USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 52
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vention it was plain to see who was the favorite of the lookers-on. Every mention of Lincoln's name was received with cheer after ehcer. Three ballots were taken, on the last Mr. Lincoln received a majority of the whole votes, and was made the
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unanimous choice of the convention, amidst the most intense enthusiasm. llannibal Hamlin, of Maine, was selected as the candidate for Vice-President.
The Democratie National Convention was called to meet at Charleston, South Carolina. The friends of Stephen A. Douglas were active in urging his elaims to the nomination for the Presidency, many of the delegates from the Northern States being instructed to use all honor- able means to that end. The claims of Douglas were stoutly contested by the leaders of the Democracy of the South, and it was evident some time before the convention assembled that it would be difficult to come to an agreement, especially as the rule of the Democratic National Convetnion required a two-thirds vote to nominate. Meeting in the city of Charles- ton, April 23, 1860, the convention re- mained in session ten days, at the expira- tion of which time no nominations were made, many of the delegates, from the Southern States withdrawing. After tak- ing fifty-seven ballots it was found im- possible for any candidate to receive a two-thirds vote of the entire body, so many delegates having withdrawn. Adjourn- ment was then had to Baltimore June 19. At this latter place the convention met pursuant to adjournment, but even here no agreement could be reached between the factions. After six days' meeting Stephen A. Douglas was nominated for President and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, for Vice-President. The nomination of Doug- las was received with very great enthusi- asm. Mr. Fitzpatrick declining, Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, was substituted. Mr. Johnson accepted the nomination.
That portion of the convention which seceded held a convention June 23, and nominated John C. Breckinridge of Ken- tucky, for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President. A "Union" convention was also held, at which John Bell, of Tennessee, was nominated for President, and Edward Everett, of Mas- saebusetts, for Vice-President.
With four presidential candidatesin the field, the exciting questions growing out of the institution of slavery and the threats of disunion by a portion of the south in the event of the election of Lincoln, tended to make the campaign one of great interest. " Wide-Awake " clubs and organizations of "Hickory Boys " on the part of Republicans and Douglas Democrats, respectively, tended to inerease the excitement. Large and enthusiastie meetings were held by each party in all the leading towns and eities, and even in many of the smaller villages. The names of the "Rail-Splitter" and the " Little Giant " evoked the greatest enthusiasm.
The Republican State Convention met in Iowa City May 23, nominated a State ticket, and adopted a platform endorsing the action of the National Convention at Chicago, endorsing its nominations and favoring rigid economy in state matters. The Democratic convention met at Des Moines July 12, nominated a State ticket, and passed resolutions endorsing Douglas and Johnson. The "Union ticket " was strongly condemned.
In this county the fight was waged as hard as in any county in the State. There were but two county officers to be elected -- Clerk of the District Court and Coroner-
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consequently there was but little to detract from the great National questions. Abraham Lincoln received 775 vo'es in Tama county, and Stephen A. Douglas 413; majority for Lincoln, 362. D. D. Appelgate received a majority of 349 over C. R. Ward for Clerk of Court.
The war for the union was in progress during the political campaign of 1861, and issues growing out of the war were rapidly forming. The Republicans were first to meet in convention, assembling in Des Moines July 31, and nominating a candidate for Governor, and other State officers, and adopted a platform heartily supporting the Government in its asser- tion of the right to coeree, denouncing the doctrine of secession, maintaining the supremacy of the Constitution, and declar- ing in the most forcible language that the rebellion should be put down at any cost. The Democratic State Convention passed resolutions also unequivocally condemn- ing the action of seceding States, but de- clared it to be the legitimate result of the snecessful teaching of the "irrepressible conflict," and also denying in toto the right of the Government to perpetuate the Union by force of arms. State sov- ereignty was endorsed, and declared the opposite doctrine to be fraught with dis- astrous consequences. The campaign in Tama county afforded but little interest, the all-exciting questions of the war fill- ing the mind of every voter. A light vote was polled. The Democrats had three regular nominees for local offices. The Republicans were successful by large majorities. The total vote was 916.
The union army had met with several reverses during the year 1862, and a gloomy
feeling pervaded the minds of the people, having its effect upon the canvass for State officers. The Democrats met in convention at Des Mo nes and adopted a platform in which they expressed themselves as in favor of using all constitutional means for the suppression of the rebellion, and opposed to any scheme of confiscation and emancipation; « pposed to a suspension of the writ of habeus corpus; declaring the superiority of the white over the black race, and opposed to the purchase of slaves. The Republicans, in their platform, adopted at Des Moines, resolved that it was the duty of every man to help maintain the Government, condemned the course of secession sympathizers, and asked all favorable to giving the national admin- istration honest support to co-operate with them.
In Tama county the vote was still lighter than in 1861. Republicans had a full ticket in the field, but the Democrats made no nominations. T. K. Armstrong was an independent candidate for County Judge against T. A. Graham, the Repub- lican nominee, and was defeated by a majority of 44. Leander Clark, the Rep- resentative of the county in the General Assembly,had gone into the army, and W. F. Johnston was elected to fill the vacancy so caused. The total vote was 681.
In 1863, the Democracy met at Des Moines on the 8th of July, and nominated a candidate for Governor, and other Statc officers. Questions growing out of the war still afforded issues between the parties. The writ of habeas corpus had been suspended by the President ; martial law had been declared in some of the States not in rebellion, and the proclama-
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tion of emancipation had been issued. These measures the Democracy in conven- tion and by resolution opposed, while the Republican convention, which convened June 17th, favored each. In Tama county the campaign was devoid of interest. There were two tickets in the field, a regular Republican, and a People's, and a much larger vote was polled than any time since the Presidential election of 1860. Every candidate on the Republican ticket was elected, receiving a large majority on the home vote, which was increased by the soldiers in the field, the latter voting almost unanimously for that ticket. It is but justice to the candidates on the people's ticket to state that most of them were nominated by the convention without their knowledge, and it is claimed that many of them voted the straight Repub- lican ticket. The total vote polled was 1,199.
During 1863 the report was circulated that an organization had been effected in Tama county of the Knights of the Golden Circle, and it was believed by many. This order originated in Indiana. It was in sympathy with secession, rebellion and riot. In Tama county during the election it was whispered that the organization in the county had 700 armed followers. This rumor caused the organization of a counter society, known as the " Union League," among Republicans. Nothing was ever done openly by either of the societies, and when or how they were ever disbanded is not known. It is also claimed by good authority that there was nothing in the rumor regarding the Knights of the Golden Cirele, and it undoubtedly was imaginary. In 1864 Abraham Lincoln was renomi-
nated by the Republicans; associated with him on the ticket was Andrew Johnson, the Union Governor of Tennessee. The Democrats put in nomination Gen. George B. MeClellan for the Presidency and George II. Pendleton, of Ohio, for the Vice-Presidency. The Republicans of Iowa held a convention at Des Moines, July 7, and adopted a platform confirm- ing the renomination of Abraham Lincoln, and paying high tributes of praise to the loyal soldiers and soldiers' wives who were daily making sacrifices that the Union might be saved. The Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines July 16, selected a State ticket, but adopted no platform. A peace convention, however, was held at Iowa City, August 24, which adopted resolutions denouncing the war and its further support, and rejecting the equality of the negro with the white man. This was the darkest period of the war, and although the feeling was intense, yet it was not manifested so much in the campaign as usual.
In Tama county there was an increase of the vote over 1863, amounting to a total of 1261. The congressional contest through this county between Josiah B. Grinnell and Ira C. Mitchell was very heated. On one occasion during the campaign the two candidates were engaged in a joint dis- cussion in the Methodist church at Toledo. During J. B. Grinnell's speech there was some disturbance caused by some one in the audience calling "Boots! Boots ! Free speech !" etc. "Yes," Mr. Grinnell finally replied, "you believe in free whisky, too!" But this did not stop it. When Mr. Mitchell replied, his speech was full of bitterness and sareasm regarding the Re-
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publicans and the war, which he claimed they had caused; asked the mothers if they wished to send any more of their sons and husbands to be slaughtered on south- ern soil. He here paused a moment, when the audience were electrified at seeing Mrs. Doctor Baldy take the floor. Her youngest brother had just a day or two before left to join the army, and she had stood his talk as long as possible. She began with a scathing rebuke, declaring him a liar in his statements, and a traitor to his flag and country and wound up by stating that she was willing that her dear ones should go to conquer and subdue the rebels and she would risk taking care of herself and defending her home from the traitors and comrades who remained be- hind. When the meeting broke up a friend of the lady whispered to her that she had better be careful as a lot of secession women were waiting at the door to whip her. Mrs. Baldy stepped to the door, and said loud enough to be heard by all: "If any one wants anything of me, let them come on,-I'll throw them right over the meeting-house!"
Josiah B. Grinnell was elected to Con- gress by a good majority. Lincoln's majority in Tama county was 485. In county affairs the Republicans were also successful by large majorities. The question of levying a tax for the erection of a court house was submitted at this election, and was defeated by a majority of 241. This proposition was opposed by many in the southern part of the county because they thought they could not afford it. The northern part of the county were still in hopes of having the county seat removed further north, and did not like
the idea of building a court house in To. ledo and thus permanently settling the question. The vote on the matter stood 703 against, and 462 for.
In October, 1865, the question was submitted to the people as to aiding the construction of the Iowa Central R. R. It carried by a majority of 812.
The Republicans were first in the field in 1865, meeting in convention at Des Moines June 14, nominating a ticket and adopting a platform. The Union Anti- Negro Suffrage party met at the Capital August 23 and nominated a ticket, and adopted a platform in which they resolved the administration of Andrew Johnson ; that they were opposed to negro suffrage ; that the soldiers of the late war deserved well of their countrymen, and that their sympathies were with them. The Dem- ocrats met in convention the same day, but made no nominations, the party sup- porting the Soldiers' ticket as it was known.
Not much interest was taken in the campaign in Tama county, and a light vote was polled, the total being 1295. Republicans and Democrats had full county tickets in the field, and the former were successful by majorities ranging from 358 to 843. The fight for Sheriff was pushed vigorously by W. T. Hollen, the Democratic candidate, and he run nearly 100 votes ahead of his ticket. The vote for Governor stood William M. Stone, Republican, 863 ; Thomas HI. Benton, Jr., Democrat, 479.
The campaign of 1866 was fought on the issue of reconstruction in the southern states. The Republicans in convention resolved that the people who subdued the
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rebellion and their representatives in congress had the right to reorganize the states that had been in rebellion. This was denied by some of the Republicans, and the entire Democratic party. The conservative Republicans, or those who were opposed to congressional action, met in convention and nominated a state ticket. The Democratic convention adopted a platform, nominated two candidates, and resolved to support the ticket of the conservatives.
In county affairs nothing of interest occurred. There were only two offices to be filled, clerk of court and county record- er. The Republicans nominated for clerk David D. Appelgate, and the Democrats W. H. Stoddard ; the former was success- ful by a majority of 446. For recorder the Republicans nominated Jacob Yeiser, jr., and the Democrats J. M. Ilillman ; Yeiser received a majority of 633.
The general issues dividing the parties in October, 1867, were the same as in 1866. Full state and county tickets were nominated and put in the field by both parties. The Republicans were successful by majorities of about 450. For drainage commissioner neither party made nomina- tions, and W. S. Turbett, who received 16 scattering votes for the office, was declared elected.
The year 1868 brought with it another l'residential campaign. The Republican National Convention met in Chicago and placed in nomination Ulysses S. Grant, the victorious Union general, associating with him Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana. The Democratic National Convention nominated Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair, Jr., for President and Vice-Presi-
dent. The financial question began to be a leading issue, especially with reference to the payment of the bonds in coin or greenbacks, the Republicans favoring the payment in coin, the Democrats opposing. The latter also, by resolution, favored the abolition of the national banking system, and the substitution of United States notes for those of national banks. This was opposed by the Republicans. Full State and county tickets were nominated, and in Tama county the vote was one of the largest ever polled in the county, being 2667. There were two county offices to be filled, Clerk and Recorder. The Repub- licans were successful by majorities of 1079. The fight was principally upon the office of clerk, and location of candidates entered into it largely.
In 1869 a light vote was polled as com- pared with that of the previous year. The Republicans were sure of success while the Democrats acknowledged their inability to accomplish anything, save the keeping alive their organization. The total vote in Tama county was 2102.
The Campaigns of 1870 and 1871, were devoid of much interest in both general and local affairs. The official vote, given elsewhere, will show the result.
The movement known as the Liberal Republican had a large influence, politi- cally, in 1872, having virtually dictated the Democratie nomination for the Presi- dency, and the platform of principles on which the campaign against the Republi- can party was dictated. The Liberal Re- publicans were those connected with the Republican party who were opposed to any extreme measures in the reconstruc- tion of the Southern States, and who be-
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lieved the time had come when past is- sues should be forgotten, and new issues formed ; that the hand of reconciliation should be offered the South, and a united country, working together to build up the waste places of the South. Many of the most able men of the Republican party, including Horace Greeley, Charles Sum- ner, Lyman Tru ubull, John M. Palmer and others, united in this movement. In May a National Convention was held by the Liberal Republicans, in Cincinnati, which nominated Horace Greeley for President and B. Gratz Brown for Vice- President. The following is a synopsis of the resolutions adopted :
I. Equality of all men before the law ; equal and exact justice to all, without re- gard to race, color or previous condition.
2. Opposition to the re-opening of all questions settled by the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the constitution.
3. Demand for the immediate and ab- solute removal of all disabilities imposed on account of the rebellion.
4. Local self-government ; supremacy of the civil over the military, and de- mand for the largest individual liberty consistent with public order.
5. Denunciation of the existing system of civil service.
6. Demand for a system of federal taxation which should not unnecessarily interfere with the industries of the people; reference of the tariff to the congressional distriets.
7. Demand for civil service reform, and for the election of president for a single term only.
8. Maintenance of public eredit and denunciation of repudiation.
9. A speedy return to specie payment. 10. Thanks to the citizen soldiers and sailors of the republic.
11. Opposition to further grants to railroads.
. 12. Cultivation of friendship with all nations; regarding alike dishonorable, either to demand what is not right or to submit to what is wrong.
The Democracy in convention ratified the nomination of Greeley and Brown and adopted the platform of the Liberal Republicans. The Republicans renomi- nated President Grant, and associated with him on the ticket Henry Wilson, of Massa- chusetts, for Vice-President. The dissaffec- tion among the Democrats in consequence of the nomination of Horace Greeley, a life-long political enemy, was so great that a third ticket was nominated, at the head of which was .Charles O'Connor, the distinguished lawyer of New York. The Democrats and Liberal Republicans met in State convention and nominated a ticket composed of two Democrats and three Liberal Republicans, and passed a resolu- tion endorsing the nomination of Greeley. The Liberal ticket in this county did not meet with much encouragement, the vote given it being only that number usually polled by the Democratie nominees. The campaign in Tama county was very warm on general issues. Total vote, 2,123; Republican majority about 1,100.
The question of Capitol es. Labor en- gaged the attention of the people in 1873. The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines June 25, and after nominating candidates adopted resolutions declaring against monopolies, and urging that the
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several States should carefully restrict the powers of the railroad companies and other monopolies. Class legislation was also demanded. The Democratic party of the State made no regular nominations this year, but generally supported the Anti- Monopoly ticket. A convention was held at Des Moines, August 12, nominated can- didates, and adopted resolutions declaring that the old party organizations were no longer useful, denouncing corruption in government affairs, and urging the neces- sity of political honesty
In Tama county, the campaign was an exciting one in its results and was a polit- ical up-heaval. The Republicans had a full county ticket in the field, with A. N. Poyneer, for Representative; A. J. Wheat- on, for Anditor; T. J. Sweat, Treasurer; Knight Dexter, for Sheriff; W. Mowry, for Supervisor; A. HI. Sterrett, for county Superintendent; W. H. Holstead, for Sur- veyor, and N. Fisher, for Coroner. The opposition combined upon an Anti-Monop- oly ticket, running for Representative, W. G. Malin; Auditor, J. A. Bowdle; Treas- urer, Daniel Forker; Sheriff, R. E. Austin; Supervisor, S. W. Hutton; Superintendent, I. F. Giger; Coroner, G. W. Cowles. There was no available candidate for Surveyor, so the space was left blank on the ticket, leaving the Republican candidate without opposition. The canvass was conducted as a "still hunt," every one working hard, and the principal fight being directed toward what was called the "Toledo Ticket and Court-House Ring," Every township was carefully and thoroughly canvassed by the "Anti-Monops." as they were called, and it was announced that if Daniel Forker, was elected they would
pay all deputies. This secured many votes from the fact that it promised a reduction of taxation. The election came off in due time and it was found that every eandi- date upon the Anti-Monopoly ticket was elected except I. F. Giger, for county Superintendent; the Republican candidate, A. H. Sterrett being successful in this case by a majority of 47. The majorities ranged from 33 to 402, the latter being the major- ity by which Daniel Forker was elected Treasurer over T. J. Sweat. The total vote was polled 2,100.
In 1874, the issues were the same as in the previous year and and the Anti-Mo- nopolists made a gallant fight throughout the State, but without success. In Tama county the campaign was pushed with vim, and grew very warm, both the Re- publican and Anti-Monopoly parties having full county tickets in the fie d. The Republicans were successful by a majority of about 625. The Anti-oMnop- olists had made one mistake in failing to fulfill their promise to pay the deputies, and this contributed largely to their defeat.
A convention was called to meet at Des Moines June 24, 1875, to be composed of Democrats, Anti-Monopolists and Liberal Republicans. Assembling a ticket was nominated headed by Shepard Lefler for . Governor, and a platform of principles adopted covering the principal ground of belief of the three elements represented. The Republicans met in connention and nominated S. J. Kirkwood for Governor. A temperance convention was also held and Rev. John H. Lozier was nominated for Governor. The latter received four votes in this county. The Republican
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Governor's majority in the county was 488 In county affairs this year signalized a great effort on the part of the Republicans to regain what they had lost in 1873. They nominated a full ticket, and the campaign was conducted aggressively, the fact of the Anti-Monopolists failing to pay their deputies as promised, 'being constantly held up to the view of the people. The Anti-Monopoly party placed a full ticket in the field, nominating for re-election all those who had been success- ful in 1873. For Superintendent of Schools L. Leyenberger, was nominated. The Republicans were successful with their whole ticket excepting for Auditor and Sheriff. To these offices J. A. Bowdle and R. E. Austin, the Anti-Monopoly candidates were elected.
The election in 1876 was for National, State and County officers. Rutherford B. Ilayes and William A. Wheeler were the Republican candidates for President and Vice-President ; while Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks received the nomination of the Democratic party for the same offices. Peter Cooper was the nominee of the Independent party. or Greenbackers, for President. The hard times which began in 1873 had a percept- ible effect upon this campaign. The Democratic party, which for some years had been acting upon the defensive, when not allied with some other political body, now assumed the aggressive, and under the banner of "Tilden and Reform,'' forced the Republicans in the defensive. On the part of the Democrats the cam- paign was boldly conducted. In this State the Greenbackers held two conventions, at the first of which they adopted a plat-
form containing their principal tenets. The Republicans adopted as a platform substantially the following points: " Unity of the Nation ; 2, economy in the adminis- tration of the government ; 3, a currency convertable with coin ; 4, all railway and other corporations to be subject to the law- making power. The Democrats adopted but a single resolution approving the plat- form of the National Democratic Conven- tion and the nomination of Tilden and Ilendricks. The Independents, or Green- backers, also put in nomination a State ticket.
In county affairs there was no special interest attached to the campaign, although both parties had regular tickets in the field. The Republicans were successful by majorities ranging over 1,000.
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