USA > West Virginia > Summers County > History of Summers County from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 27
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There is another class who take the money from both candi- dates and from both parties, violate all promises, and still hold up their hands in holy horror at ordinary violations of the criminal law-pretending to be Christians, moralists, members of the Chris- tian Church, and claim their neighbor is not so good as themselves. These boodlers and this class of citizens are a stigma and a dis-
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grace to any community, and are dangerous to the government, as much so as the highwayman, and more so, for they make no claim to morality.
Fortunately, this county has been infested with only a small proportion of this class of venal and corrupt citizens, and the use of money has had but little influence in the general result, although it has been so charged and accredited to a much greater extent than true; no doubt the charges being made in good faith under such honest belief of the parties making the assertions, but the writer has for the last twenty years been in a position to know, having been more or less actually engaged in all political fights for himself or his friends, and he knows whereof and doth write truth- fully.
The life of the candidate, however, under existing conditions at this time in this county is made miserable, as well as the parties in charge of the respective organizations. The legitimate expenses of the campaigns have greatly increased-the employment of speak- ers, "spellbinders," conveyances. brass bands, hiring halls, buying badges, literature, etc., so that the party managers are kept busy try- ing to make both ends meet without the application of funds to the corruption of the voters and the elections. The voter who will sell his vote or his influence should be disfranchised ; and the time will come when public sentiment will become so strong that that char- acter of legislation will be enacted, and the hunter for "boodle money" will hide himself in shame from the face of the earth.
The first election held in the county not heretofore detailed was on the 13th day of August. 1875, which was for school officers. C. L. Ellison, of Forest Hill District, was elected superintendent of free schools, and held that position for two years, that being the term of that office at that time. He executed bond, with James Boyd as surety, and took office on the first day of January, 1876.
The next general election was the historical campaign of 1876, in which Samuel J. Tilden was the Democratic candidate for Presi- dent. and is claimed to this day to have been elected by the Demo- crats, and Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, who was declared elected, and held the office for four years. Elbert Fowler was elected prosecuting attorney ; Wm. S. Lilly was elected sheriff, with I. G. Carden as his deputy. Mr. Lilly executed bond, with R. C. Lilly, Joseph Lilly. Wm. H. Lilly, James E. Foster, James Graham and John G. Crockett for the general fund, in the penalty of $40,000. To cover the school fund he gave bond in the penalty of
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$25,000, with J. A. Parker, R. C. Lilly and I. G. Carden as sureties. John Lilly, known as "Item John," or "Gentleman John," was elected assessor ; Dr. Benj. P. Gooch, of Hinton, was elected to the Legislature.
We are unable to give the results from this election from the fact that no records were made. The returns, along with the bal- lots, were required to be sealed up and held by the clerks for one year, and then destroyed. No nominations were made, or, if any, it was only for a candidate for the Legislature. The opposition to Wm. S. Lilly for sheriff was composed of James H. Bledsoe, of Green Sulphur Springs, who ran for that office at this election, with Wm. P. Hinton for his deputy. S. W. Willey was also a candidate, with C. L. Miller for his deputy, each candidate running independently. At the preceding election, when Evan Hinton was a candidate for sheriff, Joseph Ellis ran with him for deputy ; S. W. Willey was the opposing candidate, who ran with John K. Withrow for his deputy.
The next election was in the year 1877, for county superintend- ent of free schools again. The candidates were D. G. Lilly, of Jumping Branch, and Rufus Deeds, and possibly some one else. whose name at this time I am unable to ascertain. Mr. Lilly was elected and took office for two years, on the first day of January. 1878.
The next regular and general election was in 1880, and, so far as I am able to ascertain, there were no nominations except for the Legislature. Dr. B. P. Gooch was again elected in 1878 for the Legislature, being elected for two successive terms as a Democrat. In 1880, the Democratic candidate for President was W. S. Han- cock against U. S. Grant, Republican, and the results of this elec- tion, as stated for those previous, we are unable to ascertain. The following named gentlemen were elected: Win. R. Thompson, for prosecuting attorney ; the majority I am unable to state. He and Elbert Fowler were the respective candidates, neither being nomi- nated. The campaign was active and vigorous and the result very close, the returns showing Mr. Thompson elected by a small ma- jority. A contest was instituted by Mr. Fowler before the county court, which decided against him. He appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeals, Judge James H. Ferguson representing him in that court, Mr. Thompson being represented by Judge Adam C. Snyder. The Supreme Court of Appeals reversed the judgment of the county court, and required it to canvass the votes, open the
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ballots and proceed to determine the results by hearing the evi- dence as to any frauds or irregularities alleged.
The court proceeded to open the ballots and re-count the vote at New Richmond, in which a change of six or seven votes were made in favor of Fowler, also the vote from Jumping Branch re- counted, the result in that district remaining unchanged, except as to one or two votes. The court adjourned, took a recess, and, during the noon hour, the friends of the contestants got together and compromised, with the agreement that Mr. Thompson should hold the office for the remainder of the term, about half of the term having already expired, and he pay Mr. Fowler $500.00 and the costs of the contest. As I remember, it was not expected by the parties, after they got into the contest, to go into the vote at Tal- cott precinct-not that it would change the result between Thomp- son and Fowler, but because there were possible irregularities at that voting place which would change the result as to the member of the Legislature, the face of the returns showing N. M. Lowry elected by less than ten votes, which was claimed and is possibly true, that if the facts had been known, there were sufficient irregu- larities to have changed the result, and shown the election of Jona- than Lilly.
THE AGREEMENT.
This agreement, made and entered into this 20th day of Sep- tember, 1883, by and between Elbert Fowler, of the first part, and W. R. Thompson and B. Prince, his surety, of the second part, witnesseth, That whereas, there is now pending in the County Court of Summers County, State of West Virginia, a case contest- ing the election for the office of prosecuting attorney for said county, for the term commencing on the 1st day of January, 1881, to which said Fowler is plaintiff and contestant, and said Thomp- son is defendant and contestor. Now, therefore, the said Fowler hereby agrees and binds himself to dismiss and discontinue said · case and disclaim any further right, title or interest to said office or to the salary, fees or emoluments thereof for the term aforesaid. In consideration whereof. the parties of the second. as principal and surety aforesaid, hereby agree and bind themselves to pay to said Fowler, on or before the 1st day of July, 1882 the sum of five hundred dollars, which sum, however, shall be liable to the extent of and there shall be deducted therefrom all payments made, or
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that may hereafter be made by said Thompson, of costs and dam- ages in the prosecution of said case, in the county and circuit court of said county and the Supreme Court of Appeals of said State.
Witness the following signatures and seals, the day and year aforesaid.
ELBERT FOWLER, WM. R. THOMPSON, B. PRINCE.
No contest was made as to any office, however, except as to prosecuting attorney, and it was impossible to go behind the returns as to the vote on candidates for House of Delegates, unless there had been a contest. Mr. Lilly was urged to make a contest, but declined to do so, and from the information I have received from reliable sources, I have no doubt that Jonathan Lilly was honestly elected to that office, although filled by N. M. Lowry, his opponent. Lowry was the Democratic candidate, and Lilly was the Independent Greenback candidate. I was not a voter at that time, but I remember very distinctly the charges of fraud.
In the campaign of 1882 for House of Delegates between Hon. S. W. Willey and Captain A. A. Miller, a strong effort was made to prove that Mr. Willey was not in good faith a Republican, E. H. Peck, W. W. Adams and Dr. B. P. Gooch filing statements and affidavits that he was in the convention that nominated Dr. Gooch for House of Delegates, and took a part and voted therein. Mr. Peck also gave a statement that he took part in the Democratic Convention of 1876; that he attended the Congressional convention of 1876 as a Democrat. Politics were hot in those days, and each partisan contested vigorously his party interests, Mr. Willey deny- ing that he was ever a Democrat. Personalities were not indulged in, and after the elections the candidates were usually friends. Mr. Willey had been a very active, energetic man, was a fine cam- paigner, and when he became a candidate, it was generally recog- nized that a fight was on. He was then, as now, an astute and ingenious politician. It was charged as one of the grounds against his receiving Republican support that Mr. Willey took part in the organization of the Democratic party in 1871 at Pisgah Church with . N. M. Lowery, and that he was duly elected a delegate to the Con- gressional Convention at the old church on New River, and it was charged by these partisans that he was secretary of the last Demo- cratic Convention prior to 1882, all of which was vigorously denied
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and repudiated by Mr. Willey and his friends, who ran ahead of his ticket in this race and always, which demonstrates the folly of personalities in politics, and he was never, except in two instances, defeated by as many as 100 votes.
ELECTION OF 1884.
I am unable to give the entire results of this election. There were party nominations made for the first time for all county offices, except for prosecuting attorney.
J. G. Crockett was the Democratic nominee for House of Dele- gates, and J. C. James, Republican candidate. Crockett received 964 votes; James, 864; W. S. Lilly, the Democratic candidate for sheriff, received 967 votes; M. V. Calloway, Independent candidate for sheriff, received 1,118 votes; B. L. Hoge, Democratic nominee for clerk of the circuit court, received 1,276 votes; Wm. B. Wig- gins, 784; E. H. Peck, Democratic candidate for county clerk, received 1,231 votes; J. C. Woodson, 871; W. H. Boude, Demo- cratic candidate for assessor, 981 votes; W. C. Dobbins, Republi- can, 1,097 ; M. Smith, Democratic candidate for surveyer, received 1,130 votes; Joseph Keaton, Republican, 946. There was no nomi- nation for the office of prosecuting atturney, there being no Repub- lican lawyer in the county. Wm. R. Thompson and James H. Miller made a scrub race, Miller receiving 993 votes ; Thompson, 964 votes, Miller's majority being 29.
THE ELECTION OF 1888.
Cleveland was the Democratic candidate for President; Har- rison was the Republican candidate for President. Cleveland's vote was 1,353; Harrison's, 1,272, making a Democratic majority for President of 81. A. N. Campbell was elected judge of the circuit court, his vote being 1,367, vs. J. M. McWhorter, Republican, whose vote was 1,267. J. W. Johnson was the Democratic nominee for the Legislature, and received 1,347 votes; W. C. Dobbins, the Republican nominee, received 1,259 votes ; James H. Miller, Demo- cratic nominee for prosecuting attorney, received 1,613 votes; · T. G. Mann, Republican nominee, received 993 votes ; O. T. Kesler, Democratic nominee for sheriff, received 1,344 votes ; S. W. Willey, 1,265 ; W. H. Boude, Democratic nominee for assessor, 1,337; J. F. Ellison, Republican, 1,279; J. E. Harvey; Democratic nominee for assessor, 1,341 ; Joseph Cox, Republican, 1,237.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
THE ELECTION OF 1890.
The election of 1890 was an off year. The Democrats nomi- nated E. H. Peck for clerk of the county court; B. L. Hoge, clerk of the circuit court; G. W. Hedrick, commissioner of the county court ; W. R. Thompson, delegate to the Legislature. The Repub- licans nominated M. V. Calloway for the Legislature; E. L. Dunn for clerk of the county court ; J. C. Woodson for clerk of the circuit court, and Joseph Nowlin for commissioner of the county court. The Democrats carried the county. Wm. R. Thompson received a majority of 443; E. H. Peck, a majority of 350; B. L. Hoge, 397 ; George W. Hedrick, 337.
The question of wet and dry cut some. figure in the election of commissioner of the county court, Mr. Nowlin being understood to be against license, while Mr. Hedrick was for license. It was quite an aggressive campaign, both parties making a vigorous fight, and circulars and correspondence in the newspapers were resorted to.
THE ELECTION OF 1892.
This was an exceedingly active campaign. Grover Cleveland made his third race for President on the Democratic ticket, re- ceiving 1,632 votes; Benjamin Harrison was the Republican candi- date, and received 1,273 votes ; James B. Weaver was the Populist candidate for President, receiving 38 votes; Bidwell was the Pro- hibition candidate, receiving 23 votes; Wm. A. McCorkle was the Democratic nominee for Governor, and received 1,639 votes; Thos. E. Davis was the Republican candidate, and received 1,239 votes ; B. P. Shumate was the Democratic candidate for House of Dele- gates, he receiving 1,631 votes; L. G. Lowe was the Republican candidate, and received 1,126 votes ; J. J. Christian was the Demo- cratic candidate for commissioner of the county court, and received 1,532 votes: John W. Allen was the Republican candidate, and received 1,356 votes; Harrison Gwinn was the Democratic candi- date for sheriff, and received 1,624 votes: Jos. Nowlin was the Republican candidate for sheriff, and received 1,286 votes: James H. Miller was the Democratic candidate for prosecuting attorney. and received 1,698 votes; Thos. G. Mann was the Republican can- didate for that office, and received 1,187 votes; John E. Harvey was the Democratic candidate for surveyor, receiving 1,639 votes, and James B. Lavender, Republican candidate, received 1,263 votes ;
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Walter H. Boude, Democratic candidate for assessor, received 1,638 votes; and Win. H. DeQuaisie, Republican candidate, re- ceived 1,279 votes.
There was in this year a very strenuous race between Wm. R. Thompson, for the Democratic nomination for prosecuting attor- ney, and James H. Miller. On the day conventions were held by district meetings called at one place in each district, where the voters assembled, and the choice of the voters taken by vote, usu- ally by division. Miller received in the primaries throughout the county, outside of Greenbrier District, 250 majority. At the court house there was great excitement, the brass bands being out, the partisan spirit running high, with very decided aggressiveness amongst the friends of both candidates. Thompson and Miller held a conference, and agreed to divide the vote equally in the district, which was accordingly done; they also agreed to select delegates to the various other conventions themselves, each select- ing an equal number, so that the matters were amicably adjusted between the two factions.
THE ELECTION OF 1894.
In the campaign of this year Hon. B. P. Shumate was the Demo- cratic candidate for Legislature again, and received 1,352 votes ; M. J. Cook was the Republican candidate, and received 1.393 votes ; W. W. Withrow was the Democratic candidate for superintendent of free schools, and received 1,348 votes: Geo. WV. Leftwich was the Republican candidate, and received 1,427 votes : James A. Graham was the Republican candidate for the commissioner of the county court, receiving 1,511 votes, and J. A. Parker, the Democratic can- didate, receiving 1,213 votes: Jos. L. Witt, Populist candidate for Legislature, receiving 41 votes ; John D. Alderson being the Demo- cratic candidate for Congress voted for at this election, and re- ceiving 1,383 votes: James H. Huling being the Republican can- didate, and receiving 1,366 votes; Samuel A. Houston, Populist, receiving 48 votes : Jos. D. Logan, Democratic candidate for State Senate, 1,378; Thos. P. Davis, Republican, 1,374 votes.
The Republicans elected each of its candidates and carried the county Republican for the first time, as well as the last time in its history, and was a great surprise and astonishment to the Demo- crats, who had two years previously carried the county by some- thing like 400 majority. The dissatisfaction at the Cleveland second administration and the good-sized campaign fund furnished to the
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Republicans by Senator S. B. Elkins contributed to the overthrow of the Democratic party at this election.
A good deal of amusement and some practical jokes were de- rived from this campaign. J. J. Swope, now editor of the "Wyo- ming Mountaineer," a newspaper, was very active on behalf of the Republican ticket. Signs were found posted around town on the morning of the election, caricaturing Mr. Swope, and on one occasion his office was invaded, a dummy prepared and set up at his table, representing the judge preparing an important legal docu- ment, with pen in its hand, in deep study. A box of campaign liquor was eliminated therefrom, and disposed of by the Democratic campaigners. Col. Swope secured a large box of long-bottled spirits from his protege, Hon. T. P. Davis, the Republican candi- date for State Senate, who was elected in the district, largely due to Col. Swope's persistent and energetic efforts in his behalf.
THE ELECTION OF 1896.
W. J. Bryan, the Democratic candidate for President, received 1,739 votes; Wm. McKinley, Republican, received 1,600 votes; Weaver, on the Populist ticket, received eight votes; Levering, Prohibitionist, received sixteen votes; C. C. Watts, Democratic candidate for Governor, 1,743 votes: G. W. Atkinson, Republican candidate for Governor, 1,600 votes; A. N. Campbell, for judge of the circuit court, 1,728 votes; J. M. McWhorter, 1,620 votes: Dr. J. T. Hume, for Legislature, received 1,713 votes ; Jonathan Lilly, 1,699, Mr. Lilly being the same candidate who ran for the Legis- lature against N. M. Lowry many years before, and, as Greenback candidate, receiving the Republican and Greenback vote: James H. George, for sheriff, received 1,736 votes: S. W. Willey. Repub- lican candidate for sheriff, received 1,610: W. H. Boude. Demo- cratic candidate for clerk of the circuit court, received 1,750 votes ; L. M. Peck, Republican candidate, 1,588: J. M. Ayres, Democratic candidate for clerk of the county court, received 1,810 votes; M. V. Calloway, Republican candidate for clerk of the county court, received 1,544 votes; James H. Miller, Democratic candidate for prosecuting attorney, received 1,828 votes; J. A. Oldfield. Repub- lican candidate for prosecuting attorney. received 1.578 votes: J. H. Maddy, Democratic candidate for assessor, received 1,735 votes : C. L. Woodrum, Republican candidate for assessor, received 1,603 votes; A. L. Campbell, Democratic candidate for surveyor, received 1,730 votes; J. B. Lavender. Republican candidate for
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surveyor, received 1,599 votes; Joseph Lilly, Democratic candidate for commissioner of the county court, received 1,787 votes; W. G. Barger, Republican candidate, received 1,559 votes ; thus the county came back to its Democratic moorings, electing each of its candi- dates by small majorities, as will be observed.
J. A. Oldfield, the Republican candidate for prosecuting attor- ney, was a young lawyer who had located in the county about two years before, and was editor of the "Hinton Republican." He was supported in this race by Mr. Frank Lively, who was then aligned with the Democratic party. The question of "wet and dry" again was an issue between the candidates for commissioner of the county court. The campaign was an extremely active one by all candi- dates, as well as the respective committees, one of the features of the campaign being the Republican candidates for county offices, consisting of Messrs. Jonathan Lilly, L. M. Peck, J. B. Lavender and J. A. Oldfield, who got together and went throughout the county, holding meetings, advertised in advance. They would go from schoolhouse to schoolhouse, and at the meetings at night would each make speeches, have a revival, and then proceed the next day to the next appointment. Some amusing incidents have been told the writer by these candidates concerning their cam- paign tour. It was especially novel to L. M. Peck, it being his first campaign experience.
This was the great campaign of the Free Silver and the Gold standard, the special feature being the great fight made by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company for the Republican ticket, from president to constable, led in this county by Mr. J. W. Knapp, division superintendent, who had, prior to that time, claimed to have been a Democrat. The president of the road, Mr. M. E. In- galls, was brought here on two occasions, made speeches to the employees at the opera house, and one on the baseball campus; was driven through the town in a chariot and four, followed by many horsemen and footmen, carrying banners and flags, an ex- ceedingly strenuous effort being made to carry this county for the Republican or Gold Standard ticket. The Democrats were ex- ceedingly patriotic, enthusiastic, and especially those of the railway laborers, who believed in the Democratic cause, and that of Free Silver; who stood to their guns regardless of the great pressure brought by the head of the railway company. While the country went Republican, largely, securing the election of Major Mckinley, it was a matter of great pride and rejoicing to the local Democracy that they saved Summers County from the wreck, under the cir-
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cumstances. Delegations of voters were furnished free transpor- tation and, a great number of them visited Major Mckinley, the Republican candidate, at Canton, Ohio, without money or pay.
THE ELECTION OF 1898.
This was another off year. Judge David E. Johnston, the Demo- cratic candidate for Congress, received 1,572 votes ; Wm. Seymour Edwards, Republican, 1,276; Hon. C. W. Osenton, Democratic candidate for State Senate, received 1,574 votes; C. J. Andrews, Republican, 1,278 votes B. P. Shumate, Democratic candidate for House of Delegates, 1,584 votes; M. J. Cook, Republican, 1,258; J. J. Christian, Democratic candidate for commissioner of the county court, 1,552 votes; Joseph Nowlin, Republican, 1,253 votes; H. F. Kesler, Democratic candidate for county superintendent of free schools, 1,598 votes; D. G. Wiseman, Republican, 1,241 votes.
This was the second race made by Hon. B. P. Shumate against Hon. M. J. Cook, Mr. Cook having defeated Mr. Shumate in 1894. They again made the race in 1898, in which Mr. Shumate defeated Mr. Cook, this being the third race Mr. Shumate had made for the office, and which position he filled for two terms acceptably to his constituents. Judge David E. Johnston was elected to Congress over Mr. Edwards, although the district was largely Republican. This Congressional campaign was conducted by James H. Miller, as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee, and for the success of Judge Johnston, and he received many compliments from his political associates and from the Democratic press throughout the State, which, no doubt, largely contributed to his nomination for Auditor of the State at a later date.
At this election, C. W. Garten, Democrat, was elected president of the Board of Education of Forest Hill District, over J. A. Wood- rum, Republican, by 34 majority ; M. R. Wickline, Republican, for member of the Board of Education from that district, was elected over Rev. W. F. Hank, Democrat, by a majority of three. In Green- brier District, Howard Templeton, editor of the "Independent Her- ald," Democrat, received 548 votes, over William M. Puckett, Re- publican, who received 421 votes ; for member of the Board of Edu- cation of that district, A. E. Miller, Democrat, received 567 votes, over James E. Meadows, Republican, who received 395 votes, Mil- ler's majority being 172. In Green Sulphur District, for president of the Board of Education, Jolin H. Tincher. Republican candidate. received 224 votes, against 175 for E. W. Duncan, Democrat, Tinch-
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