USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 42
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There are those who deem it the duty of their representative to secure for his district or home town, the location of a state institution or an appropriation for one already located, but are not concerned as to any means he may use therefor.
There are those who believe that pledges made during a political campaign are binding on both the candidate and the people who accept the pledges by electing the candidate to office; that party platforms, and campaign pledges are not simply "hot air" to secure votes or mere "scraps of paper" of no binding force.
County option represented a moral principle ; the candidates for the house, in Buffalo County, who had publicly declared in favor of county option, and pledged to support such a measure, had been elected by substantial majorities, The principle of county option was the leading issue in the county and in the state.
A student of history is inclined to question: Had the people of Buffalo County, a substantial majority of them, been fully advised that the liquor interests of the state were using the capital relocation bill in the Legislature as a club to help defeat county option, would they have supported the capital relocation bill and paid as a price for support the defeat of county option ?
352
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
As a result of his opposition to the capital relocation bill Representative Bassett received hundreds of letters from constituents, a few commendatory, a large majority condemnatory.
As a matter of history, representative of the expressed views of individuals as to the duties of a representative in our State Legislature, herewith are included three communications bearing on the question :
"Kearney, Neb., November 21, 1911. "Hon. S. C. Bassett, Gibbon, Neb.
"Dear Sir: If you had been in Kearney the day the message came that you had defeated the capital removal bill, I fear you would have been mobbed and roughly handled.
"I was as indignant at you as anybody, but on a sober, second thought, I tried to put myself in your place. Knowing your strong temperance sentiment, knowing that all good laws must be made at a place as far removed from the saloon influence as possible, I could not be honest and vote to take the state capital from a dry town and put it in a wet one. Now that the conditions are likely to change, Lincoln wet and Kearney dry, perhaps in this case you would have voted different. (Signed) E. P. COURTRIGHT."
WV. L. Hand has been for years one of the most active, outspoken opponents of the open saloon in the state.
In the political campaign of 1910, as an officer of the County Option League of Buffalo County, in company with Candidate Bassett he campaigned the county in support of county option.
The following from W. L. Hand of Kearney :
"W. L. HAND
"Lawyer-Title Examiner.
"Kearney, Neb., February 11, 19II. . "Hon. S. C. Bassett, Lincoln, Neb.
"Dear Mr. Bassett: It is never too late to correct a mistake, tho' sometimes it is too late to cure all the results of the mistake.
"You have made the big mistake of your life in opposing the capital removal bill. That mistake is now blighting your standing and reputation among your old friends and neighbors. You will never recover from its awful effects, unless you speedily, while there is opportunity, do all in your power to correct it.
"You have made this terrible mistake because you do not understand your duties as a representative and your relations to the people of this county and the people of the state. This is plain talk, Mr. Bassett, but I speak the sober truth when I say it. You have acted from a mistaken understanding of your duties, if you are correctly quoted in what you said in defense of your action.
"You are not entitled to act on your own judgment in the matter. You are not sovereign, but only a servant. Your own judgment should be subordinate to that of the people of Buffalo County. Herein lies your mistake, that you think you should be governed by what you suppose the people of the state will approve. You do not represent the state. I repeat, you do not represent the state.
"You Represent Buffalo County
353
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
"Let this idea sink deeply into your heart.
"You have no right to represent Douglas County or to speak for Douglas County on this question or any other that comes before the Legislature. Douglas County has its own representatives who are commissioned to speak for them. So with every other county in the state. Each representative represents the people who elect him and he speaks for them. He knows their sentiments, or is supposed to and he is, therefore, in position to be their agent, their servant and carry out their will. You can not know the will and demands of the people of other and distant counties like you know it of Buffalo County.
"Here is the foundation of our legislative system. The state is divided into districts and each district given a representative, or sometimes more, in order that each man elected may be close to the people who elect him and in position to carry out their will. The aggregation of these men thus elected, sitting in the Legislature, may thus speak for all the people. Each man speaks for the people of the district he comes from and all acting together speak for the entire state. But whenever any man refuses to obey the will of the people of his district he deserts his trust, he betrays the people whose servant he is, he assumes duties belonging to the representatives of other districts.
"Moreover, in your case you have opened the way for a vicious attack upon yourself, to the effect that you are controlled by a few personal friends in Lincoln. Nor can you escape the effects of this attack. No matter what excuse you give, how much you try to hide behind the claim that the state does not want capital removal, you can not escape from the effect of this action. In other words, the , accusation is that you have forsaken your people, deserted them, and betrayed their interests for what seem to you your personal advantage.
"This is a terrible accusation and no man can hold his head up under it very long. I do not make it, but the people of this county do make it. It behooves you to retrieve yourself by undoing all you have done so far as may be possible. You can either move a reconsideration of the vote and then advocate the bill or, you can support a new and amended bill. I shall do what I can to have another bill introduced with some important changes in it. Just what the new bill will contain I do not know. But if one is introduced it stands you in hand to support it and do all in your power to get it through.
"You need not doubt that the people of this county want the question of capital removal submitted. I undertake to say there are not a dozen voters in the county against it.
"If you really want to represent the people of this county there is but one .thing for you to do and that is to do your utmost to pass the bill. Remember, as I have said, that you are only an agent of the people of this county ; you are selected as their servant to do their will and you have no right to set up your will against theirs.
"This is plain talk, Mr. Bassett, but I want you to understand. that I am just one of the people who sent you to Lincoln. In what I say I do not speak for myself alone. I know I speak the sentiments of the great majority of the people who voted for you. I know what they want and what they expect of you. I know they expect you to stand by their interests and obey their commands, to be their servant, not their master, nor dictator. Vol. 1-23
354
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
"It is better for you to take some plain talk now, even if it does hurt your feelings, than for you to go down to disgrace and oblivion here among your old friends where you have had an honorable standing all your life.
"You can redeem yourself if you will, in large measure. But if you refuse to make the effort the results upon yourself will blight and perhaps shorten your life. Act at once before it is too late.
"Yours truly, (Signed) "W. L. HAND."
As relating to this history, the following is copied from the record of the proceedings of the board of county supervisors.
"At the February 9, 1911, meeting of the county board of supervisors, the following action was taken:
"Moved by Higgins that :
"The board of county supervisors of Buffalo County, Nebraska, in session the 15th day of February, 1911, desire to express the unanimous opinion of the board that Representative S. C. Bassett, in opposing the capital removal bill, known as House Roll No. 246, has voted contrary to the sentiment of practically all of the voters of this county; and we further believe he is no longer qualified to represent this county in the Nebraska Legislature now in session and should resign at once.
"Motion carried.
"Moved by Higgins that the clerk be instructed to send copies of the fore- going resolution to State Senator C. F. Bodinson, Representative S. C. Bassett and Representative Willard F. Bailey.
"Motion carried."
The members of the board of supervisors adopting the foregoing resolutions were: John Conroy, J. W. Higgins, Pat Fitzgerald, Phil Bessor, Jacob Sitz, E. L. King, Charles Grassman ; J. H. Dean, county clerk.
.
CHAPTER LIII
LIST OF PERSONS HOLDING OFFICIAL POSITIONS-MEMBERS OF TERRITORIAL LEGIS- LATURE REPRESENTING BUFFALO COUNTY- MEMBERS OF STATE LEGISLATURE REPRESENTING BUFFALO COUNTY-MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION -JUDGES OF DISTRICT COURT-DISTRICT ATTORNEYS-COUNTY ATTORNEYS- COUNTY CLERKS-COUNTY TREASURERS-COUNTY SIIERIFFS-COUNTY SUPERIN- TENDENTS-COUNTY JUDGES-CLERKS OF DISTRICT COURT-REGISTER OF DEEDS -COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERVISORS.
TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE
Names of representatives from territory embracing Buffalo County in the Territorial Legislature of Nebraska :
House
Council :
1858- 5th session.
E. Brewer
1859- 6th session.
E. Brewer
1860- 7th session.
E. Brewer
66
1861- 8th session.
6.
1864- 9th session.
. Frederick Hedde
1865-10th session
Frederick Evans
Isaac Albertson
1866-1Ith session.
John Wallichs
Isaac Albertson
1867-12th session.
John Wallichs
F. K. Freeman
STATE LEGISLATURE
Names of representatives in the State Legislature, Senate and House, front territory which embraced Buffalo County :
No. of Session
Senators
Representatives
James E. Boyd
1867
I
F. K. Freeman Guy C. Barnum
Wells Brewer
1869
2-3-4
1871.
5-6-7
Guy C. Barnum
Enos Beall
1873.
9-10
Guy C. Barton Guy C. Barton Elisha C. Calkins
1877
14
879
15
J. D. Seaman Sidney Baker
1881.
16-17
1883
18
1885
19
1887.
20
1889.
21
1891. .
22
George N. Smith
1893
23
George N. Smith
D. P. Ashburn
1875
II-12-13
A. H. Connor J. N. Paul W. H. Conger A. H. Connor
M. V. Moudy S. W. Switzer James H. Davis Simon C. Ayer H. H. Haven, A. Steadwell S. C. Bassett, R. E. Barney H. C. Andrews. S. W. Thornton H. Fieldgrove, R. K. Potter John Stebbins, D. Nichols A. J. Scott, John Wilson
355
Year
356
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
1895
24
Joseph Black
A. J. Scott, John Brady F. Gaylord, L. L. Hile
1897
25
J. W. Heapy
1899
26 James E. Miller
J. M. Easterling, E. Wyman
190I.
27 James E. Miller
J. E. Harris, William Jordon
1903
28 Aaron Wall
James H. Davis, Oscar Knox
1905
29
Aaron Wall
James H. Davis, Oscar Knox
1907.
30
R. M. Thomson
George W. Barrett, Thomas F. Hamer
1909
31
C. F. Bodinson
George W. Barrett, A. L. Armstrong
IgII.
32 C. F. Bodinson
S. C. Bassett, W. F. Bailey
1913.
33
Peter Wink
Max A. Hostetler, J. E. Harris
1915.
34
Peter Wink
Max A. Hostetler, J. E. Harris
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
First Constitutional Convention, 1871, B. I. Hinman, representing Buffalo County.
Second Constitutional Convention, 1875, A: H. Connor, representing Buffalo County.
JUDGES OF THE DISTRICT COURT
List of judges of the District Court in territory which embraced Buffalo County, also list of district attorneys for same territory :
First .. 1873-Samuel Maxwell
Seventh . 1896-W. L. Greene
Second 1875-William Gaslin
H. M. Sinclair
Third . 1883-Samuel L. Savidge
Eighth . . 1900-H. M. Sullivan
Fourth . 1883-F. G. Hamer
Charles B. Gutterson
1889-A. H. Church
Ninth . . 1904-B. O. Hostetler
Fifth 1891-Silas A. Holcomb
1908- B. O. Hostetler
Sixth 1895-H. M. Sullivan
1912- B. O. Hostetler
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
E. F. Gray 1868
C. J. Dillworth 1876
E. F. Gray ..
1870
T. D. Scofield 1878
M. B. Hoxey.
1872
V. Bierbower 1880
М. В. Hoxey
1874
J. W. Bixler 1882
C. J. Dillworth
1875
H. M. Sinclair 1884
SHERIFFS OF BUFFALO COUNTY
John Oliver 1870-187I
John N. Nutter 1892-1895
O. E. Thompson
1872-1875
D. E. Wort. 1896-1897
David Anderson . 1876-1879
S. B. Funk. 1898-1901
S. V. Seeley 1880-1881
Logan Sammons 1902-1905
D. B. Ball .
1882-1883
Walter Sammons . 1906-191 I
P. F. H. Schars
1884-1887
E. H. Andrews . 19II-1914
John Wilson
1888-1891
S. B. Funk. . 1915-
357
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
COUNTY CLERKS OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Martin Slattery, Feb. 26 to April, 1870
Michael Coady July, 1870-1871
HI. H. Seeley. 1892-1893
Aaron Ward 1872-1873
WV. S. Hormel 1894-1895
Joseph Scott
1874-1875
Simon C. Ayer
1876-1879
Emory Peck
1880-1883
G. H. Cutting 1884
to August 18, 1887
J. H. Dean
. 1910-
COUNTY ATTORNEYS
George E. Evans. 1886-1890
Judge J. E. Gillispie-Ira D.
Martson
1890-1892
J. M. Easterling. . 1906-1910
Norris Brown 1892-1896
Ed B. McDermott 1910-1914
Fred Nye . 1896-1900
Albert B. Tollefsen.
. 1914-
Judge J. E. Gillispie died during his term and Ira D. Martson was appointed to fill the unexpired term.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
Patrick Walsh 1870-1871
C. Putnam 1871-1872
Dan A. Crowell 1873- J. J. W. Place
1874-1875
T. N. Hartzell 1902-1906
John Swenson 1876-1880
S. A. Reasoner 1906-1909
John T. Mallalieu 1880-1884
T. N. Hartzell. 1884-1888
J. S. Elliott . . 1911-1915
A. R. Nichols. Apr. 1915-
COUNTY TREASURERS
Henry Dugdale 1870-1871
Edward Oliver 1872-1873
James Van Sickle. 1874-1879
Joseph Black 1880-1881
Homer J. Allen
1884-1887
R. M. Grimes
1888-1889
H. Fred Wiley.
1890-1891
Lyman Cary 1892-1893
P. E. Stuckey. 1894-1895
Lyman Cary 1896-1899
C. F. Bodinson 1900-1903 Joseph Scott 1882-1883
M. N. Troupe 1904-1907
G. E. Haase 1908-1911
M. N. Troupe
1912-
S. E. Smith 1896-1899
L. M. Welsh . 1900-1901
A. V. Offill 1902-1905
E. A. Miller . 1905-1909
J. W. Shahan August 18, 1887 to December 31, 1887
R. M. Rankin 1888-1891
N. P. McDonald. 1890-1894
F. P. Wilsey . 1894-1898
H. F. Carson 1898-1902
E. E. Hayes 1909-19II
Albert Snare 1888-1890
N. P. McDonald . 1900-1904
Ed Squires . 1904-1906
358
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
COUNTY JUDGES
Patrick Walsh 1870-1871
J. M. Easterling 1894-1897
Frank S. Trew 1872
E. Frank Brown 1898-1899
Asbury Collins 1873
Charles E. Yost. 1900-1901
D. Westervelt 1874-1875
F. M. Hollowell 1902-1905
J. J. Whittier 1876-1879
Ira D. Marston 1906-1907
John Barnd 1880-1883
F. M. Hollowell 1908 to June, 1913
Frank W. Hull
1884-1887
J. E. Morrison. June, 1913
J. E. Gillispie. 1888-1889
F. M. Hollowell . 1914
Thomas N. Cornett. 1890-1893
F. J. Everitt
1915
In the year 1913 the board of county supervisors, by court proceedings, attempted to remove County Judge F. M. Hollowell from office, appointing, as county judge, J. E. Morrison, who served from June, 1913, until F. M. Hollowell again resumed the office, serving to the end of the term for which he was elected. From the year 1870 when the office of county judge was established until the close of the year 1914, the number of marriage licenses issued totaled 6,048.
CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT
In the year 1883 the office of "Clerk of the District Court" was created by act of the Legislature. Previous to that date the county clerk also served as clerk of the District Court.
George D. Aspinwall. 1884-1887 George A. Nixon 1900-1907
W. G. Nye. 1888-1891
E. Bowker . 1908-
Peter O'Brien 1892-1899
REGISTER OF DEEDS-OFFICE ESTABLISHED IN 1894
Thomas J. Scott 1894-1897 Victor B. Wheelock 1906-1914
David R. Mathieson 1898-1901
Thomas J. Scott. . 1915-
Thomas G. Spencer . 1902-1905
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS-1870 TO 1883
From the organization of the county in the year 1870 until the year 1883 the county board consisted of three members elected by the county at large, one from each commissioner district, of which district the commissioner must be a resident, and each commissioner elected for a term of three years. Vacancies in the board were filled by appointment until the next general election ; then by an election for the unexpired term. The year opposite a member's name indi- cates the year in which his service began; an asterisk (*) following a member's name indicates that he served less than one year. The records seem to disclose that no one of the members served more than one term (three years) in suc- cession :
359
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Thomas K. Wood* 1870
Dan A. Crowell. 1872
Edward Oliver
1870
J. E. Chidester. 1873
Samuel Boyd*
1870
George Flehearty 1874
Charles Walker*
1870
Harry A. Lee. 1876
William C. Booth* .1870
Henry C. Andrews
1878
Henry Dugdale 1871
Edward Oliver .1879
B. F. Sammons 187I
W. C. Tillson. 1880
W. F. McClure.
.187I
D. I. Brown 1880
John P. Arndt.
1872
Henry Cook 1882
Patrick Walsh
1872
D. B. Jones 1883
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-NOVEMBER 21, 1883, TO JANUARY, 1896
In the year 1883 Buffalo County adopted township organization to take effect November 21, 1883. Under the provisions of this law the county board consisted of a supervisor elected by and from each voting precinct, with power, when organ- ized, to divide the county into townships and name the same. The county was divided into twenty-five townships, each electing township officers, including a supervisor, who served as a member of the county board, together with two super- visors elected from the City of Kearney. These supervisors were elected for a term of one year. In the twelve years under this law the records seem to dis- close that 159 men were elected as supervisors and served as members of the county board, and of this number sixty-nine served one year only, forty-six for two years, twenty-one for three years, fourteen for four years, six for five years, one (L. S. Deets) for six years and one (H. H. Bowie) for eight years, each year thus served being one term.
In the following list of supervisors the names are arranged in alphabetical order, the figure following the name indicating the number of years of service as supervisor :
Allen, D. B. (I)
Bickwell, B. H. (2)
Day, Walter A. (3) Dengler, J. G. (1)
Abel, John (3) Cook, Henry (3)
Ashburn, D. P. (4)
Caswell, Warren (I)
Edson, Jesse (2)
Aron, Charles (3) Campbell, Nathan (3)
Eaton, Rice H. (4)
Bailey, C. S. (2)
Calkins, N. O. (I)
Evans, J. J. (1)
Brown, A. (I) Campbell, Eli (1)
Elliott. C. A. (3) Evans, George E. (1)
Borders, C. A. (2)
Carpenter, E. W. (3)
Coid, W. M. (I) Fieldgrove, Henry (3)
Bell, Thomas ( I) Billingsly, J. (I) Bernett, Paul (4)
Casewell. J. W. (1)
Frame, Perry (2)
Brown, J. W. (2)
Cary, Lyman (2)
Boyle, Henry (I)
Cocks, Charles (2) Crossley. A. J. (2) Craven, Wm. (1) Collard, C. (2)
Fisher, Fred (2) Ferris. A. H. (3) Fritz, Herman (2) Gitchell, B. S. (3) Green, H. C. (I)
Baker, J. K. (2)
Duncan, G. W. (2) Downing, W. A. (5) Deets, L. S. (6)
Griffith, S. C. ( 1)
Black, J. W. (2) Brady, Phil (4)
Clark, I. D. (I)
Forrest, J. W. (2)
Bowie, H. H. (8) Bush, I. (I) Broadfoot, James (2)
Greenwood, J. S. (2)
Grammar. Joseph (2)
360
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
George, Jason R. (3)
Mundle, Thos. E. (I)
Snavely, J. H. (I)
Gardner, Geo. L. (2)
Musser, C. O. (2)
Scott, Benjamin ( [)
Grimes, Nathan (3)
Morse, W. H. (I)
Scott, C. H. (I)
Greer, R. R. (4)
Graffius, T. L. (2)
Mohring, Geo., Sr. (5) Miner, Chas. (5) Miller, Jacob (2) Mortimer, Geo. (5)
Spencer, Thos. G. (I)
Huston, G. (I) Hughes, Richard (4)
McCann, James (I)
Scott, John (2)
Hanson, C. E. (I)
McNeal, Charles (3)
Scott, A. J. (2) Snyder, A. (3)
Hedges, J. S. (I)
Newberry, N. (I)
Salsbury, J. S. (I)
Harse, John (4)
Nethery, W. (2)
Stuckey, Peter (I)
Henninger, S. F. (2) Haag, A. (2)
O'Brien, Peter (2) Oliver, E. (I)
Tritt, J. W. (I) Taylor, F. E. (2)
Hunker, F. H. (I)
Peck, Geo. K. (I)
Taylor, J. D. (I)
Ihde, Fred (I)
Potter, R. K. (2)
Tuttle, C. Ira (2)
Jones, N. (I)
Peake, A. H. (2)
Troupe, N. M. (I)
Johnson, J. E. (5)
Peck, Emory (I)
Tussing, B. F. (4)
Jones, John A. (2)
Plumb, L. (I)
Trott, S. T. (4)
King, J. R. (I)
Post, George (I)
Towers, H. S. (3)
Kendall, L. (1)
Pickett, W. O. (4)
Urwiller, F. (I)
Kenagg, D. T. (1)
Pokorny, M. (2)
Veal, J. S. (I)
Loughry, W. (2)
Pickett, J. H. (2)
Varney, J. B. (I)
Loft, H. P. (I)
Peters, John (I)
Williams, D. J. (I)
Luchr, Wm. (I)
Rice, Frank (2)
Waters, H. (2)
Lunger, G. C. (3)
Reedy, J. W. (2)
Walker, R. A. (I)
Lambert, P. T. (5)
Reynolds, R. A. (2)
Whitney, W. A. (2)
Long, J. M. (4)
Richards, R. (3)
Wilson, Perry (3) Waite, J. D. (I)
Landis, D. (1)
Swenson, John (I)
Witmer, Geo. W. (2)
Mack, H. J. (3)
Scott, J. L. (I) .
Weaver, W. O. (2)
Mackey, J. F. (I)
Salisbury, W. H. (4)
Wallace, C. W. (2)
Morrow, W. H. (I)
Shahan, J. W. (I)
Young, M. A. (I)
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-1896 TO 1915
Under the provisions of the township organization law, as amended in the year 1895, the county was divided into seven supervisor districts, each such dis- trict electing a supervisor for a term of two years, the seven district supervisors constituting the county board.
This act went into effect in January, 1896.
The following is a list of such supervisors, serving as members of the county board, arranged in alphabetical order, the figure following the name indicating the number of terms (two years each) which each member served :
Scott, W. C. (I) Smith, James (I) Sibley, T. W. (I)
Hartman, J. P. (I)
Hutchinson, R. W. (I)
Mellett, John E. (2)
Schars, P. F. H. (3)
Holmes, K. O. (2)
Norris, Geo. E. (3)
Steven, Walter J. (I)
Hinote, A. (I)
Putnam, C. (I)
Larimer, J. A. (I)
Rodgers, W. A. (1)
361
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Ayers, H. R. (I) Ashton, J. T. (I) Bessor, Phil (5) Brown, J. W. (2)
Brown, J. L. (3) Black, Joseph (I) Bearss, E. A. (I)
Keys, Wallace T. (I) Kellogg, F. O. (I) Krassman, Charles (4)
Clayton, Joseph ( I)
Conroy, George (5)
Lambert, Phil (I) Larimer, J. A. (I)
Dengler, J. G. (3)
Mellett, J. E. (I)
Fitzgerald, Patrick (2)
Funk, S. B. (1)
Hall, James (I) Hervert, Chas. V. (1)
Higgins, J. W. (3) Hlava, Albert V. (2)
Jones, W. R. (I)
King, E. L. (4)
McCurry, O. S. (3) McCormick, Reese (I) Osborn, W. A. (I) Owen, Joseph, Sr. (2)
Puttergill, William (1) Roe, W. A. (4) Reiter, Herman G. (I)
Richard, Eber (2) Reedy, John (I) Salisbury, A. H. (I) Snavely, J. H. (I) Sitz, Jacob (3) Smith, H. P. (I) Shafto, Everett (I) Tussing, B. F. (2) Tillson, W. C. (1) Weaver, W. O. (I)
CHAPTER LIV
DEFALCATION OF JAMES VAN SICKLE, COUNTY TREASURER-H. C. M'NEW IN SHEL- TON CLIPPER-INTEREST ON PUBLIC FUNDS DEEMED THE LEGITIMATE OFFICE INCOME OF A COUNTY TREASURER-UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY EVADES PAYMENT OF COUNTY TAXES-HOMESTEADERS COMPELLED TO PAY TAXES ON LANDS BEFORE MAKING FINAL PROOF-COUNTY MONEY BUILDS BRIDGES AND FURNISHES STAGE-LINE EQUIPMENT FOR STAGE LINE FROM KEARNEY TO BLACK HILLS -- COUNTY TREASURER JAMES VAN SICKLE TAKES A HUNTING TRIP- METHOD OF CONDUCTING COUNTY BUSINESS-MONEY HIRED OF AN OMAHA BANK TO MAKE SETTLEMENT WITH COUNTY BOARD- REMOVAL OF TREASURER VAN SICKLE FROM OFFICE-AN EMPLOYE OF THE UNION PACIFIC COMPANY INSTALLED AS DEPUTY COUNTY TREASURER-EX-COUNTY TREASURER JAMES VAN SICKLE EARNS A PRECARIOUS LIVING BY HUNTING AND TRAPPING.
Editor H. C. McNew of the Shelton Clipper, date December 31, 1881, writes as follows of the Van Sickle defalcation :
"It was during the year 1879 that the county treasurer, James Van Sickle, proved to be a defaulter in the sum of $14,000. This defalcation has never been settled, and a lawsuit is now in the Supreme Court between the county and the last term bondsmen, who claim that a portion of the defalcation occurred during the previous terms. What will become of it is hard to say. Probably a long law suit, putting the county to a great deal of expense will be the result. The last term bondsmen claim that they should not be held responsible for all of the lost money, as there is positive proof that a portion of it occurred during Van Sickle's second term. The commissioners settled with the treasurer before beginning the third term, and he counted out the money, but it has been ascertained that the money was only secured for the occasion of settlement with the county. Such was the game practiced by some of Kearney's leading citizens."
It is not pleasant to write of the history of the defalcation of James Van Sickle, treasurer of Buffalo County. James Van Sickle was not a deliberate and intentional thief. He was as honest in his intentions and purposes as were many of the people of Buffalo County at the date when he served as county treasurer. He was of kindly disposition, generous and trustful to a fault, one who found it well-nigh impossible to say "No," to a personal friend. It was at a time when a large majority of residents of the county were sorely pressed for ready money to meet outstanding indebtedness and to establish themselves on their claims and in business. As a defaulter he was largely a victim of circum- stances and conditions.
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