Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-05

In which an outraged people INDUCED
July 5, 1860. Kephart was charged
with the murder of Mrs. Willis. and
two of her children, boy and sgirl.
The bodies were found In Big creek,
near Batavia. Kephart was pursued
by Sheriff John F. Robb and his assis.
tants, and was arrested in Scotland
county, Mo. He was brought back
and lodged in jail in Fairfield The
circumstances were such that there
was no doubt of his guilt. The people
In the vicinity where the bodies were
found were intensely excited, On the
9th of July several hundred men,
mostly armed. quickly marched into
the city from the west on horseback
and in wagons, and proceeded to the
pail and broke it open. Here {, short
cessation was had while prominent
citizens Of Fairfield protested, and
plead earnestly for the mob to dis
perse and let the law take its course
We were an eye witness to this event
full occurrence. We will never forget
the appeals made by C. w. Slagle
Ward Lamson, Charles Negus, James
f. Wilson. Sheriff Robb and others
But 1t was all to no purpose. The
mob was thoroughly organized and de-
termined. They came for the fienl
and they took him. They conveyed
him to the vicinity where the bodies
of his victims were found and hung
him upon a gallows they had previous
ly prepared. We did not occupy a seat
at the execution, but friend OF ours.
yet alive, was there Marsh Hanna,
managing editor of the Peroia Jour
Ial, who has several times written 1t
Up for the yellow joudnals.
o.
Another event occurred which dis
turbed the peace and dignity" If
this quiet and beautiful little city. and
which gave 1t unenviable notority, all
over the United States. In Angus,
1861, David Steward returned to Fair
field and commenced the publication
of paper called the Constitution and
Union. It was very bitter in its oppo-
sition to the war and as a result. III
the 18th Of August, 1862, Mr.. She
ward was arrested by the United
States, marshall In company with
Dennis A. Mahoney of Dubuque,
another Iowa editor. He was taken to
Washington City, where he was con.
fined in the old capitol for about three
months. During his absence the
paper continued to appear regularly
under the management of the EDITORS
wife. After Mr.. Stewards return
he published a series of articles EMIT.
led Three Months in the Old Capt..
toll" The 18th Of August appears o
have been an unlucky day for Mr..
Steward, for on the evening of that
day in the year 1868. number of
soldiers surrounded his dwelling and
demanded an emblem or cut, which he
had for several months displayed in
the columns of his paper. The cut
was surrendered and the party dis
persed. The obnoxious cut was moth
ing more or less than half of a butter.
nut" fastened In block of wood
The last number OF the paper was is
sued Feb. 4, 1854 On the morning OF
the 9Th Of February a number of sol
diers who we're at home on furlough,
started on return to their regiment.
As they were about to leave they
visited Mr.. Stewards office, pied his
forms, threw the cases out of the win.
dow, destroyed his books and other.
wise damaged things generally.
These incidents are related as part
of the newspaper history of that ex-
citing period They were the result
of the bitter partisan feeling which
prevailed at that time, rather than of
intentional disloyalty on the part If
those who denounced the war. 1t
was a critical period in the great
national struggle and the soldiers
who had endured its hardships and
sacrifices were not disposed at that
time to regard even harsh and bitter
criticism as anything less than "a fire
In the rear"
At the 29th annual meeting of the
old settlers of Jefferson county. held
in Fairfield Tuesday yoke of oxen
was driven in the parade by William
Coop, who claims to be the first white
child born In the county. This has
been much disputed question to
whom belongs that distinction. but the
best information gives 1t, not to Will
Ham, but to Cyrus Walker, son of
Samuel s. Walker, who was elected by
the wings as sheriff of Jefferson coln-
ty in 1S49-5S.. However, William Coop
has the greater distinction Of being
tiAO sui VI SOlOHSl Wl1HdIH Vt COOP,
who settled In the county in 1896, and
laid out the town Of Lockridge, seven
miles east of Fairfield on the Bur.
lington, Col. Coop was d member from
Jefferson county to the second consti.
tutional convention of Iowa which
convened In Iowa City May 4, 1916,
Col. Coop was also member of the
first territorial council, serving in SEES
sions three, four seven and eight; was
a member. of the senate in the fourth
and fifth general assemblies. William
Coop, wno drove Rock and Paddy in
the cart around the square in Fairfield
Tuesday to the delight and amuse.
ment Of everybody, is a son of this
distinguished early settler, but from
the best information obtainable he was
not the first white kid born In Jeffer.
son county.
Ottumwa, Iowa, Sept. a. 1907.
MISS WILLARD ASKS DAMAGES.