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         JOSEPH BOLTZ, one of the enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Morning Sun Township, residing on section 33, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., on the 20th of June, 1834, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Shires) Boltz, who were natives of the same county, the father born in 1808, the mother in 1810. They were married in Lebanon County, and there a family of ten children was born to them, eight of whom reached maturity: Simeon, who is living in Columbiana County, Ohio; Joseph, a resident of Louisa County; William, whose home is in Dauphin County, Pa.; John, who was among the first to respond to the country’s call for volunteers during the late war, and served until its close, is now living in Lebanon County, Pa.; Rebecca, wife of Ephraim Mochmer, of Berks County, Pa.; Catherine, wife of Samuel Clark, of Lebanon, Pa.; Mary, wife of R. R. Snavely, of Lebanon County, Pa.; Fannie, wife of William Elliott, also of Lebanon County. In early life Mr. Boltz was a Whig, and a great admirer of Henry Clay, and at the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, being one of its ardent supporters until his death, which occurred in 1881. Mrs. Boltz died Aug. 18, 1888, in Lebanon County, Pa. They were both members of the German Reform Church.

The subject of our sketch was reared upon a farm, and received his education in the district schools and in an academy of Pennsylvania, which he attended one term. In the spring of 1857 he came to Burlington, Iowa, whence he crossed the plains to Denver, which was then less than a year old. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the 1st Iowa Cavalry, being mustered into the United States service at Burlington, where the regiment was stationed until the 1st of September, and in the winter of 1861-62 was engaged with the four companies, A, F, G and I, in scouting expeditions along the Missouri & Pacific Railroad; Companies B and D were stationed at Lexington, C and H were at Jefferson City, while E, K, L and M remained at St. Louis under the command of Col. Warren. In March, 1862, the Colonel was ordered to establish his headquarters at some point in the State, and cut off the supplies that were constantly being sent to Price’s army in the South, so during the latter part of March the companies of the regiment were united at Sedalia, and on the 8th of April headquarters were established at Butler and Bates, while detachments were stationed at Osceola and Clinton. On the 2d of May, Col. Warren with 200 men, and a part of the 1st Missouri Artillery, marched to Marudes Cygnes, where he captured thirty prisoners and a quantity of powder and lead which had been buried. On the 9th all the serviceable men of Companies A, G, H and M, with a small body of Missouri cavalry, all under Maj. J. O. Gower, struck the trial of Quantrell’s band, four miles west of Pleasant Hill, in Cass County, and soon found them well stationed in the timber cliffs of Big Creek. Maj. Gower attacked the enemy with great energy, and after a spirited contest completely routed them, killing and wounding a large number. On the 2d of August, a detachment from Companies E, L and M, under Capt. Caldwell, encountered a band of guerrillas, in the timber on Clear Creek, in St. Clair County. The outlaws were well armed and under command of the notorious Clowers. After a brief and desperate struggle, in which eleven of the enemy were killed, the Union troops being greatly outnumbered, withdrew to the prairie to await reinforcement, and in the meantime the enemy withdrew and no further action took place. The posts at Butler and Osceola were now broken up, and the regiment returned to Clinton, where for the first time after leaving Burlington all the companies were united again. Early in September Col. Warren resigned to accept a commission as Brigadier General; Lieut. Col. Gower was promoted to Colonel; Maj. . . .

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. . . Bryan to Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. Caldwell to Major. On the 20th the regiment broke camp at Clinton, taking a line of march to Springfield, Mo., where for the first time it was assigned to a brigade. The service of the regiment up to this time had been of the most distasteful character, being principally engaged in hunting guerrillas and bushwhackers. From Springfield it marched through Jollification to Newtonia, thence through Gladfly to Cassville, and on the 18th of October crossed the Pea Ridge battle-ground at Elkhorn Tavern, and camped on Sugar Creek, near Bentonville, Ark. On the 20th, at 5 o’clock P. M., the regiment broke camp, marched all night, and the next day “stood to horse” on White River. On the 22d it marched all night to Huntsville, then back to camp, next day to Mudtown and return, and then to Cross Hollows, to camp at Valley Springs. On the morning of December 3 a dispatch was received from Gen. Blunt, who was at Cane Hill, Ark., saying that he was threatened by a large force of the enemy under Gen. Hindman. The 1st Iowa, 7th Illinois, 6th, 7th and 8th Missouri Regiments, and the 2d Battalion of the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, were sent forward at once, all under command of Col. Wickersham of the 10th Illinois, and reached Gen. Blunt on the 6th, at midnight, having been eighteen consecutive hours in the saddle. The next day the battle of Prairie Grove was fought, in which the 1st Iowa participated, and recaptured a howitzer lost by the 10th Illinois. In the year 1863 the regiment was ordered to Missouri again. The 3d Division moved from Forsyth to Lake Springs, near Rolla, and here for the first time the 1st Iowa was fully armed. On the 20th of April 600 men of the regiment were sent into Southeastern Missouri to meet Gen. Marmaduke. A night attack was planned, and the 1st Iowa designated to execute it. The enemy was completely surprised and routed, while the loss on the Union side was but five wounded men. The regiment returned on the 15th of May, having marched over 500 miles, suffering greatly from want of provisions and clothing. About this time the Army of the Frontier was broken up, Gen. Herron taking all the infantry and artillery to join in the siege of Vicksburg. A division of cavalry was formed under command of Brig. Gen. Davidson, to which the 1st Iowa was assigned. Gen. Steele was at that time organizing a force to penetrate the heart of Arkansas, making Little Rock the objective point, and Gen. Davidson was ordered to join him with his cavalry on White River, above Helena. Then commenced that terrible march through the swamps of Southeastern Missouri and Arkansas; miles of corduroy bridges had to be built, the baggage was reduced to the smallest possible volume, and there the men learned to use day tents. A junction was formed with Steele’s forces at Clarendon, where they crossed White River, and they soon afterward engaged in the battle of Bayou Metan, in which the 1st Iowa took a leading part, and the engagement resulted in the capture of Little Rock. During that battle Mr. Boltz was twice wounded, in the left leg and the right shoulder, and carries the rebel lead to this day. Early in 1864 the men veteranized, more than one-half of the regiment re-enlisting. They were then entitled to a furlough of thirty days, but as Gen. Steele was fitting out an expedition to unite with Gen. Banks on Red River, the veterans waived their right to return home at that time, and joined the 7th Corps in the Camden campaign. On account of the scarcity of forage many horses died, and nearly 400 of the men had to march on foot. They left Little Rock on the 22d of March, Lieut. Col. Caldwell commanding the brigade, and Capt. Crosby the regiment. On the 30th they had an engagement at Spoonville, and on the 2d of April, meeting the enemy at Antoine, had a running fight for five miles. On the 4th they encountered the force of Gen. Price at Little Missouri, completely routing it. After the Red River expedition the veterans received furloughs for thirty days, after which they re-assembled at Davenport, Iowa. About that time Price commenced his last raid into Missouri, and the veterans were ordered to Jefferson City, were assigned to duty at Gen. Rosecrans’ headquarters, and participated in all the marches against the rebel General. There was not much more to be said or done. The war was at an end, and the regiment was filled with hopeful thoughts of an early discharge, but an order was received from Lieut. Gen. Custer, ordering it to Texas, which was a great disappointment to the men. It was at length mus- . . .

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. . . tered out at Austin, Texas, Feb. 15, 1865, and left on the 19th for Davenport, where the men were finally discharged.

After the close of the war Mr. Boltz returned to his home in Louisa County, where he was married, in June, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth S. Edwards, who was born in New York, Aug. 5, 1845. Mrs. Boltz is a daughter of Hugh and Eleanor (Williams) Edwards, who were both natives of Lancaster County, Wales, and emigrated to America in 1840, and are now residing in Morning Sun. Mr. and Mrs. Boltz are the parents of five children now living: Joseph E., William S., Nancy E., Mary E. and Renerick O. In politics Mr. Boltz is a Republican, and has held several local offices of trust, and for the past twenty-one years has been Treasurer of the School Board. He is at present Commander of Blake Post No. 114, G. A. R., of Morning Sun, and is the owner of a good farm of 105 acres, under a fine state of cultivation.