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Probably the most exciting political event in the history of Mechanicsville was the first charter election, which took place April 6th, 1868. Several prominent citizens, chief among whom was Mr. T. C. McClelland, strenuously opposed the adoption of the charter and the taxation incident to self-government for the same reason that they objected to the independent school organization two years prior to that date. The people were poor, and township government was far more economical than that of town rule. But, as is frequently the case in new and growing villages, certain men were ambitious to see the hamlet classed among the towns of the State. Finally the question became an inevitable issue, and Mr. McClelland, with three or four personal friends, attempted to gain by strategy what could not be attained by argument. Unknown to the greater part of the citizens, a “slate” was made by that gentleman, with himself as Mayor, J. J. Huber as Recorder, and a Board of Trustees favorable to the conservative management of affairs.
Election day found this ticket in the field, competing with one of a more radical stamp, so far as the rapid development of the town was concerned. The “anti-charter” party, as it was somewhat inconsistently called, since the charter already existed, waged fierce war, using tinted tickets, which enabled the McClelland faction to determine who were favorable to them. To ease the consciences of some voters, who feared the “pro-charter” party and would not vote the colored tickets, ballots were written by the “anti” men, and these, to the number of about twenty-five, were voted ostensibly as “splits.” Feeling ran high all day, and when the count was finally made, the McClelland ring came in ahead by just about the number of votes cast as divided tickets. The men who voted in that way, it should be stated, knew perfectly well the character of the ballots they were casting.
Since that date, no question of especial importance has been acted upon at the charter elections.
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Below is given the official roster of the town from the time of organization. There have been no Justices of the Peace chosen under the charter, that office, by general consent, remaining as a township matter. The elective offices and the selections are:
Mayors, T. C. McClelland, 1868; Wm. H. Sharp, 1869; T. C. McClelland, 1870-71; J. W. Gould, 1872; C. T. Wheeler, 1873; A. Armentrout, 1874; T. C. McClelland, 1875 (A. Armentrout was elected Mayor in September of this year, to fill vacancy cause by the resignation of Mr. McClelland); A. Armentrout, 1876-77; N. S. Hubbel, 1878.
Recorders, J. J. Huber, 1868-69-70-71; A. B. Oakley, 1872; J. W. Hubbel, 1863; H. Sherwood, 1874; T. C. Fisher, 1875; Jeremiah Odell, 1876; Watson Huber, 1877; T. C. Fisher, 1878.
Assessors, A. B. Oakley, 1869 (no Assessor elected in 1868); S. T. Buell, 1870 (did not qualify); A. B. Oakley, 1871; George A. Eagerty, 1872; Asa Carper, 1873; G. A. Eagerty, 1874; John S. Gortner, 1875; G. A. Eagarty, 1876-77-78.
Trustees, Isaac B. Johnson, Andrew Petit, John Osterhoh, Vincent Keith, J. E. Rice, 1868; William Chapman, J. W. Helmer, George E. Jones, A. Armentrout, Amos G. Miller, 1869; A. B. Oakley, A. Armentrout, N. S. Hubbell, E. M. Fisher, James Melton, 1870; J. W. Helmer, N. S. Hubbell, W. H. Sharp, Andrew Petit, George E. Jones, 1871; A. Armentrout, Horace Prentice, W. C. Page, James E. Melton, W. H. Eagarty, 1872; Z. Cook, Samuel Flaugher, Samuel C. Wilson, Patrick Burke, H. S. Morse, 1873; H. E. Abbott, Samuel Flaugher, Wm. H. Eagarty, J. C. Batdorf, John W. Fritz, 1874; Wm. H. Eagarty, John Ferguson, J. C. Denny, George Fall, 1875; John W. Fritz, John Hadcock, A. B. Heston, J. C. Denny, George Fall, 1876; J. W. Fritz, John Hadcock, H. P. Sotffel, N. Bennett, William Burgett, 1877; Horace Prentice, William H. Eagarty, Jacob Batdorf, John C. Fry, James N. Graham, 1878.
The first Postmaster appointed was D. F. Comstock. The present incumbent is William Chapman, whose commission was signed originally July 15, 1869.
