Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-06-10
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EARL Y WEBSTER
CITY TRAGEDY
Three Soldiers Killed Here in 1865.
State Militia Organic
ed Election Of
1864.
FIRST TEACHERS INSTITUTE
Cemetery Association Organized in
1s64-Exhibition Of Early
Day Mob Law.

From the History OF Hamilton
County by F. @. and j. w. Lee: I'm
der a law to raise state militia,
Hamilton county was to supply
three companies. The first company
was raised about the goth Of August,
in the southern part of the county.
VIM. NJ Neeley was elected cap
tain; Smith, first lieutenant, and
David Carroll, second lieutenant.
The second company was raised at
Webster City and Major Geo. w.
Crosley, formerly of the Third In
fantry, was chosen captain; w. L..
Church, first lieutenant; L. L. Estes,
second lieutenant.
The election for 1854 resulted as
follows: Clerk, M. Sweeney. record
er, /. Doane; sheriff, Humphrey Hill
lock; superintendent Of schools, O..
A. Holmes; drainage commissioner,
VIM. H. Adams, all elected by the
Union party.
Following the horse thief excite
ment in May as related above, a
team of horses was stolen from
Huitt Ross of Marion township, on
the 18th of October Another team
was stolen from VIM. spicer, of Web
ster township, and excitement was
again aroused.
FIRST TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
On the 18th of October, 1868, a
teachers institute was held at Web
ster City for one week. It was con-
Quoted by Prof. J. L. Enos of Cedar
: Rapids and from the best informa-
ton we can get it was the first real
institute eversheld in the county and
at the time was regarded as very
important affair. There was no
Aoll Of teachers published or presery-
Id, but we have been able to secure
the following partial list. John w.
Lee, superintendent; H. NJ. Cass, I.
N. Averell, Miss Belle Williams, Adj
am Kepler, Viola Kellogg, Sarah
Craft, Laura A. Cooper w. J. Covil,
John w. Funk and Miss Ella E. Ell
der.
SOLDIERS AS GUESTS.
On November Sth, a detachment
of 221 soldiers under command Of
Capt. Mccarthy, of the Sixth Iowa
Cavalry, passed through this county
and camped near the east bridge in
Webster City, where they were Wis
tied by almost everyone in the com
munity. 1t was very interesting to
civilians to witness the routine of a
real camp of soldiers. This detach-
ment was part Of an expedition of
General Sully. who. with his staff,
passed through the county about a
week later
FIRST CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
During the month of November,
1854. the first cemetery association
In the county was organized at
Webster City. Sumler Wilson was
made president and Rev.tO. A. Hell
mes, secretary. The cemetery was
located north of town on land own
ed by Mr.. Wilson, on bluff north
of the north bridge.
A DRAFT AVOIDED.
On the 18th of December, 1864, a
call for 100000 men by the presi-
dent made another draft imminent
and the board of supervisors at the
January session Of '65 offered $500
county bounty to volunteers. Local
subscriptions were freely made and
several recruits went out from the
county while some re-enlistments
were accredited to 1t. The draft was
was avoided and Of the amounts
subscribed to encourage enlistments,
Ga per cent was returned to the
subscribers.
In March, 1865. County Treasur-
er ]. NJ. Bell resigned and special
meeting of the board was called TO
elect his successor and for other
purposes The board met on the
9th day of March, accepted the
resignation OF Treasurer Bell to take
effect June list, and elected Major
j. NJ. Jones as his successor. They
also created the township OF Rose
Grove by dividing Boone township
cutting off all that part of 1t lying
east OF sections and 80 and inter
vening sections in township 81
range "a. to county line.
Early in January about 500 heat
Of government stock was brought .
Webster City for wintering and .
these we're added considerable NUN
rrou time to time until b