USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 9
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67
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
CENTER PRECINCT
No record remains concerning the election at this precinct. The election was held at the house of Chenoweth Casebier, who lived near and a little east of the center of section 32 in now Union Township. Two of the judges were Joseph K. Evans and John Butler and one of the, clerks was Alfred D. Jones. At least thirty-four votes were cast.
SOUTHI PRECINCT
The election was held at the log house of Joel M. Clanton. The judges were William C. Allcock, Caleb Clark and Joel M. Clanton ; clerks were N. S. Allcock and Seth Adamson. William C. Allcock first administered the oath to all the others and in turn was qualified by Clark. The poll was opened about 9.30 A. M. and closed at 6 P. M. The following persons voted in the order given: Caleb Clark, Charles Clanton, N. S. Allcock, D. S. Smith, Seth Adamson, Isaac Clanton, David Simmerman, Samuel Peter, Joel M. Clanton, William C. Allcock-ten.
At this precinct, Bilderback, for sheriff, had 9 votes ; George W. McClellan for district clerk, 9; Leonard Bowman for coroner, 7; Henry McKinzie for com- missioner, 6; William Gentry for commissioner, 5; David Bishop for commis- sioner, 10; Philip M. Boyles for commissioners' clerk, 2; James Thornbrugh for commissioners' clerk, 8; William Phipps for probate judge had 10; A. D. Jones for surveyor, 7; Seth Adamson for justice of the peace, 9; Samuel Peter for justice of the peace had 1; William C. Allcock for constable, 9; David S. Smith for constable, 1 ; A. D. Jones for prosecuting attorney, 7. The result of the election has already been given.
What was then popularly known as the "August election" was held Monday, August 6th, at which three state officers were elected and in Madison County a full line of county officers, the organizing election on the first day of January being a special election, the officers then elected holding only until their successors should be chosen at the regular election in August, and qualified.
The county seat had been located to the entire satisfaction of all the "north- siders" and "Hoosier prairie" had almost cheerfully acquiesced in the result. Fortunately for the county no disposition for strife over the matter remained. All together the scattering settlements of the county united with vim and energy for the upbuilding of Winterset and for a greater Madison County. Party liues were neither drawn nor thought of in matters relating to Madison County. The county was nearly 4 to I democratic on national politics and yet whigs were elected to nearly half the county offices.
At this election there were eighty-two votes cast in the county. More than eighteen legal voters did not attend the election and there were several persons who had not been residents long enough to be qualified voters. Probably there were at this time one hundred and thirty persons in the county of voting age.
In the absence of any public issue the little interest there was manifested clustered around the offices of sheriff, commissioners' clerk and recorder. Con- cerning Sheriff Bilderback, it was claimed he was utterly incompetent and that A. D. Jones was the real sheriff. It was the big office of the county, but "Hoosier
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IHISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
prairie," including the Clanton country, remained loyal to Bilderback and pulled him through. Following is the result of this election: Sheriff, Ephraim Bilder- back : clerk of district court, George W. MeClellan ; commissioners' clerk, James Thornbrugh; coroner, Leonard Bowman ; commissioners, Henry McKinzie, N. S. Alleock, William Gentry ; prosecuting attorney. A. D. Jones ; surveyor, William Ilarmon; recorder and treasurer, Enos Berger; probate judge, William M. Phipps ; sealer of weights and measures, John Butler.
The canvass of the returns in the above election was certified by P. M. Boyles, commissioners' clerk, and by Justices of the Peace Joshua C. Case- bier and Alfred Rice, of date August 8, 1849.
Following are the names of the election board officers and those who voted at this election :
UNION TOWNSHIP
Election held at the log house of Leonard Bowman. Judges were David D. Henry. Leonard Bowman and James Brown. Clerks were Irvin Baum and Thomas M. Boyles. Those who voted were David Brinson, Samuel Guye. George W. Guye. James W. Guye, Lewis Baum, Henry Rice, Claiborne Pitzer, William Sturman, David D. Henry, James Brown, John B. Sturman, Thomas M. Boyles, Anderson W. Moore, Alfred Rice. William Hinshaw, John Wilhoit, James Brewer, William Combs. Leonard Bowman, Irvin Baum, Nimrod Taylor- twenty-one.
CENTER TOWNSHIP
Election held at the log house of Enos Berger on the town site of Winterset ( then the only house on the town site ). Judges were Joseph K. Evans, Charles Wright and Jonathan C. Casebier. Clerks were E. R. Guiberson and P. M. Boyles. Those who voted were John Deshazer. E. R. Guiberson, William M. Phipps. A. D. Jones, Henry Simmons, Joseph Moore, Absalom Thornbrugh. John Galaway. Charles Mendenhall, John Wayson, William Harmon, Daniel Vancil. J. C. Casebier, William Stephenson ( Stinson ), Absolom MeKinzie, Lemuel Thornbrugh, James Thornbrugh. P. M. Boyles, Enos Berger, Charles Wright. J. K. Evans, John Butler, David Chenoweth, Andrew Evans, Robert Deshazer. George W. MeClellan, John M. Evans, Henry MeKinzie, E. Bilderback, John Wilkinson, William Gentry, Samuel Crawford, Hiram Hurst-thirty-three.
SOUTH TOWNSHIP
Election held at the log house of Nathan Viney. Judges were Andrew J. Stark, Caleb Clark and George Smith. Clerks were David Bishop and N. S. Allcock. Those who voted were Samuel Fleener, Seth Adamson, Noah Bishop. Isaac C. Smith, Joseph Bishop, Asbury W. Burns, Joel M. Clanton, John Carroll, William Smith, Levi Bishop, Benjamin M. Hilmon, Isaac Clanton, A. J. Hart. David Simmerman, Charles Clanton, Reuben G. Lee. William C. Alleock, Nathan Vincy, J. M. Watson, Samuel Peter, \.ºJ. Stark, Caleb Clark, George Smith,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
N. S. AAllcock, David Bishop, Dr. HI. Whited, David Worley, David S. Smith- twenty-eight.
The next was the regular election held on the 5th day of August, 1850, at which state, district and some county officers were elected. The poll books are missing. The result of this election appears by the following abstract certified by James Thornbrugh, commissioners' clerk, and Justices John Vanhouten and L. D. Skidmore: representative, two to elect, E. R. Guiberson and Lysander W. Babbitt ; clerk of district court, James Thornbrugh ; county commissioner, Edwin Wood; surveyor, Simmons Rutty.
At a special election, held October 19, 1850, to fill vacancy in the office of treasurer and recorder, Otho Davis was elected.
A special election was held April 27, 1851, to fill a vacancy in the office of sheriff, caused by the resignation of Ephraim Bilderback. The contestants were Silas Barns and Joseph Evans, and each received thirty-four votes. By casting lots, Barns won the office.
On the first Monday of August, 1851, the regular election was held under the law, passed at the late session of the General Assembly, which vacated the office of county commissioners and substituted the office of county judge. Other changes were made in county offices. An abstract of the returns is all that remains of record. It shows that John A. Pitzer was elected county judge ; Silas Barns, sheriff; 1. D. Guiberson, treasurer and recorder; Simmons Rutty, surveyor ; William Gentry, coroner ; Thomas D. Jones, prosecuting attorney.
In 1852, I. G. Houk was elected district clerk at the April election and in August came the first presidential election held in Madison County. Previously, party lines had not been sharply drawn in the county and several whigs were elected to office in previous years. The year before there was a marked tighten- ing of party lines and in this year each candidate took his chances on his party ticket. The election plainly showed the increasing strength of the whig party. Out of a total vote of 253 cast by the presidential electors, the whigs totaled 103. At this election both democratic candidates for the Legislature, N. B. Allison and P. Gad Bryan were elected. Other officers elected were: Clerk of dis- triet court, I. G. Houk ; county attorney, MI. L. McPherson.
The counties of Madison, Warren and Marion constituted a senatorial dis- trict and the same counties comprised a district which was entitled to three representatives. The three receiving the highest number of votes in the district were declared elected, so that this election sent to the Legislature N. B. Allison, P. Gad Bryan and William Gentry, all democrats. Houk won his election for clerk of the district court by casting lots with his opponent, Alfred D. Jones, each having received 131 votes.
As near as the records will permit, a list of county officials from 1849 to 1914 follows, the year first mentioned showing the date of election :
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
1849-David Bishop, William Combs and William Gentry, chosen at the first election, which was a special one; Henry McKinzie, N. S. Allcock, William Gentry, chosen at the regular election in August ; 1850-1, Henry MeKinzic, Norval S. Allcock and Edmond Wood.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
CLERK OF COMMISSIONERS' COURT
P. M. Boyles, 1849; James Thornbrugh, chosen at the regular election, 1 849.
COUNTY JUDGE
1851-8-John A. Pitzer: 1859-60, E. R. Guiberson; 1861-4. T. D. Jones ; 1865-7. N. W. Garretson; W. Il. Lewis appointed to fill vacancy 1867: 1868, T. C. Gilpin, who continued in office until January, 1869, when it was abolished and he became and acted in the capacity of auditor until the first regular election for that office.
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT
1849-51-G. W. MeClellan; 1852-3. 1. G. Houk: 1854-5, Lewis S. Davis; 1850-9. C. D. Bevington : 1860-1. E. A. Huber : 1862-7. M. R. Tidrick : 1868-71, Daniel E. Cooper: 1872-5. E. O. Burt : 1876-81, W. R. Shriver: 1882-7. W. S. Whedon; 1888-91, W. C. Newlon : 1892-5, D. C. Wright ; 1896-9. II. S. Thomson ; 1900-03. R. L. Huston : 1904-07. J. A. Way : 1908-11. W. F. Craig ; 1912-15. H. C. Husted.
RECORDER
Joseph K. Evans, January 1, 1849: Enos Berger. 1849; regular election, Otho Davis, October, 1850; I. D. Guiberson, 1851-2; Enos Berger, recorder and treasurer, 1853-5: Dr. L. M. Tidrick. 1856-7: David Bishop, treasurer and recorder, 1857-8: I. G. Houk, treasurer and recorder. 1859-62; R. A. Stitt, treasurer and recorder, 1803; in 1865 the offices of treasurer and recorder were separated and R. A. Stitt was elected treasurer. It is presumed he retained the recordership until his successor was elected the following year. O. A. Moser. 1866-9: J. F. Smith, 1870-3: J. W. Graham, 1874-7: A. MeMichael, 1878: J. A. Sanford, to fill vacancy, 1879; J. A. Sanford, 1880-1; G. W. Klingensmith, 1882-4: Eva Klingensmith, to fill vacancy. 1885: Eva Klingensmith, 1886-7: Caroline Murray, 1888-91 ; John T. Young, 1892-5: Jerome Griffith, 1896-9: W. Il. Vance. 1000-3: E. F. Connoran, 1004-7 : George HHill, 1908-11 ; Jeannette E. Beck, 1912-15.
TREASURER
R. A. Stitt, 1865-6: William 11. Leonard, 1807-8; J. A. P'itzer, 1800-70; E. G. Barker, 1871-4: M. A. Knight, 1875-80: J. M. Andrews, 1881-4: C. F. Koehler. 1885-6; James Early, 1887-00; 1. W. Horn, 1801-4: J. 11. Wintrode, 1895-0; D. G. Ratliff, 1807-1900: J. W. Smith, 1001-05: C. L .. Wilson, 1906-07; C. H1. Hochstetler, 1908-11: John W. Krell, 1912-15.
SHERIFF
Ephraim Bilderback, 1849-50; Silas Barns, 1851, chosen at a special election in April of that year to fill vacancy, and elected to the office at the regular election in August; Lewis S. Garrett, 1853: William Combs, 1855; Joseph K. Evans,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
1857-8: Samuel Hamilton, 1859-61 ; H. C. Carter, 1863-4: J. F. Brock, 1865-70; J. S. Tullis, 1871-2; W. O. Ludlow, 1873-4; D. G. Ratliff, 1875-8; J. R. Davis, 1879-82: John McAndrews, 1883-6: Jeff Wheat, 1887-90; M. E. Bennett, 1891-4; M. L. Silliman, 1895-8; Douglas Roy, 1899-1900; J. W. Breeding, 1901-2; Sol Breeding appointed to fill vacancy, 1903; John Docksteader, 1903-7 : J. P. Breed- ing, 1908-13 : F. B. Brock, 1914-
AUDITOR
Thomas C. Gilpin. 1869: S. G. Holliday, 1869-72; C. C. Goodale, 1873-8; A. L. Tullis, 1879-82 ; Ezra Brownell, 1883-6; G. W. Poffinbarger, 1887-91; A. N. Hull, 1892-5 : C. C. Stiles, 1896-9; Herman A. Mueller, 1900-03 ; G. W. Patterson, 1904-07: T. M. Scott, 1908-11 ; C. R. Green, 1912-15.
SURVEYOR
Alfred D. Jones, 1849: Wm. Harmon, regular election, 1849 ; Simmons Rutty, 1850-4; William Davis, 1855-62; E. S. McCarty, 1863-5: W. H. Lewis, 1866; P. G. Andrews, 1867-70: A. W. Wilkinson, 1871-2: R. A. Patterson, 1873-6; J. A. Wilkins, 1877-8: O. A. Moser, 1879-81 ; R. A. Patterson, to fill vacancy, 1881 : J. A. Snyder, 1883-4: J. A. Wilkins, 1885-6; A. N. Canfield, 1887-8; R. A. Patterson. 1889-94; Robert A. Greene, 1895-1900; E. C. Wilson, 1901; W. R. Stewart, 1902; D. E. Hollingsworth, 1903-5: W. C. James, 1906-7: Charles Merrill, 1908-9 : E. B. Hiatt, 1910 to date.
CORONER
Leonard Bowman, 1849; William Gentry, 1851; Dr. John H. Gaff, 1852-4; Dr. John G. Scott, 1855; David Surber, 1857; J. L. Denman, 1858; D. B. Allen, 1859; C. H. Coon, 1871-4; A. Hood, 1875-6; P. M. Boyles, 1877-84: M. C. DeBord, 1885-6; J. M. Hobson, 1887-92; D. S. Martin, 1893-1903; F. O. Richards, 1904-14.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
In a measure, the first head of the schools in Madison County held office under the title of school fund commissioner, the first incumbent of the office, Daniel Vancil, being elected in 1849; David S. Bowman, April 2, 1849; E. R. Guiberson, 1852: C. M. Wright, 1854; James Shepherd, 1856-8; Lewis Mayo, 1859-60; H. W. Hardy, 1861-4: J. S. Goshorn, 1865-6; H. W. Hardy, 1867-70 ; C. C. Chamberlain, 1871. resigned April 1, 1872, W. A. Ross appointed to fill vacancy : Butler Bird, 1872-4, Butler Bird resigned January, 1875. H. W. Hardy appointed to fill vacancy ; H. W. Hardy, 1875-8; Emma Ray, 1879-80; Homer Thompson, to fill vacancy, January 6, 1881 ; J. W. Mann, 1881-4: E. R. Zeller, 1885-8: T. H. Stone, 1889-92; J. J. Crossley, 1893-96; Ed M. Smith, 1897-8; H. D. Smith, 1899-1902 ; T. H. Stone, 1903-06; Gertrude M. Duff, 1906-09. resigned ; Jean M. Cash, 1910, to fill vacancy : John Gentry, 1911-12 ; Carrie E. Ludlow. 1913-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
COUNTY ATTORNEY
The first officer of the District Court, whose duties were to represent the state in criminal and semi-criminal actions, was known and designated as the district attorney, whose jurisdiction extended throughout the counties compris- ing the judicial district for which he was elected. The first incumbent of this office was Alfred D. Jones. The General Assembly of 1885-6 passed an act abolishing the office of district attorney and creating the office of county attorney, thereby contining the duties of the prosecutor to his own county. The county attorney under the act holds his office by the votes of the electorate of the county, the same as other officers. The first election in Madison County for county attorney was held in 1887, and the first to hold the office was John A. Guiher ; Frederick Mott, 1890-3: J. P'. Steele, 1894-7; C. A. Robbins, 1898-1901 ; W. S. Cooper, 1902-05; Leo C. Percival, 1907-09: Sam C. Smith, 1910-13; Phil R. Wilkinson, 1914-
CIRCUIT COURT ABOLISHED
In 1869, the business of the District Court had become so great that a new tribunal was created and designated as the Circuit Court. This court exercised general jurisdiction concurrent with the District Court, in all civil actions and special proceedings, and exclusive jurisdiction in all appeals and writs of error from inferior courts, and had a general supervision thereof in all civil matters. It also had the power to correct and prevent abuses where no other remedy was provided. This court also had original jurisdiction of all probate matters. Prior to the year 1869 the clerk was elected as clerk of the District Court. When the law went into effect establishing the Circuit Court, the official duties were circum- scribed by both courts. January 1, 1887, the Circuit Court was abolished.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
In the year 1861 the system of county board of supervisors was organized in the various counties of the state, by act of the Legislature. The following persons composed the first board of supervisors in Madison County :
Josiah Arnold, William McDonald, Otho Davis, Henry A. Myers, Milton Thompson, J. C. Scott, Lewis Crawford, Oliver Crawford, Ira S. Smith. Ashford Lake, J. D. Hartman, Harbert Harris, David Stanton.
1862-J. W. Lane, O. Crawford, M. Thompson, William McDonald, S. Ross. 1 .. Crawford, L. N. Clark, 11. Harris, M. C. Hockenberry, J. D. Hartman, William Gentry. A. Lake, D. MeCarty, C. A. Beerbower, D. Francis. A. Bonham, S. H. Guye.
1863-David McCarty, J. W. Lane, O. Crawford, S. Ralston. E. 11. Venard. William H. McDonald, S. Harter, 1 .. N. Clark, A. Bonham, S. Ross, 11. Hann. 1. Bennett, G. A. Beerbower, H. Harris, W. J. Davis, M. C. Hockenberry, Samuel Harter.
1864-William McDonald, Alfred Hood, Thomas H. Pendleton, Hugh Hann. S. Ross, O. Crawford, E. H. Venard, Matthew McGee, Abihu Wilson, W. J
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IIISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Davis, H. C. Smith, S. Hamblin, S. Harter, A. Bennett, Samuel Ralston, J. C. Scott, Van B. Wiggins.
1865-William II. McDonald, George W. Roberts, O. Crawford, J. M. Browne, E. H. Venard, P. M. Boyles, S. A. Ross, B. F. Brown, James Allen, M. M. McGee, Thomas H. Pendleton, Simeon Hamblin, Abihu Wilson, W. J. Davis, H. C. Smith, J. C. Scott, A. Hood.
1866-George W. Roberts, Oliver Crawford, William Anderson, William McDonald, P. M. Boyles, S. A. Ross, B. F. Brown, J. W. Cooper, E. G. Perkins, Benjamin Blythe, Allen Barnett, A. G. Welch, James McAfferty, E. C. Stewart, John McLeod, M. C. DeBord, James Allen.
1867-William McDonald, E. G. Perkins, J. W. Cooper, A. J. Adkison, Wil- liam L. Wilkin, B. F. Brown, William Anderson, James McAfferty, George W. Roberts, E. C. Stewart, John McLeod, A. G. Welch, Benjamin Blythe, Eli Cox, Allen Barnett, J. D. Whitenack, Thomas W. Stiles.
1868-E. F. Turney, C. Hughart, T. W. Stiles, William Anderson, William McDonald, Eli Cox, Q. C. Bird, B. F. Brown, J. D. Whitenack, James Goare, I. N. Hogle, H. H. Harris, Daniel Francis, O. B. Bissell, A. M. Hart, Joseph J. Grier.
1869-William Anderson, John McLeod, Sr., J. D. Whitenack, D. F. Turney, Daniel Francis, James Goare, Van B. Wiggins, George B. Breeding, I. N. Hogle, C. Hughart, Thomas W. Stiles, William Smith, Harbert Harris, O. B. Bissell, A. M. Hart, J. J. Grier, George Fisher.
In 1870 the supervisor system was changed and the number reduced to three, who should be elected by the county at the general election and the length of their terms to be decided by lot. After this change supervisors were elected as follows, but the change was not complete until the old supervisors had served out their terms :
1870-George Fisher, I. N. Hogle, J. M. Andrews, William Anderson, W. H. Lewis, E. H. Conger.
1871-William Anderson, E. H. Conger, W. H. Lewis.
1872-E. H. Conger, Thomas Runkle, W. H. Lewis.
1873-W. H. Lewis, Thomas Runkle, Milton Wilson.
1874-WV. H. Lewis, Thomas Runkle, Milton Wilson. 1875-W. H. Lewis, S. M. Creger, Milton Wilson. 1876-W. H. Lewis, S. M. Creger, Milton Wilson.
1877-S. M. Creger, G. A. Beerbower, Milton Wilson.
1878-G. A. Beerbower, John H. Marley, Milton Wilson. 1879-Alfred Hartman, G. A. Beerbower, John H. Marley. 1880-J. H. Marley, J. F. Buchanan, Alfred Hartman.
1881-J. F. Buchanan, Charles Polk, L. S. Holmes.
1882-J. F. Buchanan, Charles Polk, I. S. Holmes. 1883-Charles Polk, C. W. Thompson, George Storck. 1884-George Storck, George Duncan, M. C. Shaw. 1885-George Storck, M. C. Shaw, J. M. Browne. 1886-M. C. Shaw, J. M. Browne. G. F. Lenocker. 1887-G. F. Lenocker, J. M. Browne, L. N. Conway. 1888-L. N. Conway, M. M. McGee, G. F. Lenocker.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
1889-1. N. Conway, M. M. McGee. Thomas W. Stiles. ISyo-M. M. McGee, Thomas W. Stiles, N. B. Hollingsworth. 1891-Thomas W. Stiles, N. B. Hollingsworth, L. Banker. 1892-N. B. Hollingsworth, L. Banker, John Brooker. 1893-1. Banker. John Brooker. W. E. Mack. 1894-John Brooker. W. E. Mack, H. H. Kilgore. 1895 -- W. E. Mack. 11. 11. Kilgore, John Brooker. 1896-H. Il. Kilgore, John Brooker, A. B. Johnson. 1897-John Brooker, A. B. Johnson. A. Dunlap. 1898-A. Dunlap. C. S. Wilson, A. B. Johnson. 1899-Alexander Dunlap. C. S. Wilson, A. B. Johnson. 1900-C. S. Wilson, A. B. Johnson, Alexander Dunlap. 1901-A. Dunlap, A. B. Johnson, C. S. Wilson. 1902-Alexander Dunlap, C. S. Wilson, A. J. Jones. 1903-C. S. Wilson. A. J. Jones, James Breckenridge. 1904-A. J. Jones, M. O. Brady, James Breckenridge. 1905-A. J. Jones, M. O. Brady, James Breckenridge. 1906-M. O. Brady, A. J. Jones, James Breckenridge. 1907-M. O. Brady. R. A. Lenocker, A. J. Jones. 1908-R. A. Lenocker, M. O. Brady, J. T. Young. 1909-M. O. Brady. J. T. Young, W. II. Deardorff. 1910-W. E. Shambaugh, W. H. Deardorff, L. V. Price. 1911-L. V. Price. W. H. Deardorff. W. H. Maxwell. 1912-1. V. Price, W. H. Maxwell. C. D. Stiles. 1913-W. Il. Maxwell, C. D. Stiles, L. V. Price. 1914-C. D. Stiles, L. V. Price, W. 11. Maxwell. 1915-1. V. Price, W. H. Maxwell, C. D. Stiles.
REPRESENTATIVES
Below is a list of Madison's able men who represented the county in the General Assembly : Senate: M. L. MePherson, 6th, 7th, 8th and extra session, oth and extra session : Benjamin F. Roberts, roth session ; Benjamin F. Murray, 13th and 14th : Eli Wilkin, 20th and 21st ; Richard Price, 22d and 23d ; James J. Crossley, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st and 32d.
House: Edwin R. Guiberson. 3d and 7th : Benjamin F. Roberts, 6th ; T. D. Jones, 8th and extra ; Alfred Hood, gth and extra : John E. Darby, 10th : Joseph M. Browne. 1th; Benjamin F. Murray, 12th; John H. Hartenbower, 13th ; David D. Davisson, 14th: O. B. Bissell, 15th; J. J. Smith, 16th : William F. Hadley, 17th : Daniel Francis, 18th; Butler Bird, 19th : Albert R. Dabney, 20th and 21st : Dr. J. 11. Mack, 22d and 23d : 1. K. Wilson, 24th ; A. L. Wood, 25th, 26th and extra session : John Shambaugh, 27th and 28th : Robert A. Greene, 20th. 30th and 31st : John Schoenberger, 32d and extra session : Elias R. Zeller, 33d and 34th ; Walter F. Craig, 35th; R. A. L.enocker, 36th.
CHAPTER VIII
ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MADISON COUNTY
In publishing what follows, nothing should be construed in a partisan sense. The democratic party long had existed, even from the beginning of the nation under its republican form of government. Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, was its first great beacon light and patron saint and then came Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory," who solidified its ranks and made the party the dominant one for generations. But the republican party was born while Madison County was in her infancy and leaders in the political affairs of this community took part in the christening. So that, a general outline of the notable event has a place in this work.
An account of the formation and first years of the republican party in lowa will doubtless be of interest. The party was organized in the county in 1856, mainly through the exertions of H. J. B. Cummings. Colonel Cummings, on his way in search of a new home, crossed the Mississippi River on the ice, in January. 1856, and came directly to Winterset. He was an ardent believer in the prin- ciples of the new party, which had been organized in the state he came from the previous year, and a certain incident occurring soon after arriving at his new home, was the occasion of his entering upon the work of organization here : Mr. Glazebrook, the democratic postmaster here, received from the office of Horace Greeley a package of documents urging the organization of the party in all the counties of the state, also printed calls for assembling of persons in sympathy with the moveinent, with the time and place of meeting in blank, to be filled out to suit the local conditions. Mr. Glazebrook, though not in sympathy with the movement, was a fair minded man, and had a keen sense of official duty, so he handed the package to Mr. Cummings, as the right man into whose hands the document should be placed. Cummings filled out the blanks and with the aid of a Mr. Arnold, a photographer, posted them throughout the county. The first meeting was held in the old schoolhouse, which then was situated where the high school is now located, and which was afterward moved to Court Avenue on the lot just west of the new Madisonian office, and where it remained until 1905, when it was torn down that it might no longer mar the appearance of sur- rounding property, and especially the new library building. The meeting for organization was held at night and there was quite a respectable crowd present. There were no lights in the building and proceedings were delayed until a man could be dispatched up town for a half dozen candles. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Cummings and the Rev. J. E. Darby was elected chairman. Mr. Cummings acted as secretary. Among those present taking part beside the two
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