist them.
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