He then worked ten years on a farm, taught school and finally published a paper named the Spirit of the West, at Columbus. In 1853 he removed to Davis County, Iowa, and two years later was elected county judge. He enlisted as a private in Company G, Second Iowa Volunteers in 1861, and was soon promoted to second lieutenant and in November became captain of his company. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and in the latter was so severely wounded that it became necessary for him to resign. In 1803 he was commissioned captain of the “Bloomfield Blues” and in 1864 became aid-de-camp to Governor Stone with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served as lieutenant-colonel in the Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteers (one hundred days' service) in 1864. Colonel Moore had served in the Indiana Legislature before coming to Iowa, and in 1863 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Senate of Iowa, serving in the Tenth and Eleventh General Assemblies. He was one of the superintendents of the eleventh State census. In 1901 he was elected representative in the Twenty-ninth General Assembly; he has long been one of the prominent members of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association and has delivered many addresses before that body.
WELCOME MOWRY was born in Putnam County, Illinois, April 3, 1842, and was educated in the common schools and Dover Academy. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, and participated in the battles of Corinth, Cotfeyville, Tupelo, Iuka, Coldwater, Holly Springs, Oxford and Jackson. Mr. Mowry with four companions was sent to reconnoiter the position of the army of General Price at Abbyville and running into the camp guard, fell back in the darkness. The enemy alarmed at the encounter and ignorant of the size of the forces near at hand, hastily evacuated the town. This is probably the only instance on record where five men stampeded an army. One of Mr. Mowry's commanders has said of him:
“He was frequently on duty as scout in hazardous expeditious where his unflinching bravery, quick intelligence and sound judgment were signally displayed. He was an ideal soldier.”
Mr. Mowry was mustered out in September, 1864, but soon reenlisted in the One Hundred Fifty-first Illinois Infantry, serving until February, 1866, and as sergeant was in command of General Judea's headquarter guards. In 1867 he removed to Iowa, locating on a farm in Tama County, which became his permanent home where he has held many official positions. In 1883 he was elected Representative in the House of the Twentieth General Assembly, taking an active part in the business of the session. In 1896 he was one of the Republican presidential electors, and in 1898 he was elected Railroad Commissioner.
