USA > Iowa > Mahaska County > The history of Mahaska 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 > Part 54
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English, James, enlisted September 6, 1864.
Floro, Geo., enlisted June 8, 1864. Houser, James, enlisted September 6, 1864.
Meeks, David, enlisted September 3, 1864. 1
Noe, William, enlisted June 8, 1864. Picken, Michael, enlisted September 6, 1864.
Pearson, Chas. R., enlisted March 8, 1864.
Sprague, Allen, enlisted September 8, 1864.
Walker, Stephen, enlisted Septem- ber, 11, 1864.
NINTH CAVALRY.
COMPANY I.
Benscoter, S. H., enlisted November 19, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Brockway, John W., enlisted Sep- tember 23, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Martin, Francis M., enlisted Octo- ber 1, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Mullin, Joseph, enlisted October 1, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Sexton, Wm. J., enlisted October 30, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Sharp, W. T., enlisted November
19, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Spain, Sanford S., enlisted October 14, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Vance, Taylor, enlisted September 9, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Whitsel, Chas. J., enlisted October 1, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Woten, Nathan, enlisted October 27, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
Wym, John, enlisted September 25, 1863, mustered out March 15, 1866.
445
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
LIGHT ARTILLERY.
The Fourth Battery was organized at Davenport in the latter part of November, 1863. Its members came from all parts of the State, and many of them had previously been in the service. It was a fine command in every respect, but did not have the good fortune to particularly distinguish itself in the field. Its theater of operations was for the most part in Lou- isiana. The Battery was mustered out at Davenport, July 14, 1865. The Captain was Phillip H. Goode, of Mills county. The enlistments from Mahaska county were as follows:
FOURTH BATTERY.
Junior Second Lieutenant Francis M. Ellsworth, enlisted July 24, 1863, resigned April 5, 1864.
Eleventh Corporal Mathew N. Prine, enlisted August 1, 1863, mustered ont July 14, 1865.
Musician Robert A. Crosson, en- listed July 27, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Artiticer John N. Morgan, enlisted August 1, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
PRIVATES.
Avy, Levi, enlisted August 1, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Atkins, Wm. T., enlisted November 4, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Buckmaster, Asbury, enlisted Au- gust 5, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Brown, Wm. R., enlisted August 29,
1863, mnstered out July 14, 1865. Bodenhammer, A. C., enlisted Au- gust 3, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Bodenhammer, Jas. M., enlisted Au- gust 3, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Bass, Wm. M., enlisted August 4, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865. Barton, Thos. S., enlisted August 16, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865. Collins, Geo. G., enlisted August 21, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Cowen, Ceo. T., enlisted September 1, 1863, discharged for disability September 5, 1864.
Downs, Jacob E., enlisted August 26, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Gateley, Joseph H., enlisted Au- gust 18, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Gerard, Francis M., enlisted August 1, 1863, served ten months in Co. H, Eighth Infantry.
Glasgow, James T., enlisted October 6, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Hennis, Benjamin T., enlisted Au- gust 3, 1863, died at Davenport February 2, 1864, of typhoid pneu- monia.
Huber, John M., enlisted July 26,
1863, mustered ont July 14, 1865. Hartman, Oliver C., enlisted July 29, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
IIendryx, Thos. J. enlisted Angust 5, 1863, discharged for disability August 11, 1864.
Ives, Samuel C., enlisted August 5, 1863, mustered ont July 14, 1865. Johnson, Ab., enlisted August 1,
1863, mustered out July 24, 1865. Jessup, Alex L., enlisted November 3, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Kineaid, Benj. F., enlisted August 5,1863, mustered out July 14,1865. McManes, Andrew, enlisted August
3, 1863, discharged for disability March 5, 1864.
Nafe, Augustus W. enlisted August 3, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Ponell, Joseph, enlisted September 1, 1863, mustered out July 1865,
1
446
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Quaintance, G. P., enlisted August
18, 1863, mustered out July 14. 1865.
Sproule, Wm. H., enlisted August
23, 1863, mustered out July 14, 1865.
Young, Jones H., enlisted Novem- ber 4, 1862, mustered out July 14, 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS.
Alder, John F., enlisted May 14, 1864, Co. D, Fourty-fourth Infan- try.
Byers, S. H. M., enlisted June 24, 1861, as first Corporal, Co. B, Fifth Infantry, promoted Quarter- Master Sergeant, March 1, 1862, promoted Adjutant April 23, 1863, imprisoned at Libby, ex- changed, discharged March 19, 1865, appointed Consul to Zurich Switzerland under Grant, which appointment he now holds; was the author of the song "Sherman's March to the Sea," written while in Libby Prison.
Bryan, Andrew A., enlisted August 22, 1861, Co. F, Tenth Infantry, wounded at Vicksburg and dis- charged at St. Louis, for wounds. Bennington, Samuel, enlisted Octo- ber 13, 1861, in Co. E, Twelfth Infantry, died at St. Louis Janu- ary 15, 1862.
Beattie, James, appointed Musician, Forty-fifth Infantry, May 25, 1864.
Bryney, A. J. enlisted as substitute in Ninth Infantry November 18, 1864.
Barnes John C., enlisted October 27, 1861, re-enlisted January 5, 1864. Chapman, Samuel H., enlisted as Captain Co. B., 5th Infantry, re- signed December 2, 1861.
Cummings, William C. commission- ed Assistant Surgeon, Tenth In- fantry, April 16, 1862, resigned October 17, 1862.
Cromley, John W., enlisted August 16, 1863, Co. E, First Iowa Infan- try (African descent).
Cummings, John S., enlisted Sep- tember 11, 1861, in Engineer Reg-
iment of the West, Second Ser- geant, Co. K, promoted Second Lieutenant Co. H, Oct. 19, 1862. Cox, Thomas S., enlisted August 9, 1861, Co. A., Seventh Mo., Cav- alry.
Collins, Elisha, enlisted September 1, 1864, Co. I, Twenty-third In- fantry.
Cox, Joshua S., enlisted as substi- tute November 19, 1864, Ninth Infantry.
Clark, James D., enlisted as substi- tute November 19, 1864, Ninth Infantry.
Dent, William R., enlisted August 22, 1861, Co. F, Tenth Infantry, died at Bird's Point, Mo., of ty- phoid fever.
Dickens, Robert S., enlisted August 16, 1863, First Corporal, Co. E, First Iowa Infantry (of African descent).
Dodd, Charles J., enlisted as veteran February 15, 1864, in Second Veteran Infantry.
Draper, M. V. B., enlisted as veter- an December 17, 1863, in Co. I, Second Veteran Infantry.
Dryden, Cyrus, enlisted September 10, 1864, Co. F, Tenth Infantry. Douglass, R. R., enlisted as substi- tute November 14, 1864, in Ninth Infantry.
Ellsworth, Francis M., enlisted May 7, 1864, as private, Co. B, Forty- eighth Infantry, promoted Eighth Corporal June 13, 1864.
Griffith, John, enlisted July 3, 1861 in Co. F, Fifth Infantry, re-en listed as veteran January 1, 1864 in Fifth Cavalry.
Gregory, O. C., enlisted September 17, 1861, Co. D, Tenth Infantry.
447
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Hildreth, Levi, enlisted August 28
1862, in Co. G, Tenth Infantry.
Harlan, James E., enlisted May 15,
1864, Co. D, Forty-fourth Infan- try.
Hale, Roberts, enlisted May 7, 1864, Co. B, Forty-eighth Infantry.
Hall, G. M., enlisted November 18, 1864, as substitute in Ninth In- fantry.
Henderson, Thomas J., enlisted as substitute December 1, 1864, in Sixteenth Infantry.
Hendrickson, J., enlisted as veteran December 9, 1863, Co. I, First Cavalry, as veteran.
Kelso, Martin, enlisted August 18, 1862, Co. G, Tenth Infantry, killed at Champion Hills, in bat- tle, May 16, 1863.
Kuntz, John R., enlisted November 28, 1864, as substitute in Nine- teenth Regiment.
Kissiek, William, enlisted October 22, 1861, in Co. C, Sixteenth In- fantry. promoted Second Corporal November 15, 1862, promoted Second Lieutenant November 17, 1864, having re-enlisted January 4,1864.
Lafferty, G. W., enlisted February 10, 1861, in Tenth Pennsylvania, Reserve Volunteer Corps, dis- charged May 31, 1864.
Lee, George R., enlisted October, 1861, Battery E, First Illinois Light Artillery, discharged at Louisville, December 23, 1864. Lamond, Eli C., enlisted Second Sergeant Co. C, Sixteenth In- fantry, October 26, 1861, died at Davenport, June 27, 1862.
MeIntosh, James M., enlisted as pri- vate in Co. D, Thirteenth Infantry October 10, 1861, promoted Sixth Corporal June 3, 1862, captured at Atlanta, and died a prisoner of war at Florence, S. C., November 13, 1864.
Milligan, -, enlisted June 18, 1864, Co. B, Forty-Eighth Infantry.
Miles, William, enlisted March 30, 1864, in Third Battery.
Mann, A. E., enlisted August 30, 1864.
MeDavitt, M. S., enlisted as substi- tute November 14, 1864, in Ninth Infantry.
Lientenant W. H. Needham enlisted from Albia, July 31, 1862, as pri- vate in Co. D, Twenty-Second In- fantry, promoted Fourth Sergeant (date unknown); at assault on Vicksburg, Mr. Needham was the second of twelve volunteers who succeeded in entering the ene- my's works, of whom honorable mention was made in General Grant's report; of these only three or four escaped. In recog- nition of his bravery, Sergeant Needham was promoted Second Lieutenant June 5, 1863, First Lieutenant August 3, 1863, acted as Adjutant and Quarter-Master for six months during 1865, mus- tered ont at Davenport August 4, 1865.
Nesbitt, Joseph B., enlisted August 24, 1861, Co. B, Twelfth Illinois Infantry, re-enlisted as veteran and promoted to rank of Lieutenant, mustered ont in 1865.
Noel, Abraham, enlisted May 6, 1861, Co. K, Second Infantry, died at St. Louis, December 3, 1861, in hospital.
Patton, T. J., enlisted as private in Co. E, Second Infantry, May 6, 1861, promoted Fourth Corporal September 1, 1862.
Parks, John D., enlisted as veteran in Co. F, Second Veteran Infantry ; date of First Lieutenant, June 1, 1861.
Pattee, Alfonso, enlisted as substi- tute November 5, 1864, in Ninth Regiment.
Remington, T., enlisted October 27, 1861, re-enlisted as veteran Janu- ary 4, 1864, in Co. C, Sixteenth Infantry.
448
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Shuck, John M., enlisted August 9, 1862, Co. B, Thirtieth Infantry.
Seymour, John S., enlisted as substi-
tute November 2, 1864, in Third Battery.
Spates, Jacob R., enlisted as substi- tute November 18, 1864, in Ninth Infantry.
Smith, William H., enlisted October 27, 1861, Co. C, Sixteenth Infan- try, wounded at Iuka, re-enlisted January 5, 1864, promoted Cor- poral, missing at Atlanta July 22, 1864.
Taylor, William P., enlisted July 12, 1861, in Co. K, Sixth Infantry, wounded at Shiloh, discharged September 1, 1863.
Thomas, John W., enlisted as Third Corporal, Co. B, Forty-Eighth In- fantry June 16, 1864.
Van Hook, Macon, enlisted July 12,
1861, in Co. K, Sixth Infantry, severely wounded at Reseca, Ga., re-enlisted January 1, 1864.
Van Dyke, Benjamin F., enlisted No- vember 17, 1862, Co. I, Four- teenth Infantry, wounded at Pleas- ant Hills, La.
Woodward, I. J., enlisted May 6, 1861, in Co. K, Second Infantry. Williamson, John R., enlisted Au- gust 9, 1862, Co. D, Twentieth Infantry, transferred to Invalid Corps in 1863.
Weese, Elisha, enlisted May 23, 1864, Co. B, Forty-eighth Infantry.
Wilkens, Hiram, enlisted March 28, 1864, died of chronic diarrlica at Rome, Ga., August 4, 1864.
Wheeling, John, enlisted as substi- tute November 2, 1864, in Thir- teenth Infantry.
SOLDIERS' REUNION.
Friday, August 25, 1865, was a gala day in Oskaloosa, the occasion being a grand reunion of Mahaska's returned soldiers, and a welcome dinner given them by her citizens.
Early morning found crowds from the country thronging upon the town,
"Like mountain torrents pouring to the main;
From every glen a living stream came forth,
From every hill in crowds they hastened down."
It should be borne in mind by the reader that the hills of Mahaska are not very high, and that the similarity to the mountain torrent is applicable to the stream alone.
At 103 o'clock the procession was formed on Main street, by order of the officers of the day, J. W. McMullen being marshal, and Col. John Lof- land in command of the soldiers. The following is the order of the pro- cession :
1. Brass Band.
2. Returned soldiers in old company organizations.
3. Civilians.
In this order they marched to the speakers' stand in the public square, where the exercises opened with :
1. Music .- " Hail Columbia," by brass band.
2. Prayer .- Rev. R. A. McAyeal.
3. Music .- " When Johnny Comes Marching Home," by the elioir.
4. Reception Speech .- W. S. Kenworthy.
5. Music by the band.
6. Reading of President Lincoln's last Inaugural by Judge Loughridge.
7. Music .- " Rest, Martyr, Rest," by the choir.
449
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Following these exercises the soldiers marched to groaning tables await- ing them under the shade trees of the square. The banquet served was a credit to the ladies in charge, to whom had flown the milk and honey from Mahaska's capacious fountains of good things, which they prepared in most tempting forms, as the soldiers thought, in quite happy contrast with the hard-tack and bacon of the camp.
After dinner the exercises were continued as follows:
Music by the band.
Return by Co. H, Third Iowa Infantry of their battle-stained flag (pre- sented to them by the ladies of Oskaloosa, May 31, 1861), to the hands of the fair donors.
Toasts :
1. Soldiers of Iowa; the story of their dauntless bravery on the battle- fields of the republic will illumine the pages of her history and crown it with unfading laurels; green and unperishable be the memory of the fal- len; loved and honored be those who still live to bear aloft the radiant ban- ner of the free.
Response by Captain J. H. Warren.
2. The fallen soldiers.
Response by Judge Loughridge.
Music by the choir.
3. The Army and Navy of the United States; they have crushed the mightiest rebellion the world ever saw, vindicated and restored the author- ity of the Government, put all its enemies under its feet, and by exhaust- less strength and irresistable power commanded the respect of the entire world.
Response by Captain J. F. Lacey.
Music by the band-" Ellsworth March."
4. Union prisoners in the South; their treatment while in southern prisons was the refinement of barbarism and inhumanity; treatment which none but fiends could inflict; in the name of justice and the starved and murdered soldiers, we demand that all rebels connected directly or indi- rectly with those barbarities, be brought to swift and merited punishment. Music by the choir.
5. Our country and the union; the former the hope of liberty through- out the world, the latter the joy of every loyal heart; let them be handed down one and imperishable to all coming generations.
Response by Joseph Kelly.
Music by the choir.
6. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; the one the father of the country, and the other the savior; their names will stand side by side upon the page of their country's history; we will sacredly cherish their memory and be guided by their precepts and examples.
Response by Judge W. H. Seevers.
Music by the band.
7. Andrew Johnson, the president of the United States; born in poverty and obscurity, educated through his own industry, strengthened by the storms of adversity and the fires of revolution, placed in power by the friends of liberty and the union; may he be true to liberty and a cham pion for the right; a worthy successor to the immortal Lincoln.
Response by Col. C. W. Fisher.
Music by the band.
450
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
8. The loyal women of Iowa; true to their government and the cause of liberty by their sacrifices, and devoted and untiring labors for the comfort and health of soldiers during the war, they, in common, with their sisters of the entire North, have shown themselves worthy descendants of the women of the Revolution.
Response by Rev. C. H. Gates.
Music by the band.
9. Friends of liberty throughout the world; they have sympathized with us in our struggle for national lite; in their contests with despotism and tyranny in the old world, may speedy and triumphant success crown their efforts.
Response by Dr. C. Beardsley.
Music by the choir.
10. General Samuel A. Rice, the soldier and patriot; his name is en- shrined in the hearts of all lovers of liberty. Peace to his ashes.
Response by Rev. R. A. McAyeal.
Music by the choir.
Doxology.
"The crowd then dispersed, every one going his own way, with a smile of satisfaction illuminating his countenance. Seldom has been seen, at any public meeting, such universal good feeling and such general satisfac- tion rendered. Not one unpleasant circumstance occurred to mar the enjoyment of any one present, sobriety and good conduct being the order of the day. In the evening the city hall was tendered to such as wished to enjoy a social gathering, and quite a large number assembled and passed the evening, each in a manner best suiting his taste, some in social con- verse, while not a few tipped the light fantastic toe, until warned by the ' wee sma' hours' to seek their homes. Mahaska county never saw & brighter or happier day. Long may it be remembered."
Such is the account given by the Herald.
About the time of this reunion, a subscription paper was started, the object being to secure sufficient funds for the erection of a soldiers' monu- ment. This paper was headed by several names at one hundred dollars per name, but the project was never completed -- for what reason we did not learn.
The graves of fallen soldiers were first decorated May 30, 1868, on which occasion J. W. McMullen was marshal of the day, and Rev. T. E. Corkhill delivered the oration. Probably not more than twenty soldiers are buried in Oskaloosa.
At present writing, August, 1878, several meetings have been held by soldiers of Oskaloosa, having in view a second reunion of those engaged from Mahaska in the late war. This movement has, as yet, taken no defi- nite shape, but in the language of one of the veterans, " We are going to have a reunion or bust."
THE RICE MONUMENT.
When the news of Gen. Rice's death reached his brigade in the summer of 1864, it was resolved to build a monument to his memory. This brig- ade was composed of the Ninth Missouri, the Fiftieth Indiana, and the Twenty-ninth and Thirty-third Iowa Infantry regiments. The amount raised was three thousand dollars. At a meeting at Gen. Bussey's head-
451
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
quarters, the regimental officers got into some misunderstanding, the result of which was that the twelve hundred dollars raised by the first two regi- ments named were returned to the individual donors. The Iowa regiments placed over Gen. Rice's grave, in Forest Cemetery, a fine marble shaft 23 feet in height and 5 feet 4 inches square at the base.
On the upper part of the column are the names of the actions, or expe- ditions in which the General was engaged; on the west, CAMDEN, PRAIRIE D'ANNE; on the south, HELENA, JENKINS' FERRY; on the east, TERRE NOIR, ELKINS' FORD; on the north, LITTLE ROCK, YAZOO PASS.
Below is the following inscription :
"SAMUEL A. RICE, BRIGADIER GENERAL U. S. VOLUNTEERS, Born January 27, 1828, Died July 6, 1864, Of wounds received at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry.
Erected in honor of their gallant leader by the members of the Twenty-ninth and Thirty- third Iowa Infantry Regiments of' Rice's Brigade.
Upon the left are cut the United States Flag and Shield; also a pair of muskets crossed in the form of an X. The monument was the work of Messrs. Glaze & Co., of Oskaloosa.
SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA.
The following beautiful poem, which has won for its author a National reputation, and has been sung in the theaters of Europe, was written in a Southern prison by Adjutant S. H. M. Byers, at present (1878) U. S. Con- sul at Zurich, Switzerland. In his little book, " What I saw in Dixie," on page 73-4, he copies from his diary, December 25, 1865, as follows: "This is my second Christmas in prison. * * * * Lieutenant Tower, of Ottumwa, Iowa, who had lost a leg in the army, and was afterward captured, is now to be exchanged and sent home. He wears a hollow, artificial wooden limb in place of the one he lost; this we packed full of letters, one of which contained 'Sherman's March to the Sea.' The Rebels little suspected our novel way of communicating with our friends. The Lieutenant went safely through, and the letters were all delivered":
Our camp fires shone bright on the mountains That frowned on the river below, While we stood by our guns in the morning And eagerly watched for the foe- When a rider came out from the darkness That hung over mountain and sea, And shouted " Boys, up and be ready, For Sherman will march to the sea."
Then cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman Went up from each valley and glen, And the bugles re-echoed the music That came from the lips of the men. For we knew that the stars in our banner More bright in their splendor would be, And that blessings from Northland would greet us When Sherman marched down to the sea.
452
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
Then forward, boys, forward to battle, We marched on our wearisome way, And we stormed the wild hills of Resaca, -God bless those who fell on that day- Then Kenesaw, dark in its glory, Frowned down on the flag of the free, But the East and the West bore our standards, And Sherman marched on to the sea.
Still onward we pressed, till our banners Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls, And the blood of the patriot dampened The soil where the traitor flag falls; But we paused not to weep for the fallen, Who slept by each river and tree; Yet we twined them a wreath of the laurel, As Sherman marched down to the sea.
O, proud was our army that morning That stood where the pine darkly towers, When Sherman said, " Boys, you are weary, This day fair Savannah is ours." Then sang we a song for our chieftain That echoed o'er river and lea, And the stars in our banner shone brighter, When Sherman marched down to the sea.
yours Viuly J.R. Çilma
CITIES AND TOWNS.
OSKALOOSA.
VERY much of the history of the county-seat has of course been involved in the history of the county. Oskaloosa was the first town of any import- ance, and since the time of its inception has been without a rival within the boundaries of the county.
The date and manner of its location and naming, in May, 1844, as well as a mention of many of its early institutions, has already been given. The first house built on the town plat was by Mr. D. Canfield, in the spring of 1844. Smith & Cameron started the first store about the same time.
G. W. Jones started the second grocery store, in which were kept such provisions as the country afforded and his capital would secure. A grocery that day also included a barrel of whisky in its staple stock, which was a. S out in quantities from a fraction of a pint to a number of gallons.
We have been informed by one who came here in September, 1844, that at that time there were no buildings upon the town plat except the resi- dence and boarding-house of Canfield and the store above mentioned. This, however, is probably a mistake, as mention has been made by others of sev- eral dwellings erected in Oskaloosa during the summer of 1844.
The fall and winter of that year found the tide of immigration rapidly increasing, and the growing number of saw-mills in the county affording more suitable material, the growth of the town was quite rapid, so that January 1, 1845, found Oskaloosa attaining the dignity of a village.
Wm. B. Street erected the first frame store building on the west side of the square, and was one of Oskaloosa's earliest and most enterprising mer- chants.
Mr.M. T. Williams is the oldest citizen of Oskaloosa now living in the place, he having settled here in May, 1844, at the time the town was laid ont, and though absent a part of the following winter, still maintained his residence in the village.
Sam'l Gossage, who first came here in the fall of 1844, is again a citizen of Oskaloosa, now being proprietor of the National Honse.
Dr.'s Weatherford and Porter located in Oskaloosa in 1844, and were the first physicians of the place. Dr. E. A. Boyer, of Jackson (now Scott) town- ship, had been the main practising physician in this part of the county pre- viously, sharing with Dr. Warren, late of Richland township, the frontier practice of this part of the State. Those physicians frequently rode beyond Des Moines to visit patients.
The first regular minister who came to Oskaloosa for the purpose of con- ducting religious services we understand to have been a young Methodist
28
456
HISTORY OF MAHASKA COUNTY.
theologue (a student from Cincinnati) about twenty years of age, who came to Mahaska county as a missionary and organized Methodist classes in pri- vate houses. It is probable, however, that the first regular class in Oska- loosa was organized by Rev. A. W. Johnson, in the fall of 1844, and in the house of A. G. Phillips. Others say Simon Cameron, a Cumberland Pres- byterian, was the first minister.
To the dweller in the county seat to-day it is a difficult matter to realize what was the appearance of Mahaska county and of Oskaloosa in the sum- mer of 1844, and for a few years following. To one standing in the middle of the square only a few scattered cabins were in sight. The "City of Trees " did not yet exist, and no foliage interrupted the view down the di- vide for miles, while away to the south stretched an unbroken sea of prairie grass. In that day no roads of iron bound the settler to the ready aid of older States, nor reached out their grips of steel to bring in the arts of trade or the means of progress. No metallic nerve held us in daily intercourse with a developed East and the progress of an older continent,
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