USA > Indiana > History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916 > Part 75
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In 1896 was one of the bad spots in the Demo- cratic record. In that year William J. Bryan made his first race for president and Benjamin F. Shively was the Democratic nominee for governor against James A. Mount. Bryan received 3,785, Mckinley 3,897, Shively 3,763, and Mount 3,846.
The year following the Democratic majority re- turned, but in 1900, when John W. Kern became a candidate for governor and Bryan was nom- inated for his second race, Bryan received only 4,134, against 4,087 for Mckinley; Kern had 4,097, while W. T. Durbin had 3,816.
In 1904 the switch to the Republican presiden- tial ticket was sufficient to give Hanly a lead over Kern for governor. On the presidential ticket Parker received 3,587, while Roosevelt had 3,644. Hanly received 3,590 votes, against 3,573 for Kern.
In 1908, when Thomas R. Marshall redeemed the state from a succession of Republican govern- ors, he carried Clark county with 4,097 votes, against 3,648 for James Eli Watson. The same year Bryan and Kern carried the county by 4,085 against Taft, who received 3,706.
In 1912 very little of the Republican party re- mained in Clark county, Wilson and Marshall re- ceiving 3,315, Taft 805, and Roosevelt 2,453 as the leader of the Progressives.
In 1914, in the state election, the Democratic vote was completely restored, the senatorial vote standing Democratic 2,727, Republican 1,150, and to Albert J. Beveridge, the Progressive candidate, 1,701.
In 1916 only seven of the original Progressive voters remained, and Wilson was given 3,572 votes, and Hughes 3,173, and Clark county has the appearance of being safely and securely Demo- cratic for a good many years to come.
There are many interesting stories told of the early days, and of even more recent date, in the political doings of Clark county. Major William Lewis was one of the early-day Democrats who
was such a strong partisan and so set in his be- lief in the soundness of Democratic doctrines and principles that nothing but good Democrats have appeared in his family line for a hundred years.
He was the great-grandfather of Frank Payne, who was appointed by Governor Thomas R. Marshall a member of the Indiana railroad com- mission, and later became a member, under Governor Samuel M. Ralston, of the first public service commission.
Major Lewis came to Clark county from Ohio in 1826, and at once became a leading political figure in the county and state. He was well-to-do in those days, being possessed of both finances and property. President Andrew Jackson named him receiver of the local land office, and stories have passed down of the method of handling the business that are at least interesting. Most of the money paid into the land office was in small denominations, both scrip and smallest of coins. As the story goes, the money was counted when received and was thrown into a large box, where it was kept until time to ship it; that then it was shoveled or dumped into sacks and sent on the river to Washington, without second counting, and "there was never a cent missing " This is always told by latter-day Democrats of Clark county as a testimonial to the thorough honesty of a Demo- cratic community and is considered worth a whole lot as an answer to the many unkind things said of the party in Indiana by the opposition press "from everlasting to everlasting." For the Demo- cratic party and leaders of Indiana, ever since the days when the first ballot was cast to the present time, have certainly been subject of language ti- rades from the publicity organs of the opposition. Democrats have thrived on the abuse and grown a sturdy fighting stock.
Major Lewis had one son named William Jack- son. When Jackson was traveling from the cap- itol at the end of his administration, he visited Jeffersonville and made the home of Major Lewis his stopping-place. He presented the boy with a book and a silver fifty-cent piece. They have since been preserved by the family. The son, William Jackson Lewis, died and another son was given the same name.
One son of Major Lewis, Felix R. Lewis, was even more active in politics than his father had been. During the tempestuous times of Know- Nothingism he was an opponent of fanaticisms. He never was anything but a Democrat in princi- ple as well as in the practical application of the principles at the ballot-box. During the cam- paign he invited Ashbel P. Willard to speak at Jeffersonville. Armed with a couple of horse pis- tols Lewis mounted the stage and introduced the speaker, announcing that he was prepared to take
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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916
care of anyone who dared interpose any inter- ruptions.
When election day came most of the rough ele- ment went across the river to Louisville to en- gage in the historically bloody elections. Lewis stayed at home, and with the same horse pistols he stood at the polls and declared his intention of seeing that no man who was entitled to vote was denied the right. The result was that every- body who claimed the right exercised it.
Probably the most interesting family in the politics of Clark county was that of Thomas Jef- ferson Howard. The sons were George Washing- ton Howard, John Wesley Howard, Martin Van Buren Howard and Andrew Jackson Howard. It was in 1868 that George Washington and his father agreed that George should become the candidate for sheriff, and they entered the cam- paign. Martin Van Buren Howard decided some weeks later that he would like the same job for himself, so he entered the race against his brother George. Much to the chagrin of his father and brother George, he won.
"Leave my house and never return," were the orders of the father to the successful Martin Van Buren. "All right, father," answered Martin; "but when I go, Samson-like, I take the chief pillar of the temple with me."
Martin Van Buren's term of office expired in 1871. The family feud was patched up by Martin resigning in the last year of his term and allow- ing George to be appointed and become the new candidate. But when election time rolled around George Washington Baxter opposed the Howard family ambitions and was elected.
In 1874, George Washington Howard had his ambitions gratified when he was elected to serve as sheriff till 1877.
"Jack" Howard, who served a number of years as superintendent of the state reformatory, was Andrew Jackson Howard.
Beginning with 1824 the records to 1916 show the following Democrats to have held important offices in Clark county, and the year in which they were elected:
ASSOCIATE JUDGE CIRCUIT COURT.
Benjamin Ferguson (resigned Aug. 15, 1829) 1824
Willis W. Goodwin. 1824
John Carr (vice Ferguson) 1830
John Carr 1831-38
Samuel Prather 1832
Joseph Work (resigned May 14, 1842) 1837-45
Lemuel Ford (resigned Dec. 10, 1841) 1837-45
Hezekiah Robertson 1842
Hezekiah Robertson 1844-52
William Dunar 1851-58
Andrew J. Huckelberry 1851-58
CLERK.
John Carr
1824
John Carr (resigned)
1831
Henry Herrod (succeeded Carr) 1831
Henry Herrod
1837
Eli McCalley
1841-45
Eli McCalley 1844-52
Charles P. Ferguson. 1851-58
Andrew J. Hay
1859-63
Campbell Hay
1863-67
William James
1867-72
John L. Ingram. 1870-76
Pleasant James 1874-80
Richard C. McGill 1882-88
Eugene V. Stealey 1886-92
John C. Lewman 1890-96
Frank W. Carr 1898-1904
George W. Badger
1902-08
Curtis W. Ballard 1906-16
Ernest E. Jacobs
1914-20
RECORDER.
John Douthett 1824-38
Thomas Wilson 1840
Isaac Cox (recorded for town of Jefferson-
ville for 3 years from date) 1841
John McCoy (recorded for town of Jeffer- sonville for 3 years from date) 1844
John Bower 1844-52
James Halstead (recorded for town of Jef- fersonville for 3 years from date) 1846
Joseph Bower 1851-58
William A. Ingram 1855
James P. Applegate 1863-72
John Carney (died) 1870-76
Pleasant James (to fill vacancy by death of John Carney) 1872
Samuel H. McGonnigal 1872-80
Evan Shelby
1880-88
Christopher Peaceley
1886-94
William T. Armstrong 1898-1902
George W. Stoner .1902-10
Clifford Allhands 1910-18
SHERIFF.
John S. Simonson 1824
Thomas Carr 1826-28
David W. Daily 1830-32
Thomas Carr (succeeded Daily, re-
signed) 1833-35
Joseph E. Moon 1837
Thomas Carr 1839
George Green 1843
John C. Huckleberry
1845
Andrew J. Work
1852
William A. Ingram
1849-53
Andrew J. Work 1852
John M. Pound 1854
Hannibal H. Coombs 1856
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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816 -1916
Warren Horr 1858-62
Thomas S. Bellows 1862-67
Warren Horr 1866-69
Martin Van Buren Howard (resigned) .1868-71
George Washington Howard (vice Martin Van Buren Howard) 1871
George Washington Baxter 1871-74
George Washington Howard 1874-77
Thomas Dillon 1876-81
James W. Davis 1880-85
Charles S. Hay
1884-89
Patrick C. Donovan 1888-93
William A. Davis 1892-95
Herman Rave 1898-1903
John S. Pernett 1902-06
Herman Rave (appointed to Jan. 1, 1904) . 1902
John S. Pernett 1904-08
John B. Carr
1908-14
Isaac G. Phipps
1912-14
William Long
1914-16
CORONER.
Thomas Montague 1824-30
Asa Glover 1832
Lorenzo D. Warren
1834
Asa Glover
1836
William H. Sylvester 1838
Asa Glover 1840-48
Marston G. C. Pyle 1850-52
Rosalvo R. Glover
1852
Hugh Gibson
1858
Marston G. C. Pyle 1860-66
George W. Lewman
1865-72
John J. Roos 1872-76
George Kleespies .1876-78
John J. Roos
1878-84
Edwin M. Coots 1884-90
John J. Roos 1890-94
Frank R. M. Gilbert (vice Roos, deceased) . 1893
Edwin M. Coots 1894-1905
Froman M. Coots
1904-18
SURVEYOR.
Joseph C. Bowen 1831-36
Daniel H. McDonald 1852-54
William W. Farris 1856-1874
Jonathan J. Bottorff 1874-78
Victor W. Lyon 1880-94
L. Early Keith 1898-1902
Charles W. Kelly 1902-07
Paris Spurgeon 1906-19
PROBATE JUDGE.
Willis W. Goodwin 1832-39
Lemuel Ford
1846
Willis W. Goodwin 1847-54
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
Amos Lovering (resigned)
1848-51
Charles Moore 1849-51
TREASURER.
Thomas J. Nixon 1852-54
Avery Long 1856-57
Andrew J. Carr 1860-65
Christian C. Badger 1868-71
David S. Koons 1870-75
Henry H. Ferguson
1878-83
Jacob S. Fry
1882-87
Alexander W. Smitha 1886-91
John A. Jenkins 1890-95
Thomas B. Rader (vice Jenkins, resigned) . 1893
LeRoy A. Canter 1894-96
Bernard A. Coll 1900-05
Isaac G. Phipps 1904-09
George A. Scheer 1908-13
John R. Scott 1912-17
J. E. Gray
1916-18
AUDITOR.
Campbell Hay 1855
Christian G. Badger 1859-67
Michael V. McCann 1867-79
John L. Delahunt 1882-91
Samuel D. Oglesby 1890-95
George W. Badger 1898-1903
George B. Parks 1902-08
Peter Nachand 1906-12
George W. Stoner
1910-20
REAL ESTATE APPRAISER.
William Davis
1863-68
SENATORS.
-Clark County-
1816-20-James Beggs.
-Clark, Scott and Floyd Counties-
1821-Joseph Bartholomew. -Clark and Floyd Counties-
1822-Joseph Bartholomew.
1823-25-John H. Thompson.
1826-John K. Graham.
1827-29-John S. Simonson.
1830-33-John M. Lemon.
1834-38-David W. Daily.
1839-41-William G. Armstrong.
1842-50-James G. Reed.
1852-James S. Athon.
1853-Thomas W. Gibson.
1855-57-Le Roy Woods.
-Clark and Scott Counties- -
1859-David McClure.
1861-63-Charles P. Ferguson. 1865-67-Elisha G. English. -Clark and Floyd Counties-
1869-George V. Howk.
-Clark, Martin and Floyd Counties- 1871-James Keigwin.
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HISTORY INDIANA
DEMOCRACY-1816-1916
-Clark and Floyd Counties- 1873-A. W. Hall.
1875-77-F. C. Johnson.
-Clark and Scott Counties-
1883-85-David McClure
-Clark, Scott and Jennings Counties- - 1887-A. G. Smith.
-Clark and Jefferson Counties- 1887-89-David McClure.
-Clark, Scott and Jennings Counties- - 1889-91-Frank B. Burke.
-Clark and Jefferson Counties- 1891-93-John McGregor.
-Clark, Jennings and Scott Counties - 1893-95-Willis L. Barnes.
1897-99-Joseph H. Shea.
-Clark and Jennings Counties-
1901-03-James W. Fortune.
-Clark, Scott and Jennings Counties-
1907-17-Floyd Park, Sr.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1816-Benjamin Ferguson, Thomas Carr, John K. Graham.
1818-Benjamin Ferguson, Thomas Carr.
1819-John H. Thompson, Charles Boggs, Jo- seph Bartholomew.
1820-John F. Ross, John H. Thompson, An- drew P. Hay.
1821-John F. Ross, Andrew P. Hay, Joseph Gibson.
1822-John Miller, John H. Thompson.
1823-Isaac Howk, William G. Armstrong.
1824-25-Reuben W. Nelson, Wm. G. Arm- strong. 1826-Isaac Howk, John M. Lemon.
1827-29-Isaac Howk, John M. Lemon, Joseph Work.
1830-Isaac Howk, Alexander F. Morrison, An- drew Fite.
1831-Isaac Howk, Joseph Work, Joseph E. Roe.
1832-Benjamin Ferguson, Thomas J. Henley. 1833-Benjamin Ferguson, Thomas J. Henley, John C. Parker.
1834-John H. Thompson, Samuel J. Stewart.
1835-William G. Armstrong, Eli McCalley, Daniel Bower.
1836-William G. Armstrong, John C. Huckle- berry.
1837-William G. Armstrong, Benjamin Fergu- son.
1838-Benjamin Ferguson, Thomas J. Henley, Henry Hurst.
1839-Henry Hurst.
1840-41-James G. Read, Thomas J. Henley.
1842-43-Thomas J. Henley, John S. Simonson.
1844-John S. Simonson, James S. Athon.
1845-John S. Simonson, Thomas J. Howard. 1846-John S. Simonson, John Ferguson.
1847-John Ferguson, Thomas Carr.
1848-Thomas Carr, John H. Sullivan.
1849-James G. Caldwell, John C. Huckleberry.
1850-James H. Athon, James G. Caldwell.
1851-Thomas Carr, George Schwartz.
1852-Thomas Ware Gibson.
1853-John F. Reed.
1855-Thomas D. Fouts.
1857-James L. Wallace.
1859-A. J. Carr.
1861-Thomas J. Howard. 1863-65-Jonas G. Howard.
1867-Frederick H. C. Honneus.
1869-Charles R. McBride.
1871-Henry S. Barnaby.
1873-Joseph Baker and Daniel Blocher.
1875-Thomas S. Bellows.
1877-James K. Marsh.
1879-William B. Carter.
1881-George H. Gibson, James E. Walker and David McClure.
1883-George H. Gibson, Charles L. Jewett. 1885-Willis L. Barnes, Charles L. Jewett.
1887-Willis L. Barnes, John R. Cushman. 1889-James P. Applegate, Henry F. Work.
1891-Henry F. Work, George H. Voigt.
1893-Seba A. Barnes, Reuben Dailey. 1897-Thomas A. Graham.
1899-A. A. Cravens, Thomas A. Graham. 1901-03-Z. M. Scifres, Charles K. Zollman. 1905-Curtis W. Ballard, Zach. M. Scifres. 1907-Burdette C. Lutz, Robert C. Brown. 1909-Emmett C. Mitchell, W. E. Wagner. 1911-Emmett C. Mitchell, Wm. E. Wagner.
1913-Earl K. Friend, Emmett C. Mitchell. 1915-Earl K. Friend, John Ryan.
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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CLAY COUNTY
D ANIEL HARRIS, resident of Spencer, Owen county, Indiana, member of the State General Assembly in December, 1824, introduced the bill for an act authorizing the or- ganization of Clay county. By his bill the terri- tory that was to form the new county was sliced from Vigo and Owen counties, these having been organized in 1818.
Harris was an enthusiastic member of the Whig party. He was a worshiper of Henry Clay. Probably one of the motives which caused him to introduce the Clay county bill was the opportunity it gave him to attach the name of his political idol to something where it would not wash off in the years to follow. Because of his performance in making the new county a reality, for the remain- der of his years he was known as "Old Clay" and as the "Father of Clay County."
As a Whig he surely could take small comfort from the political performances of his new baby, even from the very start. Right off the reel, at the first election called in 1825, everything went tumbling pell-mell, helter-skelter for Democracy. It has grown stronger in the same way each year since. About the only show any Whig or Repub- lican ever had to hold an office was to move out and not let his new neighbors know he had lived at one time in Clay county.
The fact that the county was named for Henry Clay, also one of the uncompromising Whigs, never helped in the least to save it, for the Demo- crats have not shown the least bit of sentiment or reverence for the name. Maybe if Clay had lived there for a few months he might have seen the error of his political behavior and become a Demo- orat with far more personal accomplishments than ever came to his performances as a Whig.
Some of the Democrats who helped make the county Democratic in the early days, and to keep it so ever since, are still living and rejoicing in their good work. One of these is Clinton M. Thompson, who served as county clerk from 1864 to 1868, and who is still living in 1918 at the age of ninety years.
Another is John Frump, who was county treas- urer from 1864 to 1868, and who has always been conspicuous in the politics of Clay county and the State. He is still, at the age of ninety-six in 1918, an active and effective worker for the party inter- ests. In explaining how a Whig or a Republican happened once in a long while to get into some public office he says: "You know we just spilled a little gasoline in the road occasionally and the Republicans touched a match to it and started a
little fire. But it never burned very long or large enough to do any particular damage. It never started in the same place a second time."
Peter T. Luther is also one of the old-time fight- ers and in the later years a Democratic state con- vention would hardly be complete without him. Anyhow, he is always there representing Clay county and enthused with the old-time Democratic spirit. He has served in various capacities in his county, among others being county recorder from 1868 to 1872 and county surveyor from 1866 to 1868.
While the county was organized in 1825, the plat of the "seat of justice" was not placed on rec- ord until 1828, and it was in 1829, during the ad- ministration of Andrew Jackson, that the patents for the town site were issued and recorded.
Being so overwhelmingly Democratic in politics that there was little chance for any political quar- rels outside the family, the residents did not delay long in starting county-seat fights. Bowling Green had been made the county seat, and all over the territory within the county limits ambitious citi- zens had town sites that were "much better," and they were freely offered. Then as now there were lots of people ready to serve the public by turning over their town sites. This started in 1830 and it continued until 1877, when the move was finally made to Brazil.
While the fight was going on before the Legisla- ture and by petition to the county commissioners to have the county seat changed, and while the fight was won at least on two separate occasions before these bodies, the courts were appealed to and the decisions upset what the legislative bod- ies had tried to do. When the fire came in 1851 and burned the court house at Bowling Green the Legislature sought to prevent the rebuilding until such time as the voters of the county might decide what to do, but the commissioners went ahead with the rebuilding just the same, and, as already stated, the move from Bowling Green to Brazil did not come until January, 1877.
The order for removal was made in 1871, but court and other delays prevented the order being carried out for six years.
An effort is made in the lists that follow to men- tion all the Democrats who have held office since the county was organized. The list has been checked over with a great deal of care and com- pared with other histories, with the public records, with the newspaper files and by the men who have been active in politics all their lives and who were personally acquainted with many of these officials.
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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916
It is the first purely political list any writers have attempted and because of this and its accuracy it is the more valuable.
Another peculiar interest that attaches to the names is the fact that many of the men were after- wards conspicuous in the political life of other counties of Indiana, and are still so. All save names of Democrats have been eliminated from these lists :
SHERIFFS.
1825-29- Jesse McIntyre.
1829-31-John Rizley.
1831-35-Lawrence Leonard.
1835-37-Bluford H. Bolin.
1837-39-Lawrence Leonard.
1843-45-George Pinckley.
1845-47-Elias Cooprider.
1847-51-Charles W. Moss.
1851-55-Lot Loving.
1855-58-William F. Mccullough.
1858-60-Jeptha M. Ellington.
1860-62-Calvin Reed.
1862-64-John H. Davis.
1864-68-John Cullen.
1868-72-John Weber.
1874-77-Jesse B. Yocum.
1877-78-Alexander Haggart.
1878-80-Jacob Baumunk.
1882-86-George Stierly.
1888-92-John Murphy.
1892-94-Morgan H. Ringo.
1896-98-John A. Hyde.
1898-1902-John G. H. Klingler.
1902-06-John Bray.
1906-10-William A. Prince.
1912-16-William M. Garrigues.
CLERKS.
1825-31-Elijah Rawley.
1831-42-Jesse McIntire.
1842-47-Charles C. Modesitt.
1848-60-George Pinckley.
1860-John C. Major.
1860-64-Dillon W. Bridges.
1864-68-Clinton M. Thompson.
1868-72-Charles H. Knight.
1876-80-Elias C. Kilmer.
1884-88-Abraham W. Turner.
1892-95-John M. Wehrle.
1895-Ira Holland.
1896-1900-Charles L. Mace.
1900-04-Michael J. Murphy.
1904-08-Peter L. Everhart.
1912-16-William M. Stobel.
For the first years of the county organization the clerk also performed the duties of recorder and auditor. The first auditor and the first re- corder were elected in 1845.
RECORDERS.
1845-52-John S. Beam.
1852-60-Thomas Riddell.
1860-Job Riddell.
1860-64-Clinton M. Thompson.
1864-68-Charles H. Knight.
1868-72-Peter T. Luther.
1876-80-Lucius J. Bowman.
1884-88-Owen T. Stark. 1888-92-Dennis C. Gilfillan.
1892-96-George J. Kayser.
1896-1900-Thomas J. Keegan.
1900-04-Bence L. Casteel.
1908-Fred C. Witt.
1912-16-Reuben E. Smith.
AUDITORS.
1845-50-Jesse Fuller.
1850-59-John Osborn.
1863-67-George W. Wiltse.
1867-75-James M. Hoskins.
1875-77-James Shaw.
1877-78-Jefferson McAnelly.
1878-86-James T. Casteel.
1890-94-Matthew R. Yocum.
1894-98-Thomas Phillips.
1898-1902-Samuel M. Stigler.
1902-06-J. Frank Smith.
1906-10-James L. Burns.
1910-14-Edgar A. Staggs.
1914-19-William O. Graeser.
TREASURERS.
The first treasurers of the county were named by the county commissioners, the law providing for their election by the people being first oper- ative in the election of 1841.
Democrats who have served in the office since that date are these:
1841-44-Allen T. Rose.
1844-50-John Williams.
1850-52-John Picard.
1852-54-Hale C. Conaway.
1854-56-Athel Staggs.
1856-60-Elias Helton.
1860-64-John G. Ackelmire.
1864-68-John Frump.
1868-72-Alexander Brighton.
1874-78-F. W. Schromyer.
1878-80-Leason B. Pruner.
1882-86-John W. White.
1888-92-Ernst Muehler.
1882-94-Christopher H. Kattman.
1894-96-Furtney L. Brown.
1900-02-Simon L. Row.
1902-06-E. G. Bush.
1906-12-Melbourne C. Lanning.
1912-16-McClain Johnson.
1916-18-Thomas W. Swinehart.
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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916
SURVEYORS.
After the organization of the county and prior to the adoption of the constitution of 1852, among the men who served as county surveyors were William Maxwell, who was appointed in 1825, with John D. Christie and William Herron.
Under the new constitution these Democrats have held the office:
1852-54-John J. Payton.
1856-58-John Sharp.
1858-62-John H. Davis.
1862-64-Samuel Terrell.
1864-66-George V. Goshorn.
1866-68-Peter T. Luther.
1868-72-Marvin B. Crist.
1876-80-D. S. Maurer.
1882-84-Thomas B. Robertson.
1884-90-John J. Hayden.
1890-92-James L. Burnes.
1894-1900-Robert J. Hill.
1900-02-Lawrence W. Winn.
1904-10-Frank A. Kattman.
1910-16-George A. Sheehan.
1917-18-William C. Kohler.
CORONERS.
1825-27-John Wheeler.
1827-29-Peter Barnett.
1831-33-Abraham F. Baughman.
1835-37-Eli Deal.
1837-39-William Tulley.
1841-43-William W. Ferguson. 1843-John Wheeler.
1843-45-Hiram Anderson.
1845-47-Amos W. Laycock.
1847-49-John Wheeler.
1849-51-John Stewart.
1851-55-Hiram Alexander.
1857-59-James Clemons.
1859-61-William R. Moore.
1861-63-Broxton Cox, Jr. 1863-65-Peter Eppert.
1865-67-John C. Phillips.
1867-71-John E. Slack.
1876-78-James McDonald.
1878-80-Samuel M. Stewart.
1882-84-Daniel W. Bennett.
1884-86-William H. Lowry.
1886-88-Samuel Slaven.
1888-90-John L. Sullivan.
1890-92-Newton B. Bartholomew.
1892-94-William R. Mershon.
1896-98-James K. Moss. 1898-1902-William R. Mershon.
1904-08-George F. Lewis.
1908-14-John G. Smith.
1914-16-Harlan A. Miller.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
First District (1852-1912)-James W. Modesitt, Martin Bowles, James M. Halbert, George Ringo, George Eskert, William Allen, John J. Lynch, Reuben S. Thomson, William H. Sentshall, John W. Works, Robert W. Casteel.
Second District-Samuel Rizley, Esau Presnell, Joseph Dial, Oliver B. Johnson, Oliver B. Johnson, Peter Kohler, Adam B. Moon, John J. Huffman, John Stwalley, George Siegelin, John G. Kattman, Christian Koehler.
Third District-David Puckett, Calvin Reed, L. L. Osburn, T. J. Liston, William H. Rector, Wil- liam H. Rector, William L. Buckallew, Enoch M. Rector, David W. Keller, Jacob Luther, William T. Modesitt, Martin R. Goshorn.
ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGES.
1825-William Maxwell and David Walker.
1826-Philip Hedges.
1831-Daniel Wools and Samuel Rizley.
1839-William Yocum.
1841-John T. Alexander.
1845-Owen Thorpe.
PROBATE JUDGES.
1831-Daniel Chance.
1832-Jesse J. Burton.
1833-Robert W. Crooke.
1835-Jared Peyton.
PRESIDING CIRCUIT JUDGES.
John Ewing, W. Johnson, Amory Kinney, Wil- liam Bryant, John Law, Delaney R. Eckles, James Hughes, James M. Hanna, Solomon Claypool, William M. Franklin, Solon Turman, Samuel M. McGregor, Presley O. Colliver, John M. Rawley, James M. Hanna.
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES.
Prior to 1830 Clay county was not an independ- ent or separate legislative district. In 1821 it was joined by Green, Owen and Morgan and was represented at that time by John Sims. In 1826 Putnam and Clay constituted one district, and so continued to 1830. In these years, an election be- ing held each year, these were the representatives : George Pearcy, 1826-27; Joseph Orr, 1828; John McNary, 1829-30.
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