History of O'Brien County, Iowa, from its organization to the present time, Part 14

Author: Perkins, D A W
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Sioux Falls, S. D., Brown & Saenger, printers
Number of Pages: 510


USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > History of O'Brien County, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 14


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27


233


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


a minister of the Society of Friends. Following him came the Rockweel family from New York and eastern Iowa, con- sisting of the parents, their five sons and son-in-law D. J. Peckman. Several members of the family came in the spring of 1885. The lands comprised in this settlement, lie mostly in the immediate vicinity of Paullina, and are among the best in the state.


Mr. Isaac Sprague came in the spring of 1871, and settled on the northwest of section 34, in Carroll. He sold out in grasshopper times, becoming discouraged and disgusted, in battling the pest, but has re- mained in the county since, now residing in Paullina.


Hugh Scott settled on the northeast quarter of section 28, in Center township in 1870, and with his family now resides in Sioux City .. He was a resident of Center township for many years, eleven of his children having been born in that township. Three of Mr. Scott's daugh- ters, Mollie, Jeanne and Bes- sie, have obtained a large JOIIN BOWLEY. and enviable reputation as musicians. Mollie has given piano recitals in most of the large cities of the United States. Bessie as a violinist has toured the country successfully. Jeanne has lately received flattering notices in the press, among others the St. Louis Globe as follows:


" The pianist, Miss Jeannie Scott, played the Liszt arrange- ment of the ' Erl King' with exquisite expression and with a technique well nigh flawless. After four recalls she respond- ed with Chopin's charming and dainty ' Berceuse.' Miss Scott received a beautiful bouquet at the close of her second number."


234


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


W. H. Eaton, now a prominent resident of Hartley, came from Wisconsin in 1872, and located on a part of section 25, in Lincoln township. He moved to Hartley in 1879.


I. M. Silverthorn came from Hardin county, Iowa, and set- tled on section 30 in Lincoln township, in 1870. Himself and family, were in that township for about two years in advance of any others. Mr. Silverthorn went through the grass- hopper period, and in one year had 100 acres of wheat, and did not harvest a bushel. He now resides in Hartley.


WILLIAMS BROS.' STORE, HARTLEY.


Julius G. Guen- ther came to Cen- ter township in an early day, farmed for a number of years, moved from there to Hartley and died there not a great while ago. A son H. J. keeps a shoe store in Hartley. E. W., another son, runs a blacksmith shop at Calumet. Emil is in the saloon bus- iness at Hartley.


In 1875, the population of the county was 2,349, and there were 595 voters. There were 563 families, and 594 dwellings. During that same year, there were 116 births, 26 deaths. The number of acres of cultivated land were 33,626, and that


235


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


year there was harvested 157,526 bushels of wheat, 106,052 of corn, 1,281 of rye, 53,931 of oats and 200 bushels of buck- wheat.


JAKNÁ ANAREA


RESIDENCE OF I. N. DRAKE, HARTLEY.


The population in 1881, by townships, was as follows: Baker township


202


Caledonia 177


Carroll 329


Center


359


Floyd, outside of Sheldon


368


Franklin


88


Grant


368


Hartley, including town


104


Highland 387


Liberty 350


Lincoln


23


Summit.


18


Waterman


I45


Town of Sheldon


730


Town of Sanborn


364


Town of Primghar


I43


236


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


By the census of 1885 there were 8,335 inhabitants in the county, distributed in towns and townships as follows:


Baker township


394


Carroll


396


Center


386


Caledonia


526


Dale


223


Franklin


223


Floyd


47I


Grant


651


Highland


388


Hartley


28I


Lincoln


53


Liberty


497


Omega


187


Sumit


-286


Union


206


Waterman


22I


Sheldon Town


1,036


Sanborn Town


1,143


Paullina Town


355


Sutherland Town


416


Total 8,335


This population consisted of 4,451 males and 3,884 females. There were 1,981 who where voters, 2,833 between the ages of 5 and 21, and 1,58I liable to military duty. The population of the county still increasing was in 1890, 13,039, its present population is 15,609.


In 1887 the taxable property of the county was as follows:


Land


$1,698,10I


Town property 143,782


Personal property


346,753


Railroad property


225,252


Total


$2,405,888


237


.


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


In the same year there was in the county.


Cattle 16,000


Horses 6,100


Mules 350


Sheep


5,000


Hogs


15,000


The Covey church on section 6 in Grant township, was built in 1875. Rev. John Covey who was a homesteader in the county, and a preacher of that denomination, obtained from the extension fund of that church, the sum of $500. The ground was donated by John Loder, and the balance of the money necessary to build the church, was raised by the settlers.


Mr. Henry D. Year, Fred and Michael Stueck, Julius Frei- mark and others, in 1884, built the Saint Emanuel's Lutheran German church in Center township, on section 26, at a cost of about $1,000. Two acres of ground were donated by Mr. Year, and one acre by Mr. Stueck for church and cemetery.


There are quite a num- ber of settlers in Floyd township, who came in the seventies. Tim Don- ahue, came in 1878 from the state of Michigan. He had been marshal of the city there, and had been deputy sheriff of the county. Pat Kennedy came from Michigan in PARK PRATT. 1872. He has worked hard during the years he has been here, and raised but little during the grasshoppers. I remem- ber one summer that Pat did some breaking, he worked his horses without grain; he would turn them out to feed on grass only.


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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Charles M. Kenney is one of the early settlers of Floyd, came here a small boy with his father J. L. Kenney, and if Charley has the same attributes of manliness as the father has, he cannot go far astray, and we think he has.


Patrick Sullivan with family came in 1878, as did also James Beacom. Both of these have sons farming in the town- ship.


Patrick Kelley has been here quite a number of years, and is still farming. William Johnson was an early settler, and by nature was a good man. His wife still resides in Floyd township also a son Robert, farming.


Thomas Burns is quite an early settler in Carroll, coming here in 1874, and is still farming the same piece of land he broke up originally. He has several sons also who are farm- ers, and it is quite a thrifty family.


CHAPTER XII.


There was in O'Brien county in the seventies, a gopher scalp period so to speak, when the county paid five cents each for every gopher scalp, presented to the auditor. This some- what helped to reduce the number of gophers, but more par- ticularly was the means of grinding out county warrants for the poor and destitute of the county, who would catch gophers, if they could do nothing else. The gophers were a trouble- some pest, they seemed to know exactly where every kernal of corn was deposited in planting time, and were very industrious in getting after it, still, there were ways of destroying them, and each settler had an individual interest in reducing their num- bers, and exterminating them if they could. But county warrants were worth only forty cents on a dollar, and every gopher scalp meant one gopher less. The writer was driving to Primghar across the county in 1874, with James Wykoff, and along with us was "Sam" a spotted dog known to the settlers in and about Sheldon, as a dog of much intelligence. On the way Sam caught a gopher, which we carried to the county seat and presented it to Auditor Edwards, demanding that warrant issue in the name of "Sam Perkins" which was done in the usual form, and on the usually decorated paper blank, called a warrant, and for five cents. We then present- ed the warrant to the treasurer who cashed it, and the five cents was soon in the hands of a butcher, and "Sam" was enjoying his dinner of beef bones. Other counties in the state had previously, and some then, were paying this bounty for gopher scalps.


It was told at the time that Scott county paid five cents,


240


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


and the adjoining county Muscatine paid the same. The evi- dence in Scott county of the slaughter, was the scalp, in Mus- catine county the tail. One can imagine how easily the "kids" of that day and generation, or of any other, would "catch on" to the double compensation of utilizing the carcass of a gopher, so that, the scalp would bring five cents in Scott county, and the tail five cents in Muscatine county. This game was played for awhile, until the county officers were on to the "racket," and soon the counties were alike in the required proof. Gopher scalps in O'Brien county then were legal tender. Ten gopher scalps would buy a certain amount of sugar, or other groceries, and the trade especially recognized these scalps as they did money in the purchase of goods. Capt. Edwards was kept busy counting them, as they were brought in all the time in large num- bers. The cat tribe was in- creased for the sole purpose of hunting gophers, and the prairie was covered with children catching them, by means of laying the loop of a string around the gopher hole, and then laying down a little distance away, ready to pull on the string, when the head of the gopher ap- peared at the surface. In order to get the bounty, it required the signature, and the oath of the one present- V. A. BARMORE. ing the scalps, which was written on a blank printed for that purpose. We do not know how it was, but it was understood at the time, that when the auditor had made his inspection, he would throw out the scalps at the rear of the office, and when this was done, other boys took these, and again presented them, and got more warrants


241


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


on them. We are inclined to think this industry was practiced, until Capt. Edwards found out what was going on, and after that, they were burned in the stove. But the poverty of the people then, owing to the grasshoppers was very much relieved by the county warrants issued for gopher scalps, but the time came when this bounty was taken off by the board of supervi- sors, and the cutting off of this steady income and revenue was felt by the rising generation of that period. That the people were poor then, there is no question. There is on the records of O'Brien county now, a chattel mortgage given to secure $25. on the following household articles, one stove, one flat iron, one wash board, one skimmer, one dish pan, and three lamp chimneys. Who, in their comfort and ease now living in O'Brien county, would raise a single objection to that part of the county's debt, created by paying for gopher scalps.


COUNTY OFFICERS.


We will at this time give the names of all the county officers from its first organization.


I860.


Recorder and Treasurer H. H. Waterman


Sheriff


L. McClellan


Surveyor A. Murry


Superintendent of Schools H. H. Waterman


County Judge .J. C. Furber


1861.


Same officers as in 1860 with the following exceptions: Sheriff A. Murry


Superintendent of Schools -J. J. Jenkins


I862.


Recorder and Treasurer J. R. M. Cofer


Sheriff


G. Hoffman


Surveyor


L. McClellan


Superintendent of Schools Geo. Hoffman


Clerk of Court H. C. Tiffey County Judge J. H. Cofer


16


242


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


1863.


Recorder and Treasurer J. R. M. Cofer


Sheriff G. Hoffman


Surveyor


L. McClellan


Superintendent of Schools Moses Lewis


Clerk of Court H. C. Tiffey


County Judge John F. McFarland


Supervisors


·


Moses Lewis and Daniel Clark


1864.


Recorder and Treasurer J. R. M. Cofer


Sheriff


. G. Hoffman


Surveyor L. McClellan


Superintendent of Schools Moses Lewis


Clerk of Court


H. C. Tiffey


County Judge John F. McFarland


Supervisors


Moses Lewis and Daniel Clark


1865.


Recorder and Treasurer A. Murry


Sheriff G. Hoffman


Surveyor L. McClellan


Superintendent of Schools Moses Lewis


Clerk of Court


H. C. Tiffey


County Judge


Moses Lewis


Supervisors


Moses Lewis and Daniel Clark


1866.


Recorder and Treasurer A. Murry


Sheriff Chas. M. Stevenson


Surveyor L. McClellan


Superintendent of Schools Moses Lewis


Clerk of Court


John Moore


County Judge


Moses Lewis


Supervisors (to fill vacancy of Moses Lewis) R. B. Crego


Daniel Clark


1867.


Recorder and Treasurer


A. Murry


Sheriff


Chas. M. Stevenson


243


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Surveyor L. McClellan


Superintendent of Schools Moses Lewis Clerk of Court H. C. Tiffey


County Judge Moses Lewis


Supervisors Moses Lewis, D. W. Inman and R. B. Crego 1868.


Recorder and Treasurer C. W. Inman


Sheriff Chauncy Chessley


Surveyor D. W. Inman


Superintendent of Schools Moses Lewis


Clerk of Court John Moore


County Judge A. Murry


Supervisors


Moses Lewis and Daniel Clark 1869.


Recorder and Treasurer C. W. Inman


Sheriff S. B. Hurlburt


Superintendent of Schools C. W. Inman


Clerk of Court


John S. Stratton


County Judge


A. Murry


Supervisors


Wm. H. Baker and Moses Lewis


1870.


Recorder and Treasurer


R. B. Crego, J. R. Pumphrey


Sheriff S. B. Hurlburt


Superintendent of Schools Stephen Harris


Clerk of Court John S. Stratton


County Judge A. Murry


Surveyor J. F. Schofield


Supervisors J. W. Kelly, H. H. Waterman and O. Higbee 1871.


Recorder McAllen Green


Treasurer


J. R. Pumphrey


Sheriff G. A. McOmber


Surveyor J. F. Schofield Clerk of Court Stephen Harris Auditor A. Murry


Assessor John Arbuckle


Supervisors B. F. McCormack, C. W. Inman, T. J. Fields


244


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


1872.


Recorder McAllen Green


Treasurer


J. R, Pumphrey


Sheriff Ed. A. Nissen


Superintendent of Schools Stephen Harris


Surveyor .A. J. Brock


Auditor A. J. Edwards


Clerk of Court


Stephen Harris Supervisors


B. F. McFarland, C. W. Inman, and I. L. Rerrick


1873.


Recorder A. J. Brock


Treasurer J. R. Pumphrey


Sheriff Ed. A. Nissen


Superintendent of Schools D. A. W. Perkins


Surveyor A. J. Brock


Auditor A. J. Edwards


Assessor


Jonathan Egy


Clerk of Courts


A. H. Willets


Supervisors


Harley Day, B. F. McCormack and C. F. Albright


1874.


Recorder . A. J. Brock


Treasurer J. R. Pumphrey


Sheriff Ed. A. Nissen


Superintendent of Schools J. A. Smith


Surveyor A. J. Brock


Auditor A. J. Edwards


Clerk of Court A. H. Willets Supervisors Horace E.


Hoagland, Benjamin Jones, Warren Walker, John F.


Burrows, Harley Day, C. F. Albright, and J. M. Royer 1875.


Recorder A. J. Brock


Treasurer J. R. Pumphrey


Sheriff


Ed. A. Nissen


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA. 245


Superintendent of Schools J. A. Smith Surveyor A. J. Brock Auditor Geo. W. Schee


Clerk of Court A. H. Willets


Supervisors C. F. Albright, J. M. Royer, Warren Walker, Benj. Jones, Wm. E. Welch and John F. Burroughs I876.


Recorder A. J. Brock


Treasurer Stephen Harris


Sheriff Ed. A. Nissen


Superintendent of Schools A. B. Chrysler Surveyor A. J. Brock


Auditor Geo. W. Schee


Clerk of Court A. H. Willets Supervisors Benj. Jones, W. W. Johnson, B. F. McCormack, John Royer, C. F. Albright, Wm. E. Welch, Warren Walker and John F. Hoagland 1877.


Recorder C. Longshore


Treasurer


Stephen Harris


Sheriff


Ed. A. Nissen


Superintendent of Schools A. B. Chrysler


Surveyor W. H. Riddell


Auditor


Geo. W. Schee


Clerk of Court A. H. Willetts Surpervisors - Joseph


Rowland, J. M. Royer, Ralph Dodge, Benj. Jones, Wm. E. Welch, W. W. Johnson and B. F. McCormack 1878.


Recorder C. Longshore


Treasurer


T. J. Alexander


Surveyor


Ed. A. Smith


Sheriff


Mart Shea


Superintendent of Schools Harley Day


Auditor Geo. W. Schee


H. L. Lanning Coroner


246


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN: COUNTY, IOWA.


Clerk of Court A. H. Willets


Supervisors B. F. Mc-


Cormack, Ralph Dodge, Benj. Jones, W. W. John- son, Joseph Rowland, Thos. Holmes, and J. M. Royer 1879.


Recorder J. Hinshaw


Treasurer T. J. Alexander


Sheriff Mart Shea


Surveyor Ed. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools


Harley Day


Auditor


J. L. E. Peck


Clerk of Court


F. N. Derby


Coroner


Chas. Smith


Supervisors


Thomas Holmes, Ralph Dodge, Joseph Rowland, Wm. Oliver, E. Kindig, J. H. Wolf and E. M. Brady 1880.


Recorder .J. Hinshaw


Treasurer T. J. Alexander


Sheriff Mart Shea


Surveyor C. M. Griffith


Superintendent of Schools Harley Day


Auditor


J. L. E. Peck


Clerk of Court


F. N. Derby


Coroner


Chas Smith


Supervisors Thomas Holmes,


Ralph Dodge, J. H. Wolf, E. M. Brady and E. Kindig 1881.


Recorder Herbert Sprague


Treasurer


T. J. Alexander


Sheriff Mart Shea


Surveyor C. M. Griffith


Superintendent of Schools Harley Day


Auditor


J. L. E. Peck


Clerk of Court F. N. Derby


Coroner


Chas Smith


247


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Supervisors


Thos. Holmes,


Ralph Dodge, E. Kindig, E. M. Brady, and J. H. Wolf I882.


Recorder Herbert Sprague


Treasurer T. J. Alexander


Sheriff W. C. Green


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools D. Algyer


Auditor


J. L. E. Peck


Clerk of Court


W. N. Strong


Coroner


Chas. Smith


Supervisors Thos. Holmes, Ralph


Dodge, E. M. Brady, Geo. Hakeman, and J. L. Kinney 1883 same as in 1882.


1884.


Recorded


Herbert Sprague


Treasurer F. N. Derby


Sheriff W. C. Green


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools D. Algyer


Auditor T. J. Alexander


Clerk


F. A. Turner


Coroner Chas. Smith


Supervisors Ralph Dodge, E. M.


Brady, J. L. Kinney, Geo. Hakeman and D. M. Sheldon 1885.


Recorder W. H. Noyes


Treasurer F. N. Derby


Sheriff W. C. Green


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools D. Algyer


Auditor T. J. Alexander


Clerk of Court F. A. Turner


Coroner


Chas. Smith


Supervisors D. M. Sheldon, Ralph Dodge, Henry


Hoerman, W. W. Reynolds and O. M. Shonkwiler


248


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


1886.


Recorder Isaac Clements


Treasurer F. N. Derby


Sheriff W. C. Green


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools D. Algyer


Auditor T. J. Alexander


Coroner B. S. Southan


Attorney


J. B. Dunn


Clerk of Court


F. A. Turner


Supervisors. D. M. Sheldon, J. W. Gaunt,


Henry Hoerman, W. W. Reynolds, O. M. Skonkwiler


1887.


Recorder Isaac Clements


Treasurer F. N. Derby


Sheriff W. C. Green


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools C. H. Crawford


Auditor C. H. Winterble


Clerk of Court F. A. Turner


Coroner L. F. Searles


Attorney J. B. Dunn


Supervisors .W. W. Renolds, J. E. Wheelock, J. W. Gaunt


I888.


Recorder Isaac Clements


Treasurer F. N. Derby


Sheriff W. C. Green


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools C. H. Crawford


Auditor C. H. Winterble


Coroner


F. L. Searles


Supervisors ___ G. O. Wheeler, H. P. Scott, W. W. Reynolds 1889.


Recorder


Isaac Clements


Treasurer Henry Rerrick


249


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Sheriff W. A. Noyes


Surveyor J. A. Smith


Superintendent of Schools Isabella Cowan


Auditor


C. H. Winterble


Clerk of Court J. W. Walter


Attorney -J. B. Dunn


Corner


C. L. Gurney


Supervisors_J. A. Warner, W. W. Reynolds, J. E. Wheelock


1890.


Recorder Isaac Clements


Treasurer Henry Herrick


Sheriff W. H. Noyes


Superintendent of Schools Isabella Cowan


Auditor C. H. Winterble


Clerk of Court


J. W. Walters


Coroner


D. Algyer


Attorney


J. B. Dunn Wm.


Supervisors


Oliver, H. P. Scott, G. O. Wheeler, W. W. Reynolds I891.


Recorder F. D. Mitchell


Treasurer Henry Rerrick


Sheriff W. H. Noyes


Surveyor F. E. Wade


Superintendent of Schools Ella Seckerson


Auditor C. H. Winterble


Clerk of Court


J. W. Walters


Coroner D. Algyer


Attorney J. B. Dunn


Supervisors J. Bowley,


C. Parker, Chas. Youder, Wm. Oliver, J. A. Warner 1892.


The officers of this year, the same as in 1891, except J. T. Conn, county attorney, in place of J. B. Dunn, and some change in supervisors.


250


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


1893.


Recorder F. D. Mitchell


Treasurer Henry Rerick


Sheriff S. A. Carter


Surveyor F. E. Wade


Superintendent of Schools Ella Seckerson


Auditor C. H. Winterble


Clerk of Conrt W. S. Armstrong


Coroner


D. Algyer


- County Attorney -J. T. Conn


Supervisors


John Bowley, E. T.


Parker, John Warnake, J. K. McAndrew, John Rhodes


1894.


Recorder F. L. Herrick


Treasurer Henry Rerick


Sheriff S. A. Carter


Surveyor


F. E. Wade


Superintendent of Schools Ella Seckerson


Auditor C. H. Winterble


Clerk of Court


W. S. Armstrong


Coroner


D. Algyer


Attorney J. T. Conn


Supervisors_


John Warnake, Benj. Jones,


D. M. Sheldon, W. W. Johnson and J. K. McAndrew 1895.


The officers of this year, the same as in 1894, except J. T. Conn, auditor, and D. A. W. Perkins, attorney.


1896.


Recorder F. L. Herrick


Treasurer


C. R. West


Sheriff S. A. Carter


Surveyor F. E. Wade


Superintendent of Schools Ella Seckerson


Auditor J. T. Conn


W. S. Armstrong Clerk of Court


251


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


Coroner E. W. Parker


County Attorney D. A. W. Perkins


Supervisors Jones, Sheldon, McAndrew, and


Johnson. Warnake died, and was appointed


1897.


Recorder F. L. Herrick


Treasurer C. R. West


Sheriff S. A. Carter


Surveyor


F. E. Wade


Superintendent of Schools Ella Seckerson


Auditor J. T. Conn


Clerk of Court S. A. Martin


Coroner E. W. Parker


County Attorney C. A. Babcock


Supervisors Benj. Jones, D. M. Sheldon, Henry Appeldorn, J. K. McAndrews, W. W. Johnson


ABEL APPLETON AND FAMILY.


CHAPTER XIII.


POLITICS.


The county has had its share of political maneuvers; politics is an American industry. If a yankee should be cast away on a desolate island, he would by nature, first divide the territory into election precincts, and next, post notices for a caucus. Running for an office seems to be a trade by itself, and they who are professional politicians, must know all the devices, that belong to the art of getting votes. Sometimes men are elected upon their negative qualities, that is a successful party often goes in, because he has been silent in speech, while his wisdom consisted only in looking wise. He has moved along successfully in business, has had no ideas to express, conse- quently has offended nobody. There is another class, who shout themselves in, and play the reform dodge, as Joe Smith has it. "Formally it was said: Not all who cry Lord: Lord: shall enter the kingdom of heaven: so at the present day it is not universally the case, that they who pump political wind with the greatest persistency, and assume a rich politico- satisfied look, have the best interests of the public at heart." It is rare in these degenerate political days, that a man goes into office upon his merits, but he gets there by reason of the time and money expended in his behalf. Still the public will brand a man with defeat, when it is thoroughly known that he is unfitted. Some men are also natural vote getters, and there are others, whose success seems to be a matter of destiny. Daniel Webster was by nature an intellectual hero, he towered above his fellows, as the oak towers above the sapling, but in his struggle for the presidential prize he fought against fate


254


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


and fortune, while Grant took the tide at its flood, which bore him onward to the goal, that was the height of Webster's ambition. James G. Blaine, one of the purest men in public life, and an intellectual giant, seemed fated to miss the mark, while Cleveland easily gained it. As long as we are a Repub- lic, there will be offices to be filled by the people, and plenty of candidates vexing their bodily health and mental serenity, by sleepness nights in an effort to secure them. There have been many hard fought battles in the county, in political con- ventions some bad blood stirred up, and estrangements be- tween men that have lasted for years. In O'Brien county, which has always had a republican majority, there has been now and then a democrat elected to office, which passeth political understanding, but still cannot be accounted for in no other way, than either republican voters, were by political tactics lured over into the camp of the enemy, or else these same voters did not like their candidate, and under the author- ity of a certain plank in the platform years ago, refused to support him.


As there is a woman suffrage association in the county, as well as in the entire state, Sister Woods of Sutherland may see the time, when she and her gallant and heroic coadjutors, will march triumphantly to the polls with the ballot, and the right to cast it, and then of course, all political ills are done away with.


Some years ago, C. C. Carpenter and Judge Pendleton of Sioux City were candidates for congress before the conven- tion at Cherokee. Carpenter had his agents here, active in his behalf, and Pendleton was not lacking in strong support. At the county convention to select delegates, the contention was bitter and long drawn out, and finally resulted in two sets of delegates, one for Carpenter and the other for Pendleton, and of course both sets were there. A few from each dele- gation were brought up before the convention, placed upon the witness stand, and interrogated as to their right to repre- sent the county, and after more or less filibustering, strange


255


HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.


to say, in the Carpenter convention, the Pendleton delegates got in by one-sixth of a vote. It seems to be a custom by adoption in the county to give a county officer two terms, but the force of it we never could see, as the better rule would be, if an officer was worthy and well qualified, and just the man, continue him indefinitely, and if unfitted, and 'not the man, turn him out after a single term. Any man who has no other claim to an of- fice, save that of be- ing entitled to it by heirship, is not the man for the office, and should give place to another. I re- member a candidate for a county office some years ago, sim- ple enough to be- lieve everything that was told him, and who stated to me before election, that I would FIRST STORE IN HARTLEY. be astonished at the immense majority he would receive. He was snowed under unmercifully, and meeting him the next day he said, " Perkins, there are five hundred d-d liars in O'Brien county." Under the Australian ballot system, polit- ical maneuvering and manipulations at the polls, have been done away with, and we seem to be reasonably free from that species of fraud, which prevailed under the old system.




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