USA > Iowa > Clarke County > Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa > Part 46
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The county commissioners exercised the functions of their office only until the new code took effect, after which their office perished, and their powers passed to the county judges. They held their first mect- ing August 21, IS51, at the house of John Conyer.
COUNTY SEAT.
By the legislative act for the organiza- tion of the county, Beverly Searcy, James Graham and Samuel D. Bishop were ap- pointed to locate the seat of justice for Clarke County. They made selection of the present site of Osceola, being the south- west quarter of section 17, township 72, north of range 25 west. They made their report on the 16th day of August. 1851. The land on which the county seat was located had been entered at the land office in Chariton on the 14th day of March, 1851, by George W. Howe. Other additions to the town were subsequently laid out, so that it now contains some 250 acres.
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY.
John A. Lindsley was the first of the county judges, under whose absolute rule the county was for the ten years beginning in 1851. Judge Lindsley organized Osccola Township, then embracing the whole coun- ty, in January, 1852. In July of the same year Doyle was created. From time to sumestain, and then another. To the fourth
time others were added. until there were twelve -- Liberty, Fremont. Washington. Madison, Troy, Ward, Osceola, Jackson, Franklin, Green Bay, Knox and Dayle. Each of these coincides with a congres- sional township. Recently Osceola City has been made a township, and there are now thirteen civil townships.
In 1855 Jerry Jenks succeeded John A. Lindsley, and held the office until 1861, when he resigned. By a new statute the chief direction of the county's affairs was placed in the hands of a board of twelve supervisors, one from cach township. This board was organized in January, 1861. The office of county judge became now less lucrative, only fees attaching to it, and Judge Jenks therefore resigned. James Rice was appointed in his place, and by sucessive re-elections held the office until abolished in 1868. During the last year of his incumbency he was ex-officio county auditor, this office being newly created.
FIRST COURT.
The first court was held at Osceola in 1854, by Judge Townsend. Every neigh- borhood seemed anxious to bring some- thing before the new tribunal, and one of the first cases was between Alfred Rhodes and his son-in-law, John Campbell, both of Liberty Township. They had traded horses, and each accused the other of lying. Then each sued the other for slander. This was in a justice's court -- 'Squire Miller's. Then it was necessary to transfer the scene of war to the Circuit Count, before which the whole neighborhood was summoned as witnesses. William Campbell, an uncle of the John Campbell concerned in the suit, testified, and then the other side decided to impeach " old lyin' Bill Campbell. " AL. Stacy was first called un, and swore that Bill Campbell had a bad reputation for veracity. Anotherneighbor testified in the
HISTORY OF (FINE COUNTY
witness, John Lambert, was then put the usual question :
" llow is Mr. Campbell regarded in your neighborhoodlas to truthfulness, etc .? "
"Oh," drawled he, " I guess he's about an average of the neighborhood! "
This, in connection with the preceding testimony as to Campbell's lack of reliabil- ity, was considered an excellent joke on "the neighborhood," and was well remem- bered through the county for a long time. The jury in this case gave Campbell one cent. and Rhodes 621/2 cents, cach to pay costs.
VAST INTERESTS AT STAKE.
Another early case of litigation, though no more interesting than many others, is copied here from the records as a fair sam- ple of many of the lawsuits carried on by the pioncers.
"G. W. Burt as. D. W. Monical. On this second day of March, 18-, the papers in the above entitled cause were delivered to me in my office on change of venue from Jacob Butcher, J. P. G. W. Burt filed his petition and claim against D. W. Monical for the sum of $15, charged as follows:
" To 1. diy's work at $i per day. .$1.50
2.50
" 55 pounds beef . . 5.50
5 das ' after lince at court as witness f. D. W. Monical 5.00
" Mixageas WinLos 0 50
$15.00
" Comes now defendant by his attorany and demurs to that part of plantid's can. of action claimed as witness fees. Demarrer I sustained. Plaintiff asked leave to amend petition. Granted. Amended petition filed. Defendant demurs to amended pe- tition, to all that portion that claims witness fees and mileage, claiming that this court
has no jurisdiction in the cause. Demarrer sustained. Comes now defendant and files his answer and counter-claims. Denies that he owes the plaintiff the sum of 815 or any other sum, and further says that plaintiff owes him the sum of $30.86 on account as follows:
"To balance on gun .. $2.00
= " note of hand. 2 00
interest on same. 0. 16
use of butcher tools. 3.00
wintering one sheep. 2.50
1 2 bushel corn. 0.50
beef hool.s. 0,50
" balance on beef. . 300
damage by taking hay. 5.00
66 use of spring wagon three days 3.00
raising dog 500
salt . 0.50
hauling plaintiff to Osceola and back, five days 2 59
$30 56
" And after the examination of the wit- nesses, and bearing the allegations and proofs of the parties, and arguments of counsel, it is considered that the said D. W. Monical recover of the said G. W. Burt the sum of $10.46, with cost of suit. taxed at $7.30."
4
4.50
POLITICAL.
OR a few years after its organization as a separate county, Clarke was, like the State of Iowa, Dem- ocratic. In many 2 elections some of the candidates on each ticket were successful ; still. in general terms, the county may be said to have been re- liably Democratic until 1856. For the first five years of the county's history we had no rigid party affiliations, no ma- chine conventions under the iron rule of " bosses," and no disciplinary caucuses, whose decrees must be followed under pen- alty of political death. Candidates were run almost entirely on personal popularity, for local and county offices, and so free was the expression of opinion that a man who received the almost unanimous vote of one township would not have a single follower in any other township. This independence continued until about 1856, since when it has not been so general, although it prevails to a certain extent even now.
From an old paper preserved by Robert Beckett, of Osceola, we learn that in 1852, there were fifty-two votes for President, Pierce receiving thirty-two, and Scott twenty,
The causes of the defeat of the Whigs in 1852 are well known. The Anti-slavery people were suspicious of the party leaders, and finally were completely alienated ; and the party of Clay and Webster, falling into weaker hands after the death of those statesmen, was not only defeated but killed for all time. In 1854 and 1855 a new paity arose on its ruins and absorbed the strength of the Whigs, the Free-Soilers, and after a few years many Northern Democrats. Since the birth of the Republican party, this county has given varying majorities for that organization, except on two or three occasions when unusual combinati wox were effected against it. In the first na- tional campaign the Republican party put forward as its first standard bearer, Gen- eral John C. Fremont, the popular Western hero, who was, however, defeated, by the veteran statesman and politician, James Buchanan, nominated by the Democratic convention. A large vote was polled in this county, Fremont receiving a meager plurality. The American, or " Know-Noth- ing" party had placed before the people Millard Fillmore, who received a few votes in this county.
From the office of the Secretary of State we find that in 1854 Clarke Coanty gave J. W. Grimes, Whig, for Governor S6 votes to 73 for Curtis Bates, Democrat. In 1857 it gave R. P. Lowe. Republican, 195
HISTORY OF COURSE
Votes, and B. M. Snagels. Demi Grat. 320
The year 1858 is the first for which the election returns have been preserved. In Tone of that year Clarke Courty gave al- most its entire vote in favor of a State ! bank, and a substantial majority for the general banking law. At the autumn clee- tion -- the hrst regular election under the new Constitution, adopted in 185 ;--- the Re- publicans dlected their county ticket. But two offices were to be filled, yet more votes , were cast than the year following, when a full State and local ticket was in the field. Ont of 848 votes for clerk. C. R. Johnson's majority was but 4, and J. M. Campbell received 54 votes for Recorder and Treas- urer more than Robert Beckett. M. R. Lemson. Mr. Johnsom's competitor, con- tested the election-the first case of contest in this county -- but lost, and was obliged to pay the costs, amounting to over 894. At this same election the county gave 250 majority against a proposition to restrain stock from running at large. In 1859 the Republican majority for Governor was 111, and the entire Republican ticket won, but by verying majorities. The lowest was 17, and the highest 109. For three offices there was little or no contest, and the Republican candidates went sailing in triumphantly.
The nost presidential election fell in the last year of the war. The Democracy placed in the field George B. Mcclellan. in opposition to Lincoln, who was renomi- In the memorable campaign of 1860. just 1. fire our civil war. the voters of the United States were called upon to choose between Abraham Lincoln (Republican). Stephen A. Douglas Northern Democrats, . John C. Bredamage (Southes Demo- nated. The sentiment of the North being eny hatically with the administration, Lin- coln was re-elected. In this county he received QUI vous, to 205 for Mcclellan. The majority was 404, and the State ticket reeLived throughout almost exactly the crats and John BellaUnion. Through the same vote. The county Democracy mide disagreement of the Northern and South- ? no nominations, and the Republicans bol cơn wings of the Demsracy. Lincoln was a walk-away for the five county offices cheted theagh he received but two-fifths , filled this year. of the aruler vore. The campaign in ' The Republican majorities in 1865 were over 2oz, except one. In 1866 this figure Clarke County was manually exciting. toll a heavy vote was poled, with this result: I was doubled, and the same result followed Line in. 599 bang55 447. Lion's : la- in 1867.
rakty, 147. The remainder of the State and local tickets received about the same number of votes.
The breaking out of the war brought great political advantage to the Republi- cans. This was noticeably the case in Clarke County, where the Democratic vote dwindled away at one time to about 25 per cent. of the total vote. In 1861 the Repub- lean State ticket received from 400 to 500 majority, while six county officers were chosen by an average majority of 200. The Democrats. indeed. made nominations, even, for only three offices. For some places there were two Republican candi- dates, one " regular." and ore independent. This state of thing lasted for several years. The Republican majority in iso2, on a moderate vote, was about 200. In 1863 about 1, 100 votes were cast, the Republi- can majority reaching nearly 400 on State ticket, and over 500 on county ticket. This difference was caused by the soldiers' votes cast in the field, which were counted for county officers, but which, for State officers, was canvassed only by the State authorities, and hence do not appear in the returns on file in the county.
5.
1
The reconstruction em brought another presidential contest. in 1968. The Repub- licans iminated their war hero, Ulysses S. Grant. while the Democrats selected as their standard-bearer the eminent New York Governor, Horatio Seymour. The result was a Republican victory. This county went heavily for Grant. giving him 1,062 votes, to 426 for Seymour, or a ma- jority of 636. This was the largest figure ever attained in this county in a presiden- tial year, before or since, except in ISSo. It was about the same for the State and county ticket.
The total vote polled in 1869 was about 200 less than that of 1868, but the Republi- can majorities were nearly as large. In 18;o a full vote, 1,563, was polled, and the Republican majorities were mostly over 700, larger than in 1868, and the largest ever reached in Clarke County by any ticket. There was considerable " ticket scratching " this year, and rigid party lives were not adhered to. The Democrats made no nominations for county offices, but supported a list of independent Repub- lican candidates. This year three super- visors were chosen on the county ticket, the old township system having been drop- ped by law. Tivo of the three elected werc independent Republicans, and the third was a Democrat. In 1871 the Republican majority for Governor was 546, but the county politics was somewhat mixed. The ticket, composed of Democrats and inde- pendeat Republicans, ran the straight Re- publican ticket very close, and elected two candidates. All the majorities for the local offices were less than 100.
Dissatisfied with Grant's administration, a number of Republicans, calling them. selves Liberals, met in convention in 18;2, and nominated the distinguished editor and philanthropist, Horace Greeley, Grant hav- ing been renominated by the Republican convention. Disheartened, or rather hop-
ing to achieve success by fostering & hvis. jon in their rival party. the Democratic leaders, in convention assembled, en lorsed Greeley. This was very unsatisfactory to a large percentage of Democratic voters, who accordingly refused to vote on election day. A few cast their ballots for Charles ()'Conor, the " straight out" Democratic candidate, but they were not sufficiently numerous to influence the result. Grant received an overwhelming majority, not so much by his own popularity as from the half-heartedness of the Democrats in supporting Greeley. In this county Grant received 1,035 votes; Greeley, 482, and ('Conor, 5. Grant's plurality, 553. The Republicans got the county offices by ma- jorities ranging from 300 to 400.
From this on the Republicans lost ground in this county for several years. In 1872 the Grange movement was at its height, and the Grangers put in nomination an Anti-Monopoly ticket, which was supported by the Democrats. This ticket was suc- cessful in Clarke County, the Republicans electing only the sheriff and coroner. The campaign was one of the most exciting ones ever experienced in this county, and every voter was brought out. In 1874 the Republicans fared better, the Anti-Monopo- list vote having already begun to diminishe Their majority on State ticket was about 165, and their county ticket went through by varying majorities. The Democrats elected only the supervisor. In 1875 the Republican majority was over 300. The Democrats elected their county superin- tendent by a plurality of five, on account of two Republican candidates dividing the vote of that party. At this election a court- house tax was voted down by a majority of
The centennial year brought with it a po- litical race, unequaled in history for close- ness and doubtful results. The choice was between Rutherford B. Hayes (Repobli-
456
HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
can). Samuel J. Tilden (Democrati and Pe- ter Cooper, the candidate of a new poltical element styling itself the Greenback party, and later adopting the name of the National party. This party has had in Clarke County over 300 votes, but is now on the decline. The only success it has achieved has been gained by joining forces with the Demo- crats and running a " fusion " ticket. This has been the usual procedure in late years. The vote for President was in 1876: Hayes, 1,405 ; Tilden, S16; Cooper, 121. Hayes' plurality, 58g. The State ticket received nearly the same majority, but the county ticket received a somewhat smaller votc.
In 1877 the body of the Nationals sup- ported the Democratic ticket, and three can- clidates on the latter were successful. A proposition to levy a tax for a court-house was again defeated, by the discouraging ma- jority of 969. The contest in is;8 was a very close one, the Fusionists being suc- cessful on the State ticket, and the Repub- licans winning the county offices, In 1879 another vote was taken on a tax to build a court-house, the negative majority being 479. The Republican plurality for Gor- ernor this year was 635, and their majori ties on the local ticket were substantial, the Democrats and Nationals not pooling their issues.
in this county. The Republicans won on the local issues, though by smaller figures. as the other tw > parties " fused."
In ISSI another vote was taken on the question of a court house tax, which was defeated by only twenty-one votes. The Republican plurality for Governor this year was 581, and was about the same throughout the list. All their candidates were successful, but one or two received small pluralities. At the special clection in June, 1882, the prohibitory amendment received a majority of 1, 159, in a total vote of 2,063. At the autumn election of the same year, the plurality for the Republi- can State ticket was over 605, and less for their local ticket. In 1883, Governer Sherman's plurality in this county was 454; the county officers receiving majori- ties ranging from ninety-two to 281.
The warmly contested campaign of 1884, with its disagreeable cpisodes and its many candidates, is frosh in the minds of all. First nominated was General Benjo- min F. Butler, of Massachusetts, by the National party, and afterward by the Anti- monopoly and Labor conventions. The Republican convention at Chicago, in the month of June, nominated James G. Blaine, of Maine, for President, and John A. Logan, of Illinois, for Vice-President. In the same city, a month later, the Demo- cratic convention selected as its nomince for President, Grover Cleveland, of New York, and for Vice-President, Thomas .1. Hendricks, of Indiana. The prohibition- ists put forward John P. St. John. of Kan- sas, and played a very important part in the campaign, to the delight of the Demo- crats, and the chagrin of the Republicans.
General James A. Garfield, of Ohio, and Winfield S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania, represented the two great parties in the presidential campaign of ISSo. The National party put forward General James B. Weaver, of lowa, and the Prohibition- ists nominated Neal Dow, of Maine. Once more, but for the last time in a continu- ous line, the Republicans triumphed, and Garfield was inaugurated, to enjoy for a . In the State of New York they drew to few months the highest office in the land, , St. John, twenty times the number of votes before his vigorous life was cut short by by which Blaine was defeated in that. the the assassin's bullet. He received in :pivotal State. The campaign was con- Clarke County a plurality of 768, the , ducted with unusual vigor in Clarke largest ever given a presidential candidate ! County, and 2,224 votes were polled. Of
i
POLIER IL.
there, Blaine received 1.310 votes, and Cleveland, 1.110. Blaine's plurality 200. The Republican candidates on the county ticket were also successful.
In 1885, Governor Larrabee's plurality was 196, and all the Republican candidates were successful except one. J. J. Taylor received a majority of four ffor county superintendent.
The political character of the several townships is as follows: Liberty, Repub- lican on a straight vote, Fusion when Dem. ocrats and Greenbackers unite; Fremont, strongly Republican; Washington, always Democratic; Madison, Democratic for many years past; Troy, Republican ; Ward, Republican, but formerly Demo- cratic : Osceola and Osceola City, Repub- lican always; Jackson and Franklin the same; Green Bay, Democratic thirty years ago, Republican since ; Knox, for- merly strongly Republican, now "on the fence ;" Doyle, always Ropublican.
The vote for Governor, at the election of 1885 was, by townships :
LARRABEE. WIRTING. MAJORITY.
Liberty,
6S
99
31
Fremont,
IOI
40
61
Washington,
51
96
45
Madison,
51
S5
3-1
Troy,
14S
119
29
Ward,
57
50
7
Osceola,
SI
45
36
Osceola City,
260
16S
92
Jackson,
115
95
19
Franklin,
65
59
7
Green Bay,
72
53
19
Knox,
70
S9
13
Doyle,
131
Sı
50
1,276
1,0So
195
Clarke was in the First Congressional District until 1863 ; then in the Fifth until 1873; then in the Seventh for ten years, and since 1883, has been in the Eighth. It has been represented in Congress directly by no one, but as a part of a Dis- trict by Bernhart lenn, Augustus Hall, Samuel R. Curtis, James F. Wilson, John
A. Kasson, Grenville M. Dolge, Frank W. Palmer, H. J. B. Cummings, F. H. Gillette and W. P. Hepburn.
For judicial purposes, Clarke County be. longed to the Fifth District until 1856, then to the Ninth until the new constitu- tion took effect in 1858. Since then it has formed a part of the Third Judicial Dis- trict.
For the election of a Senator, the county now forms a district with Decatur. Be- fore that, it was for some time jomed with Union and Lucas. It has generally formed a district by itself for representative pur- poses.
On the following pages is given an ab- stract of clections from 1858 (the carliest that are preserved) to 1885 :
JUNE 28, 1858. State Bank. 407
For.
Against
IS
General Banking Law. 21-4
For.
Against. 13-1
OCTOBER 12, 155S.
Clerk of District Court. 426
C. R. Johnson.
M. R. Lamson. 423
Recorder and Treasure".
J. M. Campbell. 456
Robert Beckett. [0]
Rotraining Stock.
Again :- 1.
For. IST
OCTOBER HT, IS59.
Governor.
Samuel J. Kirkwood. 16 .:
A. C. Dodge. 351
Lieutenant Governor.
M. J. Rusch.
L. W. Babbit 351
Supreme Judges.
R. P. LOW» 403
Caleb Baldwin.
L. D. Stockton.
Chaise: Macon. 352
1. S. Wilson 334
C. C. Cole.
316
Senator.
June. C. Hagan
Reuben Rigs
353
$ .
ISIDAY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
Representative.
J. L. Miliard
415
Carnar Hunt. 531
County fulge.
Jerry Jenks. 410
M. R. Lamson. 393
Treasurer and Recorder.
J. M. Campbell
Sheriff.
Jame- llall .. 39S
J. B. Nuan.
370
County Superintendent.
A. II. Barrow:
Jesse Lewis. 53
J. H. 1 .. Scott.
5
Coroner.
Alexander Stewart.
470
E. M Lawes
10
NOVEMBER 6, 1860. President.
Abraham Lincoln. 594
Stephen A. Douglas. 447
Secretary of State.
Elijah Sells
592
J. Si. Corse
445
Auditor of State.
Jonathan W. Cattell.
593
G. W. Maxfield.
447
Treasurer of State.
John W. Jones
59+
J. W. Ellis
47
Register of State Land Office.
Amo : B. Miller
594
Patrick Robb ...
47
Attorney-General.
Charles C. Xourse.
591
William McClintock
447
Supreme fudge.
George G. Wright.
594
D. F. Miller ..
476
Congressman.
Samuel R. Curtis.
597
C C. Cole.
444
Minha Board of Education.
William S. Stevens
504
Clakel District Court.
Alen 11. Barroas
574
M. R. Lamison. .
400
OCTOBER S, ISGI.
Governor.
Samuel J Kirkwood 595
WWhen Merritt ..
Benjamin F. Samuels
125
1
Samuel Clinton
. John Needham 5
Charles De Me"
Jesse Williams.
Congressman.
Jarnes F. Wilson.
J. E. Nea !. ..
174
Supreme Judge.
Ralph P. Lowe.
50%
J. M. Elwood.
100
Representative.
Williain M. Calfec.
541
Joris Jenk
313
Recorder and Treasurer.
J. M. Campbell.
574
N. M. Ridgeway.
351
County Gudge.
James Rice.
567
M. R. Lamson.
36S
Sheriff.
David Bonar
522
E. L. Oir
344
County Superintendent.
Thomas R. Oldham.
543
L. M. Wilson.
330
Surveyor.
Willison Bennet!
545
A. Lyons,
3.55
Corever.
Alexander Stewart.
847
OCTOBER 14, 1562.
Secretary of State.
James Wright.
Richard H. Sylvester.
300
Auditor of State.
Jonathan W. Cattell.
495
John Brown. .
300
Treasury of State.
W. Il Hobnes,
40+
Samuel S. Loinh.
Register of Stot. Laut Office.
J. A. Harvey ..
12:
Frederick Gotts h.k.
302
C. C. Nours
4:24
Benton J. Halt
300
Congressman.
Johni A. Kasion
195
1). O. Finch.
Gudge of District Court.
Juines G. Dav.
4 /1
577
POLITICII ..
District Altfor 1.
C. E. Millard
R. B. Parrott 250
Clark of District Court.
A. H. Burrows.
w. C. Jackson 211
Il. C. Jackson,
3:
Surveyor.
Anderson Lions
575
OCTOBER 13, 1863.
Courrier.
William M. Stone. 665
James M. Tuttle. 2$6
Lieutenant-Governor.
Enoch W. East.man. 671
John F. Duncomb.
252
Supreme Judge.
John F. Dillon
671
Charles Mason.
286
Senator.
Ziba Brown
677
Robert Coles.
292
Representative.
C. R. Johnson.
So1
Jeremiah Hewitt.
2SÚ
Treasurer and Recorder.
J. M. Campbell.
820
Abner Dengle.
285
County Fudge.
James Rice.
823
L. M. D. Sperrici ..
2ST
Sheriff.
David Bonar .. ..
John B. Thompson
2SS
County Superintendent.
W. G. Kennedy.
Cyrus K. Guthrie.
285
Surveyor.
Ander-on Lvony
Isaac Warfel.
28.3
Corover.
Isaac Fouch.
196
NOVEMBER &, 186 :.
President.
Abraham Lincoln. George B Mcclellan 207
Secretary of State.
James Wright ..
612
Jolin W. Wallace.
Treasurer of State.
William 11. Homme -.
J. B. L.a-h. .
.Amatter of State.
E. C. Hendershot.
Toln A. PlFott ..
:0;
Register of State Land Office.
Tosialı A. Harvey
612
D. B. Ho!'
Attorney-Giveral.
Franc L. Allen ...
Charles M. Dunbar.
Supreme fulge.
Chester C. Coli
612
Thomas M. Monroe.
207
Congressna ...
Jolin A. Kasson
612
M. D. Mellemy
207
Senator.
E. E. Edwards.
600
Representativ .
James D). Howard.
550
Clerk of District Court.
A. II. Burrows
734
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