USA > Nebraska > Seward County > History of Seward county, Nebraska, together with a chapter of reminiscenses of the early settlement of Lancaster county > Part 9
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Also, in D precinct, Aug. 2d, Henry Newjahr, of cancer, aged fifty-five years. He was one of the first settlers of that part of the county.
Aug. 25th-The editor, speaking of his contemporary, calls him " the bay-windowed, brazen-faced liar."
July 29th-Is recorded the death of Mrs. L. E. Tisdale, of Beaver Crossing, aged forty-five years. Mrs. Tisdale settled in Seward county in 1869. Her death occurred July 23d. Also the death of John S. Bartlett, at Milford, on July 25th, aged thirty-six years, of quick consumption.
June 10th-Records the freaks of the wind, the heaviest gale in many years, in which the Catholic church was partially wrecked, and many buildings damaged.
Feb. 19, 1880-Is recorded the death of Wilber McNall, by acci- dental shooting.
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April 8, 1880-Records the result of city election, in which the anti-license party elects the whole ticket.
April 22d-Records the suicide of Chas. L. Docken. It was the result of unappreciated love.
April 22d-Also records the death of Ira Wendall, caused by get- ting his hand caught in machinery at West's mill. Deceased leaves a wife and two children to mourn his sad fate.
May 6, 1880-Is recorded the death of Mrs. Joseph H. Ballard, after a long and painful illness. Mrs. Ballard was an estimable Christian lady.
The visit and lecture of ex-Vice President Colfax is discussed at large.
The small-pox scare with its attendant results is noted.
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CHAPTER V.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-FIRST OFFICERS-ITS HISTORY AND GROWTH-NAMES OF ITS PRESIDING OFFICERS-VALUABLE PROPERTY ACQUIRED-WATER AND WATER-COURSES OF THE COUNTY-ALTITUDE-LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE- HEALTIIFULNESS OF CLIMATE-NO CHILLS AND FEVER-COOL NIGHTS IN . SUMMER-RAINFALL IN SUMMER-WELLS-POLITICS OF THE COUNTY-INDE- PENDENT CHARACTER OF VOTERS-TABLES OF COUNTY OFFICERS-SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, JUDGES, CLERKS, TREASURERS, SHERIFFS, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS, CORONERS, SURVEYORS, SUPERVISORS -ASSESSMENTS FROM 1865 TO 1887-TAXES PAID STATE TREASURER IN 1887-CENSUS RETURNS BY PRECINCTS-COMPARATIVE TABLES OF WEALTH AND POPULATION-SEWARD COUNTY AS IT IS NOW.
Seward County Agricultural Society was organized August 7, 1871, by the adoption of a constitution and set of by-laws, and the election of the following officers: Milton Langdon, president; F. M. Ells- worth, vice president ; T. F. Hardenburg, secretary ; Geo. W. Stand- ard, treasurer. The first fair was held from the 21st to 23d of Sep- tember, in the grove south-west of Seward. By referring to the Nebraska Atlas of Sept. 29, 1871, we find in its columns that the fair was a success, and that there were over a thousand people in attend- ance. We have our memory refreshed also by finding in a later issue of the same sheet that our secretary got away with some of our funds. We have no means of learning just how much.
At the regular annual meeting in October, 1871, we find that W. W. Cox was elected president. There is no record of who were the other officers, but we remember that James A. Brown was chosen secretary, aud Hon. T. L. Norval clerk; that we held the second annual fair at the same place as the first, and that it was quite success- ful. We arranged a very creditable premium list, and were able to pay all the indebtedness caused by the default of the former secretary, and every expense of the fair, including the premiums, and turned over sixty dollars to our successors in office. The exhibits were good, especially in farm products and in the fine arts. The trees of the
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beautiful grove fairly blossomed with the handiwork of our women. The editor of the Nebraska Farmer delivered the annual address.
It is most unfortunate that all the records of the society from the- date of its formation until 1881 have been lost or destroyed; and what is more surprising, the most diligent search through the files of the newspapers of those years discloses nothing from which we can learn anything of importance, except the first organization in the sum- mer of 1871, in the Nebraska Atlas. We remember, however, that Mr. Campbell was elected president in the fall of 1872, and Joseph. Lossee was secretary, and that they held a fair in the fall of 1873.
James A. Brown was elected president in the fall of 1873, and a fair was held in the fall of 1874. If we remember correctly, Mr. Brown was re-elected, but of this we have no means of being certain .. They held a fair in the fall of 1875, and Mr. Brown delivered an address, which we find in the Nebraska Reporter in full, but not another word about the fair. The speech was a good one, and full of good hints and suggestions.
If memory serves us correctly (and we have searched diligently and taxed the memory of all who would be most likely to remember), Ed. McIntyre was elected president, and re-elected in the fall of 1876, or held over on account of there being no election in 1876. There was no fair held that year. In the fall of 1877 a fair was held, and was quite a success.
During the summer of 1877 an association was formed known as. the Seward Trotting Park Association. This association bought forty acres of land of the B. & M. R. R. Co. at ten dollars per acre, and raised the money by selling stock in five dollar shares. Arrange- ments were made with the agricultural society to hold the fairs on these grounds for a certain consideration, and our fairs have been held there since that time.
There is much unwritten history connected with this trotting park association. In the first place the railroad folks were induced to part with the land at half price, because it was apparently for a public- benefit. Men subscribed for stock in small quantities, just to help the enterprise, and had no thought of realizing any income from the investment. The stock was transferable, and it was but a short time. until it was discovered that one man had a majority of the stock, and enjoyed complete control of the whole concern ; so the association largely
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consisted of one man. The community did not take kindly to the matter in that shape, and it was a source of continual trouble and annoyance until the citizens made up funds the second time and pur- chased the property outright for the agricultural society, in 1886, when the county commissioners made a liberal appropriation for improve- ments.
Claudius Jones was president in the fall of 1877, and held the fair in the fall of 1878, when William Gill was elected, and held the fair in the fall of 1879. In that year John Henderson was elected, and held the fair of 1880, when Wm. Redford was elected president. In that year we find a record (the first) of their proceedings.
The fairs were measurably successful as exhibitions, but the society was generally hard pressed for means, and frequently the more enter- prising members were taxed almost beyond endurance to keep life in the society. Among the more notable persons who always had a shoulder to the wheel were James A. Brown, Ed. McIntyre, Wm. E. Gill, E. M. Hickman, and Claudius Jones. These men, and perhaps some others, are entitled to much credit for untiring energy and a free use of their money in keeping the society alive through many years of adversity.
We see by a record of a meeting held August 6, 1881, that Ed. McIntyre was elected secretary pro tem. We notice that J. A. Brown offered a resolution that the offices of secretary, treasurer, vice presi- dent, and three of the directors be declared vacant, on account of their negligence in performing their duties. Resolution adopted. Where- upon Geo. C. Mckay was elected vice president, Ed. McIntyre, sec- retary, J. A. Brown, treasurer, and Wm. Gill, J. B. Courtwright, and Allen Price, directors, to fill vacancies. The fair was held Sept. 29th, 30th, and Oct. 1st of that year.
We notice in the report of their October meeting that the receipts were as follows: Total receipts, including $300 from county, were $1,135.10; total expenditures, $1,016.36 ; leaving a balance of $118.74.
At their December meeting Wm. Redford was re-elected president, and Ed. McIntyre was re-elected secretary, and R. S. Norval was elected treasurer. The time fixed for the fair of 1882 was Sept. 27th to 30th. J. S. Henderson was chosen superintendent. Wm. Gill was elected delegate to State Board of Agriculture. It was resolved at this meeting to hold a farmers' institute in February next, and the
7
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
secretary was instructed to correspond with Gov. Furnas and Prof. Thompson, and they voted to tax themselves fifty cents each to defray the expenses.
At a meeting of the board in August, 1882, $40 was appropriated to pay expenses of a county exhibit at state fair.
Records of the meeting in July, 1883, show that there was received at last fair $1,407.50, and expended, $1374.10, leaving a balance of $32.67. Wm. Redford was re-elected president; also, Mr. McIntyre was re-elected secretary by acclamation, and Wm. Gill was re-elected delegate to state board.
At the August meeting, 1883, Wm. Gill was employed to take charge of exhibit at state fair.
At the annual meeting of January 5, 1884, the report showed $1,849.45 received from all sources, and $1,744.20 paid out. E. M. Hickman was elected president, and C. S. Alling was elected secretary and treasurer. Wm. Gill was again elected delegate to state board. At a called meeting in April the time for holding the annual fair was fixed at Oct. 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th.
At a meeting in August the president was instructed to conclude a contract with C. Jones for sixty shares of the Driving Park Associa- tion stock at $1,000, and authorized to draw on the treasurer for $50 to bind the bargain.
At a meeting in October an order was voted to Ed. McIntyre of $50, to help pay expenses of exhibit at World's Fair at New Orleans.
At the annual meeting in January, 1885, Geo. Pickerel was elected president, and C. S. Alling was re-elected secretary and treasurer ; El. Mclntyre was elected superintendent, and J. H. Culver was elected delegate to state board and instructed to cast his vote to re-elect Gov. Furnas as secretary of said board. Dates fixed for the fair of 1885 were Sept. 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th. We find no report of treas- urer, although it is recorded that report was approved.
At the annual meeting, February 6, 1886, Claudius Jones was elected president, C. S. Alling, secretary, and H. T. Jones, treasurer. Here again we find no report of treasurer, but a record that his report was approved.
At a special meeting held in July, a resolution is passed accepting a donation of $2,000, secured by the Board of Trade of Seward, by its president, G. Babson, for the purchase of the Driving Park Asso- ciatiou's grounds.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
A general meeting of the society was authorized to be called by the secretary for July 23d, we suppose to finish the purchase of the grounds, but the secretary is silent about that, and we find no record of said meeting.
At the annual meeting in January Mr. Wm. Redford was elected president, and the secretary's office was left vacant, which was filled by the Board -- H. T. Jones. J. N. Edwards was elected treasurer. Again we have no record of treasurer's report. An invitation was voted to the citizens to plant trees on the fair grounds on Arbor Day. The fair was held in October, 1887, and was a very successful show. It was without doubt one of the best stock exhibits at any county fair in the West.
The society have met and overcome grave obstacles within the two last years. First, a vast amount of money was raised to pay for the grounds and improve them, and during the last summer a heavy wind wrecked all the buildings, which were rebuilt at great expense, but now the society has the grounds and they are fairly improved and measurably free from debt, and with bright prospects for the future.
At the annual meeting in 1887 J. B. Courtwright was elected president, H. T. Jones was elected secretary, and George Dickman was elected treasurer. Treasurer's report showed : Total receipts of $3,300 ; total expenditures, $3,400.
Considering the valuable property and improvements, it is fair to say that the society is in a very prosperous condition.
WATER AND WATER-COURSES.
The drainage of the county is supplied by the following rivers and creeks: The west fork of the Blue river enters the county in sec- tion 30, in "L" precinct, passes into " M" precinct, in section 4, and passes through it in a south-east direction into "N" precinet in section 18, continues in a general south-east course, enters "O" precinet in section 30, and crosses the Saline county line near the south-east corner of section 32, and joins the North Blue just at the county line on the south line of section 32, in "P" precinct. Its principal tributaries are Johnson creek, which rise: in western Saline county, passes through "M " and " N " precincts, and joins with the river just at the county line. Beaver creek passes
L. of C.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
through the southern portion of York county and through " L," and joins the main stream just west of the village of Beaver Crossing in "M " precinct. Walnut creek rises in "L " precinct, and joins the river near the south line of section 7, in " M " precinct. Indian creek traverses the south-western portion of "M" and empties into the West Blue just south-west of Beaver Crossing. West Blue is a most excellent mill stream, and carries two flouring mills in this county, and furnishes drainage to all the south-western portion of the county. The river and tributaries are furnished at convenient distances with bridges. The river is noted for an abundant supply of superior fish. The North Blue enters the county in section 3 in "C" precinct, and its course is south-easterly through "C" and "G," and gracefully swings to the west and south of the city of Seward, and passes through " J," " O," and " P " precincts. Its principal tribu- tary, Lincoln creek, enters the county in section 34 in " D" precinct, and traverses the southern portion of " D " and " C" precincts and the north-western portion of "G," and joins the river just west of Seward. Lincoln creek is a beautiful mill stream, and its broad val- ley is grandly beautiful. One mill in this county, at Marysville, only as yet responds to its invitation. Plum creek enters the county in section 3 in "B" precinct, and cuts the precinct centrally and empties its water into the river just south of Seward. Various other small streams join the main river and help in the excellent system of drainage.
Blue river furnishes ample power for mills and factories, but these water-powers are only utilized at three points, viz., Seward, by H. L. Boyes & Son, with a very creditable mill ; at the Cooper & Hender- son mill, and at Milford, where Messrs. Johnson & Co. have, at least, one of the most extensive merchant mills in the West.
Several branches of Oak creek traverse " A " precinct, and numer- ous branches of Middle creek have their rise in " H " and " I " pre- cincts, furnishing ample drainage and supplying numerous running streams of pure water, making the eastern portion of the county par excellent as a stock growing region.
The general surface of the country is a slightly undulating plain, with a southern inclination, and probably presents as many acres of first-class tillable land as any county of our state. The altitude of the county is from 1400 to 1500 feet above tidewater. Our geo-
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
graphical position is sixty miles west of the Missouri, twenty-five south of the Platte, and forty-eight miles north of the Kansas line. The forty-first parallel of north latitude forms our northern boundary, and our western limit is the sixth principal meridian line. The ninety- seventh meridian of west longitude from Greenwich passes through the eastern portion of the county and about three and one-half miles east of . Seward. Our elevation seems to be just about right ; we are generally free from malaria ; chills and fever are scarcely known since the pioneer days. At the dates of the early settlement, when great quantities of the new prairie sod were in the process of decay and the people had to endure unreasonable exposure, we were subject to chills and fever, or ague. We are free from that close, humid atmosphere of lower elevations, and yet we are not high enough to produce the inconvenience in breathing experienced in the higher altitudes. Our atmosphere is peculiarly bracing and energizing, Nights are cool, yet we are not subject to early or late frosts. We have usually a very small amount of snow, and scarcely no winter rains. Occasionally we have winter storms that are simply terrific. but they do not often occur. Our principal rainfall is between March 1st and September 1st, and is usually as well distributed through the growing season as in any portion of this continent. Our streams are not subject to disastrous overflows, as they are deeply imbedded and of rapid current. Our wells are of moderate depth, varying from twelve to twenty-five feet on the bottom lands and from forty to one hundred feet on the upland ; however there are but few that exceed sixty feet. The water is uniformly very excellent and abundant. We are especially fortunate in the all-important ele- ment of water and water-courses.
POLITICS.
There are some peculiarities connected with the politics of Seward county. On the national ticket, also the state ticket, the county has been thoroughly republican from the beginning. In fact at our first and second elections every county officer elected was a republican.
Our first presidential election Grant received a very large majority, and likewise in 1872. The abstracts of election returns of 1865 to 1875 are not to be found in the county clerk's office. In 1876 Hayes received 905, and Tilden 593; in 1880 Garfield received
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
1,352, and Hancock 699; in 1881 Blaine received 1,630, and Cleve- land 1,332.
Governor Butler received a. large majority in 1866 and 1868; also Furnas in 1870; also Garber ; and Nance in 1878 received 105 over all, and in 1880 he received 353 over all. Dawes majority over all in 1884 was 186, and Thayer's in 1886 was 279 over all. In fact every candidate on a state or congressional ticket of the republican party has secured fair majorities, yet strange as it may seem the dem- ocrats controlled the important office of county clerk for nine con- tinuous terms, or eighteen years, from January, 1870, to January, 1888. Hon. Thomas Graham served five continuous terms, Ed. O'Keefe one term, being an anti-monopolist, but supported by the democratic party, and Joseph Dupin served three successive terms. Also the office of sheriff has been in the hands of the democrats ten years continuously. They have also controlled the state senatorship three terms out of six. The only explanation that we are able to giveis
that we are a wonderfully independent people, and determined to do just as we please on election day, without asking any odds of con- ventions. Notwithstanding the majority has always been strongly republican, the party never succeeded in electing the whole ticket since the fall of 1868, till the fall of 1887, when they made a clean sweep. It is perhaps proper to say that the democrats elected were very strong men, and many of them at least made excellent officers; and further, it is fitting to say that our county records are acknowl- edged to be equal to the best in the state.
Below we give as complete a list of senators, representatives, and county officers as it is possible to obtain. We give the year of the election of the several officers, and where parties held more than one term the terms are noted. Parties representing Seward county con- jointly with other counties, but citizens of other counties, are gener- ally not noted, especially in the senate.
STATE SENATE. 1st .- Hon. E. C. Carns, elected 1876. Republican. 2d .- Hon. T. L. Norval, elected 1878. Republican. 3d .- Hon. Thomas Graham, elected 1880. Democrat. 4th .- Hon. R. E. Dumphy, elected 1882. Democrat. 5th .- Hon. J. F. Goehner, elected 1884. 6th .- Hon. C. J. Wright, elected 1886. Democrat.
Republican.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
REPRESENTATIVES-TERRITORIAL. Ist .- Hon. Wm. Imlay, 1864. Republican. 2d .- Hon. E. L. Clark, 1866. Republican. REPRESENTATIVES-STATE.
1st .- Hon. E. L. Clark, 1867, Republican.
2d .- Hon. Marcus Brush, 1868, from Saunders county. Democrat. 3d .- Hon. A. Roberts, 1870, from Butler county. Republican. 4th .-- Hon W. J. Thompson, 1872, resigned. Republicau. 5th .- Hon. D. C. McKillip, 1873, to fill vacancy. Republican. 6th .- Hon. D. C. McKillip, 1874. Republican. 7th .- Hon. T. A. Healy, 1876, resigned. Republican.
8th .- Ilon. Wm. Hickman, 1877, to fill vacancy. Republican. 9th .- Hon. Thomas Wolfe, 1876, two members. Republican. 10th .- Hon. Wm. Hickman, 1878. Republican. 11th .- Hon. H. A. French, 1878. Republican. 12th .- Hon. Henry Bick, 1880. Republican.
13th .- Hon. H. P. King, 1880, resigned. Republican.
14th .- Hon. L. Chaduck, 1881, to fill vacancy. Republican. 15th .- Hon. J. Swearingen, 1882. Republican. 16th .- Hon. D. J. Brown, 1882. Republican.
17th .- Hon. Thomas Carr, 1884. Republican.
. 18th .- Hon. C. M. Turner, 1884. Republican. 19th .- Hon. Nicholas Wolenweber, 1886. Democrat. 20th .- Hon. Henry Bick, 1886. Mugwump.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
1st .- William Imlay, H. W. Parker, and W. J. Thompson, elected 1865. Republicans.
2d .- Wm. Imlay, 1866, re-elected. Republican.
3d .- W. J. Thompson, 1867, re-elected. Republican.
4th .- J. L. Bandy, 1868. Republican. 5th .- Wm. Imlay, 1869, re-elected. Republican. 6th .- Wm. Hornburg, 1870. Republican. 7th .- D. H. Harris, 1871. Republican. 8th .- Samuel Manley, 1872. Republican. 9th .- Benj. Hunkins, 1873. Democrat. 10th .- M. Dunigan, 1874. Democrat. 11th .- W. G. Hazelwood, 1875. Republican.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
12th .- G. F. Hulburt, 1876. Republican. 13th .- L. D. Bates, 1877. Republican. 14th .- Geo. C. McKay, 1878. Republican. 15th .- B. N. Learned, 1879. Republican. 16th .- M. Dunigan, 1880. Democrat. 17th .- O. E. Bernecker, 1881. Democrat. 18th .- E. L. Blanchard, 1882. Republican.
19th .- D. B. Palmer, 1883. Republican.
20th .- Wm. Redford, 1884. Republican. 21st .- H. G. Hosford, 1885. Republican.
PROBATE JUDGES.
1st .- J. L. Davison, 1865. Republican. 2d .- J. D. Maine, 1867. Republican. 3d .- Henry Wortendyke, 1869. Republican. 4th .- J. W. Shields, 1871. Democrat. 5th .- O. T. B. Williams, 1873. Republican. 6th .- George W. Lowley, 1881. Republican. 7th .- C. E. Holland, 1887. Republican.
COUNTY CLERKS.
1st .- Thomas West, 1865. Republican. 2d .- Wm. H. Reed, 1867. Republican. 3d .- Thomas Graham, 1869, five terms. Democrat. 4th .- Ed O'Keefe, 1879. Greenbacker. 5tlı .- Joseph W. Dupin, 1881, three terms. Democrat. 6th .- R. T. Cooper, 1887. Republican.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
1st .- C. J. Niehardt, elected 1865. Republican. 2d .- E. L. Clark, Jr., elected 1869. Republican. 3d .- M. A. McPherson, elected 1871. Republican. 4th .- W. B. Thorp, elected 1873 and 1875. Republican. 5th .- L. G. Johns, elected 1877 and 1879. Republican. 6th .- R. T. Cooper, 1881; re-elected 1883. Republican. 7th .- D. H. Figard, 1885; re-elected 1887. Republican.
SHERIFFS.
1st .-- Chapin, elected 1865. Republican. 2d .- A. J. Wallingford, elected 1867. Republican.
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HISTORY OF SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
3d .- W. H. Tuttle, elected 1869. Republican. 4th .- J. W. McCabe, elected 1871. Republican.
5th .- I. D. Niehardt, elected 1873, two terms. Republican. 6th .- John Sullivan, elected 1877, two terms. Democrat.
7th .- John Brown (died in office), elected 1881, two terms. Dem- ocrat.
8th .- C. H. Adams, elected 1885. Democrat. 9th .- J. M. Smiley, elected 1887. Republican.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
1st .- Thomas Graham, appointed 1867. Democrat. 2d .- Geo. B. France, elected 1869, three terms. Republican. 3d .- J. D. Messenger, elected 1875, two terms. Republican.
4th .- E. Benson, elected 1881. Republican. 5th .- M. Warner, elected 1883, two terms. Republican. 6th .- G. F. Burkett, elected 1887. Republican.
CORONERS.
1st .- W. W. Cox was elected, but did not qualify, in 1867. 2d .- J. M. Evans, elected 1869. Republican. 3d .- E. L. Clinton, elected 1871. Republican. 4th .- Leland Walker, elected 1873, two terms. Republican.
5th .- J. H. Woodward, elected 1877. Republican. 6th .- G. B. Brandon, elected 1879. Democrat. 7th .- A. K. Siep, elected 1881, four terms. Republican.
SURVEYORS.
1st .- R. T. Gale, elected 1865, two terms. Republican. 2d .- J. H. Anderson, elected 1869, two terms. Republican. 3d .- J. V. Ainsworth, elected 1873. Republican. 4th .- G. A. Kilpatrick, elected 1875, two terms. Republican. 5th .- E. Jull, elected 1881. Republican. 6th .- G. A. Kilpatrick, elected 1873, three terms. Republican.
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