USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1912, Volume I > Part 15
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Virginia Grove
2
24
18
5
Columbus City
. .
IO
46
Grandview
21
I
26
0
WVapello
33
45
52
9
Jefferson
.
. .
46
2
Florence
4
II
15
II
Harrison
0
13
. .
. .
80
I13
178
79
Against
In 1841 at the election held August 2d, Rich and Dodge ran again for con- gress, Rich receiving 233 votes and Dodge, 190.
William L. Toole was elected representative over Jacob Mintun by 220 to 192. For probate judge George L. Coe had 205 votes and John J. Rinearson 143.
116
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
For county commissioner Wright Williams had 307, Henry Warnstaff 89. George F. Thomas for treasurer, and John Gilliland for surveyor were elected by large majorities.
There were several candidates for assessor, resulting in the election of William H. R. Thomas.
The April elections of this year in Columbus City and in Grandview were held in schoolhouses at those places.
The returns for the elections held in 1842 are not all to be found. In the August election this year the question of "convention or no convention" was again submitted to the people. The vote on that question was given by word of mouth, and in most of the returns that are yet to be found it was stated after each voter's name how he voted on this question. Generally speaking. although there were many exceptions to the rule, the whigs voted against a convention and the democrats for a convention.
At this election the whigs again carried the county, Francis Springer being elected to the council over Samuel Woodside, and Joseph Newell elected repre- sentative over Daniel Brewer. George Gillaspy was a candidate for county assessor but was defeated by David Hurley.
In 1843 at the October election, the democrats were successful, carrying the county by a small majority for Dodge for delegate to congress, and electing George W. McCleary to the territorial house of representatives. In 1844 the question of calling a constitutional convention looking to the organization of the territory into a state was again submitted to the people and was carried in the territory by the vote of 6.719 for, to 3.974 against, and in Louisa county by a vote of 256 for a convention to 249 against it. There were a great many candidates for delegates to the constitutional convention, this county being entitled to 3. Those elected were Dr. John W. Brookbank, William L. Toole and Wright Williams. These men were all whigs.
Among the democrats voted on as candidates for delegates to this conven- tion were Jacob Mintun, Isaac Parsons, John Bell and several others.
It will be remembered that the constitution adopted by this convention was not ratified by the people on account of the boundaries proposed for the new state by the act of congress, and the constitution which had been once rejected by the people was again submitted to them in 1845. and again rejected, this county casting 165 votes for it and 415 against it. George W. McCleary was reelected representative by a vote of 312 to 287 for Dr. James M. Robertson, who lived at Columbus City. We can see cropping out at this election the rivalry between the north end and the south end of the county, which in after years brought on so many bitter conflicts. Dr. Robertson got all but one of the votes in Fredonia township and all but two votes in Columbus City and had 161 majority in the three townships of Grandview. Fredonia and Columbus City, while Mr. MeCleary had 186 majority in the townships of Wapello, Florence and Jefferson.
At this same election Enoch Ross, of Washington county, was elected a member of the council for the counties of Louisa, Washington, Keokuk and Mahaska, receiving 919 votes in the four counties as against 906 votes cast for William R. Harrison.
117
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
In 1846 a new constitutional convention was ordered and John Ronalds was elected the delegate from Louisa county, Ronalds receiving 186 and Alexander McCall 184. The results of the work of this convention were satisfactory to the people in regard to the boundary and the constitution framed by it was ratified, though it had a number of objectionable features. The first election in Iowa after it became a state, was held on October 26, 1846, for the election of two members of congress. At that time the state had not been divided into congressional districts and both members were voted for all over the state.
In Louisa county G. C. R. Mitchell received 351 votes; Joseph H. Hedrick, 339 votes ; S. C. Hastings, 307; and Shepherd Leffler, 297. At the same time state and county officers were elected for the new state. Ansel Briggs, demo- crat, was elected governor but the whig candidate, Thomas Mcknight, carried Louisa county by 65 majority. The candidates for state senator from Louisa and Washington counties were Francis Springer, whig, John Bell, Jr., democrat, the former receiving in the two counties 656 votes to 480 for John Bell.
The candidates for representative in Louisa were Wright Williams and Joseph L. Derbin, Mr. Williams having 78 majority.
The candidates for county prosecutor at this time were Edward H. Thomas and John Bird, and if their contest was as warm as it was close, they must have had a lively time, for Mr. Thomas had 313 and Mr. Bird had 312; James. Mckay was elected clerk of the district court on October 26, 1846, but began his term February 2, 1847. On April 5. 1847 the question of licensing the liquor traffic was submitted to the people of the state, the vote in this county being 198 for license, and 271 against.
By the time the election of 1847 came around the state had been divided into two congressional districts, Louisa county being in the second. Thomas McKnight carried Louisa county by 103 majority over Shepherd Leffler. At this election James Harlan and Charles Mason were opposing candidates for the office of state superintendent of public instruction. Mr. Harlan carried Louisa county by 128 majority and surprised the state by being elected.
At the election held in August, 1848, the candidates for clerk were James Mckay and George W. McCleary. Mr. Mckay received 326 votes and Mc- Cleary 286. Mr. McKay resigned before the close of his term and started for California in search of gold, but died of cholera on the way there.
The candidates for county prosecutor at this election were Robert C. Bur- chell, whig, and Hugh D. Reed, democrat. Both lived in Columbus City, Mr. Burchell's principal occupation being that of a tailor, while Mr. Reed was a blacksmith. Mr. Burchell was elected by a little over 100 majority.
Oliver Benton and Wesley W. Garner were whig and democratic candidates for school fund commissioner, Mr. Benton being elected by 35 majority, while Wright Williams was elected representative over Colonel John Bird, with a majority of 60.
The candidates for congress were Timothy Davis and Shepherd Leffler. The latter was elected but Davis carried the county.
In 1849 Samuel Smith and Samuel Rockafeller were the leading candidates for sheriff, Mr. Smith being successful.
In April, 1850, John Bird was elected county prosecutor to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of R. C. Burchell, and at the August election there
118
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
was a spirited contest between Mr. Bird and Francis Springer for this same office, Mr. Bird being defeated by a small majority.
At the same election Robert F. Newell was elected clerk to the board of county commissioners over E. H. Thomas.
Jacob Mintun was elected clerk, receiving 387 votes as against 300 for Ben R. Thomas.
In 1851 occurred the first election for county judge. There were four can- didates. Wright Williams receiving 367 votes, Merit Jamison 316, William L. Toole 75, and John Ronalds 48.
Francis Springer resigned as county prosecutor and at this election Colonel Bird again ran for prosecuting attorney against Edward H. Thomas, and de- feated Mr. Thomas by a few votes.
Also at this election Samuel Mccullough was elected supervisor, his office being that of road supervisor for the county. So far as we have been able to find, he is the only man ever elected to that office in this county.
At the election in August, 1852, James Noffsinger, who though a lawyer, was also editor of the Louisa County Times, was nominated by the whig con- vention for prosecuting attorney, but at first declined for the reason, as he stated. that he did not believe the county desired him for that office. Later he reconsidered his declination, believing that he had been mistaken the first time, and those who were opposed to him put up Charles H. Abbott of Oak- land township, who was an extensive dealer in land but not a practicing lawyer. The contest resulted in Mr. Abbott being elected by a vote of 432 to 377.
At this election Louisa county was entitled to and voted for two repre- sentatives, the whigs nominating Dr. John Cleaves and J. B. Latta, the demo- crats nominating Micajah Reeder and John Bird. The result, politically speak- ing, was a drawn battle, Cleaves and Reeder being elected.
In November occurred the presidential election, the democrats carrying the county by a vote of 468 to 368, Fredonia township being the only one carried by the whigs.
At the April election of 1855. two important questions were submitted to the people. One was the question of the adoption of a prohibitory liquor law. and this time the proposition carried in the county by a vote of 619 to 389. Concord and Union townships voted against it by small majorities. In Grand- view township the vote was 103 for and 100 against. The largest majority was in Columbus City township, where the proposition was carried by 122. The other townships gave fair majorities for it.
The other question was submitted by the county judge. Francis Springer, upon the proposition of buying a farm upon which to erect a poor house ; it carried by 690 to 309, although Grandview township gave 100 majority against it.
1856 may well be called the year of elections in Louisa county, there having been elections held in January, April, June. July, August and November. Sev- eral of these were on questions connected with railroad subscriptions. One of these elections was a special election held on July Ist, because Representa- tive J. C. Lockwood had resigned and moved out of the state. The candidates were Dr. John Bell, Jr. and Lewis Kinsey, the latter being elected.
The democratic convention, held at Wapello on July 19, was presided over by Samuel Hamilton, and Dr. B. G. Neal was secretary. The principal busi-
119
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
ness of this convention seems to have been to nominate a candidate for repre- sentative and prosecuting attorney, and to select delegates to the convention of Washington and Louisa counties, at Crawfordsville, to nominate a repre- sentative for the floating district. On motion of D. N. Sprague, Dr. B. G. Neal was nominated for representative and Joseph Paschal for prosecuting attorney. The delegates elected to the Crawfordsville convention were D. N. Sprague, WV. S. Allen, William Keach, Isaac Paschal and William Stewart.
A set of resolutions were adopted, one of which was as follows :
"Resolved, That this convention do not sympathize, but on the other hand, repudiate all interference in the political organizations in other states and terri- tories, whether such interference comes from the north or from the south ; also that while we recognize the principle of self defense and preservation, that this convention repudiate all sympathy with ruffianism, murder or treason, let it come in any form, or shape, person or quarter."
At the August election N. W. Burris was elected representative over Dr. B. G. Neal.
It was at this election that John Hale was first elected county clerk, his opponent being C. P. Woodard.
At this same election the people voted on a proposition to revise or amend the constitution, which proposition carried in Louisa county by a vote of 1,057 to 36.
At the November election following, the candidates from this county for delegate to the constitutional convention were Francis Springer and Levi Chase. Springer receiving I,OII votes and Chase 707.
At the April election of 1857, Alexander Ross and Robert F. Newell were candidates for drainage commissioner, Mr. Ross being elected.
At the same time William J. R. Flack was elected county assessor over Joseph Blake, and Whitney S. Kremer was elected county surveyor over George P. Sherwood.
In August, 1857, there was an exciting county election, the republican can- didates being Samuel Townsend for county judge, John L. Grubb for recorder and treasurer, A. M. Taylor for sheriff, J. C. Sterlin for coroner and W. S. Kremer for surveyor. The democratic candidates were Joseph L. Derbin for county judge, William A. Colton for recorder and treasurer, William Stewart for sheriff, John Studdard for coroner and Robert F. Newell for surveyor. On county judge the vote was 725 for Derbin to 711 for Townsend. Dr. Colton had 85 majority over Grubb, Sheriff Taylor had 214 majority over Stewart, and Mr. Kremer had 113 majority over Newell. Studdard, the demo- cratic candidate for coroner, had 29 majority.
One of the live issues in this county that year was on the question of adopt- ing or repudiating the new constitution which was to be voted on on the 3d of August.
The republican county convention was held at Wapello, July 18th, and adopted the following resolution :
"Resolved that in the constitution presented to the people for their suffrages at the August election, we see embraced those modifications of the old which the growing wants of the state demand.
120
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
"Resolved, That Louisa county will give 600 majority for the new constitu- tion."
At the democratic convention held on July 20th, the following resolutions were adopted :
"Resolved that the new constitution that is to be submitted at the ensuing election to the voters of this state for their approval, is a burlesque, in that it attempts to make the negro a privileged character, the equal, and in some re- spects, the superior-in the point of political privilege-to the freeborn Ameri- can citizen.
"Resolved, That the creation of an unnecessary legislative body, the expense thereof, and the unlimited power conferred thereon to legislate upon all local questions pertaining to our district or common schools, compelling us to educate the negro in the same school and upon equality with our children, would be productive only of evil to the common schools of our state.
"Resolved, That the democratic party will use all honorable means in this county to defeat the constitution as now submitted."
The new constitution was approved in the county by a vote of 698 to 473. The vote by townships was as follows :
Townships
For
Against
Columbus City
220
76
Eliot
19
27
Elm Grove
38
IO
Grandview
IO2
96
Marshall
62
26
Port Lousia
73
21
Union
29
8
Wapello
155
209
Total
698
473
Following were rejected for informalities :
Oakland
20
43
Jefferson
83
79
Morning Sun
68
63
Concord
20)
63
The proposition to strike the word "white" out of the constitution was voted on at the same time, but many failed to vote on it. It was defeated-the vote being 120 for, to 234 against.
Beginning with the year 1858, a record has been kept in the auditor's office, in which most of the elections have been recorded and within a few years after this the election returns were published first in the census reports, and later in the official register published by the state, and we deem it unnecessary to take up more space in regard to the elections.
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121
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
In 1858 was the first county seat contest between Wapello and Columbus City, and the vote upon this question will be found in the chapter on Columbus City.
In 1865 political affairs in this county took on a rather strange phase and there was considerable apparent changing of party lines. The republican con- vention met August 5, 1865, and nominated Dr. J. M. Robertson for state senator, and N. T. Brown for representative ; S. E. Jones for county judge ; W. S. Kremer for treasurer; E. B. Lacey for sheriff; A. Millmine for school superintendent ; and W. C. Blackstone for surveyor and James Semple, for coroner.
The opposition convention was held September 2, 1865, under the name of the soldiers' convention. This convention was called by numerous bills posted over the county for sometime before, inviting the soldiers and those opposed to negro cquality to meet in mass convention at the court house to nominate a county ticket. The account in the newspapers of that date says that at the opening pro- ceedings the court room was crowded, partly by those who were opposed to any- thing that "smelt of nigger" and partly by soldiers who had recently returned home, but before proceedings were commenced it became known that the soldiers were not in sympathy with the opposition to negro equality and it is said that when Lieutenant B. F. Wright called the meeting to order he explained that the call did not mean exactly what it said in regard to soldiers being invited, but only meant that soldiers who were opposed to negro equality were invited. The fol- lowing candidates were nominated by the convention: For senator, James S. Hurley ; for representative, O. H. P. Linn; for county judge, B. F. Wright; for treasurer, Captain W. G. Allen; for sheriff, J. Price McDaniel; for school super- intendent, D. H. Cushman ; for surveyor, Major Thomas W. Bailey ; for coroner, A. C. Scull.
Neither Mr. Hurley nor Captain Allen were present at the convention and both immediately announced their refusal to run on the so-called soldiers' ticket. Subsequently, N. M. Letts was placed on the ticket as a candidate for senator and Abram Fulton as a candidate for treasurer. The soldiers' convention adopted a set of resolutions, among which was one sustaining the administration and reconstruction policy of President Johnson, and another in opposition to negro suffrage, or to striking the word "white" out of the constitution.
There was a lively campaign as a result of this so-called soldiers' movement and the soldiers' ticket was supported largely, though not entirely, by the demo- cratic voters, although nearly all the candidates were republicans. The republi- can ticket, or, as it was called during this campaign, the union ticket, was suc- cessful. The republican, or union candidate, for governor was Wm. M. Stone, and he received 1, 114 votes to 832 for Benton; for senator, Dr. J. M. Robertson received 1,092 votes, and N. M. Letts 860; for representative N. T. Brown re- ceived 1, 142 votes and O. H. P. Linn Sio; the other candidates on the two tickets fared about the same.
The republican party of this county adopted the primary system of nominat- ing candidates on September 7, 1867. Dr. G. K. Hickok of Columbus City, was chairman of the convention ; L. W. Myers, secretary. The plan of a primary election was presented and explained by Mr. Myers and resolutions on the sub- ject were offered by James S. Hurley. They provided in substance that there- after the republicans of the county would nominate candidates for county of- fices by a primary election to be held in each township upon ten days' notice,
122
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
that persons should be entitled to vote only in townships wherein they lived and that the votes should be canvassed by the chairman of the county committee and any two other members.
The first primary election in the county was held on Saturday, August 28, 1869. James S. Hurley was nominated for senator over Rev. F. F. Kiner, by 702 to 357.
The most interesting contest was a three-cornered fight for representative, between G. D. Harrison, L. W. Myers and S. C. Curtis. Mr. Harrison was nom- inated, the vote being, Harrison, 424. Myers, 340, and Curtis, 261.
Another close contest was for sheriff. J. L. Grubb had 386 votes, E. B. Lacey had 357, J. H. Coulter had 218, and A. H. Havenhill had 90.
L. A. Riley was nominated for superintendent of schools, receiving 501 votes, to 353 for J. B. Porter, and 139 for L. W. Weller.
Although Mr. Myers introduced the primary election into the county, and was defeated at the very first election, he was always a consistent supporter of the primary.
FIRST WIIG CONVENTION IN IOWA.
It is not generally known that the whig party in Iowa had its beginning in Louisa county, but such is the fact. At an old settlers' meeting held in Wapello, February 22, 1859. C. M. McDaniel was one of the speakers. We take the fol- lowing from the account of his speech published at that time :
"In political matters in those days it was not of much importance what party a man belonged to, the question was not 'to what party do you belong?' but 'for what man do you vote?' Parties were known in the east, but here nothing was known of whig, democrat, republican, know-nothing, or any other party name. At the first election there were ten candidates for members of the legislature, but not very heavy electioneering, for there were very few votes to electioneer. In a short time the words whig and democrat began to be heard-the speaker stated that he himself was a democrat, and of course when the party question was raised, was warmly interested for the success of his party and being elected sheriff, which of course made him begin to feel his importance, began to think it would improve the look of things to have some resident lawyers. Being in Burlington about this time, he met with two attorneys, just arrived from the east, and seeking a location ; both since well known to the people of this county-Judge Springer and E. H. Thomas. Judge Rorer told the speaker that he ought to try to induce them to come to Wapello, as the effect of getting two lawyers located here would be to increase the law business and so make the sheriff's office more profitable. They were both induced to come, but being both whigs he soon found what he might have expected as a natural consequence, that as soon as they were firmly located, the county began to show strong signs of whiggery. At first he could not imagine the reason, but it was so and continually getting worse. In 1847 politics were high here as in other places, and Judge Rorer being in this place asked him (the speaker) what he thought was the prospect of the election in this county. The reply was that it was rather mixed, that the Yankee lawyers were about to prove entirely too much for the democratic opponent. 'Oh,' said the Judge, 'didn't we play the d-l' -and added, nearly with tears in his eyes,
123
HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
'I'd not the least idea they were whigs, can't you get ahead of them some way ?' -he thought not, and so it has been ; he has been to California since, and on his return found that though the whigs were dead, the republicans were opposing democracy and it was worse than ever."
History says that Mr. McDaniel was right in reference to the work of the two whig lawyers and their friends. The first distinctly whig meeting was held in Wapello on June 10th, 1840. It was called a Harrison meeting. At this meet- ing Francis Springer submitted resolutions expressing regret and disappointment that elections could no longer be conducted without regard to partisan activity and stating that the democrats had "raised the standard of the party, lit its smould- ering fires, and have thrown the gauntlet of defiance at our feet by calling con- ventions to nominate candidates to be supported on partisan grounds." The resolution stated that under these circumstances it was the duty of the whigs to establish a whig party in the territory and to meet and organize at Bloomington and to agree upon a candidate for delegate to congress. This meeting appointed a committee of five to act as a committee of correspondence with their political friends in the territory. This committee consisted of Edward H. Thomas, Jacob S. Rinearson, Joseph Newell, William H. R. Thomas and William L. Toole. A little later whig meetings were held in Muscatine county and Des Moines county. Of the first territorial convention held by the whigs, the "Iowa Journal of His- tory and Politics" for January, 1907, says :
"Pursuant to the recommendation of the Louisa county convention a 'Con- gress of the People' assembled at Bloomington on July 29. The whigs marched in a long procession to a grove where the ladies of Bloomington presented a handsome standard to the Tippecanoe Club of Muscatine county. Mr. Ralph P. Lowe, the president of the club, in a brief speech accepted the present which was then dedicated to the Harrison citizens of the territory as expressive of the devotion of the club to republican principles and to the cause of general reform in the national administration. At the conclusion of these ceremonies the meet- ing organized by electing Colonel Isaac Leffler, of Des Moines county, as presi- dent, and Joseph Webster, of Lee county, Francis Ford, of Cedar county, and Levi Thornton, of Linn (should be Louisa) county, as vice presidents. W. G. Woodward, of Bloomington, and E. Thomas ( Edward H. Thomas), of Wapello, were chosen as secretaries. It was then resolved to give the support of the con- vention to the candidate for delegate to congress who should be nominated at this meeting. On proceeding to a vote Alfred Rich received 120 votes; Philip Viele, 61 votes and S. Whicher, II votes. Mr. Rich was then declared the nominee of the convention and recommended to the people of the territory for their next delegate to congress. A committee of five was appointed to prepare and to have published an 'address to the people of the territory.' A central whig committee of five was also appointed and the meeting adjourned by recommending that all the counties appoint committees of vigilance and correspondence."
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