USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > The history of Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. : a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 54
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
THE SKUNK RIVER WAR.
Most everybody who resided in Keokuk county during the war, or who has since located in the county, has heard of the Skunk river war. Some- times it is spoken of in jest, but the bitter feeling which is invariably aroused, if the jesting is correct, too far proves that the incidents of that most unfortunate affair were neither too remote nor too trivial to be a se- rious matter, even at this time. During the period of the civil war there were criminations and recriminations, bickerings and altercations which could not fail to engender strife, and give birth to the most deadly feuds. In many communities throughout the North the rival factions resorted to violence, which resulted in the destruction of life and property. The war party was largely in the majority, and in some instances, doubtless, was ar- rogant and overbearing; but they were entirely excusable when goaded to this course of action by the utterance of disloyal sentiments; for their brothers and sons were at the front, falling like sheep, before the rebel bul- lets. The anti-war party were in the minority, and in some instances made too free a use of the rights of the minority, guaranteed by all civilized nations, in expressing disloyal sentiments and circulating seditious docu- ments; but it must be remembered that their former political allies, and the brothers and sons of many were arrayed on the other side, and the prospects of being conscripted into an army to fight those whom they deemed to be their friends, should have mitigated their conduct in the eyes of the opposite party. Great national contests have a right side and a wrong side. At the present time there are few enlightened and progres- sive men who do not admit that the right side of the war of secession was the side of union, freedom and enfranchisement. But, while there was but one right side, the peculiarities of temperament, early associations and the ties of kindred, are circumstances which went far to modify the wrong of the wrong side, and now that the unhappy strife is over, and the bloody chasm has been bridged by the lapse of years, it is a private virtue, and it is public policy to admit the fact.
In 1848, there came to Keokuk county a family by the name of Tally. They had previously resided in Tennessee, and by birth and education were in sympathy with the "peculiar institution " of the South. Upon the breaking out of the war they arrayed themselves on the side of the anti- war party, believing, as many thousands throughout the North did believe, that unless the erring sisters could be peaceably prevailed upon to remain, they should be allowed to go in peace.
One of the family, Cyphert Tally, was a young man of more than ordi- nary brilliancy of intellect, and though possessed of meagre education, was an orator of great force and ability. A short time prior to the war he had entered the ministry of the Baptist church, and as far as appears from the evidence of those most likely to know, was, in his private character as an individual and in his public character as a minister, above reproach. Some time after the beginning of the war he was called upon to preach the funeral of a soldier who had died in the Union army. He consented to do so, the place where the appointment was made being Mt. Zion church, in Steady Run township.
When the congregation had assembled, and after Tally had taken his place in the pulpit, the question of his loyality was raised by some of the brethren and, at their suggestion, another Baptist minister who was pres-
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
ent went into the pulpit and informed him that his loyality was questioned and if rumors were true as to certain sentiments which he was reported to have uttered, there were those in the audience who preferred not to listen to his discourse. After a short consultation Tally arose and announced that as there appeared to be objections to his preaching from that pulpit he would dismiss the congregation and those who desired to hear him should go to a certain school-house near by. He thereupon left the church and started for the school-house followed by the greater part of the audience, but upon his arrival at the place found the school-house locked and the sub-director refused to give up the key. They then went to a grove where the funeral sermon was preached and the audience dismissed. The circumstances at- tending the preaching of this funeral gave rise to bitter disputes and bick- erings in the neighborhood and party feeling ran high. Encouraged by his friends Tally became still more pronounced in the expression of his politi- cal views and soon after abandoned the pulpit and took the stump. Numner- ous opposition meetings were held in the county and Tally was invariably the chief speaker. He soon became quite a hero and received and accepted invitations to speak in various parts of the adjoining counties. On every hand he was extolled and lionized by those of a like political faith. Thus flattered and petted it is not at all remarkable that as young a man as Tally should become bold to commit some very indiscreet deeds and make some very unwise statements. In his public speeches he used language which was very offensive to the war party and threats were made in some parts of the county that Tally could not speak there. Whenever such threats were made the friends of Tally seemed to be particularly anxious that he should speak at those very places, and urged forward by the injudicious counsels of these friends improved the very first opportunities which presented them- selves in making good the assertion that he could speak and would speak at any place in the county where he chose to. To these meetings people from all parts of the county would flock, many of them well armed. Such was the condition of affairs when occurred the tragic event which put an end to the eventful career of young Tally.
On Saturday, August 1, 1863, a Democratic mass-meeting was held near English river, in Keokuk county. The speaking occurred in a grove, about one-half mile from town. The chief speaker was Tally. Several hundred persons were present at this meeting, most of whom had come in wagons, in the bottom of which was hiay or straw, and therein secreted were arms of different kinds, which fact was developed at a later hour in the day. Speeches were made during the forenoon, and as some Republicans were present, party spirit ran high. As an illustration of the excitement, it is related that in a stripping of butternut badges the clothing was almost torn from a couple of ladies present who displayed the objectionable em- blem. Wild and perhaps idle threats were made that the party would come up in the afternoon and clean out the town of South English, which was quite a Radical stronghold. Reports of these were carried up into the town, where, from the balcony of a hotel, a Republican was addressing a meeting of his party, and in the town the Radical feeling was also quite strong. To be prepared for emergencies, the citizens were armed as far as there were weapons for their use. In the afternoon the Tally party came up to the town in wagons. In the front wagon were several men, including Tally, who stood up in the rear part. The Republican meeting had just closed, and arms were freely displayed. Some persons warned Tally that
Mouro
Truly Samle Me Harlan
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
he had best not go through the town, as there would be trouble; but he claimed he meant no injury to any one, and merely asked the privilege of the street. As the first wagon came into the crowd, there were cries from the street of " coward!" "copperhead!" " afraid to shoot!" etc. Previous to this time no weapons had been displayed by the party in the wagon, but upon these cries they came up from the bottom of the conveyance. Just then the street became so crowded that it was necessary to stop the wagon for a moment. At that instant a citizen accidentally, as he claimed, dis- charged one barrel of his revolver into the ground. This was the occasion for a general firing, and it is marvelous that the loss of life was not much greater. It has been estimated that one hundred and fifty shots were fired, which is evidently a great exaggeration. Tally stood in the back part of the wagon, with revolver and bowie-knife in hand; he evidently fired twice, as two chambers were empty, when he fell from the wagon dead, having been shot once through the head and twice through the body. One of the horses attached to the wagon was wounded, which caused the team to run, and probably avoided more serious consequences. The only other party seriously wounded was a man by the name of Wyant, who recovered. Up- on receiving the fatal shot, Tally fell prostrate in the wagon, and it was not known that he was dead until the driver of the team succeeded in con- trolling the horses, when an examination revealed the fact that life had already departed. The next day being Sunday, preparations were being made at the home of Tally, whither his remains had been conveyed the previous evening, for the funeral, while messages were sent in every direc- tion informing Tally's friends of his death, and calling upon them to avenge it. At the solicitation of certain influential citizens of Sigourney and else- where, a committee, consisting of S. A. Evans, Wm. H. Brunt, Presley Doggett and others, proceeded to the Tally neighborhood on the Monday following. When they arrived Tally had already been buried, and about one hundred people, from various parts of the county had assembled, de- termined on revenge. The committee said that they had come in the in- terests of peace, and that they were authorized to guarantee the arrest and speedy trial of the person or persons who killed Tally. Their words seem to have had little effect on the crowd, and they departed. All this time wagon-loads of men were on their way from Wapello, Mahaska and Powe- shiek counties to the place of rendezvous on Skunk river. Probably as many as 150 came from Mahaska county alone. These volunteers formed what is currently known as the Skunk River Army.
By Monday night affairs began to present quite a dangerous aspect to the people of South English and Sigourney, and that night two citizens of the latter place made their way to Washington on horseback, and there, procuring a hand-car, proceeded to Wilton Junction, where they took a train for Davenport, in order to consult Governor Kirkwood, who was known to be there at that time. They found the Governor early on Tues- day morning, and stated the facts; his first reply was a verbal order for three hundred stands of arms, which he then gave the gentlemen in writ- ing, and told them to procure the arms and return to Keokuk county. One of the gentlemen replied: "My God, Governor, am I to understand you to return home and shoot down our neighbors?" The Governor replied : " On second thought I guess I'll go myself." And go he did, just as he was, without collar or neck-tie, and attired in the careless dress which he
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
who accustomed to wear when at his regular employment. The Governor arrived on Wednesday evening at Sigourney; troops and a couple of can- nons followed soon after. That night he made a speech in front of the court-house.
The popular story of the governor's threat of minie balls and canister to the Skunk river army and of their terror-stricken flight from their camp is a myth, the truth being that there was no considerable number of armed men nearer English river than Skunk river, which is sixteen miles fromn tlie town. The project of armed resistance had been practically abandoned be- fore Governor Kirkwood reached the town, many of the Maliaska county troops having returned to their homes on Monday or Tuesday. It is probable that there were still some men assembled at the time of Governor Kirkwood's visit, and that his proclamation was read to them which gave rise to the more extravagant story. There was nobody badly frightened on either side, and no particular cowardice manifested. It is highly probable that if Bill Tally had continued as leader that the result would have been quite disastrous.
The Skunk river army has been variously estimated at numbers ranging from five hundred to four thousand; the first figure is probably not far from the truth.
According to the Adjutant-General's report, the following list of com . panies were engaged in various parts of Keokuk county in suppressing disturbances during August, 1863: Muscatine Rangers, Washington Pro- vost Guards, Brighton Guards, Richland Home Guards, Fairfield Prairie Guards, Fairfield Union Guards, Abington Home Guards, Libertyville Guards, Mt. Pleasant Artillery and Sigourney Home Guards-eleven companies.
The grand jury, at the following term of the District Court, took the Tally matter under consideration, but no one was indicted, and up to the present time it has not been found out who fired the fatal shot. It is highly probable, however, from the nature of the wound, that the shot was not an accidental one, but well aimed, and from an unerring hand.
THE KEOKUK COUNTY VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
This was a body of men banded together for the purpose of bringing to justice certain outlaws, who, in former times, infested that region of coun- try, bordering on South Skunk river, and more particularly that locality commonly known as " Brushy Bend." The association was composed of the best men of that part of the county, and its object was to assist the officers of the civil law in the discharge of their duty, and failing in this, to take the execution of the law into their own hands, and punishing the offenders.
In 1857, that part of the county before referred to had a bad name, on account of a systemized plan of stealing which was carried on. In some cases oxen and cattle were slaughtered on the premises of the owner, and the meat and hides taken to the adjoining counties and sold. In other in- stances horses, saddles, bridles, corn and potatoes were stolen. The people were very well convinced who the aiders and abettors of these thefts were, and in some cases the proof was sufficient to secure the arrest and trial of certain persons, but in every case the ends of justice were thwarted by the false testimony of the confederates in crime. In order to protect their
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
property, and free their country from the bad name which fastened itself upon them, certain citizens of Richland and Jackson townships formed a secret organization, and thus met organized theft with organized force. The organization in Jackson township was separate from the Richland organiza- tion, but not independent of it, as both organizations acted in concert, and with the full understanding of the other.
In 1858 a horse was stolen from David Myers, who lived near the Jeffer- son county line, about half way between Richland and Ioka. The two or- ganizations before named took the matter in hand, recovered the horse and captured the thief. The latter, however, by the evidence of his confeder- ates, evaded the law, and was released.
There lived in the region of "Brushy Bend," four brothers by the name of Byers, who were implicated in certain thefts, and these four persons, now, were closely watched by the vigilants.
It was not long till a man by the name of Stalker had a saddle and a bridle stolen. Ike Bowers, who, about that time had departed to Marion county, for the purpose of attending a camp-meeting, was suspected, and the vigilants sent emissaries after him to watch his movements, and, if pos- sible, trace out the stolen property. When these arrived on the camp- ground, they found Byers in the very midst of the worshipers, taking a very active part in the conduct of the meeting. They said nothing to him concerning the real object of their visit, and led him by their conduct to sup- pose that they had simply come for religious consolation. However, while they sat near him in meeting, united their voices with his in singing the songs of Zion, and possibly may have lead in prayer, they at the same time kept a close lookout for the missing saddle and bridle. In the course of time they found the missing property in the possession of a man from an adjoining county, who, upon being questioned, stated that he had bought them of Byers. Byers was thereupon arrested, and together with the man in whose possession the property was found, brought back to Richland, where he was tried before a justice of the peace. The evidence this time being conclusive, and his brothers being unable even by their false testi- mony to establish an alibi, Byers was sentenced to a term in the county jail, whither he was conducted by the proper officers. Keokuk county in those days had a jail, but it was not remarkable for its imposing appear- ance or its security. Upon being locked up, and the officer from Rich- land offering to shake the parting hand, Byers refused, saying: "It ain't worth while, for I'll be back at Brushy Bend to-morrow." And sure enough he was, for the following night he broke jail, and was back home nearly ยท as soon as the officer. The vigilants, seeing that the civil authorities were powerless to deal with such an outlaw, got together the following night, proceeded to the home of Byers, took him out of bed, and placing a rope around his neck led him to the timber. Just before entering the timber they informed him of their intention to hang him; he asked permission to pray; they granted him thirty minutes, which was occupied in the most fervent supplication. One of the vigilants who was present at the time, and who had seen him at the Marion county camp-meeting, says. that although Byers prayed most fervently and eloquently at the camp-meeting, the effort on this particular night was peculiarly eloquent and fervent; possibly the pressure of the rope against his vocal organs gave to his voice a particularly pathetic and sympathetic tone. When the thirty minutes were up the vigilants started with Byers into the timber looking for a suit-
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
able limb, the latter all the while looking up, as if anxious to find a suit- able place and have the work over with. At length a limb was found, and the victim was swung free from the ground, but not into eternity, as the vigilants did not all contemplate such extreme measures. After he had been suspended for a moment they let him down, and informed him if he would confess his crimes and reveal his confederates, they would release him. This Byers refused to do, and they repeated the operation several times. At length being persuaded that Byers would die rather than make a confession, they thereupon stripped him, brought forth some whips, with which they had previously been provided, and after giving him a severe castigation, gave him his clothes and told him to leave the country, and not again to return on penalty of being hung in earnest. Byers left, and was never again seen in that locality.
There were a good many peacably inclined Quakers living in and about Richland who objected to the measures resorted to by the vigilants, and in order to avail himself of their moral support another one of the Byers re- moved to Richland where he hoped to continue operations without taking the chances of being whipped. After he had stolen a number of things the quiet town was nearly scared out of existence, and corportion lines could scarcely retain its people, when late one night some three hundred vigilants appeared on the street and, after parading through the town with Byers tied to a horse, departed for the timber. This Byers, likewise, was never more seen in those parts. He had been served like Ike, and, like Ike, he thought it best to follow the parting injunction of the regulators.
The other two Byers brothers, in due course of time, were detected in the commission of thefts, together with a boy by the name of Wyant and two or three other associates of theirs, all of whom were taken out of their beds at night, a sound whipping administered and ordered to leave the county. The last one to go was " Lige Byers," who, awhile afterward re- turned, and upon his earnest protestation and promises of good behavior, was allowed to remain. He soon fell from grace, however, was waited upon by the ever attentive committee and vanished in the night-time, never again to tread the romantic vales of " Brushy Bend."
While the vigilants were carrying on their operations south of Skunk river an attempt was at one time made to have them indicted. They were, however, duly informed of the contemplated legal proceedings and were furnished with the name of the prosecuting witness on the day when the grand jury assembled at Sigourney. Certain members of the committee were at the latter. place as soon as the swiftest horses could carry them there. It would not do, however, to commit violence at the seat of justice, so they resorted to strategy. While the judge was giving his charge to the jury they were entertaining the prospective prosecuting witness at a neigh- boring saloon, who, by the time he was called, was too drunk to make a coherent statement. The grand jury thought it beneath their dignity to listen to the maudlin gibberish of a drunk man, so they dismissed him to sober off. The following night said prosecuting witness was on his way to the Skunk river timber in charge of a body of vigilants and during the remainder of that term of court he could not be found though the grand jury sought him faithfully with deputies and bailiffs. The vigilants had a most thorough organization and proceeded against offenders in a cool and systematic manner. When a person was suspected they held a secret meet- ing and a jury was selected to pass upon the case, the evidence was all given
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
in and the jury retired for consultation; if they acquitted the accused that ended the matter, but if they brought in a verdict of guilty the case was promptly disposed of the following night. There was a regular annual or monthly assessment made on each member of the organization and thereby a fund accumulated to pay all necessary expenses.
The organization is still in existence and it has not been long since a man who was in the habit of stealing honey left a certain neighborhood very suddenly. He was out late one night and chanced to see a hundred or so of the vigilant's horses hitched at a school house; he went home in a hurry, silently folded his tent and departed.
THE PRESS OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
It is generally considered that there is no education which surpasses in practical benefit the newpaper which visits the home, and dealing with home matters, home interests and local surroundings, appeals to the intel- lect and the pride of the family by making its readers acquainted with that which immediately surrounds them. The influence of the local newspaper is generally underrated. Its treatment of great questions may be weak, but its appeals in behalf of its county or city seldom fall unheeded, or are cast aside as useless. It is gratifying that we can enter upon the history of newspapers in this county, after a careful examination of them at every period in the history of the county since they were established, and see the good they have done, and find that they have been so strong and influential as they have. Few other counties have had a larger number of papers, and there has been no time in its history but its newspapers have compared most favorably with the best which surrounded them in other counties of greater popularity and pretentions. They have been found always on the right side of the great questions which affect the morals of a community; temperance, Sunday-schools, schools, and the higher education, and with every movement looking to progress.
The first paper published in Keokuk county was the " Western Friend," established at Lancaster, June 1, 1854, by I. N. and J. L. Paschal. The motto, for papers even in those days sported a motto immediately beneath the head-line, was: " As the Twig is bent the Tree's Inclined." Whether the application of the term twig, had reference to the young county which was to be bent into a perpendicular direction by the potent influence of the "Western Friend," or whether it was simply the youth of the county whose character was to be held in a vertical position by moral influences of the " Friend," we are at a loss to determine; we are, however, inclined to the former view, for the style and scope of the following article appearing in the editorial columns of the first number, seems to be rather beyond the comprehension of youth in the bending period :
" THE FOURTH OF JULY.
"As the anniversary of the birth-day of our national independence is near at hand, I would suggest to the citizens of Lancaster and its vicinity, that some preparations be made for celebrating it in a suitable manner.
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