Over a series of nine issues, July 12 – Sep 6, 1888, the Indianola Herald newspaper gathered a list of “old log cabin veterans of 1840” i.e. Warren County men who voted in the 1840 election for William Henry Harrison. The voting age in 1840 was 21 years old, so these men had to have been born by 1819. The “old log cabin veterans of 1840” refer to election campaign slogans for Wm. Henry Harrison, depicting him as a simple man from the backwoods, using miniature log cabins and jugs of hard cider.There was also a Re-union for these men, held Aug 31, 1888, encouraging them to vote for Benjamin Harrison at the November 1888 election.
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1840 William Henry Harrison
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President Benjamin Harrison
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Listed below are these Warren County men in alphabetical order (with initials replaced by first names from the 1885 Iowa census). The list is followed by text from some of the newspaper issues which led up to a Republican Reunion for these veterans.
James AMOS voted in Urbana, Ohio
William H. ANDERSON of Spring Hill, voted in Ohio
Edward BENNETT voted in Pennsylvania
A.H. [Alva H.] BLANCHARD, of Palmyra
M. V. [Martin V.] BOTKIN voted in Clark County, Ohio
Gilbert BOYLES voted in West Virginia
John W. BUNDY, voted in Quincy, Illinois
Samuel BURGESS, Medora, voted in Lusburg, Ohio
Willis COUNCIL voted in Carmi, Illinois
E. M. [Elijah M.] DAVIS voted in Quincy, Illinois
J. M. [Josia M.] DAVISSON voted in Taylor County, West Virginia
Jacob DILLARD voted in Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana
Nathan ELLIOT, North Carolina
Elias ERWIN voted in West Virginia
Leonard FARMER voted in Plainfield, Indiana
S. P. [Samuel P.] FISHER voted in Shelbyville, Indiana
U. [Uriah] FORD voted in Mt. Joy, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Jonas FOUST, of Spring Hill
Isaac GARRETT, voted in Waterloo, York [New York] State
J. L. [John L.] GORDAN, Indianola, voted in McDonough County, Illinois
M. L. [M. Leonard] HAINES voted in Ohio
J. S. [Joseph S.] HALL, voted in Ohio
B. F. [Bluford F.] HIGENS voted in Burlington, Iowa
Benjamin HILLARD voted in Illinois
Benjamin HINSHAW voted in Indiana
Isaac HOLDERMAN, voted in Marion, Ohio
Isaac HOWERY, of Spring Hill
H. R. [Henry R.] JAMES, of Palmyra
Otey JAMES voted in Wabash, Indiana
S. V. R. [Stephen V. R.] JAMES, voted at Bradford Center, New York
C. B. [Clausberry B.] JONES, of Spring Hill
Rev. J. E. [John E.] JONES, of Spring Hill
Samuel KEFFER voted in Indiana
Henry KENOYER , Ackworth, voted in Crawfordsville, Indiana
J. Y. [James Y.] KIRK voted in Mercer County, Pennsylvania
H. R. [Hiram R.] LUDINGTON voted in West Virginia
J. H. [James H.] MAHAN, voted in Washington County, Indiana
William MARTIN voted in West Middletown, Washington County, Pennsylvania
J. [James] MCCORMICK, of Sandyville, voted in Spencer, Indiana
John MILLER, Norwalk
Thomas MILLER voted in West Virginia
Daniel MOORE, of Carlisle
Benjamin MORRIS voted in Shelby County, Indiana
John MORRIS voted in Armiesburg, Indiana
Michael MORRISON voted in Manchester Township, Morgan County, Ohio
Henry OGLE voted in Ohio
Joseph PATTERSON, Norwalk
Albert RANDOLPH voted in Indiana
Aron REEVES of Sandyville, voted in Indiana
Joshua W. RHINE, of Hartford, voted in Centerville, Ohio
Nathan RICHARDSON voted in Mechanicburg, Ohio
A. M. [Albert M.] RICHEY voted in Carmechaels, Pennsylvania
Thomas SANDERS, of Palmyra
W. C. [William C.] SHEPHERD, of Palmyra, voted in Delaware County, Indiana
Isaac SNODGRASS voted in Coventry, Kentucky
S. W. [Saxton W.] SQUIRES, of Milo
J. W. [Joseph W.] STACY voted in Muskingum Township, Washington County, Ohio
Edward STEVENS, of Spring Hill
I.S. [Isaac S.] SURBER, Spring Hill, voted in Glade Springs, Virginia
H. W. TAYLOR voted in Pennsylvania
Joseph THARP, of Indianola
Hon. Lewis TODHUNTER voted in Ohio
Cyrus WESTERFIELD voted in Manilla, Indiana
John WHITE, of Ackworth, voted in Indiana
Thomas M. WILSON, Norwalk
D. F. [David F.] YOUNG, of Hartford, voted in Ashland County, Ohio
Indianola Herald, July 12, 1888
The following is the Herald’s role of honor. They are the old log cabin veterans of 1840. Politically there has been a great many changes in the United States since these gentlemen cast their first vote. We will add to this roll of honor as the names are sent in from the county.
Indianola Herald, July 19, 1888 and Aug 2, 1888, p.2
Our list of log cabin 1840 veterans is increasing. The Herald welcomes them to the roll of honor. They are the original representatives of that element which has been the stay of the American republic for half a century. .. They have stood for the best principles in politics all these years. They are growing old, not one of them is less than 69 years of age, and during the next four years many of this class will leave the political field. Some send their place of voting while others do not.
Indianola Herald, Aug 9, 1888, p.3
1840
After consultation with others we have concluded to call the reunion of the 1840 veterans of Warren County, for the afternoon of Friday, Aug 31st, to be held in the court house yard in Indianola and begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. This is done for the reason that they are old and most of them live in the country and can attend better in the day time. Now we want to say to them that this is their meeting of the entire campaign and we want every one of them that voted for W. H. Harrison in 1840 and expect to vote for Benjamin Harrison in 1888 to be present. …They will be the center of attraction, and each one will be expected to say a few words relative to the exciting days of 1840. As republicans the meeting is for them. All of these gentlemen who have wives are requested to be sure and not leave them at home. Bring the old mothers of Israel and if there is an old fashioned spinning wheel in the county, bring it. Gather up your old relics, and bring them. You who live near the timber where buckeye is plenty, build a small log cabin, say four by six feet or any other size. Now a word to the younger republicans of each township. You can help in making this meeting of the fathers and mothers a complete success and one of the happiest days of their lives. Become interested at once; making arrangements to have them here; provide transportation and assist them in every way possible. Let that day be given up to these old veterans. With many of them it will be their last campaign. The young boys of 1840, who drove the band wagons and drank the hard cider will be given a good place near the platform.
Indianola Herald, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, August 16, and Aug 23, 1888
Below is our list of 1840 veterans who voted for W. H. Harrison and expect to vote for Gen. Ben Harrison in November. We cordially invite them and all others of the old comrades of like faith to be present on the stand in Indianola on Friday, Aug. 31. A splendid program is expected. Young Republicans are requested to help in making this meeting a grand success.
Indianola Herald, Indianola, Iowa, Thursday, Sep 6, 1888, p.2
1840-88
The Re-Union of the Log Cabin Voters a Magnificent Success
Two Thousand People Listen to Ex-Gov. Stone
The reunion of the voters of 1840 living in Warren County proved to be a grand success. It is the general remark that it was one of the best political meetings held in Indianola since 1860. There has probably been largers crowds but the meeting was of that kind which occurs but once in a life time, and if Gen. Ben Harrison had not been nominated at Chicago thus bringing up afresh the campaign of 1840, such a meeting as was held in Indianola on last Friday could not have been possible. The day was all that any man could ask for, clear and beautiful. The old voters began to gather in quite early and by 10 A.M. were ready to lead the procession, occupying the bus and carriages provided for them. Promptly at the hour a delegation was formed by E. W. Hartman, Marshall of the day, headed by the old veterans and went to the fair ground to meet the delegation from the west led by Mr. John Bundy with a log cabin, coon skins, corn stalks, a burrel of cider, etc. The procession was a large one and marched into the city with hundreds of flags flying and music playing. After encircleing the square the crowd was dismissed by the marshall until 1 P.M., when the people assembled at the large stand – the veterans and their wives occupying the platform. They were called to order by Chairman Kittleman, of the Young Men’s Republican Club, who perfected the organization of the meeting by naming a president of the day. After some music by the Drum Corps and some songs by the Indianola Glee Club. Mr. Rob. C. Harbison made the address of welcome, after which Ex-Gov. Stone was introduced and for two hours he held the attention of the large audience – numbering nearly two thousand people – in a way gratifying to himself and to the Republicans who had secrued him as the principal speaker of the day. After the speech came the class meeting of the old veterans. This was one of the interesting features of the day. There were about fifty present and the most of them spoke: all hoping to live to see Ben Harrison elected. The meeting adjourned with everybody pleased. Gov. Stone pronounced the meeting the best one he had attended in twenty-five years. We feel confident that no town in Iowa had had so grand a meeting this early in campaign. It has given Warren county a good send off and will help largely in increasing its majority.
We hope the old veterans of 1840 will pardon us for making special mention of Uncle John Bundy. We believe they will join the Herald in saying that he deserved it. He spent about one week of hard work in constructing a typical 1840 campaign outfit. His was the hit of the day. The complete log cabin built on a wagon with coon skins stretched on the logs, the stove pipe, the barrel of cider – which however, was not hard, as it was made the day before – all contributed in bringing up the memories of that exciting politcal contest. Mr. Bundy was happy and as he had voted for Van Buren in 1840, he was on last Saturday taken into full fellowship in the Republican party and in token of their appreciation of what he did for the success of the day, the Republicans presented him with two very nice canes which was presented to him from the platform by the president of the meeting. Mr. Bundy from his cabin door in a neat little speech responded to what was said. The canes will be kept in remembrance of the meeting and his initiation into all the rights and privileges of the party. |
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