History of Osceola County

by D. A. W. Perkins 1892

Chapter XVIII

Soon after the Huff residence was established Mr. R.J. Shaw put up a store building and put in a stock of goods; the building on the same section with Huff. Mr. Shaw afterwards filed on a part of Section 14, in Gilman, and in 1872, put up a store building in the town of St. Gilman (now Ashton) and moved his stock there. Shaw's store was the first store in the county, and in it in 1871, the old settlers used to congregate, and if we had a record of all their doings, and the stories there told, our readers would be highly entertained. Every blizzard would find about so many who happened to be at the store, and unable to get home. In one of the blizzards there were several of the old settlers caught there, among whom were Dr. Gurney, August and C. Thompson, W.A. Spencer and others. They took their horses in the store except one of them, and this they put into the railroad tank near by. This was not in the days of prohibition, and the boys had plenty of the ardent, and hence quite a jollification. One of them was preparing a pan of biscuits for baking while the others were watching the operation, when Shaw declared that his mother always striped biscuits when she made them, and these must conform to the parental custom, upon which he brought his foot down on the soft dough, giving them the required stamp, when they were pronounced ready for the oven, and in they went. When the settler got to Shaw's store he generally tarried awhile, talked over the news of the day, smoked a clay pipe and sat around on the barrel heads, and of the old settlers there were several there at all times during the day and evening. In April, 1871, Joseph Reagan with Uriah Cook, Jacob Henshaw and some others who settled in Lyon County, came to Osceola County from Madison County, Iowa. They went to the "Huff" house and through the services of our first settler secured claims. Mr. Reagan filed on a part of Section 20, Township 98, Range 42, now Gilman Township, and Uriah Cook filed on the same section Huff was on. Mr. Reagan still lives in the county, is one of the prominent men in Ashton and its postmaster. Mr. Cook now lives in Montana.

Reagan and party arrived at Huff's on the 8th day of April, 1871. Their outfit consisted of five wagons, twelve horses and mules and six head of cattle. Each of the wagons had occupants sleeping in them on the night of the 8th, and early on the morning of the 9th a terrible blizzard set in, and these wagon sleepers were soon covered with snow and crawled out and into a house. The next day they took the wagons and formed a half circle of them at the south side of the house, making a corral, in which they put their horses and then tied the cattle to the wagons on the outside. This storm lasted two days, and the company, consisting of about twenty men, women and children, filled the house, and at night it taxed the ingenuity of all to arrange the packing. Along with the inmates already named, there were three dogs and forty chickens, so that the time was not passed in Quaker silence, and everybody was in everybody's way, though all were jolly. The first night all were packed around systematically. Huff and his wife were placed in the northeast corner, then came Henshaw and his family, then the chickens and the rest of the crowd as they could be accommodated. The end where the horses were was considered unsafe, as the pressure against the boards was liable to break them in, so that Reagan, C.M. Brooks and Uriah Cook were assigned to that part of the shack to counteract the pressure from the outside.

The morning of the third day was pleasant, and each went their way to their separate claims. C.W. Freeman came to Gilman township in June, 1872, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 8. Mr. Carson died in January, 1883, and his popularity and his large circle of friends in the county justifies a reproduction of the following from January 24, 1883, number of the Osceola County Review, then published at Ashton:

"In Memoriam"

James W. Carson was born at Batavia, Genesee County, New York, February 16, 1883. When about thirteen years old his parents, leaving their eastern home, became pioneers in the then Territory of Wisconsin. A wonderful tide of immigration was pouring into the newer states and the territories bordering the Mississippi, and two years later, when Mr. Boyd Carson, the father of the subject of this sketch removed to West Oregon, Dane County, Wisconsin had become a state. The father was one of the hardy pioneers of the olden time, who, without the help of railways and modern conveniences of travel, made the long and tiresome journey to the frontier lands, and laid the foundations for prosperous communities and states. He is described as a man of sterling integrity and fine Christian character, and James W., the son, inherited from his father a high regard for what was true and pure in religious life. James, or "Kit," as he was popularly called by settlers old and new in this county, of which he was one of the first pioneers, grew to man's estate and was industriously employed in trade or farming, but the agitation of the slavery question and the disloyalty of the South, leading to the civil war, he early in the rebellion enlisted in the Second Wisconsin cavalry, and earned the merit of being a good soldier, but incurred hardships and injuries which laid the foundation of the disease which has taken him away, to the grief of his family, the sorrow of his friends, and the loss of the community. After the war, and soon after his marriage, he removed to Humboldt County, this state, where he remained two years. In 1871 he, in company with F.E. Cook and C.W. Freeman, removed to this county and located homesteads in Gilman Township. During his twelve years residence in this county he formed a wide acquaintance. The hold he had on the hearts of the settlers was well attested by the crowd that turned out to his funeral on the bitter cold Wednesday of this week. People gathered in from the three counties of Osceola, O'Brien and Lyon-one family driving fully ten miles across the country. Sheldon sent a large delegation and quite a number of old soldiers, bringing choice flowers and wreaths for the grave. Kind neighbors and comrades of both Sheldon and Sibley army posts served as watchers from the time-early Tuesday morning-that his remains reached Ashton from Minneapolis, where he died early on Monday-the immediate cause of his death being his inability to withstand the shock to his system, induced by an operation performed by surgeons at a hospital in Minneapolis, removing a large and bony-like tumor under the arm in the left side, which had developed until it reached the region of the heart.

In 1871, Nick Boor, along with John Streit and William Shultz, landed in Gilman Township. They came from Wisconsin, and drove through with a team. Nick filed on the southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 98, Range 42, Streit on the northeast quarter of same section, and Schultz on the northeast quarter of Section 18. Mr. Schultz lives at Sheldon, and Boor and Streit still live in Gilman Township.

C.C. Osgood came in 1872 and settled in Gilman Township on the southwest quarter of Section 30. Mr. Osgood still lives on the same place, has weathered all the difficulties, and is a successful farmer.

Mr. William Foster settled in Gilman Township in 1872, on a part of Section 14. Mr. Foster died a few years ago, and his widow with her sons still live on the old homestead.

Ephraim Miller, in 1871, located on the southwest quarter of Section 26, Gilman Township; still owns the land, and still resides in the township on land he has since purchased.

Of these 1871 and 1872 settlers in Gilman Township but few remain in the township now. As far as we can learn they are Joseph Reagan, Nick Boor, John Streit, Ephrarim Miller, C.C. Osgood and the Foster boys.

In the spring of 1873, J.E. Townsend, along with his brother George, came to Gilman Township from Michigan. George returned soon after and J.E. filed on the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 8, upon which he still lives with his family and has other land afterwards purchased. J.E. Townsend is now County Treasurer. This same year, 1873, also Fred Poschack came from Wisconsin and filed on a part of Section 6, upon which he still resides. Other parties living in this township came in the years following these first settlements, and quite a number are renters. Among others of the farming people in Gilman Township, Mrs. John Neff resides on Section I; also on the same Section John Rabe. M.A. Schend was an old settler in Lyon County and now lives on Section 2 in Gilman Township. On Section 2 also Mr. Frank Walrich and John Barbien. On Section 3 John Thorn; on Section 4 Joseph Dries, Anthony Geiver and also Mr. Streit; on Section 5 Jacob Johannes; on Section 6 Fred Poschack, Matt Spartz, John Seivert, B. Sturber and R. F. Pettingell. Mr. Pettingell is a Yankee from Massachusetts. Warren Robbins is on Section 7; Henry Shaa, Joseph Ehlen, besides J.E. Townsend on Section 8. Of still other residents of the county Joseph Dries, Jr., is on Section 9; also Matt Seivert and William Fuger; R. Linzen, Jacob Leinen, William Fuger on Section 10, Peter Kappes on Section II; Thomas Cox and Charles Winters on Section 12. The town of Ashton is on Section 15 in this township and on Section 18 we find Henry Arends, W. Popkes, H. Lenitzens, and Mr. DeGroat. On Section 20 lives Rev. Mr. Nolte, a Quaker preacher; also C.W. Conner. Mr. Conner is a prominent citizen and was a member of the County Board of Supervisors, George Jamison also lives on Section 20. Mr. John Jackley and Issac Smalley are on Section 21 and B.H. Lyman and J.C. Wilmarth on Section 22. Wm. Keith and Wm. Craig live on Section 23; Nick Seivert, Nick Leinen and Phillip Grats on Section 24; on Section 27 lives Mr. Charles Lingleman and C. Groendyke; Mr. Ruben Heritage and James Sturgeon on Section 29, and on Section 30 is the old Iselin place improved by these boys John and Harry who came from New York with money but made a failure in business. Neil Porter and S. Laber are on Section 32 and C. Beck, Chalres Huntsley and James Bunce on Section 34, with R.J. Stemm on Section 35. Gilman Township is one of the best and finest improved townships in the county and is well settled.

Referring again to Goewey Township, quite a number still live in the county who were among its earlier settlers. In May, 1871, George Perry, along with his brother John and W.A. Spencer, landed here, having drove through from Wisconsin. George settled on a part of Section 10, John on a part of 14, and W.A. Spencer on Section 24. T.E. Perry, father of John and George, came in the fall of 1871, and resided here until he died, July 14, 1890. The boys used the wagon covers and wagons for awhile as a habitation until they got something built for a house. Their first load of lumber was hauled from Windom, Minn., and the two Perrys, along with Spencer, went after it. On the road they overtook a traveler on foot who accepted an invitation to ride. When they got to Worthington, which was then starting as a town with only a few shacks, the traveler got a quart of whisky and brought it around to treat the rest of them. Spencer not being a drinking man, declined to take any, and the fellow soon went away by himself, and about as the boys were starting on, came around again drunk as a lord. Pointing to Spencer he said, if that man had drank his share I wouldn't be tight, raising a question in moral philosophy whether or not after all Spencer was to blame for the man's drunkenness. After this first lumber hauled from Windom, they afterwards hauled from Cherokee. On one of George Perry's trips he drove through the Orange City settlement, which was composed mostly of Hollanders, and with these people wooden shoes being principal commodity, they were well stocked and the shoes were conspicuously displayed. George Perry bought a pair for himself and also a pair for his wife more for the novelty of it than anything else. His wife saw him coming home and as usual walked out about a mile to meet him. George made a little speech to her about the elegant foot gear he had seen, and thinking she needed a pair, he had invested for her, and presented to her the pair of wooden shoes. After that Mrs. Perry let her liege lord reach the house before she greeted him. She preferred to take her surprises in the way of presents at home.

Clark Perry, another brother, came in the fall of 1871, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 10 and still lives on the original claim.

John Perry now lives on the claim originally taken by his father, and George now lives in Sibley.

W.A. Spencer resides in Sioux City; he has a son, however, C.A. Spencer, now residing in Goewey Township on Section 22.

In June, 1872, T.M. Spencer, a brother of W.A., came from Wisconsin and took the northeast quarter of Section 23. He has lived in the county since, except one year during the grasshopper period he worked in Cherokee. Mr. Spencer now lives in Ocheyedan; his sons, Charles A. and E.E., live in the same town, while another son, O., lives in Sibley.

G.L. Van Eaton also settled in this township in 1872, and is still the owner of the land upon which he settled. He is now in the lumber business at Little Rock. John Gray, another settler of 1872, lives at Ashton. Among other of the 1872 settlers now living in this township are George Barrager, Louis Folsom, James Ford, E.Ellis, Robert Edwards, George Spaulding, who still resides in the township, came in 1871, and also the same year James Hollands. Mr. Hollands now resides in Sibley. W.L. Daggett, now living on Section 36, also came in 1872. Mr. E. Elling and J.C. Inman, who, we think, are on Section 34, are also early settlers. Mrs. Clarinda Baker, who is also an early settler, resides on Section 30. Her husband was gored to death by a bull several years ago. In addition to those mentioned, among the early settlers in this township we find D.G. Crippen, Henry Hoffman, Alexander Gilkerson, George Haskins, Frank Finley, Eugene Guertin, L. Daggett, N. Madison, John Freeman, P.F. Jones-Mr. Jones was one of the early settlers of 1872-Nelse Christensen, W.H. Winney, P.O. Gillis, A. Bronson, John St. Clair, John Christensen, Henry Pollman, P.N. Folkers, D. Irish, T. Stephens, Mr. Brandt, the Johannes brothers, Walter Phillips, W.P. Reeves, I. Brandt, C. Crumb, P. Foley.

Peter and Andrew Sherbonda, who are still living in the township on Section 6, settled there in 1872. B.F. Curtis, who settled on Section 34 in 1872, now resides in Sioux City. Charles Bangert, living on Section 19, is at present one of the County Board of Supervisors. W.R. Foster lives, we think, on Section 20, and Lent on Section 21. In referring to these present residents, there will no doubt be some omissions, as the writer has gathered several townships from inquiry.

COURTS

There was in 1872 a District Court, and also a Circuit Court, both being courts of record. Their jurisdiction was about the same, except that the District Court had exclusive criminal jurisdiction, and the Circuit Court had exclusive probate jurisdiction. Both districts comprised several counties, of which Osceola was one.

The first term of the Circuit Court was held in Osceola County in 1873, with Hon. Addison Oliver presiding. The first case on the calendar seems to have been Jacob Frauz & Co. vs. F.L. Ward, and the case was continued. John H. Douglass was then Sheriff and John F. Glover, Clerk. The following attorneys seem to have figured into the business of that term: H. Jordan, J.H. Swan and James T. Barclay.

The record does not show any litigated cases, owing, perhaps, to the fact that the attorneys were not numerous enough. Everybody seemed to get judgment in what cases there were. The next term of this Court was held in December and in 1884 the State Legislature abolished the Circuit Court, leaving the District Court as the only Court of Record.

The first term of the District Court, Hon. Henry Ford presiding, was held at Sibley in July, 1872. The record makes mention of the fact that it was the first term of any Court of Record held in the county. The officers were: Judge, Henry Ford; District Attorney, C.H. Lewis; Clerk, C.M. Brooks; Sheriff, Frank Stiles.

The record states that C.I. Hill, C.W. Blackmer, H. Jordan and J.T. Barclay were present as members of the Sibley bar, and Sioux City attorneys as follows: L. Wynn, W.L. Joy, O.C. Treadway, H.B. Wilson and J.H. Swan. The first case on the calendar was L.F. Diefendorf vs. J.H. Winspear and others. The action was to restrain Winspear, Frank Stiles and others from building school houses. The injunction was modified, and in September following, in vacation, Diefendorf dismissed the action, and the school houses, under the direction of Winspear, Stiles and others, went on in construction. This term of court lasted two days and consisted, principally of a few judgments, there being no criminal cases and no jury, either grand or petit.

The next term of the District Court was held in April, 1873. The same officers were present, except that John H. Douglass was Sheriff and John F. Glover Clerk. District Attorney C.H. Lewis stated to the court that there was no irregularity in drawing the grand jury, and asked that the precept be set aside, which was done, and the court then ordered a new precept to issue, which was issued, and the following were the first grand jurors of the county: H.G. Doolittle, B.A. Dean, J.L. Robinson, E. Morrison, J.I. Halstead, A.M. Culver, N. Thompson, J. Slecht, H. Babcock, J.W. Kerr, T.J. Cutshall, Charles Mandeville, R.F. Kime, D.L. Riley and O. Dunton. Frank Stiles and F.M. Robinson were held to answer to the grand jury from a preliminary examination before a justice, and upon inquiry to these parties as to challenge, Stiles challenged Riley and Dunton. H.G. Doolittle was chosen as foreman, and the jury was instructed and charged by the court. The record then says, after being charged by the court they retired to consider upon their duties. There is no further record as to this grand jury, or the case against Robinson and Stiles, so that we are left to conclude that the grand jury are still out considering their duties, and Robinson and Stiles are still waiting in doubtful apprehension of an indictment.

The first civil case tried in this court was H. Jordan vs. J.H. Winspear, and the nature of the case is not disclosed. A jury was had, which was the first petit jury in the county, and was composed of the following named members: J. McKinney, H. Reeves, C.W. Wyllys, Thomas B. Jackson, W.H. Morrison, S.W. Lang, G.R. Helmoly, A. Buchman, C. Anderson, C.T. Torey, Joseph Kappes and George Taylor. Jordan was defeated in his suit, and retired at an expense of $13.40. Several individual judgments were rendered, and Osceola caught it to the tune of $14, 851.12 from several different parties, altogether aggregating that amount.

It is not necessary to follow the record of these courts further; the only desire is to show something connected with their first terms. We might add, however, that the first person naturalized in the county, was John R. Robertson by Judge Ford, and the first estate to be probated was that of Patrick Baker, deceased.

We also omitted to state that the only litigated case is the first term of the Circuit Court was that of G. Toun vs. Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad Company, in which case J.T. Barclay was attorney for plaintiff and J.H. Swan for defendant. The jury was as follows: H.L. Baker, C. Manderville, J.W. Collman, E.E. Headley, S. Cram, C.W. Wyllys, Daniel Busbu, Frances F. White, Thomas B. Jackson, George Fablinger, H.F. Manderville, Lewis Cole. Barclay carried off the honors of the victory, and obtained a verdict for seventy-five dollars and costs at the first trial; but the clever and tenacious Swan, who knows but little of the word defeat, appealed the case to the Supreme Court. It is said that when a lawyer gets beaten in a case he either appeals, or goes down to the tavern and swears at the court, and in this case Swan appealed.

We have now only a District Court, comprising Woodbury, Sioux, Lyon, Osceola, Plymouth, Monona, O'Brien, Cherokee and Harrison Counties. Within this Judicial District are four Judges, who agree among themselves as to the time and place each shall hold. The Judges are: George W. Wakefield, of Sioux City; Scott M. Ladd, of Sheldon; Frank R. Gaynor, of Le Mars, and A. Van Wagenen, of Rock Rapids. These Judges, all of them being members of Different political parties are men of unquestioned integrity, of ability, learned in the law, and preside with a desire to hold the scales in equipoise and do justice to all. Will Thomas is Clerk of Court in Osceola.

JUSTICES

Justices' courts were in running operation before there was held a court of record. The office of Justice of the Peace, says Judge Conklin, is of somewhat remote origin, having been first instituted in England, it is said, as early as the time of William the Conqueror. The office was introduced into this country by our forefathers on their first settlement here, so that the people are accustomed to these courts and have them.

At the 4th of July meeting in 1871 nominations were made for Justices of the Peace.

The first year of the county organization the Justices were as follows: H.L. Clapsaddle, O. Dunton, Frank Stiles, D.F. Curtiss and J.H. Winspear.

Since then others have been elected and retired, and the Justices of the county in 1892 are as follows:
Holman---D.L. McCausland and E. Walton
Ocheyedan---A.E. Smith and R.J.O. McGowan
Harrison---Charles Mietke and E.L. Krukenberg
Baker---Dirk Frey
Wilson---R.S. Eakin
Fairview---Thomas Jackson
Gilman---Joseph W. Reagan
Horton-W.R. Boling
Goewey---W.J. Reeves
Other District Court officers are, John F. Stamm, Sheriff and T.P. May, Deputy.

There are often many amusing things occur in justice courts, and in the early days of Osceola County there were many here, but the records have not preserved them, and the lawyers who still survive them are reticent, while others who were in practice here then, have gone and some have died. Among the justices at an early day was W.R. Boling in Horton Township-in fact, he is now justice. An action was brought before him of ejectment, and was between---Wassmann and G.B. Garvy. McCallum brought the suit for Wassmann, the trial was set for January 2 at nine o'clock. McCallum, the Sheriff and his deputy, Webb, with McCausland, started over from Sibley, starting at three o'clock in the morning, and at daylight the thermometer was twenty-six degrees below zero; but they were going to a law-suit, and the stimulus of the coming contest kept them warm-for we wouldn't for a moment intimate that anything else contributed to their comfort. P.R. Bailey, of Sheldon, was to be McCallum's opponent, but the distance to go and the early hour was too much for him, so he staid at home. The parties were all there in season, and a jury was called, whose qualifications were inquired into, and Mc found that all of them were quite satisfactory. The trial commenced and proceeded, the testimony was in and McCallum was making his argument. Just as Mc commenced, Jack Blair and A.V. Randall arrived, and Blair, seeing a chance for a little fun, went on top of the one-story building, laid a sack over the stove-pipe, sticking up through the roof, and sat down on it. The stove had just been replenished with soft coal, and in an instant the room was filled with black, sulphurous smoke, but Mc kept on until Webb went to shaking the stove-pipe to make it draw, when about twenty links of pipe, filled with soot, came suddenly down on the heads of the jurors, the litigants, the court and the counsel, when all beat a hasty retreat out of doors, and there was such a similarity in appearance, that it was hard to tell one from the other. They found out, however, what the trouble was, re-adjusted things and went at it again ,but Blair's escape saved him from a fine for contempt. The case lasted all night, and at six o'clock the next morning, the jury were led off to a school house by Sheriff Lent for the purpose of deliberation, and were out some time before they returned, and when they did their verdict was for Wassmann. The court room for the purposes of the trial was Seymour Coyour's shack, and while the jury were out McCallum, Randall, McCausland and Webb "turned in," as the sailors call it, that is all four of them went to bed together, and while they were snoozing quietly, Blair appeared again and laid a hog's head carefully between Randall's head and McCallum's, which woke Mc up, and himself and what was left of the hog were staring at each other, for their countenances were in close proximity. The trial ended with a judgment for Wassmann, and then followed an execution to collect the costs. There was nothing in sight to levy on but some potatoes, and these were hardly in sight, for they were buried in a pit under ground. The Sheriff, however, armed with the usual process, went out to Garvy's place, took a man with him, and spent nearly a day digging into the frozen ground and finally into the pit, but the potatoes were missing. Upon a closer examination there was found to be another hole on the other side of the pit from where the Sheriff had excavated, where the debtor had stole a march on the expected execution, and removed his potatoes to other quarters.

Since writing the above, A.V. Randall denies the four in a bed, and the pig's head story so far as he was concerned, and states that he was a member of the jury.

In 1873 Charles Brannock who lived near the Ocheyedan and who was like most of the settlers, hard up for something to eat, had caught some kind of an animal, probably a muskrat and after skinning it was cooking the carcass on a fire out of doors. In an unfortunate moment the prairie grass caught fire, and soon the fire was spreading in every direction. Brannock was arrested and bound over. He was allowed to remain at home to get bail, but the next day the fury of the people demanded his incarceration and Sheriff Douglass was ordered out with the necessary papers. In order that the arrest should be a complete success, quite an army volunteered to go along and did on horseback, armed with Winchesters, so that their going presented quite a body of cavalry and they soon reached Brannock's cabin and the terrified fellow was ordered to surrender which he did. He asked leave, however, to go inside and change his clothes and once in, crawled out of a back window and by cautiously creeping at first and getting in the grass he made his escape. There were some who understood his condition of poverty and his peaceful and law-abiding disposition and who felt that while the act was a violation of the law, still it was not malicious nor intended; these wanted him to get away and we suspect that Douglass was one of them. They waited for his return in changed suit, and when sufficient time had elapsed, an investigation was made and it was found that he had escaped. Some one, a friend to Brannock, said that he just saw him going over the hill towards the south, and away went the cavalry flying after him; when that hill was reached the friend said he saw him going over the next one, and on went the horsemen in furious following, and thus for several miles they were led, and this with searching took up about the whole day. In the mean time Brannock had started north while the searchers were still searching he was safe in Minnesota, as only a few miles travel was required to get there.

D.D. McCallum's first case was before a Justice of marked morality, who was extremely harsh with criminals. His weakness was his veneration for veterans of the late war, all of whom he esteemed as unrewarded heroes. McCallum had fought four years. His client was a thief. "The only thing I can do for you," said McCallum, after having gained the man's confidence, "is to implore the mercy of the court. When you get on the stand tell the whole truth."

The man had stolen a cow, killed it, sold the hide and taken the carcass home to his family, which was really suffering for the necessaries of life. The prosecution, with a long line of witnesses, had made a perfect case, and the brow of the Justice was draped in ominous frowns when the prisoner was called. The latter did as directed by his attorney, concealing nothing-from the almost starving condition of his wife and family to the dressing of the stolen beef.

"Now, your honor," said McCallum," the defense has no witnesses. My client is guilty. He has hidden nothing from this court. It is the first time he has ever transgressed the law. He was inspired to do wrong by that instinct we even admire in brutes."

Then, turning to the prisoner as if the fact had nearly escaped him, McCallum said:

"By the way, you were a soldier in the late war, were you not?'

"Yes, sir."

"Weren't you at Gettysburg?"

"Yes, sir."

"So was I. And you were in other historic battles, fighting for your country, while your wife and family suffered at home?"

"Yes, sir."

The prosecution at this point saw the way the case was drifting, and attempted to ridicule the "old soldier defense," as the prosecuting attorney named it.

The effect upon the old Justice was to arouse all his loyalty and indignation.

"Enough of this," said he, bringing his hand down on the desk in front of him with a thundering thud. "No soldier, no man who shed his best blood for his country, not even if he be a criminal, can be reviled in my presence. The prisoner is discharged. And, sir, when you are suffering for the necessaries of life again, come to me."

The joke was too good to keep. McCallum one day told him the old soldier was an ex-Confederate; but never again did McCallum practice in that court.

COUNTY OFFICERS--1872

D.L. McCausland

Recorder

A.M. Culver

Treasurer

Frank Stiles

Sheriff

M.J. Campbell

Surveyor

Deilily Stiles

Supt. of Schools

F.M. Robinson

Auditor

C.M. Brooks

Clerk of Courts

J.H. Winspear

Supervisors

Geo. Spaulding

 

H.R. Fenton

 

 

1873

D.L. McCausland

Recorder

A.M. Culver

Treasurer

J.H. Douglass

Sheriff

M.J. Campbell

Surveyor

Delily Stiles

Superintendent of Schools

F.M. Robinson

Auditor

J.F. Glover

Clerk of Court

J.M. Jenkins

Coroner

D.L. Riley

Supervisors, until April 21

H.R. Fenton

 

Geo. Spaulding

 

D.L. Riley

Supervisors, after April 21

P. Dunton

 

B.F. Mundorf

 

 

1874

This year there was no change in the offices of Recorder, Sheriff, Surveyor and Coroner. The other officers were as follows:

 

W.M. Moore

Auditor

S.A. Wright

Treasurer

J.M. Jenkins

Superintendent of Schools

A change of one in the Board of Supervisors--T.E. Perry in place of B.F. Mundorf.

 

1875

The officers of preceding year remained the same, except County Surveyor, H.G. Doolittle, and A.H. Brown, member of Board, in place of T.E. Perry

 

1876

This year the county officers were as follows:

D.L. McCausland

Recorder

Levi Shell

Treasurer

John Douglass

Sheriff

H.G. Doolittle

Surveyor

C.L. Gurney

Supt. of Schools

W.M. Moore

Auditor

J.F. Glover

Clerk of Court

Wm R. Lawrence

Coroner

D.L. Riley

Supervisors

O. Dunton, Ch'n

 

A. H. Brown

 

 

 

1877

The above officers remained the same, except the following changes:

W.J. Miller

Clerk of Court

E. Huff

Recorder

Supervisor--C.W. Wyllys in place of O. Dunton

 

1878

County officers were as follows:

E. Hugg

Recorder

Henry C. Hungerford

Treasurer

John H. Douglass

Sheriff

M.J. Campbell

Surveyor

Mrs. W.L. Parker

Superintendent of Schools

W.M. Moore

Auditor

W.J. Miller

Clerk of Court

W.R. Lawrence

Coroner

D.L. Riley

Supervisors

Henry C. Allen

 

C.W. Wyllys

 

 

1879

The officers of 1878 remain the same, except the following change:
Supervisor--H.L. Emmert in place of D.L. Riley

 

1880

The only changes in county officers for this year were, Wm. R. Lawrence, Superintendent of Schools, in place of C.L. Gurney; W.H. Barkhuff, Coroner, in place of Lawrence, and Geo. S. Downend, Supervisor, in place of ----.

 

1881

The county officers of 1881 stood as follows:

Mrs. C.I. Hill

Recorder

H.C. Hungerford

Treasurer

John H. Douglass

Sheriff

M.J. Campbell

Surveyor

Wm. R. Lawrence

Superintendent of Schools

W.M Moore

Auditor

John S. Davison

Clerk of Court

H.C. Allen

Supervisors

Robert Stamm

 

Nicholas Boor

 

William Mowthorpe

 

Geo. S. Downend

 

It will be noticed that this year the members of the Board were increased to five.

 

1882

 

Mrs. C.I. Hill

Recorder

Robert S. Hall

Treasurer

Jacob B. Lent

Sheriff

M.J. Campbell

Surveyor

J.R. Elliott

Superintendent of Schools

W.M. Moore

Auditor

John S. Davidson

Clerk of Court

W.H. Barkhuff

Coroner

No change in Board of Supervisors

 

1883

There was no change this year in county officers from that of 1882, except H.G. Doolittle, Surveyor.

 

1884

The changes this year from 1883 were: Auditor, J.S. Reynolds in place of W.M. Moore; H. Neill, Coroner, in place of Barkhuff, and G.W. Barrager, Supervisor, in place of H.C. Allen.

 

1885

County officers for the year were as follows:

Mrs. C.I. Hill

Recorder

R.S. Hall

Treasurer

J.R. Lent

Sheriff

H.G. Doolittle

Surveyor

J.R. Elliott

Superintendent of Schools

J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

W.H. Kimberly

Clerk of Court

H. Neill

Coroner

Wm. Mowthorpe, Ch'n

Supervisors

G.S. Downend

 

Geo. W. Barranger

 

Albert Romey

 

N. Boor

 

 

1886

The officers for this year remain the same as 1885, with the following changes: W.J. Reeves, Superintendent of Schools, in place of J.R. Elliott; W.S. Webb, Coroner; C.P. Reynolds and Wm. Foster elected Supervisors in place of N. Boor and G.S. Downend.

1887

The county officers of this year were as follows:

S.S. Parker

Recorder

R.S. Hall

Treasurer

J.B. Lent

Sheriff

H.G. Doolittle

Surveyor

W.J. Reeves

Superintendent of Schools

J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

J.B. Mead

Clerk of Court

W.R. Lawrence

Coroner

S.A. Dove

Supervisors

C.P. Reynolds

 

Geo. W. Barriger

 

J.E. Townsend

 

A. Romey, Chairman

 

 

1888

S.S. Parker

Recorder

J.B. Lent

Treasurer

J.H. Douglass

Sheriff

H.G. Doolittle

Surveyor

W.J. Reeves

Superintendent of Schools

J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

W.R. Lawrence

Clerk of Court

W.R. Lawrence

Coroner

Supervisors same as 1887

 

1889

S.S. Parker

Recorder

J.B. Lent

Treasurer

  J.H. Douglass

Sheriff

  H.G. Doolittle

Surveyor

  W.J. Reeves

Superintendent of Schools

  J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

  J.B. Mead

Clerk of Court

  W.R. Lawrence

Coroner

 

There was also elected in the fall of 1889, under a new provision of the Legislature, a County Attorney.

 

O.J. Clark

County Attorney

G.W. Barrager, Ch'n.

Supervisors

A. Romey

 

C.P. Reynolds

 

S.A. Dove

 

C.W. Conner

 

 

1890

 

S.S. Parker

Recorder

J.B. Lent

Treasurer

J.H. Douglass

Sheriff

John A. Flower

Surveyor

F.W. Hahn

Superintendent of Schools

J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

J.B. Mead

Clerk of Court

W.E. Ely

Coroner

O.J. Clark

Attorney

C.P. Reynolds, Ch'n

Supervisors

A. Batie

 

C.W. Connor

 

A. Romey

 

S.A. Dove

 

 

1891

W.H. Gates

Recorder

J.B. Lent

Treasurer

J.H. Douglass

Sheriff

J.A. Flower

Surveyor

F.W. Hahn

Superintendent of Schools

J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

Will Thomas

Clerk of Court

W.E. Ely

Coroner

G.W. Lister

Attorney

S.A. Dove, Chairman

Supervisors

Adam Batie

 

C.W. Conner

 

P.A. Cajocob

 

C.P. Reynolds

 

 

1892

The county officers for the present year are as follows:

W.H. Gates

Recorder

James E. Townsend

Treasurer

John F. Stamm

Sheriff

F.W. Hahn

Superintendent of Schools

J.S. Reynolds

Auditor

Will Thomas

Clerk of Court

G.W. Lister

Attorney

W.E. Ely

Coroner

A. Batie, Chairman

Supervisors

S.A. Dove

 

W.H. Noehren

 

Charles Bangert

 

P.A. Cajacob

 



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