USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 40
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48.8
42.3 30.8
48.6
1906.
30.0
25.5
53.2
61.8
67.0
69.8
73.0
64.9
49.6
36.4 37.7
29.2
49.3
1908.
28.2
40.4
51.2
57.4
67.6
72.3
70.6
69.3
50.4
40.0
30.0
50.8
1909.
28.8
35.8
45.6
59.0
70.2
74.2
77.8
63.8
51.6
40.8
17.7
49.0
1910.
25.8
51.8
53.6
55.6
69.2
75.6
71.0
66.2
56.8
38.6
26.6
51.0
IgII.
29.2
45.0
49.1
62.5
77.4
74.9
71.2
68.0
49.0
32.4
25.0
50.9
1912.
28.4
24.4
49.6
62.7
65.9
75.9
73.4
61.7
53.0
41.8
31.0
48.3
1913.
20.8
34.2
51.6
60.2
71.4
76.6
78.7
64.4
48.0
43.0
28.8
50.1
1914.
22.8
36.2
50.3
60.6
73.4
76.5
73.8
65.5
54.3
42.4
14.8
50.3
1915.
26.8
2.4.6
54.5
56.0
64.0
69.2
66.4
. ..
Means.
24.2
35.8
50.7
59.3
69.1
74.0
73.0
65.0
52.0
37.6
27.7
49.1
48.0
56.8
54.0
62.9
72.0
70.4
72.5 73.1
1896.
30.2
34.5
30.5
54.0
63.2
75.2
1897.
24.4
28.4
35.4
49.0
59.6
63.6
65.8
72.6
71.8
54.0
25.0
50.6
1902.
24.8
21.8
39.8
43.0
42.2
54.8
68.6
74.6
75.2
64.4
53.4
30.3
49.3
1907
21.5
20.3
41.4
38.0
56.4
61.0
67.2 69.3 68.2
67.2 70.7 74.7 79.8
1.77
1.26
1.09 0.83
1.02
3.51 1.04 0.00
T. 0.90 0.31 0.69 5.60 0.84
0.79 21.67
I9II.
0.29
0.75
0.44
2.10
3.00
4.23 1.64
4.17
4.28
1910
1.18
0.00
0.32
0.31
3.24
4.10
5.86
1912
0.32
1.47 2.47
1.87
1.51 2.24 5.38
1914.
0.32
0.92
0.93
2.61
1893.
23.7
21.4
32.0
53.0 51.2 51.8
32.6
36.4
. ..
1890.
36.3 22.I 47.1 35.0 28.5 39.9 36.8 31.3 50.6
894
1895.
19.4
21.3
29.5 49.0
35.2
50.3
75.8 70.6
3.32
0.36 2.44
0.67 0.00
1.35 1.85 1.17 22.75
25.40
. .
In a record kept at Ravenna of twenty-four years of "highest temperature," twenty-four years of "lowest temperature," nineteen years of "mean temperature" and for thirty-one years of "average number of days with one-tenth inch or more of precipitation," there is herewith given the result by months :
29.5
50.I
72.0 64.6
3.94 2.37
51.4
333
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Month
Highest
Lowest
Mean
Days Precipitation
January
66
-38
24.4
5
February
77
-36
23.6
5
March
89
-10
35-7
6
April
96
50.1
6
May
100
2.4
59.2
IO
June
104
35
68.7
IO
July
107
38
73.7
IO
August
106
36
72.9
8
September
104
24
65.0
6
October
92
9
52.0
5
November
82
-30
37.0
3
December
76
-25
28.8
5
Annual
107
-38
49.3
79
FROST DATES.
Average date of first killing frost in autumn.
September 30
Average date of last killing frost in spring.
. May 10
Earliest date of killing frost in autumn.
September 12
Latest date of killing frost in spring
. May 30
CHAPTER XLVIII
ORGANIZATION OF TIIE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN BUFFALO COUNTY IN 1871-GEORGE H. SILVERNAIL PRESERVES RECORD IN HIS DIARY-NOMINATE A FULL COUNTY TICKET-A SPIRITED ELECTION-150 VOTES POLLED-PATRICK WALSH ON AN INDEPENDENT TICKET ELECTED PROBATE JUDGE.
The first steps taken, looking to an organization of the republican party in Buffalo County, was on September 15, 1871.
It is a matter of tradition that when Patrick Walsh, Sergt. Michael Coady and Martin Slattery sent to Governor David Butler a petition for the organiza- tion of Buffalo County in December, 1869, that in the body of the petition they declared that the petitioners are "good and true republicans," but it must be remembered that all three petitioners were born in Ireland, and those who enjoyed the privilege of an acquaintance with Patrick Walsh will also bear wit- ness that "Paddy," as Mr. Walsh was called by his friends, had surely kissed the "Blarney stone" before leaving "Auld Ireland," and as Governor Butler was a republican, he doubtless thought it "wise" to belong to the governor's political party during the negotiations for an organization of the county. As a matter of fact, party lines cut no figure in the county until the coming of the colony to Gibbon in 1871.
Mr. George H. Silvernail has happily preserved a record of the birth of the republican party in the county. Under date of September 15, 1871, he wrote : "The republicans gathered at LaBarre's Hall (the LaBarre Building, a store with a hall on the second floor, stood where is now located the Babcock Opera House) and organized, elected an executive committee of five (5) who are to arrange a caucus for the nomination of a county ticket." The names of this executive committee are not given.
On September 23, 1871, Mr. Geo. H. Silvernail again wrote: "Went to county convention (the convention was held in LaBarre's Hall, at Gibbon) ; had quite a spirited time ; (Jacob) Booth, chairman; S. C. Bassett, secretary. The ticket nominated was: (Rev. J. N.) Allen, probate judge; (Aaron) Ward, county clerk; Ed Oliver, county treasurer; C. Putnam, county superintendent ; C. Clifton, sheriff; B. F. Sammons and W. F. McClure, commissioners ; (A.) Collins, county surveyor. Dr. I. P. George, coroner. Precinct (Gibbon) ticket, D. P. Ashburn and J. M. Bayley, justices of the peace; Wm. Mckinley and , constables and myself (George H. Silvernail) assessor." On October 30th, Mr. Silvernail again wrote: "Went to Gibbon, qualified as assessor of Precinct No. I, Buffalo County."
The "spirited time" to which Mr. Silvernail refers to, was a fight, led by Mr. Ashburn in opposition to the nomination of Rev. J. N. Allen as probate judge.
334
335
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
There was already considerable feeling against Mr. F. S. Trew, who had taken an active part in the colony affairs and it was charged, had assisted his personal friends to file on claims along Wood River and adjoining the town site of Gibbon, making the land office records show that these claims had been pre- viously taken and thus depriving other members of the colony of an equal chance to secure these most desirable claims, when choice was determined by lot; also Mr. Trew was either deputy or acting county treasurer, having the use, as it was charged, of the county funds (there was no bank in the county at that date), Mr. Ashburn charged that the nomination of Mr. Allen was not being made in good faith; that Mr. Allen was then in Pennsylvania and would not return for some months, and therefore could not qualify and that the plan was for Mr. Trew to be appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy. The office of probate judge was, with the possible exception of county treasurer, the most lucrative in the county for the reason that acknowledgments of legal papers were made before the probate or county judge, the bond required of a notary public that bondsmen should be freeholders and each sworn to be worth $2,000 above all exemptions, made it practically impossible to give such a bond, for there were there very few freeholders and a much less number that could qualify for such an amount as $2,000.
At that date, 1871, all voters were required to register in advance of the election, which for state and county was held on the second Tuesday in October.
There was some question as to whether some members of the colony could vote at this election, as they had not been residents of the state for the required six months, especially those who did not arrive at Gibbon on April 7th, but Judge Maxwell, to whom the question was referred, advised that a voter leaving another state with the intention of making settlement in Nebraska, and actually making such settlement, could reckon his date of citizenship in Nebraska from the date of leaving his former home. Under this ruling voters who drove through from Wisconsin and even more distant states and who did not arrive in the county until June, 1871, registered and voted.
The election was held on Tuesday, October 10th; an independent ticket had been placed in the field. On this ticket was Patrick Walsh for probate judge, Oliver E. Thompson for sheriff and A. Collins for county surveyor. In those days candidates or their friends wrote the ticket, and early in the day it was discovered that the Trew party was fighting Ashburn for justice of the peace, and it also appears that the Ashburn party had placed A. Collins on the ticket for probate judge, and left his (Collins) name off the ticket as county surveyor. There was, as recalled, about one hundred and fifty votes polled and resulted in the election of Patrick Walsh, probate judge; Aaron Ward, county clerk; Ed. Oliver, county treasurer ; O. E. Thompson, sheriff ; B. F. Sammons and W. F. McClure, county commissioners, and Dr. I. P. George, coroner. In Precinct No. 1, D. P. Ashburn and J. M. Bayley were elected justices of the peace; William McKinley and, as is recalled, J. S. Chamberlain, constable, and George H. Silvernail, assessor. The county commissioners appointed C. Putnam county surveyor, and before the next election Patrick Walsh resigned as probate judge and A. Collins was appointed or elected to fill the vacancy.
In regard to the caucus mentioned by Mr. George H. Silvernail, so far as
336
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
can be learned, the first meeting of republicans on September 15th, was entitled to be termed a caucus and the executive committee selected was delegated to select and present a ticket to be voted for at the county convention held on September 23d, and that the county convention was not a delegate convention but a mass convention of republicans of the whole county, and therefore was not only the first political convention held in Buffalo County, but also the first republican convention held in the county.
CHAPTER XLIX
MY FIRST STATE CONVENTION IN 1876-ELECTED DELEGATE AT COUNTY CONVEN- TION-INTRODUCED TO FREE PASS SYSTEM-JUDGE N. H. HEMIUP CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL-GENERAL ROBERTS AND THE "TROJAN HORSE"-T. J. MAJORS NOMINATED FOR CONTINGENT CONGRESSMAN-BITTER FIGHT BY RAIL- ROADS TO CONTROL CONVENTION-CONVENTION IN SESSION FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY-EDWARD ROSEWATER ATTACKED AND KICKED DOWN HOTEL STAIRS -LIST OF BUFFALO COUNTY DELEGATES.
On Saturday, September 23, 1876, the Buffalo County Republican Convention for the election of delegates to the Republican State Convention, was held in Kearney and greatly to the surprise of the writer he was chosen as one of the delegates to the state convention. For months there had been a bitter factional strife in the republican party and usually designated Hitchcock and anti-Hitch- cock, United States Senator Hitchcock being a candidate for re-election to the Senate and opposed by the railroad interests. Nebraska at that date had one congressman and the nomination for congressman was made at the state conven- tion. Also there was to be nominated a "contingent" congressman, and I smile to myself as I write the word "contingent ;" how ambitious we all were in those days. Delays were intolerable; tradition, precedents, insurmountable legal ob- stacles were brushed aside as of little or no importance when additional recogni- tion of our importance as a state was to be attained or another representative in the national Congress secured. I have often wondered how our "contingent" congressman lived and paid expenses when thus serving the state at the national capital. He was never "recognized" by the speaker and of course was not on the congressional payroll. Doubtless it is best for all concerned that the unrevealed secrets as to how he lived and paid expenses be not revealed even in this gen- eration. In the preliminary canvass in the county, L. R. More, a banker in Kearney, had been mentioned as a possible candidate for state treasurer. Mr. More was classed as a railroad candidate. N. H. Hemiup was also a candidate for attorney-general. Immediately after adjournment of the county convention the writer was approached by the deputy county clerk and informed that in elect- ing the writer as a delegate to the state convention it was understood that I should give my proxy to the station agent of the Union Pacific Railroad at Kear- ney and the deputy county clerk had the proxy made out and ready for signature. While the writer was pleased at being chosen a delegate he at once realized that he could not afford to go, as this was the year following the grasshopper raids and the expense of the trip would be too great under the circumstances, railroad fare being 5 cents a mile, making about fifteen dollars for the round trip. As the Vol. T - 22
337
338
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
writer had voted with the Hitchcock faction, he at once felt that this was a rail- road scheme and refused to give a proxy to a railroad employe. This was on Sat- urday and the state convention was called to meet on the Tuesday following. On the next day, Sunday, Judge Hemiup sent word that transportation for the dele- gates had been arranged for and as this was the largest item of expense, arrange- ments were made to go. (Never to be forgotten even though left unwritten, in relating incidents of this character in the early settlements of the state is, that included in the word "arrangements" is the encouragement of the good wife and the personal sacrifice incident to such "arrangements" on her part and of the other members of the family, not only of the comforts but often of necessities of life.) Monday morning the pony was mounted and ridden to Lowell, some ten miles distant, and there left until the return, and taking the B. & M. at Lowell the writer was handed a round trip pass-his first introduction to the free pass evil. Judge Hemiup had secured headquarters at the Commercial Hotel but the writer being a member of the grange went direct to the office of the secretary of the state grange and arranged with the secretary, P. E. Beardsley, to make his headquarters there and to sleep on a table in the office and Mr. Beardsley was so kind as to bring blankets from his own home for covering. This delegate was not the only delegate to that convention who slept on the floor in a convenient office. Sleeping on the floor was no novelty to homesteaders in those days.
The Buffalo County delegates were Rice Eaton, A. L. Webb, L. A. Groff, L. B. Cunningham and S. C. Bassett. The convention was held in the academy of music, a hall on the second floor, lighted at night with numerous kerosene lamps and when filled with perspiring politicians and clouds of tobacco smoke is it any wonder that stomachs of homesteaders used to the broad prairies, fanned by gentle breezes, rebelled? The convention was called to order on Tuesday, at 2.30 P. M. There had been a spirited canvass by C. H. Gere and T. M. Marquette for chairman of the convention, resulting in Mr. Marquette being chosen tem- porary and Mr. Gere permanent chairman. A. G. Kendall and George L. Brown were named as secretaries.
There was also chosen a sergeant-at-arms and later additional sergeants-at- arms were appointed in order to protect the delegates from the numerous lobby which at times so swarmed about the delegates that it was impossible to proceed with the business of the convention. At 4 P. M., the convention took a recess until 7.30. L. R. More was balloted for as one of the candidates for lieutenant- governor, receiving twenty-two votes, but none from the Buffalo County delega- tion. The ballot on nomination for attorney general was not reached until long after midnight. The candidates were George H. Roberts, N. H. Hemiup and others. On the first ballot Judge Hemiup received seventeen ballots out of a total of 259. After the first ballot the Buffalo County delegation wished to withdraw Judge Hemiup's name, but to this the judge would not consent, saying that the "plan" was for him to get a few votes on the first ballot and then begin to gain and that he was "dead sure" of being nominated. On the second ballot Judge Hemiup received twelve votes and his delegation got into the band wagon, voted for General Roberts, who was nominated. It was then 3 A. M., but General Roberts being called for mounted the platform and made a speech of an hour's length and of this speech I can still recall the story which he told of the "Trojan
339
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Horse." It cannot be recalled that the "Trojan Horse" story had any application to circumstances surrounding his nomination but whether it had or not we were all too tired and sleepy to care and at the close of his speech, 4 A. M., adjourn- ment was taken to 9.30 A. M.
The most bitter fight of the convention was over the nomination of congress- man, the principal candidates being Frank Welch, Gen. J. C. Cowan, C. A. Holmes, Guy C. Barton of Lincoln County and Leander Gerrard of Platte County. A majority of the Buffalo County delegation supported Gerrard and on the third ballot attempted to change from Gerrard to Welch, but were ruled out. On the fourth ballot Welch was nominated. T. J. Majors of Nemaha County was nominated for "Contingent" congressman.
It is believed that the intense interest manifested and the extreme bitterness of feeling often exhibited at this convention has not been equalled at any succeed- ing political convention held in the state. It was at this convention that the railroad interests obtained a grip, a control of, an influence and a power in the politics of the state which was not loosened or relaxed for any appreciable length of time, no matter what political party was in power, until the abolition of the free pass evil in 1907. This convention did not adjourn until Friday. it being in session four days and all of one night, the last act of the convention being to adopt a party platform.
There were no end of caucuses held by the politicians in the headquarters room at the Commercial Hotel, and in connection with the holding of one such caucus the writer first "met" Edward Rosewater, editor of the Omaha Bee. Mr. Rosewater was not a delegate to the convention but took an active interest in all its proceedings. Going to the headquarters of Judge Hemiup in the Commercial Hotel during an evening recess of the convention the incident of "meeting" Mr. Rosewater occurred. The stairway in the Commercial Hotel at that date was at the rear of the office with a broad landing midway to the second floor. When I reached this midway landing Mr. Rosewater was being pushed and kicked by a large and powerful man from the head of the stairway, landing in a heap on the midway landing. I assisted him to his feet and inquired if he was hurt or injured. He said no and passed on as though nothing serious had happened. The man who did the kicking claimed that Mr. Rosewater had been listening at a door of a room where a political caucus was being held.
At this convention acquaintances were made and friendships formed. some of which have continued to the present time; others only terminated when the friend "passed over the river." Some of these men have been prominent in the state (were prominent at that time) and their friendship has not only been greatly prized but has been useful and helpful in many ways not at all concerned with political affairs.
Nebraska was young as a state in 1876, and was being rapidly settled so that no one, be he a political leader or not, had then what might be called a state acquaintance, hence it was, the men who aspired to leadership in the state, and more especially in the republican party, exerted themselves to become acquainted with delegates from out in the state in attendance at this convention. Not only did these would-be leaders welcome an introduction to such delegates but some of them sought such introductions and exerted themselves to further the acquaint-
340
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
ance. There was no cold formality on their part, but the greetings were hearty and genuine. Thus it was that the writer was introduced to scores of delegates, the names of only a few of whom can be recalled and these only for the reason that friendships dating from that time were formed, the value of which can not be determined or estimated, nor the time and place forgotten. Of the Buffalo County delegation Rice Eaton was editor of the Central Nebraska Press; L. B. Cunningham, editor of the Kearney Junction Times ; L. A. Groff, an attorney-at- law; A. L. Webb, a dealer in hardware; and the writer, then and still a farmer. S. C. BASSETT.
CHAPTER L
POLITICAL PARTIES IN BUFFALO COUNTY
In the year 1871 there was created an organization of the republican party in the county and such an organization has continued to the present time (1915), and at each election the party has had a ticket in the field under the heading "Republican Party." From the beginning the republican party had a regular precinct (at first, township later) committee and a county central committee and county chairman located at the county seat. Until the primary law was passed in 1907 delegates were elected at precinct caucuses, who attended a delegate county convention at which republican candidates were nominated for election to office. The republican party was a regularly organized political force in poli- tics. Just when the democratic party became an organized force in politics in the county can not be recalled. For many years the county was overwhelm- ingly republican.
It is recalled that in Gibbon Precinct in the early history of the county there was only one democratic vote cast, and as election day approached this voter would write Dr. George L. Miller, editor of the Herald, a democratic daily pub- lished at Omaha, and Doctor Miller would mail a national and state democratic ticket on which this lone voter would write the names of local candidates. Until the Australian ballot was adopted in 1897 each political party looked after the printing and distribution to voting precincts of its own party ballots. There were instances where members of the opposition party stole the tickets after they were printed and, as in those days there was no telephone or quick means of trans- portation, distant country voting precincts were without ballots on election day. And strange as it may seem to the reader in his day and generation, such tactics were deemed not dishonorable on the theory "all is fair in love and war."
From the beginning there were two tickets in the field at cach election, one republican, the others usually styled "Independent." The independent party for several years was largely made up of dissatisfied and disgruntled members of the republican party, dissatisfied and disgruntled because their friends were not nominated for office, for in local (county) politics the struggle was for county office, there being no principle at stake, on which the people were divided, as regards county government or county affairs.
The records seem to disclose that until the year 1891 the republican party regularly elected its candidate for county treasurer and it appears that of twelve men who have served as county treasurer since 1871, nine were republican, Lyman Carey being elected on the independent ticket in 1891. Of fourteen men elected as county commissioners from 1871 to 1883 (when township organ-
341
342
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
ization was adopted), with one exception, Patrick Walsh, all were nominated and elected on the republican ticket. Beginning with the year 1872, it appears that thirty-one men have served from Buffalo County as representatives in the State Legislature, and of this number it appears that twenty were nominated and elected as republicans, eleven as peoples independent or democratic.
The first to be elected on the independent ticket was Simon C. Ayer, who having been elected as a republican and served two terms as county clerk, ran as an independent candidate for the Legislature and defeated the regularly nomi- nated candidate on the republican ticket, F. G. Hamer. This was in the year 1880.
It appears that sixteen state senators have served from the senatorial dis- trict comprising Buffalo County since the year 1872, and of this number ten were nominated and elected as republican, six as anti-monopoly, people's, independent or democratic. In the year 1888 Gen. A. H. Connor, who as a republican had been elected state senator in the year 1882, ran as an independent candidate on the independent ticket, as it might be termed, and was elected.
It appears that in the judicial district of which Buffalo County has formed a part since the beginning, there have been twelve district judges, of whom seven were elected as republican and five populist or democrat, the first of the latter to be elected being Silas A. Holcomb in the year 1891. At an early date in the history of Buffalo County both the Union Pacific and Burlington railroads took an active part in local as well as state politics. At the county seat town each company retained an attorney a part of whose duties was to take an active interest in local politics, this attorney often serving as the county chairman of a political party. On the recommendation of this attorney free transportation was given parties, in the county, of what is termed standing and influence, espe- cially those of influence in matters political, and at times this attorney was sup- plied with such passes duly signed officially, all needed being to write the indi- vidual's name. It is recalled that in 1876 N. H. Hemiup of Kearney was a candidate for attorney general at the republican state convention, held at Lincoln, and to the delegates from Buffalo County as well as to Judge Hemiup and such friends (helpers) as he desired free transportation was issued by the Burlington. This is not mentioned as an isolated case, but rather to illustrate that the free pass system, and the interference of railroad corporations in Buffalo County affairs-politics-began at an early date in the history of the county and con- tinued until the abolition of the free pass evil in 1907.
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