USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 88
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DR. WILLIAM MacQUIGG, physician and surgeon ; residence on Sixth street, Lyons; born Oct. 14, 1826, in Philadelphia, Penn .; in 1842, moved to Zanesville, Ohio; in 1847, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. N. McMillan ; in 1850, attended his first course of lectures at Cleveland, Ohio, and again in 1860,
W
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and graduated at the Cleveland Medical College; he then removed to De Witt, Iowa, and three months later to Camanche; in 1866, to Lyons; he was appointed, in 1862, Assistant Surgeon of the 26th I. V. I .; resigned in about three months, on account of sickness. Married Miss Mary J. Scripture March 16, 1854; she was born in New York. Republican.
OLIVER McMAHAN, Vice President of the First National Bank, and general manager, residence on Ninth street, Lyons. He is a native of Adams Co., Ohio, where he was born Aug. 14, 1819. In 1837, he came West and settled in Albany, Ill., and engaged with his brother in steamboating on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, which proved quite remunerative. In 1860, he came to Lyons ; soon after, he united with other capitalists and organized the First National Bank of Clinton Co., of which he is general manager. He married Miss M. A. Cashow, Dec. 20, 1877; she was born in Indiana ; he has three children by a former marriage-Alice, Charles and Genie. Members of M. E. Church.
M. D. MADDEN, wholesale liquors, Fourth street, Lyons ; he is a native of Ireland ; in 1846, came to Wisconsin; in 1859, to Lyons; most of his time has been spent here, in the grocery business ; he has been Township Treasurer ; is now a mem- ber of the Council ; he enlisted in 1861. in Co. A, 16th I. V. I., and served about one year ; was in the battle of Shiloh and others. Married Elizabeth Kelly in 1859; she was born in Canada ; had ten children, nine living-Elma, Frankie, Josie, Clara, Louis, Fred, Charles, William and James ; lost George in 1877, aged 5 years.
WASHINGTON MANN, gardener ; residence on Tenth street, Lyons ; he was born Jan. 15, 1835, in Georgia ; in 1865, he came to Lyons ; he owns his res- idence, with twenty lots, which he devotes to gardening. He married Anna Walls March 1, 1859 ; she was born in Mobile, Ala .; they had one child-Jessie.
DR. J. J. MATHEWS, physician and surgeon ; residence on Seventh street, Lyons ; born Jan. 8, 1826, in Perry Co., Ohio; in 1835, went to Indiana ; in 1839, to Iowa City ; in 1852, removed to Lyons ; commenced the study of medicine in 1848, and graduated in 1852, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa; has been Postmaster here, from 1867 to 1879; was elected, in 1854, a member of the State Senate, and served four years; has been Alderman, and a member of the Board of Education. Married Miss P. L. Sanders in November, 1856, in Iowa City; she was born in Indianapolis ; have six children-Ilarry S., Nellie J., Jay J., John N. and Nannie S., twins, and Fred.
MATHIAS MICHELSEN, firm of Roch & Michelsen, wholesale and retail grocers, corner Main and Sixth streets, Lyons; he was born in Denmark ; came to Clinton Co., at the age of 22; in 1867, removed to Lyons. He married, in 1872, Mary, daughter of John Sanford, who came to Lyons in 1849; she was born in Lyons; they have three children-George, Emma and Leigh.
CHRIS MOESZINGER, retired; residence corner Fourth and Pearl streets, Lyons; born Aug. 8, 1823, in Germany ; in 1843, moved to Buffalo, N. Y .; in 1845, to Philadelphia ; in the fall of 1846, to Cincinnati; in 1854, to Rock Island ; the following year, he came to Lyons, and engaged in the foundry business till 1874, when he retired from business. Has been Mayor, member of the Council and School Board. Married Mrs. Anne Christine Wilch in 1854; she was born in Germany May 1, 1823, died Sept. 2, 1878; have two children-Louis C. and Phillip Peter ; she had one son by a former marriage-John, who is now carrying on the foundry business.
JOHN MONTAGUE, boots and shoes, Third street, Lyons ; he was born in 1845, in Germany ; he commenced to learn this business at the age of 14, and has followed it since ; in 1867, he came to Lyons. He married Anna Hess Oct. 13, 1873; she was born in Germany.
JOHN PATRICK, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Lyons ; he was born in 1822, in New Hampshire ; came to Lyons about 1865; he owns 100 acres of land. He married Harriet White in 1844; she was born in New Hampshire; died in 1874; they had
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five children-Mary, who has been the past eight years a missionary in Turkey ; Ellen, now Mrs. Smith ; George, a graduate of the Iowa State University, Iowa City ; Bessie, now attending the High School at Lyons, and John B. Mr. P. is one of the Deacons of the Congregational Church.
SAMUEL RESSLER, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Lyons ; born Sept. 28, 1817, in Cumberland Co., Penn. ; in 1849, went to Illinois; in 1851, came to ('linton Co. ; owns 175 acres of land. Ilas been District School Treasurer of Lyons Township also Trustec and Assessor. Married Catharine A. Lehman March 14, 1842; she was born in Cumberland Co., Penn .; have two children-Mary J., now Mrs. Nelson, and Andrew W. Congregational Church.
J. C. ROOT, commercial broker ; residence on Seventh street, Lyons ; born Dec. 3, 1844, in Chester Factories, Mass. ; attended Cornell College, Mount Vernon ; in 1854, removed to Lyons, and engaged in the boot and shoe business for about four or five years; afterward had charge of the mills of Hill, Thomas & Co. Has been United States Deputy Collector in Second District of Iowa; was the founder of the Young Men's Library Association ; was nominated by the Odd Fellows fr Deputy Grand Master of the State of Iowa for 1879. Married Miss Louise M. Inslee, at Lyons, in September, 1868; she was born at Davenport; have two sons-Ilarrie and Alanson. Republican.
MICHAEL RUDMAN, blacksmith, Pearl street, Lyons; he was born April 26, 1839, in England ; in 1859, came to Lyons. Married Martha Collett Aug. 9, 1860; she was born in England ; had ten children, five living-Elizabeth, Albert, Mary, Henry and George.
EDWARD R. SAYLES, firm of Cotton & Sayles, attorneys ; office in Gage's Block, Lyons; is a native of Crawford Co., Penn .; in 1857, he came with his parents to Lyons, where he has since resided ; he commenced reading law, in 1875, with Judge Cotton ; was admitted to the bar in 1876 ; in 1877, he formed a partner- ship with Judge Cotton, and has since been a member of the firm. He was appointed Mayor by the City Council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mayor C. Moeszinger. Ilis father died in 1871, aged 46 years ; his mother is now a resident of Davenport.
L. T. SLOAN, Secretary of Clinton & Lyons Horse R. R. Co .; residence corner Seventh and Washington streets, Lyons ; born June 18, 1842, in Lyons, Iowa ; on the organization of this Company, he was appointed Secretary. Enlisted, in 1862, in Co. I, 2d Iowa Inf., and served to the end of the war. Married Sarah M. White May 6, 1869 ; she was born in New Hampshire; have four children- Alice M., Arthur J., Mattie W. and Charles L. Republican.
IRA STOCKWELL, retired ; residence corner of Exchange and Seventh streets, Lyons ; a native of Trumbull Co., Ohio; at the age of 15. he came with his parents to Joliet, Ill .; in 1840, he came to what was then New York Landing, now Clinton ; has been a resident of the county since; he engaged in farming pursuits till 1856 ; he then sold his farm of 196 acres, and turned his attention to the building-up of Clinton, also buying and improving and selling farms; in about 1859, he pur- chased the mill known as the Aldcox, Johnson & Co. Saw-mill, and, about four years later, he bought the Stambaugh Mill ; after running this about three years, he trans- ferred the machinery to his other mill, which increased the capacity to about 100,000 feet per day ; he operated this till it was destroyed by fire. several years later ; he now owns 216 acres of land, which is principally devoted to fruit and raising thorough-bred horses. Married Miss Sarah Peck March 30, 1842 ; she was born in New York ; had three children, one living-Manetta J.
E. W. THOMAS (retired), Lyons ; he was born Ang. 26, 1812. in Chester Co., Penn. ; in 1832, he went to St. Louis, and engaged principally in building railroads and public works; in 1837, he first built the railroad, under contra t, known as the Belleville & St. Louis Railroad; he then was for four years Superinten lent of Public Works for the U. S. Government ; he then took a contract to build a saw-will on the
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St. Croix River, Wisconsin, settled then by Indians only ; this he completed in 1843 ; he was also largely engaged in the milling-business in St. Louis; in 1845, he went to Chicago and bought 640 acres of land, near where now is Oak Park, paying $5 per acre, and taking it in part for claims due from the Railroad Companies ; he remained here till 1851, then returned to St. Louis, and took a contract on the first division on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, running from St. Louis to Jefferson City ; this he finished in 1854 ; in 1855, he bought a plantation near New Madrid, Mo .; sold this about two years later, and returned to Chicago ; in 1858, came to Lyons and engaged in milling and shipping produce, which he carried on quite extensively ; he now owns about four hundred and fifty acres of land in Clinton Co., with two grist-inills, also, lands in Illi- nois. He married Mary Guthrie in 1834; she was born in Chester Co., Penn., in 1813 (died Feb. 10, 1876) ; they have three children-John R., Benton and Julia (now Mrs. McGuire). Second marriage, to Mrs. Gutlob, Sept. 26, 1878; she was born in Germany.
JAMES TALLETT, brick-yard, Lyons; he was born March 3, 1821, in England ; in 1851, went to Buffalo, N. Y .; the following year, he moved to Lyons. Married Isabella Ellis in 1846 ; she was born in 1828, in England ; have eight children -Sarah, Mary, Thomas H., William G., James F., John, Isabella and Martha J.
JOHN TIESSE, of the firm of Tritschler & Tiesse, proprietors of the Western Union Brewery, Lyons ; born May 29, 1837, in Germany; in 1852, came to Philadelphia, thence to Cincinnati, St. Louis and California ; in 1862, removed to Pekin, Ill., thence to Lyons, where he has since resided. Married Carolina Schmer in 1860 ; she was born in Germany ; they have six children-Emma, Fred, John, August, Emile and Lena.
P. TRITSCHLER, of the firm of Tritschler & Tiesse, brewers ; residence on Main street, Lyons ; born May 1, 1828, in Germany ; in 1848, he came to Pennsyl- vania ; in 1855, to Clinton Co. ; the following year, removed to Fulton, and built a brewery ; carried on this business till 1865, when he came to Lyons and built his pres- ent brewery, and residence. Married Caroline Littig in 1858 ; she was born at Rock Island ; they have one child-Julia.
L. B. WADLEIGH, manufacturing of lumber, also manufacturer of lum- bermen's patent tape-line board measure ; residence, Clinton ; he was born Aug. 20, 1833, in Meredith, Belknap Co., N. H .; in 1855, moved to Dixon, Ill .; in 1856, to . Minnesota ; in 1859, he went to California ; 1863, returned to Clinton, thence to Coun- cil Bluffs ; in 1874, came to Lyons ; has been engaged in the lumber trade since 1868. Married Miss Mary C. Pollock Nov. 13, 1856; she was born in 1837, in Sangamon Co., Ill. ; have five children-William M., Minnie H., L. P., Pauline V. and Maud C.
CHARLES WALKER, saloon, foot of Main street, Lyons; is a native of England; when about the age of 32 years, he came to Cleveland; in 1857, he came to Clinton Co. ; first engaged in brick-making, which he continued for two years; then with Carpenter & Son in the milling business about twelve years. He married Louisa Burton in 1846; she was born in England ; they have three children-Walter, Frank and Lottie.
E. M. WESTBROOK, M. D., residence corner Sixth street and Sixth avenue, Lyons ; born Feb. 3, 1819, in Niagara Co., N. Y .; in 1827, moved to Ken- tucky ; at the age of 16, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Reynolds, in Covington, Ky .; graduated at Kemper College, State University of Missouri, at St. Louis ; has been in practice since 1840 ; he attended the first course of lectures at Cin- cinnati in 1838-39; also at Louisville in 1839-40; in 1843, came to Burlington ; in 1847, came to Sabula, Jackson Co .; was twelve years Postmaster in Sabula ; Magistrate twelve years ; he represented Jackson Co. in the Legislature one session. He married Eliza M. Duckworth; she was born in Washington, D. C., May 3, 1826; died in November, 1864; had three sons and three daughters; lost Eliza M., aged 10} years ; the second marriage was to Mrs. H. P. Armstrong, June 5, 1867; she was born in Fairfax, Vt .; she has one son-Ira, by a former marriage, aged 16 years.
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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 1869, 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 Winehells, and a goo lly 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 an I 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 hin 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 dury 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 scated 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 Ke kuk, 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 sev- eral letters home ; we will make a few extracts from these, and " though dead he speaketh," and gives us the details of his, alas, too brief experience, on the march and in the actual service of a soldier.
Extraets 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 lot. * 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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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. Ilowever, 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 have 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. 1, ) 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 fire We also took twenty prisoners. * * The boys are all very anxious to have a * fight. * * * 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 LIannibal and 200 from Camp Curtis. We remained there until to-day noon, when we were relieved by a company from Quincy, and starte.I on our return to Camp Curtis. At Brookville we received a telegram calling us back to Macon an'l stating there were 800 rebels marching on this place anl 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 prepirations to receive them-let them come. From here we expect to go to Cimp Curtis. We are having good times. All well and anxious for a fight. -X-
are sure of victory. Good-bye. Your affectionate son,
* I never felt better, and hope you are well and happy. We 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, an I 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 breithed his last, and his sacrifice was complete. The remains were sent to Lyons, accompanied by Jesse B. Penniman and George W. Bettesworth, 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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