History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Francis J. Herron
FRANCIS J. HERRON was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of February, 1837. He was educated at Western University in that city and began his business career as a clerk in a banking house. He afterwards became a partner in the bank. In 1855 he came to Iowa and with a brother established a bank at Dubuque. He was among the first to enter the military service upon the opening of the Civil War in 1861, having been chosen captain of Company I, which was incorporated into the First Iowa Volunteers, organized and sent to the field under the first call of President Lincoln for 75,000 men for three months' service. Mr. Herron took part in the Battle of Wilson's Creek and distinguished himself, so that when the Ninth Regiment was organized in September, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. He participated in the three days' Battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was promoted to Brigadier-General for gallant conduct in that battle. In the Battle of Prairie Grove General Herron won additional fame for his brilliant leadership and was in December made a Major-General. His services throughout the war were recognized by the great commanders under whom he served, and he must ever rank among the ablest military officers from Iowa in the Civil War. He removed to New York where his death occurred on the 8th of January, 1902.