|
blind, called upon Isaac to come and care
for him, this being about the year 1849. Prompted by filial
duty, the latter obeyed and from that time until their
respective deaths he remained with his parents and ministered
to their necessities and comforts, and continued to live there
until his wife’s death.
About 1860 or 1861 he exchanged land in
Indiana for real estate in Fayette county, Iowa, the latter
being on Crane creek, Bethel township, to which he removed the
latter year, bringing with him a sorghum mill which he set up
and operated for some years thereafter. In 1870 he disposed of
his interests in the above named township and transferred his
residence to Chickasaw county, where he lived during the four
years ensuing, then moved to Illinois, where he spent two
years, removing at the expiration of that time to Chanute,
Kansas, where his death subsequently occurred at the ripe old
age of eighty-four years. By his first marriage Isaac Brockway
had six children, and his second marriage resulted in the
birth of five children: Minnie, Isaac Brockway, Jr. (who now
lives at West Union, this state), Milo, Luela and Orra.
George F. Brockway spent his early life at the parental home,
and while a mere youth learned by practical experience the
true meaning of honest toil. While in Indiana he decided to
sever home ties and make his own way in the world,
accordingly, in company with the hired hand, he stole quietly
away without his father’s knowledge and went to Michigan,
being about sixteen years old at the time. After spending a
few months in that state, he made his way to Walworth, Wayne
county, New York, where his mother’s sister was then living,
and with his aunt he made his home during the next few years,
working for neighbors by the month. At the expiration of the
period indicated he engaged with the Quakers at Farmington,
Ontario county, for whom he started work at a monthly wage of
six dollars, invariably receiving an increase in wages with
each new contract, and remaining in that locality until the
national sky became overcast with ominous clouds of civil war,
when he severed his connection with his employers and tendered
his services to the government, enlisting on October 15, 1861,
in the First New York Battery, under Capt. T.J. Kennedy, with
Auburn as headquarters. This was the “banner” company of the
Empire state at that time and shortly after the organization
was completed it reported to Secretary Seward at Washington,
D.C., and was given a very flattering reception at the White
House by President Lincoln, who, in a brief, but felicitous
speech, congratulated the men as follows: “Soldiers, I am glad
to see you, and presume that you are glad to see me. If you do
your duty in accordance with your appearance we will have
nothing to fear; God bless you.”
After protesting at remaining longer at Washington, the
battery was assigned to the Army of the Potomac under General
McClellan, from which time until the cessation of hostilities
it took part in some of the most noted campaigns of the war,
its record of thirty-two important battles, to say nothing of
skirmishes and minor engagements, equaled by few such
organizations and exceeded by none. Captain Kennedy resigning
after the battle of Williamsburg, the command afterwards fell
to Lieut. Andrew Cowan, who proved a brave and faithful
officer until mustered out after Lee’s surrender. A special
bronze panel has been placed on their monument at Gettysburg,
on which Mr. Brockway is shown as number six, in the act of
fixing ammunition. He was the only available man on his gun
when the battery was ordered to change position. The First New
York Battery consisted of six guns, with six horses, three
drivers and six cannoneers to each, besides the officers, and
regardless of loss this quota was maintained in full
throughout the war. Possessing mechanical skill of a high
order, Mr. Brockway was made artificer, and in this capacity,
by untiring energy, methodical measures and courteous
treatment, he was, by acclaim, given the title of “Colonel.”
The greatest loss sustained in any one engagement was at Cedar
Creek, where, within a comparatively short time, twenty-one
brave men gave up their lives for their country, besides the
loss of one gun, but the latter was re-taken by a volunteer
squad just previous to the capture of twelve thousand
Confederates by the Union forces. Not infrequently were the
men on duty the entire night.
Although Mr. Brockway was not in the
battle of Cedar Creek, being on detached duty, he worked all
the following night remounting the gun that had been disabled
during the day’s fighting. He was the first one to re-enlist
in the battery. The real service of this splendid battery will
never be adequately known and only approximately estimated. At
the expiration of the time for which it entered the service
the entire command was kept intact until the close of the war,
though few of the original members were with it when the
Confederacy collapsed and the Grand Review at the national
capital took place. The battery was assigned an important
place in that never-to-be-forgotten parade, and attracted the
enthusiastic attention of the throngs which it passed, because
of the splendid appearance of the officers, men and guns. Mr.
Brockway was rendered totally deaf in the right ear during his
service. Receiving his discharge shortly after the review, Mr.
Brockway returned to New York, where he remained until 1866,
in February of which year he came to Iowa, where his father
was then living and whom he had not seen since leaving home
when a youth of sixteen.
By diligence and economy the meanwhile he
had succeeded in accumulating eighteen hundred dollars. With
this neat little sum he purchased a mill-site at a point of
Crane creek known as Port Washington, investing the greater
part of his means in the venture. In due time he began to
develop the water power at the above place, but, losing his
wife about that time and experiencing other reverses, he
finally after considerable financial loss abandoned the
enterprise and purchased seventy acres of land adjoining a
part of his present farm, and began work of its improvement.
The land was covered with scrub and small timber and much
labor was required to reduce it to cultivation, but in due
time the owner’s efforts resulted in the making of a
comfortable home and the placing of himself in comparatively
easy circumstances.
By judicious management Colonel Brockway has been enabled to
add to his possessions from time to time until he owns a half
section of as fine land as Eden township can boast, nearly all
under cultivation and improved with good buildings, fences,
etc., the farm being especially adapted to stock, in the
breeding and rising of which he has been more than ordinarily
successful. In connection with his agricultural and live stock
interests he has a large plant for the manufacture of sorghum,
and also operates a threshing machine during certain seasons,
for which a gasoline engine furnished the motive power.
As stated in a preceding paragraph, Colonel Brockway has a
natural aptitude for mechanical work and all kinds of
machinery, and on his place are various contrivances and
devices which during a year save him no little time and money.
He has been successful in nearly all of his undertakings and
is today not only among the leading farmers and stockmen of
his part of the country, but also occupies a prominent place
among the county’s financially strong and public spirited
citizens. Prior to and after the breaking out of the great
Civil war he was an ardent admirer and stanch supporter of
President Lincoln and he continued with the Republican party
until 1896, when he cast his vote for William Jennings Bryan.
Since then he has been practically independent in politics,
advocating principles and measures which he considers to be
for the best interests of the people and voting for the best
qualified candidates irrespective of party.
The domestic life of Colonel Brockway dates from May 1, 1867,
when he was united in marriage with Almira Rogers, daughter of
James Rogers (see sketch), the ceremony taking place at West
Union. Mrs. Brockway died in 1875, leaving no issue, and two
years later the subject married Sarah Leese, of Bremer county,
this state, the union being blessed with five children: Major
A., who farms a part of the home place and whose wife was
formerly Cora Young, of Fayette county; Mary, the second in
order of birth, has been a teacher for a number of years in
Michigan and now holds an important position in the high
school of Hawkeye, this county; Barry, who is a farmer and
stock raiser of Eden township, married Minnie Houser and lives
on a part of the homestead; Myra is still with her parents and
has the reputation of being an expert cook and housekeeper;
Katie, the youngest of the family, died in infancy.
~transcribed by Nancy Schroeder
|
Join Our Team