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Audubon County |
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CHAPTER X.AUDUBON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR. (CONT'D)From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
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An incident of the early recruiting in the county for the war is the circumstance of the enlistment of John T. Jenkins, who still lives at Brayton, Iowa, being the last survivor of the little company of settlers who first came to Audubon county on May 6, 1851. Several young men about Oakfield, in August, 1861, had agreed to enlist in Captain Spoor's Second Iowa Battery. "Uncle" Johnny Jenkins, who was a Kentuckian, a Democrat and opposed to the war, having heard that his son had so enlisted, spoke to him on the subject. "John," said he, "did you sign that paper to go to the war," or words to that effect. "Yes, sir, I did," said John. "Well, John, I don't want you to ever show yourself here with a hole in your back." Which ended the interview. By the year 1864 the war was realized forcibly by the people of Audubon county. Many of its young men were in the army, and some had been killed or had died there; many at home felt that duty required their presence there to support their families, and some were violently opposed to the war. Party spirit was at extreme tension and people were hopelessly divided in political opinions. Volunteering had almost ceased; a draft for soldiers was ordered and actual strife at home was imminent. Some men said that if they had to fight, they would fight at home--or, in other words, resist the draft. It was a time that "tried men's souls." Some of the patriotic citizens organized the Loyal Legion, to try to influence public opinion and to enforce the law. The spot where they met, in an obscure ravine on section 21, Exira township, was many years ago shown to the writer by Howard J. Green, Esq., who then pointed out a tree under which he stood sentinel while good old Deacon Bush prayed for the Union cause. At the same time others were plotting and laying plans to defeat the Union cause. The Democrats then in the county were in the majority, while Republicans were in the Union army. We recall a story about a "secesh" in Exira, who became elated because he believed that Price's raid might reach Iowa, and he said that he would go to Missouri and meet Price's army and guide it here. Darius Barlow, who then lived in Exira, told him to go, and that he would see to it that he should never reach Price or his army. The draft was peaceably enforced. John Crane, Richard Gault, James A. Poage, Urbane Herrick, George W. Sharp, Nathaniel Wiggin, James and Samuel Howlett were drafted; Herrick and Sharp were exempted; Crane, Gault and Poage furnished substitutes, and the others served their terms in the army. The draft was conducted by John A. Hallock, then clerk of the district court, who was accused of making a false return of men who were drafted. Those drafted were all Democrats, except two, Sharp and Wiggin, and one was his brother-in-law, John Crane. About the same time, Governor Kirkwood ordered the organization of the militia. John T. Jenkins and Charles H. Norton had recently returned from the war; Horatio P. Smith, who had previously lived in the county, but had served in the Seventh Iowa Infantry, Benjamin F. Thomas and John S. Wright, who had both served in the army, also came to the county in 1864, all of whom were looked upon as suitable candidates for offices in the militia. There appears to have been a rivalry to secure the organization of the militia on a political basis, as if there was an advantage to be so obtained. An old man, J. Lyman Frost, a strong Republican and zealous partisan, took a hand and was a leader in the affair. He had been a Democrat in his day, according to Doctor Ballard, and, as if to emphasize his loyalty and patriotism, became vastly obnoxious to the Democrats in turn. He had ousted "Uncle" Natty Hamlin, first postmaster in the county, appointed by President Taylor in 1853, from the postoffice at Hamlin's Grove, on political grounds, Hamlin being a Kentuckian, and a strong pro-slavery man and Democrat, and had secured the postoffice for himself. Frost was a disagreeable man and had a penchant for getting into hot water with his neighbors, loving nothing better than to be in trouble with them. It is said that he was once a preacher. But he took part in the organization of the militia in favor of Smith and against Thomas, as appears from the records of the adjutant-general of Iowa. The following record shows the details of the organization of this military company: "At a meeting of the citizens of Exira, Oakfield and Audubon townships, in the County of Audubon, State of Iowa, to form a military Company under Chapter 84, Laws of l0th General Assembly of the State of Iowa, the Following was the result of the election for Commissioned Officers of the Company. Officers of the Company. "J. Lyman Frost, President. "Carlos E. Frost, Secretary." |
