Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/534



was declared elected United States Senator for six years from March 4, 1859.

Under the authority granted by the Legislature, a company of mounted men was organized for the protection of the frontier from Indians, of which Henry B. Martin was made captain. During the fall of 1858 several bands of Sioux Indians came into northwestern Iowa, causing great alarm among the frontier settlements. The “Frontier Guards” were called out and remained in service several months, holding the Indians in check. Congress made an appropriation of $20,000, to pay the expenses incurred by citizens of the States of Iowa and Minnesota in the campaigns against the Sioux who committed the massacres at Okoboji and Springfield in the spring of 1857. Of this sum $3,612.43 was paid to the command under Major Williams, which marched to the relief of the settlers after the massacre.

The season of 1858 will long be remembered as one of the most disastrous to farmers of any experienced up to that time. Cold rains began early in April and continued through the month. Wheat and oats were sown late but the frequent rains of May caused them to make a rank growth and delayed corn planting. Much of the seed corn rotted in the ground. The wet weather continued in June with cold nights, which forced the weeds until much of the corn was smothered. To add to the general disaster there was frost in a large portion of the State during every month of the year. Wheat, oats and barley made rank growth and fell down. Potatoes were ruined by the rain. Early in July there were alternate heavy rains and intensely hot days. A few days before harvest time it was observed that the wheat heads were suddenly turning white. Upon examination they were found to be blasted. The grain was shriveled, shrunken, soft and worthless and farmers slowly realized that the one crop, then so largely relied upon to bring in money for the year, was ruined. Oats and barley were lodged on the ground,