apparent suffering was so inconsiderable as to go no farther than the vague uneasiness which is the usual accompaniment of such complete paralysis. Obsequies were conducted at the residence, on Rose Hill, by Rev. Mr. Judd, rector of Trinity Church. So closed a long and active life. DR. WILLIAM VOGT. It is wonderful how thoroughly this gentleman of foreign birth and education won the affectionate esteem of the people where he chose his American home. From the Iowa City Daily Press of August 25, 1873, we quote upon the occasion of his funeral: For twenty-seven years Dr. Vogt has been of this people. Pioneer with them in the early days, a generation born since he came, had learned each gentle, manly way that recommended him to the generation of which he was, and with which he has gone the silent journey. A native of the city of Dusseldorf, the capital of Rhenish Prussia, the oldest of a family of four sisters and two brothers, his childhood, youth and young manhood were passed amid the ministrations of art and culture which cluster around the old city, and he grew into that sound scholarship and classic mould of mind, which marked him the wise counselor through life, in the classes of the best of those great institutions which have projected German thought and German influence to the remotest outpost of civilization. His duties to the State discharged, the home, where he had filled the full station of first born, being now sheltered by the younger hands that had been deftly trained in his dutiful example, he came to America in 1846, a stout-hearted man of twenty-eight years, to follow that destiny which led him to first rank in his profession, in the confidence of the worthy and in the love of all. Reaching New Orleans he penetrated the continent by the only highway, in search of newer land and larger opportunities than were offered by an effete population, and so came to us; came so long ago that with most of us who have seen his eye grow dim with the shadow of the valley, his coming lies away upon the horizon of memory, and his death is the fall of an autochthon. Here a loving family grew around him, reflecting in their lives the greatness and goodness of his soul, in their tastes the excellent proprieties which were the habit of his life, and here clustered closely around him the relations which outlast the life that was their source and are a monument to his memory more beautiful than design can fashion. His professional labors were intense; worn by them he sought rest six years ago by a European tour. Appointed a commissioner for Iowa to the World's Exposition at Paris, he crossed the sea, accompanied by his eldest son, Charles, and spent nearly a year abroad. Visiting the old home and native land, he penetrated the Orient, saw Italy and Greece with the loving vision of a scholar and artist, and returned, renewed and strengthened for his labor. That labor was almost utterly without rest. Intensely sympathetic, no call was unanswered, save where delay was born of their very multiplicity. Amongst the students of the State University, he was always the favorite physician, and many a young man and woman has gone back to study, clad not only in restored health, but stored with his rich thoughts and sage suggestions. A gentleman long connected with the University, in whose family for twelve years the doctor had practiced, sends us a note to say, that it was his unvaried custom when treating a student to enquire of the faculty as to the pecuniary condition of the patient, and if told that it would not warrant a fee, that the student was perhaps laboring as a teacher or manually, for means to finish the curriculum, in his peculiar way he would say, "All right, all right," often saying, "I am glad to see young people striving for an education, and am glad of an opportunity to help them;" and our informant, Prof. Parvin, adds, "such unnumbered kind acts, while remembered by their recipients, should be now mentioned to the credit of a noble soul, passed to its reward." Dr. Vogt was an active promoter of the interests of the medical department of the University, and was always a wise counselor in its behalf. His connection with public affairs was limited by an always absorbing interest in his profession, but when duties were imposed upon him he discharged them with all fidelity. Many times and for many years he served on the public school board of the city, always to the benefit and advancement of education. When called to the public advocacy of a policy or principle, he brought to it the rarest felicity of expression and most effective eloquence. On Sunday, August 24th, from far and near came the mourners to pay the last dues of affection. The obsequies were held in St. Patrick's Church, Rev. Father Rice officiating. After the usual and impressive service of the Catholic Church, the Rev. Father delivered an eloquent address from the text, "It is appointed unto man once to die.” The funeral cortege was formed on Dubuque street. The pall was borne by Hon. Peter A. Dey, P. P. Freeman, Alden Fletcher, A. J. Rider, F. H. Luse, Michael McInerny, R. B. Saunders, and Wm. Crum. The hearse was followed by the doctor's team attached to the empty vehicle, draped, and led by Messrs. Kimball and Shafer, students of the University Medical Department; the family carriages were followed in order by the members of the medical profession of the city, and by Dr. W. F. Peck, of Davenport, Dean of the University Medical Faculty, and Professors Shrader and Clapp, members of the Faculty, and Mr. R. W. Pryce, its Anatomical Demonstrator. On the right was the German Benevolent Society, in column, with banners furled and draped. Thousands of people were there and Cemetery Hill was occupied by a dense assembly. As the cortege moved on through the streets the sick people who were the objects of his care, could be seen supported at their windows, adding their tears to the libation in his memory. RUSH CLARK, of Iowa City, was born at Schellsburg, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1834; received a common school education at his birth-place, attended the academy at Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and was a student at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, graduating there in 1853; studied law, was admitted to the bar at Iowa City in the fall of 1853, and commenced practice there; was a member of the general assembly of Iowa, 1860–264, serving the last two years as Speaker of the House; was on the staff of the Governor of Iowa in 1861 and '62, aiding in the organization of volunteers from Iowa; was a member of the board of trustees of the Iowa State University 1862-'66; was re-elected to the general assembly of 1876; and was elected to the forty-fifth congress as a republican, receiving 19,274 votes against 11,154 votes for N. Worley, democrat, and 1,200 for G. W. Rutherford, greenbacker. He was re-elected in 1878, the following being the vote in the district: for Clark, republican, 14,205; Carter, democrat, 12,011; Brown, greenbacker, 697. [It is proper here to explain that Rush Clark was not related to Ezekiel Clarke, as many have supposed, (they spelled their names differently), and hence he was not a relative of Gov. Kirkwood, although very highly esteemed by him.]-HISTORIAN. Mr. Clark died at Washington City, very suddenly. One of his eulogists remarked, "The going down of the sun on the evening of the 27th of April, 1879, found him busy with the cares and activities of this life. The setting of the sun on the evening of the next day found him a dweller in the spirit land.” Memorial addresses were delivered in Congress, by Congressmen Price, of Iowa; Coffrath, of Pennsylvania; Sapp, of Iowa; Manning, of Mississippi; Neal, of Ohio; Thompson, of Iowa; Bennett, of Dakota; Carpenter, of Iowa; Henderson, of Illinois; and Senators Allison and Kirkwood, of Iowa; Hereford, of West Virginia, and Platt, of Connecticut. A joint committee, of seven Representatives and three Senators was appointed to take charge of the funeral and accompany the remains for the burial at his home, Iowa City. This committee consisted of Representatives Hiram Price, of Iowa; John H. Reagan, of Texas; Wm. H. Hatch, of Missouri; Henry S. Neal, of Ohio; Thos. J. Henderson, of Illinois: Mark H. Dunnell, of Minnesota, and Philip Cook, of Georgia; and Senators Kirkwood, Platt and Hereford. Nine thousand copies were ordered printed of the memorial proceedings and eulogies in Congress. Mr. Coffrath represented the district in Pennsylvania where Rush Clark was born, and knew the family when Rush was a boy. In his remarks Mr. Coffrath said: His father, John Clark, was of Scotch-Irish family, and was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. His mother was born near the line between the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland, opposite Hancock. His parents were among the early settlers of the lovely valley in which Rush. was born, and they were universally respected and beloved far and near by all who knew them, for their hospitality and upright Christian walk. Rush Clark was the sixth son of John and Mary Clark. His deep and fervent love for his father and mother made him linger long around the threshold of his childhood's home. * * * * * * A relative, who loved him and knew him well, writes me, "If I were called upon to pass a eulogium ever so brief, it would be that Rush Clark loved his mother, and lived for the good he might do to others." What more need be said in praise of our deceased brother? He will live in the memory of all those who knew him. Congressman Manning, of Mississippi, in the course of his eloquent and touching address, said: Those who knew him upon this floor knew how faithfully and promptly he responded to every duty that devolved upon him, and it is not strange that his generous impulses, strong mental faculties, pure private and public character, and love of country's honor and welfare, secured for him a warm place in the hearts of his constituency, whose interests he ever guarded and protected with so much zeal and efficiency. An exalted public spirit ever animated his breast; and every movement, whether originated in the legislative halls, or elsewhere, which in his judgment tended to the benefit of the country in large or small degree, and might bring peace and fraternal relations to the whole people, received his utmost aid. Now that his life is finished testimony is cheerfully borne by all who knew him, without regard to party affiliations, that he left to his family, friends and country a name without a stain. CHAPTER VII.-PART 3. SLAVERY DAYS IN IOWA CITY. A Negro Boy Sold-Two Black Girls Kidnapped-Old John Brown's Night Escape from an Iowa City Mob. A SLAVE SALE IN IOWA CITY. In 1841 President Harrison appointed O. H. W. Stull to be secretary of the territory of Iowa, John Chambers being the governor who had succeeded Gov. Lucas. Gov. Chambers was an ex-congressman of Kentucky, and had his negro waiter with him here at the Iowa capital. Secretary Stull wanted to be "in style," and have a body servant, as well as the governor. There was a man named Chaney who owned a saw-mill near the mouth of Dirty Face creek in Penn township, opposite Butler's landing, or the place now known as the boat house. This Mr. Chaney was originally from Virginia, and had a mulatto boy living with him, and this boy he sold to Secretary Stull for $250. This sale of a mulatto youth into slavery was transacted in Chauncey Swan's hotel, which then stood just north of the University grounds, on the northeast corner of Capital and Jefferson streets. Our informant was there at the time and saw the sale made and the boy delivered to his new master. When President Tyler came into office Stull was removed from the secretaryship and went to Burlington, taking his Iowa slave boy along; and there he gave him or sold him to his son-in-law named Cassell, who took the boy to Alleghany county, Maryland, and there kept him as a slave. TWO NEGRO GIRLS TAKEN FROM IOWA CITY AND SOLD INTO SLAVERY. In 1859-60 a man named John L. Curtis, who had a farm in Fremont township, was then living in Iowa City. He came here from Tennessee, but claimed to be a native of New England. Two negro girls formed part of his family, and early in February, 1860, he took them in a carriage and started off south, with the intention, as was generally believed, of selling them into slavery to raise a little money for his immediate necessities. He was followed by constable A. T. McIlvaine, who overtook him at Fairfield in Jefferson county, and arrested him on a charge of kidnaping, and he, with the black girls, was brought back to Iowa City. Rather than stand trial on the charges, which were decidedly "bad medicine" here about that time, he agreed to give the children his formal and legal adoption. The following official document explains the case further: M. J. Morsman, Mayor of Iowa City, to J. L. and Nancy R. Curtis.— Deed of Adoption. This indenture witnesseth: That I, M. J. Morsman, Mayor of Iowa City, State of Iowa, for and in consideration of the covenants hereinafter mentioned, and the love, regard and affection entertained by one John L. Curtis, Nancy R. Curtis of Iowa City aforesaid, for two minor children, named respectively, Mary Old, aged thirteen years, whose parents are not living, and Versa Old, aged ten years, whose father is dead and whose mother is living, but has abandoned said Versa Old; which said children are now residing in Iowa City, State of Iowa, aforesaid, and who have no survivors or relatives in said State of Iowa, doth by these presents consent, covenant and agree, to and with the said John L. Curtis and Nancy R. Curtis aforesaid, that the said John L. Curtis and Nancy R Curtis shall adopt as their own, and take into their family the said minor children aforesaid, with the exclusive custody and charge thereof, hereby conferring upon said children all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that would pertain to said children if born to the said John L. Curtis and Nancy R. Curtis in lawful wedlock; also conferring and alloting to said John L. Curtis and Nancy R. Curtis all the rights, duties, powers, control and relation towards and over said children hereby adopted, as, the parent by law and nature has over his or her lawful child. The names of said children are hereafter to be Mary Curtis and Versa Curtis, respectively. That such children are hereby given to and are adopted by said John L. Curtis and Nancy R. Curtis, for the purpose of adoption as their own children, and to be by them controlled, educated and cared for as children to them born in lawful wedlock. All indentures, bonds or instruments in writing heretofore executed to the contrary, notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 13th day of February, 1860. CITY SEAL. M. J. MORSMAN, [SEAL.] In a few months after this "adoption " dodge, Curtis again took the girls off south, being accompanied this time by David Lopp, of Fremont township, and sold them in Memphis, Tennessee-one for $500 and the other for $800. |