Chapter III
The people then living in Osceola County
in 1871, did not often get together, only as a neighborhood would
gather for social purposes. There were not many in the county in
1871. The county was sparsely settled. It was
"The first low wash of waves, where
soon
Would roil a human sea."
The first meeting of the people was held at Abraham Miller's
place, near Sibley. It was called for the purpose of establishing
mail facilities, and to provide for bringing the mail from Le
Mars to Shaw's store, then near Ashton. This was the ostensible
purpose, and mail arrangements were provided for, but back of it
all there were a few political schemes, and several ambitious
aspirants for office at the coming election who wanted to look
the crowd over, get acquainted, and try to make the usual
favorable impression in order to succeed in making a harvest of
votes. If a Yankee should be cast away on a desolate island, the
first thing he would no doubt do would be to divide the territory
into election precincts, and the next thing to call a caucus. The
people of Osceola then were strangers to each other, and while
other things may have been left behind them at the old home, the
great feeling of sovereignty, realization of the fact that each
was an individual citizen and could vote and hold office, were a
part of their nature, and in this respect they were alike without
even a formal introduction. Abraham Miller was chairman of the
meeting, and Cyrus M. Brooks, secretary.
The next meeting of the people was held at the 4th day of July
1871. It will be noticed that the first organization of Osceola
was brought about by act of Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.
Osceola was then a part of Woodbury for judicial purposes, and,
under the law, for all other------also, so that Woodbury's act
constituted a division of territory. In other words, Woodbury set
Osceola up in business for itself. As provision had been made in
the Woodbury County proceedings for the election of Osceola
County officers at the general elections in 1871, it became the
duty of Osceola County people to fix upon somebody to fill each
of the offices, and to prepare candidates for them who should be
in the field for election. The order for the election of officers
was made in June 1871 and as July 4th was approaching, it was
thought best by the people of Osceola County to meet on that day,
and celebrate with the usual exercises and at the same time
nominate candidates for County offices.
The outside world was full of glory and enthusiasm, the air was
filled with noise and pyrotechnics, and the voices of American
orators were sounding the distinguished valor and heroism of our
canonized ancestors. The little band of Osceola County settlers
met together with a Quaker quietness, comparatively speaking.
They had their lunch baskets and were socially agreeable, but the
cannon, the fire cracker and fire works were conspicuously
absent. The meeting was held on A.M. Culver's claim on Section
24, Township 99, Range 41, and was called and intended, as before
stated, not only to observe and recognize the great American
holiday, but also to place in nomination candidates to fill the
county offices at the first election to be held in October 1871.
At that time none knew each other's qualifications, except where
men had come from the same neighborhood in other parts of the
country. The men to be nominated and elected were to have the
trial of service, were to be weighed in for balance, and given
the opportunity to prove their fitness, or to be found unworthy
of the trust that was imposed in them. H. G. Doolittle was chosen
chairman of the meeting and _________secretary.
A few patriotic remarks were made and the meeting proceeded to
make its nominations. The following named persons were put in
nomination:
Treasurer, E. Huff.
Recorder, D. L. McCausland.
Sheriff, Jeff Cutshall.
Superintendent of Schools, Delily Stiles.
Clerk of Courts, Cyrus M. Brooks.
Auditor, __________McDonald.
Supervisors:
J. H. Winspear.
H. R. Fenton.
George Spaulding.
Holman Township Trustees,
Robert Stamm.
W.W. Webb.
Frank Stiles.
H.R. Hayes.
There was present at this meeting, including all, about one
hundred. The business and visiting were ended the latter part of
the afternoon and the people dispersed.
It might be well to follow these nominations to the election,
which followed in October. At this election there were no
contentions of political parties. The contest involved no
controversy, except individual success, and there was no regular
opposition ticket. There were independent candidates, however,
and the nominated ticket was not wholly successful. A.M. Culver
was elected Treasurer as an independent candidate over E. Huff,
the regular nominee. F. M Robinson was an independent candidate
for Auditor, and himself and the nominee, McDonald, were a tie on
the election. This tie had to be decided by drawing lots, and the
drawing resulted in favor of Robinson, so that Robinson became
Auditor. John Beaumont was the independent candidate against
McCausland, but McCausland was elected. When the time to qualify
came, McCausland was away teaching school, and the board in
January 1872 felt inclined to declare the office vacant, and
appointed John Beaumont, Recorder. Afterwards McCausland sent his
bond, and upon his return, had some little trouble to get
possession of the office, but finally obtained it. Cutshall and
his independent opponent both tied, and when the drawing was
taken place neither were present, so the board on January 3,
1872, appointed Frank Stiles.
There was at this time under the organization only three
townships in the county, and this October election was held in
Goewey Township at the house of E. Huff; in Holman Township at
A.M. Culver's house, and in Horton Township at the house of H.R.
Fenton.
The final outcome resulted in the following named persons filling
the places:
Treasurer, A.M. Culver.
Recorder, D. L. McCausland.
Auditor, F. M. Robinson.
Clerk of Courts, Cyrus M. Brooks.
Surveyor, M. J. Campbell.
Coroner, J.D. Hall.
Superintendent of Schools, Delily Stiles.
Drainage Commissioner, John Beaumont.
Supervisors:
J. H. Winspear.
George Spaulding.
H.R. Fenton.
There were cast at this election in all at the three polling
places, _____votes.
The County was now fully organized, and the Board of Supervisors
had their meeting January 1, 1872.
The proceedings of the board during the first year of its
administration are told in another part of this book and we need
not here recite them again. The record and the unwritten history
of this first year, and a part of the second year, shows that a
few unprincipled men came to Osceola County for the sole and only
purpose of plunder. These few gathered some friends around
them---really had a party---many of whom had no share in the
spoils, but were made to believe that the leaders were only doing
what the good of the County demanded, and that the opposition
were indignant because they were out of office and not in.
There is a certain stubbornness in all our natures, which we
often assert, sometimes in the wrong direction, just because some
trivial thing was thrown us with this side or that, and
occasionally conviction itself will be suppressed by a stand
first taken and stubbornly kept. These two parties each had their
friends, and were about equally divided, the reform party,
however, being mostly in the country outside of the town. Once
allied with one side or the other it seemed difficult to change,
as it is now difficult to go from one political party to the
other when we have once identified ourselves with that of our
choice. Some of the people in 1872 and 1873 who joined themselves
with the boodlers were not---we will be charitable enough to
admit---boodlers with them. There were honorable exceptions,
strange as it may seem. George Spaulding, who was one of the
County Supervisors first elected, and served with Fenton and
Winspear, lives in Osceola still, and is a man highly respected.
He has held office in Goewey Township, the place of his
residence, several different times and is now on the School
Board. Mr. Spaulding is looked upon as a man of integrity and a
good citizen. He was made to believe that his co-members of the
board, though inclined to extravagance, were working for the best
interests of the County, and it is conceded that Mr. Spaulding
acted conscientiously in his official acts, and though now he may
see some things upon which he would vote differently, he felt at
the time that his action was right. He would now be voted for
with the full confidence of his fellow citizens.