USA > Minnesota > Nobles County > An illustrated history of Nobles County, Minnesota > Part 15
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125
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
So the election of 1870 resulted in no change. But between the date of organization and the time when the of- ficers elected in the fall of 1871 took office there were numerous changes. It seemed difficult to find men willing to serve the county in an official capa- city,5 and several appointments were
the only changes that resulted prior to the clection in the fall of 1811.6
The election of Nov. 7, 1871, brought about an almost complete change in county officers. There were contests for only a few of the county offices. and . for state offices there was almost an unanimity of choice. AAlmost without made for some offices before men could . exception the first settlers of the coun- be found who would qualify. Soon af- ty were republicans, and out of the total of 13 votes cast :? were for Horace Austin for governor and one for Win- throp Young. This democratie vote was cast by Michael Maguire, still a resident of Nobles county. There was no poli- tical division on county offices, the nomi- nees being put forward by independant conventions. There were only two town- ships organized at the time-Graham Lakes and Indian Lake. The polling place for Graham Lakes was the resi- dence of H. C. Hallett. The judges of election were E. W. Hesselroth. Asher Allen and C. H. Cutler, and the clerks were Henry D. Bookstaver and B. W. Woolstencroft. In Indian Lake the poll- ing place was the residence of Isaac IIorton, where R. L. Erskine, Frank Tucker and Isaac Horton officiated as judges and Chas. W. Bullis and Henry Brayton as clerks. ter the organization Origen B. Lacy was named register of deeds, Henry Bray- ton, county attorney ; S. R. Harris, judge of probate; Benjamin Harrison, coroner ; Edward J. Clark, clerk of court; Charles II. Drury and John Leitz, justices of the peace. At a meeting of the board in January, 1871. William H. Brown was appointed coun- ty attorney, James W. Miller, surveyor ; Charles W. Bullis, Samuel Barnes and Ole Ellingson, constables. About this time there was a change in the board of commissioners. W. G. Brown being ap- pointed to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Benjamin Harrison from the county. At a meeting on April 15. 1871, there was a change in one of the important offices. S. R. Harris, who had held the offices of auditor and coun- ty attorney from the date of organiza- tion, resigned. and in his place was Following is the vote by precincts, as certified to by Auditor William II. Brown : installed W. H. Brown, auditor, and .J. W. Palmer, county attorney. These are
was senator, and he was succeeded in the next four legislatures by D. G. Shillock. The Twentieth district was represented in the house as follows: 1861. A. Strecker: 1862. B. O. Kempfer: 1863. J. B. Wakefield: 1864, J. A. Latimer: 1865. J. A. Kiester; 1866, J. B. Wake- field. Another apportionment was made in 1866. in which Nobles county was not men-
tioned. It was doubtless intended. however. that it should still be a part of district No. 20. In the legislatures of 1867 to 1869, inclusive, J. B. Wakefield was senator. J. A. Latimer served in 1870, and C. W. Thompson in 1871. During this period the district was represented in the house by A. Andrews, A. B.
Colton, J. W. Hunter, M. E. L. Shanks and .\ L. Patchon.
"It may not be out of place to note the fact that conditions have changed since then.
eAlthough W. H. Brown was nominally county auditor for the rest of the term he had very little to do with the office. He neg- lected to have a tax levied for the year 1871. and in the summer H. D. Bookstaver took charge of the office and was, to all intents. county auditor. He was formally appointed auditor Jan. 10, 1872, to serve until March 1. 1872, when the new officers qualified.
126
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Graham Lakes
Indian Lake Total
Governor -
llorace Austin (rep). 43 28 71
Winthrop Young dem). 1 . .
1
Lieut. Governor --
William H. Yale rep 43 :9 72
D. L. Buell dem 1 1
Secretary of State
S. P. Jennison (rep 43
29 72
Eric Nelson Falk (dem) 1
. .
1
Treasurer-
Wm. Seeger (rep) 43 29 72
Barney Vosberg (dem
. .
1
Attorney General
F. R E. Cornell (rep)
43
29
John L. McDonald (dem) 1 . .
Asso. Justices
S. J. R. McMillan (rep). 43
29 72
John M. Berry (rep) 43
1
. .
1
1 Auditor-
H. D. Bookstaver 21
29 511
Walter G. Brown
22
Treasurer- Henry Brayton 44
29
73
Sheriff-
HI. C. Hallett
23
. . 23
Charles W. Bullis. 19 29
48
Scattering
2 ..
Register of Deeds- Selim Fox. 44* 29 69
O. B. Lacy 4 . . 4 Surveyor-
B. W. Woolstencroft 31 28 59
Chas. Frisbee
. .
-1
Scattering ..
3
. .
3
Clerk of Court John II. Cunningham . 44
29
73
Probate Judge-
E. W Hesselroth. 41
29 70
Court Commissioner-
Warren Fish .. 23
51 Coroner-
Stephen Muck 41
1
. .
1
Senator-
Wm. D. Rice 43
29 72
C. C. Sylvester
1
Representative- Geo. C. Chamberlain .. 43
O. Nason
1
29 72
. . 1 Commissioner Dist 1- Irving S. Swan .. 13
Orange Chapman
6 Commissioner Dist. 2
J. W. Miller. 15 John H Cunningham. 4
Scattering . 1
Commissioner Dist. 3- Frank Tucker. 28
* Evidently a mistake In addition.
+in the Graham Lakes township abstract this vole is atvon as 10. and was Incorrectly put on the county abstract.
Citizens of Nobles county residing out- side these Two townships were allowed to vote. A few citizens of the new town of Worthington cast their ballots in Indian Lake. The few settlers of Hersey and Seward voted in Graham Lakes.
The seventy-three voters who cast ballots at this election were as follows: Graham Lakes preeinct7-J. Anscomb. .1. . 1. Allen, L. Allen, H. D. Bookstaver. W. Il. Brown. W. G. Brown, Byron B. Brain. W. H. Booth, Caleb Blake, Or- won Blake. Edward Clark, Nathaniel Cox. A. L. Y. Cornish, Orange Chap- man, J. IF. Cunningham, Chas. Cutler, ยท Chas. Drury. Stephen A. Door. Selim Fox. Chas. Frisbie, John J. Fiteh. ITen- ry C. Hallett. E. W. Hlesselroth, II. A. E. Hesselroth. O. B. Lacy, Michael Ma- guire, Joseph Muck, Stephen Muck, J. W. Miller, Stephen Muek, Jr., J. W. Palmer J. Parshall, Joseph Stone, Ir- win S. Swan, Philo Snyder, B. F. Tan- ner. F. Umbrid. Isaac Waterhouse, B. W. Woolstencroft, H. L. Wallace, Wil- liam Willcox. J. Westinghouse, Frank Zeiner. Englebrih Zeiner.8
Indian Lake preeinet-R. L. Erskine, Frank Tucker, Henry Brayton, Isaac Ilorion. C. W. Bullis, Albert Haggard, llenry Davis, Elihue Ellis, Erick Paul, Wm. A. Dillman, Ole Johnson, Moulton McColluns. James Christianson. Louis Sundberg. Gundro Joul. Ole N. Lang- seth. Ole Fauskee, N. N. Langseth, Ole A. Fanskec, Andrew Sundburg. P. S. Swanson, Hanson Estrom. Charles Wick- strom. Peler Wickstrom, Louis Hardo. Erick Mahlberg. Henry M. Johnson. John Pygall, Nelson Coyour.
The officers elected in 1871, with few exceptions, served their full terms. J. W. Miller, who had been elected com- missioner from the second district, did not qualify. In his place appeared John H. Cunningham, who had been his
'Others registered in Graham Lakes town- ship, bul who did not vole, were Mark Amundson. Martin Amundson. Rasmus An- derson. Edward Berrrau, Alexander Clark. W. Cosper. Daniel Downy. HFearth, Hearth. Johnson. E. F. Jackson. J. Leiiz, Bennett Linderman, Parshall, Perkins, Peter Swart- wout, Weston, Wating, Wolf, Wolf, Younker.
29 70
Scattering
Daniel Buck (dem).
Wm. Mitchell (dem) 1
SCENES ON LAKE OKABENA
AT THE CHAUTAUQUA GROUNDS
550
4.
AT CHAUTAUQUA LANDING
127
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
opponent at the polls. Mr. Cunning- ham was elected chairman of the board Jan. 2. 1872. he resigning the office of treasurer to accept the position on the Sept. 16, 1872. Prior to Feb. 9, 1872, the county had been without a superin- tendent of schools, but on that date W. H. Cunningham was appointed. He board. . He resigned the latter office, served until September 16, 1872. when and on May 30 Irwin S. Swan was T. C. Bell was appointed to the office. elected chairman. C. C. Goodnow took There was a big change in conditions in Nobles county between the time of the elections of 181 and 1872. From the seventy-three votes cast in 1871 the number at the election of Nov. 5, 18:2. had increased to 321:9 the number of organized townships had increased to eleven, and in each of these, polling places had been established and elections the oath of office as commissioner from the third district, replacing Frank Tuck- er, and M. L. Miller replaced Mr. Cun- ningham on the board. There had been no candidates for the office of county attorney, and J. W. Palmer continued to hold the office by virtue of a former appointment. He resigned the office
"Those who voted in the several townships. excluding Little Rock and Dewald, were as follows:
Worthington. 85-S. F. Sheppard. W. K. Fish, Chas. Fletcher. R. JJ. Putnam, Wm. Wallace, J. C. Clark. Chas. Newton. L. M. Chase, Geo. O. Moore. John Alley, J. B. Haines. L. R. Bennett, Frank Stringham. Wm. E. Martin. A. P. Miller. L. F. McLaurin, Jas. Marden, L. Griswold, R. F. Humiston, David Bennett, H. C. Duggen, M. H. Stevens. E. Dilabangh, Otis Bigelow. T. C. Trimble, Daniel Stone, H. M. Farnam. Wm. H. Will- marth, T. C. Bell. James Gibson, Cyrus Kling- ensmith. J. T. Shaw, J. S. Shuek, C. B. Love- less, M. B. Odell. James S. Stone. I. N. Sater. C. P. Stough, I. P. Durfee, C. D. Will- iamson, E. R. Humiston, Chas. H. Stewart, S. D. Sprague, David Stone. E. S. Terry, A. J. Wilcox. Mons E. Distead. H. Davis, W. S. Langdon, E. W. Branch, C. P. Hewett, Jas. Gould, Andrew Buchan, John F. Humiston. IJ. W. Kimball, L. D. Laythe, C. B. Lang- don. Allen Chaney, Ole Hanson, Edward Gill- en, John Herzig, C. C. Whitney, C. W. Lewis, B. F. Thurber. Wm. N. Phillips, Chas. E. Tourtelotte, Oscar Whitney, C. C. Goodnow, A. C. Robinson, W. A. Dillman. Edwin F. Whitney, A. J. Manley, J. A. Town, A. L. Clarke, J. C. Goodnow, B. R. Prince, M. B Sonle, Peter Thompson, O. G. Grundsten, C. Hill, C. J. Miller. Cornelius Johnson, Geo. C'line. A. P. Chamberlain. Osmond Barkland.
Indian Lake, 29-R. M. Small. C. Saxon, O. Langseth. A. Anderson. John Haggard, Sr., I. Johnson. G. O. Joul. O. M. Skinner, 0. Ellingson, O Anderson, A. C. Lofstedt, John Blixt. E. Paul. J. Cristesson, John Saxon. L. Wheeler. G. Horton. R. L. Erskine, Henry Brayton A. A. Abbott. James Acheson. S. W. Bolton, J. D. Brown. H. M. Johnson, Andrew Sunburg. Lewis Sunburg. Charles Peterson, John Haggard. Jr., Nelson Coyour.
Elk, 15-T. D. Fowble. Cyrenius Alley. S. P. Bon. W. B. Akins, M. L. Miller. Peter Swet - zer, John P. Warner, Chas. Wilkinson, R. B. Plotts, Peter Kleven, Andrew Nord. T. H. Barnfield. Allen McLean. Elliott Covey, D. P. Baird.
Hersey. 31-W. R. Bennett, Daniel Hoffy. A. A. Parsons. J. W. Dyer, Louis Gotthelf. Chas. Smith. W. G. Brown. John Myers, Jermeiah Lynch, Otto Berreau, John Polster,
Chas. Hartoon, Herman Berreau, Levi Wright- son. Erastus Church, Caleh Blake. Orwell Blake. Geo. Payne, Chas. Frisbie. W. 11. Berger, O. B. Lacy, Jonathan Gordon. John Parsons, Pat Haffy, I. K. Cole, Wm. Grono. John Newberry, Wm. Ditty. A. J. TImlin, A. O. Conde, C. A. Barrows.
Bigelow, 34-J. Ruprecht, Wm. G. John- ston. N. McDowell, S. O. Morse, F. J. Peace. J. Upstrom. E. J. Bear, Adolph Anderson, Ole Lienquist, Wm. M. Bear, Ed. Sprague, T. T. Reynolds, H. B. Tripp. A. A. Kimball, Hugh Mitchell, A. C. Esker. P. Larson, Lars Erick- son. J. Moberg. E. Kain, H. Mitchell. S. Elofson, H. Nystrom. Erick Mahlberg. C. J. Wiekstrom, Oley Mastrom. John T. Preuett. E. S. Mills, P. G. Swenson. L. R. Hollenback. Charles A. Tellander. Thos. Wills. Robert Frothingham, Geo. M. Plumb.
Fairview ( Lorain). 22-Champlin Brown. William Hannah. H. D. Humiston. Dr.
Craft. W. L. Shoemaker. B. S. Langdon. T. HI. Parsons, David Fogo. Richard W. Bagley. William Madison. Crasey Key. Wm. F. Ham- ilton, Ahram A. Burton. Robert Firth, Albert Haggard. James Hazard, Hamilton MeCoilum, H. S. Finn. B. H. Crever. William Stockdale, Daniel Shell, Alfred Small.
Graham Lakes, 32-J. H. Anscomb. Jere- miah Anscomb. H. D. Bookstaver, W. Il. Brown, O. Briggs, Alexander Clarke, Edward J. Clark. A. I. Y. Cornish. O. II. Chapman. J. H. Cunningham, Chas. Drury. A. L. Dun- lap. N. Erickson, Selim Fox. H. C. Hallett. E. W. Hesselroth, John Hart, E. F. Jackson. M. McGuire, Stephen Muck. J. W. Miller. A. Nelson. J. W. Palmer. Joseph Stone. Warren Smith. N. II. Smith, J. S. Swan. B. F. Tan- ner. H. L. Wallace. W. Willcox. F. Zeiner, B. Woolstencroft.
Seward. 13-W. Il. Booth, W. W. Casper. P. Gagoe, C. C. Johnson. James Parshall, James Parshall. Jr., Jonas Parshall. P. Snyder. J. P. Vail. J. Westinghouse, J. M. Weston. J. G. Walling. W. Sowles.
Grant (Ransom). 14-Richard Prideaux, Stillman I. W. Alen, F. W. Burdett, A. C. Guernsey, H. S. Belknap. J. H. Scott, Leroy Cole. Coleman Guernsey. Hiram Norton. IL. R. Gray, D. K. Gordon. Geo. M. Smith. B. F Congdon, Anthony R. Mutter.
12>
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
were held.10 The county was overwhelm- ingly republican, as was shown by the vote for president and congressman. Following is the official abstract of the vote :
Presidential electors - republican (Grant). 276; democratic, (Greeley), 5.
Congressman-M. 11. Dunnell (rep.), 2:4: Morton S. Wilkinson (dem.). 43.
Representative11-Stephen Miller, 257; H. Anderson, 55.
1'The election officers of the several pre- cinets were as follows:
Dewald (polling place at the house of Frander Shirley), Thos. IT. Childs. Andrew O. Miller and Thomas Wilson, judges; Leander S. Shirley and Samuel F. Pepple, clerks.
Little Rock (polling place at the house of Ole C. Peterson). Sylvester Jenkins, J. D. Roberts and Ole C. Peterson, judges; J. T. Green, town clerk.
Grant (polling place at the house of M. S. Belknap), H. R. Gray. M. S. Belknap and .\. (. Guernsey, judges; Leroy Cole and Cole Guernsey. clerks.
Seward (polling place at the house of Jos. Willing). John P. Vail, C. L. Johnson and Jonas Parshall, judges: Julius Westinghouse and Philo Snyder, clerks.
Graham Lakes (polling place at the house of 11. (. Tlallett), O. IJ, Chapman, E. W. lesselroth and E. F. Jackson. judges; N. 11. Smith and II. C. Hallett, clerks.
Fairview. B. S. Langdon. Thos. H. Parsons and W. L. Shoemaker, judges; R. D. Eagley and Wm. F. Hamilton, clerks.
Bigelow (polling place at the house of Lars Elofson), E. S. Mills, P. T. Reynolds and P. G. Swenson, judges; William M. Bear and A. A. Kimball, clerks.
Hersey. Walter G. Brown and A. A. Par- sons, judges; W. R. Bennett and Ira K. Cole, clerks.
Elk. Samuel P. Bon, W. B. Akins and Allan MeLean, judges; Chas. Wilkinson and Thos. D). Fowble, clerks.
Indian lake (polling place at the house of (". W. Bullis), R. L. Erskine, Geo. W. Bottom and John Ilaggard, Jr., judges; James Ache- con and A. A. Abbott, clerks.
Worthington (polling place at the village of Worthington), Benjamin R. Prince. M. B. Sonle and Benjamin F. Thurber, judges; Jor- rie B. Haines and 1. B. Bennett, elerks.
"For the want of a better place I shall here give the legislative history of Nobles county, The legislature of 1871 reapportioned the state into legislativo districts. Nobles county became a part of the SSth, the other counties comprising the district being Martin, Jackson. Hock, Watonwan. Cottonwood, Murray and Pipestone. The district was entitled to one senator and threemembers of the house. The senator was to be elected from the district at large; Martin county was entitled to one rep- risentative, Watonwan to one, and the rest of the district to the other. Under this ppor- tionment the district was represented in the several legislatures as follows:
1672 -Senate, Wm. D. Rice: house, E. Berry, W. W. Murphy, G. C. Chamberlain.
1873-Senato, W. D. Rice; house, J. W.
County Attorney -- M. B. Sonle, 274; Ole Hansen, 22.
Commissioner First District12- J. W. Miller, 32; Scattering, 5.
Commissioner Second District-M. L. Miller, 32.
Commissioner Third District-T. P. Durfee.13 113: John Alley, 91.
Court Commissioner-J. S. Shuck, 210; Jocl A. Pegg. 20.
Such were the election laws in the carly history of Nobles county that elec-
Seager, Edwin Berry, Stephen Miller. 1871- Senate. E. P. Freeman; house, J. F. Daniels. Ole O. How, N. II. Manning. 1875 Senate, E. P. Freeman; house, Chas. F. Crosby, E. Berry, Thos. Rutledge.
1876-Senate. I. P. Durfee; house. J. A. Everett, Lee Hensley, W. IT. Mellen. 1877 Senate, I. P. Durfee; house, H. N.
Rice. Iwe Hensley, Christopher If. Smith. 1878 Senate, Christopher H. Smith: house, Frank A. Day, L. H. Bishop, Alex Fiddes. 1879 Senate, A. D). Perkins; house, M. E. 1 .. Shanks, T. Lambert, P. J. Kniss.
1881 Senate. A. D. Perkins; house, J. A. Armstrog, W. D. Rice, P. Kniss.
A new apportionment was made in 1881. under which Nobles, Murray, Rock and Pipe- stone counties were made to form the seventh distriet, entitled to one senator and two rep- resentatives. In issa one more representative was given to the district. The seventh dis- triet was represented in the Minnesota legis- latures as follows:
1883-Senate, A. M. Crosby; house, W. H. Johnson. W. A. Crawford.
1885 Senate, A. M. Crosby: house, Peter Peterson, W. B. Brown. 1887 Senate. W. B. Brown; house, J. F. Shoemaker, B. M. Low.
1889 Same as 1887.
1891 Senate, Jay LaDne; house,
Larned Coburn, Wm. Lockwood. Patrick Gildea. 1893 Senate, Jay I.ADue; house,
Daniel
Shell. Wm. Lockwood. Ole O. Hornan. 1895 - Senate, II. J. Miller: house. Daniel Shell, Wm. Lockwood, Ole D. Holman. 1897-Senate, HI. J. Miller; house, Daniel
Shell. Ole O. Holman. A. S. Dyer.
In 1897 Nobles and Murray counties wore made one district, the fifteenth, entitled to one senator and one member of the house. The district has been represented as follows:
1899-Senate, Daniel Shell; house, Henry C. Grass.
1901-Samo as 1890.
1903 Senate, Daniel Shell; house George W. Wilson.
1905 Senate, Daniel Shell; house, S. O.
Marso.
1997 Senate, S. B. Bedford; house, S. O. Morse.
Poon May 30, 1872, the county commissioners bad redistricted the county. District one in- chuided the northern tier of townships and HIersoy: district two included the present townships of Elk, Summit Lake. Lismore, Larkin, Westside, Olney and Dewald; dls- triet three included the southern tier of townships and the townships of Lorain and Worthington.
"Served as chairman.
129
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
tions were held every year. All the of- fices were for two year terms, but only part of the officers were elected each year. This condition prevailed until 1885, when a new law went into effect, making the elections only in even numbered years. During the seventies and early eighties the more important county offi- cers were chosen in odd numbered years.
The election of Nov. 4, 1873. brought out a vote of 527, a big inerease over that of the preceding year. A lively in- terest was manifested in the election, and for the first time there was organized opposition. The democrats, as a party, were not yet strong enough to enter the field alone with any prospects of a suc- cessful outcome, but conditions were such that quite a strong opposition party was formed, which went into the campaign with the hope of defeating the regularly nominated republican ticket. The ticket which was put up in opposition was labeled "peoples" and was made up of democrats and republicans. The re- gular republican nominees were generally successful. Following is the official vote of this election :
Governor-Cushman K. Davis (rep.), 371; Samuel Mayall, 40; Ara Barton, 100.
Senator-E. P. Freeman (rep.), 490; Scattering, 5.
Representative-Nelson H. . Manning, (rep.). 315: Warren Smith (dem.), 191.
Anditor-W. M. Bear (rep.), 493; Scattering, 12.
Sheriff-C. W. Bullis (rep.), 333; A. Miner (peo.), 174 ; Scattering, 4.
Judge of Probate-Dr. J. Craft, 253; B. S. Langdon, 244; Scattering, 1.
Clerk District Court-B. N. Carrier, 294: J. A. Town, 213; Scattering, 1.
Surveyor-B. W. Woolstencroft (rep.), 355; Otto Berreau (peo.), 153.
Treasurer-H. D. Humiston (rep.), 263; Peter Thompson (peo.), 242; Scat- tering, 1.
Register of Deeds-T. C. Bell (rep.), 369; B. F. Thurber (peo.), 133.
Court Commissioner-B. S. Langdon, 242; Dr. J. Craft, 252; Seattering, 1.
Coroner-J. B. Churchill (rep.), 350; Dr. Lewis Gotthelf (peo.), 161; Scat- tering, 1.
Commissioner First District-M. L. Miller, 23; T. H. Childs, 21.
The grasshoppers and the prevailing hard times had an effect on the politics of the county in 1874. Owing to these causes and the fact that only a few officers were to be chosen, not a great deal of interest was manifested, and there was a falling off in the vote- only 448 votes being cast. To such a sinall extent did the people interest themselves in politics that it is said the republican nominating convention was attended by "eleven persons, including one little boy." Nor was there a much better showing at the democratic con- vention. For the first time in the coun- ty's history the voters met with straight republican and democratic tickets in the field. While the republicans were in each case successful. the democrats made a good showing, compared with the re- sults of previous elections. The vote :
Congressman - Mark H. Dunnell (rep.). 336: Franklin H. Waite (dem.), 105.
Judge Sixth Judicial District-D. A. Dickinson (rep.), 345; Daniel Buck (dem.), 99.
Senator-Niel Currie (rep.). 259.
Representative - Charles F. Crosby (rep.), 326: Leonard Aldrich (dem.). 121.
County Attorney-Martin B. Soule (rep.), 322; B. N. Carrier (dem.), 119.
130
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
Commissioner Third District -I. P. DurfeeH (rep.), 196: 1. B. Bennett ( dent.), 80.
The only changes resulting before the next election were in the board of conn- ty commissioners, two members being legislated out of office by their own acts, The board on Oct. 12. 1825, redivided the county into commissioner districts. The whole of the north half of the county was made district No. 1; the townships of Lorain, Worthington, De- wald, Olney and Westside were made "Was elected chairman of the board.
district No. 2: the southern tier of townships was designated district No. 3. This made vacancies in districts No. 2 and 3, which were represented by Messrs. M. 1 .. Miller and I. P. Durfee, and those gentlemen withdrew. The regis- ter of deeds and probate judge filled the vacancies by the appointment of A. C. Robinson from district ? and Edward Mills from district 3. They took office October 23, and Mr. Robinson was chos- on chairman of the board. He served until Jan. 3, 1876, when Mr. Mills was chosen chairman.
CHAPTER X.
POLITICAL-1875-1887.
Pioneer days and ways were passing away. Cigar box ballot boxes with jack knife locks were out of date. In the middle seventies voting precincts were to be found in nearly all parts of the county. Salaries were now attached to the different offices, and no longer was it necessary for the offices to go beg- ging.
A temperance wave spread over Min- nesota in 1845. A reform party was organized and made an excellent show- ing at the polls. Prof. R. F. Humis- ton. one of the founders of Worthing- ton, hecame the nominee of that party for governor and received a large vote in the state at large, as well as in his home county. The temperance senti- ment had always been strong in Nobles county and enthusiasm was unbounded among its adherents here. It was de- cided to enter the local field of politics and endeavor to capture the county of- fices. With this in view a reform or temperance party came into existence, which complicated the political situa- tion in the campaign of 1875. The party was known officially as the "in- dependent reform party." Tt held a convention on Oct. 9 and placed a ticket in the field. Nearly all the nominees
1Mr. Durfee received a majority of the votes in the district, but owing to the failure of some of the county auditors to make return to the state authorities Mr. Thompson was seated. Mr. Durfee began a. contest before
refused to make the race, but a com- mittee appointed for the purpose placed another ticket in the field, made up of one republican, several democrats and a few of the reform party. The repub- licans had a complete ticket in the field, the democrats a partial one, and the en- trance of the new party added interest to the contest.
The republicans were successful in electing all their nominees with the ex- ception of one commissioner, who had the support of hoth the other parties. Four hundred thirty-five votes were cast. Following is the result of the election :
Governor-John S. Pillsbury (rep). 242: D. T .. Buell (dem). 77: R. F. Humiston (reform), 109.
Senator1-I. P. Durfee (rep). 236; Geo. S. Thompson (reform), 162.
Representative-W. H. Mellen (rep), 286: E. L. Brownell (reform). 137.
Auditor-Wm. M. Bear (rep). 267; O. A. Fauskee (reform), 157.
Treasurer-H. D. Inmiston (rep and reform), 372; B. W. Lyon (dem), 52.
Sheriff-J. A. Town (rep). 244; W. S. Stockdale (dem and reform), 177.
Register of Deeds-T. C. Bell2 (rep), 251; G. M. Plumb (reform). 172.
the senate, and in January. 1876, was given the seat by a unanimous vote.
2Mr. Bell also served as superintendent of schools, receiving the appointment January 4, 1876.
131
132
HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY.
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