Publication of the Laws

A bill has passed the House, at Des Moines, requiring the board of Supervisors to publish the general Acts of the Legislature in at least one newspaper (that having the largest circulation) in each county.  The measure was pretty thoroughly discussed and passed, yeas 53, nays 39.  We are somewhat surprised that Mr. Caster of this County should speak against a measure of such evident utility.  The bill was introduced by Mr. Stanton of Washington Co., who, on a motion being made to strike out “shall” and insert “may” spoke against the amendment and is thus reported:

Mr. Stanton said he hoped the amendment of the gentlemen from Lucas would not prevail.  That there was too much discretionary legislation on our statutes.  The present law provides the same discretionary power in relation to the publication of the laws for the benefit of the people for whom the laws are made.  The compensation therefore was left with the Board of Supervisors – if they did not see fit to give the usual reasonable compensation they could cut it down one half, or to whatever figure they pleased.  The idea was to have the laws published so the people could get them, and not for the benefit of the county press, of which the gentleman had so much fear.  Many members who owed their seats here in no small degree to the influence of their county papers, come here and turn round and use their efforts towards cutting down what little patronage the press gets from the State to the smallest pittance.  The county press was entitled to some consideration at our hands, and there was not a single paper in the State, in his opinion, that would not be glad to publish the laws for anything approaching a reasonable compensation.  In many cases they were publishing them without compensation whatever and hoped the amendment, which only leaves the laws as at present, would not prevail.  While it would give a very limited compensation to county press for the work of printing and distributing the laws broadcast, it would confer a much greater benefit upon the people. – [Oskaloosa Herald.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

Christopher C. Perdue

CHRISTOPHER C. PERDUE, farmer, section 22 Liberty Township, was born in West Virginia, October 11, 1841, the youngest of ten children. When he was six years old his father died, and at the age of eleven his mother died. He was then practically thrown upon his own resources. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty third Regiment. His brother Daniel was in the same company. He was engaged in the third battle of Fort Donelson in February, 1863. In that battle Daniel was shot through the body, and only through the careful nursing of his brother was his recovery made possible. He was honorably discharged July 5, 1865, and returned to Warren County, Illinois, and afterward came to this county. Isaiah, member of the Ninth Iowa, died in Arkansas. Thomas, in Thirty-second Iowa, now lives in Nebraska. Christopher worked on rented land until he purchased his present home in the spring of 1869.  August 29, 1866 he was married to Miss Nancy La Follette, daughter of William La Follette, who settled in Liberty Township in 1855. Both parents are deceased, the mother dying in February, 1868, and the father in February, 1881, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Perdue was born in Boone County, Indiana, September 21, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Perdue have nine children James W., Francis M., Ella May, Clarence E., Hattie V., Giles C., Susan A., Martha J. and Mary E., twins. Ella May died at the age of two years. Mr. Perdue commenced here on wild land. He first purchased eighty acres and now owns 185, 120 under cultivation. He has held every position of public trust in the township except justice of the peace. In politics he is identified with the Greenback party.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 306-7

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, December 17, 1861

This morning we entered the town and made a search of all the houses for “secesh.”  We took seven prisoners, besides some arms and ammunition. This being a great apple country, we found stores of apples in the houses, and helping ourselves, we filled our haversacks. By one o’clock we had finished sacking the town and started back to our boats, arriving there at dark.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 24

William O. Parrish

WILLIAM O. PARRISH, M.D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Hopeville, is a native of Jackson County, Michigan, born March 8, 1839, a son of Orrin H. Parrish, who was born in Ohio, and is now deceased. His father being a farmer, our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits, passing his youth on his father’s farm. He received good educational advantages, and for a time attended Central University at Pella, Marion County, Iowa, his parents having settled in that county in 1857.  He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company B., Third Iowa Infantry, and serving over four years. He took part in the engagements at Blue Mills, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Hatchie River, sieges of Vicksburg and Atlanta, with Sherman to the sea; thence to Richmond, and from there went to Washington where he participated in the grand review.  Our subject attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, from which institution he graduated February 25, 1868, and the same year located in Galesburg, Iowa, where he began his life’s work.  November 22, 1871, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Emma A. Butin, a daughter of Madison Moore. Five children have been born to them, of whom four still survive – Earl O., Guy D., Jennie M. and William L. The doctor followed his profession in Galesburg till 1877, when he came to Hopeville, where he has since resided, and since coming here has become well and favorably known as a skillful practitioner, and has succeeded in establishing a large and lucrative practice. Doctor Parrish is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, and also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the Christian church.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 239-40

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, December 16, 1861

We reached Boonville at sunup, and landing, remained there about two hours, when we again boarded the boat and crossed to the other side of the river. We lay on the boat here till dark, when Company E and three other companies started for Boonesboro, seven or eight miles distant. Reaching the town we surrounded it and waited for daylight. On our way out we marched through some very heavy timber, where the sound of our tramping and the rattle of our bayonets aroused the many wood owls, and of all the hideous noises I ever listened to — it made my hair stand on end!

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 24

Private Enos Hammer, Co. G 7th Iowa Cavalry, to his sister, March 21, 1864 [Fragment]

Cottonwood Springs

Monday March 21st

Dear Sister

I take the present time to write you a few lines in answer to yours of the 8th.  I am well and enjoying myself bully.  I was but but a hunting yesterday and went  all over Nebraska Territory all but what it lacked.  It is a snowing a little today but I think [illegible] [a] off in the course of 5 minutes.  Has Ira got religion or not.  I believe you was a [illegible] does Luisa ever talk of getting it.  There has been several revivals out here about a week ago there was a great revival in camp one man got his snoot squished.  An other got the mug put on him.  And they went to the gard house to seek salvation.  There is not much difference in all revivals in [missing text] some talk  of the [missing text] driving us from land of  [kanion] . . .

SOURCE:  Letter listed for auction on www.ebay.com, July 17, 2012.  Only the 1st page of the letter was displayed with a tear in the lower left corner and a watermark in the middle of the page covering some of the text.

Sergeant Job S. Beals, Co. G 7th Iowa Cavalry, to Henry Hammer, July 11, 1864 [Fragment]

Topeka Kansas,

July 11th/64

Respected Cousins,

I take my pen this evening to drop you a few lines to let you know how Enos is as I supposed you would be anxious to know he [does not seem to be getting] better than  when I wrote to you before, he wil be apt to take a change one way or the other pretty soon.  The rest of the Newton boys are all enjoying pretty good health at present.  I have not time to write much at present  I wil writ again in a few days, and let you know how Enos is getting along.  This leaves me well and before it wil . . .

SOURCE:  Letter listed for auction on www.ebay.com, July 17, 2012, only the 1st page of the letter was shown with a watermark over the bracketed text.  No transcription of the letter was offered on the listing.

Sherow W. Parker

SHEROW W. PARKER, an active and enterprising farmer, and the present justice of the peace of Madison Township, residing on section 15, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, April 22, 1840, his father, Richard Parker, who is now deceased, being a native of the same county, and a carpenter and farmer by occupation.  Sherow W. Parker attended the common schools of his native county, where he received a fair education. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he has made his life’s work, and by his persevering, industry and good management he has met with success.  He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company C, Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, and during his term of service he was sick at Jeffersonville, Indiana, for five months. He participated in a number of engagements, among which were, Perryville, Kentucky, Chickamauga, Buzzard’s Roost, Rome, Georgia, and Kenesaw Mountain.  Mr. Parker was married March 20, 1866, to Miss Lizette Crew, a daughter of the late James Crew. Twelve children have been born to them – Katie, Sherman, Charles, Richard, Franklin, Homer, Alburtus, John, Lizetta M., Josiah, George and one deceased.  Mr. Parker located in Fulton County, Illinois, in the fall of 1865, living near Canton till the fall of 1869. He then came to Clarke County, Iowa, and the following spring settled on the farm where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising, his farm containing 156 acres of choice land. Mr. Parker has held several offices of trust since locating in Madison Township, serving as township clerk, road supervisor, assessor and justice of the peace, and for eight or ten years has been clerk of the School Board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 285-6

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, December 15, 1861

We landed at the little town of Providence, Missouri, about sunup and experienced our first day's march after the “secesh.” It was a delightful day. The few belated grasshoppers and crickets which escaped the cold spells were singing their farewell songs. We were all awake and keyed to the highest pitch, felt prepared to meet ten thousand “secesh” at any moment. A detail of cavalry was leading the way, and when at times our marching was delayed, each man anxiously wanting to know the cause, would peer forward over the shoulder of his file leader; but there was nothing to see.

At noon we stacked arms and ate our first lunch upon a march, and in the ‘secesh’s” country at that. Here we rested about two hours, until the cavalry returned. They reported that there was not a “secesh” to be seen in that part of the country, and I guess all heaved a sigh of relief in the thought that there would be no fighting today. We were ten miles out from our landing. Hastening our return march, we reached our boat at sundown, and boarding it, proceeded up the river.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 23-4

Jonathan S. Nelson

Private, Co. E, 36th Iowa Infantry

SOURCE: Listed for auction at www.ebay.com October 5, 2012

Mr. Seward On The Peace Policy Of The United States

The policy of the United States is set forth in a few golden sentences, which Secretary Seward writes to Mr. Harper Twelitree, who lately presided at a London meeting of congratulation over the settlement of the dispute between the two countries:

“The policy of the American people Sir, is a policy of peace at home, peace abroad, peace with all nations – a policy of freedom for themselves, of freedom in their extending empire, and a policy hopeful of and conducive to the ultimate freedom of all classes and conditions of men.  Whoever shall wage war against the American people, will find themselves obliged, not only to commit the first wrong, but to become, when they enter the contest, the enemies, not only of order, peace and progress on this continent, but of human nature itself.”

The letter which contains these remarkable expressions – which find sympathetic response throughout all the loyal States at least – is published in the London papers.  One would suppose it should forever give the lie to the misrepresentations which certain British journals persistently make, of the views of the Cabinet and Mr. Seward in particular.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

Forty-four kegs of powder were captured . . .

. . . from a boat at Philadelphia on Friday by the revenue officers, who suspected from the motions of the boat that the ammunition was to be used for illegal purposes.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

All the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canals . . .

. . . will probably be open for navigation of the first of next week.  The New York Canals will not be ready before the latter part of April.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

James C. Painter

JAMES C. PAINTER, proprietor of the flour-mills at Osceola, is a native of England, born in Berks County. He came to America when quite young, locating in the State of Illinois. He began learning the miller’s trade in Fulton County, Illinois, finishing his trade at Peoria.  He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 in Company F, Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry to serve three months. At the expiration of his term of service he reenlisted in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, in which he served till June 30, 1863. Mr. Painter is a thorough, practical miller, and has been connected with the milling business since 1861.  He came to Clarke County, Iowa, in 1868, and for about ten months worked for Raymond & Kelley, proprietors of the City Mills, at Osceola. He then went to Union County, Iowa, becoming a partner in the Afton Mills, being associated with the Grant Brothers, under the firm name of Grant, Painter & Grant. About five years later he disposed of his interest in the Afton Mills and returned to Osceola, Clarke County, forming a partnership with D. R. Raymond, which continued until June, 1881, when he sold his interest to his partner, and in October of the same year built his present mills, which are the principal flouring mills in the county. It is run by the roller process and turn out about forty barrels in twenty-four hours.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 390

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, December 14, 1861

We struck our tents early this morning and at sunup marched down to the landing on the Missouri river, where under the quartermaster a large detail of men worked nearly all day loading our commissariat on board the boats. At sundown our regiment, with a part of the Second Illinois Cavalry, started up the river.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 23

William Green Otis

WILLIAM GREEN OTIS, one of the oldest pioneers of Knox Township, was born in Washington County, Ohio, October 28, 1829, a son of James and Ellice (Bainter) Otis, the father a native of Vermont, who served in the war of 1812, and the mother born in Zanesville, Ohio. Her father was a wheelwright by trade, and was the first mechanic who settled in Zanesville. He was of German descent. James Otis was a son of Barnabas Otis, a descendant of the Puritans who came to America in the Mayflower, he being a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. James Otis were the parents of six children – Lydia M., James H., William G., Henry Clay, John B., and one who died in infancy.  William G. was nine years of age when his parents removed to Marion County, where he was reared. His early life was spent in helping with the farm work, and in attending the subscription schools of his neighborhood.  In 1848 he came to Iowa, and in the spring of 1849 he started on a trip through the State. He then returned to Ohio, and in September, 1850, came again to Iowa with a two-horse team, when he entered land from the Government on section 8, Knox township, where he has since resided.  During the late war he enlisted in the defense of his county, August 22, 1862, in Company K, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and participated in several skirmishes and engagements.  Prior to this he had joined the Iowa State Militia, and had marched through St. Joe, Missouri, where he was on guard duty for sometime. He received an honorable discharge at Washington City, June 5, 1865, when he returned to his home in Knox Township, where he has since followed agricultural pursuits.  Mr. Otis was united in marriage February 25, 1872, to Miss E. M. Morgan. Six children have been born to this union – Mary Estella, Elinor Morgan, Martha Ellen and three who died in infancy. Mr. Otis was elected justice of the peace in 1884, and served justice in an impartial manner to all who called before his jurisdiction, filling the office with credit for himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Greenback party. He is a comrade of Knox Post, G.A.R. He has a snug farm of fifty-six acres, his land being under fine cultivation. His residence and farm buildings are comfortable and commodious, and he has one of the best spring houses in the county.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 244

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, December 13, 1861

The Eleventh Iowa is at home now in wedge tents, with four men to a tent, and we are experiencing more changes in living. Irish potatoes have been dropped from our rations and we have no tables now at which to eat our meals. When the orderly sergeant draws the rations, the company cook calls out for every man to come and get his portion — of hardtack, bacon, sugar, salt, pepper, soap and candles. The cook makes the coffee, boils the beans and salt beef (fresh beef twice a week), and at noon calls each man to get his day's rations of bean soup and meat. The coffee he makes three times a day, each man having his own tin cup for his coffee. Each one prepares his own bacon to suit his taste, many eating it raw between two pieces of hard-tack. Every one has his own plate, knife and fork.

Our regiment received marching orders with ten days’ rations, and so we have to leave just as we were getting settled in our tent camp.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 23

The Censorship

Mr. Wilson of Iowa has made a report from the Judiciary committee, upon the censorship of the press.  It speaks of the Censor as almost entirely destitute of all the requirements for the discharge of his delicate duties, ignorant of public affairs, and frequently going even beyond his instructions, which went too far in that they empowered him to deal with dispatches relating to civil as well as military matters.

Mr. Wilson has given a history of the censorship from the dark days of April, when it was the Secretary of the Treasury’s prerogative, to the time of its transference through the Secretary of War to the Secretary of State, and after the assumption of the Present Secretary of war, to that of the War Department again.  He shows how, under Seward’s regime, it was perverted from its original intent; how stock jobbing dispatch – one from Bull Run Russell – got over the wires, while their use was debarred to correspondents of loyal journals, as in the case of the Trent affair decision; and now an extract from the President’s Message was telegraphed to the New York Herald, while dispatches touching the message to other journals were suppressed.  The report recommends the passage of a resolution indicating the sense of congress that the supervisorship be strictly confined to such intelligence concerning projected naval or military movements as is likely to give aid and comfort to the enemy, unless the Government require to take exclusive possession of the wires, then to act strictly under the authority of law.  The Committee express surprise that the order modifying Stanton’s first order was not signed by Stanton instead of Sanford, and find no fault with the present censorship since confined, so far as known to the Committee on Military Matters.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

The New Demand Notes

Thirteen million dollars of the new demand notes are expected to be ready in Washington on or about the first of April, the smaller denominations being issued first.  The whole ninety millions will not be completed, probably, before the middle of May.  The National Bank Note Company, by the arrangement, prints only the $50 and $100 notes.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1

Dedication of the Iowa Monuments at Shiloh National Military Park: Governor Cummins and Staff

Governor and Mrs. Cummins
Members of the Governor's Staff and their Wives

Photograph taken in front of the Iowa Monument at Shiloh.

SOURCE: Alonzo Abernathy, Editor, Dedication of Monuments Erected By The State Of Iowa, p. 276-7