Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 5: Political History, 1886

Chapter 5: Political History

Ii^KOM what has been written in the histoi-y of Ohio, regarding her politics, as well as that which appears in the Organic Chapter, just given, the reader may acquaint himself with the events leading up to the organization of this division of the State. From 1824 to 1832 county elections were held according to law; but owing to the comparatively small interest taken in local affairs, the distances and inconveniences of travel, such elections were carried out much on the principle of society elections of the present day, with one great objection, that men gathered at the polls, voted, di'ank whisky, smoked, swore, wrestled and fought, all for holiday fun. In 1832 this fi-ee and easy method may be said to disappear. The campaign of that year called forth all the energies of the people and their standard bearers, and gave to political life a stimulus which won for it an important place in the minds of the people. Since that time party warfare has been earned on regularly. The first elections were held in the county (Thompson and Seneca Townships) in October, 1820. when twenty votes were polled for the offices of Sundusky County. In September. 1821. nominating caucuses were held at Lower Sandusky, and in October of that year the candidates received the following vote in what is now known ;is Si'iieca County:

Auditor

The Sandusky County candidates of 1822 and 1823 received a full vote from the settlers of Seneca; but beyond the total number of votes jjolled there is no reoonl.

The special election foi' officers of Seueca County was held in April, 1824, when Agreen Ingraham received nineteen votes for sheriff and was elected; Leverett Bradley. 206 votes for coroner, and was elected: and William Clark, Jesse S. Olmsted and Benjamin AN'hitmore were elected county commissioners; Milton McNeal was appointed treasui-er: David Eisdon, tax collector; David Smith, clerk and recorder; Neal McGaffey. clerk of courts; AVilliam Cornell, Jaques Hulbiu't and Matthew Clark, associate judges. Ingi'aham's bondsmen for §5,000. were Roll in Moller, Michael Schaul, Joseph Pool and J. A. Rosenberger.

The first annual election took place in October, 1824. David H. Beardsley was elected State senator; Jeremiah Everett, representative: Agi-een Ingraham, sheriff; David Smith, auditor; Christopher Stone, coroner: Benjamin Whitmore, Thomas Boyd and Dr. Dunn were elected commissioners: Milton McNeel was appointed treasiu-er, and Rudolphus Dickenson was appointed prosecutor. The vote recorded for Allen Trimble, for governor, was 230, and for David Moitow, 50. The Presidential election in November resulted as follows: John Q. Adams, Federalist, 112 votes; Heniy Clay, Whig, 37 votes; and Andrew Jackson, Democrat, 26 votes.

The contest for county commissioner was carried on between Thomas Boyd and William Clark, the former receiving 244 voles and the latter 154. The other officers of the county were re-elected, held over, or reappointed.

In 1820 Abel Rawson was appointed prosecutor; Timothy P. Roberts and James Gordon elected county commissioners: and all the other officers re-elected. Eber Baker was elected representative in the State Legislature. Milton McNeal was re-appointed treasurer, and William Patterson, tax collector.

There were no less than seven candidates for the Legislature before the people in (special election) 1827, viz.: .Josiah Hedges, George Foe, Samuel Treat. Elier Baker, Washington Conklin. Joseph Chaffee and Joseph S. Newell. Hedges, who received 195 votes, and Baker. 80 votes, were the only candidates who received votes in Seneca County. The others, however, received many votes in the representative district, which then comprised Crawford, Marion. Sandusky and Seneca Counties. The annual election of 1827 resulted in the choice of Samuel M. Lockwood. Case Brown was elected commissioner; Agreen Ingraham. treasurer, and David Risdon, county assessor.

Senator

Abel Rawson was elected recorder; William Patterson, sheriff; .Jacob Plane, treasurer; David Smith, auditor; James Gordon, commissioner, and William Toll, coroner.

The elections of 1830 resulted in a majority of three for Gov. Lucas, and in the election of Sam. M. Lockwood, State senator; Josiah Hedges, representative; David Bishop, sheriff; Abel Rawson. recorder and prosecutor, and Case Brown, commissioner. .Joseph Howard was appoiuted clerk.

The elections of 1831 may be considered the dawn of political enthusiasm in Seneca County. Whigs and Democrats made regular nominations, and swore by their party platforms. Harvej' J. Harmon was elected representative; David Risdon, commissioner; John Wright, county assessor; Benjamin Pittinger. Selden Graves and Agreen Ingraham. associate judges, David E. Owen, elected auditor, was proposed by Daniel Dildine. Sr,. as full}' qualified to fill the office of auditor. He was the first Democrat ever elected in Seneca Countv.

A incetiug was held in August, 1833, for the purpo.se of nomiiiating Ciiiulidates for the various county oHices. .John L. Flack presided, with Gabriel J. Keen, secretary. The AVhigs met suliscquently and made their nominations, while the Wirt or anti- Masonic party reported through William Clark. Andrew Love and John Baker that it was inexpedient to make nominations for county otiicers.'

The Wirt party was well organized. In September, 1832, a committee of vigilance was formed in each township, while a central county committee directed the proceedings. The members of these committees, in each township, are named in the following list:

President

The vote by town.ships. in October, 1833, was for Democrats, in Clinton, lO.I: Hopewell, 55; Pleasant, 22; Seneca, 39; Liberty 23; Loudon, 11; Scipio, 58; Bloom 30- Adams, 17: Thompson, 38; Eden, 32 and other precincts, 52; aggregating 483 votes

The Xoveinber elections drew forth the full strength of each narty in the county The Jackson Democrats polled 5.55 votes and the Clay Whigs, 594 votes. There is no record of anti-Masonic votes, nor is il thought that the Wirt partv cast a vote in this county for the head of the anti-Mason ticket. The first political jollification party ever held in the county, was that by the Democrats December 6, 1832 at Goodin's HotelTiffin. David E. Owen,' presiding. Henry Cronise, George Flack Xathan L. Wright, Joseph Graff, Col r' Jaqua, Uriah P. Coonrad, Gabriel J Keen. E. Brown, Jacob Kioh. Col. .Fohn fioodin, A. Eaton, Samuel S. Martin. J H Brown. E. Locke. Frederick Kishler. P. J. Price, William Anderson, John Campbell William H. Kessler, Joshua Seney and A. Mainz were the leading participants.

ELECTIONS 1833-34-35. Jeremiah Everett was elected representative; John Goodin, treasurer; SidneySmith (Sea), prosecutor: John Crum, Marcus Y. Graff and John Seitz, commissioners: Reuben Williams, as.sessor, and David Owen, auditor. .Mr. Owen was appointed receiver of the Ohio Canal Land Oflice at Tiffin, August 27, 18:«. Li June, 1838. Van Buren appointed him receiver of the Wyan-

The elections of 1834 resulted in the choice of Joseph Howard, State senator; Jacques Hulburt, representative; Luther A. Hall, clerk; David E. Owen, auditor; Joel Stone, sheriff; Lorenzo Abbott and Benja; min Whitmore, commissioners, and Eli Norris, coroner. With the exception of Owen, all were Whigs. James Findlay, (Whig) was nominated for governor, and Mordecai Hartley (Whig) for Congi'ess.

In 183"), W. B. Craighill was elected representative; Luther A. Hall, clerk; John Goodiu. treasurer; Selah Chapin, prosecutor; Benjamin Whitmore, commissioner, and John Webb, assessor.

The campaign of 1836 was opened the last day of April by a meeting of Democratic-Republicans,held at the Seneca Hotel, Tiffin. Col. Henry C. Brish, presided. A vigilance committee was appointed for each township. In June, following, the Young Men's Democratic-Republican Convention was called to consider the advisability of holding a State convention. The Whigs also took steps to organize, and by August, the Democratic-Kepulilicans and Whi,gs had placed the following names before the people as the choice nf their conventions.

Coroner

Samuel Treat was elected representative; John Cioodin. treasurer; John J. Steiner, prosecutor; Lorenzo Abbott, commissioner, and Robert Holley, county assessor. James Durbin was appointed surveyor to succeed David Risdon, who served from 1824 to 1836.

Associate Judges

The nominations by the Democratic- Republican Convention were made at Jamieson's house, September 23, 1838. John Clagget presided, with S. H. Brown, secretaiy. In July, the State convention and Whig county convention were held. The elections of October, 1838, are of record as follows:

In May, 1838. a call for a Whig meeting was signed by Dr. Kuhn. Eli Dresbach, Josiah' Hedge.s, Joseph Howard and Erastus Bowe, to consider thequestion of abolishing slavery. Dr. Kuhn was the only one who survived to witness the triumph of the Abolition party - in ISO.'). At that time he was on surgeon's dut}-. at Camp Dennison. A great Whig meeting w.as held at Fort Seneca, with Robert Holly president, May 12, 1838. Minor meetings were held throughout the county.

Henry C. Brish was elected associate judge,and David E. Owen State librarian, in January, 1839. John Welch (D.) received a majority of 184 over Abel Rawson, people's ticket, for representative: W. H. Kessler, (D.) beat John Walker (W.) and John P. Cornell, People's candidate for the recordership; and Andrew Moore (D.) was elected commissioner over John Seitz on the People's ticket; Jonas Hershberger (D.)was elected surveyor, and Joshua Senej- (D.) beat Levi Davis (Ind. D.) and John Park, People's candidate for the treasurership of the county.

Prosecuting Attorney

The year 1839, as well as 1840, may be said to be devoted, by the people of Seneca, to Whig, Democratic and variegated politics, log-cabin raisings, meetings, conventions and caucuses. ^Agriculture and commerce were only secondary considerations; even the record of election passed unheeded. A log-cabin was dedicated, at Tiffin, July 8, 1840. A. Rawson, L. A. Hall, Jos. Howard, H. Kuhn and J. K. Gibson formed the Whig central committee.

Commissioner Treasurer

A mass convention of the Whigs of northwestern Ohio was held at Tiffin. September 23, 1843. September 13, 1843, a county convenlion was held here.

The Democrats were opposed by the Liberty party. In February, 1842, the Liberty party made its first appearance in Seneca County, at Republic. A resolution against the teachinpjs of F. D. Parish was carried by the meeting.

The Democrats and Liberals had equally ridiculous little songs, and all parties still sang, drank, swore and fought as they did twenty years before.

Constitutional Convention

The tickets in the field were the regular Democratic and what was known as the Bolters' ticket. The Abolition candidate for the Legislature was elected. Samuel J. Baj-ard was appointed one of the Commissioners on boundary line between Mexico and the United States.

Elections April, 1850 Poor House Vote

The ofiSce of associate judge was abolished by the Legislature this year. Thomas Lloyd, chosen to fill vacancy, was the last associate judge elected in Seneca Countj'.

John D. Paine (D.) for representative; Thomas Heming (D.) for treasurer, David Burns (D.) for commissioner; William M. Johnson (D.) for prosecutor; and Wm. Kline (D.) for recorder, received the full party vote of the county, and were elected.

This was the first time in fourteen j'ears the Democracy of Seneca was defeated. The Know-nothings and Fusionists opposed Jhe regular Democratic nominees. During Ihe year 1854 a Know-nothing circle was organized at Tiffin, followed by one at Fosloria, and the organization subsequently spread throughout the townships. It is stated on good authoritj' that the United Brethren refused to take the oath of the Know-nothings, but supported the party at the polls.

John P. Reynolds printed the tickets for the Know-nothings of Seneca County, in the office of the Tiffin Tribune. Seven years later, many of the same class, who were so friendly to the Whigs of 1854, took out an issue of this journal, and burned it in the streets of Tiffin.

Jacob Milburne and James Lewis went to Tiffin to search up Know-nothings. There they met one York, who introduced them to the Know-nothing society, and one of them was sworn in, Milburne refusing to swear political ostracism against foreigners. James Lewis returned to Fostoria and organized a society there in the basement of the old frame Methodist Episcopal Church, when 100 members were initiated, among whom was James Mofflt, now of Milgrove. In the southeast part of Loudon the members of the United Brethren Church refused to take the oath of secrecy, but in lieu thereof they took a number of the party tickets anh voted for the party, the county giving a large part}- majority. At Tiffin the Knownothings carried every point. The late Henry Ebert was grand counsellor for Seneca County, and chief worker at Tiffin.

Political life in 1860 may be summed up as one continued round of excitement and uncertainty. The shadow of civil war was visible, while in Kansas, affairs took such a course as to leave the question of war or anarchy to be resolved, immediately. The material interest taken by the people of Seneca in the Kansas sufferers, is shown by the following report:

While the great majority in the North looked toward the horizon and beheld the cloud of civil war advancing as the sunlight disappeared, there were many in both North and South, hanging between doubt and certainty. Many looked upon war as inevitable, and every one had an opinion or a prophecy. The Abolitionist, the slave-liolder, and men who called for peace, all expressed themselves. To point out clearl}' the substance of all such opinions.in the first month of 1861, the following is selected from the Raleigh (N. C.) Standard. "If war once breaks out it will rage in the interior, on our sea coast, on the high seas and on our frontiers. One section will let loose the Indians on another section. Twenty millions of Northern people will at once become our enemies. They will war upon us along a line of 3,000 miles, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. One section will call in foreign troops against another section. One confederacj' will humble itself before the powers of Europe, to get better commercial terms than the other confederacies. Meanwhile, war will rage. Negro property will cease to be valuable; because the products of slave labor and of all other labor will be in a great degree cut off from the markets of the world. The negroes will know, too, that the war is waged on their account. They will become restless and turbulent. Heavy taxes will result from the wars. These taxes must be paid mainly out of slave labor. Strong governments will be established, and will bear heavily on the masses. The masses will at length rise up and destroy everything in their way. State bonds will be repudiated. Banks will break. Widows and orphans will be reduced to beggary. The sword will wave everywhere paramount to all laws. The whole world outside the slave-holding States, except Great Britain, is opposed to our system of slavery, and the whole world, with slave labor thus rendered insecure and comparatively valueless, will take sides with the north against us. The end will be - Abolition."

A large meeting was held at Spetzler's schoolhouse in January. 1862, to protest against flooding the fjtatc with negroes. Ira Gulie was cliairman, and Benjamin F. Biple, secretary.

Congress

The county officers elected in 1864 were all Democrats, viz.: Edward Childs, sheriff; John F. Heilman, auditor; Silas W. Shaw, treasurer; Samuel Grelle. commismissioner; Thomas Swander and George S. Christlip, infirmary directors, and Jonas M. Hershberger. coroner.

Probate Judge

-Warren V. Noble was elected an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention, at New York, withTlloniaa Beer, delegate. Owing to the' latter'9 illness, Mr. Noble representd the district in the c'onveniion. William W . .^rnistrong was elected Delegate-at-large to the Democratic National Convention.

Infirmary Director

In April. 1880, the question of building pike roads was submitted to the people of the county; 1,578 votes were recorded in favor of this enterprise, while 5,156 opposed the project. Tiffin alone gave a majority in favor of such roads.

Noyember Election, 1884

James G. Blaine and Gen. Logan represented the Republicans; Grover Cleveland and Thomas Hendricks the Democrats; Benjamin F. Butler the People's ticket, and St. John the Prohibition ticket. Dr. Norton was delegate to the Democratic National Convention held at Chicago in 1884.

Constitutional Amendments

The amendments related to the abolition of the October Election System, a pernicious custom coming down from olden times. The majority given by the State in favor of the amendments settled the doom of October's annual political sun-dance.

County Convention'S, 1885

The Democratic convention assembled at Tiffin, August 22, 18So, when T. H. Bagby was chosen chairman, pro teni.,a,nd Kora F. Briggs, secretary; and the following committees appointed:

Congressman Seney was elected permanent chairman, the reports of committees were received, and the convention proceeded to nominations. Dr. E. B. Howard was selected as representative; James A. Norton, auditor; Benjamin F. Myers, treasurer; Henry Hoeltzel, commissioner; William Kline, Infirmary director, and Edward Lepper, coroner.

The Prohibitionist convention, assembled at Tiffin, Augiist 26, 1885. Harry Cromwell was chosen chairman, and H. G. Day, secretan'. The convention was opened by prayer, by Rev. R. Rock, of Fostoria. The following committees were appointed: Prohibition Work, J. W.Rhodes, chairman; Finance, Rev. A. Crabtree, chairman; Nominations, C. C. Nestlerode, chairman; Resolutions, Rev. R. Rock, chairman. The following county ticket was nominated: representative. James W. Rhoades; autlitor, Jesse W. Bonnell; treasurer, Henry Cromwell; commissioner, A\'illiam H. Non-is; infirmary director, Peter Coffmau; coroner, A. Benham. M. D.

The Republican county convention assembled August 29, 1885, when ex- Gov. Foster was elected chairman, and J. C. Eickenbaugh, secretary. The delegates were:

The nominations made were as follows: For representative, the names of Russell L. Knapp, of Tiffin; J. H. Loose, of Pleasant, and J. H. Brinkerhoff, of Eden, were announced. Mr. Knapp was nominated on the first ballot. For auditor, William Derr, of Clinton, and F. M. Hart, of Hopewell, were announced, and ]Mi\ Hart nominated on the first ballot. For treasui'er, John M. Kaull was nominated by acclamation. For commissioner, Levi Haines, of Seneca; William Ash. of Jackson; J. J. Cessna, of Liberty; W. H. A. Boyd, of Jackson, and S. B. Hossler, of Bloom, were presented. Mr. Haines was nominated on the second ballot. For infirmary director. Adam Kieft'er. of Eden Township, was nominated on the second ballot. For coroner, Norman D. Egbert, of Clinton Township, was nominated by acclamation; he declined, when A. Bickford was selected. The coimty central committee (composed of one member fi'om each ward and township) selected the following executive committee; J. C. Rickenbaugh. Titfin: Dr. T. J. Li^-ers. Tiffin; U. F. Cramer, Tiffin; George B. Stone, Tiffin; Dr. H. L. Wenner, Tiffin; Dr. William Harman, Attica, and A. M. Dildine, Fostoria. The executive committee organized by electing J. C. Rickenbaugh chairman, and Judge U. F. Cramer secretary.

among business and professional men has started, which has for its object, the abolition of the present system of electing State officers in October. Ohio is the only- State that does so, and all classes vigorously ask that Ohio bi> put in the roll of November States, for the sake of peace and the business interests. The October State and November presidential i>lectioiis of tliis year knocked the bottom out of business. Hand in hand with the movement, is one for the adoption of a registration law, in place of the present slipshod system. The Legislatui-e has already, by joint resolution, resolved to amend Section 4 of Article X, relating to the election of township officers, and Articles II, III and X, so as to provide for the election of all State and county officers in November, instead of October. This question was decided affirmatively by the people in October. 1S«5.

Another, and perhaps the most interesting question before the peojsle, is that known as the liquor question, or the Scott Law. A statement by the commissioner of internal reveniie, shows that, at the close of April. 1830, the total number of liquor dealers in the State, as evidenced by the payment of the special tax. at the close of the tax year, April 30, 18S3, was 15,735, of which number. 1 5, 3U9 paid the tax as dealers in all kinds of liquors, and 336 as exclusively in malt liquors. The Scott law was passed April 17, 1883, and took effect in the payment of the tax, June 20, 1883. From a statement furnished by the auditor of the State of Ohio, the number of the retail liquor dealers paying under the Scott law up to September, 1883, was 10,fi31. They paid a revenue of tax of §1,785,509.85. This would show by the operation of the law, a reduction of the number of retail liquor dealers, of about 5, ( tOO. Four weeks later, in October, 1833, the crusade for the second amendment, and against the Scott law, was commenced in earnest and resulted in a Democratic Legislature and supreme com"t.

At the close of April. 1884, there were 13.218 liquor dealers paying special tax and on April 30, 1885, 14,920. The Scott law was repealed April 14, 1884. Intt a part of it was re-enacted. In November. 1884. the majority of the State Supreme Coiui declared the tax unconstitutional, and soon the work of refunding the special liquor tax was commenced. The Supreme Comt of Ohio, before whom the validity of the tax was broitght. comprised Judges Mclllvaine, Follett, Okey, Owens and Johnson, - two Republican and three Democratic judges.

Conclusion

In this chapter a full effoii has been made to deiil intelligibly with political battles for the last half centtuy. To this end all disquisition had to be avoided and a close adhesion to facts observed; therefore, he who expects tn find the winter's opinions on the different parties and their jjlatforms in this work, must be disappointed: for he who would be just in local history must not express an opinion, particularly as the readers of such works are all able to form their judgment on the facts as presented. In connection with the chapter, it must, however, be said, that a great amount of labor and expense has been the result of former official carelessness in the matter of election records. Without th(> aid of the press, within and wthout Seneca County, it would bo impossilile for the State or county to supply the names and figures and party tickets given in these pages, and to the i)ress, particularly to the Advertiser, the writer is principally indebted for the success which, he believes, marks this chapter.