USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 74
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 74
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July 5, 1847, the commissioners decided to have a court-house erected on lot 1, block 1, but nothing was concluded. Sep-
tember 10, however, it was ordered that the dimensions of the proposed building be 24 x 20 feet, the structure to be built of logs, and one and one-half stories high. The logs to be well-hewed down, inside and outside; the two lower rounds to be of good sound burr or white oak; the bot- tom side-logs to be hewed on the upper side to receive the sleepers ; the lower story to be eight feet in the clear ; the upper half- story to be four and a half feet to the top of the plate ; the roof to be of good three- foot oak boards, laid one foot to the weather, and well nailed on; the gable-ends to be weather-boarded with sawed or shaved lumber, with a space in each for a nine- light 8x10 window; the corners of the building to be sawed down close and square. The house was to be completed by the Ist of January, 1848. Sheriff Jack Perjue im- mediately announced that the board was ready to receive bids, and the contract was awarded to James J. Jackson for the sum of $160.
At the election in August, 1847, George W. Perkins, E. Sears and Jesse Wood were elected Commissioners, and Reuben Riggs, Clerk.
At the session of the board, in January, 1848, the precinct system was abandoned and the county erected into townships, as follows; Center, comprising townships 68 and 69, ranges 17 and 18; election to be held at the court-house. Washington, township 69, range 16; clection to be held at Eli Bagley's. Wells, bounded by begin- ning at the northeast corner of township 68, range 16, running south on the county line to the southern boundary of the coun- ty; thence west to range line, between 17 and 18; thence north to the township line, between 67 and 68; thence east on the town- ship line to the range line, between 16 and 17; thence north on said line to township line, between 68 and 69; thence east to the place of beginning ; election to be held at
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CIVIL HISTORY.
Jacob Coffman's. Union, township 70, ranges 16 and 17; polling place at G. W. Moore's. Garden Grove, comprising the west half of Wayne County and all the ter- ritory west; elections to be held at the house of John Bair. Shoal Creek, frac- tional township 67, ranges 18, 19, 20 and 21, and townships 68 and 69, ranges 19, 20 and 21, with voting place at George Emerick's.
April 10, 1848, the work of completing the court-house was let. James Jackson got the job of sawing out the door and window spaces and the chinking and plas- tering, for $59. The remaining work- laying the floors, putting in the doors and windows, etc .- was awarded to Jesse Wood for $119.50.
All the work done on the building ap- pears to have been paid for with lots.
The tax levied by the board in July, 1848, was as follows: County, 4 mills ; State, 21/2 mills ; school, 1/2 mill; poll, 50 cents.
FIRST COURT RECORD.
The first court held in Appanoose Coun- ty was a special term presided over by Hon. Cyrus Olney, Judge of the Third District, the date being September 17, 1847-over a year after the county was organized. The first case was that of the State against George Braffit, under charge of larceny. This citizen was non est, having forfeited his bail. W. S. Townsend, his surety, was ordered to appear and show cause why judgment should not be entered against him for the amount of the bond and costs.
Jesse Buck vs. Dempsey Stanley was an appeal case on a disputed account, in which the defendant recovered 32 cents and costs.
Moses Morse appeared as appellant against Jesse Buck, but the case was con- tinued.
The first divorce case was docketed this term, it being that of James J. Jackson against his wife, Mary E. The cause was
continued for service by publication in the Keosauqua Democrat.
The petit jurors at this term were : Will- iam S. Manson, James Ringston, Benjamin Spooner, Almanson Packard, Harvey Campbell, Calvin Spooner, Thomas Wil- son, L. M. Sales, James Wright, Daniel Bealer, James Hughes, Anthony Williams.
The next term was held April 24, 1848. Jackson's marital relations were terminated the first day. The grand jury having been summoned, they retired, and presently re- turned with an indictment against John Gheen for the murder of Amos Condit. The court required Gheen to give bond in the sum of $4,000, but not being able to do so, he was remanded to Keosauqua toawait trial. The witnesses, Silas W. Condit, Al- pheus P. Hawes, Josiah Merritt and Levi Calloway then gave recognizance to appear as witnesses at the trial. The cause was, however, terminated May 14, 1849, by the attorney for the State declining to prose- cute, and the prisoner was discharged from custody, by William McKay, then judge.
This murder was committed at " Trader's Point," just below Council Bluffs, probably in March, 1848. There had been trouble in that settlement in regard to a division fence, and Gheen and a few other choice spirits had assembled to remove the fence. Condit was a shoemaker, and seeing the squad assemble, repaired to the spot in his shirt sleeves to see what the trouble was about. As he approached, Gheen raised his rifle and shot him dead. Gheen after- ward claimed that he believed Condit was approaching with hostile intentions. The reason of the indictment having been quashed is said to have been that Mahaska County, and not Appanoose, had jurisdic- tion of the case.
The following persons composed the grand jury at this term : George W. Per- kins, James Hughes, David Bealer, E. A. Packard, Ephraim Sears, James Wright,
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
John Overstreet, John Felkner, S. N. Sales, Jonathan Scott, Joseph Jump, Henry Allen, Edward Bryant, William Bryant, Lindsey, W. Spooner, Anthony Williams.
The attorneys who attended at this term were : J. C. Knapp and Augustus Hall- Keosauqua ; Samuel Summers, Ottumwa ; " Peg-leg " Perry and Samuel McGaharan, Bloomfield. They were fed and housed by Powers Ritchie and A. Packard.
The court-house not having been com- pleted, court was held at Wadlington's store, and the juries deliberated in James Hughes's blacksmith shop.
At the September term, 1849, David Benner obtained a decree of divorce from his wife Margaret.
At the same term, "on motion, in open court, of J. C. Knapp, Esq., Powers Ritchie produced in court a license from the Su- preme Court of Iowa to practice as an at- torney and counselor at law and solicitor in chancery ; thereupon the said Powers Ritchie took the oath required by law."
The following served as petit jurors at this term: George: W. Swearngen, Luke Alphin, Hiram Glasgo, George W. Benner, Thomas S. Richardson, Ben- jamin Spooner, Dire Loteridge, Stephen Glasgo, Lindsey W. Spooner, William Crow, Samuel Stewart, Joseph Jump.
The following composed the grand jury at the May term of court in 1850: Cort- land Harris, Silas Roby, Joel Tomelson, A. IV. Cooley, J. H. Curtis, Jacob Dye, James J. McMullen, William C. Evans, James McCarroll, Jesse Buck, Jonathan Money, Adam Wafford, James J. Jackson, John Wood, William Wells, Amos Cochran. The petit jurors were : William Taylor, Henry Taylor, James R. Wright, Benjamin R. Reed, William Taylor, Robert Mitchell, Joel Worthington, Wiley May, William Crow, William Swank, Solomon George, Isaac Fuller, Joseph Baldwin, Henry Mil- ler, Richard A. Jeffers, William Chadd.
The grand jurors at the spring term of court in 1857 were: Joseph Delay, Ed- win R. Wright, Lewis W. Rollston, Will- iam Cavanagh, James Hibbs, John Wil- kinson, A. S. Stone, Hiram McDaniel, John Crow, John Taylor. John T. Pollack, Shu- bael Fuller, John F. Overstreet, Franklin N. Sales, Joseph B. Walker, David Burns, Vincent Glasgo. The petit jurors were : James D. Riggs, Robert C. Baker, Leven Dean, Joel Blakely, Squire Carter, Samuel Stewart, David Barnhouse, Joseph Mc- Clard, Eli Bagley, Gilbert McCoy, John Hudson, John H. Ringston, Jonathan Davenport, Elisha Sawyer, Benoni L. Packard. Both juries served two days. Four divorces were granted at this term.
EARLY PROBATE MATTERS.
The first order of Benjamin Spooner, Judge of Probate, is dated November 21, 1846, and directs William Clayton, of Van Buren County, to administer on the estate of Solomon Gable, deceased. Soon after- ward Clayton reported the assets to be $44.88, and the charges against the estate to be $247.26. The judge thereupon di- rected Clayton to sell eighty acres of land in Van Buren County for the purpose of paying the debts. This is thought to have been the second death in the county.
The next case is dated May 12, 1847, and appoints F. F. Foster, of Davis County, administrator of the estate of William Bratton, Sr. Foster resigned his charge February 10, 1848, and James Wright was appointed to conclude the trust.
March 11, 1848, Judge S. F. Wadlington appointed Nathan Bartlett guardian of John Bartlett, a minor, and instructed Nathan to proceed to sell 320 acres of land in Lee County for the said minor's benefit.
April 26, 1848, Robert Trimble was ap- pointed guardian for Edward Good at the request of the latter.
October 10, 1849, Greenup Stark gave
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CIVIL HISTORY.
bond, with William Pewthers and Thomas S. Richardson as sureties, for the faithful discharge of his duties as administrator of the estate of Jeremiah B. Stark, deceased, which was accepted by Judge Wells.
The same day Judge Wells approved the bond of Ira Tucker, administrator of the cstate of Benjamin Veach, deceased. Tucker's sureties were Solomon Howard, A. G. Doom, John A. Wisdom and Solo- mon George.
The same day was filed the bond of Sarah, widow and administratrix of Archi- bald Burroughs, deceased, the other signers being William Cooksey, John Pilkey and John W. Wells. Burroughs had personal property which was appraised at $1,548.12, of which amount $400 was in cash.
July 2, 1850, James Holmes, guardian of Benjamin A. Shafer, applied for leave to locate a land warrant for the benefit of his ward ; but on the the same day the boy's mother asked to have the order rescinded, and herself appointed guardian, which was done, and she was authorized to sell the war- rant. On the same day Thomas T. Hol- loway was appointed administrator of the estate of Nancy A. Holloway, deceased.
June 3 William S. Manson, as adminis- trator of the estate of Jesse McElroy, ap- plied for leave to sell a land warrant, on twelve months' credit, for the sum of $150.
The same day Sally and Elizabeth Wol- lery asked that Samuel Mitchell be ap- pointed as their guardian, for the purpose of collecting a portion of their father's estate in Lawrence County, Indiana.
At the same term William S. Manson was appointed guardian for the children of James McKehan, deceased, and William Packard was likewise appointed guardian for James J. and Alanson M. Packard.
February 4, 1851, Amos F. Childers asked Albird F. Thompson, Judge of Pro- bate, to appoint Thomas Wilson as his guardian.
March 4 James Nickell was appointed administrator of the estate of John Nickell, deceased.
July 6 George W. Perkins filed an in- ventory of the property of John McElroy, deceased.
EARLY MARRIAGES.
The first recorded marriage in the clerk's office is that of John Manly Packard to Mary Bond, the solemnization having been made by William B. Packard, Justice of the Peace, on the roth of September, 1846. The groom was twenty-four and the bride eighteen years old.
The succeeding marriages up to 1850 were: Dillard Collins to Hetty Glasgo, by W. S. Manson, Justice of the Peace, February 28, 1847; Dempsey Stanley to Mrs. Matilda Ellington, by James McCar- rol, Justice of the Peace, March 4, 1847 ; Willian Van Buskirk to Sarah Johnson, by S. F. Wadlington, Justice of the Peace, August 19, 1847; Sydenham Mills to Ada Shaffer, by William Pewthers, Justice of the Peace, October 7, 1847; Thomas B. Arnold to Brunetta Lynn, by Rev. John C. Ewing, September 23, 1847; William Smart to Hannah Catharine Zuck, by C. Zuck, Justice of the Peace, October 7, 1847 ; James G. Childers to Anna Campbell, by William Pewthers, Justice of the Peace, November 8, 1847 ; John Barker to Louisa Shaffer, November 11, 1847; Carter Trox- well to Rebecca A. Kirkendall, November 14, 1847 ; Calvin L. Smith to Marilla Has- kins, December 16, 1847; James McCarrol to Mrs. Elizabeth Gable, December 16, 1847; John Scott to Mary Thompson, March 9, 1848 ; Nathaniel Moore to Eliza- beth Blaylock, March 12, 1848 ; Franklin N. Sales to Zernilla Berkshire, April 3, 1848 ; James D. Riggs to Lucinda Barker, April 13, 1848; George W. O'Neal to Sarah J. More, May 4, 1848; John T. Harrison to Margaret E. Dougherty, December 21,
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
1848 ; Calvin F. Spooner to Nancy Brown- ing, January 4, 1849; Thomas Tucker to Mary Thompson, February 18, 1849; James J. Jackson to Mary Ann Benner, February 25, 1849; Ira Perjue to Sarilda E. George, March 8, 1849; Daniel Bagley to Missouri Wood, May 10, 1849; David Stewart to Eliza J. Southfield, June 10, 1849 ; James Murray to Martha Robertson, June II, 1849; James Hughes to Melissa Packard, July 26, 1849; Joel Elam to Elizabeth Throckmorton, June 21, 1849 ; John Moore to Mary Elam, July 12, 1849; Samuel W. Woods to Lucy Anna Orberson, Septem- ber 6, 1849; Thomas Brandon to Ruth Barker, September 13, 1849; David Benner to Lorinda Fuller, September 30, 1849; Ferdinand Smith to Martha Level, Sep- tember 30, 1849; John Bartlett to Martha Ann Stark, October 14, 1849; Simpson Cupp to Miss McDaniel, November 4, 1849 ; Benjamin Fairly to Mary A. Humphrey, November 18, 1849; James R. Wright to Melissa Glass, November 29, 1849; Charles L. Jones to Martha Bullington, December 6, 1849; Christopher Benner to Lorain Fuller, December 25, 1849; George Kirby to Eliza Ann Kirby, De- cember 28, 1849.
Twenty marriages were celebrated dur- ing 1850, and twenty-one in 1851.
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
It may be well to insert here for refer- ence the civil township divisions as they exist at present (1886). It should be stated before naming the townships that the boun- dary line between Missouri and Iowa, as adjudicated in the Supreme Court of the United States, begins at the mouth of the Des Moines River, thence up that stream to a point two miles south of Farmington, in Van Buren County ; thence in a westerly direction to the Missouri River, the western terminus being three miles south of the initial point. Thus the boundary line di-
vides sections 19 to 24 in Wells, Caldwell, Pleasant and Franklin townships. Wells Township includes the northern part of the sections just referred to, lying on the boun- dary of the northern half of township 67, range 17, and the southern half of township 68, range 16; Caldwell is made up by the same description, except that it lies in range 17 ; Pleasant, the same, but in range 18; Franklin includes the divided sections on the boundary line, the northern half of township 67, range 19, and the southern third of township 68, range 19; Lincoln, the northern two-thirds of township 68, range 19; Bellair, sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, in township 68, range 18, and sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, township 69, range 18; Center, sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, township 68, range 18; sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, township 68, range 18; sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32, township 69, range 17 ; sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, township 68, range 17, and that part of township 69, range 17, lying west of Chariton River ; Sharon, sections I, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, township 68, range 17, and sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, township 69, range 17 ; Washington, the northern half of town- ship 68, range 16, and the southern half of township 69, range 17; Udell, the northern half of township 69, range 16, and a strip one and a half miles wide off township 70, range 17 : Douglas, the six southern sections of township 70, range 17, and the northern half of township 69, range 17, except that part lying west of Chariton River ; Walnut, the northern two-thirds of township 69, range 18; Johns, township 69, range 19; Independence, township 70, range 18; Chariton, all of township 70, range 18, ex- cept the six southern sections; Taylor, all of township 70, range 17, except the six southern sections ; Union, all of township 70, range 16, except a strip one and a half miles wide on the south.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
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POLITICAL HISTORY.
PPANOOSE has a political history like that of Wayne, show- ing the same varia- tions in the past and exhibiting a similar even balance of par- ties to-day. The voting popu- lation crystallized on party lines quite early in the " fif- ties." Before that time per- sonal qualities and a man's standing in the community were of more importance than his politics. While the ma- jority of the voters were Democrats, a Whig was occasionally elected without occasioning surprise. From 1854 on, we have the election returns to scan. The Democratic candidate for Governor, Cur- tis Bates, received 134 more votes than James W. Grimes. The Democratic ma- jorities on the remainder of the ticket ranged from 85 to 282, but the Whigs elected Harvey Tannehill Prosecuting Attorney by 338 majority.
During 1854-'5 the American, or "Know Nothing " movement became very popular in this region. All the Republicans (the Republican party was organized during these same two years, out of the Whig party), the old-line Whigs and a few Demo-
crats united in support of an American ticket in 1855, and carried the whole ticket of six county offices, by small majorities. The total vote was 1,150, and the . majori- ties ranged from 2 to 105.
The Democrats rallied the following year, and obtained decisive majorities over the combined opposition. The election returns for November, 1856, have not been preserved, and hence the presidential vote cannot be given. In 1857 the Americans disappeared from view as such, and the giant parties known as Republican and Democratic were left to measure strength with each other. The latter was over- whelmingly successful, and won the highest majorities ever received by a " straight " ticket in Appanoose County. The total vote was about 1,400, and the Democratic majorities ranged from 489, the lowest, to 668, the highest. In 1858 the successful party polled over 500 majority on the State ticket, but their vote on congressman and county officers was much less. Lines were not drawn very close. In 1859 a large vote was brought out by both sides, and on counting the results, the Democrats were successful on the entire ticket by from 300 to 400 majority.
The Republicans were gaining, however, and hopefully entered the race for 1860. This was a most important campaign in
72
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY.
national politics. It was the year that the " rail-splitter " of Illinois was nominated by the Republicans for their second presiden- tial contest. The Democrats could not unite their Northern and Southern elements on any one man, and Stephen A. Douglas was nominated by the Northern wing, and John C. Breckinridge by the Southern. A fourth candidate, John Bell, was nominated by a " Union" convention. As a result of the division of the Democracy, Abraham Lincoln was elected, though receiving but about two-fifths of the popular vote. Then came the war. This political campaign was as exciting in Appanoose County as the rural character of the region permitted, and at the election the heaviest vote ever polled in the county, up to that time, was cast. Out of 2, 139 votes, Douglas received 1,224 ; Lincoln, 854; Bell, 43 ; and Breckin- ridge, 18; Douglas's plurality, 370. The Democratic strength was about the same on the remainder of the ticket.
In 1861 a full State and county ticket was in the field, but the Republicans made no organized opposition, having but three candidates for county offices. None of them were successful. In 1862 the Demo- cratic majority was over 400.
Appanoose County, up till 1863, had been uniformly Democratic. In that year, however, the State permitted its volunteers in the service of the United States to vote wherever they might happen to be, sending the result home for canvassing. The Board of Supervisors met in October, after the election, and counting only the home vote, declared the Democratic candidates for county offices elected by majorities of over 200. November 28 the board met again, and adopted this self-explanatory resolu- tion :
" Whereas, It is generally understood that the question testing the constitution- ality of the law allowing persons to vote for the county and State officers without
the limits of the State, because of being in the military service of the United States, is now before the Supreme Court of the State, and will be decided at the December term about to be commenced ; therefore be it
" Resolved, That the action of this board at the last term in the matter of the elec- tion of county officers be reconsidered, and that the further consideration of the mat- ter be postponed until Saturday, the 26th of December, 1863, at II o'clock, A. M."
At the appointed time the board recon- vened, and, in compliance with a favorable decision by the Supreme Court, added the soldiers' vote to that previously counted, the result being the election of the Repub- lican ticket, by small majorities. The sol- diers polled over 400 votes, and for the first time the county went Republican.
In 1864 the Republicans were even more successful. This was the year when the Republican party renominated President Lincoln, as an indorsement of the adminis- tration's conduct of the war. The Demo- crats, for a contrary reason, placed before the people General George B. McClellan. The latter received forty-six majority in Appanoose County ; but by the help of the soldier vote the Republican majority for one of the two county officers elected was 154; for the other, 171. In 1865 the Republicans made a further gain, polling a majority of from 150 to 200 on their whole ticket from Governor to coroner. In 1866 their aver- age majority was 300, but in 1867 it drop- ped below 200 again.
In 1868 Ulysses S. Grant and Horatio Seymour were candidates for the presi- dency. Over 2,750 votes were polled in this county, Grant's majority being 280. The State and local tickets showed about the same relative strength, there being very little " ticket scratching." Neither party lost or gained ground in Appanoose Coun- ty during 1869, the Republicans having
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POLITICAL, HISTORY.
about the same majorities as in 1868. In 1870 the Democrats nominated only a par- tial ticket, but on the offices for which they did make a contest they pushed the Re- publicans very close, the majorities of the latter running as low as fifty-three, and as high as 232. Closer yet was the vote in 1871, though all the Republicans pulled through in every case except for treasurer. Two of the successful candidates received but seven majority. On the question of prohibition there were 1,036 votes in favor and 852 opposed ; majority for prohibition, 184.
The year 1872 brought with it another presidential campaign. Grant was renom- inated by the Republican party, while a body calling themselves Liberal Republi- cans placed in the field Horace Greeley. The Democracy indorsed Greeley, but many were dissatisfied, and remained at home rather than vote for Greeley. This tendency to indifference was exemplified in this county, where Grant's plurality was 661. On the remainder of the ticket the Republican majority was from 300 to 400. This was perhaps the most successful pe- riod for the Republican party in Appanoose County, as never since have they had such a decided victory at a general election. In 1873 the body of the Democrats supported an " Anti-Monopoly " ticket, which carried Appanoose County. The Republicans elected two officers, however, the auditor by two majority, and the sheriff by seven- teen. The following year the Republicans were more successful, electing all their candidates. In 1875 matters were very close, the Republicans winning on three officers, and the Democrats getting the re- mainder. There was much independent voting, and the majorities showed a very wide range.
R. B. Hayes, Samuel J. Tilden and Peter Cooper were the presidential candidates in 1876. The Republican plurality in Appa-
noose County was 292 for President, and that party was equally successful with their local ticket. The Greenback vote was about 200. The rapid rise of the Greenback, or National, party in this coun- ty is noticeable. Its leaders have.generally worked with the Democracy, and by nom- inating a joint, or "fusion," ticket they have generally been successful over the Republicans. In 1877, however, fusion had not been thought of. Three full tickets were nominated, the Democrats electing their treasurer and sheriff, and the Repub- licans winning on the remainder of the ticket. In 1878 the Fusion ticket carried by about 500 majority, and in 1879 by fig- ures ranging under 200.
In the year 1880 James A. Garfield, Winfield S. Hancock and James B. Weaver were the standard-bearers of the three great parties. The vote in this county was : Garfield, 1,643; Hancock, 1,282 ; Weaver, 698. The local Fusion ticket re- ceived about 200 majority, on the average, all its candidates being successful. In 1881 the Republicans recorded 335 plural- ity in this county for Governor, and the local Fusion ticket was successful on only half the ticket, the spoils being equally divided. At the special election of June 27, 1882, the county gave 1,414 majority for the prohibitory amendment to the State Constitution, out of a total vote of 2,910. 1882 was a Republican year, the only Fusion candidate that succeeded be- ing Lewis L. Taylor, for clerk of the courts. Personal popularity gave him a very large vote. In 1883 this was about reversed, the Republicans succeeding on but two officers.
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