USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren 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 &c > Part 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Four years ago I thought I saw on the political horizon a cloud then no bigger than a man's hand, but now so broad as to portend a storm, and I then said in a public address: "Much has been said as to which should be the subject and which the master-capital or labor. Were the question submitted to me, which of these two elements should rule, my emphatic answer would be, neither. They should both stand side by side, co-equal, the one the complement of the other." And again I said, in speaking of toilers for wages: "Unless we build wisely for these as well as others, in less than two decades from now there will be formidable conventions of this great and increasing class demanding, by resolution and political action such legisletion as will fix their hours of daily work and the price per day for working same." But I may be asked for a specific for the difficulties suggested, and I panse only to outline two or three of the most effective remedies:
1st. The intelligence and morality which may be acquired through the influence of good schools, an open church, and a free press are the most ef- fective cures to communism. The intelligent and moral man or woman loves law and order, and will not consent to revolutionary measures either
1
580
WARREN COUNTY WAR RECORD.
to satiate partisan prejudice or to feed those who are hungry because they are unthrifty.
2d. The right to life, liberty, and the undisturbed ownership of prop- erty, all of which constitute a basis for the pursuit of happiness, should be impressed upon the young as a part of the teachings of onr religion, our polities, and our schools.
3d. We must believe ourselves and teach those who are to come after us, that industry, sobriety, and economy, and not speculation and extravagance, will alone lead to permanent success.
4th. We must come here at least once a year to impress ourselves that whatever else may betide, our first and highest political obligation is dne to our country.
I am not singular in these views. Agreeing with me are the wisest and noblest men in the country. But the other day Gen. Garfield, one of the truest, ablest and bravest men in Congress, declared (I give the spirit of his remarks caught from a telegraphic report,) that combinations prepar- ing violent measures to destroy the value of capital, should be met with force, whilst equally wicked combinations of capital, to oppress industry or overburden production are alike deserving the indignant condemnation of honest men.
Another useful lesson which an annual visit to these graves should teach us, is the folly of an unreasoning party spirit. I have no doubt of the value of political parties as the conservators of honest government. But when the spirit of partisanship reaches the point of willingness to subvert the government, or to endanger revolution for party ends, it has become the fell spirit of anarchy and treason. How widely at variance are the pur- poses of such partisanship with the teachings and practice of those who laid the foundation of our government, and with the spirit of our institu- tions as exemplified in their earlier history. When we look upon the billowy earth beneath which sleep one hundred and forty of the bravest and best of Warren county, and glance back over the four years in which the great events occurred that demanded and received these costly sacri- fices, and when we remember the grand inspirations which took hold of every loyal heart in America, sent brave men to the war, set their families and friends to devising means for making life in the camp more tolerable, inspired tender women and true-hearted girls to find their way to the front, where with super-human courage and fortitude they nursed and cared for the sick, wounded and dying, while their sisters at home prayed and knit and sewed and forwarded sanitary delicacies; how, as compared with such self-sacrificing devotion and excellence of character, the tricks of trade, the small ants of politics, and the schemes of selfish partisanship .minify the authors and rebuke the petty purposes which too often absorb our lives.
In what I have said to-day, I have spoken to the living more than of the dead. Our record is still to be made up; that of these men is complete. Their histories are closed. Poets may sing of them, historians may write of them, we mnay mingle our tears with those of their surviving friends, decorate their graves with beautiful flowers, erect marble monuments to their memories, enshrine their names in our heart of hearts, but all these things will neither add to nor detract from what they were. But if the fragrance of these flowers shall be reflected in our lives, if from henceforth our hearts are influenced to more tender solicitude for our fellows, if our
581
WARREN COUNTY WAR RECORD.
patriotism is more exalted, our natures more enlarged, and if our resolves to live truer and better lives are strengthened, we will not have come here in vain, and the mystic chords of memory stretching from these patriotic graves to the hearts and hearthstones will have touched effectively the bet- ter angels of our natures. In this spirit and with this purpose we should come each year, and in the language of Will Carleton, next to Whittier the most heart-winning of America's song-singers, we should:
" Cover them over with beautiful flowers; Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours; Lying so silent by night and by day. Sleeping the years of their manhood away: Years they had marked for joys of the hour; Years they must waste in the sloth of the grave. All the bright laurels they sought to make bloom Fell to the earth when they went to the tomh. Give them the meed, they have won the past; Give them the honors their merits forecast; Give them the chaplets they won in the strife; Give them the laurels they lost with their life. Cover them over-yes cover them over- Parent, and husband, and brother, and lover: Crown in your hearts these dead heroes of ours; And cover them over with beautiful flowers.
"Cover the thousands who sleep far away- Sleep where their friends cannot find them to-day; They who in mountain and hillside and dell Rest where they wearied, and lie where they fell. Softly the grass-blade creeps round their repose; Sweetly above them the wild floweret blows; Zephyrs of freedom fly gently o'er head, Whispering names for the patriot dead. So in our minds we will name them once more, So in our hearts we will cover them o'er; Roses and lilies and violets blue Blown in our souls for the brave and the true. Cover them over-yes, cover them over- Parent, and husband, and brother, and lover; Think of those far away heroes of ours, And cover them over with beautiful flowers.
"When the long years have crept slowly away, E'en to the dawn of Earth's funeral day; When, at the archangel's trumpet and tread, Rise up the faces and forms of the dead; When the great world its last judgment awaits; When the blue sky shall swing open its gates, And our long columns march silently through, Past the Great Captain for final review; Then for the blood that has flowed for the right, Crowns shall be given, untarnished and bright; Then the ear of each war-martyred son Proudly shall hear the good judgment, ' well done.' Blessings for garlands shall cover them over- Parent, and husband, and brother, and lover: God will reward these dead heroes of ours, And cover them over with beautiful flowers."
DECORATING THE GRAVES.
Governor Carpenter's address was a well prepared, finely delivered and commendable one. He spoke very distinctly and interested all who were
36
582
WARREN COUNTY WAR RECORD.
within the bounds of his voice. At its close some excellent music was con- tribnted by the glee club, after whichi 'Squire Cozad pronounced the ben- ediction, and the decorating committee, assisted by several little misses, proceeded to decorate the graves. Two fine bonquets and a saber made of flowers and evergreens were placed upon each grave. The soldiers followed the decorating committee, the company being divided into three squads, each of which fired a volley across the graves as they came to them. About twenty-five graves of soldiers, including the grave of one hero of the rev- olvtionary war, were decorated by the committee. Besides the flowers thus strewn a great many were placed upon the graves by private parties.
Decoration day passed off very successfully. The appropriate exercises that were held awakened patriotic memories, and, it is to be hoped, re- newed and intensified in the hearts of all who were present their love of country, besides creating a closer sympathy between those who joined in them. May its influence be lasting and profitable in the development of brotherly feeling. Mr. Berry remarked that the grave of a southern soldier had there been one in our cemetery, would have been decked with flowers with as much tenderness as was shown in the strewing of the graves of our northern heroes. This sentiment inet a response in the hearts of nearly all present, and especially in those of the veterans who met snch men face to face in our late struggle. If there could be mingled in our politics all over our land more of the decoration day spirit, it would not be long till there would be only geographical lines to divide the North and South.
THE HARD WORKERS.
Much credit is due to many ladies and gentlemen who rendered the va- rious committees such efficient aid. The ladies are especially deserving of thanks for their generosity in furnishing and preparing flowers. Without their assistance the day would not have been the success that it was. Thanks are also due to the little misses, who added so much to the pleas- ure of the occasion by the help they rendered the decorating committee. This committee would return earnest thanks to the following named misses: May Prichard, Alice Peck, Mamie Noble, Minnie Boatright, Gertie Ed- wards, Corena Carpenter, Ina Kircher, Ina Culbertson, Dolly Meek, and Minnie Shepherd.
Warren county furnished 966 soldiers in the war-about a full regiment -and her position was rendered honorable by the acts of her privates, as well as by her regimental and general officers. And those who remained at home did not forget their duty.
In 1865 there was levied and collected on the bounty fund, in Warren county, the sum of $924.45, and in 1865 the sum of $7,095.11, making a total for bounties of $17,019,56. There was levied and collected of the soldiers' relief fund, in 1864, the sum of $5,282.22, and in the year 1865 the sum of $5,995, inaking a total of relief fund of $11,277.98, and of both bounty and relief funds, a total of $28,297.24, in the space of two years. This is a very creditable showing, indeed, and deserves recognition in the military history of the county.
1
583
WARREN COUNTY WAR RECORD.
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 (1879) U. S. Con- snl at Zurich, Switzerland. In his little book, " What I saw in Dixie," on pages 73-4, lie copies from his diary, December 25, 1865, as follows: "This as 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.
.
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.
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY.
-
INDIANOLA.
A CKORS, ELIAS, laborer.
Alexander, J. B., tinner.
Anderson, J. P., deputy clerk. APPLEGATE, DR. A. J., physi- cian and surgeon; born in Trum- bull county, Ohio, in 1830, and was raised there on a farm; emi- grated to Iowa in November, 1856, and to this county in 1857, and engaged in farming and teaching school, and at the same time por- suing his medical studies; he en- listed in the 34th Iowa Infantry, and was afterward appointed Act- ing Assistant Surgeon U. S. A., and served until the close of the war, and since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession; he married Miss L. J. Hamilton, in 1865; she was born in Ohio.
ARMSTRONG, R. S., druggist; born in Rutland, Vermont, in 1850, and moved to Michigan in 1853, and to Indiana in 1863, and learned his present business in Elkhart, Indiana; he married Miss Laura E. Van Pelt, in October, 1873; she was born in Ohio; their family consists of two children: Mabel, aged two and one-half years, and Harry, an infant son. Austin, E., merchant.
Austin, J. B., shoemaker.
B ABB, R., proprietor of the Na- tional Hotel; born in Fred- erick county, Virginia, in 1810;
he was raised in this State on a farm until eighteen years of age; previous to this time he had crossed the Alleghany mountains three times with a six-horse team; in 1828 he moved to Ohio and learned the wagon-making trade, and carried on the business nine years; then moved to Clinton county, Indiana, and engaged in merchandizing; while living here was elected sheriff of the connty, and served four years; in 1849 he again changed his location, set- tling in Bloomington, Illinois, and engaged in selling goods and keep- ing hotel; he came to this county in 1854, and commenced trading in stock and selling goods; in 1866 he purchased the National Hotel, and has conducted it suc- cessfully since that time; he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Anderson, February 2, 1832; she was born in Greene county, Ohio; they have three children living: Martha J., now Mrs. Myers, Mary E., wife of J. H. Whitney, and Han- nah M .; they have lost fonr. Baker, O. H., teacher.
BAKER, Dr. E. L., physician and surgeon; son of the late Gen. N. B. and Lucretia Baker; born in Concord, New Hampshire; his father was a former governor of New Hampshire, and came to Iowa in 1856, and was the adjutant- general of the State from 1861 to
585
INDIANOLA.
1871, being in office during the time of the rebellion, and his name became a household word in every family. The subject of this sketch was educated at Racine, Wis., and the United States Naval Academy; he made choice of medicine as a profession, and re- ceived his medical education at the Rush Medical College, Chicago, and the Louisville Medical Col- lege, at Louisville, Kentucky; during the winter of 1872 and 1873 he was assistant-surgeon of the Marine Hospital in Lonis- ville; he came to this county in 1875, and has built up a success- ful practice; he also holds the of- fice of coroner; lie married Miss Eva N. Otwell, February 13, 1878; she was born in Bloomington, Indiana; they have an infant daughter.
Barns, S., constable. Barker, A. W., merchant.
BARNS, JOHN W., sheriff of Warren county; was born in Madison county, Indiana, in 1841; he came to Clayton county, Iowa, in 1851, and moved to this county in 1857; he was raised a farmer and owns a farm of 300 acres; he enlisted in the 34th Iowa Infan- try, during the late war, and served three years and was in fonrteen general engagements; he has held various township offices previous to his election to his present position in 1877; he mar- ried Miss Cynthia Bundy in Au- gust, 1866; she was born in Quincy, Illinois; they have four children: Lora, Walter, Clyde and Charles R.
BARKER, M. R., merchant; was born in Gallia county, Ohio, in 1825, and was raised on a farm; he came to this State in 1845, and settled in Fairfield, Jefferson county, and lived there five years, and then removed to this county in 1850, and has been selling goods
since that time, his being the oldest house in business in the city; he married Miss Rachel L. Cox, in 1850; she was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1858; he afterward mar- ried Miss Esther A. Cox, a sister of his first wife; she was born in Indiana; their family consists of three children, by first marriage: Arthur W., Alice M., now Mrs. Berry, and Louisa K., now Mrs. C. H. McCune; two by second marriage: George E. and War- ren W.
Beck, Josiah, Jeweler.
BERRY, W. H., attorney; of the firm of Henderson & Berry; was born in Cass county, Illinois, in 1849, and removed with his par- ents to this county in 1867; he was educated at Simpson Cente- nary College, and graduated in the class of 1872; lie read law, and was admitted to the bar be- fore Judge Maxwell in 1873, and has been associated with J. H. Hen- derson in the practice of his pro- fession since that time; he mar- ried Miss Alice M. Barker, daugh- ter of M. R. Barker, Esq., one of Warren county's early settlers, in 1875; she was born in Indianola, and educated at Simpson Cente- nary College, and graduated in the same class with her husband. BERRY, REV. T. S., President of Simpson Centenary College; was born in Cass county, Ill., in 1841; his early life was spent on a farın; lie enlisted in the 114th Illinois Infantry during the late war, and was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Company D; he was wounded at Guntown, Miss., and taken prisoner and held in the hands of the enemy eleven months; after his discharge from the army he attended Garrett Biblical Insti- tute, at Evanston, Ill., and gradu- ated in 1870; he also graduated at the Northwestern University, in
586
DIRECTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
the same place, in 1872; his first
charge was at Carlisle in this county; he was for a
time pastor a church in Des Moines, and later in Indian- ola; in July, 1878, he was elected President of Simpson Centenary College, and under his leadership it has been eminently successful; President Berry has pursued his ministerial calling with untiring zeal, energy, and with a success which has earned for him no in- ferior rank among the clergy of. the State; he is a man of strong sharp intellect, untiring ambition and an attractive speaker; the suc- cess that has crowned his efforts, and the prominence he has at- tained, while yet so young, is a monument which might satisfy an ordinary ambition; he married Miss Lou A. Van Eaton, a native of Cass county, Ill., in 1865; their family consists of two children: Hattie and Mary.
BISHOP, A. C., attorney; was born in Warren county in 1850, and raised here; he was educated at Simpson Centenary College, and Des Moines University, and grad- uated in 1874; he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1876; he is associated in the practice of his profession with W. F. Powell, under the firm name of Powell & Bishop.
Bonney, G. H., physician.
Bradshaw, Charles, tinner.
BRYSON, JESSE, proprietor of the Novelty Mills; was born in Lancaster county, Penn., May 3, 1837, and was raised there in the milling business; he came to Muscatine, Iowa, and lived there one year; and in 1856 settled in Iowa City, and lived there until 1869, when he removed to this city; in 1876 he built the above named mills at a cost, including ground, of $15,000; it is fitted
up with the latest improved ma- chinery, and the demand for his- flour often necessitates the run- ning of his mills day and night; he married Miss Eliza Hagens in 1855; she was born in Lancaster county, Penn .; they have six children: Frankie, now Mrs. Shepherd, Charles L., Millie, Harry, Joie and Jessie.
BUFFINGTON, C. A., druggist; was born in Madison county, Ill., in 1841; he was raised in this county and St. Louis, where he learned his present business; he lived in Quincy eight years, and Indianapolis three years, previous. to his coming to this county in May, 1876; he married Miss Ly- dia Lane in 1875; she was born in Pike county, Illinois.
Burkett, John, jailor.
Burtch, Nelson, laborer.
Burtch, A. E., painter.
Burbery, Stephen, grocer.
Butler, O. K., jeweler.
BUTLER, W. H., retired farmer: was born in Virginia in 1815, and came to Indianola, with his pa- rents, in 1821; he was engaged in stock trading, in Wisconsin, for about fifteen years; he came to this county in 1864, and bought the land that he now owns, which consists of 335 acres, and also owns a nice residence in town, which he occupies; he was married in Indianola, in 1858, to Miss S. E. Truitt; they have a family of two sons: William F. and Edward P. He was through the Northern part of the State as early as 1845, but did not locate; since he came to the county his occupation has been that of a farmer.
C ALHOUN, REV. JOSEPH, .clergyman.
Calhoun, S. S., commission mer- chant.
CAMPBELL, J. W., dealer in hard- ware, stoves and manufacturer of
587
INDIANOLA.
tin-ware; was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1825, and lived there until 1857, and then came to Washington county, Iowa, where he resided until his removal to this county in 1867; he married Miss Lizzie Riddle in 1845; she was a native of Mahoning county, Ohio; their family consists of five children: Nancy A., Valerie J., Alice C., Mamie R. and Lizzie E.
Carpenter, G. C., professor. Carter, J., barber.
CARRUTHERS, W. B., of the firm of Hall & Carruthers, attor- neys, abstractors, real estate agents and money loaners; was born in Scotland in 1823; came to the United States in 1835, and settled in North Carolina, and in 1837 removed to Ohio; he was raised a farmer and for six years was en- gaged in teaching; in 1854 he re- moved to Washington connty, Iowa, and engaged in mercantile pursnits; in 1866 he removed to Knoxville, Marion county, and en- gaged in the lumber business; while living here he was elected mayor of the city; he came to this county in 1874; he married Miss Susan J. Brownlee in 1845; she was born in Rockbridge coun- ty, Virginia; their family consists of three children: Maggie J., now Mrs. Patterson, Robert E., now a resident of Shelby county, Iowa, and John Howard, a graduate of the State University.
CARPENTER, WILLET, livery stable; was born in York State in 1872; when about six years of age his parents moved to Michigan where he remained till 1854, when he came to this county; he mar- ried near Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1854, and started to his present home the next day; the maiden name of his wife was Miss Lora A. Garrett, a native of Canada;
he commenced blacksmithing in 1847 and followed it till 1869; he ironed the first wagon and buggy that was built in the county; has lost one son: Leon; he was raised a farmer till about twenty-one years of age; in 1851 he went to California and spent three years and returned with three dollars.
CHESBROUGH, N. G., black- smithi; was born in Otsego coun- ty, New York, in 1821, but raised in Albany City till 1851, when he emigrated to Galesburg, Ill., where he lived abont fifteen years, and then went to Chicago where he made his home till he came to this county in 1871; was married in Albany, in 1848, to Miss Eliza- beth Abel; they have a family of two daughters: Mary A. and Millie J .; he learned his trade when about nineteen years of age, and bas followed it as an avocation ever since.
Chaffin, Leander, farmer.
CHESHIRE, JOHN; was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, Oc- tober 3, 1825, and when ten years of age removed with his parents to Fayette county, Ohio, where he remained three years, when he re- moved to Athens county, Ohio; remained there until 1855, when he removed directly to Indianola, coming all the way in a two-horse wagon; he engaged in the mercall- tile business, at first, for a few years, alone, and afterward, for ten years in partnership with his brother, Wesley; in 1871 he re- tired from that business, and upon the organization of the Warren County Bank, became its presi- dent, which position he still holds; Mr. Cheshire is an excellent busi- ness man, 'safe, conservative and watchfnl, and one who possesses, in an eminent degree, the confi- dence of the public; he was mar- ried April 21, 1855, to Miss Sarah
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.