USA > Iowa > Benton County > The history of Benton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics > Part 36
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But for some reason-either that the persons elected declined to accept, or that there was some serious informality that vitiated the election-a special elec-
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
tion was held on the 28th of April following, which resulted differently, as shown by the following :
Abstract of the votes cast at a special election held in Benton County, State of Iowa, on the 28th day of April, 1847, for county officers, to wit : One District Clerk, one Prosecuting Attor- ney, one School Land Commissioner :
For Prosecuting Attorney-James Mitchell had nineteen (19) votes ; Stephen Holcomb had twenty-one (21) votes for Prosecuting Attorney, and Fras. Jas. Rigaud had three (3) votes.
For District Clerk-I. D Simison had thirty-three (33) votes, and D. S. Pratt had twelve (12) votes.
For School Land Commissioner-John Royal had thirty (30) votes, and E. D. Spencer had four (4) votes.
MAY 5, 1847.
Attest : D. S. PRATT, Com. Clerk. L. W. HAYES, L. D. BORDWELL, Justices of the Peace.
Mr. Clerk Pratt made the memorandum that "certifficate for Stephen Hol- comb issued."
CONTESTED ELECTION.
Notwithstanding the action of the Canvassing Board and the issue of the certificate to Holcomb as Prosecuting Attorney, Mr. Mitchell appears to have contested his right to the office, and successfully, too, so far as the Justice's Court before which he brought his case, as appears from the following, which is an exact copy of the original :
We The Undersigned Justes of The peace of Benton Co. state of Iowa After examining All the Testimony perdused Before us on A case of the contesting of Alectun of Stephen Hol- comb by James Mitchel do finde that the said Mitchel is duly Alected this the 13 day of May, 1847.
(Signed)
L. W. HAYES, J. P., [L. S.]
L. D. BORDWELL, J. P., TL. S.] [L. S.]
CHARLES CANTONWINE, J. P.,
This document (which appears to have been written by Mitchell) was filed May 13, 1847. The case produced considerable excitement, and the little com- munity of Benton County was greatly exercised over it. Precisely on what ground Mitchell contested, or what authority was vested in Justices of the Peace to annul a certificate of election, does not clearly appear, although it is clear that they took the responsibility. Mr. Bordwell, one of the Justices, states that the Black Hawk County vote was solid for Mitchell-five votes. If they were counted, Mitchell was elected ; if not, then Holcomb's certificate was valid. It would seem that the returns from Black Hawk had not been received when the votes were canvassed on the 5th of May, and the question whether the canvass should be re-opened and the vote of Black Hawk opened and counted, was the one that must be decided. It was decided, and the Black Hawk vote was received and counted, which changed the result, and Mitchell assumed to exercise the duties of prosecuting officer, although Holcomb still held his cer- tificate of election.
COULDN'T STAND IT.
The following is a copy of a paper found among the wolf-scalp certificates, filed as "Security Resignation." It explains itself :
To the District Clerk of Benton County: You are hereby notifide that the undersigned, security for James Downs, as Sheriff of said county. will stand as such no longer. You will therefore notifide him according to law.
Dated this 8th day of May, A. D. 1847. (Signed )
THOMAS WAY.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
THE FIRST COURT.
The first term of the District Court was appointed to be held at the house of Thomas Way, about two miles northeast of the present Court House, on the last Monday in August, 1846. It is said that Way's log cabin was then the best house in the county, and was selected as Court House for that reason. Grand and petit jurors were summoned, and on the day appointed James Downs, Sheriff, and Jonathan R. Pratt, Clerk of the Court, with eighteen grand and seventeen petit jurors, assembled at the house of Thomas Way; but, for some reason not now apparent, the Judge, Carleton, did not put in an appearance, and the Clerk proclaimed an adjournment until the next day. On the second day the Judge was still absent, the Clerk adjourned the court without day, and the assembled settlers dispersed to their homes disappointed that the "show did not come off."
By an act of the first General Assembly of the State of Iowa, approved Feb. 17, 1847, it was provided that "the District Court in and for the county of Ben- ton shall be held at such place within said county as the County Commissioners may direct." The county had a seat of justice, but there was no Court House or any other house there; and, presumably, the County Commissioners directed court to be held at the house of Thomas Way; for on the 31st day of May, 1847, court was opened there for the first time in Benton County. Present, Hon. James P. Carleton, Judge of the District Court; James Downs, Sheriff ; James Mitchell, Prosecuting Attorney, and Irwin D. Simison, Clerk of the District Court. Way's cabin was in the midst of thick timber, and to make room for the august assemblage, Mrs. Way removed her pots, kettles and other household utensils to the shelter of a neighboring tree. Having done this, she coolly seated herself on a stump near the open door of the cabin, and gazed with respectful wonder at the collection of learned heads assembled within to admin- ister the law to the backwoodsmen of Benton County. The Judge was perched on a three-legged stool, behind a rough deal table (the only one in the house) at the farther end of the little room. At the left of His Honor, seated on a low milk-bench, with his books and papers spread out before him, was Sinison, the Clerk. There were also present, Norman W. Isbell (subsequently Judge of the Supreme Court), Isaac N. Preston, John David, D. P. Palmer, John P. Cook and Stephen Whicher, members of the bar from other counties. Benton County had no lawyer then.
The court was formally opened by the Sheriff, and dispatched business with a rapidity that would startle some more modern courts.
The grand jury summoned was sworn, as follows: Fielding Bryson, James Harmely, Joseph Remington, John Bryson, Charles Graham, Stephen Brody, Jesse Brody, Josiah Helm, David Jewell, William Mitchell, Samuel M. Lock- hart, James Polly, Chauncy Leverich, Anderson Amos, James M. Denison, Joseph Bryson, Lyman D. Bordwell and Samuel Stephens. Samuel M. Lock- hart was appointed Foreman of the Jury, which, after being duly charged, retired to the timber to deliberate, in charge of Beal Dorsey, Bailiff.
The first case of entry is the State of Iowa vs. Joel Leverich, for passing counterfeit money, which appears to have been transferred from Linn County on change of venue. Leverich was a member of the band of outlaws that infested this region at the time, and he probably thought that he could get a good jury in Benton County. The case was continued to the next term, however, and Ambrose Harland, Elijah Evans, Adason Daniels, Lowell Daniels, Nathaniel Chapman, Isaac D. Worrall and John Perkins were held in $50 each to ap-
B
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
pear as witnesses. The accused was not present, and a capias was issued to the Sheriff of Linn County for his arrest, returnable at next term of court.
Another indictment against Joel Leverich for having in possession counter- feiting instruments, was disposed of similarly.
On the second day of the term, the case of Samuel Finley vs. William Stur- gis (of Black Hawk County), assumpsit, damage $100, which was the first civil case entered, was withdrawn by the plaintiff, having been amicably settled by the parties.
June 1st, the second day of the term, William Smyth (afterward presiding Judge of the same court) was hanging around the door of the court cabin, wait- ing for admission to the bar. The court appointed Messrs. Preston, David, Isbell and Palmer a committee to forthwith examine the said Smyth as to his proficiency in the law, with instructions to report the result. The committee with Smyth in charge, retired to the timber to discuss matters and things in general, and incidentally their duty-Smyth's legal knowledge, etc. Allowing a proper time to elapse, the committee, arm in arm with Smyth, returned into court and reported, whereupon William Smyth was duly sworn and admitted to practice in the courts of Iowa. Smyth remembered what was expected of him when court adjourned.
James Mitchell, Prosecuting Attorney, made application for admission to the bar, and Messrs. Preston, Palmer, Isbell and David were appointed to ex- amine him. They reported that the legal attainments of the applicant were not such as to warrant his admission, and his application was denied.
Immediately afterward, Stephen Holcomb asked leave to file information in the nature of a quo warranto against James Mitchell for intruding into the office of Prosecuting Attorney ; leave was granted ; the necessary papers were issued and served. Mitchell was summoned and appeared before the court by himself and by his attorney, I. M. Preston. The relator, Holcomb, appeared by Palmer & Isbell, his attorneys. Both parties waived a jury, and after a hearing, the court held that Mitchell was guilty, as charged, of intruding into the office of Prosecuting Attorney, and that he, the said Mitchell, should be ousted there- from. But Holcomb, who expected to succeed the ousted officer, was disap- pointed, for, while he recovered his costs-taxed at $1.873-the court held that the relator was not entitled to the office, and appointed I. M. Preston to fill the vacancy.
The court adjourned Jan. 1, 1847, having been in session two days, and Mrs. Way resumed sway over her natural domain.
At the time designated for the September term, John Royal* was Sheriff, and Irwin D. Simison, Clerk, and were in attendance, but the Judge did not appear, and the court adjourned sine die. After the adjournment, the inevitable jug was produced, the contents of which soon disappeared, and of the assembled crowd, many of them became very drunk.
* John Royal is said to have been the embodiment of the term " a hale fellow well met," his funny bump being ex- ceedingly large. This craving for amusement often led him to spend hours together in the bar-room, where "frolic ran riot," much to the discomfort of his good wife, who, after trying everything she could think of to break him of this habit, at last hit upon the following plan : C. C. Charles opened a saloon on the north side of the public square, in 1851. This became Royal's resort. One day, in company with her old friend L. D. Bordwell, Mrs. Royal suddenly stepped into the saloon, and advanced to the counter on which the old Sheriff was perched, vigorously sawing discordant music from an aged and dilapidated fiddle. On discovering the visitors, his fare presented a startling picture of amazement, shame and consternation, which first expression disappeared and lent its force to the remaining two, as his wife ex- claimed, " Bring on the whisky, Mr. Charles ! I tell you I am going to have a spree. If there is any enjoyment in this way of doing, I am going to participate. Gentlemen, walk up and drink. This is fine, ain't it?" " Huz- zahl huzzah for the old Musquaka Chief, or any other man. Come up, Johnny, my dear, let us have another drink !"' " Iluzzah ! for the Sheriff of Benton County, for him and his wife are both on a bender. Oh, this is nice!" Royal could stand it no longer. He dropped the old violin, and with sadness in his very motion, took his wife gently by the hand ; and with voice full of tenderness, said, " Catherine, let us go home. This is no place for as good a woman as you are, let us go home, and I will stay with you hereafter." And he kept his word. He was an efficient officer, and respected by all.
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325
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
ELECTION OF 1847.
The abstract of the votes polled at an election held in Benton County on the 2d day of August, 1847, signed by D. S. Pratt, Commissioners' Clerk, and Stephen Holcomb and Charles Cantonwine, Justices of the Peace, was as follows :
1
For Sheriff-Beal Dorsey had 20 votes ; John Royal, 33.
For Judge of Probate-D. S. Pratt had 42 votes : E. D. Spencer. 1.
For County Commissioner-Thomas Way had 24 votes; Samuel L. Morse, 14; L. W. Hayes, 15.
For Commissioners' Clerk-D. S. Pratt had 45 votes.
For Recorder-D. S. Pratt had 24 votes ; L. W. Hayes, 23.
For Surveyor-Irwin D. Simison had 47 votes.
For Coroner-Fielding Bryson had 19 votes ; E. B. Spencer, 17.
For Sealer of Weights and Measures-Aaron Hains had 9 votes ; Thomas Lockhart, 11; D. 6. Pratt, 5.
For Prosecuting Attorney-Aaron Hains had 11 votes ; John Hendershott, 1; Stephen Hol- comb, 5; Samuel M. Lockhart, 13.
At this election, the vote for Representative to Congress was as follows : Thomas McKnight had 20 votes ; Shepherd Lefler, 34. Benton County was then included in the Second Congressional District.
COUNTY DEBT WIPED OUT.
It is said that the county in those early times was deeply in debt. A pretty large amount of orders had been issued for various purposes until they were absolutely worthless, but were still evidences of indebtedness outstanding against the county. During the time that Way served as County Commissioner, it is also said that the county officers determined to make a new departure, destroy all the records, and begin anew. Way bought in the county orders. The price of a county order, whatever its face, was a drink of whisky. When they were all or nearly all purchased in this way, they were burned by Way, and the county was relieved from its indebtedness. Whether the records were destroyed is uncertain, but it is certain that they are not now accessible, except the few papers found by the historian, which have been freely used in this work.
CIVIL TOWNSHIPS.
The Board of County Commissioners for 1847-48, it is presumed, created several eivil townships ; but singularly enough, there is no record of the creation of a single one of them, either by the County Commissioners or the County Judge. At the time of the Commissioners' Court in April, 1847, John Royal and George Cantonwine were appointed Supervisors of Canton Township, and directed " to open and work all legal laid-out roads in said township." An- derson Amos was appointed Supervisor in Township 86 north, Range 9 west, and David Jewell in Township 85, Range 9, and Thomas Way Supervisor on a certain road "commeneing at the corner of Harrison's field and running to Ed- ward's Ford across the Cedar River." Prior to 1851, three more townships, viz., Polk, Harrison and Taylor, were created.
In October, 1847, the Secretary of School District No. 1, in Polk Town- ship, reported to the School Fund Commissioners that there were twenty-six persons in that district between the ages of 5 and 21 years.
STATE ROADS IN BENTON COUNTY.
Section 5 of " An act for laying out and establishing certain roads therein named," approved February 18, 1847, appointed James Leverich, of Linn County.
326
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Charles Cantonwine, of Benton, and William Hunt, of Black Hawk County, Commissioners to lay out and establish a State road, beginning at Cedar Rapids, thence to or near the house of Mr. Strawn, in Linn County; thence to the county seat of Benton ; thence to the Falls of the Cedar.
By act approved February 25, 1847, E. B. Spencer, Samuel M. Lockhart and William Belles were appointed Commissioners to establish a State road from the county seat of Benton County to Quasqueton, Buchanan County.
Section 10 of " An act to locate and establish certain roads," approved Feb- ruary 5, 1851, appointed James Allenworth, of Linn, John Alexander, of Ben- ton, and David S. Pratt, of Black Hawk, to locate and establish a State road from Center Point to Marysville, Benton County; thence by the residence of James Virden to the Big Woods, via John H. Messinger's, to Rice's old trading house.
Section 25, of the same act, appointed William Williams, of Muscatine, Isaac Cook, of Linn, and John Royal, of Benton, to locate a State road from Cedar Rapids, via Fremont (Vinton), in Benton, to Fort Clarke.
Section 45 appointed Samuel C. Trowbridge, of Johnson ; Andrew D. Stephens, of Benton, and C. C. Slocum, of Iowa County, to locate a State road from Marengo to Fort Clarke.
Section 30 of "An act in relation to certain State roads therein named," approved January 22, 1853, appointed George W. Vorees, of Marshall ; David F. Bruner, of Tama, and A. D. Stephens, of Benton, to locate a State road from A. D. Stephens' to the southeast corner of Hardin County.
Section 49, of the same act, appointed E. A. Brown, of Black Hawk ; John Blunt, of Chickasaw, and W. C. Stanberry, of Benton, to locate a State road from Fremont to Waterloo; thence to John H. Messinger's, in Bremer County ; thence to Bradford, in Chickasaw County.
Section 1 of " An act to establish certain State roads," approved January 24, 1855, appointed James B. Kelsey and Thomas B. Stone, of Linn, and Harrison Bristol, of Benton, to locate a State road from Cedar Rapids via Bear Creek Mill, Vinton and Waterloo, to Cedar Falls.
Section 12, of the same act, appointed Andrew Stein, of Benton ; John Ross and David Bruner, of Tama, to locate a State road from Cedar Rapids to Toledo.
Section 9 of "An act in relation to State roads," approved January 28, 1857, appointed (Wesley) Whipple, of Benton; James Barclay, of Black Hawk, and Thomas R. Talbot, of Fayette, to locate a State road from Vinton, via Barclay, Fairbank and Linn, to West Union.
Section 12 of the same act appointed F. A. Morgan, of Keokuk ; Martin Ballard, of Iowa, and S. P. Price, of Benton, to locate a State road from Sigourney, via Millersburg, Genoa Bluffs and Kosta, to Vinton.
TOWNS AND CITIES OF BENTON COUNTY.
[The first town laid out in Benton County was in the northeast part of the county, in 1847 ; but, for convenient reference, all the towns in the county are inserted here. 7
Marysville, located on the north twenty acres of the west half of the north- east quarter of Section 34, Township 86, Range 9, was laid out May 5, 1847, by F. J. Rigaud, County Surveyor; Joseph Remington, proprietor. Plat recorded May 10, 1847, at 8 o'clock A. M. This is the oldest town in the county, and was well known to the early settlers as "Hoosier Point." The post office at this point is now called Urbanna.
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327
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Vinton was located by the Commissioners to locate the county seat, 1846, on the northeast quarter of Section 21, Township 85, Range 10, and named Northport by the first Board of County Commissioners, and ordered to be sur- veyed in July, 1846 ; but a new Board was elected in August, and the record was delayed until February 12, 1848, when it was recorded by Irwin D. Simison, County Surveyor. The plat was signed by Samuel M. Lockwood, Loyal F. North and Thomas Way, County Commissioners, and by them named Vinton, in honor of a Member of Congress from Ohio who was anxious to perpetuate his name in this way. The town has no existence now, and its territory is included in the limits of the present city of Vinton.
Fremont, located on Lots 5, 6 and 7, of the west half of Section 16, Town- ship 85, Range 10, "which point being voted for at the August election, 1849, by a majority, to be the seat of Justice of Benton County." Surveyed by Irwin D. Simison, County Surveyor, November 24, 1849 ; James Leverich, proprietor. Plat recorded November 29, 1849. The name of this town was changed to Vinton by act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved January -, 1853.
Shellsburg, on the southwest quarter of Section 11 and partly on the north- west quarter of Section 14, Township 84, Range 9; surveyed by H. M. Drury, Deputy County Surveyor, June 16, 1854; Jacob Cantonwine, Chris- tiana Cantonwine, Emanuel S. Fluke and Mary Fluke, proprietors.
Grand Gulf, on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 85, Range 10; surveyed April 17, 1854, by H. M. Drury, Deputy County Surveyor ; John Alexander and Nancy Alexander, proprietors. Now a part of the city of Vinton.
Geneva, on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 3, Township 84, Range 11; sur- veyed by Wesley Whipple ; R. N. Van Cleaf and Susanna Van Cleaf, proprie- tors. Plat filed for record March 20, 1855.
Wilmington, located on Section 4, Township 85, Range 9; surveyed by Wesley Whipple, November 9, 1855; Lewis Berry, Eliza Berry, Conrad Bink- hart and Sarah Binkhart, proprietors. Plat filed for record, 1858.
Irving, on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 82, Range 12; October 10, 1855 ; Samuel Hutton, proprietor.
Benton City, located on Section 20, Township 85, Range 9, south of the river ; surveyed by Joseph Owen ; John Royal, Catherine Royal, John Graham and Lucinda Graham, proprietors. Plat filed for record June 16, 1856. This was then a thriving little town. John Graham built a hotel there in 1855-6. It was probably surveyed as early as 1854-5. Dr. S. E. Warner located there in 1855. W. C. Stanberry advertised in August, 1855, at Benton City, " the largest and best-selected stock of goods ever offered for sale in Benton County." Benton City A., F. & A. M. was instituted U. D. October 31, 1855, and chartered June 4, 1856, but was removed to Shellsburg prior to 1864. The line of the B., C. R. & N. R. R. was first located to pass through or near the town, but the location was afterward changed. The glory of the town long since departed, and it no longer exists save in history.
Eden, south half of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 1, and part of Section 12, Township 84, Range 10; surveyed by Newell Colby, January 14, 1856; Jacob Leamer and Rebecca Leamer, proprietors. Plat filed for record January 19, 1856.
Guinnville, part of the northeast quarter of Section 30, Township 82, Range 12; surveyed by Wesley Whipple, October 30-31, 1856; John E. S. Gwinn and Caroline Gwinn, proprietors. Plat filed for record November 8, 1856.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.
Brooklyn, in Benton and Black Hawk Counties ; surveyed April 3, 1856, by N. Colby ; H. N. Brooks, proprietor. Plat filed for record March 13, 1857. Defunct.
Williamsburg, on Section 11, Township 86, Range 10 ; surveyed by Wesley Whipple, March 20, 1857 ; William L. Jones, Abigail Jones, L. W. Bryson and Mary A. Bryson, proprietors. Plat filed for record March 31, 1857.
West Vinton, on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 85, Range 10; surveyed by Wesley Whipple, March 25, 1857 ; Edwin Humphreville, I. C. Rhodabeck, Hannah B. Stoughton and William Stoughton, proprietors. Plat filed for record March 30, 1857. Now a part of Vinton City.
Manatheka, parts of Sections 26 and 35, Township 86, Range 9 (near Marysville); surveyed by Wesley Whipple, March 31, 1857 ; William Reming- ton, Elizabeth Remington, John Ferguson, Nancy Ferguson, Theodore Stevens and Lucy Stevens, proprietors. Plat filed for record April 4, 1857.
Belle Plaine, on the east half of and northwest quarter of the southwest quar- ter of Section 20, Township 82, Range 12, embracing thirty acres ; laid out in March, 1862; John I. Blair, proprietor ; G. F. Kirby, Surveyor. Plat filed for record May 12, 1862.
Blairstown, on the southwest quarter of Section 13 and the southeast quar- ter of Section 14, Township 82, Range 11; surveyed by G. F. Kirby in the Spring of 1862; John I. Blair, proprietor. Plat filed for record May 12, 1862.
Norway (now Florence), on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 20, Township 82, Range 9; surveyed June 10, 1863, by P. P. Smith, County Surveyor ; Ormond Tuttle and Helen Sophia Tuttle, proprietors. Plat filed for record July 21, 1863.
Luzerne, on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 24, Township 82, Range 12, and partly on Section 19; B. B. Hent, Surveyor ; Isaac B. Howe and Hannah R. Howe, proprietors. Plat filed for record Apri 17, 1868.
Mount Auburn, on the south half of Section 14, Township 86, Range 11; surveyed by P. F. Randall ; Milton S. Hall, Sarah A. Hall, Thomas D. Lewis and Mary A. Lewis, proprietors. Plat filed for record June 19, 1871.
Benton, on Sections 28 and 29, Township 85, Range 11; surveyed by C. G. Johnson in April, 1873; Jonathan Barkdoll and Susan Barkdoll, proprie- tors. Plat filed for record July 22, 1873.
Watkins, on the southwest corner of Section 23 and the northwest corner of Sec. 26, Township 82, Range 10; surveyed by Hiram Lipe in May, 1874; Charles G. Turner and Eliza Turner, proprietors. Plat filed for record Aug. 16, 1874.
THE COURTS IN 1848.
April 24, 1848, the court was again held in the house of Thomas Way. James P. Carleton was Judge ; John Royal, Sheriff * ; John Alexander, Prose-
* In the early days of Vinton, two of the county officers agreed together to celebrate Christmas " in the good old way,"and have a jolly time. It is said that when Lawyer " Jack " came to Benton County he provided himself with a good supply of " Maynard & Noyes' " best black ink in quart bottles. These bottles were placed on the shelf in " the house that Jack built," and the neighbors, seeing a good opportunity to " borrow some ink till they could send and get some," some of the bottles, as a consequence, were soon emptied of their contents, but were replaced on the shelf along with the full ones. The two friends were greatly perplexed for something to put their whisky into. Suddenly Lawyer J. bethought him of the empty ink bottles, and seizing a couple of them, joined his friend, who was shivering in the cold, and together they washed them in the creek. They were soon filled with " corn juice." But the county officials could not rest content with it all in the bottles, su they transferred a generous portion of it to their capacious "bread baskets." The effect of all this was to produce a feeling of drowsiness, and for a time sought repose in a friendly fence corner; becoming tired of this, they made their way to the house to sit by the fire. But Jack could find neither wood, matches nor shavings ; however, placing the bottles in their old places on the shelf for safety until he could raise a light. Not succeeding in this, he sought consolation in the " tanglefoot," and taking down a bottle. courteously handed it to his friend, who hastily swallowed a heavy draught ; but instead of peaceably handing it back to his waiting companion, he accused him of playing a trick on him by filling the bottle with something besides whisky, and threw the contents in Mr. Jack's face and on his clothing ; the assaulted man rushed into the other room, and after some words they both settled down to rest. Early in the morning they were startled by the piercing scream of Jack's wife, who ejaculated that " there was a big nigger in her bed." A case of " mistaken identity " in the bottles was the cause, as was shown by the investigation that followed.
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