ANNALS OF IOWA.

VOL. VII, No. 8. DES MOINES, IOWA, JANUARY, 1907.

3D SERIES.

A REPORT ON THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES.1

BY BENJAMIN F. SHAMBAUGH.

I.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

It is a notorious fact that England and the European governments have given far more attention to the care and preservation of Public Archives and expended much larger sums for this and other historical purposes than have the National and State governments of the United States. Indeed, the condition of the Public Archives of the National and State governments of the United States has been (with some few exceptions) one of neglect rather than of care, of disorder rather than of systematic arrangement. Even Canada has taken steps in advance of the United States. Fortunately, however, within the last decade there has been evidenced a larger interest in American Public Archives, which in considerable measure has been inspired by and through the American Historical Association.

It was at the Washington meeting of the American Historical Association (in 1891) that Prof. J. Franklin Jameson head a paper on The Expenditures of Foreign Governments

1 Iowa City, Iowa, September 18, 1906.

To the Trustees of the State Library and Historical Department of Iowa. Gentlemen: Complying with your reque t for information and suggestions relative to the care and preservation of Public Archives and, more specifically. for recommendations relative to the installation of a Hall of Public Archives in Iowa under the provisions of An Act providing for the care and permanent preservation of the public archives, and making an appropriation therefor,'' enacted by the Thirty-first General Assembly and approved April 10, 1906, I have the honor to submit herewith a report with recommendations.

Very respectfully,

BENJ. F. SHAMBAUGH.

2 The Expenditures of Foreign Governments in Behalf of History, in the Annual Report of the American Historical Association for 1891, p. 33.

was a most useful citizen, intelligent, public-spirited, exemplary in all the relations of life, charitable, just in his dealings, a man of mark in the communities where he resided, and one whose influence was ever on the side of education, temperance and good morals. The writer knew him for nearly fifty years as an abiding friend, concerning whom he is glad to place these words of appreciation on record. Mr. Hewett was the real founder of the city of Eagle Grove, where his name will long be held in grateful remembrance.

In

OBED CASWELL was born October 29, 1835, near Watkins, N. Y.; he died at Marshalltown, Iowa, July 7, 1906. While still a boy his parents removed to near Sandusky, Ohio. He was educated at Oberlin and Antioch Colleges. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in an Ohio regiment with which he served three months. After his discharge he settled in Marshalltown, where he enlisted in Co. D, 5th Iowa Infantry. and was promoted to a second lieutenancy. Before his discharge Lieut. Caswell became captain of the company. After the war he attended the law class of the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the law school at Albany, N. Y., from the last of which he graduated and was admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of New York. 1864 he entered into the practice of his profession with J. H. Bradley, who later became circuit judge. Mr. Caswell was afterward associated with J. F. Meeker in the practice of the law which he continued for several years. He went to California on account of his health in 1888. Upon his return he resumed his law practice which he continued until 1896. When the 17th Judicial District was taken from the 11th District, he was appointed by Gov. Drake to fill the vacancy. He was afterwards elected and re-elected for two full terms, and nominated for a third. He became one of the well known Iowa judges. The decision which he made in the case of the soldiers' preference law, which he held to be unconstitutional, as class legislation and against public policy, attracted state-wide attention. It was carried to the Supreme Court, where his decision was reversed.

GEORGE SCHRAMM was born in Plech, Germany, Feb. 12, 1816; he died in his summer cottage at Lake Okoboji, Iowa, July 26, 1906. In 1836 he came to America and settled in Ohio; in 1845 he removed to Farmington, Iowa, remaining there until 1867, when he located in Des Moines, which place had since been his home. "Father" Schramm was a member of the Polk County Octogenarian Society, and its president at the time of his death. He also held membership in the Tippecanoe Club, the Old Settlers' Association and the Pioneer Law Makers' Association. He was a member of the Senate in the 4th and 5th, and a member of the House in the 9th General Assemblies, from Van Buren county. While exceedingly quiet and unobtrusive, Mr. Schramm was much more than an average legislator. His services are recalled as those of a man who was always clear in his convictions, whose habit it was to be found on the right side of questions which challenged public attention. His record is one from which nothing need be expunged. Though living to an advanced age, he was blessed not only with health and strength, but with a most happy temperament, which always made him a pleasant man to meet. His smile of cordial greeting was never absent. There are always men in the ranks of a regiment in active service whom their associates will not forget to the last day of their lives. So it is in a legislative body. After forty years the majority of faces will fade from the brightest memory; but those who were associated with Mr. Schramm in those far-off days have ever borne him in kindly remembrance.

COLE NOEL was born in Monroe county, Ind., Oct. 4, 1818; he died in Adel, Iowa, July 26, 1906. He came to Des Moines, Iowa, with his parents in 1852. In December, of 1853, he settled in Adel, where he lived continuously until the end of his life. He was elected clerk of the courts of Dallas county in 1856, holding the office by successive elections during the next ten years. He was chosen to represent his county in the Iowa House of representatives of the 13th General Assembly. He took an active part in the work of securing the erection of the New Capitol. He appreciated the need of a commodious edifice in place of the old tumble-down affair which had but poorly sufficed up to that time. During his after life in Adel he held many positions of honor and trust in all of which his record is without flaw. He was one of the abiding, lifelong friends of Hon. John A. Kasson. The latter never failed, when visiting Des Moines, during the past thirty years, to go to Adel and spend a day or two at the home of Cole Noel. Mr. Noel was for many years an exemplary member of the Christian church. He possessed the confidence of the people of Dallas county during all the years of his residence among them, and died as he had lived, enjoying the highest respect of all who knew him.

THE death of Charles Weare on June 19, 1906, at his home in Cedar Rapids, removes the last member of the family of that name, which family have been prominently connected with our business enterprises since this city was a mere village. Charles Weare was born in Derby Line, Orleans county, Vermont, Jan. 29, 1828, and came to Cedar Rapids in 1848. Deceased was respectively marshal, alderman and mayor of Cedar Rapids, was a member of the legislature for one term, 1864, was postmaster for eight years. During the Harrison administration he was consul at Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany, for one year. Mr. Weare was originally a democrat and became a republican when that party was organized. He had attended more county and state conventions than any other person perhaps in Iowa up to the time of his death, and for more than fifty years was personally acquainted with all the public men of the State.

B. L. W.

CHAPMAN A. MARSHALL was born in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 11, 1838; he qed in Cresco, Iowa, June 27, 1906. His father was a lieutenantgeneral in the English army. After receiving his education, he was apprenticed in the Merchant Marine service of England, and spent four years on a sailing vessel, sailing three times around the world. In 1857 he came to the United States and in 1858 settled in Howard county, Iowa. He engaged in the mercantile business in Vernon Springs and later in Cresco. In 1871 he was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational church. He held pastorates in Burr Oak, Postville, New Hampton, Nashua, Clinton, and McGregor. In 1900 he retired from the active ministry and returned to Cresco. He represented the 44th senatorial district, consisting of Bremer, Chickasaw and Howard counties, in the 19th and 20th General Assemblies.

LAWSON DANIELS died in Cedar Rapids, June 17, 1906, at the age of seventy-nine years. Deceased was born in North Brookfield, Mass., and came to Marion in the fall of 1848, to which place the older brothers had removed a few years earlier. The firm of Lawson Daniels & Co. did the largest business in this part of the country for many years. Mr. Daniels married his brother's widow in 1883, who survives

him. For many years prior to his death, Mr. Daniels was one of the