History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa, Part 33

Author: Alexander, W. E
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Decorah, Ia. : Western Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 584


USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 33
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 33


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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November, 1868.


The Iowa presidential electors for U. S. Grant received 674 votes, and those for Horatio Seymour, 380, the total vote being 1054. For secretary of state, Ed. Wright had 673, and David Hammer, 381; John A. Elliott received 673, and Harvey Dunlevy, 381 for the office of state auditor; Samuel E. Rankin, 673, and Lawrence McCarty, 381 for state treasurer; C. C. Carpenter, 673, and A. Davidson, 381. for register of the state land office.


For representative in congress, from the 3d district, W. B. Allison received 667 votes, William Mills, 381, and L. A. Thomas, 1.


For judge of the circuit court, M. V. Burdick had 673, and E. M. Farnsworth, 380 votes; Wm. H. Patterson received 774, and Gustave Dorr 359 votes for county recorder; S. A. Stone, 623, A. M. Gregory, 411, and W. H. Patterson, 1, for clerk of the courts. On the stock act, 555 "for," and 180 "against."


On the question in regard to levying a tax to purchase a "poor farm," the vote stood: 92 "for the tax," and 709 "against the tax."


On the amendments to the state constitution, 618 were in favor, and 412 against the proposed measure.


October 12, 1869.


The total number of votes polled at this election was 840.


Samuel Merrill received 534, and George Gillaspy, 304 for Governor; Madison M. Walden, 530, and 1. P. Richardson, 310 for lieutenant Governor.


John F. Dillon, 530, and W. F. Brennon, 307, for judge of the supreme court.


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


A. S. Kissell received the full vote of 532 for the office of super- intendent of public instruction, there being no opposition.


C. T. Granger received 454 votes, and W. R. Mead, 295, for district attorney.


A. S. Faville received 409 votes and T. M. Atherton, 120, for member of legislature.


C. S. Thurber defeated his opponent, D. B. Everingham, for the office of county auditor, by a vote of 529 to 310


M. M. Moon received 568 votes, and James Hall, 259 votes, for county treasurer.


For sheriff the vote stood:J. F. Hall, 479, and J. DeNoyelles, 354.


Patrick Griffin having 301, C. F. Breckenridge, 527, and T. W. Lee, 1 vote for superintendent of county schools.


J. J. Clemmer, 521, W. F. Daniels, 307, and "scattering," 1, for coroner.


The members of the board of supervisors elected were: John Shaw, Thomas Sullivan, James Oakley, N. Lydon, H. W. Partch, P. T. Searles, and Joseph Burgess.


October, 1870.


There were 749 votes polled, in all, in this election, C. C. Cole received 498, J. C. Knapp, 235, for judge of supreme court; W. E. Miller, 511, P. H. Smythe, 234, for judge of supreme court to fill the vacancy caused by the declension of John F. Dillon; J. G. Day, 509, Reuben Noble, 240, for judge of supreme court, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of George G. Wright.


For auditor of state, John Russell received 511, and W. M. Garner, 234 votes.


For secretary of state, Ed. Wright had 514, and Charles Doerr, 231 votes:


For state treasurer, S. E. Rankin polled 511 votes, and William C. James, 234.


Henry O'Conner received 510, and H. M. Martin, 234 votes for attorney general.


On member of congress the vote stood W. G. Donnan, 509, John T. Stoneman, 238.


For judge of the district court, Milo McGlathery polled all the votes, 513.


C. T. Granger had the same luck and polled 513 votes for district attorney.


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


For clerk of the courts, S. A. Stone received 535 votes, while David Geer only polled 219.


W. H. Patterson received 557 votes, and P. G. Nichols, 184 for county recorder.


For county supervisors, Aaron Kimball with 515, Chas. H. Wood, 447, and D. E. Potter, 558, were declared elected, defeating D. B. Everingham, who had 302, R. S. S. Andros, 227, and August Fallgater, 190.


On the proposition, "Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution of the state, and amend the same," "yes," 100; "No," 427.


On the proposition, "Shall the number of the supervisors be in- creased to five," "Yes," 235; "No," 379.


On the stock act of the 12th general assembly there were 127 votes cast, of which 114 were "against," and 13 "for."


October, 1871.


Total vote polled, 1,030; C. C. Carpenter receiving 659, and J. C. Knapp, 371, for governor.


H. C. Bulis, 658, and M. M. Ham, 372, for the office of lieut. governor.


For judge of supreme court, James G. Day, 659, and John F. Duncomb, 369 votes.


For superintendent of public instruction, Alonzo Abernathy received 659, and Edward Mumm, 370 votes.


For state senator, John E. Burke received 636, and L. H. Weller 377 votes.


For representative in the legislature, W. W. Blackman, 654, and Cyrus Foreman 374 votes.


M. M. Moon was elected by a nearly unanimous vote to the office of county recorder.


C. S. Thurber received 656, and Joseph Knowlton 366 votes for county auditor.


J. T. Powell was elected sheriff, he having 588 votes to his opponent's J. DeNoyelles, 445, with a scattering of 4.


C. F. Breckenridge received 582, James Greenleaf, 370, P. N. Glathart, 1, and C. Breckenridge 18 votes for the office of county superintendent.


J. J. Clemmer was re-elected over all competitors, having 677 votes out of 708, for coroner.


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


P. N. Glathart was elected by 650 votes to the office of county surveyor, there being no opposition.


For member of board of supervisors, A. B. Smedley received 692, Joseph Lee, 181, John Wolf, 18, and "scattering" 2 votes.


November, 1872.


Out of a total vote of 1,046 the Iowa republican presidential electors received 772 votes, and the vote for the democratic electors averages 130.


For secretary of state the vote stood: Josiah F. Young, 708, E. A. Gilbert, 161, and Charles Barker, 42.


John Russell received 688 to J. P. Cassedy's 248 votes, for state auditor.


For state treasurer William Christy received 768, W. J. Russ, 148, and D. B. Bens, 42 votes.


For congress, H. O. Pratt polled 689, and A. T. Lusch 225 votes.


For judge of circuit court C. T. Granger received 721 votes, there being no opposition.


For clerk of the courts S. A. Stone polled 813 votes, there being no opposition.


For member of the board of supervisors, P. T. Searles had 773, and H. C. Marsh, 237 votes.


For county recorder the vote was: Wm. H. Patterson, 834, and H, Price, 37.


October, 1873.


The number of votes polled at this election, was 1,265.


For governor, C. C. Carpenter received 1,232, J. G. Vail, 30, and scattering, 3 votes.


For lieut. governor Joseph Dysart received 1,236, C. E. Whitney, 27, and Fred. O'Donnell, 2 votes.


For judge of supreme court J. M. Beck received 1,232, and B. J. Hall, 28 votes.


For superintendent of public instructions, A. Abernathy, 1,237, and D. W. Prindle, 28.


For state senator, Hiram Bailey, received. 988 votes, and A. J. Felt, 335.


H. A. Goodrich received 766, J. F. Borthwick, 548, and "Gosh," 1, for legislature.


O. J. Clark received 1225 for prosecuting attorney ..


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


The vote on county auditor was very close, "Jerry" Barker receiving 656, W. W. White, 651, with one vote for Frank Kyte.


For county treasurer M. M. Moon had 620, Frank Kyte, 674, with a scattering of two votes.


C. B. Ashley polled 589, and D. Ackerson 694 votes for the office of sheriff.


For superintendent of county schools, O. N. Hoyt received 641, and A. Craig, 622 votes.


Emmett Barber received 641, and Laban Hassett, 673 votes for county surveyor.


H. C. Price received 696, and J. W. Reed, 602 votes for coroner.


The vote on supervisor to fill vacancy stood: S. Radford, 558, and S. S. Lambert, 759, and for the long term, W. W. Woodward, - 612, and Thomas Griffin, 701.


October, 13, 1874.


An election was held this day, at which 1,129 votes were polled.


Josiah F. Young receiving 778, David Morgan 350, and H. C. Hargis, 1, for secretary of state.


Buren R. Sherman received 1,045, and J. M. King, 81, for state auditor.


William Christy, 778, J. W. Barnes, 282, and H. C. Hargis, 67 for state treasurer.


David Secor, 730, R. H. Rondame, 272, and J. D. Hayes, 1, for register of the state land office.


M. E. Cutts, 730, and J. H. Keatley, 351, for attorney general.


For congress, H. O. Pratt received 369 votes, John Bowman, 749, and P. Nolan, 1.


Milo McGlathery with 337, and Reuben Noble with 749 were the contestants for the office of judge of the district court.


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O. J. Clark polled 400, and G. L. Faust, 720 votes, for district attorney.


C. F. Webster was elected clerk of the courts, having 516 votes, while his opponents, W. S. Gardner, and J. F. Powell, had, respectively, 475 and 130.


The vote for recorder stood: W. H. Patterson, 706, P. Velie, Jr., 402, and Miss Lillie Bucknum, 17.


For member of the board of supervisors, James Oakley defeated his competitor, having 602 votes, and H. C. Cunningham, 402.


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


October, 12, 1875.


On the question, "Shall stock be restrained from running at large," the vote stood, 361 "for," and 585 "against," in a total vote of 946.


On the question, "Shall stock be restrained from running at large from sunset to sunrise," 832 votes are registered as "for" the restraint, and 114 "against."


For governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood received 882, and S. Leffler, 477 votes.


For lieut. governor, Joshua G. Newbold received 880, and E. B. Woodward, 480 votes.


Austin Adams received 878, and W. J. Knight, 481 votes, for judge of supreme court.


Alonzo Abernethy received 879, and Isaiah Doane, 23, for superintendent of public instruction.


For representative, 64th district, Henry T. Reed polled 884, and and Henry A. Goodrich, 472 votes.


Jerry Barker was re-elected county auditor, having 920 votes, his competitor, G. W. Merry, having only 434, with a single scattering vote.


Frank Kyte was almost unanimously elected to fill the treas- urer's office, the vote standing, Kyte, 1,330, D. E. Potter, 3, P. T. Searles, 5, and Peter Nolan, 1.


For sheriff, Samuel L. Thomson polled 675, David H. Acker- son, 558, and Hugh Price, 127 votes.


Osmand N. Hoyt had 738, T. W. Lee, 606, and A. H. Tuttle, 1 vote for superintendent of schools.


Laban Hassett's friends rallied to the tune of 785, while Michael Montague's only numbered 565, with a scattering of 6 votes, electing Mr. Hassett once more to the office of county surveyor.


For coroner, James McCollum had 835, and H. C. Price, 528 votes.


Alonzo G. Hubbard was elected member of the board of super- . visors with 727 votes in his favor, his opponent, S. S. Lambert having only 632.


. November 7, 1876.


The total vote was 1,815, of which the Hayes and Wheeler


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


electors received 1,194 votes, the Tilden and Hendricks electors 600, while the Cooper (greenback), electors only had 21.


For judge of the supreme court, for full term, W. H. Seevers received 1,201, W. M. Graham, 599, and W. I. Hayes, 20 votes; for the same to fill the vacancy created by chapter 7, acts of the 16th general assembly, James H. Rothrock had 1,168, Walter I. Hayes, 599, and Wm. Graham, 9; and for the same office to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. C. Cole, Wm. H. Seevers polled 1,171, and Walker I. Hayes 629 votes.


Josiah T. Young had 1201, James H. Stenbenraugh 614, and A. McCready 15 votes, for secretary of state.


Buren R. Sherman 1201, William Gronewig 622, and Leonard Brown 15 votes, for state auditor.


Geo. W. Bemis 1201, Wesley Jones 615, and George C. Fry 15, for state treasurer.


David Secor 1201, N. C. Ridenver 624, and George M. Walker 13, for register of the state land office.


John T. McJunkin 1201, and J. C. Cook 629, for attorney gene- ral.


Carl W. Von Coelln 1201, and J. A. Nash 629, for superinten- dent of public instruction to fill vacancy.


For congressman, N. C. Deering polled 1188 and Cyrus Foreman 649.


C. T. Granger received 1199 votes for circuit judge there being no opposition.


Calvin F. Webster capturing the office of clerk of the courts, having 1251 while Edward Hughes had 535 with a scattering vote of 14,


William H. Patterson polled 1,261, and W. H. Mereness, 525 votes, for county recorder.


For member of the board of supervisor we find that D. T. Em- mons received the suffrages of 1,191 electors, while L. Averill, re- ceived 599, with a scattering of 11.


On the question of relocating the county seat at Cresco, the vote stood "for Cresco" 800, "against Cresco and in favor of old loca- tion between the villages of Vernon Springs and New Oregon," 969.


October 9, 1877.


The total vote was 1918, this election of which John H. Gear


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


received 551, D. P. Stubbs, 201, Elias Jessup, 519, and John P. Irish, 647, for governor.


Frank T. Campbell, 1030, A. McCready, 249, and W. C. James, 647 for the office of Lieut-governor.


James G. Day, 1,029, John Porter, 253, and H. E. J. Boardman, 647, for judge of supreme court.


Carl Von Colln, 1,029, S. T. Ballard, 254, and G. W. Cullison, 646, for superintendent of public instruction.


For state senator, Aaron Kimball received 1,045, and L. H. Weller, 839 votes.


C. E. Brown polled 933, Thomas Griffin, 479, and August Fallgatter, 481, for representative 66th district.


John E. Peck with 977 votes, defeated Jerry Barker, who had 927, for the office of county auditor.


To fill the vacancy in the treasurer's office, Patrick Griffin re- ceived 918, J. F. Borthwick, received 806, and W. H. Merenes, 13 votes.


For county treasurer for full term Patrick Griffin received 1,026, J. F. Borthwick, 771, and W. H. Mereness, 123 votes.


Samuel L. Thomson polled 966, Hugh Price, 636, H. A. Axtell, 324, and 'scattering" one vote for sheriff, P. N. Glathart being elected county surveyor by a vote of 1.028, his opponent Laban Hassett having only 891.


For county superintendent of schools, 897 votes given for W. H. Brocksome elected him, his competitors receiving respectively Joseph C. Kellow, 755, and Florence Barnard, 229 votes.


James McCollum capturing the office of coroner with 1010 votes, J. W. Reed receiving only 689, and C. E. Bowers received 199 votes.


For member board of supervisors, James Oakley received 1,053, I. C. Chamberlain, 832, and B. Chapin, 56, with one "scat- tered."


On the question "shall stock be restrained from running at large," the vote stood "for 837," "against restraint" 409.


October 8, 1878.


At the general election this year there were 1,968 votes cast, John A. T. Hull receiving 937, E. M. Farnsworth 1,030, blank one for secretary of state.


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382


HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


Buren R. Sherman, 934, and Joseph Eibeck, 1,034 for state auditor.


George W. Bemis, 849, and M. L. Devine, 1,036, for state treas- urer.


James K. Bowers, 934, and M. Farrington, 1,033 for register state land office.


James Rothrock, 933, and Joseph C. Knapp, 1,033, for judge supreme court.


John M. McJunkin, 932, and Alexander Runyon, 1,034, for at- torney-general.


For congressman N. C. Deering, 939, L. H. Weller, 1,012, scat- tering, 4.


For judge of the District court, O. J. Clark, 551, and Reuben Noble 1,406.


Robert Quigley, 875, Cyrus Wellington, 1,086, and O. J. Clark 2 for district attorney.


C. F. Webster being elected clerk of the courts with 1,159, his competitor C. M. Brooks, receiving but 709 votes.


William H. Patterson, having 1637 and R. J. Hazledine, 305 votes the former was declared elected county recorder.


For member of the board of supervisors the vote stood A. G. Hubbard, 1,075, and H. P. Marsh, 874.


October 14, 1879.


Total vote polled was 2,243, John H. Gear, 1,059, Daniel Camp- bell, 1,144, W. H. Trimble, 28, and D. R. Dungan, 12 votes for governor.


Frank T. Campbell, 1,071, M. H. Moore, 1,128, and J. A. O. Yeoman, 27, for Lieut. governor.


Joseph M. Beck, 1,069. M. H. Jones, 1,115, and Reuben Noble, 41, for judge of the supreme court.


Carl Von Colln, 1,060, J. A. Nash, 1,140, and Erwin Baker, 27, for superintendent of public instruction.


For representative to legislature the vote standing Charles D. Cutting, 961, S. S. Lambert, 1,227, and J. J. Lowry one.


For sheriff S. L. Thomson had 1,106, Jacob J. Lowry, 1,122, S. B. Johnson, 1, and James Thomson, 1.


C. S. Raymond received 897, John E. Peck, 1,329, and P. T. Searles one vote for the office of county auditor.


Fred C. Clark was elected superintendent of schools by a vote


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


of 1,180 to W. H. Brocksome's, 1,029, with a scattering of four votes.


For coroner, J. Mccollum polled 1,057, and H. C. Price, 1,167 votes, with 3 scattered.


The vote for member of board of supervisors stood L. F. Em- mons, 1,076, and Thomas McCook, 1,143.


November 2, 1880.


The full votes for president was 2,024, of which the Garfield and Arthur electors received 1,066, the Hancock and English. 285. and the Weaver and Chambers, 673.


For secretary of state J. A. T. Hull received 1,066, A. B. Keith, 281, and George M. Walker, 676 votes.


For state auditor W. V. Lucas received 1,065, Charles I. Barker, 281, and G. V. Swearingen, 676.


For treasurer, E. H. Conger, 1,066, Martin, Blinn, 281, and Mathias Farrington, 676.


J. H. Powers received 1,065, Daniel Daugherty, 279, and Thomas Hooker, 676 for register state land office.


S. M. McPherson, 1,066, C. C. Clark, 279, W. A. Spurrier, 676, for attorney-general.


C. T. Granger polling 1,061 votes with no opposition for the office of judge of the eircuit court.


For representive to congress from the fourth district, the vote was divided as follows: N. C. Deering, 1,102, J. S. Root, 223, M. B. Doolittle 654, and 11 scattering.


For judge of the district court E. E. Cooley received 871, O. J. Clark, 1,131, with 6 scattering. 1


C. F. Webster was elected clerk of the courts having 1,230 votes, and W. F. Daniels, 782, with 2 scattering.


W. H. Patterson taking the office of recorder, having 1,101, his rival, Jerry Barnes scoring only 782.


On the question of having a constitutional convention, 548 were in favor and 288 against the measure.


October 11, 1881.


At the election held on this date the total vote of the county polled was 1,469, Buren R. Sherman receiving 749, D. M. Clark, 678 and L. G. Kinne 42, for governor,


Orlando H. Manning, 749, J. M. Holland, 620, J. H. Holland, 58, and J. M. Walker, 42, lieut. governor.


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


Austin Adams, 749, W. W. Williamson 678 and H. B. Hender- shott, 42, for judge of the supreme court.


John W. Akers, 745, Adeline M. Swain, 676, and Walter H. Butler, 45, for superintendent of public instruction.


For state senator, C. A. Marshall received 747, M. F. Gillett, 714, and "scattering" one vote.


For representative 66th district, W. R. Jones had 695 votes, while S. S. Lambert received 657.


John E. Peck was barely elected county auditor having 735 votes, while P. T. Searles had 724, and 5 votes scattered.


The vote on treasurer was also very close, Charles I. White re- ceiving 728, and his competitor, P. Griffiin, 722, and 5 votes scat- tered.


J. J. Lowry was elected sheriff, having 758 votes, and S. L. Thomson, 706 votes.


W. W. Williams received 738, and S. B. Johnson, 709, for county surveyor.


Fred C. Clark, 803, and W. W. Williams, 657, for superinten- dent of schools.


The vote on coroner was another of the closely contested ones standing, O. N. Hoyt, 735, and H. C. Price, 729.


For member of the board of supervisors, A. G. Hubbard re- ceived 757 votes, Patrick Peterson, 703, and "Hubbard" received three.


June 27, 1882.


This was a special election on the question, shall the constitu- tion be amended by adding the following amendment:


"No person shall manufacture for sale, or sell, or keep for sale, as a beverage, any intoxicating liquors, including ale, wine or beer. The general assembly shall by law prescribe regulations for the enforcement of the prohibition herein contained, and shall provide suitable penalties for the violation of the provisions thereof."


The total number of votes cast in Howard county was 1,565, of which 730 were in favor of its adoption, and 835 were against the measure.


November, 7, 1882.


The total vote polled was 1,802, of which John A. T. Hull, re-


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


ceived 747, W. J. Gaston, 988, and T. O. Walker, 67, for secretary of state.


John L. Brown, 747. G. A. Wyant, 988, and William Thompson 67, for state auditor.


Edwin H. Conger, 742. George Derr, 913, and John Foley, 147, for state treasurer.


William H. Seever, 747, M. H. Jones, 988, and C. F. Bronson, 67, for judge of the supreme court.


Smith McPherson, 747, James A. Rice, 988, and J. H. Brenner- man, 67, for attorney general.


For congressman, Thomas Updegraff was in receipt of 756, and L. H. Weller, 1,026 votes, with five scattering.


For judge of the district court of the 10th judicial district, E. E. Cooley polled 930, and L. O. Hatch, 863 votes.


For district attorney, H. P. Hancock received 763, Cyrus Wel- lington, 1,041, while L. O. Hatch had one vote.


William Theophilus with 1,027 in his favor "got away with" his competitor, Frank Sayre, for the office of clerk of the courts, the latter having only 775 votes.


Carl K. Berg was equally fortunate having 1,181 votes and Wil- liam H. Patterson, 605, for the office of county recorder.


For member of board of supervisors, the vote stood, James Hendricks, 796, Charles Keefe, 998, and scattering 5.


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


CHAPTER IV.


COUNTY SEAT CONTROVERSY; REMOVALS; OFFICIAL ACTION; FINAL SETTLEMENT; PRESENT OFFICERS.


During the summer of 1855, the organization of a county government agitated the minds of some of the new settlers, who had located themselves on the prairies and in the sylvan groves of Howard county, but met with but little favor from the many. While the people were but few, and the settlements but feeble, it seemed folly for them to burden themselves with the cumbersome machinery and expensive luxury of a county government. At this time there were probably not more than one hundred and fifty inhabitants, or about sixty or seventy voters residents, in what was to be Howard county. And to saddle upon this weak com- munity the support of the necessary officers, was not to the mind of, possibly, a majority of those who looked ahead. However, a petition was signed by some five or six persons, and sent, sub rosa, to James Lyon, then judge in Chickasaw county, praying that an order be issued from his court to organize the county of Howard (for copy of this petition see page 338). Judge Lyon not being cognizant with the whole facts, decided to make the order, which was accordingly done, and bears the date of July 17, 1855.


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. HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


The mandate of the judge further recited, that there was to be held an election on the first Monday of August, of the same year, and appointed Edmund Gillett, one of the most prominent citizens, as the sheriff for the purpose of effecting the organization.


The people, calmly acquiesing in the matter, now that it was settled that they were to "enjoy" a county government, went to the polls on the day appointed and elected James G. Upton, county judge; Edmund Gillett, clerk; William Woodward, recorder and treasurer; John Harlow, sheriff, and M. V. Burdick, prosecuting attorney. These were the first county officers.


The next thing was a place of business, or in other words, a county seat and a court house. As most of the officers resided at or near Vernon Springs, this seemed to be the proper place, but the newly born government seems to have been "without a habita- tion and a home," until in the following year Judge Upton decided that for the time being Vernon Springs was to be considered the center of the county rule.


But other villages were springing into being, and as each of these, according to their proprietors and residents, was "the" place above all others, for a grand city, all laid claim to the position of being the county seat. Land was cheap, and "a good deal of it to the acre," and the proprietors were generous in providing for the width of the streets, avenues, and alleys of the new towns, and each expected metropolitan honors, at least, and each sought to be regarded as the seat of government.


Of these ambitious cities in embryo, how many of them ever emerged from the state of chrysalis. In a few short years their glory has faded, and all that is remembered of them is the memory of their names.


The stillness of their location, instead of being disturbed by the clatter of machinery, resounds but to the voice and footfalls of the plowman; the streets and avenues that their projectors fondly hoped to see lined with palatial stores, busy factories and stately mansions are now filled with the nodding corn or bending wheat, and over the site of these would-be commercial and mercantile centers, wanders the lowing herds.


All, or nearly all, have seen their cherished hopes die, and they


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HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY.


all lie buried 'neath the debris of accumulated years. In 1857 the question that seems infallibly to arise in all communities came to the front, and the removal of the county seat occupied all minds, each town, village, or assemblage of houses, by whatsoever name known, had aspirations for the honor of being the recognized seat of government.


Many were the manœuvres of the early politician to achieve notoriety for himself and his town, hy bringing to bear upon the county judge, who was ex-officio the controller of the county, such influence as would induce him to favor the particular cause he advocated, and locate the county seat with them.




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