USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 22
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Resolved, That immortal honor and gratitude are due to our brave and patriotic soldiers in the field, and everlasting shame and disgrace to any citizen or party who withholds it; that, sympathizing with the army and its hardships, and proud of its gallantry, the lovers of the Union will stand by it, and will remember, aid and support those who are disabled, and the families of those who fall fighting for their country.
Resolved, That confiding in the honesty, patriotism and good sense of the President, we pledge to him our support of his earnest efforts to put down the rebellion.
260
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY
Resolved, That the present Governor, O. P. Morton, is an honest. able public servant. and that his official conduct deserves and receives the approbation of all loyal people."
The convention then proceeded to the nomination of candidates, which resulted in the selection of Stephen P. Mead, as the candi- date for Sheriff: Wm. Copp for Recorder; Abram J. Westervelt for Real Estate Appraiser, and Isaac B. Coplin for Commissioner. The Democratic candidates were. for Sheriff. Wm. Everhart: for Recorder, James Overholtz; for Real Estate Appraiser. Willard A. Place, and for Commissioner, Jesse Coleman. Andrew L. Osborn was candidate for Circuit Judge. but had no opposition. The election resulted in the success of the Republican candidates. Mead's majority was one hundred and seventy : Copp's majority was eighty-six : Westervelt's majority was two hundred and ninety-six; , and Coplin's was two hundred and ninety-seven. The whole num- ber of votes cast was four thousand four hundred and fifty. Judge Osborn received the entire vote. .
The campaign of 1864, was one of much earnestness and depth of feeling. Abraham Lincoln was the Republican candidate for re-election to the presidency, and associated with him as candidate for Vice President was Andrew Johnson, the distinguished Unionist of Tennessee. Oliver P. Morton, elected by the Republicans Lieut. Governor in 1860, had become Governor by the election of Henry S. Lane to the United States Senate; and was now the Republican candidate for re-election. Gen. George B. McClellan and Geo. H. Pendleton were the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President : and Joseph E. McDonald for Governor. Colfax and Turpie were again the candidates of their respective parties, for congress, and there was also full State and county tickets. Edwin G. McCollum was the Democratic candidate for Prosecuting attor- ney, circuit court, against Aaron Gurney of Porter. Wm. Andrew was the Republican candidate for Common Pleas Prosecutor against George L. Bittinger. Mulford K. Farrand and John B. Niles were candidates for State Senator. and Lawrence A. Stimpson, and E. Morgan Davis were Democratic candidates for Representatives to the State legislature against W. W. Higgins and John HI. Willis. Jacob S. Martin and James H. Shannon were candidates for Clerk ;
POLITICS. 261
Ellis Michael and Durand C. Alexander for Treasurer; R. O. Cran- dall and Ludwig Eliel for Coroner: J. W. Leaming and E. H. Leaming for Survevor, and Jackson Hosmer and John P. Cathcart for Commissioner.
The Republican candidates at the October election were all suc- successful, and by nearly uniform majorities, showing that in those war times there was very little scratching of tickets. Mor- ton's majority was four hundred and seventy-five, Colfax's majority was four hundred and fifty-eight, and the majority on county can- didates varied no more than from four hundred and fifty-nine to four hundred and seventy-three. The whole number of votes cast was four thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine, showing that a large number of voters were absent from the county. At the Presi- dential election in November the whole number of votes cast was four thousand eight hundred and eleven. Of these the Repub- lican electors received two thousand six hundred and sixty-six, and the Democratic electors two thousand one hundred and forty-five. Jame B. Belford was the Republican elector for the ninth District. Many of the leading men of the county were in the army, and the majority of the families of the county had one or more representa- tives there fighting in the nation's defense. Under such circum- stances, war questions formed the politics of the day, and the county newspapers were filled with the doings of the army, with discussions on the manner of conducting the war, on the policy of emancipation, and whether or not the war should be fought out to a successful termination, until the last rebel in arms had yielded, or whether peace should be sought through negotiation, and cessation of hostilities on the part of the government. The verdict of this county was unmistakably in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war, until victory, complete and final, should rest with the nation.
The election of 1865 did not possess much public or political interest, as there were but three officers to be elected, all of them for county offices. Ithamar D. Phelps and Amos Johnson were candidates for Sheriff, and Phelps, Republican was elected by a majority of seven hundred and twenty-eight. Johnson had been a Republican, but on this occasion had accepted a Democratic nomi- nation. Newell Gleason and Herman P. Lans, were candidates for Representative to the State legislature, and Gleason, Republican
1
262
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
was elected by a majority of six hundred and nineteen; William O'Hara and George Hall were candidates for County commissioner. and O'Hara, Republican was elected by six hundred and nineteen majority. The whole number of votes was four thousand and forty-three.
In 1866, the Fissues which divided parties arose from the work of reconstruction of the States lately in rebellion. The elec- tion was an important one, and party spirit once more ran high. State officers except Governor and Judges were to be elected, a member of congress, and county officers. Colfax and Turpie, a third time, were presented against each other by their respective parties as candidates for congress; and they made a very thorough canvass of the District, part of the time in joint discussion. Wm. H. Calkins, then of Porter county, was the Republican candidate for Prosecuting attorney, circuit court, against Edwin G. McCollum. Jasper Packard and Seth Eason were the candidates for County Auditor; Durand C. Alexander and John Druliner were the can- didates for Treasurer; Ludwig Eliel and Richard O. Crandall were candidates for Coroner; John P. Cathcart and S. A. Van Dusen were candidates for Surveyor; Isaac B. Coplin and James Drum- mond were candidates for Commissioner; James B. Belford and Wm. W. Higgins, Henry H. Walker and A. G. Standiford were candidates for Representatives; Wm. Andrew and George S. Sey- mour were candidates for Prosecuting attorney. court of common pleas. The Republican candidates for county offices were all elected by majorities of from one hundred and seventy-one to three hundred and sixty-five, in a total vote of five thousand six hundred and thirty-five. The average majority of other candidates was three hundred and twenty.
The election of 1867, was for four county officers alone. The candidates were as follows: For Representative. Orpheus Everts and Simon Wile; for Sheriff. Ithamar D. Phelps and John M. Clarkson : for Recorder. Henry C. Brown and Charles S. McChung : Commissioner, Reynolds Couden and Jackson Hosmer. The Republican candidates were all successful. Everts by a majority of five huntired and eighty-six, Phelps by a majority of eight hun- dred and sixty-one, Brown by a majority of six hundred and fifty-
263
POLITICS.
three and Couden by a majority of six hundred and fifty-six, in a total vote of three thousand six hundred and eighty-five.
The year 1868 brought with it another presidential campaign. The Republican national convention met in Chicago, and nomina- ted the General of the army, Ulysses S. Grant, associating with him on the ticket, as the candidate for Vice President, Schuyler Colfax, who had for so many years represented the ninth District in congress. The nomination of Colfax rendered necessary the nomination of a new man for congress. A District nominating convention was held at Westville, and the choice fell on Jasper Packard, then the Auditor of LaPorte county. The Demo- cratic national convention nominated Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair, Jr., for President and Vice President; and the District convention of that party met at Wanatah and nominated Mulford K. Farrand as the candidate for congress. Each party had in the field a full State ticket, Conrad Baker, who had become Governor by the election of Oliver P. Morton to the United States Senate, was the Republican candidate for Governor, and Thomas A. Hen- dricks was the Democratic candidate. The campaign was one of great activity. Each party was well organized, and both had great hopes of success. The issues between the parties were still such as arose from the work of reconstruction, especially as it affected the condition of the colored race so lately manumitted; and others arising out of the proposed taxation of the bonds of the United States and their cancellation with legal tender notes instead of gold. Discussions on these questions took a wide range, and involved the attitude assumed by each toward the rebellion, during its progress. There were public speeches innumerable; the candi- dates for Governor canvassed the entire State; and in this District the candidates for congress held thirty-three joint discussions, speak- ing much oftener than that singly. When the election came on in October, it was found that the Democrats had made large gains in all parts of the State, LaPorte county, in like manner experienc- ing Republican losses. Yet the Board of canvassers having thrown out the vote of Dewey and Johnson townships, it still gave a Republican majority, the average of which was forty eight on the State ticket. The Republican county candidates were all elected
264
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
with two exceptions, and they received majorities ranging from four to forty-five. The Republican candidate for congress received eleven majority in the county. The candidates, besides those already named, were Daniel Noyes and Elisha Egbert, for Judge of common pleas; Thomas J. Wood and Wm. H. Calkins, for Prose- cuting attorney, circuit court; for State Senator, James Bradley and LaFayette Crane; for Representative, Simon Wile and James L. Moody; for Clerk, Charles Spaeth and James H Shannon; for Real Estate appraiser, Jacob Folant and Edmund S. Gardner; for Treasurer, Truman T. Harris and Mark Allen: for Coroner, Walter R. Godfrey and Louis Eliel; for Surveyor, James E. Bradley and J. P. Cathcart; for commissioner, George Hall and Wm. O'Hara. There were two exceptions to the general Republi- can majorities ; Simon Wile was elected Representative by twenty majority. and Truman T. Harris was elected Treasurer by four majority. There were of course, doubts as to the propriety of reject- ing the votes of Dewey and Johnson townships. Including these votes, the county gave a small Democratic majority: but there were many accusations of fraud, and notices of contest were filed by Allen against Harris for the Treasurership, by Thornton against Wile, by Crane against Bradley, by Hall against O'Hara and Shannon against Spaeth. Some of these cases were withdrawn before final decision, one was settled by compromise. Harris died before decision was finally rendered, and except in the case of the Treasurer. all of them remained as at first returned by the Board of canvassers. At the November election which followed. the vote of both parties was increased, the Democratic electors receiving two thousand eight hundred and seventy-six votes and the Republican three thousand and sixty-four, making a total vote of five thousand nine hundred and forty, and giving the county to the Republicans by one hundre l and eighty-eight majority.
The next general election did not occur until October. 1870, when a full State ticket except Governor and Lieut. Governor, can- didates for congress, and for county officers were to be voted for. At this election Andrew L. Osborn was one of the candidates for Judge of the Supreme court, Jasper Packard was candidate for congress against Samuel I. Anthony. Democrat, of Valparaiso :
265
POLITICS.
J. Bradley was the Democratic candidate for Circuit Judge against Thomas S. Stanfield; Wm. Schoeneman and Simon Wile were the opposing candidates for Representative in the State legislature, and the other candidates were, for Sheriff, Daniel L. Brown and Amenzo Mann: for Auditor, Harvey R. Harris and Charles Spaeth; for Treasurer, Mark Allen and Edmund S. Organ; for Recorder, Henry C. Brown and Francis Hobart: for Commissioner first district, Enos Weed and Eugene W. Davis; for Commissioner second district, John Sutherland and Andrew J. Rogers; for Com- missioner third district, Simon P. Kern and John M. Clarkson; for Coroner, Louis Eliel and Bowen C. Bowell; for Surveyor, John P. Catchcart and James E. Bradley. The total vote cast was five thousand three hundred and twenty-six, and every Republican can- didate received a majority. The average Republican majority on the State ticket was two hundred and twenty-eight; the Republi- can candidate for congress received two hundred and fifty majority, and the majority on county candidates was trom one hundred and twenty-eight to four hundred and eighty four.
The next general election was held on the 8th day of October, 1872. Candidates for all the State offices except Judges of the Supreme court, for Judge of the court of common pleas, for Prose- cuting attorney of both courts, for State Senator, for two Congress- 'men-at-large, for Representative in congress for the eleventh District, for Representative in the State legislature and joint Representative, and for all the county offices were to be voted for. The whole number of votes cast in the county was six thousand one hundred and seventy-two, the largest ever polled, and the Democrats were completely successful, the aver- age Democratic majority being one hundred and fifty. On the candidates for Governor, the vote was, for Thomas M. Browne, two thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight, for Thomas A. Hendricks, three thousand one hundred and seventy-three; on the candidates for Representative in congress the vote was, for Jasper Packard, three thousand and five, for John A. Henricks, three thousand one hundred and forty-five ; for Judge of common pleas court, the vote was, for Edward J. Wood, two thousand nine hundred and thirty-six, and Daniel Noyes. three thousand two
266
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
hundred and forty-three: for State Senator the vote was, Mason G. Sherman, two thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight, and John H. Winterbotham, three thousand one hundred and seventy-nine; for Representative in the State legislature, the vote was, Sidney S. Sabin, three thousand, George H. Teeter, three thousand one hun- dred and sixty-six; for Clerk, the vote was, Henry C. Shannon, two thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight, and Sharles Spaeth, three thousand one hundred and sixty; for Sheriff, the vote was, as reported, Daniel L. Brown, three thousand and fifty-four, and DeWitt C. McCollum, three thousand and sixty; for Treasurer, John T. Sanders received three thousand and nine votes and George W. Mecum, three thousand one hundred and fifty-one: for Real Estate appraiser, Edmund S. Gardner received two thousand nine hundred and seventy-one votes and Jacob Folant three thou- sand one hundred and seventy; for Coroner, Ludwig Eliel received two thousand nine hundred and ninety votes and Wm. F. Standi- ford three thousand one hundred and sixty-three; for Surveyor. John P. Cathcart received two thousand nine hundred and seventy- nine votes and Daniel Kennedy three thousand one hundred and forty-five; for Commissioner first District, Enos Weed received two thousand nine hundred and ninety-six votes and Benajah S. Fail three thousand one hundred and ninety-one; for Commissioner second District, Aaron Foster received two thousand nine hundred and twenty-five votes and Charles Wills three thousand two hundred and thirty-six; for Commissioner third District, Jacob Thornburg received two thousand nine hundred and ninety-six votes and Hazard M. Hopkins three thousand one hundred and thirty-three. Daniel L. Brown contested the election on the candidates for Sheriff and upon final adjudication was declared entitled to the office, a sufficient number of errors having been discovered to give him a majority of all the votes cast.
The movement known as the Liberal Republican had this year a large influence politically, having virtually dictated the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, and the platform of principles on which the campaign against the Republican party was conducted. But in the vote the power of the Liberal Republicans was felt chiefly at the October election. At the November election the
267
POLITICS.
defections among Democrats were so numerous as to more than counterbalance the votes of the Liberal Republicans. The latter, in May, had nominated Horace Greeley and B. Gratz Brown as their candidate for President and Vice President; and when, later, the Democracy met in national convention, they adopted the nomina- tions and the platform of the Liberals. The Republicans re-nomina- ted President Grant, and associated with him Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts as a candidate for Vice President. It is the exact truth to say that neither the ticket nor the platform furnished to the Democracy by the Liberal Republicans was at all such a ticket or platform as that party would have chosen for itself, had it pur- sued an entirely independent course. The disaffection was so great that a third ticket was nominated, at the head of which was Charles O'Connor, the distinguished lawyer of New York. This third ticket had very little strength in this county, or in the State, the disaffection among Democrats taking the form at the Presidential election of a refusal to vote at all. This is shown by the fact that the vote in LaPorte county for the Democratic electors in November, was'three hundred and ninety less than for Hendricks in October. Wm. W. Higgins of this county was the elector on the Liberal Democratic ticket for the eleventh District. This ticket received in this county two thousand seven hundred and eighty- three votes; the Republican electors received two thousand nine hundred and three votes and the O'Connor electors seventeen votes.
A special election was held in October, 1873, for Prosecuting attorney to fill a vacancy occasioned by the reorganization of the courts of the State. The candidates were James A. Crawley and William E. Pinney of LaPorte, and George Ford of South Bend. Ford received one hundred and thirteen votes, Pinney two hundred and twenty-five, and Crawley one thousand one hundred and eighty.
The election of 1874 was for State, county and township officers, and Representative in congress. There were three tickets in the field, Democratic, Republican and Independent, and the Democrats carried everything by very large majorities, except F. Nebelthau for Trustee of Centre township, and Julius P. Linard for Constable. At the head of the State ticket were Wm. W. Curry, Republican, John E. Neff, Democrat, and Isaac C. Stout, Independent; and the
268
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
vote stood. for Curry, two thousand three hundred and twenty-four. for Neff. three thousand two hundred and thirty-one and for Stout two hundred and thirty-four. The candidates for congress, were William H. Calkins, Republican, and Wm. S. Haymond, Democrat. no Independent running for Congress in this District; and the vote of this county was, for Haymond, three thousand two hundred and nine. and for Calkins two thousand four hundred and seventy-five. Andrew L. Osborn was a candidate for Judge of the Supreme court. and received two thousand five hundred and seventy votes, the largest given for any Republican candidate on the State ticket. For Prosecuting attorney, the candidates were James A Crawley. Republican. and George Ford, Democrat, no Independent candidate running. The vote of the county was for Crawley, two thousand three hundred and thirty-eight, and for Ford, three thousand two hundred and thirty-one. Each party had its candidate for Repre- sentative to the State legislature. They were Edward Evans, Democrat, Sidney S. Sabin and Amos Thorp. Evans received three thousand two hundred and sixteen votes, Sabin two thousand two hundred and seventy-eight, and Thorp two hundred and sixty- three. For the other county officers, the candidates and their votes were as follows :
FOR SHERIFF.
Edward Hawkins, Democrat, 2996
Ithamar D. Phelps, Republican.
2347
John N. Fail. Independent, 367
FOR AUDITOR.
Edward J. Church, Democrat. 3123
John D. Stewart, Republican. 2378
John R. Stewart. Independent. 247
FOR TREASURER.
George W. Mecum, Democrat, 3328
Charles S. Winship, Republican, 2059
John D. Hoover, Independent, 339
FOR RECORDER.
John H. Organ, Democrat. 3223
Wm. P. Yarger, Republican. 2252
Ambrose P. White, Independent. 284
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POLITICS.
FOR CORONER.
Darwin T. Rrown, Democrat. 3242
George J. Bentley, Republican, 2320
FOR COUNTY SURVEYOR.
Hiram Burner. Democrat, 3196
John P. Cathcart. Republican, 2581
FOR COUNTY ASSESSOR.
Jacob Folant. Democrat, 3276
Joseph H. Francis, Republican, 2242
Wm. E. Creighton, Independent, 327
FOR COMMISSIONER.
Charles Wills, Democrat,
3218
Benajah Stanton, Republican. 2068
George Mill, Independent,
243
This closes the review of the political history of LaPorte county, except to supply the omission of the year 1839, in which year, there was cast a total vote of one thousand two hundred and forty-six, and the Whigs were successful by an average majority of one hun- dred and twenty, Great pains have been taken to make the record as complete as possible, and it closes with the following recapitula- tion of the total number of votes cast at each election since the organization of the county :
1832 April Election,
55 Votes.
1832 August 66
77
. “
1832 November
115
66
1833 August
478
1835
. 6
775
66
1836
66
935
1836 November
942
1837 August
941
66
1838
6 .
1094
. 6
1839
66
1246
66
1840
1782
1840 November
1709
66
1841 August
66
1248
1842
66
. C
1693
1843
1592
1844
66
1730
66
1834
66
270
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
1844 November Election,
1893 Votes.
1845 August
1756
66
1846 66
1873
1847
1910
1848 66 66
2011
1848 November 66
2136
1849 August
2061
1850
66
1920
1851 66
66
2139
1852 October
2588
66
1852 November 66
2961
1853 October
1629
1854
66
66
1900
66
1856
66 66
4563
1856 November
4819
1857 October
66
2999
66
1858
66
5026
1859
66
66
2835
1860
5015
1860 November
5074
1861 October
2869
66
1862
60
4564
1863
66
66
4450
1864
4969
66
1864 November
4811
66
1865 October 66
4043
66
1866
66
5635
66
1867
66
3685
1868
5760
66
1868 November 66
5940
1870 October
66
5326
66
1872
66
6172
1872 November
5703 .
1873 October Special
1548
1874 66 Election
5789
.
.
.
.
.
3128
66
1855
271
FIRST ELECTIONS.
CHAPTER XVIII.
FIRST ELECTIONS.
It will not be uninteresting to preserve here the record com- plete, of some of the first elections ever held in the county ; the names of those who voted then will be familiar to many still living, and their appearance will serve to revive many pleasant recollec- tions of the days gone by.
The following is the notice issued by the acting Sheriff of the county, calling the first election and appointing it to be held on the second Monday in April, 1832:
"Notice is hereby given to the qualified voters of LaPorte county, Indiana; That by virtue of a late act of the legislature, laying off said county, and also a commission to me directed as Sheriff pro tem, as well as that of a writ of election from his excel- lency, N. Noble, Governor of the State of Indiana, commanding me as Sheriff of said county, to hold an election at such place or places, as I may appoint in said county, on the second Monday in April next, giving ten days notice thereof. Therefore be it known that an election will be held at the house of Nathan B. Nichols, and also at the house of Arba Heald in said county on the second Mon- day in April next, for the purpose of electing two Associate Judges, one Clerk of the circuit court, a Recorder for the county and three County commissioners. Said election is to be held and conducted as general elections are, and the return of said election will be made to me at the house of Jacob Miller, on the Wednesday succeeding said election.
The west half of Range one, west of the second principal meridian and all of Range two, will constitute one District, and the election is to be held at the said house of Nichols; and Ranges three and four west, will form the second District, and the election will be held at A. Heald's at the Door prairie.
Given under my hand this 29th day of March, A. D. 1832.
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