USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 45
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The October election in 1858 was a closely contested one in this county.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
There were 983 votes cast. The Republi- cans carried the county by an average majority of 155 on the State ticket. On the county ticket the Democrats succeeded in electing Maynard F. Stiles County Judge by a majority of 74. For Clerk of the District Court, John M. Scott, Re- publican, was opposed by Samuel L. Hig- enbotham, Democrat. On the first can- vass of votes the county canvassers de- clared that John M. Scott had 481 votes, and Samuel L. Higenbotham had 477. This case was contested by Mr. Higenbot- ham, and the referees decided he was en- titled to the certificate of election. Mr. Scott then appealed the case to the District Court, and there the Judge decided that the referees were wrong in their decision, and that Mr. Scott was entitled to the of- fice, and rendered a verdict in his favor for the fees received during the time Mr. Higenbotham was in posession of the of- fice, together with all costs in the case.
In 1859 there were both State and county officers to be elected, and the contest was again sharp in Hardin county. A full vote was cast-the largest in the history of the county. S. J. Kirkwood, afterward well known as the "War Governor " of Iowa, was the Republican, and A. C. Dodge the Democratic candidate for the office of Gov- ernor. Mr. Kirkwood received a majority of 187 out of a total vote of 1103. John Scott, Republican, for State Senator, was opposed by Henry L. Huff, Democrat. Mr. Scott received a majority of 151 in this county . J. H. Cusack, Republican, for County Judge, had as an opponent May- nard F. Stiles, Democrat, who had served one year in the office. Mr Cusack received
a majority of 42. Every officer on the Republican ticket was elected.
The country was now becoming deeply moved over questions which stirred the popular heart as none had ever done be- fore. The storm had been gathering 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 skilfully 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 Se- ward, 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 mention of Lincoln's name was received with cheer after cheer. Three ballots were taken, on the last Mr. Lincoln received a majority of the whole votes, and was made the unani- mous choice of the convention, amidst the' most intense enthusiasm. Hannibal Ham- lin, of Maine, was selected as the candidate for Vice-President.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
The Democratic National convention was called to meet at Charleston, South Carolina. The friends of Stephen A. Douglas were active in urging his claims to the nomination for the Presidency, many of the delegates from the Northern States being instructed to use all honor- able means to that end. The claims of Douglas were stoutly contested by the leaders of the Democracy of the South, and it was evident some time before the convention assembled that it would be dif- ficult to come to an agreement, especially as the rule of the Democratic National Conventions required a two-thirds vote to nominate. Meeting iu the city of Charles- ton, April 23, 1860, the convention re- mained in session ten days, at the expira- tion of which time no nominations were made, many of the delegates from the Southern States withdrawing. After tak- ing fifty-seven ballots it was found impos- sible for any candidate to receive a two- thirds vote of the entire body, so many delegates having withdrawn. An adjourn- ment was then had to Baltimore June 19. At this latter place the convention met pursuant to adjournment, but even here no agreement could be reached between the factions. After a six days' meeting Stephen A. Douglas was nominated for President and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, for Vice-President. The nomination of Doug- las was received with very great enthusi- asm. Mr. Fitzpatrick declining, Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, was substituted. Mr. Johnson accepted the nomination.
That portion of the convention which seceded held a convention June 23, and nominated John C. Breckenridge, of Ken- tucky, for President, and Joseph Lane, of
Oregon, for Vice-President. A "Union" convention was also held, at which John Bell, of Tennessee, was nominated for President, and Edward Everett, of Massa- chusetts, for Vice-President.
With four presidential candidates in the field, the exciting questions growing out of the institution of slavery and the threats of disunion by a portion of the South in the event of the election of Lincoln, tended to make the campaign one of great inter- est. "Wide-Awake" clubs and organiza- tions of "Hickory Boys" on the part of Republicans and Douglas Democrats, re- spectively, tended to increase the excite- ment. Large and enthusiastic meetings- were held by each party in all the leading towns and cities, and even in many of the smaller villages. The names of the "Rail- Splitter" and the "Little Giant" evoked the greatest enthusiasm.
The Republican State Convention met in Iowa City May 23, nominated a State ticket, and adopted a platform endorsing the action of the National Convention at Chicago, endorsing its nominations and favoring rigid economy in State matters. The Democratic convention met at Des Moines July 12, nominated a State ticket, and passed resolutions endorsing Douglas and Johnson. The "Union ticket" was strongly condemned.
In this county the fight was waged as hard as in any county in the State. There was but one county officer. to be elected- Clerk of the District Court-consequently there was but little to attract from the great National questions. Lincoln's ma- jority in the county was 331.
The war for the Union was in progress during the political campaign of 1861, and
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
issues growing out of that war were form- ing.
The Republicans were the first to meet in convention, assembling in DesMoines July 31, and nominated a candidate for Governor and other State officers, and adopted a platform heartily supporting the Government in its assertion of theright to coerce, denouncing the doctrine of seces- sion, maintaining the supremacy of the Constitution, and declaring in the most forcible language thatthe Rebellion should be put down at any cost.
The Democratic State Convention passed resolutions also unequivocally condemning the action of the seceding States, but de- claring it to be the legitimate result of the successful teaching of the "irrepressible conflict," and also denying in toto the right of the Government to perpetuate the Union by force of arms. State sovereignty was endorsed, and the opposite doctrine declared to be fraught with disastrous con- sequences.
The campaign in this county afforded but little interest, the all-exciting questions of the war filling the mind of every voter. A very light vote was cast, the Democrats having but three regular nominees for local offices. The Republicans were succes- ful by large majorities.
The Union army had met with sev- eral reverses during the year 1862, and a gloomy feeling pervaded the minds of the people, having its effect upon the canvass for State officers.
The Democrats met in convention at DesMoines, and adopted a platform in which they expressed themselves as in fa- vor of using all constitutional means for the suppression of the rebellion, and op-
posed to any scheme of confiscation and emancipation; opposed to a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus; declaring the superiority of the white over the black race, and opposed to the purchase of the slaves.
The Republicans, in their platform adopted at DesMoines, resolved that it was the duty of every man to help maintain the Government, condemned the course of secession sympathizers, and asked all fa- vorable to giving the national administra- tion honest support to co-operate with them.
In this county the vote was lighter than in 1861. J. M. Scott, for Clerk of the Dis- trict Court, had no opposition.
The Democracy of the State met in con- vention at DesMoines July 8, 1863, and nominated a candidate for Governor and other State officers. Questions growing out of the war still afforded issues between parties. The writ of habeas corpus had been suspended by the President; martial law had been declared in some of the States not in rebellion, and the proclama- tion of emancipation had been issued. These measures the Democracy in conven- tion and by resolution opposed, while the Republican Convention, which convened June 17, favored each. These were the issues defined .
Hardin county had a representative on the State ticket in the person of E. W. Eastman, who was nominated for Lieuten- ant-Governor, and who received the larg- est majority ever previously given any candidate for State office. The Repub- licans and Democrats had both full county tickets, and a much larger vote was polled than at any time since the Presidential
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
election of 1860. Every candidate on the Republican ticket was elected, receiving a large majority on the home vote, which was increased by the vote of the soldiers in the field, the latter voting almost unan- imously for that ticket.
Abraham Lincoln was re-nominated by the Republicans, and associated with him on the ticket was Andrew Johnson, the Union Governor of Tennessee. The Dem- ocrats put in nomination Gen. George B. McClellan for the Presidency and George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, for the Vice-Presi- dency. The Republicans of Iowa held a convention at DesMoines, July 7, and adopted a platform confirming the re-nom- ination of Abraham Lincoln, and paying high tributes of praise to the loyal soldiers and soldiers' wives who were daily making sacrifices that the Union might be saved. The Demecratic State Convention met at DesMoines, July 16, selected a State ticket, but adopted no platform. A peace con- vention, however, was held at Iowa City, August 24, which adopted resolutions de- nouncing the war and its further support, and rejecting the equality of the negro with the white man. An increase of the vote over 1863 was had in this county. There were two county officers to be elected-Clerk of the District Court and Recorder. There were 1,201 votes cast for the candidates for the former office, of which R. F. Ripley, Republican, received 901, and T. H. Robinson, Democrat, 300. For Recorder, E. S. Sawin, Republican, was elected over E. S. Ensign, Democrat, by a majority of 591.
In 1865 the Republicans were first in the field, meeting in convention at Des Moines June 14, nominating a ticket and
adopting a platform. The Union Anti- Negro Suffrage party met at the Capital August 23 and nominated a ticket, and adopted a platform in which they resolved to sustain the administration of Andrew Johnson; that they were opposed to negro suffrage; that the soldiers of the late war deserved well of their countrymen, and that their sympathies were with them. The Democrats met in convention the same day, but made no nominations, the party supporting the Soldiers' ticket as it was known.
In this county the parties were some- what divided on local issues. J. H. Cusack had been re-nominated for Treasurer, and was opposed by many of the party. L. E. Campbell, a Republican, was placed in the field in opposition, and was elected over Mr. Cusack by a majority of 243. Ellis Parker, for County Judge, had no oppo- sition. Elias Jessup, for Superintendent of Common Schools, had no opposition, although 26 votes were cast for E. S. Ensign. On the question of granting bounty to soldiers who went out under the first call of the President, equal to that given at a later day, there were 534 votes cast for and 244 against.
The campaign of 1866 was fought on the issue of reconstruction in the Southern States. The Republicans in convention resolved that the people who subdued the rebellion and their representatives in Congress had the right to reorganize the States that had been in rebellion. This was denied by some of the Republicans and the entire Democratic party. The conservative Republicans, or those who were opposed to Congressional action, met in convention and nominated a State
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
ticket. £ The Democratic convention adopted a platform, nominated two candi- dates, and resolved to support the ticket of the Conservatives. The Republican State officers received a majority of about 670 in this county. The county ticket nominated by the Republicans was also elected by about the same average majority as that given the State officers. There was a large increase in the vote this year.
The general issues dividing the parties in 1867 were the same as in 1866. Full State and county tickets were nominated by both parties. In this county the Re- publicans were successful by majorities ranging from 644 to 707, except on Repre- sentative in the General Assembly and County Treasurer. Thomas B. Knapp was the regular nominee of the Republi- cans for the former office, and was opposed by Samuel R. Edgington, Independent Republican, and Jesse Foster, Democrat, Mr. Knapp was elected by a majority of 6. L. E. Campbell, regular Republian, was opposed by Madison Greer, Independent Republican, and A. S. Root, Democrat. Mr. Campbell was elected by 173 majority.
The year 1868 brought with it another Presidential campaign. The Republican National Convention met in Chicago and placed in nomination Ulysses S. Grant, the victorious Union general, associating with him Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana. The Democratic National Convention nominated Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair, Jr., for President and Vice-Presi- dent. The financial question began to be a leading issue, especially with reference to the payment of the bonds in coin or greenbacks, the Republicans favoring the payment in coin, the Democrats opposing.
The latter also, by resolution, favored the abolition of the national banking system, and the substitution of United States notes for those of national banks. This was opposed by the Republicans. Full State and county tickets were nominated, and the largest vote was polled ever cast at any election in the county, being 2,121. The average majority of the Republican can- didates was 1,050.
In 1869 a very light vote was cast in comparison with the previous year. The Republicans were sure of success, while the Democrats acknowledged their inabil- ity to accomplish anything, save the keep- ing alive of their organization. The average Republican majority was about 800.
The general election in 1870 was devoid of much interest in Hardin county, though a much larger vote was cast than in 1869. Full State and county tickets were nomi- nated by each party. The highest vote cast in this county was on Secretary of State, being 1,911. The average Republi- can majority on State and county officers was 950.
The election of 1871 was but a repeti- tion of 1870, so far as general results were concerned. A glance at the official vote in this chapter will show the result.
The movement known as the Liberal Republican had a large influence, politi- cally, in 1872, having virtually dictated the Democratic nomination for the presi- dency, and the platform of principles on which the campaign against the Republi- can party was dictated. The Liberal Re- publicans were those connected with the Republican party who were opposed to any extreme measures in the reconstruc-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
tion of the Southern States, and who be- lieved the time had come when past issues should be forgotten, and new issues formed; that the hand of reconciliation should be offered the South, and a united country, working together to build up the waste places of the South. Many of the most able men of the Republican party, in- cluding Horace Greeley, Charles Sumner, Lyman Trumbull, John M. Palmer and others, united in this movement. In May a National Convention was held by the Liberal Republicans, in Cincinnati, which nominated Horace Greeley for President and B Gratz Brown for Vice-President. The following is a synopsis of the resolu- tions adopted:
]. Equality of all men before the law; equal and exact justice to all, without re- gard to race, color or previous condition.
2. Opposition to the reopening of all questions settled by the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the constitution.
3. Demand for the immediate and ab- solute removal of all disabilities imposed on account of the rebellion.
4. Local self-government; supremacy of the civil over the military, and demand for the largest individual liberty consistent with public order.
5: Denunciation of the existing system of civil service.
6. Demand for a system of federal tax- ation which should not unnecessarily in- terfere with the industries of the people; reference of the tariff to the congressional districts.
7. Demand for civil service reform, and for the election of President for a single term only.
8. Maintenance of public credit and denunciation of repudiation .
9. A speedy return to specie payment. 10. Thanks to the citizen-soldiers and sailors of the Republic.
11. Opposition to further grants to rail- roads.
12. Cultivation of friendship with all nations; regarding alike dishonorable, either to demand what is not right or sub- mit to what is wrong.
The Democracy in convention ratified the nominations of Greeley and Brown, and adopted the platform of the Liberal Republicans. The Republicans renomin- ated President Grant, and associated with him on the ticket Henry Wilson, of Massa- chusetts, for Vice-President. The disaffec- tion among the Democrats in consequence of the nomination of Horace Greeley, a life-long political enemy, was so great that a third ticket was nominated, at the head of which was Charles O'Connor, the dis- tinguished lawyer of New York. The Democrats and Liberal Republicans met in State Convention and nominated a ticket composed of two Democrats and three Liberal Republicans, and passed a resolution endorsing the nomination of Greeley. The Liberal ticket in this county did not meet with much encouragement, the vote given it being only that number usually polled by the Democratic nominees. The total vote at this election was 2,338, the highest ever polled. The Republican majority was about 1,250 on an average.
The question of Capital vs. Labor en- gaged the attention of the people in 1873. The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines June 25, and after nominating candidates adopted resolutions declaring
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
against monopolies, and urging that the several States should carefully restrict the powers of the railroad companies and other monopolies. Class legislation was also demanded. The Democratic party of the State made no regular nomination this year, but generally supported the Anti- Monopoly ticket. A convention was held at DesMoines August 12, nominated can- didates, and adopted resolutions declaring that the old party organizations were no longer useful, denouncing corruption in Government affairs, and urging the neces- sity of political honesty . In this county the new movement met with a good deal of favor, and Mr. Frisbie, candidate on that ticket for County Auditor, was elected, over A E. Arnold, by a majority of 58 out of a total of 2,020. A. E. Webb, the Anti-Monopoly candidate for Sheriff, was elected over L. G. Hunt by a majority of 114. The remainder of the Republican ticket was elected by majorities ranging from 122 to 472.
In 1874 the issues were the same as in the previous year, and the Anti-Monopo- lists made a gallant fight in this county, as well as in the State, but were defeated in · both. The Republican majorities ranged from 161 to 562, the latter being received by Job Stout for Recorder.
A convention was called to meet at Des Moines June 24, 1875, to be composed of Democrats, Anti-Mopolists and Liberal Republicans. Assembling, a ticket was nominated headed by Shepherd Lefler for Governor, and a platform of principles adopted covering the principal ground of belief of the three elements represented. The Republicans met in convention and nominated S. J. Kirkwood for Governor.
A temperance convention was also held, and Rev. John H. Lozier nominated for Governor. The latter received 33 votes in this county. On State officers the Repub- licans carried the county by majorities ranging from 809 to 952. On local affairs the Republicans were successful by major- ities ranging from 91 to 432. John Hall, Independent, was elected Representative over F. A. Moore, Republican, by 115 votes.
The election in 1876 was for National, State and county officers. Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler were the Republican candidates for President and Vice-President, while Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks received the nomination of the Democratic party for the same offices. Peter Cooper was the nominee of the Independent party or Grenbackers for President. The hard times which began in 1878 had a percepti- ble effect upon this campaign. The Dem- ocratic party, which for some years had been acting on the defensive, when not allied to some other political body, now assumed the aggressive, and under the banner of "Tilden and Reform," forced the Republicans in the defensive. On the part of the Democrats the campaign was boldly conducted, though it cannot truth- fully be said that Tilden was the choice of the Nation, especially of the Western ele- ment of the party.
In this State the Greenbackers held two conventions, at the first of which it adopted a
platform containing their principal tenets.
The Republicans adopted as a platform substantially the following points: 1, Unity of the Nation; 2, Economy in the admin-
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Ellis Parker
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IHISTORY OF IIARDIN COUNTY.
istration of the Government; 3, A currency convertible with coin; 4, all railway and other corporations to be subject to the law- making power. The Democrats adopted but a single resolution approving the plat- form of the National Democratic Conven- tion and the nominations of Tilden and Hendricks.
The Independents, or Green backers, also put in nomination a State ticket.
The Republicans were successful in this county by a large majority on all their candidates. There were 3,296 votes cast, the largest in the history of the county .
. In 1877 State tickets were nominated by Democrats, Republicans, Greenbackers and Prohibitionists. The latter had for a candidate Elias Jessup, of Hardin county. Mr. Jessup polled 154 votes in the county. The Republican majorities ranged here from 549 to 1,024. There were three local tickets, by Republicans, Greenbackers and Democrats.
In 1878, State tickets were nominated by Greenbackers, Democrats and Republicans. Subsequently a fusion was effected by the Democrats and Greenbackers, and a por- tion of the nominees of each of their State tickets were chosen as the choice of both parties. The result in this county is seen by the official vote.
The campaign of 1879 was opened May 12, by the Democracy meeting in conven- tion and nominating a State ticket, headed by H. H. Trimble for Governor. A lengthy platform was adopted. The Greenbackers were next in the field, their ticket being headed by Daniel Campbell for Governor. The Republicans met and nominated John H. Gear for Governor, together with a full State ticket. Lastly, the Prohibitionists
met and placed in nomination George T. Carpenter, of Mahaska, for Governor. Mr. Carpenter declining, D. R. Dungan, of Eldora, was substituted. The Republicans nominated a straight ticket, while the op- position combined on a "People's ticket," composed of Independent Republicans, Greenbackers and Democrats. On the State ticket the Republicans carried the county from 1,292 to 1,414 majority. D. R. Dungan, for Governor, had 203 votes. Stephen Whited, regular Republican, had a majority of 1,239 over Cady Swain, In- dependent Republican, for Auditor. P. J. Cowan, regular Republican, for Treasurer, was almost unanimously elected. E. P. Stubbs, Republican, for Surveyor, had no opposition .
The general campaign in 1880 began quite early, especially among aspirants for office, and their friends. The preliminary canvass for the nomination grew quite warm as both Republicans and Democrats were alike confident that they would suc- ceed in the National struggle. James A. Garfield received the Republican nomina- ation for President, and associated with him on the ticket was Chester A. Arthur for Vice-President. Winfield S. Hancock was nominated for President by the Dem- ocrats, and with him was William H. Eng- lish for Vice-President. James B. Weaver and Gen. Chambers for President and Vice-President, respectively, on the Na- tional or Greenback ticket. The canvass was pushed with vigor, the Democratic and Republican parties each using their utmost endeavors to be successful. The National party, under the lead of Weaver, also endeavored to increase its votes, Mr. Weaver making speeches in more than
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