PREFACE. My acquaintance with Gov. Kirkwood commenced very soon after he came to the state, and it became somewhat intimate while he was serving his first term in the state senate, during the winters of 1856-7, and where I was acting in the capacity of reporter of proceedings for a local paper and correspondent for a Chicago Daily. During his whole residence in Iowa City I have been associated with him as a neighbor, and have served with him several years on our local school board. Since I have commenced writing his life he has submitted to me all of his correspondence, both public and private, needful for my use, and copies of all public documents in his possession, and he has submitted to frequent and oft repeated interviews during the progress of my work. In my labor I have been greatly aided by his faithful wife, who has from time to time during his official life, gathered from the public press and other sources and treasured them up, facts relating to him that otherwise would have been lost. Governor Boies has kindly permitted me the use of the Executive Records made during Governor Kirkwood's gubernatorial administrations. The manuscript as it has been written from time to time has been submitted to him for his correction and approval. IOWA CITY, IOWA, June 29th, 1893. The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, IOWA'S WAR GOVERNOR.. CHAPTER I. ALIFORNIA Ancestry: Scotch-Irish and Scotch-Robert Kirkwood in the Revolution - With St. Clair on the Wabash-The Kirkwoods as Scholars-Scotch Presbyterians-Jabez a Blacksmith and Farmer--Blacksmithing 100 Years Ago-Farm Tools Then-Family Work-Samuel an Apt Scholar-Goes to Washington to Attend School-Joins a Literary Society-Becomes a School Teacher in Pennsylvania-A Drug Clerk for His Brother Wallace-Kirkwoods Move to Ohio-Settle in the Woods and Make a Farm-Samuel Teaches School Again-Becomes Deputy County Assessor-A Store and Tavern Clerk. The Kirkwood family in America date back to 1731, when Robert Kirkwood and his widowed sister-in-law with her two children, a son named Robert, three years old, and a sister older emigrated from Londonderry in the north of Ireland, and settled in New Castle, Delaware. Captain Robert Kirkwood, a son of this immigrant Robert, was a Captain in the revolutionary army all through that war; was an active participant in the battles of Princeton and Long Island, and was so distinguished for his eminent services, that the brevet rank of Brigadier General was conferred on him upon the recommendation of Washington. That he should be advanced from a Captaincy to a Brigadier Generalship, without going through the intermediate grades, and that upon the recommendation of his commander in chief, is the best attestation that could be given of his ability, his valor and his worth. He was in the bloody battles of Camden, Hobkirk's Hill, Eutaw Springs and Ninety-Six; and Lee, in his memoirs of the Southern revolutionary campaigns, makes frequent and honorable mention of him. At the battle of Camden his Delaware regiment was so badly cut up that enough for but one company of it was left |