USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 37
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 37
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4
-
State Treasurer.
G. W. Bemis
1,840 -- 1,081
W.Jones.
759
G.C.Fry
4
Register State Land Office.
David Secor.
1,840 -- 1,081
N. C Ridenour
759
G.M. Walker.
4
Attorney General.
J.F. McJunkin
1,840-1,081
J.C.Cook.
759
State Superintendent.
C.W.VonColln
1,840 -- 1,836
J.A. Nasl
4
Congress.
N. C. Deering, Rep.
1,841-1,045
Cyrus Foreman, Dem
796
Circuit Judge.
R.G. Reiniger, Rep.
1,895-1,352
C.S. Root, Dem.
543
J.M. Elder, Greenb.
106
District Judge.
George W. Ruddick, Rep
1,799-1,051
C.A.L. Roszelle, Dem.
748
District Attorney.
J. B. Cleland, Rep.
1,908-1,274
John Cligget, Dem
634
State Senator.
W. W. Blackman, Rep.
1,853-1,413
A.G. Case, Dem.
440
Lucius Lane, Greenb.
211
Cyrus Lane.
95
Clerk of Courts.
W. H.Burdick, Rep
1,945-1,417
C H.Ilgenfritz, Dem
528
County Recorder.
Elwood Wilson, Rep
2,074-1,534
E.Jordan, Dem
540
281
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Supervisor.
Alex Chrystie, Rep ..
1,907-1,367
Henry Sweitzer, Dcm.
540
Court House Tax.
No.
.2,244-2,113
Yes.
131
October, 1877. 1
Governor.
John H. Gear.
1,453-695
John P. Irish
758
D.P.Stubbs.
19
Elias Jessup
95
Lieutenant-Governor.
Frank T. Campbell
1,565-805
W. C.James.
760
A. Macready.
10
Judge of Supreme Court.
J. G. Day.
1,568 -- 807
H. E. J. Boardman.
761
John Porter.
10
, State Superintendent.
C. W. Von Coelln
1,567 -- 805
J. G. Cullison.
762
S. T. Ballard.
10
Representativc.
A. M. Whaley, Rep
1,199-143
C.A.L. Roszelle, Dem
1,056
C.H. Forney.
29
County Auditor.
J. McElvain, Rep.
1,487 -- 662
R.L.Chase, Ind. Rep
825
Treasurer.
E.S. Thomas, Rep.
.2,293
Sheriff.
M. B. Speedy, Rcp.
1,343-386
J. R. Jones, Ind. Rep.
957
School Superintendent.
J. W.Stewart, Rep
2,237-2,223
J.R. Wagner, Rep.
14
Coroner.
H.J. Playter, Rep
1,307 -- 310
E.C. Beasmont, Dem.
997
Surveyor.
S.G. Rockwell, Rep.
1,013 -- 62
O. W. McIntosh, Rep.
951
J.D. Rockwell
346
Supervisor.
A. N. Leet, Rep
1,296 -- 275
Chas. Fitch, Dem.
.1,021
October, 1878.
Secretary of State.
John A. T. Hull
1,046-118
John A. Hull
928
J. A. Hull.
167
J. A. T. Hull
62
E. M. Farnsworth.
156
State Auditor.
Buren Sherman.
1,261-372
B. R. Sherman.
889
Joscph Erboeck
167
G. V. Sweringen.
41
State Treasurer.
Geo W. Bemis.
1,428 -- 502
M. L Devin.
926
Register State Land Office.
James R. Powers.
.1,430 -- 502
M.F Farrington
928
Attorney General.
J.F. McJunkin.
1,429 -- 541
John F. Gibbous
888
C.H. Jackson
41
Judge of Supreme Court.
J. H. Rothrock.
I,408 -- 457
J.C. Knapp
951
Clerk of Supreme Court.
E.J. Holmes
1,312-383
E. H. Holmes
929
Alex Runyon.
118
Reporter of Supreme Court.
J.S. Runnels.
1,430-701
J. B. Elliott.
729
J. P. Elliott.
128
John Elliott.
31
George W. Rutherford.
41
282
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Congress.
N. C. Deering, Rep
1,405-679
W. V. Allen, Dem.
726
L. H. Weller, Greenb
228
Clerk of Courts.
C.H. Ilgenfritz, Dem.
1,248-138
W. H.Burdick, Rep
1,110
County Recorder.
W. W.Pattee, Dem.
1,177-5
.D. H. Sessions, Rep
1,172
Supervisor.
Milton Wilson, Dem.
1,234 -- 7
G. Hazlet, Rep.
.. 1,227
October, 1879.
Governor.
J.H. Geer.
1,726-921
N. N. Trimble
805
Daniel Campbell.
60
D. R. Dungan.
59
Lieutenant-Governor.
F. T. Campbell.
1,783-980
J.A. O. Yeoman.
803
M. N. Moore
62
-
Judge of Supreme Court.
J. M. Beck.
1,777-968
R. Noble.
809
M. N.Jones.
61
State Superintendent.
C. W . Von Coelln
1,739-939
Edwin Baker.
800
J. N. Nash
114
State Senator.
W. P. Gaylord, Rep.
1,789-1,655
N. L. Root, Dem.
134
Representative.
A. M. Whaly, Rep.
1,647-674
-
H. H. Markley, Dem.
973
Auditor.
James W. Spencer.
1,645-672
E. Jordan, Dem.
973
Treasurer.
John W. Ray, Rep.
1,830-1,020
Cyrus Dotty, Dem.
810
Sheriff.
Gilbert Hazlet, Rep.
1,666-709
Charles Fitch, Dem.
957
School Superintendent.
J. W. Stewart, Rep.
1,678-1,143
H. M. Swan, Ind.
535
Surveyor.
J. G. Rockwell, Rep.
1,612-700
O. W. McIntosh, Rep
912
Hugh Mullarky, Dem.
93
Coroner.
H. J. Playter, Rep.
1,520-732
Hugh Mullarky, Dem
788
Supervisor.
J. J. Burnham, Rep
1,654-666
James Kennedy, Dem.
988
Drainage Commissioner.
.
Noble Thompson, Rep
1,755-881
M. Morris, Dem
574
.
November, 1880. President.
James A. Garfield, Rep.
2,072-1,135
W. S. Hancock, Dem ..
937
Gen. J. B. Weaver, Gr.
43
Secretary of State.
J. A. T. Hull.
2,075-1,144
A. B. Keith.
931
G. M. Walker.
37
A. W. Hall
1
State Auditor.
E. H. Conger
2,073 --- 1,137
Martin Blim.
936
M. Farrington
47
G. P. Loomis
1
Register State Land Office.
J. K. Powers.
2,079-1,146
Daniel Dougherty.
933
Thomas Hooker,
37
M. S. Drury
1
1
H. C. Brown.
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY. 285
Attorney-General.
Smith McPherson.
2,069-1,134
C. A. Clark
935
W. A. Spernier.
37
William Wolf.
1
Congress.
N. C. Decring, Rep
2,029-1,137
J. S. Root, Dem.
892
M. B. Doolittle.
30
E. J. Dean, Gr.
84
Circuit Judge.
Robert G. Reiniger, Rep
2,073-1,150
Cyrus Foreman, Dem.
923
Scattering
14
District Judge.
G. W. Ruddick, Rep
2,069-1,147
John Cliggett, Dem.
922
District Attorney.
John B. Clelland, Rep.
2,063-1,137
A. C. Ripley, Dem.
924
1
Senator. (To fill vacancy).
A. M. Whaley, Rep.
1,953-1,131
R. C. Mathews, Dem.
822
P. F. Casey, Gr.
20
Scattering.
9
Clerk of Courts.
C. H. Ilgenfritz, Dem.
1,741-503
Q. B. Courtright, Rep.
1,238
Scattering.
3
County Recorder.
W. W. Pattee, Dem
.1,707-411
O. B. Barnum, Rep.
1,296
Supervisor.
A. N. Leet, Ind Rep.
1,650-296
August Critzman, Rep.
.1,354
Scattering.
2
Constitutional Convention.
Yes.
549-306
No.
243
Yes
630-505
No
125
Re-location of County Seat.
Allison
.1,529-265
Butler Center
1.264
October, 1881.
Governor.
B. R. Sherman
1,138-880
L. G. Kinne.
258
G. M. Clark.
7
Lieutenant-Governor.
O. H. Manning
1,097-793
J. M. Walker.
304
J. M. Holland.
7
Judge of Supreme Court.
Austin Adams.
1,098-797
H. B. Hendershott.
301
W. W. Williamson.
6
Scattering.
1
State Superintendent.
J. W. Akers.
1,096-791
W. H. Butler
305
A. M. Swain
7
Representative.
Henry C. Brown, Rep.
1,333-1,322
Scattering.
11
County Treasurer.
John W. Ray, Rep.
1,328-1,302
Cyrus Doty, Dem.
26
Auditor.
James W. Spencer, Rep.
1,364-1,362
Scattering.
2
Sheriff.
Gilbreth Hazlett, Rep
1,209-1,040
John M. Court, Ind. Rcp.
169
Supervisor.
Charles L. Jones, Rep.
844-289
M. Wilson, Ind. Dem.
555
Scattering.
1
Constitutional Amendment.
Superintendent of Schools.
John D. Anderson, Rep.
1,343-1,336
Scattering.
7
-
286
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Surveyor.
O. W. McIntosh, Rep.
.1,329-1,319
Scattering.
10
Coroner.
W. M. Foote, Rep
1,360 -- 1,342
Scattering.
18
Special Election, June, 1882.
Constitutional Amendment.
(To prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxi- cating liquors).
For the amendment.
1,669-849
Against the amendment.
820
November, 1882. Secretary of State.
J. A. T. Hull.
1,652-775
T.D. Walker
877
W.J. Gaston
65
State Auditor.
J.L Brown.
1,642-759
William Thompson.
883
G.A. Wyant.
65
State Treasurer.
E. H. Conger.
1,653-838
John Foley
825
George Derr.
65
Attorney General.
S. McPherson.
1,653-770
J. H. Bremermann
883
J. W . Rice.
65
Judge of Supreme Court.
W. H.Seevers.
1,653-770
C. E. Bronson.
883
M. A. Jones.
65
Clerk of Supreme Court.
G.B. Gray.
1,653-777
H. F. Bonorden.
876
E.N. Clark.
65
Scattering.
7
Reporter for Supreme Court.
E.C.Ebersole
1,652-776
L.A.Palmer
876
L.D. Palmer
7
J. H. Williamson.
65
Congress.
David B. Henderson, Rep.
1,708 -- 895
C.M. Durham, Dem
813
G. N. Durham.
4
Roswell Foster, Greenb.
71
Clerk of Courts.
W. S. Montgomery, Rep.
1,322-97
C.H. Ilgenfritz, Dem
1,225
Scattering.
3
County Recorder.
W. M. Hunter, Rep.
1,284-3
A. Edwards, Ind. Rep
1,281
Scattering.
2
Supervisor.
Jas. M. Groat, Rep.
2,458-2,453
Scattering.
5
287
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII.
-
NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
While unworthy men, at times, may force themselves into office, it cannot but be acknowledged that the great body of officeholders of the country are truly rep- resentative men-men of positive force and character. They are of the number that build up and strengthen a town, a county, or a State. In this chapter, as far as possible, is given sketches of all who have served Butler county in the Nation, State or county. Some of the sketehes are imperfect, but it is not the fault of the his- torian that they are not more complete. Some of the parties have passed away, leaving no record from which a sketch could be obtained, while others have left the county and their present place of resi- dence is unknown.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Butler county became a part of the Sec- ond Congressional district, on its organi- zation, and was represented in the 33d Congress, from 1853 to 1855, by John P. Cook, of Davenport. Mr. Cook was a na- tive of the State of New York, and in 1836 came west to Davenport. He was elected a member of Congress as a Whig, and held the views of that party until its dis- solution. On the breaking up of the Whig party he affiliated with the Democratic party, the principles of which he labored
to sustain and promulgate, even to the end of his days. His life had been one of great energy and industry. He was by natural instinct a true western man-a wide-awake, thoroughly active pioneer, who never saw the time when he could lay aside the business harness, and, to all ap- pearances, never wanted to. As a lawyer he had few superiors, was always ready, fluent, and an able advocate, and with these qualities were combined energy, tact and industry; and for years past and up to the day of his demise no law firm in the northwest had stood in better repute than that broken by his death. Mr. Cook died at Davenport, April 17, 1872.
James Thorington, of Davenport, was the next Representative in Congress from the Second district. He was not a man of extraordinary ability, but was a good poli- tician and wire-puller. He is now a Con- sul in one of the South American States.
Timothy Davis, of Elkader, Clayton county, next served the district from 1857 to 1859, or in the 35th Congress.
William Vandever, of Dubuque, was elected a member of the 35th Congress and re-elected to the 37th. William Van- dever is a native of Maryland. In 1839 he came west, locating in Rock Island, where he remained until 1851, when he moved to Dubuque. In 1855 he formed a
288
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
partnership with Ben. W. Samuels, of Dubuque, in the praetiee of law. In 1858 he was elected a member of the 36th Con- gress. He made a useful member of that body. While serving his second term, he abandoned his seat in Congress, returned home, and raised the 9th Iowa Infantry, of which he was made Colonel. In 1862 he was promoted a Brigadier-General, and at the close of the war was brevetted Major- General. Sinee the elose of the war he has held several important publie posi- tions.
By the census of 1862, Iowa was entitled to six Representatives in Congress. Butler eounty, on the State being re-distrieted, be- eame a part of the Sixth district. Its first Representative from this distriet was Asahel W. Hubbard, from Sioux City. He was elected in the fall of 1862, and became a member of the 38th Congress. He was re- elected a member of the 39th and 40th Congresses. He was a native of Conneeti- eut, born in 1817. In 1836 he came West to Indiana, and in 1857 to Iowa, loeating at Sioux City. He had been in the latter place only one year when he was elected Judge of the Fourth Judicial Distriet. While a member of Congress he served on committees of Foreign Affairs, Public Expenditures and Indian Affairs. He was very attentive to his duties while in Con- gress, and served his eonstituents and the State with unqualified satisfaction.
Charles Pomeroy, of Fort Dodge, was the next Representative in Congress from the 6th district. He was elected in 1868 as a member of the 41st Congress, and served one term.
Jackson Orr, of Boonsboro, sueeeeded Mr. Pomeroy in 1871, and served in the
42d Congress as a Representative from the 6th district. Mr. Orr was re-elected as a member from the 9th district, and served in the 43d Congress.
In. 1870 it was found the population of the State had inereased to a number en- titling it to nine Representatives in Con- gress. In re-distrieting, Butler county beeame a part of the 4th district. It was first represented by Henry O. Pratt, of Charles City, in the 43d Congress. Mr. Pratt was re-elected in the 44th, and thus served until March, 1877. Mr. Pratt is a native of Maine. He was admitted to the bar in Mason City, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, in June, 1862. Soon afterward a eall was made for 600,000 men by the President. He enlisted as a private in Co. B, 32d Iowa Infantry. He became eom- pletely broken down in health in less than a year, and was discharged in the spring of 1863, The following summer, while regaining his health, he taught a small sehool in Worth county, Iowa. His health being restored, Mr. Pratt eommeneed the practice of law at Charles City. As a lawyer he is very eandid in the trial of a ease; he never tries to defeat the ends of justiee, never resorts to clap-trap, and never forgets the dignity of his ealling. He is a fluent speaker, and exeels as a jury advo- eate. His record in Congress was eredit- able to himself and constituents.
N. C. Deering was the sueeessor of Mr. Pratt. He was elected as a member of the 45th, and re-elected in the 46th and 47th Congresses. He was an influential mem- ber.
In the fall of 1882 David B. Henderson, of Dubuque, was elected to represent the distriet in Congress. He is a lawyer of
289
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
much ability, and promises to make an able representative. The campaign in which he was elected was a heated onc, there being two other candidates for Con- gressional honors. The vote in Butler county stood as follows: D. B. Hender- son, 1,708; C. M. Durham, 817; Roswell Foster, 71.
AUDITOR OF STATE.
The present Auditor of State of Iowa, Capt. W. V. Lucas, was for a number of years a'resident of Butler county, and was at one time editor of the Shell Rock News. Right here we will present a little item taken from that paper which will be of interest and which explains itself. It bears the date of December 21, 1882:
WATCHED .- The many friends of Capt W. V. Lucas, at one time editor of the News, now State Auditor, will be glad to learn that his efficient deputy, R. L. Chasc, and the other clerks in the auditor's office, presented the big hearted cap- tain with a beautiful gold watch, one day last week, as a token of respect as a man, and for the many courtesies extended to them during the two years of his administration. We know the captain will appreciate such a gift and remem- ber the donors.
DEPUTY AUDITOR OF STATE.
Rufus L. Chase, the present deputy State Auditor,is a citizen of Butler county, and for a number of terms served as County Auditor. He is noticed at length in this chapter under the head of County Auditors.
GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS.
There are quite a number of Butler county citizens in the employ of the gov- ernment in the various departments at Washington. Among them are H. J. Play- ter, J. R. Fletcher and J. P. Reed.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA.
When Butler county was organized, in 1854, it was associated with the counties of Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Black Hawk, Grundy, Bremer, Clayton, Fayette, Allamakec, Winneshiek, Howard, Floyd, Mitchell and Chickasaw, as a Senatorial district, although at that time they bore no numbers. This district was represented from 1854, for the term of four years, by William W. Hamilton, Maturin L. Fisher and John G. Shields.
In the Representative district, Butler county was a part of the Third, associated with Fayette, Chickasaw, Bremer, Black Hawk, Grundy, Franklin, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Worth. From 1853 until 1855 this was represented by Reuben Noble and Lafayette Bigelow. The next term, in 1856 and 1857, this county was connected with the Forty- eighth district and was represented by Edwin R. Gillett.
The Senatorial district at this time was known as district 33, and was represented by Aaron Brown, of Fayette, who held for the full term of four years.
In 1857 Butler county was associated with Mitchell and Floyd counties as the Twelfth district, and at the election this year Matthew M. Trumbull was elected Representative and served the ensuing term of two years. He was a "full- blooded" republican, so to speak, and had a majority of six over his democratic op- ponent, J. C. Bishop, the vote standing 172 to 166. A sketch of Mr. Trumbull is found in connection with the bar history.
In 1859 Butler county was again a part of the Fifty-fifth Representative district, which embraced Butler, Franklin, Wright
290
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
and Grundy counties, and was represented by Chauncey Gillett, who served until 1861. At the same time Butler county was connected with Grundy, Black Hawk and Franklin as the Thirty-sixth Sena- torial district, and Thomas Drummond was elected for the term of four years.
In 1861 Butler county was in the Fifty- fifth, connected with Grundy and Frank- lin, and Alonzo Converse was Representa- tive. The campaign of this year was a warm and active one, the contestant against Mr. Converse being Hon. C. A. L. Roszell, of democratic persuasion, and one of the most able men in the State, be- sides a most efficient politician. The vote stood 297 to 264, F. Digman receiving one vote. At this time, D. C. Hastings is the Senator.
In 1863 the Senatorial district was nun- bered 39, and embraced Hardin, Grundy, Black Hawk, Butler and Franklin counties. Coker F. Clarkson was elected Senator. The county was associated with Franklin and Grundy counties as Representative district 53, and Willis A. Lathrop was elected to represent it. A sketch of him is found in connection with the bar his- tory.
In 1865 James B. Powers represented the district, of which Butler was a part, in the Senate-the district number was 40, and embraced Black Hawk and Butler. The Representative district was 55, and embraced Butler and Grundy counties. Lorenzo D. Tracy had the honor of repre- senting them for the following two years. His opponents through the campaign were P. J. Haggarty and Alonzo Converse.
In 1867 Butler county, together with Franklin, Grundy and Cerro Gordo, made
up the 39th Senatorial district, and Marcus Tuttle was elected Senator. Butler and Grundy counties were together as the 67th Representative district, and J. A. Guthrie was elected Representative.
In 1869 Butler was made a part of the 44th Senatorial district, and R. B. Clark was elected Senator, but before the expira- tion of his term, died, and Emmons John- son was elected to fill the vacancy. At this time S. B. Dumont was Representative.
In 1871 Butler county was a part of the 43d Senatorial district, and A. Converse was the successful candidate. In this election C. A. L. Roszell received 44 and J. W. Davis 31 votes. At this time the re-apportionment entitled Butler county to one Representative, and S. B. Dumont was again elected in that capacity.
In 1873 the campaign on the subject of Representative, was unusually active. The candidates were Hon. C. A. L. Roszell, democratic, and N. N. Beals, republican. The former was successful by a majority of over 100, the vote standing 761 to 658.
The year 1875 was another year for the election of a Senator. A. C. Hitchcock was almost unanimously elected to that office. The candidates for Representative were John Palmer, republican, and C. A. L. Roszell, democrat, and resulted in the election of the former.
In 1877 A. M. Whaley was elected by a good majority to the lower house of the Legislature.
In 1879 W. P. Gaylor was elected Sen- ator and A. M. Whaley, Representative.
In 1881 Henry C. Brown was almost unanimously elected Representative, and is the present incumbent. The county is
5
291
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
a Representative district in itself and numbers 60.
The present Senatorial district is num- bered 46, and embraces the counties of Butler, Floyd and Mitchell. As above stated, W. P. Gaylord was elected in 1879, but died not long after his election. To fill the vacancy so occasioned, Hon. A. M. Whaley, of Aplington, was elected Sen- ator, and still holds that position.
Honorable Alvin Manley Whaley came to Aplington in 1869. Since his advent into public life as a soldier in the Union army, several sketches, together with inci- dents of his life, have been published in the press, from which we glean the follow- ing: He was born in Wyoming county, New York, on the 14th of May, 1838. He received the first rudiments of an educa- tion in the district school, and at an early day began to prepare for college. He studied languages for four years. When seventeen years of age he commenced teaching, and continued that in winter sea- sons. In 1860 he entered Middlebury Academy, at Wyoming. Upon the break- ing out of the rebellion in April, 1861, he, with ten other classmates, responded to the first call for troops. A company was formed in Wyoming county, and he was mustered in as second lieutenant. This was the first company that left Wyoming county. It was joined to the 17th regi- ment New York volunteers and designated as Company K. In about six months lie was promoted to first lieutenant, and a few months later to captain. After doing guard duty a while at Washington, the regiment was sent to Alexandria, where they relieved the Ellsworth Guards, and later took part in the Peninsular campaign.
He was dangerously wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg. The Medical and Surgical History of the Rebellion gives this as one of the wonderful cases of the war. On page 283, Vol. III., it says:
"Captain Alvin M. Whaley, Company K, 17th New York volunteers, wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., Decem- .ber 13, 1862, by a musket ball which frac- tured the left parietal bone. He walked with some assistance to the hospital of the 3d corps, quite a distance. His voice be- came thick and had an unnatural hesi- tancy and slowness. The middle and ring finger of the right hand were paralyzed, but the motion and sensibility in first and fourth fingers were only slightly impaired. His mental faculties were clear. He com- plained of a slight headache, and his pulse was slow and full. The trophine was ap- plied by Assistant Surgeon Tice, and a disc of bone and several fragments were removed, one of which was three-quarters of an inch in diameter. During the oper- ation blood flowed profusely. One large fragment of the bone, evidently from the inner table, lay exactly beneath, but was too large to be extracted from the orifice. The dura mater was found to be unin- jured. The power of articulation returned immediately after the operation, and the numbness of the fingers became less marked. On January 2, 1862, the numb- ness of the fingers had entirely disap- peared, and the wound was slowly healing. The patient was mustered out with his regiment. His recovery was owing to a strong constitution and an invincible de- termination."
After being discharged from the hos- pital at Georgetown, he went home on a
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
furlough. He returned to Washington, and was discharged with the regiment and mustered out at New York.
The regiment veteranized, and he was commissioned Quartermaster General; was ordered to Alabama, from there to Vicks- burg; was in Sherman's Meridian raid; went via Decatur and Huntsville to At- lanta, where they joined Sherman. In the battle of Jonesboro nearly one-half of his regiment was killed, including its gallant Col. Grower; went to Savannah, where he resigned. After his return home he visited the oil regions of Pennsylvania; stopped a few months; then engaged in farming in his native county. In 1869 he came to Aplington. He bought real estate in the town of Monroe. In 1870, he engaged with S. L. Kemmerer, selling agricultural implements and machinery. In 1872 he bought out a drug store, which he run about one year; then he sold that and opened a collection office. In 1874 he went to Independence, where he bought an elevator, and dealt in grain one and one-half years; then traded with S. L. Kemmerer for an elevator and lumber yard in Aplington and returned. He has since made this his home, dealing in grain, flax and lumber. He is also engaged in the banking business, having opened a bank in 1878.
He is a republican in politics; elected to represent Butler county in the State Legislature, in 1877, and re-elected in 1879. He was chairman of the military committee both terms, and also filled im- portant positions on other committees. He was elected Senator from the 46th Sena- torial district, which included Butler, 'Floyd and Mitchell counties, in 1880, to
fill a vacancy caused by the death of W. B. Gaylord. He was also chairman of the military committee in the Senate.
He has served his constituents faith- fully-has performed his duties in such a manner as to reflect great credit upon the judgment of his friends who elected him and honor upon himself. His re-election and promotion was certainly a strong en- dorsement of his course.
In 1871 he married Miss Jane H., daughter of George B. Smith, Esq. They have four boys-Grant, George A., Halsa H. and
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
A history of Butler county would, in- deed, be incomplete without a record of the county officials, who have served since its organization. There has been much difficulty connected with obtaining mate- rial for biographical sketches of those who have died or moved from the county since their official services were performed. Where the mention of men, who, in their time, were prominent, is short, it is because of the meagre material to be secured. The following list, embraces a complete list of the various officers, from 1854 to 1882, in- clusive. The most fitting office to com- mence with is that of
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