The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-06-19
OSKALOOSA ABROAD.
People Talked About in Outside
Newspapers.

Abba Union: Maj. s. II. M. Byers
and wife of Des Moines we're guests
of his sister and family, Mrs. John
Moore of Abba, over Sunday, going
Wednesday to Oskaloosa to attend
Penn college commencement. They
have much interest in Penn for their
son graduated there before going to
Haverford, Yale and Berlin, and Mr..
Byers gave the college some years
ago splendid collection of paintings,
copies of the old masters all hand
somely framed, which he bought for
the purpose while he was abroad as
U. s. CONSUL at Zurich, Switzerland,
and Council General at Rome. He
was Is years 10 the diplomatic service
and is very able agent of the govern
ment. He was brilliant magazine
writer and gave American readers
m any able articles, among them poems
that will last long after Major Byers
has gone onto the other chimes. He
was valiant soldier in the Fifth
Iowa Infantry. He was on General
Sherman's staff before the war was
over and WAS selected by Sherman as
messenger to carry important news
to General Grant at Richmond. He
dropped down Cape Fear river in the
night in light dispatch boat with
muffled oars md lights hid by cotton
bales piled about them. His dis
patches were all loaded so that at a
moments warning he could cast
them into the water. They conveyed
matters of grave Importance. After
going 100 miles down stream through
the enemies country he went north
on the Atlantic to the Potomac,
thence to Richmond.
Mr.. Byers is the author of the song
that gave name to Sherman's cam
paign, it's name, "Sherman's March
to the Sea-" He wrote it in Libby
prison on scrap of paper and con.
cealed it in the wooden leg of COM
rade who was exchanged next day.
He carried it north and it was pub
lished every where and sung where
ever the Stars and Stripes floated
though the author still languished in
rebel prisons. He was there for seven
months, ESCAPED three times and was
three times recaptured by blood
hounds. His "Happy Isles" "Prison
Life in Dixie, !" "Iowa in War Times"
and Twenty Years in Europe" are
all very readable books. He is one
of Iowa's prominent lecturers today
and is always welcome visitor at
the Union Office and the Union home.
Mrs. Byers is distinguished lady
who enters heartily into every effort
of his life and has been his constant
friend and competent advisor in all
his work.
Charlton Herald: Father Waldron,
priest of the Catholic church here,
has been appointed to be priest ofthe
church at Oskaloosa, succeeding
Father O'CarroI, deceased. This is
a decided promotion for Father
Waldron, and one that he we'll de-
serves. He has labored increasingly
at his charge here, and during his
three years of priesthood the men,
bershipihasigrown, the church prop
erty hasIbeen improved, and he has
made many warm friends. We regret
to see our friend leave Charlton but
rejoice that his labors have been re-
warded with wider and more
lucrative field, 1t is not yet known
who Will be appointed to his place
here. The members of the church
here had a very pleasant surprise
party on Father Waldron Tuesday
evening, anddpresented him with
purse of money as a token of their
esteem.
~
What Cheer Patriot: Prof. s. E.
Stevens, of Osksloosa, dropped in on
US today for pleasant call. He re-
Gently returned from Los Angeles,
California, whereihe visited with his
parents. Mrs. Stevens aud the boy
remained in California on account of
the boys health. They will remain
for a year or more. Prof. Stevens Ia
in business again in Oskaloosa selling
pianos, bicycles, etc., and says there
is no place like Iowa after all.
~.
Bussey Banner: Attorney w. R.
Lacey, of Oskaloosa, was in Bussey
Monday, negotiating with Mrs.
Abigail Martin for lease on her
coal land in jefferson township, east
of Bussey six miles, which is said to
be the best body of coal in jefferson.
Knoxville Journal: DIR. O. y.
Thompson, of Oskaloosa, was in town
Friday, The doctor had just rented
an Office at Columbia and was on his
way to Oskaloosa to make prepare
tions for becoming Marion county
citizen,