USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 32
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Presiding Judges.
1833
William A. Fletcher.
1837
1839
1841
46
1842
Alpheus Felch. 4 .
1843
1845
Associate Judges. Wm. R De Land and } Hiram Thompson. § Ethan Allen and David Adams
Clerks. Samson Stoddard.
Wm. D. Thompson. Wm. R. De Land. F. Farrand. 44 Czar Jones.
§ Henry A. Francisco and Samuel Selden. = 6 Barnabas C. Hatch and 2
Aaron T. Gorton.
310
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Judge Alpheus Felch retired from the Bench in November, 1845, and on the 27th of that month, following the close of the Novem- ber session, the Bar of Jackson assembled under the presidency of Leander Chapman, with George Sumner as secretary, and adopted the following preamble and resolutions :
WHEREAS, The Hon. Alpheus Felch, one of the justices of the Supreme Court of this State, and presiding judge of the Circuit Court of this county, has signified his intention of resigning his seat upon the Bench in consequence of his election to the office of governor of the State of Michigan; therefore
Resolved, That it is with great pleasure we are enabled to testify that he has dis- charged the duties of his judicial office with such faithfulness, impartiality and ability, that he has reflected much credit upon himself and upon the judiciary of our infant State, and given entire satisfaction to the public and the members of the profession.
Resolved, That while necessity demands that we should lose his valuable services in that important and honorable office, we shall ever cherish the liveliest rememn- brance of those peculiar relations that have existed between himself as the presiding officer of this court and ourselves as members of the Bar, and which have been use- ful and pleasing to us and marked with so much courtesy and good feeling on his part; and that he will carry with him in his retirement from the Bench our highest respect for his character, and our warmest personal friendship and best wishes for his prosperity and happiness in whatever station he may hereafter be called to act.
Samuel H. Kimball's motion to adopt the above was carried. Samuel Higby's motion to present, and G. J. Gridley's motion for leave to enter the proceedings of the meeting upon the court jour- nal, were also adopted, and thus closed the last session of 1845.
1846-Warner Wing, Presiding Judge; B. C. Hatch and A. T. Gorton, Assistant Judges; Czar Jones, Clerk; George Miles, Pre- siding Judge.
1847-Epaphroditus Ranson, Presiding Judge; Geo. Miles, Pre- siding Judge.
During the progress of the November session of the court, At- torney Augustus D. Hawley died, when a meeting of the Bar was held under the presidency of Leander Chapman, with G. T. Gridley as secretary, and a series of resolutions of condolence adopted.
1848-George Miles, Presiding Judge.
1849-George Miles, Presiding Judge.
1850- George Miles and Abner Pratt, Presiding Judges.
The first business of the December session of 1850 was a meet- ing of the Bar of Jackson county, to draw up a series of sympa- thetic resolutions in connection with the death of Hon. Geo. Miles. The record of this meeting appears upon the Court Journal under the following head : " In the matter of the death of Hon. Geo. Miles, late circuit judge and presiding judge of the court." The minutes of the meeting are signed by L. Chapman, Chairman, and Samuel Higby, Secretary.
1851-Abner Pratt, Presiding Judge.
1852-David Johnson, and Abner Pratt, Presiding Judges.
1853-D. Johnson and Charles W. Whipple, Presiding Judges; Eugene Pringle, C. C. Commissioner.
311
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
1854-David Johnson, Samuel T. Douglas and A. Pratt, Pre- siding Judges; David Johnson, C. C. Commissioner.
1855-David Johnson and A. Pratt, Presiding Judges.
1856-David Johnson, Presiding Judge.
1857-David Johnson and Edwin Lawrence, Presiding Judges.
1858-Edwin Lawrence and E. H. C. Wilson, Cireuit Judges.
1859-'69-Edwin Lawrence, Cirenit Judge.
1870-'2-Samuel Higby, Circuit Judge.
1873-'5-Alex. D. Crane, Circuit Judge.
1876-'81-Geo. M. Huntington, Circuit Judge.
COUNTY OFFICERS-PROBATE JUDGES.
James Valentine. 1833
Thomas McGee 1836
Leander Chapman. 1836
Joseph Beebe. 1860
Wm. R. De Land .. 1840
Melville McGee 1864
Samuel Higby. 1844
L. M. Powel. .
Orson W. Bennett .1818
Jonathan L. Videto. 1852
The judges of the Probate Court were elected for a term of four years. Judge Gould was elected November, 1880, and will hold the position until January, 1885.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Olney D. Hawkins-appointed. 1833
Wm. K. Gibson. 1860
Wm. J. Moody
1835
O. W Bennett. 1862
Leander Chapman
1838
Vietor M. Bostwick. 1864
Phineas Farrand.
1840
Wm. K. Gibson. 1866
David Johnson. 1844
Thomas A. Wilson. 1870
G. T. Gridley . 1846
James Gould. 1872
Fidus Livermore. 1848
L. M. Power. 1874
Samuel Higby
1850
Austin Blair. . 1852
Fidus Livermore. 1854
John C. Sharp 1880
CIRCUIT COURT COMMISSIONERS.
Eugene Pringle. 1852
John A. Townsend }
W. T. Howell.
1854
James Hammil
Wm. K. Gibson.
1856
W. S. Gridley } 1872
James R. De Land.
1858
Geo. Prondfit S
James W. Bennett }
1862
Joshua Haire
Joshua Haire
Grove H. Wolcott
Reuben E Clark
Geo. P. Griswold
Geo. A. Armstrong
1866
Grove H. Wolcott
V. V. B. Merwin
Homer A. Curtis
V. V. B. Merwin
1880
James Hammil
John MeDevitt
COUNTY CLERKS.
S. Stoddard. . 1832
Alex. G. Bell. 1856
W. D. Thompson
1836
Daniel Upton. 1858
W. R. De Land.
1838
Robert D. Knowles 1866
F. Farrand ..
1840
Lnther H. Ludlow. 1872
Czar Jones .. 1842
James A. Dyer. 1846
Capt. Holden, D.C.
Walter Budington. 1848
William D. Taylor
1878
Horace G. Bliss.
1852
E. A. Clement, D.C.S
V. II. Van Horn. 18 0
De Wit fixth
1868
Robert Haire 1878
Eugene Pringle.
1856
Walter Johnson
1874
1864
James Goss 1876
Frank Hewlett
1878
Almerin M. Tinker 1874
James A. Parkson. 1876
1870
James M. Gould. 1880
312
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
REGISTRARS OF DEEDS.
Hiram Thompson.
1832
Ab. Van de Bogart 1862
Jas. C. Bailey
1836
Harvey Bush. 1864
Wm. A. Perrine. 1840
De Witt C. Smith. 1868
Hiram Thompson. 1842
Anson Townley 1870
Peter E. De Mill. 1846
Harvey Bush. 1872
Gardner H. Shaw
.1848
Anson Townley
1874
Levi P. Gregg 1852
Anson Townley 1876
John M. Root. 1856
Anson Townley
1880
S. H. Ludlow.
1860
COUNTY SHERIFFS.
David Keyes.
1832
D. II. Lockwood 1864
Amasa B. Gibson.
1836
Geo. Jennings 1866
James A. Dyer. .1838
Danl. W. Shaw 1870
John L. Videto.
1840
Ogden A. Green. 1872
Henry Tisdale 1842
Wm. R. Brown. 1873
L. D. Welling 1846
Wm. R. Brown 1874
Amos Pickett 1850
Chauncy S. Webster.
1876
Wm. Wycoff ..
1854
Norton M. Terry. 1878
Geo. L. Smalley
1858
David H. Lockwood
1880
J. K. Smalley
1862
COUNTY TREASURERS.
S. Stoddard.
1834
Anson Townley 1862
O. Russ.
1836
L. F. Grandy . 1864
Norman Allen ..
1838
L. H. Ludlow. 1868
John N. Dwight
1840
Reynolds Landon. 1870
Leander Chapman. .1842
Mark L. Ray . . 1872
James C. Wood. 1846
David Trumbull. 1874
Reynolds Landou. 1850
Dwight F. Gillett.
1876
Amos Pickett.
1854
Richard Townley .. .1878
Anson Townley .
1856
Luther H. Ludlow.
.1880
L. F. Grandy ..
1860
CORONERS.
Gordon Case 1840
A. A. Dorrance
1862
Marcus Wakeman
1842
B. H. Deming
A. A. Dorrance
M. J. Draper 1864
Marcus Wakeman
1844
A. S. Cushman
1866
Charles Mooney
1846
A S Cushman
1868
H. O. Bronson
1848
Albert Foster
J. G. Cornell
1850
Jacob Bieber
Abr. Croman
J. R. Crowell
E. K. Whitmore
1854
James Finn
R. C. Robinson
1856
J. R Crowell
James Finn
1878
G. W. Watkins
1858
S. Stoddard
Capt. John Bedford
1880
A. A. Dorrance
Frank Therman
J. R. Crowell
1860
Jas. F. Sammons 1870
A. N. Moulton
Lewis Gunder 1872
Mathew Dearin
1852
James Finn
Lewis Gunder 1874
Lewis Gunder
1876
John Griffith
M. J. Draper
Ben. Sidell
G. W. Watkins
N. P. Stanton
S. C. Crafts
Charles W. Cook
The latter is the first colored man elected to a county office in Jackson.
comJumping
315
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
SURVEYORS.
J. F. Stratton 1st. Surv'rs, 1829 to 1843
John Durand
('aleb A. Canfield 1842
Henry A. Hayden. 1844
Anson H. De Lamatre 1846
John T. Durand.
.1852
Austin Pomeroy.
1856
IIenry Bean. 1862
Austin Pomeroy 1864
Wm. S. Crow! 1868
W. S. Crowl 1870
M. F. Cook. 1874
Henry F. Bean 1876
Percy T. Cook 1878
Wm. S. Crow !.
1880
The following is a list of the justices of the peace of Jackson county, together with their postoffice address and the year upon which their terms expire:
BLACKMAN.
Willard W. Wooster, Jackson .1880
Charles Wood, 44
1881
James Mayo, . . . . . 1882
COLUMBIA.
Andrew J. Williamson, Brooklyn. . 1879
George N. Bertram, . . 1881
W. J. Casey, 1882
W. S. Pitcher, . . 1883
CONCORD.
John G. Darling, Albion. 1880
James M. Dodge. Concord 1879
Richmond Briggs, Parma. . 1881
James W. Townsend.
GRASS LAKE.
Solon S. Clark, Grass Lake 1883
De Witt C'. Johnson,
16
1882
Aaron A. Price,
64
1881
W. Hopkins,
. 4
1880
HANOVER.
James D. Knight, Hanover 1883
George S. Wilson, Horton. 1882
Walter J. G. Dean, IIanover 1881
E. J. Sprague, 1880
HENRIETTA.
S. S. Johnson, Henrietta 1880
Daniel Garfield, 1883
LEONI.
E. A. Sager, Michigan Center. .1880
J. P. Kaywood, Leoni .. 1882
James Hayhoe, Jackson 1883
LIBERTY.
Wallace E. Kennedy, Liberty, 1882 James P. Sanford, Horton. 1883
NAPOLEON.
Charles C. Dewey, Napoleon. 1880
Amos II. Phillips Jackson.
1882
Ralph Covert, Napoleon 1883
NORVELL.
Philip Howland, Norvill. 1880
Benjamin F. Burgess, Norvill. 1881
Thomas Rhead, 1882
Cornelius L. Hall,
188
PARMA.
Milo C. Beeman, Albion. 1882 Horace King, 1883
PULASKI.
Robert Brail, Pulaski.
1880
Jacob Findlay, Concord.
1881
Ira A Willis, Pulaski.
1882
Samuel D. Brown, Mosherville
1883
RIVES.
Lester Miner, Leslie. 1879
Orwin True, Rives Junction.
1880
William Peak, Jackson
1881
Michael Graham, Leslie.
1883
SANDSTONE.
Ezekiel Root, Parma. 1880
Thomas Sackerider, Sandstone.
1881
Daniel D. Petrie, Parma.
1883
SPRINGPORT.
Joseph T. Day, Springport 1880
Alfred W. Soule,
1881
Martin L. Day,
1882
Robert Rockwood, Otter Creek ..
1883
SPRING ARBOR.
W. J. Tefft, Spring Arbor 1879
Amasee M. Pardee,
44
1880
George Coggswell,
64
1881
Zora McGonegal,
$4
1882
Henry N. Tefft,
=
1883
SUMMIT.
Alexander H. Lattimer, Jackson 1879
Philander E. Pierce.
.1880
Samuel Gates,
.1881
John O'Brien,
.1882
Kennicut B. Green,
1883
TOMPKINS.
Marcus P. Wade, Tompkins. 1879
George A. Stimpson,
1880
Chauncey Ferguson, E. Springport . 1881
Amenzo M. Cook, Tompkins.
.1882
Joseph C. Wade,
66
188
. .
WATERLOO.
Samuel E. Dewey, Waterloo. .1881
Edwin B. Parks,
46
.1882
Orville Horton,
.1883
JAOKSON OITY.
Warren N. Buck, Jackson 1879
Horace Hunt,
1880
L. D. Welling,
66
1881
Minard F. Cook,
1882
D. Gibbs Palmer,
1883
20
316
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
THE JACKSON COUNTY BAR.
In the review ofthe pioneers, brief sketches of the ancient Bar of this county have been given, so that a repetition is unnecessary. The junior members of the present society, whose years do not place them among the early settlers, will be referred to in the biographical chapter. Therefore a review of the surviving pioneers of the pro- fession, and their very promising juniors, will form the close of this chapter. The following comprise the present Bar :
Jackson-Austin Blair, James C. Wood, David Johnson, G. T. Gridley, Wm. K. Gibson, Eugene Pringle, John D. Conely, Eras- tus Peck, Melville McGee. J. W. Bennett, Grove H. Wolcott, Enoch Banker.
Brooklyn-Nathan G. King.
Jackson-Lewis M. Powell, Thomas A. Wilson, John C. Sharp, Jonathan L. Videto, Andrew J. Gould, Frank Hewlett, James Hammil, James A. Parkinson, Mark S. Wolcott, Calvin C. Burt, James Gould, N. B. Hall, Geo. Proudfit, Albert A. Bliss, Wm. Seward Gridley, Richmond Livermore, Wm. H. Potts, Reuben E. Clark, Robert J. Haire, Walter Johnson, Robert D. Knowles, J. T. Hammond, Eli A. Clement.
Grass Lake-James Goss.
Norvell-George H. Fay.
Jackson-J. C. Lowell, Chas. B. Wood, V. V. B. Merwin, Joshua Haire, George F. Anderson, Thomas E. Barkworth, By- ron S. Ashley, Henry Hanaw, Alfred E. Lucking, Charles A. Blair, George H. Jameson, Verne S. Pease, Ray Hewlet, Mel- ville Stone. John E. Winn, John McDevitt.
Hanover-Charles E. Snow.
Jackson-W. A. Chamberlain, F. Livermore, Sr.
CHAPTER VIII.
POLITICAL,
A review of the various political campaigns in any extended form is impracticable ; first, because such a mass of campaign items as this county alone could furnish would require every page in this large volume ; secondly, because the greater number of readers are content with the quadrennial literature which is drawn from its hiding place to make known to the world that there is politieal war in the United States ; and, thirdly, because there is no earthly use in reverting to a subject which is wanting in every charitable and Christian aspect. Here are given a few items dealing with political organization, pure and simple, with three papers seemingly unconnected with politics, and yet exer- eising a very great influence. These comprise " Sympathy with the Oppressed," "The Pulpit and the Press, " and the " Railroad Conspiracy." Such papers are most valuable, and the events which they chronicle had a peculiar effeet upon the political par- ties of the county.
The first election held in the township of Jacksonburgh was in 1831, for one congressional delegate and two members of the Legislative Council. The Van Buren-Harrison campaign of 1836 drew forth all the political energies of the people. Again, in 1840 the same politieal contestants met in the field and excitement reached its highest point. "Hard cider" and " log cabins" were introduced into the campaign ; poles of liberty, stars and stripes, and a hundred inconceivable nicknaeks occupied every prominent eminence. The Whigs of Jackson county worked with amazing zeal, and so gained for General Harrison a vote of 1,504 against 1,121 recorded for Mr. Van Buren.
In 1844 James K. Polk was nominated for the presidency by the Democrats, Henry Clay by the Whigs, and James G. Birney by the Free-Soil party. The electors of the county eame forth in their numbers, giving to President Polk a majority of 87 over Henry Clay, who received 1,302 votes. The Abolitionist Birney received 475 votes from men who even then recognized true liberty and a free soil.
In 1848 Zachary Taylor, Lewis Cass and Martin Van Buren were nominated by their respective parties, the first on the Whig ticket, the second on the Democratic, pure and simple, and the third by the Free Democrats. The contest throughout the Union was spirited, and in no place more so than in this county. Gen. Taylor received 969 votes, the old Governor of Michigan Territory 1,547, and Mr. Van Buren 1,072. Jackson county acted wisely and well in giving a great majority for Lewis Cass.
(317)
318
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
In 1852 Gen. Scott, with Messrs. Franklin Pierce and John P. Ilale, were in the field for the presidential race. Mr. Pierce re- ceived 1,840 Democratic votes in the county, Gen. Scott 1,727 Whig votes, and Mr. Hale 484 Abolition.
The Republican party was formed at Jackson in 1854. The campaign of 1856 was opened by the nomination of John C. Fremont, "The Pathfinder," on the Republican ticket, James Bu- chanan on the Demoeratie, and Millard Fillmore on the " Ameri- can." The nominee of the Republican party received 2,996 votes from the electors of Jackson county, Mr. Buchanan 2,118, and the Know-Nothing nominee 44.
In 1859-'60 the Republic was a scene of popular discontent. The repeal of the Missouri compromise, the struggles in Kansas, and John Brown's raid, all tended to this end. The Northern States were determined to prevent the extension of slavery, and even re- solved to take measures for its abolition in toto. The Southern States were equally determined to perpetuate the terrible stain on the principles of human liberty. The Democratic party allowed divisions to creep into its rank and file, which resulted in the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas for President on the one side, and John C. Breckenridge on the other. The utter defeat of the great Donglas was the result. The Republicans formed a phalanx of determination. At the Chicago convention of 1860 they nom- inated Abraham Lincoln, succeeded at the polls, and inaugurated him as President of the United States. Austin Blair was elected Governor of Michigan, and in almost every State a determined anti-slavery man was honored with a similar position.
In 1864 President Lincoln was re-elected over Geo. B. McClel- lan, the Democratic nominee. After the assassination of Lineolu a Tennesseean named Andrew Johnson-the Vice-President-a Unionist, although half a flunkey, became President of the United States.
The Democratic convention of 1868 nominated Horatio Sey- mour and Francis P. Blair, Jr., for President and Vice-President. The Republicans brought forward U. S. Grant and Schuyler Col- tax, and elected their nominees by a popular majority.
The campaign of 1872 opened with the nomination of Horace Greeley for President by the Liberal Republieans ; Charles ('- Connor, the great lawyer, by the Democrats, and U. S. Grant by the Republicans. The nominee of the latter party reached the White House for his second term.
The choice of James A. Garfield for President in 1880 seems now to be judicions. The party of which he is the acknowledged head took a wise course and baffled the nefarious designs of a host of vampires, who would again hoist a man to the highest posi- tion in the State, who would permit them, and perhaps join with them, in sucking the best blood of the Republic. Gen. Haneoek, the Democratie nominee, is without stain either in his social or mil- itary record. However, the nation acted wisely in abolishing hero worship; and in leaving the gallant General to occupy his comfor-
319
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
table quarters on Governor's Island. The vote recorded as given by the electors of Jackson to the various candidates for the presi- deney is as follows : James A. Garfield, 4,486; Winfield S. Han- cock, 3,744; James B. Weaver, National Greenback, 1,810; and Neal Dow, Prohibition, 117.
OUR WHIG CITIZENS.
The meeting of Whigs, held at Jackson Sept. 27, 1837, was at- tended by many of the pioneers, including those of the following well-known names : Norman Allen, Zina Allen, Russell Black- man, Horace Blackman, N. Bayne, Benah Bean, J. C. Burnell. C. P. Cowden, John Callar, R. W. Chamberlin, L. Calkin, J. N. Dwight, Wm. R. De Land, R. Davis, I. A. Dyer, John Daniels, John Durand, John T. Durand, I. Darling, P. Farrand, Heman Fassett, H. H. Gilbert, Samuel Hamlin, Reuben Hollister, Thomas Jenkins, W. W. Laverty, Lyman Lewis, George Monroe, Stephen Monroe, Stephen Town, Leander MeCane, John McConnell, Na- thaniel Morrell, Lyman Pease, S. F. Richardson, Nicholas Sullivan, James McKee, Ralph Stiles, Amos Temple, Peter C. Vreland, Samuel Wing, G. W. Woodworth, S. Woodworth, P. Will- iams, Jotham Wood, George Weston, Enos Wheeler, Ansel Wing. Jonas Wing.
The meeting was organized by the appointment of Phineas Far- rand, president, and J. C. Burnell, secretary. The persons whose names are given above were appointed delegates to the county convention held at Jacksonburgh seven days later. P. Farrand, D. T. Dwight and J. C. Burnell were appointed a town corre- sponding committee, and the president, secretary, and Norman Allen were appointed a committee to draft a series of resolutions, expressive of the sense of the meeting. The resolutions were submitted and approved, and so the voice of the people, seeking for their liberties, went forth from the village to be re-echoed throughout the State.
LOG-CABIN RAISING.
Of all the peculiarities of man, there are none so comically strange as those drawn forth during the progress of a political con- test. Enthusiasm is rampant, and that which men would fear to speak or act in calmer days is made patent to the world. In the campaign of 1840, the Tippecanoe boys of Jackson and the towns in the neighborhood, were excited to the sticking point, and May 9, 1840, assembled at Monroe's tavern for the purpose of doing something, or anything. The morning was miserably cold and wet, yet the boys were all there, with teams, axes, spades, and all the rude paraphernalia of men who are determined on some desperate work. Their ardor conquered every opposition, and before the night crept on, the logs were brought to the location, the eabin erected, and the lofty pole of liberty raised. The cabin stood on
320
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
J. T. Durand's lot, opposite the Sentinel office. Mr. Durand fur- nished many of the logs, while Culver and Stone, of Leoni, pre- sented the liberty pole.
POLITICAL FOES.
The Sentinel and Democrat, of 1840, were often guilty of in- dulging in the extraordinary and complimentary (?) language, which the journalists of that day were so skilled in using. In April, 1840, while " Winter lingered in the lap of Spring," the Presidential campaign was opened at Jackson by the Democratic party, and a scathing editorial appeared in the journal represent- ing that platform. The following week the Sentinel gave up its second page to a eulogy of Gen. Harrison, with a small paragraph devoted to the Demoeratie editor, his fieree opponent. This was headed " No WONDER," and took the following peenliar form : "The old woman of the Michigan Democrat has been shaking with the ague like mad, for a day or two ! Well, really, when a loeo-foco editor (!) sings out, . Hurrah for Harrison ;- hurrah for Wood- bridge,' and calls himself an old woman, is it any wonder, at all, that he should take to shaking like 60? We rather guess not. Well, 'go it,' old woman; we hope Mr. Agne will shake the evil spirits out of you before he takes his leave. Again, under the head of . WELLERISM,' is written : "Who the d-1 throwed that stone ?" as the old woman of the Michigan Democrat said when the teller threw a rotten egg between his eyes."
POLITICAL POETRY-1840.
Then rally, ye log-cabin Democrats all ; "Tis Gratitude's, Justice's, Liberty's call ; As Harrison has always conquered his foes, E'en thus will he use up the loco-focos. So, Huzza for old Tip, and God save the Union !
OFF TO FORT MEIGS.
The editor of the Sentinel, desiring to reassure his constituents of his unswerving loyalty to party, announeed his intention to be present at Fort Meigs, thus : "We are all, save the d-] (and he wants to go bad enough) going to attend the jubilee at Fort Meigs the first week in June, 1840, and shall therefore be unable to issue a regular sheet until after our return."
A DEFEATED CANDIDATE.
A lengthy communication from Wm. H. Pease, of Grass Lake, dated Oct. 22, 1845, appeared in the columns of the Patriot, Oct. 28. It dealt with the subjects of judicial reform, reduction of sal- aries, and sale of railroads most rationally, and, without doubt, would essay to carry out his opinions in the Chamber of Repre-
321
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
sentatives ; yet the vote of the district, returned shortly after- ward, deprived him of an honor which he merited. Hon. Austin Blair, Marcus Wakeman and Frederick A. Kennedy were elected on the occasion to represent the county in the State Legis- lature.
THE LAST FRIEND.
The appointment of Warner Wing as the successor of Judge Filch in the second judicial circuit, was as unsatisfactory as it was impolitie, on the part of Gov. Barry. The new judge did not belong to the Bar of the circuit, his acquaintance with the people was of the most limited character, and his knowledge of the duties devolving on such an office, not superior to that possessed by law- vers residing in the district, over which he was appointed. The disaffection of the people was apparent ; as the act of the out- going governor promised to his appointee a short tenure of office, and thus deprived his successor of the privilege of commissioning a lawyer, whose presidency of the Circuit Court would be hailed with expressions of satisfaction.
INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS.
The year 1845 was one of intense political enthusiasm through- out the country. Sixteen years after the first settlement of this tract-years of toil and anxiety-men began to seek all those high privileges which form the birthright of the American citizen, and consequently to demand a share in the government of the State. Hitherto power was vested in what is named the "ruling class ;" but now the time had come when the people claimed their heritage, and an opportunity . to rectify the errors of impolitic men and measures. Conventions were held with telling results, -liberal, broad-minded men expressed themselves, new ideas were enun- ciated to be fostered, and reform, pure and simple, resolved upon. In the midst of this righteous agitation, three citizens of Jackson addressed Judge Felch, submitting to him five inquiries, the answers to which would be neither instructive and conciliating to the people, nor enigmatical in themselves, and humiliating to the respondent. It is not stated what canse prompted this letter- presumably patrotism ; probably a desire to obtain additional knowledge; or, likely, a wish to draw forth from the judge a re- view of his policy, by which electors might be guided. The let- ter and Mr. Felch's reply are able documents, but too voluminous for these pages.
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