USA > Iowa > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &t., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest etc > Part 48
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The fall of water on the night in question was so marked as to endanger the little mill property, and Mann hastened over to it, against the advice of his daughter, who stood upon the shore. Mann declared that if the mill went into the flood, he would go, too. The creek continued to rise, and soon shut off communication with the shore. In an almost incredibly short space of time the torrent increased the flow of the little creek to the dimensions of a river, and in the sweeping waters the mill, with its proprietor, was carried far down the course. Several days elapsed before the body of the drowned man was recovered.
In this connection, although it is not strictly in order, let it be stated that the Mann family ultimately scattered. Some remain on or near the site of the mill, while the younger members-some of them the children of the daughter, "Sall"-moved toward the west, following the instincts of the old man and their own nomadic disposition.
Occasionally, but at rare intervals, this county has been visited by extremes of heat and cold. A hot blast, like that of the Texan country, once swept across the county, doing considerable damage. And frosts have been known to affect vegetation when quite well advanced. But these are worthy of notice merely from the fact of their infrequent occurrence. The county is exceedingly well favored with equable temperature, as is shown by the large crops secured year after year. The statements made in this chapter are interesting only because of their unusual character.
A CENTENNIAL STORM.
1 The evening of July 4, 1876, was an eventful one in the history of Cedar Rapids. At that time the most terrific tempest that ever visited the locality swept over the city, destroying much property. From the Times newspaper, published at Cedar Rapids, is taken the following vivid description of the storm and statement of the damage caused by it :
Between 11 and 12 o'clock P. M., July 4, 1876, with but little or no warning, a fearful tor- nado struck our city, passing over it from west to east, a literal besom of destruction, unroofing business blocks, prostrating dwellings, blowing down chimneys, breaking shrubbery and trees, and leaving behind it a dreary waste.
JOHN B. LEIGH. LINN TOWNSHIP
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Commencing at Springer's saloon, near the railroad track, on the Vinton road, we note its progress, as nearly correct as we can. The saloon building was blown down. A man of the name of Davis was seriously injured. Mrs. Springer had her leg broken. The Popernell build- ing, occupied by the Farmers' Manufacturing Company, was completely unroofed and otherwise badly injured. A new two-story brick, the property of Mr. Fuley, nearly completed, was leveled to the ground. The dwelling of Mr. Carpenter, foreman of the Grain Growers' Foundry, was entirely destroyed. A two-story frame dwelling, being built by John Bryon, on contract, and nearly finished, was destroyed. The dwelling of I. B. Hinkley was completely unroofed. The back end wall of the old Clement House, on the river bank, was blown in. The roof of the two- story brick tenement below Benton street bridge was blown off ; and the front wall of Mr. Nar- riner's business house was blown down.
Commencing at the upper end of Commercial street, on the North Side, the kitchen of Brown's Hotel was demolished ; the roof of Daniel's block entirely blown off; the greater portion of the City National Bank unroofed ; the front of the frame building adjoining it, on Iowa avenue, blown in ; the rear of Higley Brothers' hardware store unroofed, and the work shop blown down ; goods much damaged by water; Camp's block, the second story of which was occupied by Thayer & Young, photographers, and the first floor by "Cy's. store," was unroofed ; Wetzel & Hart's block was completely unroofed, and the rain poured down in torrents upon the dry goods store of Gillette Brothers ; Churchill's block, adjoining, suffered a like damage. Across the street from Churchill's block, the two-story frame house of Ben Springer, occupied as a saloon and dwelling, was badly damaged-roof blown off and front of the building badly shat- tered. The roof and roof timbers of Wetzel & Hart's hall struck Springer's building, battering it down like a battering ram, knocking holes through the sides like solid shot. A bed in the front room up stairs was literally shattered to pieces, and the front of the building badly dam- aged throughout. Walker's livery stable, adjoining Springer's, was slightly damaged.
Passing down Commercial street, the tornado demolished the old frame feed stable, near Park avenue, jumped over the intervening building to Soule & Miller's carriage manufactory, demol- ishing the rear end of the building, and, coming with full force upon Shaur & Dow's cracker factory, almost demolished the building, hurling the machinery down into the basement. This is the severest individual injury.
Passing across the street, the tornado moved in an easterly direction, taking Ed. Green's lum- ber yard on its way, and smashing the piles of lumber to fragments. Next the butter and egg house of Marion & Co. was unroofed on the south side, and Wadsworth block, on Washington street, partially uncovered. Almost all of the chimneys on the south side of Park avenue were leveled and the trees in that vicinity blown over. The gas works were partially unroofed and otherwise injured.
Leaping across from Washington street to Adams street, the tempest gathered renewed energy, spending its fury upon the houses between Brown and Carpenter streets.
At the end of Adams street, the storm was probably the most severe, sweeping everything before it on each side of the street for a distance of one block or more. The residences (all frame and mostly one-story high, occupied by Bohemians), outbuildings, fences, shade trees, all suffered more or less ; nothing, in fact, in that immediate vicinity escaped.
Phil Gray's building, a two-story frame, was carried several feet and totally destroyed. Mr. Gray was away at the time, and his mother was sleeping up stairs. She was found lying in an adjacent yard, severely but not fatally injured. The contents of the house were almost a total loss. The building was carried against two large white-ash trees, breaking one of them to the ground.
The kitchen portion of the house on the next lot north of the above was carried a distance of several hundred feet and mingled with the debris of the buildings on the opposite side of the street. The furniture was scattered over two or three adjoining lots. The house of James Braghock was almost entirely destroyed.
The' large frame building at Sinclair & Co.'s packing establishment, used as a cooper shop and storage rooms for barrels, was twisted out of shape and stands at an angle of about 45°. A portion of the roof from one of the buildings blown down nearly a block distant, fell upon the roof of this building, crushing in a portion of it. This building is about 28x200 feet in size, and is so badly damaged that it may be considered a total loss.
The large two-story boarding house of William G. Walter, on the east side of Adams street, was entirely destroyed. There were eleven persons in the house at the time, none of whom were seriously injured.
The two-story building belonging to Nathaniel Coultor, the upper portion of which was occu- pied by himself and family, and the lower part by Sinclair & Co.'s meat market, is almost, if not wholly destroyed, a part of the frame only remaining, and the whole removed several feet from the foundation. One of the chimneys fell through the ceiling, and came crashing upon a bed occupied by several children. Strange to say, not one of them was injured seriously.
The house of Wesley Kudner was entirely demolished. The one-story house of G. A. Gates, on James street, was unroofed and partially destroyed. The family had several narrow escapes from death from flying timbers which penetrated the side of the house as though it had been paper.
G
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The first four buildings north of James street, on Adams street, were entirely demolished. The first two were owned by Manzel Stalba, and the other two by Joseph Linsky. They were occupied by these and other families.
The houses of Vantret Keopski, John Quillp and John Melsch were destroyed. The large- two-story house of Jonas McCalley was unroofed. The houses of James Lynch and Frank Souka were almost enttrely destroyed. Wesley Kurik had just completed a good-sized dwelling, which is almost a total loss. The kitchen was blown against another building, a distance of twenty feet.
The family of I. B. Hinkley, on the West Side, had a frightful experience. Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley were sleeping in the front room of the second story, and their little boy and hired girl in the rear room. Mr. Hinkley hearing the storm, arose, and finding the house shaking at a fearful rate, rushed to the back room for the boy and girl, and just succeeded in getting them out when the back wall and chimey fell upon the bed where the boy was sleeping. They ran down stairs and into the house adjoining, when the entire front of the house blew out.
A piece of timber, thirty-two feet long and 10x12 inches, was blown down Commercial street a distance of 1,000 feet. The timber was blown from the roof of Wetzel & Hart's Hall.
Two children on the West Side were carried quite a distance in the straw tick on which they were sleeping, and landed on the roof of a house. Two others were carried quite a distance in the same way, and landed safe and sound near the railroad track.
Among the deeds of heroism is the following: John Melsch, a Bohemian, whose house on South Adams street was destroyed, while the storm was at its height, endeavored to hold the door shut ; but when the roof went off, the door was torn from its hinge, and the debris began to fall thick and fast. he thought of his wife and children sleeping on a bed near by. Placing himself across the bed in such a way as to partly protect them from falling timbers, he patiently awaited the fate which he thought was sure to come-thus exhibiting his willingness to sacrifice his own life to save his family. None of them were seriously hurt, but the deed deserves to be mentioned.
1
WAR HISTORY.
A REVOLUTIONARY HERO.
Nathan Brown, who settled in this county in May, 1839, and for whom Brown Township was named, was born at White Plains, New York, July 22, 1761. At the age of 14 years, he began to drill preparatory to entering the American army, and at the age of 16 years joined the forces in the field. The exigency of the times is shown by this fact. Mere boys were admitted to full duty as soldiers in the cause of liberty. The first battle in which Brown engaged was at Harlem Flats, and the second was fought on the present site of Greenwood Cemetery. He was wounded, but not seriously, in some of the many battles in which he participated. Seven brothers of the family served in the army, and young Brown himself enlisted under an uncle, who held a Captain's commission. Mr. Brown died at his farm home in this county November 25, 1842.
There have also been several residents of this county who served in the war of 1812.
T. J. Mckean, whose record forms an important page later on, was the recruiting officer under whom men for service in the Mexican war were engaged. The party from this county consisted of T. J. McKean, William Hampton, " Democ " Woodbridge, George A. Gray, A. R. Sausman, Mr. Courtney and S. D. Thompson. They were assigned to Co. K, 15th Regulars, which was one of the regiments created under the "Ten Regiments Bill " of Congress. Company K was commanded by Capt. Guthrie, and was pushed on into service June, 1847, in advance of the remainder of the regiment. Before being joined by the regiment, the company was for a time assigned to the regiment of which Gen. Lee, of Confederate fame, was Major.
A story is told of the irrepressible "Democ," which is so characteristic that it should be reproduced. The shade of profanity establishes its authenticity.
One night, shortly after " Democ's " introduction to military life in the field, he was posted guard. One of his officers chanced to be beyond the lines without the countersign. Stepping up to Woodbridge, he demanded admission. The sentry brought his musket to a charge and ordered the officer back. " Don't you know me, Woodbridge ?" asked his superior. " In daytime I do," responded the soldier ; " but after tattoo a sentinel ranks Jesus Christ. Corporal of the guard, arrest this man !" And the officer was duly put in custody of his sub- ordinates.
The men enlisted for during the war. Woodbridge went no further than Vera Cruz. There he was taken sick and sent back to New Orleans, where he died. Courtney and Hampton also died. Gray became unfitted for service, and was sent to New Orleans, where he was made hospital steward. McKean, Sausman and Thompson returned after twenty months of service in the army.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The battles engaged in were Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapul- tepec and the City of Mexico, into which city they marched with Gen. Scott. The skirmishes were innumerable. For five weeks, at one time, the men ob- tained no water but that for which they fought.
At the present time, S. D. Thompson and George A. Gray are living in the county. Mr. Sausman is living in California. T. J. McKean is dead.
The bravery of the Linn men is a matter of undisputed record, and many incidents of their life in camp might be given to show this fact.
Gen. Thomas Jefferson Mckean was the only man from Linn County to / receive the commission of Brigadier General in the war of the rebellion.
Gen. McKean's life was an unusually eventful one. He was born in Brad- ford County, Penn., in the year 1810. At 17 years of age he entered the Mili- tary Academy at West Point, and graduated with honors four years later. With the commission of Lieutenant he entered the service almost immediately after the completion of his studies, taking but a brief furlough for recreation. He was stationed at two or three different posts in Louisiana, and performed continuous duty for a term of years.
He then resigned his commission and engaged in the profession of civil en- gineer, and followed that pursuit for some time. The military education he had received while a boy had left so strong an impression on his mind, that he was unable to resist the temptation of life in the field, and upon the breaking out of the Florida war Mckean joined the volunteer army. He served until the close of that campaign, and again took up the work of surveying.
In 1840, Mr. McKean removed from the South to Marion, and was living there when the Mexican war was declared. Again he stepped to the front with the tender of his services, and was accepted. He raised a squad of six men- S. D. Thompson, A. R. Sausman, Mr. Courtney, George A. Gray, William Hampton and " Democ " Woodbridge, and joined Company K, Fifteenth Reg- ulars, the only company sent out by Iowa in that war. McKean was appointed Sergeant Major. His military experience was recognized by his comrades, and his personal daring commanded the admiration of all men. He participated in the leading battles of that brief but bloody campaign. In one of the engage- ments he stood waiting for orders to charge the enemy. While in the face of danger, he coolly surveyed the field, and near him discovered a brilliant little flower growing in that terrible place, which was soon to be crimsoned with the blood of noble men. McKean allowed the impulse of the moment to overcome his soldierly habits, and stooped to pluck the blossom. As he lowered his head a shot from the Mexican battery whistled over him and buried itself in a col- umn far to the rear of the ranks. The flower saved his life.
The period of service in the Mexican war extended over a year and a half, and upon its completion, McKean returned to Marion. When the rebellion began, he was holding the office of Sheriff of the county. He resigned the place to accept a post as Paymaster in the Union army, and entered upon his duties early in 1861.
At that time, West Pointers were eagerly sought after by the Government, and in spite of the rather advanced age of McKean, the Governor of the State, Samuel J. Kirkwood, promptly proposed his name for a Brigadier Generalship. In the Fall of 1861, he was commissioned, and later in the war, he commanded at the memorable intrenchment and defense of Corinth. The plan was his, and the two days' fight was under his direction. There is no doubt about the emi- nent ability of the General as a commander of such works. His best service was shown in the plans of forts and the retention of them. Had he been a
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
younger man at the breaking-out of the war, he would undoubtedly have risen to a high eminence in military circles. He was essentially a soldierly man, born to command and brave even to recklessness of self. His record is one of which the county may well feel proud.
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
When, on the 12th of April, 1861, the Southern rebels fired upon Fort Sumter, it found this vast North unarmed, untrained in the art of war, and in a state of such profound peace as to warrant the belief that hostilities could not be begun by those who had, since the foundation of this Union, boasted loudly of their loyalty to the Constitution of the United States. The rumors of dis- affection which had alarmed the more watchful had aroused but trifling fears in the breasts of the great mass of Northern citizens. War between the States had, prior to that time, been deemed an impossibility. The sentiments of fraternal unity were so deep-abiding in the hearts of the North that treason was regarded as an improbable crime, and overt acts of antagonism to the govern- ment too base in their intent to be worthy of serious consideration.
But the hand of the aged Ruffian, as he laid the blazing torch upon the gun within Stevens' battery, lighted a flame which sped throughout the land with elec- tric rapidity and illumined the nation with a glare that revealed the truth of rebel threats. The boom of that first gun awakened the passive people to the dread real- ity of their position. From Maine to Oregon, from Superior to the Ohio, the country arose, as with a single impulse, to respond to the demands of the hour. There was no need of prompting them, no need of canvassing for strength, no hesi- tating as to measures, no thought of compromise. But one course could be pursued, and that the people comprehended as though inspired by some higher mentor. The Union must be preserved. Each individual member of society felt the urgent necessity of prompt and concerted action. Towns did not wait to receive tidings from sister towns ; each heard in the roar of brave old Sum- ter's guns a summons direct, imperative and irresistible, for aid in the defense of the nation's honor. Rivals in business and in politics grasped each other's hands and hurried forth, side by side-rivals no longer, save in their eagerness to enroll first their names upon the list of citizen-soldiery.
Almost simultaneous with the news of the attack on Sumter, came the call from President Lincoln for troops. In the remote towns and rural local- ities, where telegraphic communication had not then penetrated, the appeal and the response were recorded at the same time.
On the 15th of April the President issued his call for 75,000 ninety-day troops. The State of Iowa was peculiarly fortunate in having as its chief executive Samuel J. Kirkwood, whose loyalty and unceasing devotion to the cause of the Union has embalmed his name forever in the annals of the State. Within thirty days after the President's demand was made public, Iowa had a regiment in the field.
The First Iowa was mustered into the United States service in one month after the appeal went forth, and Linn County stood represented in that heroic band by a full company, under command of Captain T. Z. Cook. Foremost in the rank of prosperous States in times of peace; first to march to the front in times of war, Iowa should be known hereafter not only as the beautiful, but also as the brave, State.
If it was within the province of this work to relate the story of Linn's loyalty, the limits of this volume would be extended far beyond those anticipa- ted by the publishers. Some future historian, we have no doubt, will find a
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fruitful topic in this record of war, and lay before the people of this county a narrative of unsurpassed interest. Surely the opportunity exists and awaits the patient labors of a competent writer.
It is impossible here to relate more than the incidents peculiarly local in their character, to give a summary of the movements of the several regiments in which Linn County men were enrolled, in the field, and to preserve the ros- ter of those who formed the host which went forth to battle for the Union, from the various townships within the limits of the county.
A special session of the Board of Supervisors was called at once, upon the breaking-out of the war, and steps were taken to provide relief for the families of such men as were willing to volunteer, but who had not the means wherewith to maintain their families during the time that must elapse between going from home and receiving their first pay.
Subsequently the Board adopted a resolution, of the same general tenor, at the September session, 1861. Appended is a copy of that document :
Resolved, That the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors issue an order or orders for the benefit and relief of any family of our volunteers now in the United States service, upon the certificate and approval of the resident Supervisor of the township in which the family or applicant resides.
A scene in Marion is thus described :
One of the great events of the beginning of the war that occurred in Marion was the depart- ure of the Lyle Guards for the war. They numbered eighty-four, most of them young and just entering upon the threshold of life. As the time for their departure drew nigh, the friends, relatives and sweethearts of the volunteers crowded into Marion from all quarters, and for forty- eight hours preceding their departure was a continued ovation. On Wednesday evening, June 10th, the Rev. Samuel Pancoast preached a discourse to them in the presence of one of the largest audiences that ever listened to a sermon in Marion. As no building in town could accommodate the people, the services were held in the open air, in front of Mr. Carskadden's building, where a temporary stand had been erected for the purpose. The reverend gentleman selected for his theme the fourteenth verse of the third chapter of Luke : "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your ways."
The press of the county was emphatic in its advocacy of the Union cause. From the files of the papers published at that time, it is evident that the news- papers, as well as the pulpit, were thoroughly in accord with the people. In this instance, neither the one nor the other medium of leadership seems to have taken a conservative position. The expressions of intense feeling are numerous.
We quote from the Cedar Valley Times of April 18, 1862 :
The true position is to support the Administration, right or wrong. More than ever, it is now the duty of every true man to respond to the call of his country. Party ties are broken, party divisions forgotten, in the common necessity which summons every true American to the standard of his country-to the defense of our Union, our Constitution, our liberty and our rights. . Every man to his post, that post the support of the Administration.
In another portion of the same issue, appeared the following appeal to the people :
The flag of our country is assailed. The glorious old Stars and Stripes have been hauled down and trailed in the dust at Sumter. A meeting to obtain an expression of the feelings of the people will be held at Carpenter's Hall, Thursday evening, 18th inst. Every true man. without distinction of party, who loves his country and the flag under which we have achieved so many glorious victories, is expected to be in attendance. MANY CITIZENS.
The meeting was held, and the utmost enthusiasm characterized all its pro- ceedings. Dr. Camburn occupied the chair; I. Van Meter acted as Secretary, and both these gentlemen made stirring addresses upon ascending the platform. Hon. W. H. Merritt, E. N. Bates, Dr. Taylor, Hon. H. G. Angle, P. W. Earl, Wm. Greene and others spoke, giving expression to uniform sentiments of loyalty and determined zeal in the cause of their common country.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
A note was read, which produced a marked sensation. . It was from the war Governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, and was as follows :
If Linn County shall tender me a full company of seventy-eight good men, properly officered, by Thursday of next week, I will offer the company as one of the regiments required of this State by the President of the United States. SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD. April 17, 1861.
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