barley, 20¢; pork, $4 to $5 cwt. ; butter, 10 to 12¢; eggs, 12 1/2 ¢ ; hay, $8 T. ; sugar 9¢ lb.; coffee, 18 to 22¢; tea, 40 to 50¢; apples, $3.50 bbl. or $1.50 bu.

The following story appeared in the Decorah Republic's edition of June 13, 1861 We record it verbatim, and leave interpretation to the judgment of the readers

"During the past week considerable excitement has been rife in the south eastern part of the county over the existence of what is susposed to be secessionism at Ossian. It was stated pretty freely that nearly all the prominent persons in that village were secessionists, and that a secession flag was kept flying by one of the residents, and the owner defied anyone to molest it. It was floating over his property, belonged to him, and the person who interfered with it did so at his peril. These statements excited the indignation of the people living at, and around, Moneek and Castalia, and last Saturday they, to the number of 150, went over there with a flag and staff for the purpose of testing the feelings of the susposed traitors. They invited the secessionists to join them in the ceremonies, which after considerable reluctance, they did, and after considerable urging hurrahed for the Stars and Stripes. An anvil was obtained by force out of the blacksmith's shop, and fired, and Elder Smith delivered an address, after which the people went home. The same evening or the afternoon following, Mr. White (one of, if not the only Union man there, on whose premises the flag was raised) was badly beaten by two of the secessionists, and in the night his straw barn or stable was consumed by fire. These facts spread on the wings of the wind, and the people around about concluded it was necessary again to go over there, and investigate the matter. Accordingly on Tuesday they gathered again in a still larger force and went over. About a quarter of a mile out of Ossian the body halted, and sent a committee forward to investigate the matter. This committee found that all the secessionists except one had left town, and relying upon good promises he made, they again returned home without molesting any one.

This is the story as we get it from two or three persons who were present at the different meetings. On the other side it is contended that in the first place, the secessionist flag was a nondescript affair manufactured for a 4th of July celebration held two years ago, which has been kept flying at times ever since; that the alleged secessionists are true for the Union, and have been all the while, and that the whole affair has grown out of personal ill will and prejudice. It is also said that they were engaged in manufacturing an orthodox flag, which would have been raised in time, had they been left alone.

These are the two stories as near as we can get them, and we give them without knowing which is correct. If those charged with holding secessionist sentiment are tinctured with this virus they have learned by this time that they have a hard row to hoe, and will behave accordingly. If they are the victims of unfounded rumors, the matter will end where it is."

By 1862, a survey of military eligible service men had been completed, with Supervisor M. J. Woolsey heading the vigilance committee. One hundred fifty citizens were determined to be of the age liable for service. A military quota was set at 48, and 31 young men volunteered to enlist. The number of eligibles was raised to 205 by December and the quota for the township went to 73. Company D of the sixth Iowa Volunteers lists Luke Walsh as corporal, and Judsen Dean and Charles Gjermundson as privates with Ossian addresses.

The township assessor lists 764 residents in Military this year. Some must have been overlooked as this is a lower population than the census of 1856.

A demonstration of Sherwood's grain binder was held in Ossian the summer of I863. The editor of the Republic attended and issued the following account; "The binder proved neither a success or failure. Bowman & Strong who demonstrated the machine, confessed they were not experienced operators. The grain was very tall rye and considered to be more difficult to harvest than wheat." The reporter