Fulton County, Illinois - Chapter 16: Poijtical, 1879

In this chapter we give the returns of every election held in the county, so far as we could obtain tlieni. The records of many of the earlier elections are lost, - indeed, all those not given below are not among the archives of the County Clerk's office. As those elections were held prior to the days of newspapers in this county, the Clerk's office is the only place we could expect to find them. In the compilation of this chapter, fi)r its accuracy and fullness we are greatly indebted to Mr. Frank P. Paull, Deputy County Clerk, ex- Sheriff David J. Waggoner and Wm, T. Davidson, editor of the Democrat, all of whom assisted us very materially in collecting the matter.

To give some idea of the labor expended in its compilation, we have onlv to state that often no abstract of the election could be found, and one had to be prcjwred from the original poll-books, which would consume hours of the time of two men. The returns of the election of one year (1855 v,e believe) were secured only after a vast amount of labor. We had searched diligently through the files of old election abstracts and poll-books in the County Clerk's office for the returns of that year, but in vain. Mr. Paull, with his ready knowledge of the places and conditions of the numberless papers in this office, assisted, and another search was made, more thorough than any of the former, still in vain. We then searched newspapers, but failed to unearth them. Mr. Waggoner was known to have a large collection of old papers, returns of numerous elections, etc., and he was spoken to about the matter. He at once kindly interested himself and overhauled several hundred ancient papers; still the account of that election was not found. He several times investigated his boxes, l)undles and ])ackages, only to learn that he did not have them. Being thoroughly interested in this subject, as we have found him in all matters of public interest, he set about to find them if possible. He thought they were in the possession of a friend at Canton, and one day, when upon a visit to that city, he searched forthcm, but only with the same result as before. Not wholly discouraged, he thought of another i)lacc where he was likely to find them. He concluded that James M. Davidson, former editor of the Democrat, was in the possession of the returns of this particular vear; and one day when in Cartilage lie made inquiries of Mr. "D. ; his old papers were examined and at last the long soughtfor doeument was i'onnd.

We relate these incidents merely that the reader' may the better appreciate the vast and persistent labor often recpiired to possess a single item, which of itself many times seems unimportant. Hours are often expended in securing a name or date, yet when found it occupies only a very small space and is passed over by the reader with no thought at all of the labor it cost; yet, should a name or date be wrongfully stated, how readily it is noticed, and often how uncharitable are those wlio do not appreciate the position of the writer! Proper names, too, are so varied that without a personal acquaintance with each individual, it is often impossible to spell them correctly. Even members of the same family sometimes spell their surnamedifferently, as Philips, Phillips, Philipps,and Phillipps. And as for dates, also, when given verbally, they are sometimes as different as are the persons giving them.

The political complexion of the county is strongly Democratic. For many vears that political organization has controlled the ])ublic affairs of the county. Politics have fluctuated but little here, as the returns of the many elections given below will show. The politicians have generally been able to foreshadow correctly the result of an election many days prior to its being held. While Fulton county has reared some illustrious sons in the various callings and professions of life, she has given to the county. State and nation men who have become famous in the political profession. We will not attempt to follow the political issues year by year further than to give the returns of each election. By these the rise, decline and fall of parties may be traced. That elections have been as honorably and honestly conducted in Fulton county as in any other county of the State will not be questioned. At times, however, some candidate becomes over anxious for his success and stoops below the high standard usually strictly followed. A full account of the first election of the county is given in the first chapter of this book.