IOWA HUBBARTTS
The HUBBARTT Family
of
Bloomfield & Davis County Iowa
Compiled by: Wm. Scott Hubbartt, Schertz TX / Oct 02
SOLOMON HUBBARTT was born in July 1810, the eldest of ten children of JAMES and NANCY THOMAS HUBBARTT in, it is assumed, Dearborn County, Indiana.However, as it is unclear exactly what year his parents had migrated to the newly opened Northwest Territory from their home in North Carolina.In 1835, when he was about twenty five years old, he and his parents moved to Marion Co., Indiana.SOLOMON’s first wife was named AGNES MAHAN.She may had died young as he is known to have re-married this time to ELIZABETH REESE.
Again a HUBBARTT son felt restless and headed west to more open land.This time it was SOLOMON, the eldest son who in about 1850 ventured off to the newly opened Iowa Territory with his wife ELIZABETH and children; ELIZA, EDWARD THOMAS, and JOHN.He made his home in what is now the very northern edge of Schuyler County, Missouri along the boarder with Iowa. So muddled was the actual line of division at the time - a problem which led to the existence of the little known “Hairy Nation” discussed later.Many of the HUBBARTT clan aligned themselves more to Iowa than Missouri and eventually inched northward closer to Bloomfield, later to become the county seat of Davis County.
It was a rough area to settle and a tough time to do so.SOLOMON’s brother CHARLES (born in 1818)joined him in Schuyler county but, because of raids by hoodlums and troublemakers, the Hairy Nation issue and the growing friction between the north and south, he left after a short time returning briefly after the civil war.
SOLOMON, and later CHARLES, probably followed the same well established trail as the early Mormon pioneers and went as far as Davis county, then south to their new Missouri homes. Life in that part of Iowa was not easy and the land did not welcome the meek or undetermined.Political matters, the slave question, friction over the Hairy Nation issue, disputes along the emotionally charged boarder with Missouri - at times as hotly contested as the issues themselves caused many to rethink making a permanent home there.Not helping matters for the pioneers was the weather.The winter of 1856-7 was one of the worse on record.Long and cold, many settlers dug themselves out that spring and left in search of better climates to the south and west or simply returned east surrendering to the frontier.
The Hairy Nation:By 1837, the southern boarder of Davis County, Iowa was being settled by people nicknamed “the Hairy Nation.”Originally this only included the coarse frontiersmen living between the forks of the Wyacondah but the tern generally spread to include a wider area.The first paper published in Davis County says:
”While on our way to this flourishing portion of Iowa, we frequently heard persons speak of the Hairy Nation; and being of an inquisitive disposition, we soon became anxious to know something about the locations and peculiarities of the tribe of natives (as we supposed they were who were known by this cognomen:) and upon inquiry of some of the oldest citizens were given the following history.In the early days of the Territory of Iowa a hardy race of pioneers, most of whom had fought in the Black Hawk War, settled in the extreme south portion of the territory immediately on the northern line of the state of Missouri, so near indeed upon that the state of Missouri claimed them as citizens.There had been two lines run, one about ten miles north of the other. Missouri had such a title to the strip of ten miles lying between these two line as gave some appearance of equal right to her claim, and Iowa with an appearance of equal right, also claimed these same settlers and stripe of land on which they resided.For a number of years these conflicting claims caused but little, if any , difficulty between the two claimants.As for the settlers, they claimed nothing but the freedom for which they had emigrated to the western frontier.In addition, they enjoyed the unsolicited and unexpected privilege of exercising the right of suffrage in both the State of Missouri and the territory of Iowa.For it was a usual occurrence to see the acknowledged and authorized officers of the two governments at the same house and same time on this disputed territory open polls for the election of officers for the State of Missouri and the territory of Iowa.Ballots and Whiskey were abundantly supplied and the Hairy Nation (by which we mean the aforesaid settlers) were solicited to exercise their undoubtedand undisputed right of sovereignty in both the State and Territory governments to supersede that of the savage tribes they had just conquered.
Thus things went on swimmingly, until in the course of human events the tax gatherers came around.Then was presented a state of things never anticipated by the nation, as unexpected and unsolicited as their right of suffrage, and infinitely more objectionable.A prompt and energeticrefusal came then from the conqueror of Black Hawk and the Prophet, and in this refusal the Nation was supported by a powerful State and a young ambitious territory ---each of which protested against the extrordinate of the tax gatherers of the other.The consequences of these conflicting claims, these refusals and protests, was that the Nation paid no taxes to anybody.But affairs could not long remain in such condition, and after a few years civil officers acting by authority of the two claimant governments, undertook to exercise authority over the Nation.Some of these officers were arrested and imprisoned by the opposite contending governments.The Governor of Missouri called out the militia of his state, and Governor Lucas of Iowa who had had some experience in this kind of warfare in Ohio against the “Wolverines” , soon paraded the Hawkeyes in battle array, and marched them to the scene of hostilities.It is not related whether these two hostile armies ever came in sight of each other. Certain it is that before they came to blows, a parley took place between the contending governments, which resulted in their submitting their respective claims to the disputed territory and to the Hairy Nation in particular, to the Supreme Court of the United States for a final and conclusive decision. After this the two armies were disbanded.A few years later the supreme Court decided in favor of Iowa, and the disputed territory soon became thickly settled by industrious and thriving citizens, in place of the Hairy Nation, who gradually left for regions where there is more freedom and less labor, more whiskey and less taxpaying than the state of Iowa was about to impose on them.How these settlers obtainedthe name Hairy Nation we could not ascertain, but conjecture that their naturally careless and easy habits led them to indulge their beards to the greatest length, until their appearance (previous to the universal fashion of wearing beard long) suggested the name.May 13, 1854.”
Civil War: American Tragedy:The slavery issue and the American Civil War had a significant impact on Iowa.Almost 80,000 Iowans fought in the Civil War, a larger portion of Iowa's population than that of any other Union state.Ed & his older brother James both served in the war, as did their cousin JAMES, son of CHARLES HUBBARTT.
Confederate Guerrilla Raid:On October 12, 1864 Confederate Raiders from Missouri penetrated the southern boarder of Iowa into the Southeast corner of Davis County on the northern most raid of the war.The scoundrels moved across the southern part of the county (in open land) to a point northwest of Savannah, then south again into Missouri.Sylvester Hubbard had gone to Mt. Sterling on business the 11th and was on his way home when he spotted 10-12 riders dressed in Union uniforms about 8AM.Sylvester followed the riders hoping to catch some news of the war but couldn’t seem to catch up with them.He saw one steal a horse from the Brumly farm, and when he stopped there after his fears were confirmed as John Brumley, laid up with a broken leg -- recounted that he had been robbed of his seven copper pennies. After searching the house the raiders broke his musket.After searching a trunk of clothes (missing eighty dollars in a purse between clothing there) they left.They went on to the Deal school house - robbed a renter of $2, broke his gun and proceeded to the William Downing’s place taking him prisoner.John Heckathier was not home, but Mrs. Miller was caught ironing when they pushed their way in about 9 or 10 o’clock.After demands for a gun, and money under threat of razing the home she refused in turn - defiantly challenging their authority.The raiders leftempty handed.She described the raider as medium height, good posture, handsome with light brown hair and light blue eyes.He wore a ladies hat with a broad brim and blue ribbons streaming down his back.He hadon blue uniform and carried a sword at his side.After several more robberies Thomas Hardy was shot and robbed.There were many more such robberies and worse that day as the raiders worked their way across the county.By the end of the day Thomas Hardy was shot and killed as later was Eleazar Small on whose body was attacheda note stating: “Killed in retaliation for David Plunket, who was murdered by Federal soldiers near Glasgow Missouri.”Capt.P. H. Bence, who was home on furlough asked not to be shot in front of his family, was taken away and later shot as well - the slip of paper placed in his jacket.The raiders retreated across the Missouri line as darkness fell.
EDWARD THOMAS ‘E.T.’ HUBBARTT- Civil War Veteran:Enlisted as a Private in the 3rd Iowa Cavalry ‘D’ Company at Monterey Township Bloomfield Iowa, on 24 Feb. 1864.He was mustered in at Keokuk with a large detachment of troops 16 Mar. 1664 under Capt. T.M. Walker.E.T. fought with General Sherman’s Army on its march through Georgia.
On 2 Sep. 1664, the three Armies of Union forces under William Tecumseh “Cump” Sherman stormed into Georgia, defeated Hoods Army and marched unopposed to the sea arriving at Savannah 21 Dec.When Grant became General in Chief, Sherman commanded the large Union army of approximately 100,000 men that moved southeast from Dalton, Ga. Although roundly defeated in rash attacks at Kenesaw Mountain, he captured Atlanta in September 1864, after a long series of cat-and-mouse contests with Joseph E. Johnston. An aggressive leader, Sherman was expert in planning and executing long marches and in mastering difficult logistical problems.Spreading out his army about 80 km (50 mi.) wide, he conducted a scorched-earth campaign against the Confederacy, ravaging the unprotected Georgia countryside in the famous March to the Sea (Nov. 16-Dec. 22, 1864) that resulted in the capture of Savannah.In 1665, Sherman’s Army carried his fight north to Petersburg(29 Mar.) while Lee evacuated Richmond(2 Apr.) hoping to join up with Southern forces in North Carolina.
Sherman used the same pillaging tactics in striking northward through the Carolinas in early 1865, and his campaign, after a Union victory at Bentonville, compelled Johnston to surrender at Durham Station, N.C., in April.Grant cut off Lee’s escape leading to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.A week later Lincoln was assassinated.
E.T. HUBBARTT was mustered out at Atlanta GA 9 Aug. 1865 returning to Keokuk Iowa to be discharged 20 August of that year.He returned to Davis County to farm.Throughout his life E.T. suffered persistent health problems from his service in the war.His back troubled him from a spell bivouacked in swampy encampments and then there was problems with his eyesight for which he later received a pension.From 2-8 Apr 1664 he was admitted to the regimental hospital for Bronchitis.Again Jan 1-3 1665 and Aug. 1-4 (just a few days before his discharge) for unspecified ailments.
After the war E.T. Hubbartt returned home county to farm.He married CLARISSA HOLLETTon 19 December 1868.E.T. and CLARISSA went on to raise a fine family of 5 children.They lived in Schuyler Co. Missouri until 1892 when the moved into Davis County Iowa.
GEORGE SOLOMON HUBBARTT -Farmer - at one time was Steward and Matron of the Davis County Home and Farmfor paupers and indigent folks.He married MARY JANE LAMB on 7 March 1900 and they had three sons: URSEL GLEN, b. 1902; FLOYD OLEN, b. 1904; and GEORGE FERN “HUB”, b. 1909.
FLOYD OLEN HUBBARTT was born 4 December 1904 in Davis Co. His parents were GEORGE SOLOMONand MARY JANE (LAMB) HUBBARTT.He had two brothers, GEORGE FERN and URCEL GLEN ‘HUB’, who both lived for extended periods at Boulder City Nevada.He was educated in the Davis County schools, graduating from Bloomfield High in 1924.FLOYD married LEOLA ANNA RAYBURN on 20 April 1927 at the home of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. DUFF R. RAYBURN in Davis County.As newlyweds FLOYD and LEOLA went to live near Palisade Colorado for one year returning to Davis County and residing in Pulaski one year and in Bloomfield since 1929.He and a brother URSEL bought and operated a tire shop and built and operated the Texaco Service station just north of the Bloomfield town square.He also did trucking, construction work and worked at John Morrell Co. in Ottumwa.He was a long time representative of BowWow Dog Food in Ottumwa and had a dog supply business, which he operated from his shop at home.FLOYD was a member of the Bloomfield Christian Church.
FLOYD enjoyed the sport of fox hunting, the kind where you go to hear the race not to kill.He took part in several fox hunting associations winning won many trophies and ribbons with his fox hounds both on the bench and in the field.FLOYD and LEOLA raised six children; GLENN DEAN who lives with his wife NANCY BACKUS in Lincoln Nebraska; ROBERT “BOB” and PATRICIA HOPKINS living in Arroyo Grande California; GEORGE WILLIAM “BILL” living in Ottumwa with his wife GERALDINE CRITCHLOW; KAY who lives with her husband ELMER HOPKINS; CAROLYN SUE who married RONNIE COMER and live in Davis County; and RICHARD and his wife DIANE SMITH of Bloomfield.