Iowa

Biographical Sketch of Orville E. Thornton

Orville E. Thornton was born on December 29, 1876, in Iowa, to George Washington and Emily Jane Thornton. He married Drucilla A. Conley on April 2, 1898. The couple adopted Georgia Myrtle Martin, born on February 22, 1910, who has been with them since infancy. Thornton served as a Justice of the Peace in Centralia and was involved in farming, continuing the legacy of his family, which has roots in the area since George Washington Thornton’s birth on February 2, 1856.

Biographical Sketch of Felix G. Cowan

Richard Cowan, born in 1839 in Georgia, married Elzada Allen in 1865, and they had two children, including Felix G. Cowan, born in 1866. Felix, educated in the Cherokee Nation, had two marriages, first to Lulu Murry in 1886 and later to Rebecca Blair in 1909. A successful businessman in Vinita for 27 years, he served as County Commissioner and later as steward of the State Hospital. A community figure active in multiple fraternal organizations, he was also a long-serving member of the Vinita City Council and briefly its mayor.

John Wesley Somers

John Wesley Somers, a prominent figure in Ida Grove, passed away on August 2, 1919, at 84. Born in North Carolina in 1834, he later moved to Illinois, where he married Sarah J. Fitzgerald in 1858. Serving as a First Lieutenant in the Civil War, he returned to pursue a career in pharmacy. Somers and his family moved to Ida Grove in 1882, where he established a successful drugstore. He is survived by two children, a grandson, and a great-grandson. His wife died four months prior.

History of Mathew Gray Post – Grand Army of the Republic

The Mathew Gray Post was established in 1881, honoring soldier Matthew Gray and initially comprised 27 members. Over the years, membership grew to 127, remaining active until James Deal’s death in 1930, the last veteran of the post. The organization was noted for its spirited observance of Decoration Day and the Fourth of July, where veterans paraded in uniforms, led by a designated officer. As the years passed, the ceremonies evolved from marching to using carriages, with final salutes given at veterans’ graves.

Biography of William C. Gillihan

William C. Gillihan was born on April 1, 1841, in Illinois and later moved to Arkansas and Iowa. He began his education in Daviess County, Missouri, and enlisted in the Federal army in 1862, serving three years during the Civil War. After his discharge in 1865, he studied law and began practicing in Gallatin. He held various legal positions, including county and prosecuting attorney. Married to Mary J. Brosins in 1867, they had five children. He was active in community organizations and the Christian Church.

Biography of William Henry Folmsbee

William Henry Folmsbee was born on June 22, 1831, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised and educated by Dr. William Ensign, beginning his medical studies early. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, in 1855 and established a medical practice in Richland, Iowa, before moving to Gallatin. Folmsbee served as a captain in the Missouri State Militia during the Civil War and was elected to the State Legislature, participating in the Constitutional Convention of 1864-65.

Biography of Thomas J. Crain

Thomas J. Crain was born on September 4, 1830, in Fleming County, Kentucky. After migrating to Missouri in 1855, he engaged in various businesses, including freighting and stock-feeding. Crain moved to Gallatin in 1867, where he entered the mercantile and lumber trades, becoming a pioneer lumber dealer in the area. He was married twice, first to Amanda M. Plumer, who died in 1865, and later to M. C. Owings. Crain was active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and local Masonic lodge.

Biography of Gabriel W. Cox

Gabriel W. Cox was born on July 13, 1852, in Gallatin, Missouri, to Samuel P. and Mary Cox. He received his education locally and at Christian University and Gem City Commercial College. His early career included positions as a clerk and a business partner in grocery and grain with William M. Flint. He later worked as a traveling salesman, then engaged in railroad construction in Colorado. In 1874, he married N. S. Stone, and they had three children, with two surviving. Mrs. Cox was actively involved in the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Biographical Sketch of James L. Chapman

James L. Chapman, born on March 23, 1818, in Hancock County, West Virginia, migrated to Iowa in 1854, later settling in Missouri. He engaged in farming and transitioned into the mercantile and hotel business before establishing a fruit farm in Gallatin, Missouri. Married to Nancy J. Daugherty in 1849, they had six children. Nancy passed away in 1878, after which James continued his commitment to the Christian Church, serving as a deacon for over thirty years.

Biographical Sketch of Aaron B. Whiteaker

Aaron B. Whiteaker was born on February 24, 1849, in Bremer County, Iowa. He grew up in Putnam County, Illinois, aiding on his father’s farm while attending school. The family later moved to Daviess County, where Whiteaker established his permanent residence in Sheridan, focusing on farming. He married Eliza Roney on January 6, 1881. His father, Joseph T. Whiteaker, originally from Virginia, passed away in 1881, while his mother, Eliza Harris Whiteaker, hailed from Ohio.

Biographical Sketch of Horatio E. Needham

Horatio E. Needham, born on September 10, 1827, in Addison County, Vermont, moved with his family to St. Lawrence County, New York, and later to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He worked on a farm and as a stone cutter before enlisting in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in 1862, serving until 1865. After the war, he farmed in Fremont County, Iowa, before relocating to Daviess County, Nebraska, in 1875. Needham married Lucina Bagley in 1852 and had eight children, five of whom survived.

Treaty of July 23, 1851

On July 23, 1851, a treaty was signed at Traverse des Sioux between the U.S. government and the Dakota Sioux Indians, represented by their chiefs. The Sioux ceded their lands in Iowa and a significant portion of Minnesota in exchange for $1.665 million intended for education, agriculture, and support during their relocation. The treaty established a perpetual peace and included provisions for the prohibition of alcohol in the ceded territories. Additionally, the U.S. promised to create rules for the protection of the Sioux’s rights and property.

Treaty of August 5, 1851

On August 5, 1851, a treaty was signed at Mendota between the United States and the Med-ay-wa-kan-toan and Wah-pay-koo-tay bands of Dakota Sioux Indians. It established perpetual peace and friendship while the bands ceded all land rights in Minnesota and Iowa to the U.S. In return, the U.S. agreed to pay $1,410,000 for their relocation and provide funds for education and agriculture. It also enforced laws against alcohol in the ceded territory and included provisions for the protection of the Indians’ rights.

Treaty of October 13, 1846

The Treaty of October 13, 1846, established a lasting peace between the United States and the Winnebago tribe. The Winnebago ceded their land claims, particularly the “neutral ground,” in exchange for a new home of at least 800,000 acres, financial compensation totaling $190,000, and support for their relocation and education. The treaty emphasized mutual support and the promise of parental protection from the U.S. government, while outlining the tribe’s obligation to relocate within one year following ratification.

Treaty of Nov. 1, 1837

On November 1, 1837, a treaty was signed in Washington between the United States and the Winnebago nation. The treaty included the cession of their lands east of the Mississippi and the relocation of the Winnebago to specified areas west of the river. In compensation, the United States agreed to provide financial support, goods, and provisions totaling $200,000, with specific allocations for individuals and community needs. This treaty aimed to facilitate their removal and establish provisions for their future welfare.

Treaty of November 23, 1837

On November 23, 1837, a treaty was signed in Saint Louis between U.S. representative Joshua Pilcher and Ioway Indian chiefs. The treaty required the Ioway to cede their land rights established under a previous treaty from 1830. In return, the U.S. agreed to provide $2,500 worth of goods and cover the expenses for the trip of the chiefs to Washington and back. The treaty would take effect upon ratification by the United States.

Treaty of Oct. 21, 1837

On October 21, 1837, a treaty was established in Washington between Carey A. Harris, representing the U.S., and leaders of the Yankton Sioux tribe. The tribe ceded land rights from a previous treaty in 1830 in exchange for $4,000, designated for horses, goods, and relocating agency facilities. The United States also agreed to cover negotiation expenses. The treaty would take effect upon ratification, as confirmed by the signatures of the parties involved, marking a significant step in U.S.-Native American relations.

Kickapoo Reservation

The Kickapoos exhibit strong mental and physical health, showing significant progress economically and socially. They engage in farming, growing crops like wheat and corn, and improve their homes. The community values morality and independence, with church services conducted in their language, supported by two native ministers. While many children are educated, some community members resist progress, clinging to traditional roles. Their lands are fertile and well-watered, although concerns about the impact of land allotment on their tribal structure persist.

Sac and Fox Reservation

In a report from September 1890, Special Agent Reuben Sears detailed the conditions of the Sac and Fox Reservation in Iowa, inhabited by the Sac, Fox, Pottawatomie, and Winnebago tribes. The unallotted area occupies 1,258 acres, owned in fee by the tribes, yet their economic situation is dire, burdened by debt. Despite reasonable health, their living conditions and cultural practices indicate minimal advancement in civilization. Sears called for increased support and education for the tribe, emphasizing the need for agricultural assistance and improved living standards.