Iowa
Old Press
THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
June 4, 1903
IN THE OLD DAYS. Dr. Hill Tells Our Readers of
An Old Event
The speaker for Memorial day was Rev. Dr. E. S. Hill, a former
Fremont county boy, now a Congregational minister at Atlantic. He
came here from the "Western Reserve" in 1856, later was
graduated from Tabor College, served through four years of the
Civil War, in the 4th Iowa Infantry, coming home as Captain of
Company A, lived for a time at Tabor, then went to Grove City
where he established a church. Three years later when the
railroad came through, the town including the church and the
pastor, was moved to Atlantic, where he has been for the past 34
years, being in point of service, the oldest Congregational
minister in Iowa. In his younger days he did some newspaper work,
his first articles being written for the Sidney Union, before the
war; and a description of the battle of Pea Ridge in which he
took part, being sent to the same paper. The Doctor is a most
entertaining talker either off or on the platform and among other
interesting things which Dr. Hill tells is an incident of
"Underground Railroad" days that occurred in Mills
county, and in which he took an active part.
In the winter of 1859 a party of four negroes escaping from the
Cherokee country had reached Mills county on their way to Canada
and freedom. In the Mud Creek neighborhood they, and the young
white men who
were helping them, were arrested by a party of rebel
sympathisers. The white men were arrainged for trail before
Esquire Kelley, whose grandchildren still live in the county.
Under the fugitive slave law, then in force,
the penalty for aiding slaves to escape was a fine of $250 and a
heavy penitentiary sentence for each offense.
The negroes were taken to the house of Joe Foster, a notorious
character of those days who lived on what is
now called the Flanagan farm in Ingraham township. Here they were
hidden in the barn under straw, and well guarded, the plan being
to take them to Missouri, sell them and divide the money among
their captors. The news was carried by Eli S. Wing to Deacon
Daniel Briggs' farm near Glenwood, and from there a messenger was
sent on to Tabor, then an abolition stronghold, where a rescue
party was speedily organized, Dr. Hill himself, then a youth,
being a member of it.
The trial was set for Sunday and lasted till about ten o'clock
that night, Squire Kelley at last dismissing the case because the
witnesses could not prove that they owned the negroes or were
agents of their owners, and only owners or their agents could
bring such a suit.
But during the course of the trial William B. Wilson, a trusty,
but at that time unknown member of the Union party, gave the
rescuers a tip that the slaves were at Foster 's and were to be
rushed across the Missouri border that night in case the trial
went against the "copperheads' as they were called. The
Tabor party had left most of their weapons at Deacon Briggs when
they went on from there to the Squires.
Finding that the rescue of the fugitives must be made now or
never, they determined to attempt it unarmed, but on leaving the
house of James F. Wing's, where they had been for supper, they
found Mrs. Wing cutting hickory poles into clubs for their use,
"And we were glad to get them, too," Dr. Hill says.
Acting on their information and soon finding the trail of the
Foster party in the snow, the Tabor men overtook the wagon near
White Cloud, surrounded and captured it. The whole company then
went on to Tabor reaching there for breakfast Monday morning,
Foster swearing that he'd never lose sight of the
"niggers" but would "follow them to Hell if
necessary to get them".
At Tabor, the landlady, Mrs. West, a staunch Abolitionist, as
were all Taborites was interviewed by one of Dr. Hill's party
with the result that she declared she wouldn't serve breakfast
with the negroes in the room. So the darkies were put in a small
room opening out of the dining room and having a convenient back
window. The door was left open that Foster might keep an eye on
them as he so much desired. But presently he became involved in a
heated arugment with Dr. Hill and Robert Hunter, who succeeded in
interesting him so thorougly
that he forgot to watch. The door closed softly, a younger Hill
and a conrad helped the black men out of the window, across the
street and into another house: but by time Foster recovered his
temper and his wits, they
had disappeared and no one in Tabor was able to remember seeing
them. In point of fact, they were kept hidden for a time, then
driven across country fifty miles to Lewis, the next station on
the Underground, and from there passed on 'till they were safely
across the Canada border. Some years later, Foster, the leader of
the Copperhead party, was shot by a sheriff in Missouri while
fleeing from arrest, and his body carried down the Missouri
river. "Got his deserts," said some.
--
From the Randolph Enterprise: "Last Monday F. P.
Spencer began tearing down one of the old land marks of the
town--the building just north of the postoffice. This building
was erected in November, 1880, by Isaac Johnson near the present
site of the stockyards and by him used as an implement office.
About 1884 it was moved to its present location and twenty feet
added, also another story built on to be used for lodge purposes.
Mr. Spencer purchased it about fourteen years, ago, since which
time the lower floor has been used by him as an apple packing
establishment almost exclusively. The upper part was used as a
lodge room for the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Woodmen orders up to
the time of the completion of the two new bricks a little over
one year ago. The lumber will be used in erecting another
building east of Tebo's blacksmith shop, 20x30 feet and one story
high, in which Mr. Spencer will continue his apple packing and
commission business."
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THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
June 25, 1903
MORTUARY REPORT
Mrs. Nellie Billeen died at the home of her daughter ,
Mrs.Gilbert Griffin, Sunday, June 31st, at 3 p.m., after an
illnessof only a few days. The funeral was held at the Locust
Grovechurch Tuesday at 11 p.m. after which the remains were
interredin the Locust Grove cemetery. The address was given by
Rev.Culvert. The tenderst sympathies of their many friends
isextended.
Nellie Nelson was born in Sweden in 1818. She was married to
Mr.Billeen in 1844 and has lived in this country several years.
Shewas, while in Sweden, a member of the Baptist church and
unitedwith the same organization in this country. As a wife,
mother andneighbor her virtues were unexcelled. She was the
mother of ninechildren, five of whom died in infancy. The other
four and herhusband she leaves to mourn her death. The sons and
daughtersliving, who by name are, Oscar and Charles Billeen and
MesdamesLush and Griffin, all reside in Locust Grove township.
MORTUARY REPORT
George Somners of Atchison county, Missouri, died Friday after
ashort illness. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife and
elevenchildren, all of whom were present at his funeral, but
two,Hershel and Amos, residing in Idaho. Three of the children,
Ben,Prudence and Claudia, were living at home at the time of
theirfather's decease. Mrs. Sadie Bunn lives very near to her
parent'shome and Arthur resides in Madison township.
Those who came from distant homes were Hugh and Milo, who live
inNebraska, Mrs. Patience Swift, from Winfield, Kas., and Mrs.
Emma King of Red Oak.
The family took the death of the husband and father very hard.The
younger ones who had been at home during his declining
years,found it especailly hard to control their grief.
The funeral was held from the Locust Grove church Saturday,
thesermon being preached by Rev. Merser of Northboro, assisted
byRev. Culver, of Shenandoah. A very large crowd of
sympatheticfriends were present.
George Somners was born in Indiana in the year 1828 and was there
wedded to Miss Susan Jenkins. They came to Atchison county,
Missouri in 1879 and has since resided there, a prosperous farmer
and highly respected citizen. By his death many people will lose
an old esteemed friend.
[submitter: W.F.]