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 58
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PROMINENT CITIZENS, LIVING AND DEAD.
A. H. HASKELL,
One of the early settlers, came to Sigourney in 1845, and, with Devalson G. Burgess, manufactured fanning-mills. In 1848 he was appointed warden of the penitentiary at Fort Madison, and died there in the spring of 1850. His old partner, D. G. Burgess, died at Sigourney, September 8, 1855.
COL. JAMES G. CROCKER
Came to the county from Fairfield in 1845. He was a very positive man, and the leading Democrat of the county. He died in the summer of 1848, in Lancaster, and, at his request, was buried on his farm two miles north- west of Lancaster, now owned by Josiah Utterback, where his solitary grave may yet be seen. He left a large family, of whom were Gen. M. M. Crocker and Mrs. Burton, wife of Judge Burton, of Ottumwa.
GREEN ATWOOD
First located at Richland, removed to Lancaster and then to Warren town- ship. Was justice of the peace for many years. Died in 1878.
WILLIAM JACOBS,
For a long time justice of the peace in Lancaster township, came to the county at an early day. He was an exceedingly conscientious man, and a good officer. He died September 11, 1854. His father, Bennet Jacobs, was a Baptist preacher. His brother,
AUSTIN JACOBS,
Who died October 21, 1873, was an energetic man. A few years before
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
his death he was badly maimed by being caught in the machinery of his mill north of Lancaster. He was 72 years old to a day at his death.
JACOB GOODHEART
Came to the county in 1843, and settled near the present Black Hawk Mills. Afterward he became the owner of the above named mill of Austin Jacobs, and, as a precedent for Mr. Jacobs, was entangled in its machinery in the spring of 1855, which, in a few months after, caused his death. He was an honest man, who stood very high among his acquaintances.
WILLIAM Q. BLACK,
For many years a resident of Richland, and a justice of the peace, was a very upright, modest and unassuming man, and died in 1860.
DR. ARAD PARKS
Came to the county in 1855. For many years he was associated with Dr. A. C. Price in the practice of medicine. Was surgeon in the army during the civil war. Died November 28, 1868. His widow and two sons reside in Sigourney.
DR. R. F. WEEKS
Came from New England to Illinois in 1838 or '9, from thence went to Burlington, Iowa, thence to Fairfield, and in the summer of 1845 came to Sigourney, being the first physician locating in the place. In 1841 he was a member of the Masonic order at Burlington in the same lodge with John C. Breckenridge, afterward vice-president of the United States. He died at the house of Maxon Randall, six miles west of Sigourney. His burial was among the first in the cemetery northeast of Sigourney. Was never married.
JOHN GREENLEE,
One of the early settlers near Black Hawk Mills, and afterward moved into Richland township, was a very estimable citizen, and died a few years since.
THOMAS HENDERSON,
A prominent man at an early day in Clear Creek township. Was an active Democrat of his time. Was one of the commissioners to locate Oskaloosa as the county-seat of Mahaska county. Died in 1860.
A. H. HENSLEY,
One of the oldest citizens of Sigourney, for a time practiced medicine with Dr. E. H. Skillman, then in the mercantile business, [and finally kept the " Lillie House " hotel. Died, November 27, 1871.
B. T. S. GROVE
Was a blacksmith of some note, and located in Lancaster in 1846. After the removal of the county-seat, went to Talleyrand, and died there in March, 1864. One of his daughters is the wife of Levi Bower, present county treasurer.
Clubla
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HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
ALFRED REEVES,
For several years a merchant and post-master at Sigourney, died February 3, 1858. During his residence here he went to the city of Keokuk and had Dr. Hughes amputate one of his legs, on account of some disease in the limb. His widow and son, Chester, still reside near Sigourney.
MOSES WARNER
Lived near Richland, was a local preacher of the M. E. Church, and a man of more than average abilities. Died some four or five years since.
BARTON S. M'COY
Came to the county about 1848, and settled a few miles west of Martins- burgh. Was an active member of the Christian Church, and a leading man of his community. He died October 16, 1857. His son, Lycurgus McCoy, was afterward county treasurer for two terms.
C. D. M'COLLEY,
One of the early settlers of Sigourney, and for one term sheriff of the county, was a most affable gentleman, greatly liked by his friends, and died in the year 1856.
JAMES L. HOGIN., JR.,
A son of J. L. Hogin, Sen., was for some time engaged in the drug and book business in Sigourney, and fell a victim to consumption on the 31st of December, 1861.
JOHN J. LAFFER
Came to the county in 1854, and for a time kept a hotel in Lancaster, then moved to Johnson county and kept the Sixteen Mile house. In 1859 re- turned to Sigourney, and in 1864 moved into Van Buren township. His son, E. Laffer, is one of the most successful druggists of Sigourney. He died January 31, 1877, aged 64 years, 6 months and 11 days.
HENRY LAFFER,
A brother of John J. Laffer, came to the county in the spring of 1854 and took a farm two miles southwest of Sigourney, raised a large family, mostly sons, and died in March, 1868. His widow died in the spring of 1873.
EBENEZER WEEKS,
For many years the principal owner of the principal coal bank at What Cheer, and the locality then generally known as " Weeks' Coal Bank," was a very worthy man, and died March 23, 1876.
PHILLIP CLUB,
One of the early settlers of the county, located in Van Buren township and raised a large family of sons and daughters. He was greatly esteemed as a good citizen and an honest man. He died in the autumn of 1865. His widow, having since married Mr. John Scott, is living in Sigourney.
30
484
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
MOSES HALL
Was born in Maine, March 16, 1790; came to Iowa in 1843; first to Louisa county, and to this county in 1845. Was farming for several years near Sigourney, and afterwards moved upon a farm near South English. After he became too old to farm he sold the farm and moved into the village, where he died February 24, 1879.
HENRY SANDERS
Came to the county in 18-, settling near Talleyrand; raised a large family, many of the sons and daughters, now all married, living in the county. Among the sons is J. H. Sanders, a man of rare intellectual strength, and at present editor of the "Live Stock Journal," at Chicago. He died in the year -.
JOSEPH KNOX
Came to the county in 1846, and succeeded Benjamin F. Edwards in con- ducting the principal business-house of Sigourney. He was an old man when he came to the county and was remarkable for his energy and perse- verance. For ten years after engaging in business he was regarded as the father of Sigourney. He was a man of good judgment, fine conversational powers, and financially, was the Rothschild of the north half of the county. During the county-seat controversy he was the leader and chief reliance of the Sigourney party, and although defeated both at the polls and in the courts, he lived long enough to see the county-seat returned to Sigourney. He died in 1864, at the residence of his son, about eight miles northwest of Sigourney.
ยท HON. JOSEPH M. CASEY
Was born in Kentucky, March, 1827. In 1847 he settled in Keokuk county, Iowa, and began the practice of law, he having been admitted to the bar shortly previous. Shortly after coming to this county he was elected pros- ecuting attorney, which office he held for five years. In 1859 he was elected county judge, which office he filled satisfactorily till 1861, when he re- moved to Fort Madison, Lee county. Since residing at the latter place he has devoted himself to the practice of his profession, and also given some time to literary work. For three years he was editor of the Fort Madison " Plaindealer," he having occupied the position of editor of the Iowa " Democrat " for two years prior to leaving Keokuk county. He has occu. pied many positions of honor in the Masonic fraternity, and has always been foremost in advocating measures of public interest. His former acquaint- ances and old friends in Keokuk county, as in the past, will continue to watch his career with interest.
HON. E. L. BURTON
Settled in Lancaster shortly after that place became the county-seat, and be- came one of the leading attorneys of the county. While located at Lancas- ter he married a daughter of Col. Crocker. When the county-seat was taken back to Sigourney, Mr. Burton removed to Ottumwa, and was for a number of years associated in the practice of law with Judge H. B. Hen- dershott. In 1858 he was elected District Judge. He has been successful in his profession, and althoughi but about forty years old, has a reputation of being one of the best lawyers in the State.
485
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
. C. H. ACHARD
Came to Sigourney in 1853 and engaged in the grocery business. He be- gan with a small stand and gradually succeeded in building up one of the best houses in the county. He disposed of his business in Sigourney and removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the spring of 1879.
GEN. M. M. CROCKER
Was born in Johnson county, Indiana, in 1830. In 1844 he removed, with his father, to Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa, and shortly after to Keokuk county, where a claim was taken and improved in the most beautiful part of the county, about two miles northwest of Lancaster. In 1846 young Crocker was called from the plow to accept a situation tendered him by Congressman Leffler, to the United States military academy at West Point. At the expiration of two years he was called back to the farm by the death of his father. In 1850 he entered npon the study of law. and in the follow- ing year was admitted to practice, and opened an office at Lancaster. Here he followed the practice of law until 1854, when he removed to Des Moines and soon became recognized as one of the lea ing lawyers of the State. Upon the declaration of war in 1861 he immediately responded to the call for volunteers, and raised the first company organized in central Iowa. This company was incorporated in the Second lowa Infantry, of which Mr. Crocker first became major. Shortly after he was promoted to the office of lientenant-colonel and given command of the Thirteenth In- fantry. At the battle of Shiloh lie commanded a brigade, the commander having been wounded early in the engagement. He afterward was pro- moted to the rank of brigadier-general, which rank he held at the time of his death. His health failing toward the close of the war, he was sent to New Mexico. His health improving while there, he was, at his own reqnest, transferred, and again became connected with the Army of the Cumberland. In August, 1865, he started for Washington, his health again having failed. Here he rapidly grew worse, and on the 26th of that month died.
Among the former citizens of Keokuk, whom the readers of this work delight to honor, there is none who are held in a more grateful remembrance than Gen. Crocker, and whoever has crossed the ridge from Sigourney to Lancaster has doubtless had the old Crocker homestead pointed ont, also the spot where repose the remains of the father of this illustrions son.
HON. CLABOURN C. WILSON
Was born in Kentucky in 1833. He removed to Keoknk county, Iowa, in 1856. Having failed in business prior to coming to Iowa, his first experi- ence here was a patient struggle with poverty. He quarried stone, broke prairie, made rails, and from time to time served in the office of justice of the peace. In 1861 he begun the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Price, and having completed his studies began the practice of his profession at Springfield, Washington township. He achieved a fine repn- tation as a physician and was for a year the president of the county medical association. In 1872 he was elected to the legislature. He established a dry goods store in Springfield in 1865, and subsequently established anoth- er in that neighborhood. When the Rock Island railroad was extended
486
HISTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
from Sigourney he was very active in the developing of the two towns of Delta and Rose Hill, at both of which places he established stores. He died in the very midst of a prosperous business and at the height of his influence, in May, 1879.
GEN. JAMES A. WILLIAMSON
Was born in Kentucky in 1829. He succeeded in completing the regular course of collegiate studies at Knox College, after which he removed to Lancaster, Keokuk county, Iowa, where, after diligent application as a law student, he was admitted to the practice of law. After several years resi- dence in this county, during which he became thoroughly identified with the history of the county and achieved a brilliant reputation as a lawyer, he removed to Des Moines, where he engaged in the practice of his profession till the beginning of the war. He volunteered in the Fourth Infantry and afterward became the adjutant of that regiment; he was successively pro- moted to the office of lieutenant-colonel, colonel and brigadier-general, which last rank he held at the close of the war. He is commissioner of the General Land Office at Washington. The old settlers of Keokuk county will remember him as being in former years one of their number, also from the interesting address he delivered at the first meeting of their association in September, 1878.
HON. JOSEPH LOWE
Was born in the State of Maryland, Aug. 29, 1795, and when nine years old went with his parents to Western Virginia. When about thirteen years of age, being the oldest son, the support of the family devolved upon him by the death of his father. When nineteen years old the second war with England began and he enlisted, serving honorably till its close. He left Virginia and settled in Indiana in the spring of 1822. While living there he first participated in politics and took an active part in the organi- zation of Rush county. He afterward represented that county in the legislature, serving in both the senate and house of representatives, for a period reaching from 1832 to 1845. He removed to Iowa and settled near Springfield, Keokuk county, in 1845. In 1850 he was chosen to represent Mahaska and Keokuk counties in the State senate. He remained on his farm till 1857, when he removed to Sigourney and there resided till death, which occurred March 29, 1879. There have been few who were more in- timately connected with the interests of the county, and none more highly respected than Mr. Lowe.
WAR HISTORY.
KEOKUK COUNTY WAR RECORD.
THE census of 1860 shows that Keokuk county, at that time had a popu- lation of 13,271. During the war of the rebellion the county sent about 1000 to the field of her bravest and strongest sons.
At the outbreak of this war Keokuk county was in the full tide of ac- tivity and prosperity. Her material resources were being rapidly developed and all the various branches of business and the learned professions were keeping pace in the front ranks of progress. The people were just recov- ering from the financial crisis of 1857 and those who had toiled in the land during those times which tried men's souls had begun to see the dawning of better days. Immediately surrounded by the noise of industry and the continuous lium of business they heard little and believed less of the ru- mored plots and plans of those who lived to grow rich from the toil and sweat of others and whose leading branch of trade was the traffic in souls and bodies of men. But still the war was upon them, and the thundering of cannon at the very gates of the national capital soon broke the spell of busy peace and they soon passed from a serious contemplation of the possi- bility of war to the realization of its actual presence and the duties which the issues of the day made incumbent upon them as loyal citizens of the Union.
Fort Sumpter was fired upon April 12, 1861, and on the 15th of the same month the president issued the following proclamation :
" WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been and are now opposed in several States by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in an ordi- nary way, I therefore call upon the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, to suppress the said combina- tion and execute the laws. I appeal to all loyal citizens for State aid in this effort to maintain the laws, integrity, National Union, perpetuity of popular government, and redress wrongs long enough endured.
"The first service assigned forces will probably be to repossess forts, places, and property which have been siezed from the Union. The utmost care should be taken, consistent with our object, to avoid devastation, destruc- tion and interference with property of peaceable citizens in any part of the country, and I hereby command persons commanding the aforesaid combi- nations to disperse within twenty days from date.
"I hereby convene both Houses of Congress for the 4th day of July next, to determine upon measures for the public safety, as its interests may de- mand.
" By W. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State."
" ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States."
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KEOKUK COUNTY WAR RECORD.
Of this call for volunteers, only one regiment was required to fill the quota of Iowa. The proclamation of Governor Kirkwood calling for this regiment was issued at Iowa City, April 17th. The men of Iowa sprang to arms as one man, and hundreds of volunteers were offered whom the State did not need.
Company F, of the Fifth Regiment, Captain Sampson, was the first one ready in Keokuk county. E. S. Sampson and N. H. Keith, who subse- quently were appointed captain and lieutenant of the company, were chiefly instrumental in recruiting this company, although many other cit- itzens of the county aided, and the company was ready for duty in a little over a week from the time the call was made. Captain Sampson immedi- ately made application for a place in the First Regiment, but too late, as the regiment was already full.
When the call was made for more men the company was re-organized, and went into camp a few days at Sigourney. It will be remembered that the government experienced great difficulty at first to equip the inen as rap- idly as they volunteered, and in order to facilitate matters, Captain Samp- son, while his men were encamped at Sigourney, borrowed money of S. A. Alexander, paying interest therefor at the rate of thirty-six per cent, with which to buy cloth for uniforms; the cloth having been procured, the ladies of Sigourney laid aside all other work, including all the care of their households, and gave their whole attention to the work of making up the cloth into uniforms. The company then departed to the State rendezvous, and was incorporated in the Fifth Regiment. E. S. Sampson was ap- pointed captain; W. H. Keith, first lieutenant; H. S. Dawson, second lieutenant. Captain Sampson afterward became lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and at the expiration ot the term of enlistment, there not being enough re-enlistments from the regiment to maintain its name and organ- ization, those who did re-enlist became a part of the Fifth Cavalry. Com- pany F went into camp at Sigourney, July 3d, and after remaining there some two weeks went to Burlington, where it went into service as a part of the Fifth Regiment, on July 15th, 1861.
The first call of the president for three hundred thousand men, and each succeeding call, received a prompt and liberal response from the people of Keokuk county. From the plow, the work-shop, the counting-room, and from all the learned professions, the men from every rank of life, of all ages, gray-beard and smooth-faced, those who proved themselves to be the bravest of the brave, came forth and enlisted themselves among those who were ready and anxious to endure hardship, meet peril, and if need be, die in defense of the flag. Company F, of the Eight Regiment, was recruited by Capt. Andrews and Dr. Yerger, and went into camp at Davenport, shortly after Capt. Sampson took his company to Burlington.
Company D, of the Thirteenth Regiment, and a portion of company I, of same regiment, were recruited in Keokuk county. Company D was re- cruited by Dr. Price in less than one week. In company with Mr. Clark. the Dr. started out on Monday morning, and visited South English, Springfield, Talleyrand, Lancaster and Richland, holding public meetings at all these places. The enthusiasm was unbounded, and by Thursday he returned to Sigourney with sixty recruits. The following evening a public meeting was held in Sigourney, at the close of which his recruits numbered one hundred and one. The next day the company started for the place of ren- dezvous, and by Saturday evening was in camp at Davenport. There are
489
KEOKUK COUNTY WAR RECORD.
few counties in this or other States which can show better in recruiting than this. The material, also, was of the very best; in this company Mr. Pope enlisted as a private, and came back as major of the regiment. The com- pany was conveyed by farmers, in wagons, where cars were waiting to con- , vey it to Davenport. Before leaving Sigourney a large concourse of peo; ple from the surrounding county assembled in the court-house to formally take leave of their friends. The ladies of Sigourney made a beautiful flag which was presented to the company. Miss Carter, on behalf the ladies, made a brief address on presenting the flag, which was replied to by Dr. Price. This flag was zealously guarded through marches and sieges, in camp and in battle, and was brought back to Sigourney whole, but badly faded, by Dr. Price, at the close of his term of enlistment.
Company I, of same regiment was recruited partly in Keokuk and partly. in Washinton county. Captain Elrod, a Methodist minister, and lieutenant Lynch, were principally instrumental in recruiting this company.
There were two companies raised in Keokuk county for the Thirty-third Regiment, comapny B, recruited by Dr. Yerger and J. H. Shawhan, and company H, recruited by Col. Mackey, Captains Dillon and Gore. The company which became company H of the Thirty third, was commenced in July, but recruiting went on very slowly till August, when an extra call for troops aroused the people to such a state of enthusiasm that it was im- mediately filled up. Company B was recruited under the following cir- cumstances: Dr. Yerger and Mr. Shawhan were sitting in a room convers- ing, and the subject of war finally coming up, Mr. Shawhan said he be- lieved he would enlist. Dr. Yerger was of the same mind. Thereupon, they stepped over to the office of the clerk of the District Court and by him were sworn, each taking an oath in presence of the other, to enlist and go to the war. That same evening they began to recruit company B, and in four days a company of 101 men was formed. This company likewise re- ceived a flag at the hands of the ladies of Sigourney. A large meeting was held in the court-house square before the departure of the company, and the flag was presented. Dr. Yerger, on behalf of the company, made a brief address, accepting the flag and promising to defend and honor it, all of which the company did until the unfortunate Yazoo expedition, when the flag was lost with all the other baggage of the regiment. Both of these companies, H and B, were taken to Oskaloosa, the place of rendezvous, in farmer's wagons, where they were mustered into the United States service and became a part of the Thirty-third regiment, C. H. Mackey, who was chiefly instrumental in recruiting company H, becoming lieutenant-col- onel, This regiment became renowned during its subsequent career, and Keokuk county has ever had reason to feel proud of its record. At the time of Lee's surrender the regiment was sent up the Tombigbee river to capture a fleet of rebel boats which had been conveyed thither on the cap- ture of Mobile. Afterward it returned to Mobile and was there at the time of the great explosion which occurred at the latter place in April, 1865. Colonel Mackey, who witnessed this terrific catastrophe, and who but a short time previous had been officer of the day, describes this explosion as the most terribly grand and manificently horrible event of the war.
In addition to the companies already mentioned, there were some five or six other companies, wholly or in part recruited from Keokuk county: A company in the Eighteenth regiment, a company in the Fortieth, a company
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490
KEOKUK COUNTY WAR RECORD.
in the First cavalry, a company in the one hundred days' service and quite a number in the Gray-beard regiment.
While these recruits were at the front, their families at home were not forgotten. Aid societies were formed which assisted the needy and the board of supervisors granted aid from the county fund. During the latter years of the war a regular tax levy was made for this purpose, and it is estimated some fifteen or twenty thousand dollars were contributed in voluntary do- nations and in taxes for the relief of soldier's families. While there were so many who were ever ready to relieve the wants of the needy it would be unjust to discriminate; there was one, however, who was peculiarly zeal- ous and active in the matter, Mr. Wm. Jackson, who in many ways com- forted the sorrowing and aided the needy. He it was who was chiefly in- strumental in securing aid from the county fund, and into his hands flowed the voluntary contributions, which he disbursed most faithfully. To him, also, the soldiers sent their spare wages, to be distributed among thieir fam- ilies. At one time he had over five thousand dollars of this money in his care, which, in default of a better place of security, he deposited under the floor of a stable.
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