USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 26
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 26
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Old Mr. Mitchell, too, strongly objected to going, and wanted to stay and fight it out, and at first declared he would not go, but finally was persuaded to accompany the rest. It was warm weather and there were but two horse teams in the train, all the balance being oxen. The settlers, too, had gathered up most of their cattle, and as they were driven along their pro- gress was necessarily tedious and slow. They passed within a mile or so of Downs' Grove and the Downs family seeing the wagons, came out. To the excited imag- inations of the fugitives, the panic-stricken family, who it seems had also heard some- thing of the Indian troubles, became bloodthirsty savages who had already murdered Downs' family, and now sallied forth from the grove to massacre the emi- grants, pillage the train and exterminate the white population of Franklin county at one blow: Flight was impossible so a halt was ordered, and the little party disposed in as good order as possible for defense. Happily, however, the precau- tions were needless, and the train forth-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
with proceeded on its way, augmented by the Downs' family who having no team, accompanied it on foot. Where the Mc- Cormick family were at this time does not appear, but they were probably at Hardin City spending the fourth and had not yet returned home.
At night they camped and sentinels were posted, and let it be recorded that Miss Smith, the pioneer teacher of Franklin county, insisted on taking her turn in standing guard with the rest.
In about three days they reached their destination and most of them camped near where the village of New Hartford now IS, some of them going to Cedar Falls.
The two elder sons of Mr. Allen, to- gether with Hogan and Tatum, had gone back to Janesville to spend the fourth, and at that place heard of the Indian trouble, and while one of the boys and Hogan joined a company who were going up to Clear Lake to learn the exact state of af- fairs, the other one and Tatum returned to Allen's Grove after the families, bringing them down to Janesville where they re- mained nearly two months, returning about the first of September.
Of the party who went to Beaver Grove some of them returned in abouttwo weeks while some stayed until after harvest, and returned to find the most of their sod corn and vegetables destroyed by what stock they had left at home.
It is doubtful whether Mayne ever re- turned with his family to the grove after this time or not. His claim, as has been stated, had been "entered out" and late in the summer he left for Missouri in about the same style, and just about as rich in this world's goods as he had come into
Franklin county, two years before. He was a remarkable man in many respects and there was something mysterious about him that none of his neighbors ever solved. From what his wife said he was from In- diana and had always been just on the verge of civilization, dividing his time between trapping, hunting and making claims. He never referred to his past life, and from this it was inferred that he had committed some deed for which he had fled westward.
He was quick-witted and sharp in many things but exceedingly superstitious and distrustful. When going on a hunting expedition he never took his gun and went out of doors, but always went out without it, and had his wife bring it out to him. This he fancied brought him good luck, and it is said that he would wait for hours before setting forth upon a hunt when his wife was absent, for her to return and hand him out his gun. He could neither read nor write and as his name was given to the grove where he resided and the creek that runs through it, it is spelled on all old maps as "Main," but in later years W. N. Davidson, Esq., an attorney of Hampton, drew a large map of the county and in lettering the creek adopted the plan of spelling the name "Mayne," and this method of spelling it generally prevails at present. Of Mayne's subsequent history we have never heard anything, yet it is fair to presume, that if alive, he is some- where at the heels of the buffalo and the Indian in the far west.
Amon and Urias Rice have been men- . tioned as locating at Four Mile Grove in June, 1854. They arrived there on the 25th of June and moved into the house
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
with Job Garner who lived on the Boots place. With the family of Amon Rice came a sister of Mrs. Rice's, Anna Scott, (now Mrs. J. B. Goldsborough) who is a resident of Hampton at the present time, and was one of the party at Mr. John Mitchell's, on the 4th of July, but she states that instead of the Indian scare be- ing the night following, it was the Sunday night following although she cannot now recollect what day in the week the 4th came on. The news was brought to the families of Garner and the Rices, by one of the VanHorns, who had been up to his claim on the farm where C. J. Mott now resides just north of Hampton, and was then on his way back to his family near Janesville, in Bremer county. It now appears probable that VanHorn must have been the one who also carried the news to the settlement at Mayne's Grove, prob- ably to Moon's on the J. D. Parks place. VanHorn came to Garners before bed- time and the families immediately set about making preparations for departure. Garner's people had quite a number of chickens and the thrifty housewife con- cluded that the best method of taking them along was to kill, pick and cook them, which job took nearly all night to accomplish, and when daylight came, all were loaded up and on the way down Mayne's creek. They camped the first night at the "Horse-neck," near Willough- by, in Butler county, which must have been a pretty good drive for ox-teams. The next day they went to Cedar Falls. The Garner family remained away about three weeks and Amon Rice's about four. Urias Rice did not return to the county at all.
Mention has been made of Peter Rhine- hart's selling his claim (the Haines place) to a man named Loomis who came out with C. M. Leggett, in June. Immediately after the Indian "hegira" Rhineheart went still farther down the creek and made a claim where W. B. Bryan now lives, and where William Ward lived for several years. There just above the spring on the side hill he built a double log house that was imposing in its dimensions in those days The same house was afterwards torn down and moved to Hampton, and stood until about 1877 on the front of the lots now occupied by Major Kellam's resi- dence on Reeve street.
Rhinehart got well settled in his new house in November and about the same time a man named Carnes came and made a claim where Richard Horner now lives and built there. Of him we know scarcely anything excepting that his wife died that winter and that he left the county a year or so afterwards.
Silas Moon sold his claim on the J. D. Parks place in September to a man named McCrary or McCreery and also went far- ther down the creek, locating where A. D. Benson now lives. About the same time a man named Henry W. Smith came and made a claim on the old Perdue place, now also owned by Benson, and built a house. Later still in the fall, Quincy A. Jordan, from Illinois, came and taking the claim where Rufus Benson re- sides, built a large log house there. Jor- dan was pretty well-to-do in this world's goods and had furniture and family clothing, considerably ahead of the aver- age of his neighbors. Jordan's people brought with them a little Swiss girl, ap-
.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
parently ten or twelve years of age, of whom they made a sort of a menial. The child could not speak a word of the Eng- lish language, but seemed unhappy and wretched, and in a couple of months after the arrival of the family here, two men, dressed and appearing like gentlemen, came on and took the child away. No explanations were made to the neighbors, but it was reported in the community at the time, that Jordan was compelled to pay the men quite a respectable sum as damages. Nothing further was ever known about the matter.
In December, 1854, a subscription school was started in one room of Rhinehart's double log house and Miss Anna Scott, although not yet fifteen years of age, was engaged as its teacher. The school con- tinued through the winter with good suc- cess. Spelling schools were frequent and the whole population of the settlement would turn out. This was the second school taught in the county, the first being that of Miss Smith, (Mrs. Mitchell) already mentioned.
CHAPTER XI.
POLITICAL.
The political history of a country is | always one of general interest, and espe- cially is this true in a free land, where in the eyes of the law, all are upon an equal- ity, where it has been shown that even the humblest-the rail-splitter or the tow- path boy-can attain the highest honor that can be bestowed upon the American citizen. We delight to see merit rewarded; we are pleased with the onward progress of one from the humblest walks of life, as step by step he mounts the ladder of fame. Every citizen has a political am- bition and although he may never reach the highest pinnacle, there is a possibility that his children may.
There is an excitement about a political campaign which all enjoy, and although
personalities are often indulged in, as a general thing all yield gracefully to the verdict of the people, a majority vote, and submit themselves unto the "powers that be."
In this chapter it is designed to briefly sketch the political history of Franklin county, giving the various general and local issues that entered into each cam- paign, and to so trace the political straws that the reader may know which way the tide runs.
Franklin county was organized by the election of officers to fill the various coun- ty offices, in August, 1855. Since that time there has never been held a regular democratic convention for the nomination of county officers. The contest has always
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0
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HISTORY OF FRANKIN COUNTY.
been between the republican nominees and independent candidates, the latter usually under the head of "peoples'," "farmers"" or "independent ticket."
In 1856 former issues dividing political parties had disappeared and new issues were being rapidly formed. The whig party had ceased to exist, and on its ruins had been erected two other parties, one having for its central truth opposition to the further extension of slavery, and the other that American-born citizens must rule America. These parties had, of course, absorbed many of the members of the old democratic party. The American party, not being opposed to slavery, or, at least, making no opposition to it, either in the States in which it existed or the newly formed territories, where it had been made subject to admission by the re- peal of the Missouri Compromise, had be- come a numerous body in the South, with many adherents in the North. The repub- lican party, basing its claims for popular suffrage upon its advocacy of freedom in the territories, was not permitted an exist- ence in the southern States, and of ne- cessity was confined to the North. The first State convention by the newly organ- ized republican party was held at Iowa City, February 22, and placed a ticket in the field for State officers, and adopted a platform in accordance with the princi- ples of equal rights and firm opposition to slavery. The democratic convention met at the capitol, June 26, nominated a ticket, and adopted a platform in accord- ance with that adopted at the National Convention at Cincinnati. The nomina- tion of James Buchanan and John C. Breckenridge was enthusiastically con
firmed. In Franklin county the newly or- ganized party had a regular ticket in the field. For president the vote stood: John C. Fremont, republican, 110; James Bu- chanan, 32; republican majority, 78.
The April election, 1857, was for coun- ty attorney, clerk of court and assessor, all important offices. Robert F. Piatt was elected to the former by a majority of 8 over Benjamin Butterfield, the vote standing 85 to 77; For clerk the vote stood S. C. Brazzelton, 79 J. A. Guthrie, 72, and Solomon Brazzelton, 18. For assessor John I. Popejoy was successful over Wil- liam Thorpe by a majority of 21.
The October election, 1857, was for governor, lieutenant-governor, a repre- sentative in the General Assembly and county officers. A light vote was cast, Ralph P. Lowe, republican, for governor, receiving 70 votes, against Ben M. Sam- uels, democrat, 32.
The first hotly contested campaign in Franklin county took place concern- ing the August election, 1857. The strife between Maysville and Hampton for the county seat caused a division in political matters at this election for the first time, that was the controlling element in every election held in the county for twelve years thereafter. Judge Reeve, who had been elected county judge at the organi- zation of the county in 1855, was a candi- date for re-election to that office, which was the most important in the county. He was in favor of retaining the county seat at Hampton-although he lived much nearer Maysville-as he held that good faith required it should remain there, af- ter the unanimous vote removing it from "Jefferson." Dr. Mitchell, on the con-
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trary, was strong for removing it to Mays- ville, where he had built and owned a steam saw mill, and was regarded at that time as its leading citizen. He was put forward to oppose Judge Reeve. Isaac Miller, county treasurer, who had been elected in 1855, was a candidate for re- election, but sympathized with Maysville, and was supported by its citizens. He had before this traded farms with George Ryan, and removed to the farm now owned by J. D. Parks, in Reeve township. Against him the Hampton faction ran a young man named Milton Clover, who ยท had lately come to the county, and was boarding at Uncle Job Garner's. He seems to have been selected mainly be- cause nothing could be said against him, rather than for any especial qualifications. H. P. Allen, for county surveyor, and A. S. Ross, for sheriff, had no opposition. The vote for county judge was canvassed by R. F. Piatt, who signed himself "Pros. Att'y and ex-officio Co. Judge," and jus- tices Boyles and Utley. They declared Dr. Mitchell elected county judge, he hav- ing, according to their returns, received 109 votes, and Judge Reeve 108. Judge Reeve officiated as canvasser in the vote for county treasurer, assisted by Boyles and Utley, and they declared Clover elected county treasurer, he receiving 107 votes, Miller 104, and Isaac N. Dodd 5. The returns were certified to on the 8th of August, and on the 10th, Judge Reeve filed the necessary papers to contest the election of Dr. Mitchell, and on the same day, Miller filed notice of contest against Clover. As these two contests were of great importance at that time, the record of the trial is given in full :
" Contested election in Franklin county for the office of treasurer and recorder, Isaac Miller, contestant vs. Milton Clover, incumbent. Contestant's statement filed Aug. 8, 1857. Bond filed and approved Aug. '10, 1857. Precept issued Aug. 13, 1857. Contestant filed his nomination Aug. 18, 1857, to-wit : George H. Ing- ham. The incumbent having failed to nominate an associate judge, as required by law, the county judge appoints for him William H. Thompson, on the 18th of August, 1857." (The above entry was made by the court.)
"Parties appeared at the time set forth in the notices. Now came the incumbent, by his attorneys, and filed his answer, and made a motion as follows : That the pro- ceedings in this case be dismissed for the following causes : That William H. Thompson, one of the judges in this case, was not legally appointed ; that the notice to the incumbent was served on the 14th of August, 1857, and the appointment made on the 18th of August, 1857, as ap- pears on record. James B. Reeve, county judge of Franklin county. Motion argued and overruled by the court, and instructed the clerk to change the records so that they will read that the appointment of William H. Thompson, one of the associ- ate judges in this case, was made by the county judge, on the 20th of August, in- stead of Aug. 18, 1857. To which ruling the incumbent said he would file his bill of exceptions. Now comes the contestant, by his attorney, and moves the court to allow him to file a copy of the original written nomination of W. H. Thompson, as one of the associate judges, appointed by James B. Reeve, county judge, Milton
A
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Clover having failed to appoint within the time allowed by law, the original written nomination having been lost.
The ruling of the court is that the three names alleged to be illegal votes in Wash- ington township be stricken out of the answer, the incumbent will file a bill of exceptions to the rulings of the court or the proceedings. Accordingly, the court adjourned until Friday, Sept. 11, 1857, at 9 o'clock A. M.
Parties appeared and court was called, then adjourned until Saturday, Sept. 12, 1857, at 9 o'clock A. M. Now, to-wit, court was called and parties appeared, then adjourned until Monday, Sept. 19, 1857, at 9 o'clock A. M.
Sept. 14, 1857, parties appeared, and court was called. Now came the ineum- bent, by his attorneys, and filed his affi- davit that R. F. Piatt vacate his seat for cause as a judge in this case, who refused to do so. Now came the incumbent, by his attorneys, and filed his bond of appeal, and notices of appeal being served on Isaac Miller and filed this 14th day of September, 1857, and also notices of appeal served on the judges of said cause. Returned and filed on Sept. 14, 1857.
Court ruled that the trial of the cause should be heard. Now came the incum- bent, by his attorneys, and filed his amended statement. Witnesses on the part of contestant were called and sworn. Court adjourned until Sept. 15, 1857, at 9 o'clock A. M.
Sept. 15, 1857. Now on this day, about one o'clock, court was called. Parties on the part of the contestant appeared and some of the witnesses sworn. The judg- ment of the court is that Isaac Miller is
duly elected to the office of treasurer and recorder of the county of Franklin, and direct that judgment be entered against the incumbent, Milton Clover, for the costs in said suit to be taxed in said case.
Contested election in Franklin county for the office of county judge, James B. Reeve, contestant, vs. S. R. Mitchell, incumbent. Bonds and other necessary papers filed. The incumbent specially came and filed his affidavit setting forth causes therefore. and praying that R. F. Piatt, prosecuting attorney, in and for said county, vacate his seat as a judge in said cause. Affi- davit argued and overruled, whereupon the contestant, by his attorney, asks leave to amend his statement. Refused for the time being, whereupon contestant de- clared himself ready for trial. Witnesses on the part of contestant called and sworn, when contestant, by his attorney, asked to file an amended statement; argued and leave granted. An amended statement filed. Adjourned until Sept. 8, 1857, 9 o'clock A. M.
Sept. 8, 1857. Parties appeared and in- cumbent filed his motion for cause asking that the said contestant's amended state- ment be stricken from the files. Motion argued and overruled. Incumbent, by his attorney, then filed his motion asking that the names of the persons set forth in said amended statement as having voted illegally be stricken out. Without argu- ing, overruled, whereupon incumbent filed an oath, his prayer for continuance of said cause at contestant's cost. Granted, and costs accrued up to the time of filing the amended statement taxed to the contestant and then adjourned ac-
11
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
cordingly until Thursday, Sept. 10, 1857, at 9 o'clock A. M.
Court called at time stated. Parties ap- peared. The incumbent, S. R. Mitchell, came, by his attorneys, and filed his answer to the original statement and also to the amended statement, both of which are on file. Now comes the contestant, by his attorney, and files a demurer. The court overruled the demurer. Now comes the contestant, by his attorney, and asks to amend his amended statement by striking out that William Caywood was not a legal voter from the fact that he was 'not a legal voter at the time' of the late August elec- tion. The court allowed the amendment. Now comes the contestant and files, by his attorney, his replication. Now came the incumbent, by his attorneys, and moved to exclude the poll books, from the fact that they had not been filed in the county office, which motion was overruled. Evi- dence was introduced to identify the pa- pers as being the original poll books, and the court filed them and allowed them to be admitted. The witnesses on the part of the contestant were again called and sworn. Court adjourned until Friday at 7 : 30 o'clock A. M.
According to stated time, parties ap- peared, and court convened. - Now came the contestant, by his attorney, and asked to amend his amended statement. Argued, and then, without ruling on said motion, court adjourned until Saturday.
According to stated time, parties ap- peared, court was called, and then the motion to amend was allowed by adding four new names that did vote in Recve township at the late August election, 1857, as illegal, and also the names of two that
did vote in Morgan township illegally, and also the name of one that did illegally vote in Washington township. Now came the incumbent, by his attorneys, and filed his affidavit and motion to continue the cause until the first Monday in October, 1857, at the cost of the contestant, from the fact that they want to prepare an an- swer to the amended statement. Argued, and court ruled that court adjourn until Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1857, and that the cost of contestant's own witnesses of Sept. 12, 1857, be taxed to contest- ant in said cause. On the 14th of Sep- tember, 1857, the incumbent, by his attor- ney, filed his bond of appeal in this cause. Notice of appeal was issued on Sept. 14, 1857, to James B. Reeve, served and re- turned on the same day, and notice was issned to R. F. Piatt, John I. Popejoy and George H. Ingham, the judges of said cause ; which notice was served, returned and filed Sept. 26, 1857.
Sept. 16, 1857, court was called about one o'clock, the bench to try this cause. Parties appeared on the part of the contest- ant. Witnesses were called, on the part of the contestant, and sworn.
The decision of the coart is that James B. Reeve is duly declared elected county judge of Franklin county, and that judg- ment be entered against S. R. Mitchell, the incumbent, for the costs in this case."
The April election of 1858, was another hotly contested one in Franklin county. The officers to be elected were school fund commissioner and superintendent. George W. Hansell was elected to the former office over Henry Sebroyer, receiv- ing a majority of 23. R. F. Piatt was elected connty superintendent, receiving
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
61 votes, to William C. Boyles 38, and John Staley 17. Boyles contested Piatt's election, but the judges, James Van Horn and T. H. Baker, decided in favor of Piatt.
In 1859, there were both State and county officers to be elected and the con- test was again sharp in Franklin county. A full vote was polled. In Franklin county, the vote on governor stood: S. J. Kirkwood, republican, 201; A. C. Dodge, democrat, 51. For county judge, Henry Shroye received 153 votes, and James B. Reeve, 100. Both e ndidates lived in Reeve township, but Judge Reeve was ac- cused by his neighbors, of favoring Hamp- ton at the expense of Maysville, and con- sequently had his own town against him.
At the sune election, James Thompson had 106 votes fo . county treasurer, John E. Boyles, 88 and Isaae Miller (the incum- bent) 53. For sheriff, F. A. Denton had 86 votes, George Ryan, 58; W. B. Free- burn, 46; G. W. Thompson, 32; J. E. Can- nam, 19; T. C. Riddle, 5; evidently a "free for all" race. Of this canvass, it is told by the old settlers, that Ryan rode over he county in a buggy, driving a fine pair of horses with silver plated harness on (the only outfit of the kind in the coun- ty) while Denton, his successful opponent, made his canvass on foot and wearing clothes that badly needed repairs, thus giving to the "sovereigns" occular demon- stration that he needed he office.
Steve Jones, then editor of the Record, relates that one of the candidates, who only got a few votes for sheriff, came into the Record office to order his tickets. "Now, Steve," said the candidate, "I want my name on every tiekct you print." Steve tried to explain to him that that
was impossible, but was unable to con- vince him. About election time, he called around again and gave Steve a lively shaking-up for having disobeyed his in- structions, and Steve had all he could do to get the misunderstanding satisfactorily adjusted.
The country was now becoming deeply moved over questions which stirred the popular heart as none had ever done be- fore. The storm h d been g'thering ever since the repeal of the Missouri Compro- mise; the struggles in Kansas had deeply intensified the feelings of the people of the North, and John Brown's attempt upon Harper's Ferry had been skillfully managed so as to arouse and heat the people of the South. That the Territories of the United States should be forever consecrated to freedom was the solemn determination of a large majority of the people of the North. and that the boundaries of the institution of slavery should not be further enlarged. The South, seeking its perpetuation by means of enlarged political power, deter- mined that it should not be restricted, but should have enlarged privileges. The questions dividing parties were thus chiefly sectional and pointed directly to war. In this state of public mind the republican party met in National Convention at Chi- cago, for the purpose of placing in the field candidates for the office of President and Vice-President. The names of Sew- ard, Lincoln, Chase, Blair and Bates were proposed for the chief office. In the con- vention it was plain to see who was the favorite of the lookers-on. Every men- tion of Lincoln's name was received with cheer after cheer. Three ballots were taken; on the last, Mr. Lincoln received a
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