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CHAPTER VI
POLITICS AND POLITICIANS With the organization of the county perfected, and the location of the county scat disposed of-temporarily at least-the thoughts of the settlers turned to county officers, and an election was called to be held on August 4, 1851. Alexander's History says that "according to the best information obtainable a well attended caucus was held in the log cabin of Nelson Johnson, in the southern corner of Decorah township." That the settlers lined up on opposing sides is shown by the fact that there was a contest for each office with the result that David Reed was chosen county judge over J. R. Morse. George Bachel defeated James F. Moore for sheriff. Francis Rogers won out for supervisor over William Vail. John W. Kline defeated R. G. Nuvland for surveyor. Daniel Kuykendahl was elected recorder and treasurer over Philip Morse. E. W. Aldrich defeated D. Bender for coroner. A total of eighty-two votes were cast and the election was conducted by Isaac Underhill, F. Joseph Huber and Joseph Brown, who served as judges. While he was elected for a term of two years, through a chain of circumstances related below, Judge Reed continued in office until 1855. In 1853 Joseph Gibbons and J. T. Atkins were candidates for the judgeship. On the face of the returns Gibbons had ten majority, but friends of Atkins contested the election and the case was heard before Judge Reed. The testimony disclosed that the trustees of Bloomfield township changed the polling place from Moneek to Castalia without giving proper notice. Thirteen voters testified that they went to Moneek to vote and, not having been advised of the change, were deprived of their right, adding that they would have voted for Atkins. In place of throwing out the vote of Bloomfield township, Judge Reed set aside the election of judge, declaring no one elected. As Judge Reed was elected to serve until his successor was elected and qualified, no vacancy was created,--hence he continued in office until after the next regular election, which was in the fall of 1855. It is not disclosed why a full compliment of officers was not elected in August, 1851, but it seems from the records that it was not until April, 1852, that the offices of School Fund Commissioner and Clerk of Courts were filled by the election of N. S. Gilbert and W. F. Kimball, the defeated candidates 85 PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 86 being John McKay and James B. Schenck. In the same election James B. Chase was elected Coroner over Wm. Painter. A total of 180 votes were cast. It is related in Alexander's History that "at first the amount that the officers received on their salaries depended on the amount of fees received; for from the first the Judge, Clerk and Treasurer were accustomed to meet at stated intervals, each reporting the fees he had received, and then the money would be divided between them. The Treasurer would also report the cash in the Treasury, which would be divided with equal impartiality; then County Judge Reed would issue county warrants to each one for the balance found due. As soon as taxes were levied and collected this system ceased." In the August election of 1852 M. B. Derrick was elected Clerk of District Court, James D. McKay was elected Prosecuting Attorney and H. K. Averill, Surveyor. One hundred and fifty votes were cast. In April, 1853, the fourth election occurred, with 224 votes cast. Aaron Newell was elected Clerk; N. S. Gilbert, Treasurer and Recorder; H. K. Averill, Surveyor; J. F. Moore, Drainage Commissioner; A. H. Fannon, Coroner. The semi-yearly elections during the first three years showed peculiar fluctuations in vote as is noted by a falling off of fifty-one between April and August, r853. In the latter contest 173 votes were cast. N. S. Gilbert was re-elected Treasurer and Recorder, and Elijah Middlebrook, Surveyor, without opposition. James F. Moore was elected Sheriff but failed to qualify, and Judge Reed declared the office vacant and appointed Wm. F. Kimball. Samuel Kendall was elected Coroner. The April election of 1854 witnessed several changes in the personnel of county officers. John McKay was re-elected School Fund Commissioner, James Van Pelt was defeated for sheriff by Elijah Middlebrook, Nelson Burdick was elected Treasurer and Recorder over Wm. F. Kimball, and Wm. Painter was chosen Drainage Commissioner. James D. McKay, who had been elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1852, was elected as member of the lower house of the Iowa Legislature in August, 1854. Albert B. Webber was elected to fill the attorneyship, but he failed to qualify. Dryden Smith, appointed to fill vacancy, resigned, and J. F. Atkins accepted appointment and served out the term. Readers of to-day need not think that the discussion of prohibition is a thing of recent development. The principal feature of the contest in Winneshiek county in the election of April, 1855, was this same question of prohibition, and the anti-prohibition adherents only won out by the meagre majority of two, the vote standing 169 against and 167 for prohibition. This same contest witnessed the introduction of two young attorneys into the political life of the county-men who were subsequently to become important factors in the public life of the community. In May, 1854, Levi Bullis came to Decorah. He was a native of Plattsburg, New York, and beside being endowed with a good education he possessed the fighting spirit of the successful lawyer. In October of the same year another New Yorker, Ezekiel E. Cooley also found Decorah a goodly place to locate. He, too, was well educated, and though no less a fighter than Mr. Bullis, his manner was in marked contrast, being smooth and polished, whereas his fellow lawyer was more of the rough and ready type. Both were candidates for Prosecuting Attorney in this election, Mr. Cooley being PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 87 returned a winner. Mr. Cooley subsequently served the county in the Legislature, being elected in 1857. He was appointed judge of the Tenth Judicial district by Governor Gear in 1879, was re-elected in 1880 for one term, and again in the ninties was elected Judge of the Thirteenth District, serving with great credit. He was also postmaster of Decorah in 1861c63. Mr. Bullis never achieved but one success as a candidate for office, being elected as a member of the first Board of Supervisors in 1860, but as a lawyer he won a wide following and enjoyed the patronage of a large clientage. What has hitherto been called the eighth election, but in fact was the ninth, was held August 6th, 1855. Nelson Burdick was re-elected Treasurer and Recorder; James Van Pelt, Surveyor, and Philip Morse, Coroner. On the 1st of April following Aaron Newell resigned and Nathaniel Otis succeeded him by appointment as Clerk of the district court. But one office was voted on at the spring election in 1856, and J. E. B. Morgan was elected School Fund Commissioner in a field of four contestants. There were 816 votes cast, showing that the county was sustaining a healthy growth in population. The abolishment of the office of School Fund Commisioner during Mr. Morgan's term eliminated it from politics, but there were enough other offices to make elections exceedingly interesting. Another office that was abolished along about this time was that of liquor agent. It was the duty of this officer to see that traffic in liquors was confined strictly to sales for medicinal purposes. L. Butler, who held the office, resigned on June 26, 1856, and Dr. H. C. Bullis filled out the unexpired term. The office was then discontinued. The election of August, 1856, was an important one to Winneshiek county as it marked her break into the ranks of senatorial representation. The county was a portion of the Thirty-Fourth Senatorial district composed of Allamakee, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, and Winneshiek. The total vote enrolled was 2,331 and J. T. Atkins, who has been nominated by the republicans, was elected by a majority of 883 votes, or 167 more than the total vote of his opponent, Edward Ellis. L. W. Griswold was elected Prosecuting Attorney and Nathaniel Otis was re-elected Clerk of district court in a three-cornered fight, his opponents being D. H. Hughes and G. W. Esty. The first special election in the county was held on October 10, 1856, when a proposal to vote $100,000 to aid in the construction of the Northwestern railroad was carried by a vote of 926 to 505. The road was never built. At the election held in April, 1857, James B. Smith was elected sheriff; George N. Holway, County Assessor, and James E. Simpson, Drainage Commissioner. In July, 1857. L. W. Griswold resigned as Prosecuting Attorney and Dryden Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy. In the election of August following he was elected for a full term, but the office was abolished during the succeeding winter. The reason for Mr. Griswold's resignation is seen in his candidacy for the office of County Judge. He was elected over J. A. Tupper who had also been his unsuccessful opponent in the attorneyship contest of the year previous. In this election Nelson Burdick was re-elected Recorder and Treasurer for the third term, L. W. Ludlow was chosen County Surveyor, and Amos Hoag, Coroner. PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 88 With the creation of the office of county superintendent of public instruction the schools were placed on a more substantial footing. Dr. H. C. Bullis was elected to fill the office for the term beginning immediately after the election of April 14, 1858. This was the forerunner of a long public service in which Dr. Bullis was chosen to occupy various positions of importance and trust. In 1865 he was elected to the Iowa. Senate and served four years. In 1871 he was elected Lieutenant Governor. President Grant in 1876 appointed him a member of the commission that negotiated the purchase of the Black Hills territory from the Sioux Indians; in 1880 he was elected Mayor of Decorah, serving two terms, and he was postmaster of Decorah under Benjamin Harrison's administration. In the election of October, 1858, over 1,300 votes were cast, which would indicate a population of between 6,000 and 7,000 people in the county. S. W. Paul was elected clerk of district court, and J. E. Simpson, county surveyor. The successful candidates in the elections of 1859 were Erick Anderson, sheriff; S. W. Mattison, clerk; T. W. Burdick, recorder and treasurer; H. K. Averill, surveyor; John R. Howard, coroner; W. F. Coleman, county superintendent. In November, 1860, S. M. Mattison was re-e1ected clerk of district court. Up to and including the year 1860 the county judge had the direction of the expenditure of much of the county money and also performed the duties of county auditor. In this year the administration of county affairs was placed in the hands of a board of supervisors composed of one member from each township. This body organized in January, 1861, while the county court was retained to handle probate and similar matters. The records show that the county court continued until January 1, 1869, when it was superceded by the circuit court system. Between January I, 1860, and the discontinuance of the office the following served as county judges: 1860-61, D. H. Hughes; 1862-1863, John DeCou; 1864-1867, G. R. Willett; 1868, E. Cutler. Mr. Cutler, upon retiring for the judgeship became ex-officio county' auditor and was subsequently reelected twice. With the election of 1860 there came a regularity in service in the county offices that permits a record that is more concise than the foregoing. COUNTY AUDITORS Beginning with E. Cutler the record reads as follows: E. Cutler,
1869 to 1873; H. A. Biglow, 1873 to 1875; F. G. Hale, 1875 to
1881; T. E. Egge, 188r to 1885; J. W. Daubney, 1885 to 1893; O.
C. Johnson, 1893 to 1899; F. A. Masters, 1899 to 1905; I. Linnevold,
1905 to 1911; E. W. Christopher, 1911 to 1912. W.. R. Shea, elected
in November, 1912, and entered upon his duties January 1, 1913. CLERKS OF COURT S. W. Mattison, who first election brought him into office January 1, 1860, served until 1867. Dan Lawrence, 1867 to 1869; M. P. Hathaway, 1869 to 1871; S. E. Tubbs, 1871 to 1875; A. W. Brownell, 1875 to 1877; E. B. Hutchinson, 1877 to 1881; M. W. Harden, 1881 to 1884; N. H. Nelson, 1884 to 1891;:K PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 89 D. Field, 1891 to 1893; Henry Elvidge, 1893 to 1899; A. L. Haakenson,
1899 to 1905; S. E. Brickner, 1905 to 1911. Olai Kallivang, elected
in November, 1910, re-elected in 1912, now serving his second
term. SHERIFFS Erick Anderson, elected in 1859, served until 1863. He was succeeded
by the following: Armund Arneson, 1863 to 1867; A. S. Skofstad,
1867 to 1869; Knut Thompson, 186g to 1873; C. H. Hitchcock, 1873
to 1875; J. H. Womeldorf, 1875 to 1879; DeWitt C. Moore, 1879
to December 8, 1881. H. M. Langland appointed December 8, 1881,
to fill vacancy; elected in November, 1882, again in 1883, 1885
and 1887. O. N. Norgard, 1890 to 1894; Clarence Christen, 1894
to 1902; George Mizener, 1902 to 19°7; T. J. Qualley, 19°7
to 1913. L. J. Flemming, elected in November, 1912, began service
January I, 1913. TREASURERS T. W. Burdick elected in 1860 and re-elected in 1861, resigned in 1862 to enlist in the army, and was succeeded by appointment by G. R. Willett who filled out the term. Then followed: A. K. Bailey, 1863 to 1865; G. N. Holway, 1865 to 1868; G. T. Lommen, 1869 to 1873; Edwin Klove, 1873 to 1882; N. H. Adams, 1882 to 1884; C. E. Meader, 1884 to fall of 1887; A. W. Brownell, elected to fill vacancy in 1887 and for full term, re-elected in 1889; Henry Yager, 1&)2 to 1894; L. B. Whitney, 1894 to 1898; W. O. Nordheim, 1898 to 1902; E. R. Haines, 1902 to 1908. G. Jorgenson entered upon his first term January I, 1908, re-elected in 1910 and 1912. Now serving his third term. RECORDERS Up to 1864 the Recorder's duties were performed by the County Treasurer. In that year the two offices were separated and John E. Powers was elected as l{ccorder. He was re-elected in 1866 and served until January I, 1869, the successors being as follows: Cyrus McKay, 1869 to 1875; Chas. Steen, 1875 to 1878; Wm. Fannon, 1878 to 1883; M. A. Harmon, 1883 to 1889; T. F. Auchmoody, 1889 to 1897; N. N. Quandahl, 1897 to 1899; C. H. Lawrence, 1899 to 1905; H. S. Stinson, 1905 to 19I11; Allen Wise elected in November, 1910, entered upon his duties January I, 1911, re-elected in November, 1912. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS As mentioned in a preceding portion of this chapter Dr. H. C. Bullis was the first County Superintendent of schools. There succeeded him: J. M. Wedgewood, 1864 to 1872; Henry T. Toye, 1872 to 1874; G. N. Holway, 1874 to 1876; Nels Kessy, 1876 to 1882; J. A. Klein, 1882 to 1884; Dan Shea, 1884 to 1890; H. L. Coffeen, 1890 to 1896; G. O. Haugen, 1896 to 1900; E. J. Hook, 1900 to 1909; S. Reque, 1909 to 1913; H. E. Miller, 1913-now serving first term. The 35th General Assembly made this office appointive on a basis of qualification. PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
COUNTY SURVEYORS James E. Simpson, elected in 1859, served until January I, 1862.
E. Baldwin, J862 to 1870; W. C. Adsit, 1870 to 1876; J. L. Cameron,
1876 to 1880; R. B. Caldwell, 1880 to 1882; J. L. Cameron, 1882
to 1896; C. E. Schenck, 1896 to November I, 1905; F. E. Cratsenberg,
appointed to fill vacancy November 14, 1905, resigned in April,
1906. Elected in November, 1906, and again in 1908, serving until
September I, 1910, when he resigned. H. L. Coffeen appointed April
12, 1906, to fill vacancy, served until January 7, 1907. W. M.
Lee, appointed September 10, 1910, to fill vacancy; elected for
full term beginning January 1, 1911, in November, 1910. The office
was abolished during his term. Mr. Lee has since served by appointment
as County Engineer, the title by which the surveyor is now known. CORONERS John Howard served from 1860 to 1862; Cyrus McKay, 1862 to 1872; F. W. Knox, 1872 to 1874; A. C. Ferren, 1874 to 1876; A. H. Fannon, 1876 to 1878; E. Mather, 1878 to 1882; Dr. W. F. Coleman, 1882 to 1888; W. R. Toye, 1888 to 1890; A. C. Ferren, 1890 to 1892; E. Mather, 1892 to 1893; Dr. E. M. Heflen, 1893 to 1894; R. E. Gibson, 1894 to 1900; Dr. P. M, Jewell, 1900 to 1907; Dr, A. J. Swezey, 1907 to 1913; Dr. M. D. Jewell, 1913-serving his first term. COUNTY SUPERVISORS Under an act of Legislature in 1860 the affairs of the county were placed under the management of a Board of Supervisors consisting of one member from each township. This system proved cumbersome, but in spite of that fact it held sway until 1870 when what is known as the County Commission System was inaugurated with the county divided into districts. During the first two years there were three districts in Winneshiek, but in 1872 they were increased to five districts comprised as follows: First District-Bloomfield, Military, Springfield, Frankville.
M. S. Drury, George C. Winship and A. Arneson comprised the first board. Their terms were arranged to expire at different times so as to avoid the possibility of an inexperienced set of men being chosen to assume the management of county affairs. As stated above, the Board was increased to five members by the election of 1872. M. S. Drury was re-elected and Florenzo G. Hale and Charles Sydow were chosen as the new members. Since that year the several districts have been served in order by the following men: PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 93 FIRST DISTRICT Turner Callendar, elected in 1875; George Merrill, elected in 1878; E. S. Lambert, elected in 1880; O. T. Lommen, elected in 1881; E. Schoonmaker, elected in 1884, re-elected in 1887; A. M. Anderson, elected in 1890; Geo. Allen elected in 1893, re-elected in 1896; M. J. Nicholson, elected in 1899, re-elected in 1902; George J. Cooper, elected in 1906, re-elected in 1908; Peter F. Meyer, elected in 1910, began serving January 1, 1912. SECOND DISTRICT C. Meyers, elected in 1874; H. Giesen, elected in 1876; A. W. Brownell, elected in 1877, re-elected in 1880 and 1883; Peter Jacobs, elected in 1886; J. A. Giesen, elected in 1889, re-elected in 1892; J. J. Haug, elected in 1895, re-elected in 1898; M. A. Kubish, elected in 1901, re-elected in 1904; G. A. Meyer, elected in 1906, re-elected in I9IO, term expires January 1, 1914; J. P. Kuhn, elected in 1912, term begins January 1, 1914. THIRD DISTRICT F. Brittain, elected in 1873; P. Morton, elected in 1875; S. G. Kendall, elected in 1878; A. Rice, elected in 1880; R. Barnes, elected in 1881; D. N. Hoyt, elected in 1884; George Johnson, elected in 1886; H. W. Masters, elected in 1887, re-elected in 1890; M. S. Lemon, elected in 1893;. S. Magnus, elected in 1896; R. S. Wolfenberger, elected in 1899, re-elected in 1902; Martin Jones, elected in 1906, re-elected in 1908; Claude Morton, elected in 1910. FOURTH DISTRICT O. W. Ellingson, elected in 1876; Nels Larsen, elected in 1879,
re-elected in 1882; C. O. Maltby, elected in 1885, re-elected
in 1888; A. T. Holton, elected in 1891, re-elected in 1894; O.
L. Wennes, elected in 1897, re-elected in 1900; Edwin Hoover,
elected in 1903; O. M. Seines, elected in 1906, re-elected in
1908; A. P. Pfister, elected in 1912, began serving January 1,
1913. FIFTH DISTRICT G. C. Winship, elected in 1874; Jacob Jewell, elected in 1877; G. L. Wendling, elected in 1880; Jacob Jewell, elected in 1883, re-elected in 1886; D. N. Hoyt, elected in 1889, re-elected in 1892; John Greer, elected in 1895; C. O. Moore, elected in 1898, re-elected in 1901; B. E. Jewell, elected in 1904, reelected in 1906; K. W. Knutson, elected in 1910, term expires January 1, 1914; John S. Williams, elected in 1912, term begins January 1, 1914. THE COURTS Heretofore we have referred to the office of County Judge. As already explained, up to 1860 this office combined the functions of supervisor, county PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 94 auditor, and the handling of probate matters. Superior to this office, and having charge of all classes of litigation in civil and criminal lines, was the District Court. One judge was required to do all the work, holding terms alternately in each county of the district. Winneshiek county was at first a part of the Second District, which embraced a large part of the state. As far as we are able to ascertain, the first term of District Court for Winneshiek county convened in Decorah on July 9, 1852, with Hon. Thomas S. Wilson presiding. In 1854 Winneshiek county had become a part of the Fifth district, composed of Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek and Samuel S. Murdock of Clayton county was elected in the fall of that year. Judge Murdock was followed in 1859 by Judge Elias A. Williams, also of Clayton, who served until 1867. Milo McGlathery of Fayette county followed Judge Williams for two terms. He proved most unpopular because of the peculiarity of some of his sentences in criminal matters, and in the election of 1874 when he was opposed by Ruben Noble, a staunch Clayton county democrat, he was easily defeated. Judge Noble served from 1875 until late in 1879, when he resigned, and E. E. Cooley of Decorah was appointed by Governor John H. Gear to fill the vacancy. Judge Cooley assumed his duties in December, 1879, and was elected in 1880 to succeed himself. In the election of 1882 he was opposed by L. O. Hatch of McGregor who was elected, and in 1886 and in 1890 Mr. Hatch was re-elected. With the abolishment of the Circuit Court in 1887 an increase in the number of districts made this the Thirteenth District. Judge Granger, who had been the presiding officer in the Circuit Court, became the associate of Judge Hatch on the District Court bench. In 1888 he was nominated by the republicans as a candidate for Judge of the Supreme Court, and as nomination was equivalent to election he resigned. L. E. Fellows of Lansing was chosen to fill the vacancy, but in the election of 1889 he was defeated by W. A. Hoyt of Fayette. Five years later (1894) Judge Fellows was again nominated by the republicans and Hon. A. N. Hobson of West Union was chosen as his running mate. They proved a popular pair and were re-elected. For term after term thereafter they were the choice of the electors, much of the time without opposition. In the early part of 1912 while holding court at Decorah, Judge Fellows contracted a severe cold which resulted in pneumonia. Although a man of advanced years, his rugged constitution enabled him to survive the attack, but while in a convalescent stage his heart showed symptoms of weakness and on July 17th he passed away, full of years, honored and revered by all who knew him. Attorney W. J. Springer of New Hampton was appointed by Governor
Carroll to fill the vacancy until after election, and in the election
of last fall he defeated D. J. Murphy of Waukon who opposed him.
His term, and the term of Judge Hobson, will expire January 1,
1915. THE CIRCUIT COURT Work in District Court had so increased that during the session of the Twelfth General Assembly (in 1868) the Circuit Court was created. This court exercised jurisdiction concurrent with the District Court in all civil and special pro- PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 95 ceedings, and was the court of appeal from the findings of inferior courts, tribunals and officers in civil matters, as well as handling probate matters. The act of legislature was signed April 3, 1868, and the Circuit Court became operative January 1, 180. M. V. Burdick, then one of the most prominent members of the Winneshiek county bar, was elected as Judge of Circuit Court, serving for four years. He was succeeded in 1873 by C. T. Granger of Waukon, who was re-elected in 1876, 1880, 1884, and again in 1886. In 1887 the Circuit Court was abolished and the jurisdiction in all classes of cases-criminal, civil, and probate-as well as appeals from inferior tribunals, was assumed by the District Court. DISTRICT AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS An adjunct of the District Court was the office of District Attorney. Orlando J. Clark and Cyrus Wellington, both well known attorneys of Decorah, served in this capacity, the former from 1874 to 1878, and the latter from 1879 to 1889, when the office was abolished and the office of county attorney was substituted. COUNTY ATTORNEYS John B. Kaye of Calmar was the first to serve under this title. He was elected in the fall of 1886 and re-elected in 1888. In the election of 1890 he was defeated by M. J. Carter of Ossian, who held the office one term. The order of succession since 1892 has been as follows: E. P.Johnson, 1893 to 1899; N. Willett, 1899 to 1905; W. M. Strand, 1905 to 19°9; N. Willett, 1909 to 1913. C. N. Houck was elected in November, 1912, and entered upon his duties January 1, 1913. CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION Any history of Iowa will tell the reader that up to 1863 the state had not acquired sufficient population to entitle us to more than two representatives in Congress. From the time the county was organized in 1851 up to 1863, Winneshiek was a part of the Second Congressional district, which was represented as follows: 185 1 to 1853-Lincoln Clark (democrat) of Dubuque. 1853 to 1855- John P. Cook (democrat) of Davenport. From 1863 to 1881 Winneshiek county was a portion of the Third
district. William B. Allison, of Dubuque, was representative from
1863 to 1871, when he was elected United States Senator. W. G. Donnan of Independence (Buchanan county) succeeded Mr. Allison and was elected to the Forty-second and Forty-third congresses-1871 to 1875. L. L. Ainsworth of West Union was elected over C. T. Granger of Waukon to the Forty-fourth Congress-1875 to 1877. PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 96 The campaign of 1876 was a memorable one in this district. At the Congressional convention at McGregor on September 6, Theodore W. Burdick of Decorah was nominated by the republicans. Opposed to him on the democratic ticket was J. M. Griffith of Dubuque, a man of considerable wealth as well as popularity, particularly in his home county, which normally gave and has since given a large democratic majority. The contest that ensued was one of the hottest ever waged in Iowa. In every community and school room that was worth visiting meetings were held, the district was polled and repolled, checked and rechecked and the figures were so carefully tabulated that practically every voter was accounted for. At that time James E. Simpson was United States Revenue Collector at Dubuque, and, as a friend and co-worker with Mr. Burdick in the early days of Decorah and Winneshiek county, he took an active interest in the contest. On the morning of election he appeared in Dubuque after devoting considerable time to a personal canvass of Winneshiek county and a visit to all parts of the district. "What will Winneshiek do for Burdick?" he was asked. The Democrats gazed at him with wonder and incredulity, and when
the full import of his statement began to sink in there was a
panic in the Griffith camp. Every effort was made to secure some
contradictory evidence with which to bolster up the democratic
hope, but when the returns were all in it was shown that Mr. Burdick
had been elected by a majority of 1267 in the district, his majority
in Winneshiek county being 1265. Mr. Burdick served with credit
during the Forty-fifth Congress, but refused to consider a renomination. In 1881 the Legislature redistricted the state and Winneshiek became a portion of the Fourth Congressional district, the other units being Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, and Mitchell. In 1884 Mr. Updegraff was opposed by Luman H. Weller of Nashua. Mr. Weller had been a greenbacker and the democrats fused with the members of the party in his nomination. He was generally considered so erratic that his candidacy was looked upon as somewhat of a joke. However, Weller was undismayed, and while the republicans were laughing at him he was quietly making a house-to-house campaign that resulted in his election. He served only one term during the Forty-eight Congress (1885 to 1887)-being defeated in 1886 for the Forty-ninth Congress by William E. Fuller of West Union, who was re-elected to the Fiftieth session also. Joseph Sweney of Osage was the successful candidate in the election of 1888. He had for his opponent Professor Lars S. Reque, then as now a member of Luther College Faculty, Decorah. It was Mr. Sweney's misfortune to come into office with a change of administration. Grover Cleveland had been defeated by Benjamin Harrison and the distribution of political plums was the cause of Mr. Sweney's undoing, for two years later he was defeated by Walter H. Butler of Fayette county, who served during the Fifty-second Congress. In 1892 Thomas Updegraff again aspired to the republican nomination, secured it and was elected. He served in the Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, and Fifty PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 97 fifth Congresses. In 18g8 a contest arose between Mr. Updegraff and James E. Blythe of Mason City for the nomination. In the nominating convention Gilbert N. Haugen of Northwood appeared with the support of his own (Worth) and Winneshiek counties, holding the balance of power. After a lengthy struggle the Updegraff forces finally threw their strength to Mr. Haugen and he received the nomination. He has been successively elected to the Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth, Sixtieth, Sixty-first and is now serving in the Sixty-second Congress. Winneshiek may justly claim some share in this representation because aside from the support he has received from our votes, Mr. Haugen was in his early manhood a resident of Madison township for several years. It is noteworthy that between 1863 and the present time this district has been represented by democrats in but three Congresses-the Forty-fourth by L. L. Ainsworth, the Forty-eighth by L. H. Weller, and the Fifty-second by Walt H. Butler. Mr. Weller comes under the democratic classification only because the members of that party endorsed his candidacy and helped elect him. He was a greenbacker or nationalist. LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION The First Constitutional convention of Iowa met in the fall of 1844 and was in session from October 7 to November 1. Their labors did not prove effective, the people rejecting the constitution adopted. The Second Constitutional convention was held in May, 1846, and
was in session from the 4th to the 19th. The Constitution then
adopted received a majority of 456 in a total poll of 18,528 votes.
The election was held August 3d, 1846, and Iowa was admitted as
a state on December 28, 1846. Prior to this convention Winneshiek county had acquired representation in the Legis1ature through the organization of the county. The most authoritative record of members from this district is found in the Official Register of Iowa. Representative James D. McKay was our first member of the House of Representatives, serving during the fifth session. The record does not disclose who served during the sixth session, hence we can only infer that Mr. McKay was re-elected. In this respect the record is incomplete. Beginning with the Seventh session the representation was as follows: Ezekiel E. Cooley, 7th; Amos Hoag, 8th; William H. Baker, 9th; Ole Nelson, 9th, 10th; James H. Brown, 10th, lIth; Horace B. Williams, 11th, 12th, 13th; Jeremiah T. Atkins, 12th; Anders O. Lommen, 13th; Knut E. Bergh, 14th; Warren Danforth, 14th, 15th, 16th; John H. DeCou, 15th; Martin N. Johnson, 16th; Hiram C. Manning, 17th; Henry A. Baker, 17th, 18th; Levi M. Hubbell, 18th, 19th; Drengman O. Aaker, 19th, 20th; Nels Larson, 21st, 22d; Jacob Jewell, 23d, 24th; William H. Klemme, 25th, 26th, 27th; James S. Roome, 28th, 29th; Abraham Jacobson, 30th, 31st; Philo. M. Jewell, 32d, 33d; Lauritz M. Enger, 34th, 35th. PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 98 SENATORS As stated in a previous place in this chapter, Jeremiah
T. Atkins was the first direct senatorial representative that
Winneshiek county had in the Legislature. He was elected in 1856
and served in the sixth and seventh sessions. George W. Gray of
Lansing was the Senator from this district in the eighth session,
but thereafter until 1885 Winneshiek county constituted a senatorial
district, separate and distinct from all other counties. Since
the eighth session the succession has been as follows: Marvin
V. Burdick, 9th and 10th; Henry C. Bulis, 11th, 12th and 13th;
G. R. Willett, 14th, 15th and 16th ; Martin N. Johnson, 17th and
18th; Henry A. Baker, 19th and 20th; Theodore W. Burdick, 21st;
*Samuel A. Converse, 22d; Ansel K. Bailey, 23d and 24th; *C. C.
Upton, 25th and 26th; *D. A. Lyons, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and
31st; *Henry C. Burgess, 32d and 33d; Philo M. J ewell, 34th and
35th. Since 1885 Howard county has been linked, with Winneshiek
in the Fortysecond senatorial district. Those marked (*) were
resident of Howard county. Dr. P. M. Jewell the present incumbent of the State
Senatorship was born in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, January
1, 1848. His parents, who were of English and German descent,
moved with their family to Carroll county, Illinois, in 1856.
He grew to manhood on a farm and secured his education as a pupil
in the Mount Carroll Seminary, a private institution of learning,
and later attended the Mount Carroll high school for a few terms.
He began the study of medicine in 1870 in the medical department
of the University of Michigan, from which institution he graduated
in March, 1873. He has been continuously engaged in the practice
of medicine and surgery ever since; for over six years in Whiteside
county, Illinois, and since November, 1880, in Winneshiek county,
Iowa. He was married to Nama Livingston in 1875. They have three
children, two daughters and a son. He has taken an active interest
in politics for many years and was appointed a member of the United
States Pension Board for Winneshiek county in 1897, which position
he still fills. Senator Jewell is a republican in politics. The present corps of officials of the county are
as follows: County Auditor, W. R. Shea of Decorah; Deputy, E.
C. Meyer of Calmar; County Treasurer, G. Jorgeson of Springfield;
Deputy, L. C. Christen of Decorah; County Clerk, Olai Kallevang
of Glenwood; Deputy, Samuel Moore of Fremont; County Attorney,
C. N. Houck of Decorah; County Recorder, Allen Wise of Pleasant;
Sheriff, L. R. Fleming; Deputy, A. M. Morrison, both of Decorah;
County Superintendent, H. E. Miller of Calmar; Deputy, Karen Brandt
of Decorah; County Engineer, Will M. Lee; Deputy, Frank Arneson,
both of Decorah. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS First district, Peter F. Meyer of Military; Second district, G. A. Meyer of Calmar (chairman) ; Third district, Claude Morton of Orleans; Fourth district, Alwin P. Pfister of Pleasant. Fifth district, K. W. Knutson of Decorah. |
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