The LaGrange Dramatic Co. and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"

This photograph and the program carefully pasted to its back are among amazing, but rarely seen, photographic artifacts in the Lucas County Historical Society collection. It's not that we're hiding them or anything, but vintage photographs like this live in archival boxes most of the time for their own protection. And visitors rarely have time to examine the contents of those boxes unless they're looking for something specific.

What's shown here is the cast for an early spring, 1895, production by the LaGrange Dramatic Co. of a play, Uncle Tom's Cabin, based upon Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel of the same name. That novel, second only among books to the Bible in U.S. sales during the 19th century, became a powerful tool in the anti-slavery movement that led eventually to civil war. Widely praised in the North and across Great Britain, it was despised in the American South.

But more Americans actually saw stage adaptions of the book during the latter half of the 19th century than read the book. There were many adaptions --- the author's rights were not protected by copyright --- ranging from those that accurately reflected Stowe's literary work to some that were little more than slapstick minstrel shows.

Stowe's intent always was to highlight the  horrors of slavery, but as the 20th century advanced mixed feelings toward it developed. Uncle Tom's Cabin also helped embed in the minds of white Americans some of the stereotypes about black people that continue to plague us.

Because of the program, we know that the LaGrange production had six acts, so it may have been a version of George Aiken's dramatization, generally considered one of the most sympathetic to the original text.

What remains of LaGrange, once a principal Lucas County village and the last stop before Chariton on the Western Stage Co. route, is located on the north side of U.S. 34 at the Lucas-Monroe county line. The LaGrange Cemetery is just off the highway to the north on the county line road.

LaGrange's fate was sealed when the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad route passed a couple of miles to the south during 1866-67 and the new town of Russell was established. But the village still was a community center in 1895, site of Cedar Township No. 2 "LaGrange" School and the LaGrange Presbyterian Church.

The LaGrange Dramatic Co. grew out of the winter "Literary" held at the LaGrange School that year. These evening social gatherings were common in rural school districts and brought residents together once a week or so for evening gatherings to socialize in a literary setting that could include readings from popular books of the day (or classics), oratory --- and dramatic productions. The LaGrange effort this year surely must have been the most ambitions undertaken in Lucas County.

The first performance was held at the LaGrange School during late March as both the winter term of classes and the Literary season were ending. A second performance was presented on April 2 at Hatcher's Hall in Russell. 

This copy of the photograph belonged to Dr. Earl M. Stewart, who portrayed "Doctor" in the production. He's the guy in the stovepipe hat in the back row with a toy pistol pointed at his head. It came to the society during 1979 from his son, Kermit Stewart, of Alexandria, Virginia. Earl M. Stewart, who went on to become a physician and settled in Nebraska, was teaching the LaGrange School that year.

All of the cast members are numbered on the photo, with corresponding numbers beside their names on the program pasted to the back. If you're really ambitious, you can open both of these images in new windows and do the identifying yourselves.

Evensong ....

Compline prayer, Book of Common Prayer, Page 124. Photos taken September, 2014, Douglass Pioneer Cemetery near Chariton, Iowa.

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night...

... and give your angels charge over those who sleep. 

Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

Restoration vision at Chariton Vision Center

The Chariton Vision Center building, constructed during 1904 by Horace G. Larimer and his father-in-law, N.B. Hollinger, always has been kept in good repair. But as in a number of other structures around the square, the many windows that lighted its second floor --- always a commercial space --- were closed and blinded during the latter half of the 20th century when the market for second-floor tenants declined.

So the reopening of 10 of those giant windows after rebuilding and reinstallation has been among the most noticeable aspect of the building's restoration as part of Chariton's Facade Improvement Program, which began last fall and is nearing completion now.

The new "old" look of the structure was completed last week when a fixed canopy, weatherized fabric over a metal frame, was installed --- a contemporary nod to the original awnings used on the building, awnings that had to cranked out, then cranked in, daily.

Another clever reference to the past is the fact that "Chariton Vision Center" signage in long strips above the awning is in the same location as the signage of its first commercial occupants.

Although all windows in the building's "show" facade were restored and reopened, more than a dozen windows on the north side of the building remain closed, but the original blinding materials have been replaced with framed black panels to recreate the "feel" of windows where windows, in fact, no longer exist. A smaller awning, mirroring the large on in front, has been installed over the side door.

The street level office facade also has been rebuilt in a manner more compatible with the original look of the building.

Here's how the building (at far right) looked soon after it was completed.

Here's how it looked during 2011 before restoration began.

And here's how it looks now.

The Vision Center building sits on the footprint of the north half of the Mallory Opera House, built during the early 1870s and destroyed in a massive blaze during early January, 1904. At the time of the fire, the ground floor of the opera house was occupied by both the Oppenheimer and Hollinger & Larimer stores. The fire also took out commercial buildings to the south owned by the Storie and Lockwood families.

Construction of their replacements began as soon as rubble could be cleared away and spring arrived. The Lockwoods and the Stories rebuilt on the sites of their old buildings; Oppenheimer and Hollinger & Larmer divided the Opera House lots and built independent structures. These buildings continue to form one of the most harmonious and complete suites of early 20th century commercial buildings in southern Iowa.

The Vision Center/Hollinger & Larmier building was gutted by another blaze on Jan. 1, 1928 --- a loss, with stock, estimated at $100,000 --- but was rebuilt immediately within the sturdy exterior walls of the 1904 building.

Restoration of the north half of the 1869 Manning & Penick Building still is under way at the alley end of the west side's north half, so I'll come back to it when the project is complete. But here's the way the four 1904 buildings constructed after the big opera house fire looked on Sunday morning. All of these buildings remain in good repair thanks to their owners.

The Fifth Mile building, originally Lockwood, acquired a beautifully designed storefront not long after that business opened and other conservation work has been carried out on the facade; the owners of Casa De Oro, originally Storie, moved quickly after opening their restaurant to replace the bright yellow and red paint previous owners had applied to the entire facade with a painted surface that replicates the colors of the original brick; and the owners of the Oppenheimer Building have refreshed the street-level facade of that building with new signage to come.

The Fifth Mile, Casa De Oro and Oppenheimer buildings were not involved in the Facade Improvement Program although their privately undertaken work certainly complements it.

The Facade Improvement Project began during 2013 with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority after a highly competitive application process. About a dozen Iowa projects were funded that year.

Project funding was available to all building owners in the Courthouse Square Historic District. The CDBG grant provided about a third of the funds for each facade project, the owner another third and the balance was local match, an amount that will be recovered through Tax Increment Financing. In the end, 15 buildings --- six of them on the west side of the square --- were involved.

A Burlington-based architectural and engineering firm, Klingner & Associates, surveyed the district, then prepared initial and detailed plans for each project. All plans were approved by the State Historic Preservation Office and all work done complied with U.S. Department of the Interior preservation standards. Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street partnered with the city and building owners during every phase of the project.

Walking in beauty at sunrise ...

This prayer is part of a nine-day Navajo ritual called the Night Chant. The version is taken from the Buddhist meditation site, Wildmind. The photos were taken on Sept. 27, 2010, at Pin Oak Marsh. So we have this ahead of us ....

In beauty may I walk.

All day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons may I walk.

Beautifully will I possess again.

Beautifully birds . . .

Beautifully joyful birds

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.

With dew about my feet may I walk.

With beauty may I walk.

With beauty before me, may I walk.

With beauty behind me, may I walk.

With beauty above me, may I walk.

With beauty below me, may I walk.

With beauty all around me, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.

A Navajo Indian Prayer of the Second Day of the Night Chant (anonymous)

Puttin' on the Ritz: The restored Laing Building

I'm going to start moving gradually around the square during the next few weeks --- now that the Facade Improvement Program in progress since last fall is nearly complete --- to take a look at some of its results.

I'll start on the north side with with what I'm calling the Laing Building, since David and Steve Laing own it. But it also could be called the Dent Building, after Albert E. Dent, who built it back in 1893; or the Brown Building, since it's part of the three-facade Brown Block; or the EdwardJones Building, since Adam Bahr's business is the principal tenant. But "Laing-Dent-Brown-EdwardJones" seems a little bulky.

I'm loving the color scheme applied to the cast-metal cornice when it was restored and repeated elsewhere on the  building, but the most complicated part of the project involved reconstruction work on the upper facade in order to reintroduce the huge window that was part of the original design but that had replaced during the second half of the 20th century by a smaller "modern" version.

Here's how that phase of the project looked in February after face brick had been removed to reveal the footprint of the original window and its surround.

The first phase of this project, undertaken last October, involved removal of the shingled canopy that also was a late 20th century addition to the structure. The simple street-level facade now is framed by original cast iron and the sign identifying the business behind it has been placed above the windows.

Albert E. and Orilla Ann (Waynick) Dent commissioned this building during 1893 to replace the two-story wood frame building in which Orilla's father, David D. Waynick, had operated the family dry goods store until his death in 1883. It was built in cooperation with Chariton entrepreneur, Joseph A. Brown, who owned two similar wood frame buildings immediately to the east.

The result was a three-facade business block, christened the "Brown Block," even though the Dents owned the western third, completed during the same year the Lucas County Courthouse was built. You can see the recently completed block in the center of this photo, probably taken at about the time the courthouse was dedicated during 1894. The east two-thirds of the building were identical, but the Dents installed that big window on the second floor of their third to give it individual distinction. The cast metal cornice that crowned all three buildings helped to unite them.

Here's how the Brown Block looked at Homecoming back in 2011 before the Facade Renovation Program began.

And here's how it looked on Sunday afternoon. As you can see there have been changes and improvements involving the other storefronts, too, during the last five years.

The Facade Improvement Project began during 2013 with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority after a highly competitive application process. About a dozen Iowa projects were funded that year.

Project funding was available to all building owners in the Courthouse Square Historic District. The CDBG grant provided about a third of the funds for each facade project, the owner another third and the balance was local match, an amount that will be recovered through Tax Increment Financing.

A Burlington-based architectural and engineering firm, Klingner & Associates, surveyed the district, then prepared initial and detailed plans for each project. All plans were approved by the State Historic Preservation Office and all work done complied with U.S. Department of the Interior preservation standards. Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street partnered with the city and building owners during every phase of the project.

Buck Townsend & the Eddyville Trail

Another post this morning about the Mormon Trail and Lucas County --- and the "Eddyville Trail," a route surveyed by Buck Townsend to join the 1846 Mormon Trail at his own front door southeast of Chariton during 1848. This was two years after LDS pioneers had blazed the Mormon Trail but a year before the city of Chariton was established.

Both the Mormon and Eddyville trails are commemorated on the second of two large Mormon Trail monuments erected early in the 20th century by Daughters of the American Revolution, represented by Chariton's Old Thirteen chapter, to commemorate the trail and the part it played in Lucas County's and Chariton's 1849 founding.

This marker is located less than a mile and a half southeast of Chariton, at the first curve of the Blue Grass Road. Like the monument on the courthouse lawn, it was placed during 1917, when World War I was in progress, and dedicated officially on Dec. 13, 1923 --- a joint project of the D.A.R. and the Iowa Department of History.

It is located on or very near the old Mormon Trail, a route the Blue Grass Road follows in general to Russell, and also is near the site of the cabin of Buck and Edna Townsend and their family, which also served as Chariton's first inn. Commissioners gathered at the Townsend home during the fall of 1849 before locating the new county seat just to the northwest, then the first county commissioners --- now called supervisors --- arrived to organize Lucas County a day or two later.

The last line on the plaque reads, "Chariton Point. Junction of (the Mormon Trail and)  Eddyville Trail. Here Lucas County was organized in 1846."

Unfortunately, although molded in bronze, that statement isn't exactly accurate. Lucas County was not organized until September of 1849, three years later. The organizing did, however, take place in or near the Townsend cabin.

The Eddyville Trail, or road, was the first "state road" to reach Lucas County. It was "state" in the sense that the route was surveyed and blazed by state-employed surveyors, but by no means improved. The earliest pioneers to travel it sometimes had difficulty figuring out exactly where it was.

The Eddyville Trail was intended to accommodate permanent settlers now moving into Lucas County and beyond. It brought traffic from a new direction and before long was flooded by the wagons of "Forty-niners" headed for California's gold fields and non-Mormons headed for the Pacific Northwest or elsewhere. Most Mormon pioneers continued to reach Chariton on the old trail from the southeast.

At that time, during the late 1840s, Eddyville was the principal Des Moines River crossing point in south central Iowa --- Ottumwa was still a straggling village just beginning to pull itself together and didn't have ferry service, which Eddyville did.

Location of the Eddyville Trail put Chariton on the map as a stopping point on what was called the "Southern Route" across Iowa by those headed to California or to the Pacific Northwest.

A description of "our" portion of that route, published in July of 1849, reads as follows: "Eddyville is the principal crossing place of the Southern road — emigrants would do well to lay in their supplies here as there are some five or six large stores, flouring mills, &tc.; to Clark's Point (just north of Albia), 13 miles; to Prathers (near the Monroe-Lucas county line), 12 miles; to Chariton Point, 13 miles, center Lucas county; to Watson's 20 miles; to Pisgah, 40 miles; to Ferrin's Ferry at the junction of the northern and southern roads, 60 miles. The distance from Iowa City to St. Francis can be traveled in 12 days with good teams. From Eddyville, in 14 days."

St. Francis, also known as Traders Point, was located on the east bank of the Missouri River just across from what now is Belleview, Nebraska, and south of Council Bluffs.

The commissioners appointed by the Iowa Legislature on Jan. 22, 1848, to locate the Eddyville Road were our own Buck Townsend, then living at Chariton Point; Luther M. Davis, of Wapello County; and John Webb, of Monroe County.

That legislative act authorized Townsend, Davis and Webb to continue the survey west to the Missouri River as soon as the counties west of Lucas were organized.

The route through Lucas County followed, in general, the current route of U.S. 34 until it reached the areas east of town where tributaries of the Little White Breast --- now filled by Lakes Ellis, Morris and Red Haw --- cut into the landscape. Here the Eddyville Trail route swung southwest to follow the high ridge and intersected the Mormon Trail near the Townsend front door.

I'm guessing that Buck had a major part in deciding where that intersection would be.

By 1849, however, Ottumwa had become well enough organized to exert influence in the Legislature --- and had established ferry service of its own --- and Townsend and others were employed to lay out a new state road due west from Ottumwa through Albia that then followed the route blazed the previous year from Eddyville to Chariton Point.

Once the city of Chariton was established in 1849, it no longer made sense for the state road and the Mormon Trail to intersect near the Townsend cabin, so a more direct approach to the town square was developed.

A Des Moines River bridge had been constructed at Ottumwa by 1860 and, after the Civil War, another bridge was built to convey the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad tracks across. These reached Chariton during the summer of 1867. 

By that time, the route usually was known just as "the state road," although a few pioneers still referred to it now and then as the Eddyville Road into the 1880s.

Thomas Bullock's Lucas County journal entries in full

I've spent a lot of time on the Mormon Trail through Lucas County this week, commencing with "Whose grave is in Grave Hollow, you ask" and then "Sister Gabbott: England to Grave Hollow, Part 1" and "Sister Gabbott: England to Grave Hollow, Part 2."

There have been many references in those posts to Thomas Bullock's detailed daily journal of the trek from Montrose on the Mississippi through Lucas County to the Missouri River between Oct. 9 and Nov. 27, 1846. He was traveling with Capt. Orville M. Allen's Poor Camp Company, consisting of  28 wagons, 157 people and their livestock.

Allen's company of refugee Mormons, driven across the Mississippi from Nauvoo during September, 1846, spent three days traveling across Lucas County --- Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 29-31. On Friday, Oct. 30, Sarah Gabbott was crushed and killed at the current site of Chariton by an ox-drawn wagon; on Saturday morning, Oct. 31, she was buried in Grave Hollow to the west.

A condensed segment of Bullock's journal entry for Oct. 30, recounting the circumstances of Sister Gabbott's death, may be found on the Mormon Trail interpretive panel at the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn. But the complete entries are found in print only in a volume entitled "The Pioneer Camp of the Saints: The 1846 and 1847 Trail Journals of Thomas Bullock," first published in 1997 and republished during 2001 as Volume I in the series, "Kingdom in the West: the Mormons and the American Frontier." That's Thomas himself, in a photo taken about 1860 in Utah, at the top; the book itself, to the left.

And here are the entries themselves in full, so far as I know the first detailed account ever written of a road trip through Lucas County:

Thursday, 29 October 1846: The Saints had traveled during two days from a camp on the north bank of Soap Creek, north of what now is Unionville, to the site of first Moravia and then Iconium, camping overnight on Wednesday-Thursday perhaps in the extreme southwest corner of Monroe County, which the trail nicked as it passed from Appanoose County into Washington Township, Lucas County. On Thursday, the camp traveled roughly 12 miles from that point to what we call Chariton Point but Bullock called Wild Cat Grove.

"Arose at daylight, but on account of Stephen Perry's 2 yoke of cattle being missing, the Camp did not make a start till 10 o'clock. The Country being all knolly and undulating, the prairie was burnt for scores of miles and appears only one blackened mass. In many places the burnt prairie is covered with the webs of Spiders which has a pretty gauze like appearance. All the Camp had to stop to allow a man to pass, who was going to Garden Grove. We arrived at Wild Cat Grove about Sunset. We had to go more than a quarter of a mile for water and then it was quite black and not fit to drink, (but) afterwards found some holes where we procured a sufficiency. This evening a Beef was cut up and distributed among the Camp. Here are 5 Log houses recently built, occupied by the Saints. The Captain called the entire Camp together and instructed them in their duties. 12 miles."

Friday, 30 October, 1846: The camp got off to a late start on Friday, then from Wild Cat Grove grove at the edge of the high prairie, on a bluff east of the river, traveled northwest to round Chariton Point and descended into the Chariton River valley in order to water its cattle. Sarah Gabbot was killed after her wagon had been pulled by oxen up the hill out of the valley to the west and she was attempting to climb back into it. The Poor Camp Company seems to have continued almost due west, "over hill and dale," descending into Grave Hollow where camp was made and Sister Gabbott's grave prepared during the late afternoon.

"A very cold, brisk wind in the night. Arose by daylight. The Captain ordered the Wagons to be tarred, which was done and (we) started about 11. On the banks of the Charidon (sic) River, G. Wardle asked me if that was not some animal (pointing to an object in the distance). I told him I thought it was a cow, and to tell the Captain. They then started in pursuit, and turned up a young three year old Bull, which was driven into the drove. Here the cattle were all watered in the River. This is the most delightful country we have travelled thro'. (We) then ascended a very steep hill. As soon as brother Gabbut's Wagon had ascended the hill, his Wife Sarah Gabbut (while ) attempting to get into the Wagon, laid hold of a churn dasher which being cracked, gave way, and she fell against the Oxen, which so startled them, that they started off at a full run. She fell to the ground and the wheels of the Wagon passed over her loins or kidneys (about 12 o'clock). She exclaimed "oh dear, I am dying." She lingered until 5 minutes to 1 and breathed her last. This determined the Captain to come to an early camping ground. We continued over hill and dale until we came to one of the tributaries of "White Breast," which runs into the "Des Moine" at 1/2 past 3. The hill opposite us was on fire. Here we found plenty of wood and a clear running stream, and was altogether the best Camping Ground since we left Bonaparte. Laid Sister Gabbut out in her (temple) robes and part (of the company) prepared a grave. 7 miles."

Saturday, 31 October 1846: The Poor Camp Company arose this morning, buried Sarah Gabbott and then climbed out of Grave Hollow, ascending what was described as the steepest hill encountered so far on the trek across Iowa. The company then most likely snaked west-southwest down the narrow ridge from the top of that hill and at some point during the afternoon rejoined the main route of the Mormon Trail, then exited Lucas County west of Last Chance to camp that evening in Clarke County.

"Was a dull cloudy and cold morning. The grave being finished, Sister Gabbut was carried and laid low in her resting place between 8 and 10 o'clock and at 11 we started up the steepest hill yet travelled, and continued over a rolling prairie until we got to White Oak Springs. 10 miles. The road we travelled this day was Serpentine, and at one time had a fine view of the flames rolling over and over again and leaping high in the air as if conscious of its power, and sweeping the dry grass into oblivion, leaving nothing but its black track for a remembrance. The wind was very cold, the clouds dull and heavy and (gave) every appearance of an approaching Snow Storm."

Was that Uncle John's body down by Deadmans Run?

Fair warning --- the most likely answer to that question is, "we'll never know."

The reports and the traditions that form the background to the question date from 1852-1853 and involve a man reportedly from Chariton who died late one of those autumns in northwest Iowa's Woodbury County and whose body may or may not have been found and/or buried along a stream not far from Sergeant Bluff/Sioux City thereafter called Deadmans Run.

The newspaper report I found first was published during mid-December, 1853, in The Council Bluffs Bugle then republished on Dec. 31, 1853, in The Burlington Weekly Telegraph after the editor of the latter publication had received his exchange copy of The Bugle via U.S. Mail --- at that time transported by stage coach on the state road directly through Chariton from the Missouri to the Mississippi River shorelines. There was no local newspaper at all in Lucas County during that year.

Headlined, "From Sargeant Bluffs," the story reads: "From Mr. Townsley who has just arrived from the above place, we learn the following facts: Mr. A. Anderson is thought to be recovering. Great numbers of Sioux are arriving from St. Peters and preparing to make an exterminating attack upon the Omahas. A man called 'Uncle John,' from Chariton, and formerly from Illinois, and connected with Col. Allen's surveying corps, was lost on the prairies on the 15th inst. In going from the camp to the settlement he became lost in his calculation and took a wrong direction. He had with him a horse and buffalo robe, but no food. He was a large heavy made man and his horse was blind in one eye. He was followed in a circuitous zigzag direction out in nearly an easterly direction. He was about forty-five years old. His name was not known."

I went searching for some sort of Woodbury County connection to this story and the best I could do was this excerpt from the Woodbury Township chapter of the 1890-91 "History of the Counties of Woodbury & Plymouth," Chicago: A. Warner & Co. Here's how it reads:

"The origin of the very singular name that has been bestowed upon a small stream which runs through the center of Woodbury township --- Deadmans Run --- is as follows: About 1853 the body of a man was found near the little stream mentioned, or rather, as the best authenticated account gives it, attention was called to the body by one of the party to which the dead man belonged. A party of surveyors was encamped near the stream, and one of them, a young man, whose name was never given, was killed, either accidentally or by design. One of the party went to the settlement at Floyd's Bluff and informed the authorities there, who held an inquest on the corpse where it was found, and buried it on the spot. There was considerable mystery surrounding the affair, and the truth did not leak out till some time afterward, when it was ascertained that the young man who was killed, and his slayer, were lovers of the same young lady, who lived not far from Council Bluffs. They either fought a duel, or got into a quarrel which resulted in the death of one of the men. There was. evidently, nothing underhanded in the affair, as the rest of the party would not do or say anything to criminate the unfortunate slayer."

Then, I found a transcript of a Sioux City Journal article written by Neil Miller and published on June 13, 1940. Headlined "Dead Man's Run." It reads:

"On the night of October 10, 1852, a campfire blazed brightly on the eastern out-skirts of what now is Our Town (Sioux City), as a party of government surveyors rested on the last lap of their long journey from the Little Sioux. The horses were unhitched and tethered some distance from the campfire to graze in the crisp, drying grass. Save for the occasional dismal wail of a coyote, the rolling hills of the Morningside were silent and deserted. To the westward French and Indian neighbors of William Thompson drank whisky and danced weird Indian dances in the double house of August Traversier. At the mouth of Perry creek Joseph Leonais lived snugly in his little log cabin. Farther up the stream Robert Perry brooded over his lonely claim. Out on the mouth of the Sioux river, Theophile Bruguier rested contentedly among his countless Indian relatives and his half-breed children. 

"As the members of the surveying party rested around the campfire, the only splotch of brightness in the primeval darkness, two of the men fell to arguing. John Coon was a devout Mormon and presumably had endured much bantering persecution from his co-workers. Ivy Johnson, a husky youth of 20, had been zealous in tormenting him. 

"There had been bad blood between the two for some time, and this night Coon became very angry under Johnson's barbed gibes. Only the intervention of other members of the party prevented the quarrel from flaring into a fight. 

"In the early morning, after the horses had been harnessed and the train started on its way, Coon attempted to retrieve his gun from one of the moving wagons. It was discharged and the bullet killed Johnson instantly. There seems to have been a reasonable doubt as to Coon's guilt, and he was never brought to trial. Johnson was buried near where he fell, close to where the Milwaukee railroad tracks now skirt the eastern edge of Morningside, at a spot which has since been known as Dead Man's Run." 

And finally, here's a reference attributed to the 1852 field notes of surveyor Alex Anderson, then working near Sioux City: "Ivy Johnson, one of my men, was accidentally shot yesterday and died almost instantly." The field notes also reportedly contain the precise location of his grave. (Cazier, Lola, "Surveys and Surveyors in the Public Domain, 1785-1975," Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1976. Page 61.)

You've got to admit that this is a pretty good yarn, or maybe even a couple of yarns, told in a variety of ways. And there are elements of truth here, although the time frame varies slightly and the characters are ambiguous. Was "Uncle John" the shooter --- John Coon --- or the victim --- Ivy Johnson --- or neither? Are we dealing with one story here, or two. And if so, are they related. Like I said, we'll most likely never know.

Hail, Columbus (Taking the Pledge)

Classes resumed this week at Columbus School, in my neighborhood, and elsewhere across Chariton. So it seems like a good time to pull out a little trivia. Like, who can tell me when Columbus School received its current name --- and why?

As  you may or may not know, Chariton's first major school building --- a humongous and rather strange looking structure --- was built on the current Columbus School site (formerly a cemetery) during 1867. It burned, however, during October of 1877 and was replaced during 1878 by the grand old Italianate structure that served until 1964, when the present rambling and low-slung Columbus replaced it.

From 1867 until 1892, however, the building on this site was known simply as "South School." Chariton students also were attending, during 1892, East School, North School and West School.

That all changed during 1892, however, in large part because of nationwide excitement centered on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.

The centerpiece of this celebration was the World's Columbian Exposition, or Chicago Worlds Fair, that actually was held during 1893. But the grounds were dedicated on Oct. 21, 1892, making it legit.

In the meantime, James B. Upham, marketing director for the most popular periodical then published for youngsters --- The Youth's Companion --- sensed opportunity and hatched the idea of a celebration in schools across the nation on the same day the Chicago fair grounds were dedicated.

Upham was a remarkably effective marketer --- reliant entirely upon print media, keep in mind --- and the idea spread like wildfire. A common program for all of these celebrations was developed and published by The Companion. U.S. flags were to be a focus of the celebration --- at least one in every school in the country --- and as you might expect, these were marketed by The Companion, too.

The Chariton schools bought in to the idea of the celebration big time --- and went one step farther. Why not, school officials asked, rename South School "Columbus School" in honor of the occasion?

And that's exactly what happened. The editor of The Chariton Herald --- taking credit for the idea in the first place --- reported in his edition of Sept. 1, 1892, that the School Board by resolution at its most recent meeting had renamed South School "The Columbus School," East School, "Garfield," West School, "Franklin," and North School, "Bancroft."

The scources of Columbus, Garfield and Franklin are obvious; Bancroft reportedly was the surname of an historian --- most likely George Bancroft, author of the series History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent --- favored by one of the school administrators. Garfield School now is owned privately, the Franklin School site is a park and Bancroft was replaced by a building rechristened Alma Clay to honor a beloved teacher, now the site of Johnson Auditorium and the Chariton Community Center.

The Pledge of Allegiance, authored by Francis Bellamy --- a Baptist preacher and (gasp) a socialist --- also premiered during 1892 in the pages of The Youth's Companion, to be recited during October 21 school celebrations promoted and written by The Companion facing flags marketed by The Companion.

Bellamy initially thought about slipping "equality" and "fraternity" into the pledge, too, but encountered resistance from those who pointed out that this would include equality for women and black people, too --- and we couldn't have that.

The original pledge was simply to "my flag," but some years later the fear developed that immigrants might slip in surreptitious pledges to the flags of their native lands so the specific line, "to the flag of the United States of America," was substituted.

A salute was developed to accompany the pledge. One was expected, while pledging, to extend one's right arm fully toward the flag, palms down. Sound familiar? Hand over heart replaced that Hitleresque salute officially during 1942.

Then in 1954, when godless communists were the threat du jour, "under God" was slipped into the pledge --- and that's the way it's been ever since.

So far as the Oct. 21 celebration in Lucas County --- including a program at the Opera House in Chariton --- was concerned, The Herald reported in its Oct. 27 edition: "Reports from all parts of the country show that Columbus Day was universally observed and that the lesson love of country and pride in its institutions was inculcated. The schools of this city deserve special credit for their effort. The G.A.R. Post responded to the invitation of the school and furnished escorts and martial music. Mr. Teas helped in the singing. The parade was all that could be desired. Mr. Lee Davis and Miss Cora Combs acquitted themselves with honor. Walter Dennison presented the Columbus picture to the schools in a few well chosen words and Mrs. Carlisle responded for the schools. Rev. Collins, of the M.E. church, pronounced the invocation. Such occasions serve to cement the country and public schools into a more solid union, as the patriotic impressions made upon the minds of children will never be effaced."

In addition, "The Lucas Schools assembled on Friday morning at the Centre School, and forming a line, marched under the escort of the veterans to the common where they saluted the flag. The veterans and martial band then led them to the hall where Prof. Wells called the assembly to order and carried out the program of the day. Rev. Huntsinger pronounced the invocation, all joining in the singing. Miss Minnie Robinson recited the Ode, Mr. .G. Reeside gave the address. Several recitations and songs were rendered suitable for the occasion. Fifteen pupils from the grammar grades recited a Columbian dialogue exceedingly well. The schools and teachers are to be congratulated for the excellent manner in which the exercises were conducted."

And at Miss Julia Beaman's school, No. 1, Union Township, "the room was tastefully decorated with flags and the school saluted a large flag suspended in front of the building. The national program was followed in full with many additions from the pupils."

Only one discordant event was noted by The Herald: "We are sorry to record the fact that some boy, a member of the public schools, thoughtlessly, we hope, pulled down a flag suspended in front of one of the stores last Friday, and tearing it into pieces, scattered it upon the street. If not thoughtlessly done, it was an act of vandalism that deserves sharp reproof."

Sister Gabbott: England to Grave Hollow, Part 2

Looking west into Grave Hollow on Monday, August 23.

The first installment of Sarah Gabbott's story ended during early October of 1846 when a rescue company of some 20 wagons and a like number of men captained by Orville M. Allen reached the "poor camps" along the Mississippi above Montrose where Mormons driven from Nauvoo during September had found refuge --- of a sort. The wagon train had left western Iowa on Sept. 17 and, traveling light and rapidly, backtracked on the Mormon Trail through Chariton over the course of 20 days, picking up provisions, volunteer teamsters and additional wagons along the way.

By some estimates, more than 600 Mormons driven across the Mississippi from Nauvoo during the second half of September had found refuge in these scattered camps stretching for perhaps two miles. A few had wagons and some provisions but were too sick to travel. Others had nothing more than what they could carry and the makeshift tents under which they sheltered. Others had only the clothes they were wearing. By the time the Allen company arrived, an estimated 300 remained, others having found shelter elsewhere.

A view southwest toward hills rising west of Grave Hollow.

Sarah and Edward Gabbott and their two children, John and Sarah Ann, were among those still camped here.

Also camped nearby, but with wagons, were Thomas Bullock, his wife, Henrietta, four children, and other family members. All were too ill to travel, sick with "the ague and fever" for more than a month.

During late October on the trek west, Thomas would record in his journal Sarah Gabbot's death at Chariton and burial the next morning in nearby Grave Hollow. Whether or not the families had known each other before leaving Nauvoo can't be said.

Capt. Allen had received specific instructions from Brigham Young to fetch Bullock and his family --- Thomas's services were needed in Winter Quarters, on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River. In some other cases, wagons, teams and men had been volunteered for the relief effort in return for promises that efforts would be made to locate loved ones and evacuate them. But other families and individuals were gathered into the wagons, too; and those with wagons and oxen of their own were welcomed into the company.

Looking northwest from a little farther down in the hollow.

Surprisingly, Allen was forced in some instances to cajole refugees into joining the company. Rumors had spread along the Mississippi that fall --- facilitated by dissident Mormons contesting Brigham Young's right to head the LDS church --- about threats from natives along the Missouri River, where living conditions were reported to be worse than they were in eastern Iowa. These rumors were not true.

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Like the Gabbotts, the Bullocks were English --- but more affluent and, in Nauvoo and later in Utah, considerably more influential.

Thomas was born during 1816 in Leek, Staffordshire. He left school as "second-best scholar" during 1830 and went to work as a clerk in the Leek law office of John Cruso, a position he remained in for eight years. He then was appointed exciseman for the government of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, a well-paying position he held until leaving England with his family some years later.

Thomas had married Henrietta Rushton and they were converted by LDS missionaries at Leek and baptized there on Nov. 20, 1841.

During late February of 1843, Thomas and Henrietta and their family along with her parents set sail for America on the ship Yorkshire, arriving in New Orleans during May, then traveling upriver to Nauvoo by steamboat, arriving on May 31, 1843.

In Nauvoo, because of his skills and experience, Thomas snagged the plum position of personal clerk to Joseph Smith Jr., Mormon prophet and president, which he held from October, 1843, until Smith's assassination on June 27, 1844. After that, Thomas went to work as deputy recorder for the city of Nauvoo, a position he held until the city dissolved into chaos.

Both the Gabbotts and the Bullocks had remained in Nauvoo until the bitter end. The Bullocks, too ill to leave voluntarily and plagued by unspecified personal difficulties, were driven out and finally managed to get their wagons across the river on Sept. 20, 1846. It isn't known when the Gabbotts left, but Sarah's youngest brother, William, was baptized in Nauvoo on August 20, 1846, suggesting that the extended Gabbott family may have been forced out during September, too.

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Orville M. Allen, captain of the relief company that had returned to the Mississippi from western Iowa during late September and early October, 1846, was a native of Missouri who married Jane Wilson during 1825, converted in Missouri during the late 1830s and arrived in Nauvoo in 1840. He had served for a time as a bodyguard for Joseph Smith Jr. and also as an officer in the Nauvoo militia.

The Allens were among those who had crossed the Mississippi during February of 1846 and moved west with Brigham Young and the 500-wagon Camp of Israel, beginning in March.

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The Allen relief company arrived at the poor camps near Montrose on Oct. 7. Three days earlier, Bullock had counted 17 tents and eight wagons in the immediate vicinity of his encampment, but other encampments were scattered nearby.

Upon arrival in the camps, Allen began to organize those ready and willing to leave immediately, assigning those who had no wagon to one of the 20 brought from western Iowa and placing families with wagons, like the Bullocks, in the lineup. When all was said and done, there were 28 wagons and 157 people plus an assortment of livestock in the wagon train that moved west across Iowa commencing two days later, on October 9.

Friday, Oct. 9, is remembered, too, in LDS lore for an event recorded by Thomas Bullock in his journal and referred to since as "the miracle of the quails." On both the morning and afternoon of the 9th, according to Bullock and the accounts of several other people, flocks of apparently exhausted quail flew near and into the camps, landing there and elsewhere along the Mississippi by the hundreds. Some were so exhausted, they could be picked up. Others were easy targets for sticks.

Once these birds were dressed and cooked, the departing Saints had all the meat they could eat for a change --- and a powerful omen. Capt. Allen directed that the saints harvest no more quail than they could eat and about 3 p.m., the train headed west.

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Because of Thomas Bullock's trail journal, we are able to track the Allen Poor Camp Company across southern Iowa to Chariton during that long-ago October.

On the evening of the camp's Oct. 9 departure, after a new camp had been established some three miles west, Bullock wrote: "Captain Allen called out my Wagon to take up the line of March for the West, when I left the banks of the Mississippi, my property, Nauvoo and the Mob for ever, and started merrily over a level prairie, amid the songs of Quails and Black Birds, the Sun shining smilingly upon us, the cattle lowing, pleased at getting their liberty. The Scene was delightful, the prairie surrounded on all sides by timber. All things conspired for us to praise the Lord. The company traveled three miles and then camped for the night."

The following day, the company reached Sugar Creek --- departure point in the spring for the Camp of Israel --- and Bullock noted that "The trees begin to cast their leaves and begin to show like autumn."

On Sunday, Oct. 11, a beautiful autumn day to begin with, the company reached the banks of the Des Moines River at Bonaparte in pouring rain, crossed and camped on the far side. The company remained in camp because of heavy rain on Monday morning, then when it cleared some of the men went into Bonaparte to purchase supplies and, in camp, women washed clothes.

On Friday, Oct. 16, still traveling and camping in Van Buren County, a woman named Joan Campbell died overnight after giving birth to a stillborn infant. Capt. Allen sent men back to Bonaparte for lumber, a coffin was constructed and mother and babe were buried together along the trail on Saturday, the 17th. A worship service was held that evening, ending as those assembled sang, "How Firm a Foundation."

The first snow of the season fell Friday night, but melted; and the first hard frost of the season was evident when the travelers arose on Sunday morning, Oct. 18.

Monday, Oct. 19, was largely wasted as a day of travel because of a persisting problem --- cattle and oxen straying from the camp during the night. It turned into a beautiful day, but the missing cattle weren't found until 3 p.m. and by then it was too late to travel.

The party passed through the tiny pioneer village of Mechanicsburg, due west of Keosauqua not far from the Van Buren-Davis county line, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Some two miles beyond, Bullock noted something he thought remarkable:

"After a mile or two journey, an extraordinary sight came in view --- a whirlwind was passing over an immense field of corn. It was curious, yet wonderful to see the blossoms, leaves and pieces of Corn Stalks shoot up in the air some thirty feet, as if shot from some gun, and then whirl away round and round to about 200 and 300 feet high, keeping aloft like so many Sky larks and then again descend with a whirling motion to within 20 or 30 feet of the ground, when they would again reascend, and repeat the same whirling journey."

In the afternoon, the company passed Richardson's Point and continued to a camp site on the Fox River

On Friday, Oct. 23, the Poor Camp Company reached the current site of Unionville in northeast Appanoose County, descended precipitous hills to cross Soap Creek and camped on the other side. A company meeting was held the next morning, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Capt. Allan gave the men work assignments that were carried out during the remainder of the day --- blacksmithing, hunting, trading, etc. The company remained camped on Soap Creek through Monday, Oct. 26, continuing work assignments in preparation for the next leg of the journey.

The company departed Soap Creek at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 ---  climbing steep hills from the creek valley into woodland and heading west-northwest along the prairie ridge to the current site of Moravia. Leaves now were fully turned and the prairie still was smoking from a recent fire.

The company traveled some 15 miles that day, passing through the current site of Moravia and camping at sundown to the west, on the trail --- more or less now Appanoose County Road J18 just to the north of Lake Rathbun --- to what now is Iconium.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the company traveled 18 miles, passing Dodge's Point west of Iconium and turning northwest into the southeastern corner of Lucas County where camp was made by moonlight in a wooded area. The vast prairies of what now is Washington Township had burned recently.

The next day, Thursday, Oct. 29, the company got off to a late start because of runaway livestock, but started northwest at 10 a.m. and traveled 12 miles across blackened prairie to reach what Bullock called Wild Cat Grove along the east flank of the Chariton River --- now more commonly referred to as Chariton Point --- in the evening. "In many places," Bullock reported, "the burnt prairie is covered with the webs of Spiders which has a pretty gauze like appearance.”

In the grove at Chariton Point, the Poor Camp Company found "five new log houses which had been recently built by some Saints." In the evening, a cow was slaughtered, cut up and the meat distributed to the camp and  Capt. Allen called the camp together for a meeting.

It is worth noting here that according to Lucas County lore those five cabins shouldn't have been there during October of 1846. The prevailing story is that members of the Nickerson family party, after becoming stranded at Chariton Point while tempting fate while traveling west some weeks after the Poor Camp Company had departed, were forced to overwinter on the Chariton River bottoms, then came up into the groves along the east flank of the river during the spring of 1847 to stake claims and build the first dwellings at Chariton Point. I'll write more about this another time.

After breaking camp the next morning, the Poor Camp Company rounded Chariton Point on Friday, Oct. 30, and descended to the north shore of the river to water its livestock in the river. It was while exiting the river valley later that morning that Sarah Gabbott was killed.

Here, again, is the excerpt from Thomas Bullock's journal describing that event.

"... (Edward Gabbott's) wife Sarah Gabbut (sic), attempting to get back into the Wagon, laid hold of a churn dasher which being cracked, gave way, and she fell against the Oxen, which so startled them, that they started off at a full run. She fell to the ground and the Wheels of the Wagon passed over her loins or kidneys. She exclaimed 'Oh dear, I am dying.' She lingered until 5 min. to 1 and breathed her last. We continued over hill and dale until we came to one of the tributaries of the 'White Breast'... Laid Sister Gabbut out in her robes, and part prepared a grave."

Sarah's family and fellow travelers finished the grave and buried her the next morning in what has since been known as Grave Hollow.

Looking east from half way up the big hill on the west side of Grave Hollow.

To make their way out of the hollow, the company had to climb what was described as the steepest hill encountered thus far on the journey west from the Mississippi River, then most likely traveled southwesterly down the narrow ridge above it to a junction with the main route of the trail. After 10 miles, traveling with a prairie fire in sight across hills to the south, the company camped for the night at White Oak Spring.

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To carry the journey west forward more rapidly now, the Allen Poor Camp Company reached Mt. Pisgah on Nov. 4 and Winter Quarters on Nov. 27. Two other rescue companies had been sent back to the Mississippi to gather up remaining poor Saints and take them to shelter before winter set in --- one from Garden Grove and another from Pottawattamie County.

The extended Gabbott family, including the widowed Edward and his two children, remained at Winter Quarters until the spring of 1848 when they set out for Utah, arriving at Salt Lake City on Sept. 22. Included in the 224-member company with which they traveled were Edward's mother-in-law, Susannah Rigby, and other Rigby children and grandchildren. Little Sarah Ann died at Salt Lake City during 1851, but son John lived to age 84.

In Salt Lake City, Edward married as plural wives the widowed Jane Schofield Smith in 1854 by whom he had another son, Amos Smith Gabbott, and Elizabeth Haslam in 1859. He died a highly respected pioneer at his farm in Sugar House Ward on July 22, 1876, age 73, and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Upon arrival in Winter Quarters, Thomas Bullock went to work as a clerk for the church leadership, including Brigham Young. During early spring, 1847, Young assigned Bullock to accompany the First Pioneer Company to cross the Plains as company clerk and to track the journey in a journal. He departed Winter Quarters during April and arrived in Utah during July.

In Utah Territory, Bullock served Salt Lake County recorder, clerk of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, clerk to the Utah Territorial Legislature and was an occasional clerk to Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He also served as chief clerk in the church historian's office. From 1856 to 1858, Bullock returned to England as a missionary for the church.

Bullock died Feb. 10, 1885, in Coalville, Utah, age 68. His plural wives were Henrietta, who accompanied him from England, Lucy Clayton and Betsy Howard. Henrietta, who was first, outlived them all, dying on Oct. 19, 1897, age 80. All are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. There were 23 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood.

A covered wagon of another sort climbs out of Grave Hollow on Monday, August. 24.