Iowa
Old Press
The Loyal Citizen
Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa
Wednesday, September 26, 1866
EAGER TO BECOME A SOLDIER; HANDSOME LIZZIE.
The hospital matron at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, one day had
the routine of her official duties varied by detecting the form
of a young lady in the habiliments of a young man, the wearer of
which was an applicant for enlistment. She was sent to the office
of the Department Provost-Marshal, where she declined to make any
statement as to her name, history, ect. At length, however, she
concluded to tell her story. Her proper name was Lizzie Cook, and
her home lay in Appanoose county, Iowa. Her father was in the
First Missouri State Militia, and met his death in a skirmish at
Walnut Creek, Linn county, Mo. Her brother held the position of
sergeant in the Fifth Kansas. A desire to reach him, and a
disgust at the monotony of woman's life, with a wish to serve her
country, led her to determine to assume male attire and volunteer
as a soldier.
She accordingly left her home and proceeded to Keokuk, where she
worked as house servant for a family needing such help, till she
had earned money enough to buy a suit of boys' clothes. She
bought and donned them, and as soon as she had done so, started
for St. Louis. Here she put up at the Everett House, registering
her name as Wm. Ross. In the morning she took the cars for Benton
Barracks, and was there proposing to enlist, when, failing to
carry out her disguise to the requisite degree of nicety, she was
detected.
Lizzie was a young lady of about twenty summers, tall,
fine-looking, intelligent, animated in conversation, and
expressed a strong desire to shoulder a musket and do with it
what she could for the glorious cause of the Union.--It was
concluded, however, to commend her to the attention of the Union
Aid Society, and, greatly to her disappointment, Lizzie was
denied the satisfaction of engaging in her country's cause in the
way she had marked out. A fine specimen of a whole-hearted,
finely formed, patriotic, Western girl, was handsome Miss
Lizzie.--Anecdotes of the War.
MARRIED
September 16th, 1866, at the house of John Gordon, by
Judge S.M. Moore, MR. JOEL McCLARD to MISS MARY A. GOHDEN, all of
Appanoose County.
Also, at the same time and place by Judge S.M. Moore, MR. URIAH
HALLECK to MISS ELECTA A. DALE.
On the 19th day of September, 1866, at the house of Mrs. Sarah
Meadows, by S.M. Andrews, Esq., MR. JOHN H. KINCADE to MISS
FIDELIA MEADOWS, all of Appanoose County.
A SHOOTING AFFRAY--A terrible affray occurred at
Wells' Mill, in this county, on last Sunday. It seems that Wm.
Edwards, Jr. had purchased a lot of Perry Staten, and on this lot
were a few rails claimed by Hardin Guinn. On Saturday Mr. Guinn
removed the rails on to his own lot.--On Sunday Mr. Edwards went
out to move them back, and while so engaged was fired upon by Mr.
Guinn, though without effect. At this time Calvin Edwards came
out of the house with a revolver in his hand and was immediately
fired upon by Guinn, the shot taking effect in the side, passing
through the body and lodging against the skin by the spinal
column. He walked about thirty yards and fell dead. There were
four of the Guinns and three of the Edwards's besides the one
killed, and it appears that among them several shots were
exchanged without effect until Mr. Guinn had gone to his store
and seated himself by the door, when a load of buck shot was
discharged by some one, three of the shots taking effect in his
body, and one shot wounding his son, Joseph, a lad aged about
twelve years. The boy was not seriously hurt, but Mr. Guinn was
not expected to recover.--From the many reports flying the above
appears to be the most reliable.
LATER.--We learn from parties direct from Wells Mill that the
above account of the afair is substantially true. Mr. Guinn,
however, is not so badly hurt as was reported and will probably
recover. The boy is hurt worse than was reported and some doubts
are entertained of his recovery. Mr. Guinn and two of his sons
are under arrest, and closely guarded. Mr. Lewis Edwards was
arrested and afterwards released on parole.
From twenty-five to thirty shots were fired during the fracas.
--
-Turn out on Saturday the 29th inst., to hear the speech of Hon.
S.J. Kirkwood.
-Mr. G.A. Bryan has on hand at his store a fine lot of
"bellflower" apples. There is no better fruit in the
market.
[transcribed by P.E., January 2006]