USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. I > Part 58
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YORK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, YORK
THE NEW YOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS A
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
end of the main north and south corridor there is a large, double stairway leading to the second or court room floor, at the head of which are located the following rooms, viz. : Grand jury room, 23 feet 2 inches by 24 feet 6 inches ; county superin- tendent's room, 16x24 feet; petit jury room, 11x20 feet, petit jury room, 15x16 feet ; circuit judge's private office, 12x22 feet ; lawyer's consultation room, 11x15 feet, also witness room, 12x15 feet. Access to the latter four rooms is had only through a private hallway leading from the bar to the last mentioned room. The main corridor on this floor is 11 feet wide and leads to the large and commodious court room, 40x63 feet in the clear.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
Prior to the year 1870 York County was attached to Seward County for judicial and revenue purposes. On the 18th day of March, 1870, his excellency, David Butler, governor of the State of Nebraska, issued a proclamation in response to a petition signed by N. A. Dean, John Anderson, William Anderson, Nerva Fouse, Elias Gilmore, George Stubblefield, Henry Chatterton, H. W. Taylor, David Bus- sard, J. W. Kingston, P. Church, David Doan, James H. Stewart, Newton Ilyett, John A. Mercer, C. C. Smith, Mr. Coon, David Baker, Fernando McFadden, Levi Woodruff, Robert Anderson, Randolph Fairbanks, J. W. Wartz, E. Melick, Elisha Martin, Will Whitaker, Jim Whitaker, G. W. Vance, A. J. Gilmore, Jacob Gilmore and David Henderson, the voting population of York County at that time, authorizing a permanent organization of the county.
In accordance with this proclamation, on the 26th of April, 1820, the people of York County met at the polling places of the three precinets and exercised their franchise, at which election eighty-six votes were cast throughout the entire county. Of this number fifty-one were polled in precinct No. 1, at the house of Uncle Elias Gilmore, section 17; in precinct No. 2, at the old pre-emption house of A. M. Ghost, situated at York, on section 18; in precinct No. 3, at the residence of J. M. Parker.
A full complement of county officers was duly elected and the choice of the people resulted as follows: Edward Bates, clerk; Julius Frost, treasurer ; George Flock, sheriff; D. T. Moore, probate judge; W. H. Armstrong, superintendent of public instruction ; Frank Manning, surveyor; Dr. S. V. Moore, David Bussard, and Capt. L. F. Wyman, commissioners.
All of the above officers qualified and entered upon the immediate discharge of their duties.
At this election the county seat was located at York, in consideration of about two hundred lots given to the county by the Town Plat Company.
The first session of the newly elected Board of County Commissioners was held June 4, 1870, in the old pre-emption house before mentioned, which was situated near the present site of the Central Hotel stables, just south of the public square. At this session the county clerk was instructed to purchase upon the credit of the county, all necessary books and stationery for keeping the county records, which was the first official proceeding of the board.
Messrs. David Bussard, John D. Reed, Julius Frost and County Clerk Edward Bates were appointed a committee to investigate and settle the individual accounts
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
of the county with Seward County, and John D. Reed was also appointed attorney for York County.
The county was divided into three commissioners' districts, comprising the fol- lowing territory: District No. 1. township 9, ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west; district No. 2. township 10, ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west ; district No. 3. townships 11 and 12, ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west.
York was officially declared the county seat. and the county clerk ordered to give due notice of the fact as provided by law."
EARLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
In November of this year a new mail route was established from Lincoln to Grand Island, via Seward, and three new postoffices were established in the county, named Palo, Thayer, and Aikin's Mill. Chauncey Aikins served Uncle Sam as postmaster at Aikin's Mill, and J. II. Parker at Thayer. Soon after this the citi- zens of York petitioned for a mail route between York and Fairmont by way of Mc Fadden, which was granted on condition the people pay for conveying the mails. Such a piece of economy on the part of a postmaster general of the present time seems incredible, but nevertheless it remains a historical fact. Dr. Thomas L. Myers was appointed postmaster at York, but the office not proving very Incrative, he soon resigned, and F. O. Bell was appointed as his successor. He held the office for two years and was succeeded by J. E. Cochran, who resigned in a short time and Mrs. M. J. Hammond was appointed.
At the first session of the board of the year 1871, held January 3, Beaver Creek Precinct was divided on the line between ranges 2 and 3, and the west portion was created a new precinct, under the name of Baker. Moore Precinct was also divided on the line between ranges 2 and 3, and the east portion formed into a new precinct and named Stewart.
On the 29th of July York Precinct was created and the county seat made the place of voting.
At an adjourned session of the board convened November 2, 1871. the county was redivided into nine voting precinets, eight miles square, named as follows, com- meneing at the noreast corner and running west, thence east, etc .: Stewart, Hous- ton, North Bluc. Baker, York, Beaver Creek, West Blue, Woodruff and Henderson.
During this year the first county road was laid out along the West Blue and was surveyed by II. Badger. Soon after this a bill was drafted by Judge D. T. Moore and D. R. Creegan making all section lines a road, in certain connties. including York County. This bill passed the Legislature and became a law. The provisions were afterward extended to include all the counties of the state.
In August. 1871, it was decided to call a special election to vote upon the proposition to sell enough of the town lots owned by the county to build a court- house. The proposition was carried, $1,500 worth of lots sold, and the contract to build the present courthouse let to Mr. Charlton. It was a fine building for that time, but appears rather insignificant now, after a lapse of ten years of usefulness. Prior to this time and the building of the courthouse the records were kept in a sod building of one room adjoining Dr. Tutton's drug store, and the sessions of the commissioners held in the doctor's store, who was county clerk until the close of
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
1872, resigning December 2d. John H. Helms succeeded him, being appointed to fill the vacancy.
In the fall of 1870 A. J. Gilmore was elected county commissioner to fill the place of David Bussard whose term of office had expired. At the general election of 1871 Judge D. T. Moore was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Two hundred and eighteen votes were cast in the county and the following persons were called from the walks of private life to serve the county : A. B. Tutton, county elerk; B. M. Elliott, treasurer ; C. D. Aikins, sheriff: L. P. Buckmaster, probate judge : Il. II. Tate, superintendent publie instruction.
In the spring of 1871 York County received its first proposal for building a railroad. Doctor Converse, superintendent of the Midland Pacific Railroad, sub- mitted a proposition to the people of York County in which he offered to extend the company's road from Seward to York if the county would vote bonds to the amount of $150,000, payable in twenty years, and donate the right of way through it. The proposition met with decided opposition throughout the county in general, but more particularly in the southern precinets that received little benefit in the way of building up and establishing towns.
While the settlers were fully aroused to the necessity of having railroad facilities and fully appreciated the advantages to be derived from one, yet they were unwilling and very sensibly refused to load the young county with a debt that would have been a burden to its inhabitants for many years. A special election was called March 19, 1872, and the proposition accordingly voted down.
The annual election of 1873 gave the county the following officers: L. J. Gandy, treasurer ; F. W. Liedke, clerk; W. E. Morgan, probate judge; J. P. Miller, sheriff; T. A. Parkinson, superintendent publie instruction ; Frank Manning, sur- veyor ; T. Brooks, coroner ; W. H. Greer and Thomas Burgess, commissioners, and the following year of 1874 II. S. Burtch was elected commissioner.
A project for building a narrow-gauge railroad had been advanced by some of the leading citizens of the county, the stockholders to be residents of the county. This created quite a stir, and some enthusiasm was manifested. It was meeting with some favor and endorsement when another proposition was received from Dr. Converse which ran the narrow-gauge scheme entirely off the track. This second proposition was submitted in 1874 and demanded only $94,000, in county bonds, in consideration of which the Midland Pacific Railroad was to be extended to York. The bond campaign of 1875 was a very warm one and met with some opposition. Eleven hundred and seventy-five votes were cast at this election and the proposition was favored by a sufficient majority in the county, while the precinct of York voted to issue its bonds to the amount of $10,000 as an additional bonus. The company fulfilled its promises and the first train reached York in August, 1877. In the fall of 1875, at the general election, Liedke, Gandy, Miller and Brooks were re-elected ; W. B. Cummins, probate judge ; J. E. Cochran, superintendent of public instruction ; A. B. Codding, surveyor.
At this election Hon. George W. Post, at this time a young and promising member of the York bar, was elected judge of the fourth judicial district. The first representatives to the State Legislature from York County were eleeted in 1876. The senatorial distriet included York and Hamilton counties. Hon. S. V. Moore and Hon. Lee Love were chosen to serve the people as representatives, and
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Hon. W. M. Knapp as senator. Benjamin Woolman was this year elected com- missioner.
In 1877 Messrs. F. W. Leidke, J. P. Miller, L. J. Gandy, W. B. Cummins, J. E. Cochran, and A. B. Codding were re-elected, and Thomas Gray as commissioner.
At the general election in 1828 W. T. Scott and W. II. Keckley were elected to the State Legislature and F. W. Liedke as state auditor. Mr. Liedke resigned his position as county clerk and the commissioners appointed Hon. Lee Love to fill the vacancy caused.
At the election of county officers for 1879. W. B. Cummins, J. P. Miller, and A. B. Codding were again re-elected. J. A. Eatherly was elected county clerk ; A. J. Bell, district clerk : E. E. Armour. superintendent public instruction, and Charles W. Wullbrandt, commissioner.
In the fall of 1880 llon. S. V. Moore and Albert Wilsey were elected as repre- sentatives ; Martin Burns as state senator, and Jesse Love, county commissioner.
The election of 188t gave the county the services of a set of efficient officials who were elected as follows: Milton Sovereign, clerk: J. W. Bennett, treasurer ; W. W. Giffen, county judge : James H. Hamilton, sheritt: E. E. Armour, superin- tendent public instruction ; A. B. Codding, surveyor; J. W. Wells, M. D., coroner, and S. A. Myers, commissioner.
In the spring of 1843 the county was encumbered by a debt of $14.000 caused by the erection of bridges and other internal improvements. and refunded its debts by issuing bonds to that amount.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The various counties of Nebraska work under two systems of membership for their county governing body. Most of the counties now work under the commis- sioner plan, by which three members are elected to constitute the county's legisla- tive and administrative body. Other counties use the supervisor plan. by which the county is divided into seven distriets and a resident of each district is elected by the votes of the electorate of his respective district. But York County during most of its existence has seen fit to operate with a county board of twenty-five members. The first members of the board in 1820 were Messrs. David Bussard, Dr. S. V. Moore, and Captain L. F. Wyman. At the election in the fall of 1820 A. J. Gilmore was selected and took the seat of Commissioner Bussard. During the term of 1871-22 Gilmore and Wyman held over and Andrew Houston was elected to succeed Doctor Moore. In the fall of 1842 J. IJ. Stewart came on the board. In 1873 W. II. Greer and Thomas Burgess were elected, making an entirely new board in the place of the veteran commissioners. In 18tt H. S. Burtch took the seat of Commissioner Stewart. Grcer, Burgess and Burtch served together, and in 1876 David Doan succeeded Burtch. In 1822 Burtch and Doan held over with Benjamin Woolnan as the new member, and in 1828 Thomas Gray succeeded Doan. In 1879 Woolman and Gray served with A. C. Eberhart. In 1880 Eberhart and Woolman held over, with Jesse and Charles Wullbrandt as the two new members. In 1881 Jesse Love succeeded Woolman. In 1882 S. A. Myers succeeded Eberhardt. In 1883 S. A. Myers and Jesse Love served with C. W. Hays, the new member. until November 21 of that year, when the new system of a membership of seven was inaugurated. The new board of seven who were elected consisted of: H. N. Logan,
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Stewart Township; E. C. Smith, North Blue; Fred Schneringer, Baker; A. C. Montgomery, York Precinct; H. S. Burtch, Beaver Creek; John Woolstenholm, West Blue, and William Goodman, Woodruff. In 1884 the first six named for 1883 remained on the board, G. W. Hays succeeded Goodman and H. W. Fay was added. In November of that year the name of North Blue Township was changed to Morton.
In 1885 the board was enlarged to a membership of seventeen. The personnel for this year consisted of: H. N. Logan, Stewart Township; Carl Ratzlaff, Thayer, and later, C. H. Post succeeding him; G. F. Holmes, Morton Township; E. C. Smith, Arborville; R. D. Logan, Bradshaw ; F. A. Bidwell, Lockridge; G. J. Hurl- burt, New York; John W. Strickler, Waco; J. P. Cook, Beaver Creek ; L. M. Miller, Leroy ; J. M. Bullard, Baker ; Leopold Mack, Brown; H. W. Fay, Hender- son ; C. W. Wullbrandt, McFadden; T. W. Smith, Hays; A. G. Corey, West Blue, and W. H. Bagnall, York.
In 1886, Post, Holmes, Bidwell, Hurlburt. Cook, Bullard, Mack, Smith. Corey, and Bagnall remained on the board, J. F. Hale was chosen as eighteenth member and second from York, and the following new members came to the board: F. O. Veak. D. Graves, A. C. Mason, John Robertson, William Meradith, W. M. Babcock, and John Wolstenholm.
In 1887 IT. N. Logan returned to represent Stewart; Post, Holmes, Hurlburt, Cook, Bullard, Babcock, and Corey remained, and the new members were: W. R. Nichols, Arborville: D. T. Hunter, Lockridge : John B. Lyle, Waco; L. M. Miller, Leroy; F. K. Laird, Brown; C. A. Smith, McFadden; F. M. Churchill, Hays; D. W. Hoyt, and E. Reisinger, York.
In 1888 holdover or re-elected members were Post. Nichols, Hunter, Hurlburt, and Hoyt. New faces on the board were: Swan Lindstrom, Stewart; B. F. Myers, Morton : S. V. Moore, Bradshaw; W. M. Strickler, Waco ; John J. Price, Beaver Creek; William Meradith, Leroy; W. J. Russell, Baker; M. V. Selover, Brown ; Rowlan Shephard, Henderson ; A. G. Corey, MeFadden; F. M. Kennedy, Hays; Nerva Fouse, West BIne, and A. S. Harlan, second member from York.
In 1889 members remaining on the board were Post, Myers, Hunter, Price, Meradith, Russell, Shephard, and Hoyt of York. The newly arrived members were: Joseph Robertson, Stewart : P. Church, Arborville; Thomas P. Miller, Brad- shaw : J. W. Burnett, New York ; John C. Robertson, Waco; A. Prohaska, Brown ; W. E. Collins, McFadden ; W. E. Clithero, Ilays; John A. Kelso, West Blue, and W. H. Alberts, York.
In 1890 the remaining members from the old board were: Post, Church, Hun- ter, John C. Robertson. Price, Meradith, Prohaska, Collins, Clithero, Kelso and Hoyt. The newly eleeted members were: B. F. Willis, Stewart; G. F. Holmes, baek again from Morton; W. F. Morrison. Bradshaw; M. D. Einsel, New York ; I. W. Watt, Baker; Robert Henderson, Henderson Township; C. A. McCloud and D. E. Sedgwick for York.
Another change in the number of the membership brought up a controversy as to who were entitled to seats during this year. Hunter, Holmes, Collins, Kelso, and McCloud, as a committee in charge, recommended seating P. Church, D. I. Hunter, John C. Robertson, William Meradith, C. W. Clithero, and that those members with even-numbered townships should hold over until 1891, and a solution made to give York four members.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
The year 1891 therefore presents an enlarged board, the roster of membership for which was: B. F. Willis, Stewart: Peter Ehlers, Thayer ; G. F. Holmes, Mor- ton : P. Church, Morton ; W. F. Morrison, Bradshaw ; John Romsdall, Loekridge; J. D. Ilouston, New York ; W. O. Downing, Waco; John J. Price, Beaver Creek ; Martin Price, Leroy; I. W. Watt, Baker; A. Prohaska, Brown; Robert Hender- son, Henderson : Joseph Finney, Hays; W. E. Collins, McFadden ; John A. Kelso, West Blue, and from York, D. E. Sedgwick, C. A. McCloud, and W. L. Morgan, vice Hoyt.
In 1892 the members who stayed on the board from the preceding membership were Willis, Ehlers, Church. Morrison, Romsdall, Houston, Downing, Martin, Price, Prohaska, Henderson, Finney, Kelso, and the York members. The new faces were: W. S. Jeffery, Morton : H. Burhoop. Beaver Creek : (. A. Rounds. Baker; Joseph P. Neville, McFadden.
In 1893 the new membership registered : JJ. L. Bruffy, Thayer: S. B. Flick, Arborville : J. L. Wilson, Waco; C. H. Stark, Hays; JJoseph Noel, MeFadden.
Eighteen ninety-four saw but a few changes, bringing onto the board Houston of Waco, N. B. Swanson, Martin Price returning to the board.
The membership in 1895, the last year of the large membership board for some time, consisted of H. C. Lanphere, Stewart : J. L. Brutly, Thayer; D. W. Baker, Morton ; S. B. Flick, Arborville; William Morrison, Bradshaw : John Romsdall, Lockridge; Ilonston, Wellman, Martin Price, Prohaska, Henderson, C. H. Stark, Ellis Lonsdale, J. A. Kelso. J. D. White, A. Sachsehewsky, Gustav Faustman, Levi Imel, S. T. Mapps, F. M. Cox, E. D. Smith, and Otis Moulton.
In 1896 the county had changed to the system of a board of seven supervisors, and this system remained in operation for about twelve years. The seven super- visors in 1896 were William Davidson, D. W. Baker, T. B. Reed, Henry Wellman, Robert Henderson, H. M. Detrick, and James Sturgeon. In 1897 Baker, Wellman. Detriek, and Sturgeon remained and the new members were W. M. Babcock, W. A. Downing, and H. Bartholomew. In 1898 Detrick, Sturgeon, Babcock and Downing remained and the incoming members were C. W. Post, J. P. Thompson and E. E. Lincoln. In 1899 the holdover or remaining members were Post, Lineolu, Detriek. and Sturgeon, while the new members were E. W. Morrison, W. Marvel, and J. W. Wiseman. In 1900 Morrison, Winfield Marvel, Wiseman, Lincoln, and Detrick stayed, and A. L. Davis, vice Post, and William Meradith, vice Sturgeon, came onto the board. In 1901 Davis, Meradith and Detrick stayed over, and those who came on were W. O. Downing. O. R. Jones, Lewis Walbrecht, and George Jensen. In 1902 Downing, Jones, Walbrecht, Detrick, and Meradith stayed over, but the latter was succeeded on January 2. 1903, by L. S. Wheeler. The new members in 1902 were William Witte and O. B. Liedke. In 1903 Wheeler, Liedke, and Witte served, with IL. C. Lanphere, W. K. Williams, P. J. Ruch and Thomas Pierson as the new members. In 1904 Lanphere, Williams, Ruch, Pierson and Leidke remained on the board and the newcomers were James Shipp and P. J. Kennedy. In 1905 Shipp, Pierson, Leidke, and Kennedy held over and the new members were E. W. Morrison, W. W. Wyckoff. and Frank Steffen. In 1906 the only new member was Fred Bittinger, vice Leidke. In 1907 the entire 1906 board remained on, except Pierson, and two new members were added, the three new arrivals being C. C. Neufeld, Chas. O. Stewart, and Miller. In 1907 N. Johnson and J. H. Tilden were new members.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
In 1909 York County returned to the system of a board of legislative size and proportions. The membership of the newly elected board, including many who had heretofore served and returned to these duties, were Supervisors Fred Bettinger, II. E. Belcher, W. G. Chapman, Davidson, Devine, N. Johnson, Dorsey, Henehan, Kennedy, Price, Prohaska, Tueker, Frank Steffen, Sachchewsky, Sloniger, Wil- liams, Witte, J. II. Tilden, W. W. Wyekoff and O. C. Neufeld.
A few changes ensued and the new board as finally constituted, with a list of townships they represented, is as follows, which will indicate but little change in township nomenclature since the '90s: William Davidson, Stewart Township; Fred Bittinger, Morton : C. II. Bedient, Bradshaw ; J. M. Tucker, New York: Martin Price, Leroy : A. Prohaska. Brown : George Sloniger, Henderson ; P. J. Kennedy, West Blne; E. B. Nelson, York; W. G. Chapman, York; Ayg. Sachschewsky, Thayer : J. L. Dorsey, Arborville ; W. R. Devine, Lockridge: Frank Steffen, Waco ; William Witte. Beaver Creek; M. II. Kirkpatrick, Baker; George M. McDonald, Hays ; Thomas Henehan, MeFadden ; W. K. Williams, York, and William Belcher, York. The new members in 1910 were J. A. Mauk, Baker, vice Kirkpatrick ; E. T. Watson, Waco, vice Steffin ; Peter Ehlers, Thayer, and F. M. Churchill, Hays.
In 1911 a few new faces appeared, including II. M. Miller, Bradshaw ; David Price, New York : Cornelius Peters, Henderson ; S. S. Horn, West Blue; M. N. Stammers, York. In 1912 A. Mauk and W. E. Prather were new faces on the board.
In 1913 the membership of the board of supervisors were: R. R. Copsey, W. G. Chapman, E. O. Jenkins, William Davidson, J. L. Dorsey, Thomas Ieneban, S. W. Gillan, James C. Kennedy, J. A. Mank, W. E. Prather, A. Prohaska, T. H. Clifford, James Neville, (. Peters, M. L. Diehl, M. B. Stream, William Witte, F. M. Churchill, W. R. Devine, and W. K. Williams. Practically all of the same membership served in 1914, and in 1915 a few new faces appeared, being II. M. Miller, John Morgan, William Tieken, J. M. Tucker, F. C. Williams, A. J. Martin and Ernest Green, the retiring members being Chapman, Clifford, William Davidson, Kennedy, Mauk, Witte and Henehan. In 1916 the new members were G. W. Doell, Thomas Green, and Fred W. Romsdal succeeding Prohaska, Ernest Green, and W. R. Devine. In 1917 and 1918 the new members were Charles Broehl, Panl Meuller, and George T. Westwood, displacing Copsey, Prather, and Stream, the latter transferring his legislative activity to the Nebraska State Legislature for the 1917 session. In 1918 the new membership brought in D. D. Epp, G. W. Mulig, R. M. Rankin, Robert Sperry and L. F. White, while the following retired from the board: Green, Tieken, W. K. Williams, Peters, and F. C. Williams.
The complete roster for 1919 was: Robert Sperry, Gresham; E. O. ,Jenkins, Benedict; H. M. Miller, Bradshaw; F. Oakley Price, York ; Gilbert Mulig, York ; John Morgan, York ; D. D. Epp, Lushton ; Leslie White, McCool; R. M. Rankin, York ; A. J. Martin, York ; Pan) Mueller, Thayer ; J. L. Dorsey, Bradshaw; F. W. Romsdal, York; George Westwood, Waco; James Neville, York ; George W. Doell, Henderson ; F. M. Churchill, Fairmont ; S. W. Gillan, Exeter ; M. L. Diehl, York, and Charles Broehl, York.
The 1920 board remains the same as 1919, except for Gillan and Martin being succeeded by John W. Schultz and H. C. Cites.
In 1921 Broehl, Diehl, Schultz, and Churchill remain on the board by re-election Vol. 1-32
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
and the new members coming on are A. J. Prather, Thayer Township; Homer Ramsey. Arborville : J. C. Brown, Lockridge; J. W. Deboar, Leroy : D. J. Kroeker, Brown; R. M. Rankin and W. R. Furman, York.
COUNTY CLERKS
A very important office, around which much of the county business centers is that of county clerk. Ile acts as the clerk for the County Board of Supervisors, works in close relation with the assessor and treasurer, the work of the three form- ing a trinity of action in assessing, compiling, recording, collecting and disbursing tax levies, collections and receipts. During the World war period, the county clerk was made secretary of the local draft board, more properly known as the selective service board, and the records of the Federal Government's actual partici- pation with the individual inhabitants of the county very largely centered in this office.
The first county clerk of the county was Edward Bates. D. R. Creegan was soon afterwards elected to the office: in 1871 A. B. Tutton assumed the offiee. John H. Helms filled it late in 1872, and F. W. Liedke assumed the office in 1873 and held it until 1878, when Lee Love served a short period, and J. A. Eatherly took it in 1879. In 1882 M. Sovereign assumed the office and served for about eight years, his successor, W. II. Reader, taking office in 1890. After six years of service, Reader was succeeded by J. D. White in 1896, and four years later C. C. Boslaw assumed the office, in 1900. W. A. Miller took office in 1906, and held it for four years. with the assistance of former Clerk Boslaw as deputy. Henry F. Chapin became clerk in 1910 and served for five years. Annie II. Beck became clerk in 1915 and served for four years, with Hazel Stowe as deputy. Miss Stowe remained as deputy with the present clerk, John Muir, who took office in 1919.
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