Index

Iowa Historical Record 
v1-18; 1885-1902

B

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Richard Barton.

BONNIFIELD, RHODHAM
Jefferson County Pioneers
by Hiram Heaton, Glendale, Iowa

A mile southeast of Glendale station is a granite monument to the memory of a Mr. Rhodham Bonnifield, his wife, and several children, all of whom died in 1840 of some illness that at the time baffled the skill of the physicians in the newly settled country. The monument was erected by W. B. Bonnifield, Esq., of Ottumwa , to his parents and kindred, in 1896, and marks one of the saddest experiences of the pioneers. Mr. Bonnifield came from Virginia in 1837, and his wealth and large and intelligent family of fifteen children made a genuine enrichment to the raw country. The Ross and Bonnifield families soon became greatly attached. William Ross married Catherine Bonnifield, while Samuel Bonnifield married Nancy F. Ross.

Wm. Ross and wife live in Kansas , and so lightly have the years touched them that it requires an effort to fully apprehend that they are the very same persons who figured in the first events of this county. To assist in bridging the intervening years, it will help one to recall that Wm. Ross, in early manhood, was a school teacher, held in high esteem by many, who yet remember him. One term that he taught at the Voorhies school house, is memorable because of his whipping a boy named Jacob Phoutz three times the last half day of the school. Those were the days when "lickin' and learnin'" were thought to be closely related.

That Ross was not mistaken, is evident from the happy effect his discipline had upon that mischievous boy. Mr. Phoutz lives in Fairfield , and all who know of his splendid record as a member of the First Iowa Cavalry in the civil war, and his prosperous years since, will wish that the present generation of young men had received training from such men as Ross.

That history which best represents the manners, customs, and inner life of the people, as well as the lives of the leading members of the community; which deals most in popular description, and most largely admits the biographical and anecdotical element is the most faithful, as it is interesting.

Mrs. Oliver Hoops, of Fairfield , is a grand-daughter of the Mr. Bonnifield, whose memory is kept alive by the granite monument above mentioned. We have seen in a former paper that Bonnifield built a house in 1838 that is inhabited to this day, being the oldest residence in the county. Before the floor was laid in this house, it was used as a place of worship by the Methodists, and when the house was fitted to live in, the cabin which had sheltered the family was opened to the family of the "traveling preacher." Wm. Taylor was one of the pioneers who deserves to be remembered; he too was a Virginian - the ninth son in a family of nineteen children. He believed himself to be a cousin of President Taylor, but never made any effort to verify his relationship. Mrs. Phoutz, wife of the Mr. Phoutz who has been mentioned, is a grand- daughter of Mr. Taylor.

One Sunday when Mr. Taylor has been at a religious meeting at the Bonnifield home, he met two Indians, who begged for money to buy liquor. They were already tipsy, but it was the strange fashion in which they had dressed their hair that had made them noticeable. They had straightened the hair at full length and daubed it full of mud until their head dress of dried mud stood more than a foot high on their heads. While there were many Indians roaming about the country in those pioneer days, they gave no trouble to the white settlers, excepting that at times they would destroy farm implements, particularly grindstones.

One custom that was quite general with the pioneers was the charivari: the serenading of a newly married couple with loud, barbarous and lugubrious music and noises. These noises were persevered in, until the bridegroom gave the captain of the serenaders a sum of money with which to drink the health of the newly married couple. Sometimes the serenaders were invited to eat supper instead of being otherwise "treated." The little Swede boy, Frank Danielson, before mentioned, who was sent to borrow a "wheel-latch," was at a charivari at a Mr. Crenshaw's, whose daughter, Nancy, James Ross married, when the serenaders were given several dozens of pumpkin pies; both Crenshaw and Ross being Methodists and not believing it to be right to give money with which to buy whiskey, but the boys and young men contemptuously threw the pies to the floor until it was almost carpeted with the obnoxious "treat."

Shortly after the return of the soldiers from the civil war, a daughter of the little Elisol Howard, whose mother held him up at the Belfast Triumph, was married, and George Kimball collected a company, consisting of a number of returned soldiers, to charivari the happy couple. In this instance, as the bridegroom was also a returned soldier it was intended as a token of respect. The five dollars that the bridegroom gave to the serenaders was spent for "plantation bitters," which was the best substitute for liquor to be had. Whether the large amount of "bitters" imbibed at one time had a happy effect, or from some other cause, almost all the old soldiers who helped at the charivari remain after the flight of thirty-four years.

Where the custom still survives it is said that a substitute is found for liquor in a flavoring extract of lemons, which country storekeepers sell in bottles made for this purpose. Seldom was there a wedding in the early years of this county without its attendant charivari. If it was known that the people objected, that was so much more the greater reason for giving them a rousing serenade; if the people were not much esteemed, a spirit of malicious mischief found opportunity to express itself; but if the married couple were utterly shiftless the boys and young men ignored them. If it was known that the bridegroom was desirous of being serenaded, they would say, "He is too anxious to be charivaried," and so he was omitted from receiving the questionable honor.

It would be a mistake to think that the pioneers and early settlers of Iowa were without any refining influences, and deprived of all culture. As we have seen in the course of these papers, Mr. Ross had enjoyed superior educational advantages in Kentucky; the Bonnifield children had been educated at the academies of Pennsylvania, and many other of the pioneers had received liberal educations; but the mass of the men and women had profited by two agencies that are too often overlooked by the historians of pioneer life in Iowa: the debating society, and the singing sehool. Hardly a neighborhood was without a debating society, where the young men and boys were trained in discussing questions of every day life, but much more of political questions, to have much wider views than would have been possible for them to have had without this training.

The singing school, however, was of all influences, next to that of the church, the one that chiefly formed the characters of the young people before the civil war.

Vol. XVIII. JANUARY, 1902. No I. pp 401-406

NATHAN HOIT BRAINERD
[by] Frances Louise Rogers.

The late Dr. Parvin in a sketch of the life of Thos. H. Benton, Jr., says "Iowa was very fortunate in the character and enterprise of her pioneers (those coming to the Territory prior to its admission into the union in 1846) and her old settlers, those of a later date to the year 1857, when her present constitution was adopted, and under which with slight amendments she has continued to grow and prosper in an unprecedented manner."

One of these old settlers whose voice and whose pen helped to shape the destiny of the state is the subject of this brief memorial.

Nathan Hoit Brainerd was born Jan. 11th, 1818, in Bridgewater, N. H. His father, Enoch Brainerd, was descended from Daniel Brainerd an original settler of Haddam, Conn., about 1662, and was a farmer and blacksmith. The home was situated on the border of Newfound Lake, one of the many picturesque bodies of water lying within sight of the White Mts. Near by ran the Boston and Albany turnpike bringing many customers to the smithy and keeping the inhabitants of the isolated region in touch with the outside world.

His mother was Theodate Hoit, the daughter of Nathan Hoit, a Revolutionary soldier. Although Nathan Hoit received his discharge from the army at sixteen years, his old age was full of reminiscences which furnished much entertainment to the grandson, to whom had been given his name.

The formal education of Nathan Hoit Brainerd was slight, consisting, after the age of eight, in about ten week's schooling during the winter. Here were laid the foundations of a love for reading and study, a tendency which overcame the deficiencies in opportunity. To other influences also were due his strong traits, self-reliance, determination and steadfastness. The strength of the hills was stamped upon his nature. His character was fostered by his surroundings, and limitations in educational opportunity could not curb its development.

At the age of nineteen he went to Plymouth, N. H., where he attended Holmes Academy for one term. The new life opened to him was interrupted by the illness of his father, which necessitated the help of the son in the shop. Soon after, however, he was relieved of home duties and went to Worcester, Mass., where he spent a few months in farm work and teaching school.

Then came the first great change. Having heard of the Collins Axe Factory located at Collinsville, Conn., he decided to go there and apply for work. He obtained it and became an employe in 1839. His more than ordinary ability to work in iron and steel was soon manifest and he was raised to be overseer of the forging department and finally to the oversight of all forging in which steel was used.

July first, 1840, Mr. Brainerd married Miss Eliza Abigail Hatch, of Blandford, Mass., who was a most devoted wife to him for sixty-one years. Their early married life was spent in Collinsville, and both took an active interest in public affairs and added their share to the progressive measures of the village.

Mr. Brainerd's influence is best seen in the part which he took in a school controversy. An effort was started to consolidate two districts and establish free graded schools. Mr. Brainerd was prominent in the movement and finally assisted in procuring a victory for the schools. He has written since "No work of my life has given me more satisfaction than that. It has been the means of giving intelligence and character to a great number and is to continue this work indefinitely."

In 1856, Mr. Brainerd went to Iowa City and engaged in mercantile business, but the financial crash of 1857 brought a change. Various occupations filled his time for a few years until the breaking out of the Civil War. Previous to this Mr. Brainerd's ability as a public speaker had brought him into prominence. He made campaign speeches in behalf of the republican candidate for governor and became marked as a man of strong opinions and willing to stand by his convictions. Such traits appealed to the new governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, who in 1861 invited Mr. Brainerd to be his Military Secretary.

Concerning this period in the lives of these two men, Prof. L. F. Parker, of Grinnell, spoke the following in his memorial address: "The 'Old War Governor' Samuel J. Kirkwood opened his first campaign speech for the governorship in my town in 1859, with these words:

"Some old fashioned folks think they should do by others as they would be done by."

"That was the keynote of his canvass when the North and the South had carried on a war of words during nine years and when they were on the verge of a war of swords through four years. Kirkwood was elected. It was to the honor of Iowa City that it could give the State and the Nation so wise a leader through the dread early hours of the Civil War. But he needed a Military Secretary thoroughly in sympathy with himself, strong-minded as to the needs of the hour, and resolute in the utterance of unpleasant truths whenever occasion should demand. He needed one on whose judgment he could lean heavily, in whose fidelity to himself and to the Nation he could trust implicitly, and one who could be trusted to represent himself on occasion. He found such a man in Nathan Hoit Brainerd, a man who resembled himself and our American idol, Abraham Lincoln, in more than one respect for all these were large in person, in mind and in character and possessed unusual ability to utter thought in plain, vigorous speech.

"The State holds highest honor to her soldiers at Wilson's Creek, at Donelson, at Vicksburg and elsewhere, and little if any less to many in civil life during those years of wrestle, and among the latter we would place Kirkwood's Military Secretary."

Again Prof. Parker spoke words which will linger in the memory of those who heard him: "The State needed a man like Kirkwood, and Kirkwood needed a man like Brainerd."

Mr. Brainerd's appreciation of Governor Kirkwood was shown in his words - "a clear-headed, honest-hearted man" - words equally applicable to the Governor's Secretary and descriptive of two men in whose hands the State could most safely trust its most sacred interests at a critical period.

The close of the Governor's term, Jan., 1864, severed their official connection and Mr. Brainerd entered upon a new work as proprietor and editor of the Iowa City Republican, which he had purchased one month before. The work was new to him but his knowledge of politics and party events, and his interest in public affairs gave him a special adaptability. He was surprised at the results. The paper at once took a stand above any which it had previously held. It became a power not only among the people of the community, but also in the press of the State. Opponents might disagree with the editor but they always recognized in him an honest conviction and a determination to stand only for the right. The policy of the paper was to support the right in all questions at issue and to attack the wrong wherever it existed.

In 1873 he sold the paper after some ten years of editorship, successful both in public standing and financially.

During these years of public activity Mr. Brainerd was trustee of two important institutions. The Soldier's Orphan's Home was organized in Dec., 1863, and Mr. Brainerd was one of the thirty-one incorporators and for many years a trustee. Of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, formerly located in Iowa City, he was trustee, holding the office from about 1865 to 1872.

He was elected one of curators of the State Historical Society in 1865, which office he held for several years.

June 10th, 1872, Mr. Brainerd became postmaster of Iowa City by appointment of President Grant, and held the office until Aug. 12th, 1876.

In 1880 he became a member of the City Council and continued so for six years. This office was the last which he held in public service.

Mr. Brainerd and his wife being of sturdy New England stock had a preference in religious denominations for the Congregational, and in 1866 they joined in the organization of the Congregational church in Iowa City. For over thirty-five years he was an active member of the church unusually liberal in his gifts for its support and holding it ever in affectionate regard. His voice was heard in the prayer meeting, uttering words expressive of his belief in the good and the true and of his unfailing faith in a Heavenly Father. In later years, when his interest in outside affairs had waned, his love for his church was still strong, indicative of the deep hold which it had ever maintained upon his life.

In 1865 he purchased a residence on Market Street, Iowa City, which continued to be his home until the day of his death. Here were married his two daughters, and hence went the two sons to form homes of their own. The house grown too lonely was enlarged into a double house. This gave an opportunity which brought Mr. Brainerd and Prof. Parker, then professor of History in the State University, into close intimacy as dear as that of brothers. Prof. Parker's highest tribute was expressed in the following words: "You might know Mr. Brainerd in his public duties, you might know him in the church and hear his voice in the prayer meeting, but you could not know him as a man until you had lived within these four walls day by day and had learned the sweetness of his nature, the gentleness of his disposition, his keen sense of humor, his sincerity, his simple faith, his noble qualities. Then only could you appreciate the true beauty of the man who has passed from our midst."

It is such a eulogy as this which makes a man's life worth living. Although he had passed beyond the allotment of three score and ten and had given into younger hands and brains the task of carrying on the world's work, yet his character, stamped upon his rugged features and symbolized in his crown of white hair, became an inspiration to the growing generation who watched his faltering footsteps as he took his daily walk. A grand old man he was in truth.

He passed away in the early morning of July 24th, 1901. At half past six in the afternoon of the 26th, the friends assembled on the lawn of the home, there in the sunset light which he had loved so much, to share in the last tender services to the dead. Beautiful flowers surrounded the casket in the house. Outside the evening shades spoke of peace and rest.

Dr. S. N. Fellows and Prof. L. F. Parker, both old and honored friends of the family shared in the services. It was an unusually beautiful service, closing most appropriately with the sympathetic rendering of Abide With Me. Thus at the close of the day was laid away all that was visible to mortal eyes of a man whose influence is not measured by years and whose life on earth is but the promise of a yet nobler one in mansions not made by hands.