IOWA BIOGRAPHY
Sketches of Notable Men and Women of the State
CHARLES H. ABBOTT was born in Concord, New Hampshire, January 26, 1819. After completing his education he started west, stopping in Michigan. In 1850 he came to Iowa and settled in Louisa County, but later removed to Muscatine, where he engaged in farming, banking and real estate business. Upon the organization of the Thirtieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the summer of 1862, Mr. Abbott was appointed colonel of the regiment and at once took command. He participated in the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, and while leading his regiment in the assault upon Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, was killed.
ALONZO ABERNETHY was born April 14, 1836, in Sandusky County, Ohio. His early education was received in the public schools of that State. In March, 1854, he came with his father's family to Fayette County, Iowa. He entered the Chicago University, leaving the senior class in August, 1861, to enlist in the Ninth Iowa Infantry as a private. He was engaged in seventeen battles and won rapid promotion, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel before the regiment was mustered out. In 1865 he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Eleventh General Assembly from Fayette County. In 1870 he removed to Denison, in Crawford County, but was soon chosen president of Des Moines College. In 1871 he was elected on the Republican ticket Superintendent of Public Instruction, serving six years by reëlections. He was largely instrumental in securing the enactment of the laws providing for Teachers' Normal Institutes and the establishment of a State Normal School. In September, 1876, he resigned his office to accept the presidency of the University of Chicago. After two years' service he made a trip to Europe and upon his return made his home on a farm near Denison. In July, 1881, he was elected president of the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage. Colonel Abernethy has long ranked among the eminent educators of the State.
AUSTIN ADAMS was born at Andover, Vermont, May 24, 1826. He worked on his father's farm until fourteen years of age, attending the district school during the winter months. He prepared for college at Black River Academy, teaching school winters from the time he was sixteen, to assist in defraying expenses through college. Entering Dartmouth he graduated in 1848. While pursuing his legal studies he served
