USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 46
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Most of these premiums were paid in cash. Fairs were held for several years, when the matter was allowed to drop and the society ceased to exist. In 1872, how- ever, a new association was formed, and the following were elected to fill official positions: D. H. Hutchins, president ; George W. Mann, vice-president; F. M. Taylor, secretary ; J. E. Stacy, treasurer. The first annual fair held under the auspices of this organization, took place on the 3d and 4th of October, 1872.
Owing somewhat to the apathy of those who should have been the most interested this first fair was not a complete success, but with the succeeding years, all have
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awakened to the fact of the great benefit conferred upon all classes of the commu- nity by these annual exhibits of the pro- duce of farm, garden and home, and more interest is taken in the matter. The pres- ent officers of the association are as fol- lows:
C. Rickard, president; S. Reed, vice- president; J. R. Davis, secretary ; H. P. Hatch, treasurer; D. A. Haggard, marshal.
Directors-William Ward, C. N. Oli- ver, William Ormiston, G. W. Mann, N. W. Monroe, William Peck, R. J. Hunt, N. Collar, L. Witham and F. M. Taylor.
The Kossuth County Dairymen and Stock-growers Association was organized on the 16th of February, 1878, by about fifty of the most prominent farmers in the county. The object of the society, is for the mutual advantage and advance- ment of the interests of those engaged in
stock-raising and dairying. The first officers elected at the date of organiza- tion, were the following: J. B. Jones, of Cresco, president; George Boyle, of Lott's Creek; C. C. Chubb, of Cresco ; William Ward, Wesley; W. B. Carey, Portland; L. M. Bush, Fenton; G. W. Mann, Irvington; John Wallace, Algona; R. I. Brayton, Greenwood, vice-presi- dents ; A. M. Horton, secretary ; Pitt Cravath, corresponding secretary ; D. II. Hutchins, treasurer.
The present officers of this association are: William Ward, president ; C. C. Chubb, secretary; D. S. Ford, treasurer; C. B. Hutchins, of Algona township ; Z. C. Andruss, Irvington ; C. L. Harris, Wesley ; N. Collar, Ramsey ; D. Rice, Portland ; R. I. Brayton, Greenwood; P. M Barslan, Burt; J. R. Davis, Fenton; A. Hinton, Lott's Creek, and J. B. Jones, of Cresco, vice-presidents.
CHAPTER XIV.
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NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
In all countries the men who hold the , right, the term, representative, to such as public offices are to be looked upon as figure in an official capacity. As a people we must give him the respect, in his official relations, that we owe to the will of the people, for he stands there the liv- ing embodiment of their will. While in this connection it has been attempted to give some slight pen pictures of the many parties who have represented Kossuth county in official positions, many of them merely the representatives of the masses; this truism applies equally to the despotic monarchies of the old world as well as to free America, for when they cease to truly represent the people they cease to exist. In our day and land, where the office-holder is merely the servant of the will of the people, who will dispute the
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fall short of doing full justice to the sub- jects, but owing to numerons canses, in- accessibility of material being chief, it was unavoidable, and the fault should not be laid at the door of the compiler.
CONGRESSIONAL.
When Kossuth county was first organ- ized it was placed in the then 2d district and was first represented in the halls of the Congress of the United States by Timothy Davis, of Clayton county, who was elected in 1857 and filled his place throughout the sessions of the 35th Con- gress.
He was succeeded by William Vande- ver, who was elected at the general elec- tion of 1858, and served during the years 1859-60-61-62, and gave infinite satisfac- tion to a numerous constituency.
In 1862 Asahel W. Hubbard was elected as representative from the newly formed 6th district, and of which Kossuth county formed a part. Mr. Hubbard was a resident of Sionx City. He was a na- tive of Connecticut, born in 1817. In 1836 he first came west and located in the State of Indiana, and in 1857 he came to Iowa and made a final settlement at Sionx City. Mr. Hubbard was succeeded by Charles Pomeroy, of Fort Dodge, who was elected in 1868, as a member of the 4Ist Congress, serving one term.
Jackson Orr, of Boonesboro, succeeded Mr. Pomeroy in 1871, and served in the 42d Congress as the representative from the 6th district. When, in 1870, the State was re-districted, Kossuth county became a part of the 9th district and was again represented by Mr. Orr, who was re-elected and served his second term in
the 43d Congress, as the representative of the new district.
Addison Olliver was elected to fill the position of representative in the 44th Congress from the 9th district and was re-elected in 1876 as his own successor to that office, serving until the beginning of 1879.
C. C. Carpenter was elected in 1878 and again re-elected in 1880 to fulfill the duties of congressman from the 9th dix- trict of Iowa, and ably did he represent the people who put their faith in him.
The present member of the House of Representatives of the United States from the 9th Iowa district is A. J. Holmes, of Boonesboro, Boone county, who was elected in 1882. An able, fluent speaker and logical debater, he bids fair to take a foremost part in the counsels of the Nation.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
When this county was first organized it was placed in the 48th assembly dis- trict and was represented by Edwin R. Gillett. The senatorial district was rep- resented by G. A. Kellogg. The latter was elected in 1856 and held the place for three years. Mr. Gillett was a farmer from Chickasaw connty.
On the 11th of Jannary, 1858, the 7th General Assembly met at Des Moines and adjourned on the 22d of March following. G. A. Kellogg was still in the Senate, but this locality was represented by C. C. Carpenter, the senatorial district being known as number 32.
The 8th General Assembly on its meet- ing in Jannary, 1860, found this district represented in the Senate by Luther L. Pease, and in the Lower House by J. E.
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Blackford, one of this county's most prominent early settlers. The constant growth of this part of the State making a new districting of the State necessary, Kossuth county, with Dickinson, Sac, Buena Vista, Emmett, Clay and Palo Alto made the 61st legislative district.
The 9th General Assembly met at Des Moines, Jan. 13, 1862, and adjourned April 5, the same year. It also was convened in extra session from Sept. 3 to Sept. 11, 1862. Luther L .. Pease still represented this, the 32d district, in the Senate, and Harvey N. Brockway, the 56th legislative district in the Lower House. A sketch of Mr. Brockway ap- pears in the history of Hancock county, of which he is a resident, and may be found in this volume.
G. W. Bassett in the Senate and E. McKnight were the representatives of this county in the 10th General Assembly, that met at the State capital Jan. 11, 1864, and adjourned March 20.
On the 8th of January, 1866, the 11th General Assembly met at DesMoines, and G. W.Bassett was still in the Senate. In the Lower House, this, the 58th district, was ably represented by Lemnel Dwelle, of Northwood, Worth county. Mr. Dwelle was one of the founders of that town and is to-day one of the sterling men of the community. His able management of the affairs entrusted to him encouraged his friends to ask him to take a higher place in the counsels of the State, as will be seen further along.
The 12th General Assembly, which con- vened in Jannary, 1868, found Theodore Hawley representing the 46th district in
the Senate and C. W. Tenny, the 67th in the Chamber of Representatives.
The month of January, 1870, witnessed the assembling at DesMoines, of the 13th General Assembly, and J. H. Todd repre- sented this district in the Lower House The number of the district had by this time crept npluntil it was 66. Mr. Hawley was still in the Senate.
In the 14th General Assembly, in 1872, the 46th senatorial district, of which Kos- suth county is a part, was represented by E. A. Howland, and the 67th representa- tive district by Robert Struthers. This Legislature convened at DesMoines, in January, of the year above mentioned.
The 15th General Assembly met in Jan- uary, 1874, at the State capital, and Mr. Howland occupied the place in the sena- torial chamber. In the Lower House, this, the 69th representative district, was represented by David Secor, of Forest City, one of the ablest men in the district. A sketch of Mr. Secor will be found on referring to the proper place in the his- tory of Winnebago connty, in this volume.
In January, 1876, the 16th General As- sembly of the State of Iowa met at Des Moines, and Kossuth county was repre- sented in the Senate by Lemuel Dwelle, of Northwood, Worth county, who was the choice of the 46th senatorial district. Mr. Dwelle, as has been mentioned, is one of nature's noblemen. Solid in intellect, upright, and of excellent judg- ment, he made a model legislator. In the Lower Chamber this district was rep- resented by Henry H Bush, of Garner, Han- cock county. A sketch of this gentlemen may be seen on reference to the annals of that county.
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The 17th General Assembly, which met in January, 1878, contained among its angust body of senators, Lemuel Dwelle, whose term of office had not expired. In the House, L. H. Smith was the member who represented this, the 76th district.
In the Senate of the 18th General As- sembly, which met in January, 1880, E. J. Hartshorn, represented the 49th sena- torial district of which Kossuth county is a part. A. D. Bicknell represented this, the 76th assembly district, in the Lower House.
The 19th General Assembly convened at the capitol in January, 1882, and Kos- suth county was served in the Senate still by E. J. Hartshorn.
J. J. Wilson, one of Algona's most in- fluential citizens, filled the position of representative in the Lower Ilonse, and did it with credit to himself and honor to his constituency.
John J. Wilson was born in Onondago Co., N. Y., May 5, 1828. His father, Andrew Wilson, was a native of Penn- sylvana, and for many years was a prom- inent salt manufacturer in Syracuse, N. Y. His mother, Sophia (Lee) Wilson, was a native of Connecticut. They reared eight children, of whom John was the youngest. In 1831 Mr. Wilson went with his parents to Erie Co., Penn., where they resided until 1837, when they removed to La Porte, Ind. In 1843 Mr. Wilson removed to Walworth Co., Wis., where he was engaged in farming un- til 1859, when he engaged in the grain and stock business. In 1865 he went west, being engaged in freighting through the territories until the close of 1869. In the spring of 1870 he came to Algona, en-
gaging in the Inmber business. Since that time he has gradually increased his business, nutil now he carries on the largest business, carried ou by any one man in Algona. He combines the coal, Immber, milling and elevator business. Ile has a grain and lumber house in Whittemore and is interested in the lum- ber business at Emmetsburg, Iowa. Mr. Wilson was married Jan. 16, 1856, to Clara M. Bovee, a native of New York. They have two children-Lenette E and Harry J. Mr. Wilson was mayor of Al- gona for three terms and was a member of that city's first board of aldermen. Hle was a member of the Legislature from Kossuth county for the sessions of 1878-9 and 1882-3.
In 1883-4 this district was represented in the Lower House by Hon. C. C. Chubb, one of the most highly respected citizens of this county.
C. C. Chubb, one of the enterprising business men of Kossuth county, was born Oct. 2,1840,in Waukesha Co., Wis, His par- ents, Newman and Cynthia (Fars) Chubb, were natives of Vermont. They emigra- ted to Waukesha county at a very early day, being among its earliest settlers. They took land, opened up, and improved a farm. In 1844 Mrs. Chubb died. Mr. Chubb then married Betsey Russell. In 1867, he died in Waukesha county. C. C. Chubb was reared and educated in Wisconsin. In April, 1861, he enlisted in company E, 3d Wisconsin Infantry, and participated in the battles of Winchester, South Moun- tain and Antietam, where he was wound- ed in the little finger of his left hand. He was also with Gen. Hooker at Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg and Lookout Mountain.
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In the winter of 1863 the regiment was stationed between Murfreesboro and Nash- ville during which time Mr. Chubb was detailed in recruiting service. In the spring of 1864 he joined his regiment at Big Shanty, from there was sent to Ma- rietta, where July 4, 1864, he received his discharge for expiration of three years' service. Soon after, he re-enlisted in the 2d New York Heavy Artillery, serving till the close of the war. He then came to Kosanth connty, purchasing land on sections 14 and 15, township 95, range 29, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. Jan. 1, 1869, he married Hattie Taylor. They had two children-Coleman T. and Charlie. Mr. Chubb is an ardent sup- porter of the republican party. In 1872 he was elected county supervisor, and in 1883 was sent to the Legislature from his district. Ile is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Algona, and also a member of Prudence Chapter, No. 75.
COUNTY JUDGE.
This most important office was created by an act of the 3d General Assembly, in 1851, and was at the time the most impor- tant part of the county government, in fact, was ex-officio, the government.
'The first county judge was Asa C. Call, who was elected in 1855, after a hard con- test, the gist of which was the ascendancy of Irvington or Algona, and the right of each to be considered the seat of county government. The Irvington faction put up Corydon C. Craw, and by working what politicians call a "still hunt," nearly succeeded in capturing the county seat. However, like a clap of thunder in a clear sky, the matter came before the Algona people, and when they had recovered from
their first astonishment, they went to work with a will. Many of the partizans of Algona were out of the county, on business, or engaged in hunting, but mounted couriers scoured the country in search of them, and they were nearly all brought back in time to deposit their bal- lots. After a hard and bitter fight the Algona faction succeeded in electing their ticket by a small majority and secured the county seat for their town, and Asa C. Call was raised to the dignity of county judge. This was in August, 1855. The judge held the office for two years only, having a large private business to look after, which claimed his whole attention.
Judge Asa C. Call was born Sept. 26, 1825, in Lake Co., Ohio, and was edn cated at Oberlin in that State. His father died when he was yet a child and his mother returned, with the family, to west- ern New York. In 1840 he went to South Bend, Ind., and in 1850, drove a herd of cattle across the plains to California, where he spent four years, being appointed Indian commissioner, to treat with some tribes of Indians, in what is now Wash- ington and Idaho territories. While on the Pacific coast, he was a correspondent of the National Era, and many of his let- ters were copied in the New York Tribune and other eastern papers. In 1854 he mar- ried Sarah Heckart, and settled in Iowa City, which was then the capital of the State, but he regarded this location as temporary as he had decided to select some eligible site for a new town. After exploring the Upper Mississippi, where every available site wasalready occupied, and the western shores of Lake Superior, where he found good harbors but no land,
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he decided to forego navigable waters and look inland, and in July of that year, he selected the site of Algona, which was then forty miles from the nearest house, though the massacre by Mr. Lott had just occurred, and the Indians were extremely hostile. At the next session of the Gen- eral Assenbly, he secured the passage of an act locating the county seat of Kossuth county. In 1857 he, with others, organ- ized the MeGregor Railroad Company, which he ultimately brought through the connty. He was also identified with the Northwestern road, of which he secured a branch. His history, since he located at Algona, is the history of the county, as he has been identified with every enter- prise looking to the interests of northern Iowa. He has a large family, three sons and four danghters-Asa Frank is a law- yer at Algona; Joseph Harry, a member of Gov. Sherman's staff, is a lawyer at Des Moines; George C., dealer in real es- tate at Algona. The daughters are-Mary E., Sarah Stella, Nina Vesta and Zada C.
Lewis H. Smith was the second who held this office, being elected to that dig- nity by a vote of ninety-five, in a total of 105 cast, in August, 1857, and also served in this capacity, for two years.
Lewis H. Smith, cashier of the Kossuth County Bank, and one of the pioneers of the county, was born March 21, 1835, in Middlesex Co., Mass. He was reared in his native State, receiving a liberal educa- tion. His first work after leaving home was clerking in Boston. In 1852 he went to Illinois, where he was employed as civil engineer on the Chicago & Rock Island railroad, between Chicago and Rock Island. In the spring of 1854 he
was employed on the same road, between Davenport and Grinnell. Ou the 4th day of July, 1854, he came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and has ever since taken an active part in the interests of the county. The first summer he was employed by the government in surveying, and in 1855 was elected first county surveyor of Kos- wuth county. In 1857 he was made county judge. In 1860 he was appointed deputy county treasurer, at the same time reading law, he was admitted to the bar, being the first attorney admitted in the county, and the first to hang ont his shingle. He bought and brought the first sewing- machine into the county, also the first piano, and was the first to nse carbon oil. In 1860 and 1861 he was en- rolling clerk in the Legislature. In 1862, being commissioned quartermas- ter of the northern brigade, he took a lively interest in raising and equip- ping the companies for that campaign. In 1865 he crossed the plains to Mon- tana as engineer in charge on the Saw- yers wagon road. In 1866 he started in mercantile business in Algona as the firm of Smith Brothers, continuing so with his brother and brother-in-law, T. C. Rist, nntil 1870, when he engaged in banking with W. H. Ingham. They were suc- ceeded, in 1873, by the Kossuth County Bank, of which he is still cashier. Mr. Smith was married in 1857; his wife died in 1866, repected by all who knew her, leaving four children-Mary A., Nellie E., Fannie S. and Edward L. He afterwards married Mrs. Engenia Rist, widow of Francis C. Rist, who had three children by her former marriage. They have three children-Mabel F., Ruby E. and Hor-
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tense M. Mr. Smith is now trustee of the State insane hospital at Independence, was elected in 1878 and re-elected in 1882. For over a quarter of a century he has been identified with this county, and no man has done more than he to build up Algona and the surrounding country.
In 1859 J. E. Stacy was honored by his fellow-citizens with this office, and at the time was filling an unexpired term as clerk of the courts, which position he resigned to qualify for the more important office. On the 1st of January, 1860, he entered upon the duties of his office and held it for one year, when he gave it up for the more lucrative one of treasurer and re- corder.
Jerome E. Stacy was born Oct. 14, 1829, in Allegheny Co., N. Y., where he was reared and educated. In 1853 he removed to Rock Co., Wis., where he was engaged in the insurance business and school teach- ing about two years. In 1856 he came to Algona and took a pre-emption near that place, which he improved with other lands, since which his time has been divided between farming and various other occupations. In 1864 he engaged in the real estate business. In 1868-9 he built the first flouring mill in the county. In 1874 he established the Algona Nurs- ery. There are few men in Kossuth county who have been more closely iden- tified with the interests of the county than Mr. Stacy. He has held the office of county clerk and county judge, and for eight years was treasurer of the county. He was twice mayor of Algona, and a member of her city council several terms. Mr. Stacy married Harriet E. Taylor, a native of Vermont. They have six living
children-N. Marion, Kate Doake, Ellen Winifred, James C., Willie S. and Lute A. T. George Warren, their first son, died in 1864, at two years of age.
In 1860 D. S. McComb was elevated to the position of county judge, and held it for two years. Mr. McComb was one of the settlers of 1856, and was a Presby- terian clergyman. Shortly after the ex- piration of his term of office he moved to Palo Alto county, where he at present resides.
The Rev. Chauncey Taylor, one of Kos- suth county's purest and best men, was elected to fill this office in 1862, and hekdl it for a term of one year.
Luther Rist was the next incumbent of this important office, and was elected in 1863, and re-elected in 1865. In March, 1866, however, he resigned the office and retired to the shades of private life.
Luther Rist, a native of Worcester Co., Mass., was born in 1808. He married Betsy Sibley, by whom he had seven children. In the spring of 1856 he came to Kossuth county, where he engaged in farming. He was elected county judge and highly re- spected in the community where he lived. After Mr. Rist's resignation the board of supervisors appointed L. Hl. Smith to fill the vacancy. He was elected to fill the office by the people in the fall of 1866, and re-elected in 1867. With him ended the system of county courts, the duties of the county judge devolving upon the cir- cuit court and other offices ; principal among which was the one of which the county judge was made ex-officio, the first incumbent.
COUNTY AUDITOR.
Lewis II. Smith would therefore have been the first to hold this office, but on its
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creation in 1869, he resigned and A. E. Wheelock was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Wheelock at this time hold the office of clerk of the courts, but was allowed to hold both offices for several terms. He was re-elected auditor in 1871, and held the office for four years. He is at pres- ent a resident of Algona, the county seat of Kossuth, where he is engaged in real estate transactions.
H. S. Vaughn was elected in the fall of 1873, as the successor of Mr. Wheelock, and served in that capacity for a term of two years.
In the fall of 1875, at the general elec- tion, Victor H. Stough was elected auditor, and was re-elected in 1877, serving in all four years.
The present anditor, R. W. McGetchie, was elected to the office first in 1879, and was re-elected in 1881.
TREASURER AND RECORDER.
At the date of the organization of this county, these two offices were united in one, and so continued for several years.
J. W. Moore was the first incumbent of the dual office, being elected at the time of the first election in the county, in 1855. He held the position until the 1st of Janu- ary, 1858, when he stepped aside for a successor.
Il. F. Watson was the next to be elect- ed to this office, or offices, qualifying and entering upon the duties of the same with the beginning of the year 1858. He served one term of two years, and is at present a resident of the county.
L. L. Treat was elected the successor of Mr. Watson, entering upon the duties of the office on the 1st of January, 1859, and serving two years. He was an excellent
business man, keen, sharp and astute. Soon after his retirement from the office he removed to Webster City, where he is reported to have accumulated consider- able wealth, and is prominent among the influential citizens of that place.
J. E. Stacy was first elected to fill this position in the fall of 1861, was re-elected in 1863. During his latter term the Leg- islature enacted a law separating the two offices. The most responsible of these was that of
COUNTY TREASURER.
J. E. Stacy, on the divorce of the two offices, held to that of treasurer (although he had been elected, at the last election, recorder, and held both offices) and was thus the first to serve as county treasurer exclusively. Ile was re-elected treasurer in 1865, and again in 1867, thus holding the office of custodian of the county's funds for eight years consecutively.
J. E. Blackford, one of the prominent pioneers of the county, was elected in 1869 to fill this responsible position, and held it for two years.
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