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CHAPTER IX
County Government
When the county was first
organized, it was under the triumvirate of three officers,
known as the Board of County Commissioners. Their duties
were restricted mainly to the organizing of townships
within the county, the laying out of town plats, the
location of public highways, the levying of taxes, the
canvass of election returns, and the auditing of public
claims and accounts. Their duties were identical with
those of the Board of Supervisors of the present day.
Their tax levies were not burdensome, as will be seen
by the action of their meeting of August 20, 1848:
"Ordered,
That there be levied a tax of 5 mills upon all the taxable
property of Kishkekosh County; a tax of 1/2 mill for
Territorial purposes, subject to the order of the Legislature
of the Territory, and also a poll tax of 50 cents upon
every male person in the county subject to a poll-tax."
W. G. Clark was the first
man to be elected to a public office in the county.
He was elected justice of the peace in August, 1844.
Following is a list of County
Commissioners given in the order of their election from
1845 to 1851, when their office was discontinued: Joseph
McMullen, Jas. S. Bradley, Moses H. Clark, Jeremiah
Miller, clerk; Wm. McBride, Andrew Elswisk, Smith Judson,
Dudley C. Barber, clerk; Andrew Elswick, Wm. McBride,
Geo. R. Holliday, Smith Judson, Geo. Golliday, John
Clark, Geo. R. Holliday, John Clark, and Lewis Arnold.
Geo. W. Piper was clerk from 1849 to 1851.
From 1851 to 1861 the county
was under the rule of an autocracy, consisting of a
single officer, called the County Judge. Those who served
as County Judges were D. A. Richardson and James Hilton.
In 1855 J. N. Massey was elected to the office, but
it was decided that he was ineligible to the office,
owing to the fact that when elected he held the office
of School-fund Commissioner. John Phillips was his opponent,
and as he was also incumbered with a Federal office,
being postmaster of Albia, the office was declared vacant,
and Judge Richardson held over. The case was contested
by John Webb, and Judge Richardson, Lewis Arnold
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and Hillah Hayes constituted the tribunal
to try the case. They held that the office was vacant.
It was during Judge Hilton's
term that the construction of Monroe County's present
court-house was begun. There was considerable opposition
to its construction at the time, and especially to its
location in the town park, which did not comprise a
part of the town plat set apart for public buildings.
Judge Hilton, however, bluntly ordered the structure
built in the center of the park, and the order was obeyed.
The Monroe County Court-house.
(click on image for larger size.)
The Sentinel, at
the time stated that two designs of architecture were
submitted, and that the design chosen by Judge Hilton
was the worse of the two, being after the architecture
of the Tudors. In later years it seems that none of
the county's citizens have ever refused to become an
occupant of the building on account the alleged medieval
style of architecture. The average office-seeker does
not seem to care whether the style of the building is
Ionic, Doric, Tuscan, or medieval, so long as he gets
a chance to occupy the building.
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In 1861 the office of County
Judge was abolished by an act of the Legislature, and
another Supervisor system adopted. It consisted of one
member from each of the twelve townships.
Those who served as members
from 18612 to 1871, when the plan was further changed
so that the number of members was restricted to three,
as at the present time, were as follows, serving in
the order of their enumeration:
1861: J. M. Richardson,
William Mercer, Sebastian Streeter, Warren L. Rall,
D. J. Prayther, John Kirby, John Clark, John McFarland,
Hiram Hough, W. G. Clark, W. A. Lamaster, John Hayes.
1862: R. W. Moss, C. L.
Osburn, H. Hough, J. McFarland, Wm. Mercer, Samuel Richmond,
D. J. Prayther, Michael Campbell, John Clark, T. C.
Crouch, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock.
1863: R. W. Moses, Joseph
Robb, C. C. Osburn, Lot King, Henry Freeland, M. Campbell,
John Clark, W. F. Walker, Hiram Hough, T. C. Crouch,
W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock.
1864: Wareham G. Clark,
R. W. Moss, Joseph Robb, C. C. Osburn, Lot King, H.
Freeland, W. B. Hill, W. A. Dean, G. W. Gammond, W.
A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock, W. F. Walker.
1865: Washington Atkins,
H. Fullerton, C. C. Osburn, R. M. Thompson, W. H. H.
Lind, W. B. Hill, W. A. Dean, J. L. Anderson, S. G.
Finney, W. G. Clark, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Stock.
1866: W. V. Bedle, H. Fullerton,
T. H. Duncan, R. M. Thompson, W. H. H. Lind, L. McGuirk,
W. A. Dean, J. L. Anderson, S. G. Finney, O. P. Rowles,
W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Hurford.
1867: W. V. Beedle, S. Wyckoff,
T. H. Duncan, D. Cross, Wm. Kelsey, L. McGuirk, John
Clark, J. McCormick, S. G. Finney, O. P. Rowles, W.
A. Lamster, J. R. Hurford.
1868: J. R. Hurford, Wm.
Kelsey, G. W. Grass, S. Wyckoff, R. A. Hewitt, D. Cross,
L. McGuirk, John Clark, J. McCormick, S. G. Finney,
Jas. Hilton, W. A. Lamaster.
1869: Lewis Henninger, H.
R. Teller, J. Findlay, Jr., J. S. Hogleland, Wm. Jenkins,
L. McGuirk, W. R. Ross, Samuel Bain, S. G. Finney, Jas.
Hilton, W. A. Lamaster, J. R. Hurford.
1870: Lewis Henninger, H.
R. Teller, J. Findlay, Jr.
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J. S. Hogeland, Wm. Jenkins, L. McGuirk,
W. R. Ross, Samuel Bain, G. W. Reading, W. D. Kinser,
W. A. Lamaster, V. G. Kemper.
The members of the present
system were:
1871: H. R. Teller, P. T. Lambert, and
C. A. Miller.
1872: John Clark, H. R. Teller, and C.
A. Miller.
1873: John Clark, C. A. Miller, and Wm.
Hardy.
1874: John Clark, J. B. Bell, and H. L.
Vosburg.
1875: John Clark, H. L. Vosburg, and Wm.
Mercer.
1876: John Clark, H. L. Vosburg, and Joseph
Nichol.
1877: John Clark, Joseph Nichol, and T.
B. O'Bryan.
1878: Joseph Nichol, Val Fuller, and T.
B. O'Bryan.
1879: Val Fuller, T. B. O'Bryan, and David
Hammond.
1880: Val Fuller, J. R. Hurd, and Thos.
O'Bryan.
1881: J. R. Hurd, Thos. O'Bryan, and David
Hammond.
1882: J. R. Hurd, David Hammond, and Geo.
Kerr.
1883: J. R. Hurd, Thos. O'Bryan, and Wm.
Mercer.
1884: W. A. Koontz, Thos. O'Bryan, and
J. B. Castner.
1885: Herman Snow, Thos. O'Bryan, and
J. B. Castner.
1886: J. B. Castner, John Walsh, and Herman
Snow.
1887: John Walsh, Herman Snow, and Edward
Canning.
1888: John Walsh, Edward Canning, and
Henry Berry.
1889: Edward Canning, Henry Berry, and
William Lahart.
1890: Henry Berry, William Lahart, and
Edward Canning.
1891: William Lahart, Henry Berry, and
Edward Canning.
1892: Edward Canning, Henry Berry, and
William Lahart.
1893: Henry Berry, William Lahart, and
Geo. L. Robb.
1894: Geo. L. Robb, Elmer Thayer, and
Wm. Lahart.
1895: Geo. L. Robb, Elmer Thayer, and
J. C. Currier.
1896: Elmer Thayer, J. C. Currier, and
Wm. Davis.
Mr. Kerr died soon after
election, and Wm. Mercer was elected to fill the vacancy.
Sheriffs.
John Clark, 1845; Ezra P.
Coen, 1847; D. Durall, 1851; Willis Arnold, 1853; John
M. Porter, 1855; E. R. Rockwell, 1857; Riley Wescoatt,
1859; E. P. Coen, 1861; A. J. McDonald, 1865; J. M.
Robb, 1871; Sam'l F. Miller, 1877.
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When the Monroe County Bank
went down, October 11, 1882, Sheriff Miller was involved
in the affair in some manner, and resigned the office
of Sheriff. The County Board of Supervisors appointed
Martin Clever to fill the unexpired portion of his term
up to the time for holding the general election, when
P. L. Hoskins was elected for the remainder of the vacant
term.
J. P. Lamberson, Ex-sheriff of Monroe County.
(click on image for larger size.)
John M. Menan was elected
in 1884, but was incompetent to fill the office and
resigned. The County Board appointed W. W. O'Bryan to
fill the vacancy up to election, and J. W. Lewis was
elected to fill the remaining portion of the vacancy.
L. T. Richmond served one
term, in 1886; C. M. Forest then served two terms, and
J. P. Lamberson served two terms.
The next is the present
incumbent, Captain John Doner, who was elected in November,
1895, on the Populist ticket. He was elected in the
face of a heavy Republican majority in the county, given
to other nominees.
Probate Judges
The office of Probate Judge
was consolidated with that of County Judge, when the
County Commissioner system
159
was abandoned. After this change had taken
place, there were three Judges elected. The entire list
of these Judges was: W. G. Clark, 1845; Geo. W. Reading,
1847; W. P. Hammond, 12862; A. A. Mason, 1863; Geo.
Hickenlooper, 1866.
The emoluments of the office
were not quite so distinguished as those which attach
to the title of a judge of the present day, but each
official contrived to cling to the title, and for all
intents and purposes it is just as good a title socially
as if prefixed to the name of a member of the Supreme
Court.
Clerks of Court
Jas. Hilton, 1845; Jonas
Wescoatt, 1848; Jacob Webb, 1850; S. E. L. Moore, 1854;
Sam'l Buchanan, 1856; W. E. Neville, 1858; Henry Miller,
1860; Josiah T. Young, 1867; John W. H. Griffin, 1873;
Henry McCahan, 1896.
Circuit Judge
Henry L. Dashiell held the office of
Circuit Judge from 1869 to 1873.
County Auditor
On the suspension of the
office of Probate Judge, in 1868, the office of Auditor
was created to take its place. Geo. Hickenlooper, who
was Probate Judge when the Auditor's office was created,
performed the Auditor's duties for one year; Samuel
T. Craig then held the office until December 30, 1877;
John W. Moss succeeded to the office in 1878; Edward
A. Canning, 1883; A. J. Cassaday, 1885; J. W. Van Gilder,
1887; John R. Clark, 1892; B. P. Castner, 1894 to 1896.
Treasurer
T. G. Templeton, 1845; C.
W. Anderson, 1846; John Webb, 1855; D. A. Noble, 1856;
John M. Wilson, 1860; John R. Duncan, 1862; Harrison
Hickenlooper, 1866; John R. May, 1870; Harrison Hickenlooper,
1874; Edward McDonald, 1876; John W. Moss, 1880; David
Hammond, 1885; John C. Coffman, 1889; John M. M. Roberts,
1895-6.
Recorder
In 1865 the office of Recorder
was created. Prior to that time the functions of the
Recorder were performed by the
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Treasurer. John R. duncan, who was Treasurer
when the change was made, held the office of Recorder
until 1867, when Jas. Coen was elected in that year;
Calvin Barnard, 1869; J. R. Castle, 1875; C. W. Prindle,
1878; Ed. I. Ramsay, 1880; Boyd Miller, 1887; Ed. I.
Ramsay, 1891; John Morrissey, 1894; Robt. Clapp, 1896.
Wm. E. Elder, Ex-Superintendent of Schools of Monroe
County.
(click on image for larger size.)
School Superintendent
Samuel Adams, 1855; E. M.
Bills, 1856; J. W. H. Griffin, 1865; W. A. Nichol, 1869;
Thos. Kelly, 1872; A. J. Cassaday, 1875; Wm. E. Elder,
1879; H. J. Bell, 1881; D. W. Nevins, 1890; A. J. Henderson,
1894; Mrs. Angie Reitzel, 1896.
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County Attorney
In 1896 the office of the
County Attorney was created. Prior to that time the
Prosecuting Attorney's jurisdiction was coëxtensive
with that of the judicial district, but it was found
expedient to institute a change, owing to the increase
of official duties devolving on the district prosecutor.
Those who have occupied
the position in Monroe County are: Ed. Morrison, 1887;
Fred Townsend, 1891; N. E. Kendall, 1896.
Coroner
The office of Coroner in the earlier
period of Monroe County's history was rather an intermittent
one. Some times an officer was elected, and at other
times the place was vacant, in which latter case the
Sheriff was supposed to attend to any duties pertaining
to the holding of inquests. Some of those who have served
as Coroner were: John Webb, Dr. Moses Cousins, Casper
Dull, Jacob Webb, Wm. Webb, Maurice O'Connell, and Dr.
Gray, the present incumbent.
Monroe County
in the General Assembly
Monroe County was represented
in the State Senate by Jas. Davis, Barney Royston, H.
B. Hendershot, D. Anderson, Warren S. Dungan, W. C.
Shippen, E. M. bills, Martin Read, A. C. Reck, H. L.
Dashiell, A. A. Ramsay, Dr. Cassatt, and T. B. Perry,
the present Senator, elected from the Monroe Marion
district.
In the House by Chas. Anderson,
Wm. M. Allison, N. B. Preston, Henry Allen, M. A. Goodfellow,
Samuel Gossage, John Reitzel, L. O. Haskell, O. P. Rowles,
John Clark, H. L. Dashiell, A. A. Ramsay, B. F. Elbert,
Jas. Hilton, L. O. Haskell, A. M. Giltner, R. W. Duncan,
J. M. Robb, Jas. Hogeland, A. A. Ramsay, J. C. robinson,
Austin Jay, and D. H. Scott.
Monroe County Agricultural Society
In a financial sense, the Monroe County
Agricultural Society never prospered.
The society was organized in 1853, and
the officers were Joseph Sherod, president; Wm. Robinson,
vice-president; V. K. Read, secretary.
In 1858 Elisha Hollingshead was made
president; and Lewis Arnold, John Castle, Sr., W. W.
Fall, E. P. Cone,
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Michael Lower, J. W. Boyd, Andrew Lamaster,
Gordon Pike, John Walker, D. Gladson, W. H. H. Lind,
and Jonathan Hancock were made vice-presidents. P. T.
Lambert was corresponding secretary and J. M. Humphrey
recording secretary; John Clark was elected treasurer.
In 1886 the society reorganized
as a corporate body, so as to receive the annual fund
appropriated by the State to the agricultural societies
of the various counties in the State.
Hon. Austin Jay, Ex-representative of Monroe County.
(click on image for larger size.)
In 1885 or 1886 the Society
ceased to hold its annual fairs and since then the organization
has dissolved as a corporate body. The grounds on which
the fairs were held, situated about a mile northeast
of Albia, are now owned by Mr. Geo. Walton, and the
inclosing wall has nearly all fallen down. The first
county fairs were held in Mock's addition to the city
of Albia, just north of Dr. Gutch's present residence.
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The Albia Post-Office.
As in all other cities and
towns on the face of the earth where there is a postal
system, the Albia post-office has been a bone of contention
on every change of administration. It is the highest
persimmon growing on the local tree of party patronage,
and he who wields the longest partisan pole invariably
knocks off the coveted fruit. Usage and the finesse
of political party management have established a sort
of "order of succession" governing the aspirant's
heirship to the post-office.
The "heir-apparent"
is in most cases the publisher of the administration
party organ of the town or county in which the post-office
is situated. He is not only supposed to have the "pull"
on the Congressman of the district, but is usually the
chairman of the county central committee—the fountain-head
from which source all advantages in the contest flow.
The chairman of the county committee makes the recommendation
to the State committee chairman, or to the member of
Congress, and if the county chairman wants the post-office—which
he invariably does—he recommends himself, if he
is a shrewd diplomat. There is only one rule in the
game under which this move can be check-mated. If the
publisher of the paper has no office, and wants the
post-office—the central committee man cannot place
himself in check with the publisher by recommending
himself. The "divine rights" of these two
individuals are vested in the equity of rewarding the
newspaper man for the martyrdom he has suffered in behalf
of his party, and in the case of the committee man,
for his faithful stewardship as a party worker.
Thus it is that the office
is seldom bestowed on a citizen on the basis of genuine
merit and business capacity. This is why the impracticable
plan of electing postmaster by popular vote is so often
urged.
The next step towards securing
the post-office is to start a man around with a petition
to secure the names of persons who are supposed to be
desirous of having the applicant appointed. The petition
states in the start that the "undersigned subscribers"
are of that party persuasion to which the administration
adheres, and it never omits to wind up with the assurance
that for the speedy appointment of the candidate, "we,
the undersigned, will ever pray." These "prayers,"
which are rolled in upon the Postmaster-General,
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are scarcely ever heard at the appointing
functionary's throne of grace, and the work of securing
the signatures is usually a useless effort.
Dudley C. Barber was the
first postmaster at Albia. He held the office until
1849; John Marck held until 1851; John Phillips until
1861; Wm. Collins until 1865; Jas. H. Morris until 1866;
Thos. G. Craig held the office for about three months,
but was superseded by Mr. Morris, who again held the
office until he was succeeded by Van Mendel in 1877.
In 1882 J. P. Early succeeded Mendel, and held the office
until 1886. A. J. Weber, of the Albia Democrat,
was appointed by the Cleveland administration, and after
some months' delay in the Senate securing the confirmation
of his appointment, he took the office and conducted
it until 1888, when he resigned on the election of Harrison
to the Presidency.
A. R. Barnes was appointed
to the place under Harrison's administration, and served
nearly four years, when he was bounced for "intense
partisanship," by the next Cleveland administration,
a few months before his commission expired.
In 1881, when President
Garfield was assassinated, and Chester A. Arthur was
sworn in as President, J. P. Early became an aspirant
for the Albia post-office, then being held by Val Mendel,
who was appointed at the beginning of Hayes' term of
office. M. E. Cutts, the member of Congress from the
Sixth District, declined to use his influence in behalf
of either party—at least, it was so understood.
Mr. Mendel, however, went to Washington and learned,
as he states, that Mr. Cutts never presented his petitions
and endorsements to the Department. He accused Mr. Cutts
of secretly furthering the interests of Mr. Early. He
accused Hon. B. F. Elbert with the commission of all
the alleged trickery resorted to in securing the appointment
of Early.
Charges of fraud were bandied
back and forth from one aspirant to the other, but the
general public took little interest in the matter, and
cared still less which man got the office. Both were
popular men in the county, and each represented a distinct
faction of the Republican party in the county.
In this connection it may
not be out of place to note the lack of unity of the
Republican party in Monroe County.
165
which has existed for some years, and
which exists at the present day. Sometimes this spirit
of dissension is so bitter that it has more than once
proven the instrument of bringing defeat to the party.
On the beginning of Mr.
Harrison's term of the Presidency, Mr. Early and A.
R. Barnes were aspirants for the post-office. Both men
secured a formidable list of subscribers to their respective
petitions. The contest waxed so warm that Mr. Lacy,
the member of congress from the Sixth District, declined
to discriminate in behalf of either contestant, and
finally settled the dispute by visiting Albia and inducing
the interested parties to toss up a coin to end the
contest. They tossed, and Mr. Barnes won the place.
To alleviate Mr. Early's probable disappointment, Mr.
Lacey secured for him a Federal appointment as a special
land agent in the West. He resigned the place some time
later.
This latter contest has
promoted some discord in the Republican ranks in the
county, which continues to the present time, and will
no doubt be revived and heightened should a Republican
President be elected next November, calling forth the
appointment of another postmaster for Albia. Mr. Barnes,
it is understood, is already in the field, anticipating
the election of Mr. McKinley to the Presidency.
Chapter X
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