USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > Historical and reminiscences of Chickasaw County, Iowa > Part 11
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Probably no team traversed the ground between Forest City and New Hampton during the summer of 1S5S without being sloughed down, and a set of ropes were kept at New Hampton with which to draw out teams mired down in trying to reach that place. It became so bad on the stage road between Bradford and Fredericksburg that A. V. Allen built a big flat scow large enough
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to take the stage, and hitching on eight yoke of oxen -this being his breaking team- took it over from his place to Tingley's. I have seen the whole four stage horses mired down on main street in Forest City. I have also seen teams mired down on main street in New Hampton. The present citizen of the county has but little comprehension of the condition of the country in 1S5S.
During this season hay could be bought at one dollar per ton, delivered and stacked, but corn was one dollar per bushel, and interest forty per cent.
When the decision came to hand on the county seat question, and an intimation, that a remedy was injunction, the question was, how can one be obtained, and after holding a meeting of the friends of New Hampton, it was decided that I should go to Garnavillo, Clayton county, Judge Murdock living there, and got a temporary injunction, and J. D. Colt agreed to furnish a horse and I was to . go horseback. I took the trip and secured an injunction, and found myself involved in a case of attachment, for while there I became acquainted with a young lady who was on a visit from Massachusets, and I judge there was a final settlement of the case, for I married her that fall.
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There was a growing feeling that there was too much power vested in the County Judge, and an agitation against his being continued as " county king," and holding the power to levey and disburse taxes, entered into the platforms of all parties. At the fall election the question of striking the word " white" out of the constitution, was sub- mitted as a distinct proposition, this being the time of voting on the new constitution, and there were three votes cast in New Hampton in the affirmative. One was cast by Rev. Charles Hollis, one by myself, and the third by John Mays, he making a mistake by handing the wrong ballot to the judges and not finding it out until too late to recall. I followed the county seat, after the records were forcibly taken from New Hampton, being deputy clerk at that time. The Clerk's and Recorder and Treasurer's office would have expired in the spring but the abolishing of spring elections prolonged their terms of office six months. and thus they conformed to the new constitution. As I was appointed as deputy for one year. my time expired before the term of office, as extended, expired, and Frank Bosworth was appointed to the place. As I had invoked the ire of the south
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because I refused to approve of their county seat steal, I could expect no favors at their hands. The bitterness was intensc, and when the new deputy came into office there was a general overhauling of the books. to find mistakes. I had been to Bradford, and on my return was taken to task for over fifty mistakes they had already found in the tax books. I requested to have them pointed out, and found that they had scratched the books so as to have the defects stand out prominent, and in every case the mistake was fifty cents too much in the final sum. I then complacently pointed out the statute that required the addition of a county poll tax of fifty cents on each resident. When they came to the court records they made the startling discovery that the record was not complete, and the new deputy was put to work making a complete record of every case, and among the first was the long one of the county seat case. When complete, I was again raked over the coals, by Reed, for thus causing him extra expense in hiring it done, and threatened with a suit to recover this extra cost. I then meekly called his attention to the fact that a complete record was only required in equity cases, and that
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every equity case had a complete record, as the law required. This kindness did not allay any of the feeling against me, although I had kindly pointed out the law that gov- erned. In fact, I never found any apprecia- tion of my kindness in thus aiding them when they had made mistakes.
There was to be a State Senator to be elected in the fall of 1559, and desiring to be a candidate, I looked after my interests, before the county convention, and secured a majority of the delegates.
Among the opposition delegates, was Hiram Bailey, who, as the representative of the south, opposed instructions to delegates to give their support to me in the District Convention, and he protested vehemently against the same, and said he would support any other man in the county.
The convention was firm and the instruc- tions were adopted. D. A. Babcock and F. D. Bosworth were put on the delegation, and when they came to the District Convention. after casting an informal ballot, under their instructions, they deserted, and used every power in their means to defeat me.
On my nomination there was a settled purpose to either drive me from the field or
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defeat me at the polls. At the meeting of the District Court, there was a conspiracy to have me indicted and bring in the indict- ment after the petit jury had been dis- charged, and thus prevent a trial and then let the indictment hang over me, thus expecting to force me from the field. One of the witnesses gave me a hint of what was up, and the judge was informed of what Was being done.
He was informed that in case of an indict- ment a trial was wanted at once, and it was promised. The south had the Sheriff in their interest and a Grand Jury had been fixed for the occasion, and being aided by the District Attorney, the programme was carried out, and as soon as the Petit Jury had been discharged and had started for home the indictment was brought in. As soon as the indictment was in court the Judge asked that it be passed up for inspec- tion, and turning to me said that I had been indicted. A trial was demanded, and the Judge ordered the Sheriff to empanel a Jury. To this objection was made, and a demand for the regular panel. The court then ordered the Sheriff to have the regular panel there by 9 o'clock the next morning,
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or he would be removed and an officer appointed to do his work. They were all on hand the next morning. One of the jurors had started for home on foot and was withiu a quarter of a mile of home when the officer overtook him, and without going home, he turned and walked back the eighteen miles during the night. When the opposition saw how things were moving, the District Attorney wanted to nolle prosse the indictment, but under objection the court refused to allow it. and ordered the trial to proceed at once. Jno. T. Clark, J. O. Crosby, Wm. B. Fairfield and several others volun- teered to defend me, and on submission to the jury they returned a verdict of not guilty without leaving the jury box.
The fight against, me did not abate, and A. G. Case, instigated by Hiram Bailey, pre- pared a bitter attack upon me, and sent the same to the North Jowa Times, a paper pub- lished at McGregor's Landing, and as I was to be married to a young lady in that county it was very trying. The week following there were communications in the same paper from J. O. Crosby, John T. Clark and Wm. B. Fairfield, and these were followed by an apology from Colonel Richardson, who
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edited the paper, and it failed to accomplish what was intended, and my prospects in the matrimonial line were undisturbed. Moses Conger of Floyd was nominated by the Democrats as my competitor, and he was noted as an orator, and much was expected of him during the campaign. I took much pains in preparing a couple of speeches, receiving aid and documents both from the State and National Central Committees, and Senator Harlan coming along stumping the north part of the State, I rode with him several days, and was put in training by making short speeches, and receiving instruction from him as we rode over the prairie. Conger challenged me for a joint debate, and without waiting for a reply, issued bills for all the nine counties of the district, making the first meeting at Brad- ford, where the local feeling was very bitter against me. As I was the challenged party, I claimed the opening and closing the first night, and it was accorded me. I was loaded, and I fired the best shot [ had, and before half my first hour had expired, cheers greeted me long and loud. I had overcome personal opposition and supplanted it with loyalty to party, and the victory was won.
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Conger came into the campaign without any special preparation, relying upon the inspiration of the moment, and when he arose to speak he was laboring under visible embarrassment, and after using forty min- utes of his hour and a half, he yielded the floor. As we went to the hotel he took me by the arm and said, "I have caught a Tar- tar, for they told me you were a d -- d fool, but I was the biggest d-d fool for not look- ing you up myself. but I will go around and show you off, just the same."
We traveled together, he riding on a buck- board, and I riding on a borrowed pony, until the last of the campaign, when the pony was required by its owner. He used to tell me what exagerated statements he would make at the next meeting, and we would talk over the proofs necessary to show the fact. When we arrived at Howard Cen- ter the Democrats were holding a county convention in the school house where we were to speak, and refused to surrender the same. Conger asked if there was a Repub- lican present who would play a game of euchre to see whether they should both vote for him or both vote for me. The challenge was accepted and the game commenced. In
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a little while Conger sung out, "Powers, he has beaten me, and I will vote for you." He voted for me. After speaking the night before we reached Osage. I started out, and when I found a good place, I staked out the pony, and taking the saddle blanket, camped for the night, thus saving the expense of hotel bill, and as I did not reach Osage until after breakfast. saved that also. My horse was sent for this day, and I rode from Osage to Floyd with Conger, and stayed all night with him, he taking me to Charles City the next morning, where the joint campaign was to terminate. I had but fifteen cents left, and at noon I bought five cents worth of crackers and went down by the river to eat them. After speaking in the evening, I went out and bought ten cents worth of crackers, and started on my twenty mile walk for New Hampton. When I had trav- eled ten miles, and reached Chickasaw, my feet were painful and I pulled off my boots and started on in my stocking feet. It was too cold to stand it, and I took the docu- ments that I had been using during the cam- paign, and putting them in my stockings, found some relief. When I reached home, just before daylight, there was a feeling that
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campaigning was hard work. While I was away the opposition were active. and a large sheet was issued against me. headed " The Peoples' Champion." setting up the indict- ment, etc., the printing being done clandes- tinely, by crawling into the printing office window without the knowledge of its owner. The following is the closing appeal to voters: "J. H. POWERS, the Republican candidate for Senator now stands before you charged and indicted as a criminal for illegal voting. for willful violation of that right. the hard won and blood bought right of FREE SUF- FRAGE, which is, and should be held dear and sacred by every true friend to freedom. Will you allow dishonest politicians to set the thumb screws of party drill upon you, and coerce you to support such a candidate, for the sake of party or anything else. con- trary to the dictates of your honest judg- ment? Will you, fellow Republicans, with the indisputable facts here given you. send a man to represent you in the State Assembly, who, if the law is allowed to take its course. is a candidate for the State Penitentiary?" My friends had not been idle and they had issued an answer, heading it ... Champion Refuted," the closing paragraph was as fol-
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lows: "We the undersigned having seen a secret circular headed " The Peoples' Cham - pion," and signed "Many Republicans," hereby declare that said document received its origin among Democrats, and that A. G. Case, of Bradford, is the real author, and that it was published at the . Cedar Valley News' clandestinely in the night time and on the Sabbath. without the knowledge of the editor, and that the same is being and has been circulated by Moses Conger, as a secret electioneering document, and that subsequent events have shown that the in- dictment was secured from personal feeling, and for electioneering purposes, and that the citizens of Chickasaw county look upon the whole thing as a Democratic trick for polit- ical effect." "D. A. Babcock, G. W. Howard, D. Campbell, W. D. Pomroy, E. A. Haskell, L. S. Thomas, R. C. Horton."
These were all citizens of Bradford, and among my most bitter opponents when nominated. My expenses for securing the nomination were three dollars and fifty cents, I paying the hotel bills of the Chicka- · saw county delegates at Charles City, where the convention was held, and my election- eering expenses in the district were eighteen
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dollars and seventy-five cents. As I now look at it. as there were nine counties in the district, this outlay is not great evidence of the subsidising of either the press or electors.
There were many enjoyable incidents dur- ing the campaign, and I recall the appoint- ment in Utica township. When we arrived there we found that no provision had been made for a meeting, and we started for Pat Tierney's to stay all night. On the road there was much chafting as to which should secure his vote. Conger claimed that being an Irishman he must be a Democrat, and that Democrats always voted the straight ticket and that insured him his vote. We were hospitably received, and when the horses were cared for, Conger seized a pail and went to milking a cow, saying sotto voce, "don't you see I have got the vote?" When supper was called, we found potatoes boiled with their jackets on, salt, coffee and bread. Taking the potato in my left hand with a blow from the right I drove it through, and the skinned potato fell upon my plate, and I laid the skin to one side. As I did this, Conger leaned back and laughing loudly said, " He may vote for you, I can't come that 'Paddy Trick'." There was a neighbor
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that had lost a child, and we were urged to go to the wake, but we declined, bat some- time in the night we found that we had not been forgotten. for a delegation presented themselves with a tin cup full of refresli- ments.
Just after my nomination there was a Representative convention which met at Bradford, and the district consisted of Chick- asaw and Bremer counties. Bremer was en- titled to six votes and when they arrived it was found that three of them were for C. Tarbox Smead and three of them for John Pattee. This left the choice with Chicka- saw county, and on consultation it was de- cided to leave the selection to me, as I was running for the Senate and was most inter- ested. It was conceded that it was to go to Bremer county. I found that the principal object of the delegates from Bremer county was to defeat the other candidate.
I had met a young man by the name of Geo. W. Ruddick, and I suggested him and he received the nomination, much to his sur- prise. At the election there was a local issue in his county, and not getting any of the Wapsie vote he was far behind in his own county, but again this county came to
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his relief and he was elected by a fair major- ity. W. C. Mitchel, of Utica township, was his opponent. It is not often that a man is nominated without his knowledge. and elected after he has acknowledged his own defeat at home. Subsequently, when an op- portunity offered, he failed to remember past favors and pandered to "favors to come," and has lived to taste the bitter fruits of disappointment, for had he been true to his friends, he undoubtedly would have been elevated to the Supreme Court.
Between my nomination and election, I was married. My bride was in Clayton county and there being but one carriage in the county, I was obliged to go to J. E. Shepard's, sixteen miles, to get it, and I got a span of horses of Crawford, of Jackson- ville. As I brought my young bride into the county on the third day of September, 1859, there had been a heavy frost and all the vegetation had been killed, and the blackened prairies showed that fire had been burning the grass and the outlook was not very cheering. Coming as my wife did from New England, and used to the comforts of an eastern home. the change was great, and if she had not had a stout and loyal heart she
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would have succumbed to the surroundings. A noble woman. a faithful and loving wife, she has been a blessing to her family, and has been the means of making me a better man than it would otherwise have been possi- ble for me to have been, and her influence has always been on the side of right.
The winter of 1859-60 was fearfully cold, and there was no way of reaching the Capi- tal but by private conveyance. We started from New Hampton on the last day of the year, with the thermometer twenty-six degrees below zero, and reached Waverly the first night. New Years opened with the thermometer marking forty degrees below zero, and we only made Cedar Falls the next night, arriving in the evening. On the 2d of January we started, with the thermome- ter twenty-six below, and passed out upon the Grundy prairie, where we traveled all day without seeing a habitation, until within four miles of Steamboat Rock, when we came · to a sod house, and our load stopped to warm, my wife claiming that she was no longer cold, which symptoms alarmed us, as we knew that meant freezing. When brought to the fire we found our fears were well founded, and that but a short time was
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necessary to have completed the work. The other teams went on to Steamboat Rock, and when we arrived we found they had baked up all the flour they had in the house into warm biscuit. When we came to retire iu a cold room. we found that one of the cold sheets was a table-cloth. We shook and shivered an hour or two before we could go to sleep. As we had caten them out the night before. we had to go to Eldora for breakfast. We reached Nevada, Story county, that night, and should have reached Des Moines the next day, if we had not taken the wrong road, and at dark brought up at a small house which they said was eleven miles from Des Moines. Against the protest of the owner we unloaded, there were sixteen in the company, and taking his oxen out of their straw barn, put the horses in their place, and then made arrangements for the night by taking down the bed so as give us room to get in. Soon after, another load came up and were taken in with the others. The baking of cakes commenced and was continued most of the night. Myself and wife went into the woodshed. and on a bundle of buffalo robes camped for the night. It was a gay wedding trip, and
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when we reached Des Moines the next noon we were ready to stop. I was fortunate enough to be appointed chairman of the committee on township and county organi- zation, and as the abolishing of the County Judge had been an issue during the cam- paign. I went to work at once to accomplish that end.
Two tides had flowed into Iowa in popula- ting the State, one from the east, bringing the New England element and habits, with its memory of town meetings and individual rights, and one from the south, bringing with it the southern element with its thoughts and polity.
In the early settlement of the State, the southern had largely predominated, and the State's early organization was fashioned and moulded by that influence, and the old Baronial system had been perpetuated through the slave power, where necessity re- quired a centralizing. To abolish this one man power and disperse it among the many was looked upon by the southern element as dangerous in the extreme, and considerable bitterness was engendered when a change was demanded.
Party lines were thrown down, and former
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infinences and surroundings controlled the vote. As chairman of the committee, hav- ing the bill in charge. I prepared and pre- sented the following report with the bill: "Your committee to whom the different Memorials, Petitions and Bills relating to the reorganization and change of the county government was referred. by a majority of their number, report: That having exam- ined the matters touching the same, find that in their opinion, the present system is not adapted to or consistent with the genius of our institutions, tending as it does to cen .. tralize rather than diffuse political power. Admitting as we do, that the County Judge system possesses an efficiency farabove any other, we cannot concede that it places power where it will always secure the rights of the people by whom it is delegated. As a financial agent, the County Judge is placed beyond the immediate reach of the people, and the very efficiency with which he wields power, makes it the more dangerous. Se- cure in his own councils, he may prepare the way, and in an unexpected moment. strike a blow that will paralyze and cripple the energies of a county for years.
Believing that all political power is inher-
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ent in the people, and should only be dele- gated by them, when an act is to be done that cannot be performed in their individual capacity. and when so delegated, should be provided with checks and balances, and re- tained as near as possible, we are led to con- clude that the power of the County Judge is a dangerous one, and so far as it pertains to the finances of a county, should be taken from him, and vested in agents more im- mediately from the body of the people. Even if the finances could be safely intrusted to one man, we should find potent reasons for objecting to the present system.
Possessed as is the County Judge of Pro- bate Jurisdiction, by following the course of · human events, all the property of the State passes through his court as often as once in thirty years. The present inefficiency in protecting the estates of decedents alone, would be sufficient to warrant a change.
Chosen, as is now the County Judge, for his financial ability rather than any attain- ment that would entitle him to the position ,of a Judge of Probate, this becomes a sec- ondary matter, and in many instances is entirely lost sight of. Your committee would in view of these facts, recommend
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the passage of the following bill as a substi- tute for Senate Files Nos. 45 and 46." The forces were nearly equally divided and the bill passed only by one majority. One of the arguments against the change was that it would raise up a brood of small politicians. there being so many offices to fill. and this would make a disturbing element. That there has arisen a brood of "small politi- cians" I am willing to concede, but not from that cause.
At the election of 1859 there was a County Superintendent of Common Schools to be elected, and that fact had been overlooked by the county convention, and when the tickets were to be printed I called the fact to the attention of the printer, and he wanted to know who had better be put upon the ticket. Dr. J. F. Wilson was suggested and agreed upon, but there was no one that could give his initials, and as I had a letter from J. C. Strong who was a congregational minister in Bradford, his name was suggested and substituted. and much to his surprise he was elected without knowing that he was a candidate, or that there was such an office to be filled. Thus he became the first County Superintendent. About the same
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thing happened in the nomination of a mem- ber of the State School Board. it being pro- vided under the new constitution that there should be one elected from each Congress- ional District. After the nomination of a Representative. I arose and moved that A. B. F. Hildreth of Charles City be nominated by acclamation, and this developed the fact that there was not another member of the convention that knew that there was such an office to be filled. Hildreth was nomi- nated. In 1861 J. F. Wilson was elected Representative. He was sandy complex- ioned, red haired. and a close student, but had a hobby about a grammar constructed upon physiological principles, and he pre- pared a first part of a volume and had it published, wherein the letters were classified according to the organs used in uttering them, and these were subdivided according to the special action of the organs thus used. It showed much thought, and as a theory had some things to commend it, but before a pupil could comprehend it. a full knowledge of physiology was necessary. Its very weight was enough to make it impracticable and useless. as a text book. The spring of 1561 opened with the excite-
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