USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179
The candidates for Assembly were Stephen Wolverton, Alex. McCloskey, George Moore and George Stuntz, Erie County; and John Andrews, Warren. Wolverton was re-elected. William Benson, Waterford; Thomas Forster, Erie, and James M. Moorehead, Harbor Creek, were candidates for Commis- sioner. Benson was elected. Martin Strong, Mckean, was chosen Auditor over David H. Chapman, Fairview.
1827.
Stephen Wolverton was re-elected to the Assembly over Alex. McCloskey, North East, his only opponent. The candidates for Coroner were William Flemming, Erie; Samuel Brown, Erie; Jesse Tarbell, Mill Creek; Benjamin Russell, Mill Creek; and James Graham, Beaver Dam. Flemming was elected. James M. Moorhead was chosen Commissioner over Thomas Forster. David H. Chapman, Fairview; Thomas Dunn, McKean; Robert Cochran, Mill Creek, and Charles Lay, Erie, were candidates for Auditor. Chapman was elected.
1828.
The Jackson State Convention was held in Harrisburg January 8. An- drew Jackson was nominated for President, and John C. Calhoun for Vice President. James Duncan, Mercer County, was the electoral candidate for this Congressional District.
The Adams Convention met about the 4th of March, and nominated John Quincy Adams for President, and Richard Rush, Pennsylvania, for Vice Pres- ident. John Leech, Mercer County, was the electoral candidate for this Con- gressional district.
The State election was held October 14. The candidates in this district and county were as follows: Congress-Thomas H. Sill, Erie County; and Stephen Barlow, Crawford. The vote in the county was 1, 406 for Sill and 366 for Barlow. Sill received a majority of about 600 in the district. Assembly -- George Moore, Stephen Wolverton and Wilson Smith, all of Erie County; Moore was elected. Sheriff-Alex. W. Brewster, Erie; Thomas Mellen, North East; Daniel Saw- tell, Springfield; Smith Jackson, Erie; Richard Arbuckle and John G. Cald- well, Mill Creek. Brewster was elected. Commissioner (three years)-Albert Thayer, Erie; George Nicholson, Fairview. Thayer was elected by a nearly unanimous vote. Commissioner (one year)-in place of William Benson, Waterford, resigned -- Myron Hutchinson, Springfield; James Pollock, LeBœuf; and John Boyd, Waterford. Hutchinson was elected. Robert Cochran, Mill Creek, was elected Auditor over Thomas Dunn, McKean, and James Benson, Waterford. No political issue seems to have been made in thie election.
The Presidential election was held on Friday, October 31, and resulted as follows:
351
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Erie and Mill Creek
133
188
MeKean.
52
27
Fairview
95
56
Springfield.
118
31
Conneaut . .
76
19
Waterford and LeBœuf.
115
120
Harbor Creek ..
56
54
North East.
85
116
Greenfield.
24
13
Union
25
9
Conneauttee (now Washington).
58
27
Elk Creek.
27
28
Beaver Dam (now Greene).
8
20
Concord
16
10
Amity
22
7
Wayne.
12
2
Total
945
773
The vote of the State was: Jackson, 101,652; Adams, 50,848; Jackson's majority, 50,804. Jackson and Calhoun had a large majority of the electoral votes of the Union.
1829.
The Anti-Masonic excitement had by this year risen into a political issue, and a separate party organization was formed, embracing a large portion of the supporters of Mr. Adams. The Democratic State Convention met at Har- risburg on the 4th of March and nominated George Wolf, Northampton County, for Governor. The Anti-Masonic State Convention met at the same place on the same day, and nominated Joseph Ritner, Washington County. The vote of Erie County was: Ritner, 1,545; Wolf, 497. The vote of the State was: George Wolf, Democrat, 77,988; Joseph Ritner, Anti-Mason, 51,724; Wolf's majority, 26, 264.
The Anti-Masonic issue does not appear to have entered into the election of district and county officers, and the candidates ran upon their merits, as heretofore, most of them having been previously identified with the Demo- cratic organization. For State Senate, Thomas S. Cunningham, Mercer County, defeated Wilson Smith, Erie County, by over 2,700 majority in the district. George Moore was elected to the Assembly over Stephen Wolverton. Joseph M. Sterrett, Eric, Myron Hutchinson, Springfield, and William Gray, Wayne, were candidates for Commissioner. Sterrett was elected by a major- ity of 26 over Hutchinson, the next highest candidate. Eli Webster, Mckean, was elected Auditor over Thomas E. Reed, Venango, by a nearly unanimous vote.
1830.
This was the first year in which Anti-Masonry entered directly into the choice of district and county officers. The Anti-Masonic candidate for Con- gress was John Banks, of Mercer County. The Democratic candidate was Thomas S. Cunningham, Mercer County. Banks had a majority of 316 in Erie County, and 1,135 in the district. The candidates for county officers were as follows:
Anti-Masonic-Assembly, John Riddle, Erie; Commissioner, James Pol. lock, LeBœuf; Coroner, David Wallace, Erie; Auditor, John J. Swan, Fair- view.
Democratic- Republican-Assembly, P. S. V. Hamot, Erie; Commissioner, John Saulsbury, Fairview; Coroner, Charles Lay, Erie; Auditor, Thomas Laird, of Erie.
Adams,
Jackson.
Venango
23
46
352
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The Anti-Masonic ticket was successful by an average majority of 250.
1831.
The candidates were as follows:
Anti-Masonic-Assembly, John Riddle; Sheriff, William Fleming, Erie; Commissioner. Thomas R. Miller, Springfield; Auditor, James Smedley, North East.
*Democratic-Assembly, George Moore, Erie; Sheriff, Albert Thayer, Erie; Commissioner, Thomas Mellen, North East; Auditor, John G. Caldwell, Mill Creek.
Independent Candidates-Assembly, William Dickson, North East; Sher- iff, David Zimmerman and James McCoukey, Erie.
The Anti-Masonic candidates were successful by average majorities of about 400. None of the independent candidates had much of a support.
1832.
The candidates for Governor were George Wolf, Democrat, and Joseph Ritner, Anti-Masonic.
The Democrats of Pennsylvania supported Andrew Jackson for President, and William Wilkins, this State, for Vice President. Martin Van Buren, New York, was also a Democratic candidate for Vice President, and was elected, though Pennsylvania cast her vote for Wilkins. Henry Clay ran as an Anti- Jackson Democratic candidate for President, with John Seargeant, Pennsylvania, for Vice President. The Anti-Masons supported William Wirt, Maryland, for President, and Amos Ellmaker, Pennsylvania, for Vice President. Wilson Smith was the Jackson candidate for Elector in this district; David Dick, Crawford, the Clay candidate; and Robert Falconer, Warren, the Anti-Masonic. The Jackson and Clay men went by the designation of Democratic Republic- ans; the supporters of Wirt by that of Republican Anti-Masons. The vote of the county was as follows:
Wirt.
Jackson.
Erie and Mill Creek.
284
163
McKean .
94
16
Fairview
89
12
Springfield.
82
69
Conneaut.
118
74
Waterford.
92
65
Harbor Creek
80
76
North East.
110
42
Greenfield.
37
52
Union
138
1
Venango
72
42
Conneauttee
36
36
Concord.
16
33
Beaver Dam
64
31
Elk Creek.
33
32
Amity
30
39
Wayne
23
17
Le Bœuf
37
61
Girard.
109
88
Total.
1,494
1,049
Only three ballots were cast for Clay, all in North East Township.
The vote for Governor was larger than that for President, Ritner receiving 1,792, and Wolf 1.170. In the State the result was as follows: George Wolf, Democrat, 91,235; Joseph Ritner, Anti-Mason, 88,186; Wolf's majority, 3,049.
*1831 .- This year the name Democratic-Republican was dropped in Erie County, and the supporters of Jackson called themselves Democrats.
353
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The vote of the State for President was: Jackson, 90,983; Wirt, 66, 716; ma- jority for Jackson, 24,267.
Mr. Clay's vote was too light to be considered worthy of record by the papers of the day.
The candidates for district and county offices were as follows:
Anti-Masonic-Congress, Thomas H. Sill, of Erie; Assembly, John H. Walker, Erie; Commissioner, John McCord, North East; Auditor, Samuel Low, Venango Township.
Democratic-Congress, John Galbraith, Venango County; Assembly, Rufus Seth Reed, Erie; Commissioner, Thomas Mellen, North East; Auditor, John Phillips, Venango.
All of the Anti-Masonic candidates were elected except Sill. John Gal- braith was defeated by 833 votes in Erie County, but received a majority of 778 in the district.
1833.
Anti-Masonic Candidates-State Senate, Charles M. Reed, Erie County; Assembly, John H. Walker, Erie; Commissioner, James Love, Mill Creek; Coroner, David McNair, of Mill Creek; Auditor, Mark Baldwin, Greenfield.
Democratic Candidates-State Senate, Thomas S. Cunningham, Mercer County: Assembly, Dr. Tabor Beebe, Erie; Commissioner, John Gingrich, Mill Creek; Coroner, Wareham Taggart, Springfield; Auditor, John Sauls- bury, Conneaut.
All of the Anti-Masonic candidates were elected except Reed, who received a majority in the county, but was defeated in the district.
1834.
Anti-Masonic Candidates-Congress, Thomas H. Sill, Erie County; As- sembly, John H. Walker, Erie; Sheriff, Thomas Mehaffey, Erie; Commis- sioner, Stephen Skinner, Mckean; Auditor, Russell Stancliff, Washington.
Democratic-Congress, John Galbraith, Venango County; Assembly, James M. Moorhead, Harbor Creek; Sheriff, Albert Thayer, Erie; Commis- sioner, Daniel Gillespie, Erie; Auditor, John R. Rouse, Venango.
Independent Candidate for Sheriff- Chauncey Rogers, Girard.
The Anti-Masonic candidates were elected with the exception of Sill, who received 353 majority in the county, but was defeated by 1,622 in the district.
1835.
The Democratic party of Pennsylvania was divided this year over a can- didate for Governor, one portion supporting George Wolf, and another Henry A. Muhlenburg, Berks. The Anti-Masons again chose Joseph Ritner as a candidate, showing a pertinacity in their devotion to him which has few par- allels in political annals.
The vote of Erie County was: For Ritner, 1, 743; Wolf, 164; Muhlenburg, 1,281. In the State the vote was as follows: Joseph Ritner, Anti-Mason, 94,023; George Wolf, Democrat, 65,804; Henry A. Muhlenburg, Democrat, 40,586.
Anti-Masonic County Ticket-Assembly, John H. Walker, Erie; Commis- sioner, James Miles, Girard; Auditor, William Benson, Waterford.
Democratic County Ticket-Assembly, P. S. V. Hamot, Erie; Commission- er, John Gingrich, Mill Creek; Auditor, David Webber, Concord.
All of the Anti-Masonic candidates were elected by an average majority of 400.
354
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
A proposition to bold a convention for revising the State Constitution was carried by 10,404 majority. Erie County cast 3,023 votes for the convention and 21 against it.
The following bit of political history appeared in the Erie Dispatch in 1882 :
"When the Democratic party was rent in twain in 1835, by one of the most serious of discordant elements, two State Conventions were held. One pre- sided over by the late Chief Justice Thompson nominated George Wolf for Governor for a third term. The anti- Wolf delegates, being a minority of the convention, protested against the nomination and at once met and, under the presidency of the same gentleman, nominated Henry A. Muhlenberg. The Democratic party with their two candidates in the field battled bravely, not so much with hopes of success as to test the relative strength of the hostile fac-
tions. Gov. Wolf's vote was 65,804. Mr. Muhlenberg's 40,586. The result proved disastrous to the Democratic party and resulted in the election of Joseph Ritner by a plurality vote of 8, 196. At once commenced plans of reconstruction and conciliation, though the elements of discord were deep- seated and the contest was of the most embittered character. Both wings of the party had to be recognized as Democratic, and no ostracism by the national administration against either wing of the party was to be tolerated. Van Buren, as President, was appealed to by leading men of both parties. He at once determined to use the best means in his power to suppress antagonism, and if possible unite the party. He appointed Muhlenberg as Minister to Vienna and Wolf Collector of the Port of Philadelphia. This recognition went far to restore confidence, allay bad feeling and unite the party. The union was so far perfected that at the time of the next Gubernatorial election in 1838, the Democratic party was united and elected by a large majority David R. Porter over Joseph Ritner, and ever after has continued a united party."
1836.
The Democratic candidate for Congress was Arnold Plumer, Venango County; the Anti-Masonic was David Dick. Crawford County. The vote of the county was: For Dick, 1,773; for Plumer, 1,214. In the district, Dick had 3,628, Plumer, 4,323, the latter being elected.
The county tickets, with the vote for each candidate, were as follows : The apportionment bill of 1835 gave Erie County two Assemblymen.
Anti-Masonic -- Assembly, Thomas R. Miller, Springfield, 1,948; Elijah Babbitt, Erie, 1, 716; Commissioner, Samuel Low, Harbor Creek, 1,719; Cor- oner, Samuel W. Keefer, Erie, 1,696; Auditor, William H. Crawford, North East, 1,689-all being elected.
Democratic-Assembly, James C. Marshall. Girard, 1,281; Frederick W. Miller, Waterford, 1,032; Commissioner, William Doty, Springfield, 1,244; Coroner, Anthony Saltsman, Mill Creek, 1,158; Auditor, James Wilson, Greenfield, 1,176.
The Presidential election was held October 31. The Anti-Masonic candi- dates were: For President, Gen. William H. Harrison, Ohio; for Vice Presi- dent, Francis Granger, New York. The elector for this district was James Cochran, Crawford County. The Democratic candidates were: For President, Martin Van Buren, New York; for Vice President, Richard M. Johnson, Ken- tucky. The elector was John P. Davis, Crawford County. Below is the vote:
1
355
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Harrison. Van Buren.
Erie ..
217
113
Mckean ..
147
20
Fairview
125
18
Springfield
182
67
Conneaut.
86
91
Waterford
122
92
Harbor Creek
154
75
North East.
137
197
Greenfield
48
37
Venango
86
44
Washington
133
58
Beaver Dam
81
37
Elk Creek.
79
82
Concord.
15
47
Amity
26
43
Wayne.
42
22
LeBoeuf.
35
55
Girard ..
155
94
Mill Creek.
205
95
Total
2,134
1,312
The vote of the State was as follows:
Van Buren, 91,475; Harrison, 87,111; Van Buren's majority, 4,364.
Van Buren and Johnson were elected by a large majority of the electoral votes of the Union.
An election for delegates to the convention for framing a new Constitu- tion was held on the same day. The candidates, with their votes, were as follows:
Senatorial delegate-Anti-Masonic, Daniel Sager, Crawford County, 2,064 in Erie County, and 3,249 in the district. Democratic, Henry Colt, Water- ford, 1,330 in Erie County, 3,016 in the district-Sager being elected.
Representative delegates-Anti-Masonic, Thomas H. Sill, Erie, 2,079; James Pollock, Le Bœuf, 2,063. Democratic, Wilson Smith, Waterford, 1,314; Henry L. Harvey, Erie, 1,315-Sill and Pollard being elected.
1837.
The candidates for State Senator (Erie and Crawford constituting the dis- trict) were: Anti-Masonic, Joseph M. Sterrett, Erie; Democratic, Edward A. Reynolds, Crawford. The vote for Sterrett in Erie County was 1,840; for Reynolds, 1,065. Sterrett was elected by about 400 majority in the district, Crawford being at that time Democratic.
The county tickets, with the vote, were as follows:
Anti Masonic-Assembly, Charles M. Reed, Erie, 2,087; David Sawdy, Conneaut. 1,773; Sheriff, Andrew Scott, Erie, 1,715; Commissioner, Thomas Sterrett, McKean, 1,757; Auditor, Thomas Nicholson, Mill Creek, 1,876.
Democratic-Assembly, Martin Strong, Sr., Beaver Dam, 962; David H. Chapman, Fairview, 630; Sheriff, Albert Thayer, Mill Creek, 1,204; Com- missioner, Eli Webster, Beaver Dam, 944.
1838.
The Anti-Masons again nominated Joseph Ritner for Governor; the Demo- crats placed in nomination David R. Porter, of Huntingdon County. The vote of the county was: For Ritner, 2,747; for Porter, 1,565-Ritner's major- ity, 1,182. In the State the result was as follows: David R. Porter, Demo- crat, 127,821; Joseph Ritner, Anti-Mason, 122,325-majority for Porter, 5, 496.
Union
59
25
356
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The organization of the Legislature, in December following this election, caused those troubles which have been named in derision the " Buckshot war." Their history may be briefly given as follows: When the Return Judges of Philadelphia County met in convention, a motion was made to throw out the votes of the Northern Liberties, on account of alleged frauds. By accepting the votes, the Anti-Masonic candidates for Congress, State Senator and Assem- bly were elected; their rejection gave the seats to the Democratic candidates. The Democrats had a majority of the Judges, and the returns were not ac- cepted. The Anti-Masonic Judges bolted and made out other returns, includ- ing the vote of the Northern Liberties, which were sent to Thomas H. Bur- rowes, Anti-Masonic Secretary of State, at Harrisburg. When the Legislature assembled, each set of candidates appeared for admission, and in the House the two parties were so nearly balanced that the acceptance or rejection of the Philadelphians involved the control of the body. Meantime, much excitement prevailed throughout the State, and serious disturbances were threatened. On the day of meeting, Harrisburg was full of angry men, but if we can rely on the Anti-Masonic papers of the time, the Democrats were largely in the ascend- ent. The vote for Speaker was taken, when the Democrats supported William Hopkins, and the Anti-Masons Thomas S. Cunningham, each party having separate tellers. Both claimed to be elected, and for some time occupied seats on the platform, side by side. Of course, under such circumstances, no busi- ness could be transacted, and affairs were brought to a dead-lock. The Senate, which contained a majority of Anti-Masons, recognized the Cunningham House. Excitement increased throughout the State, and the Democrats, resolved not to be defeated in their programme, threatened to maintain Mr. Hopkins' right to the Speakership by force. The Governor, in his fright, called out the militia of the adjoining counties, but when they reached Harrisburg it was found that the Democrats were in the majority among the troops, so that the Anti-Masons could not depend upon their support. He then wrote to President Van Buren for aid, who plumply refused .* After an agitation of several weeks, four Anti-Masonic Senators receded from their original position, voted to recognize the Hopkins House, and terminated all trouble in the Legislature. The Anti- Masons throughout the State were fierce in their denunciations of the recreant Senators, but soon subsided into acquiescence, and thus ended one of the most memorable, as it was also one of the most disgraceful, incidents in Pennsylvania history. Amid all the excitement, no blood was spilled. From this date, the Anti-Masonry party of Pennsylvania rapidly declined, and in a few years sunk out of existence.
The Anti-Masons again nominated David Dick for Congress. John Gal- braith, of Venango, was the Democratic candidate. In the county, Dick re- ceived 2,614 votes, and Galbraith, 1,610. Dick's vote in the district was 5,918; Galbraith's, 6,198, the latter's majority being 280. The district com- prised Erie, Crawford, Venango and Warren Counties, the three latter giving Democratic majorities.
The county tickets, with the vote for each candidate, were as follows.
Anti-Masonic -- Assembly, Samuel Hutchins, Waterford, 2,581; William M. Watts, Erie, 2,368; Commissioner, William E. McNair, Mill Creek, 2,591; Auditor, Alexander W. Brewster, Erie, 2,601.
Democratic-Assembly, Ebenezer D. Gunnison, Erie, 1,646; Myron Hutch- inson, Girard, 1,580; Commissioner, J. P. Grant, Wayne, 1,522; Auditor, Samuel T. Axtell, Union, 1,524.
*The United States Storekeeper at Frankfort turned over a liberal supply of ammunition to the State au- thorities, much of which consisted of buckshot cartridges. Hence the name of " Buckshot war."
.
faber BFoot -
359
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
A vote was taken on the adoption of the new Constitution, with the follow- ing result in the State: For the Constitution, 113,981; against, 112,759. Erie County went against the instrument by a majority of 1, 721.
Previous to this, negroes had voted. in the State. The new Constitution excluded them from suffrage. In the Convention, our delegates were divided, Mr. Sill voting for negro suffrage, and Mr. Pollock against. The Anti-Masons had a slight majority in the body.
The new Constitution provided for the election of Prothonotary and Regis- ter and Recorder, instead of their appointment by the Governor as before. The same instrument also changed the manner of selecting Justices of the Peace from appointment to election by the people. The choice of the latter officers was not made until the spring election in 1840, the old incumbents re- taining their position until the first Monday of May in that year.
1839.
The county tickets, with the vote for each candidate, were as follows:
Anti-Masonic-Assembly, Samuel Hutchins, Waterford, 1,927; William M. Watts, Erie, 1, 713; Prothonotary, William Kelly, Erie, 1,791; Reg- ister and Recorder, Thomas Moorhead, Erie, 1,997; Commissioner for three years, Lyman Robinson, Wattsburg, 1,845; Commissioner for one year (to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Thomas Sterrett), Samuel Low, Harbor Creek, 1,886; Coroner, John K. Caldwell, Mill Creek. 1,817; Auditor, Gideon J. Ball, Erie, 1,791.
Democratic-Assembly, William Townsend, Springfield, 1,522; Prothono- tary, James C. Marshall, Girard, 1,155; Register and Recorder, E. D. Gunni- son, 1,396; Commissioner, three years, James Duncan, North East, 1,420; Commissioner, one year, Horace Powers, Washington, 1,374; Coroner, P. P. Glazier, Erie, 1,391: Auditor, Martin Strong. Beaver Dam, 1,403.
Rev. J. H. Whallon, Erie, was nominated by the Democrats for Assembly, but declined. Dr. William Johns, Erie, who had previously sought the Anti- Masonic nomination for the office, announced himself as an independent can- didate, and was supported by a portion of the Democrats. He received 1,137 votes in the county.
A proposition to build a county poor house was submitted to the people, and defeated by a majority of 154 votes.
1840.
Before this year, each township took care of its own poor. A proposition to build a county poor house met with much opposition, but on being sub- mitted to a vote of the people at the spring elections, was carried by a vote of 1,599 in favor to 1,515 against. At this election, Justices of the Peace were chosen by popular vote for the first time, their selection having been previous- ly vested in the Governor.
The Anti-Masonic party had by this time given up the ghost, and the Whig party was organized upon its remains. The Whig candidate for Con- gress was William A. Irvine. of Warren County; the Democratic, Arnold Plumer, of Venango, the latter being elected. The following is the vote in the district:
Irvine.
Plumer.
Erie.
.3,301
2,005
Crawford.
2,175
2,640
Venango
679
1,007
Warren.
835
925
Clarion
610
1,329
Total
7,600
7,906
360
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The county tickets, with the vote for each candidate, were as follows:
Whig-Assembly, Stephen Skinner, Mckean, 3,289; James D. Dunlap, Erie, 3,281; Sheriff, E. W. M. Blaine, North East, 3,296; Commissioner, Russell Stancliff, Washington, 3,284; Auditor, James Miles, Girard Town- ship, 3,247.
Democratic-Assembly, William Townsend, Springfield, 2,033; Anthony Saltsman, Mill Creek, 2,030; Sheriff, Benjamin F. Norris, Greene, 2,012; Commissioner, James Duncan, North East, 2,004; Auditor, G. J. Stranahan, Concord, 2,002.
At this election, Directors of the Poor were chosen for the first time, each township having before elected its own Overseers. The candidates on the Whig ticket were Thomas R. Miller, Springfield; James Benson, Waterford Township; and George W. Walker, Harbor Creek, all of whom were elected. The Democratic candidates were William W. Warner, Fairview; Sherburn Smith, Erie; and William Wyatt, Harbor Creek.
At the general election following, the Whig candidates were: For Presi- dent, Gen. William H. Harrison, of Ohio; for Vice President, John Tyler, of Virginia. John Dick, of Crawford County, was the Whig elector for this dis- trict. The Democrats again supported Van Buren and Johnson. Stephen Barlow, of Crawford County, was the electoral candidate. The following is the vote of the county :
Harrison.
Van Buren.
Erie, West Ward.
175
96
Erie, East Ward.
203
83
McKean .
208
71
Fairview
247
53
Springfield.
285
87
Conneaut
197
125
Waterford Township
172
67
Harbor Creek.
227
106
North East Township
158
174
Greenfield.
91
55
Union.
81
36
Venango aud Wattsburg.
122
69
Washington and Edinboro
244
71
Greene ..
112
66
Elk Creek.
163
137
Concord .
38
81
Amity
46
61
Wayne.
85
51
LeBœuf
71
93
Girard .
301
229
Mill Creek.
43
38
Waterford Borough.
46
30
Total
3,636
2,061
In the State -- Harrison, 144,021; Van Buren, 143,672. jority, 349.
Harrison's ma-
Harrison & Tyler were elected. The former served only one month, when he died in office, and was succeeded by John Tyler, who soon became unpopular with the party that elected him.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.