USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 20
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 20
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
There were three candidates for representative in 1867: William Tucker, Gilbert J. Tisdale and L. H. Weller. Tucker was elected by a plurality of one hundred and twenty-eight votes, and served as representative from Chickasaw County in the Twelfth General Assembly. The candidates in 1869 were George W. Butterfield, D. B. Hanan and William Tucker. Butterfield, a resident of Nashua, was elected. Darius B. Hanan, who was second in the race for repre- sentative in 1869, was again a candidate against George W. Butterfield, in 1871, and was elected by a majority of 302. He was re-elected in 1873, by a plurality of 253; F. D. Bosworth and William Tucker were the other candidates in this race.
The increase shown in the vote cast for representative in the ten-year period is indicative of the rapid increase in the population in the county during that time. The total vote cast for representative in 1867 was 1,075. The total vote cast in 1877 was 2,481. In 1875 John McHugh, of Lawler, was elected representative, by a majority of 315 over Francis Dane. In 1877 William B. Perrin, of Nashua, was elected by a majority of 271, over O. K. Hoyt. Perrin was again a candidate in 1879, and was again elected. George McAughey and Michael Ries were the other candidates that year. James F. Babcock, of New Hampton, was elected in 1881, by a majority of 347 over Buel Sherman. John M. Gilliland, of New Hampton, and Dr. H. M. Mixer were opposing candidates for representative in 1883. Gilliland was elected by a majority of 248. H. H. Bailey, of Williamstown, and C. T. Hasket, were candidates in 1885, and Bailey was elected. He was again a candidate in 1887, with J. F. Babcock and John Foley as competitors. John Foley, of New Hampton, was elected and served as representative in the Twenty-second General Assembly ; he was afterwards, 1890, elected to the State Senate and served in the thirty-second, regular and special sessions; and in the thirty-third session of the General Assembly. In 1889 William Glattley, of Lawler, was elected by a majority of 126 over William B. Perrin. Glattley was re-elected in 1891 and served in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General assemblies.
In 1893 John Frazee was elected to represent Chickasaw County in the Leg- islature, and was re-elected in 1895. Following are the names of representatives, and the year in which each served, since 1895:
John Kreiger, New Hampton, 1897; F. E. Ayers, Lawler, 1899; John H. Kolthoff, Dresden, 1901 ; Tim C. Clary, New Hampton, 1903, 1905, 1907; Frank A. O'Connor, New Hampton, 1909, 1911; Christian Saltzman, Lawler, 1913; Pressly L. Kepple, Ionia, 1915; Pressly L. Kepple, 1917.
THE COUNTY JUDGES
There is no record of the election of a county judge in the first two years after the organization of the county, and the only evidence to show who served
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in that capacity is obtained from signatures to public documents. From this it appears that the first judge, who was elected or appointed, was James Lyon. Judge Lyon's name appears as the officiating magistrate at the first marriage in the county, and on several official documents filed at that time. He served until October 1, 1855, and was succeeded by B. E. DePuy, who served until April 7, 1856, when it appears that he resigned. W. E. Andrews, who was at that time prosecuting attorney, became ex-officio judge and served the remainder of DePuy's term. Lorenzo Bailey was elected judge in 1856, and was re-elected in 1858. Bailey was succeeded as county judge by C. H. Dore, elected in 1860.
Prior to this time all management of county affairs was in the hands of the county judge, and that was his principal function. By a change of the law a board of supervisors was created who were given the management of county affairs, and the county judge was given probate jurisdiction. The Legislature of 1869 abolished the office of county judge and placed the duties pertaining to that office in the district judge. The others who held the office of county judge, prior to its abolishment were: Caleb Arnold, 1862 to 1863; S. G. Meriam, 1864 to 1865 : G. A. Hamilton, 1866 to 1869.
DISTRICT CLERK
At the organization of the county, April, 1854, as mentioned elsewhere, it appears that S. C. Goddard was elected clerk, and it also appears, from evidence of official documents on file, that he served as such until August 14, 1854 It further appears, by the same evidence, that J. A. J. Bird acted as clerk until the election of 1856, though there is nothing in the records to show by what authority Bird served in this official capacity. In the August election, 1856, George W. Reed was elected clerk of the District Court, by a majority of twenty-six, over Wesley Swazee; the total vote polled in that election was 306. Reed served as clerk from 1857 to 1860. C. O. Case was elected clerk at the October election. 1858, and was re-elected at each succeeding election until the November election in 1868. At this election Zelotes Bailey was elected clerk and served until 1875. three ternis. Bailey was succeeded by the following in the order named. and the years designated :
J. M. Gilliland, 1875 to 1881; J. M. Lynch, 1881 to 1887: Tim Donovan, Jr .. 1887 to 1891 ; J. H. Penberthy, 1891 to 1893.
The present clerk of the District Court is Alfred Kelson, who was elected in 1916 for the term of four years. He succeeded John Rink, who was elected in 1912.
TREASURER AND RECORDER
At the organization of the county, and for about ten years thereafter, the office of county treasurer and recorder was combined and the duties performed by one official. John Campbell was elected to this office, at the organization elec- tion, April 3, 1854, and served until August 28, 1854, when he resigned. The vacancy was filled by Judge Lyon, the county judge, by the appointment of E. A. Haskell, who served the unexpired term. At the August election, 1856. George W. Howard was elected treasurer and recorder and served until 1858. F. D. Bos-
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worth was elected at the August election, 1858, and served until 1860. He was succeeded by W. E. Beach, elected October 11, 1859, and served until 1864, when he was succeeded by A. E. Bigelow, who served until 1867. At this time the office of treasurer and recorder was divided and made two separate offices.
COUNTY TREASURER
W. W. Birdsall was the first to serve as county treasurer under the new order. He was elected in 1867, and re-elected in 1869, serving until 1871. He was suc- ceeded by John Foley, elected October 16, 1871, and served four terms, until 1879. At the election, October 14, 1879, John A. Green was elected treasurer, and re-elected in October, 1881, serving two terms. He was succeeded by A. B. Harris, elected in 1883, and re-elected in 1885, serving until 1887. John Tooley was elected in 1887, and re-elected in 1889, serving until 1891.
The present treasurer is George E. Wilkins, who was elected as the successor of E. N. Olmstead, in 1916.
COUNTY RECORDER
B. E. Morton was the first county recorder, serving after this office was sep- arated from that of treasurer. He was elected in 1867, and re-elected in 1869. serving two terms. He was succeeded by C. A. Harris, who was elected in October, 1870, and served from 1871 to 1881, five terms. He was succeeded by .A. H. Wright, who served two terms, from 1881 to 1885; T. H. Schulte, served two terms, from 1885 to 1889: J. H. Noble, served two terms, from 1889 to 1893.
The present recorder is Alva A. Miller, elected in 1916 as the successor of Sam Shortley.
COUNTY CORONER
At the organization election, April 3, 1854, Dr. S. C. Haynes was elected county coroner and served until 1857, when he was succeeded either by Edwin Cudworth. or F. K. Figons, the record is somewhat indefinite as to which of these succeeded to that office. Any way, Doctor Haynes had a successor in 1857. Those who have held the office of county coroner, from 1859 are the following :
Dr. J. Marsh, 1859 to 1861; Buel Sherman, 1861 to 1865; L. H. Weller, 1865 to 1867; William Everingham, 1867 to 1869; Dr. Amos Babcock, 1869 to 1873; Dr. I. K. Gardner, 1873 to 1883; Dr. F. H. Olmstead, 1883 to 1885; G. F. Phillips, 1885 to 1887; Dr. A. H. Wright, 1887 to 1889; Dr. J. D. Horton, 1880 to 1891.
The present coroner is F. S. Feeney, elected in 1916 as his own successor
COUNTY SHERIFF
By virtue of the power vested in him by the code of Iowa, Thomas Woodle. county judge of Fayette County, appointed John Bird as organizing sheriff for the organization of Chickasaw County, under date of June 30, 1853. At the organization election, held April 3, 1854, Andrew Sample was elected as the first
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sheriff of Chickasaw County. He served until 1856 when he was succeeded by A. E. Bigelow, who served until 1858. Among those who have held the office of county sheriff since that time are the following :
F. Paden, 1858 to 1860; Patrick Galligan, 1860 to 1862; John Dixon, 1862 to 1868; J. A. Albertson, 1868 to 1870; Earl W. Beach, 1870 to 1872; R. O. Shel- don, 1872 to 1882; H. Manderville, 1882 to 1884; James Stanton, 1884 to 1890; F. W. Brown, 1890 to 1892.
The present sheriff is F. H. Kezar, elected in 1916 as his own successor.
COUNTY AUDITOR
Those who have served as county auditor, since 1870, are the following :
G. A. Hamilton was elected auditor at the election in 1869, and served until 1877. He was succeeded by Lee Chapman, who served from 1877 to 1881 ; E. P. Sheffield, 1881 to 1885; Arthur McCarten, 1885 to 1889; J. A. McClurg, 1889 to 1891.
The present county auditor is H. W. Tank, elected in 1916 as successor to P. E. McGinn.
COUNTY SURVEYOR
Oscar Cooley has the distinction of having been the first county surveyor of Chickasaw County ; he was elected in 1854 and served two years. Following him in the order named, were:
C. M. Webster, 1856 to 1858; A. W. Billings, 1858 to 1860; E. W. Davis, 1860 to 1862; Charles Fitch, 1862 to 1864; S. H. Young, 1864 to 1868; H. H. Potter, 1868 to 1872; C. Seeber, 1872 to 1874; W. R. Geeting, 1874 to 1878; W. A. East- . man, 1878 to 1880; A. E. Quaife, 1880 to 1882; G. W. Cotant, 1882 to 1890; H. A. Scales, 1890 to 1892.
The present county surveyor, or county engineer as now termed, is E. J. Vaughn, who has held that office for several years.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
The advent of the school teacher closely followed that of the pioneer settler, and the settler's cabin was not much in advance of the log schoolhouse, in Chicka- saw County. The Legislature, under the provisions of the constitution of the state, has given much concern to the enactment of wise and beneficent laws for the promotion of the common schools, in providing means for their support, and in keeping the common schools abreast of the times in educational methods. One of these wise provisions is the law making the county superintendent of schools an elective office, giving the voters of each county the right to choose the official who shall have charge of the schools; and there is no office in the county of greater importance than this.
The first superintendent of schools in Chickasaw County was J. C. Strong, who was elected in 1858 and served until 1860. His successors, in the order named, were the following :
G. J. Tisdale, 1860 to 1862; J. A. Sawin, 1862 to 1864; F. D. Bosworth, 1864
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to 1866; J. C. Johnson, 1866 to 1870; W. P. Bennett, 1870 to 1872; J. F. Grawe, 1872 to 1876; W. D. Collins, 1876 to 1880; H. A. Simons, 1880 to 1882; J. A. Lapham, 1882 to 1886; O. A. McFarland, 1886 to 1890; W. J. Nugent, 1890 to - -.
The present county superintendent of schools is Esther H. Swenumson, who has held the office for five years, a fact that speaks well for her qualification.
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONER
Under the old constitution, provision was made for the election of a school fund commissioner for each county. The special duty of this official was to con- tract for the sale of school lands, and loan money received from such sales, and money received from other sources for the benefit of the school fund, on properly secured mortgage. This office was abolished by the constitution adopted in 1858. At the organization of the county it appears that John Bird was elected to this office, though his election does not seem to have been a matter of record. Regarding the rather vague showing of the records pertaining to this office, we cannot do better than quote from "Powers' History and Reminiscences." He says :
"The records in the office show that he ( Bird) acted continuously until Octo- ber 20, 1856, at which time he made a contract with J. A. J. Bird for the sale of northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 16, township 94, north of range 14, west of the principal meridian.
"William F. Wright was elected at the spring election of 1856, but no record was made of the same. We find that he was acting on the 3Ist of July, 1856, when he received a school fund mortgage, which was executed on that day to him as school fund commissioner. It would be impossible, and probably unwise, to reconcile the acting of two school fund commissioners at the same time.
"In 1858, at the April election, C. A. Orvis received 470 votes for the office of school fund commissioner, and R. Baldwin 275. As the office was abolished, Orvis never acted."
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
By act of the Legislature of 1859 a board of supervisors in each county was created, consisting of one member to be elected from each township. This board superseded the county judge in the management of county affairs. In Chickasaw County, with twelve townships, the board of supervisors was composed of twelve members. Following are the names of those who have been elected to that office. and the township each represented, beginning with 1861 :
1861-C. D. Johnson, Bradford : E. Perry, Fredericksburg : E. Darst, Dayton ; J. H. Vantassel, Washington; F. D. Bosworth, Richland; E. W. Davis, Staple- ton ; William Tucker, Chickasaw; M. L. Palmer, Jacksonville; Vinal Thayer, Dresden ; Gideon Gardner, New Hampton; A. Harris, Deerfield; D. R. Kirby. Utica.
1862-The new members elected on this board in 1862 were: William B. Grant, Richland; T. G. Staples, Stapleton ; Russel Baldwin, Chickasaw; D. A. Jackson, New Hampton ; M. P. Choat, Deerfield.
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1863-The new members elected in 1863 were: L. S. Thomas, Bradford; M. B. Taylor, Dayton ; Daniel Kepple, Washington ; Thomas McCarten, Jackson- ville ; Martin Langdon, Dresden; Terance Commerford, Utica.
1864-The new members of the board were: G. W. Butterfield. Bradford; James Upham, Dayton; Hiram Bailey, Richland; William Tucker, Chickasaw ; J. K. Kroniger, New Hampton : W. H. Laribee, Deerfield.
1865-The new members of the board were: E. D. Woodbridge, Bradford ; William Haslam, Dayton; Jonathan Dickenson, Washington; Michael Burns, Stapleton ; William Palmer, Jacksonville; James Goss, Utica.
1866-The new members were: Buel Sherman, Fredericksburg : E. K. Mor- rill. Washington; Robert Johnston, Richland: James Cunningham, Chickasaw; WV. E. Beach, Jacksonville; W. 11. Linderman, Dresden ; Gideon Gardner, New Hampton ; B. R. Darrow, Deerfield.
1867-The new members of the board were: E. H. Hall, Bradford; George McCaughey, Dayton ; B. G. Crofts, Dresden ; E. Shepard, Utica.
1868-The new members on the board in 1868 were :. L. Nourse. Fredericks- burg : II. H. Blodgett, Richland; Patrick Mangan, Stapleton: C. P. Warner, Chickasaw; Francis Dane, Jacksonville; D. A. Jackson, New Hampton ; Frank Loveless, Deerfield ; G. C. Cleghorn, Utica.
1869-The new members were: I. H. Weller. Bradford; Bradford Thayer, Dresden ; T. Commerford, Utica.
1870-The new members were: L. S. Mccrary, Bradford; J. J. Simmons, Richland : Michael Burns, Stapleton; B. G. Crofts, Dresden ; Gideon Gardner, New Hampton ; R. A. Cornish, Deerfield.
A change in representation of the board was made in 1870. Instead of a membership composed of one from each township, the number of members was reduced to three, and the election of these was by the county at large. The following are the names of those elected under this law, and the years in which they served :
William B. Perrin, 1871 to 1873; J. A. Green, 1871 to 1873; D. B. Hana. 1871 ; J. F. Babcock, 1872: W. D. Stafford. 1872 to 1874; E. C. Abbott, 1874: E. R. Dickenson, 1874.
E. R. Dickenson, W. D. Stafford and E. C. Abbott, 1875: E. R. Dickenson, E. C. Abbott, Thomas Kenyon, 1876 and 1877.
The only change in the membership of this board in the years 1878. 1879 and 1880 was the substitution of C. P. Warner for E. C. Abbott, in 1880.
Another change in the law relating to supervisors was made in 1880, increasing the membership to five, and this law has been in force since that time. Under this law the following have composed the board in the years designated :
1881. Thomas Kenyon, C. P. Warner. John Hauser, Hiram Bailey and Charles Commerford. 1882. Thomas Kenyon, C. P. Warner, John Hauser, Charles Com- merford and C. I. Gabrielson. 1883. Charles Commerford. John Hauser. C. L. Gabrielson. T. S. Bradford and Leonard Nourse. 1884. Charles Commerford. T. S. Bradford. C. L. Gabrielson, Louis Nourse and John Frazee. 1885. T. S. Bradford. Louis Nourse. George McCaughey. John Frazee and Charles Com- merford: 1886. John Frazee, Charles Commerford. H. H. Kenyon, H. J. Ditmas and Peter Maires. 1887. H. H. Kenyon. H. J. Ditmas, Peter Maires, Francis Dane and H. A. Conklin. 1888. H. J. Ditmas, Peter Maires. H. A. Conklin, Fran-
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cis Dane and H. H. Kenyon. 1889. H. A. Conklin, Francis Dane, H. H. Kenyon, Peter Maires and H. J. Ditmas. 1890, Peter Maires, H. J. Ditmas, H. H. Ken- von, Alf Oleson, E. Prudhon. 1891, Peter Maires, H. J. Ditmas, H. H. Kenyon, Alf Oleson and E. Prudhon.
The present board of supervisors are : T. W. Munson, W. A. Schilling, W. B. Smith, J. C. Hewitt and William Drape. Mr. Schilling is chairman of the board. Mr. Hewitt succeeds John F. Gray, who was chairman of the board in 1916. All the other members were on the previous board.
SPECIAL ELECTIONS
In addition to the regular elections for county and state officers, there have been a number of special elections held in Chickasaw County, on questions sub- mitted for an expression of the will of the electors of the county. The first of these elections was held October 15, 1856, on the question, "Whether Chickasaw County would take $100,000 of the stock of the McGregor, St. Peter & Missouri River Railroad Company, said road to run by way of Bradford." On this question a total vote of 536 was polled, with a majority of two to one in favor of the proposition. This was nearly the complete vote of the county at that time, show- ing that the people were all interested in the proposition, one way or the other.
Another special election was held April 6, 1857, on the question of granting aid to the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Cedar Valley Branch, to the extent of $100,000. The vote on this proposition was 309 for, and 216 against. Ac the conditions under which these proposed grants were made were not complied with by either of the proposed railroads, the county was not called upon to meet her part of the obligation. At an election held April 5, 1858, the county rescinded the vote cast in favor of both these roads by a large majority.
VOTE ON NEW CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENTS
The constitution adopted by the first constitutional convention, in 1844, was rejected by the vote of the people of the state at an election held August 4, 1845. The constitution adopted by the second constitutional convention, in 1846, was ratified by the people at an election held August 3. 1846. Chickasaw County was not eligible to give an expression on either of these propositions. The third constitutional convention, 1857. adopted a new constitution, which was sub- mitted to the people for ratification at an election held August 3, 1857, at which it was approved by a popular vote of something less than two thousand majority. The Chickasaw vote on this question was 389 votes for and 296 against. The majority for the new constitution in this county, and in the state at large, was not great, but it was sufficient, and took effect by proclamation of the governor, September 3. 1857, and it has served, with several amendments. ever since.
One of these amendments proposed was to strike the word "white" out of certain sections of the constitution relating to suffrage and other qualifications for citizenship. On this question Chickasaw County voted of in favor of the amendment and 109 against the amendment.
On the prohibitory liquor law of 1855 Chickasaw cast 81 votes in the affirmative
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and 53 in the negative. The vote of the county on the prohibition amendment to the constitution at the election held June 27, 1882, was 1,382 in favor of the amendment and 1,068 against the amendment.
On the several other constitutional amendments submitted the vote of Chick- asaw County shows a substantial majority in the affirmative.
Among other special elections held in Chickasaw County was one, November 8, 1864, on the question of appropriating a fund for the construction of county buildings. On this question the vote was 497 in favor and 270 against the propo- sition. At the same time the county voted for an appropriation to build a bridge across the Cedar River at Nashua. At an election held October 9, 1866, the proposition to devote the swamp land fund to the erection of bridges, and to other public improvements, received a majority vote. At an election held in October, 1870, the proposition to establish a high school at Bradford was defeated. At the election held October 16, 1871, the proposition to levy a tax of two mills to purchase a county poor farm and erect necessary buildings thereon was decided in the affirmative by a vote of 1,003 to 435. The several elections on the propo- sition for the removal of the county seat receive sufficient mention in the chapter relating to the county seat contest.
CHAPTER VI
STATE MILITARY HISTORY-CIVIL WAR
EVENTS PRECEDING THE CIVIL WAR-CULMINATION OF THE CONTROVERSY REGARDING SLAVERY-GROWING AGGRESSION OF SLAVE POWER-COMPROMISES INEFFECTUAL- SOUTHERN THREATS TO DISSOLVE THE UNION IN THE EVENT OF DEFEAT-TRAITORS IN BUCHANAN'S CABINET PREPARE FOR THAT EVENT-LINCOLN'S ELECTION FOL- LOWED BY SECESSION OF SOUTHERN STATES-SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY ESTAB- LISHED-LINCOLN INAUGURATED-FALL OF FORT SUMTER-CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPRESS REBELLION-IOWA'S READY RESPONSE-LIST OF REGIMENTS FUR- NISHED-BRILLIANT RECORD OF SERVICE RENDERED IN WAR FOR THE UNION.
As anomalous as the statement may appear, war has been the most potent agency in the history of human progress, and in the advancement of civilization. War has characterized the progress of people and nations in all the history of the human race. War may seem out of harmony with religion and Christianity, but it was not so in Bible times, and it has not been so in all the ages that have inter- vened since. Many of the great characters of the Bible were noted men of war, and some of the most bloody battles of history are recorded in the sacred volume. It was through war and bloodshed that God's chosen people were established and made the great nation of promise ; and these wars were waged for conquest, under divine direction and approval.
Not all wars are just wars. Aggressive wars have been waged by strong nations for the conquest of weaker ones, or to uphold the regal power and "divine right" of kings; and defensive wars have been fought to uphold and advance the rights and liberties of the people, or to maintain established governments. Of all the great nations of the civilized world, the United States is one of the few, if not the only one, that has never declared war except to defend her institutions, or to secure greater liberties for downtrodden humanity.
One of the greatest wars in history was the Civil war, of 1861 to 1865, known as the War of the Rebellion, in which the North fought to preserve the Union of states, against the South, engaged in armed rebellion with the purpose of dis- solving the Union and establishing a Southern Confederacy. This war was the culmination of a long controversy in regard to the slavery question, a question that had its origin almost from the beginning of the American Republic. Slavery
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was introduced in America in 1620, when a Dutch trader sold a few negroes to the planters of the Jamestown colony. The custom of owning negro slaves became popular and gradually spread to the other colonies, but by 1819 seven of the original thirteen colonies had made provisions for the emancipation of slaves within their borders.
The first clause of section 9, article 1, of the Federal Constitution provided that "The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit shall not be prohibited by Congress prior to the year 1808."
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