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 47
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2,289 -- 1,523
T. I. McChesney, Dem
766
Job Stout
32
Election October, 1881.
Governor.
Buren R. Sherman, Rep.
.1,130-938
L. G. Kinne, Dem.
192
B. M. Clark, Gr
877
Lieutenant-Governor.
O. H. Manning, Rep.
1,135-941
J. M. Walker, Dem
194
James H. Holland, Gr
82
Superintendent Public Instruction.
John W. Akirs, Rep
1,133-941
Walter A. Butter, Dem
192
Mrs. A. M. Swain, Gr
81
Representative.
C. S. Cook, Rep .
. 1,125-957
J. S Smith, Dem
168
Auditor.
Stephen Whited, Rep
.1,110 -- 887
E. M. Smith, Dem.
223
Treasurer.
P. J. Cowan, Rep
1,169 -- 998
S. W. Tash, Dem.
171
Sheriff.
W. V. Wilcox, Rep.
1,140-957
L. P. Bowes, Dem.
183
.
372
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION. -
While unworthy men, at times, may force themselves into office, it cannot but be acknowledged that the great body of office-holders of the country are truly rep- resentative men- men of positive force and character. They are of the number that build up and strengthen a town, a county, or a State. In this chapter, as far as possible, is given sketches of all who have served Hardin county in the Nation, State or county. Some of the sketches are imperfect, but it is not the fault of the his- torian that they are not more complete. Some of the parties have passed away, leaving no record from which a sketch could be obtained, while others have left the county, and their present place of res- idence are unknown.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Hardin county became a part of the Second Congressional District, on its or- ganization, and was represented in the 33d Congress from 1853 to 1855 by John P. Cook, of Davenport. Mr. Cook was a native of the State of New York, and in 1836 came West to Davenport. He was elected a member of Congress as a Whig, and held the views of that party until its dissolution. On the breaking up of the Whig party he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, the principles of which he
labored earnestly to sustain and promulgate, even to the end of his days. His life has been one of great energy and industry . He was by natural instinct a true Western man -a wide-awake, thoroughly active pioneer, who never saw the time when he could lay aside the business harness, and, to all appearances, never wanted to. As a lawyer he had few superiors; was always ready, fluent, and an able advocate, and with these qualities were combined en- ergy, tact and industry; and for years past, and up to the day of his demise, no law firm in the Northwest has stood in better repute than that broken by his death. Mr. Cook died at Davenport April 17, 1872.
James Thorington, of Davenport, ª was the next Representative in Congress from the Second District. He was not a man of extraordinary ability, but was a good politician and wire-puller. He is now a consul in one of the South American States.
Timothy Davis, of Elkader, Clayton county, next served the District from 1857 to 1859, or in the 35th Congress.
William Vandever, of Dubuque, was 'elected a member of the 35th Congress, and re-elected to the 37th. William Van- dever is a native of Maryland. In 1839 he came West, locating in Rock Island, where he remained until 1851, when he
1
G
373
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
moved to Dubuque. In 1855 he formed a partnership with Ben. W. Samuels, of Dubuque, in the practice of law. In 1858 he was elected a member of the 36th Con- gress. IIe made a useful member of that body. While serving his second term, 'he abandoned his seat in Congress, returned home, and raised the 9th Iowa Infantry. of which he was made Colonel. In 1862 he was promoted a Brigadier-General, and at the close of the war was brevetted Major- General Since the close of the war he has held several important public posi- tions.
By the census of 1862 Iowa was entitled to six representatives in Congress. Hardin county, on the State being re-districted, be- came a part of the Sixth District. Its first representative from this District was Asahel W. Hubbard, from Sioux City. He was elected in the fall of 1862, and became a member of the 38th Congress. He was re- elected a member of the 39th and 40th Congresses. He was a native of Connecti- cut, born in 1817. In 1836 he came West to Indiana, and in 1857 to Iowa, locating at Sioux City. He had been in the latter place only one year when he was elected Judge of the Fourth Judicial District. While a member of Congress he served on Committees of Foreign Affairs, Public Expenditures and Indian Affairs. He was very attentive to his duties while in Con- gruss, and served his constituents and the State with unqualified satisfaction.
Charles Pomeroy, of Fort Dodge, was the next Representative in Congress from the 6th District. He was elected in 1868 as a member of the 41st Congress, and served one term.
Jackson Orr, of Boonesboro, succeeded Mr. Pomeroy in 1871,. and served in the 42d Congress as a Representative from the 6th District. Mr. Orr was re-elected as a member from the 9th District, and served in the 43d Congress.
In 1870 it was found the population of the State had increased to a number en- titling it to nine Representatives in Con- gress. In re-districting, Hardin county became a part of the 4th District .. It was first represented by Henry O. Pratt, of Charles City, in the 43d Congress. Mr. Pratt was re-elected in the 44th, and thus served until March, 1877. Mr. Pratt is a native of Maine. He was admitted to the Bar in Mason City, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, in June, 1862. Soon afterward a call was made for 600,000 men by the President. He enlisted as a private in Co. B, 32d Iowa Infantry. He became com- pletely broken down in health in less than a year, and was discharged in the spring of 1863. The following summer, while regaining his heaith, he taught a, small school in Worth county, Iowa. His health being restored, Mr. Pratt commenced the practice of law at Charles City. . As a lawyer he is very candid in the trial of a case; he never tries to defeat the ends of justice, never resorts to clap-trap, and never forgets the dignity of his calling. He is a fluent speaker, and excels as a jury ad- vocate. His record in Congress was cred- itable to himself and constituents.
N. C. Deering was the successor of Mr. Pratt. IIe was elected as a member of the 45th, and re-elected in the 46th and 47th Congresses. He was an influential mem- ber.
374
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Hardin county now forms a part of the 10th Congressional District, the State now being entitled to eleven Representatives in Congress.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
Enoch W. Eastman was elected Lieuten- ant-Governor on the Republican ticket in 1863, and served one term. He made a good presiding officer of the Senate.
STATE TREASURER.
John W. Jones, of Eldora, in 1858 was elected State Treasurer, his term of office commencing January 3, 1859; he was re- elected November 6, 1860, his term of office commencing January 7, 1861, and ending January 5, 1863.
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ..
The Fourth General Assembly convened at Iowa City December 6, 1852, and ad- journed January 24, 1853. At this time Hardin county, though unorganized, with Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Risley, Will, Fox, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmett, Bancroft, Winnebago and Worth consti- tuted one district, with Andrew L. Hull as Senator and J. F. Rice, Joseph C. Good- win and - Benjamin as Representatives.
The Fifth General Assembly convened at Iowa City December 4, 1854, and ad- journed January 26, 1856; also convened in extra session July 2, 1856, and adjourned July 16, 1856. At this time the district was composed of the counties of Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Hardin, Risley, Tell, Fox, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin,
Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmett Bancroft, Winnebago and Worth, and was represented in the Senate by James C. Jordan, who contested thie seat of Theophilus Bryan, the contest being decided in favor of Jordan, January 8, 1856; and represented in the House by Samuel B. McCall. Hardin county was then in the 38th Representative District.
The Sixth General Assembly convened at Iowa City December 1, 1856, and ad- journed January 29, 1857. At this time the district was composed of Fayette, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Har- din, Wright, Webster, Boone, Story, Greene and Humboldt counties. The dis- trict was represented in the Senate by Aaron Brown, of Fayette, and in the House by Walter C. Wilson, of Hamilton county. Hardin was in the 33d Senatorial District and 44th Representive.
The Seventh General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines January 11, 1858, and adjourned March 23, 1858. At this time the district was composed of the counties of Fayette, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Wright, Webster, Boone, Story, Greene and Humboldt, and was represented in the Senate by Aaron Brown, of Fayette, and John L. Dana, of Story, in the House, and was in the 33d Senatorial District and 17th Representa- tive.
The Eighth General Assembly convened at DesMoines January 8, 1860, and ad- journed April 3, .1860; also convened in extra session May 15, 1861, and adjourned May 29, 1861. At this time the counties of Story, Boone, Hardin and Hamilton were in the 41st Senatorial District, and were served by John Scott, of Story.
375
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Hardin county was now comprised of the 30th Representative District, and was served in the House by David Hunt. On the breaking out of the war, on account of his religious convictions as a Friend, and for the reason he could not vote supplies for the prosecution of the war, resigned his office, and Alpheus McIntyre was elected to fill the vacancy.
The Ninth General Assembly convened at DesMoines January 13, 1862, and ad- journed, April 8, 1862. It also con- vened in extra session September 3; 1862, and adjourned September 11, 1862. Hardin was now in the 34th Senatorial District, with the counties of Marshall and Grundy, and was represented by A. M. Preston, of Marshall, and consti- tuted the 46th Representative District, and represented by W. J. Moir.
The Tenth General Assembly convened at DesMoines January 11, 1864, and ad- journed March 29, 1864. At this time the counties of Hardin, Grundy, Black Hawk, Butler and Franklin constituted the 39th Senatorial District, and was represented by Coker F. Clarkson, of Grundy. Hardin county was then in the 45th Representative District, and was · served by William J. Moir.
The Eleventh General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines January 8, 1866, and adjourned April 3, 1866. The 39th Sena- torial District was then composed of Har- din, Grundy and Hamilton, and served by Coker F. Clarkson, of Grundy. Hardin still constituted the 45th Representative District, and was served by Thomas B. Knapp.
The Twelfth General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines January -, 1868.
Hardin county was in the 33d Senatorial District, with Wells S Rice State Senator, and in the 45th Representative District with Thomas B. Knapp as Representa- tive.
The Thirteenth General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines, January, 1870. Wells S. Rice, State Senator from this district, and Henry L. Huff, Representative. Har- din county now comprising the 62d Repre- sentative District.
The Fourteenth General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines January, 1872. Har- din county, in the 34th Senatorial District, with R. Howe Taylor, State Senator; and in the 63d Representative District, L. O. Bliss, Representative.
The Fifteenth General Assembly coll- vened at DesMoines January, 1874. Har- din county in the 29th Senatorial Dis- trict, Elias Jessup, State Senator; and in the 46th Representative District, O. B. Chapin, Representative.
The Sixteenth General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines in January, 1876, Elias Jessup still representing the county in the State Senate, and John Hall Repre- sentative, Hardin county, in the 63d Dis- trict.
The Seventeenth General Assembly con- vened in January, 1878, at DesMoines. Hardin county was represented in the State Senate by D. D. Chase, and in the House by Edward Taylor.
The Eighteenth General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines in January, 1880, D. D. Chase representing Hardin county in the State Senate, and C. M. Nagle in the House. Hardin County now in the 56th Representative District.
376
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
The Nineteenth General Assembly con- vened at DesMoines in January, 1882. Hardin county now formed a part of the 37th Senatorial District, with John L. Kamrar, State Senator, and C. J. Cook, Representative.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The Third Constitutional Convention was held in 1857. S. G. Winchester, of Eldora, represented Hardin county in this convention, which assembled at Iowa City January 19, 1857, and adjourned March 5, 1857. Mr. Winchester is now one of the oldest settlers in Hardin county, and has lived an active life. In the organization of the Old Settlers' Society of Hardin county, in the summer of 1882, he took a very active part.
Sheldon Greenleaf Winchester was born in Chautauqua county, New York, July 17, 1830. His father, Arnold Win- chester, was a farmer; his mother, before her marriage, was Maria Ward, of New York State. Arnold Winchester moved with his family to Pennsylvania, and then to Ohio, while Sheldon was quite young. He spent eight years with his father in Washington county, Ohio, and at sixteen years of age, with eight dollars in his pocket, he started alone for the Far West, beyond the Mississippi. He went down the Ohio on a flat-boat, up the Mississippi as a deck passenger on a steamboat to Keokuk, and thence walked to DesMoines, now the Capital of the State, reaching there with two dollars in his pocket. That was in November, 1846. The garrison buildings and soldiers' barracks, vacated by the mil- itary the previous spring, were all the places of shelter for the few inhabitants of Des Moines. That section of the State was
thrown open that year for pre-emption, the year Iowa assumed its sovereignty.
In 1847 young Winchester went to Fair- field, Jefferson county, and spent a few months in a store; then, drifting eastward, he landed in the Burlington Gazette office, engaging as an apprentice. His lungs were weak, the work was hard for him, and he went to Memphis, Tennesse, and there spent the summer of 1848, returning to Iowa the autumn following. In the spring of 1849 he brought up in Winches- ter, Madison county; building the first house there after the county seat was lo- cated. He sold goods there one year, went to California across the plains in 1850, and spent five years, part of the time mining, part superintending a quartz mill and a saw mill, and for some time running a drug store. Returning again to Iowa, he selected a home in Eldora, where he has since continued to reside, recognized as one of its best and most enterprising citizens. During nearly the whole of this time he has engaged in the mercantile and real estate business. He has been success- ful in both branches, and has accumulated sufficient to render him comfortable the remainder of his days.
Mr. Winchester was the youngest mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1857, and was chosen when barely eligible to the office. He represented eleven coun- ties, the northern part of the State being sparsely settled, particularly west of the river counties and those adjacent. In that convention were some of the ablest men in Iowa. Among them were Judges J. C. Hall, E. Johnson and Francis Springer, and the Hons. J. F. Wilson, W. Penn Clark, R. L. B. Clark, George Ells and
377
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
J. A. Paskin. Owing to his comparative youth and modesty, Mr. Winchester rarely participated in debate; but he was a good listener and diligent in committee, and rendered important service to the State in that body.
In 1861 he was a candidate for the lower House of the General Assembly, and de- feated on a local issue. Ten years later he ran for State Senator, to represent Mar- shall and Hardin counties, but there was a quarrel between the two counties. Both candidates were Republican, and Marshall county having much the larger number of voters, he again failed of election. He has always been a Republican, and has often stumped the county and other parts of the State during an exciting canvass.
On the 4th of October, 1856, he was united in marriage with Mahala E. Ells- worth, of Eldora, and they have had seven children, four of whom are now living.
COUNTY JUDGES.
The first County Judge of Hardin county was Alexander Smith, a native of Virginia, who located here in 1850. He was a man of some natural ability, of limited educa- tion, but good common sense. He served four years. The office of County Judge at this time was of considerable import- ance, that officer discharging all the duties now devolving upon the Board of Super- visors of the county, all probate business, the issuing of marriage licenses, and other duties now discharged by the Circuit Judge.
J. W. Jones succeeded Judge Smith in 1857. Judge Jones came with his parents to Iowa when it was a Territory, locating in DesMoines county, from which place he
went to Oskaloosa, and from there to the city of DesMoines, where he became ac- quainted with and married Catherine Sauls- bury. In the spring of 1855 he came to Eldora, where he engaged in the mercan- tile trade. After serving one year as County Judge, he resigned the office, having received the Republican nomina- tion for the office of State Treasurer, to which office he was duly elected. For some years he has been connected with a land office in Colorado. He intends, in the fall of 1882, to return to Iowa as one of the proprietors of the Clarinda Herald. Judge Jones is a man of fine personal appearance, pleasing in manner, and of great natural ability.
In the fall of 1858, Maynard F. Stiles was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Jones. Judge Stiles was a na- tive of Vermont, but at an early day moved to Rochester, N. Y., where he was employed as a clerk in a store. In the fall of 1856 he located in Iowa Falls, where he engaged in the real estate business. In 1857 he removed to Alden, where he re- sided when elected County Judge. He was a man of fine ability, in politics a Democrat. He died in Denver, Col.
J. H. Cusack succeeded Judge Stiles in 1859, and served one term. A sketch of Judge Cusack appears in the chapter on the Medical Profession.
Ellis Parker, then a resident of Clay township, succeeded Judge Cusack. .
Ellis Parker is a native of Gloucester county, New Jersey. He was born eight miles southeast of Philadelphia, February 11, 1805. His paternal ancestors came from England; settled in Massachusetts in the latter part of the seventeenth century .
378
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
His maternal ancestors came from Ireland about the time of the Revolutionary war, and settled in New Jersey. The ancestors on both sides were Quakers, and although strong Federalists, were prevented by their peculiar faith from joining in carnal war- fare. The father, Jacob Parker, was born in New Jersey, and was educated to labor on a farm. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Martha Chew, the daughter of a New Jersey farmer. They had a fam- ily of eight children, Ellis Parker being the third child.
Young Ellis lived at home until he was seventeen years old, when his father died, and young Ellis was apprenticed to a blacksmith by the name of Thomas Par- ker to learn the trade. After a service of four years he abandoned the smithing bus- iness, as uncongenial to his tastes, and engaged in farming, which he followed for some twenty-five years.
He was married September 23, 1830, to Miss Sarah George, a daughter of an Ohio farmer, and for sixty years a Methodist preacher. She bore him four children: Francis Taylor, now living in Washington Territory; Martha D., now the wife of Christopher Tucker; Hiram J., now living in Boonesboro, Iowa; Mary, now the wife of Benjamin Robb. Mrs. Parker died January 13, 1847.
Having moved to Ohio with his parents he became a pioneer in settling up the wilderness of that State, and after his marriage continued as a tiller of the soil until 1836, when he moved to Illinois and settled at Walnut Grove, in McLean county. There he engaged in farming, which he pursued for eigliteen years- working in winters at blacksmithing. In
August, 1854, he moved to Iowa, and set- tled in Clay township, where he purchased a farm, and after a year spent in the culti- vation of the soil, he was elected County Judge, and moved to Eldora. He refused to have the office a second time, but in 1861 was re-elected to the same position, and served through four full terms-deliv- ering up the insignia of office the first Monday of January, 1870. In the follow- ing March he was elected Mayor of Eldora and held that office nine years in succes- sion. As an officer of the city he rendered efficient and satisfactory service.
Politically he was ever a Whig, first voting for John Quincy Adams, and in 1856 was merged with his party into that of the Republican, to which he has ever since held allegiance. Mr. Parker was 'always an ardent admirer of human free- dom, and a worker in the ranks of those who were destined to work out the prob- lem of emancipation. Religiously he be- lieves in Methodism, is a practical temper- ance man, and has never devoted his time in saloons, or in other resorts, or in idle- ness or crime.
Mr. Parker is a well-built and fair-fea- tured man. He has a large and intellect- ual brain; is social in his relations with men; honest and trustworthy in the busi- ness affairs of life. He is much esteemed by the citizens of Eldora, and none among them bear a more honorable record.
CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT.
J. D. Putnam was the first Clerk of the District Court for Hardin county, and was elected in March, 1853. But little is known of Mr. Putnam save that he came to the county as agent of a mercantile firm,
379
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.,
with a few goods which he disposed of and concluded to settle here. He served something over a year, and was succeeded by J. D. Gourlay.
J. D. Gourlay is a native of Scotland, and came to New York at an early age. He is a graduate of Union College, New York, and an accomplished scholar, but lacked that energy that would make a suc- cessful man.
J. M. Scott is a native of Oneida county, New York, and was born December 22, 1832. His father was John Scott and his mother Cyrena (Jackson) Scott. The family of his mother were the first west of Oneida Lake. When they first settled there their nearest neighbor was eighteen miles distant. J. M. Scott was brought up in a store, attending the common schools of his native State as the oppor- tunity offered. No other educational advantages were ever received by him. Before coming west he was united in mar- riage to Ellen Graves, in Cataraugas county, New York. In 1854 he located in Ottawa, Illinois, where he remained one year, when he came to Hardin county, arriving in Eldora August 7, 1855. At Eldora he first engaged as a salesman in the establishment of James Speers, but soon after entered the office of Treasurer and Recorder as Deputy, under Samuel Smith, serving until the expiration of his term, and continuing under his successor, E. Pardie. In 1858 he was elected Clerk of the District Court, and served one term. In 1861 he was elected to fill out the unex- pired term of James Speers, who died in office, and in 1862 was re-elected for the full term without opposition. In the sum- mer of 1864 he resigned and went South,
where he was appointed inspector of horses in the quartermaster's department, serving in that capacity until the end of the war. He then returned to Hardin county and located at Iowa Falls, where he engaged in mercantile trade about one year, when he moved back to Eldora and commenced buying and selling grain, in which business he continued until after the organization of the Hardin County Bank. Elected Vice-President of the bank, he was made its manager, and con- tinued as such until 1875, when he resigned and went to Chicago, where he now re- sides.
James Speers was elected in 1860 to succeed J. M. Scott. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1829. In 1842 he moved to Washington county, Iowa, and in March, 1855, to Hardin county, locating at Eldora, where he en- gaged in the mercantile trade. He was married in 1854 to Maria George, a native of Richland county, Ohio. Mr. Speers was a whole-souled, generous man, and well liked by the community in which he lived. He died in Ohio, where he was taken for his health, on the 1st day of May, 1861,
J. M. Scott was elected in 1861 to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Speers. He was re-elected in 1862 withont opposition, and served until 1864.
R. F. Ripley was the successor of Mr. Scott. He was first elected in 1864 and re-elected in 1866, and served two terms, or four years.
Richard F. Ripley, was born in Mary- land, January, 1830. His father, Henry Ripley, removed from Maryland to Wes- tern Virginia, and thence to the Southern
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