NOTES AND COMMENT

An old settlers picnic was held at River Junction, June 28, 1919. George Magruder, the president of the association, presided and Claude M. Miller and Alex Miller gave short addresses.

The annual reunion of the old settlers of Webster County was held at Fort Dodge, July 15, 1919. Mr. A. W. Mericle who first came to Fort Dodge in 1849 was the oldest resident of the county present.

Morgan Keaton has been selected as the editor of the war history of Dallas County.

The Old Settlers' Association of Crawford County met at Denison, August 28, 1919. C. P. Harvey was elected president, L. T. Dunham vice president, and N. L. Hunt secretary.

The annual meeting of the Iowa Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was held at Des Moines, September 23, 1919.

The thirty-fifth annual meeting of the Harrison County pioneers was held at Logan, August 28, 1919. A list of the pioneers who had died the previous year was read by J. F. McDowell. Frank A. Turner gave a brief address. The officers chosen for the ensuing year were: F. H. Cadwell, president; N. S. Lawrence, vice president; A. M. Fyrando, secretary; and H. N. Frazier, treasurer.

T. D. Eulirs is the publisher of the Buena Vista County War History. J. E. Morcombe is in charge of the editorial work.

An historical room has been opened in the Cherokee Public Library in which articles of historical interest are to be displayed. Pioneers of Dallas and Guthrie counties held their thirty-second annual reunion at Redfield, August 6 and 7, 1919.

The collection of material for the war history of Calhoun County has been completed. Allan Deyoe is in charge of the work which will cover Red Cross work, Liberty Loan drives, and similar activities, as well as military records.

635

The Tama County Old Settlers Association met at Toledo, September 6, 1919. T. D. Crites gave an address on "The Mission of the Pioneer". At the election of officers C. J. Wonser was chosen president, W. S. Gallagher vice president, and C. E. Davis secretary and treasurer.

The Story County Veterans Association held its annual reunion at Nevada, August 7 and 8, 1919. Nathan E. Kendall delivered the chief address.

A complete war history of Carroll County is to be prepared under the supervision of Henry A. Claussen.

Members of the G. A. R. of Jackson County held their thirty-first reunion at Maquoketa, August 13 and 14, 1919. Hon. R. G. Cousins delivered the principal address, his subject being the "Cost of a Flag".

The thirtieth annual reunion of the Third Iowa Cavalry was held at Knoxville, September 17 and 18, 1919.

Forty-two new members were added to the roll of the Old Settlers Association of Scott County at its annual reunion at Davenport, August 12, 1919. The total membership is now four hundred and thirty-nine.

The Thirty-third Iowa Infantry held its seventeenth biennial reunion at Oskaloosa, September 24-26, 1919.

Harper Anderson of Company E, 168th United States Infantry, is preparing a history of that company.

The Hawkeye Natives held their fourteenth anniversary celebration at Burlington, September 1, 1919. S. K. Tracy and Frank C. Norton were the speakers.

The old settlers of Clay and Palo Alto counties held their ninth annual picnic at Ruthven, August 15, 1919.

The Early Settlers Association of Polk County met at Altoona, September 4, 1919. J. D. Williams was reëlected president. Judge W. H. McHenry was one of the speakers.

The Mesquakie Indians at Tama held their annual powwow,

August 7-10, 1919. Edgar R. Harlan explained the various dances and festivities to the visitors.

A collection of war relics belonging to the late Edwin F. Barnum who died in service was donated to the Historical Department of Iowa by Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Barnum, the parents of the young soldier.

The old settlers and pioneers of Clinton County met at Clinton August 28, 1919, for their annual picnic. W. J. Shadduck was chosen president of the association, Henry Childs vice president, and L. F. Sutton secretary.

The Academy of Science and Letters of Sioux City has moved its collection of historical relics, Indian curios, and geological specimens to the public library where they will be more accessible to the public. A course of lectures at the library is also proposed. This association was first organized on December 30, 1885, as the Sioux City Scientific Association and was reorganized under the present name in October, 1903.

Old soldiers of Butler County held their reunion at Allison, August 6, 1919. This is the first meeting of veterans since the thirty-third annual reunion of the Butler County Veteran Association was held at Shell Rock in 1913.

The twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Iowa Library Association was held at Waterloo, October 7-9, 1919. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Maria C. Brace, Waterloo, president; Anna S. Duncan, Cedar Falls, vice president; Paula Beuck, Davenport, second vice president; Eleanor Fawcett, Des Moines, secretary; Gentiliska Winterrowd, Des Moines, treasurer; and Cora Hendee, Council Bluffs, registrar.

THEODORE P. SHONTS

Theodore P. Shonts, formerly president of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, who died at New York, September 21, 1919, began his business career in Iowa. He was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1856, and came to Iowa when a boy. After completing his college course he became an accountant and

was employed by the Iowa national banks to simplify and standardize their bookkeeping. Later he studied law and began the practice of that profession at Centerville, but soon became interested in railroad administration and railroad building. Under his management the Iowa Central Railroad and the Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska Railroad were constructed. Mr. Shonts was also connected with many other transportation companies and in 1905 President Roosevelt appointed him chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission. In 1882 Mr. Shonts married Harriet Amelia Drake, a daughter of John F. Drake, a former governor of Iowa.

TACITUS HUSSEY

Tacitus Hussey, Iowa pioneer, poet, and philosopher, died at Des Moines, August 9, 1919. Mr. Hussey was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1832, and in 1855 came to Des Moines where he became a partner in a printing and book-binding firm. He is the author of The River Bend and Other Poems, History of Steamboating on the Des Moines River, and the History of the Central Presbyterian Church. Among his best known poems are The Old Flag; My Country, Oh, My Country; and Iowa, Beautiful Land. A book of reminiscences is now in press.

HEMAN C. SMITH

Heman C. Smith, general historian of the Lamoni branch of Latter Day Saints and editor of the Journal of History, died at Independence, Missouri, April 17, 1919. He was born in Gillespie County, Texas, on September 27, 1850, and came to Iowa in 1861. Mr. Smith was interested in history and was considered an authority on the factions in Mormonism and on the old Mormon trails. A Church History, in four volumes, The True Succession in Church Presidency, and Truth Defended are among his historical works. With J. M. Howell, he was joint author of a two volume History of Decatur County, Iowa. He was also a contributor to various historical publications and was a member of The State Historical Society of Iowa.

CONTRIBUTORS

JOHN ELY BRIGGS, Assistant Professor of Political Science in The State University of Iowa. (See THE IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS for July, 1915, p. 471.)

CYRIL BRYCE UPHAM, Instructor in Political Science in The State University of Iowa. (See THE IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS for January, 1919, p. 152.)

639