USA > Kansas > Republic County > A history of Republic County, Kansas, embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1st, 1883 > Part 5
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Crops of all kinds for the two years named were abundant, although the rainfall was far below the average. This proves conclusively that crops do not so much depend on the amount of rain as on its distribution, a small rainfall, evenly distributed during the growing season, being far more desirable than a large amount unfavorably distributed.
CYCLONES, TORNADOES, ETC.
It is now a little more than twenty-two years since the first settlement was made in Republic county, and, during all that time. only two tornadoes have visited the county, neither of which proved very destructive to life or property. The first occurred May 30th. 1879, the day of the Irving disaster, in Marshall county, and the cyclone at Delphos, in Ottawa county. The storm struck Belleville from the northwest, carried away a few chimneys, unroofed a few buildings, moved a few others from their foundations, including the " Duck elevator " on the west side of the public square. At this place, it was simply a high wind, and showed none of the essential characteristics of a cyclone. From Belleville, it moved nearly duc cast, and it was not till it reached Thomas Harkness' place that it commenced to cut its curious capers, taking his fanning mill, rending
History of Republic County.
it into hundreds of pieces, and scattering them over a wide extent of territory. Portions of this mill were found one-half mile north, other pieces more than a mile south, and still other portions one and a half miles east of where it was standing when the storm took possession of it.
Passing on to the east, it moved Prairie Home school-house from its foundations, but without doing much damage to the building. Still further cast, it struck Ernest Cole's house, sweeping it away, leaving nothing but the floor and cooking stove, without injuring Mrs. Cole and little one, who were in the house at the time. . \ family by the name of Matthews, emigrants, were just going into camp, near Mr. Cole's house, when the storm struck the wagon, rolling it over and over on the prairie, instantly killing a son of Mr. Matthews, a boy abont fourteen years of age.
Still further east, it moved the Farmington school-house from its foundation, carried it about thirty feet to the east, and damaged it considerably. Still further on, it picked up Richard Rowe's wagon, which was standing near his house, carried it away, and completely destroyed it, without disturbing anything else on his place. This storm moved in a due east course for miles, was accompanied by sharp lightning, heavy thunder, and an unusually heavy fall of rain, and, in places, hail.
The second tornado visited Elk Creek township, May 25, 1880, striking the school-honse in district No. 5, about 6 o'clock in the after- noon, completely demolishing the same. The funnel-shaped cloud, minutely described by several witnesses, when first seen, was moving in a northeasterly course, but, after destroying the school house, moved due east, striking Mrs. Streeter's house, damaging it but slightly. After leaving Mrs. Streeter's, it again moved to the north- east, doing no further damage.
Its track was narrow, at no place exceeding a rod in width, and could be distinctly traced by the appearance of the grass, which presented the appearance of having been scorched. It lifted and carried away the sods from land newly broken, was accompanied by a light fall of rain, but no thunder or lightning. The school-house had been built but two years, and was a substantial structure.
CHAPTER V.
STATISTICS, CENSUS, ETC.
Reliable statistics in regard to crops, farm animals, etc., were not gathered in Kansas until 1872, and these were not as complete as desired, owing to the absence of any efficient official source through which they could be obtained, as the law providing for the collection of statistics by the township assessors was not passed until the ses- sion of 1873. The statistics here presented, therefore, embrace a period of only twelve years, from 1872 to 1883, inclusive. (For sta- tistics of 1883, see following page.)
1872.
1873
1871. 1875.
1876
1877.
1878.
1879.
1880. 1881. 1882.
Mules.
96
237
319
308
272
384
408
544
575 6912
7-171
7703
l'aitle.
4941
4682
6649
6050
6746
7932
8183
10178
11670 13955
16110
Sheep
1109
72
513
1056
821
2222
3884
4454
7033
9336
9983
Hogs
1232
3336
98 )7
5038
7097 18:11
31286 38142
44169
4029>
41915
:
The falling off in the numbers of live stock from 1874 to 1875 is accounted for by the grasshopper visitation of 1874, the corn crop that season being almost a total failure, but very little being raised in the county. Large numbers of our people went back east to win- ter, taking their teams and milch cows with them. many not return- ing until late in the season of 1875, while others did not come back at all. In 1877, Republic ranked as the ninth county in the State in the number of swine, seventh in 1878, second in 1879, and first in 1880, leading Brown county, the next highest, by 2,827 head. In 1881, she ranked third, being surpassed by Brown with 41,279, and Miami with 41,040 head. In 1882 she ranked third again, being surpassed by Brown and Cowley. In the number of horses taking the eleventh place in 1881, and the fifteenth in 1882. (For statistics of 1883, see following page.)
1872.
1873.
1874.
1×75.
1876.
1877.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.
W. wh't 20,141 15,015 31,965 73,729
43,27 }
19,056
62,675
123,08-1 290,578
236,796
61,736
19,900
S. wh't .. 18 108 13,188 251,260 102,578
318,2521 263,790
619 203
Corn ...... 258,210 568,325
.. 94 ,180 1,077,600 1.806,558 1,478,760 2,011,9 0 2 431,003 1,806,310 4,616,835
Barley ...
4,092
7,230 $,140 71,719
201,010
155,700
67,649
98,740
37,723
2,280
2,016
Ryc ...
16 170 18,120 86,205
130,860
92,754
185.158
15,952
65,565
72,780
206,404
Oats ....
-1.624 17,425 102,100 160,625
139,412
115,917
200,538
251,980
256,308
273,735
530,100
1500
2322
3199
3103
3316
3711
441
5818
167,351 139,856
83,015
65L
Horses
-1
TABLE showing acreage of crops, number of farm animals, population, etc., etc., by townships, for the year 1883.
-
No. of Township.
Acres of Fall Wheat.
Acres of Full Rye.
Acres Spring Wheat.
Acres of Corn.
Acres of Oats.
hand Mich 1, 1883.
Bushels of Corn on
Acres of Prairie un-
Number of Horses.
Number of Mules.
No. of Milch Cou's.
No. of other Cuttle.
Number of Sheep.
Number of Swine.
the year.
for slaughter during
Value of Animals
No. Apple Trees in
No. Peach Trees in
Pounds of Honey pro-
Aeres of trees one yr.
1
Alblon.
102 439 157.
5150
1128
43817
681
199
25
341
175 1316 600|
1934
$14344
188
3473
262
61-1
Beaver.
838 611
19
4497
664
26685
974 353
22
319
2
1692
17332
71.
12631.
200
537
Belleville.
12 256
16.
5978
627
060
77851
184
106
29
113
1086'
150
236-1
30855
190
1193 8300
203
955
Courtland.
129 374
7
6772
712
65430
57 1
32
57
341
611 157
2186
31565
33915
704
4065
134
746
Freedom
102
125
8430
1250
104435
2977
550
972 993
3916
10257
2946
6147 300
313
723 $24
Grant ..
10
303,
1
6662
418
59695
57
314
559 1174
2163
89592
431
2 92
71
649
Liberty
12
.192
259,
6009
1426
58995
100
32 :81
2705
22801
6:08
5717
199
701
Lincoln
13| 158: 403
4
5190
5761
69430
361
36
323
380
667. 555
·2:
2098
23855
186
2499
71
955
-Rose ('reek
16
58
194
225
6135
1621
66705
1799
464
42
317
276
:310
22110
1167
5055
121
617
Scandia
285
10
5101
577
41715
3164
326
12
312
728
1951
17020
340
895
506
Union
40
453
67
>754
1065
107210
2691
5:9
1.78
1046
7
3111
38157
352
5395'
15
369
Washington
19
618 190
3839
1371
15186
300
351
29
2 6
284
1649
16-47
188
1325
165
663
White Rock
20
20
19
5.30
50685
312
11
321
651
2079
26090
213
300
203
606
Belleville City ..
21
275
34
5250
10
1000
19
13
38
16
71
200
12
1
570
Tot il
2877 9580 1936 120990 18518
226719 32127 8793 $32 7194 13532 6869
48360
$573992 12333
$1733 653 9622 14-97
.
.....
5187
1151
46485,
2215 926
417
58
130 327
1034 568
1 696
2580
19199
279
391
$511
132
678
Fairview.
17 1 45|
185
6192
1270
62.05
4
452
4:29
407
1896| 394
119' 630
50
312
683 102
2542
27628
517
25. 6
1
807
Norway.
263 602
......
85
6550
977
4-060
375'
522
27
435
438, 559
1563
21 98
2 ..
1346
5668
..
11|
451
5693
666
71755
1414. 327
55
316
743 213
3755
47512
1814
9751 .. ...
20.4
592
Big Bend ..
70 191
64
6655
859,
5278
.503
6-315'
240.)
23
71
452
368
......
760; 123
1781
12575
13
640
204
539
Richland
15.
71 561
4711
410
43340
2506.
...
.....
..
......
101
175
6
123
1
Scandia Cif. ...
*)+)
90
.....
History of Republic County.
Population.
1 1234547 --
6
48 282
1650
293
725
Farmington
70, 712
GIS 156
2112
2197
22295
1144
410
702
Elk Creek
lefferson.
153
14
2
5
44
7
..
bearing.
slaughtered & sold:
bearing.
dueed in 1882.
old and orer.
...
..
...
......
1589
3324
der Fenee.
NAME.
50
History of Republic County.
WHEAT AND BARLEY.
Republic county is located in what was known, from 1872 to 1878, as the spring wheat belt of Kansas, composed of seven counties lying in a compact body in the northwest, five of which, Marshall, Wash- ington, Republic, Jewell and Smith, being in the northern tier, and the other two, Cloud and Mitchell, adjoining. In 1878, these seven counties produced 3,345,340 bushels, or nearly three-fifths the entire spring wheat product of the State. In the number of bushels raised, Republic county ranked in the State as follows :
1872 as 2d. 1876 as 2d. 1879 as 1st.
1873 as 6th. 1877 as 3d. 1880 as 3d.
1874 as 3d.
1878 as 1st. 1881 as 2d.
1875 as 1st.
Thus it appears that, for a period of ten years, she held the first place three years, the second place three years, the third place three years, and the sixth place one year. But at present its cultivation is almost entirely abandoned, not because wheat cropping has exhausted or even seriously impaired the properties of the soil neces- sary to produce its perfect development in straw and grain.
The greater portion of the wheat that has been grown in Republic county, has been on new land, or ground that had not been ploughed more than two or three times at most. Our soil in the bottom is an alluvial deposit, and on the uplands a vegetable mold, both of which, by deep and thorough cultivation, become light and mellow, and seem determined to remain in that condition. It is almost impossi- ble to get it back into a solid, compact mass, as it was found under the native sod, a condition seemingly necessary for the successful culture of both winter and spring wheat. Experience, we think, has demonstrated that wheat will not pay in Kansas, on land that has been brought under thorough cultivation. This is one reason for discontinuing its culture. Another is that it is subject to the attack of chinch bugs, those pests to the farmer, which in dry seasons fre- quently destroy whole fields of wheat, and afterward seriously dam- age the corn crop. Besides, most farmers of close observation concur in the opinion that stock-raising, in its various departments, ought to be made a leading, if not the most prominent, feature in farm opera- tions. Hence, many of our best farmers are turning their attention
51
History of Republic County.
in this direction. From 1876 to 1879, barley was quite successfully grown. Republic county ranked as follows :
1876 as 3d. 1877 as 2d. 1878 as 1st. 1879 as 2d.
This crop has also been nearly discontinued, only 2,016 bushels being raised in the county in 1882.
CORN IS KING.
In 1876, for the first time, the corn crop of the county exceeded one million bushels. In 1880 we ranked as the seventh corn pro- ducing county in Kansas, and in 1882 as third, producing, as shown in the table, 4,646,835 bushels, only two counties in the State pro- ducing a greater number of bushels, viz., Marshall and Sumner ; but it must be borne in mind that these counties embrace a much larger area than Republic. The following shows the area of the three counties named, and the number of bushels produced by cach :
Republic, 720 square miles. 4,646,835 bushels
Marshall, 900 square miles. 4,899,900 bushels
Sumner, 1,188 square miles. 4,671,520 bushels
From the above, it will be readily seen that Republie, in propor- tion to area, led both the others so far that it is hardly worth while to make a comparison.
So, also, in the number of swine. In 1882 Republic had 41,915 ; Marshall, 33,337 ; Sumner, 32,640.
We have had but two short corn crops since the settlement of the county,-nearly a total failure in 1874 on account of the grasshopper visitation, and a partial failure in 1881 on account of an unfavorable season,-and yet we are frequently asked whether we raise any crops or have any stock in the county.
CENSUS.
The population of the county was in
1882
.14,057
1874. 8,020
1861
5
1875
8,048
1862
13 1876. 8,758
1863
47
1878
10,132
1868
630
1880. 14,913
1870
1,281
1881
13,117
1873.
7,055
In 1880 about 1,500 laborers, employed in building the B. & M. railroad, were enumerated by the U. S. census-takers in the town-
52
History of Republic County.
ships of Big Bend and Rose Creek, which accounts for the large increase from 1878 to 1880 and the falling off from 1880 to 1881. The population in 1883 is 14,897.
TAXABLE PROPERTY.
The following shows the taxable property of Republic County by townships, both real and personal, for the year 1883:
Albion
$ 81,121
Lincoln
$ 76,676
Beaver
19,616
Norway
105,701
Belleville
82,887
Richland.
59,608
Big Bend.
188 228
Rose Creck
117,259
Courtland
68,740
Scandia
108,396
Elk ( 'reek
75,258
Union
132,402
Fairvlew
85,599
Washington.
75.026
Farmington.
87,928
White Rock
84,622
Freedom
100,814
Belleville City
18,116
Giranl.
84,067
Scandia City
72,931
Jefferson
70,080
Liberty
63,175
Total
$1,918 586
CHAPTER VI.
ELECTION RETURNS.
In chapter number three we have given the election returns down to and including the year 1869. Below will be found the returns down to and including the year 1882.
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1870.
Votes.
Votes.
REPRESENTATIVE.
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
G. W. Johnson
112
A. F. Heely
217
N. T. VanNatta. 211
A. I). Wilson
PROBATE JUDGE. SUP'T PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
I. M. Page. 136
Chas. Wilson.
114
J. C. Griffith 182
Wilson Lancaster
215
CLERK DISTRICT COURT.
HERD LAW.
L. R. Dobyns 195
For Herd Law 164
(i. B. Austin 72
Against Herd Law
28
A. B. Tutton
In 1871, A. D. Wilson, of Scandia, was the regular nominee for representative for Republic county in the State Legislature, R. P. West, Peter McHutcheon and D. C. Gamble being independent candidates. At the election in November, A. D. Wilson received 275 votes : R. P. West, 163; P. McHutcheon, 154; D. C. Gamble, 77.
S. W. Skeels was elected county clerk without opposition.
I. O. Savage was elected county treasurer over G. J. Trowbridge by 23 majority. W. W. Newlon, independent candidate for sheriff, was elected over W. S. Latham, by a majority of 42. E. O. Kindy was elected register of deeds, over V. VanTrump, and J. G. Arbuth- not was elected county surveyor.
L. C. Hanson, J. C. Williams and J. H. Frint were elected. county commissioners.
In 1872, R. P. West was the regular nominee for representative. but was defeated by Capt. A. Shaw, by a majority of 312.
C. Perry was elected clerk of the district court ; A. D. Marble. county superintendent ; Joseph Boothe, probate judge ; and A. F. Hleely, county attorney.
At the November election in 1873, W. H. Pilkenton was elected
54
History of Republic County.
representative over R. P. West, independent candidate, by a majority of 81.
I. O. Savage was re-elected county treasurer over J. E. Cooper, independent candidate. (. Perry was elected county clerk over E. M. Crummer, by a majority of 7. J. G. Arbuthnot was elected county surveyor over J. C. Price.
R. J. Adams was elected register of deeds. W. F. Compton was elected coroner.
Robert Kyle, J. (. Reily and John Manning were elected county commissioners.
Josiah Kindt, independent candidate for sheriff, was elected over Robert Swan, the regular nominee.
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1874.
Votes.
Votes.
SENATOR 28THI DISTRICT.
Horace Cooper 510
R. P. West 491
REPRESENTATIVE.
W. H. Pilkenton 998
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
A. F. Heely. 563
N. T. VanNatta. 470
PROBATE JUDGE.
Joseph Boothe. 664
W. H. Boyes 341
H. G. Dow
69
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
D. C. Gamble.
670
B. W. Hollen. 308
A. D. Marble.
78
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT.
John Brown
1050
Frank Sorgatz.
20
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1875.
Votes.
REPRESENTATIVE.
R. P. West
849
D. C. Gamble 459
TREASURER.
E. M. Crummer 520
Robert Kyle. 153
A. Odell 152
J. E. Cooper.
171
CLERK.
C. Perry 1379
SHERIFF.
Josiah Kindt 716
R. W. VanDyke 457
J. A. Mosher
203
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
J. C. Price. 1398
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
Notes.
R. J. Adams.
1397
CORONER.
W. F. Compton. 1378
COMMISSIONER 1ST DISTRICT.
W. E. Day 186
C. 1. Northrup 147
L. D. Smith.
94
COMMISSIONER 2D DISTRICT.
J. T. Glasgow. 260
1 .. C. Hansor 126
T. W. Johnson 101
COMMISSIONER 3D DISTRICT.
J. W. McCall.
236
Geo. L. White
231
55
History of Republic County.
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1876. Votes.
SENATOR 33D DISTRICT.
Votes in Republic county.
James Strain, Rep. 334
I. O. Savage, Ind. Rep. 1121
L W. Borton, Dem
310
REPRESENTATIVE 106TH DISTRICT.
W. H. Pilkenton
625
Milton Grim. 390
REPRESENTATIVE 107TH DISTRICT.
Geo. L. White. 354
D. C. Gamble.
260
R. P. West.
104
A. J. Beers
169
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
N. T. Van Natta.
Elected
A. E. Taylor.
PROBATE JUDGE.
Joseph Boothe
Elected
J. C. Reily
A. B. Young
SUP'T PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
J. C. Price
Eleeted
J M. Roach.
CLERK DISTRICT COURT.
Frank Armstrong.
Eleeted
E. A. Hallowell.
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1877.
Votes.
COUNTY CLERK.
C. Perry
1315
COUNTY TREASURER.
E. M. Crummer.
1264
SHERIFF.
Wm. Norris. 329
Brady Bowling 169
Frank Brown.
235
J. P. Forshee.
324
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
.J. A. Mosher.
574
E. A. Hallowell.
752
CORONER.
R. P. West 386
J. C. Reily.
948
Votes.
SURVEYOR.
J. C. Priee.
1273
COMMISSIONER 1ST DISTRICT.
J. C. Keene.
246
W. E. Day.
131
COMMISSIONER 2D DISTRICT.
L. C. Hanson
268
W. McDonald.
127
Nicolas Marty
115
COMMISSIONER 3D DISTRICT.
J. H. McCall
253
Peter Doctor.
182
ELECTION, NOVEMBER. 1878.
Votes.
REPRESENTATIVE 106TH DISTRICT. Win. M. Moore 284
J. G. Arbuthnot. 172
J. B. Pollard.
96
REPRESENTATIVE 107TH DISTRICT.
Geo. L. White. 340
D. C. Gamble 199
A. D. Wilson
251
H. T. Wetzel
41
PROBATE JUDGE.
Joseph Boothe. 1220
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
N. T. VanNatta
1208
Votes.
(LERK DISTRICT COURT.
J. E. Hallowell.
911
J. P. Heaton.
411
SUP'T PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
J. H. MeCall.
1166
J. II. Sherrard.
192
COMMISSIONER 1ST DISTRICT.
A. B. Bachelor.
196
A. Steenblock
20
W. W. Wait.
157
56
History of Republic County.
ELECTION. NOVEMBER, 1879.
Voles.
COUNTY TREASURER.
S. G. Stover 1878
M. W. Hodgins. 50
COUNTY CLERK.
C. Perry 1074
M. C. Polley 820
J. Williams 39
SHERIFF.
R. B. Ward 549
Josiah Kindt 648
J. P. Forshee.
229
E. 1). Bugbee.
28
John A. Clark
29
Wm. Norris.
258
W. C. Shull.
199
SURVEYOR.
J. C. Price
1339
W. Il. Thompson 299
E. W. Wagener
55
Votes.
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
E. A. Hallowell
1124
John Kasl
761
E. D. Spafford
31
CORONER.
J. C. Reily
1125
G. W. Lash 52
C. Taylor.
693
COMMISSIONER 2D DISTRICT.
L. C. Hanson
384
J. W. Smith
293
COMMISSIONER 3D DISTRICT.
J. F. Wells.
337
Geo. Kidder.
271
Conrad Meyers
20
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1880.
Votes.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
For the constitutional amend-
ment prohibiting the manufac- ture and sale of intoxicating liquors. 1330
Against
919
SENATOR 33D DISTRICT.
N. B. Brown. 477
R. P'. West 1345
L. J. C'rans.
728
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
N. T. VanNatta 1582
L. J. Tibbetts 847
T. M. Noble
16
PROBATE JUDGE.
Joseph Boothe 1941
T. W. Johnsou 536
11. Smith
130
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT.
J. E. Hallowell. 1893
W. A. Allen. 594
Geo. H. Collins
13×
Votes.
SUP'T PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
J. M. Lawrence.
1886
J. H. Sherrard.
609
W. H. Thompson.
136
REPRESENTATIVE 106TH DISTRICT.
W. H. Leigh
725
S. F. Vinton
332
S. M. Edwards.
101
REPRESENTATIVE 107TH DISTRICT.
D. C. Gamble
438
W. P. Peake.
689
F. N. Hart.
40
W. C. Shull
275
COMMISSIONER 3D DISTRICT.
J. F. Wells.
Elected
Samuel Whan.
57
History of Republic County.
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1851.
Votes.
COUNTY TREASURER.
S. G. Stover. 2051
COUNTY CLERK.
C. Perry
1918
Geo. A. Terpening 162
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
J. A. Mosher.
1039
E. A. Hallowell
1070
SHERIFF.
T. M. Little.
536
Josiah Kindt
726
W. P. Rarick
700
J. B. Pollard.
S. A. Mckay
138
SURVEYOR.
J. W. Wagener.
1717
W. Il. Thompson
399
CORONER.
J. C. Reily
1725
A. Blocklinger.
117
COMMISSIONER IST DISTRICT.
S. M. Edwards
366
A. B. Bachelor
272
COMMISSIONER 2D DISTRICT.
E. S. Mckay
180
John Goold
157
T. Wohlfort.
447
ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1882.
l'otes.
REPRESENTATIVE 79TII DISTRICT.
W. A. Reeves. 603
J. B. P'ollard. 350
REPRESENTATIVE 80TII DISTRICT.
Wm. Glasgow
490
D. C. Gamble.
561
Geo. A. Terpening
183
COUNTY ATTORNEY.
T. M. Noble 1159
N. T. VanNatta 825
B. F. Surface
250
PROBATE JUDGE.
Joseph Boothe. 1392
R. P. Cheney 299
S. F. Vinton.
345
l'otes.
SUP'T PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
J. M. Lawrence
1535
J. S. Carpenter
603
CLERK DISTRICT COURT.
E. A. Hallowell.
1732
W. A. Hallowell.
403
COMMISSIONER 2D DISTRICT.
E. S. Mckay
25×
R. T. Stanfield 185
T. Wohlfort
4622
From the returns given above, it will be observed that ordinarily there has been no dearth of candidates for the various offices within the gift of the people of Republic county.
In 1871, there were four candidates for representative, the same in 1876, 1878 and 1880, in the 107th district, and three from the 106th in 1878, and the same number in 1880. In 1874, there were three candidates for probate judge and three for county super- intendent ; in 1875, four for treasurer and three for sheriff; in 1877, four for sheriff; in 1879, seven candidates for that important
Votes.
58
History of Republic County.
office, only one of whom was elected ; and in 1881, there were only five aspirants for that position. The number for this year has not yet been definitely ascertained ; but a very close observer, in strolling through the political woods, would undoubtedly discover game and several parties who already have very tall lightning rods erected for the nominating fluid to play upon, thus relieving the people from any embarrassment on account of lack of candidates. One thing, however, is quite remarkable,-no regular nominee for the office of sheriff has been elected since 1869, some independent candidate invariably succeeding.
Politically, the county is and has ever been Republican, being at one time the banner Republican county in the State, casting 1,060 votes for Thomas A. Osborn for Governor, in November, 1872, and 25 for Thaddeus H. Walker, the Democratic candidate.
CHAPTER VII.
-
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
As stated in a former chapter, the county was organized in Sep- tember, 1868, with a population barely sufficient for that purpose ; and, the county lying wholly within the homestead arca, consequently having very little real estate subject to taxation, and nearly every settler sheltering himself behind the $200 exemption clause in the constitution, it is not strange that the county found itself unable to pay current expenses. The total taxable property of the county in 1869 was but little more than $100,000, and under the law only one per cent could be levied for general revenue, raising only $1,000 for current expenses, providing the tax had all been collected, which, in those days, did not often happen. Then the lands known as the State or Steele lands, being the principal portion of the real estate in the county subject to taxation, paid no taxes for that year, owing to some irregularity in advertising them for sale, consequently the tax collected for current county expenses was considerably less than $1,000. In 1870, the taxable property had increased to $202,329, on which the county tax was, in round numbers, $2,000. In the spring of 1871, a committee to investigate the financial affairs of the county was appointed, consisting of C. Perry, A. D. Wilson and T. J. Baird, who reported an indebtedness of $5,500, and the same con- stantly increasing, which, from the nature of the case, was unavoid- able : and the fact that the county had been organized at too early a date became apparent to every one. County scrip depreciated to 60 cents on the dollar, and books, stationery and other supplies needed by the county, had to be paid for with depreciated paper.
And so matters continued until April, 1873, when $15,000 in county bonds were issued by the county commissioners, to liquidate outstanding indebtedness, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature approved February 20, 1873. This measure afforded temporary relief only, as the amount was barely sufficient to liquidate outstand- ing indebtedness, leaving nothing for current expenses for the year.
The tax levy of 1873 was insufficient to meet expenses, and the indebtedness steadily increased until 1876, when the maximum of
60
History of Republic County.
$42,800 was reached. During this year, $27,800 in county bonds were issued in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, approved Febru- ary 28, 1876, to pay off outstanding scrip, and provide for the cur- rent expenses for the year. These were ten per cent. bonds, running 15 years, the last of which were issued by the commissioners Decem- ber 26, 1876. Since that time, the debt has been steadily reduced until the present time, leaving a balance outstanding June 15, 1883, of $19,000, which has been refunded in 6 per cent. bonds running ten years, but subject to call after five years. A tax levy of one per cent on the present taxable property of the county would pay these bonds off. Our total municipal indebtedness, including county township, and school district bonds, was, on the 1st day of July, 1882, $52,754, which has been reduced since that date at least $5,000, leaving our total indebtedness at present a little less than $48,000. The following shows the indebtedness of Republic and a few sister counties in northern Kansas, each having about the same amount of taxable property, July 1, 1882 :
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