USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren 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 &c > Part 45
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 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Geo. E. Griffith read an address to the voters of the connty, which he said was intended to be an "argumentum ad judicium."
While this is the record on national politics it has been variable on local politics, and twice in that time has given decided majorities against the Republican State ticket. But in local affairs the discipline of political par- ties is at times powerless to carry through its candidates, while the results on State elections have been the result of political eruptions which could not be foreseen, and the reason of which it is, perhaps, impossible to divine.
Generally only the two great parties which have divided the country have also been potent in county and State politics, but since 1876 the National Greenback party, which cast 146 votes that year, has been a new element, the strength of which could never be accurately determined. In each year since that time it has effected a union with the Democratic party on the local issues, and once, in 1878, on State issues. On local questions the result has been variable, so that the county is now served by both Republican and Opposition officials, the board of supervisors being entirely under the control of the united Greenback and Democratic vote, as cast for fusion candidates. It long ago became that a Republican nomination was not equivalent to an election, as in the days of the war, but, as will be seen by our table, and by the fuller returns which will follow it, has not been able to affect the result when national politics was in question, but the Opposition now claim that the turning point has been reached, and that Warren county will change from its old moorings. As to this, history not being prophecy cannot deal, and it must be left to time to determine.
357
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS.
Under the head of "County Organization " we have given a list of the first officers chosen in the county at the January election of 1849, with the vote for each candidate. These officers held only until the following Angust, when their places were filled as follows:
County Commissioners-Daniel Barker, Alex. Ginder and Joel Scott. Sheriff-Paris P. Henderson. District Clerk-H. A. Lambert. Collector, Treasurer and Recorder-Jeremiah M. Haworth. Commissioners' Clerk -- Harrison Jordon. Prosecuting Attorney-Joseph Hockett. Coroner- David Lair. School Fund Commissioner-Samuel Haworth. Probate Judge-R. G. Hammond. President of board of public works-Wm. H. Allison. Secretary of board of public works-Jesse Williams. Treasurer of board of public works-Henry G. Stewart.
We have been unable to find any abstract of the votes of this election, and the poll-books are not full, so that is impossible to give the vote for each candidate. The same remarks apply to the August election of 1850, where the following officers were chosen:
Clerk District Court-Zebulon H. Hockett. County Commissioner- James Nicholls. Commissioners' Clerk-P. P. Henderson. Judge of Probate Court-Wm. G. Ball.
All these elections were withont either political interest or significance, and the contests were not so sharp as to make them of exceeding great in- terest. Beginning with the election of August, 1851, the abstracts of elec- tion for each year are complete, with a slight exception for the year 1861, having been copied from the original record and poll-books many years ago and put into excellent shape.
Abstract of election in Warren county, August, 1851:
County Judge :
P. P. Henderson 143
James I. Baber 12
Squire Botkin. 1
Sheriff :
Levi Chandler. 83
J. H. Dinwiddie
23
H. C. Gibson. 40
D. A. Felter 22
Treasurer and Recorder:
P. Gad Bryan. .. 110
Prosecuting Attorney :
R. W. Steele. .
155
G. H. Scoles
2
County Surveyor: R. W. Steele. 112
James Nicholls
45
County Supervisor :
Jas. C. Graham. 115
Samuel Haworth.
53
A. H. Barker
2
Coroner :
Z. H. Hockett.
1
Hezekiah Fisk
68
David Lair ..
93
The election of April, 1852, resulted as follows:
School Fund Commissioner:
Coroner :
Samuel Haworth ..
74
H. Fisk. ...
37
J. M. Hamilton. 46
M. V. Botkin
8
County Supervisor :
Samuel Haworth.
70
A. H. Barker 16
Levi Low
35
William Griffith.
7
J. L. Dinwiddie
1
The election of August, 1852, is the first we have been able to find giv-
358
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
ing the result on congressman and State officers, as well as county offices. The abstract of that election is as follows:
Secretary of State:
G. W. McCleary 106
J. W. Jenkins 128
P. Gad Bryan 113
Auditor of State :
William Gentry. 94
William Pattee
102
J. M. Walters
130
Robert W. Steele.
117
Treasurer of State: Martin L. Morris 103
H. B. Horn 132
For Senator in the General Assembly in
the district composed of Warren, Marion and Madison counties : Lysander W. Babbitt 220
Jefferson D. Hillis.
130
Congressional election, 1852:
For Representative :
Barnhart Henn.
124
Philip Viele. 112
Jefferson D. Hillis was elected Senator in the district and James M. Walters, N. B. Allison and P. Gad Bryan were chosen members of the lower house.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Clerk :
Z. H. Hockett. 149
David Lair. 52
Wm. C. Gibson 77
R. W. Steele .. 15
Treasurer and Recorder:
Geo. Brinkerhoff.
Geo. Brinkerhoff. 147
Cal. Cullison .
1
Surveyor :
James Nicholls 100
Presidential electors, November election, 1852:
Elector First District :
Geo. H. Williams. 82
Jonathan E. Fletcher 82
Augustus Hall. . 82
William E. Leffingwell.
82
Thomas W. Clagett. 95
William H. Henderson 95
John P. Finley 95
William A. Warren.
95
George Shade. 13
Samuel Howe ... 13
J. M. Robertson 13
William A. Willis 13
At the April election of 1853, R. W. Steele received 281 votes for dis- trict judge, against 147 for John S. Townsend. The county officers chosen were:
Drainage Commissioner-E. G. Crosthwait. Prosecuting Attorney- James E. Williamson.
The August election of 1853 was an animated contest between E. G. Crosthwait and Luke Bryan, rival candidates for sheriff, resulting in the election of Crosthwait, who received 270 to 267 for Bryan, and was con- sequently elected. The officers chosen were:
Treasurer-Geo. Brinkerhoff. Sheriff-E. G. Crosthwait. Surveyor- James Nicholls. Coroner-Andrew Park.
2
D. A. Felter 80
Levi Hollingsworth.
4
.
Prosecuting Attorney :
Prosecuting Attorney : J. E. Williamson 207
M. D. Springer.
163
Elisha B. Bell
128
A. B. Porter. .
132
For Representative : N. B. Allison 95
Elector Second District :
359
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
. At the April election of 1854 the vote of the county was cast for I. I. Stewart for superintendent of public instruction, and Samuel Haworth was reelected school fund commissioner.
The August election of 1854 was one of the most exciting political con- test ever waged in the State, as it resulted in the defeat of the Democracy by James W. Grimes, who was elected governor by the Free-Soilers, Whigs and all the dissatisfied elements in the State.
The following is the abstract of the election in Warren county that year:
Superintendent of Public Instruction :
I. 1. Stewart .. 250
James D. Eads. 126
School Fund Commissioner:
Samuel Haworth .. 302
Newton Guthrie. 32
Asa Mosher ..
188
P. P. Henderson.
12
August election, 1854:
Governor :
James W. Grimes. 463
Curtis Bates. . 280
Representative in Congress :
Rufus L. B. Clark.
450
Augustus Hall.
290
Secretary of State :
Geo. W. McCleary 311
R. B. Groff. 125 J. J. McMakin 5
Auditor of State:
Joseph L. Sharp 280
Andrew J. Stevens 442
Treasurer of State :
Martin L. Morris
297
J. J. McMakin 125
Attorney General:
David C. Cloud. . 260
James W. Sennett.
406
For Representative in the district com-
posed of Warren,
Madison
and
Marion counties : Isaac N. Crum- 400
Elisha B. Bell. 429
P. Gad Bryan. .321
J. E. Neal 251
Clerk of the District Court : H. W. Maxwell. 398
Geo. R. Stover
335
Prosecuting Attorney :
Lewis Todhunter
413
J. E. Williamson
301
At the April election of 1855, P. Sterling Cocke was elected treasurer and recorder, receiving 420 votes, to 206 for Thomas Farley, 151 for D. B. Rees, and 91 for Lewis Todhunter. Joseph C. Watson was elected prose- cuting attorney, receiving 484 votes, to 19 cast for all others.
The August election of this year must have been an exciting one judg- ing from the number of candidates for Coroner, there being fifteen of these. The abstract of the election is as follows:
Treasurer and Recorder:
P. Sterling Cocke. 406
J. M. Hamilton. 143
Asahel Ward. 99
Clark Posegate. 7
Sheriff :
Luke Bryan. 348
Davis Meek. 290
Thomas Farley 182
Surveyor:
James Nicholls 368
J. T. Lacy 402
William Coffman 1
Coroner :
Andrew Park. 346
J. T. Garrison 163
William Coffman. 42
Dr. B. S. Noble. 44
A. Killison. . 8
E G. Crosthwait. 7
P. S. Cocke & Co. 9
J. S. Alsop. 3
B. L. Steele. 2
S. Anderson. 3
Wm. Smith. 1
William Morgan.
1
P. G. C. Merrill
1
Parmalee 8
John Paris.
1
County Judge :
P. P. Henderson.
611
John T. Moorman.
184
Dr. Shorts.
9
At the April election of 1856, Samuel Haworth was again chosen school
360
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
. fund commissioner, and Charles E. Millard received 675 votes for prosecut- ing attorney, against 35 for all others.
The elections of this year were important in view of the fact that it was a Presidential year. At that time the State and county elections were held in August and the Presidential elections in November. The following is an abstract of the vote at the August election, the result of the Presiden- tial election having been already published:
Secretary of State :
Elijah Sells.
853
George Snyder. 491
Prosecuting Attorney :
Auditor of State:
G. W. Clark .. 604
John Pattee. 850
James Pollard. 492
William M. Marshman. 196
Treasurer of State :
G. W. Maxwell . 1
M. L. Morris 842
George Paul. 492
H. W. Maxwell 694
G. R. Stover. 552
A. Ward. 1
James Baker. 488
Delegate to Constitutional Convention : Lewis Todhunter. 750
State Senator, Eighteenth District: M. L. McPherson 862
J. H. Kern.
565
John Hilton.
497
P. Gad Bryan 34
Representative :
Z. H. Hockett 502
In April of 1857 the following officers were chosen :
County Assessor-William M. Marshman. Drainage Commissioner- Josiah Moores. For Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District, in which this county was then situated-William M. Stone received 703 votes, to 522 for P. Gad Bryan.
August, 1857, was the last election under the old constitution, and also the last held in August, and one of the issnes of the campaign was the new constitution which had been denied by the convention during the summer. The following is a full abstract of the vote:
Treasurer and Recorder: Coroner :
Asahel Ward .. 727
Andrew Park. 1185
J. M. Hamilton. 559
J. T. Lacy. 1 Jas. C. Gardner 1 County Judge : Sheriff : Tabor W. McKee 779
P. P. Henderson
1151
J. T. Lacy .. 1 John Reynolds. 431
B. L. Steele
1
Surveyor :
Dan. A. Poorman (no opposition). . 1225
H. Haley
3.
For the New Constitution 881 Against the New Constitution . 361 For striking out the word " white" from the bill of rights ... 47
Against striking out the word " white" from the bill of rights 426
This last result is in marked contrast to the vote on this question in. 1868, when the vote was:
For striking out the word "white"
1659
Against striking out the word "white"
1038
B. L. Steele.
1
C. B. Jones. 506
B. L. Steele. 330
J. E. Williamson 511
Clerk of the District Court:
Attorney General : Samuel A. Rice. 850
Boca Secaer
363
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
At the October election of 1857 the only officer chosen was Representa- tive in the General Assembly, for which C. E. Millard received 535 votes to 461 for all others; W. G. Ball receiving 100 of these and Dr. B. L. Steele 352.
The election of April, 1858, was the last general election held in that month of the year, and James E. Williamson was elected Superintendent of Common Schools over J. Chapelle Clarke by a majority of 158.
The general elections have since been held in October, at which all the different connty officers have been chosen.
The election of 1858 was for State officers and member of Congress. The vote on the latter office being: Samuel R. Curtis, 969; H. H. Trimble, 615; D. B. Dillman, 4.
The vote for District Judge was: John H. Gray, 939; M. M. Crocker, 644.
For District Attorney: C. E. Millard, 780; P. Gad Bryan, 791.
The vote on the question: " Shall swine and sheep be restrained from running at large ":" For, 336; Against, 1122.
The following officers were elected: Representative, B. L. Steele; Clerk District Court, Charles Mckay; Surveyor, S. L. Burlingame.
1
1
The election of 1859 was one of the most exciting local elections ever held in the county. In this year there were two newspapers, the Visitor and the Eagle, and they produced what is natural with two papers of one party, faction and divisions. The Eagle, it is said, would be Republican one week and Democratic or Independent the next. The contest at the election was between James E. Williamson, Democrat, and Geo. M. Swan, candidates for representative; and between Joseph C. Watson and Geo. E. Griffith for County Judge. The contest raged hot and heavy for weeks, but the result was the election of Williamson, who received 755 votes to 748 for Swan. For Judge, Watson received 774 votes, and Griffith 672. The contest for Senator was also quite exciting between Judge P. P. Hender- son, Republican, and Dr. B. L. Steele, Democrat. The former receiving 794 votes to 734 for the latter. At the same election, Luke Bryan, Demo- crat, received 806 votes for sheriff, defeating Tabor W. McKee, who re- ceived 750 votes. So that the Democrats profited by the divisions in elect- ing the three officers already mentioned, as well as H. A. Huff for Sur- veyor, and William Coffman for Drainage Commissioner, by handsome majorities. Other officers elected were: Treasurer and Recorder, Asahel Ward; Superintendent of Schools, Wesley M. White; Coroner, W. P. Judkins.
The result of the Presidential election of 1860 has already been given, and the result for Congressman was 1162 votes for Samuel R. Curtis, Re- publican candidate, and 826 for Chester C. Cole, Democratic candidate. Mr. Mckay was re-elected Clerk of the Courts, which was the only county office filled.
The abstract for the election of representatives and county officers in 1861 is missing, so that we are compelled to rely upon memory for the result, which is thought to be as follows:
Senator-John Kern. Representative-Newton Guthrie. Treasurer and Recorder-Tabor W. McKee. County Judge-Joseph C. Watson. Surveyor-S. L. Burlingame. Coroner-W. P. Judkins. Superintendent of Schools-Wesley M. White. Sheriff-Luke Bryan.
23
364
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The following list gives the county officers as elected each year from 1862 to 1872:
1862.
Clerk-C. Mckay. 1863.
Senator-P. G. C. Merrell. Representative-S. B. Lindsay. County Judge-John D. Ingalls. Treasurer and Recorder-Tabor W. McKee. Sheriff-Jolin J. Cozad. County Superintendent-Julius C. Clark. Sur- veyor-Levi Reeves. Coroner-Perry T. Lake.
1864.
State Senator-Adam Beck. Representative-L. S. Spencer. Clerk of Court-Charles Mckay. Recorder-John D. Ingalls. Coroner-E. W. Bryant.
1865.
Representative-Geo. E. Griffith. County Judge-John D. Ingalls. County Treasurer-P. P. Henderson. Sheriff-J. J. Cozad. Surveyor- Levi J. Reeves. Superintendent-J. C. Clark.
1866.
Clerk of the District Court-Charles Mckay. Recorder-M. W. Judkins:
1867.
Senator-Geo. E. Griffith. Representative-Mark A. Dashiell. Treas- urer-P. P. Henderson. County Judge-Jno. D. Ingalls. Sheriff-E. J. Kuhn. County Superintendent-J. C. Clark. . Surveyor-Levi Reeves. Coroner-A. Payne.
1868.
Grant Presidential Electors 1946 Seymour . 933
Clerk of District Court-Charles Mckay. Recorder-Miles W. Judkins.
1869.
Representative-Alex. H. Swan. Auditor-John D. Ingalls. Treasurer -P. P. Henderson. Sheriff-E. J. Kuhn. Surveyor-J. S. Hoyt. County Superintendent-A. L. Kimball. Coroner-D. T. Montgomery.
1870.
[Mr. Irion was elected as an independent Republican over G. A. Worth, the regular Republican candidate.]
Clerk of District Court-T. W. Irion. Recorder-Miles W. Judkins. County Supervisors-B. C. Berry, John Wood, Amos Smith.
For Prohibition 1214
Against 1045
For restraining stock from running at large
283
Against "
2111
365
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1871.
Senator-Mark A. Dashiell. Representative-John M. Lee. Treasurer -P. P. Henderson. Auditor-J. L. Wilson. Sheriff-E. J. Kuhn. Su- pervisor-John Wood. County Superintendent-C. B. Rogers. Surveyor - T. J. Maloy. Coroner -- N. R. Weed.
1872.
Clerk of the Courts :
Supervisor :
T. W. Irion
1994
Samuel Irwin 1836
Thos. S. Parr 1027
Geo. W. Heiney 1253
Recorder :
Miles W. Judkins .3031
Samuel Scott.
1
During all this period, of eleven years, not a Democrat was elected to a county or legislative office, and the only contest was for the nomination, which, once conferred, was equivalent to an election.
1873.
Before this year the Republican State, congressional, judicial or general ticket, had never been defeated or even run scriously behind the ticket. This year arose the Anti-Monopoly party, coinposed largely of Republicans, with whom the Democrats united, and the result was one of the most surprising in the history of politics-surprising not only to the Republicans but to the friends of the new ticket. It not only elected every candidate for the legislature or county office, but carried its State ticket as well. The change from the immense Republican majority of 1872, to the result in 1873, showed one which all knew could not be permanent, and the result of the elections in 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1877 showed how difficult it was for such a sudden change to be permanent.
The abstract of this election is as follows:
Anti-Monopoly State ticket 1604
Republican State ticket. 1242
Representative :
William Runciman 1779
James H. Knox. 954 Auditor :
Isaac C. Wright. 1493
J. L. Wilson 1331
Treasurer :
Jas. H. Millen 1830
A. R. Worth. 957 Sheriff : J. T. Meek. 1479
E. J. Kuhn 1348
Superintendent :
H. A. Huff. 1427
C. B. Rogers
1361
Supervisor :
Richard Moore.
1740
R. C. Brazleton
1062
Surveyor :
S. L. Burlingame
1613
Levi Reeves
1223
Coroner :
Eli Townsend
1591
W. P. Judkins
1219
1874.
Clerk of the District Court-Jonas E. Lucas. Recorder-M. W. Jud- kins. Supervisor-Wm. Marshall.
366
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1875.
Senator-William Graham. Representative-Samuel Irwin. Auditor -J. L. Wilson. Treasurer-W. H. Anderson. Sheriff-J. T. Meek. Superintendent-Elizabeth S. Cooke. Surveyor-Levi Reeves. Coroner- W. P. Judkins. Supervisor-B. B. Starbuck.
1876.
Clerk of the Courts-Jonas E. Lucas. Recorder-Miles W. Judkins. Supervisor (to fill vacancy)-Jesse Johnson. Supervisor-E. W. Perry.
For a jail ..
581
Against a jail 1255
1877.
Representative-George Wright. Auditor-J. L. Wilson. Treasurer- John Kern. Sheriff-John W. Barns. Surveyor-Levi Reeves. Super- intendent-Elizabeth S. Cooke. Coroner-E. L. Baker. Supervisor-J. E. Rawson.
Mr. Kern, for treasurer, and Mr. Rawson, for supervisor, were the only Democrats elected.
1878.
The following is a full abstract of the vote for State and county officers, October, 1878.
Secretary of State :
J. A. T. Hull. 1804
E. M. Farnsworth. 1944
Auditor of State:
Buren R. Sherman 1802 Joseph Eiboeck. 1918
Treasurer of State: Geo. W. Bemis 1804
M. L. Devin. . 1876
Register of State Land Office: James K. Powers 1804 M. Farrington. 1942
Attorney General :
John F. McJunkin 1805
John Gibbons . .. 1921
Judge of Supreme Court:
James H. Rothrock. 1803
Joseph C. Knapp. 1937
Clerk of Supreme Court:
E. J. Holmes 1803
Alex! Runyon. 1950
Reporter of Supreme Court:
John S. Runnells.
1800
John B. Elliott.
1924
Representative in Congress :
H. J. B. Cummings.
1761
E. H. Gillette.
1969
Judge of District Court Fifth District :
John Leonard.
1717
W. H. McHenry
1995
District Attorney : William Connor. 1780
A. R. Smalley
1971
Clerk of Courts :
H. J. Sprag.
1898
J. A. McCluse
1832
Recorder :
Miles W. Judkins
1864
J. S. Chittenden. .
1845
Member of Board of Supervisors:
H. Cool
1828
H. W. Taylor.
1894
For the proposition to build a jail 1172 Against the proposition to build a jail. 1497
For the proposition for a tax to build a jail. 1144
Against the proposition for a tax to build a jail. 1401
In the year 1861 the system of county board of supervisors was organized in the various counties of the State, by act of the legislature; the following persons composed the
367
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
FIRST BOARD IN WARREN COUNTY.
J. H. Kern, S. Perkins, S. Haworth, A. J. Duncan, G. H. Bonney, A. Smith, Wm. Martin, E. Perkins, J. Merrell, R. Barkley, S. Burgess, Obadiah Higbee, George Yount, J. Felton, Peter Hunt and J. Merrell.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN 1863.
Alex. Ginder, Thos. Boyd, A. J. Duncan, Geo. Yonnt, S. Perkins, R. Barkley, Lewis McGinnis, P. Hunt, J. Felton, F. Kellar, J. H. Kern, A. Smith, W. J. Cochrane, E. J. Nixon, Samuel Burgess and E. Perkins.
1870-LAST BOARD OF SIXTEEN.
D. W. Yount, H. C. Warson, H. C. Johns, John Wood, Wm. Martin, Thos. Prondfoot, A. Randolph, John S. McKiminy, W. Starr, James Lav- erty, James Treshamn, David Lympus, E. J. Monfore, Samuel Irwin, Amos Smith and B. B. Starbuck.
In 1870 the supervisor system was changed, and the number reduced to three, who should be elected by the county at the general election, and the length of their terms to be decided by lot. Since that time the board of supervisors has consisted of the following for each year:
1871-B. C. Berry, Amos Smith and John Wood.
1872-Amos Smith, B. C. Berry and John Wood.
1873-B. C. Berry, John Wood and Samuel Irwin.
1874-John Wood, Samuel Irwin and Richard Moore.
1875-Samuel Irwin, Richard Moore and William Marshall.
1876-Richard Moore, William Marshall, B. B. Starbuck and *Jesse Johnson.
1877-William Marshall, Jesse Johnson and E. W. Perry.
18.78-Jesse Johnson, E. W. Perry and J. E. Rawson.
1879-E. W. Perry, J. E. Rawson and H. W. Taylor.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
Owing to the one-sidedness of the politics of Warren county but few contested election cases have occurred. So far we have been able to dis- cover but two, one of these a township, and the other a county office.
The first is for the office of assessor of Washington township, and is fully set forth in the following from the records of the county judge before whom the case was tried:
On this, the 4th day of November, 1861, the matter of the contested election of O. M. Ingalls, contestant against A. R. Haynes, incumbent of the office of assessor for Washington township, of said county, came on for hearing, the parties both appearing and waiving time. H. W. Maxwell and J. T. Lacy being duly selected and qualified to act as judges, the parties, by their attorneys, filed their pleadings. The issues being joined, the testimony was given and argument considered by the judges, after hearing which it was adjudged by a majority of the judges that the said A. R. Haynes was duly elected to the said office of township assessor, and it was ordered that the certificate issue to him for said office. J. T. LACY, dis- senting from this opinion.,
J. C. WATSON, County Judge.
*Appointed by the board to fill the vacancy caused by the death of B. B. Starbuck.
368
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The other case is a much more important one, and, being the first of its kind, attracted attention all over the State. At the general election of 1875 Howard A. Huff, the incumbent in the office of superintendent of common schools, was nominated by the Democratic county convention as his own successor, while Miss Elizabeth S. Cooke, a graduate of Simpson Centenary College, was placed in nomination by the Republican convention as his competitor. At the election Mr. Huff received 1,410 votes, and Miss Cooke 1,531 votes. The board of supervisors as the canvassers issued a certificate of election to Miss Cooke, and Mr. Huff instituted a suit for contesting the matter on the ground of Miss Cooke's ineligibility. The trial began on the 29th of November, 1875, before Samuel Irwin, chairman of the board of supervisors. Mr. Huff chose as associate judge on his part W. H. Schooley, Esq., and Miss Cooke chose Dr. Alex. Burns, President of Simpson Centenary College. Messrs. Williamson and Parrott, of Indianola, appeared for the contestant, Mr. Huff, and Judge H. W. Maxwell, P. Gad Bryan, Esq., of Des Moines, and Geo. W. Seevers, Esq., for the incumbent, Miss Cooke.
No witnesses were examined, but for bases of argument and trial the following
AGREED ABSTRACT OF EVIDENCE
was adopted:
H. A. HUFF, Contestant, VS.
ELIZABETH S. COOKE, Incumbent.
It is hereby agreed in open court by and between the parties hereto, that this cause shall be tried upon the following agreed state of facts, as established by evidence in said cause,
I. That there was held in Warren county, Iowa, a general election on the 12th day of October, 1875, at which a superintendent of common schools for said county was to be elected. II. That the contestant, H. A. Huff, and the incumbent, Elizabeth S. Cooke, were both candidates at said election for said office of superintendent of conimon schools.
That at said election fourteen hundred and ten of the legal voters of said county voted for said contestant for said office.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.