History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 82

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958

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A COMPROMISE ATTEMPTED AND OPPOSED.

Accompanying is an extract from the preamble and resolutions adopted on that occasion :

WHEREAS, It is believed that the above proposals, and others substantially similar promised soon to be made, cover and include more than three-quarters of said indebtedness, and that it is to the advantage and benefit of said county to accept and approve said proposals, therefore, be it

Resolved, That said proposals so made and to be made as above stated be, and hereby are, approved, in accord- ance with said compromise laws, and the faith of lowa County is irrevocably pledged for the faithful and prompt fulfillment of the terms thereof, etc.

The ayes and noes on the resolutions were as follows :

Ayes-Bainbridge, Barnard, Coates, Dimock, Humbert, James, Knight, Robinson, Spens- ley, Van Dusen and Zimmer-11.

Noes-Bennet, Davies, Jones, Meigs and Paull-5.

On motion, G. C. Meiggs, of Arena, was appointed a Commissioner to supervise the issue of compromise bonds. "To see that said compromise bonds are properly made, signed, issued in proper amounts, recorded and delivered only upon settlement, on the terms aforesaid, of at least three-fourths of said debt ; and that the proper lawful stipulations are filed in the courts where said judgments are in each case, so that on payment of the compromise bonds the judg- ments will be surely released and satisfied, and to report fully their acts and doings in regard thereto to the board at its next meeting.'

The publication of these resolutions aroused a feeling of resentment from center to circum- ference of the county, and an acrimonious newspaper discussion was instituted by men who fancied their interests endangered, and consequently felt themselves aggrieved. More litigation was engendered by this puerile opposition.

The same proposition was made to the Common Council of Mineral Point, and unani- mously approved at a meeting of the Railroad Bond Committee held July 14, 1873.

In the carly part of August, 1873, Joseph Blake, President of the Ridgeway Farmers' Grange, obtained an order from Judge Wilson restraining the Board of Supervisors from con- summating the compromise. In the demand for an injunction, it was alleged that the County Board was about to issue $300,000 of new bonds which were to be delivered to Messrs. Luther Beecher, Dodge, Carpenter and others. It was also asseverated that, by the terms of the con- tract, in the event of a single non-payment, the county would be rendered liable for the full amount of the assigned judgments and the new redemption bonds. The plaintiff was repre- sented by M. J. Briggs as legal counsel, with whom were associated in this case Messrs. Strong & Weber, Reese & Carter and the Hon. Alexander Wilson.

In support of the injunction, a public meeting was held at Dodgeville August 12. 1873. Joseph Blake was chosen Chairman, and E. T. Wrigglesworth was elected Secretary. A series

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

of resolutions were adopted, and a committee of three was appointed to present them to the County Board for their consideration. The committee consisted of James Stephens, of Ridge- way ; Samnel Hoskins, of Dodgeville, and Alex Wilson, of Mineral Point. At the meeting of the County Board, the following resolutions of the meeting were read :

Resolved, That we are in favor of a settlement of our county indebtedness at fifty per cent on the dollar, on the amount due.

Resolved, That as fast as said fifty per cent upon one dollar of said indebtedness is paid, the owner or owners of said indebtedness shall release and discharge one dollar of said debt, and so on until the whole amount of said indebtedness is liquidated and discharged.

Resolved, That we are opposed to the issue of new bonds, unless double the amount of the old debt is sur- rendered therefor ; that we are opposed to the recent settlement of a large amount of said indebtedness by the Board of Supervisors of this county for the following reasons: That we thereby ineur new obligations without eaneeling or discharging any of the old ry the issuing of new unnegotiable bonds, and delivering the same to the judgment creditors. That in case of the failure of the county to pay any and all of its installments, at the time and manner agreed upon. the payments made are only to be credited dollar for dollar on the judgments, and no provisions for the return of the new bonds. That in ease of failure, the old judgments are to be held good and binding with no deductions or offsets except payments actually paid.

This session of the board, in character, was one of the most turbulent and noisy that ever occurred in the precincts of Iowa County. The board met at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. and adjourned at 10 P. M., only to meet next day. Messrs. Wilson, Weber and Strong all deliv- ered cogent arguments against the ratification of the compromise. They were followed by Messrs. Henry and Smith in justification of the agreement sanctioned by the board at its previ- ous meeting. During the second day's session, a variety of resolutions and declarations were presented for adoption. The introduction of these measures served only to prolong the argu- ments pro and con, and intensify the excitement, which soon ascended to fever heat. Finally, a committee, composed of G C. Meiggs, Joseph Bennett, 1I. Van Dusen and W. T. Henry, was appointed to visit Detroit and New York, and confer with the bond-holders for a modifica- tion of their terms, and $500 was appropriated to defray the expenses of such negotiation. A report was presented at a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, convened September 16, 1873. In their report, the committee set forth that they had, in pursuing their instructions, visited Detroit and New York, where they had interviewed the principal bond-holders on the question of settlement. The New York claimants had referred them to Luther Beecher, and. on application to that gentleman, he and his attorneys refused to make any concessions. As to the second modification, they insisted that they must have new negotiable bonds, but entirely repudiated any idea or intention of having them so issued that the county would, in any event, be liable to pay anything twice ; expressed great astonishment that any one should hold such an idea, and said that the proposal and agreement fully provided for the entire safety of the county in that respect. Mr. Henry, one of the attorneys, then and there drew up a form for the stipulation provided for in the proposed agreement, and the same was ratified and agreed to by both Mr. Beecher and his attorney, Mr. Miller. As to paying all in one payment next April. Mr. Beecher, having evidently formed the idea that the county would prefer to and was likely to do so any way, would only agree to discount the difference between 8 and 10 per cent inter- est for any payments made before due.

The foregoing stipulations, consisting of four closely written pages, were submitted to the meeting, and, on motion of Mr. Robinson, were adopted. On application of Mr. Meiggs, the resolution passed at the July session, appointing him to aet in conjunction with W. T. Henry. was amended by the insertion of the name of Joseph Bennett instead of that of the applicant.

On a motion to dissolve the Blake injunction, Judge Mills rendered judgment adverse to the county, and re-affirmed the powers of the writ which enjoined the Supervisors from issuing any so-called compromise bonds.

SETTLEMENT, PROCEEDINGS AND FINAL REPORT.

Being restrained from canceling the railroad bonds by the issue of redemption bonds. the Board of Supervisors, at a meeting held November 21, 1873, resolved to levy a tax of $150.000

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

on all the taxable property as shown by the assessment rolls for that year, it was levied, and nearly all of it promptly paid by the people, paid over to the Fund Commissioners of the county, by the County Treasurer, as the funds came into his hands from time to time, and used in making the first payments on the bond debts previously contraeted to be settled. The payments were based on the settlement of 65 cents on the dollar, in six payments, with 8 per eent interest, each payment to cancel one-sixth part of the interest and debt.

According to the provisions of Chapter 207 of the Private and Local Laws of Wisconsin for 1869, entitled " An Aet to provide for a Board of Fund Commissioners," Joseph Gundry, Samuel lIoskins and David MeFarland were appointed Fund Commissioners, to hold office for the respective terms of three, two and one years, according to the above order of mention. Joseph Gundry returned his commission and respectfully declined to aet. John J. Ross was then appointed to fill the vaeaney.

The Committee on Bond Settlement reported, March 19, 1872, that to meet the bonds held by Charles H. Tweed, of New York, the sum of $21,000 was borrowed for sixty days at 10 per cent interest. The proceeds were paid to C. H. Tweed, in New York, to meet nineteen bonds of $1,000 each, with accumulated interest from 1857, at the rate of 8 per cent. The total of these bonds, including interest, was $41,166.66, for which the sum of $20,583.33 was paid. County notes, bearing 10 per cent interest, and redeemable in one year, were issued at William T. Henry's banking office, for $8,865. The County Clerk issued similar paper eover- ing $2,135.

In November, 1876, the Fund Commissioners submitted a report, showing the extent of their operations since the date of their appointment. It was shown that a loan of $50,000 had been received from the State Treasurer, which, together with a balance of $11,441.05, had been invested in United States bonds, leaving a net eash balance of $2,678.25.

On June 12, 1878, the Bond Fund Commissioners submitted their final report to the Board of Supervisors. The report was duly audited, and, the accuracy of the statements having been verified the Commissioners were relieved from further labor. As the report contains a suceinet review of the bond redemption, it is deemed worthy of publication in full :

DODGEVILLE, June 12, 1878.

TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF IOWA COUNTY :

Gentlemen-The Fund Commissioners beg leave to report that since the date of their last report, they have settled the Curtiss and Bradley judgments, and have paid in part the only other outstanding judgment, and have made arrangements for its entire extinguishment, as will be seen by the stipulation submitted herewith for your approval. They were the following judgments docketed September 19, 1878 (?), in the U. S. Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, as will be seen by the copy of the release hereby submitted, viz., Daniel Ogden Bradley and Charles Curtiss vs. the Board of Supervisors of lowa County ; judgment nud costs, $17,168.14. Charles Curtiss vs. The Board of Supervisors of Jowa County ; judgment and costs, $19,358.83. On computing the original judgments, of which this was a result, the Commissioners discovered an error of $1, 760, by which sum this judgment was reduced. These judgments, with interest computer from date of judgment to date of payment, April 16, 1878, amounted to $38,622.83. This was paid at 95 cents on the dollar. amounting to $36 691.69.

The only other judgment is the Il. E. Bowen judgment, commonly known as " The Mariner Claim," and which has been so fruitful of mandamuses and arrests for contempt. This judgment was recovered April 20, 1870. for $50,284.35. To this is to be added eight years' interest, at " per cent, and $973.37 costs on mandamures, etc., in all amounts to $79,400. On this judgment, the Commissioners paidall extraneous amounts with interest, and issued new bonds dated May 1, 1878, for the balance of St5 010. These bonds were to bear interest at 7 per cent, and to become due ; $10,000 in 1886, $20,000 in 1887. $20.000 in 1888, and $15,000 in 1889, thus deferring the payment of any part of the principal until the moneys borrowed from the State shall have been paid. It will be seen by the stipula- tion with Mr. Marioer that to remove any doubts as to the legality of the new bonds, the county is required to pro- eure the passage of a special act, legalizing the issue of the new bonds before the judgment can be fully satisfied. Under ordinary circumstances, this would have delayed the final settlement until after the session of the next Legislature. Being anxious to finally release themselves and the county from any further trouble in the master, the Commissioners thought it best to endeavor and get sueh law passed at the late special session of the Legislature

For this purpose. Mr. Mariner was requested to draw up such an net as would best entisfy himself, and Con- missioners Vivian and Bennett visited Madison to secure, if possible, its passage at the special session. In this they were successful, although both Houses had resolved to do no business except the specinl business for which they were convened. A certified copy of said Jaw is herewith submitted, with copies of the State paper in which it is published. The thanks of the Commissioners are due to Senator Archibald Campbell for its passage through the Senate, aud to llon. William Carter, who championed it in the Assembly. From the best information they enn get. there are out- standing yet in unknown hands one bond and some coupons. If presented before the regular session, the Commis-

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

sioners will have enough funds to settle them. Mr. Mariner also claims that some errors have erept into his eompu- tation, which will alter, possibly, the figures of the final settlement. For these reasons the Commissioners propose to delay their financial statement until your regular session. when, having finished the business intrusted to them, they will be prepared to submit their accounts and pay over any balance.

The settlement will leave the county indebted to the State $150 000, to Mariner $65,000, in all $215,000, a frae- tion over 3 per cent on the county assessment as equalized by the County Board. By this settlement, the county will have to levy $20,000 of the principal, and the interest on the whole debt each year until 1889, when there will remain only $15,000 to be paid. The annual tax for this purpose will be little more than it has been for the last two years, as the interest is larger, but the interest charge will decrease each year as the principal is reduced. The payments for the coming year will be in round numbers $35,000, which is a fraction over the half of 1 per cent on the county assessment, as equalized by the board. This will be the largest payment, as the interest will be steadily reduced each year. Respectfully submitted.

JOHN 11. VIVIAN, JOSEPH BENNETT, L. W. JOINER.

The last recorded event in the bond history is found in an entry on the records under date of November 13, 1878, which satisfactorily disposes of the nefarious business.

Resolved, That a hearly vote of thanks he and the same is hereby tendered to said Fund Commissioners, for the able and satisfactory manner in which the most vexed matter that ever Iowa County has been engaged in, has been finally and forever settled.

CHAPTER VIII.

WAR RECORD.

INTRODUCTORY-FIRST VOLUNTEER COMPANY IN THE STATE-THE FARMERS' GUARDS-GENERAL EVENTS-RIOTOUS VETERANS-THE DRAFT-BOUNTY DIFFICULTIES-THE CAMP AND FIELD- ROSTER OF VOLUNTEERS.

INTRODUCTORY.

When the wild wave of secession overrun the country, disrupting all social and political ties with the upas influence of its baneful presence, the enlightened people of the North sprang to arms and clamored loudly to be led against the presumptuous foe.

The spontaneity of the rally in the South, the perfected details attendant on a seemingly hurried organization, were all too palpable to be accepted as other than indications of a long-brew- ing conspiracy, subtile in the magnitude of its ramifications. The boasted anticipation of the rebels to decimate the Union and erect on its smoldering ruins the foundation of a Confederacy based on perpetual slavery, was speedily dissolved into a truly utopian scheme of illusive com- prehension. Striking the first blow on an unsuspecting fraternity, the enemy was soon placed in command of the vantage points of the South. The coast defenses and naval stations invit- ingly awaited their approach, with dismantled battlements and impoverished equipments. Fol- lowing up their initial successes, the elated adherents of the confederacy of Jeff Davis boldly advanced on the capital with the preconceived intention of seizing the seat of Government and subverting it to their own aims ; but in this they happily failed. Quickly recovering from the shock of assault, the North rallied to arms, and volunteers for three months' service eagerly poured in from all sections of the Union. The disastrous battle of Bull Run, fought on July 21, 1861, developed the true nature of the struggle. A patriotic Congress, roused by the zeal of its loyal President Lincoln, and the shadow of impending destruction, appropriated $500,- 000 for war purposes, and a call was issued for half a million volunteers by the President.

With bated breath, all Europe watched the internecine combat then culminating, and con- jectured the probable results. England, ever jealous of her seion's advancement, could not repress a native instinet of revenge, and insidiously sought to undermine the Federal Govern- ment by treacherously aiding the enemy. The prestige of the Union was darkly clouded, and a positive vindication of its majesty was essential to a maintenance of its power among nations.

Public enthusiasm was most intense and spontaneous in its generation. With Revolutionary blood coursing in their veins, the men imitating the example of their grandsires, actually aban- doned the implements of their calling, and flocked to Mineral Point for enrollment. These in- cidents have not had their origin in the active brain of some story teller of the people, as they are fully vouelied for by substantial testimony. This feature was more particularly illustrated in Linden, where many men abandoned their plows in the field and volunteered for military duty. The adopted citizens of America's free soil were also numbered among the first to stem the tide of rebellion.

THE FIRST VOLUNTEER COMPANY IN THE STATE.

At the outset, when the first news from Fort Sumter had been received and canvassed, "old lowa " with her war-worn Indian laurels, proffered the services of the first body of men from Wisconsin. The Miners' Guard, an organized militia corps, volunteered for " the front." Their services were accepted without demur, and, having perfected preparations, they were en- rolled under the national flag as Company I, of the Second Wisconsin Regiment. At the close of their three months' service, Company I re-enlisted as a veteran corps, and served throughout

546

HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

the rebellion with credit to their country and distinction to themselves. On the day announc- ing the capitulation of Fort Sumter, intelligence of the event was received in Mineral Point and disseminated over the county with electric rapidity ; recruits flocked in from the adjacent regions, and speculation was rife regarding the outlook. The Miner's Guard mustered in the morning. and, without any concerted action, the depleted ranks were filled within an hour to overflowing, being swelled from a petty force of sixty mnen to a strong corps of 130 soldiers.

As the State militia laws limited the strength of a single company to seventy-eight men, a new difficulty presented itself to the officer in command. His ranks were filled to repletion, and how to reduce the strength baffled his ingenuity. Not a single volunteer offered to relinquish his post, until eventually the problem was solved by the appointment of a committee of three, deputized to select sixty men for home duty. The committee men were Amasa Cobb, now Judge in Nebraska, John Bracken and Joseph Smith. They were faithful in the execution of their delicate duty, selecting so far as possible men of families, whom they peremptorily ex- empted from service in the Miner's Guard. Although peace was restored by this harmonious arrangement, yet the city still continued in a ferment of excitement. owing to the receipt of a rumor that the rebels were advancing on Cincinnati. Patriotism was fully aroused, and pro- visions were hastily packed into improvised haversacks, that Capt. Allen with the company might depart on the noon train, should the information be confirmed. Before noonday the rumor was exploded, and local matters were restored to a comparative quiet.

A brief history of the new Miner's Guard will not seem here inappropriate. This com- pany was organized in May, 1860, under the laws governing the State militia, by Maj. Clowney. The first officers were Captain. Ed Devlin ; First Lieutenant, Ed M. Bliss; Second Lieuten- ant, Thomas W. Bishop ; Sergeants, Eugene Early, William W. La Fleiche, Joseph J. Davey and William H. Wren ; Corporals, Cornelius James, George Harris, John Lanyon and Edwin Andrews. In the first year of its existence, the Miner's Guard was occupied in organizing and mastering the details of infantry drill. The members soon exhibited such remarkable profi- ciency on the occasions of public parades, that they rapidly acquired the title of a crack corps, not excelled by any similar body of men in Wisconsin. They were first equipped with worth- less muskets of the flint-lock pattern, which did very well for drill purposes, but which were en- tirely inadequate to a hostile intent. These muskets were returned to Madison at the declara- tion of war, and modern rifles supplied in their stead. The Miner's Guard received orders to report at Camp Randall in May, 1861. Pending the time of their departure, the ladies of Mineral Point industriously employed themselves in various ways, and, on the day of parting, each man received a liberal supply of provisions to carry him on his journey. Company I, as we will now call them, rendezvoused at the court house, where, falling into line, they marched to the public square where wagons were in attendance waiting to convey them to Madison by way of Arena. They arrived at the capital in May, 1861, and were assigned to quarters in Camp Randall.

The following list of the officers and privates of the Miners' Guard (Company I) of the Second Regiment, is taken from the Madison Journal :

Captain, T. S. Allen ; First Lieutenant, William W. LaFleiche Second Lieutenant, Thomas W. Bishop; First Sergeant, Ed. Devlin ; Second Sergeant, Alonzo Bell; Third Ser- geant, James Gregory ; Fourth Sergeant, Oliver W. Sanford ; Fifth Sergeant, William Noble ; First Corporal, J. Jacobs ; Second Corporal, F. Frank Wheeler; Third Corporal, Thomas Maloney ; Fourth Corporal, George B. Otis : Fifth Corporal, Richard L. Gidley : Sixth Corporal, William Muesser ; Seventh Corporal, George H. Legate ; Eighth Corporal, Samuel W. Smith ; Drum. mer, Charles H. Holden ; Fifer, Frederick Peuschel.

Privates .- Luke Avery, John Anderson, A. T. Budlong, Delos P. Beach, Henry Burg- hardt, Seth H. Bohall, Henry Balke, W. F. Benny, Daniel Bice, Frederick Breme, Francis Casey, R. Chesterfield, Samuel Coker, Henry H. Coats, H. P. Curry, George W. Dilley, Silas Edgar, John M. Furz, Richard Gundry, William Grant. Nicholas Geib, J. Goldthorp. Jacob Gundrum, George Gilbert, George Harris, William E. Hease, Fred Holtze, J. F. Johnson, B.

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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

F. Knowlton, Isaac Kay, G. Mauger, C. Keline, C. Kessler, Philip Lawrence, George B. Lathrop, Charles F. Lathrop, Peter Labonde, W. Loofborrow, D. W. Maffit, A. Miller, John McCormick, James McCormick, Charles Milch, W. A. Nelson, W. Owens, A. C. Perry, E. Peterson, J. Perine, Thomas Pascoe, William Pollard, James Prideaux, Charles Rowland, T. H. Rowland, W. Richards, William Raske, Henry Riddle, Michael Rantner, W. P. Smith, C. Schlosser, B. F. Satterlee, S. W. Sampson, A. M. Seymore, John M. Tennis, John Tregea, Leonard Tregea, Mark W. Terrill, W. Virgin, Cornelius Wheeler, J. O. Williams, George W. Williams, Michael Welch, Joseph Weber, George Wilkinson, Samuel Whitehead, George Yeuck.

THE FARMERS' GUARDS.

Actuated by the patriotic ardor of the Miners' Guards, a new company was soon after or- ganized under the agricultural patronymic of the Farmers' Guards. L. H. Whittlesey was elected Captain. On enlistment, the company was enrolled as Company E, of the Eleventh Regiment, and served in various parts of the South with distinction, as will be seen by consult- ing the record of the Eleventh Regiment.

September, 1861 .- The following is a complete roster of Company E: Captain, Whittle- sey ; Lieutenant, Powell Shepard ; Sergeants, Priestley, Jones, Trevillian, Olmstead and Phelps; Corporals, Kirkpatrick, Melvin, Weisea, Bracken, Prisk, Budlong, Moore and Shead ; Privates, Alfred Allan, Joseph Arthur, Grant Anderson, Calvin P. Alling, Phillip Bennett, John Duaz- zell, George Beaumont, William H. Bennett, Michael Barnes, John Brennan, James Bothnes, Abram Barrett, Jones Bryan, Matthew G. Curry, T. W. Curry, J. D. Carpenter, Andrew Carr, John Crabb, Ezekiel Chaney, B. A. Callahan, James M. Dain, Thomas T. Davis, Reese T. Davis, F. McEnloe, J. T. Evans, William Evans, George Hartley, Moses Hulen, John Hunter, T. J. Jones, James Kilpatrick, Edward King, John Logue. Alexander Ludlenn, L. D. Libby, M. Latch, John Latch. D. W. Murphy, Andrew Marr, B. W. Moulton, H. McLenahan, Charles Mason, James Martin, Danicl McWhaen. Isaac Newton, Edward Newton, W. H. Ottiker, Will- iam Odgers, Nelson O'Connor, John Ohle, Thomas Powell, Tyler S. Prentice, T. W. Prisk, O. W. Phelps, Jer Phelps, J. G. Parry, Henry Rule, John Reeves, P. M. Palmer, Patrick Ruddy, Mat Richardson, Robert Sherritt, John Shea, P. P. Stoner, J. Stoner, Thomas Smith, John Stevens, Thomas M. Satterlee, James H. Evans, T. Scraggin, Henry Fuller, John Scott, C. W. French, Robert Scott, D. A. Gray, Alexander Shannon, M. D. Gibson, Henry A. Gardner, Steve Hoskins, Abram Hendrickson, William Trude, Daniel Thomas, John Thrasher and James White.

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History of Iowa County, Wisconsin, Part 82

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 958