John G. Foote to Richard Yates

Burlington Iowa

August 3d 1864

Gov. Richard Yates

Springfield Ills

Dr Sir

By the enclosed Circulars of the Southern Iowa Soldiers Train, you will perceive it is in the hearts of the good people to continue their efforts in the procuring of means and sanitary supplies for the benefit of our brave and noble Soldiers This is more necessary now as the conflict is still raging---the sick and wounded are being multiplied---and, therefore, the sanitary and Christian Commissions, should be kept fully supplied with all articles for relief.

It is necessary to use all honorable influences to aid us in making the effort a blessing to those who are thus battling in this great strife for National liberty.

Your active interest in putting down this rebellion, your known sympathy for the brave and suffering soldiers, your earnest efforts in procuring supplies and forwarding them to their relief, has given you a high and honorable position in all loyal hearts. From your happy and ready cooperation in all loyal efforts heretofore, the Board of Managers presumed

you would be willing to aid us in our efforts by delivering an address at the opening of the Fair

The brave soldiers of Illinois and Iowa have, side by side, breasted the fierce storm of rebellion. Sharing alike in the same privations and hardships, and alike rejoiced in the same sanitary provisions for their comfort and relief. Also the loyal people of Illinois and Iowa, have together labored in the same noble purpose of furnishing supplies for the relief and comfort of the sick & wounded. Shall it not be continued? The war is not yet over. Government feels itself compelled to increase her efforts, and has called for more men. so also must the efforts of the people be continued in furnishing the proper sanitary supplies for the sick and suffering

In accordance with the unanimous vote of the Board of Managers and Executive Committee you are invited to deliver an address at the opening of the Southern Iowa Soldiers Fair at Burlington Sept 26th 1846.

The Iowa State Agricultural Fair will be held at the same time in Burlington which will bring together a large number from all parts of the state. Hoping to receive a favorable reply I remain yours Respectfully

John G. Foote

Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair At BURLINGTON, SEPTEMBER 26th, TO OCTOBER 1st, 1864

Burlington, July 12th, 1864.

The Executive Committee of the Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair, respectfully announce that they are now ready to receive donations of money, supplies, and articles intended for the Fair, and urge upon the friends of the enterprise, immediate and continued action in its behalf.

Our object is not so much to make a large display at the time of the Fair, but to so conduct our operations as to contribute the most effectually to the end desired--the relief of our Soldiers. We therefore ask that our co-laborers in this good work, forward us from the present time until the close of our Fair all such articles as may be acceptable or useful to them. We particularly solicit contributions of Hospital Clothing and Supplies, Canned Fruit, Onions, Pickles, and the like, to be forwarded immediately. It is now the season of the year, in which is specially needed supplies for the relief and strength of those who are still spared to press forward in the great struggle against our Countries enemies. In order therefore that the Soldiers may enjoy the immediate benefits of our efforts for their welfare, it is desired that all articles that will tend to their relief and comfort, should be forwarded at once. A cash value by a competant Committee will be placed upon all contriubtions, and due credit given. Perishable articles that will not bear transportation, will be sold, and the amount realized credited to the Donors and Townships. All contributions of money should be sent to Mrs. E. E. Gay, Treasurer.

The Committee would suggest, that in the preparation of donations, preference be given to those things which can be readily disposed of, such as all kinds of Winter Clothing, and Furnishing Goods for Men, Women and Children, Embroidery, Worsted Goods of all kinds, Dry-Goods, Groceries, Fancy Work of every description, Books, Stationary, Jewelry---in short everything and anything that may suggest itself as likely to be in good demand.

Let committees be formed in every community to receive and forward articles for the Fair, and as soon as a box is filled, or a lot made up, send to us for shipment. Arrangements will be made to secure speedy transportation. Donors will affix their names, and place of residence to articles donated, and also state their estimated value. When it is desired that the proceeds should be distributed through any particular agency, parties contributing can so state, and the proceeds will be applied accordingly. In cases where no preference is expressed, the Committee will apply proceeds in such manner as to effect the greatest good. Special attention is called to the munificent donation of Messrs. Donahue & McCosh, Marble Dealers of our city, who offer through us a Military Monument, Carved and Embellished, standing twelve feet high above the ground, and worth Five Hundred Dollars, to the township in Iowa, out-side of the township of Burlington, which shall in proportion to its inhabitants (taking the census of 1860 as a standard)---furnish the most money, or of goods, wares and produce, at a cash value to the Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair. The design of the Monument will be shortly sent you, and we trust that your township may be among the competitors for this prize, which will be in every way a worthy memorial to the honored dead, who have fallen in this contest. Should any donors desire to aid the township in which they live, in competing for this prize, their donations will be appraised and the amount credited to their township, except donations from Churches, on account of the members being from different townships.

Officers of Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair

Hon. J.G. FOOTE, President

Rev. W.F. BAIRD

Mrs. JAS. W. GRIMES

Mrs. H. H. HAWLEY

[Baird, Grimes and Hawley all] Vice Presidents

Mrs. J. L. BROWN, Secretary.

Mr. J. P. BROWN, Assistant Secretary.

Mrs. H. B. RANSOM, Corresponding Secretary.

Mr. R. M. GREEN, Assistant Corresponding Secretary.

Mrs. E. E. Gay, Treasurer.

Mr. FRANK T. PARSONS, Cashier Burlington Branch of State Bank, Assistant Treasurer.

Executive Committee

W. SALTER, D.D.

Mr. JAMES W. PUTNAM,

Mr. H. THIELSEN,

Mr. E. E. GAY,

Mr. C. BRAUTIGAM,

Mrs. ALFRED CLARK,

Mrs. LYMAN COOK,

Mrs. U. FOSTER,

Mrs. H .C. OHRT,

Mrs. C. WACHSMUTH,

Miss E. M. DENISE,

Miss V. D. RORER,

Miss LIZZIE BOSCH.

Committee for the Appriasement of Donations.

Mrs. M. E. Peasley, Mrs. H. W. Starr, Mrs. A. Kaiser, Mrs. A. Harbach, Mrs. W. T. Danner, Mr. John H. Gear, Mr. C. B. Parsons, Mr. J. H. Davey, Mr. S. E. Taylor, Mr. J. L. Backus

MILITARY MONUMENT

Burlington, Iowa, June 25th, 1864.

To the President of the Ladies' Soldiers air Society, City of Burlington, Iowa.

RESPECTED MADAM:---We hand you herewith, a design for a Military Monument, which we propose to present, through your Society, to the Township of Iowa, exclusive of the Township of Burlington, which shall, in proportion to the number of inhabitants, (taking the census of 1860 as the standard,) contribute the most in cash, or in goods, wares, merchandise or produce, at a cash valuation, to the Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair, to be held in this city, on the last week of next September.

The Monument will be twelve feet above the level of the ground, and will be made of the best American Marble, and executed in good style. On the face of the spire, will be carved the shield of the United States, with the motto, "E Pluribus Unum." and resting upon it is a musket and sword, united by the laurel wreath of victory; and floating over it from its staff, the triumphant guidon, inscribed "Union and Liberty."

The Monument will be worth Five Hundred Dollars in cash, and will be to the successful competing Township, a fitting and worthy memorial to their honored dead, who have given their lives a willing sacrifice for the perpetuity of the glorious American Union.

Yours Respectfully,

DONAHUE & McCOSH, Marble Dealers.

Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair.

Burlington, September 26th, 1864.

The Ladies' Union Aid Society of Burlington, commenced their labors for our Soldiers at the outbreak of the Rebellion, when they came together with busy hands and made clothing for Companies D. and E. of the Iowa First. From that day to the present, they have given unintermitted attention to the care and comfort of our sick and wounded, have sent forward hundreds of boxes of sanitary stores for their relief, and disbursed many thousand dollars. They have co-operated with the Western Sanitary Commission at St. Louis, with the United States Commission, with the Christian Commission, and with the Sanitary Agents of our own State, and will continue to employ the same channels for the disbursement of funds and stores.

The Exhibition of the State Agricultural Society in this city in the month of September which will bring many thousands together, has suggested the duty of improving that occasion for one grand and general effort by the people of Southern Iowa in the cause of patriotism and humanity. It is therefore proposed to hold a Fair for the relief of our Soldiers, in the City of Burlington, during the week of the State Agricultural Exhibition. The Fair will be opened on Monday, September 26th, and will continue through the week until Saturday, the 1st of October. The Officers named below, with an executive committee have been appointed to make all the necessary arrangements.

In carrying forward this enterprise, we appeal with confidence, to the people of Southern Iowa, and to our fellow-citizens throughout the United States, for their zealous and generous co-operation. Our immediate field is the Southern half of Iowa. But our Iowa Soldiers are fighting battles of the Nation, and we appeal to every part of the Union for contributions and help.

In behalf of Ladies' Union Aid Society

BURLINGTON, IOWA, JUNE 17th, 1864

Mrs. C. B. DARWIN, President. Mrs. J. L. BROWN, Secretary.

Officers of Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair [same as given previous page]

1. Contributions of every kind and sort are solicited. All products of Industry, from farm, and garden, and shop, and house may be disposed of, and be made to carry relief to the sick and wounded soldiers.

2. Let every county in Southern Iowa, and every town and village and neighborhood be represented by one or more stands in this Patriotic Festival.

3. Soldiers' Aid Societies, Loyal Leagues, Churches, Schools, Benevolent Associations and other organizations, are invited to furnish stands or tables, and will have every facility for exhibiting their contributions. Those desiring to accept this invitation, are requested to give early notice to the Corresponding Secretary.

4. Donors are requested to affix to each article its estimated value.

5. Owners of articles forwarded to the Agricultural Exhibition are solicited to make donations of them to the Soldiers Fair---Where practicable, such articles will be forwarded to our soldiers. In other cases the proceeds will be appropriated for their benefit.

6. No raffling or lottery will be allowed.

7. All contributions will be suitably acknowledged. A record and history of the fair will be published.

8. All goods and packages should be distinctly marked with the name of the donor, and the place from which sent, and directed to "John G. Foote, Burlington, Iowa, for Southern Iowa Soldiers' Fair." Notice of the shipment should at the same time be sent by mail to the Corresponding Secretary,

9. Donations of money are solicited, and should be sent by mail to the Treasurer.

Foote John G.

Burlington Iowa

Aug 3 1864,

Invitation for Governor to be present at Iowa State Fair, and address meeting on 26th Sept 1864.

Aug 22. 64

Accepted [Invt?] [illegible]

H.

F

Write [illegible] [illegible] brief letter accepting invitation