Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-11-09
II
@s@SS(||
k&N'@Sl||
IS3ASl
"TSTORY OF THE AUDUBON COUNTY
Ill BOYS WHO SERVED DURING THE
LATE WAR.

fEAg
The following history of the soldier
boys of Audubon county has been
gathered and written by J. w. B.
Cole, and by his permission and cour-
tesy we publish the same:
ENRY A. JOHNSON. son of w. A. and
III Mary johnson was born in Jasper county
Iowa, August 10, 1871. came to Audubon
when quite young, his father had one cousin in
the rebellion. His mothers father served in the
war of 1872. She had one brother and several
nephews in the for the Union, so Henry is
of good soldier blood. He was educated in Au-
dubon and was working at the printers trade
when the call to arms sounded. He en-
listed June H. 1885, recruit in Company l.,
51st Iowa. went to San Francisco where he join
ed his company and did duty of a soldier until
they were ordered to Manila, when after rigid
examination by a surgeon he was pronounced
physically unfit for service in tropical country
and was honorably discharged by order of sur
geon, U. S. A.
NEO. Z. ELLWOOD, son of g. w. and Sarah
1Ellwood, was born in Marion county, Iowa.
had three brothers in the late war. One was
surgeon of 10th Iowa, also a sisters husband
with his three sons served during the Rebellion.
Sarah Bolts Ellwood, the mother, had two
brothers in the war of Rebellion. Geo. f. Ell
wood went to Red Oak and passed the examna-
ton June Is. 1893, and was assigned to Company
G, 5lst Iowa. He was sent Immediately to San
Francisco where he faithfully did soldiers
duty until they were ordered to the Philippine
Islands. On the voyage to Honolulu he was
attacked with typhoid fever. Was taken to a
hospital in Honolulu where he was kept for
four months, being unfit for the duties of a
soldier, he was returned to San Francisco,
March %, 1899, and was discharged March 81.
this, through no fault of his. Thus noble sold
Ter was deprived of showing his true soldier
blood, truly inherited from the noblest soldier
blood in the land We are all proud of Ed. FL
wood.
INWARD B. SMITH, son of D. c. and Eliza
wv beth Smith, was born at North Branch,
Guthrie county, Iowa, July II, 1874, was
educated at Oakfeld high school, Soldier line
age: His great grandfather served in the war
of the revolution. His fathers brother, l.. C.
Smith, served for three years during the war
of the Rebellion Ward, with that true love of
country inherited from his ancestors, enlisted
June A. 1893 in Company c, 5lst Iowa Vol, for
the Spanish-American War, did a soldiers duty
until sickness untitled him for service in the
field. He was honorably discharged at Preside
hospital at San Francisco, California, January
IA, 1899, after seven months of honorable ser.
vice.
A RTHUR VAN SLYKE, brother of
~ Lester Van Slyke, was born in Aud,l-
bon county September 49, 1877. He
passed his boyhood here and moved with
his parents to Westphalia, Kansas, in 1896.
June, 1898, when the now famous Goth Kan
Sas regiment was mustered into service he
went into that part of the army which Gre
ates all the good will and good cheer of the
boys-the musicians. He proved valiant
soldier, possessing the same sunny tenn
permanent of his brother, that so endears
comrades to each other. He was with his
regiment to cheer them when they lay so
long before Caloocan, waiting for new
transports to arrive that they might take
their place; was with them on their march
to Malolos; to Calunpit; when they swan
the river at Alumpit, and finally at San
Fernando. He was mustered out with his
regiment at San Francisco, and although
longs to Audubon county.
CAMUEL KRELL son of A. c. and Re
ma Krell. was educated at Northwest
" ern College, Naperville, Illinois, and
Union Biblical Institute and served seven
years in the ministry of NJ. E. church, and
was located at Audubon when the Span
ish American war was declared; enlisted
in Co. X, 51st Iowa. His fathers only bro
Their served four years in the war of the
Rebellion. After serving short time Rev.
Krell was promoted to Corporal, as re-
ward for distinguished services in the
field. He served in all the campaigns of
his regiment and always camped with his
company at night, and was highly COM
mended by his superior officers for faith
fulness to duty. Rev Kre11 was indeed a
model soldier. He was mustered out with
his command at the Presidio, November
f 2, 1899. The record of the 51st Iowa is his
record.
r ESTER T. VAN SLYKE, of Co. l., 51st
Iowa Inf, US. ", is the son of Horace
- Van Slyke He was born in Audubon
township, June IL. 1874, and has lived here
all his life except the last four years. He
acquired most of his education at the Dis
trict school in the winter months. He
taught four or five terms of district school
and then entered college at Iowa City for
two years, having in previous vacations
read law in the Office of JAS. E. Bruce Ami
TIA, Iowa. Admitted to the bar in 1895, he
Immediately entered partnership with
Roscoe Barton, of Avoca, with whom lie
was doing flourshing business when the
call for volunteers came He enlisted; not
impetuously and in eager anticipation, as
many did, but with calm deliberaton and
conviction of loyalty and duty such as
characterizes his strong nature. His in.
telligence and gentlemanly ways soon en-
titled him to position above the ranks
and he was given the chief clerkship with
the military governor, General Otis, which
position he held until failing health, due to
close application and confinement to work
compelled him to resign. Again with his
regiment and on duty, he fought with
them in the hottest of the engagements
While doing police duty, despairing of ev.
er getting into acti> e service, he, with sew.
eral other daring spirits, not even deign
ing to ask permission of their officers
walked twenty miles to the firing line, join
ed the Goth Kansas and participated in one
of the hottest engagements of the war