Red Devils -19 Mark Kellogg's Younger Days - part 1

March 30th

I now need to concentrate on the part of my essay about Pa. But the trouble is that I know so little about him. So I asked Grandma if she could help me. She looked worried, and then agreed, and it was arranged that after supper tonight, she would, with the help of Aunt Lillie, tell me all she knew about him.

We sat around the fire, awkwardly, as it was obvious that Grandma was not comfortable in what I had asked her to do. She brought with her things I had never seen before - several large cardboard covered books, and a very fancy metal box.

“What are those?” asked Cora Sue, starting things off, finally.

“Your Moma, my daughter, who you know was called Mattie too, loved being organised. So from the time she met Mark, she kept clippings of all the stories he ever wrote. And she put them in these big books. I never knew about it until after she died, and then I was so upset, that I put them away and forgot about them.”

 “Why don’t you start before that, Grandma,” I said. “When did you first met our Pa?”

“I certainly knew about his family long before I knew him personally. His daddy was a very important man in La Crosse, and he had loads of different jobs. But mainly I remember when he started his hotel.”

“What year was that?”

“Well, somewhere in this clippings there is an ad for his folks’ hotel. But that was after Mattie got interested in Mark. But I think it was way back in 1853 when he built it. I remember it was a three story building behind the Western Enterprise Hotel, on the corner of Second and Pearl Streets. It had a steep gable roof and the general form was colonial with the three story open porch across the front and the low first story, which was level with the street and served the purpose of a basement, having the office and bar.”

“Did Pa work in the hotel?”

“He sometimes did. But he had lots of jobs in those days. He was a telegraph operator, a clerk, a fireman, a grocer owner, and he wanted to be a lawyer, and always, no matter what else he was doing, he was writing articles for the newspapers. Here, look, this is the first advert that mentions him, and it is way back in 1851 - when Mattie would only have been a teenager.”

 She opened the first page and showed us the cutting. It showed that he had gone to a turkey shoot on Christmas Day on the Mississippi opposite the village. And then there was another article just underneath it, talking about a Christmas ball and it mentioned Mark and his sisters’ names amongst those attending. It said, “It was a state occasion and generally attended. They did the pirouette, chassez and dance the monnaie mask. The music consisted of a violin and those attending recall it as one of the happiest experiences of their days of frontier life. The dance was continued until midnight when an intermission was indulged to afford the guests an opportunities to partake of refreshment furnished by the ladies of La Crosse and served by Simeon Kellogg, the dance was resumed and kept up until daylight.”

“Did you and Grampa go to those dances?”

“Not in those days. We were too tired and busy with children. Lillie was only small at that time.”

I found another clipping, and took it up to read. It was about the Grand Military Ball, on December 26, 1859, and Mark Kellogg was listed as one of the floor managers who wore a white badge. This was for the Light Guard, and Mark was a Corporal. Also on the committee was J.W. Robinson. “It was the most brilliant party in all its appointments ever attempted in our city.”

“So Pa knew Uncle John before he knew Moma,” I said.

“Yes,” pitched in Lillie, “it was right after that ball he met her, and Mark was absolutely beside himself he liked her so much. Do you remember Moma, when she brought him around for us all to meet?”

“Well, I for one was very impressed. He was a lovely man, with very polite manners, and a nice way of speaking.”

“This clipping is from 1860. What year did they get married?”

“Oh, you’ll find the clipping for that in there too.”

 “This one says, “The town had a Printer’s Festival to celebrate the January 17 birthday of Benjamin Franklin. The Light Guard band entertained and 2 and ½ hours were delightfully passed away in quadrille, polkas, and waltzes until supper. The dining room was ornamented with well spread and luxuriously loaded tables. A number of toasts were raised, including one by Mark Kellogg - the Fifth regular toast - to the Mighty Telegraph. To which Mark responded in an edifying little speech. He was called on at the last minute to do this, but he gave immense satisfaction to his audience.”

“Oh, I didn’t know Pa was musical. Here is one that says he was a member of the La Crosse Glee Club.”

“Yes, he had a lovely tenor voice.”

“Here it is. I found the one about the wedding,” said Cora Sue.

Married

In this city, on Sunday evening May 19th, 1861, by Rev. Mr. Willett, Mr. Mark H. Kellogg to Miss Mattie L. Robinson, all of this city. The happy couple left this morning for an Easter tour, from which we wish them a safe return. Friend Mark is as well known, as the efficient Telegraph Manager here, although he can manage lightning and be safe while it may be dirking around this event shows that the glances from one of the Belles of La Crosse was too much for him. May the fair bride’s Mark last her through the book of life and never be out of place.

 “Look at this one Cora Sue, it's about you,”  I said.

February 1862, we learn from M.H. Kellogg, Esq. that he has an assistant telegraph operator, who will no doubt be considerable company for himself and wife.”

“It doesn’t say it’s about me.”

“Oh the rival newspaper had a field day with that one. They pretended that Mark had a new girlfriend working for him, and tried to make him say that it was a baby instead.”

“And what did he reply?”

“The boss man, Mr. Pomeroy wrote this, “People don’t generally name children in this country till they are at least older than our item was.”

“Did they do the same thing when I was born?” I asked.

“No, I don’t think they did. Let’s see if we can find a clipping about you.”

We looked in the right place, but all there was was an article about Pa being involved in politics or something again.

“Oh, what is this long one about?”

A valuable gift, at the hands of M.M. Pomeroy we are the recipient of a valuable gift in the shape of a solid silver Tobacco Box, gold lined. It is most elegant designed and beautifully chased. On it is engraved as follows

Brick Pomeroy to Mark H. Kellogg

A good friend is better than riches.

Democrat office 1863.

In Mr. Pomeroy we have always found those requites that go to make up a true man. generous to a fault, kind noble and large hearted. In him we have a friend in practice not in theory; and as such we feel that words are inadequate to express or true feeling. For this demonstration of friendship we can only say thank you, not in the mere words but with all our heart.

Friendship above all tides does bind the heart;

and faith in friendships the noblest part.

“Did Pa write that?”

“Yes, and this is the very box, which Pomeroy gave back to him after one of their arguments. Your mother loved to keep special things in it. She didn’t let him keep his tobacco in it. ”

 “He was in the volunteer fire brigade and they stopped a fire from destroying the newspaper office.”

 “Here I found this. Is this about his being a fireman? ”

Involved in positions of responsibility in the community. Pioneer Engine Company (fire engines) - with foreman Mark Kellogg. Our city has now grown to 8,000. There is an outrage that our fire services are not properly funded.”

“Mark’s group then reformed themselves under the name Live Oak Co., and he was honored by his men with a gift of a fireman’s hat and belt, which they let him know cost $45 in New York at Messrs & Jones, a well known hatters.”

T.J. McCarty, said about Mark, “Words cannot express the gratification it affords us to know that the intrinsic value of them are nothing compared to the pride we take in you as a leader of our company. This present was gotten up on our part exclusively as a testimonial of your efforts to sustain and aid in the welfare of the company. At all times you have been the first to resent any insult offered us.”

 “Was Pa in the army in the Civil War?”

“No, he wasn’t, and although he voted for Lincoln, I don’t think he fully appreciated the idea of allowing slaves to be free. It wasn’t long after that that he became a Democrat and starting writing more or less full time for Brick Pomeroy’s Newspaper, the La Crosse Democrat.

“What happened after that? Did he stay in the writing business?”

“Well all sorts of things happened more or less at once. His father got really sick, so Mark went to take care of the family. He really then had to provide for his mother and younger brothers and sisters too. So he decided he wasn’t making enough money in the newspaper business. Our John talked him into going into the grocery business, as he had done very well in it.”

“So did he own a store? “

“He rented premises in September 1865, he became a grocery businessman. Here is the clipping.”

Headquarters, Kellogg and Co. (Mark H. Kellogg and Patsy Daley) have purchased the Flour and Feed store and business of J. B. Williams on Third Street and will thereafter keep a larger and better stock of articles in that line than ever was kept in La Crosse and several things out to their numerous customers right lively and at living rates. Everybody in town knows the parties, and knows they will not be undersold. They will have fresh butter, game, vegetables etc. besides flour and feed, and will spare no pains or attention to win the leading patronage of the city. We wish them all the luck in the world. They will deliver goods to any part of the city.

“Then just after Christmas, his shop and several others in the street burned down. Mark had insurance, but it only paid about half of his losses. But he decided to try to carry on, and our John again backed him up, and he used our house as his office premises.”

“Plucky - Kellogg and Co, we understand will be ready for business again on the 2^nd of January. We are glad to note their pluck and energy, and they wish us to announce to their numerous patrons that they will be ready to serve their wants on and after the time above mentioned. Location will be given in due season. This firm should have patronage. They are such as build up and help sustain a town, and are never found wanting in times of emergencies. Help them, that you may receive benefits there from.

“What happened next, Grandma? Did he go bust?”

“Yes, he did, and that was just about the same time that your Moma got really sick. He felt so bad that he couldn’t do anything for her, and didn’t even have any money coming in. That was when your whole family moved in with us. Don’t you remember those times?”

“Yes, but I don’t remember anybody ever mentioning that Pa was broke. We knew something was wrong with Moma, but nobody much talked about it. We didn’t think she was going to die.”

“After his father’s death, Mark returned to a steady position in the city clerk’s office to support his family. But he also remained with the local fire department.”

Mark Kellogg, formerly cashier of the establishment and Brick’s right handyman in the early and less prosperous days of the Democrat, was early on hand, and rendered efficient and valuable services. We should like to see a good fire department in this city with Mark installed as chief engineer. No better selection could be made. Brave, daring and possessed of a rare executive talent when in peril and excitement, he would home an admirable chief.

“I think Mark was working at least part time at the newspaper. Then in March, he ran for city clerk. The La Crosse Republican backed Kellogg’s opponent. 

“The Democrat ran a front page ad. “Probably judging from present indications, the best fight tomorrow will be for City Clark. The Democratic candidate is Mark H. Kellogg who is well known of our citizens, being, although a young man, one of our old residents and identified with its history for more than half a score of years. Mark is capable straight forward, industrious, one of the workingmen of our city, full of energy, and vim - and we appeal with confidence, not alone to the business men but to the laboring poor men of La Crosse, one of whom Mark is. The office will be a good thing for Mark.

“He lost by 58 votes. And then not many months later he lost his wife. It was May 18th, she died, in our home.”

“Is there a clipping about her death?”

“Yes,” said Lillie. “I started saving clippings after that. I knew about her book, and felt that she would want it carried on - with items about Mark and you girls too.”

Here, this is from the rival paper, The Republican.

The intelligence of the death of Mrs. Mark H. Kellogg will be received with sadness in this entire community. Mrs. Kellogg was universally esteemed as a lady of rare excellence. The sympathies of numberless friends will be sincerely expressed toward the bereaved families in this severe dispensation of an all-wise providence. A kind mother, an affectionate daughter, a devoted wife, and an exemplary and useful woman has departed to another and a better world. May God, in his infinite mercy, vouchsafe all needful good to the young children who have been deprived of a faithful mother’s care, and may this community be long shielded from a similar calamity.

 “Is that when Pa left town, right after she died?”

“Well he was gone for awhile on newspaper business, but back again and playing baseball with the local club that summer. They called themselves the Gateway City Club. And he wrote a column in the Democrat where he called himself Jentlemen Jerks. They never used their real names in the newspapers.

“Most of his siblings had moved from La Crosse, and his mother went to Denver. After this he only spent the remaining spring and summer months, writing and playing baseball.

“In September of that year he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was sent by Pomeroy to work for him and the Democrats. He wrote for the Council Bluffs Democrat. But it destroyed his relationship with Pomeroy. He tried to get the paper ready but its first issue wasn’t until May, 1868, but in August, after three months, Mark was forced to yield his editorial position and whatever financial interest he might have had. On August 20th, he wrote in his paper,

For seven moths previous to the establishment of the Democrat, we labored here with pen and by word of mouth. I have no regrets in the movement, I have labored strenuously for the interests and advancement of this city and have starved nearly to death while so doing, and as yet we have not had a cent remuneration, or an exhibition of appreciation in any shape whatever.

To the few who have shown us kindness, we wish to return thanks in all truthfulness, and with the full warmth of a grateful heart.

In withdrawing from the Democrat,we do not wish it understood that our identify as a citizen of Council Bluffs is lost, for we propose to remain in this, our adopted home, for many years, if our life is spared.

 We have struggled hard and bestowed much labor for the interest of the city, and we retire from the Democrat for reasons that are not necessary to make published at present, but without a pang of regret of misgiving, and we bid adieu to the readers of the paper in all kindnesses.

“He had a sort of nervous breakdown after that. He wandered around a bit, and then came back here for a while and lived with us. I told him he could take charge of running the boarding house, but he never settled, and after a few months, he just took off. He felt so bad that he couldn’t get a decent job, and couldn’t support you girls properly.”

“I think we could all do with a cup of coffee and a piece of pie, now, what do you say to that?” asked Aunt Lillie.