James I., Gilbert is one of Iowa’s best officers.  He is a native of Kentucky, and was born about the year 1824.  At the time of entering the service, in the summer of 1862, he was a resident of Lansing, Iowa, where he had had lived for about ten years.  In Lansing, he has been commission merchant, dealer in general merchandise, produce dealer, and lumber merchant.  At the time, or just before entering the service, he was a proprietor of a livery stable, and a dealer in real estate.  He was commissioned colonel of the 27th Iowa on the 10th day of August 1862, and served without special distinction till he joined General A. J. Smith on the Red River Campaign, in the spring of 1864.  His gallant conduct at Fort De Russy, and through the whole campaign, and also before Nashville, nearly a year later, secured his promotion to a general officer.

The 27th Iowa, which was rendezvoused in the city of Dubuque in the months of August and September 1862, was made up of the “overplus of companies over the 21st regiment in the northern part of the State.”  In the early part of October, Colonel Gilbert, with six companies of his regiment, was assigned as an escort to guard a pay-master and train from Fort Snelling to Mille Lacs.  The balance of the regiment, under Major Howard, remained at the fort.  Early in November, Colonel Gilbert returned to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and soon proceeded to Memphis, via Cairo, Illinois.  Major George W. Howard with the balance of the regiment had already proceeded to that point.  He reached Memphis on the 20th of November, and one week later joined Sherman in his march from that place to the Tallahatchie, below Waterford.  It will be remembered that this movement was made in conjunction with that of General Grant through Central Mississippi, against Vicksburg.  The 27th Iowa marched only as far south as College Hill, near Oxford.  “The regiment was then ordered to Waterford, Mississippi, and thence to the Tallahatchie River, where it first commenced to work as railroad guards.”

When Van Dorn attacked and captured Holly Springs, the 27th Iowa, with other troops was hurried to that vicinity; but the wily rebel having destroyed the immense Federal supplies, made his escape.  The march was then continued northward, for the purpose of meeting and, if possible, of capturing Forest, who was at the same time making his raid on the Jackson and Columbus Railroad.  The 27th arrived at Jackson on the 30th of December, and the next day or night, Forest’s defeat at Parker’s Cross Roads and subsequent flight have been learned, was marched by a circuitous route to Clifton.  The raiders however escaped.  It was this raid of Forest, it will be remembered, that so frightened General Davies at Columbus, and caused him to order the destruction of government property at Island No. 10.  The march from Jackson to Clifton was the first fatiguing one the 27th Iowa had yet made.  More than one man of the regiment wished that night that he had never entered the army.

From December, 1862, until the following August, the regiment served in Southern Tennessee.  It was stationed a principal portion of the time on the Jackson and Columbus Railroad, with head-quarters at Jackson.

On the abandonment of Jackson and the railroad through to Columbus, in the fore part of June, 1863, Colonel Gilbert was ordered down to Moscow, where he remained with his regiment till the 20th of the following August, guarding the railroad.  But after the fall of Vicksburg, and the defeat of General Johnson’s army at Jackson, Mississippi, the 27th with its brigade was ordered to report to General Steele, who was then about starting on the Little Rock Campaign.  The brigade, composed of the 49th and 62nd Illinois, the 27th Iowa and 50th Indiana, and commanded by Colonel J. M. True succeeded in uniting with Steele in time to enter Little Rock with the main army.  With the routine of camp-life and picket-duty, the months of September and October were passed at Little Rock, when, under orders from General Steele, Colonel Gilbert reported back to Memphis in command of his own regiment and the 49th Illinois.  At Memphis a portion of the 27th was assigned to duty at the Navy Yard, and the balance put on picket-duty in rear of the city.

Up to this time, the 27th Iowa, as a regiment, had never met the enemy in battle; but the time was now near at hand when it would afford new proof of the intrepidity of Iowa soldiers.  The regiment left Memphis for Vicksburg on the 28th of July, 1864, whence, a week later, it left with General Sherman on the celebrated March to Meridian.

At Memphis and just before leaving for Vicksburg, the 27th Iowa was brigaded with the 14th and 32d Iowa and the 24th Missouri.  These troops constituted the 2d Brigade of the 3d Division, 16th Army Corps, which afterward, under command of Colonel William T. Shaw of the 14th, so distinguished itself in the Red River Expedition of General Banks.  In the Meridian march, it should be stated that the 27th Iowa went some six miles further east than any other troops of Sherman’s command and in this advanced position captured several prisoners.

The plan for the Red River Campaign had already been matured, on the return of General Sherman to Vicksburg; and on the evening of the 10th of April 1864, General A. J. Smith left with his expeditionary army for the mouth of Red River, where he arrived in the evening following.  The fleet of Admiral Porter arriving that same evening, the expedition, on the morning of the 12th instant, sailed up the river, and in the afternoon arrived at Simmsport, where the infantry forces disembarked.  From this point, General Smith marched with his command across the country to the rear of Fort DeRussy, while Porter, with his gun-boat fleet, proceeded up the river.  Near Simmsport a small body of the enemy’s cavalry made their appearance; but they offered no resistance to the advance; and on the evening of the second day the fort was invested.  Porter in the meantime had come up with his fleets, but for some reason took no part in the engagement which followed.  I have been told that it was the crookedness of the river at this point, together with certain obstructions, that prevented him from operating with the land forces.

Fort DeRussey, a formidable earth-work of the enemy on the south-west side of the Red River and some four miles above the town of Marksville, was built on a high point of land, about one hundred paces back from the river, but connected with it by rifle-pits.  On the south-west bank of the river, was a six-gun water battery.  The fort proper mounted but four guns; two six-pounders commanded the open country south-west of the Fort; and two thirty-two pounders covered the Marksville road and the approaches to the south-east.  On the north-west side of the fort was dense timber and impassable swamps.

On the 14th day of March, the day of the capture of Fort DeRussy, the 27th Iowa led the advance.  Marksville, which is some thirty miles distant from Simmsport, was reached at four o’clock in the afternoon; and at this point Colonel Gilbert was ordered to halt his regiment to prevent straggling in the town.  He was kept in this position till all the troops had passed, and until the dispositions for the attack had been nearly completed.  The 27th as a regiment had not yet been under fire, and, jealous of his own reputation and that of his command, Colonel Gilbert dispatched his adjutant to Colonel Shaw, with this request:  “If there is to be any fighting, we want to have a hand in it.”  An order was finally returned for him to bring his regiment forward; and he moved up and took position on the extreme right of the assaulting forces.  Two entire brigades charged on the fort, and Colonel Shaw’s held the right.  The line of battle was semi-circular, and, on the right, was formed in the edge of timber and some two hundred and fifty yards distant from the fort.

In front of the 2d Brigade (Colonel Shaw’s) was a ravine, running nearly parallel with the enemy’s defenses; but, before this could be reached, the entire line must pass under a severe musketry-fire from the fort and the adjacent rifle-pits.  After the reconnaissance had been completed, during which time the fire from the fort had been responded to by the 3d Indiana Battery, a general charge was ordered, when Colonel Gilbert, drawing his sword and stepping to the front of his regiment said:  “Boys, come on.”  “From that moment,” said a member of his regiment to me, “we knew he had the true grit.”  He was one of the first officers, if not the very first, to enter the enemy’s works.  If this was not a sanguinary affair, it was a brilliant one, and augured well for the success of the future expedition.  The number of casualties of the 27th Iowa, in this engagement, I have failed to learn.

It should be borne in mind that General Banks had not yet come up from Franklin, Louisiana; nor did he come up till a week after the capture of Alexandria; so that the credit incident to the capture of Fort DeRussey belongs solely to General Smith and the troops of his command.  On the morning of the 15th instant, the 3d Division, have re-embarked on the fleet, moved up to Alexandria, and that same evening the place was entered without opposition.  Here General Smith remained till the arrival of General Banks with his command, consisting of portions of the 13th and 19th Army Corps.

From this point, General Banks marched through the country via Natchitoches to Grand Ecore; but Smith, moving up to the head of the rapids, above Alexandria, re-embarked and sailed up the river, arriving at Grand Ecore at about the same time as did General Banks.  On the 5th of April General Banks marched for Shreveport by way of Mansfield road, and two days later was followed by the command of General Smith; but the advance was soon to be turned into a retreat; and neither the forces of Banks nor Smith was destined to see even Mansfield.  No considerable resistance was made to the advance till near Natchitoches, and, to beat this back, no troops were required but the cavalry; but beyond Pleasant Hill, and about thirty miles distant from Natchitoches, the enemy showed so much resistance that it became necessary to send forward a brigade of infantry.

The battle of Mansfield, or Sabine Cross Roads was fought on the afternoon of the 8th of April, 1864, and that of Pleasant Hill on the morning and evening of the 9th.  The last was the one in which the 14th, 27th and 32nd Iowa Regiments so distinguished themselves.  These troops, together with the 24th Missouri, I believe impartial history will say, saved the army of General Banks from disorganization and capture; for they were the only troops that maintained their position throughout that terrible day—I mean, of course, of those whose position was in the front.  If this be not so, how was it that their losses, in killed, wounded and missing, numbered nearly, if not quite two-thirds of the casualties in Banks’ entire army.  The position held by the 27th in this engagement was the left centre of its brigade.  On its right was the 14th Iowa and on its left the 32d.  Its right rested near the Pleasant Hill and Mansfield road.

The conduct of Colonel Gilbert in this engagement, as at Fort DeRussey, was gallant in the extreme.  Through the anxious hours that intervened between the first attack in the morning and the final fierce assaults of the enemy in the afternoon, he was never idle, but talked with and cheered his men.  Skirmishing all this time was going on; and every moment closed with the assurance that the next would open the fierce encounter.  When the conflict finally did open, he stood firm and confidant, using, when occasion offered and his duties would permit, a musket against the advancing enemy.  Indeed, the colonel was wounded in this engagement, while in the act of shooting a rebel officer.  Many brave officers and men of the 27th Iowa were left among the killed and wounded; their names I have failed to learn.  One I know—Sergeant George W. Griswold, a brave and faithful soldier.  He was wounded severely in the face, and left in hospital within the enemy’s lines.

A history of Banks Expedition after his unplucked victory at Pleasant Hill will be found elsewhere.  In the fatiguing and harassing retreat to Simmsport, Smith’s Division covered the rear of Banks’ army.

Subsequently to the Red River Campaign, there has been little rest for the 27th Iowa Infantry.  It joined its division in driving Price from Missouri; was with A. J. Smith at Nashville, and fought in those terrible battles that closed only with the destruction of General Hood’s army; and lastly, was with its old white-headed general before Blakely, where it led a portion of the charging column that carried so brilliantly the strong-hold.  Now it has marched with its division into the interior of Alabama; but it will probably see no more fighting.

After the battle of Nashville, Colonel Gilbert was made a brigadier-general.  Since that time, he has been in command of a brigade.  He is one of the most popular officers in his division.

Colonel Gilbert is six feet and one inch in height, and has a broad chest, and an erect and tapering form.  His hair, eyes, and complexion are dark.  He has a heavy voice, and is an energetic talker.  At home and among his acquaintances, he is  “noted for his love of a fine horse and riding out-fit.  He thinks much of style in appearance.”

He is quick and active in his motions, and, in civil life, was accustomed to decide the most important business transactions in a moment.  His opinions, of which he is very positive, he is always ready to back with a bet; and his losses, of which he rarely has any, he pays promptly.  As a business man, he was not considered very fortunate, though he was never placed in a position which prevented him from paying all legal demands against him.  Like several other Iowa officers, he is better adapted to the profession of arms than to any other calling.  I should not omit to state that, of the Iowa generals, General Gilbert is the finest equestrian the State can boast, not even excepting General Frederick Steele.

The image was found on Find a Grave  I learned later that is was the picture with his obituary.  But I will leave it here.

Jedediah Lake is a native of Cortland County, New York, where he was born November 18, 1830. He attended district school during the winters and assisting at farm work during the summers until seventeen years old. His education was continued in New York Central College and a manual training school at McGrawville. He continued his studies at Cortland Academy, supporting himself by teaching. He came to Iowa in 1855, locating at Independence where he studied law and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. In 1861 he was elected Representative in the House of the Ninth General Assembly and in 1862 entered the Union army during the extra session. He was tendered the position of Collector of Internal Revenue, but preferred the military service and soon after was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteers. He participated in the capture of Little Rock, the Red River expedition, Battle of Nashville, and capture of Mobile besides many minor engagements. In 1865 he succeeded to the command of the regiment upon the promotion of Colonel Gilbert. After the war closed Colonel Lake resumed practice at Independence. In another place is given an account of his services in successfully defeating the drive well monopoly, for which the General Assembly of Iowa by passage of joint resolutions tendered to him the thanks of the people for the great service rendered the country in saving millions of dollars in unjust attempts to collect royalties. Colonel Lake was appointed by President Harrison one of the commissioners to appraise 60,000 acres of land in California. He was also one of the commissioners having in charge the building of the Hospital for the Insane at Cherokee.

Source: History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/Volume 4

Biographical Souvenir of the counties of Delaware and Buchanan.
Chicago: F. A. Battey & Company. 1890.   pp. 601-2.

1856  George W Howard was elected treasure and recorder.

The first lawyer in Chickasaw county was G. W. Howard, who subsequently became state senator, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. J. H. Powers to enter the military service during the war of the rebellion. Howard was afterward appointed major of the 27th Iowa infantry, and served through the rebellion. He now resides at Waterloo, Iowa.

CHICKASAW IN FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

1860 In the election of 1860 the candidates were J. H. Powers  and Moses Conger.  Powers was elected and took his seat in the extra session of the Legislature,  called by the governor on account of the Civil war.   After the adjournment of this session Senator Powers enlisted in the army,  and he rendered valiant service for his county as  captain of the Ninth Iowa Infantry.

1862 At the regular session of the Legislature, in 1862,  Senator Powers' seat was declared vacant, and a special election was called for the 25th of February, 1862,  to fill the vacancy. G. W. Howard and A. G. Case were the opposing candidates. Howard  was elected and served the unexpired term.

FEBRUARY 25, 1862.

This was a special election for state senator, 40th senatorial district. But 294 votes were cast, of which G. W. Howard received 223, A. G. Case thirty-eight, scattering thirty-three.

The contesting board consisted of W. E. Andrews, prosecuting attorney and ex-officio county judge, and a resident of Bradford; George W. Howard, selected on the part of the incumbents in office, at that time treasurer and recorder, and a resident of Bradford;

"On motion they proceeded to ballot for officers, which resulted as follows: President Hazard Green; vice-president, D. A. Babcock; secretary, J. H. Powers; treasurer, J. H. Dickens; executive committee, G. W. Howard, F. D. Bosworth, J. Cole; committee on. by-laws, W. E. Beach, J. H. Dickens, J. Cole, J. H. Powers, G. W. Howard."

Shiras came to Dubuque soon after his graduation from Yale in 1856. During the CIVIL WAR he served as aide-de-camp to General Francis J. HERRON in campaigns through Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana. After the war, Shiras returned to politics and his legal practice in Dubuque. He served on the City Council in 1866 and 1867, filling out an unexpired term of an elected official who moved from the ward from which he was elected.

Shiras served as a Republican delegate to many state and congressional conventions. On August 2, 1882, during President Arthur's administration, he was appointed United States Judge of the Northern District of Iowa and held the position until his retirement in 1903. Among the many important legal decisions in his career was the one he returned in the case of Washburn & Moen Company vs the Beat-Em-All Barbed Wire Company of Cedar Falls, Iowa. After hearing over three hundred witnesses, Shiras returned a verdict in favor of the defendants that resulted in prairie farmers no longer being victimized by high-priced fencing.

Dubuque City Directory, 1857-1858. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Oliver Perry Shiras, George SHIRAS, Jr., and Francis J. Herron were second cousins. Oliver & George Shiras's mother Eliza and Francis J. Herron where first cousins.

The Shiras and Herron brothers all came to Dubuque around 1855 from the Pittsburgh area. George Shiras II (b.1806) married Elizabeth Perry Herron and had George Jr. (III) (b. 1832), Oliver Perry (b. 1833) and Francis Herron Shiras. Eliza Herron's (b.1809) father was Francis J. Herron's (b. 1837) uncle Rev. Francis Herron (b. 1774). Francis J. Herron's father was Francis Herron's brother and Francis J. Herron's uncle John Herron Jr. (b. 1792). Elizabeth Herron Shiras and Francis J. Herron's grandfather was also named John Herron Sr.

Francis J. Herron also had a brother, David R. Herron, Lieutenant in the 3rd Iowa Light Artillery Battery, also known as the Dubuque Battery, organized in Dubuque. And besides Oliver P. Shiras serving as aid de camp to Br. Gen. Francis J. Herron during the Civil War, Herron had a nephew, James A. Herron, son of brother William A. Herron (b. 1821), who served on his staff.

It should also be noted U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Shiras, Jr. married Dubuque born Lillie E. Kennedy (b. 1842) daughter of Robert T. Kennedy (b. 1819). It appears Robert T. Kennedy and several of his children are buried in Dubuque.

~Distinguished Successful Americans of Our Day; Containing Biographies of Prominent Americans Now Living; 1912, pg 391

Solon Langworthy

1880 Dubuque County Biographies

The History of Dubuque County, Iowa
Published 1880 by Western Historical Company,   Chicago

Courtesy of Doreen Weston and Tom Schlarman

There Dr. Langworthy went, as it offered him an opportunity to follow his profession. But the location of the family proved to be an unfavorable one, and the father was called home by the illness of his wife. The malarial fever, peculiar to that section in that day, soon ended her life, and a son, Stephen, followed his mother, a victim to the same malady. These sad events determined Dr. Langworthy to seek a more healthful region. Accordingly, the eldest son, James, with Dr. Isaiah Massey, his mother's brother, traveled northwest, and after a long and hazardous journey, they found Diamond Grove. Here the father, aided by his sons, began to open up a farm. A cabin was built, ten or twelve acres of land on the edge of the grove, covered with weeds, which had grown there since the Kickapoo Indians had cultivated it as a corn-field, and, according to a previous treaty, had now abandoned it. An abundant crop rewarded their first year's labor. Dr. Massey, having selected for himself the eastern end of the grove, had returned to Edwardsville, where, soon after, he was seized with the malarial fever, which terminated his life. Diamond Grove, proving a healthful location, soon became quite well settled with a population partly Eastern, but principally Southern. There settlers had taken up claims, made improvements, either skirting the water-courses or in the vicinity of groves. Their cabins, made of round logs, served both for dwelling-places and schoolhouses. The expenses of the latter were divided among the different families, according to the number of pupils furnished by each. By this arrangement, the greater portion of the expense fell upon the "Yankees," as many of the Southern settlers, believing that education would produce dishonesty and wickedness, refused to permit their children to be instructed. Corn and wheat were the principal products, affording subsistence both to men and animals. The want of mills to grind the grain was one of the severest hard ships encountered, the horse-mill being the only resource. This was constructed with a sweep, to which every person having a grist to grind attached his own team, mounted the sweep and drove the horses round a circuitous track. If, luckily, his team was strong and fast, he could obtain about two bushels of meal or flour per hour.

Dr. Langworthy now revisited St. Louis, remaining a year, during which time he married Miss Jane Moureing, installing her in his home at Diamond Grove, where she watched over his large family with true devotion. The county seat of Morgan County was now fixed at Jacksonville, two miles east of his residence, and, rapidly increasing in population, rendered his profession a lucrative one. The farm, too, had prospered, leaving the elder members of the family free to seek their fortunes elsewhere. In 1824, James L. Langworthy set out for the Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, where mineral had recently been discovered in large quantities. The journey was made on horseback, a compass being used to direct his course. In about ten days, be arrived at Fever River, where Galena now stands. He immediately associated himself with Orrin Smith, a native of Cincinnati, and commenced mining one mile east of Hazel Green, Wis., at a place commonly called Hardscrabble. After nearly two years' hard labor, they struck a big lead, selling the same in 1826 to Alexander Phelps for a large sum of money. This gave them the means to visit their respective homes. Together, on horseback, they made the trip to Diamond Grove. Here the happy household joyfully greeted the brother safely returned, and hospitably entertained his companion. The family consisted of the following members: Dr. Langworthy and wife, with his children-- Eliza, Laura, Lucius H., Edward, Mary Ann, Maria , Lucretia, Solon, Lucien and Harriet . Happy these heroes, who, conquering adversity, had returned to thrill the hearts of their fascinated relatives with wild tales of adventure and daring. Orrin Smith at length departed for Cincinnati; but the friendship inspired by one member of the family had fast ripened into true affection. Excited by the success of their elder brother, Lucius and Edward now determined also to seek the mines. In the spring of 1827, accompanied by their two sisters, Mary Ann and Maria, made their way in a wagon to a point on the Mississippi named "Wood's Woodyard," now the city of Quincy, containing more than 40,000 inhabitants. This yard was the property of John Wood , afterward Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. They arrived there about the 10th of April, having traveled a distance of eighty-six miles. A family of Dunkards had settled midway between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and, following their trail, the young travelers gained their residence. There they were hospitably entertained for the night, and, by directions from these kindly friends, they went onward on their wanderings. The following day, and just at nightfall, they reached the summit of the lofty bluff overlooking the Mississippi and the woodyard for which they were destined. The steamboat Red Rover had been advertised to arrive at this place and soon rounded the point below. After taking on board the adventurers and a supply of wood, the vessel turned her prow up stream, and rapidly vanished from sight. Solon, the younger brother, left alone on the river bank in charge of the team, without delay ascended the bluff. This team was the first that ever descended the precipitous bluff, and the Red Rover was the first steamboat any one of the young travelers had ever seen. About 4     P. M., Solon again entered the hospitable cabin of the Dunkards. The following morning, when about to turn homeward with his team, he found a most unlucky accident had befallen it. A vicious bull had gored one of the horses. Nothing remained for him but to mount the other and in that manner reach Diamond Grove. Letters from the absent brothers were received about the 1st of July, assuring the anxious family of the safe arrival of the party at Buncombe, at which place they were joined by James Langworthy and Orrin Smith, who were still partners in mining and merchandising.

Not many months passed before Mary Ann fulfilled the promise she had made and became the wife of Orrin Smith, Maria sharing their home. Lucius and Edward repaired to Coon Branch, near Hazel Green, where they built their cabin and engaged in mining. Solon, it will be remembered, was still on the farm at Diamond Grove. Being the oldest son now left there, the care of the farm devolved upon him. With the assistance of one man and a younger brother, Lucien, more than a hundred acres, cultivated in field crops, yielded an ample return. They were, however, far from being remunerative, corn being only 10 and wheat 37 cents per bushel, other products being proportionately low. Remoteness from markets compelled the exchange of farm products for dry goods, groceries and other necessary articles, which were excessively high. As an instance of this kind of trade, it may be mentioned that 1,000 bushels of corn were delivered at Jacksonville, two and one-half miles distant, the consideration being a horse, valued at $100. Now came a fresh break in the home circle, Eliza marrying, in 1827, William Maclay, and Laura choosing for her husband Jacob D. Williams. In April, 1828, Solon,  accompanied by Horace McCartney, started for Galena, Ill. Between the Grove and Galena the inhabitants were few and scattering. Although they had sold these lands, the Indians still persisted in remaining upon them, thus retarding the settlement of the country. The two travelers had gone a short distance west of the Illinois River, when they overtook a party of drovers en route for the mines. They were strongly advised not to undertake the journey alone, but for safety to join the drovers, which offer they accepted, remaining in their company six or seven days, until within twenty miles of Rock River, when, finding that their provisions were nearly exhausted, it became imperative for the two companions to leave the slow-traveling drovers and push rapidly forward. No sooner were the trees skirting the river fairly in view than a large body of mounted Indians were seen, and, ere the danger was entirely comprehended, the travelers were surrounded by the dusky warriors. Two of the chiefs, by the aid of certain gestures and broken mutterings, seemed to inquire upon what business and to what place the whites were bound. Satisfied upon these points, they unceremoniously examined the equipments and then signified that the voyagers must follow them, and, in a few minutes, the entire party were on the banks of the Rock River. An application to the chiefs for the use of their canoes was refused, the Indian boys sportively wrestling with the young whites. No other resource remained but to cross the stream as best they could, seeing which, Solon mounted his horse, which, swimming safely over, was soon followed by his companion. Untroubled by further incidents, Council Hill was reached, where the path of the comrades separated, Solon going to Buncomb. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, he arrived safely, and there met his brother James. The day following, they both repaired to the mining cabin on Coon Branch, where, for the first time in several years, the four brothers were re-united, Orrin Smith , too, soon added his kindly welcome and conducted the young adventurer to his residence on the Platte, a spot now known as British Hollow, where the joy of the two sisters may well be imagined. But, after a short visit, Solon returned to Coon Branch, residing that summer with Lucius and Edward . As a miner, this season proved fortunate, the young man realizing a snug little sum, which enabled him, in company with James Meredith, in November, 1828, to revisit Diamond Grove. The next three years were devoted to labor upon the home farm. This was sold in 1831, the entire family removing to St. Charles, Mo. Solon now found employment with a neighboring farmer. Becoming dissatisfied with that business, in July, 1832, he enlisted in Co. A, United States Ranging Service, Capt. Nathaniel Boone commanding, a grandson of the famous Daniel Boone. This officer was ordered to report to Gen. Winfield Scott, at Rock Island, which he did about the 20th of August. The company encamped immediately below the garrison. In a couple of weeks, the cholera made its appearance in the garrison, creating great alarm, in consequence of which the company obtained permission to make a fresh camp south of the Rock River, six miles distant. Twelve of its members died of the malady, a slight mortality, compared with that of the garrison. About the 1st of September, Gen. Dodge dispatched two of his Aids-de-camp, H. L. Massey and James L. Langworthy, announcing to Gen. Scott the capture of Black Hawk at the battle of Bad Axe. Solon was present at Rock Island when the treaty was made which terminated that war. The company, being enlisted for a year's service, was then ordered to Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas River, reaching that place early in January, 1833. In the following spring, it was sent westward, for the protection of the Santa Fe trade, a service for which it had been originally designed. Late in that summer, the company marched to Fort Gibson, and were disbanded. Solon, in company with Ezra Overall, William H. and Jesse Moureing, set out for their Missouri homes. On reaching St. Charles, Solon found his brother-in-law, Mr. Williams, had died of cholera, and he remained with his sister during the winter, for the purpose of settling up the estate. In the spring of 1834, he embarked at St. Louis, on the steamer Olive Branch, for Galena. Here he met his sister Maria, then the wife of. Upon his boat, the Jo Daviess, he visited Dubuque the following day, and was soon the guest of his three brothers in their mining cabin in Langworthy Hollow. They at once employed him in hauling rails for fencing a farm, which is now in the heart of the city. In June, he broke up sixty acres thereon, which is thought to be the first land plowed in the State of Iowa, that is, in any quantity. Farm work being completed, he began an examination of the country with a view to its mining resources. In the fall of 1834, he purchased a large mineral lot on the Maquoketa. Lucius, also, was interested in the undertaking, and, together, after two weeks' labor, they struck a fine prospect. Thereupon, they built a cabin, and Lucius returning to Dubuque, Solon took up his residence, hired two men, and, for a year and a half, carried on the mining. In the autumn of 1835, he bought a prospect on the Ewing Range. Here, after blasting for nearly a month, an immense cave was discovered, filled with shining ore. The success of these ventures stimulated Solon to further achievements. In the spring of 1836, he joined with Orrin Smith , in operations on Fever River and Coon Branch. On the latter, they purchased a claim for $800, obtained 2,000 pounds of mineral and exhausted it in one day. Deserting the spot, Solon, in a few days, encountered four Missouri brothers named Jemison, whose lot, cabin, tools, and lead already on the surface, amounting to sixty or seventy thousand pounds of mineral, he bought for the sum of $2,500, taking possession of the cabin, hitching his pony at the end of the windlass rope. Solon hired four men, and the next morning saw them delving industriously in the mines, his partner, Orrin Smith , now in Cincinnati, being quite unaware of his operations. In less than two months, he sold from this lead over three hundred and fifty thousand pounds of mineral, clearing, above all expenses, about $4,000, half of which was paid over to Mr. Smith, on his return. At the end of the year, the profits had increased to about $22,000, a great portion of which was invested in the steamer Brazil, built in the winter of 1837, by Orrin Smith, at Cincinnati. This vessel was the first one which had ever been upon the Upper Mississippi, up to that date. After making a few very successful trips between Cincinnati and Dubuque, she struck a rock on the upper rapids of the Mississippi and sunk, being a total wreck and entirely uninsured. During the autumn, Solon made a journey on horseback to St. Louis, navigation being closed. There he purchased four horses and a wagon, and a stock of clothing valued at $4,000. Henry L. Massey then became his partner, taking charge of the team, and at once passing through the State of Missouri and the Territory of Iowa, commenced business at Snake Diggings, now Potosi, Wis. Large mineral discoveries had attracted here a large body of miners, to whom the goods were rapidly sold, and the proceeds remitted to Mr. Langworthy, then in Cincinnati, to be again invested in new stock. Mr. Massey carried on the business at Potosi until the fall of 1838, when Mr. L. personally assumed charge of it. On the 20th of April,1840, he married Julia L. Patterson, daughter of Myron and Frances Patterson, of Long Island. In this village they resided until 1848, at which period they removed to Dubuque, Iowa, erecting the house in which they now reside. Their family consists of three daughters and two sons. In 1862, Solon Langworthy was appointed Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 27th I. V. L, and went into the struggle for the life of the Union. In the hardships common to such a period, he shared, until the year 1864, when, resigning, he returned to his home. His life since then has been an active one, and he has embarked in many enterprises, having at different times engaged in the banking, lumbering and similar occupations. A busy, stirring manhood, let us hope, will bring the peace and serenity of an old age, happy in an unbroken and a loving household circle.

Photo was found in Newsletter Vo1 22, #1, mentioned below.

United States of America
State of Massachusetts
County of Essex

I, John E. Sanborn, do swear that I was born in the town of Gilmanton, N. H. on or about the seventeenth day of August, 1824, that I am a Native and Loyal Citizen of the United States and about to travel abroad in Europe - France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Sworn to before me this thirty first day of May, 1888
Notary Public Signature.

Description of Dr. John E. Sanborn:

Age: 63 1/2 years
Stature: 5 feet 9 inches
Forehead: Broad and full
Eyes: dark blue
Nose: Large and Prominent
Mouth: Large
Chin: Square and bearded
Hair: Iron grey
Complexion, Light & Florid
Face: Full & Broad

Applicant desires passport sent to the following address:

Dr. J. E. Sanborn
Rockport, Essex Co., Mass.

Note: It appears that Dr. Sanborn kept a diary during his European trip.  The Sanborn Family Association has at least part of it online.  It is Vol. 22, #1.  This newsletter also included extracts from a few letters that he wrote as a child and some photos.  The link above takes you to their website.  They have obviously done much work on the Sanborns.

Because I have maintained the website for the 27th Iowa for many years and have seen links come and go, I have also copied the section relevant to Dr. Sanborn to this website - just in case their website goes away.  You can see it here.

Harvard Medical Association Quarterly, 1901- , page 645

OBITUARY

(Class of) 1850. Dr. John E. Sanborn died at Melrose, Mass., on April 1. He was born in Gilmanton, N.H., Aug. 17, 1824, son of Rev. Jacob Sanborn. He studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, graduated A.B. as Wesleyan University in 1845, and M.D. at Harvard in 1850. He began practice of medicine in Medford, but went West to occupy a chair in the Medical College of the University of Iowa. He enlisted as surgeon of the 27th Iowa Volunteers, served with distinction throughout the War of the Rebellion, and was mustered out in 1865 as surgeon-in-chief of the 16th Army Corp, and Army of the Cumberland. For twenty-five years after the war he practiced his profession at Rockport. After retiring from practice, he removed to Melrose. He was a Mason and a member as chairman of the Melrose Board of Health. He married in 1852 Rebecca M. Tate, of Middletown, Conn., who survives with four children.

Margaret Cooper was the daughter of William Cooper and Elizabeth Ross. She was married to Dr. D. C. Hastings and was the sister of John W. Cooper, whose wife was Margaret E. Whittington Cooper.

Bulletin Journal 8 Mar 1928

Mrs. Hastings 96 Years Old--Lived in One House 73 Years--Aged Quasqueton Lady in Good Health--Came to County in 1850--She Reads Without Glasses---Mrs. Margaret Hastings, Quasqueton's oldest and highly esteemed resident and possibly the oldest resident in Buchanan County, celebrated her 96th birthday Sunday, March 4, 1928. She spent the day quietly in her home, receiving callers and greetings from friends, wishing her many more happy birthdays. "Aunt Margy', as she is called by both young and old, doubts if there is another resident of Buchanan county who can claim the distinction of having lived in the same house for more than seventy-three years, or since her marriage to Dr. D. C. Hastings in Aug. 1854. He was a Civil War surgeon. They had no children, but Mrs. Hastings brought up in her home a girl, Ida Hilton, whom she considered as a daughter, also a nephew, Carl Cooper, both of whom passed away several years ago. There is no one else now residing in Quasqueton who was here when she came here. At one time there were seven families of her near relatives in this vicinity, but all have passed away.

She is a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Cooper, oldtime, well-known residents of Quasqueton. She was born at Peachbloom, York county, Penn., and later moved to Ohio with her parents, where they lived until 1850, when they came by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Dubuque, thence from there to Buchanan county by team, arriving here the fifth day of December, having been a resident of this county now for more than seventy-seven years. At that time there were more people in Quasqueton than there were in Independence, but there were no school houses or churches. The first school house was built in 1851. It was the wing part to the brick building, now used as a residence and owned by Carl Sauer. There were not more than a half dozen houses on the east side of the river in 1852. The house now owned by E. T. Clark was the only fairly good residence here at the time. A minister came occasionally and held services in the different homes and she often entertained them in her home.

A bridge was built across the river in 1852. Mrs. Hastings has seen deer cross the river on the ice near where the bridge now is. She taught school at Spring Grove in 1851. In the early days her father raised sheep from which they obtained wool, which she picked to pieces, carded and wove into cloth and yarns. She also tells of making and molding candles.

Mrs. Hastings started housekeeping in one room, using nail kegs for chairs and a box for a table but says they entertained more people in their homes those days than most people do in their mansions now. She has quilts in her possession that she quilted soon after her marriage that are in good condition and which are fine specimens of quilting.

She was converted and joined the Congregational church soon after coming here and always enjoyed attending religious services until her hearing became impaired. Mrs. Hastings is in remarkably good health despite her advanced age. She gets about with a cane and says she could walk all about town if she could stand the cold. It has been a number of years since she used glasses, but she is a great reader. She can discuss most any subject and takes a real interest in the affairs of the day, her mind being as bright and clear as many half her age. She has always managed her own business affairs, at one time owning two farms. During her lifetime she made two visits back east, but never saw a place she liked as well as Iowa. She has a merry twinkle in her eye, which indicates her appreciation of a good joke, a ready smile and a friendly and cheerful greeting for all. Of late, her niece, Mrs. George Winsor, has been with her and looking after her home work.

She is of the opinion that she is the only subscriber today to the Bulletin-Journal who has taken it regularly since it was first published as the "Guardian" by Rich & Jordan, at Quasqueton, prior to its being moved to Independence in 1858.  

Frederick F. Kiner was born in Landisburg, PA. (Perry County) on November 17, 1833. He moved to Iowa in 1847, and settled in Mt. Pleasant (Henry County). In 1854 he married Eliza Ann Nicodemus. He was a minister with the Churches of God in Iowa. Basing his decision on strong political and religious beliefs, Frederick enlisted with the 14th Iowa Infantry Co. I, on October 5, 1861 as a private and then received the position of first sergeant.

The unit moved from Camp McClellan in Davenport, Iowa to Benton Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri where they drilled in preparation for the forthcoming battles of Fort Donelson, and Shiloh. It was at the battle of Shiloh, on April 6, 1862, in the midst of the "Hornets Nest", that he was captured with over 200 others from the regiment. The next 6 1/2 months were spent as a prisoner of war at Camp Oglethorpe in Macon, Georgia until their parole at Aikens Landing on October 17, 1862. It was the horrible treatment and living condition endured as a prisoner (conditions which were just as terrible in northern prisons) which prompted him to write the book "One Year’s Soldiering" in 1863.

Other involvements Frederick was a part of included being stationed at Columbus, Kentucky, Sherman’s Meridian campaign, Bank’s Red River expedition, the battle of Pleasant Hill, serving under General Canby at Fort Fisher and Blakely, and the "March to Montgomery" at the wars end.

On April 30, 1863 he was discharged for promotion to Chaplain of the same unit. He was mustered out of the 14th on November 16, 1864. On January 21, 1865 he was mustered to the Field and Staff of the 27th Iowa as the Regimental Chaplain and served in this capacity until being mustered out with his unit on August 8, 1865 - end of the war.

Pension records show that Frederick suffered as a result of the war from serious back injuries and "a nervous system a good deal broken down." The family moved to Ida Grove, Iowa sometime after the war where Frederick practiced law. His children were:

Frederick C. born 1855 - my line
Emma born 1857
Myra born 1859
Hamilton born 1864
Stephen born 1866
Jessie born 1868

Frederick was admitted to the Iowa State Soldiers Home (now known as the Iowa Veterans Home) Marshalltown, Iowa in 1900. He died on April 15, 1901 and is buried in the cemetery at the Veterans Home. If anyone has any information on Frederick F. Kiner’s family or military history please contact me at skiner@pioneerplanet.infi.net. I would love to hear from you.

Steve Kiner (great-great grandson)

-When my liberties are buried, lay me by their side.

F. F. Kiner - One Year’s Soldiering