USA > Iowa > Washington County > The history of Washington County, Iowa, its cities, towns, and c., a biographical directory of its citizens > Part 47
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In an early day, when he was running for county clerk, and without any opposing candidate, he was, after much persuasion, induced to go out with a campaign speaker from abroad, to hold a meeting in a school-house in one of the border townships. While on the way the stranger asked Wil- liams how the Whig ticket was going to run in the county.
"Oh, I guess all right, unless it be the clerk," said M. T.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
"Clerk ! why, what is the matter with that? Are you not popular, Wil- liams ?"
"No, not very, I guess. Some of the Democrats are finding fault."
"Well, who is running against you ?"
"Oh, well-ahem-oh, there is not anybody else running in particular." Of course the laugh was on the agitated independent candidate, with no opponent in the field.
TERRITORIAL AND COUNTY ROADS.
The fact has already been mentioned that at one of the first meetings of the county commissioners, the county was divided into road districts and supervisors appointed. Prior to this time, there were, of course, no county roads. Among the first acts of the territorial legislature, were some author- izing the location and survey of territorial roads. Probably as early as 1840 several of these roads were projected in various parts of the territory, and some work was done on them. As early as 1839, we find the people of Wash- ington county agitating this matter, and their representative in the legisla- ture proposing bills to that effect.
Two letters from Daniel Brewer, then representative for this and Louisa counties who was then at Burlington attending the session of the legislature, throw some light on this as well as other matters. They were addressed to John Jackson, one of the first settlers of Washington, and run as follows:
"BURLINGTON, November 18th, 1839.
"Dear Sir :- Not being very well acquainted with the wishes of Washing- ton county, and not knowing whether there are any measures in which they feel an interest, I am induced to write to you for information. The session thus far has been quiet, and the minds of the members seem to be bent more upon the passage of good and wholesome laws of a general nature, rather than the agitation of exciting local topics. It is true that there was some talk, particularly in the council, of an effort for the removal of the seat of government, but I have no idea, at this time, that the measure can be ef- fected. The faith of the territory is tacitly pledged in favor of the location, and it would be an act of extreme injustice to the whole community and particularly to those who have purchased lots in Iowa City, under the im- plied faith of the legislature that the location was intended to be permanent.
"I have sent you a number of papers, directed to Washington post-office, but if there is any post-office more convenient I wish you to write me word, and also write me the names of some half dozen of your neighbors who would like to receive papers from time to time.
"Were you elected surveyor? I always feel an interest in the success of my candidate, and having electioneered for you in several places, I hope you came out with flying colors. The six votes which I got at your precinct were very acceptable in a close contest, and I attributed my success at your place to your exertions and not my own, for which receive my thanks, until you are better paid. Please give my respects to Mr. Holcomb, and assure yourself that I remain, as heretofore,
"Your friend and obedient servant.
"DANIEL BREWER.
crank City
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
"JOHN JACKSON, ESQ."
"BURLINGTON, December 9th, 1839.
"Dear Sir :- By the hands of Nathan Baker, Esq., I received a letter from yon a few days since. We had anticipated yonr wants in relation to certain territorial roads, and had introduced bills for roads from Washington to the following places: Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, Iowa City and Wapello. I have an indistinct recollection of your saying that you wanted a territorial road, but if it is not provided for in the above bills, you will write me word. I took the liberty to insert your name in the bill for a road from Washington to Mt. Pleasant, as a commissioner.
"The House is at this moment in session, and I have just heard a rumor that 3,000 Missourians are now in Van Buren county, on the disputed ground attended with all the pomp and circumstances of glorious war. The marshal, under the direction of the Governor, has ordered ont the militia of the territory. It is to be hoped, but not expected, that no blood will be spilled. "Very respectfully yours,
"DANIEL BREWER.
"JOHN JACKSON, EsQ., Washington Oo."
The first road of which there is any record, was the one projected from Iowa City to Burlington. This road entered the county immediately west of the southeast corner of section 35, township 78, range 6, west. Its gen- eral direction conformed to the course of the Iowa river, it running very close to the west bank of said river at some places. It passed through the town of Crawfordsville, leaving the county near the southeast corner.
The next road, a plat of which is on record, was the one leading from Washington to Crawfordsville where it intersected with the road from Iowa City.
The commissioners to locate this road were Adam Ritchey and W. E. Kurtz, and Wm. Wooley was the surveyor. The road began in Washington at the southwest corner of the public square, and the direction of the first quarter of a mile was dne east; for the next nine miles its general direction was sontheast, and when within abont one quarter of a mile from Crawfords- ville the remainder of the course was due east. All traces of this road long since have disappeared, and in its stead is now located the Burlington and Northwestern narrow guage railroad, which is located substantially along the same line.
The next road was one located from Richmond, in Washington county, to intersect a road leading from Iowa City to the south line of Johnson county. John B. Creswell and Amos Embree were the commissioners to locate, and J. B. Davis the official to survey this road. The road began at the center of Main street, opposite to the northeast corner of the public square of Rich- mond, and its general course was northeast to the Johnson county line. The length of the road was about five and a half miles, and nnlike nearly all of the other roads formerly located diagonally across section lines, has not yet been abandoned.
Many other territorial roads were located and surveyed; among others the following:
Road leading from the fifteen mile stake to Washington, on the military road from Washington to the north line of Missouri; road leading from Richmond to Columbus City; road leading from Brighton to Oskaloosa; road
24
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
leading from Richmond to Wasson's mill; county road leading from the south side of the public square in Washington, to Holcomb's mill. Many of these roads have long since been abandoned.
POLITICAL.
In the early days of Washington county, political subjects did not trouble the people very much. They seemed to care more about the settlement of the country and the increase of worldly goods, than office. One reason of this doubtless was, that the pay was nothing extraordinary. We see that the collector of taxes for the years 1840, 1841 and 1842, received for the three years but $151.60, and even as late as 1843 and 1844 the treasurer's an- nual salary did not amount to $100. The trouble in those days was to get men to take the office. Now, however, the trouble is to keep dishonest and in- competent men out of office. For several years after the organization of the county, persons were elected to office more on account of their qualifica- tions and popularity, than for political reasons. In those days the office emphatically sought the man, and not the man the office. We find in sev- eral instances when the opposing candidates belonged to the same party, and sometimes when the county was entitled to two representatives to the leg- islature, a division was made, and a Democrat and a Whig were elected. It was not till 1846 that party lines began to be closely drawn, and ever since then parties, rather than the public, have made the laws and chosen the men to execute them.
From the time that party lines began to be closely drawn the county has generally been anti-Democratic. Now and then a Democrat has succeeded in securing an office on account of the agitation of local questions, but sub- stantially the political majority has been either Whig or Republican. The fact that Washington, a representative county of Iowa, has always been strongly Republican can be accounted for on the same principle that a representative county in the State south of us has always been strongly Democractic. When Missouri and Iowa 'were first settled the subject of slavery was the all-absorbing question in politics. Those who believed in the peculiar institution usually went to the former State and those who did not settled in the latter. In those days it was the policy of the Democratic party to protect the institution and consequently Missourians became Democrats; the Republican party was founded upon a platform hostile to slavery, and we can readily see why a large majority of those forming the population of a representive Iowa county should be Republicans. It may be said that the issne has long been changed and that the Democratic party of to-day stands on principles entirely foreign to those which constituted its platform during the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas. This is strictly true, but party organizations are very tenacious of life, and, as a rule, men will be found rallying around the party standard long after the emblems which it bears have lost their significance.
As to county politics the most exciting contest was in 1857, which was in relation to the county judgeship. Several questions entered into this contest to render it important and bitter, among others the question of railroads.
The election was very close, as will be seen by the result as returned by the board of county canvassers. There were three candidates, Samuel P.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Yonng, Joseph Dickey, and Enoch Ross, among whom the vote was divided as follows: Young, 707; Dickey, 710; Ross, 335.
The canvassers, however, rejected the vote of Cedar Township, which gave Young 19 votes, Dickey 42 votes, and Ross 32 votes, and declared the result to be: Young, 688; Dickey, 668; Ross, 303.
The vote of Cedar Township was thrown out for some alleged informality in the returns. This result, as announced by the board of county can- vassers, was not satisfactory and the matter was contested on behalf of Mr. Dickey by Thomas Blanchard. The parties selected to determine the ques- tion were Joseph R. Lewis, Duke Storey, and James Dawson, who upon hearing the case decided that Young was elected, not, however, upon the same count made by the canvassers, for in the latter case Cedar township was counted, and Jackson township thrown out, on account of some alleged defect in the returns. The jury on the contest declared the vote to be: Young, 694; Dickey, 692; Ross, 287.
Jackson township had voted Young 9, Dickey 18, Ross 16. If both dis- puted townships had been omitted the vote would have stood: Young 675, Dickey 650, Ross 287.
The person declared elected had concluded not to accept the office under the circumstances, but subsequently changed his mind and published the following upon the subject:
" Having concluded to qualify and enter upon the duties of county judge, to which office I have been declared elected, both by the board of county canvassers of the Angust election and more recently by the special jury in the contested case, I wish to say a few words with regard to the circum- stances which have attended the election and the influences which have in- duced me to my present course, I deem this due both in justice to myself and in deference to the opinions of my fellow citizens.
"It was certainly my desire, as it must have been of every well disposed person, that the people of the county should have determined by their votes who should fill the office of county judge. Hence, after the circumstances had transpired which led to the contest of the election and notice had been given to that effect, I went to Mr. Thomas Blanchard, who appeared as contestant for Mr. Dickey, and proposed to withdraw all my claims to the office if he would withdraw the contest and refer the matter back to the people in a new election. This proposition was declined, and the contest proceeded and was decided in my favor. I had resolved in this event to still decline to accept the office and refer it back to the people of the county at the October election, as it was farthest from my desire to fill the office unless it was beyond doubt the will of the majority of the legal voters of the county.
" But since the contest has been decided I am informed that it is too late to submit the matter at the October election; and hence it would have to be deferred till the next April or October, or otherwise call a special election, involving an expense to the county of $200 or $300. In this view of the case and at the urgent solicitations not only of my own political party but many of the opposite party, whom I cannot otherwise regard than as honest and sincere in their expressions, and acting as I trust for the best interests of the county I have concluded, though very reluctantly, under the circum- stances to enter upon the duties of county judge."
Although there were many who questioned the justice of the decision giving Mr. Young the office, yet a large portion of the people acquiesced in
380
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the decision; and so satisfactory was Mr. Young's official career that he was thereafter twice elected.
Under the title "Finances " reference was made at some length to the defalcation in the treasurer's office under the administration of Samuel P. Cox. The matter was finally settled, Mr. Cox's sureties paying the delin- quency, and the latter at length recovering the amount from the principal. The next treasurer was S. G. Owen, who does not seem to have profited by his predecessor's example, for when he had served for three terms, extend- ing from 1860 to 1866, his accounts were likewise found to be short. After a great deal of talk, out of which there was an attempt to make political capital, appointing of committees, overhauling of accounts, and ciphering, there was finally a compromise effected.
The campaign of 1873 was probably as exciting as any in late years, and the result was such as to make the most sagacious of the truncheon-flour- ishers lose confidence in themselves. This was the year of the Granger ex- citement, and the cry of "Down with monopolies" was heard in the land.
It is safe to conclude, from the stories which are yet repeated bearing on that contest, that every foot of Washington county was fought over during that campaign, and from the center of the larger towns to the remotest neck of timber might have been heard the melodions and earnest words of the orator. as he temporarily abandoned the plow, the shop, or the place of business, for the purpose of discussing finance and laying down principles of political economy. The result was a complete victory for the opposition, the regular Republican nominees being routed along the whole line. The success, liow- ever, was but temporary, and at the next fall election the nominees of the Republican party were again placed in power. The campaign of 1873 being a more than usually exciting one, we herewith give a full abstract of the vote:
Representatives :
David Bunker 1,392
William Allen. 1,477
B. F. Brown. . .1,770
E. F. Brockway. .1,803
Scattering. 28
Member of Board of Supervisors :
V. P. Eastman 1,407
Walter Mckinney 1,899
Auditor: John A. Young 1,623
A. S. Bailey.
1,690
Treasurer :
S. E. Woodford 1,451
J. W. Anderson. 1,859
Scattering 13
Sheriff :
James Vincent .1,413
A. M. Bosworth. . 1,868
Superintendent of Schools :
E. R. Eldridge
1,435
Clara Harris
1,738
It will be seen by the foregoing that the Anti-monopoly candidates had a clear majority of abont four hundred, and considering how reliably Re- publican it had always been the result was very surprising. However, the experience of the Washington county property-owner with railroads has been somewhat peculiar, and as the Anti-monopoly movement was largely an expression of hostility to railroads, this fact furnishes a partial explana- tion.
A large per cent of the voters who left the dominant party in 1873 have since returned to their first love, while a great many others, after halting: for years between the Republican and Democratic parties, as it were be- tween two opinions, they have at last been gathered into the Greenback
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
fold. The strength of the latter party can be estimated from the vote on senator and representative in the following abstract of the election of 1879:
Senator:
Sheriff:
J. P. McAnulty 1,785
Wm. Wilson 1,165
T. E. Johnson. 1,831
Wm. Paston 446
Sup't. of Schools :
Reprentative :
Nannie Springer. 2,632
Abraham Pearson .2,045
George Hunter. 1,094
J. G. Melvin 479
Auditor :
Asa Edgington
1,521
W. J. Eyestone. 1,968
Surveyor:
W. J. Livingston
2,088
J. A. Henderson 2,004
Wm. Billingsly
1,566
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The book wherein was kept a record of the elections for the first ten years after the organization of the county cannot be found; possibly no such book was ever kept; possibly some one borrowed it of the county official, whose duty it was to be its custodian, and forgot to return it, conse- gently it will be impossible to give a comple list of county officers during that period.
In 1840 James Dawson and David Bunker were elected county commis- sioners, and Simon P. Teeple, a member of the previous board was chosen representative. Previous to that time Washington county, being joined with Louisa county in a representative district, and Louisa county being much the more populous, took the lion's share, or in other words all of the places on the legislative ticket.
The two counties continued to compose a senatorial district, and Louisa county was generous enough to furnish the legislative talent, in the person of Francis Springer, for the first ten years, at the expiration of which time he was succeeded by Norman Everson, who held the office one term, since which time we believe he has steadily refused to run for office. An effort having been made in this direction in 1857, Mr. Everson, through the col- amns of the " Press, " declined in the following language:
"Dear Sir :- Permit me through the columns of your valuable paper ts say to my numerous friends who have solicited me to be a candidate for mayor of Washington, judge of the 4th judicial district, or governor of Iowa, that it is not consistent with my private affiairs to hold any of these offices even if I could be elected."
The following is a correct list of the different individuals elected to office in Washington county since the year 1850, with vote for President.
1851.
County Judge-Enoch Ross. Recorder-Win. H. Jenkins. Sheriff- William Perry Organ. Coroner-Richard H. Marsh. Surveyor-Marcus Hull.
1852.
Representatives-Horace H. Wilson, David Bunker. Clerk-Robert Kinkade. Prosecuting Attorney-David L. Parker.
Wm. B. Hunter. 977
Member Board Supervisors : D. G. Letts. .. .2,120
G. R. Black 1,664
Treasurer:
Joseph Dudley
1,544
J. W. Prizer. 1,996
382
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1853.
Sheriff-William Perry Organ. Recorder and Treasurer-William H. Jenkins. Coroner -- W. B. Bolding. Surveyor-Daniel Coryell.
1854.
Representative-Samuel A. Russell. Clerk-Albert Allen. Prosecut- ing Attorney-A. H. Patterson.
1855.
County Judge-John T. Burris. Recorder and Treasurer-Samnel M. Cox. Sheriff-William Perry Organ. Surveyor-Daniel Coryell. Cor- oner-A. J. Disney.
1856.
Representative-Wm. B. Lewis. Clerk-Albert Allen. Prosecuting Attorney-Joseph R. Lewis.
1857.
Treasurer and Recorder-Samuel M. Cox. County Judge-S. P. Young. Sheriff-Hiram Wallingford. Coroner-Richard H. Marsh. Surveyor --- Daniel Coryell. 1
1858. APRIL RAILROAD ELECTION.
For Stock and Tax. 1,471 Against Stock and Tax. 883
Connty Clerk-Ralph Dewey.
1859.
Representatives-Mathew Moorhead, Robert Glasgow. County Judge -S. P. Young. Treasurer and Recorder-S. G. Owen. Sheriff-James -
B. Easton. Superintendent of Schools-James McKee.
1860.
Lincoln electors 1,726
Donglass electors 1,057
Breckenridge electors 20
Bell electors.
57
Clerk-Ralph Dewey.
1861.
Representatives-T. H. Stanton, John W. Quinn. County Judge-S. P .. Young. Recorder and Treasurer-S. G. Owen. Sheriff-James R. Easton. Superintendent of Schools-Joseph McKee.
1862.
Clerk-Ralph Dewey.
1863.
County Judge-J. F. Brown. Recorder and Treasurer-S. G. Owen. Sheriff-Samuel E. Hawthorn. - 4
+
383
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1864.
Lincoln electors
1,663 McClellan electors
Clerk-C. T. Jones. Recorder-W. R. Jeffrey. 937
1865.
Representatives-H. M. Holden, G. G. Bennett. County Judge-Samnel Bigger. Treasurer-Robert Glasgow. Sheriff-S. E. Hawthorn. Super- intendent of Schools-Charles Thompson.
1866.
Clerk-C. T. Jones. Recorder-W. R. Jeffrey.
1867.
Representatives-J. D. Miles, M. Goodspeed. County Judge-Samnel Bigger. Treasurer-Robert Glasgow. Sheriff-A. Bunker. Superinten- dent of Schools-Isaiah G. Moore.
1868.
Grant electors 2,314 Seymour electors Clerk-C. T. Jones. Recorder-Thomas Rowan. 1,323
1869.
Representatives-A. Conner, J. D. Miles. Auditor-Ralph Dewey. Treasurer-Robert Glasgow. Sheriff-A. Bunker. Superintendent of Schools-Isaiah G. Moore.
1870.
Clerk-C. T. Jones. Recorder-T. S. Rowan. Superintendent of Schools-E. R Eldridge. County Supervisors-John A. Henderson, J. M. Glasgow, G. S. Reed.
For poor-farm.
1,087
Against poor-farm 1,150
1871.
Representatives-M. Goodspeed, C. H. Wilson. Anditor-John A. Young. Treasurer-Robert Glasgow. Sheriff-A. Bunker. Superinten- dent of Schools-E. R. Eldridge. Supervisor-John Stone.
1872. :
Grant electors
2,140
Greeley electors 1,220
O'Connor electors 14
Clerk-C. T. Jones. Recorder-T. S. Rowan. Supervisor-J. A. Hen- derson.
1873.
Representatives-B. F. Brown, E. F. Brockway. Treasurer- J. W. An- derson. Auditor-A. S. Bailey. Sheriff-A. M. Bosworth. Supervisor- Walter Mckinney. Superintendent of Schools-Clara Harris. For poor-house and farm 2,278
Against poor-house and farm 329
384
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1874.
Clerk-James A. Cunningham. Recorder-T. S. Rowan. Supervisor- M. Goodspeed.
1875.
Representatives-Geo. T. Auld, William Said. Auditor-D. J. Palmer. Treasurer-Robert Fisher. Sheriff-A. Bunker. Superintendent of Schools-Mary M. Jerman. Supervisor-J. A. Henderson.
1876.
Hays electors 2,464
Tilden electors 1,511
Cooper electors. 230 Clerk-J. A. Cunningham. Recorder-B. F. Warfel. Supervisor-W. O. Wallace.
1877.
Representative-B. Parkinson. Auditor-D. J. Palmer. Treasurer- Robert Fisher. Sheriff-T. E. Johnson. Supervisor-S. E. Woodford. Superintendent of Schools-Nannie Springer.
1878.
Clerk-J. A. Cunningham. Recorder-B. F. Warfel. Supervisor-R. T. McCall.
1879.
Representative-A. Pearson. Auditor-W. J. Eyestone. Treasurer-J. A. Henderson. Sheriff-T. E. Johnson. Supervisor-D. G. Letts. Super- intendent of Schools-Nannie Springer.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
COURT-HOUSES.
It has already beeu stated that after the organization of Washington county, the courts were held at private houses until a court-house could be built. But, although the courts were first held in private houses, and at present the county offices and court room are located in buildings erected by private capital and individual enterprise, it must not be supposed that things have always been thus; that Washington county has never had any court-houses, and that there is no court-house history. On the contrary, this county, like all other Iowa counties, early enthused on the court-house subject, and the two buildings which in time past graced a principal corner and then the park of the public square, have figured extensively in the his- tory of the county. From the time these buildings first raised their majes- tic columns toward the clouds, till the time they began to crumble and were torn down, they were the scene of the most important events; they consti- tuted the forum where rang the most fervid eloquence of the advocate, and here the masses rushed in time of public excitement for the purpose of in- terchange of thought. Here the itinerant preacher expounded the word of life and exhorted sinners to flee from the wrath to come. Here child-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ren came to get their first lessons, and the old boys had many a jolly bout. A history of these old court-houses would almost of itself be a history of the county.
The character of the first court-house, probably one of the most remarka- ble and useful buildings ever erected in Washington county, can be formed from the following specification attached to the contract entered into be- tween the county commissioners and Joseph Neil, the architect and builder:
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