The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-07-11

Among the returning soldiers remem.
Der Captains Pronty, Searle and Wells,
Major Jno. f. Lacey, Col LoAand and
General Elliott Rice as prominent, active
and earnest in every movement looking
to the welfare of the community. Among
those who returned and with whom | be-
came intimately acquainted, was Prof,
Jerry F. Everett, who labored deyotedly
in the educational interests of the city
and county and probably did more to
serve those interests than any other man
of those days.
During the time of which write Oska-
loosa and Mahaska county we're always
reliably republican in politics. remem-
Der there was dissatisfaction expressed
with the manner in which party nomina-
tions for officers we're made, and certain
cute and sharp practices charged to the
"court house ring" in making up states
for the convention of county delegates to
endorse and put before the world as the
"will of the party" In 1856 the HERALD
suggested that candidates for county of
fees should be chosen by the voters of tn I.
county at primary elections and after the
subject was properly ventilated the NXe-
publican party in convention assembled
adopted the plan suggested, and so long
as / remained in Iowa it was in operation
successfully and harmony prevailed.
In the spring of 1866 David Morgan of
Mahaska county was put at the head of a
movement proposing to build north
and south railroad which was christened
| the Iowa Central. Public meetings were
held in 0skaioosa and all over the county
to solicit the aid necessary to exploit the
enterprise. Communications were opened
with the North Missouri Railway officials
of st. Louis. Active and earnest support
was given to the movement by the her
AID. VIM. I. Smith, w. H Sewers, Da-
vid Morgan, VIM. Loughridge and others
gave great deal of time and money to-
ward the success of the enterprise. Com
| mittees we're appointed to visit st. Louis
and to work up harmonious relations
with counties north of Mahaska. That
the seed then sown fell on good ground is
evidenced by your splendid railroad ia
cilities of today.
During those days the politics of the
city and county were led chiefly by VIM.
Loughridge, w. H. Sewers, M. E. Quits,
j. A, L. Crookham, Jno. R. Needham and
Cyrus Beede. Major Jno. F. Lacey re-
turned from the army at the close of the
war and settled down Immediately to the
close study of the law, giving little heed
to party politics. He married Matte
Newell, entered into co-partnership with
W. E. Shepherd and entered upon the
practice of his profession. ] remember
being present at the trial of his first case
"A horse case-before Squire Tough
ridge. With irreproachable habits, in,
domitable industry and perseverance
honorable and reliable in every relation
of life, he not only won for himself emf.
nent success at the bar, but the following
of such sturdy host of friends, that wher
the time came that he could afford to give
some attention to party politics, they
landed him easily in seat In congress So
although his opponent was the populist
idol, Gen. j. B. Weaver hope he is des-
tined for higher honors; but will gel
back to '65. Iowa had loyal, able press
l remember the Keokuk, Burlington
Council Bluffs and Des Moines papere es
pecially. The Des MONIES Register, edit.
ed by Ret GARRISON, was the special ia,
yorite. There was never any uncertainty
as to Refs position on any question, and
SO far as know and believe he was al
ways right. OF all the men of my &C.
quaintance in those days had more con
fidence in his good judgment and loyalty
to right than in any other.
During my HERALD experience spent
a good deal of time and labor with the
Masonic fraternity. In the spring Of
1866 there was Blue Lodge and Chapter
in existence. subsequently the fraternity
organized Council of Royal and Select
Masters and Commandery of Knights
Templars, with all of which bodies / was
affiliated. With much fraternal affection
remember Philip Myers, Capt. Geo. j.
Bennett, VIM. Wells, t. t, Wright, d. A.
Hoffman, Henry Kendig, @. A. Croney,
John Larmar. John Siebel, Jack Steven
son, NJ. i. Williams, Jesse Loring and
Fred Beckman, all Sir Knights good and
true. There we're many others but their
names do not occur to me at this mo.
ment. OF the many friends of those days
none we're more intimate, confidential and
reliable under all circumstances than w
FL. Sewers and NJ. E. QUITS. The HERALn
never failed in receiving the ardent sup
port and friendly cooperation of those
gentlemen, and the ties of warm personal
friendship then formed lasted as long as
| they lived,