Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages, Part 52

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Greene County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 52
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 52

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).

It is natural for the people to charge finan- cial and other troubles, from war down to erop failures, upon the party in power. So it was in those times, and the result was the ascendeney of the Whigs after the next elee-

tion, in 1840. On the Whig ticket, General Harrison, of Ohio, was the candidate for President, and John Tyler, of Virginia, for Viee-President. Mr. Clay, the most promi- nent Whig in the country, was not deemed available, and the leading men in the party were again put aside to make room for a military man, a step prompted by the ex- ample previously set by the Democrats in the case of General Jackson. The men who managed presidential elections believed then as now that military renown was a passport to popularity and rendered a candidate more sure of election. The contest before the peo- ple was a long and bitter one, the severest ever known in the country up to that time, and searcely egnaled sinee. The whole Whig party and the large league of suspended banks, headed by the Bank of the United States, making its last struggle for a new national charter in the effort to elect a Presi-

dent friendly to it, were arrayed against the Demoerats, whose hard-money poliey and in- dependent treasury schemes were met with little favor in the then depressed condition of the treasury. The Democrats worked for the re-election of President Van Buren, with Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, as Vice- President, but the Whigs were ultimately snceessful.

The question of extending slave territory by the annexation of Texas was the principal one in the eampaign of 1844, and avowedly so in the platforms. The Demoeracy nomi- nated James K. Polk for President and George M. Dallas for Vice-President. The Whigs nominated their great leader, Henry Clay, with Theodore Frelinghuysen for Viee- President. Owing largely to the influence of a third party, the Free-Soilers, ('lay was defeated in one of the elosest elections ever held.

Another presidential year brought forward

- - e

---

-- -

479

POLITICAL HISTORY.

new men and new issues. The Democrats nominated General Lewis Cass for President, and General William O. Butler for Vice- President. The Whigs took advantage of the popularity of General Zachary Taylor, for his military achievements in the Mexican war, just ended, and his consequent " availa- bility," nominated him for the presidency over Clay, Webster and Scott, who were his competitors before the convention. The party which had been made by the greatness of the latter won an easy vietory.

The presidential election of 1852 was the last campaign in which the Whig party ap- peared in national politics. It nominated a ticket with General Winfield Scott as its candidate for President. His opponent on the Democratic tieket was General Franklin Pierce. A third ticket was placed in the field by the Abolition party, with John P. IIale as its candidate for President. The political sec-saw now brought the Democrats in power again.

Thus at the beginning of the civil bistory of Greene County the Democrats were in con- trol, with Franklin Pierce as President, and the Whig party was disintegrating as a na- tional organization. The citizens of Greene County having come from those Eastern States where the Democrats were in the ascendancy, retained their politics after set- tling here, so that this was a Democratie county during its infancy. The Whigs, how- ever, never had a fair test of strength in this county, for in local elections personal popu- larity went much farther than partisanship, and before the county's polities was settled by a presidential election, the death of the Whig party was an accomplished fact, and a new organization, the Republican party, arose from its ashes. Henceforth the giant parties were Democrats and Republicans, the latter absorbing all the elements then existing .

opposed to the further extension of slavery. The new party was born in a number of places almost simultaneously, but in each case with the same motives and with similar constit- uent elements. The movement assumed definite shape in the summer of 1854. when for Governor of this State James W. Grimes was nominated by the Republicans, to oppose Curtis Bates, the choice of the Democracy. Iowa had hitherto been under the control of the latter party, but the Republicans now carried it, in their first campaign, and it has since remained in the ranks of Republicanism by majorities sometimes running as high as 80,000. Mr. Grimes's personal ability had much to do with the successful organization of the Republicans in Iowa. In this county the first Democratic convention was held on the banks of Hardin's Creek. in the woods back of Phillips' house, three miles below New Jefferson, to nominate candidates for county offices, to be filled at the August elec- tion in 1855. Every person present was nominated for some one of the county offices. The following is the ticket put in nomination: County .Indge, William Phillips; Clerk, S. G. Crumley; Treasurer and Recorder, James H. Phillips; Sheriff, Isaac D. Crumley: Prosecuting Attorney, Norman S. Daniels; County Surveyor, Allen JJ. Currence; Coroner, John Barr. The ticket was successful by varying but decisive majorities. At the general election of August, 1856, there were but two votes in the county for the Republi- can State ticket, to 106 for the Democratic ticket.

The first national convention of the Re- publican party nominated John C. Fremont for President. and William L. Dayton for Vice-President. Its platform consisted of a series of resolutions, of which the most important was the following:

" That we deny the authority of Congress,

----------

......

480

HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

of a Territorial Legislature, of any individual or association of individuals, to give legal existence to slavery in any Territory of the United States while the present Constitution shall be maintained."

The Democratic convention nominated James Buchanan for President, and John C. Breckinridge for Vice-President. It adopted a platform which contained the material por- tions of all its previous platforms, and also defined its position in regard to the new issues of the day, and declared (1) that the revenue to be raised should not exceed the actual necessary expenses of the Government, and for the gradual extinction of the public debt; (2) that the Constitution does not con- fer upon the General Government the power to commence, and carry on a general system of internal improvements; (3) for a strict construction of the powers granted by the Constitution to the Federal Government; (4) that Congress has no power to charter a national bank; (5) that Congress has no power to interfere with slavery in the States and Territories, the people of which have the exclusive right and power to settle that ques- tion for themselves; (6) opposition to Ameri- canism.

Buchanan was easily elected, and to this result Greene County contributed by a vote of 117 to 74; majority, 43. The county re- mained Democratic until 1863, when war issues produced a change. At the general election of 1857 local issues predominated. The Democratic majorities ranged from 7 to 51. The new Constitution, submitted to electors at this time, received 112 votes to 73 against it. This is the organic instrument still in effect in Iowa. The people having suffered from too many elections, one of the provisions of the new Constitution was to the effect that but one general election be held each year in October three years ont of four,

and in November in presidential years. This rule was followed for the next twenty-five years. The Democratie majority at the Oeto- ber eleetion was 68 in a total vote of 170, and in October of the following year 22 in a total vote of 230. This was the closest elec- tion yet held in the county, but the margin in 1859 was yet smaller. Samuel J. Kirk- wood and Augustus C. Dodge were the ean- didates for Governor on the Republican and Democratie tickets respectively, and a warm canvass was followed by a very full vote at the polls. Out of 272 votes in Greene County, Dodge's majority was 20. The majorities for the county offices were even less: judge, 15; treasurer and recorder, 3: sheriff, 2; drainage commissioner, 8; superintendent. 9; surveyor, 9; coroner. 17.

The four years of Buchanan's administra- tion were rife with political discussions on the slavery question, the status of the negro, and the troubles in Kansas. The Southern Democrats, true to the supposed interests of their section, became more aggressive in their demands in behalf of slavery, while their brethren in the North followed the lead of Douglas in endeavoring to compromise the slavery question. The two wings differed more and more widely as the months went by, and in their national convention at Charles- ton were unable to agree upon a platform or a candidate, so that the Southern Democrats withdrew in a body. The convention re-as- sembled at Baltimore, and after a protracted struggle nominated Stephen A. Donglas and HIersehel V. Johnson. Their platform de- clared that the decisions of the Supreme Court respecting the status of slavery in the Territories should be respected. The South- ern Democrats, however, held another con- vention and nominated John C. Breekinridge and Joseph Lane. The platform adopted contained, in regard to the main question at

4>1

POLITICAL HISTORY.

issue, the statement that slaves in the Terri- fories should be recognized by the Govern- ment as property.

The Republicans nominated Abraham Lin- coln and Hannibal Hamlin, and resolved that Kansas should be admitted as a free State, and that the Government should effectually prohibit slavery in the Territories. A so- called Constitutional Union Convention was also held, which nominated John Bell and Edward Everett.

The conclusion of this many-sided politi- cal fight was the election of Lincoln, who re- ceived, however, but two-fifths of the popular vote.

In this county the canvass was exceed- ingly warm, and 267 votes were cast, Doug- las receiving a majority of twenty-five over Lincoln. Neither Breckinridge nor Bell re- ceived any votes in Greene County. The majorities averaged about the same all the way down the State and local ticket.

In the State and county election of 1861 less than half the vote was drawn out, and there was a vast amount of " ticket scratch- ing," and scarcely any two received like majorities. these ranging from one up, in a total vote of 120. For Governor, Merritt's majority over Kirkwood was thirty-four. In 1862 the majority on the State ticket was fifteen; on county ticket, considerably larger. The civil war strengthened the Republicans in this State so that it was almost perfunc- tory that any other party made nominations. Colonel William M. Stone had made himself so popular by his services in the field that in the summer of 1863 he was nominated for Governor against James M. Tuttle. A large vote was polled in this county, which was swept, for the the first time, by the Republi- eans. Stone's majority in Greene County was 29, and the county ticket was even more sneeessful. The county has remained in the

Republican column since, nearly a quarter of a century.

In 1864 the war was being waged on a scale never before seen in history, at vast ex- pense, and it was uncertain how long the Confederacy could maintain armed resistance. The Republicans were generally unanimous in supporting the coercive policy of the Gov- ernment, while the Democrats, on the other hand, were in favor of a change of policy, and of peace on any terms that would save the Union. The Republican convention of 1864 therefore renominated Abraham Lin- eoln by a unanimous vote, save Missouri, whose delegation voted for Ulysses S. Grant. Andrew Johnson was nominated for Vice- President. The platform approved the eman- cipation proclamation, declared slavery dead, pledged support for the further prosecution of the war, and demanded the unconditional surrender of the rebellious States. The Democratic convention nominated George B. McClellan and George II. Pendleton, and adopted a platform criticising the methods of the administration. Lincoln received 212 electoral votes to MeClellan's twenty-one, the people indorsing the old maxim " that it is dangerous to swap horses while crossing a stream." The Lincoln tieket received a majority of 50 in Greene County, and the Re- publiean county ticket's vote was slightly larger than that for President.

In 1865 the Republican majority was larger than the Democratic vote, being over 100 in a total vote of nearly 300. In 1866 the total vote was increased by 70, and the Republi- ean majority by abont 60. These were dis- couraging times for the Greene County Dem- ocracy, but they put up their full ticket every year, and in 1867 were gratified by the par- tial success of cutting down the Republican majority to 86, in a total vote of over 500. The population of the county was now stead-

483

HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

ily increasing, as may be seen by the regu- larly swelling total vote. The forces of the two parties were well trained in these years, and generally voted straight. "Ticket scratching " was discountenanced.

Both parties desired to nominate General Grant in 1868, but the Republicans stole a march on their opponents by holding their convention first. Schuyler Colfax was named for Vice-President. The Democratic con- vention was for a long time unable to decide between Pendleton, Hancock, Hendricks and others; but on the twenty-second ballot Ho- ratio Seymour, whose name had been scarcely mentioned before, was unanimously nomi- nated, together with Francis P. Blair for Vice-President. An active canvass followed, in which the brief expression, " Let us have peace," in Grant's letter of acceptance, was liberally employed by Republican journals and orators to tone down what were regarded as rapidly growing race and sectional differ- ences, and with such effect that Grant carried all of the States save eight, receiving an electoral vote of 214 against 80. His major- ity in this county was 190, the largest ever given in the county up to this time. The total vote was less than the previous year.

In 1869 the Republican majority leaped to over 250, or more than the Democratic vote. The latter was less than one-third the total vote, which was nearly 700. The Democrats made no nominations in this county except for auditor and treasurer, but the vote was very close on those two offices, the majorities being 42 and 31 respectively. In 1870 there was but one ticket in the field, the Re- publican nominees having a " walk-over." In 1871 there were two tickets, but the majority for the controlling party was in- creased without effort to 350.

An issue raised in Missouri gave immedi- ate rise to the Liberal Republican party,

though the course of Horace Greeley had long pointed toward the organization of something of the kind, and with equal plain- ness it pointed to his desire to be its chan- pion and candidate for the presidency. In 1870 the Republican party in Missouri, then in control of the Legislature, split on the question of the removal of the disqualifica- tions imposed upon the rebels by the State Constitution during the war. Those favor- ing the removal of disabilities were headed by B. Gratz Brown and Carl Sehurz, and they called themselves Liberal Republicans. Those opposed were called and accepted the name of Radical Republicans. The former quickly allied themselves with the Democrats, and thus carried the State, though Grant's administration "stood in " with the Radicals. The liberal movement rapidly spread, and its leaders at once began to lay plans to carry the next presidential election, Horace Greeley was nominated for President and B. Gratz Brown for Vice- President. The Democratic convention in- dorsed these nominations, but a few dissatisfied Democrats named Charles O'Conor and John Quincy Adams. The Republicans re-nomi- nated General Grant, with Henry Wilson for Vice-President. The Republicans were over- whelmingly successful, not so much from the popularity of Grant as from the unpopular- ity of Greeley. In this county the vote was: Grant, 743; Greeley, 117; O'Conor, 113; a plurality of 626 in a total of nearly 1,000 votes. This majority has been won by the Republicans two or three times since. The ma jorities on county ticket were from 414 to 812.

In 1873 the majority on State ticket was 200; on connty ticket, somewhat more. In 1874 the majorities ranged from 340 to 500, and in 1875 they were as high on State ticket, but fell to less than 100 on all the county offices except anditor.

483

POLITICAL HISTORY.

The troubles in the South and the almost general overthrow of the " carpet bag " gov- ernments impressed all with the fact that the presidential election of 1876 would be ex- ceedingly close, and the result confirmed this belief. The Republicans nominated Ruther- ford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler, and the Democrats, Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Ilendricks. A third party had sprung into existence, called at first " Greenbackers," but latterly " National Greenbackers," who de- sired to relieve the financial crisis of 1873 and the hard times following by a large issue of irredeemable paper money. They nomi- nated Peter Cooper and Samuel F. Cary. After a contest for months over the returns of the election, Hayes was declared elected. The vote in this county was: Hayes, 1,310; Tilden, 480; Cooper, 184. The majority of 830 marks the highest point of the Republi- can wave in this county.

In 1887 Gear's plurality for Governor was 480; the majorities for county offices rang- ing from 149 to 313. The average Repub- lican majority was over 200, and in 1879 over 700. The difference was caused by " fusion " in 1878 between Democrats and Greenbackers, while in 1879 separate tickets were run. There was a contested election in 1878. For recorder, M. O. Robertson re- ceived 1,015 votes to 1,005 for James C. Toliver; but on a re-count, and deducting certain votes decided to be illegal, Toliver was seated by a majority of two. The total vote in the county was now over 2,000.

The year 1880 brought with it another presidential election. The nominees were: Republican, James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur; Democratic, Winfield S. Hancock and William H. English; National Green- back, James B. Weaver. The Republicans won, largely owing to the issue of a protect- ive tariff. The vote in Greene County was:

Garfield, 1,645; Hancock, 457; Weaver, 398; Garfield's plurality, 1,188. The majority for clerk of courts was 922; plurality for recorder, 485. The average plurality in 1881 was 900, there being no fusion. At the special elec- tion of June, 1882, 2,345 votes were cast, and the majority for the prohibition amendment was 799. In November, 1882, the Repub- lican majorities were nearly all over 800. Thomas C. Bigger was chosen recorder, however, by the narrow margin of 47. In the autumn of 1883 oceurred the memorable joint canvass of the three candidates for Governor, Sherman, Kinne and Weaver. Nearly 2,700 votes were east in Greene County, Sherman's plurality being 595.

For 1884 the nominations for President and Vice-President were: Democratic, Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks; Repub- lican, lames G. Blaine and John A. Logan; National, Benjamin F. Butler; Prohibition, John P. St. John. The campaign was a very bitter and disagreeable one, and will be remembered with little pride. The issue was partly personal, but Cleveland was elected principally on the demand for civil-service reform. Blaine has always been very popu- lar with the Republican party, and they were confident of winning with him as their can- didate. The election was a very close one, Cleveland's plurality in New York, the pivotal State, being but about 1,100. One of the incidents of this contest was the fact that many Republicans stoutly maintained that Blaine was elected, for weeks after the day the ballots were cast. The vote in Greene County was: Blaine, 1,924; Cleveland 1,525; Blaine's plurality, 399. This reduced figure was due to fusion on the part of the Demo- crats and Greenbackers.

In 1885 Governor Larrabee's plurality was 404, the same figures obtaining substantially on the whole Republican ticket.

------

484

HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

THE CIVIL WAR. K

OUT day-break on the 12th of April, 1861, the stillness of Charleston Bay was disturbed by the firing of a large mor- tar and the shriek of a shell as it rushed through the air. The shell burst over Fort Sumter, and the war of the great Rebellion was begun. In the North the hope had been tenaciously elung to that the peace of the country was not to be disturbed. This dream was rudely broken by the siege of Fort Sumter. The North awakened suddenly to the awful certainty that civil war was begun. There was a deep feeling of indigna- tion at the traitors who were willing to ruin their country that slavery might be secure. There was a full appreciation of the danger, and an instant universal determination that, at whatever cost, the national life must be preserved. Personal sacrifice was uncon- sidered; individual interests were merged in the general good. Political differences. ordi-

narily so bitter, were for the time alnost effaced. Nothing was of interest but the question how the audacions rebellion was to be suppressed and the American nation upheld in the great place which it elaimed among men.

Two days after the fall of Fort Sumter Mr. Lincoln intimated by proclamation the dis- honor done to the laws of the United States, and called ont the militia to the extent of 75,000 men. The free States responded enthusiastically to the eall. So prompt was their action that on the very next day several companies arrived in Washington. Flushed by their easily won vietory, the Southerners talked boastfully of seizing the capital. In a very short time there were 50,000 loyal men ready to prevent that, and the safety of Wash- ington was seenred.

The North pushed forward with boundless energy her warlike preparations. Rich men offered money with so much liberality that in a few days nearly $25,000,000 had been contributed. The school-teachers of Boston dedicated fixed proportions of their incomes to the support of the Government while the

485

THE CIVIL WAR.

war should last. All over the country the excited people gathered themselves into crowded meetings and breathed forth in fervid resolutions their determination to spend fortune and life in defense of the Union. Volunteer companies were rapidly formed. In the cities ladies began to organize themselves for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. It had been fabled that the North would not fight. With a fiery promptitude, unknown before in modern history, the people sprang to arms.

Greene County had at this time less than 1,400 inhabitants. With a population mainly devoted to agriculture, who knew nothing of war except by history or tradition, it could hardly be expected that a warlike spirit would soon disturb the peaceful population. But we know little of the fire that slumbers in quiet breasts until occasion calls it forth.

The stars and stripes were unfurled in all the principal public and business places in Jefferson, and meetings were held all over the county to express the loyal sentiment of the people. The promptness and unanimity with which Greene County's citizens set abont contributing their quota for the Union army will ever be a source of pride and won- der. At this date it seems almost incon- ceivable that the young farmers, mechanics, clerks and professional men could so soon drop their respective avocations and arrange themselves by companies and regiments to march at the word of command. Political and other differences seemed completely forgotten.

Under the first call of President Lincoln the quota of Iowa was fixed at one regiment, and this was filled up so promptly by those counties connected by railroads with the cap- ital and other rendezvous points that the re- mote counties, like Greene, stood no show until late in the summer af 1861. when,

among other regiments, the Tenth was organ- ized. Company II, in this regiment, was enrolled in the counties of Greene. Carroll, Calhoun and Johnson counties, abont two- thirds of the men being from Greene County. The Greene County boys in this regiment, together with such facts as can be obtained from the official reports are here given:

Jackson Orr, mustered in September 7, 1861 (the whole company was mustered in on this date), commissioned Captain Septent- ber 24, 1861, resigned Angust 8, 1863.

John H. Clark, promoted to First Ser- geant, wounded in the shoulder and head at Champion Hills, Mississippi, May 16, 1863; commissioned Captain August 11, 1863; mustered November 17, 1863, veteran; mus- tered. ont January 13, 1865.

William G. Onngst, promoted from First Sergeant to Second Lieutenant February 7, 1862; First Lientenant March 3, 1862; re- signed October 7, 1862.

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.

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 728

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 728