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