The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-08-24
old MARION COUNTY
"Wideawakes" an Important Fact
or Before the War.

4 No0oPO1 OAnCJg Ia AuOANnlG GApISbo,
| The oncoming storm that broke tn,
peace of the pioneers had its begin
ming in July, 1859. The slavery CUES
ton, the abolition party and tn,
southern confederacy-these were thu
main topics that absorbed the atten
tion of all classes. Those of the read
ers of this article who have read thu
life of Henry Clay Dean will readily
see that Old Marion county has
just claim to come in at this late per
iod and claim its share of recognition
We need not go outside of Marion
county, because the imprint of thai
period, 1859, remains stamped upor
the memory of the older men of to
day, who were young in those days
Memory has served me we'll; though
am nearing the allotted time of life
yet my memory is clear. Therefore
write of these matters, because they
are old. The campaign of 1860, thai
resulted in the election of Abraham
Lincoln, had it's imprint stamped on
the minds of the young boys. We have
not forgotten.
Political rallies Of both parties
were entered into with great spirit
each one tried to outride the other
and great was the display. Compa
MES of Underwriters were organized
in the interest of the Republican par
ty. The Democratic party had no
such organizations, but were not be.
hind in their display Of party spirit
To say that the campaign was warm
is too modest. 1t was boiling hot. 1t
was natural and right that boys, as
well as others, should have their pref.
erences, therefore the boys, like, their
elders, took sides and fought our bat
ties. Some few of us still carry some
reminders of fifty-five years ago.
H"""ville would send posters over
10 Pella to the effect that on certain
cate would occur one of the grandest
political rallies. of the present cam
paign, Then a general invitation was
extended to all of the citizens of Pei.
Ia. If it be Republican rally, then
the Wide-awakers would be called to.
gether to perfect arrangements, and
for drill. Every man had his uniform
and his lamp and flag. The lamps
were so adjusted on the end Of the
round stick that they would swing,
and the motion caused by the walking
would make them swing backward
and forward, making a beautiful dis
play by night.
These glazing posters would empha-
size the fact that a very able speaker,
a noted man of remarkable talent,
would deliver the address. This Of
itself would be sufficient to convince
any reasonable man that his party
was seeking to establish right and to
put down treason and build up 10y
atty. ~ :,
Then If it be Democratic rally,
the same plea would be made from a
Democratic standpoint. On one occa-
sion a Republican rally was held in
Pella, and the KNOXVILLE people re-
turned the visit. The Knoxville
Wide-awakes and the Pella Wide
awakes made a grand display
The interest hinges on the fact that
the prejudice against the Hollanders
was not all confined to one locality.
At this time. the Hollanders, as a
general thing, were Democrats; sim
ply because they were under boss rule
and subject to certain restrictions.
But in this l do not feel justified in
writing what know to be facts. This
/ will say, however, the truth has
AOI al DCOh IOiuS Gnu pCAhoP0 ACfCA
will be.
In the evening OF this day, the pent-
up feelings on the part of those that
had filled up on bad whisky, broke
forth like a blast of dynamite, and
the result was very disgraceful row.
Henry Conwell was hit with a stone
and was badly hurt, and several 9th
ers received bruises recollect seeing
Conwell fall to the ground and hear
ing the curses of the man that threw
the stone. Conwell had taken no part
whatever in the mixup. Henry was
in line with his company, and the
stone was fred into the ranks regard
less of whom it hit.
When the result of the election was
known, a great blowout was put on
foot and the date announced. The
boys we're all posted as to the where
abouts of materials for a great bon
fire, which was to be started in the
public square on very modest be-
ginning. This fire with some other
attractions would naturally call the
merchants to the front, leaving the
back part unprotected, The boys
we're onto the job. Great piles of
uOACO "ClC OIdChCu III
coal sheds and under outside stairs.
About thirty boys were not long in
clearing up the wooden junk and con-
veying it to the square. The mer-
chants were at the front of their
stores. Old Mr.. RhynsDurger, VIM
Fisher, ]. e. Alexander, J. M. Huis-
camp and James Muntingh, and as
the boxes and barrels were being
piled on the fire, the joke dawned
upon their minds, and they rushed to
the back door in time to see Wander
Zyl's little smokehouse moving on
toward the big FIRE, and before 1t
could be reported, crash it went into
the fire. Firecrackers by the dozen
punches were added to the fire. Alex
ander donated his entire stock Of fire.
crackers to the very boys that had a
hand in cleaning up his back yard.
Klaus Yer Slight got mad, and all he
could say was, II shue you mex week.
/ shue you mex week." but mex week
did not come.
During the winter Of '60-'61 there
was comparative quiet. But on the
evening of March S, 1851, when the
old stagecoach came numbering In,
bringing the old Burlington Hawk
Eye, which told Of the quiet inaug-
uration OF President Lincoln, another