to secure the necessary funds and to protect one another in their claims, and there were some disputes about claims that embittered the future; but harmony and order generally prevailed, and, becoming secure in their titles, the people built better homes and made more permanent improvements.

I now felt somewhat encouraged in my work and looking forward to making a home, I built a little frame house on a gentle rise of land south of Mr. Shaw's house and moved into it. I was there enjoying such opportunity as I had not had previously for retirement and study, with my books conveniently arranged, and was especially enjoying a new book I had purchased in New York, "The Life and Correspondence of Thomas Arnold,” when word came of the serious and probably fatal illness of the pastor at Burlington, and that he had resigned his office and I was requested to come there. I made the journey in February and was delayed in crossing Iowa River by running ice. I found my brother, Horace Hutchinson, near the end of his days. We had come to the territory together. He was then in vigorous health, ardent in his work, his life full of promise. Now his countenance was changed and it fell to me to close his eyes in death. Brother Robbins came from Muscatine and preached at the funeral service which was held in "Old Zion" Church. After spending three weeks with the church in Burlington, they invited me to become their minister. Returning to Jackson County I reviewed the situation, and, not without reluctance to leave my friends there, I accepted the invitation from Burlington which the Missionary Society approved. I had preached three hundred and twenty-six sermons in Jackson County, one hundred of them in the sod-covered schoolhouse in Maquoketa, forty at Andrew, and one hundred eighty-six in other parts of the county. I now preached farewell sermons at Andrew and Maquoketa, and early in April removed to Burlington, "not knowing the things that should befall me there."

II

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

N Saturday, October 9, 1858, Mr. Lincoln visited Burling

ON

ton, and made a speech that evening in Grimes Hall. Mr. Douglas had spoken earlier in the season; while in the city he was the guest of Mr. William F. Coolbaugh. I heard both speakers, one for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and for "squatter sovereignty," the other against. It was in the midst of their joint debate involving the issue as to which of them should be elected United States senator from Illinois for the six years from 1859 to 1865. The result was that Mr. Douglas was elected; had it been otherwise, the history of the country would have been different. Had Mr. Lincoln been elected senator, in all probability he would never have become President.

I was deeply interested in Mr. Lincoln's speech in Burlington, and impressed by his calm and clear statement of the issues before the country. But he did not seem so advanced and pronounced in opposition to slavery as William H. Seward, whom I regarded as the foremost man in the Republican party. I had been an admirer of Mr. Seward from boyhood; I heard him speak at a Fourth of July celebration on Staten Island, New York, when he was governor. I was then charmed with his lofty sentiments and in 1861 I hoped to see him made the Republican candidate for President. But things took another course and I was happy to vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and again in 1864.

Mr. Lincoln's speech in Philadelphia, February 22, 1861, thrilled my soul and strengthened my faith in him. Of the Dec

laration of Independence he said: "If this country cannot be saved on that principle, it will be truly awful. But if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say, I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it. I have said nothing but what I am willing to live by, and, if it be the pleasure of Almighty God, die by."

Two years and one month after his visit to Burlington, Mr. Lincoln was chosen president. On the 4th of March, 1861, he took the oath of office: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Only Washington and ten other men had taken that oath, and none of them could have had a more serious and solemn sense what it meant than Mr. Lincoln. He said to his countrymen in his inaugural, that his oath "was registered in heaven."

Within forty days a war upon the United States was commenced. The Confederates" fired the first gun. The echoes of that gun reverberated over our bluffs. Burlington was deeply stirred and immediately rallied to the support of the government and responded to the President's call for troops. Two companies of one hundred men each were organized here and went forth with the First Iowa Infantry. Soon afterwards three regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, had their rendezvous here. Heroes sprang up from among our citizens, generals Matthies, Jacob Lauman, Fitz Henry Warren, John M. Corse, colonels Abercrombie and Brydolf, Eugene F. Ware and a host of brave men in the ranks, rendered distinguished services to the country.

In Congress, James W. Grimes of this city, and James Harlan of Mt. Pleasant were among the strongest and most powerful supporters of Mr. Lincoln. They gave him their influence in advance for the Emancipation Proclamation.