Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 248

COL. CHARLES C. HORTON, was born in Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., on the 13th day of January, 1839, and is the eldest son of Dr. James S. and Mary G. ( Cummins ) Horton. His childhood days were passed in his native town, and when nine years of age, in 1848, he came with his parents to Muscatine, Iowa, and after spending four years in the city the family removed to a farm just outside the city limits, where our subject passed his youth, engaged in laboring upon the farm and attending the district school. In 1857 he entered the Delaware Collegiate Institute at Franklin, N. Y., taking a literary and scientific course, being graduated in the class of ' 59. He then returned to the farm near Muscatine, where he was employed until July, 1861, when he responded to the call to crush out the Rebellion in the South, enlisting as a private in Company A, 2d Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered into the United States service at Davenport, on the 12th day of August following. On the 2d of September, 1861, the same year, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. Their first Colonel, W. L. Elliott, formerly Captain of the 3d United States Cavalry. was a strict disciplinarian and thorough soldier, who saw his regiment thoroughly drilled. It was due largely to the arduous and constant drill to which the regiment was subjected on the start, that it attained such efficiency and confidence in the field during the hard-fought campaigns through which it passed with honor and distinction. On the 2d of November, 1861, First Lieutenant T. D. Smith having resigned, our subject was promoted to that position. The 2d Iowa took part in the following-named battles and engagements, in which Col. Horton bore his part with soldierly devotion to the cause of the Union. He participated in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Booneville, Farmington, first battle of Corinth, Holly Springs, Tallahatchie, Oxford, Water Valley, Wall Hill, Panola, Coffeeville, Jacksonville, Colliersville, Coldwater, Palo Alto, Birmingham, Grenada, West Point, Prairie Station, Oakland, Campbellville, Hurricane Creek, Shoal Creek, Lawrenceburg, Linnville, Mt. Carroll, Harrisburg, Franklin, Little Harpeth, Nashville and Anthony Hills.

At the battle of Farmington, on the 9th day of May, 1862, the 2d Iowa Cavalry distinguished itself specially while attempting to relieve Gen. Paine, who was hemmed in by the enemy. The regiment made a grand charge on a rebel battery of twenty-four guns, which commanded Gen. Paine's line of retreat, and won high praise for the bravery of both officers and men. It was there that Lieutenant Horton had his horse shot under him and there he distinguished himself for his gallant conduct. The regiment was repulsed, but the efforts saved Gen. Paine who withdrew his troops. During the retreat, while under a galling fire of shot and shell, Lieut. Horton stopped to roll a dead horse off one of his men, who was caught beneath the animal. On the 4th day of June following he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and on the 29th day of September, 1863, was commissioned Major, to which position he had been elected by the vote of the regiment. At the battle of Coldwater he received a gunshot wound which for a time caused him serious trouble, but he was soon able to resume duty, although he still feels the effect of that shot. On the 9th of November, 1864, at the battle of Shoal Creek, while the Union forces were being surrounded by a superior force of the enemy, led by Gen.Forrest, Maj.Horton had the honor of directing the retreat across the river over an unfrequented ford that he had discovered. For his timely service on that occasion, and general gallant conduct, Gen. Edward Hatch, who was in command, wrote a very flattering letter to the Governor of Iowa, recommending Maj. Horton for promotion, and on Nov. 27, 1864, he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel. From the date of his commission as Major Mr. Horton was either in command of his regiment or brigade, and was mustered out at Selma, Ala., Sept. 19, 1865, as Lieutenant Colonel.

On his return from the war Col. Horton resumed farming near Muscatine. He was married on the 30th day of October, 1867, to Miss Isabella, only daughter of of Adam and Isabella ( Milne ) Ogilvie. She was born at Muscatine, Iowa, where her parents, whose sketch appears elsewhere, were among the earliest settlers. Four children were born of this union: J. Lisle, Frank O., Mary M., and Bertha C.

Col. Horton held various local offices. He has served as Supervisor of his township, Vice President and President of the Muscatine County Agricultural Society. Trustee and Treasurer of the Soldier's Orphans' Home at Davenport, from June, 1878, until June, 1882, and then represented the county in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth General Assemblies. He proved an able legislator, and served on important committees. He introduced and was the champion of the bill for the establishment of a home at Glenwood for feeble-minded children. The plan originated with the late Dr. W. F. Robertson, of Muscatine, who framed the bill. The movement met with considerable opposition, but the bill was successfully carried through under the energetic management of Representative Horton. The institution was proved a success, and is one of the State institutions of which the people of Iowa may justly be proud.

Col. Horton is a Republican in politics, and has been an earnest supporter of that party since the war. He was a prominent candidate of his party for Congress, in the convention where Mr. Farwell was nominated after the 125th ballot. In 1880 he was appointed a Special Land Agent of the Government, and on the 3d day of March of that year, at his request, was transferred to the Pension Bureau as a Special Agent, which posttion he has held continuously since, and has proved a most faithful and efficient officer. His present headquarters are at Athens, Tenn., but he still makes his residence at Muscatine, at the family residence of the Ogilvies, where he continues to conduct his stock and fruit farm.

The Colonel and his estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Muscatine, and socially, he is a member of the Shelby Norman Post, G.A.R. The people of this county who have known Col. Horton as boy and man, soldier and civilian, are proud of his record, and recognize in him the brave and gallant soldier, and able and faithful representative and Government officer, and a worthy citizen.


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