Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors

Deputy Provost Marshal John Bashore and Special Agent Josiah Woodruff were shot and killed while attempting to serve arrest warrants on several Civil War draft dodgers in Poweshiek County, Iowa.

The two agents had encountered a man on the roadway and informed him they were looking for the deserters. The man informed them he would help locate them, but was a sympathizer to a group known as the Copperheads. The subjects named on the warrant had threatened violence towards any officers who attempted to arrest them. When the man separated from the agents, he immediately informed the subjects the officers were looking for them and vowed he would help them resist the agents.

The subjects located the agents and opened fire on them, killing Special Agent Woodruff and fatally wounding Marshal Bashore. Despite his wounds, Marshal Bashore was able to return fire and wounded one of the men. Marshal Bashore succumbed to his wounds several hours later. The wounded man was convicted of both murders in 1867 and subsequently sentenced to death, however, he later received clemency from President Andrew Johnson.

Marshal Bashore had previously served as Captain of the Company D with the 6th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. He was survived by his wife and is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville, Iowa.

The John L. Bashore Post 122 of the Grand Army of the Republic Post in Centerville was named in his honor.

Special Agent Josiah Woodruff and Deputy Provost Marshal John Bashore were shot and killed while attempting to serve arrest warrants on several Civil War draft dodgers in Poweshiek County, Iowa.

The two agents had encountered a man on the roadway and informed him they were looking for the deserters. The man informed them he would help locate them, but was a sympathizer to a group known as the Copperheads. The subjects named on the warrant had threatened violence towards any officers who attempted to arrest them. When the man separated from the agents, he immediately informed the subjects the officers were looking for them and vowed he would help them resist the agents.

The subjects located the agents and opened fire on them, killing Special Agent Woodruff and fatally wounding Marshal Bashore. Despite his wounds, Marshal Bashore was able to return fire and wounded one of the men. Marshal Bashore succumbed to his wounds several hours later. The wounded man was convicted of both murders in 1867 and subsequently sentenced to death, however, he late received clemency from President Andrew Johnson.

Special Agent Woodruff is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville, Iowa.

Deputy Sheriff John Ormsby was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had threatened to murder him.

The subject was arrested and charged with murder.

Deputy Sheriff Samuel Cronk was robbed and beaten to death approximately one mile south of Cottonville.

He had traveled from Andrew to LaMotte the previous day on official business to serve subpoenas and to collect tax receipts. He stayed overnight in Cottonville and was returning to Andrew the following day when he was murdered. Several children on their way to school the following found his body concealed under timber on the side of the roadway. His pants, which had the tax receipts sewed into them, were missing along with his horse.

Three former soldiers whom Deputy Cronk had served with were arrested and charged with his murder. One of them was convicted in Jackson County and sentenced to death. The other two were acquitted after a change of venue to Clinton County. The convicted subject appealed his conviction after the other two were acquitted. Charges against him were dropped at the beginning of the second trial in October 1869.

Deputy Cronk was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War. He was survived by his sister.

Town Marshal Reuben Fenstenmaker was shot and killed by a man who had been arrested for horse stealing.

Marshal Fenstenmaker was guarding the suspect during his arraignment before the local justice of the peace when he suddenly produced a pistol and shot him. The prisoner escaped but was apprehended several weeks later.

On July 5th, 1868, the subject was awaiting trial for Marshal Fenstenmaker's murder when he escaped from the Keosaugua Jail. He was recaptured in southern Missouri on February 11th, 1904, after having evaded capture for 36 years. During the interval, he married and raised a large family to whom his crime was not known. Having served in the Civil War, he applied for a pension in 1904, using another soldier's name. The name attracted attention and he was arrested for attempted pension fraud. His true identity was discovered along with the murder he had hidden for most of his life.

On April 4th, 1904, the subject was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. On October 25th, 1904, the man, who was 68-years-old and in poor health, was pardoned by Governor Albert B. Cummins.

Patrolman Moore was struck by lightning and killed while walking his beat on Ogilvie Hill at 1930 hours.