USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough county, Illinois, its cities, towns and villages with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 40
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IIISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
up for those laboring in that part of the Lord's vineyard. In the temperance cause he has always been enlisted, and as opportunity afforded he has spoken upon this important subject.
Some years before he entered upon the ministry, Elder Kirk- patrick was united in marriage with Miss Meriel K. Pratt, in Sangamon county, Illinois. Six children did the Lord give unto them, four sons and two daughters, three sons and one daughter yet residing upon this side of the river, the others having passed on before.
The wife of Elder Kirkpatrick has indeed been a "help-meet" unto him. While he was away proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, Mrs. Kirkpatrick took upon herself the manage- ment of a large farm, and for many years had full charge of every- thing connected with that work, even when the Elder was at home. That her management was eminently satisfactory will be admitted when we take into consideration the accumulation of property which they now enjoy.
The recollection of the Elder of events transpiring in the early day is remarkably good. When but three years of age, he was sent to school, and in this year (1806) occurred an eclipse of the sun, the remembrance of which is still vividly impressed upon his mind. Another event was the murder of a family of eight per- sons by the Indians, which occurred about eight miles from his father's house, in 1811. An earthquake also occurred in this year, or the following one, which shook the houses for miles around. But time would fail us to record the many scenes which he has passed through. If we but think that only three years of the present century had passed, and fifteen years before Illinois was admitted to the Union, when he was born, and that all the re- markable events which have since occurred he has been an eye wit- ness, or been cognizant of, we can realize something of his life history. The war of 1812, the Mexican war, the war of the rebel- lion, the invention of the steamboat, the railroad car, the tele- graph, the steam printing press, all these within his recollection. In the war of the rebellion Mr. Kirkpatrick sent two sons, As- bury and William B., who served with honor to themselves and their country. They were engaged in several of the most im- portant battles of the war. No more loyal man or stronger Re- publican ever lived than Elder J. L. Kirkpatrick. At the age of seventy-four he is yet in the enjoyment of good health, and that
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
he may live many more years, and when called to his home in the sweet by-and-bye, may he receive one of the brightest crowns. Of his good wife, who, as we have remarked, has been truly a " help-meet " to him during the long years of their married life, may her end be peace and joy, and as she passes away may she receive the welcome announcement, " Well done, good and faith- ful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXI.
POLITICAL.
Politically, McDonough county has always been classed among the close or doubtful counties, neither party having sufficient strength at any time to claim it with certainty. For the first ten years of its existence party lines were not drawn, the citizens of the county exercising the rights of the elective franchise as each thought best for his own interest, or the interest of the country. The anti-Clay party, in general elections, always carried the day, but in local elections the best men were generally selected, regard- less of whether they favored the one party or the other. In the selection of County Commissioners locality had more to do than anything else; the county being divided into three districts each one desired to be represented.
1830-39 .- We have no record of a party caucus or convention being held previous to 1840, unless it might be said that a meet- ing held in Middletown in 1838, by the Democrats, in which an effort was made to concentrate their votes on Jesse Neece, one of their candidates for Sheriff, could be called one. At this elec- tion there were five candidates for the office of Sheriff, three Democrats and two Whigs, and at this meeting in Middletown it was hoped to effect an arrangement by which Mr. Neece could get the combined party strength. The effort failed. The Whigs generally concentrated on William H. Randolph, one of their can- didates, and he also being personally popular was elected, the first Whig ever elected to office in the county.
1840 .- Both the Democratic and Whig parties held regular conventions, and nominated straight tickets, the first regular party conventions ever held in the county. This was the year of the "hard cider campaign," one of the most exciting political cam- paigns in the history of this country. Mass meetings were held,
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY
in which the old log cabin, representing the lowly origin of the Whig candidate for President, Gen. William H. Harrison, was car- ried around, and hard cider flowed like water. The same general interest and excitement that prevailed elsewhere, were exhibited here. Large gatherings of both parties were held in various parts of the county, and party feeling ran high. The Whigs, on the fourth of July, held a mass meeting and barbecue in Macomb, and the Democrats denounced the act as a desecration of the day, and a blight settling afterwards upon the grove in which the meeting was held, was said by them to be a judgment of the Almighty against their proceedings. The Whigs charged the Democrats with being likewise guily of a desecration of the day, it it could be so called, in holding a public meeting in the vicinity of Spring Creek. In justice to the Democrats, we must say that they vehemently denied its being a political gathering, but only a meeting for the proper celebration of the nation's birthday. After a most exciting time, the Whigs carried the county by ma- jorities ranging from twenty-five to forty-five-Colonel W. W. Bailey, candidate for the Legislature, receiving the former ma- jority, and General Harrison the latter. Among the incidents related of this campaign, was one of John Gibson, who lived near Middletown. He was a strong Democrat, but had formerly been a soldier under General Harrison, and had the utmost respect for the old warrior. Though he would not vote for his old general, he allowed no one to speak evil of him in his presence, and would get fighting mad if any one dared to do so, and shaking his fist in the face of the of the offender, he would say : "Sonny, don't say that ; if you do, I will hit you."
1842 .- The Whigs again carried the county, electing their whole ticket, by majorities ranging from sixteen to twenty-two, with the exception of Coroner, Charles Chandler being beaten by Benjamin B. Head twenty-two votes.
1843 .- The tide now turned, and the Democracy carried the county by majorities ranging from eleven to one hundred and forty- five, excepting on County Treasurer, Iverson L. Twyman, Whig, being elected over Jesse M. Chapman, the Democratie candidate, one hundred and seventeen votes. The cause of the latter's defeat was attributed to his being a minister of the gospel, there being a prejudice in the minds of many against voting for one of his class for an office. At this election the interest all centered in the can-
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
didates for Congress, Hon. Cyrus Walker, Whig, and Hon. James P. Hoge, Democrat. Mr. Walker at this time was living in Ma- comb, and had a practice which extended over the whole north- western part of the State and in Iowa. It was no doubt against his will that he accepted the nomination for Congress, he refusing the proffered honor time and again. As mentioned in another part of this work, the Mormons had settled in large numbers in the adjoining county of Ilancock, and now held the balance of power in this Congressional District. In order, therefore, to secure vic- tory, it was necessary to secure the Mormon vote. Mr. Walker, having on one or two occasions served very successfully as counsel for Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, was considered by the Whigs the most available man they could present to catch this vote ; that with him as a leader, they would, without doubt, secure the votes of the Mormons, and thus carry the district.
Joe Smith, the prophet, and George Smith, a leading bishop in the church, formerly an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Ma- comb, and well known to Mr. Walker, both wrote, urging him to become a candidate and pledging him the Mormon vote. Thus solicited, Mr. W. became a candidate and entered into the canvass with his whole soul, traveling through the district and speaking night and day as opportunity offered. In the meantime the Dem- ocrats were not idle, and were not disposed to give up the Mor- mon vote without a struggle. Some time before the canvass com- menced, Joe Smith was arrested on a requisition from the Gov- ernor of Missouri and delivered to the agent from that State. The writ was returned satisfied. Before getting the prisoner out of the State, however, he was released on a writ of habeas corpus issued by some Mormon justice in Nauvoo, allowable through some peculiar construction of the charter of that city.
After losing their man, the Missouri officers immediately ap- plied to Gov. Ford, of this State, to renew the writ and send a force of militia to execute it. Mr. Walker went to Springfield to resist the application, and the governor for certain reasons refused to give his opinion in the case .* The Democratic managers had in this fact a weapon they used in an effectual manner to terrify the Mormons with-the idea that if they voted for the Whig can- didate the militia would be brought against them. Backinstos, a leading Democrat in Hancock county, went to Springfield, and
"Sec Ford's History, p. 316.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Governor Ford being absent, a leading Democrat in that city, in his name, gave a promise that if the Mormons voted the Demo- cratic ticket, the militia should not be used against them. They now resolved to drop Walker and take up Hoge.t
On Saturday before the election, Hiram Smith, brother of Joe, in a public address delivered in Nauvoo, told the Mormons that the Lord had revealed to him that if they voted against Hoge, a greater curse would befall them than befell them in Missouri ; therefore, "when the Lord speaks, let men obey." Word was sent Mr. Walker a few days before this that the Mormons would probably forsake him, and he at once went to Nauvoo and sought out Joe Smith for an explanation. He was present when Hiram delivered his address, and was very indignant over the matter. Joe Smith, likewise, appeared to be very angry with Hiram, and told Mr. Walker he would yet make it all right with him, and that he himself the next day (Sunday) would speak to the people in his favor. Agreeable to his promise, he spoke for about an hour, eulogizing Mr. Walker very highly, deelaring that he was no politician, but an honest man ; denounced those who should consult the Lord as to how they should vote, and declared that if any should do it, he should be cut off from salvation ; said he should vote for his friend Mr. Walker. But in his hour's speech one thing was noticed : that notwithstanding the strong terms in which he denounced those who should consult the Lord as to how they should vote, he said : "Brother Hiram is the elder brother ;" "Brother Hiram never has deceived this people ;" "Brother Hiram loves this people ;" "When the Lord commands, the people must obey." The next day Joe did vote for Mr. Walker, but the bal- ance of the Mormons voted for Mr. Hoge, and elected him, as the Lord had commanded .* In this county, and in other counties in the district, Walker was denounced by some of the Whigs for trying to get the Mormon vote, and it is said he lost as many of their votes on this account as would have elected him. A good story is related at Mr. Walker's expense in reference to this mat- ter. On returning home from Nauvoo, the day after the election, he was met just west of the square, on Jackson street, Macomb, by some of his friends, who were anxious to learn the result of the election. "Well, Mr. Walker," said one, "how is it going ?" "I am beat," said he. "Why, how is that?" "O, the Lord spoke to
+See Ford, p. 317.
*Hawkins Taylor, in Carthage Gazette, January 5, 1876.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Hiram Smith, and the Mormons all voted the Democratic ticket." John Long, a Scotch Democrat, overhearing the latter's remark, spoke up : "Look here, Mr. Walker, don't you know that when- ever the Lord speaks He always speaks Democratic ?" Not deign- ing a reply, Mr. Walker gave his horse a cut and rode off.
1844 .- At the August election the Whigs carried the county by a small majority, except on Congressman and State Senator, while in November James K. Polk, Democratic candidate for President, received a majority of five votes over Henry Clay, Whig. In the November election about two hundred less votes were polled than in August, showing but little interest, caused, doubtless, by a general apprehension that the State would be Democratic anyhow.
1845 .- A light vote was polled, politics not seeming to enter into the canvass at all. Robert Bean was elected County Commis- sioner, Charles Chandler School Commissioner, and W. W. Clay- ton Coroner.
1846 .- For State officers the Democrats carried the county by a small majority, while the Whigs elected the county officers by majorities ranging from thirty-three to ninety-five, showing per- sonal popularity of their nominees. William H. Randolph was elected to the Legislature and David Lawson, Sheriff.
1847 .- County officers equally divided. At a special elec- tion in April the Democrats elected their candidates for mem- bers of the Constitutional Convention, sending James M. Camp- bell and John Huston. Isaac Grantham was elected County Clerk and Joel Pennington Commissioner, both Democrats.
1848 .- The Whigs were again victorious, Zachary Taylor beat- ing Lewis Cass 23 votes. In county officers the Democracy suc- ceeded in electing two of their candidates, Samuel Calvin being elected County Commissioner over Mankin Champion, and John P. Head, Coroner, without any regular opposition.
1849 .- We find the Democrats again in power, carrying the counties by majorities ranging from 23 to 92. John O. C. Wilson, Whig candidate for School Commissioner, was elected without opposition.
1850 .- The Democracy still victorious ; majorities ranging from 5 to 136.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
1851 .- The Whigs carried the Treasurer and School Commis- sioner, while the Democrats elected their candidate for Surveyor without opposition.
1852 .- As a national party, the Whigs made their last great effort for control of affairs in the nation, nominating General Win- field Scott, a hero in the Mexican war. They made a strenuous effort to seeure his election. In this county the excitement ran pretty high, and a full vote was cast at the election, the Whigs carrying it by majorities ranging from 1 to 87-Scott having a majority of 2.
1853 .- The Democracy again came to the front, electing their candidates by from 60 to 81 majority.
1854 .- This was the last year the Whig party put forth candi- dates for office. In this election they were again unsuccessful. As a national party, it was considered as good as dead, and there- fore, even in this county, where the chance of success was as good as that of the opposition, they could awaken no enthusiasm. The Democrats carried the county by majorities ranging from 24 to 142, with the exception of the member of the legislature, L. H. Waters (Whig), being elected over John E. Jackson by a majority of one vote. Mr. Waters ran not only as a Whig candi- date, but as a Temperance candidate, doubtless receiving some few votes from Democrats who were favorable to the Maine liquor law, an effort being made to secure the passage in this State of a similar law. Mr. Jackson, believing fraud had been perpetrated on the part of the opposition, notified Mr. Waters that he should contest the election ; and the latter, feeling that the question could best be settled by appealing again to the people, sent in his resig- nation to the governor, who accepted it and issued an order for a new election on Saturday, December 30. Both parties, metaphor- ically speaking, again stripped themselves for the contest, and the battle was warm, indeed, resulting in the election of Mr. Waters by a majority of nineteen votes.
1855 .- The Democracy this year had things all their own way, no opposition being made. The "Know Nothing," or American party, which was then said to be secretly organizing, probably had not yet sufficient strength to manifest itself.
1856 .- On the death of the Whig party, there sprang up two parties, neither of which could really claim to possess any of the vital principles that gave power to the old party. The Ameri-
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
can party, believing the country in danger by the influx of for- eigners and the alarming growth of the Roman Catholic power, emblazoned on their banners, " Americans must rule America ;" "Put none but Americans on guard." Republicans plead for " Equal rights to all ; free press and free speech." The American party made very rapid growth in many of the States, particularly in the South, while the Republican party only secured a foothold in the North, its principles being deemed antagonistic to some of the peculiar institutions of the South. In 1856 we find both these parties in this county in very considerable numbers, each striving for power, and both battling against a common enemy, the Demo- cratic party. A partial alliance was formed between them for the purpose of securing local offices. The American party, though outnumbering the Republican, was at a disadvantage, having no newspaper organ through which to express its views. In the Con- gressional District, of which MeDonough county formed a part, in consequence of a vacancy existing, two candidates were nomi- nated for the long and short term, and it was generally agreed be- tween the two parties that if the Americans would vote for Jack- son Grimshaw, the Republican candidate for the long term, the Republicans would vote for Dr. J. B. Kyle, the American candi- date for the short term. As will be observed by reference to the official vote recorded elsewhere, the arrangement was pretty gener- rally carried out. For county offices the Americans made no nominations, it being understood the Republican candidates were not objectionable to them. See table for the general result of the election.
1857 .- The American party showed no signs of life, and the Republicans only polled about the same vote as the year previous, thus giving the county to the Democrats by a large majority.
1858 .- By reference to the vote, it would seem the Republican party now embraced about all the membership of the old Amer- iean party, only losing the election by an average majority of 200.
1859 .- From the returns for this year, it appears that the Dem- ocrats only polled about three-fourths their regular vote, and the Republicans about one-half, showing considerable apathy on the part of both parties. The Democratic majorities were from 480 to 566.
1860 .- We now come to the memorable campaign of 1860, one during which there was intense excitement throughout the country,
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IHISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
not equalled even by the hard cider contest of 1840. The two favorite sons of Illinois were now rival candidates for the Presi- dency, and such an effort was put forth by the friends of each to carry the State as was never witnessed before or since. This county, being exceedingly close, was made a battle ground. Some of the best speakers in the State, of both parties, were sent here ; monster meetings were held by each ; the "Wide-awakes" and "Hickory Boys" were out in force, and immense efforts were put forth to influence votes. Both State and County tickets, of each of the parties, were claimed to be unexceptionable. A vast amount of money was spent ; and the final result was, the Repub- licans carried the county by majorities ranging from 11 to 127, though losing it on the Presidential vote, Douglas carrying it over Lincoln by 11 votes. John Bell, the Union candidate for presi- dent, received 62 votes and John C. Breckinridge 6. A larger vote was polled at this election than ever before, and the charge of fraud was made by both parties, cach against the other, with what truth has really never been determined, and probably never will be.
1861-64 .- During the next four years, viz., in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, the Democrats had everything their own way, carry- ing the county generally by very respectable majorities, save in the year 1864, when the vote was very close, the Republicans suc- ceeding in electing their candidate for Sheriff by a majority of five, the Democrats carrying the rest of their ticket by an average ยท majority of about twenty-five.
1865 .- This year the Republicans made a great effort to wrest the county from the control of the Democracy, and succeeded in electing their ticket by majorities ranging from 8 to 112.
1866 .- The effort made in 1865 was continued this year, when the county went Republican by the largest majority ever obtained. The smallest majority received by any one of their candidates was 290 and the largest 424.
1867 .- The Democrats again succeeded in electing their county ticket, their candidate for Treasurer receiving a majority of 17 and Surveyor 123.
1868 .- U. S. Grant carried the county by two hundred and fourteen votes over Horatio Seymour, and the State and county Republican tickets obtained from one hundred and fifty-four to
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
two hundred and fifteen majority. Considerable interest was man- ifested by both parties, and a thorough canvass was made by each.
1869 .- Again the Democracy came to the front, electing their entire ticket by majorities all the way from seventeen to one hun- dred and seventy-three.
1870 .- The Democracy again in front, electing their candidates by majorities ranging from ninety-seven to one hundred and six- ty-two.
1871 .- Considerable scratching this year, the Republican candi- date for Treasurer running behind his ticket.
1872 .- The Democracy of the country united with the Liberal Republicans and nominated Horace Greeley for President. This nomination was endorsed by the Democracy of this county, the great mass of the party heartily supporting the ticket, though there were a few who did not support Greeley, as will be seen by reference to the returns. Grant's majority in the county was 197, while the State ticket of the Republicans only received an aver- age majority of about eighty-eight. The personal popularity of the Republican candidates for local offices, caused them to run ahead of their ticket, I. N. Pearson receiving a majority of 275 votes, and Samuel Frost 244.
1873 .- This year the opposition to Republicans called them- selves Anti-Monopolists, and, by uniting the entire Democratic strength with the votes of such Republicans who were Grangers or Anti-Monopolists, succeeded in electing their entire ticket by majorities ranging from 172 to 226.
1874 .- This year there was a triangular fight, three parties be- ing in the field-Democratic, Republican and Independent, the or- ganization known as the Anti-Monopoly party having been aban- doned or merged into the Independent. About seven-eighths of the regular vote of the county was polled, the Republicans being successful over both the other parties.
1875 .- This year but little interest was manifested, there again being three tickets in the field, and the opposition to the Republi- cans having little hope, in their divided state, of being successful, but a small vote was polled, the Republican candidates receiving a majority over both.
1876 .- Success in various States for two years gave the Demoe- racy increased hope of again coming to the front. Wefind them
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
this year thoroughly re-organized, and under the old party name. Certain abuses in the administration of the civil service of the country, gave the party a chance to demand a change, and under the cry of "Reform," they went into the canvass with a determina- tion to win. In this county there were again three tickets, the In- dependent party making their fight upon the financial question. The local tickets of all parties were unexceptionable, and, on per- sonal grounds each tried to obtain votes. The principal candi- dates for local office ran ahead of their tickets in their respective towns, which certainly speaks well for them.
With this, the political history of the county is brought down to the present time, and by reference to the returns given below, it will be seen how close has been the result year by year. In conse- quence of this closeness the canvass has usually been very warm, and as a general thing men of unexceptionable personal character have been nominated, each party trusting the personal popularity of itsnominees will increase their vote. It has been well for our county that such has been the case, as it has had a tendency to make each more watchful of the interests of the people, and not so much that of party.
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