USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 94
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At this time, the Democratic party was in the majority, or, more accurately speaking, in the plurality, and elected all the county officers at the first election. All the postmasters in the county were also Democratic, if they had any known politics, and the party thus had a prestige, which, had it been properly engineered, might have lasted until the present time ; for settlers were coming in rapidly, and all new-comers, if they had any political ambition at all, naturally fell in with the strongest side. Thus, a great many men, some of them with ambition and good abilities, had joined the Democratic party, who did not properly belong in it. They joined that side because it then was in the majority and promised to reach the political persimmons, for which fruit they were hungering. When, therefore, a new issue came up, like the formal move against slavery, the old-time Democrats set themselves so rigidly against the ultra anti-slavery doctrines that they drove the above-mentioned semi-proselytes, who had joined the party because it was winning, and who would have remained in it had a less radical course been pursued, com- pletely out of it. Therefore, at the breaking-up of the Whig party, and the formation of the Republican party, its successor, many of the ablest men of the Democratic party joined this new political organization, becoming its leaders, while a few of the disintegrating Whig party became Democrats.
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John Evans NEW BERLIN.
615
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
Notwithstanding all this, however, the Democratic has been the strongest party in the county since its organization. To illustrate: Since 1856 the county has comprised the Tenth Sena- torial district, in which have been held twenty-four elections for State Senator. These have re- sulted in fourteen victories for the Democrats and ten for the Republicans.
The first local paper Waukesha County had was Democratic; the Democrat, started by George Hyer in 1848. During most of the time since, the party has had from two to three true-blue newspaper organs, which have been supported fully as well as the papers of the oppos- ing party, and it now maintains two of the four newspapers published in the county.
In the earlier years of this party, John C. Snover, Jonathan Parsons and one other were the only Democrats in the town of Eagle to hold caucuses and select delegates. These sturdy politicians made this limited number answer all purposes admirably, however, for they had a man for chairman of their crowded meeting on some hermit dry-goods box ; one for secretary, (called " scratchetary " by Andrew E. Elmore when he first began to manipulate Democratic caucuses) and one to shout out the motions.
The most distinguished Democrat Wankesha County produced was William A. Barstow, though Alexander F. Pratt, without often appearing in the role of office-holder, was for many years an influential party manager, and much of the secret history of the party was made by him, not only in Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties, but in the whole State.
The oldest Democrats-those who have never switched off the faith, are Joseph Bond, John C. Snover, James Weaver and Jacob H. Kimball. The latter was the first Chairman of the town of Prairieville, and was also the first member from that locality of the Territorial Council.
In the vicinity of Oconomowoc, where David W. Small has been for many years a leading Democrat, the members of the party displayed commendable wisdom by forming themselves into a formal organization, electing such officers as any deliberative or corporate body requires, and keeping a perfect record, in a book procured for the purpose, of the proceedings of all caucuses, conventions and meetings held in the interest of the Democratic party. This plan was adopted in September, 1850, at a meeting held at the La Belle House, Oconomowoc, for that purpose. This record was kept by Edwin Hurlbut, D. H. Rockwell, R. C. Hathaway, Hiram Carter, Emulous P. Cotton, Samnel Dodge and others. During and since the war, no record has been kept, and the formal Democratic organization at Oconomowoc has been suffered to break up, unfortunately for history.
The county affairs have generally been managed by the Democrats, on one occasion the County Board being composed of fourteen Democrats and two Republicans. The former, therefore, lay claim to a good share of the honor due to those who have kept the county out of debt and its finances in such good condition.
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The Republican party has been in existence in Waukesha County since its earliest settlement, but only under its present name for twenty-six years. Its ancestor was the earnest old Liberty party, whose members fought like Spartans in their chosen cause. They began operations as soon after the settlement of the county as necessary local matters had been adjusted, being aroused by the action of Congress, which denied the right of petition, it being determined by the House, on motion of Mr. Patton, of Virginia, that for the future all petitions or other papers touching slavery should be laid on the table without being debated, printed, read, or referred. The murder of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy, on the 7th of November, 1837, by a mob, for publishing very tame Anti-slavery articles, with similar other aggressive acts of pro-slavery men, made a deep impression on the country, and the friends of freedom saw in it a new revela- tion of the contest on which they had entered. It was then promptly determined by the few anti- slavery men in the North, to organize political abolition societies.
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Prairieville (afterward Waukesha), was settled with a large number of Abolitionists, and early formed Anti-slavery societies, and for several years was the center of the Territory for Aboli- tion conventions, and party lines were soon sharply drawn, and both Whigs and Democrats were
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616
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
driven together in political action, to beat the Abolitionists. In 1842, a Territorial Antislavery society was formed, in which Prairieville took a leading part.
The first Abolition Territorial Convention for the nomination of Delegates to Congress, was held at Madison September 13, 1843, which was called to order by E. D. Clinton, of Prairieville; Ezra Mendall, of Prairieville, was elected Chairman, and Vernon Tichenor, of Prairieville, was appointed to prepare an address to the people.
At the succeeding election for delegate to Congress, Henry Dodge, Democrat, received in the Territory 921 votes ; George W. Hickox Whig, 354 votes ; Col. J. Spooner, Abolition, 115 votes.
A Territorial Liberty Association was formed in February, 1844, for political purposes, and the dissemination of Abolition literature and intelligence. Charles Durkee, of Southport ( now Kenosha ), was President-an Executive Committee composed of Charles Durkee, Jacob Ly Brand, Vernon Tichenor, E. D. Holton, Stephen Peet, Asahel Finch, Jr., and J. G. Kendall, were chosen.
The American Freeman, organ of the Territorial Anti-slavery Society, which, in August, 1844, had been running about six months, was brought to Waukesha, and C. C. Sholes engaged to continue it in that place during three years, the expenses of its publication to be maintained by the Abolition party .*
A Liberty Party Convention to nominate candidates for county offices for the County of Milwaukee, met in Prairieville, on August 20, 1845. Winthrop Chandler, of Prairieville, was called to the chair, and C. C. Sholes, of Prairieville, was chosen Secretary.
Delegates from Prairieville-M. S. Barnett, V. Tichenor, C. S. Hawley, W. D. Bacon, J. W. Rossman, C. C. Olin, A. L. Barber, H. N. Davis, E. S. Purple, L. C. Slye, L. Goodnow, W. Weed, O. F. Curtis, C. C. Sholes, George Hawley, E. Bates, D. Chandler, M. Hawley, Ezra Mendall, Rev. Seward and W. McWhorter.
Milwaukee-W. L. Collins.
Pewaukee-A. Stewart, J. H. Waterman, Thomas Brown, L. Crocker, M. Clark, and John Hodgson.
New Berlin-George Hollister, Elon Murry, A. Gilbert, Hiram Hollister, A. C. Thayer, and W. Morris.
Menomonee-A. W. Norris.
Vernon-O. B. Haseltine, Ira Blood, and C. A. Walker.
The convention nominated, for member of Council, Samuel Hinman, of Prairieville.
For the House of Representatives, N. S. Kendrick, Prairieville ; George Hawley, Prairie- ville ; E. D. Underwood, Milwaukee ; Ira Blood, Vernon ; and J. H. Waterman, of Pewaukee ; for Register of Deeds, Vernon Tichenor, Prairieville ; Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, David McDougal, Milwaukee ; Treasurer, Samuel Brown, Milwaukee; Coroner, S. A. Stratton, Mil- waukee ; District Surveyor, Winchel D. Bacon, Prairieville.
The Committee on Resolutions reported twelve resolutions. The first was:
Resolved, That the anti-slavery enterprise is the most arduous as well as the most important ever yet undertaken hy the American people, and involves the necessity of corresponding exertions and sacrifices on the part of those- engaged in it.
5 .- Resolved, That we will use all proper efforts to secure to the colored man the right of franchise, of which he is unjustly deprived in the Territory.
9 .- Resolved, That we view the National Constitution as an anti-slavery document, and every act of the Federal Government for the extension of slavery, unauthorized by that instrument and contrary to its design.
12 .- Resolved, That we indignantly repel the efforts of our opponents to fix upon us the character of enemies- to the Constitution, the Government and the Union.
. At the subsequent election the delegates to Congress received in Milwaukee County, Martin [Dem.], 5,526 ; Collins [Whig], 4,496 ; E. D. Holton [Libertyite], 815.
The annual meeting of the Territorial Liberty Association was held at Beloit, February 25, 1845.
* See chapter on " Waukesha County Newspapers" for an interesting account of the American Freeman.
617
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
For town officers at the election held April 7, 1846, in Prairieville and Pewaukee, both the Whigs and Democrats united to defeat the Liberty party candidates. Prairieville, however, elected two Liberty party candidates, Vernon Tichenor for Justice of the Peace, and B. Douglass for Collector and Constable.
On the question of a State government, the vote in the Territory was in favor, 12,334, against 2,487.
The question of the division of the county was voted upon at the same time as follows:
For.
Against.
Prairieville
387
0
Pewaukee
151
7
Oconomowoc.
2
111
Summit
2
184
Delafield
22
51
Warren
40
42
Lisbon
63
18
Menomonee
5
76
Brookfield
74
72
New Berlin
110
20
Muskego
39
48
Vernon
86
24
Mukwonago
121
14
Eagle
80
15
Ottawa
27
11
Genesee.
74
3
1,283
696
.
The vote in the table in reference to Summit was the result of two days' balloting. No doubt they would have voted longer, but names became scarce. The last vote taken was said to be from a traveler who voted from the end of a split stick, and in the list was credited to Peter Stick.
On the 3d day of February, 1846, the village of Prairieville was incorporated, and on the 2d day of March, 1846, E. D. Clinton, Abolition, was elected its first President.
The first political convention in the new county of Waukesha was called to elect delegates to frame a State constitution.
The Liberty party called a convention to meet at Prairieville August 14, 1846. George Hollister was elected Chairman and C. C. Sholes Secretary.
Delegates in attendance from Prairieville-E D. Clinton, V. Tichenor, C. C. Sholes, W. D. Bacon, H. N. Davis, A. Gaston, George Hawley, O. Z. Olin, E. S. Purple, S. Hinman, R. Moore, T. H. Olin, W. McWhorter, Z. Bidwell, Ezra Mendall, R. Johnson, W. C. Whitman, and E. Bates.
New Berlin-A. L. Barber, D. Gilbert, G. W. Hollister, A. E. Gilbert, R. Cheeny, H. P. Kendall, Hiram Hollister, George Hollister, and D. Cheeny.
Mukwonago-John Andrews and S. H. Depuy.
Vernon-Ira Blood, A. Pierce, O. B. Haseltine, J. Stoddard, B. Webster, and W. Guthrie. Pewaukee-Asa Clark and Nelson Olin.
Lisbon-S. Dougherty, S. Bottsford, E. Matthews, and S. Potter.
Brookfield-J. L. Irwin.
Oconomowoc-J. Colby and J. P. Colby.
The platform was as follows :
Resolved, That we recognize no crisis or exigency in local or general politics as being of equal importance with the great foundation principles of the Liberty organization.
Resolved, That it is unwise and a departure from the integrity of Liberty principles for us by our votes to con- tribute to the strength and influence of the old parties.
Resolved, That color, place of nativity, religious belief or possession of property, as qualifications or disqualifi- cations for the enjoyment of civil privileges involve a principle diametrically hostile to true republicanism, natural and equal freedom.
The convention nominated candidates as follows :
For Delegates to the Constitutional Convention-Vernon Tichenor, C. C. Sholes, Daniel
618
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
Gilbert, Timothy Palmer, James N. Heath, John Andrews, Ira Blood, J. Metcalf, Walter Cush- ing, N. S. Kendrick and Esquire White. For Councilman-Samnel Hinman, of Prairieville. House of Representatives-Orin Haseltine, of Vernon, and Nelson Olin, of Pewaukee. Sher- iff-Barzilla Douglass, Prairieville. Coroner-Ezra Mendall, Prairieville. Register-Elisha Pearl, Lisbon. Judge of Probate-Vernon Tichenor, Prairieville. Clerk of Board of Super- visors-P. S. Brown, Pewaukee. Treasurer-T. H. Olin, Prairieville. Surveyor-John Hodgson, Pewaukee.
A Liberty Association was formed for the county of Waukesha with the constitution of the Milwaukee County Liberty Association. The officers elected were : President, S. Hinman ; Vice Presidents-George Hawley, N. S. Kendrick, G. W. Hollister, Asa Clark and J. S. Bald- win ; C. C. Sholes, Secretary ; E. S. Purple, Treasurer ; Executive Committee-V. Tichenor, N. Clinton, E. D. Clinton, T. H. Olin and W. D. Bacon. W. D. Bacon, C. C. Olin and Dr. G. Wright were appointed a committee to raise money for lecturing, pledged to Messrs. Codding and Clark. At the election, the average Liberty party vote in Waukesha County was 225; Whig, 675 ; Democratic, 860.
On December 2, 1846, the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Liberty Association met at Prairieville, Jacob Ly Brand, Vice President in the Chair, W. D. Bacon, Secretary.
Waukesha County delegates were present as follows :
Rev. O. F. Curtis, Lucius Bottsford, Winthrop Chandler, H. Blanchard, Rev. A. Gaston, L. C. Slye, P. L. Brown, E. D. Clinton, Rev. D. M. Clark, John Nelson, William McWhorter, B. Stown, E. Matthews, S. Bottsford, W. D. Bacon, L. Blanchard, John White, Thomos Blount, E. S. Purple, H. Nelson, Rev. N. Miller, A. Stewart, Rev. A. L. Barber, R. Griffin, G. W. Hollis- ter, H. A. Youmans, George Hawley, S. Dougherty, Samuel Hinman, W. T. Hollenbeck, Allen Clinton, Vernon Tichenor, J. P. Colby, Harvey P. Kendall, Moore Spears, Stephen Richmond, Thomas H. Olin, Zebulon Bidwell, Rev. Roswell Cheeny, John S. Baldwin Hiram Hollister, C. L. Robinson, A. E. Gilbert, Joseph French.
The business committee reported in favor of employing Ichabod Codding to lecture one year in Wisconsin against slavery. It also reported the following, which was adopted :
Resolved, That if a constitution disfranchising any portion of men shall be sent to the people for adoption, we as friends of the rights of man shall feel ourselves bound more strenuously to oppose its acceptance.
The labors of the Liberty party secured articles favoring equal suffrage, which were sub- mitted to the legal voters in connection with the constitution, which articles were defeated with it.
The vote on constitution was in Waukesha County : For constitution, 1,246 ; against 1,825. For equal suffrage, 1,107 ; against, 617.
On July 14, 1847, the semi-annual meeting of the Wisconsin Liberty Association met at Waukesha, and organized by electing E. D. Holton, President, and E. D. Underwood and W. D. Bacon, Secretaries.
V. Tichenor, Seward and Love were appointed a committee to nominate a candidate for Delegate to Congress. Said committee nominated Charles Durkee, whom the convention unan- imously indorsed. E. D. Holton, Charles Durkee and I. Codding were appointed delegates to the Liberty Party Convention, to meet at Buffalo October 20, to nominate Liberty candidates for President and Vice President.
At the election following, to wit, in November, 1847, Charles Durkee, Liberty party, re- ceived for Delegate in Waukesha County, 198; in the Territory, 973. Moses M. Strong, Democrat, 583 ; in the Territory, 9, 748 ; John H. Tweedy, Whig, 659; in the Territory, 10,670.
The Liberty party of Waukesha County called a convention to meet at Waukesha, Novem- ber 13, 1847, to nominate the six candidates for delegates apportioned them for the convention to frame a State constitution.
The convention organized by electing Sam'l Dougherty Chairman and W. D. Bacon, Secretary.
On ballot the following named persons were nominated as candidates for delegates to said convention : Vernon Tichenor, John Hodgson, Richard Griffin, Ira Blood, Hiram Hollister, N. S. Kendrick.
619
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
October 20, 1847, the National Convention of the Liberty Party met at Buffalo, at which John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, was nominated for President, and Leicester King, of Ohio, for Vice President.
Important constitutional questions were considered at this convention by the most eminent men in the Liberty party, discussions lasting nearly two days.
Gerrit Smith came to the convention with his land league measures, which were finally rejected, although in less than a year adopted by the Liberty party. John P. Hale had at no time identified himself as an individual member of the Liberty party, and by several of the dele- gates was opposed for that reason. Gerrit Smith advocated that slavery could be abolished by direct Congressional legislation. S. P. Chase contended that slavery in the States was not strictly unconstitutional, but extra-constitutional ; thought it could not be reached by direct enactment.
A resolution was, however, adopted, declaring in effect that slavery could and would be abolished by a constitutional administration of the Government. Mr. Chase was right in say- ing that slavery could not be reached by direct enactment. The resolution was more than right ; it was prophetic, for under Mr. Lincoln it was literally abolished by "a constitutional adminis- tration " of the Government.
The year 1848 was prolific with nominations for the Presidency. First the Liberty party nominated John P. Hale ; then the Land Leaguers nominated Gerrit Smith. On the 23d of May, the Democrats nominated Lewis Cass; on the 7th of June the Whigs nominated Gen. Taylor, and on August 9, the Wilmot Proviso men, Barn-Burners and Liberty party men nom- inated Martin Van Buren.
As the movement of the Wilmot Proviso men in calling the Buffalo Convention, to prevent slavery pervading the Territories, and the admitting of new States with slavery, seemed to pre- sent the most important duty at that day, a State convention was called to meet at Janesville on July 26, to send delegates to the convention.
Waukesha County called a convention to send delegates to the Janesville Convention. Three persons responded to that call, viz., W. D. Bacon, Alexander Cook and Dr. W. H Far- ner. The convention organized by appointing W. D. Bacon, Chairman, W. H. Farner Sec- retary, and Alexander Cook Committee on Resolutions. Delegates were duly appointed, and it was
Resolved, that the delegates elected to represent this county, in the Janesville convention, be instructed to use their influence in favor of nominating delegates in favor of nominating Martin Van Buren for the Presidency.
The Janesville Convention sent W. D. Bacon, Ichabod Codding and A. W. Randall for Waukesha County delegates to the Buffalo Convention, and adopted this resolution, framed by Andrew E. Elmore :
Resolved, That as a man has a right to life, and without access to the earth which is the gift of God to all His children he must perish, we are in favor of disposing of the lands of the United States to actual settlers only in limited quantities, at a cost of survey and transportation.
Soon after the Buffalo Convention, which nominated Van Buren, Hale having withdrawn, the Liberty party took the name of Free Soil party.
Pursuant to call of the citizens of Waukesha County, the friends of Free Soil assembled in mass convention at Waukesha, to ratify the nomination of Martin Van Buren for President, and Charles F. Adams for Vice President.
The convention was called to order by A. W. Randall, and permanently organized by the election of the following officers : Anson H. Taylor, President; B. R. Hinckley, Charles Bur- chard, W. D. Bacon, L. Martin and J. W. Brackett, Vice Presidents ; J. M. Griswold, M. T. Draper, R. M. Cady, Secretaries. A. Cook, E. W. Edgerton and V. Tichenor, were appoint- ed a Committee on Resolutions.
On September 26, 1848, pursuant to call, a convention met at Mukwonago from the First Congressional District to nominate a candidate for Congress. A. W. Randall was elected Presi- dent, and W. D. Bacon Secretary. The delegates from Waukesha County were W. D. Bacon,
620
HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.
A. W. Randall, Charles Burchard, John M. Wells, and E. Pearl. The convention nominated Charles Durkee, and at the polls in November he was elected. Charles Durkee had been a strong, consistent Anti-slavery and Liberty party man for several years, and was the very first outspoken, uncompromising Liberty party man who had at that date been elected to Congress, This was a big victory. A second mass convention of the Free Soil party assembled at Waukesha, the 25th of October, 1848, B. R. Hinckly in the chair, and J. M. Griswold, Secretary.
A county committee was appointed as follows, with power to appoint town committees throughout the county : A. W. Randall, A. Cook, Charles Burchard, W. D. Bacon, J. W. Brackett, L. Martin, and E. W. Edgerton. A. W. Randall was elected to attend the State Convention, and A. Cook as the delegate at the Congressional Convention. The convention was then addressed by Messrs. Austin, Lovell, Saunders and Goss.
On motion a committee of three from each town were selected as a nominating committee as follows : Waukesha-A. W. Randall, John M. Wells, and W. D. Bacon ; New Berlin-S. Beardsley, W. P. Hale, B. Hollister ; Genesee-W. Smith, T. Evans, T. Fender ; Ottawa-E. Duchene, and H. B. Bloomer ; Mukwonago-A. E. Elmore and S. Collier ; Vernon-N. B. Smith, John Sweet, A. Putnam ; Muskego-Asa Parker and Luther Parker ; Brookfield-M. Spears and J. W. Brackett ; Pewaukee-Asa Clark, S. Love, J. W. Hildreth ; Delafield- Stephen Warren and M. Teneyck ; Summit-E. W. Edgerton, R. M. Carter and F. Wilkenie ; Oconomowoc-G. E. Conant, J. P. Colby, G. W. Cottrell ; Warren-M. Smith, Dr. Fenn and C. G. Williams ; Lisbon-S. Bottsford, N. Miller and Harrison Phillips.
The committee presented to the convention the following names, which were unanimously adopted : For State Senator, Benjamin Hunkins, of New Berlin ; Sheriff, Charles Hawley, of Waukesha ; Judge of Probate, Alex. Cook, of Waukesha ; Register of Deeds, Geo. W. Cottrell, of Oconomowoc ; Clerk of Court, J. M. Griswold, of Waukesha ; District Attorney, J. E. Gallagher, of Waukesha ; Treasurer, Jacob Hengy, of Waukesha ; Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Vernon Tichenor, of Waukesha.
The convention appointed A. W. Randall, W. D. Bacon, Alex. Cook, E. W. Edgerton and L. Parker, central committee.
At the ensuing election the Free Soil, Van Buren ticket for electors in the county of Waukesha, received forty majority over the Cass ticket, and ninety-five over the Taylor electoral ticket. In the State, Van Buren received 10,528; Zachary Taylor received 13,746 ; Lewis Cass received 14,891. Mr. Van Buren received 291,037 votes in the fifteen free States.
Two State conventions were called for 1849, one by the Free Soil, or Free Democratic party, as it now began to be called, to nominate State officers, at Madison September 12, and one by the Cass Democracy.
The Cass men held their convention the 5th of September, at Madison, nominating Nelson Dewey for Governor.
On the 7th of September, the Union-Liberty-Democratic State Convention met at Madison, resolved that it was a Free Soil convention, and nominated Warren Chase for Governor, John Bannister, Lieutenant Governor; Benjamin Hunkins, Secretary of State; Charles M. Goodsell, Treasurer ; Marshall M. Strong, Attorney General.
The vote for Governor and other Free Democratic candidates in Waukesha County was 371. In 1848 the Free Soil vote was 1,001, and in 1847 the Liberty party vote was 250, having gained by the Van Buren movement only about 100 votes in the county ; but the country had been electrified by the spasmodic advocacy by the Van Buren wing of Democracy, of the most radical Abolition doctrine ever promulgated by Abolitionists ; a door had been opened and a respectful hearing given to Free Soil principles, which made converts rapidly, and in twelve years buried the Democratic party, and the pro-slavery body of the Whig party, so that it has not yet been resurrected.
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